News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-10-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... Seated in a dark movie auditorium at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, we scribbled our dinner order on a piece of paper, stuck it in the slot at our table, and hoped someone would see it before the final credits started rolling. A server appeared 10 minutes later and grabbed the paper before slinking away crouching the whole time to avoid blocking the screen. About 20 minutes later we were enjoying food, drinks and the latest Tom Hanks flick. The popular Austin, Texas-based movie chain is known for its seat-side food and beverage service, as well as its zero tolerance for talking and texting once the lights go down. Moviegoers can choose from a full menu of fast-casual American classics. Of course, candy and popcorn are also available, but theyre delivered to your seat. There are no concession stands in the lobby. During two recent visits to the companys La Vista location, which opened in November 2015, we liked the convenience of the dine-in theater experience, and most dishes we tried were well prepared, nicely seasoned and made with seemingly fresh ingredients. The wait staff was friendly and attentive, and food and drinks were delivered in a timely manner, with only one exception. From the entree list we ordered beer-battered fish and chips. Two tender, flaky cod fillets carried a deliciously crispy, puffy batter that crackled and held on well with each bite. Malt vinegar, house-made tartar sauce and a side of hot, crispy, salty, medium-cut fries accompanied the fish. My dining partners one quibble was the fried cods slightly greasy finish. Proper seasoning was a problem with a burger I ordered, the royale with cheese. Toppings such as leaf lettuce, red onion and tomato looked and tasted fresh, as did the lightly toasted and seeded bun. But the beef patty, with barely a hint of salt, lacked seasoning, and the meat was a tad dry. A special seasoning blend is sprinkled on burgers, which are cooked on a flat-top grill, but it was either left off or not enough was used, said Zac Clemetson, Alamo Drafthouses executive chef. Each pair of theater seats comes with a small table equipped with a downward-facing light and a shelf to hold menus. Moviegoers jot down orders using paper and pens provided at each table, then place the order upright in a slot for employees to see. Guests also can order directly with a server before a movie starts, which we did for one of our visits, and we preferred this method for its ease. (Seating begins a half-hour before showtime.) During the film communication with wait staff is done with paper and pen. Need another round of drinks or a popcorn refill? Write it down. Checks are dropped off about 40 minutes before the movie ends. From the menus Featured Favorites section we chose an appetizer of fried green beans, which were crunchy, nicely seasoned and not too greasy. The green beans themselves, though deep fried, still looked and tasted like vegetables, with a crisp-tender texture. A side of Sriracha aioli added a spicy zing. We were less enamored with a baked pretzel, which comes with two dipping sauces, including a delicious spicy queso. Instead of soft and chewy, the warm, salted pretzel was too fluffy. Sandwiches, offered in several varieties, are prepared with a choice of grilled chicken or a beef or veggie patty. A chicken sandwich with creamy goat cheese, smoked bacon, caramelized onion and baby spinach was a flavorful combination, but my dining partner thought too much goat cheese overpowered the other ingredients. It is messy and awkward dining in the dark, and I missed being able to see what I was eating. Obviously presentation is simple, with dishes served on round metal trays along with, fortunately, plenty of napkins, because dribbles and spills are unavoidable. Of course, guests who want to grab a bite before or after a film or eat without seeing a movie can dine on site at the Liquid Sunshine Taproom, also overseen by Clemetson and with the same menu. The drink list showcases numerous Nebraska beers as well as nonalcoholic mocktails, including a refreshing pineapple cucumber fizz. We tried a couple of milkshakes, and each time thought the consistency was off. Instead of dense, thick and creamy, they were too airy and fluffy, perhaps the result of overmixing. Several pizzas, with dough made fresh daily, are offered, including a Reuben version, which is among the menu items unique to the Omaha location. We ordered the sausage and peperonata pizza: a 9-inch pie with a slightly soft and chewy crust with a crispy exterior. Its topped with four kinds of cheese, a good amount of fennel-spiked, house-made pork sausage, and finished with celery leaves for a fresh, herbaceous note. We liked the crust and toppings but the pizza needed more peperonata sauce a chunky mixture of red and green bell peppers, onions and tomatoes. Clemetson said the staff likely spread the sauce layer too thin. For the most part we never waited longer than 15 or 20 minutes for food to arrive. However, a plate of warm, fresh-baked cookies offered in chocolate chip, peanut butter banana and triple chocolate took 30 minutes. Cookies are normally ready in about 12 minutes, Clemetson said. Given the theaters volume of business, kitchen hiccups are bound to happen, and many problems have been resolved during the past year, he said, adding that hes pleased with how employees have handled the challenges of working in a nontraditional dining venue. Despite a few shortcomings, the convenience and fun of enjoying food and drinks while watching the latest blockbuster or classic film is appealing. Plus, dinner at the movies is a nice change of pace from another night at home with Netflix. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Address: 12750 Westport Parkway, La Vista Phone: 402-505-9979 Hours: Open daily 10 a.m. to midnight Hits: As an appetizer, fried green beans were crisp-tender with a seasoned, crunchy breading. The house-made sausage and peperonata pizza also pleased, but needed more sauce. Misses: A burger, the royale with cheese, was underseasoned. Drinks: beer, wine, cocktails, soda, coffee, tea and milkshakes Prices: Snacks/appetizers are $5 to $10; salads, pizza and sandwiches range from $9 to $15; entrees are $9 to $13. Other things to know: There are vegetarian dishes, and gluten-free buns and pizza crust. Guests can dine on-site at Liquid Sunshine Taproom before or after a movie, or without seeing a movie. Internet sensations The Piano Guys brought their unique musical style to the Orpheum Theater Wednesday night. In a family-oriented program for all ages, their show featured a night of Wonders, their aptly titled fourth studio album. The groups self-produced music videos have accumulated more than 5 million subscribers and nearly 1 billion YouTube views since 2011. Not bad for a self-described bunch of dorky dads from Utah who just want to make a positive impact in the lives of people through music videos. Fronting the group on video are pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steve Nelson, who perform pop covers and classical mashups. Along with the musicians, producer, songwriter and sound engineer Alexander van der Beek helps create and mix music by such artists as Beethoven, Vivaldi, Coldplay and Adele. Videographer Paul Anderson produces some transcendent movie magic using a host of special effects. How well would this medium translate to live performance? Surprisingly well, according to the response from a near-capacity audience, whose enthusiasm, whether rapt or politely raucous, never wavered throughout the evening. In partial darkness, dry ice flowed as Schmidt and Nelson took the Orpheum stage to a swell of cheers and applause, launching immediately into Batman Evolution. Behind them, a giant screen showed the two sitting in the Bat Cave performing the same piece. Throughout the night, that giant screen alternated between a live feed of the performers and prerecorded footage. In live performance, Nelson was key to producing the full orchestration the audience expected using effects pedals, a kick drum and a looper. He plucked, bowed and strummed the body and the strings of his instrument for an overwhelming variety of sounds. The nights set list included solos and duets that were at once familiar to fans, including such hits as Let it Go from the movie Frozen, with Winter from Vivaldis Four Seasons mixed in, and Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends, in which Nelson produced the sound of a Chinese fiddle on one of his three cellos. Apart from the music, these dorky dads are very appealing. Between numbers, they joked, bantered about their kids, told amusing back stories about some of the pieces and engaged in mild slapstick. Schmidt played piano lying on his back at one point. At another, Nelson pretended to fall asleep during Pachelbels Canon. The audience ate it up. Part way through Beethovens Five Secrets, the video screen showed a symphony orchestra, which we appeared to hear until the spotlight suddenly shone on the actual string players: eight violinists from the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra, who rose sweetly and splendidly to the occasion. Nelsons voice broke as he dedicated the final song to two 5-year-old boys born prematurely, who were seeing the performance through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. To the sounds of Amazing Grace/Fight Song and four local bagpipers, The Piano Guys left Omaha a little better than when they arrived. Medical manufacturer Becton Dickinson said Thursday that it will invest $100 million in its insulin syringe factory in Holdrege, giving south-central Nebraska an economic shot in the arm. Upgrades to the 650-employee facility will increase production capacity but wont necessarily add employees, company spokesman Troy Kirkpatrick said. To remain a leader in the industry, you need to stay in the forefront of technology, Kirkpatrick said. This is a good thing when it comes to the retention of those jobs in Holdrege. Thursdays announcement fits exactly with the business recruitment goals of Holdrege and Phelps County, said insurance agent Brad Johnson, president of the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce. It diversifies our community, because were mostly agriculture, Johnson said. You throw in BD, its a huge asset for Holdrege. Becton Dickinson, based in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, is a longtime Nebraska employer, with more than 2,500 employees in Holdrege, Broken Bow and two locations in Columbus. The company came to Holdrege in 1966 with a 12,000-square-foot building and 66 employees. Today the facility on the southwest edge of town has 350,000 square feet and a staff of more than 650 people, the largest employer in Phelps County. Becton Dickinson is a community asset beyond its jobs, Johnson said. They support the whole community. Anything the community needs, they will be very helpful. The decision to invest in the plant also gives weight to pitches by Phelps Countys economic developers that Holdrege is a good place for medical-related manufacturing, he said. In the medical field, it doesnt matter what the economy does, he said. Everybody still needs needles and syringes. It would be nice to get another manufacturer in the medical field. Becton Dickinson produces more than 2 billion insulin syringes a year, or about 250,000 per hour, at several manufacturing locations around the world. Ken Miller, worldwide president of the companys diabetes care division, said about 40 percent of people with diabetes use syringes as part of their regimen. This investment will provide benefits to this diabetes population and underscores our commitment to supply high-quality, industry-leading insulin syringes to patients, he said. Becton Dickinson also makes products for medical research, clinical laboratories, surgical procedures, respiratory care and other medical needs. The company has more than 45,000 employees in 50 countries. Omaha-based Tenaska Inc. said this week that its Tenaska Solar Energy Center West project is fully operational, with enough generating capacity to power 55,000 homes in Southern Californias Imperial Valley. The 150-megawatt project, Tenaskas second large-scale solar generator, has a 25-year contract to sell electricity to San Diego Gas & Electric. First Solar Inc. began construction in November 2014 and will operate the plant, which has 1.8 million solar generating panels. Tenaskas first project in the area went on line in 2013 and can generate 130 megawatts, enough for 45,000 houses. Tenaska also owns a controlling interest in Soltage LLC of Jersey City, New Jersey, which develops, finances and operates rooftop solar generators for commercial projects. The Nebraska Supreme Court will not step in to review a judges decision to bar an advanced DNA analysis that could have more strongly connected Anthony Garcia to a burglary committed the same day that a doctor and his wife were killed. The ruling, issued Wednesday afternoon, means that Garcias trial on four counts of first-degree murder will begin Monday. It is expected to last four to six weeks. We knew that, procedurally, our chances were slight in getting the Supreme Court to take action here, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said. We respect their opinion. We were ready to go before. Well be ready to go on Monday. Prosecutors will have to rely on a previous DNA analysis that essentially concluded that DNA left on the door handle of a Creighton doctors house could be connected to Garcia or a male relative. The new DNA analysis would have more strongly connected the skin cells to Garcia, prosecutors have said. Prosecutors rarely are allowed to appeal a judges order before trial, but Kleine asked Nebraskas high court to hear the matter. Nebraska Chief Justice Michael Heavican wrote that the judges decision in question is discretionary, and appellate courts do not review such discretionary decisions before trial. Heavican wrote that such an appeal can be heard only if the judge has an absolute duty to perform in a specified manner upon the existence of certain facts. That wasnt the case with Judge Gary Randalls decision to bar the analysis, Heavican wrote. Authorities allege that skin cells left on Creighton Dr. Chhanda Bewtras door handle can be connected to Garcia. Further, prosecutors allege, those skin cells were left on May 12, 2013 the same day that Garcias former boss, Dr. Roger Brumback, and his wife, Mary, were killed in their Omaha home near 114th and Shirley Streets. Garcia was charged in July 2013 with the March 2008 killings of Thomas Hunter, 11, and Shirlee Sherman, 57, and the May 2013 killings of the Brumbacks. Authorities allege that he committed the slayings as revenge for being fired from Creighton University Medical Center in 2001 by Hunters father, Dr. William Hunter, as well as Dr. Brumback. One of Garcias attorneys, Jeremy Jorgenson, had noted that prosecutors didnt have the new analysis when the case was last scheduled for trial in April. Kleine had countered that prosecutors provided the new analysis to defense attorneys in June, some three months before the trial. Jorgenson suggested that it would take him several months, if not years, to arrange for an expert to counter the new analysis. He also invoked Garcias right to a speedy trial. Jorgensons argument won the day with Randall. This Court believes any additional delay in this trial is not in any partys best interest and it would likely negatively impact the evidence that can be presented by both the State and the Defendant, Randall wrote. At some point, the State, the Defendant and the public are entitled to a resolution of this case. Kleine said he believed that the new analysis was worth fighting for. I have great respect for Judge Randall, Kleine said. The position he was put in was by defense counsel when they simply said, Were not ready, and were not going to be ready for this evidence. Jorgenson did not return phone calls Wednesday. Kleine said prosecutors can file pretrial appeals only on suppression orders. Other states allow prosecutors to appeal other pretrial rulings, provided that they can show that they would suffer irreparable harm if the ruling were to stand. The prosecutor said its something that he might look into with state senators. Theres not really a manner where the (Nebraska) Supreme Court allows prosecutors to appeal based on irreparable harm, Kleine said. Maybe theres a hole in the appellate process here. HASTINGS, Neb. A former Hastings police detective charged with theft involving a GoFundMe page pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in Adams County District Court. Jerry Esch, 46, of Hastings, was charged with theft by deception involving more than $5,000 when he set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for medical expenses that were already covered by insurance. The felony charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Esch worked for the Hastings Police Department until February. He appeared in court with his attorney Thursday and is free on bail. District Judge James Doyle said that, if convicted, Esch could possibly be ordered to pay restitution to the people from whom he allegedly took money. Esch battled melanoma, and doctors removed a toe and lymph nodes in his leg after he was diagnosed in 2009. His right leg was later amputated 4 inches below the knee. A 2015 Hastings Tribune story said Eschs clinical trial was out of network and only partially covered, so Esch maxed out his credit cards. He eventually set up the GoFundMe page after others encouraged him to, the article states. He launched the fundraiser, titled "Jerrys Medical Bills," on Nov. 17, 2015, and requested $27,000 in donations. According to a court affidavit, Esch told co-workers he needed to cover medical expenses that werent covered by his insurance provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield. The affidavit says Blue Cross Blue Shield records from October 2014 to November 2015 indicate that Esch didnt have any out-of-network services and that he had no denied claims in 2015. Blue Cross Blue Shield pharmacy records show all fees for the $18,000 in medication were paid except for Eschs $50 co-pay, which he paid from February to June 2015, when he reached his out-of-pocket deductible. After that, Blue Cross Blue Shield continued to pay for the medication, with Esch contributing no money. The affidavit says the plan administrator of the Hastings Police Department insurance plan can testify that "there was no way Esch could have accumulated $27,000 in medical debt in 2015." In an interview with the Nebraska State Patrol in January 2016, the affidavit says, "Esch acknowledged that he requested funds for medical expenses because he knew he was more likely to get donations than if he had truthfully stated his credit card debt and other debt were due to poor financial decisions." Doyle set a pretrial hearing for Dec. 15 and a jury trial for Jan. 9. Jason L. Golka was 16 days shy of turning 18 years old when he shot and killed two men in Gretna in 2004. On Wednesday, a judge said Golka will be about 16 days shy of turning 63 when hell be eligible for parole. Golkas age at the time of the crime and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling prompted the judge to issue a new sentence in Sarpy County District Court. With family and friends of the victims and Golka watching, the now-29-year-old was given two terms of 45 years to life for a 2004 double homicide. The sentences will be served consecutively, and Golka will get credit for time hes already served. A previous sentence did not give Golka the possibility of parole. Sarpy County District Judge William Zastera told Golka he must be a model prisoner or parole wont happen. This is giving you a chance, Zastera said. And thats it. Its a chance the prosecution and family members of the victims didnt think Golka deserved. Golka shot and killed two men, Jay Ellis, 41, and Roscoe Jordan, 38, at a Gretna home on Oct. 24, 2004. Golka had a special relationship with Jordan and Ellis. Defense attorney Jeffrey Pickens said his client called the two men his uncles and did and shared drugs with them. Two nights prior to the shootings, Golka was at Ellis and Jordans home at 213 Shamrock Road for a party. Pickens said at that party somebody hit Golka over the head and knocked him unconscious. While Golka was out, someone shaved off his hair, spray-painted his face and hair and let a lit cigarette burn down on his forearm. He woke up at the party humiliated and wanting to know who had done that to him, but no one would tell him, Pickens said. Golka went back the next day with a gun trying to figure out who had done that to him. He was confronted about bringing a gun to the property. Armed again, Golka returned on Oct. 24. It was planned. It was premeditated. It was a brutal attack on the two men, Sarpy County Chief Deputy Attorney Tricia Freeman told the judge. Golka picked a gun, sawed off the barrel and had target practice, she said. He lured Jordan outside by knocking over a flower pot and opened fire on Jordan, Freeman and Pickens both said. When Jordan was down, Golka shot him again. Then Golka went back to the car, got another gun and went inside the house. Golka tried to rouse Ellis but got no response from him. Then Golka shot Ellis in the back of the head. On his way out, Golka shot Jordan again. Golka is one of 27 people in Nebraska who were under the age of 18 when they received mandatory life sentences. They are being resentenced following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said mandatory life without parole for juveniles violates the Constitutions ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Changes have also been made to Nebraskas sentencing law. Golka barely made the cutoff for juvenile status, a fact Freeman emphasized. I think this is a crime that was particularly heinous, it was barbaric, it was planned, it was premeditated, Freeman said. Sixteen days later and its a completely different result and completely different consideration. Freeman said Golkas behavior in prison is indicative of his behavior if hes let out of prison. Hes had almost 100 misconduct reports, though those have slowed in recent years. He did test positive for marijuana on a urine test in the months leading up the hearing. Sheila Hill, Golkas mother, said shes seen a change in her son. Hill said Golka is truly remorseful and knows he has problems that he needs to take care of to be released. During the hearing Golka said that he had no one to blame but himself for his position and that he has grown up during his time in prison. Every day is a day that I can wake up and be better than I was yesterday, he said. And I have thousands of days left to do that. That is my goal. Ellis and Jordan were trying to get their lives on track too, family members said after the hearing. Now theyll never have that chance. Roscoe had been in prison, hed been in jail, said Shayla Jordan, niece of Jordan. He was trying to get his life on track. What stinks is he didnt have that chance. Hes not around to have that chance. Danielle Ellis, Ellis niece, said theres no justification for taking two peoples lives the way Golka did and the families were disappointed with Wednesdays outcome. All we can do is be here in 33 years when hes going to get parole and tell our side and say, Hey, theres no reason he should get out and live a free life when these two people didnt get to live past 38 and 41, she said. This is not the first time Golkas sentence was re-examined. In 2006 the phrase without parole was removed from Golkas sentence following a ruling from the Nebraska Supreme Court. Golka also appealed his sentence to the Nebraska Supreme Court saying he had ineffective counsel and that a life sentence at age 17 amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. His conviction was affirmed by the court in 2011. A 25-year-old man was injured in a cutting Wednesday night near North 59th and Sahler Streets. Police said Donell Brown suffered minor injuries in the cutting. Officers reported to Nebraska Medical Center around 9:15 p.m. after Brown entered the hospital and said he was cut by a knife. Brown told officers that he was confronted by four men near 59th and Sahler. An altercation broke out, police said, and one of the men cut Brown with a knife. LINCOLN State legislative leaders said that a computer upgrade announced Wednesday to more accurately calculate release dates of prison inmates was long overdue. On Saturday, a new software system will go online that Corrections Department officials believe will eliminate the chances of a repeat of a scandal uncovered in 2014 that resulted in the mistaken, early release of hundreds of inmates. Three senators who dug into the matter on a special investigative committee said the prison system needed such an upgrade 10 or 15 years ago. It shocked me, as well as some of the other members of the committee, about how they were doing their calculations, manually, with a paper and pencil and a calculator, said State Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha. Another Omaha senator, Bob Krist, said the computer upgrades will improve public safety by better ensuring that inmates arent released before their legal sentence is served. Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher said, Its about 15 years overdue. Two years ago, The World-Herald revealed that the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services had, for nearly two decades, miscalculated certain sentences, resulting in the improper early release of hundreds of prisoners. State Corrections Director Scott Frakes, who was hired 19 months ago to reform the agency, announced the launch of the new automated system on Wednesday. Frakes told reporters that the updated system, coupled with more robust reviews by legal and records staff, should eliminate any future systemwide breakdowns. Weve created a system that shouldnt allow that to happen, he said. Theres always a chance of an individual error, but we wont see a system error like we saw. The scandal involving inmate release dates is one of several problems facing the department. Prisons are overcrowded, prompting threats of a civil rights lawsuit; excessive staff turnover is leading to excessive use of overtime; and, most recently, assaults of staff have increased. In 2015, the State Legislature allocated $395,000 for automating sentence calculations. Frakes said that the new computer system had been scheduled to go online late last year. But in reviewing sentence calculations, more mistakes were found, which delayed the launch, he said. The automated, software-based sentence calculation system replaces one that required manual calculation of release dates that then were entered into a computer system that dates to the 1980s, prison officials said. Under the old system, sentences were calculated by hand and were based on every month having 30 days and a year having 360 days, which officials said was common in many states. Under the new system, calculations will be based on a full, 365-day calendar year. The old system didnt arrive at a legally exact release date for a sentence that, for example, was two years and six months. If a sentence involved a number of months, the number of days an inmate should serve would depend on which months were involved since months vary in days from 28 to 31. When the new computer system goes online, release dates and parole eligibility dates of all 5,300 inmates in the state prison system will be recalculated. Frakes said he expects that will require minor adjustments in the sentences of about half of all inmates. He said that the department has already looked at 18 inmates whose release dates were scheduled from Saturday to Oct. 4. Of those, 15 inmates had no change or a reduction of one day in prison, and the three others had additions of one, two and seven days. Much of the sentence miscalculation scandal was caused by agency lawyers ignoring State Supreme Court opinions on how to determine release dates. Frakes said that department attorneys now review all court opinions. The office of the prison systems record administrator is now located just across the hall from the legal division, which has improved communications, said Julie Smith, the agencys top lawyer. Several corrections administrators resigned or retired in the wake of the scandal involving release dates, including the agencys lead legal counsel and the records administrator. Frakes said hed give the new computer system a grade of B plus. The department still needs to automate the process of calculating consecutive and concurrent sentences that can be mixed together when an inmate is sentenced for multiple offenses and multiple cases. Several factors go into the calculation of a release date. State laws involving good time (a reduction in a sentence for good behavior) have changed seven times in recent decades. Mandatory minimum sentences, in which an inmate is required to serve a certain number of years in prison without getting good time, impact release dates. In addition, an inmate convicted of multiple crimes might get a sentence that requires prison terms to be served concurrently (at the same time) or consecutively (one after the other). There are still improvements that need to be made in the departments computer systems, said Frakes and the state senators. Some states, for instance, have an integrated criminal justice computer system that is used by law enforcement, the courts and corrections, Frakes said. Right now, a records clerk still needs to manually input a sentencing order from a judge, which is often a paper record, Frakes said. That data is double checked by a second clerk, he added. There are few things as heartwarming as a child's compassion. Kindergarten and sixth-grade students at Rockbrook Elementary School this week reached out to kids being treated for cancer at the Nebraska Medicine with kind words and cards. The students created handmade cards for the hospitals youngest fighters. Each card includes a message, attached with a photo of the student who made it. When a young patient is admitted to Nebraska Medicine for cancer treatment, he or she will receive a personal message from a new friend. In addition, Rockbrook students learned about the importance of kindness and compassion for others. These cards are exactly what our pediatric patients need while fighting cancer, said Debbie Wagers, child life specialist at Nebraska Medicine. Having a card to read during treatment gives our kids something positive to focus on even if its for a few minutes. It also reminds them that someday soon theyll return to school and see their friends. LINCOLN Former Gov. Kay Orr launched the expressway system 28 years ago as a network of four-lane highways connecting Nebraskas largest cities to Interstate 80. The last of 600 miles of concrete was supposed to have been poured in 2003, but other budget priorities and a lack of road construction dollars left 132 miles of expressway unfunded. On Thursday, Orr stood beside Gov. Pete Ricketts as he announced a $300 million plan to complete the unfinished miles by 2033. We knew at the time it wouldnt be completed immediately, but had no idea it was going to take so long, Orr said, applauding the governor and the Nebraska Legislature for making good on the states commitment. High on the project list is the four-lane extension of U.S. Highway 275 from Scribner to West Point. When the $90 million extension is done, all but 30 miles of the highway between Omaha and Norfolk will have four lanes. It was one of eight construction projects announced by Ricketts, a list that includes rebuilding segments of three Omaha-area highways. Work on Highway 275 is scheduled to begin by 2019, and dirt will be turned on the seven other construction projects no later than 2024, said Kyle Schneweis, director of the Roads Department. The money is part of the $450 million Transportation Innovation Act, passed this year by the Nebraska Legislature with the governors enthusiastic support. Meanwhile, the remaining unfinished expressways such as U.S. Highway 81 north of York and U.S. Highway 75 north of Nebraska City have been slated for design by the Nebraska Department of Roads. While we may not be guaranteeing construction on these projects, we certainly would expect them to be very strong contenders going forward, Schneweis said. Otherwise we wouldnt invest our resources in design. The Transportation Innovation Act derives funding from two sources: $400 million from a 6-cent per gallon increase of the gas tax approved by lawmakers in 2015 and $50 million from the states cash reserve fund. In addition to expressways, the act will fund county bridge repair and economic development-related transportation projects. The Roads Department relies on another stream of construction funding from the Build Nebraska Act, passed by the Legislature in 2011. That law designates one-quarter of a cent of the states sales tax to highways, roads and streets. It generates about $60 million annually. The department will use a combination of those funds to work on expressways, along with other highway construction in the next decade and beyond. We see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, of how we are going to complete this expressway system, Ricketts said. Among construction projects announced by the governor: Reconstruction of six lanes of I-680 between Fort Street and Irvington Road, $29 million Rebuilding the interchange at West Dodge Road (U.S. Highway 6) and 192nd Street, $17 million Adding a 3-mile northbound lane to U.S. Highway 75 near Chandler Road, $10 million Building a 4-mile beltway at Fremont that will provide a four-lane connection between U.S. 77 and U.S. 275, $26 million Widening to four lanes 18 miles of U.S. Highway 26 from Minatare to U.S. 385, $60 million Creating a super two project along U.S. 83 between McCook and North Platte, which adds a passing lane about every 5 miles to the two-lane highway, $90 million In prioritizing the projects, the department used traditional measures such as traffic counts and accident rates. But it also considered a projects potential economic impact, along with input obtained from Nebraskans through online comments and public meetings. About 2,000 people weighed in, Schneweis said. State Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, who introduced the Transportation Innovation Act on the governors behalf, said he expects that some might be unhappy with the project list. But Smith said he thinks the departments launch of the program was solid. You have to have a level of trust with the professionals, he said. I think they have done their jobs and done it very well. York Mayor Chuck Harris said Thursday that he was pleased to see the Highway 81 project on the design list, although he would have liked to see it ranked higher. Were tickled that its actually on a printed list so we know where we stand, he said. It was great news for residents of West Point to learn that Highway 275 will be extended to the south side of town, Mayor Marlene Johnson said. Elected officials and business leaders in her community have been lobbying for almost a decade, only to be told that there was simply no money available to break ground. Its a good feeling to finally see the project move forward, she said. The Highway 275 project also will use whats called the design-build method, in which a single firm provides both design and construction services to trim months or possibly years off a projects timeline. This year the Legislature authorized the approach for the first time in Nebraska, although it has been used in other states. Leaders in all communities waiting for divided highways should celebrate Thursdays announcement, said Josh Moenning, director of 4 Lanes 4 Nebraska, an organization that has advocated for completion of the expressway system. Theres a lot for Nebraska to be excited about, he said. It creates a playbook for finishing the expressway system. Mayor Jean Stothert hasnt yet decided whether she will have surgery after she fractured a vertebra while walking three dogs Thursday morning. Carrie Murphy, a spokeswoman for Stothert, said she visited Thursday with the mayor, who was in good spirits. Shes her usual joking, pretty good-natured self for what shes been through today, Murphy said. Stotherts husband, Joe Stothert, who is a trauma surgeon, was also with her at the hospital. Murphy said its not clear how long Stothert will be in the hospital. Murphy said she has canceled the mayors appointments Friday. A town hall meeting that was scheduled to be held Thursday evening at Saddlebrook Community Center will be rescheduled. The mayor was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center, where she had a CT scan and an MRI exam. She suffered a burst fracture of the L1 vertebra, which is in the lower back. Murphy said the mayor will probably decide Friday whether to have surgery. In October 2014, the mayor underwent foot surgery because of a longtime injury. She had the surgery on a Friday and returned to work Monday. In a statement Thursday, the City Council wished Stothert a speedy recovery. Council President Ben Gray is out of town, according to the statement. Councilman Chris Jerram is the council vice president. The City Charter says that if the mayor is out of town or disabled, the council president serves as acting mayor. (If the council president is out of town, the vice president serves as acting mayor). Disabled is defined as unable to perform the physical or mental duties of that position. City Attorney Paul Kratz said Stothert doesnt fit that definition at this point. Its nowhere close to that, he said. Kratz said Stothert can continue to perform her duties from home or even a hospital bed. Murphy said she plans to bring Stothert some documents to sign Friday. If a mayor is unable to perform his or her duties for six consecutive months, the council could move to remove that mayor from office. Previous council presidents have occasionally taken over as acting mayor because of mayoral health problems. In 2012, then-Mayor Jim Suttle suffered a mild stroke while in Ireland. He was hospitalized there on a Friday and returned to Omaha that Monday. Council President Tom Mulligan remained acting mayor while Suttle was evaluated here. Suttle resumed his duties the Wednesday after he returned. In 1984, as then-Mayor Mike Boyle recovered from a near-fatal heart attack, Council President Bernie Simon and members of Boyles Cabinet handled many of the mayors appearances and ceremonial functions. Boyle performed some of his duties from a hospital bed. He stayed at home for part of his convalescence, then returned to part-time duty before going back to work full time. In 1987, while Simon served as mayor, Council Vice President Joe Friend was acting mayor for two days because Simon was in the hospital and Council President Fred Conley was away. Conley also served as acting mayor during the last few weeks of Simons battle with cancer and for the week after Simons death in 1988. According to Murphy, Stothert fell while walking three dogs. The dogs were Ozzy, an Australian shepherd; Lily, a golden retriever-Labrador retriever mix whom Stothert adopted soon after she took office; and Henry, who belongs to Stotherts son Andrew. Murphy described Henry as a small dog. The good news: The dogs are all fine, Murphy said. Staying ahead of and accommodating the suburbs rapid growth is a priority for four candidates vying for three open seats on Gretnas school board this November. Gretna Public Schools is one of the fastest-growing districts in the state. Enrollment went from 3,155 students in 2011 to 4,495 this year, said Superintendent Kevin Riley. And its projected to continue growing by 6 to 7 percent per year, he said. That comes with a whole new set of challenges, said Brinton Strohmyer, an instructor at Iowa Western Community College. How can we continue to provide that quality education in what was initially kind of a small community? Strohmyer is running for school board for the first time. He said he wants to ensure theres creativity and innovation in how the district approaches its students. Every student deserves an education, he said. But every student is different, and we need to focus on this whole conformity problem. Rick Hollendieck, current vice president of the school board, said getting schools built in time and in the right spots will be key. Safety is also important, he said. We make all of our decisions based on whats good for our kids in our district, he said. Thats our No. 1 goal. I want to make sure we continue to keep that at the forefront. Dawn Stock, whos running for her second term on the board, echoed Hollendiecks sentiment. Keeping up with evolving classroom technology and maintaining a small-town feel as the district grows should also be priorities, Stock said. Theres a certain way we like to do things in Gretna, she said, and trying to maintain that over more and more buildings is a challenge. Kyle Janssen, whos running for the first time, emphasized maintaining existing standards in the district, even as it grows. Continuing to attract and retain high-quality teachers and administrators will be key to that, said Janssen, who owns Community Pharmacy Services in Gretna. He said he thinks the school district has been a driving factor in the citys growth. The reputation the district has for being a great school district and a great place to put kids through school thats contributed to a lot of the growth of the community, Janssen said. * * * Brinton Strohmyer Age: 32 Party: Nonpartisan Home: Omaha Occupation: Instructor at Iowa Western Community College Public offices held: None Education: Bachelors in political science and economics from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2006; masters degree from Capella University, 2013; anticipated Ph.D. Family: Married, two children Faith: Catholic and nondenominational Dawn Stock Age: 40 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Missions director Public offices held: Currently on school board Education: Bachelors in economics from Nebraska Wesleyan University, 1998 Family: Married, two kids Faith: Methodist Rick Hollendieck Age: 53 Party: Republican Home: Gretna Occupation: Owner of Sys-Kool Public offices held: Currently on school board Education: Bachelors in engineering from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1985 Family: Married, five children Faith: Catholic Kyle Janssen Age: 38 Party: Nonpartisan Home: Gretna Occupation: Owner of Community Pharmacy Services Public offices held: None Education: Bachelors in chemistry from Northwest Missouri State, 2000; doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2004 Family: Married, three children Faith: Lutheran 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 terrorist 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 that 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 terrorists 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. 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 (the Islamic State), decentralized terror networks (al-Qaida), 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. The motives and goals of radical Islamists are in their writings, sermons and media. The latest 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 General Patton. Hillary Clinton reminds them of a conscientious objector. Really? Are there undecided voters left? Yes, as hard as it may be for most of us to believe, after putting up with the ads and sound bites of the presidential race for more than a year, polls show almost 10 percent of voters still havent made up their minds. Thats typical. I used to make fun of such voters. I thought they were pathologically indecisive, like people in a supermarket checkout line who go into paralysis when asked to choose paper or plastic. But give them some respect. With national polls and some crucial battleground states tightening into a virtual dead heat, the holdouts deserve new respect. There are more than enough of them to decide whether experienced Democrat Hillary Clinton or entertaining Republican Donald Trump will be our next president. To get more insight into their frame of mind, I spent Friday evening with a roomful of undecided voters on the other side of a two-way mirror from me and about a dozen other journalists. Republican pollster Frank Luntz, a superstar convener of focus groups, organized the three-hour session for AARP in Alexandria, a pearl on the Potomac River in the important battleground state of Virginia. The group consisted of 30 people, including 11 women by my count, a range of age brackets and a sprinkling of black, Hispanic and Asian-American voters. Ten said they voted for President Barack Obama twice, 15 voted against him twice and four said they had voted for him once. The latter included at least one of the black men. He said he voted for Republican Sen. John McCain in 2008. That surprised me for a moment. Blacks who voted against Obama even once and admit it are almost as rare as unicorns. But getting past our stereotypes to find out how voters really feel is why we turn to focus groups. This group of voters was fed up, and they let us know it. They didnt like either major partys nominee. When Luntz asked for one-word descriptions of Clinton, participants called out responses like deceitful, slimy, liar, untrustworthy and corruption. Trump was described just as grumpily as crazy, unstable, unbalanced, arrogant, a bigot, a buffoon and megalomaniac. A few said without enthusiasm that they might consider an alternative partys candidate such as Libertarian Gary Johnson or the Green Partys Jill Stein, although neither was catching fire with this group. The group was shown an array of attack ads and feel-good ads for both candidates and asked to rate each one, moment to moment, with hand-held dials. A pattern emerged. The dial results, reading out on a video screen, didnt move up very much. They liked an ad in which Clinton promised to work with Republicans. But they also liked an anti-Clinton ad that featured a retired naval officers challenging question to Clinton about her emails and national security at NBCs recent Commander in Chief Forum. Its on the spot, one focus-group participant said of the ad. Its not staged. Theres no performance. At one point near the end, Luntz left the room briefly to talk to us journalists in the observation room. We have now reached the point, he said, when even the standard sound bites do not work. Theyve heard it all before, over and over again, Luntz said. The ad with the naval officer connected because it featured a real person earnestly asking a real question, not a professional announcer. As the late comedian George Burns used to say, the secret to success in life is sincerity If you can fake that, youve got it made. Judging by Luntzs group, undecided voters are turned off by the fakery, attack ads and attack sound bites. Theyre looking for solutions. Trumps ads offered more diagnoses than prescriptions. Clinton offered proposals but without a unifying or inspiring theme. For both, positive messages were welcomed more than negative ones but were also more rare. For both candidates, Luntz suggested, the election may well come down to who Americans would rather wake up to as their next president on the morning after Election Day. If so, I think Clintons best hope may be that undecided voters choose the flawed candidate whom they know over the flawed newcomer that they dont. The 1980s farm crisis hit Nebraska hard. State leaders had to make painful decisions on how to handle the budget. Its fitting this week that Bob Kerrey praised Bill Barrett, the speaker of the Legislature during the late 1980s, for working constructively with Kerrey, Nebraskas governor at the time, in navigating the difficulties of that era. Barrett, who served 12 years in the Nebraska Legislature and 10 years in Congress as the 3rd District representative, died this week at age 87 in his hometown of Lexington. Comments in the wake of his death were notable in praising Barrett for his character and positive temperament in working with colleagues. U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, a former member of the Nebraska Legislature now representing the 3rd District, said Barrett was known for being true to his word and bringing people together to get things done. He also noted, With the passing of both Bill Barrett and Duane Acklie within days of one another, Nebraska has lost two influential conservative leaders. Acklie, a leader in Nebraskas nationally respected transportation industry, was a longtime figure in state GOP circles. Skilled leadership in government and business is vital to our society. Bill Barrett and Duane Acklie provided commendable examples. Cabinet on Cauvery: Siddaramaiah had his legal team next to him all along Bengaluru oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Sept 22: The Karnataka Cabinet which took a decision to defer the release of water to Tamil Nadu had its task cut out. Defying the Supreme Court is not always an easy task and considering that the state was proposing to do the same can, well lead into a constitutional crisis. While Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah consulted with leaders across parties, he also ensured that his legal team was right beside him. Prior to the all party meeting held at Bengaluru on Wednesday, there was a meeting in which legal experts were consulted. The Chief Minister also asked Karnataka's counsel in the Supreme Court, Mohan Katarki to be part of the meeting. Katarki was also told to advise the cabinet, a first in the past 25 years. While Siddaramaiah sought the support of all parties, he also had his legal team with him advising him all along. The Cabinet explored a host of options in the wake of the Supreme Court directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs to TN for a period of seven days starting September 21. Also read: Cauvery row: Can Karnataka be held in contempt for defying SC order? The legal team was asked to advise on the consequences of disobeying the Supreme Court's order. Further the team and also several other leaders advised that if a decision on this needs to be taken, then the ideal route would be through a resolution passed by the legislature. In the days to come the legal team will have its hands full. If a resolution is passed stating that Karnataka would not release water, then this team would have to make out their case before the Supreme Court. The team would have to inform the court about the resolution and why Karnataka has decided not to abide by the order of the Supreme Court for now. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 16:15 [IST] Cauvery row: Can Karnataka be held in contempt for defying SC order? Bengaluru oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Sept 22: The Karnataka cabinet on Wednesday decided to put on hold release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Supreme Court had directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu between September 21 and 27. However, following an all party meeting, it was decided to defer the release of water and convene a special legislative assembly session and take a final call. There are many scenarios that are likely to arise if the government decides to go ahead and defy the orders of the Supreme Court. If the legislature tells the government to defy the order of the Supreme Court it amounts to contempt. If the legislature says the order must be defied and the government does not abide by it, then it would amount to breach of privilege. How this issue can unfold legally For now the legal advisors to the government of Karnataka say that the decision has only been deferred. Although technically it does amount to contempt of court, Karnataka can for now argue that the order has not been defied in totality. Also read: No more water for Tamil Nadu;Karnataka decides, special House session on Friday If the legislature passes a resolution on September 23 to defy the order of the court and the government follows it, then it can be hauled up for contempt of court. However, not abiding by the resolution of the legislature will amount to breach of privilege, legal experts say. Hence this is a call that the government of Karnataka would need to take. Before initiating any contempt proceedings, the court would go into the resolution of the legislature. The Supreme Court does have the power to strike down a resolution as unconstitutional. However, the legislature can contest the same and this could lead to a constitutional crisis. The Supreme Court has stated that its orders are supreme and it can override the resolution by the legislature. If the Supreme Court finds that the state has willfully disobeyed its orders, then it can initiate contempt proceedings. If the state is found guilty, then the Supreme Court can recommend to the Union Government to invoke Article 356 of the Indian Constitution or President's rule in the state. The centre can also suo motu invoke Article 356 based on the recommendation of the governor. OneIndia News Cauvery row: What are Karnataka's calculations now? Bengaluru oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Sept 22: The Karnataka Cabinet on Wednesday decided not to release water to Tamil Nadu immediately while also stating that a special legislative assembly session would be convened on September 23. The special session has been convened to discuss the future course of action in the wake of the Supreme Court directing the release of water to Tamil Nadu. While there is every indication that the legislature may pass a resolution not to release water which effectively means defying the order of the court, there are other issues that will also be discussed. The session will discuss if they could postpone implementing the order of the court or even file a review against the order. What is Karnataka's calculation? There were enough indications on Wednesday that the government will not release any water for now. At the all party meeting, all spoke in one voice about not releasing water. Also read: No more water for Tamil Nadu;Karnataka decides, special House session on Friday There were some leaders who even said that the drinking water for the people is more important than being hauled up for contempt. The line that all leaders took was that they were caught in a conundrum following the order of the court. There is no water to release, the leaders also said. In this context the government decided to convene a special legislative session and have a resolution on this issue passed. The government will do exactly as per the resolution of the legislature. Further at the all party meet in which the BJP was not present, it was stated that the state would fight the issue both legally and politically if hauled up for contempt. It would be out of desperation and no choice that the court's order was not being followed and not due to willful disobedience, the argument by the state would be. Also read: Cauvery row: Can Karnataka be held in contempt for defying SC order? During the meeting, the discussion regarding the imposition of President's rule also cropped up. All leaders said that if inevitable then they were ready to face the consequences. However, others even asked if the government of India would implement it over this issue. The legislature would also explore the possibility of delaying the implementation of the Supreme Court's verdict. For now it would not be possible to release water, but there is a chance that the arrears could be cleared next month. There is also a plan to tell the court that it has acted in a very rigid manner which could lead to a constitutional confrontation. In this context the state would go to the court armed with the resolution of the legislative assembly. OneIndia News Temporary relief for Nalini Chidambaram as HC restrains ED Chennai oi-PTI Chennai, Sep 22: In an interim relief to senior advocate Nalini Chidambaram, wife of former Union minister P Chidambaram, the Madras High Court today directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not to proceed further on its summons, asking her to appear before it in connection with its money-laundering probe in the Saradha chit fund scam till further orders. Passing the order on Nalini's petition, seeking quashing of the last ED summons dated September 7, issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Justice TS Sivagnanam said the court was inclined to grant the interim relief as not doing so would render the writ plea "infructuous". The judge directed the Assistant Director, ED, Kolkata not to proceed further, pursuant to the impugned order (summons) and said the matter shall be kept in abeyance until further orders. The matter relates to the "professional fee" of Rs one crore, paid to Nalini by Saradha Group chairman Sudipto Sen for her appearance in a Delhi court and the Company Law Board (CLB) on behalf of former Union minister Matang Singh's wife Manoranjana, over a deal involving the purchase of three television channels. Sen had paid the fee as part of an agreement between him and Manoranjana. The ED had issued the summons to Nalini, asking her to appear before it on September 29. Alleging "political" reasons behind it, Nalini's counsel had pointed out in court that the CBI had already filed a chargesheet in the Saradha chit fund scam before a court in West Bengal and her name did not figure in it either as an accused or a witness. Yet, she was summoned by the ED. Contending that the professional fee was received before the scam came to light, Nalini had submitted that as per section 160 of the CrPC, a woman could not be summoned by the police and the inquiry had to be conducted at her residence. Appearing for the ED, Assistant Solicitor General G Rajagopalan had submitted that the matter was only in the stage of summons and mere summoning itself could not be assumed as the person had been made an accused. In today's order, the judge said, "This court is of the considered view that the respondent (ED) should file counter affidavits, not only meeting the factual allegations made, but also the legal contentions raised." Referring to Nalini's objection to summoning a woman to the police station, he said it had to be examined if the provisions of the CrPC or that of the PMLA would prevail in the light of certain judgments cited by both the sides. The judge directed the ED to file its counter within four weeks and posted the matter to November 8. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 10:51 [IST] Assam urges UK, Australia to rectify travel advisory Guwahati oi-PTI Guwahati, Sep 22: Assam Tourism Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked United Kingdom and Australia to immediately rectify their travel advisory to its citizens on Assam. The clubbing together of Assam 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 today. "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 National 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. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 15:54 [IST] The two widows fighting for justice for the Munich victims Muslim man can't remarry if he's unable to take care of family: Allahabad HC 18 Lankans, held on charge of human trafficking, granted bail India oi-PTI Madurai, Sep 21 Eighteen Sri Lankan nationals, arrested in June in Kanyakumari district on the charge of embarking on an "illegal" voyage to Australia, were today granted interim bail by the Madras High Court bench here. Granting the relief, Justice CT Selvam directed them to stay at the Special Refugee Camp in Tiruchirappalli. The 18 were arrested on June 26 by the Q Branch police under various statutes, including the Foreigners Act, the Passport Act and IPC sections 370 (trafficking of persons), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating). They were charged with attempting to flee to Australia with the help of some refugees, including one Balaji. The petitioners, including Gopinath, had submitted that they had come to Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka as pilgrims and not refugees as alleged by the police. They had valid passports and visa. But, the police arrested them alleging that they were refugees involved in human trafficking and produced them before a court which had remanded them to judicial custody. Their bail applications were dismissed by the Sessions Court at Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district. The petitioners had sought bail on the ground that they were sole the bread-winners of their respective families. PTI Suspended ex-Andaman chief secretary Narain claims was in Delhi on day of alleged rape Man booked for rape of 12-year-old after video of injured girl surfaces on internet 65-year-old neighbour arrested for molesting 90-year-old widow India oi-IANS By Ians English Kollam (Kerala), Sep 22: A 65-year-old man has been arrested for molesting a 90-year-old widow, who is a cancer patient, in Kollam, police said on Wednesday. The arrested was a neighbour of the victim. Speaking to IANS, Ajitha Begum, Kollam district rural police chief, said the arrest has been recorded. "The charges that have been put on the accused include outraging the modesty of a women and attempt to rape. Preliminary medical examination has been done on the victim and a detailed report of it will be made available to us in three days," said Begum. On Wednesday, morning the widow living alone in her house at Kadakkal near here told a TV channel that a man entered her house a few days back in the middle of the night with a knife. The woman told the media that the crime was committed by someone who knew the layout of her house. "The accused entered my house through the back door. This can be done only by someone who knows the house well," she said. "I pleaded with him not to harm me but he did not listen... I want the police to arrest the accused," she said. The crime took place last week but became public knowledge only on Wednesday. After the media took it up, the police registered an FIR and took the victim to a state run hospital near here. Based on her statement, the police nabbed Babu. Meanwhile, a tense situation prevailed at the hospital when angry CPI-M and Congress activists were engaged in a mild tussle, after Bindu Krishna, the top leader of the Congress party's women's wing, had to face the ire of the CPI-M workers. But with the police acted quickly to avert a major showdown. Leader of opposition and former Congress Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala condemned the incident and blamed the CPI-M-led government that the state of affairs is such that even a 90-year-old woman cannot sleep safely in her home. IANS Ansari on 5-day visit to Nigeria, Mali from Monday India oi-PTI New Delhi, Sep 22: 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. PTI Appeal for calm after US police shooting sparks unrest India oi-PTI Charlotte, Sep 21 The mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina appealed for calm today after a night of violent protests and looting sparked by the fatal police shooting of a black man said to have been armed with a handgun. Police said 16 officers and several demonstrators were injured in clashes after the shooting death of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, the latest in a string of police involved killings that have fueled outrage across the United States. "We are calling for peace, we are calling for calm, we are calling for dialogue," Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said. "We understand that with these events everyone has different viewpoints and perspectives." "That makes it even more important for us to treat each other with dignity and respect and to wait until we have all the information." The shooting occurred at 4:00 PM yesterday in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Charlotte after officers arrived in search of a suspect wanted for arrest, police said. 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. "He stepped out, posing a threat to the officers, and officer Brentley Vinson subsequently fired his weapon, striking the subject," the police chief said. Putney added, however, that he did not know that Scott "definitively pointed the weapon specifically towards an officer." Carrying a firearm is legal under local "open carry" gun laws. Scott's relatives told local media that he was not carrying a gun, but had a book in his hands when he was gunned down, which police disputed. "I can tell you a weapon was seized. A hand gun," Putney said. "I can also tell you we did not find a book that has been made reference to." Putney said Vinson, who joined the force in 2014, was in plain clothes but wearing a vest carrier emblazoned with the police logo, and was backed up by three officers in full uniform. He said Vinson was not wearing a body camera, but the other officers were. "The videos that I've reviewed I cannot see in totality everything that occurred," Putney said. AFP BJP govt may misuse machinery to influence local polls: Congress India oi-PTI Mumbai, Sep 21 Maharashtra Congress leaders today expressed fear that the BJP-led state government might "misuse" the machinery to "influence" the local body polls scheduled in December. The polls are scheduled to be held in over 200 municipal councils across the state. At a meeting chaired by state unit chief Ashok Chavan here, Congress leaders appeared confident of a "good show" by the party, capitalising on the "dissatisfaction of the rural masses" with the state government. However, they felt that confusion was "deliberately" being created over the election process of the municipal council presidents. Party spokesman Sachin Sawant said a government resolution (GR) recently said municipal council presidents would be elected directly. But, he added that there was a speculation that the GR will be withdrawn and the previous system of election of presidents by elected councillors would continue. Sawant said the party leadership felt that the government was "deliberately prolonging the dilemma" and there could be "political interference and misuse of government machinery" in the election process. When contacted, senior Congress leader Narayan Rane said the meeting was called to discuss the party's preparations for the polls, adding that it was decided to identify the probable candidates. When asked about an alliance with the NCP, he said the proposal could be considered if it was on "respectable" terms. The party leaders also discussed the Maratha community morchas being taken out in different parts of the state. Chavan alleged that the government was "not serious" in addressing the issues raised by the community and implementing the reservation in jobs and education. Former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who too was present at the meeting, said the proposal for an alliance with the NCP for the state legislative council polls was also discussed and the party was "open" to an alliance if there was an "honourable pact" and it would like to contest from at least three of the total vacant seats. Sawant said the leaders expressed resentment over NCP leader Praful Patel's recent criticism of the Congress and felt that the former ally needed to be told to refrain from making such comments. Former minister Patangrao Kadam was also present at the meeting. PTI Pak off the FATF grey list doesn't mean it's not under scrutiny anymore: MEA secretary Imran Khan again targets Pakistan's establishment on Day 2 of protest march; govt rules out talks over snap polls Congress accuses Sharif of glorifying terrorists at UNGA India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Sep 22: Accusing Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of "gloryfying terrorists" in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, the Congress on Thursday said it has now become clear where "Pakistan's sympathies and support lie". "In glorifying a terrorist like Burhan Wani, Sharif only reiterated where his and his country's sympathies and support lie," Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a statement. "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 wreak havoc across the world, including in France, Bangladesh, the US, Britain and Belgium," Surjewala alleged. The Congress leader's remarks came after Sharif in his speech at UNGA on Wednesday termed Hizbul militant Burhan Wani, whose killing on July 8 sparked off the current unrest in the Kashmir valley, as a "young leader" and the symbol of the Kashmiri unrest. "In what has now become habitual, Sharif again invoked Kashmir at a multilateral forum, despite Pakistan being a signatory to the Shimla Accord," Surjewala said. India slams Wani's reference in Nawaz Sharif's UN speech Slamming Sharif, the Congress leader said: "In citing 'intifada' in Kashmir, he looks like that emperor who plays flute (sic) while his entire country, right from Khyber to Balochistan to Sindh, is up in a violent intifada against his nation state." At UNGA, raking up the Kashmir issue, Sharif called for a plebiscite and an independent inquiry into alleged human rights violations in Kashmir. Hitting out at Pakistan's Prime Minister, Surjewala said: "In his jarring and impudent address to UNGA yesterday (Wednesday), Sharif repeated the same shrill and cliched statements to belie Pakistan's diabolical support to terrorism." Dubbing Sharif's speech as "glorification of terrorism", the Congress leader said: "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'," Surjewala added. "After taking his brief from his real handlers i.e. the military establishment and ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) in Rawalpindi, all that the Pakistan Prime Minister came up with 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," Surjewala observed. The Congress leader also accused Sharif of "characteristically misleading posturing". "Is it not a fact that the masterminds of the 26/11 Mumbai Attack, Udhampur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Pampore and Uri attacks operate from Pakistani soil with complete impunity," he questioned. "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," the Congress leader wondered. In a strong message to Pakistan's Prime Minister, the Congress leader said: "We would like to categorically tell Sharif, that talks are no favour to India. Pakistan's unending belligerence has denied opportunities to our countries to establish any kind of cordial peace." He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consult all political parties in taking a concrete and tangible step against Pakistan. Surjewala also requested External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to give a "strong and a befitting reply to this address and to build a strong and factual case for India in front of the International community, when she addresses the UNGA on Monday". Congress leader also took a dig at Sushma Swaraj for not being present in nearly all the initial meetings held to assess the situation and review security chaired either by Prime Minister or other Ministers after the terror attack on the Uri military camp in Kashmir on Sunday, in which 18 soldiers were martyred. IANS Uri attack: Did Indian army cross LoC and kill 20 terrorists in PoK? India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer In the aftermath of the Uri attack that has evoked strong responses from several countries and leaders, 20 terrorists were killed by the Indian Army in a cross border operation. According to a story published in The Quint, two units of the elite 2 Paras consisting of 18-20 soldiers flew across the LoC in military helicopters and carried out an operation that killed atleast 20 terrorists in military camps in PoK. Though there is no official confirmation from any Indian government official, The Quint has stated that the operation took place between Sept 20 and Sept 21, based on information from military sources. Indications of the op came in the form of the Pakistan declaring a no-fly zone over PoK on Sept 20 night. Meanwhile, Pakistan International Airlines took to Twitter to announce cancellation of flights to northwestern Pakistani cities, including Gilgit and Skardu due to airspace restrictions. Also read: Uri attack: Parrikar says "quite serious" about punishment Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that the government was quite serious about punishing those responsible for the attack. Though he did not delve into details he said: "How to punish, that is for us to work out. We are quite serious about it." "We take 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, Parrikar added. OneIndia News Himachal Pradesh HC toughens stand on illegal mining India oi-PTI Shimla, Sep 21 Taking a strong note of illegal mining activities in the state, the Himachal Pradesh High Court today cautioned that in case these are not controlled, all officials concerned including the DGP shall be held responsible. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Sandeep Sharma passed the orders on a petition taken up suo moto by the court as PIL on a news item published in some newspapers on August 13, 2016 and fixed the next hearing on September 29. The court also directed the state geologist to remain present in person before the court on the next hearing. It was reported in the news that the SDM, Palampur had received complaints from the residents of Sulaha area that illegal mining was going on unchecked in Neugal River near Paror at Palampur, damaging local paths, water channels, road and cremation ground. It was further reported that the illegal mining was not only resulting in large-scale environmental degradation but also causing loss to the state exchequer as the mining material was being lifted without paying royalty to the state government. PTI Attack at Uri? It was just speculative fire, say sources Four years on: Remembering the surgical strike that dealt a lethal blow to Pakistan IB chief blames Pak for Uri terror attack India oi-PTI New Delhi, Sept 22: A top intelligence officer today 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. Uri, J&K attack: 17 soldiers make supreme sacrifice, 4 terrorists killed 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. PTI India hopes bill to designate Pak a terror state will be treated with seriousess India oi-PTI New Delhi, Sept 22: 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." India slams Wani's reference in Nawaz Sharif's UN speech 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. PTI Why is 'Mr. Bean controversy trending on Twitter after Zimbabwe beat Pakistan? Pak off the FATF grey list doesn't mean it's not under scrutiny anymore: MEA secretary Imran Khan again targets Pakistan's establishment on Day 2 of protest march; govt rules out talks over snap polls India slams Wani's reference in Nawaz Sharif's UN speech India oi-PTI New Delhi, Sept 21 Slamming Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for glorifying slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani at the UN, India today said his remarks show Pakistan's continued attachment to terrorism. "Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UN's highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. During his address to the UN General Assembly session today, Sharif raked up Kashmir issue and described Wani as a "young leader". Pakistan Prime Minister said Wani, who was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8, has "emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement". Sharif also claimed that he had gone the extra mile to offer "a dialogue to address all outstanding issues but India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in a dialogue." Responding to Sharif's allegations, Swarup said India's only condition for talks is an end to terrorism. "PM Sharif at #UNGA says India poses unacceptable conditions to dialogue. India's only condition is an end to terrorism. This not acceptable," Swarup said. PTI As the countdown clock struck zero, rocket of Aakash BYJUS took off from Bandra Bandstand Navy on high alert in Mumbai as armed men spotted near Uran base India oi-Vicky The Navy is on a State 1 alert -- the highest alert level -- after two schoolchildren reported that they had seen four men dressed in black carrying guns near an ammunition dump in the INS Abhimanyu naval base in Uran opposite Mumbai harbour. The schoolchildren reported to their school that they had seen four men at around 7 am near the naval base. The men, said to be dressed in black pathan suits, had their faces covered and were speaking in a language the children were unfamiliar with. The children also said they heard the men say "ONGC" and "school". The school authorities immediately alerted the police about the same. While the Navy is on the highest alert, a search for these persons is being conducted. Officials say that they are not taking the information lightly. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad, police and the navy have launched a massive search operation. All naval bases have been secured. A high alert has also been issued at all air force units. Military bases across the country are on high alert since the Uri terror attack in which 18 soldiers were killed by terrorists from Pakistan. There is already hectic activity by the army in the border areas where infiltration bids are being prevented. A few days back the army had killed 10 terrorists near Uri. OneIndia News Down in Kashmir, Pakistan now looks to dish out trouble in naxal land, North East N-E region needs more infrastructure: Tripura CM India oi-PTI Agartala, Sept 22: More infrastructure needs to be built in the north-eastern region, which shares borders with five countries, to enhance trade and commerce with the neighbouring nations, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said today. The north-eastern region, comprising of eight states, are backward and the untapped resources of the region cannot be utilized without building proper infrastructures, Sarkar told in his inaugural address at the three-day 'North East Connectivity Summit', which began here today. "The region has international borders with five neighbouring countries. For developing better connectivity with those countries more infrastructure needs to be built. We need more roads, more rail tracks, more generation of power and then only Look-East policy, renamed as Act East policy, would be more meaningful", Sarkar said. He said, "The relation between Bangladesh and India is very good and the neighbouring country is helping us immensely." However, he criticized the central government for not properly addressing the issues of the people of the region. "People of this region are poor, but the central government is not addressing the issues properly," he said. Bibek Debroy, Member NITI Aayog said, Dhaka is just 150 km from Tripura's capital Agartala, Chittagong port is just 75 km from Tripura's border and Ashuganj river port is very near (50 km). He said, AgartalaAkhaura rail link is being set up to connect north-east with Bangladesh and Akhaura check post is being modernized and many border haats (markets) are being set up to enhance trade with Bangladesh. "These are all positive developments to build connectivity and boost trade relations," he added. Chairman of FICCI NE advisory Council, Ranjit Barthakur said, the summit was organized by FICCI with support from the Tripura government to present a glimpse of the emerging opportunities for business in the state and connectivity was one of the core issues impacting economic development in the region. Representatives from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Japan, Russia and other north eastern states also participated in the summit which would end on September 23. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 13:03 [IST] 'Coronavirus vaccine may never be found': Boris Johnson warns of 'worst-case scenario' Farmers' protest internal issue of India, for it to resolve: British govt How did British colonise hot countries? Netizens ask as Britain faces extreme heat OECD slashes British growth forecast over Brexit India oi-PTI Paris, Sep 21 Britain is poised to take a major hit next year from its momentous decision to leave the European Union, the OECD said today, halving its growth forecasts for the world's fifth-biggest economy. The British economy will grow by 1.0 percent in 2017, said the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development as it published revised forecasts. In June, before Britain's EU referendum, it had projected the economy would grow by 2.0 percent. Growth in 2017 is likely to be "well below the pace in recent years and forecasts prior to the referendum," the OECD said. In addition, "uncertainty about the future path of policy and the reaction of the economy remains very high and risks remain to the downside." Britain's finance minister, Philip Hammond, said on Twitter the "underlying strength in the UK economy will support growth this year". While he acknowledged "that there may be some difficult times ahead", Hammond said the government had the tools to support the economy as Britain adjusted to its new relationship with the EU. The weaker outlook for Britain, the second-biggest economy in the European Union, will also push down global output, which is stuck in a "low-growth trap," the organisation warned. Global growth is seen at 2.9 percent this year, rising to 3.2 percent in 2017, the OECD said, trimming both forecasts by 0.1 percentage points. The effects of Brexit are offset by a "gradual improvement in major emerging market commodity producers," according to the OECD. However, while the Brexit impact on the rest of the euro area has been "modest" so far, the OECD said the spillover will result in "more negative effects" next year. "The Brexit fallout in terms of growth will hit the euro area through the trading relationships being uncertain and through exchange rate effects," said the OECD's chief economist, Catherine Mann, in presenting the report. The British pound has depreciated by around 10 percent since the June 23 referendum, meaning EU goods have become more expensive for consumers in Britain. The organisation downgraded its 2017 forecast for the 19-nation eurozone by 0.3 percentage points, projecting growth of 1.4 percent after 1.5 percent this year. The key to avoiding significant economic problems will be quickly sorting out Britain's trading relationships with its partners, the OECD added. AFP Robbers strike at bank in Chhattisgarh, loot Rs 37 lakh India oi-PTI Korba, Sept 22: Unidentified robbers today looted Rs 37 lakh in cash and gold jewellery from a Canara Bank branch at Transport Nagar in Chhattisgarh's Korba district, police said. The incident occurred around 10.30 AM when six people, wearing masks and carrying fire-arms, entered as soon as the branch opened, locked the bank staff and some customers in a room, and forced one of the employees to open the safety vault at gunpoint, District superintendent of police D Shravan said. They took away Rs 37 lakh in cash and some gold jewellery but did not touch the worn out currency kept at the counter, the SP said, adding that the culprits appeared to be professionals. They also took away CCTV camera and DVR (digital video recorder) in the bank, but police collected substantial footage from other CCTV cameras in the area and probe was on, Shravan said. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 11:32 [IST] Terrorist state Pakistan not just threat to India, but to the world as well India oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Sept 22: While going all out and isolating Pakistan, India has decided to state that the terrorist state is not just a problem for India, but for the rest of the world as well. Two cases that would be brought before the world are those relating to Mohammad Usman and Sajid Mir, both operatives of the Lashkar-e-Taiba who have been termed as international terrorists. Sajid Mir is the mysterious shady figure whose name cropped up during the 26/11 attack. He is a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative who was formerly said to be part of the ISI. Usman on the other hand is a former Lashkar-e-Taiba operative who joined the ISIS and was part of the Paris plot. Both Mir and Usman have not restricted themselves to Pakistan and India. They have shown a great deal of interest in carrying out attacks in Europe as well. Mir in fact was trying to set up modules for the Lashkar-e-Taiba in Europe. He was also the handler of David Headley. Also read: Glorifying Burhan Wani shows Pakistan's attachment to terror: India India would be making this point to the world that Pakistan not only nurtures terrorists who plot against India, but the rest of the world. The Indian authorities will make a case out on these lines to show unless Pakistan is tamed, there is a great danger that awaits the world. India is in the process of collecting more details from the French authorities regarding Usman. He was arrested in Austria and handed over to France in connection with the Paris attacks. India is also preparing a list of terrorists belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammad in a bid to expose their international links. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 15:59 [IST] Jaish mocks Indian soldiers, says they were running for cover during Uri attack India oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Sept 22: Trying to brush away allegations that the terrorists who struck Uri on Sunday were foreign militants, a website belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammad says that the information is false. In the website, alqalamonline.com, the JeM says that the militants were Kashmiris. The message in Urdu has some exaggerated information about the Uri attack. It says that the battle with the soldiers went on for five hours, while the Indian army said that the entire operation was over in 3 hours. Also read: Uri attack: Parrikar says "quite serious" about punishment Further it has also placed the death toll at 19 while the official version from the army is 18. "The website also mocks the Indian security forces. It says that the army personnel were running for cover. Four terrorists launched the attack on a base which had 13,000 soldiers. They were running for cover and despite having such a large strength, they had call in the Paratroopers from Baramulla," the website also says. Meanwhile, the NIA continues to investigate the case. The NIA says that the process of taking over the case properties are underway. The NIA also says that no conclusion has been reached on the GPS sets and the investigation is on. It further states that no seizure of any items including the Kalashnikov rifles have been made so far. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 10:43 [IST] Uri Avenged with Special Op? Army, govt sources rubbish story India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Army and government sources have rubbished the sensational story that appeared on a website stating that the Indian army had carried out an operation across the Line of Control in Kashmir and killed 20 Pakistani terrorists. While the website said it sticks by its story, the military has denied that any such operation took place on the intervening night of September 20 and 21, as the website reported. Sources in the highest echelons of the government also denied that such an operation took place. The sources, in fact, ridiculed the website story, calling it an instance of "whatsapp journalism", and adding, "We are ourselves not aware of any such operation". According to the story, two units of the elite Paras comprising 18 to 20 soldiers flew across the Line of Control in military helicopters and killed some 20 terrorists and injured nearly 200 at a terrorist camp in PoK. This was said to be in retaliation for the Uri terrorist attack. The social media, too, was abuzz with discussions about this story. Military experts and prominent defence journalists said they had no such information. Nitin Gokhale, a national security analyst and a former army man himself, said on his twitter account that the army had categorically denied such an operation taking place. While stating that the information is not correct, he even tweeted, "If it was so easy then why wasn't such action taken all these years". While government and army sources are denying that such an operation took place to individual journalists, intriguingly, however, there has been no official denial or confirmation from the government yet. OneIndia News Washington Post takes heat for Snowden prosecution call International pti-PTI Washington, Sep 21 A Washington Post editorial arguing for the prosecution of intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has sparked an outcry in the media community -- including from some of the newspaper's own journalists. The weekend editorial provoked a heated response, with some pointing out the irony that the newspaper was calling for criminal charges against a source who helped it win a 2014 Pulitzer Prize for public service reporting. The editorial board "has no say on news, and just showed why," said a tweet from Barton Gellman, the Post reporter who led the team that shared the Pulitzer with The Guardian for the reporting on global surveillance based on Snowden's leaks of National Security Agency documents. Gellman added that Snowden's "disclosures served the public. WP journalists are proud of our role." Jane Kirtley, a professor of media ethics and law at the University of Minnesota, said the Post's editorial view comes as a shock to the media community even if there is a separation of the opinion and reporting units. "It does seem to me that any news organization that is going to rely on a source and potentially imperil that source, really needs to stand by that source," Kirtley told AFP. "I personally think Snowden should come back and face charges, but I didn't take Snowden's leaks and put them all over my newspaper." Kirtley noted that prosecuting sources for leaks should be troubling for the world of journalism. "It is my belief that going after sources for leaks using the Espionage Act is a prelude to going after the journalists who receive that information," she said. "It hasn't happened yet, but it is possible." Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan also broke with the editorial board, calling for Snowden to be pardoned. "Snowden did an important -- and brave -- service for the American public," Sullivan wrote in a column yesterday. "Without his decision to bring the information to journalists, it is very unlikely that we would know what we do about mass surveillance in the post-9/11 world." A more blunt response came from Glenn Greenwald, a member of the Guardian team that met with Snowden and now an editor at the online news site The Intercept. "The Washington Post has achieved an ignominious feat in US media history: the first-ever paper to explicitly editorialize for the criminal prosecution of its own source -- one on whose back the paper won and eagerly accepted a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service," Greenwald wrote. The debate comes amid increasing calls for a pardon for Snowden, who has been living in Moscow out of the reach of US law enforcement. AFP Balochis, Indians protest outside UN against Pakistan International oi-IANS By Ians English United Nations, Sept 22: 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. Ahmad Mushtikhan of the American Friends of Balochistan said, "We are happy that (Indian) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken out on Balochistan. Our people are overjoyed by the support of the Indian people." New York (USA): Overseas friends of BJP, American friends of Balochistan, Sindhi and other groups protest outside #UNGA pic.twitter.com/Yh0F8KJ33Q ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 New York (USA): Overseas friends of BJP, American friends of Balochistan, Sindhi and other groups protest outside #UNGA pic.twitter.com/vY5XdreDZm ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 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. "Balochi, Bharathi, Bhai, Bhai," was one of the slogans chanted at the protest. The Indian protest was held long after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had spoken because of a change in the premier's speaking schedule. He was originally to have been one of the last speakers of the day, but his slot was moved to a morning slot. The Indian protest with about 75 people was against Islamabad-backed terrorist attacks on India and the ethnic cleansing of Hindus from Kashmir. IANS Video: Why Chinas former president was escorted out from stage China distances itself from reports of Li's backing to Pak International oi-PTI Beijing, Sep 22: 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 Nawaz Sharif on September 21 in New York. They exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as international 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 backs Pakistan's position on Kashmir: Li tells Sharif 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 USD 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. PTI Baloch leaders welcome surgical strikes, say gives them 'hope' We are no longer alone: Rebel Baloch leader Baloch activists come out in support of Jadhav, accuse Pak of framing him Home Ministry examining Baloch leader Bugti's asylum plea International oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Sep 22: 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'. Will soon apply for asylum in India: Baloch leader Bugti 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 Slip of Tongue in Pak Parliament: Speaker pronounces Nawaz Sharif's name instead of Shehbaz Sharif Nawaz Sharif likely to return to Pakistan next month: Imran Khan Maryam Nawaz gets her passport back after 3 years; meets father Nawaz Sharif in London In Pics: Nawaz Sharif hails Burhan Wani at UNGA, India hits back International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New York, Sept 22: In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif raked up the Kashmir issue and also hailed Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani. However, this did not go down well with India. Sharif said that his country supports the self determination of the people of Kashmir. However, India criticised Sharif heavily and said that glorifying militants like Burhan Wani shows Pakistan's attachment to terror. Minister of State External Affairs MJ Akbar slammed Sharif's speech at the UNGA saying "We just heard a speech full of threat bluster and rising immaturity and complete disregard of facts." He said that Pakistan at the moment seems to be run by a war machine rather than a government. Also read: Glorifying Burhan Wani shows Pakistan's attachment to terror: India Sharif is said to have handed over a dossier to UN Secretary General Ban-Ki moon on Kashmir highlighting the violations committed by India in the Valley. On the other hand, Ban is said to have told Sharif that 'Pakistan and India must resolve Kashmir issue through dialogue.' Here are some images of Nawaz Sharif at the UNGA: Nawaz Sharif raised the Kashmir issue in his speech at UNGA Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. Nawaz Sharif even hailed Burhan Wani as a young leader In his speech, Sharif hailed Hizbul militant Burhan Wani as a young leader. Nawaz Sharif met John Kerry on the sidelines of UNGA U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sits with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan during a bilateral meeting. Kerry told Sharif to cooperate with India on Uri atatcks John Kerry told Nawaz Sharif to cooperate with India in the probe of the Uri attack. India hit out at Sharif for his comments on Kashmir, Wani Nawaz Sharif speaks during the Summit for Refugees and Migrants at U.N. headquarters. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 15:04 [IST] Even if not contesting 2020 polls, Hillary Clinton will not be entirely out of scene Hillary Clinton will be sorely missed in 2020 presidential election, says Donald Trump Hillary Clinton says Julian Assange must 'answer for what he has done' Donald Trump orders disclassification of documents on interference in 2016 presidential polls Hillary Clinton retweets own tweet, she put after her 2016 defeat In Pics: What made headlines across the world International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has said that she wants to help America's poor people. In an opinon written for NY Times, Clinton writes that if they want to get serious about poverty, they need a national commitment to create more affordable housing. "We need to make suer that our investment is reaching the communities," she writes. Meanwhile, in other news, former political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi made her first speech at the UNGA after forming a democratically elected government. Suu Kyi in her speech addressed various issues relating to Myanmar including the new gorvernment. Here are some pics from across the world that made headlines: Hillary Clinton leading over Trump according to latest poll Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton goes to hug Anastasia Somoza after Anastasia introduced Clinton during a campaign stop in Orlando. Maithripala Sirisena speaks at UNGA Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. Aung San Suu Kyi speaks at UNGA Myanmar Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. Protestors demand free education in South Africa Students run for cover as police fire stun grenades and rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse them, during their protest for free education in Johannesburg, South Africa. 24 people killed in a series of bombings in Aleppo In this photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, rescue workers work the site of airstrikes in al-Mashhad neighborhood in the rebel-held part of eastern Aleppo. Barack Obama says Africa wants trade not aid President Barack Obama walks off stage after speaking at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum at The Plaza Hotel in New York. Governor declares emergency in Charlotte after protests Authorities in Charlotte tried to quell public anger after a police officer shot a black man. However, after protests turned violent, an emergency was declared. OneIndia News Trump calls for racial unity, embraces 'stop and frisk' International oi-PTI Cleveland, Sep 22: 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." Donald Trump worst idea to happen to America: Bono 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 News 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. AP Indian army launches offensive; Infiltrate and we will kill you New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Sept 22: The Indian army is going all out to not just flush out militants but to prevent all infiltrations along the border. On the intervening night of September 21 and 22 three days after the Uri attack, the Indian army managed to foil a major infiltration bid at the Naugam sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Terrorists in two groups had tried to sneak at the Naugam sector, but the army managed to foil both the bids. Both the groups were forced to get back to Pakistan due to this operation by the Indian army. The army is planning its operations in two stages. While one is to flush out militants who have infiltrated in large numbers into the Valley, the other is to prevent every infiltration bid that is made by the Pakistan terrorists. In the past couple of days there have been a number of encounters launched by the Indian army. In a very successful encounter three days back, the Indian army had managed to kill 10 out of the 15 terrorists who had infiltrated near the Uri sector. Intelligence Bureau officials have warned that the number of infiltrations have shot up two fold due to the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. The first priority should be to flush out the militants from the Valley and also give equal importance to stopping all infiltration bids. Both the army and the IB are coordinating with each other in locating, identifying and killing the militants who have infiltrated. Moreover there is a high alert along the border to ensure that no one single infiltration is successful. The army is focusing on several points of infiltration. A lot of the militancy has been found in the South of Kashmir and the entire focus is on these areas. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 15:50 [IST] Bank holidays in November 2022: Here is the full list of non-working days Viscera samples of Sunanda Pushkar brought back from US New Delhi oi-PTI New Delhi, Sept 22: Viscera samples of Sunanda Pushkar, who committed suicide in 2014, have been brought back from the US by the members of a Delhi Police team probing the high-profile case. The samples lying with a FBI lab in the US for over a year were brought back by DCP (south) and investigating officer of the case in the on Tuesday evening, said a senior Delhi Police officer. The samples are court property and the team was sent to bring them back. The FBI lab has already given its report on the samples, said the officer. The samples were sent to the FBI lab in Washington in February 2015 to determine the kind of poison that killed Sunanda after an AIIMS medical board identified poisoning as the reason behind her death but did not mention any specific substance. Delhi Police had in January 2015 registered a case of murder in connection with Sunanda's death. The FBI report sent to Delhi Police in November 2015 had virtually ruled out the theory of 'polonium poisoning' having caused her death. However, after Delhi Police failed to draw any conclusion on basis of the findings, the report was handed over to a medical board for examination before further proceedings in the high-profile case. The medical board is yet to give its opinion on cause of Sunanda's death. They had demanded for some papers and clarifications which were provided to them, said a senior officer privy to the probe. "The next line of investigation will be decided after the board comes out with its report," added the officer. 51-year-old Sunanda was found dead at a suite in a five- star hotel in South Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014, a day after her spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar on Twitter over her alleged affair with her politician husband Shahi Tharoor. Several persons including Tharoor have been questioned in connection with Sunanda's death. The police have also conducted polygraph test on six persons, all prime witnesses in the case, including Tharoor's domestic help Narayan Singh, driver Bajrangi and Sanjay Dewan, a close friend of the couple. In February, Tarar was questioned about her relation with the Congress leader and his wife, her fight with Sunanda over Twitter, and other issues revolving around Sunanda's death. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 9:49 [IST] The Indian army and the central government has rubbished a report that appeared on a website stating that the Indian army had carried out an operation across the Line of Control in Kashmir and killed 20 Pakistani terrorists. According to the story, two units of the elite Paras comprising 18 to 20 soldiers flew across the Line of Control in military helicopters and killed some 20 terrorists and injured nearly 200 at a terrorist camp in PoK. This was said to be in retaliation for the Uri terrorist attack. Mumbai has been put on high alert after school children saw movement of some suspicious persons in Raigad's Uran. as per the reports, 4-5 people spotted in army fatigues Uran naval base which is few hours from Mumbai. At the moment navy is conducting search operation. More details awaited. Community Its now easier than ever to connect and chat with others in your local area. You can connect with your community by asking general questions, give area updates and recommendations and even let your community know about local events that are taking place. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. New Zealand Herald 27 Oct 2022 Two men who dropped a 7kg brick on the head of an unconscious stranger and kicked him repeatedly in the head have been sentenced to.. The man suspected of bombing neighborhoods in New York and New Jersey this month spent time this year in southwest Roanoke,.. WDBJ 02 Oct 2019 Eurasia Review 27 Oct 2022 The recent news reports in which the President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Uche Rowland Ojinmah indicated that.. Rumble 24 Aug 2022 Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., on her plea to the White House to stop protests outside private homes of Supreme Court Justices before.. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Learn more Opalesque Industry Update - Almax Analytics, a software platform delivering actionable insights, has announced 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. 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. 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. Reprinted from Mondoweiss Elizabeth Warren (Image by mdfriendofhillary) Details DMCA The news that many progressive US senators as well as vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine signed on to an Israel lobby letter designed to limit President Obama's actions against the Israeli occupation, now nearly 50 years old, has been widely reported, but the plain facts need to be stated. Yesterday the Israel lobby group AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, flexed its muscle against President Obama and on the side of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu by posting a letter signed by 88 senators warning President Obama not to back any international measures that would pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories. "We urge you to... make it clear that you will veto any one sided UNSC [UN Security Council] resolution that may be offered in the coming months." The brave senators who did not sign this letter include Democrats Patrick Leahy of VT, Bernie Sanders, Tom Carper of Delaware, and Dick Durbin of Illinois, along with Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky. The letter was circulated by NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and got many progressive signatures: Elizabeth Warren, Al Franken, Amy Klobuchar, Ron Wyden, Tammy Baldwin, Chris Murphy, Barbara Mikulski, Barbara Boxer, Cory Booker, Sherrod Brown, Richard Blumenthal, Ed Markey, Jack Reed, right along with John McCain, Mike Lee, Lindsey Graham and John Barrasso. AIPAC issued a press release announcing the letter and highlighting this passage: "Even well-intentioned initiatives at the United Nations risk locking the parties into positions that will make it more difficult to return to the negotiating table and make the compromises necessary for peace... we must continue to insist that neither we nor any other outsider substitute for the parties to the conflict." The letter is entirely consistent with the Democratic Party platform pushed through by Hillary Clinton in July, which removed references to occupation and settlements; Cornel West said then that the party was "beholden to AIPAC." Haaretz's Barak Ravid's interpretation: "Fearing post-election UN peace push by Obama, 88 Democratic and Republican senators tell president even well intentioned initiatives could make it more difficult to resolve conflict." Jason Ditz at antiwar.com: "The letter was penned by the lobby at the behest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose office is concerned that years of acrimony between him and Obama might lead Obama to not veto a French resolution on the peace process if it comes between the November election and the day he leaves office." There is that French initiative: "In the absence of any US led initiative, France has since made a push for a multi-lateral regional summit and has spoken of a resolution before the United Nations Security Council to set the contours of a new peace process." President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are to meet today in New York. The president is expected to launch some sort of initiative re the occupation in the last months of his presidency. His speech yesterday to the UN General Assembly offered just one line on the conflict: "And surely, Israelis and Palestinians will be better off if Palestinians reject incitement and recognize the legitimacy of Israel, but Israel recognizes that it cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Haiti Message to Donald Trump Team by Ezili Danto The Clintons and Obama brought Haiti the former crackhead and gross sexist, Michel Martelly, who ceded over 30% of Haiti lands and offshore islands to foreigners. Under Barack Obama with Hillary Clinton at the State Department and Bill Clinton as UN Special Envoy to Haiti, 30,000 Haitians were deported back to an earthquake, cholera-ravaged Haiti, overrun by white people, riding out the world economic recession at Paul Farmer's charitable industrial complex, living behind high gates and new luxurious compounds paid for from earthquake funds and other so-called "aid to Haiti." If the decrees of illegally elected president, Michel Martelly, starting from when the Clintons took over Haiti, and through his presidency from 2011 to 2016, are not reversed by the next Parliament, then Haitians have lost more lands under the Obama Administration than under any other previous US president in history. More than 30% of Haiti territory have been cordoned off and placed in the hands of foreigners, most of whom are big Clinton Foundation donors. This was done when Haitians were at their most vulnerable after the apocalyptic earthquake. The Clintons and their extraction company buddies, like Frank Guistra, VCS and Newmont Mining, might yet give Haiti another terrible earthquake. At least 15% of the lands taken from Haiti is in the Northern mining belt on an earthquake fault line. If Trump can stop a third Obama term; if Trump pledges to Haitian-Americans that when he becomes President, he will stop funding the rapist UN troops in Haiti, Haitians who are undecided would vote for this. Trump will get some more Haitian-American votes if he publicly calls to end the UN presence in Haiti and supports free and fair elections without the sort of Obama/Hillary Clinton/Cheryl Mills/Susan Rice strong-arm bullying tactics that disrespected the Haitian vote in 2010/2011 and have continued to do so in 2015 to the present. Trump should pledge his administration would veto and stop funding the UN presence in Haiti because they've been there for 12 years and have brought rape, the cholera disease and devastation, not democracy. He could use that wasted imperial US millions that is funding occupation and oppression in Haiti, to help suffering Black people in US cities like Baltimore, Flint Michigan, Chicago, NY, Washington DC; to name just a few. If Donald Trump uses his platform to say there is no reason for the UN to be in Haiti; that Haiti has one of the least violence rates in the Western Hemisphere; that the Dominican Republic is more violent than Haiti; the Bahamas is more violent than Haiti; Brazil, Mexico, Jamaica have more homicides and violence than Haiti. If Donald Trump told these truths, and stopped the warmongering Clinton-Obama trajectory in Haiti, (in AFRICOM also), than he'll be doing Haiti and the world of suffering and exploited humans, a good turn. If Donald Trump pledges that when he is president, he will use US power to convince the UN to pay restitution to the Haiti cholera victims and to pay to detoxify Haiti's water, not using the same people who fouled it up and then covered up their wrongdoings, but Haitian companies, chosen by Haitians not related to the UN, the Clinton Foundation or USAID's regular subcontracting thieves, we would ask Haitians to vote for him. If Donald Trump would help Free Haiti reverse the damage of Obama-Clinton and void all the Martelly decrees, especially the decree that allows for open-pit mining on an earthquake fault line in the North of Haiti, he would be helping to save Haiti lives and lands and we would ask Haitians to vote for him. Free Haiti has been battling to get these issues heard for over a decade. We want the world to know Haiti doesn't need false charity. Haiti has massive riches, rare and priceless iridium (asteroid remains), more than $8 billion in copper, the most gold in the Western Hemisphere (more than $33 billion), massive, massive oil on its lands, waters and offshore islands. If Donald Trump is the non-establishment politician who will hear us, work with Haitians, in an environmentally safe manner, using the resources of our lands to make the ten million people in Haiti live well and comfortable in Haiti, from the assets of their own nation, not fake charity, then we are here to talk to him and tell him how we think he can beat Hillary Clinton and her promiscuous, politicians-for-sale, Clintonite team. If Haiti resources were used for Haitians, than no Haitians would leave Haiti to immigrate to the US to look for a better life and Donald Trump would need no wall. The same is true for the entire global South. Haitian cholera victims are entitled to reparations and compensation from the UN which admits to bringing in cholera through their troops. But the indecent Obama Administration, the Clintons and their agents have worked, to both, cover up that wrongdoing, project the blame onto Haiti pre-existing conditions that required their better care, while the Obama's justice department insisted, in court, that the UN has blanket immunity for a civil tort, like dumping its raw feces in Haiti's drinking water. Haitian-Americans would more likely vote for Trump if he insisted on the UN paying due compensation to the people it harmed in Haiti and paid for the installation of locally controlled water treatment and purification systems. Haiti also battles to revoke the Free Trade Zone quota swapping the major elites do and call it "giving jobs" to Haitians. Haiti wants a stop to the unfair and plundering trade agreements and land deals, the ending of fracking and a living minimum wage for Haitians from foreign corporations in Haiti. These are small matters to the Trump campaign in the larger scheme but central, we believe, to a Trump victory in the battleground state of Florida. Ezili Danto Founder, Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network and the Free Haiti Movement (See also "While Haiti Suffered Clintons and Pals Looted" ) Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Occasionally I read something that is so staggeringly contrary to reality that I immediately ask myself if the person who wrote it is deliberately lying or just clueless. I had such an occasion recently when I read Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin's latest diatribe against her old party and the base that sustains it lovingly entitled "The GOP Has Become a Pity Party for White Males." Because she just wants to help her old party out and get it back on pre-Trump track, you see. The article opens with a reference to a new "cottage industry of apologists for Donald Trump and his supporters" whom she identifies as working class white males. She doesn't name names, but I can't help but suspect that Publius Decius Mus of "Flight 93 Election" fame is one of the primary "apologists" she has in mind. The article is remarkably hostile to the core group of people who actually vote for her old party and will continue to vote for it in the future regardless of how this election turns out. The condescension is palpable. But, of course, Trump supporters are the ones full of "hate." It is also a museum quality specimen of elitist globalist cluelessness and detachment. She doesn't even try to sugarcoat it or make it sound nice and pretty. She makes Ayn Rand seem all touchy-feely in comparison. She even trots out the old job retraining canard. I thought only Democrats touted that fantasy. So the 87 IQ factory worker who was making a decent living and supporting his family before his job went overseas is suddenly going to magically become a thought worker in the new "21st-Century" (she's even detached enough to actually use that terminology) "dynamic" economy if we just sprinkle a little job retraining pixie dust on him? Good luck with that Jen. Perhaps she would be willing to volunteer to teach some of those job retraining classes. Just read that again, and let it sink in. Conservatives, those people who desire to conserve things, are actually the ones who are supposed to "stand up for creative destruction." Not just accept the reality of economic change, mind you, but "stand up for creative destruction." In Jen's world do vegetarians stand up for meat eating? Do prohibitionists stand up for drunkenness? As the type of person whom Rubin scorns, I must confess I don't routinely read her Washington Post column, which is laughingly called "Right Turn." I was primarily aware of Jennifer Rubin as a hawkish neoconservative who loudly backed the Iraq War and continues to back aggressive US foreign intervention. (On a side note, is Jen not aware that the people she has such open contempt for, working class white men, unfortunately disproportionately backed her foolish Iraq War and manned the fighting forces that waged it? Thanks for nothing.) In Jen's many battles against the evil forces of isolation did she miss the fact that her fellow neocon, Michael Ledeen, was roundly ridiculed by anti-war authentic conservatives, libertarians and leftists alike for his praise of "creative destruction?" Perhaps if she wants to lecture wayward conservatives about what conservatives are really supposed to believe, maybe she shouldn't chose a loaded term that is bound to invite mockery. To compound the mischaracterization, Jen wags her finger thusly: The coal town is depopulated? Yes, that's sad, but why are they not moving -- as immigrants do -- to where the jobs are? "That's sad?" Yeah, I sure she's sad. I can hear her crying from here. So why don't the whiners just move? Oh I don't know Jen, maybe because they love the community and state they grew up in and call home. Maybe because that's where their parents and their parent's parents are from and all their family resides. Maybe because they can't scrape together enough money for four new tires for the family vehicle, much less afford to hire a moving company. But apparently rootlessness and disdain for home are hallmarks of conservatism in Jen's Bizarro World. Again, she could have saved bandwidth if she just advised then to shake "the dust of (their) crummy little town(s) off (their) feet," and go to Silicon Valley and get a job at Apple, although she might not get the reference since she is averse to Merry Christmas. Only a completely insulated cosmopolitan elitist like Jen could so casually write such a thing, but I highly suspect that she wouldn't be too happy about it if she lost her job at the Washington Post and had to move to Wichita to work the local crime beat. In fact, Jen's petulant rhetorical flailings about the rise of Trump and Trumpism are an obvious reaction to the fact that he threatens her and her's seat at the table. So the initial question remains, in light of Jen's absurd mischaracterization of conservatism above, does she know it to be false and is deliberately misleading, or is she just not that bright and doesn't get it? Despite my years of battling it out in the conservative trenches, I think I retain an unfortunate level of naivete'. It's really difficult for me to assume that level of willful deceit on someone's part. I had the same problem with David French's declarations regarding the nature of the one true conservatism. I thought surely he's not that blatant of a shill. He's probably just a bit dull. That was until his NeverTrump trial balloon, when I looked into his background and discovered he graduated from Harvard Law. There went the not too bright option. Likewise, I admit that when I read that second paragraph, my immediate thought was "Huh? Is Jen not that bright?" You don't necessarily have to be a scholar to write a column. Maybe she knew someone. So I went to Wikipedia to look her up. Rubin graduated from Berkeley undergrad and Berkeley Law School. According to Wikipedia, she graduated at the top of her law school class. So there goes the not too bright option with her as well. Jennifer Rubin is a deliberate liar because there is no way that someone who graduated at the top of her Berkeley Law School class doesn't understand that conservatism and creative destruction are mutually exclusive. She should be treated like the deliberate deceiver that she is. Before the Japanese fell completely, one-hundred percent in love with anything and everything Disney (I mean, seriously, they love it), Mickey Mouse represented something completely different: Pure American imperialist evil. At least he does in this 1934 animated propaganda cartoon Omochabako series dai san wa: Ehon senkya-hyakusanja-rokunen (Toybox Series 3: Picture Book 1936) by Komatsuzawa Hajime. Its a convoluted title, but pretty simple in plot. An island of cute critters (including one Felix the Cat clone) is attacked from the air by an army of Mickey Mouses (Mickey Mice?) riding bats and assisted by crocodiles and snakes that act like machine guns. The frightened creatures call on the heroes of Japanese storybooks and folk legends to help them, from Momotaro (Peach Boy) and Kintaro (Golden Boy) to Issun-boshi (One Inch Boy) and Benkei, a warrior monk, to send Mickey packing. The not-so-subtle message: 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! Ironically, the film is animated in the style of American masters Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks, and Max Fleischer, with its bouncy character loops and elastic metamorphoses. Though made in 1934, it is set in 1936, which might tie (according to this site) into the expiration of a naval treaty between the United States and Japan on that date. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a full seven years off, but clearly tensions were running high even then, as both the West and Japan had their eyes on Asia and the South Pacific. Also of note is the trope of characters coming alive from a storybook, as this was a favorite subject in several Warner Bros. cartoons that would come out a few years later (and which weve covered.) And finally to clarify Mickeys fate at the end of the film: the old man with the box is a Rip Van Winkle character, and in Japanese folklore he is made old by the contents of a box hes been told not to open. Violence is not vanquished with violence at the end of this cartoon, but with magic and derisive laughter followed by a song. In the real world, things would not end so easily. Related Content: Donald Ducks Bad Nazi Dream and Four Other Disney Propaganda Cartoons from World War II Dr. Seuss World War II Propaganda Films: Your Job in Germany (1945) and Our Job in Japan (1946) The Ducktators: Loony Tunes Turns Animation into Wartime Propaganda (1942) Ted Mills is a freelance writer on the arts who currently hosts the artist interview-based FunkZone Podcast. You can also follow him on Twitter at @tedmills, read his other arts writing at tedmills.com and/or watch his films here. Global Private LTE Network Ecosystem Investments to Surpass US$800 million by the end of 2016 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/pressrelease/2392 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/804866 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/pressreleases http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketresearchreports-biz With private LTE networks filling the gap associated with the limited bandwidth of narrowband land mobile radio and security concerns of commercial LTE networks, the global private LTE network ecosystem currently faces high-value opportunities. This is the key conclusion of a new report added to the database of MarketResearchReports.biz. The report is titled, The Private LTE Network Ecosystem: 2016 - 2030 - Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies, Industry Verticals & Forecasts. According to the report, global investments in the private LTE network ecosystem will surpass US$800 million by the end of 2016. Between 2016 and 2020 alone, the private LTE networks market is expected to log a strong CAGR of 32%, the reports findings show.View Press Release Report at:Much of the growth that lies ahead for the global private LTE network ecosystem market will be brought about by widespread rollouts in sectors such as energy and public safety, the report states. The trend of choosing private LTE networks to deliver mobile broadband is increasingly catching on, and will act as a high-impact growth driver for the market, the report further states. The 370-page report, which studies three submarkets, six regional markets, and five vertical markets, presents a forecast for investments in private LTE networks from 2016 through 2030.From the standpoint of leading regions, the private LTE network ecosystem market is projected to witness robust growth in North America the region will attract nearly 35% of all investments made in the world by 2020. Asia Pacific will also be an important market for companies targeting wider geographical growth. In APAC, South Koreas investments in LTE networks catering to the critical communications needs in railway, public safety, and maritime security will have an evidently positive impact on the growth of the market.For Sample Copy, click here:Companies vying to secure a steady area of growth in the private LTE network ecosystem market have rolled out exclusive mobile broadband services for energy sector players. Examples of such companies include Texas Energy Network and Infrastructure Networks. However, since investments in private LTE networks can be prohibitively expensive, European countries are using private mobile core platforms in conjunction with LTE networks to allow public safety organizations to subscribe to prioritized mobile broadband services.The competitive landscape is also seeing a change with new partnerships being forged between conventional LMR industry players and established LTE infrastructure OEMs. Examples of the latter include Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung; these companies are tapping into this emerging opportunity by offering end-to-end solutions for private LTE networks.Numerous companies have been profiled in the report to assess their strategic moves, revenue growth, and presence across the entire ecosystem. Likewise, the report also studies the opportunity that lies in the private LTE network ecosystem in every key country. By doing so, the report serves as a tool to give vendors and systems integrators in the private LTE network ecosystem insights into remaining relevant and competitive.Browse Latest Industry Press Release at:MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports.MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients.We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated researchreports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and typesof companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.bizFollow us on LinkedIn: Global luggage industry, which is envisioned to witness an expansion from USD 30,969 Million in 2014 to USD 43,358 Million in 2020 http://bit.ly/2cJQAZQ http://www.researchnester.com/reports/global-travel-bag-market-analysis-opportunity-outlook-2021/143 www.researchnester.com http://www.researchnester.com Research Nester Published Report on"Global Travel Bag Market Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2021" The world has witnessed an upsurge in travel and tourisms over previous few years. Large number of people travels to various tourist destinations each year. Since frequency of travels have increased people look forward for lighter and compact luggage options such as travel bags.Travel bags are segmented under the global luggage industry, which is envisioned to witness an expansion from USD 30,969 Million in 2014 to USD 43,358 Million in 2020, registering a CAGR of 5.8%. Regionally, the global travel bags market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Rest of World (Row).Growth Drivers and ChallengesIncreasing number of passengers travels coupled with rising disposable incomes are anticipated to drive the global travel bags market in future.In addition to that, growth in urbanization is also expected to fuel the global travel bags market during 2015-2021.However, presence of large number of un-organized players in emerging countries such as India and China are projected to hamper the global travel bags market over next few years.Market Size and ForecastNorth America travel bags market is likely to get propelled from increasing international and domestic travels in country such as the U.S. For instance, domestic travel increased by 4.2% in the U.S. in 2014 to reach 2.3 billion person trips in 2015.Request For TOC Here :Europe travel bags market is also anticipated to expand from increasing innovation by manufacturers to provide more flexible and comfortable travel bags to travellers.Asia-Pacific travel bags market is likely to witness a substantial growth during 2015-2021. The market in the region is expected to spark from increasing per capita income and rising urbanization in India and China.To know more about this research, visit:Contact for more info:Ajay DanielEmail: ajay.daniel@researchnester.com1820 Avenue M, Suite# 1113,Brooklyn, New York 11230Phone : U.S. +1 646 586 9123U.K. +44 203 608 5919web:Research Nester is a leading & tracking every movement on global industry Analysis in sectors like healthcare, pharma, ICT & electronics, food & beverages, textiles, oil & gas, energy & power & information service company operating with a network of partner firms across the US, Asia and Europe. Fusion Art is Now Accepting Submissions for Its 2nd Annual "Artist's Choice" International Online Juried Art Exhibition http://www.fusionartps.com http://www.fusionartps.com/2nd-annual-artists-choice-nov-2016 http://www.fusionartps.com Palm Springs, CA, USA -- Fusion Art () is pleased to announce it is now accepting submissions for its 2nd Annual "Artist's Choice" international online juried art exhibition.This open competition has no specific theme and artists and photographers, worldwide, are encouraged to submit their best works in any subject matter and any of the accepted mediums. The artwork can range from realism to surrealism to abstraction and artists and photographers, regardless of location or experience, are encouraged to submit their best representational and/or nonrepresentational art.The exhibition will be hosted on Fusion Art's website during the month of November 2016.Cash prizes will be awarded in two categories - "Traditional" Art and "Digital Art & Photography" and the Best in Show winners receive invitations to participate in Fusion Art's group exhibition in Palm Springs, CA in 2017. The deadline to apply is October 27, 2016.Each month Fusion Art hosts uniquely themed art competitions and exhibitions. Both winners and finalists are provided with worldwide exposure, by having their work promoted through Fusion Art's website, in 70+ press release announcements, email marketing, online event calendars, art news websites and through the gallery's social media outlets. The gallery's objective is to promote the artists, worldwide, to art professionals, gallerists, collectors and buyers.Founded by Award winning artist, Chris Hoffman, Fusion Art was envisioned and formed out of a passion for art and the artists who create it. The website promotes and connects new, emerging and established artists with collectors and art enthusiasts, while offering the opportunity to participate in art competitions and experiences.Artists who are interested in submitting their artwork for consideration should visit Fusion Art's website for full competition guidelines:About Fusion ArtFusion Art is an online gallery website where new, emerging and professional artists can enter online juried art exhibitions, obtain competition experience, as well as gain exposure to art collectors and art professionals.Media Contact:Valerie HoffmanFusion Art2658 S. Cherokee WayPalm Springs, CA 92264(Mailing Address: PO Box 4236Palm Springs, CA 92263)760-832-7568competitions@fusionartps.com Artsyl Technologies Releases SAP Business One Connector for docAlpha http://www.artsyltech.com ONTARIO, CANADA (September 21, 2016) Artsyl Technologies, Inc., a leading global provider of data capture and document processing automation technologies today announced it has released a new docAlpha smart process platform connector for SAP Business One. The integration will allow SAP B1 partners and customers to implement a powerful, intelligent capture solution that automates the most painful steps in transactional business processes: data entry and document filing.Artsyls docAlpha enables SAP customers to transform their business operations by targeting and eliminating the most costly, inefficient and error-prone steps in typical business processes, including document classification and filing, data entry, routing, approval and ERP transaction creation. As a result, organizations can reduce manual data entry costs, increase data accuracy and improve document processing speed while providing an instant, end-to-end audit trail of document-driven processes and facilitating process compliance and data/document security. With support for extraction and processing of line item data as well as two- or three-way matching of orders, invoices and receipts, docAlpha fully automates supplier invoice, sales and purchase order processing.As members of the SAP PartnerEdge technology partner community, our goal is to elevate the value of SAP as an engine of business process transformation, said Jeff Moore CSO/Partner at Artsyl Technologies, Inc. The integration of our docAlpha smart process platform with SAP B1 super charges the business impact of SAP, allowing customers to intelligently transform their documents and digital files into actionable information that can drive process automation and achieve higher levels of efficiency and productivity.Artsyl will attend the ASUG SAP Business One Conference in Miami, Florida September 26-28 and will demonstrate docAlphas intelligent capture and business process automation capabilities.docAlpha provides fully automated document classification, data extraction, rules based validation of data, automated splitting and routing of documents to users or queues with email notifications and unmatched export integration capabilities.Key features of Artsysl SAP integration include: Instant data transfer from Artsyl to SAP Full document and meta-data transfer between systems Fast and easy deployment with SAP Provides central control over standards, security and auditingArtsyl Technologies, Inc. is the innovative company behind the docAlpha. For over 10 years Artsyl has been designing, building and innovating technology used by companies globally to reduce their document processing burdens. Whether you have AP Invoices, Customer Sales Orders, Remittances, Financial Services or Medical documents docAlpha is designed to make their processing easy. docAlpha can be used in any business process to automate the classification, data extraction, validation and routing of mission critical information to its proper line-of-business application. Visit14 Citron Court, Unit # 14 Concord, ON Canada New hidradenitis suppurativa (acne inversa) clinical resource launches this week on epgonline.org, the website for healthcare professionals https://www.epgonline.org/hidradenitis-suppurativa-knowledge-centre/en/index.cfm epgonline.org, the website for healthcare professionals, has recently announced the addition of a new clinical resource on hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), also known as acne inversa. The Hidradenitis Suppurativa Knowledge Centre presents information in a series of key sections, including disease awareness information and treatment options using both conventional and newer biologic agents.HS is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disease, which commonly develops post-puberty in skin regions bearing apocrine glands, notably axillae, inguinal and anogenital areas. HS has an adverse effect on patients quality of life [von der Werth and Jemec 2001; Matusiak et al., 2010; Esmann and Jemec, 2011; Onderdijk et al., 2013], with a greater adverse effect associated with increasing severity of disease. HS has a great emotional impact on patients resulting in isolation due to fear of stigmatisation. Reports of shame and irritation are common and relate to the odour, scars, itching and pain caused by the disease [Esmann and Jemec, 2011].Registered members of epgonline.org can access this resource free of charge at the following address:. Clinical content is divided into three primary sections. Disease Awareness provides accurate, fully referenced information, including epidemiological data, pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis and assessment. The Treatment section explores the different options available depending on disease severity with a summary of recommendations from the European treatment guidelines. Downloadable patient materials and links to networks for patients and healthcare professionals can be accessed via the Resources section.Dr Toby Galbraith, Director of Content Strategy for epgonline.org, said: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a relatively uncommon but very distressing condition for patients, and this distress can be lessened by early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. We hope this new educational resource will provide valuable information to aid healthcare professionals in helping their patients. The Hidradenitis Suppurativa Knowledge Centre has been developed by epgonline.org and sponsored by AbbVie,with scientific content provided by AbbVie.ENDSNotes to Editors: EPG Health Media is a digital communications company and publisher of epgonline.org, which provides healthcare professionals worldwide with free access to a wealth of clinical content, carefully developed and curated from trustworthy sources and conveniently organised by disease, medical specialty and information type. Content includes localised prescription drug information, disease-focused 'Learning Zones', treatment guidelines, drug and industry news, clinical trial information and journal article abstracts. AbbVie began as the pharmaceutical leader, Abbott, which was founded in 1888 by Chicago physician, Dr. Wallace Abbott. Since then, Abbott has evolved to become a global healthcare leader, delivering innovative pharmaceutical, nutritional, diagnostic, and medical products to people around the world. AbbVies focus is on developing medicines that can provide strong clinical performance, measurable patient benefit and economic value, particularly in areas where there is significant need, such as hepatitis C, neuroscience, immunology, oncology, chronic kidney disease and womens health.References:1. von der Werth JM, Jemec GB. Morbidity in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. Br J Dermatol. 2001;144:809-13.2. Matusiak L, Bieniek A, Szepietowski JC. Psychophysical aspects of hidradenitis suppurativa. Acta Derm Venereol. 2010;90:264-8.3. Esmann S, Jemec GB. Psychosocial impact of hidradenitis suppurativa: a qualitative study. Acta Derm Venereol. 2011;91:328-32.4. Onderdijk AJ, der van Zee HH, Esmann S, Lophaven S, Dufour DN, Jemec GB, et al. Depression in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013;27:473-8.EPG Health Media is a digital communications company and publisher of epgonline.org, which provides healthcare professionals worldwide with free access to a wealth of clinical content, carefully developed and curated from trustworthy sources and conveniently organised by disease, medical specialty and information type. Content includes localised prescription drug information, disease-focused 'Learning Zones', treatment guidelines, drug and industry news, clinical trial information and journal article abstracts.EPG Health Media51-55 The PantilesTunbridge WellsTN2 5TE Global Anti-Counterfeit Clothing and Accessories Packaging Market is expected to reach $20.5 billion by 2020 World Anti-counterfeit Clothing and Accessories Packaging Market 2020 http://www.marketintelreports.com/report/allied0166/world-anticounterfeit-clothing-and-accessories-packaging--market-opportunities-and-forecasts-2014--2020 http://www.marketintelreports.com/pdfdownload.php?id=allied0166 www.marketintelreports.com The malpractices of counterfeiting activities are majorly associated with premium products as they carry high revenue benefits and a lower risk. The counterfeiting practices of clothing and accessories are rapidly changing from physical markets to e commerce portals. The global anti-counterfeit clothing and accessories packaging market accounted for a revenue of $12 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach $20.5 billion by 2020, registering a CAGR of 9.9% over the forecast period.Check Complete Report @Presently, the counterfeiting rates of clothing and accessories impedes the financial growth of fashion and luxury goods industry. To overcome counterfeiting practices, authentication technologies are highly preferred techniques for low-cost products. The growing trend of multilayered product protection for fashion accessories would largely boost to the authentication technology market. Local manufactures form the key user segment of economic authentication technologies.A high demand is estimated for the segment of cost-effective authentication technologies during the forecast period. A large adoption of track and trace technologies by manufacturers of premium fashion wear and accessories is observed in the market. Barcode technology was the highest revenue-generating segment in 2014 and is expected to sustain its market share during the forecast period. Among all the track and trace technologies, the economic pricing of barcode technology is a factor that would drive its market growth. Also, the segment of RFID and m-pedigree technologies hold promising opportunities for premium product tracking. The growth of fashion and luxury industry across developed regions was largely hampered by the recessionary economic conditions.Get Sample Brochure of the Report @leading companies across these regions are capitalizing on newer opportunities through expansion in emerging economies. North America and Europe were the highest revenue-generating regions; collectively contributing to 84% of the global market in 2014. Also, there are potential opportunities for players in emerging economies, particularly in the BRIC countries. All the factors mentioned above along with the increased product vigilance of manufacturers would increase the demand for advanced and cost-effective anti-counterfeit solutions. Key players profiled in the report include Alien Technology Corp., AlpVision, Zebra Technologies Corp., Avery Dennison Corp., Microtrace Solutions, Impinj Incorporation, Applied DNA Science Inc., Brand Integrity International, and RDS Labels.KEY BENEFITS: The report highlights key market drivers and restraints across all verticals of the anti-counterfeit packaging market SWOT analysis helps study the internal environment of the leading companies, effectively, for strategy formulation Porters five forces analysis examines the competitive structure of the global anti-counterfeit technologies market and would help market strategists in making informed decisions .The report describes the market intellect along with the current trends and revenue for the period 2014-2020KEY MARKET SEGMENTS:Global anti-counterfeit technology market is categorized intoMARKET BY TECHNOLOGIES Authentication technology Ink and dyes Holograms WatermarksTaggantsTrack and trace technology Barcode technologyRFID technologyMARKET BY GEOGRAPHY North America Europe Asia-Pacific LAMEAAbout us:MarketIntelReports (MIR) aim to empower our clients to successfully manage and outperform in their business decisions, we do this by providing Premium Market Intelligence, Strategic Insights and Databases from a range of Global Publishers.A group of industry veterans who are well experienced in reputed international consulting firms after identifying the sourcing needs of MNCs for market intelligence, have together started this business savior MarketIntelReports.MIR intends to be a one-stop shop with an intuitive design, exhaustive database, expert assistance, secure cart checkout and data privacy integrated. It curates the list of reports, publishers and studies to ensure that the database is constantly updated to dynamically meet the targeted, specific needs of our clients.MarketIntelReports currently has more than 10,000 plus titles and 35+ publishers on our platform and growing consistently to fill the Global Intelligence Demand Supply Gap. We cover more than 15 industry verticals being: Automotive, Electronics, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Chemicals, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Food & Beverages, Banking & Finance, Media and Government, Public Sector Studies.Contact us:Mayur SSales Manager2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400,Wilmington,Delaware,19808United Statessales@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-261-5343 Global FPGA in Telecom Market: propelling rapidly due to applications of FPGA in telecommunications Global FPGA in Telecom Market 2016 http://www.marketintelreports.com/report/QYR11993/global-fpga-in-telecom-market-professional-survey-report-2016n http://www.marketintelreports.com/pdfdownload.php?id=qyr11993 www.marketintelreports.com The FPGA stands for Field Programmable Gate Array and it is highly used in various end user system applications such as aerospace, electronics, automotive, automation and so on. Telecom industry is one of the major end user industries of this product. There is high scope for FPGA in Telecom Market due to the high investment by government agencies for improvement of telecommunications in various regions across the globe in the upcoming period.Check Complete Report @Scope and Regional Forecast of the FPGA in Telecom Market:North America is the prominent region for the FPGA in Telecom Market due to high FPGA applications in this region. The US, Canada and Mexico are the major markets for the development of this market in the upcoming years.Europe is expected to have high utilization of FPGA USB, PCIE interface and other telecom interface components in the FPGA in Telecom Market. Germany, France and UK are the major markets for high FPGA and DSP applications in future.Asia Pacific is the fast growing region in the FPGA in Telecom Market owing to the growing investment by emerging economies such as India and China for improvement of telecom industry. FPGA applications are expected to have high use for wireless applications in this region. China is expected to emerge as the prominent manufacturer of the FPGA in the Asian Pacific region in the upcoming term.Segmentation and Key Players of the FPGA in Telecom Market:The FPGA in Telecom Market is segmented into various categories by region and by player and follows: By region: USA, China, Europe, South America, Japan and Africa By Player: Achronix Semiconductor Corp, Texas Instruments, MicrosemiCorporation, Cypress Semiconductor, Aeroflex Inc., Intel Corporation,Lattice Semiconductor, Atmel Corporation and XilinxGet Sample Brochure of the Report @The key players in the FPGA in Telecom Market that manufacture high quality FPGA units are as follows: Texas Instruments Xilinx Intel Corporation Microsemi Corporation Cypress SemiconductorThe FPGA in Telecom Market is a rapidly growing market owing to the expansion of telecom companies to provide wired and wireless communication in various regions across the globe. This market is expected to have high growth with rise in use of FPGA DSP, RF FPGA and FPGA to FPGA communication in telecom industry and high investment for FPGA based projects for wireless communication in remote areas across the globe in the upcoming years.About us:MarketIntelReports (MIR) aim to empower our clients to successfully manage and outperform in their business decisions, we do this by providing Premium Market Intelligence, Strategic Insights and Databases from a range of Global Publishers.A group of industry veterans who are well experienced in reputed international consulting firms after identifying the sourcing needs of MNCs for market intelligence, have together started this business savior MarketIntelReports.MIR intends to be a one-stop shop with an intuitive design, exhaustive database, expert assistance, secure cart checkout and data privacy integrated. It curates the list of reports, publishers and studies to ensure that the database is constantly updated to dynamically meet the targeted, specific needs of our clients.MarketIntelReports currently has more than 10,000 plus titles and 35+ publishers on our platform and growing consistently to fill the Global Intelligence Demand Supply Gap. We cover more than 15 industry verticals being: Automotive, Electronics, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Chemicals, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Food & Beverages, Banking & Finance, Media and Government, Public Sector Studies.Contact us:Mayur SSales Manager2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400,Wilmington,Delaware,19808United Statessales@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-261-5343 Bavarian Inn Annual Squash Roundup Brings Community Together Sept. 24 www.bavarianinn.com http://www.logos-communications.com/bavarianinn/ A tradition for 51 years, the annual "Squash Roundup" for the Bavarian Inn Restaurant happens Saturday, Sept. 24.With the help of volunteers, farm hands and community members, tons of Blue Hubbard squash will be harvested from the fields and delivered to the Bavarian Inn Restaurant.The Blue Hubbard squash grown by the Fred Weiss Family Farm in Frankenmuth weigh anywhere from 25 to 35 pounds each. Members of the St. Lorenz Lutheran Church Youth Group help unload the truckloads of squash at the restaurant. Last year, the Bavarian Inn processed 70 tons of squash.A favorite of Bavarian Inn Restaurant guests for a half-century, Blue Hubbard squash is a popular seasonal feature on the menu from October through December. Bavarian Inn co-founder Dorothy Zehnder works her culinary magic with the squash, using it as a side dish, as well as in soups and the Inns pumpkin pie.About Bavarian InnCelebrating 125 years of service in 2013, the Bavarian Inn Restaurant has become a Michigan landmark. Generations of diners, lodgers and tourists from around the globe have discovered true Bavarian hospitality thanks to Dorothy and her late husband William "Tiny" Zehnder. Guests experience the old-world European charm of the Bavarian Inn whether its the famous chicken dinners, fresh baked goods or Michigans greatest selection of German beer. Bavarian Inn also prides itself on being one of the top consumers of Pure Michigan agricultural products. Nestled within a backdrop of authentic German architecture, a variety of shops and other fun activities, a trip to Frankenmuth would not be complete without a visit to the Bavarian Inn. Learn more atBavarian Inn online press room:713 S. Main StreetFrankenmuth, MI Global Animal Genetics Market 2016, Analysis, Research, Share, Growth, Sales, Trends, Supply, Forecast to 2021 http://www.marketintelreports.com/report/glfr17/global-animal-genetics-market-by-manufacturers-regions-type-and-application-forecast-to-2021 http://www.marketintelreports.com/pdfdownload.php?id=glfr17 http://www.marketintelreports.com/purchase.php?id=glfr17 www.marketintelreports.com Summary of the report:Animal Genetics is a branch of genetics that studies heredity and variation chiefly in farm animals but also in domestic and wild animals. It is based on general genetic principles and concepts, and it mainly uses the hybrid, cytological, population, ontogenetic, mathematical-statistical, and twin methods of general genetics.Animal breeding or genetics is the area of science where experts are trying to steer the frequency of certain genes by combining the most superior or desired individual animals to be the parents of the next generation. This process is focused on getting improved offspring who are on average better than the previous generation.Check complete report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Animal Genetics in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Avail more information from Sample Brochure of report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversThis report focuses on the Animal Genetics in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) Latin America, Middle and AfricaMarket Segment by Type, covers By function Genus PLC Hendrix Genetics EW Group GmbH Zoetis CRV Holding Grimaud Topigs Alta Genetics Neogen Corporation EnvigoMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Animal Genetics Products Animal Genetics Testing ServicesOrder a copy of Global Animal Genetics Market Research Report @About us:MarketIntelReports (MIR) aim to empower our clients to successfully manage and outperform in their business decisions, we do this by providing Premium Market Intelligence, Strategic Insights and Databases from a range of Global Publishers.A group of industry veterans who are well experienced in reputed international consulting firms after identifying the sourcing needs of MNCs for market intelligence, have together started this business savior MarketIntelReports.MIR intends to be a one-stop shop with an intuitive design, exhaustive database, expert assistance, secure cart checkout and data privacy integrated. It curates the list of reports, publishers and studies to ensure that the database is constantly updated to dynamically meet the targeted, specific needs of our clients.MarketIntelReports currently has more than 10,000 plus titles and 35+ publishers on our platform and growing consistently to fill the Global Intelligence Demand Supply Gap. We cover more than 15 industry verticals being: Automotive, Electronics, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Chemicals, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Food & Beverages, Banking & Finance, Media and Government, Public Sector Studies.Contact us:Mayur S.Sales Manager2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400,Wilmington,Delaware,19808United Statessales@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-261-5343 RDH Global To Announce New Account Facility http://www.rdhglobal.com RDH Global have announced that they will soon be adding a new account facility that they will be able to offer certain clients only.The new facility is to be an advisory only one that is primarily targeted towards not only their own corporate and institutional client base but also to other brokerages, who will then use RDH Globals renowned and respected advice to enable them to then place their own trades.The introduction of this new facility will enable us to offer our services to both our existing client base and to other advisory firms who require accurate and up-to-date market recommendations, said Reuben Rosenthal, RDH Globals CEO and founder.This new facility will be overseen by Malcolm Marsh, one of our senior analysts based in Brussels. The service will not only allow clients access to current recommendations for them to process their own trades but also allow them to request a report on recommendations that they wish us to analyze for them for a fixed fee. We believe that such openness to our clients and other advisory firms will build strong relationships, something that we have always embraced, Reuben Rosenthal continued.RDH Global currently have offices in Brussels, Hong Kong and Dubai to allow them to offer complete client services to Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle-Eastern based clients.The appointment of Malcolm to oversee this new account facility was decided by a unanimous vote by the senior partners, as his reputation of being one of the best was established a long time ago. We all wish Malcolm the very best in this new appointment and look forward to expanding the facility with our new clients very quickly, Reuben Rosenthal concluded.We are RDH Global, established by Reuben Rosenthal, Marc Dumont and Samuel Hansen, who with their considerable personal experience in multiple platforms, each covering various classes, afford every client, at every level, the ability to find the right product and solution for their personal goals.RDH GlobalBlue Tower,Avenue Louise, 3261050 BrusselsBelgium+32 2 342 0279info.eu@rdhglobal.com Kepley BioSystems Selected as a Hello Tomorrow Challenge Finalist Anthony Dellinger with OrganoBait and Lobster. Photo courtesy of Martin W. Kaine, Univ. of North Carolina Greensboro www.kepleybiosystems.com www.twitter.com/organobait www.facebook.com/kepleybiosystems/ Competing with 70 other extraordinary startup companies from around the world, Kepley BioSystems was named as a top finalist in the Hello Tomorrow Challenge. Originally, 3,500 companies from 105 countries had entered the competition, and recently the field was narrowed to 500 semi-finalists. Now, just 70 companies that have been invited to make presentations at the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit on October 13 and 14 in Paris, France, where they will select respective category and grand prize winners.The Hello Tomorrow Challenge is the premier event for showcasing and celebrating new science and technology enterprises with exciting and often global commercialization potential. Ten Challenge categories are being sponsored by leading multinational industry leaders, including LOreal, Sycomore Asset Management, Roche, Airbus and many others. Carrefour is a pre-eminent global food conglomerate with over 300,000 employees and the sponsor of the Food and Agriculture category in which Kepley BioSystems is competing, with gratitude for their commitment, as well.Former New York City Mayor and media executive, Michael Bloomberg will keynote the Summit, headlining an impressive list of notable speakers spanning an international array of public and private sector entities. Sharing the podium to present OrganoBaitTM will be Dr. Anthony Dillinger, President of Kepley BioSystems, to describe both the urgent need and the innovation to address it to the Summit judges. He will also be meeting investors and interested corporations in both formal and informal sessions, including a special celebration after the awards.Hello Tomorrow is a non-profit organization formed in 2011 with a commitment to advance innovation and foster social benefits from competitive enterprises. It aims to bridge the gap between science, entrepreneurs, investors and corporations, gathering more than 15,000 innovators within the Hello Tomorrow network. Over $72 million dollars of investment capital have been raised by Hello Tomorrow finalists since its inception.Kepley BioSystems originated at the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN), North Carolina A&T State University and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; the company is now located at the Gateway University Research Park proximal to JSNN. Kepley BioSystems is an academically-driven company led by Professor Christopher Kepley and Dr. Anthony Dellinger, a recent graduate, working in collaboration with lead inventor Terry E. Brady, located on the Caribbean island of Anguilla, British West Indies.Kepley BioSystems Inc2901 East Gate City Blvd, Suite 2400Greensboro, NC 27401P: 336-217-5163E: adellinger@kepleybiosystems.comW:T:F: A Small App Gives Every Window a Tabbed User Interface http://www.nurgo-software.com/ http://www.nurgo-software.com/products/tidytabs http://www.nurgo-software.com/pricing/tidytabs Nurgo Software announces release of its simple yet extremely handy utility for system administrators, office workers and home users - TidyTabs. The program equips every application window in the system with a handy tabbed user interface and greatly simplifies managing multiple windows and running applications.For many, swapping between program windows, resizing windows, and remembering the location of each window are all common tasks that take an absurd amount of time despite their simplicity. In response, TidyTabs allows the user to gather windows from different programs into a single tabbed platform, much like the tabs in popular web-browsers like Chrome and Internet Explorer. This intuitive design allows users to become accustomed to the program nearly instantly. As a result, users will see productivity boosts almost immediately after the program is installed.TidyTabs installs quickly and requires miniscule CPU usage. Tabs are added into the upper left corner of a window and are only visible when the mouse is near. This feature ensures that the tabs are only around when needed, keeping the interface minimalist and clutter-free. And to allow a level of customization, users are able to prevent selected programs from being affected by TidyTabs, just in case a program really needs to be detached.Added tabs can be dragged one onto another in order to create a tabbed group containing multiple windows, even if those windows are from different applications. Tabs can be reordered, detached or moved from one group to another. A right click on a tab displays a contextual menu which permits to perform more advanced actions on the tabs (renaming, adding the application to the blacklist, closing this tab, closing all other tabs, etc.)Last but not least, TidyTabs combines well with another product by Nurgo Software, AquaSnap, a window arranging program to help users optimize their desktop space.Pricing and availabilityTidyTabs is free for personal use. The free version is limited to 3 tabs per window. The Professional license allows business and corporate use and costs $9 per one computer. The unlimited site license is also available. The program supports Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10, both 32-bit and 64-bit editions.LinksCompany website:Product page:Download:Nurgo Software is a French company specializing in perfecting user experience. Nurgo Software has downloads in over 190 countries and hundreds of thousands of users, including companies like Canon and Uber.83 rue Victor54000 NancyFranceName: Gregory JourneCompany: Nurgo SoftwareE-Mail: contact@nurgo-software.com Squeezable Tubes Packaging Market - Global Industry Analysis,Growth, Trends, Forecast 2026 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=14069 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com A tube is a hollow and cylinder container use to store thick liquid products like toothpaste, cream, sauces, adhesive, etc. The Tubes are new packaging presentation which is easy to form and easy to use. The squeezable tubes are used for fluid dispensing. Demand for handy packaging has boosted overall sales of squeezable tubes. The disposal of an extensive range of advanced tube packaging solutions is likely to have an optimistic influence on the demand for squeezable tube packaging during the forecast period. Market is mainly driven by increased disposable income and demand for convenience packaging. The tube market is linked through the growth of packaging industry. Squeezable packaging has positive outlook as a result of packaging industries.Get Free Sample Report Copy :Squeezable Tubes Packaging Market: DynamicsThe increasing demand for small size packaging in food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic and personal care, healthcare & toiletries products has led to increased sales of squeezable tube packaging worldwide. Market is highly competitive and mature which in turn has led vendors to come up with innovative products, digital labelling and color to beat the challenges. Changing consumer preference along with change in market structure has led to stiff competition among manufacturers to offer innovative products which in turn has boosted overall demand for squeezable tubes worldwide. The different type of tubes are available in market but the market share of plastic tubes are higher than rest of material. Aluminum tubes are least offering material by manufacturing company .The preference for plastic tubes are higher due to its non-reactive character and ease of transportation. Laminated tubes and Paper board are also preferable by the manufacturers. Fast moving consumer goods product are the main target of squeezable tubes packaging vendors.Squeezable Tubes Packaging Market: SegmentationThe global market of squeezable plastic tubes can be segmented on the basis of product, material used, and application. On the basis of product type, market is further segmented into squeeze tubes, twist tubes, cartridge tubes. The type of material used in squeezable tubes packaging are laminated tubes, aluminum tubes, plastic tubes and paper board. On the basis of application the squeezable tubes can be classified onto cosmetic & personal care, Food & beverage, pharmaceuticals and consumer goodsSqueezable Tubes Packaging Market: Regional OverviewThe Asia pacific is the noticeable region for the development of respective market due to increasing consumer base. The Europe and North America market is highly mature with high market presence of established players. The global market for tube packaging market is expected to witness rapid growth in near future. The Asia-Pacific region is estimated witness fastest-growth in terms of volume. Increasing disposable income along with presence of significant consumer base has led to increased investment by companies engaged in manufacturing and distribution of squeezable tubes in the region. MEA and Latin America are expected to witness moderate growth over the forecast period.Squeezable Tubes Packaging Market: Key PlayersThe main player of this market such are Amcor Limited (Australia), Ampac (U.S), Constantia Flexibles, Janco Inc. Winpak Limited, Multivac, Dupont ,Albea, Essel Propack and Huhtamaki. Other prominent Players Including MPack, Neopac, Prutha Packaging, Skypack, Sonoco, 3D Packaging, Alltub, , KAP CONES ,Antilla Propack, Cores and Tubes, CTL Packaging, Excel Tubes and Cones, Montebello Packaging, M&H Plastics, Tuboplast, VisiPak.About TMRTMR is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global OLED Material Market 2016 Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Supply Revenue and Forecast 2021 OLED Material http://bit.ly/2dlifir http://bit.ly/2cTdjyM Global OLED Material Market 2016 Industry Size Share Growth Forecast Research and DevelopmentThe Global OLED Material Industry report gives a comprehensive account of the Global OLED Material market. Details such as the size, key players, segmentation, SWOT analysis, most influential trends, and business environment of the market are mentioned in this report. Furthermore, this report features tables and figures that render a clear perspective of the OLED Material market. The report features an up-to-date data on key companies product details, revenue figures, and sales. Furthermore, the details also gives the Global OLED Material market revenue and its forecasts. The business model strategies of the key firms in the OLED Material market are also included. Key strengths, weaknesses, and threats shaping the leading players in the market have also been included in this research report.The report gives a detailed overview of the key segments in the market. The fastest and slowest growing market segments are covered in this report. The key emerging opportunities of the fastest growing Global OLED Material market segments are also covered in this report. Each segments and sub-segments market size, share, and forecast are available in this report. Additionally, the region-wise segmentation and the trends driving the leading geographical region and the emerging region has been presented in this report.Get Complete Report with TOC :The study on the Global OLED Material market also features a history of the tactical mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships activity in the market. Valuable recommendations by senior analysts about investing strategically in research and development can help new entrants or established players penetrate the emerging sectors in the OLED Material market. Investors will gain a clear insight on the dominant players in this industry and their future forecasts. Furthermore, readers will get a clear perspective on the high demand and the unmet needs of consumers that will enhance the growth of this market.Table of ContentChapter One OLED Material Industry Overview1.1 OLED Material Definition1.1.1 OLED Material Definition1.1.2 Product Specifications1.2 OLED Material Classification1.3 OLED Material Application Field1.4 OLED Material Industry Chain Structure1.5 OLED Material Industry Regional Overview1.6 OLED Material Industry Policy Analysis1.7 OLED Material Industry Related Companies Contact InformationGet Sample Copy of Report @About Us:MarketResearchStore.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803 Ethoxylates Market report, 2015 2020 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?flag=S&repid=60644 http://bit.ly/2cXA0QG http://bit.ly/2cIN7rr http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/ethoxylates-market-global-industry-perspective-comprehensive-analysis-and.html http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com Ethoxylates is a compound obtained from a conduct in which ethylene oxide added to alcohols and phenols. Production of detergents, surface cleaners, cosmetics, and paints mainly involve ethoxylates compound as intermediate. Major end application of ethoxylates includes textile processing, paints & coatings, agriculture, pulp & paper, and personal care industries.Get a copy of free Sample Report @Growing textile processing, personal care, and paints & coatings industries is major driving factor of ethoxylates market. Cosmetic & personal care end-user industry is another key driving factor that is expected to influence the demand for ethoxylates over the years to come. However, environmental distress concerning the effects of toxicity is a major restraint that is likely to impede the growth of the market.The global ethoxylates market is segmented on the basis of types, applications and regions. The ethoxylates market is segmented based on types into alcohol, fatty amine, fatty acid, methyl ester, and glyceride. Applications covered for ethoxylates market includes agrochemicals, household & personal care, pharmaceutical, oilfield chemicals, others.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the ethoxylates market, we have included a detailed value chain analysis. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the ethoxylates market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein product segments and application segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.The study provides the comprehensive perspective on the ethoxylates market growth, throughout the forecast period in terms of revenue (in USD Million), across different region including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil. In terms of revenue, the ethoxylates market for each application and each of these regions has been forecast in the report for the period from 2014 to 2020.Inquire more before buying this report @Europe was the leading producer of ethoxylates market in 2014. Asia Pacific is a fastest growing market of ethoxylates and anticipated to continue this trend. This is owing to the emerging economies like China and India coupled with increase in the disposable income. Middle East and Africa is estimated to experience sluggish growth during the forecast period.Some of the key players operating in global ethoxylates market include Clariant AG, Sasol Ltd, Shell Chemicals, Air Products & Chemicals Inc., BASF SE, India Glycols Ltd., Huntsman International LLC, Ineos Group Ltd., The Dow Chemical Company, among others.Browse detail report @Key segments of the Global Ethoxylates MarketGlobal Ethoxylates Market: Type Segment AnalysisAlcoholFatty AmineFatty AcidMethyl esterGlycerideGlobal Ethoxylates Market: Application Segment AnalysisAgrochemicalsHousehold & Personal CarePharmaceuticalOilfield ChemicalsOthersGlobal Ethoxylates Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout US:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@SyndicateMarketResearch.comWebsite: Irans economy in the spotlight this month The inaugural Focus Iran Summit will begin on 26th September, 2016 at the Espinas Palace Hotel in Tehran. The two-day investment summit aims to bring together several eminent names from the world of business, who will all discuss strategies on how to take Iran ahead on a global scale.Furthermore, the summit has managed to attract a lot of interest from organizations overseas, who are confident of Irans huge investment potential receiving the most appropriate mileage from keen foreign investors. For instance, Sohar Port & Freezone is surveying its plans to expand business in the coming months with Iran. Anders Kron, commercial manager Middle East, Sohar Port & Freezone, said, As Iran reopens for international business, SOHAR is ideally placed as the regions fastest growing Port and Freezone, outside the Strait of Hormuz and within only a short sailing distance of many Iranian ports. Fast developing as a major regional hub for food, logistics, metals and petrochemicals, at SOHAR we see huge opportunities in partnering with Iranian businesses across many sectors. We are excited about the upcoming Focus Iran Summit in Tehran and are looking forward to connecting with the many Iranian companies and senior executives scheduled to attend.Anders Kron will be present at the Focus Iran Summit to present his views on how Sohar Port & Freezone plans to ramp up investments in the region.The friendly and encouraging response has also stoked the interest of the local companies, who are keen on networking with representatives from strong markets such as Europe, Middle East, Far East and Russia. Dr. Siamak Goudarzi, CEO, Open Iran Group, which is also the co-organizer of the event, said, Focus Iran Summit is connecting people with a real thrust to conduct business with Iran. Speakers will basically answer how this can be achieved. Solely, the networking opportunities provided by the event are unique it as they are focused, informal and effective.He also believes that the sectors covered by the summit reflect the immediate need of the country for services of international standards, thereby lending immediate opportunities for those who have something to bring to the table.The summit will also feature a host of legal and political experts, who think that its key to understand geographic and economic dynamics to better understand the scope of business. Presentations will be made by individuals such as renowned sanctions lawyer Sarosh Zaiwalla, senior partner at Zaiwalla & Co and Philip Worman, partner, GPW Political Risk who are expected to largely cover legal implications as well as Irans prospects with its neighbors.For more insightful presentations, you can be a part of the Focus Iran Summit thats taking place between 26th & 27th September at Tehrans Espinas Palace Hotel.Spot registrations are open for the summit. Contact Basant Das at bdas@ifinancemag.com.International Finance Magazine (IFM) aims to be a source of information, analysis and insights for the global finance community. Headquartered in London, IFM was established with a mission to convey credible financial news and articles to the global financial community in a concise, simple and easy-to-understand manner.Integrating deep domain knowledge with sharp analysis, IFM is an online resource that helps readers understand the forces that drive the market better. Timely, in-depth and insightful coverage of key market developments and analysis of the drivers behind change help readers understand the complicated economic processes taking place in the international financial community.International Finance Publication Limited843 Finchley Road, London - NW11 8NA+44 (0) 207 1936 304 (Phone) Diagnostic Imaging Market Expected to Witness the Fastest Growth (5.7% CAGR) in Asia-Pacific, During 2016 2022 www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/medical-imaging-market www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/medical-imaging-market/report-sample www.psmarketresearch.com/industry-report/medical-devices https://www.psmarketresearch.com The global diagnostic imaging market was valued at $27,930.5 million in 2015, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.9% during 2016-2022. Based on type of diagnostic imaging, the x-ray imaging segment dominated the global market in 2015.Explore Full Report on Diagnostic Imaging Market at:The global diagnostic imaging market is growing at a significant rate, due to increasing healthcare expenditure, increasing awareness of early diagnosis, and growing geriatric population. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, technological advancement and widening application of diagnostic imaging devices, and improving healthcare infrastructure in developing countries are also driving the growth of the global diagnostic imaging market.Diagnostic imaging is a technique and process used to create image of the internal as well as external human body parts for clinical purpose. X-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, single photon emission tomography (SPECT), and positron emission tomography (PET), are some of the major diagnostic imaging techniques.Explore Report Sample at:The factors, such as stringent regulatory requirements, increasing risk of cancer due to exposure of radiation, and shortage of helium gas deposits for magnetic resonance imaging are inhibiting the growth of the global market.Geographically, North America dominated the global market of diagnostic imaging in 2015; whereas the Asia-Pacific market is expected to witness the fastest growth at a CAGR of 5.7%, during the forecast period.Browse Related Research:Some of the key companies operating in the global diagnostic imaging market include Siemens AG, Koninklijke Philips N.V., General Electric Company, Hitachi Ltd., Toshiba Corporation, Shimadzu Corporation, FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, SAMSUNG, and Esaote SpA.Global Diagnostic Imaging Market SegmentationBy Type X-ray Imagingo By Portabilityo By Technology Ultrasound Imagingo By Technology Computed Tomographyo By Slice Type Magnetic Resonance Imagingo By Architectureo By Field Strengt Nuclear Imagingo By Type OthersBy End User Diagnostic Center Hospital OthersBy Geography North Americao U.S.o Canadao Rest of North America Europeo U.K.o Germanyo Franceo Italyo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia-Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Rest of Asia-Pacific Rest of the World (RoW)About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:DeepAssistant Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-Free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:347 5th Ave. #1402- 210New York CityUnited States Global Nitric Acid Market Revenue and Value Chain By 2015 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4520 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4520 Nitric acid, also known as spirit of niter or aqua fortis, is a corrosive mineral acid. Nitric acid in pure form is colorless and becomes pale yellow due to decomposition of oxides. Commercially sold nitric acid has concentration of around 70%. Nitric acid with more than 85% concentration is known as fuming nitric acid. Depending upon the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, nitric acid is further classified as red fuming and white fuming depending upon the color of the solution. Nitric acid is used as a reagent in nitration reactions. Few of the nitric acid based compounds are unstable and are generally sued in explosives while the stable compounds are used in manufacturing of paints, dyes and pigments. Commercially, nitric acid is manufactured through Ostwalds process in which there is catalytic oxidation of anhydrous ammonia. The process gives nitric oxide which is again treated with water and then reoxidized to get nitric acid. The aqueous solutions will have concentration of around 65% while further concentration of more than 95% is achieved through dehydration with 98% sulfuric acid.The market for nitric acid was mainly driven by fertilizer industry. Nitric acid is used in manufacturing of ammonium nitrate and calcium ammonium nitrate which finds application in fertilizers. Ammonium nitrate is also used in manufacturing of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) which is used as fertilizer solution and in explosives. Ammonium nitrate is also used as blasting and explosives agent in various applications. Calcium ammonium nitrate is used in manufacturing of fertilizers solutions. Adipic acid is one of the applications which use nitric acid during manufacturing process. Adipic acid is used in manufacturing of nylon 6,6. Nylon 6,6 is used in various end-user industries such as automotive, textiles and tire among others. Nitric acid is also used as an intermediate in manufacturing of toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Toluene diisocyanate is used in manufacturing of polyurethane foams which are used in automotive, transpiration, carpet and furniture industry. Nitric acid is used as an intermediate in manufacturing of nitrobenzene and nitrochlorobenzenes among others. Nitric acid is also used as oxidizer in rocket propellants. However, the market is likely to hinder in near future owing to environmental and health hazards associated with the nitric acid industry.Download Sample @In terms of demand, Europe was the leading region in nitric acid market in 2013. The demand in the Europe is mainly driven by fertilizer and explosives industry. Western and Eastern Europe had the highest demand for nitric acid in this region. However, central Europe is likely to offer better opportunity for the market in near future. Europe was followed by Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific is considered to be one of the fastest growing regions for the nitric acid market. China had the highest demand for nitric acid in this region. India, Japan and Taiwan are expected to positive outlook for the nitric acid market in upcoming years. North America had the third-largest demand for nitric acid market in 2013. Increasing demand for nitric acid from fertilizer industry coupled other end-user such as explosives, TDI and adipic acid has been driving the market for nitric acid. U.S. had the highest demand for nitric acid in North America. Rest of the World market is anticipated to demonstrate optimistic future for the nitric acid market. Latin America and the Middle East will exhibit higher demand for nitric acid over the forecast period.Request TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:Some of the key manufacturers in the nitric acid market are Agrium Inc., BASF SE, Bayer AG, LyondellBasell Industries and The Dow Chemical Company among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Global Baryte Market Estimates and Forecasts(2015 -2021) http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4549 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4549 Baryte is a naturally occurring barium sulfate mineral and a part of baryte group. Baryte has great range of colors and varied crystal habits. It is found in the form of crystals in sediments and sedimentary rocks. It is also found in concretions and vein fillings in limestone, dolostone, sand and sandstones. Baryte is majorly found in countries such as Nigeria, Canada, Liberia, Mexico, Peru, Turkey, South Africa, Thailand, UK, China, Greece, India, Iran and Ireland among others. It is non-toxic, has good inertia, good stability, low solubility, high specific gravity and moderate rigidity that makes it an environmental friendly material. Baryte often replaces other minerals and organic materials such as fossils, shells and wood among others.Download Sample @Baryte is a very important industrial mineral and has wide range of applications. Majority of baryte is used as a weighting agent for drilling muds in oil and gas industry to repress pressure and prevent blowouts. Baryte is also used as a pigment in paints and as a weighted filler for cloth, rubber and paper. Since baryte is a primary ore of barium, it is used to make wide variety of barium compounds such as chloride, nitrate, carbonate and hydrate among others which can be used for ray shielding. Baryte has ability to block X-ray and gamma-ray emissions and is used in hospitals, power plants and laboratories. Baryte compounds have been used in diagnostic medical tests where patients are made to drink liquid containing barium powder to get an xray of the soft tissue of the esophagus. Since barium is opaque to X-rays and blocks their passage, an image of the esophagus is possible. Similarly, barium enema can be used to image the shape of colon. The non-toxic property of baryte also makes it an ideal substitute of titanium dioxide in cosmetics. In addition, baryte compounds containing nitrites are used in manufacture of fireworks and ceramic glazes and baryte compound containing flurodes are used for infrared applications.The increasing demand for oil has lead to increase in the drilling activities of oil and gas industry, which will be a major driving factor for the baryte market. The rapid economic growth in Brazil, Russia, China and India has lead to increase in infrastructure projects and increase in demand for automobiles, which is likely to have a positive impact on the bayrte industry. In addition, a booming construction industry is expected to increase the demand for paints and coating, which will be another major driving factor for the baryte industry. However, the escalating world demand for baryte has resulted in price increase in recent years.Asia Pacific dominates the demand and supply of baryte and is the fastest growing region for the baryte industry. China, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Paksitan and India are the key markets in this region. The Middle East and North Africa is also an important market for baryte with Morocco, Turkey, and Iran being key players in this region. Driven by the shale oil and gas exploration boom, demand for baryte is set to grow tremendously in the U.S. in the next couple of years.Request TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:Some of the important players in this market are Standard Industrial Minerals Inc, Excalibar Minerals LLC, P and S Baryte Mining Co., Ltd, Silver and Baryte Ores Mining Co. SA, International Earth Products LLC, Spirit Minerals LP and Milwhite, Inc. among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Biological Machines Market : Used As Tools For Biological Repair, Implants For Drug Release, Synthesis And Sensing http://bit.ly/2diTfWx http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Biological machines are cellular devices designed to perform various functions such as protein expression, sensing, transport, information processing and actuation in a micro-environment. Also known as cellular systems, biological machines are used as tools for biological repair, implants for drug release, synthesis and sensing and also as organ mimics for drug testing. Rapid convergence of engineering and biotechnology is assisting in the development of biological machines. The biological machines market is in its developing phase characterized by under research and development technologies.Request free Sample pages of premium Research Report:A number of universities and research organizations are involved in the research and development activities for biological machines. For instance, bioengineers at the University of Illinois are trying to print biobots using 3D printers. The bioengineering department of the university currently aims to develop biological materials that can perform certain biological repair tasks. They have managed to print biobots from a combination of muscle cells and gel, which is a stepping stone towards one day printing of functional organs for implantation. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the research team at the University of Illinois will be developing simple biological materials using muscle cells and then proceed to genetically engineer cells that respond to light in predictable ways, allowing the creation of controllable biobots.This research is being performed at the NSF Science and Technology Center in the U.S., with other research partners at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Georgia Institute of Technology and minority-serving partners at City College of New York, Morehouse College (Atlanta, U.S.) and University of California at Merced (UCM). The NSF had granted USD 25 million in 2010, for a five-year term to establish the Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems Center (EBICS) each at MIT, University of Illinois and the Georgia Institute of Technology.Besides healthcare, biological machines find applications in other aspects that potentially effect health. Researchers from the Imperial College London have demonstrated a way of developing a new type of biological wire using proteins, which interacts with DNA and act as wires in an electrical circuitry. This new wire has the capability of being re-engineered over and again to create billions of connections between DNA components. Re-wiring of DNA in yeast can aid in performing various tasks such as detecting contaminants in water supplies and recording environmental conditions in the production of biofuels.Once successful, new organs can be designed and implanted using biological robots which have the ability to sense drug or glucose levels in the blood stream and respond accordingly by stimulating or inhibiting the secretion. Biorobots can be used to perform nanoscale tasks inside the human body. Retinal implants, sensory systems, cortical implants, auditory system, nanotube electrodes and other such products can be developed using biological machine technology. Principles of cellular systems are applied to develop these biological machines i.e. implants and nanoscale products that can perform small tasks in the human body.Being at its nascent stage, the biological machines market is profound in the developed countries of North America and Europe. Approval of biological machines by the FDA and other regulatory authorities will require additional time as these machines directly react with the biological systems. The market for biological machines in the developing regions is still far from development owing to slower rate of acceptance and lack of advanced healthcare infrastructure.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Toothstars Announces New Reviews for Mouthwash and Electric Toothbrush for Kids https://www.toothstars.co.uk/ September 13, 2016 Toothstars, one of the most trusted names in oral hygiene reviews, recently announced their website has finished updating. According to company spokesperson Steven Herbert, the site now has even greater number of reviews of the best electric toothbrush for kids.We have just completed updating our reviews at the site, and there are more products there now than before, says Herbert in an interview. Our site visitors have come to rely on us for the latest reviews and that is why we make the extra effort to make sure we review the top electric toothbrushes for kids.The demand for electric toothbrushes has gone up significantly as more and more parents recognize its importance and realize regular toothbrushes are not as effective in cleaning teeth. However, a lot of customers have lamented the fact there are not a lot of websites that offer information about these products, and that is why Toothstars decided to expand their product review line.Todays electric toothbrushes offer a lot of options, Herbert says. Some have timers so you know when it is time to move on and clean your other teeth, and theyre very effective when it comes to massaging the gums. Electric toothbrushes are also superior to regular toothbrushes at brightening teeth. With our reviews, you can quickly find the right type of toothbrush for your child.Aside from the electric toothbrush, Toothstars has also expanded its mouthwash reviews at the site. The demand for mouthwash has also increased as people become aware of the importance of hygiene, but just like with the electric toothbrush, there are not a lot of reliable websites to turn to, and that is why Toothstars has taken the initiative.Mouthwash and tooth brushing go hand in hand, so we make sure this part isnt neglected. We did a lot of research on the subject and what customers want are clear, detailed reviews so they will know what to buy. That is what we provide here, and our latest updates include more products.Health experts have raised concerns on the importance of oral hygiene, and that has led more and more people to use sites like Toothstars to get information. According to Herbert, they are committed to providing this service and reach as many people as possible.When we set up this site, our goal was to provide the best mouthwash for gingivitis reviews. We also wanted it to be the one stop shop for all your electric toothbrush review needs, and thats what weve done. For more details please visit the official website atToothstars is your guide for the top mouthwash and electric toothbrush in the UK. The website reviews the top brands including Oral-B, Philips Sonicare and others.Suite P0191265-269 Kingston RoadWimbledonLondon SW19 3NWPhone: +44 (0) 2031295562 Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis and Forecast to 2025 The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/project-portfolio-management-ppm-market http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000193 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000193 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/pre_book/TIPTE100000193 The Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market to 2025 - Global Analysis and Forecasts by Platform Type, Deployment Type and End Users report provides a detailed overview of the major factors impacting the global market with the market share analysis and revenues of various sub segments.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market to 2025 @With growing complexities in managing numerous projects and scrutinizing large amount of data, companies face a lot of hardships to maintain the work space efficiency, while optimizing all the possessions such as financial, resources and time. To cure this problem, Project Portfolio Management (PPM) was introduced, a PPM software aims to fulfill the project management requirements of an organization.Increasing complications in project handling is expected to generate high demand in PPM solutions globally. The demand is further projected to be driven by factors like the increasing trend of bring your own device (BYOD) or workforce mobility. BYOD enables employees of a company to bring their own devices to the premises, this not only helps them to save money but also creates employee satisfaction. Thus, numerous organizations have already implemented this module in their business for better project management. The major factors beholding the market growth include, prevailing apprehensions related to installation and usage, and security concerns regarding the software as a service (SaaS)-based PPM solution.Request sample copy @Currently, the market vendors are more focused on solving complexity that involve implementation of PPM solutions. Its been also noticed that several organizations already using this solution are facing trouble in understanding the relevance and usage of the software post its implementation. Sometimes organizations fail to communicate their business problem appropriately to the PPM vendors, which is because the market is facing a crisis of skilled workforce who can educate customers about the correct usage of PPM software. Integration of social media with PPM solutions and rising demand for better agile and responsive project management tools are expected to create further opportunities for the market to boom.The PPM market is segmented on the basis of deployment type, end-user and region. The deployment type segment comprises cloud and on-premises deployment, cloud based implementation is projected to lead the PPM market, capturing largest market share. The bolstering fame of SaaS-based solutions has created more competitive base in the market and has introduced numerous SaaS specialized PPM solutions providers in market. The end users segment comprises of, small & medium enterprises, BFSI, real estate, government, retail and healthcare sector. Here, the SMEs are projected to showcase the highest growth opportunity due to extensive acceptance of cloud-based PPM solutions, also use PPM solutions to gain better visibility and project management. The PPM market covers five major regional segments, North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa. North America has been accounted for the largest number of share in global PPM market. The MEA is foreseen to experience a prompt growth rate due to high adoption of SaaS-based PPM solution. APAC region is experiencing a notable growth in adopting and demonstrating PPM solutions.Inquire about discount on this report @Some of the major key players in this industry are Ca Technologies, Hewlett-Packard, Planisware, Changepoint Corporation, Innotas, Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, Celoxis Technologies, Planview, Workfront, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation among others.Some of the key points covered in the report: Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market Landscape Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market Key Industry Dynamics Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market Five Forces Analysis Portfolio Management (PPM) Market Competitive Landscape Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 Deployment Type Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 End-user Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 Geographical Analysis Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market, Key Company ProfilesBook your copy with 20% free customization-About The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comThe Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Biotech APIs manufacturing services have high growth potential in the near future owing to increasing demand for biotechnology products http://bit.ly/2cvrmvj http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Biotech API manufacturing services market includes contract manufacturing services for the production of biotechnology-based active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The biotech APIs include manufacture of active ingredients from animal, microbial, human, or genetically engineered origin by biological techniques. Several dynamics in the biotechnology field are influencing the manufacturing and development strategies of companies in the market. Presently, these dynamics are favoring the growth of biotech API manufacturing services market. The market is very emerging compared to mature chemically synthesized APIs manufacturing services market. However, biotech APIs manufacturing services have high growth potential in the near future owing to increasing demand for biotechnology products.Request free Sample pages of premium Research Report:The global biotech active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) manufacturing market is segmented as monoclonal antibody manufacturing, mammalian cell culture manufacturing, recombinant proteins production, insulin analogues manufacturing, growth hormone API manufacturing, interferon manufacturing, and vaccine manufacturing. The mammalian cell culture manufacturing services segment garnered maximum revenues in the global biotech active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) services market. Increasing applications of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and development of next-generation antibody therapies such as antibody-drug conjugates are expected to boost the market in the near future.Smaller biotech companies with intellectual property rights for novel biologics will further drive the biopharmaceutical API manufacturing services market. As the contract manufacturing services companies have expertise and economies of scale in these operations, the reduced cost and higher quality product can be transferred to client biotech companies enabling them to focus more on research and development of novel biologics.Geographically, the global market for the biotech API manufacturing services is segmented into four major regions namely, North America, Europe, Asia- Pacific and Rest of the World. According to report from the Chemical Pharmaceutical Generic Association, the growth of biotech active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) services markets in emerging markets has increased compared to established markets. The reason cited for the phenomenal growth in these countries is their ability to reduce the cost of development for innovative APIs thereby providing competitive edge in the market.China and India are expected to grow at rate thrice that of in the Western Europe. Furthermore, improvements in the trade relationship and cooperation between Taiwan and China, Taiwanese biotech companies are contributing to the global growth of biotech active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) services market. The global companies in the biotechnology market are also selling their manufacturing plants for several purposes such as: To remove assets from their balance sheets Focusing on specializing and expediting the research and development activities Used existing resources for other projects thereby saving tremendous resources cost Reduce risks in the supply chain by distributing the manufacturing in varied locations Increase quality assurance and regulatory managementSome of the key players in the global biotech active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) manufacturing services market include AbbVie Contract Manufacturing (part of AbbVie, Inc.), Biogen Idec International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Boehringer Ingelheim BioXcellence (part of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG), Biocon Ltd., Celltrion, Inc., Cytovance Biologics, Inc., DSM Biologics, Eden Biodesign Ltd. (Elona Biotechnologies, Inc.(part of Zimmerman Biotechnologies), Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies UK Ltd., Gallus Biopharmaceuticals, LLC, GSK Biopharmaceuticals, Hexal Arzneimittel (part of Novartis), kSep Systems (part of KBI Biopharma), Lonza Group Ltd., Novo Nordisk, Piramal Healthcare, Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., Samsung BioLogics Co. Ltd., and Wave Biotech (part of GE Healthcare).About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Curcumin Market Size, Growth, Sales, Future Prospects And Competitive Analysis, 2016-2021 Curcumin http://bit.ly/2cXBQB9 http://bit.ly/2cvoY7U The market study on the Global Curcumin Market 2016 across the world, this is a detailed report scrutinising statistical data related to the global market. A key feature of Curcumin report is it focus on major industry players, providing an overview, product specification, product capacity, production price and contact information for Global Top 15 companies. This enables end users to gain a comprehensive insight into the structure of the Curcumin industry. Furthermore, the factors on which the companies compete in the market have been evaluated in the report.Access Free Sample Report@The report offers a close summary of the key segments within the market. The report offers a close summary of the key segments within the market. The key rising opportunities of the quickest growing international Curcumin market segments also are coated during this report.The past price of 2013-2016 and future price of 2017-2023 are analysed according to the supply-demand relation, as well as perspectives and forecasts. Analysis also covers upstream raw materials, equipment, downstream client survey, marketing channels, industry development trend and proposals.The import, export, stock size and relevant data of Major GDP regions such as EU, US, Japan and China are listed in the report. As a global report, in addition to above-mentioned Major GDP regions, we provide breakdown data of Germany, UK, and France of the EU, and data of other countries such as India, South Korea, Brazil and Australia.The Curcumin report gives a detailed overview of the key segments in the market. The quickest and slowest growing market segments ar coated during this report. This research report covers the growth prospects of the global market based on end-users. It outlines the market shares of key regions in top ten countries, it also includes analysis of the leading vendors in this market.Click Here To Access Complete Report Curcumin Market:In the end, the report includes Curcumin new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, investment return analysis, and development trend analysis. The key rising opportunities of the quickest growing international Curcumin market segments also are coated during this report. This report also presents product specification, manufacturing process, and product cost structure. Production is separated by regions, technology and applications.About Us:QYResearch Group is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. QYResearch Group also carries the capability to assist you with your customized market research requirements including in-depth market surveys, primary interviews, competitive landscaping, and company profiles. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics. QYResearch Group is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651Email: sales (@) qyresearchgroup (dot) com New study: Near Field Communication (NFC) Market Trends, Business Strategies and Opportunities 2025 The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/near-field-communication-nfc-market http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000144 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000144 The Near Field Communication (NFC) Market to 2025 - Global Analysis and Forecasts by Device Operating Mode, Product & Software and Industry report provides a detailed overview of the major factors impacting the global market with the market share analysis and revenues of various sub segments.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Near Field Communication (NFC) Market to 2025 @Near field communication (NFC) is a wireless technology that offers exchange of data between the NFC technologies enabled devices. NFC is a short range communication technique I and an s an efficient alternative to communication technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. NFC transfers data by bringing the devices closer or by touching them together. NFC enable the users to seamlessly share data between devices, use their mobile phone as e-ticket or pay bills wirelessly. The important benefit of NFC over Bluetooth is shorter set-up period. Also, NFC works on devices that are not driven by battery such as smart credit card. NFC technology has various advantages such as versatility, safety and convenience. It requires PIN and does not allow physical access of credit card information to merchants. Hence, NFC is much more secure than other techniques of transaction. NFC is very convenient to use.The growing trend of cashless transactions worldwide is the key driver for the growth of global NFC market. There is rise in demand for multi-tasking devices globally, hence, consumer electronics enterprises are involved in integrating NFC technology in their tablets and mobile phones to provide a single solution to the consumers. Also, global NFC market is bolstering due to increase in adoption of NFC technology in tablet, smartphones and other similar devices.Request sample copy @NFC allows easy payments and enable users to transfer data, play games, share information and access social networking sites. It can be combined with retailers point of sale (POS), healthcare systems and public transit payment systems. The global NFC market is highly driven by increasing penetration of smartphone users for making secure online transactions and contactless payments facility. The rise in mobile internet users also contributes to the global NFC market growth. Whereas, short range of communication is one of the factors that hinders the growthThe global NFC market is segmented by device operating mode into reader emulation, card emulation and peer-to-peer. The global NFC market is further bifurcated by product & software types as auxiliary products, NFC software and non-auxiliary products. Global NFC market is also segmented on the basis of industry as retail, transportation, residential & commercial, consumer electronics, automotive, medical & healthcare, banking & finance and others. The NFC market is further bifurcated by regions into North America, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Europe, and South America.North America is the leading global NFC market in terms of market share. Asia Pacific is anticipated to experience a faster growth in the coming years due to rise in adoption of NFC technology and increasing awareness. Further, Europe region is also projected to be a high potential market.Inquire about discount on this report @Broadcom Inc., Toshiba Corporation, Infineon Technologies, DeviceFidelity Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Visa Inc., Identive Group, MasterCard, PayPal, American Express, Qualcomm, MediaTek Inc., STMicroelectronics, Renasas Electronics Corporation, NXP Semiconductors, Texas Instruments, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Gemalto NV, STmicroelectronics, Apple Inc. and Inside Secure among others are some of the chief market players operating in the global NFC market.Some of the key points covered in the report: Near Field Communication Market Landscape Near Field Communication Market Key Industry Dynamics Near Field Communication Market Five Forces Analysis Near Field Communication Market Competitive Landscape Near Field Communication Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 Device Operating Mode Near Field Communication Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 Product & Software Near Field Communication Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 Industry Near Field Communication Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 Geographical Analysis Near Field Communication Market, Key Company ProfilesAbout The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comThe Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Global Water Market: Drivers, Restraints and Challenges, 2015-2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4543 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4543 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Water mater provides waste water services and drinking water to commercial, residential and industrial sectors. On the basis of ownership the industry is classified as local government, national government, private ownership and cooperatives. On the basis of application, the water market is classified as utilities, bottled water, irrigation equipment, industrial water and point of use equipment among others. Utilities are the leading application for the water market.Request Sample:The market for water was mainly driven by utilities sector majorly from manufacturing sectors. There is huge demand for water from various manufacturing industries. In addition, the demand is huge from packaged drinking water sector owing to poor water quality and scarcity of water in some regions. The demand for water is also huge from agricultural and energy sector. Scarcity of water has lead to lower crop yield in some of the regions. Poor water quality and quantity issues and scarcity of water can be major restraints for the global water market. However, environmental regulations and government initiatives are likely to provide more opportunities for the growth of the water market in the near future.In terms of demand, Asia Pacific is the leading region for water market. The demand is huge owing to the huge manufacturing activities coupled with growing population in this part of the world. Additionally, national governments in countries such as China, India and Japan are taking initiatives for urbanization and water treatment process. The demand from North America, South America and European countries market is also substantial owing to increased demand from bottled water and utility sector. The Rest of the World is likely to exhibit huge demand for water especially, the Middle East and North Africa where there is major issue of poor water quality.Request TOC:Some of the key providers in the water market are SUEZ Environment, United Utilities, ITT, American Water, Nalco Corporation, Siemens water technology, and Danaher among others.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Market Research on Automotive Air Filter Market 2016 and Analysis to 2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1684 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1684 www.futuremarketinsights.com An automotive air filter is a device that is made up of fibrous materials that removes solid particulates like pollen, dust, bacteria, and mould from the intake air. A chemical type of air filter consist of a catalyst or absorbent for removing molecular contaminants like ozone or volatile organic compounds. Air filters are being used in applications where air quality is of vital importance, notably in building ventilation systems and in vehicle engines. The cabin automotive air filter is a paper-pleaded filter, which is located in the air intake from outside for the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Some of the automotive air filters are rectangular or similar in shape as that of the combustion air filter, others have a unique shape to fit the available space of outside-air intakes. The very first automaker to provide a disposable air filter in order to clean the ventilation system was Nash Motors. The combustion automotive air filter restricts particulate matter to enter into the engines cylinders, where it can cause oil contamination and mechanical wear. Nowadays, fuel injected vehicles are using a paper pleated filter element that is in a flat panel form. These filters are placed in a plastic box connected with a throttle body. Older vehicles using throttle body or carburettors fuel injection system use a cylinder air filter, which are a few inches and are between 6 to 16 inches.Global Automotive Air Filter Market: Drivers and RestrainsThe ever increasing automobile market, and particularly the cars market is the major driving factor for the growth of global automotive air filter market and specifically the cabin filter market due to the cars market. Also automobile consumers are becoming aware about the importance of air filter for purified air and staying isolated in their passenger cabin from the atmosphere dirt that leads to the booming cabin air filter aftermarket.However, the flourishing electric vehicle market is restricting the growth of intake air filter, which is specifically required in the internal combustion engines intake manifold. Thus it can slowdown the growth of global automotive air filter market.Request Free Report Sample@Global Automotive Air Filter Market: SegmentationOn the basis of type, the automotive air filter market can be segmented as:Cabin air filterIntake air filterOn the basis of filtering media, the automotive air filter market can be segmented as:SyntheticCelluloseActivated carbonParticleGlobal Automotive Air Filter Market: Region Wise OutlookThe global automotive air filter market can be divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East and Africa. Europe is the dominant region in the global automotive air filter market owing to the ever increasing automobile market in this region. Asia Pacific is the second major contributor in the automotive air filter market due to the automobile giants such as Maruti, Hero and other companies. The companies such as General Motors, Ford are having a significant contribution in the global automobile market making North America a considerable player in the global automotive air filter market. Japan is technologically advanced country in terms of automotive markets and so the technology of automotive air filter is very common in this country. Latin America and Middle East and Africa are at a nascent stage in the automotive air filter market but is anticipated to have a modest CAGR in the forecasted period.Visit For TOC@Global Automotive Air Filter Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in the global automotive air filter market are as follows:MANN+HUMMELDonaldson Company, IncNGK INSULATORS, LTDSogefi SpAMahle International GmbHC & R Fab Media Private LimitedMelkev Machinery ImpexGlobal FiltersSimplex CorporationAbout Us:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Rising Prices of Kerosene Oil to Aid Adoption of Off-grid Solar Lighting Products http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=11273 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Due to the underdeveloped grid infrastructure and power generation facilities in developing regions, the demand for alternative modes of energy is substantially increasing. According to a survey, in 2013 approximately 18% of the worlds population was deprived of electricity. As a result of this, the dependence on solid and liquid fuels such as wood, coal and, kerosene increased at a significant rate. To decrease the pressure on solid and liquid fuels, and cut down the annual costs incurred on lighting, both developing and developed countries are focusing on the development of high-end off-grid solar lighting systems. Concerns regarding the depletion of non-renewable resources are expected to further drive the adoption of off-grid solar lighting techniques.According to a report published by Transparency Market Research, the global off-grid solar lighting market is expected to rise at a 17.56% CAGR between 2016 and 2024. Geographically, Asia Pacific dominated the global off-grid solar lighting market in 2014 with a market worth US$365.09 mn. It is expected to maintain a lead and to rise to a valuation of US$2,294 mn by 2024.Interpret a Competitive outlook Analysis Report with free PDF Brochure :How will developing countries play a role in the growth of the off-grid solar lighting market?One challenge that developing nations are currently facing is providing electricity to remote and rural areas. The mounting costs of kerosene and other energy sources such as coal and wood are impelling consumers towards the adoption of alternative sources of energy. Governments of countries in Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin America are taking initiatives to shift their dependence directly on off-grid solar lighting sources. As off-grid solar lighting systems are reliable and cost-effective, their demand is considerably increasing in developing countries. Moreover, development of innovative solar portable devices, grid infrastructure, and high penetration of mobile phones in Africa and Asia Pacific is further expected to boost the demand for off-grid solar lighting equipment.For instance, recently, a London-based off-grid solar lighting systems provider, BBOXX Ltd., raised US$20 mn to enhance the off-grid solar infrastructure in Africa and to develop the grid infrastructure in various remote areas of the region. The company aims at covering areas in Rwanda, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya, and Cameroon.What factors are likely to impede the adoption of off-grid solar lighting systems?Developing regions such as Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific have an underdeveloped grid infrastructure. Problems related to financial access and funding to develop and set up off-grid solar lighting systems in these regions are likely to restrain the growth of the global off-grid solar lighting market. Lack of proper distribution channels and transportation facilities are further likely to restrain the demand for off-grid solar lighting systems. Moreover, the absence of enough knowledge among consumers regarding the use and benefits of off-grid solar lighting is another factor that is likely to negatively impact the adoption of off-grid solar lighting systems in the coming years.Are there any specific areas that deserve greater focus on the part of companies in the off-grid solar lighting market?Manufacturers of off-grid solar lighting systems are likely to gain lucrative growth opportunities from the rising demand for solar lantern systems and solar home systems from developing regions. Ongoing research and development activities for the development of technologically advanced off-grid solar lighting systems are also likely to provide potential growth prospects to manufacturers.The key players operating in the global off-grid solar lighting market are OSRAM GmbH, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Niwasolar, Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd., SunnyMoney, and BBOXx Ltd. among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Flat Glass Market: Competitive landscape by 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3361 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3361 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Flat glass (sheet glass, plate glass or glass pane) comprise all classes of glass produced in flat form, regardless of any manufacturing methodology used. Flat glasses are used widely in construction industries such as glass windows, glass doors, and transparent walls in modern infrastructures. It is also used as windshields in automotive applications. Some of the most important constituents of flat glass include magnesium oxide, sodium oxide, silica, calcium oxide, and aluminum oxide.Request Sample:On the basis of different product types, the global flat glass market can be segmented in seven broad categories namely annealed glass, toughened glass, laminated glass, coated glass, mirrored glass, patterned glass and extra clear glass. Based on the various manufacturing methods, the market can be segmented in three broad classes namely float glass, sheet glass, and rolled glass.Float glass technique is most widely adopted technology worldwide. It grasped the largest market share in the year 2013. Based on the various end user applications, the global flat glass market is broadly categorized as construction, automotive and others. Construction is the largest application segment of flat glass. It covers more than 50 per cent of the total market share of the flat glass market.The various properties of flat glass such as energy saving, noise control, cost benefits, luxury design, fire resistant, chemical inertness and self-cleaning properties are making it as one of the preferred choice for construction industry. Moreover the increasing use of flat glass in modern architectural designs is driving global flat glass market. Growing original equipments manufacturing (OEM) in automotive industry is further boosting the flat glass market.The rising demand of renewal energy sources such as photovoltaic cells, solar panels, and E-glass is providing new growth opportunity for the flat glass market. The rising cost of raw material and lack of proper logistic supply chain management in developing countries are posing challenge for global flat glass market.Asia Pacific is the largest market of flat glass followed by Europe and North America. China alone covers about 50 per cent of global market share of flat glass. Japan is the second largest market of flat glass in Asia Pacific. Germany accounts for the largest market of flat glass in Europe. Asia Pacific region is the fasted growing market of flat glass owing to the massive urbanization and demand of passenger car from developing countries in this region.Request TOC:Some of the major companies operating in global flat glass market include Taiwan Glass Group, Trakya Cam Sanayii A.S., Pilkington Group Limited, Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. Gujarat Guardian Limited, Guardian Industries Corp., Carlex Glass Company, Central Glass Co., Ltd., Compagnie De Saint-Gobain, PT Asahimas Flat Glass Tbk, AGC Glass Company North America and Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Wavecell announces regional expansion plans with new country managers Wavecell, the cloud communications service provider with a strong foothold in Asia, continues to expand its activities in the ASEAN region. After successful entries in the Philippines and Hong Kong, the Singaporean company now strengthens its sales efforts in Indonesia and Thailand.Wavecell is pleased to announce its recent hires of Narit Duangkruaratichote, Country Manager for Thailand and Hastaryo Cahyadi, Country Manager for Indonesia, to oversee all sales and business operations within their respective countries.The company has reached a new milestone by successfully expanding its reach into ASEAN with its new country managers, which is in response to an increased demand for SMS solutions and Video Live-Interaction services in the region. Wavecell is also driving more Video API initiatives by focusing mainly in the insurance and finance sector.I am thrilled to pull Wavecell into Thailands local scene where businesses are still learning the benefits of integrating SMS solutions into their services using our simple and powerful API, said Narit Duangkruaratichote. Therefore, we see a huge opportunity for us to bring customers on board for them to utilize our SMS web applications with its user-friendly and intuitive interfaces and detailed analytics. At the same time, to introduce video live-interaction services into the market.Narit brings over 15 years of experience in telecom, mobile advertising, and multimedia. Prior to joining Wavecell, he worked with several well-known telecom companies such as Nokia, Ericsson, and other mobile media companies. Narit will also be leading an initiative to educate Thailand businesses to better understand SMS API and video live-interaction integration to achieve greater revenue achievements for themselves.Closer to Singapore, Hastaryo Cahyadi joins Wavecell after 5 years as a General Manager in one of the leading mobile advertising company in Indonesia. He brings along a vast range of business knowledge that will help Wavecell to successfully enter the local economy.A mix of healthy chaos and good competitions this is how I would describe how businesses in Indonesia deal with sourcing for the best SMS service provider, said Hastaryo. Indonesian companies are no stranger to integrating and embedding SMS into their platforms. It is an exciting opportunity for me to work on building quality relationships with businesses here. I am positive that our SMS solutions and video live-interaction can provide the local businesses with better service, thanks to the experience that we learnt from the Indonesian market over the last few years which allowed us to craft an optimal offer.I am confident that opening offices in those two new markets combined to the addition of our new country managers in the team, will greatly help us to further our regional expansion. Not only are they both motivated, but they are also passionate to journey with us as we continue to grow our brand in Asia-Pacific in the near future, said Olivier Gerhardt, CEO, Wavecell.Wavecell simplifies real-time communications using 2-Way SMS and Video live interaction for any platforms such as applications, websites, and services. Our strength lies in offering cloud-based multichannel communications to developers and enterprises for them to build better services by integrating our APIs and SDKs. Wavecell ensures first-class connectivity to 200+ countries while maintaining high security standards on the platform.Media contact:Eliza KooMarketing Communication ManagerTel: +65 6221 1521eliza.koo@wavecell.com18 Cross Street, #09-01China Square CentralSingapore 048423 Systweak adds new features to its Android Cleaner mobile app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.systweak.systemoptimizer www.systweak.com Systweak Android Cleaner, a noteworthy mobile application developed by Systweak Software has added some useful features to its new update. The app, which has already crossed more than 100,000 downloads on Play store, now comes with a completely ad free interface. The app now includes a Share option which enables uses to share files directly from file explorer.We have tried to upgrade the interface to make it more user friendly and incorporated the share option so that users can access file explorer directly and share their data easily with third party applications. The new update will also provide a hassle free experience to users as unwanted ads and pop ups have been removed. explained Shrishail Rana, CEO, Systweak Software.The positive reviews of our Android cleaner app have given us a boost to improve the app significantly. All the additional changes in the app are incorporated in such a way that they do not hamper the basic design and usability of the app. added Praveen Khanna, Manager, Android.The latest version of the app can be downloaded here:About the Company: Systweak Software has been developing and distributing Windows, Mac, iOS and Android apps since last 17 years to improve average users digital experience. The company has recently been featured in 100 most promising Microsoft Solutions Provider list by the enterprise solution magazine CIOReview.Some of the companys flagship products have been featured on Newswatch, Discovery Channels tech news bulletin. Systweak Software has a large user base in North America followed by several countries in Europe and Asia.Systweak Software572 & 573, G-1, Tower B-1 Evolve,IT/ITeS Mahindra World City,Village Kalwara,Jaipur- 302037,INDIAPhone: +91 -141-2243030Website: Natural Refrigerants Market: Segment and Analysis up to 2015 2020 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?flag=S&repid=61520 http://bit.ly/2dblshc http://bit.ly/2cqr7U7 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/natural-refrigerants-market-global-industry-perspective-comprehensive-analysis.html http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com Refrigerant is a fluid that acts as a coolant. Natural occurring refrigerant is the best alternative used for fluorocarbon refrigerants. Natural refrigerant includes carbon, ammonia, hydrocarbons. These refrigerants have zero ozone depletion prospective compared to conventional refrigerants. These refrigerants have broad range of applications including cold storage, freezing, commercial and industrial refrigeration etc.Get a copy of free Sample Report @The major driving factor for natural refrigerants market is growing awareness about global warming and other environmental issues caused due to the synthetic refrigerants. Adoption of natural refrigerants in various end- industries is expected to fuel the growth of market. However, high cost of installation of refrigeration systems may hinder the limit of the market.In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the natural refrigerants market, we have included a detailed value chain analysis. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the natural refrigerants market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein product segments and application segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @The study provides a decisive view on the natural refrigerants market by segmenting the market based on product types and applications. All the application segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2014 to 2020. Ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and others are the product segment of this market. Key application markets covered under this study includes industrial, commercial, domestic, stationary air conditioning and other refrigeration applications. The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil.On geographical basis, Europe dominated the global natural refrigerant industry due to the strict government regulation on the use of HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) and HFC (hydrofluorocarbons) refrigerants. Asia Pacific is a fastest growing market for natural refrigerants due to rapid growth in the usage of natural refrigerants.Inquire more before buying this report @The report covers detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include The Linde Group, Airgas Inc., Sinochem Group, Tazzetti S.P.A., Shandong Yueon Chemical Industry Ltd., Puyang Zhongwei Fine Chemical Co. Ltd., HA-Gas International, A.S. Trust and Holdings and GTS S.P.A amongst other. The detailed description of players includes parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies and recent developments of the company.Browse detail report @The report segments the global natural refrigerants market into:Global Natural Refrigerants Market: Product Segment AnalysisAmmoniaCarbon dioxideHydrocarbonsOthersGlobal Natural Refrigerants Market: Application Segment AnalysisAir ConditioningCommercialDomesticIndustrialStationaryOthersGlobal Natural Refrigerants Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout US:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@SyndicateMarketResearch.comWebsite: Nanocrystalline Cellulose Market report, 2015 2020 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?flag=S&repid=63016 http://bit.ly/2d3oS6V http://bit.ly/2d6eNcd http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/nanocrystalline-cellulose-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share.html http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com Cellulose is a complex polysaccharide consisting large number of glucose units arranged linearly. Cellulose is raw material polymer used in the form of paper, cotton, board, flax etc. It is also used in production of artificial cellulose based films and threads. Nanocellulose is nano structured cellulose that includes nanocrystalline cellulose, bacterial Nanocellulose, microfibrillated cellulose. Nanocrystalline cellulose is derived from acid hydrolysis of cellulose and depends on origin and morphology of cellulose used. High strength, distinctive optical properties, nanoscale dimension, high surface area and modules are the properties enhancing its widespread applications. Nanocrystalline cellulose is rod like rigid crystals, with diameter of 10 to 20 nm. Nanocrystalline cellulose can be in the form of semisolid, liquid, gel or solid flakes.Get a copy of free Sample Report @Rising applications in packaging and composites industry coupled with government initiatives and increasing investment for nanocrystalline cellulose drives the demand for nanocrystalline cellulose market. Growing concern for sustainability, variable petroleum price and manufacturing cost has fuel the growth of nanocrystalline cellulose market. Another factor that contributes to the splendid growth of nanocrystalline cellulose market is unique morphology of nanocrystalline cellulose like high surface area, orientation and alignment, low toxic level and mechanical reinforcement. Nonetheless economical crisis and lack in technology leads to high cost which likely to hamper the growth of nanocrystalline cellulose market.The report provides a comprehensive view on the nanocrystalline cellulose market we have included a detailed value chain analysis. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the nanocrystalline cellulose market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein product segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness. The report also analyzes several driving and restraining factors and their impact on the market during the forecast period.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @The key end applications for the nanocrystalline cellulose market have been segmented as nanostructures, nanocomposite films, drug delivery and protein immobilization among others. Nanocomposite films are further segmented has monolayer films and multilayer films. Nanostructures followed by nanocomposite are the emerging segments owing to wide range of end user applications. Drug delivery and protein immobilization continues to gain traction during the years to come.Inquire more before buying this report @Geographically, nanocrystalline cellulose market has been segmented into North America. Middle East, Asia, Africa, Latin America. North America dominates the nanocrystalline cellulose market due to technological advancements and growing demand. Moreover, Asia Pacific has a huge stake in developing market for nanocrystalline cellulose market.The key players for the nanocellulose market include Innventia AB, Sappi Ltd, Borregard ASA, CelluForce Inc, Fpinnovations, American Process Inc., Kruger Inc., Diacel Finechem Ltd., Nippon Paper Group Inc., Melodea Ltd., J. Rettenmaire & Sohne GmBH (JRS) and UPM-Kymmene OYJ.Browse detail report @The report segments of the nanocrystalline cellulose market into:Nanocrystalline Cellulose Market: Application Segment AnalysisNanostructuresNanocomposite filmsDrug deliveryProtein immobilizationOthersNanocrystalline Cellulose Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout US:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@SyndicateMarketResearch.comWebsite: Octyl Methoxycinnamate Market: Segment and Analysis up to 2015 2020 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?flag=S&repid=63772 http://bit.ly/2cqtNRx http://bit.ly/2d6eoqc http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/octyl-methoxycinnamate-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share.html http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com Octyl methoxycinnamate is an ester with slightly yellow oily liquid and insoluble in water. Octyl methoxycinnamate is formed by the reaction of methoxycinnamic acid with (RS)-2-ethylhexanol. Trade names for octyl methoxycinnamate are Uvinul MC80 and Eusolex 2292. Octyl Methoxycinnamate is widely used as UV-B filters with superior protection potential. UV-B are medium rays which are absorbed by ozone layer, their wavelengths ranges between 280-320m, severely affects the epidermal layer of the skin. It pervade up to the stratum basale, causing erythema generally known as sun burn. Octyl methoxycinnamate is a derivative of unsaturated fatty acid i.e. cinnamate acid, for the oxidative stability of the product an antioxidant like vitamin B or BHT is added to cosmetic composition. Octyl methoxycinnamate is oil-soluble UV filter and easily discrete to the oil phase.Get a copy of free Sample Report @The report provides a comprehensive view on the octyl methoxycinnamate market. We have included a detailed value chain analysis. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the octyl methoxycinnamate market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein product segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness. The report also analyzes several driving and restraining factors and their impact on the market during the forecast period.Surging demand for skin care, generating awareness towards healthy skin is likely to drive the demand for octyl methoxycinnamate market. Increase in hectic lifestyle and pollution accounts to fuel the growth of octyl methoxycinnamate market. However, octyl methoxycinnamate are estrogenic and can cause other adverse effects on pregnant women and children. Furthermore, studies have shown that octyl methoxycinnamate penetrates into the skin resulting in generation of free radicals, which are harmful to the body. Due to these ill effects, the octyl methoxycinnamate market growth is hampered. Nevertheless, octyl methoxycinnamate is compatible with wide range of cosmetics and has a high dissolving property which is likely to open new avenue for the octyl methoxycinnamate market.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @Skincare is the leading segment among the personal care industry owing to wide range of skin care products like sun care products, body lotions and face creams among others. Geographically, octyl methoxycinnamate market has been segmented into North America, Middle East, Asia, Africa, Latin America. India, China and Latin America are dominating the octyl methoxycinnamate market due to rise in disposable income and change in lifestyle. European countries and U.S. witness good growth during the forecast period due to increase in demand for octyl methoxycinnamate.Inquire more before buying this report @Some of the key participants in octyl methoxycinnamate market include Zymo Cosmetics, Akema Fine Chemicals, Salicylates and Chemicals Pvt. Ltd, EMD Chemicals Performance Materials, Universal Esters Ltd, Ashland Inc and Allan Chemical Corp among others.The report segments of the octyl methoxycinnamate market into:Browse detail report @Octyl Methoxycinnamate Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout US:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@SyndicateMarketResearch.comWebsite: Wood Coatings Market Volume Forecast and Value Chain Analysis 2014-2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-144 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-144 www.futuremarketinsights.com Wood coatings refer to the process of refining or protecting a wooden surface, especially in the production of furniture. Wood coating applications include: interior wood, small furniture, panels, tables, cupboards, chairs, office furniture, kitchen furniture, doors and staircases among others. There are generally three types of wood coating: evaporative, reactive and coalescing. Wood coating starts with sanding either by hand or scraping. Imperfections or nail holes on the surface may be filled using wood filler. Often, the wood's color is changed by staining, bleaching, or any other techniques. Once the wood surface is prepared and stained, the coating is applied. It usually consists of several coats of shellac, drying oil, paint, wax or lacquer. Finally, the surface may be polished using wool, steel, rotten stone or other materials, depending on the shine desired. In addition, a final coat of wax is applied over the finish to add a degree of protection.Request Free Report Sample@Furniture, decking, and siding are the three largest applications in value terms. However, smaller doors, windows and cabinet applications are expected to achieve faster growth in the near future. Paint is the dominant wood protection product used on siding, windows and doors, but stains and sealers are more widely utilized on cabinets, decks, furniture, and flooring. Residential end-user is the largest market for wood protection products, driven by maintenance demand for items such as fences, siding and decks. Non-residential and non-building uses account for a much smaller market for wood protection products.The growth in the housing market is the primary driver for the wood coatings market. Homeowners are investing more in the upkeep of their decks, fences, floors and siding. A well maintained home adds value of the home and saves money in the long term. In addition, stringent regulations, rising competition, growth in unique formulations and new product developments are some of the factors stimulating the growth of wood coatings market. However, availability of cheaper and quality substitutes, such as wood composites and plastic wood could hamper the growth of this market. These alternative are often more durable and require less maintenance as compared to wood products. Although substitutes are available, wood is a primary choice for commercial and residential purposes due to wide availably in the market. Wood coatings account for the majority of the wood protection demand with paints and stains holding the largest shares. In contrast, preservatives, which are applied to lumber by the wood treatment companies, account for smaller portion of wood protection demand.Asia Pacific is currently the largest market for wood coatings, followed by Europe, North America and Rest of the world (RoW). Sustained demand from the developed markets and burgeoning demand from emerging economies will continue to drive the wood coating market. The industry is witnessing a major shift of key market players from Europe and the U.S. to the emerging economies of Asia Pacific, comprising of China and India.Visit For TOC@Some of the key players in this market are Akzo Nobel Coatings nv (Netherlands), PPG Industries Inc. (U.S.), Sherwin-Williams Co. (U.S.), DuPont Coatings and Color Technologies Group (U.S.), ICI Paints (UK), BASF Coatings AG (Germany), Valspar Corp. (U.S.), Nippon Paint Co. Ltd. (Japan), Dow Coating Materials (U.S.) and Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. (Japan) among others. Dow Coating Materials has launched two new acrylic binders for the wood coatings: EXP-4414 and EXP-77. According to the company, the new binders offer improved block, print and dirt pickup resistance and improved hardness development when applied to wood.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Vacuum Suction Cups Market 2016: Industry Analysis, Growth, Size, Share & Forecast - 2021 Vacuum Suction Cups http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/global-vacuum-suction-cups-market-2016-production-sales.html http://bit.ly/2cnWppK http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/ MRS Research Group added new research report on Global Vacuum Suction Cups Market 2016 includes Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Demand, Supply, Application, Segmentation, Opportunity, Market Development, production, capacity utilization, supply, Analysis and Forecast by 2021The Global Vacuum Suction Cups Industry 2016-2021 Market Research Report' is analytical reports based on a current situation and trends of the global as well as Chinese market. It is in-depth study of the comprehensive content which compiles statistics for the key elements of subject. The repot ensure the quality of the content and guideline which needed. It includes basic information of the company profile, products, generated revenue and future treads and various other vital data.Complete Report With TOC Available @It keeps the main focus on the priority need of the individualand provides a brief report on the annual basis. The global Vacuum Suction Cups market report will provide significant and reliable information on the market clearly in structured format. The report will offers you a key manufacturer of the products, applications, DROS and others.Our experts team takes out key information from the various sources which include primary and secondary sources and help to provides related information of the client interest. Report will easily mold information as per client requirement which covers forecast and analysis of Vacuum Suction Cups market on global and regional level.We generate reports on market variations across verticals like energy, chemicals, technology, food, electronics and others. It consists of a highly detailed analysis of the subject.Access Free Sample Report @We use numerous tools and techniques to collect information on various parameters. The report includes key competitors in global Vacuum Suction Cups market. Our experts team provides forward-looking insight on market growth. It will clear you with the suitable schematics diagrams, statistical analysis and related deep insight. It will also cover value chain analysis, market attractiveness, supply-demand & Chinese import export and 2011-2016 revenue for each company.It includes proper segmentation at the micro and macro level, dominant, largest and leading segment in the market. Moreover, includes future projects in the market with most reliable information indispensable for marketplace.Table of Content On Vacuum Suction Cups Market (Index) :Global Vacuum Suction Cups Market Research Report 20161 Vacuum Suction Cups Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Vacuum Suction Cups1.2 Vacuum Suction Cups Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Vacuum Suction Cups by Type in 20151.2.2 Type I1.2.3 Type II1.2.4 Type III1.3 Vacuum Suction Cups Segment by Application1.3.1 Vacuum Suction Cups Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Application 11.3.3 Application 21.3.4 Application 31.4 Vacuum Suction Cups Market by Region1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)MRS Research Group is the worlds giant collection of the Market research Reports. Where we specialized in global publisher, tailor made reports and specialists consulting. Global Publisher provides in-depth analysis of global and Chinese market. Tailor-made reports represent methodologies deliverable to proper insight of the client. While, expertise research specialist helps to provide strategic solution in specialists consulting. It consists of head such as, latest report, category, niche market and news. Reports published on the million of category like chemical, machinery and equipment, consumer goods, manufacturing and construction etc. Latest national, international, business News published under news portal.Contact UsJoel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free : +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@mrsresearchgroup.comWebsite: Specialty Fuel Additives Market Segments, Opportunity, Growth and Forecast By End-use Industry 2014-2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-298 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-298 www.futuremarketinsights.com Specialty fuel additives are chemical formulations which when added to fuel, enhance desirable properties of the fuel or suppress the undesirable properties of the fuel. An additive may be used unaided or may be combined with other additives to impart desired characteristics to the fuel. The additives are generally added for a multitude of functions such as to improve the power output, reduce the consumption of fuel, improve the efficiency and reduce the emissions on combustion, prevent corrosive effects etc.The specialty fuel additives market can be segmented product wise intofuel antioxidants, lubricity improvers, corrosion inhibitors, deposit control additives, cold flow improvers, cetane number improvers, fuel system icing inhibitors,metal deactivators etc. Based on the application, specialty fuel additives market can be segmented on the basis of fuel types such asgasoline(petrol) additives, diesel additives, aviation turbine fuel additives, and others (heating fuels, marine fuel additives).Request Free Report Sample@The cold flow improvers product segment of specialty fuel additives market is expected to record a rapid growth in the next five years.The demand for diesel fuel additives is expected to emerge as the largest segment of specialty fuel additives market in the next five years owing to an increase in fuel consumption in Asia-Pacific, as well as the increase in demand for ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel).North America commands predominant share in specialty fuel additives market. However, North America and Europe are mature markets and have reached a saturation stage. In order to grow, manufacturers are pursuing opportunities in Asia Pacific specialty fuel additives market where there has been a significant growth in the consumption of fuel in recent past. Increase in vehicle fleet especially in China and India are fueling growth in specialty fuel additives market in the region.The APAC specialty fuel additives market is expected to exhibit moderate single digit growth over the next five years. The developed regions such as North America, Europe have witnessed an increase in demand for bio-fuel, this in turn willdrive the demand for specialty fuel additives in these markets.The growing emphasis on developing cleaner fuels while not compromising on performance and efficiency, the increasing awareness about conservation of resources and the need to comply with the stringent regulations emerge as the major drivers for the specialty fuel additives market. Moreover, in order to address the ever increasing competition, manufacturers are developing application specific differentiated products. However, an increase in demand for alternative fuels like LPG and CNG could hamper the growth of specialty fuel additives market to a certain extent.Visit For TOC@The major players in the specialty fuel additives market are Lubrizol Corporation, Innospec, Infineum, Chevron Oronite Company LLC, Evonik Industries AG, Chemtura Corporation, andBaker Hughes among others.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Valve Positioner Market 2016: Industry Analysis, Growth, Size, Share & Forecast - 2021 Valve Positioner http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/global-valve-positioner-market-2016-production-sales-supply.html http://bit.ly/2cN97ER http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/category/machinery-and-equipments.html http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/ MRS Research Group added new research report on Global Valve Positioner Market 2016 includes Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Demand, Supply, Application, Segmentation, Opportunity, Market Development, production, capacity utilization, supply, Analysis and Forecast by 2021The Global Valve Positioner Industry 2016-2021 Market Research Report' is analytical reports based on a current situation and trends of the global as well as Chinese market. It is in-depth study of the comprehensive content which compiles statistics for the key elements of subject. The repot ensure the quality of the content and guideline which needed. It includes basic information of the company profile, products, generated revenue and future treads and various other vital data.Complete Report With TOC Available @It keeps the main focus on the priority need of the individualand provides a brief report on the annual basis. The global Valve Positioner market report will provide significant and reliable information on the market clearly in structured format. The report will offers you a key manufacturer of the products, applications, DROS and others.Our experts team takes out key information from the various sources which include primary and secondary sources and help to provides related information of the client interest. Report will easily mold information as per client requirement which covers forecast and analysis of Valve Positioner market on global and regional level.We generate reports on market variations across verticals like energy, chemicals, technology, food, electronics and others. It consists of a highly detailed analysis of the subject.Access Free Sample Report @We use numerous tools and techniques to collect information on various parameters. The report includes key competitors in global Valve Positioner market. Our experts team provides forward-looking insight on market growth. It will clear you with the suitable schematics diagrams, statistical analysis and related deep insight. It will also cover value chain analysis, market attractiveness, supply-demand & Chinese import export and 2011-2016 revenue for each company.It includes proper segmentation at the micro and macro level, dominant, largest and leading segment in the market. Moreover, includes future projects in the market with most reliable information indispensable for marketplace.Table of Content On Valve Positioner Market (Index) :Global Valve Positioner Sales Market Report 20161 Valve Positioner Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Valve Positioner1.2 Classification of Valve Positioner1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.2.3 Type III1.3 Application of Valve Positioner1.3.1 Oil and Gas1.3.2 Chemicals1.3.3 Manufacturing1.4 Valve Positioner Market by Regions1.4.1 USA Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 India Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)Browse more reports on Machinery-and-Equipments at:MRS Research Group is the worlds giant collection of the Market research Reports. Where we specialized in global publisher, tailor made reports and specialists consulting. Global Publisher provides in-depth analysis of global and Chinese market. Tailor-made reports represent methodologies deliverable to proper insight of the client. While, expertise research specialist helps to provide strategic solution in specialists consulting. It consists of head such as, latest report, category, niche market and news. Reports published on the million of category like chemical, machinery and equipment, consumer goods, manufacturing and construction etc. Latest national, international, business News published under news portal.Contact UsJoel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free : +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@mrsresearchgroup.comWebsite: Building Thermal Insulation Market, 2015-2025 by Segmentation Based on Product, Application and Region http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-358 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-358 www.futuremarketinsights.com Thermal insulation is the method of reducing heat transfer between adjacent environments and maintaining an ambient temperature indoors. Thermal insulation in buildings helps reduce the carbon footprint as it utilizes less energy to maintain a temperatureand limits the conduction of heat to the external environment. Thermally insulated homes and buildings are less affected by external environmental temperature. Thermal insulation in buildings can be done using various materials such as fiber glass, foamed plastic, and mineral wool among various others such as cotton slag, wool slag, aerogels etc. Foamed plastic insulation materials include expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, polyurethane and other forms of plastic.Building insulation can be segmented into residential insulation and non-residential insulation. Residential insulation refers to insulation in individual homes (walls, floor, attics and roof); while non-residential insulation includes insulation in offices, factories, institutions, hospitals, shopping malls and other public buildings. Mineral wool was the most preferred insulation method in the past years, but it lost market share to fiber glass and foamed plastic insulation materials. Fiberglass insulation and foamed plastic insulation are the major insulation types that dominate the market. New method of insulation, such as the aerogel technology is expected to witness growth in the future.Request Free Report Sample@The building insulation market is driven by several factors. Energy conservation and reduction of carbon foot prints are some of the main concerns in several developed countries in North America and Europe. The Kyoto Protocol was adapted in 1997 by several industrialized countries in order to reduce greenhouse gas emission and energy consumption. In the wake of global warming and depleting natural resources, conservation of precious energy is the key to sustenance. The U.S. government promoted home insulation by offering tax rebates on new home insulation or re-insulation, if the insulation standards were met by the individual home owners. Growing public awareness about the need to save energy is another driving factor for home insulation market. Non-residential insulation is another important application of insulation materials. Green buildings with very low energy consumptions are provided with tax benefits by several governments around the world, which promotes the building insulation market.However, there are some factors that restrain the insulation market as well. Plastic foam insulation materials are susceptible to the volatility in crude oil prices in the international market as polystyrene is a downstream derivative of crude oil. This reduces the competitiveness of plastic foams with respect to fiber glass insulation materials. Another raw material which has limited supply is boron, which is required in the manufacturing of fiber glass insulation materials. Most of the boron required is mined from two primary deposits in the U.S. and Turkey. Polyurethane spray foam (SPF) is an effective insulation and air sealant material, but there exists health concerns such as breathing problems, and asthma upon exposure to MDI and other SPF chemicals which are the key ingredients in it.North America is the largest consumer of insulation materials, and the revived growth in construction industry in the region is expected to drive growth of insulation materials in the region. The insulation market in Europe is mostly dependent upon re-insulation of old buildings. Asia pacific is the fasted growing region for building insulation market, primarily driven by non-residential insulation. The manufacturing economies of China and India, have created a market for insulation materials, while the market in Japan is matured.Visit For TOC@Some of the key companies in the building insulation market are Owen Cornings, Johns Manville, Certain Teed, Knauf Gips KG, Dow Building solutions, Atlas Roofing Corporation and Huntsman Corporation among many others.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: The victim, Sharon's friend Greeshma has reportedly confessed to poisoning him with the intention of murder. Budapest hosts CEE Aviation Conference 2016 in October www.cee-aviation.com www.cee-aviation.com PRESS RELEASECEE AVIATION CONFERENCE 2016FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE11-12 October, 2016Continental Zara HotelBudapest, HungaryCEE AVIATION CONFERENCES 2016 ANNUAL EVENTThe CEE Aviation Conference 2016 will cover the latest industry news and updates, current technologies and future trends of the aviation sector. We also aim to analyze airline and airport business development strategies in the CEE region, all while providing business networking opportunities for guests, sponsors, speakers and the media.Taking place 11-12 October in the Continental Zara Hotel in Budapest, Hungary, the conference features Great Speakers confirmed at the conference:Dr. Michael Kerkloh, CEO & President, Munich Airport,Mr Ofer Kisch, Regional Director, Deutsche Lufthansa AG,Mr Thomas Reynaert, Managing Director of Airlines for Europe A4E,Mr Gediminas Almantas , CEO, Lithuanian Airports,Ms Anca Apahidean, Area Manager Eastern Europe, IATA,Mr.Tony Barker, CEO, PAXPORT,Mr David Gomes- Commercial Director, TRAVELPORT,Mr Gyula Hangyal Head of ATM, Hungarocontrol,Mr Wolfgang Fasching, Head of Handling Services of Vienna Airport, Ms. Skaist Knyzait, Managing Director of AviationCV.The CEE region is currently among the most dynamic regions in Europe. Its aviation industry is experiencing a rapid growth which follows the trend among Western European countries. Strong industrialization in the recent years along with more disposable income is driving the aviation sector on both corporate and recreational levels. Flag carriers are maintaining growth and are turning profitable due in part to lower oil prices. And so LCC carriers are set for exponential growth. Our aim is for the conference to be the Business Forum in the long run for the regions industry leaders and in doing so, to offer a strong networking opportunity to do business and to exchange best practices.Several sessions and presentations, case studies and best practice sessions will take place on 11-12 October. EU Commission, IATA, E4U and Europe and CEEs prominent Airline and Airport Heads will discuss the latest trends and deliver their best practice models with the aim to take the CEE region to a next level. The 2016 CEE Aviation Annual Conference will provide a forum to reflect on the relationship between the internationalization through aviation and institutional responses to these important global challenges.Conference subthemes include NEW AVIATION STRATEGY FOR EUROPE European Airspace Modernization, Routes to Prosperity Market opportunities in the CEE region HUB/Regional Airport challenges in the CEE region Labs How Travelport is developing and incubating the future of Travel Distribution The future of ATC-s: HungaroControls pioneering remote Tower concept Merchandising Distribution System HR SHORTAGE in Aviation: A HEADACHE FOR EVERYONE? The digital revolution of the travel/aviation industryFor additional information and registration on the 2016 CEE AVIATION CONFERENCE please contact:Mr. Laszlo TAMAS, Founder, Conference DirectorPhone: +36 30 367 3675E-mail: office@cee-aviation.comWeb:CEE AVIATION Conference and Business Consulting Ltd was founded in 2014. Our conference organiser and business consultant team is focusing on the CEE aviation industry having built up 11 years of aviation experience at Wizzair, Lufthansa, Ryanair and Qatar airways as well as having conference production experience at the Institute for International Research. Our aim is to establish an annual business forum for aviation decision-makers who meet with airline associations, aircraft lease companies, airlines, airports and related companies. Our vision is to stimulate the desire to collaborate - thereby changing the world of technology and innovation in the aviation industry.Laszlo TAMASFounder, Conference DirectorCEE Aviation Conference and Business Consulting Ltd.H-1038 Budapest, Temes utca 7/BTel.: +36 30 367 3675E-Mail: laszlo.tamas@cee-aviation.comWeb: Worldwide Analysis on Sulphuric Acid Market Strategies and Forecasts, 2015 to 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-999 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-999 www.futuremarketinsights.com Sulfuric acid is a diprotic acid that exhibits different variety of properties depending upon its concentration. Sulphuric acid has the biggest output of any chemical in the world. Sulphuric acid is majorly used in the manufacture of chemicals to make sulfate salts, pigments, dyes, nitric acid, sulfate salts, and others. It also serves as the electrolyte in the lead acid storage battery.Sulphuric acid is widely used in the production of phosphate fertilizers. Sulphuric acid is a complex market that involves the chemistry of product supply and demand. There is variation in pricing of Sulphuric acid between regions depending upon the regulations and concentrations. There are four stages in the manufacturing of sulphuric acid that includes extraction of sulphur, conversion of Sulphur into sulphur dioxide, then converting sulphur dioxide to sulphur trioxide, and final conversion of sulphur trioxide to sulphuric acid.Sulphuric acid is used to wash impurities out of gasoline and other refinery products in petroleum refining. Sulphuric acid is also used as catalyst and dehydrating agent in petrochemical process and organic chemical manufacturing. The global sulphuric acid market is segmented on the basis of manufacturing process, application, and region. Manufacturing process includes Lead Chamber Process, Contact Process, Wet Sulfuric Acid Process, and Others. Applications include Phosphate Fertilizers, Chemical Manufacturing, Agricultural Chemistry, Electrolyte In Lead-Acid Storage Battery, Metal Processing, and Others.Request Free Report Sample@Global Sulphuric Acid Market: DriversThe Global Sulphuric Acid Market is mainly driven by the growing demand for Sulphur based fertilizers. Rising demand for sulphuric acid in the oil & gas industry and waste water treatment is expected to drive the sulphuric acid market for the forecasted period.Global Sulphuric Acid: RestraintsRestraints for the global sulphuric acid market include stringent government regulations that are restricting its use, and high raw material prices. Some of the reasons that are hampering the growth of this market include effects on human health such as skin irritation, eyes irritation, skin sensitiveness and others.Global Sulphuric Acid Market: SegmentationGlobal Sulphuric Acid market is segmented by: application, manufacturing process, and by region.By Application:Phosphate FertilizersChemical ManufacturingAgricultural ChemistryElectrolyte In Lead-Acid Storage BatteryMetal ProcessingOthersBy Manufacturing Process:Lead Chamber ProcessContact ProcessWet Sulfuric Acid ProcessOthersSulphuric Acids By Region:North AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern EuropeJapanAsia pacific (APEJ)Middle East & Africa (MEA)Global Sulphuric Acid: Region-wise OutlookThe global Sulphuric Acid is projected to witness a moderate growth from 2015 to 2025. According to FMIs forecast, the market in Asia-Pacific is expected to show the fastest CAGR for the forecasted period due to increasing demand for consumer products from countries such as Japan, China, and India.Europe and North America are leading markets of global Sulphuric Acid. Latin America market is also expected to grow due to rapid industrialization. Due to the prevalence of base metal smelters in Japan and South Korea, these regions have significant sources of sulphuric acid traded in the market.Global Sulphuric Acid Market: Competitive LandscapeKey players in the global Sulphuric Acid market are doing product innovations, expansions and mergers and acquisitions in order to expand their geographic reach. Companies in this market are focusing on finding newer applications for Sulphuric Acids in order to increase their shares in the market.Visit For TOC@Global Sulphuric Acid Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players of the global Sulphuric Acid market are Tampa Electric, Chemtrade Refinery, The Mosaic, Lucite International, Climax Molybdenum, Valero Energy, Solvay, DuPont, Akzonobel N.V., BASF and others.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Electric Guitars Market Major Growth Increasing with Interest held by the Global Population in Music http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=11948 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/electric-guitars-market.html Global Electric Guitars Market: OverviewElectric guitars are a type of guitars in which strumming the strings themselves is not the primary source of the sound. Rather, the vibrations caused by the movement of the strings are captured and magnified electronically in order to produce a louder output. The sound of an electric guitar can also be electrically modified, since an electrical representation of the vibration of the string is produced in electric guitars. This can then be modulated with the help of dials and other controls on the electric guitar as well as pedals. This is the primary factor distinguishing electric guitars from acoustic guitars; the sound produced by the latter comes directly from the vibration of the strings and thus cant be modulated electronically.Download Free Sample Report Brochure PDF:The increasing interest held by the global population in music is a major driver for the global electric guitars market. Electric guitars are essential in popular genres of music such as rock and metal. Due to the popularity of these genres, the number of individuals attempting to learn to play the guitar is increasing. This is the prime driver for the global electric guitars market.The report examines the historical trajectory of the global electric guitars market and presents information detailing its development up to the base year. Further, detailed analysis of the current market figures is presented along with forecasts for the markets growth in the coming years. The report uses industry-standard analytical tools and databases to gain accurate information and precise analytical insights. The major segments of the global electric guitars market and the key players operating in it are also profiled in the report to provide a comprehensive coverage of the market.Global Electric Guitars Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe increasing disposable income of individuals in developing economies is allowing them to indulge in hobbies such as music. This is a major driver for the global electric guitars market. The continued popularity of rock music is another influential factor driving the global electric guitars market, as the two are intricately connected in the eyes of the masses. The increasing number of rock bands also bodes well for the global electric guitars market.On the other hand, electrical guitars can be too expensive for most amateurs. An important reason for this is that, unlike acoustic guitars, electric guitars need an amplifier. This is a major restraint on the global electric guitars market, particularly in developing countries. The increasing popularity of acoustic guitars has also checked the electric guitars market, as acoustic guitars are much cheaper than electric guitars and require less maintenance. However, advanced guitar playing techniques are easier to perform on electric guitars, since they have softer strings than acoustic guitars and no frets.Global Electric Guitars Market: Geographical OverviewThe global electric guitars market is dominated by North America due to the high interest in rock music, the high disposable income of the population, and the high number of rock bands in the region. The U.S. has a close relationship with the development of the global electric guitars market, with two of the most popular electric guitar designs the Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Stratocaster being designed in the U.S. The U.S. was also where rock and roll music began, providing an immense boost to the global electric guitars market.Global Electric Guitars Market: Vendor LandscapeMajor companies in the global electric guitars market include Gibson Guitar Corporation, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, and Paul Reed Smith Guitars Ltd. The global electric guitars market is highly competitive, with frequent technological advancements and changes in consumer preference making it hard for companies to maintain a competitive edge.Browse Full Report@About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Create 3D models cost effectively for 3D printing Cost-effectively create full 3D design for 3D printing with the CSG eSERVICES Portal http://www.cad-schroer.com/news-events/articles/create-3d-models-for-the-3d-printing.html?utm_campaign=pr160921-3d-druck&utm_medium=press-release&utm_source=eservices http://www.cad-schroer.com/products/medusa4-personal/commercial-use.html?utm_campaign=pr160921-3d-druck&utm_medium=press-release&utm_source=eservices For 3D printing, models can be created with the free CAD software MEDUSA4 Personal and then converted into 3D STL formatCambridge, UK and Pittsford, NY 21 September 2016: CAD Schroer now offers an online converter for MEDUSA4 Personal, which enables the export of 3D models and their application to 3D printing.Use MEDUSA4 Personal for the creation of 3DThe free CAD software MEDUSA4 Personal can be downloaded from the CAD Schroer homepage. From there, you can easily get to the STL converter by a link to the CSG eSERVICES portal. The conversion of 3D models from MEDUSA4 Personal to STL allows the user into the 3D design. The created model files can, for example, be displayed on a web page, or printed as 3D models on a 3D printer to produce working prototypes.Full article about 3D models for 3D printing:Download: Free MEDUSA4 Personal CAD software:About CAD SchroerCAD Schroer is a global software development company and engineering solutions provider, helping to raise the productivity and competitiveness of customers working in manufacturing and plant design, including the automotive sector and its supply chain, the energy sector and public utilities. CAD Schroer has offices and subsidiaries throughout Europe and in the United States.CAD Schroers product portfolio includes 2D/3D CAD, plant design, factory layout and data management solutions. Customers in 39 countries rely on MEDUSA4, MPDS4 and STHENO/PRO to provide an efficient, flexible and integrated design environment for all phases of product or plant design cutting costs while raising quality. CAD Schroer emphasises close customer partnerships and supports its clients objectives through extensive consultancy, training, development, software support and maintenance services.CAD Schroer UK Limited2nd Floor, Godwin HouseCastle ParkCambridgeCB3 0HT Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices Market: Increased Adoption of Minimally Invasive Surgeries to Drive Demand http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2242 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/transcatheter-embolization-occlusion-devices-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ The top three players in the global transcatheter embolization and occlusion (TEO) devices market accounted for over 63% in 2015. Medtronic, plc, Cook Medical, and Terumo Corporation are the three companies that together dominated the market in 2015. Transparency Market Research notes that the degree of competition is moderate due to market consolidation as a result of frequent acquisitions. The competitive rivalry is influenced by the presence of large global players and few local manufacturers of transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices.Business agreements and partnerships among key market players will enable them to expand their global reach and market their products to newer regions, the lead analyst recommends. In January 2016, Terumo Corporation expanded its strategic alliance with Quirem Medical and became the exclusive global distributor of radioembolization solutions developed by Quirem Medical.In terms of revenue, the global TEO devices market was valued at US$2.4 bn in 2015 and is projected to reach US$4.8 bn by 2024 at a CAGR of 7.9% therein. In terms of volume, the global market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 8.1% from 2016 to 2024.View exclusive Global strategic Business Report :North America Emerges as Leading Regional SegmentIn terms of percentage share contribution, the embolization coils segment is expected to reflect a share of 39.5% by 2024. Registering an impressive CAGR of 13.2% from 2016 to 2024 in terms of revenue, embolization particles are likely to emerge as a highly lucrative product segment in the global transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices market. By application, peripheral vascular disease was the leading segment in 2015, while oncology is slated to be the most attractive segment of the market.Based on end use, the hospitals segment accounted for a significant share in the global transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices market in terms of revenue. In terms of percentage share contribution, North America is expected to account for 32.3% by 2024, emerging as the leading regional segment of the global transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices market.Rising Prevalence of Cancer Boosts Demand for Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion DevicesThe TEO devices market is fueled by a number of factors, including an increase in the adoption of minimally invasive surgeries, a rise in the prevalence of cancer, technological innovations, and changing demographics and lifestyle leading to an increase in peripheral vascular diseases.Embolization is a minimally invasive surgery that marks a significant advancement in medical technologies, the author of the report states. The adoption of minimally invasive surgeries has increased significantly over the years owing to the various advantages they present, including less post-operative pain, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and faster recovery.Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity around the world and the rising prevalence of cancer globally has driven the demand for chemembolization and radioembolization. This has, in turn, boosted the demand for transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices.Read Full Report with TOC:In contrast, frequent product recalls, stringent regulations governing product approvals, the lack of skilled professionals, and the lack of reimbursement policies in emerging markets threaten to impede the global market for transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices.This review is based on the findings of a TMR report titled Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices Market: (Product Type - Embolization Coils, Coiling Assist Devices, Embolization Particles, Flow Diverter Devices, Liquid Embolics, and Accessories; Application - Peripheral Vascular Disease, Neurology, Oncology, Urology, and Others; End-user - Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Clinics) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Volume, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024.Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices Market, by Product TypeEmbolization coilsPushableDetachableCoiling Assist DevicesStent Assisted CoilingBalloon Assisted CoilingEmbolization particlesRadioembolization particlesMicrospheresDrug-eluting beadsOthersFlow Diverter devicesLiquid EmbolicsAccessoriesCathetersGuide wiresOthersTranscatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices Market, by ApplicationPeripheral Vascular DiseaseNeurologyOncologyUrologyOthersTranscatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices Market, by End UserHospitalsAmbulatory Surgical CentersClinicsTranscatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeU.K.GermanyRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaAustraliaRest of Asia PacificLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaMiddle East & AfricaUAESouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Variable Frequency Drives Market Worth US$ 25.0 Billion by 2022 Variable Frequency Drives Market http://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/variable-frequency-drive-market http://www.marketresearchengine.com/requestsample/variable-frequency-drive-market http://www.marketresearchengine.com/ New York, September 22: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Global Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Market by Product Type (Adjustable-frequency drive, variable-speed drive, AC drive, micro drive or inverter drive), by Application (Power Generation, Oil and Gas, Manufacturing, Automotive), by End Users and Geography - Trends and Forecast 2015-2022The variable frequency drives market is expected to exceed more than USD$25.0 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of more than 7.0% in the given forecast period 2015 to 2022.Browse Full Report:A variable frequency drive is also called as adjustable speed drive, AC drive, inverter, micro drive, adjustable frequency drive or variable speed drive. It is used to drives an electrical motors having changeable voltage and frequency; it is a type of motor controller and the frequency is directly linked with speed of motor. VFD controls the speed of motor, so it minimize the overall power utilization. Because of this benefit VFD reduces overall energy costs with higher efficiency. Compared to other motor controllers, installation of variable frequency drives become easier. And training for installing of VFD will also minimize.The major driving factors of variable frequency drives market are as follows: Rising need for sinking energy utilization Reliable performance of motor is essential for constant function Growing use of induction motors Increase in industrialization and urbanization Rules on Energy EfficiencyThe restraints factors of variable frequency drives market are as follows: Undesirable impact of execution costs in rising economies Reduction in Greenfield investmentDownload Free Sample Report:The variable frequency drives market is segmented on the lines of its type, end user, voltage range, power range and application. Under type segmentation it covers AC voltage, DC voltage and servo voltage. Based on end user segmentation it covers manufacturing, chemical processing, oil and gas, automation and industrial development. The variable frequency drives market is segmented on the lines of its voltage range like low voltage and medium voltage. Under power range it covers micro power drives, low power drives, medium power drives and high power drives. The application segment for variable frequency drives includes pumps, fans, compressors, conveyors, extruders and other applications. The variable frequency drives market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for variable frequency drives and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2022.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for variable frequency drive4) Discussions of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of coatings with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include ABB Ltd., Siemens AG, Schneider Electric Industries S.A.S., Crompton Greaves Ltd., Danfoss VLT Drives, Eaton Corporation, Emerson Industrial Automation, Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Vacon PLC.. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary,business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Variable Frequency Drives Market has been segmented as below:By Type AnalysisAC VoltageDC VoltageServo VoltageBy End-user AnalysisManufacturingChemical processingOil and GasAutomationIndustrial developmentOthersBy Voltage range segment AnalysisLow voltageMedium voltageBy Power range AnalysisMicro Power DrivesLow Power DrivesMedium Power DrivesHigh Power DrivesBy Application AnalysisPumpsFansCompressorsConveyorsExtrudersOther ApplicationsBy Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States Luxury Hotels Market - Rise in The Travel And Tourism Industry Is Contributing To The Growth Of Luxury Hotels Globally http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/luxury-hotels-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1839 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The luxury hotels industry is one of the major customer service industries globally. Growing travel and tourism industry is one of the key reasons behind the growth of luxury hotels industry. In order to meet the increasing demand for unique customer services, luxury hotels are constantly striving to improve their services by focusing on changing consumer preferences.Rise in the travel and tourism industry is contributing to the growth of luxury hotels globally. Urbanization and industrialization has paved the way for the development of hotel industry globally. Growing number of travelers across different regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) is contributing to the positive growth of the luxury hotels market. Increasing disposable income and growing expenditure on luxury lifestyle are also expected to have a positive impact on the luxury hotel industry.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:The owners of luxury hotels are concentrating on implementing new services with properly trained hotel staff in order to satisfy consumer needs. The services provided by resorts and hotels also cater to the varied tastes of customers. Focusing on the customers demand, resorts and hotels have upgraded their services such as complimentary spa and massage treatment for guests and special dinner arrangements for customers. Moreover, some of the other services are customization of rooms according to the clients specifications, babysitting, pet care, and packing and unpacking services. Hence, identifying the consumer need is a major part of the business. Moreover, well managed branding and promotion activities are an integral part of the business. Furthermore, successful branding increases the consumers awareness, affinity, and in turn, loyalty.By type, the market can be segmented into business hotels, suite hotels, airport hotels and resorts among others. The others segment includes casino hotels, extended stay hotels, service apartments, and conference and convention centers, which have both regular as well as business occupancy. In terms of revenue, business hotel is leading the market for luxury hotels globally, followed by Airport hotels. Increasing number of multinational companies and rapid industrialization are some of the major factors boosting the demand for business hotels. In addition, aggressive marketing and branding strategies of the existing players are also slated to fuel the business hotels segment.The business hotels cater to business travelers and are primarily located in business districts. These hotels have both business rooms as well as suites. Luxury hotels market in the developing countries such as Asia Pacific and Latin America is expected to witness sustainable growth during the forecast period. The target consumers of airport hotels include airline passengers with cancelled flights or overnight layovers, business clientele, and airline crew and staff among others. Moreover, resorts are the most attractive segment having a huge potential. Increasing brand consciousness is one of the prime reasons behind the growth of luxury hotels market globally.Get More Information:With the consumer shift towards luxurious living is propelling the demand for luxury hotels globally. Rising consumer brand consciousness along with changing lifestyle is boosting the demand for luxury hotels in North America, followed by Europe. The growing travel and tourism industry is one of the major reasons behind the increasing popularity of luxury hotels in Asia Pacific.Moreover, increasing number of international events coupled with improving standard of living is driving the demand for luxury hotels in Rest of the World (RoW). Four Seasons Holdings Inc. (Canada), InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (U.K.), Starwood Hotels & Resorts (U.S.), Jumeirah International LLC (UAE), Kerzner International Resorts, Inc. (U.S.), The Indian Hotels Company Limited (India), Mandarin Oriental International Limited (Hong Kong), ITC Hotels Limited (India), Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd. (Hong Kong), Marriott International, Inc (U.S.) are some of the major players operating in the luxury hotels market worldwide.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Wood Preservation Chemicals Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast to 2022 By P&S Market Research Reports www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/wood-preservation-chemicals-market www.psmarketresearch.com/industry-report/chemicals-materials-and-energy www.psmarketresearch.com Some of the drivers behind the growing demand of global wood preservation chemical market include bounce back in residential construction activity, which in turn profits the several applications where wood preservatives are utilized, such as furniture, decking, and siding. Further advances are expected to be limited by the increasing utilization of non-wood materials in several key applications. For example, preservatives will be limited in siding, where the demand of wood is expected to reduce and faces huge competition from the substitutes. Despite the fact, wood still commands the decking applications, the plastic composite decking keeps on disintegrating wood's share, which likewise decreases wood protection product sales.Browse Full Report Click Here:Construction industry has been growing significantly over the globe, and acts as one of the important factors for driving the growth of the wood preservation chemicals market during the recent couple of years. In addition, the U.S. construction market has further supported the wood preservation chemicals market. The pattern is anticipated to continue during the forecast period, and is led by continued growth of the worldwide construction industry joined with the recovery of the construction business in the U.S. Wood is broadly utilized as a part of the construction of wood foundations, railroad crossties, walkways, shelters, bridges, sound walls, and others.Browse Related Market Research At:Based on product type, the global wood preservation chemicals market is segmented into oil-borne preservatives, light organic solvent preservatives, water-borne preservatives and others. In terms of production, the water-borne preservatives accounted for around 65% share of the global wood preservation chemicals market in 2014. In addition, the water-borne preservatives segment is expected to be the major product type during the forecast period.Geographically, Asia-Pacific is the largest market for wood preservation chemicals followed by North America and Europe. During the forecast period, the Asia-Pacific wood preservation chemicals market is expected to grow at the fastest rate, owing to increased industrial and construction activities in the region.Global Wood Preservation Chemicals Market SegmentationBy Product TypeOil-borne preservativesLight organic solvent preservativesWater-borne preservativesOthersBy End-Use IndustryConstructionMarineFurniture and DeckingOthersBy GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificLatin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaAbout P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:DeepAssistant Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb: Uganda and Ethiopia big winners at East African Power Industry Awards in Nairobi this week ?It is wonderful that EAPIC is coming to Uganda next year? http://www.eapicforum.com 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 Distribution Award. 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 AwardWINNER: Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, Permanent Secretary, Uganda Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development, UgandaDr 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, UgandaAward for Excellence in Power Transmission or DistributionWINNER: Umeme, UgandaIt 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. Umeme plans 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, TanzaniaAward for Outstanding Clean Power Project (under 5MW)WINNER: Mobisol East AfricaWe 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 said Klaus 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, KenyaCommunity Development Programme of the Year AwardWINNER: 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 Africa who 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, KenyaAward for Excellence in Power GenerationWINNER: Ethiopian Electric Power, EthiopiaEthiopia 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.- Contour Global, Rwanda- Eskom Uganda Limited, Uganda- Geothermal Development Company, Kenya- KenGen, Kenya- Songas Limited, TanzaniaOutstanding Woman in Power Regional Award, East AfricaWINNER: Azeb Asnake, CEO, Ethiopian Electric Power, EthiopiaAzeb 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 MW 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, UgandaFuture Energy Leader AwardWINNER: Faith Chege, Chief Financial Officer, Barefoot Power Africa Ltd, KenyaAfter 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, KenyaIndustry support for awardsThe 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.Regional power gatheringThe 18th edition of EAPIC is expected to gather more than 2000 visitors from more than 30 countries, including from the regions leading power utilities, large industries, project developers and investors as well as dozens of technology and service providers who will showcase their products at the KICC in Nairobi from 21-22 September. Lucy Electric, a global secondary distribution leader in the electricity sector, is this years platinum sponsor, while Stanbic Bank is the gold sponsor.EAPIC dates and location:Conference and exhibition: 21-22 September 2016Site visits: 23 September 2016Event location: KICC, Nairobi, KenyaThe East African Power Industry Convention is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK. Other flagship events in Spintelligents power portfolio on the continent are African Utility Week, the West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC), iPAD Rwanda Energy Infrastructure Forum and iPAD Cameroon Energy & Infrastructure Forum.Senior communications manager: Annemarie RoodbolTelephone: +27 21 700 3558Mobile: +27 82 562 7844Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.comWebsite:Postal address: PO Box 321, Steenberg, 7947, Steenberg Author Ruth Finnegan To Appear On The Authors Show Through October 12, 2016 To Discuss Her Latest Novel, 'Black Inked Pearl' Author Ruth Finnegan www.open.ac.uk/people/rhf2 Author Ruth Finnegan is now appearing on The Authors Show. In her recent interview she discussed her latest novel, 'Black Inked Pearl'.'Black Inked Pearl' is an epic romance about the naive Irish girl Kate and her mysterious lover, whom she rejects in panic and then spends her life seeking. After the opening rejection, Kate recalls her Irish upbringing, her convent education, and her coolly-controlled professional success, before her tsunami-like realisation beside an African river of the emotions she had concealed from herself and that she passionately and consumingly loved the man she had rejected.Searching for him she visits the kingdom of beasts, a London restaurant, an old people's home, back to the misty Donegal Sea, the heavenly archives, Eden, and hell, where at agonising cost she saves her dying love. They walk together toward heaven, but at the gates he walks past leaving her behind in the dust. The gates close behind him. He in turn searches for her and at last finds her in the dust, but to his fury (and renewed hurt) he is not ecstatically recognised and thanked. And the gates are still shut.On a secret back way to heaven guided by a little beetle, Kate repeatedly saves her still scornful love, but at the very last, despite Kate's fatal inability with numbers and through an ultimate sacrifice, he saves her from the precipice and they reach heaven. Kate finally realises that although her quest for her love was not in vain, in the end she had to find herself the unexpected pearl.The novel, born in dreams, is interlaced with the ambiguity between this world and another, and increasingly becomes more poetic, riddling and dreamlike as the story unfolds. The epilogue alludes to the key themes of the novel the eternity of love and the ambiguity between dream and reality.Black Inked Pearl has received three international prizes and rave reviews from readers and reviewers alike. Scott Neuffer of Forward Reviews stated, "If James Joyce's dream-like opuses were written from a more feminist perspective, they might look something like Ruth Finnegan's Black Inked Pearl, a rapturous fantasia of words and images set somewhere between ancient myth and the green shores of modern Ireland." Chris Fischer, in a Readers Favorite review stated "I just finished reading 'Black Inked Pearl: A Girl's Quest' by author Ruth Finnegan, and all I can say is 'Wow!' It's written in a unique and creative style, one that at times blends poetry with prose ... enviable and beautiful at the same time ... any reader who enjoys a lovely, unique and interesting work of fiction should absolutely read Black Inked Pearl. I will be eagerly awaiting the next offering by author Ruth Finnegan. If it is anything like her debut novel, it will be simply magical!" Kirkus Reviews said, "Kate's romantic quest calls to mind Paradise Lost and Greek mythology as it weaves together biblical allusions, fantasy, and details of the modern day." Like other classic and unusual literary works, the book has given rise to many interpretations and, as Christiana Fatoki perceptively put it, like its more recent prequel Pearl of the Seas, it sinks into your unconscious .Ruth Finnegan is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at r.h.finnegan@open.ac.uk. More information is available at her website. The Authors Show interview will be available through October 12, 2016 at The Authors Show site.Ruth Finnegan OBE is a renowned scholar and celebrated writer who is Emeritus Professor, the Open University, a Fellow of the British Academy, and an Honorary Fellow of Somerville College Oxford. She was born in Derry (on the last day of December 1933) and grew up there and in the remote countryside of Donegal where, as poetically recalled in the second chapter of her novel, Black Inked Pearl, she spent the war years; went to a literature-imbued Quaker school in York where, a fellow-student with the actress Judi Dench, she learned to read the resonant poetry of Yeats and Shakespeare and to repeat texts that, with others, she had to learn, aloud (a good training for the sonic style of her novels); earned top degrees in classics and anthropology at Oxford; and carried out fieldwork on story-telling in Africa a revelation of the multi-sensory nature of performance that has affected her all her life, and constantly comes through in her writing. From 1969, apart from three years in the South Pacific island of Fiji, she taught and researched at the pioneering Open University. She is the author of over twenty academic books, several of them prize-winning. She has three daughters (two of them born in Nigeria), five grandchildren (one in New Zealand), and now lives in Old Bletchley, England, with her husband of over 50 years and two loving, impetuous, lovable cairn terriers.PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC 28459 Beverage Packaging Market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/beverage-packaging-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/beverage-packaging-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/beverage-packaging-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/beverage-packaging-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Beverage Packaging (Bottle, Can, Pouch, and Carton) Market, By Material (Glass, Plastic, Metal, and Paperboard), for Alcoholic, Non-Alcoholic, and Dairy Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2015 2021. According to the report, global demand for beverage packaging market was valued at USD 108.4 billion in 2015, is expected to reach USD 138.7 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% between 2016 and 2021.Get a copy of free Sample Report @Packaging plays an important role in beverage industry. Proficient packaging solutions offer advantages such as disposability, ease of use and improved user experience. These advantages have lead to increase in demand of beverage packaging solutions. The main purpose of packaging is to preserve, protect, and promote the product.Beverage packaging market is directly proportional to growing demand for various types of beverages. Beverage packaging market is driven by several factors like increase in beverage consumption, and the growing demand for long shelf life of product. Light weight packaging material has become an essential factor in the market, and having significant influence in beverage bottles and cans segment. This is further driven by environmental pressures from government, and low material usage for packages means low costs, which are always beneficial for both brands and retailers. Moreover, stringent government regulation for environmental safety may affect the market growth.Know more before buying this report @On the basis of packaging type market is divided into bottles, cans, pouch, and carton. Bottles and cans represented significant share in global beverage packaging market. Material segment includes glass, plastic, metal, and paperboard. Plastic continue to represent the highest growing beverage packaging material due to rising consumer demand and portability. Alcoholic, non-alcoholic, and dairy are key application segment of beverage packaging market.Beverage packaging market in Asia Pacific is expected to show massive opportunities for market owing to rapidly growing beverage consumption in the region. Large population coupled with increasing income levels in developing economies such as China and India are expected to drive the beverage consumption in the region. Furthermore, availability of skilled workers, low cost of production and government funding are expected to further boost the market growth in the region. North America was the leading market player in 2015 owing to presence of large number of key players in the region.Purchase a direct copy of report with TOC @Ball Corporation, Rexam PLC, Amcor Limited, Reynolds Group Holdings Limited, Saint-Gobain S.A., Tetra Laval International S.A. and Owens-Illinois, Inc. are some of the leading players in the beverage packaging market.The report segments the global beverage packaging market asBeverage Packaging Market: Type Segment AnalysisBottleCanPouchCartonBrowse the full report atBeverage Packaging Market: Material Segment AnalysisGlassPlasticMetalPaperboardBeverage Packaging Market: Application Segment AnalysisAlcoholicNon-AlcoholicDairyBeverage Packaging Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout UsZion Market Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Zion Market Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Consumer Trend Framework: Understanding attitudes and behaviors that influence global consumption habits http://www.reportbazzar.com/product/global-consumer-trend-framework-understanding-attitudes-and-behaviors-that-influence-global-consumption-habits/ http://www.reportbazzar.com/request-sample/?pid=424538&ptitle=Global+Consumer+Trend+Framework%3A+Understanding+attitudes+and+behaviors+that+influence+global+consumption+habits&req=Sample http://www.reportbazzar.com/ SummaryGlobal Consumer Trend Framework: Understanding attitudes and behaviors that influence global consumption habits helps companies to develop competitive advantages across the whole of the supply chain by boosting their understanding of consumer motivations. This means that they can align their products and marketing campaigns with the most pertinent consumer need states.Canadean's comprehensive trend framework is a toolkit companies can use to identify the most important consumer behaviors currently driving their market, and decrease the risk of aligning products with need states that are not influential on actual behavior.Canadean's trend framework covers nine mega-trends and 20 trends, with consumer data analyzing the influence of these trends across 10 key countries, and identifies the key age, gender, wealth, and leisure time groups for each trend.Browse Report Summary with TOC @Key Findings- Irrespective of industry, size of brand, heritage, or market share, it is crucial that all brands keep ahead of consumer trends. In recent years there have been a number of publicized failed launches from the biggest brands because they didn't recognize evolving consumer need states.- The needs of consumers in developed economies will continue to be shaped by aging populations. This will cause rising demand for functional products - in particularly food and drink - with health concerns being at the forefront of older consumers' minds. These consumers will demand sophisticated approaches from brands focused on maintaining active lifestyles, and shy away from products that are centered on the vulnerabilities that come with age.- Developing economies will witness the increased blurring of gender roles as growing female employment outside the home, and women's empowerment movements, help to challenge traditional notions of femininity and masculinity.- This change will continue to have a significant impact on the food market in particular as women's share of domestic labor decreases, reducing the amount of time that women spend preparing meals. Snacking occasions will also increase as meal times become more fragmented in order to accommodate busy working lifestyles.SynopsisGlobal Consumer Trend Framework: Understanding attitudes and behaviors that influence global consumption habits is a toolkit companies can use to identify the most important consumer behaviors currently driving their market, and decrease the risk of aligning products with need states that are not influential on buying behavior. This toolkit provides:- A framework of nine mega-trends and twenty trends that capture the key need states driving consumer markets- Quantification of how important each trend is in 10 key countries- Identification of key consumer groups for each trend, including key age groups, gender, wealth group, and leisure time group- An evaluation of the consumer behaviors driving each trend, providing a unique level of granularity to the trend framework- Best practice product examples for each trend- Analysis of how the trend will develop in future, for both developed and developing economies- Recommended actions on how to best target each trend, for Food, Soft Drinks, Alcoholic Drinks, and Cosmetics & Toiletries categoriesReasons To BuyCanadean's comprehensive trend framework is a toolkit companies can use to align their products and marketing campaigns with the most pertinent consumer need states, and decrease the risk of aligning products with need states that are not influential on actual behavior.Irrespective of industry, size of brand, heritage, or market share, it is crucial that all brands keep ahead of consumer trends. This report marries theory with practice, providing both a comprehensive conceptual understanding of consumer behaviors, and recommended actions and product examples to show how these trends should be targeted.Get Sample Report @Reportbazzar.com is your trusted source for the most inclusive and informative assortment of market research reports designed to empower you with the latest in industry information that translates to time and cost savings for your business. We not only help you give wing to your latent business ideas but also facilitate you in taking the best informed and strategic decisions that guarantee success in your most promising business endeavors.ReportBazzarOffice # 203,Vishal Shopping Complex,DSK Ranwara, Bavdhan,Pune 411021, IndiaIndia: +91 20 66528525Email Id: sales@reportbazzar.comWebsite: Automotive composites market size is likely to exceed USD 7 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of over 8.5% http://bit.ly/2d6C8uC http://bit.ly/2ddkHss https://gminsights.wordpress.com http://www.fractovia.org https://www.gminsights.com Automotive composites market size was estimated at more than USD 3 billion in 2015 and is likely to exceed USD 7 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of over 8.5%. Asia Pacific automobile composite market size was the largest with more than USD 1.8 billion with an expected growth rate of over 8.5% up to 2023.Increasing preference towards passenger vehicle fuel efficiency coupled with product differentiation for vehicle aesthetics is likely to drive automotive composites market share. Increasing awareness towards lightweight material manufacturing for applications in interior and exterior vehicle components is components thereby reducing overall fuel consumption are likely to drive demand.Request for In-Deapth Table Of Contents from Report@Automotive composites offer impact & heat resistance and lower the overall automobile weight, particularly in hybrid and electrical cars. Properties such as high tensile strength, ease in manufacturing, surface tension and corrosion resistance are ideal for manufacturing fuel-efficient and lightweight vehicles.Vehicle weight reduction is seen as priority by automobile manufacturers as it curbs carbon emissions. Reducing vehicle weight by 450 kg enables approximate 40 gram reduction in CO2 and helps in increasing the fuel efficiency by 8% to 12%.Major automotive composite product segment include MMC (metal matrix composites), CMC (ceramic matrix composites) and polymer matrix composites (PMC). PMC is further segmented into carbon (CRPF) and glass (GRPF) based fiber reinforcement polymer composites. CRPF is likely to witness highest gains of over 20% up to 2023 owing to growing application scope in new vehicle models to increase the fuel efficiency.Automotive composites application segment includes engine & powertrain components, exterior and interior components. Exterior components was the largest application segment over the past few years owing to increasing demand for aesthetic & attractiveness appeal of passenger vehicles.Automobile composites market is also segmented on the basis of technology namely manual, continuous, injection and compression.Inquire for Buying Industry Analysis Report@Europe is likely to witness moderate growth over the forecast period. Stringent environmental regulations are likely to favor growth in this region. UK, France and Germany automotive composites market is likely to witness steady gains owing to presence of automobile manufacturers such as BMW and Renault.The global automotive composites market share is highly consolidated with top four manufacturers catering to more than 70% of the total demand. Key companies operating in this market include Toho Co. Ltd, Toray Industries, SGL and Mitsubishi. Other prominent companies include SAERTEX GmbH, Cytec Industries, Koninklijke Ten Cate N.V, Johnson Controls, Johns Manville, Teijin Limited, UFP Technologies, DuPont and Scott Bader.Read our insightful industry blogs:Contact Us:Jack DavisCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1 888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.29L Atlantic Avenue, Suite L 105Ocean View, Delaware Costume Jewelry Market : Latest Innovations and Key Events 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/2791 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/2791 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/ Costume jewelry (also known as fashion jewellery, trinkets, junk jewelry, fake jewelry and fallalery) is a jewelry made of less valuable materials as compared with valuable materials such as gold, diamond, platinum and other precious metals and gem. The raw material used for these jewelleries include base metals, glass, plastic, synthetic stones, semi-precious stones, beads, ivory, lac, leather, terracotta, pearl and metals such as silver, aluminum and brass. On the basis of products, the costume jewelry industry is broadly categorized as bracelets, brooch, earrings, necklaces, chokers, bangles, finger rings, toe rings, anklets and pendants.Request Sample Report @The costume Jewelry industry operates as a true global industry as the raw materials are mostly sourced from Australia, Africa, Russia and Canada, manufacturing takes place in China, India, Italy and Turkey whereas the largest markets is North America, followed by Europe.The developing economies such as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are the fasted growing market with double digit growth rates. Asia Pacific is the largest producer of costume jewelry and expected to take over North America in terms of consumption in the coming years. High growth rate in Asia Pacific region is attributed to the rising income of the consumers in these countries. Further, with the massive urbanization and westernization taking place, the consumers are now becoming more fashionable and trendy. Moreover large population of young consumers (average age is 29 year and 37 year respectively for India and China) are also a key contributor in overall growth of costume jewelry in these countries.The key drivers for the costume jewelry include increasing prices for gold and other precious gems and pearls, internationalization of brands and increasing demand of men costume jewelry. Some of the key challenges for the costume jewelry industry include rising raw material cost and fad sensitive market of fashion jewelry. The unorganized supply chain of the raw materials in costume jewelry industry also act as a major restraint for the industry as it sometimes lead to steep hike in the prices of raw materials. Online channels, which are still new trend, offer new opportunity for the market.Download TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report @Some of the major player in operating in the industry includes, Buckley Jewellery Limited, The Colibri Group, Avon Products Inc, Swank Inc, H. Stern Com. & Ind. S.A., Cartier SA, Channel S.A., Louis Vuitton North America, Inc., Stuller, Inc., Yurman Design, Inc., Billig Jewelers, Inc. and Gianni Versace S.p.A.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com Global Contact Lenses Market 2016-2021 : ACUVUE, BAUSCH&Lomb, Hydron, CIBAVISION, WEICON, CooperVision, FreshKon http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/1498/request-sample http://www.fiormarkets.com/report/global-contact-lenses-industry-2016-market-research-report-1498.html www.fiormarkets.com http://dailydemocratnews.com/ The Global Contact Lenses Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Contact Lenses industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Contact Lenses market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.Request for sample report atSecondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the Contact Lenses industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.Access full report atIn a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Contact Lenses1.1 Definition and Specifications of Contact Lenses1.1.1 Definition of Contact Lenses1.1.2 Specifications of Contact Lenses1.2 Classification of Contact Lenses1.3 Applications of Contact Lenses1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Contact Lenses1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Contact Lenses1.5.1 Industry Overview of Contact Lenses1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Contact Lenses1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Contact Lenses1.7 Industry News Analysis of Contact Lenses2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Contact Lenses2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Contact Lenses2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Contact Lenses2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Contact Lenses2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Contact Lenses2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Contact Lenses2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Contact LensesFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog: Virtual Retinal Display Market - Analysis, Growth, Trends, Forecast by 2023 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=11825 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) Market: OverviewVirtual retinal display with LCDs or Low-energy lasers projects pictures directly onto human retina giving user the illusion of looking at a typical screen-sized display flying in the air at some distance. The ability of this emerging technology, to give sense of reality that other technologies such as LCDs could not provide, will drive its penetration globally.Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) Market: SegmentationThe virtual retinal display market is segmented by application as military and aerospace, gaming, medical, engineering and others. Military and medical applications are expected to be the key growth markets for virtual retinal display solutions. In medical applications, VRD technology is heating up with potential applications in radiology, therapeutics and surgery. VRD technology have potential to be used for patients with low vision.Get FREE Sample PDF file Of Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) Market :The technology is expensive if utilized to its full potential which is a challenge to the market. However, the features such as high resolution, high brightness and full color will drive its adoption. The virtual retinal display market is segmented by geography as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle-East and Africa and Latin America. Considering the large target consumer base, Asia Pacific exhibits significant growth potential in the long run for virtual reality display market. North America is expected to witness highest initial adoption of virtual retinal display technology owing to high demand for technologically advanced products in the region.Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) Market: DriversThe efficient power consumption by virtual retinal displays is the key driving factor for the technology. Moreover, the images by VRD are not affected by external lighting conditions creating a clear and sharp view. Virtual retinal displays supports stereoscopic features and possess the ability to provide separate images/video to both eyes. Such 3D display technology is expected to further drive its adoption, in particular across gaming applications.Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) Market: RestraintsThe virtual retinal display technology has few challenges which restrain its adoptions. The threat of damaging the retina as there is no protection against radiation in VRD technology, is still a concern. The images sent through virtual retinal displays interfere with the reality objects which might cause concerns distracting the users. Few of the expected future applications for virtual retinal display technology are, viewing messages on the go, presenting with notes streamed to your eyes, getting directions while moving towards the destination, viewing recipes while cooking and many others. The technology will potentially be used to simplify the way of communication over the coming years.Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) Market: Competitive OverviewVirtual retinal displays require very less of the hardware needed by the traditional display devices and thus are lighter in weight. This is expected to drive its penetration in mobile devices, handheld gaming systems, laptops and computers. The players in the virtual retinal display market include Human Interface Technology Laboratory, Avegant Corp., Google, Inc., Microvision, Inc., and Texas Instruments Inc. Many players are expected to enter in this emerging market for virtual retinal display to tap into the potential growth opportunities. With decrease in the cost of components, the virtual retinal displays market growth will spur in the long term. However, the technology is still in development phase and has only been commercialized in specialized markets of the displays and needs to overcome the prevailing market challenges.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Unified Communication as a Service Market to Gain Precedence over Stand-alone Services by 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4162 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) is an emerging technology that has rapidly garnered a lot of attention from developer communities and enterprises. The global UCaaS market is poised to witness a significant rise in demand for UCaaS solutions from enterprises and businesses keen on increasing the efficiency of existing processes. A number of these enterprises are now switching from traditional business processes to communications-enabled business processes.The value of the global UCaaS market was pegged at US$8.23 bn in 2015 and is projected to expand at an impressive CAGR of 29.4% from 2016 to 2024 to reach US$79.3 bn by the end of the forecast period.Link to Brochure Download:By deployment model, hosted UCaaS solutions led the market in 2015 and the segment is expected to retain its lead through 2024. This is mainly owing to the rising adoption of Internet Protocol (IP) telephony across the world. The low total cost of ownership (TCO) and major advancements in cloud communication platforms are also supporting the adoption of hosted UCaaS solutions across various industry verticals.Based on service, telephony services emerged as the key contributor in the UCaaS market. The segment is expected to continue its lead through 2024 thanks to the growing adoption of hosted telephony as a part of enterprise UCaaS solutions.By delivery model, stand-alone services led the UCaaS market in 2015. However, by 2024, the revenue generated by the integrated services segment is expected to surpass that by stand-alone services. The rising demand for integrated services across various businesses is likely to bring about this shift.Asia Pacific is forecast to be the most rapidly growing market for UCaaS owing to the rising inclination of large companies toward UCaaS solutions. The region also presents immense opportunities for the establishment of contact center services due to a growing population proficient in the English language. Asia Pacific is a lucrative option for various businesses due to the availability of a comparatively cheaper workforce and rapid growth in emerging economies such as India and China. Campaigns such as Make in India have led to the establishment of offices and manufacturing units in India, which is anticipated to further the need for UCaaS to stay connected with the headquarters situated at a different location. Moreover, the introduction of new mobile phones and tablets is going to increase the demand for unified communication in this region.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global ICT Spends in Retail Banking Banking Sector - Future Perspective to 2019 http://www.reportbazzar.com/product/global-ict-spends-in-retail-banking-sector-future-perspective-to-2019/ http://www.reportbazzar.com/request-sample/?pid=518786&ptitle=Global+ICT+Spends+in+Retail+Banking+Sector+%26%238211%3B+Future+Perspective+to+2019&req=Sample http://www.reportbazzar.com/discount-form/?pid=518786&ptitle=Global+ICT+Spends+in+Retail+Banking+Sector+%26%238211%3B+Future+Perspective+to+2019&req=Discount http://www.reportbazzar.com/ SummaryGlobal ICT Spends in Retail Banking Sector - Future Perspective to 2019; is an exhaustive research report outlaying future perspectives of ICT project spends globally. The report provides year on year spends value within the Energy markets across 30+ countries; split across BPO Services, Cloud Services, Enterprise Communications Services, IT Hardware, IT Services, and Software categories and further at segment levels for the period 2016 to 2019.Key FindingsGlobal ICT Spends in Retail Banking Sector - Future Perspective to 2019; report is a comprehensive outlook built using Kable's extensive market research covering the spends across ICT market. The statistics within the report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment of the Technology and Energy sector at individual country level.Kable has considered buying behavior / ICT spends across hardware, software, services, communications and staff. It acts as an essential tool for companies active across the ICT market and for new players considering entering the market; ensuring right business decision making.Countries covered within the report include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United StatesBrowse Report Summary with TOC @Synopsis"Global ICT Spends in Retail Banking Sector - Future Perspective to 2019" provides the readers with potential spends value on ICT within Global Retail Banking sector during the period 2016 through to 2019In particular, it provides information of potential spends by individual countries for the following categories at segment level:- BPO Services- Cloud Services- Enterprise Communications Services- IT Hardware- IT Services- SoftwareReasons To Buy- Understand the opportunities for ICT market in the Retail Banking sector and how it is set to change in future.- Make effective business decisions by recognizing the opportunities within each of the core areas of ICT sector- Realign your sales initiatives by understanding the current strategic objectives of the Global ICT Sector.- Enhance your market segmentation with detailed breakdown of opportunities within selected technology categories.Get Sample Report @Table Of Contents:1 Introduction1.1 What is this Report About?1.1.1 Definitions1.2 Methodology2 ICT Market Opportunity in the Retail Banking Sector: Global2.1 ICT Market Opportunity in the Retail Banking Sector by Value2.2 ICT Market Opportunity in the Retail Banking Sector by Category: Global3 ICT Market Opportunity in the Retail Banking Sector: Argentina3.1 ICT Market Opportunity in the Retail Banking Sector by Value3.2 ICT Market Opportunity in the Retail Banking Sector by Category: Argentina3.3 ICT Market Opportunity in the Retail Banking Sector by Category and Segments3.3.1 BPO Services Market Value3.3.2 Cloud Services Market Value3.3.3 Enterprise Applications Market Value3.3.4 Enterprise Communications Market Value3.3.5 Enterprise Mobility Management Market Value3.3.6 Information Management Market Value3.3.7 IT Hardware Market Value3.3.8 IT Security Software Market Value3.3.9 IT Services Market Value3.3.10 Software Infrastructure Market Value4 ICT Market Opportunity in the Retail Banking Sector: Australia4.1 ICT Market Opportunity in the Retail Banking Sector by Value4.2 ICT Market Opportunity in the Retail Banking Sector by Category: Australia4.3 ICT Market Opportunity in the Retail Banking Sector by Category and Segments4.3.1 BPO Services Market Value4.3.2 Cloud Services Market Value4.3.3 Enterprise Applications Market Value4.3.4 Enterprise Communications Market Value4.3.5 Enterprise Mobility Management Market Value4.3.6 Information Management Market Value4.3.7 IT Hardware Market Value4.3.8 IT Security Software Market Value4.3.9 IT Services Market Value4.3.10 Software Infrastructure Market ValueEnquiry For Discount @Reportbazzar.com is your trusted source for the most inclusive and informative assortment of market research reports designed to empower you with the latest in industry information that translates to time and cost savings for your business. We not only help you give wing to your latent business ideas but also facilitate you in taking the best informed and strategic decisions that guarantee success in your most promising business endeavors.ReportBazzarOffice # 203,Vishal Shopping Complex,DSK Ranwara, Bavdhan,Pune 411021, IndiaIndia: +91 20 66528525Email Id: sales@reportbazzar.comWebsite: Buy Led Flood Lights and Illuminate Your Home Ground www.paclights.com Paclights is a prestigious LED business lighting maker headquartered at Chino California. Paclights has a strong profile for amassing and retailing LED Flood Lights embedded with innovative development and layouts. Being a dynamic player in the lighting business has helped Paclights to develop a general notoriety for its different organizations. 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Legislators next session will weigh a wider rollout of Oregon's pay-per-mile road usage charge program, but even with their approval, it wouldn't expand beyond volunteers for almost a decade. The task force overseeing the pilot OReGo program on Wednesday recommended expanding the program to all new vehicles rated at 20 miles per gallon or better starting with model year 2025. It's also seeking to lift the pilot program's statutory cap of 5,000 enrolled vehicles to expand testing. The program seeks to find a way to keep tax funding for roads flowing in the age of electric and gas-sipping hybrid cars. Funds from the state's gas tax, which generate 40 percent of the state's highway fund, are expected to start falling as soon as 2020. The program uses an electronic transmitter to track vehicle miles traveled, then send a bill to the driver. Drivers in conventional cars can have the amount they've already paid in the state gas tax credited against their road use charge. The current road usage charge is set at 1.5 cents per mile. The pilot program has 833 active volunteer drivers, and it's enrolled 1,267 vehicles to date. Even with legislation on the way, most of the program's logistics have yet to be worked out, said ODOT spokeswoman Michelle Godfrey. The agency is still testing new data-collection technology, and it's not clear how a mandatory pay-per-mile system would ensure everyone's paying. The Federal Highway Administration awarded the transportation department a $2.1 million grant last month to iron out some of those wrinkles. The program, nowhere near its cap of 5,000 enrolled vehicles, is also seeking more volunteers. As the program is currently structured, low-gas-mileage vehicles benefit compared to the amount they'd pay in gas taxes, while vehicles that get more than 20 miles per gallon generally pay more under the per-mile system. -- Elliot Njus enjus@oregonian.com 503-294-5034 @enjus 1kim.JPG In this May 10, 2016 file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves at parade participants at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) By Eli Lake Let's be honest. The world would be a better place if a revolutionary tribunal in the near future sent North Korea's Kim Jong-un and his henchmen to the gallows. Kim's subjects are so malnourished that North Koreans are notably shorter than their South Korean cousins. The state's gulags are so large, you can see them from space. Survivors of those camps have testified that fellow prisoners withered away from starvation. The U.N. high commissioner for human rights has acknowledged the horror. A 2014 report from that office says that inside of North Korea "crimes against humanity" have been committed as a result of the state's policy. These include "extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence, persecution on political, religious, racial and gender grounds, the forcible transfer of populations, the enforced disappearance of persons and the inhumane act of knowingly causing prolonged starvation." Crimes against humanity generally cost a regime its legitimacy, if not its sovereignty. And yet most national security professionals would regard the collapse of the North Korean slave state as a calamity. The reason for this is simple: all the nuclear weapons and material. A 2015 study from the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies estimated North Korea possessed 10 to 16 nuclear weapons, and will possess 20 to 100 such weapons by 2020. This says nothing of the highly enriched nuclear fuel the state has produced or the mobile rockets and longer-range missiles to launch the warheads. Trying to secure all this after a chaotic collapse or overthrow of the Kim regime would be a nightmare. General Raymond Thomas, who heads U.S. Special Operations Command, called a regime collapse in North Korea a "worst case scenario," at a conference hosted last week by the Institute for the Study of War. "In the event of the implosion of the region, we'd have the loose nuke dilemma on an industrial scale," the general said, describing it as a "vertical track meet between the Chinese and the South Koreans in terms of securing the nukes." In this sense, North Korea's nukes are the Kim family's insurance policy. Since the Clinton administration, the U.S. and the international community have been willing to extend the life of the regime in exchange for (ultimately broken) promises about its reactors and enrichment facilities. And while the U.S. has also placed sanctions on North Korea at times, in the end the goal of U.S. policy has been regime preservation. Secretary of State John Kerry summed up this approach earlier this month. "We have made overture after overture to the dictator of North Korea," he said, after the regime's fifth nuclear test. "We have made it very clear to him that we're prepared to talk about peace, about peace on the peninsula, about food assistance, about normal relationship with the world, about a nonaggression pact -- I mean a host of different ingredients -- if he will simply acknowledge he is prepared to come to the table and talk about denuclearization and his responsibilities to the world -- not to us, to the whole world." The problem with this approach is that it's a sucker's bet. If Kim "will simply acknowledge" he's ready to talk, the international community will lavish him with material support and unearned recognition. A far better use of American diplomacy is to quietly push China and South Korea to begin planning with the U.S. for the day the North Korean regime falls. It's a long shot. General Thomas acknowledged last week that there are no channels between the U.S. and China on special operations. And the U.S. has good reasons to mistrust China, an aggressive cyber adversary that is unilaterally claiming territory through militarized artificial islands. What's more, China and North Korea share an ideological attachment as two of the five remaining communist states on the planet. That said, North Korea is a time bomb for China as well as for the U.S. Beijing is worried about refugees coming over its border, and loose nukes would be as much a danger to China as to America's East Asian allies. This year Beijing supported U.N. sanctions against North Korea at the U.N. Security Council. None of this is to say the U.S. or North Korea's neighbors can or should topple the Kim regime. Popular uprisings are impossible to predict, and the hard work of persuading people to stop obeying their oppressors is best left to outside groups and not governments. But North Korea's rickety tyranny won't last forever. Even the most imposing dictatorships prove in the end to be hollow. Today, many North Koreans are gaining access to the outside world, including through smuggled USB sticks with South Korean soap operas and other illegal bits of outside culture. The liberation of these people should not have to open a nuclear Pandora's box. Today the U.S. helps to prop up an open-air prison to protect the world from an apocalyptic arsenal built by its wardens. It's past time for the U.S. to begin planning for the day when it's no longer obliged to honor this foul bargain. Bloomberg View columnist Eli Lake writes about politics and foreign affairs. For more columns from Bloomberg View, visit http://www.bloomberg.com/view. (c) 2016, Bloomberg View Parole hearing Tuesday for convicted cop killer, Sidney Dean Porter Sidney Dean Porter, right, is pictured in an Oregonian/OregonLive file photo with his attorney, Andy Simrin, at a parole hearing in Salem. (Stuart Tomlinson/The Oregonian) An appeals court ruled Wednesday that the state parole board incorrectly rescinded the release of an Oregon logger who beat a police officer to death with his fists and firewood nearly a quarter-century ago. The Oregon Court of Appeals also directed the parole board to reinstate the release date of Sidney Dean Porter, 56, who had been set to be freed in June 2013 before objections from then-Gov. John Kitzhaber and law enforcement officers led the board to reverse itself. Kristina Edmunson, a spokeswoman for Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, said the state is reviewing the court decision and has yet to decide whether to petition the Oregon Supreme Court for review. If the state declines to challenge the ruling, Porter could be released within a few months, said Andy Simrin, his attorney. Authorities say Porter, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 225-pounds, was drunk when he killed Frank Ward in 1992 after the John Day police officer responded to a domestic violence call. The officer had a wife, daughter and twin 2-year-old sons. In its ruling written by Judge Joel Devore, a Kitzhaber appointee, the appeals court said the parole board did not have a valid reason to rescind the release. Once a date is set, the law says the board can only postpone it if the prisoner engages in serious misconduct, has an inadequate release plan or receives a psychological diagnosis that concludes he's a danger to the community. The board nixed Porter's parole just days before his release date and then conducted a new exit interview in September 2013. It found that Porter "suffers from a present severe emotional disturbance such as to constitute a danger to the health or safety of the community." The Appeals Court said such a finding had to occur before the June 2013 release date. "After that release date had passed, it does not suffice to later find a reason to have postponed his release," the opinion states. Simrin said in a phone interview Wednesday that public outcry is not a valid reason for keeping his client in prison. "The board simply responded to letters from various concerned citizens, most of whom were law enforcement officers and one of whom was the governor of Oregon, all asking them to reconsider what they had done," he said. -- The Associated Press A man and two emergency responders were admitted to a hospital Tuesday after the man tried to commit suicide by creating a dangerous gas in a Longview apartment, an official said. Officials evacuated the apartment building and shut down its electricity, fearing the potential of combustion, Longview Fire Chief Phil Jurmu said in a news release. The incident was confined to one apartment, he said. The responders -- a Longview police officer and firefighter -- were released from the hospital Tuesday night, but the man remained hospitalized as of early the next afternoon, Jurmu said. He said the man was in serious condition after the suicide attempt, but he didn't know didn't know the man's condition early Wednesday afternoon. The man was conscious and told hospital staff members about the chemicals, a hospital employee told authorities. Someone called 911 Tuesday afternoon to say the man was publishing suicidal Facebook posts and that he was unintelligible when reached over the phone, Jurmu said. He said a police officer responded to an apartment, which is part of a building in the 1700 block of Hemlock Street, smelled a strong odor and found it difficult to breathe. Firefighters got there shortly thereafter and came inside wearing self-contained breathing gear. They saw a sign on the bathroom door saying "Caution CO2," and found a semi-conscious man on the floor, Jurmu said. They took him to the living room for treatment and closed the door. Other firefighters looked for other people in the apartment and started monitoring the air, Jurmu said. Officials checked out the apartment while wearing protective suits, and some of them "removed contaminated materials from the apartment and neutralized them for disposal," Jurmu said. The man combined two chemicals to produce the carbon dioxide, but Jurmu didn't publicly disclose the chemicals out of concern others may copy. Longview Police Detective Sgt. Chris Blanchard said police are investigating the incident. "To my knowledge, no charges have been filed yet," he said. The firefighter was treated for chemical burns on his arm, Jurmu said, and the officer was evaluated at the hospital. Authorities didn't field reports of any other injuries, Jurmu said. -- Jim Ryan jryan@oregonian.com 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Tony Hernandez of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. The Michigan Antique Festival is coming to Midland Saturday and Sunday, featuring collectibles, shabby chic decor, antiques, retro jewelry, art deco pieces, classic signs, refinished antique furniture, old primitives and more. Its impossible to describe everything that youll see at these shows, said Michigan Antique Festival owner Lori Oberlin. We set out to make the festivals a fun experience for visitors. Today we are the largest antique and vintage market in Michigan. Why I Am Voting For Jill Stein in November By Joe Starr | Politics | September 22, 2016 | This November is a major, major election. At the center of the storm: two titans in Trump and Clinton, swinging at each other like a scene out of Pacific Rim. But, much like Stacker Pentecost, Im not interested in their fight. I want to cancel the apocalypse! So Im voting for Jill Stein, the most qualified candidate for president in 2016. Im proud to be on this boat, and Id like you to join me, so Im going to lay out my reasoning why Jill Stein and the Green Party are the right choice for the White House. Jill Stein is an outsider candidate Im tired of Washington insiders. Arent you? The thing about Washington insiders is that they are too inside too inside Washingtons butt, that is! LOL. But seriously. Knowing the intricacies of operating on a political battleground of 50 states with their own needs and beliefs as well as a working knowledge of our foreign relationships around the globe is no magic wand that says you deserve to be president. Lets give someone new a try. Lets allow a real outsider with an outsiders perspective to take the wheel. Jill Stein is the outsider for me. Why? Because shes such an outsider, I literally had never heard of her before a few months ago. You cant get more outside than that. She was an elected member of the Lexington Town Meeting, which is the name of a local town council and not a band signed to early 2000s Vagrant Records. She resigned so she could run for Governor, which actually makes me nervous because governors might be a bit too inside for my tastes. Fortunately, she is not addressed as Governor Stein, so luckily, shes still the outsider we need. Some people might say that theyd take a third-party candidate seriously if they and their party actually laid some groundwork on local, state, and federal levels to make a run for the Oval Office, but it seems to me like those people have a serious case of the Status Quo Flu. Thats a flu that infects you when you seem content with the status quo that I made up. Jill Stein is anti privilege Unlike that Hillary Clinton, who seems to think she should just be handed the White House after years of public service, Jill Stein knows privilege when she sees it. Hillary Clinton is just some rich chick from the rich neighborhood of Park Ridge, Illinois, who went to Yale. Well, no thank you not my president! Ill take the lady who was raised in a different rich neighborhood in Illinois and went to Harvard. And if you think those seem similar, youre not seeing the forest for the trees. Because after Hillary Clinton graduated, she was handed a lifelong career in politics. Stein has taken her road the hard way, including releasing four folk albums. She plays conga drums on all four. Jill Stein is aware of Bernie Sanders Do you guys remember Bernie Sanders? Jill Stein does. In fact, when shes not tweeting petitions to get on the Daily Show (which is a brilliant thing I should have thought of instead of submitting a writers packet like a dummy) shes tweeting about Bernie Sanders, or things related to him. In fact, most of Jills slow burn roll out of her plans for our Future involved the name Bernie Sanders. When she was nominated as the Green Party candidate, she said his name more than 14,000 times. I didnt actually count, but it was there a lot, and I liked that, because I like Bernie Sanders. I dont know what Bernie Sanders really has to do with a Jill Stein White House, but hes a good man who didnt deserve to be murdered in cold blood by Hillary Clinton and if Jill playing congas and invoking his name brings his soul back to this plane, Im all for it. Jill Stein demand things that sound totally awesome Jill Stein wants to make a lot of cool things a reality, like forgiving all student debt, making colleges free, releasing non-violent drug offenders from prison, and more. She is literally the only person currently running who wants any of these things. The difference between Stein and say, Obama, is that Obama barely got anything done. Did you see it when he tried to pass the Affordable Care Act? Talk about a Mr. Magoo! Forget about opposition, branch checks and balances and necessary compromises and just make all of the healthcare happen! Jill Stein doesnt play like that. She is just going to make these things happen, and most likely on the first day of her presidency. How? Because shes an outsider. And because shes got my vote. Unless my cat shows an interest in politics, in which case its Stewart 2016 for the White House. Joe Starr is a writer and comedian with an album called Heroic Effort on Bandcamp and a funny book about pro wrestling called Leg Drop at Devastator. Follow him on Twitter. Celebrity Parenting Round-Up: Vaccines and Diapers are Bad, Gwyneth's Life Is Hard | Unboxing Is the Most Inexplicably Popular Fad On YouTube NEW OPENINGS The Magnificent Seven 132 min.; PG-13 (extended/intense western violence, smoking, language, suggestive material) Seven gunmen come together to help a poor village against savage thieves. Storks 89 min.; 2-D/3-D; PG (mild language, thematic elements) A stork accidentally delivers a parcel package instead of the baby ordered. ONGOING Bad Moms 101 min.; R (sexual material, full frontal nudity, language throughout, drug/ alcohol content) Three overworked moms leave their families for an odyssey into no-holds-barred freedom. Blair Witch 89 min.; R (language, terror, disturbing images) A group of friends heads into the notorious "Blair Witch" forest in search of a lost sibling. Bridget Jones' Baby 122 min.; R (language, sex references, nudity) After Bridget breaks with Mark Darcy, she takes up with a dashing American visitor. Don't Breathe 88 min.; R (terror, violence, disturbing content, language, sexual references) Friends plot to rob a wealthy blind man, not realizing he's a serial killer. Hell or High Water 102 min.; R (strong violence, language throughout, sexuality) A divorced dad and his ex-con brother scheme to save their family's farm in West Texas. Hillsong: Let Hope Rise 103 min.; PG (thematic elements) Documentary on Australian band Hillsong and its rise to prominence as an international church. Mr. Church 104 min.; PG-13 (thematic elements) A little girl and her dying mother retain the services of a talented cook, creating a lasting family bond. Pete's Dragon 102 min.; 2-D/3-D; PG (action, peril, brief language) The adventures of an orphaned boy and his best friend, who happens to be a dragon. Snowden 134 min.; R (language, sexuality, nudity) NSA employee Edward Snowden leaks thousands of classified documents to the press. Suicide Squad 130 min.; 2-D/3-D; PG-13 (violence/action throughout, disturbing behavior, suggestive content, language) Imprisoned super-villains are recruited to execute dangerous missions in exchange for clemency. Sully 96 min.; PG-13 (peril, brief strong language) Pilot Chesley Sullenberger becomes a hero after safely landing his disabled passenger plane in the Hudson River. When the Bough Breaks 107 min.; PG-13 (violence, sexuality, partial nudity, thematic elements, disturbing images, language) A surrogate mom becomes dangerously obsessed with the soon-to-be father. AT THE NORMAL City of Gold 96 min.; R (language) A documentary portrait of Los Angeles restaurant critic Jonathan Gold's universe. (Sept. 22, 24) Sunset Song 135 min.; R (sexuality, nudity, violence) The daughter of a Scottish farmer comes of age in the early 1900s. (Sept. 23, 25) House Party 100 min.; R (language, sexual material) Despite being grounded by his father, a teen sneaks out of the house to attend a wild party. (Sept. 23) Time Bandits 110 min.; PG (fantasy violence and images) A young boy accidentally joins a band of time-traveling dwarfs. (Sept. 24) Hunt for the Wilderpeople 101 min.; PG-13 (thematic elements, violent content, language) A manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the New Zealand bush. (Sept. 25) Double Indemnity 101 min.; unrated An insurance salesman plots with a bored L.A. housewife to do away with her husband. (Sept. 28) NORMAL Amanda Coleman traveled all the way from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Illinois State University to tell her story of resilience, forgiveness and healing. She was one of 52 books who shared their stories Wednesday as part of the Human Library project. The others covered topics from depression to rape to immigration. Coleman, 47, was only 18 months old when she lost most of the sight in her left eye and entered the foster care system in Canada. It wasn't until she was 15 that she learned the injury was caused by her mother, who had mental health problems and had stabbed her in the eye. Sitting around a table in the Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom, students listened intently as Coleman talked about the challenges she faced, including not only her injured eye but also years spent in foster care. Coleman gave three presentations. Katie Pratt of ISU's University College, which oversees the program, said this is the third year ISU has used the Human Library project for freshman and transfer student courses. It has grown from 30 "books" to more than 50. While researching human libraries, with the intent to just watch, Pratt came across ISU's project and the opportunity to take part as a book. Coleman shared her story through words and images, including an altered book she is creating. An altered book is a form of mixed media that transforms an actual book into a piece of art. In Coleman's case, her idea is to use altered books to relate life experiences. The idea is part of a master's thesis on which she is working that will involve school children creating altered books of their experiences. She also brought eye patches for the students to try to help them understand what it's like not to have vision in one eye. While at least one student in the afternoon session tried the patch, a few nervously fingered them but did not put them on. Near the start of her book, which she called, The Girl with the Injured Eye, Coleman included an image of the back of a piece of fabric she picked up while traveling in Afghanistan. It's messy and chaotic and sometimes life is like that, Coleman said. But there's a profound beauty to it. Coleman went through a period of trying to disguise my injured eye even requesting that a doctor remove it and replace it with a glass eye. The doctor refused because she still had some limited vision. Coleman said she came to realize, what I think is a flaw in me, people don't even notice. She began to see her left eye as this resilient part of myself. My eye is my source of my inner strength now. She met her mother when she was 12 and said, "She deserves healing in this lifetime as well." Freshman Lori Michelsen of Burbank liked the symbolism of the Afghan fabric and said, I was fascinated by her story." Kailee Ross, a freshman from Naperville, said after the presentation, I can't even imagine having to go through what she went through. Ross said it was a reminder that you don't really know all the struggles that people go through. BLOOMINGTON Mayor Tari Renner hopes to use his trip to Cuba next month to renew relations with two sister cities in the island nation that until recently had been closed to most Americans for more than 50 years. Renner is traveling with a group of about 20 Illinois municipal leaders for an Oct. 8-15 trip of learning and cultural exchanges, official meetings and business visits in Cuba. Global Relations Travel, a travel club started by former Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford, is organizing the trip. Renner, a political science professor at Illinois Wesleyan University, said he is using a combination of funding sources including $1,600 from IWU, a little more than $2,000 from the city and $500 of his own money to pay for the trip, which may cost about $4,500. "There are multiple purposes for the trip and multiple benefits, so I thought this was a fair way to go about it," said Renner. The trip benefits the city because of its sister-city program in Cuba, "and we want to tap into the economic market," said Renner. Despite trade and travel embargoes with Cuba since the 1960s the Twin Cities started sister-city relationships with two towns in 2003. Caibarien and Remedios are in the province of Villa Clara, about 200 miles east of Havana. Renner said he wants to go to the sister cities and meet with their officials. "It would be great to establish contact with their political leaders, business leaders and educational leaders," said Renner. "We might be able to send students to Cuba and have their students come here. "Perhaps as markets open up, hopefully there will be some economic interaction, too," he said. "Cuba is a brand new market for the United States." In April 2003, Gary Hoover was among members of Cubamigos Sister City Association of Bloomington-Normal who traveled to Cuba to sign the sister-city agreements. The group had planned to travel to Cuba once a year to foster cultural exchange programs, but contact stopped in 2004. "Our government stopped allowing programs like ours to go to Cuba," said Hoover. "So we could no longer get a government license to go over there. The association still exists, but "we haven't done much because we've been unable to have contact with our counterparts in Cuba," said Hoover. "We have to get contact with the administration of both (Cuban) cities," he added. "Once we get that re-established then we can start doing people-to-people exchanges." Bloomington approved its sister-city relationship in February 2003 with Caibarien; Normal approved its relationship with Remedios the next month. Bloomington and Normal also have sister-city partnerships in England, Russia and Japan. For the upcoming trip, the Illinois Municipal League assisted in scheduling various meetings with Cuban officials, said IML Executive Director Brad Cole. Other than Havana, Ill., Mayor Brenda Stadsholt, who is interested in forming a sister-city relationship with Cuba's capital city, Cole said he did not know the other local officials making the trip. Normal Mayor Chris Koos said he will not be among them. If you're arrested, whether you stay in jail is largely determined by what you (allegedly) did and where you did it. In McLean County, more likely than not, you'll stay in a cell unless you can pay a higher bond. The change comes as McLean County participates in a statewide pilot program on establishing a uniform bond evaluation. Judges are setting fewer lower and personal recognizance bails based on information in the evaluations, so more defendants are staying in jail. Misdemeanor and felony charges are classified by their level of severity, with the highest level, Class X, reserved for the most serious. Convictions for a misdemeanor can bring as little as a fine, with a Class X felony carrying a possible prison term of six to 30 years and more if certain factors come into play. Bail, the amount a person arrested must pay for release from custody, is similarly structured, with judges given discretion with a framework of rules. Often, defendants can post 10 percent of the bail amount, plus a court fee of $35. In some courts, judges also allow "PR" or "I" bonds, which are personal recognizance or individual bonds. Those involve no money, basically just a written promise the person will return for the next court appearance. Obviously, lower bonds and PR bonds are the least expensive, and thus easiest, to post. But for those who cannot come up with the fee, the only alternative is to stay in custody and that can lead to a higher jail population. In the pilot program, judges are provided an evaluation form from court services that asks the same questions of all defendants. The answers, and the charge, determine a recommendation on bond and whether the person is an appropriate candidate for release. One local judge has opened her calendar to allow for more bond-reduction hearings, giving attorneys and defendants an opportunity to plead their cases for a lower amount. The state's attorney's office reviewed the inmate list to see if there were prisoners whose offenses were so minor that they could be released (one was; he was charged with failing to show up in court on another charge). McLean County has worked hard to reduce its inmate population over the last several years. Some inmates were jailed, rather than hospitalized, because of mental health issues; others could have been released into monitored programs; still others stayed at the jail because of a lack of space in Illinois prisons. The Illinois justice system has a lot of places where work is needed. In getting it addressed, other problems will arise. McLean County is working on jail expansion that will provide enough space for all the prisoners it houses, as well as space for inmates with mental health needs. But until it's built, our county may need to pay to house defendants in other counties unless a review of the standardized bond evaluation addresses the process that has increased the recent spike in jail census. Voith to Supply New Tissue Machine to CMPC Sept. 22, 2016 - Voith Paper said that it will supply a complete VTM 4 double-width tissue machine to CMPC, which will be installed in a new production facility of CMPC subsidiary Protisa in Canete, Peru. The scope of supply covers the entire machine and provides energy-efficient technologies, including equipment for the approach flow system, MasterJet T headbox, CrescentFormer, NipcoFlex T shoe press, MasterReel reeler with automatic spool change, DCS (Distributed Control System), MCS (Machine Control System) and QCS (Quality Control System) automation systems, as well as the machine's whole start up process. The project will be supplied in the PLP (Process Line Package) mode, in which Voith is responsible for contracting and managing the supply of all the equipment and services necessary for the operation of the machine. The machine, which is designed to produce 55,000 metric tons per year and operate at a speed of 2,000 meters per minute, is scheduled to start up in the first half of 2017. Voith Paper, a division of the Voith Group, offers new machines for the production of graphic papers, board and packaging grades, specialty or tissue papers. The company also offers rebuilds, and pulp and paper related products and services. For more information, visit www.voithpaper.com. SOURCE: Voith Paper "Game of Thrones" only has two seasons left before it says goodbye from the air for good. The seventh season of the highly popular HBO drama will premiere in the summer of 2017, and details about the upcoming episodes have already been revealed. Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark in the series, has an ominous warning for viewers -- Season 7 of "Game of Thrones" will have major character deaths. Turner said that "not all of us" will make it into the eighth and final season of "Game of Thrones," Variety reported. The 20-year-old actress said sadness wraps around the whole crew as the show is nearing its end, adding that more people are "hanging around Belfast a bit longer to be around each other and be in each other's presence." Belfast, Ireland is one of the show's shooting locations. Turner's Sansa got reunited with her brother, Jon Snow (Kit Harington), before Season 6 of "Game of Thrones" ended. Together, the siblings defeated -- and killed -- Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) and reclaimed House Stark's traditional home, Winterfell. Turner said fans should watch out for Sansa's Season 7 arc, saying that you "don't really know what's going on with her this season." The actress said the "Game of Thrones" creative team is trying to work out where Sansa's loyalties lie and whether "she is going to pull through and be a true Stark or not." Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who portrays Jaime Lannister, revealed that the last two seasons of "Game of Thrones" will reunite many characters that haven't seen or interacted with each other for years. This move was already seen in Sansa and Jon meeting up in Season 6 and it will happen more as the series progresses. The "Game of Thrones" cast didn't hold back when it comes to sharing their thoughts about the upcoming season. Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen, recently revealed that she was rendered "speechless" after reading the scripts for Season 7, describing it as "unbelievable" and "crazy," Parent Herald previously reported. Maisie Williams, who portrays Arya Stark, tweeted last month that "nothing will prepare" fans for what they're about to watch. A big battle spectacle is also being cooked for "Game of Thrones" Season 7. Rumors claimed that the huge fight will be between Daenerys' Unsullied-Dothraki army versus the Lannisters and Euron Greyjoy's (Pilou Asbaek) Ironborn force. There are speculations that Euron will kill one of the Sand Snakes in Season 7. The Brad Pitt-Marion Cotillard starrer, "Allied," is hitting U.S. theaters on Nov. 23. The movie's premise might look familiar to fans of Brad Pitt and his soon-to-be ex-wife Angelina Jolie, as "Allied" is a lot like the former couple's first movie together, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." Set during World War II, "Allied" is about spies who meet, fall in love, then become husband and wife, per Slash Film. But their union begins to have cracks when they realize that they could be double-crossing each other as spies, as the war breaks out in London. "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," which was released in 2005, was also about spies. Like "Allied," the main characters were married to each other, then turned against each other. It was in this movie that Brad and Angelina fell in love in real life, causing the breakdown of Brad Pitt's marriage to Jennifer Aniston back then. Page Six alluded that similar to what went on in the "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" set, the actor had an affair with Marion Cotillard while doing "Allied." The news outlet suggested that this is actually why Angelina Jolie is now seeking a divorce. However, Cotillard's camp is denying the allegations, citing that she's committed to her long-time partner Guillaume Canet. As the Angelina Jolie-Brad Pitt divorce is becoming the focus of headlines, Vulture wonders what Paramount would do to promote "Allied" given the circumstances. With the actors' real life problems coming into play, will Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard be making the press rounds together? News about the high-profile Hollywood divorce came at a time when "Allied's" first TV spot was scheduled to drop on NBC. However, the 60-second TV ad for the movie was long planned by Paramount, per The Hollywood reporter. It was coincidence that Brad Pitt's wife decided to tell the world about their divorce on the same day. "Allied" also stars Lizzy Caplan, Matthew Goode, Jared Harris, Charlotte Hope and Raffey Cassidy. The movie is directed by Robert Zemeckis. Watch the teaser to "Allied" below. A 9-year-old boy is starting his first semester in college this school year. Will Maillis, who hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has enlisted at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) on a full schedule to get him accustomed to college life. His goal is to actually earn an astrophysics degree at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where he plans to become the first to discover life in outer space. A dean from CCA confirms that Will Maillis is excelling in all the classes he's enrolled. To say that 9-year-old boy is a fast learner might be an understatement. His father, Peter Maillis, said that his son started "speaking sentences" by the time he was seven months old only, per CBS Pittsburgh KDKA. By the time Will Maillis turned 2-years-old, he was doing multiplications. Then he learned the Chinese alphabet by the time he turned 5-years-old and soon became a linguist. The Post-Gazette reported that the boy knows French, Greek, Hebrew and Spanish. Next September, the 9-year-old college kid is heading to CMU, which specializes in science courses. He would have gone this year, except that his parents believed he should be taking a break after graduating high school at Penn-Tafford last May. But on the advice of friends, Will was enrolled at the community college so he could begin getting used to life as a college student. Will Maillis hopes to take up astrophysics at CMU, to potentially find life in other planets. "It's statistically impossible for there to be no life on any other planet in the universe," he said in the KDKA report. Meanwhile, if anyone is thinking that the 9-year-old college kid has a pretty rigid life, his parents say that Will does normal things kids his age enjoy. "He likes sports, television shows, the computer and video games like everyone else," his dad said. On that note, Will Maillis is a lot like an average 9-year-old kid. Get to know more about Will Maillis in the video below. Lupita Nyong'O has been getting a lot of praises and awards for her performance in "Queen of Katwe" as the young mother of the child who became a chess prodigy in Africa. "Queen of Katwe" is based on the book "The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster." It is based on the real life story of the Ugandan chess champion Phiona Mutesi. During the Hollywood premiere of "Queen of Katwe" at the El Capitan Theater, Nyong'O was interviewed by E! News and she said that she did not know anything about Mutesi and her story until she got the script for the Disney movie. Nyong'O noted that she was reading the first 10 pages of the script and she was already hooked noting that the story of Mutesi blew her away. Nyong'O continued to say that she decided to do "Queen of Katwe" because it was not like the story coming out of the African continent. She regarded "Queen of Katwe" as heartfelt, funny, true, and uplifting. As for her role as a young mother in "Queen of Katwe," Nyong'O said that she was really keen on trying the role of a mother because it is something she has never done before. She said that she loved the idea of the challenged and realized that being a mother is hard work. The Oscar award-winning actress even shared that she apologized to her mother a lot since she made "Queen of Katwe." Aside from Nyong'O, another star of "Queen of Katwe" was present at the Hollywood premiere. USA Today reported that David Oyelowo was present and he brought his family with him. The "Selma" actor said that she also did not know anything about Mutesi but found that the story is incredible. He noted that no one knows where Katwe, Uganda is despite Mutesi being a chess champion. Oyelowo said that "Queen of Katwe" is different because it is a positive movie. "Queen of Katwe" will be out in theaters this September 23. Feeding babies solid foods may be scary for some parents. There's the fear that the child will choke on the food after getting used to liquids. But when is it really okay to start feeding babies solid foods? According to a new study conducted by researchers from New Zealand and recently published in the journal Pediatrics, it's alright to feed solid foods to babies between 4 and 6 months old, and it will not cause more choking than traditionally spoon-feeding infants with purees. The American Academy of Pediatrics' previous recommendation for feeding solids to babies was at least 8 months old. This approach, also called as baby-led weaning, begins once babies are ready to advance from the breast or bottle. Those soft foods include asparagus and bananas instead of purees. The baby-led weaning approach reportedly makes the infants become less picky in food and helps them avoid obesity as they grow up. Dr. Christina Canody, a pediatrician from Tampa, Florida, does not agree with the baby-led weaning approach. She said babies show when they are "developmentally ready" to eat solid foods, which occurs when the infant is capable of sitting up by themselves, ABC Action News reports. Other signs that a baby is ready for solid food are when he/she can hold his/her head up, sits well in a highchair, makes chewing motions, displays interest in food, and when he/she gains double its birth weight and weighs at least 13 pounds, the BabyCenter listed. Babies are also ready for solid foods when they can close their mouth around a spoon, when they can move food and their tongues back and forth in their mouths and when they are starting to stop pushing food out of their mouths using their tongue. Canody said parents should be vigilant when it comes to feeding their babies. Foods that can be mashed with the back of a fork can be fed to babies because they can mash it with their tongue, too. Foods that can't be mashed on the roof of the mouth using the tongue are nuts, grapes, raw apple and vegetables, popcorn, and foods that were cut into coin shapes such as carrots and sausages, as listed via CNN. These foods can cause gagging or choking in months-old babies, with the latter more threatening because it involves the airways being blocked. Rumors abound that indicate Samsung might be in the middle of testing out Google's new Android 7.0 Nougat operating system for its new line of devices, with some speculating that the system might be rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy S7 and its S7 Edge cousin soon. GSM Arena reported on the possibility of the Android 7.0 Nougat coming to the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge, with information shared by The Android Soul. A series of screenshots of listings of benchmarking tests were leaked, with the details indicating they were done on the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge. One of the screenshots indicated it was done on a Samsung device with a SM-G935F model designation, and running on the Android 7.0 Nougat. The model series designation for the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is SM-G935x, with the final digit differing between carriers and regions, so the benchmark screenshot is definitely for a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge device. Another screenshot featured the model number SM-G930F, with SM-G930x being the series model designation for the Galaxy S7, so it means testing for the base Samsung Galaxy S7 is also ongoing as well. The Samsung Galaxy S7 family currently run on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow, though it seems like Samsung is getting ready to change that by testing the Android 7.0 Nougat. When the Android 7.0 Nougat was released in late August by Google, Android engineers indicated it would be coming first to the Nexus devices. Now, it seems that Samsung is aiming to get its phones next in line by testing the operating system out on both the Galaxy S7 and the S7 Edge. Though the testing does not yet indicate any concrete prospect, Samsung following through on installing the Android 7.0 Nougat on the Galaxy S7 will also bring good tidings to owners of older Samsung devices. As the company usually follows a two-year or two-major update plan for any device line, even the Galaxy S6 might very well receive the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system update as well. Pregnant moms who got an immunization against the H1N1 virus in the period of first three months of pregnancy are not likely to bear higher perils of birth deficiencies, as of a research performed by Swedish researchers. The research was headed by Dr. Jonas Ludvigsson, a doctor from the Department of Medical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institute at Stockholm, Sweden. For the research, Ludvigsson's team examined the peril of birth deficiencies in 40,983 kids of moms who were given the H1N1 vaccine, Pandemrix, while pregnant. Out of 40,983 kids who participated in the research, 7,502 kids were laid bare to Pandemrix during the initial eight weeks of pregnancy, and 14,385 of the kids were exposed in their first 8 weeks. The researchers then compared the exposed children to unexposed kids, most of them brothers or sisters. Based on the findings, birth defects was detected in 2,037 (4.97 percent) exposed kids and 9,443 (4.78 percent) unexposed kids. After comparing the findings of both exposed and unexposed kids, the researchers did not find trivial risk differences. "Results for most of the specific malformations also were not statistically significant, although some estimates were imprecise," the researchers explained via Medscape. However, researchers were not able to fully analyze the relation between the H1N1 vaccine and any certain kind of congenital malformation. Although it is certainly good news, further research still needs to be carried out to completely know the effects of the H1N1 pandemic flu vaccine during pregnancy. Overall the findings show that vaccination against H1N1 flu during pregnancy did NOT seem to be associated to overall birth defects in babies, though risk advances for certain malformations could not be identified completely. Examining risks for vaccines given during the first eight weeks of pregnancy is really important as this is when the early organ development transpires to agents that could cause congenital malfunction, Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician-gynecologist in New York City, explained in a report via WebMD. "NCIS: New Orleans" has just returned for its third season this week, and it is set to welcome another star. "General Hospital" alum Brianna Brown reveals she has started filming for an episode. Meanwhile, NOLA bosses talk about some exciting changes to watch out this season, particularly with the addition of new series regular Vanessa Ferlito. Brianna Brown, who played as the dangerous psycho Lisa Niles in the daytime soap "General Hospital," posted on her Twitter page about her new gig. The post captured the title page of the "NCIS: New Orleans" Season 3 script, which she captioned, "In #NewOrleans prepping for my first day on my latest gig!" Based on the image, she will appear in the episode titled "One Good Man," written by Gwendolyn Parker and directed by Robert Greenlea. There were no further details about her role and the said episode is also yet to get an airing schedule. Meanwhile, "NCIS: New Orleans" Season 3 is going to see some exciting changes, and one of the major ones is the role of the newcomer Vanessa Ferlito, who plays FBI Special Agent Tammy Gregorio. Agent Tammy was sent from Washington, D.C., to investigate the issue related to Homeland Security Agent John Russo (Ivan Sergei) being a mole. Executive producer Christopher Silber told Parade.com, "At first she's rivals with our team, but she becomes part of the team, temporarily at least, and she's bringing a new energy to the show that we're really excited about." Creator Gary Glasberg also noted the kind of energy that Ferlito brings that would make the team more dynamic. Aside from Vanessa Ferlito's casting in "NCIS: New Orleans" Season 3, Christopher Silber also dished that they are beginning to showcase each episode as a little movie itself, starting off with the episode dealing with a sniper on they had to catch. Silber also said they are trying to expand in some ways that would bring more fun and humor to the show. Catch "NCIS: New Orleans" Season 3 in its new timeslot every Tuesday at 10 p.m. on CBS. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions . . . and Against Primary / Secondary Doctrines How much more does Protestantism have to branch out into yet more sectarianism; more sects and denominations, before its system and rule of faith is to be questioned, having produced such chaos? Photograph by aitoff (6-5-16) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] ***** (8-18-06) ***** [Bible passages: RSV] *** Our Protestant brethren tell us that denominationalism is not condemned in Scripture, and that St. Paul allowed disagreement on secondary doctrines the minor issues over which todays denominations disagree. But virtually nothing is more strongly and repeatedly condemned in the Bible than divisions, sectarianism, and denominationalism. The Bible teaches that there is one Church only, with one truth and one unified apostolic tradition. Doctrinal contradiction of any sort is absolutely at odds with biblical teaching, which repeatedly urges unity and forbids divisions of any kind among Christians. Our Lord Jesus prayed at the Last Supper for Christians to be one even as we [the Father and the son] are one and perfectly one (Jn. 17:22-23) and viewed the Church as being one flock with one shepherd (Jn. 10:16). St. Luke described the earliest Christians as being of one heart and soul (Acts 4:32). St. Peter warned about false teachers among Christians, who would secretly bring in destructive heresies, which go against the way of truth (2 Pet. 2:1-2). St. Paul, above all, repeatedly condemns dissensions and difficulties (Rom. 16:17), quarreling (1 Cor. 1:11), jealousy and strife (1 Cor. 3:3), divisions and factions (1 Cor. 11:18-19), discord (1 Cor. 12:25), enmity and party spirit (Gal. 5:20), and calls for Christians to be united in the same mind and the same judgment (1 Cor. 1:10; cf. Phil. 2:2). He expressly condemns party affiliations associated with persons (1 Cor. 1:12-13: Is Christ divided?; cf. 3:4-7). His strong teaching on this topic is well summed up in the following two passages (emphases added): 1 Timothy 6:3-5 If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. Titus 3:9-11 But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned. A Protestant might further object by arguing that the entirety of Romans chapter 14 teaches that Christians can disagree with each other. In that passage, Paul writes, Let everyone be fully convinced in his own mind (14:5). Doesnt this suggest that Christians are allowed a wide latitude in what they can believe, provided they agree on the most important, fundamental doctrines? There are (so we are told) central, primary, essential doctrines, and others that are optional and secondary. I reply that Romans 14 isnt a proof text for doctrinal diversity because it has nothing to do with doctrine in the first place, but rather matters of practice: such as what is proper to eat (14:2-3: Let not him who eats despise him who abstains; 14:14-17: For the kingdom of God is not food and drink) and esteeming one day as better than another (14:5). As to the general notion of essential or central and secondary doctrines, this is an unbiblical distinction. Nowhere in Scripture do we find any implication that some things pertaining to doctrine and theology were optional, while others had to be believed. Jesus urged us to observe all that I have commanded you (Matt. 28:19), without distinguishing between lesser and more central doctrines. Likewise, St. Paul regards Christian Tradition as of one piece; not an amalgam of permissible competing theories: the tradition that you received from us (2 Thess. 3:6); the truth which has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 1:14); the doctrine which you have been taught (Rom. 16:17); being in full accord and of one mind (Phil. 2:2); stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, (Phil. 1:27). He, like Jesus ties doctrinal unity together with the one God: . . . maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, . . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism, . . . (Eph. 4:3-5). St. Peter also refers to one, unified way of righteousness and the holy commandment delivered to them (2 Pet. 2:21), while St. Jude urges us to contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). Luke 2:42 casually mentions the apostles teaching without any hint that there were competing interpretations of it, or variations of the teaching. Denominations and all that they entail (particularly, doctrinal contradiction or any sort of theological relativism) are thus clearly ruled out by Scripture. Protestant theologian H. Richard Niebuhr (1894-1962) wrote: Denominationalism thus represents the moral failure of Christianity. And unless the ethics of brotherhood can gain the victory over this divisiveness within the body of Christ it is useless to expect it to be victorious in the world. But before the church can hope to overcome its fatal division it must learn to recognize and to acknowledge the secular character of its denominationalism. (The Social Sources of Denominationalism, New York: The World Publishing Co. / Meridian Books, 1957; originally 1929, 25) ***** Meta Description: Denominationalism as a concept in Christian ecclesiology cannot be squared with biblical teaching: no way no how. Iran: Ailing Reformist Journalist's Prison Sentence Reduced 09/22/16 Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran Prominent reformist journalist Issa Saharkhizs prison sentence has been reduced based on Article 134 of the New Islamic Penal Code, his lawyer, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaee, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Additional Charge Against Issa Saharkhiz Remains Pending Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court changed its ruling against my client from three years in prison to 21 months, said Tabatabaee. Given his health condition, we will request conditional release for Mr. Saharkhiz. Were hopeful that he will be freed soon. Tabatabaee added that Saharkhiz is still facing the charge of insulting the judiciary chief and the president, but it remains unclear how or when he would be put on another trial. Saharkhiz, three other journalists and the brother of an Iranian dissident journalist were all arrested on November 2, 2015 during a wave of arrests by the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization. They were accused of being part of a foreign-instigated infiltration plot to spread anti-Iranian propaganda. Saharkhiz has been hospitalized-after being denied timely medical treatment-for severe heart disease since March 9, 2016. Political prisoners in Iran are singled out for particularly harsh treatment, which often includes denial of medical care. On August 8, 2016 Judge Mohammad Moghisseh of Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced Saharkhiz to three years in prison for propaganda against the state and insulting the supreme leader. We did not appeal the verdict, but the same court reduced the sentence to 21 months based on Article 134 of the New Islamic Penal Code, said Tabatabaee. In cases involving convictions on multiple charges, Article 134 allows for only the longest sentence to be served. The court insists my father insulted the supreme leader but [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali] Khamenei has often said that no one should be punished for saying or writing something against him, said Saharkhizs son, Mehdi Saharkhiz, in an interview with the Campaign. According to the Islamic Republics Constitution, my father should be immediately released from prison because no citizen can be imprisoned for expressing his or her opinion, he added. My father has done nothing wrong; he only expressed his views. Mehdi Saharkhiz said his father was charged with insulting the supreme leader for referring in his memoirs to Rajaee Shahr Prison as Casino Seyyed Ali. In a letter written a day before Issa Saharkhizs hospitalization (published on his sons Facebook page), he wrote: Most of the time Im held in solitary confinement, which is the very definition of white torture. If another person came into my cell, it was only to take care of me for all the various diseases Im suffering from. I have frequently fallen down in my cell, in the cafeteria and in the courtyard because of low blood pressure. Saharkhiz previously spent nearly five years in prison for publishing political commentaries critical of the widely disputed results of Irans 2009 presidential election. He previously served in President Mohammed Khatamis reformist administration (1997-2005) as head of the press department at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. UN aid covers less than 3% of Iran's spending on refugees: Interior Minister 09/22/16 Source: Press TV The Iranian interior minister says the UN has failed to provide Tehran with sufficient aid to help the country cover the expenses of the services it is offering to refugees on its soil, particularly Afghan nationals. Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli made the remarks in a Tuesday meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi in New York. Refugees of War (cartoon by Payam Borumand, Iranian daily Shargh) The Iranian minister traveled to New York to attend the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Refugees and Migrants, which addresses large movements of refugees and migrants. Rahmani-Fazli further voiced Iran's concern over the situation of illegal migrants, which has created many problems for both the Iranian government and people. "The United Nations and relevant international institutions should provide the Afghan government with more serious" assistance so it can organize and secure the repatriation of its nationals, he added. Foreign assistance to Iran only covers less than three percent of its expenses in dealing with the refugees it is sheltering, said Rahmani-Fazli, urging international aid bodies to take more responsibility "in providing the required expenditure to take care of the healthcare, medical, educational and food costs of refugees and displaced people." Iran has been hosting large numbers of Afghan refugees, who fled wars and conflicts in their country. In recent years, Tehran has been urging the Afghan nationals to return home voluntarily to contribute to the reconstruction of their homeland. More than 350,000 Afghan refugee children are now going to school in Iran while some 48,000 undocumented Afghan children were allowed last year to enroll for the first time in Iranian public schools, according to UNHCR. Afghan refugee boys in Iran (file photo by UNHCR) Fazli called for efforts to restore security to the countries grappling with terror groups and help them improve their economic conditions as the only "realistic" approach towards stemming mass migrations and displacements. For his part, Grandi said his observations during a visit to Iran in June showed that the country's attitude towards refugees "is a model in the world." Also on Tuesday, the Iranian interior minister met with Swiss Head of the Department of Justice and Police Simonetta Sommaruga as well as Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. Iran's Nuclear Program and International Law 09/22/16 By Peter Jenkins (source: LobeLog) Iran's Nuclear Program and International Law: From Confrontation to Accord Author: Professor Daniel H. Joyner Publisher: Oxford University Press (September 29, 2016) Anyone who took an interest in the diplomatic twists and turns that finally resulted in last years Iran nuclear agreement (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA) are likely to enjoy Irans Nuclear Program and International Law by Daniel H. Joyner, professor of law at the University of Alabama. So are those who are unfamiliar with the details of that diplomatic saga but are curious to understand why 12 years elapsed between the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reporting that Iran had failed to comply with some of the IAEA safeguards obligations and members of the UN Security Council (including the United States) welcoming the JCPOA and expressing a desire to build a new relationship with Iran. Professor Joyners main purpose is to describe and analyze the positions adopted by Iran, on the one hand, and the United States and its European allies, on the other, in relation to key aspects of international nuclear non-proliferation law and the UN Charter. He also sheds light on the subtle semantic distinctions that determine whether UN Security Council injunctions are or are not legally binding. He concludes most of the analytical sections of his work by justifying a preference for one or other sides case. Iran has the better of that adjudication. The important questions considered by Joyner include: Did Irans IAEA safeguards non-compliance violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)? Were the United States and allies on firm legal ground when they denied an Iranian right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes? Was the IAEA entitled to claim a right, under Irans safeguards agreement, to verify the non-existence of undeclared nuclear material and to investigate a possible military dimension? Which of the demands made of Iran by the UN Security Council, in resolutions adopted between 2006 and 2010, were of a legally-binding nature? Joyners answers to these questions are both well informed and, in some cases, quite surprising. The United States, for instance, was not on firm legal ground in denying Iran the right to pursue uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes-and Irans safeguards non-compliance was of a procedural character and therefore did not amount to a violation of the NPT. However, rather than spoiling readers intellectual pleasure by spelling out the answers, I will, instead, take the opportunity to mount a few of the hobbyhorses that the answers have brought to mind. Secret Nuclear Weapon Production Plant? Joyner explains why in August 2002 Iran was under no obligation to declare the enrichment facility under construction at Natanz. August 2002 was when an Iranian opposition group outed the facility and claimed it to be a secret nuclear weapon production plant. Irans safeguards agreement required declaration only 180 days before the introduction of material. In August 2002 the facility was at least a year away from a fit state for the introduction of material. In August 2002 I was one of those who believed that Iran had had no intention of declaring the Natanz facility. With the benefit of hindsight, I came later to realize the foolishness of that view. In 2000 Iran had declared and placed under safeguards a facility to produce large quantities of UF6, the feed-material for enriching uranium. To declare that facility and then fail to declare an enrichment facility that was complementary in scale would have made no sense and entailed high risks. And both facilities were far larger than would be natural for the covert production of nuclear weapon material. Unfortunately, in 2002-03 few, if any, of us in Vienna reasoned in that way. Instead we swallowed the secret nuclear weapon production plant claim. This must have pleased John Bolton, then assistant secretary at the State Department, whom I suspect of having inspired the claim. In 2002-03 his ambition was to get a safeguards non-compliance finding and report to the UN Security Council out of the IAEA as quickly as possible and use the Security Council to get authorization for the use of force to close down Irans nuclear program, with a spot of regime change thrown in perhaps - all this on behalf of Israel, needless to say. Luckily the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom came together to thwart that ambition. Irans Missile Program Joyner makes plain why the legal restrictions on Irans ballistic missile program that the Security Council imposed in 2010 lapsed on January 16 this year (JCPOA Implementation Day). UNSC resolution 2231 of 20 July 2015 calls upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons... Those of us who have been on the receiving end of Security Council injunctions know that calls upon is an exhortation. It is not a verbal expression that the Council uses when it intends to create a legally binding obligation under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. All in Congress who claim that Irans missile program violates international law, and use this to justify a demand for further US sanctions, should note that. The plain fact is that since January Iran is not violating international law when it develops and tests ballistic missiles-nor is it in any way violating the JCPOA, which does not cover missile development. Those in Congress who are upset with Irans missile developments should be pressing to negotiate an agreement that covers missiles instead of putting at risk the existing nuclear agreement by introducing further sanctions on Iran. Damage to the IAEA Joyner is right to mention in passing the baleful effect on the IAEA of some of the legal controversies that he describes, especially a controversy over the scope of the investigative authority conferred upon the secretariat by Irans safeguards agreement. In their eagerness to put Iran under pressure to abandon uranium enrichment, the United States and allies insisted that Irans safeguards agreement gave the secretariat a right to do far more than verify that declared nuclear material is in peaceful use. This de facto expansion of the IAEAs authority has damaged support for a valuable international organization among those states that do not take instructions from the US government. Joyner puts it this way: The IAEA influence in international affairs is based upon a perception that it is an independent, technical body tasked with supervising states compliance with their safeguards agreements....To the extent that the IAEA is perceived as...acting as an agent for powerful states to achieve their national interests, and using incorrect legal standards in compliance assessments, support among states, particularly in the developing world, will decrease. As a huge fan of the NPT-an international achievement that has exceeded expectations-and an admirer of the IAEA-a jewel in the UN organizational crown-I hope that those powerful states recognize the wisdom of those words and have resolved never to repeat that mistake. About the Author: Peter Jenkins was a British career diplomat for 33 years, following studies at the Universities of Cambridge and Harvard. He served in Vienna (twice), Washington, Paris, Brasilia and Geneva. He specialized in global economic and security issues. His last assignment (2001-06) was that of UK Ambassador to the IAEA and UN (Vienna). Since 2006 he has represented the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, advised the Director of IIASA and set up a partnership, The Ambassador Partnership llp, with former diplomatic colleagues, to offer the corporate sector dispute resolution and solutions to cross-border problems. He was an associate fellow of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy from 2010 to 2012. He writes and speaks on nuclear and trade policy issues.. It's been three years since we last tested iPage, and within that timeframe, the web hosting service has improved in some areas and stagnated in others. iPage offers many attractive features, including a new website builder, outstanding customer service, strong uptime, and low-cost, shared hosting that relies on a single plan with unlimited perks in several key areas. A few flaws remain that make iPage fall short of DreamHost, HostGator, Hostwinds, and other Editors' Choice picks, but it's still a rock-solid web host that's easy on the pockets. Shared Hosting Plans Shared hosting, if you're unfamiliar with the category, is a type of web hosting that sees multiple sites living on a single server. In this roommate situation, sites share the server resources, so a large traffic surge on Site X can, unfortunately, negatively impact Site Y's performance. 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Likewise, our online web chat experience was a fairly straightforward, helpful affair. We waited less than a minute on a weekday afternoon before an iPage support rep fielded our question regarding online shopping cart options. iPage promises a 30-day money back guarantee, and returns your unused fees when you cancel. That's a sweet deal, one that we wish more web hosts would adopt. 5 Things You Need to Know About Web Hosting 5 Things You Need to Know About Web Hosting Good, Straightforward Web Hosting iPage has a lot going for it, including quality plans, robust uptime, and a knowledgeable customer support team, though the lack of monthly subscription plans and cloud- and Windows-based hosting options knock it down a few notches. DreamHost, HostGator, Hostwinds, and our other Editors' Choice picks offer more well-rounded hosting plans. If you're looking for cloud hosting, DreamHost is a fantastic option. Likewise, HostGator is a recommended web host that offers month-to-month plans and excellent dedicated servers. Finally, Hostwinds' reseller and VPS plans are terrific options for small or large businesses. iPage, however, is an extremely cost-friendly hosting option that you should check out if you're on a tight budget. For more on getting started online, read our tips on how to create a website. You should also check out our story on how to register a domain name for your website. iPage Web Hosting 3.5 (Opens in a new window) Check Price (Opens in a new window) Pros Dependable uptime New, easy-to-use website builder software Excellent customer service Generous money-back guarantee View More Cons Lacks Windows-based servers No cloud-based hosting options Zero month-to-month plans The Bottom Line Despite missing a few features that would propel it into the upper echelon, iPage remains a worthy web host thanks to its new website builder, excellent customer service, and strong uptime. A U.S. lawmaker has introduced two bills to protect voting systems from hacking, amid fears that Russian cyber spies may be interfering with this years presidential election. Representative Hank Johnson, a Democrat serving Georgia, is proposing a moratorium on state purchases of electronic voting machines that dont produce a paper trail. His Election Integrity Act, introduced Wednesday, would also prohibit voting systems from being connected to the internet as a way to prevent online tampering. The high-profile hack of the Democratic National Committee publicized in June has citizens worried that U.S. election systems may be vulnerable, Johnson said. The hack of the DNC stole sensitive files that were later leaked online. Although the FBI is investigating the breach, U.S. intelligence officials are reportedly confident that the Russian government was involved. Security experts have also long been warning that some U.S. voting machines are outdated and rife with security holes. This can make them easy to hack or prone to casting ballot errors. We must work to reduce the vulnerability of our crucial voting systems, Johnson said in a statement. His bills were also meant to address well-documented efforts of alleged voter suppression, he added. Johnsons second bill proposes designating U.S. voting systems as critical infrastructure, meaning that the federal government would take a role in protecting it. The countrys electrical grid and banking sector are among those already designated as critical infrastructure. Johnsons bill would also require the Department of Homeland Security to submit a plan to Congress to protect the U.S. election process from threats including cyber terrorism. In addition, it asks that better standards be developed so that citizens can verify their votes. Johnson introduced his bills just weeks after the FBI began warning that hackers had targeted two state election systems. One of those breaches may have involved stealing login credentials from a county official that could have allowed the hackers to delete voter registration records. Johnsons bills are unlikely to pass in Congress this year because legislative activity slows down as the national election approaches. Riverside police would get annual raises of as much as 6 percent or as little as nothing for the next five years under a proposed new contract. Like a contract with firefighters that the City Council approved in June, the deal would move longer-term employees toward paying a share of their pension contribution over the five-year length of the contract. The contracts total cost is estimated at up to $7 million, according to a city report, but the actual cost will depend on the size of annual raises, which in turn depends on the citys financial health. The Riverside Police Officers Association is expected to count its members ballots Thursday, Sept. 22, association President Brian Smith said. The City Council will vote on the contract Tuesday, Sept. 27. Theres risk and reward in it, Smith said of the proposal. If the city does well financially, then well do well financially. The union was willing to agree to potentially no raises because money is tight now, and if nothing changes the city wouldnt have money to pay for raises anyway, Smith said. In that event, the association would have to go back to the bargaining table and either agree to delay promised increases or accept budget cuts, he said. Police could also do very well if city revenues rise. City Manager John Russo said in exchange for the zero-raise floor, the union got a higher cap 6 percent on possible raises. City firefighters were promised increases as low as 2 percent and as high as 5 percent in a contract the council approved in July. One major factor in determining public safety workers raises could be Measure Z, a sales tax increase on the Nov. 8 ballot. If voters approve it, workers would likely get raises toward the higher end of the agreed-upon range. The union is backing Measure Z, as are the Riverside City Firefighters Association and Service Employees International Union Local 721, which represents most non-safety employees. Smith said the bulk of any raises police get would go toward pensions and health care costs. The police contract also gradually increases the percentage that long-term employees pay toward pension costs, but only if they get raises that offset the contribution. Newer workers already pay most or all of the employee share, but the city was paying the entire pension contribution for those with longer tenure. Russo said if the sales tax measure fails, the city would still be able to afford employee contracts because the lowest potential raises are not outrageous amounts. The city is still negotiating with the SEIU, Russo said, and he expects to reach an agreement with that union soon. Contact the writer: 951-368-9461, arobinson@scng.com, @arobinson_pe UPDATE (Friday, Sept. 23): 3 students arrested following stabbing at Rancho Cucamonga High Rancho Cucamonga High School was on lockdown Wednesday afternoon following reports of a stabbing on campus. Two suspects have been detained, according to Lt. Frank Montanez with the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department. Just before 2 p.m., the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department put up this notice on its Facebook page: We are actively investigating an assault on the campus of Rancho Cucamonga High School. We are searching for suspects in that area and in an abundance of caution have asked RCHS and Lightfoot Elementary to lock down until we can locate the outstanding suspects. Montanez said deputies could not say whether the victim or the suspects were students. The victims injuries are not life-threatening, Montanez added. At about 2:40 p.m., the school allowed the students to leave campus. Sophomore Ernie Ramirez said he saw the victim on the floor near the weight room with a wound in his stomach/chest area. He appeared to be conscious, Ramirez said. Mat Holton, superintendent of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, confirmed it was a student who was assaulted. This story is developing. Check back for updates. A federal judge on Wednesday ruled in favor of the U.S. Forest Service, declaring valid Nestles permit for water bottling operations in the San Bernardino Mountains, on a motion filed by three environmental groups that sought to shut down the companys efforts until its effects on the environment could be evaluated. With the ruling, Federal Judge Jesus G. Bernal rejected plaintiffs arguments that the Forest Service had broken federal procedures in allowing Nestle to remove water from the remote West Fork of Strawberry Creek above San Bernardino. The decision is related to a lawsuit filed in October 2015 by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Story of Stuff Project and The Courage Campaign, claiming that the Forest Service made errors in allowing Nestle Waters North America to maintain pipelines, pumps and other structures in the San Bernardino National Forest for 28 years after its permit expired. The company bottles the water under the Arrowhead brand. Nestle was not a party to the lawsuit. In 2015, Nestle tapped 36 million gallons of water from Strawberry Creek, paying $524 for the permit, which National Forest officials say stays in force until it is renewed or denied. Among other complaints, the plaintiffs unsuccessfully argued was that the special use permit for four miles of pipeline and other structures used to tap Strawberry Canyons spring water had expired on Aug. 2, 1988 and was never properly renewed. Bernal said the Forest Service did receive a timely and sufficient application for renewal in May 1987. Bernal also rejected the plaintiffs assertion that the Forest Services failure to act on the May 1987 letter for 30 years renders the special use permit which Nestle pays $524 each year to maintain invalid. Plantiffs do not identify, and the court cannot find, any authority holding that an agencys failure to act within a reasonable time can in validate a special use permit, Bernal wrote in his 12-page decision filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Central Division of California. The courts decision is disappointing, but the real tragedy lies in the fact that Strawberry Creek is drying up, dooming the plants, fish and animals that have relied on it for tens of thousands of years, Ileene Anderson, senior scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. Reports from the end of 2015 and the summer of 2016 indicate that water levels at Strawberry Creek are at record lows, threatening local wildlife that are already dealing with the ongoing drought in Southern California, the plaintiffs said in a joint statement. Bottling water is not worth sacrificing Strawberry Creek, so were considering our options for appeal, she said. While Nestle Waters is not a party to the case, we are pleased that todays ruling confirms the United States Forest Service can continue to move forward with the permit renewal process related to our Arrowhead brand, Christopher Rieck, spokesman for Nestle Waters North America Inc., said in a statement. We take our responsibility as a water steward in California seriously and that is why we do not pump water from the Arrowhead Springs, but rather only source water that flows to the surface, Rieck said, in a statement. Nestle carefully monitors all spring sources and manages them to ensure long-term sustainability and healthy habitats, he said. The court has just confirmed what many Americans fear, massive corporations play by a different set of rules than the rest of us. Nestle has been pulling a fast one for nearly 30 years, taking a public resource, depriving plants and animals of life-sustaining water, and selling that water at an obscene profit without the right to do so, but apparently our justice system is OK with that, Eddie Kurtz, Executive Director of Courage Campaign Institute, said in a statement. Michael O Hearney, Story of Stuff Project executive director, said, This fight is far from over. Earlier this year, the U.S. Forest Service proposed awarding Nestle a five-year permit for bottled water operations in the San Bernardino Mountains. But the permit wont be issued until a National Environmental Policy Act study is completed and the Forest Service, based on this detailed environmental study, decides to grant a new one, officials said. The study the first scientific look at the effects of Nestles operations in the San Bernardino National Forest could take two years to complete. The Harkins movie theater chain is marking its 83rd anniversary today, Sept. 22, with free popcorn at its California locations, including Moreno Valley and Redlands. The offer is good for a small popcorn with drink purchase today only, according to a news release from the Arizona-based company. Harkins also has weekly drawings on its Facebook page with the grand prize of free movies for a year. Contact the writer: fbuck@scng.com or 951-368-9551. A Riverside County Superior Court jury on Wednesday could not come to a unanimous decision on whether to find a former detox home worker guilty of dependent adult abuse in the 2010 death of a client less than a day after that client arrived at the Murrieta home. The jury was hung 10-2 in favor of acquitting Kristofer Michael McCausland, said McCauslands attorney Kenneth Miller. It will be up to the California Attorney Generals office, which was prosecuting McCauslands case, to determine whether to retry him. McCausland, several of his coworkers and three corporate entities were charged in July 2015 with dependent adult abuse and murder in the death of 53-year-old Gary Benefield. The murder charge was later dropped by Superior Court Judge Elaine M. Kiefer, leaving only the dependent adult abuse charge. Benefield suffered from chronic obstructive lung disease, took prescription narcotics and was supposed to use supplemental oxygen 24 hours a day. He died less than a day after he arrived at A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center in Murrieta. One witness, a pathologist, suggested during testimony that the drugs given to Benefield in the detox regime may have been a contributing factor to his death. Deputy Attorney General Joel Samuels argued during trial that McCausland was dispensing medical services when he should not have been and that McCausland should have checked on Benefield during the night the man was admitted but did not. McCauslands case was separate from the other defendants who have been charged in Benefields death. Trial for those individuals is scheduled to start Oct. 13. They are James Andrew Fent, former company president; Jerrod Menz, former chief executive; and three corporate entities: A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center, Forterus Inc., and Forterus Health Care Services. Charges were dropped earlier against employees Tami Dawn Scarcella and Mignon Dean. Staff writer Gail Wesson contributed to this report. Contact the writer: 951-368-9693, agroves@scng.com or @AlexDGroves on Twitter. Explore a new forest trail or picnic among Joshua trees for free Saturday, Sept. 24, to mark National Public Lands Day. Visiting for free as well as volunteer projects are planned for the 23rd annual celebration of lands belonging to the public. Local residents can enter or park free at Joshua Tree National Park, recreation areas in the San Bernardino National Forest that normally require the U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass, and destinations farther afield including Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yosemite and Death Valley national parks. RELATED President Obama designates 3 new national monuments Other fees such as camping and reservations still apply. A volunteer project is planned for Big Morongo Canyon Preserve from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (contact the Bureau of Land Management, 760-833-7106), according to San Bernardino National Forest officials. Other projects are planned near Big Bear Discovery Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (call Southern California Mountains Foundation, 909-382-2826), and Lytle Creeks Applewhite Picnic Area. Contact the writer: 951-368-9444 or shurt@scng.com Hundreds of Norco trees will soon be torn out because of harmful or inadequate trimming practices over the past decade. Southern California Edison will remove 231 of the citys damaged trees over the next five years. Many of them line horse trails along Seventh Street and Pedley and Corona avenues. The trees are among 600 the city has labeled as dead, dying, diseased or damaged. Some have dead limbs, brown leaves and other problems. Theres no plan to replace the trees, though the Norco City Council called for one Wednesday, Sept. 21, when it voted 4-1 to approve Edisons offer. City Councilman Greg Newton voted no. The plan must be drafted within the next year. Norco has a contract with an Anaheim-based arborist to care for the more than 10,000 trees along the citys trails, parks and streets. But budget restrictions have seen the city cut back on those services, resulting in poor maintenance and safety levels, Norco Public Works Director Chad Blais said at the meeting. Norco trees also have been pruned directly below powerlines by Edison, the citys main power provider which also has the authority to clear the right of way to ensure safety, Blais said. David Simmons, vegetation manager for Edison, said the companys contract with Utility Tree Service is not designed for aesthetics, but to keep the lights on. To say the trees health is declining because Southern California Edison has pruned them, I think thats a pretty broad statement, Simmons said. Its our responsibility to maintain clearance. Those tactics, known as topping, can lead to decay and death in trees, a report by the International Society of Arboriculture states. It would cost $500,000 to $600,000 to remove all the citys damaged trees and getting Edison to pay for part of the work is a good opportunity for the city, Blais said. City Manager Andy Okoro said replacement could be discussed later, but for now, our number one priority is to assure public safety. We want to make sure the trees that need to be removed are removed, Okoro said. Wed like to have the trees but there are costs associated with planting and maintaining these trees. The council did not discuss how to pay for removing the other 360-plus trees set to be axed. That task could cost as much as $400,000. The city has paid West Coast Arborists between $70,000 to $80,000 a year over the past 10 years for tree trimming, Blais said. This year, Norco spent $170,000 for trimming and to start removing trees. Its unclear how often the company works in Norco, or whether any of the 600 endangered trees could have been saved if they were given more attention. Victor Gonzalez, West Coasts marketing director, said it is company policy not to comment on contracts. City Councilwoman Robin Grundmeyer voiced concerns about liability if property is damaged during tree removals. Blais said the contractor will take care, but if a home or fence is damaged by falling tree parts, those are our trees, were liable for them. Grundmeyer was also concerned for several residents who will have up to 12 trees removed from the edge of their property. City officials plan to notify residents of removals along trails, Blais said. Urban trees play a key role in removing air pollutants and stabilizing the temperature, humidity and reducing wind speeds, a U.S. Forest Service air quality report shows. Responding to a Facebook post on the issue, Norco resident Kim Moore wrote that similar tree removals were done years ago near her home on the 1200 block of Fifth Street, and that it looks barren now. Moore paid a private arborist $500 to trim a California Pepper tree on her property that was damaged by earlier pruning. I had it professionally trimmed the right way, was told the Edison trimmers almost killed it, Moore wrote. It cost me $500, looks beautiful now. Onya Sissoyev, who also lives in Horsetown USA, wrote that she hopes the city does all it can to restore its trees rather than cut them down. How is anyone supposed to ride in the sun if they are all torn out and not replaced? Sissoyev wrote. People and horses need shade here and there. How about the kids that walk home? Shade trees are a welcome (sight) to sore eyes. Council members raised concerns about the lack of replanting. Councilman Berwin Hanna said a similar project on Fifth Street downgraded the neighborhood when it took the trees. Blais said replanting would present the same problems down the road. We dont have enough money to manage the trees we have, and youre wanting to put more back in, Blais told the council. Want to see if trees in your neighborhood are part of the plan? Search the city council item below. City Council Agenda Packet_Sept 21 2016 by The Press-Enterprise / pressenterprise.com on Scribd Opponents of the controversial Harmony housing development delivered what they said are more than 3,600 signatures against the project to Highland City Hall on Tuesday. Representatives from Residents for Responsible Development, a group of Highland residents and environmental and labor advocates, spearheaded the effort to try to force a recall of the City Councils Aug. 11 approval of the project or put it to public vote. This is a group that is not in any way opposed to development, said group member Curt Toovey, but we feel it is important to have proper ratio of business to residential development. Dozens of boxes carrying signed petitions arrived at the office of Betty Hughes, Highlands city clerk, around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The signatures were tallied on notepads as residents looked on. The opposition group needs 2,236 verified signatures in order to put the matter before the City Council. Signatures must be verified by the Registrar of Voters Office, a process that could take up to 30 working days to complete. Once verified, the City Council must schedule a discussion on the matter at its next meeting. There, the council could decide to reverse course on the project or send it to voters, either in a special election or on the November 2018 ballot. We did this because the Harmony projects impact on Highland and the surrounding community would harm the quality of life for area residents and the environment we live in, John Dalrymple, an Oakland-based political and public policy advocate working with Residents for Responsible Development, said in an email. We were not surprised by the immense support we have (received) from Highland residents, he added. The project has met with vocal opposition since it was announced. In response to the councils unanimous approval of the housing community, three public-interest groups filed a lawsuit Thursday against the city of Highland. According to the Center of Biological Diversity, the San Bernardino Audubon Society and the Greenspot Residents Association, the project violates the California Environmental Quality Act and will have a significant impact on wildlife habitat, traffic and air pollution. The project also is far removed from city services and is vulnerable to fire, flooding and the San Andreas Fault, opponents say. According to developers, the project would bring more than 3,600 homes and additional amenities, like a police and fire station, to the area. The project would sit on 1,656 acres of land north of Mill Creek, south and west of the San Bernardino National Forest and east of Greenspot Road. The Orange County Flood Control District currently owns the property. Upland-based Lewis Group of Companies would oversee its development. Representatives from both groups attended the petition delivery Tuesday. Randall Lewis, executive vice president of marketing for Lewis Group, said by phone he is aware of the litigation and is working with the companys consultants and attorneys to determine the best course of action. We still believe its a good development, and is a project that was thoroughly reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council and approved, he said. Group member Toovey disagrees. The Harmony project so exceeds what the infrastructure of the city can support that it would be detrimental to the (area), he said. The issues that were dealing with have to do with impacts of the school, the water issue, the build-out of roads to accommodate so much traffic that would come from such developments. Contact the writer: khernandez@scng.com; @TheFactsKris on Twitter Riverside County sheriffs deputies on Tuesday arrested a 19-year-old Hemet man who they say was under the influence of drugs at the time of a fiery crash that left a motorcyclist dead. Ramiro Israel Alvarado was arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into the Southwest Detention Center in French Valley. His bail was set at $1 million, according to online jail records. Sheriffs officials say Alvarado was traveling north on Navajo Road in Perris when he crossed the center median and collided with a motorcylist head-on. The motorcyclist, later identified as 52-year-old Wesley Erickson of Riverside, was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering major injuries. His motorcycle was on fire when deputies arrived. Romero, believed to be drugged at the time of the collision, has a prior DUI conviction and had been driving while unlicensed, according to sheriffs officials. He was arrested Tuesday after an investigation by the Perris Sheriffs Station Traffic Reconstruction Unit, according to officials. Alvarado had not yet been formally charged by midday Wednesday. Riverside County District Attorneys Office Spokesman John Hall said in an email that prosecutors were still reviewing his case. Contact the writer: 951-368-9693, agroves@scng.com or @AlexDGroves on Twitter. The Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainees Association is set to hit the streets of Accra today [Thursday], to protest against what it describes as governments lackadaisical posture to resolve their concerns as trainees. The demonstration is to press home their demands for government to pay trainee nurses; and midwives some allowances due them, and also ensure employment for all qualified nurses and midwives. The demonstration was earlier scheduled for Monday September 19, but the Police did not grant allow it saying it had inadequate men to ensure orderliness. We have green light now. Speaking to Citi News, President of the Association, Akazee Godwin Asabire, said the Police have now given them the green light. Although it was supposed to come off on September 19, which the Police prevented us; we now have been granted the permit which has given us the guts to have the demonstration come today September 22nd. Asabire explained that, they are demonstrating because several pleas they have made to the stakeholders involved have failed to yield any positive results. Demo not partisan one We have given out stakeholders so much time and respect to resolve our issues for us; but it like anytime we give them the opportunity to resolve the issue, they always treat us to their advantage. We are students and we want this issue to be resolved because it has a major impact on our training. We want the issue to be resolved for us, this issue that we are pursuing is not partisan issues and nobody should ever say that somebody is being pushed by a political party to pursue another political agenda, no he insisted. Venue for demo He said they will converge at the Obra Spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle around 8:00am; and go through some principal streets of Accra; and finally end at the Accra Hearts of Oak Park where we will be expecting the Chief of Staff to meet us and receive our petition. Source: Citi News Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The 2016 running mate to Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku, says a PPP govt will make the Volta region a tourism hub that will harness all the abundant natural resources available to the people. Addressing a mammoth gathering of supporters in Galo Sota in the Anlo constituency she made reference to the abundant natural resources to the people of the Volta that would benefit all should. Citing an example of the Keta lagoon, the running mate said the lagoon could be developed into the mode of the Nzulezu in the Western Region where people both local and foreigners, spend money to visit. I come from the Volta region myself, so I know the numerous things that the Volta has that could be used to turn the region around economically. Keta lagoon has been with us for years, I am promising you that a Papa Kwesi Nduom government will develop the lagoon into a world class recreational centre that will bring visitors, both foreign and local, to boost the economy of Ghana and make jobs available to the people of the region, she reiterated. Brigitte Dzogbenuku chastised the NDC government for the neglect of a region that has so much abundant resources that could be harnessed to the benefit of the region and Ghana as a whole. NDC government has done nothing about all the resources available to us. You move from Aflao through to Kete Krachi and on your way you realise all the abundant resources, from the Monkey Sanctuary to the many Waterfalls. But what has the NDC done about it, even roads that lead to these tourists sites are so bad that people cant access those sites. I am therefore, asking you to take away the power you gave the NDC and give it to Dr Nduom and the PPP for progress, she emphatically stated. Ms. Brigitte Dzogbenuku began a two week tour of the country to canvass votes for Dr Nduom and the Progressive Peoples Partys parliamentary candidates. The tour first took her to the Anlo constituency through to Ketu South and finally to Akatsi East where she encouraged the constituents to work hard to secure power for the PPP. Source: ATV Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President John Mahama has assured world leaders that Ghana will further consolidate her democratic gains after the December polls. Earlier the Electoral Commission raised red flags over the volatility of Ghanas electoral atmosphere citing the proliferation of small unlicensed arms among Ghanaians, and joblessness among the youth as some triggers that could lead to electoral violence. However, speaking at the 71st United General Assembly in New York later today, President Mahama declared that Ghana will repeat her electoral success stories over the years. Ghana is a leading democracy in Africa. I stand before the world to declare that just as we have done in the past, my country will go to the polls this December and the processes before, during and after will mark a further consolidation of Ghanas credentials as a leading world democracy. He however lamented the under-representation of African states in the United Nations Security Council. He described the situation as a scar on the conscience of the worlds most leading advocate for democracy. The United Nations Security Council remains an important source of legitimacy for international action on peace and security. While Africa accounts for close to one third of the UN membership and nearly two-thirds of the work of the Council, it remains woefully under-represented in the permanent and non-permanent category. Eleven long years after the AU adopted the Ezelwini consensus, we are nowhere near achieving a more equitable reform of the UN Security Council. This will continue to remain a scar on the conscience of this world body if not remedied. Dont force democracy on Africa Mahama to the West President John Dramani Mahama earlier appealed to the western countries to stop forcing democracy on Africa. According to him, Africa like many other developed continents in the world made mistakes which they learnt lessons from before progressing hence Africa must be given same opportunity. Democracy is not a one size fits all system, different countries are at different stages of the democratic journey. Democracy evolves and cannot be forced on the people. It doesnt help for biggest powers to go proselytizing democracy across the continent, it can have its negative consequences as we are experiencing in parts of North Africa and the Middle East, but still a properly functioning peer system can avoid some of the meltdowns we are experiencing in some African countries due to the desire to stay in office interminably. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanas former High Commissioner to Malaysia, Dan Abodakpi did not mince words when he described persons he believed to have doctored a video of the president allegedly sharing money as being of sick mind. He could not fathom why someone would film President Mahama distributing leaflets, and alter same video to portray the president as sharing money on a campaign tour. There can be no iota of truth in such claims, Mr. Abodakpi told 3FM on Thursday. He contended that it was needless for President Mahama to use money to induce voters to win the forthcoming general elections. Confident Abodakpi said the achievements of the president over the four-year period are self evidence to secure him victory in the December 7 polls. Such allegation can only be made by desperate souls who are trying to hold on to straws to paint the president black, he insisted. Indicating the impossibility of President Mahama to bribe millions of voters with money, the former High Commissioner said the allegation is a story that can be told to the marines, there is absolutely no truth. He would not buy into the argument that the video that has gone viral on social media looks real and genuine. We are in the age of IT, and people can fabricate all kinds of things and put them out thereI would not be surprised that some sick minds will go out of their way in desperation to put something like this outI think we should treat this with the contempt that it deserves, he maintained. Meanwhile, a member of the pressure group, Occupy Ghana, Nana Sarpong Agyemang has rejected claims that what the president distributed were leaflets. He believes the president was sharing money and wants him investigated. Source: 3news.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Mr James Sambian, an official of the Hearing Impaired Community, has appealed to political parties and election management institutions to be transparent in their operations. He said Ghana need peace for development and urged all to abide by the rules of the process. Mr Sambian said there was strength in unity and called on Ghanaians to embrace peace as the nation goes to polls for the seventh time. He said this when he addressed the Ghana for Peace Summit held in Accra on the theme: The Disability Community and the Need for Peace. The Summit was organised by Here for Perfection (H4P) a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting the interest of persons with disability in Ghana. The occasion was used to launch a National Peace Song composed by Apostle Charles Hackman. Mr Newton Keteku, Chief Executive Officer, Albinism Community, said there is the need to protect the lives of all during the polls adding that in other African countries, body parts of albinos were used for various rituals, hence the need to be watchful. Mr Keteku called for adequate security for all and greater collaboration to ensure peace before, during and after elections. Madam Emma Bruce-Lyle, a member of Council for the Disability, said problems facing the physically challenged were numerous. He said whenever there was war, the physically challenged are often left behind and called on all to preach peace. Dr Obeng Asamoah, Executive Director Ghana Blind Union, said peace was not just the absence of war rather it is when people feel secured and people understand each other and they pursue a common goal. Representatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Party, Convention Peoples Party and All Peoples Congress pledged to uphold the peace, before, during and after December 7 polls. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Year 7 kid from St. Lukes Grammar School in Dee Why, New South Wales has been hospitalised after a muck-up day incident, which inflicted a badly broken leg and required surgery. The injuries, which were described as very serious, occurred when Year 12 students allegedly from nearby Catholic schools in the area chased a group of Year 7 boys from a bus stop into the nearby Harbord Park. A male badly tackled one of the Year 7 boys, causing the injury, and then fled the scene. An 18-year old from Allambie Heights turned himself into police and was arrested and charged with reckless wounding causing greivous bodily harm. Hell appear in Manly Local Court on October 12. Police are urging any others who were involved to come forward. Investigations are continuing and police are urging anyone with information to come forward, a spokesman said. Look, muck-up day is fun and all, but dont be a bloody dill. Source: Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: St Lukes Grammar. Its a little naive at this point to think panel shows which throw commentators from a myriad of political inclinations against each other will directly fix anything, but by God, did tonights episode of Hack Live unearth some of the most hardcore views on nationalism around. While the shows promo spots highlighted a discussion around the Southern Cross tattoo and the concept of pride in our flag, the vast majority of the program left symbology behind to thrash around the topics of Islam, Muslim immigration, and the burgeoning movement against it. Personifying those discussions was Blair Cottrell, head of the United Patriots Front, and each and every point raised on the electrifying show passed through him. Sat front and centre, his take on a constellation of issues was the shows most confronting aspect outside of host Tom Tilleys shirt. Soz not soz, Tom. Early in the piece, an Aussie veteran Andrew Fox-Lane, who served in Afghanistan, recalled how a farmer had brought food out for him and his fellow troops out of what wed generally term kindness. As such, Fox-Lane suggested to Cottrell that maybe, just maybe, Muslims arent just a homogenous group of baddies. In response, Cottrell actually asked Fox-Lane why he believed the character of all Muslims could be extrapolated from an isolated incident. That argument is structurally identical to the one laid against the UPFs assertion that Islam is inherently linked to terrorist acts. Cottrell either didnt recognise the similarities or simply didnt care. That wasnt the only glaring fault the bloke didnt seem too fussed about addressing. Although he did hammer home that you dont need to be white to be a part of his movement, its nigh impossible to reconcile his ultimate goal the safe reproduction of his people with the idea of ethnic diversity. In words and in action, Cottrell and his group really do bear the hallmarks of a white power organisation. In fact, Cottrells vehement defence of white Australians even incited the broadcasts most intense moment. Nayuka Gorrie, the sole Indigenous panelist, pushed Cottrell on the obvious impact white settlement had on the First Australians. Cottrell contended that Indigenous peoples would have been completely wiped out if Captain Cook were Captain Abdul. Not content to deal with hypotheticals, Gorrie reminded him that it was actually white settlers who uprooted millennia-old cultures, killing untold thousands of Indigenous Australians in the process. His response, verbatim, was so what. Cottrell offered up some other statements that may have been worth interrogating, if he hadnt just brushed off the unfathomable trauma white settlers white Australian settlers inflicted on Indigenous Australia. Truly the bloke made some conspiratorial claims about who controls the migration of refugees, which was met with claims he believed in the Illuminati but tbh, after he dropped that so what, it was game over. Put simply, Blair Cottrell was given an audience tonight. He was given viewers. He was given everything he needed to put his case across And he shat the bed with patently racist and nearly goddamned fascist ideas. He alienated anyone who might have wanted to understand his frothing fear of Islam, while only speaking to those whove already made up their minds. At least his outfit was understated. Seriously, Toms shirt Source and photo: ABC2 iView. The recent Essential Research poll claiming a solid 49% of Australians support a ban on Muslim immigration is Well, look. For those of us who believe the Skittle-centric arguments used by right wing politicians around the world are faulty at best, it was a reminder that rightly or wrongly, a staggering percentage of Australians live in fear. However, some have questioned the polls conclusiveness. Opponents have said the 1000-odd responses are too few to draw any meaningful conclusions from, despite pollsters declaring otherwise. Tonight, the poll faced a new opponent: One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson, who made a Muslim immigration ban a core tenet of her election campaign. The difference between her and the polls other detractors is she thinks the percentage should be a lot higher. Speaking on The Bolt Report, an adamant Hanson declared I tell you something: I believe its a lot higher than that, because people would have been in fear to answer the question the polling because they dont know whos taking the call, and they dont want to be registered of what their views are. .@PaulineHansonOz thinks a lot more than 49 percent of Australians want to ban Muslim immigrants. #theboltreport https://t.co/hHXWHDb9Yl Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) September 22, 2016 Thats an interesting stance to take, but youd also think it could be dismissed quite easily: presumably, Essential Research would have made it perfectly clear who the hell they were once they got through, and people give their opinions on polls for the express purpose of having them registered. None of that changes the fact Hanson, and many like her across the nation, obviously feels like Islam in Australia is a serious threat. That in itself is a serious bloody issue. Speaking of feelings, Hanson went on to say she hadnt advocated hate speech in her campaign, before immediately dropping a series of second-hand, unverifiable anti-Muslim anecdotes, on the pretense that this is what Australian communities are feeling. And she even ended her spiel with the phrase they dont like it. Hoo boy. Source and photo: Sky News Australia / Twitter. Current golden girl of gender equality Emma Watson has spoken in front of the United Nations on behalf of her group, He For She. The feminist collective has produced an impact report for the 10x10x10 University Parity Report which Watson introduced to the UN, speaking eloquently about global campus assault rates at colleges and universities. The 10x10x10 concept seeks to change patterns at 10 different universities around the world in order to make universities safe for all students, especially women. It involves 10 heads of state, 10 global CEOs, and 10 university presidents, who will set concrete goals and chart their progress in order to eradicate sexual violence on uni campuses and reach gender equality. The men sitting on the panel next to Watson are the university leaders who had committed to the 10x10x10 campaign at their respective places of teaching. Watson began her speech to the UN by thanking her own university, Brown, for providing her with a safe environment that nurtured her politics and independent thinking. Watson then says that many places of higher learning have not addressed issues of gender disparity. What if our experiences at university show us that women dont belong in leadership? What if, as is the case at far too many universities, we are given the message that sexual violence isnt actually a form of violence? She reiterates that the only learning environments that will successfully nurture and help students grow, are safe ones. A university should be a place of refuge that takes action against all forms of violence. Thats why we believe that students should leave universities believing in, striving for, and expecting societies of true equality . . . in every sense, and that universities have the power to make that change. Watch below: Locally, Human Rights Commissioner Gillian Triggs gave the preliminary details of Australias most comprehensive survey on sexual harassment and assault at Aussie universities yesterday. The Commissioner said she was shocked by the early findings, saying 400 reports of assault had been filed in the survey, across 35 of the 39 participating universities. Triggs told press, These assaults are seriously under-reported and once students knew they could come to us, it was like a dam bursting. There are no universities from Australia currently involved in the He For She 10x10x10 University Parity Report. Source: He For She / Youtube. Photo: Anadolu Agency / Getty. Ahhhh, Twitter. Brilliantly conceived carriage service for news and information that, in practice, became an anonymous echo chamber to hurl obscenities and harassment largely at women. Course you dont need me to tell yall what a minefield Twitter can be at the best of times. But celebrities on the other hand are another matter entirely. Jimmy Kimmel brought together a fresh batch of famous pals for yet another round of the now-trademark Mean Tweets, wherein those with famous Twitter handles read out those dogshit terrible things thatve been said about them online. On deck this time around? A veritable whos who of Hollywood elite, including Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Paul Rudd, Bryan Cranston, Russell Crowe, Hugh Grant, Kate Hudson, Melissa McCarthy, Kiefer Sutherland, Judd Apatow and more. Its a particularly nasty/funny one too, I might add. Honestly though, that Jane Lynch tweet is only an insult if you ignore the fact that The Iron Sheik was the one who sent it. From the Sheik, thats high praise. Basically anything that doesnt directly threaten to make you humble is a compliment as far as Sheiky Babys Twitter feed is concerned. Source: YouTube. I remember watching the Vice doco on North Korea on a day I was experiencing a particularly nasty brand of hangover. The unsettling footage of the hermit country certainly didnt help either. What I found especially amusing about the painfully orchestrated tour given to the American guests and the university computer lab they were taken to. They were quickly ushered over to the one student who knew anything about computers while the others were likely given instructions to simply appear to know what they were doing. But they didnt do a very good job of it, and I know this because the camera shows a close-up shot of one of the students moving his mouse around on the Google home screen and nothing more. That, my friends, is textbook internet suppression. While the country may not have access to the absolute banquet of content that we lucky Australians do, they do have access to their very own delicious platter of websites and let me tell you, they are absolutely dripping with goodness. All 28 pages of them. Yup, 28 pages of highly moderated communist delight await you thanks to a Reddit post revealing what appears to be an accidental opening of the North Korean server that houses all of the details for countries official domain, .kp. The post reads: On Sept 19, 2016 at approximately 10:00PM (PST), one of North Koreas top level nameservers was accidentally configured to allow global DNS zone transfers. This allows anyone who performs an AXFR (zone transfer) request to the countrys ns2.kptc.kp nameserver can get a copy of the nations top level DNS data. This was detected by the TL;DR Project an effort to attempt zone transfers against all top level domain (TLD) nameservers every two hours and keep a running Github repo with the resulting data. This data gives us a better picture of North Koreas domains and top level DNS. Most of the sites are now down, but luckily, the denizens of Reddit got a few screenshots. Here are 2 of our favourites. friend.com.kp What appears to be a social media network. We were able to get onto this one and use Chromes translate feature to reveal the madness. Please note the line, Here are a powerful source of all victories. Terrifying. This is the Kim Il Sung University landing page featuring a Theses [SIC] on the Socialist education. Congratulations, youve just viewed 7.14% of the countrys internet. Isnt it glorious? Source: Gizmodo. Photo: friend.com.kp. Disney Polynesian Costume This photograph of a computer screen shows the DisneyStore.com website's Maui Halloween costume on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Disney said Wednesday it would no longer sell the boy's costume for a Polynesian character that some Pacific Islanders have compared to blackface. The getup features full-body tattoo art adorning Maui, a lead character in the upcoming animated movie "Moana." (DisneyStore.com via AP) (AP) Multiple news sources are reporting that Disney has halted sales of a Halloween costume inspired by its upcoming film, "Moana," after numerous accusations of cultural misappropriation and comparisons to blackface. The costume, based on the character of Maui - a mythological cultural hero and demigod in Polynesian culture - features a long-sleeve brown shirt and pants covered in tattoos, along with a leaf skirt and shark-tooth necklace. Many Pacific Islanders objected to the costume, dubbing it "Polyface". Dear #Disney , our brown skin is not a costume. Get outta here with that crap. Sincerely, a furious brown skinned Pacific Islander. #Moana Taina Talei (@TaleiFiji) September 19, 2016 cosplaying things like moana is one thing - cosplay shouldn't be limited to what ur race is. but literally wearing a brown skin costume? no hannah (@donnatroying) September 19, 2016 > Is this cultural appropriation at its most offensive worst? #BrownFace. OR just a fun celebration of Pasifika? https://t.co/wVEtA0FMpX Samoa Planet (@SamoaPlanet) September 17, 2016 Disney released a statement Wednesday, saying it would pull the costume and apologized for causing offense. "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," the company said. "We sincerely apologize and are pulling the costume from our website and stores." The film opens in theaters on Nov. 23 What's the best coffee shop in central PA: Green Bean Roasting Company Getting a coffee in Pennsylvania? If New Jersey lawmakers get their way, make sure you're not sipping at it when driving through the state. If the law passes and you get caught, you could get a huge fine. (James Robinson, PennLive file photo) If New Jersey lawmakers get their way, drivers making the trek from Pennsylvania through the state better make sure they're not holding coffee -- or anything else -- in their hands. The New Jersey Assembly is discussing several bills designed to crack down on distracted driving, and while no vote is scheduled, just the thought of being unable to reach for a cup of coffee while driving has people on edge. More from NJ.com: And it would be maybe the toughest such laws in the nation. Violators could face a $200 to $400 fine for the first offense and a $400 to $600 fine for a second offense. A third or subsequent offense could lead to a fine of $600 to $800 and up to a 90-day license suspension, as well as motor vehicle points. The problem? The measure doesn't specifically say what activities would be banned. It would be up to police officers to decide. That caused the bill to become a major topic on talk-radio shows and social media, with some wondering if eating, sipping coffee, or grooming themselves while driving could lead to tickets. "The idea a cop could pull someone pull over someone for drinking coffee? Sure," Assemblyman John Wisniewski, who is running for governor, told NJ.com. ""But is it probable? No. Because the cop's got to go to court and explain why they pulled Mrs. Jones over for sipping a latte." Commenters on the story, who find the proposed measure ridiculous, compared it to the time New Jersey temporarily banned restaurants from selling soft boiled or runny eggs because of salmonella fears. The majority consider the proposed measures a cash grab. "Next, we'll get a ticket for talking to the front-seat passenger," one commenter groused. HARRISBURG--The Dauphin County District Attorney's Office is still investigating a fatal police shooting in Harrisburg six weeks after the incident. District Attorney Ed Marsico said shortly after the Aug. 7 shooting death of Earl Shaleek Pinckney that he hoped to be finished with the criminal investigation in four to six weeks. But lab tests and difficulty talking to some witnesses has prolonged the county's investigation, Marsico said Wednesday. "Every case is different," Marsico said. "In retrospect, I was optimistic. Some have been completed in that timeframe and others have taken longer." A Harrisburg police officer shot Pinckney, 20, after a young girl called 911 to report that Pinckney had reportedly threatened to kill his mother with a knife. An adult then got on the phone and said Pinckney had his mother locked in a bedroom and said he was going to kill her. When officers entered the house, Pinckney had a knife against his mother's throat and refused to drop the knife, according to Marsico. The mother tried, but failed, to break free of Pinckney's grasp, Marsico said. At that time, an officer fired a single shot, killing Pinckney. Police recovered a knife with a four-inch blade at the scene in the 2300 block of Green Street. Pinckney's mother, Kim Thomas, initially reported to police that her son had a knife, Marsico said, but she later told reporters that he didn't have a knife and that he was bipolar. Thomas also retained an attorney who said that relatives dispute the police version of events. A group of police reform activists have referred to the situation as a "police murder" in news releases and social media postings while asking for an independent investigation into the shooting and for the release of the officer's name. Knowing an officer's name allows research into possible prior acts of police force or civil cases. The Harrisburg police department's standard procedure is to allow the investigating agency to release the name at the conclusion of the investigation, said police Chief Thomas Carter. Reasons for not releasing an officers' name sooner, Carter said, include due process and protecting officers and their families from harm by someone angry about an incident or initially reported information before all the facts are known. It is a double-edged sword, Carter acknowledges. He wants to build trust and confidence in the police department by releasing the officer's name as soon as possible, but he said he must be mindful of fairness and the current environment with threats against officers. The district attorney's office typically doesn't name subjects of investigations who are not criminally charged. But charges or not, in the case of fatal police shootings, Marsico said the practice of his office is to release the name once the county investigation is complete. There is little consensus among police chiefs across the country as far as what information should be released about fatal shootings and when. Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, which advises police chiefs around the country on policy issues, told The Washington Post in April that the organization had not yet identified any model policies or standards. Hummelstown's police chief, for example, released former Officer Lisa Mearkle's name two days after she fatally shot David Kassick. A small percentage of departments across the country never release the names of officers involved in fatal police shootings. The Washington Post analyzed fatal police shootings from 2015 and found that reporters had obtained names of officers responsible for 780 of the 990 shootings. In about 600 shootings, The Post reported, officers' names were disclosed by police departments in news reports. In a handful of cases, names came to light through lawsuits or leaks to reporters, leaving 210 cases where the names were never released. Some of the departments who refused to release officers' names were prevented by union contracts. There is no such prohibition in Harrisburg's collective bargaining agreement with its officers. The vast majority of those killed by police last year were armed with guns or had attacked or threatened officers or civilians, according to the Post's analysis. Mayors breakfast 2016.jpg Mayors from Harrisburg, Lancaster and York addressed regional business leaders Thursday Sept. 22, 2016, at CREDC's annual breakfast at the Hilton hotel in downtown Harrisburg. Crime. Poverty. Ballooning pensions. A struggling school district. A desire to create city ordinances to address gun violence. Sound like Harrisburg? Yes, but it also sounds like York and Lancaster and many other cities across the Commonwealth, according to a panel of mayors who spoke at the regional chamber's annual breakfast on Thursday. The panel, which started about 9 a.m. at the Hilton hotel in downtown Harrisburg, featured mayors from three area cities: Harrisburg, York and Lancaster. The challenges they shared about their cities were starkly familiar. So were the solutions they were seeking from the state: pension reform, property tax reform and consolidation of municipalities and school districts. Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse initially rebuffed an invitation to speak at the event amid a dispute with its organizers, the chamber and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation, or CREDC. But he changed his mind about 10 days ago. Papenfuse joined York Mayor Kim Bracey and Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray to participate in the panel discussion entitled, "the State of Our Cities" that was moderated by Scott LaMar, of WITF news. LaMar opened the event by asking why so many municipalities are financially distressed in Pennsylvania. The state has 2,5000 municipalities. "The way we set up municipal government is perfectly set up to fail," Gray said. "Lancaster has the same boundaries we had in the 1700s. We can't annex anymore. We can't expand." In discussions with mayors of thriving cities, they incorporate developments at the edge of the city, he said. But in Lancaster, stores like Wegman's and Whole Foods are being constructed just across the city boundaries, where the city won't get any tax revenue from the development. "The city won't get any other than a traffic jam trying to get in and out of the city," Gray said. The sheer number of municipalities combined with the state's allowable tax structures for third-class cities represent a recipe for failure, Papenfuse said. Harrisburg, meanwhile, faces the additional challenges of more than half of the city's property tax assessment being exempt while its population doubles during the day from commuters. York and Lancaster, meanwhile, face about 35 percent tax-exempt properties in their cities. "The question is, what are we going to do about it?" Papenfuse said. "The answers are consolidation and boundary expansion." On a smaller scale, Papenfuse said the city is trying to accomplish that by asking the state to allow the city to annex the former state hospital grounds. "It's probably going to be a very tough sell," he said. "But it's the kind of thing that could set up a sustainable future for a city like ours." Gray spoke about the difficulty in running a city and creating economic development opportunities only to have instances of violent crime mar the city's image. "Being mayor sort of ruins your life," he said, in one of several lines that drew laughter from the crowd. "It's a good end of career job. You work to build a community, to build an image, to raise people's economic levels and then someone comes out with a gun." When he gets phone calls about violent crime in Lancaster, Gray said his first impulse is to feel guilty. "What have I done? What can do?" he said. "How can I deal with this?" When local mayors try to do something to address gun crimes, the General Assembly prohibits it, he said, noting an effort last week to resurrect a bill that would allow gun-rights groups to sue municipalities over gun ordinances. "We're stereotyped by a handful of people who use guns and damage our city," he said. "What we can do about it? If we try, the General Assembly says no." When LaMar asked the mayors what keeps them up at night, Bracey and Gray said violent crime and Papenfuse said frayed relationships between police and the community. "We're sitting on a powder keg today with amount of distrust that exists between the community and police," he said. To address it, Papenfuse said, Harrisburg is reforming its citizen complaint process, looking to create a police advisory board and committing some of the city's scarce resources to police body cameras in its next budget. Cities end up drawing poor residents and homeless people like a magnet, because it's where the social services are centered, but then cities aren't given the tools or taxing structure to succeed, Gray said. Ensuing problems with crime affect everyone, he said, as criminals don't respect municipal boundaries. Despite challenges facing cities, more young people are interested in living in urban, walkable cities with all the accompanying cultural amenities, Bracey said. The state needs to allow cities to capitalize on the renaissance by consolidating school districts to equalize educational opportunities. That would help to keep those residents in the city once they have children, the mayors agreed, instead of providing an incentive to flee to the suburbs. Dave Black, president of CREDC, said allowing business leaders to hear directly from Democratic mayors about issues facing cities is helpful, even if their political affiliations may not directly line up. "The political stuff blurs out at the local level," Black said. "The business community has a very sincere interest in having strong cities." bill thies.jpg BillThies, a graduate of State College High School, is a 2016 MacArthur fellow, the foundation announced on Sept. 22, 2016. (John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation) A State College High School grad is among those receiving MacArthur "genius" grants. Bill Thies, 38, is a computer scientist "creating communication and digital technologies to advance the social and economic well-being of low-income communities in the developing world," the MacArthur Foundation says of Thies. A graduate of MIT -- with two bachelor's degrees, a master's degree and a Ph.D. from the institute -- Thies is a senior researcher with Microsoft Research India, where he is working to improve life in India's rural communities. Thies is one of the 23 people selected this year as fellows of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation who will receive a no-strings-attached grant of $625,000 over five years. The list was announced Thursday morning. "In technology, we tend to think of creativity as meaning futuristic, large, expensive things," Thies told the New York Times. "With my work, it's the other way around." The MacArthur Fellowship grants go to people who show exceptional creativity in their work and the prospect for still more in the future, according to the foundation's website.The fellowship is designed to provide recipients with the flexibility to pursue their creative activities in the absence of specific obligations or reporting requirements. There are no limits on age or area of activity. This year's recipients include a poet, an essayist, a graphic novelist, a geobiologist and the founder of a nonprofit that helps people build credit histories. A full list is available here. A male victim was rushed to the hospital following a shooting in York Wednesday night. The shooting was reported in the 800 block of East Market Street just before 10 p.m., York County emergency dispatch said. No additional information immediately was available. The incident marked the third shooting in York in the past 24 hours. Eric Hernandez, 18, was shot in the 600 block of Heiges Alley just before 2:30 a.m. Police found Hernandez with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was rushed to York Hospital, where he later died. Another male victim was rushed to the hospital after he was shot near West Poplar and South West streets at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Information on his condition was not available. Shawn L. Jones Shawn Lamont Jones (Provided photo) A second Harrisburg man was charged Thursday with murder for the Easter Eve slaying of the nephew of city Police Chief Thomas Carter. Police filed murder and firearms counts against Shawn Lamont Jones, 20, just after 1:30 p.m. He joins Glenn Walker III, 19, as a defendant in the March slaying of 36-year-old John Thomas Carter at Green and Woodbine streets. Chief Deputy District Attorney Johnny Baer said Jones's arrest stemmed from the fact that "additional forensic evidence was developed." "It indicates that Shawn Jones is also, along with Glenn Walker, a principal actor in the killing of John Carter," Baer said. He said he couldn't elaborate further. Jones was already in the Dauphin County Prison in lieu of $275,000 bail on unrelated drug charges when he was hit with the murder count. Records show he has been behind bars since shortly after John Carter was fatally shot. District Judge Barbara Pianka sent the murder case against Walker on to county court following a preliminary hearing in May. When John Carter was killed, Walker was free on bail pending prosecution in another shooting case. PITTSBURGH -- In his keynote address at a Shale industry trade show and conference here, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he views a less fettered energy industry as the solution to a nation's economic woes. He also equated such economic activity with a restoration of the social order in U.S. cities like Charlotte, which is still reeling after days of unrest sparked by a controversial police shooting. In his address at the Shale Insight conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center here on Thursday, Trump spent the first portion of his speech focusing on that unrest, later linking the strength of domestic energy production with safer streets and cities. Protesters amass outside Pittsburgh's Duquesne Club after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's speech at a nearby energy industry conference on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Photo by Barry Reeger for PennLive. "We have to make our cities safe again," Trump told the crowd. "Our country looks bad to the world, especially when we are supposed to be a world leader. How can we lead when we can't control our own cities?" Trump attributed the unrest, in part, to a lack of economic opportunity, saying the enforcement of law and order must also coincide with job creation. He also blamed drugs for the unrest in Charlotte, calling them a "very big factor in what you're seeing on television at night." (His campaign later denied the statement was a reference to Charlotte.) Then, he continued: "America is sitting on a treasure trove of untapped energy on federal lands and hundreds of years of coal energy reserves. It's all upside for our country: More jobs, revenue and wealth and higher wages and lower energy prices. I'm going to lift restrictions on American energy and allow this wealth to pour into our communities, including right here in the state of Pennsylvania, which we love." In a region long defined by oil, gas and coal production, Trump said he believes Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton's standing with energy workers will benefit him at the polls in November. "Hillary made the statement: "I'm gonna put coal miners out of business.' And that was not a good statement," he said of Clinton's vow to emphasize renewable energy jobs over those in fossil fuels. "They tell me a Republican can't carry the state of Pennsylvania. Wait till you see what happens here. Wait till you see it. ... We will make America wealthy again, safe again and great again." Trump also said he wants to rein in the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, which many drillers view as an obstacle to the industry's growth. He also linked a strengthening of the regulatory agency with the Obama administration and predicted a further build-up of its powers under Clinton. In segueing to Charlotte, Trump called for unity there and across the country, and said while he is respectful of the protesters' right to assemble, there would be "no tolerance for lawless conduct" if he were president. "I want to address the turmoil that is unfolding right now in our country and it seems to be a never ending problem," he said. "America desperately needs unity and a spirit of togetherness which has lifted us up in the past and toward our greatest achievements as a nation." He continued: "We all have to walk a mile in someone else's shoes to see things through their eyes and to get to work fixing our wounded country." Trump's call for unity came a day after what some interpreted as his declaration of support for stop-and-frisk police tactics to further curb crime in American cities like Charlotte. He later said he was only referring to Chicago. Critics of stop-and-frisk, which has drawn legal challenges, say it is often arbitrarily enforced and disproportionately impacts communities of color. And while Trump has since clarified the remark, he maintained his call for a law-and-order approach to driving down crime, a stance that has come to define his campaign in large part. On Thursday, that emphasis included his support for former New York City mayor and current Trump campaign surrogate Rudy Giuliani, whose administration Trump credited with a 76 percent drop in crime and an 84 percent drop in the murder rate in New York nearly two decades ago. "Think of how many families these policies saved," Trump told the crowd in Pittsburgh, referring to policies put in place during Giuliani's tenure. According to Politifact, under Giuliani, New York's violent crime rate dropped by 56 percent during his eight years as mayor, while murder dropped nearly two-thirds in that time. Some attribute the drop not to Giuliani's policies, however, but to economic growth seen in New York and other U.S. cities in the early 1990s. It was also under Giuliani that the use of stop-and-frisk expanded in New York. But Trump persisted, knowing that like the energy vote in Pennsylvania, the African American vote is important to any shot at winning. "This is a national crisis," he said of the divisions between communities of color and the police, "and it's the job of the next president to work with governors and the mayors of these cities to address this crisis and save African American lives." "More effective policing is what our country needs," he stressed. But he also said that any strategy to mend struggling American communities must include the cultivation of a business-friendly atmosphere for industries like shale, which he feels has been stifled by overzealous government agencies. "In addition to providing safety, we must provide economic opportunity and that begins with school choice and leads to a secure job with a rising income. And that brings us to the subject of energy," he said. "Producing more American energy is a central part of my plan to make America wealthy again, especially for the poorest Americans." UPDATE: This article has been updated to include the Trump campaign's claim that his statement about drugs being a "very big factor in what you're seeing on television at night," while talking about Charlotte, was not in reference to protests in that city. A York County man was able to crawl to a roadside for help three days after the SUV he was driving crashed over an embankment and killed his girlfriend in Indiana, according to an Associated Press report. Police found Kevin Bell, 39, of Dover, along a roadside near the Jennings-Ripley County line in southeast Indiana Tuesday night, the report said. Bell lost control of the SUV along Route 50, where it went over an embankment and slammed into a tree head-on Saturday afternoon, police said. Bell's girlfriend, Nikki K. Reed, 37, of Seymour, Indiana, died instantly in the crash, according to the report. She was sitting in the front passenger seat at the time. Bell suffered serious leg injuries, and he had to stay with Reed's body for three days before he managed to crawl to the roadside, according to the report. He was rushed to a hospital in North Vernon for the treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Reed had traveled to Dover to pick up Bell, and family members told police they last heard from her as the two drove back to Indiana. Her family reported Reed missing Sunday. Police said Reed's family couldn't reach him since Saturday. capitol 1 0708 dcg 24513.jpg The Pennsylvania state Capitol building dome in Harrisburg. Dan Gleiter, The Patriot-News (DAN GLEITER, THE PATRIOT-NEWS) On the issue of non-religious invocations before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Rep. Stephen Bloom is wrong, and he will lose. There is no reason why a secular humanist cannot inspire others to work together for a common cause; no reason why a non-believer cannot be the one to remind us of shared values such as equal rights for all. In fact, who better to do so? With the support of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, the Freedom from Religion Foundation, PA Non-Believers, and others, we can all look forward to a day when no one will use religion, or their brand of it, to discriminate against others by stigmatizing them as political outsiders and as less than true Americans. As Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson once wrote, "there can be no freedom for religion without freedom for irreligion." WAYNE TROTTA, Silver Spring Twp. In Pa. House, even prayer practices are proving to be controversial When six-year-old Alex, of New York, saw the photo of Omran Daqneesh, the bloodied and battered Syrian boy who captured the world's attention this summer, he took matters into his own hands. He wrote a letter to President Barack Obama offering a place in his home to the youngster. And now his letter, which Obama made public at the United Nations this week, has gone viral too. "Dear President Obama, remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria?" Alex wrote in a letter published by the White House, according to the BBC. "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," he wrote. BBC image Addressing the U.N. for a final time during his presidency, Obama said the letter had come from a child "who hasn't learned to be cynical, or suspicious, or fearful." The White House video has been viewed more than 60,000 times since it was posted. The video has also captured attention on Twitter: After seeing the devastating image of Omran in the back of an ambulance in Syria 6 year old Alex wrote a letter to President Obama pic.twitter.com/ujFnJkBdVO World Vision Ireland (@WorldVisionIre) September 22, 2016 Powerful letter from 6-year-old Alex in America to Omran Danqeesh "boy picked up in Ambulance" in #Syria .Goodnight https://t.co/hvGYq6BLEU Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) September 22, 2016 Alex, 6 years old, writes to @POTUS asking the President to bring 5-year-old Omran, refugee in Syria, to Alex's homehttps://t.co/vKHfmKyNGE Mechthild (@MechthildHa) September 22, 2016 "We should all 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's letter is a challenge to the rest of us. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef answers a question during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Monsef could be stripped of her citizenship without a hearing under a law the Liberals denounced while in opposition but which they've been enforcing aggressively since taking power, civil liberties and refugee lawyers say.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld A two-year-old Metis girl at the heart of a court fight between her foster parents and the B.C. government walks with her foster father in Butchart Gardens, in an image provided by the foster mother, in Victoria, B.C. in January 2016. British Columbia's representative for children and youth is urging the province's attorney general to intervene in the case of a Metis toddler being adopted to non-aboriginal parents in Ontario. CANADIAN PRESS/HO Amin Karim, representative of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, right, and Afghanistan national security adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar, third left, hold their documents after signing a peace deal, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The Afghan government has signed a draft peace deal with Hizb-i-Islami Gulbuddin, a designated Auglobal terroristAu after lengthy negotiations that could pave the way for a similar accord with the Taliban. It grants full political rights to Gulbuddin's Hezb-i-Islami party and obliges the Afghan authorities to work to have it removed from the United NationsAo list of foreign terrorist organizations. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Rachel Brougham: This is why Halloween is the best Midway through opening arguments in the trial of former allies to Gov. Christie on charges they illegally orchestrated a massive traffic tie-up at the George Washington Bridge in 2013, Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna dropped a potential bombshell: Confidants had boasted to Christie at a 9/11 ceremony of the traffic snarl in Fort Lee as it was unfolding, and that they were not returning the panicked phone calls of the Fort Lee mayor. The surprise disclosure, which marked the first time federal prosecutors suggested that Christie may have known of the lane closings as they occurred, prompted questions on why the governor himself had not been charged. But experts in criminal law say that investigations of this kind often turn on nuances and that Khanna's language was couched. Even if federal prosecutors have evidence that Christie knew about the scheme, it might not be evidence of a crime, they say. At the same time, the Justice Department's U.S. Attorney's manual sets stringent rules, barring criminal charges unless prosecutors are convinced that they can prevail at trial. One witness with a story to tell typically isn't enough in such cases, the experts say. "There are two issues: First of all there is the legal question of whether mere knowledge would be enough to support criminal charges, even if you could prove knowledge," said Robert Mintz, head of the white-collar defense practice at McCarter & English, a prominent, Newark, N.J.-based firm with an office in Philadelphia. "And the second issue is the proof issue. Federal prosecutors rarely bring charges based on one individual's uncorroborated testimony. They need more than that. It can't be just one person testifying that something happened. They would typically need corroboration." Simply being aware of a crime isn't in itself a criminal act, except in cases such as child or elder abuse, where the law requires that such crimes be reported. "Just because you know of a crime doesn't mean you are an accomplice; that is pretty strict black-letter law," said Thomas Bergstrom, a white-collar defense lawyer at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney in Center City. Brian Murray, Christie's press secretary, declined to comment on the trial except to point to an earlier statement by the governor that he had no recollection of the conversation with David Wildstein and Bill Baroni. On other occasions, the governor has said he had no knowledge of the plan to cause the traffic tie-ups. According to Khanna, there were three people involved in the Sept. 11, 2013, conversation: Wildstein, a onetime Christie ally who is a federal cooperating witness; Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the bridge; and the governor. Baroni has been charged with fraud and conspiracy along with former Christie administration official Bridget Anne Kelly in connection with orchestrating lane closings on the eastbound side of the bridge from Sept. 9, 2013, through Sept. 13, causing the traffic troubles. Khanna's mention of that meeting was brief, and open to interpretation. "The evidence will show that Baroni and Wildstein were so committed to their plan ... that during the precious few minutes they had alone with the governor, they bragged about the fact that there were traffic problems in Fort Lee and that Mayor Sokolich was not getting his calls returned," Khanna said in his opening statement. Wildstein, Kelly, and Baroni allegedly arranged the lane closings as retribution for the failure of Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat, to endorse the reelection campaign of Christie, a Republican. It was a particularly vicious tactic, federal prosecutors assert. The lane closings were timed to coincide with the first day of school to maximize the disruption and discomfort. Sokolich called Baroni and officials in the governor's office, at one point reporting that the traffic jam had interfered with a police search for a 4-year-old child and the emergency response to a man suffering from a heart attack. But Baroni declined to respond. Steven Feldman, a former federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan who now practices as a white-collar defense lawyer at Murphy & McGonigle in New York, said the government may have had strategic reasons for mentioning the meeting with Christie. If Wildstein told federal prosecutors the governor knew about the plot, they would be obligated to turn over that information to defense counsel, who could use it to make the point that their clients were merely minor players in a larger scheme. Flagging that at the outset might help to deflate the defense argument that Christie was in on the scheme. "[Prosecutors] know what the cooperating witness is going to say, and that the defense will use that," Feldman said. "How do you approach that? Oftentimes, you want to take some of the sting out of it by mentioning it yourself." Either way, it won't be an easy case for the government, said Patrick J. Egan, a criminal-defense lawyer at Fox Rothschild in Center City. That's because the usual elements of a political corruption case the exchange of money for some favorable government action -- are missing, he said. "It's not the typical criminal conduct that you see in court every day," Egan said. "It's not a situation where someone is trying to enrich themselves. Usually you have someone giving something to a politician and getting something in return. Here you have a bridge closing." Turing Pharmaceuticals AG Announces Development of New Drug Candidates for Toxoplasmosis Details Category: Small Molecules Published on Thursday, 22 September 2016 19:48 Hits: 1799 ZUG, Switzerland I September 21, 2016 I Turing Pharmaceuticals AG today announced that it has advanced several experimental compounds into pre-clinical development. The selected compounds come from a library of small molecules, discovered as part of Turing's research efforts in toxoplasmosis, with significantly improved potency and selectivity over current treatments in animal models of the disease. With its discovery, Turing has initiated the regulatory safety studies and pharmaceutical development activities needed for an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This will be Turing's fourth IND since the company's founding last year. Clinical trials with the new compounds are expected to begin in 2H2017. "There's a definitive need for new and improved therapies against toxoplasmosis," said Turing President of R&D, Eliseo Salinas, MD, MSc. "Current therapies target a protein family that is required by both the parasite and its human host. Consequently, treating physicians are limited in the doses of the current products they can use to eliminate the parasite. The ability to selectively engage the parasite would maximize the opportunity to eliminate infection without harming the patient." Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii - one of the most commonly found parasites worldwide. It is carried by about one in five Americans, with one million new infections each year. In most cases the infection produces minor symptoms, if any. But in a small subset of patients it can have serious, sometimes fatal consequences. Despite the severity of the disorder, there have been no significant pharmaceutical advancements in its treatment since the introduction of currently utilized therapies over 50 years ago. Turing's most advanced ongoing discovery program in toxoplasmosis focuses on developing inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) an essential enzyme for folate metabolism and cellular proliferation. Current treatments target this pathway with modest selectivity for the parasite over its human host. Applying state of the art computational chemistry, in silico screening and structure-based drug design to first identify a library of novel compounds, Turing subsequently optimized and tested the selected drug candidates in relevant disease models. These included compounds with low nanomolar potency and significantly higher selectivity for the parasite DHFR over human DHFR. This profile should enable a substantially greater therapeutic window and may eliminate drawbacks of current toxoplasmosis treatment, while potentially expanding the addressable patient population. Early efforts from the DHFR inhibitor program were published this month in ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters by the American Chemical Society. An abstract of the article 'Discovery of Potent and Selective Leads Against Toxoplasma gondii Dihydrofolate Reductase Via Structure-Based Drug Design' is available at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.6b00328. Turing's research team also reported the first-ever crystallographic data of a novel inhibitor bound to T. gondii DHFR. These data have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank and are publicly available. Turing plans to submit additional manuscripts detailing drug discovery and development efforts for publication in peer-reviewed journals in the near future. About Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasmosis is a potentially serious, sometimes fatal infection caused by the Toxoplasmsa gondii (T gondii) parasite. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers toxoplasmosis to be one of the five neglected parasitic infections. Although many people are infected, only a small number may experience serious complications. Most suffer no more than passing flu-like symptoms until the parasite is controlled by the immune system. The organism can, however, be reactivated in people, including those with compromised immunity. Active infection can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), blindness and death. In some cases, a mother can transmit the infection to her fetus, who might suffer serious and sometimes irreversible complications. About Turing Turing Pharmaceuticals AG is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company with offices in Zug Switzerland and New York, NY. Turing focuses on developing and commercializing innovative treatments for serious diseases and conditions across a broad range of therapeutic areas, for which there are currently limited or no treatment options. SOURCE: Turing Pharmaceuticals Saphan Phut Memorial Bridge Night Market in Bangkok If you think you have venture to all the night markets in Bangkok, oh well you have to really catch up. So far we have more than 10 night markets in our list and we will blog about it soon by this month. We went to Bangkok five times this year and try our best to find all the night markets in Bangkok. On our recent trip to the capital of Thailand earlier this month, we found a popular local night market. There is one of night markets in Bangkok which is least popular with tourists. In fact, you dont find much information on this night market. The name of this night market is called Saphan Phut or Memorial Bridge night market. The night market basically located below the Memorial Bridge and thats how they get the name. It is located right at the center of old Bangkok in front of Wat Ratchaburana Ratchaworawihan (Wat Liap). The exact address is Wang Burapha Phirom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand (GPS Coordinate: 13.741523, 100.498555). Many locals know about this night market because it is one of the pioneer night markets in the city. It has been around for more than 15 years as we were told. Originally it was more like a flea market but now it is similar to other night markets. We did see some of the 2nd hand stalls here but they are only a handful of them. There are probably two to three streets of stalls in Saphan Phut night market. You can find stalls selling clothes, fashion accessories, food stalls as well as other small items. By the way this night market is next to the Chao Phraya river. You can spot the river easily as it is under the Memorial Bridge. You only find locals shopping here and it is best to visit this place from 8pm. The prices here probably slightly cheaper than other night markets and maybe thats why you find many locals shopping here. Overall, there are not many that stalls here. Probably around less than 100 stalls spanning across a few streets. What we liked about this night market is it is not that commercialised. We can say 99% of the crowd here are locals and so the prices of the things here are cheaper. You can find replicas here and also many similar items on other market. We bought some T-Shirts for our kids here and it is value for money. If you are staying in Old Bangkok, you can consider this night market on top of Chinatown. Come for some light shopping and experience, this is Bangkok! They open daily except Mondays and Wednesdays from 7pm till midnight. We recommend to visit them after 8pm. How to go to Saphan Phut Night Market: The only way to visit Saphan Phut or Memorial Bridge night market is by taxi. We do recommend you to take Uber or Grab. The old Bangkok is pretty bad in traffic so some taxis are reluctant to go there. The nearest place of attraction is Wat Ratchaburana Ratchaworawihan (Wat Liap) and it is 15 minutes away to Chinatown or Yaowarat. Hope this will help you to get to Saphan Phut night market. Saphan Phut Address and GPS Coordinate: Wang Burapha Phirom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand GPS Coordinate: 13.741523, 100.498555 Wilson Ng A Father and traveler who enjoys to eat, shop, travel and taking pictures with Samsung S22 Ultra and Sony ZV-1. Im a full time blogger, youtuber and father for two. I used to travel around 17 International trips per year but now staying at home. Remember to follow us at www.instagram.com/placesandfoods and www.youtube.com/placesandfoods. For advertisements or features, contact me at [email protected] See author's posts Three officers with the Los Angeles Police Department were found to have violated department policy in the shooting deaths of two people in 2015, the Los Angeles Police Commission concluded Tuesday afternoon. The commission, which is made up of civilians who oversee the LAPD, found that the officers acted out of department policy in the fatal shootings of James Byrd and Norma Guzman, KABC TV reports. Byrd, 46, was shot and killed on Oct. 3, 2015, after police said he threw a bottle at a police cruiser in Van Nuys, shattering the back window. Guzman, 37, was shot and killed by officers in South Los Angeles the morning of Sept. 27, 2015. LAPD stated Guzman was armed with an 8-inch serrated knife and refused to follow orders to drop it. The man killed in an officer-involved shooting Tuesday afternoon in Charlotte had a record of weapons and violence charges, the Charlotte Observer reports. A public records search shows that Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was convicted in April 2004 of a misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon charge in Mecklenburg County. Other charges stemming from that date were dismissed: felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and misdemeanors assault on a child under 12, assault on a female and communicating threats. In April 2015 in Gaston County Court, Scott was found guilty of driving while intoxicated. In 1992, Scott was charged in Charleston County, SC, with several different crimes on different dates, including carrying a concealed weapon (not a gun), simple assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He pleaded guilty to all charges. Scott also was charged with aggravated assault in 1992 and assault with intent to kill in 1995. Both charges were reduced, but the disposition of the cases is unclear. According to Bexar County, TX, records, Scott was sentenced in March 2005 to 15 months in a state jail for evading arrest. In July of that year, records show, he was sentenced to seven years in prison on a conviction of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman said Scott completed his sentence and was released from prison in 2011. The fatal police shooting of Scott, who was the father of seven, sparked two nights of rioting in Charlotte, resulting in injured officers and civilians, property damage, and disruption of highway traffic. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The last couple of weeks were stressful for Clinton supporters. It was hard to find a Democrat who didnt feel somewhere between concerned and outright panicked. First, the media and Republicans seized on Clintons comment that half of Donald Trumps supporters fall into a basket of deplorables. Some said her moment of candor was worse than Mitt Romneys 47 percent gaffe from 2012, although the math doesnt quite add up. It got worse when, despite doctors orders, the Democratic nominee campaigned through pneumonia, which led to a not-so-pleasant moment after she was forced to leave a Sept. 11 memorial event in New York. The pundit class quickly claimed that the race had fundamentally shifted. National and swing-state polling showed Trump gaining. Democrats worried that the race was slipping away from their nominee. Now, with just five days until Clinton and Trump meet in the first presidential debate, Clinton has stolen back the momentum. A key Pennsylvania poll out over the weekend has Clinton ahead there by eight points in a four-person race. In Florida, two surveys released on Tuesday showed the Democratic nominee beating Trump by five points. Another on Monday shows her ahead by a single point in the Sunshine State. Two polls out today have Clinton leading Trump in both New Hampshire (+9) and Wisconsin (+3). Nationally, as Jason Easley wrote earlier, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll has Clinton out in front by six points among likely voters not a total blowout, but a pretty comfortable lead. This isnt to say that there arent any good polls for Trump there are, like the new Fox News polls showing him with small leads in Nevada, Ohio, and North Carolina. It will not be and never was going to be a cakewalk for Hillary Clinton. At the moment, she leads nationally and in enough states to give her 270 electoral votes, albeit by margins that are often slim. But its still clear that the race hasnt changed all that much, despite cable news punditry and left-leaning bed-wetters. As has been the case throughout most of this campaign, she is still ahead. After weeks of Democratic panic attacks and a handful of concerning poll numbers, Clinton has recovered. She has the momentum as we approach the most important event of the campaign. The debate will give her an opportunity to seize it for good. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The minority outreach charade is officially over for Donald Trump. Just as the nation is grappling with yet another devastating killing of an unarmed African-American man, the Republican nominee praised racist stop-and-frisk policing during a town hall at a black church in Cleveland. The church, if you were wondering, was filled mostly with white people during Trumps visit. When asked how he would reduce crime in black communities, Trump suggested he would implement stop-and-frisk on a national level. One of the things Id do is I would do stop-and-frisk, Trump said at the town hall set to air on Fox News Wednesday night. I think you have to. We did it in New York, it worked incredibly well and you have to be proactive. New York City has since stopped enforcing the policy amid years of intense backlash and successful lawsuits challenging it. As Slate noted in 2013: Blacks and Latinos have consistently accounted for around 85 percent of stop-and-frisk selectees; according to 2010 census data, blacks and Latinos make up 52.6 percent of New York Citys total population. Even in neighborhoods that are predominantly white, black, and Latino New Yorkers face the disproportionate brunt, reports the New York Civil Liberties Union. For example, in 2011, Black and Latino New Yorkers made up 24 percent of the population in Park Slope, but 79 percent of stops. Opponents of Trump and the controversial police tactic were quick to slam the GOP nominees plan. According to the New York Times, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said that Trumps proposal would alienate the very people who we need to be partners in the fight against crime. He added that Trump does not understand how policing works. Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, also took on Trump, according to the Times, saying: The idea of creating a national stop-and-frisk policy is the equivalent of advancing martial law and is beyond the constitutional power of the presidency. At the end of the day, there is one candidate for president who acknowledges the reality of systemic racism in Americas criminal justice system Hillary Clinton. She has also laid out a comprehensive criminal justice reform plan, which you can read here. Donald Trump, who calls himself the law and order candidate, has defended racial profiling in the wake of recent terror attacks and, now, is proposing to implement it on a national scale. The choice couldnt be clearer. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The top Democrats on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees are warning that Russia is actively attempting to influence the presidential election for Donald Trump. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee said in a joint statement: Based on briefings we have received, we have concluded that the Russian intelligence agencies are making a serious and concerted effort to influence the U.S. election. 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 electionwe can see no other rationale for the behavior of the Russians. We believe that orders for the Russian intelligence agencies to conduct such actions could come only from very senior levels of the Russian government. We call on President Putin to immediately order a halt to this activity. Americans will not stand for any foreign government trying to influence our election. We hope all Americans will stand together and reject the Russian effort. In other words, Comrade Dons friends at the Kremlin are trying to get him elected president as part of a plan to install a friendly Putin puppet who will neutralize the US opposition to Russias aggressive expansion plans. It is amazing that the Republican Party has gone from Mitt Romney warning that Russia is our greatest adversary to Donald Trump playing pattycake with Vlad Putin and telling the GOP what wonderful friends the Russians will make. The Russians are definitely meddling in the US election. They are terrified of what an experienced Hillary Clinton will bring to the White House. They definitely want a soft minded stooge like Donald Trump who can be easily bought and rolled over leading the worlds only superpower. This isnt some plot of an old Cold War movie. It is a warning that Donald Trumps pals are trying to interfere with the democratic process of a US presidential election. Beyond the circus and bluster, Donald Trump represents a very real threat to the national security of the United States of America. Portfolio English Edition's premium content is available only for subscribers Learn about the hottest news of the day, along with immediate follow-up analyses and 1000's of exclusive articles with full access to the premium content. Register and apply for a 14 days free trial period. Dear Dave: My company seems to lose great employees and we never know why they leave. They tell us they have opportunities to advance their careers, but there must be more to it. If there are things that are making people leave, I, and my fellow managers, certainly want to know what they are. What should we be looking for and how can we find out why people all of a sudden leave? P Dear P: Great questions. At the top of the list is the nature and quality of one's relationship with their immediate manager. If you cannot stand to work with your boss, you will say "adios" no matter what the company provides you. It's the life-is-too-short rationale for departure decision-making. How manager-employee relationships are created and nurtured will dictate the level of quality in interactions and communications. If the culture of a team, department or organization is adversarial and management is unapproachable and dictatorial, the employees especially the best ones will spend their free time working on their resumes and their job hunt. People also leave their jobs because they have no opportunities for career growth. I believe most employees want to produce and grow in their profession. A recent LinkedIn survey found people quit jobs mostly because they didn't have ample room to grow. They did not see opportunities for advancement if they stuck around, even if they were great at what they did. Other reasons people quit ADVERTISEMENT I need to state it is not always the managers that are to blame. Some employees are just not motivated and if things become too challenging they bolt. Also, employees come to jobs with a lot of skills. However, if they come only with specific job skills and do not possess and use relationship-building skills, the culture may drive them away. That is why it is essential to assess if a potential new hire can do the job and also fit the organizational culture. People hate to be "smothered" at work. Nobody likes a micromanager don't ever become one. The opposite of a micromanager is a "hit and run" manager. This is the manager who's perpetually never in the office but, when they are, they take shots at good people just for good measure and suddenly vacate the premises, leaving the employee wounded and afraid. I have had these types of managers and guess what I left. I also think nothing burns out good employees quite like overworking them and ignoring their work-life balance. Doing more with less has become a corporate credo in these difficult economic times, but riding your employees to death will cause them excessive stress and an exit to greener pastures. As much as good employees like challenge and achievement, there are limits to what they can do and endure. Another reason people leave is because of a lack of rewards and recognition. It's easy to underestimate the power of a pat on the back, pizza on Friday or an extended work break, especially with top performers, who are craving some approval and acceptance of their hard work. Everyone likes recognition (public or private). Good, hard-working employees want to work with good, hard-working co-workers. If one's co-workers do not care about their work and do the bare minimum or less each and every day, even the best employees will become demotivated and may leave. Even worse than this is seeing the wrong people being promoted they will throw in the towel. Good managers do everything in their power to help their employees succeed. The best managers are aware of what their staff is doing or not doing, they pay attention, and they constantly are listening and giving constructive feedback. People want to know how they are doing. If managers don't give feedback, their best people will exit. If you want your best people to stay, you need to think carefully about how you treat them. While good employees are resilient and mostly self-motivated, they have needs and it is a manager's job to fulfill them. Dear Answer Man, does Mayo participate in the Veterans Choice Program, and if not, why not? Excellent question. The first answer is no, and the second is because it's an administrative "burden." The Veterans Choice Program is relatively new, authorized in 2014, and the mission is to provide health care closer to home for veterans. It was rolled out during the political firestorm over long waits and other problems with VA health care. Veterans who've been waiting more than 30 days for VA medical care and live more than 40 miles away from a VA medical facility or face other "excessive travel burdens" can use it. Those who go through the process have to receive approval from a VA physician before getting local care. But veterans can't get that care at Mayo. Spokeswoman Susan M. Barber Lindquistsaid by email, "Similar to many health care providers across our local communities, state and the country, Mayo Clinic is not participating in the Veterans Choice Program because of the significant administrative burden and necessary staff increases to meet the requirements." ADVERTISEMENT She said the clinic is "working with policymakers to improve this program for the benefit of veterans" and "continues to serve thousands of veterans under a number of commercial and government insurance programs." (Just so you know, the VA website lists dozens of Mayo doctors as providers. I asked Susan about that and she said, "If a veteran is seen in an emergency situation, the physician he/she saw is incorrectly and automatically added to the VA Choice list of providers. Unfortunately, this list is updated manually, and it has been incorrect for a significant period of time.") One of my associates checked with Olmsted Medical Center and a spokeswoman said, "Based on what I've been able to find out, we do not participate in the program." The VA has won some praise for Veterans Choice, but it has plenty of critics. I'll link to one story, by the Center for Investigative R eporting, that describes the program as "Congress' hastily crafted response to the scandal of veterans dying while awaiting appointments at Veterans Affairs medical facilities. The goal: to farm out veterans to private care providers when VA waits are too long or travel distances too great." U.S. News magazine reported a few months ago that the program "was intended to serve as a release valve to relieve pressure on the VA system and expedite veterans' access to care ... Congress is now considering the future of the Veterans Choice program, including whether to make it permanent and expand eligibility to all veterans enrolled in VA health care. Yet, little is known about this program's potential as a long-term supplement to the care VA provides and its effectiveness as a solution to ensure timely access to care for veterans." In my humble opinion, the VA is one of those government institutions, chief among them the IRS, that will never win a popularity contest, and this new program hasn't changed that. But doesn't it make sense to allow more local health care options? I checked with 1st District Rep. Tim Walz , a veteran and a member of the VA Reform Conference Committee in 2014, and his office put out this statement: "Ensuring our veterans have access to the high-quality care they need and have earned is critical. Veterans, especially in rural areas, should be able to access care closer to home if they choose. That being said, we have seen significant challenges in the implementation of this program and would need to see significant improvements before considering it be made permanent. "That is why I have worked with veterans, veterans' advocates, health providers and the VA to improve access and solicit ideas for how to best provide care," he said. ADVERTISEMENT For more on the Veterans Choice Program, call 1-866-606-8198. To talk to someone at the Rochester VA Clinic, call 507-252-0885, but be patient: From my experience with the phone system there, you'll need it. A former employee with the City of Rochester's Human Resources Department has been charged with felony possession of stolen property after nearly 40 boxes full of city documents were found in a storage unit she rented. Debra Rae Coyle, 54, of 1956 42nd St. NW, was charged by summons Wednesday; her first appearance in Olmsted County District Court is set for Nov. 8. The case began in July 2014, when an employee of the storage unit accidentally cut the lock on a unit rented by Coyle. He realized his mistake almost immediately, the complaint says, and attempted unsuccessfully to contact Coyle; the company put its own lock on the unit to secure it. In November 2014, her contract payments fell in arrears, prompting more attempts to contact Coyle. In January, the company opened the unit to dispose of the contents because of the lack of payment and saw paperwork inside that appeared to belong to the city of Rochester. Nearly 40 legal document storage boxes were stacked in the unit, which had reportedly been leased by Coyle in October 2006. ADVERTISEMENT In February 2015, an investigator spoke to Coyle, who allegedly said she was retaining some of the records as evidence for a potential lawsuit because her supervisor was "bullying" her, harassing her and creating a difficult work situation. Coyle didn't file a lawsuit, she said, choosing instead to take a severance package from the city when she left in 2012. According to court documents, "she wanted to retain the work she performed," but hadn't seen the contents of the boxes since sometime in 2013. According to the complaint, much of the material in the boxes was copies of forms and notices, but there were also a number of original files, including personnel jackets, employment applications, performance evaluations, test scores, meeting minutes, law enforcement sergeant employment applications, fingerprint cards from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for several police officers, payroll sheets and more. If convicted, Coyle faces up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. WINONA A Minnesota City man charged in Winona County District Court with sexual assault of a minor has entered a plea in the case. Cesar Eduardo Sierra Avila, 34, was charged in February with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct-victim under 13 and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct-victim under 13. On Tuesday, he entered an Alford plea of guilty to the second-degree count; in exchange, the other charge was dismissed. Avila was ordered held without bail; sentencing has been set for Dec. 7. With an Alford plea, the defendant maintains his innocence but acknowledges the evidence could be sufficient enough for a conviction. According to the criminal complaint, the incident occurred on or about Nov. 27, when Avila took the girl into the kitchen of a home while other girls were in the living room. The assault began in the kitchen, then escalated when the suspect ignored the victim's pleas to stop and took her to a nearby bedroom, the complaint says. The assault stopped when a friend of Avila's returned home. ADVERTISEMENT The victim told her family about the incident on Dec. 11, at which point authorities were contacted. ST. PAUL Lee Andrew Paul, 36, was sentenced Wednesday to 33 years in prison for sex trafficking three victims, two minor girls and one young woman. One of the minors was from Rochester. Paul, of Bloomington, was indicted in federal court in March 2015; on Dec. 11, following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery, a federal jury convicted Paul of two counts of sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud and coercion, and one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion. "I remain amazed at the courage and fortitude shown by the young victims who stood up to Paul and who took back from him the power he tried to exert over them," said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. "Everything about Paul's conduct belies any notion that he can be trusted to walk the streets ever again," Luger said. "My office is committed to prosecuting human traffickers like Paul and bringing to justice anyone who would exploit and abuse the most vulnerable in our community." ADVERTISEMENT Melinda A. Williams, assistant U.S. attorney, called Paul "a remorseless predator. He is a rapist, an exploiter of women and children, and an unquestionable danger to our society. Every day the defendant is behind bars is a day that our community is safer." During Memorial Day weekend of 2013, Paul a self-proclaimed "pimp" sought out a 12-year-old sixth-grader to join his sex trafficking "family." He lured the 12-year-old and a 16-year-old girl to a party at a motel in Rochester, where he gave them marijuana and alcohol. Paul announced that he was a pimp, told the young victims they would be working for him, then took them to the Twin Cities where they knew no one. Paul sexually assaulted the 16-year-old victim and brutally raped the 12-year-old. That same weekend, the 16-year-old victim escaped from Paul, who was holding them at a motel in Maple Grove. The girl found a police officer and reported what had happened to her. Paul, who'd been tipped off that the girl was trying to find the police, fled the scene. He then directed a third victim, a 19-year-old, to take the 12-year-old victim to Alexandria to "show her the ropes." The 12-year-old was sold two times that night for sex with men. Law enforcement arrested Paul on the morning of May 27, 2013. He was in jail pending state charges in Olmsted and Anoka counties until Aug. 26, 2013, when he made bail. Paul fled in July 2014, on the eve of his Olmsted County trial. While on the run, Paul got rid of his cellphone and shut down his Facebook page to avoid being tracked by law enforcement. He fled first to Chicago, then Atlanta, where he lived under two different assumed identities and used "burner" phones to avoid being tracked by law enforcement. He was arrested Jan. 14, 2015, by the U.S. Marshals Service and brought back to Minnesota to face federal charges. ADVERTISEMENT The case is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Marshals Service, Rochester Police Department, Alexandria Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Anoka County Sheriff's Office, Pope County Sheriff's Office and the Maple Grove Police Department. The U.S. Attorney's Office made a special point of thanking the members of the Olmsted County Attorney's Office for their substantial assistance in the prosecution of the case. RED WING Ellen Lentsch shouldered her camera bag, grabbed her tripod and headed up the concrete steps leading to the top of Red Wing's famed Barn Bluff . As of Saturday, she's done that 261 mornings in a row and also has taken that trip a few times in the daytime. Yet, she doesn't know how many steps there are in two sections of the overall trail that is mostly dirt. The rural Cannon Falls woman only knows when she began her project to take a photo every morning from the same place on the east-facing face of the bluff, she needed 45 minutes to get there. She's down to 25 and improving. At first, she dreamed of an escalator. Now, 13 pounds lighter, "I can actually hike the hill without feeling I'm going to pass out," she said. There are much easier ways to drop pounds than her quixotic quest, ones without leaving herself sleep deprived for much of a year because she works the second shift at Gemini in Cannon Falls. But she's determined. "I wanted something unique and something challenging," she said. She wanted something "to show people how pretty the world is." ADVERTISEMENT That beauty is not just in the grand sunrises. Along the trail, she noticed the little things, oohing and aahing over a little flower during her daytime hike Saturday. Tiny asters caught her eye. "Hello beautiful," she said. "I should get a shot of you." Lentsch said she got the idea in part from a Facebook post of someone who took a photo at the same time, same place for a year; the sun looked like an elongated sideways eight or the infinity symbol. She first thought of taking pictures from Red Wing's Memorial Park that is much easier to get to but decided on Barn Bluff for its superb view. After a short walk on the dirt trail, she came to the longer flight of concrete steps. Up she went without hesitation, without even breathing hard. While she hikes the same trail daily, it's not the same hike. At times, she sees a doe, two fawns and a young buck. At other times, a raptor sliced the air in search of bird prey. With the right northwest wind, she's seen 10, 12, maybe even 20 bald eagles nearby. She takes it all in, enjoys it even if she can't get a picture. Finally, Lentsch arrived at the overlook. She's worn all the grass off a patch where she knows exactly where to set her tripod. She knows just how far down to set each leg to get a flat horizon. Ahead of her is more than 10 miles of Mississippi River and Lake Pepin. It's spectacular. But she also sees the stacks of a small power plant below her. She leaves them in. "It's iconic," she said. Trees are beginning to change colors. "It's marvelous watching everything change from spring, summer and now, into fall." Lentsch got some midday photos and knelt down to take flower pictures more asters. ADVERTISEMENT Taking photos was a small hobby until she got serious about three years ago. "Photography captures an instant in time, and people can look through your eyes, in essence, see through your heart," she said. She records her thoughts in the Midwestern Wanderlog blog, though she's a bit behind; at times, it's either sleep or blog. At the top, three women also were admiring the view and asked Lentsch what she was doing. One thought it was awesome. Will you put them in a book? "Vague plans, vague plans," Lentsch said. When she was back down, she said she is determined to do all 366 days. "I look forward to the morning, and I look forward to get done for the year," Lentsch said. When done, "I will miss it (but) at least I will when I get caught up on my sleep." ADVERTISEMENT The Rochester Public Library is keeping all options on the table as it continues to search for new and expanded space. The library's board of directors on Wednesday decided not to sign a memorandum of understanding with three partner agencies the University of Minnesota Rochester, the Rochester Family YMCA and the Minnesota Children's Museum of Rochester that would commit the agencies to exploring shared space. Lou Ohly, library board president, said the decision did not rule out any of the library's possibilities for colocating with the other agencies. The board also agreed to continue research on five options for new space, including an expansion in its current location, relocation or expanding in a new branch. "I don't think we're throwing aside anything. ... The expansion, I think that's still on the board. It's funding that's the issue. But to explore other ideas doesn't mean you throw away this one also," Ohly said after the board met Wednesday. The board and Library Executive Director Audrey Betcher had spent the past three years researching space needs and opportunities to grow. That process led to a plans for a $55 million expansion of the downtown location that emerged in July last year. ADVERTISEMENT The library received tentative funding support from the Rochester City Council but plans stalled in talks with the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners. An ad hoc group of community leaders formed in April to discuss the possibility of colocating services with the four agencies. The agencies drafted a memorandum of understanding to continue conversations on shared space. It would be a nonbinding agreement, the document said, but would have the parties agree to "make their best efforts on a collaborative, non-binding basis to jointly evaluate the development of the DMC (Destination Medical Center) zone referred to as UMR and Recreation." The library board on Wednesday discussed the benefits of signing such an agreement. The conversation focused intensely on the perception of the general public and what library users might think if the board did, or did not, sign the agreement. "How is it going to look to the community if we sign this?" board member Janice Engberg asked. "That's my concern, that we're saying, 'OK, we're going to put all our energy into finding a way to partner with UMR, UMR and someone else.' How's that look to the community?" The board had discussed the memorandum at its meeting in August. At that time, board member Joshua DeFrang expressed concerns that appearing to waver from the library's plans to expand in place could jeopardize funding opportunities or cause the public to lose faith in the expansion plan. Revisiting that same discussion Wednesday, the board agreed that it should keep all its options open. The board directed Betcher to continue conversations with potential partner agencies while also researching five options for new space that were outlined by a library planning committee. Those options included: staying in the current downtown location; moving the library to a different downtown location; staying in the current location and adding a branch or branches; expanding the current location and adding a branch; or moving the library to a different downtown location and adding a branch. ADVERTISEMENT Engberg, who is a part of the planning committee, said the committee could meet a few more times and return more information on the options to the board. The Rochester Family YMCA board of directors is expected to consider the memorandum of understanding at its meeting next week. Director Steve Courts said the memorandum could give focus to future conversations about shared space but no potential plans had yet been discussed between the groups. "This really is just about starting some conversations," Courts said. "There's nobody coming in, at least that I know of, that has any preconceived notion of what this could possibly look like. We've seriously not had any discussions beyond just the four of us saying this is certainly an option that warrants more discussion." The ad hoc committee that had formed to encourage discussions about shared space has disbanded, according to Sheila Kiscaden, an Olmsted County Board of Commissioners member who had formed the group. "We considered our mission accomplished once we had the meeting with the organizations and they decided that they were interested in having the conversation and they would go forward from there," Kiscaden said in a voice message to the Post-Bulletin. Voters eager to cast their November ballot don't have to wait anymore. Beginning Friday, Minnesota voters can vote by absentee ballot. Election officials are bracing for a increase in people opting to cast their votes early for one simple reason they no longer need an excuse to vote absentee. The Legislature scrapped the requirement that voters provide an excuse for voting absentee in 2014, but this marks the first time the no-excuse law will be in effect for a presidential election. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said most voters have no idea how easy and convenient voting has become in the state. "When I say, 'Did you know that you can vote from home now, and you don't have to have an excuse or a reason, you can vote from your couch or kitchen table just by ordering an absentee ballot from your home?' people say, 'No, I didn't realize that. Where do I sign up?'" Here are the basics on how to vote absentee in Minnesota. ADVERTISEMENT How do I get an absentee ballot? You have two options, you can request one online or vote in-person at your county or local elections office. To request one online, go to mnvotes.org and request a ballot be mailed. Then you can fill it out at home and mail it in. Forms are available online in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Karen, Russian, Chinese, Lao, Oromo, Khmer and Amharic. How does the in-person voting work? Drop by your county or local elections office and fill out an application for an absentee ballot. You'll be handed a ballot and directed to a polling booth to fill it out. Mandy Ness, who oversees Olmsted County's absentee voting, said she expects to see people showing up right away on Friday to cast their votes. "In 2014, people really liked the no-excuse absentee voting. I think it gave them a bit more freedom to choose," Ness said "I think voters are really going to take advantage of the fact they don't have to have an excuse to vote." In Olmsted County, in-person voting is being done at the county building near the Olmsted County Fairgrounds, 1421 Third Ave. SE, Rochester. Wait a minute what if I'm not registered to vote? No problem. You can request an absentee ballot online even if you're not registered to vote. A voter registration application will be sent with the absentee ballot. You also can register to vote when getting your absentee ballot in person. ADVERTISEMENT How long do I have to vote absentee? Mailed absentee ballots have to be received on or before the Nov. 8 election in order to be counted. The last day to vote in-person by absentee is Nov. 7. What if I live outside of the country? Can I still vote absentee? Absolutely. Ballots can be mailed abroad to people in the military or those living overseas. Simply go to mnvotes.org to request the ballot be mailed. Ballots also can be received by email or fax. You then mail the ballot back. There is one caveat if you live abroad indefinitely with no plans to return to Minnesota, you only can vote for federal offices in the election. Are there any potential drawbacks to voting early? Simon said he often hears the argument it's a bad idea for people to vote so early in the election before they have had time to watch the debates and gather information. But Simon has a couple responses to that. First, just because someone requests an absentee ballot 46 days before the election doesn't mean they have to fill it out right away. And secondly, Minnesota law allows them to change their ballot later if they are unhappy with how they voted. So if I regret how I voted, I can change my vote? That's right. Minnesota voters who cast their ballot early have the option of "clawing back" their previous ballot and voting again as long as it is at least seven days before the general election. Simon said that works because no elections administrator is allowed to open and process the ballots until a week before election day. As such, the ballots are just sitting in a secured box. ADVERTISEMENT "Not many people know you can do this, but you can," Simon said. What are the benefits of voting early? Casting a ballot early can free up voters to do other things on Election Day including serving as an election judge or helping with last-minute, get-out-the-vote efforts by candidates. If a last-minute family crisis or conflict erupts on Election Day, voters who already have cast their absentee ballot don't need to worry. OK, I know about the presidential race, but what about all the other races? If you want to know who will be on your ballot, go to mnvotes.org and click on the "My Ballot" link. Once there, you will be given the chance to enter your address and see all the races that will be on your ballot, from president all the way down to soil and water supervisors. How do I know if my absentee ballot got counted? You can check the status of your absentee ballot online at mnvotes.org. You can find out when your absentee ballot was mailed and if your completed ballot was received and accepted by the local elections office. Hey, I like voting the old-fashioned way on Election Day. No worries the polls will be open, as always, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 8. You can go ahead and cast your ballot in person and get a nifty "I voted" sticker. Find your polling place online at mnvotes.org. We're No. 1! Simon is hoping that no-excuse absentee voting will help Minnesota reclaim its title as the No. 1 state for voter turnout in the nation. The North Star State had been tops in voter turnout for nine years in a row until 2014, when the state dropped to No. 6. Usually, about 70 percent of the state's registered voters cast a ballot on Election Day. Simon said the challenge is letting voters know all of their options ahead of Nov. 8. Simon added, "Part of getting us back to No. 1 in voter turnout, which I think is our collective goal this year, is just making sure people understand what the rules are." ST. PAUL Minnesota Republicans are criticizing Gov. Mark Dayton for authorizing nearly $80,000 in severance payments to three top officials who resigned from his administration. Dayton provided the severance packages to former Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioners Mark Phillips and Katie Clark Sieben, as well as Director of Higher Education Services Sheila Wright. Each of these officials' severance packages equaled approximately three months of their salary. "It looks and smells fishy," said Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown. "We think the governor should explain why he's doing this. If there were circumstances that required that, I think he should disclose that." Dayton's administration contends the payments were appropriate and legal. But the radio report said it was unclear why Sieben, Phillips and Wright received severance packages while eight other commissioners who resigned from Dayton's administration didn't receive severance pay. Rep. Sarah Anderson, R-Plymouth, said she's never heard of political appointees receiving severance, and it violates taxpayer trust. ADVERTISEMENT "They are not expecting their tax dollars to be a buyout for you," Anderson said. "They're expecting that money to go to the programming that is part of that agency. And my question is 'Where did this money come from?'" In a statement, Linden Zakula, Dayton's chief of staff, said the severances were authorized under state law, and in the Democratic governor's judgment, "the circumstances justified those severances." "The Governor acted well within his statutory authority. The Governor believes governors should make executive decisions, and legislators should make legislative decisions," Zakula said. State finance officials say the severance payouts were managed through existing department budgets. Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans said state law allows Dayton to authorize severance payouts. Anderson said the law cited was designed to cap severance pay for public employees, not authorize it. "In these particular cases, the governor made a decision to use his discretion to make these payments, and you'd have to talk to him to get those reasons," Frans said. Anderson said she will push to limit severance packages for political appointees in the next legislative session. Muslim leaders on Tuesday met with the southern Minnesota business owner who's keeping a sign saying "Muslims get out" in front of his restaurant. Dan Ruedinger, owner of Treats Family Restaurant in Lonsdale, posted the sign following Saturday's mass stabbing attack at a St. Cloud mall. Ruedinger says his message is not directed at Muslims in general only extremists but he says he couldn't fit that word on the sign. "This was not, nor is, it directed at the Muslim population in general," Ruedinger said. "This is directed at the extremist Muslims that are destroying our country, killing innocent Americans, blowing up innocent businesses, and it needs to stop." Jaylani Hussein with the Council on American-Islamic Relations went to the restaurant and says Ruedinger was cordial, but he would not agree to remove the sign. ADVERTISEMENT Hussein says he told Ruedinger that Muslims are in the majority of those killed by terrorist organizations. "We weren't there to change his mind," Hussein said. "We were there to start a conversation and I think we accomplished that." MINNEAPOLIS An aggressive southern weed called Palmer amaranth apparently has turned up in Minnesota for the first time, University of Minnesota Extension experts said Wednesday. Palmer amaranth has been spreading northward in recent years from the south, where it's been a frustrating scourge for farmers. The weed can shoot up as high as 7 feet, and just one plant can produce 500,000 to 1 million tiny seeds. Herbicide is increasingly futile against it, and the weed's thick stems and deep roots make it hard to kill by hand. It already has turned up in Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota. Integrated pest management specialist Bruce Potter said he saw it Tuesday after a crop consultant spotted suspected Palmer amaranth in a field in Yellow Medicine County in western Minnesota and gave him a call. Extension agronomist Jeff Gunsolus said he was waiting to receive a plant sample Friday before officially confirming the finding, but he said he's confident it's Palmer amaranth. He said he decided to put out the information now so farmers can check their fields before they get busy with the fall harvest. "I know what it looks like. I've been in Tennessee. I've been in Arkansas. I've seen the plant. This is pretty definitive," Gunsolus said. ADVERTISEMENT They think some seeds for the dreaded weed were in a native seed mixture that was planted in the field to benefit pollinators. Minnesota Department of Agriculture officials will be looking into whether the same seed mixture was planted elsewhere, Gunsolus said. Gunsolus declined to identify the farm where the weed was found. He said there were just a couple plants, and there's no need at this point to treat the field with herbicides. He said mowing should be sufficient and that competition from the native plant cover should help keep it from spreading much. Corn and soybean fields are mostly bare in comparison, he said, and that allows the weed to grow much more quickly in them. Congressional candidate Jim Moylan will not let truth or distortions stop him from saying anything to get elected. It is up to political analy Read morePolitical ploys at the last part of election? Yesterday afternoon, a small group of black professionals stood silently in front of the Bank of America Tower in Charlotte, North Carolina holding signs reading Black Lives Matter and Stop Killing Us. One of the protesters told the Charlotte Observer, What we want to do is show were not dangerous; we want to show the world its not thugs out here. Presumably, this man and his fellow silent protesters are not thugs. However, dangerous thugs were very much in evidence in rioting that occurred later on. For example, according to this report, rioters tried to throw a photographer into a fire they had started. There was also this vicious gang assault in a parking garage. Worst of all, a man was shot during the protest. Initial reports were that the victim, an African-American, had died. Fortunately, this was not the case. However, at last report he was on life support and critical condition. According to the police, the shot was not fired by an officer, but rather by a civilian. I guess the shooter didnt get the word that black lives matter. The rioting last night illustrates a central truth in the controversy over the policing of crime-ridden black neighborhoods a truth that, for reasons of political correctness, seldom is expressed openly. That truth is this: police officers who patrol these neighborhoods must deal regularly with the people who, among other acts of vicious lawlessness, hurled stones at cars driving along the interstate; tried to throw a reporter into a fire they had set; and assaulted en masse a bystander in a parking garage. There is bound to be tension, at least on occasion, when police officers interact with members of this violently criminal element. And there is likely to be more tension than ever now that the thugs are backed by a political movement that elevates their animosity towards the police to an ideology with mainstream support. In the tense situations that inevitably arise from policing crime-ridden neighborhoods, police officers cannot afford to assume that the thugs wish them no harm. They need, instead, to be on high alert all the more so in light of recent assassinations of police officers. Thus, when an armed man refuses a police order to disarm as allegedly occurred in Milwaukee and Charlotte that man is likely to be shot (which is what black police officers did in these two cities), and in most cases probably should be. There will also be instances where police officers assume a danger that couldnt have been present (e.g., there was no gun), though these cases seem very rare. When this happens, if the misjudgment cannot be defended, the officer must face whatever consequences police rules and the criminal law impose. But the Black Lives Matter movement and the Obama administration have misanalyzed the issue of policing crime-ridden black neighborhoods. The fundamental problem isnt racist policing, bad cops, or poor training. The fundamental problem is rampant violent criminality that places police officers under intense pressure and makes their job far more life-threatening than it should be. The remedy is not to encourage thugs by making them out to be victims; nor is it to induce police officers to back off, as has happened with dire consequences for black lives in Baltimore. What is the remedy? I doubt that one exists apart from a transformation of the character of bad neighborhoods driven by improvement in family structure and a surge in personal responsibility (a surge made less likely by blaming the police for inner-city woes). But it would be helpful to do a better job of keeping criminals off the street by addressing our under-incarceration problem. The friends and family of Keith Lamont Scott, the Charlotte man killed by police this week, portray him as a family man and likable. This may be true. However, Scott also had a long police record that included gun violations. Buried deep in this Charlotte Observer story, we learn: Scott was convicted in April 2004 of a misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon charge in Mecklenburg County. Other charges stemming from that date were dismissed: felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and misdemeanors assault on a child under 12, assault on a female and communicating threats. In April 2015 in Gaston County Court, Scott was found guilty of driving while intoxicated. In 1992, Scott was charged in Charleston County, S.C., with several different crimes on different dates, including carrying a concealed weapon (not a gun), simple assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He pleaded guilty to all charges. Scott also was charged with aggravated assault in 1992 and assault with intent to kill in 1995. Both charges were reduced, but the disposition of the cases is unclear. (Emphasis added) And there is this: According to Bexar County, Texas, records, Scott was sentenced in March 2005 to 15 months in a state jail for evading arrest. In July of that year, records show, he was sentenced to seven years in prison on a conviction of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman said Scott completed his sentence and was released from prison in 2011. (Emphasis added) None of this means, necessarily, that Scott had a gun when the police killed him or that the police reasonably felt threatened by him. But Scotts record makes it all the more unfair to assume as the Charlotte protesters do, explicitly or implicitly that claims by the police that he was armed and potentially dangerous are untrue. The aggravation of racial tensions has proved to be a leading feature of the Age of Obama. The protests/riots/lawlessness in Charlotte last night are illustrative. The Charlotte Observer covers them today here and here. Drudge links to a video of a racist assault posted on Twitter here. Who will speak out against the civic dissolution? I thought it might be worth revisiting what I wrote in November 2014 with respect to Ferguson, Missouri: Watching the Ferguson mob rioting for fun and looting for the traditional reasons live on television last night, I didnt see much anger in evidence. The arson and destruction looked premeditated and deliberate, an orgy of opportunity. Was it an accident that the orgy commenced as President Obama urged calm? (The White House has posted the text of his remarks and a video of his statement here.) It was either a remarkable coincidence or yet another example of the Obama touch. The man is King Midas in reverse. Obama was the last man we needed to hear from last night. He could have served a useful purpose if he had asked Al Sharpton to pack it in and stay away from Ferguson, but the racial hustle is the family business. If anger was not obviously in evidence among the mob in Ferguson, the same could not be said about the mob in Washington. As he read his statement, Obama was seething. He took the failure of reality to conform to the prescribed racial script personally. As well he might have. Obama had already invoked events in Ferguson in his speech at the United Nations this past September. Mentioning ISIS and its famously non-Islamic violent extremism, Obama juxtaposed it with Americas failure and our own racial and ethnic tensions in the small American city of Ferguson, Missouri. Failure is right. [T]here are issues in which the law too often feels as if it is being applied in discriminatory fashion, Obama intoned last night. Was the feeling warranted in this case? Obama wasnt saying. Of course, hes made a fruitful living on the feeling and the Democratic Party has staked its future on it. We hear incessantly of racial disparities in law enforcement, school discipline, and everything else down the line. We never hear of the underlying behavioral disparities that are reflected in the numerical racial disparities. Ive instructed Attorney General Holder to work with cities across the country to help build better relations between communities and law enforcement, Obama said last night. Again, Obama could have served a useful purpose ordering Holder to stay put until his time in office is up. His work with cities is all about suppressing racial disparities by ignoring behavioral disparities, including the behavioral disparities that the rioters in Ferguson have put on display for all to see. Speaking of disparities, I return to the disparity between Obamas words urging calm and his seething anger over the outcome of the states grand jury proceedings. Its not over yet and Obama is not conceding an inch to the reality that has failed to conform to the prescribed script. The Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Umar Danbatta, on Monday said over-regulation had impeded the quality of service being rendered by the telecommunications operators. Mr. Danbatta said in a statement in Lagos that some sister agencies tend to be overzealous in trying to help us do our jobs, and in the process create unnecessary difficulties for our operators. According to him, this is being addressed at the various levels of government, and I can promise that the story will be much better very soon. He said that over-regulation connotes something dangerous and harmful to the telecommunications industry. The NCC vice-chairman said that the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 Chapter 2, Part 1 shoulders the commission with the responsibility of regulating the industry. The Act provides that there is established commission to be known as the Nigerian Communications Commission with responsibility for the regulation of the communications sector in Nigeria. He said that the full powers of the commission to regulate the industry, promote competition, grant and renew licences were also imbedded in the Act. Mr. Danbatta said, The power to facilitate investment and protect the interests of consumers, among others, are domiciled in the Act. It forms the major bedrock holding up the growth of the industry, he said. He said that with over-regulation, meant that the telecommunications regulator was too strict to the extent that it was impacting negatively on the industry it was created to protect. Over-regulation can mean that there are other bodies whose incursion into the commissions terrain is creating too much discomfort for those operating in the sector. We are serious with our job at the NCC. But, we also know the reason for our existence; to create and nurture an industry that serves the needs of our people. That thought is uppermost in our minds, as we strive to create accessible and affordable telecommunication services across the country, he said. Mr. Danbatta said that in spite of a seeming convolution of activities which affect the health of the industry, there was always a good story to tell about the sector. He said that the monthly data collection showed that the industry remained strong and defiant in the face of very challenging times. According to him, while connected lines stand at 226.4 million for the month of July 2016, active lines hover on 150.3 million lines within the same period with 107.33 per cent teledensity. Mr. Danbatta said that Internet subscriptions for June, 2016 stood at 92.2 million down from 93.6 million recorded in February, 2016. (NAN) The National Economic Council, NEC, on Thursday in Abuja expressed support for the plans and proposals of the Federal Government to steer the country out of economic recession. 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. Mr. Bagudu said that the council, while acknowledging the current economic challenges and difficulties, also endorsed the work of the Presidents Economic Management Team. He stated that the council specifically commended the Minister of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udoma and Minister of Finance, 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, 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. She said the minister also reported to council that N50 billion had so far been disbursed to state governments as bailout, saying that the facility is ongoing. (NAN) Senate President Bukola Saraki on Thursday in Abuja urged ECOWAS member states to focus more on ending violent conflicts, the spread of Small Arms and Light Weapons and Reduction of Poverty in the sub-region. Mr. Saraki made the call at the opening of the Second Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament. He was represented 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. Mr. 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, 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. We should speak with one voice when faced with these issues and mobilise to fight against terrorism and violent crime. he added. (NAN) The Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari has asked the United Nations to help mediate with the terror group, Boko Haram, in order to free the over 200 abducted Chibok girls. The teenage girls were kidnapped by the Boko Haram in April 2014 from their government-owned school in Chibok, Borno State. The Buhari administration has faced heavy criticisms for its inability to secure the release of the girls. Speaking on Wednesday in New York during a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, Mr. Buhari said his government was willing to accept the UN as a mediator. He reiterated his earlier stance that it was difficult identifying the credible leadership of the sect. The challenge is in getting credible and bona fide leadership of Boko Haram to discuss with, the President told the UN Scribe. 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. Mr. Buharis statement was contained in a press release by his spokesperson. Read the full press statement below. As a show of commitment to swapping the abducted schoolgirls from Chibok with Boko Haram fighters in custody, President Muhammadu Buhari has told the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, that Nigeria would welcome intermediaries from the global body. Speaking during a bilateral meeting with the UN scribe at the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly in New York, President Buhari said the Nigerian government was willing to bend over backwards, to get the Chibok girls released from captivity. The challenge is in getting credible and bona fide leadership of Boko Haram to discuss with, the President said, adding that, 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. The President reiterated that the teachings of Boko Haram were far from being Islamic, as neither Islam, nor any other religion, advocates hurting the weak and innocent. The fact that they kill men, women, children, and other people wantonly, and shout Allahu Akbar (God is great) shows that they do not know that Allah at all. If they did, they would not shed innocent blood, President Buhari said. He thanked Ban Ki-moon for the moral and material support given to Nigeria, which has enabled the country surmount many of the challenges facing her. In his response, the UN Secretary General congratulated President Buhari on the anti-corruption war, declaring: You are highly respected by world leaders, including myself. Your persona has given your country a positive image. He said the UN recognized the achievements of the Buhari administration against Boko Haram, urging that human rights be upheld always, to prevent a repeat of the scenario being witnessed in Syria. Ban Ki-moon also thanked the Nigerian leader for his commitment to issues on climate change, adding that the government should own the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for the good of its citizens. The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday temporarily moved his office to Bama, a town badly destroyed by the Boko Haram. The governor did that as part of commencement of the reconstruction of the liberated communities. Mr. Shettima, who arrived Bama on Wednesday afternoon, said the destroyed city, the third largest in the state, would from Wednesday become the seat of Borno State government till he is done with his supervision of the reconstruction job. My office is now here, Mr. Shettima said. I decided to relocate here to live here and supervise reconstruction works. I will administer Borno State from here. Though the governor was not specific about how long he intends to stay in the unsecured community around which Boko Haram attacks were recorded regularly, he indicated that he would not be returning to the state capital in the next few days. I am fully prepared to be here for days to come, one week, two weeks or even more. I will not leave until we are able to rebuild a good number of private houses, municipal buildings, markets, schools and clinics. I want the reconstruction work to take proper shape before I leave. We cannot wait till forever before we reclaim our destiny. Bama is one of the worst affected areas and we will move from here to other parts of the state. While I am here, we have a full structure of Government in place operating in Maiduguri so that activities of managing IDPS, civil service, implementation of government policies and programmes will continue while I am here. I will be in constant touch with Maiduguri, I came prepared, Mr. Shettima said. Justifying the governors relocation to Bama, 74 kilometres from the state capital, his spokesperson, Isa Gusau, explained that insurgents had attacked the town killing dozens, destroyed more than 80 per cent of the thousands of houses in the town, sacked the Emir and took over his palace after declaring it as sovereign territory with set of laws and constitutional leader. The military toppled the insurgents and recovered the area by the end of 2015, months after President Muhammadu Buhari took over affairs, Mr. Gusau said. The Governor departed Maiduguri at about 12:10 p.m. and arrived Bama at about 2:18 p.m. and he went straight to supervising reconstruction works on private residential houses, police stations, stores, schools, hospitals, the Emirs palace among others. The Governor had deployed construction equipment and hundreds of trucks of variety of building materials which are already in Bama for the reconstruction works. The spokesperson said the governor did not embark on the trip to Bama without providing enough security to safe guard his life and that of those deployed to commence the reconstruction work in the ancient city. According to Mr. Gusau, the governor also commissioned 500 newly recruited civilian JTF and vigilantes employed from locals in Bama to use community intelligence in working with the military to strengthen security in the area so as to forestall unanticipated attacks. Briefing the governor upon arrival in Bama, the Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Babagana Zulum, said the reconstruction activities have created nearly 1000 direct jobs beside stimulating the economy of the state through procurements of different building materials and payment for services. The Commissioner said the governor was bound to see new developments every day, he goes out for inspection. However, should Mr. Shettimas resolve to stay in Bama for one or two weeks be followed to the latter, the road to Bama could be the busiest in the next few days as government officials who need his attention would have to visit him there. THE BAMA ATTACKS Bama currently hosts over 20,000 internally displaced persons who are camped within the precinct of the towns General Hospital under the direct care of military officials. The city was first attacked on April 25, 2013 when about 17 persons were killed and Boko Haram insurgents burned down over 500 houses. On May 7, 2013, the gunmen returned to the town and staged one of the biggest prison breaks during which inmates of the Bama minimum-security prison were freed. At least 14 prisons officials, 22 police officers, and two soldiers were killed in the shootout that left many of the insurgents dead as well. On August 4, 2013 the insurgents returned to Bama where they attacked various security formations and civilian residential areas killing at least 33 persons. On August 24, 2013, the insurgents attacked Bama during which they slaughtered three persons and injured 8 others. On September 1, 2014, after other attacks, Bama finally fell under the control of Boko Haram as the insurgents dislodged the Emir and his subject from the city. On Augusts 21, 2015 Boko Haram attempted to retake the liberated town of Bama, during which a soldier and 33 members of their group were killed. Experts and religious leaders gather today in Abuja to discuss the role of faith leaders in child and family health programs. The program is organised by the Partnership for Advocacy Research and Family Health, PACFaH; Nigerian Muslim Women under FOMWAN; and the development research and project centre, DRPC. PREMIUM TIMES Evelyn Okakwu brings you live updates from the event. Live Updates The program, organised by the Federation of Muslim Women of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Partnership for Advocacy in child and Family Health, PACFaH, seeks to engage religious leaders in discussions aimed at mapping out strategies for addressing disease burden and public health crises built around communities of faith. After the introduction of members, the welcome address and objectives were stated by Umar Kawu. Mr. Kawu listed the objectives as: To share experiences as faith based leaders, advocate best practices for advocacy on child and family health, strengthen capacity in terms of faith based advocacy, as well as network and create contact among faith based advocacy organizations. A leader of FOMWAN, Farida Yusuf, spoke on the Association. FOMWAN is the Federation of Muslim Womens Associations in Nigeria; a non-profit making and non-governmental organization established in 1985. The association has over 600 local government branches and exists in all states of the federation with over 2000 affiliate groups. FOMWAN is involved in the improvement of the socio-economic status of women, youth and children through training, provision of qualitative education, health and humanitarian services, micro-enterprise scheme and advocacy. As an education focused association, the association has a stakeholder status in the Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme, the Nomadic Education Programme and the Joint Consultative Committee on Education (JCCE). The first speaker, Usman Gwarzo, a consultant, said one in 5 organizations working on development programmes in Africa are faith-based; citing a WHO (2014) report. Diverse in their forms, structures and outreach, they are distinguished based on the way that they operate, he says. What is social mobilization: Process to raise awareness and mobilise people to demand change or a particular development Members of institutions, community, networks, civil or religious What differences and similarities exist between Advocacy and SocialMobilization. Social Mobilization educates individuals and the community about the existence and benefits of particular interventions while Advocacy aims to gain wider support for such causes or issues Major areas of advocacy work Leadership development Coalition building Networking Policy change Promoting legislative change Briefing media Counteracting opposition Mr. Gwarzo lists 8 Techniques and Tactics of Advocacy as: Sensitizing Mobilization Dialogue Negotiation Lobbying Petitioning Presurring Informing Another speaker, Aminu Gamawa, explains that many attendees are in non-governmental, non-partisan organisations. The reason why NGOs are not encouraged to lobby is that it can make them partisan, he says Categorically identifying your position about a policy or law before government is what lobbying is. Focus more on advocacy; do your engagements. Read about what lobbying is to help us avoid having problems with the law, he says. Let us be clear, as far as Nigeria is concerned; there is no law against lobbying, Mr. Gamawa said. But we are talking about bribery at the moment. He adds in Hausa language that if as an NGO you go to give a traditional leader something, there is nothing wrong with that. But if you have a polio immunisation program and someone calls you up at some point, says he wants to give you some money, just for yourself, then adds that he wants you to stop the immunisation; then that is bribery and common sense would tell you not to do that, Mr. Gamawa added. The program is supported by Gates Foundation @gatesfoundation and the Development Research and Projects Centre, @drpc_nig. The participants are currently on a tea break. Some of the questions conference organisers hope to answer include: What are these communities of faith expected to do in public health given that they are not clinicians? What is the optimal model for their engagement? After the tea break, an Islamic scholar who benefited from the USAID and LTD projects said he had the previlage to travel to Egypt. He shared his experiences with the panel and added hat mobilisation was the major problem the group had. Other beneficiaries of the project also shared their experiences. Another beneficiary of the project, also an Islamic scholar, says his group received a relatively good amount of funding, up to N6 million from government. He said they used the money to help members of the communities with their health challenges. Information is power and knowledge is very essential, he said. As more people share their experiences, another beneficiary of the project said he helped a woman who needed N254,000 to meet her health challenges. He said his group organised a clinic and made cash donations to people with serious ailments including a N2 million donation to a family. 95 per cent of women who deliver in Sokoto do so at home and it is necessary to help them. We cannot just let them deliver at home, a traditional leader from Sokoto said while speaking on reproductive health. He explained that a group he works with had approached the government and gotten help for some of the women to go to hospitals. Two female contributors speak on their experience in Egypt. I learnt a lot about family planning from Egypt and even wrote a book about family planning in Islam, one of them said. A female Islamic scholar, Aisha Musa, said she was one of the conservative scholars who had a negative perception of immunisation against polio and family planning. But after the USAID, LTD trip to Egypt, her perception changed. Questions and answers are being asked and answered on the importance of youth and public engagement in child and family health programs. Dr. Yahaya Hashim thanked the participants for their contributions. He noted the need for proper budget development for organisations like those present. Speakers on strategies for engagement include Professor Ibrahim from Lagos, Professor Mustapha Ismail, and the representatives of FOMWAN. Others are the traditional leader from Sokoto, Umar Sani, and Ibrahim Bello from Islamic Education Trust, Minna, Iman Sani Musa from Mediation Center Kaduna noted that Islam is elastic on reproductive health issues, but our experience with other religions, especially the catholic who have the greater number of Christians is that they are a bit stringent or will I say conservative. Mr. Sani suggested using health sector specialists and traditional leaders to spread awareness on reproductive health. The strategy is: bring the traditional leaders, enlighten them. After they are enlightened then go home and rest, they will do the work for you, he said. The experts and religious/traditional leaders are still discussing strategies for addressing reproductive health issues like family planning. Mustapha Ismail said the companions of Prophet Muhammad in the early days had also asked to know about reproductive health issues and the need for family planning. The prophet, he added, had answered in the affirmative, meaning that family planning was allowed at the time. Mr. Ismail added that there were times in the early years of Islam that Muslim leaders used to commission learned people to offer books on sex and reproductive health issues. Sourvenir for the bride, is one of them, he said. Mr. Ismail said the method for asking people question is also very important. There are several questions, if you dont tell them where it is from the Quran, they will stone you. But if you do, they will understand better, he said. Farida Yusufu, the deputy National Amira of FOMWAN, said that one of the noticed reasons for rejection was the manner of introduction of some health policies. Some people will say, when they enter your house for immunisation against polio, t salama alaiku ga polio, in Hausa language; meaning greetings we have come here with polio, in English language. She adds that such manner of introduction immediately elicits rejection. She advised that when going for immunisation, people should engage their targets in close discussion. You have to make yourself a part of them, before you can talk to them because to some of them it is a taboo, Ms. Yusufu said. she added that another obtstacle is the choice of language. Some people will speak languages that you cannot understand. A person who cannot speak English will meet a person who only understands Hausa. What will you do? she said. Ibrahim Bello said it was important to note why people dislike an idea, whether it has something to do with their culture or religion. He said it is also important to know the problem tree. One thing we have to know is that at the bottom of every problem is a bitter truth we refuse to swallow, he said. The Abuja head of FOMWAN, Maryam Abdullahi, who spoke in Hausa language said that there is a part in Islam where it is written that a man can meet his woman without getting her pregnant. Participants at the conference are still having their lunch. Lunch break is over. Participants will at this point engage in a sub-group discussion for 10 to 15 minutes; then return to share experiences. The following guides were provided for the focused group discussions Each group was asked to brainstorm on these issues and try to achieve consensus of opinion to be shared during plenary. Which State or LGA did you implement your program? Who were specific targets? (Traditional leaders? Religious leaders? Other?) What specific public health programs did you try to promote (Reproductive health, maternal health, Child survival, Others, Specify? What were your personal concerns playing the role(s) of advocate? What spiritual dilemma and conflict of beliefs if any did you have to contend with? What was your motivation for participating in the program? How did you engage the leaders initially? How did you develop and maintain influential relationships with the leaders? Were you able to establish a sense of urgency among leaders? If yes, how? Were you able to incorporate new ideas into existing belief and culture of leaders? If yes how? Were you able to get the leaders sustained commitment in promoting health issues? If yes, How? And if No, Why? What were the challenges you faced working with leaders to achieve your program goals and objectives What are the lessons you learnt working with these leaders? What are the best ways to engage these leaders and sustain their interests? What would you have done differently? What advice will you give to anyone that wants to do a similar program in order to succeed? What were your experiences engaging with and partnering with the media? What were your experiences collaborating and networking with non-religious secular organizations? At the end of the focusses group discussion, the workshop ended with a closing remark from the facilitator, Umar ,who appreciated all the participants and Islamic groups in attendance. A group picture was taken after the closing prayer. Before the participants dispersed, a female participant from Sokoto State made clarification on how child spacing is used interchangeably with Family Planning. She commented that Family Planning is broader than child spacing and relates more to, how parents plan for food, shelter, health, education and lifestyle of the family. She buttressed that women should be allowed to exercise their rights to access healthcare services. In her words, a woman who is carrying the pregnancy should decide to be operated on in a case of complications during childbirth and not rely solely on the husband or family members to decide for her. Women should decide to visit hospital for treatment, check up and childbirth to save them from killer diseases such as hypertension, post delivery complications, etc. Likewise, a woman should be empowered to cater for her family, she says. The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an application filled by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Timipre Sylva, challenging the election of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State. Mr. Sylva had approached the court to challenge the ruling of the Bayelsa State election tribunal which upheld the election of Mr. Dickson. Mr. Sylva through his counsel, Dieworio Wuku, told the court that the Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner had cancelled the election on December 6, 2015. He added that the supplementary election held was illegal. A five-member panel of justices led by Jimi Bada, however, said the claim by Mr. Sylva and his party, the All Progressives Congress, that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Bayelsa cancelled the election held on December 6 2015 was invalid. The court resolved five issues raised by Mr. Sylva and his party in favour of Mr. Dickson and his party, PDP. The court decided that Mr. Sylva and his part, APC, failed to prove the allegations of corruption, non compliance, gross violation of the electoral act and other malpractices, as alleged regarding the election. The appellate court said the ground upon which the appellants based their case that the December 6, 2015 election was cancelled did not hold water because they participated actively in the rescheduled election on January 9, 2016. The court also said the decision to postpone the December 6, 2015 election to January 9, 2016 was taken by INEC and stakeholders. The court held that the burden of proof rest on the appellants. The contention of the appellant has no merit. They were expected to provide evidence to prove their claim that the election was marred by irregularities, electoral malpractices, allocation of votes and gross violation of electoral act. These allegations were not proved by the appellants. I am in total agreement with the judgement of the lower Tribunal because its decision was based on the evidence placed before it, Mr. Bada said. The court, therefore, dismissed the applications and held that the election of Mr. Dickson was valid. Senators on Thursday opposed their President, Bukola Saraki, kicking against the call for the sale of some national asset. Mr. Saraki had yesterday joined the call by some Nigerian elite for the federal government to sell some asset to raise funds to help the country out of recession. Many of the senators, who contributed as the debate on the recession in the country continued in the upper chamber, blamed the elite, including some lawmakers, for the economic problems of the nation. Some called for the restructuring of Nigerias federalism while others called for a review of some fiscal policies, including the Single Treasury Account (TSA). Leading the debate, Deputy Leader of the Senate, Bala NaAllah, called on the government to reconsider its policy on TSA and its policy on domiciliary accounts. He admitted that though the intention for making the policies may have been germane, they were unfortunately affecting the economy adversely. He said that the TSA policy had stifled the banks and as such, money was no longer circulating in the economy through loans, mortgages and other means. The President has good intentions but we have a few people who are not thinking correctly. I recall that I complained when the CBN stopped operation of domiciliary accounts within and outside Nigeria. These two decisions must be revisited and redirected to ensure that there is a platform for redistribution of income. The two critical decisions of fighting corruption should be revisited, he said. Senator Andy Ubah decried the call for sale of national assets, describing it as wrong. If we sell our asset now to recover from this recession, what would we sell in the future if we ever slipped into another recession? We must seek an alternative way of recovering from this recession but sale of our asset is not the way out, Mr. Ubah said. The Majority Whip, Olusola Adeyeye, insisted that the nation must be restructured along the line of true federalism. According to him, the states cannot keep coming to the federal to collect money while ignoring available resources and potentials in their states. Many have asked that we must restructure and I agree that we must restructure. If we restructure properly at least there will be a few places where stealing will not be going on at the same time. There will be some modest of exception that we can say what have they done right. I want us to look at this current constitutional review, the various exclusive lists and the various concurrent lists; let us look where we have over-burdened the Federal Government. If we must revitalise the economy, we must have jobs and projects going in every local government, every federal constituency and every senatorial district of this country. Let us begin to implement the zonal intervention projects, he said, adding that the bitter truth was that people in government also contributed to the problems. If we will save Nigeria we must reduce the cost of governance. Nigerias estacode is the highest in the world; we must slash it to 50 per cent. Obafemi Awolowo campaigned in 1978 that he was going to slash it and it has now grown into five times what it was in those days; we must slash it. When you go to our airports and you park your car, you pay N300; that is 75 cents, but in all modern economies you pay per hour. If we are going to find money we must become creative. All of you with houses in Asokoro, Maitama and Apo and you dont pay tenement rate; all of us must pay, he said. On his part, Sunny Ugboji, supported the need to restructure Nigeria to enable it to operate true federalism, saying that states could not continue to come to Abuja to share the national treasure without producing something. He condemned all persons who kicked against the past administrations when they wanted to save money for the country. When the last administration wanted to save money, many of the people who kicked against it are now part of this present administration. We must restructure Nigeria: restructuring doesnt mean disintegrating but just to help every state to tap their potentials and this will help Nigeria too. Naira should be allowed to float, floating the Naira would make it impossible for people to get waivers to buy dollar at 197 when it is higher in the open market, Mr. Ugboji said. Kicking against call for sale of the nations asset, he said that there was need to cure the systemic corruption in Nigeria. He, however, warned that Nigerians must not be portrayed as thieves as corruption was not peculiar to the country. Those who are canvassing that we should sell our asset are getting it wrong; we have sold some of them yet we are still here, the lawmaker said. (NAN) A one-day conference to engage leaders of faith in Nigerias religious communities on efforts to advance child and family health policies in the country opens today at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Abuja. The conference is designed to answer core questions dogging global health experts on how, given their influence and community power, faith leaders can help address disease burden and public health crises built around communities of faith, according to a statement obtained by PREMIUM TIMES from The Partnership for Advocacy in child and Family Health, PACFaH, organisers of the conference in Abuja. The Federation of Muslim Women of Nigeria, FOMWAN, is the centre organisation supporting the project that is implemented by the development Research and Projects Centre [dRPC]. Conference organisers are hoping to find answers that will clarify for them Just what are these communities of faith [are] expected to do in public health given that they are not clinicians? What is the optimal model for their engagement? How do we work with them when their conservative roots lead them to question the very interventions we are trying to engage them in? In the broad PACFaH project, the statement said, FOMWAN is responsible for mobilizing Christian and Muslim faith based organizations as well as traditional leaders to take action on health by going to government and making demands for increased funding and compliance with child and family health policies. FOMWAN has done an excellent job at introducing the objectives of the PACFaH project to religious and traditional leaders in the 7 focal states of the project (Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Oyo, Lagos and Niger states), according to PACFaH, which in its statement said, for this reason, it hoped their impact could be improved if a forum was created for FOMWAN to learn from the experiences of other faith and public health projects. The Sheraton Conference brings together 25 influential Muslim leaders from from Sokoto and Niger state to share experiences with FOMWAN on how they were able to be effective in two important areas of advocacy to government on health issues including family planning; and in the important area of preaching to the people to improve their health seeking behaviors. Also five scholars from the Leadership Development Mechanism [LDM] program; an agency under the Institute for International Education, (IIE) and the Fulbright organization, a US based institute, with a branch in Bauchi State, will form part of the discussion. Speakers at the event include Yahaya Hashim, Co-founder and Coordinator of development Research and Projects Centre [dRPC] and Usman Gwarzo; National Program Manager at the Health Partners International. The LDM and the related LDT projects were funded by the USAID and implemented by the dRPC. A 12-year-old girl, Blessing, reportedly died when she fell into a pit latrine at Asin-Ekiti, in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State. A witness, Ruth Bamidele, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday that the deceased was running an errand for her parents on Monday evening when the incident occurred. Ms. Bamidele said the girl mistakenly stepped on rusty and weak concrete that covered the pit latrine and fell inside with nobody around to rescue her. She said her parents raised alarm on Monday night when she did not return home and the search for her whereabouts continued till Tuesday morning. One of the neighbours in search of the missing girl noticed the collapsed lid of the pit toilet in a residential building situated behind the Alasin palace. A lifeless body was sighted inside the pit and was later brought out; it was the missing girl and the incident threw the entire community into mourning, she said. It was learnt that the deceased was in happy mood when her parents sent her on errand on the day of the incident, unknown that it was a journey of no return. Many residents of the community were seen sympathising with the deceased parents, Rotimi and Helen, who were wailing uncontrollable. Meanwhile, the Ikole Local Government Council has warned all landlords in the area with uncompleted or damaged pit latrines to, as a matter of urgency, put them in good shape. Tunde Famuyisan, Head, Environment Department in the council area, gave the warning on Thursday when reacting to the unfortunate incident that claimed the life of the innocent girl. Mr. Famuyisan said that all sanitary inspectors in the area have been directed to move from house to house to ensure that every residential building in the council area has functional toilets, as well as demolish life-threatening pit toilets. He appealed to residents to give useful information to the council workers, so as to detect houses with unsafe pit toilets. (NAN) Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, has kicked against suggestions that Nigeria should sell off its national assets to raise funds for the countrys ailing economy. Nigerias business mogul and Africas richest man, Aliko Dangote, had suggested that the federal government should sell off some national assets like the multi-billion dollar Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, and use the proceeds to pull the country from the current economic recession. If I had challenges in my company, I would not hesitate to sell assets to remain afloat, to get to the better times. It doesnt make any sense for me to keep any assets and then suffocate the whole organization, Mr. Dangote, who is the chairman, Dangote Group, told CNBC Africa. We have a lot of assets to sell. We can sell part of the joint ventures, or part of the shares. My suggestion before was that they should even sell 100 percent of NLNG. I dont think government should be in any business of investing in sectors like LNG. Mr. Dangotes suggestion, backed by notable figures like Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, has generated intense debates among Nigerians. Mr. Falana told PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday, that the suggestion was in total conflict with section 16 of the (Nigerian) Constitution which has prohibited the concentration of the nations wealth in the hands of a few people or a group. Indeed, by virtue of section 44 of the Constitution, the nations natural resources shall be held in trust for the Nigerian people by the federal government. Falana said that senators would have been expected to kick against Dangotes suggestion, since they had sworn to protect the constitution. 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. Falana said the countrys privatization programme in the past was discovered to be a rip off on the nation and the people, but that nothing was done about it, despite a senate resolution, under the leadership of the then senate president, David Mark, that the government should recover such assets. President Muhammadu Buharis administration could still implement the resolution of the senate for the interest of the national economy, Mr. Falana said. The lawyer advised the government to also go for the official quarters that he said were illegally sold to the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Katsina-Alu, the then Senate President, Mr. Mark, and the then Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole. 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, Mr. Falana said. 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. Mr. Falana said, instead of selling the nations remaining assets, the federal government could liquidate over N5 trillion of toxic debts and also recover huge funds that were given as bailouts to banks and other private companies during the eras of Sanusi Lamido and Chukwuma Soludo as CBN governors. A former Plateau State Governor, Joshua Dariye, has explained why he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the ruling All Progressives Congress. Mr. Dariye on Thursday left the PDP, on whose platform he was first elected governor and then elected to the National Assembly to represent Plateau Central senatorial district. He is one of the former governors facing corruption charges, accused of siphoning the states ecological fund to the tune of N1.16 billion. In 2004, Mr. Dariye fled the United Kingdom where he was being tried for money laundering. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission first filed charges against Mr. Dariye in 2007. He pleaded not guilty. For nine years, his trial was delayed until February 2015 when the Supreme Court affirmed the competence of the Abuja court to try him. In 2011, he defected from the PDP to Labour Party, where he contested the senatorial election. When Mr. Dariye returned to the PDP in 2014, he explained that his decision to rejoin the party was because he was a founding member. He had then assured of his loyalty to the PDP at all times. However, in his latest defection letter to the senate president, 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 later from journalists, Mr. Dariye said 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. Mr. Dariye, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, reiterated his commitment to serve the people of his constituency. Despite his stated reason, Nigerians on social media have suggested the Senator did cross-carpet on the hope he would be helped to avoid conviction, being a member of the ruling party. A total of 1,2680 pilgrims to this years hajj have so far been transported back to Nigeria five days since the commencement of the exercise, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON , has announced. The commission said the pilgrims were transported in 27 flights. Mohammed Sanda, Head of Aviation Unit of the Commission, told journalists in Jeddah on Thursday that the operation had been going on smoothly. He attributed the success so far recorded to improved communication between the Control Centre of the Commission at the airport, NAHCON office in Makkah and the airlines. He said that where any hiccup was noticed either at the airport or with aircraft, information was passed to the authorities of the pilgrims in Makkah in order for them not to send the pilgrims to the airport. According to Mr. Sanda, if the control centre noticed congestion at the airport, the airlines were quickly alerted and in some cases advised to reschedule the flight. He expressed optimism that the operation would be concluded before the deadline. A defiant Speaker Yakubu Dogara issued a blistering defence of earmarking constituency projects for members of the National Assembly on Wednesday, saying the exercise is usually coordinated with the executive. Mr. Dogara said the pet projects are integral parts of Nigerias budgetary process and the constitution permits lawmakers to insert them in the budget. Mr. Dogara said this while delivering his welcome address before members of the House of Representatives who returned from an eight-week recess Tuesday. Mr. Dogaras statement was carefully measured, and he conspicuously avoided using the term budget padding throughout his 2600-word address. Allegations of budget padding were first raised by Abdulmumin Jibrin, a former chairman of House Appropriation Committee. Mr. Jibrin condemned the internal workings of the budget deliberations in the House and published what he said were documents showing efforts by lawmakers to smuggle frivolous line items in the 2016 budget. Mr. Jibrin indicted several lawmakers, including himself, in the scandal, which the Houseforwarded to Ethics Committee for further investigation Wednesday. But Mr. Dogara said the Constitution gave National Assembly the powers to make laws for the peace, order and good governance and the body always carries the executive along in the process. Similarly, Mr. Dogara said Chapter Two of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, which is among the standard guidelines for all organs of government and public officials, also allowed lawmakers to scrutinise government policies in order to check unbalanced development or lopsided distribution of wealth. The idea of constituency or zonal intervention projects is to remedy flaws in the estimates of revenues and expenditure where there is a deviation from the fundamental objective of equitable spread of planned development. This legislative intervention is complementary rather than conflictive. The templates and project prototypes are designed by the executive while the budgeting modalities are mutually agreed. As we have repeatedly said, no member of the National Assembly is given cash or contracts for the projects. We all know that execution of projects is the prerogative of the executive branch, Todays comment marked the latest defence of the budget padding allegation against Mr. Dogara, which has earned him and his colleagues widespread condemnation from Nigerians. It is the first time Mr. Dogara would suggest that the executive arm of government took part in the alleged budget infractions. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday dismissed as misleading, speculations that talks between it and the Federal Government on new national minimum wage had collapsed. Ayuba Wabba, president of the NLC, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, that the talks had not even started. According to him, the government is foot-dragging on the issue. He said the tripartite structure that should consider the modalities for the implementation had not been inaugurated. Uptil now, government is still dragging its feet on talks about the minimum wage; the tripartite structure has not been put in place, he said. The point we are making is that we have only agreed on the structure, but the structure has not been formed. We have agreed on the membership and the structure of the negotiating team which is going to be tripartite, so this is the point that we are now. But at the last meeting of the tripartite team which was held a day after the Sallah break, it was agreed that at the next meeting, all these issues will be sorted out. What happened was that government could not form a quorum at the last meeting of the palliative, Mr. Wabba added. According to him, apart from the Minister of Labour and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation that were at the meeting, key ministries were absent. Legitimately, we have a demand that is still pending with them including that of minimum wage and the palliative; therefore at the next meeting, I am certain that we will give government notice. Asked if the government was reluctant in setting up a team for the implementation of the minimum wage, Mr. Wabba said he would not speak for the government. Well, I cant speak on the side of the government, but we are committed in making our demand, it is left for them to tell Nigerians whether they are committed to it or not, he said. According to the NLC president, the union would pursue the issue of the minimum wage to its logical conclusion. The composition of the tripartite committee was announced on May 26, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal. The Wabba faction of the NLC had put forward a demand of N56, 000 as a realistic minimum wage, while that of Joe Ajaero is asking for N90, 000 as minimum wage. NAN reports that the government on its part has proposed N45, 000 as the new minimum wage. The joint committee is meant to iron out the differences in the various submissions. (NAN) The Nigeria Police Force has rejected the latest report of Amnesty International in which the group accused the Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS]of torturing detainees and demanding bribes to free them. The Police said the report in its entirety was misleading, a clear misrepresentation of facts, unverified accounts and absolute distortion of the current situation in Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS] throughout the country. Amnesty International had, in report titled In Nigeria: You have signed your death warrant, said SARS, set up to combat crime had instead been systematically torturing detainees in its custody as a means of extracting confessions and lucrative bribes. The report, released on Monday, said former detainees confessed they were subjected to horrific torture method, including hanging, starvation, beatings, shootings and mock executions, at the hands of corrupt officers from SARS. The research was conducted by a Nigerian researcher with AI, Damian Ugwu. The police, in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Don Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, said the report was evidently the characteristic mind-set and pattern of Amnesty International to deride and castigate public institutions especially in developing countries like Nigeria. It said Mr. Ugwus choice of words in describing the operations of SARS portrayed the researchers apparent ignorance of the rules of engagement of special police unit and the laws regulating criminal investigation in Nigeria. According to the police, 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? the statement said. 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 police said. The police said it had in place a functional and pragmatic disciplinary measure against erring officers and men, and had charged to court some of its officers involved in proven cases of violations of rights of suspects in detention. It said the facts were available for verification. It said its officers were 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. It said, Our guiding principles are democratic policing and International best practices in criminal investigation. The police said as an institution, it does not tolerate or condone torture in any form. It further stated that upon assumption of office, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, conducted an audit of SARS rules of engagement and in a follow up reorganisation ensured that it conformed to International best practices in criminal investigation, Technology/ICT driven investigation techniques, technical platforms to aid detectives and ICT drive investigation. The IGP, according to the statement, also ensured SARS conducted team-based investigation, established Human Rights Desk Officers mentoring and monitoring regime and Ministry of Justice oversight supervision. The police said it had been working with critical groups 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, the statement said. On the feeding and medical attention for detainees, the police said it was the practice throughout its detention facilities across the country that detainees were fed by police food contractors on reasonable meals on daily bases while medical attention was promptly given to those who fell sick while in detention before they were taken to court. The force said the IGP approved the visit of AI to SARS facilities in Abuja, Akwuzu in Anambra State and Enugu in Enugu State in June upon request by the AI to visit the facilities. It said apart from giving the AI team unguided access to the facilities, both organisations also agreed to a roundtable discussion to avail the police the right of reply and verify facts on September 20. 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 police said. 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 police urged 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. It said the IGP reassured Nigerians and the international community that the police would continue to discharge its statutory functions according to all known laws and regulations despite obvious distractions. The police also said it was determined to adhere to principles of International Police reforms, conform to standard discipline and rewards system, building trust and confidence in the citizenry and will not condone torture and other ill treatment of suspects in the Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS] detention or any of its detention facility throughout the country. The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Ibrahim Idris, has warned personnel of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) against unprofessional conduct. Mr. Idris, who gave the warning at a meeting with SARS commanders in Abuja on Thursday, told the operatives to correct the erroneous impression about the unit. You have to correct this impression .This is a new beginning to give the nation a new anti-robbery squad. You dont have the right to take life of anybody or change civil offence to criminal offence. Please dont fail us. This management has the hope in you, I dont want you (SARS) to fail us, he said. He said the new SARS should be an advocate of the new Change Mantra of the present administration. Mr. Idris said the human rights groups would be involved in the training of SARS operatives, adding that an intelligence unit would be created for the unit. We are going to retrain you even as you work in your different zones. You should have the courage to tackle what is against human nature, he said. He said every SARS unit would be under the command structure of the police commissioners in the states, except the FCT. Mr. Idris also warned them against mounting road blocks as it remained banned. They will be redeployed periodically when there is security reports, he said. The police boss said SARS had a great role to play in the security of the country. He urged the media to request a visit to the various detention facilities and make their report. He said it was illegal for any police personnel to shoot into the air and cause panic in the community. The I-G urged police officers to develop good working relationship with people in their various communities. Responding, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal SARS, Dibal Yakadi, assured of the readiness of his men to operate within the confines of the laws. We will not disappoint you; we will work round the clock to restore the lost confidence, we will continue to talk to our men, he said. Amnesty International had alleged in its report that SARS systematically tortured detainees in its custody as a means of extracting confessions and lucrative bribes.(NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his signing of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change has demonstrated Nigerias commitment to a global effort to reverse the effects of the negative trend. The President said this while addressing the opening of the meeting on Taking Climate Action for Sustainable Development in New York, co-hosted by Nigeria and the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, as one of the Side Events of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA71. President Buhari, had shortly before this event, signed the Paris Agreement, where he committed Nigeria to reducing Green House Gas Emissions unconditionally by 20 per cent and conditionally by 45 per cent in line with Nigerias Nationally Determined Contributions. Describing the signing as historic, he had also expressed confidence that with support from development partners, Nigeria will meet the above targets. The President also promised to ensure the ratification of the Paris Agreement before the 22nd Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Marrakesh, Morocco in November 2016. He stressed that it was to demonstrate his personal dedication to the process of implementing the Agreement that he was hosting the side event on Taking Climate Action Towards Sustainable Development. President Buhari, who said he was privileged to have been part of the Paris Agreement, expressed appreciation to what he called the genuine efforts by President Francois Hollande of France in drawing global attention to reviving the Lake Chad Basin, and for galvanizing the political will that led to the global consensus in reaching the Paris Agreement. The Nigerian President said his countrys commitment to the Paris Agreement is articulated through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that strive to build a climate resilient society across the diverse terrain of Nigeria. We have instituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change to govern implementation of my countrys NDCs, thereby ensuring a strong cross-sectoral approach, coherence and synergy for Climate Action. President Buhari, while admitting that implementing the Roadmap will not be easy in the face of dwindling national revenues, however, indicated that both internal and external resources would be mobilized to meet Nigerias targets. He added that the 2017 Budget will reflect Nigerias efforts to accord priority to realizing its NDCs. In addition, we are set to launch our first ever Green Bonds in the first quarter of 2017 to fund a pipeline of projects all targeted at reducing emissions towards a greener economy, he said. While urging global support to transit to a low-carbon climate resilient economy, the President specifically reminded industrialized nations to play their role and deliver on their commitments on access to climate finance and technology transfer and help with capacity-building, adding that, Expectations are high for their leaders to deliver US$100 billion per year by 2020 in support of developing countries to take climate action, thus keeping the promise to billions of people. President Buhari, who thanked the Presidents of Chad, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger for attending the event, also called on the international community to give special recognition to the plight of Lake Chad and support our effort to resuscitate the livelihoods of over 5 million people in the region. This will reinforce our efforts to reintegrate the thousands of Boko Haram victims and returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The President noted that the Niger Delta region is a unique biodiversity rich in coastal environment that is highly prone to adverse environmental changes occasioned by climate change, such as sea level rise, coastal erosion, exacerbated by poverty and many decades of oil pollution leading to loss of livelihoods and ecosystems. He added however, that through an integrated approach, implementation of the NDCs, and our efforts to clean up Ogoniland, we will improve livelihoods, protect the environment and take climate action, and ensure the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Former Plateau State Governor, Joshua Dariye, on Thursday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress. He left the Peoples Democratic Party on whose platform he was first elected governor and then elected to the National Assembly to represent Plateau Central senatorial district. Senate President Bukola Saraki announced Mr. Dariyes defection just before the Senate adjourned on Thursday. Mr. Dariye is one of the former governors facing corruption charges. He is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on charges bordering on money laundering and diversion of funds. His case with the EFCC is before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Gudu, Abuja. He is alleged to have siphoned the states ecological fund to the tune of N1.16 billion. In 2004, Mr. Dariye fled the United Kingdom where he was being tried for money laundering. EFCC first filed charges against Mr. Dariye before Justice Banjoko in 2007. He pleaded not guilty and commencement of his trial was fixed for November 13 of that year. However, before that date, Mr. Dariye filed a suit challenging the competence of the charges and the jurisdiction of the court. He argued that he ought to be tried before a Plateau State High Court and not the FCT High Court. For 9 years, his trail was delayed until February 2015 when the Supreme Court affirmed the competence of the Abuja court to try him. Mr. Dariyes two telephone lines which he submitted to the National Assembly were not going through to ask why he left PDP as at the time of filing this report. Already, Nigerians on social media have started suggesting the Senator did cross-carpet on the hope he would be helped to avoid conviction being a member of the ruling party. A former Chief of Army Staff, (COAS), Azubuike Ihejirika, has told a FCT High Court that he was not involved in Boko Haram Sect. He told the court on Thursday that he fought Boko Haram sect using his commanders in the field. Mr. Ihejirika, retired Lt.-Gen., sued This Day publisher, Nduka Obaigbena, Leaders and Company Limited and Stephen Davis, an Australian, 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 alleged defamation in the interview granted by Mr. Davis to Arise TV. The interview was published in ThisDay. Mr. Ihejirika asked for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further defamatory comments against him. Mr. Ihejirika wants the defendants to publish a full retraction and apology in the front page of ThisDay Newspaper. Mr. Ihejirika, who was cross-examined by counsel to the defendants, Frank Chude, said Boko Haram members are terrorists and the Nigerian Army is fighting the group. Mr. Ihejirika said he was a public figure and issues related to him were for public consumption. The former COAS said he did not have personal issues with Boko Haram but fought them as terrorists. He admitted that he had heard about the tape of the interview and his name was not mentioned. But Mr. 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. Mr. Davis said in the interview that a Boko Haram sponsor a former Chief of Army Staff retired in January 2014. Mr. Davis also said that he got his source from a Boko Haram senior commander who named the sponsors. Justice Valentine Ashi adjourned the case till Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 for continuation of cross examination and defence. (NAN) The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, said on Thursday that 99 Local Government Areas in 30 states had been affected by flood, which also killed 29 persons so far. The Director General of NIHSA, Moses Beckley, made the disclosure at a one-day sensitisation workshop on 2016 flood prediction/prevention and mitigation organised by the Agency at Halims Hotel, Lokoja. Mr. Beckley said the present flood situation in the country was alarming hence the need for the awareness programme to sensitise the people in the flood prone areas. Presently, flood has been recorded in 99 LGAs in 30 out of 34 States earlier predicted with a record of 29 deaths. Two LGAs have been badly affected in Kaduna State; 9 in Niger; 4 in Nasarawa; 2 in Benue, and one in Edo, Jigawa, among other states. Rivers flooding is expected in Lokoja and its environs due to likely overflow of banks of Rivers Niger and Benue, that is why this we have embarked on sensitisation programme in Kogi. Though Kogi is yet to be badly affected by the flood, it is vital that we put the people and all stakeholders on red alert to prevent or mitigate it effects, he said. The director general said that the threat of major river flooding occasion by Red Alert from the Niger Basin Authority (NBS), Niamey, Niger Republic on August 4 has called for concern. More recently, on Sept 14 the water level of River Niger at Niamey was 6.20m, which has exceeded the penultimate flood warning level, hence the need to brace up. The water level of River Benue is also rising due to high rainfall within the catchment and regulated water releases from Lagdo dam. The water level at our monitoring station in Lokoja as at today, Thursday, Sept. 22 is 6.22m comparable to the value of 11.42m recorded at the same station in 2012. This shows that the flow is still normal within an acceptable limit but the situation calls for caution in view of high rainfall intensities and oncoming flood waters from upstream countries, Mr. Beckley stated. The director, therefore, advised government at all levels to take structural measures of construction of reservoirs, earth dam, detention basins, buffer zones, and clearing of drains. Other measures include dredging and channelisation of river channels, setting up of flood diversion areas and relocation of people in likely affected areas. I urge all the relevant stakeholders to take this sensitisation programme seriously because flood anticipation before they occur allows for precautions and adequate preparation. Heeding to early warnings and early actions are imperative towards preventing and mitigating disasters and emergencies, Beckley advised. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other stakeholders present at the workshop include Kogi Commissioners for Environment, Water Resources, NEPAD, KOSEMA, among others. (NAN) Farm lands in 24 communities in Niger had been destroyed as a result of flood that ravaged Mokwa Local Government Areas of the state on Sept. 19. Ibrahim Inga, Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Minna. He said that farms in eight communities in Gbara, six in Muragi, and ten in Jaagi were destroyed by the flood that occurred on Sept. 19. The director general added that due to the proactive step of the agency, there was no life loss in the disaster. After the predicted flood warning by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, we at state level had to embarked on awareness and sensitisation programmes to communities that are likely prone to flood. The people in these communities were advised to evacuate to higher ground and desist from water based activities that will lead to loss of lives. Such step has gone a long way to reduce flood disaster to the barest minimum in the areas, he said. He commended the Federal Government for setting up a Presidential Committee on Flood Relief to build three resettlement sites in Mokwa Local Government Areas for flood victims. He added that the agency would continue to educate the people and communities located around riverine areas to embrace irrigation farming rather than rainfall system to avoid destruction of crops. (NAN) The Kano State Government has warned its civil servants, who were yet to collect their salaries due to some reasons, not to stage protest. This is contained in a statement signed by Mustapha Fagge, Public Relations Officer, Office of the Head of Service, and issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Kano. The statement said the warning was necessary following report that text massage was being sent to the affected workers through the social media to assemble at Audu Bako secretariat on Friday. The attention of the office of the Head of Service has been drawn to a text message being sent through social media to workers who have not received their salary. The message calls on the workers to assemble at Audu Bako Secretariat on Friday, Sept. 23 in order to protest, it said. The statement urged the workers to disregard the text message, adding that those sending the message were workers who had perpetrated fraud in the payment of salaries over the years. It said that security agents had been alerted to deal ruthlessly with any person or group that participated in the illegal protest. It explained that all issues of unpaid salaries or outstanding salaries were with the Ministry of Finance receiving attention. We are calling on affected workers to channel their complaints or grievances through their respective ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs. This is the proper way as contained in the Civil service rules, the statement added. (NAN) Police have commenced investigation into the alleged shooting of a farmer and abduction of two other farmers by suspected gunmen in Enugu State. The police spokesman in Enugu State, Ebere Amaraizu, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Thursday in Enugu that the incident took place at Akpakume-Nze Community in Igbo-Etiti Council Area. According to him, the incident happened at about 12 noon on Tuesday while the victims were weeding their farms. It was gathered that yet to be identified gunmen had allegedly shot one Lazarus Amadi, who had gone to farm and injuring him as well as abducting two other farmers. The command mobilised and went into the farmland where the injured Lazarus Amadi was rescued and taken to a hospital where he is responding to treatment, he said. Mr. Amaraizu said that police operatives in partnership with members of the community embarked on intense manhunt with a view to rescue the abducted farmers identified as Paul Ugwu and Hycenith Eze. After a day intense manhunt by the police operatives with members of the local communities, the two abducted persons were rescued and returned to their families unhurt, he said. (NAN) A 29-year-old businesswoman, Odor Oyinyechiwho, is facing trial at a Surulere Chief Magistrates Court in Lagos, for allegedly pouring hot water on her 14-year-old niece, Esther Ariserekwu. The court granted her bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties, the court said, must be a blood relation of the accused with evidence of tax payment to the state government. The accused, a resident of No.139, Adetola St., Aguda in Surulere, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault. Earlier, the prosecutor, Anthonia Osanyade, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 5 at No.139, Adetola St., Aguda, Surulere. The accused poured hot water on her 14-year-old niece, Esther Ariserekwu, who has been with her for more than a year for mistakenly pouring dirty water into her pot of soup that was stored in the freezer. The offence contravened Section 243 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The Chief Magistrate, Ipaye Nwachukwu, adjourned hearing to Oct. 13. (NAN) The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress on Thursday upheld the election of former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Rotimi Akeredolu, declaring him the official candidate of the party for the Ondo State governorship election. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the NWC reached the decision early on Thursday and presented the nomination form to Mr. Akeredolu, who filled it for onward submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC A statement by Mr. Akredolus campaign team said the APC National chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun and the Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, endorsed Mr. Akeredolus nomination form which was later taken to INEC by the partys Organising Secretary, Osita Izunaso, at about 5.03 p.m. Although the camp of Mr. Akeredolu was agog with celebration, claiming that his name had been submitted to the INEC, a source at the INEC headquarters in Abuja said no such name had reached the secretariat at the close of work on Thursday. We heard they are submitting a name, but as at today, we have not received it, maybe after I left the office, or maybe they will submit it tomorrow, the source said. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Olusegun Agbaje, told PREMIUM TIMES correspondent that he was yet to receive any briefing on the submission of the name of Mr. Akeredolu from the national headquarters. The submission of the name of a candidate is usually done at the INEC headquarters, he said. I have not received any information from the headquarters so I will expect that if they have submitted the name of the candidate today(Thursday), they will inform me tomorrow(Friday). Former Chairman of the APC, Ondo Central, Gboyega Adedipe, who also filed an appeal against the primary election, declined to comment on the development. I am under authority, I cannot make any comment on that, he stated when he was reached for his comments. Mr. Adedipe had resigned his leadership of the party in the central senatorial district once Mr. Akeredolu was declared winner of the September 3 primary election. Other aggrieved aspirants such as Olusola Oke and Ajayi Boroffice did not pick their calls when reached for their reactions. Meanwhile, Mr. Akeredolu has described his affirmation as the governorship candidate of the APC for next governorship election in Ondo State as the work of God. What can I say than to thank God who has done it again? God does not abandon his projects notwithstanding the challenges that may arise, Mr. Akeredolu said. Mr. Akeredolu had won the primary election by polling 669 votes, beating Olusegun Abraham, who scored 635 votes; Olusola Oke, 576 votes; and Robert Ajayi-Boroffice who came fourth with 471 votes. In upholding Mr. Akeredolus election, the NWC struck out the report of the Appeal Committee which had earlier recommended the cancellation of the September 3 election. The partys NWC held that Appeal Committees report was prejudicial and its conclusions faulty as its decision was based on unsubstantiated allegations and spurious claims of electoral manipulations. Mr. Akeredolu thanked members of the NWC, especially APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, and President Muhammadu Buhari for making sure that justice was done to all parties in dispute. I make bold to say to my co-aspirants in the APC, that we are all winners, he said. None is vanquished. We are all victors. None is a loser. I hold the ticket of party in trust for all of you. I am not perfect. No one is. But I will make up for my imperfections by drawing from your collective strength. Together we shall work in one accord to achieve success in the November 26 Governorship Election. Now is the time to pool our energy and resources and rescue our state from misery and misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party-led government. United we stand. United we shall be victorious. Mr. Akeredolu is expected to be the main challenger to the candidate of the ruling PDP in the state, Eyitayo Jegede. Pobierz zdjecie Przeczytaj o zasadach pobierania zdjec President Andrzej Duda (photo by Andrzej Hrechorowicz / KPRP) (1) Polish President Andrzej Duda commenting on his recent meeting with representatives of Jewish organisations in the US has said that Jewish culture in Poland was and should continue to be extremely important. President Duda met with representatives of the largest Jewish organisations in the United States in New York on Monday. May be of interest to you President meets US Jewish leaders Mutual penetration of cultures of the Polish and Jewish nations during the almost one thousand year-long history of their coexistence is a heritage that should be handed down and continued, said the president. Duda said that meeting representatives of Jewish organisations, including the World Jewish Congress and the American Jewish Committee, he discussed a number of issues, including remembrance sites, presentation of Jewish culture in Poland, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw and questions relating to education. The president noted he also spoke about anti-Semitism, adding that representatives of Jewish organisations expressed gratitude for his "firm statements on this issue." "I have stated that I will clearly uphold that anti-Semitism in Poland is punished." He pointed to the fact that education plays a great role in this respect. "I declared that I will not change my stance. I think that Jewish culture in Poland was, is and should continue to be extremely important, that the almost one thousand years of coexistence of our nations is also a question of inter-penetration of both cultures and that this is our wealth which should be shown and continued," said the president. (PAP) While in New York, Poland's President Andrzej Duda met, among others, with leaders of Macedonia, Albania, Canada, Latvia, Estonia, Great Britain and U.S. President Barack Obama to seek support for Poland's bid to win a UN Security Council non-permanent seat. Poland wants to win a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in the years 2018-2019. Speaking to Polish reporters on Wednesday, President Duda admitted that he had come to New York to attend the 71st session of the UN General Assembly and to win support for Poland's candidacy. The president said that bilateral meetings - both official and unofficial ones - were a significant element of his visit to the UN. "Over these two days I held many meetings. I had a very clear task - to seek support for Poland's bid to win a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in the years 2018-2019," he stressed. President Duda said "he held very good talks" with politicians from many countries, including Moldovan PM Pavel Filip and President Nicolae Timofti, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Albanian President Bujar Nishani and Chairman of the General Assembly Peter Thompson. The Polish head of state also met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. "There were many talks. My visit was very good. We promote Poland's candidacy and I hope that in June - when the decision regarding a country from our part of Europe is to be taken - Poland will be elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the years 2018-2019," the president said. The president admitted that Poland was not the only country trying to win the UN Security Council non-permanent seat but stressed that both he, the foreign minister and Polish diplomats were working hard to reach the goal. Asked about informal meetings during a gala dinner hosted by the U.S. president, Duda said he held a conversation with the presidents of Latvia and Estonia, and a very short one with Barack Obama. (PAP) GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Oh, wow, look at that. Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman, 65, stood on the roof of the colleges Unified Science Building and grinned at the birds-eye view of the construction on campus. Hes there to pose for a photograph, but he cant resist the view. At one end is the outline of the new science building, where construction workers are laying the foundation. At the other end is the colleges original buildings and its new Campus Center, surrounded by the Pinelands. Kesselman tries different poses but is not an arms crossed kind of guy. Hes more comfortable with a casual hand in the pocket, laughing as staff and a reporter suggest possible headlines: Kesselman on high. Kesselman on the edge. The Kesselman Empire. Oh no, dont use that last one! he says in horror. Despite his protest, Kesselman has been inextricably linked to the college since its founding and figures to be instrumental in its future as he oversees plans to expand the college in Atlantic City and Galloway Township. He also plans to attract an international student base while holding true to the colleges original mission. A student in the first Stockton freshman class in the old Mayflower Hotel in Atlantic City, Kesselman has spent his 40-plus-year career at Stockton, rising from tutor to provost under four previous presidents, all of whom he calls mentors. He took over as acting president last year and became president Jan. 1. His inauguration is Friday. There are high stakes attached to his efforts. Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian shares Kesselmans boundless energy and enthusiasm for the region. He has the right amount of pragmatism to make it great, Guardian said of Kesselmans plans. Hes not doing too much, but hes laying the groundwork for the skilled college students we will need in the future in Atlantic City, the county and South Jersey. The students Students first has been a mantra at Stockton since its early motto of Plant yourself where you can grow. Kesselmans career path embodies that motto, but so does his philosophy. He wants consistent growth in both student numbers and diversity. That includes recruiting locally, but also statewide, nationally and internationally. He wants all students to be engaged not just in Stockton but in the larger South Jersey community. He wants them to graduate in four years with less debt and be sought after by employers and graduate schools. A new freshman-year project started this year. Success is not just having a degree, but also service learning and experiential learning that goes beyond their major, he said. We want them to see life in the real world. He wants to expand opportunities for transfer students from community colleges and offer more programs for working professionals to enhance their skills. We cant be successful unless our students are successful, he said. You can do everything right, but if the student doesnt succeed, what did we do it for? Facilities Investment in Atlantic City is investment in New Jersey, said Kesselman of the planned Atlantic City campus. It is important for us to invest in our home. I am confident Atlantic City will turn around. The Atlantic City site at the end of Albany Avenue, site of the old city high school, will include an academic building, student housing for 500 and a parking garage. New science and academic buildings in Galloway will help promote Stocktons efforts in the sciences and meet space needs for an enrollment that at more than 8,700 is double the original goal of about 4,000 students. The new quad design will create a defined entrance the campus has lacked since Pinelands regulations restricted growth. Kesselman admits the Kramer Hall building in Hammonton did not catch on as a satellite campus for students but instead has become an integral part of efforts to enhance the arts and culture in the city and the college. The renovated factory in Hammontons downtown houses the South Jersey Cultural Alliance and is a temporary site for the Noyes Museum of Art. The colleges efforts to expand beyond its campus have encouraged local mayors. Hammonton mayor Stephen DiDonato said he would like Stockton to increase its footprint in the city, with more academic space and student housing. The Sam Azeez Museum of Woodbine Heritage, donated to Stockton by the Azeez family to preserve the areas history, presents some logistical challenges, but also an opportunity to expose students to rural South Jersey. Woodbine mayor William Pikolycky said Stockton interns have worked at the museum and on an Eco-Park project, and the university has held workshops that bring people into town. Stocktons commitment to Woodbine is a fitting endorsement of what we stand for, Pikolycky said. Its going to take time to build that up, Kesselman said. But we are not building for tomorrow, we are building for a long time into the future. The small satellite site at a professional complex in Manahawkin has also been successful and could expand. Kesselman sees the college as a catalyst for change and expansion. The Atlantic City campus will be an anchor for redevelopment. When we can be an economic engine, we will be, Kesselman said. But sometimes we cant. Proposals to expand into Cape May County will for now be limited to Woodbine. Kesselman views expanding programs as a way to attract students and benefit South Jersey. He was cautious about Stocktons continuing role in the Aviation Research and Technology Park at the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Egg Harbor Township but has committed to the much-delayed project. We had to keep the momentum, he said. Its in much better shape. Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson said Kesselman listened carefully before coming on board. We need their support to be successful, Levinson said of Stockton. This is a priority, and it is the future of our area. He gets it. What role do satellite campuses play in economic development? Kim Conner sees more than bricks and steel rising at High and Vine streets in Millville. Affordable education Kesselman has lobbied for a new state aid formula that will recognize growth and stabilize state funding. It could mean millions of dollars for Stockton, which currently gets about $2,300 per student in state aid, a fraction of what other colleges receive. By comparison, The College of New Jersey gets almost $4,000 per student and Rutgers gets almost $8,900 per student from the state. We need a rational system that levels the playing field, Kesselman said. He wants to increase gifts and endowments so there can be more scholarships and programs. He plans to keep tuition increases to no more than 2 percent a year. He wants college to be affordable to all, but not free. I think students should put something into it, he said. Its important for them to have something invested. Drawing students from a national and international base is important, he said. The university partners with a program that brings international students to Galloway to study English. Kesselman believes adding an Atlantic City campus will increase the universitys visibility on a national and international level and attract student interest. People know Atlantic City, he said. Well have a 2,000-acre campus in the woods and a multicultural city experience. Today it is so important to understand international cultures. Hes intent on raising the colleges profile to the national level and believes everyone benefits from those successes. Stockton professor Nathaniel Hartman recently got the universitys first National Institutes of Health research grant. A team was invited to a program at the United Nations. Kesselman has joined national organizations and encourages faculty to do so as well. We want everyone to have ownership here, he said. That changes the culture. People want to be part of something positive that is moving forward. Faculty Senate President Brian Tyrrell said one of Kesselmans first acts as president was to create a task force on shared governance with faculty and staff. He supported having more faculty input on the Atlantic City campus. His philosophy is in keeping with the colleges original mission. Kesselman said Stockton was designed to be an experimental college. That encouragement to explore new ideas was what attracted him as a student. That is part of our DNA, he said. Just as Stockton is part of his. Contact: 609-272-7241 Twitter @ACPressDamico CAPE MAY The city said it will not sign a settlement offer with a gay former police officer who alleged he was harassed over his sexuality by the Police Department. Steven Pascal is suing Cape May and former police Chief Robert Sheehan for harassment, discrimination and retaliation. In a statement, City Manager Bruce MacLeod accused critics of the administration of trying to shift blame for the Pascal lawsuit from the police administration to the city administration. City Council is conducting an objective review of the merits of the case and the wisdom of settlement, but has not yet reached a decision as to whether the proposed settlement is in the best interest of the City and its taxpayers, MacLeod said. Sheehan, too, is suing Cape May in a whistleblower case after council decided not to renew his chiefs title last year. He was demoted to captain. Council this year named Anthony Marino as the citys new police chief. The lawsuits have been the topic of extensive public comment at council meetings and social commentary on blogs and social media. MacLeod accused Sheehan's lawyer, Christopher Gray, of interfering with the Pascal case by leaking the settlement agreement. Pascals attorney, Sebastian Ionno, could not be reached for comment Thursday. Gray said he never had the settlement agreement. He said it was publicly released by the Atlantic-Cape Municipal Joint Insurance Fund. I didnt leak any terms of the settlement. To this day, I still havent read the settlement agreement, Gray said. Pascal was fired at the recommendation of retired Chief Diane Sorantino, MacLeod said. Council considered the $369,000 agreement with Pascal to settle the 2013 lawsuit filed. Council tabled the decision instead after meeting behind closed doors Tuesday. In court papers, Pascal said he was fired without cause three years ago and endured a hostile, anti-gay work environment created by the Police Department. Under the partnership with the Atlantic County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund, the city would pay $50,000 of the settlement. Sheehan allegedly was demoted after a subordinate, Lt. Chuck Lear, now retired, received compensatory time in violation of city policy. Sheehans lawsuit alleges the city violated the Conscientious Employee Protection Act after he went to the Cape May County prosecutor about concerns that the city was circumventing his authority by conducting its own internal-affairs investigation of Lear. The prosecutor appointed a monitor to the Police Department. The ongoing dispute led to an unsuccessful recall campaign to unseat Mayor Edward Mahaney Jr. Councilman Jerry Inderwies resigned in protest of Sheehans demotion. Contact: 609-463-6712 Twitter @ACPressMiller CHARLOTTE, N.C. 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 the gunshot death of a protester. 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. But the second night of violent protests added Charlotte to the list of U.S. 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. Destructive protests Tuesday that included shutting down eight-lane Interstate 85 and burning the contents of a tractor-trailer turned violent Wednesday. Along with the man shot to death, paramedics said two other people and six police officers suffered minor injuries. Wednesdays protest started as a downtown prayer vigil, but an angry group left the vigil and marched through downtown Charlotte. They shouted black lives matter and hands up; dont shoot while cursing at officers with bicycles blocking intersections. 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. There were hints earlier Wednesday that Charlotte would suffer a second night of destruction. As Charlottes white mayor and black police chief stood at City Hall and appealed for calm, African-American leaders who said they were speaking for Scotts family held their own news conference near where he was killed Tuesday, reminding the crowd of other shootings and abuses of black men. 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 Tuesday night, 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. Authorities used tear gas to break up the protests. Sixteen officers suffered minor injuries. One person was arrested. The violence broke out shortly after a woman who appeared to be Scotts daughter posted a profanity-laced, hourlong video on Facebook, saying her father had an unspecified disability and was unarmed. In the footage, she is at the cordoned-off shooting scene, yelling at officers. My daddy is dead! the woman screams on the video, which has not been authenticated by The Associated Press. On Wednesday morning, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney 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. The police chief 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 didnt 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. 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. The plainclothes officer, identified as Brently Vinson, a two-year member of the department, has been placed on leave, standard procedure in such cases. Scott has a lengthy criminal record, including convictions in Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina. Texas records showed he was convicted of evading arrest with a vehicle in 2005, and several months later, of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 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 such places 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. The jury deadlocked and the charge was dropped last summer. There were a few protests but no violence. 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. ___ Associated Press writers Tom Foreman Jr., Jonathan Drew, Martha Waggoner and Steve Reed contributed to this report. A former Atlantic City councilman pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to defraud the IRS of $119,800 in unpaid taxes. John Schultz, 74, pleaded guilty to hiding gross cash receipts from his rolling-chair business and maintaining a second set of books not shared with the government. Schultz declined to comment. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 9, 2017. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Schultz bought into the business in 2007. The plot to hide cash from the IRS began in September 2006, and the company concealed $342,632 in revenue during the 2007-09 tax years. Atlantic City not liable for former councilman's damages in civil suit Atlantic City is not responsible for damages a former councilman had to pay in a civil lawsu Schultzs business partner, William Boland, previously pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge and is scheduled for sentencing Oct. 25. Abdus Mian, the bookkeeper for Royal Rolling Chairs Inc., pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal investigators and was sentenced to a year of probation April 4. Mian admitted lying to investigators about having just one set of financial records for the business and that he did not know the owners of the company were taking cash from the business. Schultz is a founding member of the Atlantic City Metropolitan Business & Citizens Association, a nonprofit civic group that has provided more than $280,000 in scholarships, teacher grants and Thanksgiving turkey donations over the past 25 years. Atlantic City attorney Lloyd Levenson, who serves as an officer and general counsel for the charity, said Schultzs plea will not affect the charitys efforts. The organization has been around for 26 years. It is very well respected. There are plenty of people, including myself, who are very active in that organization. Well certainly continue its successful mission for scholarships and all the other good deeds the organization does in the community. Levenson said the criminal plea was out of character for Schultz. Former Atlantic City Councilmen Robinson, Schultz settle suit over sex tape ATLANTIC CITY The day before their civil trial was to begin, two former city councilmen re Everybody makes mistakes. It certainly doesnt change Johns good deeds over his 70-plus years. When you look at the entire person, this blemish is just that, a blemish, Levenson said. The conspiracy was investigated by the IRS and the FBI. Schultz was indicted in 2007 in a scheme to blackmail Councilman Eugene Robinson by paying a prostitute to seduce him and filming the tryst. Schultz was allowed to enter the pretrial intervention program after he was charged with conspiracy to commit criminal coercion and invasion of privacy. Robinson settled his civil lawsuit against Schultz before it went to trial in 2009. A year later, Schultz was honored with the Spirit of Hospitality Award by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, an honor Gov. Chris Christie called inappropriate. Schultz was an unnamed co-conspirator in the 2014 complaint filed against Boland. Schultz was a councilman from 1994 to 2001 and from 2005 to 2010. He did not seek re-election after his indictment. Staff Writer Christian Hetrick contributed to this report. Contact: 609-463-6712 Twitter @ACPressMiller After being canceled last year due to a powerful coastal storm, the Bike MS City to Shore Ride returns Saturday and Sunday across South Jersey. More than 7,000 cyclists are expected at the 37th event that begins 6:30 a.m. Saturday in Cherry Hill, follows an 80-mile course and ends at 5 p.m. in Ocean City. An optional second day of riding begins in Ocean City on Sunday headed back the other way. The finish line is located between Fifth and Sixth streets and the Boardwalk, where there will be activities for riders and their supporters. Thousands descending on South Jersey for weekend events OCEAN CITY The city expects to welcome thousands of visitors this weekend as five special The riders will be using 1.2 miles of the Atlantic County Bikeway between Babcock Road and Harbor Avenue in Mays Landing. The bikeway will remain open to the public, but alternate routes are advisable between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. and noon Sunday. Motorists are also advised to exercise caution on roads used by cyclists. Bike MS City to Shore, presented by the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, raises money for multiple sclerosis research. To date, Bike MS cyclists, volunteers and donors have raised more than $1 billion. To view the complete City to Shore route, see nationalMSsociety.org/CTSroute. Contact: 609-272-7251 Twitter @clairelowe A nonprofit campaign favoring the expansion of casino gaming to North Jersey has thrown up the white flag. Our Turn NJ announced Thursday it was suspending its paid media campaign, citing poor polling data among the factors. The current political climate in New Jersey and voters concerns about the lack of details relating to the effort have proved overwhelming, Paul Fireman and Jeff Gural, supporters of expanding casino gaming beyond Atlantic City, said in a statement. Don't call it Revel anymore, call it "TEN" ATLANTIC CITY On a scale of one to 10, Glenn Straub and the rest of his management team at Voters will decide whether to approve as many as two casinos in North Jersey during the Nov. 8 election. The ballot question states the new casinos must be in separate counties and at least 72 miles from Atlantic City, where four casinos closed in 2014 and another, Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, is set to close Oct. 10. Deutsche Bank said last year that North Jersey casinos could generate $500 million in gambling revenue. Gural, the Meadowlands Racetrack operator, and Fireman, a former Reebok chief executive, have both expressed interest in wanting to build casinos in the northern portion of the state. Although Our Turn NJ signaled they will suspend their media campaign, we will continue to fight any and all efforts to siphon dollars and jobs out of South Jersey, said Debra P. DiLorenzo, chairwoman of the No North Jersey Casinos Coalition. Opponents and even some supporters of the referendum said there werent enough details, such as exact locations and tax rates. This is good news for Atlantic City, said state Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, who was Atlantic Citys mayor from 1990 to 2001. I think that a lack of specifics related to the plan became an issue to some. A recent Rutgers-Eagleton poll found only 40 percent of voters supported expanding casino gaming in the state. I am glad after two years of fighting weve proven it was pure folly for anyone to claim North Jersey casinos were inevitable and that building them in an oversaturated market while cannibalizing Atlantic City would somehow help the state of New Jersey let alone the families of Atlantic County, and shows the question should have never gotten on the ballot in the first place, said Assemblyman Chris Brown, R-Atlantic. While Our Turn NJ has suspended its campaign, Meadowlands Regional Chamber officials said they will continue to fight for casinos in the northern part of the state. Today we are calling on the other interested parties to come into the debate with their own messages, said Jim Kirkos, Meadowlands Regional Chamber president and CEO. Labor, education, local finance, senior advocates, racing interests and even those Atlantic City casino operators who desire to be a part of North Jersey gaming have seven weeks left to mobilize their constituencies with a conversation from the heart about the real merits to New Jersey. Trentons Bad Bet, a Newark-based group opposed to the referendum, has vowed to continue the fight. Trentons Bad Bet will not be distracted by billionaire developers throwing temper tantrums because they dont get what they want, said Bill Cortese, executive director of the group. The casino expansion referendum otherwise known as Question One will hurt New Jersey families, costing the state tens of thousands of jobs and billions in economic losses. Contact: 609-272-7046 Twitter @ACPressHuba ATLANTIC CITY The South Jersey sneaker enthusiast who aced out 18 million Kanye West fans in guessing the name of the rappers album The Life of Pablo in a Twitter contest this year is sponsoring a 5K charity run Saturday. Dante Holley, 20, of Somers Point, is sponsoring the fundraiser on the Boardwalk to raise awareness of sneaker violence deadly robberies of collectible sneakers. I wasnt a victim of it, but I was inspired by a young mans story, Holley said. He was referring to the fatal shooting in February of Jamal Gaines, co-owner of the Rahway (Union County) sneaker shop East Coast during an attempted robbery at the store. He was just 21, and he was gunned down around the same time as I won the Kanye contest, Holley said. The phenomenon of violence over collectible sneakers has been examined in the documentary Sneakerheadz and the feature film Kicks this year. Holley, an aspiring music producer and rapper, reached out to Gaines family when he heard about the shooting. Later he attended a public event with the family to speak out against violence over shoes. Holley won a pair of Jeezy sneakers and got to attend Wests album-unveiling party in New York for guessing the album title correctly with only its acronym as a tip. I didnt get to meet Kanye, but I was standing 10 feet away and we made eye contact, Holley said. That was cool. Holley was an avid collector of hard-to-find sneakers until a fire destroyed them along with his familys Egg Harbor Township home in 2015. Afterward, he helped collect 1,000 sneakers for Soles for Souls, a nonprofit that distributes shoes to the needy. Having lost everything in the fire, I realized what was really important: not material things but family. So now Im more into organizing events, Holley said. The 2016 Sneaker Violence 5K is a fundraiser for Gods Gift, a nonprofit in Pleasantville that invests in the future of young people, he said. The race is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, beginning and ending at Kennedy Plaza, where registration will take place starting at 8 a.m. Kanye West invites EHT preschool teacher to album debut For Dante Holley, its been a strange five months, the worst of times and the best. Were a musical family. Weve been watching him develop into a producer and rapper and turning things into a positive, said Kevin Crump, of Galloway Township, Holleys uncle. Im just proud of my nephew. Contact: 609-463-6712 Twitter @ACPressMiller SEA ISLE CITY The citys annual Harborfest will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 1. Harborfest, which takes place at 42nd Place and the Bay, features seafood and vendors selling crafts, accessories, collectibles and more. The Harborfest Chowder Contest begins at 1 p.m. and showcases chowders from area restaurants. For $5, guests will blind taste-test their way through the contest, sampling each restaurants chowder and voting for the best. The restaurant with the most votes will be crowned the 2016 Harborfest Chowder Champion and will receive a trophy. A Blessing of the Fleet ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. along the fishing docks at 42nd Place. Local religious leaders will participate in an ecumenical service that will feature bagpipe music. Security a priority for South Jersey's weekend events The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security is working with South Jersey law enforcement to t Following the ceremony, a raw-clam eating contest will be held at 3 p.m. Participation costs $20. Proceeds will benefit the Mikes Seafood Polar Bear Run/Walk for Autism. Harborfest kicks off the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalizations fall event lineup. Other events include the Around the World Social on Oct. 14, Octoberfest on Oct. 22 and Girls Weekend Nov. 18-20. Vincent Jackson The New Jersey Run for the Fallen passed through Ocean City on Thursday, ending with a service at American Legion Post 524, which hosted 11 of the memorial markers. The four-day, 190-mile run through South Jersey honors service members killed overseas at each mile marker. The run began at the Cape May Lighthouse early Thursday morning and will continue north Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from Somers Point to Long Beach Island, through Toms River and Point Pleasant, to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel. The organization consists of military runners who travel throughout New Jersey in memory of service members killed in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. The Core Run Team includes members from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Coordinating Ocean Citys efforts is the American Legion Post 524 Committee chaired by Jack Hagan. Although they visibly run one mile to honor each fallen hero from current conflicts, participants also remember all New Jersey service members who have laid down their lives for the cause of freedom, Hagan said. New Jersey has given 16,408 sons and daughters since World War I. Claire Lowe In July, Cumberland County College made Jeannie Garcia the poster child for how it can help people turn their lives around, overcome adversity and become productive members and even leaders of society. In August, the college's president and trustees reversed Garcia's success at the college by rigidly and foolishly enforcing a policy regarding her application for a part-time job. The college's leaders didn't think enough about what they were doing, but there's still time. Their actions have upset and baffled many people, who would like to believe Cumberland County College has a better sense of its crucial mission of helping students develop and thrive. They should review Garcia's case and consider reinstating her. The college was proud to tell Garcia's story this summer in a press release that was picked up by media across New Jersey. The single mom and victim of domestic violence dropped out after one semester - but then returned, juggling work and college to graduate in May with honors and an award. The college appointed her as this year's alumni representative on its Board of Trustees. It told how she would enter a Wilmington University program offered at the college. In the press release, college President Yves Salomon-Fernandez hammered home what Garcia's experience showed about the college, saying "we never give up on our students. We are proud of Jeannie's accomplishments and hope that others will read her story and be inspired to come back." But a month later, those others were reading that Cumberland County College had dropped Garcia from her trustee position and fired her from her part-time job as a receptionist. A routine background check (which looked deeper into her past than the typical seven years) turned up a misdemeanor disorderly persons conviction from a decade ago, and on her application for the part-time job she had checked a box saying she had no criminal record. College officials didn't give Garcia a chance to explain. She told this newspaper she and others had broken into a building to keep warm one December night, at a time when she was 18 and living with a drug-addicted family member and rarely spent time at home. She thought such an old, minor conviction would no longer be considered a criminal record. It shouldn't. A 2013 bipartisan law sponsored by Atlantic County Assemblyman Chris Brown and Sen. Jim Whelan allowed those convicted of a disorderly persons offense to have it removed from their record if they received needed treatment or performed community service for a year. Brown, a former municipal judge, called Garcia's case "an exact example of the reason I pushed for that bill. This situation is exactly what I was trying to resolve." People make mistakes. They need to overcome them, to get second chances, to be forgiven. Jeannie Garcia already convincingly showed she had overcome her small mistake from a decade ago, growing into someone the college was rightly convinced would be an inspiration to others. Now, it's the president and trustees of Cumberland County College who have made a mistake. They, too, should get a second chance. And if they find a way to correct and overcome their mistake, they too will be forgiven by the many people outraged by the treatment of Garcia so far. Our view Yusuf Ibrahim was sentenced Thursday to two consecutive life terms in state prison for the 2013 murder of two men in Jersey City, whom he then dismembered and buried in Buena Vista Township. Ibrahim, 31, of Jersey City, had cut off his victims' heads and hands to make it more difficult for the bodies to be identified, according to information from Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino. The brutality associated with these murders would make some of the most experienced investigators take pause, said Colonel Joseph R. Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. Jersey City man charged in Buena Vista beheading murders pleads guilty in unrelated robbery r Fuentes commended everyone involved in the investigation, which included the State Police, Atlantic County Prosecutors Office and New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, for ensuring Ibrahim will never again pose a threat to the public. The sentence includes 127.5 years of parole ineligibility. Ibrahim was found guilty June 22 on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree desecration of human remains, and other crimes. He was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Mitzy Galis-Menendez, and received an additional 48 years on charges including desecration of human remains, theft, unlawful possession of a weapon, and hindering apprehension. According to Porrino, Ibrahim murdered Egyptian nationals Hany Tawadros, 25, and Amgad Konds, 27, who had been living in Jersey City, in the early morning hours of Feb. 5, 2013. Evidence and testimony indicated that Ibrahim shot each man once in the chest with a .38-caliber handgun inside Konds white Mercedes C280. Ibrahim then stole their money and jewelry and drove the bodies to Buena Vista in the Mercedes. He buried them in a wooded area behind a relative's empty home on Harding Highway, authorities said. In order to hinder identification, he had cut off their heads and hands using a small drywall saw and scissors, and knocked out their teeth with a tire iron. The Mercedes was later found abandoned and set on fire in Philadelphia. On Feb. 7, 2013, detectives from the State Police Troop A Criminal Investigation Office responded to a report of Ibrahims suspicious activities at the house in Buena Vista Township. They searched the wooded area, where a cadaver dog located an area of disturbed dirt, and after getting a search warrant excavated the area the next day. There they found the two bodies. The heads and hands were found buried about 40 yards away, as were the saw and other implements. Ibrahim was arrested on Feb. 10, 2013, at a residence in Bayonne, Essex County, by the New Jersey State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service. For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. WILMINGTON, North Carolina, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcami, a leading provider of custom development and manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, today announces strengthened capabilities in analytical services at its Edison, New Jersey site. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160315/344471LOGO Alcami's laboratories in Edison offer comprehensive chemistry, environmental and microbial capabilities to support the development, manufacture and release of medicines and consumer products. The Edison site is the only contract testing operation in the state of New Jersey capable of meeting FDA requirements for Antibiotic Analysis both using USP < 81 > and helping clients develop, validate, and perform bridging analysis to an alternative method per USP < 1223.1 >. The company has also added 2,000 cubic feet of stability chamber space across the network, new control systems for all chambers, and a state of the art REES environmental monitoring system to maintain the safety and integrity of its clients' stability samples at all times, with 770 cubic feet of space in Edison. Furthermore, the Edison team has a broad range of expertise in multi-compendial testing and customized analysis, such as: Antibiotic Analysis Disinfectant Efficacy Testing Cleaning Validations API and Excipient Testing Finished Product Release Testing Water Testing Microbial Assays Packaging Component Testing Sterility Testing Method Validation and Optimization Medical Device Testing Beyond facility upgrades, Alcami continues to invest in people, equipment, and processes. In 2016, approximately $500,000 has been invested in upgrades in Edison. An increasing number of clients are benefiting from Alcami's Saturday sample delivery program across all of its laboratory locations which conserves precious time in receiving samples without adding risks. Additionally, Alcami is transforming its laboratories to drive industry leading operational performance based on Lean principles. The company will complete this process in 2017. The Edison, NJ site successfully completed a FDA General Inspection in September 2016. The company is committed to its customers and to the highest quality and regulatory compliance. ABOUT ALCAMI AAIPharma Services Corp. and Cambridge Major Laboratories, Inc. have joined to form Alcami, a world class supplier of comprehensive pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services. With seven sites across the globe, our combined capabilities include API development and manufacturing, solid state chemistry, formulation development, analytical development and testing services, clinical and commercial finished dosage form manufacturing (oral solid dose and parenteral), packaging, and stability services. www.alcaminow.com Related Links http://www.alcaminow.com SOURCE Alcami LONDON, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BCRE - Brack Capital Real Estate Investments N.V. ("BCRE" or the "Company") Posting of notice of Extraordinary General Meeting BCRE is pleased to announce that the Company's Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at Barbara Strozzilaan 201, 1083HN Amsterdam, the Netherlands on 3 November 2016 at 9.00am GMT (10.00am CEST). The following text is the Chairman's letter extracted from the notice regarding the proposed reduction of share capital by means of cancellation and delegation Authority to Issue Shares (the Notice). Dear Shareholder Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting in relation to the proposed Capital Reduction by means of Cancellation of Shares and Delegation to Issue Shares, to Grant Rights to Subscribe for Shares and to Restrict Pre-Emptive Rights 1 Introduction The purpose of the Circular is to provide you with details of your Board's proposal to cancel all Shares held by the Company on the day prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting, up to a maximum of 3,500,000 Shares, after that these Shares were repurchased under the Company's share buy back programme announced by the Company on 3 June 2016. The resolution to cancel Shares shall not take effect until expiry of the period during which creditors may raise opposition to the proposal. In addition the Board wishes to provide you with details of its proposal to increase the number of Shares which the Board is authorized to issue, grant rights to subscribe for and restrict pre-emptive rights. Further details of the proposals are set out below. 2 Capital Reduction by means of cancellation The proposal envisages cancellation of all Shares held by the Company on the day prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting up to a maximum of 3,500,000 Shares, which Shares have been repurchased by the Company under the Company's share buy back programme. The purpose of the share buy back and the subsequent cancellation of the Shares is to reduce the discount between the current share price and the net asset value per Share. The proposal to effect the Capital Reduction requires the adoption thereof by the Shareholders. In respect of the resolution to reduce the share capital any creditor may, by filing a petition with the Court, oppose the resolution. The resolution to reduce the Company's share capital shall not take effect as long opposition may be instituted. If opposition has been instituted in time, the resolution shall take effect only upon the withdrawal of the opposition or upon the Court setting aside or otherwise dealing with the opposition. The Capital Reduction does not affect the voting or dividend rights of any Shareholder, or the rights of any Shareholder on a return of capital and following the implementation of the Capital Reduction. 3 Designation of the Board as authorized body to issue Shares, to grant rights to subscribe for Shares and to restrict pre-emptive rights During the Company's annual general meeting of 2016, it was resolved, in accordance with article 8 of the Articles to designate the Board, as currently provided in article 8.1 of the Articles, until the the first day following the Company's annual general meeting of 2017 as the body authorized to resolve to: a. issue Shares and to grant rights to subscribe for Shares; this authorization applies to 10% of the issued share capital of the Company at the date of the annual general meeting of 2016; and b. limit or exclude pre-emptive rights related to the issuance of Shares or the granting of rights to acquire Shares. (together, the Authority to Issue Shares) In view of a contemplated issuance of Convertible Bonds, approved by the Board on 8 September 2016 and announced by the Company on 13 and 20 September 2016 (the Bond Issuance) the Board proposes the increase the number of Shares to which the authorization applies to 20% of the issued share capital of the Company at the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting. 3 General Meeting A notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held at Barbara Strozzilaan 201, 1083 HN Amsterdam, the Netherlands on 3 November 2016 commencing at 9 a.m. UK time (10 a.m. CET) is set out on page 9 of the Circular. Further background on the Resolutions can be found in the explanatory notes to the Notice. 4 Voting A Form of Proxy for use by Shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting is enclosed with this document. Whether or not you propose to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting, you are urged to complete and sign the Form of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and to return it to the Company, as soon as possible and in any event so as to be received no later than 9 a.m. UK time (10 a.m. CET) on 1 November 2016 (being 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the Extraordinary General Meeting). The return of a completed Form of Proxy or the submission by CREST members of an electronic proxy appointment will not preclude you from attending the Extraordinary General Meeting and voting in person, should you wish to do so. Holders of Depositary Interests in the Company wishing to instruct Capita IRG Trustees Limited, the Depositary, to vote in respect of the holder's interest should use the enclosed Form of Direction. The completed Form of Direction must be received by Capita Asset Services, PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU, as soon as possible and in any event so as to be received no later than 9 a.m. UK time (10 a.m. CET) on 31 October 2016 (being 72 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the Extraordinary General Meeting). CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a voting service provider should refer to their CREST sponsors or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf. In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made by means of CREST to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a "CREST Proxy Instruction") must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited's specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. The message must be transmitted so as to be received by the Company's agent, Capita Registrars Limited (CREST Participant ID: RA10), no later than 72 hours before the time appointed for the meeting. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the time stamp applied to the message by the CREST Application Host) from which the Company's agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsor or voting service provider should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider, to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider takes) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsor or voting service provider are referred in particular to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings. The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001. 5 Record Date Only Shareholders entered on the register of members of the Company at 6 p.m. UK time (7 p.m. CET) on 6 October 2016 shall be entitled to attend and vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting in respect of the number of Shares registered in their name at that time. Changes to entries on the register of members after 6 p.m. UK time (7 p.m. CET) on 6 October 2016 shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the meeting. The length of time between the Record Date and the Extraordinary General Meeting is set by Dutch Law. 6 Recommendation The Board considers the Capital Reduction and the delegation of the Authority to Issue Shares will promote the success of the Company for the Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions. Yours faithfully Harin Thaker, Chairman ENQUIRIES: BCRE - Brack Capital Real Estate Investments N.V. Ariel Podrojski, Chief Executive Officer Nansia Koutsou, Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operating Officer +31 20 514 1004 Novella Communications Tim Robertson Toby Andrews +44 203 151 7008 About BCRE BCRE is an international real estate development and investment group, headquartered in the Netherlands and listed on the London Stock Exchange. Through its subsidiary and associated undertakings, the Company is interested in, develops and operates an international portfolio of real estate assets, predominantly located in the USA, Germany and Russia. The Company has established local management team platforms with significant local market expertise in the US, Germany, Russia, India and the UK with exclusive access to over 550 staff. At present, the Company has offices and teams in New York, London, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Moscow, Kazan, New Delhi, Amsterdam, Limassol and Budapest. This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire. SOURCE BCRE - Brack Capital Real Estate Investments N.V. BOSTON, Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Crane Currency, a rapidly growing global producer of currency products, today announced plans to build a new banknote printing facility and customer experience center in the country of Malta. The Malta facility will represent an investment of approximately $100 million for the construction of the factory, the machinery and the equipment. The company expects to initially hire approximately 200 new employees. The planned 140,000 square foot facility, expected to be completed in early 2018, is being constructed in the Hal Far industrial area. The company made the announcement during a visit to its offices by the Prime Minister of Malta, The Honorable Dr. Joseph Muscat. Crane currently supports its international customers from its Tumba, Sweden operations which includes a modern printing works, banknote paper mill and design services team and from its security technologies operation in New Hampshire and Georgia. The country of Malta has a well-known history of banknote production providing Crane access to a skilled workforce. In addition, Malta has a business-friendly environment and is located in close proximity to many of Crane's customers. Crane Currency Malta will be the first commercial banknote printing facility to be built in several decades. The state-of-the art banknote production and customer experience center will offer the latest in printing equipment and technology to support the most demanding customer requirements. As banknotes move away from 'ink on paper' to a combination of highly engineered substrates and applied security features like Crane's MOTION micro-optics, the capabilities of the modern printing works must also evolve. Crane Currency Malta will reflect this technological evolution in its layout and equipment. "What is being announced today is a significant landmark achievement for our nation," stated Dr. Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta. "To give one an inkling of the sheer significance of this investment to our manufacturing sector, I need only say that the last time the country managed to attract a greenfield investor that started its manufacturing operations with a comparable number of employees was in 1981." "We are delighted to expand our banknote printing capacity with our new facility in Malta," stated Stephen P. DeFalco, Chief Executive Officer of Crane Currency. "I would like to extend my gratitude to Prime Minister Muscat and Malta Enterprise for their support. We look forward to a long term relationship with our future employees in Malta and to building the most modern banknote printing facility in the world." About Crane Currency Crane has been a global producer of currency products for more than 200 years and is entrusted by more than 50 central banks to play an integral role in the design and manufacture of their nations' banknotes. From the most traditional of cotton substrates to the most advanced micro-optic security elements and design, Crane is a responsive partner focused on delivering innovative products and solutions that meet clients' most demanding requirements. For more information, please visit www.cranecurrency.com. Contact: Craig Conrad craig.conrad@cranecurrency.com +1 617-648-3722 Related Links http://www.cranecurrency.com SOURCE Crane Currency LANZHOU, China, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Delegates from Belt and Road countries signed a declaration in northwest China's Dunhuang City to further cultural exchange as the Silk Road International Cultural Expo concluded on Wednesday. In the Dunhuang Declaration, cultural diversity, equality and inclusiveness are stressed. The signatories agreed to protect historical and cultural heritage, strengthen cultural dialogue at all levels, and promote cultural trade and industry cooperation. According to the organizing committee, 89 agreements relating to cultural industries with a total value of 108 billion yuan (16 billion U.S. dollars) were signed during the two-day expo. Chinese Culture Minister Luo Shugang said the Dunhuang Declaration marked the establishment of a new cultural exchange mechanism within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. In addition, Gansu Province, which administers Dunhuang, signed cooperation agreements with a European Parliament cultural commission on the Belt and Road, and the government of Tajikistan. SOURCE Publicity Team of the Executive Committee for the Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo The 'CSR Impact Award', which has been conferred on FrieslandCampina's Dairy Development Programme (DDP), honours corporate social responsibility initiatives that have demonstrated an on-going track record of significant and sustainable impact. Programmes considered for the award also have to be innovative, replicable and scalable. With its purpose of 'Nourishing by Nature', FrieslandCampina works with partners at all levels of the value chain to address the challenges of food and nutrition security in Asia, and seeks to provide better nutrition for the world, and better livelihoods for farmers now and for generations to come. FrieslandCampina's Dairy Development Programme empowers local smallholder dairy farmers to run their businesses in an environmentally and financially sustainable way, while also enabling them to raise the quality and quantity of their milk production. Partnering with key stakeholders such as local governments, businesses and non-governmental organisations, FrieslandCampina reaches over 100,000 farmers directly and indirectly across the region and, through the Programme, secures and advances the farming industry for the next generation. Commenting on the award win, Mr. Piet Hilarides, Chief Operating Offficer, Consumer Products Asia, FrieslandCampina, said: "FrieslandCampina is honoured to have been conferred this award, which recognises the impact and reach of our Dairy Development Programme. "Our quest to be good corporate citizens means that the initiatives we drive on the ground need to be long-lasting and sustainable. This can only be achieved through the work of multi-stakeholder partnerships. Our Dairy Development Programme and its impact shows the importance of this, and how business, government and society must continue to work together to guarantee food and nutrition security for our region." Mr. Pascal Bardouil, Managing Director, FrieslandCampina, Myanmar and Mr. Hendro Poedjono, Director, Corporate Affairs, FrieslandCampina Asia were present at the ceremony to accept the award. This year's awards attracted nominations from 112 companies. The Asian CSR Awards are presented in conjunction with the Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility. For more information, please contact: Media Contacts FrieslandCampina Ada Wong, Head of Public Affairs and Communications, Asia T: +65 6850 7931 Email: Ada.Wong@frieslandcampina.com Spurwing Communications Emma Thompson / Stephanie Tan T: +65 9171 2862 Email: FC@spurwingcomms.com About Royal FrieslandCampina Every day Royal FrieslandCampina provides millions of consumers all over the world with food that is rich in valuable nutrients. With annual revenue of 11.3 billion euros, FrieslandCampina is one of the world's largest dairy companies, supplying consumer and professional products, as well as ingredients and half-finished products to manufacturers of infant & toddler nutrition, the food industry and the pharmaceutical sector around the world. FrieslandCampina has offices in 32 countries and over 22,000 employees, and its products are available in more than 100 countries. The Company is fully owned by Zuivelcooperatie FrieslandCampina U.A, with over 19,000 member dairy farmers in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium -- making it one of the world's largest dairy cooperatives. For more information please visit: www.frieslandcampina.com. About FrieslandCampina Consumer Products Asia FrieslandCampina's Consumer Products Asia business group consists of operating companies that are active in the consumer products segment in Asia. FrieslandCampina has acquired excellent positions in many countries with strong brands and a wide range of products. These activities have a long and rich history. The export of dairy from Western Europe began back in the 1920s. The range of long shelf life products has expanded significantly: from milk powder, condensed milk, infant and children's nutrition to dairy drinks, yoghurts and desserts. FrieslandCampina has operating companies in China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. In Asia we market brands that have acquired strong positions. Dutch Lady is legendary in Malaysia and Vietnam, Foremost is a leading brand in Thailand, Frisian Flag is widely known in Indonesia. Related Links http://www.frieslandcampina.com SOURCE FrieslandCampina DUBLIN, September 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Market Report On Mercurous Oxalate 2016" report to their offering. The Global Market Report on Mercurous Oxalate provides comprehensive data on Mercurous Oxalate global and regional markets including Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, etc. The report captures Mercurous Oxalate market trends and pays close attention to Mercurous Oxalate. The report is broken into three main parts including manufacturing methods & technology development, market landscape & trend analysis, and distribution policy. In the manufacturing methods & technology development section, the main manufacturing methods of Mercurous Oxalate are introduced. Key Topics Covered: Part 1: Introduction of Mercurous Oxalate Chapter 1: Brief Introduction of Mercurous Oxalate Chapter 2: Product Identification Chapter 3: Physical Properties Chapter 4: Quality Specifications Part 2: Manufacture Methods and Technology Development of Mercurous Oxalate Chapter 1: Introduction of Main Manufacture Methods Chapter 2: Introduction of Patent Manufacture Methods Chapter 3: New Progress on the Manufacture Technology Part 3: Application of Mercurous Oxalate Chapter 1: Application Review Chapter 2: End Products(Downstream Products) of Mercurous Oxalate Chapter 3: New Applications of Mercurous Oxalate Part 4: Production Situation of Mercurous Oxalate Chapter 1: Current Production Situation Chapter 2: Manufacturers in China Chapter 3: Manufacturers Outside of China Chapter 4: Production Trend Analysis Part 5: Market Situation of Mercurous Oxalate Chapter 1: Market Supply Status and Trend Forecast Chapter 2: Downstream Consumer Market Analysis Chapter 3: Supply and Demand Analysis and Forecast Chapter 4: Price Analysis Chapter 5: Import & Export Situation Part 6: Distribution Policy of Mercurous Oxalate Chapter 1: Market Size in Major Use Segments Chapter 2: Major End Users Chapter 3: Potential Users Part 7: References For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/nhknpg/global_market Related Topics: Chemicals Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets Good American is advancing the body movement seen in popular culture, which has already redefined what it means to be sexy and is knocking down outdated physical stereotypes which the new generation of girls no longer aspire to. The collection offers three highly-wearable styles to flatter and enhance various body types and will be available in sizes 0-24. In June 2016 Emma & Khloe announced they would be looking for girls to be part of their launch campaign via social media, in just two days, over 12,000 people entered and 23 girls were selected to appear in the campaign alongside Khloe. "For our launch campaign we wanted to feature girls who embody our values, women that embrace the body they were given- they all entered themselves after all and responded to a simple mission statement on a website. Also it was important to us to get the collection onto the bodies of the women that will become our customers and not just models," says Emma. "We wanted to find real girls to join us in this movement," says Khloe "This isn't just about finding the perfect pair of jeans, but embracing your body and being proud of all that you are." Good American will sell directly to its consumers from October 18th at goodamerican.com, as well as in Nordstrom locations around the United States. We are the body Popular Culture, We are Good American goodamerican.com Instagram.com/goodamerican Facebook.com/goodamerican Twitter.com/goodamerican Snapchat: goodamerican Tumblr.com/goodamerican Related Links https://www.goodamerican.com SOURCE Good American PUNE, India, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global and Chinese Maintenance-Free Batteries Market Research Report provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the structure of the Maintenance-Free Batteries market. This unique report provides a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the development and status of the Maintenance-Free Batteries market and focusing on the Chinese market size and trends, product mix, supply and future prospects. The report will simplify the operative and calculated decision making processes. Complete report on Maintenance-Free Batteries market of 150 pages divided into 11 major chapters that offer an overview of current market scenario as well as 2021 forecasts is now available at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/626568-global-and-chinese-maintenance-free-batteries-industry-2016-market-research-report.html. The key sections covered in this report are 2011-2016 market trends and 2016-2021 market forecast of Global Capacity, Production and Production Value of Maintenance-Free Batteries Industry. Along with it an encompassing study of the Global Cost and Profit of Maintenance-Free Batteries Industry, Market Comparison of Global and Chinese Maintenance-Free Batteries Industry is made. What makes the report more reliable for the new investors is the information on the Global and Chinese Supply and Consumption of Maintenance-Free Batteries and Chinese Import and Export of Maintenance-Free Batteries, apart from the market size by value, key trends, registration volumes etc. This report considers all the aspects of the current and future industry growth information which is vital for all new entrants as well as the leading market players. For industry chain analysis of the Maintenance-Free Batteries Market the report presents a deep study of the Industry Chain Structure, Upstream Raw Materials, and Downstream Industry. The report further highlights the Global and Chinese Economic Impact on Maintenance-Free Batteries Industry in terms of Global and Chinese Macroeconomic Environment Analysis, Global and Chinese Macroeconomic Environment Development Trend, Global and Chinese Macroeconomic Outlook and their corresponding effects on the Maintenance-Free Batteries Industry. Order a Copy of Report at http://www.reportsnreports.com/purchase.aspx?name=626568. With numerous tables and figures supporting the Maintenance-Free Batteries market analysis, this research report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market. The market entry strategies, countermeasures of economic impact, marketing channels all sum up to be insightful for new project investments. Exclusively, the report delivers a thorough comprehension of the 2011-2021 global and Chinese Maintenance-Free Batteries industry covering all vital factors. Another related report is Global and Chinese Batteries for Smart Power Grid Industry, 2011-2021 Market Research Report. Complete report available at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/604498-global-and-chinese-batteries-for-smart-power-grid-industry-2016-market-research-report.html. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Batteries for Smart Power Grid manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry. Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2011-2016 market shares for each company. Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and Chinese total market of Batteries for Smart Power Grid industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export. The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis. The report then estimates 2016-2021 market development trends of Batteries for Smart Power Grid industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Batteries for Smart Power Grid Industry before evaluating its feasibility. Explore other reports on Energy and Power at http://www.reportsnreports.com/market-research/energy-and-power-supplies/. About Us: ReportsnReports.com is your single source for all market research needs. Our database includes 500,000+ market research reports from over 100+ leading global publishers & in-depth market research studies of over 5000 micro markets. With comprehensive information about the publishers and the industries for which they publish market research reports, we help you in your purchase decision by mapping your information needs with our huge collection of reports. Contact: Ritesh Tiwari UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune - 411013 Maharashtra, India. Tel: +1-888-391-5441 sales@reportsnreports.com Connect With Us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReportsnReports/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reportsnreports Twitter: https: //twitter.com/marketsreports G+ / Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/111656568937629536321/posts RSS/Feeds: http://www.reportsnreports.com/feed/l-latestreports.xml SOURCE ReportsnReports GENEVA, September 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 21, the International Forum for Rights of Pakistan hosted a seminar at the UNHRC in Geneva on the human rights violations caused by the Pakistani Army, under the garb of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Speakers at the conference included Faiz Mohd Zaland, human rights activist from Afghanistan, Jacek Wlocowicz, Member of the Senate of Polish Parliament, Paulo Casaca, Executive Director, South Asia Democratic Forum, Tarek Fateh, Executive Director Baluchistan House and Mehran Marri, Baluch Representative at the UNHRC . Dr. Faiz Modh Zaland, while speaking at the event, stated that the Pakistan Army and its intelligence agencies had victimized the Pashtuns who were living in North and South Waziristan. He stated that the military operation Zarb-e-Azb had only destroyed the homes of the local people and not the terrorists, unlike the claims of the Pakistani government. With UN agencies and the world media denied access to the areas of the operation, Dr Zaland said that the Pakistani government had ensured that these atrocities did not come out in the open. Jacek Wlocowicz, in his speech, stated that though the Pakisatni Army had left no stone unturned to project that the operation was a success, this was actually one of the worst humanitarian crisis witnessed, forcing more than 2 million people from their homes. He added that what was more concerning was the Pakistani government's statement that the offensive would not end till all terrorists were eliminated, thereby turning it into an indefinite process. He concluded that the Pakistani government was barely taking any concrete and substantial initiatives to rehabilitate refugees in the region, let alone acknowledge the lives lost in the humanitarian crisis that had engulfed the region. While speaking on Operation Zarb-e-Azb, Mehran Marri stated that the operation had been launched to protect the Haqqani network and what Pakistan described as the good Taliban. He charged Pakistan of being linked to 75 per cent of the terror incidents in the world. Tarek Fateh in his statement informed that the Pakistan Army had started the operation to kill its own citizens in order to ensure the smooth exit of nearly 2000 Central Asian and Chechen terrorists to move to Syria to join the ISIS. He warned that if not checked, Pakistan would become a threat to the citizens of Europe and America. A 45-minute documentary on the humanitarian disaster caused by Op Zarb-e Azb, was also screened at the seminar. SOURCE Baluchistan House GENEVA, September 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 world 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. SOURCE pakistani women human rights organization MADRID, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PharmaMar (MSE:PHM) has announced today the submission to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) of the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for Aplidin (plitidepsin) in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). This is a type of blood cancer which represents 10% of all hematological malignancies. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150203/727958-b ) PharmaMar has gone through with this application given the positive data obtained from the randomized, Phase III ADMYRE clinical trial, where the efficacy and safety of Aplidin with dexamethasone versus dexamethasone alone in patients with relapsed/refractory MM after at least three, but no more than six, prior therapeutic regimens has been evaluated. The results of the ADMYRE study showed a statistically significant 35% reduction in the risk of progression or death over the comparator. The study met its primary endpoint. The submission of this MMA to the EMA represents an important milestone for PharmaMar. "We have achieved positive results with this molecule throughout its clinical development and we believe Aplidin could become a novel therapeutic alternative for patients with multiple myeloma", says Luis Mora, Managing Director of PharmaMars Oncology Business Unit, who also adds "that we estimate the answer from the regulatory agency for the second half of 2017". Aplidin has received orphan drug designation by the European Commission and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Up to today, PharmaMar has various licensing agreements for the sales and distribution of this compound with Specialised Therapeutics Asia PTE Ltd. (Singapore) in several countries for Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand; with TTY Biopharm in Taiwan; and with Chugai Pharma Europe Ltd. in 8 European countries. PharmaMar will be paid by Chugai Pharma Europe Ltd. 4 million euros for the presentation of the above mentioned MAA. About APLIDIN (plitidepsin) Plitidepsin is an investigational anticancer agent of marine origin, originally obtained from the ascidian Aplidium albicans. It specifically binds to the eEF1A2 and targets the non-canonical role of this protein, resulting in tumor cell death via apoptosis (programed death). Plitidepsin is currently in clinical development for hematological cancers, including a Phase Ib trial in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma as a triple combination of plitidepsin, bortezomib and dexamethasone, and a Phase II study in relapsed or refractory angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Plitidepsin has received orphan drug designation in the European Union and the United States of America. Paula Fernandez Media Relations: +34-638-79-62-15 Investor Relations: +34-914444500 SOURCE PharmaMar GENEVA, September 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 20, 2016 a demonstration was held outside the UN Human Rights Council to protest against the human rights violations in Pakistan. Representatives from Pakistan Administered Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh participated, seeking the attention of the UN and the international community to the grave violations committed by the Pakistani government and the military against the minorities in the country. Jameel Maqsood, Belgium Representative of the United Kashmir People's National Party, while speaking on the occasion said that the Pakistan intelligence service and the Army had thwarted the basic right of expression of the people of Pakistan Administered Kashmir, and an environment of fear and persecution prevailed in the area. He charged the Pakistani government of supporting Islamic fundamentalist forces and using them to spread terror. Junaid Qureshi, a prominent Kashmiri human rights leader, also participated in the event. He raised the demand for Arif Shahid, deceased political activist from Pakistan Administered Kashmir, to be declared a martyr. He stated that even though Arif Shahid never raised a gun against the Pakistani State, he was killed by the country's security services for raising his voice against Pakistan. The protestors also raised their voice against the Pakistani government's policy of looting the natural resources of Gilgit -Baltistan and against the Chinese presence in the province and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Senge Sering, Chairman of the Gilgit Baltistan Institute, was present at the protest. Raising the issue of targeted killing of minorities, including Christians, Hindus and Shias in Sindh, Sindhi leaders including Lakhu Luhana, President of the World Sindhi Congress called on the international community to put pressure on Pakistan to stop persecution of minorities. The prominent banners displayed on this occasion read 'Stop Killing of Minorities in Pakistan', 'Stop Persecution of Christians in Pakistan', 'We resent Chinese presence in Gilgit-Baltistan' and 'Arif Shahid is a Martyr'. SOURCE European Organization for Pakistani Minorities STAMFORD, Connecticut and LUCCA, Italy, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PwC Luxembourg Reporting Service to Provide Expert Production Support for Fund Regulatory, Tax, and Other Financial Reporting for Companies in Europe and Asia Tagetik, a visionary leader in global performance management software solutions, announced today that its Financial Performance PlatformTM, integrated with its Collaborative Disclosure Management (CDM) solution, is the foundation of an innovative web-based system used by PwC Luxembourg to provide production support for the complex fund regulatory, tax, and other financial reporting needs of companies in Europe and Asia. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140625/694014 ) The collaborative web-based system is part of a range of integrated regulatory fund services offered by PwC Luxembourg. For those companies seeking to outsource any or all of their regulatory or financial reporting, the PwC Luxembourg service can track all input and work associated with a report, manages all workflows, updates data real-time, provides detailed auditing, and ensures data consistency and accuracy. "We chose Tagetik because we needed an advanced performance and disclosure management solution that our risk and finance experts could use, manage, and control on their own. Product flexibility and data accuracy were obviously critical to the selection, as was the ability to support our clients' diverse processes, operating models, and workflows. Tagetik's use of Microsoft Excel and Word for reporting was also an asset," said Francois-Victor Adam, Reporting Fund Services Partner at PwC Luxembourg. "Tagetik is working closely with us to design and improve a system that meets the expectations of our experts while addressing the critically important reporting requirements of our clients." "Luxembourg is a major world hub for the investment fund and asset management industry: the strength of Tagetik's reporting and disclosure functions will help mainstream the production of regulatory reporting from the data collection to document edition," said Fabrizio Tocchini, Country Director, Tagetik Belgium and Tagetik Luxembourg. "We are very proud to be part of this development initiative," said Bani Brandolini, President International of Tagetik. "Our Collaborative Disclosure Management solution, used in conjunction with our Financial Performance Platform, has proven its ability to handle any kind of regulatory or financial reporting with great efficiency, thanks to built-in financial intelligence, collaborative features, and workflow control and management. We look forward to continuing our work with PwC Luxembourg to help companies address the increasingly complex reporting requirements that are part of doing business on a global scale." For more information on Tagetik and its products solution, visit http://www.tagetik.com. About Tagetik Tagetik understands the complex challenges that face the Office of Finance and translates that knowledge into intuitive, enterprise-scale performance management software solutions that drive business results. With Tagetik, companies get the simplicity of the Cloud and the power to unify financial and operational planning; shorten the consolidation and close process; immediately analyze results, model and compare full financial statement impact of business scenarios; adjust strategic plans; seamlessly update rolling forecasts; produce formatted and auditable financial statements and management reports; collaborate on business reviews, and automate disclosure and board reporting. Tagetik has built-in financial intelligence so that CFOs, finance managers, and operations executives can orchestrate multiple or all processes in one software solution. More than 850 customers across 35 countries count on Tagetik to improve efficiency, reduce risk, save money and deliver results. For more information, visit http://www.tagetik.com. We get Finance. You get results. Follow us on social media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Google+ YouTube Blog Media Contacts: Linda Galloway insidHR Communications +1-303-863-8620 office +1-203-733-7446 mobile lgalloway@insidhr.com SOURCE Tagetik BUCHAREST, Romania, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Liviu Dragnea, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSD), today launched the first phase of an economic plan aimed at generating at least 42,000 new jobs and raising employee incomes to a European standard. Mr. Dragnea told a news conference he wanted every Romanian who works hard and contributes to the nation's development to join the middle class. "Romanians are entitled to the 'European dream' in their own country, so as not to work abroad," he said. It has been estimated that 2.5 million Romanian nationals currently work abroad, approximately half the size of the domestic work force. The PSD, the largest party in Romania's parliament, relinquished office last year following street demonstrations in the aftermath of a devastating nightclub fire. Under its new leadership, the party is seeking a new mandate in elections scheduled for Dec. 11. The elections are expected to replace a caretaker "technocratic" government. Mr. Dragnea maintains that the current government's inexperience has resulted in freezing Romanian living standards, which had been rising quickly under the previous PSD government. Terming the PSD the "party of the many", Mr. Dragnea called on Romanians to join him in elevating the nation's working class to the middle class and to secure a European-scale standard of living for all. He said this was a key to encouraging the return of the nation's expatriate workers. He said out-migration has affected some of the most vital sectors of society, pointing to the example of 13,000 more physicians needed in Romanian hospitals following the exodus to EU countries. He also cited Romania's automotive industry, which struggles to recruit skilled workers. Linchpin of the re-industrialization plan is a EUR 10 billion (45 billion Romanian Leu) state investment fund, the Sovereign Fund for Development and Investment or SFDI (Fondul Suveran de Dezvoltare si Investitii, or FSDI), which is to be created from the assets owned by the state in 200 companies. The fund is expected to generate revenues of over 50 billion leu in the next four years, as dividends from those companies are reinvested, and private investments are attracted. Mr. Dragnea said the SFDI will support large infrastructure projects, such as highways, hospitals, power facilities and railways that cannot be accessed from EU funds. Additionally, the Fund will capitalize large Romanian companies, set up new manufacturing companies as Greenfield projects in disadvantaged regions, which will create at least "42,000 new, well-paid jobs," he said. Romania used to have factories and strong industry in each of its 41 counties. Now, in most cities, these factories have closed and good paying jobs are scarce. The Social Democrats' program aims at rebuilding Romanian industry and opening new factories in these cities. About the Social Democratic Party of Romania The PSD, in Romanian Partidul Social Democrat, was originally formed in 1992 as a party of the center-left and is currently the largest grouping in both lower and upper houses of the nation's parliament, while also controlling more than half of the mayoralties and over 65% of local and county councils, including the capital of Bucharest. The PSD paved the way for Romania's historic accession process into the EU in 2007, and today holds 16 of the country's 32 MEPs. Its 2012-15 government was considered one of Romania's best, leading the country's emergence from the economic crisis and achieving rapid growth, together with a sharp increase of people's living standards. Liviu Dragnea, the PSD's current president, was elected party leader in 2015 and has since led a series of reforms that have positioned the PSD to form Romania's next government. Mr. Dragnea is a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development. For further information: Steluta Negoita, +40 730 650 545, presa@psd.ro in Bucharest or Zhenya Harrison, +44 (0)20 3397 2825 or zhenya.harrison@belgravestrategic.com in London SOURCE Social Democratic Party of Romania With the global manufacturing industry at a pivotal point in its history, the MLC, a unit of global consultancy at Frost & Sullivan, identifies six Critical Issues facing the manufacturing industry as it undertakes its journey to the information-based future envisioned by Manufacturing 4.0. These issues include: Factories of the Future The Integrated Manufacturing Enterprise Innovation in Manufacturing Transformative Technologies Next-Generation Manufacturing Leadership & the Changing Workforce Cybersecurity Find detailed descriptions of the MLC's new Critical Issues agenda at http://frost.ly/ci16 Based on extensive consultation with more than 500 senior executives and associate members of the MLC and Board of Governors, the latest Critical Issues agenda is designed to help manufacturers align their thinking and practices for a successful journey to Manufacturing 4.0. "The future of manufacturing is not only going to be full of new opportunities for strong growth based on the intelligent use of new cyber/physical technologies, such as the Internet of Things, Big Data and the Cloud, but it is also going to be an exciting place to work for a new generation of employees," said David R. Brousell, co-founder of the MLC. "To enable this vision to become a reality, manufacturing executives need a strategic roadmap to transform their businesses for the digital era. The MLC's Critical Issues agenda brings both focus and clarity to the mission of Manufacturing 4.0." "Our future cyber/physical environment will be based on connectivity -- connected products, connected supply chains, and connected factories," added John Fleming, a member of the Manufacturing Leadership Council's Board of Governors and former Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs at Ford Motor Co. "The Council's leadership is needed to develop the roadmaps and the skilled people necessary to ensure that we can fully utilize the 'Industrial Internet of Things' and deliver further progress on the key metrics of safety, quality and cost efficiency." About the Manufacturing Leadership Council Founded in 2008, the Manufacturing Leadership Council's vision is to create and inspire a global community of manufacturing executives who believe in the proposition that manufacturing is the fundamental driver of economic and social prosperity, and that its growth will lead to a better future and a higher standard of living for all people. The MLC's mission is to inspire manufacturing executives to achieve transformational growth for themselves, their companies, and for the industry at large through enlightened leadership. The Council focuses on the intersection of advanced technologies and the business, identifying growth and improvement opportunities in the operation, organization and leadership of manufacturing enterprises. In support of this, the Council produces an extensive portfolio of leadership networking, information, and professional development products, programs, and services. For more information and to join the MLC, please visit www.frost.com/mlc About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure. The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies? Contact Us: Start the discussion Contact: Jaylon Brinkley Corporate Communications Associate North America P: 210.247.2481 E: jaylon.brinkley@frost.com Related Links http://www.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan PARIS, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The overwhelming majority of voters are endorsing the upcoming referendum in Azerbaijan on constitutional reforms, according to a survey by Opinionway, a French research company. While 87 per cent of respondents emphasized the importance of the proposed constitutional amendments, 88 per cent believe that these changes will positively affect the development of the respective areas in the country. "Azerbaijanis believe that the proposals in connection with the security, protection, constitutional guarantees of human rights and freedoms will give impetus to further development," said Bruno Jeanbart of Opinionway. Over five million Azerbaijani voters go to the polls on September 26th in a referendum that will ask voters to approve 29 constitutional amendments, with a separate vote on each one. Among the key changes proposed are an extension of the presidential term from five to seven years as well as the introduction of the new position of First Vice President, who would become the country's number two, instead of the Prime Minister as is the case now. The minimum age to stand for parliament will be lowered from 25 to 18 and there will be no age limit for participating in the presidential elections (currently 35). "The survey clearly shows that voters are happy about their political leadership," Jeanbart said, noting that 81 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the work of the political system in Azerbaijan and 93 per cent believe the country is headed in the right direction. Of the most important issues facing voters, the economy ranks behind Nagorno-Karabakh, the Azerbaijani territory which - along with seven surrounding provinces - continues to be occupied by Armenia in defiance of resolutions by international institutions such as the United Nations or European Parliament, calling for an unconditional and immediate withdrawal. "Nagorno-Karabakh remains a highly emotional issue for voters, especially following the resurgence of hostilities in April," Jeanbart said. The survey was based on interviews with 1,200 respondents that were randomly selected across the country. They answered 12 questions aimed at studying respondents' socio-demographic indicators, the political and economic situation in the country as well as the upcoming referendum. SOURCE Opinionway The announcement was made during the Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure Friends for the Cure and Teams Celebration, which recognizes Race teams and individuals for their outstanding fundraising. In addition to the fundraising recognitions, the event featured a panel of breast cancer experts from Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University School of Medicine who shared the latest updates and answered questions from the audience; and information was shared on Susan G. Komen's bold goal to reduce U.S. breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in 10 years; the plan targets health equity for all and enhanced research focus for most lethal breast cancers. A crowd of 25,000 participated in the 2016 Komen Detroit Race for the Cure held in May at Detroit's Chene Park. The Komen Detroit Race is a top tier Race event in Komen Race series and among 130 Races held around the world. The Karmanos Cancer Institute has been the local presenting sponsor of the Komen Detroit Race since it began in 1992. Over the last 25 years, the Komen Detroit Race had raised and invested more than $29 million to help end breast cancer. Seventy-five percent of the net proceeds raised help support local breast cancer programs and 25 percent funds national breast cancer research. Globally, Susan G. Komen has invested more than $920 million in research and more than $2 billion in life-saving breast cancer community programs. To date, more than $27 million has been awarded to Michigan scientists to help advance innovative breast cancer research in Michigan. "We are honored to recognize and celebrate all those whose dedication and commitment help us in our work to end breast cancer," said Katrina Studvent, chair of the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure. "Once again, our Race teams, generous sponsors and media partners, fundraisers, faith-based groups and participants stepped up, making this year's Race another success. "Together, we are helping both women and men survive breast cancer, including those with metastatic disease where there is currently no cure our forever fighters. Unfortunately, there are still 40,000 women dying from this disease each year and there remains discouraging disparity within underserved communities, including metropolitan Detroit. "As a result, Susan G. Komen recently announced a bold plan to reduce breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in the next 10 years by improving access to quality and timely cancer care for the underserved, and enhancing research dollars focused on aggressive breast cancers with the allocation of $32.7 million for new research grants for 2016." Komen Scholar Lisa Newman, M.D., with Henry Ford Health System, will receive $600,000 to compare gene expression in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) samples from patients from west Africa, east Africa, African-Americans and Caucasian Americans to determine if shared ancestry, population migration and reproductive patterns contribute to the development of specific subtypes of TNBC. This work will better define TNBC subtypes in diverse populations. Michigan also has nine ongoing grants, awarded in previous years. This new research grant brings Komen's total research investment in Michigan to $27,028,700 since 1982. Brian Christy, co-chair for the Komen Detroit Race shared findings from the Komen Detroit needs assessment, which supports Komen's initiative and determines how Race funds are allocated. "Although we have come a long way since our first Detroit Race in 1992, our work is far from over," said Christy. "Our 2015 needs assessment on our Detroit service area (representing Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties) showed significantly higher incidence of late-stage diagnoses and deaths from breast cancer compared to the rest of Michigan. "We are committed to help close this disparities gap and appreciate your ongoing support so that all those in our community can have access to education and the quality breast cancer care they deserve." 2016 Komen Detroit-Funded Local Breast Cancer Programs Based on the results of a community needs assessment, a panel of community experts invested this year's Race proceeds in the following programs: Helping Hands: Breast Diagnostic and Limited Treatment Services to Low-Income/Uninsured Patients at the Alexander J. Walt Breast Center Awarded $260,740 Laura Zubeck , R.N., BSN, MBA/HCA, Karmanos Cancer Institute The Helping Hands grant covers diagnostic, co-pay, high deductibles and limited treatment for uninsured and uninsured/underinsured women and men who are not eligible for other support. Karmanos staff evaluates all requests for financial assistance and provides educational materials, system navigation, follow-up guidance, and help with other needs, such as transportation, prescriptions and more. Extend and Enhance: Providing BCCCP Services to More Women in Wayne County Awarded $210,793 Robert Burack , M.D. MPH, Karmanos Cancer Institute/ Wayne State University The Wayne County Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) assists uninsured and underinsured women in the tri-county region so they have full access to breast cancer screening, follow-up and treatment. The program includes community outreach and breast cancer education, breast screening follow-up and treatment at no out-of-pocket cost to uninsured women. This grant also covers out-of-pocket costs for women with high-deductible health insurance, and treatment for women diagnosed with breast cancer but who are ineligible for Medicaid. Sister & Sister Free Mammogram Program Awarded $248,294 Nichole McLaughlin , McLaren Oakland Foundation The Sister & Sister's Free Mammogram Program provides free mammograms to increase mammogram screening and survival rates among hard-to-reach uninsured/underinsured African American and Hispanic women in the greater Pontiac area. The program corrects misconceptions about breast cancer using an evidence-based "witnessing" model. Women in need are navigated to follow-up testing, and if cancer is found, they are navigated to treatment. Recognizing Outstanding Accomplishments and Fundraising Susan G. Komen recognizes exceptional individuals with "The Promise of One" award. The award reflects the promise Nancy Brinker made to her sister Susan G. Komen who died of breast cancer at the age of 36. That promise led to the creation of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, established in 1982, to fund research to help end breast cancer forever. Since then, Susan G. Komen has become the largest breast cancer movement of its kind in the world. This year's "Promise of One" award was presented to Patricia Ellis of Grosse Pointe. Ellis has served on the Komen Detroit Planning Committee for nearly 10 years as volunteer media chair. She helps with year-round media coverage and volunteers countless hours sharing numerous inspirational stories and securing feature interviews for the annual Komen Detroit Race for the Cure, engaging wonderful media partners who have grown their involvement each year. Ellis' consistent drive, instinctive story development and media relationships have resulted in more than $15 million in pro-bono media coverage for the Detroit Race in the past seven years alone. Having lost both her parents and other loved ones to cancer, she, like others she works with, is passionate and committed to do what she can to raise awareness and help others impacted by this disease, engaging the community and local and national media in the process. Ellis continues that same commitment in her work as director of media relations for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. The Sept. 21 celebration also recognized outstanding fundraising efforts through its Friends for the Cure program, which started 20 years ago. The event acknowledges Race teams of 40 or more, teams that raised more than $5,000 and individuals who raised more than $1,000. Since the program began, more than $12 million has been raised toward Komen Detroit's total revenue. Forty-six Platinum Club members raised at least $2,000 each. Seventeen Promise Club members raised $5,000 or more. Of the top ten individual fundraisers, the latter seven of this impressive group together raised $50,351. The top three fundraisers for 2016 are: 1st place winner is Dorene Williams of Bloomfield Hills , who raised $22,640 this year. Williams was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in 2003. She has won top fundraiser seven times since 2008. Regarding her disease, she says she continues to remain positive and never gives up! In the past six years, Dorene has raised $178,534 . , who raised this year. Williams was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in 2003. She has won top fundraiser seven times since 2008. Regarding her disease, she says she continues to remain positive and never gives up! In the past six years, Dorene has raised . 2nd place winner is Lynda Jablonski of Sterling Heights , who raised $16,015 this year. She said she continues to fundraise so that her grandchildren can, one day, live in a world without breast cancer. She has been a member of the Platinum Clun every year since its inception 13 years. , who raised this year. She said she continues to fundraise so that her grandchildren can, one day, live in a world without breast cancer. She has been a member of the Platinum Clun every year since its inception 13 years. 3rd place winner is Cerita Douglas of Canton , who raised $9,700 . As an extension of the Ford Motor Company team, Douglas, a 16-year breast cancer survivor herself, started the team Stephanie's Soldiers in loving memory of her colleague who lost her battle with breast cancer. Race Teams with the highest overall fundraising and highest percentage of team member participation were also recognized with News Balance Fundraising Award incentives. Teams include: Pink Squirrels, raising $11,044 Honey's Heroes, raising $18,410 Alissa's Angels, raising $16,082 Kelly Services Cancer Crusaders, raising $22,026 Daro's Bosom Buddies $22,640 Hewlett Packard Enterprise, raising $29,899 , and , and Ford Motor Company, raising $55,792 In addition, the team JMC's Jamming Jugs was recognized for having the highest percentage of team members raising at least $100 each. Over the past 24 years, Ford Motor Company's local fundraising efforts have totaled more than $732,000. Ford is a national partner of the Komen Race Series and has dedicated more than $130 million to the breast cancer fight over the past 22 years. The 26th Annual Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure will be held in spring 2017 in Detroit. Visit http://www.karmanoscancer.org/KomenDetroit/registration.aspx to register and learn how you can get involved. About Susan G. Komen Susan G. Komen is the world's largest breast cancer organization outside of the federal government, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Since its founding in 1982, Komen has funded more than $920 million in research and provided more than $2 billion in funding to screening, education, treatment and psychosocial support programs. Komen has worked in more than 60 countries worldwide. Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy's life. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at ww5.komen.org/social About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Located in mid-town Detroit, Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, a subsidiary of McLaren Health Care, is one of 47 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Karmanos is among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and researchers on faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the WSU School of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics related to cancer care. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., is the Institute's president and chief executive officer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to www.karmanos.org. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/411080 SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute Related Links http://www.karmanos.org MIAMI, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ChenMed, the integrated medical practice providing affordable care and superior experience to tens of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, today celebrates Centenarians' Day by saluting both the 26 of its patients having lived beyond 100 years, as well as the 39 percent of its patients having already surpassed the average U.S. longevity of 79.3 years reported by the World Health Organization. Chen and JenCare Senior Medical Center centenarians currently live in Florida (15), Georgia (1), Illinois (2), Kentucky (2), and Virginia (6). "Our primary care physicians and the care teams they lead are incredibly blessed to serve as champions for at-risk seniors living with major and complex health challenges," says Christopher Chen, MD, ChenMed Chief Executive Officer. "And, it's truly exciting that nearly 40 percent of our primarily low-to-moderate-income patients have exceeded the nation's average life expectancy." The 26 Chen and JenCare Senior Medical Center patients living active and meaningful lives as centenarians along with the 814 living as nonagenarians (90 to 99 years) plus the 4,949 living as octogenarians (80 to 89 years) -- are living proof that patient-focused preventative care led by primary care physicians yields better health outcomes. According to the World Health Organization the average life expectancy in the United States is 79.3 years the world average life expectancy hovers at 71.4 years. "Our physicians have patient panels five times smaller than the U.S. average of one doctor to 2,300 patients," adds Chen. "With patient panels not exceeding 450 patients, our physicians provide unrivaled access to medical care, including the same-day appointments needed to reduce hospital sick days year round." The Annual Election period, during which millions of Americans ages 65 and older are required to make decisions regarding health plan coverage and primary care physicians gets underway on Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, is a great time for seniors and health plan agents and brokers to ask physicians what percentage of their patients exceed the national average for longevity. It's also a great time to chat with other Medicare beneficiaries about how happy they are with the medical care being provided by their primary care physician, and to consider how easy it is to score timely appointments with doctors working collaboratively to help seniors live better and longer. ABOUT CHENMED Since ChenMed operates 37 dedicated medical centers in six states (Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Virginia), while simultaneously providing operational support and risk focused end-to-end technologies to help more than 200 independent medical practices deliver superior outcomes for seniors with Medicare Advantage, the company also recently bolstered center of excellence expertise vital to further igniting membership growth. A privately owned medical, management and technology company working to deliver concierge healthcare to the neediest seniors, ChenMed has been serving low-to-moderate-income Medicare beneficiaries with multiple complex chronic conditions for nearly 30 years. Read the Forbes story on how the physician-led business is a transformation agent to improve the broken, unsympathetic and fragmented care delivery system that many patients still experience today; or The Economist reporting that "Medicare patients at ChenMed spent nearly 40 percent fewer days in hospital than the national average."; or Medical Economics noting that ChenMed "may be the best primary care system in the U.S."; or The Commonwealth Fund Transforming Care (Mar. 24, 2016) saluting ChenMed and others for "patient-centric cultures that are built on empathy and learning." You also could better appreciate the magic of the ChenMed medical model by watching the two-minute FOX Business segment (April 23, 2016). Contact: Jim Brown, ChenMed Director of Public Relations, 305-310-7214; [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160715/390155LOGO SOURCE ChenMed Related Links http://ChenMed.com SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RadiumOne, a leading data-driven marketing technology company, today released the results of its Holiday Consumer Behavior Data Report, highlighting how retailers can capitalize on online consumer behaviors during the holiday season. The research showed that marketers have a huge opportunity to reach more potential buyers during the holiday season due to their increase in online shopping, media consumption and social sharing. In fact, the report found that connected devices play an important role in holiday research and shopping, with more than a third of gift givers researching or buying presents online. It also revealed that media consumption increases significantly during the holidays, as most consumers will spend more time online, watch more TV and go to the movies more often. Additionally, one in three consumers will share more content during the holidays than the rest of the year, with 82 percent of all online holiday sharing activity coming from dark social channels such as email, instant messaging and text messaging. Click to tweet: 82% of all online holiday sharing is via dark social says new data from @RadiumOne: http://po.st/holiday-report "Consumers are spending a significant portion of their time online, which has created billions of data points that help marketers identify and predict interest and intent," said Bill Lonergan, CEO at RadiumOne. "Because consumers spend an increased amount of time online during the holiday season, retailers can increase the likelihood of acquiring new customers by aligning their strategy to what consumers are doing. By engaging consumers through all channels, marketers can maximize their holiday shopping campaigns, allowing their dollars to go further." Shopping Habits The report dove into consumers' shopping habits during the holiday season and revealed that 38 percent of consumers will research and purchase presents online, with only 8 percent of consumers reporting that they will research and shop exclusively in-store. However, 28 percent of gift givers wait until the final month to start planning for holiday gifts, with 5 percent waiting until the final week. The study also found that 29 percent of online shoppers will use multiple devices for shopping and research. Desktop was the most common device used (37 percent), followed by tablet (15 percent) and mobile (12 percent). Media Consumption Habits Findings from this report discovered almost half of consumers will spend more time online during the holiday season. Where consumers increase their time on devices the most television (59 percent) tablets (53 percent) and smartphones (53 percent). Social Sharing Habits The research found 72 percent of consumers share content online during the holidays. The most commonly shared content includes festive pictures (65 percent), festive videos (49 percent) and gift ideas (45 percent). The majority of sharing happens through dark social, compared to only 8 percent on Facebook, 3 percent on Twitter and 7 percent on other channels. Not surprisingly, sharing activity on Black Friday and Cyber Monday is twice as high as the average for the rest of the holiday season. Key Takeaways Through its findings, RadiumOne identified three primary methods for marketers to maximize their marketing promotions during this busy time of year: Understand consumers' holiday shopping behaviors : Know the importance that smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops play in both researching and purchasing holiday gifts : Know the importance that smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops play in both researching and purchasing holiday gifts Increase promotions across all screens : While TV advertising is certainly effective during the holidays, marketers cannot ignore the increased media consumption on smartphones, tablets and other devices : While TV advertising is certainly effective during the holidays, marketers cannot ignore the increased media consumption on smartphones, tablets and other devices Deliver holiday content that consumers will want to share: Make it easy for consumers to share pictures, videos, gift ideas and other festive content The report looked at the online activities of 1,000 consumers who celebrate the holidays. Anyone interested in the full report and methodology can contact [email protected]. About RadiumOne RadiumOne is the only data-driven marketing company connecting the dots between brands' paid, earned, shared and owned assets to find and connect with high-value consumers. Through our ability to see the strongest signals of consumer intent and predict where consumers are on their journeys, we can build safe and effective brand-specific campaign strategies. RadiumOne delivers digital campaigns that are measured against real business outcomes. Based in San Francisco, RadiumOne has offices across the North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More on RadiumOne can be found at http://www.radiumone.com. Follow us on Twitter @RadiumOne. Media Contacts: Rekha Ravindra VP of Marketing RadiumOne (415) 418-2343 [email protected] Katie Halloran SHIFT Communications (415) 591-8459 [email protected] SOURCE RadiumOne Related Links http://www.radiumone.com SAINT JOHN, NB, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Irving Oil's Pump Up the Fun, $5 Million Summer Giveaway team presented two major prizes to close out the summer contest. Lucky Massachusetts resident Jenna Taylor picked up her $100,000 grand prize before a Red Sox game, and Newfoundland and Labrador resident Kim Gordon will pick up her $25,000 prize Friday September 22 in Glovertown. http://http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410977 Throughout the summer, Irving Oil's customers were given collector cards, and applied stickers from game tickets received after each purchase at participating Irving Oil locations. With three ways to play, customers had the chance to win Ford Escapes, Harley-Davidsons, Sea-Doo's and the guaranteed $100,000 grand prize. "It's been an outstanding year for Pump Up the Fun," says Janelle Shillington, Retail Marketing Manager at Irving Oil. "Not only did we offer more prizes, but we also provided our customers with more ways to play while fueling up all summer long." "It really is life-changing," says Jenna Taylor, winner of the $100,000 grand prize. "These winnings could not have come at a better time for my family. When I got the winning sticker, I couldn't believe it; thank you Irving Oil." "You don't know how much this means, it's fabulous," said Glovertown, Newfoundland and Labrador resident Kim Gordon when she learned her PIN was drawn for her $25,000 prize. "They always say that if you don't play, you won't win. Well I played, and I've won!" Jenna and Kim weren't alone in their excitement; customers had fun collecting game stickers and entering their PINs online all summer long. This year's contest was the largest summer giveaway in Irving Oil history, with over 11,000 winners and $5 million in prizes and discounts up for grabs. BIG WINNERS Recent winners in New England include Torrington, Connecticut resident Heather England who collected to win a Can-Am Outlander and Senara Mata from Hudson, New Hampshire who won $5,000 online. A Ford Escape was won in New Brunswick, another $5,000 in Nova Scotia, $5,000 and a Harley-Davidson in Quebec, and thousands of instant prize winners, and hundreds of online winners drawn from more than five million PINs entered online. Pump Up the Fun, $5 Million Summer Giveaway ran from early June to early September at participating Irving Oil retail locations in communities they serve throughout New England, Quebec, Ontario and Atantic Canada. For additional contest information and a list of winners, visit www.irvingfun.com. ABOUT IRVING OIL Irving Oil was founded in 1924 and is a privately-owned regional refining and marketing company with a history of long-term partnerships and relationships. Irving Oil operates Canada's largest refinery, in Saint John, NB, which is located 65 miles north of the US border and has reached production rates in excess of 320,000 barrels per day. With over 900 fueling locations, operations from ten distribution terminals, and a delivery fleet of tractortrailers, Irving Oil serves wholesale, commercial, and retail customers in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and New England. Learn more at facebook.com/irvingoil or www.irvingoil.com. SOURCE Irving Oil Related Links http://irvingoil.com 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. SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC lauded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's powerful address at the UN General Assembly today in which he exuded optimism about Israel's place in the world. "Israel has a bright future at the UN," Netanyahu declared. "Israel has diplomatic relations with 160 countries, nearly double the number when I served as Israel's ambassador to the UN 30 years ago." Netanyahu described Israel's growing ties with nations around the worldincluding several Arab statesand predicted that the Jewish state's innovations in agriculture, high-tech, and cybersecurity would make it an increasingly indispensable partner, ultimately leading to enhanced respect for Israel at the UN itself. He called on the UN member states to end their obsessive bias against Israel expressed in ritualistic resolutions condemning the Jewish state, and recognize instead that many of the same countries gathering in the General Assembly hall are enjoying collaborative relations with Israel, and that their number is growing. "The biggest change in attitudes towards Israel is taking place in the Arab world," he emphasized. "For the first time in my lifetime, countries in the region recognize that Israel is not their enemy but is their ally." In his forward-looking, positive assessment, Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to achieving a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "The road to peace runs through Jerusalem and Ramallah, and not through New York," he said, referring to the Palestinian leadership's ongoing efforts to enlist the UN to pressure Israel. "I am ready to begin negotiations today," referring to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said Netanyahu. "I invite you to come and speak to the Israeli people at the Knesset in Jerusalem, and I would gladly speak at the Parliament in Ramallah." Netanyahu also stressed Israel's position in the global fight against Islamist terror and its unique role as a bastion of democracy and equal rights in the Middle East, where fanaticism and autocracy flourish. AJC Chief Executive Officer Director David Harris noted the striking contrast between the prime minister's remarks and those of President Abbas, who addressed the General Assembly shortly before the Israeli leader. "While Mr. Abbas still seeks to undermine the legitimacy of the State of Israel by demanding an apology from Great Britain for issuing the Balfour Declaration in 1917 supporting the idea of a Jewish homeland, and by evading bilateral talks in favor of international pressure on Israel, Mr. Netanyahu declared a willingness to meet with Mr. Abbas immediately to begin negotiations toward a two-state solution," Harris said. "Today," he noted, "UN member states had the opportunity to see that Israel seeks peace, while, tragically, 68 years after Israel's rebirth, the Palestinian leadership still cannot reconcile itself to the very existence of the State of Israel." SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org FAIRFIELD, Conn., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A medic with the Syrian charity Shafak has been seriously injured in a barrel bomb attack on his home in eastern Aleppo, amid escalating violence in the city in the last 24 hours. Ahmad, 25, sustained injuries to his chest and eyes, as well as burns on 20 percent of his body as he was leaving to go to work as an ambulance medic this afternoon. He was on the balcony trying to put out a fire from another attack when the bomb hit. He had been preparing for the imminent arrival of his first child Ahmad's wife is in her last month of pregnancy. Hassan, the Aleppo field coordinator for Shafak which partners with Save the Children, said 17 airstrikes hit their neighborhood this morning alone. Residents in the city have reported the heaviest bombing for months, after a brief respite during the ceasefire. Hassan said: "Ahmad was preparing to come to work when his building was hit with a phosphorous bomb, which caused a fire. So he tried to put the fire out and while he was doing so, a barrel bomb fell and he was hit with shrapnel. He fell on the phosphorous and got burned." "He [Ahmad] said to me, 'the baby's things I bought yesterday are all gone; it's all burnt.' His words really affected me." Ahmad is one of eight medics working on Shafak's four ambulances in eastern Aleppo. The team works round the clock to respond in the aftermath of attacks and take casualties to hospital. The charity had eight ambulances, but half have been damaged or destroyed in recent months. Their office was also bombed in April. Nick Finney, North-West Syria Country Director for Save the Children, said: "Despite the international outcry over the bombing of a UN convoy earlier this week, once again another Syrian humanitarian has been hurt. While world leaders play the blame game at the UNGA in New York, children are dying on the streets of Aleppo. "Syrians like Shafak's staff are risking their lives to help families every day, but they need our support. We want to see leaders meeting at UNGA agree to immediately reinstate the ceasefire and open access for humanitarian relief." Asa'ad al-Halabi, Advocacy Manager for Shafak, said: "The injuries suffered by Ahmad, one of our brave field staff in eastern Aleppo, is another frustrating example of the atrocities and violations against humanitarian staff inside Syria. It happened today and will continue to happen every day, if this shameful silence from the international community continues." Note to Editors: Shafak's footage of Ahmad, the aid worker who was injured today, rescuing a family from a bombed building earlier this year is available to download here , as well as a photo. For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact [email protected] or call +90 5311038201 (Caroline, Antakya) / [email protected] or call +44 7831650409 (Simon, London ) Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SOURCE Save the Children Related Links http://www.savethechildren.org BROOKLYN, N.Y., Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A massive technological upgrade affecting virtually every aspect of NYU Lutheran has now forever changed the healthcare experience at the Brooklyn health system. Recently launched, Epic, a state-of-the-art electronic health record (EHR) system integrated with 22 ancillary systems, now allows patients to easily access their medical record at any time, better communicate with doctors, efficiently share medical history and allergy information with multiple providers, and fully integrate with sites, including NYU Lutheran Medical Center, NYU Lutheran Family Health Centers, and affiliated faculty group practice offices throughout the NYU Langone Health System. Two new paperless systems will now create a more secure and seamless patient experience when accessing protected health information: PatientSecure, cutting-edge biometric palm-scanning technology used for patient identification at registration and check-in; and MyChart, an online application that allows for home or mobile access to medical records and secure messaging with doctors. The patient-friendly technologies greatly ease patients' experience of accessing and receiving medical care at any NYU Lutheran location in Brooklyn, as well as the facilities at the main campus of NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan. "Digitizing health records has become a national imperative in order to modernize healthcare for patients and consumers," says Robert I. Grossman, MD, the Saul J. Farber Dean and CEO of NYU Langone. "This enormous undertaking is a key component of our commitment to provide our patients in Brooklyn the world-class care that is a hallmark of the NYU Langone health system." The Epic installationthe largest clinical go-live in the NYU Langone health system to datehas been a major milestone in the expansion and harmonization of our core information technology (IT) systems across the entire institution. It included the integration of ancillary systems such as radiology, pharmacy, laboratory, ambulatory, perioperative, patient transport, blood bank, and billing. The planning and development phase for the Epic and the ancillary systems launch lasted over a year, with hundreds of individuals from Medical Center Information Technology and various clinical and administrative departments rigorously analyzing existing EHR systems at NYU Lutheran to ensure that the new system fit perfectly. Considerable effort went into creating workflows tailored to NYU Lutheran's patient population. The new system uniformly consolidates what had been different record-keeping systems in NYU Lutheran's 22 inpatient and outpatient care settings. The Epic integration was funded partly by a $29.2-million grant from New York State Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment program. One program goal was to build a clinical platform that connects patients and providers across the health system. Through Epic, NYU Lutheran is now linked with the larger health information exchange network Healthix and can utilize a sophisticated analysis and reporting platform that will improve patient and provider experience. Data from the hospital, Family Health Center sites, and throughout the entire NYU Langone Health System is now shared seamlessly. "The go-live of Epic in our Family Health Centers brings us one step closer to realizing our goal of connecting all of our patients and providers and transforming care in Brooklyn," says Larry K. McReynolds, executive director of NYU Lutheran Family Health Centers. "As we continue to go live across the network and in our school-based health centers, we are extremely excited about Epic's ability to immediately improve communication between patients and physicians regarding treatment plans, lab test results, appointments, medications, and self-monitoring. This is truly a new frontier as we help patients become more involved in their personal care plans with the latest technology." "NYU Langone has made a substantial investment in the future of NYU Lutheran. The challenge was to create a seamless patient experience across the medical center's complex network of facilities and locations and to securely manage volumes of health records," says Nader Mherabi, senior vice president and vice dean, chief information officer at NYU Langone, who is responsible for all IT activities across the NYU Langone Health System. "NYU Langone's years of experience with Epic and various technologies gave us the confidence in our ability to launch a unified comprehensive system at NYU Lutheran that incorporates best practicesin record time. All of these electronic health record innovations and the integration of the NYU Lutheran system offer tremendous benefits to clinicians and patients." "The integration of NYU Lutheran and these electronic health record innovations have created an efficient, safe, and convenient way we can communicate and deliver healthcare," says Bret J. Rudy, MD, hospital executive director and senior vice president at NYU Lutheran. "We created a seamless way to collect information that respects patients' time as well as their confidentiality. The end result is improved patient satisfaction and reduced costs. This is an exciting new chapter in how patients experience healthcare at NYU Lutheran." Media Inquiries: Neal Gorman Phone: 718-630-8316 [email protected] Colin DeVries Phone: 718-630-7414 [email protected] This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com. SOURCE NYU Lutheran Medical Center NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ADB (Angela de Bona agency), one of the world's most respected photographic and artists' agencies, and 360bespoke, the fast-growing boutique media firm, announced today a strategic alliance to bring Patrick Demarchelier's "Images et mode au Petit Palais" exhibition to New York for a 2017-2018 presentation. The companies will work together to select a venue, align sponsors and plan logistics for the event, which was one of the most successful photographic exhibits in the history of Le Petit Palais, Musee des Beaux Arts de la Ville de Paris. A collection of Demarchelier's most famous images will be presented to the public during the exhibition. "I am very excited to bring this exhibition to New York. It is one of the proudest moments in my career and I've long wanted to present it in one of fashion's most important cities," said Demarchelier. "Angela de Bona, my long time representative, and the team at 360bespoke are the perfect partners to bring this collection to the US. Every day is a new challenge and as a photographer you must constantly renew yourself." "The exhibition in Paris was a moment in time that became a worldwide event," said de Bona. "Rarely has a photographic event ever received such acclaim. New York is a natural evolution of this experience and I am incredibly proud to work with my friends at 360bespoke to make it happen." "There is no more accomplished, respected photographer than Patrick Demarchelier, and we are very excited to work with him and Angela to bring this to New York," said Jeremy Murphy, President and CEO of 360bespoke. "There are already representatives from the most renowned exhibition spaces vying to host this event. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any enthusiast of photography, fashion, art and celebrity and we cannot wait to present it." The New York presentation is only the second time the exhibition will be shown to the public. The 2008 event at Paris' Le Petit Palais, Musee is considered one of the most successful, acclaimed photographic collections in the museum's history. For three months more than 360,000 people came to see the prized collection of the photographer's work. "Patrick Demarchelier's sensitivity, deep sense of humanity, respect for his subjects, and ability to unearth passion in each individual advances the museum's aesthetic commitment," said Gilles Chazal, Curator-in-chief Director of Le Petit Palais. "Regardless of whether the subject is famous or unknown, they vibrate to the frequency of the photographer's generous gaze. And the visitor is carried away by the life force bursting from the model's eyes." Demarchelier is one of the world's most accomplished photographers, having shot the biggest names in fashion, celebrity and the arts. The exhibition will include 400 pieces from his extensive collection, including portraits of Princess Diana, Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise and many more of the world's most famous actors, models and personalities. He is the very first non-British citizen to shoot the Royal Family, and became Princess Diana's personal favorite. In 2007, Christine Albanel, the French Minister of Culture honored Demarchelier as an Officer in l'ordre des Arts at des Lettres. Today he shoots covers, fashion features and profiles for Conde Nast, including all international editions of Vogue and Vanity Fair. He also regularly photographs commercial campaigns for Chanel, Louis Vuitton, YSL and a wide array of other global fashion brands. The ADB Agency is one of the fashion and beauty industry's most respected representative of the biggest names in photography, art, make-up, hair and many other disciplines. Started by de Bona in 1987 in Paris, the firm has grown to include offices in New York and London. 360bespoke (www.360bespoke.com) is a boutique media agency offering customized services in public relations, marketing, brand management, unique content development, media training and events to a select collection of clients in the luxury space. The firm was started by former CBS executive Jeremy Murphy and partners Joe Wilson, Faith Zuckerman and Ashley Cooper and designs thoughtful, sophisticated strategies for its clients' media needs. Offering a unique '360' perspective, the firm concentrates its expertise in the luxury travel, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, celebrity and arts categories. MEDIA CONTACT and EXHIBITION REPRESENTATIVE: Faith Zuckerman Chief Client Officer [email protected] +1 646-431-7585 SOURCE 360bespoke Related Links http://www.360bespoke.com SUNNYVALE, California and RA'ANANA, Israel, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Anodot, the real time business incident detection and analytics company, today announced $8 million in funding led by Aleph Venture Capital with participation by Disruptive Technologies L.P., bringing Anodot's total funding to $12.5 million. The funds will be used to expand the company's global sales and operations and meet demand for its service. In the nine months following Anodot's launch, dozens of customers, including several Fortune 500 companies, have already implemented the product to prevent crises and drive revenues. Anodot was co-founded by David Drai, the former CTO of GetTaxi and co-founder of Contendo (acquired by Akamai), Shay Lang, former VP Engineering at Trustwave, and Dr. Ira Cohen, former Chief Data Scientist at HP. Anodot brings machine learning and real-time streaming data together to identify, report, and visualize business incidents as they occur, enabling its customers - often Business Intelligence analysts serving all aspects of a company's operations - to quickly and effectively manage crises and uncover business opportunities. Instead of the usual days or weeks it currently takes companies to detect and understand data anomalies, Anodot's SaaS solution is capable of identifying and notifying customers about issues in mere minutes. With Anodot, BI analysts and others can be warned of breakdowns or opportunities before they learn about them the hard way, from customer complaints or lost revenue. For example, an ad tech client uses Anodot to maintain bid health among its trillions of bid requests, ensuring nothing gets dropped along the way, improving customer satisfaction. A fintech customer uses Anodot to track -- among other things -- page performance for its hourly service roll-outs, and is able to reduce the time to identify business incidents from days to minutes. Anodot customers have access to real-time analytics that use machine learning to correlate incidents to best understand the root cause. "Today's digital businesses operate in dynamic environments, but Business Intelligence analysts are hampered by their existing static tools, so they are the last to know when something happens that can impact their business. As a former CTO, I've seen how the inability to identify business incidents and delayed reactions can turn manageable issues into major crises, from the extended time it takes to recognize an issue to the even longer period necessary to understand the cause," said David Drai, CEO and co-founder of Anodot. "Our patented algorithms automatically learn the normal behavior of any time series data - MixPanel, Google Analytics, Graphite, and so on - and then rapidly identify anomalies which typically indicate business incidents. Seasonality is a huge challenge for the industry, and the subtle changes that wouldn't trigger static thresholds are caught by Anodot." "The promise of Big Data and Business Intelligence is vast, but so few companies have unlocked its potential. Anodot is channeling the most advanced machine learning algorithms to make Business Intelligence real-time and its potential impact is enormous," said Eden Shochat, Founder & Partner at Aleph. "Aleph is focused on finding companies who rethink stagnant industries that are ripe for change, and we're thrilled to be joining Anodot on their journey." "From the beginning, we believed in Anodot's vision of revolutionizing the BI market, and Anodot continues to move the needle for businesses looking for the best analytic capabilities," said Tal Barnoach, General Partner at Disruptive. "Disruptive is committed to finding disruptive ideas, technologies and products that change existing habits and the way users interact with products, and Anodot is a great fit for this mission." About Anodot Anodot provides valuable business insights through anomaly detection. Automatically uncovering outliers in vast amounts of time series data, Anodot's real time business incident detection uses patented machine learning algorithms to isolate and correlate issues across multiple parameters in real time, supporting rapid business decisions. Anodot customers in fintech, ad-tech, web apps, mobile apps and other data-heavy industries use Anodot to drive real business benefits like significant cost savings, increased revenue and upturn in customer satisfaction. The company was founded in 2014, is headquartered in Ra'anana, Israel, and has offices in Silicon Valley. Learn more at: http://www.anodot.com . About Aleph Aleph is a $150 million early stage fund, which partners with Israeli entrepreneurs looking to build companies that are scalable, global change agents. Since its founding three years ago, Aleph has quickly become one of Israel's leading venture funds and is a well-recognized brand in Silicon Valley as well. To date, Aleph has made 12 investments including Wework, Windward, Nexar, Lemonade, Colu, Freightos, and Honeybook. About Disruptive Technologies L.P. Disruptive is an early stage fund that has invested to date in 14 companies. Our mission is to partner with great entrepreneurs to build companies and drive them forward - from infancy stage into category leaders. We have pioneered the industry's post-seed investment phenomena, investing in early stage companies from seed to Round A. Learn more at: http://www.disrupt-ive.com/. Contact: Marissa Shapiro [email protected] +1-914-336-4051 SOURCE Anodot NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- STOPit, which provides a comprehensive, anonymous software platform that mitigates, deters and controls bullying, today announced over 2mm more students will have access to the app this school year, following implementation through strategic alliances with Great American Insurance Group, Bay Area School Insurance Cooperative and several other insurance entities across the globe. The company also announced STOP A BULLY WEEK to raise awareness of bullying and cyberbullying and to help jumpstart upstanding behavior among our nation's youth. STOP A BULLY WEEK launched across the country on September 20th and will end on September 26th. The week empowers school communities to recognize positive, upstanding behaviors among students. During the day, administrators and teachers can visit stopitsolutions.com to share acts of kindness they have witnessed during the first few weeks of the school year. STOPit will select one winner based on their outstanding behavior and provide their school with the STOPit platform for free for life, along with a personalized poster autographed by Derek Jeter, who invested in the company. Schools are finally starting to realize the breadth and seriousness of the issue: more than 1 in 4 children are cyberbullied in their lifetime. Inappropriate behavior both online and offline are costing school districts millions of dollars annually. Tragically, the consequences of bullying can also be far worse among vulnerable young people, who far too often engage in self-harm. STOPit helps empower students to speak up about problem situations before they escalate - anything from bullying to inappropriate student teacher relationships, to concern for a peer. By providing STOPit, insurance companies empower school administrators with smart technology to help them stay ahead of risk. Not only are incidents discovered and resolved faster, the powerful deterrent effect has led to up to a 50% reduction in incidents of all kinds following implementation of STOPit. "I started this company because of the growing cyberbullying epidemic with students on social media, but as we began to rollout in schools across the country, I realized that the problem is also a broken reporting infrastructure - traditional methods are so riddled with friction they have the disastrous effect of deterring kids from speaking up," stated Todd Schobel, Founder and CEO of STOPit. "By bringing STOPit to protect over 2 million additional students in 2016 and counting, we'll continue to make a difference in schools everywhere and disrupt an industry that's in desperate need of a tech innovation." For additional info or to get your school involved in STOP A BULLY WEEK, please visit stopitsolutions.com. ABOUT STOPIT STOPit is the leading technology company providing a comprehensive software platform that mitigates, deters and controls bullying, including cyberbullying, harassment and other harmful or inappropriate conduct. The STOPit platform is available to schools, universities, businesses and governments both in the United States and around the world. The STOPit mobile app is a simple, fast and powerful tool which empowers individuals to protect themselves and stand up for others online, on social media, in the classroom or in the office. DOCUMENTit, a robust incident management system, empowers administrators and management to get in front of issues to mitigate risk and adhere to the ever evolving compliance landscape. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410683LOGO SOURCE STOPit Related Links http://stopitcyberbully.com MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- API Technologies Corp. ("API" or the "Company"), a leading provider of high performance RF, microwave, millimeterwave and security solutions, today announced that it will be showcasing a sampling of its tactical power and RF power amplifier products at the Modern Day Marine exhibition in booth #1515. Modern Day Marine is the premier military equipment, systems, services, and technology show for the Marine Corp. The show will take place September 27-29 at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia. API's power distribution and conversion solutions, including man-portable, weatherproof, ruggedized, and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) units will be on display to highlight the Company's expertise in converting AC voltage power to DC voltage power from a variety of input power sources. API's products provide numerous benefits due to their small footprint, including the ability to be easily stowed when not deployed in the field, and reduced fuel consumption and vehicle wear and tear. API's power products are designed to support the requirements of C4ISR systems, critical electronic warfare (EW) applications, and weapons equipment. API will display a 200 watt dual channel rack mount power amplifier subsystem for shipboard and military communication systems. This amplifier assembly demonstrates the company's core competencies in RF filter/amplifier integration and GaN technology. The unit is housed in an iridite coated aluminum chassis, making it ideal for demanding military applications. The units on display at Modern Day Marine are all built to perform in extreme temperature or weather conditions. "API's rugged and military power systems support the Marine Corp's mission of energy efficiency, portability, and reduced cost of overall system ownership," said Don Barnas, Vice President, Worldwide Sales. "We are able to further demonstrate the depth of capability API Technologies brings to supporting military communications and C4ISR operations across all branches of service by showcasing our power solutions alongside API's robust RF and microwave offering." API's Power and RF/Microwave systems and subsystems are ideal for a variety of defense applications such as: EW (Electronic Warfare) Vehicle Electronics Homeland Security & Critical Infrastructures Manned Ground Vehicles Military Communications C4ISR Radar For more information on API Technologies' subsystems and system solutions, visit: www.apitech.com. About API Technologies Corp. API Technologies is an innovative designer and manufacturer of high performance systems, subsystems, modules, and components for technically demanding RF, microwave, millimeterwave, electromagnetic, power, and security applications. A high-reliability technology pioneer with over 70 years of heritage, API Technologies products are used by global defense, industrial, and commercial customers in the areas of commercial aerospace, wireless communications, medical, oil and gas, electronic warfare, unmanned systems, C4ISR, missile defense, harsh environments, satellites, and space. Learn more about API Technologies and our products at www.apitech.com. Contact: Allison Goss Marketing Manager RF, Microwave, Microelectronics & Power Solutions API Technologies +1 814-272-2864 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110629/NY28451LOGO SOURCE API Technologies Corp. Related Links http://www.apitechnologies.com SAN DIEGO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AVRP Skyport Studios is pleased to announce the merger of AVRP Studios and Skyport Studio. The new entity brings together the longevity, design excellence, and creativity of AVRP Studios with the highly regarded and innovative urban design specialist, Skyport Studio. The joint firm will operate at its combined space at 703 16th St. in San Diego. The merger was formalized when the two regional firms joined forces for Seaport San Diegothe most significant urban, waterfront project in San Diego. AVRP Skyport Studios brings new energy to the design and execution of some of the most visionary and high-profile projects in San Diego. The catalyst for the partnership was Seaport San Diego, a proposed 2.2 million-square-foot development, which will replace the current aging Seaport Village in downtown San Diego. Beyond Seaport San Diego, the AVRP Skyport team is already well integrated, collaborating on planning and architectural projects internationally. Douglas H. Austin, FAIA, Chairman & CEO of AVRP Skyport Studios, says, "Frank and I already knew that we work well together because we have been jointly involved in many of our city's iconic projects for years. We couldn't be more thrilled to have Frank's visionary and creative thinking skills under our roof." Frank Wolden, Principal at AVRP Skyport Studios, says, "My goal when I started Skyport Studio was always to associate with a larger firm that could bring more horsepower. I knew that my team could bring new energy and capability to an established firm. Joining AVRP Studios was the perfect match because Doug and I are very aligned in our vision for weaving together community connections with growth and development." About AVRP Skyport Studios In a world of "decorated boxes" and formula design, AVRP Skyport Studios strives to find and develop an original idea that drives the creative process for each project. Principals Douglas H. Austin, FAIA; Frank Wolden; Randy Robbins, AIA, LEED AP; and Christopher T. Veum, AAIA, IIDA represent award-wining portfolios that have inspired developers and civic leaders to think beyond traditional boundaries to infuse each project with experiential community connections. Celebrating 40 years of creativity and accomplishment in 2016, the firm and its principals have earned nearly 150 design awards. For more information, visit www.avrpstudios.com. Contact: Beth Binger BCIpr 619-987-6658 [email protected] SOURCE AVRP Skyport Studios Related Links http://www.avrpstudios.com Over the past nine years, WTC has recognized 155 women, 23 university students, and sponsored over 500 high school students to attend the awards, helping to inspire the next generation of STEM-focused students. Women Tech Council is thrilled to be able to support the education community in such a meaningful way. Award Recipients are as follows: Student Development Christine Mooth, BYU Rising Star Kat Kennedy, Degreed Customer Excellence Gwendolyn Smith, Instructure Technology Trailblazer Yelena Makogon, Goldman Sachs Innovator Christina Qi, Domeyard LP Educational Excellence Shalini Kesar, Southern Utah University Leadership Excellence Vicky Fish, Myriad The Impact Award was given to President Holland of Utah Valley University. "Today's award recipients represent the great women we have in technology who are making significant contributions to technology," said Cydni Tetro, Executive Director of WTC "We are honored to recognize these inspirational women." The Women Tech Award finalists, listed alphabetically, are as follows: Brenda Mann , Ph.D., EyeGate Pharmaceuticals EyeGate Pharmaceuticals BriAnna McKissen , Experticity Experticity Carol Lynn Curchoe , Ph.D., 32ATPS 32ATPS Christina Qi, Domeyard LP Domeyard LP Desiree Matel-Anderson , Field Innovation Team Field Innovation Team Gwendolyn Smith , Instructure , Instructure Jennifer Holmes , Central Logic Central Logic JoAnn Lighty , Ph.D., University of Utah Kat Archibald , Degreed , Degreed Melissa Loble , Instructure Instructure Michelle Suzuki , RisePoint , RisePoint Shalini Kesar , Ph.D. , Southern Utah University , Starr Fowler , Vivint Smart Home , Vivint Smart Home Theresa Foxley , GOED , GOED Vanessa Quigley , Chatbooks , Chatbooks Vicki Fish , Myriad , Myriad Yelena Makogon , Goldman Sachs We are also pleased to recognize three university student finalists who are: Alex Valenzuela Utah Valley University Utah Valley University Christine Mooth Brigham Young University Katharin Jensen University of Utah Media Contact Abby Shaha [email protected] 801-809-0313 For more information regarding WTC or the event: Kristin Wright [email protected] 801-960-2007 About: Founded in 2007, The Women Tech Council (WTC) is Utah's most visible trade organization focused on the economic impact of women in driving high growth for Utah's technology sector. WTC offers mentoring, visibility, opportunities and networking to more than 10,000 women and men working in technology to create business environments focused on high performance, not diversity, where men and women can succeed. This propels individual careers and Utah's talent pipeline by ensuring a strong, diverse, and entrepreneurial technology workforce. For more information on Women Tech Council, visit: www.womentechcouncil.org. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/411089 SOURCE Women Tech Council BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On the eve of a referendum on constitutional reforms, Azerbaijan voiced its concerns about a report by the Venice Commission, calling it "partial in its approach towards Azerbaijan." The Venice Commission, an advisory body on constitutional law of the Council of Europe, criticised some of the 29 new constitutional provisions, including the extension of the president's term from five to seven years, noting that "such reforms may sometimes be explained by the electoral cycles of other State bodies, by long-lasting political crisis etc.; however, neither of these situations seem to apply in Azerbaijan." Elkhan Suleymanov, a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), strongly objected this finding. "The country is at war with Armenia, which occupies one fifth of our territory for more than 20 years, almost one million internally displaced people remain an enormous burden for society, the country is affected by negative foreign influence on fundamentalism entailing possible terrorism and citizens are frightened about terrible developments in the Middle East," Suleymanov said, adding, "'these situations' clearly do apply to Azerbaijan." According to recent surveys by U.S. polling firm Arthur J. Finkelstein and French research company Opinionway, the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories is the key issue concerning voters, especially after the long-simmering hostilities escalated in April. Many international organisations, including the United Nations and European Parliament have called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from the territories. Suleymanov pointed out that the seven-year presidential mandate was common practice in France for 125 years until a recent constitutional change in 2000. It exists in nearly 30 countries, including Israel, Ireland and Italy, where the 7-year mandate of the President can be renewed indefinitely. Suleymanov said he was puzzled by the Venice Commission criticizing the lower age limit, which would reduce the age of candidates running for president and parliament to 18 years, from 35 and 25 respectively. "The Venice Commission says that this 'may affect the overall quality of the State governance in the country,' yet the current general tendency in all European countries is to lower age limits, even as low as 16 years," Suleymanov said. Official documents were sent out weeks ago to all postal addresses in Azerbaijan, informing citizens about the upcoming referendum, explaining the 29 proposed changes. Pre-referendum surveys indicate strong support for the constitutional reforms. SOURCE Azerbaijan Monitor FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, today announced it is investing $100 million in its Holdrege, Neb. facility to expand capacity for its insulin syringe manufacturing operations. The investment will be used for new technology and manufacturing equipment to expand capacity for BD insulin syringes. BD already produces more than 2 billion insulin syringes each year, which averages to be more than 250,000 syringes per hour. "About 40 percent of people with diabetes who inject insulin use syringes as part of their diabetes management regimen," said Ken Miller, worldwide president of Diabetes Care for BD. "This investment will provide benefits to this diabetes population and underscores our commitment to supply high-quality, industry-leading insulin syringes to patients." BD began operations in Holdrege in 1966 in a 12,000 square foot building with 66 associates. Today, the facility has grown to 350,000 square feet with more than 650 associates manufacturing 20 different BD products. BD is the largest employer in Phelps County. Across Nebraska, BD employs more than 2,500 associates in four manufacturing facilities in Holdrege, Broken Bow and two in Columbus. About BD BD is a global medical technology company that is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. BD leads in patient and health care worker safety and the technologies that enable medical research and clinical laboratories. The company provides innovative solutions that help advance medical research and genomics, enhance the diagnosis of infectious disease and cancer, improve medication management, promote infection prevention, equip surgical and interventional procedures, optimize respiratory care and support the management of diabetes. The company partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. BD has more than 45,000 associates across 50 countries who work in close collaboration with customers and partners to help enhance outcomes, lower health care delivery costs, increase efficiencies, improve health care safety and expand access to health. For more information on BD, please visit bd.com. Contacts: Troy Kirkpatrick Monique N. Dolecki BD Public Relations BD Investor Relations 858.617.2361 201.847.5378 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) Related Links http://www.bd.com Located in California's Mendocino County, the East Ranch is within a 2.5-hour drive of the heart of San Francisco, and less than one hour and 45 minutes from Napa Valley. Known for its natural beauty, parks, beaches, and more than 570 wine vineyards - many of which are still operated by second or third generation families - Mendocino is a charming area that feels worlds away from the static of city living. Although the East Ranch is a working farm, life on the ranch is not exactly "roughing it:" the property includes a luxurious, Victorian-inspired residence which offers nearly 7,500 sq. ft. of living space, 5 bedrooms, 4 full and one-half bath. The residence was custom built in 1997, and has been meticulously maintained throughout the years. "I did not see one settling crack, scratch, or other defect in the entire residence. The seller's care for the property is simply exceptional," said David Ashcroft, Platinum's director of business development and a manager for the sale. Adjacent to the main home is a 3-car garage, which includes a beautifully finished office/studio, which adds another 760 sq. ft. of living space and one half bath. Additional features include a gazebo, a 4,900-sq.-ft. barn, 40,000 sq. ft. of manicured lawn, three rock wall flowerbeds and nearly 1,600 plants and shrubs. During its marketing process in advance of the auction sale, Platinum reported that it received more than 39,870 international visitors to the property's dedicated webpage and fielded 74 bona fide inquiries. The buyer of the property is reported to be an experienced real estate developer from the San Francisco area, who intends to use the ranch as a weekend retreat for his family. Those seeking more information on this sale may contact Platinum Luxury Auctions at 800.262.5132. Additional details are also available at CaliforniaLuxuryAuction.com. About Platinum Luxury Auctions Platinum Luxury Auctions specializes in the non-distressed sale of multimillion-dollar properties within and beyond the United States. The Platinum team has closed more than $510 million in luxury real estate auction sales to date, while consulting on more than $1.8 billion in additional luxury properties worldwide. The firm is responsible for developing the luxury auctionSM model for high-priced real estate auctions. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410728 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410729 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410730 SOURCE Platinum Luxury Auctions Related Links http://CaliforniaLuxuryAuction.com 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 SOURCE BitTitan Related Links http://www.bittitan.com "We're thrilled to partner with Ford to give our Members yet another great way to save," said Laurie Lee, assistant vice president of services for BJ's Wholesale Club. "We provide quality services at great prices and this latest offering from Ford reinforces the outstanding value we're committed to providing our Members." "Ford and our dealers are excited about the opportunity to integrate into the BJ's shopping experience and provide BJ's Members an exceptional offer on a great lineup of Ford Vehicles," said Mary Ellen Abraham with Ford Motor Company. Members should visit www.bjsauto.com/ford to generate a Membership registration. Once registered, an email will be received with a unique PIN and certificate number that can be brought to a participating Ford dealer to purchase or lease a new vehicle with BJ's Membership savings. Visit www.bjsauto.com/ford to find a participating dealer. Savings include: Exclusive Member pricing $500 cash bonus cash bonus $500 BJ's gift card BJ's gift card No payments for up to 90 days Combine with most public incentives Vehicles included in the offer are the 2016/2017 Ford Fusion, Escape, Edge, Explorer, C-MAX, Focus and F-Series (through F-450) including Hybrids, Energi and Electric Models. Delivery must be made by November 15, 2016 to take advantage of the Blue Oval Bundle. Offer valid only at BJ's Auto Buying Program website. Visit www.bjsauto.com/ford for more details. Some exclusions may apply. About BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, BJ's is the leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States. The company currently operates 214 clubs and 130 BJ's Gas locations in 15 states. BJ's provides a one-stop shopping destination filled with top-quality, leading brands, including its exclusive Wellsley Farms and Berkley Jensen brands, along with USDA Choice meats, premium produce and delicious organics, many in supermarket sizes. BJ's is also the only major membership warehouse club to accept all manufacturers' coupons and, for greater convenience, offers the most payment options. Visit www.BJs.com, and for exclusive content find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. BJ's is wholly owned by affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, CVC Capital Partners and its management team. About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 203,000 employees and 67 plants worldwide, the company's core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs and electrified vehicles, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. At the same time, Ford aggressively is pursuing emerging opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility, the company's plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford, its products worldwide or Ford Motor Credit Company, visit www.corporate.ford.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151210/295152LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410851 SOURCE BJ's Wholesale Club Related Links http://www.bjs.com SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloom Farms, a one for one medical cannabis company, today announced it will be providing its high quality cannabis oil for the PAX Era Pods in California. Bloom Farms Executive Director Michael Ray said, "All of us at Bloom Farms are excited to be working with a company as innovative and forward thinking as PAX. With the PAX Era Pods by Bloom Farms, we are determined to bring the best possible vaping experience to medical cannabis patients here in California." The superior flavor, consistency, and experience you've come to expect from Bloom Farms' industry leading vape pen, the Highlighter, is now also available alongside the cutting-edge technology of the PAX Era. An engineering marvel from the industry leaders in hardware innovation, the PAX Era includes temperature and battery status LED interface, a sleek design, and the PAX Vapor app; and, coupled with PAX Era Pods containing a special blend of Bloom Farms cannabis oil, creates a revolutionary vaping experience. Made from the highest quality materials, these vaporizers are super durable and come in a child proof container. The PAX Era Pods by Bloom Farms are available in the following exclusive, all-natural cannabis oil blends: Sativa+ Daytime Uplifting and stimulating, sativa provides an energetic and enhanced state of well-being. Indica+ Nighttime Perfect for nighttime, indica+ provides relaxation and is a powerful tool for promoting a full night's deep sleep. Hybrid+ Anytime A relaxing and uplifting blend perfect for medicating while maintaining an active energy level. The PAX Era MSRP is $59.99. The PAX Era Pods by Bloom Farms MSRP is $40. Patients can purchase these products beginning September 29 at select dispensaries in California. As with all of its products, Bloom Farms will donate one healthy meal to one of its California-based food bank partners for every PAX Era Pod sold. For more information and where to buy, visit http://www.getbloomfarms.com/pax. About Bloom Farms Bloom Farms is a medical cannabis company from San Francisco, CA that provides thousands of medical cannabis patients a safe and enjoyable way to relax, find relief, inspire creativity, and enjoy life a little more. For this higher purpose, Bloom Farms is dedicated to producing high-quality, great tasting cannabis oil. Made from all-natural supercritical CO2-extracted concentrate, their cannabis is sourced from responsible family farmers who care about the land, the environment, and most importantly, the patients. Bloom Farms has a commitment to corporate social responsibility and provides a meal to regional partner food banks for each product it sells; provides its employees paid time off to volunteer; and sponsors events throughout California to help professionalize the cannabis industry including hosting Cannabis Career & Job Fairs in San Francisco and Los Angeles. SOURCE Bloom Farms Related Links http://www.getbloomfarms.com RYE, N.Y., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Curemark, LLC announced today that the Blum Study, a Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CM-AT in children aged 3-8 with Autism, is now enrolling at 30 clinical sites across the United States. "There are limited medical treatment options available for children with Autism, particularly for children aged 3-8, which is when Autism is generally diagnosed," said Dr. Joan Fallon, CEO of Curemark. "CM-AT has the potential to serve this clear unmet medical need. With all 30 of our clinical trial sites now enrolling across the United States, we look forward to the trial's completion and submitting our New Drug Application for CM-AT." This 14-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study is designed to determine if CM-AT may help improve core and non-core symptoms of Autism. CM-AT is designed to enhance protein digestion thereby potentially restoring the pool of essential amino acids. Essential amino acids play a critical role in the expression of several genes important to neurological function and serve as precursors to key neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. The Blum trial sites in this ongoing Phase 3 study of CM-AT include: Arizona The University of Arizona Pediatric Multidisciplinary Research Unit (Tucson) Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (Phoenix) Arkansas Arkansas Children's Research Institute (Little Rock) California N.R.C. Research Institute (Orange) UC Davis MIND Institute (Sacramento) University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco) Colorado IMMUNOe Research Centers (Centennial) Connecticut Yale Child Study Center (New Haven) Florida Lake Mary Pediatrics (Orange City) A.P.G. Research, LLC (Orlando) Indiana Research Institute of Deaconess Clinic (Evansville) Louisiana Lake Charles Clinical Trials (Lake Charles) LSU Health Shreveport (Shreveport) Michigan Detroit Clinical Research Center, PC (Bingham Farms) New Jersey Children's Specialized Hospital (Toms River) Clinical Research Center of New Jersey, LLC (Voorhees) New Mexico Lovelace Scientific Resources, Inc. (Albuquerque) New York Montefiore Medical Center, Autism & Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Program (Bronx) Richmond Behavioral Associates (Staten Island) North Carolina Duke Center for Autism & Brain Development (Durham) Ohio Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital (Cleveland) The University of Toledo and the ProMedica Toledo Children's Hospital (Toledo) Rhode Island Omega Medical Research (Warwick) South Carolina Carolina Clinical Trials, Inc. (Charleston) Tennessee Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville) Texas McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (Houston) Utah Ericksen Research & Development (Clinton) Virginia NeuroScience, Inc. (Herndon) Carilion Clinic (Roanoke) Charlottesville: see www.blumstudy.com for contact information For more information about the Blum Study or to find a Clinical Trial Site near you, visit: www.blumstudy.com. About Curemark, LLC Curemark, LLC is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for the treatment of neurological disorders. Curemark's pipeline includes preclinical and clinical-stage programs for the treatment of Autism, ADHD, addiction, Schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. For additional information, please visit our website at http://www.curemark.com or follow @curemark on Twitter. About CM-AT & The Blum StudyTM CM-AT, Curemark's lead drug candidate, has been granted "Fast Track" designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the investigation of Autism. The company is currently enrolling a Phase 3 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial (known as the Blum Study) to examine the effect of CM-AT in children ages 3-8 with Autism. The trial is enrolling at 30 sites across the United States. For additional information, please see: http://www.blumstudy.com. Safe Harbor This press release, as well as information about the Blum Study located at www.blumstudy.com, includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding (i) the development of Curemark, LLC's lead drug candidate, CM-AT, for Autism, (ii) CM-AT's potential to serve medical needs, (iii) the anticipated completion of the Blum Study to evaluate CM-AT, (iv) the anticipated submission of a New Drug Application for CM-AT and (v) CM-AT's mechanism of action. In some cases, forward-look statements can be identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "estimate," "predict," "potential," the negative of such words, variations of such words and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: (i) uncertainties inherent in research and development; (ii) the ability to meet anticipated clinical trial commencement and completion dates and regulatory submission dates; (iii) the possibility of unfavorable clinical trial results, including unfavorable new clinical data and additional analyses of existing clinical data; (iv) whether and when any New Drug Applications may be filed with any jurisdiction for CM-AT; (v) whether and when any such applications may be approved by regulatory authorities, which will depend on the assessment by such regulatory authorities of the benefit-risk profile suggested by the totality of the efficacy and safety information submitted; (vi) decisions by regulatory authorities regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of CM-AT; and (vii) competitive developments. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as may be required by law, Curemark, LLC undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect any change in Curemark, LLC's expectations or any change in information, events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. SOURCE Curemark, LLC Related Links http://www.blumstudy.com With produce that is generally a week fresher than the long-distance products it replaces on supermarket shelves, BrightFarms is now satisfying consumers with fresher, more nutritious and more delicious baby greens and tomatoes at leading retailers such as Mariano's (Kroger), Giant Food (Ahold USA), Wegmans and ShopRite, from local greenhouses near Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. BrightFarms Chief Executive Officer Paul Lightfoot stated, "Having the backing of Catalyst Investors further validates BrightFarms' innovative solution for providing consumers with fresh, local, sustainable produce at a commercial scale. This investment will enable us to dramatically expand our markets and provide more Americans with fresh, delicious, locally grown produce on a year-round basis." A cutting-edge, scalable solution to Americans' increasing demand for local and sustainable food, BrightFarms is pioneering the future of local, low-impact farming by building greenhouse farms that create permanent green collar jobs, significantly reduce food miles, and improve the environmental impact of the food supply chain. BrightFarms' greenhouses use 80 percent less water, 90 percent less land and 95 percent less shipping fuel than traditional suppliers. BrightFarms produce is grown with significantly less overall energy than the products it replaces on supermarket shelves. All BrightFarms produce is pesticide-free and non-GMO. "Catalyst was attracted to BrightFarms because we believe they are the best in the industry, and because we like their unique business model of signing long-term, fixed-price contracts to guarantee a steady, year-round supply of fresh, local, pesticide-free and GMO-free produce to major metro markets," said Tyler Newton, Partner and Research Director at Catalyst Investors. "Produce grown in controlled environments will be a key part of the sustainable food chain of the future, requiring less land, water, energy and time for transportation than traditional agriculture. We look forward to helping BrightFarms lead the way." Gordon Reid, president of Giant Food of Landover, Maryland, said, "For 80 years, Giant has provided fresh quality products to its customers. Our partnership with BrightFarms and our joint efforts to provide everyone in the local community with access to fresh, healthy, local produce means we are able to provide exceptional quality and value." Steve Jarzombek, Vice President of Produce at Roundy's, said, "The opportunity to provide our consumers with high quality locally grown produce year-round, delivered within 24 hours of harvest, is one of the many things that attracted us to BrightFarms. Our greenhouse in Chicagoland opened in July and demand is growing significantly. Consumers can truly taste the difference, not to mention it's a huge win for the environment." BTIG, LLC acted as Sole Placement Agent on the transaction. ABOUT BRIGHTFARMS: BrightFarms grows local produce, nationwide. BrightFarms finances, builds, and operates local greenhouse farms in partnership with supermarkets, cities, capital sources, and vendors, enabling it to quickly and efficiently eliminate time, distance, and costs from the food supply chain. BrightFarms' growing methods, a model for the future of scalable, sustainable local farming, use far less energy, land, and water than conventional agriculture. Fast Company recognizes BrightFarms as "One of World's 50 Most Innovative Companies" and one of the "Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Food" in the world. For more information, please visit www.brightfarms.com. ABOUT CATALYST INVESTORS: Catalyst Investors is a growth private equity firm founded in 2000. Catalyst employs a rigorous top-down research focus that seeks to identify investment opportunities in companies and industries that will exhibit strong revenue and margin growth. The firm works in true partnership with talented management teams to build long-term value and is committed to investor transparency. Past and present Catalyst portfolio companies include Ascentis, Catalyst Repository Systems, Clinicient, Conductor, Datavail, Denali Spectrum, InSite Wireless Group, Latisys, MessageLabs, MediaMath, MINDBODY, PresenceLearning and WeddingWire. For more information, visit http://www.catalyst.com. Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/BF-One-Minute-Video.mp4 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410810 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410984 SOURCE BrightFarms, Inc. Related Links http://www.brightfarms.com HERNDON, Va., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BSI, the business standards company, announced today it has acquired Creative Environment Solutions (CES) Corp., one of New York City's most respected and renowned Environmental and Safety consulting firms. With over 100 employees, the acquisition of CES significantly bolsters BSI's East Coast EHS consulting business footprint and its Built Environment and Construction safety expertise. CES brings to BSI a full range of Environmental and Safety Services in the Northeast US, including Environmental Consulting, Building Code Compliance, Building Safety Inspections, Environmental Sampling and Analysis, Site Safety Services, as well as training in EHS compliance and certification. BSI's recent acquisition strategy signals its intent to continue diversifying its core businesses to meet the needs of its client base. By strengthening its consulting arm in the areas of EHS, Information Security and Supply Chain, BSI is providing a natural complement to its standards and certification businesses. CES is BSI's fourth EHS consulting firm acquisition in the past two years, demonstrating BSI's commitment to build the leading environmental, health and safety consultancy in the US and beyond. With the CES team now on-board, BSI has a team of 325 experts in its EHS Services and Solutions division, making it well positioned to provide national support to its customers. "The acquisition of CES bolsters BSI's ability to provide proven environmental, health and safety consulting services of exceptional quality in the key NYC market and Northeast region of the US," said Glenn Fishler, President of EHS Services and Solutions at BSI. "Furthermore, after working on multiple projects with the CES team during the past year, I am certain that CES's unique EHS built environment and construction safety expertise will be highly valued by BSI's customers in the US and abroad." Victoria Drozdov, CES President, stated, "We are very excited about combining forces with BSI. This strategic fit between our two firms will bring tremendous value to our respective customer bases. We are looking forward to continue bringing our expertise to our current clients, and with BSI's additional consulting services, being able to provide a more expanded and extensive menu of services to a wider market." "For over 115 years, BSI has been providing advice, training and certification to address the changing needs of the customer and the demands of the market. By expanding our EHS Services and Solutions portfolio through the acquisition of CES, BSI is now better able to provide consulting services that help our clients sustainably and safely develop and grow, while instilling Organizational Resilience and embedding excellence," said Howard Kerr, Chief Executive at BSI. Notes to Editors: About BSI BSI (British Standards Institution) is the business standards company that equips businesses with the necessary solutions to turn standards of best practice into habits of excellence. Formed in 1901, BSI was the world's first National Standards Body and a founding member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Over a century later it continues to facilitate business improvement and organizational resilience across the globe by helping its clients drive performance, manage risk and grow sustainably through the adoption of international management systems standards, many of which BSI originated. Renowned for its marks of excellence including the consumer recognized BSI Kitemark, BSI's influence spans multiple sectors with a particular focus on Aerospace, Automotive, Built Environment, Food, Healthcare and IT. With 80,000 clients in 182 countries, BSI is an organization whose products and services inspire excellence across the globe. To learn more, please visit www.bsigroup.com About BSI EHS Services and Solutions Now 325 employees strong and with coast to coast coverage in the US, the BSI EHS Services and Solutions team provides a comprehensive range of strategic, management and technical EHS consulting solutions assessment, compliance, risk management, reporting, training, communication and more partnering with over 500 clients to achieve their environmental, health, safety, and sustainability short-term needs and long-term goals. We make a positive impact on the world every day. We do this by enabling companies to be socially and globally responsible, protecting employees, preserving the environment, and building sustainable business solutions. To learn more, please visit www.bsigroup.com/ehs About Creative Environment Solutions (CES) Corp. Creative Environment Solutions (CES) Corp., based in New York City, specializes in Environmental and Safety Compliance Consulting for Real Estate, Hospitality, Healthcare, Commercial, Educational/Institutional and Public Sector clients. For almost 25 years, CES has built an expert team of professionals for clients throughout Metro-New York and beyond. Media enquiries: Anne Atkinson Naomi Prior BSI BSI Tel: +1 703 674-1996 Tel: +44 20 8996 6330 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110405/NE77664LOGO SOURCE BSI Related Links http://www.bsigroup.com NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BurgerFi, one of the nation's fastest growing, all-natural "better burger" restaurant concepts, announced today the opening of its first restaurant in London, accelerating the company's international franchise development expansion efforts. Located in London's Wembley Central Square, the new restaurant is owned and operated by franchise group Ground Round Limited. Led by entrepreneur Jamie Wood, son of Rolling Stones' guitarist Ron Wood, and hospitality industry veteran Constantine Kulukundis, the group plans to develop a total of 10 new restaurants throughout the U.K. over the next several years. Their second location slated to open in downtown London later this year. "For the past five years, BurgerFi has done a great job establishing itself as a leader in the better burger space with immense potential, which drove my business partner and I to franchise the concept in London," said Jamie Wood, BurgerFi franchisee. "The corporate team has passion like I've never seen before, and they go above and beyond to set their franchise partners up for success. Because of that, I truly believe that BurgerFi will succeed in this new market, and I look forward to growing its presence even more over the next several years." The expansion in London has contributed to BurgerFi's surge in franchise development, propelled by the brand's goal to have 100 restaurants open by year-end. The company has experienced very strong growth in 2016, both domestically and internationally, expecting to end the year with 24 openings in the US and 4 abroad. Furthermore, the company is on track to report record-high system-wide sales at the end of this year with a projected increase of 20 percent. "Our next goal to open 100 restaurants is in sight, and adding a location in London is a significant milestone for the BurgerFi brand," said Corey Winograd, chief executive officer of BurgerFi. "In just five years, we've grown from a single restaurant in South Florida to an internationally recognized franchise with 89 open locations, which has further fueled our franchise development nationwide. Our fast-paced growth is a true testament to BurgerFi's commitment to providing a premier better burger experience in a fast-casual environment, and we're confident that Jamie and Constantine, along with our other dedicated franchisees, will help us continue our growth worldwide and take the BurgerFi brand to new heights." To continue the momentum in 2017, BurgerFi plans to open 35 new restaurants next year, including the company's first locations in Panama and Kuwait. With global demand and enormous opportunity for expansion, BurgerFi is poised for another year of phenomenal growth and will continue to seek qualified candidates to expand the brand's presence domestically and internationally. "As we prepare for 2017, we recognize that setting development goals is crucial to the success of any business, but finding the right operators and restaurant sites is how you sustain long-term growth," said Winograd. "We're focused on recruiting franchisees that resonate with our chef-driven, all-natural menu, as well as our commitment to providing an environmentally sustainable experience in all of our restaurants." BurgerFi is currently seeking multi-unit restaurant operators with a desire to provide an unmatched customer experience to join its rapid expansion across the U.S. and abroad. For more information about franchise opportunities, contact Graham Buckley, franchise development manager, at (561) 598-6431 or [email protected], or visit www.burgerfi.com/franchising/. ABOUT BURGERFI Established in 2011, BurgerFi is among the nation's fastest-growing better burger concepts with a projected 100 restaurants to be open by the end of 2016. The concept was founded by gourmet chefs committed to serving fresh food of the highest quality. All recipes are created from natural, fresh ingredients that require team members to cut chop, mix and prepare daily. BurgerFi uses only 100% natural Angus beef patties with no steroids, antibiotics, growth hormones, chemicals or additives. BurgerFi was ranked #185 in Inc. magazine's Fastest Growing Private Companies List, and recognized among Fast Casual's Top 50 Movers & Shakers and Top 100 Brands. The company was also ranked in Technomic's top three on its list of fastest growing small chains and received the TripAdvisor 2016 Certificate of Excellence. Visit www.BurgerFi.com for more information. Contact: Ellie Mannix Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410841LOGO SOURCE BurgerFi Related Links http://www.burgerfi.com Neighbors' installation company has been around for eight years. The company specializes in everything turf has to offer - xeriscaping, putting greens, residential landscapes - but Neighbors says that he has noticed a new trend when it comes to artificial grass. "We have mostly dealt with residential installations, but our last few installs have been commercial properties." The most recent commercial project was an 11,500 sq ft installation of TigerTurf Diamond Light Fescue from Synthetic Grass Warehouse at the Westwood Country Club in downtown Austin, TX. "This install took a little extra TLC and attention to detail," Neighbors said. "The club has large oak trees all over the property which required a different drainer layer underneath the turf." Neighbors said that the end result was everything the owners wanted. "We always try to go the extra mile for all of our clients," he said. "It's really important to us because a large amount of our business is based on referrals from our jobs." Neighbors believes that more businesses are looking to artificial grass due to the large amount of residential installs. "We'll install for a home and then that person will be the owner of a small business or go into work and talk about how great their lawn looks," he said. "Artificial grass really has some great benefits other than just saving water, it cuts back on the time and money spent maintaining a traditional lawn." Texas Custom Turf is the September 2016 winner of the "Install of the Month" by Synthetic Grass Warehouse. Texas Custom Turf has over 20 years of combined experience in home landscaping, award winning customer service and synthetic turf manufacturing. About Texas Custom Turf Inc.: Texas Custom Turf Inc. is a premier artificial grass installer based in Austin, Texas serving both the residential and commercial landscape and sport markets. For more information, visit http://texascustomturf.com/ About Synthetic Grass Warehouse Inc.: Synthetic Grass Warehouse is the exclusive national distributor for TigerTurf and Everlast brands of synthetic grass products. Founded in 2004, Synthetic Grass Warehouse specializes in turf products designed for landscaping, pets, putting greens, and playgrounds. For more information, visit https://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410439 SOURCE Synthetic Grass Warehouse, Inc. Related Links https://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Investigators from the California Labor Commissioner's Office issued $682,344 in fines to 18 garment manufacturers and contractors in a two day enforcement operation in the Los Angeles area. The penalties included a total of $603,043 in fines and stop orders for six employers with no workers' compensation insurance, and $42,300 in penalties issued to 14 businesses for garment registration violations. Investigators confiscated 85 bags of illegally manufactured garments with an estimated street value of $155,457 at nine of the businesses. "Sweatshop operators threaten garment workers' rights and undermine honest employers in the industry, making it difficult for legitimate garment businesses to stay in operation," said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. "These illegal entities should take note: we will shine a light on the underground economy and those who contract with unregistered contractors will also be held accountable." The two day enforcement sweep began on September 7 and included 22 worksite inspections. The 18 garment businesses cited employ 296 workers. The Labor Commissioner's office is pursuing wage theft investigations on those employers who also failed to pay proper wages under the California Labor Code. The Garment Manufacturing Act of 1980 requires that all industry employers register with the Labor Commissioner and demonstrate adequate character, competency, and responsibility, including workers' compensation insurance coverage. Garment manufacturers who contract with unregistered entities are automatically deemed joint employers of the workers in the contract facility. Clothing confiscated from illegal operations cannot be sold, and will be donated to a non-profit agency which will provide the items to homeless and domestic violence shelters in the Los Angeles area. The Labor Commissioner also administers a special wage claim adjudication process for garment workers pursuant to California's AB 633, passed in 1999. This law provides not only an expedited process for garment workers to file wage claims but also provides a wage guarantee where garment manufacturers are responsible for wage theft at their contractors' facilities. The Wage Theft is a Crime website was launched as part of a multilingual public awareness campaign in 2014 by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Labor Commissioner's Office. The Wage Theft is a Crime campaign informs workers of their rights and employers of their responsibilities. Workers and employers with work-related questions may also contact DIR's Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). DIR protects and improves the health, safety and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), also known as the Labor Commissioner's Office, inspects workplaces for wage and hour violations, adjudicates wage claims, investigates retaliation complaints, issues licenses and registrations for businesses, enforces prevailing wage rates and apprenticeship standards in public works projects, and educates the public on labor laws. Members of the press may contact Peter Melton or Paola Laverde at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR's press releases or other departmental updates. The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR's Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department. https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR https://twitter.com/CA_DIR http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1 SOURCE California Department of Industrial Relations; California Labor Commissioners Office Related Links http://www.dir.ca.gov/ COLLEGE PARK, Md., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Is freedom of speech under threat on college campuses? Greg Lukianoff, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), will discuss safe spaces, trigger warnings and outrage culture in higher education during the BB&T Colloquium on Capitalism, Ethics and Leadership. The free event, "Assault in the Ivory Tower on the Market for Ideas," will start at 5 p.m. Sept. 27 in Frank Auditorium at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. "I've been working to defend free speech on campuses since 2001 and have been consistently horrified at how easy it is to get in trouble for what you say," Lukianoff writes in a recent Huffington Post blog about the making of his new documentary, "Can We Take a Joke?" Lukianoff is an attorney and the author of "Unlearning Liberty: Campus Censorship and the End of American Debate" and "Freedom From Speech," as well as the coauthor of The Atlantic's September 2015 cover story, "The Coddling of the American Mind." Following his remarks, he will field questions from the audience. Smith School professor Rajshree Agarwal, director of the Ed Snider Center for Enterprise and Markets, will moderate the discussion. "Business schools normally focus on the exchange of goods and services," Agarwal says. "But the same principles apply in the marketplace for ideas. Too much regulation of business or speech can stifle innovation and hurt the people you're trying to protect." The event is sponsored by BB&T and open to the public. Due to limited space, registration is required at http://goo.gl/wT0QDd. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational foundation that unites civil rights and civil liberties leaders, scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals from across the political and ideological spectrum on behalf of individual rights, freedom of expression, academic freedom, due process, and rights of conscience at our nation's colleges and universities. FIRE's core mission is to protect the unprotected and to educate the public and communities of concerned Americans about the threats to these rights on our campuses and about the means to preserve them. FIRE's efforts to preserve liberty on campuses across America can be viewed at thefire.org. About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and part-time MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, specialty masters, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia. CONTACT: Greg Muraski 301-405-5283 [email protected] SOURCE University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business Related Links http://rhsmith.umd.edu MELVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that it has made an equity investment in T2 Biosystems, Inc., a company developing innovative diagnostic products to improve patient health. Through this investment, Canon U.S.A. has purchased approximately 40 million dollars of the company's stock at the closing market price of $6.56 in a private placement, resulting in Canon's ownership of approximately 19.9 percent of T2 Biosystems. Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A. began working with T2 Biosystems back in February of 2015 to develop a diagnostic test panel for rapidly detecting Lyme disease. Canon has invested in diagnostics research over the years. Most recently, Canon established Canon BioMedical to enhance organic and inorganic growth of molecular diagnostics business within the company. "We recognize that both T2 Biosystems and Canon U.S.A. are aligned in working towards the same goal and as such, we are pleased to strengthen our relationship and look forward to bringing future innovative diagnostic products to market that can improve patient health," said Joe Adachi, chairman and CEO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Investments to companies like T2 is another example of Canon's commitment in healthcare." "The strong backing and commitment we have received from Canon will help us continue to strengthen our business and accelerate our efforts to bring new products to market," said John McDonough, chief executive officer of T2 Biosystems, Inc. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with Canon." Seymour Liebman , executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon U.S.A, Inc. will join T2 Biosystems Board of Directors. About T2 Biosystems T2 Biosystems is focused on developing innovative diagnostic products to improve patient health. With two FDA-cleared products targeting sepsis and a range of additional products in development, T2 Biosystems is an emerging leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics. The Company is utilizing its proprietary T2 Magnetic Resonance platform, or T2MR, to develop a broad set of applications aimed at lowering mortality rates, improving patient outcomes and reducing the cost of healthcare by helping medical professionals make targeted treatment decisions earlier. T2MR enables the fast and sensitive detection of pathogens, biomarkers and other abnormalities in a variety of unpurified patient sample types, including whole blood, eliminating the time-consuming sample prep required in current methods. For more information, please visit www.t2biosystems.com. About Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc. Founded in 2002 and located in Rockville, Maryland, Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc., is a subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., dedicated to identifying and developing diagnostic solutions to help address unmet medical needs and improving human health. About Canon BioMedical, Inc. Canon BioMedical, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., is focused on empowering the biomedical research and healthcare communities by developing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative technologies and solutions. The technologies and solutions developed will help enable clinicians and scientists to improve our health and advance science. Canon BioMedical will continue to pursue innovative solutions in line with Canon's Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility through the use of existing and emerging Canon technology as well as strategic partnerships. About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean (excluding Mexico) markets. With approximately $31 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranked third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2015 and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2016. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas Headquarters secured LEED Gold certification, a recognition for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office. Canon U.S.A. website: http://www.usa.canon.com For sales information/customer support: 1-800-OK-CANON Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160119/323578LOGO SOURCE Canon U.S.A., Inc. Related Links http://www.usa.canon.com ANDOVER, Mass., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Casa Systems, a worldwide leader in next-generation ultra-broadband access technology, has been recognized by Broadband Technology Report (BTR) in their 2016 Diamond Technology Review program for its Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) Solutions. This family of solutions helps service providers push capacity to the edge, improving the services their subscribers enjoy, while extracting more value from existing investments and maintaining smooth operations in the transition from centralized to distributed access architectures. Transitioning from a centralized cable access architecture to a distributed network is a significant step for most service providers and often requires discussions around security, performance, operational impacts, and investment protection in light of future virtualization opportunities, among other aspects. Casa Systems' DAA solutions provide a logical approach to the challenges service providers will encounter as they make the transition. A vetted panel of independent judges reviewed Casa Systems' DAA suite of solutions, including the C100G and C40G CCAP; Distributed Access Nodes DA2000, DA1000, and DA500; and 10G Ethernet and 10G EPON transport. These judges awarded the suite of products a score of 4.5 out of 5. Scores of 4.0 and above represent "excellent product[s] with technical features and performance that provide clear and substantial benefits," according to the publication. "We are grateful to Broadband Technology Report and the judges for this honor," said Jerry Guo, president and CEO, Casa Systems. "Service providers are searching for cost-effective ways to virtualize, and implementing a distributed architecture approach is both cost-effective and allows for a sequential rollout of virtualized functions, so organizations don't need to migrate everything at once. With our DAA solutions, we're able to set providers on the path toward full virtualization and all of its benefits." Supporting resources: To view the full results of the Diamond Technology Reviews, please visit BTR. About Casa Systems, Inc. Casa Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of fixed, mobile and Wi-Fi access network solutions for ultra-broadband services that allow service providers to intelligently and cost-effectively scale their networks to meet gigabit demands today. As the original supplier of commercially deployed CCAP systems that deliver voice, video, and data over a single port, Casa continues a tradition of bringing leading edge solutions to hundreds of service provider around the world. For more information, please visit us at www.casa-systems.com. About Broadband Technology Report Broadband Technology Report (BTR), is the cable and telecom industry's premier source for product and technology news, and is the most successful and fastest growing online outlet for product information and deployments; reviews and rankings; technology expertise; and buyer/seller facilitation. BTR's portfolio includes online, print and video assets, all designed to help network operators build, upgrade and maintain high-performance communications networks. BTR, backed by more than 70 years of combined industry experience, delivers its email, online, print and video production services to more than 24,000 subscribers. If you are interested in subscribing, consult http://www.btreport.net/subscribe.html. About the Diamond Technology Review program The BTR Diamond Technology Reviews ("the Diamonds") is a renowned industry program that was developed to recognize some of the top products and solutions available to the cable industry as determined by a stellar panel of cable telecommunications engineering experts. Engineering executives from Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Suddenlink Communications, Comcast, Charter and Cox, and several expert consultants, were among the third-party judges for the 2016 "Diamonds." Every year, BTR invites vendors to submit written information about products/solutions that have been released or upgraded since the previous year's SCTE Cable-Tec Expo (October 2015). Criteria used in the Diamonds rankings include, first and foremost, unique technology or application thereof, innovation, ease-of-use, efficiency, reliability and contribution to profitability. CONTACT INFORMATION: Alicia Thomas Tara Lefave Stred Casa Systems, Inc. 100 Old River Road Andover, Mass. 01810 +1.817.909.8921 LEWIS 200 Wheeler Road Burlington, Mass. 01803 +1.781.418.2425 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Casa Systems Related Links http://www.casa-systems.com DUBAI, United Arab Emirates and LA JOLLA, Calif., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cerus Advisors DMCC, (Cerus), a boutique private equity management and advisory firm focused on long-term value creation in life sciences and real estate, has launched global operations. Cerus provides funding and experienced-based, strategic support to its portfolio companies to guide their growth. The firm is led and managed by a team of highly experienced professionals and entrepreneurs with a long standing track record in investment management and operations. The team includes Marios Fotiadis, M.B.A, Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos, Ph.D., Gabriela M. Le Henand, and Riccardo Ricciardelli, M.B.A. "We know from our collective experience that the intrinsic value of a company needs to be protected through the right financial, operational and strategic guidance," said Marios Fotiadis, M.B.A., Chairman, Manager Partner. "Cerus' business model is enhanced through our ability to deploy funding as well as strategic and operational value to our portfolio companies by utilizing our unique platform. We look forward to establishing Cerus as the global partner of choice to entrepreneurs who align with our investment philosophy and vision." "The life sciences industry is an incredibly fascinating, innovative and very fast growing global enterprise. Recent scientific advances have opened new dimensions in drug discovery and medical technologies based on the industry's desire to innovate. By contrast, the way we build and capitalize life sciences companies has remained stagnant, with venture and private capital serving as the most common way to enable growth opportunities," said Dr. Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos, Managing General Partner. "With the birth of Cerus, we intend to create an alternative to the traditional investment models to keep pace with our industry and create long-term value for our founding entrepreneurs and syndicated investors." The team seeks life science opportunities with technologies and concepts that address unmet medical needs, have high-value supportive intellectual property, and are in attractive therapeutic areas. In real estate, the team is focusing on commercial growth opportunities. About Cerus Advisors a New Breed of Investor Cerus DMCC is the strategic investment arm of a single-family office with global investments, focused on the pharmaceutical, medical device, health care and real estate industries. Cerus has leveraged its extensive investment and deal-making expertise to work with other family offices and third-party institutional investors to create valuable syndications around high-value growth opportunities. Cerus' investment philosophy is rooted in its DNA as a single-family office advisor - therefore, every transaction is viewed with only one objective: Long-Term Value Creation. To achieve this objective, Cerus has developed a highly customized advisory practice that guides its portfolio companies and global partners in seeking private equity investments, deploying private equity resources and structuring highly customized private transactions. Cerus has investment offices in Dubai, UAE and in La Jolla, California, USA. For more information, please visit www.cerusadvisors.com. The name Cerus stems from Greek Mythology - the goddess of Spring, Persephone, befriends a wandering bull known as Cerus and teaches the bull patience, perseverance and how to use his strength wisely. Cerus applies this spirit to its investment strategies with careful, reliable and patient value creation focused on long-term growth. Contact: Amy Conrad Juniper Point [email protected] 858-366-3243 SOURCE Cerus Advisors DMCC Related Links http://www.cerusadvisors.com DOVER, Del., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) today announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 835,207 shares of its common stock, at a price to the public of $62.26 per share. In connection with the offering, Chesapeake granted the underwriters involved in the offering with a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 125,281 shares of its common stock. The offering is expected to close on September 27, 2016, subject to customary closing conditions. The net proceeds from the equity offering will be used to pay down a portion of the Company's short-term revolving debt, which has increased as a result of capital investments to support growth. Wells Fargo Securities and RBC Capital Markets are acting as joint book-running managers. Janney Montgomery Scott and Baird are acting as senior co-managers. J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann, U.S. Capital Advisors and BB&T Capital Markets are acting as co-managers of the offering. This offering is being made under an effective shelf registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and only by means of a prospectus supplement for this offering and a related base prospectus. Copies of the prospectus supplement and related base prospectus may be obtained by contacting: Wells Fargo Securities RBC Capital Markets Attention: Equity Syndicate Department Attn: Equity Syndicate 375 Park Avenue 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor New York, NY 10152 New York, NY 10281-8098 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Telephone: (800) 326-5897 Telephone: (877) 822-4089 This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, shares of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation common stock, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offering will be made only by means of prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, each of which is part of an effective shelf registration statement filed by Chesapeake Utilities Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission. About Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy company engaged in natural gas distribution, transmission, gathering and processing; and marketing; electricity distribution; propane gas distribution and wholesale marketing; and other related services. Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation has no affiliation with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Forward Looking Statements The prospectus supplement may include forward-looking statements. All statements, other than historical facts included or incorporated her that address activities, events or developments that we expect of anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such things as the completion, timing, size proceeds and the use of proceeds for the proposed offering, are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the prospectus supplement. Although we believe that the plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such statements. For more information, contact: Beth W. Cooper Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer 302.734.6022 Thomas E. Mahn Treasurer 302.736.7656 SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Related Links http://www.chpk.com CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight hundred Chicago families in need will receive enough food to supplement meals for a week plus daily essentials, thanks to a partnership between PepsiCo and Feed the Children. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. at St. Sabina Church, 1210 W. 78th Place, Chicago. Today's distribution event is part of Feed the Children's Defeat Hunger Month, a national initiative to raise awareness and funds for this important cause. It's the fifth annual event PepsiCo and Feed the Children have hosted in the Chicago community, where nearly 25 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Similar events will occur in other major U.S. cities throughout the remainder of the year. "Together we can be our neighbors' helpers by providing food and essentials to those in need," said J.C. Watts, Jr., Feed the Children president and CEO. "With PepsiCo and St. Sabina's partnership, we can aid families in our nation's own backyard." The receiving families have been identified and preselected by St. Sabina's church. Each qualifying recipient will be given: One 25-pound box of nonperishable food items One 15-pound box of personal-care items One box of AVON products products Books from Disney Publishing Worldwide Barilla pasta One 20-count Frito-Lay Baked & Popped Mix snacks PepsiCo beverages Life Original Cereal Quaker Standard Oatmeal Chewy Granola Bars Fresh produce and nonperishable food items provided by Jewel Osco "We love the Chicago community and are proud to be able to partner with Feed the Children to fight hunger in the city where we live and work," said Ashley Kelly, senior sales zone supervisor, Heartland Chicago central zone, PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division. "Frito-Lay and PepsiCo are committed to giving back to our friends and neighbors, and providing enough food to supplement meals for a week while families begin the new school year is a small way we can help make a difference." About Feed the Children Established in 1979, Feed the Children exists to end child hunger. It is one of the largest U.S.-based charities and serves those in need in the U.S. and in 10 countries around the world. It provides food, education, essentials and disaster relief. Domestically, it operates 5 distribution centers (located in Oklahoma, Indiana, California, Tennessee and Pennsylvania). In fiscal year 2015, Feed the Children distributed 107 million pounds of food and essentials valued at $302 million to people in the U.S., and internationally, it sponsored nearly 24,500 children, addressing the root causes of poverty through child sponsorship and school sponsorship. It is accredited by GuideStar Exchange and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance as well as maintains a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Visit www.feedthechildren.org for more information. About PepsiCo PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue in 2015, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth and shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com/. SOURCE PepsiCo Related Links http://www.pepsico.com 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 Clutch 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 SOURCE Clutch Related Links https://clutch.co RESTON, Va., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Collaborative Solutions, a leading business transformation consultancy, announced today that it has received a growth investment from WestView Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm. WestView's investment in Collaborative represents the first institutional funding taken by the company and will help fuel its continued rapid growth and expansion in the global cloud consulting services space. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410884LOGO Collaborative Solutions is the longest-tenured and among the largest independent Workday services partners, deploying Workday's solutions for Financial Management, HCM, Payroll, and Student, and providing key strategic and change management services to its 275+ customers. Dedicated to customer success, Collaborative has earned a 98% customer satisfaction rating, which include global Fortune 500 companies, medium-sized businesses, and education and government institutions that operate in more than 125 countries. The investment by WestView will allow Collaborative to accelerate its strategic growth plans by enabling further innovation around its Cynergy deployment methodology and toolset, increasing the recruitment and development of its world-class expert consulting staff, and expanding its presence globally. "I am excited about Collaborative's partnership with WestView, and the experience that Rick and his team will bring us as we continue to grow our organization," said Carroll Ross, CEO of Collaborative Solutions. "WestView's experience in supporting growth-oriented companies such as Collaborative will help us as we aggressively ramp up our strategic initiatives around our people and our innovative services offerings, strengthening our ability to help our customers maximize their investments in the cloud and see the benefits of that investment more quickly." "We are excited to partner with the Collaborative team," said Rick Williams, Managing Partner at WestView. "Carroll and his team have built an impressive company, highlighted by its industry-leading customer satisfaction, deep Workday experience, and strong financial performance. We look forward to supporting them as they continue to invest and build upon their strong position in the industry." Collaborative Solutions will continue to be majority-owned and operated by the company's founders, with WestView Capital Partners joining Collaborative's Board of Directors. Childs Advisory Partners served as Collaborative's exclusive Investment Banking advisor on the transaction. About Collaborative Solutions: Collaborative Solutions is a leading global Finance and HR Transformation consultancy that leverages world-class cloud solutions to help deliver successful outcomes for its customers. As one of the longest-tenured consulting partners with Workday, Collaborative Solutions has executed over 275 Workday Financial Management, HCM, and Payroll deployments for global Fortune 500 companies, medium-sized businesses, and education and government institutions. Collaborative Solutions has deployed in over 125 countries and has experience with organizations ranging from 200 to 200,000 employees. Collaborative Solutions is based in the Washington, D.C., metro area with offices in Pleasanton, CA; Chicago, IL; Atlanta, GA; Tampa, FL; New York City, NY; Toronto, Ontario and Dublin, Ireland. For more information, visit www.collaborativesolutions.com. About WestView Capital Partners: WestView Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm focused exclusively on middle market growth companies, manages approximately $1 billion in capital across three funds. WestView partners with existing management teams to sponsor majority and minority recapitalizations, growth, and consolidation transactions in industries such as business services, software and IT services, consumer, healthcare technology and outsourcing and growth industrial. WestView invests in companies with operating profits between $3 million and $20 million with investment sizes ranging from $10 million to $50 million. For more information, please visit www.wvcapital.com. Contact: Suzi Savarese Collaborative Solutions Director of Marketing Email 888-545-5387 SOURCE Collaborative Solutions Related Links http://www.collaborativesolutions.com SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Contempor'ati Studios today announced the opening of its contemporary Chinese literati painting exhibition with master artists from the United States and China. The exhibition, which is part of the Asia Week San Francisco celebrations, runs at the Pacific Heritage Museum from October 1st, 2016 to January 5th, 2017. Admission is free. "We're extremely excited to exhibit recent works by Chinese Masters Hou Beiren, Fong Chung-Ray and Zhou Shilin," said Jean Song, Founder of Contempor'ati Studios and curator of the exhibition. "These artists represent the best in contemporary Chinese art in the literati tradition. " "We want to honor these artists who have committed themselves to the highest standards and tremendous technique in their respective art forms and style," said Mark Barnekow, Executive Producer of the exhibit. "It is fitting, in San Francisco, that we celebrate lives dedicated to artistic innovation and expression in the tradition of Chinese literati art that has spanned several thousand years." Hou Beiren, Fong Chung-Ray and Zhou Shilin are trailblazers in Chinese art. Poet and painter Hou Beiren celebrated his 100th birthday this year with an exhibition featuring his latest literati ink works which innovate on the literati art form and decades of his own vast painting expertise. Fong Chung-Ray, known for his abstract works, has been creating Chinese abstract paintings for over six decades with cutting-edge techniques and materials. Zhou Shilin, a professor at the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, has applied his expert skill in oil painting techniques to inspire new directions in Chinese ink for over 20 years. About Contempor'ati Based in San Francisco, California, Contempor'ati is a not-for-profit dedicated to promoting and inspiring the Chinese literati tradition in today's contemporary society. Contempor'ati's mission is to share Contemporary Chinese literati art, philosophy and lifestyle. We share this spirit internationally with academics, artists, collectors and museums through exhibitions, writings and lectures. Visit www.contemporati.com. The Pacific Heritage Museum is sponsored by East West Bank. Museum hours are Thursday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free. Tel: (415) 399-1124. SOURCE Contemporati Studios Related Links http://www.contemporati.com TYSONS CORNER, Va., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cordia Resources, a leading Washington DC finance and accounting recruiting and staffing firm, is pleased to announce two key promotions within the organization: Ryan J. Delaney as Partner, to lead the Tysons Corner office and Michael R. McCoy, as the Partner to lead the newly-established Washington DC office. "As a result of our continued growth, we are expanding our senior management team to meet the heightened demands of our clients who have come to rely on us for quality services. Our new partners are exceptional performers and team builders, and their efforts have been instrumental to our success. We congratulate them on these well-deserved promotions," noted Joseph (Joe) F. Greeves, Cordia Resources' Managing Partner. Ryan Delaney will focus on the continued expansion of the Virginia office, located in Tysons Corner. As one of Cordia Resources' first employees, Ryan brings a wealth of information and experience to the role. He has been instrumental in building a solid foundation to support the company's robust growth while serving as an invaluable resource for many companies in the Washington area. With over 11 years in the industry, Ryan is well positioned to build upon and accelerate the success of our Virginia office. Mike McCoy brings over 25 years of experience to his role and will lead the firm's expansion into the DC market with its new office, located at 12th Street NW, directly above Metro Center. As a former CFO, Mike brings an exceptional level of understanding and is able to offer a more consultative approach than typical recruiters when evaluating staffing needs, enabling an ideal match of the right talent to meet the needs of our clients. Mike's deep understanding of the finance and accounting needs of organizations, combined with his ability to identify and recruit top-tier talent, make him an asset that many organizations in the Washington area have come to rely upon. Donald (Don) D. Olinger, managing partner for the Rockville office added, "Mike and Ryan spend the time and effort needed in todays' competitive job market to identify and deliver exceptional talent in the finance and accounting profession, and have been essential contributors to our company's rapid growth. We couldn't be prouder of our team and what we've accomplished so far." About Cordia Resources Cordia Resources is a leading recruiting, staffing and executive search firm specializing in placing accounting, finance, and contract administration professionals throughout the Washington metropolitan area. As part of the Cordia Partners services platform with access to an unmatched pool of talented accounting professionals, we provide expert financial recruiting and staffing solutions to our clients in both the commercial and not-for-profit markets, including government contacting, professional services, technology, hospitality, real estate, and more. Visit us at www.cordiaresources.com. About Cordia Partners Cordia Partners is the leading provider of CFO advisory, financial and technology consulting, executive search, recruiting & staffing, and outsourced accounting services in the Greater Washington area. Visit us at www.cordiapartners.com. Contact: Kristin Conrad, +1-703-962-9041 [email protected] SOURCE Cordia Resources Related Links http://www.cordiaresources.com EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- At the annual shareholders meeting of Westell Technologies, Inc. on September 13th, 2016, 72% of shareholders not-affiliated with the Penny Family Trust withheld support for both Robert C. Penny III and his nephew Robert Foskett. "This is a clear repudiation of Business as usual at Westell," states Jeffrey Bronchick, CFA, the lead Principal of Cove Street Capital, LLC, which on behalf of its advisory clients, is the largest non-insider shareholder of Westell, with 16% percent of the Class A shares. "We once again call upon the Penny family to take the obvious steps to preserve the value of the common shares, obvious being the immediate hiring of an investment banker to sell the company." Robert C. Penny III, who leads the Penny Trust that controls the voting B shares of Westell, and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1998, continued to show his multi-decade disdain of shareholder interests by managing not to attend the annual meeting. "As if to add color to a caricature of poor governance, the company deemed it appropriate to release the results of the vote in a classic Friday afternoon press release," added Bronchick. Eugene Robin, CFA, a partner in Cove Street Capital, LLC, attended the annual meeting and gave the following speech to the Board members who deemed it relevant and part of their fiduciary responsibilities as a Board member of a public company to attend their annual meeting. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Eugene Robin and I'm a Principal at Cove Street Capital. We're the largest shareholders of this company not named Penny. While Buzz and his family have been here from day one I doubt anyone else on this Board or in this room truly knows the full history of this company since Buzz joined the Board. Westell's history of value destruction goes all the way back to December of 1999, when they spent approximately $200M to acquire Teltrend a move that was supposed to refresh Westell, which was at the time a floundering company that was dedicated to losing money in the loop access business. It may or may not be a coincidence that Buzz joined the Board officially only a year before, but whatever the case, the Board, with Buzz representing the family's interests, voted to acquire the company in order to restructure the business mix into a higher growth area, namely HDSL modems. A new CEO, Marc Zionts, was also installed in order to provide new growth leadership. At the time of the Teltrend deal, shares were at $12. This was the first instance of a "turnaround" or "new CEO story" at Westell with Marc Zionts lasting two years and getting bounced in 2001 after buying Teltrend and then promising a "new Westell" driven by new products after two years that narrative no longer held up as the Westell continued to bleed operating cash and looked to be entering an industry downturn with incredibly high operating cost levels. "Turnaround" story number two comes by way of Van Cullens, who came in to clean up the mess Zionts created; he immediately started laying off people and ran the company profitably for the next five years thanks primarily to growth in DSL modems across the country as far as we can tell, that was the last "successful" CEO that Westell had, although that "success" didn't translate into a stock price that moved very much from the time Cullens took over to the day he retired. By the time Cullens stepped away, Westell was once again facing a core market that was in secular decline (DSL) and was staring at a bleak future. That secular decline is reminiscent of the current state of Cellular Specialties. After Van Cullens came Thomas Mader, who arrived in January 2007 to a company in a spiral downward competing against Chinese manufacturers in a shrinking market and losing money hand over fist doing so. Mader attempted to enact the third iteration of a "turnaround" but within a year realized what few in this room seem to understand: the business isn't capable of being saved from the forces affecting it. With an absentee family controlling the company's strategic direction, Mader left unexpectedly nearly a year after joining. We congratulate Mader as being smarter than the rest of us. In between Mader and Rick Gilbert was a former Board member named Bernard Sergesketter, who stepped in to be a caretaker for the company while the company shed personnel and shrunk its footprint. The Board ushered in Rick Gilbert in 2009 to enact the fourth iteration of a "turnaround" at Westell. Gilbert came in, realized what a mess the company was, sold CNS, and then reinvested the proceeds into Kentrox and Cellular Specialties both have been disasters that are materially lower than when Westell bought it. Since the day Gilbert sold CNS, this company has bled about $1.80/share in cash. So why are we doing this? Why am I here? I'm here because the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. This is nothing against Tom Gruenwald and his team, this is just us worrying for the well-being of shareholders who have seen their assets shrink with every iteration of a Westell "turnaround." Why would the fifth iteration be any different? Haven't 20 years of mediocrity been enough to prove that this company is nothing more than a subscale failure that has no business being neither public nor a standalone company? We are worried that there may not be a sixth "turnaround" to fall back upon if the Board continues to try to get from under this rock on their own. Again, this has nothing to do with management capability. Management's plan is sound on its face but leaves out an important fact: the industry Westell sells into is merciless, consolidated on a customer level and structurally disadvantages subscale firms selling into it. There is no place for Westell at the table. We've wanted to engage the Board because this just feels like Groundhog Day to us. Same strategy, a different management team and Board and almost surely the same end result. At this point we feel it's necessary for us to stand up and say something and hope to intervene before all value is destroyed. To paraphrase Edmund Burke, all that it takes for assets to be squandered and shareholder value wasted is for good men to do nothing. We call upon the board to immediately hire an investment banker and sell the company. No more consultants, new management teams, turnaround hype or other useless alternatives that end up burning ever more cash. Selling this set of assets is the only way to recoup some value for shareholders and resolve a multi-decade mess. Important Information: Cove Street Capital, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company, is a California based, SEC registered investment advisor that commenced operations in 2011. For questions please contact [email protected] SOURCE Cove Street Capital, LLC Cydcor's annual Day of Smiles campaign took place in June, netting more than $75,000 in donations, bringing the company's total donations to nearly $1 Million dollars for Operation Smile. Cydcor has partnered with Operation Smile since 2010. "The amount of heart and commitment from the Cydcor team and independent sales offices is eclipsed only by the amazing work done by Operation Smile," said Cydcor President, Vera Quinn. "This year's Day of Smiles campaign was a resounding success, with more than a thousand volunteers from Cydcor and sales offices across the country going business-to-business, face-to-face to share the Operation Smile story and ask for a donation. I'm thrilled to say we continue to stand with Operation Smile and the fulfilling work they do," Quinn added. In early 2017, Cydcor and representatives from the company's network of sales offices will volunteer at their seventh medical mission. These volunteers will assist the children and their families as they receive medical services from Operation Smile. Previously, Cydcor has sponsored Operation Smile medical missions to Brazil, Bolivia, Guatemala and Mexico. The longstanding relationship between Cydcor and Operation Smile continues to be a great fit. "Cydcor and Operation Smile fit together. We take care of children, people at Cydcor take care of people," shared Kathy Magee, Operation Smile Co-Founder & President. A video from the founders of Operation Smile, Dr. William Magee and Kathy Magee, about Cydcor's dedication and support for their ongoing work can be viewed here. Learn more about Cydcor on Facebook and Twitter, or on the Cydcor blog. About Cydcor Cydcor is the leading provider of outsourced, face-to-face sales teams to a diverse client base of companies in a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, office products, retail, energy, and financial services. Serving Fortune 500 and emerging market clients in the business-to-business, residential, and retail channels through in-store marketing initiatives, Cydcor works with a network of more than 350 independently-owned corporate licensee (ICL) sales offices, providing clients access to more than 4,600 sales professionals. The privately-held company is based in Agoura Hills, California. For more information about Cydcor, go to www.cydcor.com. About Operation Smile Operation Smile, is an international medical charity that has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities. It is one of the oldest and largest volunteer-based organizations dedicated to improving the health and lives of children worldwide through access to surgical care. Since 1982, Operation Smile has developed expertise in mobilizing volunteer medical teams to conduct surgical missions in resource-poor environments while adhering to the highest standards of care and safety. Operation Smile helps to fill the gap in providing access to safe, well-timed surgeries by partnering with hospitals, governments and ministries of health, training local medical personnel, and donating much-needed supplies and equipment to surgical sites around the world. Founded and based in Virginia, U.S., Operation Smile has extended its global reach to more than 60 countries through its network of credentialed surgeons, pediatricians, doctors, nurses, and student volunteers. Video - https://youtu.be/H7RjVMEmEJA Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160621/381649LOGO SOURCE Cydcor Related Links http://www.cydcor.com FREDONIA, Pa., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Art Drew, an Air Force Veteran and entrepreneur, announces good news for all Americans who have been waiting for "a true American patriot." With a nonpartisanship platform that focuses on addressing current issues facing the United States, Drew brings his military background and innovative thinking in bridging a path forward for a better country. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/411011 Drew has decided to enter the 2016 presidential race and step forward to be Commander-in-Chief while carrying out the traditions that made the United States the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." According to Drew, if he wins the election, he plans to select a vice president that is also a patriot, veteran and military hero who knows his way around Washington. "I'm stepping forward as an American patriot that is free of baggage and encumbrances like charges of criminal conduct, greed and ill will to anyone," says Drew. "I'm ready to assume the responsibility that goes with the presidency, and to protect such things as our Constitution, which has protected our freedoms for more than 200 years. I want to ensure that we continue to protect "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." One of the issues Drew is most focused on is the American economy. If he is elected president, Drew would give incentives to build new manufacturing factories to replace World War II structures. He is also in favor of not accepting any more loans from community China. In addition, Drew would like to see a decrease in the cost of electrical power for manufacturing and residential consumption by providing nuclear energy under military control. Vehicles will be electric with a few exceptions, which will also help in the reduction of global warming. "I not only talk the talk, I walk the walk. Other candidates talk the talk but have never put on a military uniform, and did the walk, earning their DD214 and their honorable discharge," adds Drew. "The other candidates have not earned the right to be a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars as I did or gain the related military experiences to serve as Commander-in- Chief." Drew was born in a rural farming and industrial community in Pennsylvania and has been working hard his entire life. After graduating from the public school system, Drew started work as a barber and then joined the United States Air Force. He attended college while serving with the Air Force in Washington State before being deployed to Vietnam from 1965 to 1966. After his tour with the Air Force, Drew maintained his passion for flying and worked as a commercial pilot as well as owning and operating his own charter air service and flight school. Later, Drew reduced his aviation activities to focus on developing an electrical service company focused on industrial manufacturing. This business was the beginning of a career that lasted more than 20 years, servicing electrical and manufacturing equipment throughout the United States and internationally. After his long military and business career history and raising three children with his wife Cheryl, Drew wants to take the same work ethic and devotion to getting things done that he has used throughout his whole life to a bigger stage. Drew is ready to continue his long history of serving his country by raising the quality of life for all Americans as the President of the United States. To learn more, visit www.artdrewforpresident.com. About Art Drew: Art Drew is a Vietnam veteran from the Air Force. He is an American Patriot born and raised in the United States who has stepped forward as an independent candidate for the 2016 presidential election. To learn more about Drew, visit www.artdrewforpresident.com. Media Contact: Art Drew for President Email: [email protected] Related Images image1.png image2.jpg This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Art Drew for President Related Links http://www.artdrewforpresident.com NEWARK, Calif., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Depomed, Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on commercializing drugs for central nervous system conditions including pain, announced its support of the American Chronic Pain Association's (ACPA) Toolkit for Healthcare Professionals: Activities and Resources as part of Pain Awareness Month, recognized in September. The toolkit provides a set of multi-disciplinary resources for primary care providers, including guidelines, templates and insights for everything from crafting compelling messaging and communications initiatives to leveraging potential partner organizations. It gives up-to-date information on how to elevate the issues of pain and pain care, support national pain strategies, and help the voices of health care providers be heard. Toolkits are available free of charge at www.understandingpain.org and will be distributed at upcoming events and conferences. "Primary care providers are on the front lines of helping people with pain, and now, more than ever, it is important that they are equipped with tools and information that improve their understanding of pain," said Dr. Srinivas Rao, Depomed Chief Medical Officer. "As part of our continued commitment to investing in education and training for primary care providers, we are pleased to be able to support the ACPA and its mission of working to ensure that no one living with pain is unable to access care." Pain is a significant public health problem in the United States, with approximately 100 million U.S. adults suffering from chronic pain alone. Chronic pain costs society at least $560-$635 billion annually, an amount equal to about $2,000 for everyone living in the country.i Pain especially chronic back pain is one of the most common reasons that people visit a primary care health care provider. ii However, primary care providers have expressed concerns about potential pain medication misuse, the stress in managing patients with chronic pain, and insufficient training in proper pain assessment and treatment.iii "One of the most challenging issues we're seeing for a person with pain is access to care being able to find a primary care provider who's going to look at them as a person with pain and help them manage that pain," said Penney Cowan, ACPA founder and CEO. "It is imperative that we work together with organizations like Depomed to help primary care providers better understand what resources are available to increase their knowledge and help them feel more prepared to treat people with pain." About Depomed, Inc. Depomed is a leading pharmaceutical company focused on enhancing the lives of patients, families, physicians, providers and payers we serve through commercializing innovative products for pain and neurology-related disorders. Depomed markets six medicines with area focus that include mild to severe acute pain, moderate to severe chronic pain, neuropathic pain, migraine and breakthrough cancer pain. Depomed is headquartered in Newark, California. To learn more, visit www.depomed.com. About the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) Founded in 1980, the ACPA facilitates peer support and education for individuals with chronic pain and their families, so that these individuals may live more fully in spite of their pain. The organization raises awareness among the health care community, policymakers and the public at large about issues of living with chronic pain. The ACPA strives to represent the voice of real people with chronic pain by providing a broad array of how-to materials that teach pain management life skills. The goal of these materials is to enhance quality of life and decrease a sense of suffering through individual empowerment. About Partners for Understanding Pain and Pain Awareness Month In 2001, the ACPA established a pain awareness campaign that pulled together organizations from across the country. The resulting consortium Partners for Understanding Pain included a wide variety of organizations that touch the lives of people with chronic, acute and cancer pain. Through its members, each of whom brings its own perspective to the dialogue, Partners for Understanding Pain represents a comprehensive network dedicated to building understanding and support that can help people with pain lead better lives. One key element of the coalition was to establish September as Pain Awareness Month, creating greater understanding among health care professionals, individuals and families who are struggling with pain management, the business community, legislators, and the general public that pain is a serious public health issue. i Institute of Medicine Report from the Committee on Advancing Pain Research, Care, and Education: Relieving Pain in America, A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education and Research. The National Academies Press, 2011. http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13172&page=1. ii St. Sauver, Jennifer L. et al. Why Patients Visit Their Doctors: Assessing the Most Prevalent Conditions in a Defined American Population. Mayo Clinic Proceedings , Volume 88 , Issue 1, 56 67. iii Dowell D, Haegerich TM, Chou R. CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain United States, 2016. MMWR Recomm Rep 2016;65(No. RR-1):149. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr6501e1. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410715LOGO SOURCE Depomed, Inc. Related Links http://www.depomed.com MONS, Belgium, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Acapela is providing the voices for 'a-ACADEMY', an innovative platform designed by Avallain to give ALL Kenyan children access to educational interactive content. According to the UNESCO Institute for statistics, there are 61 million children of school age who are currently not attending school. Half of these children worldwide come from sub-Saharan Africa. According to a recent study conducted by the Kenyan Ministry of Education, on average, 17 children share 1 textbook. Education is essential to all children and technology-advanced education can actively promote inclusion. This is the aim of Avallain Africa, a non-profit organisation created by Avallain, a company which specializes in education technology and digital publishing, and has developed the 'a-ACADEMY' program. The highly interactive educational content was developed in close collaboration with African educators, international curriculum editors and instructional designers. It uses Acapela voices to provide engaging English audio input, which contributes towards the interactivity and efficiency of the whole programme. "We designed a-ACADEMY with the idea of offering high-quality digital learning to children who need it most. We understand how important digital learning is in Kenya and we needed to create a product that filled a gap and that was of the highest quality. We needed good audio in different voices with a British accent that could help the children improve their language skills as we never want to compromise on quality. Creating our voice files with Acapela Box was easy and it was also easy to integrate in our authoring tool. The high quality audios have certainly enriched a-ACADEMY and fit perfectly well into our pedagogical strategy and vision." Says Miriam Ruiz, Executive Director of Avallain Foundation Avallain is using http://www.acapela-box.com , our online service that allows users to easily create all-rights integrated voice samples in any of our 34 available languages, in a wide range of voices. a-ACADEMY is currently using Acapela's British English voices to provide accurate pronunciation for English lessons. Listen to 'a-Academy' audio samples, produced with acapela-box.com https://soundcloud.com/acapelagroup/digital-learning-avallain-a-academy-programme-voice-sample-2 https://soundcloud.com/acapelagroup/digital-learning-avallain-a-academy-programme-voice-sample The acapela-box.com friendly user interface provides a large text box and an easy sort of languages and voices to make the voice-creation process productive and pleasant. Text input can be modified and fine-tuned as much as necessary to obtain the expected audio result. Once the message is ready, voice files can be generated in MP3 or Wav format (8 or 22 kHz, a-law or -law). "Speech technology is widely used in education to enhance interactivity and engagement, specifically in language learning, as in Avallain's platform. We are very proud to be part of this innovative platform that uses technology to better serve humanity' says Lars-Erik Larsson, CEO of Acapela Group. a-ACADEMY is aligned to the 8-4-4 curriculum, approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and could be applied to education throughout Africa. The pilot program has already reached 10,000 children, but Avallain is confident half a million African youngsters could benefit. a-ACADEMY is perfectly suited to primary schools, primary school children and any other project or person that is interested in qualitative and engaging educational content. It is totally free of charge to individuals such as parents and children. More about Avallain Foundation: http://www.avallainfoundation.org More about Acapela box: http://www.acapela-box.com SOURCE Acapela Group VANCOUVER, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - eCobalt Solutions Inc. (TSX:ECS) (the "Company" or "eCobalt") wishes to provide its stakeholders with a progress update on its Idaho Cobalt Project ("the ICP"). This past June, eCobalt commissioned a Feasibility Study ("FS") on the ICP with Micon International Limited ("Micon") and SNC-Lavalin with the final report expected in Q1 2017. Management is excited to see the results of the FS based on the progress to date and the results from the April 29, 2015 Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "PEA"). In conjunction with the work on the FS, the Company is also pursuing CAPEX financing strategies which also includes marketing its products for offtake arrangements and mitigate revenue risks for the project. "Our engineers have reported that they are pleased with the current progress of the FS and that the study is maintaining its critical path", commented Paul Farquharson, President & CEO of eCobalt. He continued, "Additional interest in the project from potential financiers can be expected as the Feasibility Study progresses". The resource model has been re-evaluated based on the creation of a wire frame model from the existing block model used in the PEA. This wireframe model will allow Micon to further refine the mine schedule and design to a higher degree of certainty suitable for the FS. Design of the modified flow sheets at the Mill is well advanced and the engineering team is now focusing on the Cobalt Production Facility ("CPF"). Site selection of the CPF is in the final stages with geotechnical drilling of the desired sites to be completed within the next couple of weeks. Management has also commissioned a 2,600 foot metallurgical drill program on the Ram deposit of the ICP to obtain samples of mineralized material for further evaluation and bench testing. The drill program commenced this week and is expected to last two to three weeks. Mineralized core from the drill program will be used in metallurgical test work designed to provide additional data on concentrate recoveries, hydrometallurgical processing and cobalt sulfate heptahydrate crystal production. These results are expected to compliment the results from the metallurgical program that was recently completed in March 2016. The final products produced from this metallurgical drill program are intended to provide potential offtakers with samples for due diligence to pursue offtake arrangements. An added benefit is expected to be derived from the location of the drill holes, which will be drilled between pre-existing drill collars with results expected to provide potential offtakers and debt providers, if required, with additional confidence in the resource model for CAPEX financing. About eCobalt Solutions Inc. eCobalt Solutions is well established Toronto Stock Exchange listed company committed to providing a unique opportunity for consumers to acquire an ethically sourced, environmentally sound, transparent supply of battery grade cobalt salts, essential for the rapidly growing rechargeable battery and renewable energy sectors, produced safely and responsibly in the United States. eCobalt Solutions Inc. "J. Paul Farquharson" J. Paul Farquharson President & CEO Cautionary Statement on Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Statements in this news release pertaining to expected financings or project completion dates are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such projections are and will inevitably always be dependent on assumptions about future mineral prices and development costs which will be subject to fluctuation due to global and local economic and industry conditions. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements is included in filings by the Company with securities regulatory authorities and is available at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Although the Company has disclosed that the Idaho Cobalt Project remains the sole, near term, environmentally permitted, primary cobalt deposit in the United States and offers a unique potential for North American consumers to secure an ethically sourced, environmentally sound supply of battery grade cobalt chemicals, there is no guarantee that the Company will attain commercial production of such cobalt chemicals for use in the rechargeable battery sector. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The statements contained in this news release in regard to eCobalt Solutions Inc. that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including eCobalt Inc.'s beliefs, expectations, hopes or intentions regarding the future. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to eCobalt Solutions Inc. as of such date. It is important to note that actual outcome and the actual results could differ from those in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as technological, legislative, corporate, commodity price and marketplace changes. SOURCE eCobalt Solutions Inc. WALLINGFORD, Conn., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Edible Arrangements, the world's largest provider of creatively designed fresh cut fruit arrangements and other treats, enjoyed one of its sweetest months for franchise sales in August, signing 13 new franchise agreements. This builds on the momentum seen during 2016. The strong pace in new franchise sales follows recent concept innovations, including a new Edible Arrangements store prototype that features a sleek, colorful design and an expanded Edible To Go product line. Strengths like these are part of the reason that Edible Arrangements was recently ranked one of the 10 Best Franchise Investments by Forbes magazine and one of the Top Global Franchises for 2016 by Entrepreneur magazine. Most of the signings in 2016 were existing franchisees who expanded their store ownership count. "Our new look, product line extensions and the platforms for growth really energized our franchisees," said Don Ford, VP of Development. "When these new initiatives were introduced at our national convention, current franchisees stepped forward to open more locations. At the same time, new prospects are showing similar excitement." The 13 new franchise locations will include sites in California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The innovative new Edible Arrangements store prototype features WOW-worthy design elements such as bright pineapple daisy lights and etched glass inspired by the Edible Arrangements Basket Logo. The new look is designed to reinforce the fun and whimsical image that Edible Arrangements has come to represent over the past 16 years. The expanded Edible To Go menu features 100% fresh fruit smoothies and Froyo Fruit Blends. Stores are supported with a state-of-the-art e-commerce platform. Recently, a new Edible app, available for free through the Apple App Store or Google Play, provides customers with a simple, seamless way to order and gift arrangements from a smartphone or tablet. "From the beginning Edible Arrangements has been committed to making sure we are at the forefront of providing our franchisees with the tools they need to succeed," Ford said. "We are thrilled the marketplace is rewarding that commitment." More information about Edible Arrangements products, locations and franchise opportunities is available at edible.com. ABOUT EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS With more than 1,300 franchise locations open or under development worldwide, Edible Arrangements International, LLC is the world's largest franchisor of shops offering creatively designed fresh cut fruit arrangements. Edible Arrangements store locations also carry the company's rapidly expanding Edible To Go line which features all-natural, fresh fruit smoothies, chocolate Dipped Fruit, Froyo Fruit Blends, fresh fruit salads, sundaes, parfaits, and treats. Since its founding in 1999 in East Haven, Conn., the company has been recognized as an industry leader, ranking first in its category in Entrepreneur magazine's annual "Franchise 500," Entrepreneur's Top 40 of "Fastest Growing Franchises" and "America's Top Global Franchises" as well as being included among the "Inc. 5000" list of the fastest growing privately-held companies. Edible Arrangements' fresh fruit arrangements, chocolate Dipped Fruit, fresh fruit smoothies, and more can be enjoyed at franchise locations worldwide. Gifts can be ordered online at edible.com, by phone at 1-877-DO-FRUIT, or through any local Edible Arrangements store. SOURCE Edible Arrangements Related Links http://www.edible.com NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Report Details Visiongain assesses that the global Electronic Warfare market will reach $10.31bn in 2016. It is therefore critical that your strategic planning is timely and your forecasting plans are in place to take advantage of the market opportunities. Visiongain's report will ensure that you keep informed and ahead of your competitors. Gain that competitive advantage. The report will answer questions such as: - What are the prospects for the overall Electronic Warfare industry? - Where are the business opportunities for Electronic Warfare? - Who are the key players within the Electronic Warfare industry? - What are the drivers and restraints underpinning the Electronic Warfare market? How will you benefit from this report? - This report you will keep your knowledge base up to speed. Don't get left behind. - This report will allow you to reinforce strategic decision decision-making based upon definitive and reliable market data. - You will learn how to exploit new technological trends. - You will be able to realise your company's full potential within the market. - You will better understand the competitive landscape and identify potential new business opportunities & partnerships. 5. Reasons why you must order and read this report today: 1) The report provides detailed profiles and market share analysis of 12 leading companies operating within the Electronic Warfare market: - BAE Systems plc - The Boeing Company - Cobham plc - Cohort plc - Elbit Systems Ltd - Finmeccanica SpA - Harris Corporation (including Exelis, Inc.) - L-3 Communications Holdings - Lockheed Martin Corporation - Northrop Grumman Corporation - Raytheon Company - Textron Inc 2) The study reveals where and how companies are investing in the Electronic Warfare market. We show you the prospects for the following national markets with each further subdivided into submarket forecasts for electronic attack, electronic protection and electronic support: - Australia - China - France - India - Israel - Italy - Russia - Saudi Arabia - Turkey - United States - United Kingdom - R.O.W 3) The analysis is also underpinned by our 3 exclusive interviews with leading experts - Bruce Hargrave, Senior Lecturer and Military Academic Programmes Leader, The University of Lincoln. - Byron Green, Vice President of Business Development at Textron Systems - Ioannis Vagias, Lecturer in Electronic Warfare and RADAR, Cranfield University 4) Our overview also forecasts and analyses these submarkets from 2016-2026 at the global level and for each of the 11 national markets - Electronic Attack - Electronic Protection - Electronic Support 5) See detailed tables of 343 electronic warfare contracts, projects and programmes Competitive advantage This independent 466 page report guarantees you will remain better informed than your competitors. With 416 tables and figures examining the Electronic Warfare market space, the report gives you an immediate, one-stop breakdown of your market. PLUS national market forecasts, as well as analysis, from 2016-2026 keeping your knowledge that one step ahead of your rivals. Who should read this report? - Anyone within the Electronic Warfare value chain. - CEO's - COO's - CIO's - Business development managers - Marketing managers - Technologists - Suppliers - Investors - Banks - Government agencies - Contractors Don't miss out This report is essential reading for you or anyone in the Electronic Warfare sector with an interest in Electronic Warfare. Purchasing this report today will help you to recognise those important market opportunities and understand the possibilities there. Order the Electronic Warfare (EW) Market Report 2016-2026: Forecasts & Analysis of Top Companies in Electronic Attack (EA), Electronic Protection (EP) & Electronic Support (ES) report now. We look forward to receiving your order. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03605081-summary/view-report.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- England Logistics, one of the nation's top freight brokerage firms, today announced the promotion of Justin Smith to Vice President of Finance and Administrative Support and Wendy Barclay as Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. Both individuals will serve as members of the company's executive leadership team. During his seven-year tenure at England Logistics, Smith has successfully filled various roles. With this new opportunity he will manage the finance and accounting areas, as well as the administrative support divisions, which include credit and collections, accounts payable, accounts receivable and order audit. Smith's leadership has been a great contribution to the company, and will continue to be an asset as he undertakes this new role. Barclay brings to her position a strong strategic mindset, depth of experience and demonstrated ability to drive ROI. In her new role, she will leverage her skills and background to define and execute England Logistics' marketing and brand strategy as the company continues to expand its customer base and locations into new markets. "We are fortunate to have Justin and Wendy join our executive team," stated Jason Beardall, President of England Logistics. "Both individuals are dedicated to progress, and have proven to be valuable colleagues in their time with the company." About England Logistics England Logistics offers a vast portfolio of non-asset based transportation solutions including full truckload services, intermodal, dry and cold chain LTL, parcel, global logistics, and complete supply chain management. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the company employs a team of over 400 professionals and 500 agents to move over 30,000 shipments nationwide. In addition to the Salt Lake City office, England Logistics has offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Detroit, Michigan; Greeley, Colorado; and Portland, Oregon. England Logistics is an equal opportunity employer offering competitive national and international opportunities to qualified candidates. For a shipping quote call 801-656-4718 or visit http://www.englandlogistics.com. To become part of England Logistics' award winning team call 801-656-4717 or visit http://www.englandlogistics.com. Contact: Wendy Barclay 801-656-4718 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160728/393939LOGO SOURCE England Logistics Related Links http://www.englandlogistics.com BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and LONDON, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Wilson Long of the firm's Birmingham-based National Energy Construction Practice is one of only 35 young insurance and risk management professionals from the U.S. and Canada selected to participate in the 2016 Andrew Beazley Broker Academy in London, England. The Academy is hosted by Lloyd's, the world's leading specialist (re)insurance market. The Andrew Beazley Broker Academy at Lloyd's is designed to support and enrich the training that U.S. and Canadian broking firms provide to their high potential employees through an intensive and unique week-long program in the Lloyd's Market in London. The Academy's curriculum is designed for highly motivated individuals with approximately three to eight years insurance experience, and it focuses primarily on deepening the participants' understanding of their existing areas of specialization. The 2016 academy is taking place the week of September 19th, offering the 35 attendees an opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of how business is transacted in the world's oldest, largest and most vibrant market for insurance, and to see Lloyd's through the eyes of the market's underwriters and brokers. Derek Thomas, EPIC's Chief Strategy Officer, nominated Long for this prestigious opportunity, leading to his selection. Thomas said, "I was very excited when Wilson was accepted into the Beazley Academy. Beazley is a key strategic partner for EPIC and Wilson's participation in the program will further strengthen our already strong relationship. Wilson will come away with a solid understanding of the London market, enhanced product knowledge, and important industry contacts that will serve him well across his EPIC career." About EPIC: EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally. EPIC now has more than 850 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 13,000 clients. With more than $200 million in revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, please visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/. PHOTO for media: https://www.send2press.com/mediaboom/16-0908-wlong-300dpi.jpg CONTACT: David Hock 650-295-4608 [email protected] Nicole Conley 650-422-3156 [email protected] This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com SOURCE EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants Related Links http://www.epicbrokers.com SEATTLE, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EpiThany, a biotechnology company dedicated to the advancement of innovative cancer therapies, today announced the appointment of David Poston as Chief Operating Officer. Poston brings over 30 years of experience in finance and operations in the life science, engineering and technology industries. Poston joins EpiThany from the Allen Institute, where he served as Chief Financial Officer and previously as Chief Operating Officer. Poston joined the Allen Institute in 2011 and helped plan, lead and support teams executing over $500 million of Institute expansion initiatives including the Institute's 10-year plan for the Allen Institute for Brain Science unit, the Institute's multiple-year plans for the Allen Institute for Cell Science and The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, and the construction of the Institute's 270,000 square foot headquarters building. "David's sterling credentials and deep industry experience across multiple strategic financial and operational functions will be invaluable to EpiThany as we focus on advancing our pioneering cancer vaccine technology further in the clinic and establishing key partnerships," said Bill Watt, Ph.D., Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of EpiThany. "We are thrilled to have David join us as we work to become the first company to develop Th1-selective, multi-antigen vaccines for patients with solid tumors." Prior to the Allen Institute, Poston served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer for AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation (formerly Targeted Genetics Corporation). Poston has previously held a series of finance and leadership positions at Corixa Corporation (now GSK), Honeywell Marine Systems (now Raytheon), Todd Shipyards Corporation (now Vigor Industrial), and Olin/Rocket Research Company (now Aerojet Rocketdyne). He received his B.A. in business administration from the University of Puget Sound, where he serves as a Business Leadership mentor and recently served as Chair of its Alumni Fund and member of its Alumni Council Executive Committee. He also serves on the Boards of Life Science Washington and Plymouth Housing Group. "EpiThany is at an exciting stage in its development as it works to advance the promising science developed at the Tumor Vaccine Group, and I am very pleased to join this high caliber team," said Poston. About EpiThany EpiThany, Inc. is dedicated to the advancement of innovative therapies to improve the lives of cancer patients. EpiThany's groundbreaking technology enables the targeting of a multitude of tumor antigens across a spectrum of cancers, driving Th1-selective (tumor-eradicating) immune responses. EpiThany was launched in 2014 on the R&D platform developed at the Tumor Vaccine Group (TVG) at the University of Washington by pioneering cancer vaccine researcher Nora Disis, scientific co-founder of the company. For more information, visit www.epithany.com. Media Contact: Julie Rathbun Rathbun Communications 206-769-9219 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410732LOGO SOURCE EpiThany Related Links http://www.epithany.com ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today that first-time franchisee Lynn Yopko has purchased the Valpak of Northeast Ohio territory. She and her partner, Frank Zbiegien, will mail their first Valpak signature Blue Envelope on Oct. 8 to 60,000 households in Medina, Brunswick, Wadsworth, Fairlawn, Bath and the surrounding area. Yopko understands the value of Valpak since she has been an award-winning sales representative for Valpak of Cleveland for more than 18 years. She is one of the company's top salespeople and has been recognized as Valpak Sales Rep of the Year in 2011 and a member of the Valpak Sales Team of the Year in 2014. She has worked in Northeast Ohio communities for more than 25 years. "I am thrilled to leverage my sales background and experience with Valpak to become a new franchise owner," said Yopko. "With a household of six, I am the Valpak consumer and understand how important it is to look for savings and find incentives to try new products and services. I can pass along this insight to businesses in the community and help them increase sales and traffic with both our Blue Envelope of savings and digital offerings." In addition to her extensive Valpak sales experience, Yopko worked for Dawson Resources as a division manager and personnel consultant for 11 years. With Dawson, she opened and managed the industrial division with two offices. "We are excited to see one of our brightest sales representatives achieve franchise ownership," said Shak Turner, Valpak's director of franchise sales. "With her tremendous knowledge of the Valpak portfolio, she will know exactly what her customers need and can advise them on how to reach customers and grow their business. She has a real passion for Valpak and will be a tremendous asset to businesses throughout Northeast Ohio." A leader in cooperative direct mail, Valpak mails coupons to about 39 million demographically targeted households per month in 45 states and four Canadian provinces. Today, in addition to its flagship Blue Envelope, Valpak offers its advertisers an impressive portfolio of digital advertising products including valpak.com, Smartphone apps, Google partnerships, website development, mobile web optimization and reputation management. Most recently, Valpak introduced its Total Wellness Envelope, which is a targeted, category-exclusive cooperative direct mail envelope and digital solution to drive new customer/patient acquisition in the medical, health and wellness categories. Ideal candidates for Valpak franchise ownership should possess a desire to join a trusted, industry-leading brand, work within a proven franchise system, develop relationships with local businesses and have a comfort level with selling print and digital technologies. Franchisees should also possess a minimum liquidity of $75,000, and a minimum net worth of $150,000. For more information on advertising with Valpak of Northeast Ohio, please contact Lynn Yopko at [email protected] or 330-725-7800. For more information on Valpak franchise opportunities, please contact Shak Turner at [email protected] or 727-399-3091 or visit www.valpakfranchising.com. About Valpak Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Valpak is one of the leading direct marketing companies in the U.S. and Canada. We provide print and digital advertising through a network of 160 local franchises. From mailbox to mobile phone, Valpak brings exciting local business offers and opportunities to millions of consumers. Each month, our well-known Blue Envelope of savings is mailed to about 39 million demographically targeted households in 45 states and in four Canadian provinces. Our digital suite of products, including valpak.com, reaches more than 110 million users. Founded in 1968, Valpak is owned by Cox Target Media, a subsidiary of Cox Media Group in Atlanta. CONTACT: Samantha Rego Valpak 727-399-3139 [email protected] Kim Ryan Fish Consulting 470-294-0088 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150212/175295LOGO SOURCE Valpak Related Links https://www.valpak.com NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment market refers to the tools and equipments used to detect, dispose and provide protection during explosive disposal operations. The global Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment market has been segmented by equipment type, application and geography. On the basis of equipment type the market has been segmented into portable X-ray systems, projected water disruptors, bomb containment chamber, EOD suits and blankets, EOD robots, explosive detectors and search mirrors among others. The EOD market on the basis of application has been categorized into defense and law enforcement. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America are the various regions covered within the scope of research. Furthermore, a cross sectional analysis has been provided for each of the reports covered within the scope of research. Factors such as police forces modernization programs and defense modernization programs are also expected to drive the demand for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment. Various defense agencies across the globe are striving to equip their forces with modern equipment in order to counter terrorist intrusions. For example, large numbers of military organizations and law enforcement organizations have adopted military EOD robots. These robots can be programmed according to a given situation and can also be repurposed in a short time. Moreover, recent surge in number of terrorist attacks have also boosted the demand for EOD in recent years. The rise of various terrorist outfits such as ISIS and Boko Haram are constantly conducting coordinated country-wide attacks against the governments across the globe. These organizations are targeting malls, schools and embassies among others. As a result of these factors, defense organizations are increasingly adopting EOD equipment to counter the terrorist attacks. Furthermore, the joint efforts taken by various countries such as the U.S., Russia and France among others to curb terrorism have further resulted in an increased demand for EOD equipments. These factors in combination are expected to propel the demand for EOD equipment throughout the forecast period. However, defense budget cut by governments of various countries is restraining the demand for EOD equipment globally. For example, there has been a 31% defense budget cut in the U.S. military spending from 2010 to 2016 Significant opportunities exist for the EOD equipment market as a result of continuous research and development initiatives undertaken by various manufacturers. Research and development is directed toward improving existing features as well as developing new advanced features. For example, in January 2014, DetectaChem launched a handheld explsoive detector called the SEEKERe. The SEEKERe has been designed and developed in accordance to the specifications requested by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The company profiles of the major players in the global Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Equipment market across five major geographic regions namely North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa and Latin America has been extensively covered under the purview of the study. Moreover, the business strategies being adopted by the major players in the market have also been included in the report. The market attractive analysis has also been provided in the report for providing a detailed insight into the global EOD equipment market. The market dynamics, which includes the market drivers, restraints and opportunities, has also been included under the scope of the report. Market dynamics help to understand the current trends in the global market by providing insights of the distinctive factors that influence the growth of the specific market. Thus, this report provides an inclusive study of the global Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Equipment market and also provides forecast of the market for the period from 2015-2023. Some of the major players operating in EOD market are: iRobot Corporation, Safariland, LLC, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Scanna Msc Ltd., NABCO, Inc., United Shield International Ltd, Reamda Ltd., API Technologies Corp., Du Pont (E.I.) De Nemours and Cobham plc among others. The global Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Equipment market has been segmented into: Global Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Equipment market, by Equipment Type Portable X-ray Systems Projected Water Disruptors Bomb containment chambers EOD Suits and Blankets EOD Robots Explosive Detectors Search mirrors Others Global Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Equipment market, by Application: Defense Law Enforcement Global Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Equipment market, by Geography: The market is broadly segmented on the basis of geography into: North America U.S. Canada Others Europe United Kingdom France Germany Russia Others Asia Pacific China India Japan Others Middle East and Africa U.A.E. Israel Others Latin America Brazil Argentina Others Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03999477-summary/view-report.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Outlook Leadership Conference, along with most of the convenience retailing industry, has expanded into organics with the launch of its "Better for You" Pavilion, a dedicated area inside the event's C-Store Product Gallery where natural/organic products will be on display. "Today's c-stores are major disruptors. Along with fresh prepared foods in supermarkets and meal delivery companies, c-stores have been steadily emerging as a healthy foodservice option for lunch and other meal occasions, and are increasingly poised to snatch share away from traditional QSRs" said Darren Tristano, president of Technomic, in a recent article on http://cspdailynews.com. Outlook's new "Better for You" Pavilion is not the only organics-focused addition to the 2016 agenda. For the first time the event will partner with SPINSthe leading provider of retail consumer data for the Natural, Organic and Specialty Products Industryto bring proprietary natural on-the-go insights to more than 500 attendees. The Outlook Leadership Conference will take place November 9-11 at the Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale, AZ. For retailers to register, visit http://outlookleadership.com or contact Jacob Winsor at [email protected] About Winsight, LLC Winsight, LLC is a business-to-business media and information services company specializing in the convenience-retailing, restaurant and noncommercial foodservice industries. Winsight has an extensive media portfolio including four publications: CSP, Restaurant Business, FoodService Director and Convenience Store Products; a suite of digital products such as websites, e-newsletters (Restaurant Business Daily and CSP Daily News) and webinars; plus video products, mobile and tablet apps, custom marketing solutions and the convenience-retailer intelligence tool, CSPedia. The Winsight Events group produces six exclusive large-scale, executive-level conferencesRestaurant Leadership Conference, FARE Conference, Outlook Leadership, Convenience Retailing University, FSTEC and Global Restaurant Leadership Conferencein addition to more than 12 major EduNetworking conferences and advisory meetings. Winsight recently acquired Technomic, Inc., a food industry provider of primary and secondary market information and advisory services. Winsight is a recognized leader in the markets it serves. For more information on Winsight and its brands, go to WinsightMedia.com. Emily Chmura Marketing Associate Winsight, LLC [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160816/398727LOGO SOURCE Winsight, LLC Related Links http://www.winsightmedia.com SAN DIEGO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tocagen, Inc., a clinical-stage, cancer-selective immunotherapy company, today announced the first patient has been enrolled in Toca 6, a Phase 1b study evaluating intravenously delivered Toca 511 (vocimagene amiretrorepvec) in combination with Toca FC (extended-release 5-fluorocytosine) in patients with metastatic cancers. The study is planned to include patients with colorectal cancer with liver metastases; metastatic renal cell carcinoma; locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer or breast cancer; brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer or breast cancers; and locally advanced or recurrent melanoma. "We must strive for breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer and identifying therapies that work through novel mechanisms will be vital to achieve this goal," said Jaime Merchan, M.D., oncologist at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth, the University of Miami Health System; associate professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; and the principal investigator of the study who also enrolled the first patient. "Based on preclinical data, a unique immune activating mechanism of action is proposed for Toca 511 and Toca FC whereby the treatment targets and destroys cancer cells wherever they are located in the body while leaving healthy cells unharmed. I look forward to continuing the investigation of this promising approach in our fight against cancer." The trial will evaluate if Toca 511-delivered genes and resulting proteins are detected in tumor samples, following intravenous administration of Toca 511. Safety, tumor response and survival results will also be assessed. In this first patient, who has metastatic colorectal cancer, intravenous Toca 511 and oral Toca FC was well tolerated. Toca 511 viral genes and cytosine deaminase (CD) were present in tumor samples. Additional results from this trial will be presented at a future scientific conference. "With the initiation of this trial we have moved one step closer to evaluating our cancer-selective gene therapy in broad indications using intravenous Toca 511 administration," said Harry Gruber, M.D., chief executive officer of Tocagen. "We are particularly encouraged by the observation of viral transduction in this first case and we look forward to enrolling additional cancer patients with high unmet needs." More information about the Toca 6 clinical trial can be found by searching clinicaltrials.gov using the clinical trial identifier NCT02576665. In three Phase 1 studies in patients with recurrent brain cancer, Toca 511 was administered in one of three methods: intravenously followed by injection into the resection cavity wall at the time of surgery; into the resection cavity wall at the time of surgery; or intratumorally, and was followed in each case by cycles of orally administered Toca FC. These studies provided support for the ongoing Phase 2/3 study of Toca 511 & Toca FC in patients with recurrent glioblastoma and anaplastic astrocytoma, which is designed to serve as a potential registration study. A summary of Tocagen's Phase 1 clinical trials can be found on Tocagen's website. Tocagen's cancer-selective gene therapy platform is built on retroviral replicating vectors (RRVs) which are designed to selectively integrate into the DNA of cancer cells which then serve as factories for these RRVs to replicate and infect neighboring cancer cells, providing long-term presence of the therapeutic gene(s). Tocagen's lead product candidate is a combination of an investigational biologic, Toca 511, and an investigational small molecule drug, Toca FC. Toca 511 is a proprietary injectable RRV that encodes a prodrug activator enzyme, CD. Its selective delivery to cancer cells means that the infected cancer cells selectively carry the CD gene and produce CD protein. Toca FC is an orally administered, proprietary extended-release version of 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), a prodrug that is inactive as an anti-cancer drug. The treatment is designed to convert Toca FC into the active anti-cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), at local high concentrations in Toca-511-infected cancer cells that are producing CD protein. 5-FU is a well-established anti-cancer agent used effectively in many conventional chemotherapy settings. In addition to the direct killing of Toca 511-infected cancer cells, 5-FU kills neighboring uninfected cancer cells and immunosuppressive myeloid cells including myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the tumor. About Tocagen Tocagen is a clinical-stage, cancer-selective gene therapy company developing first-in-class, broadly applicable product candidates designed to activate a patient's immune system against their own cancer. The company is developing its lead investigational product candidate, Toca 511 (vocimagene amiretrorepvec) & Toca FC (extended-release 5-fluorocytosine), initially for the treatment of recurrent high grade glioma (HGG), a disease with significant unmet medical need. Tocagen has initiated the Phase 2 portion of a randomized, controlled Phase 2/3 clinical trial of Toca 511 & Toca FC in patients with recurrent HGG, which is designed to serve as a potential registrational trial. More information about the clinical trial can be found at www.tocagen.com/toca5. Tocagen has initiated a clinical trial of Toca 511 & Toca FC in metastatic cancers, including colorectal, pancreatic, lung, breast, renal and melanoma. Tocagen obtained Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Toca 511 & Toca FC as a treatment of recurrent HGG and Orphan drug designation for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a subset of HGG. Tocagen has received grant support from leading brain cancer foundations, including Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2), National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS), American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA), Musella Foundation and Voices Against Brain Cancer(VABC). For more information, visit www.tocagen.com or follow @Tocagen. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160601/374329LOGO SOURCE Tocagen, Inc. Related Links http://www.tocagen.com NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The global food & beverage air filtration market is expected to reach USD 1.75 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.The proliferation of demand for the improved food quality has led manufacturers to upgrade the technology during the food production process, which is anticipated to increase the installation of air filters over the forecast period. The air filters systems are used to remove various contaminants in the production stage. Few specialized filters, such as high-performance HEPA filters, help in removing germs and viruses, thereby producing sterile air. The food air filters minimize moisture and the resultant energy required for improving the efficiency of various processes, which is expected to drive the market growth extensively. Filter manufacturers are also inspired to design efficient filter systems with the growing requirements and increasing stringent legislations emphasizing on hygiene in the food industry. Furthermore, improving the air quality in the production process along with reducing the levels of microorganisms have also become few of the major concerns for food manufacturers, which will boost the food and beverage air filters industry over the forecast period. The stringent government regulations for food safety and growing health concerns have mandated the food producers to implement enhanced filtration methods. The increasing need to reduce energy consumption across several industrial applications is anticipated to elevate the demand for an effective food & beverage air filtration system. The growing concerns regarding the environmental health coupled with the reducing raw material resources and natural depositories are primarily expected to fuel growth over the forecast period. Further key findings from the report suggest: The food & beverage market is expected to witness a steady growth over the forecast period owing to the increasing awareness regarding health concerns, which has encouraged food producers to improve the production process influencing the filtration industry. The HEPA filters market is expected to grow at highest CAGR, owing to the wide application of these filters in air filtration and air purification applications for controlling the airborne particulate level in the dairy and food & ingredients industries. The dairy industry is expected to witness a CAGR of over 6% over the forecast period. The increasing consumer interest in healthy eating has boosted the dairy product demand among the consumers. Furthermore, the introduction of yogurt drinks and yogurt has also helped in the expansion of health-focused food and drinks, leading to the improved manufacturing process and enhanced air filtration equipment market. The North American food & beverage industry is expected to remain the major revenue generating regionover the forecast period. The continuous increasing awareness for nutritious and organic food with the growing health concerns have influenced growth. The key players in the food & beverage market include Parker Domnick Hunter (U.S.), Donaldson Company, Inc. (U.S.), Pall Corporation (U.S.), and Camfil Group (Sweden).Companies are focusing on providing enhanced quality food products adhering to the government regulations for food safety. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04144372-summary/view-report.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com The 'CSR Impact Award', which has been conferred on FrieslandCampina's Dairy Development Programme (DDP), honours corporate social responsibility initiatives that have demonstrated an on-going track record of significant and sustainable impact. Programmes considered for the award also have to be innovative, replicable and scalable. With its purpose of 'Nourishing by Nature', FrieslandCampina works with partners at all levels of the value chain to address the challenges of food and nutrition security in Asia, and seeks to provide better nutrition for the world, and better livelihoods for farmers now and for generations to come. FrieslandCampina's Dairy Development Programme empowers local smallholder dairy farmers to run their businesses in an environmentally and financially sustainable way, while also enabling them to raise the quality and quantity of their milk production. Partnering with key stakeholders such as local governments, businesses and non-governmental organisations, FrieslandCampina reaches over 100,000 farmers directly and indirectly across the region and, through the Programme, secures and advances the farming industry for the next generation. Commenting on the award win, Mr. Piet Hilarides, Chief Operating Offficer, Consumer Products Asia, FrieslandCampina, said: "FrieslandCampina is honoured to have been conferred this award, which recognises the impact and reach of our Dairy Development Programme. "Our quest to be good corporate citizens means that the initiatives we drive on the ground need to be long-lasting and sustainable. This can only be achieved through the work of multi-stakeholder partnerships. Our Dairy Development Programme and its impact shows the importance of this, and how business, government and society must continue to work together to guarantee food and nutrition security for our region." Mr. Pascal Bardouil, Managing Director, FrieslandCampina, Myanmar and Mr. Hendro Poedjono, Director, Corporate Affairs, FrieslandCampina Asia were present at the ceremony to accept the award. This year's awards attracted nominations from 112 companies. The Asian CSR Awards are presented in conjunction with the Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility. For more information, please contact: Media Contacts FrieslandCampina Ada Wong, Head of Public Affairs and Communications, Asia T: +65 6850 7931 Email: [email protected] Spurwing Communications Emma Thompson / Stephanie Tan T: +65 9171 2862 Email: [email protected] About Royal FrieslandCampina Every day Royal FrieslandCampina provides millions of consumers all over the world with food that is rich in valuable nutrients. With annual revenue of 11.3 billion euros, FrieslandCampina is one of the world's largest dairy companies, supplying consumer and professional products, as well as ingredients and half-finished products to manufacturers of infant & toddler nutrition, the food industry and the pharmaceutical sector around the world. FrieslandCampina has offices in 32 countries and over 22,000 employees, and its products are available in more than 100 countries. The Company is fully owned by Zuivelcooperatie FrieslandCampina U.A, with over 19,000 member dairy farmers in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium -- making it one of the world's largest dairy cooperatives. For more information please visit: www.frieslandcampina.com. About FrieslandCampina Consumer Products Asia FrieslandCampina's Consumer Products Asia business group consists of operating companies that are active in the consumer products segment in Asia. FrieslandCampina has acquired excellent positions in many countries with strong brands and a wide range of products. These activities have a long and rich history. The export of dairy from Western Europe began back in the 1920s. The range of long shelf life products has expanded significantly: from milk powder, condensed milk, infant and children's nutrition to dairy drinks, yoghurts and desserts. FrieslandCampina has operating companies in China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. In Asia we market brands that have acquired strong positions. Dutch Lady is legendary in Malaysia and Vietnam, Foremost is a leading brand in Thailand, Frisian Flag is widely known in Indonesia. SOURCE FrieslandCampina Related Links http://www.frieslandcampina.com BURLINGTON, Mass., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ClickSoftware announced today that Frost & Sullivan has named it the North American Mobile Workforce Management Company of the Year. The 2016 Best Practices Company of the Year award recognizes a company that demonstrates excellence in growth, innovation, and leadership and proves superior performance in three key areas: demand generation, brand development, and competitive positioning. The award highlights ClickSoftware's commitment to maintaining a close relationship with its customers, as well as identifying needs and opportunities well before its competitors. Chief Marketing Officer Claudine Bianchi accepts the award on behalf of ClickSoftware at ClickConnect, the company's annual conference. "ClickSoftware focuses exclusively on providing exceptional field service technology through our mobile workforce management solution, and the Company of the Year award validates our commitment to excellence in this area," said ClickSoftware CEO, Tom Heiser. "We are proud of the deep relationships we have with our customers. That level of closeness ensures we are able to provide quality, personalized support that serves their needs, as well as identify the opportunities to better serve this growing market demand." "To win the Company of the Year award, companies must demonstrate excellence in growth, innovation, and leadership," said Frost & Sullivan research analyst, Jeanine Sterling. "ClickSoftware has proven its leadership position in serving unmet or underserved needs, and then creating the innovative solutions to address them effectively. The company was impressive across the board with their implementation of best practices, financial performance, customer service experience, demand generation, brand equity, and competitive differentiation. These factors all contributed to the unique value ClickSoftware offers and cemented their place as our 2016 Best Practices Award winner." For the Company of the Year Award, Frost & Sullivan analysts independently evaluated two key factors of considerationvisionary innovation & performance and customer impact. To support its evaluation across multiple business performance categories, the firm further employs a customized Decision Support Scorecard, allowing the research to objectively analyze performance according to the key benchmarking criteria. About ClickSoftware ClickSoftware is defining field service engagement, empowering the world's most customer-centric and demanding organizations to optimize the full potential of every service interaction. With ClickSoftware, field service becomes the new competitive lever to drive differentiation and business value. The Click Field Service Edge Platform arms field service leaders with the smartest technologies, a limitless technology-forward platform, and the knowledge gained from a global community of best practices. Exclusively focused on field service since creating the market, ClickSoftware has managed billions of service engagements and is relied upon by nearly a million field service professionals every day. The company is the recognized market and technology leader by analyst firms including Gartner, IDC and Frost & Sullivan. ClickSoftware is the field service solution of choice for Salesforce, SAP and top systems integrators. More than 350 global enterprises across 20+ industries tap into ClickSoftware for the world's smartest thinking in field service. ClickSoftware: the field service leader. Press Contacts Karo Kilfeather, ClickSoftware, [email protected], (781) 272-5903 Jill Rosenthal, InkHouse for ClickSoftware, [email protected], (781) 966-4167 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410474 SOURCE ClickSoftware Voinovich, a former senator, governor and mayor of Cleveland, died on June 12 at age 79. In Washington on Thursday at the National Press Club, Ohio University President Roderick McDavis presented the Voinovich family with the Outstanding Federal Government Alumni Award in recognition of the senator's public service. Ohio University is home of the George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service in Athens, Ohio. US Senator Tom Carper, D-DE, and Congressman Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, spoke at the event memorializing the legacy of Voinovich. Both Ohio senators sent video tributes. "George's legacy lives on, in the hills of Southeast Ohio. The Voinovich School embodies the best in George Voinovich's spirit of collaboration," Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said. Senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio, noted that Voinovich was elected student body president at Ohio University. He called Voinovich "a public servant without equal in Ohio, and above all, just an amazing man and a mentor of mine." In the nation's capital on Thursday, digital signs in bus shelters across the city displayed Voinovich's picture with the caption "Senator, Governor, Mayor." Sherrod Brown Video https://youtu.be/U_RFBm3vlBo Rob Portman Video https://youtu.be/w0PFzIDgmn0 2015 Voinovich School alumnus Caleb Hawkins' tribute http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/09/remembering_george_voinovich_o.html About the Voinovich School The Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs is a catalyst for regional, state and national collective impact in entrepreneurship, energy and the environment, and public and social innovation. Students engage in a combination of hands-on opportunities and networking to bring their ideas to life. For additional information, visit www.ohio.edu/voinovichschool Media Contact: Laura Alloway, Director of Marketing and Communications 740.597.2579 / 614.571.0385 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410951 SOURCE Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs DUBLIN, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Anesthesia Vaporizers Market 2016-2020" report to their offering. The report forecasts the global anesthesia vaporizers market to grow at a CAGR of 6.36% during the period 2016-2020. Presence of anesthesia vaporizer servicing companies will be a key trend for market growth. After two or three years of service, every anesthesia vaporizer should be calibrated to ensure that the vaporizer is delivering the required concentration of the anesthetic agent. If servicing of anesthesia vaporizers is not done on a timely basis, then it can lead to a leak of anesthetic agent in the outer atmosphere, which can lead to a potential health hazard. Therefore, there are few companies in the market that offer servicing of vaporizers to end-users. According to the report, increased number of surgical procedures will be a key driver for market growth. Endoscopic surgical procedures such as colectomies and appendectomies are usually performed laparoscopically. Apart from these surgeries, there are few other surgeries that are generally performed in hospital settings, which include trauma, orthopedic, ophthalmic, laparoscopic, endoscopic, and cosmetic surgeries. Every surgical procedure can be painful; therefore, anesthesia is administered during surgical procedures to keep individuals pain free and unconscious during the procedure. Further, the report states that anesthesiologists play a major role in providing medical care to individuals in a wide variety of situations. Most nurses are untrained in administering anesthesia. In rural areas, anesthesia is administered by nurses, who may not be sufficiently qualified. Though various chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease) are increasing the death cases, the number of physicians per 1,000 people is not increasing as expected. In few countries such as in Greece, Germany, and Sweden the number of physicians is higher than the average number of physicians required for the population; however, in developed countries such as Canada, the UK, and the US the number of physicians is less. Lack of supervision and knowledge about the correct use of anesthesia equipment, by the age of the individuals and the type of surgery, will pose a challenge to the growth of the market. Key vendors: Dragerwerk GE Healthcare Penlon Meditec International England Oricare Spacelabs Healthcare Key Topics Covered: PART 01: Executive summary PART 02: Scope of the report PART 03: Market research methodology PART 04: Introduction PART 05: Market landscape PART 06: Market segmentation by product PART 07: Market segmentation by end-user PART 08: Geographical segmentation PART 09: Market drivers PART 10: Impact of drivers PART 11: Market challenges PART 12: Impact of drivers and challenges PART 13: Market trends PART 14: Vendor landscape PART 15: Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5wgcf7/global_anesthesia Related Topics: Inhalers and Nebulisers, Anesthetic Drugs Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com The Ezoic platform gave online publishers a direct mechanism to increase ad earnings, decrease bounce rate, and improve session duration. An internal study led by Ezoic shows that a site was able to increase ad earnings by over 400% using the platform. The results of the study bring further validation to the concept of multivariate testing. "We're tackling the enormously complex task of balancing user experience, content engagement and monetization and we're doing it through data that spans all platforms," said Ezoic's Chief Customer Officer, John Cole. "We've proven over and over again that sites that do true multivariate testing on their ad configurations, layouts, and other content significantly outperform those that don't." "Being one of Google's Certified Publishing Partners is great for our business: everyone sees the Google badge and knows that we can be trusted to get the most out of Google products like AdSense and AdExchange (aka AdX). We think that a combination of dynamic ad placement and machine learning will be future of online display advertising; especially on mobile. This is further proof that we are onto something big here," said Cole. Ezoic is a venture-backed machine learning platform for content publishers. Ezoic's A.I. system allows any web publisher to automatically test dynamic ad placements on their website tailoring each ad experience to each user's engagement level. Ezoic is headquartered in North County, San Diego CA with an office in Newcastle, U.K and plans to open offices in San Francisco and London in the future. The company works with tens of thousands of content-rich online publishers and websites that reach hundreds of millions of visitors per month. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410995 SOURCE Ezoic Related Links http://www.ezoic.com CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GTCR, a leading private equity firm, announced today the promotions of Benjamin J. Daverman and Lawrence C. Fey IV to Managing Director, and Stephen J. Jeschke to Principal. Mr. Daverman joined GTCR in 2008 and became a Principal in 2014. He has played an instrumental role in many successful investments, including, Sterigenics, Cord Blood Registry, Crealta Pharmaceuticals, Actient Pharmaceuticals, and Devicor Medical Products, and is currently on the Boards of Cole-Parmer, Maravai LifeSciences, TerSera and XIFIN. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a Master's degree in biotechnology from the School of Applied Sciences & Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in history, magna cum laude, from Colgate University. Mr. Fey joined GTCR in 2005 and became a Principal in 2012. He has played an instrumental role in many successful investments, including Zayo Group, Six3 Systems, and Landmark Aviation, and is currently on the Boards of CAMP Systems, Cision, Onvoy and Park Place Technologies. He holds a BA in economics, cum laude, from Dartmouth College. Mr. Jeschke joined GTCR as a Vice President in 2011. He has been instrumental in several important investments including Avention, Lytx and Rural Broadband Investments and currently serves on their Boards. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS with honors in finance from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. "Our Leaders Strategy investment philosophy is built around identifying and partnering with the right leader who will make the critical difference in building market-leading companies," said Craig Bondy, Managing Director at GTCR. "We follow a similar philosophy when it comes to our own firm and are delighted to have these three outstanding investors and partners assume expanded leadership roles within the firm." About GTCR Founded in 1980, GTCR is a leading private equity firm focused on investing in growth companies in the Financial Services & Technology, Healthcare, Technology, Media & Telecommunications and Growth Business Services industries. The Chicago-based firm pioneered The Leaders Strategy finding and partnering with management leaders in core domains to identify, acquire and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and organic growth. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than $12 billion in over 200 companies. For more information, please visit www.gtcr.com. Media Contact: Eileen Rochford [email protected] 312-953-3305 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160106/319670LOGO SOURCE GTCR Related Links http://www.gtcr.com Hawaii's new VR tour experience will be addressed in the general session, Virtual Reality: The Undiscovered Territory in Tourism Marketing, on Sept. 29, from 1:45-2:45 p.m. In addition, VR demo stations will be placed in the conference Tech Hub of the Village Square for attendees to try out. The conference theme, Transforming Tourism Together, describes perfectly how Hawaii VR will allow anyone in the world to experience up-close the welcoming culture, natural beauty, sunny weather and undeniable appeal of the Hawaiian Islands. Leslie Dance, HTA vice president of marketing and product development, said, "Anyone who loves Hawaii or dreams about coming here is going to be amazed at how they can suddenly be in the islands whenever they want and capture the magic of being here. This virtual reality tour is a new platform for showcasing Hawaii's culture and natural environment, the two pillars of our global appeal." Four islands, Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the island of Hawaii, are featured in the Hawaii VR experience. The virtual tour begins with the user floating as a paraglider through clear blue skies above the islands. The user selects an island to explore, then gently descends into the midst of a tour experience highlighting that island's particular allure, environment and attractions. An island-based resident narrates as the tour guide, providing a personal perspective and advice on what to enjoy. Hawaii VR combines cinematic virtual interactivity with live-action footage, a unique differentiation in virtual reality content, especially for promoting destination travel. Virtual sightseeing of spectacular landscapes, including coastlines, waterfalls and rainforests, is coupled with enticing activities, such as hula, surfing and catamaran sailing. "This VR experience will be an educational tool for travelers, as well as travel trade professionals, about the diversity of the Hawaiian Islands and help inspire the booking of vacations," said Dance. Hawaii VR is customized for mobile and tethered platforms. The gaze of a user's eyes controls selections from a mobile device, while the tethered experience is operated with Vive controllers, as the user holds them in the same way as the handles of a paraglider. Hawaii VR is being launched with virtual tours of Oahu and the island of Hawaii on HTC Vive and iPhone. On Sept. 26, it can be downloaded for HTC Vive on Steam (http://store.steampowered.com/) and on the iOS App Store for iPhone using the search: Hawaii VR. A version for Oculus Rift and Android smartphones will be introduced later this year and coincide with the launch of virtual tour experiences for all four islands on all platforms. Hawaii VR was conceived by OMD's Zero Code in collaboration with creative direction from Hawaii-based agency MVNP and visual effects shop Framestore, which also provided the VR and 360 live-action production. The Hawaii Tourism Conference will feature 60 sessions addressing a range of topics, including Hawaiian culture, ecological sustainability, international travel, and the visitor experience. For information and to register, visit www.hawaiitourismconference.com. The Hawaii Tourism Authority is responsible for strategically managing the State of Hawaii's marketing initiatives to support tourism. Follow updates on Facebook, Twitter (@HawaiiHTA) and HTA's YouTube Channel. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410756 SOURCE Hawaii Tourism Authority WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Heffernan Foundation, the charitable giving program for Heffernan Insurance Brokers, announced today its second recipient of a scholarship program in partnership with College Track that will provide $25,000 per year for four years to a college student. The Heffernan Foundation selects one student from College Track each year to receive the scholarship. This is the second year for the program with two college students currently receiving $25,000 per year. By 2018, the Heffernan Foundation will have four students each receiving the scholarship. College Track is a national organization that recruits students from underserved communities for a ten year program from 9th grade through college graduation providing academic support, advising, leadership training, and scholarships. "Education is the key to a brighter future, and College Track makes it accessible to students otherwise denied this path." said Michelle Lonaker, Director of the Heffernan Foundation. "Their students achieve great results and I am pleased to continue this partnership. We are humbled to be able to help these students succeed not only throughout their high school and college education, but also into their careers and adult life." This year's recipient is Maria Rodriguez, who is currently in her freshman year at the University of California, Merced. A video highlighting the Heffernan Foundation's mission can be found at https://youtu.be/L9XoDDrkC0w. About Heffernan Foundation Heffernan Foundation's mission is to serve nonprofits that provide direct support and services to local communities in the areas of shelter, food, education and the preservation of the environment. Heffernan Foundation is the charitable giving program of Heffernan Insurance Brokers, headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., and with offices in San Francisco, Petaluma, Menlo Park, Los Angeles and Orange County, CA; Portland, OR; St. Louis, MO and New York, NY. Employee-owned, the company has been among the Top Greater Bay Area Philanthropists since 2003, donating more than 13 percent of profits to charity in 2015. For more information, visit www.heffernanfoundation.com or call 925.295.2575. License #0564249 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150511/215225LOGO SOURCE Heffernan Insurance Brokers Related Links http://www.heffins.com WORCESTER, Mass., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels (HHOW) and Worcester-area Hyundai dealers will present Wen Xue, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, RNA Therapeutics Institute (RTI) at UMass Medical School with a $250,000 Scholar Grant to be used to improve care and increase treatment options for kids with cancer. UMass Medical School was one of 24 recipients across the country selected by a rigorous scientific review panel to receive this highly competitive Hyundai Scholar Grant. The $250,000 Scholar Grant will be presented at UMass Medical School (Albert Sherman Center 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655) tomorrow, Friday, September 23 at 10:00 at a Handprint Ceremony during which the handprints of local Worcester-area brave young cancer patients will be captured on a white 2016 Hyundai Tucson the Hyundai Hope On Wheels hero vehicle to commemorate their fight against the disease. The ceremony will also feature*: Wen Xue , Ph.D., Assistant Professor, RNA Therapeutics Institute (RTI); Scholar Grant Recipient Assistant Professor, RNA Therapeutics Institute (RTI); Scholar Grant Recipient Peter Newburger , M.D., Ali and John Pierce Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; Vice Chair for Research, Department of Pediatrics Ali and John Pierce Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; Vice Chair for Research, Department of Pediatrics Kenneth Laferriere (Kenny), Cancer Survivor Cancer Survivor Mark Marenzana , Regional Sales Manager, Hyundai Motor America Regional Sales Manager, Hyundai Motor America Mike DiPlacido , Dealer Principal, Route 2 Hyundai Dealer Principal, Route 2 Hyundai Handprint Ceremony: Worcester -area children affected by cancer will capture their handprints on a white 2016 Hyundai Tucson *ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW AND PHOTO/B-ROLL OPPORTUNITIES* "Our mission at Hyundai Hope On Wheels is clear: End Childhood Cancer," said Dave Zuchowski, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "These individual awards to hospitals and organizations across the country are pivotal to ending childhood cancer. Although there remains a lot more work to be done, the innovation that comes from this research will ultimately help us find a cure. To all the kids, families and cancer researchers fighting this terrible disease you are not alone and we remain committed to this important cause." About the Hyundai Hope On Wheels Scholar Grants and Handprint Ceremonies The Scholar Senior Research Grants will fund childhood research projects designed to improve the treatment and quality of life for children with cancer. The ultimate goal of the Scholar Senior Research Grant program is to find cures for childhood cancers once and for all. This year alone, HHOW will award more than $13 million in new pediatric cancer grants. Since 1998, the program has funded $115 million in research to Children's Oncology Group (COG) member institutions nationwide. The program also creates awareness about the importance of the disease, which is the leading cause of death by disease in children in the United States (source). Attendees at the various ceremonies will include HHOW's two national youth ambassadors and pediatric cancer survivors, Hannah Adams and Ryan Darby, who will deliver a message of hope to children's cancer hospitals. Hannah, now 13 years old, was only five years old when she was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Wilms tumor that enveloped her kidney. Since her recovery, she has pursued her love of dancing and singing to help uplift and encourage other children and families through their fight. Thirteen-year-old Ryan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six years ago, and since his recovery, he has shared his story and words of encouragement with children and families across the country. Watch Hannah and Ryan's story at www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org 2016 National Call To Action: Give Hope A Hand In addition to funding a multitude of research projects this September, HHOW is encouraging the public to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer in a personal way. The journey begins with one simple request: Give Hope A Hand. We invite visitors to the newly refreshed website at hyundaihopeonwheels.org, to tell how they will use their hands in the fight against pediatric cancer. Once there visitors can Learn + Care + Do + Give = Hope. There are a number of additional engaging, interactive ways the public can get involved and use their hands for good. HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. HHOW is one of the largest nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 830 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $115 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure. To learn more about Hyundai Hope On Wheels, please visit www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org or follow us on social media at www.facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels, www.twitter.com/hopeonwheels, and www.youtube.com/hopeonwheels. HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com and our blog at www.hyundailikesunday.com Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140319/LA86658LOGO SOURCE Hyundai Hope On Wheels TEL AVIV, Israel, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Insert, an automated in-app marketing platform, unveiled a new option for their users today: landing pages for mobile apps. App owners and marketers are now able to easily create customized landing pages within their app, ensuring that customers arrive from personalized push notifications, ads, social media or emails to personalized landing pages that are optimized for maximum conversions. Web landing pages are a marketing mainstay, with a 2014 study by MarketingSherpa revealing that 48% of companies build a new landing page for each marketing campaign they make. However, until now, the options for apps have been far more limited, resulting too often in push notifications and ads that merely take users to the app's home page. Other apps use deeplinking technology, which can take users to a specific area within the app, but it must be pre-coded into the app by developers, thus preventing the often required agility for on-the-fly marketing campaigns. Deeplinks also do not provide the best practice of a landing page that has a single call to action that directs customers to the desired action. With this feature from Insert, app owners and marketers can now instantly create unique landing pages for each campaign. Push notifications or ads will now lead customers to a customized landing page that is specifically designed to direct them to the desired outcome, whether it is making a purchase, learning about a new app feature or completing a transaction. For example, a retail app can send out push notifications for a limited time offer of 10% off of a surplus item. By clicking on the notification, the customer is led to an attractive landing page with a 360 view of the item and a prompt to "buy now." Marketers are also able to target specific segments of the app's users and personalize landing pages for them. Similarly, they can set push notifications to arrive following a specific action or non-action, such as after a certain amount of time passes without the user visiting the app, after the customer abandoned a transaction midway, or based on the user's past behavior and demographic. Furthermore, marketers can use many established landing page best practices, such as adding a video when relevant, displaying different pages based on the source and other parameters, and testing and optimizing CTAs over time. All this can be done without writing a single line of code. "Landing pages should be as standard in apps as they are on the web," says Shahar Kaminitz, Insert's founder and CEO. "Ever since Microsoft initiated the first landing pages in 2003, they have proven themselves to be a very effective way of increasing conversions. We expect to transfer the success that landing pages have had on the web to the in-app market, allowing our clients to see a significant increase in their results." About Insert Insert is the first automated in-app marketing platform. It offers a broad set of pre-built features - "inserts" - which can be launched into any live app in minutes, with no coding. These features include videos, banners, messages, surveys and more - allowing app owners to better engage, convert and retain their customers. Insert was created to enable product managers and mobile marketers to drive user loyalty and LTV, without writing a single line of code. The company was founded by the people behind Worklight: the world's leading mobile application platform (now IBM MobileFirst). For more information visit http://www.insert.io Contact: Lazer Cohen WestRayCommunications [email protected] +1-347-753-8256 SOURCE Insert Globally regarded as one of the most brilliant minds of our time, renowned astrophysicist Stephen 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 SOURCE CuriosityStream Related Links http://www.curiositystream.com Mr. Gutierrez, 55, serves as senior executive vice president and chief of staff to the chairman and CEO of AT&T. Prior to assuming his current role in 2015, he held several senior executive positions at AT&T, including president and CEO of Southwestern Bell (AT&T Southwest), president of AT&T Global Enterprise Solutions, president of AT&T Wholesale and Access Solutions, president and CEO of AT&T Advertising Solutions and president of Industry Markets. "Over the course of 25 years at AT&T, Jose has built a highly accomplished career leading large, diverse teams serving business and residential customers across the U.S. and around the world," said Wayne R. Sanders, DPS chairman. "With this experience, along with his passion for customer service, he is a great fit for the board of a company like ours where customer centricity is a core value." Mr. Gutierrez serves on the board of directors of Denny's Corporation. He is also a member of the Strategic Development Board at the University of Missouri's Trulaske College of Business, a member of the Missouri 100 Advisory Board and co-chairman of the National Campaign at the University of Missouri. He is vice chairman of the Thompson Foundation for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, a member of the board of directors of the Cotton Bowl, a former board member of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and a former trustee of the Dallas Museum of Art. He earned a master's degree in management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, as well as bachelor's and master's degrees in accountancy from the University of Missouri. He also attended the Colegio Universitario de Estudios Financieros in Madrid, Spain. About Dr Pepper Snapple Group Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) is a leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have six of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 13 of our 14 leading brands are No. 1 or No. 2 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Clamato, Crush, Hawaiian Punch, Mott's, Mr & Mrs T mixers, Penafiel, Rose's, Schweppes, Squirt and Sunkist soda. To learn more about our iconic brands and Plano, Texas-based company, please visit DrPepperSnapple.com. For our latest news and updates, follow us at Facebook.com/DrPepperSnapple or Twitter.com/DrPepperSnapple. Contacts: Media Relations Chris Barnes, (972) 673-5539 Investor Relations Heather Catelotti, (972) 673-5869 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410717 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150701/227684LOGO SOURCE Dr Pepper Snapple Group Related Links http://www.drpeppersnapplegroup.com Built on the world's largest real time communications intellectual property portfolio, Kandy is available as an entire white-label or co-branded communications platform that can be easily deployed on an OpenStack environment for Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) either in the telco cloud, in GENBAND's cloud or with any other cloud infrastructure including Amazon Web Services (AWS). Kandy is also the only communications platform to deliver easy to deploy, revenue-ready cloud Unified Communications (UC) and Kandy Wrapper apps that enable turnkey WebRTC solutions for digitizing business processes. The Kandy platform has applicability for Internet of Things (IoT) applications with chat bots, messaging, APIs and SDKs. Since 2014 Kandy has quickly built an impressive roster of globally recognized customer and partner brands including IBM, SAP, XO Communications, Deloitte, Telecom Italia (TI Sparkle), AsiaInfo and Bharti Airtel. Backed by an award-winning global support organization located in more than 20 countries and offering an around the clock Network Operations Center, Kandy provides its customers with industry-leading support. "In just two short years, customers around the globe have experienced the unique business value that our cloud-based communications platform can deliver versus other solutions on the market," said Paul Pluschkell, founder and CEO of Kandy. "We are uniquely backed by 20 years of patent-protected real time communications technology, which provides us with the unmatched ability to deliver turnkey micro apps and services that allow our customers to easily bolt on to our platform and rapidly grow their businesses. We are extremely well positioned for future growth in the marketplace." "Our research shows that embedded real time communications are becoming increasingly relevant for organizations to engage with their clients and employees," said Raul Castanon-Martinez, Senior Analyst, 451 Research. "Since its launch in the fall of 2014 Kandy has differentiated itself by helping some of the largest companies in the world improve their communications processes through intuitive and contextual cloud-based real time communications capabilities." Kandy offers its growing customer base the ability to easily connect to the richest suite of proven real time communications (RTC) capabilities on the market, delivering advanced APIs (application programming interfaces), SDKs (software development kits) and business applications (Cloud UC and Kandy Wrappers). In addition, Kandy allows its customers to dramatically and cost-effectively extend their reach by quickly going to market with new communications services such as voice, video, collaboration, messaging and apps that can be accessed on fixed and mobile devices. Innovation Over the past year the Kandy team has introduced a number of innovations such as Kandy Wrappers, which are pre-packaged intuitive, fully-developed, ready-to-deploy software apps that can do everything from creating a dynamic online shopping experience to providing secure, two-factor authentication that protects end-customers' privacy. With Kandy Wrappers, Kandy customers can reduce the cost to deliver compelling new services and eliminate the management burden of custom application development. Service providers are capitalizing on Kandy's ability for rapid service creation, circumventing complex back office and IT processes via an easy to deploy white label cloud offering. For example, one tier one service provider is leveraging the Kandy Business Portal via API access to sell Kandy Wrappers as standalone offerings to its enterprise customer base. Several service providers and enterprises are leveraging Kandy's Consumer Mobility Solutions to enable true mobility and desktop synchronization. These market proven OTT solutions allow service providers to maintain the customer billing relationship for real time voice and video services, while also allowing enterprise CIOs the ability to quickly introduce white label HTML-driven applications with instant consistency across mobile and desktop devices. Kandy Consumer Mobility Solutions also deliver service providers and enterprises a managed OTT solution that provides enhanced security and confidentiality protection features that are not provided by public OTT solutions. Service providers and enterprises are leveraging Kandy Business Solutions (formerly Nuvia) to rapidly deliver hosted voice, UC and collaboration capabilities as well as contact center services. Moving to the cloud eliminates the burden of acquiring new hardware and assures ongoing availability of the latest communications and productivity tools. Customer/Partner Successes AsiaInfo , a leading provider of internet-based systems and software to the telecommunications industry, has deployed the Kandy Real Time Communications Platform to its industry-leading suite of business and operations support systems and professional services customer support, OTT Messaging and Set-Top Box based multi-party video conferencing solution in China , where it has more than 50 percent market share in billing, CRM and business intelligence software. , a leading provider of internet-based systems and software to the telecommunications industry, has deployed the to its industry-leading suite of business and operations support systems and professional services customer support, OTT Messaging and Set-Top Box based multi-party video conferencing solution in , where it has more than 50 percent market share in billing, CRM and business intelligence software. Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries, deployed the Kandy Consumer Solution to allow its expatriate customers the ability to register from anywhere in the world to keep in touch with friends and family members back home via voice, video or text. to allow its expatriate customers the ability to register from anywhere in the world to keep in touch with friends and family members back home via voice, video or text. XO Communications is leveraging Kandy Business Solutions (formerly Nuvia Contact Center Solution) to enable XO to offer its customers the ability to centralize contact center management and operations in the cloud, thereby enabling them to focus on improving their customers' experience and overall productivity. Awards About Kandy GENBAND's Kandy communications Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) is a real time software development platform built from GENBAND's core communications, presence, security and real time technologies. Kandy enables service providers, enterprises, software vendors, systems integrators, partners and developers to enrich their applications and services with real time contextual communications, providing a more engaging user experience. With Kandy, companies of all sizes and types can quickly embed real time communications capabilities into their existing applications and business processes. For more information visit kandy.io. About GENBAND GENBAND is a global leader in real-time communications software solutions for service providers, enterprises, independent software vendors, systems integrators and developers in over 80 countries. Kandy, its award-winning, disruptive real-time communications software development platform, is built from the company's global telecommunications network and security technologies. The platform enables these companies to easily embed a full suite of voice, video, chat, screen-sharing and collaboration capabilities into their existing business, web and mobile applications. The company's Network Modernization, Unified Communications, Mobility and Embedded Communications solutions enable its customers to quickly capitalize on growing market segments and introduce differentiating products, applications and services. GENBAND's market-leading solutions, which are deployable in the network, on premise or through the cloud, help its customers connect people to each other and address the growing demands of today's consumers and businesses for real-time communications wherever they happen to be. To learn more visit genband.com. GENBAND, the GENBAND logo and icon are trademarks of GENBAND. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410577-INFO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160323/347490LOGO SOURCE GENBAND and Kandy Related Links http://www.kandy.io "Kelly has demonstrated inspiring leadership at every turn in his career, and he has earned the respect of our clients and our people," said GroupM's Global Chairman Irwin Gotlieb. "He has broad experience in North America, Asia and Europe and is focused intensely on delivering advantage to our clients. I am looking forward to working with him to build on our momentum." GroupM is also announcing that Dominic Proctor is stepping down from his role as Global President, but will remain with WPP working on strategic projects. Proctor was instrumental in the growth and success of GroupM. Proctor launched Mindshare around the world beginning in 1997, and was named President of GroupM in 2012. "Dominic helped make Mindshare and GroupM the successful global businesses they are today. It has been a great pleasure to work side by side with Dominic over many years and we all wish him the very best," said Gotlieb. "GroupM is in a great position to help our clients win in an incredibly competitive marketplace," Clark said. "Our investments in data, technology and most importantly, our talented people will help us achieve that ambition. It will require a lot of change and a united focus, so I can't wait to get started with Irwin and our leadership team." About GroupM GroupM is the leading global media investment management company serving as the parent to WPP media agencies including Mindshare, MEC, MediaCom, Maxus, and Essence, as well as the programmatic digital media platform, Xaxis, each global operations in their own right with leading market positions. GroupM's primary purpose is to maximize the performance of WPP's media agencies by operating as leader and collaborator in trading, content creation, sports, digital, finance, and proprietary tool development. GroupM's focus is to deliver unrivaled marketplace advantage to its clients, stakeholders and people, and is increasingly working closely for the benefit of clients with WPP's data investment management group, Kantar. Together GroupM and Kantar account for over 50% of WPP's group revenues of more than $20 billion. Discover more about GroupM at www.groupm.com. Follow @GroupMWorldwide on Twitter Follow GroupM on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/groupm Media Contact: [email protected] +1 212.297.8092 (U.S.) Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410836 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151103/283547LOGO SOURCE GroupM Related Links http://www.groupm.com Packed with six times more beneficial organic acids than leading brands, KeVita Master Brew Kombucha is naturally energizing with organic caffeine and fermented kombucha green and black tea. Each bottle contains over 4 billion colony forming units of live probiotics and just 35 calories per 8-ounce serving. KeVita offers the only kombucha that carries the Verified Non-Alcoholic certification, providing all the benefits without the alcohol. The flavor profiles of the new brews: Dragonfruit Lemongrass Marries lush dragonfruit with fresh lemongrass and a hint of basil Marries lush dragonfruit with fresh lemongrass and a hint of basil Mango Habanero Perfect pairing of mango sweetness with a spicy habanero kick in every sip Perfect pairing of mango sweetness with a spicy habanero kick in every sip Citrus Combines sun-ripened lemon, lime and orange with aromatic rosemary "By pairing enticing flavors with the benefits of organic acids and probiotics, we've grown our Master Brew Kombucha line tremendously from year to year," said Bill Moses, CEO and co-founder of KeVita. "These drinks are the total package, and we aim to continually exceed the expectations of our fans with innovative, new brews that taste great." KeVita's national campaign asks fans to look inward and share how they feel on the inside. Participants will visit www.innerselfie.kevita.com, upload a selfie, and complete the sentence, "I am _____ inside," in short, their #InnerSelfie. The new image can then be enhanced with KeVita filters, featuring bubbles and colorscapes from their signature drinks. For every entry through the site that is shared using the hashtag, #InnerSelfie, and tagged @KeVitaDrinks, KeVita will donate $1 to the Gastric Cancer Foundation1. Submissions are also eligible to win KeVita prizes. Selected weekly, #InnerSelfie winners will be celebrated on KeVita's social channels and refreshed website, which will feature a new "Learn" section dedicated to digestive and immune health information. The campaign will also feature leading tastemakers from across the country who align with KeVita's mission to help people revitalize from the inside. "We believe it's what's inside that counts, and we hope this campaign inspires our fans to share their passions and learn more about what's inside KeVita drinks that can help them revitalize throughout the day," said Bryan Crowley, Chief Strategy Officer of KeVita. "By partnering with the Gastric Cancer Foundation, we've given our fans an incentive and platform to share their #InnerSelfie and all for a great cause." "KeVita is spotlighting the urgent need for more research funding for this deadly disease, especially with the growing incidence of young people affected," said Wayne Feinstein, Chair, Gastric Cancer Foundation. To learn more about KeVita, visit KeVita.com and follow us @KeVitaDrinks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. About KeVita KeVita is a leader in fermented probiotic and kombucha beverages with 3 refreshingly accessible product lines and live probiotics in every bottle. With over two dozen flavors of Sparkling Probiotic Drink, Master Brew Kombucha and Cleansing Probiotic Tonic, all KeVita drinks are certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan. Handcrafted since 2009, KeVita has grown from a kitchen in Ojai, California to over 20,000 retail locations across North America. KeVita uses only the purest ingredients and pairs age-old techniques with modern technology to provide the finest quality, flavor, and functionality in the market. This commitment to quality continues through their advocacy for rigorous testing and transparency in fermented beverage labeling. Learn more about what's inside KeVita's pure and powerful promise at KeVita.com. About Gastric Cancer Foundation Gastric Cancer Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by stomach cancer and to working with leading researchers to find a cure. Media Contact Kelsey Cycan Harmonica [email protected] 1Maximum donation of $25,000 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410692 SOURCE KeVita Related Links http://www.kevita.com HOUSTON, Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Key Energy Services, Inc. ("Key" or the "Company") announced today that it has concurrently commenced a solicitation (the "Solicitation") for votes on its prepackaged plan of reorganization (the "Plan") and a rights offering (the "Rights Offering"). Under the Rights Offering, the Company will offer subscription rights to acquire shares of reorganized Key common stock to certain qualifying holders of the Company's senior notes and certain qualifying equity holders. The Solicitation and Rights Offering are based on the restructuring transactions contemplated by the previously announced plan support agreement among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, Platinum Equity Advisors, LLC and certain other holders of the Company's 6.75% Senior Notes due 2021 ("Senior Notes") and certain lenders under Key's Term Loan Credit Agreement dated June 1, 2015. If the Plan is accepted by the requisite number of voting holders representing the requisite amounts of the Company's senior notes and term loans in the Solicitation, the Company will file voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware (the "Bankruptcy Court") and seek approval of the Plan by the Bankruptcy Court. In the Rights Offering, certain qualifying holders of the Company's Senior Notes and certain qualifying equity holders will have the right to purchase an aggregate of up to 7,022,859 shares of the reorganized Company's common stock at a price per share of $12.10 for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $85 million, which proceeds may be increased by up to $25 million through the sale of additional shares of reorganized Company common stock (the "Incremental Liquidity Shares") at a price per share ranging between $6.86 and $8.94, based on the expected pro forma liquidity of the reorganized Company as of the effective date of the Plan (the "Plan Effective Date"). Prior to the commencement of the Solicitation and the Rights Offering, the Company entered into a backstop agreement (the "Backstop Agreement") with certain parties named therein (the "Backstop Participants"), pursuant to which the Backstop Participants agreed, subject to the terms and conditions in the Backstop Agreement, to participate in the Rights Offering and to backstop the full amount of the Rights Offering. In exchange for the commitments under the Backstop Agreement, the Closing Backstop Participants (as defined in the Backstop Agreement) will receive a premium on the Plan Effective Date in the form of shares of the reorganized Key common stock as described in Section II.D.4 of the Disclosure Statement. The Plan, Backstop Agreement and other transaction agreements to be executed by the Company are subject to customary closing conditions and termination rights upon the occurrence of certain events, including the failure of the Company to achieve certain milestones, meet minimum liquidity requirements, and receive required governmental and material third-party approvals, and the absence of a material adverse effect on the Company. Robert Drummond, Key's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Today's announcement is an important step in positioning Key to emerge from the downturn as a financially stronger company. I want to thank our lenders and noteholders for their continued support and our employees for continuing to deliver excellent service during this period." This press release is not a solicitation to accept or reject the proposed Plan or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the Rights Offering or any other securities of the Company. Any solicitation will be made pursuant to and in accordance with the disclosure statement, which describes the Solicitation and the Plan, and any offer to sell will be made pursuant to and in accordance with the applicable Rights Offering procedures. The securities offered in the Rights Offering have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical in nature or that relate to future events and conditions are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of performance. Future actions, events and conditions and future results of operations may differ materially from those expressed in these statements. Important factors that may affect Key's expectations, estimates or projections include, but are not limited to, the following: risks associated with Key's reorganization; the ability of Key to obtain sufficient acceptances in connection with the Solicitation; the ability of Key to obtain confirmation of the Plan from the Bankruptcy Court and/or meet all of the conditions precedent therein necessary to effectuate the Plan; conditions in the oil and natural gas industry, especially oil and natural gas prices and capital expenditures by oil and natural gas companies; volatility in oil and natural gas prices; Key's ability to implement price increases or maintain pricing on its core services; industry capacity; increased labor costs or unavailability of skilled workers; asset impairments or other charges; the periodic low demand for Key's services and resulting operating losses and negative cash flows; Key's highly competitive industry as well as operating risks, which are primarily self-insured, and the possibility that its insurance may not be adequate to cover all of its losses or liabilities; the economic, political and social instability and risks of doing business in certain foreign countries; significant costs and potential liabilities resulting from compliance with applicable laws; Key's historically high employee turnover rate and its ability to replace or add workers, including executive officers; Key's ability to incur debt or long-term lease obligations; Key's ability to implement technological developments and enhancements; significant costs and liabilities resulting from environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those relating to hydraulic fracturing; severe weather impacts on Key's business; Key's ability to successfully identify, make and integrate acquisitions and its ability to finance future growth of its operations or future acquisitions; the loss of one or more of Key's larger customers; the impact of compliance with climate change legislation or initiatives; Key's ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet debt service obligations; the amount of Key's debt and the limitations imposed by the covenants in the agreements governing its debt, including its ability to comply with covenants under its current debt agreements; an increase in Key's debt service obligations due to variable rate indebtedness; Key's inability to achieve its financial, capital expenditure and operational projections, including quarterly and annual projections of revenue and/or operating income and its inaccurate assessment of future activity levels, customer demand, and pricing stability which may not materialize (whether for Key as a whole or for geographic regions and/or business segments individually); Key's ability to execute its plans to withdraw from international markets outside North America; Key's ability to achieve the benefits expected from acquisition and disposition transactions; Key's ability to respond to changing or declining market conditions, including Key's ability to reduce the costs of labor, fuel, equipment and supplies employed and used in its businesses; Key's ability to maintain sufficient liquidity; the terms and conditions of any strategic transaction or alternative undertaken to restructure or refinance Key's indebtedness; adverse impact of litigation; and other factors affecting Key's business described in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its other filings with the SEC and in Article XI of the Disclosure Statement. About Key Energy Services Key Energy Services is the largest onshore, rig-based well servicing contractor based on the number of rigs owned. Key provides a complete range of well intervention services and has operations in all major onshore oil and gas producing regions of the continental United States and internationally in Mexico and Russia. Contact: West Gotcher, Investor Relations 713-757-5539 SOURCE Key Energy Services, Inc. Related Links http://www.keyenergy.com CINCINNATI, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- KNXV in Phoenix, an ABC affiliate of The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP), was honored with a National Emmy Award last night in New York City. The newsroom won the top award in the Regional News Story: Investigative Reporting category at the 37th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards hosted by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). KNXV won for its multi-part investigative series "Arizona's Dental Dangers," which brought to light a broken system that was supposed to protect the people of Arizona from dentists with troubled pasts. The station's year-long investigation exposed a hidden disciplinary system that allowed dentist after dentist to keep state licenses despite repeated malpractice, criminal arrests, permanent patient injuries and even deaths. KNXV Investigative Reporter Dave Biscobing's work quickly got the attention of Arizona lawmakers, who passed a much more transparent system requiring all disciplinary action against dentists to be posted online for consumers to see. They also now require a rigorous background check before a dental license can be granted. The implications of these stories continue to grow. Most recently, the governor of Arizona called for an overhaul of the entire health board regulatory system. View the series here. "KNXV's dogged approach to reporting made for a compelling story for our audiences and resonated with state lawmakers," said Rich Boehne, chairman, president and CEO of Scripps. "We're incredibly proud of the Phoenix team and the work that our journalists do every day in uncovering important stories in their communities." Emmys were presented in 46 categories. Three other Scripps teams were nominated, including KGTV in San Diego, Newsy and Scripps Washington Bureau. For more information about the awards, visit emmyonline.com. About Scripps The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of television, radio and digital media brands. Scripps is one of the nation's largest independent TV station owners, with 33 television stations in 24 markets and a reach of nearly one in five U.S. households. It also owns 34 radio stations in eight markets. Scripps also runs an expanding collection of local and national digital journalism and information businesses, including multi-platform satire and humor brand Cracked, podcast industry leader Midroll Media and over-the-top video news service Newsy. Scripps also produces television shows including "THE LIST" and "The Now," runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and serves as the longtime steward of the nation's largest, most successful and longest-running educational program, the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, "Give light and the people will find their own way." SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company Related Links http://www.scripps.com They recently began final road construction to the "Tip of the Peninsula" which has the biggest water and biggest views this beautiful piece of property has to offer but also has the fewest number of lots available and the last being offered at Nautical Shores. Don't miss this last sale; you'll never see anything like it Saturday, October 1 st ! Marcus Smith owner of Nautical Shores says "Although this phase is the smallest, the waterfront lots are the largest the community has to offer and the water frontage and views are just magnificent." The community is top notch in every regard and the demand has proven that. This is the last available acreage at Nautical Shores, so act fast. Texas Land & Lakes looks at hundreds of potential properties but purchases only the very best that fulfill the needs of the buyers at well below market value, you've just have to see this one! They have designed this property to be the best out there. Best price, largest lots and best water buy in the market today. This is a lakefront land buying opportunity you don't want to miss. Call 877-700-4732 today to secure your spot during this October 1st land sale. About Texas Land & Lakes Texas Land & Lakes has made its mark and its reputation by creating premium lakefront land for sale in Texas. We spot the potential in undeveloped lakefront, showcase and enhance its natural features and design exceptional family-focused communities. And because our communities are environmentally sustainable, they'll be around for generations to come. To learn more visit www.nauticalshorestexas.com, or call us at 877-700-4732. Contact: Nautical Shores Tel. 877-700-4732 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410905 SOURCE Texas Land & Lakes Related Links http://nauticalshorestexas.com PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lannett Company, Inc. (NYSE: LCI) today announced the resignation of its chief of scientific affairs, Mahendra Dedhiya, Ph.D., effective October 21, 2016. "Mahendra joined Lannett last year as part of our acquisition of Silarx Pharmaceuticals," said Arthur Bedrosian, chief executive officer of Lannett. "He intends to become a faculty member and researcher at Long Island University, where he had been teaching part time. We thank him for his service to Lannett and wish him well." The company said a search is underway for a new head of research and development. About Lannett Company, Inc.: Lannett Company, founded in 1942, develops, manufactures, packages, markets and distributes generic pharmaceutical products for a wide range of medical indications. For more information, visit the company's website at www.lannett.com. Contact: Robert Jaffe Robert Jaffe Co., LLC (424) 288-4098 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150417/199461LOGO SOURCE Lannett Company, Inc. Related Links http://www.lannett.com SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lithium Technologies today announced that it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Online Communities 2016 Vendor Assessment (Doc # US41686916, September 2016). This report provides in-depth quantitative and qualitative technology market assessments of ICT vendors for a wide range of technology markets. As a Leader in the report, Lithium was recognized for its strong reputation in community solutions and its commitment to helping brands drive success. The IDC MarketScape noted that Lithium is heavily focused on capturing insights from the data generated in the community. In addition, much of Lithium's platform success is based off of data by Klout. The IDC MarketScape also highlighted Lithium's robust set of benchmarks that enable customers in specific industries to gauge their performance against peers. With its trove of data as the focal point, Lithium's team of data scientists, data-driven social engagement and personalized recommendations help brands build deeper connections with their customers. Lithium also received the highest customer satisfaction response and recognition for its impressive customer base, consisting of more than 300 global brands including numerous Fortune 500 companies. In the report, the IDC MarketScape notes that Lithium is well-positioned to deliver against the growing market opportunity where community is the core component of how a brand connects with its customers, partners and suppliers. The report also makes a nod to Lithium's efforts in continuing to develop capabilities for customers to customize and extend community into their brand's established business and marketing initiatives. "Lithium's reputation in communities is solidified by our commitment to helping large-scale brands use community's unique features to drive results. We're delighted to be recognized as a Leader," said Rob Tarkoff, President and CEO of Lithium Technologies. "Our leadership position is a tribute to our strong relationships with our customers and their success using our data platforms to heighten their brand experience and achieve business objectives, and we look forward to continue working together with them to set the pace for innovation in digital communities." "As an early entrant in the communities market Lithium has built a strong brand and reputation in community solutions, receiving the highest customer satisfaction response as a result," said Vanessa Thompson, Research Vice President, Communities and Collaboration of IDC. "Our assessment shows there is a tremendous market opportunity for community and Lithium is well-placed to deliver, as they continue using data to bolster their customer experience capabilities and connect brands with their customers." The IDC MarketScape is available here. To better understand Lithium's Community offering, visit https://www.lithium.com/pdfs/books/successbook/. About IDC MarketScape: IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360 degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors. About Lithium: Lithium builds trusted relationships between the world's best brands and their customers, helping people get answers and share their experiences. Customers in more than 34 countries rely on Lithium to help them connect, engage, and understand their total community. With more than 100 million monthly visits over all Lithium communities and 750 million online profiles scored by Klout, Lithium has one of the largest digital footprints in the world. Using that data and the company's software, Lithium customers boost sales, reduce service costs, spark innovation, and build long-term brand loyalty and advocacy. To find out how Lithium can transform your business, and to share the experience enjoyed by 300 other leading brands around the world, visit www.lithium.com, join our community at community.lithium.com, or follow us on Twitter @LithiumTech. Lithium is a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco. The Lithium logo is a registered Service Mark of Lithium Technologies. All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160322/347129LOGO SOURCE Lithium Technologies Related Links http://www.lithium.com SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Starboard TCN, leading San Francisco commercial real estate firm, providing clients with all-inclusive services since 1991, today announced the sale of 59 Bill Drake Way, in Pacifica California. The 4700 square foot property has been home of the Pacifica Tribune since 1959 and the street on which the building resides was named after a hometown legacy and Tribune founder, Bill Drake. Frank Vella, Starboard TCN Broker Associate, worked on the deal, which ultimately sold to Eddie Lau, owner of Feel Good Compounders, an independent compounding pharmacy in Pacifica. Feel Good Compounders will be moving into half of the building, while the Pacifica Tribune will continue to occupy the remaining half. "Our pharmacy is very excited to expand into this building and hope to be a staple of the community for years to come. We are very excited to be surrounded by other successful small business owners in the area," explained Eddie Lau, owner of Feel Good Compounders. Bill Drake, who passed away in 2012 at 91 years old, founded the Pacifica Tribune and served as the editor and publisher for over three decades. Drake also owned the office building where the Tribune was located. Drake's Tribune covered any and all local news, including floods, landslides, oil slicks, freeways, new subdivisions and many projects that never even happened. Drake was honored when the city named the street on which his property was located "Bill Drake Way" after himself in 2010. Drake was a well-respected publisher with tremendous impact on Pacifica's history. He helped create the Pacific Coast Fog Fest in an effort to prove that Pacifica weather is great, even with the fog. Drake's reporting rewarded him and the Pacifica Tribune with numerous awards. One award in particular, rated the Pacifica Tribune as the number one "Best Spot News Publication" in the entire state of California, beating out the Los Angeles Times. "This was an important sale since it involved a business in Pacifica who is expanding and growing, but also a long time established business that remains a huge part of Pacifica history and current events. New ownership of the Pacifica Tribune, Sherman Frederick, is taking the newspaper into a new age of media and communications," stated Frank Vella, Starboard TCN Broker Associate. For more information on local commercial real estate deals, please visit www.starboardnet.com About Starboard TCN: Starboard TCN Worldwide is the leading San Francisco commercial real estate firm, providing clients with full, all-inclusive services since 1991. Locally based, Starboard TCN has organically acquired substantial relationships with tenants, investors, contractors, architects and accountants throughout the San Francisco-Bay Area. As the largest, independently owned commercial real estate firm in San Francisco with both national and international affiliates, including TCN Worldwide, GVA, AREA, and Office Finder, Starboard delivers clients the highest level of local expertise while offering a global reach. Starboard TCN agents are positioned to know the San Francisco real estate market like no other, knowing the ins and outs of the City and has access to networks of approximately 2,000 office buildings and more than 100 million square feet of office space throughout the Bay Area. Through these networks and unique inside knowledge, Starboard TCN makes it obtainable to assist buyers and quickly find their ideal space in one of the hottest real estate markets in the world. Media Contact: Natalie Wolfrom PR for Starboard TCN Phone: 415-609-7092 email: [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150911/265891LOGO SOURCE Starboard TCN Related Links http://www.starboardnet.com "Repeal of Michigan's wholly unique and uncompetitive Health Insurance Claims Assessment, or 'HICA Tax,' has long been a priority for the Michigan Chamber because the tax makes it more costly and difficult for individuals and employers to purchase health insurance," said Jim Holcomb, Senior Vice President for Business Advocacy & General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber. "We applaud Speaker Cotter and Insurance Committee Chair Tom Leonard for their leadership in making health insurance more affordable." "The HICA Tax was hurriedly put into place in 2011 because the Use Tax on Medicaid Managed Care Organizations was subject to federal scrutiny and it was thought it would be deemed an impermissible mechanism to draw down federal dollars to help fund Michigan's traditional Medicaid program," said Wendy Block, Director of Health Policy & Human Resources for the Michigan Chamber. "Five years later, we can safely say the HICA Tax has been a total flop, as it not only has added over $1 billion to the cost of health insurance, but also has proven to be an unstable and inadequate revenue source for the state." "This legislation will restructure the existing Use Tax on Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) by bringing the tax into compliance with federal law," added Block. "In doing so, the state can fully preserve necessary funding for Michigan's traditional Medicaid program and boost the School Aid Fund by over $150 million." "Although some prefer the status quo," Block continued, "absent this legislation, the state faces an annual shortfall for the traditional Medicaid budget in Fiscal Year 2017 and beyond and a fiscal cliff in 2020 when the current HICA tax expires, leaving the state with a $332.5 million annual shortfall." "The Senate bills are a win-win-win," concluded Holcomb. "The bills are a win for individuals and businesses who will see their health insurance premiums drop and a win for the state budget because it allows Michigan to continue to collect and use MCO Use Tax revenues and use those revenues for the School Aid Fund and other budget priorities. It is also a win for those serving the Medicaid population because this legislation will ensure there's a stable revenue source for the traditional Medicaid population." Senate Bills 987-990 now return to the State Senate for a concurrence vote. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business organization representing approximately 6,700 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Chamber represents businesses of every size and type in all 83 counties of the state. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process. It is one of only six state chambers accredited by the US Chamber and one of only four state chambers accredited with distinction. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140812/135529 SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce Related Links http://www.michamber.com 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 this 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] SOURCE MicroTech Related Links http://www.microtech.net WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the news release, Moldovan Presidential Candidate Visits with Leaders in Washington, D.C. This Week to Discuss the Future and Opportunities for U.S. Support in Moldova, issued September 22, 2016 by Dignity and Truth Platform Party over PR Newswire, we are advised that commentary directed towards Mr. Vladimir Plahotniuc in the eighth paragraph should be disregarded; said commentary is unfounded. Complete, corrected release follows: Moldovan opposition leader and national presidential candidate Andrei Nastase, President of the Dignity and Truth Platform Party, met this week with a number of key non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Congressional members and committees, and senior State Department officials in Washington, DC to discuss the political, social, and economic issues plaguing Moldova today. Mr. Nastase, the elected Chairman of the Great National Assembly Council, a non-governmental movement in Moldova, explained the consequences of rampant corruption and government suppression in the Eastern European country, including low levels of foreign direct investment, vanishing employment opportunities, and increasingly high rates of emigration. He spoke of the need for a viable and democratic political alternative and called upon U.S. stakeholders to increase their attention and support in the struggling country. "In 2016, Moldova can be considered a prime example of a kleptocracy, and this must change," said Mr. Nastase. "I call on the U.S. Congress and the NGO community to push for political, social, and economic reforms, as well as to support free press in Moldova. Only then can we hope to reach accountability, transparency, and a true democracy in my country." Mr. Nastase met with think tanks and NGOs that are engaged in the Eastern European region and particularly Moldova, including the American Jewish Committee, the Atlantic Council, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the International Republican Institute. During these productive meetings, the parties discussed ways to strengthen support and to stimulate an active NGO community in Moldova. With cooperation, the creation of partnerships, and properly ensuring funding reaches its intended place in society, local civil society organizations can drive real progress and change the lives of Moldovans for the better, more quickly. "I welcome and look forward to the efforts of international organizations creating a brighter future for Moldovans," said Mr. Nastase. Mr. Nastase received a warm reception during his sit-downs Congressional members and professional staff from committees, which included the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the State and Foreign Operations Appropriation Subcommittee. In these meetings, Mr. Nastase highlighted the instances in which U.S. foreign aid to Moldova millions appropriated and allocated via the State Department, International Monetary Fund, and USAID funding were mishandled, inappropriately used, and abused. In light of next month's upcoming national elections, the parties also discussed the issue of a fair and free electoral process. "The problems in Moldova are real poverty, a lack of due process, and a government that is actively suppressing free society. Systemic corruption at the highest levels of the current Moldovan government reached its peak in 2014 with the disappearance of one billion dollars from Moldova's central reserves," said Mr. Nastase. "We must restore the faith of the people in their government. We must appoint an independent Prosecutor General in order to ensure that the upcoming elections are free and democratic - so that the will of the people may be heard and that Moldova may finally have a future as a free and successful country." About Andrei Nastase and the Dignity and Truth Platform Party Andrei Nastase was elected President of the Dignity and Truth Platform Party in December 2015. He is also the elected President of the Great National Assembly Council (CMAN), a group of prominent journalists, artists, political analysts and other public figures, who work to provide a strategic framework for peaceful protest in the country. Mr. Nastase is a former prosecutor, lawyer, and university lecturer. The Dignity and Truth Platform Party, which grew out of the ongoing anti-corruption grassroots movement in Moldova, calls for a pro-European political alternative. The Party's popular protests rail against the country's political system, which is often criticized as oligarchic. SOURCE Dignity and Truth Platform Party "Throughout Ariana's U.S. and international agency career, she has developed smart brand strategies focused on understanding consumer behavior as it relates to the fast-evolving world of digital technology," said Bill Kolb, President, Diversified Agencies, McCann Worldgroup. "In her expanded role, she will help MRM//McCann continue to integrate brand insights with data and technology in ways that help our clients generate innovative and business-building customer-relationship solutions." Stolarz began her career almost two decades ago in Argentina, where she was part of the team that launched that country's first internet banking transactional platform. She subsequently worked across Latin America and then in the U.S. as the digital strategy leader, both at major general-market and Hispanic agencies, while also earning her M.A. in Media Studies focused on the sociology of media. She joined MRM//McCann in 2013, leading the U.S. East (New York and Princeton) strategy team, and was promoted two years later to Global Director of Strategy while working on global assignments out of the London office. In her new role as Global Chief Strategy Officer, she will be an integral part of the MRM//McCann worldwide leadership team, also working closely with Suzanne Powers, McCann Worldgroup's Global Chief Strategy Officer. "No matter how complex the marketing landscape gets, we still need our best and brightest focused on finding strong human truths that help inspire the ideas we make, no matter the form," said McCann Worldgroup Global CSO Suzanne Powers. "Ariana's got it all: From her experience in social sciences and all things digital to her strong strategic acumen and intuitive understanding of brands and people; she's the perfect blend." Commenting on her new position, which includes working more closely with MRM//McCann's strategists around the world, Stolarz said, "I am very excited to take on this expanded role as our industry embraces the important concepts of data-led creativity and digital maturity. Having spent my career unearthing and tracking consumer behavior and determining how best to engage people through and beyond technology, I look forward to continuing to help MRM//McCann grow our business even further on the global stage." About MRM//McCann MRM//McCann is a leading customer relationship agency that helps brands foster meaningful, lasting relationships with people. The agency leverages all the tools at their disposal: The power of creativity, the beauty of data, the magic of technology and an insatiable dose of curiosity to nurture, encourage and sustain strong relationships between brands and their customers in turn, creating meaningful experiences for people, while driving business results. MRM//McCann is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) and a lead agency in the McCann Worldgroup network, with 40 plus offices across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.mrm-mccann.com. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410918 SOURCE MRM//McCann Related Links http://mrm-mccann.com NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Students and scholars in Syria and many other parts of the world have been abruptly cut off from educational opportunities by war, persecution, and violence engulfing their homes. More than 57 million children worldwide do not have access to school, and current conflicts and refugee crises are hitting school and university-aged youth particularly hard. Speaking at an event at the Institute of International Education's New York headquarters today, former NYU president John Sexton announced the creation of the Catalyst Trust for Universal Education to address these emergency needs. The Catalyst Trust's first major initiative will be to join together with IIE to create the Platform for Education in Emergencies Response (PEER), a new global clearinghouse to identify scholarships and opportunities and connect displaced and refugee students with resources they can use, anywhere in the world. IIE president Allan Goodman joined Mr. Sexton to announce the new project and lead a discussion with Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the United Nations special envoy on global education, of how education, government and philanthropic leaders can help meet the emergency needs. The new trust will support projects and organizations that bring educational opportunities directly to the neediest children and youth, whether they live in a conflict zone, a refugee camp, or a place that lacks the means or ability to provide a meaningful education. According to a recent UNHCR report, only 50 percent of refugees have access to primary education, as opposed to the global average of 90 percent. Sadly, the enrollment gap only grows with age: twenty-two percent of refugees are enrolled in secondary schools, compared with a global average of 84 percent, and an alarming one percent of refugees attend university, compared to the global average of 34 percent. These numbers are particularly tragic for Syria, a country that, before the war, had school and university enrollment rates as high as or higher than the global average. In the context of global education, the needs of Syrian students are urgent and acute. The PEER clearinghouse will build on the resources that IIE has leveraged over the past five years through its Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis. Catalyst is providing the initial investment in PEER with the goal that governments and other donors will join the effort to expand its reach to refugees and displaced people at all levels of education and in all world regions. When the conflict in Syria started more than five years ago, over a quarter of the country's 18-24 year olds were already enrolled in tertiary education. Now 4 million Syrian children are out of school, including at least 150,000 university-qualified Syrians who were enrolled in university or on track to do so when war broke out. Humanitarian relief organizations are so overwhelmed that less than 2 percent of funds raised today are being spent on education at any level. A web-based, mobile-ready platform in both English and Arabic, PEER will offer students access to a comprehensive database of education and scholarship opportunities and application guidelines, as well as other important resources such as online courses and MOOCs, translation services, and education advocacy groups, and connect students with personalized advising services. Bringing together so many disparate resources into one platform is an essential step on the path to helping millions of students worldwide access the tools they will need to build their future and rebuild their communities. Donor governments, NGOs, foundations, and volunteer efforts by educational institutions are trying to address gaps, but refugee and internally displaced students at all levels often find access to opportunities largely by serendipity. More often, those seeking to help are frustrated by the lack of comprehensive resources. They labor unaware of parallel efforts by others and thereby are unable to capture the programmatic advantages and efficiencies of coordination and common enterprise. Mr. Sexton, a higher education leader known for his vision for the global university, and a founding director of the Catalyst Trust, said, "If they have school, the displaced students can turn their lives around. Many in the higher education community have indicated that they are willing to accept refugee students. We aim to provide them with the education they deserve." Mr. Brown, who launched the "Education Cannot Wait Fund" in May at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, has been an outspoken advocate for keeping students from countries in crisis in education and is serving as an advisor to the new Trust. "Currently, in every humanitarian crisis and conflict zone, schooling for refugees falls through the net caught between humanitarian aid, which inevitably focuses on survival, and ordinary development aid which is allocated years in advance, said Mr. Brown. "As a result, 25 million of the world's out-of-school children almost half of all children denied schooling are in conflict zones. Without help to continue education in emergencies there is no chance of ever reaching the goal of universal education." IIE's history of providing emergency assistance to students and scholars facing threats and danger spans nearly 100 years. Its response to the ongoing conflict in Syria and other countries in crisis, including the IIE Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis, the IIE Emergency Student Fund, and the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund, continues this legacy. Allan Goodman, president and CEO of the not-for-profit Institute of International Education, remarked, "As the crisis multiplies, there is a real prospect of a lost generation. We must not let that happen. IIE's new partnership with the Catalyst Trust to build the PEER clearinghouse is a tremendously valuable breakthrough in connecting displaced students with resources anywhere in the world." This year, with private support, IIE is launching a new scholarship fund that will support a total of 65 Syrian students through full scholarships or emergency grants for living expenses. IIE's Syria Consortium has mobilized higher education institutions to reduce or waive tuition for Syrian students who would enroll for full degrees, and IIE joined with Jusoor to create a new scholarship fund, 100 Syrian Women, 10,000 Syrian Lives earlier this month; nine students started their studies in the United States in fall of 2016. The PEER clearinghouse will add assistance and opportunities for K-12 (primary and secondary) students, with the long term goal of expanding to help students at all levels displaced by conflict from anywhere in the world. PEER will link together and amplify the important efforts of many international organizations and partners of IIE that are working to provide educational opportunities to Syrian students, including the Global Platform for Syrian Students, DAAD, British Council, Coursera for Refugees and Spark, among others. About Catalyst The Catalyst Trust for Universal Education works to expand access to high-quality education for children and youth around the world. It provides catalytic funding for educational projects that advance its goal of a world where every single child goes to school and receives a meaningful education. Together with its partners, Catalyst works to support the creation of structures and materials necessary to achieve this goal, and advocate for the increased government and private sector support from around the world, which is urgently required to address the global education crisis. www.thecatalysttrust.com About IIE The Institute of International Education (IIE) is the leader in providing international education strategies and program services. Its international approach to educationdiverse, borderless, and impactfulis a proven way for governments and companies to invest in global talent and solidify overseas relationships. IIE works with policymakers, educators and employers across the globe to prepare students and professionals for the global workforce and equip them to solve the increasingly complex challenges facing our interconnected world. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide, and over 1,400 member institutions. www.iie.org SOURCE Institute of International Education, Inc. Related Links http://www.iie.org "Hot Dog on a Stick continues to find ways to offer our customers the absolute best service around and value," said Lisa Merrell, Vice President of Hot Dog on a Stick. "Order ahead technology is the future of service and we knew our customers were hungry for a faster and more convenient way to get their HDOS fix. We're proud to use this new QSR technology and our new Skip the Line online ordering platform allows us to Stick a Smile on Your Face in record time." Hot Dog on a Stick's new online ordering system lets customers place an order and it will be fresh and ready for pick-up in-store at the time requested. The new easy to use system allows customers to skip the line in-store saving the customer time. Orders can be placed on Hot Dog on a Stick's website, http://hotdogonastick.olo.com, or thru the mobile app available on Google Play or the App Store. When new users download the app, they receive a $2 credit toward their next Hot Dog on a Stick purchase. The Spooky Sticks and Party Pack Tricks promotion offers a special "Spooky Stick" item promotion on Halloween. For $1, customers can choose any stick item (turkey, beef, veggie or cheese) on Monday, October 31, 2016 when they say "Stick or Treat" at the counter.* Additionally, customers can receive 10 percent off Party Packs when ordering online using the promo code HDOS10 starting October 1, 2016 (minimum order of $50).Party Packs are perfect for Fall get-togethers, tailgates, school events, office parties, and Halloween celebrations. Delicious 25 stick item Party Packs and fresh gallons of hand-stomped lemonade to-go are crowd pleasers and an easy way to feed a hungry group. They are ideal for a pre or post Trick or Treat dinners. Operated by Global Franchise Group, LLC, Hot Dog on a Stick has close to 100 locations in the U.S., as well as internationally including Korea. To find a Hot Dog on a Stick near you, visit www.hotdogonastick.com, or engage with Hot Dog on a Stick on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. *Valid at participating Hot Dog on a Stick locations only. Offer is valid for one $1 stick item of the customer's choice (turkey, beef, veggie or cheese) on Halloween, October 31, 2016. No purchase necessary. About Hot Dog on a Stick - www.hotdogonastick.com Established in 1946 in Southern California, Hot Dog on a Stick is known for its fresh, made-to-order hot dog on a stick and cheese on a stick products, hand-stomped natural lemonade, smiling customer service and its iconic bright striped uniforms. Hot Dog on a Stick provides customers with a fun all-American quick service restaurant experience, catering services for events, party packs, and fundraisers. Hot Dog on a Stick has close to 100 locations in the U.S. and internationally including Korea. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For franchising opportunities, visit www.hotdogonastickfranchise.com . About Global Franchise Group, LLC - www.globalfranchise.com Global Franchise Group, LLC is a strategic brand management company with a mission of championing franchise brands and the people who build them. The company owns a portfolio of franchise brands that includes five primary quick service restaurant (QSR) franchise concepts: Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Marble Slab Creamery, MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery, and Pretzelmaker. The brands are managed by GFG Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Global Franchise Group, LLC. Global Franchise Group, LLC is a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, an independent investment firm, with approximately $7 billion of capital under management and substantial franchise management experience. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410511 SOURCE Hot Dog on a Stick BROOMFIELD, Colo., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Adaptive Threat Intelligence, the latest security solution from Level 3 Communications (NYSE: LVLT), provides customized threat intelligence and alerting for customers. The cloud-based service builds on Level 3's portfolio of flexible, efficient security solutions. It is available in all regions. The Five "A"s of Threat Intelligence from Level 3 Communications Level 3 Communications. Adaptive Threat Intelligence leverages Level 3's global internet visibility and a team of security experts to provide customers with the assistance of a managed service. Customers benefit from the research and findings of the Level 3 Threat Research Labs team, the mitigation expertise of the company's security operation center (SOC) professionals and the ease of knowing which threats merit a response to the correlated and prioritized alerts. Estimates from the Federal Bureau of Investigation put ransomware on pace to be a $1 billion dollar a year crime. Enterprises need a security service provider with the tools and expertise to fight these pervasive, and potentially expensive threats. CLICK HERE TO LEARN THE FIVE "A"S OF THREAT MONITORING: http://news.level3.com/fiveasofthreatintelligence How It Works: Adaptive Threat Intelligence is a one-stop shop for customers. They no longer have to purchase reputation feeds for malicious activity, manage on-premises boxes or have in-house resources to correlate threat data and identify risks on their network. Adaptive Threat Intelligence is a cloud-based service that handles these requirements, providing a personalized, ranked list of actual malicious communications, no hardware needed. Sampled customer data is correlated against known malicious communications using Level 3 proprietary analysis from threat data sources, including its DNS, CDN and MSS infrastructure, and third-party data. Customers receive near real-time alerts for correlated events on their network. Level 3 SOC experts are available to provide additional context, and if needed, to mitigate threats or escalating Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. The interactive near-real time reporting system also provides historical views for additional analysis. Key Facts: As a global network services provider, Level 3 has an expansive view of worldwide Internet traffic and a broad view of risks. Level 3 takes action on wide-scale threats, protecting customers from known malicious actors. The solution distills actual communications, indicators of compromise (IoC), between customers and bad actors. The customer specific event information is available in the portal, security information and event management (SIEM) systems and email alerts. Customers benefit from having a team of Level 3 security experts to rely on for monitoring, enabling them to use their constrained security resources with greater efficiency. Level 3 collaborates across the threat intelligence community, benefiting its network and customers. Adaptive Threat Intelligence aligns with Level 3's other secure, efficient solutions like Adaptive Network Security and DDoS Mitigation Service. Features: Near real-time monitoring and threat notification Portal-based, actionable, automated and context-rich reports 24/7 SOC expert support Integrated event feed to customers' security information and event management (SIEM) platform Email alerts Key Quote: Christina Richmond, Program Director, Security Services with Infrastructure Services Research Group, IDC "CIOs and CISOs I speak with tell me the landscape is complex both internally and externally. They need visibility into the threats relevant to their company so they can prioritize security initiatives. The key for these IT leaders is to work with a company that has a breadth and depth of threat intelligence and makes the information consumable and relevant. Level 3's Adaptive Threat Intelligence combines customized intelligence and expertise to provide customers with actionable communications, specific to their network. With IDC predicting intelligence-based products will be ten times more valuable to enterprises by 2020, now is the time to invest in a solution." Anthony Christie, Chief Marketing Officer, Level 3 "Investigating threats using intelligence or reputation feeds is painful for customers. They need a smart filter for their security alerts to help them understand their priorities and to allocate resources. We correlate and prioritize live communications and rank the potential risks for customers, taking the burden off their IT and security teams so they can focus on their core business initiatives." Learn More: About Level 3 Communications Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) is a Fortune 500 company that provides local, national and global communications services to enterprise, government and carrier customers. Level 3's comprehensive portfolio of secure, managed solutions includes fiber and infrastructure solutions; IP-based voice and data communications; wide-area Ethernet services; video and content distribution; data center and cloud-based solutions. Level 3 serves customers in more than 500 markets in over 60 countries across a global services platform anchored by owned fiber networks on three continents and connected by extensive undersea facilities. For more information, please visit www.level3.com or get to know us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Level 3 Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Level 3, Level 3 Communications, Level (3) and the Level 3 Logo are either registered service marks or service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC and/or one of its Affiliates in the United States and elsewhere. Any other service names, product names, company names or logos included herein are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Level 3 services are provided by subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. Forward-Looking Statement Some statements made in this press release are forward-looking in nature and are based on management's current expectations or beliefs. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside Level 3's control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. Important factors that could prevent Level 3 from achieving its stated goals include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to: increase revenue from its services to realize its targets for financial and operating performance; develop and maintain effective business support systems; manage system and network failures or disruptions; avert the breach of its network and computer system security measures; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; manage the future expansion or adaptation of its network to remain competitive; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; manage risks associated with continued uncertainty in the global economy; manage continued or accelerated decreases in market pricing for communications services; obtain capacity for its network from other providers and interconnect its network with other networks on favorable terms; successfully integrate future acquisitions; effectively manage political, legal, regulatory, foreign currency and other risks it is exposed to due to its substantial international operations; mitigate its exposure to contingent liabilities; and meet all of the terms and conditions of its debt obligations. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found within Level 3's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important factors. Level 3 is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160914/407832-INFO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140908/144115 SOURCE Level 3 Communications, Inc. Related Links http://www.level3.com MONTCLAIR, N.J., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexus BioPharma, Inc., (OTC-BB: NEXS), a company specializing in the development of a weight loss drug therapy, announced today the appointment of Helen Stefanovic as Director of Regulatory Affairs. Ms. Stefanovic has broad and extensive experience in all aspects of the FDA drug approval process and has worked on product approvals in endocrinology, biologics, biosimilars, vaccines & anti-infectives, and oncology. She served as Manager, Science Policy, Corporate Strategic Planning and Policy at Pfizer Inc, World Headquarters. Previously she was Project Leader, Regulatory Affairs, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada. She began her career in regulatory affairs at Sandoz, Canada where she was instrumental in the successful registration of the key products SANDIMMUNE and NEORAL. Ms. Stefanovic earned a B.Sc. Biological Sciences at Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec and a M.Sc. Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Ottawa, Ontario. Warren C. Lau, President and CEO of Nexus stated, "We are pleased to have Helen on board. She has the expertise and experience to plan the company's pre-IND program and push toward our goal of commencing human clinical trials before the end of next year." "I am looking forward to the challenge of bringing this important life-changing product to the market in the most expeditious time frame possible," said Stefanovic. "We will be exploring all avenues that might include Orphan Drug Designation for Prader Willi Syndrome, as well as Accelerated Approval Pathway, Breakthrough and Fast Track Designation to compress the timeline." About Nexus BioPharma, Inc. www.nexusbiopharma.com Nexus BioPharma, Inc. is developing a new weight loss drug that works differently than any currently available prescription drug. It adjusts the body's metabolism to increase the burning of fat by activating the AMPK metabolic pathway, the same pathway activated by intense physical exercise. The underlying biochemistry was described in an article in the journal Cell Metabolism by Claire C. Bastie, and Jeffrey E. Pessin, entitled "Fyn-Dependent Regulation of Energy Expenditure and Body Weight Is Mediated by Tyrosine Phosphorylation of LKB1". Cell Metab. 2010 Feb 3;11(2):113-24 In completed pre-clinical trials of the pharmaceutical activation of this pathway, test subjects showed reduced fat mass with no loss of lean muscle mass, plus a higher rate of energy expenditure, increased insulin sensitivity, increased fatty acid oxidation, improved plasma and tissue triglyceride levels, with lower cholesterol. Upon translation of this pharmaceutical activation to humans, these effects are expected to have a significant impact on obesity and diabetes. Using the most advanced high throughput screening technology, Nexus BioPharma has identified small molecule compounds in a number of discrete chemical structure families that can efficiently activate the pathway. The Company has filed for intellectual property protection on a selection of compounds in a number of discrete chemical backbones. The Company's goal is to advance to pre-IND trials in preparation for FDA human trials of a drug that will safely mimic this effect in humans. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of Nexus BioPharma, and its subsidiary companies. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements" including statements regarding: the impact of the proceeds from the private placement on the Company's short term business and operations,; the general ability of the Company to achieve its commercial objectives, including the ability of the Company to sustain growth; the business strategy, plans and objectives of the Company and its subsidiaries; and any other statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (http://www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements. Contact: Lara Cely [email protected] 917-524-6107 SOURCE Nexus BioPharma, Inc. Related Links http://www.nexusbiopharma.com LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ocean Spray is bringing its iconic 1,500 sq. ft. cranberry bog display to Rockefeller Center Thursday, Sept. 22, to ring "the school bell" on the first day of fall. This year marks the bicentennial of the first cultivated cranberry harvest. The cooperative will be taking a page right out of history and science books to bring a Cranberry Classroom bog side to share the cranberry's amazing story of taste, health and heritage with visitors in a fun and fruitful way. The Cranberry Classroom will immerse visitors in a live lesson plan that focuses on the cranberry's farm to table journey. Led by multi-generational cranberry grower-owners and their families, the classroom brings the history, heritage, agriculture and harvest of America's favorite fruit to life through four interactive stations, including an immersive 360-degree virtual harvest. When: Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 Time: 12:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. EST Open to the public; cranberry harvest demonstrations; product sampling Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza Between West 49th and 50th Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues New York, NY 10112 PHOTO OPP: On-site interviews with multi-generation cranberry growers and their families Educational activity stations, including a 360-degree virtual cranberry harvest, bog terrarium and history station Spectacular visuals for live remotes/weather/broadcasts and Facebook Live About Ocean Spray Ocean Spray is a vibrant agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry and grapefruit growers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is now the world's leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries and is the best-selling brand in the North American bottled juice category. The cooperative's cranberries are currently featured in more than a thousand great-tasting, good-for-you products in over 100 countries worldwide. With more than 2,000 employees and nearly 20 cranberry receiving and processing facilities, Ocean Spray is committed to managing our business in a way that respects our communities, employees and the environment. For more information visit: www.oceanspray.com or www.oceanspray.coop. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150714/236260LOGO SOURCE Ocean Spray Related Links http://www.oceanspray.com FLOWER MOUND, Texas, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Opsgility, the global leader in Microsoft (MSFT) Cloud readiness, announced today that Patrick Anderson has joined the company as its new Chief Sales Officer, effective September 19th. Anderson comes to Opsgility from Microsoft, where he most recently served as Sales Director for the Microsoft South Central District's US Enterprise Solution Sales with the responsibility of overseeing the entire technical sales staff for that district as well as being responsible for all new net sales, in particular all of Microsoft's cloud technologies sales. "We are thrilled to bring such an experienced sales leader in both Microsoft products and the channel to Opsgility," said Michael Washam, CEO of Opsgility. "We partner hand-in-hand with Microsoft to enable some of their largest customers to deploy to the cloud. Patrick's deep understanding of the Microsoft ecosystem will prove invaluable as we expand our cloud readiness offerings and work even more closely with the Microsoft team." "Opsgility is a fast growing organization that has an incredible growth trajectory over the three years since start and is already the leader in Microsoft Azure training," said Anderson. "Not only am I impressed about the growth this company has had but excited about the potential it holds and what I can do to help this incredible team. The offerings from Opsgility are perfectly timed for all maturity levels of companies large and small alike. We can assist from evaluating the cloud all the way to getting a customer's team comfortable to run in the modern PaaS and SaaS world. We are already working with some of the largest companies in the world. Not only can we do this for enterprises, but for the system integrators that support them on a similar breadth, from getting them ready for the modern world of work to helping to align their value proposition in their market. We also partner with system integrators to be a soft off-ramp from project to customer for a full value proposition. I am excited about our newest offering that we will be announcing at Ignite. I could not be happier about joining this extremely talented company!" Anderson spent over nine years at Microsoft, most recently as Sales Director for the Microsoft South Central District's US Enterprise Solution Sales. Prior to Microsoft, Anderson led a number of key initiatives and strategies at other notable companies such as Pier 1 Imports and AST. He also serves as a Computer Science Executive Board Member for Texas Christian University and a board member for Boys and Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth. About Opsgility Opsgility's goal is to help enable our customers realize the full potential of the Microsoft Cloud by increasing the value of one of their most critical assets, their people. Opsgility is the global leader in Microsoft Azure readiness with over 75 subject matter experts globally available, a huge selection of proprietary courseware for instructor-led and on-demand training. What sets Opsgility apart is their custom curriculum and network of cloud experts that can enable your company for the cloud wherever your company is based. For more information, visit Opsgility.com SOURCE Opsgility Related Links http://www.opsgility.com PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Otoharmonics has announced that Dr. Damon Boyce, AuD has joined their team as Senior Audiologist, Clinical Education. With this hire, Otoharmonics reaffirms its dedication to providing high-quality service and training to the hearing professional community. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410657 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410656 Dr. Damon Boyce, Senior Audiologist, Clinical Education at Otoharmonics, makers of the Levo tinnitus therapy Utilizing an FDA-cleared neuroscience-based approach, the Levo System is a personal and patented nightly sound therapy designed to improve the quality of a tinnitus patient's daily life "This newly created position will lead our training and education initiatives for the Levo tinnitus sound therapy," said Michael Baker, President and CEO of Otoharmonics. "Dr. Boyce brings a wealth of audiology knowledge and specialized skills to Otoharmonics that make him a perfect fit for us." Prior to joining Otoharmonics, Dr. Boyce served as Chief Audiologist and Sales Manager for Westone Laboratories. He received his Doctorate in Audiology from Idaho State University and is a certified Professional Supervisor and Occupational Hearing Conservationist through the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC). Dr. Boyce has also travelled internationally training U.S. military personnel on topics including ear anatomy, proper techniques for taking ear impressions and the dangers of noise exposure. "After many years of professional experience as an audiologist, I'm excited to start this new challenge working directly with hearing professionals and their tinnitus patients," added Dr. Boyce. "Working with military personnel has given me a particular insight into the challenges faced by people living with tinnitus." As one of his first responsibilities with Otoharmonics, Dr. Boyce will begin hosting monthly, online Levo Lunch & Learn sessions for interested hearing professionals. Hearing professionals can access these sessions by visiting the Otoharmonics classroom portal at AudiologyOnline. Utilizing an FDA-cleared neuroscience-based approach, the Levo System offers a patented method to provide personalized sound therapy while sleeping. To learn more about the Levo System visit http://otoharmonics.com. About Otoharmonics Corporation Otoharmonics Corporation is a privately held company with headquarters in Portland, Oregon USA. An international team of worldclass neuroscientists, clinicians, business professionals and patients, Otoharmonics has developed the patented Levo System for the management of tinnitus symptoms. Utilizing an FDA-cleared neuroscience-based approach, the Levo System is a personal and patented nightly sound therapy designed to improve the quality of a tinnitus patient's daily life. Otoharmonics and Levo are registered trademarks of Otoharmonics Corporation. Apple is a trademark of Apple Inc. Contact: Brenda Edin Otoharmonics Corporation Email 503-336-9906 SOURCE Otoharmonics Corporation Related Links http://otoharmonics.com NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, a leading provider of professional healthcare display and monitoring solutions, announces the introduction of the Full HD Remote Head Camera GP-UH332. The Full HD Remote Head Camera system features include a small, lightweight 3MOS color head for high color performance, foot control and chemical-resistant coating. It meets safety standards (IEC60601-1) and the EMC standard (IEC60601-1-2). The camera will be available in October, 2016. Key features of the GP-UH332 include: EX ZOOM Function: Unlike digital zoom, this camera's high image quality is preserved when zoomed in to generate more detail. Multiple-User Functionality : Up to six user files can be stored. Chemical-resistant coating: Cleaning with a disinfectant will not result in cracks or discoloration. Designed for medical environments : The camera is designed for easy, intuitive operation. Foot Switch Functionality : Clinicians can maneuver the image without the use of hands. The new camera provides options to clinicians not ready to invest in a complete 4K imaging system. It can be coupled with either the FullHD Camera control Unit (GP-UH332C) or the 4K CCU (GP-UH532C). In March Panasonic debuted its 4K Ultra HD Remote Head Camera GP-UH532. Both cameras in the Panasonic lineup give surgeons in operating suites and remote locations the ability to see delicate procedures in rich detail. They are ideally suited to small spaces. By providing a Full HD system with a migration path to 4K, Panasonic continues to meet the needs of its customers. Both the Full HD Remote Head Camera and the 4K Ultra HD Remote Head Camera will be on display at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons from Sept. 24-28 in San Diego and the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in Chicago from Oct. 14 -18 in Chicago. Specifications of the Full HD Remote Head Camera GP-UH332 Power Supply DC12V 10% Power Consumption Approx. 40Wincluding camera head Optical System Micro-prism optical system Image sensor 1/3" type MOS 3 Video Output HDMI terminalFull HD23G-SDI terminalFull HD5 Video Format HDMI output 19201080/59.94p, 19201080/59.94i 19201080/50p, 19201080/50i SDI output 19201080/59.94p, 19201080/59.94i 19201080/50p, 19201080/50i Standard Illuminations 2000 lx3200 K, F11 S/N 54dBGain off Horizontal resolution 1000TV lines at center when 1080p output Functions AE, gain, electronic shutter, long exposure function, off gain, white balance, KNEE, detail, gamma switch, DNR, pedestal, flare correction, color level adjustment, hue adjustment, freeze, flip, mirror, status display, color bar output, foot switch, profiles, HDMI output switch, external sync, time, EX ZOOM (GP-UH332 series only), BT.2020 output (GP-UH532 series only), white shading correction, vertical and horizontal phase adjustment Foot switch 3.5mm diameter stereo mini jack External Control 3.5 mm diameter stereo mini jack 3-pole serial, RS232C signal compliant Operating temperature 040 Operating humidity 30%90%without condensation Dimensions GP-UH332H 27mmW 30mmH 42.5mmDexcluding tripod mount base and protrusions GP-UH332C 185mmW 57mmH 270mmDexcluding rubber feet and protrusions Weight GP-UH332H About 65 g GP-UH332C About 2 kg Finish Alcohol-resistant coating Sail White Camera Cable 3:GP-UC532G036: GP-UC532G0615: GP-UC532G15 About Panasonic System Communications Company of North America Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, delivers reliable technology solutions for government and commercial enterprises, nonprofit organizations, creative professionals and SMBs. Technologies include mobile computing devices and support services, healthcare display and monitoring solutions, point-of-sale solutions, video surveillance systems, video evidence capture and management solutions, professional displays, projectors, digital signage, video production equipment, and office communications and productivity solutions. About Panasonic Corporation of North America Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and solutions for consumer and business use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. As part of its CityNOW development approach, which is based on Panasonic's global experience planning and integrating Smart City technology, the company is partnering with the city of Denver to enhance access to and development of community engagement, energy efficiency, public safety, healthcare and other public services. Learn more about Panasonic at us.panasonic.com/news. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160513/367536LOGO SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America Related Links http://www.panasonic.com TUSTIN, Calif., Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Carlos Diaz, of NQR, CORP, recently completed research on televangelist Pastor Norman Quintero of Iglesia Getsemani in Tustin, California. Diaz wanted to explore the reputation of Pastor Quintero and the kind of work accomplished at the church. Diaz chose to represent himself as a homeless man upon first meeting Pastor Quintero, and then later explored the pastor's background and all the church offered including experiences by parishioners. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410578 Pastor Norman Quintero is a Man with a True Call to Serve as Reported by Carlos Diaz of NQR, CORP At first meeting, Pastor Quintero greeted Diaz at the church door and welcomed him with a hug and invited him inside. The next morning, Diaz witnessed Pastor Quintero's incredibly motivational sermon inviting all to believe in themselves. When the service was over, Pastor Quintero approached Diaz and asked about his needs. Pastor Quintero took Diaz to the pantry room and prompted him to take whatever he needed. It was explained that the food in the pantry comes from the Orange County Action Partnership Food Bank and Sprouts Supermarket. Diaz returned the following Sunday, and Pastor Quintero invited Diaz into his office. Diaz noted the many diplomas from the Universidad de Puerto Rico and Texas A&M as well as certificates of recognition from Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama, the United States Congress, the City of Dallas, Texas, the OC Alzheimer Association, and more. After being asked why he did not refer to himself as doctor, a distinction he had earned, Pastor Quintero noted, "Please call me Pastor, this is the title that came from the Lord, all those diplomas and recognitions are for the glory of His name, not mine." Diaz further learned that Pastor Quintero was on television each day and that his church offered many programs to the community including free meals, a food pantry, free legal counseling by local licensed lawyers, free immigration assistance, and pastoral counseling, among many other services. When Diaz inquired who paid for everything, Pastor Quintero noted that it was covered by parishioners' offerings and tithes as well as the financial contributions from he and his wife Gloria. Pastor Quintero also noted that while he did not get paid by the church, he worked primarily as a real estate broker in California and Florida. He noted he is a full time student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where he is finishing his doctorate in psychology. Pastor Quintero explained to Diaz that he works hard to help his parishioners unleash their potential to achieve everything that God has in store for them. He described his parishioners as humble people who are trying hard to succeed where the biggest obstacle is cultural beliefs, and many carry scars of what they have experienced in their past. Pastor Quintero disclosed that in the upcoming weeks, youth at the church will have a two-night camping trip at his ranch where he will be conducting workshops targeted to provide the necessary tools to succeed. After several more visits to his church, Diaz found that in each service Pastor Quintero's message of empowering in the name of Jesus was a combination of the gospel with psychology, provided in a very basic language, and impacted many members of the congregation. Diaz believes that Pastor Quintero has proven to be authentic and a committed pastor. After talking to several members of the church, Diaz found that all of them had only words of praise for Pastor Quintero and his mission to help everyone. When the members were pressed to provide specific areas where he has helped, the answers ranged from their marriages, finances, school, illness, loneliness, finding a job, their children, getting back on their feet, among other. One of his parishioners, Renal, a 21-year-old male, disclosed that he was living on the streets, and Pastor Quintero helped him to get off drugs, and also found him a job and a place to live. In closing his research, Diaz believes that Pastor Quintero is well-educated man that truly lives for the Gospel of the Lord and does not personally benefit from the church's finances. About Iglesia Getsemani Pastor Norman Quintero's church is located at 1411 Warner Ave, Tustin CA 92780 with services on Sundays at 10:00 AM and on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. For more information, visit Getsemani.us. Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE NQR, CORP NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviation industry suppliers from around the world will gather at the prestigious Jonathan Club in Los Angeles on October 4-5, 2016 for the SpeedNews 21st Annual Business & General Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference (BGA21), presented by Penton's SpeedNews, the source for aviation news and information. To register, visit http://speednews.com/business-and-general-aviation-industry-suppliers-conference/registration. Formerly known as the Regional & Business Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference, BGA21 offers participants the opportunity to meet prominent experts to network and hear views on current market trends on how to prepare for the future. The agenda is targeted to equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, MRO and IT suppliers, aviation marketing and business development professionals, analysts and the financial community, as well as others interested in developing a better understanding of the industries' current programs, and market forecasts & deliveries. Presenters will include industry experts from both the business and general aviation and manufacturers on industry advancements and achievements. Scheduled presenters include representatives from: Airbus Helicopters Asset Insight Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research Bell Helicopter Textron Bombardier Business Aircraft Dassault Falcon Jet Embraer Executive Jets GE Aviation Gulfstream Aerospace ICF International InterFlight Global Corporation Jetcraft National Air Transportation Association (NATA) Philpott Ball & Werner PNC Aviation Finance Renaissance Strategic Advisors Rolland Vincent Associates Textron Aviation Walsh Aviation Immediately following and co-located with the SpeedNews 21st Annual Business & General Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference, the Aircraft Bluebook Market Values Roundtable offers a market overview from leaders at Aircraft Bluebook, including sessions on key factors and external factors affecting business aircraft values. Separate registration is required. Sponsors of the SpeedNews 21st Annual Business & General Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference include Exostar and Safran. More information on the event is available at http://speednews.com/business-and-general-aviation-industry-suppliers-conference/information or by calling +1-424-465-6501. On Twitter, follow @speednewsconf (https://twitter.com/speednewsconf). For information about all SpeedNews events, visit http://speednews.com/all/conference. ABOUT PENTON'S AVIATION WEEK NETWORK Penton's Aviation Week Network is the largest multimedia information and services provider for the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries that has a database of 1.2 million professionals around the world. Industry professionals rely on Aviation Week for analysis, marketing and intelligence. Customers include the world's leading manufacturers, suppliers, airlines, business aviation operators, militaries, governments and other organizations that serve this global market. The product portfolio includes Aviation Week & Space Technology, AC-U-KWIK, Aircraft Blue Book, Airportdata.com, Air Charter Guide, Air Transport World, AviationWeek.com, Aviation Week Intelligence Network, Business & Commercial Aviation, ShowNews, SpeedNews, Fleet and MRO forecasts, global maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) tradeshows and aerospace & defense conferences. ABOUT PENTON Penton is an innovative information services company that empowers nearly 20 million business decision makers in markets that drive more than 12 trillion dollars in purchases each year. Our products inform with rich industry insights and workflow tools; engage through dynamic events, education and networking; and advance business with powerful marketing services programs. Penton is the way smart businesses buy, sell and grow. Headquartered in New York, Penton is privately owned by MidOcean Partners and Wasserstein & Co., LP. For more information, visit http://www.penton.com or follow us on Twitter @PentonNow. ABOUT SPEEDNEWS CONFERENCES SpeedNews Conferences, the leader in global executive events, provides targeted information and professional networking opportunities for senior level aviation decision makers, aerospace leaders, financial institutions, economic development organizations, and industry analysts. Each Conference delivers an array of commercial aviation, raw materials, defense aviation, aerospace manufacturing, economic development, M&A developments, and regional and business aviation information and data. SpeedNews Conferences offer an unmatched depth of market data and innovative ways to present your organization's materials. Meet with distinguished experts in the aerospace industry, and learn about current trends, new products and forecasts, as well as network with your customers and peers. From aircraft and engine manufacturing to current financial reports and data, you will walk away with timely, crucial knowledge from these experts to help guide your business plans for the coming year. To stay on top of our Conferences, please view the current issue of Conference Watch - the bimonthly newsletter which provides a glimpse into our SpeedNews Conferences, the highlights and the foresights, and a peek into our Conferences on the horizon. MEDIA CONTACT: Joanna Speed SpeedNews O +1-424-465-6501 M +1-310-384-6942 [email protected] @speednewsconf Facebook.com/SpeedNews linkedin.com/company/speednews Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410339LOGO SOURCE Penton Related Links http://www.penton.com NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmaceutical excipients are inactive substances in the drug which helps in modulating solubility, bioavailability and stability of active substances for formulating final drug dosage forms. The excipients form the major part of any medicinal product and proportion of it when compared to Active Pharmaceutical Agent (API) exceeds two to three fold in any pharmaceutical preparations. Hence, various charaterstics such as functionality, regualtory status, sources, cost, consistency, bio availability, physicochemical properties, stability, and pharmacokinetic parameters etc play a major role in determine sutibaility of a substance as excipient. As estimated by IQ4I Research the pharmaceutical excipient global market is poised to grow at a mid range single digit CAGR to reach $7,716 million by 2022. Pharmaceutical excipient market is segmented by source, products, process, functionality, drug dosage forms and finished products. In source excipients market, plant-based excipients holds major share and is fastest growing segment at a CAGR of 7.3%. By products it is segmented into inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals and pharmaceutical water, among which organic chemicals holds major share and others segment is the fastest growing segment. Inorganic chemicals are further segmented into calcium salts, halites, metallic oxides, silicates and other inorganic chemicals, among which metallic oxides holds major share of 44.0%. Organic chemicals are further divided into carbohydrates, petrochemicals, oleochemicals, proteins and other organic chemicals, among which carbohydrates holds major share. By process it is segmented into granulation and direct compression methods. By functionality type, binder & adhesives holds major share with a strong CAGR of 7.7% from 2015 to 2022. By dosage forms, it is segmented into oral, topical, parenteral and advanced, among which oral dosage forms holds major share and is the fastest growing segment. By finished products, it is segmented into prescription and Over-The-Counter (OTC) products. In finished products segment, prescription drugs holds major share with a strong CAGR of 6.5%. Geography segment is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, rest of the world (ROW) where North America holds largest share of 39.40% and Asia-Pacific is fastest growing region from 2015 to 2022. Additionally, top selling pharmaceutical excipient lists are identified. North America holds the largest share in the pharmaceutical excipient market due to rising demand for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical drugs and presence of a large number of excipient manufacturers in this region. Europe holds second major share followed by Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region where emerging countries such as China and India are the major players due to low labour costs, increased outsourcing of inorganic & organic chemicals manufacturing and increasing governmental spending on healthcare. Presently, there is demand for the development of novel excipients with technological advancements like new chemical entity excipients, new chemically modified grade excipients, existing excipients with the various route of administration and co-processed excipients. These novel excipients increase the scope for the development of new formulations and drug delivery system which is a major gain for the industry, but high cost and lengthy developmental process along with the safety and quality issues are delaying the excipients approval. Combination excipients are mostly preferred by the manufacturers as the single excipients do not meet all the functional requirements such as high solubility, stability and bioavailability. The pharmaceutical excipient global market is a highly competitive market hence all the existing players in this market are involved in developing new and advanced therapeutics to maintain their market shares. Some of the key players contributing at global level for pharmaceutical excipient market growth are Ashland Inc (U.S.), Associated British Foods Plc (U.K.), Avantor Performance Materials, Inc (U.S.), BASF SE (Germany), Croda International Plc (U.K.), Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), FMC Corporation (U.S.), Lubrizol Corporation (U.S.) and Roquette (France). Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04155351-summary/view-report.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com PUNE, India, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Photonics Market by Application (Display, Photovoltaic, Lighting, Manufacturing Technology), End-use Industry (Building & Construction, Media, Broadcasting & Telecommunication, Consumer & Business Automation, Medical, Industrial) - Global Forecasts to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, The Market size is estimated to reach USD 724.22 Billion by 2021, registering a CAGR of 8.4% between 2016 and 2021. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 86 market data Tables and 58 Figures spread through 160 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Photonics Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/photonics-market-88194993.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. Information & communication technology, the largest application for photonics market Increasing demand from applications such as displays, information & communication technology, photovoltaic, medical technology & life sciences, measurement & automated vision, lighting and production technology are driving the photonics market. Among the applications, information & communication technology is estimated to be the largest application for the photonics market. In this application segment, photonics is used in data conversion, amplifier systems and light modulation systems (e.g. modulators, switches, routers), fiber optic cables for data transmission, and storage devices such as hard-drives and servers. Rising demand in Asia-Pacific, the major driver for growth of the photonics market In 2015, Asia-Pacific accounted for the largest share for the global photonics market and also registered the highest growth rate between 2016 and 2021. Japan is currently the largest market for photonics, but it is projected to be overtaken by China during the forecast period. The Indian government has started investment promotion programs to assist building & construction projects as well as the telecommunication industry, which is driving the demand for photonics significantly. India is the fastest-growing market for photonics. Make an Inquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=88194993 The key companies profiled in the Photonics Market research report are Royal Philips N.V. (The Netherlands) , Schott AG (Germany), Nikon Corporation (Japan), Shin-Etsu Chemical Company Limited (Japan), Hoya Corporation (Japan), Corning Incorporated (U.S.), Asahi Glass Company Limited (Japan), II-VI Inc. (U.S.), Ohara Inc. (Japan), and American Elements (U.S.). The scope of the report includes detailed information regarding the major factors influencing the growth of the photonics market such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overview, products & services, key strategies, investments & expansions, mergers & acquisitions, and recent developments associated with the market. The photonics market has been segmented on the basis of application, end-use industry, and region. Browse Related Reports: Fiber Optics Market by Application (Telecom & Broadband, Utilities, Oil & Gas, Private Data Networks, Military/Aerospace, Cable Television & Others) - Global Trends & Forecasts to 2019 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/fiber-optics-market-238443438.html Optical Brighteners Market by Application (Paper, Fabrics, Detergents & Soaps, Synthetics & Plastics & Others), by End User (Consumer Products, Textiles & Apparel, Packaging, Security & Safety & Others) - Global Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/optical-brightener-market-95811166.html Know More About our Knowledge Store @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Knowledgestore.asp About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets 701 Pike Street, Suite 2175, Seattle, WA 98101, United States Tel: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/chemical Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Many companies talk about empathy, but empathy is about more than just walking in another's shoes. What if you took the extra step and made every decision by starting with a simple question: How will this decision care for people so they can be their best? Hyatt Hotels Corporation President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian says taking a reverse perspective has allowed the company to unleash its most valuable asset its 100,000 colleagues worldwide. Amid unprecedented industry disruption, Hyatt is redefining the hotel experience and writing the next chapter of its story. In this session, Mark will discuss what it really means to apply a reverse perspective throughout the business, and will share key examples for improving employee engagement, bettering business results, and ultimately making a bigger impact on the world. Event Details Global Leaders Series: Thursday, September 29, 2016 Hyatt Regency McCormick Place 2233 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago Registration and Networking: 7:15 a.m. ; Breakfast Program 8:00 - 9:15 a.m. Speaker: Mark Hoplamazian , President & CEO, Hyatt Hotels Corporation Global Leaders Platinum Series Sponsor: KPMG Gold Sponsors: JPMorgan Chase, PwC Media Sponsor: The Wall Street Journal About The Executives' Club of Chicago: The Executives' Club of Chicago is the city's premier membership and networking organization focused on senior executives networking, development and innovation. The Club serves as a platform for executives to build relationships, share ideas, develop new business opportunities and participate in world-class programming. The Club helps executives with their personal and professional development and prepares the next generation of business leaders for success. For more information, visit www.ExecutivesClub.org. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120203/MM47327LOGO SOURCE The Executives' Club of Chicago Related Links http://www.executivesclub.org The MENA region represents about 6% of the total world population. This agreement dramatically expands the global footprint of Flublok and other Protein Sciences' vaccines. Dan Adams, Executive Chairman and Global Head of Business Development for Protein Sciences said, "Representatives from the MENA region have long been interested in Flublok and other Protein Sciences' vaccines because of Flublok's attractive product profile as a high efficacy, high purity flu vaccine. Our platform technology that allows safe and rapid development of vaccines against viral threats in the region has also driven the interest." He added, "Avanzcare's extensive network in the region and experience in securing regulatory approval of pharmaceutical products make it a strong partner that will allow us to reach many countries while streamlining operations." He added, "We acknowledge and are very grateful for the role the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S Embassy in Qatar played in initiating and assisting in the successful completion of this important partnership." Sheikh Turki Bin Faisal al Thani, Chairman for Al Sawari Holding, said, "Avanzcare is determined to make a difference on patient's daily life by ensuring access to innovative products and services that will contribute to a healthier life. Protein Science's innovative vaccines will generate significant value to our region's healthcare and above all protect our people." Dana Shell Smith, U.S. Ambassador to the State of Qatar said, "We are so pleased to see another U.S. company successfully enter the Qatari market. There are so many promising opportunities here in a variety of sectors such as biotech and healthcare and American companies like Protein Sciences are helping to pave the way towards innovative solutions." John Youssef, General Manager of Avanzcare said, "We are pleased to associate with Protein Sciences as this partnership represents an important step for our company that is committed to constantly develop the healthcare sector and improve the quality of life in our region. Together we will be able to deliver a highly effective, pure, and safe flu vaccine, a latent need in the MENA region." About Protein Sciences Protein Sciences is a vaccine development and protein production company that is dedicated to saving lives and improving health through the creation of innovative vaccines and biopharmaceuticals. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, recently awarded the Company a contract that is part of the Authority's medical countermeasures against pandemic influenza and influenza strains with pandemic potential (contract number HHSO100201600005I). Protein Sciences stands to receive up to $610 million through 2021 if BARDA exercises all options. About Avanzcare Avanzcare is a Qatari company serving the healthcare sector through pharmaceutical distribution, manufacturing, healthcare centers, retailing, and Co-Marketing. Through selective partnerships, Avanzcare strives to identify latent needs and offer the most innovative and efficient products and services to address them. Its well-defined strategy unites their regional expertise with their strong global network to work towards the final goal: constantly improve peoples well-being. Avanzcare is invariably seeking to contribute to the development of the healthcare sector in the region by providing advanced health solutions. About Flublok Flublok, the world's first recombinant protein-based vaccine for the prevention of seasonal influenza disease, was initially approved by the U.S. FDA in January 2013. FDA expanded its approval in October 2014 to include everyone over 18 years and approved a nine month shelf life in June 2016. Flublok is also licensed for sale in Mexico and licensure in additional countries, including Japan, is expected in the near future. Flublok is the only flu vaccine made in a 100% egg-free system using modern cell culture technology, making it unnecessary to use an infectious influenza virus, antibiotics or harsh chemicals in manufacturing. Flublok is highly purified and does not contain any preservatives (e.g., thimerosal, which contains mercury), egg proteins, gelatin or latex. In addition, Flublok contains three times more antigen than traditional flu vaccines (3x45mcg hemagglutinin protein versus 3x15mcg hemagglutinin protein) and was shown to have superior efficacy in a 2014/15 post-marketing study.* Flublok is an accurate copy of the virus coat and is not subject to the egg-adapted mutations associated with low vaccine effectiveness (see Skowronski et al. (2014) PLOS ONE 9(3), e92153). Healthcare professionals wishing to order Flublok should contact one of the following distributors: Protein Sciences Corporation: 203-686-0800 www.flublok.com FFF Enterprises: 800-843-7477 www.myfluvaccine.com Cardinal Health: 866-677-4844 http://www.cardinal.com/us/en/SPD/Ordering McKesson: 877-MCK-4FLU mms.mckesson.com Moore Medical: 800-234-1464 www.mooremedical.com/flu Henry Schein : 1-800-772-4346 www.henryschein.com : 1-800-772-4346 www.henryschein.com Avanzcare Co. (for the MENA region) : 00974-4497-1555 avanzcare.com Learn more at www.proteinsciences.com and www.flublok.com. Flublok Safety Information Flublok is approved for people 18 and older to prevent influenza disease. The most common side effect from Flublok is pain at the site of injection. Headache, fatigue or muscle ache may occur. Tell the doctor if you have ever experienced Guillain-Barre syndrome (severe muscle weakness) or have had a severe allergic reaction to any component of Flublok vaccine. Vaccination with Flublok may not protect all individuals. Clinical effectiveness in adults 50 and older is based on the immune response elicited by Flublok and not on demonstration of decreased influenza disease. Please see the complete Package Insert available at www.flublok.com or call 203-686-0800 for more information. *Flublok demonstrated a higher antibody response to the A strains in two field trials in adults > 50 years old. The B strain antibody responses were comparable to traditional trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410842 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140617/118909 SOURCE Protein Sciences Corporation Related Links http://www.proteinsciences.com WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The PURE Group of Insurance Companies, inclusive of Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE), the policyholder-owned property and casualty insurer designed for high net worth individuals and families, is one of the 2016 Best Workplaces for Women, according to global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work and Fortune. "There's a strong correlation between being able to talk openly with company executives and feeling like a workplace is fair," said Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. "The Best Workplaces for Women do well at paving the way for those open dialogs, and as a result, women are more likely to feel they get fair consideration in their jobs and careers. Congratulations to these great companiesthey are showing everyone how to create a Great Place to Work for ALL." Both women and men at Best Workplaces for Women feel their employers provide ample opportunities to grow and advance in their careers, and provide them with the flexibility they want to balance their work and personal lives. "PURE is dedicated to creating a culture that supports all of its employees, and we are very proud to have earned this recognition," said Colin Haupt, Vice President of Human Resources at the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. "We're actively testing and putting in place programs designed to improve the lives of our employees in and outside of the office." PURE also ranked as a best workplace in the financial services and insurance category by Great Place to Work and Fortune. The Best Workplaces for Women ranking is part of a series of rankings by Great Place to Work and Fortune based upon employee survey feedback from Great Place to Work-Certified organizations. To see the full list of the Best Workplaces for Women click here. To see the schedule for all of our workplace lists and more information on how to apply, visit www.fortune.com/best-workplaces-for-women/. About PURE Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) is a policyholder-owned insurer dedicated to creating an exceptional experience for responsible high net worth individuals and families. PURE provides best-in-class, customizable coverage throughout the U.S. for high-value homes, automobiles, jewelry, art, personal liability, watercraft and flood. Having grown by more than 40% per year since inception, today PURE insures more than 55,000 responsible, high net worth families. Inspired by some of the finest policyholder-owned companies in the world, PURE emphasizes alignment of interests and transparency. PURE's low cost of capital, careful member selection, and proactive risk management all contribute to highly competitive rates. In return for a fee, PURE Risk Management, LLC acts as Attorney-in-Fact for PURE. For more information or to find a local broker, visit pureinsurance.com. You can follow PURE on Twitter and LinkedIn About the Best Workplaces for Women Published together with our partner Fortune, the 100 Best Workplaces for Women rankings are based entirely upon feedback from more than 137,762 women at Great Place to WorkCertified companies. Women completed our anonymous Trust Index survey, answering questions about how frequently they experience the behaviors that create a great workplace, including, for example, their assessment of how fairly they're treated regardless of gender, the quality and authenticity of communications with managers, and equitable pay and promotion practices. Women's anonymous responses resulted in a total score for each company, which was compared to the benchmark for organizations of that size, and ranked accordingly. Results from the survey are highly reliable, having a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of 6% or less. Winning a spot on this list indicates the company has distinguished itself from peers by being a great place to work for women, and has a workplace where women have high representation in the total employee population and in management positions. The 100 companies with the highest employee ratings and female representation were selected for the list. About Great Place to Work Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, including Best Workplaces lists and workplace reviews, Great Place to Work provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In the United States, Great Place to Work produces the annual Fortune "100 Best Companies to Work For" and a series of Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists, including lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small and Medium Companies and over a half dozen different industries. Follow Great Place to Work online at www.greatplacetowork.com and on Twitter at @GPTW_US. Contact: Mark Galante TEL: (914) 470-9941 FAX: (914) 328-3883 [email protected] SOURCE PURE Related Links https://www.pureinsurance.com The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is a U.S. government program managed by the U.S. Department of State, USAID, and the U.S. African Development Foundation to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. Rendeavour's in-kind contribution of $1 million to the YALI project demonstrates the company's commitment to developing Africa's future leadership through mentorship, skills training, and professional development opportunities. "We believe that building tomorrow's cadre of African leaders is the highest-impact way to develop sustainably," says Frank Mosier, Rendeavour's chairman. "With more than 200 million young people on the continent, the key to Africa's success lies in preparing its next generation for economic and political leadership." About Rendeavour Rendeavour is the largest urban land developer in Africa. Its portfolio includes seven satellite city developments, in Kenya, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and Ghana, encompassing 30,000 acres of land that will eventually be home to approximately 500,000 mostly middle income Africans. Contact For questions, please contact Tim Beighton, Head of Marketing and Communications, on [email protected]. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410930 SOURCE Rendeavour MONTREAL, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Resolute Forest Products Inc. (NYSE: RFP) (TSX: RFP) today announced the signing of an agreement to acquire the assets of Tembec's sawmill located in Senneterre, Quebec. By adding the operations of the Tembec sawmill to those of the company's existing Senneterre sawmill, Resolute expects to improve the productivity of its facilities and optimize the related woodlands operations in the Abitibi and Nord-du-Quebec regions. The transaction will be completed once all the conditions related to the purchase agreement are met to the satisfaction of the parties. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical results, performance, financial condition, or other historical information of Resolute Forest Products Inc. are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They include, for example, statements relating to the expected completion and benefits of the proposed Senneterre sawmill asset acquisition. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "will," "expect" and other terms with similar meaning indicating possible future events or potential impact on our business or our shareholders. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on management's current assumptions, beliefs, and expectations, all of which involve a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in this press release. Some of the potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual future performance or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, the possible failure to close the proposed acquisition or to successfully integrate the acquired assets into our business; that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected or that expected benefits from the acquisition may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame; and the potential risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. All forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements set out or referred to above and in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. About Resolute Forest Products Resolute Forest Products is a global leader in the forest products industry with a diverse range of products, including market pulp, wood products, tissue, newsprint and specialty papers. The company owns or operates over 40 pulp, paper, tissue and wood products facilities in the United States, Canada and South Korea, as well as power generation assets in Canada and the United States. Marketing its products in close to 80 countries, Resolute has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards. The shares of Resolute Forest Products trade under the stock symbol RFP on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange. Resolute has received regional, North American and global recognition for its leadership in corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, as well as for its business practices. Visit www.resolutefp.com for more information. SOURCE Resolute Forest Products Inc. Related Links www.resolutefp.com EDGEWOOD, N.Y., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chronic fatigue is a growing problem that drains workforce productivity and reduces the quality of life worldwide. Businesses increasingly recognize the scale of the sleep deficit and its effects on their bottom line. Now they have a new way to address it: Restworks, a new company launched by the makers of the popular MetroNaps EnergyPod workplace napping chair. Restworks offers a complete line of workplace short rest installations for corporations, hospitals and universities, including a line of comprehensive sleep solution packages. "There's a genuine sleeplessness crisis, and the organizations that respond to it proactively will be better positioned to harness their people's creativity and increase productivity overall," said Christopher Lindholst, Chief Executive of Restworks. "MetroNaps has assembled hundreds of EnergyPod installations in offices, hospitals, universities and fitness centers around the world. With Restworks, we're excited about taking a new approach, offering organizations bundled packages and flexible acquisition options that address all aspects of workplace rest, including equipment, technology, accessories and products for a complete solution." The official launch for Restworks is taking place at the upcoming Employee Healthcare & Benefits Congress being held September 25-28 in Washington, D.C. Media mogul and sleep advocate Arianna Huffington will be a keynote speaker at the event. Restworks and the National Sleep Foundation are co-sponsoring a book signing by Huffington of her New York Times-bestselling book, The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time. Restworks will display its comprehensive sleep solutions at booth 608 in the Sleep Pavilion at the conference. "We appreciate Restworks' dedication to sleep health and their partnership in sponsoring The Sleep Revolution book signing," says National Sleep Foundation CEO David M. Cloud. Restworks offers several packages: The Pod Pair, The Wellness Room and The Zen Pack, each featuring a combination of popular equipment, products, technology and services with affordable pricing on a rent or purchase basis. Available equipment includes napping pods with a timer, music and privacy; gravity neutral recliners inspired by NASA's gravity-neutral chaise; and massage chairs with intelligent sensor technology. Restworks offers an array of products and accessories to support workplace napping in the U.S. as well as in Australia and the United Kingdom. "Rest is a critically important component of overall wellness," Lindholst observed. "Research shows that a regimen of daytime napping significantly improves alertness, reduces the incidence of cardiac disease, improves productivity and enhances learning. Restworks gives organizations that want to improve results and their employees' well-being a one-stop shop where they can find all the resources they need." About Restworks Science tells us that well-rested people are happier, healthier and more productive. Restworks offers complete solutions for businesses that are seeking a competitive advantage through a fully energized workforce and organizations like universities and healthcare facilities that are looking to better the lives of the people they serve. The company provides transparently priced packages that include workplace napping installations and supporting technologies, education and products that promote sleep and wellness. Restworks supports the WELL Building Standard, sharing its goal of integrating health features into buildings. Through its products, expertise and partnerships, Restworks is actively involved in promoting wellness through better sleep solutions. Find out more by visiting www.rest.works. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160920/409820LOGO SOURCE Restworks Related Links http://www.rest.works REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States District Court for the District of Nevada granted Oracle's motion for a permanent injunction against continued copyright infringement by Rimini Street and continued computer access violations by Rimini and its President and CEO, Seth Ravin, in Oracle's long-running litigation against Rimini and Ravin. The Court also awarded Oracle $46 million in attorneys' fees and costs against Rimini and Ravin personally on top of the $50M in damages awarded by the jury last year, including a $14 million award against Ravin personally. Additionally, the Court granted Oracle's motion for an award of prejudgment interest, which we anticipate will exceed $24 million. "The Court's order sends a powerful message to protect innovators," said Oracle's General Counsel Dorian Daley. "This order helps to protect Oracle's investment in its software to benefit its customers and confirms that Rimini's infringement was unrepentant. Rimini and Ravin continue to falsely assert that their conduct is permissible. Their customers and prospective customers are on notice of their grave misconduct and the consequences of that misconduct." The Court awarded the permanent injunction because "Rimini's business model was built entirely on its infringement of Oracle's copyrighted software." The Court emphasized that "the evidence in action established Rimini's callous disregard for Oracle's copyrights and computer systems when it engaged in the infringing conduct." In awarding Oracle its attorneys' fees, the Court noted that "Oracle successfully prevailed on its claim for copyright infringement as the jury found that Rimini infringed every one of the 93 separate copyright registrations at issue." Further, the "$50 million verdict against defendants" was "five times the damages number presented at trial by defendants' damages expert," demonstrating Oracle's "substantial success" against Rimini. Significantly, the Court found that Rimini's previous denial of copyright infringement was based on "a conscious disregard for the manner that Rimini used ... Oracle's copyrighted software," and that Rimini's "significant litigation misconduct," including the intentional "destruction of evidence," warranted the award of fees. About Oracle Oracle offers a comprehensive and fully integrated stack of cloud applications and platform services. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), visit oracle.com. Trademarks Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. SOURCE Oracle Related Links http://www.oracle.com SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A Wisconsin Fire Chief is objecting Wednesday after hearing a letter he wrote to the San Antonio Fire Chief regarding the termination of his son and five other cadets is now being used to justify those actions. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410864 In Aug. 2016, six San Antonio Fire Academy cadets from the 2016 Bravo class were terminated on accusations they had drank in uniform while on duty at a Twin Peaks restaurant in San Antonio. It was later discovered the cadets were not in uniform and not on duty, but San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood still terminated the cadets. One of the fired cadets is the son of Chief James Angelo, of the Redgranite Area Fire District in Wisconsin. Chief Angelo personally appealed to Chief Charles Hood and also wrote him a letter. Originally, Chief Angelo believed, based on the conversation he had with Chief Hood, that the cadets had been in uniform and were on duty. "I was originally expressing my thoughts because of [the] conversation Chief Hood and I had concerning his explanation of the cadets' [situation]," said Chief Angelo. "After trying to find more facts and a different view of this whole mess I came to a very different conclusion." Chief Angelo believes Chief Hood misled him, knowingly or unknowingly, on the facts regarding the day the cadets went to the restaurant. "My thoughts now as a Fire Chief is that these cadets were falsely accused of wrongdoings based on very unsubstantiated claims," said Chief Angelo. "I do believe beyond a reasonable doubt that these accusations are totally false and hold no merit against these cadets." In the weeks following the cadets' termination, the reasons as to why the San Antonio Fire Department administration fired the cadets in the first place have changed several times. After it was determined the cadets were not in uniform and not on duty, Chief Charles Hood later implied in a news conference on Aug. 25 the event at the restaurant was more than just a "burger and a beer," but would not elaborate into the investigation. In a Sept. 13 memo sent to City of San Antonio employees, Chief Hood stated the cadets had misled their instructor into letting them leave early for the day. The cadets later stated the instructor had allowed them to leave early for the day and had also allowed them to leave early the day prior. "I feel that Chief Hood made some very bad decisions on this through the information he was given," said Chief Angelo. "I would not want to be in the corner that he is painting himself into. If I was in his place I would be going after whoever started this witch hunt to begin with." Chief Angelo has learned Chief Hood is using the letter he wrote him to justify his actions against the cadets. He feels that it is important to know that the letter Chief Hood is continuing to use was written based on false information provided to him by Chief Hood. "I am steadfast against Chief Hood using my initial email to justify his decision concerning the cadets," said Chief Angelo. Call the San Antonio Fire Department at 210-207-8400 if you believe San Antonio Fire Chief Hood should reopen the investigation into the cadets' firing. Visit http://www.safirefighters.com/blog for more details on why these six cadets deserve to get their job back. Web Version: http://www.safirefighters.com/blog/chief-charles-hood-uses-wisconsin-fire-chiefs-letter-to-mislead-and-garner-support-for-his-decision-to-terminate-6-cadets Contact: Chris Steele President, SAPFFA Contact: 210-692-4614 | Email SOURCE San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association BOSTON, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Skyhook, the world's leading independent location platform, today announced the launch of Precision Location for IoT, a lightweight, battery-conscious solution for integrating precision location into connected devices. Already award-winning, Skyhook's Precision Location for IoT has received a 2016 Product of the Year Award from IoT Evolution Magazine and IoT Evolution World, the leading magazine and website covering IoT technologies. According to McKinsey Global Institute, the total IoT market will be between $3.9 trillion and $11.1 trillion by 2025, but many organizations are scrambling to embrace IoT and the benefits that come with it. Until today, IoT device manufacturers, much like wearables manufacturers, have had difficulty integrating valuable location services into IoT devices due to memory, power and bandwidth limitations of their small form-factor. "We are now moving into uncharted territory with IoT," said David Bairstow, VP of Product at Skyhook. "Our Precision Location for IoT was engineered to be the definitive location solution for Wi-Fi connected IoT devices of any size. We are constantly innovating and evolving our location products to meet the needs of emerging markets and love the challenge of powering new use cases." Unlike traditional hybrid positioning solutions, Skyhook's Precision Location for IoT allows compact client source code to be compiled directly into the firmware of devices and can provide location directly to the device. Precision Location for IoT provides location using many signal sources, but can also provide location to devices based on Wi-Fi alone. Designed with the next generation of IoT devices in mind, the solution is highly secure, using advanced AES encryption and binary protocols to send and receive data. Integration is both flexible and scalable. To address the specific needs of the IoT market, Skyhook has developed two inaugural features: Echo : Echo allows device manufacturers to setup a server-to-server connection through Skyhook's online portal. Location responses, with identifying information, can be securely relayed in real time. This allows mapping and tracking applications to display device location information without additional round trip communication with the device. : Echo allows device manufacturers to setup a server-to-server connection through Skyhook's online portal. Location responses, with identifying information, can be securely relayed in real time. This allows mapping and tracking applications to display device location information without additional round trip communication with the device. Sonar: Sonar is an API to request the 'last known location' for an entire fleet of devices. This useful API for consumer or industrial IoT deployments keeps data storage costs low and does not require additional infrastructure to store last known location for each unit. For more information about Precision Location for IoT, visit: http://www.skyhook.com/iot About Skyhook Skyhook is a worldwide leader in location. Skyhook created and operates the most advanced global first party location network in the world today. Everyday Skyhook powers tens of trillions of location requests and location-based context requests around the world for adtech, publishers, devices, apps, wearables, media, mobile device management, digital rights management, device recovery and more. Skyhook is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation. To learn more about Skyhook, please visit www.skyhook.com. Media Contact Laura Paine InkHouse (for Skyhook) 781-966-4124 SOURCE Skyhook LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) Vice President of Gas Operations Gina Orozco-Mejia on Thursday was honored as a "Latina Corporate Pillar" by the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC) for her years championing supplier diversity and for being one of the highest-ranking Latinas at a Fortune 500 company. She was honored at the organization's 37th annual statewide convention at the Riverside Convention Center. Orozco-Mejia was recently named a vice president at SoCalGas and has the distinction of being the first Latina at an executive level at the company. "I commend the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce on its dedication to pursuing economic growth and to supporting Hispanic entrepreneurs. SoCalGas is committed to helping diverse businesses grow, which is why we are pleased to be a corporate member and supporter of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and we will continue to support its outstanding work in the community," Orozco-Mejia said. While CHCC noted that nearly 45 percent of SoCalGas' contract spending supported female, minority, and service-disabled veteran-owned business enterprises, the Latina Corporate Pillar award was meant to honor Orozco-Mejia herself. Established in 1978, the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce represents the interests of more than 800,000 Hispanic-owned businesses throughout the state of California. Orozco-Mejia was recognized at the Latina Empresaria Awards luncheon, which celebrated several Latina businesswomen who have helped other businesses succeed. "We honor distinguished women like Gina Orozco-Mejia a woman who came to this country from Mexico as a teenager and who triumphed over challenges to become SoCalGas' first Latina vice president," said Juan P. Garcia, CHCC's deputy director. "When she came to this country as a youth, she worked hard to grow fluent in English and she applied herself to math and the sciences and went on to graduate with an engineering degree from Cal State Los Angeles. We applaud Gina's determination and work ethic, for her leadership and commitment to help other business owners grow and thrive through SoCalGas' supplier diversity program." As vice president of gas operations for SoCalGas and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Orozco-Mejia oversees all aspects of gas distribution operations. She has a master's degree in business administration from Claremont Graduate University and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from California State University, Los Angeles. In 1990, Orozco-Mejia joined SoCalGas as an engineering intern. Over the years, she has held a variety of increasingly responsible roles in engineering, field services, gas system operations, environmental, international development and operations staff. She previously served as director of labor relations, responsible for working with the unions that represent approximately 5,000 SoCalGas employees; director of region operations, responsible for gas distribution, resource management, and engineering and planning and customer services; and director of system operations, responsible for gas control, gas scheduling and transmission system planning. About Southern California Gas Co. Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 145 years. It is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 21.6 million consumers connected through 5.9 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160629/385035LOGO SOURCE Southern California Gas Co. KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- WHAT: STEAM Studio, Rockhurst High School, and Gould Evans will host a special screening of Most Likely to Succeed an acclaimed film that provides a provocative look at the future of education, revolutionizing the way we approach "school" and student success in today's innovative world. The film, which is only available for select screenings, will be followed by a panel discussion led by local experts in education and design. Most Likely to Succeed offers a look at what students and teachers are capable of in the 21st century - if we have the courage to transform our schools (image credit: MLTS). Most Likely to Succeed examines the history of education in the United States while exploring compelling new approaches that will revolutionize the way we think about "school" and student success in today's innovative world (image credit: MLTS). DATE & TIME: Tuesday, October 4, 2016, 5:45 9:00 p.m. LOCATION: The Rose Theater at Rockhurst High School, 9301 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64114 AGENDA: 5:45 p.m. 6:20 p.m. Reception 6:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Film start (duration 89 minutes) 8:05 p.m. 9 p.m. Panel discussion with local experts in education and design RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/most-likely-to-succeed-film-screening-tickets-27445689797. FILM OVERVIEW: Most Likely to Succeed, which has been an official selection at some of the world's top film festivals including Tribeca and Sundance, examines the history of education in the US, revealing the growing shortcomings of conventional methods while exploring compelling new approaches to education in the 21st century. For more info, visit http://www.mltsfilm.org/. PANEL BIOS: Greg Owsley is Rockhurst High School's first STEAM Director. With our rapidly changing world, he believes it is an incredibly exciting time to be an educator and strives to serve as a model for his students each day by being a passionate Ignatian educator, a loving husband, and an avid juggler. Dr. Mandi Sonnenberg is a professor in the Department of Education at Rockhurst University and the director of STEAM Studio. As a former classroom teacher and administrator, she brings both vision and empathy to her passion for transforming today's education models. She practices a hands-on approach to supporting effective teaching and learning in the classroom. Scott Kreshel manages the Blue Valley School District's acclaimed CAPS Business Accelerator, which exists to support entrepreneurial activity and innovation in schools. He is a committed school leader and community builder, and an advocate of active learning environments that instill creative confidence in our youth. David Reid is a principal with Gould Evans and a leader in the firm's national practice in Education and Strategic Learning Environments. His thought leadership on projects is informed by ethnographic and post-occupancy research, offering a deeper understanding of the correlation between the built environment and education outcomes. About Gould Evans Gould Evans is a nationally-recognized design and planning firm with a diverse portfolio of architecture that stems from a design process that starts with the client's goals. We share a passion for regional architecture and design that positively impacts our communities. To learn more, visit www.gouldevans.com. About Rockhurst High School Rockhurst High School is the Catholic, Jesuit college preparatory for young men in Kansas City, MO. For more than 100 years, Rockhurst has served as a place of formation, where students are committed to a deeper experience, empowered by the Spirit, and learn to live as "men for others." About STEAM Studio STEAM Studio, located within the architectural studio of Gould Evans, is a special learning environment where students in grades K12 spend time fostering analytical, creative and critical thinking skills through a range of activities and curriculum in STEAM-related fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). Learn more at http://steam-studio.com/. Gould Evans / STEAM Studio Media Contact Megan Krtek (816) 516-9651 Email Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410624 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410625 SOURCE Gould Evans Related Links http://www.gouldevans.com ST. GEORGE, Utah, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Strata, a pioneer and leading developer of 3D design software, announced today that it has raised initial funding for its move into virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) for enterprise customers, along with changes and additions to the business. The funding was managed by Greg Kofford, co-founder at London and Australia based Lanstead Investors PTY Limited. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410573 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410572LOGO "Strata has a long and impressive history in 3D graphics. This funding puts them in a strong position to take advantage of this explosive new market," said Kofford. "We intend to continue to assist Strata in further funding and business development activities. We believe that VR and AR represent an important investment opportunity and Strata provides Lanstead and our clients excellent access to this opportunity." Kofford is also assisting Strata to bring in additional talent. New President/Managing Director John Wright has extensive experience leading technology companies, is a serial entrepreneur, and proven winner in building companies. A team of 3D artists, fresh off of winning a Student Emmy (CTA) were added, along with new engineering talent. "This was an opportunity I couldn't pass up," said John Wright, new Strata president. "VR and AR will change the world in profound ways and it's very exciting to be part of that change. With its history and extensive user base, I believe Strata is ideally positioned to be a leader in this revolution. The Strata 3D tools are already broadly used in projects for Fortune 500 companies like GE, Walmart and Starbucks as well as thousands of other companies worldwide. These enterprise customers are the real opportunity for VR and AR." Strata will be exhibiting at the Shop.org Digital Summit in Dallas, September 26-28. Mr. Wright will be available to meet with prospective customers and clients. The Future of 3D Design and Custom Experiences With VR and AR headsets, designers will be able to walk into their projects to refine, present and sell their ideas. In addition to licensed software, Strata is offering custom VR/AR development, built on top of the Strata VR/AR Platform. Strata can assist in turning 3D projects into full VR/AR experiences and also help create new experiences. Enterprise Markets where Strata holds a Position The Strata Design 3D user-base includes large brand owners and design agencies that can take advantage of VR/AR. These markets include: Packaging Product Store layout Signage Point-of-Purchase Exhibit Interior Design Architecture About Strata Strata is a leading developer in 3D and AR/VR. Strata, Design 3D and VR/AR Platform are trademarks of Corastar, Inc. and/or Strata Mixed Reality LLC. Emmy is a trademark and copyright of ATAS/NATAS. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective holders. For more information visit www.strata.com or call 800-Strata3D (800-787-2823) Media Contact Rebecca Taylor Email 435-628-5218 ext-210 SOURCE Strata NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP presented a Government Leadership forum today on presidential politics, featuring Henry (Hank) Sheinkopf, president of Sheinkopf Communications, and best-selling author and political strategist Roger Stone. Robert Abrams, former New York State Attorney General and chair of Stroock's Government Relations Practice Group, and Jerry Goldfeder, Stroock special counsel, author of "Election Law and the Presidency" and election law professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Fordham Law School, moderated the program. "This presidential election has stretched the boundaries of election politics like none before," said Abrams. "Roger Stone and Hank Sheinkopf are two of the savviest campaign advisors in the country, and today we heard a brilliant analysis and discussion of the current campaign and its projected outcome." Though Stone has represented Republicans and Sheinkopf Democrats during their lengthy careers, both agreed on what it would take for either candidate to win. Stone said, "I don't see an insurmountable lead any time soon. They are locked in a death struggle that will be solved in the electoral college." Though Hillary Clinton has more paths to success, especially via the electoral college, "anyone who can predict the election is wrong," Sheinkopf said. "The map is fluid, and incremental moves that pinpoint targeted voters will get a candidate over the line." With the first debate imminent, Stone predicted that Trump will not practice with mock debates. "What makes you think Trump will prepare?" he asked the audience of several hundred. "The only thing predictable about Trump is his unpredictability." And while expectations of Trump may be low at the debate, "there is a danger of coming in too strong against women, like an unguided missile." Stone's advice for Clinton? "Better to attack than defend." Sheinkopf noted that Trump can pull out voters who have been out of the process. "People vote when they have more intensity about the candidates," he said. A Stone prediction: "Expect Julian Assange and WikiLeaks to release additional Clinton emails, which could affect the race." A Sheinkopf prediction: "The new brokers of politics will be the money guys." Dr. Sheinkopf has worked on an estimated 700 political campaigns on 4 continents, in 14 foreign nations and 44 American states over the last 35 years. His political clients have included Bill Clinton, Michael Bloomberg and Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico. Stone has served in senior staff positions for nine Republican presidential candidates, including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Trump. He is the editor of StoneColdTruth.com and a best-selling author of several books. Today's event was the latest in a series of Government Leadership forums hosted by Stroock. Stroock's Government Relations Practice, led by Abrams, is comprised of former prosecutors, judges, and government agency officials. Abrams also served as President of the National Association of Attorneys General, Executive Chair of New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's Transition Committee and Honorary Co-Chair of Attorney General Schneiderman's Transition Committee. Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP is a law firm providing transactional, regulatory, and litigation assistance and guidance to candidates, leading financial institutions, multinational corporations, investment funds and entrepreneurs in the U.S. and abroad. With a rich history dating back 140 years, the firm has offices in New York, Washington, DC, Los Angeles and Miami. For more, visit www.stroock.com. SOURCE Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP Related Links http://www.stroock.com NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This research study analyzes the market for subsea boosting systems in terms of revenue (US$ Mn). The subsea boosting systems market has been segmented on the basis of water depth, application, and geography. The geographical segmentation includes regions which are further divided into twelve countries - major players in the global subsea boosting systems market. The report features a detailed regional segmentation with market growth forecasts for the 2015-2023 period. For the research, 2014 has been taken as the base year, while all forecasts have been given for the period from 2015 to 2023. Market data for all the segments has been provided at the regional as well as country-specific level from 2015 to 2023. The report provides a broad competitive analysis of companies engaged in the subsea boosting systems business. The report also includes the key market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities affecting the global subsea boosting systems market. These market dynamics were analyzed in detail and are illustrated in the report with the help of supporting graphs and tables. The report also provides a comprehensive analysis of the global subsea boosting systems market with the help of Porter's Five Forces model. This analysis helps in understanding the five major forces that affect the structure and profitability of the global subsea boosting systems market. The forces analyzed are bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and degree of competition. The high-level analysis in the report provides detailed insights into the subsea boosting systems business globally. There are currently numerous drivers of the market. The most prominent drivers include growing deep water exploration and production (E&P) activities and rising investments to enhance recovery of oil and gas from maturing subsea wells. Subsea oil and gas proven reserves by various regions were also considered for market analysis. Market attractiveness analysis was carried out for the subsea boosting systems market on the basis of application. Market attractiveness was estimated on the basis of common parameters that directly impact the market in different regions. The subsea boosting systems market was segmented on the basis of water depth (shallow water and deep water), application (oil and gas), and geography. The subsea boosting systems market has been segmented into six regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, South & Central America, Africa, and the Middle East. Regional data has been provided for each sub-segment of the subsea boosting systems market. Key players in the subsea boosting systems market include FMC Technologies, Inc., OneSubsea, GE Oil & Gas, Aker Solutions ASA, Baker Hughes Incorporated, ITT Bornemann GmbH, and Sulzer Ltd. The report provides an overview of these companies, followed by their financial details, business strategies, and recent developments. Subsea Boosting Systems Market: By Water Depth Shallow Water Deep Water Subsea Boosting Systems Market: By Application Oil Gas Subsea Boosting Systems Market: By Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Norway U.K. Rest of Europe Asia Pacific Australia China Rest of Asia Pacific South & Central America Brazil Venezuela Rest of South & Central America Africa Nigeria Angola Rest of Africa Middle East Saudi Arabia UAE Rest of Middle East Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04000121-summary/view-report.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com 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 SOURCE Greater Sacramento Area Economic Council SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vormetric, a Thales company, and a leader in enterprise data protection for physical, virtual, big data, and cloud environments, today announced Thales Orchestrator. Thales Orchestrator reduces the cost of protecting data at rest across organizations, enabling enterprises and cloud service providers to easily scale their use of encryption within their data center, public, private and hybrid cloud environments with orchestration for the Vormetric Data Security Platform of products. The Vormetric Data Security Platform from Thales already integrates into offerings of more than 40 leading cloud services, and into the operations of more than 1,500 enterprises, worldwide. With the release of Thales Orchestrator, Thales extends the reach of the platform to meet the emerging needs of enterprise customers for integrated, fast, DevSecOps ready data security deployment and management across public, private and hybrid cloud environments. For cloud service providers, the solution not only accelerates operations, but enables decreased time from order to revenue. Thales Orchestrator is the latest in an impressive set of recent innovations that extend Thales' leadership in data protection by eliminating barriers to the use of encryption solutions, and reducing the risk of adopting new technologies that help to drive growth and innovation: Live Data Transformation . A patented solution that allows enterprises to deploy encryption and rotate encryption keys without having to take critical applications offline. . A patented solution that allows enterprises to deploy encryption and rotate encryption keys without having to take critical applications offline. Key Management as a Service . A cloud-based service that simplifies the management of Salesforce Platform Encryption key lifecycles. . A cloud-based service that simplifies the management of Salesforce Platform Encryption key lifecycles. BYOK for AWS . Bring Your Own (encryption) Key management for AWS with Thales HSMs. . Bring Your Own (encryption) Key management for AWS with Thales HSMs. Fast Vaultless Tokenization . In-line tokenization that enables fast throughput and lower maintenance costs with Vormetric Tokenization. . In-line tokenization that enables fast throughput and lower maintenance costs with Vormetric Tokenization. Docker Encryption and Access Controls. Docker data-at-rest encryption and access controls that help to assure container images and file systems are controlled and secure. Click to Tweet: [email protected] eliminates #DataProtection cost & complexity with #Orchestration bit.ly/2cRKO4C Increasingly, enterprises recognize that sensitive data permeates their organizations. Compliance, regulation, customer requirements and simple prudence in the face of multi-layer attacks drive their need to protect this information. As a result, enterprises need to deploy and maintain data protection on thousands of physical and virtual servers within their data center and cloud environments without increasing resource usage and costs. Success requires tools that automate data protection processes at scale, support low total cost of ownership and reduce complexity. Cloud service providers face the added complication of constantly changing resource usage. Systems and applications must be deployed, managed and decommissioned in minutes. Time from order to in-service is also a critical measure of customer satisfaction, and can directly affect top-line revenue. Orchestration enables the required speed and agility to meet these needs, and is a prerequisite for data protection solutions that operate within these large scale environments. The manual processes of the past, with their speed limitations, and opportunities for error, are not an option. Simply Encrypt Everything As identified in the 2016 Vormetric Data Threat Report, complexity is the top concern of cloud and enterprise organizations when using data protection. Simplicity is critical and requires solutions that combine state-of-the-art protection for data combined with easy deployment, scalability and manageability. Thales Orchestrator is explicitly designed to meet these needs. The solution reduces the cost of using and maintaining Vormetric products with simple automation of deployment, configuration and maintenance at scale and across enterprise internal, hybrid and cloud environments. Orchestrator includes a pre-built connection to Chef, a configuration and automation tool widely used in cloud and enterprise environments. In addition, RESTful APIs enable existing and evolving enterprise and cloud IT automation systems to integrate with Orchestrator. "Thales Orchestrator directly addresses cloud provider and enterprise needs to easily scale and maintain data protection," said Vice President of Product Management, Derek Tumulak. "Orchestrator makes it even easier for organizations to adopt an encrypt everything strategy and provide strong protection for their data wherever it resides. The solution's open APIs are another critical element, enabling the scaling of data protection operations across local and cloud environments with hundreds to thousands of physical and virtual servers and a wide variety of automation and management tools." For more information, please visit: https://www.vormetric.com/products/orchestrator To learn more about global trends and perceptions about data security, download The Vormetric 2016 Data Threat Report. About Vormetric, a Thales company Vormetric's comprehensive high-performance data protection platform helps companies move confidently and quickly. Our seamless and scalable platform is the most effective way to protect data wherever it residesany file, database and application, in any server environment. Advanced transparent encryption, powerful access controls and centralized key management let organizations encrypt everything efficiently, with minimal disruption. Regardless of content, database or applicationwhether physical, virtual or in the cloudVormetric Data Security enables confidence, speed and trust by encrypting the data that builds business. Vormetric Data Security was recently acquired by Thales Group and is now a Thales company. Please visit: www.vormetric.com and find us on Twitter @Vormetric. About Thales Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defense and Security markets. With 62,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of 14 billion in 2015. With over 22,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its exceptional international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world. Positioned as a value-added systems integrator, equipment supplier and service provider, Thales is one of Europe's leading players in the security market. The Group's security teams work with government agencies, local authorities and enterprise customers to develop and deploy integrated, resilient solutions to protect citizens, sensitive data and critical infrastructure. Drawing on its strong cryptographic capabilities, Thales is a global leader in data protection and one of the world leaders in cybersecurity products and solutions for defense, critical infrastructure operators, industrial and financial companies. Covering the entire cybersecurity chain, Thales offers a comprehensive range of services and solutions that includes: cybersecurity consulting and testing, cyber-secured software centric system design / development / integration and certification, provision and through-life management of data protection products and services, secured IT outsourcing and cloud computing solutions, as well as managed security services based on our network of Security Operation Centers in France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. SOURCE Vormetric Related Links http://www.vormetric.com NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The historic Astor Crowne Plaza - New Orleans French Quarter, situated at the corner of world-famous Canal and Bourbon Streets, has undergone a dramatic transformation following a $13 million renovation that combines modern elegance with a touch of old New Orleans. All of the hotel's 700 rooms underwent a complete facelift, with modernized interiors that convey a new and lighter feel. Lighter tones and more effective use of natural light are vibrant improvements while local accents such as carpeting designed with iconic wrought iron shapes and framed vintage skeleton keys are beloved nods to old New Orleans. Full-scale changes such as all new carpeting, furniture, lighting fixtures in guest rooms and hallways have completely revitalized this grand hotel which dates back to 1852. Meeting spaces and hallways were also refinished with new carpeting, paint and wallpaper. The lobby features three dimensional maps of the City of New Orleans by noted artist Gregor Turk and are an interesting and fun way for visitors to learn their way around the Big Easy. "New Orleans is an original and so is the Astor Crowne Plaza - New Orleans French Quarter," said Andrew Done, the hotel's director of sales and marketing. "Our goal was to give the Astor updated interiors that reflect the best of the Big Easy graphic patterns, soothing shades of warm gray and pops of classic NOLA 'purple' modernize the interiors yet subtly remind guests of where they are. Guests will love this transformation it feels like a new hotel on the inside yet we've preserved the history and traditions that are the heart and soul of the Astor." The renovation has breathed new life into one of New Orleans' oldest hotels. The Astor is comprised of two buildings, including the six-story Alexa Tower which still boasts exposed brick from the original construction 164 years ago. The remainder of the hotel occupies what once was the old Woolworth store and is also home to Dickie Brennan's Bourbon House Restaurant and Seafood Bar. The hotel's design consultant, blackdog studio, oversaw the renovations. The hotel remained open as the renovations were phased-in over a six-month period. From laundry service and valet parking to free Wi-Fi and 32,000 square feet of meeting space, Astor Crowne Plaza provides a rich diversity of amenities and services to make your French Quarter getaway comfortable and productive. The Astor Crowne Plaza-New Orleans French Quarter is located at 739 Canal St. at Bourbon in New Orleans. For reservations call 877-408-9661. Visit www.AstorNewOrleans.com SOURCE Astor Crowne Plaza - New Orleans French Quarter Related Links http://www.AstorNewOrleans.com CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Noted urologic surgeon, Bert Vorstman MD, MS, FAAP, FRACS, FACS today, has issued a stinging report regarding the unreliable PSA test, the mislabelling of the common Gleason 6 prostate disease as a cancer and, the misrepresentation that the radical (robotic) prostatectomy treatment is scientifically proven to be safe and effective. A charade which represents an outrageous and shameful trifecta of abominations. Said Dr. Bert Vorstman, "It has been established irrefutably that the very common Gleason 6 prostate "cancer" is a pseudo-cancer because no man has died from this disease and as well, it lacks several of the molecular biology mechanisms typically found in cancerous behaving cells. Additionally, unlike a usual cancer cell, this cell has a very long doubling-time at 475 +/ 56 days so that from mutation to a growth of about 1 cm (under half an inch) in diameter takes some 40 years. Therefore, because the Gleason 6 disease lacks the hallmarks of a cancer, it is not a health-risk, does not progress to become a health-risk, does not require detection and, does not require treatment. The Gleason 6 is a bogus cancer." Dr. Vorstman continued, "Not only is the Gleason 6 "cancer" bogus but, it has also been established irrefutably, that the robotic radical prostatectomy lacks supporting scientific evidence-based medicine studies proving safety or effectiveness for treating any prostate cancer. This operation was based simply upon an ancient treatment philosophy which, through unbridled trial and error human medical experimentation, dogma, propaganda, medical bullying and, fear-mongering went from a conviction based upon tradition and consensus medicine to becoming fully transformed as an ideology into "standard practice". Even the recent FDA approval of the robotic device for use in the radical prostatectomy was achieved simply by being rubber-stamped through its corrupt 510(k) process and bypassing any requirements for scientific validation. Shamefully, this ill-founded radical cancer surgery is undertaken commonly for the noncancerous behaving Gleason 6 disease." Said Dr. Vorstman, "That the Gleason 6 has been misrepresented by urologists as a cancer and, the robotic prostatectomy misrepresented as scientifically vetted for being safe and beneficial constitutes an outrageous deception. A deception justified by corrupt urologists and their colluding prostate cancer industry partners who have committed an evil health crime by generating a false prostate cancer crisis involving contrived dangers simply to exploit vulnerable men for endless financial gain. Only the 15% or so of high-grade prostate cancers are potentially lethal and, only these types of prostate cancer demand detection and treatment but, are often missed in screening as they make little or no PSA." To review Dr. Bert Vorstman's full report, please go to: http://www.urologyweb.com/bogus-gleason-6-prostate-cancer/ About Bert Vorstman MD, MS, FAAP, FRACS, FACS Dr. Bert Vorstman is a Board Certified urologic surgeon. Born to Dutch parents in Indonesia, he grew up in New Zealand. After training at the Otago Medical School in Dunedin, New Zealand he completed a urology residency at Auckland Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. He fellowship trained in adult and pediatric reconstructive Urology at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia and, after NIH sponsored pioneering research on "Urinary Bladder Reinnervation" he earned the honor of a Masters of Surgery Diploma from the University of Otago in 1988. Dr. Vorstman was a faculty member at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida and then went on to found Florida Urological Associates, a busy urology practice in Coral Springs, Florida, USA. Dr. Vorstman's passion and dedication is to help men and their spouses/partners understand fully the implications of their particular prostate cancer as well as the minimally invasive treatment options available to certain men with localized, high-grade prostate cancer. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410467 SOURCE Florida Urological Associates Related Links http://www.urologyweb.com CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Approximately two-thirds of young people in Bronzeville-area schools said they felt worried for the safety of their friends or family members, according to recent data released by The Urban Resilience Network (TURN), formerly the Bronzeville Dream Center. The organization shared research findings related to youth exposure to violence and trauma from 19 schools at an event Tuesday at King College Prep. Additionally, TURN released a timeline for training of faith leaders to conduct trauma counseling in local communities impacted by violence. The training is based on an Israeli model that's used for treating Israeli citizens who experience post-traumatic stress disorder related to terror and war in the region. "Given the levels of violence and trauma in our communities, my question has been 'Who's counseling the victims and their families, our community members and even the perpetrators?'" said Pastor Chris Harris, founder of TURN. "We need counseling, we need healing and we need to change course." Leaders from Bright Star Community Outreach, Northwestern Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago joined community members in learning more about the risk and protective factors facing 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th graders in Bronzeville-area schools. As part of its work to bring data-informed programming and resources to youth and adults in Bronzeville, TURN conducted a survey in 19 local schools regarding young people's attitudes and behaviors related to both violence and opportunities for positive engagement in the community. With 1,538 students completing the survey (72% of eligible students), results included: Students reported fewer opportunities for positive involvement in the community than in school and lower levels of community recognition for positive involvement than in school Students reported high rates of fear and stress, symptoms of depression, alcohol and marijuana use and aggressive behavior 64% of youth said they felt worried for the safety of their friends 67% of youth said they felt worried for the safety of family members 35% of youth reported clinical level symptoms of depression 16% of 6 th graders and 63% of 8 th graders reported drinking alcohol 8% of 6 th graders and 58% of 8 th graders reported using marijuana 23% of students reported having attacked someone with the intention to harm "Our research shows the very real and adverse impact of being exposed to high levels of violenceexperiencing it and witnessing ithas on young people. Successfully navigating their futures requires very intentional and culturally appropriate mental health support as well as human service programming," said C. Hendricks Brown, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, part of Northwestern Medicine, a partner in TURN. The data will be used to further identify programs and services needed in the community, particularly mentoring and workforce development, and to inform trauma counseling that will be provided by faith leaders based on an Israeli model, a key component of TURN's work, beginning in January of 2017. About TURN The Urban Resilience Network (TURN) was until recently called the Bronzeville Dream Center. TURN, inspired by NATAL in Israel, is dedicated to serving Chicago with trauma-informed counseling and other social services aimed at minimizing negative factors that cause violence while increasing protective influences that yield positive outcomes. TURN focuses on four core competencies: counseling, mentorship, parenting and workforce development. TURN is led by Brightstar Community Outreach and supported by Northwestern Medicine, University of Chicago Hospitals and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. SOURCE Northwestern Medicine ALBANY, New York, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The top three players in the global transcatheter embolization and occlusion (TEO) devices market accounted for over 63% in 2015. Medtronic, plc. Cook Medical, and Terumo Corporation are the three companies that together dominated the market in 2015. Transparency Market Research notes that the degree of competition is moderate due to market consolidation as a result of frequent acquisitions. The competitive rivalry is influenced by the presence of large global players and few local manufacturers of transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices. In terms of revenue, the global TEO devices market was valued at US$2.4 bn in 2015 and is projected to reach US$4.8 bn by 2024 at a CAGR of 7.9% therein. In terms of volume, the global market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 8.1% from 2016 to 2024. Browse Latest Research Report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/transcatheter-embolization-occlusion-devices-market.html "Business agreements and partnerships among key market players will enable them to expand their global reach and market their products to newer regions," the lead analyst recommends. In January 2016, Terumo Corporation expanded its strategic alliance with Quirem Medical and became the exclusive global distributor of radioembolization solutions developed by Quirem Medical. North America Emerges as Leading Regional Segment In terms of percentage share contribution, the embolization coils segment is expected to reflect a share of 39.5% by 2024. Registering an impressive CAGR of 13.2% from 2016 to 2024 in terms of revenue, embolization particles are likely to emerge as a highly lucrative product segment in the global transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices market. By application, peripheral vascular disease was the leading segment in 2015, while oncology is slated to be the most attractive segment of the market. Based on end use, the hospitals segment accounted for a significant share in the global transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices market in terms of revenue. In terms of percentage share contribution, North America is expected to account for 32.3% by 2024, emerging as the leading regional segment of the global transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices market. Download Sample Report Copy or for further inquiries, click here: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2242 Rising Prevalence of Cancer Boosts Demand for Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices The TEO devices market is fueled by a number of factors, including an increase in the adoption of minimally invasive surgeries, a rise in the prevalence of cancer, technological innovations, and changing demographics and lifestyle leading to an increase in peripheral vascular diseases. "Embolization is a minimally invasive surgery that marks a significant advancement in medical technologies," the author of the report states. "The adoption of minimally invasive surgeries has increased significantly over the years owing to the various advantages they present, including less post-operative pain, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and faster recovery." Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity around the world and the rising prevalence of cancer globally has driven the demand for chemembolization and radioembolization. This has, in turn, boosted the demand for transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices. In contrast, frequent product recalls, stringent regulations governing product approvals, the lack of skilled professionals, and the lack of reimbursement policies in emerging markets threaten to impede the global market for transcatheter embolization and occlusion devices. This review is based on the findings of a TMR report titled "Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices Market: (Product Type - Embolization Coils, Coiling Assist Devices, Embolization Particles, Flow Diverter Devices, Liquid Embolics, and Accessories; Application - Peripheral Vascular Disease, Neurology, Oncology, Urology, and Others; End-user - Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Clinics) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Volume, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024." Browse Press Release on Regional Industry: http://www.europlat.org/asia-pacific-transcatheter-embolization-and-occlusion-devices-market.htm Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices Market, by Product Type Embolization coils Pushable Detachable Coiling Assist Devices Stent Assisted Coiling Balloon Assisted Coiling Embolization particles Radioembolization particles Microspheres Drug-eluting beads Others Flow Diverter devices Liquid Embolics Accessories Catheters Guide wires Others Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices Market, by Application Peripheral Vascular Disease Neurology Oncology Urology Others Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices Market, by End User Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centers Clinics Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices Market, by Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Australia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa UAE South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa & Browse Related Research Reports: Cardiovascular Disease Drug Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cardiovascular-disease-drug-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cardiovascular-disease-drug-market.html Surgical Procedures Volume Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/surgical-procedures-volumes.html About Us: Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S. based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMR's global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations. US Office Contact Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Blog: http://www.tmrblog.com/ SOURCE Transparency Market Research ATLANTA, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Triad Advisors, Inc. today announced that Summit Financial Consultants and Sorensen Wealth Management, two independent hybrid registered investment adviser (RIA) firms based in Westlake Village, California, have combined to form an expanded hybrid RIA firm under the Summit Financial Consultants brand. The combined firm has a total of more than $320 million in brokerage and advisory assets under management. Triad Advisors is a leading independent broker-dealer supporting independent hybrid financial advisors and registered investment advisory (RIA) firms, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE MKT: LTS). Triad Advisors was instrumental in facilitating the merger between Summit and Sorensen, both of which were already affiliated with Triad's broker-dealer platform. Triad Advisors helped the two firms identify each other as suitable merger partners based on their respective cultures, areas of client focus and expertise, geographical footprint and growth strategies, while also providing access to transaction financing. Under the terms of the merger, Sorensen personnel will relocate to Summit's nearby offices to create a combined ensemble practice of 13 professionals, including five financial advisors as well as dedicated experts in areas such as insurance, tax advice and other related specialties. Neil Elmouchi, who had been Chairman & CEO of Summit, will retain the same position at the combined firm, while Jeff Sorensen, previously Chairman and CEO of Sorensen, has been named President of the combined firm going forward. Jeff Rosenthal, President and CEO of Triad Advisors, said, "It's very clear that opportunities for successful independent hybrid advisory practices are greater than ever before, particularly for firms that have a clear forward strategy and the resources to execute it. At Triad Advisors, we have always been dedicated to supporting the success of hybrid advisors, through both organic growth as well as growth enabled by targeted M&A between our affiliated advisory practices. Consistent with this approach, we were very pleased to have been instrumental in helping these two outstanding firms combine, and in the process, position the merged firm to deliver an enhanced level of client service, and achieve a greater level of growth." Mr. Elmouchi said, "The merger of Summit Financial Consultants and Sorensen Wealth Management makes perfect sense, especially in today's industry environment. Both firms have very similar investment philosophies, and by combining the two we will provide greater value to our clients through an increased depth of advisor support and enhanced investment resources, while still maintaining our personalized, boutique approach to client service." The transaction principals noted that both Summit and Sorensen serve a similar client base, focusing primarily on high-net-worth and higher echelon mass-affluent individuals and families. Their clients include entrepreneurs, business owners and corporate executives, as well as medical professionals, in the pre-retiree and retiree age range, with a large proportion of their clients living in California. Espousing a "work optional" philosophy, Summit helps its clients preserve their capital while achieving a reasonable rate of return that will enable them to continue working if they choose to do so, but also to retire comfortably if desired. Mr. Sorensen stated, "Going forward, successful retail financial advisory firms will need to generate economies of scale and develop a depth of resources and expertise in order to maintain the highest quality of investment services at a reasonable fee structure and to possess all the resources necessary to accommodate the fiduciary and risk management requirements that advisors increasingly face. By building a comprehensive ensemble practice, in which all the advisors participate in a team approach to client service and pursue a common wealth management strategy, we are not only providing added assurance to our clients about our firm's long-term continuity and future succession framework, but we are also able to address the widest possible array of our clients' increasingly complex needs." To accommodate their combined firm, the recently expanded Summit anticipates finding new headquarters in Westlake Village in the near future, when its current lease expires. [The firm has retained DAUM Commercial Real Estate Services to locate a suitable new space.] The new offices will also be large enough to accommodate Summit's growth plans, which envision selectively adding one or two new advisors each year, to enable growth yet maintain a philosophically unified firm with a high-touch, boutique client experience. Mr. Elmouchi added, "Both Summit and Sorensen have gained valuable advantages from our affiliation with Triad, which Summit joined in 2015 and Sorensen joined in 2010. We have now built out the technology, systems and infrastructure to accommodate the industry changes taking place, and this has enabled our firms to combine into one entity and be ready for the current environment that is unfolding. We are grateful to the assistance we have received from Triad in helping us get to where we want to be." About Summit Financial Consultants Based in Westlake Village, CA, Summit is a boutique independent financial advisory firm licensed in 23 states and serving a broad base of affluent and high-net-worth clients across the United States. Primarily a fee-based advisory firm, Summit provides a turnkey, holistic client experience, including investment management, insurance, and retirement planning, and works in close collaboration with additional outside counsel to deliver a comprehensive advisory and financial planning solution. With five financial advisors, Summit has a total of thirteen professionals who provide a high level of individualized, customized service for the firm's clientele. For more information, please visit www.thewiseinvestor.net. About Triad Advisors Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Triad Advisors, Inc. is a national, independent broker-dealer and multi-custodial SEC-Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) that is an early pioneer and continued leader in the Hybrid RIA marketplace. The company provides a comprehensive platform of products, trading and technology systems, as well as customized wealth management solutions. Recognized as one of the most successful and fastest-growing independent broker-dealers in the industry (including being named the leading broker-dealer for Hybrid RIAs seven years in a row by Investment Advisor magazine), Triad Advisors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE MKT: LTS). For more information, please visit www.triad-advisors.com. Media Contact: Matthew Griffes / Joseph Kuo Haven Tower Group LLC 424 652 6520 ext 103 / 424 652 6520 ext 101 [email protected] or [email protected] SOURCE Triad Advisors, Inc. Related Links http://www.triad-advisors.com Provides Tailored Corporate Apparel for the World's Largest Airline FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Twin Hill, a subsidiary of Tailored Brands (NYSE: TLRD), is proud to announce the launch of an exclusive new corporate apparel collection for American Airlines employees. This week, more than 70,000 front-line representatives, including pilots, flight attendants, customer service agents and premium service representatives began to wear the updated professional attire at the world's largest airline, formed by the merger of US Airways and American Airlines. "We are delighted that American has chosen to partner with our corporate apparel division and we look forward to bringing a world class customer service experience to American's employees worldwide," said Doug Ewert, president and chief executive officer of Tailored Brands, Inc. The tailored corporate apparel collection, initially made up of over 1.2 million garments and accessories, has been designed exclusively for American Airlines and is produced and distributed by Twin Hill. The new American Airlines attire reflects the new American Airlines branding that launched following the merger with US Airways in December of 2014. Elegant and modern yet reminiscent of a bygone era of luxury travel, the attire offers great style and design, high-quality performance and functionality that can take on the rigors of the job. About Tailored Brands, Inc. Tailored Brands, Inc. is the largest specialty retailer of men's suits and the largest provider of rental product in the U.S. and Canada with over 1,700 stores, including tuxedo shops within Macy's. The Company's brands include Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Joseph Abboud, Moores Clothing for Men and K&G Fashion Superstores. Tailored Brands also operates a global corporate apparel and workwear group consisting of Twin Hill in the United States and Dimensions, Alexandra and Yaffy in the United Kingdom and Europe. For additional information on Tailored Brands, please visit the Company's websites at www.tailoredbrands.com, www.menswearhouse.com, www.josbank.com, www.josephabboud.com, www.mooresclothing.com, www.kgstores.com, www.twinhill.com, www.dimensions.co.uk and www.alexandra.co.uk. Press Contact: Tailored Brands, Inc. Director of Public Relations, All Brands Diego Louro, [email protected] Corporate Apparel Division Operational Contacts: Daryl Stilley Twin Hill Senior Vice President and Managing Director North, Central and South America +1 888-206-0699 Hayley Brooks Dimensions Managing Director United Kingdom, Europe, Rest of World +44 1332 856800 SOURCE Tailored Brands, Inc. Related Links http://www.tailoredbrands.com LISLE, Ill., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lisle campus of Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI) was awarded the prestigious Excellence in Student Services Award by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) at its annual professional development conference hosted September 21-23, 2016, in San Diego, California. Each year, the organization recognizes one school out of its 685 accredited institutions that best demonstrates its commitment to the overall student experience. "It is incredibly rewarding to be recognized for our unyielding commitment to student success through hard work, innovation, collaboration with industry employers, and a holistic approach to student services," said Julie Mueller, UTI-Lisle campus president. "To be recognized by our peers and accreditor is a tremendous honor, and every instructor and staff member is responsible for helping the campus earn this award." ACCSC is an institutional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a reliable authority on education quality. As part of the nomination process, ACCSC required institutions to complete a rigorous application that detailed the many ways the school supports its students in their educational and career pursuits. In selecting UTI-Lisle as this year's winner, ACCSC took note of the comprehensive nature of the student services program provided by the campus. In particular, ACCSC noted that UTI-Lisle provides many on-campus opportunities for students, including career fairs, company-specific recruiting meetings, lunch-and-learn programs with employers who are actively looking to hire, and opportunities to attend industry or association meetings. Additionally, ACCSC commended UTI-Lisle for implementing several veteran-specific programs to help these students along their educational transition to civilian life. "It is clear to ACCSC that UTI-Lisle puts the student experience at the center of every action it takes and is focused on helping students overcome any challenges standing in their way of success," said Christopher Lambert, associate executive director of ACCSC. "Every staff member, not just student advisors, considers themselves to be on the front lines of student achievement and this culture provides a supportive educational environment." UTI has operated an ACCSC-accredited institution in Illinois since 1988 and has graduated more than 20,000 technicians during that time. In November 2013, the school relocated to a state-of-the-industry campus in suburban Lisle. To fill the growing industry demand for professional automotive and diesel service technicians, the Lisle campus offers Manufacturer-Specific Advanced Training (MSAT) programs with leading automotive brands, including Ford and Toyota, and diesel brands, including International, Freightliner and Peterbilt. Nationally, 4 out of 5 UTI graduates are employed in their fields of study within one year of graduation1. This is not the first time ACCSC has noted UTI-Lisle's commitment to high operational standards and above average student graduation and employment outcomes. In 2014, UTI-Lisle earned the School of Excellence Award from ACCSC during its accreditation renewal. ______________________________ 1 Approximately 9,200 of the 9,900 UTI graduates in 2014 were available for employment. At the time of reporting, approximately 8,100 were employed within one year of their graduation date, for a total of 88%. Per UTI's accreditor's reporting standards, this rate excludes graduates in the following classifications: continuing education, active military service deployment, a health condition that prevents employment, incarceration, international students who have returned to their country of origin, or death. This rate includes graduates employed in positions that were obtained before or during their UTI education, where the primary job duties after graduation align with the educational and training objectives of the program. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary. CONTACT: Patrick Skarr Culloton Strategies (312) 228-4789 [email protected] SOURCE Universal Technical Institute SOUTH BEND, Ind., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AM General's designs for advanced postal vehicles have been selected by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as part of the USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) Prototype awards. The awards were in support of the service's plans and need for the replacement of their aging fleet. AM General will build a series of prototype vehicles for testing by the USPS that seek to provide fuel efficiency and zero emission capability. "AM General's advanced postal vehicle is designed to meet the needs of the Postal Service of today and of tomorrow," said Howard Glaser, Executive Vice President for Commercial Business, AM General. "Our design offers the postal service unmatched innovation and the opportunity for significant savings on costs, maintenance and delivery operations." The USPS is experiencing significant changes in delivery operations. Double digit growth in shipping and packaging services is driving new opportunities and new challenges for the Postal Service. With the dramatic growth in online shopping and e-commerce, the number of packages delivered by the USPS has grown dramatically from 3.7 billion pieces in 2013 to 4.5 billion in 2015. The AM General advanced postal vehicle is designed to grow with the new demands in delivery on the postal service and ensure that the USPS can manage the changing mail mix with improvements in safety, efficiency, and reliability and flexibility in every area. AM General is combining highly reliable, low maintenance, fuel-saving powertrain options and advanced safety systems into a durable, low operating-cost vehicle. The series of innovations include: Light weight, fuel efficient vehicle technologies Advanced Powertrain with system options Substantial emissions decreases with a zero emissions option Next generation safety systems that provide safe vehicles for letter carriers Reduced maintenance schedule with less complex repairs yields significant savings 20+ Year body durability for long life The postal award is part of AM General's growing commercial business, which was selected by Mercedes-Benz as its only contract manufacturer in the United States, producing the R-Class vehicle in Mishawaka, Indiana. Design and development for the postal vehicle will be conducted at AM General's Center for Advanced Automotive Design in Livonia, Michigan. The contract award from the Postal Service is part of the USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle program, under which several prototype designs will be designed, built and tested over an 18 month period. Production requirements and future vehicle replacement award(s) will be determined by the Postal Service after NGDV Prototype testing. About AM General AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers worldwide. Through its military business, the company is widely recognized as a world leader in the design, engineering, manufacture and support of Light Tactical Vehicles, having produced and sustained more than 300,000 vehicles in over 60 countries. AM General has more than five decades of experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states. Please see more information about AM General at www.amgeneral.com. Media Contact: Jeff Adams Global Communications & Marketing / AM General Phone: 703-347-2276 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE AM General Related Links HTTP://www.amgeneral.com SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Verba, an affordable textbook solution provider, whose price comparison application is used by millions of students, today announced the successful launch of Verba Connect, the latest platform addition to its full suite of textbook affordability tools. Verba Connect powers large-scale Inclusive Access programs that provide every student with digital access to the most affordable course materials on the first day of class and bills them directly via the student account. "Verba has revolutionized the textbook industry with its unmatched suite of affordability-focused applications," said David Kent, Director of The Vol Shop at University of Tennessee, Knoxville. "Their latest innovation, Verba Connect, has single-handedly empowered us to build a large-scale Inclusive Access program, featuring low-cost digital course materials that improve learning, increase accessibility and meet the needs of today's students." Under the traditional textbook model, sky-high prices leave students ill-equipped from day one to succeed in class. Many students wait until several weeks into the term before purchasing required materials. Another 25% of first-year students completely forego at least one required material, according to the National Survey of Student Engagement. Verba Connect has rectified these deficiencies in the traditional model, bringing ease-of-use to school administrators, as well as cost savings and first-day course materials access to over 20,000 students. It is the only platform that delivers true price transparency to ensure students find critical course materials at the lowest-cost. While Verba Connect offers students the ability to opt-out of the program, 95% of eligible students choose its Inclusive Access platform to take advantage of the unprecedented savings. "The old way of getting books from publishers into the hands of students is incredibly flawed and out of date. No one would design the textbook model as it is today given a better alternative. Our Inclusive Access platform solves the fundamental shortcomings of the current model," said Ryan Petersen, CEO and co-founder of Verba. "We built Verba Connect to drastically reduce the price of books for students, at higher sell-through to publishers, ensuring every student starts day one on the same page." The University of Arizona is one pioneer working with Verba to adopt Inclusive Access, at an enormous scale. Nearly 1,691 students in its Management Information Systems program saved a minimum of $65 off of the lowest-priced comparable materials from the leading online retailer. In total, students saved over $100,000 in a single Inclusive Access course. "Inclusive Access reduces the cost of course material prices significantly compared to the introduction of the used book," said Debby Shively, Executive Director of the University of Arizona Bookstores. "With the help of Verba Connect, we've found a solution that not only eliminates management pain points for our staff, but more importantly, ensures no student will fall behind because of course material costs." Verba Connect is currently available for campus stores serving large, medium and small public universities as well as a multi-campus community college, including the VolShop at The University of Tennessee Knoxville, University of Arizona Bookstores, the UCLA Store, North Dakota State University Bookstore, Wildcat Shop at Central Washington University, The College Store at SUNY Oswego, The University of Mary Washington Bookstore and Tulsa Community College Bookstores. Institutions interested in implementing Inclusive Access on their campus can learn more at www.verbasoftware.com/connect. Annual licensing fees are tiered based on enrollment, plus a 5% commission on Inclusive Access items - http://www.verbasoftware.com/pricing. About Verba Founded in 2008, Verba is a San Francisco-based company that works with colleges and universities to reduce the cost of course materials by elevating transparency and access. Verba offers web-based tools for faculty to select course materials, bookstores to acquire low-cost textbooks and for students to easily compare prices and gain on-time access. Verba's Inclusive Access management tools, including Verba Connect, leverage Verba's proprietary pricing analysis model to alleviate administrative manual processes and ensure every student has digital access to course materials at a low price on the first day of classes. Verba works with over 350 campuses of varying sizes to reach over six million students. SOURCE Verba Related Links http://www.verbasoftware.com NEW YORK, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- New Age TechSci Research Logo (PRNewsFoto/New Age TechSci Research) Textile chemicals are specialized formulations, which are used to impart desired properties and colors during manufacturing of textile, by means of various stages of textile processing such a s pretreatment, dyeing, finishing and printing. The textile industry is responsible for producing clothes and fabrics for use in carpets, towels, beddings, furnishings, flags, tents, mats, sails, etc. Textile factories require special chemical intermediates to enhance aesthetic appeal in the finished fabric items. There are a variety of textile chemicals used in Vietnam at different processing stages of fabric. Broadly, these textile chemicals can be categorized as auxiliaries and colorants. Textile auxiliaries, such as surfactants, wetting agents, scouring agents, sequestering agents, emulsifiers, de-sizing agents etc., account for the largest share in the Vietnam textile chemicals market owing to their high efficiency as pretreatment chemicals during textile processing. Textile colorants account for the remaining share in Vietnam with demand generating from the rising middle class population and requirement for new textile colors by the consumers. Consequently, these categories of textile chemicals account for a meager share in the textile chemicals market in Vietnam. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 ) Vietnam Textile Chemicals Market: Drivers and Restraints The country is the fourth largest textile and apparels industry after China, India and Bangladesh, on account of which, Vietnam emanates large demand for textile chemicals in Vietnam. Flourishing textile and garments industry can be attributed to expanding exports market, rising demand for home furnishing items and increasing employment of industrial fabrics or technical textiles by domestic factories in Vietnam. Consequently, the Vietnam textile chemicals market is projected to exhibit robust growth over the next nine years. Highly fragmented and unorganized market due to presence of large number of small scale manufacturers is a major challenge for the Vietnam textile chemicals market. Rising labor wages in the country is also restraining the growth in the Vietnam textile chemical market. Additionally, devalued currency of China, India and Bangladesh, which have resulted in growth of textile industry exports from these countries, may impact the Vietnam textile chemicals market negatively. Vietnam Textile Chemical Market: Segmentation Based on product type, Vietnam textile chemicals market is segmented as: Auxiliaries Colorants Based on product type, Vietnam textile chemicals market is segmented as: Apparels Home furnishings Technical textiles Others Vietnam Textile Chemicals Market: Overview Textile chemicals market in Vietnam is expected to witness strong growth in the coming five years on account of improvements in macroeconomic factors and smooth trading policies. In 2015, total cotton fiber production accounted for 0.6 thousand metric tons and yarn production from cotton and polyester/rayon was 990 thousand metric tons in Vietnam, as a result of which, the country accounted for nearly USD 27.2 billion worth of total apparels export to international markets including US, Japan, EU, Korea, etc. in 2015. Implementation of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement is expected to aid the growth of textile industry of the country, thereby driving the Vietnam textile chemicals market over the next nine years. Rising industrialization and urbanization is leading to increase in the demand for high- quality textile products in the country, which would further escalate the growth of Vietnam textile chemicals market. Additionally, upcoming textile specialty chemical plants and projects in the country are further going to boost the overall textile chemicals market in the country through 2025. Vietnam Textile Chemicals Market: Region-wise Outlook Growing textile industrial establishments in the various regions of Vietnam is anticipated to aid the demand for textile chemicals in the country. Northern and southern region are expected to be the major demand generator for textile chemicals in the country and are expected to capture larger share in the market. Provinces in the central region are witnessing a comparatively slower industrial expansion, as a result, this region is projected to witness a slower year-on-year growth for textile chemicals during the forecast period. Vietnam Textile Chemicals Market: Key Players Key players in the Vietnam textile chemicals market include Huntsman Textile Effects, Avco Vietnam Company Limited, Archroma Vietnam and Others. The report covers exhaustive analysis on: Market Size Market Segmentation Innovations and Technological Advancements Market Dynamics (Market Drivers, Challenges & their Impact Analysis) Market Trends Opportunities Competition & Companies involved "Vietnam Textile Chemicals Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2011-2025" has analyzed the potential of the Vietnam Textile Chemicals market and provides statistics and information on market sizes, shares, and trends. The report will suffice in providing the intending clients with cutting-edge market intelligence and help them in taking sound investment decisions. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes the emerging trends along with essential drivers and key challenges faced by the industry. Report Highlights: Vietnam Textile Chemicals Market Size, Share & Forecast Segmental Analysis - By Product Type, Application, Region & Company Market Dynamics & Impact Analysis Market Attractiveness Index BPS Analysis Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities Competitive Landscape & Strategic Recommendations About TechSci Research TechSci Research is a leading global market research firm publishing premium market research reports. Serving 700 global clients with more than 600 premium market research studies, TechSci Research is serving clients across 11 different industrial verticals. TechSci Research specializes in research based consulting assignments in high growth and emerging markets, leading technologies and niche applications. Our workforce of more than 100 fulltime Analysts and Consultants employing innovative research solutions and tracking global and country specific high growth markets helps TechSci clients to lead rather than follow market trends. Contact Mr. Ken Mathews 708 Third Avenue, Manhattan, NY, New York - 10017 Tel: +1-646-360-1656 Email: [email protected] Connect with us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/TechSciResearch Connect with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/techsci-research SOURCE TechSci Research NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE: WPC), an internally-managed global net lease real estate investment trust, announced today that its Chief Financial Officer, Hisham Kader, is resigning from the position effective October 14, 2016. Mr. Kader will be relocating to Boston to assume the role as CFO of a private real estate company. The Company has engaged Korn Ferry in its search for a successor CFO. Ms. ToniAnn Sanzone has been appointed interim CFO of W. P. Carey Inc., having served as its Chief Accounting Officer since 2015. Ms. Sanzone joined W. P. Carey in April 2013 as Global Corporate Controller. Prior to joining W. P. Carey, Ms. Sanzone served as the Corporate Controller at iStar Financial Inc., where she held various senior accounting positions from 2006 to 2013. Mark J. DeCesaris, W. P. Carey's Chief Executive Officer, said, "On behalf of the Company, I want to thank Hisham for his many contributions to W. P. Carey during his five years with us. Hisham is well-liked and respected by everyone throughout the firm and will be missed. I wish him all the best in his new position and look forward to working closely with Toni." "While this was a difficult decision for me to make, pursuing this new opportunity is the right choice for me and for my family," Mr. Kader said. "I am truly proud of the work we have accomplished during my tenure and I know that I leave W. P. Carey well-positioned for continued success." About W. P. Carey Inc. W. P. Carey Inc. is a leading internally-managed net lease REIT that provides long-term sale-leaseback and build-to-suit financing solutions for companies worldwide. At June 30, 2016, the Company had an enterprise value of approximately $11.7 billion. In addition to its owned portfolio of diversified global real estate, W. P. Carey manages a series of non-traded publicly registered investment programs with assets under management of approximately $11.7 billion. Its corporate finance-focused credit and real estate underwriting process is a constant that has been successfully leveraged across a wide variety of industries and property types. Furthermore, its portfolio of long-term leases with creditworthy tenants has an established history of generating stable cash flows, enabling it to deliver consistent and rising dividend income to investors for over four decades. www.wpcarey.com This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. Federal securities laws. The comments of Messrs. DeCesaris and Kader are examples of forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause W. P. Carey's actual results, performance or achievement to differ materially from those anticipated. For further information on factors that could impact W. P. Carey, reference is made to its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Institutional Investor contact: Peter Sands W. P. Carey Inc. 212-492-1110 [email protected] Media contact: Guy Lawrence Ross & Lawrence 212-308-3333 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130604/NY25517LOGO-b SOURCE W. P. Carey Inc. Related Links http://www.wpcarey.com The newly released Wedge Advanced Malware Blocker (WedgeAMB) is the first product in the Wedge Absolute Real-time Protection (WedgeARP) series of enterprise solutions. The WedgeARP series provides fully self-contained, security platforms in the form of virtual machines or appliances that orchestrate Wedge's industry leading real-time hyper-inspection engines in concert with the best available security technologies to provide superior security solutions. WedgeAMB illustrates this model by orchestrating Cylance's artificial intelligence (AI) technology and other technologies to detect and block viruses and advanced malware, such as ransomware, at the network level, to prevent them from entering enterprise networks. Orchestrating Wedge's patented hyper-inspection technology with Cylance's machine-learning engine and WedgeIQ threat analytics, WedgeAMB provides a critically needed break-through in malware prevention. Threats are blocked in real-time, eliminating the cost, disruption, effort and embarrassment associated with tackling threats after they've penetrated the network. It also provides real-time visibility of the network-wide threat landscape, empowering security personnel to identify and focus on the most critical risks first. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ransomware is on the rise in 2016. Advanced malware and ransomware attacks account for millions of dollars in lost productivity and theft by cybercriminals operating on a global basis to exploit endpoint devices with increasing levels of sophistication. "We live in an age where collaboration and embracing the innovation of others is key to providing the best possible security solutions available," said James Hamilton, CEO of Wedge Networks. "We've developed the industry's highest performing real-time hyper-inspection and orchestration engine. Orchestrating that functionality in concert with other best-in-class technologies enables the most effective threat prevention available, with superior performance and scale. That's what the WedgeARP series is all about orchestrating the industry's best security technologies and joining forces in the fight against cybercrime." WedgeAMB Customer Benefits: Proven reduction of business disruption, dollar losses, and reputation damage by blocking threats in real-time that other systems do not Protecting all network connected endpoints automatically, without configuration Reducing restrictions on BYOD and IoT devices for improved productivity Providing security personnel with clear and actionable network-wide threat intelligence to prioritize resources on the most critical threats "Security teams worldwide need integrated tools to provide next-generation protection from today's ever-increasing cyber attacks," said Stuart McClure, president and CEO at Cylance Inc. "Together, WedgeAMB with the Cylance machine-learning engine delivers a one-two punch, intercepting malware at the perimeter as well as on the endpoint." WedgeAMB bundles in WedgeIQ, an automated threat intelligence engine that rolls up threat event data from enterprise-wide AMB systems to characterize, correlate, analyze and visualize the network-wide threat landscape. This comprehensive, yet intuitive threat analytics resource provides actionable threat intelligence to further mitigate evolving threats in real-time. The WedgeARP series repackages Wedge's highly successful Cloud Network Defense (WedgeCND) cloud-based systems into application specific virtual machine or appliance-based solutions for distribution through channel partners, focused on enterprise customers. More About WedgeAMB Quad-Scan anti-malware engines conduct IPS, signature, heuristic, and AI-based scans provide the highest real-time threat detection accuracy in the industry The first in the WedgeARP series, championing a collaborative approach to cyber security by combining the industry's leading security solutions Patented WedgeSO hyper-inspection and orchestration engine facilitates these scans with SSL inspection, at line rate speeds, with imperceptible latency WedgeIQ analyzes threat data to create intuitive visualizations for actionable threat intelligence Available in 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, and 10 Gbps versions Deployed as a virtual machine (VM) or as a pre-configures X86-based appliance For more information please visit: http://www.wedgenetworks.com/ About Wedge Wedge Networks is revolutionizing real-time network security with cutting edge innovation, performance, and scale. Embracing global innovation, Wedge's Cloud Network Defense (WedgeCND) and Absolute Real-Time Protection (WedgeARP) Series of products integrate and orchestrate the industry's highest performance security inspection and mediation engines with best-in-class security technologies developed by Wedge and third parties. Purpose-built as fully virtualized security systems, these products can be deployed in the form of x86 appliances, virtual machines, or cloud application software. Today, these industry-leading solutions block security threats for tens of millions of end users in enterprise, service provider, government agency, and security-as-a-service networks spanning more than 17 countries. Wedge Networks is headquartered in Calgary, Canada with international offices in Dallas, USA; and Manama, Bahrain. Visit http://www.wedgenetworks.com/ for more information. Media Contacts: USA & International PR contact: Hannah Whitrow Zonic Group PR [email protected] SOURCE Wedge Networks Related Links www.wedgenetworks.com PUNE, India, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "White Box Server Market by Form Factor (Rack & Tower, Blade, Density-Optimized), Business Type (Data Centers, Enterprise Customers), Processor (X86, non-X86), Operating System (Linux, Windows, UNIX), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to reach USD 14.43 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 18.6% between 2016 and 2022. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 12 market data Tables and 46 Figures spread through 147 Pages and in-depth TOC on "White Box Server Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/white-box-server-market-219773580.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The factors which are driving the growth of market include low cost and high degree of customization, increasing adoption of white box servers among end users, growing number of data centers, and rising adoption of Open Platforms such as Open Compute Project, Project Scorpio, and so on. Increase in the demand for micro servers from data centers provides ample of opportunities for the white box server market. "Data centers expected to account for a major share of the white box server market during the forecast period" The data center is the major end-user segment in the white box server market and is expected to dominate in coming years as well. The market for data centers is booming, and this segment purchases the servers in bulk quantities which means cost is one of the most important parameters. White box vendors offer low-cost servers compared to OEMs and also offer high degree of customization to end users. "The market for density-optimized servers expected to grow at the highest rate between 2016 and 2022" Increased usage of density-optimized servers by hyperscale data centers is one of the driving factors. Density-optimized servers are designed for large-scale data center environments with streamlined system designs that focus on performance, energy efficiency, and density. "Americas expected to dominate the white box server market between 2016 and 2022" Increasing number of data centers is one of the driving factors. North America plays a major role in the data center market including the U.S. (New York, Sillicon Valley, Dallas, and Eastern Washington State), Canada, and so on. Although data centers are still found in major American cities, increasingly data centers are being built in the Midwest. Colorado is becoming a data center hot spot. It provides power in abundance, a skilled pool of educated workers, availability of government-approved training programs, and low risk of natural disasters. Most of the world's largest data centers also exist in the Americas which makes it competitive edge for the server industry. Inquiry Before Buying: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=219773580 The major players in the white box server market include Quanta Computer Inc. (Taiwan), Wistron Corporation (Taiwan), Inventec Corporation (Taiwan), Hon Hai Precision Industry Company Ltd. (Taiwan), MiTAC Holdings Corp. (Taiwan), Celestica Inc. (Canada), Compal Electronics (Taiwan), Hyve Solutions (U.S.), Penguin Computing (U.S.), Servers Direct (U.S.), Stack Velocity Group (U.S.), Super Micro Computer Inc. (U.S.), Silicon Mechanics (U.S.), ZT Systems (U.S.). Browse Related Reports Hyper-Converged Infrastructure Market by Hypervisor (VMware, KVM, Hyper-V), Application (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, Server Virtualization, Robo, Data Protection and Cloud), Vertical & Geography - Global Forecast to 2022 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/hyper-converged-infrastructure-market-149796579.html Cloud Infrastructure Market by Type (Hardware: Server, Storage, Switch, Services: Platform as a Service, Infrastructure as a service, Content/Application Delivery Network, Managed Hosting, Colocation), End-User Industry & Geography - Global Forecast to 2022 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cloud-infrastructure-market-119658259.html Know More About our Knowledge Store @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Knowledgestore.asp About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical info graphics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets 701 Pike Street Suite 2175, Seattle WA 98101, United States USA: 1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit MarketsandMarkets [email protected] http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/electronics-and-semiconductors Connect us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets SHEBOYGAN, Wis., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheboygan, Wisconsin based Wigwam Mills, Inc., announced that its Board of Directors has named apparel and consumer goods veteran Thomas M. Wheeler as President and C.E.O. Robert E. Chesebro, Chairman of the Board said: "We are delighted that Tom is joining Wigwam. He is a talented, visionary business leader with a complete set of creative, strategic and analytical skills to grow a leading apparel brand in a highly competitive and evolving global landscape. Tom has proven product development, wholesale, retail and international experience, in addition to a passion for success, and a deep network of professional relationships that cross the industry. He also fully embraces the principles of integrity, quality, value and service upon which Wigwam was founded in 1905. We are confident he will build upon the Company's legacy as an iconic American brand with a focus toward our future as a global lifestyle brand." Mr. Wheeler said: "I have long admired the Wigwam Brand and its leading position in the sock market and I am excited to lead this iconic company. I have great respect for what the Wigwam team has accomplished during their long and accomplished history, and look forward to leveraging Wigwam's strong foundation to expand the brand into new markets over time while remaining true to the brand's core values and customer base. I proudly join the Wigwam family with the clear goal of moving the Company forward by working with the Board to identify and pursue growth in key areas, collaborating with and inspiring our people to find new ways to drive enhanced customer satisfaction while delivering increased value to our shareholders." About Wigwam... Wigwam Mills, Inc. has been proudly crafting socks in Sheboygan, Wisconsin since 1905. We carefully knit every pair with the goal of delivering the highest quality and highest performance in socks out of a sincere desire to provide the most comfortable experience for our customers. Our commitment to local USA manufacturing has never been compromised and we continue to support our dedicated U.S. supply chain of spinners and farmers using almost exclusive raw materials sourced domestically. Wigwam practices sustainable manufacturing processes taking advantage of alternative power, heat reclamation and environmentally neutral materials in our washing and finishing plant. Our commitment to community and the environment has always been central to who we are and how we deliver quality across our company. For more details visit www.wigwam.com. SOURCE Wigwam Mills, Inc. Related Links http://wigwam.com It is called voluntary dismissal of a claim with prejudice. By doing this, the plaintiff in a lawsuit can force an appeals court to reconsider a case. That is what lawyers in the state of Washington successfully did in 2011 and it has become the source of great controversy ever sincecontroversy that will be settled by the Supreme Court this fall. Sergio Campos, professor of law in the University of Miami School of Law, explored this issue with faculty and students September 14 at the first "Cert Talk," a new legal series launched at Miami Law examining cases granted a writ of certiorari, or cases going before the Supreme Court. Known to some as "the Xbox case," Microsoft v. Baker began in 2007 (then Baker v. Microsoft) as five separate lawsuits against Microsoft for damaged game discs allegedly caused by their consoles. Nine years later, the case has grown much larger. A major question the country's highest court will be settling is if a party can even bring a claim in a class action suit in the absence of a recognized class of individuals harmed. This is known legally as "standing." At first blush the right to bring a class action claim forward without a class may seem like an obvious "no," but the question goes a lot deeper. "Cert Talks are an opportunity for faculty members to stay abreast of some of the most newsworthy cases granted certiorari by the Supreme Court," explained Osamudia James, vice dean and professor of law at University of Miami School of Law. A Cert Talk is delivered by law school faculty whose area of expertise is at the crux of the case before the Supreme Court. In the case of Microsoft v. Baker, Campos, whose expertise lies in civil procedure and class actions, co-wrote an amicus brief for the respondent in the case. "The outcome will likely go one of three ways," said Campos. In its decision, the court could take a strict property view and find that there is no standing, a view closely associated with the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Campos considers this an unlikely outcome for the court to take, largely because of Scalia's absence from the bench. A second possibility is that the court will find there is standing based on prior precedent from two 1980 Supreme Court casesClosest Guaranty National Bank v. Roper and United States Parole Commission v. Geraghty. Campos told the lunchtime crowd of law faculty and students that this is the most likely outcome. The most exciting outcome in Campos' view, however, would be one where the court looks at the standing issue not through the view of precedent or property, but instead in terms of the function of the class action. "In small claims, class actions are often necessary because no class member has a stake sufficient enough to bring an individual lawsuit," said Campos. This can be easily understood by considering that Baker's original claim for the damaged disc was around $30 and the Federal Court filing fee is $400. These lawsuits are possible, then, by empowering one individual class member to be the representative and forcing the sharing of common costs. In considering this, the court could go back to a traditional view of the standing doctrinethat standing is a requirement to ensure there is adequate representation of all the interests that are implicated by the litigation. Campos believes that if the court really takes seriously what the class action does, it could allow appeals by this procedure because it serves to incentivize people to develop arguments and facts in litigation. It also ensures that the absent class members will be adequately represented. As technical as this issue is, the ramifications of the decision for the broader public could be dramatic. "How the court decides this issue will have an enormous impact," said Campos, such as "whether more or less defective products get made and whether certain products get introduced to the market at all." For more information, visit scotusblog.com. Click here for an embeddable video featuring University of Miami Law Professor Sergio Campos. View this story online. By Princess G. Manasseh Special to UM News Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410830 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160913/407061LOGO SOURCE University of Miami COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. and NUREMBERG, Germany, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- XTIVIA, Inc., a leading IT solutions, consulting, and development company, and ownCloud, the company behind the world's most popular open source Enterprise File Access solution, today announced their Partnership. As sole Partner of ownCloud for North America and Canada, XTIVIA will serve existing and future ownCloud customers in this region, providing local services and support. ownCloud's solution helps enterprises to keep sensitive files secure and private and to avoid data leakage. The customer decides where to host their data and can determine what data goes to what services in the cloud and, what stays within the enterprise. ownCloud recognized that existing cloud storage and file sharing solutions have some major problems for companies who need a higher level of security, privacy, and control. For many companies, especially those in the financial services, healthcare, or government sectors, putting sensitive company and customer data "in the cloud" means you are limited to the security, access control, and data governance policies of the cloud hosting company. This may not be the level your company needs to stay compliant with company policies or governmental regulatory standards. "With the very public hack of 68 million Dropbox accounts, we believe there is a major market for a solution that keeps a company's sensitive data off the public cloud infrastructure," says XTIVIA CEO Dennis Robinson. "Having a Private Cloud means higher security, tighter controls, and fewer vulnerabilities for our customers who need it. And with our other data, application, and consulting solutions, ownCloud helps position us very well to provide secure, private, and custom data solutions to our customers." "We have been looking for the right partner to penetrate the U.S. market with our Enterprise File Access Solution and are excited about working with XTIVIA. Winning a partner with such deep experience and expertise across a broad array of data management technologies was not easy to find," said Tobias Gerlinger, CEO & Managing Director of ownCloud. About XTIVIA "We Make IT Work Better." XTIVIA Inc. is an award-winning information technology solutions, consulting, and development company that does whatever it takes to help customers improve their technology and business. We've successfully done this for 24 years by providing database, application development, and integration expertise around Business Intelligence, Data Management & Analytics, CRM, Web Portals, Remote Database Support, and more. XTIVIA has received numerous awards such as Top 20 Most Promising Enterprise Web Application Solution Providers for 2016, Inc.'s 5000 Fastest Growing Companies. Learn more at http://www.xtivia.com. About ownCloud Organizations that must share confidential data internally and externally rely on ownCloud's on-premises enterprise Universal File Access platform. Only ownCloud gives IT the visibility and control required to manage sensitive data, preserve business processes, and integrate with existing compliant infrastructures while offering users the modern collaboration experience they demand. This is made possible through ownCloud's open, modular architecture, extreme extensibility and unique federated cloud sharing capabilities. For more information, visit: https://owncloud.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410307LOGO SOURCE XTIVIA, Inc. Related Links http://www.xtivia.com At least 153 people have been killed and 133 others injured in a deadly stampede in Seoul's Itaewon district as huge crowds of partygoers, many in their 20s, converged in the enter... If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Mumbai, Sep 21 : Actress Genelia Deshmukh has praised the forthcoming film "Banjo" starring her actor husband Riteish Deshmukh. "Finally watched 'Banjo'...missed these kinds of films for so long. The warmth, the love, the thrills but most importantly Mumbai at its best," Genelia tweeted. The 29-year-old actress also shared that the film made her see Riteish like she had never imagined. "'Banjo' made me see Riteish Deshmukh like I'd never imagine..Special... Proud Baiko (wife)...The rest at home where I can be pompous and proud," she added. The "Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya" star has even praised actress Nargis Fakhri and the entire cast of the film. "The cast Nargis Fakhri beautiful, Dharmesh superb , Ram and Aditya too good,, Mahesh Shetty really nice and everyone else super 'Banjo'," Genelia posted. Directed by Marathi film director Ravi Jadhav, the film focuses on Banjo - street music of Mumbai - and its players. It traces journey of one such player, and how he tries to make it big in the music world with his talent after he meets Nargis's character who is a New York based DJ. New Delhi, Sep 21 : The central government has directed procurement agencies Food Corporation of India (FCI), NAFED and SFAC to publicise their procurement activities among farmers through various modes in pulse producing states so that farmers get the benefit of Minimum Support Price (MSP). The central government is procuring pulses form farmers as it wants to encourage them to grow lentils in the ensuing winter/rabi season beginning October, an official source said. On September 15, addressing a two-day conference, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had urged states to promote pulses even in the winter or Rabi season beginning next. Singh had also said unless farmers get the MSP they will not be encouraged to plant pulses in the Rabi season. An official source said here on Wednesday that the government agencies have procured 3273.16 million tonnes of Moong dal benefiting as many as 330 farmer. The state-run agencies -- FCI, NAFED and SFAC -- have set up about 200 centres to procure Moong directly from farmers at MSP. The government had earlier fixed Rs 4,800 per quintal as MSP rate and bonus Rs 425 during Kharif 2016-17 season. The procurement of Moong started in the second week of September in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The government started procuring pulses at the MSP plus bonus rate after prices fell. The procured pulses are kept as buffer stock, which the government aimed at expanding to around two million tonne this year. The country's pulse output is targeting bumper 20-21 million tonne in 2016 after a good monsoon following two straight years of drought. The sources said the drought in 2014 and 2015 had brought down the pulse production to 16.47 million tonne in 2015-16 and 17.15 million tonne in 2014-15. The country recorded a 19.25 million tonne of production in 2013-14. New Delhi, Sep 21 : President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday extended his greetings to Mali on the eve of the country's National Day. In a message to the his Malian counterpart, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Mukherjee said: "On behalf of the government, the people of India and on my own behalf, it is with great pleasure that I convey warm greetings and felicitations to you and to the government and people of the Republic of Mali on the occasion of your National Day." "I am confident that our warm and friendly bilateral relationship will be further strengthened in the coming years for the mutual benefit of our peoples," he added. New Delhi, Sep 21 : Baloch nationalist leader Brahumdagh Bugti, who is the president of Baloch Republican Party (BRP) that is seeking independence for the troubled Pakistani province, has "discussed the terms of asylum in India" with Indian diplomats in Geneva. "Talks with the Indian diplomats were very fruitful and they were very supportive. We discussed the terms of asylum in India," Brahumdagh Bugti told IANS over phone from Geneva. He added that that while he cannot disclose certain "sensitive matters" discussed with diplomats, the situation of the "Baloch people in Pakistan-occupied Balochistan" was part of the conversation. "This was my first-ever meeting with any Indian diplomat, I never approached the Indian embassy before. "I am very hopeful and positive (for asylum in India)," he said after the meeting, where he was accompanied by another Baloch nationalist, Mehran Marri. Bugti said the reason he wants to move to India is because he is restricted in travelling out of Switzerland to take the "free Balochistan" movement ahead. "My entire family is allowed to move out of Switzerland but there are restrictions on me by the Swiss government. There's lot to be done, I have to meet people, senators, diplomats, human right organisations throughout the world which requires travelling," Bugti told IANS. Grandson of Baloch leader and Bugti tribe head Nawab Akbar Bugti, Brahumdagh fled Balochistan to save his life after Akbar Bugti was killed in a Pakistan Army offensive in 2006. He was first given asylum in Afghanistan from where he shifted to Switzerland in 2010. Patna, Sep 21 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said that the state is fully prepared to celebrate the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, in January 2017. Nitish Kumar also announced a three-day state holiday during the festival, known as 'Prakash-Parv', and which will be celebrated at Takht Sri Harmandir Patna Sahib, the birthplace of the 10th Guru. "It is going to be a grand and memorable celebration and we are working for it. There will be no lack of coordination and Sikh pilgrims from across India and the world will not face any problem. "It is our duty to provide every possible facility and to ensure their visit in this religious festival is a smooth one," the Chief Minister told a press conference here. Nitish Kumar said the government has already developed the infrastructure for the celebrations by widening roads in Patna Sahib, sprucing up the Ganga riverfront and making arrangements for safe shelters for Sikh pilgrims. "The government will set up a 'tented city' for the celebrations in view of the expected massive participation of Sikhs". The government has also decided to work on crowd management for the safety and security of the Sikh pilgrims. "It is the duty of the state government to make all arrangements," he said. Lakhs of Sikhs from across the world are expected to congregate here, officials of the Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib said. Guru Gobind Singh's message of tolerance and respect to all religions is relevant and important even today, said Nitish Kumar. Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna in 1666 to Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru and Mata Gujri. Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib, widely known as Patna Sahib, was built in remembrance of the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the late 1830s. Moscow, Sep 21 : Even as prices of Russia's major resource, oil, are recovering, the Russian government on Wednesday said innovation, as distinct from income from natural resources, is now the key to national economic development. "We believe innovation is the key for development of the economy. Innovation is essential for achieving high economic growth," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich told reporters here on the sidelines of a global conference under the the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP). "Technoparks all over the world working in synergy will bring benefit to each individual technopark," he said, adding that such recent developments have fuelled a debate whether innovations are creating jobs or killing them. Over 1,500 participants from around 70 countries, including technopark representatives from Russia, the US, Spain, Britain, Brazil, South Korea, China, Italy and Sweden are participating in the four-day 33rd annual IASP Conference, being hosted by Moscow for the first time, following the country's selection as the venue after a global competition. The theme of IASP 2016 is "The Global Mind: Linking Innovation Communities for Internationalisation, Sustainability and Growth". The IASP's mandate is to contribute to global economic development through innovation, entrepreneurship, and the transfer of knowledge and technology. "At least from the Russian experience, innovation is creating jobs. Modern manufacturing cannot create many jobs. But start-ups are an opportunity for millions of young people," Dvorkovich said. "Innovation and start-ups help to liberate technologies, capital and create jobs. Five years ago in Russia only one per cent of people knew of start-ups... there were literally only a dozen start-ups. Now we have 50,000 jobs created by start-ups," he added. Falling global prices of oil has made it imperative for the government to accelerate the country's transformation from a resource-intensive to an innovation-based economy. Oil prices fell by more than two-thirds -- from over $100 a barrel to under $30 -- between June 2014 and January 2016. Prices have recovered somewhat this year, rising to nearly $50 in May, before dropping to just over $40 a barrel in recent weeks. The Russian economy is deep into a recession with gross domestic product (GDP) in decline for the sixth consecutive quarter. "Only way you can create jobs for young people is by supporting knowledge," the Russsian Deputy Premier said. Russia's biggest innovation fund, the Skolkovo Foundation, is the local organiser of this edition of the IASP conference. Created in 2010 by the Russian government, the foundation runs the Skolkovo City here which houses an innovation centre comprising over 1,500 companies and start-ups, a Technopark and a new university established in collaboration with America's Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The resident companies in the start-up village conduct research in diverse fields ranging from information technology and robotics, space, energy-efficiency technologies and new materials. "When people come to Russia they are going to get a new environment for innovation. An important feature of science parks in Russia is that we are creating cities, and not just buildings or spaces for innovation. We are providing other services, housing, services for commercialisation of research, etc, in these cities," Dvorkovich said. "In each such environment you also have education, formal technopark education as well as ambiences for people to meet and exchange ideas," he added. "The cumulative revenue of Skolkovo's start-ups through January 2016 reached $1.6 billion. They brought in more than $350 million in investment, creating 18,000 jobs and filing over 1,900 patent applications along the way," Skolkovo said in a release here. (Biswajit Choudhury is attending the conference at the invitation of the Skolkovo Foundation. He can be reached at biswajit.c@ians.in) Kozhikode, Sep 21 : A three-day meeting of the BJP National Council dedicated to ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya will begin here on Friday, days after the terror attack on the army in Jammu and Kashmir. At least 3,000 delegates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his ministers and BJP President Amit Shah, are set to attend the meet. It will conclude on September 25, the day Upadhyaya was born. "As the Uri incident has taken place, it will obviously be discussed during the meeting," BJP national Secretary P. Murlidharan, a former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Kerala unit, told IANS. Eighteen soldiers were killed when militants believed to have come from Pakistan attacked an army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. The killings have sent India-Pakistan relations plunging to a new low. The BJP has chosen this northern Kerala region for the mega event as Upadhyaya was elected president of the Jan Sangh, the BJP's predecessor, in 1967 at a party conclave in Kozhikode. Murlidharan said the event will begin with a meeting of national office bearers and state presidents who will finalise the agenda of the council. He said Prime Minister Modi will arrive in the city on September 24 and will address a rally at Kozikokde. The National Council is also likely to devise a strategy for upcoming assembly elections in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Kerala BJP leaders feel the meeting will boost the party's prospects in the state where it has just one member in the assembly and whose politics has for decades been dominated by the Left and the Congress. In this year's assembly election in Kerala, the BJP opened its account and more than doubled its vote share from 7 to 15 per cent. During the National Council meeting, the issue of violent clashes between Left and RSS cadres will also be taken up. According to BJP sources, the party is planning of a get together of all those who attended the session in this coastal city in 1967. "Deendayal Upadhyaya had then talked about the Jan Sangh's potential to become an alternative to the Congress and energised its cadres to become a national political force," said party veteran O. Rajagopal, the only BJP legislator in Kerala. Rajagopal was among those who attended the 1967 Kozhikode session. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and BJP veterans L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi also attended the session. Patna/Chandigarh, Sep 21 : More than 150 Sikh luminaries from all walks of life from India and abroad are likely to participate in the first three-day international Sikh conclave in Bihar capital Patna from September 22. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar would be among the dignitaries who will attend the inaugural session of the conclave. A spokesperson for the Punjab government told IANS in Chandigarh that panel discussions would be held on 'Sri Guru Gobind Singh -- A poet par excellence, 'Sri Guru Gobind Singh -- A spiritual saviour and crusader of rights' and 'Sikhism, a faith of love and humanity' and 'Contribution of Sikhs to the nation'. Talking to media persons in Patna on Wednesday, the Bihar Chief Minister said the state government is organising this conclave in connection with the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh master, in Patna Sahib. "Eminent people, including scholars, artists, businessmen, politicians from India and countries like Canada, UK, USA, Myanmar and New Zealand will participate in the conclave," Nitish Kumar said. Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the conclave on Thursday here, after which a panel discussion on various topics will be held. According to officials of conclave host Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Union Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi and Union Cabinet Minister of Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Punjab CMs Surjit Singh Barnala and Captain Amarinder Singh and former Planning Commission Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia are likely to participate in the conclave. Prominent participants from abroad are President of World Punjabi Organisation Ranjeet Bakshi (UK), Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan (Canada), Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Singh Bains (Canada), Hardip Singh Bhasin (Myanmar), Resham Singh Sandhu (UK), Jagdeep Ahluwalia (USA) and Secretary Sikh Council of Australia Baba Singh Jagdeo. Well known lyricist Gulzar, Bollywood actor Dharmendra and veteran athlete Milkha Singh are also likely to participate. Washington, Sep 21 : Protests erupted in North Carolina state of the US after an African-American police officer shot dead a black man while serving a warrant for a different person in Charlotte city. At least seven persons were transported to hospital with minor injuries, CNN reported. Five others have been arrested during the protest after a Charlotte police officer killed Keith Lamont Scott on Tuesday afternoon. According to the police, the man they shot had a gun and posed an "imminent deadly threat", but his family said he was carrying a book. Though the police insisted the man "was armed", he's not the one police were looking for, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said in a statement later. Several hundred people gathered at the site on Tuesday night, chanting "No justice, no peace!" and carrying signs that said "Black Lives Matter". While some threw bottles and rocks at officers working to control the protesters, others implored them to stop. At least 12 officers suffered injuries during the protests, the police department tweeted. It did not provide details on the nature and severity of the injuries, but said one of its officers was hit in the face with a rock. "That's when things really started to pick up. I would say not long before 11 p.m., police deployed tear-gas... as they tried to clear the streets," said Adam Rhew, associate editor for a Charlotte magazine. According to CNN, after a brief lull, the crowds regrouped early on Wednesday and blocked Interstate 85. They started a fire at the centre of the highway, forcing vehicles and tractor-trailers to stall. Police cars with flashing lights hovered nearby. Shortly after, the highway partially opened, some protesters remained in the vicinity and continued chanting, while others jumped on top of a police van and stomped on it. Brentley Vinson, the officer involved in the shooting, has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to the Mayor. He is also reported to be African-American. Racial tensions are high nationwide following other officer-involved shootings. The fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher, an unarmed black man in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sparked protests after video of the killing appeared on Monday. Charlotte's is the latest case involving an officer-involved shooting, and protesters are demanding justice and an end to police brutality for months. Most of the protesters cited the case of Ahmad Rahami, the suspect in the New York and New Jersey explosions who was arrested alive on Monday after a shootout. "Something has to be done... there was a terrorist in New Jersey, New York. He was taken alive," protester Nichelle Dunlap told CNN affiliate WCCB in Charlotte. "They said they want to question him. So because you wanted to question him, does his life mean more than our black men across the nation? It doesn't make any sense." "When will our lives truly matter? A black father is dead. There are children tonight who will never see their father again," said another. Los Angeles, Sep 21 : Even as the guessing game is on as to what caused the split of Hollywood's power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt -- his marijuana and alcohol use, a possible affair with French actress Marion Cottilard or the irreconcilable differences that Jolie stated -- members of the film fraternity and their fans across the globe have expressed shock, sadness and sarcasm. They had been in a relationship for long, but wed in August 2014. According to Hollywood news website TMZ, Jolie cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split, and legal documents reveal she's demanding physical custody of their six children, with visitation rights for Pitt. "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 said in a statement to People magazine. If another TMZ report, quoting a source close to Pitt, is to be believed, he will fight hard for joint physical custody of the children. Multiple sources are conjecturing different reasons for their split, but Jolie's father and actor Jon Voight is sure "something very serious must have happened" that made Jolie take this step. Ever since the split news broke, hashtags #Brangelina, #Brangelexit, #Brangelinacheat and #BrangelinaBreakup started trending on Twitter. Their star friends, including George Clooney, have reacted. "That's a sad story and unfortunate for a family," said Clooney. On Twitter, one user rued: "I feel like my parents have split up Brangelina. Another "genuinely sad" user wrote: "They seemed more than happy, and so accepting and inclusive with their kids. Sad day. Brangelina." The couple met on the set of their spy thriller "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" in 2003, while Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston. He broke up with Aniston in 2005. Later, Jolie revealed that it was Pitt's relationship with her son Maddox, who had "out of the blue called him dad", that encouraged their togetherness. In July 2005, Jolie finalised the adoption of her second child, Zahara, from Ethiopia - as a single parent, and six months later, she revealed she was expecting her first child with Pitt, who also adopted Maddox and Zahara. Shiloh joined the expanding brood. Less than one year later, the couple announced yet another bundle of joy -- they adopted son Pax, then 3, from Vietnam. The duo also took their children -- Pax and Zahara -- for a boat ride during their brief and highly publicised stay in the Indian city Mumbai in 2006, while Jolie was in India to shoot for Michael Winterbottom's "A Mighty Heart". In February 2008, the couple confirmed that they were expecting a baby once again -- and they happened to be twins. The family welcomed Knox and Vivienne in August 2008 in Nice, France. It was after welcoming their fifth and sixth children, the couple became slightly more public about their relationship. In 2008, Pitt said that they had no plans to get married until "it's legal for everyone else. However, in 2011, he revealed that their children were pressuring them to make things official. Still, Jolie maintained they weren't in a rush to tie the knot. Their bond strengthened when Jolie went through a preventative double mastectomy after genetic tests showed that she had a high risk of developing breast cancer. After spending years of knowing and loving each other and raising a family, they finally walked the aisle in an intimate ceremony on August 23, 2014. The fact that the children were an important part of their lives was visible when part of Jolie's wedding dress was scribbled with the kids' artwork. In December, the couple released "By the Sea". Though the movie followed the disintegration of a marriage, Jolie revealed that they were stronger than ever. The Pitt family was last seen together in public in July, when they stopped into a Jamba Juice store in Los Angeles with Shiloh. New Delhi : New Delhi Sep 21 (IANS) A day after a young woman was fatally stabbed 26 times by a jilted lover in broad daylight, her family members along with hundreds of locals on Wednesday protested against Delhi Police. After performing the last rites of Karuna in Nigambodh Ghat, the family and neighbours also held a candle march vigil in the evening at Sant Nagar area near Burari police station. There was heavy police deployment in the area to prevent any untoward incident, a senior police officer said. Earlier, hundreds of agitated people, including family members, relatives and neighbours, of the woman started to assemble at the busy intersection near Burari police station and held a protest with keeping the body at the centre of the road. They were demanding the arrest of two other persons who allegedly helped the accusd Surender in the murder of Karuna. The protest led to traffic jams throughout the area and other roads leading to Burari in the afternoon. "Two other men who were involved with Surender in the murder are still absconding, while police are trying to save them saying that he was alone when he committed the crime. The police should have examined his messages, call detail records can give major clue about the co-accused involved in the crime. Police are not investigating this matter fairly," Vinay, the deceased's uncle, alleged. Vinay said "Someone in Sant Nagar also knows Surender who used to share with him the whereabouts and activities of Karuna, are co-accused in the case. Police should also arrest them. We have earlier complained to police against Surender but police did not take strict action against him which resulted in the killing of Karuna." DCP- North District, Madhur Verma said no one was detained by the police during the protest. Police had to resort to mild lathi charge to disperse the mob. Surender was remanded to police custody for four days. United Nations, Sep 22 : As expected, Pakistan 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. 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. Extending his support to the "struggle of Kashmiri people", 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. Sharif, whose government has persistently been raising the Kashmir issue at the international 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". United Nations, Sep 22 : 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. 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." 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." 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." 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. "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. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) United Nations, Sep 22 : 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. Ahmad Mushtikhan of the American Friends of Balochistan said, "We are happy that (Indian) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken out on Balochistan. Our people are overjoyed by the support of the Indian people." 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. "Balochi, Bharathi, Bhai, Bhai," was one of the slogans chanted at the protest. The Indian protest was held long after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had spoken because of a change in the premier's speaking schedule. He was originally to have been one of the last speakers of the day, but his slot was moved to a morning slot. The Indian protest with about 75 people was against Islamabad-backed terrorist attacks on India and the ethnic cleansing of Hindus from Kashmir. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) New Delhi, Sep 22 : President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday greeted the government and people of Mali on their National Day. "Warm greetings and felicitations to government and people of the Republic of Mali on their National Day," the President tweeted. Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa, gained their independence from France in 1960. On the eve of Mali's National Day on Wednesday, the President had also extended his greeting to his counterpart, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, saying he was confident that "the friendly bilateral relationship between the two countries would be further strengthened in the coming years for the mutual benefit of their peoples." Washington, Sep 22 : Authorities have declared a state of emergency in a US city as protests against the police continued after a African-American man was shot dead. Following a second consecutive day of protests, North Carolina state Governor Pat McCrory on Wednesday night declared a state of emergency in the city of Charlotte and ordered the deployment of the National Guard and traffic police as reinforcements for the local police. A person who was earlier declared dead from the impact of bullets during racial protests in the city was on life support and in critical condition, EFE news reported. "Civilian who suffered gunshot wound during protests is on life support, critical condition. Not deceased," the North Carolina city wrote on its official Twitter account. The city also said the bullet was fired "by civilian on civilian" violence and not by the police. "We cannot tolerate violence,(...) we will not tolerate the attacks against our police officers," McCrory told the media. Meanwhile, clashes between dozens of demonstrators and the police continued. The protests on Tuesday began after a police official killed African-American Keith Lamonth Scott, 43, who, according to the police, was armed. However, Scott's family denied the police claims and said he was waiting to pick up his son from school and was holding a book, not a gun. New Delhi, Sep 22 : 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 here has said. In a message on the occasion of the 86th anniversary of the National Day of Saudi Arabia 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." New Delhi, Sep 22 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Somnath Bharti was on Thursday arrested on charges of damaging a fence at the AIIMS here and misbehaving with its security guards, police said. 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. 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, R.S. Rawat. Rawat alleged that Bharti, around 9.45 a.m. 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. Aligarh, Sep 22 : Will the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) vice chancellor, Lt. Gen. 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 here 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). 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. 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." 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. 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. (Brij Khandelwal can be contacted at brij.k@ians.in) New Delhi, Sep 22 : 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. New Delhi, Sep 22 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday initiated a special fogging drive to prevent the spread of dengue and chikungunya. The month-long drive began from Kejriwal's official residence in north Delhi's Civil Lines area. "It is a special effort which the Delhi government has initiated to prevent the further spread of dengue and chikungunya," Jain said. Both the diseases are caused by mosquitoes. The drive will be conducted from 7 to 11 a.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m. every day till the end of October, Jain said. "The fogging will be done in every street and locality on alternate days. "The Chief Minister instructed us to start a special fogging drive. Today, we have launched this drive with around 200 fogging machines. The number of machines will be increased to 600 by September 26." The Aam Aadmi Party leader said the drive would be in addition to whatever steps the civic bodies in the city do. Jain appealed to people to contact their MLAs to get the fogging done in their areas. The Delhi government has hired the fogging machines from professional agencies. "The drive has been planned in a way that at least seven to eight fogging machines will be operational in every constituency at a given time," the minister added. Delhi has witnessed over 30 dengue and chikungunya related deaths this year. Lucknow, Sep 22 : Three "hardened criminals" were killed in a five-hour gun battle with police in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh early on Thursday, police said. An official said the gun battle started around midnight in village Begrajpur when a police team raided a house where the criminals were hiding. Many weapons and mobile phones were recovered from the site. A family was caught in the crossfire but was rescued safely, an official told IANS. The criminals who died were identified as Sachin, Gaurav and Deepak Rathi. Police suspect they were planning to execute a major robbery in the area. Ranchi, Sep 22 : 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. Lucknow, Sep 22 : Taking cognisance of media reports, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over "lack of proper medical care facilities" in state government hospitals. The commission set a month's deadline for the state government to submit a detailed report on the matter. Recent media reports highlighted the inconvenience caused to patients and their attendants as illustrated by some recent incidents in different parts of the state. The relatives of a deceased had to carry the body on a motorcycle in Kasganj district as an ambulance driver demanded a sum of Rs 1,500 for carrying the body. However, later some people came forward and arranged a private ambulance. NHRC took suo motu cognisance of an incident in the recent past when a 12-year-old boy's father carried him on his shoulders as there was no stretcher available in Kanpur's government-run hospital. The boy later died in the hospital. The Commission has observed that it is the duty of the state to protect the Right to Health of its citizens. The government hospitals are generally approached by the poor people who cannot afford treatment in private hospitals. In another incident, a young woman was brought to the district hospital in Mirzapur on September 4 and was not attended to by doctors for nearly five hours. She was then taken to a private hospital which referred her back to the district hospital, where her 70-year-old father-in-law carried her on his shoulders due to unavailability of a stretcher. Her condition subsequently deteriorated and she was referred to Varanasi on September 6, where she died the next day. Kanpur, Sep 22 : New Zealand bowlers picked up crucial wickets in the post lunch session as India posted 185/4 at tea on the opening day of the first Test here on Thursday. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner was the most successful among the Kiwi bowlers, returning figures of 2-60 off the 15 overs he has bowled so far. Pacer Neil Wagner (1-34) also bowled well while Indian origin leg-spinner Inderbir Singh Sodhi (1-27) got the other wicket. New Zealand pacer Trent Boult bowled well, producing appreciable swing and movement off the pitch, but was unable to bag a wicket. For India, Ajinkya Rahane (12) and Rohit Sharma (0) were at the crease when tea was called. Most of the Indian batsmen fell to poor shots after misreading the turn or bounce of the ball rather than any top quality bowling by the visitors. The Indians started off on a positive note with opener Lokesh Rahul hitting Boult for a couple of boundaries in the very first over of the series. The New Zealand pacers recovered thereafter to restrict the flow of runs to some extent. Rahul however, continued to target Boult, hitting a couple of consecutive boundaries off the pacer in the seventh over. The opener swept Santner for a six in the 11th over, but the spinner had his revenge off the very next ball when Rahul misread an outgoing delivery. Rahul scored at a decent rate, posting 32 runs off 39 deliveries. His innings was studded with four boundaries and a six. Cheteshwar Pujara then joined Murali Vijay in the middle and the duo negotiated the New Zealand bowling with skill and patience to ensure that the hosts went into the lunch break at a decent 105/1. Santner was the only Kiwi bowler to bag a wicket in the morning session. The rest of the Kiwi bowlers toiled away without reward under hot and humid conditions. But whatever advantage the hosts had managed to claim was friterred away in the post lunch session as the Kiwi bowlers struck back to claim the crucial wickets of Vijay, Pujara and Indian skipper Virat Kohli. Boult outfoxed Vijay in the very first over after lunch with cross-seam short pitched delivery. The Indian opener was surprised by the extra bounce as the ball took the outer edge of his bat and travelled to where first slip should have been. But the lack of a fielder at that position saved Vijay and the Kiwis could only watch as the ball raced to the boundary. Santner bagged his second wicket when Pujara misread the spin on a slightly overpitched delivery which did not turn much after pitching. Pujara played for the spin, expecting it to turn towards the offstump but only managed to offer a tame caught and bowled chance to Santner. Kohli (9) seemed to be in good touch, hitting two boundaries during his short stay at the crease. But he fell to a rash shot, attempting to pull Wagner for a six. The Indian captain misjudged the bounce and the ball flew off the top edge for a relatively easy catch for Sodhi. Earlier, Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test of the three match series against New Zealand at the Green Park Stadium here. India are contesting their historic 500th Test. The hosts are playing with six batsmen, two fast bowlers and two spinners while the visiting New Zealand are playing with three spinners and two fast bowlers. India have played 14 Tests under Kohli's captaincy so far, winning 10 of those. The hosts will be eager to register their 11th win under Kohli and make the historic 500th Test a memorable one for their fans. Brief scores: India 185/4 (Murali Vijay 65, Cheteshwar Pujara 62; Mitchell Santner 2-60) vs New Zealand. New York, Sep 22 : Studying hundreds of new genomes from across the globe, researchers, one of them of Indian-origin, have found compelling evidence that essentially all non-Africans alive today descend from a single migration out of Africa some 72,000 years ago. The findings are supported by three new genome sequencing studies published in the journal Nature. One of the studies led by Harvard Medical School (HMS) geneticists sequenced samples from 142 smaller populations, most of which were previously understudied. "We wanted to go out into the world and pull together as many of the ethnically, linguistically and anthropologically diverse samples as we possibly could," said first author of the study Swapan Mallick from Harvard Medical School. The Harvard geneticists and their international team of colleagues began by selecting two genomes each from 51 populations represented in a collection called the Human Genome Diversity Project. Next, they assembled samples from members of 91 other groups, including diverse Native American, South Asian, and African populations not previously included in genome-wide studies, and sent the DNA for sequencing. In all, the project analysed the genomes of 300 people. A key conclusion -- that the vast majority of modern human ancestry in non-Africans derives from a single population that migrated out of Africa -- is also supported by two other whole-genome sequencing studies appearing simultaneously in Nature. One, led by an Estonian group, focused on 379 whole genome sequences; the other, led by a Danish group, analysed 108 Australians and New Guineans. Together, the three studies put to rest a lingering question about whether indigenous peoples of Australia, New Guinea and the Andaman Islands descend in large part from a second group that left Africa earlier and skirted the coast of the Indian Ocean. They do not, the Harvard researchers said. "Our best estimate for the proportion of ancestry from an early-exit population is zero," David Reich, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. The study that analysed 108 Australians and New Guineans estimated that around 72,000 years ago, an ancestral population common to Aborginal Australians, Europeans and East Asians left the African continent. "Discussions have been intense as to what extent Aboriginal Australians represent a separate Out-of-Africa exit to those of Asians and Europeans," said Professor Laurent Excoffier of the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics and the University of Bern said. "We find that, once we take into account admixture with archaic humans, the vast majority of the Aboriginal Australian genetic makeup comes from the same African exit as other non-Africans," Excoffier explained. The HMS-led study further revealed that the common ancestors of modern humans began to differentiate at least 200,000 years ago, long before the out-of-Africa dispersal occurred. "It had been unclear whether the group that expanded out of Africa represented a large subset of the populations within Africa," said Mallick. "This really shows that there was a lot of substructure prior to the expansion," Mallick noted. New Delhi, Sep 22 : 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. Patna, Sep 22 : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday offered prayers at Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib, the birthplace of 10th Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh. Badal, who arrived here to attend the first three-day international Sikh conclave, visited the gurdwara and offered prayers. "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 is 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. Washington, Sep 22 : 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, Clinton's 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. On the Republican side, only 41 per cent of registered voters said their vote was for Trump, 51 per cent said it was against Clinton, the poll showed. Registered voters gave Trump the edge as the candidate who would be best in dealing with the economy, but they favoured Clinton when it came to dealing with immigration, changing the country for the better, being a good Commander-in-Chief and handling nuclear weapons. According to the poll, both candidates were virtually tied on the issue of terrorism and national security, with Clinton claiming a narrow one-point advantage. Voters also said they cared less about Clinton's recent health issues than Trump's taxes and cited the real estate mogul's rhetoric toward women, immigrants and Muslims; his temperament; Clinton's private server during her tenure as Secretary of State and her judgement in Syria, Iraq and Libya as their top concerns. The survey of 922 likely voters was conducted on September 16-19 via landline and cellphone. It has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.2 percentage points. New York, Sep 22 : After writing a post or uploading a photo on Facebook, do you count the number of "likes"? If so, then you are living without a sense of purpose, a study said. The study revealed that for people living with a sense of purpose, the rush of self-esteem that comes with the ubiquitous thumbs-up on social media may be limited. "We found that having a sense of purpose allowed people to navigate virtual feedback with more rigidity and persistence. With a sense of purpose, they are not so malleable to the number of likes they receive," said Anthony Burrow, Assistant Professor at the Cornell University at New York, in the US. The researchers defined "sense of purpose" as the ongoing motivation that is self-directed, oriented toward the future and beneficial to others. While it is nice to receive compliments, online or otherwise, it may not be a good thing to base one's self-esteem on them. "Otherwise, when one receives few likes, he or she can feel worse and the individual's self-esteem would be contingent on what other people say and think and over time that's not healthy," Burrow said. On the other hand, "purposeful people noticed the positive feedback, but did not rely on it to feel good about themselves", Burrow added. It is because purposeful people have the ability to see themselves in the future and act in ways that help them achieve their goals, they are able to inhibit impulsive responses to perceived rewards, such that they prefer larger downstream incentives to smaller immediate ones, explained Nicolette Rainone from the Cornell University. For the study, the team conducted two experiments. In the first, they recruited nearly 250 active Facebook users from the US and measured their self-esteem and sense of purpose, and asked how many likes they typically got on photos they posted. The users who reported getting more likes on average also reported greater self-esteem. But those with a high level of purpose showed no change in self-esteem, no matter how many likes they got. In the second study, the researchers asked nearly 100 Cornell University students to take a selfie and post it to a mock social media site, "Faces of the Ivies". The students were told that their photo had received a high, low or average number of likes. Getting a high number of likes boosted self-esteem -- but, again, only for students who had less purpose, Burrow said, in the paper appearing in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Dhaka, Sep 22 : The death toll in the ferry capsize in Bangladesh's Barisal district rose to 18 on Thursday after five more bodies were retrieved, police said. The 'ML Oishee' capsized on Wednesday at Banariparha Upazila's Dasherhaat point terminal, bdnews24 reported. "Another five missing children's bodies were recovered on Thursday morning which takes the number of deaths to 18," Xinhua news agency quoted a district police official as saying. "At least eight persons are still missing. After a day of relentless efforts rescue vessel "Nirbhik" managed to drag the sunken ferry to shore and lift it up on Thursday morning," he added. He said the search for the missing is still underway by the Fire Service and Civil Defence authorities in collaboration with law enforcers and locals. The cause of the accident is attributed to inclement weather conditions. New Delhi, Sep 22 : Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Thursday said that the government has taken a number of initiatives to make tourism affordable and accessible to the international travellers. The minister was speaking at the plenary session on "Core Infrastructure for Tourism" at the Incredible India Tourism Investors Summit. The event was organised by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Tourism Finance Corporation of India. According to the minister, the recent National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) has taken an integrated approach to address the problem of air connectivity across regions and states. He said the government has permitted 100 per cent FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) to attract greenfield and brownfield investment in airports, and enhanced FDI limit in airlines. The Civil Aviation Minister pointed out that the 5:20 rule has been scrapped and that base fares are now capped for flights of one hour duration. In June, the government had scrapped the 5/20 norm -- that is an airline must have five years of domestic flying and a fleet of 20 aircraft to qualify to fly abroad. The NCAP's current provision has done away with the first five-year wait, but airlines will need 20 aircraft or fly 20 per cent of their total capacity on domestic routes first and then it will be allowed to operate abroad. Further, the government is working towards an open sky policy with SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries, the minister added. At the same event, Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said that the government is committed to lift India's share of tourism from less than one per cent to at least two per cent by 2025. Sharma elaborated the need for infrastructure and connectivity as crucial links for realising India's inherent tourism potential. Besides, the Tourism and Culture Minister said that the government is working towards addressing the requirements of tourist infrastructure in areas such as roads, rail, waterways, and civil aviation, among others. Sharma added that the government has liberalised the policy environment including allowing 100 per cent FDI in hotels, railways and invited the private sector to address gaps. Raigad (Maharashtra), Sep 22 : The Navy and police went on high alert after some locals reported that masked persons armed with guns were sighted in the coastal town of Uran near Mumbai on Thursday. A Navy spokesman said: "The Navy is on a high state of alert after getting this input." The first tip off came from some school children at Karanja in Uran. 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. The news spread like wildfire in Uran and nearby areas, resulting in the closure of schools and colleges for the rest of the day. 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. Sydney, Sep 22 : The analysis of the debris found in the Indian Ocean from the Malaysian Airlines plane showed no signs of exposure to fire, official sources said Thursday. The investigation focused on two fibre pieces found near Sainte Luce in southeastern Madagascar in June. The pieces were handed over to Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) on September 12. The remains -- which the press had reported were burned -- could not be associated with the missing airplane, said Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester, Efe news agency reported. "At this stage it is not possible to determine whether the debris is from MH370 or indeed even a Boeing 777," Chester said in a statement. He further specified they found "no manufacturing identifiers, that provided clues as to the items' origins". He also stressed that "contrary to speculation, there is no evidence the item was exposed to heat or fire". Australia is leading the operation, which includes Malaysia and China, to search for the wreckage of MH370 in an 120,000-sq. km area of the Indian Ocean off the Western Australia coast, which is expected to conclude in December. So far, pieces have been recovered from beaches in Reunion Island, Mozambique, Mauritius, South Africa and the French island of Rodrigues, and the authorities have confirmed the debris to be from the missing plane. In March 2014, the Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines aircraft, carrying 239 passengers, disappeared 40 minutes after it took off from Kuala Lumpur after someone allegedly turned off the communication systems of the plane. The plane is believed to have crashed in a remote region of the Indian Ocean after running out of fuel. New Delhi, Sep 22 : India on Thursday 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. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters here that India was "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, a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif aggressively raised the Kashmir issue in his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York. The spokesperson said most countries have condemned the Sunday terror attack at Uri near the Line of Control (LoC) - the de facto border between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. "No one and I mean no other country at the UN has spoken on the subject Nawaz Sharif devoted 80 per cent of his time to," Swarup said. India has said the militants who attacked the military base had come from Pakistan and belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), headed by Masood Azhar - the known militant commander released in exchange for an Indian Airlines flight hijacked to Afghanistan in December 1999. Asked if India was preparing any fresh dossier on Pakistan's involvement in terrorist activities, Swarup said: "We don't need a dossier, the whole world is aware of Pakistan's role in promoting terror." Panaji, Sep 22 : The Congress on Thursday criticised Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar remarks for threatening to "bring out weapons" against those protesting setting up of mobile towers for the upcoming BRICS event. The party condemns the use of such aggression by Parsekar, especially when it comes to civil society protests, party Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar said at a press conference here. "This is most unbecoming of a Chief Minister to threaten to use 'weapons' against people protesting against mobile towers for BRICS. The protestors are using legitimate means of protest... intimidating them is a crime," he said. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Parsekar said that he was "pained" to hear about village panchayats members' plans to oppose mobile towers for the upcoming BRICS meet in the state. "The protestors should reconsider their position, or we will have to come out with weapons," he said, adding setting up mobile towers is essential for a smooth communications network for the international event. Kawthankar also said that the party would file a police complaint and submit a written representation to Governor Mridula Sinha. Patna, Sep 22 : Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani 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. New Delhi, Sep 22 : 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, Sep 22 : India's Intelligence Bureau Director Dineshwar Sharma on Thursday said terrorism has emerged as a big challenge for the entire world and sought close cooperation and sharing of real-time intelligence to tackle the menace. 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, imperative for all of us to secure our countries and our people," an official release quoted him as saying. The Uri terror attack was only one in a series of such dastardly acts in 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, Sharma said while addressing a high-level meeting of eminent experts on strengthening Saarc's anti-terror mechanism here. The IB chief asked the eight member-states of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) to ratify and enable its various conventions, including the Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and Additional Protocols and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. He said terrorist organisations use easily accessible technology to attack both soft and hard targets. "Self-radicalisation over the Internet and social media, and spread of influence of Islamic State, including in our country, has added a new dimensions to the threat," he added. He identified countering the financing of terrorism as one of the most important aspects of fighting terror. "Cyberspace has become an important area for radicalisation and spread of jihadi ideas. Besides, the problem of fake currency feeds into supporting terrorism and can create economic destabilisation in our region," Sharma added. Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 22 : The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) on Thursday urged the central government to initiate immediate steps to arrest the slide in the fortunes of the cashew industry in particular and exports in general. "Unfavourable export policies have resulted in a fall of cashew exports from 41,955 tonnes in the first quarter of the last financial year to 30,319 tonnes during the same period in the current fiscal. In revenue terms, the export earnings slipped from Rs 2.1 crore to Rs 1.7 crore," CEPCI Chairman P. Sundaram told reporters here. Set up in 1955 by the Government of India, CEPCI provides necessary institutional framework for performing different functions for promoting export of cashew kernels. What hit the industry worst was the newly-introduced import duty, Sundaram pointed out. "As per the new norms, duty-free imports is possible only if kernels weighing 25 per cent of the raw nuts is imported and kernels worth 15 per cent more in value is exported within 18 months." The CEPCI has submitted certain remedial measures to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Nirmala Sitharaman. "The remedial measures include a special package for the cashew industry, similar to what was given to the textile sector in the past, and measures like rollback of the import duty imposed on raw nuts with retrospective effect from March 1, 2016, restoration of export incentives to five per cent, allowing unhindered processing to enable fulfilment of export contracts, etc.," said Chairman of the Federation of Indian Cashew Industry R.K. Bhoodes. The overall picture of the cashew industry looks very grim, as out of the total production capacity of 20 lakh tonnes a year, the production of raw nuts in the country has now fallen to under 7 lakh tonnes, and the import of raw nuts is in the range of around 9 lakh tonnes. Kerala leads the rest of the country with 85 per cent of country's cashew exports, but due to huge cost of production, things are going from bad to worse. "Until a decade back, India was the leading producer, exporter and consumer of cashew in the world, but now things have changed, and Vietnam is surging fast. The factor pushing Vietnam to the forefront is the cost of production -- the cost of producing 80 kgs of cashew is around Rs 1,250 there, while in Kerala, it costs Rs 3,500. Likewise, the productivity from one acre there is 2,500 kg, while here it's 700 kg," Sundaram observed. CEPCI officials also said that even though there are 793 cashew factories in Kerala, barely 140 of them are operational. "Factories outside Kerala concentrate on domestic supplies. While there are more than 3,000 factories, a majority of them are in the unorganised sector. There also, the cost of production is quite high," said Bhoodes. CEPCI also welcomed the Kerala government's decision to take up cultivation of cashew in states, like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Maharashtra leads the rest of the country in terms of total area under cashew cultivation, which accounts for 32 per cent of the total 10 lakh hectare, while Kerala's share is just 10 per cent. New Delhi, Sep 22 : 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. Raigad (Maharashtra), Sep 22 : The Navy and police went on high alert after some local students reported that masked persons armed with guns were sighted in the coastal village of Karanja near Uran on the outskirts of Mumbai on Thursday. Confirming the developments, an Indian Navy spokesman said: "The Navy is on a high state of alert after getting this input." The Indian Navy, a team of the elite Force One, the Anti-Terrorist Squad, Maharashtra Police, Navi Mumbai police, Mumbai police, and other agencies were engaged in a joint operation to weed out the unknown armed persons with a potential to create mischief. The first tip-off came from at least three-four school children of Uran Education Society's school who informed their teachers, who in turn alerted police and all other security agencies were quickly geared into action to counter the situation. 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. A defence spokesperson said that according to a report they received, early Thursday morning, five-six persons in Pathani suits were sighted and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks. Some other reports claimed that they were attired in some kind of military uniforms, but that could not be officially verified. The Western Naval Command reacted promptly by first sounding an alert and informing all coastal security agencies which are now on high alert in Raigad and the country's commercial capital, Mumbai, with its helicopters and patrol ships deployed in the vicinity. "Searches and other actions as per procedures have been initiated. The situation is being closely monitored in liaison with the police. No person has been located or apprehended till now," the spokesperson said. The news spread like wildfire in Uran and nearby areas, resulting in the closure of schools and colleges for the rest of the day. The entire town of Uran went on a spontaneous shutdown as a precaution even as the 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. All coastal police stations from Palghar to Goa have been alerted to keep a lookout for any suspicious activities. While the police have launched a massive combing operation in Uran and surrounding parts of Raigad, in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and other places, local police put up road-blocks to check all suspicious vehicles entering or exiting these cities. Security has also been tightened at important places like Raj Bhavan, Mantralaya, important stations of the railways, the ports, airlines and other commercial offices in south Mumbai. All agencies concerned are not taking the tip-off by the students lightly in view of last Sunday's terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri town, especially since the suspicious sightings have taken place near a naval training base for MARCOS (marine commandoes) in Uran on the mainland. 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, power plants and refineries, offices of important central and state government in a small radius. The development brought back memories of November 26, 2008, when a group of 10 Pakistani terrorists had sneaked into Mumbai through the Arabian Sea at Colaba and then created mayhem for 60 hours. 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. Moscow, Sep 22 : Russian track and field athlete Yulia Chermoshanskaya on Thursday said she will not challenge the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to strip her of her gold medal from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The IOC announced on August 17 that Russia's national track and field team was stripped of the 2008 Olympic Games gold medal in the 4x100 metre relay race due to a positive doping test of runner Chermoshanskaya, reports Tass. The decision, which took effect immediately, was made as a result of double-checking 2008 Olympic Games doping tests. Chermoshanskaya's sample tested positive for two banned substances -- stanozolol and turinabol. The athlete planned to challenge the decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne but later she changed her mind. "No, I will get nothing from this. Most likely, everything will remain as it is," Chermoshanskaya said on Thursday. The three other athletes who participated in the relay race were Yevgeniya Polyakova, Aleksandra Fedoriva and Yulia Gushchina. Belgium were second, Nigeria third, and Brazil fourth. Russia were third in the medal standings at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning 23 golds (considering the win in the women's 4x100m relay), 21 silvers and 29 bronzes. New Delhi, Sep 22 : India on Thursday said the a bill introduced in the US Congress describing Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism was an acknowledgment of Islamabad being the "epicentre of terrorism", and exuded confidence of the bill being treated with utmost seriousness. "You will appreciate that it reflects the acknowledgment in the US Congress that a country to which the United States had channelled so much aid, is actually the epicenter of terrorism which has also targeted Americans and American interests," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in reply to a question at a media briefing here on Thursday. "The US Congress has also blocked $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 to Pakistan. "The present bill has been introduced by two of the senior most and highly respected members of the Congress and I am sure it will be treated with utmost seriousness," added Swarup. Congressman Ted Poe (Republican), the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, along with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (Republican) on Tuesday introduced the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act. The bill was introduced after the 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 has blamed the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist group for the early morning attack on the sleeping soldiers. All the four attackers were killed. New Delhi, Sep 22 : Ushering in transparency in the public distribution system, the Delhi Government has decided to strictly enforce the right of ration card holders to access the inventory details as well as cash flow of ration stores across the city. The announcement was made on Thursday by Water Minister Kapil Mishra, who holds the interim charge of Food and Civil Supplies Department. "Any ration card holder has the right to look at the stock register, sale register, ration card register and cash memos in their respective ration stores. We will make sure that this is implemented properly," he said. He announced that all such stores will have to put a large information board within seven days, which will clearly define the working hours of the store as well as the weekly off. "The store will prominently display the licence number, inventory stock of all commodities and their prices in clear words outside the store," he said. A detailed report along with photographs of the display boards will have to be sent to the ministry within seven days. The minister added that a complaints register will also have to be maintained in each and every store. "Apart from that, to address the grievances of the public, every Food and Supply Officer will have to conduct a public hearing on the first and third Saturday of every month. The report of the same will have to be submitted to the minister via the commissioner," he said. All legislators will also have to conduct the monthly meeting of the ration committees, he said. Mishra holds the interim charge of Food and Supplies Department in the absence of Imran Hussain, who is on Haj pilgrimage. Panaji, Sep 22 : Eight years after her 15-year-old daughter Scarlett Keeling was found sexually assaulted and dead on a balmy morning at Goa's Anjuna beach, her mother Fiona Mackeown battles nervousness a day before a trial court is set to deliver verdict in the case. The Goa Children's Court is expected to pronounce the verdict in the long-drawn case on Friday, in which two beach shack workers have been accused of sexually assaulting her daughter and leaving her to die, with a cocktail of drugs pumped in her adolescent body, at the popular Anjuna beach. While the remains of her daughter lay cold and still for years over bitter squabbles over faulty autopsies and a range of forensic tests, Fiona in the course of the investigation and trial has herself undergone a virtual spectrum of emotions, while battling insensitive and corrupt police officials, Goa's drug mafia, the state's then Home Minister and a laborious judicial process. "It has been long time of waiting. Waiting for this day. I am nervous and hope that the struggle and wait will end," Fiona told IANS. As far as Goa is concerned, especially its beaches, which attract nearly four million tourists every year, are still unsafe for young girls, the resident of Devon, England, says. "I do not think it's safe for a young girl to go alone on the beaches in Goa. Maybe it's safe to be with families. There are certain areas which are probably not safe. We need to be more sensible and safe than I was," she says. She described Scarlett as an outgoing girl, who wanted to travel the world, before she met an unfortunate end. "She was a lively and happy girl. She used to sing, draw and swim in the sea. She was looking forward to travelling around the rest of the world; travelling and working. She has been stolen from us. Her life and future stolen from her. We just want justice for her," she now says. Her counsel Vikram Varma, who has been her guide over the last few years, believes that it was only because of Fiona's resoluteness and "inner strength" that the wheels of justice started churning, especially at a time when the police had dismissed Scarlett's death as suicide. "Fiona is a woman with extraordinary strength and tenacity. She has lost her daughter and she resolved in 2008 that she will not fail her and fight for justice and see to it that those who killed her daughter and gave her narcotics and drugs are brought to trial by a court," he said. From the time it was dismissed as a suicide by the local police till Friday, when the verdict is expected to be announced, the case has seen several ups and downs. Fiona had even named then Home Minister Ravi Naik and his son Roy in open court, claiming they were involved in Goa's drug trade, and influencing the state machinery to allow those responsible for her daughter's death to go scot-free. The Goa Police was subsequently forced to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which eventually filed the chargesheet against Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho. Bengaluru, Sep 22 : As the world's back office, India remains the largest base for Business Process Management (BPM) globally with $28 billion revenue, said the IT industry's representative body Nasscom on Thursday. "India continues to be the largest BPM base globally, with $28 billion (Rs 186,368 crore) revenue during fiscal 2015-16," National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) President R. Chandrashekhar told reporters here. With eight per cent compounded average growth rate, the back office sector contributes 25 per cent to the industry's IT-BPM exports and added 49,000 people to its workforce, taking the total to 10,86,000. "Automation, digitalised processes and new business models are enabling the BPM sector to adopt a strategic role instead of being another outsourcing platform," said Chandrashekhar at the two-day Nasscom-BPM Strategy Summit here. Noting that the industry's next growth wave would come from increasing demand for advanced analytics, social media and mobility, the former Telecom Secretary said the emerging technologies would drive demand for specialised services. "The Indian BPM sector has a strategic and intellectual role to play, gravitating towards global competitiveness," he said. As a back office operation, BPM focuses on improving corporate performance by managing and optimising a company's business process remotely by outsourcing it as a service to a third-party vendor or at the enterprise's onsite. "The recommendations will help create a secure ecosystem for the industry, enabling it to focus on growing in strength to $50 billion by 2020," said Nasscom in a statement. The BPM council will focus on rebranding and repositioning the industry from the supply and demand side. "The council is working on building a centre of excellence on data sciences and capacity development for emerging players, skills, and talent," added the statement. The top 10 BPM exporters are lead by Genpact, followed by TCS (Tata Consultancy Services), Wipro BPO, Infosys BPO, WNS Global Services, Firstsource Solutions, Hinduja Global Solutions, EXL, Aegis and HCL Technologies. New Delhi/United Nations, Sep 22 : 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. New Delhi, Sep 22 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday said that nationality of Tibetans born in India between 1950 to 1987 cannot be questioned under the Citizenship Act and directed the government to treat all Tibetans who meet the criteria of being Indian citizens by birth, as Indians and to issue them passports. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva held that the question of nationality does not arise in cases where a person is considered a citizen of India as per the Citizenship Act. The court asked Ministry of External Affairs to furnish passports to the three Tibetan born in India - Lobsang Wangyal (1970), Lobsang Wangyal (1977) and Tenzin Dhonden (1992), within the next four weeks, as it rejected the Home Ministry's argument that granting of Indian passport to Tibetans living in India will be done on a case-by-case basis. The high court passed direction to both Home and External Affairs Ministries to consider the applications of all Tibetans for a passport and not ask them to certify their nationality. Advocate Giriraj Subramanium, appearing for two of the petitioners, said his clients were denied passport despite owning other proofs of their Indian citizenship like a voter identification card. The lawyer also said that a person born after 1987 but before the amendment to the Citizenship Act in 2003, is entitled to Indian citizenship if any one of the parents are have Indian citizenshi Jaipur, Sep 22 : The Rajasthan government on Thursday gave "in-principle" approval to the Rajasthan Protection of Interests of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Ordinance, 2016, at a cabinet meeting held here. Rajasthan's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore said that the main aim of the ordinance is to protect the interest of depositors in case of fraudulent default by any financial establishment. "The ordinance will be sent soon to the President of India through Governor for his consent," said Rathore in a statement. According to the provision in the ordinance, if financial establishment defaults any repayment of deposit on maturity along with any benefit as promised or fails to render service as assured against the deposit, owners/operators of such financial establishment shall be punished with imprisonment for a term from three to seven years and with fine from Rs 2 to 5 lakh. Provision has also been made regarding attachment of properties on default of return of deposit. The cabinet also approved the proposal to establish Nirwan University on 34 acres of land at Jhar Bassi near Jaipur by Shri Nirwan Charitable Trust, Sri Ganganagar. The university, which is likely to entail an investment of Rs 250 crores, will provide courses and research facility in subjects like medical, dental, nursing, physiotherapy, life sciences, pharmacy and homeopathy etc. Bhubaneswar, Sep 22 : The Odisha government has attracted about Rs 1.61 lakh crore investment in last two years, the state assembly was told on Thursday. In a written reply to ruling Biju Janata Dal lawmaker Amar Prasad Satapathy, Industry Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said that 43 companies have shown interest to set up their industries with an investment proposal of Rs 1,61,629 crore in the state. These companies have expressed their interest to set up their projects after the industrial policy-2015 came into effect, he added. While 14 companies have evinced interest to invest Rs 70,956 crore at Make In India week held in Mumbai this February this year, the state government has got the assurance of Rs 90,670 crore investment at Invest Odisha meet in Bengaluru, said Mishra. The state-level single window clearance authority has already cleared the proposals of 20 companies with an investment of Rs 3,931.06 crore. The state government has attracted investment in several sectors including aluminium, food processing and hospitality, power plant, container terminal, downstream industrial park, and electronic manufacturing unit. Panaji, Sep 22 : Increased import of vegetable oil, coupled with low oilseed production paints a disappointing picture of the country's vegetable oil industry, stakeholders said on Thursday. Speakers at the three-day Globoil India 2016 event here, also expressed hope that the GST could a game changer and a shot in the arm for the vegetable oil industry. Sandeep Bajoria, chairman, Globoil and CEO, Sunvin Group said that India was the world's leading cooking oil importer and there was need to "adopt policies to promote domestic oilseed production". "But that has not been happening," he said, noting imports of vegetable oil have almost reached 70 per cent in the current fiscal. Currently, more than 50 per cent of the country's annual demand for cooking oil, which is around 16 to 17 million tons, is supplemented by import of palmolein oil, as well as soya bean oil from Latin America and sunflower oil from countries in and around the Black Sea. "Oil seeds and pulses are the biggest sufferers and the period between 1995 and 2015 should be considered as the lost decades for these commodities. Practically no growth in oilseed and only marginal increase in pulses was witnessed," said Atul Chaturvedi, CEO, Adani Wilmar Ltd at the inaugural session of the event held at a coastal resort near the state capital. He also stressed on the importance of investment in research which increases productivity of oil seeds in the country. "If we can invest more in research and increase out production of oil seeds our imports would reduce," he said, adding that implementation of GST would be a game changer as far as the vegetable oil industry in the country is concerned. Bengaluru, Sep 22 : The Karnataka legislature will deliberate and decide on Friday whether to comply with the Supreme Court order to release more Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu or stop to ensure drinking water in the state's southern region, said an official. "Governor Vajubhai R. Vala has convened the special legislature session on Friday after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met him at Raj Bhavan and conveyed the decision of the cabinet and of the all-party meeting on Wednesday here," the official in the chief minister's office told IANS. Armed with an all-party consensus, the chief minister is likely to move a resolution after a day-long debate authorising the state government against releasing 6,000 cusecs daily for a week till September 27 from Thursday, as directed by the apex court on Tuesday. "As we are in distress due to deficit monsoon rains and depleted reservoirs in the river basin, the state is not in a position to release any more water for cultivating the samba inter crop in the neighbouring state at the cost of supplying drinking water to Bengaluru, Mandya and Mysuru cities till next June," said the official. A division bench of the apex court on Tuesday ordered the state to release 6,000 cusecs per day from Wednesday for a week till September 27, doubling the quantum fixed by its appointed Cauvery Supervisory Committee on Monday for 10 days till September 30. Karnataka has already released 12,000 cusecs daily till Tuesday as per the top court's September 12 order, which was a modification of its September 5 directive to release 15,000 cusecs daily for 10 days from September 7. In a related development, Siddaramaiah met Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti in New Delhi and apprised her of the state's difficulty in giving more water to Tamil Nadu in compliance with the top court order. "The chief minister has conveyed to Uma Bharti the grim situation in the state due to lower water levels in all the four reservoirs across the river basin and its struggle to meet the drinking water needs of the region till the onset of next monsoon," said the official. With only 24 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) water in the four reservoirs (Kabini, KRS, Harangi and Hemavathy), the state is already facing shortage for supplying drinking water, which requires 27 tmcft, he added. Bologna (Italy), Sep 22 : The 10-month-old daughter of two alleged drug dealers was on Thursday being treated in hospital in Italy's Bologna city for cannabis poisoning, police said. The baby girl's condition was improving after she was admitted to the hospital's paediatric intensive care unit in an unresponsive state, doctors said. Police said they had informed social services after a visit to the family home in a village outside Bologna and prosecutors are investigating the case. The baby's parents could face charges of grievous bodily harm. Beth Brennan Access Publishing is offering two business seminars this month in Paso Robles. Newspaper Editor Skye Ravy will present at a Press Release Seminar and Internet marketing expert Beth Brennan will present a Google Seminar. Get more media exposure: Learn how to effectively write and submit a press release from speaker Skye Ravy, managing editor of the Paso Robles Daily News, A-Town Daily News & the San Luis Obispo County Visitors Guide. Would you like to get free media exposure for your business or organization? asks Ravy. A press release is a great way to get your message out to the community at no cost to you. Attend this complimentary seminar and learn the secrets of a press release: Successful press release topics Required elements in a press release How to submit a press release Where to submit your press release locally The hour-long seminar will be hosted Wednesday, Sept. 28., at the North San Luis Obispo County Association of Realtors conference room at 1101 Riverside Ave #A, Paso Robles. Seating is limited. Complimentary coffee and fruit will be served. Click here to reserve a seat to the Press Release Seminar or call (805) 226-9890 Learn how to rank higher on Google Access Publishing is hosting a complimentary Google Seminar to help local businesses and organizations improve their online marketing presence. Beth Brennan, an online marketing expert with Access Publishing, will talk about SEO Search Engine Optimization. What is search engine optimization? Its an internet marketing strategy that helps websites and business listings rank higher in search engine results like Google, says Brennan. If youve ever wondered how do I get my business found on Google? or How can I rank higher on Google? this educational seminar will be an eye-opener, she says. Essentially, SEO is about writing great content that communicates important information about your business and then publishing it on your website and across the Internet, she says. You need to tell Google who you are, what you do, and where you are located; and you need to do it effectively and repeatedly. We will show you how. Brennan and the team at Access Publishing have given dozens of educational seminars to hundreds of local business leaders at engagements from Rotary Clubs to chambers of commerce. The company provides web design and local SEO services to over 100 businesses in San Luis Obispo County. The hour-long seminar is Friday, Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. at the North San Luis Obispo County Association of Realtors, 1101 Riverside Ave #A, Paso Robles. Reservations are required and seating is limited. Click here to reserve your seat to the Google Seminar or call (805) 226-9890. Access Publishing offers marketing solutions: Professional business web design Search engine optimization for Google ranking Graphic design and printed materials San Luis Obispo County Visitors Guide Paso Robles Daily News A-Town Daily News North County Access Your Cambria Phone Book Templeton Community Guide Heritage Ranch Directory Oak Shores Directory Access Publishing 806 9th St., Ste 2D Paso Robles, CA 93446 Easily stream Clash Royale to Facebook Live "As I grow my audience, engaging my fans across multiple networks becomes important to keep everyone engaged. I have already used Bluestacks TV on Twitch and I loved the simplicity of the feature. I cant wait to stream again. Today, mobile gaming platform BlueStacks announced an integration with Facebook Live that allows users to stream mobile apps directly to Facebook for the first time. BlueStacks 150 million+ users can now livestream any app from inside BlueStacks to their own profile, their friends timelines, or their own fan page. The company is among the largest yet to integrate Facebook Lives recently launched APIs. Facebook boasts 1.65 billion users of which 650 million play games on Facebook or logged in with Facebook. "Contextual streaming is the future of live," said BlueStacks CEO, Rosen Sharma. "By giving people the ability to pair live streams with any app, it allows them to create more engaging content. We want to free people up to engage in app-fueled experiences like singing with Smule's Sing! Karaoke or sharing their gameplay from VainGlory. Our initial Twitch integration was an ideal showcase of what this can be in the gaming world. With this expansion to Facebook Live, we are adding the other million plus apps out there to the livestreaming ecosystem." Given Facebooks size and reach, adding another promotional channel is a boon for mobile developers and publishers. Influencers can showcase apps to their audiences without the heavy production required for traditional video campaigns. By enabling the audience to interact directly with streamers, BlueStacks provides a never-before-seen level of live access. In addition to integrating Facebook Live, BlueStacks has partnered with China-based streaming services, PandaTV and DouYu to bring mobile app streaming to 420 million mobile gamers. As the mobile gaming market continues to grow in China, an increasing share of PC users have been playing mobile games. In a recent survey conducted by Forbes magazine, over 30% of Chinese mid and hardcore mobile gamers played games on a PC. By bringing streaming to BlueStacks growing market in China, the company is excited to bring mobile app streaming to an already mature personal streaming market. To kick-off the launch of their Facebook Live integration, BlueStacks recruited several high profile YouTube celebrities ranging from musicians to gamers to livestream themselves and their favorite apps to their millions of fans. YouTube celebrity TheAlvaro845 will be hosting a Clash Royale tournament and streaming it live via the new Facebook Live streaming function on BlueStacks' Facebook page. The tournament stream begins at 12pm EDT/9am PDT on September 22nd, 2016. "I am thrilled for the Facebook Live integration into Bluestacks," says TheAlvaro845, "As I grow my audience, engaging my fans across multiple networks becomes important to keep everyone engaged. I have already used Bluestacks TV on Twitch and I loved the simplicity of the feature. I cant wait to stream again. Based in Silicon Valley with offices in Beijing, Delhi, London, Tokyo, Seoul and Ho Chi Minh City, BlueStacks is funded with 27M USD from Ignition Partners, Radar Partners, Andreessen-Horowitz, Samsung, Redpoint, Qualcomm, Intel, Presidio Ventures (a Sumitomo Corporation Company), Citrix, AMD and Helion Ventures. The 100-person company launched in May, 2011 and the first version of its App Player was released in March, 2012. Soundsmith Music: LDS sheet music for ward choirs. "Music is so essential in the church," says Smith, "but good ward choir music is often too difficult or expensive. I've tried to make arrangements that are fun, easy to learn, and also free." Theres nothing unusual about no-cost LDS sheet music for ward choirs. A quick Google search brings up dozens of sites like DeFordMusic.com or FreeLDSSheetMusic.org. But what makes Soundsmith Music unique is Smiths association with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Steve began preparing music in 1995 while still a student at BYU. Mack Wilberg, then director of the BYU Mens Chorus and Concert Choirs, became his primary client. As Mack transitioned from the university to the tabernacle, Steves work with the Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square blossomed into a career that now spans more than 20 years. Working closely with Mack gives me unique insight into choral arranging, Smith says. And he hopes that insight leads to well-crafted hymn settings accessible the average ward choir. "Music is so essential in the church," says Smith, "but good ward choir music is often too difficult or expensive. I've tried to make arrangements that are fun, easy to learn, and also free." SoundsmithMusic.com first launched in 1996 to a worldwide audience of LDS ward choir directors. Many downloaded his free LDS sheet music and offered enthusiastic feedback. Because of a growing family and other responsibilities, Smith temporarily retired the website in 2012. His 2016 relaunch includes improved versions of his original arrangements and new settings of familiar LDS hymns and childrens songs. The new site also hosts many of Smiths popular Christmas arrangements, just in time for fall rehearsal. Additionally, Smith offers advice for ward choir directors via the new sites blog. Over the years, Ive learned a lot about how to build a successful ward choir, Smith says. He hopes to help new ward choir directors, especially those with little or no musical training, find solid footing. Perhaps, Smith muses, lessons learned in working with the church choir will help many church choirs found in LDS wards, stakes, and branches around the world. ABOUT SOUNDSMITH MUSIC Created in 1995 by composer Steven Smith, Soundsmith Music provides professional composing, arranging, and music preparation services for choirs and orchestras worldwide. Clients include the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, BYU, Telarc Records, Deutsche Grammophon, and Oxford University Press. ABOUT STEVEN SMITH Steven studied music composition at Brigham Young University. He provides the primary music preparation services used by Mack Wilberg, director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. In addition to creating LDS sheet music for ward choirs, Steven works with religiously unaffiliated choirs and orchestras throughout the U.S. His musical leadership includes numerous community choirs, orchestras, and ensembles throughout Utah and Cache counties. Stevens musical theater work includes stage adaptations of Heidi, Max Lucados You Are Special (The Wemmicks), and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in Concert, a Stories in Concert production. He currently resides in Mendon, Utah with his wife and four children. Email Marketing is spreading around the whole world because of its high effectiveness, speed and low cost. If you want to introduce and sell your product or service, the best way is to use e-mail to contact your targeted customer. Maxprog is proud to present a new release of its bulk email software, MaxBulk Mailer, available now on Maxprog website with several interesting new features and improvements: http://maxbulkmailer.maxprog.com Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrTCeJ4tyUw MaxBulk Mailer is a bulk email software and internet marketing tool for macOS and MS Windows that supports plain text, HTML and rich text formats including optional plain text alternative and attachments. It includes document and contact management, support for multiple lists and remote lists, multiple accounts with POP and ESMTP authentication, SSL, groups, mySQL and postgreSQL imports, unicode support, double opt-in list subscription manager and message opening/click-through tracking, 40 encoding for virtually any language and hundreds of exclusive features. MaxBulk Mailer is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Dutch and Portuguese for macOS 10.7 and Windows 7 (or higher). Maxprog has created the ultimate tool for all of the email marketing needs. MaxBulk Mailer allows the user to design and send professional looking emails to customers and prospects for as little as fractions of a penny. MaxBulk Mailer is a powerful mail-merge tool that allows to send out customized press releases, price lists and any kind of text or HTML documents. Sample message: http://www.maxprog.com/site/blog/post.php?id=476&about=MaxBulk_Mailer&topic=Sending_beautiful_e-mails_with_MaxBulk_Mailer MaxBulk Mailer vs Web-Based email marketing systems: http://www.maxprog.com/site/blog/post.php?id=497&about=MaxBulk_Mailer&topic=MaxBulk_Mailer_vs_Web-Based_email_marketing_systems MaxBulk Mailer is fast, fully customizable and very easy to use. MaxBulk Mailer handles plain text, HTML and styled text documents and gives full support for attachments. Here is a breakthrough tool from Maxprog that will allow marketers to increase profits, strengthen customer service and sending messages to new markets. What's new: http://www.maxprog.com/site/misc/news_us.php?sku=4 With MaxBulk Mailer the user can create, manage and send powerful, personalized marketing messages to customers and potential customers. MaxBulk Mailer also includes a double opt-in list subscription manager and offer message opening and click-through tracking. MaxBulk Mailer is a software tool that you purchase once, no need to pay on a per-email basis to submission services. Targeted e-mail is no doubt very effective. If you can introduce your product or service through email directly to the customers who are interested in them, this will bring your business a better chance of success. Now promotional messages will jump off the screen with HTML email! MaxBulk Mailer HTML allows the use of graphics, fonts and colors turning messages into professional online brochures. Any user can utilize their full lists of contact information with MaxBulk Mailer reaching everyone in the database without worrying about integration or compatibility issues. Max Programming, LLC. also known as Maxprog(R) is a privately held company dedicated to macOS, MS Windows and Linux software development founded in the early nineties by French-born programmer Stanley Roche Busk, after over 15 years of experience in the high-tech networking industry and computer software development, now Chief Executive Officer of the company. Since its creation, Max Programming has built firm business relations with thousands of clients from over 136 countries with products localized in up to 14 different languages. You can download MaxBulk Mailer for macOS and MS Windows here: http://download.maxprog.com Copyright (C) 2002-2016 Max Programming, LLC - All rights reserved. Just 2 weeks after its launch, Redraw Keyboard (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.redraw.keyboard) has taken the coveted top spot among the most popular recent releases on Google Play US. The multi-feature emoji keyboard for Android has also settled into 5th place in the overall ranking of the most popular personalization apps on Google Play as, not two weeks after its September 7 launch, it positions itself hard on the heels of long-standing apps like GO Keyboard, GO Launcher and Zedge. Among the other milestones achieved by T-Me Studios new product, Redraw Keyboard, is having been recently featured on Product Hunt, where its hunter, Niv Dror, notes that, based on the keyboards install and DAU numbers, he now realizes how big the keyboard market is on Android. (https://www.producthunt.com/tech/redraw-keyboard) The Android keyboard app built over an 8-month intensive stretch by a small team of programmers and designers within T-Me Studios has also garnered positive reviews in leading outlets covering the Android ecosystem. Tom Dawson, editor-in-chief of AndroidHeadlines.com, remarks: Redraw Keyboard has pretty much everything you could need in a keyboard, and it does all of this without asking for any extra money for the extra features that it has on show. It translates things right from your fingers, offers users a way of getting their documents from the keyboard and its packed full of stickers as well as emoji. (http://www.androidheadlines.com/2016/09/sponsored-app-review-redraw-keyboard-emoji-themes.html) Redraw Keyboard boasts a wide array of features, pulling out all the stops to become the go-to keyboard app for customization buffs and casual Android users alike. The team behind it set itself a lofty goal from the onset, the #1M1M challenge (1 million unique users in 1 month), which has already been met half way, with 660,000 unique users to date (thats a 2,687.0% direct growth from the launch date) and a 38% day-1 retention rate. Based in Bucharest, Romania, T-Me Studios, the brainchild of two young Romanian entrepreneurs, is a leading maker of launchers, keyboards, lockers, live wallpapers, watch faces and more (over 6,000 personalization apps published to date). Its mission is to allow phone users to personalize every aspect of their device, and Redraw Keyboard (http://redrawkeyboard.com) is the latest step in achieving this goal. For further information, contact Ioanina Pavel at T-Me Studios Redraw Keyboard division. At Smiles by Stevens, our goal is to welcome patients and provide kind, genuine care, with the commitment of modern dental treatment with state of the art technology Smiles by Stevens is excited to announce that Dr. Shea Stevens has been awarded the Top Dentist in Lancaster honors by the prestigious International Association of Dentists The Leading Physicians of the World. Each year the International Association of Dentists (IAD) selects, highlights, and profiles the worlds top dentists. The IADs goal is to honor dentists who have demonstrated both success and leadership in their field, along with significant efforts to collaborate and share breakthroughs in healthcare with their colleagues worldwide. Dr. Stevens, a top Lancaster PA dentist, will be inducted later this year in an official ceremony, at which time his biography, including career highlights, achievements, education, and services will be featured in The Leading Physicians of the World Annual Publication. Dr. Stevens states, I am honored and humbled by this achievement, to be chosen Top Dentist in Lancaster by the International Association of Dentists. At Smiles by Stevens, our goal is to welcome patients and provide kind, genuine care, with the commitment of modern dental treatment with state of the art technology. This award reflects our efforts and success in enhancing oral health and delivering beautiful smiles to our friends, neighbors, and community in Lancaster. In addition to this honor, Dr. Stevens and his helpful, friendly staff are consistently voted among the Top 20 Dentists in Pennsylvania. He is also the recipient of the OKU Dental Honor Society Award, Oral Surgery Honors, and AO Dental Society Awards. Dr. Stevens believes continuing education is key for patient care and strives to maintain the best in modern quality care for his patients. Dr. Stevens has established himself as an expert in the field of dental implants and achieved certification by Sleep Group Solutions for management of snoring and sleep apnea. Dr. Stevens is also a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and maintains Fellowship status with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. The goal of Smiles by Stevens remains the same to deliver the best dental care in a welcoming and stress-free environment. Call Dr. Stevens (http://www.smilesbystevensdmd.com) and his caring and expert staff and discover the difference today. Bio: Smiles by Stevens utilizes the most modern dental methods in Lancaster, PA. Their goal is to provide patients with advanced dental care techniques plus Botox, as well as Sleep Apnea care, paired with caring, compassion, and respect. Dr. Stevens has been voted the Best Dentist of Lancaster four times, and is consistently voted among Pennsylvanias Top 20 Dentists and the Top Dentists in America. Dr. Stevens latest award includes the Top Dentist in Lancaster, PA awarded by The International Association of Dentists. ODSC is less than 2 years old and already they have held data science events in a number of major cities including; Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and now for the first time, London. ODSC UK 2016 is the perfect opportunity to invest in your future as a data scientist. Over 1,000 data scientists, software engineers, CTOs, and CEOs, from across the world will meet for 2 full days of learning, training and networking with their data science peers. Use this code: ODSC-PR15 and receive an extra 15% OFF. Limited time offer. For those who are new to the world of data science, ODSC UK 2016 features workshops like; Intro to Machine Learning, Intro to Data Science with Python, Hands-On Hadoop and 7 other introductory courses. These workshops offer beginners the opportunity to learn the core concepts of data science from top-level data scientists in hands-on introductory workshops, in order to build the foundation necessary to become a successful practitioner. For those who already have data science experience, courses like; Data Science at Scale, NLP with Spark Machine Learning & Storytelling with Data Workshops are perfect. Here, seasoned practitioners can learn the latest data science concepts, tools and techniques from the very best. Also, theyre able to forge a connection with these rock stars from industry and academic, who are passionate about molding the next generation of data scientists. ODSC is launching their second data science career fair of the year at ODSC UK 2016 in London Oct. 8-9. Conference attendees will be able to meet and talk with over 50 leading tech companies including; Intel, Facebook, Microsoft and many others filling more than 400 positions. Becoming a data scientist is a passion, a commitment to challenging work, a journey. Events like ODSC UK 2016 should be a part of that journey. Visit their website https://www.odsc.com/london for a lot of great information about their upcoming conferences and events. Use this code: ODSC-PR15 and receive an extra 15% OFF. Limited time offer. Dr. Terri Ann Parnell "Dr. Parnell's passion and commitment to raising the standard of patient care is unparalleled," states Keith Washington, Chief Executive Officer, TVR Communications. TVR Communications (TVR), the leading provider of Interactive Patient Systems and related services to hospitals and health systems, and the recipient of the KLAS Category Leader rating for its pCare solution (2015/2016 Best in KLAS: Software and Services Report), announced today that Dr. Terri Ann Parnell is joining the Company as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). Dr. Parnell is a nationally recognized health literacy expert, award-winning author, lecturer, and Principal and Founder of Health Literacy Partners LLC. Her second book, Health Literacy in Nursing: Providing Person-Centered Care, received an American Journal of Nursing 2015 Book of the Year Award in the category of Nursing Management and Leadership. Dr. Parnell is a member of the National Academy of Medicine Roundtable on Health Literacy and has served as a committee member on the American Nurses Association Care Coordination Quality Measures Panel. She is a Fellow in the New York Academy of Medicine and has been selected for the 2016/17 New York Academy of Medicine Fellow Ambassadors Program. Dr. Parnell will be inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in October 2016. Dr. Parnell will apply her extensive clinical, nursing, and health literacy expertise to assist TVR Communications in advancing health equity and enhancing the patient experience. "Dr. Parnell's passion and commitment to raising the standard of patient care is unparalleled," states Keith Washington, Chief Executive Officer, TVR Communications. "She has tremendous insights in how communication tools can support processes of improving care delivery, as well as a deep understanding of how health literacy improves patient satisfaction and outcomes. Her role as CNO will prove invaluable to our healthcare partners and allow us to deliver a solution uniquely tailored to their patient and organizational goals." Having partnered with TVR in implementing pCare interactive patient systems at a number of hospitals, I have seen firsthand the impact the pCare solution has on improving patient outcomes. I am excited to join the company and assist healthcare systems in improving patient communication and more effectively supporting clinical and nursing staff to achieve their goals, states Dr. Parnell. To learn more about TVR Communications, visit http://www.tvrc.com. For more information on Health Literacy Partners, visit http://www.healthliteracypartners.com. #### About TVR Communications TVR Communications provides pCare Interactive Patient Systems and related services to millions of patients and hundreds of leading hospitals and health systems. For over 65 years, TVR Communications has helped healthcare providers improve the patient experience and achieve sustainable improvements in patient satisfaction and quality of care. pCare Interactive Patient Systems are rated Category Leader, Interactive Patient Systems in the 2015/2016 Best in KLAS: Software & Services report. For more information, visit http://www.tvrc.com. Follow TVR Communications on Twitter @pCarebyTVRC and TVR Communications on LinkedIn. Our goal is to create a world-class experience for patients regardless of their entry point within our health system and affiliated hospitals. Novant Health is expanding its neurosciences capabilities across the communities it serves, particularly in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, to better meet the needs of patients. In 2015, Dr. Eric Eskioglu, a vascular neurosurgeon joined Novant Health as senior vice president to lead Novant Healths neurosciences service line across the 14-hospital system by building a comprehensive inpatient and outpatient neurosciences program and implementing best practices and unifying processes and protocols across the system. At Novant Health, our goal is to create a world-class experience for patients regardless of their entry point within our health system and affiliated hospitals said Eskioglu. We already have outstanding community-based neurosciences providers. The further addition of highly talented specialists such as cerebrovascular neurosurgeons, orthopedic and neurosurgery spine surgeons, brain tumor neurosurgeons, multiple sclerosis neurologists, Parkinsons movement disorder neurologists and vascular neurologists will help propel us to the next level. We are truly structured to provide the most comprehensive remarkable neurologic patient care possible, and through our neurosciences telemedicine network, physicians can access the expertise of our subspecialists throughout the Carolinas and Virginia, greatly improving our patient care. Joining the already existing neurosciences experts and providers at Novant Health are: Greater Winston-Salem Dr. Rashid Janjua, neurosurgeon and neurosciences market leader at Novant Health Forsyth Brain and Spine Surgery Dr. Mitch Hargis, neuro-intensivist at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center Dr. AleksandrShikhman, neuro-intensivist at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center Dr. Prabhu Emmady, neuro-hospitalist at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center Dr. Cory Lamar, outpatient neurologist at Novant Health Summit Sleep and Neurology Dr. Nikhil Balakrishnan, outpatient neurologist at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center Melissa Howdeshell, neurology ICU advanced registered nurse practitioner at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center Brittney Thompson, neurology ICU advanced registered nurse practitioner at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center Whitney Meeler, advanced nurse practitioner at Novant Health Forsyth Brain and Spine Surgery Nancy Frye, advanced nurse practitioner at Novant Health Forsyth Brain and Spine Surgery Greater Charlotte Dr. Joshua Billingsley, neurosurgeon at Novant Health Neurosurgery Specialists Dr. Ziad Hage, neurosurgeon at Novant Health Neurosurgery Specialists Dr. Jenny Orning, neurosurgeon at Novant Health Neurosurgery Specialists Dr. Laurie McWilliams, neuro-intensivist and neurology ICU medical director at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Dr. Kevin Meier, neuro-intensivist at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Dr. Quaiser Toqeer, neuro-hospitalist at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Dr. Javon Edgecombe, neuro-hospitalist at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Dr. Ali Turk, neuro-hospitalist at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Dr. C. Edward Robles, neurologist and physical medicine/rehabilitation specialist at Novant Health Northlake Neurology Dr. James Battista, outpatient neurologist and movement disorder specialist/Parkinsons disease at Novant Health Neurology Specialists Dr. Matthew Max Carraro, outpatient neurologist and multiple sclerosis specialist at Novant Health Neurology Specialists Dr. Deepika Shangula, outpatient neurologist at Novant Health Neurosurgery Specialists Dr. Ebinita Arhebamen, outpatient neurologist at Novant Health Neurology Specialists Ana Messler, PhD, neuro-psychologist, Novant Health Neurology Specialists Lynne Campbell, lead neurology ICU advanced nurse practitioner at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Erica Ayersman, neurology ICU advanced nurse practitioner at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Natalie Hall, neurology ICU advanced nurse practitioner Stroke Bridge Clinic at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Katherine McClure, neurosurgery advanced practice clinician at Novant Health Neurosurgery Specialists Sharon Walter, physician assistant at Novant Health Neurology Specialists From neurosurgeons who perform general neurosurgery to neuro-hospitalists who manage acute neurologic illnesses to neuro-intensivists who care for patients in the intensive care unit, were able to offer patients advanced neurological care, said Eskioglu. We also have orthopedic spine surgeons that perform spine surgery and neuro-oncologists who are using some of the most advanced care protocols to treat brain tumors. Were well on our way to becoming a center of excellence within the field of neurosciences. The Joint Commission, American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association have recognized Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center since 2013. Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center is currently designated as a Primary Stroke Center and is making strides toward an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center designation. Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center is the highest level that can be achieved by a stroke-care program. These programs help establish standards of excellence and best practices that directly impact patients lives. For more information about Dr. Eskioglu, his team of experts and what the expansion of neurosciences at Novant Health means to the community check out this Q&A or visit novanthealth.org/neurosciences. About Novant Health Novant Health is an integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient facilities and hospitals that delivers a seamless and convenient healthcare experience to communities in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. Named in 2016 by Beckers Hospital Review as one of the nations 150 best places to work in healthcare, Novant Health consists of more than 1,380 physicians and nearly 24,000 employees and provides care at 530 locations, including 14 medical centers and hundreds of outpatient facilities and physician clinics. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the health system serves more than 4 million patients annually and in 2015 provided more than $706 million in community benefit, including charity care and services. Diversity MBA has recognized the organization as one of the 50 best places for women and managers of diverse background to work. Novant Health provides care in Virginia under the joint operating company, Novant Health UVA Health System. For more information, please visit our website at NovantHealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook. The popular Soldiers Angels Adopt-A-Family program has returned for the 2016 holiday season. Through this unique annual program, sponsors can adopt a military or veteran family for the holiday season. The sponsor will then provide gifts for the children as well as a grocery gift card or prepaid credit card for them to purchase their holiday dinner and trimmings. Full details on the program can be found at: http://www.soldiersangels.org/Adopt-A-Family The goal in helping these military and veteran families is to show Americas gratitude for the sacrifices they have made in service to our country. Without the assistance of programs like the Adopt-A-Family program, many military and veteran families would go without any type of holiday celebration. The Adopt-A-Family program is a very unique opportunity for our sponsors to not only give back to our military, but also to connect one-on-one with an entire military family, said Amy Palmer, President and CEO of Soldiers Angels. The holidays can be particularly difficult for military familiesespecially those separated by deployment or who have been wounded, ill or injured. Through the generosity of our sponsors, these families are reminded that we are forever grateful for all they have done for us. The program is open to families of deployed service members and families of post 9-11 wounded, ill and injured service members. Selection for the program is need-based, as determined by Soldiers Angels representatives. Soldiers Angels will be registering 1,000 military and veteran families this holiday season. Those interested in signing up to become a sponsor and adopt a family will need to join Soldiers Angels as a Team Angel first. By becoming a Team Angel, individuals will be able to not only adopt a military family for the holidays, but also adopt deployed service members, join the letter writing team, sewing team, baking team, or choose from any of the 12 volunteer teams that work year round to support military service members, their families, and the growing veteran population. For individuals that may be interested in adopting a family but are unable to do so by themselves, this is a great opportunity to team-up with friends, family, co-workers, church groups, community groups, etc., and adopt a family together. Individuals can also make a monetary donation for the Adopt-A-Family Program through Soldiers Angels GoFundMe account at http://www.gofundme.com/SAAdoptAFamily2016. Soldiers Angels also encourages businesses to consider participating in the event. Working directly with the staff at Soldiers Angels, businesses are able to adopt multiple familiesmaking this a great holiday charity event for employees. Businesses interested in learning more about adopting multiple families should reach out to Jennifer Cernoch directly at: jcernoch@soldiersangels.org. The program is now open for military family registration. Sponsors will be available to begin the adoption process on October 1, 2016. Full details regarding the Adopt-A-Family program are available on the Soldiers Angels website at: http://www.soldiersangels.org/Adopt-A-Family. #### About Soldiers Angels: Soldiers' Angels is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families, and the growing veteran population. Founded in 2003 by the mother of two American soldiers, hundreds of thousands of Soldiers' Angels "Angel" volunteers assist veterans, wounded and deployed personnel and their families in a variety of unique and effective ways. (Tax ID# 20-0583415). Learn more at http://www.soldiersangels.org Nearly one in five youth live in poverty and are at risk of falling prey to crime, drugs and other hurdles that could keep them from reaching productive adulthood, obtaining an education and successfully entering the workforce. Also, research shows that youth are more likely to succeed with the support of a caring adult. In an effort to help more kids and teens achieve, the YMCA of Frederick County will begin offering the Reach & Rise Mentoring Program. The national YMCA program, supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), connects youth ages 6 to 17 with adult mentors. As part of the Ys commitment to nurturing the potential of youth, the YMCA of Frederick Countys Reach & Rise Mentoring Program will engage at-risk youth who lack role models and are in communities challenged by poverty, crime, truancy and single-parent households, among other social issues. Through this program, the Y will recruit and train adult volunteer mentors to provide direct one-to-one mentoring services and create safe, healthy and meaningful relationships with youth. Mentors and mentees will participate in service projects, field trips and other engaging activities. The YMCA of Frederick County is excited to begin offering the Reach & Rise Mentoring Program, which will benefit many of our youth, inspiring them to reach their full potential, said Eric Ireland, Chief Operating Officer, YMCA of Frederick County. Through this program, more youth in Frederick County will develop relationships with caring mentors, families and schools leading to higher achievement and a brighter future. Founded in 1992 and led by the YMCA of San Francisco, the Reach & Rise Mentoring Program was recently piloted at five additional YMCA associations. As part of a national expansion, the YMCA of Frederick County is one of 38 Ys now offering the program. To learn more, contact Julie Marker at 301-663-5131 x1227 or jmarker(at)frederickymca(dot)org. You can also visit reachandrise.frederickymca.org for more info. About the Y The Y is one of the nations leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children regardless of age, income or background to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nations health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but also to deliver, lasting personal and social change. http://www.frederickymca.org Gaylord Texan's new Vineyard Tower This expansion illustrates Gaylords confidence in group business demand within our brand, said Gaylord SVP Mike Stengel. The spectacular Gaylord Texan Resort has unveiled plans for its upcoming $120 million resort expansion. The project is being completed by property owners Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE:RHP), a lodging real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in group-oriented, destination hotel assets in urban and resort markets. This investment at Gaylord Texan is also a continued investment in Grapevine and its citizens. We look forward to its completion and the additional visitors we will welcome to our great city as a result. Grapevine Mayor, William D. Tate Tweet this An addition to the existing resort property, the new space will feature a contemporary take on the existing Gaylord Texan design. Keeping to Gaylords regionally inspired architecture and decor, the expansion will be called The Vineyard Tower; with its meeting rooms inside named after the many wine growing regions of Texas. The meeting space will feature a separate ground floor entrance along the main drive of the hotel, as well as a ground floor terrace. On the second floor, there will be a large outdoor terrace overlooking the magnificent Lake Grapevine. Rustic and refined, the first floor will offer generous pre-function space that is open to the second floor. The first floor will also host 30,000 square feet of carpeted breakout space as well as a corridor to the existing portion of the resort. The second floor is open to the ground floor through another expansive pre-function space, offering a total of approximately 26,000 square feet of pre-function space over the first and second floor. The second floor will also house the new 30,000-square-foot ballroom, named the Tate Ballroom in honor of Grapevines existing mayor, Mayor William D. Tate. The decor in the Tate Ballroom will pay tribute to the Texan Longhorn, which you can see in the glass-blown Longhorn antlers in the magnificent chandelier and wall lighting. Our company has always enjoyed a strong relationship with the City of Grapevine and its leaders, who shared in our vision for Gaylord Texan from day one, said Colin Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of Ryman Hospitality Properties. We appreciate Mayor Tate and the City Councils support on this important step forward for the Texan and the City of Grapevine. The 300 guest rooms, located on six floors on top of the meeting space, will bring Gaylord Texans total room count to 1,814 rooms. The luxury guest rooms will complement the other resort rooms and feature luxurious bedding and furniture. This expansion illustrates Gaylords confidence in group business demand within our brand, said Gaylord SVP Mike Stengel. In addition to enhancing our Grapevine destination, the expansion will also be providing 450 construction jobs and several hundred permanent jobs for the community. Gaylord Texan Resorts expansion is already underway, and is currently booking meetings for the new space for the 2019 calendar year. For more information about Gaylord Texan Resort, please visit http://www.GaylordTexan.com. About Gaylord Texan Resort The premier resort destination of the American Southwest, Gaylord Texan Resort on Lake Grapevine offers extraordinary environments, 1,511 luxury guest rooms, and four-and-a-half acres of Texas vistas under signature atriums. Amenities include award-winning restaurants & bars, Glass Cactus Nightclub, Paradise Springs waterpark, Relache Spa & Salon, retail shops, and more. Ideally situated on the shores of beautiful Lake Grapevine, Gaylord Texan is conveniently located only six minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. ### For more information, or to request high-resolution project renderings, please email Martha Neibling, Gaylord Texans director of public relations and marketing, at mneibling(at)gaylordhotels(dot)com. I have the best job in the world. I am a solutions provider, and its really fun. I love getting up on Monday and getting to work, and I dont mind working on a Saturday or Sunday. These words from the new General Manager of Hiller New England are a testament to his love of The Hiller Companies and his continuation of a family tradition. Jeffrey Kidd took the helm at Hiller New England on June 1 of this year after the retirement of Peter Hanson with whom he worked closely. Peter took over as General Manager from my father, so it was a natural progression for me, Kidd said. I worked with Peter and helped him with management, so it has been an easy and seamless transition. Kidd noted his father was in the fire protection industry since the 1960s and was a founding member of the Fire Suppression Systems Association (FSSA). My father started the Hiller New England Branch 20 years ago this November with me, Kidd said. I have been around this industry all 50 years of my life. From the age of 7 or 8, I would go to trade shows. As I got older, I worked on site and went around filling fire extinguishers. Kidd is a graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology with a degree in Electronic Engineering Technology and is a NICET Level IV engineering professional certified in special hazard fire suppression systems design. Hiller New England specializes in the protection of IT/computer rooms, commercial operations and large industrial manufacturing operations. They also supply fire protection products to large military and government-based companies. As the new General Manager, Jeff has a clear vision of the future of Hiller New England. I am committed to two things, he said. One, our staff. I want to help them grow and advance in their careers. Two, growing our branch. It is exciting times in New England and there is a lot of growth. I hope to position us in a proactive stance to grow with our business and our reputation that we have worked hard to build. Kidd is very active and involved in the FSSA and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He represents Hiller on the FSSA Technical Committee and the NFPA Standard for Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems, Foam Systems, and Laboratorys Containing Chemicals Technical Committee. He also represents the FSSA on the NFPA 45 Laboratories Containing Chemicals Technical Committee and the NFPA II Technical Committee on Foam. I spend a lot of time and extra hours doing work for these groups, but it pays back 10-fold, Kidd said. I work with the finest minds in the world on these committees, and our customers benefit from the cutting edge technology and information. We know what the future is and where it is going. Having this knowledge is valuable to the end user and the engineering and specifications communities at Hiller. Kidd noted that the wealth of knowledge these organizations provide and the friendships he has cultivated by participating have allowed him to grow the business across the country and even globally. He was able to establish a team for work in Arizona through his contacts in the FSSA who helped him connect with industry experts there. Having these contacts opens up a lot of possibilities for new contracts no matter where the job is located, he added. We can offer turnkey solutions by combining our expertise and working closely with other Hiller branches. I have helped align the complementary expertise between our branches, and I want to do more of that. I like to think of one Hiller rather than 12 Hiller branches. For example, I am not a marine guy, but I know people who are, and so I can put together a job sharing their expertise, Kidd said. I know we can work together to combine experience and assets. Hiller is bigger and better than where we started, and we are really excited for where things are headed. By design the Edge Tech boot camps are intense, all day, 9-week learning events. They are rigorous because our goal is to have you be remarkable, not conventional. Advancements in technology have permeated every element of life, and as a result, the world needs uniquely skilled individuals who can create the software that drives the next big thing. With that goal in mind, Ancora Education is proud to announce that it has launched Edge Tech Academy, its newest brand, in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Offering three full stack coding boot camps that were developed by industry experts including Microsoft legend and best-selling author Stephen Walther, Edge Tech trains future software engineers, programmers and designers in todays preeminent software languages. Tomorrows thought leaders will find their vision, voice, and confidence in Edge Tech Academys boot camp programs, says Gary James, Edge Tech Academy Instructor. By design the Edge Tech boot camps are intense, all day, 9-week learning events. They are rigorous because our goal is to have you be remarkable, not conventional. Edge Tech Academy offers 3 different full stack coding boot camps, including Java, .NET, and JavaScript and the key accompanying frameworks and technologies in the stack so that complete apps can be made. Each boot camp starts with Edge Techs free online Coding from Scratch course, a crash course into the world of computer programming. Coding from Scratch is a foundation- building self-paced course, once that is completed a student would then join, other like-minded students in person at the Edge Tech campus in Hurst, Texas for 9 weeks. During this time, students work with industry-experienced instructors who deliver lectures, oversee hands-on learning, and mentor each student in the latest in-demand languages. A significant portion of the boot camp is spent working in small teams to develop real life projects that students can eventually share with potential employers. There is a grand opening and open house on Thursday September 29th from 9:00 am 11:00 am and again from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. At Edge Techs open house, snacks are available as well as a teaching demo. Potential students are encouraged to experiment hands-on with some of the technologies that Edge Tech Academy teaches. Instructors will be available to answer questions and discuss the exciting things potential students can learn in the boot camps. Edge Tech Academy is located in Hurst at 8701 Bedford Euless Road, Suite 610, central to Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, and other DFW suburbs. For more information contact us at (682) 334-5678 or on the web at http://www.edgetechacademy.com. The Spy Dialer website lets users check phone numbers against a real-time database of known phone spammers. Spy Dialer knows who the phone spammers are before anybody -- including the government agencies who are fighting spam According to FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, "Robo-calls are currently the number one complaint the FCC receives from consumers." On August 19, the FCC convened a Robo-call Task Force designed to bring telephone industry and government regulators together to find a solution to the problem. While the Robo-call Task Force is looking for a permanent fix, a website called Spy Dialer has its own solution to minimize the impact of unwanted calls on phone owners. The website has just released the Internet's first lookup of known phone spammers that allows users to check their "missed calls" for free. "Spy Dialer knows who the phone spammers are before anybody -- including the government agencies who are fighting spam," says private investigator and Spy Dialer CEO Robert Scott. "When we see hundreds of different visitors at our website looking up the same phone number in a short period of time, there's only one possible reason why. They've all been spammed by the same phone number." According to the Spy Dialer founder, increasing phone spam like robo-calls, opinion surveys and unwanted telemarketing sales pitches have caused many people to simply stop answering calls from unknown callers. The calls typically go to voicemail, where more often than not there is a hang-up, leaving the call receiver wondering if something important was missed. His website offers people a chance to see if it was a known spammer calling. Scott says there has been a sharp increase in phone spam in recent years, because calls can now be made easily over the Internet, outside of traditional telephone networks. "This makes it easy for black-hat spammers who don't care about the law or the 'Do Not Call' lists, to fire off millions of voice spam messages cheaply and anonymously." Scott also cautions that this is not just a matter of shady characters operating on the edges of the Internet. There are many legal but unwanted robo-calls as well. For example, election year recorded messages. "It's a fact of life in the swing states like Ohio -- many people simply won't answer their phone unless they recognize the number, because they're getting crushed with political robo-calls," he added. Both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are charged with controlling phone spam, and both publish the phone numbers of suspected spammers. "These lists are only a little useful at best," says Scott. "They are often out of date before they are published. They're often more about what number was spamming, not what number is spamming." The FCC task force is scheduled to make its first report before the end of the year. "Most people are hoping to see a real solution to see these unwanted calls so they do not even reach their handsets. But in the meantime, Spy Dialer can provide an answer to people who are not answering calls from unknown numbers to avoid phone spam." Denton, Texas - Denton attorney, David S. Bouschor II, has been honored by Martindale-Hubbell in celebration of 25 years of law practice. Bouschor is a board certified family law attorney and has been a member of the State Bar of Texas since 1991. He is a graduate of the SMUs Dedmon School of Law and has served on numerous local and state-wide organizations. Bouschor has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyers and in U.S. News and World Report as one of the Best Lawyers in America. He is A/V rated (the highest rating available) by his peers in the legal community through Martindale-Hubbell. Martindale-Hubbell is an information services company to the legal profession that was founded in 1868. The company publishes the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, which provides background information on United States lawyers and law firms. Martindale-Hubbells Peer Review Ratings help consumer identify lawyers with the highest ethical standards and professional ability. The Law Office of David S. Bouschor is located at 217 East Oak in Denton, Texas. For more information, visit his website at http://www.dsblegal.com or call (940) 323-1300. TELoIPs solution extends software-defined benefits to both WAN and Internet traffic, while including a long list of widely-anticipated features that ultimately decrease infrastructure costs Freewire, one of the most well-versed Managed Services Providers in the SD-WAN market, has enhanced their nationwide SD-WAN offering by partnering with TELoIP Inc. one of the most innovative and experienced vendors of software-defined networking technology. This mutually-beneficial new alliance combines Freewires proven experience in deploying and managing SD-WAN services for SMB and enterprise customers with the multi-patented performance advantages of TELoIPs award-winning solutions. Freewire has been providing managed network solutions for business customers since 2005, and deploying customized SD-WAN solutions in the market for over three years. While SD-WAN technology offers tremendous potential to enhance companies multi-site network connectivity with increased agility, better performance and improved visibility, Freewire helps its customers realize and maximize these benefits to meet their business goals. The newly-forged partnership with TELoIP bolsters Freewires SD-WAN service offerings with unique capabilities to meet the rapidly evolving needs of their clients. TELoIPs solution extends software-defined benefits to both WAN and Internet traffic, while including a long list of widely-anticipated features that ultimately decrease infrastructure costs and drastically improve service levels, described Freewire CIO, Peter Wild. TELoIP provides extremely mature, intelligent and innovative networking solutions, added Derek Johnson, Freewires Director of Business Development. We share TELoIPs excitement, as this partnership enables Freewire to continue our mission of designing and delivering business-centric SD-WAN solutions. TELoIP technology converges all branch WAN and Internet traffic into a single, efficient, cloud-managed network known as a Virtual Intelligent Network Overlay, or VINO, that addresses shifting network requirements as customers run more critical applications in the public cloud. Todays business network landscape has changed, explained Pat Saavedra, Founder and CTO of TELoIP. WAN traffic is still vitally important, but widespread cloud adoption means that customers also need the benefits of SD-Internet to support their increasing dependence on online connectivity. VINO brings it all together, with enhanced performance for WAN, cloud and Internet applications and a customer experience that is efficiently managed through a single pane of glass. TELoIP is a pioneer in software-defined overlay networks, with innovations protected by over a dozen patents working together as part of its VINO WAN and VINO Internet solutions. TELoIPs technology combines packet-based link aggregation with advanced failover and quality assurance mechanisms that optimize application performance over any combination of broadband connections. All VINO solutions are autonomously delivered thorough the TELoIP Cloud, a hardened overlay network of distributed, multi-tenant controllers that eliminates the complexity of customers hosting their own SD-WAN gateway controllers. Freewire leverages its experience and expertise to take a customer-focused approach, enabling them to cater to the specific needs of different-sized customers across several distinct vertical markets. Freewire has also cultivated a robust partner network that is excited to bring TELoIPs advanced SD-WAN technology to their customers. Freewire recognizes what successful SD-WAN deployments look like from the customer perspective, and TELoIP technology provides the tools Freewire needs to meet and exceed those customers expectations, said Rui Luis, CEO of TELoIP. Together we offer a depth of SD-WAN expertise that brings confidence to the customer, which is exactly what the SD-WAN market needs right now. About TELoIP TELoIP develops market-leading Software Defined Overlay Networking innovations that dramatically increase the performance, agility and efficiency of business networks. TELoIPs SD-WAN and SD-Internet solutions combine multiple patented technologies into a turnkey, cloud-managed Virtual Intelligent Network Overlay (VINO), empowering customers with unparalleled network visibility, control and confidence while simplifying management and lowering their costs. Based in Toronto, Canada, TELoIP has been delivering software-defined solutions since 2002. For more information, visit http://www.teloip.com. About Freewire http://www.gofreewire.com Freewire continually develops personalized networking solutions to fit a diverse client base, bridging the gap between network connectivity and business efficiency. What sets Freewire apart is a complete understanding of how business, connectivity and networking work together to create a comprehensive solution. Our team will guide, inform, and educate diverse and hopeful parents through their surrogacy journeys with compassion, professionalism and the highest ethical standards. This weekend, September 24 and 25, the organization known as Men Having Babies is sponsoring a conference on surrogacy in Brussels Belgium. Featured will be Attorney Victoria T. Ferrara of Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists, LLC, a renowned and trusted surrogacy agency located in Fairfield, Connecticut. Attorney Ferrara will speak about gestational surrogacy agencies, surrogate compensation and insurance for surrogacy. These are important topics that all intended parents must learn about as they navigate the path to parenthood by gestational surrogacy. Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists (WSS) is a full service surrogacy agency. Ferrara says, "Our team will guide, inform, and educate diverse and hopeful parents through their surrogacy journeys with compassion, professionalism and the highest ethical standards." One of her achievements is the landmark decision of Raftopol v. Ramey, (2011), a Connecticut Supreme Court case that essentially created a new way to establish legal parentage in Connecticut, ie, by being a party (Intended Parent) to a valid gestational agreement regardless of genetic connection to the child to be born to the gestational surrogate. In 2016, Victoria was awarded the LAMBDA award for outstanding LGBTQ community service. The conference this weekend is an opportunity for intended parents to learn about surrogacy - the processes, the laws, the benefits and the ethics of surrogacy in the United States. Lisa Siefert, BSN, RN, IBCLC at the ILCA Conference in Chicago Learning more and more from these breastfeeding professionals about the devastating effects of milk formula and bottle marketing is heart breaking. BelleMa announced its commitment to support the World Health Organization International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes), also known as the International Code, after its participation on the ILCA Conference in Chicago last July. The International Code was developed in 1981 by the General Assembly of the World Health Organization primarily to protect mothers and babies from the highly effective, aggressive and predatory marketing of substitutes for breastfeeding at the most vulnerable period of their lives the birth of a new baby. The ILCA Conference has been an eye-opener, says Sr. National Sales Manager Mercy Ting Barland. Learning more and more from these breastfeeding professionals about the devastating effects of milk formula and bottle marketing is heart breaking. she added. Kai He, BelleMas U.S. Managing Director, upon learning what the WHO International Code stands for and how it was aligned to BelleMas advocacy, did not take things lightly. BelleMa will revise all product packaging, brochures and marketing materials to comply with the International Code. He also took a big step by announcing his desire to change the existing BelleMa website completely into one that will magnify the global breastfeeding voice. The highlight of the Conference evolved around BelleMa Model Effective Pro with IDC. This is the first breast pump to be launched in the United States with Independent Dual Controls for the Left and Right Suctions with 9 adjustable levels. Designed with a barrier between the motor and the collection kits which is highly safe from molding and contamination, this model has raised high interests from lactation consultants. It is distinct from other breast pumps in the market because there is no suction reduction even if both pumps are used simultaneously. Michelle Lee, an IBCLC commented: I have many clients that have one nipple sore than the other. Instead of pumping one breast at a time, they can now pump both breasts at the same time with different suction level from each breast. This will minimize their pumping time session. I just know my mothers would love this function! Ms. Natalie Worthington of Nourish LC, an IBCLC and an LLLI Leader (La Leche League) emailed Mercy and said: I'm excited to be able to share this new breast pump to my clients! I'm also a La Leche League leader and work as an IBCLC at a local hospital, so I can really spread the word. Model Effective Pro with IDC will be shown at the ABC Kids Expo, October 18-21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall/Booth No. 1519. This model will have a Retail Value of $199.99 which is 50% lower than other closed system breast pumps. For more information regarding BelleMa breast pumps, visit http://www.bellema-usa.com. BelleMa believes that one of the most important moments in becoming a mother is when she breastfeeds. The Company will continue its marketing efforts in the support and dedication to the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and be a part of these precious moments by providing not just a product but a solution to the world of breastfeeding. The Nilson Report Payment Cards Worldwide 2015 "Mastercard and UnionPay are projected to be the only brands to increase their share by 2020." Credit, debit, and prepaid payment cards in circulation worldwide totaled 18.08 billion at year-end 2015, up 5.8% over 2014, according to The Nilson Report, the top trade journal covering the card and mobile payment industries. These cards include global general purpose brands such as American Express, Discover/Diners Club, JCB, Maestro, Mastercard, UnionPay, and Visa. They also include domestic general purpose cards usable at a variety of merchants but only within a particular country, such as RuPay (India), Elo (Brazil), Interac (Canada), BC Card (Korea), eftpos (Australia), Cartes Bancaire (France), and more. Private label credit, debit, and prepaid cards for stores, fuel, airlines, medical, and more are also included. Global brand general purpose cards accounted for 60.79% of total payment cards worldwide at the end of 2015. UnionPay cards accounted for 30.10% of the worldwide total of all payment cards. Visa cards accounted for 16.42%, Mastercard cards accounted for 8.71%. Amex, Discover/Diners Club, JCB, and Maestro combined accounted for 5.57%. Domestic general purpose cards accounted for 5.53% of the worldwide total. Private label cards accounted for 33.69% of the total. By 2020, payment cards are expected to increase 21.3% to 21.93 billion, said David Robertson, Publisher of The Nilson Report. Mastercard and UnionPay are projected to be the only global general purpose brands to increase their share Mastercard growing 67 basis points to 9.37%, and UnionPay growing 248 basis points to 32.57%. RuPay and Elo are projected to lead domestic general purpose cards, collectively gaining 96 basis points to 2.79%. About The Nilson Report The Nilson Report does not accept paid advertising of any kind. There are no advertisements, no articles written by vendors, no sponsored content. It is the most respected source of news and analysis of the global card and mobile payment industries. The by-subscription-only newsletter provides brand, issuer, acquirer, and vendor statistics not found in any other trade journal, as well as concise technology, personnel, and product updates. The Ocean Media team; from left, Mike Robertson, Jay Langan and Ron Luebbert There really was a kitchen table, money pulled from an IRA, and a man with a vision. It was, back in September 1996, the very definition of a seat-of-the-pants startup. Twenty years later, Ocean Media (http://www.oceanmediainc.com) has placed billions of dollars in media on behalf of its clients, and the agency ranks as the largest independent media buying firm on the West Coast -- and one of the largest independents in the country. Funded and founded by current Chairman and CEO Mike Robertsonliterally at his kitchen table, in Huntington Beach, where the agency is still basedOcean Media has experienced consistent growth. Behind the numbers and the milestones is the story of whats behind that growth: a distinctive culture that can be summed up as total independence fueling total transparency and total accountability. Among Robertsons early hires was Ron Luebbert (1997), now COO; Jay Langan (2002), now President; and Stephanie Holman (1996), the VP of Finance, the agencys very first employee. The same applies to clients. The Ocean Media story is about retention, the most important way advertisers express their loyalty. None has been more a part of Oceans origins, expansion, and present day success than Priceline.com, through a relationship that dates back to 1997 when Robertson and Priceline.com founder Jay Walker first met. Brett Keller, now CEO of Priceline.com, worked with Ocean on the 1998 Priceline.com launch as well. eHarmony.com began working with Ocean in 2001, and Overstock.com signed on in 2003. This, in an industry where agency-client engagements typically last about two years. Nothing makes me prouder than the success of our clients over the years, Robertson said. It is very satisfying to help launch a brand and watch the company take off. Those success stories are key elements to the growth at Ocean Media. The partnerships are everything and those relationships mean the world to us. In that spirit, Oceans relationships with its employees have been just as meaningful. The agency provides a host of benefits both inside and outside of the office, including an on-site gym, daily lunches, and season tickets. Because of our independence, were able to do whats right for our clients and employees, without asking permission from a holding company, Robertson said. And because were never satisfied with the status quo, we embody an entrepreneurial spirit that fuels innovative solutions in a marketing landscape that is constantly evolving. If we werent independent, that simply wouldnt be possible. In 1996, Ocean was largely focused on radio and television advertising for its clients. The agency quickly applied that same rigor and methodology to expand its digital offering. This combination of TV, radio, print, out-of-home, and digital media buying services has enabled Ocean to maintain a media-agnostic outlook for its clients. The agencys annual billings now approach $500 million, supporting such mainstay e-commerce brands as Care.com, Realtor.com, Casper, eBates, eHarmony, Lifelock, Harrys, Overstock, Priceline, Zipcar, Fabletics and Just Fab, among others. As more and more e-commerce brands have leveraged TV and digital advertising as a key driver of growth, weve earned a reputation as a pioneer in helping build brands in that space, Langan said. In a bid to capitalize on talent in the New York market, service a growing number of east coast clients, and provide another area of contact for media relationships, the agency opened an office at 515 Madison Avenue in 2014. The agency recently added square footage to its Manhattan operation and to its Huntington Beach headquarters to accommodate its continued growth and increase in head count. If culture defines Ocean Media, its focus on analytics drives its day-to-day work for its clients. By leveraging tracking and analytical data, the agency funnels budgets toward the most effective media channels and optimizes the ad spend on a continuous basis. Were committed to achieving client goals by maximizing media performance through analytics, bringing greater accountability to advertising, Langan noted. Our proprietary use of analytics to show clients the return they get on their advertising dollars continues to set us apart from other agencies, said Annmarie Turpin, SVP Client Analytics. The consistent application of our analyticsand the extension of that emphasis on metrics to such emerging areas as mobile and programmatic video buyingdemonstrates consistently that we make ad budgets more accountable, whatever the medium. We make it a point to stay current with media consumption habits of the consumers were targeting. That in turn fuels our approach to analytics, the backbone of our successand that of our clients. Oceans 20 years of media buying experience, backed by its track record in building brands, continues to make it an attractive partner for companies looking to scale their businesses and optimize their advertising campaigns. Said Luebbert, we value and nurture collaborative partnerships, understanding that for us to achieve success, our partners must be successful. I have worked with Ocean for many years and have had a front row seat to the growth of the agency, said Ben Price, President of Ad Sales, Discovery Communications. Today Ocean Media is one of our largest agency relationships on the West Coast and plays an important role in our national business. The agency continues to attract more and more new clients with its analytics work, and it seems to have a pretty strong track record. Since inception, we have cultivated a culture that focuses on individual and team accomplishments, Mike Robertson said. Work is important, and so is balance. We care about our employees well-being and happiness inside and outside the workplace. We believe thats a very big part of our story. About OceanMedia Ocean Media (oceanmediainc.com) is a leading independent media planning and buying agency, founded in 1996 and based in Huntington Beach, Calif. Oceans approach adheres to the philosophy that return on investment (ROI) should be at the forefront of every advertising campaign. The agency is recognized for media efficiency and innovative analytics work. That combination has helped launch and scale many of its clients. Ocean Media is the agency of record for eHarmony, Priceline, Overstock.com, Lifelock, Care.com, JustFab.com and Realtor.com, among others. In todays fragmented media environment, its imperative to meet audiences where they are online with the content theyre looking for. Bauer Xcel Media Germany, part of multi-platform media company Bauer Media Groups global digital division, today announces it has selected leading video creation platform Wochit to support its expanding video production goals. Bauer Xcel Media, one of the worlds fastest growing digital media companies, chose Wochit in the German market to accelerate production of video for its full brand portfolio, a key part of the companys strategy to reach and engage audiences across online, mobile and social channels. The videos created using Wochit will enhance Bauer Xcels unique editorial offering that promotes original, viral-oriented content centered around audience needs. Commented Markus Huessmann, Managing Director Bauer Xcel Media Germany, In todays fragmented media environment, its imperative to meet audiences where they are online with the content theyre looking for. Wochits easy-to-use editor and library of rich content has given us a faster and more efficient way to attract and keep audiences through shareable social video. Ultimately, this gives the Bauer Xcel Media portfolio of brands considerable differentiation and competitive advantage. Added Christoph Pleitgen, SVP Sales & Business Development, EMEA & APAC for Wochit, We are elated to be supporting Bauer Xcel Media in execution of their ambitious video production goals. By embracing social video to grow and engage audiences, they are better positioning their digital brands for long term success. About Wochit Wochit is a video creation platform that empowers newsrooms, media companies and brands to expand audience engagement through the power of social video. Worldwide media brands such as Time Inc., El Mundo, USA Today, Gannett, AOL, The Week, ProSieben, Die Welt and La Repubblica use Wochit to produce short-form videos around trending topics at the scale and speed required in the video-first, mobile era. With rights-cleared assets from Reuters, Getty, Bloomberg and others, cloud-based editing tools and native uploads, horizontal and vertical videos are quickly created and distributed across all social and digital platforms. Wochit is the winner of both the Gutenberg Prize for its disruptive technology in the field of journalism and Digidays Best Video Technology Innovation for its significant impact on clients bottom line. The Company is backed by Cedar Fund, Greycroft Partners, Marker LLC and Redpoint Ventures. Wochit is based in New York, with offices in London and Tel Aviv. Find out more at http://www.wochit.com. About Bauer Xcel Media Bauer Xcel Media is advancing the media industry by applying user driven strategies to deliver cutting edge news and build original, innovative products centered around audience needs. With 140 million monthly unique users and offices in New York, Hamburg, London, Sydney, Melbourne and Warsaw, Bauer Xcel Media is one of the world's fastest growing digital media companies. About Bauer Media Group Bauer Media Group is one of the worlds most successful media corporations. Over 600 magazines, more than 400 digital products and over 100 radio and TV stations are enjoyed by millions of people across the globe. The corporate portfolio also includes print shops, postal, sales and marketing services. Bauer Media Groups global positioning underscores its passion for people and brands. We see ourselves as the home of popular media, as illustrated by our strapline "We think popular." a claim which inspires and motivates our global workforce of some 11,500 employees in 20 countries. PIDX is pleased to announce the Go-Live of a new application from sparesFinder to provide improved usability and search functionality for their Petroleum Industry Data Dictionary (PIDD). The PIDD provides Upstream and Downstream Oil & Gas companies a technical dictionary with over 4,000 structured templates to describe the equipment used by them. As an open standard dictionary it is available to all at no charge and when adopted by operators and service companies it provides them with a common description, which reduces procurement costs and complexity. Until recently it was difficult for potential users to understand how their description might look when cleaned to the PIDX standard, but the new PIDD Management Application allows both simple free-text searches and more detailed browsing of the dictionary. Part of the new functionality includes the ability to capture, through an automated workflow, potential new items that might need to be added to the dictionary. As part of this process sparesFinder were able to identify a number of duplicated templates in the PIDD which were reviewed by the Catalog and Classification workgroup, removed and the PIDD updated to version 5.1 as a result. About PIDX PIDX International is a not for profit organisation made up of member companies from the Oil & Gas industry. It standardizes business processes that deal with data exchange between trading partners in their industry. Their list of standards encompasses not just XML schemas, but Best Practices Documents, Business Process Guidelines, Implementation Guides, Industry Code Lists, the Data Dictionary and the Petroleum Industry Glossary. About sparesFinder sparesFinder provides market leading master data management applications, and inventory optimization solutions for large, asset intensive, geographically dispersed companies. Their software is provided fully hosted in the Cloud so the IT hassle is low, the implementation rapid and the costs very competitive. BEI Kimco Custom Voice Coil Actuator is part of the OSIRIS-REx space mission to retrieve samples from the asteroid Bennu. The Astroid Bennu sampling mission was another exciting opportunity for us to meet unique customer demands. BEI Kimco, a brand of Sensata Technologies, is a part of NASAs first asteroid sampling mission that could revolutionize understanding of the early solar system. BEI Kimco designed a customized Moving Magnet Voice Coil Actuator (VCA) to meet the harsh requirements for a spectrometer moving mirror application on the Origins-Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-Rex) spacecraft. The OSIRIS-Rex launched on Sept 8, 2016 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 7:05 p.m EDT, in its mission to rendezvous with the Asteroid Bennu in 2018 and return samples to Earth in 2023. For this space mission, a customized BEI Kimco moving magnet VCA was attached to, and will position the moving mirror assembly of the OSIRIS-Rex Thermal Emission Spectrometer (OTES). As the spacecraft approaches Bennu, the spectrometer scans the surface so that the material can be analyzed for different parameters. OSIRIS-REx will spend two years surveying the asteroid in unprecedented detail. Then, in a robotic first, the spacecraft will reach out its mechanical arm and take a sample from the asteroid. Though the sample will be small only a couple of pounds at most it will be a time capsule of sorts recording our solar system's creation. With the sample stored safely, the spacecraft will speed away from the asteroid on a path back to Earth. The BEI Kimco VCA was uniquely manufactured to custom requirements for high reliability and fail safe operation. Redundant technology, low-outgassing and high precision for exact motion control positioning were all key requirements to the actuator design. It was also critical to stay within the specific size, weight and power limits. This was achieved in a housing measuring approximately 2 in diameter by 3 long. To meet the requirements for near zero emissions, BEI Kimco developed the actuator minimizing the use of adhesives or inks and using only approved materials. This design primarily uses mechanical assembly methods within a clean manufacturing processes, thereby eliminating substances that could cause outgassing. High energy Neodymium Iron Boron (NeFeB) magnets were incorporated to provide superior operating efficiencies. In recognition of the team that worked on the OTES project, a signature plaque including individuals as well as BEI Kimco and other other suppliers, was attached to OTES before it left earth. An identical plaque was presented to BEI Kimco and each company or person included on the plaque. The Astroid Bennu sampling mission was another exciting opportunity for us to meet unique customer demands, says Jim McNamara, Senior Applications Engineer. In this case, a customized low outgassing design with high reliability, built-in redundancies, strict quality control, and cleanliness were all needed. It will be interesting to see the results of the mission in 2023 when the samples are brought to earth. For more information on OSIRIS-Rex, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/feature/evening-launch-catapults-osiris-rex-toward-asteroid-encounter. For information on the BEI Kimco actuator, contact BEI Kimco at, 1499 Poinsettia Ave., Suite 160, Vista, CA 92081, USA, Tel: (760) 597-7042; Toll-free: (800) 572-7560; Fax: (760) 597-6320; email: sales(at)beikimco(dot)com; http://www.beikimco.com. About BEI Kimco BEI Kimco specializes in the design and manufacture of high performance rotary and linear motion components, including Brushless DC Motors and Voice Coil Actuators. These products are designed for applications where performance, precision, and reliability are critical. Using proprietary magnetic design methodologies, BEI Kimco has the ability to produce custom, cost efficient products within multiple manufacturing locations. BEI Kimco is a leader in medical, industrial, aerospace & defense markets. BEI Kimco is a brand of Sensata Technologies. http://www.beikimco.com About Sensata Technologies Sensata Technologies is one of the worlds leading suppliers of sensing, electrical protection, control and power management solutions with operations and business centers in 16 countries. Sensatas products improve safety, efficiency and comfort for millions of people every day in automotive, appliance, aircraft, industrial, military, heavy vehicle, heating, air-conditioning and ventilation, data, telecommunications, recreational vehicle and marine applications. For more information please visit Sensatas website at http://www.sensata.com. Michael Buchholz As a provider of real-time data analytics to monetize network assets, CellOS Software Limited (http://www.cellossoftware.com) announced today that Michael Buchholz has joined the Company as its global Vice President of Marketing. Michael brings a track record as a senior business leader able to leverage a broad range of experience in Communications, Marketing and Business Development with some of the worlds most recognized technology brands, such as NEC, Nokia and Convergys. Hes also built new business opportunities in Smart Cities and Smart Healthcare through the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and Big Data Analytics capabilities. His marketing efforts help these companies create pipeline opportunities of tens of millions of dollars. As we continue to build on our momentum in the marketplace, I believe it will be critical to build out a high performing marketing engine to help fuel our growth, said Abhijit Atale, Senior Vice President of CellOS Software. Michael is a world-class strategic marketer with a proven track record of doing just that for high growth companies, and we couldnt be more thrilled to welcome him to the team. Michael brings to CellOS Software over 25 years of experience in B2B technology marketing and business development and will lead CellOS Softwares marketing strategy as the Company begins its next phase of growth. Having seen first hand the power that Technology and Big Data Analytics can bring to customers, Im incredibly excited to be joining CellOS at this stage of the Companys development, said Michael Buchholz, VP of Marketing for CellOS Software. With the solutions the Company has developed, I believe CellOS Software is in a unique position to enable big data monetization and improved network intelligence for the communications networks of tomorrow. About CellOS Software Limited At CellOS Software, our vision is to enable big data monetization and improved network intelligence for the communications networks of tomorrow. To realize this, CellOS Software offers a wide range of solutions based on big data analytics. Our key focus areas include industry leading Revenue Assurance, Network Analytics, and Campaign Management solutions. This unique ability to extract key insights from network data in real-time allows our partners to not only maximize existing revenue streams but also explore new revenue streams for improved monetization of their network assets. To learn more about CellOS Software, visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn or online at http://www.cellossoftware.com. Contact: CellOS Software Limited Jerene Chew, Marketing Mail: jchew(at)cellossoftware(dot)com Ground was broken today for a third Fisher House at the Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center. Once complete, this will be the first VA in the nation to have three Fisher Houses. Combined with the other two homes, up to 61 families can stay at a Fisher House free of charge on any given night, allowing them to be close to their loved ones at the most stressful time during hospitalization at the Houston VA Medical Center. Fisher House Foundation President David A. Coker joined Medical Center Director Francisco Vazquez and Dr. Richard Wainerdi, President Emeritus of Texas Medical Center, for the groundbreaking and to announce the start of the new home. A Fisher House creates an instant community for its residents, united by their common mission of supporting a sick or injured loved one, but also will provide each individual with a secure and private refuge after a long day at the hospital to rest and recharge. The 20-suite, 16,000+ sq.-ft. comfort home will join 71 Fisher Houses operating in the United States and Europe. Each bedroom suite will be equipped with a private, handicapped-accessible bathroom. Common areas will include a spacious kitchen, large communal living, dining and family rooms, laundry room and patio. When Veterans are receiving care at the Houston VA Medical Center, having their family close by makes a huge difference in their recovery and really is good medicine, said Vazquez. We are so thankful to the Fisher Foundation for donating this third Fisher House and joining us in supporting the men and women who have served our country. Veterans travel from all over the country to receive specialized and life-saving medical care in Houston, said Coker. Without a free room available in a Fisher House, the high cost of lodging can be a barrier to getting the care they deserve. As need increases, we consider it a privilege to work with the generous American public to provide for our nations heroes and their families. Construction of this Fisher House is supported by: Alorica, Mr. John Burkland, La Quinta Inns & Suites, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Shell Oil Co. and United Airlines. About Fisher House Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and Veterans families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, and in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital it serves. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and Veterans families an estimated $320 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation. Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge. The Foundation also manages a grant program that supports other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses and children of fallen and disabled Veterans. http://www.fisherhouse.org About the Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center serves as the primary health care provider for almost 130,000 veterans in southeast Texas. Veterans from around the country are referred to the MEDVAMC for specialized diagnostic care, radiation therapy, surgery, and medical treatment including cardiovascular surgery, gastrointestinal endoscopy, nuclear medicine, ophthalmology, and treatment of spinal cord injury and diseases. The MEDVAMC is home to a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinic; Network Polytrauma Center; an award-winning Cardiac and General Surgery Program; Liver Transplant Center; VA Epilepsy and Cancer Centers of Excellence; VA Substance Abuse Disorder Quality Enhancement Research Initiative; Health Services Research & Development Center of Innovation; VA Rehabilitation Research of Excellence focusing on mild to moderate traumatic brain injury; Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center; and one of the VAs six Parkinsons Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Centers. In late 2012, the MEDVAMC received official designation as a Kidney Transplant Center. Including the outpatient clinics in Beaumont, Conroe, Galveston, Houston, Katy, Lufkin, Richmond, Tomball and Texas City, MEDVAMC outpatient clinics log more than a million outpatient visits annually. Awards and Accreditation The MEDVAMC has received national awards and honors including accreditation from Joint Commission* for hospital, long-term care, behavioral health care, home care, and substance abuse. In early 2014, the MEDVAMC was awarded re-designation for Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Services by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This recognizes the Medical Center for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. MEDVAMC is the first VA medical center in the nation to receive redesignation of Magnet status twice. The Medical Center is consistently recognized for demonstrating low observed-to-expected mortality rates in general surgery, all surgery, and all non-cardiac surgery. In 2011, the medical centers Pathology and Laboratory Medicine was awarded accreditation by the Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists and its Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center was awarded a 3-year accreditation by Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF). The MEDVAMC earned the Gold Seal of Approval in 2011 from the Joint Commission as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. The MEDVAMC is the first VA medical center with this designation. Participants include many major chemical, oil and gas, and energy companies as well as the contractors that serve them. The eighth annual Louisiana Governors Safety & Health Conference, produced by the Alliance Safety Council, provides a collective venue for information sharing, networking and learning. This conference will take place Oct. 3-4 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge. The event kicks off on Monday with the always popular OSHA update given by OSHA Area Director Dorinda Folse. The discussion provides timely information to help organizations avoid costly citations and incidents that take an even more costly human toll. This years keynote speaker is Bob Anderson of Leading Challenges. His presentation will focus on emotional intelligence, which involves the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions and the emotions of others. Anderson believes these skills can increase professional performances and enhance personal lives. There will be a lunch session on Tuesday with a panel of business owners who will discuss disasters that have impacted their businesses and tested their business continuity plans. Conference attendees will take away valuable information about how to recover from an active shooting, fire or flood. Other conference speakers include Shells Joe Tudor who will discuss the dangers of excessive noise exposure. Tudor will address how you should educate your workers on the impact of off-the-job noise. Risks associated with vector borne diseases brought on by mosquitos and ticks will be highlighted as well. This session by Jamey Westbrook of R&R Lotion will focus on proper prevention, EPA regulations and the active ingredients in insect repellents. Organized by a volunteer planning committee of industry leaders and spearheaded by Alliance Safety Council, the conference attracts professionals from a variety of sectors: chemical, construction, emergency and environmental management, fire, health care, human resources, insurance, industrial hygiene, nursing, security, transportation, utilities, and municipalities and public employers. Attendees hold positions such as safety director/manager, security manager, human resources director, production supervisor, HS&E manager and training supervisor. Participants include many major chemical, oil and gas, and energy companies as well as the contractors that serve them. The expo hall is open to the general public at no charge, and registration discounts are offered to Alliance partner organizations interested in the full conference experience. For more information and to register, visit Louisiana Governor's Safety and Health Conference or call (225) 766-0955. Alliance Safety Council is a member-driven association providing online and instructor-led safety training and related services for the metro Baton Rouge area as well as nationwide. Alliance has delivered 700,000-plus training units and trained 180,000 students annually from every state in the U.S., as well as internationally. Available training includes highly acclaimed programs such as Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS), Certificate for Occupational Safety Managers (COSM), Safe Supervisor and PowerSafe. Alliance, in a consortium with Louisiana State Universitys College of Engineering, also offers OSHA training as the Mid-South OSHA Training Institute Education Center. For more information, visit alliancesafetycouncil.org. 360 Visibility has always been committed to software excellence, and passing the Software Solution Test for Microsoft Dynamics is a reflection of that commitment. - Lynn Cooke, President, 360 Visibility. 360 Visibility announced today that its 360 Property Management Software, an all-in-one business solution built using Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016 to provide comprehensive accounting and property management functions, has passed the Software Solution Test for Microsoft Dynamics, which is a major requirement for Certified for Microsoft Dynamics status. Certified for Microsoft Dynamics is Microsoft Corp.s highest standard for partner-developed software. This certification represents a significant step in elevating the standard for partner-developed software solutions for industry-specific business applications. Solutions with a successful software test have demonstrated development quality and compatibility with the Microsoft Dynamics product. VeriTest, a service of Lionbridge, performed independent and rigorous testing on the solutions integration with Microsoft Dynamics. 360 Visibility has also earned the Microsoft Certified Partner designation with the ISV Competency. By requiring the software solution to meet our highest standards, Microsoft is assuring customers that these certified solutions work with their investments in Microsoft Dynamics. Microsoft congratulates 360 Visibility on the software test results and wishes it success in earning the Certified for Microsoft Dynamics designation. 360 Property Management Software is a single, unified, property accounting platform that is industry tailored for the management of Commercial, Industrial, Retail, and Mixed-use properties. The software effectively replaces multiple accounting and management programs to create a streamlined environment where Property Managers, Accountants, and Executives can manage day-to-day operations efficiently. 360 Property Management Software is a subscription-based program built on Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016 and operates online securely using the Microsoft Azure Cloud. 360 Visibility is a Toronto-based Microsoft technology solutions provider that assists clients around the globe. We are dedicated to enabling medium, enterprise and government organizations make swift, well-informed and profitable business decisions. 360 Visibility is a Microsoft Gold Partner for Microsoft Dynamics NAV & Dynamics GP, Microsoft Azure Cloud Platform & Cloud Productivity, an Office 365 Preferred Partner, and the winner of the 2015 Microsoft Canada IMPACT Award for Fastest-Growing Cloud Provider in Canada. To learn more, visit https://www.360visibility.com/ 360 Visibility has always been committed to software excellence, and passing the Software Solution Test for Microsoft Dynamics is a reflection of that commitment, said Lynn Cooke, President, 360 Visibility. About Microsoft Dynamics Microsoft Dynamics is a line of financial, customer relationship and supply chain management solutions that helps businesses work more effectively. Delivered through a network of channel partners providing specialized services, these integrated, adaptable business management solutions work like and with familiar Microsoft software to streamline processes across an entire business. For Additional Information: [John Saund, (905) 907-3620, jsaund(at)360visibility(dot)com] EJ Malloy's Restaurant & Pub We thank the Long Beach community and surrounding areas for 15 years of support. Come party with us Saturday! - Brent Brakebill 15th Anniversary Party 9/24 from 6 pm to 10 pm 4306 Atlantic Avenue Long Beach, CA 90807 Party Includes: Food and Drink Specials Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt (3pm to 6pm) Silent Auction for Local Charities: For the Child, LB Shakespeare Co., Ronald McDonald House. (Auction ends at 9pm) Music by Kelly Fritzgerald Anniversary tshirts for sale HISTORY: In 1865, Elias Jeremy Malloy was born in Dunleer, Ireland, a cow ridden but picturesque hamlet outside Dublin. After 20 years of sweat and toil, Elias and his bonny wife Colleen left their cows and ventured forth to make their fortune in the new world. They braved a long journey across stormy oceans, through the chaos of Ellis Island and over rough American plains before finally dropping anchor in Long Beach, California. One decade and nine children later, EJ and Colleen finally found their pot of gold by doing something they lovedpleasing friends with their hospitality, hearty cooking, heavenly brews and annual Shamrock Shenanigan festival with the same perseverance and hard work of ten years before, EJ Malloys was created. Proprietor Brent Brakebill managed to restore EJ Malloys to a reasonable semblance of its former Gaelic beauty, with a few minor conveniences like water closets, moving pictures, and telephones. In 1990, he opened the 3411 E. Broadway location in Belmont Heights. In September 2001 our second location was opened in Bixby Knolls on Atlantic Avenue and in 2014 our third location will open on Britton Drive in the Los Altos neighborhood. Twenty four years later, EJs is honored to be known as Long Beachs neighborhood pub. At EJ Malloys, we promise that the stools will always rise to meet you, the sun will always shine in your mug and the winds will always bring you back. Visit our Facebook Event Page https://www.facebook.com/events/1663697953946648/ or call 562-424-5000 for more information! Our commitment to reducing waste associated with bad address data has prevented over 150 million pounds of paper from winding up in landfills! - Geoff Grow, Founder and CEO of Service Objects Service Objects, the leading provider of contact due diligence solutions, today announced they are celebrating their 15th year in business. The company was founded in 2001 by Geoff Grow, whose love of math, data, and the environment, combined with an in-depth understanding of the waste poorly and incorrectly addressed mail generates, resulted in the creation of Service Objects. The companys goal is to ensure that every contact record, in every database is as accurate, genuine, and up-to-date as possible by validating a contacts name, location, phone, and email address against hundreds of authoritative data-sources. Service Objects has grown to become the leader in the data validation industry and now provides 25 different data quality tools for businesses operating around the globe. Over 2,400 companies rely on Service Objects for their data quality needs, including Amazon, LendingTree, American Express, MasterCard, and Verizon, and the company has validated nearly 2.5 billion transactions. Service Objects growth was achieved by consistently demonstrating their commitment to their customers success; offering unlimited 24/7/365 customer support; providing guaranteed network uptime; and delivering bank-grade transaction security. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve our customers while building a great company that has had such a positive impact. Our commitment to reducing waste associated with bad address data has prevented over 150 million pounds of paper from winding up in landfills! said Geoff Grow, Founder and CEO of Service Objects. I am so proud of our employees, culture, and products. Weve done such great work and I look forward to whats next in our business. Service Objects will be celebrating their 15th anniversary by hosting an Open House during the October 6th First Thursday event in downtown Santa Barbara. The event will feature the World of Wonder collection by professional photographer and digital artist Edward Clynes. The collection captures Clynes love of the Earths infinite and ever changing landscapes, and is an ideal way to express Service Objects commitment to reducing waste and having a positive impact on the environment. For more information on how to participate, send an email to marketing(at)serviceobjects(dot)com. About Service Objects Service Objects is the leading provider of contact due diligence solutions, validating online transactions in real-time, including contact name, address, phone, email and device. Using Service Objects international validation and location web services, businesses can identify potentially fraudulent contact records, gain hidden insight on their prospects and customers, append contact information, and process transactions in a more efficient manner. Service Objects has validated nearly 2.5 billion contacts, and major brands such as American Express, LendingTree, Amazon, Verizon, Sony and Microsoft rely on Service Objects for their data validation needs. For more information about Service Objects real-time web services, please visit http://www.serviceobjects.com/?zut=pranni15 or contact sales(at)serviceobjects(dot)com. Draeger MRC 5000 Refuge Chamber This rugged underground vehicle is a total life support system that reduces time to rescue by safely transporting mine rescue teams closer to the incident. Draeger today announced that it will showcase a video of its new milestone in mine rescue, the MRV 9000 mine rescue vehicle, at booth #1933 at MINExpo 2016, to be held September 26-28 in Las Vegas. The company will also unveil a cost-effective, high quality underground emergency chamber, the MRC 5000 mine refuge chamber. Todays mines are getting deeper and travel distances are becoming longer for miners, which poses a challenge to mine rescue plans. To help protect miners in increasingly dangerous conditions, Draeger has expanded its portfolio in North America to include emergency shelters and a first-of-its-kind mine rescue vehicle. The MRV 9000 mine rescue vehicle is a new milestone in mine rescue, said Kent Armstrong, Global Business Development Manager, Segment Mining for Draeger. Our mission at Draeger was to design and develop a mine rescue vehicle for mine rescue teams to utilize into the 21st century. This rugged underground vehicle is a total life support system that reduces time to rescue by safely transporting mine rescue teams closer to the incident. In short, its a chamber on wheels for both the driver and those rescued. The Draeger MRV 9000 was commissioned by Goldcorp Inc., a leading gold producer focused on responsible mining practices with safe, low-cost production throughout the Americas. Visitors to Draegers booth at MINExpo 2016 will be among the first to preview a detailed video of this groundbreaking mine rescue vehicle, which is now available in the United States and Canada. A safe haven underground The company will demonstrate its new MRC 5000 mine refuge chamber at the Draeger booth. A total life support system, this cost-effective chamber was designed by Draeger inside and outfrom the seal-welded steel structure and redundant air supply system, to the soda lime cartridges and gas detection devices. Because we design and build most of the individual components, we are able to create a well-integrated, technically advanced life support system, said Brad Rekuc, National Sales Manager, Mining at Draeger. The MRC can be leased or purchased, and is totally supported by Draeger Service with local maintenance and repair to ensure that the chamber is always operational. Because every mine is different, Draeger also offers engineered chambers that are designed and built to customer-specific requirements. As a result, Draeger is the single source for all underground emergency chamber needsregardless of the situation. Draeger will also showcase its complete portfolio of mine safety products at MINExpo 2016, including MSHA-approved gas detection solutions, renowned personal protective gear, innovative firefighting equipment, and thermal imaging cameras. With more than 100 years of real-world engineering expertise and service to North American miners, Draeger is so deeply rooted in the mining industry that mine rescuers are known as Draegermen even today. Attendees can schedule a personal demo of the MRC 5000 mine refuge chamber in advance at draeger.com/MINExpo. Draeger. Technology for Life Draeger is an international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology. Our products protect, support and save lives. Founded in 1889, Draeger generated revenues of around EUR 2.6 billion in 2015. The Draeger Group is currently present in more than 190 countries and has more than 13,000 employees worldwide. Please visit http://www.draeger.com for more information. 2.9 cents/minute to call Pakistan with the new plan Pakistan 350 on TelephonePakistan.com It's very easy and I am enjoying your service. (Ishtiaq Anwar) Pakistani expats worldwide have a new affordable plan to call Pakistan at only $9.99 per month with TelephonePakistan.com.com. The new plan includes 350 minutes to both mobiles and landlines in Pakistan at the lowest rate on the global market: 2.9 cents/minute. No contract is required, and no extra fees apply. Plus every month, one gets Thank You points to call other destinations in the world with TelephonePakistan.com. Anyone holding a free account on the website can activate Pakistan 350 in seconds: https://telephonepakistan.com/product/monthly_plan. The plan comes with several free features and can be cancelled anytime with no penalties, since no contract needs to be signed. It is the most economical alternative to calling cards. Speed Dial and PINless Dialing to make international calls feel like local calls. Thank You points are added automatically each month on every plan renewal. Unique rate for mobiles and landlines. KeepCalling app is free to install on any Android device, iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. 24/7 human Customer Support for any explanation or question. Online Help Center with Frequently Asked Questions. Online check of 30 day call history and all-time transactions on TelephonePakistan.com. Calling is also possible using access numbers that require no Internet connection. Web Call is a desktop app available in one's account that facilitates calls from PC to any phone in Pakistan, without the need for any download. Pakistan 350 has been conceived thanks to Pakistani expats' feedback to have more calling minutes at the lowest rate on the market: 2.9 cents/minute. It works as a monthly subscription that renews automatically each month if it is not cancelled. The packages includes 350 minutes to both mobiles and landlines in Pakistan. Pakistan 350 is not the only plan on TelephonePakistan.com that facilitates calls at this low rate of 2.9 cents/minute. There are two more: Pakistan 500 and Pakistan 1000 for more talkative people. Pakistan 500 costs $14.49/month and includes 500 minutes to both mobiles and landlines available for 30 days. Pakistan 1000 has the same benefits as the previous two and it can be purchased in seconds at $28.99 a month on TelephonePakistan.com. For those who will try Pakistan 350 and will find out they need more than 350 minutes to Pakistan, there are 2 options. They can add Voice Credit minutes that never expire and will roll from month to month until they are fully used. Voice Credit balance can be used to make calls to Pakistan at 3.9 cents/minute, as well as other destinations at the rates featured on the website. Or upgrade, and thus replace their plan with Pakistan 500 or Pakistan 1000. It only requires to activate Pakistan 500 or Pakistan 1000 and the Pakistan 350 plan will be replaced immediately. Besides calls to Pakistan, TelephonePakistan.com facilitates mobile recharges using the Mobile Recharge interface on the website. This service allows Pakistani expats to support their families and friends by sending them mobile credit if their mobiles. Only Pakistani who use mobiles operated by Ufone, Telenor, Jazz, Warid Telecom and Zong can receive local credit from abroad. Since top ups are made online, they are instant and take few seconds. On review platforms, customers appreciate several key aspects about the calling service on TelephonePakistan.com: The online shopping takes few seconds and is 100% secure due to the "Verified and Certified" label. PayPal is accepted besides all major credit and debit cards. Payment is accepted in any currency. Transactions are 100% secure. The service is "Verified & Certified" Anyone can earn credit while recommending the service to other fellow expats. The website (TelephonePakistan.com) and the calling app (KeepCalling) are very easy to use. -International top ups to mobiles in Pakistan are instant with the Mobile Recharge service on TelephonePakistan.com: https://telephonepakistan.com/buy/mobile_recharge TelephonePakistan.com is a website dedicated to the Pakistani diaspora worldwide. The website is a brand of KeepCalling, a global telecommunications company registered in 2002 in the USA. Presently, KeepCalling provides its services to hundreds of thousands of consumers and businesses, with a focus on customer satisfaction. KeepCalling has been listed by Inc 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the USA for 5 consecutive years. In 2015 the company registered a revenue increase of over 200% from 2011 to 2014. Transfers to the emergency room, which frequently result in admission to the hospital, are highly disruptive to older adults and sometimes harmful to their health." As a geriatrician who has cared for patients in nursing homes across western Pennsylvania, Steven Handler, M.D., Ph.D., has seen first-hand how some are transferred unnecessarily in the middle of the night to hospital emergency rooms. Thats because nursing staff couldnt get the right medical advice at the right time. Transfers to the emergency room, which frequently result in admission to the hospital, are highly disruptive to older adults and sometimes harmful to their health, said Dr. Handler. Whats more, these avoidable hospitalizations are costing Medicare, private insurers and taxpayers billions of dollars every year. Dr. Handlers experience prompted the creation of Curavi Health, a new UPMC Enterprises-backed company that is bringing its comprehensive telemedicine solution and physician care to the nursing home bedside, where patients and staff need it most. Weve spent three years developing and refining the equipment, software, training and support to help nursing homes significantly reduce potentially avoidable hospitalizations. That means better care and higher satisfaction for patients and staff, said Dr. Handler, now Curavis chief medical and innovation officer and associate professor of geriatric medicine and director for geriatric telemedicine programs at the University of Pittsburgh. Curavi, a Pittsburgh-based company, offers its customers CuraviCart telemedicine equipment, specifically designed for the workflow in the challenging, nursing-home environment, and CuraviCare software that allows staff to easily request a telemedicine consult. Curavi has also developed a formal relationship with University of Pittsburgh Physicians, part of UPMC, to provide after-hours consults from fellowship-trained geriatricians. UPMC ranks No. 12 for geriatric medicine nationally in the latest quality scoring by U.S. News & World Report. Consults from additional UPMC subspecialty services, such as cardiology, dermatology and geriatric psychiatry, are planned for the coming months, expanding needed clinical services and reducing the burden of travel for nursing home patients. The average nursing home will pay for this service with the reduction of just one potentially avoidable hospitalization a month, said Nicholas J. Kuhn, president of Curavi Health and a veteran of other health care-related startups. For many nursing home staff, patients and families, the peace of mind that comes with the instant availability of this expertise is priceless. Although Curavi Health is new to the market, its deep expertise with nursing homes and telemedicine stems from work done by Dr. Handler and his team over the last several years, starting with 17 non-UPMC nursing homes under a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Grant. Those efforts to reduce potentially avoidable hospitalizations for conditions like urinary tract infections and pneumonia were then expanded to include UPMCs owned skilled nursing facilities. That combined experience resulted in training more than 1,000 nurses and health care professionals in telemedicine, 212 real-time video consults and avoidance of 108 unnecessary transfers of patients to hospitals over the last two years. The quality and cost-effectiveness of post-acute careincluding skilled nursing homes and home healthare under increasing scrutiny as our health care system moves from volume to value, said Deborah Brodine, president of UPMC Community Provider Services, which includes UPMCs post-acute care continuum. Given the national focus on measuring performance, improving patient outcomes and enhancing care coordination, it is imperative that nursing homes take advantage of tools and technologies like Curavis to better care for patients and to position themselves as capable and responsible members of integrated care-delivery teams. According to recent data released by CMS, of the $14.3 billion spent by Medicare in 2011 on inpatient admissions from nursing homes, an estimated $8 billion was spent unnecessarily. In Pennsylvania alone, those potentially avoidable hospitalizations total 27,000 annually from about 700 nursing homes, at a cost of $220 million. Curavis telemedicine solution aims to change that by allowing nursing home staff to access UPMC geriatricians at night and on weekends so that they can identify acute changes in a patients condition and intervene in a timely way. The CuraviCart equipment allows physicians to remotely interact with patients and nursing home staff through a pan/tilt/zoom camera, Bluetooth stethoscope, digital otoscope, document scanner and 12-lead EKG system. The proprietary CuraviCare software, which facilitates interaction between the remote physician and the patient, is designed for simple operation by nursing home staff and tailored to their workflow. Curavi Health is a great example of our focus at UPMC Enterprises: identifying and nurturing the innovative technologies and companies that will solve some of the toughest problems in health care, said Tal Heppenstall, president of UPMC Enterprises, the commercialization and innovation arm of UPMC. Entrepreneurs and innovators both inside and outside of UPMC turn to us not only for capital but for access to the clinical, technological and business expertise that lies at the heart of one of the nations leading integrated health systems. Curavi expects to soon offer a bring your own provider solution that will allow nursing homes to use their own attending physicians and nurse practitioners for on-demand telemedicine consults. That means Curavi can expand quickly across the country without the need to license physicians across state lines. As weve seen first-hand, this is a solution that can save frail patients and families from so much distress and potential harm, said Dr. Handler. With the support of UPMC Enterprises, we can help to dramatically improve care at nursing homes nationwide. # # # About UPMC A world-renowned health care provider and insurer, Pittsburgh-based UPMC is inventing new models of patient-centered, cost-effective, accountable care. It provides nearly $900 million a year in benefits to its communities, including more care to the regions most vulnerable citizens than any other health care institution. The largest nongovernmental employer in Pennsylvania, UPMC integrates 60,000 employees, more than 20 hospitals, more than 500 doctors offices and outpatient sites, and a 3 million-member Insurance Services Division, the largest medical and behavioral health services insurer in western Pennsylvania. Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC ranks No. 12 in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report annual Honor Roll of Americas Best Hospitals. UPMC Enterprises functions as the innovation and commercialization arm of UPMC while UPMC International provides hands-on health care and management services with partners in 12 countries on four continents. For more information, go to UPMC.com. http://www.upmc.com/media This landmark theater was previously home to the world-renowned "Living Theatre" for more than six decades. Centum Real Estate Group, a full-service real estate brokerage firm in New York and New Jersey that specializes in commercial and residential properties, announced today that it has completed the lease of 21A Clinton Street: a 3500-square foot premium property on New York Citys Lower East Side. For more than six decades the landmark building was home to the world-renowned Living Theatre, which produced a string of successful off-Broadway hits starting in the 1950s, and during its final days in 2013 was featured by the NY Daily News. Most recently, the building was tenanted by the Celebration of Whimsy Theatre. Our experience with commercial properties on the Lower East Side, along with our strategic and targeted marketing plan, helped us expeditiously close on this lease in less than 60 days with favorable terms for our client, commented Otis Duffy, Centum Real Estate Groups Executive Vice President and Broker of Record. We are delighted about how our client plans to use this exceptional and highly-coveted space, and have no doubt that while 21A Clinton Street has a storied and historic past, its best and most exciting days are ahead not behind. As noted, Centum Real Estate Group has significant experience in the Lower East Side real estate market. In May of last year, Mr. Duffy was the sole broker in the $8.32 million sale and leaseback of Libations, a three-story 9,777 square foot retail/restaurant building located at 137 Ludlow. As part of the sale, Mr. Duffy negotiated the inclusion of three existing liquor licenses, which was a major win for his client and allowed them to continue operating seamlessly without delays or added costs. Added Mr. Duffy: 137 Ludlow was a complex transaction given the prominence of the clients, the premium location, and the importance of making the existing liquor licenses part of the deal. We used our expertise to put together a comprehensive plan, and carried it out with precision. The seller and buyer were both satisfied and represented that Centum Real Estate Group was the Exclusive Brokerage Firm. We achieved an outcome that most other firms wouldnt even attempt because they lack the necessary experience and knowledge to broker an off market property and beating out Massey Knakle Brokerage Firm. For additional information on Centum Real Estate Group, visit http://www.centumreg.com or email info(at)centumreg(dot)com. About Centum Real Estate Group Centum Real Estate Group LLC is a full service firm that handles commercial and residential properties, financing and structuring Deferred Sales Trusts. With licenses in New York and New Jersey, Centum offers comprehensive professional in-house underwriting of assets to ensure that transactions happen in an efficient and profitable manner. Centum offers a full range of specialties with brokers who specialize in Self Storage, Retail, Senior Living, Hospitality, Multi-Family, etc. in New York and Northern New Jersey. Michael Mueller is the Broker of Record in the New York office while Otis Duffy is the Broker of Record for the Hoboken, NJ office while also maintaining a Brokers license in New York. Group subscriptions are a win-win for employers and employees employers get great savings, and employees will appreciate getting access to our service at no cost to them. MailMyPrescriptions.com, Americas first wholesale pharmacy network, announced today that it will exhibit at the upcoming Employer Healthcare & Benefits Congress (EHCB). The company will be at Booth #1. For a small quarterly subscription fee, MailMyPrescriptions.com gives its members access to thousands of brand and generic prescription drugs at wholesale price. Individuals can save up to 90% on their out-of-pocket costs, and the medication is conveniently delivered to their doorsteps. At the conference, MailMyPrescriptions.com will be advertising its cost-saving group product, which offers employers bulk subscriptions starting at 50% off consumer subscription fees. By switching to MailMyPrescriptions.com, employers can save up to 60% on an employers volume prescription drug spending. In addition to employers, other groups that can benefit from MailMyPrescriptions.coms affordable bulk subscriptions include associations, unions and accountable care organizations (ACOs). By activating group subscriptions, these organizations can enjoy additional benefits such as more favorable monthly billing terms and options such as custom formularies and self-funding. Everybody wants to save money on their prescriptions, and when employers have self-funded health plans with deductibles that are increasingly rising, its a huge burden on employees. Group subscriptions are a win-win for employers and employees employers get great savings, and employees will appreciate getting access to our service at no cost to them. said MailMyPrescriptions.com Founder and Chairman Santo J. Leo. When employers or other groups buy subscriptions in bulk, we are able to pass along even greater savings. Employers or other groups interested group subscriptions can learn more at http://www.millennialbenefits.com. About MailMyPrescriptions.com MailMyPrescriptions.com is a subscription pharmacy network headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. For a subscription fee of just a few dollars per month, the network provides access to thousands of FDA-approved drugs at wholesale cost. The revolutionary pricing model allows consumers to purchase their drugs at wholesale cost, helping more than 80 million uninsured and underinsured Americans get affordable prescription medication. For more information, please visit http://www.MailMyPrescriptions.com. SharePoint Fest Chicago, one of the premier SharePoint Conference companies in North America, is happy to welcome Aspera as a gold sponsor. SharePoint Fest has brought together the Microsoft SharePoint Product group, the leading SharePoint experts from across the country, and an audience of motivated SharePoint adopters who are looking to enhance their knowledge and find solutions to their SharePoint challenges. About Aspera Asperas unwavering mission is to create the next-generation software technologies that move the worlds large data at maximum speed, regardless of file size, transfer distance and network conditions. With the unstoppable explosion of Big Data in a world where IT and networking infrastructures are more diverse and flexible than ever, Aspera focuses on supplying innovative data transfer solutions that help organizations operate and collaborate more effectively on a global scale. Web Site: http://asperasoft.com About SharePoint Fest SharePoint Fest is in its sixth year. It offers a two-day conference (with an optional two days of workshops) that brings together SharePoint enthusiasts and practitioners, with many of the leading SharePoint experts and solution providers in the country. Attend SharePoint Fest Chicago where attendees will be able to attend workshops and seminars taught by Microsoft Certified Trainers, Microsoft engineers, and Microsoft MCM's and MVPs covering Enterprise Content Management, Implementation/Administration, Business Value, Search, Business Intelligence, Office 365 and SharePoint Development. Attendees will be able to choose one complete learning track or mix and match based on what content best meets their current needs. At SharePoint Fest Chicago, there will be sessions created for SharePoint administrators, software developers, business analysts, information architects, and knowledge workers, which will ensure that attendees walk away with as much knowledge as they desire to truly leverage SharePoint in their current environment. Web Site: http://www.sharepointfest.com/Chicago Upshot Logo The presidential election in North Carolina is up for grabs. Democrats have single digit leads in the races for U.S. Senate and Governor, but you cant get any tighter than tied between Trump and Clinton. --Dr. Don Levy Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are tied in a three-way race for North Carolinas key electoral votes, according to a New York Times Upshot/Siena College Research Institute poll of likely North Carolina voters released today. Both Clinton and Trump currently have the support of 41 percent of likely voters with former Governor Gary Johnson garnering 11 percent. Senator Richard Burr trails his Democratic challenger, Deborah Ross 46-42 percent, and in the race for Governor, Democrat Attorney General Roy Cooper leads Republican incumbent Pat McCrory 50-42 percent. Likely voters are evenly split with 47 percent both supporting and opposing HB2, the legislation that individuals may only use the restrooms in government buildings that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate. Majorities disapprove of the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare (54-41 percent) and oppose building a wall along the length of the Mexican border (54-40 percent), while pluralities favor, rather than oppose government stimulus programs (45-39 percent), and support deporting undocumented immigrants here illegally (49-41 percent). Forty-eight percent support and 45 percent oppose additional gun control legislation. Trump has as large a lead among Republicans (76 points) as Clinton does with Democrats and independents currently favor Trump over Clinton by 38-30 percent with 20 percent for Johnson. Women lean towards Clinton by nine points, and men support Trump, also by nine points, said Siena College Poll Director Don Levy. Trump leads in the Southwest (Charlotte), Piedmont/Triad and East/South portions of the state, while Clinton leads in the Western and vote rich North Central (Raleigh) area of the state. There is not only a significant gender gap in this race, but also large racial divides, Levy said. Trump is up 53-28 percent among white voters, while Clinton has a commanding 86-3 percent lead with African-Americans and 51-25 percent among Hispanics/Latinos. Both candidates suffer from a majority of North Carolina voters having an unfavorable opinion of them. Clinton is viewed favorably by 43 percent and unfavorably by 54 percent while Trumps favorability rating is a negative 39-58 percent. Nearly equal percentages, 40 percent in Clintons case and 37 percent for Trump, view one of the candidates favorably and the other negatively while 16 percent view them both unfavorably and only two percent have a favorable opinion of both. An overwhelming majority of blacks and a majority of Latinos view Clinton favorably while half of white likely voters have a favorable opinion of Trump. Of those with an unfavorable opinion of both, 41 percent say they will vote for Johnson, 22 percent for Trump and 13 percent for Clinton, Levy said. The HB2 issue appears to sit front and center in the Governors race. Of those that support the law, McCrory leads 68-25 percent, while those opposed to the law favor Cooper 78-16 percent, Levy said. North Carolina is truly a battleground state. A majority disapproves of Obamacare but a similarly sized majority opposes building a wall along the border with Mexico. By eight points, voters favor deporting undocumented immigrants, but by six points, they support government stimulus programs. And when it comes to pitting support for the second amendment against additional federal gun control legislation, it is too close to call, Levy noted. The presidential election in North Carolina is up for grabs. Democrats have single digit leads in the races for U.S. Senate and Governor, but you cant get any tighter than tied between Trump and Clinton. Unless the debates or current events move some voters, the electoral votes from the Tar Heel state will be decided by turnout by geography, gender, and race where the large differences on vote choice reside, Levy said. This New York Times Upshot/Siena College survey was conducted September 16-19, 2016 by telephone calls to 782 likely voters. Calls were made to a stratified weighted sample of voters from the L-2 Voter list via both land and cell phones. A likely-to-vote probability was computed for each respondent based on both their stated likelihood to vote as well as by virtue of the imputation of a turnout probability score based on past voting behavior applied to their specific voting history. This probability to vote was applied as a weight along with a weight that considered party registration, age, region, gender and race. This poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percentage points. The Siena College Research Institute, directed by Donald Levy, Ph.D., conducts political, economic, social and cultural research primarily in NYS. SRI, an independent, non-partisan research institute, subscribes to the American Association of Public Opinion Research Code of Professional Ethics and Practices. For more information, please call Don Levy at 518-783-2901. Survey cross-tabulations and frequencies can be found at: http://www.Siena.edu/SRI/SNY. This collaboration between New York Times Upshot and the Siena College Research Institute is dedicated to transparency and welcomes any requests for data as well as discussion of methodology. President Santos of Colombia and Svein Tore Holsether of Yara We are investing more than USD 100 million in Colombia, contributing to growing productivity and prosperity in the Colombian countryside. Agriculture and rural development are at the center of the peace agreement and Yara is ready to actively support the government and other stakeholders contributing to its success. We are investing more than USD 100 million in Colombia, contributing to growing productivity and prosperity in the Colombian countryside, says President & CEO of Yara Svein Tore Holsether. Yara is a long-term investor in Colombia, and the largest foreign investor in the country in 2014 (USD 425 million). A third of the current investment is earmarked the Valle del Cauca region, one of the areas most heavily affected by the conflict and with a great potential for sustainable agricultural growth. Commercial agriculture is an engine for inclusive economic growth, and a strong tool for building and sustaining peace worldwide, says Holsether who in a meeting with Colombias President Juan Manuel Santos at the UN today offered Yaras active support in driving rural value creation in the post conflict process. The private sector has a key role in development that can create shared value and thus help bring peace and prosperity to all, according to Holsether. I firmly believe that Yara is part of the solution to enable Colombia to produce more and better food on existing agricultural land. This is the best way to protect the 52 percent of Colombia that is covered by forest, says Holsether. Yara will in line with its vision of a collaborative society, a world without hunger and a planet respected take an initiative to mobilize and strengthen the private sectors commitment to rural value creation in Colombia. Cybereason, developers of the worlds only military-grade, real-time detection and response platform, today named Sam Curry its Chief Product Officer. With more than 20 years of IT security industry experience, Curry is responsible for driving the product strategy for the companys award-winning platform, as well as overall product management, innovation and operational excellence. Sam is a proven cybersecurity industry visionary leader. He is a significant addition to our management team as Cybereason continues to attract the best and brightest people to the company. Overall, Sams track record of excellence and his industry knowledge will help to not only enhance our platform but drive innovation as market demands change and threats evolve, said Lior Div, co-founder and CEO, Cybereason. Curry joins Cybereason from Arbor Networks, where he served as the Chief Technology and Security Officer. He was responsible for the development and implementation of Arbors technology, security and innovation roadmap. Previously, he spent more than seven years at RSA (the Security Division of EMC) in a variety of senior management positions, including Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Technologist and Senior Vice President of Product Management and Product Marketing. Curry has also held senior roles at Microstrategy, Computer Associates and McAfee in addition to several startups. Cybersecurity is a growing problem for every company anywhere around the world. I joined the Cybereason team because of the company's impressive and deep understanding of the magnitude of the problem and its ambition to solve it, said Curry. The team at Cybereason, coming from hands-on military offensive hacking backgrounds, has built a state-of-the-art technology to eradicate cyber threats. I am thrilled to join the team and lead the product strategy and development to further impact the company's innovation. For more than a decade, I have worked with Sam and he brings an irreproachable knowledge of the cybersecurity industry to Cybereason along with deep and proven insights on product development and management. This is a great hire for Cybereason, said Jon Oltsik, senior principal analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. Cybereason has a proven track record of protecting Fortune 1,000 enterprises globally. The company has received many awards and accolades since its founding. Most recently, Cybereason topped a recent Gartner list of endpoint detection and response vendors. Juniper Research named Cybereason one of the Top Three Disruptive Innovators to watch in 2016. SC Magazine named Cybereason the 2016 Rookie Security Company of the Year. Also, CEO Lior Div was a 2016 EY Entrepreneur of the Year New England Finalist. In addition, Infosecurity Products Guide named Div 2016 CEO of the Year. Computer Reseller News recognized Cybereason for having one of the 16 hottest products launched at Black Hat 2016. And Dark Reading named the company one of the 20 Cyber Security Startups to Watch in 2016. About Cybereason: Founded by members of the Israeli intelligence agencys elite cyber security Unit 8200, the Cybereason platform mirrors the founders expertise in managing some of worlds most complex hacking operations. The Cybereason Detection and Response Platform leverages big data, behavioral analytics and machine learning to uncover, in real-time, complex cyber attacks designed to evade traditional defenses. It automates the investigation process, connects isolated malicious events and visually presents a full malicious operation. The platform is available as an on-premise solution or a cloud-based service. Cybereason is privately held and headquartered in Boston with offices in Tel Aviv and Tokyo. For more information, please visit: Website: http://www.cybereason.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Cybereason Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Cybereason LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/cybereason Media Contact: Bill Keeler Director, Public Relations Cybereason bill.keeler(at)cybereason(dot)com (508) 414-7755 (cell) OSM Worldwide is featured in the Smithsonian National Postal Museum's new virtual exhibition, "America's Mailing Industry." The Smithsonians National Postal Museum last week launched a new virtual exhibition, Americas Mailing Industry, to showcase the partnership between the U.S. Postal Service and private companies. The story of OSM Worldwide, a leading provider of domestic and international parcel delivery solutions, will be featured in the exhibits Fulfillment and Parcel Shippers section. The virtual exhibit aims to celebrate and present to visitors the unique history of the mailing industrys public-private partnerships. It will highlight the companies, entrepreneurs and multigenerational family businesses -- who together with USPS -- have helped American citizens and businesses communicate and conduct business for more than 200 years. OSM Worldwide is a USPS partner who assists retailers in meeting consumer demands for fast, reliable shipping in a constantly evolving e-commerce economy. Americas mailing industry is quite possibly the most successful governmentprivate sector partnership in our nations history, said Allen Kane, director of the museum. We are excited to tell this story, as most people dont even know the industry exists. OSM has been an approved USPS shipping partner for 13 years. With locations in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Nevada, OSM delivers cost-effective and reliable residential parcel delivery solutions to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide using existing USPS infrastructure. The company began as a family-owned business and has grown alongside the surge in e-commerce, with package count increasing 31.5 percent year-over-year. OSM is honored to be featured in this exciting new virtual exhibition, said OSM Worldwide CEO Gaston Curk. Our vision and mission align closely with the United States Postal Service, and as a partner, we look forward to continuing and strengthening the legacy of the mailing industry in the United States. Both the number of packages and pace of shipment have increased with the rise in online shopping volume in recent years, so its important to recognize how pivotal private partners of USPS are to our countrys economy. In order to provide a clear and comprehensive picture of the vast and complex world of Americas mailing industry, the museum partnered with researchers and experts from USPS, mailing industry associations and private companies, including OSM Worldwide, to present stories of success and service to American consumers and businesses. The partnership between the mailing industry and the postal system is a critical part of the American economy, as its total economic value exceeds $1 trillion and it employs almost 8 million people. To learn more about OSM Worldwide and its services, visit http://www.osmworldwide.com. About OSM Worldwide OSM Worldwide is a leading provider of domestic and international parcel delivery solutions that reach millions of addresses nationwide and around the globe. Only OSM Worldwide features the award-winning OSM Premium Network, which is capable of shipping packages nationwide within 1-5 days, reliably and economically. A recognized preferred shipping partner of the USPS and recipient of the USPS Mail Solutions Award, OSM Worldwide also has global partnerships with major postal authorities all over the world. Businesses that partner with OSM Worldwide enjoy a variety of delivery options, economical shipping solutions, and expert, responsive customer service. About the Smithsonians National Postal Museum The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nations mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information about the Smithsonian, call (202) 633-1000 or visit the museum website at http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu. Were confident Aaron will be a strong asset to our team and clients, and were looking forward to working with him adds Kim Randall, Executive Vice President and Property Director at Worldwide Facilities Phoenix office. Perry brings six years of wholesale insurance experience to the role, including a record of previous success as a broker based in Daytona Beach, FL. He offers specialized casualty brokerage expertise with a strong emphasis on construction and manufacturing, as well as a track record of building and maintaining a nationwide book of casualty business. Im looking forward to the opportunity to drive organic growth to the Phoenix office, says Perry. My goal in this position is to contribute to the overall success of my clients while playing an important role in helping this office thrive. Aaron brings valuable industry expertise and contacts to the position, adds Kim Randall, Executive Vice President and Property Director at Worldwide Facilities Phoenix office. Were confident he will be a strong asset to our team and clients, and were looking forward to working with him. Contact: Aaron Perry Broker Direct: (602) 680-2012 Cell: (760) 485-8292 aperry(at)wwfi(dot)com About Worldwide Facilities, LLC Worldwide Facilities, LLC is a national wholesale insurance broker and managing general agent that has been in business since 1970. Our seasoned brokers and underwriters are industry leaders in providing expertise in a wide range of specialty lines, and offer extensive contacts with carriers domestically and overseas. Now is a great time to visit Australia. Being able to see animals in the wild, is a fantastic experience. Australia consistently ranks as the number one dream international destination for Americans and is regularly among the Top 5 international luxury travel destinations being booked, according to Travel Leaders Associates Americas top retail travel agency brand. A luxury experience is even easier to achieve, as the value of the Australian dollar has fallen nearly 30% against the U.S. dollar in the past two years, making Down Under down right more affordable. Given American travelers will get more value out of each dollar spent than they have since 2010, Travel Leaders travel agents are sharing their expertise on what to see and do when making this more affordable luxury destination a reality. Here are seven exciting reasons to visit Australia, from Travel Leaders experts: Kangaroo Island. Travelers looking for an adventure in Australia will love, love, love Kangaroo Island, said Jacqie Swanson, an Aussie specialist from the Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Travel Leaders location, who just returned from the continent earlier this month. Being able to see animals in the wild, and not in a zoo is a fantastic experience, especially in such a naturally-beautiful wilderness with gorgeous sculpted rocks. Kangaroo Island, the third largest island off the coast of mainland Australia, is where sea lions bask in the sun on white sandy beaches, koalas relax among the eucalypts and the ubiquitous kangaroos are everywhere. The Sounds of Silence Tour. The Sounds of Silence is a unique outdoor dining experience with 360-degree views of the surrounding landscapes, from sand dunes and Uluru (Ayers Rock) to the domes of Kata Tjuta, as well as stargazing once the sun has set. Sounds of Silence is just as intriguing as its name, not to mention the highly visible 50,000 stars, said Debbie Sebastian of Travel Leaders in Danville, Kentucky. She also suggested that when one is ready take in city life, Sydney is calling with its iconic Opera House, the famous Harbour Bridge and the Rocks Market. If you are looking for a dress, a one-off piece of jewelry or even a souvenir, they have everything, she added. Sydney Sights, Sounds and Sustenance. While in Sydney, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for an amazing panoramic view of the city. It is a remarkable, unforgettable experience, said Wally Jones, a certified Aussie specialist with one of the Travel Leaders in Phoenix, Arizona. When youre ready for dinner and if youre a meat eater, sample a bite of kangaroo, crocodile or emu. Much like beef, they are prepared in a variety of ways, including sausage, burgers and steaks. He added that wine lovers should order a shiraz and for beer drinkers he recommends Coopers or a local tasting flight. Recommended hotels include the Park Hyatt Sydney, the Shangri-La and The Langham, which is a luxury boutique on Sydneys harbor. Additionally, Jones said travelers should head to Melbourne or Brisbane. The Park Hyatt Melbourne has terrace suites with private balconies. Its a nice escape at the end of the day. Darwin and Lizard Island National Park. If you want to see crocodiles, you must visit the Northern Territory and the area around Darwin, said Kristi Ali Mackedanz, from Travel Leaders in Woodbury, Minnesota. There are more crocodiles in this region than anywhere else in the world. Some boat tours even have feeding sessions. Also, my luxury clients particularly enjoy a visit to Lizard Island off the coast of Cairns. It is a one-hour flight from Cairns and there is a research station on the island where you can learn about the coral reef systems. The best time to visit this area is between May and October, when rain is less likely and the temperatures are cooler. Blue Mountains National Park. A visit to New South Wales, must include a venture into the Blue Mountains, which gets its name from the blue rays of light created from the droplets of oil and water vapor in its atmosphere. On a tour of the Blue Mountains National Park you will see its magnificent rock formations and waterfalls. Wentworth Falls and the Three Sisters rock formation are great attractions, said Arvid Olson, an Australia Specialist with the Travel Leaders location in Palm Coast, Florida. Also, a trip to the area wouldnt be complete without going underground to Jenolan Caves, one of the oldest caves in the world. It has underground rivers and deep limestone formations. Cave tours are suited for people of all ages and fitness levels. Great Barrier Reef. There are items you want to be sure to have with you when traveling to Australia, said Penny Seaver of the Travel Leaders in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. For one, remember to bring your dive certification card. Scuba diving is an amazing experience around the Great Barrier Reef, which has very healthy and diverse marine life. Also, given the climate varies in different parts of the country or from day to night, Seaver added: Wear layers of clothing, depending on your itinerary and bring a water bottle to refill. For the trip overall, she also recommends a portable battery pack, electric converter and adapter and limited baggage. Some flights on your itinerary may be with smaller aircraft that will not have room for large luggage. Off the Beaten Track. There are many popular sites in Australia, and some are well off the beaten track, and are definitely worth a trek to experience the local culture, said Mike King, a certified Premier Aussie specialist with the Travel Leaders in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Theres the laidback town of Coober Pedy where you can learn about opal mining, or pearl lovers can go to the resort town of Broome (there are no traffic lights, but theres seashore on both sides of the town). King also noted Alice Springs School of the Air where the population was so small there were no traditional schools and students took classes via shortwave radio. Today, classes take place via the Internet. Ive been to Australia 17 times and there are so many great places to visit, I could go on and on. Travel Leaders has hundreds of travel agents around the United States who specialize in Australia and in active and adventure travel. Any one of them can speak about current promotions and work with each client in creating a customized Australian vacation. When contacting Travel Leaders, refer to vacation code Australia for the latest travel special Down Under. Travel Better with Travel Leaders. To find a qualified agent, visit Travelleaders.com. Or to find the nearest Travel Leaders location, visit Travelleaders.com or call 800-335-TRIP (8747). Photos are available at: http://bit.ly/TL0916-AusPhotos # # # We are very fortunate Mr. Neulen is joining the Axino team at a time when we are experiencing extraordinary growth and demand for our services. said Michal Wallrath, Managing Director, Axino Solutions Axino Solutions, a fast-growing developer and provider of leading-edge Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) & Mobile Solutions, Enterprise Service Management (ESM) solutions and Business Intelligence (BI) systems, today announced it has named Hagen Neulen, Key Account Manager for the companys Asset Management and Mobile Solutions divisions. Neulen will be responsible for helping Axino to meet growing demands for its development, technology and integration services as an IBM Maximo business partner throughout the DACH region. Hagens Maximo expertise and background will help Axino to expand its Maximo portfolio and provide customers with service, development and integration capabilities that are not only best-in-class, but top-of-class. said Michal Wallrath, Managing Director, Axino Solutions. We are very fortunate Mr. Neulen is joining the Axino team at a time when we are experiencing extraordinary growth and demand for our services. Prior to joining Axino, Mr. Neulen was with IBM Deutschland GmbH in a variety of business and market development positions, most recently as Business Solutions Manager for IBM Maximo and IBM Tririga Integrated Workplace Management solutions. In his capacity at IBM, Mr. Neulen was involved with helping the company secure major accounts such as Allianz AMOS, Bombardier Transportation and Volkswagen, among others. Previously, Mr. Neulen held business development and EAM-Business Partner Sales positions with MRO Software, the provider of Maximo, which was acquired by IBM in 2006. Mr. Neulen also served as a career officer in the Deutsche Bundeswehr. IBM Maximo Asset Management is a comprehensive solution for managing physical assets on a common platform in asset-intensive industries. It offers built in mobile access, out-of-the box mapping, crew management and analytical insight. As an IBM Maximo partner, Axino provides systems engineering, implementation, integration, and technology support services using Maximo and other software solutions to ensure seamless systems interoperability and optimization. Since Axino was spun off by Ascom Holding AG, the Aachen-based company has grown rapidly. Axinos best-in-class EAM and ESM solutions and consulting services are used by Top-Five companies in Europe to enhance productivity and optimize business efficiencies. The companys innovative solutions include platforms and modular software solutions integrate easily and cost effectively with Axinos technology partners products, such as those from BMC, IBM and SAP. Axino also provides OSS/BSS solutions development and systems integration services to telecommunications companies worldwide. Its award-winning solutions are used by many global carriers to automate and optimize network efficiency and business processes. Since 2011, CodeNow has been at the forefront of the coding movement. Working with underrepresented teens in major cities across the US, CodeNow has brought essential skills to the upcoming generations of would-be coders. Today, CodeNow announced that Neal Sales-Griffin, co-founder of Starter League, has joined the team as incoming CEO, signaling a new era for the organization as well as for the learn to code movement overall. CodeNow will expand its reach and impact by incorporating design thinking and product management with its current coding-focused curriculum. In October, former Starter League co-founder Mike McGee will join as Director of Programs. As one of the earliest pioneers in the learn-to-code movement, CodeNow saw a need for underrepresented teens to have access to crucial programming skills that their schools and communities werent able to provide at that time, said Neal Sales-Griffin, incoming CEO. The space has, thankfully, grown and now students arent just hungry to learn how to code. We want to give them the companion skills that go with coding: how to answer challenges with design, and how to effectively manage the development of their product. Our goal in the new era of CodeNow is to bring what we learned from The Starter League to a new generation of coders so that they are able to succeed in ways theyd never imagined before. Currently, CodeNow offers hands-on workshops to underrepresented students with a curriculum that provides a core understanding of computer science fundamentals. As part of its CodeNow in a Box program, tech companies provide training space and volunteers, typically engineers who are themselves eager to share their knowledge and experience in programming. Partners for 2016 have included Adobe, Bloomberg, Infor, Infosys USA Foundation, Symantec and Visa. Previous partners include HP, Cisco and Salesforce. Beginning in January 2017, CodeNow will shift its model to a four-phase program that combines coding with design thinking and product management. The new model will maintain CodeNows proven project-based workshops while adding exciting new elements that allow students to collaborate and compete outside the workshops. When I started CodeNow in 2011, people were just starting to notice that kids werent getting enough coding education, said CodeNow founder and CEO Ryan Seashore. Now, its amazing to see that coding has become so much more mainstream. Its time to take it to the next level, which means continuing to give kids the how to code through workshops and trainings, while also introducing them to the why through exposure to design-thinking and product management. This is where the coding space needs to go, and Neals experience with The Starter League has given him the exact skill set and experience to transform CodeNow so that we can once again anticipate what the programmers of the future will need to succeed. Since 2011, CodeNow has been at the forefront of the coding movement. Working with underrepresented teens in major cities across the US - including New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC - CodeNow has brought essential skills to the upcoming generations of would-be coders. The nonprofit has taught nearly 1,900 students about coding, with 76 percent of its alumni on free- or reduced lunch programs. Nearly half of its alumni are female, and 89 percent of alumni have expressed interest in studying coding-related degrees in college. The organization has workshops slated through the end of the year in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. Students will continue to learn the current coding-focused curriculum over two-part hands-on workshops at in Palo Alto, San Francisco, and New York City. Sales-Griffin will take full responsibilities as CEO on November 1, 2016. Seashore will remain involved as Chairman of the Board. About Neal Sales-Griffin Neal Sales-Griffin has worked and consulted with numerous startups and not-for-profits across multiple sectors. He is the co-founder and CEO of The Starter League, a beginner web design and development school in Chicago where hes helped teach more than 1,500 students software development and entrepreneurship since 2011. Earlier this year, the Starter League was acquired by fellow software school and Y Combinator-backed Fullstack Academy in New York. Neal has had the privilege of working with OCA Ventures and Sandbox Industries, two prominent venture firms in Chicago. He earned a Bachelors of Science from the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University in Learning and Organizational Change in 2009. He is currently teaching engineering entrepreneurship through Northwestern Universitys Farley Center For Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the McCormick School of Engineering. About CodeNow Founded in 2011, CodeNow is a nonprofit organization that provides computer programming workshops for underrepresented youth through hands-on project-based learning, as well as their online video series, #CodeHow. They are recipients of grants from the Bloomberg Foundation, Adobe, Infor, Symantec, New School Venture Fund, and previously Cisco, HP, Salesforce and the Knight Foundation. CodeNow graduated from YCombinator in 2014. They have been featured in TechCrunch, Fast Company, Business Insider, Wall Street Journal, and others. To learn more, visit http://www.codenow.org. Twitter: @codenow Facbeook: https://www.facebook.com/CodeNow Instagram: @codenow Columbus, Ohio coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is working to establish direct-trade relationships with smallholder coffee farmers in Papua New Guinea. Coffee Sourcing and Education Manager Brandon Bir, a licensed Q Grader, recently spent several days cupping coffee and exploring coffee-growing areas of the nation in the southwest Pacific, which occupies the eastern half of New Guinea, the worlds second-largest island. Every coffee-growing country has a different culture, but PNG is unique. Small coffee farmers are extremely independent, making achieving transparency difficult, Bir said. Our goal was to visit farmers, gain a better understanding of how they produce and export coffee and establish direct-trade relationships. Including a connection through Australia, it took Bir nearly a full work week to travel from Crimson Cups headquarters in Columbus, Ohio to Port Moresby, the countrys capital. From the capital, he flew into Goroka, a central highlands city that is the capital of PNGs Eastern Province. In Goroka, he met up with a local coffee exporter and Brian Kuglame, general manager of the AAK Brothers Umbrella Cooperative. AAK is a central organization tying together three coops across the Western and Eastern Highlands. The name for each individual cooperative Apo, Anga and Konga is taken from a word meaning brother in the local language. As Bir learned, there are more than 850 local Papuan languages. We immediately cupped some coffees at a local exporters office, Bir said. He also learned about PNG culture and how he should approach visits into the jungle to meet with coffee farmers. Over the next two days, he traveled to meet coffee farmers from the Goroka region. It was completely different from any place Ive ever been to because of the tribal mentality, he recalled. The people were awesome! They greeted us in traditional garb and loaded us down with gifts of bananas, sugar cane and other fruits and vegetables when we left. Although they had Internet and a lot of modern amenities, their culture has retained much of its history and heritage, which made the visit doubly interesting. After visiting several farmers and collectors who gather and process coffee beans from individual farms, Bir returned to the exporters office, where coffee samples collected on the trip were roasted. We performed a cupping the last day we were there, Bir said. I learned a lot about the grading system in PNG and how it can relate to the quality of the cup. Before leaving, Bir conveyed Crimson Cup's commitment to purchase coffee from the co-op through its Friend2Farmer direct trade program. Our goal is to strengthen our relationship with the farmers and AAK and enhance their efforts to increase the quality of their coffee. he said. When Crimson Cup receives the coffee in 2017, it will be used in the roasters signature blends. Crimson Cup developed its Friend2Farmer direct trade program to ensure that farmers receive a fair share of proceeds from coffee sales. It pays an above-market premium to farmers, who can then invest in agricultural and community improvements. Crimson Cup coffee experts also collaborate with farmers on ways to improve the quality of the coffee and quality of live for farmers, workers and their communities. About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea Columbus, Ohio coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year. Since 1991, Crimson Cup has roasted sustainably sourced specialty and craft coffee in small batches. The company also teaches entrepreneurs to run successful coffee houses through its coffee franchise alternative program, which includes a coffee shop business plan. Crimson Cup coffee is available through a community of more than 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 29 states, Guam and Bangladesh, as well as the companys own Crimson Cup Coffee Houses. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com Brian Connelly | Director of Business Development My goal is to capitalize on my experience at LinkedIn with audience targeting, messaging and strategy to maximize ROI for our clients. Converge Consulting has added former LinkedIn higher education account executive, Brian Connelly, to its team of digital marketing experts. Connelly joins the company as Director of Business Development, bringing more than a decade of experience in higher education marketing. Brian is joining us at a pivotal time in our companys growth, said Ann Oleson, CEO and Founder. His knowledge of the higher education market and digital-first approach will help our clients achieve their goals. With nearly 20 years of experience, Connellys career spans nationally recognized companies and digital agencies like McCann Erickson, EducationDynamics and LinkedIn. He began his career working on blue chip client accounts including General Motors and Sprint with McCann Erickson. His passion for results-driven marketing then led him to EducationDynamics, where he partnered with more than 200 colleges and universities to recruit students for online, traditional and non-traditional adult programs. In 2015, LinkedIn enlisted Connelly to build a foundation for its education market. His client roster includes nationally ranked institutions like Tulane University, Georgetown University and the University of Miami, among others. Connelly earned his bachelors degree from Wagner College and holds a certification in LinkedIns Marketing Solutions. His first task is leveraging his vast expertise in higher education marketing to expand Converges business development team and build new strategic partnerships with direct clients. He is eager to lead the charge for business growth and development at Converge. I am passionate about bridging the gap between students and great schools, said Connelly. My goal is to capitalize on my experience at LinkedIn with audience targeting, messaging and strategy to maximize ROI for our clients. Converge Consulting is an Inc. 500 digital agency for higher education with offices in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Converge uses what is new and next in digital marketing to positively impact student recruitment and alumni engagement for colleges and universities around the world. Percepto and Orange Silicon Valley are taking their drones to new heights with Jetson, highlighting the strength and flexibility of our embedded technology," said Deepu Talla, vice president and general manager of the Tegra business at NVIDIA Percepto will demonstrate its advanced computer vision capabilities for autonomous drones using 4G/LTE connectivity at Orange Silicon Valleys Drones Connected Conference. Using the NVIDIA Jetson TK1 embedded supercomputer, these drones can perform autonomous functions beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS), including real-time object identification, target tracking and structural inspections. Machine vision and data from other onboard sensors also enable autonomous collision detection and avoidance. The 4G/LTE solution is available in PerceptoCore, Perceptos computer vision module, first demonstrated at the GPU Technology Conference in April. Working with Orange Silicon Valley, the Silicon Valley Business Innovation Center of global telecommunications operator, Orange, Percepto will integrate high-broadband mobile connectivity with embedded computer vision to validate the performance and capabilities of connected AI-powered drones in various flight scenarios. The project will enable commercial drones to connect to a 4G/LTE network to handle long distance security, safety and inspection tasks autonomously. Communications, flight and mission control, and video streaming will be always on. The team is also in the process of upgrading to the NVIDIA Jetson TX1 to embed the 4G/LTE module for faster inference capability based on real-time sensor fusion data. The Jetson platform brings supercomputer performance for deep learning and computer vision to battery operated autonomous machines and intelligent devices, said Deepu Talla, vice president and general manager of the Tegra business at NVIDIA. Percepto and Orange Silicon Valley are taking their drones to new heights with Jetson, highlighting the strength and flexibility of our embedded technology. Adding 4G/LTE communications to our onsite, multi-mission drone solution solves long-range communication and control challenges that many of our clients face, said Dor Abuhasira, CEO of Percepto. Autonomous commercial drones need access to live video and an analyzed data feed. This solution provides high-quality, always-on drone communication, enabling more inspections and surveillance applications at a fraction of the cost. Sofrecom, an Orange subsidiary, is one of the worlds leading specialists in telecommunications consultancy and engineering, and is exploring how companies could use these technologies, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. With state of the art artificial intelligence technology and high-speed mobile connectivity, we envision a future where a network of autonomous unmanned systems can perform complex functions with minimal supervision, says Jacques Moulin, CEO of Sofrecom. This has the potential to significantly reduce the operational costs of our customers and partners, particularly in the EMEA region. Reliable low latency connectivity across assets will be one of the key enablers for mission robustness for unmanned systems. For more information, visit Perceptos website at http://www.percepto.co or contact Percepto at media(at)percepto(dot)co About Percepto Percepto develops on-site, multi mission drone solutions for commercial use. Perceptos technologies and applications enable drones to conduct security, safety and inspection tasks fully autonomously. Percepto also offers high computing modules for small UAVs, vision applications for different commercial uses, and a software system that can manage the drone remotely. About Orange Orange is one of the worlds leading telecommunications operators with sales of 40 billion euros in 2015 and 154,000 employees worldwide at 30 June 2016, including 96,000 employees in France. Present in 29 countries, the Group has a total customer base of 250 million customers worldwide at 30 June 2016, including 189 million mobile customers and 18 million fixed broadband customers. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In March 2015, the Group presented its new strategic plan Essentials2020 which places customer experience at the heart of its strategy with the aim of allowing them to benefit fully from the digital universe and the power of its new generation networks. Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN). For more information on the internet and on your mobile: http://www.orange.com, http://www.orange-business.com, http://www.livetv.orange.com or to follow us on Twitter: @orangegrouppr. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited. About Sofrecom Sofrecom, an Orange subsidiary, has developed over 50 years a unique know-how about operator businesses, making it a world leading specialist in telecommunications consultancy and engineering. Its experience of mature and emerging markets, combined with its deep understanding of the structural changes affecting the telecoms market make it a valued partner for operators, governments and regulators. Sofrecom offers its expertise in Business Consulting, Networks and Services and IT, to carry out strategic projects: digital transformation, innovation and development. Sofrecom is a human and powerful network of know-how which binds its personnel to its customers, Orange experts, industrial and local partners. http://www.sofrecom.com The Nobel Sustainability Trust (NST) is leading a major new initiative to finance, incubate and accelerate the development of clean technologies. The initiative will start with the formation of the Nobel Sustainability Fund (NSF). NSF will drive faster access to funding for the development and deployment of clean technologies. Earth Capital Partners LLP (ECP) has been selected by NST to launch and manage the Fund. The fund will be seeded by the Government of Monaco, which will be joined by other governments, corporations and prominent individuals, such as Stephen Lansdown. The collaboration demonstrates further the commitment of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II to achieve a more resource efficient world. His commitment and vision is perfectly aligned with NSTs; that of a world in which alternative, renewable and sustainable energy sources will be available to all members of society; where innovation driven solutions have been found and implemented successfully to meet both present and future needs whilst avoiding environmental threats. The Nobel Sustainability Trust is a Nobel family initiative to encourage the research, development and implementation of products and procedures within the field of renewable and sustainable energy. It was formed in 2011 and is chaired by Professor Michael Nobel. The Nobel Sustainability Fund a multi- phase, multi- geography fund, will be headed by Gordon Power of SET3 and ECP. ECP is an established, London based business, which focuses on investment and asset management in renewable energy and sustainability. ECP is a member of the SET3 platform of highly skilled local investment management teams located in the key regions where NSF will be deployed. NSF will invest across the cleantech and sustainable technology sectors, accelerating companies for growth, expansion and acquisition. The strategy of the Fund is to deliver attractive risk return characteristics and low correlation to both traditional and alternative investments. Target investors will include sovereign wealth funds, institutions, foundations and others; each should respond positively to ECPs focus on sustainability, which is embedded in the groups culture and values. The Nobel family legacy includes outstanding contributions to philanthropy and the development of some of todays great industries. Its foremost members are Immanuel Nobel the inventor of the rotary lathe, Ludvig Nobel, the founder of Branobel and Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who left the major part of his estate to the creation of the Nobel Prizes. Comments H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco: It is essential to ensure energy security for developing nations and to promote mitigation of environmental impacts. It is also a major challenge for developed nations, seeking to maintain current living standards, to minimise climate impact on future generations. Professor Michael Nobel, commented: The Family traditions of innovation, smart business and philanthropy find their best expression in this new initiative where we collaborate with leaders around the world to promote innovation and to reward excellence. Stephen Lansdown, Chairman of SET3: Society must address the basic needs of all people in all parts of the world. Resource efficiency, particularly in regard to energy, is fundamental. I am delighted to support this initiative, believing strongly that combinations of financial excellence and sustainability expertise are the only way to build businesses of the future. NSF will deliver better businesses faster and with attractive returns for stakeholders. Mungo Park, Chairman of Innovator Capital, a major contributor from the outset of this initiative: Sustainable technology research and development will raise awareness of the crucial role innovation plays in the mitigation of environmental impacts. We, at Innovator Capital, look forward to collaborating with NST and NSF on CleanEquity Monaco and multiple other fronts. Spokespeople Professor Michael Nobel - Nobel Sustainability Trust Stephen Lansdown - Chairman, SET3 Mungo Park - Chairman, Innovator Capital Ben Cotton - External Relations, ECP Core subjects for press comment: Sustainable investment The environment & climate change Press Contact Ben Cotton: + 44 7808 167474, ben.cotton[at]earthcp.com Bluetick will present How Bluetick Remote Monitoring and Control Automation Solutions are Solving HSE Issues at the STEPS of PAs conference on Sept. 28 at Slippery Rock University. The STEPS of PA, a not-for-profit network of health, safety and environmental professionals, assists oil and gas industry service companies throughout the Pennsylvania region. Their Incident-Free Operations vision aims to ensure all operations within the commonwealth of PA operate with the highest level of integrity at all times by working closely with the local Occupational Safety and Health Administration office. Bluetick provides remote monitoring for production data, reporting and more. Their vision is to provide solutions with measurable value for customers with unwavering support. Bluetick Remote Monitoring and Control (RMC) helps operators optimize oil and gas production, enhance compliance and safety and improve workforce efficiency. Key Benefits Accurate Production Data and EPA reporting via remote monitoring with configurable reports and trends Remote shut-in reduces the risk of costly spills Data collection and analysis deters equipment failure and extends equipment life by early detection of anomalies Real-time data maximizes recovery by avoiding equipment failures and drives efficiency SMS alerts, voice callouts and emails improve the response time to a field issue and maintain operational uptime Leverage existing hardware to minimize Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) Reduce the need for additional personnel and infrastructure expenses Information available 24/7 from anywhere in the world About the Company: Bluetick Inc. provides remote monitoring and control automation solutions to the midstream and upstream oil and gas marketplace. Blueticks Remote Monitoring and Control (RMC) system solutions helps operators optimize oil and gas production, enhance environmental compliance and safety, and increase workforce performance. Blueticks Land Management System (LMS) software automates the entire lifecycle of permit, lease, and ROW acquisition projects, including land records administration and complete GIS mapping interface. For more information please visit our website http://www.bluetickinc.com. TitleVest, a member of the First American family of companies and leading provider of title insurance and related real estate services, has earned New York Law Journals Best Title Agency award for the fourth year in a row. TitleVest was named the best of the best, as determined by the seventh annual New York Law Journal Reader Rankings survey. TitleVest is thrilled to maintain its place on the New York Law Journal Reader Rankings. Earning the Best Title Agency honor for four consecutive years is a testament to TitleVests commitment to superior service and innovative technology. We share these core values with our parent company, First American, and they have helped make TitleVest one of the nation's leading providers of title insurance and related real estate services, said Brian D. Tormey, president of TitleVest. TitleVests team of 150 attorneys, title professionals and support staff, along with the companys technology and proprietary web-based tools, allow the company to provide a level of service that is unique in the title industry. To learn more, visit http://www.titlevest.com. To read what clients have to say, visit http://www.titlevest.com/testimonials. About TitleVest Founded in 2000, TitleVest (http://www.titlevest.com) is a leading New York City-based title insurance agency and member of the First American (NYSE: FAF) family of companies, offering a full range of title insurance and related services for real estate property purchase and refinance transactions. TitleVest has earned the New York Law Journals Best Title Agency award in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, as determined by its annual Reader Rankings survey. About New York Law Journal Reader Rankings Published since 2010, the New York Law Journal Reader Rankings feature is celebrating its seventh year of providing the New York legal community the opportunity to acknowledge who they believe to be the best providers of products and services to their market. This year, the results of the Reader Rankings were released on September 21. New York Law Journals 2016 Reader Rankings ballot consisted of more than 100 categories ranging from technology to insurance to education, recruiting and staffing. Voters had the option of selecting firms listed on the ballot or writing in their favorite firm, if not listed. Once voting was closed, the New York Law Journal team verified that all those who cast votes were lawyers or legal professionals. Votes from anyone who could not be verified as lawyers or legal professionals were discounted, as were votes from competing vendor firms. About First American First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF) is a leading provider of title insurance, settlement services and risk solutions for real estate transactions that traces its heritage back to 1889. First American also provides title plant management services; title and other real property records and images; valuation products and services; home warranty products; property and casualty insurance; and banking, trust and investment advisory services. With revenues of $5.2 billion in 2015, the company offers its products and services directly and through its agents throughout the United States and abroad. More information about the company can be found at http://www.firstam.com. John F. Kennedy University and the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC) announce the launch of a fully-online bilingual Leadership Certificate Program, starting this month, to support emerging leaders in the business sector. With an estimated 800,000 Hispanic business owners in the state, the collaboration builds on JFK Universitys expertise educating a diverse population of adult learners, including entrepreneurs, with the Chambers mission to support and encourage the advancement and development of Hispanic and minority-owned businesses. We are extremely pleased to be partnering with JFK University to expand statewide access to our members through the Leadership Certificate Program, said Frank Montes, Chair of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Board of Directors. The concepts featured in this program will be of great value to our members in supporting the growth and success of Hispanic-owned and managed businesses, which in turn contributes greatly to our states economy. Through the special agreement, the Leadership Certificate Program will launch Sept. 30, for CHCC members and CHCC affiliates. The initiative, which also involves the collaboration of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Foundation, will be unveiled during the 37th Annual CHCC Convention in Riverside CA, September 21st to 23rd. Innovation Starts Here is the theme of the three day convention with a focus on new innovations sparking the creativity of entrepreneurs throughout California, technologies transforming industries, and recognize Hispanic millennials and Latinas who are forging their own paths in business. For additional information on the Leadership Certificate Program: http://www.jfku.edu/chcc The CHCC promotes, supports and encourages the advancement and development of Hispanic and minority-owned businesses through a variety of programs. While the CHCC has offered a leadership program to members in the past, this is the first time it has partnered with an academic institution to offer a comprehensive certificate program. The program is completely online, in English and Spanish, with relevant coursework aligned with CHCC goals that incorporates the academic criteria of JFK University, which has its own Institute of Entrepreneurial Leadership. We are so pleased to be collaborating with the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce to help advance the training of a new generation of business leaders that will contribute greatly to our states economic success, said JFK University President Debra Bean. This program allows us to positively impact even more students by sharing our expertise and experience in preparing students of diverse backgrounds, working with entrepreneurs, and serving the needs of adult learners. The collaboration between the CHCC and JFK University is a natural fit. JFK University, a designated Hispanic Serving Institution, has been a leader in offering courses for working adults in California, and has extensive experience providing courses online and at its three campus locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. The University recently opened an Undergraduate Student Success Center, the result of a U.S. Department of Education grant to support the ongoing academic success and of Hispanic and underserved students. Since launching in 2011, the Universitys Institute of Entrepreneurial Leadership has helped over 200 Entrepreneurs to collectively create or grow businesses that have generated nearly $1.7 billion in revenues and are employing over 4,000 people in 2015. For participants wishing to continue studies after the certificate program, the Universitys Institute of Entrepreneurial Leadership offers additional opportunities. JFK Universitys Division of Continuing Education has customized the Leadership Certificate Program to promote access to quality education that is available to the Chambers members at their convenience through interactive-self-paced online courses, said Jack Paduntin, JFK Universitys VP of Academic Initiatives. We also offer a range of programs through our Institute that can enhance even further their ongoing education. In partnership with the CHCC, enrollment for the 11-course self-paced online program begins Sept. 21, with courses starting Sept. 30. The program, which is offered in both English and Spanish, provides a comprehensive focus on strategic planning, entrepreneurship, marketing and communications and other key business leadership skills. About CHCC The California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC) has a network of over 45 Hispanic chambers and business associations throughout the State of California. Through its network of Hispanic chambers and business associations, the CHCC represents the interest of over 800,000 Hispanic business owners in California. The CHCC is the premier and largest regional ethnic business organization in the nation that promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and Californias Emerging Businesses. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.cahcc.com. About John F. Kennedy University For over 50 years, John F. Kennedy University, a non-profit affiliate of the National University System, has offered undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs that prepare individuals for career success while also engaging the student in personal growth through a commitment to service. Today, the Universitys three Colleges provide innovative higher education opportunities to 1,200 professionals who, despite a full range of life responsibilities, are determined to advance their education and improve their future. The Continuing Education division provides professional development education to more than 2,500 individuals per year. A pioneer of education that integrates theory and practice, John F. Kennedy University and its students touch the lives of more than 30,000 people in Bay Area communities every year through their support of outreach centers and public programs. For more information, visit http://www.jfku.edu. Where digital leaders are heading: Omnidirectional The winners in this new playing field will likely be large full-service institutions, mutual funds companies, and trusted names in wealth management. Over the next five years, the global wealth landscape and investment industry will undergo profound change, according to research released today by Roubini ThoughtLab, a thought leadership firm. These shifts will unlock tremendous global wealth but also raise investor expectations for new advisory and digital solutions that some investment providers are not yet prepared to offer. If their new needs are not met, 48% of investors are willing to switch providers. The new report, Wealth and Asset Management 2021, is based on a survey of 2,000 investors and 500 investment providers across 10 major wealth markets, in-depth interviews, and economic modeling led by noted economist Dr. Nouriel Roubini. The study was produced in conjunction with a diverse coalition of sponsors, including Bank of Montreal, Broadridge Financial Solutions, CFA Institute, Cisco, eToro, Schroders, SEI, and State Street. The Changing Investor Landscape The Roubini analysis foresees huge wealth creation across changing investor demographics over the next five years: Household assets will rise $89 trillion in 25 top markets, with the biggest gains coming from emerging markets, such as China, Mexico, and Poland. More than $50 trillion in investment will flow into the wealth industry from the rise in household assets in these markets alone, increasing the pool of investors. Millennials, Gen X, women, and emerging market investors will see their wealth climb and their investments grow. Even those with small savings will invest more thanks to greater market access through technology. The Technology Gap - Wealth Management Firms Fall Short Changing demographics and digital usage will transform client expectations over the next five years, faster than some wealth providers can cope: Investors will expect more from wealth providers, including more customized solutions (72%), access to wider investment options (64%), greater cybersecurity (63%), and the use of the latest technology (62%). They will also demand more from personal wealth advisors: responsive 24x7 service (51%), advice that delivers high returns (40%), digital proficiency (37%), broader financial and life-planning advice (36%), and lower fees (35%). While wealth providers are moving fast to adapt, some are not as prepared as their clients think. For example, 63% of investors believe their providers are prepared to ensure cybersecurity, versus 48% of providers who say they are. Similarly, 64% of investors think their investment providers can offer options across asset classes and global markets, but 47% of firms say they are prepared to do so. The digital imperative is not just from millennials and the mass affluent, but from across generations and wealth levels. For example, forty-one percent of millennials expect to use anytime, any device access over the next five years, but 49% of Gen X and 50% of baby boomers expect to do the same. Similarly, 54% of ultra-high-net-worth investors want their investment providers to use the latest digital technology, versus 39% for the mass affluent. The Winners: Large Institutions, Trusted Brands and Digital Leaders The research also shows that financial technology will disrupt the industry from within. Unlike other industries, such as retail, which experienced external disruption from digital startups such as Amazon and eBay, fintech solutions will become widely adopted by incumbents with trusted brands. The winners in this new playing field will likely be large full-service institutions, mutual funds companies, and trusted names in wealth management, said Lou Celi, CEO of Roubini ThoughtLab and the Program Director. These organizations may be better equipped to meet the rising demand for specialized expertise, responsive 24x7 service, and wider investment and financial services. Key findings from the research show that: A top priority of 59% of investment providers is to build, partner or acquire fintech capabilities. This product strategy will resonate with investors: 37% said they would only work with a fintech associated with a trusted brand, and 45% said that fintech solutions can be very valuable when used with traditional investment services. To stay competitive, most wealth firms are developing new digital capabilities, such as anytime, anywhere, any device access (55%), omnichannel customer experiences (48%), technology-enabled planning tools (45%) and improved performance analytics (41%). Universal banks and mutual fund firms are more digitally advanced than other providers. More than two-thirds of these organizations have already set up in-house teams and incubators to drive digital transformation. They are also ahead in setting a digital vision and adapting products and business models, aligning the front, middle and back offices, and ensuring close coordination between IT and business units. Smarter technologies will set wealth management firms apart. With SMAC technologies (social, mobile, analytics, and cloud) now becoming table stakes, in the future wealth firms will target smart technologies that can provide greater differentiation. These include virtual reality (set to grow 130%), artificial intelligence (128%), web analytics and sentiment analysis (77%), telepresence and web collaboration (68%), and Blockchain (43%). Wealth Industry to Completely Transform by 2021 The research indicates that wealth companies will transform their strategies, products, and business models to become fully integrated, digitally driven businesses by 2021. Digital leaders firms in advanced stages of digital transformation report that last year they increased assets under management by 7.2%, profitability 6.8% and productivity by 9.4% through the use of technology. The ultimate goal for these firms is to become omniproviders, able to serve customers seamlessly across all channels. By 2021, 57% of digital leaders surveyed plan to be fully integrated omniproviders. Crucially, the research reveals five key pathways to success used by todays digital leaders: invest adequately in new technologies (41%), make the customer central (37%), nurture an innovation culture (33%), develop an effective transformation process (32%), and bring the right talent on board (31%). Even in normal times, wealth executives face a complex set of global economic, market and regulatory challenges. But, these are hardly normal times, says Lou Celi. Many investment providers in our survey do not appreciate just how fast these changes will happenand the profound impact they will have on their business. The executive briefing and full white paper can be downloaded at http://www.roubinithoughtlab.com/wealth2021 (requires email). About Roubini ThoughtLab Roubini ThoughtLab is a trend-setting thought leadership consultancy providing fresh management thinking and decision support to help business and government leaders cope with transformative change. By applying the latest analytical tools, predictive models, and expert opinion, we provide actionable insight into future megatrends and their impact on the world. We specialize in creating 360 thought leadership that sits at the intersection of visionary thinking, analytical insights, and cross-media outreach. An agile, collaborative enterprise, Roubini ThoughtLab draws on the diverse skills of its in-house team, global expert network, and alliance partners to fill any or all thought leadership needsfrom surveys, interviews, and advisory boards, to analytical tools, indexes and econometric models, to white papers, social media, and infographics. Roubini ThoughtLab is a joint venture with Econsult Solutions, a leading economic consultancy with links to academia. It was founded in 2015 by noted economist Dr. Nouriel Roubini and Lou Celi, a pioneer in thought leadership and digital publishing. For more information on Roubini ThoughtLab, please visit http://www.RoubiniThoughtLab.com. For further information, contact: Barry Rutizer Commercial Director Phone: 917-251-4190 Email: barryrutizer(at)roubinithoughtlab(dot)com Lou Celi Chief Executive Phone: 917-459-4614 Email: louceli(at)roubinithoughtlab(dot)com About Bank of Montreal Established in 1817, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified financial services provider based in North America. With total assets of $692 billion as of July 31, 2016 and over 46,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets. For more information, visit http://www.bmo.com. About Broadridge Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., is the leading provider of investor communications and technology-driven solutions for broker-dealers, banks, mutual funds and other corporations globally. Broadridge's investor and customer communications, securities processing and managed services solutions help clients reduce their capital investments in operations infrastructure, allowing them to increase their focus on core business activities. With over 50 years of experience, Broadridge's infrastructure underpins proxy voting services for over 90% of public companies and mutual funds in North America, and processes on average $5 trillion in equity and fixed income trades per day. Broadridge employs approximately 10,000 associates in 14 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.broadridge.com or contact Brett Philbin, + 1 212 704 8263, Brett.philbin(at)edelman(dot)com. About Cisco Cisco is the worldwide leader in IT that helps companies seize the opportunities of tomorrow by proving that amazing things can happen when you connect the previously unconnected. For ongoing news, please go to http://thenetwork.cisco.com. For more information, please contact Kristen Palazzolo, +1 408 525 7974, krpalazz(at)cisco(dot)com. About SEI SEI is a leading global provider of investment processing, investment management, and investment operations solutions that help corporations, financial institutions, financial advisors, and ultra-high-net-worth families create and manage wealth. As of June 30, 2016, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI manages or administers $707 billion in mutual fund and pooled or separately managed assets, including $269 billion in assets under management and $438 billion in client assets under administration. For more information, visit seic.com, or contact Dana Grosser, +1 610 676 2459, dgrosser(at)seic(dot)com. About CFA Institute CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has over 147,000 members in 158 countries and territories, including 140,000 CFA charterholders, and 147 member societies. For more information, visit http://www.cfainstitute.org, or contact Robert Dannhauser, +1 212 705 1723, bob.dannhauser(at)cfainstitute(dot)org. About eToro eToro is the worlds leading online social trading network, with over 5 million registered members from 140 different countries and thousands of new accounts opened each day. eToros mission is to revolutionise the way people access the financial markets and make their trading experience more social, simple, enjoyable and transparent. A global social platform, it allows members to communicate, copy and follow each other to harness the wisdom and success of others. The community element is the first of its kind, making trading transparent and open, unlike traditional solitary trading platforms. eToro is regulated by both CySEC in Cyprus and the FCA in the UK. For media information, visit https://www.etoro.com/, or contact Joey Ng, +44 207 973 5941, Joey.ng(at)hkstrategies(dot)com. About Schroders plc Schroders is a global asset management company with 343.8 billion (413.7 billion/US$459.6 billion) assets under management as at 30 June 2016. Our clients are major financial institutions including pension funds, banks and insurance companies, local and public authorities, governments, charities, high net worth individuals and retail investors. With one of the largest networks of offices of any dedicated asset management company, we operate from 37 offices in 27 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Middle East and Africa. Schroders has developed under stable ownership for over 200 years and long-term thinking governs our approach to investing, building client relationships and growing our business. Further information about Schroders can be found at http://www.schroders.com. About State Street State Street Corporation is one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors, including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $28 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $2 trillion* in assets under management as of June 30, 2016, State Street operates in more than 100 geographic markets worldwide, including the US, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For more information, visit State Streets website at http://www.statestreet.com/, or contact Lauren Willington, +44 20 3395 6701, Lauren.willington(at)statestreet(dot)com. Annie's Signature Designs -- Upscale Knit & Crochet Patterns for the Passionate Yarn Crafter The Autumn Bliss Collection will appeal to a wide audience of knitters and crocheters of varying skill, tastes and aesthetics. The patterns are practical, on-trend and timeless and will become the easy go-to item in every yarn crafter's closet. Annies Signature Designs has launched an upscale collection of 40+ on-trend knit and crochet patterns presented in visually stunning knit and crochet e-zine format Lookbooks for the passionate yarn crafter. Lead Designer Lena Skvagerson draws inspiration from her Scandinavian roots and more than 25 years of experience in the European yarn markets. With an intuitive sense of color and stitch pattern, she collaborated with a group of prolific designers to create the Autumn Bliss Collection of hand knitting and crochet patterns. The Collection patterns are presented in a cohesive, seasonal format, taking into account the yarn crafter's need for a coordinated group of patterns that fit within a pre-determined color story, making it easy for the knitter and crocheter to effortlessly mix and match pattern and yarn as they wish. Through my own experience and personal sense of style, I gather inspiration from all that I see around me. I intuitively know what will attract a wide audience of people with a variety of tastes and aesthetics. I can see how a collection of pieces fits into a womans wardrobe without being fussy or complicated, but rather clean and minimal. The designs I envision are timeless, just like my own sense of style," says Skvagerson. The selection of knit and crochet pattern designs include an eclectic mix of ponchos, scarves, hats, sweaters, cardigans, cowls and accessories mindfully paired with wool-blend yarns that result in gorgeous creations that knitters and crocheters will appreciate for their practical and timeless simplicity. We invite you to experience an adventure of color, texture, light and earth. Visit Annie's Signature Designs to preview the current collection of knit and crochet patterns and watch the 360-view videos. Follow @anniessignaturedesigns on Instagram, and share using the hashtags #AnniesSignatureDesigns and #AnniesAutumnBlissCollection About Annie's: Annie's Publishing is part of the third-generation Muselman family business headquartered in Berne, Ind., near Fort Wayne. Its productsincluding magazines, kits and supplies, books, online classes and TV programmingare targeted to home and family interests, including crafts, nostalgia and home decor. The Muselman business began in 1925 with the founding of Economy Printing Concern in Berne. EP Graphics, as it is known today, is still owned by the Muselman family. The fact that Ignite sold out so quickly this year is a testament to the immense interest in the Microsoft Cloud and continued growth of the community around it. Past News Releases RSS AvePoint Provides SharePoint... AvePoint Announces New Integrations... AvePoint Accelerates Government... AvePoint, the Microsoft Cloud expert, today announced it is a Platinum Sponsor of Microsoft Ignite 2016, taking place September 26-30, 2016, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. Throughout Ignite, AvePoint will showcase its latest solutions to accelerate the migration, management, and protection of Office 365 and SharePoint and data. Visit AvePoint Booth for New SharePoint and Office 365 Solutions Throughout Ignite, attendees can visit the AvePoint booth (#1104) to receive live demonstrations of AvePoints newest solutions and product previews for Office 365 and SharePoint. Migration: With the latest release of DocAve High Speed Migration for Office 365, organizations can move content from on-premises SharePoint, file shares, and LiveLink directly to SharePoint Online up to 10 times faster than conventional methods and twice as fast as previous releases. Featuring simplified and intuitive workflows for administrators, DocAve saves organizations time and money by automatically provisioning and de-provisioning the encrypted Azure storage required for high speed migration projects at no additional cost or effort. Management: With DocAve, the enterprise-class infrastructure management platform for SharePoint, and AvePoint Online Services, AvePoints 100 percent Microsoft Azure-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform for Office 365, organizations can simplify and centralize all of their management capabilities including administration, backup, data assurance, reporting, and storage optimization for on-premises, hybrid, and cloud-based SharePoint environments. New capabilities in AvePoint Online Services automate governance and lifecycle management of Office 365 Groups and users quickly provisioning and de-provisioning approved services for business users, saving time for administrators, and ensuring organizational policies are met. With the introduction of AvePoint Online Partner Services, AvePoint partners that provide managed services for Office 365 customers can better manage their clients deployments using AvePoint Online Services. The portal provides a single pane of glass for partners to manage all of their customers, alleviating the challenges of multiple logins and strengthening the services provided by AvePoint and its partners. Protection: AvePoint Compliance Guardian allows organizations to take a risk-based approach to protecting enterprise IT systems. With Compliance Guardian, organization can mitigate risk from the moment data is created through its entire lifecycle by proactive monitoring and neutralizing privacy and security violations. DocAve Governance Automation provides with access to a single governance system that allows businesses to easily manage the latest SharePoint versions under a centralized platform. Part of DocAve Administrator and the award-winning DocAve Software Platform, Policy Enforcer helps organizations rapidly respond to unauthorized modications to SharePoint congurations, security, and management. By continuously monitoring and taking action on SharePoint environments, DocAve Policy Enforcer ensures that all changes fall within an organizations dened governance policies. Speaking Sessions at Microsoft Ignite AvePoint subject matter experts will lead sessions throughout Ignite on relevant industry topics including: Dux Raymond Sy, Chief Technology Officer, AvePoint Public Sector o "Accelerate digital transformation success: how NBCU established SharePoint as an Enterprise Service" Sy and Charles Williams, Director of Strategy and Automation. NBC Universal, will present at 4-5:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 27 o "Use the right tools to achieve project management success" Sy and Mike McLean, Senior Program Manager, Microsoft, will present at 5:05-5:25 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 28 John Hodges, Vice President of Product Strategy o "So you found an Office 365 DLP violation now what?" 12:40-1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 28 Richard Taylor, Strategic Consultant o Dive into Microsoft Office 365 and SharePoint Hybrid Scenarios Taylor and Bill Baer, Senior Product Manager, Microsoft, will present at 2:15-2:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 27 Additional AvePoint Activities at Microsoft Ignite Throughout the event, AvePoints team of consultants will offer complimentary consultations on Office 365 and SharePoint migration and governance. Attendees can apply for a free consultation by visiting this site. From 9 p.m.-1 a.m. ET on Tuesday, September 27, 2016, AvePoint will take over Tongue & Groove for its iconic RED Party. Ignite attendees can gain entrance by picking up wristbands at the AvePoint booth prior to the event. Wristbands are subject to availability. Ignite attendees can also enter to win a Ducati Scrambler motorcycle, courtesy of AvePoint. The winner will be announced at 3:45 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 29 at booth #1104. The fact that Ignite sold out so quickly this year is a testament to the immense interest in the Microsoft Cloud and continued growth of the community around it, said Dr. Tianyi (TJ) Jiang, AvePoint Co-CEO and Co-Founder. Despite significant growth and rapid innovation from Microsoft, organizations are still facing a number of challenges in adopting the cloud. Throughout Ignite, AvePoint will show how were helping customers overcome these concerns with solutions that migrate, manage, and protect Office 365 and SharePoint data for more than 15,000 organizations and 5 million cloud users worldwide. About AvePoint AvePoint is the Microsoft Cloud expert. Over 15,000 companies and 5 million cloud users worldwide trust AvePoint to accelerate the migration, management, and protection of their Office 365 and SharePoint data. AvePoints integrated cloud, hybrid, and on-premises software solutions are enhanced by 24/7 support. AvePoint is a Microsoft Global ISV Partner and three-time Microsoft Partner of the Year Award winner. Founded in 2001, AvePoint is privately held and headquartered in Jersey City, NJ. All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners. There's no getting around the financial impact that a divorce has on all parties...When all of this is combined with the already mounting financial strains of job loss, or decreases to income, things become all the more stressful and challenging. The Census Bureau has reported a 5.2 percent increase in household income from 2014 to 2015, yet signs of a still sluggish economy and a lack of economic growth remain, and one oft-ignored impact of this on American couples and families is increased difficulty with divorce. Maryland divorce lawyer Brandon Bernstein of the Law offices of Brandon Bernstein is by responding by offering a free consultation to prospective clients who are potentially facing both bankruptcy and divorce. This will individuals explore potential solutions, while discussing courses of action, and offering more insight into the financial impact and outcomes of divorce proceedings. "There's no getting around the financial impact that a divorce has on all parties," says Brandon Bernstein, Esq., a three-time Maryland Super Lawyers Rising Star winner. "This is particularly true for couples with children, and those with substantial combined assets and interests. When all of this is combined with the already mounting financial strains or burdens of job loss, or decreases to income, things become all the more stressful and challenging." In certain circumstances, couples have decided to stay together simply because they could not afford to go through with a divorce. For instance, neither party would have been able to continue affording the house on his or her own, and in tandem with that, stagnant or declining home prices left less value in the property than anticipated, and perhaps led to the home being underwater. Other couples have decided to forgo potentially expensive attorney fees by handling divorce matters themselves. However, this often only leads to increased difficulties, as important matters are bypassed, overlooked, or handled ineffectively. Working with an experienced family law attorney is always recommended to produce the best possible outcome. It's also the surest path to avoid as many pitfalls and headaches of the process, particularly when financial issues are of primary concern. Contrary to popular opinion, hiring an attorney does not mean that the process has to be combative either. As an example, divorce mediation often produces favorable results that both parties are happy with. Individuals facing major financial problems in tandem with divorce are encouraged to visit BrandonBernsteinLaw.com for more information, or to schedule a special free consultation by calling the office at 240.395.1418. About the Law Offices of Brandon Bernstein, LLC The Law Offices of Brandon Bernstein, LLC is located in downtown Bethesda, and serves clients throughout the state as a divorce attorney in Maryland, covering a broad range of family law matters, and aggressively protecting the best interests of his clients at all times. He has been named a Maryland Rising Star by Super Lawyers for three consecutive years. The core pillars of his practice are Integrity, Experience, and Results. For a free attorney consultation, prospective clients can visit his website at BrandonBernsteinLaw.com, or call the office directly at 240.395.1418. Mark is a former field paramedic and recognized EMS leader with more than 30 years of experience in the health care industry, -Alex Christgen, Executive Director of CPS The Center for Patient Safety (CPS) announced that Mark Alexander, Administrative Director of Pre-Hospital Services for CoxHealth in Springfield, MO, was appointed to the organizations board of directors. Mark is a former field paramedic and recognized EMS leader with more than 30 years of experience in the health care industry, said Alex Christgen, Executive Director of CPS. He brings a dynamic perspective to patient safety and we are delighted that he is joining CPS board of directors. As Administrative Director of Pre-Hospital Services, Mr. Alexander provides financial and operational oversight of the Emergency Medical System owned by CoxHealth. The system provides emergency and non-emergency medical response, care, and transportation for six counties. A past president of the Missouri Ambulance Association and a past president of the West Missouri Critical Incident Response Team, he currently serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Missouri Emergency Service Agency Corporation (MoEMSAC) and board member of the Missouri Ambulance Association. Additionally, Mr. Alexander is a Just Culture instructor and has taught more than 500 students. Mark has been an outstanding contributor to safety awareness in EMS, said Lee Varner, Patient Safety Director for CPS. His experiences in culture improvement make him an asset to the CPS board of directors. About CPS: The Center for Patient Safety is a non-profit organization located in Jefferson City, Mo. whose primary service offering is creative and innovative solutions to improve patient safety. CPS was established in 2005 and was one of the first PSOs in the nation. It conducts patient safety improvement consulting, educating, and supporting services to hospitals, home care, nursing homes, EMS, ASCs, medical offices, and pharmacies across the United States. Find the Center for Patient Safety on Facebook and Twitter @PtSafetyExpert. # # # For more information about PSO and safety culture services, contact the Center for Patient Safety at info(at)centerforpatientsafety(dot)org. This year at Luxe Pack 2016, DuPonts The Gallery Design Materials Collection continues to demonstrate the companys growing involvement in the cosmetics industry. A key example of this is Lancomes use of Crastin Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) to develop its new Grandiose Liner. Due to its superior combination of mechanical properties, excellent compatibility with cosmetic formulations and high aesthetics, Crastin PBT is the perfect response to new cosmetic trends. Through DuPonts collaboration with Albea on projects such as the Grandiose Liner, DuPont has become the first to bring PBT solutions to the cosmetics market. Albea, a global manufacturer of packaging for beauty, personal care and pharmaceutical products, provides DuPont further opportunities to offer enhanced solutions to the cosmetics market. The cosmetic industry strives to provide consumers with products that delight and surprise them. We are constantly trying to innovate. Using DuPont Crastin offers improved performance, affordable prices, a trendy look and environment-friendliness that we have not experienced before. The new Lancome eyeliner stem provides excellent functionality whilst not compromising the stiffness needed for a seamless application. The metallized ring brings the opportunity to enlarge the decorative techniques, said Jerome Liard, New Product & Business Development Director at Albea. DuPont launched The Gallery in 2015. The Gallery is DuPonts design materials collection for the cosmetic industry offering creative and innovative packaging solutions whilst maintaining the individuality and brand personality entrenched in the sector. We are excited that we can help deliver sustainable solutions for the cosmetics industrys brand houses and consumers through The Gallery collection. Our R&D team brings together product innovation and customers creative cosmetic formulations to provide design freedom whilst allowing Glamour and High Tech in applications such as the new Grandiose Liner from Lancome, said Alexandra Fabbro, Marketing Development Leader, DuPont Performance Materials, EMEA. Crastin PBT is a high performance polyester material, providing excellent dimensional stability and mechanical properties. Developed in response to customer needs and regulatory challenges, this new grade of Crastin helps customers gain cost efficiency without compromising on performance. It offers an exceptional surface finish allowing for a wider range of decorations such as hot stamping, painting or metallization. DuPonts state-of-the-art technology and materials address this market trend to move toward polyester and help create beautiful and functional cosmetic and personal care packaging that sparkle and shine. In addition to Crastin PBT, the Grandiose Liner also features DuPont Surlyn resins, well known for its superior design and transparency capabilities. The Gallery will exhibit its Design Materials Collection at Luxepack Monaco from September 21st to 23rd 2016. Please visit us at Maison Surlyn on Booth D1, Hall Ravel, to discover further solutions of our portfolio using DuPont Hytrel (TPC-ET) and DuPont Sorona (EP PTT). DuPont Performance Materials (DPM) is a leading innovator of thermoplastics, elastomers, renewably-sourced polymers, high-performance parts and shapes, as well as resins that act as adhesives, sealants, and modifiers. DPM supports a globally linked network of regional application development experts who work with customers throughout the value chain to develop innovative solutions in automotive, packaging, construction, consumer goods, electrical/electronics and other industries. For additional information about DuPont Performance Materials, visit plastics.dupont.com. DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com. # # # 9/22/2016 Futurism Technologies MSPAlliance Certify As part of our ongoing commitment to our customers, we are pleased to become a member of the global MSP Alliance association. New Jersey, USA: Futurism Technologies recently announced that it has been accepted as a member of MSPAlliance, the managed services group comprising an influential global network of IT professionals. With this membership, Futurism will be able to collaborate with MSPAlliance to enhance awareness and acceptance of the managed services and cloud industries. Futurism will also be able to achieve a variety of MSP and Cloud Certifications. These will include SSAE16 Audits, and MSPAlliance MSP/Cloud Verify System certification. As part of our ongoing commitment to our customers, we are pleased to become a member of the global MSP Alliance association, said Sheetal Pansare, President and Global CEO of Futurism Technologies. As part of our membership with MSPAlliance and other associations, we demonstrate our commitment to providing managed infrastructure and cloud services based on the best practices of our industry, he said. Mr. Pansare also said that the MSP Alliance membership is part of Futurism Technologies commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the business IT sector. Through our membership, Futurism will be collaborating with other industry leaders to promote innovation within business IT, he stated. Celia Weaver, President of MSPAlliance added, We are delighted to have Futurism Technologies as a member of our global association. By upholding the MSPAlliance Managed Service Providers Code of Ethics, Futurism Technologies will work with MSPAlliance, as well as our industry peers, to help ensure the integrity of the managed services and cloud profession. About Futurism Technologies: Futurism Technologies is an end-to-end IT service provider, delivering high quality IT services and solutions to over 1000 clients across the globe. The organization offers innovative and quality-focused solutions, which are tailor-made to meet specific client requirements. Futurisms accreditations include a SEI CMM Level 3 Company by KPMG, ISO 9001:2008, and ISO/IEC 27001 certified by the British Standards Institution. Also, the organization has strategic partnerships with companies like Microsoft, Google, Oracle, IBM, and Amazon. Futurism has offices in US, UK, Australia and India. About MSPAlliance: MSPAlliance is the oldest Managed Services group, and the only Accrediting and Standards based body created specifically for the Managed Services Industry. With over 25,000 corporate members worldwide, MSPAlliance supports service providers, governmental bodies, and technology enabling vendors in promoting the need for Managed Services. The organization also focuses on educating consumers about cloud and managed services. http://mspalliance.com/members/futurism/profile/ Contact: Chris Garner. Futurism Technologies, 30 Knightsbridge Road, Suite 525, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States of America Tel: +1 (732) 790-2938 Fax: +1 (302) 351-8845 Email: sales(at)futurismtechnologies(dot)com Website: http://www.futurismtechnologies.com/ "RUMC is known throughout the region as a go-to facility for expectant mothers," stated President and CEO Daniel J. Messina, Ph.D., LNHA, FACHE Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) in West Brighton announced this week that it has received the prestigious international recognition as a "Baby-Friendly" birth facility. RUMC is the only Staten Island hospital to be so designated and is the sixth hospital in NYC/Metro area and the 12th hospital in New York State to receive the status. Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. is the U.S. authority for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative ("BFHI"), a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother/baby bonding. This important classification is a nod to the exceptional care provided by RUMC to Staten Island mothers and babies, and to the confidence and skills given to them to successfully start and continue breastfeeding their babies. "Richmond University Medical Center is already known throughout the region as a go-to facility for expectant mothers," stated the hospital's President and CEO Daniel J. Messina, Ph.D., LNHA, FACHE. "This international recognition demonstrates the exemplary care provided by our clinical staff." There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and child birth centers worldwide; 349 of which are active in the United States. The designation is granted after a rigorous on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice the Ten Steps as demonstrated by quality processes. "Delivering at a Baby-Friendly Hospital ensures that moms will be making an educated decision regarding feeding choice, and then be supported in that decision," said Kathleen DiMauro, MS, RN-BC, IBCLC, AVP Women & Children's Services and Nursing Education. "Moms delivering at a Baby-Friendly Hospital feel more confident in caring for their babies and develop a stronger bond with their babies, whether they are breastfeeding or not," she said. According to DiMauro, RUMC understands the importance of breastfeeding for the health and well-being of the mother and child, and strives for the highest quality of life for new and growing families on Staten Island. At RUMC, mothers are encouraged to engage in skin-to-skin care with their baby as well as rooming-in, where mothers and infants remain together 24 hours a day. Sometimes, however, after delivery the new mom is not able to put the baby skin-to-skin. "At that time we ask the new dad if he would like to participate," added DiMauuro, "And they love it!" "The baby is put on the dad's bare chest and, in addition to helping dad bond with baby, the baby's temperature remains regulated, the blood sugar remains normal and the baby is calm and cozy." Additionally, rooming-in helps the new parents get to know their baby's cues. Where possible, nurses no longer take the babies to the nursery to do testing, weighing, measuring and bathing. Instead, they do it all in the parents' rooms. DiMauro explained that at RUMC, one nurse cares for both mom and baby at the bedside. Rooming-in and this one-on-one attention have been shown to better prepare parents for discharge. Perhaps most important, RUMC provides educational resources from prenatal classes to support groups and one-on-one consultations after delivery to help moms provide their babies with the very best start in life. "Delivering at a Baby-Friendly Hospital instills confidence in parents, promotes bonding between parents and baby and supports research and evidence that offers better outcomes for babies," said DiMauro. RUMC is one of the largest employers on Staten Island. Its main campus is located at 355 Bard Avenue, Staten Island, N.Y., 10310. To contact Richmond University Medical Center's maternity services, please visit http://rumcsi.org or call 718-818-4294. Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC), an affiliate of The Mount Sinai Hospital and Icahn School of Medicine, is a 470+ bed healthcare facility and teaching institution serving Staten Island residents. With over 2,500 employees, RUMC is a Level 1 Trauma Center, a designated Stroke Center and maintains a Wound Care/ Hyperbaric Center and a Sleep Disorder Center on-site. The medical center has earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for quality and patient safety. We have been proud partners of Chase Corporation for many years, and were honored to be named the exclusive North American distributor of DuraDocument, said Bruce Steinberg, Relyco president. Relyco, the specialty paper experts, today announced that Chase Corporation has named it the exclusive North American distributor of DuraDocument, positioning the company to expand its line of durable paper offerings. Fully customizable and available in formats from rolls to cut sheets, DuraDocument is a triple-layer paper with a synthetic core, designed for applications that require a level of durability not available with traditional paper. In addition, unlike most other synthetic papers, DuraDocument is fully inkjet compatible and is also ideal for flexo, litho offset, laser, digital, and UV printing. This is an exciting initiative with a valued and respected market partner to launch DuraDocument in todays ever expanding digital print market. We at Chase are very much looking forward to working with Bruce Steinberg, president of Relyco, and his team to position DuraDocument as the go-to brand in its segment, said Chase DPP Global Business Director David Stedeford. We have been proud partners of Chase Corporation for many years, and were honored to be named the exclusive North American distributor of DuraDocument, said Bruce Steinberg, Relyco president. Our customers across all industriesbut particularly in travel and tourism, healthcare, retail and educationhave seen the potential of durable paper solutions, and were excited to be able to provide them with a greater range of options from which to choose. DuraDocument is fully customizable, so our customers can select everything from full rolls to customized cut sheets to meet their exact application requirements. Designed for those applications that require a durable paper solution in formats beyond typical stock offerings, DuraDocument combines the look and feel of traditional paper with the durability and resilience of durable paper products. Customers can use DuraDocument in a range of unique applications, including sustainable packaging, envelopes and sleeves to prevent RFID detection, and translucent mailers and food packaging. Relyco will also unveil the new specialty paper solutions and share details about this exclusive distribution agreement at GRAPH EXPO 16, booth #2857. About Relyco For more than 25 years, Relyco has been a premier supplier of unique and innovative paper products and custom solutions specifically designed for laser, digital and inkjet printers. From waterproof papers to pressure seal forms to carbonless paper to business checks and so much more, our stock and custom products are great for thousands of applications and uses. Relyco is one of the most innovative leaders in the printing industry, servicing over 20,000 customers including Google, PepsiCo, Samsung, Adobe and Microsoft. For more information, please visit http://www.relyco.com. About Chase Corporation Chase Corporation, founded in 1946, is a leading manufacturer of protective materials for high reliability applications throughout the world. Our company is pleased to continue its sponsorship of WEM because we believe that giving female mass tort attorneys networking opportunities like this strengthens the plaintiffs bar. Today, law firm lender Counsel Financial proudly announced its sponsorship of three plaintiffs attorney programs occurring this September: the Women En Mass annual retreat for female mass tort attorneys; the American Association for Justices Hot Topic in Mass Tort Litigation Seminar; and HarrisMartins MDL Conference. The company, which has provided financing to the plaintiffs bar since 2000, is honored to support these programs because they foster education and networking among plaintiffs counsel. Counsel Financial is the Pledge Sponsor of Women En Mass, a conference that was founded by Aimee Wagstaff of Andrus Wagstaff in 2012 to empower female mass tort attorneys. The annual retreat that will be held in Aspen, Colorado on September 26 27 contains sessions designed to promote an environment where women can learn, grow and build relationships with some of the most preeminent female attorneys in the mass tort field. The event is free as a result of sponsors, like Counsel Financial, who support the Women En Mass mission. WEM is unique because it gives female attorneys of different ages, experience levels and backgrounds the tools to succeed and gain leadership roles in mass torts, as well as provides them a beautiful and relaxed atmosphere to connect and develop as a strong, cohesive unit, stated Kelly Anthony, Deputy General Counsel at Counsel Financial. Our company is pleased to continue its sponsorship of WEM because we believe that giving female mass tort attorneys networking opportunities like this strengthens the plaintiffs bar. In addition to Women En Mass, Counsel Financial will attend the American Association for Justices Hot Topics in Mass Tort Litigation seminar as the Platinum Sponsor. The event, held in Washington, D.C. on September 28, coincides with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation hearings and is open to plaintiffs lawyers only. The program offers the opportunity for attendees and faculty to openly discuss trial strategy, litigation techniques and how to defeat common defenses raised in mass tort litigation. Concurrently, Counsel Financial is sponsoring HarrisMartin's MDL Conference: Talcum Powder, ELIQUIS, PPI, Essure, Taxotere & Roundup Litigation. Each of these CLE-accredited events is not only educational in nature, but an excellent opportunity for plaintiffs counsel to network with other trial attorneys who are committed to the advancement of the plaintiffs bar. About Counsel Financial Counsel Financial is the largest provider of working capital lines of credit to plaintiffs attorneys in the industry, having loaned over $1.5 billion exclusively to plaintiffs attorneys in its 15-year history. Counsel Financial sets the standard for innovation and flexibility in its loan offerings, structuring terms that are conducive to the unique demands of contingency-fee practices. Leveraging 200+ years of internal legal experience, Counsel Financial has financed the growth of firms in every area of plaintiffs litigation, including personal injury, mass torts, class action and labor and employment. The company is exclusively endorsed by six national and state trial organizations, including the American Association for Justice and The National Trial Lawyers. Eggheads quizmaster CJ De Mooi was arrested yesterday at Heathrow Airport on foot of an alleged murder that took place in Netherlands in the '80s. In his autobiography, De Mooi - real name Joseph Connagh - described being approached by a man in Amsterdam with a knife. De Mooi attacked the man and threw him into river, admitting that he "fully suspects" that he killed him. De Mooi is set to appear before Westminister's Magistrates' Court on Thursday in connection with the charges. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A man was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, 21 September on a European Arrest Warrant issued in the Netherlands in relation to an allegation of murder. "Joseph Connagh, 46, self employed, of Monmouthshire appears in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday." This isn't the first run-in De Mooi has had with the law. The former Chess champion was axed from Eggheads earlier this year, following a police investigation into allegations that De Mooi sexually assaulted a twenty-three year old man in Glasgow. However, no charges were filed against De Mooi following the investigation. De Mooi, who currently lives in South Africa, has made no official statement on the matter. Amazon moves into Southern California; a Wisconsin bookstore considers going co-op; Macmillan expedites holiday shipping; and more. McNally Jackson to Open Outpost in Greenwich Village: The New York City bookstore continues to expand its satellite locations. McNally Jackson Goods For The Study signed a lease for a 1,400 sq. ft. location at 50 W. 8th Street in New York City earlier this month. The space also includes a 325 sq. ft. basement. Martinsville, Va., Gets a Bookstore: With a startup grant for $12,715 in May to execute her plan for a bookstore to open by September 30, Deshanta Hairston more than met her goal with the opening of Books and Crannies, a new and used general interest bookstore. Amazon Opens Pickup Site at Cal State: On Tuesday the online giant held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its first pickup location at a California State University campus. Its also Amazon's first pickup site in Southern California. Amazon@The Beach is located inside the Cal State Long Beach Bookstore. Babies Have a Room of Their Own at Spellbound: The Asheville bookstore celebrated the addition of a dedicated room for babies and toddlers as well as the 20th anniversary of a local literacy nonprofit, Buncombe Partnership for Children, last weekend. Owner Leslie Hawkins was encouraged to add the room because, she said, board books and other books for babies have been the stores fastest growing sales category for the past few years. Grand Re-opening of Lets Play Books!: On Saturday the Emmaus, Pa., bookstore is celebrating its new expanded location. With the move the store has also broadened its inventory and gone from a childrens specialty store to one with more general interest books. Grand Opening for SkyLib in Chattanooga Airport: The Friends of the Chattanooga Library opened a 24/7 used bookstore, which operates on the honor system, at the local airport. The store stocks a number of categories, including travel, foreign language, business, history, and childrens. A grand opening will be held on September 27. Should A Room of Ones Own Go Co-op?: In June majority owners Sandi Torkildson and Nancy Gear put the Madison, Wis., bookstore up for sale. At a meeting Tuesday night, Torkildson and Courtney Berner, a University of Wisconsin cooperative development specialist, discussed the possibility of transitioning the store to a co-op. Torkildson said that staffers are interested in pursuing a worker-owned co-op. Macmillan Offers Expedited Shipping for the Holidays: From October 3 through December 23, Macmillan Publishers is trying to ensure independent booksellers benefit from ship times of two days or less for invoices with a value greater than $100. The program applies to independent retailers who order on Macmillans retail returnable schedule and for locations that typically have shipment transit times of three days or more. Rhonda Crawford's lawyer, Victor Henderson, told reporters Thursday an impaneled grand jury could indict her before November's election. Crawford is running for a judgeship. Crawford says she regrets overseeing several traffic cases. But she says the actual judge, Valarie E. Turner, stood over her the whole time and issued all rulings. Crawford was fired over the incident and Turner was removed from the bench indefinitely. Henderson wouldn't say what charges Crawford potentially faces. He says her actions were, at worst, "a minor infraction." State prosecutors have said they're investigating. But a spokesman Thursday declined comment regarding any grand jury. ROCK ISLAND -- Residents learned that a flashlight app on your cellphone may be giving your personal information to thieves. A Community Crime Prevention Partnership Meeting was held Wednesday night at the Rock Island Police Department, 1212 5th Ave. The meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. Internet and digital fraud was the presentation given by Detective Jeff Morrissey. He said that most flashlight apps larger than 100 kilobytes are filled with Trojan horses that can send your information anywhere. Police recommended deleting the app and restoring your phone to factory settings. Detective Morrissey said he thought he was "pretty safe" about his banking account information. However, almost three weeks ago, his own bank account was hacked. "The amount of financial crime and the amount of debit card fraud, credit card fraud, internet scams, phone scams, it's off the chart," he said. Most major retailers do not check identification to the credit cards, which makes it difficult for police, Detective Morrissey said. "They don't lose any money," he said. "If a bank credit or debit card is used at Wal-Mmart, they are still getting paid. It doesn't matter, so they have taken a hands-off approach." Credit card information can be hacked in less two minutes, Detective Morrissey pointed out. He said by the time you are notified of the hack, even by a professional monitoring services such as LifeLock, it is too late. The presentation featured slides showing how local gas station credit card readers and ATM machines had been tampered with, allowing hackers easy access to accounts. Many gas stations are now placing special tape on the outside of the machines, with instructions not to use the machine if the tape is broken. However, the tape is not required by law. "Most businesses didn't do it until recently," the detective said. "Casey's was hit big, Hy-Vee was hit big, the Shell stations, all of them were hit pretty hard, now they are taking steps." One slide showed an ATM that had the credit card nameplate compromised. A small pinhole was drilled into the bottom of the sign that showed which credit cards it accepted. The hacker had placed a camera in the hole to steal PIN numbers, Det. Morrissey said. Starting your own scamming business is fairly cheap, with all of the supplies needed to recreate debit cards available on eBay. Detective Morrissey said people are "rolling the dice" by using public Wi-Fi. "Anyone that offers free Wi-Fi, they are not required to keep it secure," he said. "Any of these big stores, or any place, a mom and pop gas station, if they offer Wi-Fi, they are not legally responsible to protect your information." ORION High school principal Nathan DeBaillie told the school board Wednesday the district is moving forward with seals of biliteracy for students who master a second language. He said he and Spanish teacher Lindsay Benedict were already working on the program when the state passed a law requiring colleges to give creditone to three hoursfor proficiency in two or more languages. He said the Illinois Association of School Boards has not really been pushing it, and Geneseo is the only other area school district to offer it so far. Mr. DeBaillie said whereas scoring a four or five on a foreign-language advanced placement exam has questionable meaningno one knows how hard the test was the seal of biliteracy means a little more to potential employers. In other business, Mr. DeBaillie said last years seniors were second in the area in terms of college readiness. Grade school principal R.C. Lowe noted 40.5 percent of students met or exceeded state standards of the PARCC test this year compared to 28.3 percent last year. He said the school will try a number of ways to improve, including conferring with other districts. A balanced 2016-17 budget was approved with operating fund revenue of $9,201,170 and spending of $9,014,525. In the education fund, revenue is projected at $7,783,350 and spending at $7,637,600. The districts sixth-day enrollment was 1,079 which is nine more than last year. Superintendent Joe Blessman said he hopes the trend continues, because a larger sophomore class of 101 will graduate, and incoming classes are in the low to mid-70s. State troopers responded to the scene around 12:45 p.m. and found Thaddeus Wilk Farrow, 27, suffering from a life-threatening injury. He was taken to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m. The cause and manner of his death werent available Wednesday evening, but police said there was no criminal aspect. Police sources confirmed the man was Mia Farrows son. She lives in nearby Bridgewater on a sprawling estate dubbed Frog Hollow. A New York Post story in 2000 said Mia Farrow had rescued Thaddeus five years earlier from an orphanage in Calcutta, India, where he was stricken with polio. His condition had vastly improved by the time the story was published. Thaddeus walks with leg braces (and) attends the fourth grade at a school near their Bridgewater, Conn., farmhouse, the story reads. Farrow herself suffered from polio as a child. A 2013 profile in Vanity Fair said Thaddeus Farrow was working as a car mechanic and studying to become a police officer. 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, opening up about his adoption. The fact that everyone loved me was a new experience, overwhelming at first. Police on Wednesday listed Thaddeus Farrows address as 52 Summer St., the Torrington Towers high-rise apartment complex. An accomplished actress, Mia Farrows first substantial role was on televisions Peyton Place. She left the series and married Frank Sinatra, but the couple divorced two years later. Mia Farrow starred in 1968s Rosemarys Baby, and was nominated for a Golden Globe award for best actress in a drama. Her other notable credits include 1974s The Great Gatsby and Death on the Nile four years later. Mia Farrow, 71, is also known for her 13-year relationship with actor-director Woody Allen. She appeared in 13 of his 14 movies while the two were together. Mia Farrow had a total of 14 children, including 10 she adopted. Thaddeus was adopted after she split with Allen, and his middle name, Wilk, is in honor of Elliott Wilk, the judge who oversaw the bitter custody battle between the two that ended in 1993 with Mia Farrow as the sole caretaker of the couples children. More recently Farrow has turned her attention toward human rights activism. She told The Courant in a 2007 interview she was focused on injustices in the Darfur region of the African country of Sudan. I entered Darfur as a mother, a UNICEF ambassador and an actress, she said. And I came out of Darfur as a mother and a witness. The responsibility of telling what I knew has eclipsed everything else in my life. G'day! It's Murray here. I've put together a little quiz to test your musical knowledge. Think you can score top marks in Murray's Magic Music Quiz? Give it a go now! Powerbrace Corp., a subsidiary of Miner Enterprises, has promoted General Manager John Swezey to President, effective immediately. As General Manager of Powerbrace, Swezey was responsible for the companys operations in Kenosha, Wisc., as well as its manufacturing facility in Saltillo, Mexico. A graduate of the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at Northern Illinois University, Swezey began his career as an engineer with Chamberlain GARD, later holding executive positions with railcar leasing companies GATX and CIT Rail. Having led Powerbrace as General Manager since 2011, John brings deep familiarity with the company, as well as decades of railcar industry experience, to his new role, said Ric Biehl, President and General Manager of Miner Enterprises. Under Johns leadership, Powerbrace has expanded its customer base and added new capabilities at its RPD gate and brake beam manufacturing facility, all while maintaining a stellar reputation for quality and innovation. This promotion ensures that the company will benefit further from Johns strategic vision and industry insight. Miners Powerbrace subsidiary is a premier brand name in the railcar component industry, and I am thrilled to take on this new role, said Swezey. I look forward to building on the success we have already achieved, and to working closely with Ric and his staff at W.H. Miner to develop strategic initiatives for all of the organizations products. A rail industry supplier for more than 120 years, Miner Enterprises designs and manufactures a wide range of railcar components, including side bearings, outlet gates, draft gears, and brake beams. The companys Powerbrace subsidiary recently implemented an advanced powder coating line in its Mexico facility, in addition to earning Certified Welding Fabricator accreditation and ISO 9001:2008 certification. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK The inauguration in May of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen represents a critical inflection point for cross-Strait relations. For eight years under Kuomintang (KMT) rule, Taiwan was able to reach accommodation with mainland China, inking 23 economic agreements and even opening political talks, which culminated last Fall in the KMT President Ma Ying-jeou meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore. However, some in Taiwan argued that these achievements were realized at the expense of Taiwan's economic development and sovereignty. Now, with Tsai as president and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) holding a majority in the legislature, it would seem that cross-Strait relations have entered a more antagonistic dynamic. The central issue is the so-called 1992 Consensusan acceptance of one China reached with Ma and the KMT, but never recognized by Tsai or the DPP. To her credit, Tsai has issued numerous political overtures to Beijing, yet Xi has demonstrated a clear reluctance to accept her as a credible partner. Instead, Xi has turned up the heat on Tsai in an attempt to undermine her administration. This strategy will probably result in periodic and perhaps even sustained tensions that are unlikely to bring Taiwan any closer to Beijing and which may, in fact, only convince Taiwan of the need to increasingly distance itself from China. Snapping Olive Branches From the start of her campaign to become Taiwan's president, Tsai has tried to reconcile her party's traditionally pro-independence position in favor of a more predictable and stable cross-Strait policy predicated on, in her words, no surprises, no provocations.[1] Following her election in January, Tsai began the process of making good on her pledge. In an interview with Taiwan's Liberty Times on January 21st, for example, she acknowledged for the first time that the 1992 Consensus was a historical fact and represented part of an existing political foundation.[2] To be sure, Tsai stopped short of endorsing the substance of the agreement. In an apparent response on March 5th, Xi mandated that Taiwan recognize the core connotation of the 1992 Consensus and suggested that Tsai must explicitly accept that one China includes both mainland China and Taiwan without differing interpretations.[3] Indeed, Xi may have raised the rhetorical bar even higher for Tsai since her predecessor, Ma, never had to do the same.[4] During her inauguration speech on May 20th, Tsai once again emphasized that she believed the 1992 Consensus was a historical fact, but again declined to endorse the substance of the agreement.[5] In response, China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) issued a statement condemning the speech, labeling it an incomplete test paper.[6] Xi directed the TAO to cut off official ties with its Taiwan interlocutor, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), and to cease even semi-official dialogue through China's Association for Relations Across the Strait (ARATS) with Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).[7] To be sure, in August the TAO stated that communication on previously existing agreements lack of communication will make it particularly difficult for China and Taiwan to implement their economic agreementsdespite TAO's recent statement that the agreements would remain in placeand will make the conclusion of any others highly doubtful.[8] Perhaps more alarmingly, Taiwan and China do not have a direct line of communication in the event of a crisis situation. Xi's Pressure Tactics Xi appears to have embarked on a strategy to discredit Tsai in the hopes that a candidate more favorable to China is elected in 2020. Without Taiwanese acquiescence to Beijing's demands on the 1992 Consensus, Xi appears to have embarked on a strategy to discredit Tsai in the hopes that a candidate more favorable to China is elected in 2020. One component of this approach has been to launch ad hominem attacks against Tsai herself. In May, for instance, a senior Chinese military official with China's Academy of Military Sciences, who concurrently serves as a member of ARATS, posted an article opining that Tsai was extreme and emotional because she is unmarried.[9] Although it was quickly taken down and roundly condemned in China, the fact that the article ever appeared in the first place in the International Herald Leadera newspaper affiliated with state-run Xinhua newsonly reinforced Taiwan's perception that China does not maintain a favorable view of Tsai. More importantly, such personal attacks fit a clearly defined pattern. In the past, Xi's lieutenants have routinely criticized Tsai for being a splittist and true believer in Taiwan independence, suggesting that she cannot be trusted to negotiate in good faith with China. While there may be differing interpretations of her past policy positions, such as when she rejected the 1992 Consensus during her failed presidential campaign in 2012, Beijing has sidestepped a substantive discussion of Tsai. Instead it has resorted to public taunts, at one point accusing Tsai of evil talk, carping, and embarrassing herself.[10] Xi is also pressuring Taiwan by further squeezing its international space. Before Tsai's inauguration, for example, Beijing accepted The Gambia's request to establish formal diplomatic relations with China.[11] To be sure, The Gambia had requested a switch in diplomatic recognition (from Taiwan to the PRC) in 2013, but under a tacit diplomatic truce in effect between China and Taiwan dating back to 2008 under the KMT, Beijing held off on accepting The Gambia's request. In the current context, however, Xi saw greater benefit in sending a political message to Taiwan that it could further restrict its international space at will, and China's establishment of relations with The Gambia could be seen as signaling its willingness to persuade more of Taiwan's 22 remaining diplomatic partners to switch sides. In a similar vein, Taiwan's invitation to the World Health Assembly (WHA) this year, which it normally attends as an observer under the mutually accepted name Chinese Taipei, arrived with new prerequisites for participation. For the first time, Beijing managed to insert language in the invitation on adhering to the one China principle. It also dusted off United Nations Security Council Resolution 2758 from 1971stating that only the People's Republic of China is the legitimate representative of Chinato reinforce what Beijing sees as Taiwan's proper place in the international forum.[12] Taiwan decided to ignore these caveats and move forward by attending the WHA meeting in Geneva. However, during his address to the WHA, Taiwan's health minister was instructed not to use the term Taiwan, resulting in domestic criticism of Tsai's cross-ministry coordination of his talking points.[13] Xi also appears to be consciously reducing the number of tourists China sends to Taiwan. According to one source, Beijing plans to cut tourist numbers from 3.85 million in 2015 down to 2 million in 2016.[14] The obvious intent is to use tourism as an unofficial economic sanction against Taiwan, and the possibility of other like-minded economic punishmentssuch as the cancellation of trade deals or direct flights to the mainlandcould follow. Finally, Xi has flexed China's military muscle to compel Taiwan to fall in line with Chinese demands. In the runup to Taiwan's elections and presidential inauguration, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted military exercises involving live-fire and island-landing operations. Although official Chinese statements claimed that the exercises were pre-planned and part of the PLA's annual training cycle and not aimed at political events on Taiwan, the timing certainly seems suspicious.[15] In addition, the exercises involved the PLA's 31st Group Armya military unit based in Fujian Province, opposite Taiwan, that would likely be an essential component of any amphibious landing campaign against the island nation. Psychological warfare is just one component of a likely broader Chinese information operations campaign meant to reduce Taiwanese morale. Beijing also has more subtle ways of issuing military threats to Taiwan. Last summer, for example, a YouTube video posted online by China Central Television (CCTV) featured PLA soldiers storming a replica of Taiwan's Presidential Office. According to a Shanghai news outlet, it demonstrated how China would use force to solve the Taiwan issue.[16] Psychological warfare is just one component of a likely broader Chinese information operations campaign meant to reduce Taiwanese morale. A Lasting Cold Peace Barring a breakthrough on the 1992 Consensus, cross-Strait relations are likely to encounter periodic tensions and even perhaps a lasting cold peace that features sustained political tensions with suspended or circumscribed economic ties. According to recent polling research, nearly 74 percent of the Taiwanese public supports Tsai's China policy, so there is no political imperative, as the democratically elected leader of Taiwan, for her to change course any time soon.[17] And while Xi's pressuring strategy has yielded some tactical gainssuch as domestic criticism of Tsai during the WHA episodeit is hard to envision how this approach would lead to a more pliable Taiwan. In fact, the trend seems to be heading the other way. Tsai, for example, has pledged to diversify Taiwan's economy away from dependence on China, and the DPP majority in the legislature recently introduced a Cross-Strait Agreement Oversight Bill that would allow legislators to intervene at any time in cross-Strait agreements to halt or reconsider theman unprecedented power.[18] Another point of tension emerged on July 12th, following The Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration decision to reject China's sovereignty claims vis-a-vis the Philippines in the South China Sea. Shortly after the decision, the TAO reached out to its MAC counterpart, offering that the two sides join hands with China in safeguarding the sovereignty of the South China Sea islands and the rights in the surrounding waters.[19] Tsai's administration promptly rejected the offer, which would have implied that Taiwan's claims were the same as China's because Taiwan is a part of China.[20] Instead, Tsai immediately sent a military ship to patrol the largest island in the Spratly Islands under its de facto control, Itu Aba, otherwise known in Taiwan as Taiping Island.[21] These types of moves suggest less integration and further estrangement in the future. Endnotes Derek Grossman is a senior project associate at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. He previously served at the Defense Intelligence Agency as the daily intelligence briefer to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs at the Pentagon and has covered Asia-Pacific security issues for 15 years. This commentary originally appeared in Defense Dossier on September 22, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Brazils Ministerio Publico Federal (MPF) has initiated a civil lawsuit against Google, as it considers that YouTube has broken legislation regarding advertising to children. The MPF intends to compel YouTube to warn advertisers that advertising child-related products is not allowed in Brazil.Brazilian legislation forbids children under 12 to promote the purchase of products to other children.This happens specifically with this audience, as children are highly susceptible to any kind of emotional or subliminal suggestion, which are key aspects of these kind of merchandising ads, stated Fernando de Almeida, public attorney. Children are not mature enough to tell the difference between fantasy and reality or to resist consumer impulses.This is not the first time Google has received a warning from the Brazilian authorities regarding children and advertising. According to the MPF, the company continues to ignore the legislation as this kind of civil lawsuit doesnt involve a monetary fine.Therefore, the MPF intends to include some kind of fining process in future.Google alleges that there is no specific regulation in Brazil about this topic and that its parents responsibility to decide what children can or cannot watch on YouTube. As it nears the sale of Telefe, Telefonica has set the date for its telecom subsidiary, Telxius, to go public in Spain. The countrys Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) has approved the initial public offering (IPO) of Telxius, the shares of which are expected to start trading on the Spanish stock markets of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao on 3 October.The offer, which is directed exclusively at qualified investors, implies a market capitalisation for Telxius Telecom of between 3,000 million and 3,750 million, although the final price is expected to be set on 29 September.Through this initial operation, Telefonica intends to sell 36.36% of Telxius share capital, which can be increased to up to 40%.At the beginning of the year, Telefonica established Telxius as an independent telecommunications infrastructures company with the goal of capturing data traffic growth. Once the IPO is completed, Telxius will be trading in Spains stock markets, having generated a good sum for the telco , which is looking to reduce its huge debt (52.5 billion as of June 2016).Although its not directly related to Telefonicas activity in Spain, the telco is also looking to sell the Argentinean free-to-air (FTA) network Telefe for no less than 400 million. The move is also related to Telefonicas international strategy of reducing debt and redirecting its financial efforts. Israels Armoza Formats is launching its cooking show Born to be a Chef internationally at MIPCOM, after sealing a second season deal with Canadian broadcaster TVA. Produced by Productions Deferlantes, Born To Be A Chef (10x60) is a prime time cooking competition for a family audience, created through a joint project between the independent Israeli developer and distributor and Quebecor Content and TVA.The shows first season, slated to air from October in Canada, features two acclaimed chefs each leading a team of ten young apprentices. Each week the chefs challenge the trainees to create the best dishes, with those coming in last facing a play-off challenge. Two apprentices will be eliminated from the reality show each week.Were thrilled to be launching Born To Be a Chef and to be bringing this competition to the international market. This is a cooking competition that takes emotions to the extreme not only are all in it to win, with both the apprentices and mentors competing to prove themselves but the element of kids competing heightens the successes and failures and the emotional experience for the viewers, said Avi Armoza, CEO, Armoza Formats Andre Provencher, VP creation and international development, Quebecor Content, added: Born To Be A Chef emerged from the Quebecor Content creation team to reflect, purely and simply, the TVA networks DNA profile. We are very proud to share it now with broadcasters and producers around the world through our strategic partnership with Armoza Formats.The collaboration between Armoza, Quebecor Content and TVA has most also recently led to the scripted comedy Karl & Max being licensed by French network TV5MONDE. At this years Insurtech Connect conference, Insider Engage spoke to Pranav Pasricha, Swiss Re's global head property and casualty solutions, Reinsurance, to discuss why the protection gap is the biggest challenge the reinsurance industry faces today and how Swiss Re is using technology to support clients to respond to new and emerging threats. It's (Still) Good to be Norway If only everybody could be Norway. A green gem, adorned by turquoise fjords and bordered by the mighty North Sea, a sea whose oil deposits -- since their discovery in 1969 -- have made Norway "stupendously, incomprehensibly rich" as a jealous-sounding Huffington Post Canada article put it in 2014. The country created a government-run pension fund in the 70s and began investing profits abroad in 1990. Today, according to The Economist, "No sovereign-wealth fund is bigger. It owns more than 2% of all listed shares in Europe and over 1% globally. Its largest holdings are in Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft and Nestle, among 9,000-odd firms in 78 countries." With the decline in oil prices, however, making solid investments becomes more crucial. And even with the canniest managers, the fund may not be the envy of the world forever. It may be impossible for democracies to sustain a rich wealth fund, the Economist points out. Too many people have a say in where they funds are invested and many of them put ideology over high returns. "Such restrictions create dilemmas," notes the Economist, "The fund still invests in oil, for example: Royal Dutch Shell is one of its biggest holdings. Its ethical advisers argue that it can achieve more by promoting good practices within oil firms. But a former adviser admits the funds climate-change brief makes such investments a 'paradox'." "In effect, the fund is exporting Norwegian values as well as capital. In the future it could turn against more productssugar and fast-food, say, because of obesity. So far the funds managers see no serious financial cost from blacklisting 100 or so companies. But they do not deny that some ethical decisions do entail trade-offs. Their own shareholders, the Norwegians themselves, may not always let them do what is right rather than what pays." Stay tuned... http://www.economist.com/news/business-and-finance/21707435-norways-global-fund-its-tough-small-democracy-run-worlds-biggest The scene at Bratislava Castle last week was a familiar one: European leaders gathered for another summit in a typically idyllic setting, where the natural beauty of their surroundings belied the deep imperfections of the union they were struggling to salvage. But now, in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the Continental bloc, delusion steeped in the ideals of an "ever-closer" union is wearing thin, and the realists in the room seem to be gradually gaining ground. The shift in the summit's tone was to be expected; closet Euroskeptics can no longer hide behind the United Kingdom as they assert national rights and tamp down Brussels' principles. They realize that the longer Europe's leaders avoid the hard questions, opting instead to continue extolling the "spirit" of the European Union as a way to survive, the more the bloc's guardians will have to react to rather than shape the enormous changes bubbling up from their disillusioned electorates. As Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (who has tied his own political fate to a referendum in October) testily noted, the Bratislava gathering amounted to little more than a "boat trip on the Danube" and an "afternoon writing documents without any soul or any horizon" on the real problems afflicting Europe. Tempering Ideals With Realities The same frustration was palpable in several conversations I had during a recent trip to Slovenia, a country that tends to stay below the radar in Europe but is nevertheless highly perceptive of ground tremors. Slovenia lies, often precariously, at the edge of empires. Under the weight of the Alps, the former Yugoslav republic has one foot lodged in the tumultuous cauldron of the Balkans while its other foot toes the merchant riches of the Adriatic Sea. All the while, its arms are outstretched across the Pannonian Plain toward Vienna, the seat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Slovenia is a land where the Slavic tongue is spoken with Italian gaiety, where German and Austrian freight trucks fill the highways, where quaint Germanic timber homes and Viennese boulevards are dotted with Catholic iconography, and where German bratwurst mingles naturally with Balkan cevapi, Turkish burek and Italian gnocchi on restaurant menus. Slovenia's medieval castles, dramatic scenery and dragon folklore are the stuff of fairytales. But sober-minded Slovenians know from a troubled past that even after being accepted into the European Union, their country should not hold its collective breath for a "happily ever after" in such a fluid corner of the Continent. Instead, a welcome dose of realism met me in Slovenia in talks on the future of Europe. During a panel discussion I participated in at the Bled Strategic Forum, one comment in particular stood out to me. Dr. Ziga Turk, a professor at the University of Ljubljana and a former government minister, argued that Europeans must stop deluding themselves into thinking that they can build a European nation on ideology. Common language, history, culture, religion and kin will consistently trump shared ideas on the free market, democracy, social justice, human rights and environmentalism. This is not to say that the latter are unimportant; they just aren't enough to hold up a European superstate. The implication, at least in my mind, is that European leaders need to temper their ambitions and focus on rebalancing the merits of a Continental union with the realities of the nation-state. This is still a very unsettling idea for Europeanists who would rather talk about the veritable achievements the European Union has had in preserving peace for decades. One member of the audience complained that he was severely disappointed more of the panelists were not speaking in defense of EU values. But wouldn't time be better spent working to understand and respond to the very real forces that are pulling the union apart? This, to me, is like keeping a vintage Ferrari in the garage without ever taking the time to repair the engine that makes it run. We can continue to admire a beautiful relic of a bygone era, but it will not get us anywhere until we are willing to get our hands greasy fixing and maintaining it. A Rare Set of Geographic Circumstances Perhaps nobody better understands the shortcomings of ideology in building nations than those who have lived through such experiments' failures. Socialism and Slavic brotherhood proved woefully inadequate in taming ethnic and nationalistic currents in the former Yugoslavia. Dialectical materialism held sway with intellectuals who were repulsed by Western capitalism, but it quickly became a nightmare for the masses living behind the Iron Curtain in the crumbling Soviet Empire. Gamal Abdel Nasser thought he could foster a common Arab identity by creating a United Arab Republic, only to find that his efforts to ensure Egyptian domination accelerated his project's downfall by consolidating a Syrian identity in opposition to Cairo. Now, the Islamic State faces at least a dozen militaries as it tries to prove it can resurrect a caliphate under the tenets of Sharia, even if that state can only be built and maintained through brute force. But there are "good" and "bad" ideologies, one might counter. What about a nation based on seemingly universal values? Many Europeanists point to the United States as an example of a state bound by a common Lockesian belief in life, liberty and prosperity. Perhaps such uncontroversial values could provide an equally sturdy foundation not just for a European superstate, but also for the post-colonial power vacuums scattered throughout the Middle East, or for the numerous fledgling nations trying to become full-fledged states. Values are easy to discuss in the abstract. But they can also come back to bite. Europeans may trumpet democratic values as one of the binding principles of the union, yet referendums and elections the very tools of democracy are pulling the union apart. The West likewise promotes democracy in the Middle East but is not eager to face the consequences of Islamists being elected into office. Democracy is both tantalizing and terrifying for everyone involved. Alone, however, it is not enough to build a viable state. We can romanticize the founding of the United States as the first nation-state to be built on universal truths and values. We should also remember, though, that the young republic had certain undeniable, unique geopolitical advantages. European empires were too busy competing with one another on their own continent to overextend themselves in the New World. And with a sizable ocean buffer, robust river networks and ample farmland to develop, young America had the breathing room it needed to build its economy, population centers and industries, fight a civil war, and settle boundaries with its neighbors. This luxury enabled it to eventually emerge as a great power without the constant intervention of external powers stunting its growth. Ideology, ethnic kinship, language and culture are all pillars of a nation's architecture, but geography still forms its foundation. Without some degree of geographic coherence, resources and insulation, a tribe is unlikely to find the time and space to forge a common identity and organically mold it into a nation. It is for this reason that China's Han core will outlive the Communist Party, and that a Persian-dominated Iran, buffeted by a mountain fortress, will endure beyond the Islamic Republic. It is for the same reason that a collection of distinct European nations cannot be shoehorned into a United States of Europe. In Search of a Geopolitical Haven On my flight back to the United States, a family of Syrian refugees stood ahead of me in line at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Two nearly identical young boys and two small girls stood with their father holding a thick stack of passports one yellowed and weathered Syrian passport and four crisp new U.S. passports. The father's young face was crowned by a single, thick brow, the deep lines around his eyes exposing the long journey behind and a glimmer within them hinting at the hope ahead. The mother was conspicuously absent. It seemed as though the family had made a big effort to dress for the occasion: The two boys had fresh haircuts and were buried in the folds of their oversized three-piece suits, while the girls wore long Arabic dresses and brightly colored hijabs. One struggled to walk with an adult-sized Dior purse wrapped around her small frame, and both tripped over shoes that looked several sizes too big. Despite their new clothes, each dragged a dirty plastic bag with Arabic lettering full of worn, dusty shoes and slippers. The family before me was a piece of the migrant mosaic that is forcing Europeans to confront a basic pillar of the union the free movement of people and a basic human desire to be surrounded by people who look, speak, act and believe as they do. As I watched the children and their father, I remembered the derelict border checkpoints that I had driven past on the Slovenia-Italy border, wondering whether those tragically beautiful buildings peppering the Schengen zone would remain relics or be rejuvenated in a new and uncomfortable era of a Continent that believed in reviving national borders. The Syrian family I stood in line with will not have to worry about that. They are leaving behind a land where Syrian nationalism forged by Arab kinship and a common language, culture and history has dissolved, for now, into a sectarian bloodbath. Western powers, still attempting to work off the obsolete Sykes-Picot model, will soon gather in Vienna to try to impose the values they deem necessary to rebuild the Syrian nation, even as regional powers distort those values for their own ends. At summits, any country can call for an end to violence or for talks on a power-sharing arrangement in Syria. But in practice, can Turkey tolerate a federal Kurdish region on both sides of the Euphrates? Can Syria's Iranian-backed Alawites concede large swaths of Sunni territory like Aleppo? By all appearances, the Syrian nation will remain subject to the whims of Western powers trying to stay within the lines of a colonial-era coloring book as regional actors carve out their own spheres of influence. The four kids ahead of me are escaping that fate. They will probably grow up as Americans, chiding their father for his accent once they've outgrown their own and holding faint memories of the day they got dressed up for a flight to a new land a nation with the geopolitical underpinnings to support the ideas it espoused from the very beginning. Property details: You are bidding on the full purchase price of the property, not a down payment. DescriptionHere's a beautiful 2.5 acre parcel situated close to the California-Oregon border near the town ofDorris, California. Nearby parcels in the Pleasant Valley Highlands subdivision have recently sold for$13,000 to $18,000. This particular parcel on Gary Glenn Way has mature Ponderosa Pines andWestern Juniper scattered about the property, allowing a nice amount of sunlight to shine through.What a great place t... Price: $ 1,000 Seller State of Residence: California Property Address: Gary Glenn Way State/Province: California City: Dorris Type: Recreational, Acreage Zoning: Residential Zip/Postal Code: 96023 Location: 960**, Dorris, California You will be redirected to eBay Nearby 96023 Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate , We're sorry, this article is not currently available After putting him in his place last week, Kanye West is now praising Kid Cudi. ADVERTISEMENT "The most important artist of the past 10 years... most influential. And I hope he's doing well," West said during a performance in Houston, according to Complex. "I just want to take this time out to say Kid Cudi is my brother and I hope he's doing well. The most influential artist of the past 10 years," the outspoken rapper said during his performance of "Runaway." The comments come after West attacked Cudi during a concert in Tampa in response to Cudi calling him out on Twitter. "Kid Cudi, don't ever mention 'Ye name. I birthed you," West said less than a week ago. "You know how many people wish they could be signed to G.O.O.D. Music, get they life changed? Have that opportunity? Never forget that. I'm so hurt. I feel so disrespected. Kid Cudi , we're two black men in a racist world," the rant continued. Those remarks were in response to Cudi venting his frustrations with various hip-hop artists where he mentioned West and fellow rapper Drake by name. "Everyone thinks they're soooo great. Talkin top 5 and be having 30 people write songs for them," Cudi tweeted. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "My tweets apply to who they apply. Ye, Drake , whoever. These [expletive] dont give a [expletive] about me. And they aint [expletive] with me," he continued. "I've been loyal to those who haven't been to me and that ends now. Now im your threat." Cudi was formally signed under West's G.O.O.D. Music label where he released his highest-selling debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Days in 2009. He left the label in 2013. Cudi was last heard providing vocals on West's 2016 release, The Life of Pablo. The 32-year-old is readying his sixth studio album, Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' for the spring. Italian company plans global merchandise trading center in Jiangsu Updated: 2016-09-22 14:31 By Qiu Quanlin in Nanjing, Jiangsu(chinadaily.com.cn) Construction of a global merchandise trading center will begin in October this year in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province, according to Chic Group, a Milan-based commercial investment company. The project, in which Chic will invest $870 million, will be located in Nanjings Pukou district, aiming to become an international merchandise warehouse and distribution center. The new facility will include luxury imported brands such as Prada and Gucci, foodstuff, furniture, automobiles and high-end hotels, providing online-to-offline services. The trading platform, the first global merchandise direct selling center in Jiangsu, will also supply goods to most provinces in China, according to the company. Chic will boost its presence by developing 100 more projects in China in the near future, with the annual trade value of the Nanjing headquarter designed to reach 96 billion yuan. Since entering China in 2009, Chic has so far developed more than 20 projects in the country, with the current trade value reaching more than 8 billion yuan annually. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Cyclists and runners gathered at The Hub Bicycles Sept. 19 to honor the memory of Ashley Block, a University of Georgia graduate student who died Sept. 12 after a car crash, and Mitchell Enfinger, who was injured in the crash and remains in critical condition. Representatives of Ernst & Young appear on stage with Leslie Jones, right, at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) SHARE NEW YORK (AP) Leslie Jones went to one of the most public of stages the one at the Emmy Awards to joke about her privacy woes on social media. During a routine Sunday saluting Ernst & Young accountants, the "Saturday Night Live" actress addressed three of the firm's representatives. "Since you good at keeping things safe, I got a job for you my Twitter account," she said. "Put that in the vault, please." The "Ghostbusters" star had been harassed with racist messages on social media and her website was hacked in late August. Her passport, a driver's license, multiple nude photos and other private information was posted online. "I just wanted to feel beautiful," she joked at the Emmys. "Can a sister feel beautiful?" SHARE By PATRICK WHITTLE, Associated Press GORHAM, Maine (AP) Geoff Keating grows a prized plant at the northeastern edge of the country, some 3,000 miles away from the region of America most associated with his crop hops. Americans' growing thirst for bitter, flavor-packed styles of beer has brought an unprecedented demand for hops, so growers are looking to new places to harvest its flowers. Hops are used to provide bitterness, aroma and flavor to beer. It the U.S., the vast majority are grown in Washington state, with significant numbers grown in Oregon and Idaho. But hop growers in states like Michigan, New York and Maine, where Geoff Keating runs the Hop Yard farm in Gorham and Fort Fairfield, are starting to ramp up production. The growth dovetails with craft beer's growth, and its passion for using local ingredients. "As far as Maine-grown hops, anything done at good quality that's coming out of Maine is being used by brewers," Keating said. "We have limited supply." The demand for hops is high, in part, because of America's obsession with India pale ales, which use large amounts of hops to create flavors and aromas that recall fruit and pine. Total U.S. hop acreage grew by almost 20 percent to more than 53,000 acres this year, according to the Hop Growers of America. And brewers still often gripe about shortages of some hop varieties. In the U.S., the amount of acreage outside of the Pacific Northwest states grew from less than 900 in 2014 to more than 1,200 last year to nearly 2,100 this year, the growers association noted. Michigan's acreage doubled to 650 this year, and Wisconsin's grew by nearly 75 percent to almost 300 acres. "We are certainly getting a lot of calls from people saying they would like to be hop growers," said Jaki Brophy, spokeswoman for the growers association. "There has been an interest in growing outside of the Pacific Northwest." Prices for hops have also been high in recent years, even as the total amount of hop acreage and pounds of hops produced hits record highs. The price of hops can vary widely based on the variety there are hundreds, some of which are proprietary but the average price of U.S. hops rose from $3.67 to $4.38 per pound last year. The availability of hops can be a concern for brewers, especially those who trade in hoppy beer, and local growing can help make a difference, said Tim Adams, brewmaster of Oxbow Beer, in Portland, Maine. "The collective palate of the world is way into very hoppy beers IPAs and double IPA," Adams said. "It's a naturally limited resource and demand seems to be increasing at a rate that is much greater than supply." The production outside of the Pacific Northwest hasn't yet reached the level where it can make a dramatic impact on the national hop trade. And big brewers like Anheuser-Busch, which are the rival of craft beer and take up much more of the U.S. beer market, are potentially less impacted by fluctuations in the availability of hops. Anheuser-Busch also operates its own hop farms, in the U.S., Germany and Argentina. The growth of hops in places like Michigan and Maine is unlikely to affect the company or other beer giants. But Bart Watson, chief economist with the Brewers Association, which represents 3,200 beer makers from bucket brewing operations to regional players, said the spread of hops around the country reflects a growing interest in locally sourced beer. He expects the trend to continue. Pat Tiernan, chief operating office of Escondido, Calif.-based Stone Brewing Company, said it's possible that hops grown outside of traditional areas might impart a slightly different flavor or aroma. He said players in craft beer are watching. "In new areas, you've got to keep your ear to the ground," he said. In this Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016 photo, Jordan Wambeke, head brewer of the Carakale Brewery in Fuheis, Jordan, keeps an eye on the labeler machine in the brewery's bottling assembly line. The Jordanian microbrew is starting to export to the United States its signature blonde, Indian pale ale, and a coffee porter dosed with roasted cardamom. (Sam McNeil/AP Photo) SHARE By KARIN LAUB, Associated Press FUHEIS, Jordan (AP) It took gumption to pour millions of dollars into starting a brewery in an overwhelmingly Muslim country where many frown on consuming alcohol. Jordanian beer pioneer Yazan Karadsheh is now taking his next risky step, sending a first shipment of his Carakale to the U.S., where it will compete with thousands of brands in a $22 billion-a-year craft beer market. The 32-year-old Karadsheh is part of a small but growing brotherhood of Arab brewers in the Levant who want to nurture local beer-drinking cultures and compete against the brews of large companies, some of them multi-nationals that dominate the region's beer market. Carakale is the first craft beer in Jordan. The West Bank already has three independent breweries well-established veteran Taybeh, newcomer Shepherds and tiny Wise Men's Choice, made in a basement near biblical Bethlehem. Lebanese brands include Colonel, made at a large brew pub in the coastal town of Batroun, and 961, named after the country's international dialing code. Small breweries also sprang up in Israel over the past decade. It's a modest revival in a region where beer-brewing traditions go back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, but lay dormant for centuries. Demand is also up. Regional beer consumption increased by 44 percent over the past decade though the close to 4 million hectoliters (105 million gallons) guzzled in nine Arab countries and Israel last year amount to a drop compared to U.S. consumption of 234 million hectoliters (6.1 billion gallons), according to industry figures and IWSR, an alcoholic drinks research company. Karadsheh believes there's room for expansion. "Obviously, they drink," Karadsheh, a member of Jordan's Christian minority, said of his compatriots. "Alcohol might be taboo, but you can find alcohol and buy alcohol easily in the market. Jordan is a very liberal place, compared to surrounding countries." Karadsheh and other up-and-coming brewers Shepherds founder Alaa Sayej in the West Bank and Colonel creator Jamil Haddad in Lebanon stumbled onto their career-changing passion by chance. Karadsheh studied engineering in Boulder, Colorado, a decade ago, but then got a second degree in brewing. Sayej, 27, earned a master's degree in finance, but began brewing in his U.K. dorm room. Haddad, 33, quit a job in advertising to turn his long-time beer brewing hobby into a business. In liberal, diverse Lebanon, getting a brewing license was a simple procedure unfettered by social taboos, said Haddad. By contrast, Karadsheh and Sayej battled red tape and religious backlash. Sayej said officials in the Palestinian self-rule government initially rejected his label featuring the drawing of a shepherd, insisting it was a depiction of Jesus and thus blasphemous on a beer bottle. Sayej, a Christian, said it took him three months to persuade the authorities otherwise. There was also trouble in his home village of Bir Zeit, where he set up his brewery. Once predominantly Christian, the village has a growing Muslim population. At a recent Bir Zeit heritage festival, Shepherds decided to remove its booth after a local Muslim preacher railed against the brewery at the local mosque, saying it's "haram," or religiously forbidden. Sayej said he withdrew because he didn't want to disrupt community relations, but that Shepherds later staged its own festival in Bir Zeit. Karadsheh's initial land deal for his brewery fell through because the owner didn't want to be linked to alcohol production. Karadsheh found another plot near Fuheis, a predominantly Christian community close to Amman. During construction, a tile layer walked off the job, feeling it was wrong to work in a brewery. Still, they managed to start brewing Karadsheh in 2013, Haddad in 2014 and Sayej last year. All three feel passionate about what goes into their different styles of beers, including seasonal brews for the summer and for Christmas, as well as staples like blond ale, wheat and stout beer. Karadsheh and his onsite brewer, Jordan Wambeke, hope to break into the U.S. market with beers infused with distinctly Middle Eastern flavors, such as a coffee porter with a pinch of cardamom and a hint of date molasses. "In general, people go to imports looking for something different, something they absolutely can't get locally, and something that is going to last the trip overseas," said Wambeke, 28, who is from Cody, Wyoming, and joined Carakale six months ago. The first shipment of about 7,000 liters is to leave the Fuheis brewery in the coming weeks for a warehouse in New Jersey, for further distribution along the East Coast, said Karadsheh. Carakale will be competing with products from more than 4,500 craft beer breweries in the U.S., where two more microbreweries open each day, said Bart Watson, chief economist at the Brewers Association, which represents independent brewers. Watson said it's a challenge to break into the competitive U.S. beer market, worth more than $100 billion a year, but that consumption of craft beers and imports is growing. "Any company that can differentiate itself and offer something new has an opportunity," he said. Sayej, who teamed up with younger brothers Khalid and Aziz the company slogan is "brewed by brothers for friends" also hopes to export. He said he has pre-orders from Italy, the U.K., Sweden, Belgium and the U.S., but is waiting to install pasteurization equipment this fall. Pasteurization helps beer survive a long journey, he said. Sayej banks on the beer's origins for his marketing strategy. "We have the best ingredient in the world to distinguish us," he said jokingly. "It's Holy Land water." Veteran brewer Nadim Khoury, who launched Taybeh beer in the West Bank in 1994 and now makes 600,000 liters a year, takes pride in being the first to put Palestinians on the global beer map. "We don't have a country," Khoury said of decades of failed efforts to set up a Palestinian state. "But we have our own beer." Karadsheh wants the same for Jordan to "create the first internationally recognized Jordanian beer." Ghosts didn't stop Hollywood actress from moving to Dunsmuir Actress Jet Jandreau fell in love with Dunsmuir - even after a ghostly experience at a Siskiyou County hotel mirrored events in her latest movie. National Day bookings for travel to US up threefold Updated: 2016-09-22 01:46 By ZHAO XINYING(China Daily) The number of Chinese traveling to the United States during China's National Day holiday in October is expected to rise remarkably, in keeping with an expected overall increase for the whole year, tourism industry insiders said. Bookings for travel to the US during the National Day holiday, from Oct 1 to 7, are triple the number from last year, according to a report released on Tuesday by lvmama.com, a major online travel booking platform. Ni Jiali, general manager of Lvmama.com's outbound tourism department, said the rise resulted from beneficial tourism policies adopted by both China and the US. "2016 is the Sino-US tourism year, and a lot of events are being hosted against this backdrop," she said, citing as an example the high-level China-US dialogue on tourism held this month in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region. Additionally, the US Commerce Department will work with the China National Tourism Administration to cultivate new travel paths, and seminars will be held to figure out ways to improve tourists' travel experience, she said. Such factors as the mutual approval of visas allowing multiple entries within 10 years and the launch of new direct flights between the two countries are also making a difference, according to Yu Wenjun, director of US travel for Ctrip, a leading online travel agency. Bookings at Ctrip for travel to the US during the weeklong holiday have increased by 40 percent over the same period last year, making the US the fourth-favorite destination for Chinese tourists during the coming holiday. The first three destinations are all China's neighbors Thailand, South Korea and Japan. The number of Chinese tourists traveling to the US has increased greatly in the past decade. Last year alone saw nearly 2.7 million a fourfold increase from the number in 2007. "I believe that with the help of all these happenings around the Sino-US tourism year, this number will not only swell during the upcoming weeklong holiday, but also for the whole year," said Ni of Lvmama.com. zhaoxinying@chinadaily.com.cn SHARE By Joe Szydlowski of the Redding Record Searchlight Tehama County sheriff's detectives investigated 10 murders in 2014 and 2015 twice as many as the three previous years combined. "Our last four homicides were all in what you would call Prop. 215 (marijuana grows)," said Sheriff Dave Hencratt, referring to large grows under the state's medical marijuana law. He presented the statistics to the Tehama County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday as part of his agency's 2014-15 Biyearly Report, which also discussed several initiatives his office has taken. "One of the reasons it's biyearly, I told the board, we had so many different projects the past two years, some of it carried over from the previous year," he said. That report states that the number of assaults and burglaries jumped each by about 40 to 50 cases to around 175 while thefts fell to their lowest level 75 cases in recent memory. Hencratt said he wasn't sure what's behind those trends, except for the massive increase in murders his office investigated one homicide each year in 2011 and 2013 and three in 2012. In 2014, that number jumped to five cases and stayed at that level in 2015, he said. Most of those stem from infighting over larger-scale marijuana grows in rural areas of the county, which previously banned outdoor grows and grows larger than a few plants indoors, Hencratt said. "They're not the national forest grows, such as at Lassen (National) Forest where 5,000 plants are being grown, that's not the case here," he said. One recent murder occurred off Highway 36 at a grow of less than 100 plants, he said. "There were some disagreements within the organization to some extent, shots were fired," he said. But what's driving the assaults and burglaries up and thefts and robberies down isn't clear, he said. But most of the public has little to fear about violent crimes, such as assault, he said. "It's not the average Joe walking down the street getting assaulted," he said. "They're people who know each other." He said that category captures all assaults or attempted assaults. He said he doesn't know how much under-reporting, in which victims don't call authorities for various reasons, distorts the reports' numbers because it's impossible to say how many crimes go unreported, he said. "When realignment hit and (I did) talks about AB 109, that question was asked: 'Should we even call?' Yes," he said. "We still need to keep doing our jobs, and that means you citizens need to keep reporting (crimes) to us." Even if his deputies are delayed, reporting crimes allows his deputies to discern trends. Other positive news for Tehama County includes the sheriff's auto-body program, which saved about $160,000 by having those in the alternative-custody programs spend time maintaining county vehicles, Hencratt said. "We're not necessarily teaching them to be a mechanic. We're requiring them to show up in the morning, do a certain amount of work and then go back to their address," he said. "That's ingrained in you and sometimes it's hard. But some of these guys and gals have never had the opportunity for this type of work and lifestyle show them you can do this, you can have a job." SHARE Mary Sanchez Wells Fargo kicked its public relations machine into gear after news broke that regulators fined the bank $185 million for creating up to 2 million fake accounts in the names of existing customers. The company took out full-page ads in major publications and top executives made promises to adhere to the company's "values." The problem is, the financial giant's values and business culture are all too evident in this debacle. Regulators slapped the fine on Wells Fargo through a settlement after discovering that employees created fake email addresses, fraudulently applied for credit cards and moved unwitting customers' money to the new accounts. The misbehavior earned bonuses and let employees meet aggressive sales quotas. Yet so far, Wells Fargo remains in denial. Sure, it fired thousands of employees and refunded millions of dollars to the customers in whose names the accounts were fraudulently opened. However, its settlement with regulators does not require it to admit wrongdoing, and its top executive denies that its system of incentives contributed to the behavior. This is as troubling as the original deceits. Because it signals that significant change, the sort of deep rewiring of attitudes and how they play out in policy might not come. CEO John Stumpf flatly insisted to the Wall Street Journal, "There was no incentive to do bad things." Why then, did Wells Fargo promptly dump the practice of sales goals to drive new business to its financial services? It's doubtful that the heavy insistence on cross-selling was shuttered for appearances only. The 5,300 people Wells Fargo fired for their involvement in the scandal are believed to have charged the unwitting customers $1.5 million in fees for accounts they didn't know they opened. They made 565,000 false credit card applications, sometimes closing the accounts as quickly as they were given credit for opening them. That's called covering your tracks. Such predatory practices don't occur in a vacuum. Regulators believe the behavior continued over about five years. No doubt, bosses up the chain of command were pleased and well compensated for the bogus new business and had little incentive to verify that it was on the level. That's business culture. At the top of that food chain was recently retired executive Carrie Tolstedt, who headed up the community banking sector. She left the firm with $124 million in stock and options. The lower level employees, who did wrong but were incentivized to do so, got fired. That, too, is business culture. And it's just one industry's example of why the average working person feels systems are so set against them. It doesn't matter that Wells Fargo refunded fees to people. Or that, in perspective, the 5,300 employees are a fraction of the company's 270,000 total workforce. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress have been trotting out plans to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau the very agency that helped bring this scandal to public light. That's business culture operating in politics. The Financial Choice Act, pushed by Jeb Hensarling, a Republican from Texas, seeks to roll back many of the checks and balances set in place by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, enacted after the financial crisis of 2008. Many Democrats admit that Dodd-Frank, like many sweeping laws, could benefit from a rewrite of certain passages. However, the Wells Fargo script shows clearly that regulators must remain vigilant. And the congressional friends of the big banks must not be allowed to muzzle the public's watchdog. Email Mary Sanchez at msanchez@kcstar.com. A queen is defined eight ways by Merriam-Websteramong them the wife of a king, a fertile female bee, a goddess or a thing personified as female and having supremacy in a specified realm. All include a female identifier except for this one: "the most privileged piece of each color in a set of chessmen having the power to move in any direction across any number of unoccupied squares." Privilege. Color. Power. Space. Whoever said life is a game of chess couldn't be more accurate. These four words are ever present in civil rights movement conversations. At the forefront of these conversations are activists fighting to claim space and redefine the country's race relations. Within our generation of revolutionaries are four Chicago artists of color who are raising up marginalized identities in a media-driven world that gravely lacks representations of black, brown and queer-identifying individuals. A director, a professor, a printmaker, a playwrightthey are Chicago's movers and shakers. Advertisement The first project in this three-part series that runs through Monday introduces Elijah McKinnon and Aymar Jean Christian of "Two Queens in a Kitchen," a queer-focused cooking show released by Open TV. Join us tomorrow and Monday to hear about Kristiana Rae Colon of Black Sex Matters and Angela Davis Fegan of "The Lavender Menace Poster Project," both of whom are pictured above and on the cover of Thursday's print edition alongside McKinnon and Christian. Elijah McKinnon, 'Two Queens in a Kitchen' creator and director. (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye) Aymar Jean Christian, head of development at Open TV. (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye) Most ideas born in kitchens end up on plates, but Elijah McKinnon had bigger plans. From a rant during a boozy brunch with friends came "Two Queens in a Kitchen," a nine-part queer-focused web series released in August featuring Chicago artists and activists of color who discuss politics, culture and art while cooking. Advertisement "Historically in a lot of black and brown communities, coming together around the kitchen is a very holistic and spiritual experience," said McKinnon, the series' creator and director, who uses the pronouns they/them/their. The concept for the show made a lot of sense to them: Film two artists from different backgrounds in a kitchen doing the things we all do in kitchens, hanging out, making snacks and having challenging conversations. The series is produced through Open TV, an online platform for alternative television projects that focus on communities often left out of mainstream TV and film. They are projects by and about people who identify as queer, as trans, as cis (non-trans) women, as people of color or as a combination of those identities. Each episode of "Two Queens in a Kitchen" pairs two guests of different artistriesa mixed media artist and a DJ, a filmmaker and a visual artist and yoga instructor, a burlesque performer and a hip-hop artist who works for the public library. Throughout the show, they all prepare snacks of their choosing (yes, the recipes are included). McKinnon's vision was scientific, much like cooking: "You're mixing all of these things together, and those particular elements become something so much larger when they're combined." Darling Shear makes caprese lox in episode two of 'Two Queens in a Kitchen.' (Photo courtesy of Zakkiyyah Najeeba) McKinnon, 24, who's also head of marketing for the platform, said the series is the most all-encompassing of Open TV's diverse audience, as it features several artists who have worked on past Open TV projects that are more focused on one community. The independent platform is a research project started by Aymar Jean Christian, an assistant professor of communication studies at Northwestern University and head of development at Open TV, who wanted to study alternative models for TV series development that focused on people who are marginalized in television controlled largely by a handful of conglomerates with networks. "I saw both on TV and in the independent web series market a lack of representation of people who were not white, straight and cisgender [and shows] that were artistic and intersectional," said Christian, 32. HUNGRY FOR REPRESENTATION Advertisement Since March 2015, Open TV has released six narrative and documentary series and four pilots, totaling 9.5 hours of programming. Part of what "Two Queens in a Kitchen" aims to do is raise up real people of color having real conversations presented in a way that's more dimensional than the hypersexualized, villainous and tokenized characters often portrayed in mainstream TV and film, McKinnon said. Sam Bailey is a writer, actor and filmmaker who created the award-nominated series "You're So Talented," presented by Open TV. Featured in episode four of "Two Queens in a Kitchen," she said in part one about the reception of her show, "people are just hungry for that type of content, they want to see themselves." She talks about a conversation with a biracial actor friend who said that she is extremely judgmental of biracial characters on television. "It's because we're so not used to seeing ourselves that you want that one representation to be everything, which is a difficult thing," Bailey said. McKinnon identifies with that reaction. They believe that the authenticity of a character can be skewed if the content isn't produced by people who share their experience and identity. "I don't just want to see a black character that's hired as help," they said. "That's not fun for me, and I'm supposed to be thankful, but that goes back to being conditioned to judge and being hypersensitive of how our bodies are being presented." Christian said that while representations of queer-identifying and black and brown communities are getting some in-depth recognition, writers are still reluctant to present those individuals' complexities. Though single episodes or scenes of shows might focus on some of those complications, they're still underexplored on the outskirts of the narrative. Advertisement "I think that is very frustrating to viewers who identify with those characters because everybody's life is complex and people want their experiences affirmed," he said. "You have to survive as a queer black person, you have to find love as a queer black person, and if you grew up in a family that wasn't like that, where do you get a vision, a model of how to live your life?" He cited "Orange Is the New Black" creator Jenji Kohan's NPR interview in which she said that shows about black and Latina women don't sell to network television, but that she could tell those stories through the perspective of a mostly straight white woman. Even though the show prominently features black and Latina women who are queer and trans, the main character, Piper, has more emotional range than the other characters, Christian said. Overall, TV networks have yet to address the "full range of life of queer and people of color," Christian said. Even within queer-focused or black-focused shows, he said he's often upset with the lack of representation of other identities. "The problem is intersectionality," he said. McKinnon noted Ava DuVernay ("Selma") and Shonda Rhimes ("Scandal," "Grey's Anatomy"), producers of color who are film and TV pioneers. "I respect the work that they are doing to make space within a larger cultural context, but to be honest, that thing is hard and will always be hard when we live in a world that was not designed to uplift black and/or queer experiences," they said. "If you live in the margin or even bordering it, it's not something that media was designed to capture." On the set of 'Two Queens in a Kitchen.' (Photo courtesy of Zakkiyyah Najeeba) Open TV's goal isn't to "hold hands" with mass media, but rather to redefine what that looks like, McKinnon said. Christian backed that up, adding that Open TV isn't interested in a relationship with legacy media groups. "The goal of Open TV is to support artists whose communities have been marginalized by the mass media," he said. Christian hopes Open TV not only gives its audience representation that affirms their experiences but also encourages Chicago-based viewers to get out and support other communities they're introduced to through the shows. Advertisement "That's something that TV doesn't do. You can watch 'Orange Is the New Black' and see different kinds of people, but what can you do after that to understand more about those people?" he asked. "By looking at TV on a small scale, it opens up so much about the artistry of the episode and who made it." LIVING FREE Open TV's programming, including "Two Queens in a Kitchen," flies in the face of media erasures. If something isn't represented, it does not exist, McKinnon said. But they know that not to be true. For them, Open TV ensures that space on the internet is "not only being made but claimed" by queer-identifying people, people of color and anyone who lives in the margins, which is what their series aims to do. It's not unlike the digital activism that has characterized the Black Lives Matter movement. McKinnon emphasized the movement's ability to keep media at the forefront of the conversation, highlighting the queer feminist black leaders of this era. While black, brown, queer and transgender people have always been part of civil rights movements, they aren't slipping through the cracks this time. "If we are able to set free the most marginalized communities within our communities then we are able to set others free," McKinnon said. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > But the most natural form of activism to McKinnon doesn't live on the internet. It's about gathering and celebrating black lives, something "Two Queens in a Kitchen" does well. "Those true moments of healing don't come from a tweet in my perspective," they said. "They come from those intimate, raw moments that can't be edited or distilled." In part one of episode five, hip-hop artist Roy Kinsey asks burlesque performer MS MR JR, who doesn't have a cellphone, how they live without one. Looking directly in the camera, MS MR JR confidently replies, "free." Christian said that moment speaks volumes about Open TV, whose mission through the platform is to highlight many identities to show audiences that there are different ways to live. Advertisement "People are very scared of their identity because as a culture we want to fit in. Queer people have to come up with a way to be themselves and be free and healthy and love themselves," he said. "I think everyone at Open TV knows a little bit about what that's about, what it's like to live free against all odds, and I think that's what 'Two Queens in a Kitchen' is about." That's exactly what McKinnon hopes viewers take away from the show, that people who need it most find a bit of themselves. "The reference of 'queen' is celebratory. It's making space and uplifting the divine, the goddess that's in all of us, so I hope that when folks watch that material, they are aware that that energy lives within all of us," they said. "The people who are in the series are in constant pursuit of that, constantly trying to become more queenly and more excellent within their own regard that's rooted in self-love or self-worth. And that is the core of 'Two Queens in a Kitchen.' " Go to redeyechicago.com/blacklovematters to read the entire series with two new profiles being released tomorrow and Monday. @OhItsHeather on Twitter | Instagram The trust deficit has widened with buyers losing confidence in a developers ability to construct and deliver a project on time, leading to a sharp drop in demand, says Shyamal Majumdar. If wishes were horses, Indias real estate companies can expect better days in the second half of 2016. According to a survey titled Real Estate Sentiment Index, released last month by Knight Frank India and industry chamber Ficci, over 95 per cent of the respondents apparently believe that the sales volume in the residential space will either be at the same level or improve in the next six months. But many home buyers across the country would perhaps want to know the identity of these robustly optimistic respondents at a time when they have simply nowhere to go but the courts to recover money from even marquee real estate companies, which have reneged on their commitments on price and delivery. Even that hasnt helped, as several of these firms have told the Supreme Court that they are simply in no position to refund money to home buyers. We dont have money. If we had money, we would have constructed the flats and buildings and given to them, the counsel for one of these companies told the apex court, after the judges said the company concerned must refund the money. The judges have generally held that no company can ignore the rights of flat buyers, who wanted their money back after the projects got into controversy for allegedly violating the law. In some cases, companies have been asked to pay hefty penalty to compensate flat buyers for delays in delivery of houses. Those fortunate enough to get possession say they are not getting what they were promised including the total area at the time of sale. As a result, the trust deficit has widened with buyers losing confidence in a developers ability to construct and deliver a project on time, leading to a sharp drop in demand/prices as well as the number of launches. Real estate companies, however, think the courts have been harsh at a time when the sector is battling a slowdown and a liquidity squeeze. Noted lawyer Kapil Sibal summed up the mood when he told the top court that real estate companies will be finished. It will only prompt a run on the companies. They will sink, but will this help anybody? Banks and large lenders like the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) have tried to find a way out of the mess by auctioning assets seized from debt-laden property developers that have defaulted on loans. Many of them are busy taking symbolic possession of properties because of non-payment of loans. Symbolic possession means banks are not in physical possession of the properties, but are free to sell the assets. In this scenario, real estate loans are a strict no-go area for most banks. This is understandable considering the Reserve Bank of India has continuously flagged high levels of stress emanating from the real estate segment. Heres why. According to Capitaline data, the aggregate debt of 120 real estate firms has jumped from Rs 59,331 crore (Rs 593.31 billion) in 2011-12 to Rs 83,230 crore (Rs 832.30 billion) in 2015-16. This sharp rise in debt, coupled with anaemic sales (sales in the top eight cities dipped sharply in the first half of 2016), has meant that the capacity of realty firms to service their debt obligations has deteriorated. The interest coverage ratio for the 120 firms has declined from 2.5 in 2011-12 to 1.79 in 2015-16, showing the reduced capacity of firms to service their interest obligations. While real estate developers say things are improving as the average delivery of projects as a percentage of under-construction stock has shown a noticeable increase, many others have a different view. For example, estimates made by PropEquity show completion of more than half the apartments are likely to spill over to 2017. What could help improve matters is the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, (RERA). The law ensures transparency from builders, with stringent provisions for compensation in case of delays. Under the law, state-level regulatory authorities will be required to decide on builder-buyer disputes within 60 days; appellate tribunals will get another 60 days after that to address disputes over the formers decisions. The law also mandates developers to keep 70 per cent project money in an escrow account so that it is used only for the project for which it has been raised. This means they will not be able to siphon off funds to other projects, the biggest reason for delays. Also, promoters have been barred from changing a projects design without the consent of buyers. The Act also has a uniform definition for apartment area, another big reason for builder-buyer disputes. Besides, builders have been made liable for structural defects in buildings up to five years from the earlier period of two years. The best part of the Act is that it creates a level playing field. At present, rights of both the developer and the home buyer emanate from the agreement for sale. But these agreements are heavily loaded in favour of the developer. For example, interest on late payments for consumers is as high as 18 per cent, but the compensation to them by developers in case of a project delay, is abysmally low and varies across contracts. Under the law, both developers and consumers will have to pay the same rate of interest for delays on their respective parts. Will these proposals see strict implementation at the ground level? Thats another story. Photograph: Reuters Neutrality and jurisdiction in international trade need to be discussed threadbare before GST is implemented in India, says Divya S Iyer. This is a question too difficult for a mathematician. It should be asked of a philosopher. Albert Einstein famously responded thus, to his tax returns. I am afraid his response would have been the same today. It has been a long and slow walk for the renewed integrated taxation system in the country. In a sphere that has faced obstacles of multiple hues in the past - exports - it becomes all the more important. Let us keep in mind that the export share of India has fallen to $262 million in 2016 from $302 million in 2012. With that bit of mathematics alone, let us meander into the realm of philosophy of the goods and services tax (GST). GST aka value-added tax in some regions has already been implemented in more than 130 countries. The Mirrlees Review of the UK tax system, touted to be the best-researched document on modern tax systems, lays down a road map for the ideal tax design for the 21st century. The principle of neutrality takes centre stage in the context of international trade. As GST is a destination-based tax, exports from the country of origin go out at zero-rated tax, after exempting or refunding the input taxes that may be given to the resources used in its manufacturing. Conversely, imports from another country would be taxed at the same rate as local supplies of the same category within the domestic market. The OECD guidelines on Neutrality of VAT in International Trade lay down this as the first guideline: the burden of VAT should not lie on taxable businesses. This is to ensure that the chain of taxation doesnt wrongfully terminate in one of the business links instead of the final consumer - in case of exports, the jurisdiction where the final consumer falls, is elsewhere. The National Council of Applied Economic Research, in 2009, brought out a paper, Moving to Goods and Services Tax in India: Impact on Indias Growth and International Trade, dwelling on the ramifications of GST on trade. It clearly states that evidence from research done in 136 countries on data from 1950 to 2000 showed a negative relationship between GST and international trade. GST implementation by a country impeded its international trade mainly due to two factors: i) GSTs were generally imposed heavily on traded sectors; ii) governments often failed to provide adequate GST rebates for exports. As of today, in schemes such as Advance Authorisation, exporters are exempted from paying duty on items imported, against an export obligation within the given period of time. Granting of such exemptions of input taxes is feared to break the GST chain, and hence not considered viable. This would mean that the exporter in India pays GST for the imported input item, manufactures the final product and exports the goods/services to the destination country where she ends up paying the import taxes of that jurisdictional market. This goes against the basic principle of absence of duplication in taxes under GST. In case of domestic markets, the input taxes paid are offset against the output taxes, in the form of VAT credit, even now. As the market goes out of jurisdiction - as in the case of exports - the offsetting of taxes would become impractical unless it is within a group of free-trading countries. As compensation, the concept of refund of input tax has been introduced. However, the timing of the refund is bound to be upon the fulfilment of export obligation, and is likely to quarantine huge sums of money within the coffers. The schemes which provide exemption/remission of input-taxes, according to World Trade Organization guidelines, must hence be allowed to continue, lest we export our GST, too, along with the traded goods and services. Countries with booming exports such as Singapore, Malaysia and Australia have introduced various mechanisms in GST to neutralise the input tax. GST suspension at the point of input entry into the export cycle is the easiest to replicate, with the least disturbance of the existing system. Here, if the trader is found to not fulfil his export obligation or sell his products in the domestic market, he would be taxed according to the local rate along with GST repayment. Input GST Deferral is another scheme, whereby, the exporter is allowed to delay the payment of GST to input items. A Business Activity Statement, which is periodically filed by the trader, reveals the GST liability thus accumulated, which is finally offset against the export obligation fulfilled. The scope of the existing provision of input tax credit in our GST Draft Bill could be expanded so that no money is actually paid by the exporter at the time of import of an input item, but a mere entry into an electronic credit ledger is made, which would be offset against the export obligations. Input tax credit, as defined by other countries, clearly states that it is the credit on tax incurred on goods/services purchased in the course of production of taxable (zero-rated/standard-rated) output supplies. However, this explicit applicability of input tax credit to stand in for the current duty exemption schemes is lacking in the Draft Bill, and will need to be explained. This and other concerns regarding the continuance of benefits for capital goods under the EPCG scheme, on deemed exports etc, continue to be deliberated upon. The author is an IAS officer and the editor of four books. Views expressed are personal. The minister said his target is to complete Mumbai-Goa highway by 2018 With the construction of 4-lane Mumbai-Goa highway, to be completed by 2018, travel time will reduce to six hours, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said in Panaji on Thursday. "We have already started the work on Mumbai-Goa four-lane cement concrete road. Our target is to complete Mumbai-Goa highway by 2018. Once it is completed, it will take only six hours from Goa to Mumbai," Gadkari told a gathering in presence of Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. The road will help boost tourism of the coastal state, he said, adding that he has agreed to link the Mumbai-Goa highway to Pollem in South Goa against the earlier plan to connect it up to Patradevi on Goas border touching Maharashtra. The minister was addressing a gathering after chairing an event to sign an agreement between Mormugao Port Trust and Vedantas Goa Sea Port Private Limited for the re-development of cargo berth number 8 and 9 besides barge berths and inauguration of roof top 200 KV capacity solar power generation plant at MPT. "When I had taken charge, the road construction was 2 km per day, then it was 22 km per day, and now we are targeting at 42 km per day by next March. The life of the road will be at least 50 years," Gadkari said. Stating that 500,000 accidents occur every year in the country, Gadkari asserted that special attention would be given to reduce road mishaps. "By making four lane concrete road we will save the life of the people on Goa-Mumbai highway. At the same time we are identifying the accidental 'black spots' across the country. We have already invested money for improvement of 786 black spots," he said. "We have made it a point that 10 per cent of the fund would be reserved to improve the black spots on highways, state roads and municipal roads. States should identity the black spots. We will definitely give money to improve them. It will also save lives," the minister added. Image used for representation purpose only. Photograph: Baaz Ratner/Reuters Pallon has already joined the boards of some of the unlisted companies such as Afcons After Shapoor P Mistry and Cyrus Mistry, the next generation has stepped in at the 150-year-old Shapoorji Pallonji group. Pallon S Mistry, 25, son of the groups managing director Shapoor P Mistry and grandson of billionaire Pallonji Mistry, also referred to as Phantom of Bombay House, has joined the business. His uncle Cyrus Mistry is the chairman of Tata Sons where the Mistry family owns 18.5 per cent stake. Pallons aunt Aloo is married to Noel Tata, half-brother of Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata. Pallon, who has done his postgraduation from Imperial College London, comes on board at a time when the group is growing at a steady pace in the country as well as abroad. According to sources, Pallon has already joined the boards of some of the unlisted companies such as Afcons. He spends time across businesses and gets involved in all new initiatives of the group, said a spokesperson. The group, which is known for building the Reserve Bank of India and State Bank of India head office in Mumbai, is looking at a turnover of Rs 30,000 crore in the current financial year from business segments such as solar, water, ports and oil & gas infrastructure, among others. In FY16, the group posted a turnover of Rs 26,000 crore growing at 20 per cent, said a group spokesperson. About 40 per cent was generated from abroad. Solar, water, ports, and oil & gas infrastructure will be our key areas of focus. Besides, with the investment cycle reviving, we are very optimistic about the infrastructure construction space... The group has set a target of 20 per cent growth for the coming year, the spokesperson added. According to sources quoted above, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm Sterling & Wilson; infrastructure company Afcons; the groups international arm SP International; and the flagship Shapoorji Pallonji & Co have contributed to the top line. The spokesperson said group company Sterling & Wilson is the largest EPC contractor in India and among the top six in the world, having installed 1,000 Mw globally in FY16 alone. Water purifier systems maker Eureka Forbes is a market leader with 65 per cent market share and a 10,000-strong direct sales force, he adds. Increasingly, more and more construction and engineering projects are being delivered by the group under the design and build (also called turnkey) project mode with involvement of the design centre, he said. SP International is well established in West Asia and Africa and it has plans to move South Asia and East Asia, the spokesperson said. Besides infrastructure and construction, the group is also growing its real estate play. Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate has tied up with Standard Chartered Private Equity and International Finance Corporation, and has set up Joyville, an affordable housing project which plans to deliver 20 mn sq ft in the next six to seven years. Shapoorji also has a joint venture company SD Corp, which is developing a couple of real estate projects in Mumbai. The group has a real estate fund management company SP Investment Advisors, which has forged a venture with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to invest in income-producing office projects. Shapoorji Pallonji serves clients in 50 countries and has a workforce of 60,000. Photograph: Kind courtesty, Prakashgosavi.wordpress.com E-commerce job queries have been increasing as well. Government jobs are on the minds of millions of Indians, according to search engine giant Google. There is a 48 per cent rise from last year in the number of people seeking government jobs, according to a report, Digital Classifieds in India 2020, launched on Wednesday by Google and KPMG. "This year job searches related to the government have been on the rise. E-commerce job queries have been increasing as well. Other sectors where people are looking for jobs are banking and information technology," said Nitin Bawankule, industry director, Google India. He added more people were seeking jobs and other services in Indian languages and sarkari naukri was one of the top searched Indic terms. The online job search market is set to double by 2020 with 63 per cent consumers accessing e-classifieds. The Indian digital classifieds industry was projected to grow three times to $1.2 billion by 2020, the report said, adding Bengaluru, Mumbai, the NCR and Hyderabad were the top cities for online job searches. Horizontal classifieds will continue to lead with about 30 per cent market share of total digital classifieds in 2020. Google search trends reveal local searches in these categories have grown four times in the last four years, led by cities like Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Kochi, Coimbatore, Indore and Jaipur. Within e-services classifieds dining, automobile rentals, relocation services and home services like beauty, tutoring and personal trainers are the most popular segments. "The ecosystem is ripe for the emergence of digital classifieds. Spurred by smartphones, online users are expected to grow to 650 million by 2020, and the digital classifieds segment is expected to touch $1.2 billion," Bawankule added. "There is a high possibility of e-tailing, e-services and digital classifieds coming together as a strong one-stop value proposition," said Sreedhar Prasad, partner, e-commerce and startups, KPMG India. NEW HORIZON 48 per cent rise from last year in people seeking govt jobs Sarkari naukri one of the top searched Indic terms Online job search market set to double by 2020 63% consumers access e-classifieds Industry projected to grow three times to $1.2 bn by 2020 Horizontal classifieds to constitute 30% market share Photograph: Reuters Plans a high-voltage relaunch of Note7, multi-media campaign before new iPhone launch In a bid to counter the hype over the launch of Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus on October 7 in India, Samsung is readying for a high-voltage relaunch of its flagship Galaxy Note 7. The Korean giant is planning to introduce the model, which it had to recall days before the new iPhone models hit the market here owing to battery-related issues. An all-round media campaign covering television, print and digital media will be highlight of the relaunch, say sources. The two global rivals in high-end smartphones have in recent years intensified their fight for supremacy in the country as sales of premium handsets have picked up in recent years. During the past three years, any new iPhone has been countered by Samsung with a new flagship device in the premium price category (above Rs 40,000). Ahead of Apple Samsung gears up for Galaxy Note 7 relaunch days before the launch of iPhone 7 & 7 Plus New Note 7 models will be manufactured separately and not be refurbished versions of the handsets made earlier While it placed Galaxy S6 and Note 5 models against iPhone 6S and 6S Plus last year, in 2014, when Apple introduced iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Samsung had come up with S5. According to sources, the new Note 7 models will be manufactured separately and not be refurbished versions of the handsets made earlier. Samsung will highlight the fact prominently on packaging and promotional campaigns. According to analysts, a successful relaunch of Note 7, the device that Samsung positioned this year against the upcoming iPhone, would be critical for the company in the festive season. Their messaging should be prompt and should reach the consumers way ahead of the relaunch. For years, Samsungs flagship devices have been the main challenger to Apple iPhones in the country, said Faisal Kawoosa, lead (telecoms and semiconductor & electronics practices at CyberMedia Research. While the company is ready with replacements of Note 7 devices that it earlier sold in the US, a report in USA Today quoted a recent survey by SurveyMonkey saying a third of those surveyed who own the phone have said they will opt for a refund rather than a replacement model. About 35 per cent (of respondents) said they would seek a refund, while 26 per cent said they will buy an iPhone from Apple, Samsung's major competitor in the US... Only 18 per cent, or less than one in five, said they would stick with the Note 7, the report said. Photograph: Luke MacGregor/Reuters Demand for Mandarin rises in UK as China's influence grows Updated: 2016-09-21 17:31 By WANG MINGJIE(China Daily UK) British students sing a Chinese song during the opening ceremony at the Confucius Institute (Classrooms) annual conference in London. [Photo by PANG XINGLEI/XINHUA] China's growing global influence is being fueled by the expansion of Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in the UK, as more and more students start learning Mandarin. According to Pearson, the British multinational publishing and education company, the number of students sitting Mandarin exams this year as part of the General Certificate of Secondary Education was up by 10 percent year-on-year, or 3,438 entrants,with a75 percent increase in entrants over the past five years. More than 81 percent of students gained A* and A grades in their GCSE Mandarin exams this year. This compares with an overall fall in the number of students taking GCSE modern foreign language exams,with the numbers taking exams in French down by 8.1 percent,and a fall of 7 percent in those taking German compared with last year. Wang Yongli, minister counselor for education at the Chinese embassy, said the expansion of UK Confucius Institutes and Classrooms plays an important role in the rise of Mandarin in the country. Speaking at a celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institute for Scotland in Edinburgh this week, Wang said: "They are seen as centers of excellence to provide great support to teachers and schools in Mandarin teaching through a wide network. To date, there are 29 Confucius Institutes and 134 Confucius Classrooms in the UK." Katharine Carruthers, director of the UCL Institute of Education Confucius Institute, said,"Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms have played a key role in the increase of Chinese teaching in England and subsequent growth in entrants for the GCSE." Mark Herbert, head of the schools program at the British Council, said Mandarin is viewed as one of the most important languages for the UK's prosperity over the next 20 years. Herbert said increased investment in opportunities to support Mandarin teaching in the UK has helped to make the language a more realistic option for more schools. The British government recently launched a 10 million pound ($12.96million) Mandarin Excellence Program, designed to make teenagers fluent in the language by 2020. The program has been introduced in secondary schools nationwide, with hundreds of pupils having already begun intensive lessons. Minister of State for School Standards, Nick Gibb, said, "A high level of fluency in Mandarin will become increasingly important in our globally competitive economy." However, despite Mandarin growing in popularity among British students, experts say it is a relatively difficult language to master for nonnative speakers. Zhou Fang,Chinese co-director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton, said, "Children need to learn four different tones for each syllable, which could have a completely different meaning." The combined networth of India's 100 wealthiest is $381 billion (nearly Rs 25.5 lakh crore), a rise of 10 per cent from $ 345 billion in 2015 Photograph: Courtesy, Reliance Industrialist Mukesh Ambani was, on Thursday, named India's richest person for ninth year in a row with a sharp increase in networth to $22.7 billion, while Sun Pharma's Dilip Shanghvi, below, was ranked a distant second with a wealth of $16.9 billion. Photograph courtesy: Creative Commons The Hinduja Family moved up to the third position ($15.2 billion) on the annual Forbes list of India's 100 Richest People. Wipro's Azim Premji, bottom, slipped one place to fourth with a networth of $15 billion. Patanjali Ayurved's Acharya Balkrishna, known as a close associate of yoga guru Ramdev, has made a surprise entry at the 48th position with a networth of $2.5 billion on the list compiled by the American business magazine known for its rich lists. Forbes said the combined networth of India's 100 wealthiest is $381 billion (nearly Rs 25.5 lakh crore), a rise of 10 per cent from $ 345 billion in 2015. Mukesh Ambani's wealth rose in the past one year from $18.9 billion to $22.7 billion (over Rs 1.5 lakh crore) on 21 per cent surge in share price of Reliance Industries, the flagship company of his group, which recently launched 4G mobile services with much fanfare. He was ranked 36th in the global rich list. Younger brother Anil Ambani was ranked 32nd with a networth of $3.4 billion, down from 29th spot last year. Shanghvi also retained his second position, though his wealth fell by $1.1 billion due to a plunge in share price of his group firm Sun Pharma, the world's fifth largest generic drug maker, Forbes said. Hinduja brothers rose to the third spot by displacing Premji and saw their worth rising to $15.2 billion, from $14.8 a year ago. Srichand, Gopichand Hinduja. Photograph: PTI Photo "The four siblings - Srichand, Gopichand, Prakash, and Ashok - control multinational empire Hinduja Group, with businesses ranging from trucks and lubricants to banking and cable television. The group commissioned its much-delayed 1,040 mw thermal power unit in South India in July," the magazine said. "In a post-Brexit world, India appears a steady ship with an economy growing at 7 per cent-plus. The majority of India's 100 richest have notched up handsome gains as their companies have outperformed the stock market in the past year. As the domestic investment cycle starts kicking in, we can expect more gains and new names in the future," Forbes Asia's India editor Naazneen Karmali said about the list. Pallonji Mistry. Forbes also said the fortunes of cement and paint tycoons in the country benefitted from the government's infrastructure push and housing-for-all policy. Shree Cement's Benu Gopal Bangur moved up to the 14th place with a networth of $5.9 billion, while Asian Paints' Ashwin Dani saw his wealth rise to $3.3 billion to rank him 34th. As many as 15 people, including these two, saw their wealth rise by more than $1 billion. India's billionaire club Rank Name Company Networth 1 Mukesh Ambani Reliance Industries $22.7 billion 2 Dilip Shanghvi Sun Pharma $16.9 billion 3 Srichand, Gopichand, Prakash, and Ashok Hinduja Hinduja Group $15.2 billion 4 Azim Premji Wipro $15 billion 5 Pallonji Mistry Shapoorji Pallonji $13.9 billion 6 Lakshmi Mittal ArcelorMittal $12.5 billion 7 Godrej family Godrej Group $12.4 billion 8 Shiv Nadar HCL Tech $11.4 billion 9 Kumar Birla Aditya Birla Group $8.8 billion 10 Cyrus Poonawalla Poonawalla Group $8.6 billion 11 Uday Kotak Kotak Mahindra Bank $8.3 billion 12 Sunil Mittal Bharti Enterprises $6.6 billion 13 Gautam Adani Adani Group $6.3 billion 14 Benu Gopal Bangur Shree Cement $5.9 billion 15 Anand Burman Dabur $5.85 billion 16 Shashi & Ravi Ruia Essar Group $5.8 billion 17 Bajaj Family Bajaj $5.7 billion 18 Subhash Chandra Essel Group $5.6 billion 19 Savitri Jindal Jindal Steel & Power $5.3 billion 20 Desh Bandhu Gupta Lupin $5.1 billion Sourav Majumdar, editor, Forbes India, said: "This year's list sees a rise in the overall wealth of the country's top 100 billionaires, in line with the movement of the markets. While the composition at the top of the list remains largely unchanged, the distribution of wealth within the list continues, with the top 20 now contributing 52 percent of the total, down from 55 per cent last year." Forbes' 100-richest for 2016 saw eight persons rejoining the ranks and these included biotech major Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw at 65th place with $1.83 billion. Besides, there are six newcomers including serial entrepreneurs and brothers Bhavin and Divyank Turakhia (95th, $1.3 billion), who sold their ad tech firm Media.net for $900 million to a consortium of Chinese investors. Balkrishna made his debut at 48th place ($2.5 billion), "thanks to his 97 per cent holding in fast-growing consumer goods outfit Patanjali Ayurved, which he co-founded with yoga guru Baba Ramdev." Hero group's Pawan Munjal debuted at 29th place ($3.65 billion), taking his father late Brijmohan Lall Munjal's spot on the list. Pawan Munjal. Photograph: Reuters The minimum amount required to make the list was $1.25 billion, up from $1.1 billion in 2015. There were 13 drop-offs from the last year, including textile magnet Balkrishan Goenka and co-founders of Flipkart, Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal. Forbes said the list was compiled using shareholding and financial information obtained from the families and individuals, stock exchanges, analysts and regulators. The ranking lists family fortunes, including those shared among extended families such as the Godrej and Bajaj families. Public fortunes were calculated based on stock prices and exchange rates as of September 9. Private companies were valued based on similar companies that are publicly traded. The magazine also gave a disclaimer that Reliance Industries is the owner of Network 18, publisher of Forbes India. Royal Enfield motorbike maker Eicher Motors' Vikram Lal was ranked 21st with $ 5 billion, while DLF's K P Singh was 22nd with $ 4.8 billion. Infosys' co-founder and former chairman N R Narayana Murthy is ranked 62nd with $1.87 billion, while his former colleagues Nandan Nilekani is at 80th with $1.62 billion and S Gopalakrishnan is at 81st with $1.61 billion. Anand Mahindra is at 90th place with $ 1.42 billion, while mining baron Anil Agarwal is at 63rd place with $1.86 billion. Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, who once owned a huge pharmaceutical empire, but are still facing troubles over sale of the erstwhile Ranbaxy, are ranked 92nd with $ 1.38 billion. The top posts on social media from your favourite Bollywood celebrities: Mallika Sherawat may not have signed any films yet but she's still keeping herself busy. She took to Instagram to share this picture from her latest photo-shoot and captioned it, 'Shine like the whole universe is yours - Rumi.' Mallika posted another picture and wrote, 'Don't forget to smile.' *** When Hrithik coordinated his outfit with sons! That Hrithik Roshan is a doting father is well known. Apart from going on holidays with his sons, Hrehaan and Hridhaan, the actor even coordinates his outfit with them occasionally. He shared an adorable picture on Instagram and captioned it, 'They look good? Then the three hours I spent trying to convince them into evening wear was worth it. #allswellthatendswell #imitationandflattery.' *** Ajay, Kajol in New York Ajay Devgn is in New York to promote his upcoming film Shivaay, which will release on October 28. And keeping him company is none other than his wife Kajol. The Dilwale actress shared a cute picture, above, on Instagram and captioned it, 'Getting candid with Shivaay#pleasures all mine @shivaaythefilm.' Co-starring Sayyeshaa Saigal and Erika Kaar, the film is directed and co-produced by Ajay himself. *** Richa holidays in Japan Richa Chadha has zoomed off to Japan for a quick holiday. The talented actress shared this picture on Instagram and captioned, 'Mera #breakfast hai #Japani...' Got served this king-sized brekkie in my queen-sized bed this morning. #vegetarian #BreakfastLikeAKing #AllThingsGood #Japanese #JapaneseStyle #Japaneseculture.' 'It was raining... we were both wet... there was a past here... most awkward selfie,' she captioned another picture. Richa posted more pictures and wrote, 'Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan where the deers roam around as freely as the humans. #Japaneseculture #JapaneseStyle #Japanese #RichaInJapan #RichasTravels.' The actress, who last seen in Sarbjit, is awaiting the release of her film Cabaret. *** Ileana, Esha's classy act caught on camera Ileana D'Cruz, who worked with Esha Gupta in Akshay Kumar starrer Rustom, shared a funny throwback picture from the sets of their film on Instagram. The actress captioned it, 'Yeah we classy af..Remember this @egupta ??.' On film front, Ileana and Esha will be sharing screen space together once again, this time in Ajay Devgn-starrer Baadshaho. Here's looking at some brilliant movies. The Toronto International Film Festival was very good for American movies, especially the indie kind. The Oscar competition is going to be strong and that's happy news for films and the audience. Aseem Chhabra picks his Top 10 movies at TIFF 2016. La La Land There has been so much anticipation for this film. The buzz was building up through the summer, coupled with the early reviews from the Venice and Telluride film festivals. I can safely say that director Damien Chazelle's (Whiplash) La La Land is definitely the best Hollywood film of 2016 (so far). Now that it has won the People's Choice Award at TIFF, it will be a tough film to beat at the Oscars. A joyful celebration of Los Angeles, the hopes and dreams of the city's residents, plus romance, Hollywood rarely makes films like La La Land these days. It takes one back to happier days of classics like Singing in the Rain and the French masterpiece Umbrellas of Cherbourg. La La Land has everything -- good-looking stars in Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, perfect chemistry, movie magic, dancing, singing and a sunny perspective towards life. It is a charming film that everyone should experience on the big screen. The Birth of a Nation In January, critics and audience at the Sundance Film Festival went crazy over Nate Parker's powerful representation of the slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831. The film won the Audience Award as well as the Grand Jury Prize in the US Dramatic Competition. There was so much hope riding on this film that Fox Searchlight bought its worldwide rights for $17.5 million. Then there were reports of an alleged rape incident in August 1999 involving Parker, his co-writer Jean Celestin and an 18-year-old scholarship student. Parker was acquitted of the charges while Celestin served time for sexual assault. A decade later, the victim committed suicide. The rape story is so disturbing that it has overshadowed all conversations about a very good film. I had a tough time watching the film, separating the narrative unfolding before me and Parker's dark past. But I can say that The Birth of a Nation is an exceptionally brilliant film and a must watch for all who need to understand how America became the nation it is today. Nation is a powerful tale of Nat Turner, an enslaved man, who was taught to read the Bible as a child and then became a preacher to other slaves. Like the 2013 film 12 Years A Slave, Nation is a harrowing watch, but it also represents the best of American indie cinema, and the country's attempts to reconcile with its past. Moonlight Last year, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences was rocked by the #OscarSoWhite controversy. What a difference one year can make! Moonlight is San Francisco-based filmmaker Barry Jenkins' deeply moving, poetic tale of a young African-American boy's struggle with drugs around him -- his mother is an addict and an older man, who becomes a father figure in the boy's life is a drug pusher, bullying that he experiences in school, and understanding and accepting his own sexuality. A precious little film, Moonlight is told in three chapters looking at different stages of young boy's (Chiron) life. It unfolds in a quiet, yet explosive manner, as it explores questions of masculinity in the African-American community and Chiron's conflict with his homosexuality. These subjects are rarely examined in cinema, so Moonlight is a landmark film of its kind. I, Daniel Blake British filmmaker Ken Loach, 80, is a master at speaking for the downtrodden, those who often live at the edge of the society. He is a rare director who engages with subjects who have not benefitted from Britain's economic boom. Loach's latest film I, Daniel Blake -- the Palme d'Or winner at this year's Cannes Film Festival -- is the story of a 59-year-old working class man (a moving performance by British stand-up comedian Dave Johns), a heart attack survivor, who gets entangled in Britain's bureaucracy and red tape as he tries to apply for government assistance. Along the way, Blake meets a young single mother Katie, striving to make ends meet for herself and her children. Blake is a frustrating and a heartbreaking story. But it is also an important reminder how we should not forget those who are left behind. Manchester by the Sea Film and theatre director, scriptwriter and playwright, Kenneth Lonergan has only made three films in 16 years -- You Can Count On Me, Margaret and now his new heart-wrenching drama Manchester by the Sea. He is known for other film writing, including the scripts of Gangs of New York and Analyze This. Manchester by the Sea follows Lonergan's track of tragic family stories, where the ties are as deep as the angst. Chris Affleck plays Lee Chandler coping with the death of his older brother and the sudden responsibility of becoming the guardian of his teenage nephew. Chandler's personal life has been a mess ever since his divorce from Randi (Michelle Williams in a small supporting role) and other devastating losses. In the midst of all of these tragedies, Lonergan's characters try to find some sense of normalcy in their lives. Manchester has a tightly written script and Lonergan is sure to get an Oscar nomination for his original screenplay. His actors, especially Affleck and Williams, give career-defining performances and should also be nominated in the acting categories. Neruda It is really impressive that in one year, 40-year-old Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larrain has two films and both are creating Oscar talk. Neruda, Chile's entry for the foreign language film Oscar, is a hypnotic cat and mouse game. As Communism is banned in Chile, an earnest police office (a terrific Gael Garcia Bernal) chases Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet and senator representing the country's Communist party. While Neruda works as a thriller, at some stage the film takes on a lyrical tone. The working class policeman's chase becomes a personal quest to connect with Neruda, a celebrity, a Communist who leads an upper class bourgeois existence. Jackie In Jackie -- Pablo Larrain's first English language film -- Natalie Portman plays Jackie Kennedy immediately after President John F Kennedy's assassination. It is a complex role of a woman under tremendous pressure overseeing her husband's funeral arrangements, at times arguing with her brother-in-law Bobby, watching over her young children, while also mourning her loss. At 35, Portman is nearly the same age as Jackie Kennedy when she became a widow (she was 34). But the similarity does not end there. Portman completely transforms herself into the former First Lady, who we know mostly from television footage, getting her accent, sophistication and the poise just right. The resemblance is eerie and that is the reason why after the TIFF screenings, Portman is being considered as the front-runner for the Oscar in the best actress category. The Age of Shadows Korean master Kim Jee-woon's (I Saw The Devil, A Tale of Two Sisters) The Age of Shadows is an epic film with all the right elements -- thrilling chase sequences, a riveting script, strong performances and excellent sound and production design. The Age of Shadows is Korea's entry for the foreign language Oscar. The film beat a strong competitor -- Park Chan-wook's erotic and uber sexy thriller The Handmaiden -- but the choice makes sense. Set in the period of the Japanese occupation of Korea, The Age of Shadows's large cast of characters include heroes fighting for their country's freedom, collaborators and spies. It is a perfect entertainer and the best example of how history can be portrayed in an appealing way. Sand Storm In recent years, Israel has been producing some of the best cinema in the Middle East, often looking outside the Jewish communities and focusing on other minorities that inhabit the State. Winner of the Grand Jury Award for the World Cinema section at this year's Sundance Film Festival, director Elite Zexer's Sand Storm explores the lives of women in the closed Bedouin village in southern Israel. In Sand Storm, a mother and daughter are trapped by their community's social norms and expectations. Jalila, a 42-year-old Bedouin woman, finds herself in the awkward position of hosting her husband's second marriage to a younger woman while she also realises that her daughter Layla is having an affair with a university classmate, a relationship that would bring shame to the family. Sand Storm is a powerful story. It will upset viewers, but that is exactly the point of the film. Sometimes we need strong art forms to shake us up and challenge traditional societies. Lion Australian filmmaker Garth Davis' first feature (his past work has included directing four episodes of Top of the Lake) follows the true story of Saroo Brierley, an Indian kid who was lost in Kolkata and then adopted by an Australian couple. Lion follows Saroo's quest to understand his past and eventually he finds his village and birth mother (played by Priyanka Bose) in India using Google Earth's software. Dev Patel plays Saroo and the film also stars Nicole Kidman as his Australian mother and Rooney Mara as his girlfriend. The runner-up for the People's Choice Award at TIFF, Lion is a real tearjerker while also a bit of a plodding film. Its script based on Saroo's book A Long Way Home could have been tighter. Despite flaws, Lion is an acting showcase for Patel, who gives his best performance to date. Eight years after Slumdog Millionaire, Patel has been trying hard to work as an actor and getting the accent right for the Indian characters he plays. There is already talk about his first Oscar nomination, in the supporting actor category. The Rafale deal will bring a sea change in India's defence preparedness, says Claude Arpi. Nine years ago, the United Progressive Alliance government announced its decision to cancel the process for purchasing 197 helicopters for the army from the European consortium Eurocopter. An official defence ministry communique gave no reason, merely stating: 'The government has decided to cancel the ongoing request for proposal (RFP) for procurement of 197 helicopters for the Indian Army. A fresh RFP will be issued shortly.' Quoting 'sources', the media conjectured that the negotiations were terminated because of 'major deviations in the approved parameters of the helicopter and procedures.' Eurocopter had emerged as the front-runner for the deal after years spent on tenders and trials (the only competitor in the race for the deal was Bell, the American firm). During the last couple of years, many analysts thought the same fate could await the Rafale deal. It seems that may not be the case. French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian, accompanied by Eric Trappier, chairman, Dassault Aviation and his colleagues, will arrive in Delhi on Thursday, September 22, and the 7.87 billion Euro deal (about Rs 59,000 crore) for 36 Rafale fighter jets will be signed on Friday, September 23. The basic cost, armaments, offsets and service value have been finalised a few days ago; it was included in a several-thousand pages Inter Governmental Agreement. It is the end of a long saga which started in 2001. A long story which could have been shorter One can always say 'all is well which ends well,' but the fact remains that the process has been much too long. This point should not be brushed aside, because ultimately it is the Indian Air Force which has suffered. Hopefully this issue will be looked into by the ministry of defence and the Prime Minister's Office. With two hostile fronts (Pakistan and China), India can't afford to be ill-prepared just because of political and bureaucratic slackness or worse. Let us look at the 15-year long process: India is probably the only country in the world which has such a cumbersome system for defence procurement (it took three months for Egypt to buy 24 Rafales). While the initial Request for Information for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft was issued in 2001, the Request for Proposal was only publicised in 2007. This is when the 'complications' started. In January 2012, after a long competitive process which lasted five years, in which the American F/A-18 and F-16, Russian MiG 35, European Eurofighter and Swedish Saab Gripen participated, Dassault and its partners Thales and Safran were selected to supply 126 planes to the IAF. Of the 126, 18 planes were to be manufactured by Dassault in France, while the remaining 108 planes were to be built in India, under a large Transfer of Technology agreement, by Hindustan Aeronitical Ltd. Soon several disagreements cropped in; the transfer of technology was probably too ambitious. Further, Dassault was not ready to take 'full responsibility' for the 108 fighters to be manufactured in India by HAL. The negotiations had reached an impasse, when in a masterstroke Prime Minister Narendra Modi unlocked the situation. On April 9, 2015, an Indian delegation arrived in Paris ahead of the prime minister and the French side was informed of Delhi's decision to purchase 36 planes 'off-the-shelf'. It was a pragmatic move. While dropping the MMRCA framework, India considered primarily the IAF's 'critical operational necessity'. On January 25, as President Francois Hollande landed in Delhi to participate in the Republic Day celebrations the next day, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Le Drian signed a MoU for the purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft. During the joint press conference at Hyderabad House, Hollande said the 'real' deal would be inked 'dans les jours prochains (in the coming days).' The 'coming days' became nine months. One French official involved stated: "With India, we know that we have to learn patience." The IAF was patient too. Nobody can deny that many 'forces' did not want the deal to happen. Just to give one example, in 2014, the Russian Ambassador to India, Alexander Kadakin, declared: 'We (Russia) are still very surprised that Rafale is being bought, because if the Rafale is intended to oppose Pakistani or Chinese planes, these Rafales will be like mosquitoes on an August night. That's why I don't understand why...' He was obviously batting for the Sukhois. The propaganda within India has sometimes been ferocious, but once the Modi government opted to go for the 'off-the-shelf' option, it tried hard to get the best of it. It resulted in delay, the 'coming days' became months, but at the end the deal could be a game changer for the IAF (and India). The good news The positive outcome of the delay has been the offset clause. Initially, Dassault Aviation and its partners were only ready to reinvest 30 per cent of the value of the contract in India to meet its offset obligations. After Modi spoke personally to Hollande in September 2015, the French side finally accepted to reinvest 50 per cent of the value of the deal. One of the most interesting offers came from Safran, one of the partners in the Rafale deal, which could help India revive the unsuccessful Kaveri engine project. The French company is ready to invest 1 billion Euro (about Rs 7,500 crore) by 2020 to revive India's combat jet engine project through a joint plan for the 'Kaveri' gas turbine powering the indigenous Tejas fighters. According to The Economic Times: 'The proposal is to use offset credits that would come from the planned Rafale fighter jet deal to revive the indigenous jet engine project.' Those involved in talks are the MoD, the Defence Research & Development Organisation and French companies. The same source explained that since January, 'Several rounds of discussions have taken place between Indian authorities and Safran, which developed the M88 engine that powers the Rafale as well as the Shakti engine for Indian advanced light helicopters.' The offsets clauses need to be fulfilled by French companies Safran, Thales, MBDA and Dassault Aviation, all participating in the Rafale project. The Scorpene scam Incidentally, the 22,000-page leaked data from the Scorpene submarine built with French DCNS technology which contained information on different aspects of the ship including its underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications and navigation systems, has not been taken into consideration at the time of finalising the Rafale deal, though Thales is part of both projects. It shows the maturity of the negotiators. It does not mean that the issue should not be looked into by India and France; it will have to. Let us remember that six Scorpene submarines are being constructed at Mumbai's Mazgaon Dockyard at a cost of $3.5 billion (about Rs 23,400 crore). An old precedent On October 26, 1953, H S Malik, the Indian ambassador in Paris, sent a personal telegram to Jawaharlal Nehru. Dassault had just delivered the first Ouragans fighter planes (known as Toofanis in India). Malik wrote: 'I venture to bring to your notice the wonderful cooperation that we have received both from the French officers of the ministry of defence, from the cabinet minister downwards, and from the French industry.' The contract had been signed in June 1952. The ambassador continued: 'Already four planes have reached India; another 35 are being sent on October 30 on the aircraft carrier DIXMUDE, and the remainder 32 aircraft, will be dispatched in January 1954.' Nehru is told by Malik: 'I think you will agree that this is indeed prompt execution of the agreement as embodied in the contract between us and the French. This agreement is being carried out both in the spirit and in the letter and there has been no instance of any attempt to delay or obstruct.' 'Our pilots who came here to learn to fly this type of aircraft, which was new to them, won the admiration and respect of the French air force and, generally speaking, the other members of the Indian Air Force who have come to France for the requisite training to enable them to carry out the servicing of this aircraft in India have, in spite of the language handicap, applied themselves with energy and devotion to their task and have made friends and won the respect of the people among whom they have lived.' One can only hope that despite the several hiccups during the negotiations, the new collaboration between France and India will be as harmonious as 63 years ago. If all goes well, the collaboration should be even more fruitful, partly due to the offset clauses. In any case, the planes, for which delivery will start in two or three years, should bring a sea change for India's defence preparedness. Eventual adversaries are warned. 'At least 6,000 people attended a meal at Shahabuddin's residence in a feast to celebrate his bail. As if the community has no other priorities of channelising such funds for better purposes!,' says Mohammad Sajjad. The granting of bail to notorious gangster and former MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, and his emergence out of Bhagalpur jail with a cavalcade of hundreds of vehicles travelling around 350 kms up to Siwan, has rightly outraged people. Many vehicles in the cavalcade had West Bengal registration numbers and reached Bhagalpur jail about an hour before Shahabuddin was to be released. Presumably, they belonged to Siwan expatriates in Kolkata. Understandably, this was meant to demonstrate that his charisma was not confined to Bihar, but spread across states. Adulation of goons by their community is a manifestation of despondency as fans have nothing more to look forward to as symbols of their pride. The moot point is whether the common Muslim of Siwan has started identifying himself with the goon as this would make them vulnerable not only to crime, but possibly also to violent religious extremism. Till the other day, Shahabuddin's presence in Siwan jail was supposed to be 'dangerous,' hence he was transferred to distant Bhagalpur jail, but then suddenly, even setting him free on bail was no longer considered a threat to the ongoing investigations. Unfortunately, the story got wrapped in communal tags, along the divides of Hindu and Muslim identities -- your gangster, my gangster, thereby diluting the degree of social outrage, and extending its eventual benefits to the nastiest of the power elites -- the gangsters and their patrons, the politicians. 'They' got four days (from the granting of bail by the high court) to make the 'shobha yatra' as pompous as possible. Clearly, this unprecedented grand show was to send a message to the hoodlums and criminals that their days have arrived once again, that 'power' is now on their side than on the side of the people. This was unprecedented in the sense that other gangsters like Munna Shukla did not put up such a show when he was let off (not a mere release on bail) in the lynching case of G Krishnaiah, the then district magistrate of Gopalganj in December 1994. Nor did Pappu Yadav have this kind of cavalcade when he came out of jail after being exonerated in the murder of the CPI-M legislator from Purnea, Ajit Sarkar. Who are 'they'? Are they the Muslims of Siwan/Bihar, or are they Rashtriya Janata Dal supporters/workers, or both, considerably overlapping each other? In either case, where is the known leadership of Bihari Muslims -- be it the clergy, the 'secular-modern' political leadership, or even the intelligentsia, in whatever proportion they are in the community? Why this silence? Could this silence be read as their consent for the pompous drama of gangster power, cocking a snook at even the essential basics of social moralities? On social networking sites, one could discern that some passionate defenders of the legitimate interests of the 'millat,' of plural-secularism, of Constitutionalism, of free speech, maintained either a studied silence or spoke in a language of 'you-too-have-got-your-own-gangster.' Another segment of the community invoked the idea that bail was granted by the judiciary in accordance with due process of law. They chose to forget their deep discomfiture at the bigwigs of the Gujarat massacre of 2002 who were let off almost in similar ways. This is certainly not to say that nobody from the community spoke out against this dirty display of the politics of communal polarisation around the gangster's bail. There are many instances in which Muslim youth, falsely implicated in terror cases, have been exonerated by the judiciary, but the community did not organise such a reception. Reportedly, at least 6,000 people attended a meal at Shahabuddin's residence in his village Pratappur, in a feast to celebrate his bail. As if the community has no other priorities of channelising such funds for better purposes! In that case, how would they justify their economic backwardness! How would they justify their breast-beating on the Sachar Report findings! This is indeed a moment of serious introspection for the community. This introspection was invited long ago by columnist Soroor Ahmed, who articulated the pertinent narrative of two youth who emerged from Siwan in the late 1980s -- Amir Subhani currently the principal secretary, home affairs, with the image of an upright and honest officer, who, with his schooling in rural north Bihar, topped the civil services examinations in 1986-1987; and Mohammed Shahabuddin, who almost simultaneously rose to prominence owing to his dreaded record of crimes. For young graduates in Bihar, Subhani became a role model. Lower middle class students realised that the civil services were not a monopoly of the elites, that rural schooling was no handicap in their way of becoming IAS officers. However, Shahabuddin's political rise in the 1990s changed it all. Hoodlums were emboldened; they mushroomed across the nooks and cranny of Bihar, looking up to Shahabu as their role model. Many were affiliated to his gang augmenting his clout and in turn he would ensure impunity for these minions from the law enforcement agencies. Not only this, he could also ensure electoral entry for some of them. Some would first enter the local bodies and then turn into entrepreneurs-legislators while clinging to the enterprise of the crime-economy. Moreover, the emerging hoodlums also became tools in the hands of those deriving electoral benefits out of communal riots. As I have written about the three riots of north Bihar in 2015-2016, such hoodlums have been the immediate agent provocateurs, be it the Azizpur riot (January 18, 2015), the Lalganj riots (November 18, 2015), and the Saran riots (August 2016). They can mobilise people to gherao the police and other public functionaries, while the common people falsely implicated by the police cannot mobilise any number of people to register their protest. True, this was/is certainly not only a Muslim phenomenon. At least since the 1970s, every other dominant caste/community has got its own 'dons' who get elected and legislate laws for the land and its people. Since the 1970s and 1980s, Muzaffarpur has been lorded over by many gangsters. One such 'don' went on to become a minister in Satyendra Sinha's cabinet in the late 1980s, about whom Sinha later recorded in his memoir (Meri Yaadein, Meri Bhoolein) that morally this was one of the most unpleasant decisions he had to take. Another aspect of this story, in terms of political volatility, are Shahabuddin's remarks that Nitish Kumar could become chief minister merely because of circumstances, and his 'leader' is Lalu Yadav. This is a typical argument of any criminal wishing to explain why and how he become a criminal. Shahabuddin extended this warped and cliched logic to the process of becoming chief minister. Quite shamelessly, this was instantly endorsed by Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, the former Union minister for rural development and the RJD vice-president. The irony: Raghuvansh Singh has a complaint against his electorate that they preferred the Lok Janshakti Party's Rama Kishor Singh in 2014 and defeated him from the Vaishali Lok Sabha constituency, though Rama Kishor Singh's credentials are comparable with Shahabuddin's. Rama Kishor Singh has been cooling his heels in jail since June 2016 on the charge of kidnapping for ransom. Nitish Kumar is to be faulted for the fact that under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the administration should have prevented Shahabuddin's 'shobha yatra.' The ever growing communalisation of our society in this age is intertwined with criminalisation in complex ways. The social divide is being milked to the hilt by dangerously unscrupulous politicians. This is perhaps the biggest challenge that Indian democracy faces today. Mohammad Sajjad, who teaches history at Aligarh Muslim University, is the author of Muslim Politics in Bihar: Changing Contours and Contesting Colonialism and Separatism: Muslims of Muzaffarpur. 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 on Thursdayalso met Governor Vajubhai Vala and former Chief Minister S M Krishna ahead of his visit to Delhi. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Krishna said he "whole heartedly" congratulated Siddaramaiah and his cabinet for the stand they had taken, keeping the people's interest in mind. He said "government has taken a decision and we are all 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 on Friday and developments so far after the Supreme Court order. The Karnataka cabinet had on Wednesday 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 session of both the Houses of the legislature on September 23 at 11 AM. Meanwhile, principal opposition the Bharatiya Janata Party, which had boycotted Wednesday's all party meeting called by the Chief Minister to discuss the Cauvery issue, today said it welcomes the government's move. "BJP welcomes the cabinet decision deferring the release of water to Tamil Nadu. We had also repeatedly said that the legislature was the most appropriate forum to discuss such issues. The cabinet decision to convene an emergency session is also a welcome move," BJP President Yeddyurappa 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. The Karnataka government on Wednesday 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 Supreme Court direction. IMAGE: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, extreme left, speaks with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an all party meeting on Cauvery water sharing issue at Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo. "The Cabinet has decided to defer release of water," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters in a brief statement after an emergency Cabinet meeting which was preceded by an all-party and council of ministers meetings during the day. 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, September 21. He said the all-party meeting had advised the government to call the special legislature session to discuss the Supreme Court's direction and the Cabinet decided accordingly. 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 doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs from September 21 to 27 after Tamil Nadu pressed for water to save its samba paddy crop. On September 5, the court had ordered release of 15,000 cusecs of water for the next 10 days to address the plight of the farmers in Tamil Nadu. The quantum was reduced on September 12 to 12,000 cusecs to be released till September 20. Karnataka had complied with these directions thought it had been maintaining that the storage in its reservoirs was inadequate to meet the drinking water needs of its people. Siddaramaiah had on Tuesday termed the Supreme Court's fresh order on release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as "unimplementable" and called for the all-party meeting. A bench of justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit had also asked the Centre to constitute within four weeks, the Cauvery Water Management Board as directed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its award. The all-party meeting was boycotted by principal opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party which criticised the Siddaramaiah government for not taking any specific decision keeping the interests of farmers in mind despite holding all-party meetings earlier. It was attended by former Prime Minister and Janata Dal-Secular supremo H D Deve Gowda, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and former Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily. BJP union ministers from Karnataka had conveyed their inability to attend the meet because of the union cabinet meeting, Siddaramaiah said. "In the backdrop of the interim order of the Honourable Supreme Court dated 20-09-2016, government had today called an all-party meeting and discussed the matter in detail. In the all-party meeting it was unanimously decided to call the joint session of the state legislature. "In this background, the Cabinet has decided to request his Excellency the Governor to call a session of both the houses of the legislature on 23-09-2016 at 11 am. "Further, until the session decides on the issue, the release of water has been deferred," the chief minister said in a prepared statement. State BJP President B S Yeddyurappa welcomed the state government's decision, maintaining that the party had been from the beginning insisting on convening the legislature session and not to release water. "Though belated, it is a welcome decision," he said. "We will support and cooperate with the government in the legislature session," Yeddyurappa said. JDS leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said after the all-party meeting that "not even a single drop of water should be released to Tamil Nadu for any reason whatsoever". Asked about the BJP not attending the all-party meeting, Siddaramaiah said, "I hope that they will participate in the assembly." Sporadic protests over the water issue continued in the river basin basin districts, especially Mandya, the epicentre of the Cauvery agitation, where the agitators blocked Bengaluru-Mysuru road at various places. The government, which has appealed for peace, made elaborate security arrangements in the city and southern districts to ensure that no untoward incidents happen. State Reserve Police, City Armed Reserve Police, Rapid Action Force and Quick Reaction Teams have been deployed all over city, where prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrpC is in force. Bengaluru police has prohibited sale of liquor and opening of bars, wine shops and pubs from Wednesday, 6 am to Thursday, 1 am in the commissionerate limits. 'The high court notice could go some way in easing the vitiated civil-military relationship, and the trust deficit between civil servants and the military,' reports Ajai Shukla. All central government employees have the right to represent and air grievances against the awards of the 7th Central Pay Commission to an 'Anomalies Committee' set up for this purpose -- all except the military, which ironically constitutes the bulk of central government employees and pensioners. Now servicemen, in uniform and retired, will have their say, too. On Wednesday, September 21, the Punjab and Haryana high court issued notice to the central government, directed the Anomalies Committee to take into account views of defence personnel. Ruling on a petition by a serving officer, Colonel Preetpal Singh Grewal, the high court notice could go some way in easing the vitiated civil-military relationship, and the trust deficit between civil servants and the military. The 7th CPC recommendations, which were handed over to the government last November, aroused bitter resentment within the military. On March 11, the three service chiefs made a presentation to the 'Empowered Committee of Secretaries,' a 13-member panel headed by the Cabinet secretary, which was looking into the recommendations. After that brought no changes, the chiefs held the implementation of the 7th CPC in abeyance, forcing the defence minister to order them last month to implement the award. In his petition, Colonel Grewal pointed out that the Anomalies Committee granting hearings to civil employees, their associations and the civil establishment, but not to defence personnel or even the military establishment. He pointed out that the defence services were not even informed about the institution of the Committee and only discovered through press reports that several meetings had been held with civil government employees. The petition admits that military employees cannot be allowed to form associations. However, there was a need for sensitivity within the system toward defence personnel, and the opportunity to present their views and demands. Denying this would violate the principles of natural justice, the petition pleaded. It also pointed out that the Supreme Court has already held that defence personnel should not be treated in a 'shabby manner' or denuded of rights that are available to other citizens. Besides pleading for the opportunity for serving and retired military personnel to be heard, the petition asked for an alternative participative mechanism that would compensate for the statutory bar on forming associations. The petition pointed out that the defence ministry's Standing Committee on Welfare of Ex-Servicemen, which Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had himself ordered to hold meetings every three months, has not yet held a single meeting. The petition argued that this amounted to lower officials undermining political authority. The petition suggested that the differences be resolved in a conciliatory manner, instead of implementing ham-handed measures that created a gap between various services. It stated that the standoffishness of high government authority created a trust deficit that could be exploited by anti-national elements, which might spread discontentment through social media. The 7th CPC has raised baseline military salaries by about 15 per cent, taking the pay of a lieutenant (the entry grade for officers) to Rs 56,100 per month; and that of a sepoy (the entry grade for ratings) to Rs 21,700 per month. This was significantly lower than the 40 per cent hikes handed out by the Fifth and Sixth Pay Commissions. But the greatest resentment has taken place through the relative dilution of status, with the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Forest Service having been granted allowances that the military believes places them on a higher level. The navy, the anti-terror squad and the army are involved in a massive search operation. Rediff.coms Prasanna D Zore reports. The entire security establishment is on a high alert in Mumbai after receiving specific inputs on Thursday, a top Indian Navy source told Rediff.com. The alert came following the news that four to five people dressed in army fatigues were spotted by school going children in Uran, 50 kilometres from Mumbai. WhatsApp messages circulating in the name of Colaba Police said that four-five unidentified men in army fatigues were seen in the Uran and Karanja area, which is close to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, and there are chances that they could sneak into Mumbai using the coastal route, the same way terrorists who unleashed terror in Mumbai on November 26, 2008 had used. However, a cop stationed at the Colaba Police station denied such a message was being circulated by them. Following the alert, the navy, sources say, is treating the information very seriously. The police, Maharashtras anti-terror squad and the navy are all involved in a massive search operation. We are in a high state of alert after getting some inputs which are now being corroborated. Nonetheless, we are securing our bases, sanitising our bases and none of these inputs can be discounted. Not just the Indian Navy but all the stakeholders whether it is the Maharashtra police, ATS, Indian Army or the Indian Air Force. Every stakeholder is involved and informed, the naval source said. The source also added that all necessary action and standard operating procedures were being implemented. The navy is on a high state of alert and suffice to say that we are taking actions as per SOPs. Security has been beefed up at sensitive locations along the coast, including the Gateway of India, Raj Bhawan, Bombay High, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and other major establishments near the sea. 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. Commander Rahul Sinha, chief public relations officer, defence, Indian Navy, said, A report that some suspicious persons have been sighted early morning of September 22 in Uran, Maharashtra was received. As per the report, 5-6 persons were sighted in pathan suits and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks. Indian Navys 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, he said. Teams of elite anti-terror commando force National Security Guard have been deployed in three locations in Mumbai and another team has been kept ready in Delhi to be flown if required. Teams of NSG, drawn from its Mumbai hub, positioned at three locations in Mumbai and another team is on alert at NSG base in IGI airport in Delhi, official sources said. Precautionary action taken in Mumbai to cut down reaction time in case of any emergency situation, sources said. With inputs from PTI Image: A policeman stands guard near Badhwar Park, the location of landing of 10 Pakistani terrorists on 26 November 2008, in Mumbai on Thursday. Photograph: Sahil Salvi Police have issued sketches of suspects spotted moving suspiciously near a Naval base at Uran in neighbouring Raigad district, even as multi-agency search operations are on to trace them a day after a high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas. Based on the description given by some school children at Uran who spotted the armed suspects, their sketches were issued late Thursday night, police said on Friday. The schools and colleges in Uran and adjoining areas have been shut on Friday. PHOTOS: Mumbai on high alert 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 had earlier said. Some reports said they were in military uniform. Despite carrying out massive combing operation in Uran and Karanja areas with the help of Navy, Coast Guard, CISF and Quick Response Team, police are yet to trace the suspects. The elite commandos from National Security Guard and state police's specialised Force One have also been roped in, police said. Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police monitored the situation throughout the night alongwith other top officials. A strict vigil by police and other security agencies is being maintained in the area. A high alert was sounded on Thursday along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad, leading to search operations by multiple agencies. The alert came four days after the Uri attack which left 18 soldiers dead. The Navy pressed its choppers for 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. Subsequently, the Western Naval Command 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 top priority after the 26/11 attacks, in which multiple locations in Mumbai were targeted by Pakistani terrorists who landed using 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. IMAGES: Sketches of the suspected terrorists spotted in Uran, Navi Mumbai, issued by the Mumbai Police. With inputs from PTI The Legacy Theatre 101 E. Lawrence, Springfield Downtown Theater & Comedy Based on a true story, Charlie Price has inherited his fathers shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy.Trying to save the family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible. A moving and powerful story, Kinky Boots will have everyone dancing in the aisle and discovering why, sometimes, the best way to fit in is to stand out.Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best 800-838-3006 India's High Commissioner to UK Navtej Sarna was on 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 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 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. 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 at the United Nations responding to Sharif's General Debate address. "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. "With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organisations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan's international obligations," Gambhir said. "Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation," she said. She said while Pakistan's 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. Akbar said: "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. 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 tactics of the government in Islamabad that seems eager to use terrorists and terrorism as policy." Sharif had said that Islamabad is open to discuss "all measures of restraint and responsibility" with India, in "any forum or format and without any conditions" but blamed India for posing "unacceptable preconditions" to engage in a dialogue. 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. Gambhir voiced India's firm resolve to protect all its citizens from all acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and said "we cannot and will not allow terrorism to prevail". She 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 had been hiding for years and was killed by US forces. She also noted 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. "The effect of its toxic curriculum are felt across the globe," she said, adding that it is ironical that a country which has established itself as the global epicentre of terrorism, is preaching human rights and talks about the ostensible support for self-determination. She also told the UN General Assembly that shortly before Pakistan gave its "hypocritical sermons" in the world body, 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," she said. Image: Social wokers protest against Pakistan in Nagpur. Photograph: PTI A prayer vigil in honour of Keith Lamont Scott, who was shot by the police on Tuesday, turned into a violent protest in Charlotte, North Carolina, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency, as riot gear-wearing police fired tear gas at demonstrators who threw bottles at police, blocked the interstate, threw objects at passing cars, jumped on vehicles, looted, vandalized a Hyatt hotel and attacked its employees. IMAGE: Two women embrace while looking at a police officer in uptown Charlotte, NC during a protest of the police shooting of Keith Scott. Photograph: Jason Miczek/Reuters One of the protesters was in critical condition and on life support after being shot by another civilian. Governor Pat McCrory has declared a State of Emergency upon the request Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney, read a statement from the governors office. The governor has also initiated efforts to deploy the North Carolina National Guard and the State Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement. 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 Wednesdays protests, it said. IMAGE: People maneuver amongst tear gas in uptown Charlotte during a protest of the police shooting of Keith Scott. Photograph: Jason Miczek/Reuters The flashpoint for Charlottes unrest was Tuesdays fatal police shooting of Keith Scott, 43, who according to police was armed with a handgun and refused officers orders to drop the weapon. His family and a witness to the shooting said Scott was holding a book, not a firearm. The latest trouble began with a peaceful rally that turned violent after several hundred chanting demonstrators marched through downtown with brief stops at a black church, police headquarters and a large entertainment venue called the EpiCentre. IMAGE: Two people sit on the ground as they protest in front of police. Photograph: Jason Miczek/Reuters As they approached downtown Charlottes central intersection, protesters confronted a column of patrol cars and officers in front of the Omni Charlotte Hotel and began to surround groups of police and their vehicles. Police then unleashed volleys of rubber bullets, pepper spray, tear gas and flash-bang grenades to disperse the protesters, who began hurling fireworks and debris at officers outside the hotel. IMAGE: Protesters smash a police van in uptown Charlotte, NC during a protest of the police shooting of Keith Scott. Photograph: Jason Miczek/Reuters The use of lethal police force against African Americans has been the subject of nationwide protests across the US for two years. To date, law enforcement officials have fatally shot 702 people this year, 163 of them black men, according to a Washington Post database tracking fatal police shootings. IMAGE: A man stands on a car in uptown Charlotte, NC to protest the police brutality. Photograph: Jason Miczek/Reuters Several Baloch and Indian activists held large-scale demonstrations outside the United Nations 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 protesters converged across the street from the world bodys 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 said. 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 Balochistans 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 Islamic State in uniform. The Baloch National Movement 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 Pakistans 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 Bharatiya Janata Party, 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 on Wednesday 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. Images: American Friends of Balochistan protest outside the United Nations against Pakistan. Photographs: Paresh Gandhi Defying Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani's diktat to Kashmiris against joining police service in the Valley, thousands of youths have opted for the job of special police officer. More than 5,000 youths filed applications and appeared for fitness tests for the post of SPO in various district deputy commissioners' offices across the valley, sources said. An SPO will initially draw a salary of Rs 5,000 per month, Rs 5,300 after completion of one year and Rs 6,000 after completion of three years. The reimbursement of expenditure to the state government by the Centre in respect of 10,000 SPOs will be as per existing approved Security Related Expenditure Guidelines. The central government is in the process of providing employment opportunities to 1.40 lakh youths in the state through various means, including skill development training and jobs in police and paramilitary forces. Official sources said around one lakh youths, who are mostly under-graduates, will be given various job oriented training under a centrally sponsored scheme called Himayat in next five years. The youths will be provided short-term training for at least three months, in a range of skills for which there is good market demand. At the end of the training, the youths are assured of a job and there is one year post-placement tracking to see how they are faring. Interestingly, the highest number of youths who've applied for the SPO post are in four districts of South Kashmir: Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian, considered the hotbed of the ongoing unrest. Around 5,000 youths have applied in South Kashmir, with the highest applications seen in Anantnag. No less than 1,363 youths filed applications for the post of SPO in Srinagar district. With PTI inputs Photographs: PTI Photo A high-alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas on Thursday after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district, leading to massive search operations by multiple agencies. Personnel of Mumbai Police and commandos stand guard at the Getaway of India. All Photographs: Sahil Salvi The Navy pressed its choppers for aerial surveillance and heightened patrolling in the sea by its vessels and high-speed boats. Policemen at Badhwar Park, the location of landing of 10 Pakistani terrorists on 26 November 2008, in Mumbai. The Western Naval Command issued a 'highest state of alert' along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts where several sensitive establishments and assets are located. Security has been beefed up at sensitive spots along the coast, including the Gateway of India, Raj Bhavan, offshore oil assets Bombay High, JNPT, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and other major establishments near the sea. Commandos outside the Taj Mahal Hotel, one of the major targets of 26/11 attacks. A policeman conducts a search inside a BEST bus. Armed cops stand guard on major roads of the city. 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. Parents take their wards from a school in Uran. 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. Here's a recap of moments captured in India in the past 24 hours. Artisans dress up a 27-foot long model of Kumbhakarna, younger brother of demon king Ravana, a Hindu mythological character, at a seven day long Health Wealth and Happiness carnival organised by the Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya spiritual organisation in Chandigarh. Photograph: Ajay Verma/Reuters Bollywood musician Vishal Dadlani seeks apology from Jain muni Tarun Sagar Ji Maharaj for his recent derogatory comments, in Chandigarh. Photograph: PTI Photo Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu rides a metro train after the launch of metro rail passenger service between Airport and Little Mount in Chennai on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Kashmiri youth run during an SPO recruitment rally in Srinagar on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Pro-Kannada activists being arrested while they were trying to stage a protest over Cauvery issue, at Gandhinagar in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Army personnel take positions and moves towards the site where militants were hiding during an encounter at Lachipora in Uri Sector of north Kashmir. Photograph: PTI Photo Muslims burn an effigy of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a protest against Uri attack, in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo President Pranab Mukherjee arrives at the centenary convocation of Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo A part of the Panchayat office collapses due to erosion at the banks of Gandak river in Gopalganj on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo People gather to participate in Maratha Karnti Morcha protest against Kopardi Rape case, in Solapur, Maharashtra on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Two buses catch fire after a head-on collision at Ranchi-Chaibasa highway on Wednesday. Two buses catch fire after a head-on collision at Ranchi-Chaibasa highway on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Devotees pray as head priest displays a holy relic of Prophet Muhammad during special prayers to observe the Martyr Day of Hazrat Usman Ghani, the third Khalifah (Caliph) of Islam at the Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar on Wednesday. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI Photo Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Jagdish Gagneja, who was shot at in Jalandhar by unidentified assailants in August, died at a hospital in Ludhiana on Thursday morning. Gagneja, 65, breathed his last at 9.16 am at the Hero DMC Heart Institute, Dr G S Wander, director of the institute, said. Brigadier Gagneja (retd) 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. After police failed to get clues in the murder of the vice president of the Punjab unit of the Sangh, the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation recently. Besided family members of the deceased, many senior RSS and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders -- including Phul Chand Jain and Anil Sareen -- Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh and Dr Rishi Pal, assistant district collector, Ludhiana, were present at the hospital to pay their last respects. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal expressed grief over the demise of Gagneja. Its a huge loss to the state and the country. Punjab has lost a forceful voice which articulated the concerns of the state and its people while remaining selflessly away from public glare and shunning personal glory, he said. All his life, he served the nation in the true traditions of a soldier, maintaining a low profile even while contributing in a most significant way to the welfare of Punjab and Punjabis, he said. We have lost a great champion of Hindu Sikh unity and communal harmony but the ideals to which he devoted his life would be upheld by the people, he said. The self-effacing and humble manner in which he took up Punjabs causes at various national forums will serve as an example to those who place the interests of the state above their own, said the chief minister in his condolence message. Badals Advisor on National Affairs Harcharan Bains told reporters that the chief minister is away to Patna to participate in the International Sikh Conference to mark the 350th Parkash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singh and would visit the bereaved family on his return. In a statement, Badal said the attack on Gagneja was an attempt to disturb the hard-earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in the state for which he worked hard all his life. But the designs of those who committed this heinous crime will never be allowed to succeed, he said. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal also condoled the death of Gagneja. The CM appealed to the people of Punjab to maintain peace and communal harmony in the state at all costs. This will be the best and the greatest tribute to the departed leader, said Badal. Gagneja will be cremated in Jalandhar in the evening. IMAGE: Jagdish Gagneja. Photograph: @RSS_Org/Twitter Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif "spoke like the Supreme Commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen" when he celebrated the slain Burhan Wani in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Madhav has charged. All of India, said Madhav, is angry after Nawaz Sharif's speech, in which he also raked up the recent protests in Kashmir. "He was openly campaigning for one of his terror commanders, Burhan Wani," said Madhav, who is his partys in charge of Jammu and Kashmir. "It is unfortunate that in the UN, he quoted the name of Burhan Wani, who was not a freedom fighter. Nawaz Sharif has praised a terrorist. This shows Pakistan's hollowness. Most of the terrorists are nurtured in Pakistan," said the Congress' Sandeep Dikshit. India has said Sharif's comments on Burhan Wani are shocking, with junior foreign minister M J Akbar describing it as self-incrimination by Pakistan. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted minutes after the Pakistan PM's speech, Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UN's highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism. Sharif had devoted much of his 20-minute speech at the UNGA session to Kashmir and described Burhan Wani as a "young leader" of a "Kashmiri intifada (uprising)". India has blamed Pakistan for engineering and fuelling the unrest in Kashmir ever since 22-year-old Burhan Wani was killed by security forces on July 8. At least 80 people have died and over 10,000 including many security personnel have been injured since as protesters have clashed with security forces. Strongly reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister's remarks at the United Nations, 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 M J Akbar said at a press conference at the India's permanent mission in New York 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 July 8, and said India "will not succumb to blackmail tactics of the Pakistan government that seems eager to use terrorism as policy". "We heard the glorification 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 ethnic cleansing of its own people," he said. Vikas Swarup says India unlikely to give Pathankot-like offer to Pak in Uri attack probe. The 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty on Thursday cropped up in the current hostile Indo-Pak discourse with India making it clear that mutual trust and cooperation was important for such a treaty to work. The assertion came amid calls in India that government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of audacious Uri terror attack earlier this week. "For any such treaty to work, its important that there must be mutual cooperation and trust between both the sides. It cannot be a one-sided affair, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said cryptically when asked if the government will rethink on the Treaty given the growing strain between the two countries. He also noted that the preamble of the Treaty itself said it was based on goodwill. Pressed further if India will scrap the Treaty, he refused to elaborate and only noted that in diplomacy everything was not spelled out and that he has not said that the treaty was not working. Under the treaty, which was signed by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six river -- Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum -- were to be shared between the two countries. 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 and confirm that the terrorists who attacked the Indian facilities were indeed Pakistani nationals Pakistan has been complaining of not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in couple of cases. Swarup noted that there were differences over the implementation of the treaty between the two countries. He also said that unlike in the case of Pathankot terror attack, Indias 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, 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. The 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 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. 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, he said. The MEA spokesperson hoped that the bill introduced by two senior American lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, will be treated with utmost seriousness. Swarup also said India has raised with China the recent Uri attack and Pakistans involvement in it as well as the issue of United Nations 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 present bill has been introduced by two of the senior-most and highly respected members of the Congress and I am sure it will be treated with utmost seriousness, he said. Reacting to reports that Russia has cancelled the joint exercise with Pakistan in Pak-occupied Kashmir, he said India's sensitivities towards Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism are well-known and same was also conveyed to its strategic partner, Russia. 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. Two days have passed since the UN General Assembly started, 25 countries have spoken. 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 whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Pakistan to attend South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit in early November, he remained non-committal, saying, every question does not have a yes or no answer. On Indias assessment of Pakistans diplomatic moves and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raising Kashmir situation during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, 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 said. 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 Generals 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 United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia and many others, he noted. 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 Kashmirs 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 others 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. Foreign Correspondent Looks Beyond Platos Shadows Foreign correspondent Matthew Brunwasser 94 has filed stories from more than 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It seems safe to assume that few Reedies are familiar with Dinko Valev, a hulking, bearded semi-professional wrestler-slash-amateur vigilante who now styles himself a folk hero in his native Bulgaria. Have you seen Dinkos proud emblem of his allegiance to the Bulgarian Orthodox church, a pectoral tattoo thats as big as a T-bone steak? Dinko Valev, a Bulgarian wrestler turned vigilante, was the subject of a profile Brunwasser wrote for the BBC. Didnt think so. Have you beheld the jacked four-wheeler that Dinko rode out to the Bulgaria-Turkey border in February, to subdue 16 Syrian migrants (12 men, three women, and a child), forcing them to lay prone on the dirt as he likened them all to dogs? Well, journalist Matthew Brunwasser 94 has watched the video of Dinkos assault numerous times, along with the clip of the Bulgarian TV news anchor calling Dinko a superhero. Hes also interviewed the thuggish grapplerin Bulgarian. And in his recent profile for the BBC, he unraveled the nuanced import of Dinko, tracing Bulgarias nationalism back to the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, when the Bulgarians were ruled by Muslims and Christian Balkan states were clamoring for independence. He talked to an anthropologist who said they were programmed, he writes, to view every representative of the Islamic world as a potential rapist and terrorist. The Dinko story is just one of several insightful pieces that Matthew, a freelance writer, videographer, and radio producer based in the Balkans, has done on the worlds exploding refugee crisis. Last year, in a front page story for the New York Times, he wrote about how smart phones have become essential to todays refugees. In another story, for Public Radio International, he considered how Turkey silences Syrian refugees, crimping their access to journalists and human rights workers. I give a small recorder to a refugee to smuggle inside and gather stories, he wrote. Yusuf Esmail, from Khirbet al-Joz, says he was just talking with some relatives back home, and they said they found two corpses with their tongues cut out, so badly beaten they couldn't be identified. Matthews reportorial voice never drips with saccharine sympathy for the refugees. Rather, it carries a cool objectivityand also a hint of his higher purpose. He is a man in love with the ideal of investigative journalism. In an era in which newspapers are dying and websites and magazines list toward infotainment designed to gratify advertisers, he is almost a throwbacka purist who lives to dispense unsparing facts and lay bare the mechanisms of power. His stories are at times ruthlessly indicting. In a lengthy 2015 piece for foreignpolicy.com, he outs one Christopher Dell who, as US ambassador to Kosovo between 2009 and 2012, enriched the international construction giant, Bechtel, by getting his cronies inside Kosovos corrupt government to award Bechtel a contract to build a 48-mile, $1.3 billion superhighway through their struggling republic. Ensuring that he wont be invited to Dells birthday party anytime soon, he notes that after leaving the State Department, the ambassador rode the revolving door to a fat-cat job at Bechtel. Finally, Matthew apprehends that the problem isnt just a single diplomat. Its Bechtel, which has also built astronomically expensive roads in three other struggling European countriesCroatia, Romania, and Albania. Balkan road projects, he writes, have blurred the line between U.S. foreign policy and the corporations interests. Matthew first honed his taste for questioning power as a teenager growing up in San Francisco, listening to punk bands such as the Dead Kennedys and Minor Threat. Later, at Reed, taking Hum 110, he tuned into Platos search for truth. If men are chained to the wall of a cave, he says, synopsizing his reading of the ancient Greek philosopher, all they see are the shadows cast by the flames and they think those shadows represent the truth. The role of the investigative journalist is to free the men from the chains and reveal the truth. Matthew edited the Quest and majored in history, writing his thesis with Prof. John Tomsich [history 1962-99] on COINTELPRO, the FBIs covert program to disrupt the Black Panthers. After graduating, he was considering a reporting job at a midsize American daily. He applied to the Petaluma Argus-Courier, but then decided that he should learn his craft someplace more interesting. He traveled to Turkey, took the train west out of Istanbul and got off at the first stopin Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, just as the former communist state was beginning its belated transition to a market economy. He ended up staying in Sofia for most of the next 13 yearsand then returning in early 2016. Along the way, he became one of just a handful of American correspondents fluent in the Bulgarian language. He also reveled (as only a journalist would) in the chaos that envelops developing Bulgaria, the European Unions poorest nation. The corruption is easier to see here, he says. You dont have to dig as deeply in a place where the head of the state heating company makes $500 a month and drives a $70,000 car. In his myriad journeys away from Sofia, he has lived for a stint in Istanbul and in Belgrade. He earned a master's degree in journalism at UC Berkeley, and did a yearlong investigative reporting fellowship at Berkeley's school of journalism. He has filed stories from 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and when Reed Magazine caught up with him in March he was without fixed address, surfing from one Sofia airbnb to the next. You dont have to buy sheets or dishes or frying pans, he exalted. Its true freedom. Currently, Matthew is gearing up to write his first booka narrative journey through the world of Balkan pop music, regarding its evolution as a window into the regions tortured transition toward democracy. Hell devote one chapter to most of the dozen Balkan nations, among them Serbia, Albania, Greece, and Romania. The project stems from a 2015 Harpers magazine piece that he wrote on chalga, a weirdly hybrid Bulgarian music that sees curvaceous, surgically enhanced chanteuses invoking the rhythms of Balkan folk as they writhe through gangsta anthems lionizing badass bros and shiny Ferraris. And after that? Hard to tell. You never really know where the flames will next flicker on the wall, but Matthews ready to pack up and go on a moments notice. Tags: alumni, journalism, history, plato Search Refworld and / or country All countries Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau (Special Administrative Region of China) Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste (East Timor) Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkiye Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Territory Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Sudan: No justice for protester killings Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 22 September 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Sudan: No justice for protester killings, 22 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e3bf4f4.html [accessed 30 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Sudanese authorities have yet to provide justice to victims of a violent crackdown on anti-austerity protesters in Khartoum in September 2013, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said today. "Although it seems like Sudan has succeeded in sweeping the horrific violence of September 2013 under the carpet, victims' families still demand justice," said Mosaad Mohamed Ali, Executive director at ACJPS "The UN Human Rights Council, currently holding a session on Sudan, 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." Sudanese authorities responded with a violent crackdown to large-scale protests that swept the country following the announcement of austerity measures on September 22, 2013, with security forces and armed men allied to them using live ammunition, tear gas and batons. As many as 185 protesters and other civilians were killed, most of them shot in the head or chest, ACJPS and Amnesty International found in a joint study published in September 2014. Hundreds were injured and more than 800 others arrested, some held for weeks. Human Rights Watch research showed that many detainees were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, that many journalists and human rights defenders were beaten andfemale protesters were sexually assaulted by security forces. Although Sudan established three state commissions of inquiry, no findings have been made public. All attempts to gain access to the findings have been unsuccessful. In September 2014, the UN independent expert on Sudan stated that the information provided by the government "does not provide evidence of a thorough and independent investigation." In November 2015, a Justice Ministry official announced that an investigation by the ministry had found that just 86 protesters were killed and that four security officers had been arrested in connection with these deaths. Many victims' families have tried to bring private prosecutions but the groups know of no prosecutions that have concluded and only one case involving the killing of a pharmacist, Sarah Abdelbagi, who was shot outside her home in Omdurman during the protest that advanced to trial. A policeman was convicted of her murder, but his conviction was overturned on appeal in May 2014 for lack of evidence. "The government's response has been to deny the scale of the violence and to claim that there isn't sufficient evidence to identify and prosecute the attackers, a response that denies the victims' rights and encourages impunity" said Daniel Bekele, Africa Director at Human Rights Watch. "The government needs to publicly admit the scale of the killings and the role of its security forces." Sudan's Ministry of Justice has attempted to settle cases by paying money [diya] to the families of the 86 victims identified in government investigations, which would be an insufficient remedy for these violations and would not constitute a sufficient guarantee of non-repetition. The government has failed to ensure full, thorough and effective investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for the killings. Even where investigations have proceeded and prosecutions pending in around 16 cases, a patchwork of immunities protect security and law enforcement officers from criminal prosecution, posing additional hurdles to justice. "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," said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. "Human Rights Council member states currently considering Sudan's appalling rights record should loudly push the country to take victims' rights seriously." Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Turkmenistan: Search, arrest, torture, escape, arrest, prison Publisher Forum 18 Publication Date 22 September 2016 Cite as Forum 18, Turkmenistan: Search, arrest, torture, escape, arrest, prison, 22 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e3bff34.html [accessed 30 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Police raided Jehovah's Witness Mansur Masharipov's home in Dashoguz in July 2014, seized religious literature (subsequently destroyed), beat him, placed him in a Drug Rehabilitation Centre where he was injected with unknown drugs (from which he fled). Arrested in June 2016, he was imprisoned for one year. Security Council now has 'no higher responsibility' than backing political path in Syria Ban Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 21 September 2016 Related Document(s) Security Council resolution 2254 (2015) [on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic] Cite as UN News Service, Security Council now has 'no higher responsibility' than backing political path in Syria Ban, 21 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e3c0ad40c.html [accessed 30 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 21 September 2016 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the members of the Security Council to fully support his Special Envoy in working on convening formal talks seeking to resolve the Syria conflict and developing proposals for future talks, or risk destroying the international community's credibility in being able to uphold our common humanity. We are at a make or break moment, the UN chief told the Security Council in a meeting this morning on the situation in Syria. 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, Mr. Ban added. The Secretary-General General emphasized to the 15-member body that more than 300,000 Syrians have been killed, half of the country's population has been uprooted, and much of its infrastructure lies in ruins. In addition, many Syrians fear that fragmentation of their State could follow, with Da'esh [also known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant] and Al Qaeda affiliates poised to exploit further chaos, he said. The collective failure of the international community should haunt every member of this Council The Syrian tragedy shames us all. The collective failure of the international community should haunt every member of this Council, Mr. Ban declared, adding that global norms of humanitarian law have been flagrantly violated, defying the Council's resolutions. At the same time, the Secretary-General said, 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 (2015), the UN chief said. He also recalled that the cessation of hostilities albeit fragile that began in late February yielded positive results for a few months. In that window, he said, the UN intensified humanitarian operations and brought the parties to Geneva for talks. Sergey V. Lavrov (left), Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and John Kerry, Secretary of State of the United States, speak to correspondents following a Middle East Quartet meeting. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas 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 9 September, represents a new opportunity. However, Mr. Ban said, the attack on a UN-Syrian Arab Red Crescent humanitarian convoy two days ago was an outrage, resulting in several casualties and forcing the UN to suspend aid operations. I am looking at options for vigorously investigating this and other similar atrocities against civilians, he said, adding that he is also concerned about the earlier attack in Deir al-Zour in which dozens of lives were lost. We must remain determined that the ceasefire will be revived. I urge everyone to use their influence now today to ensure that it does, the UN chief stressed. As soon as a new round of intra-Syrian negotiations begins, they must focus on the fundamental issues for a viable transition, Mr. Ban said. In that regard, he said that with his strong backing, his Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, will be ready to present to the parties a draft framework of proposals as a starting point for negotiations for a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political transition. I have asked the Special Envoy to work intensively toward convening formal negotiations as soon as possible. I call on the Security Council to fully support the Special Envoy as he proceeds in this manner with no ifs, ands, or buts. We have to unequivocally move ahead towards a credible political process, the Secretary-General said, adding that he expects all to use their influence with the Syrian parties to make sure they come to talks, ready to genuinely negotiate the core issues of political transition. No country's destiny should rest on what happens with a single individual, Mr. Ban continued. If one side continues to insist that the powers of the office of the President are not subject for negotiation, by definition there cannot be a negotiated settlement. And if another side insists that the President simply depart at the very outset of a transition, it is difficult to see a genuine negotiation taking place. The Secretary-General also emphasized the profound need for accountability, declaring: For the world not to pursue the perpetrators of such brutality would be a grave abdication of duty. It would deny Syrians justice and healing. It would shred the credibility of an international community that claims to be concerned about upholding our common humanity, he added. Reiterating a call to the Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Ban said that members of the Government of Syria who gave orders or were part of the chain of command must be brought to account, while others on the battlefield must also be brought into halls of justice. And there can be no doubt that any durable settlement will have to ensure a proper framework for transitional justice, and for reconciliation, if Syria is to overcome the horrors of this war, the Secretary-General stressed. UN Special Envoy stands ready with draft framework of proposals Staffan de Mistura, UN Special Envoy for Syria, addresses a high-level meeting of the Security Council on the situation in that country. UN Photo/Kim Haughton For his part, Mr. de Mistura, also speaking at today's meeting, reaffirmed that he is ready to present to the parties a draft framework of proposals as a starting point for negotiations for a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political transition. As soon as talks resume, it is my intention to put proposals to all sides as a starting point and nothing more than a starting point for negotiations and as a means by which to move to direct talks not anymore just proximity talks. The Secretary-General encourages me to present a draft framework to move the sides towards transition through a negotiation, the Special Envoy said. He noted that any such proposals would proceed on the basis that the conflict in Syria cannot be resolved militarily, but only through a political negotiating process between the Government and the opposition. Mr. de Mistura detailed that any viable transition must inevitably address how power is to be exercised in practice by transitional governance; involve power being shared and a phased and genuine power devolution exercised during transition in an agreed manner; require the creation of collective transitional bodies to oversee a national ceasefire, humanitarian relief and the creation of a calm, neutral environment; and be accompanied by sustained international efforts to help reconstruct Syria. Above all both sides need to recognise that any transition needs to be all-inclusive and agreed as the Geneva Communique clearly states through mutual consent, the Special Envoy said. Charity overhaul in China, but only with government approval Publisher IRIN Author Joanna Chiu Publication Date 21 September 2016 Cite as IRIN, Charity overhaul in China, but only with government approval, 21 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e3c1574.html [accessed 30 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The world's strongest storm of the year slammed into China last week, just as the country was recovering from severe flooding that the government said left about 1,000 people dead. In many nations, this would prompt a deluge of donations to disaster response, but not in China, which is ranked the second-least charitable country in the world. A new law is meant to fix this, but critics have voiced concern that it is too restrictive and will lead to greater state control. Researchers and charity workers say people are reluctant to donate largely because they don't trust the system. Scandals have damaged the reputation of major charities, many of which have been forced to operate in legally grey areas for decades if they do not have a government sponsor. The national charity law, which came into effect on 1 September, includes improved fraud protection, relaxed registration requirements, and incentives such as tax benefits. The new measures may help encourage charitable giving, which is especially important in a country like China that suffers from frequent natural disasters but doesn't generally invite foreign aid. "It is too early to say if the law will lead to an increase in giving, but I think it will definitely push the charity sector to become more careful and accountable, and in time this should encourage more giving," said a staff member of a government-backed humanitarian agency who requested anonymity because she was not authorised to speak to media (A media officer from the same organisation did not respond to requests for comment). Distrust and scandal China ranked second to last of 145 nations surveyed for charitable giving, according to the World Giving Index published last year by the Charities Aid Foundation. It was followed only by Burundi, a country in the throes of a violent political crisis. Surveyors found that only eight percent of Chinese reported giving money to charity during the last month, while just four percent said they would volunteer. The low level of charity in China is particularly striking since the country is producing more billionaires than ever. The murky nature of the Chinese economy makes it hard to measure wealth, but Forbes estimated the country had 335 billionaires last year (compared to the United States with 536), while the Shanghai-based publishing and market research firm Hurun Report put the number of Chinese billionaires at 568. But the number of people supporting charities has been falling even as the rich get richer, according to the World Giving Index. And it's no wonder people are distrustful when it's so difficult to access information on non-profits. Nine out of 10 charitable organisations in China failed to meet basic standards for transparency, according to a recent report from Peking University's Center for Participation Studies and Supports that evaluated 93 charities across 31 Chinese provinces. Scandals have also hurt the Red Cross Society of China, which is not affiliated with the International Federation of the Red Cross, but is one of the biggest humanitarian groups in the country. In 2013, the organisation admitted that nearly $12 million donated by Chinese artists to build an art school and support reconstruction work after the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province was redirected to other projects. Increased transparency Under the new charity law, organisations no longer need a government sponsor but would have to demonstrate sound governance and legal compliance before seeking funds from the public. The stated aim of the law is to "build a comprehensive regime for the regulation and management of charity organisations in China." Charities that gather public donations are required to keep their administrative costs at no greater than 10 percent of the amount they raise in any given year. To help prevent fraud, groups are required to post clear information on their websites or use online donation gateways designated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The law also introduces attractive new tax benefits. If a company's donation exceeds 12 percent in one year, the balance can be deducted from the company's income over the following two years. However, this is contingent on whether the rules are consistently implemented by local tax authorities. "The law itself is a big step forward. It was made through a revolutionary, entirely participatory process. Many academics and practitioners were invited into the drafting process, and [their suggestions] were heeded by lawmakers," Karla Simon, a scholar at the New York University School of Law and author of Civil Society in China, told IRIN. Holly Snape, a Beijing-based analyst at the Tsinghua NGO Research Center, said the law is also a timely response to the explosive development of China's mobile web. "More people are using cellphones to shop and donate money, both in terms of numbers of people and amounts of money involved," she said. "This naturally comes with much higher demands placed on charitable organisations for public reporting and transparency, proper auditing and so on." Too restrictive? The law has its critics too. Charities may now have their registrations revoked if they engage in activities deemed to "undermine state security or public interests". Groups or individuals raising funds without a license will have to return donations and face fines of up to 200,000 yuan ($30,000). "This law goes beyond what is necessary to build trust by restricting fundraising to government-approved groups only," said Frances Eve, a researcher with the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders. One group likely to be hit hard by the law will be friends and supporters of prisoners of conscience, who often put out calls for donations online, she said. Rights groups accused the government earlier this year of planning to use a separate new Foreign Nongovernmental Organizations Management Law as part of a crackdown on critics. That law was passed in April but has not yet been implemented. Syrian evacuations break the will to resist Publisher IRIN Author Tom Rollins Publication Date 20 September 2016 Cite as IRIN, Syrian evacuations break the will to resist, 20 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e3c2894.html [accessed 30 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Missiles tore into a humanitarian aid convoy in Aleppo Province on Monday night as a partial US and Russia-led ceasefire collapsed in a fresh round of airstrikes and recriminations. It's not yet clear who was directly responsible, but if it was designed to snuff out any final flickers of hope of diplomatic progress, it appears to have had the desired effect. Tactics aimed ultimately at breaking the will of those who resist the regime have been employed on the ground for many months in Syria, not least contentious sieges that have led to near-starvation and/or forced evacuations. On the morning of Eid al-Adha two non-descript 4x4s pulled up outside a mosque in the Damascus suburbs. Bashar al-Assad emerged to join prayers inside the recently evacuated town of Daraya. In a speech following prayers hours before the ceasefire was to begin the president told state media he was "determined to retake every inch of Syria from the terrorists". The choice of Daraya for a public appearance was no accident: it was one of the first towns to begin protesting in 2011. But last month, after three punishing years of siege and bombardment, several thousand civilians and rebel fighters agreed to a last-ditch evacuation. Since its fall, officials and observers have suggested Daraya may be the blueprint for how al-Assad plans to deal with rebel-controlled pockets around the capital and beyond. Domino effect? Special Envoy to Syria Steffan de Mistura has warned of possible repeats. "After Daraya, we may have other Darayas," he said in Geneva earlier this month. Al-Assad's national reconciliation minister Ali Haidar similarly (but presumably with different sentiment) said: "Daraya is a domino, and after, others will fall." Further evacuations are definitely on the cards. On Monday, a planned evacuation of several hundred rebels from the besieged, bombed-out Homs neighbourhood of Waer was postponed. Rebel groups including Ahrar al-Sham and other factions had threatened to end the already shaky ceasefire over reports that evacuations would begin there, arguing that "starve or surrender" siege tactics and "sectarian cleansing" by government forces had effectively voided the ceasefire. An activist in Waer said locals would not leave without the presence of the United Nations to guarantee safe passage to their planned destination, Idlib. By the UN's count there are approximately 590,000 Syrians living under siege. Other counts put the number above one million. The majority are besieged by government forces and their allies. A handful of pockets around Syria, including the northern Shia villages Fua and Kefraya, are besieged by mostly Islamist rebel groups. Jan Egeland, who chairs the UN and International Syria Support Group (ISSG) Task Force on Humanitarian Access, told IRIN he fears that other besieged areas will go the same way as Daraya although the international community is working hard to avoid this. "The lesson of Daraya was that after four years there was no hope left and people gave up," Egeland said. "We all failed the people of Daraya." "But I sincerely hope and believe that this kind of involuntary evacuation, that is ultimately caused by pressure, can be prevented," he added, claiming the task force was "working around the clock" to relieve pressure on besieged areas and push for only voluntary movements of civilians. "There has to be full freedom of movement for civilians in and out of areas," he said. "In these cases [such as Daraya], it's not voluntary if you're starved into submission and there's no other option." Egeland admitted there had been few successes so far and that none of the 18 besieged areas, [he included eastern Aleppo still not publicly listed by the UN as under siege], had "full freedom of movement". Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director for Human Rights Watch, explained that voluntary evacuations "take place when civilians are living in an area that may be under threat, and they want to relocate from that area." However, recent examples of evacuations in Syria, including so-called "safe passages" for civilians set up by the Syrian government and the Russian defence ministry during this summer's initial siege of eastern Aleppo, happen within a "cloud of unlawful, coercive practices", Fakih said, adding that the aim is not to get civilians to safety, but to create conditions inside besieged areas that ultimately force them to flee. Indiscriminate bombardments, siege tactics and restrictions on humanitarian access all represent "effectively coercive measures" that can render the decision to evacuate involuntary, she said. Experts say they are also a key element in the government's strategy for dealing with long-besieged rebel areas such as Daraya, Moadamiyeh, and Waer. A war being won with local truces? The use of local truces in rebel-held areas, followed up by evacuations, has helped to turn the war in al-Assad's favour especially in regions around Damascus and Homs. Fabrice Balanche, visiting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and an expert on Syria's political geography, suggests the Syrian government may be picking off "weaker points" that are in rebel hands but that it knows are more vulnerable. "[Daraya] was strategically important to get back and the regime saw that it was a weak point," Balanche told IRIN. "The strategy is to separate the rebels from the civilians. And to succeed to separate them, you need to use starvation, to destroy the infrastructure; then it's not possible for the civilians to stay, so they move outside." The same strategy could be at play right now in Eastern Ghouta, a large suburb of Damascus that includes the towns of Douma, Harasta, and Zamalka. In-fighting earlier this year with other Islamist factions weakened the rebel group Jaish al-Islam's defences in Ghouta, while the death of its charismatic leader Zahran Alloush late last year has also made a mark. "If the regime is targeting Douma more today than it is in Harasta or Zamalka, it's because Douma is under the control of Jaish al-Islam and Jaish al-Islam is particularly weak," Balanche said. A numbers game Local sieges, truces and evacuations depend on a range of local factors: demographics, armed factions on the ground, and government plans for the area. Daraya had a comparatively small population of civilians and fighters, but it was situated close to strategic sites. Other areas said to be earmarked for evacuation contain much larger civilian populations: tens of thousands in Moadamiyeh, between 75,000 and 100,000 in Waer, and nearly 300,000 to 400,000 in Eastern Ghouta (numbers depend on who is counting). "One important aspect of Daraya is that the total population was very small," explained Syria expert and University of Edinburgh senior lecturer Thomas Pierret. "Civilians and rebels combinedwe're speaking of a figure probably below 10,000 people." "Douma is more remote. The regime can probably live much longer with a besieged Douma enclave I'm not saying that the surrender of Douma is tomorrow, but it might come in the future." Moadamiyeh, next to Daraya, has had a truce with the Syrian government since the end of 2013; part of an agreement that initially saw rebels hand over heavy weapons in return for aid. However, the city's local council has reportedly come under mounting pressure to accept the government's terms in any future reconciliation or evacuation deal or face repercussions. "The regime is playing games with the city," a Moadamiyeh-based activist who goes by the pseudonym Dani Qappani told IRIN. "Sometimes, the regime says they can evacuate the fighters but they can't take any arms [with them]. Another time, the regime says they can take civilians to the borders of Lebanon or Jordan, to Jarablus, to Khan Eshieh, but not to Idlib. But then they say they won't evacuate anyone." Earlier in September, 300 people originally from Daraya, including more than 60 fighters who agreed to lay down their arms in a presidential amnesty deal, were evacuated from Moadamiyeh and taken to a nearby town, according to state media. Qappani says the government is currently refusing to allow people to leave and aims to get Moadamiyeh to reconcile with the government. Fighters and civilians may be sceptical about what that really means, but they have no other options. "After more than four years of siege, we became too weak to resist and we had no other choice but to accept," Qappani added. "We know that the international community won't defend us, the international coalition won't defend us, no one would defend us, if we rejected the terms of the agreement. So we had to accept it." Legitimate tactic or 'ethnic cleansing' Sieges, the razing of cities, evacuations: these aren't some new phenomenon. But, as employed in Syria, are they legitimate tactics of war or do they, as Balanche suggests, amount to "strategic ethnic cleansing"? Syrian government officials deny demographic or sectarian motivations in forced evacuations. Presidential spokeswoman Bouthaina Shaaban has referred to them as "local reconciliations". Pierret is more in line with Balanche and sees incidents like Daraya in more sectarian terms. Regardless of social factors, they represent a "strategy that targets certain communities based on their sectarian affiliation", he argues. "It's sectarian cleansing in the sense of re-engineering. It's basically the Syrian regime deciding that certain communities should live in certain places because they are now more easily controllable when they live there a strategy of concentration." Malaysia: Drop Criminal Case for Showing Film Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 21 September 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Malaysia: Drop Criminal Case for Showing Film, 21 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e3c37f4.html [accessed 30 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The Malaysian authorities should end their relentless prosecution of rights activist Lena Hendry for her role in showing a documentary film without censorship board approval, Human Rights Watch said today. On September 21, 2016, the High Court reversed Hendry's acquittal and ordered a resumption of the case after the government appealed. Hendry, a staff member of the human rights group Pusat KOMAS, was charged under Malaysia's Film Censorship Act for organizing a private screening of the award-winning human rights documentary, "No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka," on July 3, 2013, in Kuala Lumpur. A magistrate acquitted her of the charge in March, finding that the government had failed to make a basic case showing her guilt. "Prosecuting Lena Hendry for the private showing of an award-winning film is all part of the Malaysia government's intensified intimidation, harassment, and criminalization of human rights defenders," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The government should end Hendry's three-year ordeal by dropping the charges and then promptly amending the Film Censorship Act so no other activists face prison just for showing a movie." The authorities are prosecuting Hendry under section 6 of Malaysia's Film Censorship Act, which prohibits the "circulation, distribution, display, production, sale, hire" or "possession" of any film, whether imported or domestically produced, without first obtaining approval from the government-appointed Board of Censors. The law defines "film" very broadly, and could potentially be applied to home videos or videos taken on a smartphone. If convicted, Hendry faces up to three years in prison and a fine of up to RM30,000 (US$7,000). Malaysia's highest court rejected a constitutional challenge to the law in September 2015. The prosecution of Hendry violates the right to freedom of expression under international human rights law, Human Rights Watch said. Bringing criminal penalties for possessing or privately showing a film without government approval imposes a disproportionate burden on a fundamental right. It also runs contrary to the government's November 2015 vote in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution that recognizes the important role played globally by human rights defenders. The prosecution appears intended to restrict the activities of KOMAS by hindering its efforts to provide information and share perspectives on human rights issues. "No Fire Zone" tells the story of war crimes committed in the last months of Sri Lanka's civil war in 2009, including Sri Lankan army shelling that indiscriminately killed thousands of civilians and the extrajudicial executions of captured fighters and supporters of the secessionist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. "The Film Censorship Act is a law from the pre-internet age that government officials can easily abuse and should immediately be scrapped," Robertson said. "The real rationale behind its sweeping powers is to permit the government to arbitrarily suppress films it doesn't want Malaysians to see, and to prosecute anyone who dares show them." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Government unwilling to address systematic human rights violations at UN-backed review Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 22 September 2016 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Government unwilling to address systematic human rights violations at UN-backed review, 22 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e3c6544.html [accessed 30 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The Thai government has shown its unwillingness to address serious and systematic human rights violations during Thailand's second Universal Periodic Review (UPR), FIDH and its member organizations Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) and Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) said today. The outcome of Thailand's second UPR will be officially adopted on 23 September 2016 during the 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, which is currently underway in Geneva, Switzerland. During its second UPR, Thailand accepted 187 of the 249 recommendations it received from other UN member states. [1] Despite accepting 75% of the recommendations it received, the government failed to make commitments towards the implementation of key recommendations concerning: the right to liberty; the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the right to peaceful assembly; and the right to a fair trial. While conceding that restrictions on these rights were "unnecessary limitations," the government stated there would only be a progressive lifting of such measures when "the situation improves." The government failed to accept any of the five recommendations that called for an end to arbitrary detentions, the abusive practice of 'attitude adjustment' sessions, and the use of military facilities as detention centers for civilians. Thailand also "noted" all 12 recommendations that called for an end to military trials of civilians. The government did not accept 15 of the 26 recommendations that called on the authorities to guarantee and respect the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to peaceful assembly. Among the recommendations that did not enjoy the Thai government's support, seven recommendations called for the repeal or amendment of Article 112 of the Criminal Code (lese-majeste) and to end its abuse to limit freedom of expression. An additional "noted" recommendation called for the abolition of mandatory minimum jail sentences under Article 112. The government also refused to accept several recommendations that called for the repeal of orders issued by the ruling military junta, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) that are inconsistent with Thailand's international human rights obligations. The government claimed it needed to maintain repressive laws and NCPO orders "to ensure social harmony and [a] peaceful environment" and incredibly denied that such laws and orders were designed "to intimidate dissenting voices or go against the principles of the rights to freedom of expression and of assembly." With regard to the death penalty, while pledging to commute death sentences and review the imposition of the death penalty for drug-related offenses, the government did not accept 12 recommendations that either called for the abolition of capital punishment or encompassed measures aimed at making progress towards that goal. The recommendations included: the establishment of a moratorium on all executions; the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); and the removal of economic crimes from the list of offenses punishable by death. The government said it would consider these recommendations "in subsequent UPR cycles." Finally, in the area of the ratification of international human rights treaties, the government did not accept recommendations that called for Thailand to become a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG), and the International Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW). FIDH, UCL, and iLaw reiterate their call for the Thai government to lift all restrictions on the enjoyment of fundamental civil and political rights in accordance with the recommendations it received and in compliance with its obligations under core international human rights instruments. At the UN, Sudan defends a piecemeal approach to its legal human rights obligations Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 21 September 2016 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, At the UN, Sudan defends a piecemeal approach to its legal human rights obligations, 21 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e3c7411c.html [accessed 30 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. (Geneva, Kampala) Sudan's failure to accept key recommendations made during its second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) has confirmed the lack of political will to take concrete steps to implement its international legal obligations with regards to fundamental human rights, FIDH and its member organization, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) said today. During the review, the government of Sudan failed to accept nine recommendations to reform Sudan's notorious National Security Act of 2010 which grants the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) wide powers of arrest, search and seizure, allows detention for up to four and a half months without judicial review, permits incommunicado detention without prompt unequivocal access to a lawyer of one's choice or the right to medical care, and grants immunity to officials. [1] Sudan failed to accept similar recommendations made during its first UPR, and has failed to implement recommendations made by the UN Human Rights Committee and African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to the same effect. Just one month ago the UN Human Rights Committee, monitoring Sudan's commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), reminded Sudan for a second time to submit, without further delay, information on progress towards addressing this priority issue. [2] Although the Sudanese government pledged to adopt legislation that defines and criminalizes torture, and to bring its laws in line with international treaty obligations, officials failed to accept multiple recommendations calling for a moratorium on executions, with the view to the absolute abolition of the death penalty, implemented by hanging in Sudan. Sudan similarly did not accept recommendations to repeal laws that provide for corporal punishments, such as lashings, which are routinely implemented in Sudan. These laws and practices violate the absolute prohibition of torture to which Sudan has committed under regional and international law. Sudan also failed to accept recommendations to immediately cease aerial bombardments in conflict areas. Since the outbreak of fighting five years ago, Sudanese government forces have indiscriminately attacked both by ground forces and aerial bombardment civilians in rebel-held areas of the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. These attacks often coincide with planting and harvesting seasons, causing massive food insecurity and large-scale displacement. Our organisations have also documented civilian casualties during government bombings in Darfur states. Despite a litany of disappointing rejections, Sudan did accept a number of important recommendations that should be pursued by UN Member States in their future engagements with Sudan. This included commitments to conduct independent inquiries into all violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations, including extra-judicial executions and torture, and to bring the perpetrators to justice. Sudan made a number of concrete recommendations to allow full and unrestricted access by independent humanitarian organisations to all areas affected by conflict, and to allow aid agencies and NGOs to implement human rights programmes in those areas. These are important commitments that, if implemented, would improve the desperate situation facing civilians in conflict areas. During the review, Sudan also made a range of commitments to end the violent repression of protestors and arbitrary detention of political activists and journalists; to amend its law to abolish the criminalisation of apostasy and other laws and practices that restrict freedom of religion and belief; to review and amend legislation that discriminates against women including in the criminal law and the personal status law and to ensure conformity with international standards; to facilitate the work of human rights defenders and civil society, including through guaranteeing freedom of expression and the media and protection of all persons from intimidation, threats, attacks or reprisals for seeking to cooperate with the UN, and to protect human rights defenders from violence and arbitrary arrest. These commitments will require robust follow up by the Human Rights Council to ensure their implementation. Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Tampa, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/22/2016 --Ed4Online is pleased to announce a new partnership with Pennsylvania's top-ranked community college, Butler County Community College (BC3). Effective immediately, students at the college will have access to a wide range of personal enrichment and professional development courses, created by Ed4Online and offered through Butler County Community College's lifelong learning program. The addition of Ed4Online's distance learning opportunities to BC3's breadth of online and hybrid courses represents an ongoing shift towards convenience for its continuing education students. Thanks to the self-paced nature and comprehensive design of Ed4Online's courses, students will be able to learn from virtually anywhere, at a speed that's amiable to their unique experience with the course. The extensive range of courses offered through this partnership align with the strengths of BC3's established programs, focusing heavily on aspects of business, social work and other segments of professional development. Thanks to the numerous tools offered by Ed4Online, BC3 will be able to track participation, measure proficiency and provide evaluative reports for all students enrolled within these programs. "The mission of Butler County Community College has always been and will continue to be making education accessible and convenient for those who seek it. Offering a segment of Ed4Online's courses to our students and being able to deliver a superior experience through these courses is another step towards fulfilling this mission," said Paul Lucas, Director of Lifelong Learning at Butler County Community College. Recently named the best community college in Pennsylvania by schools.com, Butler County Community College produces the highest percentage of graduates with completed degrees or certificates over all other schools but one. The college prides itself on offering superior accommodations to prospective students, including a bevy of online learning options and hybrid courses for distance learners. For more information about Ed4Online's partnership with Butler County Community College or to inquire about the company's complete course catalog, please visit https://www.Ed4Online.com. About Ed4Online Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Ed4Online is committed to providing high-quality online training in four distinct areas of online education including career training, personal enrichment, professional development and behavioral health training. Ed4Online's curriculum is designed to teach courses based on best practices, allowing individuals to gain knowledge and experience on a wide variety of topics. Milwaukee, WI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/22/2016 --Radio hosts Captain Bob and Arlo will be on site at the SEMA Show in November interviewing television celebrities and automotive legends for their weekly radio show, Wisconsin Hot Rod Radio. This year the duo will also be looking for new products to feature on their annual holiday gift show. "Every year we are in search of the perfect holiday gift for any car enthusiast," says host Arlo Dillman. "Then we share those products with our audience. For 5 weeks on our radio show we interview company representatives about their products or services. At SEMA we find everything from a simple hose shield to an exotic steering wheel. I guess you could say we are our listeners' personal car gift consultants." While at SEMA Captain Bob and Arlo will be broadcasting from SEMA booths to give listeners a chance to hear from the manufacturers, learn insider tips and tricks, and show casing new products. During the show, they will also catch up with old friends in the industry. "It's a great place for us to meet up with many of the celebrities and company representatives that we have interviewed and since have become good friends," says Bob "Captain Bob" Trinastic. To inquire how to schedule the Wisconsin Hot Rod Radio hosts during the SEMA Show, contact Dillman at arlo@wisconsinhotrodradio.com. Leading up to the show make sure to check out their website http://www.wisconsinhotrodradio.com and follow them on social media to keep up with their automotive adventures. About Wisconsin Hot Rod Radio Almost ten years ago, Arlo Dillman and Bob "Captain Bob" Trinastic were inspired to create a space for hot rod enthusiasts to find events, hear manufacturer news and become part of a community that is now worldwide. Both Dillman and Trinastic travel the country to car shows and automotive events to bring the car show experience to their listeners whether they are down the street from their studio to across the pond in London, England. To tune into their show, visit their website, http://www.wisconsinhotrodradio.com, or check out their podcast "Hot Rod Adventures of Captain Bob and Arlo." Palm Desert, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/22/2016 --Sovereign Health, a leading national provider of behavioral health treatment services, has announced it will host a new job fair in Palm Desert, Calif., near Sovereign Health's Palm Desert facility. The event will be held on Saturday, October 8th, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Indian Wells Country Club, 46000 Club Drive, Indian Wells, CA 92210. For questions, please contact Megan Jones at 949.276.3222 ext. 1562 or via email. Coffee, iced tea and light snacks will be provided. Parking is free. During the job fair, applicants will have the opportunity to meet with the hiring managers of Sovereign Health of Palm Desert's clinical, operations and administration teams. Positions include: clinicians, counselors, case managers, clinical coordinators, licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, program director, operations manager, house managers, drivers, maintenance technicians, kitchen managers, kitchen staff, administrative assistants and receptionist. Sovereign Health currently operates nine treatment facilities in five states: California, Arizona, Florida, Texas and Utah. Each facility is fully licensed in accordance with the regulations of the state where the facility is located. Sovereign Health's facilities have been awarded Gold Seal accreditation by the Joint Commission, the highest level of accreditation available in the behavioral health field. In addition, for the third consecutive year, Sovereign Health has earned a spot on the Inc. 5000, Inc. Magazine's list of America's fastest-growing private companies. Sovereign is ranked at #535 on the 2016 list, placing the company in the top 11% of all companies on the list with a three-year sales growth rate of 721%. About Sovereign Health Sovereign Health's mission is to provide a broad spectrum of high-quality behavioral health treatment services for adults and adolescents, including support services for family members. Sovereign's treatment facilities are licensed to provide both addiction/dual diagnosis treatment and mental health treatment, such as trauma, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Sovereign also offers treatment for patients who have chronic pain, eating disorders and cognitive deficits. One factor that differentiates Sovereign from other treatment providers has been the company's ability to offer separate mental health and addiction or dual diagnosis treatment programs at its facilities. For more information, visit www.sovhealth.com. Media Contact: Wendy Allen, Public Relations Manager: 866-948-9688 Shania Twain coming to Indianapolis on first tour in nearly five years Voting starts surprisingly behind 2018; what can we read into that? editorials Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News Movie reels and old films left over from the Old Texas Theater's years as a movie house sit on display in a cabinet within the Ballinger venue Friday August 5, 2016. The theater offers live entertainment and food each weekend. SHARE Movies this week 9/23/2016 New releases 'THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN' (Century 12) Seven gunslingers ride to the rescue of a small town occupied by bandits. Western with Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke. PG-13. 132 minutes. HH 'STORKS' (Century 12) A stork tries to deliver one last baby after a mix-up at the factory. Animated comedy with Andy Samberg, Katie Crown and Kelsey Grammer. PG. 89 minutes. HH Continuing 'BAD MOMS' (Premiere 10, PC-6) Three overworked mothers go on a binge of self-indulgence. Comedy with Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Bell. R. 101 minutes. Not reviewed. 'BLAIR WITCH' (Premiere 10, Century 12) Several friends head into haunted woods after finding a mysterious video. Horror with James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez and Corbin Reid. R. 89 minutes. Not reviewed. 'BRIDGET JONES'S BABY' (Premiere 10, PC-6, Century 12) Bridget Jones, now in her 40s, finds out that she is pregnant but doesn't know which of two men is the father. Romantic comedy with Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth and Patrick Dempsey. R. 122 minutes. HHH 'DON'T BREATHE' (Century 12) Three teens try to rob a blind man but find that he has a dark secret. Horror with Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette and Stephen Lang. R. 88 minutes. HHH 'HELL OR HIGH WATER' (Century 12) Two brothers in West Texas rob branches of the bank that is about to foreclose on their family's ranch. Drama with Ben Foster, Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges. R. 102 minutes. Not reviewed. 'HILLSONG: LET HOPE RISE' (Premiere 10) An Australian band finds international fame for its inspirational music. Music documentary. PG. 103 minutes. Not reviewed. 'KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS' (Century 12) A young boy of great artistic talent sets out to discover both his origin and his destiny. Animated adventure with Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey. PG. 101 minutes. HHHH 'THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS' (Premiere 10) A couple living in a lighthouse rescue an infant at sea, raising the child as their own. Romantic drama with Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weisz. PG-13. 132 minutes. Not reviewed. 'LIGHTS OUT' (PC-6) A young woman and her brother try to save their mother from a spirit that comes out in the darkness. Horror with Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman and Maria Bello. PG-13. 81 minutes. HHH 'MECHANIC: RESURRECTION' (Premiere 10) A former hit man is forced back into action. Action with Jason Statham, Jessica Alba and Tommy Lee Jones. R. 99 minutes. Not reviewed. 'MR. CHURCH' (Premiere 10) A cook and a young girl develop a friendship spanning decades. Drama with Eddie Murphy and Britt Robertson. PG-13. 104 minutes. Not reviewed. 'NINE LIVES' (PC-6) A distant and overworked father is magically transformed into a cat. Family comedy with Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Garner and Christopher Walken. PG. 87 minutes. Not reviewed. 'PETE'S DRAGON' (Century 12) A young orphan boy lives alone in the woods, protected by a dragon. Fantasy adventure with Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford and Oakes Fegley. PG. 102 minutes. HHH 'SAUSAGE PARTY' (Premiere 10) Sentient hot dogs find out what really happens to the food that is bought from the store. Animated comedy with Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig and Jonah Hill. R. 89 minutes. HHH 'THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS' (Century 12) Pets in a New York apartment building get into an adventure while their owners are away. Animated comedy with Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart. PG. 90 minutes. HH 'SNOWDEN' (Century 12) Edward Snowden earns both ire and praise when he leaks classified government documents. Biographical drama with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley. R. 134 minutes. HH 'SUICIDE SQUAD' (Century 12) Supervillains team up to fight against a greater evil in exchange for their freedom. Action adventure with Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto. PG-13. 123 minutes. HH 'SULLY' (Premiere 10, PC-6) Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger defends his reputation after the forced landing of his plane in the Hudson River. Biographical drama with Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart and Laura Linney. PG-13. 95 minutes. HHH 'WAR DOGS' (PC-6) Two slackers land a massive contract to supply weapons to the government. Comedy with Jonah Hill and Miles Teller. R. 114 minutes. H 'WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS' (Premiere 10) A couple find that the woman serving as the surrogate mother of their child has become fixated on the father. Horror with Morris Chestnut, Regina Hall and Jaz Sinclair. R. 107 minutes. Not reviewed. 'THE WILD LIFE' (Century 12) A castaway befriends a group of animals on a tropical island. Animated comedy with Matthias Schweighofer, Kaya Yanar and Ilka Bessin. PG. 90 minutes. Not reviewed. SHARE Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News Wylie ISD Superintendent Joey Light . By Staff Report An incident reported earlier this week at Wylie High School, involving an alleged student discussion of guns and gangs at a lunchroom table, resulted in no charges to any student, according to a statement made Wednesday by Wylie Independent School District Superintendent Joey Light. Light released the following statement on the incident: "On Monday, Wylie ISD administration became aware of a lunchroom conversation in which a 14-year-old student was overheard by other students discussing gangs and guns. Administration immediately interviewed several students to determine the identity of the involved student. The Abilene Police Department was notified, but the student had already left the campus for the day. Consequently, APD coordinated with the Taylor County Sheriff's Office. A detective went to a student's home and interviewed him about the alleged conversation. The Sheriff's Office determined that this student had not committed an offense but that another student needed to be interviewed. APD was notified. The Abilene Police Department Patrol Division and Youth Division were made aware of these circumstances before school started on Tuesday. Additional police personnel were on campus and APD administration was advised of the circumstances. Once the students were back on campus, the assigned school resource officer interviewed the second student to determine if an offense had occurred. It is the belief of the Abilene Police Department that an offense has not occurred. Parents of these involved students have also been interviewed by APD. Social media, however, has reports that have proven to be untrue. At this time, neither Wylie administration nor APD believe an offense has occurred and no student at Wylie is endangered. The school district responded immediately to this lunchroom conversation and we are confident our students will remain safe." Abilene Police Chief Stan Standridge provided this statement, delivered through Light: "We have worked closely with school administration to investigate these circumstances. It is my belief that inappropriate lunchroom conversations led to rumors and hearsay. I am thankful that Wylie addressed these rumors immediately. The Abilene Police Department remains committed to the safety of all students at Wylie and we do not take these matters lightly. This investigation will remain open." The Abilene Police Department is investigating two early morning convenience store robberies that took place Thursday. A police spokesman said there is no evidence that the robberies are linked, but the timing is suspicious. The first robbery occurred at 2:54 a.m. at a store in the 1300 block of South 14th Street. A clerk told police that a man came into the store and demanded money from the register. The clerk said the robber was wearing white shorts and concealed himself with a blanket and a plastic bag. The man took an undisclosed amount of money and left on foot, heading north on Poplar Street, according to the clerk. No weapon was displayed. The second robbery took place at 4:15 a.m. in the 5100 block of U.S. Highway 277 South. According to the report, two men, one of whom was carrying a gun, entered the store and demanded money. They allegedly took an undisclosed amount of money and headed toward Texas Avenue on foot. The man with the gun was wearing a black hoodie, according to police, and the second robber, in a blue hoodie, stood at the door. Summit 2016 at Abilene Christian University ended a half-day earlier than previous years, but no one felt shortchanged. One of the changes was that the final lecture began at 11 a.m. Wednesday. In the past, the final lecture began at 7 p.m. Even with a shortened schedule, there were more educational presentations, worship sessions, meals, and fellowship than anyone could attend. 'It was an honor to host more than a hundred presenters and scores of students and participants in this year's Summit,' David Wray, Summit director, said in an email. Next year's Summit will be Sept. 17-20. Theme will be 'Ancient Scripture, Future Church: The Choices We Make and the God We Serve.' A popular course Wednesday was one led by Derran Reese, director of global ministries at Highland Church of Christ. The class was titled 'Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Equipping the Church to Love Our Muslim Brothers and Sisters.' Reese was a missionary to Thailand for seven years and worked alongside Buddhists and some Muslims. 'How can we be good, loving neighbors to Muslims?' Reese asked, in light of the current political climate and news reports almost daily of bombings attributed to extremist Muslims. Reese had a couple of suggestions. First, start reading authoritative books on Islam and its followers and stop reading fear-mongering articles on the Internet. 'Read people who are actually living this out,' he said. Another is to actually meet Muslims and listen to Muslim speakers. Very few people know the tenets of Islam or where the heaviest concentrations of Muslims are in the world, Reese said. When Reese returned to Highland from Thailand, he wanted to help with creating a vision for global engagement. He put together a team that spent six months discussing the vision and how to implement it. The team adopted a theme, 'Making Peace in the Muslim Majority World.' The team gave itself three to five years to study and learn before attempting any engagement with the world's 1.6 billion Muslims. The team started with educating its own church members. 'It's not enough to preach a sermon on loving Muslims,' Reese said. A bibliography of authoritative books was compiled for anyone interested in learning more about Islam. The team went to Friday prayers at a mosque in Lubbock and invited the imam to speak at Highland on Nov. 2. Team member Darryl Tippens said we all have biases that can affect our relationships with others. The best way to overcome them is to study and to meet people who are different from us. 'There is no substitute for meeting another person face to face,' he said. One team member with a unique perspective is Scott Graham, who was in the Army 20 years, serving time in Iraq. He acknowledged that when he hears about extremists killing innocent people, he wants to kill them. 'Then,' he said, 'I remember I follow Jesus.' On May 2, 2011, when U.S. forces killed al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden, Graham saw people rejoicing over his death. He asked himself a question, 'What makes us any better (than the enemy) if we're throwing parties celebrating the death of this man?' It is imperative that people learn the difference between traditional Muslims and extremists who have 'hijacked the faith,' he said. To open the class, Chris Flanders, director of the Halbert Institute for Missions at ACU, said a prayer that perhaps summed up the message that the Highland team wants to spread. 'Lord, you are the God of the world,' he said. 'Each one of us is beloved by you.' Stressing the importance of casting a ballot, Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos stopped in Abilene on Wednesday as part of his Vote Texas tour. 'Our role is to make sure that every voter has the information they need to vote,' Cascos said at the Taylor County Elections Office. 'I'm not excited about all the driving we are doing with this tour, but I am excited to talk to people about the importance of voting.' Cascos said the tour's principle focus is to explain and talk about photo ID requirements in the wake of federal court order for the state to revise its voter identification law. 'We are very flexible, we understand the challenges, and we fully understand what the court has ordered us to do,' Cascos said. 'It's not that complicated.' Cascos outlined what he referred to as the primary way voters can prove their identity before voting, and what he termed 'Plan B.' 'For those who have been voting with one of the seven approved photo IDs, they can continue to do so without any problem,' he said. 'Under Plan B, those voters who do not possess or have the ability to obtain one of the original seven can still vote; they just have to provide one of the alternate forms of ID, and sign a form attesting to them not being able get one of the IDs.' The seven primary acceptable forms of identification: Texas driver's license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS Texas personal identification card issued by DPS Texas license to carry a handgun issued by DPS U.S. military identification card containing the person's photograph U.S. citizenship certificate containing the person's photograph U.S. passport Alternate forms of ID include: Valid voter registration certificate Certified birth certificate (must be an original) Copy of or original current utility bill Copy of or original bank statement Copy of or original government check Copy of or original paycheck Copy of or original government document with name and address (original required if it contains a photograph). For more information about Vote Texas, visit www.votetexas.gov or call 800-252-8683. For all the sound and fury surrounding the weekend bomb plots in New York and New Jersey, the reality is that the anti-terror system worked. In a metropolitan area of 20 million people, the prime suspect was tracked down and captured within 36 hours. Through a combination of luck, good police work and the bomber's ineptitude, no one was killed. Law enforcement showed impressive skills collecting video images that showed suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami moving explosives near the scene of a blast in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. Authorities pulled his fingerprint from an unexploded device discovered nearby. City leaders kept the public informed each step of the way. Despite the usual hand-wringing on social media, most New Yorkers remained composed. By Monday morning, police were circulating Rahami's name and photo. People were vigilant. A tip phoned in late Monday morning about a man who looked like Rahami sleeping in the doorway of a bar in Linden, N.J., led to a shootout with police and his arrest. All in all, a satisfying conclusion to a scary couple of days. Yet how did the Republican nominee for president react to this sequence of events? As shrilly as the screech of tires on pavement or a baying car alarm. The episode, said Donald Trump, proved that 'we can't let any more people come into this country.' We need 'extreme, extreme vetting' of Muslims entering the United States. We shouldn't supply terror suspects, even U.S. citizens such as Rahami, with decent medical care and quality legal representation. Syrian refugees have 'such hatred and sickness in their heart.' Donald Trump Jr. did his part by tweeting an image (on an iPhone invented by the son of a Syrian immigrant) comparing refugees to Skittles. Well. Is there room for improvement in immigration security? Sure. Rahami was questioned after returning from Afghanistan, and more could have been learned about the state of his loyalties after those visits. An audit released Monday showed that the U.S. government mistakenly granted citizenship to 858 people from dangerous regions or areas of high immigration fraud. Even so, the terror threat needs to be kept in perspective. Terrorism has killed fewer than 100 people in America since 9/11. The U.S. allows about 70,000 refugees to enter each year; President Obama raised that figure to 85,000 this year. Those from war-torn areas already receive stringent screening. In the meantime, 65 million people have been displaced in a world rife with troubled regions, including nearly 5 million from war-torn Syria. Other countries, including America, bear a shared moral duty of offering haven to some of these desperate families. Since 2009, there have been only about 10 occasions where refugees were arrested on terrorism-related charges. Of the most deadly homegrown attacks in recent years, nearly all were carried out by people born in the USA second-generation immigrants including Omar Mateen, the shooter at the gay nightclub in Orlando that left 49 dead in June. Immigration bans do nothing to stop people already here, and alienating Muslim Americans risks shutting down a vital conduit of information police need to ferret out threats from the self-radicalized individuals responsible for nearly all recent attacks in the United States. Protecting the homeland from the simmering threat of terror requires careful military operations abroad and painstaking police work at home efforts that shouldn't be drowned out by the shrill sounds of political expediency. USA TODAY's editorial opinions are decided by its Editorial Board, separate from the news staff. Most editorials are coupled with an opposing view a unique USA TODAY feature. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... In this official photo, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks during a meeting at the National Assembly building in Phnom Penh, April 4, 2016. Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday declared a holiday cease-fire in the political war of words that he and his political rivals have waged as they battle for the hearts and minds of Cambodian voters. On Monday there was a standoff, he told Puthisastra University graduates. On Tuesday there was a cease-fire, so it seems there should not be any exchanges of fire. I will wait during the Pchum Ben festival and see who attacks first. Pchum Ben is a 15-day Cambodian religious festival, culminating in celebrations on the 15th day of the tenth month in the Khmer calendar. That falls on Oct. 1 this year, and is when many Cambodians pay their respects to deceased relatives. Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party official Eng Chhai Eang cast doubt on Hun Sens sincerity, telling RFAs Khmer Service that actions speak louder than words. There must be a common political solution for the two parties, who have seats in the national assembly, he said. If he remains quiet only during the Pchum Ben festival, and then after the festival is over he starts arresting and filing lawsuits against the opposition, civil society and human rights officials, that would not be good. He urged Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for more than 30 years, to make a true good-will gesture to prove he is serious about calming tensions. If those in jail due to political reasons, including civil society, human rights, and political activists, are let out of prison during the Pchum Ben festival, that would be even better, he said. Hun Sens declaration comes after there were indications that the opposition CNRP and the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) could be on the verge of a rapprochement after spending much of this year fighting. On Tuesday senior CNRP lawmaker Son Chhay indicated that the partys lawmakers would end a boycott and return to the National Assembly in an effort to end the countrys political crisis. Son Chhays pronouncement may have been premature, as local media reported that CNRP President Sam Rainsy said on Wednesday that the opposition party would continue to boycott National Assembly sessions. Going back to the National Assembly under the present circumstances would mean that the political situation has returned to normal, which is far from being the case, Mr. Rainsy said in an email to The Cambodia Daily. No legal armistice While Hun Sen was declaring a cease fire on political bombast, the government pressed ahead with its legal battle with the opposition. On Thursday the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced the deputy secretary of Cambodias National Election Commission to a six-month prison term and a 6 million Riel (U.S. $1,500) fine for accusing a judge and prosecutor of corruption in 2015. While he was being led out of the courtroom in handcuffs, Ny Chakriya told reporters the court decision is an attack on justice. We cannot expect justice from a society with no justice, he said. The court could not provide justice and to get a fair trial is difficult. In July 2015, when Ny Chakriya headed the human rights section of the nongovernmental organization ADHOC, he accused deputy prosecutor Sok Keo Bandit and Siem Reap Provincial Court investigating judge Ki Rithy of colluding to commit corruption in a high-profile land dispute in the Svay Leu district. Ny Chakriya was appointed to the NEC to balance the panel between ruling and opposition delegates ahead of the 2017 local and 2018 national elections. While he was convicted on Thursday of malicious denunciation and publication of commentaries intended to unlawfully coerce judicial authorities, it is not the end of his legal troubles. Ny Chakriya is one of five people arrested by the government in its wide-ranging probe into an alleged affair between opposition CNRP deputy leader Kem Sokha and a young hairdresser. Defense attorney Sam Sokong said the case decided on Thursday is unfair and severely restricts the rights of his client. When using the criminal code for the trial, it looks like the right to freedom of expression and freedom of speech have been restricted and violated, he said. The opposition, civil society groups and international rights groups view the case decided Thursday and the Kem Sokha case as politically motivated, reflecting Hun Sens drive to weaken the opposition before the coming elections. A coalition of 35 civil society organizations condemned Ny Chakriyas conviction, saying in a joint statement that it is part of an escalating crackdown on independent voices. It also represents a disturbing criminalization of the legitimate activities of human rights defenders, the groups wrote. This farcical judicial process raises serious doubts as to whether the upcoming elections can be considered free, fair or credible. In another closely-watched case, Phnom Penh court deputy prosecutor Ly Sophanna told RFA that Hun Sens lawsuit against Sam Rainsy Party Sen. Thak Lany was sent to the Phnom Penh court for trial. Hun Sen sued Thak Lany and Sam Rainsy for defamation over remarks they allegedly made that tie the July 10 murder of government critic Kem Ley to the prime minister. Thak Lany denies she made the remarks, saying that her comments were edited to make her look like she was lodging the criticism. While the Sam Rainsy Party still holds seats it won in the Cambodian parliament, it has since merged with the CNRP. A court date has yet to be set for the trial. Calling on the king While Hun Sen was declaring a cease fire, and legal cases against the opposition ground on, a minor party known as the Cambodian National Justice Party (CNJP) called on King Norodom Sihamoni to intervene in the political standoff between the CNRP and the CPP. In a letter to the king dated Wednesday, the CNJP said Norodom Sihamoni should step in to avoid bloodshed among Khmer people and remove an obstacle to the national economy. There was no immediate reply from the king. Reported by RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Myanmar National Human Rights Commission members Than Nwet (L), Mya Mya (C) and Zaw Win (R) deliver a statement during a press conference in Yangon following the arrest of three suspects accused of abusing two girls, Sept. 21, 2016. Activists in Myanmar have expressed outrage at a high-profile case of two teenage maids who were tortured and abused by their employers and what they view as an improper response by the countrys human rights commission. Ma San Kay Khaing, 17, and Ma Tha Zin, 16, endured five years of brutal physical abuse by a prominent family of tailors for whom they worked as maids in Kyauktada township in the commercial capital Yangon. They said the family members stabbed them with scissors and knives, and burned them with an iron. Police arrested three suspects-the shop owner and her two adult childrenearlier this week and charged them with human trafficking. The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), which accepted the girls case on Sept. 15, pressured their families to negotiate a monetary settlement with the alleged abusers rather than pursue legal action, according to local media reports. The MNHRC mediated a deal in which the shop owner and her children paid 4 million kyats (U.S. $3,150) to one girl and 1 million kyats (U.S. $790) to the other in order to avoid punishment. They did not express remorse for their actions and laid the blame on the girls, accusing them of disrespect while they were employed, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported. Rights activists protested against the MNHRCs actions outside its offices on Tuesday, prompting the commission to hold a press conference on Wednesday during which it attempted to defend its actions. The MNHRC said it was only trying to get compensation for the two girls during its mediation and that legal recourse against the shop owner and her children was still a possibility. Three MNHRC members made inquiries about the complaint letter filed by the girls parents and arranged for a meeting with the home owners and the parents, said commission member Zaw Win. They were told they could solve the problem between themselves, and that there were two courses of actionone is to go to court, and the other is to find a monetary solution, he told RFAs Myanmar Service. After some deliberations, the two sides agreed to end the case with compensation for the girls, he said. Our conscience is clear. We did our best with human rights basics and loving kindness. A bad buy-out Rights activists, lawyers and lawmakers say the MNHRC should not have proposed and accepted this "buy-out." The MNHRC has not done anything solid for the people whom they should stand up for and give protection to, said activist Thet Swe Win. The members should be pursuing legal action, he said. We cannot accept them acting like brokers and mediators outside the law. We strongly condemn them and want the commission reformed. Prominent legal activist and human rights lawyer Robert San Aung said it is against the law to let the perpetrators of a serious crime go unpunished. Frankly speaking, it is like covering up a police case and the victims not getting full legal assistance or justice. Susanna Naw Hla Soe, a National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker who represents Yangon in Myanmars upper house of parliament, noted that the bodys Women and Childrens Rights Commission has received complaint letters about the case. The commission asked for a report from the MNHRC on what it has done and how it has handled the case of the two abused teenagers, she said. Created in September 2011 under Myanmars former military-backed government, the MNHRC has a government mandate to promote and safeguard the fundamental rights of Myanmar citizens enshrined in the countrys constitution. It has come under fire for a perceived reluctance to investigate human rights violations that involve the military. In 2014, the number of commission members was reduced to 11 from 15 retired bureaucrats and academics. Reporting by Kyaw Zaw Win and Waiyan Moe Myint for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Updated at 07:55 EST on 2016-09-23 Tibetan students enrolled at a large university in northwestern Chinas Gansu province are challenging an exorbitant hike in school fees and their forced move to a remote campus without residence halls or a library, warning they will protest if their concerns are not addressed, Tibetan sources say. Students at the Northwest University for Nationalities in the provincial capital Lanzhou found their fees raised this year from 4,230 yuan [U.S. $635 approx.] to 8,220 yuan [U.S. $1,233 approx.], burdening young Tibetans coming from nomadic areas with severe economic hardship, a source living in the area told RFAs Tibetan Service. Moreover, Tibetan students enrolled in the department of vocational training and continuing education have been moved to a new campus without residence facilities or a library, and though classes have already begun at the main campus, no classes have been held in the new location, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The instructors who speak Tibetan are also finding it difficult to travel there, he said. On Sept. 20, Tibetan students called on school administrators to improve their conditions, asking also that students coming from impoverished Tibetan areas in western Chinese provinces be exempted from the hike in fees, he said. They especially asked their teachers in the Tibetan language section to voice their own concerns to the relevant authorities, since the students themselves feel they have no voice, he said. If their requests are not addressed, they will launch some kind of movement, they say. Speaking separately, a University graduate told RFA the schools new policy may be an attempt by Han Chinese officials at higher levels to marginalize the schools Tibetan students and department. This may be an attempt to undermine the teaching of the Tibetan language, to assign new staff, and to move Tibetan teachers away from their responsibilities, he said. University administrators in Lanzhou were not immediately available for comment. Language rights have become a particular focus for Tibetan efforts to assert national identity in recent years, with informally organized language courses typically deemed illegal associations and teachers subject to detention and arrest, sources say. Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney. UPDATE: An earlier version of this story did not refer to the specific university department in which the moved students are enrolled. The Afghan government has signed a draft peace accord with notorious exiled warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, paving the way for his return after years of fighting the central authorities. A government delegation and a team representing Hekmatyar's Hezb-e Islami militant group signed the document at a press conference in Kabul on September 22. The final agreement is expected to be signed by Hekmatyar and President Ashraf Ghani in the coming days. That is expected to be a mere formality. "Fortunately, after two years of negotiations between Afghanistan's High Peace Council and the Hezb-e Islami, the peace negotiations have been successfully completed, and an agreement between both sides has been finalized," the Afghan High Peace Council, the presidentially appointed body tasked with pursuing a peace settlement with militant groups, said in a statement. Sayed Ahmad Gilani, head of the High Peace Council, said at a news conference in Kabul that "in the light of our national interests, this could benefit both sides." He added, "I hope that this is the beginning of a permanent peace in our country." Hekmatyar's forces were accused by rights groups of gross human rights violations during Afghanistan's civil war in the 1990s, and they have carried out deadly attacks against U.S. and Afghan forces since 2001. Hundreds of protesters rallied in Kabul on September 22, holding placards reading "Butcher of Kabul" and "We will neither forget nor forgive." A senior researcher on Afghanistan for the international group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called the deal with Hekmatyar "an affront to victims of grave abuses." "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," HRW's Patricia Gossman wrote as word spread of the pending deal. HRW and other groups accuse Hekmatyar of responsibility for the shelling of residential areas of Kabul in the 1990s as well as forced disappearances and covert jails where torture was commonplace. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul welcomed the accord as "a step in bringing the conflict in Afghanistan to a peaceful end." The United Nations said it "demonstrates the preparedness of Afghanistan's government to seek peace with armed antigovernment elements." Under the agreement, Hekmatyar will be granted amnesty for past offenses and certain Hezb-e Islami prisoners will be released by the government. The Afghan government also agreed to press for the lifting of international sanctions on Hekmatyar. The deal also includes provisions for his security at government expense. The controversial peace deal is a breakthrough for Ghani, who so far has had little to show for his efforts at ending the country's 15-year war. While the military wing of the Hezb-e Islami led by Hekmatyar has been a largely dormant force in recent years and has little political relevance in Afghanistan, the deal with the government could be a template for any future deal with fundamentalist Taliban militants who have also fought Kabul's authority. Hezb-e Islami split up after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, with the political wing reconciling with Kabul while Hekmatyar joined with the Taliban to lead the insurgency. The Afghan government opened discussions with a delegation sent by Hekmatyar on March 17. Hekmatyar is among the most radical of the hard-line militants in Afghanistan's recent past. He founded Hezb-e Islami in the mid-1970s, and the group went on to become one of the main mujahedin factions fighting the Red Army after the Soviet invasion in 1979 before subsequently battling in the civil war for control of Kabul after Moscow pulled out. Hekmatyar was seen as trying to rally Taliban troops against coalition forces, and his alleged attempts to ally with both that group and Al-Qaeda led the U.S. State Department to designate him a "global terrorist" in 2003. Hekmatyar's precise whereabouts is unknown, but he is believed to be in neighboring Pakistan. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Hundreds of rockets raining down on the city every day. The sound of gunfire crackling through deserted streets. Mangled bodies littering roads controlled by warring factions. That was Kabul during the devastating civil war of the 1990s -- a conflict that pitted mujahedin factions against each other, killed some 100,000 people, and left most of the city in ruins. Two decades on, one of the chief protagonists of the internecine 1992-96 war is returning to the city whose residents dubbed him the Butcher of Kabul, a nickname he earned for launching rocket attacks that killed thousands of civilians in residential neighborhoods. The public resurrection of the long-exiled Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a U.S.-designated global terrorist and one of the most controversial figures of the past three decades of war in Afghanistan, has opened old wounds among Kabul residents who vividly remember his reign of terror. For the Kabul government, however, the return of Hekmatyar and his Hezb-e Islami militants in conjunction with a cease-fire is seen as a breakthrough that could persuade the broader Taliban insurgency to negotiate a peace settlement. WATCH: Peace Deal With 'Butcher Of Kabul' Sparks Protests In Afghan Capital Hekmatyar, an ethnic Pashtun commander, founded Hezb-e Islami in the mid-'70s to fight occupying Soviet troops and emerged after the Red Army's withdrawal as a leader of one of Afghanistan's more effective resistance forces. He and his militia then fought for control of Kabul in the civil war that followed and reportedly spurned a compromise that might have spared considerable bloodshed in the capital. Since the U.S.-led invasion and creation of a UN-backed Afghan government in 2001, he has led efforts from abroad aimed at opposing Afghan and international forces. Darkest Period Hekmatyars return is a bitter pill for many Kabulis to swallow. The sky over Kabul was alight with rockets, says Mohammad Isaq, a Kabul resident who lived in the Bagh-e Ali Mardon district of the capital's old city, a scene of some of the fiercest clashes, during the civil war of the '90s. The whole city was burning in a huge fire," he adds. People wont forget his past crimes. Thousands of people were martyred. My own brother, Amir Momad, was killed. He was 16 years old. Every family in Kabul was affected. How can they forget and forgive? Another Kabul resident, Bibi Gul, recounts the painful memories of living under Hekmatyars barrage of rockets, calling it the darkest period for Afghanistan. During the day or night, the rockets were coming, she says. We were living in basements or under bridges so the rockets wouldnt kill us. In no way can we ever forgive Hekmatyar. The 68-year-old Hekmatyar, an Islamic fundamentalist, and his men were said to have patrolled the streets of Kabul, beating or throwing acid in the faces of women not wearing the head-to-toe burqa. His brutal tactics were similar in many respects to the Talibans draconian imposition of a strict interpretation of Shari'a law. Hekmatyars forces were torturing women and kidnapping women, says Bibi Gul. They forced them to wear the burqa and forbade them to go to school or work. Hope For Peace There are concerns that come with making peace with a figure like Hekmatyar. He could prove to be a destabilizing force for the weak and divided national unity government in Kabul. He has also previously supported Al-Qaeda and carried out deadly attacks against U.S. and Afghan forces since the NATO-led invasion in 2001, leading to a purported U.S. missile attack targeting him in May 2002 and his designation by the U.S. State Department in 2003 as a "global terrorist." Despite the designation and his continued fight against Afghan forces, Kabul reached out to Hekmatyar as early as 2008 in the hope of working out a peace deal. The deal inked on September 22 is unlikely to have an immediate impact on the security situation in Afghanistan. Hezb-e Islami, the second-largest insurgent group operating in Afghanistan after the Taliban, is a largely diminished force and has become increasingly fractured over the past decade. After the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, members of the groups political wing joined the internationally backed government in Kabul, although much of the military wing led by Hekmatyar rejected peace. But the agreement with Hekmatyar is a breakthrough for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who so far has had little to show for his efforts to end a 15-year insurgency. While Hekmatyar's Hezb-e Islami military wing has been a largely dormant force in recent years, and has little political relevance in Afghanistan, the deal with the national government could be a template for any future deal with the Taliban. Kabul hopes the peace accord will create a domino effect and persuade other militant groups to leave the battlefield and join a peaceful political process. Michael Kugelman, South Asia associate at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, is skeptical that such a scenario will unfold. The Taliban simply has no incentives to step off the battlefield and negotiate for peace, and the Hezb-e Islami deal is unlikely to change the Taliban's thinking on this at all, he says. The two groups operated in wildly different contexts. One has fallen from earlier glory and become somewhat of a nonfactor. But Kugelman adds that the deal is a win-win for Hekmatyar and his organization. For Hezb-e Islami, the incentives for peace simply outweigh those for war, he argues. It likely believes it can gain more from becoming a part of the political process than from staying on a battlefield where it is increasingly vulnerable and inactive. For Hekmatyar, there is an opportunity to build up some of the influence and political capital that he has lost in recent years. Hekmatyar has had a complicated relationship with the Taliban. He voiced support for the late Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and coordinated attacks against foreign and Afghan forces. But Hezb-e Islami fighters have also clashed with their Taliban counterparts, particularly in eastern Afghanistan, over territory. The Taliban has so far publicly rejected direct talks with Kabul and has not changed its preconditions for joining the peace process, including a demand that all foreign troops leave Afghanistan. Hekmatyar would not be the first alleged war criminal to be reintegrated into the mainstream by the government and its international allies in a bid to bring stability to the country. General Abdul Rashid Dostum, a former ethnic Uzbek militia leader accused by international rights observers of grave war crimes, is now first vice president. Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, whose group allegedly committed massacres during the civil war and who is credited with bringing former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to Afghanistan, ran for president in 2014. Hekmatyar has earned a reputation for constantly changing sides and allegiances. He has variously been allied with other mujahedin groups, Pakistan, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Irans clerical regime, and more recently the brutal Sunni militant group Islamic State (IS). After the Taliban took control of Kabul in 1996, Hekmatyar fled to Iran, where he was initially given protection. He left after a brief spell there -- reportedly with Washington pressuring Tehran to expel him -- and moved to Pakistan, where he is believed to have been mostly holed up since 2001. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the world faces the most dangerous decade since World War II and predicted that the historical period of the West's "undivided dominance over world affairs" is coming to an end. Speaking on October 27 at a conference of international policy experts in Moscow, Putin said the decade ahead is "probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and, at the same time, important...since the end of World War II." Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Putin laid the blame for the situation at the feet of Western countries, which he said have cast aside the norms of international affairs in order to maintain dominance and hold down countries they see as "second-class civilizations." The Russian leader also said he had no regrets about sending troops into Ukraine and sought to explain the conflict as part of the efforts by Western countries to secure their global domination. Putin claimed in his speech to the Valdai Discussion Club, a think tank, that the West had helped incite the conflict and also seeks to stoke a crisis over Taiwan in an attempt to enforce global dominance. Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, triggering the biggest military conflict in Europe since World War II and driving relations with Western countries that back Ukraine and its drive to be part of the European Union and NATO to their lowest depths since the Cold War. Putin cast the conflict in Ukraine as a battle between the West and Russia for the fate of the second-largest Eastern Slav country. It is partly a "civil war," he said, as Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Kyiv has flatly rejected both of those ideas. The goal of what Russia refers to as a "special military operation" is to take the eastern Donbas region, Putin said, adding that in his view the region would "not have survived" on its own had Russia not intervened militarily in Ukraine. WATCH: A local official told Russian conscripts "You are not cannon fodder" in a video published online recently. The men responded by angrily shouting that, actually, that's exactly what they are. But the war has gone far beyond the Donbas region, with Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and other nonmilitary structures, killing tens of thousands of Ukrainians across the country. Putin used the speech largely to rail against the West, saying it has nothing to offer to the world "except its own domination," and the goal of globalization "is neocolonialism to dominate the world." He said Russia is only trying to defend its right to exist in the face these Western efforts. Putin also asserted that more and more nations refuse to follow Washington's demands and Russia will never accept the West's attempts to dominate the world. Citing gay pride parades and the acceptance of transgender people in Western countries, Putin also defended "traditional values" and said "nobody can dictate to our people how to develop and what society we should build." He also said Russia has never considered the West an enemy and has many things in common with it but will continue to oppose the diktat of Western neoliberal elites. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Putin's speech presented no new ideas. "We don't believe that Mr. Putin's strategic goals have changed here. He doesn't want Ukraine to exist as a sovereign, independent nation state," Kirby said. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Putin's speech can be described as "for Freud," referring to psychoanalysis founder Sigmund Freud. "The person who invaded a foreign country, annexed its land, and committed genocide accuses others of violating international law and the sovereignty of other countries? One truth: The person who started a wind will get a storm. The storm is coming," he said on Twitter. Answering questions from journalists after his speech, Putin reiterated the Kremlin's assertion that Ukraine plans to use a so-called dirty bomb on its own territory. The claim has been dismissed as false by Ukraine and its allies, who say Russia may have raised the matter because it plans to use such a bomb in Ukraine as a pretext for escalation. "It was me who ordered [Defense Minister Sergei] Shoigu to inform by phone all his colleagues about it," Putin said, adding that Russia does not need to use dirty bombs in Ukraine. Putin also said he supported plans by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit Ukraine's nuclear power plants for inspections. "It must be done as soon and as openly as possible because we know that Kyiv authorities are now working to cover up such [dirty-bomb attack] preparations," Putin said, without giving any exact information proving the claim. Ukraine invited IAEA inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities after the Kremlin made its unsubstantiated claim about the preparation of a dirty bomb -- which would use the explosion of a conventional warhead to spread radioactive material or chemicals over a wide area. Ukraine said it would welcome inspections because it had "nothing to hide." According to Putin, Russia has never talked about the use of nuclear weapons in the war with Ukraine despite his own promise to defend Russian territory with any means at our disposal" and saying his words were "not a bluff." "We see no need for [using nuclear weapons in Ukraine]," Putin told reporters. "There is no sense for that, neither political, nor military." WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives has backed legislation that calls for supplying Ukraine with lethal weaponry in its fight against Russia and separatists in the eastern Donbas region. he bill, which passed unanimously on a voice vote on September 21, is the latest effort by Ukraine's staunchest supporters in Washington to bolster its military forces. Kyiv has repeatedly requested from Washington more advanced weaponry -- such as Javelin antitank missiles -- to aid its fight against separatists. But President Barack Obama's administration has resisted, fearing it would escalate the fighting. Instead, the administration has limited its supplies to things like flak jackets, night-vision goggles, and radar that helps locate where mortars are fired from. The legislation, which goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration, also aims to increase funding to counter Russian propaganda. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has delivered a blunt message to Ukraine, saying the country needs to follow through with economic and political reform or risk undermining European backing for Russian sanctions. Biden said in a speech in New York on September 21 that Ukraine's progress in enacting crucial judicial and economic reforms had been mixed. He said that was undermining support among European Union members for the sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its annexation of the Crimea peninsula in 2014. The Russia-backed insurgency in eastern Ukraine also led to the Western sanctions. "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 told the Council on Foreign Relations. Biden met with Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, a day earlier, when he said conditions had been met for a third U.S. sovereign loan guarantee of up to $1 billion. Based on reporting by Reuters and AP Estonia says it has declined an offer from Russia to hold talks on Baltic Sea security. Defense Ministry spokesman Andres Sang said on September 22 that such "military-political" meetings between NATO-member Estonia and Russia are impossible because of a 2014 decision by NATO to freeze civilian and military cooperation with Moscow. He said any talks between Russia and Estonia would have to be held within the framework of the NATO-Russia Council and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Sang added that the invite from Moscow was likely meant "to play [NATO] members against each other." After a NATO-Russia Council meeting in July, Russian officials said they may consider a proposal to reduce the chance of an accidental military confrontation in Baltic Sea airspace by turning on the transponders on its military planes. Estonia -- along with several other Baltic Sea countries -- has reported several violations of its airspace by Russian warplanes in the past year. Estonia's Defense Ministry accused Russian warplanes of "incredibly reckless" behavior in flying within Estonian airspace in May. Russia has repeatedly denied the accusations. Russian media reports that the Kremlin sent similar security talk invitations to NATO members Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, as well as to Sweden and Finland. Based on reporting by AP Two Georgian politicians have brawled during a television debate ahead of general elections next month. The fistfight between parliamentary candidates Polad Khalikov and Vepkhia Gurgenishvili erupted live on Qvemo Kartli TV on September 21. Khalikov, a candidate for the Industrial political bloc, called Gurgenishvili of the Democratic Movement "scum," prompting the latter to throw a pen, which led to the fight. The studio producers interfered and pulled the two politicians apart. Elections in Georgia are scheduled for October 8. Based on reporting by The Guardian and the BBC TBILISI -- Former Georgian Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili has been found guilty of yet another crime and sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison. The Tbilisi City Court found Merabishvili guilty on September 22 of ordering the beating of lawmaker Valery Gelashvili in 2005. Two other defendants in the case, Erekle Kodua and Georgi Siradze, who are former Interior Ministry officials, were also found guilty and sentenced in absentia to nine years in jail. Merabishvili, 48, was a key figure in the 2003 Rose Revolution and served for more than seven years as Georgia's interior minister. An ally of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, Merabishvili was sentenced to prison terms in different trials in 2014. Merabishvili is currently serving a multiyear term in prison for abuse of office and bribing voters. Saakashvili, who is currently the governor of Ukraine's Odesa region, is being investigated separately in the case. Supporters of Merabishvili and Saakashvili have termed the charges against the two men as being politically motivated and part of a "witch hunt" by the current government. In June, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the detention of Merabishvili was being used by Georgian officials for other motives, a violation of the European Convention of Human Rights. With reporting by Interfax Mohammad Nayeb-Zehi was among the hundreds of worshippers who gathered on September 30 at the Great Mosalla, a religious site in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan, for Friday Prayers. Just hours later, the 16-year-old's family learned he was dead. Nayeb-Zehi was among the scores of people gunned down by security forces in a brutal crackdown following anti-government protests in Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchistan Province, which is home to the country's Baluch minority. "He was a simple laborer and not political," Nayeb-Zehi's brother, Ahmad, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda in a telephone interview from Zahedan, adding that his sibling had been shot in the heart. "We're in pain, and we cannot accept it." The crackdown in Zahedan came amid weeks-long nationwide protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died on September 16, days after she was detained by Iran's morality police. In Sistan-Baluchistan, public anger at the authorities escalated amid reports that a 15-year-old Baluch girl had been raped by a police official in the province's southern port city of Chabahar. The violence erupted soon after protesters gathered outside a police station near the central mosque in Zahedan. Members of the crowd chanted anti-government slogans, and some threw rocks. Security forces responded with deadly force by firing on the crowd from the station, according to witnesses. Security forces also raided the central mosque and the nearby Great Mosalla and opened fire on worshippers using live ammunition, rights groups said, adding that many were shot in the head, heart, neck, or torso, revealing a clear intent to kill or seriously wound. At least 94 people were killed and 350 wounded on that day, referred to as "Bloody Friday," according to the U.S.-based Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. At least 13 minors were among those killed, including Nayeb-Zehi. The victims were overwhelmingly Baluch -- a mostly Sunni ethnic group that has long faced disproportionate discrimination at the hands of the Iranian authorities. "He was martyred inside the Mosalla while holding his prayer mat," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi. Nayeb-Zehi's family first visited Zahedan's Khatam al-Anbia hospital, hoping he was among the wounded. They later found his body in a seminary at the Great Mosalla. "We entered a room there and saw about 10 bodies," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi. "[Mohammad] was among them." He said the authorities prevented the family from filming the scene. "I told them this has to be documented, it has to be published by international media," he said, adding that footage later emerged on social media showing the gruesome scene at the seminary. The family refused to send Nayeb-Zehi's body to the morgue. Instead, his body lay in the living room for around 24 hours before he was buried. "We said he was martyred and there was no need for an autopsy," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi. The authorities accused Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group, of attacking the police station. The group is recognized as a terrorist organization by both Iran and the United States and has previously claimed deadly attacks in Sistan-Baluchistan targeting Iranian security forces. But local and independent sources have rejected the authorities' claims. The authorities have also reported a much lower number of fatalities, announcing that only 19 people, including several members of the security forces, were killed. Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi said the authorities were "rubbing salt into the wounds of the people" by claiming "terrorists" were involved. He said he witnessed a military helicopter shooting at civilians near the Great Mosalla. "I haven't even seen such scenes in Hollywood movies," he said. "A helicopter was shooting at people. A lady was shot in front of my eyes." RFE/RL could not verify his account. But activists have accused security forces of shooting at protestors from helicopters. "I don't know what the intention of this crime was," he said. "Our only demand from the establishment is for the murderers of our [family members] to be punished." The killings have led to widespread anger in Sistan-Baluchistan, one of Iran's poorest provinces. Anti-establishment protests have been reported in Zahedan since the crackdown, including on October 14 and October 21, when protesters took to the streets after Friday Prayers and chanted "Death to the dictator." During his Friday Prayers sermon on October 21, influential Sunni cleric Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi said senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were "responsible" for the September 30 killings. "We are surprised by the silence of the high-ranking officials," he said in his sermon, which was posted on his website. "Scores were killed here without any reason. I don't have the exact number. Some have reported 90, some say less, some say more," Ismaeelzahi added. He also said people will not be satisfied until "those who killed the people" are brought to justice. The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center said the events of September 30 amounted to "a massacre of protesters by security forces." "The government's total denial of responsibility for the massacring of citizens by its security apparatus is consistent with similar past denials and is evidence that internal calls for investigation of such crimes are insufficient," said the rights group, which documents human rights violations in Iran. U.S. officials say military investigators are examining a rocket that landed near a U.S. base in Iraq that may have contained mustard gas. No one was hurt when the rocket landed a few hundred meters from the Qayara West air base on September 21. The official said several U.S. soldiers inspected the remnants and an initial field test showed it contained a residue of a mustard agent. A second test, however, was negative. The shrapnel was sent to a laboratory for more testing. Islamic State militants in parts of occupied Iraq are known to have tried to manufacture chemical weapons. Earlier this month, U.S. warplanes bombed buildings near Mosul that were used to produce lethal chemicals, including chlorine and mustard gas. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters WASHINGTON -- A court in Uzbekistan this week upheld a decision to sentence the brother of an RFE/RL journalist to eight years in prison on drug-related charges, the latest in a series of cases that appear to target family members in retaliation for their relatives reporting. The Ferghana appeals court, in the countrys southern Ferghana Valley, rejected Aziz Yusupovs appeal on September 20 in a session in which no witnesses were present and, according to his mother, took 15 minutes. No witnesses testified in the original hearing in August, nor was any evidence brought against Yusupov to corroborate the charges. Drug charges are frequently brought against independent journalists, human rights defenders, and other government critics in Uzbekistan. Noting that the decision comes only two weeks after the appointment of interim president Shavkat Mirziyaev, following the death of long-serving leader Islam Karimov, RFE/RL President Thomas Kent said, Uzbekistans new leaders should know that RFE/RL vigorously condemns any attack on the family members of our journalists, and any attempt to intimidate or silence us. In a statement issued following Yusupovs original conviction, the media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders called the charge trumped-up, characterizing it as an effort by authorities to continue stepping up their persecution of the countrys few remaining independent journalists. Other members of RFE/RLs Uzbek Service and their relatives have been subject to attempts at intimidation recently. One employees apartment in Tashkent was seized by agents with Uzbekistans National Security Service in August. Another employee was warned this spring that her brother would suffer if she continued working for RFE/RL. Authorities have interrogated the family members of RFE/RL employees about their relatives journalistic work, and in several cases have denied their requests for exit visas to leave the country. RFE/RLs Uzbek Service, known locally as Radio Ozodlik, operates from Prague, having been forced to close its bureau in Tashkent in 2005 following that year's massacre in the eastern city of Andijon. Ozodlik relies on constant innovation and a wide network of local sources to report news and engage with audiences in one of the worlds most closed societies. Despite government efforts to block access, the Services website averages more than 2 million visits per month; during the week that President Karimov died (August 28-September 4), the website registered 6.5 million page views, while the Service reached over 5.1 million via social media platforms, and its videos were watched 5.5 million times on YouTube. Russian President Vladimir Putin has given the country's highest award to a police officer who was killed by militants after refusing to renounce his duties. Police Lieutenant Magomed Nurbagandov from the North Caucasus region of Daghestan was captured by Islamic militants and shot dead near Daghestan's eastern village of Sergokala in July. Security services later killed three militants during an operation in the nearby city of Izberbash, according to the Interior Ministry. In a video found in the phone of one of the militants, the captors demanded that Nurbagandov urge his colleagues to resign from the police and he defied them, saying: "Keep on working, brothers!" before being killed. During the September 22 award ceremony at the Kremlin, Putin praised the officer as a model for others and handed the Hero of Russia medal to his parents. Daghestan has been at the epicenter of a wave of violence by armed criminal groups and by militants seeking to establish an Islamic caliphate in the North Caucasus. Organized crime, business turf wars, political disputes, and clan rivalry also contribute to the bloodshed in the region. Based on reporting by AP and Interfax The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled on September 22 that Russia must pay financial compensation to controversial "healer" Grigory Grabovoi. The court said the Russian government should pay Grabovoi 2,500 euros (some $2,800) for keeping him for more than two years in pretrial detention without a trial, which contradicts the European Convention on Human Rights. Grabovoi, 52, who was born in Kazakhstan, established a foundation that received large sums of money from people whom he promised to cure of deadly diseases and even to resurrect their deceased relatives. A Moscow court found Grabovoi guilty in 2008 of 11 counts of fraudulently obtaining money and sentenced him to 11 years in prison. Another court later reduced the sentence to eight years. In May 2010, Grabovoi was released on parole. Grabovoi's case became well-known in Russia after it was reported that some of the parents of children killed in September 2004 during the Beslan school siege were among his "clients." The nongovernmental organization Mothers of Beslan denied that any of its members had paid for Grabovoi's services. Russia's prime minister has warned against "populism" in budget planning, and the allure of printing more rubles to cover the country's persistent economic problems. In an article published on September 22 in the government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Dmitry Medvedev promised to keep a tight budget without ignoring social demands, or security needs. The article was published just four days after the country held national parliamentary elections that gave the ruling United Russia party an even stronger position in parliament. "We cannot allow populism...especially in the budget," Medvedev wrote in the article. Russia continues to reel from a sharp drop in world oil prices, as well as Western sanctions for its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and the insurgency it backs in eastern Ukraine. Some factions in Russia's government have pushed to continue aggressive spending on military and security budgets as the country flexes its foreign-policy muscles. Other factions have lobbied for more spending on things like public-sector salaries and pensions for retirees. Russia's economy is forecast to contract 0.5 percent this year. Based on reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and TASS Russian rights campaigner Svetlana Gannushkina has been named a co-winner of a Swedish human rights award sometimes referred to as the "alternative Nobel." The Right Livelihood Award Foundation announced on September 22 that Gannushkina shares this year's prize with the Syria Civil Defense group, Egyptian women's rights activist Mozn Hassan, and Turkish independent newspaper Cumhuriyet. They will share a cash award of $350,000. The jury said all of this year's winners upheld "fundamental human rights and values in the face of war and repression." Gannushkina, 74, was cited for her work to promote "human rights and justice for refugees and forced migrants, and tolerance among different ethnic groups." She is the founder of the Moscow-based Civic Assistance Committee, which offers legal aid and education to migrants and refugees. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa Was Vladimir Zhirinovsky calling for the restoration of the Russian monarchy, commenting on President Vladimir Putins enormous power and authoritarian rule, or just pulling another prank? The jury is still out after the flamboyant ultranationalist seemed to liken Putin to a tsar, quoting from an Imperial-era Russian anthem as Putin stood by at an awards ceremony at the Kremlin on September 22. The Russian Empire had the best national anthem. ... God save the tsar, the strong, sovereign one. Reign for our glory, reign to strike fear in our foes, Orthodox tsar. God save the tsar, Zhirinovsky intones in a video clip, wearing a medal Putin has just awarded him around his neck and raising his hands high, as if to God as the president stands nearby. Zhirinovsky has been a fixture of Russian politics since 1993. The striking clip, shown by state-funded RT television, put him in the headlines again following September 18 elections that keep his party in the State Duma while handing the ruling United Russia party a massive majority in the lower parliament house. The official results mean that Putin, who has been in power as president or prime minister since 1999 and could seek a new six-year term in an election scheduled for 2018, can change the constitution without even seeking support from the other three parties with Duma seats: Zhirinovskys Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), the Communist Party, and A Just Russia. Those three parties are widely known as the systemic opposition -- they do the Kremlins bidding on most issues, particularly when it comes to foreign policy, but are rivals of United Russia and sometimes criticize it vocally. In a rambling rant posted on the Internet earlier this week, Zhirinovsky accused United Russia of stealing votes in the Duma election and screamed: I hate you. But, as always, he steered clear of any criticism of Putin. In the video clip from the medal ceremony, after a brief silence as Zhirinovsky steps away from the podium in the video clip, many in the audience -- other recipients -- applaud. Putins reaction is not visible. Putin has cultivated the image of a strong leader with unparalleled authority and has used imagery and methods from both the tsarist and Soviet eras in his efforts to encourage patriotism and consolidate power. He has cast the Russian Orthodox Church as moral compass for citizens. Critics say Putin appears to use state awards to repay those who have done him a good turn and send signals about what kinds of activity he values. In the ceremony on September 28, Zhirinovsky was awarded the Order For Service To The Fatherland, 2nd Degree -- a high honor. Yury Luzhkov, a longtime Moscow mayor who was fired in 2010 during a battle with then-President Dmitry Medvedev amid Kremlin concerns over public allegations of corruption and mismanagement, received the Order For Services To The Fatherland, 4th Degree -- a possible sign that he is no longer out of favor. The dozens of honorees also included Sergei Roldugin, a cellist and friend of Putins who was named in the Panama Papers leaks in April. Media reports based on the leaked documents alleged that he had established a business empire involved in offshore transactions that might be linked to Putin. Putin has said that Roldugin did nothing wrong and claimed the leaks were part of a campaign to destabilize Russia by fabricating corruption allegations. A one-party state, an aging leader in the Kremlin, and a new KGB? Hmm. It seems we've seen this movie before. Russians woke up on September 19 to news that the ruling United Russia party controlled more than three-quarters of the seats in the new State Duma, in an election marred by record-low turnout and widespread allegations of fraud. And on the same day, a widely circulated report in the daily Kommersant revealed that there are plans afoot in the Kremlin to create a new Ministry of State Security that would effectively re-create the feared Soviet-era secret police. And oh, by the way, in just a couple weeks Vladimir Putin will turn 64, the same age that Leonid Brezhnev was in 1970 as the Soviet Union was about to enter a decade of economic stagnation, intensified political repression, and escalated foreign aggression. And he's clearly not going anywhere anytime soon. But while history isn't necessarily repeating itself, neither as tragedy nor as farce, the Putin era does appear to be entering a new and more sinister phase. We may not be watching a rerun of That Soviet '70s Show, but the long-running Putin show does seem to be starting a brand new season. Gennady Gudkov, a former KGB colonel and currently an opposition politician, warned in an interview with RFE/RL's Russian Service that the Kremlin regime was going "from authoritarian to totalitarian." The simulated democracy and managed pluralism that marked much of the Putin era are out. Monolithic rule, elite purges, and escalated repression are in. With United Russia controlling 343 out of 450 seats in the Duma, the legislature will be, for all intents and purposes, a single-party parliament. With a record-low turnout of 47.8 percent in the September 18 elections, the majority of Russians have clearly decided to opt out of electoral politics -- and the Kremlin has decided that it doesn't really need to mobilize them anymore. As Putin tosses old cronies like Vladimir Yakunin, Viktor Ivanov, and Sergei Ivanov under the bus, and replaces them with younger sycophants who owe their careers to him, the Kremlin is less a collective band of thieves and a more of a one-man band. With the creation of a new 400,000-strong National Guard force that answers to Putin alone and is run by his uber-loyal former bodyguard Viktor Zolotov, the Kremlin leader now has his own personal Praetorian Guard that could put down any dissent in society -- or deter any attempt at a palace coup in the elite. A New KGB? And then, of course, there is the matter of that new incarnation of the KGB. The new Ministry of State Security, or MGB, would not only have the same name and acronym of the feared Stalin-era secret police, it would incorporate the Federal Security Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service, and most of the Federal Protection Service under one roof. Saying it would essentially reconstruct the KGB is far from hyperbole. "The KGB, it should be remembered, was not a traditional security service in the Western sense -- that is, an agency charged with protecting the interests of a country and its citizens. Its primary task was protecting the regime," Andrei Soldatov, co-author of the book The New Nobility: The Resurrection Of The Russian Security State And The Enduring Legacy Of The KGB, wrote in Foreign Policy. "The main task was always to protect the interests of whoever currently resided in the Kremlin. With this new agency, were seeing a return to form -- one thats been a long time in the making." Moreover, historian Boris Sokolov recently noted that major overhauls of the Soviet or Russian security services tended to precede campaigns of political repression. Despite his KGB background, Putin has long resisted proposals to put Humpty Dumpty back together again and re-establish the feared and monolithic Soviet-era secret police. Instead, he preferred to play divide and rule, balancing the rivalries among the myriad security services, playing the role of arbiter and preventing any one of them from becoming too powerful. But Putin abandoned such managed pluralism in the elite when he began purging his inner circle. He abandoned it in the Duma when he opted for an effective one-party legislature. And now, it appears, he is abandoning it in the security services as well. Instead of protecting the interests of the collective Putin regime, the system now seems geared toward protecting Putin the man -- who apparently intends to rule to the bitter end. "Putin is clearly concerned about the possibility of a conspiracy within the elite to oust him. This is a perennial topic of discussion in Moscow. He appears to see agencies like the National Guard and MGB as the guarantors of his power," Mark Galeotti, a senior research fellow at the Institute of International Relations in Prague and a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, wrote recently in Vox. "However, the old model did at least mean any coup would have to involve many different groups. Ironically, Putin might be creating for the first time a single agency with enough power to topple him." ON MY MIND So we seem to have learned some things this week. For one, the simulated democracy and managed pluralism that characterized most of Vladimir Putin's rule are now clearly out. With United Russia controlling three-quarters of the seats in the State Duma, the legislature will be, for all intents and purposes, a one-party parliament. The Kremlin has apparently given up on even pretending to have a multiparty system. With a record low turnout of 47.8 percent in the September 18 elections, the majority of Russians have clearly decided to opt out of electoral politics -- and the Kremlin has decided that it doesn't really need to mobilize them anymore. And with widespread reports and evidence of vote fraud (see Mikhail Zelensky's report below), and no protest to speak of, it is clear that the authorities can now fix elections with no fear of a public backlash. As Maksim Trudolyubov notes in a piece featured below, Russia's political system is becoming increasingly divorced from society. IN THE NEWS Russia and the United States have traded angry accusations over the attack on a Syrian humanitarian aid convoy, as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for a no-fly zone in some parts of northern Syria. The spokesman for Russia's Investigative Committee, Vladimir Markin, says he has "decided" to resign from his position. Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry says one of its helicopters has crashed near Moscow, killing three pilots aboard. Russia's prime minister has warned against "populism" in budget planning and the allure of printing more rubles to cover the country's persistent economic problems. An alleged militant for the Islamic State group has been detained in Russia's Tatarstan region. A founding member of the Russian dissident art collective Voina has been released from custody in the Czech Republic. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has delivered a blunt message to Ukraine, saying the country needs to follow through with economic and political reform or risk undermining European backing for Russian sanctions. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has criticized Russia for being "the instigator and major participant" in the ongoing deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine. WHAT I'M READING Still More On That KGB-MGB-FSB Thing In a piece in Foreign Policy, Andrei Soldatov, author of The New Nobility: The Restoration Of Russia's Security State And The Enduring Legacy Of The KGB, weighs in on reports that Putin is about to reestablish the KGB in the form of a new Ministry of State Security. "Efforts to strengthen the security services fit within this pattern of centralizing control; whats new is that hes decided the best way to strengthen them is to merge them into one gigantic service, with a fearsome name and a reputation that reminds any would-be dissidents of the most frightening days of the Soviet era," Soldatov writes. And Still More On The Elections Political analyst Nikolai Petrov argues in The Moscow Times that the September 18 State Duma elections herald major changes in Russia. "Before the year is out we can expect to see a number of major changes -- not only to staff, but also to the very structure of the presidential administration, government, and political bloc, including both houses of parliament and the party system," Petrov writes. "The Duma elections are over. They are no longer a restraining factor but a stimulus to change." In Vedomosti, Maksim Trudolyubov writes that the elections highlighted the gap between the Russian state and society. On his video blog, meanwhile, opposition figure Vladimir Milov explains why, in the aftermath of the Duma elections, Russia will probably have an early presidential election as well. And Slon.ru senior editor Mikhail Zelensky, continuing his statistical investigation into vote fraud, finds the most suspicious number of the election: In Saratov Oblast, more than 100 polling stations gave United Russia the exact same result: 62.2 percent of the vote. Active Measures Former U.S. Defense and State Department official Robert Caruso has a blog post up on the Council on Foreign Relations website on the lessons learned in the Cold War in combating Russian disinformation campaigns. "Sophisticated and well-funded, influence operations pose a significant and metastasizing obstacle to transitional democracies and the national security objectives of the United States. Modern adversaries operating in cyberspace consider such manipulations not only as an important instrument for conducting their foreign policy but also as instruments suitable to use in lieu of conventional military operations," Caruso writes. "In Russias case, influence operations strive to create dissension among allies and undermine the international order. To date, this has failed but left unchecked, has the potential of complicating and undermining the United States relationships with its allies. For the next administration, identifying, countering, and neutralizing corrosive narratives should be a priority. The only answer to disinformation is more accurate information." Northern Exposure Finnish politician and foreign affairs analyst Petri Makela has a blog post looking at the methods Russia uses to spy on military exercises in the Nordic countries. Russia And Europe In an interview with Russia Direct, Ivan Krastev, chairman of the Center for Liberal Strategies, discusses Russia's relations with the EU. Who Are These 'Anti-Bellingcat Bloggers' Anyway? The Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab has a piece out looking at Kremlin-sponsored "anti-Bellingcat bloggers" who have launched a disinformation campaign ahead of the September 28 report by a Dutch criminal investigation into the crash of Flight MH17. Russia Without Pornography And finally, in Global Voices, Kevin Rothrock and Yulia Savitskaya take a look at a very unique online protest that has followed Russia's banning of two popular pornography websites. Link has been copied to clipboard Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Pictured at left is new Superintendent of Narragansett Schools Dr. Peter Cummings interacting with Pier School students Colin and Ryan Martin at his appointment to the position Thursday night. Cummings will officially start on Oct. 31. Senator Susan Sosnowski, center, accepts the EPA Lifetime Achievement award during a ceremony at Champlins Seafood in Narragansett on Monday. At left is RIDEM Director Janet Coit; at right is EPA New England Administrator Curtis Spalding . We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. The Virginia Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal by The Daily Press to a Newport News Circuit Court decision denying the newspaper access to a statewide Circuit Court criminal case database. The Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court said it is not empowered to release the database because it is not the custodian of the records; it says the local clerks are. The public can look up the information on the Virginia Supreme Courts Online Case Information System on a case-by-case basis if you have a specific defendants name and the correct court. Hoping to determine whether blacks and whites are treated differently in plea bargains and probation violations, The Daily Press argued that the office of the executive secretary is at least a joint custodian of the information because of how the database is developed and maintained. The newspaper said that even though it is requesting the information in bulk, it is seeking only information that the clerks already release to the public. Im very pleased. We feel very strongly about this case, said Hunter W. Sims Jr., one of the lawyers representing the newspaper. Sims said Wednesday that all the briefs should be filed in the next few months and then a date set to argue it before the court. The three-paragraph order granting the hearing, issued on Monday, concluded by noting that Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons, Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn and Senior Justice Elizabeth B. Lacy took no part in the decision to grant the petition for appeal. Sims declined to comment. L. Steven Emmert, an appellate lawyer who practices before the court, said such a statement usually indicates a justice has effectively recused, or taken themselves out of, a case for a variety of possible reasons. None was specified in the order. Two Chesterfield men have been arrested in connection with a robbery earlier this week at a BB&T bank branch in Dinwiddie County, the sheriff's office said Thursday. Lakell F. Burns, 27, and Jamar Barry Parham, 26, were arrested Wednesday in connection with the robbery Monday of the bank branch in the 25000 block of Cox Road in the northern end of Dinwiddie County, the sheriff's office said. Burns, of the 8100 block of Baugh Lane in South Chesterfield, is charged with two counts of robbery, two counts of abduction, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Parham, of the 21000 block of Penmar Drive in South Chesterfield, is charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. A Richmond man faces up to seven life sentences plus 35 years in prison after he was found guilty Thursday of 14 felony charges stemming from a robbery, abduction and shooting that injured two people, including a Richmond police officer. Frank E. Reid, 37, of the 1100 block of Williamsburg Road, entered an Alford plea meaning he acknowledged the evidence is strong enough to convict him without admitting guilt to all counts. The charges were aggravated malicious wounding, attempted capital murder of a police officer, carjacking, two counts each of abduction and robbery, and seven firearms counts. The mandatory minimum time for his crimes is 35 years. Sentencing was set for Nov. 21. Both the prosecution and defense had rested after three days of testimony and evidence. Just before the jury was about to begin their deliberations around noon Thursday, the courtroom was cleared so Reid could talk to a family member about a plea deal. It wasnt until the plea was entered and Reid was found guilty that the jury, made up of eight women and six men, including two alternates, was released. Over the course of three days, jury members and Circuit Judge Clarence N. Jenkins Jr., who ultimately found Reid guilty, heard from three victims: Orran Brown Jr., who was robbed and abducted; Browns colleague, Russ Turner, who was robbed abducted and then shot in the back of the head; and master patrol officer Matthew Cavanaugh, who was shot in the ear after a 30-minute pursuit on Nov. 16 that wound through Richmond and Henrico County before ending in Church Hill with a crash and a shootout. Reids bullet remains lodged in Turners brain, and a steel plate covers the hole it made in his skull. He underwent surgery and had 27 staples in the back of his head, but has recovered. In his testimony, Cavanaugh jokingly called his gunshot wound in his left ear a piercing. He wasnt reinstated with the Richmond Police Department until April, a month after he received a medal of valor from the department during its annual awards ceremony. After a bullet narrowly missed his head, Cavanaugh fired 13 rounds at Reid. Court records show that Reid was shot five times, including three to the head, leaving him partially paralyzed and with a traumatic brain injury. Reid was quiet throughout the trial. The judge had warned him not to speak freely as Reid had done before a jury was selected when Reid had asked to represent himself; the motion was denied. Del. Richard L. Morris, R-Suffolk, has been charged with a litany of crimes of violence against family members including offenses of cruelty and injuries toward a minor, as well as assault and battery of a female relative. The Suffolk Police Department did not specify Morris exact relationship with his alleged victims, but police said the violence began as early as December and continued at various times this year. The boy had injuries consistent with excessive physical discipline, police said. The earliest alleged offense detailed by police came when the adult female relative was in a verbal altercation with Morris on Dec. 23 when it escalated into physical violence that injured the woman, who then sought medical treatment, police said. Morris was initially arrested Tuesday evening on two misdemeanor charges of assault and battery of a family member, plus one felony charge of cruelty and injuries of a child. After the initial arrest Tuesday, Morris was released on bond from Western Tidewater Regional Jail at about 1 a.m. Wednesday. Police continued to investigate, and while Morris was at Suffolk police headquarters on Thursday afternoon in relation to the accusations against him, he was served with additional arrest warrants. In Thursdays arrest, Morris, 47, was charged with three more felony counts of cruelty and injuries to children; three felony counts of child endangerment; three misdemeanor counts of domestic assault involving a minor; and two counts of misdemeanor domestic assault involving an adult female family member, Suffolk police said. In total, Morris faces 14 charges for crimes allegedly committed against the two family members, Suffolk police spokeswoman Diana L. Klink said. The investigations remain ongoing, Klink said Thursday night. After the first arrest, Morris was released on a $1,500 bond. After being arrested again Thursday on the 11 additional charges, Morris was released again on a $1,500 bond. In relation to the first three charges against Morris, police determined Morris had physically assaulted the boy relative on Sept. 16, causing injuries consistent with excessive physical discipline, police said. Suffolk police made contact with the boy after receiving a complaint from Child Protective Services. That same day, police also communicated with the adult woman in the Morris household, and police said they determined that Morris had assaulted and injured her days before Christmas. All of the offenses allegedly happened in Morris house in the 300 block of Babbtown Road in the Whaleyville section of Suffolk, police said. Morris, a Republican first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2012, is married and has nine children, according to his biography on the House of Delegates website. A Richmond jury has heard from the three victims a man who was robbed, abducted and shot in the head; his colleague who was also robbed and abducted; and a police officer who was shot in the ear in a series of events that ended in a shootout last November in Church Hill. But it wasnt until Richmond police officer Matthew Cavanaugh, the sixth witness for the prosecution, testified Wednesday afternoon that anyone named the defendant, Frank E. Reid. Reid, 37, of the 1100 block of Williamsburg Road, has been charged with malicious wounding, attempted capital murder of a police officer, carjacking, two counts each of abduction and robbery, and seven firearms charges. The prosecution rested its case Wednesday after two days of testimony. Cavanaugh testified that he saw Reid in the back seat of an SUV after Reid had shot out the tinted rear window and into Cavanaughs patrol car, narrowly missing the officers head. Cavanaugh, and about a dozen other officers from Richmond, Virginia State Police and the Henrico County Sheriffs Office, had followed the SUV through the city, into Henrico County and back into Church Hill before it crashed near North 25th and R streets after a report of a robbery and abduction. The 22-year police veteran said that after the vehicle came to rest after the crash, the back glass exploded and I felt pain in my left ear. He lunged forward, ducking for cover behind his dashboard, Cavanaugh said. With his right hand, he reached for his gun, and with his left, he opened the drivers-side door, exited the vehicle and fired 13 rounds. At first, I was aiming center mass and then for his head, he said. Thats when he saw Reid slump over in the back seat. Court records show that Reid was shot five times, including three to the head, leaving him partially paralyzed and with a traumatic brain injury. Earlier Wednesday, the jury comprised of eight women and six men, including two alternates heard from Russ Turner, who was driving the SUV at the time it crashed. Turner, a senior analyst at the BrownGreer law firm in Rocketts Landing, was at a gas station in the 2600 block of East Main Street with colleague Orran Brown Jr. during a lunch break when they were approached by a man in a hat and sunglasses. When the two said they had no cash to give the man, he forced his way into Browns car with a gun and took their wallets and cellphones. The armed man in the back seat of the SUV then instructed Brown, who was driving at that point, to drive to a bank and withdraw money, according to Turners testimony. Brown, who testified Tuesday, said that it was his idea to drive to a bank in hopes of appeasing the man. Brown went into the Bank of America at 1111 E. Main St., where he alerted the manager about a man holding his friend hostage in the car. Turner said it was just a minute later that a police car pulled up to the bank. Your friend sold you out, Turner recounted the armed man saying. I was panicking. The man told Turner to take the wheel, and that began the chase that ended in Church Hill. Before the car came to rest, Turner said he felt an incredible pain in the back of his head and passed out. I remember thinking, Ive been shot but Im conscious, so Im not dead, he said of when he came to. He said he was slumped over the center console and heard shots in the background. Turner was taken to VCU Medical Center, where he received 27 staples to the back of his head. He has recovered fully. Neither Turner or Brown said they got a good look at the man who robbed them. In fact, no one positively identified Reid until a SWAT team member testified late Wednesday that he pulled the defendant out of the crashed SUV. Cavanaugh called Reid by name without prompting from prosecutors. The trial is expected to continue today. BRISTOL The wave of creepy clown sightings the strange and scary reports that began in South Carolina in August, and spread to other states in the South has reached Southwest Virginia. Since August, law enforcement agencies across the South have received calls about people dressed as clowns in parks, woods and neighborhoods. Reports of creepy clowns have led to arrests, locked down schools and spread panic through communities of all sizes. At least four local law enforcement agencies say they have received calls and messages about people dressed as clowns creeping around the community. The Tazewell County Sheriffs Office has received about a dozen calls and messages about the clowns. Maj. Harold Heatley said Wednesday thats its unknown if they are false calls or if people are actually dressing as clowns to scare people. In one case, a woman told a 911 dispatcher that a clown was on her front porch in the town of Tazewell. County and town officers responded, but found no sign of a clown. Heatley said the woman appeared to be a reliable source. He added, If you are doing this, please stop. On Tuesday, the Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook, informing the public about the calls and noting that people will be charged. Heatley said individuals can be charged with making false reports. Those dressing up and trying to cause a public panic can also be charged. Nothing has been found, nothing of any substance, Heatley said. Were struggling right now. The Dickenson County Sheriffs Office made a similar warning to the public Tuesday. This agency has received various reports of clowns walking around neighborhoods in the county, the Dickenson Sheriffs Office wrote on Facebook. It seems like this is happening all over the country and Dickenson County is no exception. To those who feel the need to go out and dress like a clown, we must let you know there are laws that may be violated by doing this. In Virginia, it is unlawful for a person older than 16 to conceal his or her identity by wearing any mask, hood or other device. This behavior may seem fun to some people, but to many it is frightful, the Dickenson Sheriffs Office said. Our officers will be watching for this type of behavior. Last week in Southwest Virginia, the Bristol Police Department received one report of a person dressed as a clown at Sugar Hollow Park. Officers were asked to be on the lookout, but did not find any sign of a clown. The Sullivan County Sheriffs Office also received a call of a clown sighting last week at an apartment complex in Piney Flats. An 18-year-old resident said he saw a clown on the other end of the parking lot waving. When confronted, the man said the clown ran into the woods. Although police have received no calls, reports on social media were made this week that a clown was spotted at a park in Norton. Heatley, who said he could not recall a time when officers had responded to such calls, is concerned that deputies are being diverted to search for clowns instead of working in other areas of the county where they are needed. Keith Lamont Scott might or might not have had a gun on him when a Charlotte police officer shot and killed him Tuesday night. Terence Crutcher clearly was unarmed when a Tulsa officer shot and killed him. The deaths of the two African-American men have provoked protests in Charlotte, violent ones. The two slayings are each tragic in their own way. The officer who shot Scott (and who is also black) was trying to serve a warrant to someone else at the time. Crutcher had a criminal record but was turning over a new leaf, and had recently enrolled in community college. Both men were fathers. These are just the latest in a long line of high-profile killings of black men by law enforcement. Some recent research has suggested that while the police use force more often against minorities, they actually use deadly force against whites more often. But the findings, which are still being scrutinized, do little to blunt the visceral impact of graphic video footage. And even if statistical data show that accusations of bias against law enforcement are overblown, that does not lessen the injustice in any particular instance. By the same token, protesters who vent their frustration by lashing out at the police, looting stores, and committing similar mayhem are inflicting injustice of their own. None of the people hospitalized for injuries suffered during Charlottes protests Tuesday night is responsible for Keith Lamont Scotts death, for instance. None of the Dallas officers killed by Micah Xavier Johnson in July was to blame for the death of Philando Castile or Alton Sterling. It looks like nothing was found at this location. Maybe try a search? Search for: Search A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. A Hollywood filmmaker and director, known for his American Civil War epics, kicks off the October events calendar at Roanoke College. Ron Maxwell, who wrote and directed Gettysburg, Gods and Generals, Copperhead and others, will visit Roanoke on Tuesday, Oct. 4. The next day, Oct. 5, Maxwell will be on hand for a campus screening of Copperhead. Learn more below about Maxwells visit and other public events planned at Roanoke College next month: The Business of Show Business - Ron Maxwell, filmmaker and director Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m., Colket Center Wortmann Ballroom One of the film industrys leading directors of movies capturing pivotal moments in American history will speak at Roanoke College. Ron Maxwell, a well-known filmmaker and director, will share his passion for producing authentic films that tell moving stories about our countrys past. He will discuss business aspects required for making movies, including how to lead a film production, ethical decision-making and the power of teamwork. Maxwell, a graduate of the NYU Film Institute, has been writing and directing films for more than 40 years. He is best known for writing and directing several American Civil War epics, including Gettysburg, Gods and Generals and Copperhead. Maxwells visit is sponsored by the Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity, in partnership with the Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Innovation at Roanoke College. Film Screening: Copperhead Wednesday, Oct. 5, 6 p.m., Olin Theater Copperhead is a film based on a Civil War novel by Harold Frederic that tells the story of Abner Beech, a farmer from Upstate New York who defies his neighbors and government in 1862. The film will be followed by a question and answer discussion with director, Ron Maxwell. Roanoke College Coffee Shop Talk: The 95 Theses: What was that all about? Thursday, Oct. 6, 8 p.m., Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea, Salem The year 2017 witnesses the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's nailing of the 95 Theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg Germany. While many have heard of this epochal event, few know what those 95 statements stated. Dr. Paul Hinlicky, Tise Professor of Lutheran Studies at Roanoke, will give a crash course. Roanoke College Coffee Shop Talks provide a relaxed forum for discussion and inquiry on a wide range of topics. Each one-hour talk includes a short presentation, followed by questions and discussion. Performing Arts Series: Cradle of Jazz: Strings Showcase of Mande Melody Friday, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m., Olin Theater Tickets: $10 adults, $5 seniors and non-RC students Tickets available at www.roanoke.edu/events or by calling 375-2333. The Cradle of Jazz Project brings three gifted Malian musicians and their West African instruments to play, celebrate and explore Mande musical traditions and culture allowing students to discover important similarities to the blues and jazz styles made famous in the southern United States. RC Band with Blacksburg Community Band Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m., Olin Theater The Roanoke College band will perform with guests, Blacksburg Community Band, under the direction of Dr. Joseph Blaha and Jay Durner. Bibles to Ballots: The Missionary Roots of Liberal Democracy Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m., Colket Center Wortmann Ballroom Dr. Robert Woodberry, associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, will speak about the historic prevalence of Protestant missionaries. This history explains about half the variation in democracy in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania. Some of these religious influences were direct, shaping the ideas and institutions that made stable liberal democracy more likely. Some influences were indirect, shaping mass education, mass printing, voluntary associations, nonviolent social movement tactics, and particular types of reform which dispersed power beyond traditional elites and allowed a broader segment of the population to influence politics. This event is sponsored by the Benne Center for Religion & Society and co-sponsored by the Public Affairs and Sociology departments at Roanoke College. Art Exhibition: Friday, Oct. 28 Sunday, Dec. 11 Olin Gallery: Place ++ Space ++ Map Smoyer Gallery: Tazasproject Waiting for a Sign Friday, Oct. 28: 5:30 p.m. Lecture by Gordon Marsh, Brent Adkins and Hannah Robbins, Olin Recital Hall 6-8 p.m. Opening Reception, Smoyer Gallery Olin Gallery: Place ++ Space ++ Map Enter into an alliance with Dr. Gordon Marsh (musician), Dr. Brent Adkins (philosopher), and Hannah Robbins (mathematician), creators of an interdisciplinary response to Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattaris philosophical piece, 1837: Of the Refrain. The three also are faculty at Roanoke College. The exhibit will include motifs and counterpoints from Robert Schumanns Fantasy Pieces, the 1837 piano composition inspired by E. T. A. Hoffmans stories of the same name (1814-1815), which are inspired in turn by Jacques Callots 17th century etchings. These all provide the lines of flight that guests will multiply and transform as they contribute to and manipulate, the exhibitions infinitely shifting topology of words, sounds and images. Smoyer Gallery: Tazasproject Waiting for a Sign The Tazasproject is an inventive group run by French artists Guillaume Beinat and Alexandre Sune. Since 2008, Tazasproject has worked in collaboration with invited artists to create works over platforms of graphic design, physical object design and digital technology. Recently, the Tazasproject have been extensively working in the media of Augmented Reality and will be creating a site-specific audience participation installation in Smoyer Gallery. Its iPhone app, TazasPlayGround, has allowed it to integrate Augmented Reality technology into a wide range of products, including t-shirts, posters, postcards and product packaging. These items are produced in limited edition and sold in stores and museums across Europe or in large cities, such as New York or Tokyo. Learn more at www.tazasproject.com. The Virginia Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal by The Daily Press to a Newport News Circuit Court decision denying the newspaper access to a statewide Circuit Court criminal case database. The Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court said it is not empowered to release the database because it is not the custodian of the records; it says the local clerks are. Citizens can look up the information on the Virginia Supreme Courts Online Case Information System on a case-by-case basis if they have a specific defendants name and the correct court. Hoping to determine whether blacks and whites are treated differently in plea bargains and probation violations, The Daily Press and its reporter Dave Ress argued that the office of the executive secretary is at least a joint custodian of the information because of how the database is developed and maintained. The newspaper said that even though it is requesting the information in bulk, it is seeking only information that the clerks already release to the public. Im very pleased. We feel very strongly about this case, said Hunter Sims , one of the lawyers representing the newspaper. Sims said Wednesday that all the briefs should be filed in the next few months and then a date set to argue it before the court. The three-paragraph order granting the hearing, issued on Monday, concluded by noting that Chief Justice Donald Lemons, Justice Bernard Goodwyn and Senior Justice Elizabeth Lacy took no part in the decision to grant the petition for appeal. Sims declined to comment. Steven Emmert, an appellate lawyer who practices before the court, said such a statement usually indicates a justice has effectively recused, or taken themselves out of, a case for a variety of possible reasons. None was specified in the order. He said it means that the court is likely to use two senior justices when the case is argued next year, and Lacy will not be one of them. Hillary Clintons lead over Donald Trump among likely Virginia voters is tightening, according to a new Roanoke College Poll. In the latest poll, the Democratic presidential candidate leads her Republican opponent by 11 percentage points in a head-to-head race, down from 19 points in August. In a race that includes Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Gary Johnson, Clintons lead drops to 7 percentage points among likely voters, compared with a 16-point margin in the August poll. The new poll shows Clinton with 44 percent of the vote, Trump with 37 percent, Johnson netting 8 percent, Stein getting about 1 percent and 9 percent of voters still undecided. The poll surveyed 841 likely Virginia voters between Sept. 11 and Tuesday and has a margin of error of 3.4 percent. A Quinnipiac University poll of four swing states including Virginia also released Thursday found Clinton with a 6-point lead among likely Virginia voters in a four-way race, compared with an 11-point lead in a poll released Aug. 17. It also found a 7-point lead for Clinton in a head-to-head race with Trump. The Quinnipiac poll was conducted between Sept. 13 and Wednesday and surveyed 659 Virginians. It has a margin of error of 3.8 percent. Because of double-digit polling leads last month, the Clinton campaign stopped purchasing TV advertising space in Virginia. Trump continues to court favor with Virginia voters and will hold a rally in Roanoke on Saturday. The Roanoke College Poll shows a wider Clinton-Trump gap than other recent polls of Virginia voters. The Real Clear Politics average of six Virginia polls taken since Aug. 24 has a head-to-head difference of 5.3 percentage points between Clinton and Trump. Nationally, the Real Clear Politics average of eight polls taken since Sept. 8 has Clinton ahead by 2.1 percentage points, with the largest head-to-head margin of 7 points in the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Thursday. Analysis of the Roanoke College Poll findings show Clinton has lost some support among Virginia ideological moderates, though she still claims support from 88 percent of Democrats. Trump has the support of 81 percent of Republicans. Clinton appears to have weathered a very bad couple of weeks on the campaign trail, said Harry Wilson, director of Roanoke Colleges Institute for Policy and Opinion Research. That said, she needs to stop her slide. If those reluctant Republicans return to Trump and he continues to make inroads among other groups, then her lead could disappear. Clintons favorable rating, 38 percent, declined marginally from last month while Trumps favorable rating increased from 23 percent to 27 percent. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine is viewed favorably by 51 percent of respondents in his home state. Gov. Mike Pence is viewed favorably by 33 percent of those surveyed. The majority of those polled said Clinton would better tackle issues of terrorism, health care, race relations, immigration and foreign policy. Trump would better handle the economy and firearms policy, those surveyed said. The Roanoke College Poll is funded by Roanoke College and conducted by its Institute for Policy and Opinion Research. The full results are available on the institutes website. Virginia State Del. Richard Morris has been charged with assaulting a child and a family member, according to Suffolk police. Morris, 47, was arrested Tuesday on a felony count of cruelty and injuries to children and two misdemeanor counts of assault and battery of a family member, police said. He was released from the Tidewater Regional Jail at 1 a.m. Wednesday after posting $1,500 bond. On Tuesday, officers said they spoke with a boy, who is a family member, in response to a complaint from Child Protective Services that the child had been assaulted Friday in Morriss home. The boy had injuries consistent with excessive physical discipline, police said. Also Tuesday, officers spoke with an adult female who allegedly was assaulted Dec. 23 after a verbal altercation turned physical, police said. In that instance the victim, also a family member, sought medical treatment for her injuries, police said. That assault, too, took place in Morris residence in the Whaleyville section of Suffolk, police said. Morris, a Republican elected to the House of Delegates in 2012, is married and has nine children, according to his biography on the House of Delegates website. He represents the 64th District, which includes parts of Isle of Wight, Prince George, Southampton, Surry and Sussex counties and the cities of Franklin and Suffolk. In January, Morris gave a speech on the House floor that called Planned Parenthood an institution of death and compared abortion to slavery. Equating abortion with murder, Morris, an attorney and U.S. Navy veteran, criticized Planned Parenthood over the collection of fetal tissue, a practice the organization has defended by saying the tissue is used for research purposes. That is evil in our time, Morris said. And if you are OK with the harvesting of the body parts and tissue of those murdered children, then your soul is walking with Satan. Morris, a U.S. Navy veteran and attorney, also denounced the Black Lives Matter movement, saying it promotes the killing of police officers and the destruction of cities, and suggested abortion has replaced slavery as Americas national sin. Just as the abolitionists rejected the evil of slavery, Morris said, I rise to recognize the abolitionists who reject the evil of abortion. Staff writer Graham Moomaw contributed to this report. Police are on track to fatally shoot about as many people in 2016 as they did in 2015 The unrest this week in Charlotte, sparked by a police officer fatally shooting Keith Lamont Scott there, has made that city the latest epicenter of an ongoing debate over how police use deadly force. Yet even as demonstrations and anger have erupted in cities across the country in recent years, pushing this issue firmly into the national consciousness, the actual pace of deadly shootings remains unchanged. Police in the United States are on track to fatally shoot about as many people this year as they did last year, when officers shot and killed nearly 1,000 civilians, according to a Washington Post database. Officers have shot and killed at least 706 people so far this year, a tally that includes people like Scott, Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minn., whose names became hashtags and whose stories became nationally known. The recent deaths of Scott, a 43-year-old man shot and killed by a Charlotte police officer, and an unarmed black man shot and killed last week in Oklahoma, have created the most intense moment in the ongoing argument over policing and race since a bloody three-day span in July in Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas. During that period, police fatally shot Sterling and Castile on consecutive days, and a gunman killed five Dallas police officers in an act of apparent retaliation. What is unfolding in Charlotte is among the most heated responses to a shooting in any city since the wave of nationwide protests began in Ferguson, Mo., two years ago. But information collected by The Washington Post as part of an ongoing effort to track fatal police shootings shows that despite the focus on this issue, many things appear largely unchanged from last year. In 2015, officers killed 990 people. So far, this year is showing remarkable similarities to last year, including the number of fatal shootings, the incidents that prompt them and some common factors. There is one big difference in the shootings this year, though: More of these incidents are being captured on camera. Video recordings can often - but not always - be the factor that helps push a fatal shooting into the national consciousness. In Scott's death, anger has erupted without it amid differing descriptions of the shooting from police and his relatives, and authorities have so far refused to release any footage. There have already been at least twice as many police shootings captured on dashboard cameras (30) so far this year than all of last year (14). And the 90 shootings recorded by body cameras this year already exceeds the 71 such shootings in all of last year. Other video footage, including bystander recordings, appears on track to exist in about the same number of shootings as last year. Like the recordings by police cameras, this tally only includes what The Washington Post knows about, and other footage that has not yet been revealed could exist. Still, the intense scrutiny on police shootings does not appear to have affected the number of them in any noticeable way. At the midway point of this year, police had shot and killed more people than at the same point last year. Once again, the overwhelming majority of people killed by police are men, accounting both years for about 95 percent of those fatally shot. Slightly more people last year who were shot by police had guns, according to officers, while the number of people shot and killed who were reported to have knives has inched up this year. More of the shootings last year began with domestic disturbance calls, while about the same number in both years - 1 in 10 fatal shootings - began with traffic stops. Mental illness was reported to be a factor in more than a quarter of the shootings last year, and the same is true this year. Police shot and killed 18 people younger than the age of 18 last year, and have killed 12 such people so far this year, most recently 13-year-old Tyre King in Columbus. He was the second-youngest person shot and killed by an officer this year; Ciara Meyer, a 12-year-old in Pennsylvania accidentally shot and killed during an eviction, was the youngest. Dating back to the beginning of last year, only one person younger than the two of them is in the database: Jeremy Mardis, a 6-year-old shot while his father tried to flee officers in Louisiana. Washington Post News Service (DC) A QUIZ show panellist who grew up in Rotherham appeared at court over claims he killed a man over 20 years ago. CJ de Mooi, a star of BBC2s Eggheads, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday. The quizzer said in his autobiography that 28 years ago he punched a man who was trying to attack him and threw him into an Amsterdam canal. The 45-year-old, who studied English and Performing Arts at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology when he was a teenager known as Joseph Connagh, related the story in his book My Journey from the Streets. He said he had grown up in a violent, racist and homophobic household in Rotherham before moving to London aged 17 and ending up homeless. The alleged killing happened when he was living rough, he said. De Mooi, who lives in Wales, appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court today. De Mooi was said to be 'shocked' when he was arrested at Terminal Three at Heathrow after arriving from South Africa with his husband of 20 years at 11.30pm. Dutch authorities had issued a warrant on May 27 as they sought the quiz star for further questioning in relation to manslaughter, murder, assault, and assault by battery. He strode into the dock at Westminster Magistrates Court wearing a green hoody over a green t shirt and grey sweat pants. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser asked: You want to be known as Mr de Mooi, correct? He replied: Thats right. Asked if he consented to the extradition request, he answered: I dont consent. Prosecutor Brian Gibbins, on behalf of the Dutch authorities, said: This is an accusation matter relating to matters of manslaughter, murder, assault and assault by battery. It relates to an incident that's said to have taken place in 1988 in Amsterdam and it appears that the defendant, who is a TV personality, wrote an autobiography, and in that autobiography its said that the defendant claimed that whilst living in Amsterdam in 1988 he may have killed a drug addict that was attempting to mug him by punching and throwing him into a canal in Amsterdam. Its understood that that person had a knife. What's said is that the defendant punched the assailant square in the face, disarmed him and threw him into the canal. He added: The defendant doesnt have convictions that are known in this jurisdiction. Mr Chris Stevens, defending, said the Dutch warrant was very very poorly worded, adding: There doesn't even appear to be a name of the victim.' This is really an enquiry, at most, being made by the Dutch authorities about something which has been raised before them. Even reading into what he's written in the book it could be an arguable one of self-defence. De Mooi claims he offered to talk to Dutch cops through Scotland Yard about the wild claims in his book earlier this year. Mr Stevens said: I was able to speak with his agent. There's correspondence between his agent and New Scotland Yard earlier this year about them coming to speak to officers here. He continued: They [Scotland Yard] said fine, we will pass that over to the Dutch authorities. Nothing further was heard back.' He explained that De Mooi had been in South Africa to pursue his acting career. He was meeting an agent out there to try and get some work in TV and film and his husband is a costume designer, obviously they share an interest there in what they are doing, Mr Stevens said. Judge Baraitser granted De Mooi conditional bail after ordering that he must pay a 5,000 security, surrender his travel documents, and keep a mobile phone with him at all times. He is also required to live and sleep at his house in Wales and cannot go to any ports, airports, or international rail stations before his final hearing on 28 November. De Mooi, of of Manor Farm, St Brides Netherwent, Caldicot, is not required to attend a case management hearing on October 24. ALROSA, the worlds major diamond producer, introduced an innovative detection device for polished diamonds at the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. As part of the measures to protect the natural diamond market from illegal mixing of natural and synthetic diamonds, ALROSA in team with the Technological Institute for Super Hard and Novel Carbon Materials, which is a federal state budgetary institution in Russia, have developed a series of innovative devices for detecting polished diamonds and diamond jewelry. The device called ALROSA Diamond Inspector can identify natural polished diamonds, as well as synthetic and treated diamonds, non-diamond imitations (simulants), such as cubic zirconia, moissanite, and others. ALROSA Diamond Inspector has just two buttons (one for switching it on and the other for flipping between English and Russian languages) and requires no special technological skills to use. This compact device weighs less than 1.5 kg and can operate from a battery (including smartphone batteries), from a computer via USB, and also from power mains of 220V. Speaking about the device, ALROSA President Andrey Zharkov said, "We invite market stakeholders to an open discussion and cooperation aimed at the development of a consolidated position regarding the industry standards for the developed detection equipment for polished diamonds." The company plans to launch the sale of ALROSA Diamond Inspector in 2017. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished The investment will go towards research into cancer and infectious disease as well as heart and neurological disease. Dr Chan said they had launched the initiative following the birth of daughter Max last year. In those moments and in many others were 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. Their big goal is: We want every child to grow up in a better world. Cori Bargmann, a neuroscientist at Rockefeller University in New York, will head the project. The first investment will bring $600 million over 10 years to fund the Biohub, a research center partnered with U.C. San Francisco, Stanford University, and U.C. Berkeley. Novartis (NVS) published proof of concept study results in the New England Journal of Medicine showing that its new antimalarial compound, KAF156, demonstrated activity against both vivax and falciparum malaria, including artemisinin-resistant parasites. KAF156 is the first compound from a novel class of drugs called imidazolopiperazines whose mechanism of action is still being characterized, but may be related to a previously uncharacterized gene (Plasmodium falciparum cyclic amine resistance locus, Pfcarl). In line with WHO guidance that antimalarials be co-formulated to mitigate the risk of parasite resistance development, it is expected that KAF156 will become part of a combination regimen when used to treat malaria. Researchers saw that KAF156 resolves signs and symptoms of illness and cleared parasitemia rapidly in both vivax and falciparum malaria patients, including infections with artemisinin-resistant parasites. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Denmark's consumer confidence declined in September, after improving in the previous month, figures from Statistics Denmark showed Thursday. The consumer confidence index fell to 1.8 in September from August's 4-month high of 4.8. Moreover, this was the lowest reading since May 2013, when it marked -2.6. Households' view on the general economic situation of the country for the next twelve months worsened in September. The corresponding index dropped to -1.3 from 3.0 in August. Similarly, the index measuring their own financial situation over the next year weakened to 9.8 in September from 12.5 a month ago. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. In the wake of violence erupted during a second night of protests over the police killing of a black man in the City of Charlotte, North Carolina's Governor has declared a state of emergency in the State. The emergency areas are the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Keith Lamont Scott was shot to death by an officer Tuesday, while another protester was critically wounded in the 'civilian-on-civilian' shooting. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory said he has initiated efforts to deploy the National Guard and Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement in Charlotte. However, he made it clear that he understands concerns and frustration, but will respect violence. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Luxury electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA), Thursday filed a lawsuit against state officials over its right to sell vehicles directly to consumers in Michigan. The lawsuit has been filed against Governor Rick Snyder, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Attorney General Bill Schuette as defendants. Tesla sells its cars directly to consumers through company-owned stores in other states. The company filed the lawsuit after Michigan state officials denied Tesla a new-dealership license, because the company's model violated Michigan law. The state law requires a dealer to have a contract with an auto manufacturer not act as both. "Tesla Motors brings this lawsuit to vindicate its rights under the United States Constitution to sell and service its critically-acclaimed, all-electric vehicles at Tesla owned facilities in the State of Michigan," the automaker said in its complaint. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The U.S. has issued a warning to its citizens to avoid Starbucks coffee shops and other such chains that are frequently used by Westerners in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, near the border with Syria. The U.S. Embassy has warned that Turkish police were investigating a "terror cell" in Gaziantep, who are targeting "shopping centers, Starbucks, Big Chef Restaurants" and other businesses in the city. "US citizens in Gaziantep are advised to exercise caution when patronizing these sorts of businesses and to avoid them if possible," it said in the notice published late Wednesday. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News A first-of-its-kind journey along India and Pakistan border What binds the two most talked about nations - India and Pakistan together? What makes the Kansas State's stellar report card after dominating Oklahoma State Here is how Kansas State's football team graded out in Saturday's big win against Oklahoma State. Prime Minister Tuilaepas government can ill afford to be ignorant about growing concerns expressed by members of the public here and abroad on the proposed sale of Bluesky to a Fiji government-owned company. We accept that its a tough one for the government. You see, the decision to sell SamoaTel to Amper a few years ago when Bluesky was established was in fact the government relinquishing control of the nationally-owned telco company. And although the branding and marketing slogans since then have largely been based on the company being Samoa-owned, the reality is quite different. For the past few years, Bluesky had already been controlled and run from outside so that today, the government cannot do much to regain some of that control. Its a tough gig for Tuilaepa and his administration. Somewhere at the back of his mind, he must surely regret the decision not to take up a last minute local offer made to keep SamoaTel within local control when the decision was made to bring in Bluesky. You see, what many people do not know is that before SamoaTel became Bluesky, there was a desperate last attempt by a local bidder to keep the company Samoan-owned. In any case, whats done cannot be undone now. Sadly a few years down the line, weve now found ourselves in this predicament, which has caused widespread alarm among Samoans here and abroad. The growing concerns expressed on social media and other forms of media highlight the deep-rooted feelings our people have regarding this issue. They cannot be ignored. Which is why with the negotiations continuing for the sale to Amalgamated Telecom Holding, we urge the government and local officials involved to proceed with caution. What they should keep in mind is the word freedom. They should insist on keeping Samoas communication lines internally and with the outside world free from being spied upon and being tapped into by foreign interests especially by a leader who has shown total disregard for freedom and democracy with the way he has been behaving lately. The reality is that some of the fears expressed about surveillance and control by the Fijian government might be far fetched and who knows, it might never happen. But thats beside the point. The fact is there is now an opportunity for a dictator to do that. He has been given an invitation and it almost seems too tempting for him to ignore. Indeed, by A.T.H, which is controlled by the Fijian government, taking over Bluesky, there is nothing there to stop Bainimarama getting into some of that information for Samoa, especially when it comes to his long time nemesis Tuilaepa. Of all the years of Tuilaepa and Bainimaramas tit-for-tat battles on different issues concerning freedom, coups and regional challenges, 2016 must surely be the worst for Prime Minister Tuilaepa. On top of the fact Bainimarama can proudly boast about beating him to the Olympic Sevens rugby gold medal in style, if this deal with Bluesky and A.T.H goes through (which is very likely), there are no prizes for guessing where the bragging rights are. Its a big slap in the face, a major embarrassment. So Tuilaepa can say anything he likes about Bainimarama but hes making all the right moves.And we might not necessarily agree with the way the Fijian leader has been going about his business including his moves to boot our friends New Zealand and Australia from the Pacific Islands Forum but he seems to be doing something right. Besides, tourism is on another level in Fiji. Planeloads of tourists are heading there day after day, something we cannot say about Samoa. And with this latest stunt to get into the telco industry, the future is as scary as it is unknown for Tuilaepa. What we do know is that the government and officials involved are not going into these negotiations unwarned. They have been well warned both on the pages of your newspaper and social media sites where the bulk of the concerns have been expressed. Just yesterday, a letter titled Our security at risk, what is our government doing about it? penned by T. Pouesi was published on this newspaper. It made a number of wonderful constructive points, which the government should take into consideration. Come to think of it, all the viewpoints expressed might be different but they share one common factor. They are based on a heart for Samoa and the need to ensure security and safety of our people. The fact is this. Our version of democracy is not perfect. Far from it.We have our flaws and the government including Prime Minister Tuilaepa have plenty of faults. But our freedom and democracy are a work in progress based on the rule of law and mutual respect. We cannot say the same thing about a certain leader who locks up people simply for meeting in a public place. Thats something from another planet. We dont want someone like that to be listening in on our telephone calls. Wake up Samoa. Interestingly, when Prime Minister Tuilaepa was asked about the sale, he downplayed it, by simply saying: That is how business works. In this instance Mr. Prime Minister, this is not just business as usual. You and your administration better wake up before its too late. Dear Editor, Prosecuting of Suspended N.P.O Director Mauga Precious Chang Charges: 1. Negligent driving causing injury 2. Dangerous driving My very simple questions on this matter for the public interest. (a) Why cant the Police do the prosecution? (b) Are the charges that serious like murder, indecent assault, or any other offences punishable for like imprisonment that warrant the hiring of all these professional lawyers? (c) Who will pay for all these Lawyers and fees that will be incurred in the Prosecution of Mauga Precious Chang? (d) You mean to say Mr. A.G. that no local lawyer is qualified to prosecute this VERY SIMPLE CASE that even a Junior Police Prosecutor can do? This is a prima facie case and whatever the outcome is, the public is always the loser. Decision making is very crucial for the people of Samoa. P.M. Faamausili Faleula The Human Rights Protection Party are socially engineering a forbidden legal outcome in Samoa. The Customary land in Samoa presents an enticing possibility to foreigners and to a corrupt government. Unlike most countries the majority of the land is in the ownership of family groups and is not taxed. Shifting the sovereignty of all land to government and then taxing those, who have traded their ancestral title for a limited freehold version subject to tax and use restrictions, seems to be the goal of Samoas Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P). Samoans worldwide must understand that there are those in power or connected politically who pay no tax at all and no duty on imported goods. They are not subject to the laws of the land. The primary foreign policy of the H.R.P.P has been to borrow money. In the process, they dont care about transparency, good governance and political accountability. They have used foreign consultants to achieve the introduction of the Torrens System of land ownership and to break up Customary land and convert it into freehold land with sovereignty transferred to the government. Employing consultants to achieve an outcome expressly forbidden by the Constitution amounts to a criminal conspiracy in my opinion. The concept of Sovereignty, or absolute ownership, is little understood in Samoa and never mentioned in print or raised as a political issue. I suggest that this is deliberate to prevent the possibility of a public outcry. Samoas Constitution sets out a process whereby the land holding system of Samoa can be changed so as to do away with the Customary land rights of Samoan citizens. This process requires a National Referendum whereby two thirds of all enrolled voters choose to give up Customary Land ownership. The alienation of Customary land rights without the referendum is expressly forbidden and Article 2 of the Constitution strikes down any such attempt automatically. The Torrens System alienates land rights and the H.R.P.P intend to register all land using the Land Titles Registration Act 2008 so as to transfer the absolute ownership of all land away from all Samoans and invest ownership in the government. One example of an unlawful alienation is the exclusion of ownership rights of all Samoans, who although lawful heirs to Customary land, may not assert their title by registration of their interest or notification so as to challenge registration unless they have resided within Samoa for 2.5 years out of the 3 years prior to the registration of any interest in land. (Land Titles Registration Act 2008). The registration of leases is the favoured method to achieve this wholesale conversion of ancestral land into land owned by the government, as it grants the person registering the lease a lesser freehold title subject to the governments right to tax and impose use restrictions. The educated elite in Australia and New Zealand and America remain silent as to this theft from Samoas indigenous people. While University lecturers preach human and indigenous rights publicly, we are granted an insight into a silent bigotry and racism which commands that the indigenous victims not be warned. The professional classes, the doctors, lawyers and economists, educated in Western ways remain silent addicted to the income they receive and the promise of future riches at the expense of our FaaSamoa, our ancestors and our unborn. Let me now issue a warning to these would be foreign people, who have plundered the lands of other indigenous races. This land of ours, this Samoa is promised for time immemorial as the heritage of our people from one generation to the next, from life to life and on to the unborn. This is not your land to plunder. There is a false belief among Samoas corrupt elite class that the FaaSamoa is dying and that they must dismember the body of our nation and plunder her treasures for their personal profit before foreigners do the same. This is a lie because these supposed guardians of the people are the traitors trading away the rights of the people of Samoa. A day of reckoning is coming. I issue a rallying cry to true patriots and to those wishing to keep the sacred covenant from ancestor to guardian to our unborn that Samoa remains owned by aiga untaxed. The Western - educated elite are failing to guard the rights of our people. We must act before they succeed to end our way of life and our self-respect. Contact me if you are serious to push this evil from Samoa. Maua Faleauto BA LLB [email protected] The death of a 60-year-old father whose body was found 300 meters away from his house at Faleatiu has alarmed the Police. Media Officer Sua Lemamea Tiumalu yesterday said the Post Mortem revealed that the deceased was assaulted with a gun prior to his death. But what kind of gun was used, the Police cannot confirm at this stage. The matter was reported to the Faleolo Police post on 26 August 2016. It is not confirmed which type of weapon was used because only an expert can tell that, he said. We are also mindful that bringing an expert is very expensive because we need to pay for his airfare, accommodation and allowance when in Samoa. Still, that will not stop the Ministry from getting a gun expert to do the investigation. He said there is no one on island qualified to handle such cases. Because there are many things that need to be confirmed, including the kind of weapon used, whether it was a lawful weapon or an unlawful weapon. Sua said that there are only three guns allowed in Samoa. They are a 12-gauge shotgun, 16-gauge shotgun and 22 single shot rifle. The body of the deceased had been taken to Savaii after the Post mortem to await his final services. The inquest into the death of a 14-year-old girl, who was found floating on the open ocean, continued yesterday. The deceased is Malagamatamalii Rosa Fautua. The Inquest is before Coroner Vaepule Vaemoa Vaai. Six witnesses were called to give evidence. The incident happened on 16 August 2016, when Malagamatamalii took a boat, which belonged to Aqua Divers Samoa, at around 10am. A 64-year-old father who was working on a machine on the beach saw it but it had never crossed his mind that something like this would happen. I thought her family owns the boat and she was having a swim. Another witness, Vitale Stowers, who was working around the bay, said he too saw the girl taking the boat by herself. Stowers said before Malaga passed by, he saw another woman on a V1 canoe. A woman was wearing a purple top and tights, she was rowing the V1 and I didnt see it return, Vitale said. Stowers said the boat quickly made its way into the open ocean. It was the last time Malaga was seen alive. The girls body was later discovered by Mataafa Aileafi and his fishing crew at Utualii. Mataafa said that when they saw the body, they brought her back to shore and reported the matter to the police at Afega. Another witness, Pei Taliu Teo, discovered the boat at night just outside of the coast of Leulumoega. We towed it back to the Apia fish market and notified our boss about the abandoned boat. Pei told the Police that when they found the boat floating at sea, the engine was still running, with only a black skirt inside. In court yesterday, Aleki Fuiavailili of Aqua Divers Samoa confirmed that the key was left in the boat for two weeks. Fuiavailili said that their company bought the boat from a businessman before he was told by his boss to test drive it. He said he forgot to take the keys from the boat and it was left there for two weeks. The Inquest has been adjourned until 5 October 2016 for the pathologist's report to be tendered. One of the biggest local shareholders of the Bluesky Group is adamant that the sale of the company to Fiji government-controlled group, Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (A.T.H.) will have little impact on their investment. Acting Chief Executive Officer of Unit Trust Samoa (U.T.O.S), Akenese Hansell, said whatever happens, U.T.O.S. will still maintain its shares in Bluesky Samoa Limited and Bluesky Pacific Holding Limited. U.T.O.S. holds 25 percent shares in Bluesky Samoa Limited and 26 percent share investment in Bluesky Pacific Holding Limited. The sale of Amper shares to A.T.H in the Bluesky group does not affect the relative shareholding investment of U.T.O.S in Bluesky Samoa Ltd and Bluesky Pacific Holding Ltd, Mrs. Hansell said in an email. U.T.O.S. is closely following the implications of the sale of Amper shares to A.T.H. to explore possible new investment opportunities in Bluesky Samoa Ltd and Bluesky Pacific Holdings Ltd. The unit holders will be advised if and when the investment opportunities are secured. In the meantime, the Office of the Regulator has made it clear that the purchase will only be official when it is approved by the Regulator. Unutoa Auelua Fonoti said the office has not received any official documents from the parties involved. Unutoa confirmed A.T.H. and Bluesky have met with her about their negotiations. They have confirmed to me that they have been talking, she said. But in terms of what the terms of the purchase are, I have not seen any documentation. Those are information we need to look at first before a final decision can be made. Blueskys parent company Amper SA had announced it accepted a binding offer to sell its South Pacific business, which includes the Bluesky Pacific Group, for US$79million (T$181m)to A.T.H. GOING PLACES: The U.N.D.P.-S.D.G. Farm to Table Project implemented by Samoa Women in Business Development Inc. (W.I.B.D.I.), yesterday received a brand new Toyota 4WD pickup, which will greatly facilitate the transport of perishable produce from the farms in outer villages to the main markets. A short ceremony was held at W.I.B.D.I. training centre at Nuu on Wednesday 21st September where U.N. Resident Coordinator and U.N.D.P. Resident Representative, Lizbeth Cullity handed over the keys to the pick-up to W.I.B.D.I. Associate Director, Alberta Vitale. Ms. Vitale acknowledged that U.N.D.P.s transport assistance was very timely given the abundance of farm produce to be transported during this period of favourable vegetable farming weather. China and Samoa join hands in addressing Climate Change As Chinese Ambassador, I attended with great pleasure the Official Launching Ceremony of the LED Street Solar Lights for Samoa on behalf of the Peoples Republic of China yesterday at the MET Office in Mulinuu. During the ceremony, I took honor in signing the Letter of Acceptance of 500 sets of Solar LED Street Lights on behalf of the Chinese Government with Honorable Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa Faumuina. Back in November, 2014, during the meeting in Nadi with Prime Minister Tuilaepa, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed that the Chinese Government is willing to help Samoa in developing clean energy and addressing climate change. After the meeting, the MOU concerning the Provision of Goods for Addressing Climate Change was signed between the National Development and Reform Commission of the Peoples Republic of China and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Independent State of Samoa in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Tuilaepa of Samoa. Now, all the 2500 sets of LED street lights, 500 sets of Solar LED street lights, 18000 sets of LED T 8 Tubes which are donated by the Chinese Government have arrived in Samoa and I am glad to know that some of the streets and roads have already been installed with the LED lights. I believe that the provision of these goods will play an important role in improving Samoas ability in addressing climate change, implementing energy saving and emission reduction as well as improving the infrastructure of the country. Climate change is related to the well-being of people and the future of mankind. As the biggest developing country in the world with great sense of responsibility, China has always been an active participant and an important leader in global climate governance. Under China's proposal and support from all parties, the first Presidency Statement on Climate Change throughout G20's history was released at the Sherpa Meeting in April, 2016. All parties promised to sign the Paris Agreement on April 22. At G20 Hang Zhou Summit, all parties reached broad consensus in accelerating ratifying procedures so as to bring the Paris Agreement into force by the end of 2016. In recent years, China has been making unprecedented efforts on a full scale in promoting energy-saving and emission reduction as well as low carbon development and has made significant contribution in addressing climate change. Since 2014, China has been the country with the largest investment in global clean energy. According to statistics of Bloomberg News, Chinas investment in clean energy reached 110.5 billion US dollars in 2015, a 17% increase of the previous year, accounting for one third of the global total investment. In 2014, Carbon dioxide emissions per unit of Chinas GDP is 33.8% lower than the 2005 level, much higher than 15% decrease of that in the developed countries during the same period. In 2015, Carbon dioxide emissions per unit of Chinas GDP is 38% lower than the 2005 level. With this decrease speed, China will definitely fulfill the commitment made at Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in 2009 of lowering carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40% to 45% from the 2005 level by the year 2020. Climate change is a global issue that requires the collaboration of the international community. In recent years, China has been doing her best in actively providing aid and support to other developing countries including Samoa. For example, up to now since 2011, Chinese government has allocated 720 million RMB (about 110 million US dollars) in conducting South-South Cooperation for addressing climate change in addition to all the foreign aids for other developing countries. China has also been providing professional training programs for thousands of officials and technicians from many developing countries in the world in the field of addressing climate change. China and Samoa have always been good friends and good partners. Chinese government is willing to support Samoa in addressing climate change. The donation of the LED Solar Street lights is yet another important event in the cooperation of our two countries in this regard. China will continue to strengthen the cooperation with Samoa in various ways including personnel training, material aid and policy exchange so that together we can make concerted efforts in addressing global climate change. A US$1million (T$2.3m) lawsuit from New Zealand-based lawyer, Leuluaialii Olinda Woodroffe, against the Samoa Law Society has been filed with the Supreme Court. Representing Leuluaialii is lawyer, Lealiifano Dr. Iopu Tanielu, while Semi Leung Wai is representing the Law Society. Supreme Court Judge, Justice Lesatele Rapi Vaai is presiding. Lealiifano told the Court his instructions were to apply to amend a statement of claim made by Leuluaialii. He explained that when the first document was filed, the Samoa Law Society refused to respond. But Mr. Leung Wai objected. He pointed out the statement of claim from the N.Z. based lawyer was difficult to understand and it was unclear. Hence they could not respond. The lawyer said if the Samoa Law is served with a clearer statement they will be in a position to respond. The matter has been adjourned to the 3rd October. Leuluaialii is alleging a breach of her rights by Samoa Law by terminating her powers, privileges and responsibilities. The lawyer is seeking to quash the Societys decision to terminate her unrestricted practicing certificate. She was issued with a restricted practicing certificate earlier this year. Leuluaialii is seeking general and exemplary damages of US$1million. Residents, business owners and one elected official are lining up against a California Public Utilities Commission plan to approve a new transmission line between Poway and San Diego. Earlier this week, the proposed Sycamore-Penasquitos 230 Kilovolt Transmission Line Project generated significant opposition at the Mira Mesa Community Planning Group meeting. State regulators note the project was proposed more than two years ago and has been the subject of numerous public meetings and filings since San Diego Gas & Electric Co. filed its application. Advertisement Three public scoping meetings were held in the project area in August 2014, commission spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said. A telephone hotline and website were established for ongoing project information. San Diego Councilman Chris Cate is among the opponents to the latest version of the project, now known as Alternative No. 5. Alternate No. 5 would directly impact the quality of life of my constituents, and create a traffic backlog in the Miramar area between the Interstate 15 and Interstate 805, Cate said in a statement. I am joining fellow Mira Mesans to urge the California Public Utilities Commission to vote No on Alternative No. 5. According to the commission, Alternative No. 5 is the environmentally superior option because the majority of the approximately 15-mile line would be buried underground and the overhead portions would be built within existing SDG&E rights-of-way. SDG&E said the new transmission line is needed to continue to provide reliable electricity service across San Diego County. The utility said it will work to reduce any negative effects of construction, which could cost up to $300 million. While we dont know what route the CPUC ultimately will choose, we are committed to working with the community throughout construction no matter what location is ultimately approved, utility spokeswoman Stephanie Donovan said. The commission is expected to consider the proposed decision Oct. 13 in Long Beach, at the Port of Long Beach Harbor Commission Council Chambers, 4801 Airport Plaza Drive. Ellen McLaughlin, are you out there? If so, Annette Bening your former student at Pershing Junior High School in the early 1970s would like to invite you to be her guest Sept. 29 when she receives the Gregory Peck Award for Excellence in Cinema at the San Diego International Film Festival. (Dates, locations and ticket information appears at the conclusion of this article.) Ive been putting out feelers trying to find her, said Bening, who last saw McLaughlin at an Old Globe fundraiser here about 15 years ago. Another key mentor, Mesa College drama professor Milton Woodruff, will be attending as Benings guest. Advertisement Ellens probably in her 80s now, the two-time Golden Globe-winning actress noted. She was a very nice lady and would regularly take her classes to Shakespeare productions at the Old Globe. That was the first time Id been to a play and the first time Id seen and heard a Shakespeare play. I remember the adrenaline hitting me and I was really moved and excited. I didnt understand everything they said, but I knew what they meant. And I loved that passion and the larger-than-life poetic size of it. Seeing classic Ingmar Bergman films here at the Ken Cinema was also a key inspiration for Bening, who is one of the most accomplished and diverse actresses of her generation.. To date, she has earned four Academy Award nominations for, in chronological order, 1990s The Grifters, 1999s American Beauty, 2004s Being Julia, and 2010s The Kids Are All Right. She is featured in four films due for upcoming release: director Michael Mayers adaptation of Anton Chekhovs The Seagull; Mike Mills 20th Century Women; Paul McGuigans Film Stars Dont Die in Liverpool; and the Howard Hughes-inspired Rules Dont Apply, which is directed by Warren Beattty, Benings husband of the past 24 years. A Kansas native, Bening moved to San Diego shortly after starting grade school. She vividly recalls one of the first things she and her family did after arriving here. I guess I was 6 or 7, Bening, now 58, said. I remember getting in the station wagon, with my two brothers and sister, and a cooler packed with food, and going to O.B. We put our stuff down and ran as fast as we could into the water. We had no idea it was freezing! We were Mid-westerners. What did we know? She laughed as she recalled another early San Diego memory. I had a monumental bike crash going down Prosperity Lane, where it turned into Defiance Way, she said, her voice dancing with delight. Im not kidding! Those are the names of the streets. After the crash, I had two really good black eyes. I would have been in second grade at the time. Might those street names have foretold Benings future as an actress? Yeah! she replied, laughing again. Those street names are just hilarious. We did not live on Prosperity Lane; we were on Defiance. I had another bike crash, a big one, at the house my parents live in now in San Carlos. Lets start at top of the hill, and see what its like to not put on the brakes! I did that a couple of times. Do I ride a bike now? No. Bening spoke recently by phone for an hour from her Los Angeles home. Here are excerpts from that conversation: Q: Youll receive the Gregory Peck Award for Excellence in Cinema on Sept. 29 at the San Diego International Film Festivals The Night of the Stars Tribute at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla. Gregory Peck was a co-founder of the La Jolla Playhouse. Did you know him? A: I did not know him. I know his family. They are a very thoughtful caring family and one way I crossed paths with them is that they are very involved in the Library Association in Los Angeles, and have organized a series of readings with fascinating authors. Or they ask people to read from their favorite books, which Ive done. They also had a beautiful evening where (To Kill a Mockingbird author) Harper Lee was honored. And Harper, as you know, was a reluctant honoree. But in this case, because of the Pecks, she had become so connected to all of them that she showed up. And I got to be part of honoring her. It was an unbelievable lucky moment where I got to meet her and talk to her,. She took the train to L.A., because she didnt like to fly. She was was wearing a tuxedo she bought from a catalog. We knew her to be press-shy, but in that moment she was certainly delighted. Q: What book did you read from? A: I read Charlottes Web. Id been reading it to my kids and was overcome by its brilliance. I thought: This is a profoundly enlightened, spiritual book. Q: Does the award you are receiving here have more resonance because of San Diego and Gregory Peck? A: It does. Its a real pleasure for me to be coming back to San Diego, where I grew up and where my parents and so many of my friends still live, and to invite them to come along and be a part of it. So, yeah, its a great honor and I feel really excited about seeing everyone and having a fun evening. Im so grateful they asked me to come and be part of this. Q: Do you have any go-to places when you come to visit your parents? A: Well, one would be the Bali Hai. My parents love that restaurant. Its right off of Fishermans Landing, which has a lot of great memories for me. And I certainly try to hit the beach. The beaches in San Diego are so much better than in L.A. Q: You were only in grade school at the time, but didnt you make your theatrical debut in San Diego, in The Three Little Pigs? A: (laughs) Yeah, I guess that was my first play, The Three Little Pigs in Spanish! It was directed by Mrs. Huckabee, my 6th grade teacher at the Green School, which was brand new at the time. That whole area around Patrick Henry High School and the Green School was all just newly built then. In fact, when we moved in our house there, Patrick Henry hadnt been built yet. I still remember the first line from the play; I was the narrator. Mrs. Huckabee was a great teacher, really a dynamite woman, very enthusiastic and passionate. Q: You were a dancer before you took up acting? A: I always liked to dance and danced a lot..Because, once you start doing theater, you do dance class, and I still love to dance. But I was never a pro or even aspiring to be a professional dancer Q: How good a cook are you? Were you a chef on a private boat in San Francisco, when you were studying theater at San Francisco State and the American Conservatory Theater? A: It was when I was in San Diego. To say chef is overstating it. I was making scrambled eggs in round shapes and squares, because I thought that was so cool! Im kidding. I was 19 and it was a scuba diving boat I cooked on, and Bill Johnson was the owner. He was a really good guy and a very hard worker. His son, Johnny, also worked on the boat. Bill owned these two 65-foot boats, with dive tanks. We would take people out on 1-, 2- and 5-day trips. When I was 16, I got certified as a scuba diver. And one of the things you have to do to be certified is to do a beach dive and walk into water, which we did at La Jolla Shores. The other thing you have to do to be certified is a boat dive, where you have to jump off the boat into the ocean. So, having done that, I thought: Look, there are these dive boats here, and 20-30 people would go out on them. I went down to Fishermans Landing, in my moms station wagon. I was very nervous to ask Bill if I could have a job as assistant cook. They sort of trained me. And then, pretty much right away, I was the cook, which meant (making) scrambled eggs, corned beef hash, grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers. I made some really good friends on the boat. Q: What was your worst day job in San Diego growing up? A: I worked at Happy Steak in El Cajon. It was sort of like The Sizzler, but not as good. And I worked at Fotomat. I was a Fotomate and had a little yellow and blue uniform. Q: After you graduated from Patrick Henry High, were you aiming to become an actress? A: What happened was that I graduated early, kind of by surprise. Id just taken a lot of classes is all. I went in to see my counselor, who said: Hey, because you took all these summer classes, you could graduate early. So I did, and I continued working on the boat until I started at Mesa College in the spring semester. I stumbled into the theater program that these two guys ran at Mesa Art Noll, who has since passed away, and Milton Woody Woodruff, who will be at the film festival event in La Jolla. They had a very strong curriculum and system of basically doing plays. You did two shows a semester and you were basically taught how to do shows from every point of view. So you had to work on the stage crew, do wardrobe and props, run the lights, be the electrician, and then you got to audition for shows as well. It was a fabulous program and once I go into that, I was completely absorbed. So that was a fantastic thing that I didnt know I would stumble into. And that took me further into doing theater and really moving into it.. Q: Did you have an eye toward doing TV and movies, or was it purely the joy of doing theater that drew you in at that point? A: Thats a good question. I knew I wanted to be a classical actress, and I got more and more interested in the craft and learning about it. I dont think it was until I was in college that it occurred to me I could be in movies. That thought had never crossed my mind before that. Id known anybody who did that and it seemed like an unbelievably far off thing. Once I was into studying more seriously at San Francisco State and then at ACT, then I got more interested in the potential of, at some point, getting into screen acting. I really wanted to be in a repertory company. I wanted to be on stage; that was more my burning desire, especially when I got into ACT. Because they had a company and a conservatory, and I thought: I so want to do that, whether it was Shakespeare or George Bernard Shaw. Q: What do you remember about your first TV movie, Manhunt for Claude Dallas, in 1986? A: (laughs) I was living in Denver, working at the Denver Center Theater Company and got an audition fort a TV movie shooting in Denver. There was a 5-minute scene where Claude, who I guess was on the run Matt Salinger, a very nice guy, played the part meets a girl in a bar and they talk. So they had me do that part. I remember we shot the scene, and then they said: OK, everybody, you can go outside now. And I thought: Wow, that was so fast. Its over! Weve done it! What I didnt understand is that theyd just done the wide shot and not the close-ups. Thats how little I knew. I really knew nothing! Pat Hingle was in that movie and I got to talk with him, which was really cool. He was a fantastic character actor. Q: You had done theater and TV work, and a few movies, but it was your Oscar-nominated role in 1990s The Grifters that made you a star. Did you world start to spin on another axis after that? A: Yeah. Nothing really prepares you (for stardom); you just have to live with it to understand it. Of course, there are many things about it that are very pleasant, and getting an Academy Award nomination blew my mind. ... That was a turning point, and I remember being reluctant. They asked me if I wanted to be on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Now, in retrospect, I think: I could have been on Johnny! But Im still reluctant to do that. I was shy; I didnt know what I would say. Id always had a certain reluctance, from the beginning, when nobody knew me or cared if Id do interviews or go on TV. But I wasnt a kid when I made The Grifters I was 32 and that made things easier to deal with. george.varga@sduniontribune.com The 15th annual San Diego International Film Festival When: Times vary daily; Sept. 28-Oct. 2 Where: Various theaters in downtown San Diego and La Jolla Tickets: $15 for individual screenings. Full festival passes are $275 until Monday[S26], when the prices rise to $295. Day passes for Sept. 30 through Oct. 1 are $75 each. VIP annual membership passes are $550 each until Monday, when they rise to $595. Phone: (619) 818-2221 Online: sdfilmfest.com/ The Night of the Stars Tribute, honoring Annette Bening, Jason Mitchell, Simon Helberg and Kate Beckinsale When: 5:30 p.m. next Thursday, Sept. 29 Where: Sherwood Auditorium, San Diego of Museum Contemporary Art, La Jolla, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla Tickets: $150 Phone: (619) 818-2221 Online: sdfilmfest.com/ Twitter @georgevarga george.varga@sduniontribune.com San Diego diners, get out your smartphones and start reserving: Its time for Restaurant Week again. More than 180 eateries are participating in the twice-yearly, multi-course, fixed price event, which kicks off Sunday and runs through Oct. 2. Whether for a $10 lunch or a $50 dinner, Restaurant Week spurs food lovers around the county to revisit a local favorite, check out a new place or splurge at a special occasion spot. Advertisement How you approach Restaurant Week depends on your budget and stamina some people will only eat out once, some will fill up every day. To help you strategize and get the most out of the week, here are some dining scenarios and suggestions. One meal only If youre limiting yourself to one meal, make it count. For my money, that would be dinner at Nine-Ten. More than a dozen years in, chef Jason Knibb quietly continues to deliver some of the most superbly executed dishes in San Diego. Try the hamachi sashimi, Jamaican jerk pork belly or Moroccan spice lamb loin and you just might be making another reservation. To come back. $50; 910 Prospect St. La Jolla; (858) 964-5400; nine-ten.com One day only Take in the full San Diego experience with a day at the beach and a night on the town. Start with lunch at the picturesque Sea 180 Coastal Tavern, right on the sand at Imperial Beach. Catch sunset on the pier and then head to one of the chicest restaurants in the urbane East Village: Bottega Americano. Big city dining doesnt get much more delicious. Sea 180, $20; 800 Seacoast Drive, Imperial Beach; (619) 631-4949; cohnrestaurants.com/sea180. Bottega Americano, $40; 1195 Island Ave., East Village; (619) 255-7800; bottegaamericano.com For the trendspotter Three of San Diegos newest restaurants feature trout on their Restaurant Week menus, two prepared almondine. Who knew trout was a thing? Sample it at: One Door North: The Smoking Goats camp, camping-themed little sister. $30, 3422 30th St., North Park; (619) 618-1285; onedoornorthsd.com Decoy Dockside Dining: Waterside dining with a Great Outdoors theme. $20, $50; 1025 La Bonita Drive, San Marcos; (760) 744-0120; lakehousehotelandresort.com/decoy Pacific Standard Coastal Kitchen: Rustic-refined from Top Chefs Giselle Wellman. $30; 2137 Pacific Highway, downtown San Diego; (619) 819-0090; pacificstandardrestaurant.com For the marathon diner Making a week out of it? Plan accordingly. Day 1: Start with a bang with the luxurious menu at Coronados swanky Stake Chophouse & Bar. Go rich right off the bat with options like roasted cauliflower veloute and butter-poached halibut. $50; 1309 Orange Ave., Coronado; (619) 522-0077; stakechophouse.com Day 2: Stay on a perfection roll with superlative sushi for lunch (at the always impeccably fresh Azuki Sushi) and flavorful Greek for dinner (Cafe Athena is seasoned lamb heaven). Azuki, $20; 2321 Fifth Ave., Bankers Hill; (619) 238-4760; azukisushi.com; Cafe Athena, $20; 1846 Garnet Ave. Pacific Beach; (858) 274-1140; cafeathena.com Day 3: Grab lunch at The Lot (grilled street corn and roasted mushroom flatbread, anyone?) before taking in an afternoon movie. Skip the popcorn, because youll want to be hungry for dinner at the under-rated Top of the Market. Make sure to taste each others bluefin crabcake and grilled Spanish octopus appetizers.The Lot, $20; 7611 Fay Ave., La Jolla; (858) 777-0069; thelotent.com; Top of the Market, $50; 750 N. Harbor Drive, downtown San Diego; (619) 234-4867; thefishmarket.com/topofthemarket.aspx Day 4: Hanging in there? Have a kale salad for lunch so youll be geared up for dinner at The Craftsman New American Tavern. Yes, we love chef Wade Hagemans hearty classic fare, but were really going for the Blue Ribbon butterscotch pudding. $30; 267 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas; (760) 452-2000; craftsmantavern.com Day 5: With your credit cards likely getting more exercise than you, opt for a tasty $10 lunch at Taste of Thai, then celebrate your savings at Cicciottis Trattoria Italiana & Seafood, where dinner is $20 and three glasses of paired wine is just $12 more. Taste of Thai, 527 University Ave., Hillcrest; (619) 291-7525; and 15770 San Andres Drive, Del Mar; (858) 793-9695; sdtasteofthai.com; Cicciottis: 1933 San Elijo Ave., Cardiff; (760) 634-2335; cicciottis.com Day 6: Time for some frozen margaritas and martinis! Take a trip back to traditional San Diego with a $10 Mexican lunch at Cafe Coyote in Old Town and dinner at the retro-hip Butcher Shop Steakhouse. There youll be ensconced in red leather booths and the French onion soup, prime rib and chocolate lava cake is just $30. Sorry, drinks arent included. Cafe Coyote, 2461 San Diego Ave., Old Town; (619) 291-4695; cafecoyoteoldtown.com; Butcher Shop, 5255 Kearny Villa Road, Kearny Mesa; (858) 565-2272; butchershopsandiego.com Day 7: Feeling all over the culinary map? Focus in on one chef. Begin with lunch as Galaxy Taco, chef Trey Foshees playful take on Baja cuisine, then spend the day playing at La Jolla Shores. Clean up for a fancy date-night dinner at Georges California Modern, where Foshee has mastered sophisticated seasonal fare. Galaxy Taco, $15; 2259 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla; (858) 228-5655; galaxytaco.com Georges, $50; 1250 Prospect St., La Jolla; (858) 454-4244; georgesatthecove.com Day 8: Yes, Restaurant Week is eight days! End your culinary extravaganza on a high note at Rancho Santa Fes swanky Veladora. Arrive early to chillax at the stunning Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa and then power through one last luscious meal. Lobster, of course, is available as an appetizer and entree. $50; 5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe; (858) 759-6216; ranchovalencia.com DID YOU KNOW? In January, 2017 Restaurant Week is teaming up with the Girl Scouts to mark the local organizations centennial, as well as the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scout cookie. Expect such dishes as Samoas-crusted fried shrimp and Do-si-dos peanut Thai chicken. San Diego Restaurant Week When: Sunday through Oct. 2 Online: See menus at sandiegorestaurantweek.com; reserve directly with the restaurants. Twitter: @sdeditgirl michele.parente@sduniontribune.com Heres to Herbert Siguenza for president. He can even keep wearing the dress. The playwright and actor, who portrays a cleverly meddlesome maid in his new play Manifest Destinitis, may not have a whole lot of actual political experience. But as this San Diego Rep world premiere demonstrates anew, the man has a uniquely wise perspective on American history and how it collides with our own time. And if nothing else, as commander in chief, he would keep we, the people, laughing. (On purpose, even.) Advertisement Siguenza, boosted by the directorial savvy of Rep artistic chief Sam Woodhouse (a longtime creative partner and simpatico soul), has reached back into two eras in creating the play, whose only real malady is a minor case of new-play sprawl. The first is the 17th century, from which he has borrowed Molieres The Imaginary Invalid or at least the framework of that comic opus. Manifest Destinitis When: 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. (Some exceptions.) Through Oct. 9. Where: San Diego Repertory Theatres Lyceum Space, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown Tickets: $35-$62 (discounts available) Phone: (619) 544-1000 Online: sdrep.org The second is the mid-1800s, to which Siguenza fast-forwards Moliere and plants his tale of an (allegedly) ailing aristocrat amid the gentry of Alta California, the formerly Mexican territory that now makes up California and a vast swath of the American West. Whats most impressive is how Siguenza not only stays mostly faithful to the original play and its characters, but goes further to venture an explanation for the self-pitying title figures distress, one that dovetails with certain societal discomforts we see today. That character, Don Aragon (Mark Pinter), a Californio (an elite of Spanish descent in whats now California), is diagnosed with manifest destinitis basically a severe allergic reaction to the idea of outsiders invading his homeland. The name is a play on manifest destiny, the 1800s American doctrine that westward expansion was a God-given right. To Don, it adds up to an unwelcome influx of foreign immigrants, mostly white Easterners chasing land and gold. If the point isnt clear enough, Siguenza (a charter member of the Chicano performance trio Culture Clash) slyly puts the words of Donald Trump right into the mouths of Don and his fellow wealthy Californio, Don Pedro Diaz (John Padilla). The Yankees arent sending their best people, Don Pedro sniffs, before sharing talk of a giant adobe wall going up to protect the rancheros. And yet the play is anything but a political screed: Its tone, again matching Moliere, is of high satire bordering on slapstick, and its cast is more than up (or down) for the challenge. As the dignified but weak-minded Don Aragon, Pinter makes an ideal straight man for the amusing machinations of Siguenzas put-upon maid Tonia, an indigenous Mexican (and thus part of an ever-mistreated people) whos trying to help Dons daughters Angelica and Luisa escape from under his thumb. The excellent Jennifer Paredes lights it up as both daughters (theres some funny, winking stage business about getting the two in the same room), and Jacob Caltrider steals scenes right and left as her would-be beau, Charlie, who spouts surf-inflected anachronisms like a proto-Spicoli. Roxane Carrasco is right in her comic element as Dons fiery, double-dealing wife, Belen; Salomon Maya is a real find as Diazs impossibly freaky son, Tomas, who also seeks Angelicas hand; Richard P. Trujillo steps deftly into multiple roles, from a doc to a bat-wielding padre; and young Scotty Atienza earns big laughs as an excitable (and annoyed) newsboy. Its also a treat to see the gifted veteran Padilla return to the stage as Diaz and other characters. Sean Fannings stately hacienda set, lit in rich earth tones by Lonnie Alcaraz, complements Jennifer Brawn Gittings reliably eye-popping costumes, which are a quiet comedy all their own (Bruno Louchouarns sound design and original music also enliven the atmosphere). Gratuitous local references or no (Siguenza happens to be the Reps resident playwright for the next three years), Manifest Destinitis deserves to put down stakes on stages beyond San Diego. Its laughs and lessons might do wonders for what ails us. Twitter: @jimhebert jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com The FBI was informed of a child welfare incident involving actor Brad Pitt on an international flight last week, according to a law enforcement source who was not authorized to discuss the matter. The allegation involved unruly behavior by Pitt while airborne with his child present, according to the source, who would not elaborate. The Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services is now conducting an investigation into Pitts conduct while the family was flying on a private jet from France to the United States, the source said Thursday. Advertisement TMZ first reported allegations that the Los Angeles Police Department and DCFS were investigating Pitt following an incident at an out-of-state airport involving Angelina Jolie and their children. The website claims Pitt was physically and verbally abusive with his children during a flight on a private jet Sept. 14. TMZ alleges Pitt tried to drive off in a fuel truck after the plane landed. The website reported that an anonymous report was sent to the family services department. On Thursday, the LAPD denied claims that its detectives were investigating child-abuse allegations involving Pitt. LAPD is not handling any reports or allegations into child abuse for Mr. Pitt, spokeswoman Officer Jenny Houser said Thursday. The departments Juvenile Division, which would handle high-profile child-abuse cases, has no open investigation into Pitt, Det. Meghan Aguilar said. Aguilar said LAPD officials called TMZ to inform them they were not investigating Pitt. I dont know if they just dont believe us, she said. 1 / 37 Angelina Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt pose on the red carpet for the opening night premiere of their film By the Sea in Hollywood in November 2015. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at the AFI Awards luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel on Jan. 9, 2015, in Los Angeles. Jolies Unbroken was named one of 11 movies of the year. (Jordan Strauss / Invision ) 3 / 37 Angelina Jolie, left, director of Unbroken, poses with Miyavi, second from left, Melody Ishihara and Brad Pitt at the films world premiere, in Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 17, 2014. (Glenn Nicholls / Associated Press) 4 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were married Saturday in France, reports say. The couple, seen here at the premiere of The Tree Of Life at the Cannes Film Festival in May, had been engaged since 2012. (Andreas Rentz / Getty Images) 5 / 37 U.N. envoy Angelina Jolie and her fiance, Brad Pitt, attend the fourth day of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London on June 13. (Carl Court / AFP / Getty Images) 6 / 37 The couple attend a global summit to end sexual violence along with representatives from 100 countries governments, more than 900 experts, faith leaders and representatives from international organizations around the world. (Lefteris Pitarakis / Associated Press) 7 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the world premiere of Disneys Maleficent at the El Capitan Theatre on May 28, 2014, in Hollywood. (Jason Merritt / Getty Images) 8 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the world premiere of Disneys Maleficent at the El Capitan Theatre on May 28, 2014, in Hollywood. (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images) 9 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the New York premiere of The Normal Heart at Ziegfeld Theater on May 12, 2014, in New York City. (Ben Gabbe / Getty Images) 10 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive for a special Maleficent costume display at Kensington Palace in London on May 8, 2014. (Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA ) 11 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at a special Maleficent costume display at Kensington Palace in London on May 8, 2014. (Joel Ryan / Invision / AP) 12 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive at the Governors Ball at the 86th Academy Awards on March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at the 86th Academy Awards on March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 37 Jolie congratulates Pitt when 12 Years A Slave, which he produced and starred in, won the Academy Award for best picture. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) 15 / 37 Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Brian Grazer at the 84th Annual Academy Awards show at the Hollywood and Highland Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 26, 2012. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the 84th Annual Academy Awards show at the Hollywood and Highland Center in Los Angeles, CA on Feb. 26, 2012. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards show at The Beverly Hilton on Jan. 15, 2012. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt during coverage of the 69th Golden Globe Awards show at The Beverly Hilton on Jan. 15, 2012. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the 18th Screen Actors Guild Awards show at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Jan. 29, 2012. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the 68th Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 16, 2011 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan.16, 2011, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hill. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 37 Accompanied by their six children, Brad Pitt and Angellina Jolie appear before photographers upon their arrival at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Nov. 8, 2011. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP / Getty Images) 23 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt on the red carpet of the 81st Academy Awards on Feb. 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at the 66th Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA on Jan. 11, 2009. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 37 A heavily pregnant Angelina Jolie arrives at the premiere of her animated film Kung Fu Panda during the 61st International film festival in Cannes, southern France. (Matt Sayles / Associated Press) 26 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive for the Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles, Calif. on Jan. 7, 2008. (Paul Buck / EPA) 27 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive for the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 27, 2008. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at the premiere of Beowulf in Los Angeles on Nov. 5, 2007. (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press) 29 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the The Assassination of Jesse James premiere at 64th Annual Venice Film Festival on Sept. 2, 2007. (MJ Kim / Getty Images) 30 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive for the New York premiere of The Assassination of Jesse James on Sept. 18, 2007. (Emmanuel Dunand / AFP / Getty Images) 31 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive for the premiere of Pitts film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford during the 33rd Deauville American Film Festival on Sept. 3, 2007 in Deauville , France. (Francois Durand / Getty Images) 32 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive at the New York premiere of A Mighty Heart on June, 13, 2007. (Stuart Ramson / Associated Press) 33 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive at the Festival Palace for a gala screening of the film A Mighty Heart running out of competition at the 60th Cannes Film Festival, on May 21, 2007. (Daniel Deme / EPA) 34 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive for the 64th Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 15, 2007 in Beverly Hills. (Beatrice de Gea / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 37 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive at the world premiere of The Good Shepherd on Dec. 11, 2006, in New York. (Jeff Christensen / Associated Press) 36 / 37 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie visit the Immaculate Conception School in Port au Prince, Haiti, on Jan. 13, 2006. (Brennan Linsley / Associated Press) 37 / 37 Brad Pitt, producer Arnon Milchan and Angelina Jolie arrive at the premiere of Mr. and Mrs. Smith at the Mann Village Theater on June 7, 2005, in Westwood, Calif. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) DCFS spokesman Armand Montiel said he could not comment on whether the department was investigating. The law does not allow us to confirm or deny the subjects of our investigations, he said. Jolies attorney, Laura Wasser, declined to comment. Late Thursday, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller issued a statement, saying, The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued. Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences, but didnt elaborate on what those differences are. She is seeking sole physical custody and joint legal custody of their six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne. In the Los Angeles County Superior Court filing, Jolie said she was willing to give her husband visitation rights. The separation date is listed as Sept. 15. Jolie and Pitt were legally married Aug. 14, 2014, after a two-year engagement. The couple met while working on the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith and got together in August 2005. Jolie is seeking property in the divorce, including miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects, her earnings and accumulations from and after the date of separation and additional separate property assets and obligations of the parties, the exact nature of and extent of which are not presently known. In a 2015 interview with the Telegraph, Pitt gushed about parenthood. Everyone talks about the joy of having kids blah, blah, blah. But I never knew how much I could love something until I looked in the faces of my children, the actor said, describing his family unit as sharing a lot of love, a lot of fighting, a lot of refereeing; a lot of teeth-brushing and spilling Chaos, total chaos. But so much fun. Its unclear what effect, if any, reports of the incident would have on the couples pending divorce. I would think that a single incident of someone misbehaving or screaming or pushing, where there was no injury and no suggestion of this being habitual, is very unlikely to have a big effect on who gets custody and who gets visitation, said Scott Altman, a USC law professor and family law expert. When there are reports of habitual abuse, those could lead to monitored visitations, but the behavior being alleged in this instance doesnt appear to fall under that category, Altman said. On the other hand, nobody likes to have their dirty laundry aired publicly, he said. Divorces can lead people to behave badly and threaten to release embarrassing personal details of their spouse as leverage to gain a fast or rich settlement, he said. Other times its simply venting without a goal in mind. I dont think theres any way to presume based on rumors getting started that facts were leaked by one of the parties. It could be a witness or a third party. I wouldnt assume quickly that its a rumor started for strategic purposes, Altman said. I think judges have to ask, What evidence do we have? Is anything being alleged even relevant? If nobody got hurt, a judge might say this is not even by itself going to be relevant to this decision. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Why the Angelina Jolie-Brad Pitt marriage mattered so much in modern Hollywood Say it aint so: Hollywood reacts to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt divorce news Brangelina: Why is it so hard to resist musing about a couple we really know nothing about? UPDATES: 8 p.m.: This article was updated with a brief statement from the FBI. 1 p.m.: This article was updated with details from a law enforcement source. This article was originally published at 9:40 a.m. A Pomona College associate professor was found dead this week in Kings Canyon National Park days after he disappeared following a solo wilderness trip, officials said. A helicopter spotted the body of Alfred Kwok, 50, of Claremont on Tuesday on the upper southwest face of the rugged Deerhorn Mountain, which he had planned to climb during his excursion, according to the park. The next day, rescuers recovered his body. Kwoks cause of death is under investigation. Kwok was reported missing Tuesday after he failed to return Sunday from his trip. Kwok had a wilderness permit and planned to hike from Onion Valley in Inyo National Forest through Kearsarge Pass to enter Kings Canyon National Park. Advertisement From there, Kwok planned to climb the 13,270-foot alpine peak and return the same way. News of the professors death quickly swept through the Claremont campus, and friends gathered at the department Wednesday night to grieve, college spokesman Mark Kendall said. He was 50 years old, and his untimely death brings a depth of grief to our community that has only begun to be felt, Pomona College said in a statement.. Kwok was an associate professor of physics and astronomy who had been working at the college since 2000. He actively participated in outdoor education trips and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Described as an avid climber, Kwok loved the outdoors and shared his love of it with others, the college said. He grew up in Hong Kong and came to the U.S. for college, Kendall said. Kwok was the recipient of the Henry Prentiss Becton Prize for Excellence in Engineering and Applied Science at Yale University, where he earned his doctorate. He was a finalist for the Optical Society of Americas Newport Research Award. His research included laser spectroscopy and nonlinear optics as well as microresonators and whispering gallery modes. In a statement, Pomona physics professor Tom Moore said Kwok loved being a teacher. He was always thinking about how to get something across better, he said. At school on Wednesday, students wrote out their favorite memories of Kwok on whiteboards in the Physics Commons on campus. One message read: Professor Kwok single-handedly bridged the gap between profs and students. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson hit with pie during scuffle at high school fundraising dinner A car crash at USC left a student dead and a campus officer charged with manslaughter Release of police footage in fatal shooting of Sacramento homeless man sparks protest, calls for unity The fatal shooting by police of a 43-year-old black man has stoked long-simmering tensions over race and policing in this city, with its large African American population and high levels of segregation. In some ways, the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott defies the narrative of police violence against black men that has inspired the Black Lives Matter movement. Charlotte, an embodiment of the New South, has a black police chief and a progressive political reputation. And the officer who shot Scott, according to authorities, is black. For the record: An earlier version of this article said the person shot at a protest Wednesday night had died. Authorities have since revised their earlier report to say that the victim survived but is in serious condition. But the reaction of many in the citys African American community has been visceral and sharply at odds with official accounts. Advertisement Activists and Scotts family have disputed nearly every detail that has emerged about Tuesdays shooting, leaving residents of North Carolinas largest city grappling with two conflicting narratives. One person was seriously injured Wednesday night after shots were fired during protests near the Ritz-Carlton hotel in downtown Charlotte, according to the Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services Agency. Authorities said a civilian fired the shots. Hotel managers closed the hotel and barricaded it with furniture, and police in riot gear fired tear gas at protesters and blocked streets. Protests and vigils continued peacefully in other areas of the city Wednesday night, including near the site of Scotts shooting and at local churches. This is a very difficult situation, Mayor Jennifer Roberts said at a news conference earlier in the day as she and the police chief appealed for calm. Roberts promised a transparent investigation. The refusal by police to quickly release video of the shooting may have undercut that promise in the eyes of many in the community who reject the police description of Scott as armed and threatening. Scott instantly joined a roll call of the names of black men fatally shot by police in the United States in recent months and may have contributed to a shift in how those shootings are perceived. Blue-on-black violence is a better metaphor than white-on-black violence, said Nirej Sekhon, an assistant professor of law at Georgia State University who has studied police shootings. There tends to be a visceral reaction: Oh, another white officer has shot another black man. But racism doesnt really help account for these incidents. At least, I dont think its the narrow, individualized brand of racism we typically imagine: a malevolent, white racist enacting violence on the black body. 1 / 24 A protester uses milk to wash tear gas from her eyes after police used the gas to clear demonstrators who were blocking Interstate 277 in Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday. (Dillon Deaton / For The Times) 2 / 24 Protesters raise their hands as they march through downtown Charlotte, N.C., to protest the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (Dillon Deaton / For The Times) 3 / 24 Police use pepper spray and tear gas to force protesters off Interstate 277 on Thursday. (Dillon Deaton / For The Times) 4 / 24 A protester kneels after police used tear gas to clear demonstrators on the Interstate in Charlotte. (Dillon Deaton / For The Times) 5 / 24 Protesters gather outside a government building in downtown Charlotte on Thursday. (Dillon Deaton / For The Times) 6 / 24 A protester with a biblical message. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 7 / 24 As curfew in Charlotte approached Thursday night, demonstrators voiced their views loudly. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 8 / 24 Police Capt. Mike Campagna talks with a demonstrator. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 9 / 24 Demonstrators march in Charlotte on Thursday. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 10 / 24 Members of the North Carolina National Guard stand guard outside the Omni Hotel in downtown Charlotte on Thursday. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 11 / 24 Police and protesters carry a seriously wounded person into the parking area of the Omni Hotel in downtown Charlotte on Wednesday. (Brian Blanco / Getty Images) 12 / 24 A protester faces off with riot police on Wednesday. (Brian Blanco / Getty Images) 13 / 24 A policeman and a protester face to face. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) 14 / 24 A protester in downtown Charlotte. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) 15 / 24 Police fire tear gas as protesters converge in downtown Charlotte, N.C., the day after the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 16 / 24 Demonstrators take to the streets Wednesday to protest the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (Chuck Burton / Associated Press) 17 / 24 A protester sits near a pool of blood after a man was shot during a demonstration over the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. The man, Justin Carr, later died at a local hospital, and police said they arrested and charged a man with with the shooting. (Chuck Burton / Associated Press) 18 / 24 Demonstrators protest the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (Chuck Burton / Associated Press) 19 / 24 Police fire tear gas at protesters in downtown Charlotte, N.C., the day after the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 20 / 24 Protesters throw chairs at a restaurant during a demonstration against the use of deadly force by police in Charlotte, N.C. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) 21 / 24 Protesters march to demonstrate agasint the fatal police shooting of Keith Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (Brian Blanco / Getty Images) 22 / 24 Police face off with protestors on Interstate 85 in Charlotte, N.C., during demonstrations after a man was shot to death by police. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 23 / 24 Protestors march down a street in the early hours of Wednesday. The protests began after 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed by police in northeast Charlotte, N.C. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 24 / 24 A police officer in riot gear walks past a fire on Interstate 85 in Charlotte, N.C. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) Police in Charlotte say 16 officers suffered minor injuries after protesters threw bottles and rocks at them through early Wednesday morning as demonstrators shut down an interstate highway, set ablaze cargo from stalled tractor-trailers, smashed police cruiser windows and looted a Wal-Mart. Dozens of protesters were injured and one was arrested as police in riot gear dispersed tear gas through crowds gathered near the site of Scotts death in a northeast neighborhood close to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 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, said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney, who said protesters were reacting to falsehoods. Family members say Scott had an unspecified disability and was reading a book in his truck on Tuesday afternoon as he waited for his elementary-school-aged son to get off a bus near the entrance to an apartment complex. They say he was unarmed. Some witnesses say a white officer shot Scott with no provocation as he got of of his truck, while police say it was a black officer who shot him after Scott refused to let go of a gun as he opened his door. Brentley Vinson, the officer police identified as having shot Scott, has been put on routine administrative leave, Putney said. Police say Vinson was at a University City apartment complex looking for a suspect with an outstanding warrant -- not Scott -- but happened upon him shortly before 4 p.m. Scott got out of the truck with a gun, according to police, then got back in the truck. Police said that they told Scott to drop the gun but that he got back out of the vehicle with the gun and posed an imminent deadly threat before the officer shot him. Scott was pronounced dead at a hospital. Putney said a gun -- but no book -- was recovered from the truck. Whatever they are saying, its wrong, said Scotts mother, Vernita Walker, who lives in Charleston, S.C. Walker said Scott had seven kids, and described him as a family man. Another woman, who described herself as Scotts daughter, broadcast over Facebook from the police scene at the complex after the shooting. In a post that went viral and was laced with profanities directed at police, she said that her father was disabled and that his shooting was unjust. The woman, whose video garnered more than 500,000 views, did not reply to a request for an interview. In a statement, Scotts wife, Rakeyia Scott, said she has more questions than answers about the shooting after hearing police statements, and she called for peace. 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 statement said. The ACLU of North Carolina called on police to release any dashboard-camera or body-camera videos of the shooting, and the U.S. Department of Justice said it was aware of the shooting. Charlotte has a body-camera program for police, but the officer who shot Scott was in plainclothes and not wearing a body camera, Putney said. He added that there is dash-cam video that would not be released, citing a controversial North Carolina law passed in recent months that prohibits police from releasing video without a court order. On Wednesday, mourners and activists gathered near the site of the shooting to speak against police statements from earlier in the morning and to call on residents to rise up against a virus among officers. They also called for a boycott of white-owned businesses. Were not going to be doing marches. Its all about fighting the system and getting rid of these dirty cops thats inside. Youve got a virus; you need some chemotherapy to get that virus and that cancer out. Theres some cops who have that same mentality in Charlotte, said John Barnett of True Healing Under God (T.H.U.G.), a civil rights group, who said he was in touch with Scotts family. What color is the officer? Barnett shouted at one point, as a crowd yelled back, White! He had a book. Stop giving him a gun that doesnt exist, yelled a woman in the crowd. Residents and activists said that the unrest in response to the shooting was not about one shooting alone. The city, a Southern headquarters for the banking industry and national nonprofit groups, is known for a strong African American middle class but also is among the states most segregated cities, with large pockets of poverty among minorities. Black residents make up 34% of the citys population, which is 44% white. Charlotte is still reeling from a high-profile police shooting in September 2013, when an officer fatally shot a 24-year-old unarmed black man, Jonathan Ferrell, after he crashed his car in a neighborhood a few miles from where Scott died. A white officer hit Ferrell with 10 bullets; police said Ferrell had ignored officer commands. A jury deadlocked in the officers trial last year, and the state said it would not retry him. Ferrells family settled a $2.25-million civil lawsuit with the city. Residents have long complained about mistreatment from police. In a force led by a Putney, a black chief, the issues are also bigger than race, activists said. Black people can also be complicit in police shootings, said Ashley Williams, a 23-year-old Charlotte activist who is involved in the Movement for Black Lives and is helping organize actions in response Scotts death. We acknowledge the police-industrial complex as inherently anti-black. Folks participation in that perpetuates anti-blackness. Dwight Mullen, a political science professor who studies African American communities at University of North Carolina in Asheville, criticized Charlottes police for their relationship to the black community. The police force has become more diverse, and youd think that would take it into a more positive direction, Mullen said. Its not enough. What we find is often the mechanisms that are being taken over by black officials encourage the black officials to repeat the behaviors of the people who preceded them. Amid criticism, the Police Department, which is nearly 76% white and 17% black and also oversees unincorporated parts of Mecklenburg County, has undertaken diversity initiatives and outreach efforts with African American communities since Ferrells death. Putney, who was appointed last year as chief, has said previously that the department needs to overcome a racist and bigoted history. Weve got to get through this, he said as he delivered a sermon at a Charlotte church in July. Weve got to confront some difficult things. Weve got to stop sugarcoating everything. But speaking at a forum on race and policing over the summer -- in the wake of a string of shootings of black Americans across the country and protests that ensued -- he also cautioned against prejudging officers. Even now when I see blue lights, it hits me in the stomach. Ive had that reaction since I was 8 years old, Putney said. But what you dont know is Im sometimes more fearful when I put this uniform on. Im going to tell you a secret: Im always black -- I was born that way, Im gonna die that way, but I chose to put myself in harms way with the honorable people who wear these uniforms to protect the people who need us most. Times staff writer Kaleem reported from Charlotte and special correspondent Jarvie from Atlanta. ALSO Anger grows in Tulsa as police release video of fatal shooting of unarmed black man The sounds of the bombs will be heard in the streets: A scrawled journal found with New York bombing suspect $1.9-million settlement in Sandra Bland death is the latest big payout in police-misconduct lawsuits UPDATES: 6:45 p.m.: Updated to reflect that the person shot during the protest has died. 6:15 p.m.: Updated with person shot during protest. 5:05 p.m.: This article has been revised throughout for additional details and for clarity. 12:10 p.m.: This article was updated with more information throughout and comment from the attorney general and ACLU. 2:30 a.m., Sept. 21: This article was updated saying protesters were on the highway. 10:05 p.m.: This article was updated with information from the scene of the protest. This article was originally published at 8:10 p.m. Sept. 20. One conventionally wise thing to say about Proposition 64, the statewide initiative legalizing adult use of recreational marijuana, is that millennials could very well provide the margin for victory. Millennials, the generation born after 1982 and before 1998, tend to be politically independent and socially libertarian. Theyre also numerous, making up more than a quarter of registered voters. But even more populous, comprising nearly a third of the voting pool, are boomers, the graying generation that grew up with revolution, and marijuana smoke, in the air. Advertisement Many boomers, Ive observed, straightened out in the 80s and 90s to raise law-abiding children and advance careers. They became much like their Greatest Generation parents, drinking alcohol, often too much of it, to relax and have fun. But its a self-evident cultural observation that millions of Americans in their 60s and 70s, many empty-nesters, view a bowl of cannabis as a portal to a child-like joy in living thats not nearly so hard on the liver or libido as booze. (The lungs, well, thats another matter.) During this harmonic convergence between young and old, the pro-marijuana movement has lots of money behind it as well as momentum from other progressive states that have taken the plunge Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska. The opponents of recreational pot from law enforcement to religious groups to some medical marijuana suppliers who see devils in the initiatives details are railing against the wind of cultural history. But, and heres the point of todays talk, dont look forward to popping down to your neighborhood shop to browse for gourmet ganja. Depending on where you live, you may have to get on the highway and drive to the city of San Diego, which would, if voters approve a local initiative, add its 5 percent tax to the cost. You see, theres no legal obligation of a city or county to host marijuana stores. Section 3(d) of the so-called Adult Use of Marijuana Act pointedly allow(s) local government to ban non-medical marijuana businesses as set forth in this Act. If Colorados experience is a guide, hundreds of dry counties and cities throughout the Golden State will spring up. It will be generally legal to consume small amounts it also may be legal to have marijuana delivered to your home, I gather but to purchase in a storefront? Thats up to cities or counties themselves. Take it to the bank. Leaders of hostile jurisdictions, motivated by worries about crime or public health or just plain moral repugnance, will whack weed sales with a vengeance. Take Poway as one municipal shape of things to come. We will resist it like the plague, Mayor Steve Vaus vows, explaining that the City in the Country has paid a high price from substance abuse and will be in no mood to add to the pain caused by recreational drugs. Oceanside Councilman Jerry Kern says his city has gone out on a limb to allow medical marijuana delivery during certain hours. A pot shop? Forget about it. If Carlsbad opens one up, let them have the headaches, Kern jokes. Among San Diego Countys 18 cities, only one San Diego permits medical marijuana dispensaries. (The county has allowed one, outside El Cajon.) Its instructive that San Diego Councilman Mark Kersey, a Gen Xer who says he wont vote for Proposition 64, accepts as a given that the existing permitted medical outlets in the city also will seek to sell recreational pot. He assumes theyll be allowed to do so if 64 passes. On Monday, the council narrowly voted to put Kerseys forward-looking tax initiative on the ballot. The initiative assumes pot shops will cost the city dearly in health care and law-enforcement, outlays that would be offset by a 5 percent tax (8 percent in 2019). Over time, says Michael Cindrich, director of San Diego County chapter of NORML, hostile cities may be more receptive as they tire of leaving tax dollars on the table and supporting the black market, which thrives on difficulty of access to legal pot. In Colorado, cities that allow cannabis shops have become tourist draws. Affluent cities like Vail, on the other hand, dont want the raffish traffic that reflects poorly on their upscale brands. Kersey told me hes not interested in San Diego becoming what he calls a pot destination, but its possible, at least in the short term, that it could be just that for regional residents. The Golden States voters, especially the young and the old, appear ready to take the high road. But in practical terms, thats the easy first step of the journey. The local debates over whether to welcome retail marijuana outlets and how many and where and how much to tax them could be a headache for years to come. logan.jenkins@sduniontribune.com As the Jackson arrives Thursday in San Diego, its first home port, the Navys littoral combat ship program is embarking on a major course correction. Recent headlines have been embarrassing for the Navys young littoral ship class. All of the first five ships have broken down at one point, several recently, prompting the Navys top ship official to call an engineering stand-down in August. Advertisement This month, Vice Adm. Tom Rowden announced a major reconfiguration of how the program works. These changes come atop the Pentagon in December cutting the class from 52 ships to 40 and demanding a more lethal, armored version for the final 11, to be called frigates. In fact, the littoral program has been almost cursed with problems from the start. Initial cost overruns attracted congressional criticism and doubled the original price tag of early versions. The littorals, which entered the fleet with the Freedom in 2010, were imagined as fast and nimble ships for shallow, coastal waters. It was supposed to be a plug-and-play situation. The Navy would develop three mission modules that could be swapped among the ships, as needed. The three missions, each backed by a different module, were sub-hunting, mine warfare and ship-on-ship fighting. The highly automated ships were designed for minimal staffing only 40 people in the core crew of a 400-foot warship, plus two dozen others assigned to each module. That all sounded good to a post-Sept 11 Navy being pulled in many directions. Now leaders are discarding portions of those bedrock ideas. Regular ship crews will be 70 sailors to run the ship and operate the mission gear plus 23 others to fly and service helicopters assigned to each vessel. Each crew will be specialized on one of the three missions. Navy officials had already begun to increase crew size in recent years, acknowledging that minimal was not enough. The ships will be grouped in three divisions on each coast, each focused on a single mission. The San Diego divisions will operate the Independence-class aluminum trimaran version of the line, made by Austal USA. The Freedom version, a more traditional-looking single-hull ship made by Lockheed Martin, will be clustered in Mayport, Fla. In other words, if you are a mine warfare-trained sailor assigned to a littoral ship, you and that ship will probably only do mine warfare. A Navy spokesman said that, in theory, mission modules can still be swapped from one ship to another, if extreme circumstances call for it. Another blockbuster change is that the first four ships of the line wont be scheduled for deployment. The Freedom, Independence, Fort Worth and Coronado will stay home and be used as test platforms for the modules that the Navy is still developing. Also, the initial crews of new ships will stay with them longer, and the Navy is adding a layer of maintenance oversight in the new divisions. Rowden said he was looking for ways to increase simplicity, stability and ownership, according to a statement released earlier this month. Rowden, the Naval Surface Forces commander based in Coronado, appears to remain gung-ho about the littoral line. Navy brass have long defended the ship concept against critics who said it was too frail and shouldnt be allowed to make up nearly a fifth of the U.S. fleet. But critics remain, despite the recent reboot. Naval analyst and author Norman Polmar said these changes will likely fix the littoral program in the short term, such as stopping the frequent breakdowns, but not address long-term deficiencies. In the short run, what they are doing makes a lot of sense, and should have been done a couple of years ago, said Polmar, author of nine editions of Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet. In the long term, absolutely not, he said, pointing to the still-unfinished mission modules. Not one of the three sets of modules is ready for series production, not one. Its eight to 10 years into the program, this is ridiculous, Polmar said. These ships cannot perform what they were designed to do. They can do parts of the missions. According to a March report from the Government Accountability Office, the Navy wont meet threshold requirements for all three mission packages until 2019, by which time it will have taken delivery of 22 littoral ships. GAO analysts in the past have suggested that the Navy pause ship building until the mission gear catches up. They arent the only ones raising questions about future purchases of the ships. In a Sept. 15 memo, the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee pressed the Navy to make additional major changes or risk losing support. Until these actions are taken, we will have significant concerns about supporting the procurement of additional LCSs, wrote Republican John McCain and Democrat Jack Reed, according to Bloomberg News. The biggest additional change McCain and Reed suggested was reducing the days the vessels deploy overseas to avoid burning out the crew and to decrease the chance of major mechanical failures, Bloomberg reported, based on a copy of the memo that it obtained. As the Jackson, the sixth ship in the littoral line, enters San Diego on Thursday, it comes off a fresh victory. After leaving the shipyard in Mobile, Ala., the ship successfully completed full-ship shock trials off Florida the first littoral ship to undergo that test of survivability. By October, San Diego should have six littoral ships on its waterfront. The Montgomery, the eighth ship in the line, is due to arrive then. jen.steele@sduniontribune.com Facebook: U-T Military Twitter: @jensteeley A Fallbrook man accused of breaking into homes during a burglary spree last year and sexually assaulting two women was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison. Michael Anthony Espinoza, 23, pleaded guilty to seven felony counts including residential burglary and sex crime charges stemming from the December break-ins. Prosecutors said Espinoza admitted to charges related to four break-ins in the Fallbrook area. As a condition of his plea, he agreed to the prison term. Advertisement Vista Superior Court Judge Carlos Armour said during the sentencing hearing that people typically consider their homes to be sanctuaries. When that comfort is violated, even when its just a burglary when youre not at home, its very disturbing, the judge said, adding that Espinozas crimes were even more disturbing because of the attacks on two women in their respective apartments. One of the victims was in the courtroom but did not speak directly to the judge. Instead, Deputy District Attorney Katherine Flaherty let the judge know that the woman was extremely traumatized because of what happened to her. According to the Sheriffs Department, a woman called 911 in early December about a break-in at her apartment on Alturas Road near Ammunition Road. She said a man came inside about 2:35 a.m. and then fled. While deputies searched for the intruder, a woman started screaming in a nearby apartment. She told the deputies that a man had tried to sexually assault her while she was in bed with her husband. Soon after, one of the deputies spotted a man matching the description of the intruder running from the complex. Espinoza was arrested. The defendant was linked to another burglary a couple of blocks south on Alturas, where a 62-year-old woman said a stranger had entered her apartment and sexually assaulted her. Deputies found stolen property on Espinoza that linked him to another burglary earlier that evening on Alturas, also near Ammunition Road. A bullet narrowly missed two sleeping children, deflating their air mattress, in a City Heights apartment early Thursday. Several gunshots were fired by a man who was trying to get his girlfriends attention, San Diego police said. The suspected shooter was arrested. Nichelle Ealy said she was asleep on the sofa in her second-floor Home Avenue apartment when she heard a pop and was hit by glass fragments. Advertisement The round came through her sliding balcony door and blinds and shattered the glass. She gathered her son, 2, and daughter, 12, into another room and called police shortly before 2:30 a.m. Its crazy, said Ealy, a nurse. Absolutely crazy. My daughter could have been dead right now. This could have been a totally different situation. God is good. The round apparently pierced one side of the air mattress, which was on the living room floor, traveled inside for a few inches, then came out right between the heads of the sleeping siblings. Officers found the bullet inside the folds of the childrens blanket, Ealy said. Her daughter, Olivia Williams, told reporters she was nearly awake when the round hit. I realized what happened so I tried to get my brother, and my mom woke up and tells us to get on the floor, Olivia recounted. I just rolled out and crawled to the room where my mother and me and my mom, we were all standing there. Police found a man and woman suspected of being involved in the shooting sitting in a white SUV parked on the curb a short distance from Ealys apartment. They were ordered out at gunpoint and handcuffed. Police said the two were arguing over the phone and the man came to see her. He didnt know which apartment was hers, so he fired one or two gunshots to attract her attention, police Officer Josh Hodge said. Neighbors reported hearing loud arguing after the gunshots, Hodge said. The woman was released. Her 32-year-old boyfriend was jailed on suspicion of firing at an inhabited dwelling and on a warrant for domestic violence, Hodge said. Ealy said she has been saving money to buy a house, but was not going to stay in that apartment any longer. Im out today, she said. One of the most haunting things about 77 Minutes, a new documentary about the McDonalds massacre in San Ysidro, is the raw emotion expressed by so many of the victims who appear on screen. Its been 32 years since a gunman walked into the restaurant in a part of San Diego that abuts the U.S.-Mexico border and killed 21 people, including children. Nineteen others were wounded. For many of the survivors, the pain of what they went through following the shooting on July 18, 1984, lingers. Advertisement It destroyed my life, says Maria Leticia Rivera, who was inside the restaurant that afternoon with her husband and two daughters. They were 1 and 4 at the time. In the midst of the chaos, she managed to talk her children into going to sleep, while she played dead. They survived, but her husband Victor Rivera was killed. Maria Rivera is one of about a dozen survivors featured in the documentary by New York filmmaker Charlie Minn, set to premiere Thursday. The title refers to the time between when the gunman fired his first shots to when a San Diego police sniper, who saw the killer through the restaurants shattered glass doors, took him out. This photo of Omar Hernandez lying next to his bicycle on July 18, 1984, became a symbol of the devastating San Ysidro McDonalds massacre. The 11-year-old boy was among 21 people killed by James Oliver Huberty. (File photo / San Diego Union-Tribune ) The film also contains interviews with police officers who were there the day of the mass shooting, including former San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, who in 1984 was a police SWAT commander. He also was later police chief. Sanders and others said there were too many unknowns as the shooting incident began to unfold for police to barge in right away. They couldnt see easily into the building because of the tinted windows, some of which were riddled with web-like cracks and gaping bullet holes. And they didnt know initially how many shooters or how many victims were inside the restaurant. I simply dont how you would do it differently, Sanders says on camera. You have to have a plan so you dont go in and get more people killed. Its the central question of the movie: Could the police have reacted differently? Should they have? This is an extremely difficult tragedy to analyze, Minn wrote in a statement he said would appear at the end of the movie. In it, he says he understands the explanations provided by San Diego police but concludes that its difficult to comprehend how one gunman managed to control 175 police officers. The story is really ambiguous, Minn said in an interview this week. Did the police take too long? Most people would say yes, if not 100 percent, but if you ask the police they would tell you no. A lot of police have told me, These people who are judging us this quickly, they dont know what we go through. Its so easy from the outside looking in. I see where the police are coming from there, he said. Fine, that explains it, but does it excuse it? So, I think thats the really big question. At the end, I would say the police have nowhere to go on this because the results are just horrendous. WARNING: Graphic. James Oliver Huberty kills 21 people in a San Ysidro McDonalds Restaurant on July 18, 1984. Documentary with News Footage. That horror is illustrated vividly throughout the documentary, with video footage of the crime scene and photographs from The San Diego Union-Tribunes archives. Bloodied bodies are shown slumped over in their seats or lying on the ground both inside and outside the restaurant. Among the bodies is an 8-month-old baby. Theres also archival footage of the survivors some dressed in their McDonalds uniforms running from the restaurant after the killer, 41-year-old James Oliver Huberty, was shot through the chest. The stories they tell in the movie are harrowing and heartbreaking. Theres Alberto Leos, then a 17-year-old McDonalds employee, who despite being shot repeatedly was able to crawl down 25 steps and toward a closet where others had taken shelter. They helped drag him inside. Leos is now a San Diego police captain. Maricela Duarte, who lost her left eye in the shooting, recalled that her baby daughter was pulled away from her in the commotion. Later, she learned a stranger had handed the infant to a police officer, who rushed the injured child to a hospital. The baby, Karla Felix, survived. Duarte is shown in the documentary holding pages of a photo album with newspaper clippings about the shooting. After describing the nightmares she has suffered over the years, she points to an image of the shooter. (The killers name is not mentioned in the documentary.) I dont hate this man, she says in Spanish, adding that she might feel differently if she had lost her child. Minn said he made the movie to honor the victims, and because of his relationship to Mexico a country featured in many of his films. He noted that many of the people killed in the McDonalds massacre were Mexican or of Mexican heritage. Minn financed the film himself but has yet to find a distributor. He said he may make the movie available online eventually. Out of the 21 films that Ive made, this is probably the most emotional, said Minn, who commended the victims for the guts, will and humanity they demonstrated throughout the ordeal. The stories are just incredible. Not everyone interviewed for the film remains plagued by memories of the massacre. Josh Coleman was 11 when he was shot outside the restaurant and played dead on the hot pavement for more than an hour. A photo shows him lying awkwardly on his back, his legs somewhat tangled in the foreground. Coleman said this week that hes suffered no major emotional problems because of the shooting, possibly because he was so young when it happened. He is looking forward to seeing the documentary. Now 43, hes a married iron worker who lives in Alpine. He has three daughters, ages 9, 8 and 5. I guess life goes on, Coleman said. 77 Minutes opens Thursday with a two-day run at The Front art gallery in San Ysidro and Friday with a weeklong run at UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley-Hazard Center. For more information, go to 77minutesfilm.com. dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @danalittlefield ! Yes, its an exclamation point (or mark, as the Brits say) and surely among the shortest leads ever written. Time was, exclamation points were considered poor literary form. F. Scott Fitzgerald said they were like laughing at your own jokes. Advertisement Like a contagion, theyre everywhere these days, signals of heightened dare I write it? emotion! In boyish comics. In girlish texts. In Tom Wolfes hyperkinetic prose. We are fired up with feelings! Still, there are some contexts in which exclamation points still stick out like giddy giggles during a funeral. In some settings, exclamation points still have the power to make the writer look really silly. Heres my favorite! In a December 2011 email, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis was reporting to her mayoral campaign staff the takeaways of a conference call with Jose Susumo Azano Matsura, whom she described as very wealthy. As you know, Azano, a Mexican national, is on trial in federal court for illegally siphoning $600,000 into local campaigns, some 200 grand going toward Dumanis failed 2012 mayoral effort. During the 2011 conference call, Azano evidently had touted an associate, whos now also on trial, as a master of Internet campaign stuff and this individual, Dumanis writes, apparently flew to SD just to talk with Mr A who wanted him to talk to me! Its suggestive that Dumanis uses a familiar nickname for Azano. But what strikes me as more troubling is the excited exclamation point. That punctuation, which printers used to call a bang, goes off like a celebratory bang of joy. Hes talking to me! Whoopee! Were in the money! (One theory of the evolution of the exclamation mark is that it derives from the Latin exclamation io, which can translate as hurray.) In the aftermath of San Diego CityBeats 2012 scoop exposing Azanos bankrolling of a committee in support of Dumanis, the DA ultimately played dumb, saying shed just had lunch in Coronado with the Mexican mogul and talked mainly about his car collection. She was, she insisted, an unwitting beneficiary of any alleged criminal conspiracy. And then in early June 2014, a few days before the primary in her DA re-election race, a smoking gun appeared to shoot a hole in Dumanis light-lunch narrative. District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has released a letter of recommendation she wrote for the son of a Mexican billionaire who supported her mayoral campaign, saying controversy over the letter was much ado about nothing. Bob Brewer, Dumanis principal challenger, learned of the existence of a letter of recommendation Dumanis had written for Azanos son. In a last-ditch effort, Brewer pleaded to federal Judge Michael Anello to unseal the letter for voters to see in black and white. Showing off the passion he would have brought to the DAs office, Brewer argued that the electorate deserved to see the evidence that appeared to prove a deeper relationship with Azano than Dumanis had described in interviews. No dice. Anello denied the request. Throughout the race, Brewer had charged that Dumanis was too political, campaign code for too slimy. The Coronado lunch with Azano was the main focus of negative ads down the stretch. The letter was an 11th-hour godsend, but too late to change the dynamics of the race. If the timing had been different, a month earlier, this could have been one of the great game-changers in San Diego election history. But absentee ballots had been cast, most minds had been made up in favor of the popular incumbent. A month after her re-election in the primary (with 55 percent of the vote), under intense pressure, Dumanis released the gushing and detailed letter of support for Azanos son on her DA letterhead. More was to come. Over the past two years, the 2011 email came out in court documents as did a meeting with Sheriff Bill Gore, Dumanis and Azano. Legions of straw donors. A political consultant testified he asked Dumanis if Azano had a green card and was met with pregnant silence. Drip, drip, drip, drip. I talked with Brewer recently. The former assistant U.S. attorney said if he and Dumanis had squared off in a runoff, if hed had five months to investigate, he would have dug up much, if not all, of the new information on the table. (Strangely, Brewer, who represented Sempra Energy in a Baja land dispute involving Azano, also has been subpoenaed to testify in the trial.) If San Diego voters had known in the spring of 2014 what they know in the summer of 2016, its doubtful Dumanis could have avoided a runoff. The outcome of the general election would have been very much in doubt. Next week, Dumanis is expected to take the stand as a defense witness. During cross-examination, defense attorneys and federal prosecutors will have an opportunity to flesh out Dumanis connection to Azano & Co. San Diego County will be hanging on her answers. Skeptics point out that U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy has recused herself from the case. Its a troubling sign to those who believe the DA will not be rigorously cross-examined, that, in effect, shell be extended professional courtesy. Yes, youre right. Dumanis is not on trial. Shes not charged with a crime. But San Diego has a right to better understand if she should also be on trial. Her testimony under oath may be our best shot at answering the crucial questions once and for all. And regarding that hopeful prospect, I have just one last thing to say: ! logan.jenkins@sduniontribune.com Just as with beauty, a perfect burrito is in the eyes of the beholder. No matter what it contains carne asada, carnitas or something else a great burrito for you may be lackluster for someone else. When people say what is the best burrito? they dont always know what theyre asking, said Scott Cole, a University of California San Diego neuroscience Ph.D. student. Advertisement To get to that point, Cole developed a 10-dimensional rating system for burritos, which aims to put data behind arguments claiming one burrito is better than another. Data science, meet almuerzo. In a post on Github, Cole presented a data analysis of several hundred San Diego burritos earlier this year. It used statistical methods to prove much of what our stomachs naturally understand a good burrito comes from balance and synergy among the ingredients. Though these majestic cylinders are consumed at a rate faster than one per second across San Diego county, Cole estimated, they have been dramatically understudied. Cole was inspired by a similar effort from FiveThirtyEight, which used Yelp to find the top 64 burrito restaurants in the country and then held a March Madness-esque competition among them (San Diego finished with four of the top 20). Using a Google form, he and his friends tried and rated 231 burritos, as of early this month. His method is to use 10 dimensions to calculate the final score. They include: These measures are rated from 0 to 5. In addition to the 10 baseline criteria, Cole and his like-minded, burrito-rating friends take into account how hungry they were before setting out to eat a burrito, and whether the burrito made them likely to recommend it to a friend. More than a few times, strangers have offered to pitch in with ratings when they see him gathering data. Nobody has ever given me weird looks or anything like that, he said. Sometimes people overhearing me and my friends get very interested. Coles idea for data gathering and analysis came from his volleyball team. After games, theyd go and eat burritos and discuss if burrito X was better than burrito Y. Cole found that the discussions lacked nuance and specificity, so he concocted the dimensions as a way to give everyone tools to debate the quality of the burritos. The measurements were developed to apply to as many burritos as possible, so a carne asada burrito can go head-to-head against a barbacoa. And among his 10 dimensions, no single metric is elevated above the others in identifying burrito nirvana. Cole also attempted to draw correlations regarding how certain ratings affected others, but determined there were no meaningful connections. For instance, a more expensive burrito does not equate a tastier burrito. Cole admits his sample is imperfect: Most locations are between Oceanside and La Jolla, which skews the data. Despite eating burritos at a rate of nine a month since January, Cole said he hasnt become sick of them. If I get tired of a California burrito, Ill switch to an al Pastor, he said. To Cole, spending time to think about what he is eating is a more mindful, transformative experience than simply stuffing his face. Experiments like Coles force participants to rethink their tastes, and potentially gain more insights into themselves, or stomachs. Now I appreciate much better the burritos I eat, and I can say why I like or dont like a burrito, said Ricardo Serrano, a UCSD mechanical engineering PhD student and 12-time burrito rater. I realize that its the tortilla which is failing, or the meat is the highlight. Cole said that he thinks his tastes have remained consistent, but his neuroscience studies have taught him that it may not be the case. Eating more than 25 feet of burritos hasnt made Cole balloon, but he did say he has gained a little weight since starting this semi-serious burrito rating project. Burrito aficionados are invited to participate in this study as well, Cole said, as long as they provide quality data. Analysis results Using the coding language python, Cole ranked each taco shop based on each measure. He only ranked each shop that had at least five burritos tested. The full results are here. The top three overall: 3rd place: Rigobertos Taco Shop 2nd place: Taco Stand (La Jolla) 1st place: California Burritos Evidence of tobacco can be found in a home and in the urine of its residents a full six months after a person living there has stopped smoking, a San Diego State University researcher has found. It stays behind and absorbs and embeds itself in pretty much everything it touches, said SDSU psychology professor George Matt, who led the study. It settles in super-fine dust, in carpets, upholstery, drywall, doorway, carpets. Researchers began their study with 90 people who said they planned to quit smoking, but only eight people had kicked the habit six months later. Matt said the low number was disappointing but not unexpected, considering how difficult it is stop smoking. Still, he found the findings convincing because the data was consistent among all subjects. Advertisement The study, published Wednesday in the journal Tobacco Control, found traces of the highly addictive drug nicotine in houses a full six months after a resident had stopped smoking. The carcinogen NNK, also found in tobacco, was detected in houses a month after a person there had stopped smoking. Matt said researchers did not have a large enough sample of NNK to test beyond one month, but he suspects it lingers longer. Urine samples and hand wipes of people in the homes found traces of nicotine six months after a person there stopped smoking. Neither would have stayed in a persons system that long without being re-introduced, he said. Matt has been studying the effects of tobacco smoke for 15 years and said previous studies have detected nicotine in homes 90 days after a smoker has quit. The latest study spanned six months, longer than previous studies, and for the first time included NNK. The report does not suggest that the level of nicotine or NNK was dangerous. which Matt should be left to future studies by the California Research Consortium on Thirdhand Smoke Exposure to determine. This is something where we really need to do more research before we start being alarmists about it, he said. The study also doesnt speculate how long it takes for a house to be entirely free of traces of tobacco after a person quits. Nicotine levels in a persons systems had dropped by about half six months after a smoker had quit and NNK levels dropped by more than two-thirds. Surface levels of nicotine and NNK also dropped over time, but still were present. The levels of nicotine and NNK in dust samples remained virtually unchanged after six months. Matt said its clear that some traces of tobacco can last much longer. We were recently contacted by someone who bought a house in Newport Beach that had been vacant over a year, he said. When she walked in, she was confronted with a overpowering scent of stale tobacco smoke. It turns out it was housed by a lady who had a two-pack-a-day habit for 20 years. Matt said the lingering smell of tobacco might be one reason why it is so hard to quit smoking, as the aroma is a constant reminder of smoke. The study was funded by the California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program. gary.warth@sduniontribune.com 760-529-4939 @GaryWarthUT The canonization of Mother Teresa will be celebrated in music Sunday at the University of San Diego, which is premiering an original composition inspired by her life. The Poorest of the Poor: Music for Mother Teresa, is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at USDs Founders Chapel in Founders Hall. A suggested donations of $10 will go to Missionaries of Charity, which was Mother Teresas order. Father Belisario Gonzalez Aguilar, a member of the Missionaries of Charity, is scheduled to speak about Saint Teresa during the performance. Originally from Costa Rico, Gonzalez Aguilar now serves in Tijuana. Advertisement USD music professor Jeffery Malecki said the performance came together from a discussion he had with friend and colleague Tom Bough, who composed the piece. He approached me to ask if there were any interest in doing music on her canonization, Malecki said. The event itself has turned into something much more evolved. Bough, whom Malecki describes as musical and spiritual, is a band director at the University of Illinois and was in San Diego in April for a USD event focused on his instrument, the tuba. They both agreed the music should depict the vibrant personality of Mother Teresa, who was awarded the 1979 Noble Peace Prize for her work with the poor. Theres a lot of slow pieces for dead people out there, and I didnt want that, Malecki said. As we look at her life, she was certainly very vivacious. The six-minute piece is in two sections, with the first section influenced from Eastern Europe dance music. I tell my students that even a saint has a childhood, Malecki said about the first section, which he described as childlike and playful. The second section uses Indian scales and harmony to reflect Mother Teresas work in Kolkata, formerly Calcutta. The music will be performed by the USD Wind Ensemble conducted by Malecki and the USD Choral Scholars conducted by Emilie Amrein. Bough, who began working on the piece in April in preparation for Pope Francis declaration of Mother Teresas sainthood on Sept. 4, is scheduled to be at the performance to talk about the inspiration for the piece. Its exciting that we get to do a world premiere like this in the bands infancy, said Malecki, who came to the school last year to start its first formal band and create a music-education program. Its a pretty exciting time at USD for music. Malecki submitted a plan to create the first music-education degree at USD last week and is awaiting its final approval. The Sunday program is expected to be about an hour and 15 minutes, beginning with Intrada from Claudio Monteverdis Vespers and also featuring Anton Bruckners Ave Maria and Rene Clausens Prayer. Also during the program, USD chemistry professor James Bolender is scheduled to speak about water and poverty. Mother Teresa visited San Diego in 1960 and returned in 1988, when she received an honorary doctorate in humane letters at USD before a large crowd in Torero Stadium. She also visited Tijuana and a school in Golden Hill during the trip. Tijuana is the home base for Missionary of Charity Fathers, a religious community of priests founded by Mother Teresa with Fr. Joseph Langford. Missionary sisters in the area operate a day-care center for the children of single working mothers, a home for terminally ill patients, a soup kitchen and homeless shelter. The superior general of the 36-member religious community, Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, made the case for her canonization assisted by three nuns assigned to help sift through Mother Teresas writings and testimony of her work. In another regional connection, Mother Teresa was treated for congestive heart failure at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, where she received cardiac catheterization and angioplasty in 1991. For more information on the program, visit https://www.sandiego.edu/cctc/events/mother-teresa.php. gary.warth@sduniontribune.com 760-529-4939 @GaryWarthUT Moviegoers in Escondido will soon see promotional videos for the areas schools playing before trailers for upcoming films. The videos will highlight students, teachers and programs at the districts elementary and middle schools, as part of an effort to stem declining enrollment at its campuses. Enrollment at Escondido elementary and middle schools has fallen by more than 14 percent over the past 13 years, from a peak of 19,560 during the 2002-03 school year, to 16,745 this June, administrators said. Advertisement The district assembled a task force of about 30 teachers, parents, school officials and community members to identify reasons for the drop, and brainstorm ways to address it. It met this month to discuss obstacles and possible solutions. The task force concluded that a drop in the citys birth rate, along with a rise in the number of families choosing charter schools for their students, drove enrollment down. It also cited negative perceptions about the school district, said superintendent Luis Rankins-Ibarra There are negative perceptions about achievement, but also the perception that our schools are dangerous, he said. And people arent aware of all the programs we offer. For instance, he said, Mission Middle School hosts an award-winning media technology program, Bear Valley Middle School offers robotics instruction, and Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences allows students to choose specialties in those fields. Over the holidays, Regal Theater will screen videos shot by Escondido teachers and students that depict some of the districts unique projects and programs, Rankins-Ibarra said. We want to make sure those newsworthy stories are out there, Rankins-Ibarra said. The district paid $3,600 to show the videos between Nov. 25 and Jan. 5 in the theaters 16 screens and in its lobby. With a high number of English learners, the district is also looking into ways to develop that language diversity as an asset that benefits many students.It will consider offering dual language programs at its elementary schools that would help students who are English learners, and those who speak only English, to become fluent in both Spanish and English. And it will explore the possibility of adding Spanish language as an elective at its middle schools. And it will explore different grade configurations, such as a possible K-8 school Rankins-Ibarra said. Choice is here, and we embrace it, Rankins-Ibarra said. My goal is to make parents consider us and choose us. Its ultimately about quality. In this ghastly political season, potential first-time Libertarian (and less populous but no less shell-shocked Green) voters can seem like refugees seeking sanctuary from a partisan civil war. All they want is for the bombs and the bombast to stop. Polls show the Libertarian ticket, composed of the first pair of governors to run together in 68 years, within striking distance of the magical 15 percent, the threshold to qualify for the televised debates. Advertisement Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson, former two-term Republican governor of New Mexico, compares the debates with the Super Bowl. He could throw in the Olympics and the World Series and not overstate the stakes for a third-party candidate in a media market glued to the Trump-Clinton cage fight and little else. Libertarians? Arent they called Republicans who smoke dope? Hippies of the right, as Ayn Rand said? Libertarians come in a lot of flavors, smiles Matt Zwolinski, a University of San Diego philosophy professor. A self-identified Libertarian ever since a classmate at Santa Clara University gave him a copy of Rands The Fountainhead, Zwolinski says purists within the party dont consider him a real Libertarian because he supports a role for government in erecting a social safety net. In a nice play on words, Zwolinski, 41, founded a blog called Bleeding Heart Libertarians that champions free markets and social justice, a pairing that in his scholarly view is logical. (Economic growth is the only proven way to improve standards of living, he argues.) Similarly, Johnson and William Weld, a former two-term Massachusetts governor, are viewed with suspicion because theyre real-world politicians who have had to compromise with Democratic legislatures to govern their states. Gary Johnson and Bill Weld explain why theyre running as Libertarians To absolutists, Johnson & Weld are far from perfect. In fact, they were barely nominated at a raucous Libertarian convention. But thats what makes them work for refugees from the major parties. For example, Johnson, Zwolinski tells me, has not been willing to come out and say, I think heroin ought to be legalized. If youre a purist Libertarian, its not just that marijuana should be legalized thats easy! but that all drugs heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine ought to be legalized. To be sure, Johnsons open support of marijuana legalization going back to 1999 (and his well-known consumption of the drug and his former business ties to the cannabis industry) will confuse, if not turn off, some non-inhaling voters. To many Americans, especially those who dont have a bong in the cupboard, Libertarians have a drug problem. (Of course, Libertarians would say they have a solution, ending the War Against Drugs.) But imagine if Johnson performed the full monty and espoused the legalization of heroin. It would be political malpractice. Purity is the kind of thing you cling to when you dont have power, Zwolinski says. Though the likability of Johnson, a self-made millionaire and extreme triathlete, is off the charts, hes not terribly articulate, Zwolinski concedes. He can appear diffident in interviews. At the same time, Johnson comes off as the opposite of a slacker. I could climb Mount Everest today, the 63-year-old has said without boasting. (Hes scaled the tallest peaks on every continent.) Weld, on the other hand, appears a more sophisticated pol with a shabby-genteel bearing and a boarding-school sarcasm that comes off as both appealing and arrogant, according to a recent New Yorker profile. Theyre the perfect ticket to emerge, Zwolinski believes. Theyre Republicans with strong libertarian leanings, which means theyre both budget hawks and social progressives, free traders who question rash military intervention abroad. Most important to the political refugees of 2016, theyre sane, personable, funny, comfortable in their weathered skins and theyre not Donald or Hillary. But can the United States elect a third-party president, which would be nearly as historic a development as the election of a black or female president? Its immensely difficult, Zwolinski laments. We live in a two-party monopoly where Johnson/Weld may be making an impact on polls, as high as 12 percent in some surveys, but they receive maybe 0.1 percent of the Trump-obsessed news coverage. But even as he concedes the near-impossible odds, Zwolinski brightens and recalls the unlikely rise of Trump and the unpopularity of Clinton. Stuff happens! he exclaims. In a July 20 column, I suggested it would take a triple bank shot for Johnson/Weld to: 1) get into the debate; 2) win a handful of states; and 3) force a divided House of Representatives to compromise on Johnson. Well, first things first. For the last few years, answering the phone during election season has turned into a game of reflexes at our house. If the line is silent, we try to hang up before someone comes on to ask us if we want to participate in a survey. If caught, we used to say, Please take us off your list and then hang up. Recently, however, weve taken to picking up every unknown caller and waiting for a voice in the hope that weve been selected to participate in a national poll of presidential candidates. Were still waiting to cast a verbal vote for Johnson/Weld that might help the team cross the 15 percent barrier. In this strange season, a transient telephonic vote seems much more consequential than a general election vote in a slam-dunk blue state. At the very least, we deserve a great TV show. (Full disclosure: My wife, an ardent Obama supporter in 08 and 12, just paid $10 for a Johnson/Weld bumper sticker, billing the purchase to our joint MasterCard. Technically, I guess, Im a donor.) logan.jenkins@sduniontribune.com Activists who have been helping newly arrived Haitian migrants in San Diego objected on Thursday to the Department of Homeland Securitys decision announced announced early in the day to resume deportations to Haiti. The department had ceased deportations to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, with the exception of those convicted of serious crimes. Officials decided that the situation in Haiti has improved enough that deportations of other undocumented individuals can proceed. This decision comes as thousands of Haitians who had been living in Brazil and Venezuela after the earthquake have arrived in large numbers since May, asking to be let in to the U.S. from Tijuana. This policy change does not reflect our values. Period, Hiram Soto said in a statement on behalf of the Southern Border Communities Coalition, an umbrella organization which includes groups like Alliance San Diego. Advertisement The administrations unconscionable decision breaks a promise the American people made to not forsake or forget the Haitian people after the devastating earthquake of 2010, Soto said. Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, is in no condition to receive people back. In fact, reports on the ground are that the country is worse off than before the earthquake; only last month, the United Nations finally took responsibility for a still-raging cholera epidemic. Until Wednesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers had been allowing the migrants into the country with a three-year temporary pass through humanitarian parole, according to Ginger Jacobs, an immigration attorney who has been assisting the migrants. Alliance San Diego has been helping at Christ Ministry Center in Normal Heights, where many of the arriving Haitians have found shelter after being let in and before moving on to final destinations of Miami or New York. About 10 percent of the Haitians let into San Diego in the past four months have stayed in the area, the alliance estimates. More than 5,000 Haitians have been processed at the San Diego field office this fiscal year, most since May, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The church, which has housed about 200 migrants per night since May, put out a call for help Wednesday for volunteers and donations from the San Diego community in anticipation of the thousands more expected to arrive at the border asking for aid. Now new arrivals will be put in expedited removal proceedings, which means they will be immediately sent back unless they can show that theyre afraid to return home for a reason that would qualify for asylum. These survivors are displaced people that urgently need humanitarian assistance, not harsh enforcement, Soto said. The Christ United Methodist Church has been helping 2010 earthquake victims from Haiti. Despite a growing number of refugees that need to be helped and dwindling supplies, the church says it will continue to help no matter what. kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate The Obama administration is preparing to resume routine removals of undocumented Haitian immigrants more than six years after suspending deportations following the Caribbean nations devastating January 2010 earthquake. The announcement Thursday from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, will have an immediate effect on how Haitians are processed when they arrive without documents at the San Ysidro border and other U.S. ports of entry. DHS officials speaking on background on Wednesday confirmed the new policy and said that it is effective as of today. Haitians who present themselves at the U.S. border can expect to be detained and processed under a provision of U.S. immigration law known as expedited removal that allows for their deportations without an appearance before an immigration judgewith exceptions made for those who express fear of returning to their home country. Advertisement We will be treating inadmissible Haitians as we do nationals of other countries, one said. Since 2014, U.S. deportation policy has placed priority on convicted felons, those with significant or multiple misdemeanors and those stopped without entry documents near the border or at ports of entry while trying to enter the United States. Church helping Haitians hits the breaking point The plans to resume deportations to Haiti come come as DHS reported on Wednesday that there could be several thousand more Haitians in Central America and Mexico making their way to the border in hopes of gaining entry to the United States. Most Haitians arriving at the San Ysidro border in recent months have been released and given a notice to appear before an immigration judgebut that will no longer be the case, the DHS officials said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stopped deportations to Haiti following the countrys January 12, 2010 earthquake, which was centered in the capital of Port-au-Prince. Deportations resumed on a limited basis in April 2011, primarily of criminals or those considered a security threat. The new policy means that anyone with a final deportation order is now subject to deportation. We believe that resumption of regular removal operations is warranted at this time given the improved country conditions since the earthquake, an official said. According to the official, the resumption is also in response to the significant increase of Haitians weve seen attempting to enter the United States at the southwest border and in particular at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The new deportation policy will not change the Temporary Protected Status conferred by the U.S. government following the 2010 earthquake that allows Haitians in the program to remain in the United States through July 22, 2017. Those more recent arrivals who have crossed into California in recent months under the previous policy will remain on parole as their cases go through immigration courts. The difference under the new policy is that they now are subject to deportation to Haiti, whereas they previously could not be deported even if their legal cases did not prevail. So far this fiscal year, more than 5,000 Haitians without a U.S. visa have been processed by CBP officers at the San Diego Field Office, primarily at San Ysidro, compared with 339 in the previous year. Migrant assistance groups in Tijuana have become increasingly overwhelmed with the arrival of Haitians, a group rarely seen in the city until large numbers began arriving at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in late May. The great majority have traveled by land from Brazil, where they had gone to work after the earthquake, but faced growing hardship following the countrys economic downturn. The ebb and flow is that about every ten days there is a slowdown for two or three days, and then they start coming again, said Father Pat Murphy, director of the Casa del Migrante, a Tijuana shelter. The sudden and unexpected influx of Haitians also has created challenges in San Diego, where hundreds have received temporary shelter at the United Methodist Church, housed at the Christ Ministry Center in Normal Heights. Most have been preparing to make their way to Miami and New York City, where there have been large and established Haitian communities. The church has shelter with a capacity for 24 people, but has been accommodating about 200 people a night since the Haitians began arriving in May, said Andrea Guerrero, executive director of Alliance San Diego, which has been helping the church as part of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium. To relieve the pressure, the National Guard on Monday opened two facilities, but the space will be available only for about two weeks. I wouldnt call it a crisis. If the community hadnt stepped up, if the church hadnt stepped up, we would be in a crisis, Guerrero said. But we do need help. For most of the arrivals, San Diego has been a way-station as they prepare to make their way to Miami and New York City, where there are large and established Haitian communities. It was unclear how soon any deportations will occur, though one DHS official said there about 2,000 Haitians subject to deportation. Haiti has not always issued travel documents as quickly as we would like, he said. Were hopeful that they will live up to their national obligation and issue travel documents for people that...are the subject of a final removal order. Under the new DHS policy, those who express a fear of returning to Haiti would be screened by a U.S. asylum officer who will determine if their case moves forward to immigration court. Rumors of the policy changes flew late Wednesday among members of the migrant advocacy community. Its very surprising and a bit confusing, said Ginger Jacobs, an immigration attorney and chair of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium. If this were to happen, it signals a pretty dramatic change in policy. Jacobs said those arriving up to now have been given an immigration document that allows them to stay in the country for up to three years under a humanitarian parole while their case goes through immigration court. For those Haitians who have already entered the United States, the U.S. does not intend to initiate enforcement operations targeting Haitians who are not enforcement priorities, a DHS official said. Enforcement will be focused on those who are encountered or apprehended near the border at ports of entry who are ineligible for humanitarian relief as well as those with criminal convictions. One who would be subject to the new policy is Terancius Ivra, a 51-year-old Port-au-Prince native to went to work in Brazil in 2012. But the economic downturn meant that his monthly earnings, about $400, were cut in half, and he could no longer afford rent, food and money for his family in Haiti. It was impossible to make it, he said. Interviewed Tuesday night in Tijuana, he said he had been given an appointment to appear at the San Ysidro border on Oct. 5. On Wednesday at the United Methodist Church, Stheker Regisma, 29, said he arrived in San Diego on Sept. 1 with his wife and two children, ages 10 months and 2 years. He said in Portuguese through an interpreter that he left Haiti for Brazil in 2010. When the job market dried up, he and his family decided to take the four-month journey to the U.S., much of it by foot. They were robbed of food and cash along the way, he said. They had intended to go all the way to Miami, but a friend who was supposed to pay for travel from San Diego told him recently that money has run out. Regisma said that, for now, hes looking for construction work to get a place for his family to stay in San Diego. When asked if he hopes to return to Haiti one day, he said, Its very difficult. Theres no way to feed my family right now in Haiti. A church that has been sheltering Haitian migrants called on San Diegans for help at a press conference today, saying it cannot continue to house the high numbers of new arrivals with the resources that it has. The Christ Ministry Center, part of the United Methodist Church in Normal Heights, has accommodated about 200 people per night since Haitians began arriving in May, said Andrea Guerrero, executive director for Alliance San Diego, which has been helping the church as part of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium. She said space in the church for sheltering those in need was meant to house about 24 people. Haitians continue to come across the border from Tijuana as fast as U.S. Customs and Border Protection can process them, about 50 people per day, she said. Advertisement I wouldnt call it a crisis. If the community hadnt stepped up, if the church hadnt stepped up, we would be in crisis, Guerrero said. But we do need help. The National Guard on Monday opened two facilities for the influx of migrants, but the space will be available for only two weeks. Guerrero said the new arrivals were displaced by the 2010 earthquake in their homeland, and first moved to Brazil or Venezuela. Because of political and economic turmoil in those countries, Haitians have made the decision to head north to the U.S. You believe that the United States will take you in, Guerrero said at a news conference outside the church. You believe that because, in 2010, President Obama said to the people of Haiti, We will not forget you, and we will not forsake you. We recognize the colossal and catastrophic disaster that has happened here in Haiti, and we know that it will take years to rebuild Haiti. Guerrero said the organizations are asking for three forms of help cash donations to the church, a new space to house the group and assistance from those who speak Haitian Creole, French or Portuguese. She said the relief effort needs a 15,000-square-foot facility to be able to take care of the new arrivals in one place. Guerrero said several thousand more Haitians will be arriving in the coming months, needing help. They have generally spent two to six weeks in transition in San Diego before moving on to places such as Miami or New York, she said. She estimated that 4,000 Haitians have come through San Diego, and about 10 percent have stayed. The Rev. Pat Murphy, director of Tijuanas Casa del Migrante, said there are so many Haitians waiting to cross into the U.S. that if one arrived today in Tijuana and asked Customs and Border Protection for an appointment, it would not be available until Oct. 12. This is far from over, he said. Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, also urged San Diegans to help. She said she would be giving a donation to the church. When disaster strikes, when crisis hits, Americans step forward to help however we can, Atkins said. Stheker Regisma, 29, said he arrived in San Diego on Sept. 1 with his wife and two children, ages 10 months and 2 years. He said in Portuguese through an interpreter that he left Haiti for Brazil in 2010 after the earthquake. When he couldnt find work, he and his family decided to take the four-month journey to the U.S., much of it by foot. They were robbed of food and cash along the way, he said. They had intended to go all the way to Miami, where there is a large Haitian community, but a friend who was supposed to pay for travel from San Diego told him recently that money has run out. Regisma said that, for now, hes looking for construction work, to get a place for his family to stay in San Diego. When asked if he hopes to return to Haiti one day, he said, Its very difficult. Theres no way to feed my family right now in Haiti. The Haitians are here legally, Guerrero emphasized. They wait in Tijuana for appointments with federal authorities, and when its their turn, theyre allowed into the country on humanitarian parole that allows them to stay for three years from the date of entry. According to Ginger Jacobs, an immigration attorney who has been acting as a liaison between the group and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, theyre also given a notice to appear in immigration court for removal proceedings, with a date to be determined. She said none of the new arrivals have had a court date set yet. Im not sure what the purpose was in giving them the notice to appear, Jacobs said. It seems a little inconsistent with the idea of, Youre here for three years. She said the notice is usually given to asylum seekers, which is why many initially reported that the Haitians were asking for asylum. She said the Haitians were also required to check in with ICE officers regularly, almost like an immigration form of probation. They dont just want people disappearing into the U.S., Jacobs said. She said Casa Cornelia, which provides pro bono immigration legal services, has been screening the Haitians for those who might have valid claims for asylum or other, more permanent, immigration statuses. Jacobs said the U.S. has a long history of helping survivors of natural disasters and giving them temporary entry. It would be inhumane to tell them, Sorry, go back to Haiti and starve, she said. kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate As a court date for a lawsuit that could change how San Diego County audits its elections approaches, the California secretary of state has told officials across the state that they do not need to change their procedures for double checking the accuracy of their automated vote-counting equipment. The top lawyer for the secretary of state says counties do not need to include provisional and mail-in ballots when manually auditing votes. The Secretary of States position is that neither provisional ballots nor all vote-by-mail ballots are required to be included in the one percent manual tally, Chief Counsel Steven Reyes wrote in a September 15 letter. Advertisement The memo was written in response to an effort by a San Diego-based organization thats trying to get counties to use a different interpretation of the states laws on election audits. Ray Lutz, the national coordinator of the Citizens Oversight Project, filed a lawsuit earlier this year that says San Diego County should follow a part of state law that requires provisional and mail-in ballots to be counted in addition to regular ballots when completing mandatory election audits. If these two types of ballots arent counted, some 37 percent of votes wont be considered and the accuracy of the outcome cant be trusted, Lutz said. The automated machinery could be hacked, could be rigged, he said. He said the conclusions reached in Reyes letter are incorrect, and that states must include all types of ballots in their audits. A spokesman for Secretary of State Alex Padilla said the office disagrees with Lutzs interpretation of the law. The case is scheduled to go to trial in San Diego County Superior Court on Oct. 3, but ahead of the case, Lutz wrote letters to the 24 most populous counties to encourage them to count all types of ballots in their audits rather that just regular ballots. There is no indication that any county is currently planning to change its auditing process as a result of Lutz and his organizations efforts. San Diego County is planning to follow its usual procedures. The correspondence speaks for itself, county spokesman Michael Workman said in an email. It comes from the Chief Election Official for the State. It affirms our position, as well as the other counties, on the long standing reading and practice of State law. And it says counties should continue to proceed in this fashion as they go into the November Presidential Election. It seems clear. Alan Geraci, the attorney representing Lutz and his organization, the lawsuit is in the discovery phase, that he has deposed several people and he is awaiting county government to turn over documents related to its audit procedures. Lutz had previously contended that correction fluid was used to change votes as they were counted, and that a truck from a paper shredding company might have collected election-related documents. But so far in the discovery process of the lawsuit there hasnt been any smoking gun that indicates anything unscrupulous occurred, Geraci said. There is no direct evidence of anything done illegally or maliciously, Geraci said. The court decision would only apply to San Diego County. However, since many counties have the same procedures as San Diego and must follow the same state laws, they might change their audit procedures in order to avoid lawsuits of their own, Geraci said. If they elect not to do it they will be challenged, he said. Geraci said he expects to have a ruling ahead of the Nov. 8 general election. Twitter: @jptstewart joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1841 Growing up in a small Chinese village, Jin-Quan Yu walked nearly four miles to school, traversing a mountain pass and rowing himself across a river to get to the site. Every day when I reached school, pretty much the first two classes I would have missed, Yu said. And yet he didnt miss much, at least where science is concerned. Now a groundbreaking chemist at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Yu was one of 23 people worldwide to be named a 2016 MacArthur Fellow on Wednesday night. The high-profile honor many call it the genius grant is intended to encourage people of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual and professional inclinations, according to the foundation that bestows the prizes. Advertisement Yu and the other honorees, an eclectic collection of people whose work ranges from the sciences and education to the fine arts and social justice advocacy, will each receive a $625,000 stipend. The money, paid out over five years, comes with no strings attached. The MacArthur Foundation simply issues a broad charge for the fellows to exercise their own creative instincts for the benefit of human society. Yu said he learned last week that he would be named a fellow. I had no idea what was going on when they called me, and I had to keep the secret. I couldnt tell anybody but my mom, Yu said this week in a phone interview from China, where he was helping to nurse his mother after she suffered a broken leg. He has gained attention in the chemistry world by discovering and refining new methods for breaking bonds between carbon and hydrogen atoms. Although these are some of the most common connections in the molecular world, they are also some of the strongest. Yu and his 35-member team at Scripps Research use the metal palladium as a catalyst to sever these links, creating the opportunity to splice in other elements from the periodic table. This method can be used to synthesize difficult-to-create molecules such as amino acids the building blocks of life in much less time, and with much less waste, than was previously possible. Drug makers and other companies are harnessing Yus approach to try to develop new medications more quickly and to formulate novel compounds not achievable with current technology. Yu said that like those roughly eight-mile round trips to his grade school in China, realizing progress in bond-breaking has been neither quick nor easy. His current project started in 2002. It is only in the last five years that my ideas have really gotten attention, said Yu, now 50. John F Hartwig, chair of the Department of Chemistry at UC Berkeley, said Yus work has been transformative. Yu is a chemical magician. He has changed the way people think about where and how a molecule can react He is exceedingly creative, but also practical. Few chemists pair these two traits and apply this combination to important chemical problems, Hartwig wrote in an email during a flight to Seattle late Wednesday night. The MacArthur Foundation said it seeks out people from all professional backgrounds who have exhibited extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction and show great potential for further excellence. Fellows are chosen by an always-changing group of nominators from outside the foundation. Applications and unsolicited nominations are not accepted. Once each years honorees are finalized, their identities are closely guarded until the foundations public announcement. The recipients workplaces and affiliated organizations do not receive advance notice. After Scripps Research got the news Wednesday, it released a statement in which chief executive Peter Schultz said: I offer my heartiest congratulations to Jin. I always knew he was a genius, but this confirms it. Yu, giving an update via email from China, said he is not so sure about being called a genius. Being surrounded by extraordinarily creative scientists at Scripps [Research], it is almost impossible to relate myself to genius. I feel tremendously humbled by this surprise, Yu said. John Hartwig, chair of the chemistry department at UC Berkeley, said Yus research has been transformative. I know Jin-Quan and his work well. Yu is a chemical magician. He has changed the way people think about where and how a molecule can react, Hartwig wrote in email during a flight Wednesday night. He is exceedingly creative, but also practical. Few chemists pair these two traits and apply this combination to important chemical problems. And he is one of the kindest and most generous people in chemistry. Yu, who plans to return to San Diego soon, said he is already thinking of ideas for how to use his stipend. He would love, he said, to dig deeper into the idea of using less-precious metals as catalysts for molecular bond-breaking. Copper or iron, for example, would be less costly than palladium. The beauty of this funding is, you can propose some very bold ideas. It allows me to open new directions that are highly risky but could be highly rewarding, Yu said. Past MacArthur fellows from San Diego County include: *chemist Phil Baran, also from Scripps Research *Claire Chase, a flutist who grew up in Leucadia and went on to co-found the International Contemporary Ensemble in New York *Oceanside native Chris Thile, a mandolin expert *UC San Diego communications professor Carol Padden, who specializes in sign language and deaf culture. paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @paulsisson Every even year, California voters, even the Ph.D.s, take the SAT. The Simpletons Aptitude Test. Grinds pore over the small print of the states 17 propositions. Good for them. Most of us simpletons, however, cut to the quick. Advertisement Unlike anal Hamlets, we dont have time to let our votes get sicklied oer with the pale cast of thought. As a public service, heres a rapid-fire simpletons guide to the state props. (The alphabetized regional measures will have to wait for another tutorial.) Proposition 51, Boon or Bondoggle? A gusher of borrowed money, $9 bil, for school construction (and nearly that much in debt payments). Do you trust Sac to dole out money for schools or do you trust local districts? Trust your gut. 52, Fiscal Fever Should private hospital fees used to attract federal health-care grants be dedicated to Medi-Cal, not siphoned off to the states general fund, as is the case now. Whom do you trust more to spend slop-over money wisely: Hospitals or the Legislature? Hospitals, vote yes; politicians, no. 53, Fiduciary Duty? There are two kinds of state bonds, the ones paid off by the states general fund and the ones paid off by fees (eg., toll roads). The former require a public vote, the latter dont. 53 requires big ($2 bil and more) projects of the second kind to be decided by, well, you. You up for that job? Quick, yes or no. 54, Sausage on Fire Should bills get crafted in full light or in the dark? Pols like to rework bills when the strokes get short. 54 would make the horse trading subject to the legislative equivalent of body cameras. You like? Yes. Dont care? No. 55, Milk the Rich For four years, Californians making more than $250,000 have been bitten harder at tax time; 55 keeps the money rolling in for another 12. Interestingly, $46 mil has been raised in support; $0 in opposition. The rich evidently dont want to buy a break. 56, Smoked Out By adding a $2 a pack tax to tobacco, including e-cigs, Sac could hit the lottery for a variety of health-care causes. Big Tobacco and anti-tax hawks are pushing back with $56 mil worth of ads. What do you dislike more. Taxes or cigs? 57, Softer on Crime This one enhances parole opportunities and gives judges, not DAs, the decision to try juveniles as adults. The question: Are there too many non-violent convicts in Californias overcrowded prisons? Yes? Vote yes. No? Vote no. 58, Habla English? The vote to overturn Proposition 227, which mandated English immersion in public schools, is on the plate. In an ideal educational system, every student in California should be fluent in English and bilingual. Does bilingual ed for non-English-speaking students get us closer to or farther from that goal? The educational-industrial complex is hopelessly divided. Vaya con Dios. But be quick about it. 59, Bernies Revenge A symbolic (read: meaningless) gesture of opposition to Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that flooded corporate dollars into the election bloodstream. If this advisory measure makes you feel virtuous, vote yes. If it seems irrelevant, vote no. 60, Trojan War Should porn actors wear condoms when performing sex acts? Of course. Its the law according to OSHA. Prop. 60 steps up enforcement in such a way that most mainstream observers, including both major parties, see as a poorly drafted power grab that will cause more problems than it solves. You have to decide if sending a clear message about sexual safety trumps the legal details. No matter which way you go, you might feel like a shower afterward. 61, Drug War The most expensively contested proposition, 61 asks: Whom do you trust more? Those whod try to fix medication prices (tying state drug prices to the VAs costs) or Big Pharma that will spend upward of $87 million to persuade you that 61 will put upward pressure on drug costs for everyone, including vets? Pick your poison but, like Socrates, dont hesitate. 62, Death Be Not Proud Whoopee, were playing God. Heres your chance to kill capital punishment and substitute life in prison (or, as I like to say, death in prison). If, after consulting your inner Solomon, you say no, you want to execute monsters, youll get your kicks on 66 (see below). 63, Dodge the Bullets If this one passes, the purchase of ammunition will become a bureaucratic hassle. Big magazines will be outlawed. If you wonder why any gun owner would object, vote yes. If you think this feels like the repeal of the Second Amendment, youre mind is a steel trap of opposition. 64, High Time If youre a secret stoner or of libertarian bent, youre thrilled weed will be legal to buy if 64 passes. If you think were going to hell in a hemp basket, just say no. 65, Bambi Gambit A brilliant plot to encourage grocers to oppose a statewide plastic bag ban (see 67). Diverts money from carryout (i.e., paper) bags to wait for it wildlife, cutting into retail receipts. If you love political tradecraft, vote yes. If you hate it, no. 66, Death Be Proud This fast-tracking of executions is law enforcements counter to 62. If your objection to capital punishment is based solely on money (cost of appeals) and not morality or social justice, then 66 is the route for you. 67, Paper or Spastic? You know how you feel about plastic bags. A yes vote ratifies Senate Bill 270, a sweeping ban. If, however, you think the purge is nuts and you want to ensure a steady supply of poop bags for the pooch, thumbs down. OK, thats your SAT prep. If you finish the Nov. 8 exam in one minute or less, youve passed with flying colors and will be awarded a special sticker: I may be simple, but Im not stupid. logan.jenkins@sduniontribune In the mid-1920s, San Diego became a hub for the U.S. Navy. Twenty years later, the Marines arrived at Camp Pendleton. And 20 years after that, San Diego Opera was born. Now, in an unusual partnership, some local military groups are teaming up with the arts organization to promote an opera about the toll of war on U.S. veterans. In a press conference aboard the USS Midway Museum Wednesday morning, officials from San Diego Opera and three veteran and active-duty military support programs explained the importance of building an audience for Soldier Songs, a 55-minute multimedia opera that will open on Nov. 11, Veterans Day, at the Balboa Theatre, with a follow-up live telecast on KPBS. Composer David T. Little based Soldier Songs on the harrowing real-life war stories of family members and friends who served in five U.S. conflicts. Advertisement While gathering vets stories for the opera more than 10 years ago, Little said the one phrase he heard over and over was Ive never talked about this to anybody. Soldier Songs, he said, begins with those words and ends with a plea for veterans to share their experiences. Composer David T. Little said he based Soldier Songs on the true war stories of friends and family members who served in five U.S. conflicts. Behind him are Tweed Fox, left, of the Wounded Marine Fund, and Nathan Fletcher, of The Three Wise Men Veterans Foundation. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune ) Leaders from the locally-based Wounded Marine Fund, The Three Wise Men Veterans Foundation and USO San Diego said they were drawn to the project because they feel the stories of these unsung heroes deserve to be heard. They also commended the opera company for taking the risk of producing such an edgy piece. Soldier Songs, part of San Diego Operas new Shiley Detour Series, is designed to expand the companys reach to a new and more diverse audience. We wanted to explore works that are outside of the traditional definition of opera, yet speak directly to the unique experiences of our community, said David Bennett, San Diego Operas general director. With San Diegos long military history, Soldier Songs seemed like a perfect place to begin. Held inside the hangar deck of the 1945-era aircraft carrier, the press conference began with The Star-Spangled Banner, sung by local opera bass-baritone Anthony Ballard. Among the attendees saluting the flag was Marine veteran Jon Schumacher, 32, of Murrieta. He was a corporal serving his second deployment in Afghanistan on Oct. 30, 2011, when he stepped on an IED while on foot patrol. The blast blew off his legs and part of his left hand and left him with a brain injury. The only experience hes had with opera was seeing the musical Phantom of the Opera as a boy, but Schumacher said hes excited to attend Soldier Songs this fall (it plays Nov. 11-13). Our stories allow us to share what weve been through, but they can also be a powerful force for other people going through hard times to recognize that struggles can be overcome, said Schumacher, who arrived at Wednesdays event in a wheelchair, accompanied by his wife, Courtney. The Schumachers came at the invitation of the Wounded Marine Fund, a Carlsbad nonprofit that provides grants to combat-wounded amputees. Tweed Fox co-founded the group five years ago after his son, Michael, also a Marine corporal stationed in Afghanistan, lost his legs and part of an arm to an IED, just two weeks after Schumacher was injured. Fox said he hopes Soldier Songs opens the publics eyes to the cost of war. War is a terrible solution that carries with it a terrible price, Fox said. I commend the San Diego Opera for honoring our veterans with this work of art. Bringing Soldier Songs to San Diego has long been a pet project for former state Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, who has served for many years on San Diego Operas board of directors. A 10-year Marine veteran who served in Iraq, Africa, Yemen and Central America, Fletcher said hes long encouraged the opera to produce a military story. Fletcher is the founder and chairman of the all-volunteer Three Wise Men Foundation, named for his cousins Jeremy, Ben and Beau Wise. Jeremy and Ben both died fighting in Afghanistan. Beau still serves in the Marines. The foundations goal is to bring advocacy and awareness to the issue of veteran suicide. Fletcher said 20 to 50 U.S. veterans take their own lives each day, and three-quarters of these men and women never sought care or treatment because they feared the how people would react. We are focusing on tackling the stigma of the unseen wounds of war, Fletcher said. The services are out there but its abundantly clear that three-quarters of the veterans arent seeking it. You tackle the stigma by talking about it, confronting it and being out in the open about it and sending a message of strength, hope, compassion and letting them know theyre not alone. Fletcher said Soldier Songs will not only encourage veterans to tell their stories, it will also help the 99 percent of Americans who have never served to better understand their sacrifices. It will be a jolt, he said. Society needs to have a real understanding of the impact we make when send other people into harms way. Arne Nelson, CEO of USO San Diego and a retired Navy captain, said his organization exists to connect active-duty and veteran military service members with the community, just as this opera will do in November, and the USO is proud to be associated with the production. As part of its outreach effort, San Diego Opera has established a website (soldiersongs.sdopera.org) where veterans can upload their own photos, stories and songs of war. Theres a page on the site where the public can buy tickets to the opera for themselves or for needy local veterans. In a partnership with KPBS, the opera will present Soldier Songs in its first-ever live opera telecast at 7 p.m. Nov. 12. The performance will be shown in San Diego on Cable 11, Cox 1011, Time Warner 15-1 and channel 15 (UHF digital channel 30). Bennett said KPBS has long broadcast San Diego Opera productions on its radio station, so hes excited to make the transition to KPBS television with Soldier Songs. Considering the importance of this opera and the service to the community KPBS provides, were incredibly excited about this evolution in our relationship, Bennett said. Its also a wonderful way to for us to showcase the generous support of Darlene Shiley, who is underwriting our new Detour series. Soldier Songs When: 7 p.m. Nov. 11 and 12. 2 p.m. Nov. 13 Where: San Diego Opera at the Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., downtown. Tickets: $20-$185 Phone: (619) 232-7636 Online: sdopera.org RELATED Opera performs at trolley stations pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com A sickly bald eagle that was found lying on a trail in Ramona earlier this week and which may be suffering from West Nile Virus is recovering at a rescue center. The majestic male adult bird was found lethargic and barely moving Monday night by a man hiking on a trial off Montecito Road. He wrapped the compliant eagle in a piece of clothing and delivered him the next morning to The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center, said Director Ali Crumpacker. Crumpacker said officials at first were not sure that what the man found was indeed a bald eagle until he brought the bird in. She said to find an eagle that compromised happens once in a blue moon. Advertisement The bird was taken to the Pet Emergency Specialty Center in La Mesa where x-rays were taken and it was examined by a veterinarian. When Dr. Todd Cecil handled the sick eagle it did not bite or claw but merely laid his head on the doctors arm as he examined him. Crumpacker said the dehydrated bird had no food in its stomach and that it had likely not eaten for three of four days before it was found. Its suspected it has West Nile Disease which can be contracted by a mosquito bite or by eating another animal with the illness. Crumpacker said blood tests that could confirm the diagnosis should be back by Friday or Saturday. In the meantime the eagle, who cant yet fly, is sitting on a low perch at the center in Ramona and receiving food and antibiotics. And, hes perking up. Hes pretty alert, Crumpacker said. He is also becoming much less compliant which is a good sign, she said. The goal is to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. If he does have West Nile and it was caught early enough he could be better in three weeks or so. However, if he does have the disease, it could affect his neurological system which could prevent him from flying properly. In that case he would go to a sanctuary. There are only about 13 bald eagles in the San Diego region, Crumpacker said. This bird has not been tagged suggesting that he may have migrated to the area. She also said this is the first one the center has seen in quite a long time. This is pretty rare for us, she said. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, bald eagles almost disappeared from the United States before being listed as endangered. The population rebounded and the species was delisted but the birds are still protected by federal law. Disney on Wednesday pulled a Halloween costume that depicted a Polynesian god in full body tattoos that some said was racist and no different from blackface. The childrens getup was supposed to be Maui, a revered figure to Pacific Islanders who is one of the characters in Disneys upcoming movie Moana. Advertisement The animated film, which comes out on Thanksgiving, tells the story of a Polynesian princess who meets Maui and together they sail the ocean on an action-packed adventure as she fulfills her quest to save her people and seek her own identity. The costume had a shirt and pants designed to look like Mauis tattoos as well as a grass skirt, a shark tooth necklace and padded sleeves and legs for mighty stature! Critics said the costume was misappropriation of the Polynesian culture by a company only looking to profit on an indigenous peoples intellectual property. Native Hawaiian college student Chelsie Haunani Fairchild took to YouTube to voice her displeasure about what she called a racist costume. Youre putting my peoples skin on your children and thinking that theres absolutely nothing wrong with this. What the f**k is wrong with you Disney, she said in the 8-minute long video. On a Facebook post she said, Polyface is Disneys new version of blackface. Lets call it like it is people. Tevita Kaili, who is a professor of cultural anthropology at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, told the Associated Press that the tattoos featured in the costume were used by chiefs and leaders and that their meanings were removed from context when put on a Halloween disguise. Disney heeded the critics and announced the company would no longer sell the getup. 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, the company said in a statement. We sincerely apologize and are pulling the costume from our website and stores. Kaili said he was happy about the companys action. For most of us in the Pacific, in Polynesia, we see Maui as an important ancestor to us as a real person, he said. Eight years after the near-collapse of the world economy because of the recklessness, greed and dishonesty of U.S. financial-services firms and because of the failure of U.S. regulators we have a fresh reminder about the threat posed by such behavior in banking. The sheer size of the scandal at Wells Fargo is stunning. The San Francisco-based banking giant created aggressive goals to encourage its employees to get customers to use more Wells Fargo products. The employees met the goals by signing customers up for some 2 million new accounts and services that they didnt authorize or know about. Now 5,300 Wells Fargo employees have been fired for this fraud, and the company has been hit with a $185 million fine. Not only did this force Wells Fargo customers to pay fees for services they didnt want, the opening and closing of credit cards likely hurt some customers credit scores. In testimony before a Senate committee on Tuesday, Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf insisted he knew nothing about the mass scam until 2013. But evidence shows that workers were still being fired earlier this year for setting up fake credit cards and checking accounts. If he knew about the problem three years ago, how could he not have acted to stamp it out once and for all? Advertisement Meanwhile, as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, pointed out, Stumpfs personal holdings in Wells Fargo grew in value by about $200 million in recent years. One reason: his success at turning analysts heads by touting his banks success in cross-selling more products. This is an awful picture of corporate malfeasance. At the least, Stump should resign and give millions of his ill-gotten earnings to an appropriate charity. If those in Well Fargos upper ranks had a moral compass, there would be mass resignations. Unfortunately, a banking reform group the Committee for Better Banks says Wells Fargo may only be the tip of the iceberg because its tactics are common. Last year, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau set up after Wall Streets 2008 meltdown fined Citibank $70 million and ordered the company to refund nearly $700 million to its customers for a scandal that was even broader than Wells Fargos. Nearly 9 million customers got refunds after being victimized by Citibanks deceptive marketing campaigns and hidden fees. In 2015, PayPal was ordered to pay $25 million in fines and customer refunds after regulators concluded the company signed up its customers for credit-card accounts without their knowledge. Two months ago, Santander Bank was fined $10 million for a vendors allegedly fraudulent billing of customers for services they didnt authorize. A former worker for Bank of America in Los Angeles recently told the Washington Post that employees were encouraged to steer people to costlier services and said Spanish-speaking customers would tell her they had no idea their new accounts had fees. All this wrongdoing is only likely to reinforce the nations prevailing anti-Wall Street, anti-1 percent mood. But instead of just fueling anger, we hope it fuels change specifically, rules that make it more difficult for financial-services companies to take advantage of and prey on their customers. If that is beyond the scope of what the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can do on its own, then Congress should step in because Americans need reassurance that our banks arent out to get us. A 6-year-olds generous invitation to a young Syrian boy from half a world away has even President Barack Obama getting emotional. It all started with a letter from Alex a resident of New York to the president. He wrote after seeing the photo of a Syrian boy sitting in an ambulance after an air strike in a town called Aleppo. The picture won international attention, thanks to social media. When Alex saw what happened, he took to pen and paper to express his desire to help the child named Omran. "Can you please go get him and bring him to [my home]," he asked. "We'll be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers, and balloons. We will give him a family and he will be our brother." Heres the full letter: Dear President Obama, Remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria? Can you please go get him and bring him to [my home]? 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. Catherine, my little sister, will be collecting butterflies and fireflies for him. In my school, I have a friend from Syria, Omar, and I will introduce him to Omar. 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. Please tell him that his brother will be Alex who is a very kind boy, just like him. Since he won't bring toys and doesn't have toys Catherine will share her big blue stripy white bunny. And I will share my bike and I will teach him how to ride it. 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. Thank you very much! I can't wait for you to come! Alex 6 years old The White House released a video on Thursday of Alex reading his letter to the president. Obama even shared the letter at the Leaders Summit on Refugees in New York on Tuesday. Those are the words of a 6-year-old boy, Obama said. "He teaches us a lot. He continued: 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. Imagine the suffering we could ease, and the lives we could save, and what our world would look like if, seeing a child whos hurting anywhere in the world, we say, We will give him a family and he will be our brother. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin About eight months ago, we almost bought a puppy from a small hobby breeder who lives way the hell and gone beyond Bakersfield. It was, in retrospect, a moment of sentimental weakness, a surge of nostalgia. We missed our retriever, our backyard-bred lady friend who cost us $75 and repaid us in gold (and bushels of reddish-gold hair) for 16 years. Advertisement Because our grandson is allergic to most dogs, we were willing to pony up a thousand bucks for a labradoodle, a supposedly hypoallergenic designer breed you see everywhere these days. After checking out several websites, we fantasized wed found the right curly-haired mix from a small, certainly not a corporate, breeder. One Saturday, we drove deep into the California backcountry, pulling up in front of a two-room shack that would have brought down the housing values on Tobacco Road. A frenetic woman who didnt actually live in the dogs house greeted us and led us into a dark living room. As our eyes adjusted, we saw five or six labradoodle pups in crates. The female we had our eye on was cute but pretty lethargic, immediately going to sleep in my wifes arms. I asked to see the mother and father, expecting theyd be outside playing. The breeder said, Theyre in the bedroom. In the bedroom? She opened up a couple of crates and led out two dogs, all the while extolling their blood lines and fine points. Exchanging wide-eyed SOS glances, we told the breeder wed drive to a nearby Dennys to talk it over. We both had a feeling of foreboding about what was going to happen to our dog. It was as if wed have to pay $1,000 to rescue a puppy from its breeder. After a quick telephone call to the woman, we drove home with an empty crate that we returned to Petco the next day. We havent seriously thought about getting a dog since. I always think about that bizarre experience when legal and/or political debates flare up over pet stores and the quality and motives of the breeders who stock them. Invariably, corporate operations are vilified as mills while hobby breeders are placed on something of a pedestal. The truth, I suspect, is more complicated than a binary choice between good (i.e., small) and evil (big). Hobby breeders are not all saints. I know that from experience. Its likewise possible not all large breeders are inhumane. Nevertheless, the local law, which animal advocates have been effective in influencing, is the law. David Salinas, the owner of the now-shuttered Oceanside Puppy and other pet stores, claims he retained a broker who dealt exclusively with hobby breeders, thus allowing Salinas to comply with Osides strict ban on the sale of commercially bred animals. If theres anything good that can come from this lawsuit, it will be clarification of the pet brokering business. According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are 821 such brokers licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. In many instances, large breeders are also brokers, complicating the integrity of the puppy market. Salinas may believe his broker(s) exclusively contracted with small breeders. But as the Humane Society reports, many pet retailers refer questions about the background of pets to the brokers, shifting the responsibility to a remote figure. At the very least, buyers should have as much information about their pets as they do about antiques or locally grown food. They should be able to check out (or better yet, visit) the breeder of their dog. When hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars are changing hands, pet dealers have an obligation to provide information that they can vouch for themselves. In the end, Salinas may be able to prove damages in his lawsuit. If he abided by the law and sold nothing but hobby animals but was cited anyway hes on firm legal ground. But if, as Oceansides city attorney evidently believes, brokers finessed the citys ordinance and, in fact, delivered mill puppies, then Salinas, who knew the new rules of the road, deserves no sympathy and no damages. I can hear the Greek chorus commenting on this often sore subject. Yes, in an ideal world, everyone would go down to the shelter and adopt a homeless dog. Good humane choice but these days, Ive noticed, you have to want a pit bull or a Chihuahua before youll have much of a selection. (Rescue societies are another option to explore.) Still, like it or not, pets are for the most part commodities. In the marketplace, theyre worth what the traffic will bear. If no one wants them, they have negative value. Not surprisingly, theres an industry with large and small players intent upon tugging at your heartstrings. The takeaway from the Salinas suit, and all the local ordinances outlawing the sale of mill dogs but allowing hobby dogs, is that buyers must always beware. What you think you see in a store or online is not always what youll get. logan.jenkins@sduniontribune.com In an Aug. 18 newsletter, Democratic Party Chair Francine Busby touted the merits of Trump-shaming. Republicans in San Diego County are either making excuses for Trump, scrambling for cover, or racing for the exits, she wrote. Busby is barking up a fruitful tree. Advertisement Ray Ellis dropped out of his City Council runoff against Barbara Bry in part because he believed Donald Trump had poisoned the well for a moderate Republican in District 1. Whats interesting about the Busby playbook is the conflation of descending degrees of loyalty to the mercurial (the most neutral word I can think of) GOP nominee. In the Yes Excuses department, consider Rep. Darrell Issa, the eight-term congressman whos punched his ticket on the Trump Train. Once a Marco Rubio supporter, a critic of Trumps offensive and inappropriate language, Issa gives no indication hes defecting. Given Hillary Clintons long record of dishonesty and wrongdoing, as he puts it, hes not jumping off the party train, at least so far. Issas fealty, no matter how smartly he qualifies it, is manna from heaven for challenger Doug Applegate, a Democrat who stunned the political world when he finished just 5.7 points behind Issa in the primary and, according to a recent poll cited by Busby, is running neck-and-neck with a fabulously rich GOP heavyweight enjoying near-universal name ID in District 49. All of a sudden, Democrats are drooling like Pavlovian pols. Even if Dems dont reclaim the House, putting Issa, the pugnacious former chairman of the House Oversight Committee, on ice would be a huge victory. Hosannahs would be sung to the Trump effect. In Busbys scrambling for cover category, check out Denise Gitsham, the longshot GOP challenger to Rep. Scott Peters, D-La Jolla, whos walking a wiggly tightrope. When I asked Gitsham about her allegiance to Trump, she simply said, He has not earned my vote. (Read: I could vote for him.) After that wobbly statement, Gitsham pivoted to campaign boilerplate: The legit anger Trumps taps into and why Peters is bad news for District 52. This coyness is a hanging curveball for the Peters campaign, which relishes any opportunity to hit Gitsham for failing to unequivocally repudiate Trump. After Trumps notorious jab at a Gold Star family, for example, the Peters campaign flew into happy high dudgeon: Gitshams meager attempt to distance herself from Trumps comments without renouncing him completely is doublespeak and too little, too late. If Donald Trumps vicious attack on a family whose son died in service to our country will not cause Denise Gitsham to disavow him entirely, what will? Peters, youll recall, fought off two strong Republican challengers, Brian Bilbray in 2012 and Carl DeMaio in 2014. In those tough races, Peters didnt have a Trumpian elephant gun. Add to that high-caliber weapon a district trending blue and you can see why Peters re-election appears to be pretty much a lock. Finally, to round out Busbys triple conflation, a Republican candidate whos raced for the exits. On the night of the June primary, Encinitas Mayor Kristin Gaspar was in a celebratory mood. Shed soundly beaten Escondido Mayor Sam Abed, another Republican challenger, and appeared the hands-down favorite in November against Dave Roberts, the incumbent Democratic county supervisor whod failed to win 40 percent of the primary vote. In the blush of the moment, Gaspar answered a reporters question honestly, which in politics, according to a famous axiom, is usually a gaffe. Asked how shed voted in the presidential primary, Gaspar said shed filled in the bubble for Trump, the only Republican candidate still in the race. Gaspar repeated House Speaker Paul Ryans line of reasoning that it was important that GOP principles move forward. About 12 hours later, I interviewed Gaspar and she said that Trump is the polar opposite of me, referring to the bullying style of The Donald. This week, I asked the Roberts campaign if Trump would play a major role in their anti-Gaspar messaging. Does the sun shine at Moonlight Beach? Voters deserve to know about Kristin Gaspars public support for Donald Trump and their shared values, which are out of touch with the constituents of the district, Roberts campaign manager Johnathan Parker replied. On Wednesday, Gaspar stressed that she had never endorsed Trump but was hopeful that he would be someone she could support in November. Sadly, it hasnt happened, she said. He lost my vote. Shes encouraging those dismayed by the presidential choices to focus on local elections, as she is doing. Though outside the exit door, Gaspar no doubt will be attacked for her primary vote and attachment to generic GOP values, but its going to require some deception to make the Trump attack really, really scary. Nevertheless, Roberts, dogged by an office scandal and starting in a roughly 20 percent hole following the primary, may have no choice but to adopt the Trump-shaming play even if the facts dont quite line up. A weird final footnote: Dem Party Chair Busby has some personal history when it comes to an out-of-the-blue insurgency against a powerful congressman. In 2005, she became the Democratic It Girl, the Buzz-by of the national party when, instead of being cannon fodder for Rep. Randall (aka Randy) Harold (aka Duke) Cunningham, she emerged as the lone alternative to an incumbent accused of mind-boggling corruption. It was a heady time, not unlike what Applegate, a retired Marine colonel, is experiencing as money and staff flow into what had been a seat-of-the-pants operation. The similarity of Applegates meteoric rise and Busbys brush with fame is striking. I think about it all the time, Busby told me. The ending to Busbys star turn, however, wasnt as Hollywood as the beginning. Cunningham resigned and Brian Bilbray, distancing himself from Cunningham, defeated Busby in a special election. logan.jenkins@sduniontribune.com Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian 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Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Vilnius, Lithuania -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/22/2016 -- Men and women from the UK and Scandinavian countries are more likely to go abroad for plastic surgery now than ever before. Recent study reveals that the number one reason for that is the ability to save a decent amount for the surgery and even with the travel expenses added, the total cost of having plastic surgery abroad can be up to 50% lower than performing the surgery in the UK or a Scandinavian country. Monica T. from Manchester, UK, was considering having a plastic surgery for many years tummy tuck with liposuction would be the ideal option, she was advised by a specialist in the UK. After doing some research online and having found that the prices of plastic surgery abroad are much more attractive, Monica decided to choose a hospital abroad. After having spoken with a few representatives from different hospitals, Monica T. Has chosen a JCI accredited hospital in Vilnius Kardiolita Hospital. Although she had a very positive impression with the communication and professionalism, the patient wanted to meet the surgeon and see the hospital prior to actually committing to perform the surgery at this hospital. "I simply bought flights to Vilnius for a weekend, and arranged a meeting with a medical manager and the operating surgeon I was shown the facilities and discussed everything with the surgeon. From that point I did not have a slightest doubt I trust the hospital and the surgeon, and the only thing left was to actually set the dates. I came again for the surgery in 6 weeks, and not only saved on the surgery itself, but saved a big amount due to the liposuction not been advised by the operating surgeon turned out the tummy tuck surgery was absolutely enough. This let me save over 2000 GBP in expense quite a big amount knowing I also had travel expenses. 7 months have passed after the surgery now and I am absolutely happy with the results." "It is not uncommon for patients to come for a day or two to see the hospital and meet the surgeon in fact, we see more patients doing this. Although taking extra time and costing money, this option adds confidence for patients, and from our experience, the patient who comes for a day to make sure they want to be operated here, would always come back for the surgery." says Andrius Jonutis, General Deputy Manager at Kardiolita Hospital the leading private general hospital in Vilnius, Lithuania. For more information on plastic surgery and procedures at Kardiolita Hospital, visit http://www.treatmentinlithuania.co.uk/plastic-surgery. To schedule an appointment or with any questions, send a message to: http://www.treatmentinlithuania.co.uk/send-message. Alternatively, please call +44 (0) 203 290 0070 to get all your questions answered. About Kardiolita Hospital Kardiolita Hospital is the leading private general hospital in Lithuania, accredited by the JCI and working by the highest industry standards. Established in 1998 Kardiolita Hospital provides full range of medical services from comprehensive diagnostics to various surgical treatments within many medical areas. Kardiolita Hospital employs 200+ highly qualified Lithuanian doctors with extensive international experience and treatment performance of more than 45+ medical areas. The hospital has long-term experience in treating international patients. Contact Information: Contact person: Andrius Jonutis Kardiolita Hospital Phone: +44 (0) 203 290 0070 Laisves Av. 64a, Vilnius, Lithuania http://TreatmentInLithuania.co.uk http://www.kardiolita.lt Kiev, Ukraine -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/22/2016 -- Having a functional website that will be easily to access on the web is a priority to those people who are looking for effective ways of promoting their personal or business websites in the global network. With a special offer provided by DeltaHost, getting advanced hosting at reasonable cost has become simple. The company has offered 30 GB SSD-VPS-7 hosting for $7 only. This is the only offer of this kind in Europe and a real opportunity for the uses to avail quality hosting at affordable price. DeltaHost is a renowned hosting provider, which has been delivering premium quality services since 2008. The major goal of the company is to bring hosting services to the brand new level, ensuring their quality and affordability. 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The company is known for its dedication to the needs of their clients and over 8 years of experience in the niche. They employ professional and knowledgeable IT specialists, who are capable of developing even the most complicated web apps and providing top-notch hosting services. The company uses network and server equipment from the world leading manufacturers, like Intel, SuperMicro, Cisco, HP, APC, ExtremeNetworks etc. Their servers are currently located in the best data centers of Ukraine and Europe in general. Contact Info: Address: 7 Starokievskaya Street, 03055 Kiev, Ukraine Tel.: (044) 361-07-90 E-mail: info@deltahost.com.ua Skype: deltahost.sales Website: http://deltahost.com/ Blue Bell, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/22/2016 -- Those looking to get an expungement proceeding are encouraged to depend on the Law Offices of Edwin L. Guyer for help right away. Expungement in Pennsylvania is not an easy task; however, with the right lawyer, any and all criminal records can be reviewed free of charge. Edwin L. Guyer is able to do exactly that, dealing closely with many cases pertaining to expungement in PA. This devoted lawyer is capable of a complete expungement, turning lives around for the better. When a criminal act is committed, it is widely considered a mistake, but not one that must stay with a person their entire lives. With the right lawyer who has the right experience, a criminal record can be brought to court. If this mistake was made in the past, the criminal record may be eligible for expungement, clearing the name of the person in question. Forgiveness is hard to come by, but the United States law grants all first-time offenders the opportunity to change. It is important to take advantage of that by choosing a lawyer with experience. Edwin L. Guyer has over 30 years of experience as an attorney and an instructor of DUI courses for lawyers. He has the background necessary for working to clear the names of those in need. He and his law office are strongly confident in their skilled approach, earning them many advances in a multitude of cases. Where expungement is concerned, Edwin L. Guyer is the lawyer to trust. Edwin L. Guyer is able to begin and complete the long and complicated process of clearing a criminal conviction record, which usually takes six to nine months. By acting immediately, the expungement process can be put into action, giving those with a criminal record a new start. Call Edwin L. Guyer now at: 215-542-9333 to expunge a criminal record or e-mail him at elg@paduilawyer.com. If reaching a DUI lawyer in PA is also needed, Edwin L. Guyer has the experience to help, being skilled in many different areas. About Edwin L. Guyer For over 30 years, Edwin L. Guyer has been establishing himself with a reputation to help drivers keep their licenses. He has been guarding the potential for their future after being charged with a DUI, underage drinking, or any other criminal offense in Pennsylvania. Since 1975, the law offices of Edwin L. Guyer have become confident in their aggressive and skillful approach to ensure the futures of those charged, so that they may turn over a new leaf. Learn more by visiting: http://www.paduilawyer.com/ Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array have explored the same corner of the early Universe first revealed in the iconic image of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, a galaxy-rich region of space in the constellation Fornax. In 2004 the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) 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. Unlike Hubble, which studies visible and infrared light from bright cosmic objects like stars and galaxies, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) studies the faint millimeter-wavelength light emitted by cold gas and dust, the raw material of star formation. ALMAs ability to see a completely different portion of the electromagnetic spectrum allows astronomers to study a different class of astronomical objects, such as massive star-forming clouds and protoplanetary disks, as well as objects that are too faint to observe in visible light. A team of astronomers led by University of Edinburgh scientist Jim Dunlop used ALMA to obtain a deep, homogeneous 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 telescopes. 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 and virtually nothing else. This is a breakthrough result. For the first time we are properly connecting the visible and UV light view of the distant Universe from Hubble and far-infrared/millimeter views of the Universe from ALMA, Dr. Dunlop said. Another research team, led by Manuel Aravena of the Diego Portales University in Chile, and Fabian Walter of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany, conducted a deeper search across about one sixth of the total HUDF. We conducted the first fully blind, three-dimensional search for cool gas in the early Universe. Through this, we discovered a population of galaxies that is not clearly evident in any other deep surveys of the sky, said Dr. Chris Carilli of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. 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. The new ALMA results imply a rapidly rising gas content in galaxies as we look back further in time, Dr. Aravena said. 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 new results will be published in a series of papers appearing in the Astrophysical Journal and the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. _____ J. Dunlop et al. 2016. A deep ALMA image of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. MNRAS, submitted for publication; arXiv: 1606.00227 M. Aravena et al. 2016. The ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: Search for the [CII] Line and Dust Emission in 6 < z < 8 Galaxies. ApJ, accepted for publication; arXiv: 1607.06772 R. Decarli et al. 2016. The ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: Molecular Gas Reservoirs in High-Redshift Galaxies. ApJ, accepted for publication; arXiv: 607.06771 M. Aravena et al. 2016. The ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: Continuum Number Counts, Resolved 1.2-mm Extragalactic Background, and Properties of the Faintest Dusty Star Forming Galaxies. ApJ, accepted for publication; arXiv: 607.06769 F. Walter et al. 2016. The ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: Survey Description. ApJ, submitted for publication; arXiv: 1607.06768 R. Bouwens et al. 2016. The ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: the Infrared excess of UV-selected z= 2-10 Galaxies as a Function of UV-continuum Slope and Stellar Mass. ApJ, accepted for publication; arXiv: 1606.05280 C.L. Carilli et al. 2016. The ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: Implication for spectral line intensity mapping at millimeter wavelengths and CMB spectral distortions. ApJ, accepted for publication; arXiv: 1607.06773 Cassini mission scientists think the appearance of a cloud of dicyanoacetylene ice in Titans stratosphere is explained by solid-state chemistry taking place inside ice particles. The cloud is located in Titans stratosphere and is made of a compound known as dicyanoacetylene (C 4 N 2 ), an ingredient in the chemical cocktail that colors the moons brownish-orange atmosphere. Decades ago, NASAs Voyager 1 spacecraft spotted an ice cloud just like this one. What has puzzled scientists ever since is this: they detected less than 1% of the dicyanoacetylene gas needed for the cloud to condense. Recent observations from NASAs Cassini mission yielded a similar result. Using the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS), the scientists found a large high-altitude cloud made of the same frozen chemical. Yet, just as Voyager found, when it comes to the vapor form of this chemical, CIRS reported that Titans stratosphere is as dry as a desert. The appearance of this ice cloud goes against everything we know about the way clouds form on Titan, said CIRS co-investigator Dr. Carrie Anderson, from NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center. The typical process for forming clouds involves condensation. On Earth, were familiar with the cycle of evaporation and condensation of water. The same kind of cycle takes place in Titans troposphere, but with methane instead of water. A different condensation process takes place in the stratosphere the region above the troposphere at Titans 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 favorable for the vapor to condense into ice. The vapor and the ice reach a balance point that is determined by the air temperature and pressure. Because of this equilibrium, scientists can calculate the amount of vapor where ice is present. For clouds that condense, this equilibrium is mandatory, like the law of gravity, said Dr. Robert Samuelson, also from NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center. But the numbers dont compute for the cloud made from dicyanoacetylene. The scientists determined that they would need at least 100 times more vapor to form an ice cloud where the cloud top was observed by the CIRS instrument. One explanation suggested early on was that the vapor might be present, but Voyagers instrument wasnt sensitive enough in the critical wavelength range needed to detect it. But when CIRS also didnt find the vapor, the researchers proposed an altogether different explanation. Instead of the cloud forming by condensation, they think the C 4 N 2 ice forms because of reactions taking place on other kinds of ice particles. They call this solid-state chemistry, because the reactions involve the ice, or solid, form of the chemical. The first step in the proposed process is the formation of ice particles made from the related chemical cyanoacetylene (HC 3 N). As these tiny bits of ice move downward through Titans stratosphere, they get coated by hydrogen cyanide (HCN). At this stage, the ice particle has a core and a shell comprised of two different chemicals. Occasionally, a photon of UV light tunnels into the frozen shell and triggers a series of chemical reactions in the ice. These reactions could begin either in the core or within the shell. Both pathways can yield dicyanoacteylene ice and hydrogen as products. The researchers got the idea of solid-state chemistry from the formation of clouds involved in ozone depletion high above Earths poles. Its very exciting to think that we may have found examples of similar solid-state chemical processes on both Titan and Earth, Dr. Anderson said. The team suggests that, on Titan, the reactions occur inside the ice particles, sequestered from the atmosphere. In that case, dicyanoacetylene ice wouldnt make direct contact with the atmosphere, which would explain why the ice and the vapor forms are not in the expected equilibrium. The teams findings were published in the April 16 issue of the journal Geophysical Research Letters. _____ C.M. Anderson et al. 2016. Solid-state photochemistry as a formation mechanism for Titans stratospheric C4N2 ice clouds. Geophysical Research Letters 43 (7): 3088-3094; doi: 10.1002/2016GL067795 This article is based on a press-release issued by NASA. [ANTWERP, BELGIUM] Forty years ago, the first Ebola blood samples were carried by a Congolese woman in her hand bag from Zaire to Belgium on Sabena Airlines. Yes, you read that correctly. Nothing is the same anymore. Zaire is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sabena airlines then the national carrier for Belgium closed in 2001, but its successor Brussels Airlines played again a prominent role in the last Ebola outbreak in West Africa. As you know, this last Ebola outbreak was vastly different from all the ones before. Many lessons have been learnt from the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014 and more so in the 40 years since Yambuku. Esther Nakkazi The spell-binding 40-year history of Ebola was told at the 8th International Symposium on Filoviruses in Antwerp, Belgium, last week (12-15 September). In 1976, in Yambuku, a small village in Mongala Province in northern Democratic Republic of Congo, a young doctor, Jean-Jacques Muyembe, was ordered by the minister of health to investigate a disease that had killed some people. Muyembe arrived with a medical assistant. The health workers suspected typhoid or yellow fever. Muyembe examined some sick people and collected blood samples without gloves. His hands and fingers were stained with blood but he just washed it off with water and soap. In addition, he collected liver samples from three nurses who had died. The disease was nothing they knew. Sadly, the nurse and medical assistant died in the next few days but Muyembe was saved not by the moon suit but by water and soap. A Congolese woman who was travelling to Belgium on Sabena Airlines was asked to drop the samples off at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, where Muyembes friend was working. The Ebola samples arrived in Belgium in September 1976 where Guido van der Groen, a top researcher at ITM, helped identify the virus and found that it was similar to the Marburg virus isolated from monkeys in Uganda. Muyembe was informed about it and warned that it concerned a very dangerous new virus. They then tried to give the new virus a name. At first they opted for Yambuku where the index case was discovered but they soon realised that if you use the name of a town it will cause too much stigma. Then they looked for any landmark near Yambuku and found a river which is why Ebola is now named after a river near Yambuku. The Ebola forty-year journey has seen 25 outbreaks by now, 30,900 cumulative cases and 12,800 deaths. A new book by van der Groen titled On the trail of Ebola details this history. It is good that many lessons have been learnt from the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014 and more so in the 40 years since Yambuku. There have been changes at the WHO on how to handle outbreaks, and progress in research and development in diagnostics and vaccines.Many people now know that the community is at the centre of how the outbreak can be controlled.Hopefully, the world will be more ready for any future Ebola outbreak. This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk. The grinding together of other rocks during earthquakes shaped new rocks that are rich in hydrogen, according to a new study. This indicates that the same similar activity could be applied in the Red Planet. "Mars-quakes" could generate enough hydrogen and would have a possibility of supporting life as the scientists theorize. Science Daily reports that the analysis was printed in the journal Astrobiology. It was led by scientists from Yale University, Brock University and the University of Aberdeen. In the study, the scientists examined the rock formations in the active fault lines in the Outer Hebrides, off the coast of Scotland. Professor John Parnell, the lead author of the study explained that earthquakes cause friction and their analysis of ancient rock in the Outer Hebrides has proven how this produces hydrogen. He further explained that hydrogen is a fuel for simple microbes, so microbes could live off hydrogen produced in the Earth's subsurface as a result of seismic activity, as noted by The Week. In the previous studies, they indicated that hydrogen is generated during earthquakes when rocks fracture and grind together, according to Sean McMahon, a geologist from Yale University and the first author of the study. He said that their measurements show that enough hydrogen is created to support the growth of microorganisms around the active faults. McMahon further explained that Mars is not very seismically active. On the other hand, the study suggests that "Mars-quakes" could generate enough hydrogen to support small populations of microorganisms even for short periods of time. He recommended examining the rocks and minerals that are shaped underground around faults and fractures, which are later brought to the surface by erosion, to find evidence of supporting life on the Red Planet. Parnell added that NASA has plans to gauge the seismic activity on Mars on their 2018 InSight mission. China's first space station Tiangong-1 will come crashing down to Earth sometime in next year, following concerns that the Chinese space authorities have lost their control of the 10.4m-long module. The "Heavenly Palace" lab has earlier been described as a "potent political symbol" of China's ever growing power initially when it was launched in 2011 as an ambitious attempt to make China a space superpower. Last week, speaking at a satellite launch centre near the Gobi Desert, the officials stated that the unmanned module had fulfilled its historical mission and will re-enter the earth's atmosphere in the second half of 2017 as its final journey. "Based on the calculations and deep analysis, most of the space lab parts will eventually burn up in the Earth's atmosphere," Wu Ping, deputy director of manned space engineering office, was quoted by China's official news agency Xinhua. The announcement has partly confirmed speculations raised a few months before that China had lost its control of the 8.5-tonne module after having suffered some kind of technical failure. Damage to Earth? Renowned Harvard astrophysicist, Jonathan McDowell stated that this announcement has again suggested China having lost its control of the Space station. He also added that the module would re-enter the Earth's atmosphere by itself. And if this really is the case, it would be very difficult to predict the exact locations where the debris from the station will strike."We really can't control these objects," he stated. "Even a few days before it re-enters we won't know when or where it's going to come down." He also said a minute change in the atmospheric conditions could change the landing site from one continent to the other. According to Space.com, while most of the eight tonnes of the space station would melt due to friction from the atmosphere, some dense parts such as the engines wouldn't burn up completely. There may be debris as massive as a 100kg object. So there's a finite chance of it causing damage. Wu Ping earlier told reporters that the lab had made very important contributions during its four and a half years of service to China's manned space mission. The Space Station was launched into space amidst great fanfare back in September 2011 Wu Ping claims it is highly unlikely that the module's return to earth will affect any aviation activities or cause damages to the ground. "China has always valued management of the space debris by conducting tests regarding space debris mitigation on," Wu said, according to Xinhua. Tiangong-1 is also reported to be intact currently and authorities still continue to monitor its activities. "If it'll be necessary, China will beforehand release an international forecast when it falls," she added. Space enthusiasts as well as researchers, who have been monitoring Tiangong-1 since a while, had been trying to gather attention to its fall. They fear that there still is a risk, no matter how small, that pieces of the falling module could cause serious damage to property as well as life back on earth. Scientists were able to pinpoint the nomadic patterns of our ancestors who migrated from Africa to different continents of the world by analyzing and mapping genetic profiles, as reported on The Conversation. Evolutionary biologists claim that our ancestral lineage can be traced back to Africa. However, they were not successful in explaining the patterns of migration which led to the development of different races. The answers to that question can now be explained using three genetic mapping of over 200 populations across the world. The findings concluded that humans first traveled out of Africa going to the middle east and Europe. It then furthered to the Northeast going to the Americas. The researchers also found out that humans today could have been interbreeding the offspring of Neanderthals of Eurasia and Denisovans of Asia. There were very few differences in the genetic make-up of the African nomads who went out of Africa to the Africans who stayed because they theorized that only a few group of African migrated which delimited the genetic diversity between African nomads. A group of Africans coming from the mainland then migrated that became the first habitats of Australia. According to the Simons Genome Diversity project, which analyzed 142 populations across the globe, they concluded that several factions of modern African hunter-gatherers departed from Africa that went to be non-Africans we know today. Another research suggests another major migration of mankind which suggests that there have been migrations to Asia earlier that the major migration mentioned earlier. It also theorized that modern human species migrated way earlier than what was previously believed. These conclusions supporting the "Out of Africa" theory were derived by cross-analyzing the DNA from a gene pool of populations found in different parts of the world. By keeping on updating the genomic databank we may able to further establish our very own evolutionary history for a better understanding of our origin. These different research were originally published in Nature. A new law has been passed in France that bans the use of plastic plates, utensils and cups starting 2020. The law stated that these items should be replaced by environmentally friendly materials that can be used as compost. The new law is part of France's "Energy Transition for Green Growth Act". Initial implementation included the total ban on plastic shopping bags in July. Officials and advocates aim to make France a globe leader in promoting and adopting environmentally safe practices to reduce production and release of greenhouse gases. Just in 2015 alone, there were 4.73 billion plastic goblets thrown away in France and they estimate more than 17 billion plastic bags used each year in supermarkets across the country. The law aims to end France's dependence of disposable plastics. Based on this new law, disposable plastic bags have been banned on all supermarkets as of July 2016. And it will be completely prohibited to use disposable plastic bags in fruits and vegetables starting 2017. Other plastic items like disposable cooking utensils, plates, cups will be banned by 2020 just to give enough time for manufacturers to adjust with the new law. Local ministers believe that 50 percent of materials used to make biodegradable materials will be composed of organic, and compost. And by 2025, they expect the materials' ratio to rise up to 60 percent. Conservation groups are happy to hear that the law has been passed already because studies have shown that there would be more plastic swimming in the oceans than fishes by 2050. This kind of action from France is what Earth needs in response to the problem of global warming and increasing world population. However, some are not pleased to have the law. According to a report from the Associated Press, a Brussels-based organization comprised of European packing manufacturers will be against and will do everything to fight the law since it steps on their right as manufacturers. Pack2Go Europe urges the European Commission to take legal action against France for violating the European law. They even said, "If they don't, we will." They claim that the ban will just make France's garbage problem worse because consumers might have the idea that it is okay to throw biodegradable packaging after use. This assumption is a bit vague since speakers are actually pro the use of plastics. But the real issue could be in violating their rights as manufacturers. "Makers say the new products will be more expensive than existing ranges, prompting analysts to bet on a return of the traditional hamper with reusable crockery," as reported by The Australian. Biodegradable packaging is more difficult to produce than plastics, and scientists will still need to figure out how to contain hot food and beverage. Furthermore, recent reports stated that there lacks proof to show that biodegradable materials are actually compostable will not be like the regular plastics. This may be drastic measures but humans are desperate to stop the issues that may destroy the planet sooner. DARLINGTON, S.C. Carla Jefferson, instructional technology coordinator for the Darlington County School District, recently attained Google for Educations highest professional certification and is invited to attend the Google for Education Innovation Academy at Google headquarters in Toronto, Canada. Upon her return, Jefferson will be a Google for Education Certified Innovator, one of less than 1,000 in the world, according to Google. The certification means Jefferson will join Googles premier educational professionals network, allowing access to innovative ideas and collaboration. She will also receive ongoing support from Google for Education to design and implement technological solutions and projects in her work. Thirty-six Google for Education Certified Innovators will attend the Innovation Academy in early October after an application process that considered professional experience, passion for teaching and learning, innovative use of technology in schools and impact on other educators. A portion of the selection process included a review of a technology project proposal each candidate submitted. Jefferson aspires to create an accessible digital space for students to collaborate through blogging. A video highlighting her idea can be found at https://youtu.be/rJbW-CqadGE. At the Innovation Academy, Jefferson will discover how to unlock creativity, translate insights into solutions, experiment rapidly, and build an effective innovation culture in Darlington County School District, according to an email from Google. The application process contained elements that allowed Carla to demonstrate her creativity, innovation, experience, and leadership in the field of education, Google said. Carlas innovation project focused on the vision to create an easily searchable space for classrooms and kids to list, find, and connect with each other through their blogs. COLUMBIA, S.C. -- About 6,000 more S.C. high school students could be eligible for S.C. lottery scholarships because the state recently moved to a 10-point grading scale. Eventually, that could cost S.C. taxpayers up to $50 million a year. However, some lawmakers are balking at the cost, saying any extra money spent on education should go to the states poor, rural schools not college students. The new grading scale an A now is a grade from 90 to 100 and a B from 80 to 89, when an A formerly was a grade from 93 to 100 and a B was 85 to 92 means 6,000 more students will eligible for the LIFE and Hope scholarships, according to the S.C. Commission on Higher Education estimates. Another 300 students now will qualify for larger Palmetto Fellows scholarships, worth from $6,700 to $10,000 a year. Previously, they would have qualified only for the Life Scholarship, worth $5,000 to $7,500 a year. Unless lawmakers make the scholarships more difficult to qualify for, the changes initially will cost the state about $15 million but could rise to $50 million a year. S.C. taxpayers already subsidize lottery scholarships. During the past six years, S.C. taxpayers paid $460.7 million of the cost of lottery scholarships. The lottery paid the other $985.3 million. Taxpayers subsidize the scholarships, promised when South Carolina passed a lottery, because the lottery has made enough money to pay the full cost of the educational awards during only one year since its 2002 founding. However, some lawmakers are balking at the idea of more state budget money going into lottery scholarships. They note the legislature has not yet funded a response to a S.C. Supreme Court ruling ordering the state to spend more on its poor, rural schools. Chief House budget writer Brian White, R-Anderson, says the state is allowing more people to have access to scholarships by lowering the grading scale. Lowering that scale means B- students scoring from 80 to 84 now qualify for the $5,000-a-year Life scholarship, for example. But that also will cost more money. Unless lawmakers make the scholarships more difficult to qualify for, the change initially will cost $14.5 million for the 6,333 students that would be eligible for a scholarship for the first time or for an increased award. After four years of expanded scholarships, the cost would be about $50 million a year. The S.C. Department of Education will work with the Commission on Higher Education on possible changes to the qualifications for the scholarships and take any recommendations to the General Assembly in January, said S.C. schools Superintendent Molly Spearman. The change to a 10-point grading scale not only puts our students on a level playing field with their peers in other states but also gives South Carolina a great opportunity to look at the requirements for our merit-based scholarship programs, whose current requirements have been in place since the inception of the Education Lottery, Spearman said. Georgia and North Carolina long have used the 10-point scale. That put S.C. students at a disadvantage when competing for scholarships with students from those states since an A was tougher to earn in the Palmetto State. Any time we can open up the opportunities for our citizens to be able to get scholarships and further their education, I think thats a good thing, said White, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Not every legislator shares that sentiment, however. For years, state general fund dollars made up largely of state sales and income taxes have subsidized the scholarships because the lotterys profits have not been big enough to cover all of their costs. For example, in 2015-16, the state budget paid $45 million for college scholarships while the lottery paid $219 million. (This fiscal year, which started July 1, was the first time the lottery could pay fully for lottery scholarships because of its increased sales due to large Powerball jackpots.) At a House budget panel meeting Monday, lawmakers discussed subsidizing the scholarships further with more state tax dollars because of the change in the grading scale. Democratic state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg wanted none of it. I am incensed that we are talking about putting dollars in (scholarships) ... and we have yet to honor the commitment that we owe to the Abbeville plaintiffs, Cobb-Hunter said, referring to the poor, rural school systems that sued the state in 1993. It is ludicrous for us to sit here talking about making whole people who get (state scholarships). When, she asked, would state budget-writers get serious about responding to the Abbeville case. White said Wednesday that the legislature has tried to help poor schools by spending more on K-12 education, including paying for new reading initiatives and expanding 4-year-old kindergarten. FLORENCE, S.C. Congressman Tom Rice has planned a gathering of South Carolina education and workforce leaders for an informative event hes calling Build Them and They Will Come! The event will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 12 at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing Technology on the campus of Florence-Darlington Technical College. According to a release from Rices office, the event is aimed at increasing the skillsets of individuals desiring to work and how teamwork can build a stronger workforce in this district. Speakers include: Tom Rice; Bishop Michael Blue; Elisabeth Kovacs, with the South Carolina Department of Commerce; Lewis Gossett, with the South Carolina Manufactured Alliance Association; Neyle Wilson, president of Horry-Georgetown Technical College; Kyle Wagner, president of Northeastern Technical College; Dan Averette, with Florence-Darlington Technical College; and additional Congressional District 7 economic developers. Space is limited so officials ask that you reserve a spot if you plan to attend. RSVPs can be made at (843) 679-9781 or rodney.berry@mail.house.gov. COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The S.C. Supreme Court will continue its oversight of a landmark 1993 school-equity lawsuit brought against the state by poor, rural school districts that say they need more money. In its order, dated Tuesday, the states highest court also called on S.C. lawmakers and the districts that sued the state to update it by June 30 on steps both have taken to fix constitutional violations in the states K-12 public schools. The order is a response to the school districts' request for the court to stay involved in the case. That request came after state leaders asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, citing the steps the Legislature already has taken to address inequities in public education identified in the courts 2014 ruling. The school districts have criticized the state for passing laws calling for more studies not immediate reforms and for not focusing enough on helping poor schools. But the court disagreed with those criticisms as unnecessary and unfounded. It praised lawmakers and Gov. Nikki Haley for their efforts, saying it expected the state to study what would be necessary to ensure students in poor schools have access to a minimally adequate education. The court also said it wants the school districts to report next year on their progress toward fulfilling its 2014 order. In particular, the court wants to know whether the poor districts have considered consolidation and the prudence of creating school districts filled with students of the most disadvantaged socioeconomic background, exposing students ... to substandard educational inputs, and then maintaining that nothing can be done to improve those school districts unacceptable performances. The school districts are happy with the courts order but disagree with its assessment of the states progress toward addressing the lawsuit, said Carl Epps, the districts attorney. Our clients stand ready to work with the Legislature and Gov. Haleys office in a collaborative fashion, as they have always have been, to do everything they can to help the students we represent, Epps said. S.C. House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, said the courts order validates the work his education task force has done, and he also noted the plaintiff school districts have failed to fully comply with the court. Reforming South Carolinas education system requires more than legislative action, and every interested party must work together to improve every childs access to a 21st-century education, he said. COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Evidence that a probe into S.C. Statehouse corruption is continuing emerged Wednesday with GOP leaders saying they support the House Republican Caucus cooperating with investigators. S.C. House GOP caucus leaders are cooperating with inquiries from the State Law Enforcement Division, said Assistant Majority Leader Gary Simrill, R-York. Simrill said he cannot comment on what SLED officers are investigating, citing an ongoing state grand jury investigation. But, he added, he supports the caucus fully cooperating with any and all SLED inquiries. I certainly support transparency from the caucus point of view and the full cooperation with inquiries from SLED, said Simrill. House Majority Leader Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, could not be reached for comment late Wednesday. In July, the S.C. Supreme Court ruled 4-1 that Attorney General Alan Wilson cannot stop special prosecutor David Pascoe from investigating possible corruption in the General Assembly. Wilson, R-Lexington, appointed Pascoe, a Democrat, to investigate allegations that former S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, had spent campaign money on personal expenses. Harrell pleaded guilty and resigned as S.C. House speaker in 2014. Afterward, Wilson tried to stop Pascoes continuing investigation. However, the Supreme Court ruled that Wilson acted unlawfully in trying to fire Pascoe and trying to halt his probe. Pascoe is working with the State Law Enforcement Division on the investigation. Two of the lawmakers Pascoe appears to be looking at state Reps. Rick Quinn, R-Lexington, and Rep. Jim Merrill, R-Charleston are named in a confidential SLED report first seen and reported on by The State newspaper. Both have said they have done nothing wrong. Pascoe would not answer questions Wednesday about his investigation. I have absolutely no comment, he said. House Speaker Pro Tempore Tommy Pope, a GOP caucus executive committee member, said Wednesday that it is in the best interest of the Republican Caucus to cooperate fully with any investigation. The public would expect nothing less from a group of public representatives, said Pope, R-York. To the extent that the investigation is looking at the caucus, it is my hope that there is no wrongdoing by any member of the caucus so we can maintain the trust of the citizens. FLORENCE, S.C. Robby Hill wanted to scare everyone. The founder of HillSouth brought his IT wisdom to Tuesday mornings Small Business Series seminar at First Reliance Banks training center and told the small crowd he wanted to scare them by explaining ransomware. Ive never seen more specific targeting, he said, referring to a roughly three-year-old computer virus tactic that locks up a hard drive that will only be freed upon paying thousands of dollars in Bitcoin, an untraceable electronic currency. I have a lot of stories very scary. In offering advice to start-ups, Hill advised people to continually back up their data and if hit with ransomware, dont pay the ransom. If you pay, youre adding fuel to the business, he said. Without backed-up data, most businesses affected by ransomware close up shop in 6 to 12 months, he said. They want one billion dollars, he said, showing a photo of Dr. Evil from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, as everyone laughed. Its a billion dollar industry. Viruses are downloaded from Word, Excel or video files and can seem innocuous. Once your files are encrypted, theres nothing you can do. If you have been prudently backing up your data, act like nothing happened, he said. Ransomware thieves will often offer a sample decrypted file to prove their code is the cure, he said. Hill cautioned against opening nasty e-mails, and said people should pick passwords that consist of 12 random letters and numbers using upper and lower case. Be cautious of any type of attachment. This business is growing and getting more specific in attacks, he said. Some businesses have noticed that upon launching a website with a list of employees, hackers will mimic emails and send one that appears to be internally generated. These kinds of attacks happen all the time, he said. Ransomware is readily available for purchase. And you can conduct commercial espionage, he joked, advising folks to call and ask someone directly if they sent an email. Practice good web browsing, he said. Reusing the same password over and over is an invitation to trouble, he said, and if you have 35 accounts, have 35 passwords. He also suggested investing in software that stores and protects passwords. Be vigilant against mimicry in which hackers would use G00gle with two zeros, for instance, instead of the proper "Google." Dont use names for pets or family members in anything that needs to be kept private and secure . He also suggested free anti-virus software such as Sophos, an up-and-coming company giving away its product to bolster brand awareness. Next-generation ransomware is in the works, he said, again calling it very scary. The ransomware gets into a hard drive via similar vectors as previous generations. He also said the FBI is starting to make cases on ransomware and one can report it to the FBI website. FLORENCE, S.C. Carolina Bank announced Wednesday that it will take over the former Art Trail Gallery at 185 W. Evans St. in a $4.5 million investment and expansion into downtown Florence. About a year from now, the banks headquarters and administrative offices, and a new retail branch, will be part of downtowns revitalization. In a prepared statement, the bank called the move the first phase of a far-reaching growth plan that will include the modernization of existing branches and the introduction of new technological products and services while the bank continues to operate its retail branch in Darlington. This move will allow us to provide more focused service to our customers and potential customers in a growing market. The development downtown is exciting and we are thrilled to be a part of it, Rick Beasley, president of Carolina Bank, said in the statement. However, we remain committed to our customers in Darlington and our other branch locations. We will continue to serve our communities with the exceptional customer and banking services they have come to expect from us. Carolina Bank plans to expand the building to 19,200 square feet as it shifts administrative and training staff along with lending, information technology and mortgage departments to the new downtown location. Twenty new positions will be created to bolster the bulk of the workforce relocating from Darlington. Senior credit officer Brian Falcone said the $4.5 million figure is an estimate as not all construction bids have been received. Adding a third floor to the building is in keeping with the banks historical character, he said, and a desire to return it back to its original state. Florence County tax assessor records show the 9,750-square-foot property has a total value of $234,230.70 and was built in 1920. Falcone, however, said the bank has a photograph of the building dating to 1906 with three floors. Bank officials hope construction gets underway by December, he said, and if all goes according to plan, the bank will be up and running at 185 W. Evans St. by Dec. 1, 2017. The future of the train mural on the North Irby Street side of the building is up in the air. In an attempt to return the building to its original state, the ground floor will feature stone and windows, Falcone said. We really havent gotten that far, he said, although there are considerations to keep it intact for safekeeping. In the statement, Beasley said last year was a successful year for the bank. We are going to build on that momentum by investing in our communities and our future, Beasley said. We are pursuing new markets while strengthening our established markets, ultimately ensuring community banking is our customers best option. Founded in Lamar 80 years ago, the family-owned bank has 14 banking locations in 11 South Carolina communities with more than $440 million in assets, according to the bank. In addition to a wide range of personal and commercial banking services, insurance, retirement and investment services are also offered. NEW YORK (AP) More than a dozen companies have launched free or almost-free college programs for their front-line workers over the last decade. They see the programs as a way to recruit and retain workers in a tight labor market or train them for management positions. For hourly employees, the programs remove the financial barriers of obtaining a degree. Thousands of people are now taking advantage of the benefits and the chance to earn a free degree can be life-changing. But some critics question whether the programs are papering over deeper problems, like pay so low that workers can't afford college without them or hours so erratic that it's too hard to go to school in person. FLORENCE, S.C. Students at the Montessori School of Florence gathered Wednesday morning to celebrate the International Day of Peace. They were not the only ones; Montessori schools all across the world also gathered at that time in their own time zones. Montessori School director Teena Kyer said the school was happy to participate. This is the first time we have done this on International Peace Day, Kyer said. It was an initiative that began with Montessori schools and Montessori schools all across the world were to sing Light a Candle for Peace at 9:30 local time. Many of the Montessori schools across the world are participating in this. Kyer said International Peace Day fits into the Montessori viewpoint. Our education is based on a global perspective; we call it your cosmic role, Kyer said. We feel like if we ever want to have peace in this world it needs to begin with the children. We should all be educating our children on conflict resolution and peace. That was a part of what Dr. Montessori prescribed. As the students sang they held or waved flags representing countries around the world. We chose to use the flags because we wanted everyone to know that we are aware that it is a large world, Kyer said. We have a very diverse school population with many children with two languages. Parents were invited to attend and many did, taking photos and video as their students sang "Light a Candle for Peace" with several students holding electric candles. FLORENCE, S.C. The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program of Florence County (RSVP) delivered Krispy Kreme doughnuts to local first responders on Sept. 9 as part of the Sept. 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. This small gesture is to show appreciation for the sacrifices and hard work of our local law enforcement, fire fighters and EMS workers, said Pam Jacobs, Florence RSVP director. First responders put their lives on the line every day to secure our safety. In discussing what service project to focus on for the 2016 Sept. 11 National Day of Service, the RSVP Advisory Council determined honoring our first responders was a perfect thing to do. RSVP Advisory Council members participated in the Day of Service, delivering 24 dozen doughnuts to EMS, Florence Fire, Florence Police and the Florence County Sheriffs departments first responders and support staff. RSVP collected donations from Leatherman Senior Center members and guests to help fund the project, with the support of Krispy Kreme on Palmetto Street. Krispy Kremes partnership allowed RSVP to purchase enough boxes to reach all of the targeted stations. CHARLESTON, S.C. 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 today's preoccupations infrastructure and globalization are connected by a chain of events that began more than 60 years ago and today runs through Congress and to the wharves of Charleston's 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 nation's 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 McLean's 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, South Carolina. Approximately 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 canal's new lane has the ability to handle enormous ships that carry 14,000 TEUs (20-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 America's East Coast and take American goods abroad. More than 6 million square feet of warehouse space is being built to enlarge the Greenville-Spartanburg area's role as a distribution center for imports, and for exports from throughout America's Southeast. Upstate South Carolina suffered when, beginning in the 1970s, Asian imports devastated the textile industry. But in that decade, Charleston's 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 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 today's anti-trade politicians wish that South Carolina was 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 Carolina's Moore School of Business estimates that more than 187,000 jobs one of every 11 South Carolina jobs and $53 billion in economic output are directly or indirectly related to Charleston's 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 Carolina's 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 only enter and leave the port 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 president's 2018 budget and will be delayed for a year, 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. George Will's email address is georgewill@washpost.com. Due to the extreme use of illegal drugs in our area, especially heroin, a grass-roots organization, Choose Life, has been formed to try to combat this epidemic of dealers and users. We are told that a great amount of heroin is coming into our country from Mexico and China and that different additives are being found to make the heroin or other drugs more effective for the users. We are losing our young people (16-45) daily from overdose with these drugs. It is time people wake up and step up to join forces to conquer this epidemic. They need to let go of their embarrassment, their pride or whatever holds them back from this effort. We need all the help we can get from our local police department, our sheriff's department, the circuit judge right on up to the White House. You may say that this doesn't affect you, but if it affects our citizens as it does from our young children to parents, it affects each one of us in some way, physically, financially and socially. A report through the Post and Courier states that the Drug Enforcement Administration is launching an effort in the Lowcountry to combat painkiller and heroin abuse and deaths. If it is that bad in the Lowcountry, it stands to reason that we have a problem here. Remember, all you need for evil to prevail is for good people to sit back and do nothing. Won't you please stand up for this effort and'Choose Life? There will be a meeting of this group at 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Community Meeting House in Johnsonville at 304 S. Hampton St. There will be speakers and a time for questions and answers. Refreshments will be served prior to the meeting. EDIE CAIN Johnsonville The Wall Street Journal Intel Chief Executive Patrick Gelsinger is guiding the chip giant through a period of industry upheaval. On the one hand, U.S. semiconductor makers are grappling with softening demand for chips amid inflation and recession fears, and facing new government restrictions on certain exports to China. On the other hand, the industry is about to get more than $50 billion in subsidies to help it shift more production to the U.S. from Asia, thanks to the bipartisan Chips and Science Act that President Biden signed into law over the summer. WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - September 22, 2016) - Ambassador John Bolton announced his support of 19 candidates running for election to the United States Congress. Additionally, the John Bolton PAC has pledged a collective contribution of $100,000 to be distributed to the candidates' campaigns. Candidates receiving PAC contributions: Scott Tipton (CO-3) John Mica (FL-7) Brian Mast (FL-18) Rick Allen (GA-12) Mike Bost (IL-12) Darin LaHood (IL-16) Jack Bergman (MI-1) Tim Walberg (MI-7) Stewart Mills (MN-8) Don Bacon (NE-2) Tom MacArthur (NJ-3) Chris Smith (NJ-4) Scott Garrett (NJ-5) Danny Tarkanian (NV-3) Peter King (NY-2) Mike McCaul (TX-10) Mike Lee (UT) Mike Gallagher (WI-8) Liz Cheney (WY-At-Large) These endorsements come as a part of a larger effort by Ambassador Bolton to ensure America elects officials to Congress who will put the country's national security interests first, both at home and abroad. Ambassador Bolton has endorsed 80 candidates and contributed over $540,000 in the 2016 election cycle, and will continue to make endorsements in the lead-up to November 8th. The Bolton SuperPAC is spending $3M on independent expenditure campaigns for Senator Richard Burr (NC), Dr. Joe Heck (NV), and Senator Kelly Ayotte (NH). "Recent bombings in New Jersey and New York prove the threat of terrorism is as real at home as it is in other parts of the world," said Ambassador Bolton. "It is imperative that the 115th Congress is represented by Republican leaders who understand the dangerous times we live in and will vote for strong national defense policies that ensure America's safety. I am proud to endorse and contribute to the campaigns of these 19 candidates." Ambassador Bolton on Scott Tipton (CO-3) "In Congress, Scott has supported strengthening our military, protecting America from ISIS and other international threats," said Ambassador Bolton. "I believe Scott has the mindset and dedication that we need in Congress as these threats evolve and become more dangerous, which is why I endorse his candidacy for re-election to Congress." Story continues Ambassador Bolton on John Mica (FL-7) "During John's time in Congress, he has been a champion for America's strongest ally in the Middle East, Israel," said Ambassador Bolton. "John was a leader in the fight against Obama's misguided Iran Deal and sponsored numerous legislation in support of strengthening our nation's military and protecting our veterans, which is why I am supporting John's re-election to Congress." Ambassador Bolton on Brian Mast (FL-18) "As a combat veteran of the war in Afghanistan, I know national security will be Brian's top priority as a member of Congress," said Ambassador Bolton. "He understands the importance of protecting our citizens as well as America's leadership role in the world, which is why I am proud to endorse his candidacy for Congress." Ambassador Bolton on Rick Allen (GA-12) "Rick is a constitutional conservative, who has played an active role in Congress to ensure our national security is a top priority," said Ambassador Bolton. "I am endorsing Rick's candidacy for re-election to Congress because he will continue his great work to defend our borders and strengthen our military's defense against threats to our nation." Ambassador Bolton on Mike Bost (IL-12) "As a U.S Marine veteran, Mike will work to ensure the safety and security of our country, and the protection of our military veterans," said Ambassador Bolton. "I support his candidacy for Congress because I know he will take a strong stand against terrorism and will work to better secure our nation." Ambassador Bolton on Darin LaHood (IL-18) "As a former Chief Terrorism Prosecutor, Darin has devoted his time in office to reinforcing our country's defense system," said Ambassador Bolton. "I support his candidacy for re-election to Congress because I know he understands the grave national security threats that our country is facing and will actively work to stop them." Ambassador Bolton on Jack Bergman (MI-1) "As a retired United States Marine Corps general, Jack has first hand experience in what it means to defend our country from terrorism and other international threats," said Ambassador Bolton. "Jack understands the need for a strong military defense, and sending our troops into battle only when it is necessary for our country's security. This is why I endorse his candidacy for re-election to Congress." Ambassador Bolton on Tim Walberg (MI-7) "As a Congressman, Tim has worked to ensure the strong defense and security of our nation," said Ambassador Bolton. "Tim believes we need to face the fight against terrorism and pass legislation to better secure our homeland, which is why I am endorsing his re-election to Congress." Ambassador Bolton on Stewart Mills (MN-8) "As a supporter and defender of our nation's freedom, Stewart exemplifies what it means to be a leader," said Ambassador Bolton. "I am endorsing his candidacy to Congress because I believe he has the skills needed to defend our nation and strengthen our foreign policy strategy." Ambassador Bolton on Don Bacon (NE-2) "As a retired United States Air Force general, Don has personally devoted his time to defending our country and securing its borders," said Ambassador Bolton. "He believes, as I do, that America needs assertive leadership to defend its national security. I believe Don has the dedication and experience necessary to serve in Congress, which is why I support his candidacy for Congress." Ambassador Bolton on Tom MacArthur (NJ-3) "A former mayor and councilman, Tom has invaluable experience and leadership that he has applied in Washington," said Ambassador Bolton. "Since entering Congress, Tom has served on the House Armed Services Committee and has advocated for over 65,000 veterans. I support his candidacy for re-election because he will continue to put the nation's servicemen and women first." Ambassador Bolton on Chris Smith (NJ-4) "During his tenure in Congress, Chris has worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of our nation," said Ambassador Bolton. "Through the years, Chris passed numerous laws that benefitted veterans and strengthened our foreign policy. Today he is a much needed voice in Congress who will continue to lead the charge against ISIS, and I support his re-election to Congress." Ambassador Bolton on Scott Garrett (NJ-5) "In Congress, Scott has worked hard to enhance America's national security and strengthen our foreign policy," said Ambassador Bolton. "I support his re-election to Congress because I know he understands the urgency of the threats America faces, as well as the need for an increase in defense spending and strong national defense policies." Ambassador Bolton on Danny Tarkanian (NV-3) "Danny believes, as I do, that there is no greater responsibility of the federal government than keeping America safe, yet this is where the Obama Administration has failed us most," said Ambassador Bolton. "I endorse Danny for Congress because he supports securing our borders and taking decisive action against terrorism and threats abroad." Ambassador Bolton on Peter King (NY-2) "As Chairman of the Counterterrorism and Intelligence Committee, Peter has been a strong leader in the war against international terrorism," said Ambassador Bolton. "He understands the importance of proactively fighting ISIS and other terrorist cells across the globe. I support his candidacy for re-election to Congress as I know he will work tirelessly to strengthen America's national security." Ambassador Bolton on Mike McCaul (TX-10) "Mike is the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and in this leadership role he understands America's national security priorities," said Ambassador Bolton. "I support Mike's run for reelection to Congress as I know he will continue to prioritize the safety and security of our nation." Ambassador Bolton on Mike Lee (UT) "While serving in the Senate, Mike has applied thoughtful solutions to some of America's most pressing national security challenges," said Ambassador Bolton. "He understands that Obama's failed foreign policy has hurt America's standing in the world and he is working to ensure our military and policy is strong and effective. I fully support his candidacy for re-election to the Senate." Ambassador Bolton on Mike Gallagher (WI-8) "As a strong conservative leader and Marine Veteran, Mike understands the importance in securing our nation for present and future generations," said Ambassador Bolton. "He served admirably in our nation's military and believes that America needs leaders who know what it takes to protect our country, which is why I endorse his candidacy for Congress." Ambassador Bolton on Liz Cheney (WY At-Large) "Liz has excellent foreign policy expertise that will serve Wyoming and America well as Congress looks to rebuild from an administration that has weakened our national defense," said Ambassador Bolton. "We need leaders in Congress like Liz, who understand that the world is safer when America leads from strength, which is why I am proud to endorse her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives." About the John Bolton PAC (www.boltonpac.com): The John Bolton PAC was founded by former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John R. Bolton to raise the importance of American national security in federal elections. The PAC will support and contribute to candidates who are committed to restoring strong American economic and national security policies that secure America's interests in a challenging world. Mexican telecom behemoth America Movil SAB AMX seems to be focused on shifting its business centre from the Mexican telecommunication market to that in Brazil. According to a recent report, the Mexican telecom company is willing to purchase Oi S.A., the biggest telecommunications company in Brazil and South America, headquartered in Rio de Janeiro. The companys rationale behind this move is to shift from the region as regulatory measures and intensifying competition in Mexico are weakening its market position and resulting in low profits. Mexico: Stiff Competition, Strict Laws America Movil, which has been ruling the Mexican market for quite some time now, witnessed declining figures in its profit margin in Mexico, falling below 40% (to 33%) in the second quarter of 2016 for the third consecutive quarter. Stringent regulatory measures and intensifying competition in Mexico were the primary factors behind the dismal performance. Thus, if the regulatory concerns and competition continue to mount, it could hurt the companys top and bottom line further. Also, this trend might deal a major blow to America Movil and weaken its market position further. In the second quarter of 2016, EBITDA declined 10.7% year over year to $3,354.1 million. EBITDA margin was 26.1% compared with 31.1% in the year-ago quarter. The Mexican telecom regulator, the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), on identifying America Movil as the dominant player in the telecom sector, wanted to restrict the maximum hold of the company in the market to 50%. America Movils wireline division, Telmex, controled 70% and its wireless division, Telcel, owned 68% of the Mexican market share. As a result, stringent regulatory measures were imposed on the company by IFT. As an add-on, Telmex, the fixed-line telephone subsidiary of America Movil, has decided to gradually lower its rates by about half for calls from land lines to mobile phones by 2018. Ultimately, the pre-tax call rate from landline to mobile phones will come down to MXN 0.342 ($0.0185) per minute in 2018 from the current MXN 0.6763. The decision to reduce fixed-line-to-mobile call rates in a phased manner reflects the companys compliance with the regulations. Meanwhile, U.S. telecom behemoth AT&T Inc.s T entry into the Mexican telecom industry with the acquisition of Gurpo Iusacell and Nextel de Mexico was a major setback for America Movil. Further, in order to gain enhanced market traction, AT&Ts huge investments in Mexico over the next three years, plans to provide 4G LTE mobile Internet service to 100 million Mexican customers by the end of 2018 and purchase of satellite-TV operator DIRECTV posed serious competition to America Movil. America Movil also follows an aggressive promotional strategy to increase penetration in the smartphone market. The company is striving to boost smartphone sales through promotion discounts and subsidized offers. However, these efforts may dent margins and affect profitability in the near term. Brazilian Market Scenario Several analysts opined that Oi may be too large to be acquired by any of the companies. However, Ois data centers, fiber networks and mobile operations make lucrative buyouts. On the other hand, America Movils Brazilian operation, Claro is being challenged by Vivo, which is owned by Telefonica Brazil SA VIV. Telefonica Brasil operates as the leading telephone operator in Brazil following the establishment of Vivo as the commercial brand for all services. Strict switching policy has also led to massive customer churn in Peru and Ecuador and is a near-term concern for America Movil. AMER MOVIL-ADR Price AMER MOVIL-ADR Price | AMER MOVIL-ADR Quote Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider America Movil currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).A couple of better-ranked telecommunication stocks include NTT DOCOMO, Inc. DCM and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation NTT, both holding a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong 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 AT&T INC (T): Free Stock Analysis Report NIPPON TELE-ADR (NTT): Free Stock Analysis Report AMER MOVIL-ADR (AMX): Free Stock Analysis Report TELEF BRASIL SA (VIV): Free Stock Analysis Report NTT DOCOMO -ADR (DCM): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The Linchpin With Algeria on the brink of a civil war, Elizabeth delicately negotiates a regime change, but her plans go awry when Roy Curtis (Dakin Matthews), the trusted U.S. Ambassador to Algeria, dies unexpectedly. Also, Henry fights to save religious antiquities in Algeria when he discovers they are being destroyed by Hizb al-Shahid, and the McCord children get their own security detail after Jasons computer is hacked, on MADAM SECRETARY, Sunday, Oct. 16 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Michael Boatman guest stars as FBI Director Keith Doherty, who helps the McCords investigate the hacking of Jasons computer. MADAM SECRETARY Season 3 Episode 2 Photos The Linchpin MADAM SECRETARY Season 3 Episode 2 Photos The Linchpin Despite rains in Rio de Janeiro, the attendance remained high both for the conference and for the exibition. Maritime sector executives believe that Brazils maritime industry would be more competitive if the federal government and states revise some technical standards and reduce taxes, along with shipyard and port fees. The president of the Brazilian Association of Construction Engineering Onshore, Offshore and Naval (Abecoon), Mauricio Almeida, points out that the cost of Brazilian shipbuilding is still higher than other countries. "I think it is unfair for Brazilian professionals when we are compared to countries that do not have this amount of taxes and many NRs (regulatory standards). If we withdraw taxes and fees and reduce the number of NRs, our industry can return to being one of the best in the world" Almeida said. Many exibitors at the show believe that the crisis is temporary and that in the coming years, the shipping and shipbuilding industries will resume their growth cycle. The consensus among visitors is that Marintec South America 2016 is a strategic event where potential partners can be found, and where expanding business possibilities becomes reality. Training is also being offered during the event. Classification society RINA is offering free classification training during Marintec South America and the first two days saw lines formed by visitors anxious to participate. . "We are participating in the fair to plant a seed for the future. When the crisis is over, we will be even more firm and strong, "said Antonino Italian, ceo and president of the Marine Office, technology manufacturer for navigation. The second day of the show also offered insight on how to enter the Brazilian maritime market , an overview of the current state of the local shipbuilding industry and marine transport, an indepth look a financing possibilities, Brazilian Navy requirements from the industry, among a string of technical innovation presentations. Marintec South America runs until Wednesday, 21 September at the SulAmerica Convention Center in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together more than 380 brands, including shipowners, shipyards, manufacturers, and national and international suppliers. With the opening of the Shanghai office, BPA is looking forward to strengthening cooperation with its largest trade partner, China, and to improve services for Chinese clients. As part of the overall efforts to venture into the Chinese market, BPA officials also visited Nantong port in the Yangtze River region in order to enhance cargo collecting capacity for Busan port through establishing a new network. BPA also discussed the potential inauguration of the seaborne trade link with officials from Nantong and Haimen, and the parties agreed to exchange information and deepen relations. When Mary Liz Curtin and her husband Stephen opened retail mecca Leon and Lulu a decade ago, they felt a little lonely in downtown Clawson. There was Pizza Hut, a hairdresser, a used car lot, a Chinese restaurant, a Burger King and a porno shop, recalls Curtin with a chuckle. But things were about to change. That same year, Its no longer a sleepy little town, and the people who are opening businesses here are enthusiastic and energetic, Susie Stec, Clawsons Economic Development Coordinator, explains over lunch at Clawson Grill. Stec says there are maybe half a dozen properties available in the downtown area. She points out that the Grills facade was recently completely redone, and right next door is the brand new business, Clawson Jewelers. Clawsons downtown is comprised of just a few blocks, but its full of unique destinations including The oldest building in downtown Clawson dates to around 1915, and few were built in the 1920s, including those called home by Black Lotus Brewery and Da Nang Vietnamese Restaurant. Most others were constructed in the 1940s and 50s. Leon and Lulu was once a roller skating rink. A careful look around the building reveals remnants of the buildings past including the floor and concession stand help to give the space a unique ambiance. Curtin says she cant imagine being in another building. And Leon and Lulu is expanding into t he building next door, Rehabbing spaces in downtown Clawson has required ingenuity. Black Lotus Brewery, which celebrates its tenth birthday this year, is in a building that was originally a drug store and later became a carpet and plumbing fixtures store. The owners of Downtown Development Authority Director Joan Horton is a Clawson native and remembers visiting the citys downtown, including the drugstore and the A&W, when she was young. It was a place where you came to shop and see people, recalls Horton, but then like a lot of towns, the malls came and changed everything. Policies by the Michigan Department of Transportation in the 1970s aided in the decline of Clawson, as they did in so many other traditional downtowns across the state. Road projects cut through walkable towns, making them less pedestrian-friendly. They also made it easier for people to get to the malls and forget about businesses in their own neighborhoods. The decline and stagnation in downtown Clawson persisted through much of the 1980s and 1990s. However, in the last decade or so, the pendulum of consumer preference has swung back toward mom and pop-owned businesses, and many entrepreneurs are taking note. Six or seven years ago, we started seeing people," says Horton. "Before that, there was no one walking around. But now everyone is sitting on a patio. If youre walking the dog, pushing the kids, you go downtown, and thats how it used to be. Horton credits the nonprofit Plans for the future Last year, the Clawson Planning Commission adopted a new Downtown Master Plan, which takes into account the citys history and aims to add greenery pedestrian areas. The previous Master Plan required that new construction had to be built up to the sidewalk with no respect to what the rest of the block looked like, and allowed for homes around the citys downtown to be torn down to make room for new commercial development. Residents didn't want that and they made that very clear, so the new plan says those homes around downtown can be used as an office or a salon, but it still has to be a home, Horton explains. The city of Clawson adopted a Complete Streets resolution in 2010, embracing the idea that every road should respect all users and all abilities. "When you look at planning roads, you should consider the old, the young, pedestrians, drivers, the handicapped and cyclists, says Horton. Even though it isnt possible to do everything on every road, Horton says its very important that cities try to get as close to that ideal as possible. Since completing the installation of several pedestrian islands on 14 Mile in Clawsons downtown in last year, Horton says many drivers are slowing down and creating a safer environment for pedestrians. Fiscal recovery Implementing the city's plans will require healthy city finances, and that's an area Clawson is working on. In the tough years around the collapse of the housing market, Clawson's city manager and finance director Mark Pollock says that cities like Clawson and Berkley were hit especially hard because the majority of their tax base is residential. Cities with a significant commercial base, like Troy, were better able to weather the storm when residential markets tanked. Pollock says the city is in pretty good shape financially these days, and is working to address some lingering debt. Progress is due in large part to the reduction in pay agreed to by Clawson employees back in 2008. Pollock says the move was a way to avoid laying people off during the lean years when the housing bubble popped and the citys tax revenue wasnt meeting its annual expenditure. When Pollock, a Warren native who now calls Clawson home, started working for the city in 2000, there were 62 full-time employees. That number has shrunk down to 47 with some permanent part-timers filling in the gaps for previous full-time employees. For the last five years, Clawson City Hall and the Department of Public Works has closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in exchange for a ten percent reduction in employee pay. We are surviving, but we are all wearing a lot of hats, he says. Still, the citys commercial tax base has recovered at a rate better than expected, and the average home price is back up to somewhere between $110,000 and $120,000. Both Pollock and Clawson Mayor Penny Luebs say that as long as things continue as they are now, the future of Clawson looks bright. People who live in Clawson tend to stay in Clawson, says Luebs, they may move away, but often times they come back, or children move back to Clawson and purchase their parents home. Its a generational city. This piece is part of our City Dive series in which we go deep to find out what's next in the cities and towns in Metro Detroit. Read more in the series which used to be a theater. The space is becoming The Show at Leon and Lulu , complete with a historically accurate marquee. Curtin says the building will serve as additional retail space and a new bakery-cafe. Woodpile BBQ, which just opened in 2015, had to get imaginative when transforming their building on the site of a former A&W built in 1957. National Main Street Center and Main Street Oakland County for aiding in the turnaround of many once-struggling downtown areas, including Clawson. The programs focus on design, organization, economic vitality and promotion to breathe life into failing downtowns and spur entrepreneurship.Now the challenge is a parking shortage in the citys downtown. In the past when there werent as many restaurants and businesses, it wasnt a problem, but now thats changed. Parking in Clawson is freea major draw for those who are all too used to emptying their change purse for an afternoon in nearby Ferndale or Royal Oak. Metro Detroit is a patchwork of more than one hundred communities, including many small and shrinking places. This make-up gives us greater local control, but it also places costs on our older communities. These negative externalities are costs suffered by established cities and the region because of decisions made within one municipality. Its time to rethink local government in Metro Detroit to mitigate these costs and put us on a brighter path to future prosperity. Kate Cherry Take, for example, the costs of developing greenfields into subdivisions. This is a great policy if you are a township supervisor in an edge city seeking re-election, but it creates costs for the region. Those gleaming new subdivisions draw traffic and people away from already urbanized places, increasing a host of costs on existing places and the region. Redevelopment investments by existing cities follow, and they use money that could go to upgrade infrastructure, improve education, extend benefits, and even lower taxes. Think about how much local, state, and federal money has been sunk into demolishing buildings in Detroit, as one example. Some will argue that new developments are what people want and established places will just need to learn to compete. But lots of existing urban places do just fine all over the world. In fact, when you think of the best places to live in the world, surely you would name some big, established cities on your list New York, San Francisco, London, Paris, etc. The truth is probably that some people want to live in cities, others in suburbs, and others in rural places, so its best if a region has some of each, but not too much of any one certainly not in proportions that jeopardize the welfare of the other two excessively. This is not to suggest that the answer is to have only one big community in metro Detroit. The costs of consolidation and municipal mergers have not been demonstrated to materialize significantly in places where such mergers have occurred. Still, state law makes it easy for cities to set up joint authorities to manage things like police and fire with their neighbors, and more of these collaborations could be a good start in coordinating regional or at least semi-regional interests, without giving up local control. The greater our shared vision and brand as a region, the easier it is to reduce negative costs that, ultimately, we all share. While taking a fresh look at how some places grow at the expense of other places, state leaders would be wise to look at how places decline, too. Laws exist to allow cities to partner, consolidate, and merge, but what guidelines exist for cities that have shrunk or declined? For example, Ecorse Township became five cities as it grew Allen Park, Ecorse, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, and River Rouge; those cities have all declined and now have much smaller populations, but they persist as five distinct governments. Is that a good policy? When they were growing, they were looking to become their own places; now that they have shrunk, shouldnt they be looking to link up? Surely, the costs both financial and otherwise of managing these smaller places as though they were larger places creates an undue burden on these cities and our region, too. It might be politically unpopular to consolidate such cities, or to revert some of them to township status (thereby passing some costs onto the county). But since when has political unpopularity ever stopped the folks who control the process, our legislators in Lansing? At the end of the day, local government is a creature of state government, and it exists only at the discretion of state law. In light of the significant population declines faced by some Metro Detroit cities, and the continued subsidizing of negative externalities by townships and edge cities, Lansing lawmakers should take another look at Michigan law and create clear paths and guidelines for when cities should revert to past forms of government or outright cease to exist. Would Highland Parks 10,000 residents be better served as a township with services mostly from Wayne County? Its not certain they would; but, if I lived in Highland Park, I would certainly be interested in exploring the option and it would be great to know Lansing could help if the decision was made to give it a try. The Village of Highland Park even has a certain ring to it. Or maybe it could link up with the cities of the former Ecorse Township to create a newly branded metropolis of 100,000+ people t he City of Industry. At 100,000 people, The City of Industry, MI would be able to make a new pitch for its development, its interests, and the talent needed to operate and manage its place. We all know that Lansing lawmakers wont move on hard decisions unless they think its in their best interests, so if these ideas resonate with you, get on the phone, type out an email or even pick up a pen and paper and tell your legislator that you think they should give municipal growth and shrinkage a once-over. Virtual unwrapping software has revealed verses from the Book of Leviticus in a charred parchment scroll, making it the oldest biblical text after the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Monday. Found 45 years ago inside the Holy Ark of the synagogue at Ein Gedi, on the western shore of the Dead Sea, the 2.7-inch scroll was dated by C14 analysis to about 500 AD. "This is the first time in any archaeological excavation that a Torah scroll was found in a synagogue, particularly inside a Holy Ark," the IAA said in a statement. Nine Unopened Dead Sea Scrolls Found A Jewish village in the Byzantine period during the 4th-7th century AD, Ein Gedi boasted a synagogue with an exquisite mosaic floor and a Holy Ark. The settlement was completely burned in antiquity and none of its inhabitants ever returned to the site. "We have no information regarding the cause of the fire, but speculation about the destruction ranges from Bedouin raiders from the region east of the Dead Sea to conflicts with the Byzantine government," Sefi Porath, who headed the excavation with the late Dan Barag back in 1970, said. In the burned synagogue, Porath and Barag unearthed a bronze seven-branched candelabrum (called menorah), the community's money box containing some 3,500 coins, glass, ceramic oil lamps, vessels that contained perfume, and charred scroll fragments. "The scroll was a puzzle for us for 45 years," Porath said. Jewish Prayer Book Predates Oldest Torah Scroll To decipher the 1,500-year-old charred remains, the IAA, working with Merkel Technologies Company, Ltd. Israel, first scanned it with a micro-computed tomography machine. The results of the CT scans were sent to Brent Seales of the University of Kentucky, author of a digital-imaging software capable of virtually unrolling the scroll. Indeed, Seales's software produced a flattened readable text from the micro-computed tomography, discerning the first eight verses of the Book of Leviticus. Burned Vesuvius Scrolls Read for First Time "The page actually comes from a layer buried deep within the many wraps of the scroll body, and is possible to view it only through the remarkable results of our software," Seales said. Pnina Shor, curator and director of IAA's Dead Sea Scrolls Projects, admitted there was little hope to make the scroll readable. "We were certain it was just a shot in the dark but decided to try and scan the burnt scroll anyway," Shor said. "Now, not only can we bequeath the Dead Sea Scrolls to future generations, but also a part of the Bible from a Holy Ark of a 1,500-year old synagogue," she added. The En-Gedi scroll, a text that includes part of the Book of Leviticus in the Hebrew Bible that was ravaged by fire about 1,400 years ago, is now readable, thanks to a complex digital analysis called "virtual unwrapping." Rather than physically unfurl the scroll, which would have destroyed the crumbling artifact, experts digitally scanned the document, and then virtually flattened the scanned results, allowing scholars to read its ancient text. "We're reading a real scroll," lead study author Brent Seales, professor and chairman in the department of computer science at the University of Kentucky, said in a news conference yesterday (Sept. 20). "It hasn't been read for millennia. Many thought it was probably impossible to read." [Gallery of Dead Sea Scrolls: A Glimpse of the Past] RELATED: Dead Sea Scrolls Made Locally, Tests Show Archaeologists found the scroll in 1970 in En-Gedi, where an ancient Jewish community thrived from about the late 700s B.C. until about A.D. 600, when a fire destroyed the site, the researchers said. Excavations of the synagogue's Holy Ark, a chest or cupboard that holds the Torah scrolls, revealed charred scrolls of parchment, or animal skin. But each scroll was "completely burned and crushed, had turned into chunks of charcoal that continued to disintegrate every time they were touched," the researchers wrote in the study. The En-Gedi scroll is different than the original Dead Sea Scrolls, which a young shepherd discovered in caves near Qumran in the Judean Desert in 1947. However, Dead Sea Scroll has become an umbrella term for many ancient scrolls found in the area, and some researchers also call the En-Gedi artifact a Dead Sea Scroll. The scorched En-Gedi scroll fragments sat in storage for more than 40 years until experts decided to give them another look, and try the newly developed "virtual unwrapping" method for the first time on the scroll. The virtual journey began in Israel, where experts digitally scanned the rolled-up scroll with X-ray-based micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). At this point, they weren't sure whether the scroll had text within it, said study co-author Pnina Shor, curator and head of the Dead Sea Scrolls Projects at the Israel Antiquities Authority. So, they increased the spatial resolution of the scan, allowing them to capture whether or not each layer had detectable ink. RELATED: Nine Unopened Dead Sea Scrolls Found Their exhaustive attention to detail paid off: There was ink, and it likely contained metal, such as iron or lead, because it showed up on the micro-CT scan as a dense material, the researchers said. However, the text was illegible. So Shor and her colleagues in Israel sent the digital scans to Seales in Kentucky so he and his team could try the new "virtual unwrapping" technique. "It was certainly a shot in the dark," Shor said. This new method marks the first time that experts have virtually unrolled and noninvasively studied a severely damaged scroll with ink text, Seales said. The unwrapping took time and involved three steps: segmentation, texturing and flattening, he said. With segmentation, they identified each segment, or layer, within the digital scroll, which had five complete revolutions of parchment in the scroll. Then, they created a virtual geometric mesh for each layer made of tiny, digital triangles. They were able to manipulate this mesh, which helped them "texture" the document, or make the text more visible. RELATED: Burned Vesuvius Scrolls Read for First Time "This is where we see letters and words for the first time on the recreated page," the researchers wrote in the study. Finally, they digitally flattened the scroll, and merged the different layers together into one, flat 2D image that could easily be read. [In Photos: Amazing Ruins of the Ancient World] The scroll holds the beginning of the Book of Leviticus, the third of the five books of Moses (known as the Pentateuch) that make up the Hebrew Bible, biblical scholars said. In fact, the En-Gedi scroll contains the earliest copy of a Pentateuchal book ever found in a Holy Ark, the researchers said. The virtual unwrapping revealed two distinct columns of text that include, in total, 35 lines of Hebrew. Each line has 33 to 34 letters. However, there are only consonants, no vowels. This indicates that the text was written before the ninth century A.D., when Hebrew symbols for vowels were invented, said study co-author Emanuel Tov, a professor emeritus in the department of Bible at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Radiocarbon dating places the scroll in the third or fourth century A.D., but studies based on historical handwriting place it at either the first or second century A.D., the researchers said. Regardless, the data suggest that it was written within the first few centuries of the Common Era, they said. RELATED: Puzzling Sinkholes Are Opening Up Along the Dead Sea These dates make the En-Gedi scroll slightly younger than the original Dead Sea Scrolls, which were written between about 200 B.C. and A.D. 70. "Hence, the En-Gedi scroll provides an important extension to the evidence of the Dead Sea Scrolls and offers a glimpse into the earliest stages of almost 800 years of near silence in the history of the biblical text," the researchers wrote in the study. Moreover, the En-Gedi text is "completely identical" to the text and paragraph breaks found in medieval Hebrew Bibles, which are known as the Masoretic text, a text that is still used today. In antiquity until the first century B.C., there were an "endless number of textual forms" of the Masoretic text, earning them the name "proto-Masoretic," Tov said. But the En-Gedi finding suggests that the standard Masoretic text coalesced relatively early, he said. "This is quite amazing for us," Tov said. "That in 2,000 years, this text has not changed." The study was published online today (Sept. 21) in the journal Science Advances. 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. SEE PHOTOS: Peering Inside an Ancient Papyrus 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 thatmigrations 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] RELATED: Migration or Vacation? Humans Left Africa, Returned 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." Photos: Faces of Our Ancestors 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. WATCH VIDEO: How Living in Cities Is Evidence of Human Evolution Erin Brockovich was made famous for her fight against a power company in Hinkley, Calif., that polluted the local tap water with a carcinogenic chemical known as chromium-6. You might remember Julia Roberts playing Brockovich in the movie version of her fight for human justice. Now, 25 years later, a new report from the Environmental Working Group found that same chemical, chromium-6, present in the tap water of more than 200 million Americans across the country. EWG analyzed federal data from nationwide drinking water in all 50 states. They found that chromium-6, a chemical that can be cancerous at even very low levels, was present in the tap water of an estimated 218 million people. RELATED: The Flint Water Crisis: What You Need to Know Chromium-6 was first discovered to cause cancer in mice in a study conducted by the National Toxicology Program in 2008. Then in 2010, scientists from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that very small amounts of chromium-6 can cause cancer in people, a conclusion that New Jersey and North Carolina state scientists supported as well. At the time, California scientists recommended a public health goal of 0.02 parts per billion of chromium-6 present in drinking water as the lowest level that could be considered negligible if consumed over a lifetime. But after extensive lobbying from water utilities, a legal limit of 10 parts per billion was put in place by state legislators in 2014, 500 times the amount recommended by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. After EWG initially found chromium-6 present in the tap water of 31 U.S. cities, the EPA ordered local water utilities to conduct a nationwide test for the contaminant. 60,000 samples were gathered from 2013-2015 and chromium-6 was discovered in 75 percent of them. EWG estimates that the tap water of 218 million people in the U.S. has chromium-6 levels higher than the 0.02 parts per billion recommended by scientists in California. You can see what the chromium-6 level of your county's water supply is by looking at EWG's interactive map. WATCH: Why China Is Running Out Of Water After sweeping victories by United Russia to win three-quarters of the seats in the Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, a report from the Russian daily Kommersant suggests President Vladimir Putin is essentially attempting to resurrect the KGB. The new security agency, the MGB, would combine domestic and foreign intelligence services, including the Federal Security Service (FSB), the foreign intelligence service (SVR) and the state guard service (FSO). Critics of the Kremlin will no doubt be alarmed by the prospect of a KGB reincarnation, and it's not hard to figure out why. As Andrei Soldatov notes on ForeignPolicy.com, "The KGB, it should be remembered, was not a traditional security service in the Western sense -- that is, an agency charged with protecting the interests of a country and its citizens. Its primary task was protecting the regime." RELATED: Top 10 Spy Tactics The KGB's legacy is one of espionage, political repression and terror. Established in 1954, the agency oversaw the Soviet Union's police state. In fact, the proposed new agency, MGB, was is a bit of a callback to history. The MGB was one of the KGB's predecessors and served as Joseph Stalin's secret police agency after World War II. And as Mark Galeotti of the European Council on Foreign Relations explains, the new acronym is doubly ominous because it "is also used by both the Donetsk and Lugansk 'People's Republics' for their security agencies." Branded as "sword and shield of the Communist Party," the KGB's first assignment, ordered by Nikita Khrushchev, was a purge of the supporters of Lavrenty Beria, a disgraced and later executed security official who had served under Stalin. For decades, in addition to foreign intelligence operations, the KGB waged a domestic campaign of surveillance, harassment, arrest, assault, torture and even murder of anyone considered disloyal or out of favor with the regime. They included basically anyone promoting or even appearing sympathetic to dissident, anti-Communist, religious or other ideas deemed hostile to the ideological foundation of the state. RELATED: Russia Wants Out of Internet The KGB dissolved in 1991 with the breakup of the Soviet Union. The security ministry had been increasingly restricted by the reforms of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and following a failed coup attempt to return to the Soviet system after a wave of liberalization, the KGB was pared down and divided up. The move to bring back a modern KGB shouldn't be that surprising. Putin laid the foundations of his political career as an officer in the KGB serving in East Germany. According to a Washington Post profile of Putin's KGB days, even just a month after assuming the role of acting president following Boris Yetsin's resignation, Putin "expressed enthusiasm for reasserting the role of a strong state." The MGB could be up and running before the 2018 presidential election, in which Putin will run for what appears to be his inevitable reelection for a fourth term as president, keeping him in office until 2024. WATCH VIDEO: What If the Cold War Never Ended? Scientists have discovered a new strain of avian influenza virus (AIV) in Antarctic penguins, suggesting that the frozen continent may be more vulnerable to introduced pathogens than had been thought. The virus, which was discovered in a chinstrap penguin on the Antarctic Peninsula, was highly similar to a North American strain, meaning it was introduced recently. The discovery, by a team led by Aeron Hurt of the Melbourne-based Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, was published in the Journal of Virology. It's not the first time that bird flu has been found in Antarctic penguins. In 2013, after collecting swabs, blood and feces from several species, Hurt and colleagues found a different strain in Adelie penguins; they also found it the following year, which Hurt said might mean that the virus can survive an Antarctic winter and resurface the following summer as migrating penguins return. RELATED: 'Dead' Antarctic Penguins Are Probably Fine Genetic analysis of that virus suggested it diverged from other strains between 49 and 80 years ago, meaning it had likely been in the Antarctic for decades. Its discovery prompted Hurt and colleagues to hypothesize that Antarctica was the "ultimate 'AIV evolutionary sink', whereby new strains are introduced into the region only on rare occasions, but once introduced, can become endemic within the local bird population and over time become highly diverged from other AIVs on the planet." However, the latest discovery suggests that Antarctica may be more vulnerable to introductions of new strains than previously thought. The scientists also found bird flu virus in a snowy sheathbill, a scavenging bird that steals krill and fish from penguins and also preys on chicks. That species sometimes flies north to the Falkland Islands and the southern tip of South America, suggesting that it or other migratory species like Arctic terns or skuas are the most likely pathways of infection. RELATED: Penguin Population Could Plummet The authors emphasize that the percentage of samples in which viruses were found was very low -- and of three penguin species studied, no gentoo penguins have been found to be infected -- and the virus does not appear to have made any of the birds ill. But the fact that such viruses can apparently find their way to Antarctica is a cause for some concern. "The impact of a pathogenic influenza virus, one that causes death or severe illness in birds, would have a really devastating impact," Hurt said. SEE PHOTOS: Royal Society Selects Best Animal Pics style="text-align: left;">Photographer Imre Potyo captured this image of Danube mayflies engaged in a courtship dance. The photo is the overall winner of the Royal Society competition. "At the beginning, females and males fly above the water surface where they copulate," Potyo said. "After that the females begin their upstream-directed compensatory flight, which ends when they deposit their eggs onto the water surface. This shot captures the fantastic energy and chaos of the mayflies' dance and the mood of the night time too." style="text-align: left;">Credit: Imre Potyo, Royal Society style="text-align: left;">The winner of the Ecology and Environmental Science category is this photo of a solitary juvenile clown fish (Amphiprion bicinctus) seeking shelter in a bleached bubble-tip anemone in the Red Sea. The photo was snapped following a global bleaching event that has decimated coral reefs worldwide this year. "The lone fish seems like a timely analogy for a generation that may grow up in a bleak future," said photographer Tane Sinclair-Taylor, "without the colorful and diverse coral reefs that we have today." style="text-align: left;">Credit: Tane Sinclair-Taylor, Royal Society style="text-align: left;">The winner of the Micro-Imaging category is this photo of an activated carbon grain, which looks like an alien landscape. Photographer Maria Carbajo Sanchez magnified the grain 5,000 times with an electron microscope to obtain such a close-up view of the tiny object. The source of the carbon was a nutshell. style="text-align: left;">Credit: Maria Carbajo Sanchez, Royal Society style="text-align: left;">An eagle ray swimming over the reef with its prey was the subject of the Evolutionary Biology category winner. "Eagle rays have evolved very long tails, but this is the longest that I have ever seen," said photographer Nick Robertson-Brown. style="text-align: left;">Credit: Nick Robertson-Brown, Royal Society style="text-align: left;">Shooting from the inside of a large mammal carcass with the help of a long trigger wire, photographer Jonathan Diaz-Marba captured the moment when a griffon vulture searched inside the dead animal's ribcage. The photo is a runner up in the Behavior category. "My fear was that these huge birds could vandalize the expensive photographic equipment, but I had to take the risk," Diaz-Marba said. style="text-align: left;">The birds nest in colonies on cliffs undisturbed by humans, and they fly over huge open areas searching for food. "I chose an area with many magpies, whose presence gives the vultures a good cue of where to feed," he said. style="text-align: left;">Credit: Jonathan Diaz-Marba, Royal Society style="text-align: left;">This image of a trainworm (Myrianida pinnigera) took runner up in the Evolutionary Biology category. "Its front end, the trainworm's engine, is followed by a row of carriages called 'stolons' that increase in size towards the worm's tail end," said Frederik Pleijel, who took the photo. "The carriages are the worm's swimming sexual organs." style="text-align: left;">"When the trainworm is mature, the last carriage in the train lets go and detaches," he said. "It swims up the water column to reproduce." style="text-align: left;">Credit: Frederik Pleijel, Royal Society style="text-align: left;">Photographer Tegwen Gadais captured "Gentoo penguins seemingly 'decorating' their nest with guano" in this photo, taken on the island of South Georgia in the southern Pacific. style="text-align: left;">"Once the eggs have been laid, each parent will take turns incubating them, relieving themselves by lifting their tails away from the nest and creating the long streaks seen in the picture," Gadais said. style="text-align: left;">The photo was a runner up in the Ecology and Environmental Science category. rel="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">Credit: Tegwen Gadais style="text-align: left;">A runner up in the Micro-Imaging category, this photo shows an African house snake (Boaedon fuliginosus) one day after its mother laid her eggs. Photographer Tyler Square noticed that many of the features at this early developmental stage, such as muscle segments and a chambered heart, are shared with other animals. style="text-align: left;">Credit: Tyler Square, Royal Society style="text-align: left;">Looking more like jellyfish or subjects of an Andy Warhol painting, the objects in this special commendation photo are actually carbon nanotubes grown in a pillar formation. "The metal disks that make up the jellyfish bodies are made by 'sputtering' charged aluminum and iron ions onto a surface to deposit a thin film of the metals," said photographer Clare Collins. style="text-align: left;">Credit: Clare Collins, Royal Society style="text-align: left;">A special commendation went to this human-like photo of Japanese macaques huddling to stay warm during the winter. "When they huddle in these small groups it's called in Japanese saru-dango; saru means 'monkey' and dango is a skewer of Japanese sweet dumpling made from rice flour," photographer Alexandre Bonnefoy said. "These groups are composed only of members of the same family." style="text-align: left;">"This behavior is not observed everywhere in Japan, but only in (a) few groups," he said. "It's a cultural behavior peculiar to the monkeys in Shodoshima and in Nagano, where this photo was taken, where there is a hot spring which the monkeys bathe in." style="text-align: left;">Credit: Alexandre Bonnefoy style="text-align: left;">A special commendation also went to this photo of colorful butterflies gathering on the head of a caiman. "A number of minerals are a scarce resource throughout Amazonia," said Mark Cowan, who took the photo. The behavior allows insects like butterflies to have access to salt, even if it is on the head of a large predatory reptile. style="text-align: left;">"This particular phenomenon where butterflies and bees congregate on the heads and around the eyes of caimans and turtles has been documented before," he added, "but what is unique here is the simultaneous number of butterfly species and the way in which each species is associated with its own kind." style="text-align: left;">Credit: Mark Cowan, Royal Society The "best possible approximation" of Otzi the Iceman's voice has been reconstructed by scientists who aimed to discover the timbre and color of his Stone Age vowels. Otzi broke his silence with a deep male voice after 5,300 years at the EURAC Institute for Mummies and the Iceman in Bolzano. He spoke Italian -- but just vowels, as you can hear below. The experiment was presented on Wednesday morning during a major congress to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the mummy's discovery in the Otztal Alps in South Tyrol. RELATED: Iceman Died After Sneak Attack From Behind "We can't say we have reconstructed Otzi's original voice because we miss some crucial information from the mummy," Rolando Fustos, chief of the ENT department at Bolzano's General Hospital, told Discovery News. "But with two measurements, the length of both the vocal tract and the vocal cords, we have been able to recreate a fairly reliable approximation of the mummy's voice. This is a starting point for further research," he added. Fustos and colleagues Francesco Avanzini, ENT specialist and phoniatrician at the city's General Hospital, Piero Cosi, at the Institute of Cognitive Sciences e Technology, National Research Council in Padova, Andrea Sandi, at SINTAC Biomedical Engineering in Padova,and others based their research on the CT scans of the mummy to create a model of his vocal tract. "The vocal chords are the source of the vocal sound, but the main contribution to it is given by the selective filtering accomplished by the vocal tract configuration," Fustos said. The researchers had to face several challenges as they worked to reconstruct the structure of the 5,300-year-old mummy's vocal tract. RELATED: The Ice Mummy: Little-Known Facts "We had to deal with Otzi's position, whose arm is covering his throat," Avanzini told Discovery News. "For our project this is the worst position you can imagine. Moreover, the hyoid bone, or tongue-bone, was party absorbed and dislocated." With special software, the researchers moved Otzi's arm, repositioned his skull in the erect position, reconstructed his vertebrae, from the first one (C1) closest to the skull, to the first thoracic vertebra (T1), and reconstructed and repositioned the hyoid bone, which supports the tongue. They ended up with a complete model of the vocal tract, including the vocal cords and mouth, though they missed important data such as the tension and density of the vocal cords or the thickness and composition of the soft tissues that affect the human voice. MRI scans would have helped the researchers getting more insights, but the technology could not be used because of the condition of Otzi's mummified body. "We had to rely on mathematical models and a software that simulates the way the vocal tract works," Cosi said. RELATED: Oetzi the Iceman Suffered From Stomach Bug He explained that calculations of vocal area functions applied on the structure of the vocal tract produce a certain vocal sound. "We ... tried to extract the formants of a synthesized sound 'injected' in the reconstructed vocal tract," Cosi said. Taking into consideration that Otzi had a rather large head and slender body, the researchers concluded that his voice likely had a fundamental frequency between 100 Hz and 150 Hz, in line with today's average male. "This is a new, interesting aspect on Otzi's research that deserves to be taken into consideration for further research," Albert Zink, director at the EURAC Institute for Mummies and the Iceman in Bolzano, told Discovery News. Frank Ruhli, director of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Zurich and president of the scientific advisory board of the Iceman, agreed. "It is a novel high-tech approach to bring 'life' to ancient mummies. It helps to understand the impact of post-mortem processes on the preservation of anatomical sturcture," he told Discovery News. SEE PHOTOS: Iceman Mummy 20 Yrs On: Mysteries Remain style="text-align: left;">On Sept. 19, 1991, German hikers Erika and Helmut Simon spotted something brown while walking near a melting glacier in the Oetztal Alps in South Tyrol. As they got closer, they realized with horror it wasn't a piece of rubbish, but a human corpse lying on its chest against a flat rock. style="text-align: left;">Only the back of the head, the bare shoulders and part of the back emerged from the ice and meltwater. style="text-align: left;">In the following days, various attempts at recovering the corpse were made. Finally, on Sept. 23, the body was extracted from the ice along with numerous pieces of leather and hide, string, straps and clumps of hay. The mummified body was taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Innsbruck. style="text-align: left;">The mummy lay in a 131-foot-long, 9-foot -deep and 22- foot -wide rocky gully surrounded by steep stone walls at an altitude of 10.531 feet. Since the glacier made it difficult to establish the exact location of the watershed, a controversy arose on which soil -- Italian or Austrian -- it was found. A survey of the border carried out on Oct. 2, 1991 established that the mummy lay 303.67 feet from the border in South Tyrol, in Italy. style="text-align: left;">The discovery caused a global media sensation. Initially, the mummy was dated to be at least 4,000 years old (later, radio carbon dating established that the man lived around 5,000 years ago, between 3350 and 3100 B.C.). Such an old, well preserved, fully clothed, mummified body had never before been seen. style="text-align: left;">Between July 20 and Aug. 25, 1992, a second archaeological survey was carried out at the glacier. Numerous pieces of the Iceman's equipment emerged, such as a bearskin cap, leather and hide remnants, grasses, string, pieces of skin, muscle fibers, hair and a fingernail. style="text-align: left;">Although the most important piece in the Iceman's equipment is a copper-bladed axe (tests have shown it could have chopped down a yew tree in 35 minutes) this stone disc is the most mysterious. Made of white Dolomite marble, it has a hole in the middle through which a hide strip was threaded. Nine twisted hide thongs were tied on to a loop in this strip. After 20 years, the disc's function remains unclear. style="text-align: left;">Oetzi is the world's most studied mummy. The Neolithic man is a so-called "wet mummy." As humidity is retained in individual cells, the body tissue is elastic and allows in-depth scientific investigations. With all his recovered clothing and equipment, this natural mummy, unaltered by burial rites, provides a unique view into Stone Age life in Europe. style="text-align: left;">Researchers were able to diagnose several anatomic anomalies and pathologies in the mummy: Oetzi lacked a 12th pair of ribs, had bad teeth, worn joints and hardened arteries, and suffered from whipworm infestation. He also had a remarkable diastema -- a natural gap between his two upper incisors. style="text-align: left;">Oetzi's body is covered with over 50 tattoos produced by fine incisions into which charcoal was rubbed. The cuts were probably part of a pain-relieving treatment. Indeed, the tattooed areas correspond to skin acupuncture lines. Before Oetzi, it was believed that acupuncture originated 2,000 years later in Asia. style="text-align: left;">In 2001 new X-ray analysis revealed the presence of a flint arrowhead in the left shoulder. The arrowhead ended up just a few inches from the lung. Although vital organs were not hit, the arrow severed a major blood vessel and damaged the neurovascular fascicles of the left arm. This caused heavy bleeding and possibly paralysis of the arm. The Iceman probably bled to death within a matter of minutes. A deep wound to the hand and numerous bruises confirm that the Iceman engaged in hand-to-hand combat shortly before his death. Recently, researchers also discovered a skull fracture and major bleeding in the back, suggesting that the mummy also suffered a blow to the head. He died in the spring or early summer at about age 45. style="text-align: left;">This reconstruction by two Dutch experts, Alfons and Adrie Kennis, was produced with the latest in forensic mapping technology. It used three-dimensional images of the mummy's skull as well as infrared and tomographic images. It shows Oetzi as a brown-eyed, bearded, furrow faced man who spent many hours walking in the mountains. He was about 5 foot, 3 inches tall and weighed 110 pounds. The Iceman belonged to a European genetic group and was probably infertile. style="text-align: left;">On Jan. 16, 1998, the Iceman and his belongings were moved from the Institute for Anatomy of Innsbruck University to a newly-built South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano. The mummy now lies in a darkened room and can be viewed through a small window. At a temperature of -42F and a relative humidity of 98 percent, Oetzi's house simulates the conditions of the glacier ice. To stop the mummy from gradually drying out, the cell walls are lined with tiles of ice. Out of an unsuccessful experiment comes a remarkable discovery: a mixture of water and special particles called colloids reflect a rainbow of color. The unusual mixture could be used in optical sensors and displays, filters for telecommunications, photonic lasers and futuristic technology that has not been invented yet. RELATED: Rainbow Poo Coming to a Toilet Near You The color-changing water comes from a team of researchers at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science in Saitama, Japan, who were trying to separate certain microscopic particles called colloids based on size. Although their attempts failed, they noticed something strange along the way. When they placed some of the colloids in water, the water turned purple. The color change didn't happen because the colloids dissolved. In fact, colloids don't dissolve in water, but stay suspended like tiny grains. There must have been some other reason. When the scientists looked more closely, they found that the colloids -- these ones in particular made from titanate nanosheets and quaternary ammonium (Q+ ions) -- were arranged neatly in the water. Not only that, they were all separated from each other by a specific distance. The tidiness was also odd because water mixtures are generally not described as have both fluidity and order. Yasuhiro Ishida, a coauthor on the paper published in Nature Communications, told Phys.Org that the mixture's features were contradictory. Ishida and his colleagues found that the separation between the colloids corresponded with a wavelength of light, in other words a color, which is why the water turned purple. RELATED: Top 10 Uses for Invisibility Tech The color changes when the distance between the colloids changes. To get it to change, the scientist expose it to different stimuli, such as a magnetic field, different temperatures, or different pH levels. The scientists called their mixture "photonic water," and found that it could be tuned with the various stimuli to reflect all colors of the rainbow including some parts of the infrared spectrum. "Considering the stimuli responsiveness and the wide-range color modulability, our photonic water may find various applications as smart optical devices, including optical sensors and displays, near-infrared band filters for telecommunications, variable photonic lasers, etc.," Ishida told Phys.Org. SEE PHOTOS: Sudsy Tech Sexier than You Know Oct. 25, 2012 -- Asking a chemistry professor about soap can lead down a slippery slope. When W. Stephen McNeil's daughter was three years old, her repetitive "why?" led to an exposition involving molecular bonds and the origins of the word hydrophobic. McNeil, an associate chemistry professor at the University of British Columbia, published the exchange with his daughter for the Science Creative Quarterly several years ago, but still finds himself explaining soap to non-experts. "Most soaps are essentially surfactants," he said, "long molecules that have one end which interacts strongly with water -- hydrophilic -- and a chain that wont interact with water -- hydrophobic." These basic properties have given modern society everything from detergents to backyard bubble machines -- the work of proprietary research done in large corporate labs. But some academic researchers have used these molecules for a range of other cool sudsy tech, says McNeil, that you may never have heard about. BIG PIC: Soapman, the Mummy Made of Soap Soap Film Not long after McNeil's fruitful discussion with his daughter, a group of chemists and physicists at Texas Tech University found a new use for soap bubbles. Led by professors Sandy Dasgupta and Walter Borst, the scientists essentially created molecule-sniffing soap. A soap film is a thin layer of water caught between two layers of surfactant molecules, hydrophilic end pointing in and hydrophobic pointing out, McNeil explained. The group at Texas Tech explored ways to use soap bubbles to separate, detect and analyze other molecules. In one experiment (abstract) they took a bubble with a water layer that contained hydrogen peroxide and measured its ability to conduct electricity. They exposed the bubble to sulfur dioxide, a gas that can be toxic at high concentrations and generate acid rain if it gets into the atmosphere. There was a detectable change in the conductivity. McNeil marveled at the results. "You can detect less than one part per million of sulfur dioxide with a bubble!" Magnetic Soap The New Year brought the news that British chemists had successfully created the world's first magnetic soap. "The chemistry behind this one is very clever," McNeil said. In regular soap molecules, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts are what enable microscopic bubbles called "micelles" to form. These bubbles trap dirt and oil inside but stay soluble in water so the grime can be washed away, McNeil explained. University of Bristol professor Julian Eastoe and his colleagues developed a special compound that formed micelles just like regular soap, except they contained iron that could be manipulated by a magnetic field. When a magnet was placed inside a beaker of this soap solution, the liquid clung to it. That discovery sparked new hope among environmentalists that the soap could be used to truly clean up intensely polluted areas. Black Light Bubbles Ravers got a trippy treat when Tekno Black Light Bubbles began floating around. These fluorescent bubbles come in blue and gold colors, cost about $4 per bottle and glow under a black light. Certain molecules absorb ultraviolet light energy and re-emit lower-energy light in a visible range, McNeil explained. We cant see the light being shone on the substance, but we can see light being emitted back so it appears to glow in the dark. The blue and gold colors come from compounds that re-emit UV light energy at different wavelengths. All the bubble-makers had to do was dissolve a fluorescent compound into the soap solution. "[It's] straight-forward from a chemical standpoint," McNeil said. "But it's pretty cool looking." Unfortunately, as Nic Halverson pointed out on Discovery News, these black light bubbles will leave glowing stains wherever they burst under the black light. To be fair, so do a bunch of other things at a show. Soap Film 'Lens' Soap film can be an unlikely tool, especially when soapy water is being shot at it. Physicists from the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis and the French National Center for Scientific Research found that out earlier this year when they shot an extremely narrow soap-water jet at a large soap film surface. What happened gets into some very complex fluid dynamics (abstract). The microjet and soap film interacted in different ways depending on the jet's angle. A narrow angle caused the jet to get absorbed into the soap film. However, past a certain wide angle, the jet could pass through the film without breaking it. McNeil compared the microjet's behavior with the soap film to light passing through the surface of a lens. "The analogy is that you can use a soap film 'lens' to direct and focus a fluid spray," he said. This slick finding could have implications for more effective printing including 3-D printing and plastics manufacturing. As United Nations diplomats gather in New York this week, climate wonks may be feeling like anxious children on a long drive to a beach. "Are we there yet?" A slew of documents filed by national representatives on Wednesday thrust the new UN climate treaty closer to taking effect - a "hairbreadth" away, as Maldives foreign minister Mohamed Asim put it in a statement. But it's not quite there yet. RELATED: Will Climate Change Affect Fall Colors? During meetings in France in December, nearly 200 countries agreed to take steps to fight global warming under a new pact, such as by protecting forests and replacing coal power generation with cleaner alternatives. But the agreement hasn't actually taken effect yet, because that requires an extra bureaucratic step - one that sometimes takes years to complete. For the treaty to become law, or "take legal force," at least 55 countries responsible for at least 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions need to have filed documents known as "instruments of ratification," indicating they're ready to join the pact. Under pressure from UN chief Ban Ki-moon, Asim and representatives of other nations, 31 countries filed their ratification documents during a ceremony on Wednesday morning. That ceremony coincided with annual UN meetings. "The remarkable support for this agreement reflects the urgency and magnitude of the challenge," Ki-moon said at the beginning of the proceedings. "Today will take us one step closer to bringing the Paris agreement into force this year." With the U.S., Brazil and China among the countries that have already submitted their paperwork, Wednesday's ceremony pushed the number that are formally poised to join the agreement over the threshold of 55 - but they collectively release 48 percent of yearly global climate pollution. That means more countries must sign on before the agreement can take force. RELATED: How Trees Try to Cope With Climate Change "This is much faster than most people had anticipated," said Michael Gerrard, a professor at Columbia Law School who focuses on environmental law. "It's a sign of the strong international consensus behind the Paris Agreement." Russia, India and Japan have agreed to join the pact, but they haven't submitted their instruments of ratification. Climate experts this week are watching closely for any Paris pact filings from those countries, "some combination" of which would help get the agreement "over the limit," said Alex Hanafi, an official with the Environmental Defense Fund. Meanwhile, EU environment ministers will meet Sept. 30 to discuss options for fast-tracking the bloc's entry into the agreement. "There's a push within the EU to get them to be the ones that help bring this thing into force," Hanafi said. "They don't want to be seen as behind the times." The Paris agreement formally covers pollution released after 2020. If it takes effect by early October, countries that have formally joined the pact may have more influence than others during meetings in November in crafting rules for how it will be implemented. RELATED: Antarctic Fossil Mystery Points to Warming Future And if Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump wins the November election, taking the agreement into legal force before his January inauguration would make it more difficult for him to follow through with his pledge of dumping the agreement - though he would still have options for doing so. The possibility that a Trump presidency could trounce emerging global cooperation on climate change is worrying leaders, whose nations are being forced to confront the realities of a warming world. Nearly 2F of warming since the 1800s is worsening the deadly impacts of heat waves, storms and floods. It's also rattling scientists. Prominent researchers published an open letter on Tuesday, stating they "are certain beyond a reasonable doubt," that "the problem of human-caused climate change is real, serious, and immediate, and that this problem poses significant risks." In the letter, hundreds of scientists, including Cambridge University professor Stephen Hawking, University of Maryland professor Rita Colwell and Harvard professor emeritus E.O. Wilson denounced Trump and other Republicans who deny the science of climate change. RELATED: Polar Bears Won't Survive on Birds and Berries "From studies of changes in temperature and sea level over the last million years, we know that the climate system has tipping points," the scientists wrote. "The political system also has tipping points. Thus it is of great concern that the Republican nominee for President has advocated U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Accord." Paul Ehrlich, a conservation biology professor at Stanford who signed the letter, said he doubted it would have an impact, given the well-funded efforts underway to "denigrate the people's opinions of science." But he said scientists "must make every single effort" they can to protect human civilization from an "existential risk." "I've spent almost 60 years studying these issues - that tells me that society ought to at least listen to my opinions as much as Donald Trump's," Ehrlich said. "It's idiotic to focus on the opinions of people who have never so much as looked at any of these problems." More From Climate Central: This article originally appeared on Climate Central, all rights reserved. Rhino populations have been threatened in many parts of Asia and Africa for years. Because they're often poached for their horns, some rhino species have even become critically endangered. Luckily, there are several conservation efforts taking place to help restore rhino populations where it's needed most. World Wildlife Fund has set-up a translocation program in Nepal to help restore greater one-horned rhino populations. RELATED: Should We Bring Extinct Animals Back To Life? Due to their rapid decline in population, rhinos often live in very isolated areas. Translocation helps them move between different areas in order to find new mates to breed with, as well as access to more food and water if their current location has scarce resources. The process of translocating an animal as large as a rhino is a bit challenging to say the least. Nilanga Jayasinghe is a program officer for World Wildlife Fund, U.S. She explained to Seeker the resources required to move a 3 ton rhinoceros. "Translocation at this magnitude is a tremendous effort. We have a total of about 35 elephants here and about 250 people," she said. RELATED: Largest Gorilla Species at Risk of Extinction This process wouldn't be possible without these elephants. They help get the rhino to a secluded area where it can be hit with a dart to sedate it. "When a rhino is discovered, they will communicate," Jayasinghe said. "The elephants will move in a circular formation around the rhino to keep it from running way." "Once it's darted, everything moves very quickly," she added. "It's so rapid because you want to make sure there's minimal impact to the rhino. Ideally it should be done within half an hour. From the time the rhino is darted and it's taken to the truck and woken back up with the antidote." Just over ten years ago, Nepal's greater one-horned rhino population was in serious trouble at only 375 total in the country. Today, conservation efforts like the translocation through WWF have increased that population to 645. RELATED: 500-Pound Bird Was Eaten to Extinction by Humans In order to prevent illegal activity involving animals, like poaching, several years ago the Nepal government created the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. However, Nepal's rhino population has been largely saved by local communities as well. In 2008, the government began encouraging citizens to set-up their own anti-poaching units and even handed over control of one third of the country's forest to them. Today, there are over 400 of these anti-poaching units around the country. Anil Manandhar, the Country Representative of WWF Nepal says their conservation success is largely due to community efforts, and in turn the quality of their life is improved. "In Nepal, you know, conservation is paying back to the people. Improving the quality of life of the people through ecotourism, wildlife tourism," he told Seeker. Since 2011, Nepal has had four straight years without a single instance of poaching and the translocation process has helped significantly replenish rhino populations in a fairly short time. Manandhar added, "Nepal has become an example where you can prove that conservation can be done." -- Molly Fosco A reptile that lived before the Dinosaur Age resembled a dino, suggesting that iconic dinosaur body shapes were present long before the dinosaurs themselves actually emerged. The newly identified reptile, described in the journal Current Biology, resembled pachycephalosaur dinosaurs that lived more than 100 million years later. Other extinct animals found with the reptile looked like later dinos too. The reptile has been named Triopticus primus, meaning the "First of Three Eyes" because the natural pit at the top of its skull lends the appearance of an extra eye. RELATED: Beachgoer Stumbles Across Dinosaur Footprints "Triopticus is an extraordinary example of evolutionary convergence between the relatives of dinosaurs and crocodylians and later dinosaurs that is much more common than anyone ever expected," co-author and project leader Michelle Stocker, a Virgnia Tech College of Science researcher, said in a press release. "What we thought were unique body shapes in many dinosaurs actually evolved millions of years before in the Triassic Period, about 225 million years ago." Convergence refers to when distantly related animals evolve to look very similar to each other. A classic example of this is a bird wing and a bat wing. Both animals use their wings for flight, yet the inner details of their wings are different and evolved independently. Three Eyes dates to about 230 million years ago, according to the researchers. The reptile's partial skull was originally collected at a site called Otis Chalk near Big Spring, Texas, by the Works Progress Administration in 1940. President Franklin Roosevelt had initiated a monumental effort to put Americans back to work at end the Great Depression. With so much digging going on, numerous fossils were unearthed. In fact, so many fossils were found during such a short time span that several of them were just put into storage uncleaned. Such was the case for Three Eyes, whose skull was eventually sent to the Texas Vertebrate Paleontology Collections in 2010. It is there that Stocker and her team rediscovered and analyzed the specimen. They determined that the reptile had an extremely thickened skull roof, just like the very distantly related pachycephalosaur dinosaurs that lived more than 100 million years after the lifetime of Three Eyes. WATCH VIDEO: What Color Were the Dinosaurs? "CT scanning showed us that the similarity of Triopticus with the much later dome-headed pachycephalosaur dinosaurs was more than skin deep, extending to the structure of the bone and even the brain." co-author Lawrence Witmer of Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine said. It was not a coincidence that the reptile and dinosaurs resembled each other. "After the enormous mass extinction 250 million years ago, reptiles exploded onto the scene and almost immediately diversified into many different sizes and shapes," co-author Sterling Nesbitt of Virginia Tech said. "These early body shapes were later mimicked by dinosaurs." RELATED: Cave Art Hands Made by Reptile, Not Human Dinosaurs did not consciously do this, of course, but their ancestors and environment must have prompted the evolved similarities. Many of the other Triassic reptiles originally buried with Triopticus at Otis Chalk display features that are easily recognized in later dinosaurs as well. These include the long snouts of Spinosaurus, the toothless beaks of ornithomimids (aka ostrich dinosaurs), and the armor plates of ankylosaurs. "The Otis Chalk fauna is an amazing single snapshot of geologic time where you have this extraordinary range of animal body plans all present at the same time living together," Stocker said. "Among the animals preserved in the Otis Chalk fauna, Triopticus exemplifies this phenomenon of body-shape convergence because its skull shape was repeated by very distantly-related dome-headed dinosaurs more than 100 million years later." Other studies over the past several years indicate that dinosaurs, like these distant cousins from the Triassic Period, were all reptiles. Reptiles rapidly evolved in terms of numbers of species soon after the greatest mass extinction of all time on Earth, at the end of the Permian Period. You can manipulate 3D models of Three Eyes' skull at two different sites: one showing the partial skull alone and another showing the likely size and shape of the reptile's brain. SEE PHOTOS: Top 10 Meat-Eating Dinosaurs style="text-align: left;"> Paleontologists have just assembled the most comprehensive family tree of meat-eating dinosaurs. Published in the journal Current Biology, the family tree reveals how diverse carnivorous dinosaurs were and how birds eventually evolved from them. Tyrannosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus rex, are one key group on the meat-loving dino family tree. style="text-align: left;"> Lead author Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences told Discovery News, "The most iconic dinosaurs of all, tyrannosaurs were more than just the 13-meter-long (nearly 43 feet long), 5-ton monster predator T. rex. Tyrannosaurs were an ancient group that originated more than 100 million years before T. rex, and for almost all of their evolutionary history they were small carnivores not much bigger than a human in size." New T-Rex Tracks Add to Pack-Hunting Theory style="text-align: left;"> "Some of the rarest theropods (two-legged carnivorous dinos) of all, compsognathids are represented by about half a dozen species," Brusatte said. "They were small, sleek meat-eaters which ate small prey like lizards." One of the more recent finds, Juravenator from Germany, is known from a nearly complete fossil. style="text-align: left;"> Dinosaurs That Loved the Nightlife style="text-align: left;"> Ornithomimosaurs were theropods called "ostrich mimic" dinosaurs -- for a reason. "Like living ostriches, they could run fast on their long legs and used their sharp, toothless beaks to eat a varied diet of small prey, plants, and perhaps even small shrimps in the water just like living flamingos," Brusatte explained. "A recent find in Canada showed that not only were ornithomimosaurs feathered, but they also had complex feathers on their arms that would have formed something of a wing, although they couldn't fly." style="text-align: left;"> Brusatte describes therizinosaurs as "perhaps the weirdest theropods of all." "These were big, bulky, cumbersome dinosaurs that ate plants. They had fat barrel-shaped chests, stocky legs, and big claws on their arms," Brusatte said. For many years paleontologists argued about which group this dinosaur belonged to, only recently settling on theropods. This means they were fairly closely related to birds, despite their weird anatomy. style="text-align: left;"> Nests of Big-Clawed Dinosaurs Found in Mongolia style="text-align: left;"> Alvarezsaurs were among the smallest dinosaurs of all, measuring just a few feet long and weighing less than 5 kilograms (10 pounds). "Some of them had only a single functional finger on their hand, which they probably used to prod deep into the nests of bugs, which were one of their main food sources," Brusatte said. style="text-align: left;"> New Dinosaur Bolsters Bird-Dino Connection style="text-align: left;"> Oviraptorosaurs, were a group of small omnivores that were lightweight, lacked teeth and had tall, hollow crests on their skulls. The recently discovered Anzu -- the so-called " chicken from hell" -- came by its nickname honestly. It towered more than five feet tall, weighed more than 400 pounds, and was covered in a coat of feathers. style="text-align: left;"> "Troodontids were probably the smartest dinosaurs of all, as they had the largest brains relative to their body size of any dinosaur group," Brusatte said. "Most troodontids were small, fast-running dinosaurs that probably ate both meat and plants." Among the most recently discovered of this group are the small, feathered Anchiornis and Xiaotingia, which lived in China about 160 million years ago. "They look eerily similar to birds, so much so that some researchers think they could be primitive birds rather than troodontids with wings and feathers," Brusatte said. style="text-align: left;"> World's Earliest Bird Discovered style="text-align: left;"> Dromaeosaurids were "raptor dinosaurs" that include Velociraptor from "Jurassic Park" fame. These dinosaurs were pack hunters who wielded a sharp, hyper-extendable "killer claw" on their second toe. "One of the most recently discovered dromaeosaurids is Balaur, a poodle-sized terror from Romania which had not one, but two 'killer claws' on each foot." style="text-align: left;"> Velociraptor Inspires Fast Running Robot style="text-align: left;"> "The oldest birds, like Archaeopteryx that lived 150 million years ago in Germany, are very hard to distinguish from their closest dinosaurian relatives," Brusatte said. "Unlike living birds, they had teeth, sharp claws on their wings, and long tails." "Over the past two decades," he continued, "over 50 new species of Mesozoic birds have been discovered in northeastern China, in the same rock units as the famous 'feathered dinosaurs.' So many birds are preserved here because entire ecosystems were buried by volcanic eruptions, turning animals to stone like a dinosaur version of Pompeii." style="text-align: left;"> Tiny Feathered Dinosaur Found Though spring, summer, and winter have standardized labels, British and American linguists disagree as to the proper name of fall/autumn. Ambivalence over the name of the third season of the year reflects its status as a relatively new concept. As natural as it seems today, people haven't always thought of the year in terms of four seasons. Fifteen hundred years ago, the Anglo-Saxons marked the passage of time with just one season: winter, a concept considered equivalent to hardship or adversity that metaphorically represented the year in its entirety. For example, in the Old English epic poem "Beowulf," the title character rescues a kingdom that had been terrorized by a monster for "12 winters." According to "Folk Taxonomies in Early English" (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2003) by Earl R. Anderson, the importance of winter in marking the passage of time is evidenced by the constancy of its name over time and across many languages. "Winter" probably derives from a root word meaning "wet" that traces back more than 5,000 years. RELATED: Science of Fall Leaves: Better to Rake or Leave? Summer is also a time-honored concept, though perhaps never quite as weighty a one as winter, and this is evidenced by greater ambivalence over its name. In Old English, the word "gear" connoted the warmer part of the year. This word gave way to the Germanic "sumer," which is related to the word for "half." Eventually, speakers of Middle English (the language used from the 11th to 15th centuries) conceived of the year in terms of halves: "sumer," the warm half, and "winter," the cold half. This two-season frame of reference dominated Western thinking as late as the 18th century. (What Causes Earth's Seasons?) Incidentally, Chinese culture also had a two-season framework, but there, the major seasonal polarity was autumn (symbolizing adversity) and spring (symbolizing regeneration), with little importance given to the extremes of summer and winter. In the West, the transitional seasons, being more trivial, were "not fully lexicalized in the language" until much later, Anderson wrote. Lexicalization is the realization of an idea in a single word. PHOTOS: Why Leaves Take Different Shapes In 12th- and 13th-century Middle English, spring was called "lent" or "lenten" (but this also meant the religious observance), and fall, when it was considered a season at all, was called "haerfest" (which also meant the act of taking in crops). In the 14th and 15th centuries, "lenten" gave way to a panoply of terms, including "spring," "spryngyng tyme," "ver" (Latin for "green"), "primetemps" (French for "new time"), as well as more complicated descriptive phrases. By the 17th century, "spring" had won out. In terms of seasons, the period spanning the transition from summer to winter had the weakest credentials of all, and so it got lexicalized last. "Autumn," a Latin word, first appears in English in the late 14th century, and gradually gained on "harvest." In the 17th century, "fall" came into use, almost certainly as a poetic complement to "spring," and it competed with the other terms. Finally, in the 18th century, "harvest" had lost its seasonal meaning altogether, and "fall" and "autumn" emerged as the two accepted names for the third season. But by the 19th century, "fall" had become an "Americanism": a word primarily used in the United States and one that was frowned upon by British lexicographers. RELATED: Drought May Mean Extra Colorful Fall Foliage The persistence of two terms for the third season in the United States, while somewhat of a mystery, may have something to do with the spread of English to the American continent at the very epoch when "fall" began jockeying for position with "autumn": the 17th century. At that time, both terms were adopted stateside, and the younger, more poetic "fall" gained the upper hand. Back in Britain, however, "autumn" won out. The continued acceptance of "autumn" in the United States may reflect the influence, or at least the proximity, of English culture and literature. According to Slate, British lexicographers begrudgingly admit that the United States got the better end of the stick. In "The King's English" (1908), H.W. Fowler wrote, "Fall is better on the merits than autumn, in every way: it is short, Saxon (like the other three season names), picturesque; it reveals its derivation to every one who uses it, not to the scholar only, like autumn." Copyright 2012 Lifes Little Mysteries, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Press Release September 22, 2016 Bam: LGUs open to fast tracking permits for cell sites, IT infrastructure Are you amenable to fast tracking permits for Internet infrastructure? Senator Bam Aquino threw this challenge to local government units (LGUs), which are being blamed for the slow and tedious issuing of permits to build the cell sites needed to improve internet quality in the country. "If we include provisions on fast tracking cell site construction, how would the LGUs feel about that?" Sen. Bam asked during the Senate hearing on proposal to grant President Duterte emergency powers to solve the worsening traffic problem in the country. "If in the emergency powers bill, in an Executive Order, or in the Free Wi-Fi Bill, nakalagay doon na within one month, the cities must choose specific areas for cell site applications, would you be amenable?" Sen. Bam asked Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Calamba City Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco and representatives from Manila and Pasay. "Opo. In fact, we also want that dahil iyan ang hinihingi ng mga kababayan namin, magiging expeditious din ang mga proyekto at the same time, iyong access the communication mabilis din," said Mayor Bautista. However, Bautista said they can only fast track the process for government-owned properties and not on private properties, such as subdivisions, which must go through the regular process of permit approval. "We fully support that proposal. Kaya po iyon," said Manila City administrator Atty. Ericson Alcovendaz. "We support that initiative. Information Technology (IT) has a significant footprint on the solution [to traffic]. If we can make less people go out on the streets and work from home, so much the better," stressed Pasay City administrator Dennis Acorda. Chipeco, for his part, supports the proposal as he sees the need to improve Internet speed because it is a necessity, more than a luxury. In an earlier hearing conducted by Sen. Bam as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and telecommunication companies complained about difficulty in acquiring permits from LGUS for their infrastructure development efforts. Press Release September 22, 2016 TRANSCRIPT OF SEN. GRACE POE'S CONCLUDING REMARKS Senate Committee on Public Services As we conclude the third and final hearing on the proposals to grant Emergency Powers to the President, allow me to summarize what we have learned. First, it appears that the DOTr, in order to address the traffic crisis in the Philippines, requests an exemption from the tedious procurement process. Speedy procurement is one of the proposed solutions to transportation crisis, however, it can eliminate competitive bidding to an extent. We may allow shortcuts for as long as they do not shortchange the taxpayers. Second, the DOTr prefers a "Single Traffic Authority", we've discussed this. Emergency powers should include a budget for relocating informal settler families and improving relocation areas. Thus, there is the need for a National Government--Local Government partnership. We heard about ICT-based solutions to address traffic congestion. We want to include the obtaining of permits for cell towers to be part of the emergency powers so that we will have faster internet and clearer cellphone service. As underscored by the DICT, emergency powers are needed to reduce red tape in LGUs. We hope that what we have gathered through this series of hearings will help us craft an FOI-compliant, fiscally responsible, detailed, particular, and deadline-oriented emergency powers bill. I think this might be our last public hearing and then after that we will be having technical working groups unless something comes up that we need to call another one. I wish to thank our resource persons who made it today. I would also like to thank the different representatives from the agencies, DOTr for tirelessly attending our hearings and going thru a very rigorous Q and A process and for submitting what you can considering you've only been in office for a few months. I would also like to thank our non-government agencies for shedding light on certain problematic provisions. I would like to request DPWH to please submit to us the Swiss challenge awarding for the NLEX-SLEX connector. We will await that information and background. And also the senators who attended today and whether Congress can immediately enact provisions for emergency powers which are contentious, whether in in-city resettlement policies can better address informal settler issues so they don't have to be relocated anywhere else. Whether certifications can be issued for urgent, critical projects and be forwarded to COA so that procuring entities will not hesitate to use alternative modes of procurement. We also asked our resource persons to submit the following: Quantitative output per project; Cost and procedure in setting up a cell site. This is particularly from the local governments, Mayor Herbert and also maybe from Laguna, may we have one from you, Mayor Timmy We shall advise the proper resource persons of the date, time, and venue of the TWG meeting. This hearing is hereby adjourned. Good afternoon. Press Release September 22, 2016 SENATE PANEL READIES TO REPORT E-POWERS BILL TO PLENARY The Senate Committee on Public Services chaired by Senator Grace Poe has concluded public hearings on the emergency powers sought by Malacanang to fix the country's worsening traffic crisis and speed up key infrastructure projects, with the panel readying to craft a committee report of the measure to be submitted to plenary in November. In opening the third and final public hearing, Poe said the committee has approached "the last mile so it would be best to chart the remaining course so we can finish on schedule and endorse the bill for plenary debate." "We will be having technical working groups (TWGs) unless something comes up that we need to call another hearing," said Poe during the three-hour public hearing. She added the committee may conduct three TWG meetings to draft a committee report on the emergency powers bill and specify locations of the projects. Congress will go on session break starting Oct. 22 and will resume on Nov. 7. Congress will go on holiday break on Dec. 17 to Jan. 15 next year. Poe said the emergency powers bill may hurdle the Senate by December, given that the proposed P3.35 trillion spending program for 2017 takes precedence. Recognizing that billions are wasted due to daily traffic, Poe said the Senate would expedite deliberations on the proposal but assured that lawmakers will closely scrutinize projects in the pipeline. "In the course of five weeks, we have listened to the presentations of 53 resource persons. The committee is also in receipt of 62 written submissions, proving that inputs, as promised, are indeed crowdsourced. My purpose in giving you the present coordinates of our journey is to give us all an idea of the work that lies ahead," said Poe. Poe said a number of challenges in the current traffic mayhem could be addressed sans emergency powers, such as road clearing and strict implementation of traffic rules, lamenting traffic gridlocks in many areas such as Kalentong in Mandaluyong and Marcos Highway that traverses Marikina and Pasig. "We owe it the people, to make sure that the powers granted to the Executive will not be to the people's disadvantage," she said. Noting just how miserable traffic congestion is, Poe said Metro Manila residents spend 1,000 hours a year in traffic, while other countries in the world spend only 300 hours. If approved, the measure would grant President Duterte, for a period of two years, the power to do away with tedious public bidding and instead use alternative procurement methods and implementation of transportation projects will proceed "unhampered by existing laws, agreements, regulations, court orders and procedures that may cause delay in addressing the crisis." Other key features of the emergency powers is that it authorizes President Duterte to reorganize the Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Civil Aeronautics Board, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group and all other agencies in the transportation sector and rationalize their functions. The measure is expected to designate the Transportation secretary as Traffic Crisis Manager who will exercise overall land, air and sea traffic management and control. Meanwhile, Poe said the committee is studying to include a provision in the bill that would incorporate ICT-based solutions to solve traffic, specifically on the immediate issuance of permits for cell sites to help make Internet faster and promote so-called telecommuting, or remote work. "Kailangan din sa emergency powers siguro na ikonsidera ang pagtatayo ng mas maraming cell sites sa buong Pilipinas para mas malinaw ang cellular signal natin at para mas mabilis ang Internet. Sa ganitong sitwasyon, ang ating mga kababayan hindi na kailangan lahat na magtrabaho sa opisina, pwede sa bahay na nila. Mas makaka-reduce ito ng traffic kapag merong telecommuting na sinasabi na trabaho. Kung ikukumpara natin ang Vietnam merong 45,000 cell sites, tayo 25,000 lang. Ang kulang natin ay kailangan natin at least 50,000 cell sites pa so kailangan talaga natin dagdagan ito," said Poe. Press Release September 22, 2016 Social inclusion, key component to end poverty - Villar Stressing that times have changed and mere dole-outs do not help the poor at all, Senator Cynthia A. Villar said social inclusion is now a key component of putting an end to the country's extreme poverty. The World Bank defines social inclusion as "the process of improving the terms for individuals and groups to take part in society". It promotes shared prosperity and equal access to opportunities. Speaking during the 24th Foundation Anniversary of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Taguig (PUPT) with the theme-- "PUPT and Government: Partnership through Community Engagement and Livelihood Initiatives," Villar said social inclusion is now the trend. She noted that even in the private sector, foundations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) arms of companies are implementing social development programs that go beyond the livelihood skills training implementation. "Many are now using livelihood enterprise development as a holistic strategy to improve the socio-economic status of indigent communities, " said Villar, chair of the Senate committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development. Due to this, Villar, who transitioned from being a business entrepreneur to becoming a social entrepreneur, used her role as a public servant and legislator not only to advance the causes of social entrepreneurship, but also establish her own livelihood programs or social enterprises. ?As a social entrepreneur, the senator said she is aware that it is hard to pursue and sustain a project. So her support does not start and end with providing legislative support through Senate bills, but also establishing livelihood projects as well as providing skills training. "I want to encourage more people and groups, like you, to create social enterprises as well, " said Villar. ? She related that the livelihood component of her United Nations-awarded Las Pinas-Zapote river rehabilitation program when She was still a congresswoman started her journey in building livelihood projects, which are under the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance or Villar SIPAG. "These are also considered as green social enterprises since the raw materials they use come from wastes or garbage: water hyacinths for the waterlily basket-weaving enterprise and the handmade paper factory; waste coconut husks for the coconet-weaving enterprise and the charcoal-making factory; kitchen wastes for the organic fertilizer composting facility; and waste plastics for the school chairs factory," said Villar. She said this was one of the reasons why they established Villar SIPAG which trains, teaches and empowers women, the youth, the jobless and even relatives of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by enhancing their skills and know-how. ?On top of that, Villar said they also recognize the leading community enterprises through the yearly Villar SIPAG Awards. "It recognizes good practices or innovations of community enterprises, which create jobs and increase household income. It also highlights outstanding initiatives of community enterprises as models of good practices in income poverty reduction. Every year, we name the 20 Most Outstanding Community Enterprises," she said. According to the senator, job creation and livelihood generation through various program, including creating social enterprises or livelihood projects, are needed to reduce poverty in our country. She noted that this is the difference of social entrepreneurs from the others. While social entrepreneurs aspire for the sustainability of their ventures or enterprises, they are not focused solely on profits since they help develop and empower communities and the society in general. In doing so, Villar said social entrepreneurs also contribute to the country's growth and development. "You, the youth, are a key component in that growth and development of the Philippines. The youth (with age ranging from 15 to 29) comprises 27 percent or about 27 million of the Philippine population. The youth have one of the highest potentials in breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty by not only engaging communities but empowering them through livelihood initiatives," the senator further told her audience. The family of a man shot and killed by Oakland police last year after he was awakened inside his parked car, allegedly with a gun at his side, will get $1.2 million in a settlement approved by the Oakland City Council. The council approved the payment Tuesday to settle legal action filed on behalf of the mother and three children of Demouria Hogg, 30. This gentlemans life was needlessly taken, said Adante Pointer, one of the familys lawyers in the case. The officers did not use best tactics. They violated their training. Why did they attempt to wake him and then, when he moved, shoot him? It was a very flawed strategy. Police found Hogg inside a BMW on the Interstate 580 off-ramp at Lakeshore Avenue around 7:30 a.m. on June 6, 2015. Through the car window they saw a pistol with an extended magazine on the passengers seat, police said. Officers said they had tried to awaken Hogg with a loudspeaker and rounds fired from a beanbag gun. When that was unsuccessful, two officers broke the drivers side window and attempted to subdue him with a Taser stun gun. But a third officer believed she saw him reach for the gun, and that officer fired two shots, killing Hogg, police said. Police have not revealed the name of the officer who shot Hogg, but her attorney has said she was justified in using deadly force. Pointer said the officers could have reached a peaceful resolution if they had not startled Hogg. No amount of money is going to bring back to this family the person they loved, Pointer said. Were hoping this will make the Oakland Police Department change its tactics. Pointer said he did not know why Hogg had been sleeping in the car with the weapon beside him. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Jason Hicks, another lawyer representing Hoggs mother, Allene Hutchinson, and three children, argued in his lawsuit that police negligently assessed the circumstances presented to them and violently confronted (Hogg) without having probable cause. The settlement resolves the lawsuit that sought damages for unreasonable search and seizure, excessive force, interference with familial relationship, false arrest, battery and negligence causing wrongful death. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com James Tensuan/SFC San Jose State University authorities are investigating the discovery of two swastikas and hateful language found inside on-campus student housing, officials said. Staff at the school were informed on Tuesday that two swastikas were found on floors primarily with freshman students at Washburn Hall and Campus Village, according to a message sent by universitys president, Mary Papazian. They drive through Oakland at 3 a.m. every weekday six burly men in reflective suits tracing the route of city garbage trucks, but hitting each stop just a few hours earlier. Their job: to lug massive trash bins from apartment complexes, restaurants and other businesses to Oaklands curbsides where garbage trucks operated by Waste Management empty them later. Two years ago, there was no market for a business that specialized in a la carte bin-moving services. Now, theres demand. The men are employed by Bay Area Bin Support, which opened shop a year ago with the sales pitch that it can save Oakland property owners and businesses hundreds if not thousands of dollars a month. Instead of paying the Waste Management fees up to $931 to push or pull a Dumpster or other large bin to the curbside property and business owners can hire Bay Area Bin Support to move the containers for less. Waste Management rolled out the controversial fee last summer, prompting protests on the steps of City Hall and a lawsuit from property owners who said it amounted to an unconstitutional tax. We have some customers whose (Waste Management) bills were in the thousands of dollars and thats a significant difference from what we charge, said Nancy Fiame, who founded Bay Area Bin Support with her husband, Junior, a former Waste Management employee. Fiame said her company charges about $100 a month to push small bins, and upward of $200 a month for large ones. Within weeks of its inception, Bay Area Bin Support had a competitor, Bay Area Waste Services, which also moves trash bins to curbs. Both companies claim to undercut Waste Management by hundreds of dollars a month, and say they are thriving. Bay Area Bin Support has about 90 clients and Bay Area Waste Services serves several large apartment buildings and a few restaurants. I think its fabulous, said lawyer Andrew Zacks, who represents the three property owners suing the city. If theyre able to break into that monopoly hey, its beautiful, its wonderful, its great to be in America. Even so, Zacks said, he hopes to ultimately put these new companies out of business: His lawsuit claims that push fees are illegal. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Theyre part of a scheme to generate revenue for the city, Zacks said. His lawsuit, which was filed in June and is pending in Alameda County Superior Court, notes that Waste Management pays Oakland $25 million annually for the privilege of keeping the contract. The company has passed that burden onto customers by charging for services that used to be free such as pushing trash bins. City leaders, meanwhile, have strongly denounced Waste Managements push fees, despite approving them unanimously in 2014. Theyre way too high, said City Councilman Dan Kalb, adding that he is familiar with the new push service businesses, and has encouraged Oakland residents to use them. The head of Waste Managements Alameda County division says push fees are justifiable, considering how much it strains workers to haul heavy bins each day, and given how much time they lose retrieving bins that are stowed deep inside parking garages, or below steep driveways. Our franchised push-pull rates reflect the cost of labor, (the) high workers comp premium, and lost productivity, said Barry Skolnick, president of Waste Management of Alameda County Inc. He said he welcomes upstart companies like Bay Area Bin Support and Bay Area Waste Services, because they take over work that Waste Management would rather do without. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. People who dont understand the industry just think a truck does all the work, said Felix Martinez of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 70, the union that represents Waste Management employees. There are guys with knee injuries and back injuries from the repetitive physical nature of the job. Martinez said that while he commends Bay Area Bin Support and Bay Area Waste Services for seizing an opportunity, he also predicts they wont be able to grow as their workforces increase, so will the cost of workers compensation for injuries, he said. Fiame and Bay Area Waste Services chief Brandon Serrano both acknowledged the high cost of workers compensation. For now, Fiame has four full-time employees and two workers from a temporary agency. Serranos company consists solely of the two men who founded it. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan The residents of sleepy little Brisbane are extremely excited about developing Baylands, a 684-acre site on the edge of town. In fact, theyve been getting a little carried away. When he was running for Brisbane City Council in 2009, Clifford Lentz, who is now mayor, said, The Baylands project has the potential to change the world. This may sound like an exaggerated statement, but I believe it is true. The owner of much of the property is developer Universal Paragon Corp., which wants to build 4,434 homes, condos and apartments in addition to 6.9 million square feet of commercial space. The city, however, doesnt like that mixed-use proposal. Its pushing two alternatives, and neither has housing. One would let developers create a huge commercial and industrial complex with 8.3 million square feet of commercial space and the other would allow for a sustainable commercial community with a wind farm. But, the citys alternatives seem incomprehensible in a Bay Area climate where everyone agrees creating housing is a priority. Yet the tiny town population 4,282 according to the 2010 census thinks it can erect a large business center and let others worry about where everyone would live. Well provide the commercial, Lentz said this week. San Francisco will provide the housing. The groans you heard were from housing advocates, who continue to say the Bay Area is way behind in the creation of housing. A group of them intends to go to next Thursdays meeting of the Brisbane City Council to push elected leaders to face the reality of the lack of homes, particularly for low- and very-low-income residents. And this isnt the Coalition to Build Wildly Expensive Condos masquerading as concerned citizens. Matt Vander Sluis is a program director for the bicycle-friendly, open-space-advocating Greenbelt Alliance. We want an option that helps solve our transportation nightmare and housing affordability crisis, Vander Sluis said. The most sustainable decision the City Council could make is to allow homes next to transit. It will be an uphill struggle in Brisbane. A recent city-commissioned survey found that 71 percent of the Brisbane residents polled feel that Brisbane would be better off if portions of the Baylands were developed. But when the survey asked residents what should be done with Baylands, housing scored just 16 percent. Local land use policy is just that local, Lentz said. People are entitled to come to the meeting and say what they want. But it is going to be up to Brisbane to decide if housing should go up. Tim Colen, executive director of the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition, who is pushing for a plan that has plenty of housing, admits Universal Paragons proposal would have a huge impact on the city. In fairness, he said, the proposal we like would double the size of the town. Thats not going to be popular with the residents, who cherish their Main Street USA ambience. Thats why people move here, Lentz said. They want something that is more small town, friendly and safe, where you know your neighbors. But advocates for housing, like Vander Sluis, say thats exactly why homes, condos and apartments need to be part of any development. Vander Sluis says statistics from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission show that combining housing with transit options gets cars off the road and discourages gridlock. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. People in the Bay Area who have access to transit within half a mile of where they live are five times more likely to use transit, he said. Actually, transit is one area of agreement. All sides would like to upgrade the lonely Caltrain station, which is hardly used by commuters. The plan is to bring in SamTrans buses and build a connecting extension to the Muni T-line. But the debate about housing is going to define the discussion. Lentz says that were already feeling the pressure to create living spaces. And theres likely to be a concentrated push from state politicians and housing advocacy groups. But for now, Lentz says, Brisbane is thrilled to have the opportunity. Any city in the world would love to have this project, he said. Lets see how he feels in a year. C.W. Nevius is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. His columns appear Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Email: cwnevius@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @cwnevius Paul Alioshin loved tinkering with things, and it was that passion that helped him create some of the biggest technological innovations in our time, including working on the team that brought the first camera to the iPhone. Alioshin was known as a risk taker and for pushing the boundaries of technology. Friends and family say he died doing what he loved taking his favorite vintage Fiat Abarth out for a drive on winding Highway 36 in Humboldt County. After sustaining major injuries from a car accident on Sept. 11, he died Saturday in Redding. Alioshin was 50. The Palo Alto resident was a self-proclaimed gear head and loved to take things apart and build something better. He grew up in Lafayette and graduated from UC San Diego in 1989 with a degree in electrical and electronics engineering. Over his career, Alioshin worked on high-resolution projection TVs at Silicon Light Machines and took apart cameras to build a 360-degree camera under a startup called Centr Cam that was later purchased by Amazons Lab126. Paul was a creative engineer and a genuinely nice guy, said Amazon spokeswoman Kinley Pearsall in an email. He will be missed both at Lab126 and across the valley. Alioshin also worked at Apple from 2005 to 2010, working on cameras in the iMac and MacBook as well as iPhones, according to his LinkedIn profile. During that time, Alioshin was part of a team that brought the camera to the first iPhone a notable milestone, since high-quality cameras have become a signature feature of the iPhone. Alioshin was the first full-time person working on camera hardware at Apple, said Cina Hazegh, who had Alioshin as a manager when he worked at Apple. At Silicon Light, Alioshin was admired by his colleagues for his dry wit and ability to make startup life fun, despite high pressure from venture capitalists who wanted to see a return on their investment quickly, said Jim Hunter, the companys director of process technology. Paul was really good in an artful way of using humor and sarcasm to blow off the pressure of the moment but still keep people on task and focused and committed to what we were trying to do, Hunter said. In his off time, Alioshin loved biking, riding in motorcycles and fixing up his red Fiat Abarth 750. He found the 1960 Abarth by peeping through a hole in a fence inside a Hollywood vintage car lot. He liked to fix up the car in his spare time and added a new muffler and engine. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes He had this funny joke how he was Italian, said Kat Alioshin, adding that her husband was actually of Danish ancestry. He appreciated Italian clothes, motorcycles and cars. He also had a connection with the number 11:11, his wife said. She met him in college and both worked at a radio station where a co-worker believed the numbers 11:11 meant a message from an angel. Paul Alioshin didnt buy into that, but he and Kat would find themselves pointing out connections to the number, and eventually it became a tradition for the couple to call each other at 11:11 a.m. The two were married on Nov. 11 and Alioshins memorial will be held that day, his wife said. Alioshin is also survived by his children, Desmond and Penelope, sister Annette Dale and father Greg Alioshin. Wendy Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: wlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thewendylee To many analysts, the future of home energy looks like this: solar panels on the roof and a battery in the basement. The battery will soak up electricity from the panels during the day for use at night. So far, the battery and the panels are usually assumed to be two separate things, tied together by wiring and software. Now a Mountain View startup wants to make them one. SunCulture Solar on Thursday unveiled a prototype product the SolPad that integrates solar cells, an inverter and a solid-state battery into one self-contained unit that looks much like an oversized smartphone. The company plans to make SolPads of different sizes, some large enough to sit on the roof and power a home, others small enough to be portable. The portable version could even run an apartments lights and appliances at night, using software that can push precise amounts of electricity into a standard wall socket. Both are designed to simplify the process of going solar, although the SolPad Home would still require professional installation. My aim is to do with renewable power what smartphones did with computers, said Christopher Estes, SunCultures CEO and chief product architect. I dont like manuals. It just has to work. It needs to be simple. The company plans to start selling the portable version first, with release targeted for the second half of 2017. SunCulture has not yet released a price for either the portable or home-based products. But the companys preliminary estimate for SolPad Home pegs the installed cost at $19,443 for a system capable of generating 5.3 kilowatts of electricity. Based on data from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a typical residential solar system of that size currently costs about $21,700 and doesnt include a battery. Longtime solar entrepreneur Barry Cinnamon has seen the SolPad and considers it an elegant way to combine two products solar and energy storage that will inevitably come together. He likens the combination to Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. This is peanut butter and chocolate, for solar, said Cinnamon, CEO of solar installation company Cinnamon Solar. The way this industry has been working, these parts have all been coming from different companies, so integrating the parts is pretty cool. The portable SolPad weighs 25 pounds and stands 2 feet, 4 inches tall. And much like the phones it resembles, it is packed with hidden features, including a voice. Set it down too hard on the floor, and it complains Ow! Be careful, will you? Stand in the way of its 20 silicon solar cells, and the female voice recorded by one of the companys executives says, Excuse me, do you mind? Youre blocking my sunlight. A row of LEDs on the front of the device can serve as a light during power outages or be programmed to mimic flashing, multicolored disco strobes. Another setting turns the LEDs red and plays the theme to the talking-car television classic Knight Rider. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Not all the features are as whimsical. Two universal power outlets on the back allow the user to plug appliances directly into the device. So do three USB ports. Tap the side of the device, and it will tell you how much energy its absorbing from the sun, how much juice is left in the battery, or how much electricity its delivering to your appliances. Two or more portable SolPads can easily be linked together to generate more power. The device can be controlled via an app for smartphones and smartwatches. It can also be plugged into a wall socket and, directed by the app, feed precisely enough electricity into an apartments wiring to run lights, a computer, a television, or all of the above. Apartment dwellers could let SolPad charge during the day and use its power at night, Estes said. It could also provide energy during blackouts or following a disaster, like a major earthquake. Similarly, the rooftop version of SolPad is designed to keep working even if the states power grid goes down. The vast majority of home solar arrays cant do that, Cinnamon said. David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF Details from at least 500 million Yahoo accounts have been stolen, the company said Thursday, adding that it is working with law enforcement on the investigation. The information was taken in late 2014 and may include users names, email addresses, birth dates, telephone numbers and security questions and answers, Yahoo said in a post on its company blog. The Sunnyvale company said it believes a state-sponsored actor meaning a foreign government or a group with government backing was responsible for the act. The company said affected users will be notified by email. It is encouraging users to change their passwords if they havent done so since 2014. It is also advising them to change their security questions and answers on other services if they used similar ones on Yahoo. Yahoo will continue to strive to stay ahead of these ever-evolving online threats and to keep our users and our platforms secure, wrote Bob Lord, Yahoos chief information security officer, in the blog post. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press Show More Show Less Yahoo said it does not believe that the responsible parties currently have access to its network. Users unprotected passwords, payment card data or bank account information were not stolen, according to the company. Unprotected passwords werent part of the breach, Yahoo said, but hashed or digitally obscured passwords may have been taken. The announcement comes as Yahoo is preparing to sell its Internet properties to Verizon next year. Verizon said it was notified of the breach within the last two days. We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities, Verizon said. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Why would a government target Yahoo users? Goals could include gaining access to the personal correspondence of human-rights activists, or U.S. government employees with access to sensitive information that could be used as blackmail, said Craig Young, a security researcher for software firm Tripwire. Those responsible may want to use the information to impersonate U.S. officials through their email to get others to do something for them, he added. Yahoo and other tech companies have seen data breaches in the past. In 2012, roughly 450,000 Yahoo user name and passwords were compromised. More than 100 million LinkedIn accounts were stolen in that same year, a hacking exploit which continues to haunt the company. Hackers sometimes seek to sell user information online for profit, or exploit it to log into other non-Yahoo accounts, relying on consumers habits of using the same login names and passwords from service to service. Even companies whose servers havent been hacked can be affected, as hackers test purloined logins. Netflix recently warned its customers about the problem. In some cases, Silicon Valley companies like PayPal go through intermediaries to purchase stolen account information from the criminals who stole it from them, in part to determine the extent of the problem. Wendy Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: wlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thewendylee This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate An Oakland man was sentenced to death Wednesday for killing 8-year-old Alaysha Carradine in 2013 by spraying bullets into a sleepover party in the Dimond neighborhood and then gunning down a 22-year-old man during a robbery two months later in Berkeley. Darnell Williams Jr., 25, was transferred to San Quentin State Prison after Alameda County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Horner handed down the sentence in an emotionally charged courtroom, where family members of the victims sobbed and screamed at Williams, Why did you do it? How dare you try to get life in prison without parole when you killed two people, said Dolanda Moore, the mother of 22-year-old Anthony Medearis III, the second victim. Its like, yes, hes on Death Row, but hes still eating three meals a day. It baffles me. Horner denied defense motions for a new trial and an altered verdict, sentencing Williams to 172 years to life in prison in addition to the death sentence. As he read his decision, Williams sat quietly, staring straight ahead with his hand on his chin. His case will automatically be appealed to the California Supreme Court. California has not executed an inmate since 2006, when a federal judge put a moratorium on the states lethal injections by finding that they caused undue harm that amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. Williams fate, like those of others sentenced to die, is tied to the outcome of the November election, when California voters will cast a ballot for two competing propositions, one to abolish the death penalty and the other to speed it up. The sentencing capped off a case that horrified Oakland and focused attention on efforts to cut violent crime in the city. It began July 17, 2013, when Alaysha answered a doorbell at a sleepover and was shot in the neck by a gunman who hadnt waited for the door to open before firing and then continued to fire after it opened. Williams was seeking revenge for the killing of his friend Jermaine Davis just hours before in Berkeley, said Deputy District Attorney John Brouhard. The defendant went to the house on Wilson Avenue believing he would find Antiown York, whom he blamed for Davis death. The apartment belonged to Yorks ex-girlfriend and the mother of his two children. Alaysha, called Ladybug by her family, was there playing with a group of children. A 4-year-old boy, his 7-year-old sister and their 64-year-old grandmother were wounded by the gunfire but survived. Before the homicide could be solved, on Sept. 8, 2013, Williams attempted to rob Medearis and fatally shot the father of two young children as he ran away from a dice game in Berkeley, prosecutors said. In statements read in court Wednesday, family members of Alaysha and Medearis described how the killings pierced their lives. I really dont understand how one person can inflict so much pain on two different families, said Jackie Winters, Medearis aunt, who became a fixture at Williams court hearings and called him a cold-blooded killer. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Shemeka Edwards, Medearis 30-year-old sister, excoriated Williams for, in her view, failing to show remorse. This man doesnt have a soul, she said, as her sobbing prompted others in the gallery to break into tears. How dare he look at me or my mother in the eyes. Chiquita Carradine, Alayshas mother, couldnt emotionally bear coming to court, said Brouhard, who read her statement to the judge. Our heart aches from the pain of not having her here with us, the mother wrote. She didnt deserve any of this. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov Tatum Willoughby stood in a drafty television studio on the outskirts of Treasure Island wearing nothing more than a light-green silk negligee and a wig shed brought from home. Men in cargo shorts with cameras and boom microphones jostled around her, while a man she hardly knew flapped open blankets as an invitation to the low-lit bed before her. OK, Tatum, hollered director Ted Leonard. Can you kind of crawl on top of him this time? This wasnt a porn shoot. Willoughby, an Oakland actress with the worlds most eclectic resume, was starring in an episode of Wives With Knives. Thats right, Bay Area. A television show called Wives With Knives is filmed on Treasure Island. It was the last day of filming on Willoughbys episode, one in which she plays a real-life woman who fell in love with a rapper and ended up cutting off his finger. Every episode of Wives With Knives, which has just finished filming its fifth season, is based on an actual crime involving a wife (or girlfriend) with a knife. The shows are co-produced by the Investigation Discovery (ID) channel and Indigo Films, a production company in San Rafael. Indigo runs the studio on Treasure Island the very studio where Willoughby must now change from her negligee to an orange prison jumpsuit. Ive been performing since I was a child, Willoughby said, before going on to casually detail her childhood turn as a martial-arts world champion. What I really want to do is martial-arts movies. The scene Willoughby was about to shoot took place in a police interrogation room. An assistant producer filled in as Willoughbys last-minute lawyer and was quickly given a blazer and briefcase just before the scene started. Willoughby had somehow switched wigs, and she slid out of her ever-present navy parka to shoot the scene. The 30-year-old actress resembles a young Audra McDonald, although under all those wigs she brought along for her role, Willoughby sported a nearly shaved head. She was warm and talkative, breezing in between energetic notes from Leonard and her chats with the extras. When shes not acting, Willoughby is a cosmetology student at the Paul Mitchell school in San Francisco. Ive been doing pretty OK, she smiled over our craft services lunch of custom-ordered burritos, especially since I dont have an agent. Over the course of my day on set, Willoughby taped a handful of scenes, including one at a boot camp for juvenile delinquents. Yet another extra failed to show, so Leonard tapped a woman from craft services. You look like a troubled youth, he joked. Roles are given out pretty freely on Wives With Knives. In fact, if you tune into Willoughbys episode, you might spot me as a deadpan hip-hop record producer. Willoughby gave me pointers on both my makeup and my delivery before we shot the scene. The key is letting yourself go, she advised, to no avail. Willoughby is so great at being a wife with a knife, this is actually her second starring role on the series. And the actress is no stranger to ID shows. Willoughby also appeared on an episode of the ID series Sex Sent Me to the Slammer. Tatum commits to the part, said Leonard, whod directed Willoughby before and requested her for this Wives role. On one job, Leonard needed Willoughby to run around a church in her underwear. And thats not easy for anyone, he laughed. She also does her research, digging through newsreels and crime articles about the women she portrays. This one, Willoughby said of her current role, shes been through so much abuse. Willoughby easily and often shared funny stories, including one where she was recognized from her Wives role while handing out flyers. She was nervously approached by a group of teenage boys whod remembered her episode. The star giggled, They were like, You were scary! and I was like, Rawr! The actress spun yarns while she was waiting to shoot a scene in a Treasure Island church that the production team had transformed into a nightclub. Lounging in a directors chair, Willoughby was just as comfortable with her audience of short-term co-workers as she was in front of a camera. And the young actress was clearly having fun getting paid to play a wife with a knife. If you feel like someones going to knock on the door, Willoughby said of her blossoming career while looking around at the converted church, eventually someones going to knock on the door. Beth Spotswoods column appears Thursdays in Datebook. Email: datebook@sfchronicle.com There was a big outdoor party on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Bayview Opera House for the opening of its new Ruth Williams Memorial Theater, named for a community activist who was identified as one of the Bayviews Big Five neighborhood heroines. She was a mother of eight who saw promise in the community, said her granddaughter Neffertice Williams. Ruth Williams saw potential for greatness in the ghetto. The formal ribbon cutting for the project was in July; this was a community party, featuring food, music, a performance of Crack. Rumble. Fly.: The Bayview Stories Project by an ACT-sponsored theatrical troupe based in the neighborhood, and speeches, of course. Poet C-Who? from Big Mouth Productions, who performed wearing a mask, focused on police shooting civilians: They dont know the whole and the half/ Theyre KKK unpaid staff. Despite those strong words, it was a day of sunshine and peace, and I noticed no uniformed officers keeping order in the large crowd. We always have some security guards, but theyre not cops and theyre not armed, said Opera House Executive Director Barbara Ockel a few days later. We always inform Bay View Police station of our events, and they send people around as they see fit. ... The police there are very sensitive to community relations and they do not make an appearance unnecessarily; they dont provoke people. Bayview station has been extremely helpful to us. The San Jose Museum of Art hosted a fundraising Wonder Ball over the weekend, with an auction that included pieces of art and such tech-related excursions as a visit to the SpaceX development facility in Southern California. As the bidding for a piece by artist Hung Liu and a studio visit with her rose, Hung jumped up and volunteered to cook for the winner. The package went for $26,000. I was amazed by peoples crazy bidding over my work, said the artist. Liu has been commissioned by the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery to paint Meryl Streep. The actress met with the artist a day after the recent opening of her show American Exodus (based on the photographs of Dorothea Lange; open until Oct. 22) at the Nancy Hoffman Gallery in New York. The two looked at the paintings and talked for two hours. Streep will hang out with Liu in her studio in October. She is a down-to-earth, warm person, very attentive, said Liu, and not too much taller than me, which made me very happy. Artist Rico Solinas specializes in using saws as canvases in traditional American folk-art manner for paintings of modern institutions, art museums, mainly. Blade Runner, a show of this work, opened at the Bedford Gallery in downtown Walnut Creek recently (it runs until Nov. 27). The gallery isnt far from Rossmoor, and Solinas says the opening drew an abundance of overjoyed retirees salivating over the tools of their youth. I was offered at least 10 saws by as many fine gentlemen. Sometimes you reach a point where you just dont want to saw anymore. On Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 20, I watched video of Sen. Elizabeth Warren excoriating Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf over his banks recently revealed scandal over fake accounts, and found myself cheering her on. That was the same day of the Basic Skills for City College lunch, which raises money for scholarships for students at the college. For the past 12 years, said Debra Dooley, who founded the auxiliary of the City College Foundation that organizes the lunch, Wells Fargo has supported the event, donating $50,000 to pay for the lunch (Chevron gives $25,000). This generosity means that every person who buys a ticket to the lunch donates a scholarship. This years lunch honored artist and event planner Lewis Sykes, a founding member of the auxiliary who every year has created back to school decor for the event, said Dooley. He personally donates everything he uses. Sykes was honored with mayoral and Assembly proclamations, as well as personal acclaim from a lot of grateful admirers and friends. Whatever else was going on in Washington, the corporate donors were thanked, too. Wells Fargo is the most generous corporate donor in the Bay Area, said Dooley. They give money to everyone. Im still sharing Warrens outrage over greed and executive responsibility ... and at the same time aware that some of the bucks stop in good places. Open for business in San Francisco (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik Public Eavesdropping Could you write that in regular English, not cursive? High school student to teacher, overheard in San Mateo by Barbara Hughes Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez plays a real-life woman in a mans world in Deepwater Horizon, Peter Bergs thriller movie that re-creates the 2010 explosion and fire aboard the oil rig of the title, which killed 11 and injured 17. It became one of the biggest environmental disasters in U.S. history, as millions of gallons of petroleum spewed into the Gulf of Mexico. Rodriguez plays Andrea Fleytas, a dynamic positioning officer aboard Deepwater Horizon, whose calculations help keep the semi-submersible vessel in place. The sole woman on the crew in the film version (in reality, Fleytas was one of three), she is treated with respect by the men. That is, until she reacts decisively in the midst of the unfolding catastrophe, and her boss angrily and patronizingly reins her in. In that moment, though, Rodriguez sees something much more complicated and ultimately more damaging than sexism. He shuts her down, Rodriguez, 32, says in conversation at the Toronto International Film Festival where Deepwater Horizon had its world premiere. But should she have been a man, I think the scenario would have been the exact same one, because she and her boss did have their superiors. Theyre controlled by this multibillion-dollar company that can just end your career. Your career is your familys livelihood; many mouths depend on you. There was a fear of (activating disaster protocols) too soon. What I love is that she makes the attempt, again and again. It was the woman who knew all along what should have happened. There were a lot of bosses involved with Deepwater Horizon, a rig owned and operated by the company Transocean and leased by BP. Bergs drama depicts growing tensions between Transocean engineers concerned with safety and BP executives (including a Cajun-accented John Malkovich) expecting quick results. Fleytas is one of the crew who pay the price when safety becomes a secondary concern. To find out more about her character and get firsthand accounts of what happened that day, Rodriguez relied on Mike Williams, the engineer played by Mark Wahlberg, and Caleb Holloway, a floor hand played by Dylan OBrien, who consulted on the film. Fleytas, who no longer works on oil rigs, declined to meet with Rodriguez, although the women have been in touch since. Why would anybody want to relive an experience like that? Rodriguez says. Its not something thats easy, and I respect that. I respect that fully. Mike and Caleb had such wonderful things to say about her strength and her neutrality. She wasnt over-sexualized, she wasnt super tomboy. It was like this entity I could really relate to. Brave and courageous. The kind of preparation you do to enter a mans world, I think us women have been doing our whole lives, Rodriguez adds. In this industry, truthfully, in any industry ... this is a conversation, I think, you have with yourself from a very young age, and it never stops. Youre constantly calibrating how you are amongst others in a room, how you are amongst others in the workplace, relationships and family, gender roles. To me, it was very important to possess the confidence that I know she had in order to go to the Marine Academy and finish top in her class and be on an oil rig at the age of 23, at the position that she was in. It was a very high position. Not to mention, a very difficult job. Shes a very, very smart girl. Unlike most films in the action disaster genre, Deepwater is not a fantasy. Its thrills, stunts and explosions mimic a horrifying reality. Rodriguez praises Berg for his handling of those large-scale elements and the human characters caught in the grip of calamity. She is also firmly behind the message of a film that illustrates what happens when the chase for profits is made the highest priority. Its not just an oil company; its the pharmaceutical companies, even the food companies, Rodriguez says. How we hurt our people; what is it that were doing? This is a grander conversation, obviously. I really hope that this movie brings up the idea that were using humans to hurt other humans, to hurt themselves, and its driven by capitalism. I have nothing but pride to play a part of this group of heroes, people that were (giving) their own lives to save others, people were working together to get off of that boat. Pam Grady is a San Francisco freelance writer. Twitter: @cinepam Deepwater Horizon (PF-13) opens Friday, Sept. 30, at Bay Area theaters. To see a trailer: www.deepwaterhorizon.movie Like it or not, the decision we make in this Novembers election will be a choice on behalf of the entire world. How we vote will determine whether the forces of democracy, openness and religious tolerance remain strong, or whether our country throws in its lot with tribalism, prejudice and authoritarianism. This sounds like melodrama. It isnt. And while it may ring familiar citizens of other countries always tell us how important our electoral verdicts are to them Donald Trump requires us to make a judgment more monumental than any we have faced in our lifetimes. This is the underlying import of President Obamas speech to the United Nations on Tuesday, which may prove to be one of the most important of his presidency. He spoke of a growing contest between authoritarianism and liberalism, and he was not referring to the L-word we fight about here at home, but to the philosophy of free expression, entrepreneurialism and participatory decision-making that has long been our countrys hallmark. Its the philosophy that most Americans, conservatives included, honor. Obama cast the matter this way: We can choose to press forward with a better model of cooperation and integration. Or we can retreat into a world sharply divided, and ultimately in conflict, along age-old lines of nation and tribe and race and religion. He criticized a crude populism sometimes from the far left, but more often from the far right which seeks to restore what they believe was a better, simpler age free of outside contamination. And lest anyone miss that he was talking not only about political currents in Europe and elsewhere but also about Trump, he added this: Today, a nation ringed by walls would only imprison itself. Obamas critics have every right to question whether his policies may have hastened this moment of decision. In a normal election, contention over Obamas approach to foreign affairs would be central to our debate. But this is not, in any way, a normal election. Conservatives who have problems with Obama or Hillary Clinton but share their understanding of the countrys democratic obligations need to recognize that allowing Trump to win would strengthen the autocratic Vladimir Putin in Russia and the far right in Europe with which he is now allied. A Trump victory would also empower violent extremists in the Islamic world that want nothing more than for the United States to cast every Muslim as our enemy. And it would be a decision in favor of what Obama called the strongman, a top-down model, rather than strong, democratic institutions. The fact that Trump has been so verbally chummy with Putin should be a key issue in this election. And this underscores the unusual importance of Trumps making his tax returns public, as have all recent candidates. Americans need to know definitively whether or not he is financially entangled with foreign interests hostile to the United States and to our values, including Russian oligarchs. There was a second level to Obamas U.N. speech that should affect our thinking after this election is over. After issuing an enthusiastic defense of an open global economy, he was careful not to dismiss those who have risen up in protest against its injustices. He argued that those trumpeting the benefits of globalization have ignored inequality within and among nations and that the existing path to global integration requires a course correction. He forcefully called for strengthening labor unions, echoed Pope Francis in criticizing a soulless capitalism that benefits only the few and insisted that efforts to curb the excesses of capitalism were designed not to punish wealth, but to prevent repeated crises that can destroy it. I do not expect conservatives to rally to this part of his case, although I would like them to take more seriously the idea that preserving the very aspects of the system they revere requires more egalitarian public policies and a clear acknowledgement of capitalisms limits. This, however, represents the sort of healthy quarrel that people of goodwill in free nations can have with each other after the immediate threat that Trump represents to the democratic left, right and center alike has been turned back. I know it asks a great deal of my conservative friends not only to oppose Trump but also to support Hillary Clinton. But she is the only person standing between us and a United States that abandons our shared commitment to the ideals of inclusion, toleration and, yes, democracy itself. 2016, Washington Post Writers Group Email: ejdionne@washpost.com. Twitter: @EJDionne. San Franciscos City College has spent the past several years climbing out of a deep hole, and the ascents not over yet. The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges will announce its final verdict in City Colleges long accreditation fight in February. In the meantime, City College is struggling to reverse a steep enrollment drop students fled when its accreditation status went into jeopardy. These incredible challenges require City College to have a strong, stable, competent Board of Trustees. Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press The California Democratic Party seems to have concluded that it cant defeat Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, R-San Ramon, on the merits. So its gone to desperate means to distort the voting record of a Republican legislator who has regularly broken with the party line with her stands for gun control, climate action and equal pay for women. Voters who receive the slick mailers misrepresenting Bakers position on those issues should promptly do the right thing, for the environment and for honesty in politics: Drop them in the recycle bin. Theyre garbage. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Four of Novembers most visible ballot measures are carrying leads into the final months of the 2016 campaign, a new Public Policy Institute of California poll has found. Proposition 64, which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana, holds a solid 60 percent to 36 percent lead among likely voters, pulling in majority support in every part of the state and with every ethnic group. Even Republicans, typically Californias most conservative voters, only oppose legalization by a 46 percent to 52 percent ratio. Those against the measure, though, really dont like it, with 59 percent saying that the outcome is very important to them. Proposition 56, which would boost the tax on cigarettes by $2 per pack, also has a healthy lead, 59 percent to 36 percent. But Mark Baldassare, director of the PPIC poll, warned that other tobacco tax measures have led late in the campaign, only to be buried under a flood of negative TV advertising from tobacco companies. Proposition 55, an initiative that would extend the temporary tax increase on high earners established by Prop. 30 in 2012, also has majority support, with 54 percent in favor and 38 percent opposed. Theres a huge partisan split in the vote, with 78 percent of Democrats in favor, compared with only 15 percent of Republicans. A slim majority of independents, 51 percent, favor the tax extension. The tightest race is for Prop. 51, the $9 billion school construction bond. It hasnt cracked the magic 50 percent mark needed for victory yet, with 47 percent of those surveyed in favor and 43 percent opposed. Thats potentially bad news for supporters, since support for ballot measures especially money measures often wanes as election day nears. The poll, taken from Sept. 9-18, is based on a telephone survey of 1,055 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. John Wildermuth Death penalty uncertainty: A November initiative to repeal the death penalty in California is favored by 48 percent of likely voters and opposed by 37 percent, but its prospects for passage are uncertain, according to a Field-IGS poll scheduled for release Thursday. The history of controversial ballot measures shows that those failing to win more than 50 percent support in pre-election surveys often fall short because previously undecided voters wind up joining the opposition, said Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo. He noted that a death penalty repeal initiative in 2012 led 45 to 38 percent in a poll taken a week before the election but wound up losing 52 to 48 percent. Proposition 62, like the 2012 measure, would abolish capital punishment and replace it with a sentence of life in prison without parole. The poll, taken Sept. 7-13, found strong support among Democrats, independents and residents of coastal counties, with 60 percent backing in the Bay Area. Younger voters were more likely to support Prop. 62 than older ones, and majorities of whites and Asian Americans also favored the measure. The poll also reported uncertain prospects for Prop. 66, a rival initiative sponsored by prosecutors and police groups, which would retain the death penalty and seek to speed up executions by setting tight deadlines for court rulings and limiting appeals. It was supported by 35 percent of likely voters and opposed by 23 percent, with 42 percent undecided. If both measures win a majority, the one with the most affirmative votes will become law. When likely voters were asked the simpler question of which penalty they preferred for first-degree murder, 55 percent favored life without parole and 45 percent favored death, with virtually no respondents undecided, the polling organization said. That compares with a 48 to 40 percent preference for life without parole in 2011 and a 44 to 37 percent preference for death when the question was first asked in 2009. The responses come from an online survey, in English and Spanish, of 942 Californians who said they plan to vote in November and reflect the states overall voting population, the polling group said. Because of the methodology, Field Research considers the percentages reliable with no margin of error, DiCamillo said. Bob Egelko Russian alarms: A new website called PutinTrump.org went live Wednesday. Its the product of veteran journalists terrified by what they see as the most dangerous and overlooked issue of the election: alleged attempts by Russian President Vladimir Putin to tip the presidential election to Republican Donald Trump. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, warned back in July that Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee was an electronic Watergate. The Russian hacking, which also unearthed former Secretary of State Colin Powells emails, are only a part of the story, said PutinTrump.org founder Bill Buzenberg, former head of news for National Public Radio and former chief of the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative reporting organization. Buzenberg said there is evidence that Trump is in debt to Russian oligarchs, but we dont know how much because we cant see his tax returns. Trump was famously confused about Russias annexation of Crimea. His posture toward the takeover and his questioning of U.S. support for NATO allies have also raised wide alarms. Two recent examples are an investigative piece in Newsweek on the dangers Trumps foreign business ties pose to national security, and a U.S. News and World Report story on Putins attempted influence on the election. A choir of Republican foreign policy hands is refusing to support Trump but worries that a lot of GOP voters tell themselves, Well, maybe its OK, Buzenberg said. Were trying to say, this is really not OK. Carolyn Lochhead Leaving Dallas to become food editor of The Chronicle in 1986, I was a reluctant convert to San Franciscos charms. I had been here just once for a conference, and my only forays out of the Embarcadero Hyatt were for dinner at Square One and Stars. My secret desire was to live in Los Angeles, where everything seemed to be happening. Unfortunately there werent any job openings in L.A., but while I was waiting patiently, the position of food editor at The Chronicle opened up. During the interviews, of course I didnt mention my love for Southern California; even then the intense rivalry between the North and South was understood. Although I didnt initially love San Francisco it took a year to feel at home it was easy to embrace the idea of creating a food section that reflected what the Bay Area offered. The plan was to work at The Chronicle five years, but the task of peeling back the layers of what makes San Francisco such a great food city became so captivating that 5 turned into 10 and then 30. In that span weve had two major earthquakes, three recessions, an almost rhythmical retraction and expansion of the dining scene, and the birth, bust and relaunch of the dot-com culture. Lots has changed in the job. Now I dont have to take notes about dishes because photos are a better reminder, and if theres a question on the spelling of an obscure wine, I skip paging through reference books and Google it instead. 30 years, 30 restaurants Timeline: On his 30th anniversary at The Chronicle, Michael Bauer takes a year-by-year look at the 30 most important Bay Area restaurants. For a time it looked as if the restaurant critic was going the way of the typewriter. Yet an individual voice offers an accountability that cant be matched by Yelp, TripAdvisor, Zagat or other crowd-sourced reviews. With so much information at our fingertips, at times one voice speaks louder than dozens. But its still easy to lose perspective. So as my 30th anniversary approached and I set out to create a timeline covering the past three decades of restaurant stories digging up copies of the last 21 years of the Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants and delving into hundreds of articles I began to see patterns, and understand why this place has captivated me for so long. When I arrived in 1986, the food culture was vibrant. Chez Panisse was 15 years old, and in 1980 Alice Waters had opened the upstairs cafe that set the stage for the gourmet pizza craze that wouldnt really catch fire for more than a decade. The two hottest restaurants were Jeremiah Towers Stars and Joyce Goldsteins Square One. In the Napa Valley, Cindy Pawlcyn had opened Mustards in 1983, planting the seeds for a restaurant boom on par with what was happening in San Francisco. I still remember my first visit to Mustards the crackle of the onion rings and the unexpected sweet flavor explosion of the Mongolian pork chops, marinated in hoisin and black bean chile sauce. As much as some things have changed, both dishes are still on the menu. Michael Maloney/The Chronicle 1999 In what was traditionally a mans world, women in 1986 were shaping the local dining scene, thanks to pioneers and leaders like Waters, Goldstein, Pawlcyn, Judy Rodgers, Barbara Tropp, Nancy Oakes and Donna Scala. How was all this possible? I didnt know it at the time, but I came to learn that the Bay Area has long been a center for progressive thinking. Politics, social movements and life are intertwined with what we see on our plates. If it werent for the free speech movement, there probably wouldnt have been a Chez Panisse. If not for the Beat Generation, Im not sure wed celebrate coffee houses as we do today. Peets debuted in Berkeley in 1966 and was the inspiration for Starbucks. Any wonder why today we have such places as Blue Bottle, Ritual, Sightglass and Four Barrel? In the last 30 years, change has come at warp speed, not only in the Bay Area, but across the country where chefs, influenced by travel and the Internet, are producing food that would have been unimaginable when I started. John Storey/Special to the Chronicle After delving into hundreds of stories over the last 30 years, several milestones came as surprises but none more so than when I realized that the majority of local chefs didnt commonly describe their food as Californian until about 2011. That seemed wrong, so I called Joyce Goldstein, who in 2013 wrote Inside the California Food Revolution: Thirty Years that Changed our Culinary Consciousness. She confirmed that local chefs were slow to accept the label. Jason Henry/Special To The Chronicle Partly it had a bad connotation because the California Grill and California Pizza Kitchen so bastardized the cuisine that we were embarrassed, she said. Instead, chefs described their creations with phrases like Japanese with California influences or French with California influences. With hindsight you can look back and see that its California cuisine, Goldstein said. Over the decades, Ive seen the emergence of the Bay Area as a pizza destination, and witnessed a continued casualization of dining. Weve not only put organic produce on restaurant menus, weve also cultivated dozens of other trends, from small plates and communal tables to open kitchens and counter seats. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Weve gone through our silly fusion fads, where just about every ingredient was thrown together for the sake of innovation. I still remember a misguided appetizer of gnocchi with beef and Thai curry sauce at one restaurant. There was also dessert sushi raw cookie dough wrapped around ice cream, and served with wasabi whipped cream and chocolate sauce. It made me wonder if it would ever end, and I prayed that it would. Yet that experimental climate helped create a restaurant world where chefs like Ravi Kapur, Corey Lee and Mourad Lahlou could incorporate their ethnic heritages into their cooking, while still capturing a sense of place. Its become the most exciting trend in the last three decades. Just dont call it fusion. Taking a big picture view of our dining landscape reveals how clearly cyclical it all is. Like the citys own booms and busts, the restaurant industry is buffeted by technology, economics and social change. It seems every five years theres a creative burst, followed by tough economic times and a pullback. But always, the bursts are extraordinary. Our dining scene hasnt suffered the downturns seen in other cities restaurant openings remained robust during the last recession which tells me that in the Bay Area, food and dining are almost considered a necessity. Despite the recession in 2000, I awarded more three-star reviews that year than any other and dubbed it the Golden Age of Dining in the Bay Area. In retrospect, it may have only been the Silver Age of Dining, because a decade later I wrote that 2010 should go down as the most exciting year in Bay Area dining in a quarter of a century. Then five years later, in 2015, a new rush of newcomers (including Octavia, Trestle, Omakase, Petit Crenn and Cala) spurred me to proclaim it the New Golden Age of Dining. I dont think Im prone to hyperbole, but its easy to be a booster about the culinary charms of our city when I can fork into Ravi Kapurs fried oysters with a tissue-thin slice of carpaccio at Liholiho Yacht Club; experience the warm liquid broth in Corey Lees lobster coral xiao long bao at Benu; or marvel at the flaky pastry in the duck basteeya at Mourad Lahlous Mourad. Perhaps my biggest surprise in looking back through the past was that I still feel a newfound excitement of what lies ahead. As I dig deeper into our culture, I realize that in a world of constant change, restaurants remain a stabilizing force. The act of sitting together, interacting and enjoying food continues to grow in importance. Ive never gotten tired of dining out, because theres always something more to discover, more to learn. Every restaurant is exciting, and every night theres a new show. How can I be bored when every plate of food tells a different story? At a time when the world is looking for faster ways to produce more, Clayton Kirchhoffs plan to make less and to do it slower probably seemed like an odd business model. Making great wines here means slowing down, rather than encouraging, the vigor of the grapes, says Kirchhoff. Claytons parents, Craig and Nancy, supported their family growing Merlot and Chardonnay for big wineries. So when Clayton started making Alluvion Tempranillo, as well as a few other wines, in Clarksburg (Yolo County) just five years ago, he had respect for the Deltas blessings of good soil and sun. But he also knew that in a region prized for yields, his project was going to center on producing less. Tempranillo is not unheard of in Clarksburg, and it is often very good here. But usually not this good. If you met Clayton for five minutes (and didnt taste his wine) you might just take in his beard, relaxed manner and big ideas and assume he was a dreamer. Then youd find out how much he works (about 70 hours a week) and how much he drives (400 to 600 miles between his vineyards in Clarksburg and his job as assistant winemaker at White Rock Vineyard in Napa, where the owners kindly let him make his wine) and that he was born in Nebraska. This last bit makes Clayton make more sense he supports his iconoclastic, optimistic West Coast vision with no-nonsense Midwestern tenacity. Under the Alluvion label, Clayton has made Chenin Blanc, a rose, and a Tempranillo. The bottled vintages contain fruit sourced from Clarksburg, but the plan is to grow fruit in-house (at his parents vineyard, also in Clarksburg). So on a 3-acre plot at the Kirchhoff house on the Elk Slough, Clayton with the help of his father, Craig is slowly starting his own small fruit empire, growing Tempranillo, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre, Barbera, Chenin Blanc and few more varietals. Its a lot, Clayton admits. Were trying to see what works well. A recent Barbera crop that turned out fine but not outstanding has found divine purpose as the Communion wine at their familys church, St. Johns Lutheran in midtown Sacramento. Clayton and Craig show me some of the tweaks theyve used to grow extraordinary grapes, from various styles of cover crop to the direction of their rows. Most of the rows in Clarksburg are grown in an east-to-west direction because it follows the property line, he says. Ours are northeast to southwest, for better shade. Clayton chimes in. Yeah, its funny when people come over here and say, Whats wrong with your rows, when are you going to straighten them out? or When are you getting creosote (tar) treated posts? and we just say, Well, were not. Clayton grew up working alongside his father in the vineyards but didnt see his future there. But then a semester abroad in Italy while he was majoring in business at UC Santa Barbara opened his eyes to wine. In 2007, he came back to Clarksburg to work the harvest. And I just started getting very scholarly about wine, he says. He talked to Chris Smith, the winemaker at Bogle, who told him to just get a job in Napa. His first interviewer, found through a Craigslist ad, told him he was too enthusiastic. He finally landed in Faillas tasting room, and immediately started spending all his free time drinking wine, reading about it, and talking about it with other wine-obsessed people. He now knew he was in for the long haul. I figured out that wine makes sense to me, that it was easy and fun to just think about it all day long, he says. Clayton made his very first wine in 2011 out of Tempranillo he bought from Heringer Vineyard in Clarksburg. He furthered his understanding of the grape in 2012, working at Dominio de Pingus, one of Spains greatest wineries, in Spains Ribera del Duero, known for world-class Tempranillo. His Tempranillo is indeed exceptional. It has intense, rich, dark fruit and the slightest bit of freshness, and its all underlaid by spicy cocoa, and then a long, floral finish. It tastes and smells like roses grown on a dusty road. Clarksburg is known for Chenin Blanc, and Clayton really elevates the genre. I have had a lot of watery California Chenin Blancs that were either too sweet or, possibly worse, too sour, like someone was hoping you wouldnt notice that the acid didnt have anything to balance it. Alluvions 2014 is lemony and crisp, and breaks into a floral finish. Most of the attention Clayton receives is for Alluvion, but he and his father have another brand, Kirchhoff, that is an equally big part of his master plan. Kirchhoff wines are generally more popular varietals. Theres a 2013 Chardonnay and two red blends a 2013 Home Ranch Red (now sold out) is Tempranillo with a little Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2014 Red Table blend is Merlot-based. These wines are more fruit forward than Alluvion, but not overdone, and not too oaky. I liked all of Kirchhoffs wines, and loved their 2013 Grenache (now sold out). Light in color but deceptively powerful, it tastes of nearly ripe cherry. Also though one hates to be too ham-fisted about terroir its got a bite that put me in mind of the wall of eucalyptus trees bordering the Kirchhoff vines. Clayton might be the one who pushed his family in the direction of making high-quality wines in Clarksburg, but hes got a small Kirchhoff army behind him. In addition to working closely with his father who good-naturedly points out that he also does a fair amount of hauling grapes to Napa his mother, Nancy, is the money person, and his brother Casey and his wife, Lisa, do packaging and marketing. As a mere 11-year-old, Claytons now 17-year-old sister, Emma, decided to invest along with her brothers (they received a small inheritance) in the infrastructure for the new vines. Clayton makes really good wines, but perhaps more importantly, he has a rare gift for acknowledging that hes talented without sounding arrogant. For me, this isnt about what I can accomplish myself. The fact that this business is something that brings my family together, that we can then share with other people, thats where the real satisfaction is for me. Sarah Miller is a freelance writer: Email: travel@sfchronicle.com Taste the wines Clayton Kirchhoffs wines are available at: Husicks Country Store: 3 6510 Riverview Drive, Clarksburg. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Delta Farmers Market: 2510 Highway 12, Isleton, (916) 777-4000. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Tasting of Delta wines, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Mark Citret Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Victoria Heilweil Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Way back in the early 1990s, before all of San Francisco was seemingly a construction zone, photographer Mark Citret had to go out looking for them. His approach was to find something that was still the bare bones of a foundation, set up his Ansel Adams-style view camera and shoot it as if it were nature at its best. Without pride or embarrassment, I can say that I find the rebar and concrete of a construction site every bit as beautiful as fir trees delicately outlined by freshly fallen snow, and the apparent solidity of an office building as lyrical and ephemeral as fog floating over a sunlit ocean, Citret says. When a female firefighter scored a choice spot at a station in San Franciscos Chinatown, she was immediately met with resistance by her new male colleagues, including one who asked her an intimidating question: Do you know how difficult your time is going to be? A document obtained by The Chronicle outlines details from an independent investigation into just how miserable her life was made in the male-dominated culture of Station 2 at 1340 Powell St., one of the busiest firehouses in the city. The question presented to the female firefighter before her first shift even began was the start of a systematic harassment campaign intended to drive her out of the firehouse, the investigation concluded. But the months of harassment she endured resulted in Chief Joanne Hayes-Whites recent decision to reassign the entire command staff away from the station, blaming deficiencies in leadership for creating a hostile work environment based on gender, according to a separate letter obtained by The Chronicle that was signed by Hayes-White. Investigators found credible claims that the harassment included urination in the female firefighters bed and feces left on the floor of the womens bathroom at the station, among other incidents Hayes-White deemed egregious. After the woman reported it, her co-workers retaliated by branding her a rat, the report says. Written by Micki Callahan, the director of human resources for San Francisco, to Hayes-White, the confidential letter recounts a series of instances in which the female firefighter was harassed and discriminated against because she is a woman. The investigation revealed that the culture at Station 2 is hostile and challenging for females, Callahan wrote in her 13-page letter dated Aug. 31. The harassment began in November 2015, the letter says, when the victim decided to apply to Station 2. It intensified during her first shift in January 2016 and continued for eight shifts through February, when she reported the harassment to department leadership. Her male co-workers, according to Callahans report, openly expressed doubts that she was strong enough to hold her own in the field because she is a woman and more likely than not referred to her as a bitch. The victim told investigators her co-workers tampered with her belongings kept at the firehouse, in one instance pumping her lotion all over the womens bathroom counter and removing her toilet paper. She started snapping pictures of her personal effects at the end of shifts, the woman told investigators, to see if anyone messed with them in her absence. Before she started at Station 2, the woman stopped by to introduce herself on Jan. 10, dropping off her firefighting gear for cleaning, a common practice at the station. A male firefighter was found responsible by investigators for hiding her uniform in a cabinet three days later to make her feel unwelcome. Her gear was never cleaned. The victim waited seven shifts before reporting the alleged misconduct, the report said, because she wanted to resolve the situation herself to avoid having to file a formal complaint. Thats relatively quick for reporting workplace harassment, said Kelly Armstrong, a San Francisco lawyer who has worked on harassment cases for 15 years. Many victims endure the treatment for months or years because theyre afraid of retribution, Armstrong said. Though the report mentioned multiple male firefighters by name, none of them was found specifically responsible for their individual conduct, and witnesses often offered conflicting accounts of the allegations. Hayes-White is responsible for disciplining firefighters in such situations, including meting out suspensions or firings. While no firefighters from Station 2 were fired or suspended, the chief ordered all officers there to be transferred to other firehouses on or around Oct. 8. An independent agency, the San Francisco Fire Commission, must approve disciplinary measures that exceed a 10-day suspension. The commissioners had no knowledge of the case until reading about it in The Chronicle on Wednesday, a representative said, meaning no suspensions exceeding 10 days were issued by Hayes-White following the investigation. Theyre frequently not punished because when employers conduct investigations, many people will be in fear for their jobs if they confirm that they witnessed anything, and people involved may deny involvement or downplay what happened, said Armstrong, a partner with the Armstrong Law Firm. Through a spokesman, Hayes-White declined to comment on the personnel matter. A spokesman also declined to comment on the specific case, citing it as a personnel manner. We have taken swift and comprehensive actions to remedy any situation so that our workplaces are safe and welcoming for all, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a department spokesman. Linda Simon, deputy director of the San Francisco Department of Human Resources, the city agency that investigated the harassment, said earlier this week that her department found sufficient evidence to substantiate these allegations. She declined to confirm details of the confidential city document. Firefighters at Station 2 were required to sign and return to the city a form acknowledging receipt of San Franciscos antiharassment and antidiscrimination policies, according to a separate letter written by Hayes-White. A copy will be kept in their personnel files. Reached by phone, firefighters at Station 2 declined to comment. In her report, Callahan concluded that the female firefighters work environment requires that she rely on her colleagues in dangerous, life-threatening situations, including protecting one another from bodily injury or even death. Therefore, it is crucial that she be able to trust, have confidence in, and feel comfortable with her colleagues and their interest in her welfare to ensure a safe and effective working environment. Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley The family of a man shot and killed by Oakland police last year after he was awakened inside his parked car, allegedly with a gun at his side, will get $1.2 million in a settlement approved by the Oakland City Council. The council approved the payment Tuesday to settle legal action filed on behalf of the mother and three children of Demouria Hogg, 30. This gentlemans life was needlessly taken, said Adante Pointer, one of the familys lawyers in the case. The officers did not use best tactics. They violated their training. Why did they attempt to wake him and then, when he moved, shoot him? It was a very flawed strategy. Police found Hogg inside a BMW on the Interstate 580 off-ramp at Lakeshore Avenue around 7:30 a.m. on June 6, 2015. Through the car window they saw a pistol with an extended magazine on the passengers seat, police said. Officers said they had tried to awaken Hogg with a loudspeaker and rounds fired from a beanbag gun. When that was unsuccessful, two officers broke the drivers side window and attempted to subdue him with a Taser stun gun. But a third officer believed she saw him reach for the gun, and that officer fired two shots, killing Hogg, police said. Police have not revealed the name of the officer who shot Hogg, but her attorney has said she was justified in using deadly force. Pointer said the officers could have reached a peaceful resolution if they had not startled Hogg. No amount of money is going to bring back to this family the person they loved, Pointer said. Were hoping this will make the Oakland Police Department change its tactics. Pointer said he did not know why Hogg had been sleeping in the car with the weapon beside him. Jason Hicks, another lawyer representing Hoggs mother, Allene Hutchinson, and three children, argued in his lawsuit that police negligently assessed the circumstances presented to them and violently confronted (Hogg) without having probable cause. The settlement resolves the lawsuit that sought damages for unreasonable search and seizure, excessive force, interference with familial relationship, false arrest, battery and negligence causing wrongful death. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Oakland police officers set up an online donation fund Wednesday to help the family of a 2-year-old boy struck and killed by an AC Transit bus. The money from the GoFundMe effort will go toward funeral arrangements and other necessities for the family of Jeremiah Leonidas Esera, who was struck and killed by the bus Tuesday afternoon when he ran into the street after a ball. Police Capt. Nishant Joshi and other officers who responded to the tragedy started the fundraising campaign. I met with Jeremiahs family. Understandably, they were devastated, Joshi wrote on the GoFundMe page. As a parent myself, I cannot imagine the pain they are going through. This family was already grieving the loss of another family member, Joshi wrote without elaborating. This only compounded their pain. The effort had raised more than $11,000 as of Wednesday evening. Jeremiah was hit by a 54-line bus at 2 p.m. Tuesday at 35th and Penniman avenues in the Fruitvale neighborhood. The driver, who has been with the transit agency since 1999, was questioned by police and underwent drug and alcohol tests as a matter of protocol, said AC spokesman Robert Lyles. The driver, whose name has not been released, is off duty for nondisciplinary reasons to deal with the tragedy, Lyles said. Joshi wrote that Jeremiahs funeral is set for Friday. Assistant Police Chief David Downing, who also visited the boys family, said officers were heartbroken by the incident. We are part of and love our community, Downing said in a statement. The support our officers have demonstrated is a fine example of the type of police and community interaction we hope to achieve every day. Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno An Air Force pilot killed after a U-2 spy plane he was in crashed about 50 miles north of Sacramento during a routine exercise was identified by military officials Wednesday as a field grade officer. Lt. Col. Ira S. Eadie died in a Tuesday morning crash that left another pilot with non-life-threatening injuries after both ejected from a plane that had left Beale Air Force Base in Yuba County. Born in Ecuador, Mauro Javier Cardenas planned to return home after receiving an education in the United States, with the intention of changing the political environment there. Antonio, one of the principal characters in Cardenas debut novel, The Revolutionaries Try Again, does return to Ecuador. Summoned by a childhood friend with whom he had catechized the poor, in order to run for office and help save the country from corruption, Antonio struggles with the decision, after 10 years, to leave San Francisco. Ultimately, he is compelled by the allure of their youthful idealism, as though by some mysterious force he wants to but cannot deny. Told in winding sentences propelled by interjections and an almost manic energy, The Revolutionaries Try Again (Coffee House Press; $16.95) is both ambitious and irreverent, its language as suffused with childhood jest as with profound, urgent questions of purpose. Cardenas will read from the book as part of Litquake, the 17th annual literary festival that will run Oct. 6-15. Sponsored by The Chronicle, Litquake will present an immense range of topics by roughly 800 authors at 200 events, from conversations between the likes of Michelle Tea and Daniel Handler to readings by first-time novelists Yaa Gyasi and Emma Cline, and panels that range from New Normal: The Politics of Parenting to Equality or Progress: Urban Development in the Bay Area. Litquake 2016 Litquake guide, 2016 At a coffee shop in Hayes Valley, wearing all black but for a colorful T-shirt and scarf, and holding a motorcycle helmet, Cardenas looks like a bohemian rock star. His dark shades complement a head full of black curls, and he has a serious but animated disposition, ready to laugh in an instant. Cardenas started his novel more than 12 years ago, toward the end of the dot-com boom. He recalls people waiting in long lines for coffee, expecting to get rich. My friends and I would get a lot of pride out of thinking, Oh, were different, because we care about the arts, he said. We would just make fun of what was happening. But intentions only go so far. In Cardenas novel, before Leopoldo beckons him home, Antonio justifies his vanished impulse to return to Ecuador with his discovery of Jorge Luis Borges, Virginia Woolf and Alexander Scriabin. What are the things that you create for yourself in order not to do what we should be doing? Cardenas asked. Antonio creates all these kinds of visions of himself in order to think that hes doing something when hes not. The author has few such illusions. I did not set out to write the book to say this will have a political impact, he said. I set out very specifically with the goal of creating a weird object that was unique to me. To Cardenas, literature has no role in politics. Literature should be about doing weird things and creating strange objects that didnt exist before. At the same time, I also believe the things we read have an impact on us, he said. Now, whether or not we read about the injustices of the world, and that makes any difference Im a little bit skeptical. I think the world of literature is slower in many ways; its about creating a space for thinking deeply about the world. ... It becomes part of our lives, and it can have an impact; its just much slower. Cardenas explains the place of his own life within the world of the novel as part of a stew: You have a stew, youre putting things into the stew, and some of it is your autobiography, some of it is what you read, what you heard all of this gets combined, and whats alive on the page is what goes in. After graduating with, as he says, a degree in econ and no idea what to do with my life, Cardenas enrolled at UC Berkeley Extension, seeking out topics that would interest him. He took a writing course, and came across the novel Hopscotch, by Julio Cortazar. My thinking was, fiction might be the place where I can amalgamate everything that I know. At Litquake, he will participate in a tribute to Cortazar, along with Stephen Kessler, Lewis Buzbee, Silvia Oviedo-Lopez and Katherine Silver. They will discuss the late Argentine authors life and read from his work at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Green Apple Books on the Park, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco. Because there are roughly 10 Litquake events a night, the festival often receives complaints that there are too many options for instance, Cardenas is also reading as part of Global Fiction: Litquakes International Night, which, he points out, overlaps with a conversation between Claudia Rankine and Sarah Ladipo Manyika. The writing landscape has changed here, Jack Boulware, festival co-founder, said by phone. There are not the complete off-the-grid-type writers and spoken-word artists that used to be here its too expensive for that kind of stuff to continue. But there are a lot of people who bounce around from job to job, and are kind of bohemian in their outlook on what a career path should be, or what their long-term goals are. They seem to still want to go see cool things, and be inspired by cool things. Litquake co-founder Jane Ganahl added that although they have tried to scale back the festival, each year there are more organizations that want to be part of it; each year there are more authors. Thats where things like Litquake become important, Cardenas said. Litquakes a ritual. Its a ritual in which people who love books gather. And I think that ritual becomes a way of sustaining ourselves while the city is going through all these changes. Evan Karp is the creator of Quiet Lightning and Litseen.com. Twitter: @Litseen Number of the day $555 million Thats at least how much Airbnb has raised in new funds, valuing the company at $30 billion, according to a person familiar with the matter. The San Francisco companys funding round could reach $850 million, said the person, who asked not to be identified because talks are ongoing. Technology Crossover Ventures is among the lead investors, said another person familiar with the matter. Google Capital will also lead the financing, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. A Big Bang for their bucks The Big Bang Theory claims TVs four best-paid actors, according to the annual list released Thursday by Forbes. Jim Parsons, left, led with $25.5 million for the year ending in June, Forbes said, followed by Johnny Galecki ($24 million), Simon Helberg ($22.5 million) and Kunal Nayyar ($22 million). Forbes list of TV actresses, released last week, had Kaley Cuoco at $24.5 million, putting her second behind Sofia Vergara of Modern Fam ily ($43 million). Tesla tones down Autopilot Tesla says its latest software update will disable automatic steering if drivers dont keep their hands on the wheel. The Palo Alto company, which started moving the update to Model X SUV and Model S sedan owners Wednesday night over the Internet, is enhancing the radar system so Autopilot will work better in bright sun and bad weather. If drivers ignore three warnings to place their hands on the wheel, automatic steering will be disabled and wont resume until the car is parked. As in earlier versions, the car will slow to a stop if the warnings are ignored. Compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: @techbriefing The California Supreme Court unanimously agreed on Wednesday to hear a lower-court case that some Internet companies say has the potential to chill free speech online. The case was brought by San Francisco lawyer Dawn Hassell, who said a former client named Ava Bird posted defamatory reviews of her on Yelp. She sued Bird, who did not appear in court, and a San Francisco judge ruled that the reviews were indeed defamatory. The judge ordered Yelp to remove the reviews in a decision that was upheld by a second judge and a state appeals court. But Yelp, as well as a whos who of Internet companies, said the case would create a dangerous precedent, opening a pathway for people or companies to gut online content they find distasteful. It has not taken down the reviews, pending the appeal. Aaron Schur, Yelps senior director of litigation, said in a statement that the San Francisco reviews site is happy the high court will hear the case: We look forward to making our full arguments to the Court and explaining how the lower court's decision is ripe for abuse, contradicts long-standing legal principles, and restricts the ability of websites to provide a balanced spectrum of views online. Monique Olivier, a San Francisco lawyer who represented Hassell, said the lawsuit is being misrepresented as a free-speech issue. That simply is not the case, she said. The speech at issue here is not protected speech but speech adjudicated to be defamatory. There are decades of jurisprudence finding that defamatory speech is not protected by the First Amendment. Eric Goldman, co-director of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University, had a different take. You could imagine the floodgates opening up with businesses trying to do exactly what Hassell did to get rid of unwanted reviews on any user-generated content site anywhere on the Web, he said. Basically the case creates a playbook that other businesses could use to remove unwanted content, Goldman said. Step 1: Business sues review author. Step 2: Review author doesnt appear in court or agrees to drop out of the case. Step 3: Business asks the court for an injunction requiring removal of the review. Since Bird, the reviewer, did not appear in court, Goldman said that meant the original court only heard one side of the case that of Hassell and therefore was more likely to rule for that side by default, finding that the material was defamatory and targeting it for removal. But Olivier said that the decision was based on evidence and testimony for Hassells side, and was not a default judgment. Yelp was not a party to the original lawsuit and so did not get a day in court to make its case. The California appeals court said Yelp had no standing to protest an injunction against it, Goldman said. That contradicts basic due process that we learned in kindergarten. Yelp was ordered to do something without ever having a chance to tell the court its side of the story. The appeals court said that the case did not violate the 1996 Communications Decency Act, a federal law that shields Internet companies for liability for online content, because Yelp was not declared liable, but simply ordered to remove the disputed content. The state Supreme Court is likely to take at least a year to issue a ruling. Many Internet companies are watching the case with keen interest. The lower-court ruling could be used to silence a vast quantity of protected and important speech, Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft wrote in a letter to the California Supreme Court last month. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid WASHINGTON Outraged Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday grilled the head of pharmaceutical company Mylan about the significant cost increase of its life-saving EpiPen and the profit for a company with sales in excess of $11 billion. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch held up an EpiPen as she 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, she said, but maintained that her company doesnt 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. Republicans and Democrats have said families struggling to pay for the shots have every right to be angry at Mylan. Opening the hearing, committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said high executive pay at Mylan doesnt add up for a lot of people as the EpiPen price has increased. Chaffetz said executives for the company made $300 million over five years while the list price for a pair of the emergency allergy shots rose. Parents dont have a choice, Chaffetz said. If your loved one needs this, it better darn well be in your backpack. Bresch said the company makes only $50 in profit on each EpiPen. But Chaffetz said he finds that a little hard to believe. 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 EpiPens handy at home, school or work, but the syringes, filled 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. Bresch has some familiarity with Capitol Hill she is the daughter of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. But lawmakers so far havent given any deference to her because she is related to a colleague. Several other committees have called for investigations into the matter. Bresch noted that Mylan has said it will begin selling a two-pack of its generic version for $300. That will still bring Mylan tens of millions of dollars while helping retain market share against current and future brand-name and generic competition. Chaffetz said he is skeptical that the company will lose any money on the generic versions. This is why we dont believe you, he said. A federal judge has granted class-action status to Walmart investors suing the worlds largest retailer over allegations that it covered up a bribery scheme in Mexico to help its business there. The allegations included that Walmarts Mexican unit paid millions of dollars in bribes to speed building permits and gain other favors. In a ruling this week, U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey in Fayetteville, Ark., dismissed Walmarts argument that a Michigan retirement fund could not lead a class-action suit because it suffered no related financial losses. Walmarts 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 Walmart 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 Walmart, said the company is considering its options, including an appeal. We continue to believe that the claims here are not appropriate for certifying class, he said. Investors said Walmart 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 didnt alert U.S. 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 Walmart that claimed they allowed and concealed alleged bribery in the companys Mexico division. Chief Judge William Riley wrote for the 8th U.S. 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 courts dismissal. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 San Jose Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 5 San Jose Police Department Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 San Jose Police Department Show More Show Less 5 of 5 A 25-year-old San Jose man suspected of robbing six banks in two months has been arrested and criminally charged, officials said Thursday. Spencer Havens was suspected of robbing banks in San Jose, Cupertino and Sunnyvale. In San Jose, he went to Chase and Wells Fargo banks last month and handed the tellers notes demanding cash and claiming he had a gun. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate An Oakland man was sentenced to death Wednesday for killing 8-year-old Alaysha Carradine in 2013 by spraying bullets into a sleepover party in the Dimond neighborhood and then gunning down a 22-year-old man during a robbery two months later in Berkeley. Darnell Williams Jr., 25, was transferred to San Quentin State Prison after Alameda County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Horner handed down the sentence in an emotionally charged courtroom, where family members of the victims sobbed and screamed at Williams, Why did you do it? How dare you try to get life in prison without parole when you killed two people, said Dolanda Moore, the mother of 22-year-old Anthony Medearis III, the second victim. Its like, yes, hes on Death Row, but hes still eating three meals a day. It baffles me. Horner denied defense motions for a new trial and an altered verdict, sentencing Williams to 172 years to life in prison in addition to the death sentence. As he read his decision, Williams sat quietly, staring straight ahead with his hand on his chin. His case will automatically be appealed to the California Supreme Court. California has not executed an inmate since 2006, when a federal judge put a moratorium on the states lethal injections by finding that they caused undue harm that amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. Williams fate, like those of others sentenced to die, is tied to the outcome of the November election, when California voters will cast a ballot for two competing propositions, one to abolish the death penalty and the other to speed it up. The sentencing capped off a case that horrified Oakland and focused attention on efforts to cut violent crime in the city. It began July 17, 2013, when Alaysha answered a doorbell at a sleepover and was shot in the neck by a gunman who hadnt waited for the door to open before firing and then continued to fire after it opened. Williams was seeking revenge for the killing of his friend Jermaine Davis just hours before in Berkeley, said Deputy District Attorney John Brouhard. The defendant went to the house on Wilson Avenue believing he would find Antiown York, whom he blamed for Davis death. The apartment belonged to Yorks ex-girlfriend and the mother of his two children. Alaysha, called Ladybug by her family, was there playing with a group of children. A 4-year-old boy, his 7-year-old sister and their 64-year-old grandmother were wounded by the gunfire but survived. Before the homicide could be solved, on Sept. 8, 2013, Williams attempted to rob Medearis and fatally shot the father of two young children as he ran away from a dice game in Berkeley, prosecutors said. In statements read in court Wednesday, family members of Alaysha and Medearis described how the killings pierced their lives. I really dont understand how one person can inflict so much pain on two different families, said Jackie Winters, Medearis aunt, who became a fixture at Williams court hearings and called him a cold-blooded killer. Shemeka Edwards, Medearis 30-year-old sister, excoriated Williams for, in her view, failing to show remorse. This man doesnt have a soul, she said, as her sobbing prompted others in the gallery to break into tears. How dare he look at me or my mother in the eyes. Chiquita Carradine, Alayshas mother, couldnt emotionally bear coming to court, said Brouhard, who read her statement to the judge. Our heart aches from the pain of not having her here with us, the mother wrote. She didnt deserve any of this. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Barbara Beno, the controversial president of the commission that for four years has tried to revoke accreditation from City College of San Francisco, will retire in June though not before her agency makes its final decision about the schools fate in January. Beno has led the private, nonprofit Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges since 2001 and earned an annual salary of $363,000, including nearly $39,000 in benefits, in 2013, the most recent public records show. Although not a voting member of the commission, Beno is a lightning rod for faculty and student anger over its handling of the colleges accreditation troubles. She is soft-spoken and prefers to be out of the public eye. Yet she is widely regarded as a high inquisitor for Californias 113 community colleges who wields strong influence over the 19 voting commissioners. I am going to retire in June after putting in 30 years in community college work, and university work before that. It is time for some new adventures, Beno said. Beno, who has a doctorate in sociology, was president of Vista Community College (now Berkeley City College) for 12 years until 2000. She spent a year working in human resources in the San Mateo Community College District before joining the accrediting commission, based in Novato, in 2001. In 2012, when the commission first alerted City College that its accreditation was in jeopardy because of significant problems with fiscal management, governance, student services and technology, Beno had the strong support of state community college officials. A year later, the commission that had overseen campus quality for half a century was the subject of two lawsuits, a state audit, a federal reprimand and vitriol from Southern California to Sacramento. Now, the federal recognition that gives it the right to oversee community college accreditation in California, Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Islands is in jeopardy. This month, three members of Congress Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco; Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough; and Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto urged the U.S. Department of Education to withdraw recognition. In November, Californias community college officials voted to replace the commission with a new system a process that will take a few years. Beno made headlines in 2012 by making it clear that the commission would revoke City Colleges accreditation and shut the college down unless it fixed problems identified by the commission in just eight months, by March 2013. After the college failed to meet the deadline, Beno announced that the commission would revoke the colleges accreditation on July 31, 2014. The approach shocked not only the activist faculty members and students who had staged loud protests against the commission and Beno, but state officials who had expected that by helping the college work hard it would get more time to come into compliance. They were wrong. Only a lawsuit filed by San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera delayed the revocation effort past the deadline but did not end it. Beno and the commission hired lawyers who in 2014 vigorously defended their right to revoke the colleges accreditation. Eventually, federal officials pressured the commission to give City College two more years to comply. That time limit is up in January. City College trustees say they are confident that theyll be found fully compliant when accreditation inspectors visit the school, where enrollment has plunged from nearly 100,000 full- and part-time students to roughly 60,000. The trustees say students fears about accreditation are partly to blame for the drop-off. Upon learning that Beno will retire next year well after the commission decides the colleges fate trustees were cautious in their remarks. Were focused on getting ready for the accreditation team visit that starts in a few weeks, said Trustee John Rizzo, who was president in 2012 when the accrediting hammer came down. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov A new film called "Birth of the Dragon," detailing actual events from martial arts legend and actor Bruce Lee's life, has just released its first full-length trailer. The movie stars Hong Kong's Philip Ng as Lee and Xia Yu as his real life rival Wong Jack Man, and centers around the duo's much contested 1965 fight in San Francisco. NEW YORK Investigators of last weekends bombings have released an image of two men who took a suitcase they found on a city street, possibly without realizing a wired pressure cooker they removed from it and left behind could have blown them to bits. Police investigating the bombings in New York and New Jersey have been saying for several days they were looking for the men, who they stressed were being sought as potential witnesses in the case, not as suspects. Theyre not in any jeopardy of being arrested, Jim Watters, chief of the New York Police Departments counterterrorism unit, said this week. We have no reason to believe theyre connected. Federal prosecutors have charged Ahmad Khan Rahami with detonating a pipe bomb in a New Jersey shore town on Saturday morning and a pressure cooker bomb in New York Citys Chelsea neighborhood later that night. Thirty-one people were injured in the New York blast. A second pressure cooker bomb left in Manhattan didnt explode and is the subject of the latest public plea. Prosecutors said surveillance video shows Rahami rolling a suitcase down the street, then abandoning it on the sidewalk where that second device was found. A few minutes later, two men pass by the luggage and appear to admire it, police said. They then remove a pressure cooker from the luggage, leave the pressure cooker on the sidewalk and walk away with the luggage. I think they were more interested in the bag, not what they were taking out, Watters said, adding that they were very, very lucky the bomb didnt explode. In other developments: Investigators have not yet questioned Rahami because of the severity of his injuries. He was wounded during a shootout with police in New Jersey and remains hospitalized. Mohammad Rahami, Rahamis father, says he told the FBI in 2014 his son looked at al Qaeda and Taliban videos and poetry, and advised agents to keep an eye on him. The FBI says it looked into Rahami and found nothing tying him to terrorism. A law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Rahamis wife has returned to the United States. She made a statement to authorities this week after walking into the U.S. Embassy in the United Arab Emirates. Investigators say shes not suspected of any wrongdoing. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PITTSBURGH Lamenting a lack of spirit between whites and blacks, Donald Trump encouraged racial unity Thursday even as he called for one of the nations largest cities to adopt stop and frisk policing tactics that have been widely condemned as racial profiling by minority leaders. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat who supports his partys nominee Hillary Clinton, slammed Trumps call for more stop and frisk as appalling. The Republican presidential contender, eager to blunt criticism that his campaign inspires racism, confronted racial tensions after police shootings of black men in Oklahoma and North Carolina. Trump, as he has for much of his unorthodox presidential bid, offered a decidedly mixed message as he confronted the delicate issue. It just seems that theres a lack of spirit between the white and the black, he said in a phone interview on Fox News Fox and Friends. 'Its a terrible thing that were witnessing. The New York billionaire then falsely suggested violence in Chicago is worse than that of Afghanistan and endorsed a policing method that a federal judge said New York City had used unconstitutionally because of its overwhelming impact on minority residents. I think Chicago needs stop and frisk, Trump said. 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, you know, the war-torn nations. There have been 2,521 shooting incidents this year in Chicago, according to the most recent preliminary police figures. The United Nations assistance mission in Afghanistan documented a total of 11,002 civilian casualties in 2015 3,545 people killed and 7,457 injured, exceeding the previous record set in 2014. Just this week, 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. Its unbearable and it needs to become intolerable. The Democratic nominee has made curbing gun violence and police brutality a central part of her candidacy. She has also 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. Clinton has no public events Thursday as she focuses on preparing for next weeks opening debate. But her campaign introduced plans to spend $30 million on digital advertising as she seeks to connect with young voters including young African Americans and Latinos who increasingly get their news online. Fairfield Police Department / / Fairfield police identified a man who was found stabbed to death on Wednesday and released video of a person of interest in the homicide. Mark Merle Pyne, 57, of Fairfield, was found by officers on Monday after police were called about 4:45 p.m. to investigate reports of a man who was not breathing in the 1700 block of West Texas Street. In what San Francisco officials are calling a victory in the fight to retain working-class families in a rapidly gentrifying city, the federal government ruled Wednesday that it will allow the city to apply an anti-displacement preference to the new Willie B. Kennedy senior apartment complex in the Western Addition. While the Department of Housing and Urban Development is still rejecting the citys neighborhood preference legislation, which it says violates the 1968 Fair Housing Act, the ruling will allow 40 percent of the 98 units in Willie B Kennedy to be prioritized for residents who live in low-income neighborhoods undergoing displacement and experiencing advanced gentrification, as defined by a research analysis conducted by UC Berkeley. That includes census tracts in the Western Addition, Bayview, Russian Hill, Mission and South of Market neighborhoods. The ruling comes six weeks after HUD said that the city neighborhood preference law, which passed this year, violated the Fair Housing Act. The legislation set aside 40 percent of units in subsidized developments for residents already living in the supervisor district or within a half mile of the project. The city appealed that ruling and then sent a delegation to Washington to meet with HUD officials to discuss alternative local preferences that might be legal. More than 6,000 people have applied for the Willie B. Kennedy complex, which was developed by the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp. Originally a lottery to choose residents was scheduled for Wednesday, but the city delayed it because it was expecting to hear from HUD about the preference. Mayor Ed Lee, who sent his top housing officials to Washington to lobby HUD, said the ruling represented important progress in our efforts to halt the displacement of residents at greatest risk of being forced out of the city they know and love. This will thwart the outmigration of African American and Latino communities who have been deeply impacted by the challenging housing market, he said. He called Willie B. Kennedy a lifeline for many seniors in the Western Addition who were hoping to remain in the neighborhood. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who had lobbied HUD Secretary Julian Castro to allow the neighborhood preference, said Secretary Castro deserves praise for achieving a solution that ensures San Francisco residents at the highest risk of displacement due to gentrification have priority in newly developed affordable housing. Board of Supervisors President London Breed, who grew up in public housing across the street from the Willie B. Kennedy development, called the decision a monumental victory for everyone who like me is struggling to stay in San Francisco. It wasnt easy, but this was never about doing what was easy, she said. It was about doing what is right. It was about fighting for a community thats been there for me since I was a young girl in public housing. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate North Korea, like many countries, has its own country code top-level domain name. This means any Web address that ends with ".kp" is linked to the notoriously isolated nation, much like addresses that end ".de" are linked to Germany and ".jp" are linked to Japan. What's unusual, however, is how few websites actually use that address. Thanks to an apparent mistake, North Korea has revealed that only 28 websites use the ".kp" domain name. That's a remarkably small number. To put it in perspective, more than 16 million addresses end with Germany's ".de" domain name. Many of the websites with the ".kp" domain name are familiar to North Korea watchers. They include kcna.kp or rodong.rep.kp, which belong to the state news agency and the state newspaper, respectively, or the website of Air Koryo, the national airline. But others are more unusual. One, apparently titled "Friend" at the address friend.com.kp, appeared to be some kind of social network. Another - cooks.org.kp - showed off recipes, while korfilm.com.kp was devoted to North Korean movies. All seem to be in keeping with the rudimentary Web design skills that are a hallmark of North Korea's online presence. In fact, many of the websites appeared to have stopped functioning at all by Wednesday morning. Their administrators were perhaps unprepared for the traffic coming their way after Doug Madory, a researcher at Internet monitor Dyn, uploaded the details of the ".kp" domain name to GitHub, a website popular with programmers, on Tuesday. Madory, who told Vice's Motherboard website that he was "a nerd who's obsessed with DNS," or domain name servers, had noticed that North Korea's system administrators had made a mistake that allowed outside users to query websites that used the ".kp" name. His discovery soon made its way to Reddit, where thousands of users quickly began exploring the websites they found. "Bet NK has one less DNS administrator now," one Reddit user observed. Perhaps, but there's no major revelations in the ".kp" domain. The small number of websites that use the domain isn't exactly surprising - only a few thousand North Korean citizens, if that, have access to the Internet. The vast majority of the country can access only a closed national intranet known as the Kwangmyong - a network of government-approved websites that are thought to number a few thousand. No parts of that network were revealed in this leak. But the leak does raise an interesting question: If most North Korean citizens can't access these websites and the rest of the world discovers through a leak that the sites exist, who is their target audience? Adam Taylor writes about foreign affairs for The Washington Post. Originally from London, he studied at the University of Manchester and Columbia University. An ultra-rare supercar worth more than $1 million was demolished, annihilated and flattened beyond repair in Mexico when the driver lost control, hit a curb and continued to somersault in the air multiple times before the weekend, according to media reports. The car, a Koenigsegg CCX, is priced at $1.4 million and only a few dozen exist in the world. The Waffle Taco. The Pizza Cake. Loaded Doritos. Love them or hate them, these weird menu items are being cranked out by some of America's beloved fast-food chains and dominating on social media. In the last few years, chains have becomes obsessed with creating bizarre food concoctions in the hopes of creating a buzz-worthy new bestseller. Waffles and tacos? Sure. Bacon and milkshakes? Sounds good. Pizza and cake? Why not. Related: 7 Fast Food Restaurants That Feature Secret Menus With social-media savvy customers ready to Instagram and Tweet about their bizarre orders, the mashup market is hotter than ever. A freaky food item is bound to spread across Twitter and Facebook like wildfire, giving fast-food companies a chance to garner the attention of the highly sought-after millennial market. There's more innovation in the world of fast-food franchises than ever -- and that's a good thing, whether or not you want to try Carl's Jr.'s "Bisnut." Here are some of the most famous and infamous fast food mashups sweeping the world. Cheetos Quesadilla Image credit: Taco Bell Philippines Taco Bell has been a leader in introducing snack-infused menu items. This time, the Tex-Mex chain has combined Americas popular chip Cheetos with its simple cheesy quesadilla. The new mashup is only available for a limited time at Taco Bell branches in the Philippines. The Hamdog Why didnt someone think of this sooner? After leaving a bar in Nashville with most likely a case of the drunchies, entrepreneur Mark Murray picked up a hamburger and hot dog. Eating both at the same time, Murray came up with the genius idea that makes our lives easier: a hamdog. The Hamdog features a burger patty with a hot dog sausage running through it and comes with a custom bun molded to the peculiar shape. Hamdogs are available in Australia and are making their way to the U.S. in 2017. Loaded Doritos For true Doritos fans, making nachos isn't cheesy enough. Loaded Doritos are aimed at Doritos obsessives who want their cheese inside their chips. The warm nacho cheese with Doritos breading debuted at 7-Eleven on Wednesday. Related: KFC to Bring Back the Infamous Double Down The Bisnut The weirdest thing about this mashup is the name. Carl's Jr. apparently decided that if the croissant-doughnut hybrid Cronut was a hit, then the biscuit-meets-doughnut Bisnut should be as well. The actual product is less exciting than its moniker: essentially, it's a biscuit shaped like a doughnut, with icing and sprinkles. Doritos Locos Tacos Before the Cronut and the Waffle Taco, Doritos Locos was the freshest mashup in the food world when it was released in 2012. Taco Bell released sold more than a billion Doritos Locos Tacos in the first year it was available. The taco chain is still releasing new flavors, with Spicy Chicken Cool Ranch as a recent limited time offering. Bacon Shake In 2012, Jack in the Box decided to combine two All-American favorites in a bacon milkshake. While the fast-food chain no longer offers the mashup shake according to their website, you can still fulfill your bacon milkshake cravings at Sonic, with the Peanut Butter & Bacon Shake. Waffle Taco Taco Bell jumpstarted the quirky food trend in 2014 with its breakfast roll out in March. The chain's first foray into breakfast offered items including breakfast burritos and AM Crunchwraps, but what grabbed the public's attention was the Waffle Taco. "I'd rather have people have an opinion than no opinion. I don't want to be in the land of same-ness," Taco Bell President Brian Niccol told Entrepreneur.com regarding the launch. "I'd rather be in the land of, you either love it, or you can tell me why you don't love it. What I don't want is bland." Related: The Real Reason Taco Bell Made the Waffle Taco Chicken Corsage Calling KFC's Chicken Corsage a fast-food innovation is a bit of a stretch, seeing as it's just a classic drumstick attached to baby's breath flowers and a ribbon. However, as the chicken-chain's commercial for the product hit 645,000 views on Youtube in the product's week, it is certainly getting the attention of chicken hungry high schoolers. Specialty Chicken As chicken became an increasingly hot commodity in 2014, Domino's beefed up offerings with the Specialty Chicken. The offering substitutes fried chicken for dough as the base for pizza toppings, with options including Crispy Bacon and Tomato, Spicy Jalapeno and Pineapple, Classic Hot Buffalo and Sweet BBQ Bacon. Pizza Cake Image credit: Boston Pizza Pizza Cake isn't on the market yet. The mega-pizza won Boston Pizza's Pizza Game Changers campaign in April. The campaign allowed customers to vote online for their favorite innovative or just plain bizarre pizza products, with the winner eventually making it to market. In addition to the Pizza Cake, options included cheese clippers, pizza mints, a gas powered pizza cutter and a pizza protector guaranteed to keep hungry roommates away. Related: Like It or Not, 'Pizza Cake' Could Soon Be a Thing Cheetos Chicken Fries Move over Doritos Locos tacos, Burger King has unveiled its latest snack-infused item, Cheetos Chicken Fries, which are fried and covered in Cheetos-flavored breading. After being removed from the menu in 2005, chicken fries were reintroduced in 2014 and have grown in popularity. Time will only tell if this new whacky mashup will also be a hit. (Rose Leadem) Related: Taco Bell's New Snack-Infused Item Is Cheesier Than Ever McDonald's Will Soon Have Self-Serve Kiosks and Mobile Ordering in U.S. Stores McDonald's Is Finally Catching Up to Other Fast Food Chains in One Big Way Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - September 21, 2016) - On Thursday, Sept. 22, the Fraser Institute will release a new study examining health-care performance and spending in Canada. The study, Less Ottawa, More Province: How Decentralization is Key to Health Care Reform, spotlights how past federal welfare reforms offer lessons for Ottawa and the provinces struggling today with rising health-care costs and long wait times. A news release with additional information will be issued via Marketwired on Sept. 22 at 5:30 a.m. (Eastern). MEDIA CONTACTS: Ben Eisen, Director, Provincial Prosperity Studies Fraser Institute Bacchus Barua, Senior Economist, Health Policy Studies Fraser Institute For media interviews or for more information, please contact: Bryn Weese Media Relations Specialist, Fraser Institute Office: (604) 688-0221 ext. 589 bryn.weese@fraserinstitute.org Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter / Like us on Facebook The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institute's independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org. Friend or Foe? The Senate Wants It Both Ways With Saudi Arabia After a summer in which the members of the United States Senate have spent more time on the campaign trail than in Washington, they were hoping to skip town again at the end of this week, not to return until the election. However, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is now promising to keep the body in session into next week, for what might look like a puzzling reason. McConnell wants to be in Washington in order to try to override an expected presidential veto of a bill that would allow the families of victims of the 9/11 attacks to sue the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over allegations that it provided support to the terrorists who killed thousands of Americans on that day 15 years ago. Related: Fiscal Hawks: Why Is No One Talking About the Deficit? That vote will take place just days after McConnell led a successful effort to scuttle a plan to block the sale of arms to ... Saudi Arabia. Confused? The bill that would allow federal judges to waive sovereign immunity and allow lawsuits against Saudi Arabia is strongly opposed by the Obama administration for a number of reasons, the most significant of which is that if revoking sovereign immunity becomes an accepted response to conflict, U.S. diplomats and businesspersons working overseas could be hauled into court by citizens of other countries. However, the anger at the memory of the attacks and at the possibility that high-ranking members of the Saudi royal family might have been involved in helping to finance Al Qaeda, the group behind it, has Republicans in Congress as well as many of their Democratic colleagues, ready to defy the president. McConnell made it clear that he is ready to oblige them, even at the risk of keeping Republican senators away from the campaign trail and damaging relations with one of the countrys closest allies in the Middle East. And thats what makes his position on a bill that would bar arms sales to the Kingdom so puzzling. Related: Abolish Social Security? Gary Johnson's Libertarian Party Gets a Closer Look Story continues On Tuesday, he told reporters that he would aggressively oppose a measure meant to block arms sales to Saudi Arabia because U.S.-supplied arms are apparently being used against civilian populations in Yemen, where the Saudis are leading a coalition against the rebel Houthi. Taking into account McConnells willingness to let Americans sue Saudi Arabia, his defense of the arms sale seems a bit off-key. The Saudis have in many, many ways been good allies over the years, he told reporters Tuesday. I think its important to the United States to maintain as good a relationship with Saudi Arabia as possible," McConnell also said Tuesday, according to Bloomberg News. That apparently doesnt extend to relations in the courtroom. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) The lone American in orbit will end up voting for president from the International Space Station, if her homecoming is delayed. NASA astronaut Kate Rubins said Thursday that she doesn't know yet whether she'll return to Earth in late October as planned. The Russians have delayed the next crew launch for technical reasons. It was supposed to take place Friday, but it's off for at least a month. READ MORE: NASA astronaut wears spacesuit painted in Houston by kids with cancer Rubins and her two crewmates a Russian and Japanese can't come home until the next three-person crew arrives. NASA likes to have an overlap of several days, if not more. Rubins told The Associated Press she got an absentee ballot before she rocketed away in July, just in case. When she's not in space, home is Houston, Texas, but in this case, the absentee ballot lists her address as "low-Earth orbit." "It's very incredible that we're able to vote from up here," she said, "and I think it's incredibly important for us to vote in all of the elections." American astronaut Shane Kimbrough is waiting in Russia to join her at the space station, along with two Russians. READ MORE: 'Snake' spotted in NASA Mars photo feeds growing conspiracy theory Rubins said she's got plenty to keep busy, regardless of when she returns. There is so much science work up there, "Nobody would mind too much if we got extended a little bit. We would be able to get a lot of research done." A professional virus hunter before becoming an astronaut, Rubins, 37, last month became the first person to perform full-blown DNA decoding, or sequencing, in space. She's already racked up more than 1 billion base pairs, which are the building blocks of DNA. The pocket-size sequencing device was launched over the summer by SpaceX, currently grounded by a launch pad accident on Sept. 1. Rubins said the biomolecule sequencer has worked surprisingly well in space, despite the different way bubbles and fluids behave in weightlessness. READ MORE: At Mission Control, Chris Kraft guided astronauts from launch to landing All of the sequencing data are beamed down immediately to scientists on the ground, so any potential delays in SpaceX deliveries and return shipments won't hamper the experiment. This real-time processing will prove beneficial for diagnosing astronaut illnesses in the future, Rubins said, as well as ascertaining any potential bacterial outbreak in the orbiting outpost itself. The space station, meanwhile, is well-stocked with both supplies and research materials, Rubins said. In fact, she has "more work than I have hours to do in the day." Orbital ATK, NASA's other station supplier, is targeting Oct. 9 or soon thereafter for its next shipment, after being grounded for two years by a launch explosion. "Spaceflight is a tricky business," Rubins told the AP. "It is definitely difficult, and I think we forget that sometime." ___ Online: NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html Greece, Iceland and Slovenia are the latest countries to add their submissions to the list of contenders for the foreign-language Oscar. The Greek Ministry of Culture has selected comedy Chevalier (pictured), which premiered at the 2015 Locarno Film Festival, as Greeces entry. The film is directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari, who co-wrote alongside Efthimis Filippou (The Lobster). The film focuses on a group of six men on a fishing trip on a luxury yacht in the middle of the Aegean Sea for whom everything is a competition. They decide to play a game rating each others skills and personal attributes to determine who is best among them, the victor winning the Chevalier ring. It was named best film in the official competition section of last years BFI London Film Festival. Runar Runarssons coming-of-age drama Sparrows will fly the flag for Iceland. Written and directed by Runarsson, whose short film The Last Farm was nominated for the Oscar for best live action short in 2006, Sparrows tells the story of a teenager whose life in the big city is disrupted after he is sent by his mother to live with his father and grandmother in a small fishing village in the north of Iceland. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015. Slovenias entry will be docu-fiction Houston, We Have a Problem, Ziga Vircs film exploring a myth that former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito sold a secret multibillion-dollar space program to the U.S. in return for international aid. The film blends reality and fiction, recreating history through the prism of conspiracy theories and inviting the audience to decide what is invented and what is true. Virc co-wrote the film with his brother Bostjan. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April. Lebanon also entered the race this week with the submission of Mir-Jean Bou Chaayas debut comedy drama Very Big Shot. The film, whic Bou Chaaya co-wrote with Alain Saadeh, tells the story of a small-time drug dealer who slyly manipulates public opinion with the help on an underrated filmmaker. Very Big Shot also premiered in Toronto last year. Story continues It joins Egypts Clash, announced earlier this month, among Middle Eastern submissions. Clash, the sophomore feature of director Mohamed Diab, who co-wrote with his brother Khaled, premiered in Cannes in May, opening Un Certain Regard. Like the Greek entry, Clash is set entirely in a single location, here swapping the yacht of Chevalier for the confines of a police van. The film tells the story of a number of detainees from different political and social backgrounds thrown together in the violent aftermath of the Arab Spring. So far, nearly 60 countries have submitted their entries for the foreign-language Oscar in advance of the Oct. 3 deadline. France, Italy and Poland, three recent winners, are among the countries yet to submit their entries. France won the Oscar in 2012 with Michael Hanekes Amour, Italy in 2013 with Paolo Sorrentinos The Great Beauty, and Poland in 2014 with Pawel Pawlikowskis Ida. Among those hoping to score a first-time nomination will be Romania, which submitted Cristi Puius Sieranevada last month. The film, which is set just days after the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, in January 2015, tells the story of a family gathering following the death of its patriarch. The film saw its world premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The nominations for the 89th Academy Awards will be announced Jan. 24. Related stories Russia Pins Oscar Nomination Hopes on 'Paradise' Spain Picks Almodovar's 'Julieta' for Foreign-Language Oscar Race Italian Director Paolo Sorrentino to Shoot Film About Silvio Berlusconi (EXCLUSIVE) Q: I recently booked a flight from Frankfurt to Orlando, Fla., using CheapOair. I spoke with a representative at an Indian call center, who helped me make the reservation. The booking number was issued under the name of Jutta Monica Baumgaster. The correct spelling is Jutta Monica Baumgarten. Ongoing email and telephone conversations between myself and upper management at CheapOair did not resolve this problem. The only option I had, according to a manager at CheapOair, was to purchase a new airline ticket and throw away the first ticket, which was nonrefundable. So I paid $697 for a new ticket. I expect CheapOair to assume full responsibility for this matter. I expect to be reimbursed for the total value of my second airline ticket. Outsourcing services to a foreign country invites room for error due to language barriers. Can you help me? Jutta Monica Baumgarten, Deland, Fla. A: CheapOair should have spelled your name correctly. When you book an airline ticket, you have 24 hours to cancel and receive a full refund, unless youre within one week of flying. If youd reviewed your itinerary within a day of making the reservation, and spotted the error, you easily could have fixed this. Its hard to know what happened. Did the agent have a hard time understanding you, or was it just a bad connection? Did CheapOair not send you your confirmation until sometime after the 24 hours? What we do know is that you were stuck with a ticket that had the wrong name after the one-day grace period. Theres an easy way to fix this and a hard way. The easy way is to show up early at the airport and ask your airline to fix an obvious typographical error on your ticket. Thats been known to work in the past but no guarantees. The hard way is to push this with CheapOair. You didnt enter the wrong name; a CheapOair employee did. You tried to resolve this, but in the end, a manager told you that you had to buy a new ticket. CheapOair records its calls for quality assurance purposes, so it easily can go back to the tape to figure out what went wrong. Ive always believed, and still do, that you should have the same right to record a conversation with a call center. That way, you can know for certain if you misspoke or if it misinterpreted. In this case, I think CheapOair goofed. You know how to spell your own name, no doubt about it. I think youre right, this was a language issue. Im not sure that moving the call center back to the States is the solution. Ive spoken with plenty of call-center employees who work right here in the U.S. of A., and we had similar communication challenges. The workaround? Make your reservation online next time. You could have appealed this to someone higher up at CheapOair. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of its parent companys executives on my website: http://elliott.org/company-contacts/fareportal. I contacted CheapOair on your behalf, and the company refunded your second ticket. Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine. Find travel tips at www.elliott.org. Email: chris@elliott.org Twitter: @elliottdotorg Located in the hills of central Italy, Assisi is the hometown of St. Francis. Its where he was born, lived and worked and where he died. Today tourists flock to this town, which sits atop a hill just outside of Tuscany in neighboring Umbria, to visit the basilica thats dedicated to him and to celebrate his teachings: chastity, obedience, harmony and a beautiful promise of your reward in heaven. Francis taught by example, living without worldly goods and aiming to love all creation. He and his brothers (fratelli, or friars) slept in fields, begged for food and exuded the joy of non-materialism. Known as the jugglers of God, Franciscan friars modeled themselves after French troubadours (jongleurs, or jugglers) who roved the countryside singing and telling stories. Perched on a ridge at the bottom of the old town, the grand Basilica of St. Francis is one of the spiritual and artistic highlights of Western civilization. Built between 1228 and 1253, the church has three parts: the upper basilica, the lower basilica and the saints tomb. In the lower basilica, a fresco of the Crucifixion by Giotto, a follower of St. Francis himself, was considered radical at the time for its unprecedented realism and its depiction of holy people expressing emotion (such as Mary fainting in despair). Below the lower basilica is the tomb, with a humble elegance and beauty befitting the saints message. The upper basilica the first Gothic church in Italy is slathered with frescoes by Giotto and his followers, showing 28 scenes from Francis life. One scene depicts a nearly naked Francis the rich kid tossing his fancy clothes to his father befuddling high society by trading a life of power and luxury for one of simplicity and poverty. Perhaps the most endearing scene shows Francis preaching to the birds, who represent the diverse flock of humanity and nature, all created by God and worthy of love. Every time Im here, I learn something. On my last visit, a friar named Daniel helped me clarify some points: to call St. Francis a monk is technically wrong. Monks live in solitude in a monastery its just them and God. Franciscans are friars their calling is to be with people as brothers. And they stay in convents, which are not just for women (and monasteries are not just for men). Its all about whether youre social or solitary like the words convene and monologue, whose roots they share. As always, I left inspired by the friars gentle and loving approach to life. In a word, they are Christlike. The story of St. Francis starts in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, located in the modern town in the valley below Assisi. This marks the spot where Francis lived, worked and died. Its here that Francis restored a small chapel and established the Franciscan order. Centuries later, to accommodate the many pilgrims wanting to pay homage to St. Francis, a grand church was built surrounding the chapel, which now sits directly under the dome. (I wonder what humble Francis would think of the huge church built over his tiny chapel?) Nearby is the small cell where Francis died. Especially in a stony and historic town like Assisi, I enjoy spending the night so I can take in the ambience after the day-trippers disperse. Theres history everywhere, such as the Temple of Minerva the centerpiece of Roman Assisi 2,000 years ago. I love hanging out in what was the Roman forum (todays main square), marveling at the beautiful fluting on the temples Corinthian columns. Walking through town, you may also see some creches, which are extremely popular here. Its said that St. Francis, a master at teaching Bible lessons with clever props, created the first Nativity scene to help people relate to the Christmas message more vividly. Ever since then, the Baby Jesus has been shown on his day of birth in a humble setting, in local scenes that have not a hint of Bethlehem an Italian setting for Italian viewers (or an Arctic scene for Eskimos) to connect more intimately with the story of the Nativity. In Assisi, my favorite ritual is to sit quietly on the rampart of the medieval fortress high above town. I look down at the basilica dedicated to the saint, then into the valley at the church where Francis and his jugglers of God started the Franciscan order. Hearing the same birdsong that inspired Francis, and tasting the same simple bread, cheese, and wine of Umbria that sustained him, I calm my 21st century soul and ponder the message of a saint who made the teaching of Jesus so accessible. Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com After watching the new documentary Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee, you may find yourself thinking, This cant possibly be true. Certainly thats what the Silicon Valley pioneer claims about the film, which premieres Saturday, Sept. 24, on Showtime. The man who once said of himself You know, Im sort of the god of computer security has had quite a life since the 1980s, when he invented the antivirus software that bore his name. The film, directed by Nanette Burstein (The Kid Stays in the Picture), suggests that McAfee was somehow involved in the murder of a neighbor in Belize who had complained about his dogs, set himself up as the de facto ruler of a town in that Central American nation, plied teenage girls with money and gifts and kept them as a virtual harem, and recruited his own personal police force to patrol the streets to make sure the townsfolk observed McAfee-imposed curfews. Theres more: According to the girls, he was given to the sexual fetish known as scat. Its a definite moment of TMI in the documentary. We already know or suspect enough about McAfee to want to keep our distance from him. McAfee was born in Scotland and raised in Virginia, where he went to Roanoke College. In late 1986, he performed his first experiments with antivirus software. He was obviously ahead of his time, but he also knew how to market his creation by spinning the story that the virus known as Michelangelo was about to attack personal computers. Millions of people immediately downloaded McAfee programs, and by 1993, he controlled 60 percent of the desktop antivirus market. McAfee founded and sold a number of enterprises over the years, and at one point, created a yoga and meditation center on a sprawling Colorado estate. Eventually, he found his way to Belize, living for a time at a waterfront property on San Pedro Island before moving to the mainland town of Orange Walk. He hired a gifted young scientist named Allison Adonizio to develop pharmaceuticals through the process known as quorum sensing. He built her a lab, but she didnt have the equipment to make much headway, she claims. That didnt stop McAfee from getting her to fill beakers and test tubes with colored liquid so he could tell the media that his new enterprise had made great progress. She grew dissatisfied with their business relationship, she says, and told McAfee she wanted to go home. By her account in the film, he attacked her. She barricaded herself in a building in the Orange Walk Town complex and says she texted friends to rescue her after he cut off the power to the building. According to other people interviewed in the film, a local man named David Middleton broke into McAfees home, and McAfee wanted to teach the intruder a lesson. He allegedly ordered members of his security force, some of whom he is said to have recruited from local gangs, to deliver the lesson. They did so so forcefully that Middleton later died. In 2012, McAfees property was raided by the Belizean Gang Suppression Unit, and he was arrested for illegal drug manufacture and possession of a single unlicensed weapon. The U.S. Embassy intervened to secure his release. He was able to control the local police with generous donations of arms and equipment, but he couldnt control the Gang Suppression Unit. Gregory Faull was another American expat living in Belize. Faull complained about several vicious dogs that were roaming around McAfees compound. Faull reportedly made an offhand comment about poisoning the dogs if McAfee wouldnt restrain them. When the dogs were found poisoned, McAfee shot each one to put it out of its misery, according to witnesses. Later, Faull was found shot to death in his home, execution style. McAfee was declared a person of interest in the murder and fled the country for Guatemala, where he was later arrested for illegal entry. He is said to have faked a heart attack as way of delaying justice long enough to enable him to escape to the U.S. Flash forward to recent time: McAfee ran for president on the Libertarian ticket but lost to the partys eventual nominee, Gary Johnson. However, as part of his platform, McAfee made convincing arguments about the danger of cyberwarfare. In fact, McAfee claims, we are already in the midst of cyberwarfare, and even Hillary Clinton might not disagree. Burstein has done a very good job reining in the mountain of details, allegations, facts and suppositions surrounding McAfee. He refused to be interviewed for the film, yet carried on an often taunting email exchange with Burstein, and when she confronted him with her camera crew when he was running for president, he bolted from the room. Viewers can form their own conclusions about McAfees alleged connection to Faulls murder, the death of David Middleton and other aspects of his life. Burstein convincingly makes her case through the testimony of former girlfriends, associates, journalists and others. David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor and the TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle and co-host of The Do List every Friday morning at 6:22 and 8:22 on KQED FM, 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento. Email: dwiegand@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee: Documentary. By Nanette Burstein. 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, on Showtime. BEIRUT An air strike in northern Syria killed four medics responding to an earlier bombing raid, a relief group said Wednesday, as the U.N. said 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 Sept. 12, and has stoked tensions between the truces 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. 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 air strike 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. 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-year-old war, placing paramedics and rescue workers in peril. Britains Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nine militants, some of them belonging to the Fatah al-Sham Front, an al Qaeda-linked group previously known as the Al-Nusra Front, were also killed in the double tap attack. It was not immediately clear who carried out the strike. Aircraft from Syria, Russia and the U.S.-led coalition are targeting the Fatah al-Sham Front, which along with the Islamic State group was excluded from the cease-fire. The U.S. initially said it believed Russian or Syrian government jets were behind the attack on the aid convoy. But a senior U.S. official said Wednesday that Washington has determined with a very high degree of confidence that the attack was carried out by a Russian piloted aircraft. Moscow denied that Russian or Syrian aircraft were behind the attack, saying there was a fire in the cargo. 1 Boat capsizes: A boat carrying African refugees headed to Europe capsized off the Mediterranean coast near the Egyptian city of Alexandria on Wednesday, killing at least 42 people, Egyptian authorities said. Experts say smugglers in Egypt mostly use old fishing vessels, stuffed way beyond capacity both below and above deck. The boat was reportedly carrying 600 people. 2 Mustard gas: The Islamic State fired a munition at an Iraqi air force base being used to prepare forces for the offensive to retake Mosul that tested positive for mustard gas, the U.S. Defense Department said Wednesday. The Iraqi air base at Qayyarah West came under fire on Tuesday. An initial test of the munition, which the Pentagon says was either a rocket or a mortar round, returned a positive result for a mustard agent. A second test, however, was negative. Additional tests have been ordered. No members of the coalition forces were injured in the attack, and none showed signs of mustard gas exposure. The personnel who conducted the tests underwent a routine decontamination process. MAURICIO LIMA / Mauricio Lima / New York Times 2015 WASHINGTON The Obama administration is weighing a military plan to directly arm Syrian Kurdish fighters combating the Islamic State, a major policy shift that could speed up the offensive against the terrorist group but also sharply escalate tensions between Turkey and the United States. The plan has been under discussion at a moment when President Obama has directed aides to examine all proposals that could accelerate the fight against the Islamic State. Obama has told aides that he wants an offensive well under way before he leaves office that is aimed at routing the Islamic State from Raqqa, the groups de facto capital in northern Syria. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina Bosnias Serb ministate is holding a referendum this weekend that has turned into a proxy political battle between the West and Russia, stoking ethnic tensions and spurring fears of new clashes more than 20 years after the end of the Balkans War. Sundays vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnias constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. On January 9, 1992 a Serb Christian Orthodox religious holiday the Bosnian Serbs declared the creation of their own state within Bosnia, fueling a war that resulted in at least 100,000 people dead and millions homeless. During the worst carnage in Europe since World War II, the Serbs helped by neighboring Serbia expelled Bosnian Muslims and Catholic Croats from the territory they occupied, with the aim of making it part of Serbia. A U.S.-brokered peace deal signed in 1995 created Republika Srpska, an autonomous region within Bosnia. For Bosnians and Croats whose federation represents the other half of Bosnia Jan. 9 still symbolizes their expulsion and a sign that the Bosnian Serb-controlled territory is still meant just for Serbs. Bosnias constitutional court has banned the referendum, but the Serbs said they will hold it anyway. The vote sparked the most heated exchange between Bosnians and Serbs since the war in the 1990s. Serbian officials said they were ready to defend Republika Srpska if it was attacked, and ordered the Serbian army to be more vigilant. Apart from challenging the countrys rule of law, Bosnians also fear this referendum is a test for a more serious one in 2018 on independence which would not go down peacefully, officials in Sarajevo warned. Nobody is more ready to defend this country all the way to the end, said Bosnian leader Bakir Izetbegovic. Nobody should ... force people who love this country to prove it again, he added. The referendum also reflects the wider tensions between Western nations which are supporting the Bosnians and Croats and Russia, which is backing the Serbs. The U.S. embassy in Sarajevo threatened unspecified consequences if the referendum is not canceled, while the Russian ambassador openly supported the referendum, saying it is an act of democracy. Russia is a traditional backer of Orthodox Slavic Serbs. MEXICO CITY The Obama administration, responding to an extraordinary wave of Haitian refugees seeking to enter the United States, said Thursday that it will fully resume deportations of undocumented Haitian immigrants. After an earthquake devastated parts of Haiti in 2010, the United States suspended deportations, saying that sending Haitians back to the country at a time of great instability would put their lives at risk. About a year later, officials partly resumed deportations, focusing on people convicted of serious crimes or those considered a threat to national security. But since last spring, thousands of Haitian refugees who had moved to Brazil in search of work have been streaming north, mostly by land, winding up at American border crossings that lead to Southern California. Few have arrived with American visas, but almost all have been allowed to enter the United States because immigration officials were prohibited, under the modified deportation policy, from using the fast-track removal process often employed at the border for new, undocumented arrivals. Instead, the refugees were placed in a slower deportation process and released, with an appointment to appear in immigration court at a later date, officials said. Since early summer, most have been given permission to remain in the country for as long as three years under a humanitarian parole provision, immigrant advocates said. With the full resumption of deportations, which took effect Thursday, Haitians who arrive at the border without visas will be put into expedited removal proceedings. Jeh Johnson, the secretary of homeland security, said in a statement that conditions in Haiti had improved sufficiently to permit the U.S. government to remove Haitian nationals on a more regular basis. Since October, officials said, more than 5,000 Haitians without visas have shown up at the San Ysidro crossing that links Tijuana, Mexico, with San Diego. By comparison, 339 Haitians without visas arrived at the San Ysidro crossing in the 2015 fiscal year. An additional 4,000 to 6,000 Haitians were thought to be still making their way from Brazil, immigrant advocates in San Diego and Tijuana said. The message to those Haitians from the Obama administration, however, seems clear: Turn around, or go elsewhere. Courtesy Future Fantasy Delight About seven years ago, I was wandering the Santa Fe Plaza on one of those impossibly perfect New Mexican days whenboom!I realized I needed chocolate bad. My decadent afternoon snack of choice was the balls o' heaven known as bolitas at Senor Murphy Candymaker's inside La Fonda (100 E San Francisco St., 982-0461) and who would have guessed that fateful candy craving would be the catalyst for meeting the Cavity Ghost creator himself, artist Nico Salazar. Salazar's characters are brilliant and unique and entirely of himself. From Beastly Vandal, an ogre who lives for street art and slurping down horchata, to Cavity Ghost, who possesses one to eat sweets, to the Annunaki Hotties, the sexiest cosmic entities this side of the Milky way, Salazar's cartoons are more than drawings; they are alive. Raised in Pecos by very traditional Spanish folks (think horses), he shuttled between Santa Fe, Oxnard, California, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as his dad was a Navy man. You can see influences from the places Salazar haunted as a young one in everything from his kawaii girls to Cali punkz to the brujas in New Mexico. He is a veritable smoothie of cultures, and a delicious one at that. Salazar is one of those rare talents who morphed from inspired drawings to pop plastic jewelry (he ran the now-defunct Soft Museum with fellow artists Autumn Dawn and Max Sanders and garnered worldwide acclaim while still studying at the Institute of American Indian Art) to painting anddrumrollnow a complete fashion line called Future Fantasy Delight. You can see burbles of manga mixed with '80s video games and punk rock dusted with a taste of '90's rave, all transformed into something unique and entirely Salazar. It even caught the attention of the Meow Wolf folks, who have funded his line; MW rocks the business end and Salazar has complete creative control. Everything is done in stoic black and white, and though the palette is simple and the line is sharp, the artwork itself is a drippy-dreamy psychedelic stew and features everything from leggings, pins, tote bags and nail decals to t-shirts and, coming soon, jumpsuits and bikinis! The Future Fantasy Delight launch party goes down at a 21+ show at Meow Wolf (where you can also see an entire room of Salazar's artwork, by the way) on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7 pm and features NYC-based musician Princess Nokia, who describes her sound as cosmic and three-dimensional with influences from the banjee girls in Harlem, teen brides in the Middle East and gay boys in East Asia. It's the perfect musical accompaniment to Salazar's dreamy line. Ooh, what a perfect whipped topping of genius for the party! Tickets can be found here, but entrance to the event is free if you show up by 7:30 pm. Future Fantasy Delight Clothing Line Launch with Princess Nokia 9-11 pm Saturday, Sept. 24. $15-$18. Meow Wolf, 1352 Rufina Circle, 395-6369. Santa Fe Reporter Death Penalty Cases Would Be Costly At the same time New Mexico lawmakers are trying to shore up the states budget, the New Mexico Public Defender's Office is associated with reinstating the death penalty if Gov. Susana Martinez gets her way. Griego's Bank Accounts Under Review The attorney generals office wants to determine if former state senator Phil Griego was using campaign bank accounts as a slush fund. Griegos after a judge signed warrants giving an attorney generals investigator access to statements, checks and other documents. Steve Terrell reports Griego could face charges for misusing the political money. He already faces nine counts connected to the sale of a state building in 2014. Secretary of State Candidates Disagree on Effort to Register Eligible Voters The two candidates for New Mexico Secretary of State disagree on an effort by the interim secretary of state to before the Nov. 8 elections. Republican Nora Espinoza says she thinks 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. Democrat Maggie Toulouse Oliver supports the campaign, funded by a federal grant, to get eligible voters registered. Baby Briannas Mother Mum After Prison Release KOAT news crews were in Grants when Stephanie Lopez, the mother of Baby Brianna, was released from prison after serving half of a 27-year sentence. They followed a vehicle that came to pick her up to a gas station in Los Lunas, but Lopez didnt answer any of their questions. as Lopez takes her first steps to freedom. Juror Removed from APD Officers Murder Trial A juror who was caught talking to someone about the murder case involving two former Albuquerque Police Officers on her cell phone was on Wednesday. KUNM is covering the trail and reports the judge also determined that the rifle Dominique Perez used to shoot James Boyd in the trial. The rifle wasnt treated the way a potential murder weapon typically would be. It wasnt locked away until the trial. Instead, it was returned to Perez after he killed Boyd, and in the two years since, it went back in circulation among police. Balderas Has Questions About EpiPens Price Hike New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas office has from the manufacturer of life-saving EpiPen, an auto-injector of synthetic adrenaline that treats severe allergic reactions, after the price of the drug device jumped 500 percent. Balderas wants to make sure New Mexican children and families have access to life-saving medications. More Mental Health Care Workers Needed Speaking of which, mental health care professionals and service organizations are expressing concerns that there are in northwestern New Mexico. Presbyterian Medical Services in Farmington has 15 vacant behavioral health positions, according to Laura Ann Crawford, the northwest region director. She said she has spent three months trying to recruit people to fill those positions. Without doctors and therapists to see the patients, local providers reported people are waiting three weeks to five months before they can get an appointment. Bear Cubs Will Return to Wilderness The two little bear cubs that were left orphaned after their mother was killed after mauling a runner in the Valles Calderas this summer are after gaining enough weight to survive on their own. Santa Fe Reporter Forker Ed Brown wrote in to ask how to celebrate and I have ideas for you! Santa Fe Brewing is hosting its fifth Oktoberfiesta fundraiser Oct. 15 and 16. The event includes beer, bratwurst, music, contests and vendorsand a portion of the proceeds benefit local nonprofits. Tickets cost $10-$25. The NM Brewfest is a great excuse to wear your lederhosen. It happens Oct. 1 from 1-6 pm in the Villa Hispana at Expo NM (the state fairgrounds). There's beer, music, food trucks, hijinks. Tickets cost $25. Sierra Blanca Brewery in Moriarty is hosting an Oktoberfest this Saturday, Sept. 24 at 2 pm. Admission ($12) includes a bratwurst! They'll be pouring their Oktoberfest beer. Kids are welcome (there's a special Kid Zone) and their $12 admission includes a hot dog, soda and bag of chips. Or head north for the weekend-long Red River Oktoberfest, Oct. 7-9 at Brandenburg Park. It's kind of a big deal, with games, a pub crawl, lots of people in costume. Admission gets you a commemorative glass ($10) or stein ($20). Meanwhile, New Mexico brewers are up in arms about a proposal to raise taxes on beer in order to help close a gaping hole in the state budget, the Albuquerque Journal reported this week. Right now New Mexico microbreweries pay 8 cents per gallon (for the first 10,000 barrels), which is less than the national median of 20 cents per gallon, but a heckuva lot less than the proposed $2.75 per gallon. Brian Lock of Santa Fe Brewing, New Mexico's biggest local brewery, said if the proposal became law it would make New Mexico beer too expensive compared to beer made elsewhere. He said he would hire more people to sell beer out of state because it wouldn't subject to the in-state tax. For dinner, why not keep it simple and do a beer-can chicken or, better yet, get out that rotisserie attachment for the gas grill and put a bird on it. (Ha! I said put a bird on it.) Anyway, the only difficult thing about chicken on the rotisserie, as you may have discovered, is that if you don't tie the legs and wings together the chicken flops all over the spit. And I found something awesome for that: silicone cooking bands. They look like rubber bands but they're heat-proof to 600 degrees. And they're awesome. You can also use them to band together asparagus to drop a whole bunch in the pot or wrap up a butterflied leg of lamb or pork roast. A package of 20 runs about $6.50. After dinner Friday night curl up on the couch for the premiere of Longmire Season 5 on Netflix. What news do you want to see in this newsletter? We want to hear from you! Let us know! Email thefork@sfreporter.com Santa Fe Reporter The Reserve Bank is to routinely publish submissions it receives to policy or industry consultations rather than condensing them into a summary. However, the submissions will only be made public with the consent of the organisation or individual whose views are represented and who will be able to redact any information they do not wish to be released into the public domain. In its policy document, the central bank said this will ensure "genuine commercially sensitive and prudential information" can be withheld. In a statement, the Reserve Bank said the new policy would be implemented immediately and the change would "enhance the transparency of the policy-making process." The Reserve Bank considered four options: the status quo of summarising the submissions received, the status quo with a periodical external review, publishing submissions where consent is granted and the submitter redacts the information, or publishing submissions where consent is granted and the Reserve Bank makes redactions. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SKO - FY23 Interim Results Announcement Date - 23 November 2022 Downer awarded $490 million road maintenance contract SKC - 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND TRADING UPDATE TCL - Result of AGM TradeWindow secures U.S. footprint with FoodChain ID October 28th Morning Report October 25th Morning Report Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update Tower's stock gained today after a report the general insurer could be a takeover target but the insurer has shed half its value in the past 12 months on signs prolonged exposure to Canterbury earthquake claims has sapped its ability to pay dividends. The shares have tumbled 52 percent in the past 12 months, the worst performance on the NZX 50 Index. Some $36 million of provisions for Canterbury earthquake claims pushed it to a $7 million loss in 2015 and losses continued in the first half of this year on further charges and a $19.6 million IT system impairment. This month the stock sank to its lowest in more than a decade as it flagged $16.2 million more provisions for quake costs and a dispute with a reinsurer. The company said at the time that its solvency and available capital were above the minimum regulatory requirements and it could also call on a standby $50 million credit facility. But analysts say prolonged and larger-than-expected claim costs have sapped Towers ability to make distributions to shareholders. "The market has given the company the benefit of the doubt, and it certainly looked like they had plenty of solvency capital they could potentially distribute back to shareholders," said James Bascand, an analyst who follows Tower at Forsyth Barr. "It appears less likely now that that's an option. The rhetoric from management and board is they will look more closely at their capital distribution plans at their year-end result, which has given investors again reason to believe they might not get the dividend expectation they did have previously, he said. Tower is still getting about 100 new Canterbury quake claims every three months, where it had expected the Earthquake Commission would have exhausted the pool of new claims to pass on to Tower by now, chief executive Richard Harding said. It had about 1,000 outstanding Canterbury claims a year ago and has settled about 440 of those but has received another 300 in that time, he said. "That creates a whole lot of strain to us, Harding told BusinessDesk. Add to that the EQC has recently announced there are 6,000 claims requiring remediation, claims they're continuing to manage, but they can't communicate to us which ones relate to Tower. "There's quite a lot of uncertainty and complexity come in, and we've tried to make sure when we're reserving we allow for that uncertainty," he said, adding that the share price performance was disappointing and didnt reflect the underlying strength of the business. Forsyth Barrs Bascand said the remaining claims may be some of the hardest to resolve, and carry the most legal risk, increasing the cost and time required to get to a settlement. Auckland-based Devon Funds Management is among investors who have exited the stock this year, having started 2016 with a 13 percent holding. Harding, who joined the company a year ago, says other investors have been drawn to the company by the prospects for a turnaround in its underlying business. Harding said in February that Tower would cut the number of products it offers and clamp down on costs as it works to resolve claims. The insurer plans to launch new consolidated products and online quote facilities in November, which Harding says will make it more competitive. It has also been developing a new IT system, having postponed an investor meeting in July to tackle its technology issues. Shareholders had said they didn't want to hear from Tower until it had something to update and the company wasn't going to have a clear timetable until the year end, so the meeting had been delayed until then, he said. Forsyth Barr's Bascand said investors want evidence Tower has a successful strategy. "The market is still looking for execution around lowering cost ratios and we haven't seen execution on that front, he said. It's been a struggle for people to figure out why they should be buying - what are they going to achieve over the next twelve months, or is it better to wait and see." Tower shares climbed 4.2 percent today after the Australian Financial Review's Street Talk reported that the dual-listed company could be ripe for a takeover, possibly by Australia's Suncorp or Insurance Australia Group. Tower neither confirmed nor denied the rumours in a statement this afternoon. "Current media speculation is not distracting us from our focus on driving the business forward," a spokesperson said. "While were still in the early stages, we are starting to see positive results which we will share with the market at our full year results. Our business remains solid and our customers should be confident that Tower is here to protect New Zealanders." BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SKO - FY23 Interim Results Announcement Date - 23 November 2022 Downer awarded $490 million road maintenance contract SKC - 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND TRADING UPDATE TCL - Result of AGM TradeWindow secures U.S. footprint with FoodChain ID October 28th Morning Report October 25th Morning Report Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update Hallenstein Glasson Holdings posted a 21 percent decline in full-year profit, reflecting a loss from its Glassons unit in Australia and weaker earnings from its flagship menswear chain. Profit fell to $13.7 million, or 22.93 cents a share, in the 12 months ended Aug. 1, from $17.4 million, or 29.15 cents a year earlier, the Auckland-based retailer said in a statement. Sales rose 0.9 percent to $223.5 million. Like most clothing retailers, Hallenstein buys in seasonal stock and relies on predictable weather to ensure customers buy its coats in the winter and beachwear in summer. But in the latest winter season, consumers in both Australia and New Zealand basked in what the company called "record mild temperatures", reducing both sales and margins. It also suffered from a lack of leadership at its Glassons womenswear chain before luring back former Pumpkin Patch chief Di Humphries to run the unit last April. In the first six weeks of the current year, sales are up about 9 percent, Glassons is recovering and "we anticipate a much-improved profit performance for the current trading period," chief executive Graeme Popplewell said. The biggest deterioration in the latest year was from Glassons Australia, which recorded a loss of $1.9 million, which it blamed on a mild winter and margin pressure, from a profit of $170,000 a year earlier. Sales were little changed at $41.2 million while cost of sales rose 8.2 percent to $17.3 million. The retailer closed two outlets during the year and said "further store rationalisation is under review where costs and performance fail to meet our criteria". At the same time, three stores were refurbished to a new design and more will be changed out to the new format, while two new stores will be opened before Christmas, it said. So far in the current year, same-store sales were up 13 percent. Profit at its Hallensteins chain in New Zealand recorded a 4.5 percent gain in sales to $89 million but its gross margin contracted to 57.2 percent from 60.9 percent, which it attributed to the mild winter and a weaker exchange rate, resulting in an 11 percent decline in profit to $8.5 million. Sales didn't grow in the first six weeks of the current year, it said. Its Storm chain lifted sales by 4.4 percent to $9.4 million while profit fell 7.2 percent to $868,000 and it said sales so far this year were unchanged from a year earlier. E-commerce sales rose 24 percent to account for "almost 7 percent" of group turnover, suggesting revenue from its websites was about $15 million. The company will pay a fully-imputed final dividend of 16.5 cents, unchanged from a year earlier, on Dec. 2. It plans to provide a trading update at its annual meeting in December. The shares last traded at $3.01 and have dropped 11 percent in the past 12 months. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SKO - FY23 Interim Results Announcement Date - 23 November 2022 Downer awarded $490 million road maintenance contract SKC - 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND TRADING UPDATE TCL - Result of AGM TradeWindow secures U.S. footprint with FoodChain ID October 28th Morning Report October 25th Morning Report Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update hellovote Registering to vote may now be a lot easier for a portion of the roughly 90% of Americans who own a cellphone. The nonprofit group Fight For The Future launched HelloVote on Thursday morning with the goal of boosting voter registration in several key battleground states by allowing voters to register directly via text message or Facebook Messenger. Backed by brands like MTV, Genius, and the Latino Victory Project, the tool is the first major service to offer voter registration through text messaging, a process the company hopes will boost voter registration rolls, particularly among young voters. "We feel very strongly that there are so many barriers to people registering to vote, and we think we can use technology to tear down those barriers and make voter registration easy," CEO Holmes Wilson told Business Insider. The tool's biggest drawback at launch is its reach; HelloVote is severely limited by state election laws surrounding electronic voter registration. HelloVote today can register people to vote via SMS or Facebook in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Wilson said the company was close to launching in Vermont and Illinois and "should be able to add Kentucky, West Virginia, and Hawaii soon." Wilson also hopes to add Pennsylvania to the list before the state's October 11 registration deadline. HelloVote is only partially operational in other states. Each state maintains its own election laws, and many still require that voters mail in paper registration forms. In these instances, HelloVote's text system fills out the registration form via SMS and creates a printer-friendly version for voters to print out and submit. Many campaigns and groups are experimenting with how best to reach voters and supporters on their mobile devices, which have become the primary source of communication for the majority of Americans. The campaigns of both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump frequently blast fundraising reminders out to supporters on their phone lists via text. Story continues Other political groups are attempting to use texts in a more creative way. NextGen Climate, which has a well-funded super PAC dedicated to electing lawmakers dedicated to halting climate change, launched a "text-banking" voter-turnout program late last year that attempted to motivate potential voters to show up to vote by sending personalized texts from actual organizers encouraging recipients to respond and start a dialogue. The turnout mechanisms are crucial to Clinton's campaign in particular. The Democratic presidential nominee's support among millennial voters dwarfs Trump's but is far lower than President Barack Obama's support in the 2008 and 2012 elections. In recent days, Clinton has brought her pitch to young voters in key battleground states, touting her college-affordability plan and her support from popular progressive politicians like Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. NOW WATCH: Donald Trump is under fire for his comments about the Iraq War More From Business Insider BENGALURU: One of the most anticipated smartphone from Google, the Pixel is all set to be launched soon, making almost an end to the Nexus era. A recent video popped up in YouTube from Google confirms the launch of Pixel by the 4th of October this year. The video describes a box transforming into a smartphone and the date October 4th keeps flashing besides the box, with a Google logo at the conclusion. According to the reports, Google probably will unveil two smartphones, a 5-inch display, and 5.5-inch (XL) version under the Pixel flagship. These devices are expected to be powered by the latest Android Nougat platform powered by the Qualcomms Snapdragon 821 chip. The leaked image hints the use of metal and glass on the rear and standard white face in the front with prominent aluminum edges and white glass panels. Even though there were random rumors about Google shutting down the Nexus branding, there was no official confirmation till date. Adding up the anticipation, Google had renamed its recent Tablets and Notebooks Pixel, that were developed in collaboration with HTC. The tech giant is also reported to be in plan to compete with high end devices like iPhone with the new flagship device. Read Also: 5 Smartphones Expected to Hit the Market before New Year Top Four Mind-blowing Tablets that can help Drive your Business BENGALURU: Pakistan received a huge diplomatic setback despite putting on a lot of efforts, as UN Secretary General completely ignored discussion on J&K dispute while addressing the 71st session of the UNGA. Ban Ki-moon in his opening statement mentioned his concerns in the areas of West Asia and Syria without mentioning India-Pakistan or J&K. This is a big setback for Nawaz Sharif, who is pushing hard, so the world can keep an eye on J&K. As reported by TOI, Pakistani PM will surely point at India in his speech in UNGA on 21 September. No mention of J&K in Ban Ki-moons speech is good news for India as Pakistan is making repeated requests to UN to intervene in the disputed territories of Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian external affairs minister will address the session on 26th September and will lead the countries stand against the neighboring country, after the recent attack on Uri where 18 brave Indian soldiers died. Another diplomatic success came for India as BRICS group at UN accepted the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) treaty proposed by India. This is the first time that a powerful group called for early acceptance of treaty in front of the global community. However, the Indo-Pak face off will start after Nawaz Sharifs address on 21 September where he is all set to raise the Kashmir issue and might blame India for human rights violations in the Kashmir valley. In Geneva, while addressing at United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the ambassadors of both India and Pakistan had a heated exchange of thoughts. Pakistan blamed India for ongoing intricacies in Kashmir by calling terrorist Burhan Muzaffar Wani as a youth leader. In reply Indian ambassador Alok Ranjan Jha lashed out at Pakistani envoy by replying them that the country torturing Balochi people should not be crying for human rights violations in our territory. Many countries support Indias fight against terror and ask Pakistan to stop sponsoring terrorism. Read Also: Facebook Teams Up With ABC News To Live Stream Presidential Debates Germany Pitches For Resumption Of Indo-EU FTA Talks BENGALURU: Karnataka is unlikely to follow Supreme Courts directive and provide Tamil Nadu with 6,000 cusec of Cauvery water every day from 21st of September to 27th of September. Citing protests in the Cauvery basin, many top leaders of the party have asked Siddaramaiah to defy the order. Siddaramaiah spoke to Sonia Gandhi on the phone and made her aware of the situation. According to sources, he spoke to Sonia Gandhi and told her that Karnataka was not in a condition to release any more water to Tamil Nadu because of the drought situation and poor storage levels in the reservoirs. Brushing aside all the concerns of the Karnataka government, a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit directed the Karnataka government to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily till September 27. Karnataka had gone to the court to complain about the Cauvery Supervisory Committee who had directed it to release 3,000 cusecs of water every day, but was ordered to release double that amount. If Karnataka fails to comply with the SC order, it can be hauled up for contempt. The court could also recommend dismissal of the Siddaramaiah government. In 2002, then chief minister SM Krishna was pulled by the court when he defied its order to release water to Tamil Nadu. He apologized to the court and later released water. Many in the Congress believe that it is a very emotive issue and it might help the party in the Cauvery basin. There are others who believe that asking PM Narendra Modis intervention is a much viable option and they should ask him to convene a meeting of the CMs. If Siddaramaiah stands by his likely decision, then he would be the first chief minister to do so. S Bangarappa had defied the orders of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, but had to fall in line when the court intervened. Many insiders believe that same might happen with Siddaramaiah and he might fall in line and obey the court order. Read Also: HCL Set To Move From Data Centers To Cloud Germany Pitches For Resumption Of Indo-EU FTA Talks DUBAI: 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 theUAE 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 inIndia 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. Read Also: Record 31 Indian Varsities In Top World University Rankings Honeywell Connection Launches Electronics Essentials Range In India STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- On a typical weekday afternoon, the line for a meal at Project Brunch files out the door. In fact, queued up customers are such the norm at the Charleston restaurant that the staff has set up seating along the sidewalk and on a small patio in front. Project Brunch opened in May. Yet even at this youthful point in the business, proprietors Nicholas Granata and Jodi Guagliardo decided Project Brunch must grow to accommodate demand for their all-day breakfast. "So, we are expanding next door. It's going to be called 'Project Brunch Cafe,'" said Guagliardo of the new venture as she sat at the restaurant's current, bustling coffee bar. The action continued behind her in the single dining room as all tables were filled. A hostess wrote names on a clipboard while baristas tending the counter turned out fruit-smoothie after smoothie and highly decorated hot chocolate drinks. As Guagliardo spoke, workers readied Project Brunch Cafe, stripping the recently vacated neighboring pizzeria of fixtures up for auction Thursday afternoon. The pizza oven must go. Guagliardo envisions this new space with its own kitchen and barista set up, with communal tables and a single door to serve as a pass-through for staff from Project Brunch to the former pie parlor. "This will have additional hours," said Guagliardo, standing in the soon-to-be Cafe. "In the beginning it will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. -- tentatively," she said with a cautious wave. After all, it is one thing at a time, as the entrepreneur has learned -- baby steps from Day One. Schooling in this business came well before Project Brunch even opened. Guagliardo ran a linen-cloth eatery in Stapleton called DoSI several years ago. She left the all-consuming endeavor after a year to focus on family. And another valuable lesson happened just his past spring when there was such an incredible buzz about the restaurant that various news organizations took notice. With the hype and anticipation, Project Brunch was so busy on its inaugural weekend that it literally melted down: The dish machine broke, kitchen plumbing became overwhelmed, not to mention the staff. Granata and Guagliardo ended up serving breakfasts on disposable dishware just to get through service that week. The restaurant is closed on Mondays right now, although Guagliardo said this happens to be her longest day on the job at "PB," her acronym for "Project Brunch." "Nick and I try to take one day off a week, but it doesn't always happen. We're here every day," she said, adding she likes being in the front-of-the-house. Nick handles the kitchen. The paperwork and continual recipe development, however, are a sheer pleasure. Guagliardo loves it all and the getting the restaurant to this point has become a dream come true. "I think both sites will be open on Mondays. We're going to be starting take-out/delivery and grab-and-go," she said. There was a moment recently when the restaurant would twin itself in New Jersey. "I backed out of Red Bank. It wasn't the right fit," concluded Guagliardo. Instead, attention turns to branding. "PB merchandise will include granola, lemon curd, chimichurri sauces...Anything we make here that people ask, 'Can we buy this?'" said Ms. Guagliardo. The South Shore restaurant employs 32 workers including the kitchen crew. "It's so humbling. We have such a great client base. We had someone come from the Bronx today, because they saw us on Eyewitness News," said a smiling Guagliado. Specials for fall include a "Pumpkin Praline" theme woven through drinks and pancakes. Menu announcements come via Instagram on Mondays and those items run Tuesday through Sunday only for the upcoming week. Spoiler alert: A special called "The Project Brunch Overload" will make the permanent menu with a sausage-bacon-onion-home fry-Cheddar-mozzarella- Bell peppers-mushroom omelet -- wait for it -- all deep-fried in a tortilla shell. Is it possible to eat "healthy" at Project Brunch? Guagliardo laughed. "Yes, we will be bringing back a build-your-own salad where you fill out your own card and can have someone making the salad for you," she said. There will be protein pancakes, quinoa bowls, acai smoothies. There are currently egg white options cooked with assorted veggies and Avocado Toast, fresh mashed avocado spread over toasted multi-grain bread with a tuft of arugula and optional poached egg on top. Project Brunch is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Project Brunch Cafe should be open in about six weeks. Project Brunch is located at 4553 Arthur Kill Rd., Charleston; 718-605-9866, ProjectBrunchSI.com. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Joseph Ralko, a born and raised Tottenville resident, knew exactly what he was walking into when enrolling as a screenwriting major at The School of Visual Arts in Manhattan four years ago. Staten Island's name has become attached to shows like "Mob Wives" and "Jersey Shore," for better or for worse. Taking the "Italian-American mob mentality" of Staten Island stereotypes in stride, Ralko decided to feature a South Shore Staten Island family in his first post-graduate project: "Lorraine Russo's Family Diaries," which recently premiered on his YouTube channel. The series documents Lorraine, played by Lydia Fiore, and her experience trying to get on a reality television show to support her two children, Danny and Victoria, played by Matthew Ciaccio and Stephanie Garcia, while her husband Michael is in prison. "The message behind the show is that; Yes, the Staten Island stereotypes are there but [Lorraine's] family are human, too," said Ralko. "They're no different than anyone else. Anyone from Staten Island, or anywhere else, can relate to them." THE CAST AND CREW Ralko had a clear vision of what the Russo family would look like, but he wasn't sure if he was going to find it. "[In the beginning] I really didn't know how everything was going to come together," Ralko told the Advance. "But everything went so smoothly. The cast really brought my script to life; there was barely any direction needed." With the help of Ralko's college buddies Rob Cuollo and Justin Cannon who produced and edited the series, Ralko claims to have struck gold with the cast he found. "When [Ralko] sent me the script, I was immediately interested," Summer Moran, who plays Danny's girlfriend, Gabby. "We've worked together at SVA before but I could not wait to be a part of this project." Moran is a student at Marymount Manhattan college but currently lives in Bulls Head. Her and Ralko linked up during her time freelance acting and modeling at SVA. According to the cast, there was a family vibe behind the scenes as well. "Set was really cool," said Max Matchton, a model from Long Island who plays Frank, Victoria Russo's love interest. "It was my first time acting, but it wasn't hard to connect with the cast." STATEN ISLAND 101 For lifelong locals Ciaccio and Moran, acting like a real Staten Islander was easy because, well, they have more than enough practice -- but almost half the cast has never even stepped foot on the borough. Ralko says they all adapted pretty quickly. To prepare for the role, Matchton claims his father helped him nail down the accent and attitude of a true Staten Islander. "Honestly, I watched 'Mob Wives' to prepare for the role," chuckled Fiore, who currently lives in New Jersey. "I've worked in the fashion industry for years and most people I've met have some sort of connection to Staten Island. It's like I've been preparing for this role my whole life." Garcia said she was like a sponge on set, just taking in the hand movements and vernacular of "real live Staten Islanders." "I'm from California so I've never been to Staten Island before," said Garcia, who currently lives in Manhattan. "But I come from a Mexican family and we are just as loud as Lorraine Russo's Italian family, so it wasn't hard to relate." For more information on the web series, like the "Lorraine Russo's Family Diaries" Facebook page and YouTube channel. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Staten Island parks, forests and woodlands got a facelift that put a smile on the faces of many Staten Islanders on Thursday. "This trail is wonderful," said Greg Perosi, one of more than a dozen Lifestyles for the Disabled participants who came to check out the new universally accessible trail now open at Mount Loretto Unique Area. Perosi had no trouble getting to the new platform on Mount Loretto Pond, perfect for fishing or taking in the scenic view, despite his wheelchair. The 500 feet of universally accessible trail was just one of many site enhancements throughout Staten Island announced by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday. "The most exciting part is just being able to provide first-rate access to all of the public," said Stephen M. Zahn, regional director of Region 2 (New York City) for the DEC. "As you can see today, a lot more people will be able to come out here and no one is excluded." Mount Loretto Unique Area, along with North Mount Loretto State Forest, St. Francis Woodlands and Lemon Creek, are the first of DEC's lands on Staten Island to be upgraded with elements that allow people of all abilities to enjoy recreational opportunities. Zahn said the projects were funded through Gov. Andrew Cuomo's New York Works Program and are part of the New York is Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative to improve recreational opportunities and boost tourism. At Thursday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, Zahn announced all of the site enhancements on Staten Island, which include: Mount Loretto Unique Area: In addition to the universally accessible trail and new platform, there is an expanded parking area to accommodate 25 cars (two of which are handicapped parking spaces). North Mount Loretto State Forest: An additional 850 feet of accessible trail in the woods, as well as resurfaced 1,600 feet of trail to provide accessibility. Other improvements include a resurfaced parking area to provide improved access. St. Francis Woodlands: A cobblestone walk-around pond was removed and replaced with 900 feet of accessible trail. Also, improved access over impoundment on Priory Pond, improved fishing accessibility to Priory Pond and the addition of parking lot on Helena Road. Lemon Creek: Accessible trail leading to the shore of the creek for wildlife viewing and improved access for launching a canoe or kayak. Maureen Dreher, health and wellness director for Lifestyles for the Disabled, said she always brought participants of the program to Mount Loretto for recreation but is excited that they will get to fully enjoy the site now. "There are places to sit and relax...we watch the ships go by and have even seen bald eagles (here)," Dreher said of the park. Assemblyman Michael Cusick said that Staten Islanders are fortunate to have such wonderful places to enjoy recreational activities. "One of the greatest things about this borough is the great parklands," he said, promising to work with DEC and other local elected officials to maintain the improvements. Deputy Borough President Ed Burke noted that these improvements to statelands should send Staten Islanders the message that conservation is important to state agencies and local elected officials. "It's important for Staten Islanders to realize. We've done a great job preserving parkland," Burke said, adding that one-third of Staten Island is made up of parklands. "This is fantastic," he said, as he took in the view from the platform on Mount Loretto Pond. Assemblyman Ron Castorina agreed, noting, "We've got this great site and now we have great access." "Staten Islanders can come and get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life," he added. Also in attendance at the event were representatives of Councilman Steven Matteo's office and Cuomo's office. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- District Attorney Michael E. McMahon held a discussion in Grasmere Wednesday evening about the upcoming Veteran's Court on Staten Island. More than 30 veterans came to hear about the new program that would have fellow veterans act as mentors for those going through the criminal justice system. "We're asking them to step up one more time and help their fellow veterans," McMahon said. "Because we want a fairer justice system, but we need their help to do it." The program, which already exists in the four other boroughs, is designed to provide supportive services to veterans accused of committing victimless crimes. McMahon, who hopes the new court will open Nov. 10, said individuals from the Veteran's Administration and various city agencies will be there to assist with whatever the veterans might need. "If the issue is financial, if they need a job, we'll help them get a job," he said. Those enrolled in the program will be expected to meet certain standards, and if those standards are met, their cases will be dismissed. The victimless crimes include things like jumping turnstiles, vagrancy and drug cases. McMahon said he hopes the program helps combat mental health issues veterans face when they return home. "It's a great idea that's long overdue," said Joseph DiGiovanni, a veteran who came to hear about the program. "The only ones who understand what vets are going through is other vets." McMahon said he expects the program to help 25 veterans a year. State Supreme Court Judge Michael J. Brennan, a native Staten Islander and judge in the Brooklyn Veteran's Court, helped put the program together on Staten Island. He said that one of the most important things about the program is the understanding a fellow veteran brings to the situation. State Assemblyman Michael Cusick was also in attendance at the event, and said he believes the court will "streamline" the services veterans need. "This is something we've been fighting for for years," Cusick said. Veterans at the event seemed positive about the new program. "It'll give them more support," James Haynes said. "They know some people are there backing them up." McMahon made it very clear that the mentoring veterans would not be expected to be doctors or social workers, but would serve as, "buddies," for the veterans in need. "We'll try to get them out of the criminal justice system and into a better life," McMahon said. AX045_27E8_9.JPG The view of New York Harbor from Fort Wadsworth, the proposed site of a new maritime-themed public intermediate school for Staten Island. (Staten Island Advance) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A proposed new maritime-themed middle school to be located on the grounds of Fort Wadsworth has passed its first hurdle, according to Borough President James Oddo. In an update posted to Facebook, Oddo reported that a feasibility study of the project completed by the city's School Construction Authority (SCA) came back positive. "'No show stoppers' was how it was reported to me," he wrote. Next, the SCA's Environmental Division will perform an environmental study on the site, that will be set up with National Parks Service. The Visitors Center building at Fort Wadsworth is being eyed as the site for the school. Oddo met in April with city education officials, as well as officials from the National Park Service (NPS), to discuss the idea, and later took a tour of the fort, including the Visitors Center building. The middle school would be a feeder for the Harbor School, a specialized high school on Governor's Island, that offers vocational and career tech instruction in addition to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs. The idea has the support of City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina, who told the Advance she envisions an education component to the redevelopment along the borough's North and East shore waterfront. "So things are moving along, and there appears to be no foot-dragging on anybody's part - which is most refreshing when working with city agencies," Oddo said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police said they recovered a firearm in Clifton after a massive search for a suspect Wednesday afternoon. An individual was spotted by police with a loaded firearm at 225 Park Hill Ave. who then fled on foot to 185 Park Hill Ave., a spokesman for the NYPD said. Both locations are part of the Park Hill Apartments, and the firearm was recovered at 185 Park Hill Ave. The 120th Precinct tweeted two photos late Wednesday evening about a gun that was recovered by a K9 unit. Thx to Po Barreto & K9 Bruno for sniffing out a gun that was tossed during a foot pursuit by #120pct anti-crime pic.twitter.com/Cs3YYEFK8G NYPD 120th Precinct (@NYPD120Pct) September 22, 2016 A large police presence was called to the scene to search for the suspect. An emergency services truck, and a chopper were both involved in the search. A portion of Park Hill Avenue was temporarily taped off to block traffic, but was quickly taken down. "We've never seen anything like this before, so we know it's something major," said one resident who declined to give her name. Police searched both 225 and 185 Park Hill Ave. Several residents added that their gas was shut off at the same time as the operation. National Grid was on the scene, and a spokesperson said the gas at 185 Park Hill Ave. was shut at the request of the Department of Buildings. ORTA.jpeg Ramsey Orta (File photo) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Ramsey Orta, the man who filmed the Eric Garner incident, was one of nine people detained during a demonstration in Manhattan Wednesday, according to the Daily News. The NYPD said four people were arrested, but could not say if Orta was one of them, the article said. One hundred people marched from Union Square to Midtown to protest the shooting death of North Carolina man Keith Scott at the hands of a police officer, the News reported. Garner, 43, died in police custody July 17, 2014 in Tompkinsville. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In recognition of National Hunger Action Month, the three ShopRite locations on Staten Island recently hosted "Help Bag Hunger Day" events, and various community leaders were on hand at the newest ShopRite in Charleston to show their support. Local celebrity participants included: Vincent Ignizio, director of Catholic Charities of Staten Island; Ed Burke, deputy borough president, and Anthony Reinhardt from Sen. Andrew Lanza's office. They were joined on Wednesday by other "celebrity community baggers" from six local organizations, including: St. Edward Food Pantry; Catholic Charities; Prince's Bay Reformed Church/The Church that Never Closes; Woodrow United Methodist Church; All Saints Episcopal Church; Bikur Cholim Of S.I. Ignizio rang up the highest sale during the event's charity shopping spree -- $800 after just five minutes of shopping. As a result, ShopRite owner Kevin Mannix will donate $800 each -- or $4,800 in total -- to the six charities. The Mannix family also owns the two additional Staten Island ShopRites, located in New Dorp and Graniteville. ShopRite hosts the "Help Bag Hunger Day" event, part of the ShopRite Partners In Caring program, in many of its stores across New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. ShopRite associates are raising money in stores to fight hunger throughout National Hunger Month in September. It is expected that the participating ShopRite stores will raise more than $1 million. The funds will go to support local and regional food banks. With nearly 50 million Americans, including more than 16 million children, suffering from food insecurity, ShopRite is helping to raise awareness and inspire action within their local communities through its hunger-fighting initiative, ShopRite Partners In Caring, a year-round, community based program that provides funds to local food banks. Since its inception in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated $40 million to local food banks, supporting more than 2,000 charities that feed the hungry in communities served by ShopRite stores. By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree Best Canadian Blog 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 About Kate Why this blog? Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked. This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me." (goes to a private mailserver in Europe) I can't answer or use every tip, but all are appreciated! Katewerk Art Support SDA I am not a registered charity. I cannot issue tax receipts. Reconnaissance Man Economics for the Disinterested ...a fast-paced polar bear attack thriller! Want lies? Hire a regular consultant. Want truth? Hire an asshole. Weather Shop Click to inquire about rates. Dow Jones What They Say About SDA "Smalldeadanimals doesn't speak for the people of Saskatchewan" Former Sask Premier Lorne Calvert "I got so much traffic after your post my web host asked me to buy a larger traffic allowance." Dr.Ross McKitrick Holy hell, woman. When you send someone traffic, you send someone TRAFFIC. My hosting provider thought I was being DDoSed. - Sean McCormick "The New York Times link to me yesterday [...] generated one-fifth of the traffic I normally get from a link from Small Dead Animals." Kathy Shaidle "Thank you for your link. A wave of your Canadian readers came to my blog! Really impressive." Juan Giner - INNOVATION International Media Consulting Group I got links from the Weekly Standard, Hot Air and Instapundit yesterday - but SDA was running at least equal to those in visitors clicking through to my blog. Jeff Dobbs "You may be a nasty right winger, but you're not nasty all the time!" Warren Kinsella "Go back to collecting your welfare livelihood."Michael E. Zilkowsky Intelliweather Seismic Map Comments Policy Read this Best Of SDA Hide The Decline The Bottle Genie (ClimateGate links) You Might Be A Liberal Uncrossing The Line Bob Fife: Knuckledragger A Modest Proposal (NP) Settled Science Series Y2Kyoto Series SDA: Reader Occupation Survey Brett Lamb Sheltered Workshop Flakes On A Plane All Your Weather Are Belong To Us Song Of The Sled The Raise A Flag Debacle (Now on Youtube!) (.mwv Video) Abuse Ruins Life Of Girl Trudeaupiate Kleptocrat Jeans Child Labour I Concede Small Dead Feminist Protein Hoser: THK Interview The Werewolf Extinction Dear Laura (VRWC) We Wait Blogging The Oscars Jackson Converts To Islam Just Shut The HELL Up Manipulating Condi Gay Equality Rights The Ralph Indie Program. Wiggle Room. Preview September 27 at 7pm, then September 28-October 1 at 7pm. Tickets $20.$15. Anthems and Angels November 2 to 4. Vinegar Tom. Preview November 28 then November 29-December 4. (See website for more details of these). Ralph Wilson Theatre. Gorman Arts Centre, agac.com.au or at the door. The late great man of Canberra Theatre, Ralph Wilson, will be smiling from above on the inaugural Ralph Indie Program which opens next week at the Ralph Wilson Theatre at Gorman Arts Centre. Co-creative producer Rochelle Whyte has the exciting task of bringing this ambitious program to fruition. Her co-creative producer, Adelaide Rief, and director of Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres Joseph Falsone last year envisioned the Ralph Indie Program as a way of reactivating the Ralph Wilson Theatre since the departure of the former tenant, Janine Ayres Aerial Dance Theatre. From left, Alison Plevey and Solco Acro (Cher Albrecht and Deb Cleland) will present Wiggle Room. Credit:Andrew Sikorski. Whyte says, "We wanted to find a way that we could support our local artists, really challenge their practice, challenge their ideas and give them space and time to really develop those ideas to performance presentation, and we felt that that was really a celebration of who Ralph Wilson was himself as a pioneer and adventurer and theatre maker." Their vision has taken a year to come to fruition. Of the many applications received, three were selected to form the program. They include a collaboration between dancer Alison Plevy and aerial acrobat troupe Solco Acro in Wiggle Room, which begins the program when it opens at the Ralph Wilson Theatre on September 28. In November, Zsuzsi Soboslay's compassion play, Anthems and Angels will be modelled on the medieval passion plays, and finally Cathy Petocz and Hannah de Feyter's new company, COUP; Canberra, will collaborate with a diverse range of Canberra artists to present their adaptation of playwright Caryl Churchill's Vinegar Tom, set during the witch trials of the 17th century. Canberra audiences will have the unique opportunity over three months to see new experimental works that explore a range of subjects and styles and are sure to entertain and provoke. Wiggle Room has been inspired by British professor Sara Ahmed's essay, Wiggle Room, which negotiates the embodied politics of space. The artists explore how the ways in which we move our bodies and occupy space is inherently guided by existing social, cultural and gender norms. Plevy says, "We want to to invite thinking and provocation about wider spatial behaviours and accepted norms and conventions that often restrict us for example the difference in the way we move when we're alone, to when we know we're being watched." Angels and Anthems, written and devised by Soboslay, explores the status of refugees and how we accept people from other countries, and what other stories people have when uprooting themselves from their countries and going to a new place. It will involve collaboration with an AV artist and members of the Sudanese community. Audiences will experience the medieval passion play form during which they will be led on a journey that will take them out of the theatre, and through part of Gorman House before returning to the theatre. Finally, Caryl Churchill's play Vinegar Tom will be used as a foundation piece when it opens in December. Directors Petocz and de Feyter have described their adaptation as a "rock concert hung around a play" that will integrate the mediums of music, theatre and storytelling. The performance is set in a small village. Things start to go wrong and the villagers begin to look for scapegoats and make accusations. "What is interesting about the piece," Whyte says, "is that every single woman voices how they feel about those accusations differently." By offering artists the space needed to explore bold and brave artistic ideas, Ralph Indie encourages innovation, experimentation and cross-disciplinary investigations in the performing arts. "The Ralph Wilson Theatre is a unique space for artists to make original work, challenge their work and create new collaborations. I'm excited by what this collaboration will create." Whyte says. At this time of Raiders' fever (on Saturday night, the bad and mean GreenMachine is pitted against the Melbourne Storm in the grand-final qualifier), Stuart Anderson has some claim to being the most feverish Raiders' fan of all. When he attends Saturday's match at Melbourne's AAMI Park, it will be the 28th time this season he has been there in the flesh to support the Raiders. He has been to every home game and also (and this is where his true feverishness shines forth) to every away game. Stuart Anderson,who posts as the Dark Raider, has been to every Raiders game, home and away, this season. Credit:Karleen Minney The extreme fandom shown by his footy travels may make the 25-year-old Bonner man sound a little fanatical. But he seemed composed during our interview at the ANU's computer science building where he works for the CSIRO's Data61 as a research software engineer. "It's the first time I've done it [attended every game] but I decided this year I was going to try to go to every game, home and away. I missed a few home games last season and I thought I'd try to make up for it. So I went to a trial game ahead of this season, at Orange, and I thought to myself 'The team is looking really exciting. This is probably going to be a decent year. I'm going to try to get to every game. While Australian War Memorial curator Amanda Jane Reynolds is passionate about all the exhibits she has drawn together for the first exhibition devoted solely to the military experience of Australia's first peoples, Len Waters' flying helmet speaks to her most strongly. Warrant Officer Waters, who was born at Eurabi Mission near Boomi in northern NSW in 1924, was Australia's first Aboriginal military aviator. Australian War Memorial's latest exhibition, For Country, for Nation. Director of the Australian War Memorial Brendan Nelson chats with commissioned artist Clair Bates. Credit:Karleen Minney He also had the distinction of being the RAAF's first Indigenous fighter pilot, flying a P-40 Kittyhawk, christened Black Magic, on more than 100 missions against the Japanese in the Pacific. Mr Waters, an accomplished boxer who had been working as a shearer when he enlisted, said he had always "had my head in the clouds" from growing up with the stories of Charles Kingsford Smith, Amy Johnson, Nancy Bird Walton, Bert Hinkler and others. New RBA governor Philip Lowe has lashed out at what he says is an incentives-based culture at the nation's big banks, saying the industry needs to return to being a strong service profession rather than a "marketing or product distribution" business. Speaking at his first appearance before the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Economics, Dr Lowe agreed when asked if there were problems with poor culture 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. "And that's disappointing to us all," he said, in an unusually strong criticism of the finance industry from the nation's most senior economist. Vocus can buy NextGen Networks for $807 million after the competition watchdog gave the deal the green light. The purchase includes 17,000 kilometres of internet cables and the Australian Singapore Cable and North West Cable System, assets that let Vocus transfer data traffic overseas much cheaper than if it had to buy capacity off another operator. Vocus Communications raised $652 million to buy Nextgen and two development projects. Credit:Tanya Lake Management also provided a trading update after Vocus shares were punished on Tuesday and Wednesday, dropping from an opening price of $7.14 on Monday to close at $6.09 on Wednesday. However, shares were up on Thursday at $6.30, a 3.45 per cent increase. Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [ACCC], Rod Sims, said "the market expressed very little concern over the proposed acquisition". Our Prime Minister, Immigration Minister and Foreign Minister have spent this week in New York attending high-profile global summits on refugees. They arrived insisting that the Australian government's policies were the "best in the world", but they'll leave having offered little more than self-congratulations. The summits were an important opportunity for Malcolm Turnbull to show leadership on both global and local challenges globally to the unprecedented number of people fleeing danger and locally to the festering sores that are the offshore camps on Nauru and Manus. A refugee camp on the island of Nauru in 2001. "People in our region who have fled danger, need protection and a chance to rebuild their lives," says Daniel Webb. Credit:AP But Turnbull comprehensively shirked both. He pledged a modest funding increase for global relief efforts spread over the next three years and to do no more than maintain our current planned refugee intake. He also failed to offer any way forward from the Nauru and Manus dead ends. By contrast, since the early 1970s, economic matters have tended to be the electorate's highest priority. For instance, in December 2011, just before the last presidential election year in 2012, about 55 per cent of US citizens cited economic worries as the most important facing the country, according to Pew. By contrast, only 6 per cent mentioned foreign policy or other international issues. The higher salience of foreign compared to economic issues is unusual in the past few decades. Indeed, it resembles the first 25 years of the Cold War, from 1948 to 1972, when international security issues dominated the concerns of US voters during presidential campaigns. Part of the reason is the massive international concern about the prospect of the maverick businessman Trump getting elected. However, a deeper factor driving global interest, which also potentially increases the unpredictability of the race, is the high salience of international issues in the campaign. For instance, a Pew Research Centre Poll at the beginning of this election year found that 34 per cent of the population believes foreign policy, especially tackling international terrorism, is the biggest challenge facing the country. By contrast, "only" 23 per cent mentioned economic problems. Next Monday's first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will be eagerly watched not just in the US, but right across the globe. Given the major differences, and the large stakes in play, international audiences are showing a very keen interest in the election outcome. The centrality of foreign and security policy issues in this year's election largely reflects US concerns about terrorism. When the Pew poll was taken, after the Paris attacks last year, and the atrocity in San Bernardino, California, almost 18 per cent of the population believed that the terrorist danger was the biggest issue facing the country. And an additional 7 per cent of voters asserted that Islamic State specifically (as distinct from terrorism in general), or the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, is the No.1 for the nation. These numbers will have been buoyed by further terrorist attacks, including the ones last weekend in New York and New Jersey. The apparently lone attacker allegedly responsible for those atrocities, an Afghan-born US citizen, may have been radicalised on trips to Pakistan. Although foreign and security policy has returned to the forefront of the US electorate's mind, at least temporarily, there are significant differences between now and during the first two decades of the Cold War. This earlier period was characterised by a relative policy consensus and widespread bi-partisan co-operation on foreign and security matters. Today, however, this policy area is significantly more divisive politically, as is underlined by the attacks by Republican candidates on President Barack Obama, and Clinton his former secretary of state. For instance, Trump asserts that "Obama's foreign policy is a complete and total disaster the worst president we have ever had", while Obama and Clinton have rightfully described Trump as unfit to be president. To be sure, the early Cold War consensus can be overstated. Nonetheless, a significant degree of bipartisan agreement on foreign affairs, and wider political decorum, did exist until breaking apart in the late 1960s under the strain of the Vietnam War debacle and the demise of the notion of monolithic communism in light of the Sino-Soviet split. No clear foreign and security policy consensus has emerged in recent years. Many Republicans and Democrats differ significantly on how they view the power and standing of the US internationally; on the degree to which the country should be unilateralist; in their attitudes toward the campaign on terrorism and the methods by which they are being fought; and on what the priorities of foreign policy should be. An example here is the campaign against so-called Islamic State where Trump have called for more much hard-line actions. This includes a fundamentally different military strategy, including potential "carpet-bombing", which appears to involve intensification of US military commitments in the Middle East. During Tuesday night's ABC show Recognition: Yes or No? Stan Grant weighed in on his Aboriginal identity after 200 years of European settlement, citing Israel as an example Australia could follow for its cohesion and equal society. Israel, being itself a European settlement, was absolutely the last example expected for supporting the rights of Aboriginals' recognition in Australia. He said: "I have been to Israel and I have seen the sense of Jewish belonging whether you are an Ethiopian Jew or a Russian Jew or an American Jew, with a whole range of ethnicities and everything else around it that coalesce around a sense of belonging and kinship." Palestinian youths in Bethlehem list the names of the children killed in Israel's Operation Protective Edge military assault on the Gaza Strip in July 2014. Credit:AFP Grant astonishingly fails to mention my people, the Palestinian people, who have resided under Israeli occupation or tutelage since (similar to Australia) mainly Europeans established a state on their lands 68 years ago. The use of Israel as an example for a place where "a whole range of ethnicities and everything else around it that coalesce around a sense of belonging and kinship" is flawed and simply unfactual. In the words of former Israeli Supreme Court Justice Theodor Or, Palestinians in Israel face a structural and systematic discrimination with the Israeli state not doing "enough to grant equality" for its Arab citizens. We haven't even mentioned the 4 million Palestinians living under military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza for 49 years ongoing, or the other 4 million Palestinian refugees who were displaced in 1948. The first Muslim woman elected to federal Parliament, Anne Aly, has declared that a poll showing half of respondents want to ban Muslim immigration doesn't reflect the true feelings and reality of mainstream Australia. However, Dr Aly, the Labor member for the WA seat of Cowan and a counter-radicalisation expert, said a degree of xenophobia towards minorities does exist, fed by hateful rhetoric, and needs to be confronted by political leaders and regular people. The poll, released this week, found 49 per cent of people favoured a ban on Muslims moving to Australia, previously considered an idea espoused only by outsider politicians like One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. The survey found 60 per cent of Coalition voters, 40 per cent of Labor voters and 34 per cent of Greens voters agreed with the proposition and the most common concern expressed was that Muslim people were not integrating, followed by fears of terrorism. Hell hath no fury like a woman accused of being a homewrecker. Oscar-winning French actor Marion Cotillard has swiftly shut down rumours that she and her Allied co-star Brad Pitt - the soon-to-be third ex-husband of Angelina Jolie - are having an affair. When news broke Jolie had filed for divorce, the online peanut gallery and tabloids went searching for reasons. One of the conclusions drawn was that Pitt had fallen for his leading lady - just like he did in 2004 on set of his and Jolie's first film together, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli has declared a "war over fairness" and accused the federal government of abandoning public schools as negotiations between ministers over the future of education funding look set to break down before they have even begun. A new analysis by the NSW Department of Education, released the day before meetings were set to kick off, claims NSW schools will face a funding cut of $400 million from 2018 under the federal government's plans. According to the analysis, public schools are expected to shoulder the cost of $100 million being re-distributed to other states while private schools are spared. "I've seen those schools, Canley Vale Public, Curran Public, I've seen what impact that extra money is having," Mr Piccoli told Fairfax Media. Huang Xiangmo, the Chinese businessman who paid a personal legal bill of Labor senator Sam Dastyari, has resigned as chair of the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at UTS over "coverage about political donations and supposed Chinese influence". Mr Huang, the head of property developer Yuhu and a prolific political donor to both sides of politics, gave $1.8 million to set up the ACRI in 2014. Headed by former foreign minister Bob Carr, ACRI has been criticised for taking an overly positive view of China and been subject to allegations that it has been too closely aligned with the propaganda aims of the Chinese government. Mr Carr has frequently said ACRI takes "an unashamedly positive and optimistic" view of the bilateral relationship. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows, Rocky Balboa would say, though it is anybody's guess why so many people spend their leisure time watching gloomy movies about it. But researchers at Oxford University have come up with one explanation for the apparently perverse attraction of tear-jerker films, suggesting that emotional drama triggers the release of "happy" chemicals in the brain. Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in the film version of The Notebook. Their study of 169 people found that those who watched a sad film had a higher pain threshold and felt more closely bonded to their group than those who watched a documentary, which they hypothesised could be the result of endorphins. Produced by the brain in response to stimuli such as stress, endorphins dull the perception of pain and are believed to play a role in social bonding. An alternative medicine therapist has been charged with indecently assaulting three of his female patients in Sydney's inner west. The 54-year-old man will face court in November over the alleged assaults at a business on Parramatta Road in Annandale between 2011 and 2014. Police also are appealing for any other people who may have been the victim of an indecent or sexual assault, "no matter how long ago", to come forward. Officers from Leichhardt Local Area Command began investigating the therapist in 2014 when three women told police they were touched inappropriately during treatments. On Wednesday, police issued the therapist with a future court attendance notice for three counts of indecent assault. The Harold Park Paceway development in Glebe is a recipe for "how to do density", says Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore. Once the city's home of harness racing, the 10.6-hectare site has undergone a radical face lift since developer Mirvac bought it in 2010. "When harness racing approached the city and said they wanted to relocate and sell the site ... we had a vision," the lord mayor said at the opening of the Harold Park Tramsheds on Thursday. "We had housing targets to meet and whilst a lot of people in Glebe wanted it to just be a park, we said we can't do that." The NSW Liberal Party will forgo almost $600,000 in public funding after political donations equal to that amount were deemed to have been unlawful following an investigation by the NSW Electoral Commission into its fundraising before the 2011 election. In a statement on Thursday, the commission also revealed disgraced former Liberal MP for Charlestown, Andrew Cornwell, has been forced to repay $10,000 cash he received from property developer Jeff McCloy during the campaign. Property developers have been prohibited from donating to NSW election campaigns since the end of 2010. The commission's statement comes after it announced it was withholding $4.4 million in public funding from the party until it properly disclosed who donated to it via a Canberra-based organisation, the Free Enterprise Foundation. Daylight saving would be wound back by a month under a proposal from a member of the NSW coalition who says the practice is unfairly burdening people in the state's west. "If you're on the western border of NSW the sun gets up up to 50 minutes later in the day than in the eastern seaboard," said Nationals MLC Trevor Khan unveiling plans for a bill to be debated in coming weeks. "Ending it earlier would mean people [in the west] are less likely to be getting up in the dark; kids are less likely to be riding the bus in darkness". Daylight saving time runs from the first Sunday of October to the first in April. But under Mr Khan's plan it would be wound back by one month to end in March. SAN SEBASTIAN In a career departure and sign of the growing empowerment of top Latin American filmmakers, Chilean Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner Alejandro Fernandez Almendras (To Kill a Man) will direct A Work of Love, a bittersweet dramedy to be shot in Czech in the Czech Republic. Almendras leapt to fame with two searing social indictments: Man and Much Ado About Nothing, which was selected for 2016s Sundance and Berlin Panorama editions. Set in Almendras native Chile and shot in Spanish, both attacked failings in Chiles justice system. To shoot in b/w, A Work of Love is produced by Chiles Jirafa Films, the company behind Much Ado and Christopher Murrays Venice competition player The Blind Christ, Guillaume de Seilles Paris-based Arizona Films, a producer on Man and Much Ado, and Veronica Vinkovas Film & Roll in the Czech Republic. Written by Almendras, A Work of Love turns on Petr, a small-town Czech theater director who determines to stage Georges Perecs Life: A Users Manual to make his name, maybe score a job in Prague. But Perecs novel is vast, encyclopaedic, and unadaptable. containing 100 or so main stories. The movie takes in the four-week final rehearsal build-up to the plays opening, as the theater director battles to stage the unstageable, react to being dumped by his lover, the plays lead actress who obsesses him, lay off staff, and handle the complaints of his estranged wife who wants to go back to work after having their baby. The opening night is a disaster of sorts: Very few people understand the play or attend its cocktail. But it wins a complement from one of the only people whose opinion Petr values his father-in-law, a Czech acting legend and brings him closer again to his baby son and wife, who may be in the process of forgiving him. After two very political films, I wanted to do some very personal, a movie made from the heart and soul, about love for people, your partner, your children, the work you do, the love of art and theater, Almendras told Variety at San Sebastian, where he presented a second project, Una periodista, a Chile-set true-event-based political thriller which he plans to shoot after A Work of Love. Story continues Almendras added that A Work of Love is also about growing up, accepting the weaknesses of your partner, the complexities of love. Inspirations include the emotional, family dramas of Cassavetes and Garrel, though my film will be sweeter, he said. Traditionally, European producers would board Latin American films which depict its still hugely-challenged social realities and score overseas arthouse sales playing off an upbeat reception at an A-grade fest. Following in the footsteps of Cuaron, Del Toro and Inarritu, Latin American directors are, however, increasingly challenging the idea that they should limit their career to observing their own part of the world. Jackie, filmed by fellow Chilean Pablo Larrain, is just one example. Shooting will take place preferably in February-March or October-November 2017, using a small Chilean-Czech crew. Almendras will compose the films score. Opening credits will be drawn by Almendras six-year-old daughter Julieta, using simple pen on paper. Related stories Nely Reguera on 'Maria (And The Others), Barbara Lennie and Family Dynamics San Sebastian: Digital Revolution Favors New Talent San Sebastian Film Review: 'Porto' The "queen pin" of a Sydney drug syndicate has been charged with murder after allegedly ordering the killing of a drug cook and his girlfriend in 2013. The bodies of Son Thanh Nguyen and his girlfriend Thi Kim Lien Do,were found bound and wrapped in sheets in separate locations in Sydney's south-west. After detectives linked the pair, it emerged they were both allegedly killed at a drug house in Canley Vale on April 11, 2013, under the direction of feared crime figure Dung Thi Ngo. Earlier this week, homicide detectives charged Ngo's recruited muscle, 25-year-old Kevin Ly, with carrying out the double murder. Tourists to south-east Queensland could pay an extra $1 to $2 per night on their hotel room bill and raise $7million towards the $30 million a year extra needed to keep the Brisbane River clean. Fairfax Media recently reported a "significantly cleaner" Brisbane River, with white sand revealed under the Story Bridge. However the river is still threatened by hundreds of thousands of tonnes of sediment flowing downstream from farms in the Lockyer Valley as summer storms wash water downstream. Now Fairfax Media can reveal new waterways funding models like a tourist-bed levy to pay to reduce silt in the Brisbane River will be debated by the Council of Mayors next month when deputy Premier Jackie Trad returns from "City Deal" infrastructure funding talks in London. Suspended Gold Coast cop Chris Hurley and his partner have been charged over a police chase in which they allegedly ran a stolen car off the road before shooting at it. Senior Constable Barry Wellington, 50, has also been charged over the May 17, 2015, chase, which both officers were allegedly ordered to abandon. Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley is currently suspended from duties. Credit:Ian Hitchcock Senior Sergeant Hurley, 48, was stood down from regular duties last May while the incident was investigated. On Wednesday, police announced both men had been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle in relation to the pursuit, in the Gold Coast suburb of Pacific Pines. Brisbane asylum seeker Mojgan Shamsalipoor is trapped in an impossible catch-22 as she seeks to remain in Australia. Ms Shamsalipoor was released from detention on Wednesday morning, and reunited with husband Milad Jafari - who has permanent residency - after she was issued with a three-month bridging visa. Mojgan Shamsalipoor is happy to be released on a temporary visa, but questions remain about whether she can stay in Australia. Her lawyer Kevin Kadirgamar said supporters were happy she was released but she was now in a difficult situation as she seeks a partner's visa. "Her release is something we have been asking for for a very long time... (due to) the prospect of indefinite detention," Mr Kadirgamar said. Tiahleigh Palmer's biological mother will give her first interview in months as police begin to excavate the rural property where her daughter's foster father allegedly murdered her. Police are searching for anything buried at the 12-year-old schoolgirl's former home, a rural Logan property between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, after seeing evidence of turned earth. It's expected to remain a crime scene for at least a week. Her foster father, Richard Thorburn, has been charged with her murder, with his 19-year-old son Trent accused of incest. Australia's highest-ranked UFC fighter will face his toughest test this November, with Menai middleweight Robert Whittaker slated to take on a fellow rising star in the co-main event of UFC Melbourne: Rockhold v Jacare II. Whittaker, 25, holds a 7-2 record in the UFC and is on a four-fight winning streak after moving up from welterweight, with his last fight a tough decision win over Brazilian Rafael Natal at UFC 197 in April. Robert Whittaker (left) kicks Rafael Natal at UFC 197. Australia's highest-ranked UFC fighter will next take on Derek Brunson. Credit:John Locher He badly broke his right hand in the first round but was able to weather a second-round fight-back from Natal to claim a decision victory. While it was anticipated Whittaker may be matched against MMA legend Anderson Silva in Melbourne, the UFC on Thursday announced his opponent as powerful US grappler Derek Brunson. Unless an Aboriginal person tells Betul Tuna to leave the country, she's not going anywhere. The Turkish-Australian lives in northern Victoria, in the federal seat of Murray, where Pauline Hanson's One Nation won more support than anywhere else in the state. Betul Tuna (left) and her business partner Suzan Yilmaz with their 'caravan cafe', which they hope will become a meeting place in Shepparton for people of different faiths. She is a project officer with the Ethnic Council of Shepparton, working closely with refugees who settle in the regional city where a fifth of the population was born overseas. And she is also a Muslim. Like most Muslims who live in Australia, she was born here. An underworld figure miraculously drove himself to a hospital after being shot in the head on Thursday. It is understood Nabil Maghnie, previously investigated for shooting former bikie Toby Mitchell, was shot at least twice through the front windscreen of the 2013 Holden Commodore he was driving. The aftermath of a drive-by shooting at the Kittens club in South Melbourne in May this year. Credit:Eddie Jim Police don't yet know where in Melbourne the shooting took place, but detectives say the 40-year-old drove himself to the Northern Hospital in Epping at 1.20am on Thursday. The WA government has pulled out the big guns in its bid to claw back money it lost in the long-running Bell Group saga, enlisting international law giants as it prepares for litigation at home and abroad. The nation's most expensive and longest-running legal case began in 1995, four years after the Alan Bond-controlled group collapsed, and centred on loans provided to various Bell companies by a consortium of 20 banks. The nation's most expensive and longest-running legal case began in 1995, four years after the Alan Bond-controlled group collapsed. Credit:Neil Eliot While the WA Supreme Court approved a settlement between the liquidators and banks in 2013, the state government last year passed legislation designed to short-circuit the jostling of various creditors, including the Australian Taxation Office. The creditors argued, however, that the bill was unconstitutional and in May, the High Court of Australia deemed the legislation invalid in its entirety because it was inconsistent with two tax acts. A 27-year-old WA man has been arrested at Perth Airport after WA Police allegedly discovered $4 million worth of methamphetamine in his luggage. The WA Police Organised Crime Squad will allege the East Cannington man and another 23-year-old man from Perth, were being investigated for suspicious activities prior to the seizure on Monday. "The East Cannington man boarded a flight from Perth to Sydney on Monday September 19, 2016, and returned to WA on another flight later that day," a police spokesman said. "Both men were intercepted at Perth Domestic Airport. The scene of the shooting and the largest demonstration of the evening happened along a crowded street in Charlotte's city centre, 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. A man squats near a pool of blood after a man was shot during a protest in Charlotte. Credit:AP 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 NBA had been broken into and gutted of merchandise. Protesters rushed police in riot gear at a downtown Charlotte hotel and officers have fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Credit:AP "We are working very hard to bring peace and calm back to our city," Mayor Jennifer Roberts said on CNN. Protests had remained peaceful in uptown on Wednesday, but the scene turned chaotic after 8.30pm, when protesters went from Marshall Park to the EpiCentre dining and entertainment complex and the Omni on Trade Street. Hundreds of people on the streets of Charlotte. Credit:AP The gunshot victim was taken to Carolinas Medical Centres about 8.45pm. At 9.45pm, police fired rubber bullets at the crowd. Around 10pm, the police ordered all civilians, including members of the media, to leave parts of Uptown and threatened arrests of those who did not comply. When the crowd did not respond immediately, within minutes the authorities fired more tear gas. Demonstrators sit on a street during a protest in Charlotte. Credit:AP "Your life is in danger, you need to move!" police in riot gear yelled. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney told Fox News: "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." The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is sending in troopers to assist Charlotte police, according to Governor Pat McCrory, who said: "Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated". It follows the fatal police shooting of a black man who officers said had refused their orders to drop a handgun. Police said Keith Scott, 43, was armed and ignoring officers' orders when he was gunned down, while the victim's family and a witness said he was holding a book, not a weapon. Authorities have not released any video of the incident, but the city's mayor said they planned to. Scott's wife, Rakeyia, issued a statement describing her family as "devastated" and appealing for calm, adding: "We have more questions than answers about Keith's death". The protesters also criticised police for their response on Tuesday night when officers used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds on Old Concord Road near where Scott was fatally shot. "You were unprepared," one protester yelled, addressing police. "You escalated it ... You came to us with billy clubs." Alex Gray of Charlotte said he was "not really big on chanting. But just to be here to support ... I mean, there are a lot of people who have lost their lives for this reason or that reason. It's just disheartening." "It would be nice to see some change, obviously it's not going to be anything that happens overnight, but if it has to start somewhere ... If you're not an actor, you're a factor, so I'd rather be part of the movement than not." Master Allah of Charlotte said: "If you read (my sign), it says if we were really free, we wouldn't be dealing with this. What it means is, in the history of America, we have never been seen as free. We wasn't brought to this country to be equal, and now we're at a point to where were being destroyed. "I think with the power of media - Facebook, Twitter, all the social media - now it's something that's being seen on the daily. It can't be denied. We gotta talk about it because we've got a real problem." Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, pockets of the city were on edge, with some uptown businesses apparently sending workers home early over uncertainty about further protests. The Charlotte Chamber also urged businesses in uptown and University City to "remove or chain down all tables, chairs, signs or planters". Washington Post reporter Cleve Wootson Jr was tweeting from the Charlotte protest. Wootson said police were asking the crowd to disperse, describing it as an unlawful assembly, and that if people didn't back up, they may be hurt. Sixteen officers were injured during the first night as police in riot gear clashed with demonstrators who hurled stones, set fires and briefly blocked an interstate highway. The trouble in Charlotte unfolded as demonstrators in Tulsa, Oklahoma, demanded the arrest of a police officer seen in video last week fatally shooting an unarmed black man who had his hands in clear view at the time. BEIJING A Beijing lawyer whose clients included artist Ai Weiwei joined the swelling population of Chinese rights advocates in prison Thursday, when a court sentenced him to 12 years after convicting him on fraud charges. The lawyer, Xia Lin, and his wife and supporters strongly rejected the prosecutors' claim that he had defrauded people and said the case was part of the government's campaign to silence Chinese rights lawyers who have challenged arbitrary state power. There had been little doubt that the court in Beijing would declare Xia guilty: Defendants in politically sensitive cases rarely, if ever, walk free in China. Even so, the heavy sentence came as a shock to his lawyers and supporters. One of his defense lawyers, Ding Xikui, who was in the court for the verdict, said Xia was planning to appeal. "We will give him a family, and he will be our brother." In a letter to US President Barack Obama, Alex wrote: "Remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria? Can you please go get him and bring him to our home?" For Alex, a 6-year-old from Scarsdale, New York, it called upon an even deeper sense of responsibility and shared humanity. Washington: For many of us, the images of 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh , injured, ashen and bewildered after an airstrike in Aleppo last month, crystallised the horror of Syria's civil war. It made us wonder, again, how that horror might be stopped. Alex reads the letter he wrote to US President Barack Obama in a video posted by the White House. Credit:Screengrab Obama was so moved by Alex's letter that he read it aloud at the United Nations summit on refugees earlier this week. The president also shared a video of Alex reading the letter on his Facebook page on Wednesday, where it has been shared more than 150,000 times and watched by 8 million people and counting. Omran's 10-year-old brother, Ali, died of his injuries after the airstrike. An estimated 20 per cent of the nearly half-million killed since the Syrian civil war began in 2011 were children. Of the country's 4.3 million refugees, at least half are children. Millions of Syrian children are not able to attend school. Millions have known nothing but war in their short lives. The United States says it has taken in just over 10,000 Syrian refugees this year, bringing the total to just over 30,000. That number, and the number of refugees accepted into other wealthy countries in the Arab and Western worlds, pales in comparison to the number accepted in the countries abutting Syria. The vast majority of those who have fled Syria are in now living Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. At the refugee summit, Obama urged nations around the world to "welcome the stranger in our midst". He announced pledges made by 50 countries to take in an additional 360,000 refugees. Seven countries - Romania, Portugal, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, France and Luxembourg - committed to resettle or admit at least 10 times more refugees than they did in 2015, according to US officials cited by the AFP. Washington: The US military is testing to confirm if a chemical agent was used in a rocket attack in Iraq by Islamic State that came within hundreds of metres of US forces. The rocket fell on Tuesday in an unpopulated area near the Qayyara West base, where hundreds of US forces are working to prepare an airfield ahead of Iraq's offensive to retake the city of Mosul from the radical group Islamic State, said a US military official, who spoke with Pentagon reporters on condition of anonymity. American military personnel are deployed to northern Iraq as part of a large military operation to re-take Mosul from the Islamic State group. Credit:US Army/AP "I don't know of a case like this where it was proximate to US forces like this before," a second official said. A group of US forces inspected the fragments afterwards and took a small sample of a suspicious "tar-like, black, oily" substance, which initially tested positive for mustard agent but then tested negative in a subsequent examination, the official said. Further tests were underway. The incident was first reported by CNN. No injuries were reported. PHILIPSBURG:--- Today, September 21, World Alzheimers Day, President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams signed the declaration of The Global Parliamentary Action Group on Alzheimers & Dementia. By signing, the President of Parliament has committed to initiate and support efforts in St. Maarten focused on increasing funding to support Alzheimers and Dementia research to achieve the 2025 goal of finding a treatment, to also support efforts to improve quality of care in all stages of the disease, support families of those affected, support efforts to advance prevention and risk reduction and help raise awareness of these diseases and promoting at national and local level the creation of dementia friendly communities. September 2016 also marks the fifth global World Alzheimers Month under the 2016 theme Remember Me. PHILIPSBURG:--- One suspect was arrested by a police patrol in Cape Bay on Wednesday at approximately 01.10 a.m. for the possession of an illegal firearm. The suspect was seen riding a scooter without a license plate and no helmet. He tried to evade the patrol that chased after him through the streets in Cape Bay. After this short chase the suspect was arrested after a loaded gun was found behind the garbage bin he had hidden the scooter. The firearm and scooter were confiscated. The suspect with initials F.A.B. (24) was taken to the Philipsburg Police Station where he remains in custody for further investigation. KPSM Police Report PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police department is thanking the entire community for the cooperation they have given in connection with the ongoing investigation into the fatal traffic accident which took place on September 6th 2016 on the Airport Road. As a result of this accident a cyclist named Bas de Haan tragically lost his life. Special thanks go out in particular to those persons who witnessed this tragic accident and who came forward and assisted with the investigation by giving full statements about what they had seen. These witnesses have contributed tremendously in bringing more clarity to the investigation to what exactly transpired that afternoon. The police department wants to also take this opportunity to encourage the entire community to continue to work closely with the department to help solve crime and combat criminal activity on the island. Many times persons in the community have information that could help in criminal investigations, but are reluctant to share this information with the police. Crime is not only a police problem it is also a community problem. The police cannot do it alone and need the assistance of the community in getting it done. KPSM Press Release POINTE BLANCHE:--- Port St. Maarten Management and Supervisory Board representatives were informed about new trends taking place in the cruise industry at Seatrade Cruise Med on Wednesday in Tenerife, Canary Islands. Carnival Cruise Corporation will be adding four XL LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) powered cruise ships to its fleet. In the meantime, Carnival will add 10 new ships to its fleet by 2018, and an additional nine new ships will be added to its fleet between 2019 up to 2022. Port St. Maarten is represented at the conference by Mark Mingo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Supervisory Board Member Jason Rogers, Bertrand Peters, General and Governmental Affairs Liaison, and Ichel Moeslikan, Cruise & Yachting Operations Officer. One of our strategic partners, Carnival Corporation, will construct four environmentally-friendly ships that will have a capacity of 6,600 passengers. The ships will have full propulsion from LNG, which has been described as the first ever in the history of the cruise industry. LNG is becoming a prominent form of fuel that is being applied across the board. Port St. Maarten is prepared to handle this size vessel which would be similar in size to Royal Caribbeans Genesis-class vessels launched around 2009 followed by the Quantum class vessels. Port St. Maartens investments into having the required berthing facilities for the most modern cruise vessels currently on the high seas, was based on our vison and strategic planning more than a decade ago. The investments made then serves us well today, and we continue to look at the trends and developments taking place in the market in order to be able to continue to make those necessary investments to keep us number one, Mark Mingo, Port St. Maartens CEO said on Wednesday. The biennial cruise event hosted by Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, was opened on Wednesday and runs until September 23 at the International Trade Fair and Congress Centre in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Another area that Port St. Maarten has to work on with larger vessels being added to the fleet of cruise lines is dealing with bigger volume numbers of passengers who buy shore excursions. Port St. Maarten will be working closely with the St. Maarten Economic Cruise Association (SECA) and other stakeholders in developing a strategy where it concerns handling larger volumes of cruise passengers that buy shore excursions. We have to look at quality, and that the cruise passengers go back after having an excellent experience. As a destination, we have to get serious in investing in the product and in the cruise industry. Its not to be taken lightly, and I have been hammering on this ever so often. SECAs objectives are to promote, establish, communicate, and influence a clear vision with actions in support of the enhancement of the cruise experience for Sint Maarten, and they have a role to play where it relates to the upcoming season and beyond. Costa and Aida cruise lines we learned are focusing more on multi-language communication services for their passengers, because the cruise passenger today is a mix-bag from various countries where different languages are spoken. Port St. Maarten is also preparing for this by employing persons who come with these multi-language set skills. I encourage some our youth to study various languages which would benefit them when job opportunities present themselves. More people are travelling today than any other time in the travel history of the world, and they speak different languages. We also were briefed during our first day at the conference, that destination Sint Maarten is still undiscovered within the European market, which means that we are under-promoted. This needs to be worked on in order to increase our market share, Mingo added on Wednesday. More than 3,500 participants visited the showcase exhibition in 2014 where over 180 exhibitors from all around the globe, including numerous companies new to cruise, showcased their products and demonstrated innovations on the exhibition floor. The Seatrade Cruise Med 2014 conference also included over 160 cruise line executives; participation from 93 countries who had representation, a 35 per cent increase from 2012. Claim: Smithfield Foods was sold to a Chinese company, and China will be slaughtering and processing hogs raised in the U.S. and shipping them back to America. Rating: About this rating Mixture What's True Smithfield Foods was sold to a Chinese company in 2013. What's False China will not be slaughtering and processing hogs raised in the U.S. and shipping them back to America. Virginia-based Smithfield Foods is the world's largest hog farmer and pork processor, vending packaged meat products in the U.S. under a variety of brand names such as Smithfield, Eckrich, Farmland, Armour, John Morrell, Kretschmar, Curly's, Carando, Cook's, Margherita, Gwaltney, and Healthy Ones. In September 2013 Smithfield Foods was acquired by China's biggest meat processor, Shuanghui International Holdings, in the largest acquisition ever of a U.S. company by a Chinese one a deal that raised concerns in America about a Chinese food company's controlling a major U.S. meat supplier. In particular, alarmist messages shared via email and online message boards claimed that hogs raised in the United States would be slaughtered and packaged for sale in China before being shipped back to the U.S. to be sold to restaurants, supermarkets, and schools for consumption. Moreover, these messages claimed, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules would permit pork products handled in this way to be labeled "Raised in the USA," without specifying they were processed in a foreign country. However, we could find no verification for the statement made in the item quoted above that henceforth, Smithfield "hogs will still be raised here [in the U.S.], but slaughtered and packaged for sale [in China] before being sent back here," labeled simply "Raised in the U.S.A." under FDA regulations. (The sale of domestic and imported meat in the U.S. is regulated by the Department of Agriculture, not the Food and Drug Administration.) The major factor behind Shuanghui's acquisition of Smithfield was to secure a supply of pork to feed rising demand in China (a country that is now the world's biggest pork market), not to export pork products from China to the U.S. Forbes magazine reported that: The Chinese company is looking to reduce supply uncertainties that come along with the scarcity of livestock feed in order to be able meet the rising demand [for pork] at home. It also aims to reduce quality concerns at the same time by selling "American" meat to consumers in China. Pork is the most popular meat in China as it forms more than three-fourths of total meat consumption in the country. The nation produced more than half the world's total pork in 2012, while consumers spent around $183 billion consuming it. Moreover, demand for the meat is only rising as disposable incomes of more than 1.3 billion people in China are rising. As to the ultimate destination of the meat processed in China, Forbes reported that it would not be making its way back to America: A Chinese acquisition of a U.S. processor doesn't mean that Americans will be eating crock Chinese cuts. The trade in pork is all the other way, and so is the technology transfer that Chinese firms crave as they seek to consolidate a fragmented, poorly run industry. Shuanghui isnt looking to offload Chinese pork in Los Angeles. What it wants is to become the leading player in China. Moreover, people engaged in that industry have told us that the notion of a Chinese-owned company raising hogs in the U.S., shipping them live all the way to China for slaughtering and processing, then exporting the meat back into the U.S. would be prohibitively cost-inefficient especially since the slaughtering and processing infrastructures already exist in the U.S., and the Chinese domestic market for pork is far, far larger than the U.S. market for pork. Claim: President Obama appointed Fatima Noor as the head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security. Rating: About this rating Mixture What's True Fatima Noor once worked as a special assistant in the Office of the Director for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). What's False Noor wasn't appointed by President Obama, she was not an Assistant Director at USCIS, and she didn't approve citizenship or passport applications. On 3 July 2014, the University of Memphis announced three of their graduate students, including a woman named Fatima Noor, had landed full-time positions with the Obama administration: Fatima Noor will be a special assistant in the Office of the Director for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the Department of Homeland Security beginning July 28. Noor majored in psychology with minors in Spanish and international relations. She recently completed a month-long research fellowship in psychology hosted by Carnegie-Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh; her research will be ongoing for this program. Noor was a leader in many honor societies at the U of M. She has done volunteer work with World Relief Memphis and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. The announcement stirred up consternation in some circles because Noor appears Muslim in pictures: She does not identify her religious affiliation on her LinkedIn profile, but she was photographed wearing a hijab for her profile on the Muslim Media Network. This circumstance prompted the disreputable Before It's News web site to publish an article titled "ALERT! Obama Appointment Fatima Noor Asst Director for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration! WHAT!" on 31 August 2014. The article quoted directly from the University of Memphis announcement but incorrectly identified Noor's position at USCIS as "assistant director." Fatima Noor was born in war-torn Somalia but was relocated to a refugee camp in Kenya early in childhood, grew up living in the care of a relative in Denmark, was eventually reunited with her parents and siblings in Memphis after her father settled in Tennessee as a refugee, and became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in 2013: I was born in Somalia, but mostly what I remember are flashes of a carefree child, happily unaware of the world beyond the Utanga Refugee Camp in Kenya. My family, like many others, faced tough decisions. One was whether to return to Somalia in the height of civil war. Another was whether to send their small child me to live with a relative in a far-off land in hopes of better opportunities. Soon, I found myself in a kindergarten class in Denmark. In the early 2000s, my father made his way out of Somalia, alone. He came to the United States as a refugee. He lived in Texas, but driving trucks gave him the opportunity to explore America's frontiers: from the snowy Northwest to the humid Southeast. He decided to settle in the latter, and started the paperwork to bring my mother and brothers from Somalia and me from Denmark. In 2005, my whole family reunited in our new home: Memphis, Tennessee. We soon adapted to Southern living (and yummy Memphis barbecue). We bought a house down by the Mississippi River. My brother even attended the same middle school as Elvis Presley. I graduated from the University of Memphis. On the morning of April 29, 2013, I returned to the same auditorium where I had received my high school diploma a few years earlier. Now, I was among 500 people. We each went up on stage, before a panel of immigration judges, and stated our full name and country of origin. In the audience, we all stood, raised our right hands and recited the Oath of Allegiance. On July 28, 2014, I was sworn in as special assistant to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS naturalizes more than 700,000 new U.S. citizens each year, along with processing millions of other immigration-related requests. USCIS is the very agency that made it possible for my family to immigrate, and for all of us to become citizens. According to the Memphis Business Journal, the position landed by Noor (she was not "appointed" by President Obama himself, nor was she assigned a high-level position) was one typically filled by graduates of Ivy League schools. Rosie Phillips Bingham, vice president for Student Affairs at the University of Memphis, said of Noor's appointment: The University of Memphis graduates exceptional students who make significant differences in the world. These three students are stellar examples. They competed with students from the country's most elite institutions and they prevailed. More importantly, these three will do a superior job for the Obama administration. Of course, the heart of this item is an expression of mistrust that someone who is both foreign-born and a Muslim should be employed by the Department of Homeland Security, a position from which she could supposedly facilitate the admittance of fellow travelers (i.e., terrorists) into the U.S. even though she has spent virtually all of her life living in Western democratic countries and is a U.S. citizen. We note that her description of her USCIS duties hardly lends credence to that notion, as she was not involved in reviewing or approving citizenship or passport applications: In my position, I coordinated special naturalization ceremonies. These commemorate national holidays or other special events and feature prominent speakers, guests, and locations. In a 29 June 2015 White House blog post, Fatima Noor is now described as a Policy Analyst for Immigration and Rural Affairs. Lumenpulse Evolves Into the Lumenpulse Group MONTREAL, QUEBEC and BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (Marketwired) 09/22/16 Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release. Lumenpulse Inc. (TSX: LMP), a leading pure-play specification-grade LED lighting solutions provider, announces it will now be known as the Lumenpulse Group. The rebranding enables the LED luminaire manufacturer to present all its recent strategic acquisitions as distinct brands, offering a complete portfolio of lighting solutions to the architectural specification market. Bringing our brands under the Lumenpulse Group banner is an acknowledgment that we now have a comprehensive offering and that we have focused our strategy to better capitalize on each brands full potential, says Francois-Xavier Souvay, President and CEO of the Lumenpulse Group. This realignment allows the brands to further innovate and excel in their respective markets, while leveraging the Lumenpulse technology portfolio. The Group encompasses five brands, each one serving a distinct sector of the lighting industry: , high-performance exterior and interior LED luminaires; , indoor architectural LED downlight and track systems (formerly AlphaLED); , LED urban, pedestrian-scale and professional landscape lighting (formerly SDL Lighting); , indoor architectural technical-decorative luminaires and , high-performance general and commercial LED lighting. The move reflects Lumenpulses desire to reinforce the strong entrepreneurial approach and character of each brand. Lumenpulses five brands each have their own set of strengths and values which are vital to their growth. Uniting under one group captures the essence of each brands innovative thinking and strengthens Lumenpulses positioning to offer a full suite of solutions for architectural specification-grade lighting applications, says Mr. Souvay. The rebranding also coincides with the , showcasing the Lumenpulse Groups complete range of lighting solutions. The updated website, organised by brand and by region, becomes a powerful tool for clients and partners looking for quick access to the most accurate and relevant information. The new website and branded sub-sites truly reflect our passion, commitment to innovation, and our continued desire to better serve our network of agents, distributors and the international specifier market, adds Mr. Souvay. The new name is effective immediately, and has been implemented across all of the brands websites. For more information, visit Lumenpulses new home at Editors Notes: About Lumenpulse Group Founded in 2006, the Lumenpulse Group designs, develops, manufactures and sells a wide range of high performance and sustainable specification-grade LED lighting solutions for commercial, institutional and urban environments. The Lumenpulse Group is a leading pure-play specification-grade LED lighting solutions provider and has earned many awards and recognitions, including several Product Innovation Awards (PIA), three Next Generation Luminaires Design Awards, two Red Dot Product Design Awards and a Lightfair Innovation Award. The Lumenpulse Group now has 605 employees worldwide, with corporate headquarters in Montreal, Canada, and offices in Vancouver, Quebec City, Boston, Paris, Florence, London and Manchester. Lumenpulse Inc., which is the parent company within the Lumenpulse Group, is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol LMP. Additional information about the Lumenpulse Group and Lumenpulse Inc., including its 2016 Annual Information Form, is available at and on the SEDAR website at . To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: Contacts: Andreanne Sirois-Carey Public Relations Manager 1 (514) 937-3003 ext. 294 Qumulo Takes Home Silver in Seattle Business Magazines Tech Impact Awards Enterprise Category SEATTLE, WA (Marketwired) 09/22/16 , the leader in data-aware scale-out NAS, today announced that it has been named a silver winner of the s Tech Impact Awards in the Enterprise category. Seattle Business Magazine, a publication widely-read by business executives across the state of Washington, honored Qumulo at a special ceremony that took place last night. The Tech Impact Awards recognize companies in Washington state that are using technology to have a significant impact on business, industry or society. The winners will be showcased in the October issue of Seattle Business Magazine. We at Qumulo feel fortunate to be a part of the innovative and exciting tech scene in Seattle, said Peter Godman, co-founder and CEO of Qumulo. Whether its through our software or hardware products, we work tirelessly to provide customers with solutions that go above and beyond in meeting storage demands. Being recognized by Seattle Business Magazine is greatly appreciated and validates all of the hard work we pour into the company each day. This award win highlights what has been an especially successful year for Qumulo, which in April an upgrade to its flagship software product and hardware line. and its three new QC-Series hybrid storage appliances the QC40, QC104, and QC260 continue to provide customers with an agile platform that can readily be refreshed with the newest hardware for maximum performance, capacity and cost benefits. The company also $32.5 million in Series C funding in June. Since exiting stealth in March of 2015, Qumulo has amassed over ten industry awards for its leadership and company culture, commitment to the channel, and continued product innovation. These awards include Puget Sound Business Journal Washingtons Best Workplaces, CRN Channel Chiefs, TechTarget SearchStorage/Storage Magazine Products of the Year, and CRN Emerging Technology Vendors, among others. Qumulo has over 60 enterprise customers including Ant Farm, Atomic Fiction, Densho, Eight Solutions, FotoKem, Sinclair Oil, Sportvision, UConn Health, University of Utah Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, ZOIC Studios, and Vaisala, among others. .@Qumulo named silver winner of @seattlebusiness #techimpactawards for its continued innovation & excellence Qumulo, headquartered in Seattle, pioneered data-aware scale-out NAS, enabling enterprises to manage and store enormous numbers of digital assets through real-time analytics built directly into the file system. Qumulo Core is a software-only solution designed to leverage the price/performance of commodity hardware coupled with the modern technologies of flash, virtualization and cloud. Qumulo was founded in 2012 by the inventors of scale-out NAS, and has attracted a team of storage innovators from Isilon, Amazon Web Services, Google, and Microsoft. Qumulo has raised $100 million in three rounds of funding from leading investors. For more information, visit Tanya Espe Carlsson Kulesa Faul for Qumulo 707.529.6139 GSX Solutions Gives Sneak Peek of GSX Gizmo Featuring Full Office 365 Support at Microsoft Ignite ATLANTA, GA (Marketwired) 09/22/16 [], the leading provider of monitoring and reporting solutions for on-premises and cloud unified communications including Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, Exchange, Skype for Business, BlackBerry servers, and IBM applications today announced a preview of the all-new GSX Gizmo web interface, featuring full Office 365 support, to be showcased at Ignite booth #2278. With the GSX Gizmo, GSX Solutions becomes this lean, mean machine, to agentlessly monitor any platform with smart robot users around the globe. The new agile GSX Robot Users can be deployed in minutes and shoot back all critical information to a simple web interface, commented Jean-Francois Piot, VP of Product at GSX Solutions. GSX Solutions latest product version boasts several key upgrades that simplify monitoring and managing communication environments. The GSX Gizmo Centralized Web Interface provides an easy overview to see quality of service delivered in multiple locations. A dashboard is dedicated to each environment, providing advanced troubleshooting. The Custom View setting filters information by platform, server, environment, or location, allowing administrators to observe only mission-critical operations and adjust to the existing organization. To learn more about the latest GSX Solutions, please visit or visit the company at Ignite Atlanta at GSX booth #2278 or and Microsoft Experience Paris, (Formerly called Techdays Paris) at GSX Booth P3. About GSX GSX Solutions is the leading provider of monitoring and reporting solutions for unified communications, whether on-premises or in the cloud, including Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, Exchange, Skype for Business, Blackberry servers and IBM applications. A single dashboard monitors the applications themselves, as well as all components that might impact their performance, including network, identity management, security, database, load balancer, and operating system. Powerful Office 365 management tools include advanced usage reporting, enterprise class administration, and end-to-end performance monitoring. GSX is a Microsoft Systems Center Alliance Partner, and a Microsoft Gold Partner on Messaging competency. For more product information and partner opportunities, please visit . All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners. Momentum Telecom Set to Impress at SCTE With Enhanced PNM Tool and BBX WiFi BIRMINGHAM, AL (Marketwired) 09/22/16 , a premier provider of Business Voice, and Unified Communications solutions, will be demonstrating their best-in-class solutions at booth 1900 during SCTEs Cable-Tec Expo. The show will take place from September 26th-29th at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. During the expo, Momentum will be demonstrating the enhanced feature set of their tool, which is a fully integrated add-on to their BBX Broadband Management platform. The 24/7 monitoring tool is designed to help companies track network health, pinpoint faults, develop better reliability and reduce truck rolls. Our new PNM features will further enable operators to grow their businesses by becoming more efficient at managing and building networks. Were very excited to share these updates with our customers and SCTE attendees, said Scott Helms, Senior Vice President of Advanced Services at Momentum Telecom. In addition to PNM, visitors to Momentums booth will also be able to see demonstrations of Momentums newly released WiFi capabilities. BBX WiFi enables operators to view data points to diagnose slow speeds and easily complete tasks such as password resets and security profile updates. BBX WiFi will allow operators to more tightly manage and monitor their WiFi devices, which will reduce the time customers spend on the phone with support for simple tasks such as updating passwords. This will not only increase productivity and efficiency for the operators, but also improve overall customer satisfaction, said Tara Kelley, Vice President of Customer Experience at Momentum Telecom. SCTE Cable-Tec Expo is an annual event that brings together over 10,000 attendees, companies and thought leaders with the goal of learning, teaching and growing as an industry. For more information about Momentum Telecom or to discuss partnership opportunities email or call 877-251-5554. Momentum Telecom is a premier provider of , and . Momentums solutions offer smart, customizable cloud-based applications including voice, video and collaboration tools that enhance business productivity and efficiency for direct customers and more than 500 nationwide white label and channel partners. Momentum Telecom is committed to delivering best-in-class products backed by a geo-redundant network paired with industry-leading uptime and customer service. Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, Momentum Telecom has regional offices actively serving customers across the United States. To learn more visit or connect with us on , , , or check our . At Momentum Telecom, our mission is to enable others to thrive by combining smarter technology with seasoned experts while delivering unmatched customer experience. Beth Hildreth 315-579-7112 Solar Novus Today Has Been Integrated With Novus Light Technologies Today Visit Novus Light Technologies Today to see all the cutting-edge stories and products that you have come to enjoy on Solar Novus Today. In addition, you will find more information on related light-based technologies. Get the latest solar and renewable energy news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Green Technologies newsletter CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES NEWSLETTER When and where to Trick-or-Treat? South Bend and area times listed local RENO, NV--(Marketwired - September 21, 2016) - Sunworks, Inc. (SUNW), a leading provider of solar power solutions, announced that the Nevada Public Utilities Commission (NPUC) made the decision on Friday to allow homeowners with active Net Metering applications dated before January 1, 2016 the ability to revert back to full credit Net Metering rate structure. The decision to "grandfather" homeowners with active NEM applications creates the opportunity for Sunworks to assist nearly 15,000 eligible Nevada residents to acquire a premium solar system. In 2015, the NPUC decided to change the Net Metering Rates, imposing higher service fees, and dramatically reducing the value of energy exported by rooftop solar systems. Sunworks, unlike other solar integrators, made the decision to remain in the Nevada market, delivering solar to commercial customers, as well as making its services available to all Northern Nevada residents. Sunworks sees this decision as the first critical step in rebuilding the residential solar market in Nevada. Sunworks' will be available to assist all eligible Nevada residents whose projects were placed on hold, including those residents who have found their contractor to have abandoned the Nevada market. "It was devastating to see many of clients' investments from the past 10 years decimated," said Travis Miller, Project Manager for Sunworks NV and founding board member of the Great Basin Solar Coalition. "This decision is the first step in correcting the prior ruling, and Sunworks is well-positioned to rapidly respond, assisting the thousands of Nevada residents who have been waiting to secure the benefits of solar energy." Jim Nelson, Sunworks CEO, concludes "We are eager to assist Nevada residents moving forward with their solar projects. Today, thousands of customers have a restored opportunity to benefit from this decision. Sunworks will continue providing the hard working and independent people of Reno the opportunity to experience benefits of owning their power." Story continues Sunworks would like to invite any Nevada residents who have or had eligible reservations to contact them for assistance and pricing on a solar electric system. Sunworks can be reached at 866.600.6800, or at www.sunworksusa.com. About Sunworks, Inc. Sunworks, a leading provider of solar power solutions, is focused on the design, installation and management of solar power systems for commercial, agricultural and residential customers. Sunworks is one of the fastest growing solar systems providers in the western United States, delivering 2.5 kilowatt to multi-megawatt commercial systems. The Company's mission is to further the widespread adoption of solar power by deploying affordable, state-of-the-art systems and developing breakthrough new solar technologies. The Company's focus is on putting the customer first, providing the best value systems in the industry, and delivering on what is promised. To learn more about Sunworks, visit our website at http://sunworksusa.com/. Safe Harbor Statement Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, products, and prospects for sales, failure to commercialize our technology, failure of technology to perform as expected, failure to earn profit or revenue, higher costs than expected, persistent operating losses, ownership dilution, inability to repay debt, failure of acquired businesses to perform as expected, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company. Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea Vandenberg Air Force Base is a military facility on the west coast of California. It also launches spacecraft. As of 2015, the facility had hosted more than 700 launches and 1,100 ballistic launches. The base was originally called Camp Cooke when it was established in 1941, focusing on infantry troops. Sixteen years later, it was transferred to the Air Force and renamed Cooke Air Force Base. The year 1957 was an important year for space exploration, as that was when the first satellite, Sputnik, flew into space. In 1958, the first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1, followed. "Vandenberg began its transformation into a space and missile test facility," officials wrote on the base's website. "In a relatively remote location, Vandenberg offers an ideal location for safely testing intercontinental ballistic missiles as well as launching satellites into polar orbit without flying over populated areas." Vandenberg's location in California makes it a good spot to launch polar-orbiting satellites. Not only is it remote, but it is also right next to the coast allowing for target practice in the Pacific Ocean, or bringing satellites to polar orbit without flying over populated areas. Because these sorts of satellites can map the entire world as it rotates underneath them, this makes them ideal for reconnaissance purposes. As such, the first satellite Vandenberg launched, Discoverer 1, was intended to start the Corona reconnaissance satellite program. Discoverer 1 didn't reach orbit, but successor satellites did. An X-37B robotic space plane sits on the Vandenberg Air Force base runway during post-landing operations on Dec. 3, 2010. Personnel in self-contained protective atmospheric suits conduct initial checks on the robot space vehicle after its landing. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force/Michael Stonecypher) Brief history Once Sputnik launched, the Air Force ramped up its missile program and also transferred the base to Strategic Air Command, according to the website. Construction at Cooke began on May 9, 1957. Air Research and Development Command, which previously had control of the base, was responsible for building facilities, as well as doing research and development of launch vehicles. At the time, the United States and the Soviet Union were each working on satellite programs, as well as testing for intermediate range ballistic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Cooke was renamed Vandenberg on Oct. 4, 1958, in honor of Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg, the Air Force's second chief of staff. The first launches began that December, with a Thor IRBM launching on Dec. 16, 1958. Discoverer 1 launched on Feb. 28, 1959, and the first Atlas rocket took off on Sept. 9, 1959. The natural terrain on Vandenberg Air Force Base in California provides a stark contrast to the steel launch tower on Space Launch Complex 2 where preparations are underway for the upcoming launch of NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 mission, or OCO-2, aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket in July. Photo released April 4, 2014. (Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett) Manned Orbiting Laboratory and space shuttle Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex 6 was originally created for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL), a military program that was intended to fly astronauts and to do some reconnaissance from space. Construction started in 1966. The program, however, was cancelled in 1969, in part due to costs overruns and in part because satellites were becoming more capable and able to do reconnaissance at a much cheaper cost than humans. Several of the MOL astronauts were transferred to NASA, and a few would get to fly on the space shuttle program (including Bob Crippen, who was on the first space shuttle flight, Columbia, in April 1981.) In the early years of the space shuttle program, NASA partnered with the Department of Defense to fly several classified missions due to U.S. policy that discouraged the DOD from using expendable launch vehicles (ELVs). At the time, all space shuttles launched from the Kennedy Space Center. The location was ideal for equatorial orbits since Kennedy's low latitude made it easy to use the Earth's rotation as a speed boost to launch the space shuttle. A polar orbit, however, would take too much fuel. So the complex at Vandenberg was retrofitted for space shuttle flights. The space shuttle program, however, was not living up to advertised expectations. Some officials in the 1970s had estimated the shuttle could fly up to 50 times a year. But as flights continued, it was clear that getting the shuttle ready between flights would take months, according to a Space.com article from 2011. The ELV policy was revised in 1985, allowing the Air Force to use rockets as well as the shuttles for its flights. The shuttle was still expected to fly out of Vandenberg, however, until the Challenger space shuttle explosion of 1986 changed space policy forever. With seven astronauts dead and a new reminder that the shuttle was not a normal commercial vehicle, space policy was revised again to only use astronauts for defense payloads if humans were required to launch the satellite. Otherwise, military payloads were free to use ELVs as they had before. The shuttle program at Vandenberg was terminated in 1989. The pad was used for a handful of Lockheed Martin Athena launches in the 1990s, then was modified for Boeing's Delta 4 heavy rocket. Space activities today are run under the 30thSpace Wing. It not only hosts launches for the Air Force and the Department of Defense, but also NASA and several private industries. Common rockets that launch from the facility include the Atlas V, Delta IV, Delta II, Falcon, Minotaur, Pegasus and Taurus. The facility is also known to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles for testing purposes. SpaceX is also expected to start using the facility for launches in the near future. Additional resource On Monday, NASA will host a teleconference "to present new findings from images captured by the agency's Hubble Space Telescope of Jupiter's icy moon, Europa." If, like me, you were hopeful that this announcement might include hints of an extraterrestrial flavor, the space agency was keen to quickly nip any alien-related rumors in the bud: See more Bummer. Of course, any revelations about Europa's hypothetical alien inhabitants probably wouldn't have been a possibility; this is a Hubble-related astronomical discovery and we don't currently have a mission close enough to the enigmatic moon to seek out direct evidence for extraterrestrial life. But as noted in the NASA press release, the announcement is related to the "presence of a subsurface ocean on Europa," which is the key factor behind the moon's habitable potential. RELATED: Europa's Epsom Salt May Indicate Ocean Life There's already strong evidence that Europa possesses a sub-surface ocean cocooned inside a protective icy shell. Other studies suggest that the ocean circulates the crater-free surface, creating icy tectonics, absorbing chemicals from the surface into the ocean below. Interactions between Europa's hot, rocky core could make the water salty. All of these factors means that any hypothetical lifeforms in that ocean could have access to nutrients. WATCH VIDEO: HUGE Water Geysers Found on Jupiter's Moon! Some of the more interesting hypotheses about Europa include the possibility that the ocean may not only be able to support basic microbial life, there could be enough dissolved oxygen to support the evolution of complex, multi-cellular life forms. If you're thinking Europan jellyfish, you're not alone. ANALYSIS: Dazzling New View of Europa's Frozen Red Veins In 2013, Hubble detected the presence of a plume of water vapor surrounding the moon, boosting hopes that geysers are blasting through Europa's thick crust, releasing some of the ocean's water to space. Europa became the second moon in the solar system, after Saturn's moon Enceladus, to be known to vent water through its icy crust. Not only does the presence geysers provide further powerful evidence of the existence of a liquid water ocean, venting it into space provides an opportunity for our robotic missions to directly sample the chemicals it contains. NASA's Cassini mission at Saturn has sampled Enceladus' briny water vapor and, after the 2013 Hubble find, hopes were high the same could be done for Europa. However, the excitement was short-lived; Hubble couldn't repeat the observation, possibly indicating that the first vapor detection was in error, or a transient event like an asteroid impact. RELATED: NASA's Europa Mission Will Look for Life's Ingredients Could this "surprising activity" on Europa announcement on Monday be related to the detection of another plume of water vapor? If so, it will be a very exciting find, confirming the moon has an active sub-surface ocean that is released via geysers to space. And if this is the case, it will surely boost excitement for NASA's "Europa Clipper" concept as not only a mission that will study the moon up-close, but a sampling mission that could get a taste of Europa's sub-surface ocean to find out if it has the right ingredients for life. Originally published on Discovery News. WASHINGTON The House of Representatives passed a commercial space bill unanimously while the House Science Committee approved a bill addressing astronaut health issues Sept. 21. The House voted 4250 to pass H.R. 6007, a bill introduced Sept. 13 by House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) that gives the Federal Aviation Administration the authority to consider impacts on space operations in any study to determine if a proposed structure interferes with airspace operations. The FAA currently has that authority for conventional aircraft operations, but the bill amends that law to include "the impact on launch and reentry for launch and reentry vehicles arriving or departing from a launch site or reentry site" in the section requiring such studies. "Similar to airports, for our spaceports to function we need to prioritize safety and minimize the risk of structures interfering with the flight path of spacecraft on launch or reentry," McCarthy said in a brief speech on the House floor Sept. 20. He said the bill "gives the FAA the authority they now lack to examine whether structures being built near spaceports will obstruct spaceflight." The bill was briefly debated Sept. 20 under suspension of the rules, a mechanism that allows for expedited passage of non-controversial bills, with no members speaking against it. The bill passed on a voice vote then, but final passage was delayed until a roll call vote requested by a member could be conducted the next day. Neither McCarthy nor other members mentioned specific cases where proposed structures posed a hazard to spaceflight operations. However, last year officials at California's Mojave Air and Space Port criticized an FAA decision to allow the construction of taller electric transmission lines near the airport, which is an FAA-licensed launch site. Mojave is located in McCarthy's district. A few hours before that final vote, the House Science Committee held a markup session on several pieces of legislation, including the To Research, Evaluate, Assess and Treat (TREAT) Astronauts Act. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), chairman of the space subcommittee, would authorize NASA to provide medical monitoring of former astronauts to better understand the long-term health effects of human spaceflight. NASA has been seeking approval for such monitoring in recent years, in part to collect data on astronauts but also as an obligation to those who risked their lives flying in space. Babin's subcommittee held a hearing on the issue in June, and similar language is included in a NASA authorization bill the Senate Commerce Committee approved Sept. 21. The TREAT Astronauts Act was not formally introduced until the day before the markup. "As a Congress, we have a responsibility to provide for the treatment of conditions caused by federal service," said Babin, a dentist whose district includes NASA's Johnson Space Center. "As a health care professional and as their representative, you could say it is my duty to make sure these folks are taken care of properly." The committee approved the bill on a voice vote after accepting an amendment by Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), also on a voice vote, making several minor changes to the original bill. Edwards is one of several co-sponsors of the bill. "Our astronauts are heroes. They have served this nation in the face of extreme risks. Some of those risks involve the potential for medical conditions that may not reveal themselves for years or even decades after an astronaut's service," Edwards said. "It is our responsibility to ensure that we, as a nation, acknowledge the risks that these heroes have taken and, in return, provide our astronauts with the medical monitoring and treatment they need." Originally published on SpaceNews. 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. 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." 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 (opens in new tab). Original article on Live Science. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. 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. 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. 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. Story continues 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. Croft and her colleagues suggested that OPEC's formal meeting in November could be the setting for a solid decision on freezing oil output levels or even agreeing to return to a system of output quotas for each OPEC member country as proposed by Iran . "Perhaps most compelling (a reason to reach a collective output deal), many of the biggest and most influential producers are close to maxing out and hence may judge that there is little downside to agreeing to cap output at current levels or sign up again for a collective ceiling," Croft said. "With little left to lose in agreeing to some sort of market management, most other forms of cartel cooperation look quite constructive, in our view. In fact, we think the market would applaud efforts towards installing a system of checks and balances applied at the country or group level," she added. Croft said that the "likely the most feasible (and likely moderately bullish) solution in our view" was to reach an agreement on a quota system, although she conceded that "in the past, attempting to agree on individual hard quotas is a slippery slope for OPEC (particularly given Iran's rising production and depressed output in countries like Nigeria, Venezuela and Libya)." Still, she said that such a system would accomplish several things: "Most notably, a unified cartel would help to install a floor in the market, as quantifiable measures should hold members accountable. Additionally, such a framework could be struck in a way that it accommodates Iran's return to pre-sanction production levels. We view this as likely because the cartel historically has made country level concessions under certain circumstances." Summing up, Croft said that oil markets would not be forgiving if OPEC yet again made promises for some kind of deal to help stabilize prices without delivering. "We place the odds of a repeat of the 'Doha Disaster' meeting rather low (as OPEC and Russia are cognizant of the market's perception and will look to ensure that this time the outcome is more constructive), the market has grown increasingly weary of OPEC's lack of action." - By CNBC's Holly Ellyatt, follow her on Twitter @HollyEllyatt. More From CNBC Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. On Oct. 3, 2015, the US Air Force fired on an MSF hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. Forty-two people died, including 14 members of the organization. On Jan. 20, 2015, a jet operated by the Sudanese regime dropped bombs on an MSF hospital in the town of Farandalla. There were 150 patients and staff inside. On May 18, 2016, unknown assailants attacked an MSF off-road vehicle in the Central African Republic and shot the driver. In late July 2016, the Syrian regime attacked four hospitals supported by MSF in Aleppo. Two hospitals came under fire as patients were being transferred between their facilities. In Yemen, both the Saudi-led coalition and Huthi rebels have repeatedly launched air strikes on MSF hospitals. On Aug. 15, 2016, 19 people died and more than 20 were injured in one such attack. Four days later, MSF announced that it was withdrawing its staff from six hospitals in northern Yemen. What does it mean for the world's most important medical aid organization when its employees are being threatened and shot at, and its hospitals bombed? Doctors Without Borders provided SPIEGEL with an in-depth look at its work over a period of several months in the bush of the Central African Republic; at its Geneva headquarters; and in Jordan, along the Syrian border. A reporter hoping to describe the world of Doctors Without Borders in armed conflicts can only do so by becoming embedded, which means living in compounds with MSF staff and following their rules. There are two developments in particular that endanger MSF staff during their work. The first is the disintegration of states. In failed states like the Central African Republic, aid workers who provide services that would normally be administered by the government are at risk, because there is no authority to protect them. The second development is the growing incidence of targeted attacks by warring parties on aid workers, in violation of the provisions of humanitarian international law. This journey begins in the Central African Republic, one of the world's poorest countries, a place where Doctors Without Borders must pay close attention to security. The curfew for staff members in the nation's capital begins at 6 p.m. After that, they are permitted to frequent six selected restaurants, provided a vehicle waits for them outside. They are instructed to walk no more than 300 meters (984 feet) on the street and otherwise travel in motor vehicles. When they begin their deployment, they leave behind passwords for Facebook and Twitter in a safe so that their accounts can be deleted if they are killed. They think up questions to which only they know the answers, so that coworkers can identify them if they are abducted. Those who end up here know that they can die at any time. Central African Republic -- Negotiating with Rebel Chiefs On a balmy June evening in the bush, French nurse Miriam Peters, 27, was confronted with the extreme danger involved in her work. Her team was having a beer at the MSF compound in the town of Bambari when two masked men wielding machetes stepped onto the veranda. They said nothing as they looked at the foreigners: a male nurse, a logistics expert, a financial expert from Canada, the drivers and Miriam Peters, who was in charge of local security at the time. "What do you want?" Peters asked the masked men. The robbers seized money, radios and computers, and then they ordered the aid workers to lie on the ground. For 10 minutes, the assailants beat the aid workers with the butts of their machetes to humiliate them. Peters ended up with a scrape on her cheek, another woman had bruises on her shoulder and a man was hardly able to sit down the next day. It was only one of many incidents that make it so difficult for MSF staff to work in this country. There was an attack on an MSF meeting, in which militants shot and killed 16 people. There have also been attacks on MSF vehicles, and in one incident, villagers used iron bars to force their way into a hospital, where they attacked patients. A few weeks later, Miriam Peters is sitting on the veranda where the attack occurred. She is wearing faded jeans and Creole earrings as she reviews a list of medications prior to leaving for the hospital to check on a girl with burn wounds. "We need a roof next to the latrines," she calls out to a coworker. These are the small things for which she gave up the big things in Europe, like her job in an intensive care unit in London and her boyfriend, who is forced to wait for her when she is abroad with MSF. Next to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, the Central African Republic is one of the countries where MSF staff are most heavily engaged. The country is like a boiler, ready to explode at any time. Following a coup in 2013 and massacres between Muslim Seleka and Christian anti-Balaka militias, the Central African Republic has an elected president again, but state structures are essentially non-existent. Insignificant by Comparison Bambari, where Peters is stationed, resembles a giant refugee camp. Thousands who have fled there from the bush now live in huts or the ruins of buildings. The rebels have divided up the city among themselves, and gunfire can be heard at all times of the day. Peters doesn't like to talk about the attack that night. She views the violence she suffered as being insignificant compared to what the local population experiences. "I feel a little fragile, but this sort of thing can always happen here," she says. The volunteers took a few days off after the attack, with some flying to the capital to eat pizza. They also set up a new volleyball net, but no one left the project because of the attack. "It was not a targeted attack on MSF," says Peters. Afterwards, she went to the rebels and told them that violence would not be tolerated. "Otherwise we will shut down the project," she warned. Before MSF launches a "mission," investigative teams study the situation in the region. If there is more than one death per 10,000 people a day, MSF considers it an emergency and springs into action. As a first step, Doctors Without Borders explains to all parties to a conflict that they are neutral volunteers who have no interest in politics. Before they treat patients, they meet every rebel chief and every imam, to explain who they are and what they plan to do. They say to the warring parties: "If you want us to care for your people, you must allow us to have access to your enemies." In the jargon of aid workers, this is called "negotiating access." It is essential for survival that everyone understands that MSF is independent and requires a reasonable level of security in return for the aid it provides. "To be protected by an armed group would violate our principle of independence," says Peters. Complicit? MSF has two clinics in Bambari -- one on the Christian and one on the Muslim side, partly to preserve neutrality. They treat the injured, people suffering from malaria and starving children. They also distribute bags of "Plumpy'nut" peanut-based paste to families. The principle of emergency aid is to alleviate the worst problems and then to move on. But in the Central African Republic, MSF has now permanently taken over what would normally be the government's task of caring for the population. Its volunteers will probably be there for decades. Never would they exert pressure on those in power by threatening to pull out, of threatening to allow a child to suffer now so that another child may have a better life 10 years from now. But is it possible that this makes aid workers complicit in an injustice? It is a question that drove the founders of Doctors Without Borders 45 years ago when they separated from the International Red Cross. To understand what motivated them, it is worth looking back at the year 1859, to Italy, where Swiss businessman Henry Dunant was witness to an abomination during a carriage journey. His experience would become the big bang of humanitarian aid. It was during the Sardinian War, between the Kingdom of Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia, when Dunant passed a battlefield near the Italian town of Solferino. He looked on with horror as thousands of Frenchmen and Austrians died in agony. Dunant organized help for the soldiers, but he would never forget the images he saw. In 1864, he convinced European nations to sign an agreement at the First Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field. It declared that the wounded of all parties in a war have the same right to assistance. It placed volunteers and medical staff under the protection of neutrality. The convention marked the beginning of a Holy Scripture of sorts, which MSF still strives to uphold today. Dunant founded the mother of all humanitarian organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which cared for the wounded on battlefields. The ICRC received a mandate, under international law, to serve as the advocate of the Geneva Conventions in war. The aim of its volunteers was to civilize war. Tantamount to Betrayal To achieve this goal, the Red Cross is dependent on the good will of the powerful. It takes no public positions, nor does it charge anyone with war crimes. Its critics feel that the Red Cross all too often enters into a pact with the devil. This was also the opinion of a group of young French Red Cross doctors when the Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria declared its independence in 1967. Nigerian government forces surrounded the rebels and starved them to death. For the doctors, including the later French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, the silence of the Red Cross was intolerable and tantamount to betrayal. In a media campaign, Kouchner accused the Nigerian government of genocide and in 1971, a group of doctors headed by Kouchner founded Medecins Sans Frontieres. A new idea had been born, the notion that doctors could continue to treat patients while also testifying to injustice. It was the birth of MSF, a child of activism. Today the Red Cross and MSF are fundamentally different organizations. Through its mandate under international law, the ICRC has different objectives and is subject to different constraints than privately funded aid workers. Nevertheless, the two groups complement each other or coordinate their activities. The ICRC has become somewhat louder over the years, while MSF has become less vociferous. "The Red Cross is slow and bureaucratic," says a woman who has worked in famine relief for 25 years. "MSF are activists, but their emergency aid is of little use outside wars. It's too transient for that." It is a day in July of this year and fighting has once again erupted in the Central African Republic. Hundreds of people have fled from the bush to a sugarcane field south of Bambari and Doctors Without Borders wants to help them, which is why Miriam Peters pays a visit to Ali Darassa, the warlord in charge of the Muslim Ex-Seleka. His militia controls the road to the south. Darassa takes his time, but after half an hour, he finally steps out of a clearing, escorted by armed men. A giant of a man dressed in camouflage and combat boots, he has an inscrutable expression on his face. Peters asks a polite question: "Can we go to the civilians in the sugarcane field?" -- "Of course!" the self-proclaimed general bellows with a smile. "There are no problems whatsoever in our zone." -- "Okay," says Peter, "because we would like to begin our medical activities there. It would be important to know whether to expect incidents on the way." The general gazes into the distance. He doesn't find the question amusing. Darassa knows that the new president is having all rebels disarmed, and he doesn't want this to happen to his men. It could also be that he doesn't have a complete picture of what is happening in the bush. He refuses to provide any guarantees. "The man who is responsible for disarming my soldiers has disappeared and gone to Europe," says Darassa. "But of course you can go." Peters smiles and shakes his hand. The team subsequently drives to the sugarcane field. But when the volunteers arrive, more people are killed in the villages and they cancel the mission. Switzerland -- From the War on Terror The political battle is fought 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) to the north. It is here, in an inconspicuous building a short walk from the lake in Geneva, Switzerland, where Doctors Without Borders lobbies to ensure its future. Marine Buissonniere, a key advisor, meets with us in the library on the ground floor. Born in 1973, Buissonniere spent many years working abroad and also served for four years as the secretary-general of MSF. "I am a humanitarian out of conviction," she says with a laugh. Today she documents what happens in and to hospitals on the front. And she fights for the Geneva Conventions -- for the enforcement of rules aimed at making warfare a bit more humane. "For about a year, I have noticed how warring parties try to eliminate their enemies, attacking hospitals and doctors in the process," says Buissonniere. "Some people claim that if you go into a war, you can expect to be bombed. But that's not true at all! There is something completely revolutionary about the Geneva Conventions. We cannot allow this idea to die." Buissonniere uses the term "alarming" when she talks about the number of attacks. "It all started with Kunduz," she says. Doctors Without Borders had never before lost as many of its staff members in an airstrike as it did in Kunduz. At 2:08 a.m. on Oct. 3, 2015, US forces fired on a trauma center in Afghanistan. MSF had opened the facility four years earlier, and its GPS coordinates were known to the Afghan government, the Taliban and NATO forces. "We had made an agreement," says Buissonniere. "The wounded were to be treated with no political discrimination, and that included Taliban fighters -- as long as they entered the hospital without weapons." When the Taliban captured Kunduz in September 2015, the Afghan government's willingness to accept a hospital where its enemies were being treated dwindled. It is still, however, not entirely clear how it came to the attack. Photos taken after the airstrike show people dying in a place where they had hoped their lives would be saved, in beds and on operating tables. "Kunduz was an assault on the Geneva Conventions," says Buissonniere. "If you are a civilian or an injured soldier and are no longer fighting, you always have the right to medical treatment. It sounds like a very simple idea, and yet it is now being questioned more than ever before." The manner in which warring parties think about their enemy has changed completely, she says. As a result, so has MSF's work. Blurring Perceptions From today's perspective, there was a certain wild and romantic aura to the early years of Doctors Without Borders during the Cold War. Many volunteers were attracted to the dangers involved and they felt it was natural to openly take political positions. When the Soviets bombed hospitals in Afghanistan, MSF called upon journalists to go to the country and report on the atrocities. When the Khmer Rouge committed genocide against their own people in Cambodia, MSF volunteers organized a "March for the Survival of Cambodia." Humanitarian aid was considered an enforceable right. After the Cold War ended, governments also waged war in the name of human rights, using humanitarian aid to achieve political and military goals. Non-governmental organizations like MSF found it difficult to distance themselves from these goals. Who could distinguish between soldiers digging wells in Afghanistan and the doctors working nearby? Perceptions of soldiers and aid workers began to blur. "Since 9/11, military theory has shifted, and so has the manner in which the enemy is viewed," says Buissonniere. "There were standards before that. A country at war ensured that its soldiers abided by certain rules. The enemy was considered equal, which meant it had the same right to medical care. The reasons why it was waging war were not considered." With the "War on Terror" came the idea that there are "just reasons" to wage war. "This places the enemy on a lower moral plane," says Buissonniere. By this logic, she explains, it becomes "just" to kill the wounded from the "unjust side" -- even doctors, in extreme cases. Another reason that hospitals became targets has to do with modern warfare, says Buissonniere. "When you wage war from the air and deploy special forces instead of an ordinary army, you are no longer dependent on equal treatment in the field, because your troops are never caught in a real emergency situation." Buissonniere also believes that terrorism in Europe is contributing to the death of Dunant's legacy. "After the attacks in Paris, Brussels and Munich, many anxious people are adopting a dangerous attitude," she says. "Could there be a category of human being who doesn't deserve the same treatment?" In High Demand This is why Buissonniere and her colleagues are engaging in lobbying efforts to save Dunant's legacy. They include steps like testifying before the British parliament and training military doctors. Attacks are "described as mistakes, denied or simply covered up," MSF President Joanne Liu said in a furious speech given before the United Nations Security Council. Hospitals and patients, she said, are being "dragged onto the battlefield." In May, the Security Council issued a statement condemning attacks on hospitals, but failed to enact consequences. Despite the danger, jobs at MSF are in high demand, with about 15,000 people applying to go abroad each year. The organization seeks flexible team players who are analytical, willing to take risks and have strong social skills. In addition to doctors, MSF needs, for examples, political scientists, mechanical engineers and people with business backgrounds. Many who work at MSF admit that they like the adrenalin rush that comes with the work, even though this is officially frowned upon. And their personal lives? They shouldn't be that important, because positions for families are rare. A so-called mission usually lasts a year. In high-risk areas, teams are replaced every month and volunteers are required to take a vacation every three months. Many who volunteer at MSF secretly see themselves as a better version of the United Nations and a more courageous ICRC -- and as being in touch with the times. But the one thing they have experienced above all else in the war in Syria, the biggest human disaster of our time, is helplessness. Jordan -- Smuggling Routes and Talks with Islamic State Dr. Muhamed, the doctor from southern Syria whose destroyed hospital was mentioned at the beginning of this story, speaks with a hoarse voice. His face appears on a screen in the MSF office in Amman, Jordan as he talks to the team that supports him from the Jordanian capital, the same team that helped him build a new hospital. "Our city was bombed four times this week," he says wearily. He's a graying man in his early 50s. The regime often stages "double-tap attacks," in which the first rocket is followed by a second one 20 to 60 minutes later. "The second one is intended to kill the helpers who come to recover the injured." "They don't just target hospitals, but also market squares, schools and playgrounds -- all the places where normal civilians congregate," says Dr. Muhamed. This is the regime's way of punishing people for living in rebel-held territory, he explains. "I pray that we will not have large numbers of casualties again today," he says. "When we admit patients, we only have a few minutes to make life-and-death decisions." When 20, 30 or 40 casualties arrive at the same time, the doctors sort them using a traffic signal system. "Green are the ones who can still walk. Yellow means critical but stable. Red means that the injured patient needs surgery immediately. Black means it's too late -- or that the injury is so complicated that three reds would die if you operated on someone in the black category." "That's the reality," Dr. Muhamed says via Skype. "Thank you, doctor," says Bettina Weitz, country director for Syria, "is there anything else you need?" "No," he replies. Weitz says goodbye and looks into the tense faces of her team members. The office of the Spanish section of MSF is in an inconspicuous office district of Amman, its walls are covered with maps of Syria. MSF supports 17 facilities in southern Syria from this office, and there are 150 facilities throughout the country. 'Like Family' Weitz has never met Dr. Muhamed in person. But, she says, "we talk to each other so often that it feels like family." MSF has only a few local staff members in Syria, and it is close to impossible for them to verify the information they receive from inside the country. Ever since Islamic State (IS) kidnapped five of its international staff, MSF has only provided assistance in the form of what it calls "remote management," from the neighboring countries of Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. Weitz calls the system "the most frustrating experience of our time." Weitz, a 45-year-old Berlin native, has just returned from a mission in Sudan with her young child. MSF offered her the new position because it is one that allows staff to bring along family members. One of the skills she has had to learn in Jordan is how to smuggle. Every month, Weitz and her team load a truck with medications, water, oxygen bottles and gasoline for generators. The truck is driven to Ramtha, where the Jordanian authorities allow a Syrian NGO to take over. "Everyone knows that we use an unofficial border crossing," says Weitz. "But they all look the other way." Since the war in Syria began five years ago, the regime and its allies have murdered 698 Syrian doctors and nurses, according to the organization Physicians for Human Rights, which documents attacks on healthcare facilities. Some 63 hospitals supported by Doctors Without Borders were bombed in 2015 and a further 16 have been attacked by August of this year. When officials planned to rebuild a hospital in southern Syria, the local residents protested -- out of fear. The attacks have not just singled out organizations like MSF, but also local clinics and hospitals. The suppression of Syrian doctors began in 2011, during the first, peaceful protests against President Bashar Assad. Damascus refused to allow MSF to enter Syria, with the government accusing the organization of being a branch of al-Qaida. At the time, Assad's thugs were already persecuting anyone in Syria who treated wounded demonstrators. After a few months, MSF began helping Syrian doctors working underground from its offices in Lebanon. The Arrival of IS They smuggled emergency kits to treatment units in bathrooms, caves and basements, where doctors provided emergency care to wounded members of the opposition. When the demonstrations became more violent, MSF helped to build more stable field hospitals. The organization sent medications to Syria, but it is unclear whether they ever arrived. In June 2012, MSF was able to enter rebel territory in northern Syria for the first time and set up the first field hospital in a villa near the Turkish border. A month later, in July 2012, the Syrian government enacted a new anti-terror law, which criminalized any medical aid for the opposition. From that point on, Doctors Without Borders could only operate in secret. In the summer of 2013, Islamic State expanded its area of influence in northern Syria and its representatives demanded that the aid workers operate their hospitals in accordance with Islamic rules, as interpreted by IS. "They wanted us to separate men and women in the emergency room, even when all were brought in at the same time after a bombing attack," says the employee who negotiated with IS. "We were supposed to have male and female doctors to treat male and female patients, respectively. And they wanted the Niqab, the facial veil, to be a requirement." Islamic State was not pleased to hear that Doctors Without Borders had a decontamination unit in which men and women were treated in the nude with water after a poison gas attack. MSF suspended its operations in territory held by IS and withdrew all international workers after Islamic State kidnapped 13 staff members from a hospital in Latakia Province in January 2014. Eight were Syrians and were soon released. The five international staff members remained in captivity for months. Today, the ongoing airstrikes have increased the threat to doctors and volunteers. With each new targeted attack, Doctors Without Borders must decide how to respond. One of the main objectives of doctors is to treat every individual, which is why aid workers, even in the midst of the war on terror, will continue to insist that the powers involved observe the conventions they have signed. Doctors believe that helping and healing should not be a deadly occupation. Bigger Holes In the dusty Jordanian town of Ramtha on the Syrian border, 82-year-old Canadian doctor Edgar Escalante, an orthopedic surgeon, is making his final rounds through a field hospital. His mission is about to come to an end. In his 14 months here, he has seen things he will never forget, including a Syrian who arrived with a makeshift tracheotomy consisting of a plastic bottle cut in half. He has also seen severed limbs, mothers in a panic, a patient with bullet wounds in his stomach. "There was a boy who had been ripped apart by bomb fragments and was on the verge of death. When I had given up all hope, he squeezed my hand and signaled to me not to give up." Dr. Escalante, who has seven children of his own, once worked as a doctor in the jungles of Nicaragua. "I spent my entire life working, so that they could have a better future," he says. "When I retired, my wife said: Now it's time for you to fulfill your dream." He began working as a surgeon for MSF in Kunduz, and he flew to Yemen three months later. It was his team that died in the American airstrike in Kunduz. Dr. Escalante bends over a Syrian who is so thin and pale that it seems clear he is on the verge of death. "You'll make it," he whispers into his ear. He spent 20 months working for MSF in war zones. Does he have anything to say about the bombs and the attacks on doctors? He shakes his head. "We do our work here," he says. "No one will prevent us from doing that." The wounds of his Syrian patients have been getting worse lately, he says. "The projectiles are creating bigger holes." At the end of his rounds, shortly before Dr. Escalante is to hand in his MSF coat, he stands in the street and begins to weep. Life and death, fear and joy, all of these things have created a close bond between him and this place and his colleagues here. "Hold the fort, and keep on going," he says quietly as he says his goodbyes. He knows how difficult it is for his fellow doctors and aid workers to listen to the bombs falling in nearby Syrian villages every night. The border has been closed since IS staged an attack on Jordanian soldiers in June. An estimated 75,000 refugees are now stuck in the desert, and no new patients are being brought to Ramtha. "The authorities here fear that there are terrorists among the refugees," says Dr. Escalante. A few days ago, Syrians tried to get an injured girl across the border to the hospital where Escalante worked, but they were denied entry. The girl bled to death at the border. Translated from the German by Christopher Sultan In a new op-ed, Hillary Clinton details her anti-poverty plan, the candidate advocates for America to do better when it comes to families and children in need. Mrs. Clinton shared her plan in The New York Times on Wednesday. The lengthy piece was reminiscent of the Democratic National Convention where many people including Bill and Chelsea Clinton worked diligently to reintroduce the former secretary of state to voters. Clinton shared a bit of her bio by explaining that she began her career after graduating from Yale Law School in 1973 by co-founding Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Moreover, since those days she has cared for families and children, who were living in a dire situation in this country and all over the world. Clinton also revealed that her anti-poverty strategy was inspired by Congressman Jim Clyburns 10-20-30 plan, which consists of directing 10 percent of federal investments to communities where 20 percent of the population has been living below the poverty line for 30 years. She wrote: If we want to get serious about poverty, we also need a national commitment to create more affordable housing. This issue doesnt get much election-year coverage, but its a big deal to the 11.4 million American households that spend more than half their incomes on rent. Too many people are putting off saving for their children or retirement just to keep a roof over their families heads. While one child sleeping hungry or being homeless is one too many, Clinton acknowledged that her former boss, President Barack Obama has made progress to bring down the number of people living in poverty with his various initiatives. According to Clinton, Obamacare, work opportunities, and food stamps have helped many Americans, who were living in extreme poverty. However, she was very clear; it is not mission accomplished by any means. The Democratic Party nominee for president of the United States laid out a simple plan that includes: creating opportunities, investing in communities that are suffering, quality schools, access to high-quality child care, expanding low-income housing tax credits in high-cost areas, raising the minimum wage, and guaranteeing equal pay for women. Clinton believes those ideas would diminish the poverty rate in this country. Clinton drew a contrast to Donald Trumps plan, which she claimed is more focused on helping the rich get better tax cuts. She also called out her opponent for using divisive rhetoric to gain power. She stated: Donald J. Trump has a different approach. He divides America into winners and losers. And he doesnt seem to spend much time worrying about people in poverty. In fact, his economic plans would overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest Americans, and would include an estimated $4 billion tax cut for his own family just by eliminating the estate tax. He has actually said that wages are too high. One independent economic analysis revealed that with Mr. Trumps proposals in place, our economy would fall back into recession and inevitably push more families into poverty. Critics say Clintons new plan does not address the root of the problem. Sean Hannity appeared in a Donald Trump ad this week that prompted Fox to release a statement saying that he may have crossed the line. It is no secret that Trump and Hannity have become very close over the past months. Hannity confessed last month that he gives the candidate campaign advice. At this point, Mr. Trump has stopped doing interviews with all the main networks. Trump only appears on Fox where he tackles various issues with the hosts of Fox & Friends, Bill OReilly, and of course, Hannity. The conservative commentator has been criticized on numerous occasions for providing Trump with the answers and the questions during their interviews. Hannity has often spoken very positively about Trump, but last week, the right-leaning radio host took things a step further. The television pundit appeared in an ad called #HeartlandforTrump, which featured several people including Mark Geist and Donald Trump Jr. all explaining why they are supporting and voting for Trump in this election. Standing in front of his iPhone, Hannity said that he backs Trump because he will protect his right to bear arms, put conservative judges on the Supreme Court, and the fact he will make Mexico pay for the wall. Hannity said: One of the reasons Im supporting Donald Trump this year is, number one, he is going to put originalists on the Supreme Court, people that believe in fidelity to the Constitution, separation of powers, co-equal branches of government. He is a guy who will vet refugees to keep America safe. And of course, hes going to build that wall, says he is going to have Mexico pay for it. Thats fine as long as we secure the country, and of course, we dont want people competing for jobs. A spokesperson for Fox News stated that they were not aware of Sean Hannity participating in a promotional video, and he will not be doing anything along these lines for the remainder of the election season. Hannity and Trump spent Wednesday evening together in what was called a town hall on African-American issues. Copenhagen (Denmark), September 22, 2016 (SPS) - The Danish Organization of Afrika Kontakt launched a campaign on several levels in Denmark in order to put pressure on the EU to play a positive role in enabling the Saharawi people of their right to self-determination through a free, fair and impartial referendum, underlining that Western Sahara is the last non-self-governing territory of Africa and still pending the completion of its decolonization process. Hence, it is paramount that the referendum for self-determination is settled and international law respected. It is imperative that you make unambiguous the commitment of the EU to support UN-led, peaceful solution to the conflict, including the option to use political leverage to pressure Morocco to be part of an actual solution. Said Afrika Kontakt in its online petition letter the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherin The campaign called EU to respect its legal and moral obligations regarding the resources of Western Sahara, and thus to ensure that EU does not in future enter into trade agreements with Morocco which include said resources, demanding the release of Saharawi political prisoners and to insist on fair and free trials for Saharawis and the ban of torture. Danish Organization (AK) urges also EU to pressure the UN to extend the MINURSO mandate to monitoring human rights. MINURSO is the only current UN peacekeeping mission without this mandate, and its necessity is evident. It should be recalled that the campaign includes online petition letter to be signed and sent to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini to encourage EU to play a positive role in securing the right of the Saharawis to a referendum of self-determination, short animation film in different languages and lectures at Danish universities and high schools, in addition to a protest in front of headquarters of Danish companies involved in the illegal transfer of phosphate from the occupied territories of Western Sahara.SPS 125/090/TRA New York, Sept 22, 2016 (SPS) -The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Dr. Ahmed Ould Isalku Izeid Bih, received yesterday in New York the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Nations United to Western Sahara, Mr. Christopher Ross, responding to a request from the latter, according to the Mauritanian News Agency. According to the same source, during the meeting, which coincides with the tense situation escalation caused by Morocco in the area of El Guergarat, the parties discussed important issues of common interest. In this context, it was expected that the Special Envoy of the UN to Western Sahara undertake an visit to the region to boost UN efforts to reach a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, but their efforts were hampered by Moroccan obstacles. SPS 125/090/TRA By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) - 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 U.S. appeals court ruled, as it rejected U.S. arguments that this could interfere with treaties and its dealings with foreign governments. By a 3-0 vote on Thursday, the 2nd U.S. 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 U.S. position, but said "the State Department's views are not conclusive." Christopher Curran, a lawyer representing Sudan, declined to comment. The U.S. Department of Justice declined to provide immediate comment. The Oct. 12, 2000 attack on the USS Cole, while the Navy destroyer was refueling in the Yemeni port of Aden, killed 17 sailors and injured 39 others. Fifteen injured sailors and three spouses sued Sudan, saying it had provided support to al Qaeda for the bombing. After winning the $314.7 million default judgment, the plaintiffs won court orders that BNP Paribas SA, Credit Agricole SA and Mashreqbank PSC turn over Sudanese assets to help cover it, court papers show. Sudan then entered the case, saying the original lawsuit was not properly served on its foreign minister, and the turnover orders were improper. The U.S. government got involved last November, saying the Sept. 23 ruling ran contrary to federal law and its treaty obligations, and left it vulnerable to being haled improperly into foreign courts. But Chin said "the requirements of the statute were met" because the plaintiffs had mailed the documents to the Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs via the embassy, which acknowledged receiving them. Andrew Hall, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in an interview: "The decision will force Sudan to recognize its responsibilities to the victims of terrorism, including victims of the USS Cole bombing." Story continues Despite supporting a rehearing, the U.S. government said it "deeply sympathizes with the extraordinary injuries to the U.S. military personnel and their spouses who brought this suit, and condemns the terrorist acts that caused those injuries." On Tuesday, the State Department said it welcomed Sudan's "recent efforts to increase counterterrorism cooperation with the United States." The U.S. designated Sudan a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993. The case is Harrison et al v. Republic of Sudan, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 14-121. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard Chang) Algiers, Sept 22, 2016 (SPS) - The Western Sahara issue and the election of the new Secretary General of the United Nations are among the issues broached in a meeting held Tuesday, in New York, between the minister of State, minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ramtane Lamamra and the president of the UN Security Council, Murray McCully. The two parties broached, in a meeting on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, many issues on the agenda of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly, particularly Western Sahara and the election of the new Secretary General of the United Nations said Wednesday, the ministry of Foreign Affairs in a communique. In addition, Lamamra congratulated McCully, who is also New Zealands minister of Foreign Affairs, for the remarkable role played by his country as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, recalling that this is perfectly coherent with New Zealands principled positions since joining the UN organization. Furthermore, broaching the bilateral relations, the two parties expressed the shared willingness and the determination to work for the strengthening of the economic and commercial cooperation ties between the two countries, added the communique.SPS 125/090/700 Brussels, Sept 22, 2016 (SPS) - The European Union (EU) expressed its concern over the conflict in Western Sahara and its effects on the security and the respect of human rights in the region, reiterating its support to the process under the aegis of the United Nations to reach a solution enabling the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination. In 2015, as in the previous years, EU expressed on several occasions its concern over the long duration of the conflict and its effects on security, respect of human rights and cooperation in the region, said EU Council in its report 2015 on human rights and democracy in the world, published on Tuesday. Recalling that the territory of Western Sahara is listed by the United Nations as a non-self governing territory and that a process is currently underway under the aegis of UN to reach a fair, lasting and acceptable political solution for the two sides, which will provide for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people, EU reaffirmed in its report that it supports this process for several years. The resolution 2218 of UN Security Council, adopted in 2015, provides also that the Security Council remains seized of the issue. For its part, EU will take no initiative likely to undermine the process under the aegis of UN, underlined, in its report, the EU Council. Stressing the need to improve the situation of human rights in Western Sahara, EU ensures that it is closely following the situation in Morocco and Western Sahara, underlining that the issues relating to human rights are regularly broached with the Moroccan authorities as part of the political dialogue, including within the sub-committee on human rights, democratisation and governance.SPS 125/090/700 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Planning and regulations dont need to hinder the business community, Greenwich officials said Thursday. Town Planning and Zoning Director Katie DeLuca met with Greenwich chamber businesses as part of continuing efforts to involve the community in planning decisions. DeLuca partnered with the Chamber of Commerces corporate and government committee in hosting the event at the Greenwich Water Club, which attracted a full house of town business leaders. DeLuca prefaced updates to the latest planning and zoning changes with an explanation of how cities and towns introduced planning departments, dating back to the early 20th century in New York City. Zoning regulations are the way to implement our plan for how we want to grow, she told attendees. Just because were regulatory doesnt mean we have to be unfriendly. She acknowledged the department still has room for improvement, particularly with how to increase efficiency, but she shared a number of ways her staff is working on those issues. Technology is one of the primary tools she said shes using to try and increase transparency and availability of information to the public. For example, she hopes a digital library will soon allow anyone to access documents including decision letters, staff reports and meeting minutes. In response to residents frustrations over time about how long it takes for their permits to be processed, DeLuca said she recently replaced one of her departing staff members with a planner who specifically reviews zoning permits. She added there are several ways her office has examined its work flow and is creating better defined processes. There will always be the same depth of review though, DeLuca said. We are just working on making it more efficient and transparent so business leaders know what to expect. She said afterward that open communication and community input are the most important aspects of forming a vision for the town, and she hopes events like these both increase government transparency and encourage residents to share their feedback. Im trying to get as many people into the conversation as possible, she said. After the presentation, attendees took her message to heart and lined up to speak with DeLuca and ask a number of questions. Marcia OKane, chamber president and chief executive officer, said she was pleased with the events outcome and said it represents a vital part of the chambers mission to serve as a conduit between the business person and town hall. We think very highly of Katie DeLuca and all that she has achieved after taking the helm of her position, OKane said. She is both investigative and forthright in wanting the best for our residents. MBennett@hearstmediact.com, 203-625-4411. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A developer was dropped from the long-delayed half-billion dollar Stamford Transportation Center project Thursday and the builder of the Oxford power plant is facing increased scrutiny after each was indicted in a federal bribery-and-corruption scheme in New York State. L.P. Ciminelli Construction Corp., headed by Louis Ciminelli, has been dropped from the Stamford project, although a related real estate firm, whose president is Louiss brother Paul Ciminelli, remains associated with it, Ben Barnes, secretary of Connecticuts Office of Policy and Management, announced. The state Department of Transportation is doing its diligence now as part of the negotiations to ensure that none of the individuals involved in the project have anything to do with the New York case, said Barnes, who has been involved in negotiations for the development which was announced in the summer of 2013 and had been scheduled for construction to begin more than two years ago. Also indicted was Peter G. Kelly, whose company is building the CPV Towantic Energy Center power plant in Oxford. Kelly, an executive for the Maryland-based Competitive Power Ventures, Inc., is the son of prominent Hartford lawyer Peter Kelly, a longtime Democratic power broker and fundraiser. More News Preet Bharara wields ax in Albany corruption scandal It is very disconcerting to see that Mr. Kelly has been indicted, said Katherine Johnson, a Democrat who ran for Oxford first selectman on a stop the power plant platform. I want to withhold any more comments until we see how this plays out. Ive lost a lot of respect for our politicians in Hartford. I was always against the CPV power plant. As much as I have my personal feelings, its going to save taxes in Oxford. Kelly, according to the 79-page indictment, arranged for $287,000 in bribes to go to Joseph Percoco, a former aide to NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Percoco is charged with overseeing several related illegal schemes, including a $100-million contract to help the company finance a $900-million power plant in Wawayanda, N.Y. Bribes also allegedly went to Percocos wife, including her hiring at Competitive Power Ventures. Kelly and development mogul Ciminelli of Buffalo were among eight people indicted Thursday morning after a probe into upstate New York projects called the Buffalo Billion. According to the indictment, Ciminelli, described as a significant contributor to Cuomos political campaigns, was involved in bid rigging and bribery. The original $225-million contract to build a manufacturing plant in the Buffalo area eventually expanded to $750 million Michael Laipple, president of the Ciminelli Construction division that deals with public-private partnerships such as the Stamford train station; and Kevin Schuler, senior vice president for governmental affairs were also indicted. Long wait for station The Stamford Transportation Center project team, called Stamford Manhattan Development Venture LLC, is led by Darien millionaire John McClutchy's JHM Group. The team is charged with replacing Stamford train station's 30-year-old parking garage and developing 600,000 square feet of commercial office space, 60,000 square feet of retail floors, 150 hotel rooms and 150 residential units. The project was announced in the summer of 2013 and had been scheduled for construction to begin more than two years ago. It has languished while the state Department of Transportation and the governors budget office have been negotiating a final deal with the partners, including Ciminelli Real Estate Corp., of Buffalo, and ECCO III Enterprises, of Yonkers. Joe McGee, vice president of public policy for the Business Council of Fairfield County and a member of a group the state Department of Transportation chose to review developers initial proposal wondered about the future of the project. The Stamford train station is one of most important projects on the rail line, and its been held up for three years, McGee said. Now a main partner has been indicted. It raises serious concerns about the partnership which need to be fully understood by Connecticut officials. What effect does it have on McClutchys ability to execute the contract? Political contributions Representatives of all of the companies on the train station project team contributed in recent years to the Democratic State Central Committees federal account, to which state contractors prohibited from giving to statewide political campaigns are allowed to contribute. Records show that Louis and Paul Ciminelli and their families gave the Democratic committee $42,500, including $20,000 on October 16, 2014, less than two weeks before Gov. Dannel P. Malloys re-election. Louis Ciminelli, in a 2015 interview, told Hearst Connecticut Media that he could not remember being solicited for a contribution to the state party. I would say that were we were supportive of some candidates, Ciminelli said in a phone interview. It has been a while. Honestly, I don't have a strong recollection of the facts and circumstances of how that all came about. During the week before the November, 2014 election, 10 executives from Competitive Power Ventures contributed $4,550 to a political action committee called the Connecticut Majority Team PAC, which benefits House Democrats. The contributions, all dated October 29, included $1,000 each from Gary A. Lambert Jr. of Massachusetts, the president; and Douglas F. Egan of Maryland, the CEO, according to electronic filings at the State Elections Enforcement Commission. Nineteen Competitive Power Ventures employees contributed a total of $1,850, mostly in $100 checks, to Attorney General George Jepsens 2014 re-election campaign. The contributions were dated on the same day in June, according to SEEC records. kdixon@ctpost.com; T o think of a lawyer is to think of someone who is comfortably off. It kind of goes with the territory. The public perception of the profession is that in the biggest firms, known as the Magic Circle, the partners make a small fortune admittedly, they work for it while in the mid-sized London companies and down to the larger practices in the smaller towns, life is still not at all bad. But the reality is rather different. The travails of the largest firms have been well-known as they have struggled, albeit with qualified success, to match their inflated overheads with the sharp drop in deal flow that has been the pattern of City life in recent years. But they are the privileged few. The real squeeze is in the layer below, and currently the London profession is watching in morbid fascination the death throes of two of its better-known mid-sized firms as they struggle to come to terms with the realisation that their business model no longer works. Both are in a kind of zombie state still going through the motions but without any prospect of escaping a relentless financial squeeze. They are trapped in a nether world in which the incomes of the older partners are shrinking while the young and talented try their luck elsewhere. Both have thought about mergers but whats on offer is likely to compound rather than solve their difficulties because most of the candidates have similar problems, and those that havent want the lions share of the business. "Lawyers have botched the transition from profession to business in a way accountants have not." So they drift on in limbo, hoping something will turn up, with that faded gentility you find in once-grand seaside hotels. Law firms can and do go bust but they like to do so discreetly. It remains to be seen whether this is a privilege that will be available to the current strugglers. The senior partner of one of the more dynamic firms in the mid-tier has a theory about how this has come about. One hundred years ago, he says, the solicitor was the trusted adviser the consigliere, to borrow a phrase from The Godfather to businessmen, aristocrats, politicians. The lawyer was their first call in times of difficulty, the one they all turned to when it mattered. And as custodian of their deepest secrets, as a safe harbour for their worst fears, he was appropriately rewarded. In the intervening century, however, the lawyers have allowed themselves to be pushed further and further down the food chain, and away from the seat of power. In todays commercial world, when there is a deal to be done it is picked over by investment bankers, brokers and public relations consultants all of whom have a share of the ear of the chief executive. Then when all the high-level stuff has been sorted by these experts, the package is tossed to the lawyer with instructions to sort it out and make it presentable. Lawyers have botched the transition from being a profession to being a business in a way the accountants have not. In going for volume, lawyers have lost the glamour, the access and the special status that came with having opinions worth listening to. They have allowed themselves to be commoditised and to become the last port of call. They have allowed some of their best brains to move in-house as general counsel in the biggest companies, taking the interesting legal advisory work with them. They live in a world where, in many cases, competition between firms comes down to who will do it cheapest. That inevitably means a slow death for those who have not got the efficiency, cant adopt the technology and who, in their hearts, dont really believe that is what the law should be about. In contrast, while the accountants have certainly lost some status in their headlong dash for growth and deservedly so in their unseemly desire each to be bigger than everyone else they have nevertheless held on to most of it. More to the point, they have managed to reinvent themselves. They are now no longer just the scorers they are recognised as business advisers. You see the results in what happens when senior partners retire. On the accountancy side, they almost always end up as chairman of a FTSE 100 company. Colin, now Lord, Sharman picked up Aviva after KPMG; John Griffith-Jones, an alumnus of the same firm, chairs the Financial Conduct Authority for the moment anyway. Sir Mike Rake, another from KPMG, has cropped up all over the place BT, president of the CBI, Barclays, easyJet even as a governor of his old school, Wellington College. It is a similar story with the former bosses of Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Indeed, within days of leaving PwC in July, former senior partner Ian Powell was named as chairman of Capita. Contrast this with what happens to senior lawyers. Few of them are offered any board appointments anywhere, let alone in the FTSE 100. Headhunters say chairmen strike them off shortlists because they are just lawyers by implication having little understanding of business. It may not be true but in todays post factual world, it is a narrative that suggests many legal firms will continue to struggle. R olls-Royce boss Warren East has continued his shake-up of the struggling engineering giants senior management, poaching Daily Mail and General Trusts Stephen Daintith as finance chief. Daintith is Easts second major hire this month. Simon Kirby, the boss of HS2, was named chief operating officer on September 10. Daintith will replace David Smith, who joined Rolls-Royce in 2014 after leading Jaguar Land Rover and a long career at Ford. East, who was parachuted in to turn Rolls-Royce around last year after troubles at its aero-engine and marine businesses, has been trying to slim down the company and cut costs. He has already begun a cull of some management roles, a key pledge to investors. Today East said Daintiths deep understanding of international business and 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. Daintith, who previously worked at Rupert Murdochs News International, will be paid 680,000 and be eligible for a performance share award of 225% of that sum. He will arrive next year, with Smith staying on until the New Year to hand over. Rolls-Royce said Smith, who has also published several novels, will then pursue other business interests. F rom Jane Eyre to Bridget Jones, the trials and tribulations of dating are well documented. The dating world is not, however, "a minefield". With minefields, there's always a slim chance you'll come out unscathed. Still, the pursuit of love drives us all onward, washing us from one mortifying encounter to another hysterical post-date phone calls and all. After all, it's fun. While you can't choose the quality of date, you can do your best to ensure the venue is a winner. WC Wine & Charcuterie It's like they custom built this place for dates: the whole premise is surely the name was a tip off wine and charcuterie. Once inside, you'll be sat in candlelit surroundings. It's romantic, but not showy, and the wine is fairly priced, too. Theres a sister venue over in Bloomsbury, but this original spot is still the best; the sort of place that becomes "our place". Clapham Common South Side, SW4 7AA, wcclapham.co.uk Piano Works All you really need to know about this bar is that it's a damned good laugh. It's not a quiet, intimate romantic joint at all: it's loud, brash, drinks go down quickly and everyone ends up getting silly and dancing until doors close. One for those dates that spiral gloriously out of control. It stays open late, it's tons of fun and you can quite happily get away with requesting your musical guilty pleasure. We love it, and so does the rest of London: booking is essential. 113-117 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3BX, pianoworks.bar Bounce Old Street Fine cocktails and dressing up? Why so serious? Come and play ping pong instead. Bounce is filled with table tennis tables, walls are artfully covered in graffiti and drinks are decent enough. If youre not near Old Street, head to the the one in Farringdon. Just make sure to book: both get extremely busy. 241 Old Street, EC1V 9EY, bouncepingpong.com Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London Settle in by the fire and Scarfes Bar will do the romancing for you. It's like an oversize library in a grand old house, but thankfully easily gets busy enough to keep a buzz up. You come here to impress: the place is all art deco details, beautiful old books and live music throughout the week. The gentlemen's club vibe fortunately isn't taken too far, and the cocktail list is surprisingly fresh, and doesn't rely on straight classics. Beautifully luxurious, tremendous atmosphere and the live music is always first rate. Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN, scarfesbar.com The Gibson Date night favourite: The Gibson The tiny Gibson seems practically custom-built for dates: it's intimate, in a cool part of town, feels vintage-inspired without being twee and has bags of choice, so if you've no idea what your date likes, they're still likely to find something to love. There's proper pedigree behind this bar, with Marian Beke, formerly of Nightjar, and Rusty Cerven, one time mixologist at The Connaught Bar, building the drinks. No-one will go home disappointed. Better yet, if the date's going well, it's open until 1am every evening (bar Sunday) and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, so you don't need to cut your evening short. 44 Old Street, EC1V 9AQ, thegibsonbar.london The Commercial Tavern Ok, ok: granted, this wonderful spot isnt technically a bar, although they do serve cocktails upstairs (sadly, not especially good ones...) The glory of the Commercial Tavern is its quirky decor, and the beautiful light upstairs that filters in through the windows. You come for a relaxed time, to chat, to laugh and sink a few drinks. It has its own feeling: nothing screams glamour, but something is quietly compelling about the place. Youll be back. 142-144 Commercial Street, E1 6NU, commercial-tavern.com Disrepute Press handout This downstairs bar in Kingly Court operates with a sheen of Sixties cool: it is all velvet and brushed brass and soft lights. Named as the countrys 12th best bar in the recent Top 50 list, this is one for old-world romance, for cocktails and caught glances. It feels a world away from rattling Soho above, a moment of calm, and while it runs a membership scheme, welcomes walk-ins. Open all week and until very late 3am Monday through to Saturday, and merely till late 1am on Sundays, its built for long, lingering evenings. As the name suggests, theres a welcome, suggestive air of impropriety. 4 Kingly Court, W1B 5PW, disrepute.co.uk Buddha Bar Buddha is a place of opulence and extravagance, and also a place of money, so be prepared to dig deep for this one. You drink Champagne here, not Processo. Cocktails here are first rate and, without exception, use top shelf ingredients, mixed carefully. Be sure to eat, too: sushi and sashimi are the menu's strong points, but if you're looking for something a little more substantial, the smoked duck and foie gras gyoza is a must, small delicious bites of brilliance, while the beef short rib with wasabi mash and veal teriyaki sauce is ideal for something more substantial. Though the wine list on the bar menu is short, ask for the sommelier, who's friendly, easy-going and knowledgeable: he'll make sure you drink well without imposing on the night. Buddha is in many ways a place of excess, but if you're in the mood for that, don't miss it. 145 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7PA, buddhabarlondon.com 69 Colebrook Row Otherwise known as The Bar With No Name, this Islington favourite comes from the well regarded Tony Conigliaro. It has a terrific atmosphere, in the most part because its mostly always busy, but theres also a piano in one corner that often gets a hammering. Its a stylish place, with stylish drinks, but be warned it's small cosy? so you might not be able to squeeze in, or stay for ages. 69 Colebrooke Row, N1 8AA, 69colebrookerow.com The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town Sometimes a date deserves nothing less than some East End quirkiness. The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town has been delivering this in spades for years: wander into the Breakfast Club, ask to see the Mayor and youll be led through a Smeg fridge we kid you not to a kitsch British riff on a speakeasy. Its a laugh here, they have a decent playlist, and the drinks slip down well enough. Still, you come for all the talking points: itll stop your date being awkward. 12-16 Artillery Lane, E1 7LS, themayorofscaredycattown.com All Star Lanes Holborn A bowling alley has no right having a bar this good, but there we go, theyve done it. It has a strange Vegas vibe to it: low-lighting and pink all around, but the drinks are good and priced fairly. Just because bowling was your go-to date at 13 doesnt mean its not any good these days too, and now you can add plenty of tasty, tasty alcohol maybe enough to get you in the karaoke booth? Victoria House, Bloomsbury Place, WC1B 4DA, allstarlanes.co.uk Les Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels If your date is big on wine, don't pass this place up. It's rightly popular within the industry for the choice available, which includes some rarities among the French-heavy list. They've upped their food game considerably, too. Would it matter if you were stood up? 8-10 Neal's Yard, WC2H 9DP, cvssevendials.com Mr Foggs Gin Parlour Mr. Fogg's Tavern Both Mr Fogg's are worth a visit, but the Theatreland Gin Parlour nudges it for a more intimate setting, and because it gets less crowded than its Mayfair cousin. Hidden upstairs from the tavern below, this hideaway bar is dressed in curiosities of the late 19th century, with chaise longues and dark corners, the smell of cocktails lingering like perfume and operatic fare playing throughout. You won't be short of conversation starters and if you know a gin lover, they'll be in heaven. 58 St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4EA, mr-foggs.com Beaufort Bar at the Savoy Not one if you're hoping to keep things relaxed: the Beaufort is overwhelmingly, but marvellously, romantic. The room itself, with its palatial lavishings of gold on black, sets the tone. The bar sits, mirrors glimmering, on the old cabaret stage where Gershwin once performed. Naturally, theres live entertainment every evening now, too, so you can sit back quietly in your finery and avoid any conversation about who's paying for what. Drinks are as pricey as you'd expect, but if you're looking for something special, it's hard to beat. The Savoy, Strand, WC2R 0EZ, fairmont.com Ladies and Gents Seriously cool: the drinks at Ladies & Gentlemen bar are inventive and there's live music too Ladies and Gents has the novelty factor of having once been a public loo romantic, eh? but it's far from a novelty bar. The drinks are expertly mixed, the place makes its own gin, about 12 bottles a day. They've usually got some terrific music on, often with live acts too. Oh, and when you've run out of things to say, grab a book from the shelves and read to your beloved. 2 Highgate Road, NW5 1NR, ladiesandgents.co Callooh Callay The best dates are fun and what better fun than heading to Narnia? Not really, of course, but there are plenty of hidden spots behind wardrobe doors at Callooh Callay. CC loves its gimmicks the madcap interior gives this away but they know how to mix a decent drink, and with the DJs dialled up, everyone has a good time. Midweek its a little quieter, which actually works in its favour if you fancy the horror! talking to your date. 65 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY, calloohcallaybar.com Jose Tapas Bar This tiny, tiny corner tapas bar is, for us, the highlight of everything Spanish chef Jose Pizarro has done in London. It's fantastically simple: you go for tapas and sherry, because that's pretty much all you'll get. Food changes daily, and is reliably gorgeous. It's very cosy here, but have a back-up plan because there's every chance you won't get a seat. 104 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UB, josepizarro.com/jose-tapas-bar Cahoots Chances are, you won't have been to a bar quite like it: Cahoots is set in 1946, and the whole thing is Underground themed. Yup: you can drink on the tube once again. Themed bars can be a bore but Cahoots charms and impresses from the off. Even heading down the stairs to find the place is fun and should set the right tone for the evening from the off. Drinks honestly, they're a mixed bag, so choose wisely start at 8, so you needn't break the bank to treat a date. Booking is essential. 13 Kingly Street, W1B 5PW, cahoots-london.com Radio Rooftop Bar The views do it all here all you need to do is avoid messing it up. Ten floors up, the rooftop bar offers views of Tower Bridge, the Shard, the Tate Modern, Somerset House and the Houses of Parliament. There's usually a live DJ too. With the white sofas, the bar has a smart Ibiza vibe, which is a little fun and a little sexy. Cocktails are good, and have some tapas to go with. ME London, 336-337 Strand, WC2R 1HA, melia.com The K Bar Captain's quarters: the K bar balances somewhere between the feel of an upmarket member's club and a grand old ship K bar feels majestic and there is no other word for it because drinking here is a little like being in the captains quarters of the Titanic, albeit without the sinking feeling. The oak, the velvet, the brass, the marble tops: there is glamour here, luxury whiffs of Penhaligons perfume and the rest. It ticks over nicely, but you'll likely not get a table, so it's built for a last-minute, upmarket date. 109-113 Queen's Gate, SW7 5JA, doylecollection.com 5CC Granted, it's odd not to specify a particular bar, but the 5CC gang (found in Bethnal Green/Hoxton/the city) all have their charms. All are fond of classic cocktails, and offer very drinkable riffs on them. But why are they suited to a date? Besides the low lighting, quirky neon signs and sizeable spirits collection (something for everyone), they're big on oysters, so lay yourself across their leather seats and indulge. They all offer champagne very reasonably, too. Perfect match, non? Various locations, 5cc-london.com The Vaults at Milroys The Vaults at Milroy's wins from the off, because to get to it, you enter through an bookcase, and that's the best way to get to anywhere. They play decent music, the drinks are reasonably priced and they make an excellent Old Fashioned. It's full of small tables which quickly fill up: come here for a relaxed, chatty, laughing date. The owner's adorable dog sometimes makes an appearance, too. 3 Greek Street, W1D 4NX, thevaultsoho.co.uk Gordons Wine Bar Gordon's will not fail: the terrace gets a little crowded when the weather is fine, but it's still a marvellous place to knock back some wine and talk. However, it's the caves indoors which are the real temptation: dark, intimate, it's a place to forget the rest of the world for a while. Wine is king here, but if you're eating, a paired cheese board always goes down well. They also serve some hot plates, but we prefer the cold bites. 47 Villiers Street, WC2N 6NE, gordonswinebar.com Bar Termini This tiny little spot in Soho seats barely a handful of people, which automatically gives it a sense of romantic intimacy. There's no standing room, either, so it never gets sweaty, horrible or crowded: finish an evening here either with a coffee or, better yet, a Negroni (make it two, they're small serves here). It'll add a little gentle Italian glamour to any date, just don't expect to spend the entire night here. 7 Old Compton Street, W1D 5JE, bar-termini.com OXO Tower Close by Blackfriars bridge, the OXO is another spot with terrific views, including St Paul's and the Gherkin. Head out to the terrace, which is a showstopper: you won't really care what you're drinking, but the wine list is solid and the cocktails excellent. When it's cold, cosy up behind huge views: you'll get all of breathtaking beauty of London without giving in to frostbite. Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, SE1 9PH, harveynichols.com Cork & Bottle This underground favourite couldn't be more central, living in Leicester Square, and despite having sat there since 1972, most Londoners wander past without realising it exists. The 300-long wine list covers just about everything, but doesn't go too heavy on the tasting notes: you're encouraged to find your own thing. You could never call the Cork & Bottle grand, but it charms immediately, and you'll want to find your own corner to come back to time over. 44-46 Cranbourn Alley, WC2H 7AN, thecorkandbottle.co.uk Slim Jims Liquor Store Dates are not about behaving appropriately, as Slim Jims well knows. This rock n roll dive bar has become all the more of a dive in recent years, but it still offers a damned good time. You come here for beer, bourbon and classic rock. The decor's main feature is bras on the ceiling, which makes sense, given they exchange drinks for them. Just make sure to dress down: suits and ties are turned away at the door. Party on. 112 Upper Street, N1 1QN, slimjimsliquorstore.com F ollowing several pop-ups around town, London Shell Co are preparing to launch a floating seafood restaurant on the Regents Canal this autumn. Set on the Prince Regent canal boat, the fishy offering will remain static during the day, when it will be docked in Paddington near Sheldon Square, but will treat diners to cruises up and down the canal of an evening. The menu will be hyper-seasonal and include a selection of British game along with fish and seafood. Dishes will include Morecambe Bay oysters served the London Shell Co way, with moscatel vinegar, chilli, celery and cucumber, as well as smoked cods roe and burnt leeks on toast, blood cake with scallops and pea puree, and bacon with cockles and laverbread. A number of English options will feature on the short wine list, while a concise cocktail selection will include a twist on a Negroni and the Simcoe Black which features rum, cider brandy and vermouth. The restaurant, called simply London Shell Co, is due to open on November 3. Visit londonshellco.com. Follow Ben Norum on Twitter @BenNorum Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout Scandals have been a part of Wall Street evolution for as long as I can remember. There was Drexel and its junk bonds. There was Prudential and its limited partnerships. There was the conflicted analyst reports just after the tech bubble blew up in the year 2000. Many storied firms disappeared because of scandal, each going down in flames Kidder Peabody, Salomon Brothers, and the list goes on. Each scandal was followed by new laws, rules and regulations. Let's call it the financial services warped form of creative destruction. It all culminated in the Great Recession parade of financial services CEOs getting grilled by Congress. But the Wells Fargo (: ) scandal is different in one very important way and especially in a way financial advisors should be thinking about it. Wells Fargo broke the cardinal rule: It went directly after the mom-and-pop bank branch customer. Not that it is right to cheat anyone, but hey, the rest of Wall Street does have its standards. We're not talking about some esoteric product like a credit default swap that was conjured up in a Wall Street tower, spreading toxic risk over thousands of supposedly sophisticated institutional investors. Nor are we talking about giant financial institutions fighting over investment banking deals. We're talking about you, me, our spouse, parents, friends and kids directly being cheated by people we know inside our community, whose weapon of choice is common, everyday checking accounts and credit cards. How dare they! I think most people still don't have a clear understanding of what went wrong when the housing bubble led to the Great Recession. But this time the scandal is easy to grasp, even if the scale of it millions of accounts opened in the name of unwitting consumers is breathtaking. That's what's different about this scandal. And that's why the CEO and the entire board of Wells Fargo have to leave right now. We're talking about the people customers see every time they walk into a branch. It is sacrosanct that you don't go after the little guy who may be less financially sophisticated and often unaware that he is getting ripped off. Story continues Here's the thing you may not have thought about. My fellow financial services colleagues and I are also outraged over this. This isn't a matter of gaining new clients from a competitor gone awry, it is a devastating blow to the last bastion of safety in financial services that you're perfectly safe inside your neighborhood bank branch. The people who perpetrated this scandal didn't even need to wear masks to rob investor/clients. All they had to do was take advantage of those people's hard-earned trust. We all can relate to how terrible that is, which is why even Republicans and Democrats in the Senate were totally aligned in their grilling of Wells Fargo's CEO, John Stumpf. Living in the New York City tri-state area, I can't help but meet lots of financial professionals, including some who work for Wells Fargo. These are decent and hardworking people, and it's tough to imagine how their days are impacted by this. They deserved better. We all do. There's probably more blame to go around than meets the eye. Publicly traded companies are under enormous pressure to deliver short-term earnings growth. To help with this, employees and management were incentivized to open new accounts, even though it was clear that it didn't mean bank employees should go about it in the way they did. Maybe it is because the employees didn't like their pay and figured that destroying their career was worth the extra few bucks they could have today. Maybe in a tough job environment, employees were afraid of underperforming management expectations, so they acted out of survival. That's why I chose to be a business owner and leave the public company racket behind. How could I ever do a good job for my clients with some manager breathing down my neck? It'll all play out in the coming months. More than 5,000 employees were fired, which to me sounds like a lot of people, even for a corporate giant like Wells Fargo. But if the CEO was unaware of what that many people were up to, then he isn't fulfilling his duties. If he was aware of it and it is just surfacing now because of the $185 million fine, then that is even worse. Either way, if the bank is serious about rehabilitating its reputation, the CEO has to go. For the record, I think Stumpf will be out by next week. And as a financial advisor, I want him to go. The CEO needs to go so the bank can become a leading example of what serving the public is all about. And Wells Fargo will have to do things for customers to get them to come back. But they will, eventually. And I'll bet you that in two years no one will be talking about this and Wells Fargo will have lost very little business if Stumpf is shown the door. For those of us in the business of earning our clients' trust every single day, which includes the entire financial services industry, we will all have to work 10 times harder going forward. People might not remember this scandal in a few years, but like my mother always said, "People may not remember what you said, but they'll always remember how you made them feel." Consumers may forget about this particular incident in a few years, but they will never let go of the ill will they'll have for the entire industry. Thanks, Stumpf. By Mitch Goldberg, president of investing firm ClientFirst Strategy. Follow Mitch More From CNBC A top chef who trained under Gordon Ramsay and elBullis Ferran Adria today revealed that his greatest culinary teacher was his mother. Omar Allibhoy, 32, was joined by his mother Maria Jose Cuende who flew in to London from Madrid for the launch of his latest cookbook, Spanish Made Simple. He said: I learned more from my mum than any of the top chefs that I have been lucky enough to work under. She is my inspiration in the kitchen. She taught me from the age of three when I started mixing eggs or doing whatever she needed help with, and I loved it. She helped me develop my incredible passion for cooking and she is the reason I am the chef I am today. Allibhoy was a prodigy of Adria at elBulli in Spain when it was considered the best restaurant in the world, and moved to London in 2008 to work at Ramsays Maze, where he was dubbed the Antonio Banderas of cooking. The most important thing I learned from my mother was simplicity. Its about simple ingredients not anything from fancy delis. She taught me about the soul of the food. He then became head chef at El Pirata de Tapas in Notting Hill before opening the first of his five Tapas Revolution restaurants at Westfield in 2011. At the launch of his new book, at the groups Shoreditch branch, he said: The most important thing I learned from my mother was simplicity. Its about simple ingredients not anything from fancy delis. She taught me about the soul of the food. From others I learned so much but it was more the techniques, creating the most sophisticated, avant-garde creations. But I learned the most from my mum. The restaurateur, who lives in Cricklewood, said his book aims to capture the authentic taste of Spain with recipes including lemon and honey chicken wings, Moorish marinated lamb cutlets and seafood paella. Mrs Cuende said: When he was a child growing up we would cook together for many hours in our family kitchen. It was simple, home-cooked food, but I could tell he had lots of potential even then and he really enjoyed what he was doing. He comes back to Madrid often, and our favourite time together is when were in the kitchen only now he cooks for me. Allibhoy said his own son Noah, three, often helps out in the kitchen, adding: He makes a mean pizza. The chef also echoed the concerns of others in the industry about the impact of Brexit. He said: I hope it doesnt mean the talented people from Europe that have helped Londons restaurant scene thrive are prevented from coming in the future. Spanish Made Simple is published by Quadrille today, priced 20. Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout H ollywood icon John Malkovich today hailed London theatre as the strongest in the world as he made his directorial debut in the capital. Malkovich is presenting Zach Helms Good Canary at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, having previously staged acclaimed versions in France and Mexico. The 62-year-old said he had already received an offer to bring the play, about a New York couples success, secrets and addiction, to the West End after its month-long run in Kingston. The two-time Oscar nominee told the Standard it was wonderful to be part of the London theatre scene again after appearing as a serial killer at the Barbican in 2011s The Infernal Comedy. He said: Principally, initially, everything in London starts with the writing and the writers. There has just been an incredible long, strong and profound tradition of great theatre writing. It just goes on and on. Every year theres another discovery or two or three or five. There are wonderful directors and actors and designers and technicians here, many of whom I have worked with over the years and its a great tradition. He added: If I get the chance to direct again in London I absolutely would want to do that too. He said he had chosen to open Good Canary outside the West End to see if the play could mirror its success overseas. In Paris it was nominated for six French Moliere Awards, with Malkovich winning for Best Director. I think you would have to be mad to put this play up first in the West End, he said. It has to get known and get word of mouth first, if that were to happen then you could transfer it. If everyone would like to go with it to the West End I would be delighted. Weve had an offer already during previews and we may or may not see more. One key to the success of a West End transfer is the availability of Game of Thrones star Harry Lloyd, who plays the lead role in Good Canary but has a packed schedule after the play finishes next month. Malkovich, who has been staying in Teddington and walking to work at the Rose along the Thames, predicted that Lloyd, who also starred in the movie Theory of Everything, would have a big future in Hollywood. He said: Harry is wonderful, he could do anything. Hes a wonderful actor and works very hard. I like to be around him, he has a lot of very interesting passion. I wouldnt be surprised if he ended up directing because he obviously really enjoys watching the others. Set in New York, Good Canary is the hard-hitting story of writer Jack, played by Lloyd, who is about to sign a multi-million-dollar book deal as wife Annie (Freya Mavor, from TV dramas Skins and the White Queen) fights addiction and mental illness. @Matt_watts80 Buy tickets for Good Canary with Evening Standard Tickets Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout B LOODSHOT WHERE: The Dairy, SW4 WHAT: Irish-born Robin Gill hosts sporadic late-night supper clubs at his Clapham restaurant, The Dairy, featuring a multiple-course dinner cooked by the team along with a guest chef. Dishes are always off-beat and imaginative, for example, segments of beurre noisette cream, toast and blood-orange marmalade aka toast, butter, marmalade. WHO GOES: Chefs who love a party. HOW TO GET A SEAT: Email bookings@the-dairy.co.uk. NEXT ONE: 29 October Bloodshot PASTIFICIO SUPPER CLUB WHERE: Cafe Murano, WC2 WHAT: An opportunity for London pasta fiends to indulge in an evening of Italian food and wine of the very highest quality. Pastificio, Angela Hartnetts Italian deli adjoining her famed restaurant Cafe Murano, hosts regular supper clubs for up to 16 people. The wine list is 100 per cent Italian, chosen by Muranos sommelier Anna Botting, and the menu focuses on a different region each time. At a recent Tuscan-themed evening, guests tucked into tuna, borlotti and runner bean salad with panzanella, tomatoes, romano peppers and basil. WHO GOES? Italianophiles who know their ravioli from their tortellini. HOW TO GET A SEAT: Via event-brite.co.uk or cafemurano.co.uk. NEXT ONE: 4 October Pastificio supper club THE WATER HOUSE PROJECT WHERE: Cafes around east London WHAT: Michelin-quality food without the stuffiness or hefty price tag. Passionate 26-year-old chef Gabriel Waterhouse, who worked under Jeff Galvin and Warren Geraghty at Galvin La Chapelle, dedicates Thursdays and Fridays to his own supper club with ethically reared meat and sustainably sourced fish. Past highlights have included Cumbrian Herdwick lamb , whipped goats curd, pea shoots and mint oil, followed by Brillat-Savarin with white chocolate ganache, strawberry and basil soup. WHO GOES? Young east London foodies. HOW TO GET A SEAT: At grubclub.com NEXT ONE: 3 November Best restaurants with a view in London 1 /28 Best restaurants with a view in London Fenchurch at Sky Garden 20 Fenchurch St, EC3M 8AF Found in the roof of the walkie-talkie, Fenchurch offers the kind of views that provoke involuntary responses: you may find yourself swearing in awe, gasping audibly or momentarily paralysed in stunned silence. Views include well, London, or most of it. Unlike other skyscraper eateries, the Sky Garden is set up to be explored, so youll be able to take it all in regardless of where you sit. Head upstairs to eat: the views arent quite so clear, but by then the food will have your attention (expect to accidentally ignore and be ignored by your companion). Go for the tasting menu the vegetarian alternative is exquisite, as it happens and have the team pair your wines, they do a terrific job. If youre going a la carte, the loin and sausage of venison with pickled red cabbage is a must, full of juice and gutsy flavour. skygarden.london The view from Fenchurch Walk around the bar at the Sky Garden for more stunning views, especially of the river Le Pont de la Tour 36D Shad Thames, SE1 2YE Goodness, the main dining room at Le Pont de la Tour can feel romantic: two-seated tables by the window seem to shut out everyone else, although youll still feel the rooms golden glimmer, the food is fine-dining French fare, they pour large glasses of wine (full credit to them) and the view is Tower Bridge, lit up magnificently in whites and blues. Though benefitting from a recent update, which gave the place a little personality, Le Pont isnt striving for quirky modern food or quirky modern dining: everything is proudly about good old-fashioned pleasure. The seared fois gras, as a starter, is gloriously simple, and simply glorious, while the veal sweetbreads are a must for a main. Because its the sort of place to linger over a nightcap how can you ask someone up for coffee if youve already had one in the restaurant? ask about their armagnac, too. lepontdelatour.co.uk The view from Le Pont de la Tour At night, it's a particularly beautiful sight Galvin at Windows 22 Park Lane, W1K 1BE After a certain point, whats a few floors between friends? Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows is 28 floors up at the Park Lane Hilton, which is plenty high enough for gorgeous, panoramic views across the capital. Benefitting from its position by Green Park, the city is some distance away, so theres plenty of greenery to admire and no pesky skyscrapers blocking your views and youre just about close enough to the ground to really delight in the details. Its a white tablecloth dining room of dark wood, marble, with dashes of deco glamour. The Galvin brothers always lay on exceptional food and wine, here French fine dining, and the lunch menu du jour at 33 for three courses is a steal, though the Menu Prestige, at 75 for three courses, is worth saving for. Oh, and if youve any cash left, take a drink at the bar. galvinatwindows.com The view from Galvin at Windows It looks out over Green Park and beyond Duck & Waffle Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY Open 24/7, Duck & Waffle offer glorious views whenever you fancy them. The fun begins with the lifts, which rocket into the sky like they mightn't stop. They tend to, though, and after a oddly unmanned maze of an entrance sits Londons highest restaurant, a smallish, fairly relaxed affair. Theyve built a menu pairing sweet and savoury their eponymous dish explains it all so choose carefully. Puy lentils, usually soporifically dull, are vibrantly flavoursome here, matched with spinach, sweet onion, yoghurt and miso. The spicy ox cheek doughnut, filled with apricot jam and smoked paprika sugar, will pique anyones curiosity: go on and try it, itll add something to your party small-talk. D&W suits supper, but breakfast when the sun is rising is when its at its best. Ring for your reservation: the tables by the windows are the ones to have. duckandwaffle.com The view from Duck & Waffle At forty floors up, Duck & Waffle is the highest restaurant in the UK Swan, Shakespeare's Globe 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 9DT Swan is a subtler suggestion than most on this list: it sits by the Globe, looking out over the Thames and St Pauls, rather than glaring down over the city, and the food is classic British fare, fairly priced, with no pretensions to be anything but. But its quietly charming: the view here adds to the evening, rather than takes over, despite its beauty. The service is attentive, without being overbearing, and theyve lovely staff, who know the menu well. Its a comfortable place, in other words. Braised salt marsh lamb neck or beef Wellington are the best of the menu. swanlondon.co.uk The view from Swan, Shakespeare's Globe At night, St Paul's looks especially beautiful Serpentine Bar and Kitchen Serpentine Road, Hyde Park, W2 2UH Unwinding on the banks of Hyde Parks Serpentine is this Benugo. Its all about the view here: in summer, with the sun glinting on the water top and pedalos pottering about, it trumps any sky-high joint. The serve throughout the day until 5pm from breakfast, with their specialty being made-to-order pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven, though they also offer the likes of fish n chips, salads, duck ragu and steak sandwiches. The food is affordable, and they have a dedicated childrens menu, with items at 6. A fun spot and a centrepoint for a day at the park but if you cant find a spot amongst all the hustle and bustle, they sell sandwiches, smoothies, cakes and coffee to take away. benugo.com Richard Heald Photography The view from Serpentine Bar and Kitchen The restaurant looks out over the Serpentine Richard Heald Photography City Social 25 Old Broad St, EC2N 1HQ Tower 42 is a plain-looking building but, as ugly optimists insist on reassuring themselves, inner beauty is the thing. Here Jason Atherton has achieved that: his restaurant is the sparkling personality behind a frumpy facade. At 24 flights up, its not nose-bleed high, but youll still see plenty of the city. Grab a booth: the low ceilings and dark lighting mean the view really is taken advantage of. The menu offers typically interesting Atherton fare, with the pigs trotter and black pudding a tempting starter, and the black onion crackling with violet artichoke & pork loin a delicious main. There's a lot of work in this food: take your time to enjoy it. The cocktail bar is the highlight: a really excellent affair with folks who really, really know what they're doing. Just beware that wine, by the bottle, is priced for men who puff their chests out. citysociallondon.com The view from City Social The restaurant looks out over the city, including the ever-popular Gherkin The view from City Social The restaurant looks out over the city, including the ever-popular Gherkin Portrait Restaurant at the National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin's Pl, WC2H 0HE Pretending to know about paintings is hungry work, so its just as well that the Portrait Gallery have their agreeable, relaxed rooftop restaurant upstairs. After all the wonders in the building, one would be forgiven for thinking that the view wont compare, but youll be gazing out over he likes of Trafalgar Square, Nelson's Column, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. For most of the week, youre confined to popping in for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea, but on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, they offer supper, including a pre-theatre menu. Its a light, airy space, with sharing tables, but not sharing food: the simple, clean British fare is likely to bring out your possessive side. npg.org.uk The view from Portrait Restaurant at the National Portrait Gallery The view is almost as impressive as the works of art within the gallery Blueprint Cafe Design Museum, SE1 2YD Sitting a little along from Le Pont De La Tour, the Blueprint boasts the same postcard perfect views of Tower Bridge just be sure to sit by the window but its a more informal setting, and its cheaper, too. Sat up on the first floor of the design museum, the Blueprint offers European fare, with regularly changing wine recommendations. The cooking is fresh but comforting in the way Italian-leaning food should be, and they offer bottomless brunch on Saturdays and BYOB on Monday (huzzah). Its a place to come with friends, to stare out over the Thames and to lose track of time. blueprintcafe.co.uk Blueprint Cafe The cafe has a view to rival Le Pont De La Tour, but it's a more relaxed place to dine Oblix The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, SE1 9RY Something about the Shard makes it hard to love but Oblix (sadly not named for Asterixs best mate) is the best bet in Londons favourite pointy building, which should offer so much but, in reality, is a bit of a culinary dead spot. The captivating view at Oblix makes it worth coming, and also the journey up to it the lift zooms upwards, with ceiling lit: it is lovely to start dinner feeling like its a Disneyland ride. You may be 40 floors short of the viewing platform but frankly, its not so much different up there, and much more cramped. Rainer Becker (youll know him from Roka/Zuma) oversees the kitchen, proud of its wood fired oven, charcoal grill and spit roast, but the lounge area does fine fare too, is a little more relaxed and a jot cheaper. Be sure to dress smartly and beware: prices are for those with pockets as deep as the Shard is tall. oblixrestaurant.com The view from Oblix It may be far below the viewing platform, but the view from Oblix is still spectacular THE SUPPER CLUB INC WHERE: London, New York, Miami and Los Angeles WHAT: From lavish banquets in country estates to cocktail parties aboard super-yachts, this members-only network has taken supper clubs to new extravagant highs. What started as a small gathering held by 38-year-old London socialite Tamsin Lonsdale has gone global with outposts in Miami, Los Angeles and New York. We turn down 80 per cent of the people that apply, says Lonsdale. Fees range from 1,500 to 7,700 per year. WHO GOES: Cultured jet-setters. HOW TO GET A SEAT: Membership is strictly invitation-only or through referral. NEXT ONE: 4 October in New York thesupperclubinc.com Supper Club founder Tamsin Lonsdale (Credit: Jakub Studios) / Getty Images for Kim Crawford Wi THE LITERARY HOUR WHERE: Jude Skipwiths home, N15 WHAT: By day, 27-year-old Jude Skipwith works as brand partnerships manager at Somerset House. By night, she hosts immersive banquets for 20 people with dishes from throughout literary history, from Willy Wonkas Three-Course Dinner chewing gum, to Mr Twits bird pie. Each evening celebrates the work of a different book or author, and there are readings before each course. WHO GOES? Eccentric literary buffs. HOW TO GET A SEAT: Via grubclub.com. They usually sell out in 24 hours. NEXT ONE: 13 October The Literary Hour Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @ESMagOfficial ' I dont design underwear for men, I design underwear for me, declares Sarah Shotton, matter-of-factly. The 41-year-old creative director of Agent Provocateur is perched daintily on an enormous black velvet sofa in the showroom of the labels capacious Clerkenwell headquarters. With her long auburn hair, porcelain complexion, and Forties starlet silhouette (F-cup breasts, nipped-in waist, all encased in purple body-con McQueen), shes a beguiling mix of soft-focus glamour and cosy approachability. Around us, dozens and dozens of bras, basques, thongs and knickers in every colour and fabric imaginable hang from rails, mannequins and wall mountings. Underwear is the most important thing you put on, she adds. It basically sculpts your body. It lifts your breasts up. If Im not wearing a good-fitting bra, I couldnt do my job. I couldnt run, Id just be uncomfortable, my breasts would hurt. Of course, with its collection of haute erotic accessories (rose-gold nipple pasties, Swarovski-studded handcuffs, bejewelled whips) and outre ad campaigns, AP is associated with one thing above all sex. But Shotton, a feminist, argues theres more to it than that. When I was 15, my mum took me bra shopping. I went to Fenwick in Newcastle, to the underwear section, which at the time was quite matron-like. They went to fit me and I heard the woman going: Oh, weve got another F-cup, shell have to wear the Delores in a flesh colour. This hammock came out, like a boulder-holder. I remember bursting into tears and going: Oh my God, this is awful. Now she spends her time trying to make women feel good about themselves because my experience at 15 was like: Mum, I need to have a breast reduction. Paloma Faith is the new face of Agent Provocateur Making women feel good about themselves is, it should be said, something she does extremely well. Anyone who has set foot inside an AP boutique will be familiar with the experience: the soft, flattering lighting, the warm, almost conspiratorial attendants, the knowing glances from passers-by as you leave toting a signature pink bag. The whole things designed to deliver a thrill before youve even stepped into the bedroom. Its also a clever bit of positioning in an increasingly competitive market. Consumer research firm Verdict Retail estimates that the UK womens underwear market, currently worth more than 2bn, will reach 4.8bn by 2020, bolstered by international juggernauts such as Victorias Secret, which opened a Bond Street flagship in 2012 and now has four shops within the M25, as well as high-end independent lines such as Araks and Mimi Holliday. Among them, AP holds its own. The 22-year-old company has 126 stores worldwide, including seven boutiques in London and 28 outposts in the US, and sales of 61.7m. Major successes have included a swimwear line, now accounting for 11 per cent of the business, and various collaborations including with Charlotte Olympia (in 2012 and again in January), and Monica and Penelope Cruz on the sister line LAgent by Agent Provocateur. The Agent Provocateur AW16 collection But bigger things are afoot. This spring, the luxury veteran Fabrizio Malverdi joined the company as CEO. The former managing director of Dior Homme (who has also worked for John Galliano and Givenchy) replaced Garry Hogarth, who left in February after almost a decade. On the agenda: further expansion in Asia (including new openings in Singapore, Japan and Thailand over the next five years), online growth and a greater marketing push in the US. Not on the agenda, seemingly: a sale. Shotton downplays rumours that Malverdis appointment is part of a move by parent company 3i to offload the label. Our agenda is not that The companys expanding and [Malverdis] forte is luxury brands and expansion. The whole operation is so slick, its easy to forget the brands origins in the heady, hedonistic Nineties. It was founded in 1994 by Joe Corre, the flamboyant son of Dame Vivienne Westwood, with his then wife, the former model Serena Rees. The original boutique on Broadwick Street was a symbol of free-spirited Soho; a bit louche, a bit lux, beloved by regular Londoners and celebrities alike (over the years everyone from David Beckham to Lily Allen has been snapped shopping at AP). There were rumours of couples getting intimate in the changing room; the AP girls became a kind of local landmark, causing a kerfuffle whenever they left the shop in their pink, nurse-like uniform. An Agent Provocateur window display Shotton joined in 1999. The daughter of Mark, a farmer, and Margery, a painter, shed grown up in County Durham, the eldest of two sisters, and attended the independent Polam Hall School. She was 24 and six months out of Central Saint Martins when she landed a job as an office junior. Soon she was working across all kinds of projects, from the collections to store interiors. Much of it sounds like one big party. Thered always be booze. There were a few people who used to bring me in Bloody Marys and wed just drink them on the shop floor. The party tempered when Rees left her husband for The Clash guitarist Paul Simonon in 2007, and departed from the company soon after. Corre carried on, leaving in 2009, two years after private equity firm 3i bought the business for a reported 60m (he was quoted saying it had become a very sexy brand run by very unsexy people). The then-chief executive, Garry Hogarth, made Shotton creative director. She hasnt seen Corre, who now heads up his own clothing label, A Child of The Jago, since. When I first started at AP, it was a different company. It was very small, there was a lot of partying going on, it was quite rock n roll, and you have to evolve. These days, she rarely drinks. Nights out in Soho or at Shoreditch House have been replaced by low-key dinners or days in Clissold Park near her home in Stoke Newington with her children, George, three, and Roisin, one, and her partner Patrick, 37, an engineer. The pair met on a train when she was travelling to Durham five years ago; not wanting him to jump to any conclusions, she kept her work at AP secret, telling him her father needed his cowshed fitted with solar power as a ruse to get his details. George and Roisin have visited the Broadwick Street store and accompanied Shotton on shoots. George doesnt know what I design but he knows that I draw. Roisin, though wanders around the bedroom and shell pick up one of my bras and shell shove it over her shoulder. One thing that hasnt changed since the early days is APs opulent ads. A 2001 clip featuring Kylie Minogue riding a rodeo bull was reportedly banned from TV (it was shown in cinemas instead). When, in 2006, Kate Moss appeared in four short films named The 4 Dreams of Miss X, they crashed the AP website. Other famous faces have included Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (so nice), Josephine de La Baume (a pocket rocket) and Naomi Campbell (just lovely). The current campaign stars the Australian model and actress Abbey Lee, shot in black and white by Mario Sorrenti (a former boyfriend of Moss). I was a bit star-struck, laughs Shotton of working with him. When I spoke to him on the phone he was like: You know, Im a huge fan. I was like: Really? because I still get a bit she makes a squeaking noise. The shoot in New York, was, she says intense Youd think: Oh, weve got the shot, and hed be like: I just want six more, six more pictures, and then he would get something more out of her. The aim of the new collection, she says, is to reach out to more women. I think sometimes were very edgy and cool and I think sometimes women are a little bit afraid. We wanted a campaign that was saying: You know what? Theres something for everyone. The result is a range of pretty, gently risque pieces in delicate laces and silks and grown-up colours (blacks, pinks and burgundies). For the first time, main-line items, such as the dainty Lorna bra (75), have been shot alongside pieces from the haute Soiree collection, such as the Deziree corset, made of lacquered Leavers lace (1,595). Bras go from a 32A up to a 36F, and knickers from a 1 (6-8) to a 5 (14-16), but Shotton says: Were going to try to do bigger cups. Our knickers, were trying to do bigger sizes I want women to go if they need underwear, they come to AP. Kylie Minogue in Agent Provocateur Shotton credits Corre with the lesson in understanding that lumps and bumps can be sexy. In contrast, she says she finds the honed, hairless aesthetic that often prevails (notably on the Victorias Secret catwalk) quite scary. I know, from being a young girl, looking at magazines and going: I want to be like that... I dont think that is sexy and I dont think its real and I actually think that curves are much sexier and wholesome is much sexier. I think its much more attractive when women eat properly and look after themselves. Theres commercial savvy to this everywoman approach though Shotton (who wears AP every day) says becoming a mother has also played its part. With George, I put on five stone. I literally was massive. Your body, after you have a baby, changes so much and that really helped me design, because everythings not as firm as it used to be and I was like: I still want to look good in my underwear.As well as being fitted on models, every prototype garment is also fitted to Shottons form. I can put it on and I can go: No, the wires not sitting right, or if we do this, if we manipulate this, then itll give you a better cleavage. Her enduring passion for the business is clear. Despite the demands of designing biannual collections each including a main collection, swimwear, nightwear and accessories she still makes appearances on the boutiques floors. I love serving people, I just love it. I see women coming into our store who are a bit like: Oh, theres nothing for me here. And youre like: No, come on, lets go and have a look in the drawer. Then saying: Why dont you try this? Women have burst into tears with me. Theyre just like: Oh my God, I didnt think I could look like this. I never thought about trying this on. Then thats it, theyve changed. She gives a knowing smile. Its very addictive, AP. It just makes you feel good. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @EsMagOfficial A n extended pause in a long-haul schedule offers the chance to breathe and provides an opportunity to add another dimension to a holiday in a faraway destination. It also gives travellers the chance to experience some of the worlds greatest locations in bite-sized form. Economically, too, booking a flight with a stopover is advantageous. It means that travellers get a bonus short break in a city they may not have been before. Travellers can earn bonus air miles, which can be accrued through flying a certain number of segments. Despite rapid aviation expansion and development, major airports on Singapore Airlines network are within easy striking distance of city centres. Most have sophisticated integrated transport links waiting to whizz travellers from the arrival hall into the thick of the action. Travellers flying on Singapore Airlines can enjoy all these advantages and more. In fact, the airlines Singapore hub is one of the best stopover options on the planet. Changi Airport the worlds most awarded - is ultra-efficient with minimal waiting times for baggage and excellent train and taxi connections to the centre of the city. Direct flights from London also mean that passengers are provided with an opportunity for a longer, unbroken period of sleep. By the time they reach Singapore, travellers will likely be well rested and ready to explore something new prior to their onward flight. Singapore itself, meanwhile, deserves its billing as one of the most convenient destinations in Southeast Asia. With Singapore Airlines offering a range of discounted Singapore stopovers as well as other value adds for customers including free city tours, there has never been a better time to explore the country. A powerhouse in Southeast Asia, Singapore is vibrant and diverse and is charged with invigorating energy. It is regarded as one of the best shopping destinations in the region, while events such as the Singapore Biennale and the Singapore Arts Festival showcase the countrys cutting-edge cultural scene. Singapores reputation as a centre of culinary excellence, meanwhile, makes dining there as alluring as a perfectly cooked chilli crab the de facto national dish. Fantastic food can be enjoyed everywhere from humble hawker centres to dens of refinement that rank among the most sought-after restaurants in the world. Other possible stopover options on the Singapore Airlines network, meanwhile, include Tokyo, Japans high-energy capital. Bangkok and Hong Kong are also ideal for travellers with a few hours or a couple of days to spare. When you consider all these options, it makes sense to take a break. Singapore Airlines the worlds most awarded airline and its regional wing SilkAir, operate flights to 99 destinations in 34 countries. Fly to Bali from 495pp, Sydney from 660pp, Vientiane from 590pp, book before 30 September and you could win your flights for free - singaporeair.com Terms & conditions apply. More on Singapore: Top 10 things to do in Singapore Singapore's best nightclubs Top 10 swimming pools in Singapore W hen picturing your dream honeymoon, do chic city skylines, Far East landscapes or crystal clear waters come into mind? Whatever it is youre looking for on your honeymoon, theres a variety of escapes to be enjoyed in every season. So, whether youre looking for sun-soaked beaches in winter or vibrant city life in spring, here are some of the most romantic destinations you can choose from Spring Tuscany For honeymooners keen to stay closer to home, Tuscany has to be one of the most romantic destinations in Europe. Take in the history and beauty of Florence, sample the amazing food in Siena, and taste the fine wines in the beautiful Chianti region. A Tuscan wedding / Helen Abraham photography Hawaii For pristine white beaches, gorgeous scenery, and upscale hotels, plan an extravagant honeymoon in Hawaii. With fantastic food and a whole host of cultural activities to be enjoyed on every island, its the perfect place for that island escape. Japan If youre looking for a more adventurous break, why not honeymoon in Japan? Hotspots including Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka come alive in spring, as residents and tourists picnic under the cherry blossom trees. Whats more, each destination offers a whole new adventure. Perfect for a honeymoon: Japan Summer Santorini The stunning island of Santorini boasts more that 300 days of sunshine every year, but its in the summer when temperatures really soar. Treat yourself to a luxury ocean view suite, spend a lazy afternoon exploring the island, and capture the enchanting sunset above the deep blue sea. Florida Whether youre looking for hours-upon-hours of sunshine or the perfect Disney getaway, Florida has it all. Choose from destinations including action-packed Orlando, the beach paradise thats Clearwater, party hotspots like Miami or the idyllic Florida Keys. Thailand Thailand is an ideal destination all year round, but you can find some of the best deals during the summer months. Choose from romantic hotspots like Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi for that once-in-a-lifetime experience. Anatara Elephant Reserve in Thailand Autumn Fiji Enjoy an unspoilt paradise with an unforgettable escape to Fiji. With temperatures in the late 20s during the autumn, you can spend your days topping up your tan and exploring the waters. California Plan an epic road trip along with coast of California, visiting hotspots including LA, Monterey Bay, and San Francisco. Mix city shopping with beach vibes and if youve got time, hop over to Yosemite National Park the perfect complement to your West Coast adventure. A Californian wedding / Richard Murgatroyd Portugal Escape the cooler climes of autumn for sun-soaked days and nights in Portugal. Boasting highs of 23 degrees Celsius, its the place to go in Europe during the cooler months. Relax in the picturesque Algarve or get your culture on in Lisbon whatever it is youre looking for, youll find it here. Alternative honeymoon destinations - in pictures 1 /10 Alternative honeymoon destinations - in pictures Yosemite National Park, California Corbis Cape Winelands, South Africa Corbis Arches National Park, Utah Corbis Madagascar Corbis Ishigaki, Japan Corbis Copenhagen, Denmark Corbis Grindavik, Iceland Corbis Stockholm Archipelago Stockholm Archipelago Corbis Winter Australia For the honeymoon of a lifetime, take a trip to the other side of the world and explore Australia. Explore the golden beaches of Byron Bay, experience vibrant city life in Sydney, or enjoy an outback escape, visiting the regions natural wonders. New York Shop till you drop in one of the most romantic cities in the world. New York is gorgeous all year round but particularly enchanting come winter. Skate in Central Park, shops for newlywed Christmas gifts at the boutiques and shops, and play tourist visiting all the fantastic historic attractions. Mexico If you want to combine laid-back beach life with a selection of fantastic watersports activities, look no further than Mexico. The vibrant holiday hotspot of Cancun and hippy chic Tulum, in Riviera Maya, are two of the best choices for your honeymoon. Just married Hamish Shephard is the founder of free online wedding planner Bridebook.co.uk. His ES column, Groom with a View, gives fuss-free, practical advice to make wedding planning as enjoyable as it should be. M urder sqaud detectives are investigating after a man was found dead in the street following a suspected assault in east London. The man, believed to be in his 30s, was discovered next to All Saints DLR station just before midnight last night, police said. Officers said they had been called to the scene in Poplar to reports of an injured man. He was pronounced dead at the scene and is believed to have been assaulted. Man found dead near east London station 1 /13 Man found dead near east London station Forensic officers worked at homes while roads were closed off Lesley Horner The man was found just after midnight in Poplar Lesley Horner Police officers stationed in the road as detectives launched a murder inquiry Lesley Horner Police shut off the road near All Saints station where the man was pronounced dead Lesley Horner Police at the scene in east London Police at the scene in east London Police at the scene in east London Police at the scene in east London Onlookers at the scene in east London A resident in a nearby flat told the Standard: " I heard noises about 11pm, it was men shouting. "You always hear noise at night here but this time it was serious, you knew something was going to happen. "I didn't realise someone had actually died until the morning". The mans next of kin have yet to be informed. Scotland Yard said detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command have been notified of the death. No arrests have been made. The A13 East India Dock Road has been shut between Cotton Street and Chrisp Street while police investigate. E ggheads star CJ de Mooi appeared in court today to face allegations relating to manslaughter, murder and assault after apparently confessing in his autobiography to killing a drug addict 30 years ago. The BBC quiz champion described killing the man in his book, published last year, after the victim allegedly tried to mug him as he slept on the streets of Amsterdam. The 46-year-old today appeared in Westminster Magistrates' Court under his real name Joseph Connagh after being detained under a European arrest warrant on Wednesday. He was released on bail but could now face extradition to the Netherlands. The allegations came to light after he wrote in his autobiography that he punched a man who approached him with a knife, then threw him into a canal in Amsterdam in 1988. 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." But 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 said. "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." He appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court, wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a green t-shirt and a hoodie. De Mooi, in Caldicot, Wales, is opposing his extradition and was released on bail to appear at the court on November 28 for an extradition hearing. He was ordered to pay 5,000 security as a bail condition and banned from international travel. He was also told to sleep every night at his home address and keep a charged mobile phone with him at all times. B BC Eggheads star CJ de Mooi is facing extradition to the Netherlands over his claim that he killed a mugger while living rough in Amsterdam nearly 30 years ago. The 46-year-old quiz champion confessed last year that he had punched a man in the face when he was threatened with a knife in 1988. De Mooi said he "snapped" and flew into a rage, "knocked the knife out of his hand and threw him in the canal. "I fully suspect I killed him. Ive no idea what happened to him. De Mooi, famous as a member of the experts panel on popular daytime quiz show Eggheads, said the incident happened when he was living on the streets of Amsterdam in 1988. He mentioned the attack in his autobiography released last year, writing that the mugger had come at him while he was using a phonebox. He told me to turn around, open my bag and give him whatever was inside", he said. It was the only outburst of violence Ive ever done. Thats one of the main reasons why I absolutely abhor all violence. Dutch police were only alerted to the alleged attack in September last year by press reports of de Mooi's book launch, but promised to investigate. A European Arrest Warrant has now been issued, and de Mooi was arrested at Heathrow Airport yesterday. If approved, the celebrity will be sent to the Netherlands to face an allegation of manslaughter, according to the court file De Mooi, real name Joseph Connagh, of Caldicot, is currently in custody awaiting the court hearing. Earlier this year, de Mooi revealed he had been the celebrity at the centre of a sexual assault police probe. He accused the BBC of "hanging him out to dry" and giving him the boot from his role on Eggheads. He is due to appear in front of District Judge Vanessa Baraitser later. T hree former Tesco directors have denied inflating profits by around 250 million in an accounting scandal that rocked the supermarket giant. Chris Bush, Carl Rogberg and John Scouler face charges of false accounting and fraud by abuse of position while at the helm of the firm in 2014. It is said they knew the companys income had been improperly inflated and hid the true position from investors, shareholders and the stock market. Rogberg, 49, the former UK finance director, and former food director John Scouler, 48, both left Tesco in November 2014 after the scandal came to light. Bush, 50, who ran Tescos UK business, has also now departed the company. Christopher Bush arrives at Westminster Magistrates court / Hannah McKay/PA Wire All three allegedly carried out the fraud and false accounting between February and September 2014. They appeared at Westminster magistrates court today, speaking only to confirm their identities. Representatives for the defendants told the court they intend to plead not guilty to all charges when the case comes to trial. The men were bailed until a hearing at Southwark crown court on October 20. Carl Rogberg arrives at Westminster Magistrates court / Hannah McKay/PA Wire Bush and Rogberg issued statements after they were charged by the Serious Fraud Office, denying wrongdoing and vowing to fight the allegations. Bush, of High Wycombe, Rogberg, of Oxford, and Scouler, of St Albans, are accused of fraud by abuse of position and false accounting. A Jewish schoolboy was left in tears after a gang of teenagers allegedly threatened to beat him up unless he removed his skullcap. The 11-year-old boy was walking home from school in Hackney at 6.30pm yesterday when he claims he was surrounded by the group of older boys and girls, who would not let him pass. He was then reportedly forced to remove his Jewish skullcap by the gang. The child, who did not recognise the attackers, was today said to have been badly shaken by the incident but was not harmed. A spokesman for north Londons Shomrim neighbourhood watch group said: He lives near where the incident took place and had his rucksack over his shoulders as he was walking home from school. "The child said he tried to run away but the youths blocked his way. Any witnesses to yesterdays attack are asked to call the Metropolitan Police Service on 101 or Shomrim on 0300 999 0123. A 101-year-old woman who was mugged on her own doorstep today thanked kind-hearted Londoners who pledged thousands of pounds to help her overcome the ordeal. Retired nurse Alexteen Roberts was returning home from a prayer meeting when she was targeted just outside her front door in Tottenham. She told police she was robbed on August 23 by a man who pushed her to the floor, grabbed her handbag and fled with 300 in cash. Her ordeal shocked Londoners and people around the world. A number of funds were set up online calling for donations to help her. The first collection of 1,240 was delivered to her this week. Well over 1,000 has been pledged in other online fundraising drives. Recovering: retired nurse Alexteen Roberts with her granddaughter Jackie McIntosh / Alex Lentati Mrs Roberts told the Standard: Its really thoughtful that people have raised money. People were so generous and I just want to say thank you to all of them for being so kind-hearted. Its really helped me get over what happened and show me there is still so much good in London and the world. Her family are using some of the money to increase security at Mrs Roberts flat following the mugging, which took place weeks before her 101st birthday. She is fearful of going out alone and has been pickpocketed and mugged in the past. Jay Kast, 30, a youth worker and community activist from east London, launched his appeal to help Mrs Roberts after reading about the mugging on the front page of the Standard. The appeal on website GoFundMe was shared hundreds of times on social media, and donations from as far afield as America and Africa helped smash the 300 target in a few hours and raise 1,240. Mr Kast delivered the money to Mrs Roberts on Monday with her grandson Nathan McIntosh and it has since gone into her bank account. He said: She was so shocked by peoples generosity. She couldnt believe it but I told her how the story had shocked so many people. We wanted to show her the world wasnt a bad place and to get her back on her feet. Of the mugging, Mrs Roberts said: He grabbed my bag and I resisted him and fought back. The next thing I knew I was on the floor. I really thought the worst. She shouted for her grandson Ashley who was in her flat. She said her attacker then fled with her bag. Mrs Roberts first worked as a nurse and then a seamstress after coming to live in London from Jamaica in 1954. The centenarian, who has 24 great-grandchildren, has returned to church, and still goes shopping on her own following her ordeal. Her granddaughter Deborah Roberts said: Shes amazing. She was down and it had made her a little shaky and scared in the days after but shes not let it defeat her. Its really helped her in her recovery that people have been so generous in this way. Its really restored all of our faith in humanity. Jawad Naser, 37, of Tottenham, appeared at Highbury magistrates court last Thursday charged with robbery. He was remanded in custody and will appear at Wood Green crown court on October 13. A woman acquitted of vandalising an oil painting owned by the ex-wife of a property tycoon says she is relieved the fantastical court case is behind her. Gillian Kings, 52, was cleared within 15 minutes after her former friend and accuser Caroline de Havillande was ruled neither consistent or credible. The court heard how Ms Kings agreed to store the Harry Bilson artwork, called Balloons, for Ms de Havillande, who said it was worth up to 30,000. The pair then had a dispute over a handbag which Ms de Havillande had borrowed with a view to buying but had instead decided to return, Hammersmith magistrates court was told. Last November, her mother Mary Quinlan went to Ms Kings flat in Fulham to pick up the painting. In court, Ms Quinlan said when she tried to exchange the handbag for the artwork Ms Kings lunged. She said: She was like a demon, just grabbing at it and trying to pull it back. She was drawing her hand down the painting. In the frame: Harry Bilsons artwork Balloons Prosecutor Stuart Sampson told the court Ms Kings scratched [the artwork] with her right hand three or four times. But Ms Kings denied this, adding: It was quite windy and the painting was wobbling around and she took the painting and threw me the handbag. She had no idea how the artwork, which she said is worth nowhere near 30,000, came to be damaged. Ms de Havillande said the painting was a gift from her ex-husband Guy de Havillande, a buy-to-let landlord once dubbed the King of Belgravia. She lived with him in a 10 million home overlooking Hyde Park before they split and his empire crumbled into bankruptcy. She claimed damage to the work was assessed by Bilson, who said repairs would cost 7,500 plus expenses to have it flown to his studio in Iceland. Acquitting Ms Kings of criminal damage after the trial, which lasted three hours, magistrate Janette Dalgliesh said: We didnt find either prosecution witness consistent or credible and there was no independent evidence. Ms Kings told the Standard: The case was fantastical. I dont want to cause her any malice or to have her made to look like a fool. Im just pleased its finished and everyone can move on. Ms de Havillande told the Standard: The painting is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes on and is very, very dear to me. It was purchased in the Nineties for me as a gift from my ex-husband. Since then Ive let Range Rovers go, Ive let diamonds go, but Ive held on to the painting. A man was chased down a street and beaten to death after a fight broke out in a chicken shop last night. Police have launched a murder investigation after the 31-year-old victim was found dead near All Saints DLR station in east London just after midnight. He is said to have been chased 100metres down a main road after being involved in a fight in nearby Perfect Fried Chicken. The man is believed to have been stabbed during the attack. Witnesses told how the brawl had spilled out onto East India Dock Road after shouting was heard in the street in Poplar. Man found dead near east London station 1 /13 Man found dead near east London station Forensic officers worked at homes while roads were closed off Lesley Horner The man was found just after midnight in Poplar Lesley Horner Police officers stationed in the road as detectives launched a murder inquiry Lesley Horner Police shut off the road near All Saints station where the man was pronounced dead Lesley Horner Police at the scene in east London Police at the scene in east London Police at the scene in east London Police at the scene in east London Onlookers at the scene in east London A forensics team was scouring the area this morning, which remains cordoned off to traffic and pedestrians. The body was removed around 10am and a post-mortem will be held in due course to determine the cause of death. Resident Lesley Horner, a school helper, she was unable to go to work on the Isle of Dogs because of forensic officers working near her home. She said her son witnessed three men arguing outside his bedroom window before two ran from the scene. She said: My son is an insomniac so he was up at the time and heard the shouting. He looked outside and saw three men arguing. When I woke up there were forensics working in my building downstairs which meant I couldnt get to work and all the roads were closed off. This area is starting to get a bit rough it does make me nervous. I live with my son at the moment but he is moving out soon and then I think I want to leave and find somewhere quieter. A resident of a nearby flat told the Standard: "I heard noises at about 11pm, it was men shouting. "You always hear noises at night here but this time it was serious, you knew something was going to happen. "I didn't realise someone had actually died until the morning," she added. The man's next of kin have yet to be informed. A worker at a nearby taxi service said local businesses had been told the fight broke out in a chicken shop and involved young men. He said: "When I came into work this morning at 6am there was just one police car but more quickly arrived and they cordoned off the whole area. "Other nearby businesses have been told it began with a fight in the chicken ship down the road. It's shocking that it's happened here and especially when the people involved are young." Scotland Yard today confirmed a murder investigation was under way but did not provide a cause of death. A spokesman said: "A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a man in Poplar and detectives are appealing for witnesses and information. "Police were called by the London Ambulance Service shortly before midnight on Wednesday, 21 September to reports of an injured man close to All Saints DLR by East India Dock Road, E14. "Officers attended and the man, believed aged 31, was pronounced dead at the scene at 00:22hrs. "Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue." Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8345 3985 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. S even people have been arrested after police seized a terrifying stash of weapons from a house in north London. The Metropolitan Polices task force shared a shocking image of weapons including huge knives, knuckledusters and an axe on Twitter following a raid near Dalston. Officers stopped a car close to Mayville Estate around 10pm last night but the driver and passenger fled. Police described how one man threw money, drugs and laughing gas canisters from his pockets before running into a house. The second man was stopped and arrested outside. Officers burst into the property and arrested the runaway along with a further five people. Drugs, legal highs and weapons were seized by police. All seven have been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. One man was also arrested over breaching a court order, affray and assaulting a police officer. T he Evening Standards campaign to tackle food waste and hunger today won the backing of London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Sainsburys. The supermarket chain, the first to back Food for London, made an undisclosed donation to our flagship charity The Felix Project. It also agreed to create more food donation partnerships between Felix and its stores and depots. Mr Khan became the projects most famous volunteer after being picked up from City Hall in a Felix van and donning a hi-vis jacket to help deliver fresh surplus fruit and vegetables to residents of St Mungos charity in Southwark. Stepping out from the back of the van with a tray of fresh peppers, Mr Khan said he supported Food for London because its win-win. He said: With the best will in the world, you are going to have surplus food and this campaign ingeniously turns the problem of food waste into a social solution to help address food poverty. Sainsburys chief executive Mike Coupe said that arrangements are already in hand for Felix to collect surplus fruit and vegetables from 15 Sainsburys stores as well as its new online distribution centre in Bromley-by-Bow, with the prospect of more partnerships to come. Our Food for London campaign What is the aim? To redistribute surplus fresh food to tackle food poverty. What are we doing? We are backing the scale-up of our flagship charity The Felix Project which collects surplus produce from food suppliers and delivers it at no cost to a range of charities that provide meals or snacks for those in need, including the homeless, the elderly and those with mental health issues. What is The Felix Project? Founded by Evening Standard chairman Justin Byam Shaw and his wife Jane in memory of their son Felix, this start-up operates two vans from a depot in Park Royal. Currently they have two full-time employees, 21 volunteers, collect food from 12 suppliers including Waitrose, Sainsburys, Booker, Makro, Daylesford and CostCo and deliver to 23 charities. The scale-up They plan to roll out their operation across the city. Funds raised will be used to buy more vans, open new depots, employ staff and recruit volunteers. Funds raised More than 700,000 so far from Citi, Sainsburys, an anonymous hedge-funder, the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund and The Felix Byam Shaw Foundation (which has agreed to match-fund money raised by our campaign for Felix with up to 750,000). Food waste is an issue where Sainsburys wants to make a radical difference, he said. Reducing food waste in our supply chain has developed hand in hand with our determination to ensure any surplus food is put to positive use. We have achieved our target of zero waste to landfill and we are proud of the development of more than 1,000 food donation partnerships with local charities. "We see first-hand the difference these partnerships have on peoples lives. That is why we are incredibly proud to be a launch partner for The Felix Project and Food for London. Mr Coupe continued: Our focus will remain on tackling food waste in our business and redistributing as much surplus food as possible in addition to helping households waste less and save more in their homes. "We know we cant do this on our own and success will depend on the grocery, food and hospitality industries working together to make sure food waste becomes a thing of the past. Mr Khan also addressed food waste at last nights Urban Food Awards at Borough Market where he announced a new prize, Best Surplus Food Initiative. Inspired, he said, by the Standards campaign, the prize celebrates the innovative use of surplus food and the excellent work being done by producers to avoid waste. Mr Khan said: Today Im calling on Londons food industry retailers, restaurants, suppliers and producers to be more open and transparent about how much food they throw away. "Im confident that together we can bring about a significant reduction in food waste and by donating this surplus to charity we can help some of the capitals most vulnerable people. The award was won by Gourmet Goat, which sells meat from young male goats. Until recently, there was scant market for these billies as they do not produce milk and cheese and about 90,000 are discarded in the UK each year. Gourmet Goat turns billies into street food and also provides a range for home cooking. The other shortlisted finalists were Toast Ale, which makes beer from surplus bread; Fruit Cheese, which produces cheese with surplus fruit; and Brixton Peoples Kitchen, which invites people to cook surplus food together. How you can help The Felix Project The Felix Project is looking for more: Food suppliers including supermarkets and wholesalers to donate surplus food. Charities which provide meals or snacks for those in need and could benefit from a free, regular supply of fresh food. Volunteers to drive Felix vans, help with food deliveries and collections, or work in the warehouse. Email Daisy@TheFelixProject.org indicating in the subject line if you can help as a food supplier, charity or volunteer. T he battle over the fate of eight Aylesbury Estate homeowners is heading for the High Court after the Government blocked a compulsory purchase order on their flats. Southwark council said it would seek a judicial review of the Communities Secretarys decision to throw out the CPO, which would have allowed it to buy their homes and start demolition. Council leader Peter John said minister Sajid Javids decision was based on a key misunderstanding of its policy on compensating property owners. He said: We can either fight this decision or scrap our plans to regenerate the Aylesbury Estate, leaving the hopes and dreams of thousands of local people in tatters. Im not willing to do that, which is why we will take court action if necessary to try to overturn this bizarre decision. The council wants to proceed with a 1.5 billion regeneration of the south London estate, which was built in the Sixties and Seventies. But it has not been able to agree compensation terms with the eight homeowners on the first part of the estate earmarked for demolition and was hoping to use the CPO to force them out. In his decision this week, Mr Javid agreed with a planning inspector that the residents rights would be breached because proposed compensation terms would not allow them to buy a similar property in the same area. But Mr John responded: Of course the human rights of our residents are important, which is why each of the remaining resident leaseholders has been offered a brand new home in the same area, rent-free, and with a shared equity arrangement which protects the money theyve saved and invested. Im afraid that we cant just keep offering them more and more taxpayers money. One of the residents, Victoria Bryden, who bought her two-bedroom flat in 2005, said: We had countless meetings with the council and they made us many promises they had no intention of keeping. Under the CPO I was offered 130,000, while one-bedrooms in the new buildings across the road cost 420,000 and two-bedrooms are over 600,000... we are not going anywhere unless they pay us a fair price for our homes. But a resident on another part of the estate, Jean Bartlett, said: Lots of residents on Aylesbury are very disappointed with the outcome. There are people across the estate who are desperately waiting to move out and see things happen and we are happy the council is not giving up on the Aylesbury. A terminally-ill child was forced to spend several hours lying on the floor in a Heathrow Airport corridor while enduring a long wait to change planes, his mother has claimed. Nahuel Matias Santucho, 15, who has a tube in his windpipe to help him breathe, was travelling with British Airways from Warsaw to Buenos Aires via the west London hub. He was accompanied by his parents, brother, sister and a medical escort for the journey, to spend the "last days of life" with relatives in Argentina, his mother, Andrea Lopez said. Their first flight landed one hour late at 9pm and they were not able to make the second plane, despite having around 90 minutes to get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5. Ms Lopez said the group had to wait 45 minutes even before they could leave the first plane, with BA cabin crew telling them there was a problem with an airport lift. Nahuel, who suffers from an incurable disease that mainly affects the brain and spinal cord, was eventually given a "very narrow and uncomfortable wheelchair", his mother said. Instead of then being taken to the second plane, she claimed they were left in a corridor at Terminal 3 for several hours. Nahuel Matias Santucho: The boy has a tube in his windpipe to help him breathe / Fundacja Gajusz/Facebook/PA Wire Ms Lopez said: "We were supposedly going to be moved to the second plane. But the time was passing and this never happened. "We were really concerned about losing the flight and the airport staff just kept telling us that they knew nothing about this second flight as they were 'only' the wheelchair men. "We tried once, and once again, to convince them to make the proper phone calls for transferring us to Terminal 5 as soon as possible, but again nothing happened and we stayed at the corridor of the airport absolutely locked and blocked without any chance to do anything. "Our sick son started to moan and show evident signals of tiredness and discomfort, as well as our other two children." Nahuel's condition means he cannot stay in a seated position for long periods of time, so he was laid on the floor and seen by a paramedic. His parents repeatedly complained about the situation "without any valid response form the airport staff", Ms Lopez said. She added that a member of staff from BA eventually came to their assistance in the early hours of the morning to arrange for them to move to a hotel close to the airport and rebook their flights. They were able to fly to Argentina 24 hours later than planned. A Heathrow spokeswoman said: "This is clearly a distressing time for Nahuel's family, for which we are sorry. "From our initial investigations, we understand Nahuel'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 Nahuel's relatives and medical staff he was transported to a local hotel by the London Ambulance Service before travelling out the next day. "We continue to work with all parties involved to find out all the detail of what happened and how his journey could have been made more comfortable." A BA spokeswoman refused to comment on whether Nahuel had travelled with his own wheelchair. She said: "We understand this must have been a very upsetting time for the family. We provided hotel accommodation for Nahuel and his carer to make them as comfortable as possible, and booked them on to the next available flight to get them home as quickly as we could. "We arranged for a doctor to provide suitable food during his stay and provided a temporary wheelchair to get him to and from the aircraft. "We continue to investigate with the wheelchair provider and Heathrow." Additional reporting by the Press Association. A teenage model has collapsed and died while rowing on the Thames. Rosie Mitchell, 15, died after falling unconscious on the river with a Kingston rowing team. Paramedics rushed to the scene in Kingston but she could not be revived and died in hospital later that day. Her father Andrew Mitchell told the Standard that she died doing what she loved with the friends she loved. He said: We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, smart and energetic daughter, who had so much potential. We would like to thank all those who tried so hard to save her and everyone around us for their incredible support. Along with her school (Grey Court School in Ham), were setting up Rosies Fund. The charity is yet to be decided as we dont yet know the cause of her death, but will be confirmed in the next few weeks. He said the family believed Rosie died instantly. He added that the response from her friends who have held a constant vigil at the club has been unbelievable. Rosie was taken to hospital after collapsing while rowing on the Thames Friends today paid tribute to the wonderful girl and rising star following the incident on Saturday morning. In a statement, her model agency, The Hive Management, said: Yesterday we received the heartbreaking news that our gorgeous rising star Rosie Mitchell passed away suddenly on Saturday. Rosie was only 15 years old and had the brightest future ahead of her. We would like everyone to join us in celebrating the short life of this beautiful young woman and our thoughts and prayers go out to Rosies family and friends. Rosie was spotted in the Bentall shopping centre in Kingston about a year ago by The Hives scout Giorgio Tsin, and recently had recently modelled for John Smedleys Unisex collection. Laura Murphy, director at the company, said she had a great future. She said: Rosie was one of our most promising new faces and had the brightest future ahead of her. The team at The Hive are devastated over her loss and we will all miss her enormously. Ms Murphy said the 5ft 6.5in model initially thought she was not tall enough for a career in the fashion industry. She initially thought she was too short to model, but her confidence grew and it was evident to us and her family how much she enjoyed it. She was lovely in every way. Happy, bright, and excited about the prospect of a career in fashion. The clients and photographers who worked with her all commented on how professional and beautiful she was. Bunches of flowers and candles have been placed outside Kingston Rowing Club and last night friends gathered to pay their respects. The club said: There was a tragic occurrence at Kingston Rowing Club on Saturday morning when Rosie Mitchell collapsed and lost consciousness while rowing. Rosie was 15 years old. Our hearts go out to Rosies parents, Rachel and Andrew, family and friends. Her school, Grey Court School in Richmond, called the Year 11 students death tragic. It said: Rosie was a wonderful girl and a model student in every way. She will be sadly missed by everyone who knew and loved her. Our thoughts and wishes are with her family at this difficult time. A police spokesman said: We were called on Saturday, September 17 shortly before 9.10am to a teenager taken ill at Lower Ham Road. Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service. A 15-year-old girl was found unresponsive at the location and taken to a west London hospital where she died a short time later. The incident is not being treated as suspicious. A fundraising page has now been set up by the family. T his is the memorial a Polish prince wants to build in Hyde Park to honour his countrymen who were killed in the Battle of Britain. Prince John Zylinski, who stood to be Mayor of London, is calling on the Government to back his 2 million campaign to install the 100ft-tall bronze Spitfire sculpture. It will be a tribute to the Polish airmen who helped repel wave after wave of German attacks in 1940. After recent incidents of anti-Polish hate crimes, including graffiti scrawled on a community centre wall in Hammersmith, the prince said that the Governments financial backing would be a reminder of the solidarity between the countries. The plans for the monument were launched at the RAF Club in Mayfair last week and have the support of Lord Tebbit and Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski. The prince, who lives in west London, said: The kill rate of German planes by Polish pilots was four times as big as the kill rate of British pilots. This needs to be commemorated and Im proposing a very large, dramatic, monument in central London for the Polish pilots who saved this country. We Poles spilt our blood and we think that the Government should pay for a memorial. In these times when there have been incidents against Polish people, its important that we remember the solidarity of the two nations. In my experience the wave of love for Polish people from Londoners far outweighs any negative feelings. If the Government refuses to pay for the memorial, the prince, who won 38,000 votes in the last mayoral election, will ask Londoners for donations. He added: As Norman Tebbit has said the Battle of Britain would have been lost without the Polish pilots. The Polish boys knew no fear, they were unstoppable, their spirit infected the whole RAF. T heresa May was today holding crunch talks on Brexit as the Bank of England warned that thousands of vulnerable households sitting on high debts could be plunged into crisis by an economic slowdown. The Prime Minister was meeting Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament, who has urged her to swiftly press ahead with the UK quitting the EU. Just hours before he arrived at No 10, the bank issued a grim analysis, saying that any drop in growth could see indebted families panic and rein back on spending so quickly that the national economy would be hit harder. The warning from the Banks financial policy committee contrasted strongly with a flurry of positive-sounding economic data. The FPC remains concerned that the ability of some households to service their debts would be challenged by a period of weaker employment and income growth, said the Bank, adding: These vulnerable households could affect broader economic activity by cutting back sharply on expenditure in order to service debts. It also warned of a challenging period of uncertainty and adjustment. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is meeting Mr Schulz to press for the capital city to be given its own seat in Brexit negotiations. I am sure that the president already realises that although the decision to leave the EU was not what the capital wanted, we look forward to working closely with the union and its member states to boost economic prosperity both here in London and across the continent, said Mr Khan. The meeting will also allow me to discuss with the president how I am also pressing the Government to state unequivocally that no retrospective legislation will ever be introduced that curtails the rights of EU nationals currently working in London. Mr Schulz has repeatedly warned that Britain cannot expect full access to the European single market after Brexit. But Mr Khan will say that London needs comprehensive access to the single market and the ability to keep and attract talented people from across the EU. Meanwhile, there was more positive economic news, with latest figures showing that mortgage lending rebounded last month. The Council of Mortgage Lenders reported its strongest August since 2007, with an estimated 22.5 billion-worth of home loans handed out. This was seven per cent higher than Julys lending total of 21.1 billion. Brexit: Theresa May on Article 50 Mortgage lending was also up by 15 per cent year-on-year, from 19.5 billion in August 2015. CML senior economist Mohammad Jamei said: Widely voiced fears in recent months about the housing market have proved to be wide of the mark. Prospects for house purchase activity post-referendum look slightly subdued, when compared to late 2015 and early 2016. However, sentiment in the market recovered in August. This is reflected in stronger-than-expected transaction figures, and in our gross lending estimate. However, ministers are concerned that the robustness in the economy could be hit as the process of withdrawing from the EU starts. There are also growing fears over the impact on the City of Brexit, with several global investment bank executives telling Bloomberg that they believe Germany and France will win a battle over the clearing of 440 billion of euro derivatives. T heresa May has told the president of the European Parliament she wants Britain to have a "close relationship" with the EU after Brexit. The Prime Minister met Martin Schulz for an hour at Number 10 to discuss the UK's departure from the European Union. It came as Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the Government expects to trigger Article 50 and begin formal talks on Brexit early next year. Greeting Mr Schulz upstairs at Number 10, Mrs May said: "I'm looking forward to working with the European Parliament as we prepare, obviously, for Britain leaving the EU. "Of course we both know that the formal negotiations can only start when we have triggered the Article 50 and I welcome the understanding that our European partners have shown, but I won't be doing that before the end of the year. "I think this period of preparation is valuable for all concerned and while we are going to leave the European Union, we are not leaving Europe. "And we want the EU to continue to be strong and have a close relationship with it, and I think that will be in both our interests." Meeting: Prime Minister Theresa May with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz / PA Mrs May has not confirmed when she will start formal negotiations on leaving the bloc, but Mr Schulz has said he wants the "earliest possible triggering of Article 50" so negotiations finish before European elections. These are scheduled for mid 2019 so would mean negotiations would have to begin by May next year. Arriving at Downing Street, Mr Schulz admitted the European Parliament is "not the easiest" partner to work with, but said he is in Britain "to listen and to learn". He said: "The goal of my visit also is to ensure that the next coming months are the start of very close co-operation between the European Parliament and the United Kingdom government. "Together we are stronger, we should try to stick together. "The European Parliament is involved in all activities before, and once you have triggered, Article 50, and I'm here to listen and to learn also about the state of preparation about your vision for the negotiation. "But also to pass the message that we are, as the European Parliament, constructive but, logically, also not the easiest partner in the relationship, because the European Parliament is a very heterogeneous chamber with 750 members from 28 countries representing 300 parties." He did not stop to speak to reporters as he left Number 10, but when asked how the talks went simply said "very good". In an earlier statement Mr Schulz said he would press the case for the UK Government to hurry up and get on with Brexit. He said: "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." Mr Schulz later met mayor of London Sadiq Khan and will meet Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on Friday to discuss Brexit. Additional reporting by the Press Association A nimal welfare activists have blasted researchers after a hedgehog was found with so many tracking devices attached to it that it died. Russet the hedgehog was discovered dehydrated and underweight with 26 plastic tags attached to his spine along with a radio tracker. The animal was taken to Oxton Wild Hedgehog Rehab where it died. Lynda Britchford, from the centre, said Russet appeared like someones idea of bad joke. The woman who brought in the hedgehog said it was unable to curl up and described it as like putting Christmas lights around him. It later emerged Russet was being monitored as part of a research study at Nottingham Trent University to gather information on the abundance of hedgehogs in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) has defended the study which it part-funded. BHPS's Hugh Warwick said: "Over 30 years of work there is no evidence that our research interferes with the well-being of hedgehogs at all." But activists reacted with fury after one researcher described the tubes on Facebook as harmless. Helen Barnes wrote on Facebook: They are wild animals. You have absolutely no right to interfere. Leave them alone. Wild means wild. These beautiful little creatures do not need to be tagged to help you with your greedy selfish studies. Ms Britchford admitted she had concerns about the study but said she wanted to maintain a dialogue with researchers. She said: Russet did not die as a direct result of the study. However, I am not convinced that he was visibly checked on in the four days leading up to his admission - if he had been, his deteriorating condition should have been noticed, and appropriate help sought. A rare Titian drawing worth 4.4m has been issued with a temporary export ban by the Government to try and keep it in the country. Culture Minister Matt Hancock today ordered the ban on the Study of a Kneeling Man, which is one of only nine Titian works in the UK, after its current owner applied to take it overseas. It is understood the Government is keen to find a home for it in a London museum, with the British Museum considered a natural fit. Mr Hancock said: This drawing provides us with a rare sight of one of Titians lost works of art. It is of outstanding significance to the study of Titian, and I hope that we are able to keep it in the country to learn more about one of the greatest artists of the 16th century. The decision to defer the export licence follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA). Unless a UK buyer can be found to match the price of 4.4 million (plus VAT of 81,400) it will go overseas. Experts believe the chalk drawing was a preparatory work for the first version of Pentecost, which was a painting commissioned for the church of Santo Spirito in Isola in Venice in 1529. By 1543 the paint had already begun peeling from his work and when the monks complained, Titian removed the original version and painted another from scratch. The original Pentecost has never been found. RCEWA member Aidan Weston-Lewis said the chalk drawing is a precious example of Titians work which is not otherwise represented in British art collections. British buyers have until December 19 to register their interest but this may be extended until spring if a serious intention to raise funds to purchase it is made. M I6 is seeking technology graduates to develop world firsts to keep Britain at the cutting edge of spying. The Secret Intelligence Service is recruiting software graduates for its IT, Science & Technical Department as it takes on hundreds more staff to counter terror and other threats. The departments ambitions include pushing back the barriers of invention as Qs team of technicians did in the James Bond films, developing state-of-the-art gadgets for 007s escapades around the world. To enable you to create world firsts, youll receive bespoke training that will further develop your software skills, explains the job description. The Technology Department is critical in supporting the collection of Britains foreign intelligence that helps protect the UKs security and prosperity. MI6 simply could not operate without our talented technology teams. In a rare public appearance at a conference in Washington DC this week, MI6 boss Alex Younger said technology had changed intelligence radically. Intelligence services that understood this would thrive, he added, while those that did not risked failing. The job advertisement states: You will be involved in all stages of the software development lifecycle ... You will be developing or integrating highly sensitive systems using time critical information. The graduates must be British citizens aged 21 or over to apply, with the salary ranging from 32,624 to 38,772. Among those also being sought are more Arabic language specialists, intelligence officers and Mandarin Chinese language experts. The Technology Department is also recruiting a global IT infrastructure engineer, a 1st line technical support analyst to provide IT support and advice to MI6 officers, a business analyst, software specialists and systems testers. P rince William today made his most passionate plea yet to end the illegal wildlife trade in ivory from elephants and rhinos, saying he is not prepared to be part of a generation that lets these iconic species disappear. In a keynote speech beamed simultaneously around the world, the future king said he feared that we will not know what we have lost until it is gone. The Duke of Cambridge was speaking at the Time for Change event organised by Tusk Trust, the wildlife charity of which he is patron. His plea came after the Government yesterday announced it is to curb the illegal trade in ivory, with plans to ban sales if there is no proof of a pieces age. Prince William spoke during an address from The Shard that was broadcast live to audiences in Johannesburg and Tokyo via satellite link-up. In it he 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 till it has gone. Prince William meets a rescued elephant in China / Chris Jackson/Getty Images The Prince went on: 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. We have the chance to seize a huge opportunity. "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. Beside the Prince as he spoke was Andrea Leadsom, the Environment Secretary. On average, an elephant is killed every 15 minutes for its ivory. The species population has fallen by almost a third in Africa since 2007. At present a loophole allows sell- ers to claim an item of ivory is sufficiently old without requiring docu- mentary evidence. In the future, dealers who cannot prove an ornaments age could see it confiscated or destroyed. It is illegal to sell ivory from post-1947. Ministers are set to announce that items will be destroyed or confiscated if there is no documentary proof of age. Prince William has previously indicated his support for a ban on domestic ivory sales, arguing that the root of the illegal wildlife trade is the demand for products that require the deaths of tens of thousands of these animals every year, pushing them further towards extinction. His call for action comes ahead of the opening of the CITES conference, when the worlds attention will be focused on tackling the burgeoning illegal trade in wildlife. While William scrupulously avoided directly criticising the Government, there was an implicit plea for it to take the lead. At last years general election, the Conservatives promised action to ban all ivory sales, although this pledge has as yet not been implemented. The proposal has been criticised by antique dealers, who say it will put them out of business. But senior Tory figures, including ex-foreign secretary Lord Hague and former environment secretary Owen Paterson, have demanded ministers act urgently to fulfil their election vow. A ban has been introduced on the international trade but it is still legal to buy and sell ivory inside the UK. The Time for Change event was seeking to ensure that the momentum gained in tackling the illegal wildlife trade is stepped up. The event urges the international community including consumers not to become complacent at such a critical moment for many of the worlds most iconic species. Other speakers at the event will include the secretary-general of CITES, John Scanlon, who will speak from Johannesburg, where the international conference will take place. The Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa will address Time for Change from Tokyo and will discuss the importance of Asian leadership in conservation. The three speakers were introduced from London by the television presenter and environmental campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. A British man was stabbed by a gang of thugs during a violent robbery in Ibiza. Shocking footage appears to show a holidaymaker, 52, and his 25-year-old sons being confronted by a mob in the West End district of San Antonio. One of the men was stabbed in the neck by the thugs who wielded knives and broken glass bottles in the attack, Mail Online reported. One attacker is believed to have ripped a gold ring and chain from one of the trio amid violent scenes. Attackers were filmed hurling chairs at their victims, who has been enjoying the first day of their holiday, before one launches a flying kick. Footage of the incident was handed police who have since arrested two Senegalese men, aged 37 and 42, after the attack in the early hours of this morning. They were detained for several offences, including stabbing with a knife and robbery. A second clip, posted on Facebook, appeared to show the family caught up in a mass brawl between two gangs. It is not known how seriously injured the family are. A protester is fighting for his life after he was shot during a fresh round of violence in North Carolina sparked by a fatal police shooting of a black man. A state of emergency has been declared in Charlotte after violent clashes erupted between police and demonstrators for a second night in the city following the death of Keith Scott. Mr Scott, 43, was shot dead by a police on Tuesday. Police say he had a gun, but neighbours and his family say he had only a book as he waited for his son to leave the school bus. The officer who shot him was placed on administrative leave in line with standard procedure. Mr Scotts death has triggered chaotic protests in the city which continued last night with a candlelight prayer vigil before splinter groups marched through the city centre where a man was shot. He is said to be in a critical condition. Officials said police did not fire the shot. Before the shooting, chants of black lives matter" and "hands up don't shoot" were shouted by the group while police officers at the scene were subjected to swearing during clashes. Immediately after the man was injured, police unleashed flash grenades and protesters threw fireworks before tear gas was fired by police as hundreds dispersed. Riot police linked arm-in-arm through the city firing gas at people who charged at them. At least one protester knocked down a TV reporter during a live broadcast. The destruction took place hours after Charlottes mayor and black police chief appealed for calm at City Hall. African-American leaders, who said they were speaking for Mr Scott's family, held their own news conference near where he was killed. John Barnett, who runs a civil rights group called True Healing Under God, (THUG), warned releasing footage of Mr Scotts shooting may be the only way for police to regain trust. "Just telling us this is still under investigation is not good enough for the windows of the Wal-Mart," he said. Additional reporting by PA A 12-year-old boy has appeared in court accused of raping a six-year-old girl at a primary school. It is claimed the girl was raped twice between June 24 and August 15 at the school in Sydney. He is also accused of indecently assaulting her three times when he was with another 12-year-old, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. After pleading not guilty to the offences through barrister James Viney, the boy was granted bail at a childrens court in the city. His case has now been referred to the Department of Public Prosecutions, the paper reported. 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. Police told the Herald last month: 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. The boy is next due in court on November 24. M ary Berry will be leaving The Great British Bake Off when it leaves the BBC, she has announced. But her co-host Paul Hollywood is set to remain with the show as it moves to Channel 4. He announced today he had struck a three-year deal with the network. But 81 year-old Berry, who has been a part of the show since it began, will not be following the series when it moves to Channel 4. Mary Berry's best moments on Great British Bake Off "What a privilege and honour it has been to be part of 7 years of magic in a tent - The Great British Bake Off, she said in a statement. The Bake Off family - Paul, Mel and Sue have given me so much joy and laughter. "My decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty to them, as they have nurtured me, and the show, that was a unique and brilliant format from day one. I am just sad for the audience who may not be ready for change, I hope they understand my decision. "I wish the programme, crew and future bakers every possible success and I am so very sad not to be a part of it. "Farewell to soggy bottoms." The Great British Bake Off: who could replace Mel and Sue? 1 /14 The Great British Bake Off: who could replace Mel and Sue? Stepping down Mel and Sue will be leaving the Bake Off after the current series - so who could take over? BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon Nadiya Hussain Last year's Bake Off winner became a national treasure, and has since proved to be a great TV presence on the Chronicles of Nadiya and Loose Women BBC Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp Is there a more quintessentially Channel 4 duo than Phil and Kirstie? The latter's love of home crafting would stand her in good stead Robert Webb and David Mitchell The Peep Show duo could bring a similar understated charm and wit as Mel and Sue Nigella Lawson While the Bake Off has always been more cosy than sultry, Nigella would be sure to spice things up a bit Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images Dave Lamb You might not know his face - but you definitely know his voice, as the man who elevated Come Dine With Me to must-watch TV with his hilarious voiceovers Richard Ayoade Despite his success as a director with Submarine and The Double, Richard Ayoade still presents Travel Man for Channel 4 - his superbly dry humour would add a new flavour to the Bake Off Ken McKay/ITV/Rex The Fabulous Baker Brothers Channel 4's resident baking experts, aka Tom Herbert and Henry Herbert, are surely salivating at the prospect of the Bake Off changing channels Channel 4 Sandy and Sandra Look no further than Gogglebox for tons of brilliant TV personalities - and this hilarious duo would be our pick of the bunch Channel 4 Anna Richardson The TV presenter has previously proved she could make anything watchable - even Naked Attraction. Richardson would be perfect for Bake Off, except she's Sue Perkins' partner, so it might be a long shot Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish Cult heroes Adam and Joe would bring a brilliant irreverence and joyous silliness to the Bake Off - though the former is busy with the podcast, and the latter has a successful career in the film industry BBC Channel 4 bid 75 million to acquire the show for three years, with the BBC only able to offer 15 million a year - double the amount they paid for the current Series 7. Also departing from the show are presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, who did not enter into talks with Channel 4. "We were very shocked and saddened to learn yesterday evening that Bake Off will be moving from its home. "We made no secret of our desire for the show to remain where it was. Val's emotional speech on the Great British Bake Off "The BBC nurtured the show from its infancy and helped give it its distinctive warmth and charm, growing it from an audience of two million to nearly 15 [million] at its peak. "We've had the most amazing time on Bake Off, and have loved seeing it rise and rise like a pair of yeasted Latvian baps. "We're not going with the dough. We wish all the future bakers every success." Great British Bake Off 2016 - contestants in pictures 1 /17 Great British Bake Off 2016 - contestants in pictures Full tent The bakers taking part in the Great British Bake Off 2016 have been revealed BBC/Love Productions Rav Age: 28 From: Kent Bio: After studying Criminology at university, Rav went on to support students at City University, London. Hes experimental with his baking and is inspired by vegan baking and eastern cuisine Speciality: Flavour combinations BBC/Love Productions Andrew Age: 25 From: Derby Bio: Northern Irish-born aerospace engineer Andrew was taught to bake by his mum and gran. Hes a straight-A student who went to Cambridge University Speciality: Structurally ambitious bakes BBC/Love Productions Louise Age: 46 From: Cardiff Bio: Hairdresser Louise progressed her skills by making cakes for charity sales at work. She adventurous in her designs and in her hobbies having completed a trek around the Andes and various other mountains Speciality: Elaborate cakes BBC/Love Productions Lee Age: 67 From: Bolton Bio: Builder-turned-theologist-turned-Pastor Lee used baking as a way to fill his days in the Eighties when an injury stopped him from playing cricket. Speciality: Traditional flavours, including cherry, hazelnut, vanilla and chocolate BBC/Love Productions Kate Age: 37 From: Norfolk Bio: Qualified nurse Kate is a Brownie leader and uses seasonal fruits which she gathers with her kids in her baking Speciality: Sugar craft BBC/Love Productions Val Age: 66 From: Yeovil Bio: Semi-retired substitute teacher Val incorporates her baking into her teaching. She does aerobics in her kitchen but she might not do so in the Bake Off tent Speciality: Traditional classics BBC/Love Productions Benjamina Age: 23 From: South London Bio: Teaching assistant Benjamina takes inspiration from the likes of Instagram and Pinterest for modern takes on classic bakes. She takes feedback from her family to improve her creations Speciality: Fresh and modern versions of traditional cakes BBC/Love Productions Michael Age: 20 From: London Bio: Currently studying Politics and Economics in Durham, Michael has Cypriot heritage grew up making Greek pastries with his nan Speciality: Big grand cakes BBC/Love Productions Selasi Age: 30 From: London Bio: Ghanaian-born Selasi works in finance, and his hobbies include motorbikes, basketball, and travelling. He recently ran a 10k, half marathon, and trekked through Malawi for charity Speciality: Delicate cupcakes BBC/Love Productions Jane Age: 61 From: Beckenham Bio: Garden designer Jane wakes up at 5am to bake her bread. Her grandfather owned a bakery, and she s passionate about the classics Speciality: Classic cakes, biscuits and pastry BBC/Love Productions Tom Age: 26 From: London Bio: Rochdale-born Tom works for the Royal Society of Arts and is creative with his flavours and ingredients. He lost 30 kilos, and has a have your cake and eat it mentality Speciality: Surprising twists BBC/Love Productions Candice Age: 31 From: Bedfordshire Bio: Secondary school PE teacher Candice was taught to bake by her nan, and loves everything vintage. She lives with her boyfriend Liam and pug Dennis Speciality: Baking the classics like her nan BBC/Love Productions Channel 4's creative director Jay Hunt wrote that the network will give the Bake Off a 'safe home' when it moves in 2017. The Great British Bake Off will have a safe home, she said. The show of soggy bottoms and good crumb will be made by exactly the same team who have always made it. We love it just as it is. Donald Trump smile This year's presidential electoral map is shaping up to be unusual in a few ways, but I've been fascinated what looks to me like a migration gap. Donald Trump is underperforming the typical Republican candidate in states that are magnets for migration places like North Carolina, Colorado, Georgia, and Texas. He's doing unusually well in states where net migration is low or even negative, such as Iowa, Maine, and Michigan. Partly, this is about negative economic circumstances: States where people don't want to move to tend to be places where the economy has not been good. And partly it's about demographics: Slow-growing states tend to be whiter, and the ones where Trump is doing especially well tend to have a lot of less-educated whites who have historically voted Democratic but are unusually drawn to him. But could it also be partly because Clinton is more appealing to the sort of person who would want to move somewhere new, while Trump appeals more to people who would prefer to stay somewhere familiar? This election, much more than most, is a referendum on openness and optimism: Are we scared of the changes happening in our country? Do we believe our best days ahead of us? Moving is a sign that you believe your own actions can improve your personal circumstances; that America offers opportunities so long as one is willing to seize them. It also signals openness to change: If you moved across the country, you might not be so scared of "taco trucks on every corner." Look, for example, at the difference between Maine and New Hampshire. In 2012, Barack Obama won Maine by 15 points and New Hampshire by just 5 points. In this election, the two states look much more similar: FiveThirtyEight is currently projecting a 5-point Clinton win in Maine and a 3-point win in New Hampshire. Why the difference? There is the demographic answer: Both states are extremely white, but New Hampshire is much more educated and wealthier, so it has more of the sort of voters with whom Clinton has made inroads. Maine has lots of working-class whites for Trump to pick up. Story continues But there is also an answer about migration: As of 2012, 66% of Maine residents were born in Maine, while just 42% of New Hampshire's residents had been born in New Hampshire. One is a state of movers; the other is not. One interesting fact in Nate Cohn's great write-up of the New York Times poll of North Carolina is the huge gap in the presidential candidates' performance among white voters who were born in North Carolina vs. white voters who moved there. Clinton leads by 10 points among whites with a college degree who moved to North Carolina. Trump leads by 20 among those born in the state. Among whites without a college degree, Trump leads by 42 points among voters not born in the state, and by 56 points among natives to the state. Of course, that's partly because a lot of the transplants come from states where white voters tend to be more Democratic than North Carolina they move to the south and bring more liberal viewpoints with them. But it's also consistent with a gap in openness and optimism between transplants and non-transplants. This seems to me like another effect that should be going on our list of potential drivers of the realignment being seen in this election. NOW WATCH: We spent an afternoon at the Trump Winery in Virginia and it wasn't what we expected at all More From Business Insider W hile Channel 4 are bringing real-life thrills to the screen in Hunted, ITV have a new fictional thriller to spice up Thursday nights. Paranoid offers up a shocking murder in its opening minutes and the cast tease that the show will surprise viewers across the eight episodes. Here are five things you need to know. 1) Its from the creator of Lark Rise to Candleford Paranoid comes from writer and producer Bill Gallaher and while hes the mind behind period dramas like Lark Rise to Candleford and The Paradise, this is a totally different affair. Swap bonnets and a cosy Sunday night tone for a gritty murder, and a group of detectives determined to catch the killer. 2) It stars Game of Thrones Indira Varma Game of Thrones Ellaria Sand, aka Indira Varma, takes the lead role in Paranoid as Nina Suresh a 38 year-old detective whos bubbly and quick-witted when she wants to be, but is also struggling with a recent break up and grappling with her desire to have children while she still can. Varma says the characters in the show made her want to take part. I'm not usually a massive fan of procedural dramas, she admitted. Despite now playing a cop in a conspiracy thriller, Paranoid feels very character driven, which is what appeals to me as an actor. Having an emotional roller coaster to ride. Robert Glenister also takes a starring role, ahead of his young brother Philips appearance in ITVs other forthcoming crime thriller The Level. He plays detective Bobby Day, who suffers from panic attacks and holds the potential for a ferocious anger. ITV's Paranoid trailer 3) It hinges on a shocking crime Paranoid wastes no time in setting up its central mystery but its not like most other crime drama set-ups. Forget shady dealings and night-time trysts the killing at the centre of Paranoid takes place in broad daylight, as a woman is murdered in front of several witnesses at a childrens playground by a hooded man. Theres nowhere you should feel safer than a childrens playground, says producer Tom Sherry. We very deliberately picked the most idyllic setting, a landscape that was not urban or suburban but a rural idyll. 4) Its not a straight-forward detective show From the start, Paranoid looks set to be a relatively straight-forward murder investigation drama but the cast say theres major turns in it. Paranoid starts off as a generic police procedural and then develops into something else, Glenister teases. You start thinking, Is this going to be about small town cops investigating a brutal murder? Or is it going to be something more than that? And it turns out to be something far more than that. It goes across to Germany and there is an American influence. The appeal was the scale of it. Something that starts off quite parochial and small then becomes global. Best TV dramas 2016 1 /38 Best TV dramas 2016 The Missing The addictive and twisty second series of the BBC's crime anthology series BBC/New Pictures/Robert Viglasky Dark Angel Joanne Froggatt stared as Victorian mass murderer Mary Ann Cotton in this ITV drama ITV Close to the Enemy Stephen Poliakoff's post-war drama thriller BBC/Little Island Pictures Ordinary Lies The BBC anthology drama returns with more twisted tales BBC/Red Productions/Adrian Rogers The Night Of Riz Ahmed stars in HBO's critically acclaimed crime mini-series HBO Cold Feet The classic ITV comedy-drama returns - and it's just as good as it ever was ITV Victoria ITV have given Poldark some stiff competition with this period drama about a young Queen Victoria ITV Poldark The BBC's hit drama returns with more brooding, and less naked scything BBC/Robert Viglasky One of Us The BBC kept everyone guessing with this claustrophobic four-part whodunit Ripper Street The fan-favourite Victorian police drama returned for Series 4 BBC/Tiger Aspect 2016/Bernard Walsh The Secret Agent Toby Jones led the cast in the BBC's Joseph Conrad adaptation BBC/World Productions/Mark Mainz/Matt Burlem The Living and the Dead The BBC's gothic romance debuted in full on iPlayer BBC Preacher AMC's adaptation of Garth Ennis' cult comic book is available week-by-week on Amazon Prime Amazon / AMC Versailles A raunchy royal romp around the court of King Louis XIV, spicing up Wednesdays on BBC Two Canal +/ BBC Locked Up The Spanish prison drama came to the UK thanks to Channel 4's Walter Presents series Channel 4 / Global Series Peaky Blinders The Birmingham-set gangster thriller was more popular than ever in its third series BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky The A Word The BBC gave us a nuanced and emotional take on autism BBC/Fifty Fathoms Marcella Anna Friel stars in ITV's British take on the Scandi-noir thriller ITV Grantchester James Norton is back as the crime-solving vicar ITV / Lovely Day Stag The comedy-thriller from the team behind The Wrong Mans is both hilarious and chilling BBC/Des Willie/Hal Shinnie/Matt Burlem Vinyl Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger present a glossy drama about the Seventies music industry HBO American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson Cuba Gooding Jr leads an all-star cast in a dramatic re-telling of the 'trial of century' BBC/Fox Happy Valley Sarah Lancashire returned as Sgt Catherine Cawood for a second series of the gritty crime thriller BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall The X Files Mulder and Scully return for a brand new set of mysteries War and Peace The BBC's epic adaptation of the Russian literary classic BBC/Mitch Jenkins Call the Midwife The BBC period drama moved into the Sixties for Series 5 BBC/Neal Street Productions/Sophie Mutevelian Dickensian Charles Dickens' most famous characters collide in this historical soap BBC Jericho ITV's British western set in the wilds of Yorkshire Silent Witness The hugely popular detective drama returns for a 19th series 5) It was filmed in Cheshire and Dusseldorf The show is largely set in Cheshire and thats where it was filmed, in rural areas including Nantwich, Great Budworth, and Delamere Forest. We didnt want it to feel like it was a suburb of a bigger city, says Sherry. We wanted to create the sense big cities are a long way away. That was very much in Bills original writing. Scenes set across in Germany were shot in Dusseldorf - somewhere that felt authentic with a large industrial landscape as its background, Sherry explains. ITV, 9pm T he future of the Great British Bake Off continues to be in flux following the announcement that the hit baking show will be moving from the BBC to Channel 4. The change has already lost the show its presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins. However, its not been confirmed whether Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry will be back for more. Now Paul Hollywood has been spotted visiting the Channel 4 offices, reportedly for a secret meeting over his future on the Bake Off. According to the MailOnline, Hollywood entered through the back door with a chaperone to discuss whether he will remain on the show. Mary Berry is also said to be in talks with Channel 4, but did not appear alongside Hollywood. Channel 4s creative director Jay Hunt has written about her desire to keep the Bake Off just as viewers like it, despite losing Mel and Sue. The Great British Bake Off will have a safe home, she said. TODO: define component type brightcove The show of soggy bottoms and good crumb will be made by exactly the same team who have always made it. We love it just as it is. Mel and Sue decided to leave the show without entering into talks with Channel 4. In a joint statement they said: "We were very shocked and saddened to learn yesterday evening that Bake Off will be moving from its home. The Great British Bake Off: who could replace Mel and Sue? 1 /14 The Great British Bake Off: who could replace Mel and Sue? Stepping down Mel and Sue will be leaving the Bake Off after the current series - so who could take over? BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon Nadiya Hussain Last year's Bake Off winner became a national treasure, and has since proved to be a great TV presence on the Chronicles of Nadiya and Loose Women BBC Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp Is there a more quintessentially Channel 4 duo than Phil and Kirstie? The latter's love of home crafting would stand her in good stead Robert Webb and David Mitchell The Peep Show duo could bring a similar understated charm and wit as Mel and Sue Nigella Lawson While the Bake Off has always been more cosy than sultry, Nigella would be sure to spice things up a bit Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images Dave Lamb You might not know his face - but you definitely know his voice, as the man who elevated Come Dine With Me to must-watch TV with his hilarious voiceovers Richard Ayoade Despite his success as a director with Submarine and The Double, Richard Ayoade still presents Travel Man for Channel 4 - his superbly dry humour would add a new flavour to the Bake Off Ken McKay/ITV/Rex The Fabulous Baker Brothers Channel 4's resident baking experts, aka Tom Herbert and Henry Herbert, are surely salivating at the prospect of the Bake Off changing channels Channel 4 Sandy and Sandra Look no further than Gogglebox for tons of brilliant TV personalities - and this hilarious duo would be our pick of the bunch Channel 4 Anna Richardson The TV presenter has previously proved she could make anything watchable - even Naked Attraction. Richardson would be perfect for Bake Off, except she's Sue Perkins' partner, so it might be a long shot Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish Cult heroes Adam and Joe would bring a brilliant irreverence and joyous silliness to the Bake Off - though the former is busy with the podcast, and the latter has a successful career in the film industry BBC "We made no secret of our desire for the show to remain where it was. "The BBC nurtured the show from its infancy and helped give it its distinctive warmth and charm, growing it from an audience of two million to nearly 15 [million] at its peak. "We've had the most amazing time on Bake Off, and have loved seeing it rise and rise like a pair of yeasted Latvian baps. "We're not going with the dough. We wish all the future bakers every success." The Great British Bake Off will be moving to Channel 4 after the current series on BBC One ends. P aul Hollywood is set to remain on the Great British Bake Off as it moves to Channel 4. The baking judge has struck a three-year deal with the network. Since I was a kid, baking has been part of my life. The seven series inside the tent have created some great memories, Hollywood said in a statement. 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. The Great British Bake Off has brought baking back to the nation and weve seen people from all walks of life and backgrounds experience the highs and lows of competition, and more importantly helping each other. Its been a huge part of my life in the past few years and I just couldnt 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. 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. Marry Berry to quit Great British Bake Off The news follows the announcement that Mary Berry has decided to leave out of loyalty to the BBC. "What a privilege and honour it has been to be part of 7 years of magic in a tent - The Great British Bake Off, Berry said in a statement. The Bake Off family - Paul, Mel and Sue have given me so much joy and laughter. The Great British Bake Off: who could replace Mel and Sue? 1 /14 The Great British Bake Off: who could replace Mel and Sue? Stepping down Mel and Sue will be leaving the Bake Off after the current series - so who could take over? BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon Nadiya Hussain Last year's Bake Off winner became a national treasure, and has since proved to be a great TV presence on the Chronicles of Nadiya and Loose Women BBC Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp Is there a more quintessentially Channel 4 duo than Phil and Kirstie? The latter's love of home crafting would stand her in good stead Robert Webb and David Mitchell The Peep Show duo could bring a similar understated charm and wit as Mel and Sue Nigella Lawson While the Bake Off has always been more cosy than sultry, Nigella would be sure to spice things up a bit Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images Dave Lamb You might not know his face - but you definitely know his voice, as the man who elevated Come Dine With Me to must-watch TV with his hilarious voiceovers Richard Ayoade Despite his success as a director with Submarine and The Double, Richard Ayoade still presents Travel Man for Channel 4 - his superbly dry humour would add a new flavour to the Bake Off Ken McKay/ITV/Rex The Fabulous Baker Brothers Channel 4's resident baking experts, aka Tom Herbert and Henry Herbert, are surely salivating at the prospect of the Bake Off changing channels Channel 4 Sandy and Sandra Look no further than Gogglebox for tons of brilliant TV personalities - and this hilarious duo would be our pick of the bunch Channel 4 Anna Richardson The TV presenter has previously proved she could make anything watchable - even Naked Attraction. Richardson would be perfect for Bake Off, except she's Sue Perkins' partner, so it might be a long shot Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish Cult heroes Adam and Joe would bring a brilliant irreverence and joyous silliness to the Bake Off - though the former is busy with the podcast, and the latter has a successful career in the film industry BBC "My decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty to them, as they have nurtured me, and the show, that was a unique and brilliant format from day one. I am just sad for the audience who may not be ready for change, I hope they understand my decision. "I wish the programme, crew and future bakers every possible success and I am so very sad not to be a part of it. "Farewell to soggy bottoms." Hollywoods three year contract covers the full confirmed run of the Bake Off on Channel 4, who bid 75 million for three years of the show. 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . Last week, in a story thats become too familiar, national news headlines broke with the story of a 13-year-old boy, shot by police. Police say that the 13-year-old boy pulled a real-looking pellet gun from his waistband during a chase. Lawyers for the family have questioned the officers accounts, saying that some witness accounts conflict with the police version of what happened. They want an independent investigation. Tyre King is black, the officer is white, and it has generated more discussion on law enforcement and racial relations. Many of us can think of similar cases where young men were shot. As some already know, as a reporter who has covered law enforcement and the courts, I do agree that police departments need to look at use of force procedures and racial profiling as a system and on an individual department level. Some brand me as a cop hater for such a view, however, I genuinely have an interest in the workings of our systems. Matters of public safety need to and should be discussed and reviewed, reviewed, reviewed. There is something to be learned. However, in cases such as Tyre King, the young boy who was killed, I want to know why we are not discussing another matter: Why are toy guns being made to look like real guns? Ive seen cases including the robbery of the Git N Split locally of adults committing crimes with toy guns. Adults are committing real crimes with toy guns. And, as the two women who testified in the Git N Split robbery said, its hard to know a toy gun from a real gun when its being pointed at you at the scene of a crime. I can certainly understand how it may be difficult also for a police officer in an active situation to know a toy from an actual gun. And, its getting harder, from my limited knowledge of guns. The gun that Tyre King was alleged to have pulled is described as practically identical to the guns carried by police officers. Is a toy gun made to look like an exact replica of a Glock or other type of gun necessary? I grew up with a little brother who loved toy guns from the time he was little. His guns very obviously looked like toy guns silver guns with plastic handles, brightly colored guns. When my brothers were older, they were allowed to have BB guns, which I expect is many young boys (and girls, the feminist in me doesnt dare leave out the girls) introduction to shooting and aiming a gun. From what I understand, federal law has required since 1989 that these guns have bright orange caps at the tips of their barrels. However, for whatever reason, the tips of those guns are easily removable. One has to wonder, is it because the manufacturers of these toy weapons have a potential buyer in the person wanting to carry a real-looking, albeit fake, gun? There probably isnt one solution - and as mentioned at the opening, its also an issue with further complications. For example, what role do we have as parents to teach our children gun safety, even if we arent putting a real gun in their hands? I can still remember hearing my mom tell him that if he pointed his toy gun at a person, he wasnt allowed to have the gun. And, yes, he got them taken away at times for violating that rule. Fortunately, he was never shot for pointing a gun at someone. I shudder at the thought. However, the message from my parents guns are to be taken seriously still resonates with me, and Im sure, my brothers as well. I dont think that police officers, bank tellers or gas station clerks should have to wonder if a real gun is being pointed in their faces. In this day and age, when my iPhone can get my email and tell me how many minutes it will take me to drive to work, there has to be a way for a toy gun manufacturer to clearly mark, in a way that cant be altered, a gun as fake. And, it seems to me that when it comes to our kids safety, its worth requiring toy gun manufacturers to take some extra precautions to protect our children. Kids shouldnt have to pay for real consequences for carrying around toy guns. Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe In the past two years, the 4 Paws Basket Raffle raised enough money to spay or neuter some 250 pets whose owners who couldnt afford the services otherwise. Kathy Weatherman, an administrative specialist at Iredell County Animal Services and Control, began the basket raffle in 2014 as a way of raising money to offer spay or neuter services for those who may not qualify for the $25 surgery or cannot afford the reduced price of between $60 and $110. There are a lot of people who fall into that gap and cant afford to pay, she said. With the 4 Paws program, people can get their pets altered for free, which decreases the number of animals that end up in the shelter, Weatherman said. Just like the last two years, a challenge was sent out through the county departments to create baskets for the raffle. The Veterans Services, Human Resources, Health Department, Board of Elections, Department of Social Services and Animal Services, pooled resources and creativity and put together baskets for the raffle. Citizens and businesses also donated baskets or gifts for the raffle, which will be held Oct. 1 at the Iredell County Agricultural Center on Bristol Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. Weatherman said shes received about 56 baskets or tickets for area attractions that folks can bid on at the raffle. Tickets or gift packages for Grandfather Mountain, Discovery Place, Mystery Hill, Dollywood, Reynolda House, Old Salem, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Daveste Vineyards, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Tweetsie, N.C. Symphony, Renaissance Festival, Auto Bell, Applebees and the Lost Colony outdoor drama will be among the items to bid on, she said. The biggest raffle item is a four-night, five-day trip to Cancun, Mexico. A meal will be served at the event, but reservations and payment are needed by Friday. The meal offerings by Debbies Heavenly Touch Catering include the choice of an adult entree of chicken or vegetarian lasagna and a childs plate of chicken nuggets. The cost is $15 for adults and $5 for kids and includes a dessert and drink. Call Weatherman at 704-878-5424 to reserve a meal. Credit card payments will be accepted over the phone. The doors open at 5 p.m. and the meal will begin at 6 p.m. The drawing for the baskets and door prizes will start at 7 p.m. Weatherman said anyone who wears a hat or bow tie will receive an extra door prize ticket. Iredell Veterans Services Officer Brad Stroud will emcee the event. Anyone needing additional information can call Weatherman at 704-878-5424. Statesville NAACP President Anthony Turman said Wednesday that hes talked with local law enforcement about ways to increase communication locally, something that needs to take place prior to incidents like the officer-involved shooting death of a Charlotte man and subsequent violent street protests. I dont want to see anyone hurt, Turman said. I dont want to see anyone killed whether they are police or civilians. Law enforcement is not our enemy. We need to learn to love them, learn to communicate with them, learn to respect them and, you know, we need to learn to join them. Throughout the day Wednesday, Charlotte authorities tried to curb public anger and correct what they characterized as false information after a night of looting and arson added Charlotte to the list of U.S. 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 shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, 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 around 4 p.m. Tuesday. Officer Brentley Vinson, a black man, has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such cases. Vinson has been with the department for two years. Protestors gathered late Tuesday near the site of the shooting, which is about a mile from the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 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. Television footage showed some apparently looting semi-trucks on the interstate and setting their contents on fire. Turman condemned the violent protestors and expressed hope that similar actions wouldnt spill into Iredell County. I think in terms of destructive behavior that is not going to be in benefit to the cause at hand or to the Scott family Turman said. There needs to be some response to the incident, but that response needs to be based on fact, not emotion. Turman said he understands the frustration of the protestors because too many similar police shootings have occurred. People should be protesting Scotts death but it should not happen at the expense of businesses and of the police officers who were injured, he said. He also urged people to wait until the official investigation is complete, adding that the probe should be transparent. If it is not, protestors can channel their frustrations at elected officials or at the ballot box, he said. The call for patience echoed Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbells sentiments. The sheriffs office has dealt with three officer-involved shootings this year, Campbell said, and people should let the investigation which can take months play out. Two Iredell deputies involved in a fatal shooting in January were cleared of wrongdoing in early September. The two other shootings, in February and June, are still being reviewed by Iredell District Attorney Sarah Kirkman. You cant have a knee-jerk reaction, he said. Theres a process and you have to let it work. You have to wait until you know all the facts. Campbell said his department was asked early Wednesday to help answer routine calls in northern Mecklenburg County in the wake of the protests. Campbell said deputies would help when they could for as long as necessary. Man shot in Wednesday protest One man was shot as protesters gathered near police in riot gear at an upscale downtown Charlotte hotel Wednesday night. The man, who was listed in critcial condition at press time, was not shot by a police officer, the city of Charlotte said on Twitter. A short time later, police began firing flash grenades at protesters who were throwing fireworks at them. They then fired tear gas at the hundreds of protesters, dispersing most of the crowd. Six officers suffered minor injuries, paramedics said. At least one protester knocked down a reporter during a live shot. The Associated Press contributed to this report. When Whitney Gilbert and Shadese (DeeDee) Griffith began dating more than a year ago, neither could have expected that they and their family w Anthony Tony Wade Bradley died from positional asphyxiation and it wasnt determined if he was alive or dead when he was placed into a trash can underneath his Mooresville apartment in 2011, according to testimony by forensic pathologist Dr. Christopher Gordon. Gordon, who performed Bradleys autopsy, testified during James Leon Ruckers murder trial on Wednesday in Iredell County Superior Court. Rucker, 36, of Mooresville is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and second-degree burglary in the death of Bradley. Almost a week after Bradleys disappearance, his body was found in a severe state of decomposition, according to earlier testimony by Mooresville police officers. When Bradley died, he was unable to receive oxygen to his brain or heart based on the posture of his body, Gordon told the jury. The tarp that was wrapped around Bradleys inverted body may have smothered the man as well. Gordon detailed several other findings from his autopsy. The toxicology report indicated Bradley had a blood alcohol level of .31, but about half that could be attributed to the decomposition process. The legal limit in North Carolina is .08. Gordon said there was a small laceration on the left side of Bradleys temple consistent with an object causing blunt force trauma. But there was no skull fracture or broken bones and his organs were intact. Ruckers defense attorney Lori Hamilton questioned the accuracy of the determined cause of death. Hamilton introduced Gordons first autopsy report, in which he indicated an undetermined cause of death in October 2011. Then, in December, Gordon received an email containing crime scene evidence from one of the detectives, which helped him determine the final cause. Gordon said pathologists routinely rely on law enforcement to provide information from the crime scene to help determine causes of death. Testimony continues Thursday. Thursday, 22 September 2016 17:43:58 (GMT+3) | Istanbul According to the Brazil Steel Institute (IABr), Brazilian crude steel production in August this year amounted to 2.77 million metric tons, with a 1.1 percent decrease year on year. In the same month, Brazilian rolled steel output increased by 2.2 percent to 1.88 million metric tons compared to the same month of 2015. Meanwhile, Brazilian steelmakers produced 20.34 million metric tons of crude steel in the first eight months of this year, down 10.6 percent year on year. Brazil 's rolled steel product output totaled 14.01 million mt in the given period, down 11 percent year on year. Brazilian domestic steel sales decreased by six percent year on year in August to 1.48 million metric tons, while domestic sales in the first eight months of this year totaled 11.09 million metric tons, decreasing by 12.9 percent year on year. Brazil 's exports of steel products in August amounted to 1.14 million metric tons, falling by 11.9 percent, with a value of $556 million, up 1.4 percent, both on year-on-year basis. Steel product exports in the January-August period of this year totaled 8.72 million mt, worth $3.5 billion, with an increase of 2.7 percent in volume and a fall of 21.7 percent in value compared to the same period of last year. Baoshan Iron and Steel Co. Ltd ( Baosteel ) announced on September 22 that one share of Wuhan Iron and Steel Co. Ltd will be equal to 0.56 of a Baosteel share for the purposes of the merger. According to the announcement, after the merger Baosteel Group will hold a 52.10 percent stake in the new group, Wuhan Iron and Steel Group will hold 13.48 percent, other shareholders of Baosteel will hold 22.35 percent, while other shareholders of Wuhan Iron and Steel Co. Ltd will hold the remaining 12.07 percent of the total of 16.4669272 billion shares. Thursday, 22 September 2016 09:36:56 (GMT+3) | Shanghai China 's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has announced that during last week (September 12-18) the overall average finished steel price in China decreased by 0.6 percent week on week. In the given week, average prices of high-speed wire rod rebar and common medium plate in China all declined by 0.9 percent week on week. In the same week, the average price of non-ferrous metals in China decreased by 0.4 percent week on week. The average price of nickel (Ni> = 99.2%) declined by 1.9 percent compared to the previous week. Thursday, 22 September 2016 23:36:26 (GMT+3) | Sao Paulo Venezuela s state-run steelmaker Sidor produced 14,000 mt of rebar and 25,000 mt of wire rod in the May-September period, the company said this week, while commenting on its recently launched plan to recover steel output volumes. Comprised of six phases, the company said it started stage two, in which it expects to reach a 100,000 mt/month crude steel capacity. It also resumed operations at its furnaces No. 5 and 6 of its steel slab area. Sidor recently unveiled a plan for the 2016-2018 period in which it expects to produce 4 million mt of crude steel by 2018. Sidor said it expects to reach stage 3 by Q3. The third stage includes the restart of a melting furnace and three DRI units, which requires a monthly consumption of 569 megawatts, 110 million cubic feet of natural gas and 300,000 of iron. Stages four and five include the reactivation of pellet line A as well as repair works at the companys Midrex plants. As for the last phase of its plan, Sidor expects to reach full capacity at its six furnaces. According to market sources, ex- US offers to Taiwan for HMS I/II 80:20 scrap are currently at $202/mt CFR. However, Taiwanese buyers consider this price level to be on the high side and their firm bids are at $195/mt CFR. 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Official sources told AGERPRES that Ciolos underscored at the meeting the need for integrated, trans-sectorial solutions that will combine, for instance, polices for poverty alleviation and policies for trade, industrial and agricultural policies, energy policies and the fight against climate change. Dragnea scoate biciul. Adeptii lui Oprea, pusi la zid: NU mai tolerez! Also discussed were the latest development in the Balkans and the Eastern neighbourhood of the European Union, with Ciolos unveiling Romania's bid for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in 2020-2021. BJC HealthCare said Thursday that David Aplington will serve as the new general counsel for the health system, effective Jan. 1. Aplington succeeds another longtime employee, Michael DeHaven who is retiring. The area's largest employer also said Chris Watts will serve as president of the two St. Charles County hospitals, Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Progress West Hospital. Aplington has served as vice president and deputy general counsel for the past 20 years. He will oversee various issues regarding compliance, legal, risk and internal audits. Aplington joined BJC in 1996. He was previously a partner at Thompson Coburn law firm. David has a long and impressive record of accomplishment at BJC HealthCare, CEO Steve Lipstein, said in a statement. We are fortunate to have someone with Davids credentials and character to assume this key leadership role with BJC. Watts, who will take over the St. Charles hospitals in early November, has served in various leadership roles in for the past 10 years, most recently vice president of planning and construction. In addition to overseeing the two facilities he will implement long-term strategic planning. During his tenure at BJC he has served as vice president of capital and program planning, director of ambulatory services and associate administrator at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Before BJC, Watts worked for Centene Corp. Chris has spent the majority of his career with BJC HealthCare and has demonstrated outstanding leadership in several diverse roles," Lee Fetter, BJC group president, said in a statement. St. Louis County has acquired the former Macys retail space at Jamestown Mall for $1 and plans to have a blighting study conducted for the shuttered shopping center that could lead to condemnation. Jamestown Mall, a once-vibrant shopping center in unincorporated north St. Louis County, closed in mid-2014 after a long decline in foot traffic and occupancy. The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis, a board that administers economic and community redevelopment projects, approved authorizing staff to pursue a blight designation at its monthly meeting Wednesday. Requests for proposals to conduct a blighting study are due Monday, said Sheila Sweeney, CEO of the St. Louis Economic Partnership. It gives staff the authority to do an RFP for a blighting study, Sweeney said of Wednesdays vote, adding she expects the study to take a few weeks before its completed. Once the study is completed, the St. Louis Economic Partnership will evaluate whether to propose that the St. Louis County Council designate the property as blighted. A blighting designation could lead to two options, St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger told the Post-Dispatch: either condemnation or tax increment financing for a redevelopment. No developer has yet been identified to revitalize the 142-acre property, which has deteriorated in recent years with little maintenance. Sinkholes, weeds and trespassers who damage the property pose risks for the community, Stenger said, adding the blighting study is a step toward the elimination of an eyesore. Its unsightly and it poses hazards for area residents, and it needs to be rectified, Stenger said, adding, You have a property thats accessible to the public ... and the buildings have not been maintained or kept up to code. The 1.2 million-square-foot mall property that operated as a shopping center for four decades is owned by multiple parties, including former retail tenants and several out-of-state real estate investors. Stenger said he has traveled to New York to meet with some of the five investors who own the nonanchor portions of the mall, and there was no consensus on Jamestown Malls future, he said. One of the owners of a portion of the mall since the early 2000s is an entity of New York-based Carlyle Development Group. After selling part of the mall in the late 2000s, Carlyle retains ownership of the former Dillards space and about 60 acres of the property. Carlyles president, Abdi Mahamedi, said hes been approached by several nonprofits that want to locate to the mall but the county has resisted a rezoning that would allow a user that doesnt pay real estate taxes. He also said the county has offered to buy his property for what he considers below fair market value. Theyve blocked our efforts to bring in new tenants, Mahamedi said. He also said his portion of the mall property is well-maintained. In April 2015, the St. Louis County Port Authority paid $200,000 to acquire the former JCPenney department store space and parking lot at the mall to have a say in its future, county officials said. The county paid $1 in recent weeks to acquire the former Macys anchor space. Cincinnati-based Macys Inc. is in the process of paring its real estate portfolio, including the closure of a call center and distribution facility in Bridgeton this year that employed 750 people. County officials have sought for several years to redevelop Jamestown Mall, even before it closed. A $300 million plan unveiled in 2011 that sought to add housing and other uses to the site, however, never materialized. While efforts to infuse new life at Jamestown Mall stalled, recent redevelopments of other shuttered malls in the county have moved forward, including the former Northwest Plaza in St. Ann and Crestwood Court mall in Crestwood. The former Northwest Plaza was converted to the mixed-use Crossings at Northwest, which includes office space for Charter Communications and other tenants. Demolition on the former Crestwood Court mall began this year to make way for senior housing and other uses. As efforts proceed to attract new development to the former Jamestown Mall site, Sweeney and Stenger said there will once again be opportunities for the public to weigh in. My primary objective is to eliminate this unsightly, hazardous development that is there currently, Stenger said. LANSING, Mich. Tesla is suing Gov. Rick Snyder and other state officials, challenging a 2014 law that ensures automakers can only sell through franchised dealerships. The federal lawsuit filed Thursday seeks a declaratory judgment that the "anti-Tesla" law is unconstitutional and an injunction to prevent its enforcement. The state last week denied Tesla's application for licenses to sell directly to consumers and to service vehicles in Michigan, citing the law that is backed by big auto companies and their dealerships. Tesla Motors Inc. says it prefers that new legislation be enacted but was told recently by lawmakers that no hearing will be held. Tesla says it will "fight for the rights of Michigan consumers to be able to choose how they buy cars in Michigan." Michigan state officials could not immediately be reached. In Missouri, Teslas licenses to sell cars are in jeopardy after a circuit judge ruled last month that the electric car maker is not a franchisee and its licenses should not be renewed by the Missouri Department of Revenue. The company is expected to appeal. The backdrop of Victorian homes and gorgeous shade trees in Lafayette Park seemed a perfect place for the carefully curated and designed Strange Folk Festival, now in its 11th year. More than 200 artists and vendors from 14 states will set up shop in Lafayette Square and just inside the park Saturday and Sunday. The festival will also feature 10 local bands, food trucks and hands-on activities. The show has become a traveling one of sorts. Last year it took over Union Station before it shuttered for renovations. Autumn Wiggins founded the festival in OFallon, Ill., where she lived. It was held there for nine years and grew so big that cars lined up on the highway to get there. Attendance swelled to about 40,000, and Wiggins and the city of OFallon cut ties after a disagreement about her compensation from festival profits. Up to 20,000 people visited Union Station for last years event, and Wiggins said it felt crowded in the indoor space. Now, Wiggins has partnered with city and park officials and business owners to bring the festival to the neighborhood. Shes taking advantage of the parks beauty and history, tying that in with the festivals theme, Belle Epoque, a nod to the neighborhoods French roots. I always think artistically and thematically about what the next year will about, she says. I was feeling French real heavy, and I was feeling Mary Poppins real heavy; I live on Cherokee Street, and I wanted to keep it in South City. Wiggins, 37, who describes herself as a multidisciplinary project manager, is using a large-format laser cutter to make structures and signs for the themed areas. Feathertop is described as a boho camping enclave near the park entrance. Visitors can walk down Myrkwood path to discover Curious Cabinets created by Kristin Cassidy and sip a cinnamon apple beer crafted for the festival by Square One Brewery. People can get their picture taken at a birdcage photo booth and watch 3-D printer demonstrations by Squirefruit Labs. Wiggins points out the popular Rock and Roll Craft Show ended its 10-year run last year, but people still love to see and buy unique handmade goods. We hope to have Strange Folk be something that people come to experience, she says. Penny and Mark Magas of St. Louis sell handmade finger puppets, dolls, masks and a line of zombie-themed kitchen accessories under their business Ginger Beasties. This is their second year at the festival, and theyre working to make more inventory because they sold so much last year. The attendees are always awesome, all of the other vendors everybody gets along amazingly well, Penny Magas says. Autumn just makes everybody feel at ease. Beqi Brinkhorst of Brentwood has sold handmade clothing and jewelry at every single Strange Folk Festival. She says repeat sellers have to offer unique items every year to keep up with trends, and Wiggins has a good eye for picking up-and-coming sellers to join in. Its rare it has a good reputation among vendors and also among customers, Brinkhorst says. Jessica Murray of St. Louis is bringing two oversize birdcages, her camera and a photo printer to her photo booth. She met Wiggins at a fundraiser last year, and the idea for the booth came up after Wiggins found out Murray owned the cages. Murray will also promote her new bird rescue group, Avian Assist. I am just looking forward to the total randomness and seeing how everything comes together and meeting a bunch of really cool people, Murray says. Wiggins hopes to return to Lafayette Square next year. Its creatively a lot of fun. I collaborate with a lot of the most creative artists in the city, she says. If its not fun, Im not doing it anymore. We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. Weddings in Eastern Europe can last all night, and the liquor is always flowing. A typical wedding is central to Demon, a Polish film from Marcin Wrona, but it has one crucial difference: A supernatural spirit haunts the groom. Demon is not a horror film, exactly, although it can prove disturbing. Wrona jumbles several genres, including dark comedy, to illuminate larger, more ambitious themes. When we first meet Piotr (Itay Tiran), he can barely contain his joy. Piotr is a charismatic young engineer living in London who returns to rural Poland to marry Zaneta (Agnieszka Zulewska). Theyre passionate lovers who can hardly keep their hands off each other long enough to get the decrepit wedding venue ready for the big day. Shortly before the ceremony, however, Piotr finds a skeleton on the grounds and sees a pale young woman nearby, and those two images leave an eerie imprint he cannot comprehend. The wedding commences and soon takes on a life its own. The films first act is full of horror cliches, with characters who can be defined by a single characteristic, such as the blowhard father of the bride (Andrzej Grabowski) and his hedonistic son (Tomasz Schuchardt). Meanwhile, as the hours go by, Piotrs behavior changes. No one can figure it out, and the father-in-law suggests Piotr may be epileptic. One older guest realizes the source of the trouble is a dybbuk, a ghost from Jewish mythology that can possess humans, and the victim this one has chosen to possess is Piotr. In Tirans slow-burn portrayal, Piotrs increasingly unhinged antics are like an inverse reflection of the party. As the crowd gets wilder, the color drains from Piotrs face. Demon has few special effects, so Wrona frames the possession in realistic ways, all the more wrenching because they are so plausible. When the dybbuk completes her takeover of Piotr, a steady wide shot of his bizarre spasms is the films disturbing centerpiece. This too drunk to remember strategy serves as an early metaphor for the deeper point of Demon. The cosmopolitan Piotr represents modern Europe: He speaks English and has little interest in Polish history and culture. The older wedding guests are both more provincial and sensitive, and they quietly mourn not only what is happening to Piotr but also the fate of the young woman who has become the dybbuk. As ghost and victim temporarily share a body, they reflect a sense of shared history. Wlodzimierz Press plays the weddings sole Jewish guest (the movies subtext is that the Holocaust wiped out the areas Jewish population), and his role is crucial: Early in the movie, he makes a maudlin toast, but later he realizes he knew the dybbuk when she was alive. His transition from an out-of-touch old-timer into a wise old man is a powerful reminder of the importance of remembering and honoring the past. There is a tragic footnote to Demon. Marcin Wrona died last September at age 42, an apparent suicide. His memory haunts his final film alongside its subject. The folks in the town of Rose Creek are badly in need of help. Ruthless businessman Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard) has big plans for their land and wants them gone even if he has to resort to murder and mayhem to achieve his goal. And he has plenty of thugs on his payroll to back him up. One of the few people with the guts to stand up to Bogue is Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett), who has suffered a bitter loss at his hands. But she realizes that shes not much of a gunslinger and that professionals will be required to deliver the justice that she demands. Such a man is Sam Chisholm (Denzel Washington), a bounty hunter who has no problem with sizing up the denizens of a barroom and figuring out exactly whom to shoot. Chisholm is reluctant to go up against Bogue, but Cullens plea is persuasive. To take on the robber baron and his gang, Chisholm will need considerable firepower. In short order, he recruits explosives expert Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), sharpshooter Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), tracker Jack Horne (Vincent DOnofrio), assassin Billy Rocks (Byung-hun Lee), outlaw Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and warrior Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier). Together, theyre a majestic septet. The Magnificent Seven clearly aspires to be a classic Western. But this remake of a 1960 film which was itself inspired by the Japanese classic Seven Samurai (1954) lacks the spirit that made the genre so popular for so long. For all their strenuous efforts at striking poses, Washington and his compadres merely come across as a bunch of guys playing dress-up. Its just as obvious that director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), working from a screenplay by Nic Pizzolatto (True Detective) and Richard Wenk, has little feel for the material. Only when theres an opportunity to blow things up does Fuqua seem fully engaged. Another Western bites the dust. Werner Herzog's curiosity seems to be as boundless as the subject of his latest documentary: the internet, that vast, virtual universe we inhabit with as much ease as our own skin. Despite its ungainly title, Herzog's "Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World" is an elegant survey of the origins of the information revolution and a shrewd analysis of how the internet has reshaped the world. It's one of the director's best docs. Herzog, 73, is an idiosyncratic intellectual who gravitates to subjects that spark his own peculiar imagination. He has made documentaries about Antarctica ("Encounters at the End of the World"), the Chauvet Cave in southern France ("Cave of Forgotten Dreams") and bear enthusiast Timothy Treadwell, who was killed and eaten by the animal he loved ("Grizzly Man"). Herzog's films explore the myriad ways we express our humanity through creative action and foolishness alike. Marketed as "a humanist history" by network management software vendor Netscout Systems, which financed the film, "Lo and Behold" has Herzog peering into the soul of humanity to discover just how profoundly it has been transformed reprogrammed by a form of technology only a few decades old. "Lo and Behold" opens with a cute, playful prologue that likens the birth of the internet to the creation of the world in the Book of Genesis. Herzog takes us to the little computer science lab at UCLA where the revolution kicked off in 1969. It all began with a rudimentary connection between two computers one on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles and the other in Palo Alto web pioneer Leonard Kleinrock explains to the filmmaker. The two terminals exchanged the first two letters of the word "log" before one of them crashed. "Lo!" Kleinrock says. "Lo and behold!" Herzog divides the film into 10 self-contained personal essays on topics such as artificial intelligence, social media, and space exploration. Each time, we also get an object lesson on the dark side of the web video-game addiction, cyberbullying, the disappearance of privacy. While Herzog is on solid ground when it comes to the history, he enters speculative territory as he tries to prognosticate where the net will take us in the future. He presents several worst-case scenarios: What if the whole web crashed because of a solar flare? The world economy would crash, and we'd be reduced to living in caves again. Herzog is a confessed Luddite who is allergic to all things associated with computers. But he displays an adept understanding of the topic he asks incisive questions and an extraordinary willingness to expand his knowledge. He narrates "Lo and Behold" with his famously calm, serene voice, inhabiting the doc as an avuncular presence. Put your faith in him, and Herzog never fails to deliver. No matter where he takes us, Herzog inspires viewers to follow and learn. ST. LOUIS The Better Business Bureau of St. Louis has issued a warning that an event called the Birthday Run, advertised as a 5K race, music festival and light show to happen downtown on Sunday, is most likely a scam. City spokeswoman Cathy Smentkowski said the city has neither received a request nor the necessary paperwork from organizers to hold the event. In fact, another event, the Q in the Lou barbecue festival, will be held at the stated location near Soldiers Memorial and Kaufmann Park at that time. The Birthday Run should not be confused with another run being held Sunday, hosted by FamiliesROC, an organization promoting ovarian cancer awareness. Bill Smith, an investigator with the Better Business Bureau, said the Birthday Run appeared on his radar after other BBB chapters in Hawaii and Baltimore issued advisories about the event. The Birthday Run scheduled in Hawaii didnt take place, and registrants lost their money, he said. Then, earlier this month, the BBB serving the Baltimore area issued a warning that the event was probably a scam. The Birthday Run website previously listed St. Louis as one of 125 cities hosting one of their events in 12 countries. St. Louis has since been removed from the site. A BBB investigation did not turn up any registration information for the company in California where the website indicates the company is situated, or in Utah, where the website lists a mailing address. A phone number listed for the organization is not in service. Registration for the event was listed at prices of $30 for $50 individually, and $320 for group rates. The event was also listed on Groupon, where tickets were discounted at $24 individually and $47 for a pair. The discount site has since stopped working with the Birthday Run. Smith, the investigator, said its unclear how many people registered for the event either through the website or on Groupon. As I understand, Groupon has agreed to reimburse anyone who registered through them, Smith said. If you purchased with a credit card, dispute the charge. If you purchased through the website, report it to the state attorney generals office and the Federal Trade Commission. Hillary Romeo, of St. Louis, bought two tickets to the event through Groupon a few weeks ago. As someone who registers and runs in 5K races frequently, Romeo said there was nothing particularly suspicious about the Birthday Run, other than the location listed on the website, which she was unfamiliar with. Up until today when a friend messaged me about it, I thought I was going to be running this weekend, she said. I was kind of curious about the location, but everything else looked legit. LINCOLN COUNTY The top prosecutor here, Leah Askey, was sued Wednesday by an ex-husband who claims she abused her position to gain unauthorized access to his old cellphone and extract deleted text messages, emails and other communications. Im not going to dignify my ex-husbands frivolous claims with a response, Askey said by phone Wednesday. Not now, nor have I ever done anything that I believed to be illegal at any time, she said, whether as a prosecutor or a mother. The key issue, two former federal prosecutors told the Post-Dispatch, is what information was left on the phone and how it was extracted. The suit was filed in Lincoln County Circuit Court by John C. Askey. It claims that although the phone had been cleared of data, Leah Askey forced one of the former couples young sons to give up its password sometime after he got the phone in the fall of 2014, then conspired with someone or used her professional contacts to recover deleted data. The goal, the suit alleges, was to see what information her ex-husband had about a controversial Lincoln County murder case. Part of that case, the prosecution of Russell Faria in the death of his wife in 2011, included an allegation that Leah Askey had an affair with one of the police investigators. The suit says that she was concerned about what information her ex had about that, and what he had communicated to others, including Farias lawyer. Both Leah Askey and the investigator have denied the affair. The suit also says that Leah Askey used information gleaned from her ex-husbands cellphone to make numerous meritless ... private and salacious accusations in retaliation for his bid to get more time with their children. She may have obtained privileged communications with her ex-husbands attorneys, the suit says. It also claims that she used them in a legal case involving her first husband and a child they have in common. The suit claims Leah Askey also used the cellphone information in a disciplinary complaint that she filed with the Missouri Bar against Farias lawyer, Joel Schwartz. He declined comment Wednesday. The lawsuit seeks at least $75,000 each for three counts alleging invasion of privacy, civil conspiracy and conversion, meaning the suit claims Leah Askey took custody of the cellphone without permission. John Askey declined to comment, as did his attorney. Asked about the issues involved, Jeff Jensen, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice, told the Post-Dispatch, Its not criminal for a parent to search their childs cellphone. He added, My primary concern would be ... whether government assets or time were used to conduct searches. Matt Schelp, another former federal prosecutor, said John Askey would have no expectation of privacy for a cellphone that he gave to a minor living in Leah Askeys house. But, he said, extracting deleted data is usually done only by law enforcement. If that were the case, Schelp said, it would a blockbuster issue, because, it would be very, very, very ... unethical for a prosecutor to do that. He said that if he were a prosecutor and wanted to go down that road, he would hire a law firm to arrange the work, as insulation from ethical problems. Leah Askeys prosecution of Faria led to his conviction in 2013 and a life sentence, but he won an appeal of the way the trial was conducted and was acquitted at a retrial last year. In the lead-up to the second trial, Leah Askey subpoenaed John Askey, as well as reporters from the Post-Dispatch and Fox 2 (KTVI), and the reporters emails and text messages about her. The judge hearing the case did not require the reporters to testify or turn over those communications. EDWARDSVILLE Christopher M. Derleth, who is sought nationwide in the disappearance of his stepdaughter, 13, and her infant son, had talked with friends recently about free campsites across the country, the Madison County sheriffs office said Thursday. Authorities are concerned that Derleth, an avid outdoorsman, could be hiding at a remote camp anywhere in the country. His minivan was spotted at midday Sunday in West Virginia, a few hours after a court-appointed guardian near Edwardsville realized the children were missing. The van hasnt been spotted since. The children were last seen Saturday night in the guardians home. Madison County Sheriff John Lakin announced on Monday the charges and a multistate search. Derleth, 39, of Granite City, was charged with child abduction in the disappearance of Katherine Derleth, his stepdaughter; and aggravated kidnapping in the disappearance of her son, Christopher R. Derleth, who was born Sept. 1 in Granite City. On Thursday, Lakin released more details of the case, including the medical information on Katherine Derleth, underscoring investigators concern for the childrens health. Lakins update says Katherine has a congenital heart defect and received a pacemaker as a newborn. Equipment to monitor her pacemaker was left behind. She delivered her son by cesarean section and was still under a doctors care for the surgery, the update says. Two weeks before the baby was born, the elder Derleth was named in a protection order barring him from seeing his stepdaughter pending a criminal investigation in Bond County. He also had a residence there in Greenville, and the stepdaughter lived with him prior to the Aug. 16 date of the protection order. The sheriffs update said investigators believe the children were abducted from the guardians home some time early Sunday. It says Derleths green 1997 Mercury Villager minivan was spotted on Interstate 77 south of Charleston, W.Va., at 12:24 p.m. Sunday. That stretch is a turnpike with security cameras at the toll plazas. A spokesman for the West Virginia State Police said the van had not been seen since. Charleston is 500 miles east of St. Louis. There are many remote campsites in the mountains of West Virginia. Derleth left the Madison County area with camping equipment and supplies, Lakin said. A nationwide missing-person bulletin says he also could have headed for Texas. The license plate on his minivan is Illinois E833210. ST. LOUIS A St. Charles County doctor was sentenced to two years of probation Wednesday and fined $2,000 for writing fraudulent prescriptions so that he could obtain pain pills. Dr. David A. Peter was also ordered to repay $274.31 and has agreed to give up his Drug Enforcement Administration registration, which allows him to prescribe certain drugs. He agreed not to re-apply for at least five years. Peter wrote fraudulent prescriptions for a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen in the names of patients or relatives from about May 2013 through December 2015, then filled the prescriptions at pharmacies. He had become addicted to pain pills after taking some medicine more than 10 years ago, according to court documents. Dr. Peter worked for SSM Healthcare at the time, in an office at 1600 Heritage Landing Drive in unincorporated St. Charles County near St. Peters. He faced probation to six months in prison under sentencing guidelines after pleading guilty in June to a health care fraud charge. UPDATED at 9:10 p.m. with more details ST. CHARLES COUNTY Police were looking for a runaway suspect vehicle Wednesday after one if its passengers pointed a handgun at an officer in an unmarked car westbound on Highway 370. The vehicle, a silver Chevrolet Impala with a partial Missouri license plate that reads "FL9N6M," escaped pursuit and was last seen heading south on Muegge Road, according to police. Three men and one woman were seen in the vehicle. The incident began at about 3:30 p.m. The officer was westbound on Highway 370 when he observed a silver Chevy Impala driving erratically, according to police. The car pulled up next to the officer's unmarked patrol vehicle. A passenger in the rear seat of the Impala pointed a handgun at the officer before the driver sped off. The officer attempted to pull over the car when he noticed it continuing to drive erratically, according to police. He called for backup officers as the Impala led him on a pursuit onto east Interstate 70. The pursuit ended after the officer was in a minor traffic accident as he followed the Impala exiting Cave Springs Boulevard. No one was injured in the accident. The Impala was last seen heading south on Muegge Road. Police ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspect vehicle to call St. Charles County police at 636-949-3000. FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS A suspicious package in the parking lot of the St. Clair Square mall reported to police Wednesday turned out to be an empty piece of luggage. Police were notified of a suspicious package on the parking lot near Macy's at about 4:17 p.m. Officers closed off a section of the parking lot as investigators examined the package. The mall otherwise remained open for business. The investigation ended shortly before 8 p.m. Investigators confirmed the package was an empty piece of luggage. No one was injured. Officers with the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit of the United States Air Force at Scott Air Force Base, Fairview Heights Fire Department, Illinois Secretary of State Police, and the FBI assisted in the investigation. No other details were available. ST. LOUIS The trend of declining enrollment at community colleges may be coming to a close at least for the St. Louis region. After enrollment dropped by more than 35 percent from 2010 to 2015 at St. Louis Community College, fall 2016 numbers show promise. An increase, even. As recently as mid-July, the college projected a 16 percent drop in enrollment, representing a few thousand students. A few weeks into the semester, official enrollment numbers show a 1 percent increase in students compared with fall 2015. St. Louis Community College Chancellor Jeff Pittman said: I feel that the freefall has been stopped and were starting to uptick again in enrollment. The initial 16 percent loss projection jarred administrators into trimming the budget by almost $6 million. At next weeks board meeting, Pittman and his crew plan to lobby for adding that money back in now that theyre in the clear. Some of the efforts Pittman cites as reasons for the last-minute boost were in the works well before this summer. On such effort was the first marketing makeover for the community college in almost a decade. That includes an upcoming rollout of a new website for the college, one that Pittman said jokingly brings the college into the 21st century. But there was also a shift in how, and how often, students and prospective students are approached by St. Louis Community College. Before, we basically sent an acceptance letter and said, Come on down, Pittman said. Now, before a student is enrolled, they are contacted as many as 10 times, catching up to what market research says is best, Pittman said. Faculty and staff pitched in for the effort a third-party call center was hired to help, too making it more personal for students so theyd have a friendly person when they get to campus. But these calls were also for current students who hadnt finished the steps to enroll for the final semester, finding out why and mediating if need be. These efforts are new for St. Louis Community College but similar to what Missouris 11 other community colleges are trying in an attempt to grapple with declining enrollment. We say, Life gets in the way sometimes, Rob Dixon, executive director of the Missouri Community College Association, said. Community colleges are finding ways to intervene. If you need help paying for gas to get to class, dont let that be the reason you dont come back to college. There does appear to be an overall uptick statewide in enrollment at community colleges, Dixon said. After more than four years of a decline, Kansas City Metropolitan Community College is also up, he said. Enrollment at Jefferson College stayed flat, and St. Charles Community College is down by almost 2 percent. Higher education is a more competitive marketplace now than its been maybe ever before, Dixon said. All of this outreach is centered on demonstrating the value that community college provides. Its high-quality education in your backyard at a low price. Enrollment of students who are taking online-only classes saw a 17 percent increase at St. Louis Community College this fall, something Pittman said they would emphasize moving forward. We are starting to look toward the future with new strategies, programming aligning with workforce and community, looking at hybrid and online courses that students say they want, Pittman said. I feel very good about where were at right now. JEFFERSON CITY The Republican candidate to become Missouris next governor has raised twice as much money in the past month as his Democratic opponent. Eric Greitens, a political newcomer from St. Louis who emerged from a bruising four-way GOP primary in August, has collected $2.2 million since late August. Attorney General Chris Koster raised $919,921 during the same time period after winning the Democratic primary with little opposition. Records indicate Koster may still have more money overall in the bank, but the most recent campaign finance reports dont show how much each candidate spent in the past month. Koster says Greitens' haul is not a concern. "Attorney General Koster is proud of the support he has received from across the state and will continue to provide a positive vision on how to move Missouri forward," spokesman David Turner said Thursday. Tops among Greitens donors are the Republican Governors Association, which sent him a $750,000 check. David Humphreys, president and CEO of Joplin-based TAMKO Building Products, donated $500,000 Greitens earlier this week. Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, also received $100,000 from Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, a wealthy businessman. Both Rauner and Humphreys are supporters of right-to-work laws, which would remove requirements for workers to support labor unions. During the primary, Humphreys backed Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder. On Wednesday, Koster delivered a grim speech to 2,000 delegates at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers national convention in St. Louis, warning them that Missouri is in the spotlight when it comes to right-to-work. The barricades this year are here in the State of Missouri, Koster said. I thank you for standing shoulder to shoulder with me. During the past month, Koster received six large contributions from labor unions, including a check for $200,000 from the United Auto Workers. He also received a $100,000 contribution from the United Food and Commercial Workers union. Missouri has not put limits on contributions since 2008. Voters in November will be asked if they want to place caps on contributions. At the IBEW convention, attendee Ned Williams of Kansas City, said hes convinced Greitens has made right-to-work a top priority. If he gets elected there is no doubt in my mind that right-to-work will be his (Greitens) first bill, Williams said. In a statement issued Wednesday following the release of a report indicating slow economic growth in the state, Greitens slammed Koster and urged voters to elect a newcomer. Missouri can't afford to double down on the same tired policies and politicians who got us in this mess in the first place, Greiten said. In a statement issued Thursday, Greiten spokesman Austin Chambers said, "Right-to-work gives workers freedom and makes Missouri more competitive." The two are vying to replace term-limited Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat. St. Louis Five months ago, when Mayor Francis Slay stunned the citys political class with the news that he would not seek a fifth term, insiders predicted an ugly race, with a large number of candidates vying for the job. So far, the race has been mostly uneventful, with just two candidates having officially launched a campaign and a handful of others only hinting at making a run. The filing period for mayoral candidates runs from Nov. 27 through Jan. 6. As it stands today, only 28th Ward Alderman Lyda Krewson and Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed have officially launched mayoral campaigns. Krewson released a two-minute campaign ad on YouTube Wednesday where she talks about her record pushing for the citys smoking ban, a reduction in the size of the Board of Aldermen and limits on easy access to guns. The video also features appearances from former Missouri Gov. Bob Holden, 2nd Ward Alderman Dionne Flowers and entrepreneur Jim McKelvey. Also on Wednesday, Gregory F.X. Daly, the citys collector of revenue, launched the Daly for Mayor committee, transferring $100,000 from Friends of Gregory F.X. Daly into his new campaign account. Im just keeping my options open, Daly said. Its no secret that I am considering running for mayor. People have been encouraging me to give this some thought and see where it takes me. Reed said Wednesday that hed been focusing his time on talking to voters and expanding his coalition of supporters. Last month, 21st Ward Alderman Antonio French launched a crowdfunding campaign, asking people to pledge money to him for a potential mayoral run. He has raised roughly $3,800 so far. Im not any closer to making a decision, he said. My main concern is that I want to make sure the folks who dont have a seat at the table and have been ignored by the current administration have a voice on the ballot. Among others thought to be considering running are 22nd Ward Alderman Jeffrey Boyd, Police Chief Sam Dotson, Jason Hall of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and city Treasurer Tishaura Jones. JEFFERSON CITY With now an estimated 42,000 Missourians off of food stamps, the state is ramping up efforts to expand job training, but advocates say they are overwhelmed as more and more people lose benefits. Under federal law, able-bodied adults without dependents also known as ABAWDs can get food stamps three months in every three years. When unemployment is high, states can seek to waive that limitation. Last year, under a bill Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed that was eventually overridden, Missouri lawmakers opted not to ask for a waiver, citing improved unemployment rates. Also last year, the GOP-led House and Senate voted to tighten the path to cash benefits, limiting the length of time families can receive temporary cash benefits from a lifetime maximum of 60 months to 45 months. Additionally, they ramped up requirements for low-income parents to get job training, do volunteer work or complete high school or vocational education. Recipients have to sign a personal responsibility plan outlining their work activities, meeting with a caseworker if they miss assignments. There is a grace period in which they can get back on track, and recipients only lose half of the assistance initially, forfeiting the entire benefit if the problems arent resolved. Before a legislative panel last week, Julie Gibson, director of Missouris Family Support Division, discussed some of the states efforts to get these recipients into the workforce, including a pilot program partnering with the states community colleges and a health grant that will help people get certificates for health care jobs in St. Louis, Kansas City and mid-Missouri. Still, lawmakers raised concerns. Rep. Courtney Curtis, D-Ferguson, questioned how many people no longer receiving benefits or food stamps have really found well-paying jobs. In the past, the administration has used different programs for PR purposes as opposed to really putting people to work, Curtis said. I want to see what the benchmarks are to see how we are actually performing. Because if its 42,000 people, thats a significant amount. But if theyre not being adequately trained, that means were doing this again for other reasons other than what our intentions were. Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, questioned what resources were available for Missourians who were cut off from benefits without first securing a job. She also asked if the state was assisting people who needed help with transportation or child care in order to participate in the required work activities. Gibson said the state was working with the advocacy community, including local food banks, explaining that outside organizations are often available to assist. I think that the partnerships we are working on, many of these partners, like community action agencies and others, have the ability to help provide some of those wraparound services, like child care and transportation, Gibson said. But those agencies are often already overwhelmed. Empower Missouris Hunger Task Force, for example, includes individuals from food banks who are seeing families come in seeking aid after losing these benefits. Jeanette Oxford, Empower Missouris executive director, said lawmakers desire to reduce reliance on government aid is often seen as tough love. Unfortunately for Missouri lawmakers, when they see someone in poverty, they ask what is wrong with you? when they should be asking what happened to you?, Oxford said. Barbara Ross, director of social services with Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri, said a system that relies on charities to pick up the slack isnt working. There arent enough charitable agencies out there to fill the need. We need a completely different plan than just charity, Ross said. She also questioned what kind of jobs the state hopes its poorest residents can get, and argues many who seek services with her organization already do all they can in the workforce. A lot of them are working people, they just cant live on the jobs they have, Ross said. Job training is fine. But many of the people who come to our agency, Ive found, have low levels of educational achievement. What jobs are they training them for that are at a living wage? Rep. Marsha Haefner, R-Oakville, defended the legislature's actions at the hearing, saying work readiness efforts are a good starting point. I appreciate all the partnerships that we made, and I think were moving in the right direction, putting people to work, getting them trained, because work is the only ticket out of poverty. We all know that, Haefner said. It was a very controversial bill, but I think without this legislation we might just continue to be stuck. Welfare reform is not meant to punish people, its meant to redirect services to the right people, she added. Gibson also pointed out that people who drop off from participating in work activities can re-engage and get benefits back. If they can demonstrate a willingness and a desire to do that, they can come back in, Gibson said. But for Ross, Oxford and other advocates, lawmakers and state agencies arent getting at the root of the problem, and they say their organizations can only do so much to help. Oxford called on legislators to reconsider the job training model and think bigger. It does not really get people to work. If we really want to get people to work, we need to create jobs, Oxford said, adding that the state should also invest in preventing early childhood trauma, which can set people up for failure for life. We need systems and structures that support children, that create jobs and provide child care for working parents. Living wage jobs with benefits, Ross said. She said Catholic Charities has often had to step in and help people who cant work temporarily because of health issues. Sometimes, they go bankrupt and are unable to pay their bills. You just cannot attribute all of these problems to peoples laziness, Ross said. The Mahaffey family adopted Missy, a 1-year-old St. Bernard, five years ago as a companion dog for a daughter with special needs. A short time later, Missy disappeared from the familys fenced yard in Pueblo, Colo. The Mahaffeys alerted the local animal shelter and drove around looking for Missy, but to no avail. Fast forward to last week, when a matted and flea-bitten Missy turned up near Festus. She was a stray dog, Jefferson County Executive Ken Waller said. She had not been taken care of well. Jefferson County Animal Control took Missy to a groomer to be cleaned up. The groomers found an identification chip inside the dog. Jefferson County resident Brandi Cross is friends with the groomer and saw a Facebook posting of Missy after she was groomed. Cross, of House Springs, did some research and contacted the microchip company. But the mystery wasnt solved quite yet. The owners name, Kalli Mahaffey, was spelled with a C instead of a K on the chip. Cross then used Facebook to track the dogs owners. Brenda Mahaffey, 51, and her daughters will be reunited this week with Missy. Brenda Mahaffey said she never thought she would see the dog again. Her daughter, Tessa Mahaffey, 30, had posted a 2011 photo on Facebook as a memory. Cross also saw that posting. Sure enough it was our Missy, Mahaffey said. She has been in contact with Cross ever since. The reunion is set to take place Friday, thanks to a friend of Cross. Melissa Wideman-Morton, 50, of Hillsboro, plans to deliver the dog. I immediately volunteered to drive the dog to Pueblo, Colo., Wideman-Morton said. I didnt even think twice. I knew I could get off work. My boss has a special-needs child. I wish we could have left right away, she said. The plan is to head to Kansas City on Thursday, then arrive in Colorado on Friday. Enterprise Rent-A-Car offered a car rental fee of $10 a day to transport Missy. Waller waived the shelter fees. The family is excited about the reunion. Although they currently have three Chihuahuas, they still have room for Missy. We bought her some treats to welcome her home, Mahaffey said. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Violent protesters rampaged through parts of downtown Charlotte as anger continued to build over the deadly police shooting of a black man and the wildly different stories about what happened from authorities and the victim's family and neighbors. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency Wednesday night in the state's largest city and called in the National Guard after Charlotte's police chief said he needed the help. A peaceful prayer vigil turned into an angry march and then a night of violence after a protester was shot and critically wounded as people charged police in riot gear trying to protect an upscale hotel in Charlotte's typically vibrant downtown. Police did not shoot the man, city officials said. Video obtained and verified by The Associated Press, which was recorded right after the shooting, shows someone lying in a pool of blood as people scream and a voice yells for someone to call for help. People are then told to back up from the scene. The unrest following Tuesday afternoon's fatal shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott by a black officer 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 within days, after the white officer shot an unarmed black man who had been in a wreck and was looking for help. The jury deadlocked and the charge was dropped last summer. The city saw a few protests but no violence. On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters who were shouting "black lives matter" and "hands up, don't shoot" left after police fired flash grenades and tear gas after the shooting. But several groups of a dozen or more protesters stayed behind, attacking people, including reporters, shattering windows to hotels, office buildings and restaurants and setting small fires. At one point, television news helicopters showed protesters on the loop highway around downtown, trying to stop cars for several minutes before police arrived. "My heart bleeds for what our great city is going through," McCrory said on WBTV-TV. He was mayor of Charlotte for 14 years before becoming governor. Authorities said three people and four police officers were injured, but those figures had not been updated early Thursday morning. Videos and pictures on Twitter showed reporters and other people being attacked. The violence happened amid questions about what happened when Scott was shot and killed in the parking lot of his condominium complex. Police did not release dashboard or body camera footage, but said Scott had a gun and refused several orders to drop his weapon. Scott's family and neighbors said he was holding a book. "He got out of his car, he walked back to comply, and all his compliance did was get him murdered," said Taheshia Williams, whose 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. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney was angered by the stories on social media, especially a profanity-laced, hourlong video on Facebook, where a woman identifying herself as Scott's daughter screamed "My daddy is dead!" at officers at the shooting scene and repeating that he was only holding a book. 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. Not long after the Facebook video was posted Tuesday night, the first night of destructive protests began near the shooting scene, about 15 miles northeast of downtown Charlotte. Dozens of demonstrators threw rocks at police and reporters, damaged squad cars, closed part of Interstate 85, and looted a stopped truck and set a fire. Authorities used tear gas to break up the protests. The distrust of police continued after Wednesday's shooting of the protester. Many demonstrators did not believe city officials' assertion that officers did not shot the protester. "We protesting. Why the hell would we target each other?" Dino Davis said. "They say it was the tear gas, and it looked like one the tear gas exploded. But I think it was a rubber bullet because some of those rubber bullets can penetrate." Police said the plainsclothes officer who shot Scott, identified as Brently Vinson, has been placed on leave, standard procedure in such cases. Three uniformed officers at the shooting scene had body cameras; Vinson did not, police said. Calls for police to release the video increased. North Carolina has a law that takes effect Oct. 1 requiring a judge to approve releasing police video, and Putney said he doesn't release video when a criminal investigation is ongoing. But that video may be the only thing that calms Charlotte, said John Barnett, who runs a civil rights group called True Healing Under God, or THUG. "Just telling us this is still under investigation is not good enough for the windows of the Wal-Mart," he said. After about four hours, the violence began winding down. Hotel employees and security guards immediately started cleaning up broken glass. But Charlotte remained on edge. Bank of America told its thousands of employees working in its 60-story skyscraper to stay home Thursday. Washington Lawmakers chastised Mylans chief executive at a contentious congressional hearing Wednesday afternoon for amassing an $18 million salary, as she evaded questions about how much profit the pharmaceutical company made off the lifesaving allergy drug EpiPen. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, held up an EpiPen to punctuate his point that epinephrine the juice inside the device costs about $1. The list price for a two-pack of the pens is $608, up about 500 percent in a decade. The hearing was the latest drug-pricing outrage to unite politicians from both sides of the aisle. It came months after pharma bro Martin Shkreli, former chief executive of Turing Pharmaceuticals, appeared in the same chamber because he increased the price of a decades-old drug called Darparim to $750 a pill from $13.50. Here we are again, and my guess is if its happening in these two instances, its probably happening in others, Chaffetz said at the hours-long hearing. Maybe not as egregious, maybe not as big of a rapid rise, but I find this to be so extreme. Proposed solutions included finding ways for the Food and Drug Administration to ease the drug-approval process so competition can help bring down prices, and calls for greater transparency in pharmaceutical pricing. But Heather Bresch, Mylans chief executive, stayed firm in her message that the list price of EpiPen had increased because of the inherent complexity of the pharmaceutical marketplace and that few patients were paying the list price. She has attempted to shift blame away from her company to a network of middlemen that sits between drug companies and patients and take a cut of the price. Bresch said that Mylans efforts to cut down the price patients pay including its plan to release a half-price generic version of EpiPen would solve the problem. It was the second time this week that lawmakers called a chief executive to Capitol Hill to answer for perceived wrongdoings. On Tuesday, Wells Fargo chief executive John Stumpf attempted to address questions about the creation of millions of sham accounts to boost sales. Bresch has come under scrutiny not only for raising the price of EpiPen but also for the role her mother, Gayle Manchin, played in encouraging states to require schools to stock epinephrine, as head of the National Association of State Boards of Education, according to USA Today. Breschs father is Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.V. Mylan acquired the drug in 2007 and raised the price of a two-pack to more than $600 today from less than $100, which has led to fierce criticism from lawmakers and the public. I think many people incorrectly assume we make $600 off each pen. This is simply not true, she said, repeatedly saying that Mylan got $274 for each sale of a two-pack, and of that $100 was profit. But lawmakers were clearly frustrated as they struggled to understand how much total profit the company had made and how that had changed as the list price increased. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., attempted to break down how much of the $912 million in EpiPen net revenue for Mylan in 2015 represented profit. How about this: Would you agree that you made hundreds of millions of dollars in profit in 2015 based on the sale of EpiPens alone? Cummings asked, clearly frustrated that Mylan had not provided documents to answer the question and requesting that Bresch furnish the information to the committee. Bresch emphasized that in the eight years Mylan had owned EpiPen, the company had invested to enhance the product and make it more available, estimating the total investment at more than $1 billion. For example, in 2009, changes to the device improved it, Bresch said. But those changes also gave Mylan renewed patent protection for EpiPen, insulating it from potential generic competition even though the drug was first approved nearly three decades ago. At the same time, Mylan began a pattern of large, biannual price increases. The efforts that Mylan has made to increase the awareness of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, has resulted in increased availability of emergency epinephrine in schools but also benefited the companys bottom line. While Breschs testimony and answers stressed Mylans commitment to providing access to the drug, lawmakers even those who specifically said that they supported a companys ability to make a profit were skeptical about the companys tactics. As someone who considers themselves to be a free-market Republican, part of me has been uncomfortable with where this hearing has gone, said Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C. But I have to defend both my Republican and Democrat colleagues, because you asked for it. ... If you want to come to Washington, if you want to come to the state capitols and lobby us to make us buy your stuff, this is what you get. You get a level of scrutiny and a level of treatment that would ordinarily curl my hair. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., waved a contract that schools could sign to get access to discounted EpiPens, pointing out that a condition of getting the discount was a requirement that schools not buy competitors products. Youre so concerned about these kids that you limit the schools ability to buy the pens from anyone else, Duckworth said. The New York attorney generals office has launched an investigation into whether there are antitrust issues or anticompetitive terms in any of Mylans contracts with schools. Also at the hearing was Douglas Throckmorton, deputy director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration. He was asked questions about the generic backlog but said he could not comment on the number of epinephrine injector products waiting for regulators. The heat of the hearing was focused on Bresch, who is the latest political punching bag for an issue that is beginning to follow a pattern: A drug company finds itself in the crosshairs for raising the list price. The solution that is usually discussed is encouraging competition. But as Throckmorton pointed out, four epinephrine autoinjectors have been approved, and two are on the market. Douglas Boothe, president of the generics division at Impax Laboratories, which makes a competitor the authorized generic of Adrenaclick said in an interview that his company was ramping up its manufacturing capabilities. But he noted that because his drug was not considered a true generic of EpiPen, one challenge is that if a physician writes EpiPen on a prescription, it cannot be substituted by a pharmacist in more than half of states without rewriting the prescription. That may be one factor that helps fuel EpiPens dominance, with a market share of over 90 percent. You virtually have a monopoly, and youve used it to your advantage but unfortunately, its at the expense of people who need it, said Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va. Im wondering what your sense of social responsibility is to those people. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The latest on police shooting and protests in Charlotte, North Carolina (all times local): 9:10 p.m. The emergency medical service in Charlotte says a person has been taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries from an apparent gunshot wound. Charlotte Medic tweeted that the person was injured Wednesday night but didn't give details. The service says it has taken eight patients seven law-enforcement officers and one civilian to area hospitals during protests over the police shooting of a black man. ___ 8:35 p.m. Protesters have rushed police in riot gear at a downtown Charlotte hotel and officers have fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. 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. 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. ___ 8:30 p.m. Groups of college students are descending on the condominium complex parking lot where a black man was shot and killed by a black Charlotte police officer. 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. Meanwhile, students and faculty from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte canvassed the neighborhood, some of them offering words of comfort while others passed out water. 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. ___ 8:10 p.m. A prayer vigil over the fatal police shooting of a black man in Charlotte has turned into a protest march through downtown. Several hundred marchers have been angry but peaceful Wednesday night 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. The scene was in contrast to Tuesday's protest, which turned violent with protesters threw rocks and damaged police vehicles. ___ 6:30 p.m. The White House says President Barack Obama has called the mayors of Charlotte and Tulsa to get an update on protests after fatal shootings involving police officers and a black victim. Obama made calls to mayors Jennifer Roberts of Charlotte and Dewey Bartlett of Tulsa. The White House says Obama expressed his condolences to both mayors and affirmed the administration's commitment to provide assistance as needed. Obama and the mayors reiterated that protests should be conducted in a peaceful manner and that local law enforcement should find ways to calmly engage those protesting. The White House says Obama will continue to get updates on the situations from Attorney General Loretta Lynch and White House adviser Valerie Jarrett. ___ 3:45 p.m. The mother of a man shot to death by Charlotte police says he was a family man. Keith Lamont Scott's mother, Vernita Walker of Charleston, South Carolina, told The Charlotte Observer that her son had seven children. She told the newspaper: "He was a family man . And he was a likable person. And he loved his wife and his children." Scott has a criminal record in three states, including Texas, South Carolina and North Carolina. 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. ___ 3:10 p.m. About 100 students gathered at the student union at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to protest the shooting death of a black man by a police officer about a mile from campus. The students first gathered on a patio behind the student union and were led in prayer. They walked back into the union and held a "lay-in" by lying on the green-carpeted floor in the rotunda. Some students wore T-shirts reading "Black Lives Matter." Eventually, they began singing "This Little Light of Mine." The school's chancellor was scheduled to speak later Wednesday afternoon. Police say Keith Lamont Scott refused repeated demands to drop a handgun and was shot. Neighborhood residents say Scott was unarmed when he was shot to death. ___ 2:45 p.m. Court records indicate that the man shot to death by Charlotte police had a criminal record including an assault conviction. 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. 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. She told reporters: "What he was doing at the time of the shooting is what's relevant." ___ A woman who identified herself as the mother of a black man who was shot to death by Charlotte police says her son was raised in the Charleston, South Carolina, area. Vernita Walker told The Post and Courier (http://bit.ly/2dbsqY1) that her son Keith Lamont Scott attended James Island Charter School, but she refused to comment further to the newspaper. A woman who identified herself as Scott's mother answered a cellphone listed for Scott's sister and told The Associated Press the family was not commenting. At the Walker residence in a neighborhood of modest ranch homes near Charleston, a man standing in the driveway, who would not give his name, said the family had no comment. He said a statement might be issued on Thursday. ___ 12:30 p.m. 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 restricting release of such footage doesn't take effect until Oct. 1. 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. ___ 12 p.m. Attorney General Loretta Lynch says the police shooting deaths in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina, are highlighting the most vivid and painful divisions that persist between law enforcement and communities of color. Lynch made her comments at the beginning of her address to the International Bar Association Conference in Washington. She says the Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the death of Terrence Crutcher in Tulsa and the agency is in regular contact with Charlotte authorities as the investigation begins there. Charlotte's police chief says 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott refused multiple warnings to drop a handgun before a black officer fatally shot the black man. 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 and was unarmed when he was shot. ___ 10:45 a.m. An outspoken leader of the Nation of Islam is calling for an economic boycott of Charlotte after a police officer shot a man to death. B.J. Murphy called for the boycott Wednesday at a news conference of black leaders, saying if black lives don't matter, black money shouldn't matter. Murphy and others were reacting to the police shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, a black man who was killed Tuesday. Authorities say he had a gun and refused officers' commands to drop it. The officer who fired the fatal shot is also black. A woman claiming to be Scott's daughter said in a video posted on Facebook that her father was unarmed and had a book, not a gun. Police say they did not find a book at the scene. ___ 10:30 a.m. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney says officers recovered a gun that they say a man had when he was shot and killed by an officer. Putney said at a news conference Wednesday that 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott had a gun, but no book when officers searched him and his vehicle. A woman claiming to be Scott's daughter said in a video posted on Facebook that her father was unarmed and had a book, not a gun. The woman's claims could not be verified by The Associated Press. Putney also says several police vehicles were damaged in the protests that followed Wednesday afternoon's shooting. Putney says the officer who shot Scott, Brently Vinson, was not wearing a body camera. Putney says he cannot release body camera and dashboard camera video from other officers because of the ongoing investigation. ___ 9:45 a.m. The Charlotte police chief says officers gave 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott multiple warnings to drop a handgun before fatally shooting him. Police Chief Kerr Putney said during a news conference Wednesday morning that officers were searching for a suspect Tuesday when they saw Scott exit a vehicle with a handgun. He says the officers told him to drop the gun and that he got out of the vehicle a second time still carrying the gun. He says the man was shot because he posed a threat. He says officers requested medical help and performed CPR on the black man. The black officer who shot Scott has been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated. The chief said 16 officers sustained minor injuries during protests Tuesday night and that one person has been arrested. ___ 9:20 a.m. A civil rights activist says he has a powerful witness to the shooting of a black man by a black Charlotte police officer at an apartment complex. John Barnett said Wednesday morning that the witness did not see 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott make any threatening gestures toward officers before he was shot Tuesday afternoon. Scott died at the scene of the shooting. Barnett did not immediately name the witness. 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. Charlotte's mayor and police chief also plan to make statements about the shooting Wednesday morning. ___ 9:10. a.m. Charlotte officials plan to release a statement on the latest in their investigation of the shooting of a black man by a black police officer Tuesday afternoon. The statement was to be released at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if a city spokesman would take questions on the investigation. Streets in Charlotte were clear Wednesday morning after angry motorists protested over the shooting Tuesday night. Forty-three-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was shot to death by an officer who has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation into the shooting. Scott's family was expected to meet with reporters at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. ___ 5:50 a.m. The streets in Charlotte, North Carolina, are quiet Wednesday morning after angry protests over the fatal police shooting of a black man left officers injured and shut down an interstate. Traffic is flowing again on Interstate 85, hours after protesters blocked the highway and television footage showed some apparently looting semi-trucks and setting their contents on fire. No protesters could be seen around 5 a.m. but broken glass and rocks littered the ground where a police car had been vandalized during protests earlier. Less than 5 miles away, wooden pallets barricaded the entrance to a Wal-Mart that had apparently been looted. The protests broke out Tuesday after 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was fatally shot by a black officer at an apartment complex on the city's northeast side. ___ 3 a.m. Demonstrators protesting the fatal shooting of a black man by a police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina, have shut down a small section of Interstate 85. TV footage early Wednesday showed dozens of protesters on the highway facing a line of law enforcement officers. At one point a fire flared up. The North Carolina Department of Transportation website shows a portion of the highway near UNC Charlotte is closed in both directions. The website says the closure is due to police activity. Neither the North Carolina Highway Patrol nor Charlotte police could immediately be reached for comment. The protest comes after police on Tuesday fatally shot 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. Demonstrators had gathered earlier near the scene of the shooting before a smaller group moved to the highway. The 2008 financial collapse was eight years ago this month and the big banks are back to their old shenanigans. Venerable Wells Fargo has engaged in behavior that would have made a robber baron blush: It pressured low-wage workers with unrealistic sales targets, so these workers created 2 million bogus accounts over five years, causing customers to be hit with fees and damage to their credit ratings. Some 5,300 workers have been fired and $185 million in penalties assessed to the bank, but not a single high-level executive has been sacked or even forced to give back the tens of millions of dollars in pay earned based on the fraud. When Wells Fargo chairman and chief executive John Stumpf sat before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, he represented a bank too big to fail, too sprawling to manage and too arrogant to own up to its failures. Cant Wells Fargo take back some of the executive payouts? Im not an expert in compensation, Stumpf said. Would he commit to investigate whether the fraud began in earlier years? I cant tell you that today. Did he learn about the fraud before reading about it in the Los Angeles Times? I dont remember the exact time frame. Stumpf informed the senators that what Wells Fargo did was not a scam, disputed that this is a massive fraud, and said he had no idea why people did this. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., encouraged Stumpf to make certain that the employees are not the scapegoat for behavior at higher levels. Stumpf repeated that the 5,300, for whatever reason, they were dishonest, and Im not scapegoating. If high-level bankers didnt go to prison for the subprime hijinks that caused the 2008 crash, its a safe bet that none will in the Wells Fargo scandal, either. But if arrogance were a criminal offense, Stumpf would be looking at a life sentence. The banks fraud, and the executives insolence, may have one salutary result: It takes off the agenda any plan to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, one of the post-2008 regulatory creations and a top target of Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. The Los Angeles city attorney and the Los Angeles Times may deserve more credit for exposing the wrongdoing, but the audacity at Wells Fargo shows that the industry isnt about to police itself. Stumpf also managed to create rare bipartisan unity on the Banking Committee in condemnation of his actions. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, was stunned, Dean Heller, R-Nev., compared him to Sgt. Schultz of Hogans Heroes, Robert Menendez, D-N.J., called the actions despicable, and Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa., told Stumpf: This isnt cross-selling, this is fraud. Populist firebrand Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said the Wells Fargo chief should resign, return his payouts and be subject to criminal investigations. If one of your tellers took a handful of $20 bills out of the crash drawer, theyd probably be looking at criminal charges for theft, she said. But you kept your job, you kept your multimillion-dollar bonuses and you went on television to blame thousands of $12-an-hour employees who were just trying to meet cross-sell quotas that made you rich. Stumpf blinked rapidly while listening to his accusers, as if sending Morse-code distress signals. His right hand, when he raised it to take the oath, was heavily bandaged. He offered obligatory statements of remorse (I am deeply sorry that weve failed to fulfill on our responsibility. I accept full responsibility for all unethical sales practices. We should have done more, sooner). But how is it fair for executives to take home millions after thousands of workers defrauded customers? Its a good question, Stumpf allowed. Answers, however, were hard to come by. Would he recommend taking back some of the $125 million payout to the head of the division that committed the fraud? Im not on the human resources and compensation committee. Was she at least fired over this? No, Carrie (Tolstedt) chose to retire. Half a dozen times, Stumpf repeated that the 5,300 workers fired were only 1 percent of his workforce much like an airline executive arguing after a plane crash that 99 percent of his planes landed safely. A fraud involving only 5,300 people? Every time you say that, you give ammunition to the folks who want to break up the big banks, Jon Tester, D-Mont., told him. And heres more ammo: Stumpf, who presided over the whole thing, took home $19.3 million last year. Its no mere coincidence that a new Oliver Stone movie lionizing Edward Snowden is hitting the screens just as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the ACLU are buying full-page ads urging President Barack Obama to pardon the former National Security Agency leaker. Whatever pangs of compassion Obama might be feeling in his waning days as commander in chief, his better judgment must prevail. A pardon of Snowden would be a mistake of gigantic proportions. This newspaper has previously stated that Snowdens heroism might outweigh the treasonous acts he committed by stealing an estimated 58,000 documents from NSA computers and handing them over unfiltered for journalists to publish as they saw fit. Sure, let him come home from his self-exile in Russia. And prosecute him. Snowdens supporters assert he is a whistleblower who exposed U.S. government spying abuses against its citizens and allies. Unethical as the abuses were, none of the data revealed illegality. Snowden was blowing a dog whistle. Snowden gained access to some of the governments most sensitive secrets by obtaining a security clearance, which included a pledge never to reveal classified information. There was no fine-print subparagraph buried deep within his employment agreement that stipulated permission to reveal secrets to the news media if he disagreed with U.S. policy. The theft of secret information is a crime, regardless of the justification. If Snowden believed the law was being broken, the only responsible action would be to alert internal investigators. Instead, he stole massive amounts of secrets and dumped all the data on journalists, leaving it to them to sift out what was important and what deserved to be kept from public view. Snowden revealed U.S. intelligence assets and methods, potentially aided Americas enemies and put lives in danger. He acknowledged in a 2015 HBO interview with comedian John Oliver that he knew release of this information could be harmful. He did it anyway. Regardless of motive, Snowden is not above the law and must answer for treason and the unauthorized distribution of classified information. A presidential pardon would send an anything-goes signal to others with secret clearances and an axe to grind. Americas intelligence community would rise up in revolt. NSA abuses came under the guise of keeping the nation safe from terrorists, foreign spies, hackers and saboteurs. We all must accept that, loathsome as it is to know that our government is spying on our emails, phone calls and internet traffic, its even more loathsome to imagine our government letting down its guard, declaring a no-spy rule, and giving the enemy free rein, all for the sake of protecting privacy. There are no easy answers here, Oliver stated. We all, naturally, want perfect privacy and perfect safety. But those two things cannot coexist. Free-standing chain-link fencing can be put up in a very short amount of time at very little cost, and we all should commit to this solution until the killings in our schools stop. Sign up for StreetInsider Free! Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more! 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 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) TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/21/16 -- Beleave Inc. ("Beleave" or the "Company") (CSE: BE) is pleased to announce the closing today of a non-brokered private placement financing (the "Financing") for gross proceeds of $1,405,000. Pursuant to the Financing the Company issued an aggregate of 3,512,500 Units (each a "Unit") at a price of $0.40 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share ("Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable for one Common Share at a price of $0.50 for a period of two years from date of closing. The Company will use the net proceeds of the Financing to complete its proposed facility and for general working capital purposes. "The current financing was very strategic in nature," commented Roger Ferreira, CEO of Beleave. "The company has accepted capital from a group of investors that will further aid in the company's cost-effective expansion plans, research programs, and client acquisition strategy. We remain committed to becoming a licensed producer under Health Canada's Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations, while ensuring that we scale from a strategic economic perspective." The Common Shares and Warrants issued pursuant to the Financing are subject to a four-month hold period. No finder's fees were paid in connection with the Financing. About Beleave Beleave Inc. is a biotech company committed to becoming a licensed producer under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (the "ACMPR"). Beleave's wholly owned subsidiary First Access Medical Inc. ("FAM") has applied for a licence to cultivate and sell medical marihuana pursuant to the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, now the ACMPR. As of the date hereof, FAM has successfully advanced past the security clearance stage and is currently in the review stage of the licensing process. Beleave's purpose built facility is located near Hamilton, Ontario. Beleave is traded on the CSE under the symbol BE, with 21,518,355 Common Shares outstanding (33,784,690 on a fully diluted basis). Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains 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. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. This news release includes forward-looking statements with respect to the completion of the ACMPR licensing process and the start of production. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Source: Beleave Inc. LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Investigators from the California Labor Commissioner's Office issued $682,344 in fines to 18 garment manufacturers and contractors in a two day enforcement operation in the Los Angeles area. The penalties included a total of $603,043 in fines and stop orders for six employers with no workers' compensation insurance, and $42,300 in penalties issued to 14 businesses for garment registration violations. Investigators confiscated 85 bags of illegally manufactured garments with an estimated street value of $155,457 at nine of the businesses. "Sweatshop operators threaten garment workers' rights and undermine honest employers in the industry, making it difficult for legitimate garment businesses to stay in operation," said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. "These illegal entities should take note: we will shine a light on the underground economy and those who contract with unregistered contractors will also be held accountable." The two day enforcement sweep began on September 7 and included 22 worksite inspections. The 18 garment businesses cited employ 296 workers. The Labor Commissioner's office is pursuing wage theft investigations on those employers who also failed to pay proper wages under the California Labor Code. The Garment Manufacturing Act of 1980 requires that all industry employers register with the Labor Commissioner and demonstrate adequate character, competency, and responsibility, including workers' compensation insurance coverage. Garment manufacturers who contract with unregistered entities are automatically deemed joint employers of the workers in the contract facility. Clothing confiscated from illegal operations cannot be sold, and will be donated to a non-profit agency which will provide the items to homeless and domestic violence shelters in the Los Angeles area. The Labor Commissioner also administers a special wage claim adjudication process for garment workers pursuant to California's AB 633, passed in 1999. This law provides not only an expedited process for garment workers to file wage claims but also provides a wage guarantee where garment manufacturers are responsible for wage theft at their contractors' facilities. The Wage Theft is a Crime website was launched as part of a multilingual public awareness campaign in 2014 by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Labor Commissioner's Office. The Wage Theft is a Crime campaign informs workers of their rights and employers of their responsibilities. Workers and employers with work-related questions may also contact DIR's Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). DIR protects and improves the health, safety and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), also known as the Labor Commissioner's Office, inspects workplaces for wage and hour violations, adjudicates wage claims, investigates retaliation complaints, issues licenses and registrations for businesses, enforces prevailing wage rates and apprenticeship standards in public works projects, and educates the public on labor laws. Members of the press may contact Peter Melton or Paola Laverde at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR's press releases or other departmental updates. The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR's Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department. https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR https://twitter.com/CA_DIR http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/california-labor-commissioner-fines-18-los-angeles-garment-manufacturers-682344-for-labor-law-violations-300332928.html SOURCE California Department of Industrial Relations; California Labor Commissioners Office TORONTO, ON -- (Marketwired) -- 09/21/16 -- Gran Colombia Gold Corp. (the "Company") (TSX: GCM) (OTC PINK: TPRFF) announced today that it is monitoring the civil situation in Segovia and Remedios in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia, in which the Company's Segovia Operations are located. A local mining collective, comprised in its majority by illegal miners, has convened a civil strike in Segovia and Remedios to exert pressure in negotiations it is having with the government of the Department of Antioquia, the National Mining Agency, Procuraduria, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, and the Company. This mining collective has been in discussion with the various levels of government and the Company since February of this year related to the Colombian government's national program to formalize illegal mining in the country. At issue is Decree 1421 from the Ministry of Mining and Energy, which became effective on September 1, 2016, that requires small processing plants to obtain a registration with the Colombian government and an environmental license and to only process and sell gold with a proper certificate of origin. While the Company's employees are not directly involved in this dispute, the civil strike has now impeded their ability to safely report to work. The Company is taking appropriate measures and has implemented the necessary security procedures. There are also increased numbers of governmental authorities present to aid in controlling the situation. The Company will continue to monitor and provide updates on this situation and whether there is any significant impact on its mining operations. The Company is continuing to process stockpiles at the Segovia operations but the supply is limited and not expected to sustain operations into next week. On August 11, 2016, the Company announced it had increased its production guidance for 2016 to a total of 135,000 to 145,000 ounces of gold for the year and continues to expect total production to be in this range unless the local civil strike is prolonged. About Gran Colombia Gold Corp. Gran Colombia is a Canadian-based gold and silver exploration, development and production company with its primary focus in Colombia. Gran Colombia is currently the largest underground gold and silver producer in Colombia with several underground mines in operation at its Segovia and Marmato Operations. Gran Colombia is currently advancing a project to develop a modern, large-scale, gold and silver mine at its Segovia operations. Additional information on Gran Colombia can be found on its website at www.grancolombiagold.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information", which may include, but is not limited to, potential strategies for the Company's future. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gran Colombia to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of March 30, 2016, which is available for view on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and Gran Colombia disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For Further Information, Please Contact:Mike DaviesChief Financial Officer(416) [email protected] Source: Gran Colombia Gold Corp. MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GWAVA Inc, the leading provider of archiving, security and eDiscovery for electronic communication, today announced the release of GWAVA 7. This latest release of GWAVA Messaging Security product features several major changes to GWAVAs architecture, setup, and interface. We are excited for this latest release of GWAVA, said Ken Muir, GWAVA CEO. The GWAVA 7 release improves on its technology to ensure that messaging systems and networks are free of viruses, malware, illicit images and spam. With the ever-growing threats to the network and email system, it is imperative that organizations are protected from cyber-attacks, ransomware, malware, spam, viruses, illicit images and spam. GWAVA is a leader in protecting organizations, across multiple industries, including government, education, financial services, healthcare and other corporations. With GWAVA 7, organizations can be assured their inbound & outbound communication is secure. GWAVA provides antivirus, anti-spam, cybercrime protection, DDoS protection, and porn blocking with built-in image analysis. The capabilities of GWAVA ensure that organizations are safe from current and future threats. GWAVA 7, provides additional capabilities to include a new user interface, new role-based administration, multi-tenant support, easy-to-configure notifications, multi-threaded scanning and improved pattern matching. In addition, GWAVA protects Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, Micro Focus GroupWise, Gmail, and Lotus Domino email systems. GWAVA Messaging Security is available on-prem or in the cloud, giving organizations flexibility of deployment. For more information about GWAVA 7, visit https://www.gwava.com/gwava-7-whats-new About GWAVA For more than a decade, GWAVA remains unsurpassed at protecting electronic messaging infrastructures and providing those systems with superior unified archiving. The Retain Unified Archiving solution by GWAVA enables organizations to seamlessly archive all electronic communication data, including email (Exchange, Office 365, Gmail and GroupWise), social media, instant messaging, and mobile communication in one central location. GWAVA is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec with offices throughout the US, Germany, and the United Kingdom. GWAVA maintains a network of global strategic partners with BlackBerry, Samsung, Microsoft, Novell and Verizon. GWAVAs key industry verticals include, Government, Education, Financial Services, Legal, and Healthcare. Information on GWAVA can be found at www.GWAVA.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160921006667/en/ Press: Christina Wood, 866-464-9282 x302 Senior Director of Global Marketing [email protected] Source: GWAVA Inc MARYVILLE, TN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (NYSE: RT) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Altard State to sell its Church Street property for $2.8 million. The 40,000 square foot building is located at 150 W. Church Avenue in Maryville, TN. The completion of the transaction is targeted for October 2016, subject to customary closing conditions. Additionally, Ruby Tuesday has announced plans to consolidate its Restaurant Support Center at its property at 333 E. Broadway Avenue in Maryville, TN by the end of January 2017. This follows the Companys announcement on August 11, 2016 to close 95 restaurants as part of its asset rationalization plan. Lane Cardwell, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, Consolidating our Restaurant Support Center will streamline our cost infrastructure as we continue to execute against our Fresh Start initiatives. We are confident in our long-term strategies and believe we are positioning Ruby Tuesday to deliver improved operational results over time. About Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Ruby Tuesday, Inc. owns and franchises Ruby Tuesday brand restaurants. As of August 30, 2016, there were 615 Ruby Tuesday restaurants in 42 states, 14 foreign countries, and Guam. Of those restaurants, we owned and operated 547 Ruby Tuesday restaurants and franchised 68 Ruby Tuesday restaurants, comprised of 18 domestic and 50 international restaurants. Our corporate-owned and operated restaurants are concentrated primarily in the Southeast, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest of the United States, which we consider to be our core markets. For more information about Ruby Tuesday, please visit www.rubytuesday.com. Ruby Tuesday, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (Symbol: RT). Forward-looking Information This press release contains various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements represent our expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including one or more of the following: future financial performance (including our estimates of changes in same-restaurant sales, average unit volumes, operating margins, expenses, and other items), future capital expenditures, the effect of strategic initiatives (including statements relating to cost savings initiatives and the benefits of our marketing), the opening or closing of restaurants by us or our franchisees, sales of our real estate or purchases of new real estate, future borrowings and repayments of debt, availability of financing on terms attractive to the Company, compliance with financial covenants in our debt instruments, payment of dividends, stock and bond repurchases, restaurant acquisitions and dispositions, and changes in senior management and in the Board of Directors. We caution the reader that a number of important factors and uncertainties could, individually or in the aggregate, cause our actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the following: general economic conditions; changes in promotional, couponing and advertising strategies; changes in our customers disposable income; consumer spending trends and habits; increased competition in the restaurant market; laws and regulations, including those affecting labor and employee benefit costs, such as further potential increases in state and federally mandated minimum wages and healthcare reform; the impact of pending litigation; customers acceptance of changes in menu items; changes in the availability and cost of capital; potential limitations imposed by debt covenants under our debt instruments; weather conditions in the regions in which Company-owned and franchised restaurants are operated; costs and availability of food and beverage inventory, including supply and delivery shortages or interruptions; significant fluctuations in energy prices; security breaches of our customers or employees confidential information or personal data or the failure of our information technology and computer systems; our ability to attract and retain qualified managers, franchisees and team members; impact of adoption of new accounting standards; impact of food-borne illnesses resulting from an outbreak at either one of our restaurant concepts or other competing restaurant concepts; effects of actual or threatened future terrorist attacks in the United States; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors included in Part I, Item A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2016. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922006267/en/ Investor Relations ICR Melissa Calandruccio, 646-277-1273 [email protected] or Media Relations ICR Christine Beggan, 203-682-8329 [email protected] Source: Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Charleston, South Carolina (PRWEB) September 22, 2016 Citadel President Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa has been selected to receive the Chief Executive Leadership Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education(CASE) District III, which represents nine Southeastern states. The award will be presented during the CASE District III Conference on Feb. 7 in Nashville, Tennessee. Rosa received the award because of his keen focus on strategic initiatives that will enhance The Citadel's mission of developing principled leaders. A key emphasis for Rosa has been keeping a Citadel education relevant in the 21st century while holding to the values that make the college unique. Since Rosa's tenure as president began, The Citadel has increased the size of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets and completed a $100 million capital campaign -- two benchmarks of a vibrant institution. "President Rosa exemplifies the finest qualities of leadership inspiring with vision and encouraging innovation, leading the institution to higher levels of success, and supporting all aspects of institutional advancement that CASE III is proud to recognize through its Chief Executive Leadership Award" said CASE III Board Chair, Kris Phillips. "He has led The Citadel with distinction for more than 10 years, challenging the entire campus community to address some difficult issues all while championing and building institutional morale and pride" continued Phillips. Before returning to his alma mater in 2005, Rosa had a 32-year career in the Air Force and logged more than 3,600 flying hours as a command fighter pilot. Among his career highlights, he was stationed in Lossiemouth, Scotland, as an American exchange officer flying the Jaguar for the Royal Air Force. He has commanded at squadron, group and wing levels at air bases in South Korea, Idaho, South Carolina, New Mexico and Georgia. He served as inspector general for Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii and commandant of The Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. As deputy director for operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C., he was in charge of the National Military Command Center and served as the military spokesman for the Pentagon when U.S. troops were deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq in 2002. In July 2003, he was named superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., and in September of that year, he was promoted to lieutenant general. He remained in that position until his retirement from active duty in November 2005. Rosa is a member of the board of directors of The Citadel Foundation, Trident United Way, and Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative Board. He is an ex officio member of The Citadel School of Business Advisory Board and also serves as a member of the Economic Leadership Council of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance. Established in 1999, this prestigious award recognizes the chief executive of a District III member institution for outstanding leadership and service in support of education. It is an opportunity for CASE to applaud and promote the creative and difficult work of our top educational executives. We invite nominations of chief executives whose contributions to their campuses and communities deserve exceptional recognition and celebration. About The Citadel The Citadel, with its iconic campus located in Charleston, South Carolina offers a classic military college education for young men and women focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction. Approximately 30 percent of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets commission as officers in every branch of U.S. military service upon graduating. Citadel alumni have served the nation, their state and their communities as principled leaders since the college was founded in 1842. The Citadel Graduate College offers more than 70 graduate degrees, graduate certificates, and evening undergraduate programs with many available online. The Citadel has been named Best Public College in the South for six consecutive years, #1 Best Public College in the South for Veterans, #3 Best College for Veterans in the South (public and private), and #1 Best College Value in the South by U.S. News and World Report, as well as the best value out of all South Carolina colleges and universities, by Forbes. Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/09/prweb13702949.htm By Kira Zavyalova and Katya Golubkova MOSCOW (Reuters) - Foreign investors put $1.25 billion into a Russian sovereign Eurobond top-up on Thursday in a deal more than six times oversubscribed, showing Moscow can readily tap global markets in spite of Western sanctions. The top-up, which allowed the finance ministry to fill its external borrowing needs for this year, was different from the initial offer of $1.75 billion in May, when it was carried via Russia's National Settlement Depository (NSD) only as major Western financial institutions chose to steer clear. "We saw a huge demand from investors... Around 200 investors from the United States, Britain, Europe, Asia and Russia submitted their bids," Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said in a statement. "Placement was done in less than 10 hours." One of world's biggest settlement houses, Euroclear, started servicing the initial issue of 10-year paper in July, and it and NSD are both handling the $1.25 billion top-up. Russia's VTB Capital was acting as a sole arranger of the whole issue. The demand, which was over $7.5 billion, allowed the yield to be cut to 3.9 percent from initial guidance of 3.99 percent and 4.75 percent offered in May. The top-up was priced at 106.75 percent of par, Siluanov said. Investor appetite for the issue was driven in part by a search for returns, especially after the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to keep its rates unchanged rather than raise them on Wednesday. "The combination of a global hunt for yield and the lack of Russian securities after 2 years of sanctions is creating a very strong technical backdrop so I wouldn't be surprised if this or any other Russian issue triggered a lot of interest among investors," said Michael Bolliger, head of asset allocation for emerging markets at UBS Wealth Management. SANCTIONS Russian Eurobond issues are not directly covered by the Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine, but the sanctions have cast a shadow over Russian debt-raising efforts. "Moscow will be eager through this tap to send a message that it can still finance itself in the market circumventing or eroding the impact of Western sanctions," said Tim Ash, senior credit strategist at Nomura. In May, the finance ministry blocked Russian state banks from participation in the Eurobond issue, aiming instead to encourage foreign and private investors. Siluanov said on Thursday that the additional issue was placed among foreign investors only, of which the United States accounted for 53 percent, Europe - 43 percent and Asia - for 4 percent. Russia's external borrowing plan calls for raising $3 billion in 2016. The government is trying to prevent the budget deficit from widening beyond its target of around 3 percent of gross domestic product. Its plans to raise extra revenue via privatizations were knocked off course when the government postponed the sale of shares in mid-sized oil company Bashneft last month. "The budget will benefit from any extra money after the decisions to postpone the major privatization deals and rising risks of having the federal budget get closer to 4 percent of GDP," ING said. Russian Economy Ministry Alexei Ulyukayev said on Thursday that the Eurobond top-up and the privatization process were not linked to each other. So far, Russia managed to privatize part of its stake in diamond miner Alrosa earlier this year and was aiming to reduce its holdings in oil company Rosneft as well as Bashneft. (Additional reporting by Darya Korsunskaya, Elena Orekhova, Alexander Winning and Polina Devitt in MOSCOW, Sujata Rao in LONDON; writing by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Toby Chopra) U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Colombian President Juan Manual Santos during their meeting in New York September 21, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed on Wednesday a peace deal between Colombia's government and leftist FARC rebels to end Latin America's longest war, describing it as an "historic achievement." After almost four years of talks, the FARC and government last month reached a final peace accord that will be signed by FARC commander Rodrigo Londono, better known by the nom de guerre Timochenko, and President Juan Manuel Santos on Sept. 26. Colombians will have the last word during an Oct. 2. plebiscite. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Howard Goller) SANAA (Reuters) - At least 19 civilians were killed on Wednesday when a Saudi-led coalition air strike hit a house in western Yemen, according to residents, medics and a local official. Fighter jets of an Arab alliance launched missiles on Wednesday at a presidential palace in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah occupied by leaders of the Iran-allied Houthi militia, a resident told Reuters. A raid hit a house in a neighborhood populated by workers adjacent to the palace killing 19 civilians and wounding dozens, according to Hashim Azazi, deputy governor of Hodeidah province. He said rescue workers were still pulling victims out of the rubble. A Houthi leader, Ali al-Amad, said in a Tweet he had survived a raid on the presidential palace. "The scene was awful. Body parts were mixed up with the remains of the house and blood filled the place," a resident told Reuters, declining to have his name published out of fear for his safety. The Saudi-led coalition was formed early last year to fight the Houthis after they took over the capital Sanaa, made gains in other provinces and forced Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government to flee into exile. U.N.-sponsored talks to try to end the fighting that has killed more than 10,000 people collapsed in failure last month and the Houthi movement and allied forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh resumed shelling into neighboring Saudi Arabia. Wednesday's attacks were the latest in a series of strikes that have hit schools, hospitals, markets and private homes. A coalition spokesperson was not immediately available to comment. Saudi officials say aircraft of the Arab alliance only target military facilities in Yemen. Nearly half of Yemen's 22 provinces are on the verge of famine, according to the U.N. World Food Programme, as a result of the war that has drawn in regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari; Writing by Tom Finn; Editing by Janet Lawrence and James Dalgleish) Iranian president Hassan Rouhani takes part in a press conference near the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.S., September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson NEW YORK (Reuters) - Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that American companies were welcome to invest in Iran. "Iran has never had problems with American companies to invest in Iran ... the nuclear deal has paved the ground for all foreign investors and companies to invest in Iran," Rouhani told a news conference on the sidelines of the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Chris Reese) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D (Rule 13d-101) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO 240.13D-1(A) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO 240.13-D (Amendment No. 7)* Alcatel Lucent (Name of Issuer) Ordinary Shares (Title of Class of Securities) ISIN No. FR0000130007 (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities) Copies to: Riikka Tieaho Vice President, Corporate Legal Nokia Corporation Karaportti 3 FI-02610 Espoo Finland Tel. No.: +358 (0) 10-448-8000 Scott V. Simpson Michal Berkner Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP 40 Bank Street London E14 5DS United Kingdom Tel. No.: +44 20-7519-7000 September 22, 2016 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement) If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box. Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent. * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). (Continued on following pages) (Page 1 of 8) Schedule 13D CUSIP No. 013904305 Page 2 of 8 1 Names of reporting persons: Nokia Corporation I.R.S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons: Not Applicable 2 Check the appropriate box if a member of a group: (a) (b) 3 SEC use only 4 Source of funds: OO 5 Check box if disclosure of legal proceedings is required pursuant to Item 2(d) or 2(e): 6 Citizenship or place of organization: Republic of Finland Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with 7 Sole voting power: 3 478 687 637 (1) 8 Shared voting power: 0 9 Sole dispositive power: 3 478 687 637 (1) 10 Shared dispositive power: 0 11 Aggregate amount beneficially owned by reporting person: 3 478 687 637 (1) 12 Check if the aggregate amount in Row (11) excludes certain shares: 13 Percent of class represented by amount in Row (11): 95.4% (2) representing 95.4% of the total outstanding voting power (3) 14 Type of reporting person: CO (1) Representing (i) 3 373 845 309 Alcatel Lucent Shares, (ii) 82 608 794 Alcatel Lucent Shares issuable upon conversion of the 82 608 794 of the 2019 OCEANEs held by Nokia at the current conversion ratio of one 2019 OCEANE to one Alcatel Lucent Share and (iii) 22 233 534 Alcatel Lucent Shares issuable upon conversion of the 22 233 534 of the 2020 OCEANEs held by Nokia at the current conversion ratio of one 2020 OCEANE to one Alcatel Lucent Share. (2) Based on the maximum number of 3 644 522 404 Alcatel Lucent Shares (including Alcatel Lucent Shares issuable upon conversion of OCEANEs held by Nokia) outstanding as of September 16, 2016. (3) Based on the maximum number of 3 647 182 645 Alcatel Lucent theoretical voting rights (including Alcatel Lucent theoretical voting rights issuable upon conversion of OCEANEs held by Nokia) outstanding as of September 16, 2016. Page 3 of 8 This Amendment No. 7 is being filed by Nokia with respect to Alcatel Lucent Securities, and it hereby amends the statement of beneficial ownership on Schedule 13D originally filed on January 26, 2016, as amended on February 10, 2016, March 17, 2016, May 10, 2016, May 17, 2016, June 17, 2016 and September 6, 2016 (collectively with this Amendment No. 7, the Schedule 13D). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined have the meanings given to them in the Schedule 13D. Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration Item 3 is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following: The maximum cash outlay for the acquisition of all the Alcatel Lucent Securities targeted by the Offer (as defined below), on the basis of the Offer price of 3.50 euros per Alcatel Lucent Share, 4.51 euros per 2019 OCEANE and 4.50 euros per 2020 OCEANE, will be 633 282 953.71 euros (excluding the related costs and expenses). The Offer will be fully financed by Nokias own funds. Item 4. Purpose of Transaction Item 4 is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following: On September 20, 2016, Nokia announced that the AMF approved the Offer. As previously announced, Nokia proposes to acquire, through the Public Buy-Out Offer, all the Alcatel Lucent Shares, 2019 OCEANEs and 2020 OCEANEs it does not already own. The Public Buy-Out Offer will be followed by the Squeeze-Out of the Alcatel Lucent Shares and OCEANEs not tendered into the Public Buy-Out Offer, in accordance with the General Regulation of the AMF. In the Public Buy-Out Offer, Nokia is offering a consideration of EUR 3.50 per Alcatel Lucent Share, EUR 4.51 per 2019 OCEANE, and EUR 4.50 per 2020 OCEANE. In the Squeeze-Out, the Alcatel Lucent Shares and OCEANEs not tendered into the Public Buy-Out Offer will be transferred to Nokia for the same consideration as the above-mentioned consideration of the Public-Buy-Out Offer. The Offer will be made exclusively in France, and in the United States pursuant to an exemption from the U.S. tender offer rules provided by Rule 14d-1(c) and, to the extent applicable, Rule 13e-4(h)(8) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Holders of Alcatel-Lucent Shares and OCEANEs located outside of France and the United States may not participate in the Public Buy-Out Offer except if, pursuant to the local laws and regulations applicable to those holders, they are permitted to do so. Following the clearance decision of the Offer by the AMF on September 20, 2016, Nokia announced on September 22, 2016 that it has commenced the Public Buy-Out Offer. The Public Buy-Out Offer will be open for 10 trading days, from September 22, 2016 until October 5, 2016, and the Squeeze-Out will be implemented on October 6, 2016. These dates were confirmed on September 21, 2016 by the AMF in its notice of opening and timetable of the Offer, after Nokia and Alcatel Lucent had filed their respective other information documents relating, in particular, to their legal, financial and accounting characteristics. The forgoing description of the joint offer document, the Nokia other information document and the Alcatel Lucent other information document are summaries and are qualified in their entirety by the terms of the joint offer document, the Nokia other information document and the Alcatel Lucent other information, copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibits 12, 13 and 14, respectively, to this Amendment No. 7 and are incorporated herein by reference. Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer Item 5(a) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: There were 3 644 522 404 Alcatel Lucent Shares (including Alcatel Lucent Shares issuable upon conversion of OCEANEs held by Nokia) outstanding as of September 16, 2016 and 3 647 182 645 Alcatel Lucent theoretical voting rights (including Alcatel Lucent theoretical voting rights issuable upon conversion of OCEANEs held by Nokia) as of September 16, 2016. Page 4 of 8 Nokia beneficially owns (i) 3 373 845 309 Alcatel Lucent Shares, (ii) 82 608 794 Alcatel Lucent Shares issuable upon conversion of the 82 608 794 of the 2019 OCEANEs held by Nokia at the current conversion ratio of one 2019 OCEANE to one Alcatel Lucent Share and (iii) 22 233 534 Alcatel Lucent Shares issuable upon conversion of the 22 233 534 of the 2020 OCEANEs held by Nokia at the current conversion ratio of one 2020 OCEANE to one Alcatel Lucent Share. Nokia beneficially owns 95.4% of the Alcatel Lucent Shares (including Alcatel Lucent Shares issuable upon conversion of OCEANEs held by Nokia) representing 95.4% of the total outstanding theoretical voting rights in Alcatel Lucent (including Alcatel Lucent theoretical voting rights issuable upon conversion of OCEANEs held by Nokia). In addition to the Alcatel Lucent Securities owned by Nokia, the following individuals named on Schedule 1 hold Alcatel Lucent Securities: Name Alcatel Lucent Shares Total Alcatel Lucent Securities Percent of Alcatel Lucent Shares Jean C. Monty 37 432 37 432 0.0 % Olivier Piou 36 622 36 622 0.0 % Except as set forth above, to the best of Nokias knowledge, none of the persons named in Schedule 1 hereto is the beneficial owners of any Alcatel Lucent Securities. Page 5 of 8 Item 7. Materials to be Filed as Exhibits Item 7 is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following: Exhibit No. Description 12 English translation of Nokia and Alcatel Lucents joint offer document, published on September 20, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Form CB furnished by Nokia on September 22, 2016) 13 English translation of Nokias other information document, dated September 21, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Form CB furnished by Nokia on September 22, 2016) 14 English translation of Alcatel Lucents other information document, published on September 21, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of the Form CB furnished by Nokia on September 22, 2016) Page 6 of 8 SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. NOKIA CORPORATION By: /s/ Riikka Tieaho Name: Riikka Tieaho Title: Vice President, Corporate Legal By: /s/ Kristian Pullola Name: Kristian Pullola Title: Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller Page 7 of 8 Schedule 1 DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF NOKIA CORPORATION The following is a list of the executive officers and directors of Nokia Corporation (Nokia), setting forth the present principal occupation or employment and the name, principal business and address of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted for each such person. Unless otherwise indicated, the current business address of each person is Karaportti 3, FI-02610 Espoo, Finland. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Schedule 1 have the meaning ascribed to them in the Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13D to which this Schedule 1 is attached. Board of Directors of Nokia Name Present Position with Nokia or Other Principal Occupation or Employment Business Address (if other than Nokia) Country of Citizenship Risto Siilasmaa Chairman of the Board, Nokia Finland Olivier Piou Vice Chairman of the Board, Nokia France Bruce Brown Director, Nokia United States Louis R. Hughes Director, Nokia United States Jean C. Monty Director, Nokia Canada Elisabeth Nelson Director, Nokia United States Carla Smits-Nusteling Director, Nokia Netherlands Kari Stadigh Director, Nokia Group Chief Executive Officer and President, Sampo plc Fabianinkatu 27, 00100 Helsinki, Finland Finland Executive Officers of Nokia Name Present Position with Nokia Country of Citizenship Rajeev Suri President and Chief Executive Officer Singapore Samih Elhage President of Mobile Networks Canada Federico Guillen President of Fixed Networks Spain Basil Alwan President of IP/Optical Networks United States Bhaskar Gorti President of Applications & Analytics United States Timo Ihamuotila Chief Financial Officer Finland Hans-Jurgen Bill Chief Human Resources Officer Germany Kathrin Buvac Chief Strategy Officer Germany Ashish Chowdhary Chief Customer Operations Officer India Barry French Chief Marketing Officer United States Marc Rouanne Chief Innovation & Operating Officer France Maria Varsellona Chief Legal Officer Italy Page 8 of 8 Exhibit Index Exhibit No. Description 1 Memorandum of Understanding, dated as of April 15, 2015, by and between Nokia Corporation and Alcatel Lucent S.A (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Nokia (File No. 333-206365)) 2 Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding, dated as of October 28, 2015, by and between Nokia Corporation and Alcatel Lucent S.A. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Nokia (File No. 333-206365)) 3 Exchange Offer/Prospectus, dated November 12, 2015 (incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Nokia (File No: 333-206365)) 4 Form of Letter of Transmittal for Certificated Alcatel Lucent ADSs (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Nokia (File No. 333-206365)) 5 Form of Letter of Transmittal for book-entry only Alcatel Lucent ADSs (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Nokia (File No. 333-206365)) 6 Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (Alcatel Lucent ADSs) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Nokia (File No. 333-206365)) 7 Form of Letter of Transmittal for the Subsequent Offering Period (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(vi) of Amendment 13 to Schedule TO filed by Nokia on January 14, 2016) 8 Notice of Guaranteed Delivery for the Subsequent Offering Period (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(vii) of Amendment 13 to Schedule TO filed by Nokia on January 14, 2016) 9 Letter to Alcatel Lucent Security Holders (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(viii) of Amendment 13 to Schedule TO filed by Nokia on January 14, 2016) 10 Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 16, 2016, by and between JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. and Nokia Corporation (1) 11 English translation of Nokia and Alcatel Lucents draft joint offer document (projet de note dinformation conjointe) as filed with the AMF on September 6, 2016 (2) 12 English translation of Nokia and Alcatel Lucents joint offer document, published on September 20, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Form CB furnished by Nokia on September 22, 2016) 13 English translation of Nokias other information document, dated September 21, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Form CB furnished by Nokia on September 22, 2016) 14 English translation of Alcatel Lucents other information document, published on September 21, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of the Form CB furnished by Nokia on September 22, 2016) (1) Previously filed as an exhibit to Amendment 2 to the Schedule 13D. Completion is subject to regulatory approvals, approval of the transaction by Management Consulting Groups shareholders and other customary closing conditions. Founded in 1935, Kurt Salmon has more than 260 employees serving clients across the world, and offices in the U.S., Germany, UK, Japan and China. The company is known for operational strategy consulting, including logistics and supply chain, merchandising and product development, corporate strategy and due diligence, and omni-channel retail strategy. With digital disruption forcing retailers to rethink their entire business and operating models, we expect continued strong demand for strategy consulting services in this industry, said Mark Knickrehm, chief executive officer, Accenture Strategy. This acquisition will enhance our ability to deliver the industry-specific strategies that our clients are increasingly seeking, in order to drive competitiveness and operational excellence at the intersection of business and technology. Chris Donnelly, retail industry lead, Accenture Strategy, said, In an environment dominated by rapidly rising customer expectations, industry convergence and low barriers to entry, our retail clients are looking for end-to-end strategy solutions to navigate this disruption. Through this acquisition, we will be able to offer our clients a powerful combination of services to help shape the transformation of the retail sector. Following completion of the acquisition, Kurt Salmons employees are expected to join the Accenture Strategy retail industry practice. Our retail clients are increasingly looking for agile and pragmatic solutions from industry experts that enable their transformation journey and help them gain competitive advantage, said Brooks Kitchel, CEO of Kurt Salmon. Joining Accenture Strategy will enable us to bring new value to our clients in a collaborative, global and client-centric environment that aligns with our company culture and mission. *** Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN) and WCI Communities, Inc. (NYSE: WCIC) today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Lennar will acquire all of the outstanding shares of WCI Communities, Inc. ("WCI") common stock in a cash and stock transaction valued at $23.50 per WCI share, representing a 37% premium to WCI's closing stock price on September 21, 2016. The transaction gives WCI a total equity value of approximately $643 million and an enterprise value of $809 million. The transaction will be in the form of a merger of WCI and a newly formed Lennar subsidiary. The current expectation is that the merger consideration for each WCI share will be $11.75 in cash and a fraction of a share of Lennar Class A common stock with a value of $11.75, based on the volume weighted average price of Lennar's Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange over the ten trading days preceding the WCI stockholder vote on the merger. However, Lennar has the option of varying the portions of the $23.50 per share merger consideration that will be cash and Lennar stock, including paying the entire merger consideration in cash. The transaction is structured in a manner intended to cause the receipt of Lennar stock as a result of the merger not to be a taxable event for WCI stockholders. The transaction will combine two of the largest homebuilders in Florida. With a legacy that spans more than 60 years, WCI has established a leading expertise in developing amenity rich, lifestyle master planned communities catering to move-up, active adult and second-home buyers. In the latest 12 months ended June 30, 2016, WCI delivered 1,118 homes with an average sales price of approximately $444,000. The transaction will include a portfolio of owned and controlled land totaling approximately 14,200 homesites, located in most of the highest growth and largest coastal Florida markets. Stuart Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Lennar, said "We welcome the WCI team to the Lennar family. We have long respected the WCI brand and what the company has accomplished. WCI's land portfolio dovetails perfectly with our own Florida footprint and expands our product offering to capture more of the move-up market. Our combined presence in the premier coastal Florida markets will drive growth and allow significant cross and dual brand marketing opportunities." Richard Beckwitt, President of Lennar, said "This transaction unites two companies with strong brands, complementary assets, and leading market positions. Keith Bass and his team have built an incredible company, and we're proud to marshal our resources in a deal that accelerates our growth and diversification, generates new strategic product offerings and creates significant value for our shareholders. We look forward to welcoming a very talented group of WCI associates to the Lennar team." Keith Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of WCI, said "The transaction is a tribute to the legacy and quality of the WCI brand, the attractiveness of our homes and communities, and the talent of our team members. Lennar is one of the country's finest homebuilders and we are pleased that this transaction provides our shareholders with immediate and attractive value." The transaction has been approved by the Boards of both Lennar and WCI. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary closings conditions, including the approval by WCI's stockholders. It is anticipated that a meeting to vote on the transaction will be held in December 2016 or January 2017, and, if the transaction is approved by the WCI stockholders, it will be completed promptly after the stockholder vote. Credit Suisse and Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. served as financial advisers to WCI and provided fairness opinions in connection with the transaction, and Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal advisor, to WCI. Goodwin Procter, LLP acted as legal advisor, and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, LLP acted as special tax counsel, to Lennar. *** TransUnion (NYSE: TRU), has acquired RTech (Healthcare Revenue Technologies, Inc), a technology-driven healthcare services company that offers post-service eligibility solutions designed to maximize reimbursements and reduce uncompensated care costs for hospitals and healthcare systems of all sizes. TransUnion is investing in building its healthcare business because of the enormous opportunity to leverage data, technology and analytics to help healthcare providers maximize reimbursement. In June, TransUnion announced the acquisition of Auditz, LLC, another leading healthcare services organization. "The right data and technology can offer great insights to help healthcare providers maximize reimbursement and cash flow -- enabling them to put more focus on the patient," said Jim Peck, TransUnion's president and chief executive officer. "Joining forces with RTech and Auditz adds powerful new capabilities to our already-strong healthcare business, consistent with our long-term strategy." RTech is a market leader in the Northeast region of the United States and will augment TransUnion's healthcare solutions in three key ways: RTech's innovative Revenue Protection solution offers a more holistic view and analysis of hospital accounts receivables, allowing earlier detection and prevention of bad debt. RTech has developed unique new solutions for academic medical centers, as evidenced by their strong presence in that market. RTech's proprietary coverage discovery technology is a great complement to TransUnion's eScan product, as well as Auditz' solution, and TransUnion will integrate all three into a common coverage discovery offering to maximize benefits to clients. "RTech has impressive solutions and a great track record of helping healthcare providers maximize reimbursement," said Gerry McCarthy, president of TransUnion Healthcare. "Revenue cycle management is a growing opportunity for healthcare providers, and we're excited to bring RTech onboard to enhance the solutions we offer our clients." RTech will broaden its product line to offer many TransUnion solutions designed to empower healthcare providers to make smarter decisions at the point of service, including ClearIQ patient access products such as: Identity Verification, which helps verify patient identity; Insurance Eligibility, which helps confirm insurance benefits electronically; Patient Payment Estimation, which helps hospitals provide accurate estimates to patients; and Propensity to Pay, which helps determine patient ability and likelihood to pay. "Joining TransUnion is an exciting milestone for RTech," said Todd Langer, president, RTech. "We have built our business on a foundation of innovative solutions for our clients, and look forward to delivering even more value with our combined solutions." TransUnion's industry leading revenue cycle management solutions have resulted in nearly $1.3 billion in reimbursement to its clients. Combining the solutions of TransUnion, RTech and Auditz will yield additional recoveries for healthcare providers. Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. On September 21, 2016, TransUnion Healthcare, Inc. (TransUnion Healthcare), a subsidiary of TransUnion, entered into a Purchase Agreement, dated September 21, 2016 (the Purchase Agreement), by and among TransUnion Healthcare, Inc., RTech Healthcare Revenue Technologies, Inc. (RTech), John J. DeRuzza and Todd H. Langer, as Sellers, and Todd H. Langer, as the Seller Representative. RTech is a technology-driven healthcare services company that offers post-service eligibility solutions designed to maximize reimbursements and reduce uncompensated care costs for hospitals and healthcare systems of all sizes. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, TransUnion Healthcare purchased 100% of the outstanding capital stock of RTech (the Acquisition) for consideration consisting of approximately $51.9 million paid at closing. TransUnion Healthcare also agreed to pay up to an additional $6.2 million, deposited in escrow at closing, upon satisfaction of specified conditions relating to customer retention, and up to an additional $3.9 million with respect to RTech accounts receivable that are collected after the closing date. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, covenants and indemnities by both parties. The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. *** Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire REDI Holdings, a trading technology pioneer whose flagship REDIPlus execution management system (EMS) provides advanced cross-asset class trading capabilities to the buy-side. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of Q4 subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals. The REDI acquisition is intended to help Thomson Reuters deliver an integrated workflow solution to the buy-side trading community. By incorporating REDIs trading capabilities into Eikon, Thomson Reuters next-generation financial markets desktop, and Elektron, its suite of data and trading propositions, Thomson Reuters will enable institutional traders to move seamlessly from pre-trade activities to trade execution across asset classes on an integrated platform. Integrating REDI into Thomson Reuters solutions will enable us to transform Eikon into a world-class trading solution for the buy-side and further expand the breadth and depth of market data available to them via Elektron helping our customers participate in the market with greater intelligence and efficiency, said Michael Chin, managing director, global head of equities, Thomson Reuters. Like Thomson Reuters, REDI has a long commitment to innovation through its open technology platform that seamlessly integrates third-party data, applications and capabilities a core tenet of Thomson Reuters own strategy. Founded in 1992 by market maker and New York Stock Exchange specialist Spear, Leeds & Kellogg, REDI has a strong track record of delivering EMS capabilities to the buy-side. From 2001 to 2013, REDI was owned and operated by Goldman Sachs. In 2013 Goldman Sachs spun out the REDI business into a collaborative, industry-backed consortium including Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citadel and investment funds affiliated with Lightyear Capital, LLC, as well as Goldman Sachs. Bank of America Merrill Lynch also transferred its InstaQuote EMS to REDI as part of its investment. The buy-side continues to need truly open, broker-neutral trading systems. We made the decision to become part of the Thomson Reuters family so that our team could realize our ambitious product goals with access to the deep resources and technological infrastructure of a global leader in financial services. Our capabilities are extremely complementary to Thomson Reuters and will allow us to bring together an independent, end-to-end trading solution to market that is unique in the industry, said Rishi Nangalia, chief executive officer, REDI. To keep up on all the Mergers & Acquisitions data in real-time, go to our M&A Insider page. "Put me back to work," pleads struggling Kinder Morgan pipeline supporterWhen Bernard Hancock, a former roughneck in Alberta's oil patch, took the microphone at a public pipeline consultation in Vancouver last Thursday, he didn't intend to get emotional.On a sheet of paper in front of him, he had scribbled down names and statistics the facts he needed to argue that Alberta's new climate policies ought to buy more goodwill from opponents of Kinder Morgan's controversial Trans Mountain pipeline expansion proposal.But as he described his present situation 32 years old and living in his parents' basement he couldn't stop his voice from quavering."Its humiliating," he declared. "Do you know how good it feels for people to be able to eat what they want when they go to the grocery store? Do you know how much powdered milk sucks? Do you know what its like when your bologna has gone sour and you have pan-fry Newfoundland steaks?It was a rhetorical question. The room was silent. Today Louise Upston Associate Minister for Local Government, announced a new national action plan to reduce risk and prevent harm from dog attacks. Under this action plan high risk dogs and their owners, rather than all dogs and owners, will be subject to stricter controls under changes to dog control laws. This will compliment a renewed focus on education, as well as new work with local government on best practice guidelines for councils. I know first-hand the joy that dogs bring to your life and that there are thousands of loved family pets in New Zealand. Unfortunately, the statistics clearly show that dog bite incidents are on the rise and children are overrepresented as victims of dog attacks Ms Upston says. Today I am launching the first part of the new national action plan for dog control. The plan consists of 3 parts: Law changes and neutering programme. Best practice guide. A public education campaign. Today I am launching a programme over the summer months aimed at reducing the risk of attacks. This initiative involves Government funding of $0.85 million ($850,000) to subsidise the neutering of high risk dogs. Neutering has been proven to reduce aggression in dogs which is important as we move into summer months and the school holidays. Law changes will require owners of dangerous and menacing dogs to: Neuter all high-risk dogs. Keep high-risk dogs in a fenced in area at home that allows visitors dog-free access to at least one house entrance. Display signs at the front of their property alerting people of high-risk dogs. Ensure dangerous or menacing dogs wear collars identifying them as high-risk. Animal shelters will also be prevented from adopting out high-risk dogs to new owners. Ms Upston is considering including additional restrictions on the owners of high-risk dogs and improving the quality of information about dog attacks. Ms Upston intends to introduce legislation in February 2017. More information will be forthcoming as work on these legislative changes progresses. This action plan is being developed in partnership with the local government sector and other relevant stakeholders Source: Office of Louis Upston. A report released today shows New Zealand is making good progress in tackling climate change and is focused on the next steps, Climate Change Issues Minister Paula Bennett says. New Zealands Action on Climate Change, produced by the Ministry for the Environment, brings together information about the science, global momentum and domestic work to transition to a lower emissions future. Climate change is an incredibly important issue, but too many people find it complex or get put off by the politics, Mrs Bennett says. This snapshot of the things weve done, are doing, and still need to do will help New Zealanders better understand how we can leave the planet a better place for future generations. From the central and local governments investment and support, through to research, businesses, iwi and households, there is some really impressive work underway that can give New Zealanders confidence we are on a path to grow with fewer emissions. Released today to coincide with a United Nations event to encourage early ratification of the Paris climate change agreement, the snapshot will be updated regularly as New Zealands work programme progresses. Id encourage all New Zealanders to take a look, think about what theyre already doing to preserve our stunning environment were all so proud of, and what else their family and workplace can do to reduce emissions, Mrs Bennett says. A copy of the climate snapshot is available here: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate-change/new-zealands-action-climate-change Source: Office of Paula Bennett. UPDATED: The 22-foot yacht Luna reported missing on the East Coast has been located this afternoon near Cape runaway in the Bay of Plenty. The Rescue Coordination Centre earlier asked the public for information on the yacht and its sole occupant, which was last seen in Anaura Bay on the East Coast on Monday afternoon. Convicted murderer Charles Coulam has had his parole application denied yet again, with the board deeming him at serious risk of criminal behaviour. Coulam is known in the Bay of Plenty for the murder of British tourist Monica Cantwell, whom he raped and strangled near the summit of Mt Maunganui in 1989. High-risk dogs and their owners will be subject to stricter control measures under new legislative changes announced by the Government. The law changes include owners being required to neuter all high-risk dogs, as well as ensure that all dangerous or menacing dogs they own are wearing collars identifying them as high-risk. LOUISVILLE -- The Nebraska State Patrol, in conjunction with the Cass County Attorneys Office, is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Louisville in Cass County. At approximately 7:12 p.m, Sept. 21, a Cass County deputy stopped a vehicle near First and Cherry Street in Louisville. The vehicle matched the description of a vehicle earlier reported as being driven recklessly in the area. The male driver exited the vehicle and approached the deputy. A confrontation ensued and the Deputy fired his service weapon, fatally wounding the subject. An autopsy will be conducted later today. The names of the victim and the deputy will be released pending further investigation. Per state law, a grand jury will be convened to investigate the incident. Upgrading New Zealands first line of defence against tsunamis is just one of a number of scientific works taking place in the Kermadec Islands. The New Zealand Defence Force has recently completed its first mission supported the work taking place at the islands. The mission involved Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Otago, along with one of the Royal New Zealand Air Forces newly-acquired Seasprite helicopters. Their role involved providing logistical support to the Department of Conservation, MetService and GNS Science, and was the first time the helicopter had been used. Lieutenant Commander Andrew Sorensen, Commanding Officer of the Otago, has no doubts regarding the NZDFs contribution. The NZDFs support was the linchpin for all this scientific work to be completed. Operating a Seasprite from our vessel has further increased our ability to support other government agencies. One of the primary tasks for the GNS team was to upgrade the two tsunami gauge sites on Raoul Island. With the Seasprite we were able to access these hard-to-reach areas. Otagos crew also helped our team complete the maintenance work on the gauges, says GNS Science volcanologist Brad Scott. The Seasprite also flew a GNS volcano chemist to Green Lake, one of two crater lakes on Raoul Island, to check for seismic activity and to repair the seismic station there. Our work in the Kermadecs is vital for the public safety in New Zealand. The tsunami gauges are the countrys first line of defence against tsunamis and we are grateful for NZDFs support, says Brad. At the heart of the world's fastest and most powerful luxury diesel SUV is an all-new, technologically advanced, triple-charged, 4.0-litre, 32-valve V8 engine, enabling a top speed of 270 km/h (168 mph) and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds (0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds). Bentleys Crewe-based engineers have developed a V8 powertrain to deliver an authentic Bentley driving experience. Peak torque is available from very early in the rev range (just 1,000 rpm), which makes progress in the Bentayga Diesel truly effortless. New clean technology gives the Bentayga Diesel the lowest CO2 emissions of any Bentley, as well as a range of over 1,000 km (621 miles) allowing owners to, for example, drive from London to Verbier, Bordeaux or the Scottish Highlands on a single tank. Inside, the Bentayga Diesel retains the innovative features, advanced technologies and handcrafted luxury for which the Bentley Bentayga is renowned. Wolfgang Durheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said: The Bentayga Diesel represents a moment of immense significance in Bentleys history, by giving the world its fastest luxury diesel SUV. "Immense power, grand touring capabilities and superb refinement this is a true Bentley. Only Bentley could produce a car so powerful, yet so refined. Customer deliveries will begin in Europe early next year, with entry into Russia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan planned across the rest of 2017. Aino-Leena Grapin joined the company on 15th September. She will work closely with Andrew Winch and the senior team. Grapins appointment is part of a management plan to ensure the long term future of the company: diversified and sustainable growth, in keeping with the founders values and creative ingenuity. Grapin has nearly 20 years experience in leading and growing businesses in creative industries. She was formerly Managing Director at Paddle8 Auctionata, the leading online auction house, setting up the companys European operations. Holding an MBA from INSEAD, Grapin started her career as a strategy consultant with Bain & Company, before spending nearly a decade at Christies, in a variety of strategic and operational roles, more recently as International Business Director, responsible for Russian Art. Grapin will work closely with recently appointed Non-Executive Chairman, Clive Beharrell, who also brings a wealth of experience as Chairman of over 10 businesses across a variety of sectors, from Scott Dunn to Fat Face. Andrew Winch has been at the helm and has been the driving force creatively for the last thirty years. As Creative Director and Founder, his passion for all things design-related will run through the business. He will spend more time working closely with the Design Teams and with clients. Jane Winch, who started the company with Andrew, will step down from her role as Managing Director and will assume a non-executive position. Andrew Winch commented; I am delighted to have Clive and Aino on board. This marks a really exciting time for the business as we bring such talented and highly-regarded individuals into our team. I know that together we will ensure the long term success of the Company. Aino-Leena Grapin commented: Winch Design has always been innovative and creative in its designs and the same should apply to its business vision. The company has grown tremendously in the past 30 years and is in a very strong position, thanks to Andrew, Jane and their talented team. I am very excited to lead Winch Design into this new phase. Positioned at 33rd in the Superyachts.com Top 100 Largest Yachts in the World listings, the superyacht aliased widely as Project Solar left the yard this week to showcase her Nuvolari & Lenard exterior design; the studio who were also responsible for her interiors. With naval architecture by Dykstra, the Dyna Rig sail plan most commonly known for the iconic profile of The Maltese Falcon - of Project Solar is just one element of striking design. The eco-credentials and latest technology utilises solar energy, heat recovery, batteries and revolutionary tech to minimise the impact on the water. The Top 100 superyacht Project Solar is still an extremely secret project, but thanks to the photos provided by Dutch Yachting, we have a first glimpse at the incredible project before her giant masts with solar technology are attached. Opening in 1991, the Monaco Yacht Show has continued its evolution over 25 years and returns once again with a new digital edge for the 26th edition. With 125 yachts on display in Port Hercule next week, presented by 580 global builders, brokers and designers, the activity of the Monaco Yacht Show spurs industry movements and brings buyers to all levels of luxury lifestyle. Find your way to the right people fast through the Monaco Yacht Show App, whether youre in search of superyachts, private jets, luxury cars, toys and tenders. Read through yacht lists, get in-depth information on vessels and exhibitors, calculate the best route to your big meeting and get the latest news. Download the App on Android or Apple here and get ready for the biggest show of the year. Jose Espartero reveals the companys plans for this winter. :: SUR Ryanair, the low-cost airline, is expanding its operations at Malaga airport, where it already holds the top position in terms of passenger transits. The airline increased its flights in the summer and plans to do the same this winter, says the head of Sales and Marketing in Spain, Jose Espartero. He expects Ryanair to have transported four million passengers to and from the Costa del Sol by the end of this year. Last year, the figure was over three million. To reach the target, there will be 43 per cent more flights in the winter schedule, which starts in October, compared to the same period in 2015. -This summer has been busier than ever for Ryanair in Malaga, hasnt it? -Weve seen an increase in the number of people coming to Spain. Last year we brought more than 35 million passengers to the country. We realised that more people wanted to come to Spain and Portugal and we know that the most popular areas are Catalonia, the Costa del Sol and the Canary Islands. In Malaga, in particular, we have an extra aircraft based at the airport now, bringing the total to nine. This new interest in the Costa del Sol means weve been able to run more frequent flights and carry an extra 140,000 passengers over the summer this year, and weve added seven new routes, reaching 52 destinations. In total, weve operated 290 flights a week and increased the number of seats by 155,000 compared to summer last year -And you plan to continue like that this winter? -This winter we are increasing our flights by 43 per cent a week to 160 and now operate 42 routes from Malaga. Weve added two new routes to Belfast and Glasgow, and extended 11 of the routes we ran during the summer to strengthen our connections with Italy, France, Poland, Hungary and Germany. We are expanding our network in Europe this winter. -What figures are you expecting to see from Malaga airport? -We expect to reach a figure of four million passengers this year. People on the Costa del Sol will be able to choose from 42 destinations this winter. Ryanair will continue to connect Malaga with the main Spanish destinations and the most important business centres in Europe, with a daily flight to Barcelona, Brussels and Dublin, and two a day to London. This schedule makes Malaga an ideal option for people travelling for leisure or business. -What made you decide to do this, and how does Malaga airport compare to the rest of your operations in Spain? -Spain is a very important market. We fly to 25 airports and we have 13 bases here. We can grow more at the moment because we have a new fleet, and because we have ordered 350 planes we can expand our number of flights. In the past we were held back more, but now were planning to have 540 planes by 2024, which means well be able to move 180 million passengers around Europe by then. By way of comparison, at the start of the summer season we were carrying 113 million passengers in Europe, after finishing 2015 with 106 million. Thats why we are going to continue to grow and improve. For Ryanair, Malaga is an important airport. The Costa del Sol is a highly successful destination. -You are famous for offering the cheapest fares, but you also receive some criticism... -We offer the lowest fares because we have the lowest costs. Thats how it works. In terms of our customer service, we have had the Always Getting Better programme for three years now; we introduced it to help us to meet our clients needs. Since then we have simplified the website, we are on Amadeus and we have improved our on-board service and services for families. We are still continuing to improve our customer service; weve made progress with our digital tools, with the app for mobiles and self check-in. We are also entering the business sector with a product called Business Plus, and we plan to have a priority boarding lane for that in Malaga. We already have three types of fares; regular, leisure plus and business, and we are focussing on improving our contact with our clients. -Are you planning to fly to new markets, beyond Europe? -We are focusing on developing new routes in Europe, opening connections with eastern European countries and Germany, where we are seeing a great deal of growth. A few months ago we had a 15 per cent market share in that country, and we want to reach 20 per cent in three or four years. Eleven years ago, Karen Carstensen learned that a CROP Walk might not take place in Fremont. So she took a step to keep it going. I made the call to the regional office and decided that even if this was not something that I felt equipped to do that I would try my best and God strengthened me to do what needed to be done and keep the CROP Walk going, she said. This year is the 31st time that Carstensen and her son, Tim, will take part in the fundraising event. Now shes hoping that more people will take part in the event. Sponsored by Church World Service, the walk helps provide funds that assist people in Fremont and around the world. CWS is a global humanitarian agency that focuses on poverty and hunger. Registration for this years walk starts at 1 p.m. The walk begins at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Fremont. The event is open to the public. Participants may choose to walk a 2- or 5-mile route. This isnt a donation-per-mile walk. So if someone wants to go farther and 2 miles, but not do 5 miles thats OK, Carstensen said. Refreshments will be provided after the walk. To participate, walkers may call Carstensen at 402-727-5250. She will provide them with a walker envelope and materials that explain more about the event. Carstensen said families with young children may come with strollers or wagons. Some walkers have brought pets. Dodge County REACT will help with traffic. When CROP began in 1947, it was an acronym that stood for Christian Rural Overseas Program. Its main mission was to help Midwest farm families share their grain with hungry people in post-World War II Europe and Asia. The CROP Hunger Walks began in 1969, states data on its website. Carstensen said she believes the walks started in Fremont in the 1970s. She and her son, Tim, began taking part in the walks in the 1980s after she saw a notice about the event in a church bulletin. Previously, Tim had been diagnosed with autistic tendencies. Carstensen realized that although there would be things her son couldnt do, he could participate in the walk. Thus, they began a family tradition that now has lasted more than three decades. But at one point, the local effort might have come to an end. In 2055, Carstensen was waiting for word about that years walk, when she learned that no one had been found to coordinate the local event. She figured Tim would be disappointed. So although she had a month or less to plan, Carstensen opted to coordinate the local event. She continues to serve as a contact person and believes the funds go for worthy causes. For almost half a century, CROP Hunger Walks have helped provide food and water and resources to help people meet their own needs. From seeds and tools, to wells and water systems, to technical training and micro-enterprise loans, the key is people working together to identify their own development priorities, their strengths and their needs, the website states. In developing countries, where people dont have a well, they can end up walking for miles and spending the majority of their day going to a water source and carrying some of the precious liquid back home just so they can have clean water. The CROP Walk helps in situations like that, to help drill wells, she said. As in the past, 25 percent of proceeds from the ecumenical walk will be donated to the Low Income Ministry of Dodge County. Donors also can opt to have up to 65 percent of their contributions go toward their churchs helping organizations such as Lutheran World Relief or Catholic Charities. Last year, we had one couple that asked to have their 65 percent go to the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Carstensen said. The remaining 10 percent goes for CWS materials and supplies. Those whod simply like to make a donation may do so by visiting: https://www.crophungerwalk.org/fremontne Carstensen said donors are asked to contribute a minimum of $10, because of the cost associated with credit/debit cards. In the meantime, she hopes to get more people and churches involved in the effort that helps raise funds and awareness for a good cause while offering camaraderie for walkers. To me, the best part is coming together and knowing that as a community we are helping those who need help whether its right here in Fremont or other parts of our country or around the world, Carstensen said. Were doing something. Were not just sitting here wringing our hands, saying, This is terrible. What can we do? Substantial work will begin between Norfolk and Fremont to transform U.S. Highway 275 into a full-fledged expressway after a list of $300 million in new construction projects was announced Thursday by Gov. Pete Ricketts and the state Roads Department. Road crews will turn dirt on a 25-mile stretch from Scribner to West Point starting in 2019. Also making the list is the U.S. Highway 77 beltway project southeast of Fremont that will connect U.S. Highway 275 just north of the Platte River. Aside from U.S. 275, which will be the states first highway project to use a contracting method known as design-build, actual construction on the highways announced Thursday wont begin until 2024. The Fremont Southeast Beltway will benefit Fremont and the area, Fremont Mayor Scott Getzschman said. We are very excited the Nebraska Department of Roads agreed with local leaders that this project ranks among the projects across the state that carry the most impact to the economy and Nebraskas future growth, he said in a release. This opportunity has significant positive impact for Fremont and the surrounding areas. Fremont Council President Larry Johnson led a local group that advocated for the project earlier this year. The beltway project will stretch approximately four miles at a cost of $26 million. This project will have a significant area-wide benefit for a better, more connected transportation system, Johnson said. It will open up many new opportunities for value-added investment in Fremont and surrounding communities. In addition to Fremont Southeast Beltway, other projects announced Thursday include a six-lane expansion of a mile of Interstate 680 in north Omaha, widening 18 miles of U.S. 26 to four lanes west of Scottsbluff, adding passing lanes to U.S. 83 from McCook to North Platte, and four others for a total of eight projects chosen for construction. All that new pavement will bring Nebraska closer to realizing the decades-old vision of a 600-mile expressway system crisscrossing the state, first outlined in 1988 by then-Gov. Kay Orr and Jerry Strobel, a former roads director and father of U.S. Sen. Deb Fisher. We knew at the time it wouldnt be completed immediately, but had no idea it was going to take so long, Orr said Thursday, appearing alongside Ricketts during a press conference at the Capitol. Many hoped the expressway system would materialize by 2003. Other costs got in the way. It took a trio of massive legislative efforts in recent years to raise the necessary money, with a new target of 2033. * 2011s Build Nebraska Act, championed by Fisher when she served in the Legislature, assigned one quarter-cent of the state sales tax to road construction. * Last years 6-cent gas tax hike, sponsored by state Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, passed over Ricketts veto and is expected to raise about $75 million a year once fully implemented. * This years Transportation Innovation Act, also sponsored by Smith, earmarked revenue from the gas tax hike and allowed for new contracting methods to speed up construction and reduce costs. Those measures will raise an estimated $1 billion over the next decade, of which Thursdays announcements represent just a portion. Additional projects will be selected later. The Roads Department selected another 12 projects for design only. Those include the second stage of the U.S. 275 expansion, as well as expressways along U.S. 81 from York to Columbus and along U.S. 75 north of Nebraska City. Lincolns East Beltway was designated for planning, as was a new I-80 interchange in Sarpy County. I dont think anyone expected them to fully fund the East Beltway in this first announcement, said Kyle Fischer, public policy specialist for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. Its great news to see that they value the project enough to designate some planning funds for it. Roads Director Kyle Schneweis didnt attach a dollar figure to the states commitment to beltway planning, but said it involves analyzing the right of ways (and) estimating the costs. In the meantime, the state is shouldering the $200 million cost of Lincolns South Beltway, a planned 11-mile freeway near Saltillo Road, that will link Nebraska 2 and U.S. 77, and provide a bypass for the crowded Nebraska 2 through south Lincoln. Construction on the South Beltway isnt expected to start for at least four years. That means the newly slated Norfolk project will probably vault ahead of the South Beltway, too. These plans create a playbook for modern infrastructure that better connects us, enhances economic opportunities in our communities, and makes travel much safer in our state, said Josh Moenning, a Norfolk city councilman who lobbied aggressively for the U.S. 275 project. Norfolk secured a major victory last year when the Roads Department decided it would consider economic development goals and public input when prioritizing highway projects, not just traffic and safety data. The northeast Nebraska city is home to two major steel manufacturers, and Texas pipe maker OCT Pipe LLC broke ground on a $125 million, 1.2 million-square-foot plant there in April. CEO Charlie Havens told lawmakers in December the promise of a four-lane highway was key in that decision. I think we had all been working toward the goal of simply getting work started on this project, Moenning said. As for Thursdays announcement that construction could begin as early as 2019: Thats great news for northeast Nebraska, and I think the entire state. For Al Reno, of Mattydale, buying a new 1979 Dodge Magnum was simple; he knew what he wanted and he was determined to buy the car. That was 37 years ago, and Reno hasn't regretted his decision for a minute. "I saw the Magnum advertised, and I said to my wife, I'm going to buy that car," he said. Reno followed through on his promise and bought the Magnum in Chianti Red, although he had a choice among many colors. "There was something about that red that I liked," he said. The Magnum was a two-year model for Dodge playing off a much more popular car, the Chrysler Cordoba, the so-called personal luxury coupe on the market from 1975 through 1983. The Cordoba, with its fine Corinthian leather, was marketed as the smaller Chrysler. With an overall length of 215.8 inches on a 114.9-inch wheelbase, the Cordoba might have been smaller in those days. By today's standards, when compact crossovers capable of carrying six people are 178 inches long, the Cordoba was a boat. The Dodge Magnum, by the way, is a clone of the Cordoba with identical dimensions and mechanicals. The main differences are the grill and taillights and, of course, the name. There's one more difference, the major difference: The Cordoba lasted nine years while the Magnum was around for two model years. As it turned out that brief production cycle is good for Magnum owners today because only 73,194 Magnums were manufactured and far fewer exist today, so they earn a special bonus because you just don't see them. Another good thing for Reno is that his car has the coveted GT package and only 1,674 Magnums were equipped with the GT package during 1979. There's no way to know how many of the GTs still exist. Whatever the number may be, it's clear that Reno's car ranks among the best of the survivors. Reno is aware of all of this and vows that he will never part with the Chianti Red car. And why would he? The Magnum is showroom from front to back, looking like it's never seen the highway even though an incredible 56,744 miles show on the odometer. When the Magnum hit showrooms in 1978 and 1979 it was considered a sporty model, a GT package was on the equipment list but so was everything else, from air conditioning to so-called 'wheel lips,' or fender flares. The sportiness continued with a unique three-spoked steering wheel, specially designed model-specific wheels and a firm feel suspension. "When I got this car I knew I was going to keep it," Reno said. Even so that didn't stop him from driving the car over 56,000 miles, although he rolled up the miles in short order. "I wanted to make sure I got my warranty out of it," he said. Miles or no miles, the Dodge looks like it's seen little use. The outside is as nice as the inside, red throughout including the instrument panel and steering wheel. The instrument panel has equal size speedometer and tachometer side-by-side, and two more gauges, one showing fuel and oil levels and one showing the engine temperature and alternator performance. Even though Reno didn't order the car from the factory the dealer went the extra step and ordered the car for inventory with the optional 360-cubic-inch V-8 engine producing 195 horsepower. Reno said the car, at 3,781 pounds, has always had enough power for him, more than it would have had with the standard equipment 318-cubic-inch V-8 turning out a meager 135 horsepower. Otherwise the Magnum coupe is roomy enough for four people to be seated comfortably and five if needed. "The ride is smooth and it handles well," he said. What mechanical work there is to do Reno performs himself, usually things like points and plugs, but since the car is driven only during good weather and stored during the winter it's never needed much other than maintenance. 1979 Dodge Magnum Owner: Al Reno, Mattydale Cost new: $7,939.05 Color: Chianti Red Motor: 360 C.I., V-8, 195-hp Transmission: Three-speed TorqueFlite Equipment: GT package, $578.70; seat belts, $19.75; tinted glass, $72.50; dual mirrors, $66.85; rear window defroster, $98; clock, $56.20; undercoating, $35.90; body stripe, $47.25; power windows, $137.05; tilt steering wheel, $77.25; 500-amp battery, $34.75 rub strips front and rear, $36.60; tachometer, $73.50; fender mounted turn signal indicators, $15.50 Dodge Magnum production: 1978, 47,827; 1979, 25,367 Wheelbase: 114.9 inches Length: 215.8 inches Weight: 3,781 pounds Know about a car you'd like to see featured? Contact Kenn Peters: kpeters@twcny.rr.com. Previously from Kenn: Pat Grosso and his high-end luxury cars. More great cars and news about cars. 2014-10-6-SaabDefense.jpg Saab Defense and Security in DeWitt will add 50 employees after winning a $38 million contract from the U.S. Navy. The company will provide air traffic control radars for Navy aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. (Courtesy Saab Defense) WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Navy has selected Saab Defense and Security in DeWitt for a $38 million contract to provide the next generation of air traffic control radars for aircraft carriers and amphibious ships, the company said today. A Saab Defense official told Syracuse.com that the Navy order, coupled with new contracts expected in the near future, will allow the company to hire 50 employees in the coming months. All told, Saab Defense and Security in DeWitt has seen significant growth in the past year, adding 100 new employees, said John Belanger, vice president of communications for Saab North America. The company now employs about 240 people on Enterprise Parkway in DeWitt. The Navy contract announced today is for the design, development, manufacture, integration and demonstration of the AN/SPN-50 shipboard air traffic control radar, Pentagon officials said. The Navy will initially buy three radars over a four-year period, according to Saab officials. The radars will replace the older AN/SPN-43C air traffic radar now deployed on aircraft carrier and amphibious assault ships. Erik Smith, president and CEO of Saab Defense and Security USA, said in a statement that the new radars will be able to support a full range of military operations in all weather conditions. The Pentagon said most of the work on the first three engineering development models of the radar will be performed in Gothenburg, Sweden (47.1 percent) and the Saab campus in DeWitt (35.6 percent). Delivery is expected to be complete by December 2022. When Saab purchased Sensis Corp. in 2011, it split the company into two business units in DeWitt -- Saab Defense and Security USA on Enterprise Parkway and the Saab Sensis air traffic management unit on Collamer Crossing Parkway. More than 200 people work at the air traffic management unit. Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 yahoo.jpg Yahoo's headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, seen in a file photo. The company today confirmed a data breach involving 500 million accounts. (The Associated Press) Sunnyvale, Calif Yahoo said today that information from at least 500 million user accounts was stolen from the company in 2014. The company believes a state-sponsored hacker was behind the attack, according to USA Today. The technology news website Recode first reported that Yahoo was set to disclose a major data breach this week. Recode said the breach could affect 200 million users. The stolen information may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and in some cases encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers, Yahoo said, according to USA Today. The company posted a notice about the breach today on its investor relations page. The 500 million accounts involved would make the Yahoo hack the biggest of all time, according to Business Insider. Yahoo's message said the company is notifying potentially affected users. It urged users to review their online accounts for suspicious activity and to change their passwords and security questions. The company also said it was working with law enforcement officials, according to the New York Times. Verizon is in the process of acquiring Yahoo for $4.8 billion. It's unclear what effect the breach will have on the deal's sale price, the Times said. Security experts said the breach could have consequences for users beyond Yahoo. "The stolen Yahoo data is critical because it not only leads to a single system but to users' connections to their banks, social media profiles, other financial services and users' friends and family," said Alex Holden, the founder of Hold Security, which has been tracking the flow of stolen Yahoo credentials on the underground web, according to the Times. "This is one of the biggest breaches of people's privacy and very far reaching." Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Google + | 315-454-2112 Brad Pitt is being investigated for possible child abuse, TMZ reports. Sources tell the celebrity gossip site that the Los Angeles Police Department and L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services are looking into allegations the superstar actor got verbally abusive and physical with his children. Pitt is accused of getting "wasted" on a private jet last week with Angelina Jolie and their kids, screaming and "getting physical." Actress and UNHCR Ambassador Angelina Jolie, left, with daughter Zahara, and Brad Pitt, second right, with son Maddox, walk near the Gateway of India, in background, in Mumbai, India, in this Nov. 12, 2006 file photo. Jolie filed for divorce earlier this week, citing irreconcilable differences as reports suggested she was concerned with Pitt's parenting style, anger issues and alleged substance abuse. She is seeking sole physical custody of their six children and no spousal support; Pitt would retain joint legal custody and be allowed visitation of Maddox, 15; Pax, 12; Zahara, 11; Shiloh, 10; and 8-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox. According to TMZ, both Pitt and Jolie have been interviewed, and their children will be interviewed as well. The investigation is ongoing. The superstar couple had been together since 2004 after starring in "Mr & Mrs. Smith" together when Pitt was married to "Friends" actress Jennifer Aniston. Jolie and Pitt tied the knot in 2014 and were last spotted in public together this summer. Jolie and Pitt most recently co-starred in 2015's "By the Sea," directed by Jolie (credited as Angelina Jolie-Pitt). Pitt next stars in the World War II romance "Allied" with Marion Cotillard, who announced she's pregnant with her partner Guillaume Canet's second child and denied rumors of an affair with Pitt. Jolie was previously wed to Billy Bob Thornton from 2000 to 2003 and "Hackers" co-star Jonny Lee Miller from 1996-1999. Pitt was married to Aniston from 2000 to 2005. Mia Farrow, Thaddeus Actress Mia Farrow puts her arm around her adopted son Thaddeus as they participate in the global summit on polio eradication Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2000, at United Nations headquarters. (Richard Drew | AP) Mia Farrow's son Thaddeus has died after sustaining injuries in a car crash, according to multiple reports. He was 27. The Hartford Courant reports Thaddeus Wilk Farrow was found gravely injured in his car Wednesday afternoon in Danbury, Connecticut. He was taken to the nearby Danbury Hospital and pronounced dead hours later. Police told the newspaper there was "no criminal aspect" in the death, but further details have not been disclosed. According to USA Today, Farrow was a paraplegic and polio survivor, adopted by the actress from an orphanage in Calcutta, India, in 1994. In 2013, Vanity Fair reported he was working as a car mechanic and studying to become a police officer. "The fact that everyone loved me was a new experience, overwhelming at first," Thaddeus told the magazine. "It was scary to be brought to a world of people whose language I did not understand." Ten of Mia Farrow's 14 children were adopted. The 71-year-old actress welcomed Thaddeus after her split from filmmaker Woody Allen. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi, founders of COR Development, appeared in federal court in Syracuse today on charges of bribing a top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. FBI agents arrested Aiello and Gerardi this morning on five counts of paying bribes, wire fraud and making false statements to a federal investigator. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina Schoenberger read the five counts each defendant's facing: conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, two counts of payment of bribes and gratuities, wire fraud conspiracy, and making false statements to federal officers. Aiello, wearing a light-blue checkered shirt, and Gerardi, wearing a dark purple dress shirt, huddled with their three lawyers before the court proceeding began before U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks. The judge asked each defendant if he was able to understand what was happening. "Yes, your honor," Aiello said in a low voice. Gerardi gave the same answer. They would each face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 if they're convicted as charged. The judge released each defendant on a $100,000 bond, telling them they had to get two other people to sign the bond within a week. Dancks ordered both men not to leave the 32-county Northern District of New York without getting permission from pretrial services. She ordered them both to surrender their passports. Gerardi, COR's general counsel, was also ordered to transfer his firearms to someone else within a week. Neither answered a reporter's questions as they left the third-floor courtroom at the federal building in downtown Syracuse. Before they were released, Aiello and Gerardi were fingerpinted and had their mug shots taken at the U.S. Marshals office. The mug shots are typically not made public. Stephen Coffey, one of three defense lawyers who appeared in court, refused to comment. REMSEN, N.Y. -- A man was killed and a woman injured Wednesday when a motorcycle hit the back of a truck, the Oneida County Sheriff's Office said. Just after 4:30 p.m. Caroline Bordet, 20, an exchange student from France who is staying in Remsen, was driving a 2000 Freightliner F-170 truck south on Route 12 in Remsen. The sheriff's office said Peter Betz, 55, of Rome, was riding a 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle south when he hit the back of Bordet's truck. Betz and his passenger, Tia Eddy, 27, of Rome, were thrown from the motorcycle. Deputies responded to the scene along with Remsen firefighters, Kuyahoora Ambulance, Prospect Ambulance and police from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Betz died at the scene. The sheriff's office said Eddy was airlifted by Mercy Flight to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse for treatment. Bordet was treated and released at the scene for a complaint of minor pain, the sheriff's office said. Deputies are continuing to investigate the crash. This page no longer exists or may have been moved.If you believe this is a mistake please email Earlier this year AT&T announced plans to launch a DirecTV-powered streaming video service thet would be accessible on nearly any device. Although details remain scarce, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said at an investor conference today that the upcoming streaming service will launch before the end of the year with "very, very aggressive price points." While he wouldn't say anything specific regarding prices, Stephenson noted that the company can make a compelling offering because of the cost structure of delivering a service like this, with no set top boxes, customer visits and installation. Also, if you are on an AT&T plan, any data used while streaming DirecT content won't count towards your allowance, it will be "incorporated into the price of the content." Dubbed DirecTV Now, the over-the-top service will reportedly feature over 100 premium channels, though the company is still wrapping up content deals. Both Disney and HBO are already onboard. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson says that the company is about "90% there" on securing the programming deals it wants, but a few "holdouts" still remain. Stephenson acknowledges that DirecTV Now might cannibalize some of the company's higher priced services, but sees that as a good sign. It means you have found something the market really wants." It remains to be seen how low the company is willing to go to lure some of those 20 million households in the US that don't have cable. Currently, a subscription to HBO Now runs for $14.99 a month while Sling TV gives you a bundle of live channels for $20 a month with themed bundles costing extra. Meanwhile, Netflix which is by far the most popular streaming service costs between $8 and $12 a month. We've been waiting a while for the Oculus Rift's Touch controllers, and now it seems that they're almost upon us. For owners of the VR device, the big question has been: "how much." Judging from a pre-order sign spotted in the UK, the answer is: "quite a lot." Engadget UK's Nick Summers spotted the pre-order ad for the Oculus Touch controllers at a branch of UK-based retailer Game. The display shows that the controllers will cost 190. After deducting local taxes - and taking into account the Brexit effect - expect the US price to be around $200. Oculus Touch controllers to cost 190 in the UK. Crikey. pic.twitter.com/zg9JTNiCg8 --- Nick Summers (@nisummers) September 20, 2016 Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe said July that the Oculus Touch would ship in Q4. An in-store Oculus rep confirmed this, saying the controllers would be getting a "winter release," presumably for both the US and the UK. It's worth remembering that the Oculus Touch controllers do come with an additional camera that will improve tracking, which probably factors into the high price. It now means that anyone who wants the whole Rift setup - controllers and all - will be paying pretty much the same price as an HTC Vive: $800. Several sites have reported that the US price will be a direct conversion of the UK's, which would see the controllers retail for around $250, but as this seems pretty unlikely as many tech products are now more expensive in the United Kingdom. The HTC Vive, for example, costs just under $1000 in the UK. Even if the Oculus Touch controllers do arrive in the states at $200, it's a high price to pay. It'll be interesting to see how many Rift owners decide to splash out on them. We'll no doubt learn more at next month's Oculus Connect. For most people, becoming the fifth richest person in the world and the head of a social network with almost 2 billion monthly active users would be enough of an achievement. But not if you're Mark Zuckerberg. The Facebook boss and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have announced a $3 billion project that aims to cure and manage all human diseases "in our children's lifetime." The couple will invest the large sum into bio-medical research across the next decade through the philanthropic organization the pair founded last December, called The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). "Mark and I believe that this is possible within our children's lifetime. We are partnering with scientists, doctors, and engineers to help us achieve this goal [...] We'll be investing more than $3 billion to achieve our collective vision," Priscilla Chan said at the project's launch in San Francisco. Zuckerberg said the initiative's plan is to bring scientists and engineers together, build the tools and technology needed, and to grow the movement to fund science. The first part of the investment will see $600 million go into "Biohub," an independent research facility located in San Francisco's Mission Bay and built in collaboration with the University of California, Stanford, and Berkeley. "Medicine has only been a modern science for about a century, and we've made incredible progress so far. Life expectancy has increased by 1/4 of a year per year since then, and if we only continue this trend, the average will reach 100 around the end of this century," Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post. That $3 billion will come from the pair's $45 billion worth of Facebook shares. Back in December, the couple said they would donate 99 percent of the shares over their lifetime through the CZI. At the end of the San Francisco presentation, fellow tech philanthropist Bill Gates took to the stage, calling the initiative "very bold." "I think all of us will be proud to say that we were here when Mark and Priscilla started this journey," the former Microsoft boss added. Independent testing commissioned by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) suggests that some major television manufacturers may be intentionally manipulating their sets to obtain a favorable energy consumption rating. The NRDC points to flaws in the testing methods used to determine a TV's energy use that are allegedly being exploited by LG, Samsung and Vizio - a group that represents half of the US market - which could collectively cost owners an additional $1.2 billion on their utility bills and create an additional five million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Out of the box, everyone appears to be playing by the rules but as you've likely experienced, default picture settings aren't always ideal. With just a few clicks of the remote (adjusting some settings to improve image quality), energy use can climb by more than 100 percent. This extra energy isn't accounted for during required energy testing, the NRDC says. Manufacturers aren't entirely to blame, either. The study notes that Department of Energy (DOE) testing methods contain much shorter scenes and more frequent cuts between them that content typically viewed in the real-world like dramas, news shows and sports. What's more, testing found that 4K televisions used as much as 50 percent more energy when playing high dynamic range (HDR) content and that energy-saving features were automatically disabled during HDR content playback. The NRDC said it shared the results with LG, Samsung and Vizio and none of them disputed the accuracy of the results. The DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency are also aware of the issues and are said to be updating their policies accordingly. Image courtesy David Paul Morris, Getty Images Uber will have a hard time expanding in the Southeast Asian region as rival Grab recently raised $750 million in a funding round. The funding will put additional pressure on the U.S. ride-sharing company, which now aims to expand in the area after it exited China. Earlier this year, Uber inked a deal with its major rival in China, Didi Chuxing, in which the U.S. company sold its China operations to Didi. Grab is not the only venture in the area that has secured the trust of and cash injections from investors. One month ago, Indonesian company Go-Jek pulled $550 million, which underlines that the competition in the area is growing fierce. Grab, which already has a four-year experience in the area, was assisted in the funding round by SoftBank Group from Japan. The ride-sharing venture says that the cash will be used to increase the company's presence in the Southeast Asian market. Grab's CEO, Anthony Tan, commended the funding in a recent statement in which he underlined that investors see Grab as both a market leader having long-term growth potential in the region. As more countries in the region adopt car-sharing services, the area becomes a crowded battleground for taxi-hailing firms. Most of their customers are from the young and internet-savvy demographic as well as from the blooming, fast-growing middle class. Uber is not ready to give up the Southeast Asian market, and the company is backing its determination by pushing more staff, technology and resources in the area after signing the deal with Didi. Insiders familiar with the matter are touting that the enterprise is delegating more than 150 engineers to work on its Southeast Asian operations, and plans to expand the workforce in India are in tow. Other rumors claim that Uber is investing massively to be sure that its maps fit the region. Uber refused to officially comment on Grab's fund-raising. The funding valuated Grab at more than $3 billion, an anonymous source notes. Additional reports indicate that Grab's full capital position went to more than $1 billion. The company reports that institutional investors from China and the United States attended the funding. "Grab has grown tremendously over the past year," Tan points out. As his company managed to pull $750 million from investors, we might see this growth become a stable trend for Grab, which claims to be the top third-party taxi-hailing service in Southeast Asia. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. "First Things First: Astrology is not Astronomy!" That's what NASA put on top of the Space Place, a website created by the agency to facilitate space learning for kids. It's also the site referenced by Cosmopolitan UK in an article purporting that NASA has gone out and changed the zodiac signs. This led to a considerable amount of freaking out for those who believe in astrology, as the change - which adds one more zodiac sign to the 12 already known - means that majority of people have just gained new zodiac signs. However, again, astrology is not astronomy, and it's the latter that NASA is concerned about. "We didn't change any Zodiac signs, we just did the math," said Dwayne Brown, NASA spokesperson. What Space Place sought to tell kids was where the zodiac signs came from, outlining a history lesson involving the Babylonians and the constellations 3,000 years ago. The Babylonians were of the belief that constellations changing positions throughout the year had a connection to certain events or behaviors occurring. They invented the zodiac based on what they perceived to be the sun's path over the year across a celestial sphere. A 12-month calendar was already in place for the Babylonians so they simply applied the celestial sphere to it, with each month getting assigned a zodiac. There were actually 13 constellations in the celestial sphere but only 12 were used because of the Babylonians' existing calendar system. This left out Ophiuchus, which is being claimed to be the 13th zodiac sign today. According to Space Place, the 12 chosen zodiacs didn't fit in perfectly into their designated spot in the sphere even then, sloping a bit into the next one. And now, 3,000 years later, the constellations that the Babylonians saw are no longer where they were first spotted, thanks (or no thanks?) to a wobble in the Earth's axis. Earthsky.org explained that the wobble is extremely subtle but its effects lead to something noticeable. For instance, In June 2,000 years ago, the sun was between Gemini and Cancer. During 2014's June solstice, the sun had moved on to sit between Gemini and Taurus. By June 4609, the sun should be found between Taurus and Aries. Had there been 13 zodiac signs, they would follow the dates below: Capricorn - Jan. 20 to Feb. 16 Aquarius - Feb. 16 to March 11 Pisces - March 11 to April 18 Aries - April 18 to May 13 Taurus - May 13 to June 21 Gemini - June 21 to July 20 Cancer - July 20 to Aug. 10 Leo - Aug. 10 to Sept. 16 Virgo - Sept. 16 to Oct. 30 Libra - Oct. 30 to Nov. 23 Scorpio - Nov. 23 to Nov. 29 Ophiuchus - Nov. 29 to Dec. 17 Sagittarius - Dec. 17 to Jan. 20 Photo: Lauren Jankowski | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Latest leaked images of the unannounced HTC Bolt shows the handset in silver. HTC is likely to introduce a new flagship smartphone in the United States dubbed the HTC Bolt. Rumors suggest that the HTC Bolt could be the successor to the HTC ThunderBolt, which was exclusive to Verizon. The handset was announced in January 2011 and released within a couple of months. Well-known leakster Evan Blass has posted an image of the HTC Bolt, giving a glimpse of what the upcoming HTC offering may look like. If the leaked image is to be believed then the HTC Bolt seems like a scaled-down version of the HTC 10, which was announced in April this year. The leaked image of the HTC Bolt shows that the camera lens of the phone would be similar to that of the HTC 10. However, the flash module has been moved to the top of the camera lens - the HTC 10 has the flash module on the side of the camera lens. The leaked image of the Bolt does not show a laser autofocus sensor. On the front, the selfie camera is placed on the left of the earpiece and not on the right as found on the HTC 10. On the side, the HTC Bolt seems to have two trays, which indicate that the device would support dual SIM. The leaked image of the purported HTC Bolt does not come along with specs. However, with the HTC Bolt being a flagship phone, customers would expect impressive hardware. This is the first time that Blass posted an image of the HTC Bolt on his Twitter page. On Sept. 14, Blass tweeted that the phone is headed to Sprint, which will leave many customers who are on other U.S. networks disappointed. HTC Bolt in silver. pic.twitter.com/vAFVInwnbc Evan Blass (@evleaks) 21 September 2016 This is coming to Sprint next month. https://t.co/NdgaALiRec Evan Blass (@evleaks) 15 September 2016 The leaked image of the HTC Bolt shows a date of Oct. 18 and time as 7 p.m. The location is set as New York. This could be the unveiling date, time and location of the HTC Bolt. Many smartphone makers such as Samsung and LG have started launching two new flagships in a year. Though HTC has launched a couple of new mid-ranged handsets - the Desire 10 Lifestyle and the Desire 10 Pro - on Sept. 20, it should not come as a surprise if HTC announces its second flagship mobile phone of this year. HTC has not confirmed any details or even the existence of the HTC Bolt. Smartphone enthusiasts will have to wait until the Taiwanese smartphone maker officially launches the mobile phone and confirms the specs. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. With more than 140 million .com and .net domains on the internet, web surfers have enough content to keep them busy for many lifetimes. Most countries have a large number of websites registered with their respective country code top-level domain (ccTLD, in short), such as .cn for China or .uk for the United Kingdom. Unless they are North Korea, that is. The reclusive country stands out in this area, as details that recently surfaced are showing the number of domains registered to the country's servers. We already knew that North Korea is not a big fan of the internet and its "capitalist propaganda," but a recent leak spilled the beans on the exact number of websites that the country registered on its own top-level domain, .kp. In the wake of an IT blunder in the dictatorship, experts from GitHub managed to access information about the websites hosted on the servers of the closed-off country. It looks like internet users in North Korea have access to no more than 28 websites. For what it's worth, the number of internet users in the country is very tiny, as well. GitHub said that the reason for the leak was that North Korea accidentally configured its top-level name servers such that it permitted "global [Domain Name System] transfers." This meant that users who managed to perform a zone transfer request to the country's ns2.kptc.kp name server were able to receive a copy of the top-level DNS data of the nation. The findings are nothing to be amazed by, as some sites are pretty self-obvious. Chefs in the country have access to Cooks.org.kp, a recipe site, while reporters have to rely on the national news agency, kcna.kp. Web pages such as friend.com.kp seem to emulate Facebook. However, unlike the social media site that all the planet is using, the North Korean variant is very susceptible to hacking. Keep in mind that a number of other sites were not accessible to users from outside the country. Should you want to have a full perspective on the 28 sites of North Korea, check out the complete list on Reddit. As a humorous redditor underlines, a GTA V gamer can tap into 83 websites in-game, three times more than the average North Korean internet user can visit in real life. This does not stop North Korea from being a culprit in state-sponsored hacking. This spring, South Korea's intelligence agency claimed that the North was involved in hacking the phones of senior government officials. In 2014, the FBI said that North Korea was responsible for a hacking attack on Sony, but security experts disagreed. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Graphene nanoribbons developed by Rice University through a special process is holding great promise in terms of healing damaged spinal cords of affected people. Researchers were able to demonstrate using Texas-PEG in joining damaged or severed spinal cords at the animal level. Rice University's chemist James Tour is too excited about the potential of Texas-PEG's potential in healing patients with spinal cord injuries. A paper on the preliminary tests was published in the journal Surgical Neurology International. "Our goal is to develop this as a way to address spinal cord injury. We think we're on the right path," Tour said. The graphene nanoribbons was customized for medical use by William Sikkema, a graduate student at Rice University and a co-lead author of the paper. The Texas-PEG recorded its big success story by restoring the failed spinal functions of a rodent with a ruptured spinal cord. The operation was performed by Bae Hwan Lee and C-Yoon Kim at the Konkuk University in South Korea. They are also the co-authors of the paper. In the rodent experiment, Texas-PEG was able to successfully relay the motor and sensory neuronal signals, 24 hours after its complete breakdown from the ruptured spinal cord. Adding to the feat was full motor control recovery after two weeks. The scientists also made Texas-PEG able to conduct electricity by exposing it to highly soluble polyethylene glycol (PEG). Pioneering Experiment Neuron growing along graphene, which has been demonstrated in many other research projects, is possible thanks to graphene's conductive surface property in stimulating neuronal growth. "We're not the only lab that has demonstrated neurons growing on graphene in a petri dish," Tour said. He then explained the difference between their experiments and others. Other labs were experimenting with water-soluble graphene oxide, which poorly conducts electricity if compared to graphene and other non-ribbonized graphene structures. The team went one step ahead and added water-solubilizing polymer chain to the edges of nanoribbons to achieve solubility, yet maintain the material's conductivity. Tour said the innovation was a game changer and has expanded the use to other biomedical applications. Tour called the new breakthrough as significant and a major advance over previous work that had a narrow focus with PEG. Also, the previous work did not result in drastic recovery in terms of sensory neuronal signals during the same period as in the new rodent experiment. Moreover, motor control recovery is just at 10 percent. Meanwhile, efforts are progressing on expanding the medical use of graphene in many centers. In Italy, a team of scientists is harping on the antifungal action and antibacterial properties of graphene oxide, which is a carbon-derived compound. They have reported success in using them as a coating for catheters and medical tools as a way to reduce infections and cut down the use of antibiotics. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Russia's plan to send a crew to the International Space Station was placed on hold earlier this week because of technical reasons, but after a few days of checking all systems, the mission has now been rescheduled to Nov. 1. The Soyuz MS-02 launch was temporarily cancelled after several tests were taken at the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. The plan was to have Shane Kimbrough, a NASA astronaut, and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko, sent to the International Space Station on Sept. 23. This was first seen as bad news for NASA and Roscosmos because the Soyuz spacecraft is the only one, at present, capable of bringing humans to the ISS. NASA in its current state is not capable of ferrying astronauts to the station, and SpaceX is still struggling to get its bearings together. Earlier this month, SpaceX suffered a setback when its Falcon 9 rocket caught fire during a test launch. The incident has led to space services being suspended. All in all, NASA's commercial crew program is facing delay as well, and this is due to partners experiencing technical challenges. A report from Sputnik claims that one of the reasons behind the Russians' postponement is a short circuit discovered during a recent testing. Russian news group RIA Novosti reported a source claiming that the spacecraft could be replaced and the mission could be reset to October. "Preliminary data revealed that a short circuit occurred while testing the new series Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft, docked to a carrier rocket, at Baikonur," a source tells Sputnik. As for some of the current inhabitants of the ISS NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin they were originally set to return to Earth on Oct 30. Their trip home will depend a lot on how fast the Russians can fix the Soyuz MS-02 and get it into orbit. Considering how these things are complex and rely on several variables to work, anything is possible at this point. The technology may already be showing signs of aging, so issues are rising up from the shadows. "The Russian side has informed the NASA central office of the preliminary plans to launch the manned Soyuz MS-02 on Nov. 1," says NASA representative Alexander Koptev. These delays and technical challenges might actually be the reason the likes of Energia, a private rocket company in Russia, are envisioning reusable "space cabs" built precisely to shuttle space astronauts and space tourists not only between Earth and the ISS, but beyond: all the way to the moon. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Marvel's Civil War II event has already claimed the lives of the Hulk and War Machine, at least for the time being. Now, five issues into the eight-issue event series, writer Brian Michael Bendis is teasing that the body count may be about to get even larger as Iron Man and Captain Marvel's opposing sides come to blows. Spoilers for Civil War II #5 below! Seriously, turn back now if you don't want it spoiled. While there have been a few arguments and scraps over the past five issues between Iron Man and Captain Marvel's followers, issue five sees the two sides engaging in a massive throwdown. Iron Man's side believes that the visions provided by the Inhuman named Ulysses aren't to be fully trusted or acted upon, while followers of Captain Marvel believe they should be using the visions to prevent crime and other events before they happen. One of Ulysses' visions already directly resulted in the death of Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk. Ulysses and the heroes around him at the time glimpsed a future event in which the Hulk went on a murderous rampage. When Iron Man, Captain Marvel and other heroes attempt to confront Banner about the possibility of him allowing such an event to happen, Hawkeye assassinates Banner before the scientist can possibly transform into his angry green alter-ego. It's the death of Bruce Banner that puts a new vision presented by Ulysses in issue #5 into context. During the middle of the fight between Iron Man and Captain Marvel's forces, Ulysses unleashes a shared vision that goes out to all of the heroes in the battle. His vision clearly shows Miles Morales, the new Spider-Man, killing Captain America. Considering what happened to the Hulk, it seems likely that Captain Marvel's team of heroes and maybe even some of Iron Man's followers will look to bring Spider-Man in before he can kill one of the Marvel Universe's greatest heroes, and that might not go so great for young Miles. If they don't bring him in, it's possible Miles could actually kill Captain America, which would be a little weird considering Steve Rogers died during the first Civil War event as well. It's a lose-lose situation. There is, however, one giant factor that fans know about when it comes to Captain America that the rest of the characters in Marvel's superhero universe don't: Captain America is evil. He's working for Hydra right now after having essentially been brainwashed by Red Skull. Might Spider-Man be killing Captain America in order to prevent him from committing some kind of atrocity? Does Miles learn of Steve's newfound allegiance to Hydra and kill him as a result? The problem with the visions provided by Ulysses is that they are entirely without context. Nobody knows for sure the "why" of what's happening in the vision. However, one thing is for certain: the vision doesn't bode well for Miles. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. If you thought the days of Nokia phones were long dead and gone thanks to the popularity of Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones, think again. Even though Microsoft said back in May that it was selling its feature phone business to FIH Mobile for $350 million, it decided to release one more Nokia phone for old time's sake. Microsoft surprised us all on Tuesday, when it announced the launch of a new Nokia phone, the Nokia 216. It appears the past called and said a new Nokia device would be a good idea, despite the fact that everyone is going crazy for the new Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus. However, consumers will be happy to learn that this new Nokia phone has something the iPhone 7 doesn't, a headphone jack. OK, so does every other smartphone on the market right now, but the new Nokia phone has an extremely competitive price of only $37 (30). That's because the Nokia 216 will be sold in India. What could very well be Microsoft's final Nokia phone, the Nokia 216 is as basic as it gets and has that '00s nostalgic feel to it. It has a 2.4-inch QVGA display and a physical keyboard. It runs on the Series 30 OS and comes pre-loaded with Opera mini browser and Facebook, with 16 MB of RAM with expandable memory via a microSD card. It has a 0.3 MP rear- and front-facing camera with LED flash, features stereo FM radio, built-in MP3 player and Bluetooth support. The phone has a battery life of 24 days on standby, with a maximum talk time of up to 18 hours. However, the Nokia 216 only supports 2.5G networks. The Nokia phone is water-resistant IPv6 certified and comes in teal blue, silver and black color options. Users can download apps and games via the Opera Mobile Store, snap selfies, listen to music and store up to 200 contacts on the device. The unveiling of the Nokia 216 probably comes at a shock to most, especially since Microsoft has not seen much success in the smartphone business when it comes to its Lumia and Windows Phones. The company has even suggested that it may stop making Lumia phones and instead continue support for existing phones and new ones developed by third-party makers like Acer, HP and VAIO. As part of its deal with FIH Mobile that hands over all feature phone assets, the company will also acquire Microsoft's manufacturing facility that is based in Vietnam. However, there are rumors still swirling that Microsoft may release a new Surface smartphone next year. However, for now, the Nokia 216 is probably the last Nokia device it makes. The Nokia 216 will launch in India in October. Source: Microsoft 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Microsoft is finally removing the Windows 10 upgrade nagware from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1-powered computers through a recently released update. The move comes as part of the company's continued phasing out of the free Windows 10 upgrade promotion, with the removal of the Get Windows 10 app and other software that is related to the upgrade offer included in patch KB3184143. For users who have chosen to stick with Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 as the operating system for their PC over upgrading to Windows 10, the patch is available for download through Windows Update. There are no prerequisites to installing the update, though a computer restart may be required for it to take effect. The update to remove the Get Windows 10 app was confirmed by a spokesperson from Microsoft, stating that the tool which was designed to make it easier for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users to upgrade their operating systems for free will be removed from computers beginning Sept. 20. The Get Windows 10 app was first utilized to reserve copies of the free upgrade for users, but it was later ramped up into nagware that in certain cases self-scheduled Windows 10 upgrades without the approval of the user. Over the last few months of the upgrade program, the program started to become even shadier, with reports of users unknowingly authorizing the installation of the Windows 10 upgrade when they thought that they had rejected it. The upgrade prompts, from being displayed as windows, eventually also took up the whole screen so that it was harder for users to ignore the messages. Microsoft eventually pulled back on the aggressiveness of the campaign. The free upgrade offer to Windows 10 officially ended on July 29. However, Paul Thurrott of Thurrott.com recently tweeted that the free upgrade to Windows 10 is still available for users with valid Windows 7 and Window 8.1 serial numbers. With the upgrade program officially ending almost two months ago though, Microsoft could soon cease the possibility of continuing to get the free upgrade. There is also another way for users who missed the official free upgrade offer to take their PCs into Windows 10, and that is through the free upgrade page for customers who utilize assistive technologies. While the free upgrade is meant for specific users, with a Microsoft spokeswoman stating as such, the system does not ask for proof at any point in the process. There is also no official end date for this alternative method of upgrading to Windows 10 for free. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA describes Saturn's moon Titan as the most Earth-like world they have discovered so far. In a new study published in the Geophysical Research Letters, researchers presented what could be considered as another Earthlike quality of the moon: a seemingly impossible cloud that may have been created by weather processes similar to those seen on Earth. This impossible cloud was first discovered by the infrared instrument onboard NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft decades ago. The cloud was composed of a carbon and nitrogen based compound known as dicyanoacetylene (C4N2), which is partially responsible for the brownish-orange haze of the moon NASA's Cassini-Huygens spacecraft,which has been orbiting Saturn found a second example of the cloud recently. Just like with the earlier discovery, the cloud contains dicyanoacetylene and the surrounding stratosphere was found to contain less than 1 percent of this compound required for the cloud to exist. Condensation is needed for clouds to form and this takes place when the air temperature and pressure can condense vapor into ice. Clouds in the moon's stratosphere form when the ice and methane vapor are in a state of equilibrium, but the amount of dicyanoacetylene vapor found here is supposedly not enough to keep the ice trapped in the cloud in equilibrium. Scientists said that at least 100 times more vapor is needed in Titan's stratosphere to form an ice cloud. "For clouds that condense, this equilibrium is mandatory, like the law of gravity," said study co-author Robert Samuelson, from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Scientists, however, think they have found an explanation to this phenomenon in certain clouds on earth that forego condensation. These clouds form through a kind of "solid-state" chemistry. Earth's stratosphere has scant moisture, but polar stratospheric clouds can form when chlorine-bearing chemicals enter the atmosphere as pollution and stick to crystals of water ice causing a chemical reaction that produces ozone-destroying chlorine molecules. A similar process could create the ice clouds on Titan. Cyanoacetylene, which contains hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen, could become coated with hydrogen cyanide as it moved down an icy crystals into the stratosphere. Ultraviolet rays from the sun that hit one of these dual-layer ice crystals could result in a chemical reaction that would release dicyanoacetylene and hydrogen to form a cloud. "As our analysis of the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer 478 cm-1 ice emission feature demonstrates, this solid-state photochemistry mechanism eliminates the need for the relatively high C4N2 saturation vapor pressures required (even though they are not observed) when the ice is produced through the usual procedure of direct condensation from the vapor," the researchers wrote in their study. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The rumor mill surrounding the Google Pixel and Pixel XL keeps churning out juicy details, but this time around, the news might not sit that well with fans of the anticipated smartphones. Right off the bat, the handsets in question are said to not sport a waterproof build. In short, that means users are advised against getting it too wet in the rain, hosing it down for whatever purpose and dipping it in water for kicks. The Source Of The Rumor Android Police caught wind of this particular bit, and according to the Android-dedicated website's David Ruddock, the Pixel and Pixel XL are going to have an IP53 dust- and water-resistant rating. "IPX3 is essentially saying the device will not experience water ingress (i.e., water won't get inside) when held at a relatively upward angle in your hand during use in very heavy rain or when lightly splashed," he says. Spelling Out The Bad News It might come across as a bit of a surprise for some if the Pixel and Pixel XL hit the shelves without a waterproof design. To explain, most flagships nowadays have some impressive measures against water, including the Samsung Galaxy S7, the Galaxy S7 edge and the Note 7's IP68 rating and the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus' IP67 certification. The fact that the Google-branded handsets won't have the same qualities just seems unexpected. What's more, the base model of the 5-inch Pixel is rumored to hold customers back by $649. If the alleged price and lack of waterproofing turn out to be true, then is the upcoming smartphone lineup really worth the buy? Perhaps that might still be the case for some, as they are expected to get the timeliest software updates. However, since the Galaxy S7 costs $679.99 at T-Mobile and Best Buy and the iPhone 7 is priced at $649.99 at T-Mobile and AT&T, putting the Pixel's purported $649 price tag against those just makes it a little unappealing. The Bottom Line Of course, until Google gives an official word, it's advised to take this news with the usual grain of salt. In other words, there's more or less a chance that the Pixel and Pixel XL will be waterproof, and the price of the former could start at a lower point fingers crossed on that one. At any rate, if they go official with an IP53 rating, they at least have dust- and water-resistance up to a certain degree, serving as a consolation prize of sorts. It's also worth mentioning that the Mountain View company could finally unveil the two on Oct. 4 at a hardware event in San Francisco, but it's still unclear whether or not the handsets that are going to make an appearance there will be the Pixel lineup. With all said and done, if the Pixel and Pixel XL do indeed come without a waterproof feature, will you still grab one? Let us know in the comments section below. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Scientists have uncovered the contents of an ancient Hebrew scroll without having to unroll the delicate and crumbling artifact. The incredible feat was made possible thanks to a complex technology known as "virtual unwrapping," which allowed researchers to digitally analyze and scan the document. "We're reading a real scroll," said Professor Brent Seales of the University of Kentucky, the lead author of the research who examined the ancient artifact. Known as the En-Gedi scroll, the ancient Hebrew document was first discovered in 1970 in the Holy Ark of a Jewish community, which dates back to 700 B.C. Along with the rest of the settlement, the ancient scroll made out of animal skin was burned and charred to near-obscurity around A.D. 600, researchers said. Because the parchment continued to disintegrate every time it was touched, scientists had to find a way to uncover its secrets without destroying it. Now, through the use of virtual unwrapping, Seales and his colleagues have provided scholars with legible text from the ancient scroll. The first parts of analysis revealed the book of Leviticus written in Hebrew, making it the oldest scroll from the Pentateuch the first five books of the Old Testament ever found in Hebrew outside of the Dead Sea scrolls. "We never dreamed we could bring it back to life," said curator Pnina Shor, co-author of the research. In Israel, Shor and colleagues used X-ray based micro-computed tomography or micro-CT scan to digitally examine the scroll. At this point, Shor said they were not certain whether the scroll actually contained a text, so they decided to increase the spatial resolution of the scan. This allowed them to capture whether or not each layer of the parchment had detectable ink. The team's meticulous attention to detail finally paid off in the end: the parchment did contain ink and likely had metal such as lead or iron because it was shown as a dense material. However, the text on the parchment was still illegible, so researchers in Israel opted to send the scans to Seales who was in Kentucky so they could apply the virtual unwrapping method. The virtual unwrapping took three steps: segmentation, texturing and flattening. Through segmentation, Seales and colleagues identified each layer within the digital scroll, and they created a virtual mesh for each layer. They manipulated the triangular mesh and "textured" the document. Afterward, they digitally flattened the parchment and combined the layers into a flat 2D image. This allowed them to uncover the contents of the scroll. Details of the study are published in the journal Science Advances. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The long-standing mystery related to shining, distant objects in the universe known as Lyman-alpha blobs (LABs) is now resolved. A new research has debunked many previous assumptions and gave conclusive explanations on why lights emit from these hydrogen clouds, which are regarded as cosmic nurseries by many scientists. Light years away from the Earth, these blobs have been glowing brightly by throwing out ultra violet radiations and had been baffling astronomers. According to a release by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the cosmic mystery now stands resolved. Many studies in the past, including the one in 2011, suggested that hidden galaxies were behind the glow. The new research has found that two big galaxies present in the blob's core are responsible for the glow, further surrounded by a series of smaller galaxies. The study understood that a frenzy of star formation is taking place inside the blobs. This is what lights up the whole surrounding and indicates the making of a cluster of galaxies. The findings were published (PDF) in Astrophysical Journal with new updates on the blobs' shining nature. A computer simulation of the telescope data further explained how a LAB shines and how it is perceived by others. "Think of a streetlight on a foggy night you see the diffuse glow because light is scattering off the tiny water droplets," said Jim Geach, the study's lead researcher from the University of Hertfordshire. For the new study, the astronomers used a combination of advanced telescopes and computer simulations to trace the blobs' glow. Serious studies on the glowing properties of space blob started in 2000, which are billions of light-years away from Earth. The credit for cracking the mystery goes to advanced equipment that was used in surveying the blob's central galaxies, such as Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the ESO in Chile. Significance Of The Study The new study has made a definite headway with clues on how cosmic nurseries have contributed to the birth of large galaxies. News about a distant galaxy was duly covered by Tech Times. There is hope that new insights deduced from Lyman-alpha radiation will galvanize the studies on galaxy formation. "The really exciting thing is that the Lyman-alpha is telling us about what's going on in the immediate environment around the young galaxies," Geach told the Astronomy magazine. Photo: ESA/Hubble & NASA | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Galaxy Note 7 Seems Doomed, As A "Safe" Battery Explodes In China | TechTree.com Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 battery-gate seems to getting worse every passing day. After multiple cases of the Note 7 units bursting into flames, the Korean company initiated a massive recall programme. After preliminary investigation, Samsung blamed one of the battery suppliers for the explosions. According to the South Korean brand, devices that sport batteries from ATL (Amperex Technology Limited) are safe. The company did not explicitly mentioned the "other" battery supplier, but industry insiders claim that it is none other than Samsung SDI. In short, Samsung is blaming Samsung's subsidiary for faulty batteries. The most important point being that the ATL batteries are considered safe, and are going to be used in the 'safe' replacement stock of the Galaxy Note 7. However, now a report has put a question mark on the safety of these units as well. If BGR is to be believed, a Galaxy Note 7 unit thats supposed to have a non-exploding ATL battery pack inside exploded in China. In this case, Samsung's version of the story says that the product was "damaged because of external heating". Battery-maker ATL too have come to the same conclusion after early investigations. None of the companies have given more details such as the nature of the external heating. I wonder whether Samsung is holding the user responsible for deliberately creating such condition or just hinting at a rather hot day in China? That's Smokey Cyan colour variant. Whatever the reason may be, I doubt how many people will be confident to buy the Galaxy Note 7 when it launches in India. More importantly, will Samsung release its jinxed handset in remaining markets? TAGS: Samsung "The Brazilian people will vote for a project through which democracy will win," the Workers' Party leader said. | Read More 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 UN 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." -- Voice Of America Heads up to prevent injury from falls Morning walks in my neighborhood are one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. I love the coolness of daybreak and the special sightings of the stag and two does that frequent our open space. I also enjoy my walk because each day at... Signs that point to the best time for retirement Ive been thinking a lot about retirement lately. One of our amazing staff members, who has been with Senior Concerns for the last 13 years, retired last month. It just doesnt seem real. I always thought of Dana as young. Certainly not the person to... Rethinking the mandatory retirement age How old is too old for working at a job? Last week a news story hit my inbox and it really got me to thinking about age and retirement. The article noted that Target Corp. abandoned its mandatory retirement age of 65 for its CEO,... Tips to promoting a healthy nights sleep for children Question: Help, please. My daughter is almost 2 years old and has been an easy child to put into her own bed. Yet in the past few weeks she is purposefully stretching out the bedtime routine longer and longer. She wants more: more stories, more... CEDAR RAPIDS | Shes hard-pressed to think of what it might be, but Patty Judge thinks that given her training and experience as a mediator during the farm crisis she could find common ground with Donald Trump. Yes, I think that I could have a discussion with him about an issue and I would be willing to listen to his side and would hope that we could reach some kind of consensus, said Judge, an Albia Democrat contesting GOP Sen. Chuck Grassleys re-election. Its not possible all of the time, but you have to try, Judge told The Gazette Editorial Board Thursday. Grassley, she said, has stopped trying to find that middle ground that voters wants and expect from their representatives in Congress. Exhibit No. 1 is his refusal to hold hearings on Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama Supreme Court nominee. That was the issue that pushed her into the race after she had resigned herself to never being on the ballot again after losing her 2010 campaign for a second term as Chet Culvers lieutenant governor. Judge dismisses the notion that the issue has lost its importance since the vacancy occurred seven months ago. I will tell you, when Im talking to people, if I dont bring it up, they bring it up to me, said Judge, who worked as a nurse and operated a cow-calf farm with her husband before serving two terms in the Iowa Senate and two terms as Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. Iowans are known for being hardworking, reasonable and sensible, she said, and when we commit to do a job, people expect us to do what we say were going to do. People believe as I do that obstruction is wrong. The gridlock and obstruction wont end until some member of Congress are replaced, Judge said. Very few people are as much a part of the establishment as him and people believe this is the time for a change, she said about Grassley, who has been in Congress 42 years. Judge could make a difference because of her experience working across the aisle in the Legislature and mediating disputes between farmers and lenders during the 1980s farm crisis, Judge said. I think it is possible to meet people in the middle, to have a discussion even though you may not agree on solutions, and find some common ground and get to consensus, she said. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close American Cake: From Colonial Gingerbread to Classic Layer, the Stories and Recipes Behind More Than 125 of Our Best-Loved Cakes by Anne Byrn, Rodale Books, $29.99, 344 pages, hardcover Dont expect to use cake mixes to make the cakes in the latest cookbook from Anne Byrn, author of the bestselling Cake Mix Doctor books. Recipes in her fascinating new book are for from scratch cakes, but dont be intimidated. Byrn provides easy-to-follow instructions to help you produce delicious cakes. American Cake: From Colonial Gingerbread to Classic Layer, the Stories and Recipes Behind More Than 125 of Our Best-Loved Cakes opens with a brief history of cakes in America. It looks at regional raw ingredients the butter, eggs, sweeteners, flour and leavening plus the American oven from wood to electric, measurements and baking pans. In her How to Use This Book information, Byrn notes that she had to scale back some historic recipes, such as the Martha Washington Great Cake, to fit todays smaller pans. Ingredients for some of the oldest recipes were difficult to find, and directions often werent given. But, she writes, whats really changed is our tastes. Early cakes were less sweet, less soft, and less perfect. Cakes of the mid-20th century seem the sweetest of all. Her books recipes come from many sources: home cooks, pastry chefs, old cookbooks, recipe contests, home demonstration agents, back of the box, historians, restaurants, newspapers, magazines and her own recipe files. Among those sources are Corinne Cook, who writes the Gourmet Galley column in The Advocate and contributed the Louisiana Syrup Cake recipe, and New Orleans food writer Dale Curry, who contributed The Doberge Torte recipe. Recipes are divided by era, beginning with "1650 to 1799: Baking Cakes in Early America," such as American Gingerbread and New Orleans King Cake. Another chapter covers the introduction of baking powder and another the birth of the American layer cake, and ends with "2000 to the Present: The Cakes of the New Millennium," with such recipes as Chocoflan (Chocolate Impossible Cake) and Rum Sizzle Cake. Theres also a chapter on frostings and icings. American Cake is sure to be a hit with readers. It offers great recipes illustrated with full-color photographs while tracing the history of Americas best-loved cakes. Cheramie Sonnier is a food writer and columnist. Contact her at sonnierfood@gmail.com, and follow her on Twitter, @CheramieSonnier. Four East Baton Rouge sheriff's deputies who fatally shot 48-year-old Travis Stevenson in his car during a February confrontation in Old South Baton Rouge were justified in opening fire and acted in self-defense, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III announced Thursday. Stevenson was struck seven times in the head, neck and shoulders after repeatedly reversing his Cadillac sedan into a Sheriff's Office SUV, which had blocked him in at a gravel parking spot off Scott Street just before 10 p.m. on Feb. 23. The actions of the sheriffs deputies were warranted and justified, Moore said of the decision of four of the six deputies present to open fire. The deputies fired more than 20 rounds during the incident, including several aimed at Stevenson's rear tires in an unsuccessful bid to disable the car. Moore, announcing the conclusion of his review of a Louisiana State Police investigation into the killing, said Stevenson appeared to have been suffering from mental illness and that an autopsy found he was drunk and under the influence of cocaine and marijuana at the time of his death. Stevenson threatened to kill himself several times during his frantic final hours, according to the State Police report released Thursday. The string of events leading to Stevenson's death began around 8:30 p.m., when he allegedly burst into his girlfriend's apartment in the Gardere area, attacking her and her daughter with pepper spray and smashing an empty beer bottle into the wall before fleeing. Deputies responding to the woman's apartment spoke briefly by phone with Stevenson, who said he planned to jump off the Mississippi River bridge because he didn't want to go back to jail. Those threats set off a search of several bridges for any sign of Stevenson. According to the State Police report, Lt. Michael Birdwell managed to locate Stevenson parked in a gravel parking lot next to a small apartment building at the corner of Terrace Avenue and Scott Street after a detective obtained GPS coordinates of Stevenson's phone from his cellular carrier. Stevenson sent a text message at 9:50 p.m. to his girlfriend saying he planned to kill himself, the report says. Screenshots of the text message and other evidence in the case were included in the report. Moments after Stevenson sent that text message, Birdwell spotted Stevenson's Cadillac. Birdwell used his Sheriff's Office SUV to block Stevenson's Cadillac in the parking spot and then ordered him out of the vehicle, Moore said. After Stevenson refused, Birdwell used the butt of a knife to smash the driver's window and unsuccessfully tried to pull Stevenson out of the car. Stevenson then threw his car into reverse, smashing into Birdwell's vehicle before driving forward into a metal pole situated between the parking spot and the apartment building, Moore said. Stevenson rammed his car back and forth at least four times, Moore said, leaving large dents on both vehicles and driving Birdwell's 6,700-pound vehicle back some 4 to 5 feet. Other deputies arriving shortly after Birdwell told State Police investigators they quickly realized the deputy was in a potentially dangerous situation: A Mercedes SUV parked next to Stevenson's car and the wall of the apartment building left little room for the lieutenant to escape, according to Moore and the State Police report. Birdwell later told investigators he'd successfully pulled suspects from vehicles in similar circumstances and was unaware of the dangerous situation he'd apparently placed himself in. Detective Shannon Broussard, who fired at least two rounds into Stevenson's rear tires in an attempt to disable the car, told investigators Birdwell was "in a bad spot" and that, after Stevenson rammed into the Sheriff's Office SUV one final time, the Cadillac appeared to be pointed directly at Birdwell. Even though the rear tires deflated, Stevenson was still able to operate the Cadillac, which had front-wheel drive, Moore said. Detective Scott Henning shouted for Stevenson to get out of the car, to which Stevenson repeatedly responded by saying, "Kill me," according to the report. The State Police report says it appeared Stevenson was preparing to shift back into drive when four of the deputies Broussard, Henning, Detective Charles Montgomery and Sgt. Verner Budd III opened fire. Neither Birdwell nor Detective Christopher Masters fired their weapons during the encounter. "None of the deputies involved expected this situation to escalate as quickly as it did," Moore said. No parts of the fatal confrontation were captured on video, Moore said. East Baton Rouge sheriff's deputies don't wear body cameras and, though Birdwell's marked unit was equipped with a dashboard camera, it didn't record the encounter because Birdwell never triggered the system by switching on his emergency lights. Investigators had hoped to find security camera footage or cell phone video of the shooting, Moore said, but after canvassing the area they were unable to locate any. Deputies found one can of pepper spray on the passenger seat of Stevenson's car, Moore said, and a second, smaller can on Stevenson's key chain. No firearms or other weapons were found in the car or on Stevenson, though Moore was quick to emphasize he believes Stevenson was using his car as a potentially deadly weapon. Moore said Stevenson had a "hard life" and suggested that mental illness likely played a role in the events leading up to his death. Moore said Stevensons mother was killed in 1973 just blocks from the location of the shooting, when Stevenson was 6 years old, and that Stevenson's father with whom he was particularly close recently died after a protracted illness. That death appeared to exacerbate what family members described as a years-long battle with depression, Moore said. An EMS report released Thursday also indicates Stevenson had a prior history of bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia. Paramedics treated Stevenson for psychiatric problems in May 2015 after he reported feeling suicidal, according to another of the EMS reports. Stevenson served two years in prison after stabbing his then-girlfriend with a kitchen knife before turning the blade on himself. According to court records, the victim of the attack a different woman than the one attacked with pepper spray told police Stevenson said he was going to kill her, then himself "because he thought she didnt want him anymore." But an attorney for Stevenson's family, Michael Bell, told the Associated Press on Thursday that Stevenson's family doesn't believe his mental history was a "real issue" in the case. Bell said the family is disappointed the officers won't face criminal charges in the shooting and added that the family will likely file a wrongful death lawsuit. Attempts by The Advocate to reach Bell on Thursday afternoon were not successful. "We believe it was excessive, the number of shots, the number of participants," Bell told the AP. An internal investigation of the shooting by a Sheriff's Office shooting review board will begin now that the State Police and District Attorney's Office have closed their investigations, said Casey Rayborn Hicks, a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman. All six deputies involved in the incident were placed on paid administrative leave immediately after the shooting, Hicks said, which is standard practice for the department. Birdwell and Masters, the two deputies who didn't fire their weapons, returned to duty three days later, Hicks said. The other four deputies returned to work on March 11 after the State Police released their preliminary findings, she said. Moore said he discussed the investigation and his decision to clear the officers with a number of Stevenson's relatives Thursday, prior to the public release of the report and the District Attorney's Office's findings. Shortly after the shooting, East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux turned the investigation over to State Police because Sheriff's Office homicide detectives who at the time were normally tasked with investigating shootings involving deputies were among the deputies who opened fire on Stevenson during the confrontation. The Sheriff's Office has since signed an agreement with State Police automatically turning over investigations of all fatal shootings involving deputies to the state agency. Moore said Thursday the Baton Rouge Police Department, which has temporarily agreed to turn over the investigation of police shootings to State Police in the wake of protests over the July 5 shooting death of Alton Sterling, are in the process of reaching a permanent arrangement with State Police to handle all future officer-involved fatal shootings. 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. With billions of dollars in coastal restoration projects in the works, the state would like to see a little give from the federal government by forgiving a $1.6 billion cost share for the New Orleans area levee work after Hurricane Katrina. A resolution passed Wednesday by the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority makes a case that not only has such loan forgiveness been done before, but it would keep the coastal program moving forward. That same coastal program, the resolution points out, helps protect the federal government's $15 billion investment in levee and other hurricane protection improvements in and around New Orleans. "This is an issue that has been going on since 2009," Chip Kline, deputy director in the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities, told the authority at their meeting in Baton Rouge. Originally, the hurricane risk reduction system in New Orleans was expected to be handed over to the state as completed in 2011. Now, Kline said, that date has been set back to 2019, with the interest continuing to grow. The state is responsible for a portion of the project's cost about $1.6 billion, which includes $519 million in accumulated interest. Kline explained that since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can draw down the state's cost share to help pay for construction on the system, the state started to accumulate interest on that borrowed money. After the 30-year payback, the state will have paid $2.98 billion on the $1.1 billion cost share, he said. That comes to about $100 million a year until 2049 with the only real source for that kind of money coming from a possible increase in offshore oil and gas revenue. With a maximum annual oil and gas revenue expected to be $140 million designated for coastal restoration and protection, that $100 million a year off the top would do nothing but hurt the coast's future, Kline said. In addition, that funding is uncertain and can depend on oil prices as well as several attempts by the federal administration to reallocate that money. "It is imperative Louisiana is relieved from this obligation," Kline said. "This is a heavy lift, and the congressional delegation realizes that." The repayments represent a bite out of the coastal program that the state can ill afford, he said. "The state can not afford another $100 million obligation." Louisiana leaders hailed movement on a federal flood relief package on Thursday as a "really big win" for the state, but Democrats in Congress already are signaling opposition to the GOP-backed short-term spending plan that would provide up to $500 million in flood aid. After days of negotiations this week, the temporary budget proposal ultimately unveiled by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, would prevent a government shutdown on Sept. 30 and keep the federal government afloat until a longer-range plan can be crafted in December. Tucked into that proposal is $500 million for states that have suffered major natural disasters this year the bulk would be expected to go to Louisiana, which suffered catastrophic floods last month that killed 13 people and left thousands displaced. "It's a fair proposal," McConnell said after the ongoing back-and-forth between Republicans and Democrats resulted in no formal deal. But Democrats quickly cried foul and signaled their opposition to McConnell's stop-gap budget proposal, formally known as a continuing resolution, leaving its fate uncertain as the nation edges closer to the shutdown deadline. In recent days, funding for the Louisiana flood became intertwined with the Democrats' desire to provide funding for Flint, Michigan's drinking water crisis. Money for Flint isn't included in McConnell's proposal. Senate Democrats have loudly voiced their disappointment, indicating they may be willing to risk a shutdown over the fight. "We are not I am not going to support an effort that says to the people of Flint, 'You don't count. Your child doesn't count. We care about people in Louisiana. They count, but people in Flint, Michigan, don't,'" U.S. Sen Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, said tearing up on the Senate floor. "I'm happy to support Louisiana, but the help for Louisiana and the help for Flint need to be done the same." U.S. Sen. Barbara Milkulski, a Maryland Democrat who serves as the minority party's top appropriator in the Senate, said flatly that Democrats "can't vote" for the proposal McConnell has put forth. "We know that the people of Louisiana have been hit by the terrible floods," she said. "We don't want to just give lip service in response to their need, but Louisiana is not the only need in America, and we believe that the people of Flint, Michigan, should be included in the continuing resolution." That leaves the immediate flood aid package for Louisiana somewhat up in the air, even as the state's leaders laud Thursday's action as a victory. The continuing resolution has been identified as the fastest way to get flood money for the state before Congress recesses this month. Lawmakers won't return to D.C. until December, after this fall's elections. U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, said he sees the flood aid in the continuing resolution as a "down payment" on flood relief that would signal additional aid is coming. He said he's confident the state would be in line for more recovery assistance when Congress returns in a so-called "lame duck" session after the November elections. "We got a really big win today, we've just got more work to do," Scalise said. "We're moving fast, but working hard because we think it's important that we get this down payment that shows that Congress will help people get back into their homes." U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, similarly described the $500 million in McConnell's proposal as a "down payment" on future flood relief that would be coming later. "It's a great start," he said. "This obviously gets things going." Officials have estimated that the Louisiana floods caused at least $8.7 billion in damage, and nearly 126,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Officials are seeking federal recovery aid that would be in addition to what the federal government has already committed to Louisiana's recovery and on top of the 90-10 FEMA reimbursement match for relief efforts. The flood relief dollars proposed in the continuing resolution, which senators will have for four days before votes are cast and then it heads to the U.S. House, would largely go toward creating a long-term housing recovery plan. FEMA efforts only cover temporary housing efforts, such as bare-bones Shelter at Home repairs or 18-month mobile home or rental assistance. In addition to the August floods, the additional federal flood relief would also be used for recovery for north Louisiana, which experienced mass floods in the spring. Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to continue lobbying for flood aid, met with Cassidy and McConnell Thursday morning before the latest proposal was revealed. Despite the apparent pushback from some in his own party, Edwards, in a statement, remained optimistic that money will come. This week marked Edwards' third trip to Washington to rally support for federal flood aid. Historic flooding has uprooted homes and communities in every corner of our state, Edwards said in a statement. Make no mistake, this is a down payment from the federal government on our recovery needs, and I am hopeful and optimistic that the final (concurrent resolution) passed by Congress will include this assistance. I look forward to working with Congress in the coming months to address Louisiana's long-term flood relief." Cassidy stressed that he's confident money will come either now or later, but he said hopefully both. "We're not through yet," Cassidy said. "Many in Louisiana in the affected areas are still desperate for help." He said he believes Flint could secure money through another avenue, would almost assuredly be funded in December and should not be tied to Louisiana's flood aid. "(Democrats) are pushing back because they want the money for Flint," he said. Flint, a poverty-stricken city with about 99,000 residents, has been dealing with lead-contaminated drinking water for two years. Railing against Louisiana's inclusion in the stop-gap funding proposal without Flint funding, Stabenow, the Michigan Democrat, said Louisiana should also have to wait until December if Flint does. Louisiana's funding "adds insult to injury" of Flint's exclusion, she said, adding that it wasn't her intention to "(pit) communities against each other. "We are not asking colleagues to say 'no' to Louisiana. We are asking colleagues to say 'yes' to Flint and Louisiana," she said. Scalise said that he has seen "universal agreement" that support is needed for immediate flood recovery, to the point that it makes sense to put it a "must-pass bill" like the continuing resolution. He said he doesn't believe that consensus exists for Flint yet, though, and that it's on Michigan leaders to focus on Flint and build a similar support. "There's still a lot of negotiations on Flint," he said. A key component of the housing recovery plan put into place after Louisiana suffered catastrophic floods last month has faced complaints about shoddy repair work and a slower-than-expected roll out. Leaders say they are still working through the kinks of the Shelter at Home program the first of its kind in Louisiana. Meanwhile, thousands of homeowners are waiting, hoping that they will get quality improvements that will help get them back into their flood-ravaged homes. Alice O'Conner, 56, is among the slightly fewer than 2,000 people who have already seen repairs begin on their homes through Shelter at Home. On Wednesday, she walked through her house in North Baton Rouge, examining the work that had been completed, and what had not, about 24 hours after crews had first arrived on her doorstep. The outlets that had been replaced are anchored to patches of drywall along otherwise exposed walls. The sink sits on an unpainted wooden frame. She wasn't sure if she should ask for more work to be done to get a bedroom in a more livable condition. It's clearly bare-bones something officials say people should be prepared for when they seek out the program. Shelter at Home cannot cover complete renovations. It is crafted specifically just to do the minimal amount of work to get people back into their homes as they continue the flood recovery. "I do know this is temporary," O'Conner said, adding that she was overall satisfied with the work that has been done. "I'm easily satisfied. They didn't have to give me anything for free." More than 18,800 people have applied for the program, which sends crews to perform small-scale repairs needed for people's homes to be livable again. About 100 homes have been completed as of Wednesday, with 40 more pending final inspections. More than 1,800 home repairs are in progress. Gov. John Bel Edwards remained optimistic about the program during this month's episode of his call-in radio show on Wednesday, despite complaints about the pace that it has been rolled out and now the quality of repairs. "We're ramping up the program dramatically," he said. "We're going to make sure we ramp it up and we increase capacity so many more homes are benefited in the near future." A Facebook video that went viral this week shows a man walking through a house that was part of the Shelter at Home program, pointing out flaws with the work that had been done broken outlet covers, cracks between pieces of drywall and a dirty toilet among them and questioning the program's validity. The man repeatedly misstates the program's cost and intent, but the flaws in the work performed are obvious. Edwards noted that Shelter at Home ends with a final inspection of repairs. "Much of the work in that video would not have been approved and would have been re-done," Edwards said. "Some of the work there wasn't up to standard." Shelter at Home was modeled off of "Rapid Repairs" a program that popped up in response to Superstorm Sandy in New York and New Jersey. That program also faced complaints, including questions about shoddy repair work. Shelter at Home, which the state is already preparing to spend at least $400 million in mostly federal money on, sends crews to qualified houses to perform up to $15,000 in basic repairs some drywall replacing, bathroom repairs, gutting and other work so that homeowners can return there. Leaders say it gets people back into their communities, eases the burden on an already crunched housing market and gives people who have been staying in cramped spaces with family members a shot at a living situation closer to what they had pre-floods. One of the issues that currently has plagued the program is the realization of the temporary nature of what it actually covers. O'Connor's repairs included getting plumbing, HVAC and electrical up to code. Her water-logged front door was replaced so that it would close and provide safety. She also received a mini refrigerator, topped with a microwave and a hot-plate-style double burner. They also cleaned the mold that had started to grow in one of the closets, hung a new bathroom door and have been working to get her air conditioning back running. O'Conner was one of the few people who did have flood insurance, so she sees the Shelter at Home program is giving her a way to return to her home so that she can then start the complete renovation process. "I feel for so many people who don't have insurance," she said. She said she understands that her house is only in a temporary state as she prepares to move back in, but she'll be happy to return. O'Conner has been staying with her daughter and three grandchildren in a two-bedroom apartment. "It's nothing like home," she said, quickly adding that she realizes she is lucky many people had nowhere to go. "There's no place like home. It's still all love." Edwards said a recent change in the program is that Shelter at Home workers are now required to show homeowners photographs of the types of repair work that the program covers to illustrate their temporary nature. "FEMA cannot fund permanent repairs," Edwards said, referencing the federal Stafford Act that regulates what FEMA funding can go toward. "It's a shelter program. We have to make sure that people understand what to expect." Contractor Randy Corrass, who has been working with the contractors on O'Conner's home and others, said he had been to about 15 houses as of about noon on Wednesday. "A lot of people are happy to see you," he said. But he said he had also seen several people ultimately back out of Shelter at Home and say they no longer wanted to participate once they realized what types of repairs were being covered. He said often those people had already started more substantive repairs on their own. FEMA says mobile home owners could qualify for Shelter at Home program FEMA has determined that flood victims who live in mobile homes should not automatically be Carmelle Brumfield, 39, who lives in Denham Springs, is in the early stage of the Shelter at Home process and waiting for the work to begin. Brumfield said the home she shares with her 7-year-old daughter took at least 5 feet of water. "My whole house was flooded," she said. She said she understands the purpose of the program and the temporary repairs that it entails, but she wishes that it would offer more permanent solutions for homeowners, like her, who didn't have flood insurance and are trying to rebuild their lives. "Honestly, I'm not asking for a whole lot," she said. She hopes to get back into her home so she can begin the permanent repair process. In the meantime, she's been living with family. Brumfield said she worries that the temporary nature of the Shelter at Home work might leave some people living in sub-par housing conditions down the road people who aren't able to make further repairs once they return home. "Especially older people who are displaced," she said. "You know once you go, some of them are just going to stay there as it is. They need their house back." Douglas N. Harris is Professor of Economics, the Schleider Foundation Chair in Public Education, and founding director of the Education Research Alliance for New Orleans at Tulane University. DES MOINES | Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller filed consumer fraud lawsuits Thursday against two out-of-state mailing operations. His office alleges they are predatory businesses that use deceptive mailings to profit from the elderly and other vulnerable Iowans. Miller also announced the settlement of a third case involving a New Jersey list broker company that markets consumer lead listsincluding so-called sucker liststo mass mailers, according to the attorney general's office. Iowas three consumer protection enforcement actions were coordinated with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of the Treasury and other federal criminal and civil law enforcement agencies, Millers office said in a news release. Officials with the federal agencies Thursday announced wide-ranging enforcement actions including criminal charges, economic sanctions, seizure of criminal proceeds, search warrants, and civil injunction lawsuits targeting mass mailing schemes that defraud elderly and vulnerable consumers nationwide. Our civil enforcement actions here in Iowa exemplify our ongoing efforts to pursue operations that we allege prey upon older Iowans and vulnerable Iowans, Miller said. Fighting this kind of consumer fraud is one of our highest priorities. Were very pleased to work with our federal partners in this unprecedented attack on mail fraud to help protect people from this kind of financial exploitation. In Iowa, Miller filed a consumer fraud lawsuit in Polk County District Court against Waverly Direct Inc. and company owner and president, Gordon F. Shearer, both of Lynbrook, New York. The lawsuit alleges that the company sends Iowans a congratulatory letter from the fictitious Gerald St. John, supposed director of the Numerological Resource Center, which, according to the lawsuit, is also a sham. The letter claims that the recipient has been specially selected to receive life-changing benefits, which would begin upon payment of a $20 service/handling fee. The second lawsuit, also filed in Polk County District Court, named Nicholas Valenti and three of his companies, WB Co., TL Distribution and Southwest Publishing, all of Las Vegas. The lawsuit alleges the defendants send deceptive mailings to Iowans promising to reveal -- for a price -- methods for consistently winning large sums of money in lotteries and other forms of gambling. The lawsuit also alleges that Valenti sells the rights to use his deceptive mailers to other would-be scammers, according to Millers office. In a separate case, Miller reached an agreement Thursday with Macromark Inc. of Danbury, Conn., over concerns the company engaged in consumer fraud through its role in providing consumer lists to other companies, or list brokering. The settlement, called an assurance of voluntary compliance, requires Macromark to refrain from list brokering that exposes Iowans to fraud at the hands of scammers using psychic or sweepstakes schemes. The company agreed to pay $30,000 to support future efforts by the Iowa Attorney Generals office to protect older Iowans from consumer fraud. The company denies wrongdoing as part of the agreement. When newly elected officials score well in public opinion polls, analysts sometimes chalk it up to the honeymoon effect, even if still-new Gov. John Bel Edwards first nine months were more like a honeymoon from hell. In fact, it seemed in the early days of his term, back when the state House bucked his choice for speaker, that the freshly inaugurated Democratic leader of this firmly Republican state wouldnt get much of a break at all. +2 Poll says US Senate race tightening The U.S. Senate race is tightening with the top Republicans and top Democrats in a virtual d And in retrospect, we didnt know the half of it. Not only did Edwards have to grapple with the devastating budget shortfall his predecessor Bobby Jindal left in place, not only did he have to push higher taxes through a resistant Republican legislative majority and still cut services. But almost as soon as the budget finally passed, he found himself overseeing three catastrophes: a racially tense Baton Rouge police shooting, which was caught on viral video, and subsequent protests; the shooting deaths of three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers during a terrifying Sunday morning massacre; and then the widespread flooding around Baton Rouge and Lafayette. So a new Southern Media & Opinion Research poll giving Edwards a hearty 62.5 percent approval rating an impressive figure that puts him even with one of his regular GOP critics, state Treasurer John Kennedy, and 10 points ahead of another, Attorney General Jeff Landry might seem surprising. Or perhaps not. Having followed the campaign to succeed Jindal, whose own approval rating dropped precipitously toward the end of his second term, most of the 500 likely voters interviewed September 15-17 probably get that Edwards faced no easy choices right off the bat. And over the stressful summer, they've watched Edwards emerge as a steady, hands-on and empathetic leader who has mostly sidestepped partisan land mines. That could all change when officials sit down to try to rewrite and stabilize the tax code this year and next, once the Alton Sterling shooting case plays out in court (or doesnt), and as the recovery from the devastating flood drags on, as it surely will. Still, its common for voters whove just elected a new person to start off giving him the benefit of the doubt. These new poll numbers suggest most Louisianans think that, nine action-packed months later, Edwards is still earning it. TULSA, Okla. 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. Rod Walker: Police brutality has become hot topic in NFL. We all need to stop denying the issue Cam Jordan, like a lot of people, had some questions Tuesday. 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. Report: N.O. man who ran into burning home to save laptop 'wouldn't change a thing,' except ... Report: N.O. man who ran into burning home to save laptop 'wouldn't change a thing,' except ... Organizers who have threatened to try to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Jackson Square are asking the New Orleans Police Department not to block their attempt. Leaders of Take 'Em Down NOLA, a group that has called for the removal of a wide range of statues in the city honoring historical figures who owned slaves or fought for the Confederacy, asked that the NOPD "stay back" when they try to remove the Jackson statue this weekend. They spoke Thursday at a news conference outside City Hall where they reiterated their plans. Can't see the video? Click here. The group plans to lead a protest march Saturday afternoon from Congo Square to Jackson Square that will culminate with an effort to pull down the statue of the country's seventh president perhaps the most recognizable monument in New Orleans. "We understand the city and the Police Department are able to prevent us" from taking down the statue," said Malcolm Suber, one of the lead organizers of the group, as he stood in front of a group of about 20 supporters. "But we are asking them to step aside." It's unlikely the city will agree to that request. After Take 'Em Down announced their intentions last week, Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration asked that "any public demonstrations remain peaceful and respectful" and said that "vandalism of any public property is strictly prohibited." Asked about precautions that will be taken, Landrieu spokesman Hayne Rainey said, "NOPD is well trained to use the highest standards to protect people and property while ensuring the law is followed and is prepared to take necessary precautions to ensure public safety." Suber said members of his group are prepared to be arrested during the protest. Saturday's demonstration has dual purposes. One is to protest the long delay in taking down four other statues honoring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard and a white militia known as the White League that led a revolt against the state's biracial Reconstruction-era government. The mayor called for the removal of those statues from public property last summer, and the City Council agreed in December. But the statues remain standing because of a federal lawsuit filed by groups seeking to keep them in place. The city has been fighting that suit, and the next major hearing in the case is expected to take place next week. +5 Federal agencies won't seek to block removal of New Orleans' Liberty Place monument Two federal agencies have said they have no reason to try to keep a monument to an 1874 whit The demonstration's other purpose concerns the Jackson statue itself. While it is not on the list of monuments to be removed, the fact that city officials have not seriously considered whether the statue honoring Jackson's victory in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 should be taken down has riled some activists. They argue that Jackson, a slave owner who was responsible for the removal of Native American tribes from the Southeast, does not deserve to be honored today, much less in the city's most prominent public square. Steamboat of a different name? Natchez may soon have partner on Mississippi River In the event that Greater Western Sydney qualify for this year's grand final, the AFL Fans Association have called for any of the Giants' unused ticket allocation to go to their opponent's members rather than corporates or stakeholders. Each competing club in the grand final is allocated 15,000 tickets for their members, but given the Giants have fewer than 16,000 members and only 6200 member tickets were snapped up for this week's preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs it's unlikely that their full member grand final allocation would be exhausted. Of the four preliminary finalists, GWS have by far the lowest membership tally with 15,312 behind Sydney (56,523), Geelong (50,571) and the Western Bulldogs (39,459). If the Giants defeated the Dogs this week, they would face either Geelong or Sydney who both more than triple the membership tally of the league's newest side. Activity in the retail property sector has been as busy as last minute shopping sprees on Christmas Eve. Whether it is because spring is in the air, but it seems shopping centres are on everyone's shopping list. GPT Group's Melbourne Central mall, in Melbourne, which is earmarked for more floors The demand reinforces the trend that malls are now morphing into town centres and as a result, landlords are keen to acquire new sites and redevelop their existing portfolios. Most shopping centres now have plans, where land is available, to build either hotels, apartments, student digs, medical centres and even education outlets, to make a mall the centre of action in a suburb. This is where the growth will come from, not necessarily the traditional fashion and department store tenants. Premier Investment's leading leisurewear label Peter Alexander is headed for an overseas expansion as it hurtles towards a pyjamas peak in Australia by 2020. The United Kingdom looks likely to be the next stop for the quirky night attire chain, a market Premier chairman and major shareholder Solomon Lew claims is a strong cultural fit for the brand's offbeat designs and leisure attire. Premier Investments chair, Solly Lew (right) and chief executive, Mark McInnes are exploring an off-shore expansion for Peter Alexander. Credit:Edwina Pickles Premier plans to open between five and seven new stores in Australia a year for the next three years and it's keen to lift its presence in Australia's major airports but beyond this the big growth opportunities are in new markets overseas. "We still see, over the next three years 20 to 25 new stores and another 10 to 20 up-sizes and refurbishments so within that, there is quite a lot of growth," Premier chief executive Mark McInnes said. "But outside of that growth of calendar 2019, we see it as it has then fulfilled its growth potential both in store and online." URBANDALE 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 mandate. That will really depend upon the states financial resources, said Branstad, who 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 than might get the early literacy program back on track for next summer to identify struggling readers starting in kindergarten and require schools to provide intensive assistance. Weve 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 doesnt look very likely if you just look at whats happened to date. I think we have to be realistic about the financial circumstance, he added. Due to the financial conditions that the state is facing, it may be a year later than we had hoped. But Im very optimistic that were going to be able to continue to make progress. Evidence of that progress could come soon when the state Department of Education release new statewide test results in reading and math proficiency, the governor said, adding 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. Branstad also said he hopes to get results this fall from a pilot project this past summer than 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 early on and then supporting teachers in partnership to guide literacy development. What Im encouraged about is that school districts are not waiting. Many school districts are already moving forward and they already have programs, the governor said. Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan last year said they would give 99 per cent of their Facebook shares to charitable causes. Now they are putting a large chunk of that money to work. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the limited liability corporation where Zuckerberg and Chan put their Facebook shares, on Wednesday said it would invest at least $US3 billion ($3.95 billion) over the next decade toward preventing, curing or managing all diseases by the end of the century. While the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has already made investments in charter schools and education startups, the money toward curing diseases represents the group's first major initiative in science. The announcement was also a coming out of sorts for Chan, who has a big interest in health and was trained in pediatrics. In a speech to introduce the health initiative at an event in San Francisco on Wednesday, Chan said the work to cure disease was in keeping with her organisation's mission to advance human potential and promote equality. She gave an emotional preamble, describing how a high-quality education helped her succeed as the daughter of Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants. The suicide rate for health professionals, those charged with caring for our community, should concern us all. This week a study revealed that the suicide rate of female health professionals is double those in other occupations, an added impetus for policy change. The study, which is based on data from the period between 2001 and 2012 and is by the University of Melbourne and Deakin University, is an unprecedented analysis of suicide by healthcare professionals. Researchers say female health practitioners have extra sources of ''gender role stress''. Credit:Peter Braig The overall number of people who die by suicide is twice the number killed on our roads, so the study is an important contribution to the debate on how to reduce this tragic, preventable toll. But its most striking element is the gender difference, particularly the gap between female healthcare professionals and other female professionals. While male doctors and nurses have a higher rate of death by suicide than female doctors, the men are in line with other occupations. Photographer Walker Evans confessed to being a "penitent spy and an apologetic voyeur". But he wasn't a pervert or a paparazzo. His photographs appeared in the most glamorous magazines of the 20th century, including Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Vogue. Yet he never shot a celebrity. Asked why, Evans replied: "It's an impure thing to do too easy people are more interested in the famous person than the photograph." Instead Evans trained his forensic lens on typical, everyday objects vintage buildings and vernacular signs, the roadside and the railway, shop windows and tools, anonymous workers and the unemployed. In Rapid Transit his hidden camera captures subway commuters in unguarded moments. He even reproduced postcards and news agency images. All were shot in what Evans termed a "documentary style". Detail from Driveby, by Patrick Pound. For over 20 years Evans published from within the citadel of the most powerful publishing empire, Henry Luce's Time Inc. His photographs are striking for their humility, dignity and despite Evans' loathing of organised politics leftist sympathies. Most striking of all is that he shot the majority of these portfolios for Luce's capitalist flagship Fortune. According to David Campany UK author of Walker Evans The Magazine Work, memos from the photographer's bosses exhibit frustration, "Walker can you tone it down a bit?". "He wasn't a complete cuckoo in the nest, but he was definitely walking a fine line the whole time he was there offering a counter commentary on America," says Campany. Maybe it's Brando, and the regret "I coulda been a contender". Or maybe it's Batman, and "what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object". While we're recalling famous movie quotes, it's certain both men see the other as a Joker. The battle pitching Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull and relentless ambition has returned for yet another episode. Pauline Hanson said she believes that the number of people who agree with her call for a ban on Muslim immigration is much higher than 49 per cent, claiming many respondents to a recent poll would have been too afraid to answer the question honestly. The Queensland Senator reiterated her view that Islam was an "ideology" and those who practiced it did not "embrace our culture, our way of life", leaving people "now in fear on the streets", during an interview on The Bolt Report on Sky News on Thursday. But seemingly unaware of the methodology used by Essential Research, which this week released a poll showing 49 per cent of people favoured a ban on Muslim immigration, Senator Hanson said she believed the actual number of people who shared that belief to be higher. "Because people would have been in fear to answer the question, the polling, because they don't know who is taking the call and they don't want to be registered of what their views are," she said. Labor frontbencher Richard Marles has linked a recent poll showing blooming support for a ban on Muslim immigration with the conduct of Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, who this year said refugees "would be taking Australian jobs" and "languish in unemployment queues". The Essential poll, released on Wednesday, found 49 per cent of respondents backed a ban on Muslims moving to Australia, with concerns about integration into society listed as the major reason, followed by fears of terrorism and divergent values. Appearing on Nine's Today program with Mr Marles on Friday, Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said threats from terrorist organisations understandably made people nervous. "That's why the government and the opposition have to keep reassuring people about the strength of our borders, about national security, putting in place measures to protect us as much as we possibly can," Mr Pyne said. Precision tailoring and exquisite fabrics are the hallmarks of both Bianca Spender and Carla Zampatti , and this weekend the mother-daughter duo are holding a massive clearance of past season's styles perfect for the weddings, parties, anything season ahead. What could be better than a sale at one of Melbourne's best vintage stores? A sale at three of them at once, of course. Hawkeye Vintage, Haute Empire and Lady Petrova are joining forces for one day only with labels including Miu Miu, Chanel, Marni, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Scanlan Theodore, Camilla, Zimmerman, Celine, Carla Zampatti and Issey Miyake, as well as couture pieces from Lady Petrova. 16 Murphy Street, South Yarra. Saturday 10am-5pm. Poor Cory Bernardi. The conservative, anti-marriage equality Senator just marked his 20th wedding anniversary all alone and far from home, in New York where he's flying the flag at the United Nations for what he's described as "common sense". Clearly feeling a little sorry for himself, Bernardi turned to Twitter to cheer himself up the only way he knows how: By trolling LGBT people who are fighting for the right to celebrate any wedding anniversary at all. Liberal senator Cory Bernardi. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Dialling up the sarcasm, Bernardi tweeted: "I know the joy it will bring the twittersphere that today is my 20th wedding anniversary. "I can't wait to read your messages," he added, in case his followers didn't immediately recognise the tweet as bait. NGA acting director Kirsten Paisley would not confirm the individuals approached but said they would continue to be employed while redeployment was considered. Unions and gallery sources have confirmed the head librarian job will no longer exist with other senior positions cut. Public backlash against job losses at the National Gallery of Australia is growing. Credit:Jeffrey Chan Job losses at the National Gallery of Australia have prompted a public backlash as management detail the scale of cuts and insiders voice frustration. "Seven permanent positions have been affected in the restructure," she said. "We anticipate the remainder of the 15-20 positions will be obtained through natural attrition or contracts not being renewed." Letters seen by Fairfax Media show staff were told they would be considered for vacant positions without competition from other applicants, provided they "possess the ability to perform the tasks of the position within a reasonable period". Community and Public Sector Union deputy secretary Beth Vincent-Pietsch said the cuts included senior staff. She has urged the NGA to consider voluntary redundancies across the entire workforce. "We were told that three of the positions were SES officers, seven were permanent staff and the rest were contractors whose employment would not be renewed," she said. "We have real concerns about how this will impact workloads but also the way these cuts were handled. Staff given letters without any real notice." Maverick Nationals backbencher Andrew Fraser is trying to ramp up the pressure on Premier Mike Baird and Deputy Premier Troy Grant over the greyhound racing ban, warning in a letter to cabinet ministers it has made the government "unelectable". In the letter to Mr Baird and Mr Grant, copied to other cabinet members and leaked to the media, Mr Fraser, the MP for Coffs Harbour, says the decision has "has completely reversed our political fortune". Mr Fraser urges the cabinet to not proceed with the ban legislated from July 1 next year and proposes an alternative plan put forward by the greyhound industry. The NSW Greyhound Industry Alliance plan would "reduce the number of races, the number of dogs and the number of tracks," Mr Fraser writes. MASON CITY Air Choice One announced Thursday it will begin round-trip flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, starting in November. The airline also announced the Department of Transportation has approved extending its Essential Air Service contract to Feb. 28, 2017. Essential Air Service is a federal program that helps finance flights to smaller airports. The flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul will begin Nov. 7 with 12 weekly flights in addition to its 12 weekly flights to OHare Field in Chicago. It will also have 10 weekly flights to Lambert Field in St. Louis with one stop, either in Fort Dodge or Burlington. Were really excited about this, said Tom Hovland, chairman of the Mason City Airport Commission. Air Choice One has served us very well and the future looks bright. This is a great thing for the airport and the public. Shane Storz, chief executive officer of Air Choice One, said the airline is proud to restore Mason City service to Minneapolis which North Iowans had enjoyed for years through the services of previous commercial flight providers. We hope it will continue to grow passenger ridership and will help drive passenger traffic up, in and out of the Mason City Municipal Airport, he said in a news release. To introduce the new service, Air Choice One is offering introductory base fares starting at $29 each way. Tickets will go on sale Monday, Sept. 26, and can be purchased at www.airchoiceone.com or by calling 866-435-9847. Air Choice One began service in Mason City on Nov. 17, 2014, with daily flights to Chicago and St. Louis. A Gold Coast-based male stripper who threatened to publish naked photos of his ex-girlfriend if she didn't pay him $2000 has narrowly avoided jail. Michael Timothy Borgen plead guilty in Southport District Court on Thursday to one count each of assault and extortion. A stripper has avoided jail over trying to extort his ex-girlfriend. The court heard Borgen sent his ex-girlfriend a threatening text message after their relationship broke down in April last year. In the message, Borgen gives the woman until 5.30pm on the evening of April 15 last year to transfer the money into his bank account or he would release photos of her the pair had shared while a couple. A cache of stolen memorabilia police believe may date back to World War I has been found during a raid in Melbourne's west, which also uncovered drugs and firearms. Police also discovered family photos among an extensive collection of what appears to be stolen property while executing a warrant in Werribee last month. Some of the coins found during a raid on a house in Werribee. Credit:Victoria Police "Police are desperate to locate the owners of a number of photographs, war medals and coins, some which appear to date back to World War I," Victoria Police spokeswoman Natalie Webster said. "It's likely that they have high sentimental value." A man has been rushed to hospital after a skydiving accident in Melbourne's south-east. The accident occurred shortly before 2.20pm on Wednesday. An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said a man in his 30s had been treated for back pain on Marine Parade in Elwood. Channel Seven reported he was a skydiving instructor, who had completed more than 2000 jumps, but landed awkwardly on the foreshore reserve. He has been taken to The Alfred hospital, where he is in a stable condition. There's no blue crystal meth inside or the sophisticated chemistry equipment required to manufacture it but there's still something for Walter White devotees at this year's Royal Melbourne Show. Next to Spiderman, Captain America and Transformers in the showbag pavilion is Breaking Bad, the TV series based on a science-teacher-turned-drug-baron famed for cooking up batches of "Blue Sky" in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The plastic sack contains plenty of goodies branded with Heisenberg, the alter ego of Bryan Cranston's character, including an apron with the words "Let's Cook" and a trucker hat writ with another of the crime lord's catchphrases "Say My Name". Parents (or big kids) can buy the bag for $25 (in contrast, a quarter of a gram of ice costs as little as $65). A major Victoria Police corruption probe is examining allegations four police officers and an ex-cop have been leaking information to criminal figures and using illicit drugs, amid warnings that recreational drug use may be increasing among younger officers. The four police under investigation have been suspended, after internal affairs investigators arrested and questioned the three suburban detectives and a female uniform police officer on Wednesday. Credit:Scott Barbour Know more about this story? Email nmckenzie@fairfaxmedia.com.au, or confidentially tip us off via this secure, anonymous link. It is understood that at least one of the officers failed a drug test and was found with methylamphetamine in his system. A distraught woman has spoken of the moment she managed to grab a pair of scissors from her attacker in a terrifying carjacking in Melbourne's south-east. Anna, 49, told radio station 3AW that she was in her car at Landcox Park, Brighton East when she was approached by a man. "Before I could think, he opened the door really forcefully, he had a pair of scissors at my head, and said very loudly 'get out of the car'," she said. "He pulled me physically out of the car and I must have instinctively tried to protect my head, and I grabbed the scissors from him." 'Coward' punch victim Jason Goodwin on Thursday remained in an induced coma at Royal Perth Hospital two days after being attacked, allegedly unprovoked, at a Mandurah pub. According to Nine News Perth, witnesses said the 27-year-old chef, from Mandurah, was playing pool at the Silver Sands Tavern around 4.30pm and had his hands in his pockets when he was punched in the face. Jason Goodwin died in hospital seven days after being the victim of a coward punch. WAtoday understands the force of the punch caused Mr Goodwin to fall backwards and hit his head on the corner of a wall. St John Ambulance paramedics found him unconscious a short time later. While the development is planned for both Carters and Skipper's, the environmental study was done on Skippers, a bare patch of earth. The Department of Parks and Wildlife told the WA Planning Commission it had "no comment", even though it told the City of Bayswater last year that it would encourage a buffer zone protecting the wetland. The WAPC duly approved the development despite an impassioned letter from the City of Bayswater detailing potentially catastrophic effects on the wetland and pleading for a buffer zone. The environmental report does not pretend to be an assessment of Lot 14, Credit:Emma Young A third of Carters was then bulldozed in a day before amazed community members, who had until then thought it part of the sanctuary, and who then marched on Planning Minister Donna Faragher's office demanding answers. Ms Faragher requested a temporary halt to clearing to find out more, while City of Bayswater environmental officers helped the community move a population of oblong turtles from the Carters Land wetland to safety. Meanwhile, local councillor Chris Cornish lodged a Freedom of Information application to see what the approval had been based on because he "couldn't believe the approval was granted and that DPaW had no objections." "A massive mistake has been made and the people want to know who is responsible for it. It's clear that the environmental departments have failed in their duties," he said. "I suspect the key error was when the WAPC, and other government departments, failed to notice that the environmentally sensitive Carters Land was not a part of the environmental assessment report they based their decisions on. This was a blunder. "Rather than be brushed under the carpet, this whole failure of proper process needs to be looked at. "And never again should a strongly worded letter from a local government be so easily dismissed." The WAPC insisted that the environmental report did not solely consider Skippers Row, despite the report explicitly stating that it was assessing Skippers Row, Lots 6-10, which it described as a grassed area vegetated only at the boundary. Site maps shown in the report also show show the land assessed was Lots 6-10 only. The WAPC said again the assessment included "all land subject to the subdivision approval and considered all land within one kilometre of the site, including Lot 14 (Carters)". While the report does mention doing a fauna search within one kilometre of the site and finding seven protected species, its only comment on this is that Skipper's Row is not a habitat for those. It does not purport to have made any assessment of the vegetation or habitat function of Carters. In fact, Lot 14 is not mentioned at all. "The environmental report assessed the vegetation along the north-western boundary of the site, which is where the cul-de-sac heads are proposed to be located," the WAPC said. But the report features only one line mentioning that the Skippers Row lots have vegetation on their northwest boundary and "several trees and shrubs" would need removal "and/or pruning". Again, it does not purport to be an assessment of the Carters Land or the extensive clearing work proposed for it. The WAPC said it gave the report to the departments of Environment Regulation, Parks and Wildlife, and Water for comment as part of the subdivision referral and it received no objections, but did not address the fact that those agencies were also dealing with an incomplete report. "Further, in response to a third party referral lodged with it recently, the Environmental Protection Authority has determined that the subdivision as proposed (relating to both Skippers Row and Carters Land) is unlikely to have a significant effect on the environment," it added. ABN has been contacted for comment. Planning Minister Donna Faragher said WAPC followed due process and correctly relied on the advice of the relevant departments. She said the approval was lawful and its status was not in question. A spokeswoman confirmed the Minister's position was that the report covered Lot 14. Bamford Consulting Ecologists, which residents commissioned for an independent assessment of Lot 14 themselves, did an assessment and reported that Carter's Block and its distinctive seasonal wetland contributed to biodiversity in the area by being different from, and thus complementing the recognised values of Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary. "The separation of the Carter's Block wetland from the Eric Singleton wetland ensures a natural seasonal hydrological cycle that supports several frog species and a rich aquatic invertebrate fauna, with the latter likely to assist waterbirds that breed at Eric Singleton," they wrote. "Similarly, the large and old Paperbark trees of Carter's Block complement the remnant upland vegetation of the adjacent council property and this combination may help to support bushbirds in the area even beyond the boundaries of Eric Singleton and Carter's Block." The request to put works on hold still stands, pending the City of Bayswater exploring options to buy Carters. Bayswater's mayor and councillors will meet with the owners on Thursday, alongside WAPC and Department of Planning representatives, in a negotiation to see if the council can buy the lot. CHARLES CITY Olivia Wolfe, 15, spent Thursday morning trying to decide which memories to save from her familys ground-level apartment overlooking the flooding Cedar River in Charles City. The Charles City High School sophomore knew whatever she didnt take might not make it through the near-record flooding expected when the river crests Friday afternoon. I put all my letter awards from school this year, all my papers, all my pictures from dance and cheerleading and all that I put em all in a big tub, she said. Forecasters predict the river behind Wolfes home will hit 23.2 feet, the highest since 2008. Residents across Charles City spent Thursday doing whatever they could to protect their homes from the flood or help friends, neighbors, even strangers living in low-lying areas. Seven to 11 inches of rain fell across parts of Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Butler and Bremer counties between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, said National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Fowle. Hail, straight-line winds and, possibly, tornadoes also were reported in several areas across the four-county area. Dozens of students from Charles City High School pitched in at the sandbag-filling station in the Hy-Vee parking lot, joining the swarm of volunteers working in and around the giant sand pile. Sandbags, limited to 100 per home or business, were free to city residents. Many of the bags filled by Wolfes classmates ended up lining the fronts of home and businesses on her street. One resident was busy late Thursday morning building an earthen berm around a home, the skid loader leaving deep ruts in the soggy lawn. Forecasters predicted the river would crest about 1 p.m. Friday. Charles City Fire Chief Eric Whipple said if the river hits near 24 feet, floodwaters would enter the citys fire station, businesses near the station on South Grand Avenue, Cedar Circle and Park Drive. Areas on the north side of town could be flooded by a creek, he said. Firefighters planned to evacuate their station Thursday night. If the water rises around your home, evacuate immediately, Whipple said. Dont drive through flooded roadways; thats the number one killer in floods people driving through roadways and their vehicle getting swept off the road. Fearing the worst, Wolfe and her family recruited other family members and friends to help them get started early. Her father, Bill Wolfe, and uncle, Scott Thomas, knew from looking at flood maps that the girls and their mother faced a serious situation. Were hoping its not going to be as bad as the map shows, but were just saying wed rather take a few precautions and have it not happen than just leave it all and come back and have it all underwater, Bill Wolfe said. SOUTH BEND, Ind., Sept. 22, 2016 -- AM General's designs for advanced postal vehicles have been selected by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as part of the USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) Prototype awards. The awards were in support of the service's plans and need for the replacement of their aging fleet. AM General will build a series of prototype vehicles for testing by the USPS that seek to provide fuel efficiency and zero emission capability. "AM General's advanced postal vehicle is designed to meet the needs of the Postal Service of today and of tomorrow," said Howard Glaser, Executive Vice President for Commercial Business, AM General. "Our design offers the postal service unmatched innovation and the opportunity for significant savings on costs, maintenance and delivery operations." The USPS is experiencing significant changes in delivery operations. Double digit growth in shipping and packaging services is driving new opportunities and new challenges for the Postal Service. With the dramatic growth in online shopping and e-commerce, the number of packages delivered by the USPS has grown dramatically from 3.7 billion pieces in 2013 to 4.5 billion in 2015. The AM General advanced postal vehicle is designed to grow with the new demands in delivery on the postal service and ensure that the USPS can manage the changing mail mix with improvements in safety, efficiency, and reliability and flexibility in every area. AM General is combining highly reliable, low maintenance, fuel-saving powertrain options and advanced safety systems into a durable, low operating-cost vehicle. The series of innovations include: Light weight, fuel efficient vehicle technologies Advanced Powertrain with system options Substantial emissions decreases with a zero emissions option Next generation safety systems that provide safe vehicles for letter carriers Reduced maintenance schedule with less complex repairs yields significant savings 20+ Year body durability for long life The postal award is part of AM General's growing commercial business, which was selected by Mercedes-Benz as its only contract manufacturer in the United States, producing the R-Class vehicle in Mishawaka, Indiana. Design and development for the postal vehicle will be conducted at AM General's Center for Advanced Automotive Design in Livonia, Michigan. The contract award from the Postal Service is part of the USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle program, under which several prototype designs will be designed, built and tested over an 18 month period. Production requirements and future vehicle replacement award(s) will be determined by the Postal Service after NGDV Prototype testing. About AM General AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers worldwide. Through its military business, the company is widely recognized as a world leader in the design, engineering, manufacture and support of Light Tactical Vehicles, having produced and sustained more than 300,000 vehicles in over 60 countries. AM General has more than five decades of experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states. Please see more information about AM General at www.amgeneral.com. ROCKWELL | A Nora Springs man directing traffic at a flooded Rockwell roadway was hurt after being struck by a vehicle Thursday afternoon. The Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office says Merlyn Tramel, 70, Rockwell, was northbound on Highway 65 approaching DOT road workers when he struck Mark Nel, 34. Nel was directing traffic near the highway and 155th Street due to water crossing the roadway, according to law enforcement. Nel was transported to Mercy Medical CenterNorth Iowa, where a hospital spokesman said he was treated and released. Tramel was cited for unsafe approach to certain stationary vehicle resulting in injury. The accident remains under investigation. The Iowa Department of Transportation, Rockwell-Swaledale EMTs and Mason City Fire medics provided assistance at the scene. Ashley Miller MARBLE ROCK | In addition to battling severe flooding, some North Iowa residents were affected by tornadoes or straight-line winds. Officials 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. Due to near historic flooding, meteorologists have not been able to confirm the tornadoes or determine whether the winds were tornadic or straight-line. Meteorologists may at some point use photos of damage and interview locals to make a determination, Fowle said. At this point were not sure we just calling it wind damage, he said. Seventy-mile-per-hour wind gusts were reported in Floyd County. Check back at globegazette.com for updates on this developing story. Our earlier story: CHARLES CITY | Officials expect the Cedar River to crest at 24.2 feet in Charles City, just shy of the 2008 record of 25.3 feet. They characterized the situation as "a major flood event for many parts of Floyd County." Sandbagging efforts continue in the Charles City Hy-Vee parking lot. There is a limit of 100 bags. Travel is not advised in the county, and officials urged it only to avoid flood waters. No evacuations are currently in place. Officials said more than 100 homes on the north side of Charles City reported sewer backups. They asked residents to limit water and sewer use until further notice. Floyd County residents are asked to report damage at 641-257-6300. NORA SPRINGS | The Shell Rock River was running over a half of a levee, but had not - as rumored - breached the levee. CHARLES CITY | Sandbagging efforts have begin in Charles City, and officials are welcoming assistance. Volunteers are bagging at the Hy-Vee parking lot. Bring a shovel. City and county residents and businesses are allowed up to 100 bags. MASON CITY | Mercy's clinics in Greene and Rockford will be closed Thursday and Friday, due to the flooding. The Humane Society of North Iowa said it is closed Thursday due to flooded roads. Shelter staff say the building, which is at a higher elevation, is safe. Staff are caring for animals and are prepared to spend the night. FOREST CITY | Water covered large areas of Pammel Park. To the south in Hancock County, officials said they received reports of a few downed trees but no other damage. CHARLES CITY | Officials were anticipating near-record water levels on the Cedar River. The latest projections place the river cresting on Friday morning at more than 24 feet. The record is 25 feet, 3 inches. Flood warnings scattered the area, as more rain was in the forecast for later today. The other - focused on the Winnebago River - runs through Sunday morning. It covered the stretch from Beaver Creek near Fertile, through Mason City and to the Shell Rock near Rockford. Officials expected the river to crest at 14.2 feet - 4.2 feet above flood stage - after midnight tonight. Officials expected the water to flow over city dikes. The Cedar River in Osage was at a normal 17.7 feet Thursday morning, but the National Weather Service expected it to crest Friday morning at 27.4 feet - about 2 feet above its record. OSAGE | Mitchell County has not ordered evacuations so far. There has been some water over the roads, according to the dispatcher. Some gravel roads are closed but no state highways or major roads are closed at this time. Worth County is in the process of checking roads for flooding. Three road closures have been issued: 340th Street between Partridge Avenue and Highway 65; Grouse Avenue by 390th Street; and 460th Street by Mallard Avenue. That dispatcher said they are just beginning to receive reports. GREENE | Downtown was flooded and residents were emptying houses after significant flooding threatened structures in the community. Owners of Steeres Cafe were emptying appliances. Next door, a wall of sandbags was protecting a flower shop and other businesses. Residents said the flooding wasn't as bad as in 2008 - yet. Streets were blocked throughout town. It took a Floyd County dispatcher five minutes to list the closed roads in the county. Gravel roads were badly eroded and others were significantly damaged. Southeast of Marble Rock on Kirkwood Avenue, apparent tornado damage destroyed some buildings. Large scraps of tin were strewn on a field and trees were on the road. CHARLES CITY | Authorities are urging residents not to travel until daylight in Floyd County as many roads are impassable due to flooding. A flash flood warning is in effect for county until 8:15 a.m. The National Weather Service reported that, as of 5 a.m., Fayette, Chickasaw and northeastern Floyd had received 2-3 inches of rain in the past two hours. That volume of water was once again expected to push area creeks and streams even higher. Flooding of homes was reported in Nashua, forecasters said. Authorities in Charles City expected the Cedar River to crest at 22.5 feet, even higher than originally anticipated, on Friday morning. Police say this will impact several homes and businesses. Check back at globegazette.com for updates on this developing story. Our earlier story: MASON CITY Officials were bracing Wednesday for what could be significant flooding of low-lying areas around some North Iowa lakes and streams. Widespread heavy rain over already saturated ground was expected to cause local rivers to reach flood stage, including the Winnebago River in Mason City and the Cedar River in Charles City. 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. Other rivers and small streams also were expected to be severely impacted by the rain. Forecasters anticipate 3-4 inches could fall across Mitchell, Floyd, Howard, Chickasaw, Winnebago and portions of Cerro Gordo counties through Saturday. More is possible in areas hit by thunderstorms. In Mason City, the Winnebago River is expected to crest at 14.7 feet early Thursday. At that level, much of East Park should be filled with water and the floodwaters will be at the top of the earthen berm built on the east side of the Winnebago River, said Cerro Gordo County Emergency Management Coordinator Steve ONeil. The berm runs from the bridge at 12th Street Northeast down to the park. Officials dont expect homes to be damaged by the floodwaters, because residences in the most flood-prone areas around the park were removed after the flood of 2008, O'Neil said. Its one of those things where Im not foreseeing were going to have homes jeopardized, but I always want to be ready, he said. Officials in Charles City arent so sure. In addition to warning residents of possible evacuations, the city is offering free sand and bags to city residents. The materials will be available for Charles City residents at 1 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot at Hy-Vee, 901 Kelly St. Residents are encouraged to bring enough people to help fill and load the bags. City officials in Garner have their pumps at the ready. Crews are prepared to pump water from the sanitary sewers into the storm sewers, if necessary, to relieve pressure on the overloaded system. It took similar measures after heavy rains last week. "The pumps are loaded and ready to go," said Garner City Manager Randy Lansing. "And if they get called out, they know exactly where to dump them in." During heavy rains, water enters the city's sanitary sewer system and exceeds its capacity. Two holding ponds designed to store water until the facility has caught up are already full, Lansing said. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. There are volunteers gracious with their time and then there are people like Tereina Neubauer who drive to British Columbia and back to collect hundreds of dresses and suits for people she doesnt know. Neubauer took that trek last fall, crossing western Canada from city to city to wrangle formal wear from friends and friends of friends. No one asked her to drive halfway across the country and many cities in between, clocking 7,000 kilometres, to suit up the residents of a northern community attending a climate change summit, but then Neubauer isnt your average volunteer. I told people, I know where your closets are, dont make me come and look, she recalls. IAN FROESE | THE CARILLON Billie Jo Hunter, left, and Tereina Neubauer, both of New Bothwell, are two of the driving forces behind a massive charity effort that involves shipping whatever is needed to remote northern communities, like sporting equipment. They are holding a dinner and drink fundraiser at Frantz Inn Saturday night. It was so overwhelming, she says of the response, that when I was coming back I had to buy those vacuum seal bags and suck everything as small as I could to get everything in the car. The New Bothwell woman would eventually collect some 1,500 outfits for the gala event, and she was flown to Igloolik, Nunavut to see everyone dressed to the nines. It is that example of dogged determination that has made the local Helping our Northern Neighbours chapter Neubauer founded one of the most impressive fundraising initiativesand one of the least publicized considering its scopein an area of the province renowned for its generosity. Neubauer, along with friends Billie Jo Hunter of New Bothwell and Christine Brenner of Winnipeg, have teamed up to supplement social programs in remote communities throughout Canadas North. They have aided food banks, delivered winter clothing and sporting supplies, helped new mothers and assisted wherever a need arises. Why does she do it? Why not? replies Neubauer, who received a 40-foot trailer from her husband as her mothers day gift to fill with many donated goods. The world is full of good people. If you cant find one, be one. She first decided to help the remote north when she read a story in 2015 of a B.C. woman, outraged by the whopping prices of groceries up north, sending food care packages to those in need. Various chapters materialized throughout the country since, including one from a New Bothwell home. They hosted a bud and spud that year, raising more than $13,000 thanks to matching donations from Sarvaq Aviation and Arctic Co-operatives Limited, the latter the organization they work with for their most comprehensive fundraising effort: providing about 20 meat and potato hampers in Resolute Bay, Nunavut once a month. Though they regularly make shipments, the group directs much energy to raising money. Shipping a regular-sized box of food can cost $120-$160, yet donating cash to the co-op is a better way of best utilizing their dollar, explained Billie Jo Hunter. If they have to go to the co-op, youre supporting the community store and youre supporting the people there, she said. Youre keeping the money in the town. To aid that campaign, Helping our Northern Neighbours is hosting a dinner and drink fundraiser in Steinbach Saturday night. Hunter, a longtime community volunteer herself, joked her hands were tied when Neubauer asked for help handling their groups Facebook page in early 2015. I dont say no to Tereina, she says with a smile. I truly love volunteering, adds Hunter. I dont know what Id do with my time if I wasnt volunteering. Donations so far have largely come from family and friends, which extends to outside provinces. Neubauer said about 40 people actively donate and another 40 individuals do so occasionally. In addition to shipping money and items up north, a number of boxes are dropped off biweekly at the Kivalliq Inuit Centre, which some northerners use as living arrangements while in Winnipeg for medical treatments. Neubauer is quick to point out they dont have the answers to solving the poverty that afflicts the north, but they help out where they canand she hopes others feel compelled to join. We know its a broken system, she said. We cant fix it but thats why we like to put the money into their community and keep it in their community because that way we feel like were helping them twice. The Helping our Neighbours pork on a bun fundraiser will take place Saturday, Sept. 24 at Frantz Inn in Steinbach from 6-8 p.m. To purchase tickets or to learn how to donate, contact Tereina Neubauer at 204-794-5875 or tereina@mts.net. Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. China Mobile Limited provides mobile telecommunications and related services in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The company offers local calls; domestic and international long distance calls and roaming services; and value-added services, such as caller identity display, call waiting, conference calls, and others. It also provides wireless Internet service, as well as digital applications comprising music, video, reading, gaming, and animation; wireline broadband services; and wireline voice services. In addition, it offers dedicated line and IDC services to corporate customers in a range of industry sectors; and basic corporate communication products comprising corporate VPMN and SMS, and tailor made solutions. Further, the company provides international telecommunications services, which includes IDD, roaming, Internet, MNC, and value added business services. Additionally, it offers telecommunications network planning, design, and consulting services; roaming clearance, IT system operation, and technology support services; value-added platform development and maintenance services; mobile data, and system integration and development services; network construction and maintenance, network planning and optimizing, and training services; electronic communication products design and sale of related products; and non-banking financial services. It also provides mobile cloud research and development services; call center services; e-payment, e-commerce, and Internet finance services; and mobile Internet digital content services, as well as operates a network and business coordination center. The company serves 950 million mobile customers and 187 million wireline broadband customers. The company was formerly known as China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and changed its name to China Mobile Limited in May 2006. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is based in Central, Hong Kong. China Mobile Limited is a subsidiary of China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited. OPKO Health, Inc., a healthcare company, engages in the diagnostics and pharmaceuticals businesses in the United States, Ireland, Chile, Spain, Israel, Mexico, and internationally. The company's Diagnostics segment operates BioReference Laboratories that offers laboratory testing services for the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring, and treatment of diseases, including esoteric testing, molecular diagnostics, anatomical pathology, genetics, women's health, and correctional healthcare to physician offices, clinics, hospitals, employers and governmental units; and a novel diagnostic instrument system to provide blood test results in the point-of-care setting, as well as 4Kscore prostate cancer testing services. Its Pharmaceutical segment offers Rayaldee to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism in adults with stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease, and vitamin D insufficiency; OPK88004, an orally administered selective androgen receptor modulator; OPK88003, a once-weekly administered peptide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and associated obesity that is in Phase IIb trials; and hGH-CTP, a once-weekly human growth hormone injection that completed Phase III clinical trial in partnership with Pfizer, Inc. This segment develops and commercializes longer-acting proprietary versions of already approved therapeutic proteins. The company also offers specialty APIs; develops, manufactures, markets, and sells pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, veterinary, and ophthalmic products; commercializes food supplements and over the counter products; manufactures and sells products primarily in the generics market; and imports, markets, distributes, and sells pharmaceutical products in a range of indications, including cardiovascular products, vaccines, antibiotics, gastro-intestinal products, hormones, and others. In addition, it operates pharmaceutical platforms in Ireland, Chile, Spain, and Mexico. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida. MASON CITY The North Iowa Trauma Initiative (NITI) has launched, aiming to create greater awareness of the impact of childhood trauma. NITI says it will also support education, increase access to services and improve the quality of trauma care. The organization, which received a $49,434 grant from Telligen Community Initiative, plans to announce a series of free training workshops for the community in October. NITI plans to collaborate with mental health experts from the Midwest Trauma Service network to educate the community on ways to help children and families impacted by trauma, which is common among Iowa adults. At least 56 percent of adults statewide report experience one of eight categories of child abuse and household dysfunction while growing up, according to a report by ACEs 360 Iowa. NITI is a collaboration initiated by leaders of community organizations, including Four Oaks Family and Childrens Services, Wellsource, Crisis Intervention Service, United Way of North Central Iowa and Mason City Youth Task Force. It involves a leadership team with nearly 50 representatives from Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Hancock, Mitchell, Winnebago and Worth county school representatives, police departments, emergency management, health care public agencies and business leaders. For Dogs, its Trick and Treat Its almost Halloween, a great time to teach your dog a trick and give him a treat. Most trainers are fans of trick training. Its not as silly as it... Muzzle is not a bad word If you see a dog in a muzzle, you immediately think the dog is aggressive. Right? Well, this is not always true. Unfortunately, seeing a dog in a muzzle carries... CLARKSVILLE | Several media sources warned of rising waters near Clarksville Thursday night. At about 10 p.m., residents who lived in areas affected by the flooding of 2008 were being asked by the Clarksville Fire Department to evacuate their homes immediately. Clarksville is located on the Shell Rock River, approximately 15 miles south of Greene. MASON CITY | Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Department updated its list of road closures throughout the county. The Sheriffs Department recommends drivers use extreme caution as receding water could lead to washed out and missing roads. B-20 east of Highway 65 to Pheasant Avenue. Highway 65, from 18th Street in Mason City to B-20. Poplar from Mason City limits north about one-half mile. Zinnia Avenue between 140 th and 15 th street. and 15 street. 200th Street from Thrush to Vine. 225 th street between Violet and Wren. street between Violet and Wren. Claybanks Drive between Thrush and Warbler. Claybanks Drive from S-56 to Warbler Avenue. 315th Street between Indigo and Ironwood. 160th street between Yarrow and Zinnia. Raven Avenue between 200 th and 210 th street. and 210 street. Jonquil between 290 th and 295 th street. and 295 street. Yarrow Avenue between 277 th and 290 th street. and 290 street. Quail Avenue between 160 th and 180 th street. and 180 street. Falls Park Drive between 295 th street and B-20. street and B-20. 320 th street between Lark and Nettle Avenue. street between Lark and Nettle Avenue. 315 th street between Ulmus and Vine Avenue. street between Ulmus and Vine Avenue. 170 th street between Warbler and Yarrow Avenue. street between Warbler and Yarrow Avenue. 275 th street between Balsam and Bluebell Avenue. street between Balsam and Bluebell Avenue. Warbler between 110 th and 120 th street. and 120 street. Killdeer Avenue between 130 th and 140 th street. and 140 street. Orange Avenue from 105 th street south to Sheffield. street south to Sheffield. 120 th street between Vine and Yarrow Avenue. street between Vine and Yarrow Avenue. Vine Avenue between 120 th and 130 th street. and 130 street. 270 th street between Dogwood and Eagle Avenue. street between Dogwood and Eagle Avenue. 110 th street between Warbler and Yarrow Avenue. street between Warbler and Yarrow Avenue. 130 th street between Thrush and Vine Avenue. street between Thrush and Vine Avenue. 140 th street between Thrush and Vine Avenue. street between Thrush and Vine Avenue. 140 th street between Hwy. 65 and Olive Avenue. street between Hwy. 65 and Olive Avenue. Raven Street between 150 th and 160 th street. and 160 street. 130 th street between Hwy. 65 and Olive Avenue. street between Hwy. 65 and Olive Avenue. 275 th street between Balsam and Bluebell Avenue. street between Balsam and Bluebell Avenue. 170th street between Hwy. 65 and Olive Avenue. Olive Avenue between 170 th and 180 th street. and 180 street. Heather Avenue between 190 th and 200 th street. and 200 street. 120 th street between Nettle and Hwy. 65. street between Nettle and Hwy. 65. Ulmus Avenue between 240th and 225th street. MASON CITY | The lower half of Marty Ramaekers' Eastbrooke neighborhood backyard is under water from Ideal Creek. It was not as bad as 2008 when neighbors were canoeing in the street, he said. His house was on one of the lowest points of South Yorktown Pike in their neighborhood. He had bought generators and learned to deal with it over the years. Weve been there every time, he said. Weve just learned to be ready when its coming. MASON CITY | School officials said to expect bus delays because of road closures and conditions. On the campuses, students matched efforts in Osage in Charles City by preparing sandbags. County officials announced Heather Avenue between 190th and 200th streets is closed. MASON CITY | City officials announced more road closures: 12th Street Northeast near Ideal Creek and west of NIACC 12th Street Northeast, Pennsylvania to Elm Birth Drive, 122 to Illinois MASON CITY | Local officials asked residents to avoid travel and remain in homes, as flooding continued. Sandbags are available at the city's Operations and Maintenance Building, 725 Massachusetts Ave. The Winnebago River continues to rise and is expected to crest about 15 feet, which officials say could cause the water to spill over the levee system. As a result, sewer backups are possible for local customers. MASON CITY | Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Department released several road closures throughout the county. Yarrow Avenue between 150th and 160th streets. 315th Street east of Indigo Avenue. B-20 west of Jonquil. 160th street between Yarrow and Zinnia 170th street between Yarrow and Zinnia B-20 east of Highway 65 to Pheasant Avenue. Pheasant Avenue between 300th and 310th streets. Poplar from Mason City limits north about one-half mile. North of B-60 on Zinnia Avenue. On Gull Avenue from 315th Street south to 310th/ Heather. 200th Street from Thrush Avenue to Vine Avenue. Claybanks Drive from S-56 to Warbler Avenue. East of Violet on 225th Street. Water is going over the road on B-20 west of Jonquil. The road has washed out north of B-60 on Zinnia Avenue. 12th Street NE-Ideal Creek-west of NIACC 12th Street NE-Penn to Elm Birch Drive - 122 to Illinois 2701 MASON CITY | Multiple entrances to East Park were closed Thursday due to extensive flooding on the Winnebago River. Among the roads closed included a park entrance on Virginia Street and the intersection of Fourth Street Southeast and New Hampshire. About half a dozen people gathered near the northwest entrance to East Park watching as playgrounds and parking lots were overrun with low-lying waters. "This isn't as bad (as 2008), but it's going to get worse," said security guard Derek Reynolds, watching the waters. "I don't want to go home," he said, worrying about his basement flooding. Alliant Energy reported 16 customers without power in Cerro Gordo County as of mid-morning on Thursday. On its Facebook page, the Humane Society of North Iowa wrote that it closed on Thursday due to its road flooding. "For those worried, the shelter is at a much higher elevation and is safe. Staff is caring for the animals now and are prepared to spend the night if we can not evacuate," according to the page. Other roads closed by the Mason City Police Department include: 12th Street Northeast at Ideal Creek; and 12th Street Northeast at the viaduct near the water plant. Cent Credit Union also closed its main branch at 6th St. SW due to its proximity to Chelsea Creek. An employee said via phone they expect to reopen it tomorrow. MASON CITY | Mason City Police helped evacuate residents at the Autumn Park Apartments over concerns of low-level flooding in the complex's back parking lot. Officer Jeremy Ryal said that they were evacuating two buildings and the town homes and sand bagging doors. He said between 23 and 27 residents were evacuated and taken via transit buses to the Salvation Army on Village Green Dr. Other residents left and would stay with family and friends. About 8 a.m., Mike Floyd, 63, woke up to see the parking lot under water from his second-story apartment. I "looked outside and saw that water. I said, 'Oh my God,'" he said. Floyd and his wife Deborah grabbed a suitcase and filled it with clothes, books and medications. He said they were told they would be staying at the Salvation Army for at least a few days. MASON CITY | Local officials evacuated two apartment complexes Thursday after torrential rain flooded Mason City. Chelsea Apartments and Autumn Park Apartments were cleared before 9:30 a.m. The Mason City Police Department asked residents to avoid traveling in the city. Officials set up an emergency shelter at the Salvation Army, 724 Village Green Drive, east of Menard's. They said the facility will be open "for the duration of this flood event." Between 23 and 27 people were taken by police to the shelter. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for parts of North Iowa through Sunday morning. Law enforcement officials had reported more than seven inches of rain in the county with many roads that were impassible. Flash flooding was also reported in Greene with multiple streets underwater with rescues and evacuations taking place in the town, according to the Weather Service. Elsewhere in Cerro Gordo County, parts of county road B-20 east of Highway 65 were impassable Thursday, according to Sheriff's Deputy Brent Schupanitz. He said deputies were also monitoring campgrounds in Rock Falls. Check back for more on this story. In a long, wide-ranging speech at the final meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative early Wednesday evening, former president Bill Clinton laid out a vision of his familys foundation that would have sounded strangely foreign to anyone only familiar with it through 2016 politicking. But one thing was clear to anyone listening to his keynote: Bill Clinton didnt want to say goodbye. Clinton spent an hour telling stories, recollecting people he worked with over his 15 years running the foundationfrom the super famous to the desperately impoverishedand reminiscing about public health breakthroughs he was particularly proud of. This is not the Clinton Foundation were used to hearing about. On the campaign trail, Hillary Clinton has shied away from talking at length about the organization, given that controversies related to its donors have dogged her since before she even officially launched her presidential bid. The foundation has drawn pointed criticism for the appearance of pay-for-play and allegations of influence peddling masquerading as charity. Criticsboth partisan and nonpartisanfaulted the Clintons and their foundation for failing to disclose all the foreign governments and businesspeople who gave funds to the charity. Additionally, the foundations acceptance of gifts from foreigners while she was secretary of state fed the perception that the foundations backers gave in hopes of getting access. Earlier this week, Bill Clinton himself undergirded that theory. It was natural for people whove been our political allies and personal friends to call and ask for things, he told NPR. And I trusted the State Department wouldnt do anything they shouldnt do. Donald Trumps campaign promptly pounced. It appears Bill Clinton was telling the truth for once when he said it was only natural for Clinton Foundation donors to ask for access and favors from Hillary Clintons State Department, campaign spokesperson Jason Miller said in a press release. But all that faded into the ether during Bill Clintons final remarks to foundation backers in Manhattan, where the former president made no apologies. Instead, he seemed pained that another era of his life was closing. And though he touched on global problemsincluding the crisis in Syria, as well as growing inequality, instability, and negative identity politicshe pushed listeners to share his trademark optimism. He began by discussing his work to help businesses in Harlem adjust to gentrification, a shift he thought was on balance good news, we were raising incomes. Then he recalled fundraising to help the victims of an earthquake in India and the children of the victims of 9/11. And there was his work with Nelson Mandela to lower the price of AIDS medications. There was work to increase access to malaria, tuberculosis, and oral dehydration treatments. There were efforts to plant trees, keep sugary sodas away from school kids, and roll back climate change. There was the time the mayor of Srebrenicawhere, in 1995, Bosnian Serbs committed a massacreappeared at a foundation plenary session with the prime minister of Serbia. And the trip to Rwanda, where Procter & Gamble (which has given the foundation between $1 million and $5 million, according to its disclosures) distributed water purification packets. And then there was the moment he watched a group of Sri Lankan Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims figure out disaster relief in the yard of a Catholic school. And there were lots of generous rich people. It turned out as you are living evidence that there was this profound hunger to be given a chance to do something that could have a real impact, he said, that people who had been unusually fortunate were more than willing to invest their money. They just didnt want to be taken for a ride. They wanted to know how they could do something that would have a real impact. Embrace incrementalism, perfect the art of creative collaboration, cling resolutely to optimism, Clinton said, and youll be above repute. When its all said and done the least even your adversaries will have to say is, you got caught trying, he said. (Thats not true. The foundations unacknowledged critics level a host of charges at it.) But the former president didnt want to talk about how the controversies surrounding some of its donors may now contribute to his wifes sagging poll numbers. Bill Clinton wanted to talk about helping kids survive HIV. And why shouldnt he? Because it was closing time for his role at the foundation. And Bill Clinton wasnt quite ready to go home yet. CHARLOTTE, North Carolina A second night of protests over the police killing of a black man ended with another black man nearly killed by someone in a crowd. The protests started peacefully when hundreds of protesters gathered in Marshall Park in Uptown Charlotte around 7 p.m. Wednesday night after a police officer shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott on Tuesday. Police say Scott brandished a firearm when they entered the Village at College Downs neighborhood to serve a warrant on another man. Many protesters held Black Lives Matter signs and some angrily denounced police violence with megaphones, but the protests were peaceful overall. A group of protesters then walked to the Charlotte Police Department headquarters before the crowds grew into the thousands, making their way down East Trade Street to the Omni Charlotte Hotel. As police in riot gear began to move in a single file line into the hotel, protesters beat their fists on the glass front doors. Officers responded by firing the first round of tear gas, forcefully pushing the crowd out of the hotels entrance. A protester smashed a window at the City Smoke restaurant directly across the street from the hotel. Another spray-painted an obscenity on a police car in the middle of the street. Around 8:30 p.m., a civilian fired a pistol indiscriminately into a crowd of dozens outside the hotel, turned and ran, leaving a man laying on the ground in a pool of blood on the sidewalk. There was a loud pop, then panic and confusion. Standing about 10 yards away, I looked down the barrel of a pistol. Several people were screaming, saying someone was shot in the head and a crowd quickly formed around the victim, a black male. I thought to myself, Oh my God, why? Breathing heavily, I called 911, pacing around in the street. I could be the person on life support. The bullet had whizzed past me. But here I was, still breathing, and reporting this tragic news unfolding in front of me. The shooter, a black male, was standing at the intersection of East Trade and South College streets with the weapon still aimed. He turned and ran. Emergency personnel arrived about five minutes later. The City of Charlotte first tweeted the unnamed victim was dead, then later said the person was in critical condition on life support. Less than 24 hours later, he was dead. Minutes later, police fired crowd dispersal grenades and more tear gas, sending protesters running from the crime scene. At least two officers were reported injured after a dozen were hurt in the first night of protests. Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency and cleared the way for the deployment of the National Guard after ordering troopers from the State Highway Patrol to come to Charlotte. The shootings have left the largest city in North Carolina on edge as the police brace for the possibility of more unrest in the days to come. Are more uniformed officers and soldiers the solution to these back-to-back tragedies? They did very little to provoke the violence on the second night of protests. The crowd seemed out for blood. The chanting became angry and obscene. And one bad apple is all it took to make a tragic incident even more so. Editor's Note: This story has been updated with the victim's death. Lesbian bars have been closing for years. Lesbian websites may not be far behind. On Tuesday, AfterEllen editor-in-chief Trish Bendix announced on her Tumblr that the 14-year-old site for lesbian and bisexual women will be effectively shutting down as of Friday. She added that Evolve Media, which bought AfterEllen from Viacom in 2014, found we are not as profitable as moms and fashion, and decided to shutter the site save for a promise of periodically publishing publishing freelance pieces in the future. On Wednesday, Emrah Kovacoglu, a manager from Evolve Medias TotallyHer brand, called Bendixs post a false rumor and said they would continue to work with our freelancers and contributors to cover LGBT issues. But between the lines of Kovacoglus post, his message is clear: The archives will be left up, sure, but the editor-in-chief is getting the boot, and investment will not continue at the same levels. Now reports are emerging that Bendix was denied her severance. Evolve Media, which also publishes sites like Momtastic and The Fashion Spot, did not immediately return a voicemail left by The Daily Beast. The imminent loss of AfterEllenat least as we know itleaves queer women with just one major website devoted to them: Autostraddle, an independent outlet that uses a premium membership program to stay afloat. Even then, as Autostraddle senior editor Heather Hogan wrote candidly on Tuesday, Were often on the brink of not existing anymore. So why is it so hard to keep a queer womens website in business? After all, a not insignificant number of women are something other than straight. A 2015 study from the Public Religion Research Institute found that 7 percent of millennials identify as LGBT. A full 14 percent of millennial women, in particular, reported being sexually attracted to someone of the same gender, which even includes 8 percent of women who dont explicitly identify as bi or lesbian . Theres clearly a sizable population that might be interested in guides to flirting with other women or lists of lesbian sex scenes or an interview with Tig Notaroall of which can be found on AfterEllen. Turning that population into ad revenue, however, appears to be a different story. In his false rumor post, Kovacoglu admitted that AfterEllen did not have enough advertiser support to justify continuing to invest at the same levels. Autostraddles editor-in-chief Marie Lyn Bernard, known as Riese to the community, acknowledged Tuesday that "the percentage of our revenue generated from advertising income has been in decline" since 2011 and the "actual amount of advertising-generated income" has been falling since 2013, hence the site's premium membership program. And as LGBT site The Advocate noted after Bendixs announcement, The Advocate's lesbian-focused sister site SheWired stopped operating as a stand-alone business this February for similar reasons. In a series of tweets on Tuesday night, AfterEllen founder Sarah Warn laid the blame squarely at the feet of advertisers. Warn continued: At MTV, we constantly had advertisers wanting to advertise to gay men (on AfterElton), but not lesbians, and I developed a theory that stereotypes work for gay men as consumers (travelers, affluent) and against lesbians (no money, dont care about clothes, etc.). I had hoped time and data would change minds, but [it] still seems the same. Warn is right: Lesbians do make more money than straight womenbut, of course, still less than men. Market research also suggests that gay men and lesbians are also more likely to be current U.S. passport holders, suggesting a proclivity for international travel. And if you want proof that lesbians respond to advertising, look no further than the beloved Subaru. The current association between lesbians and the Subaru brand is so strong that it led to the portmanteau lesbauru, but it was not always thus. As Alex Mayyasi detailed in a recent Priceonomics feature, Subaru began targeting gay publications in 1996, first stumbling in its approach but ultimately learning that lesbians loved subtle in-jokes in TV ads, like license plates that referenced Xena: Warrior Princess. Today Subaru is easily the top choice for lesbian carbuyers, and the automaker has reaped the rewards. As Mayyasi reported, lesbians played a pivotal role in helping Subaru turn flat sales into steady growth. In a sense, all Subaru did was notice a group of customers and create ads for them, Mayyasi wrote. But that was a big deal. Subarus ad campaign acknowledged a group that often felt unwelcome and invisible. After AfterEllen, its hard not to feel like advertisers are missing out on a group that still feels unwelcome and invisible in 2016. As former Daily Dot LGBT reporter Mary Emily OHara observed on Twitter, advertisers who didnt target AfterEllen readers may have missed their chance to become the next Subaru. Other lesbian and bisexual women working in media have been expressing a similar sentiment on social media in the wake of Bendixs announcement. Queer women may not be an enormous audience, but they are not a small one, either. And they may not have as much money as men but, as Subaru has shown, they more than make up for their lower incomes with loyalty. Come Friday, AfterEllen may be all but dead, but one hopes some lessons will be learned from its passing before all the lesbian websites are gone, too. Update 9/23/16 10:00 AM: This post was updated to reflect Mary Lyn Bernard's corrected timeline for the decline in Autostraddle's advertising income. Jimmy Kimmel presented his 10th edition of Celebrities Read Mean Tweets on his show Wednesday night. Unfortunately, his guest Bill OReilly did not participate. The Fox News host was on Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote the latest in his Killing book series , this one covering How America Vanquished World War II Japan, but of course what Kimmel really wanted to talk aboutand what viewers really wanted to hear aboutwas Donald Trump. Aside from the occasional sit-down with hard-hitting journalists like Matt Lauer , Dr. Oz, and Jimmy Fallon , Trump has been sticking to Fox News more and more as the election approaches, preferring to answer friendly inquiries from supporters like Sean Hannity . While OReilly is hardly holding Trumps feet to the fire, he might be the candidates toughest regular interviewer these days. When I watch you speak to Donald Trump, I dont think you go easy on him at all, Kimmel told his guest. And in fact, Id even say that sometimes I feel like when youre interviewing him, that maybe youre not actually going to vote for him. OReilly wouldnt say whether he would vote for Trump, saying he never reveals his own voting preference. I never endorse anybody, he said. If I endorse someone, they will be arrested the next day, all right? Thats going to happen. Its just my karma. After playing a clip of OReilly failing to challenge Trump on the question of racial profiling earlier this week, Kimmel asked, Isnt that un-American, to suggest that we should be racially profiling Americans? The Fox News host said, no, adding, You have to give the law enforcement a little bit more room here, you have to tell the American people, Look, it isnt personal, we just need to get as much security in place as possible. Later, OReilly told Kimmel he has no idea whether Trump will do well in the first presidential debate next Monday, but then proceeded to give his analysis anyway. Trump could say anything at any time, he said. Trump won the Republican debates by saying stuff like, Youre boring. youre fat, youre sweating. Thats how Trump won. He added, I thought I was watching Don Rickles. If Trump does the same with Hillary Clinton, calling her crooked right out of the gate, OReilly said Trump will lose. OReilly then launched into a false equivalence about Clinton, saying shes calling Trump all sorts of names, such as misogynist and racist. If she starts that, shell lose, he said. Because Americans want problem solving. Weve heard the insults, you dont need any more of them. Its the best case, and both have to make their case. While Trump is not a policy guy, OReilly said Clinton would be smart to get into policy as quickly as possible on Monday night. And then look at him and go, Do you know what Im talking about? Because maybe he wont. UPDATE: The Tulsa police officer who shot Terence Cruther has been charged with first-degree manslaughter by the Tulsa D.A. Tulsa is in crisis. For the second time in less than two years, the Oklahoma boomtown is reeling from a fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man at the hands of white cops. In April 2015, a wealthy, 74-year-old volunteer deputy at the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office shot and killed 44-year-old Eric Harris during a drug-buy sting operation gone bad. The convicted pay-to-play cop, Bob Bates, apologized after he accidentally fired his handgun instead of his less-lethal Taser. Now the Tulsa Police Department is in the national spotlight over the shooting of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher, a father of four who had his hands up last week when he was fatally blasted by Officer Betty Jo Shelby and tased by a fellow cop. The video is so clear cut. His hands were in the air. The window was up. He was unarmed. He was moving slow. He was not a threat. He was not a fleeing felon, Crutchers twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, told MSNBC on Wednesday. Officer Shelby prejudged himhe didnt have a chance to live. And its just not right, added the sibling, who is joining the chorus calling for criminal charges against the Tulsa cop. Oklahoma authorities and the U.S. Department of Justice are investigating the case to determine if Crutchers civil rights were violated. Tulsa police quickly released raw dashcam and helicopter footage Monday showing the moments leading up to Crutchers death. The next day, a Tulsa homicide sergeant told the Tulsa World a vial of PCP was found in the victims vehiclean allegation the Crutcher family lawyer, Benjamin Crump, dispelled as a red herring. Police say Shelby and fellow officers were responding to calls about a vehicle abandoned in the middle 36th Street North near Lewis Avenue at around 7:30 p.m Friday. One 911 caller said, There was a guy running from it and I think hes smoking something. I got out and was like, Do you need help? and hes like Come here, come here. I think its going to blow up, the caller added. The graphic video shows the last moments of Crutchers life. His tan SUV, parked in the middle of 36th Street North, was surrounded by multiple police squad cars. Crutcher came into the frame walking away from cops and toward the drivers side of his vehicle. An officer in the helicopter is heard saying, time for a Taser, I think, before declaring, that looks like a bad dude, too. Probably on something. Crutchers hands were raised in the air before his right hand lowered and began to fidget in his pants pocket in front of his drivers side door. Then he was shot with a single bullet and a Taseralmost simultaneouslybefore dropping to the ground, his blood pooling across his chest. Officer Shelby, 42, can be heard almost going hoarse when she screams, Shots fired! into her police radio. The officers at the scene left Crutcher in the road, failing to render medical aid for at least a minute, footage shows. All the while, Shelbys husband, fellow Tulsa officer and Iraq War vet Dave Shelby, was in the police helicopter circling above the deadly encounter. Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan said Monday there was no gun on Crutcher or in his vehicle. I want to assure our community, and I want to assure all of you and people across the nation who are going to be looking at this, we will achieve justice, period, Jordan told reporters. Jordan has been trying to tend to Tulsas strained relationship between law enforcement and the black community. The top cop received a standing ovation when he said, Black lives matter to us, during a July forum on race, the Tulsa World reported. Across the country, everyones pointing at chiefs of police and sheriffs and saying, Fix this problem, Jordan told the audience. I appreciate that you all are trying to help us fix this problem, and thats a big deal to me This is a huge problem, and Im glad I dont have to deal with it alone. The same day as his speech, Tulsa activists called for the resignation of one of Jordans commanders over a divisive opinion column. Major Travis Yates penned a post titled This is War in reaction to a Dallas sniper murdering five police officers during a Black Lives Matter demonstration. Black Lives Matter continues to be invited to the White House and given a voice despite violence breaking out all around them and despite all of that... no one wants to acknowledge the obvious, Yates writes on LawOfficer.com. We are at war! the cop concludes. Marq Lewis, founder of We the People Oklahoma, told local media Yatess post was divisive and very concerning and that he was worried Yatess command would be influenced by his declarations. Yates apologized during the July forum and was transferred to another division days later. (Tulsa police said the transfer was not related to his column, but a periodic reshuffling of division commanders, the World reported.) I will tell you in the crowd, I wrote that about 30 minutes after I saw three of my colleagues hunted down by a coward with an assault weapon, Yates said, according to KTUL. I was upset, as most law enforcement officers were. Still, watchdogs note Major Yates headed Tulsas Gilcrease Division in north Tulsa, where a majority of black residents live. The northside was also the site of one of the worst race riots in American history in 1921, when white mobs killed hundreds of people and leveled the Greenwood neighborhood known as Black Wall Street. Officer Betty Jo Shelby, now on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, worked in the Gilcrease Division too, presumably under Yatess command. If there are officers at TPD with this mentality, it is problematic for the community as a whole, said Daniel Smolen, a civil-rights attorney in Tulsa who represents the family of Eric Harris and others killed by the sheriffs department. If you view it as Were at war, then guys who have a car broken down in the middle of the road and who are big, black, and scary get shot, Smolen added. Smolen is also representing the family of Elliott Williams, a black Army vet who died in Tulsas jail in 2011 when guards left him paralyzed for days on the floor of his cell. (This summer, a federal judge ruled the familys lawsuit against the sheriffs office could move forward.) Williamss case sparked national outrage in April following a Daily Beast investigation into his death and other deaths at the Tulsa County jail. Youve got the death of Elliott Williams, the Eric Harris shooting, and now you have this [Terence Crutchers death], in a relatively small city in the Midwest, Smolen told The Daily Beast. You have to wonder why its happening. Its a segregated community and it has been since the race riots [of 1921], the lawyer added. These issues need to be addressed and dealt with from a community perspective [or] things will continue to happen like this. Betty Jo Shelby was assigned to the Gilcrease district in August 2015 and was hired by Tulsa PD in December 2011, her attorney told The Daily Beast. She previously worked at the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office, where she became the first female member of the Underwater Investigation Unit in 2009, the World reported. Two weeks before striking down Crutcher, Officer Shelby was featured in a photo on the Tulsa Police Departments Facebook page, posing with a black couple identified only as the Joneses. The caption indicates the Joneses gave Shelby a bouquet to thank her. Shelby and the Joneses were all smiles in the Aug. 28 photo-opdays after their gaming system and multiple flat-screen television sets were stolen, the Jones family confirmed. The Tulsa PD praised Officer Shelby in the post and noted that the Joneses were victims of a burglary and Officer Shelby had responded was able to locate the stolen property and return it to the Joneses. The social-media salute ended with praise for their civil servants good police work: Well done, Officer Shelby and thanks to the Joneses for making her day. Indeed, it was Officer Shelby who responded and managed to nab the neighborhood teens. Reached by phone, a Jones family member, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Daily Beast that the cop who right now is being branded a murderer was a hero when she helped recover the stolen gizmos. She responded to the call and she did a good job that day, the Jones family member said, but declined to comment further on the officer whos now under national scrutiny for the fatal shooting of Crutcher. Bright Future, Troubled Past Terence Crutchers family said he wanted to turn his life around. The dad, who turned 40 last month, had enrolled at Tulsa Community College and was on his way home from class just before he died by a single police bullet, relatives said. Im gonna show you, Im gonna make you all proud, Crutcher wrote in a recent text message to his sister, Tiffany told reporters at a press conference. On the fateful Friday night encounter with Officer Shelby, Crutcher was supposed to have his music appreciation class at Tulsa Community College. According to its course description the class emphasizes the European classical repertoire as well as non-Western practices and is designed to introduce students to the study of music as an aesthetic, historical, and cultural phenomenon. A college spokeswoman confirmed that emails and phone calls were made to students who enrolled in the four-week fast-track music class informing them it was canceled due to low enrollment. Its unclear if Crutcher, who enrolled in three to four other classes and had been attending the institution sporadically for the last two years, received a call or email or if he had even tried to go to the class that night and learned upon arrival that it was canceled. In a news conference Wednesday, Tiffany Crutcher said her brother was excited about starting community college and walked around campus Friday and talked with professors. They were the last to actually interact with my brother, she said. Crutcher had a history of run-ins with law enforcement, court records show. The documents show authorities possibly misspelled his first name as Terance instead of Terence. On Wednesday, Tulsa police spokesman Officer Leland Ashley told The Daily Beast that Crutcher had eight open misdemeanor warrants stemming from a failure to pay penalties on previous charges, including public intoxication. In 1995, Crutcher was arrested in Osage County after police allegedly saw him fire his weapon out of a vehicle window. On that occasion, cops pulled him over for a pat-down and discovered a .25-caliber pistol tucked in his right sock, the AP reported. He received a suspended sentence after pleading no contest to charges of carrying a weapon and resisting an officer, according to the AP. His criminal record also includes misdemeanor convictions for petit larceny, driving with a suspended license, obstructing an officer, and driving under the influence, court records show. Crutcher, who also went by the alias Crutch, served a stint in prison from 2007 to 2011 for felony drug trafficking before being paroled. The same year he was released, he was cuffed for public intoxication. According to a probable cause affidavit, Crutcher reported to the probation office one morning in November 2011 with the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and person. In November 2013, Crutcher was pulled over by a state trooper around midnight for driving under the influence, court records show. According to the troopers affidavit, Crutcher was going 80 mph in a 65 mph zone and failed to stay in his lane. Crutcher also wasnt wearing a seatbelt, the trooper said. Crutcher allegedly didnt pull over until a half-mile after the trooper flashed his lightpack and activated his siren. Once confronted, Crutcher was slurring his speech and had the extreme odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, the affidavit states. The patrolman found an open can of Steel Reserve beer in the vehicles center console. The cop also noticed one of Crutchers eyes did not appear to be functional, according to the police report. When pressed, Crutcher confirmed that he had a fake eye. The trooper proceeded to book Crutcher, citing the very droopy, heavy eyelids of Crutchers good eye and noted that he seemed to be disoriented and confused, the affidavit states. In his guilty plea, Crutcher wrote, I was speeding, did not have my seatbelt on, had an open container of beer and I was driving under the influence of alcohol. Further I resisted the officer when he went to arrest me. The Shooting Officer Betty Shelby supposedly wanted to help Terence Crutcher when she spotted his stranded vehicle, or so her attorney told The Daily Beast. At around 7:30 p.m. Friday, Shelby was booking it to a domestic disturbance call located at a tiny shack along East Seminole Place in the North Tulsa, her lawyer, Scott Wood, said in a lengthy phone interview. But the uniformed cop was only five blocks east from her post when she decided to stop and help with a more pressing situation in front of her. While stopped at a cross-section of town, Shelby spotted a man wearing a big white T-shirt standing in the middle of road, eyeing the asphalt. Standing out of the lane, Officer Shelby told Wood that the man seemed harmless enough. So Shelby kept driving, her lawyer says. She only made it a few hundred feet before happening on an idling SUV which had crossed over the double lines, its motor still running. Shelby then exited her cruiser and attempted to rule out if the car was part of a drive-by shooting or if an abduction had occurred, her lawyer said. By this point 911 calls were being logged from passers-by describing Crutchers strange behavior and the SUV hed walked away from, which he allegedly warned was going to blow up, according to one 911 recording. After Shelby checked the cars abandoned state, Crutcher reappeared. Lo and behold who comes walking up to her is [Terence] Crutcher, Wood said, recalling Shelbys version of events. Betty looks at him and says, Hey is this your car? Dash cameras on the squad cars were rolling as was the eye in the sky. The police chopper piloted by Officer Shelbys husband was hovering above, training a camera on the scene unfolding in front of his wifes car, referred to by dispatch as Adam 303. They had just happened to be on a call in an area close by, Wood said of the helicopters proximity to what would become a fatal shooting. So when they cleared that, they heard she is out with the vehicle and they head over that way to watch what is going on. It was not custom for Shelbys husband to keep tabs on his civil-servant spouse, Wood said. Hes not following her every move, no. (A Tulsa police spokesman told The Daily Beast the police helicopter patrols the city almost daily, assisting when needed but not routinely partnering with specific cops on the ground.) Wood said Shelby asked Crutcher, Hey, is this your car over here? But Crutcher allegedly didnt make (a) facial expression or say anything other than mumble something she couldnt understand, Wood told The Daily Beast. So she apparently tried again. Hey is this your car? Lets do something with it if it is. Whats going on? Shelby asked Crutcher, according to the cops attorney. The Daily Beast could not confirm Woods version of events. Its unclear if any other audio of the shooting would become available, as officers responding to the incident werent wearing body cameras, News on 6 reported. Shelby told homicide detectives that the 5-foot-11, 244-pound Crutcher starts walking towards her and he starts to put his hand in his pocket, according to Wood, who also represented killer grandpa deputy Bob Bates. Wood claims that Shelby believes she saw furtive movement and that put the policewoman on the defense: She says, Hey, hey do me a favor. Keep your hands out of your pocket and just tell me is this your car? What do you know about this vehicle. Officer Shelby claimed she told Crutcher to keep his hands out of his pocketsand, Wood says, he sort of complied by putting his hands in the air without being told. Hoping to get the man to come to her, Officer Shelby allegedly told him: Talk to me. Whats going on? Her attorney said the mans head lowered but he locked his eyes on Shelby so hes looking right out underneath his eyebrow which she thinks is really weird. Its like a thousand-mile stare, Wood said his client recalled. Two more times, the cops attorney said, Shelby asked Crutcher to engage and he rebuffed and each time raised his hands in the air before lowering them into his pockets. After the third try, Officer Shelby claimed she told Crutcher, Dont do that. Dont do that. Talk to me. He didnt respond and she wasnt asking anymore. Get your hand out of your pockets where I can them, she ordered Crutcher, before calling in for backup. Get down on your knees. Wood said Shelby, a trained drug recognition expert, determined that Crutcher was inebriated. A Tulsa Police sergeant later claimed there was an unknown amount of PCP found inside Crutchers carwhich the Crutcher familys attorney disputes. At this point, the video footage shows Crutcher returning back to his car with his hands up. At that moment, according to Shelbys attorney, the cop believed that the man was evading her. Wood claims Crutcher continued to fidget with his pockets with his right hand as hes stood by the drivers side of the SUV. It has been debated whether the car window was up or down. Crutchers family believe it was up, and Officer Shelby, through her attorney, has maintained it was rolled down in the moments before the man was shot and tased. The standoff led to the Taser fired off by Tulsa Police Department Officer Tyler Turnbough and then Shelbys single, fatal gunshot to Crutchers chest. When asked why Shelby produced her department issued service weapon and not her Taser like her fellow officer, Wood said she followed department protocols and training. When she got to a point where he was not obeying commands and repeatedly tried to put his hand in his left pocket she thought he possibly had a gun. According to Wood, Officer Betty Shelby had never fired her police-issued firearm at all in public outside of the range before. Of course off-duty at the range for training, Wood said. But shes never used deadly force before. Further, Wood confirmed Shelby was not required to submit to any kind of alcohol or drug testing after shooting Crutcher. Before joining the Tulsa police force in 2011, Shelby served a four-year tenure as a Tulsa County sheriffs deputy. While administering a warrant on a suspect back in 2010, Shelby and other deputies were involved in a use-of-force incident where they drew their weapons without firing. Afterward, Shelby filled out a report about unholstering her gun and it was determined she was following department guidelines. She was never found out of policy or disciplined at the Sheriffs Office, Wood said. Besides being trained to determine if someone is high on drugs or not, Officer Shelby was a seasoned medic. Seconds after Crutcher was felled to the ground by her gunshot, Shelby wanted to save his life, Wood claims. Her husband up in the sky was concerned but also apparently in no hurry to come to his wifes aid. When asked if he wanted to land the helicopter prematurely, Shelbys husband is steadfast. We can go back if you need to, his partner states as heard on the audio recording from the chopper following the fatal shooting. Big girl, man. Ive got my job to do too, Shelbys helicopter pilot husband Dave Shelby said. After we land Ill go check on her. A powerful congressional committee voted today to hold Hillary Clintons former technology director in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify about her private email server and his role in maintaining it while he worked for her at the State Department. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee had been trying unsuccessfully to obtain testimony from Bryan Pagliano, who has been one of the key figures in the email controversy that continues to dog Clinton in the home stretch of the presidential election. Pagliano is believed to know better than most how the server was set up and maintained and what may have happened to emails that were deleted from the system, including after it was publicly revealed that Clinton was using a private server. Pagliano had struck an immunity deal with the Department of Justice that allowed him to talk to FBI agents about the email server without fear of being prosecuted for any crimes. Government lawyers showed members of the committee a copy of that agreement, which had been placed under seal by a federal judge, on Thursday morning. Committee Republicans have long maintained that Paglianos immunity deal means he has no reason to fear giving testimony to Congress, and nothing in the terms of the deal appears to have persuaded them otherwise. The committee had used U.S. Marshals to serve a subpoena at Paglianos office demanding that he appear Thursday morning. Unsurprisingly, he did not, having already accused the committee chairman through his lawyers of using Paglianos testimony as a spectacle to embarrass Clinton just six weeks before the presidential election. The subpoena betrays a naked political agenda and furthers no valid legislative aid, Paglianos lawyers wrote in a letter to the committee. The FBI has already decided not to prosecute Clinton or her aides over the email server. Pagliano has long been a person of interest to the committees investigation, which has also sought to determine whether Clinton perjured herself when she testified under oath about her email server before the House panel investigating the terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya, which occurred on her watch. In blasting Pagliano for his decision not to comply with the committees subpoena, Chaffetz suggested that Pagliano may have deliberately tried to hide his own emails from his time working for Clinton at the State Department. Among the questions Pagliano could answer is how he was able to prevent the State Department from discovering most of his emails, Chaffetz said. Chaffetz was referring to the fact that the State Department was unable to find copies of Paglianos emails in a backup file, or archive, known as a .pst file, for the entire time Clinton was Secretary of State and Pagliano was working for her maintaining the private server. Curiously, State officials did find such an archive for the period after Clinton had left the department, when Pagliano was still working for the department as a contractor. And State was also able to find the archived emails of other top Clinton aides, which have been turned over as part of Freedom of Information Act lawsuits brought by watchdog groups and news organizations, including The Daily Beast. Once it was clear Pagliano would not be testifying, Republican and Democratic lawmakers spent their time hurling accusations at each other and turning the hearing into an opportunity to bash each partys nominee for president. Rep. Elijah Cummings, the committees top Democrat, accused Chaffetz of an abuse of authority, noting that Paglianos testimony was unlikely to shed any new light on Clintons email practices. If the committee really intends to discover whether officials or candidates for office have broken any laws, Cummings asked, Then where is our investigation of Donald Trump, his potentially fraudulent business practices, his campaign's potential connections to Russian hackers? The committee has held no hearings on those subjects or Trumps charitable foundations illegal campaign donations, Cummings said. The committee was focused exclusively and obsessively with Secretary Clinton, and that is for political reasons, Cummings continued. Republicans, however, defended their decision to subpoena Pagliano and hold him in contempt as vital to preserving the system of checks and balances and their legal oversight role. Subpoenas are not optional, Chaffetz said. Recognizing that a contempt finding was an extraordinary measure, Chaffetz insisted that this committee cannot operate...if subpoenas are ignored. The contempt finding now faces a vote before the full House, and it would then be passed onto the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Channing D. Phillips, who would decide whether to prosecute Pagliano. Phillips was appointed by President Obama in 2015. The House committee has been digging into the role of other Clinton technology staff. This week, Chaffetz demanded that Reddit preserve deleted posts that may have been written by an employee of Platte River Networks, the company that Clinton later hired to maintain the server. The employee, who is believed to be an engineer named Paul Combetta, sought the advice of Reddit users on how to strip out the email address of someone he described as a VIP before a set of emails were turned over. He appears to be referencing work to collect Clintons emails and then turn them over to the State Department after she left office. Combetta, along with two others who had worked on the Clinton server, also refused to testify last week before Chaffetz committee, but they did show up for a hearing. Combetta is also believed to be the unnamed employee in the FBIs report on the Clinton email investigation who is said to have wiped emails off of her server even after lawmakers had asked her lawyers to produce all copies of her emails. The FBI appears to have investigated the question of whether Combetta was directed to delete emails after the committee asked for them. Investigators discovered a work ticket, which referenced a conference call on March 31, 2015, with Platte River, Clinton aide Cheryl Mills, and David Kendall, Clintons longtime attorney who oversaw the process of separating her work emails from personal messages. Platte Rivers attorney advised the employee not to comment on the conversation with Kendal based upon the assertion of the attorney-client privilege, the FBI found. Mills told the FBI she was unaware that [the employee] had conducted these deletions and modifications in March 2015. Clinton stated she was also unaware of the deletions. But what exactly was discussed in that conference call, the FBI never found out. As protests raged in Charlotte , Trevor Noah opened The Daily Show on Wednesday night by asking the question, How do you laugh when the news is sad? As he did earlier this summer just hours before a sniper left five police officers dead in Dallas , Noah turned more serious than usual as he discussed the latest spate of cops shooting unarmed black men, focusing on the killing of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma . After showing video of Crutcher putting his hands on his car in compliance with the officers, Noah said there is no way that he wasnt cooperating with the police, as they have asserted. While we will never know all the facts of any situation, even when there is video evidence, Noah said, What we do know is this: It seems extremely easy to get shot by police in America, which is not right. Naturally, the officers in these situations tend to deny that racism played a role in their actions, but Noah suggested that they possess a bias they dont even know they have. That looks like a bad dude, the cop in the helicopter can be heard saying of Crutcher in the video. What exactly about that man looks bad to you from all the way up there in your helicopter? Noah asked. Hes not holding a weapon, his hands are up. He doesnt even have a hoodie on, I mean, isnt that the universal symbol for bad dude? You cant tell anything about this man from up in the helicopter except for one thing: Hes black. Noah admitted that even he is guilty of implicit bias, sometimes seeing a black man and imagining he might get mugged. But to those who wonder why black people are rioting over these incidents, he had this question: If the only time you encounter black people is when youre policing crime, then your only experience of black people is that theyre criminals. Nothing is going to change racial bias overnight, but Noah said the one thing you can do is not think black people are crazy for feeling oppressed, because every time they see a video of themselves being engaged by police, it ends with them getting shot. The Oklahoma cop who fatally shot an unarmed black man last week reacted unreasonably and became emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted, investigators said in an affidavit Thursday. Betty Jo Shelby, 42, is charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of Terence Crutcher, a 40-year-old father of four. Crutcher was shot in the chest as he stood next to his SUV with his hands in the aira shocking encounter captured on police helicopter footage. The video shows him falling to the ground and blood spreading across his white T-shirt. If convicted, she faces a minimum of four years behind bars. The embattled cop previously worked for the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office before joining the police department in 2011. She was assigned to the Gilcrease Division in North Tulsa, which is home to a large African-American population. A former sheriffs deputy told The Daily Beast that he worked with Shelby from 2010 to 2011 and always thought she might have been on the skittish side. She wouldnt be the first person Id want backing me on the scene, said the former officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, adding that he believed she was somewhat intimidated by the police work. Im not saying she was a big scaredy cat and ran every time something happened, but she could be overwhelmed pretty quick, the cop said. You could almost tell it in her voice when she said, Shots fired [into her radio]. According to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by The Daily Beast, Shelby was on her way to a domestic violence call when she spotted Crutcher on 36th Street North and his vehicle blocking traffic. She pulled over and asked Crutcher if the vehicle belonged to him and if it broke down, court papers state. He was mumbling to himself and would not answer any of Officer Shelbys questions, the affidavit says. Crutcher kept jamming his hands in his pockets, refusing Shelbys orders to show him her hands, the affidavit states. The man continued walking toward his abandoned vehicle with his hands held up and did not respond to Shelbys demands to stop. The cop pulled her weapon and trailed him to the SUV, prosecutors say. As they reached the vehicles drivers side, fellow officer Tyler Turnbough arrived and said he had his Taser ready, the affidavit says. When Crutcher reached into the drivers side window, Turnbough fired his Taser and Shelby shot him once in the right lung area, court papers allege. Crutcher was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead. According to prosecutors, Shelby told Tulsa homicide detective Dave Walker she was in fear of her life and thought that Mr. Crutcher was going to kill her. When she began following Mr. Crutcher to the vehicle with her duty weapon drawn, she was yelling for him to stop and get on his knees repeatedly, the document states. 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, the affidavit says. Shelby was not able to see any weapons on Crutcher or any bulges suggesting he had weapons, prosecutors say. As The Daily Beast previously reported, Shelby claimed she wanted to help Crutcher when she pulled over that night. She believed Crutcher was behaving erratically and on drugs, and that her life was in danger, her attorney Scott Wood said. U.S. federal prosecutors just wont let go of their three-year-old criminal action against alleged beneficiaries of stolen and laundered Russian taxpayer money. It was launched as part of whats known as the Magnitsky Affair, a contentious story of scandal, cover-ups and smear campaigns that dates back more than a decade. Over the years, the Kremlin has used every tool it can, including the fate of Russian orphans who might be adopted by Americans, as it tries to thwart calls for justice from the U.S. Congress and the administration. So far, the Kremlin has failed. (Who knows what will happen if theres a Trump presidency?) And the prosecutors doggedly keep after a tentacular organization, trying to untangle schemes they allege were just about as complicated as they were brazen. So when Andrey Pavlov arrived at Washingtons Dulles Airport on September 15, expecting to attend an international conference without incident, the U.S. Department of Justice served him with a subpoena to appear before a grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday, September 21. Such proceedings are secret, but Pavlov, described by American officials as the lawyer for a notorious Russian mafia organization, was expected to face tough questioning about his role in whats alleged to be a far-reaching fraud and money laundering operation in which companies were stolenreregistered without the knowledge of their ownerthen used to file lawsuits that were settled for hugely inflated amounts which subsequently had to be paid off with Russian tax money. Sergei Magnitsky was a tax attorney who discovered and exposed the alleged fraud, only to find himself arrested and defamed by the Putin government before dying in jail in 2009 under suspicious circumstances. Washington responded with the passage of a landmark U.S. human rights law named after the principal victim and designed to sanction and blacklist his assailants. The specific case in question here is against Prevezon Holdings Ltd., a Cyprus-registered company. According to U.S. District Attorney Preet Bharara, $14 million of its allegedly ill-gotten gains wound up in Bank of America accounts and Gotham real estate, including condos in the Financial District and Midtown whose market prices were in the low seven figures. As laid out in the so-called Magnitsky Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 2011, tax attorney Magnitsky had uncovered an elaborate $230 million tax scam perpetrated using stolen and re-registered subsidiary companies belonging to a client, the investment firm Hermitage Capital, which was co-founded by British financier Bill Browder. Officers of Russias Interior Ministry and Moscow tax bureaus, Magnitsky found, were actually hirelings of the Klyuev Group, which Sen. John McCain has since described as a dangerous transnational criminal organization. Instead of thanking Magnitsky for his dot-connecting sleuthing, however, the Russian authorities first ignored his disclosures, then arrested him on the pretext that he was the perpetrator of a separate tax fraud himself. He was denied urgent medical treatment during his year-long pretrial detention and was physically tortured for a brief period in a Moscow prison isolation cell where he was left to die in 2009. In 2011, in Russias first and only posthumous trial, Magnitsky was found guilty of tax evasion. Monitors ranging from Amnesty International to the European Union to Russias own Presidential Human Rights Commission have characterized Magnitsky as a victim, even as the Kremlin insists he died of a heart attack and was himself a financial criminal. Andrey Pavlov, U.S. officials say, is the consigliere for the Klyuev Group. He has denied being so, in spite of voluminous documentary evidence seen and previously described by The Daily Beast that proves his legal involvement in lawsuits brought against the confiscated Hermitage subsidiaries. There is also video footage showing him accompanying Dmitry Klyuev, an ex-con and reportedly the capo di tutti capi of the eponymous syndicate, to a meeting at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Monaco in August 2012. The fraud basically worked like this: The Klyuev Group allegedly used the three stolen Hermitage subsidiaries which traded in energy commodities Rilend, Makhaon, and Parfenion to fake a series of lawsuits against them in order to then claim tax liabilities. Members of the Group, or those seconded by it, worked both sides on each lawsuit, acting on behalf of both plaintiff companies and the defendant subsidiaries in order to seek wildly inflated damages in the hundreds of millions of dollars. All of these amounts were duly awarded by the courts in proceedings that sometimes lasted as little as five minutes. (For a more detailed description of each of the cases, see here.) According to the lawyer for a plaintiff company in one of the dummied-up lawsuits who testified before Russias FBI-like Investigative Committee, Pavlov in effect acted as counsel for the rival parties. Moreover, Pavlovs wife and law partner, Yulia Mayorova also represented one of the stolen Hermitage subsidiaries in a separate lawsuit. To date, Mayorova has not confirmed nor denied her involvement in this lawsuit. Hermitage Capital, meanwhile, had no idea its subsidiaries had been re-registered under new ownerships and used for these fake litigationsuntil Sergei Magnitsky discovered they had been. The Klyuev Group, according to this accounting, was thus able to seek a $230 million tax relief by claiming gigantic losses for all three subsidiaries for the annual tax year of 2007. The entire refund, the largest in Russian history, was approved on Christmas Eve. Bhararas jurisdiction derives from where the U.S. government says some of this ill-gotten money wound up on American soil, via the Prevezon holding company. The U.S. Attorney demanded that Pavlov present himself at 40 Foley Square and bring with him any and all non-privileged correspondence with Dmitry Klyuev, as well as with Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian lawyer defending the family that legally owns Prevezon. (Pavlovs lawyers, when contacted by The Daily Beast, refused to comment on whether or not their client actually turned up in court yesterday.) The United States Of America vs. Prevezon Holdings Ltd has at times resembled the Showtime series Billions as guest-scripted by Ian Fleming. In December 2015, for instance. the U.S. government accused the Russian owners of Prevezon, who were deposed as witnesses in the case, of racking up $50,000 in expenses including nights at the Plaza Hotel, 18-course dinners with bottles of expensive wines and grappa, for a duration exceeding the time they were in New York being deposed. Bhararas office also named Petr Katsyv, the father of one of the deposed witnesses, Denis Katsyv, who is the legal owner of Prevezon, as having offered to become an informant to the FBI in exchange for a negotiated settlement that would free up some of his sons frozen assets. Katsyv pere isnt any old paterfamilias; he is the vice president of Russian Railways, the powerful state-owned rail company whose former president, Vladimir Yakunin is not only a long-time confidant of Vladimir Putin but personally implicated in a host of corruption scandals back home, including the exorbitant contracting costs that went into preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, as catalogued by murdered opposition figure and former deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov. Next, The Daily Beast learned that Pavlovs own $1,400-an-hour attorney was Lord Peter Goldsmith, now a senior partner at the international law firm Debevoise & Plimpton, but once British Prime Minister Tony Blairs attorney generalthe same one who made the somewhat dubious legal case for invading Iraq. As it happens, Prevezons U.S. counsel is also Debevoise, as documents seen by The Daily Beast demonstrates. The firm has New York offices and the company is specifically represented by senior partner Michael Mukasey, who is himself the former U.S. Attorney General under President George W. Bush. Debevoise, meanwhile, had outsourced its private investigation for defending Pavlov to Andrew Fulton, a former high-ranking MI6 spy once stationed in Washington, D.C. His retainer, according to the hiring agreement seen by The Daily Beast in April of this year, was a handsome $71,000. Fulton was then seconded by Rossiya-1, Russias state-owned and most-watched television channel, for its shambolic documentary The Browder Effect. He was tasked with authenticating clearly fraudulent documents purporting to show that Bill Browder, the CEO of Hermitage Capital and now Magnitskys chief flame-tender, who campaigns globally to recover the stolen tax money and penalize the gangsters of the Klyuev Group, was actually a longstanding CIA and/or MI6 agent codenamed Solomon. Browder in turn is said to have recruited Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption crusader Alexey Navalny, codenamed Freedom, to Western security services. Why were the documents clearly fraudulent? Well, apart from being written in hilariously bad or stilted English, one of the documents claims to identify Browders case officer as Valerie Plame, in 2009. The CIA officer, famously outed by the Bush administration during its media war over Iraqi WMDs, resigned from the Agency in 2007, as she was wont to remind Twitter when The Browder Effect aired to international derision. Although Browder is not a party to the ongoing Prevezon case in New Yorks Southern District, he was deposed as a witness back in February and has since become an imago and prime mover for this criminal prosecution, according to Prevezons defense team, possibly because that team used to represent Browders hedge fund. Unbelievably, in yet another vertiginous twist to this legal saga, Hermitages counsel in investigating the $230 million tax fraud eight years ago was the U.S. law firm BakerHostetler. It is now representing Prevezon in New York federal court, which has prompted Hermitages new attorney Jacob Buchdahl to file a motion seeking BakerHostetlers dismissal owing to what he calls a clear conflict of interest. As a result, the case is suspended pending a district court ruling on that motion. Indeed, BakerHostetler has stated in a pretrial hearing that its former client Hermitage is central to everything related to its new client, Prevezons asset forfeiture headaches. The firm argues that in an effort to vindicate his dead lawyer via a relentless public relations and lobbying campaign, Browder has defamed innocent Russian businessmen and state officials. One of these, former Interior Ministry policeman Major Pavel Karpov, whom Magnitsky identified as a key agent of the Klyuev Group and who was duly sanctioned by the U.S. government for his cited role in the Hermitage theft, even sued Browder in British High Court in 2012 for libel. He lost. Karpov, who lives in Russia, has since been given a three-month sentence in absentia for being in contempt of court for failing to appear to provide information about his unpaid costs for the suit: $877,800. Finally, Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian counsel for the Katsyv family, who herself spent two $1,000 nights in lavish comfort at the Plaza after her client had been deposed, was shown to be involved in a Kremlin lobbying effort to kill the next iteration of the Magnitsky Act, the 2012 law that aims to deny visa entry to any Russian officials identified as part of the Klyuev Group or its accomplices, and to freeze whatever assets they may have in the United States. She also heads up a newly-registered Delaware NGO known euphemistically as the Human Rights Accountability Global Initiative Foundation. Its objective seems to be cancelling the Magnitsky Act as part of a quid pro quo arrangement for the Kremlins cancellation of a controversial and retaliatory ban on American adoption of Russian orphans. That same arrangement has been mooted, in a confidential letter given to California Rep. Dana Rohrabacher by Russian officials. In May, Rohrabacher, who is broadly sympathetic with Russian foreign policy and a critic of sanctions against its state officials or institutions, unsuccessfully tried to block the mark-up of a more expansive sequel to the legislation, one that would sanction human rights offenders from any country. Rohrabachers spokesman told The Daily Beast at the time that the congressman simply wants to give [the letter] careful consideration. He recognizes that various partisans are impatient for a conclusion, but he wants intellectual honesty to prevail, which requires some patience. Sergei Magnitsky did not uncover any theft referred to in the Magnitsky Act, Veselnitskaya has said, neglecting to mention her role in defending an oligarchic family implicated by Washington in having benefited from the very theft the slain attorney uncovered. Whats stated in the Magnitsky Act is wrong, she insists. No one tortured him and no one killed Sergei Magnitsky, she said. Amarula Cream unveils new Jabulani bottle Distell will showcase Amarula's new bottle along with exclusive Scotch whiskies and, for the first time, a wider range of its South African wine portfolio at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes next month. The bottle, which features sleek new curves and design elements, including the shape of an African elephant etched into the glass, will be available in several , including 5cl, 20cl, 37.5cl, 50cl PET, 75cl and 1-litre for travel retail. Because of the elephant etching, the brand marketing team named the bottle Jabulani, which is Zulu for rejoice. The inspiration for the name stems from the story of a rescued orphan elephant, named Jabulani that was successfully reintroduced into the wild by South African conservationists. According to Distells Amarula global general manager, Dino DAraujo, the new bottle design celebrates the brands most prolific icon, the African elephant, in a more evocative way: The bottle also reflects our ongoing commitment to Elephant conservation. Since 2002, the Amarula Trust has helped conservationists study elephant behaviour and use the learnings to protect elephants within South Africas borders. This year, we are extending our support into the rest of Africa thanks to a partnership with Wildlife Direct and its Kenyan CEO, Dr Paula Kahumbu. Funding generated from the proceeds of Amarula sales around the world, combined with the expertise and commitment of Paula and her team, will help us continue to protect the continents elephants who are such an important part of both Africas heritage and Amarulas story. Amarula Cream is made from the exotic Marula fruit that is only found in sub-Equatorial Africa. The fruit grows only from the female Marula trees, which bear fruit just once a year at the height of Africas summer. Elephants - Africas gentle giants - travel from far to feast on the ripe Marula fruit, attracted by its exotic aroma. The fruit is hand-harvested by the local communities and the inner flesh pulped and distilled to make Marula spirit. The spirit is matured for two years in French oak barrels. It is this aging process that naturally imparts the characteristics of vanilla and caramel into the spirit from the wood. Once aged, the Marula spirit is infused with a rich velvety cream. Distell will also be bringing malt whiskies to the travel retail show. Distell will showcase a selection of limited release malt whiskies from its premium malt portfolio, which includes Bunnahabhain, Deanston, Ledaig and Tobermory. An extremely limited (480 bottles) of Deanston 40 Year Old (RRP 850) will be unveiled along with an unpeated Tobermory 21 Year Old (1995) Manzanilla Finish (RRP GBP 310) and a more robust and smoky Ledaig 19 Year Old Marsala Finish (RRP GBP 125). All will be available from the end of October or beginning of November 2016. 22 September 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor Who's to blame for the fact that November is just around the corner and Donald Trump is within shouting distance of electoral victory? The media, of course. Journalistic institutions stand accused of facilitating Trump's rise, through reportorial lassitude or outright connivance with him for the sake of ratings. The scapegoating reached its reductio ad absurdum in a recent blog post by Paul Krugman of the New York Times, who labeled the media "objectively pro-Trump" for allegedly ganging up on Hillary Clinton like a "high school clique bullying a nerdy classmate because it's the cool thing to do." As if her email issue had not been reported first by the decidedly not-pro-Trump Times itself, for the very good reason that it's newsworthy. This is silly. The media have been very tough on Trump, relentlessly so. To cite just one organization, The Post, our David A. Fahrenthold has been terrier-like in pursuit of the damning facts of Trump's phony philanthropy. A Post team published a critical book about the Republican nominee, for heaven's sake. Our editorial board produced one of the first on-the-record interviews exposing Trump's disturbingly cavalier view of the United States' NATO commitments, then followed it up with a series of scathing opinion pieces. And so on and so on; let's count the parade of anti-Trump messages served up by various Emmy winners during Sunday's award show, too. But for those indulging in it, media-blaming does have one advantage. It helps avoid a much more relevant, and sobering, question: Why do so many Americans support Trump despite months and months of negative, truthful coverage about him? To be sure, there has been too much media puffery about Trump, whether unfiltered live coverage of his rallies by cable networks or Jimmy Fallon's sickeningly friendly tousling of the Republican candidate's hair on "The Tonight Show." Journalists were slow to take him seriously at the beginning of the Republican primaries. The fact remains, as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, noted in an interview with the Times published Sunday: "Nobody is confused about the differences between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. . . . Is she perfect? Of course not. But you've got enough information to make the choice." What must be going on is that people - an alarmingly large number of people, it seems - back Trump even though they know, or could easily learn, that he is a charlatan, clueless about policy, bizarrely sympathetic to Russia's dictator, disturbingly prone to offending women and minorities, and a serial liar to boot. Trump is benefiting from the political equivalent of jury nullification. This is the well-known phenomenon whereby a jury returns a "not guilty" verdict despite its awareness that the prosecution has proved its case. Jurors do this for many reasons, but generally it's a form of protest, either against the law that the defendant is alleged to have violated, the system that the prosecution represents, the prosecution's methods - or some combination of these. American colonists practiced jury nullification when they stood up for press freedom by acquitting journalist John Peter Zenger of seditious libel in 1735, as law professor Doug Linder of the University of Missouri at Kansas City has noted. Nullification was at work in a Washington jury's refusal to convict the popular African-American mayor, Marion Barry Jr., of the most serious drug-related charges against him in 1990. In short, jury nullification happens when people regard accusations as an expression of an illegitimate institution or system and seize their momentary power to thwart it - even at the expense of truth, or, as nullifiers would put it, in service of a higher truth. To be clear: There's no moral equivalence between a vote for Trump and the admirable instances of jury nullification in U.S. history, such as the Zenger case or the refusal of Northern juries to convict alleged violators of the Fugitive Slave Law. There is a psychological similarity, however. Trump's campaign is fueled by a sense among his supporters that America is "rigged," as the candidate puts it, against people such as them. Like nullifying jurors, they sense a secret-vote opportunity to vent their grievance about this at little or no immediate personal risk. Against Trump, the press is a particularly ineffective prosecutor, for the obvious reason that "mainstream media" enjoy so little legitimacy among his followers. Only 14 percent of Republicans express trust and confidence in the media, according to Gallup. The figure for independents, who also lean toward Trump, is 30 percent. In fact, sticking it to the "liberal" press is probably one of the things his backers enjoy most. By and large, the American free press has performed its democratic function with respect to Donald Trump - and then some. Instead of carping about the alleged insufficiency of that vetting, the critics should be reflecting on its futility. ROCKWELL | A tornado warning has been issued for the Rockwell area. Forecasters for the National Weather Service say radar shows a thunderstorm capable of producing tornadoes is moving through southeastern Cerro Gordo County. The storm was in the Rockwell area at 7:15 p.m. The thunderstorm warning is issued for the area until 7:45 p.m. Quarter-sized hail also is a threat. Dougherty also could be impacted. According to scanner traffic, Mason City's East Park was closed as a precaution against potential flooding. Check back at globegazette.com for updates on this developing story. Our earlier story: CHARLES CITY | Water had already begun seeping over some Floyd County roads early Wednesday evening and more rain is expected in the next few hours. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for southeastern Floyd County through 9 p.m. Wednesday. As of 6:54 p.m., law enforcement officers reported numerous roads with water on them. The area had already received 3-5 inches of rain. Another 1-3 was expected by 9 p.m. Areas expected to be impacted include Charles City, Floyd, Marble Rock, Oakwood, Powersville, Roseville, Midway, Bunns Woods County Park, Carrville and Floyd Crossing. Check back at globegazette.com for updates on this developing story. Our earlier story: MASON CITY | A flash flood warning has been issued for northeastern Cerro Gordo and southeastern Worth counties. Forecasters from the National Weather Service warned that at 6:32 p.m. Wednesday radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain in those two areas. Two inches have already fallen and more is expected. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly. Areas expected to be impacted include: Manly, Mason City Municipal Airport, Plymouth, Grafton, Rock Falls, Burchinal, Portland and Bolan. Interstate 35 also could be affected between Mile Marker 198 and Mile Marker 200. Check back at globegazette.com for updates on this developing story. Our earlier story: CHARLES CITY | Evacuations may necessary in low-lying areas of Charles City due to heavy rain, officials say. Firefighters and police began going door-to-door in flood-prone areas of the city on Wednesday, warning residents that evacuations may be necessary if the water levels rise as high as predicted, according to a Charles City Fire Department statement. Fire Chief Eric Whipple said the Cedar River in Charles City is expected to crest at 20.7 feet, which is at major flood stage, sometime Friday afternoon. Other rivers and small streams also are expected to be severely impacted by the rain. Sand and bags will be available for Charles City residents at 1 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot at Hy-Vee, 901 Kelly St. Residents are encouraged to bring enough people to help fill and load the bags. Check back at globegazette.com for updates on this developing story. Molly Montag Our earlier story: MASON CITY | Heavy rains over the next 48 hours may cause the Winnebago River to rise more than four feet above flood stage. Or, the rain might miss Mason City and the river won't flood. Right now, forecasters aren't sure. While forecasters believe heavy rain will fall somewhere in the region, as of Wednesday morning they were not confident where the weather system would hit, said National Weather Service Hydrometeorological Technician Brad Fillbach. "Potentially, there's a lot of rain that could fall," Fillbach said. "We feel pretty good about the amount. It's just a matter of where and when." The greatest chance for heavy rain in Mason City is Wednesday and Thursday. If it does hit Mason City, the area could have four inches of rain by Friday. Forecasters believe this much rain would cause the Winnebago River to crest 4.7 feet above flood stage in Mason City early Thursday. It would drop below flood stage on Saturday. Due to the threat of flooding, a flood watch has been issued for Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth, Emmet and Palo Alto counties. It's in effect through Thursday night. Check back at globegazette.com for updates on this developing story. -- Molly Montag The countries most affected by this debate are those that are home to most of Africa's rhinos. The vast majority of white rhino about 99% are found in Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and South Africa. South Africa has 90% of the world's white rhino and 1,700-1,800 black rhino. Both species are also found in Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Small black rhino populations can be found in Kenya, Malawi and Zambia. The west African black rhino was declared extinct in 2011. The idea of lifting the ban is vehemently opposed by wildlife and animal welfare NGOs such as Born Free, the Environmental Investigation Agency and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. It is also opposed by many Western governments, and Kenya, which burned its rhino horn and ivory stocks at a public ceremony at the end of April. Born Free argues that legal trade would expand demand, lead to increased poaching, and hasten rather than prevent the extinction of the rhino. Rhino horn stocks Swaziland has applied to CITES for permission to trade. It will request permission to sell its existing stocks to a small number of licensed retailers in the Far East. It also wants to sell harvested horn, at the rate of 20kg per annum, to these retailers. Its formal proposal says income from a legal, non-lethal trade would "greatly ease financial pressure at a time when Swaziland's rhino parks are struggling with the recent surge in rhino protection costs." Swaziland has 330kg in stock and can produce at least another 20kg a year. Rhino breeder John Hume told me that South Africa has stocks of 32 tonnes of horn, 22 held by government and the rest by private owners. Namibia and Zimbabwe also have large stocks and the potential to produce horn supplies from dehorned rhino and natural mortality. The proceeds from the sale of stocks will raise approximately $9.9 million at a wholesale price of $30,000 per kg. That amount will be placed in an endowment fund to yield approximately $600,000 annually. In addition, the proceeds of the annual sale of 20kg will raise a further $600,000 yearly, bringing total recurrent annual revenue from horn to $1.2 million. If matched by the legalisation over time of sales by other range states, it could help drive out illegal trade. Pelham Jones of the Private Rhino Owners' Association argues that legal sales set at $10,000 per kg would undercut the illegal market by selling legal horn below the current black market prices. This would make illegal horn more expensive. It would also be less attractive in terms of potential risk of seizure and prosecution to buyers than legally available horn. Other trade proponents talk of a central selling organisation for rhino horn, a version of De Beers diamond cartel. June Wiltshire, a business specialist in favour of the trade, told me she advocated the controversial approach of dealing directly with the current illegal rhino trade kingpins. The major drawback is that they don't just deal in rhino horn but a range of illegal wildlife products, drugs and people trafficking. What next? The Swaziland bid at CITES will be rejected. But the start of a discussion at CITES and the placing of the trade issue on the table internationally could lead to change in the future. There is a strong possibility that, even after the rejection at CITES of the Swazi plan, the Southern African Development Community would support Swaziland's position, with the likely abstention or possible opposition of Botswana and South Africa. A much more coordinated regional plan would be the best way to work towards a regulated, secure and legal trade as part of a range of community and income-generation instruments along with fully funded security measures to protect rhinos in the future. The way forward won't be easy. I strongly believe that the trade ban has not worked and will not work now. Rhino horn is a resource that can be harvested non-lethally and sustainably. It can earn income to encourage breeders, pay rangers and anti-poaching teams realistic salaries, provide sophisticated surveillance and supply benefits that will gain the support of people around parks, reserves and ranches. This will help support conservation because it is in their interests to do so rather than help poachers out of dire need. But the pro-trade camp needs to get its act together and develop a sophisticated, viable trade scheme that does not appear to reward criminal syndicates and to present their case thoughtfully. Keith Somerville is Visiting Professor, University of Kent . This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Iowa organizations earn grants from A Community Thrives initiative Seven Iowa organizations receive grants from the USA TODAY Network to support families in need, local initiatives. Emma Watson would really like to make peace with the most passionate fan base on the Internet. The former Harry This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Environmentally friendly luxury can make for a good nights sleep. At Westport-based Saatva, it also means big business. Saatva was named the top company in the state last month on the Inc. 5000 list of Americas fastest-growing companies. Sales revenue skyrocketed to $76 million last year from $2 million in 2011. Estimates for sales in 2016 exceed $180 million. It started when founder Ron Rudzin took $350,000 and turned his attention to mattresses. Rudzin launched Saatva, an online-only mattress company based in Westport, in 2010. He said he researched the costs of the raw materials and sourcing his own product before making any decisions, and found he could create mattresses that were more environmentally responsible than the big retail chains and sell them for a lot less without utilizing stores. I was noticing that people were spending more and more time on websites, Rudzin said. We dont claim to be better when we talk about the other retailers, we just claim to be as good. Rudzin said the money saved by not paying for retail space and staffing goes into making the best product for his customers. But he said breaking into the mattress industry in 2010 with the money he had at that time would not be possible today. You could not even attempt to come into the mattress space today with that kind of money, said Rudzin. The space is very, very competitive now and you need a ton of money to get into (it). The success of Saatva is not solely due to Rudzins own efforts, he said. Kris Brower and Ricky Joshi are the companys co-founders and have been instrumental in the companys internet marketing and social media presence. We really saw the opportunity to disrupt what we thought was being done incorrectly (in the mattress industry), said Joshi. And we saw the opportunity to do a really great job executing that online. The company has 18 factories in the United States where the mattresses are crafted, Rudzin said. There are 130 fulfillment centers where the mattresses arrive and are taken to homes for delivery. The mattresses are built using organic cotton, bio-based foams and recycled steel. When you put a team together to execute a vision, you dont necessarily know what the outcome could be, said Joshi. But in the case of Saatva, that outcome has exceeded expectations. In the online mattress selling industry, Saatva is not alone, according to Rudzin. There has been a surge in companies that sell mattresses over the internet, upending the industry as it has run for decades. These new companies typically target and appeal to millennials because of their simplicity. Theyre good companies and theyre out there marketing, said Rudzin. Saatva is more focused on consumers looking for a luxury mattress. Rudzin said his influence was mattresses found at luxury hotels. And the company had to be sure to market the right way. I wasnt interested in showing my name to people who werent looking for mattresses, said Rudzin. After some research about how many people were utilizing search engines to buy products, Rudzin knew the focus of marketing was to be at the top of online searches for mattress. The company is now expanding its marketing to television. Saatva ran a television test in the Northeast over the past two months and Rudzin said within three weeks of the commercial airing, the company saw it was very successful. This success has led to the decision to air a commercial nationally beginning on Oct. 3. Rudzin and Joshi have high expectations for Saatvas future. The company will continue to grow, said Joshi. We still see so much opportunity on this path. NORWALK Steve Kleppin will take the helm of the Norwalk Department of Planning and Zoning next month. After an executive session meeting at City Hall on Wednesday evening, the citys Planning and Zoning commissions voted to offer Kleppin the job of director. Kleppin, who is now town planner in New Canaan, indicated that he would accept the offer and was eager to start work in mid-October. Ive always been interested in urban design and urban planning, and at some point thought Id move on to a more diverse environment and apply a lot of the skills and things I find interesting to a more urban framework, he said. Im exited to be on board. After the approval, Norwalk Acting Director of Planning and Zoning Michael E. Wrinn told Kleppin, welcome aboard and later shook his hand. The Norwalk Department of Personnel and Labor Relations sought someone with a masters degree in city, urban or regional planning, or a closely related field, and six years of experience as an urban or regional planner, with two years of supervisory experience. The salary range is $130,363 to $154,176. Municipal experience According to his resume, Kleppin has worked more than 10 years as town planner/senior enforcement officer in New Canaan. Before that, he was a land-use inspector in Stamford. He has more than 15 years of municipal land-use experience and holds a masters degree in geography, with a specialization in planning, from Central Connecticut State University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. The commissions vote to approve hiring Kleppin, included a no vote from Planning Commission member William Dunne. Planning Commission member David S. Davidson abstained, and said, This abstention is due to my objection to the process used in selecting the candidate, both in how the job description used in the selection was prepared and in how the job search process was conducted. Zoning Commission member Joseph K. Passero also abstained from the vote. Afterward, he cited his relatively short time on the commission. He was appointed Sept. 13. Kleppin was present for the vote. At one point during the hour-plus executive session, he was called behind the closed doors to answer commission members questions. Adam J. Blank, Norwalk Zoning Commission chairman and co-chairman of the search committee, said the panel received about 50 applications, of which roughly 25 met the qualifications. Of those, about half came from out of state, he said. Wrinn staying on We were looking for a director with strong planning skills, good interpersonal skills and a track record of success, Blank said. Mr. Kleppin easily meets all of those criteria. Im excited that he will be leading our Planning and Zoning Department and look forward to working with him. Blank added, We are very lucky to be able to have Mike Wrinn staying on as the assistant director, and the two of them will give Norwalk top-notch leadership within the Planning and Zoning Department. Mayor Harry W. Rilling, a former Zoning Commission member, said he plans to speak with Kleppin and impress upon him the need to work across all the different departments especially with Redevelopment. We have a lot of things happening in Norwalk, and one of the things that we have coming down the road is the updating of the Plan of Conservation and Development, which he seems to be fully aware of, Rilling said. He seems to have done a lot of research on Norwalk and he seems, hopefully, ready to move forward from day one. According to his resume, Kleppin led the preparation of New Canaans 2014 Plan of Conservation and Development, developed experience in grant writing that resulted in new sidewalks, street lights and planning initiatives, and initiated scanning and digitalization of all surveyed wetlands in the town. Ive seen him in action in New Canaan, said Nora K. King, a former Norwalk Zoning Commission member and past city councilwoman who now sits on the Planning Commission. Hes done some really positive things for New Canaan, and I think hell hopefully do some great things here for Norwalk. Standing outside the Common Council chambers during the executive session, Norwalk resident Joanne Horvath expressed hope that Wrinn would get the job. She acknowledged that he does not hold a masters degree, but said hes been engaged in the city for decades. I dont think thats the answer here, Horvath said of the masters degree requirement. He knows Norwalk like the back of his hand, and hes born and raised here. Wrinn, a Norwalk native, began working for the city in March 1981. He holds a degree in natural resource conservation from the University of Connecticut, according to the citys personnel department. He became acting director of planning and zoning after Michael B. Greene retired in March after 37 years with the city. Id just like to take an opportunity to thank Mr. Wrinn for his outstanding job in continuing the direction of the Planning and Zoning commissions, keeping us all in line, and his work ethic and his dedication for all these months, said Planning Commission Vice Chairwoman Frances DiMeglio. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK Magnifying glasses sit on large tables. Weight scales and test tubes fill nearby shelves. Long, white coats line a far wall. The scene resembles typical middle school or high school science labs, but is actually a part of the newest preschool in Norwalk, which officially opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony before community and state leaders Thursday morning. Named the Maritime Odyssey Preschool, the center takes a unique approach based on its composition of three separate organizations: Odyssey Early Learning, the Maritime Aquarium and Grace Baptist Church. The preschool is not part of the public school system. That combination allows for specialized child care for kids from 14 months to 5 years of age tailored toward a marine-themed STEM curriculum with workshops for parents and guardians covering topics such as financial literacy. Monisha Gibson, director of the school, said the idea for the preschool came after looking at the specific needs of the nearby community and the resources Norwalk has to offer. With this particular population of children you deal with a lot of other things, not just the academic need, but the social, emotional and the family needs, Gibson said. So we thought what would motivate children? What would inspire children? What would engage children? And we thought about the resources available in Norwalk. The marine STEM-based curriculum makes itself present. Large paintings of of sea turtles and whales fill the walls leading to the preschools very own science lab. The 13 classrooms are given marine-themed names such as oysters and moon jellies. An aquarium educator, Lauren Magliola, even has an office at the school where she works with students full-time. We want them to learn an appreciation of the Long Island Sound, how animals grow, how there is a life cycle, Gibson said. We want to teach them about not only the study of animals, but how to be observers, investigators, explorers. We want future marine biologists. Magliola said the science aspect of the curriculum has already been a hit with the kids. She said the students have experimented with a sea star and taken magnifying glasses outside to explore the organisms that live around them. They were learning that they are scientists, Magliola said. That will be a theme through the whole year: How do we learn more about the world around us? Students are taken on field trips to the aquarium and Magliola regularly brings specimens to the school to offer kids the chance to see things they wouldnt. We are working to make the school a national model for early childhood STEM, and for how a science institution like the Maritime Aquarium can play a leading role, said Tom Naiman, director of education at the aquarium. Grace Baptist Church, the 124-year-old institution that stands as a major part of the South Norwalk community, will also supply curriculum. Church officials will offer workshop for parents ranging from credit repair to resume writing to basic reading skills for both English-speaking and non-English speaking parents and guardians. This is something that Norwalk should be proud of, Gibson said during Thursdays ceremony. And in a year from now, not only will Norwalk be proud, but the state of Connecticut will be proud and in three years the entire country will know what we are doing and what we have set out to do. Several dozen community members and school, city and state leaders showed up to the ribbon-cutting Thursday, including Mayor Harry W. Rilling, state Sen. Bob Duff, D-Conn., and Rep. Bruce Morris, D-Conn. The preschool is open year-round from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parents must commit to attending at least two workshops offered at the school, in addition to the optional workshops offered by Grace Baptist Church. The preschool is located within the Nathaniel Ely School in South Norwalk and holds a maximum of 195 students. The preschool opened its doors to children Aug. 10 with about 30 kids enrolled. Gibson said they now serve 170 children from across the city. Tuition is based on a sliding scale from $8 to $225 per week. The school is funded by a $1.3 million school readiness grant from the state and $479,000 Child Day Care program state grant. KSchultz@thehour.com; 203- 354-1049; @kevinedschultz In the two decades Ive lived in Darien and over the last few months on the campaign trail, Ive had the privilege of learning from a wide array of local residents from business owners in East Norwalk, commuters in Darien, single parents in South Norwalk and recent college graduates in Cranbury. Ive heard stories from immigrants who are struggling to support their families as well as from people whose families have been here since the 17th century who are contemplating leaving the state they love. Every one of these people seems to agree on one thing: Connecticut has fallen behind. Our states reputation on the national stage is defined by its dismal fiscal status, doomed new businesses, and politicians who are unwilling to face the reality of the issues and their impact on our lives. In Norwalk and Darien, no matter who you are, you have experienced the fallout from Connecticuts failure to adapt to a changing economy, whether that be your household finances, or seeing increasingly depleting network of friends and family who are leaving this state and its troubles behind. Families live with great unease about the future. A job you expected to support your family with in Darien now appears to be in jeopardy. The nest egg in Norwalk youve invested in your whole life and had planned for retirement loses value every year. You thought you could afford to send your son or daughter to their dream college, but now must ask them to explore other, more affordable options. And with their post-graduate career opportunities so scarce, they are looking elsewhere to settle and raise their families adding miles and miles between you and your loved ones. Bob Duff, supposedly the most powerful senator in Hartford, shrugs his shoulders in apathy at Connecticuts business-repellent fiscal policies. Just as when GE followed through on its promise to leave in reaction to the disastrous budget, he isnt interested. Hed tell you, Well, thats just the way it is, I cant do anything about that. Now, would you mind being in a selfie for my Instagram? Maybe its because Ive spent my entire life growing businesses from the ground up, making the tough financial decisions. Maybe its because Ive had to adjust to life as a single father when my childrens mother passed away and my kids were looking to me for strength and assurance in the midst of a dark time. Whatever the reason, I refuse to accept this kind of defeatist thinking. I have a new vision for the future. While Wall Street continues to diminish in its ability to propel the economy of Fairfield County, new startups and tech companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook are seeking opportunities in states that nourish and encourage economic development. Right now, these companies considering moving to Connecticut is laughable. But my question is this: Why cant we make Fairfield County the next great center of American innovation? Why cant businesses fall over themselves to find office space in Norwalk? Why shouldnt college graduates from across the nation move to Darien to be a part of the next technological empire that improves society? I want to pass policies that will make Connecticut appealing for the next generation of ingenuity and advancement; policies that promote business interests, spending capital, and hiring Norwalk and Darien families to pursue work that they love in the place they call home. This election season, I want you to think about who you would hire to do this job, and do it the right way. Im asking you to hire me for state senate because I believe that Connecticut can be restored to an epicenter of opportunity, because I believe that is what our families deserve. This is not about politics, this is about people and while we may be down, we are not out. If you choose me if you hire me you are choosing optimism, you are choosing a better Connecticut. Greg Ehlers is a Darien resident and the Republican candidate for the state Senate 25th District. WILTON The Board of Finance will advise the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education to decrease their operating budgets by 1.25 percent for Fiscal Year 2018. The budget guidance was set after a five-to-one vote during the BOF meeting Tuesday night. Chairman Jeffrey Rutishauser, Warren Serenbetz, Richard Creeth, Walter Kress and Peter Balderston voted in favor of the budget guidance while John Kalamarides voted against it. The BOF used an upside-down mill rate model to come up with the figure, which Rutishauser and Chief Financial Officer Anne Kelly-Lenz created. It was designed in a way to have several variables that could flex it in certain ways so you could see how the moneys available depending on certain exogenous factors and the like, Rutishauser said. A couple things have come up since we met last at the end of August. Of the topics discussed, two lawsuits played a big role in setting the budget guidance: a large land lawsuit and a long-running education case. The land lawsuit dealt with the evaluation of 10 parcels of land in and around reservoirs, which the board discussed in an executive session a few weeks ago. The town appraised the land at $16 million, and one of the Norwalk taxing districts countered it with about $3 million; the judge recently settled the lawsuit with an appraised value of $6.5 million dollars, which is significantly lower than what the board had anticipated. As we get into the grand list for the coming year, it starts off effectively $9.5 million negative, Rutishauser said. Taking that into account means that some of the expectations we put last August might have to come down substantially to recognize that judges ruling. As for the education lawsuit in which Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher ruled the states education funding system unconstitutional on Sept. 7 most of the BOF interpreted the court trial process as a foreshadowing of more cuts in state funding. This year, the mountain is that much harder to climb, Balderston said. If there's additional funds that come in, then that's for the town to deal with. But I'd rather deal with the more challenging scenario and then be surprised with the upside. The BOF also discussed $900,000 that came in under budget of the $10 million renovation project for the Comstock Community Center and potentially using it to pay off debt from the net $37.5 million Miller-Driscoll project. Based on these factors, the majority of the BOF thought it was reasonable to take a more conservative approach in setting the budget guidance especially when it comes to the BOE, which has had eight years of ever-increasing budgets and ever-decreasing enrollment, Balderston noted. The school budget almost takes three-quarters of entire town budget, Balderston said. I dont know how else to cut at it, lacking all the information we need to make this weighty decision. However, the BOF said it is willing to make adjustments to the budget guidance if the BOE or BOS find it unfeasible. If they come back to us with a solid case as to why thats simply impossible and they quantify that so that we understand in numerical terms, then were all ears, Creech said. Rutishauser said hes already met with First Selectman Lynne Vanderslice and BOE Chairman Bruce Likly several times this year and that both are ready to work through the challenges together. They know the numbers are big, they know what the town can and will and want to accept and realize that there are going to be some tough choices to be made, Rutishauser said. SKim@hearstmediact.com; 203-354-1044; @stephaniehnkim WILTON School and town officials werent surprised by Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher ruling in finding inequities in the state education funding system earlier this month. Instead, like state Attorney General George Jepsen who appealed the case and received approval from the state Supreme Court on Tuesday they felt Moukawsher overstepped his judicial powers by getting into policy issues. I do think that Education Cost Sharing Formula has become a travesty and that needs to be addressed, said state Rep. Gail Lavielle, ranking member of the General Assemblys Education Committee. But does a single judge in the judicial branch have the right to require that he or she approve the work of Legislature or that the work of the Legislature be subject to his or her approval? Similarly, Wilton District Superintendent Kevin Smith felt it was appropriate for Moukawsher to hold the state accountable for the inadequate funding system but was concerned that he may have presented education funding as a zero-sum game. The cost of education everywhere is only increasing, not decreasing, Smith said. I worry that communities like Wilton will continue to see reductions in state funding. Last year, Wilton was slated to receive $1.5 million under the ECS but ended up with only $665,000, after a series of cuts, according to Jeff Rutishauser, chairman of the Board of Finance. Based on this, and the Supreme Courts approval of both the states and Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Educations appeals, Rutishauser said he and other town officials are not only anticipating further reductions but even the possibility of being zeroed out in the future. Were having an ongoing discussion in town on how much we can count on the state, he said. But with out a $125 million town budge, the money under the ECS isnt much; plus the ECS isnt tied the school district, so a cut wouldnt be dollar for dollar, Rutishauser said. We have the luxury that, if they do decide to cut it further, we got the means to patch it together, whether it be a contingency fund or something else, he said. Although the Supreme Court has taken up the case on an expedited basis, its still unclear as to when the court trial process will proceed. The court will set a schedule for a briefing and an argument of the appeal and then make a decision, which could take weeks to months, Jepsen said. Until the briefing is scheduled, Jim Finley principal consultant to the coalition said the plaintiffs are eager for the court trial process to advance. Were anxious to have the Supreme Court fully consider and review the issues that came out of Judge Moukawshers trial court decision, Finley said. Its taken a long time for the public students in Connecticut to get their day in court. Regardless of what happens in the coming weeks and months, Rutishauser said the town should focus on maintaining its education budget. Theres an awful lot of ambiguity of whether the ruling becomes enforceable or whether the state does anything, Rutishauser said. We dont want to tie our quality of the schools to what comes out of Hartford. SKim@hearstmediact.com; 203-354-1044; @stephaniehnkim Throughout the centuries Spain has done more than any nation to fight the Long Defeat and, in her heroism, has shown us many fleeting glimpses of the Final Victory. The poet Roy Campbell declared that Spain was a country to which I owe everything as having saved my soul.[i] Received into the Catholic Church in 1935, in Altea, a small town in Alicante, only a year before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Campbells reception into the Church would be a baptism of fire. The parish priest who received him into the Church would be murdered by communist militiamen and the Carmelite monks whom Campbell and his wife had befriended in Toledo would also be shot in cold blood. Not surprisingly, considering the diabolical actions of the communists and anarchists, Campbell was a vociferous supporter of the Nationalist uprising in Spain that would eventually quell the anti-Christian pogrom. Campbell saw the Spanish Civil War as being a crusade against the forces of evil, a war in which Christians had taken up arms to protect Mother Church from the attacks of Big Brother. In truth, the history of Europe and the world might have been very different if the Christians had not won the war in Spain. If Spain had remained a communist country, it would have been a crucially strategic Soviet outpost in the heart of Western Europe. The iron curtain which fell across central Europe would also have fallen across the Pyrenees. It is possible, therefore, that the Christians of Spain had saved Europe from the infidel in the Civil War as they had saved Europe from the Islamic infidel eight hundred years earlier. This was certainly the view of Hilaire Belloc who declared upon hearing the news of the Nationalist victory in Spain that General Franco was the man who has saved us all.[ii] Today, in an age in which secular fundamentalism and Islamic fundamentalism are once again on the rise, the example of Christian Spain can serve as a timely and timeless inspiration. From the leadership of the Cid against the Muslims to the leadership of the Generalissimo[iii] against the communists, Spain has been a bastion and fortress of Christendom against her enemies. She also reminds us that the part of the Church in which we find ourselves, the part that is exiled in Time, is the Church Militant, the Church at war with the Prince of worldliness and his legion of disciples. It is in this militant spirit that God has bestowed upon Spain a host of warrior saints who have offered themselves in sacrifice to Christ and His Church, from the legendary vision of St. James the Great who led the Christians in battle during the Reconquista to the holy Martyrs killed by the secular fundamentalists in the Civil War. In between her crucial role in saving Europe from Islam and communism, Spain was also of pivotal importance to the Counter-Reformation. One cannot think of the glories of the Counter-Reformation without thinking of St. Teresa of Avila or St. John of the Cross, or without paying due deference and homage to St. Ignatius Loyola, the warrior saint who founded the Jesuits. In much more recent times, St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, has bolstered the Church throughout the world, empowering the laity to evangelize the secular culture in their everyday lives. Today, Spain is once again suffering under the yoke of a resurgent secular fundamentalism. So be it. It has always been thus. The forces of evil always return, like a fungus, to feed on the fallen fabric of the world. As J.R.R. Tolkien reminds us, history is the Long Defeat, with only occasional glimpses of Final Victory. Throughout the centuries Spain has done more than any nation to fight the Long Defeat and, in her heroism, has shown us many fleeting glimpses of the Final Victory. All Christians share in Roy Campbells indebtedness to Spain. She is a country to which we owe everything because, through the abundant graces given to her, she has saved the Christian soul of Europe. Viva Cristo Rey! Republished with gracious permission from the St. Austin Review (July/August 2013). The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politicswe approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now. [i] Quoted in Matthew Hoehn, OSB, ed., Catholic Authors: Contemporary Biographical Sketches 1930-1947, (Newark, NJ: Saint Marys Abbey Press, 1947), p. 104. [ii] The Tablet, 15 July 1939. [iii] General Franco. The featured image is The Capitulation of Granada (1882) by Francisco Pradilla Ortiz by and is in the public domain, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. It has been brightened for clarity. Nebraska lost a classy politician and a true gentleman with the death of Bill Barrett in Lexington Tuesday. Barrett, 87, represented central and western Nebraska well for more than two decades in both the Legislature and Congress. A Republican, Barrett was known as a politician who stood for conservative values but who was also willing to work with others to do what was best for Nebraska. Barrett represented the 3rd Congressional District for 10 years, from 1990 to 2000, being elected five times. He became an influential member of the House Agriculture Committee and played a major role in shaping the Freedom to Farm Act in 1996. Before his time in Congress, Barrett represented the Lexington area in the Legislature for 12 years. There he rose to prominence and served as speaker of the Legislature for four years. In that position, he strongly advocated for central and western Nebraska during a time when Omaha and Lincoln were gaining representatives. Barrett was a Navy veteran who first got involved in the Republican Party in the 1960s. He worked selling insurance and real estate in Lexington. He followed a legend in Congress in Virginia Smith, who represented the 3rd District for 16 years. But he was more than up to the task. Former U.S. Rep. Doug Bereuter, R-Neb., who served in Congress with Barrett, told the Omaha World-Herald that he never heard Barrett say a nasty word about anybody or their motives. Bill Barrett is the kind of person we need in public affairs, Bereuter said. Barrett stuck to the issues. He didnt get involved in the personal sniping that takes place so often in todays politics. In fact, he hated the increasing partisanship he saw in Washington and that was one of the reasons he decided to not seek re-election in 2000. At the time of his retirement from Congress, Barrett told reporters he was proud to be a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee and prouder still to have been a part of the federal governments revolution. We balanced the budget. Now theres a surplus. We cut public debt, reduced taxes and were taking care of Medicare and Social Security, he said at that time. That is an impressive list of accomplishments that came during his time in Congress and a list that Congress should work on today. Barrett was followed in Congress by Tom Osborne. The year after Barrett left office, the terrorist strikes of Sept. 11, 2001, hit, changing the United States and the world. Bill Barrett will be fondly remembered for his service to Nebraska and the 3rd District. He did things right, and with class, for two decades on the political stage. Schwarber's 2 big swings went 756 feet, got Phillies nothing Kyle Schwarber had big swings on consecutive pitches for the Philadelphia Phillies when they needed a comeback in... The bombs planted in New York and New Jersey on Sunday appear to have been the work of a radicalized Muslim man whose behavior and international travel followed familiar patterns. Some prominent American political figures suggest that the way to deal with people like Ahmad Khan Rahami is to seal up our borders, isolate and profile members of domestic Muslim communities, and impose bans on all people traveling from nations where radicalized Muslims have operated previously. Such responses appeal to the worst xenophobic tendencies among us, but they wont solve the terrorism problem. In fact, they are certain to make it worse. U.S. law enforcers at all levels depend on the cooperation of Muslim communities for intelligence about individuals who pose security threats. Police and FBI investigators cannot be everywhere. The people most attuned to whats happening in their neighborhoods are the ones who worship at mosques, attend school and interact daily with potentially radicalized individuals. Many serve as informants, and they do so in secret specifically because their lives could be in jeopardy if their status became known to the individuals under surveillance. Because its happening in secret, non-Muslim Americans have little appreciation for the reality. Hate crimes against Muslims in America have reached their highest levels since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. What non-Muslims are most likely to hear are the harsh words of politicians like GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, who suggests that profiling will make the nation safer. If somebody looks like hes got a massive bomb on his back, we wont go up to that person ... because if he looks like he comes from that part of the world, were not allowed to profile. Give me a break, he said after Sundays attack. Rahamis own father, Mohammad Rahami, asserted on Tuesday that he called the FBI two years ago to warn that his son was a terrorist. Investigators appear to have discounted the claim because the father later recanted. The father sounded the alarm after a domestic dispute in which Ahmad Rahami was accused of stabbing his brother. He had already begun a series of trips to Afghanistan and Pakistan, venues that probably contributed to his radicalization. Since 9/11, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have been working with local law enforcement agencies across the country to establish fusion centers, which are joint intelligence-gathering operations that rely heavily on information supplied by tipsters within the community. There is no question that the programs success depends on ongoing albeit low-profile cooperation with local Muslims. One radicalized bomber succeeded. More attempts, no doubt, will follow. Logic dictates that dialogue and cooperation are the best way to prevent the next tragedy. Isolation and us-versus-them mentalities can only push more toward the radical cause. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Like the Globe Gazette a Lee Enterprises newspaper Anderson Hospitals long-term-planning for private patient rooms has come to fruition. With years of careful planning, the new unit was unveiled last night at a special Anderson Hospital Foundation event. This $7.2 million project required the partnership of the community, as Anderson undertook a $1 million capital campaign to offset a portion of the costs. The Anderson Hospital Foundation has reached out to numerous individuals and businesses in our community and asked them to help support the Private Rooms Capital Campaign, said Amy Roller, Capital Campaign Coordinator for the Foundation. The generosity with which we have been met is incredible. Thanks to these donors, too numerous to name here, the Hospital was more than able to reach the halfway point of its $1 million goal. A couple of days ago, in Miami, the reckless Mr. Trump issued a not-so-thinly-veiled threat against Hillary Clinton, saying. I think her bodyguards should drop all weapons. Disarm immediately! Take their guns away. Lets see what happens to her. As in something bad. And as in something only a cowardly user would say. Incite someone on the fringe and hope for the worse for Secretary Clinton. Trump added, Take their guns away. She doesnt want guns. Take them. Lets see what happens to her. Take their guns away. Ok? It will be very dangerous. For her, and, Mr. Trump, for her Secret Service detail. Think about that for a few seconds. During May, Trump also expressed his fear and loathing that Clinton, if elected, could pick her Supreme Court judges her picks targeting the Second Amendment for extinction. Nothing you can do, he warned, Although (with) the Second Amendment people there is. I don t know. The narcissist Trump does know. And his putrid cult of personality is shrinking by the day, feeding at the bottom. He has placed himself inside his own special basket. And being the king of the deplorables inside of that basket only serves to disgrace himself before us more and more. At least his cowardice is fully transparent. Douglas McElroy Mason City Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Devina Heriyanto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 2016 saw the release of the Panama Papers, the biggest leak in journalism history. The flood of headlines on the Panama Papers and the Oscar winning movie Spotlight put public attention on a relatively neglected branch of journalism, investigative journalism. Investigative reporting in the 21st century was a theme of a panel discussion during the second day of the 2016 Jakarta World Forum for Media Development on Wednesday. A report by BBC found that independent media remains the most successful way to combat corruption, with investigative journalism giving a big contribution to the success. Executive director at the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) David Kaplan said, Its a very exciting time for us. Unfortunately, not enough investment is given to investigative journalism." Kaplan was referring to a study by GIJN published in March 2016, which found that funds for media freedom and freedom of information at an estimated $65.4 million only amounted to 0.1 percent of total US foreign assistance in 2015. Investigative journalism made up 2 percent of that 0.1 percent, a fraction of a fraction, concluded the report. In the end, journalists must rely on collaboration to do their work, he said. A key player behind the Panama Papers, Hamish Boland-Rudder of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) said that collaborative journalism boosts efficiency by pooling resources. Furthermore, the diversity on the team contributes to a lot of local knowledge and creates a larger narrative, which helps readers understand how the stories impact the whole world. Those who were killed in investigative journalism are just as numerous as those who were killed in reporting war, said vice president of programs at the International Center for Journalists Patrick Butler. Collaborative journalism helps minimize those risks, argued Sarajevo-based investigative journalist Miranda Patrucic. Many people working on the same story gives you a better security, she said. Meanwhile, Indonesia's Tempo magazine managing editor Wahyu Dhyatmika, the only Indonesian partner in the Panama Papers project, stated that collaborative journalism helps give more visibility. He mentioned that Tempo had done the same story as the Pulitzer-winning Associated Press on slavery in the fishing industry, but no one notices. He commented that investigative journalism in Indonesia still needs a lot of support and innovative ideas. Tempo is among the few news organizations committed to investigative journalism. Moreover, it has a special team for that. That kind of landscape is quite a challenge in seeing more investigative journalism in Indonesia, although we need more, said Wahyu. Furthermore, there are difficulties in getting these stories published due to conflicting commercial interests. We need non-profit organizations that can publish more investigative stories, said Wahyu. (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Djemi Amnifu (The Jakarta Post) Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Thu, September 22, 2016 A documentary on the legendary British naval officer William Bligh during an expedition on HMS Bounty to the South Pacific will include filming on Koepan Beach in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), where the ship was stranded back in 1789. Dubbed Mutiny, the film is produced by PT. Media Nusantara Films and Jungle Run Production in cooperation with UK-based Windfall Films. "Initially there were two options in terms of filming location: Kupang and Dili in Timor Leste. But Windfall Films finally chose Kupang as the more appropriate location for the documentary," said PT Media Nusantara Films & Jungle Run Productions assistant producer Desak Hartati told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. (Read also: Documentary provides different angle on the 1965 tragedy) The movie is expected to boost tourism in Kupang once it is screened on UK television and around the world. "We are very thankful for the great response and support from the Kupang mayor," said Desak, adding that the film crew would probably arrive in the city on Sept. 26, after sailing from Australia. The filming in Kupang will feature scenes of Bligh and his crew visiting the beach on a longboat to find supplies and then go back to their ship, following an encounter with the locals. At least five films inspired by William Blighs voyages have been made since 1916, including The Bounty (1984) starring Anthony Hopkins as Lieutenant William Bligh and Mel Gibson as Bligh's former close friend, Fletcher Christian. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 Just days after Anniesa Hasibuan debuted her Muslim fashion line at New York Fashion Week, another Indonesian fashion designer, Rinda Salmun, is gearing up for the upcoming LA Fashion week to showcase her work. Everything is possible. The channels to go global is open for people from anywhere in the world, Rinda told antaranews.com. Rinda will unveil her designs at Los Angeles Fashion Week 2017 along with other Indonesian designers, namely Ivan Gunawan, Oscar Lawalata, Nonita Respati and Aurelia Santoso. (Read also: Indonesian designer's hijab collection wows New York Fashion Week crowd) According to Rinda, the international market only sees the design quality and does not discriminate to where the designer comes from. Aside from ensuring consistency in quality, she said designers need stronger efforts in marketing to be able to go international. To reach international markets takes public relations and marketing efforts. So far, I have my marketing people to promote my work so potential buyers can see. LA Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 will be held at the end of September until October 2016. Rinda will showcase her work with beautiful woven materials from Garut, West Java. Rindas collection consists of 50 pieces which include tops, blazers, cut-out pieces and skirts. I aim to sell my work and also introduce Indonesian designers who use Indonesian materials, Rinda said. (asw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hello Sehat (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 Aspirin is one of the oldest drugs in the world. Its use was first recorded by the Sumerians and Egyptians, primarily to treat pain. In ancient times, Aspirin was made of willow extracts, including by Hippocrates. Later, researchers found other advantages of aspirin. The fact is, aspirin is a multipurpose drug that can subdue many health problems. Aside from its multiple benefits, however, the drug has side effects we should be aware of. What is in aspirin? Aspirin, or acetyl salicylic acid, is a processed form of salicin compounds found in many plants. This compound has many functions in its appropriate dose. Basically, aspirin hampers production of an enzyme that produces and manages prostaglandin, a compound produced in the body when inflammation occurs. Therefore, all things involving prostaglandin can be handled by aspirin. Some of the effects produced by aspirin are: antipyretic effect (it lowers the body temperature during a fever), anti-inflammatory effect (it relieves inflammation), analgesic effect (it relieves pain) and antiplatelet effects (it prevents blood cells or platelets from sticking to the walls of blood vessels, thereby reducing the risk of blood clotting. The appropriate dosage of aspirin There are differences between over-the-counter aspirin and the one prescribed by a doctor. OTC aspirin in pharmacies usually comes in the form of tablets, chewing tablet or powder, while the one prescribed by a doctor is usually in the form of a periodical slow-release tablet, therefore releasing the drug effect slowly. In a slow-release tablet, the drug level in the blood can be sustained, resulting in a long-term therapy effect. In their book on pharmacology, Katzhung et al, explained that achieving the anti-pain and anti-fever effect requires a dose of 300-900 mg of aspirin, taken every 4-6 hours. The maximum dose for these purposes is four grams a day. More than that, and aspirin will show its side effects. However, to get the anti-inflammatory effect, a daily dose of 4-6 grams is taken. To get the anti-platelet effect, meanwhile, requires a dose of just 60-80 mg per day. It is important to take the right dose to achieve the intended effect and avoid risks. For people suffering from heart and/or kidney disorders, the dose must be adjusted. The same applies to long-term use. If you routinely consume aspirin and are about to undergo surgery, either major or minor (such as a tooth extraction), the consumption of aspirin needs to stop to avoid hemorrhage during surgery. Although aspirin is generally safe, it still has its side effects and can even be dangerous for some people. Therefore, a doctors supervision is required. Aspirins health benefits Overcoming fever When you experience fever along with pain all over the body, a single dose of aspirin tablet can make you feel a lot better. The antipyretic compounds found in aspirin can send a signal to the brain to adjust body temperature, therefore overcoming the fever. Effective headache cure Prostaglandin is a compound that sends pain signal to the brain, while aspirin serves to block this compound, resulting as an effective headache treatment. Migraine also responds relatively quickly to aspirin. Good for your skin Aspirin can also be used as external medication, because of its anti-inflammatory effect. It can eliminate acne and bug bites on the skin. For this kind of use, aspirin is not to be taken orally, but transformed into a paste. Aspirin paste can be made from two pulverized tablets with the addition of a couple of drops of water. Simply apply on pimples or insect bites and let it dry. After that, rinse with water. Do be careful if you have sensitive skin, because aspirin paste can irritate your skin. (Read also: Aspirin reduces bowel cancer risk in obese patients: Study) Reduces deaths from cancer and fatty liver The liver can accumulate fat in people who consume a high amount of alcohol over a long period. Aspirin can inhibit the process of fatty liver, thereby decreasing the chance of further complication, such as liver cancer. Many studies have revealed other advantages of aspirin. Once from John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford shows that aspirin can decrease the number of deaths from many kinds of cancer. Deaths decreased by 34 percent from all types of cancer, and 54 percent for digestive cancer. Twenty years later, the death risk from cancer is 20 percent lower in a group of people who were given aspirin compared to the group who were not given aspirin. Nonetheless, research is still ongoing in the hope of perfecting the outcome. As a blood-thinner The anti-clotting effect of aspirin makes this drug effective to thin the blood. A couple of diseases that can be avoided are coronary heart disease and deep vein traveler (vein clogging caused by sitting too long). Although aspirin can help prevent heart attack, patients cannot take aspirin every day without doctors advice. Doctors will usually prescribe aspirin as blood thinners to patients who have had a heart attack or stroke before, patients who have a heart stent/ring or have had bypass surgery, and patients with diabetes and a risk of heart attack. Risks and side effects that may occur Hemorrhage of internal organs Due to its nature of thinning the blood, aspirin can cause hemorrhage in various areas of the body if consumed beyond the recommended dose. The most common area for hemorrhage to occur is the stomach. Symptoms of internal hemorrhage can be severe abdominal pain, blackened feces and reddish urine. Risks for children Aspirin can cause a serious disorder called Reye's syndrome. This syndrome causes the accumulation of fat in the brain, liver and other organs in a child's body, primarily if aspirin is given to a child with flu or chicken pox. Risks for pregnant women Aspirin is classified as class C for pregnant women, meaning it is dangerous for the fetus, because it can cause certain congenital disorders in the fetus, such as congenital heart disease or low birth weight. This is because aspirin can penetrate the placenta and have an impact on the fetuss growth. Now, although aspirin has abundant benefits that may sound like it is some magic cure from heaven, you still have to exercise caution when using it. Do consult with your doctor before taking this medication. (kes) Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) Los Angeles, United States Thu, September 22, 2016 Marion Cotillard is announcing her pregnancy and shooting down rumors of any romantic involvement with Brad Pitt. The Oscar-winning actress says in a statement posted Wednesday on Instagram that she is "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." Cotillard affirmed her relationship with actor Guillaume Canet. The couple is parents to a 5-year-old son. She says they are expecting another child. (Read also: Pitt-Jolie divorce puts new spotlight on upcoming films) Cotillard stars with Pitt in the upcoming World War II romantic thriller "Allied." Several reports suggested a relationship between the "La Vie en Rose" star and Pitt was the reason Angelina Jolie filed for divorce. Cotillard says she hopes the pair "will find peace in this very tumultuous moment." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Joe McDonald (Associated Press) Beijing Thu, September 22, 2016 Liu Jingtang was a Samsung loyalist. The Shanghai technology consultant traded up steadily through its smartphones to the new Note 7. But Liu's devotion was shaken by the Korean tech giant's confusing response to its latest product safety scare. Liu, 32, said Samsung Electronics quickly confirmed his Note 7 wasn't covered by a recall announced last week. But he said after reports China might have suffered its first explosion of the problem-plagued phone, Samsung's announcement that it saw no problem with the battery with no other explanation left him baffled. "My loyalty to Samsung is bound to decline by a lot," said Liu. "Samsung was my priority, but not anymore." China should be a bright spot for Samsung as it wrestles with a global recall of 2.5 million of its new flagship smartphones. The company has not confirmed any in China suffer the same problems that led to fires in the United States. But its brand has been battered by complaints it is doing too little to reassure Chinese owners their handsets are safe. The potential damage to its image threatens to disrupt Samsung's efforts to use the Note 7 to propel faster growth in a crowded Chinese market where it has slipped to sixth place after being the No. 1 brand as recently as mid-2014. Chinese consumers are unusually alert to safety issues following an avalanche of scandals over shoddy or fake food, medicines and other goods. They also are sensitive about being treated as well as Western consumers. "I think consumers are pretty unhappy with Samsung," said Ben Cavender of China Market Research Group. "Consumers start to feel like they are being taken advantage of, that they are not being accorded the same respect here as they are abroad." Asked what it was doing to reassure Chinese consumers, Samsung said in a statement it is confident about the safety of Note 7s sold by authorized outlets. IKEA suffered a similar backlash in June after the Swedish furniture recalled dressers in the United States and Canada due to concerns they could tip over and harm children. When the company didn't immediately do the same in China, people posted angry comments online asking whether it valued Chinese lives less. IKEA announced a recall in China in July. Samsung has blamed the fires on a manufacturing flaw in batteries and said Note 7 units sold in China would not be affected because theirs came from a different supplier. (Read also: Samsung says it has found no battery problem in China) On Monday, Samsung said its investigation into the first report of a Galaxy Note 7 fire in China found unspecified "external factors" might be to blame. It said it was unable to investigate a second fire report because the consumer refused to hand over the charred phone. Liu, the technology consultant, said the statement made him question why Note 7 phones sold in China would be different from those sold abroad. "They hastily put out this statement. Was that really good? I think it was unsatisfactory," said Liu. As for external factors, he said, "does that mean the customer deliberately heated it over a fire? That doesn't make much sense." Samsung surprised customers by saying no phones in China were covered by its global recall and then recalling 1,858 phones. It said those were distributed for testing before sales to the public began. "For Samsung to recall only 1,858 units in China while it recalls 1 million in the United States seems insincere," said a comment left on a website of the Communist Party newspaper People's Daily. "Whether those phones that are not recalled will wind up being a problem or not will be a bomb planted in the hearts of customers," it said. Samsung is the world's biggest smartphone brand by number of units sold but in China it trails market leader Huawei Technology Ltd. and three other local brands Vivo, Xiaomi and Oppo. Apple Inc.'s iPhone was in fifth place in the first half of this year. The Note 7 "was a good opportunity (to expand sales), but they blew it," said Liu. Working in Samsung's favor is the fact that phones are sold through retailers in China instead of carriers. That allows users to switch brands quickly and new competitors to enter the market. "In any given month, a brand is going to leapfrog another brand and come up with a brighter screen or bigger battery of faster charging," said Cavender. On Tuesday, the Note 7 was on sale at electronics retailers and shops run by state-owned phone carrier China Mobile Ltd., though employees said customers were asking about the reports of explosions. "Sales for Note 7 were slightly affected by the incident but we are still selling them," said a saleswoman who was reached by phone at an outlet of Suning, the country's biggest electronics retailer, in the Wangjing neighborhood on Bejiing's northeast side. "We are making explanations to customers every day, it is up to the customer to believe it or not." The Note 7 was sold out in black and only available in gold at a China Mobile store in the capital's eastern business district, said a salesman who would give only his surname, Li. He said a customer bought one Tuesday and no one asked about the report of an explosion. "There are some customers who only favor Samsung and they don't bother asking questions," said Li. Longer term, the Note 7 in China is likely to "take a major sales hit," said Cavender. "People who want to buy a phone are going to switch to Apple or to a local brand like Huawei," said Cavender. "Or if they want a Samsung, they probably are going to wait for the next generation, because they don't want to take the risk that they will get a faulty product." ___ AP researchers Fu Ting in Shanghai and Yu Bing in Beijing and AP Business Writer Youkyung Lee in Seoul contributed. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Julia Suryakusuma (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, September 21 2016 What should a woman do when a man calls her a whore? Well, it really depends on the context. If its between friends and said in a bantering way, you brush it aside or simply ignore it. That is what some female writer and activist friends of mine do when Saut Situmorang, poet, essayist, writer and enfant terrible of the Indonesian literary world hurls this epithet at them. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura, Papua Thu, September 22, 2016 Recruited as the members of the Bela Negara (State Defense) program, 124 school aged youths from areas across Papua attended a three-day-training, where they learned the fundamentals of state defense and nationalism. The state defense program is aimed at implanting love to our motherland for the sake of national unity under the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia [NKRI], said Yonif 122/TS Task Force commander Lt. Col. Kohir on Thursday. We hope that by participating in the state defense program, all youths, who previously tended to only prioritize their personal and group interests, can change their behavior, becoming a person who always puts the country and nations best interests over anything, he went on. The 124 state defense recruits also learned about social ethics and the dangers of drugs and narcotics during the training, which was held at the Skouw-Wutung border area in Jayapura, Papua, from Sept.18 to 20. The camp provided outbound activities to improve their leadership and communication skills as well. As reported earlier, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu inaugurated 124 state defense members in Skouw-Wutung, the border area of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG), on Tuesday. Thirty out of the 124 recruits are street children currently handled by the Jayapura Social Affairs Agency. State defense awareness is very important because it becomes the power of this nation for the sake of the NKRI and can guarantee the safety of this nation from all kinds of threats coming from inside or outside the country, he said. In the event, Ryamizard was declared a Skouw Mabo native son. We hope he can help protect people on this Indonesia-PNG border, Skouw Mabo village leader Yans S. Mallo said. (ebf) A native son -- ,Skouw Mabo village leader Yans S. Mallo declares Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu a native son by placing a traditional Papuan hat on his head in a ceremony in Skouw-Wutung, Jayapura, Papua, on Tuesday. (JP/Nethy Dharma Somba) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 Activists have planned to bring up the settlement of the 1965 mass killings case to a UN special rapporteur, amid uncertainties on whether the government would push for concrete solutions to resolve the country's dark past. Harry Wibowo of the International People's Tribunal on the 1965 Crimes against Humanity (IPT 1965) said they would report all judicial and non-judicial measures that they had taken through the years in efforts to push the country to settle the past abuse. If the government does not show further will to follow-up the result of all investigations conducted by numerous Indonesian rights groups, including the findings of mass graves of the 1965 communist purge located in at least 122 spots across the country, the 1965 victims and investigators have any rights to push it to UN special rapporteurs who have the authority to probe, Harry said. "Today we consider that all judicial and non-judicial processes that we have pushed to settle the 1965 tragedy are already exhausted and therefore we can report this to the UN rights mechanism," Harry said on Wednesday. In accordance with the mechanisms, a UN special rapporteur would follow-up the report by studying the findings as well as meeting the related parties to verify the reports, including the investigators, victims and survivors, as well as the government, Harry said. However, since the UN rights experts' visit to the country is an official one, the settlement process would also depend on the government's willingness to allow the special rapporteur entry to the country. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agus Maryono (The Jakarta Post) Banyumas Thu, September 22 2016 The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) in Central Java raided a factory in Kebasen, Banyumas, on Tuesday that was allegedly producing jamu (herbal medicines) containing chemical components. The agency confiscated over 10,000 capsules and tablets, as well as jamu ingredients and machinery, from the scene. The thousands of capsules and tablets that were confiscated were ready for distribution. We will gather data on the types of jamu and drugs in detail, one by one, Central Java BPOM head Endang Pujiwati told the media on Tuesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 Experts doubt an alcohol ban would result in the desired effect intended by the liquor prohibition bill and therefore they are urging lawmakers to consider alternative solutions that are in favor of consumers and producers. Laws and regulations should keep in mind consumer rights, Indonesian Consumer Foundation member Sudaryatmo said, adding that: If the banning of alcohol is intended for public good, lawmakers should act in perspective and emphasize the right to safety for consumers. Meanwhile, Indonesian retailers association deputy chair Tutum Rahanta noted the complicated content of the bill, such as dividing regions into those that completely banned alcohol and those where its circulation would be regulated. He was skeptical about the effectiveness of its implementation. Lets see [the government] try to simulate it first, I want to see the logic in this, beginning from the production and distribution, he said. Tutum gave an example, saying that regulations banning the sale of alcohol in mini-markets were already in place, yet smaller and unofficial markets still sold alcohol. A ministerial decree in 2015 allowed only supermarkets and hypermarkets to sell alcohol. Sudaryatmo suggested instead a regulation should be enforced requiring companies to list the ingredients. It should be more informative for consumers, so they can make their own decisions about whether or not to buy something, this would also make consumers more mature, Sudaryatmo said in a discussion in Jakarta on the alcohol prohibition bill currently being deliberated. It was not necessary to ban alcohol, he added. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 Renowned Muslim scholar Anies Baswedan, once an ally of President Joko Jokowi Widodo before his ouster from the Cabinet in July, has emerged as a possible rival to Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama in the 2017 gubernatorial election. Hours after the Ahok-Djarot Saiful Hidayat pair registered at the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD Jakarta), leaders of political parties that do not want to see Ahok extend his term in the capital scrambled to find a candidate with a reasonable chance of defeating the incumbent. The parties, known as the Kinship Coalition, have agreed that given Ahoks popularity and the substantial support he has now received from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the citys largest party, fielding more than one pair of candidates is not an option. The coalition divided once the PDI-P signaled its decision to back Ahok. One faction within the alliance, comprising the Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), wanted the coalition to support businessman Sandiaga Uno. The other faction, comprising the United Development Party (PPP), National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Democratic Party (PD), had been seeking another alternative and has come up with two names: Anies Baswedan and Yusril Ihza Mahendra. Gerindra and the PKS have now said they are open to the possibility of dropping Sandiagas nomination and endorsing anyone supported by the other members of the Kinship Coalition. We agree [to unite]. So, the parties can consolidate to find a candidate to challenge Ahok. Its better to have a head-to-head competition, Gerindra deputy chairman Desmond J. Mahesa said. On Wednesday night, the leaders of the PPP, PAN, PKB and PD gathered at the residence of PD chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java. At the time of going to press, the parties had yet to decide whether they would endorse Anies or Yusril. Anies, a former culture and education minister in Jokowis administration, has been touted as the strongest candidate to beat Ahok. The former rector of Paramadina University is widely respected as an academic who has often spoken in international forums about the role of Islam in Indonesian democracy. Anies, who has never been a member of any political party, became very close to politicians at the PD, including Yudhoyono, after he received an invitation from the party to take part in candidate selection for the 2014 presidential election. Anies was replaced by Muhadjir Effendy in Jokowis Cabinet reshuffle in July. Yusril, meanwhile, is the chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), a minor political party claiming to being the heir of Masyumi, the nations largest Islamic party during the Sukarno era. PKB secretary-general Daniel Johan agreed that Anies would be a strong alternative to beat Ahok, but added that the final decision would likely be made on Thursday. Sandiaga and Anies are among two hopefuls we will discuss tonight. The point is, we want a strong alternative figure, Daniel said. Earlier on Wednesday, Ahok and Djarot went to the KPUD office with officials from the political parties that have endorsed them. Wearing a checkered shirt with sleeves rolled up, Ahok appeared to want to remind PDI-P supporters that he was continuing the legacy of Jokowi, whose running mate he was during the 2012 election. We want to continue the development programs I and Jokowi have set forward since 2012. We hope we can continue them, Ahok said. Ahok is not simply trying to create a political drama in order to attract Jokowi supporters by manipulating their perception into thinking that he is the same as Jokowi, said Pelita Harapan University political communication expert Emrus Sihombing. I think that is clear, and he actually said this, that he wanted to continue what Jokowi has done in Jakarta so far, Emrus told The Jakarta Post. And we can see Ahoks programs have been [very much the same as] Jokowis. Like Jokowi-Ahok in the past, Ahok-Djarot have also been nominated by a coalition led by the PDI-P. Other members in Ahok-Djarots coalition include the Golkar Party, the Hanura Party and the NasDem Party. ____________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ian Phillips and Zeina Karam (Associated Press) Damascus, Syria Thu, September 22, 2016 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. 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. 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." 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. 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." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 The Bank of China (BOC) has said it is ready to broaden the usage of renminbi (RMB) in its trade and investment activities in Indonesia in line with Beijings efforts to internationalize the Chinese currency. BOC Jakarta branch manager Zhang Min said the bank could offer the full range of cross-border RMB products and services in Indonesia, such as cross-border RMB trade settlement, RMB deposits and loan facilities, RMB remittances, RMB cash exchange, global market RMB products and RMB banknotes. "For example, BOC Jakarta has brought RMB banknotes amounting to RMB2.7 billion to the Indonesian market. In the first half of this year, our branch's cross-border RMB clearing amounted to 129.77 billion, up 387 percent from the same period in 2015," he said in Jakarta on Wednesday. The broad usage of RMB between the two countries, he added, would reduce losses caused by US dollar exchange rate fluctuations and would help develop healthy bilateral trade and investment relations. Sahala Lumban Gaol, a special staff member at the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Ministry, said import of capital goods and investment from China had increased despite decreasing trade between the two countries, as many big Chinese companies were participating in important projects in Indonesia. He expressed his optimism that the usage of RMB would have a huge impact on Indonesian-Chinese trade. "It will reduce the cost of trade, and our dependence on the US dollar will decline in the long run," Sahala said. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22 2016 Whenever 23-year-old Farid Mardhi feels especially ill, he always goes to the doctor near his house in Bintaro, South Tangerang. And after every single visit to the doctor, Farid always comes home with a prescription for antibiotics in his hand. Every time I catch fever, flu or gastritis, I am always prescribed antibiotics, he told The Jakarta Post. Poor monitoring and a lack of training for doctors have led to the unrestrained use of antibiotics and the consequent rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, triggering a call for a massive overhaul of how drugs are sold and how doctors are trained in the country. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 Bank Indonesia (BI) has cut its BI seven-day repo rate by 25 basis points (bps), from 5.25 percent to 5 percent to support the monetary easing policy. Rates on both deposits and loans were also cut by 25 bps to 4.25 and 5.75 percent, respectively. The central bank has acknowledged that credit growth has remained sluggish, with 7.7 percent year on year (y-o-y) growth in July. "Credit growth is affected by the global economy, which has not recovered yet. It drives down the growth of foreign exchange loans to negative territory, while the growth of rupiah-denominated loans is still high," BI Governor Agus Martowardojo said in press conference at the BI office in Jakarta on Thursday. The central bank hopes the new reference rate cut will prompt commercial lenders to cut their rates further to help boost the economy. When banks cut deposit rates by 100 bps on a year to date basis, lending rates were cut only by 52 bps. "We are aware of economic conditions. If economic indicators remain stable until the end of the year, we will have enough room for more monetary easing," Agus said. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang, Central Java Thu, September 22, 2016 In their effort to prevent losses during unforeseen disasters, 88,492 paddy farmers in Central Javas northern coastal areas have participated in an agriculture insurance program. With the insurance, paddy farmers who mostly have only less than 0.5 hectares of farming land can request for payments to cover financial losses suffered from harvest failures caused by natural disasters, plant pests and diseases. They can later use the payment to start working on their paddy fields again. Sumadi, the marketing manager of state-owned insurance firm PT Jasa Asuransi Indonesia (Jasindo) at the Semarang office, said the farmers had paddy fields amounting to 22,123.59 hectares of land. One hectare of paddy field can be worked on by three or four farmers, he said on Wednesday. Sumadi further explained that with a crop insurance program, farmers could be protected from losses during times of natural calamities. The government introduced the paddy farming insurance program in 2015, based on Law No.19/2013 on farmer protection and empowerment, Agriculture Minister Decree (Kepmen) No.40/2015 on paddy farming insurance premium guidelines and Kepmen No.2/2016 on paddy farming program management and implementation methods. Launched during a rainy season in October 2015, the program aims to cover one million hectares of paddy fields in 16 targeted provinces. The government has appointed Jasindo, which has five branches in Central Java, as the implementing entity of the program. Those offices are in Purwokerto, Semarang, Surakarta, Tegal and Yogyakarta. For Central Java, Sumadi said, Jasindo was targeting to cover 150,000 ha of fields. For northern coastal areas, which comprise five regencies, namely Kendal, Magelang, Semarang, Temanggung and Wonosobo, Jasindo targeted 24,000 ha, but only 13,356.64 ha had been realized. Jasindo also aimed to cover 38,500 ha of fields in seven other northern coastal areas, namely Blora, Demak, Grobogan, Jepara, Kudus, Pati and Rembang. Only 8,766.95 ha had been realized, however, said Sumadi. Under threat Dozens of estrildid finch eat paddy grains in a field belonging to a farmer in Central Java. Farmers in several areas across the province have participated in crop insurance programs to prevent losses during natural calamities. (JP/Suherdjoko) Based on existing regulations, each farmer would pay an insurance premium of Rp 180,000 per ha of area. As the government subsidies 80 percent of the premium, farmers would pay only Rp 36,000 per ha per planting season. With the program, if 75 percent of their crops are damaged due to flooding, the dry season, pests or disease attacks, farmers can request Rp 6 million to cover losses in every hectare of their fields. Farming group leaders play key roles to encourage their members to participate in the insurance program. Each member will have to a pay an insurance premium of around only Rp 9,000-Rp 12,000 because his or her land is less than 0.5 ha, said Sumadi. He further said Jasindo had paid Rp 133 million to cover losses for Demak, Grobogan and Pati farmers, who suffered harvest failures caused by flooding at the beginning of 2016. To support the program, the Dutch government has provided software that can process satellite imagery that helps track the extent of damaged paddy fields through its Geodata for Upgrading Small Holders Farming System in Indonesia (G4INDO) project. Our targeted group comprises 200,000 small farmers, said G4INDO project head Aart Schrevel. The project has been piloted in three East Java regencies, namely Jombang, Kediri and Nganjuk, which is known as the national rice producer. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alia Swastika (The Jakarta Post) London Thu, September 22 2016 Christine Ay Tjoe (Courtesy of Christine Ay Tjoe) As one of Indonesias most well-known artists of the last two decades, Christine Ay Tjoe has become the first Southeast Asian artist to make a debut at the White Cube Gallery in Bermondsey, one of the biggest commercial art spaces in London. One of the most important galleries in the world, White Cube Gallery in Bermondsey, London, recently hosted a solo show by Indonesian artist Christine Ay Tjoe. The Bandung-based artist has been prominent in Indonesias contemporary art scene for around a decade. Titled Inside the White Cube, the exhibition, which ran from late July until mid-September, was held alongside another solo show by famous Indian artist Raqib Shaw. The exhibition attracted quite a large audience, who were not only amazed by the displayed paintings but also curious about the absence of books or catalogues to help them understand the artists practice. While Ay Tjoes paintings have been shown widely in Asia and are familiar to Asian audiences, in the West, and particularly in the United Kingdom, they are something quite new. With the limited exposure of Indonesian artists there, Ay Tjoes exhibition could be an eye-opening moment for European art institutions to see more talent from outside Europe, particularly from Southeast Asia. Ay Tjoe did not only present contemporary abstract paintings from Asia, but also a spirit and narrative that are unfamiliar in a European context. For quite some time, the 43-year-old artist has been exploring spirituality in her works. In 2010, she had an exhibition at the Lawangwangi Art Space in Bandung. In that show, titled Lama Sabakhtani, she explored the stories and mythology of Christianity, particularly those related to the idea of violence and sacrifice. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Markus Makur (The Jakarta Post) East Manggarai, Flores Thu, September 22, 2016 East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province, which has been highly dependent on imported rice from other provinces, now produces their own rice called Flobamora. Flobamora is NTTs nickname and acronym for five of 21 regencies in the province: Flores, Lembata, Sumba, Timor, and Alor. NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya launched the Flobamora rice on Wednesday in East Manggarai regency on Flores Island. The provinces Agriculture, Plantation and Husbandry Agency has named the rice Flobamora to reflect unity of all farmers in the province. We have been buying rice from outside the province. Rice from outside the province is easily found in local markets or supermarkets here. So with the name Flobamora we can have our own rice and even sell the brand outside NTT, he said. Flobamora rice, he said, was a premium rice because it could be cooked without washing. The rice have been milled twice using rice mills given by the administration. Manggarai Timur Regent Yoseph Tote said his regency was among the rice producing regencies besides Manggarai and West Manggarai. This will encourage NTT farmers to maintain their fields because farmers are aging. This should encourage the younger generation to become farmers, Tote said. NTT is known as an arid province and rice had not been the peoples original staple food, which was corn. But farmers in the province are less and less growing corn. Some residents have tried to cultivate sorghum because they argued sorghum grows better than rice on some fields in the province. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rocky Intan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22 2016 ASEAN has not received high marks for unity, to say the least. This disunity was blatantly on display during the 2012 ASEAN Summit in Cambodia when the group failed to produce a joint communique and this year in Vientiane when the group nearly failed to do so. The issues at hand were engagement with China and the dispute in the South China Sea, not unrelated. One cause of such disunity is the deep strategic and development relations between lesser developing ASEAN members and their regional partners. This allows for external meddling and deliberate wedge-driving from these partners in ASEAN, eroding the groups autonomy. Deep relations with regional partners and autonomy are not mutually exclusive. Yet, without deep relations among ASEAN members themselves, the latter can result in dependence, hence the erosion of strategic autonomy. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22 2016 JAKARTA/LONDON/HONG KONG: Qatars Ooredoo QSC denies media speculation that it is mulling over a sale of its stakes in an Indonesian business, Indosat Ooredoo. On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported Ooredo was exploring options, including a sale of its controlling stake in Indosat as the Qatari phone company seeks to raise cash and focus on its more profitable Middle Eastern markets, according to people familiar with the matter. Ooredoo could sell its 65 percent stake in Indosat to another phone company willing to expand in the region, the people said, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations were private. The holding has a market value of about US$1.4 billion. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login MUNICH, Germany, Sept. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADVA Optical Networking announced today that it is playing a key role in the Convergence of Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access/Aggregation Networks (COMBO) project. The initiative, funded by the European Commission, is developing pioneering technology vital to the success of 5G. 16 partner organizations, including operators, equipment suppliers and research centers, are collaborating on COMBO to create new approaches that will enable full architectural convergence of fixed and mobile networks. The project also focuses on integrating network functionality to enhance security, simplicity and user experience. The COMBO consortium's main outcomes and proofs of concept were successfully demonstrated at a recent showcase in Lannion, France. "The COMBO project represents a significant achievement for Europe and for the telecommunications industry. By working closely with the partner organizations, we have been able to take a concrete step towards solving some key challenges of 5G and shaping the infrastructure of tomorrow," said Christian Gacon, VP, wireline and transport convergent networks, Orange. "The outcomes of the COMBO project will redesign fixed and mobile networks towards more integration like shared transport infrastructures. This will allow improvements to performance and energy efficiency that we are targeting for 5G and the internet of things." The new network architecture designed by the COMBO project is based on the concept of next-generation point-of-presence (NG-PoP), which enables network components to be hosted centrally or at the edge for optimum efficiency. In this open and intelligent environment, fixed and mobile infrastructures are physically integrated in converged broadband access/aggregation networks. The technology was presented in a public showcase that followed two and a half years of close collaboration and seven weeks of experiments at the Pole Images & Reseaux in Lannion, France. Key transport and functional enablers of 5G networking were successfully demonstrated as well as distributed and centralized NG-POP scenarios. Video footage of the showcase is now available so that the wider industry can benefit from the COMBO project's vision for integrated fixed-mobile networks. "Fixed-mobile convergence is essential to 5G and therefore underpins the growth of the European digital economy. That's why so many major vendors, operators and research institutes from seven European countries have joined forces to create and evaluate the technology," commented Achim Autenrieth, director, advanced technology, ADVA Optical Networking. "The 5G network will have to cope with a vast increase in traffic to accommodate users as well as an enormous range of connected objects. It will also have to be agile to handle an increasingly diverse range of services. That's why it's essential not only to integrate Wi-Fi, wireless and fiber access infrastructure, but also to create functional convergence. The new automated system of universal user authentication that ADVA Optical Networking has been working to integrate will bring simplicity, enhanced security and a massive increase in coverage." About ADVA Optical Networking At ADVA Optical Networking we're creating new opportunities for tomorrow's networks, a new vision for a connected world. Our intelligent telecommunications hardware, software and services have been deployed by several hundred service providers and thousands of enterprises. Over the past twenty years, our innovative connectivity solutions have helped to drive our customers' networks forward, helped to drive their businesses to new levels of success. We forge close working relationships with all our customers. As your trusted partner we ensure that we're always ready to exceed your networking expectations. For more information on our products and our team, please visit us at: www.advaoptical.com. Published By: ADVA Optical Networking SE, Munich, Germany www.advaoptical.com For Press: Gareth Spence t +44 1904 699 358 public-relations(at)advaoptical.com For Investors: Stephan Rettenberger t +49 89 890 665 854 investor-relations(at)advaoptical.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 No final decision has been made by the Gerindra Party on who will be the running mate for its candidate Sandiaga Uno in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, the party's chief patron Prabowo Subianto said on Thursday. "We are still in discussion to find the best possibilities. We want a successful democracy and a good life for the residents," he said at his house in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, where he held a meeting with his party members along with top officials from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). Friday is the last day for candidates to register at the General Election Commission for the 2017 regional elections. Despite a previous announcement that Sandiaga would run with PKS politician Mardani, earlier on Thursday Sandiaga claimed that former education and cultural minister Anies Baswedan had agreed to team up with him in the election. When asked for confirmation about Sandiaga's pairing, Prabowo refused to give details. Separately, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also lead a meeting in his house in Cikeas, West Java, where he invited officials from his own Democratic Party and other members of the Kinship Coalition, namely the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN). The meeting was held to discuss possible challengers for the incumbents, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat. Democratic Party secretary-general Hinca Pandjaitan said the four parties would make a decision about whether to nominate their own candidates or stick with Gerindra and PKS. Gerindra politician Muhammad Taufik, however, denied the separate meetings meant there was a split in the coalition. He said the coalition would not make a declaration but would register at the Jakarta office of the General Election Commission on Friday. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura Thu, September 22, 2016 Something seemed amiss on Wednesday, the first day of candidate registration for the election in Jayapura, Papua. Two pairs of candidates claimed to be endorsed by the Golkar party, which would violate the rule that one party can only endorse one pair. One pair, Abisai Rollo and Dipo Wibowo, calling themselves ABDI, said they were endorsed by Golkar, which has seven seats at the Jayapura Council, and the Star Crescent Party (PBB), which has one. Meanwhile, incumbent Benhur Tommy Mano and Haji Rustan Saru, calling themselves BTM-HARUS, claim to be backed by Golkar and seven other parties with a total of 33 seats. Besides Golkar, the BTM-HARUS ticket is supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) with four seats, the Nasdem party with three, the National Awakening Party (PKB) with three, the Hanura party with four seats, the National Mandate Party (PAN) with four, and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) with four seats. There are a total of 40 seats in the Jayapura Council, and a candidate pair needs backing from at least eight. Malvin Tjoe, the acting head of Golkar in Jayapura, said Wednesday the partys endorsement for BTM-HARUS was signed by party chairman Setya Novanto on Sept. 8. We decided on BTM-HARUS after our survey showed BTM was favored by 56 percent of party members, compared to just 6 percent for Abisai-Rollo. We obviously endorsed the winning pair, he said. He admitted that the party had signed a document to endorse Abisai-Rollo on June 2, but said the provincial branch of Golkar had changed its mind at a plenary session on Aug. 28 and decided to withdraw its endorsement for Abisai-Rollo on Sept. 5. We have withdrawn our support for Abisai-Rollo and given it to Benhur Tommy Mano, Malvin said. Abisai said he had not been informed about the partys change of mind and therefore went ahead with the registration at the Jayapura KPU. I have never received any letter from Golkar to say they canceled their support, he said. Jayapura KPUD head Jeremias Numberi said he would study the validity of Golkars support for both candidate pairs. After the investigation, we will decide who is Golkars rightful candidate, he said. The registration period ends on Friday. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 The government will push tech giant Google to comply with taxation regulations in the country in a bid to create a level playing field, where everyone has a fair and equal chance, a minister has asserted. Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara explained that, as a global company operating in Indonesia, Singapore-based Google Asia Pacific, which is alleged to have withheld due taxes on substantial revenue earned through its advertising services in Indonesia, had to comply with the Indonesian taxation system. "I am pushing for this because we have to apply a level playing field between international and national over-the-top (OTT) services. The national OTTs pay taxes, so why do foreign OTTs not pay taxes?" Rudiantara said at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday. The ministry issued a circular earlier this year permitting foreign individuals or legal entities to provide OTT services in Indonesia, with the obligation to set up a permanent establishment (BUT). Earlier, tax investigators visited Google's office in Jakarta as part of an investigation into the company's alleged refusal to undergo a state audit of its tax obligations. The investigators were also seeking information about whether Google had a BUT in Indonesia, as the tax office plans to collect back income and value-added taxes on revenue Google generated in Indonesia over the last five years. The taxation directorate general has estimated that Google could be subject to fines of up to Rp 5.5 trillion (US$418 million) for 2015 alone. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 Financial authorities are consolidating their resources to tackle external challenges that could hamper the implementation of the governments flagship tax amnesty program. Southeast Asias largest economy has been struggling to find alternative sources of state revenue as it feels the pinch of the global economic slowdown and plunging energy prices. To help plug the widening state budget deficit, the government is expecting to collect over Rp 165 trillion (US$12.5 billion) in penalty payments from its nine-month tax amnesty program, which kicked off in July. The program, however, faced a major challenge last week following media reports that Singaporean banks had informed local police about the identity of Indonesian clients who had repatriated funds to participate in the amnesty program. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati quickly responded to the news, saying she had spoken with the Singaporean authorities, including Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, seeking an official explanation. She said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) had insisted that Indonesians participation in the tax amnesty could not be considered an action that would trigger criminal investigations. The governments efforts to clear the way for its tax amnesty program, however, did not stop there. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that it had invited representatives of the local arms of three Singaporean banks, namely Bank OCBC NISP, UOB Indonesia and DBS Indonesia, to a meeting on the previous day. The meeting, led by OJK deputy commissioner for banking supervision Irwan Lubis, aimed to seek clarification on whether Singaporean banks had reported to the local police about Indonesians repatriating their funds from the city-state. I assert that the OJK pay attention to the success of the tax amnesty program and ask the banks to fully support and communicate [the program] to their parent companies in Singapore, Irwan said, as quoted in the statement. Singapore, where Indonesians hold an estimated $200 billion in private banking assets 40 percent of the islands total private banking assets made tax evasion a money-laundering offense in 2013. It is strengthening the implementation of the law after an investigation into state-backed fund 1MDB in neighboring Malaysia exposed how some of its banks had failed to impose robust controls on suspicious money flows. OCBC NISP president director Parwati Surjaudaja confirmed the Tuesday meeting with OJK officials. We have explained [to the OJK] that we support [the program]. Bank OCBC NISP and OCBC Group have a clear commitment to support this good program, she told The Jakarta Post. The support, she added, was expressed in its proposal to the Finance Ministry to become a gateway bank, which was approved last week, as well as intensive dissemination efforts in Indonesia and Singapore and special training for staff, among other things. Despite starting with a bang, the amnesty program implementation has shown sluggish progress. The amount of redemption payments rose significantly after the Taxation Directorate General changed its dashboard format. The figure had reached Rp 32.9 trillion as of Wednesday evening, almost 20 percent of the governments target of Rp 165 trillion. Declared assets reached Rp 1.3 quadrillion, of which Rp 71.2 trillion was repatriated assets. In an effort to encourage more taxpayers to participate in the program, the Finance Ministry is preparing at least three more finance minister regulations (PMK) that will relax several requirements and clarify doubts and provisions stipulated in existing PMK. The spirit of the measure is not to change the existing regulations but to complement [the regulations] and to diminish [taxpayers] doubts, the Finance Ministrys financing and risk management director general Robert Pakpahan told a press briefing on Wednesday. The proposed PMK will regulate a nominee system, an allowance for owners of inactive special purpose vehicles (SPV) to not dissolve their firms and a more relaxed schedule for investment development reports and investment profit withdrawals, which have stirred public concerns. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 The government has promised financial support of Rp 15 million (US$1,142) for each family of the 23 victims of a recent flash flood and landslide in the West Java regencies of Garut and Sumedang. Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa visited the two regencies on Thursday, after dispatching a team of psychologists to counsel traumatized victims following the natural disaster. "As part of our condolences, we will distribute social aid to families of the deceased, both in Garut and Sumedang, amounting to Rp 15 million each," Khofifah said at the State Palace in Jakarta. At least 23 people have been killed in the disaster, while 18 are missing. More than 1,000 people in emergency shelters are in need of clean water and food, according to a kompas.com report. The flood was caused by overflowing of Cimanuk River after heavy rain on Tuesday, which also caused the landslides. The affected areas in Garut regency are Bayongbong, Garut town, Banyuresmi, Tarogong Kaler, Tarogong Kidul, Karang Pawitan and Samarang. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has sent Rp 2 billion worth of logistics and aid to the area. Meanwhile another Rp 14 billion has been prepared for the emergency response operation. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 Lawmakers approved on Wednesday the economic growth target for 2017 with little objection, a signal that lawmakers now see eye-to-eye with the government on next years challenging economic situation. The decision was made at the House of Representatives Budget Committee (Banggar) after deliberations on the issue were postponed for a week. It only took Banggar members five minutes to approve the 5.1 percent growth projection, which is lower than the 5.3 percent originally presented by President Joko Jokowi Widodo in his speech in August. This means we accept the decision of Commission XI [overseeing finance] and Commission VII [overseeing energy], with a note that state revenue must not decrease, said Banggar chairman Said Abdullah. The swift decision apparently took Suahasil Nazara, the Finance Ministrys Fiscal Policy Agency head who represented the government, by surprise as he later admitted that the government had invited a Central Statistics Agency (BPS) official to the meeting to provide a further explanation on next years economic outlook and challenges. As reported before, the government appears to have come to terms with the lingering global economic conditions and their ensuing domestic impact as it has gradually changed its stance and lowered its projections during previous meetings at the House. The lower growth assumption will affect state revenues, but our colleagues at the Taxation Directorate General and Customs andExcise Directorate General are committed to doing their best to achieve the [revenue] target, Suahasil told reporters after the meeting at Banggar. The overall state revenue target remains largely unchanged as already proposed in the draft budget. Revenue contribution from non-oil and gas taxes is set at Rp 1.27 quadrillion (US$96.72 billion), while the contribution from customs and excise stands at Rp 191.2 trillion. Both estimates are only 15 percent and 4 percent higher compared to this years prognosis. Suahasil remains upbeat about the target, saying that it is still within reach as the government prepares several extra efforts. (-/-) Customs and Excise director general Heru Pambudi told the lawmakers that his office would shift its way of working to also support industry and smooth the streamlining of goods in the course of its usual duty of collecting revenue. Separately, Samuel Assets Management economist Lana Soelistianingsih lauded the government and lawmakers for starting to see things more realistically, even conservatively. At least the target will not trigger over-expectation [in the market], she said by phone. She added that the government needed to maintain momentum for consumer spending to achieve the economic growth target. The government expects that consumer spending will expand by 5 percent annually in 2017, while investment will rise by 6 percent and its own spending will increase by 4.8 percent. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 The deliberation of the alcohol prohibition bill has continued to ignite heated debate among lawmakers and industry players. "In principle, the ongoing dynamics have been divided into two main concerns, in which the first, and most intense, is on the title of the bill. The second one is how we can adopt all inputs pushed by the government," Achmad Mustaqim, the House of Representatives alcohol prohibition bill working committee (Panja) member from the United Development Party (PPP) faction, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. The lawmaker said the bills title had become the main debating point among three groups. The first group, he said, defended the use of the word "prohibition" while the other group rejected the use of the word and instead pushed for the use of the phrase "control and regulation" in the title. Meanwhile, the third group agreed with the use of "prohibition" as long as a specific explanation on the total alcohol ban was stipulated in one specific chapter of the law. Achmad highlighted that the draft law was composed by taking into account various relevant national aspects, such as Indonesias geographical conditions and its demographic components and philosophical and religious values. Indonesian Malt Beverage Producers Association (GIMMI) executive committee member Ronny Titiheru said he supported the government's initiative to ensure legal certainty in the alcohol beverage industry. "We are ready to cooperate with the government to support it in the context of controlling and regulating alcoholic beverages," Ronny said. The industry had suggested, he said by way of example, that the government raise the minimum drinking age to 21 years old and strengthen public campaigns on drinking responsibly. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 The growing global threat of terrorism and extremism demands for stronger international cooperation, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said in a series of meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assemblys 71st session in New York. She asserted at the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF) on Wednesday that extremism and terrorism are not related to the issue of religion, nationality, civilization or ethnicity, but instead related to mindset and ideology, according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Thursday. There is no option for the international community [other] than to cooperate more closely in the fight against terrorism, Retno said in the statement. Important necessary steps must be taken, starting from strengthening a counter-narrative approach through social media against terrorism and extremism, she said. Women empowerment is also pivotal to foster a global movement to encourage moderation and tolerance. As mothers, Retno said, women have a key role to instill culture and ideology to their children who would go on to shape society. She also echoed the notion at the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) ministerial meeting, stressing the importance of cooperation at the international level between countries, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations in addressing global problems such as armed conflicts, terrorism and humanitarian crisis. There is not one country that can overcome the challenges of the 21st century without international cooperation, she said at the ICM, a forum that reported that conflicts have tripled since 2007. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has agreed to relax the tax amnesty's first period deadline, which sees the lowest penalty payments and which ends on September 30, following talks with economists and businessmen at the State Palace Thursday evening. After the meeting, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Rosan Roslani said the government had agreed to give additional time to businesspeople who wanted to avail of the tax amnesty in the first phase to iron out administrative matters. "Previously, the deadline for the first phase was September for taxpayers to submit all of the data and the redemption, but now they can submit the redemption first and the administrative matters can be later in December," Rosan said at the State Palace on Thursday. He said the government would issue the regulation on the extension of the first period. "It was promised there would be [such a regulation]. Jokowi said it could be done," he went on. In addition to Kadin members, prominent businesspeople such as Aburizal Bakrie, Harry Tanoesudibyo, Surya Paloh, Franky Wijaya, Arifin Panigoro, Erwin Aksa and Dahlan Iskan also attended the meeting. Earlier in the afternoon, Gadjah Mada University economist Tony Prasetiantono said an extension was necessary because since its implementation in July, the Directorate General of Taxation seemed not to be ready, which led to differences in perception between the government and taxpayers. On the other hand, businesspeople who wanted to join the program needed time to consolidate. "The President seemed to agree with us. It's possible to extend, whether for a month or until the end of the year," Tony said after a lunch meeting with Jokowi at the State Palace on Thursday. "I think a months extension is enough," he said. Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) executive director Enny Sri Hartati concurred with Tony's view that the first period needed an extension. However, she stressed that the extension period only applied to repatriation of assets stashed overseas. "There should be incentives for asset repatriation because they have to calculate all of their assets and need to consolidate," she said. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo held a lunch meeting with prominent economists and business association leaders at the Merdeka Palace on Thursday to discuss Indonesia's current economic condition. During the lunch meeting, Jokowi said global economic conditions had yet to be improved as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) projected a decline in global economic growth. While on the home front, exports remain sluggish due to persistently low commodity prices. "However, I am optimistic there are opportunities that we can take, [...] I want massive investment flows in, because every time I travel abroad we become the target of capital inflows, but we are still facing many problems, many obstacles," Jokowi explained. The prominent economists invited to the lunch meeting, among others, were Raden Pardede, Hendri Saparini, Destry Damayanti, Iman Sugema, Enny Sri Hartati, Tony Prasetyantono, Revrisond Baswir and A Prasetyantoko. Chairmen of three prominent business associations also attended the meeting, namely Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Rosan Roslani, Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani and Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi) chairman Bahlil Lahadia. (ags) BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Sept. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valeritas Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:VLRX) announced today the election of Katherine D. Crothall, PhD, to the Companys Board of Directors, effective October 10, 2016. Dr. Crothall will serve as an independent director, bringing the total number of independent directors to four. In conjunction with the appointment of Dr. Crothall, Cameron Hui, who represents CRG, will step down from the Board of Directors as of October 10, resulting in a Board with a majority of independent directors. John Timberlake, President and Chief Executive Officer of Valeritas, said, We are thrilled to welcome Kathy to the Valeritas Board of Directors. Kathy brings a wealth of diabetes device experience from her time at Animas, which she founded and led through a successful commercial ramp-up until it was ultimately acquired by J&J. She knows what it takes to drive the adoption of an innovative technology in the diabetes marketplace and brings a proven track record of building and growing several successful medical device companies. We believe she will make significant contributions to Valeritas and look forward to working with her. Dr. Crothall commented, Valeritas has a unique opportunity to significantly improve the lives of people living with Type 2 diabetes. V-Go has all of the attributes of a product poised to gain broad adoption, including outstanding clinical data, convenience, ease-of-use, discreet dosing and cost-effectiveness. I look forward to being a part of providing people with Type 2 diabetes such an innovative solution to improved insulin management as Valeritas executes on its capital-efficient commercial strategy. Dr. Crothall currently serves as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Aspire Bariatrics, a company committed to providing safe and effective treatments for obesity to patients worldwide. Prior to Aspire, Dr. Crothall was a Principal at Liberty Venture Partners, a venture capital firm located in Philadelphia, from 2006 until November 2010. Prior to Liberty, Dr. Crothall was Founder, President, and CEO of Animas Corporation, a leading manufacturer of insulin infusion pumps located in West Chester, PA, from its inception to its acquisition by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Corporation in February 2006. Prior to Animas, Dr. Crothall was also the Founder, President, and CEO of two other medical device companies; Luxar Corporation (Seattle, WA) was founded in 1988 and was sold to ESC Medical, and Laakmann Electro-Optics, founded in 1978, was sold to Johnson & Johnson in 1981. Dr. Crothall continued running Laakmann Electro-Optics for five years post-acquisition. Dr. Crothall received her BS from University of Pennsylvania and her PhD from University of Southern California, both in Electrical Engineering. She holds over 20 patents and is the recipient of several awards including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2003 and the Greater Philadelphia Raymond Rafferty Entrepreneurial Excellence Award in 2004. Dr. Crothall is a director of Adhezion BioMedical and Xanitos, Inc. She also sits on the Board of Overseers of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. About Valeritas Holdings, Inc. Valeritas is a commercial-stage medical technology company focused on developing innovative technologies to improve the health and quality of life of people with Type 2 diabetes. Valeritass flagship product, V-Go Disposable Insulin Delivery device, is a simple, wearable, basal-bolus insulin delivery solution for patients with Type 2 diabetes that enables patients to administer a continuous preset basal rate of insulin over 24 hours. It also provides on-demand bolus dosing at mealtimes. It is the only basal-bolus insulin delivery device on the market today specifically designed keeping in mind the needs of type 2 diabetes patients. Headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Valeritas operates its R&D functions in a state-of-the-art facility in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.valeritas.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, references to Valeritas technologies, business and product development plans and market information. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the ability to raise the additional funding needed to continue to pursue Valeritass business and product development plans, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies, the ability to commercialize the V-Go Disposable Insulin Delivery device with limited resources, competition in the industry in which Valeritas operates and overall market conditions. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Valeritas assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factor disclosure set forth in the reports and other documents Valeritas files with the SEC available at www.sec.gov. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 State-owned train operator PT. Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has deployed a Rail Clinic to help with disaster mitigation of the flash flood-stricken Garut regency in West Java for emergency health aids. The train had departed from Gawok Station in Sukoharjo regency in Central Java on Wednesday evening and arrived at Leles Station in Garut on Thursday afternoon, KAI's Yogyakarta operations spokesman Eko Budiyanto said on Thursday. The station was the nearest to the disaster location, he said. "We hope the Rail Clinic can help the disaster victims, especially as there are several health facilities in the location ruined by the disaster," he said as quoted by Tempo.co. The train was initially headed to a social event in Sukoharjo to provide free health services. However, upon hearing of the flash flood disaster, the Rail Clinic was rerouted to Garut instead. The Rail Clinic brings five docters and dozens of health officials such as midwives, nurses, pharmacists and lab officials, Eko said. KAI had also prepared ambulances at Leles Station to help with local people affected by the natural disaster. The medicine from the Rail Clinic can take care of 300 patients and the firm would add supplies if needed. The electric diesel train also has several services such as emergency services, general care, dental care, eye care and obstetric services. The train is also equipped with a laboratory and pharmacy. At least 23 people died and 18 people went missing in the flash flood that hit Garut on Tuesday according to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22 2016 There is one thing that always annoys avid smartphone user Fenny Djaja, 25, when she browses the internet: digital advertising. Its everywhere! Whether in the form of pop-up ads on various news portals or video ads on YouTube, said the Tangerang-based private employee, who jumps between social media and online news portals on a daily, if not hourly, basis. Love it or hate it, digital advertising will continue to stick to screens as spending for the sector is already eating up the share of advertising on television and in printed media, driven by the emerging millennial population and Indonesias ever-increasing number of internet users. Indonesia, where 41 percent of the 127.6 million-strong workforce was categorized as of February as millennials (aged between 18 and 34), is poised to have the worlds fourth-biggest amount of internet users by 2020 with 215 million people connected, according to a recent Google-Temasek study. Television ads will continue to be eroded, overtaken by digital ads, said NH Korindo Securities head of research Reza Priyambada. Television and newspapers used to be the biggest recipients of advertising spending, but digital ads are poised to take a larger share, with 25 percent of overall ad spending in Indonesia by 2019, from 7.3 percent in 2015, according to forecasts from eMarketer. Digital ads almost tripled to US$835 million in 2015 from $234.2 million in 2013, with the figure expected to soar more than four times to $4.9 billion by 2019. This may explain the reason behind the tax offices investigation of Googles local tax payments which it deemed had not been paid properly as the US technology behemoth is estimated to have enjoyed 70 percent of the digital ad revenue stream, according to the tax office. As the investigation is ongoing, local companies big and small are tapping into the huge market that the internet can reach out to for promoting their products. We believe that communicating with consumers through the digital world is significant to build our brand, said Sancoyo Antarikso, corporate secretary of consumer goods giant Unilever Indonesia, which advertises many of its products through Googles video-sharing platform YouTube. Jakarta-listed cosmetics maker Martina Berto has also leveraged its YouTube, Twitter and Instagram accounts to market its well-known Sari Ayu brand. Advertising through YouTube is much less costly than through television. Thus, we can better explore our creativity in creating advertisements, Martina Berto corporate secretary Desril Muchtar said. Even the financial services industry is expanding digital ads, including private lender Bank Danamon. Digital marketing enables us to communicate to millennials through a language they understand and means that are readily accessible for them, Danamon chief marketing officer Toni Darusman said. These advertisers often deal with media agencies to handle and manage their ad campaigns to be placed on platforms such as Google or Facebook. Essentially, the agencies serve as middlemen for the process. Mindshare Indonesia media agency is one example. Its clients include e-commerce companies such as Lazada, Tokopedia and travel service Traveloka, which advertise on Google and the like. However, Mindshare Indonesias client leadership partner Wendy Soeweno said that even digital companies still tended to veer toward television ads, although their focus on online ads is greater as digital operations are at the companies core. The general trend surrounding advertisements as a whole here is that many still emphasize the importance of television because of the range and scope. For digital companies, they have grounded themselves in digital but they also have the need to go into television as well, she added. (mos/vps) Dylan Amirio contributed to this story. -------------- to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22 2016 The media perspective is pivotal in the global fight against terrorism and extremism amid the widespread promotion by militant groups of their violent acts and ideologies on social media, says a leading media analyst. Although the effort to curb terrorism and radicalism is collective work involving various stakeholders, the media must have its own independent agenda, and be aware about the danger of violence being sugar-coated as acts designed to defend religion. Media reports on terror attacks by the militant Islamic State (IS), also known as ISIS group, around the globe have had a role in inspiring more actions perpetrated by its supporters in other parts of the world. Thus, providing context when covering terrorism is an important aspect that media should consider. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 Another Indonesian hostage has been freed by the notorious Abu Sayyaf militant group, bringing the total number of men expected to soon return to Indonesian up to four, an official has confirmed. The fourth Indonesian, named Harman Manggak, was officially handed over to the Indonesian consul general in Davao, Berlian Napitupulu, on Thursday at 5 p.m. local time at the WestMinCom headquarters in Zamboanga, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry's director for the protection of Indonesian nationals and entities abroad, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, said on Thursday. "He will be handled by the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao, specifically to undergo trauma healing, before returning together with the three previously released hostages," Iqbal said. Harman is a fisherman from Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, and was the captain on board a Malaysian-flagged fishing boat that was attacked by the armed Filipino militants in Malaysia's Sabah waters on Aug. 3. It is not known whether any ransom was paid for the release of the men who were believed to be held in the southern Philippines. His release followed that of three Indonesian crewmen of another Malaysian-flagged boat who were released by the militants on Sunday. Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu had hinted on Sunday that there would be another hostage released following the three crewmen, but he gave no further details. Five Indonesian sailors remain in captivity, held by the Philippine militant group that is notorious for extracting ransom payments in return for the lives of hostages. The remaining people, who were crewmen aboard the Indonesian-operated tugboat Charles, have been in captivity since June 21, making them the longest-held captives in the most recent string of abductions of Indonesian sailors. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) has found an irregular flow of funds to low-ranking officials of Indonesia's security agencies allegedly linked to executed drug lord Freddy Budiman's narcotics networks, the centers top official has said. PPATK chairman Muhammad Yusuf said a number of low-ranking personnel with the National Police and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), as well as non-commissioned military officers and penitentiary officials, were among those who received the funds. "The amount of money transferred is not huge. Most of the discovered funds amount to tens of millions of rupiah. Only one transaction was worth hundreds of millions of rupiah. It's not significant, but, indeed, we have to take further actions," Yusuf told reporters on Thursday. He added that the PPATK had submitted its findings to National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian. Yusuf said the centers investigation did not discover any suspicious transactions related to high-ranking personnel as Freddy had alleged in statements that were published by rights activist Haris Azhar one day before the drug lords execution on July 29. In his statements, Freddy claimed the involvement of officials from the military, the BNN and the National Police in his drug network. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 Sandiaga Uno says former education and culture minister Anies Baswedan has expressed his willingness to team up with him in Jakartas gubernatorial election to be held on Feb. 15, 2017. Previously, Sandiaga said he would be ready to become a deputy candidate for Anies to challenge the incumbents Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama and Djarot Saiful Hidayat. "This morning I met Anies. We have agreed and committed to developing and winning Jakarta together," Sandiaga said at his campaign team headquarters in South Jakarta on Thursday. On Wednesday, Anies had said he was waiting for a decision from a coalition of political parties that may back him for the election. Sandiaga said Anies was becoming more popular among the coalition after Poltracking revealed survey results suggesting Anies and Sandiaga would be tough opponents for Ahok. However, the six political parties grouped in the so-called Kinship Coalition have not yet made a final decision on whether to endorse Anies and Sandiaga in the election. The coalition discussed the candidacy on Wednesday. Officials from the Gerindra Party and the Islamist Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) held a meeting in the house of Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto in South Jakarta. Meanwhile, leaders of the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Democratic Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN) met up at the house of Democratic Party chairman and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Bogor, West Java. "We respect the ongoing process in the coalition. However, the coalition has agreed that there would be only two pairs of candidates in the election," Sandiaga said. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 The deputy commissioner of Indonesias Financial Services Authority (OJK), Irwan Lubis, said Singapore police did not follow up reports made by several Singaporean banks about some Indonesian customers, who were participating in the Indonesian tax amnesty program. He said it was what representatives of Singaporean banks -- OCBC NISP, UOB and DBS -- had explained when summoned on the matter by the OJK. According to the banks, they reported the Indonesian customers to Singapores Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) in order to comply with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards related to money laundering, Irwan said on Wednesday. However, because Singaporean police would not process the reports, Indonesian customers were safe to make tax amnesty related transactions, Irwan added. Irwan, who met with the representatives of the banks in Jakarta, said their parent companies in Singapore were supporting the Indonesian tax amnesty and had even disseminated information on the program to their customers. "The OJK has asked those banks to fully support the tax amnesty program and communicate the message to their parent companies in Singapore," Irwan said. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 State-owned enterprise PT Barata Indonesia has signed an MoU with US giant General Electric (GE) to manufacture the companys power-related products. Barata Indonesia president director Silmy Karim said the company would manufacture parts for gas turbines, boilers for coal-fired power plants and renewable energy products and would also provide maintenance services for those products. "We are pleased to collaborate with GE; this is a strategic milestone for Barata Indonesia to become a world class engineering procurement company," Silmy said in Jakarta on Wednesday. Barata Indonesia and GE had already cooperated on the manufacture of train components for GE and had worked together for 15 years, he added. GE Power CEO Stever Bolze welcomed the agreement, saying it would be beneficial for both companies. "It [Barata Indonesia] is a great company, it is on a lot of business for GE, and we believe as we continue to build out here for GE Power, we can utilize their capabilities do more work for us," he told The Jakarta Post after the signing of the MoU. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Michael Astor (Associated Press) United Nations Thu, September 22, 2016 World leaders approved a wide-ranging declaration Wednesday aimed at addressing the rising number of drug-resistant infections something the World Health Organization says has the potential to kill millions and undermine the global economy, likening it to "a slow-motion tsunami." The declaration recognizes the size of the problem and encourages countries to develop plans to cut back on antibiotic use, make better use of vaccines and fund development of new drugs to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which currently claims the lives of an estimated 700,000 people each year and is expected to rise sharply. "This is already an historical moment for countries of the world. Heads of states and heads of governments agreed to address a neglected issue," WHO Director General Margaret Chan said. "AMR is not a new issue, but it is a multidimensional issue, it has to be addressed at the national level ... because no single sector, be it the agriculture sector, the health sector or trade sector can act on its own." A 2014 report commissioned by the United Kingdom projected that by 2050 drug resistance will kill more people each year than cancer and cost the world as much as $100 trillion in lost economic output. The World Bank estimates that drug-resistant infections have the potential to cause at least as much economic damage as the 2008 financial crisis. Drug resistance is driven by the widespread use of antibiotics in commercial agriculture, as a way to prevent costly infections among livestock, and misuse and overuse of antibiotics by doctors who often prescribe them to patients seeking some kind of relief for colds and flu even though they do not work for viral illnesses. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies don't want to spend the money needed to develop new antibiotics because patients don't need them for very long, so they don't buy many, and the new drugs are only used when the older, cheaper ones don't work. Speaking at the adoption of the declaration, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the dimensions of the problem were rapidly becoming apparent. "Antimicrobial resistance poses a fundamental, long-term threat to human health, sustainable food production and development," Ban said. "In all parts of the world, in developing and developed countries; in rural and urban areas; in hospitals; on farms and in communities. We are losing our ability to protect both people and animals from life-threatening infections." Ban cited several examples including an epidemic of multidrug-resistant typhoid now sweeping parts of Africa, rising resistance to HIV/AIDS drugs and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis that has been identified in 105 countries. Some critics say the declaration falls short because it lacks firm commitments to getting antibiotics out of agriculture and for funding new drugs. The medical-humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, praised the adoption of declaration even though it is legally non-binding. "MSF welcomes the UN's Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, which recognizes the need to address at the highest political levels the complex issue of drug-resistant infections," MSF President Dr. Joanne Liu said in a statement. "Now, governments have the responsibility to turn these words into action." (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Hanoi, Vietnam Thu, September 22, 2016 A prominent Vietnamese blogger told an appeal hearing on Thursday that his sentencing earlier this year to five years in prison for anti-state writings was not based on any evidence. Nguyen Huu Vinh, better known as Anh Ba Sam, was convicted of abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the state at a one-day trial in March. His colleague, Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy, who was given a three-year jail term on the same charge, is also appealing her sentence. At the appeals trial in Hanoi, Vinh maintained his innocence. "The verdict did not provide any valid evidence to convict me," Vinh told the court. "In the 24 articles, there was no evidence to demonstrate that I instructed Thuy to post them." Vinh, 60, quit the police force and set up a private investigation firm. He then launched the blog Dan Quyen, or Citizens' Rights, in 2013, and Chep Su Viet, or Writing Vietnamese History, in early 2014. The blogs provided links to news on political, social, economic and cultural issues from state media as well as from activists. At his trial, prosecutors said the two blogs posted 2,397 articles and generated more than 3.7 million hits, and that 24 of the articles had "untruthful and groundless contents" which tarnished the country's image. Vinh's wife and son were allowed into the court where six lawyers represented Vinh and Thuy. Diplomats and international media were allowed to follow the proceedings in a separate room via closed circuit TV. International human rights groups and Western governments including the United States have criticized Vietnam for jailing dissidents. Hanoi denies that, saying it only detains those who break the law. New York-based Human Rights Watch has called for the release of the defendants. "Vietnamese authorities have decided it is a crime to provide independent information to the Vietnamese public," Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement Tuesday. "The appeals court now has an important opportunity to uphold the right to free speech in Vietnam." U.S. officials say Vietnam has made some progress in its human rights record with fewer arrests, but that more needs to be done if it wants to expand bilateral ties. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Simplifya, a portfolio company of Hypur Ventures, announced today that it has completed its Series A financing. Simplifya is a software company operating in the legalized marijuana industry that assists businesses, law firms, consultants, financial institutions and regulatory agencies with monitoring cannabis licensee operations for compliance with state and local regulations. Simplifya was founded by the partners at Vicente Sederberg, one of Americas top cannabis law firms, as a technology solution to help them effectively manage the complex and intensive licensee monitoring process for their legal cannabis customers. We realized that there are many other clients in this rapidly growing industry who would benefit from our solution, so we saw an opportunity to scale this beyond our own firm, said Simplifya CEO and Co-founder Marion Mariathasan. The underlying database of compliance verification checklists was created by and is constantly updated by Vicente Sederberg, ensuring that the system stays current as laws and regulations change and licenses come up for renewal. Hypur Ventures led the Series A financing, adding Simplifya to its portfolio as part of its focused strategy of investing in the compliance infrastructure of the cannabis industry. Simplifya is a synergistic match with our other companies in the legal marijuana space, and it fills an important market need, said Christopher Galvin, Co-founder and President of Hypur Ventures. Vincente Sederberg has an impressive track record of navigating the complex and ever-changing world of the legal cannabis market, and theyve translated that expertise into Simplifyas automated solution to achieve simplicity, usability and scalability in monitoring cannabis licenses. Simplifya will launch first in Colorado and will later roll out to other states where cannabis has been legalized. ABOUT SIMPLIFYA Simplifya is an easy-to-use, cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) application for web, mobile, and tablet use to help ensure a cannabis business is legally compliant. Learn more at Simplifya.com ABOUT HYPUR VENTURES Hypur Ventures is a venture capital fund dedicated to investing in businesses that operate in the legal cannabis industry. Our strategy is to invest in companies that are known by consumers, competitors, regulators and investors as trusted members of the cannabis community. Learn more at HypurVentures.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, September 22, 2016 Chinese commercial lender Bank of China has called on Indonesian businesspeople to intensify the usage of Chinese renminbi (RMB), which will be included in the global basket of reserve currencies in October, to promote trade with Chinese counterparts and reduce foreign exchange losses. Bank of China Jakarta branch country manager Zhang Min said China is the biggest trading partner and the third biggest foreign direct investment (FDI) for Indonesia, which currently stands as the biggest economy in Southeast Asia and plays an important role in the world. "The extensive usage of RMB will certainly promote trade and economic development of both countries [] It will reduce the losses caused by the US dollar fluctuations," he said during the Bank of China RMB Forum Indonesia in Jakarta on Wednesday. He further said the inclusion of RMB in Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket showed International Monetary Fund's (IMF) affirmation over RMBs role in the global economy. Until June, the Chinese central bank People's Bank of China (PBOC) and 35 monetary authorities have signed currency swap agreements worth more than 3.3 trillion yuan. Over 30 monetary authorities have also brought RMB into their foreign reserve totaling 864.7 billion yuan in 2015. With the implementation of RMB within SDR basket, and Chinese strategy of the one belt, one road initiative, we are sure the market demand for RMB will be effectively stimulated," Zhang Min added. SDR is an international reserve asset created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1969 to supplement its members' reserves. RMB accounts for 10.92 percent in SDR basket, following the US dollar and the euro which stands at 41 percent and 30.93 percent respectively. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sharon Smyth (Bloomberg) London Thu, September 22, 2016 Finding a hotel room in London will be easier next year because companies, worried U.K. economic growth may slow following the Brexit vote, will cut their travel budgets, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Occupancy rates in 2017 will fall one percentage point to 80 percent, the lowest level in nine years, the consultant said in a report on Wednesday. Revpar, an industry measure of profitability, will decline by 2.8 percent this year and 0.5 percent in 2017. Hotels in large European cities including London have already been hit by a fall in holidaymakers following a spate of Islamic State-inspired killings in France and Belgium, including the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. A drop in business travelers will hurt lodgings because those guests tend to spend proportionally more on accommodation. More than 3.7 million people visited London from overseas for business reasons last year, according to data compiled by the U.K.s national tourism agency. (Read also: How will Brexit affect travelers?) Next year will be another difficult one for the capitals hotel industry, on top of an already negative 2016, Liz Hall, PwCs head of U.K. hospitality and leisure research, said by telephone. Brexit will compound weaker demand weve been seeing since the first of the terrorist attacks in November, and business travel will be affected as companies try to get some clarity on how this will affect their U.K. operations. A surge in supply will also affect occupancy in London. About 7,200 new hotel rooms will be offered to guests next year, the highest level since the 2012 Olympic Games, according to Hall. Operators also face competition from Airbnb Inc. The number of rental apartments listed on the website jumped 54 percent in July from a year earlier, according to PwC data. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara Thu, September 22, 2016 Many foreign online travel agents, especially from China, are said to be operating illegally in Bali, according to the Indonesian Tour and Travel Association (Asita). Asita chairman Asnawi Bahar told The Jakarta Post that it had reported the matter to the Tourism Ministry as well as the Chinese Consulate General in Denpasar, Bali. "Asita does not reject nor oppose digital technology or the online package sales system. What we oppose are the illegal activities, [including those] conducted by foreigners," he said in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on Wednesday. Indications of foreign online travel agents who operate without permits have reportedly been noticed since last year. "We have found many of them in Bali; [mostly] Chinese citizens who arrived in Indonesia as tourists and later offered online ticketing services, tourism packages and arranged travel trips from China to Indonesia at a very low price," said Asnawi. "These practices will harm not only local tourism players but also the state since they don't pay taxes. It also against the law, including immigration, labor and trade." (Read also: More holidaymakers attracted to authentic local culture: Travel agents) The illegal practice has taken around 10 percent of the tourism visit market, he said. Meanwhile, the ministry's destination development deputy Dadang Rizky Rahman said their authorities were concerning registration, not permits. "The ministry does not take part in permit matters. In terms of domestic investment plan [PMDN] and foreign investment [PMA], they are handled by the Investment Coordinating Board [BKPM]. But we will look into this," said Dadang. (kes) It makes little sense to come up with another list of best Chicago books. To select a top 10 (or 20 or 1,000) has always seemed arbitrary and destined for accusations of unjustified boosterism and hyperbole, even in a city built on a foundation of unjustified boosterism and hyperbole. Fairly or unfairly, Chicago often serves as a general proxy for American cities. Love or hate this idea of ostensible representativeness (most Chicagoans kind of just roll their eyes), to embrace it can prove helpful in one respect: looking at ambition, failed policies, immigration, founding myths, and contemporary life in Chicago, you find resonance elsewhere in America. When thinking through issues confronted by American cities today (and maybe always) unequal distribution of resources, violent policing, persistent de facto segregation, administrative corruption, privatization of public services, neoliberal coddling of gentrification, fallout from decades of environmental degradation, and others Chicago serves as a vital case study. The local commentariat here works itself into spitting rages whenever any outsider especially if that outsider bears a New York Times business card parachutes into the Loop for 36 hours to explain Chi-Town (seriously, stop it: no one here calls it that) to the rest of the world. So, designed as a Chicago 101 syllabus, these books serve as starting points rather than final judgments. They place Chicago at the center of ideas about city life, in some case pressing back on prevailing narratives about American urbanism. Instead of best Chicago books, this selection focuses on books that use a Chicago-centric perspective to address challenges that other places similarly confront. And given that Im leaving town this fall and casting my lot with the outsiders when I transplant to I cringe, really, it feels like betrayal Brooklyn, I wanted to get this thing together before the movers arrive. Much is missing: I chose not to focus on novels because so many others have done so, and poetry is almost entirely absent. Nelson Algren and Carl Sandburg were not on this list because they are prerequisites for the list. But with the excuses that I dont intend on completeness and the movers at the gates, I hope its acceptable to leave gaps that conversation might fill. 1. It Really Wasnt Much of a Place at All. Dominic A. Pacyga opens Chicago: A Biography, his sweeping history of the Midwests largest city, with Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet. The priest and explorer first came upon a portage between the Chicago and Illinois Rivers in 1673. To build a canal here would be to connect the Great Lakes to the Mississippi, creating the largest inland waterway in the world and facilitating transportation from New York Harbor to the Mississippi along the entire midsection of the continent. Theres a lot in between and after, and the last page of Pacygas book makes it to Barack Obamas inauguration as President of the United States. That Pacyga covers so much from the fire that destroyed one third of Chicago in 1871, to the citys subsequent explosive growth (Chicago had a 1.7 million residents by 1900), to the Haymarket riot, to the 1968 DNC should give a sense of the books scope. With so much terrain to cover, it comes as little surprise that even major events get relatively little space. Pacyga does, however, provide an especially detailed account of labor upheavals that characterized Chicago around the turn of the 20th century, providing context for understanding the citys pushback against the rampant capitalism for which it earned its reputation. Chicago: A Biography represents an essential starting point, primarily because it tracks the evolution of the city from a mucky swamp to a global city. 2. Natural Advantages William Cronons Natures Metropolis and Donald Millers City of the Century both present meticulously detailed and conceptually riveting pictures of Chicago in the 1800s a century of incredible expansion. Chicagos founding hustlers (to borrow Nelson Algrens term for his fellow Chicagoans) proclaimed as early as the 1830s that a marsh named for stinking onions by indigenous people, seated aside gloriously fertile grasslands on the shores of an inland ocean, would one day represent the most important point in the great west. By the time of the Worlds Columbian Exposition in 1893, the climax of Chicagos ascendant century, that destiny had been realized. Cronon and Miller interrogate the stakes of this transformation, asking about the lives it altered and about the enduring epistemic shifts that Chicagos rise implied for the United States. Chicago transformed Americas relationship with the West and with capital itself, producing not only a vast urban expanse but also structuring what we would come to understand as rural, suburban, and hinterland. Cronon helps us understand how the city transformed goods into abstract commodities, reshaping our relationship to the food we buy and the environment we consume. He shows how rail transit didnt just connect distant places, but rather restructured our very understanding of space and time. In notable contrast, Millers history dives into the enormous cast of characters that built Chicago and chronicled its rise. City of the Centurys meticulous characterization of the hustlers that poured concrete into Chicagos foundations provides singular descriptions of this casts influence on the citys trajectory. 3.High Strung, Contagious Enthusiasm Erik Larsons The Devil in the White City has become standard literary fare for newcomers to Chicago, and one will often find multiple copies in a transplants household. Larson dramatizes the planning of the aforementioned Worlds Columbian Exposition, which marked the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbuss voyage to America. Planning required construction of an enormous classical-inspired city in Jackson Park on the South Side, involving many of the citys (and nations) architectural and economic leaders, and marking Chicagos global coming-out party. Lurking in the crowds, H.H. Holmes the books eponymous devil became one of Americas first serial killers. He committed scores of murders silently throughout the fair, the urban anonymity afforded him by the crowds facilitating his crimes. Larsons book has become important, not just as a document that depicts this contradiction between glorious spectacle and urban underbelly, but also because his romanticized vision of Chicago squares with how the city still views the fair. Its spectacle (and specter) looms large in Chicagos self-conception. Where Larson spends time examining the drama among fair planners, Chris Wares Jimmy Corrigan, Smartest Kid on Earth presents an imaginative and sparely, gorgeously rendered view of the events history through a childs eyes. An emotionally paralyzed man living in present-day Chicago, Jimmy attempts to reconnect with his father. In scenes from the 1800s, the monumental fair casts similar shadows over an inter-generational Corrigan family history. Ware depicts how the tendrils of Chicagos past reach to its present in a city with a complicated history. 4. Plans for Chicago To understand how American cities thought of their futures at the turn of the 20th century, one must consider two very different city planners in Chicago. Jane Addams founded Hull-House in 1889, well before the Columbian Expositions electric lights flickered on. Her settlement house ultimately comprised an enormous complex of buildings in one of Chicagos poorest immigrant neighborhoods. In Twenty Years at Hull House, one gets the sense of Addamss determination to reformulate the way that cities treated the poor and immigrant classes with dignity and a focus on individuals. She charted a course for services and advocacy for the poor that formed the foundation of social work and emphasized that communities matter in urban development. Concurrently, Daniel Burnham architect of the Columbian Exposition moved on from the fair to create an urban plan that would transform Chicago and cement the citys status as a global metropolis. Carl Smiths The Plan of Chicago makes it clear that Burnhams monumental visions leave a complicated legacy. Despite sincere hopes that City Beautiful concepts would ennoble the poor, the Plan of Chicago deserves criticism for overlooking conditions of daily life for those to whom Addams ministered. As much as it marks a culmination of optimism in city planning, it lays some of the foundation for abysmal policies that would haunt public housing in Chicago and in many other cities. Moreover, it marks a kind of opening chapter in public-private partnerships that govern contemporary efforts to encourage markets to solve urban problems. 5. Bigger Ambitions for Chicago-Born Novels Native Son and The Adventures of Augie March belong at the heart of any serious conversation about Chicago novels (though I find Augie difficult to get through). The ambitions of Richard Wright and Saul Bellow in these two midcentury novels rise to the level of Chicagos ambitions for itself. Their alternatingly devastating and ennobling investigations of individual agency and social determination in two unforgettable protagonists Augie and Bigger Thomas make them essential to an understanding of American ideas about selfhood, race, and ambition. It can be easy to forget that these novels take place in Chicago; they belong to us all and not to any one city. I am an American, Augie declares right at his beginning. Chicago born comes only second, though it acts as validation of his Americanness. Upon reflection, one cannot imagine either novel taking place in any other American city one of huge immigrant classes fragmented into neighborhoods bitterly segregated along racial and ethnic lines. Reading these novels together with a spatial understanding of Chicago deepens ones appreciation for how wide a gulf exists between the lives of their protagonists and the populations they represent. Augie and Bigger find themselves in Hyde Park, for example (which still boasts of its veneer of racial diversity relative to other neighborhoods), but their experiences there are utterly separate. From this smallest of details the incongruity of lives despite physical proximity emerges persistent truths about the structure of racial dynamics in American cities. 6. Making the Most of Migration The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkersons mammoth history of the Great Migration, won the 2015 Chicago Readers poll of Greatest Chicago Book. Chicago shares billing with LA and NYC as important destinations for those whose lives Wilkerson traces from the rural south to the urban north and west, but there can be no doubt that the Great Migration wrought indelible changes in the social fabric of every region in the United States from World War I through the 1970s; and in this story, Chicago plays a central role. Unwavering in her depictions of the political and physical violence of Jim Crow and nuanced in both her telling of personal stories and descriptions of broader effects of the migration on cities and people, Wilkersons book is the seminal text on the largest internal migration in American history. Meanwhile, Adam Greens Selling the Race provides an incisive contribution to conversations about how black Chicagoans carved a place for culture in modern America. Against prevailing narratives that cast black Americans (including many new migrants to Chicago) as victims of modernity, swept up by forces that looked to capitalize on anxieties of belonging, Green argues that they became powerful agents of cultural production. Examples from Mahalia Jackson to Ebony and Jet magazine (product of the Chicago-based Johnson Publications) present a rich picture of how much of black culture was generated and packaged for sale to wide audiences in Chicago. 7. Obsessions with the Ordinary No city values the ordinary so dearly as Chicago. And if Studs Terkel stands as the everymans greatest champion, his Division Street America best ties the citys affection for ordinariness to American identity. It would be a mistake to suggest that Terkel shilled the myth of a city that works (a term coined by Richard J. Daley). Rather, his no-nonsense portrayals of everyday Chicagoans rich, poor, Democrat, Republican, racist, gay, jag-baggy, and others coalesce to create this affecting hodgepodge. As Alex Kotlowitz (no slouch himself in the department of spotlighting and writing movingly about injustice in Chicago) has observed, theres always Studs in the background curious, probing, insisting, and asking questions that prompt often-ignored individuals to tell their stories. Vivian Maier, whose recently discovered work also transacts in Chicagos obsession with the ordinary, may outshine Terkel decades from now. She embodies the perfect female flaneur (or, as historian Lauren Elkin has rightly insisted, flaneuse). Maier spent most of her life as a nanny in Chicago, secretly capturing some 100,000 images on the citys streets. The domestic nature of her work all but guaranteed invisibility, given chauvinistic structures of artistic production and labor valuation. But when John Maloof was researching the Northwest Side neighborhood of Portage Park in 2007, he came upon Maiers forgotten images. He bought and disseminated them. Vivian Maier: A Photographer Found is a great introduction and Maier now belongs in discussions about great American street photographers. Hers is an utterly Chicago story. 8. Daleys Siege Richard J. Daley reigned over much of 20th-century Chicago. He ruled the city from 1955 until 1971, dominated Democratic Machine politics, and earned all of his enemies. Several books on this list describe Daley, and his complicated legacy plays out differently in their assessments. For this reason, I have left out of this list any Daley biographies. Perhaps no account of Daley proves as brutal as Norman Mailers Miami and the Siege of Chicago. In his run-up to descriptions of protests and Chicago police reprisals, Mailer writes, Daley was no national politician, but a clansman. The 1968 DNC, convened by Daley, proved a flashpoint in American political history. The chaos fragmented the Democratic Party nationally, and set the stage for Richard Nixons victory in November. In Mailers description of Chicago, his clear affection for the city makes it all the more heartbreaking (despite his intimations of inevitability) that the fractures of American society should appear on live television broadcasts from Michigan Avenue. Algren-esque musings notwithstanding, Mailer remains a Chicago outsider. So it feels appropriate to add Chicagoan Haskell Wexlers film Medium Cool to this list of books. Combining documentary footage of the convention protests with a fictional film, Wexler enlivens and deepens Mailers account. He depicts the tumult of 1968 like perhaps no other text from that stormy year. As a bonus, Medium Cool echoes experiments happening in documentary at places like Kartemquin films, which would go on to produce the now-canonical Chicago films Hoop Dreams and The Interrupters. 9. Out in Chicago The most recently published addition to this list is Timothy Stewart-Winters Queer Clout. In it, Stewart-Winter troubles the dominant narrative of 20th-century gay rights activism in the United States, which typically treats New York and San Francisco as the two central cities, often to the exclusion of the Midwest. He fills this narrative with a cacophonous history of LGBTQ culture and activism in Chicago, where firings, shakedowns, police bribes, and bar raids were just as much a part of life throughout the city as anywhere else. Effective action depended ultimately on collaborations between gay rights and black civil rights groups, and the pursuit of delicate coalitions. Queer Clout traces the fits and starts of these collaborations and coalitions. Post-Orlando, Stewart-Winters discussion of the importance of gay bars for LGBTQ individuals historically and presently seems especially valuable. Bars served ground zero for exploitation by law enforcement, but also as meeting places and (most of the time) safe havens. Stewart-Winter cautions against readily equating the gay rights movement with the civil rights movement; the layering of race, sexual orientation, and gender identification necessitates a more complicated picture. And his affecting description of unequal access to healthcare among Chicagoans affected by AIDS creates a devastating picture of failed policies. In a city divided between a black south and white north, lack of access to educational resources, preventive care, and treatment becomes a reminder of how segregation produces injustice that communities and policymakers must continue to fight to address. 10. Humboldt Park To understand gentrification in Chicago, head to the Humboldt Park neighborhood, where protests against rising rents, tax hikes, and teardowns took place recently on the 606. This park, built on a former rail line, echoes efforts in other cities to erase industrial infrastructure from urban landscapes. Having whetted the appetite of developers, The 606 has accelerated the pace at which Humboldt Park is becoming unaffordable for longtime residents. Sandra Cisneros grew up in Humboldt Park. Her beloved The House on Mango Street takes place in a similar fictional neighborhood. Traditional readings peg the novella as the coming-of-age story of Esperanza, a daughter of Mexican immigrants. Cisneros experiments with form the book is a series of short vignettes to explore Esperanzas struggles with sexuality, national identity, class, and the Spanish language. The poetic language of these depictions alone makes an argument for the works importance. To read Mango Street alongside Chris Wares Building Stories widens the lens through which readers can examine the relationship between individual and community identity. Wares unnamed protagonist, who loses a leg in a childhood accident, lives in Humboldt Park. Her story unfolds across 14 pamphlets, broadsheets, books, and other objects. Like Cisneros, Wares formal cartwheels advance conversations about identity. As with Cisneros, the books themes center on self-description again, a disjointed and chronologically jumbled task (theres no right way to read the book). Hes also interested in the evolving neighborhood, as the heroine moves away and revisits the three-flat in which so much life happens. 11. Whose City? What does Chicago look like today? Natalie Moores The South Side, published last year, combines history and memoir to describe neighborhoods in the city that are too often represented in national news media in one-dimensional stories of gun violence. Her book draws productively from her own biography of a childhood in middle-class and largely black Chatham, and feels less concerned with comprehensiveness than with augmenting and correcting the record. As the current South Side reporter for the local NPR affiliate, Moore brings a great deal of connections and numerous voices to this project. By contrast, Larry Bennetts The Third City offers a picture of contemporary Chicago that seems at times too rosy in its assessment of the younger Richard M. Daleys infrastructure investments (the book was published before the first term of Mayor Rahm One Percent Emanuel). Visions of Chicago as a global city one that attracts entrepreneurs to ride the next wave of innovators was for a time called Silicon Prairie ring with the optimism of the 19th century. It presents a picture of Chicago that has become popular among elected officials looking to attract private money and foreign tourists. This vision of Chicagos third incarnation (a vision of privatization premised on the notion that a citys chief ambition should be to attract capital to its core) looks like a new version of Burnhams century-old Plan. It has fans elsewhere. How to square this vision with the neighborhoods that sustain Chicago, and other cities, remains an unanswered question. 12. There Are No Two Finer Words Among garrulous Chicagoans, most will grudgingly agree: we miss Hot Dougs. Chicago treasure Doug Sohns sausage emporium was not only a celebration of encased meats, but equally a democratizing force on a desolate block on California Avenue in the Avondale neighborhood. One waited in line (often for more than an hour) whether one was Anthony Bourdain, Aziz Ansari, or even Dougs dad. In Hot Dougs, the coffee table book that cashed in on Dougs decision to close the shop not long ago, local voices weigh in on The Line: when they waited, how long they waited for, who got engaged to whom while waiting, who had to rush to the hospital to deliver a baby, etc. Doug reminded us all (always calling us my friend) that in Chicago, one waits in line like civilized people. The snow, cold, heat, wind, and rain be damned. 13. Coda: Next Steps Theres so much more to read and through-lines to trace from Carl Sandburg to Gwendolyn Brooks to Aleksandar Hemon to Chance the Rapper. Those interested in extensive lists of Chicago novels should consult, all kidding aside, several best-of lists already out there. My favorite was published by the dearly departed local site Gapers Block, and it organizes novels by neighborhood. Chicago magazine published a fun list of new Chicago-centric reads for the summer. Im excited to read Margo Jeffersons Negroland and Darryl Pinckneys Black Deutschland. And Curbside Splendor Publishing (a local house) recently put out The Empty Bottle Chicago: 21+ Years of Music / Friendly / Dancing, a history of one of the Northwest Sides most-loved venues. But now, its time to get to packing. Image Credit: Pixabay. HELENA, Ala., Sept. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rhinos rank among the most endangered species on Earth, but wildlife enthusiasts still have opportunities to spot these huge mammals. In honor of World Rhino Day on September 22, 2016, International Expeditions looks at three ecotours in the wild reaches in East Africa, Namibia and India where rhinos are the primary focus. International Expeditions' new Brahmaputra River cruise takes in one of the last parks to find the Asian one-horned rhino India's Kaziranga National Park. According to Save the Rhino, the population of one-horned rhinos is only approximately 3,500. In addition to excursions watching for the rare rhino, IE guests can spot seven species of primate, including endangered western hoolock gibbon, and gangetic dolphin. After days spent exploring the wilds of India, guests return to the deluxe 23-cabin Mahabaahu and a boutique lodge. Namibia's Kunene region is best known as home to the last free-ranging population of desert-adapted black rhinos. Their numbers dipped to fewer than 50 individuals in the 1980s, when Save the Rhino Trust was established. On IE's Namibia Desert & Dune Safari, travelers join experienced members of the Save the Rhino Trust to track rhinos by foot and vehicle in an area with Africa's largest free-roaming black rhino population during a stay at the intimate Desert Rhino Camp. This stellar camp offers private verandahs, candle-lit dinners around the open boma, and a swimming pool with sweeping views of elephants, giraffes and predators. Successful conservation and anti-poaching efforts have helped East Africa's population of black rhinos begin to rebound, but the species is still considered critically endangered. "Since 1960, the black rhino has been reduced by 97.6%," said wildlife expert Joan Embery. "Since my first trip to Africa I have seen the steady decline of rhino and the need to engage the public for spreading awareness and supporting conservation. Together we as humans can navigate the issues and alter the landscape in a positive direction for both these animals and ourselves." Travelers' best chance of spotting black rhino is in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater, where an abundance of food and fresh water supports the entire "Big Five" lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. IE's Kenya & Tanzania Safari includes thrilling game drives in the Crater and a picnic lunch to savor the scenery. For additional information on International Expeditions' journeys, visit IEtravel.com or contact 800-633-4734. About International Expeditions Celebrating 36 years of nature travel, International Expeditions specializes in small-group journeys to Earth's most exhilarating destinations. A pioneer of environmentally responsible travel, IE is committed to preserving natural habitats and improving the welfare of the people and communities it visits. International Expeditions has been named to Travel + Leisure's list of "World's Best" tour operators & safari outfitters seven times and to National Geographic ADVENTURE magazine's list of "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth." About the TUI Adventure Division The TUI Adventure Division offers experienced-based expeditions for active travelers. In addition to International Expeditions, the division includes Quark Expeditions and Zegrahm Expeditions; European adventure specialists Exodus Travels, Headwater, World Challenge, Sawadeee, Trek America and Grand American Adventures; as well as US-based destination management company American Adventures. From reaching the top of Kilimanjaro and canoeing on the Zambezi, to tiger cub sightings and breaking ice en-route to the North Pole, the TUI Adventure Division offers inspirational experiences that create lifelong memories. Once upon a time people would make trips to art galleries; give freedom to their imagination and see the world from the unique eyes of the artists. It was an activity carried out with patience and open mindedness. Viewing art today is comparably very distant. The rise of commerce and technology has been evolving the experience of taking in art in the modern world. Investors have hidden some of the most desirable works ever created in their vaults, whilst social media has made it effortless to see art from the convenience of a mobile. The rise of commerce and technology has been evolving the experience of taking in art in the modern world. Investors have hidden some of the most desirable works ever created in their vaults, whilst social media has made it effortless to see art from the convenience of a mobile. Businessman and art collector Mr. Kaiser says, Art isn't something that is so easily seen. There is only one of everything and they are in particular galleries scattered all around the world. This is what makes art so valuable and the experience is heightened when you see it. He collects art from paintings to vinyls and with a collection of over 10,000 items and has quite a full vault, but is always ready to purchase. Art is a wonderful investment because there is only one of it in the world," he says. "Last week I sold a domain name I bought 13 years ago as an investment for 2,500; it was because there is only one of them. Investing in art is an investment less traditional than bonds or a savings account, but is incredibly profitable. The arts market is currently booming with last year sales hitting a staggering 37 billion. Last year an oil painting by French post-impressionist artist Paul Gauguin called When Will You Marry? sold for nearly $300m (197m). This is the highest price ever paid for a piece of art. Some high-profile experts have even spoken out: no one should buy works of art for investment, Art critic Brian Sewell said in an interview with the Telegraph. Visits to Englands top 16 museums, which include the main galleries in London, were up 4% cent in the last research statistics in 2013-14 from the Department for Culture. Growth is being driven mainly by tourists, and despite the big names including The British Museum, the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museums' positive rise in numbers, this countrys two grandest art galleries, the National Gallery and the Tate Modern, are losing domestic visitors at a fast rate. These galleries have dropped in number of visitors by an alarming 20%. It would seem art has become sentimentally worth less to the public but more to the financially prosperous. Bryan Adams would disagree. Bryan is a 21-year-old young artist in London, currently trying to save up to study at The Art Academy. I think its sad that Britons are spending less time in galleries; everyone needs art in their life, he says. It could mean young artists like Bryan may never have their works seen. Perhaps theyd be better off showcasing and trying to sell their art on the Internet. Bryan says: I would be gutted if something I made was put up in a gallery and nobody came to see it, but I would still remain an artist, it doesn't discourage me." He hopes that Britons do not discard art in the future and lose interest in it: There is a good feeling when you stare at a piece and try to understand who the artist is and what the portrait can reveal about him. However what we can learn about an artist through the paintings is a curiosity negated by the likes of Wikipedia. Art tutor Moira Kazme says: I think there is a lack of creativity in this country and its not surprising that people are moving away from art. It is very inspirational and therapeutic. We should not take it for granted. There are museums that dont even showcase pieces, and with the 1% locking them away in their vaults, social media and online art websites may be the only place anyone will be able to see some of the classics. It has been revealed that museums have been hiding paintings and portraits of legendary artists like Picasso and Joan Miro in their archives. The Tate shows only around 20% of its permanent collection. Some art directors say they have no space and others insist they are preserving the worlds art. Either way it would seem like the best place to get cultured by art may just be the Internet. Id like to believe that the great artists throughout history painted, sculpted or designed works to be seen, not to have them be locked away in a vault or for investment, says Moira. Shadow Culture Secretary Michael Dugher warned that only a privileged few have the chance to enjoy around 22,000 pieces by some of Britains greatest artists, which are kept in parliament and government. Dugher is fighting for new free public gallery to be opened in Parliament to display these art works that are worth millions of pounds, which include works spanning over six centuries. It is a battle with two sides looking to reap benefits from the art, whether financial or cultural. There are some who say art should be appreciated in galleries and others who wish to extend the cultural significance in the world. What is certain is the value of art has depreciated in some way or another, and the Internet will fill the gap. Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akoustis Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: AKTS) (Akoustis or the Company), a manufacturer of innovative BulkONE bulk acoustic wave (BAW) high-band RF filters for mobile wireless, announced today that its Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Shealy, will present at the OktoberINVESTfest Conference hosted by Joseph Gunnar & Co. held at the New York Academy of Sciences in in New York City. Mr. Shealy will be presenting Wednesday, September 28th at 11:05 a.m. EDT. The presentation will be webcast live and available for replay for 90 days at: http://wsw.com/webcast/oktoberinvestfest/akts. Mr. Shealy will also meet one-on-one with institutional investors during the conference. Investors are invited to request a meeting with Akoustis management by contacting their Joseph Gunnar representative. About Akoustis Akoustis (http://www.akoustis.com) is a high-tech RF filter solutions company that manufactures its unique, patent-pending BulkONE technology to produce single crystal bulk acoustic wave (BAW) RF filters for the mobile-wireless industry, which facilitate signal acquisition and accelerate band performance between the antenna and the back end of mobile devices. Its BulkONE technology will service the fast growing multi-billion dollar market of device OEMs, network providers, and consumers to diminish front end phone heat, battery drain and signal loss -- all considered to be directly related to current RF polycrystalline filter technologies limitations. Akoustis asset-lite business model is capital efficient, leveraging existing manufacturing infrastructure in the semiconductor industry. Akoustis is located in the Piedmont technology corridor between Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking statements that are based on managements current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology including anticipates, believes, can, continue, could, estimates, expects, intends, may, plans, potential, predicts, should, will, would or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include, without limitation, risks relating to the results of our research and development activities, including uncertainties relating to semiconductor process manufacturing; the early stage of our BulkONE technology presently under development; technology presently under development; our need for substantial additional funds in order to continue our operations and the uncertainty of whether we will be able to obtain the funding we need; our ability to retain or hire key scientific, engineering or management personnel; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights that are valuable to our business, including patent and other intellectual property rights; our dependence on third-party manufacturers, suppliers, research organizations, testing laboratories and other potential collaborators; our ability to successfully market and sell our technologies; the size and growth of the potential markets for any of our technologies, and the rate and degree of market acceptance of any of our technologies; competition in our industry; and regulatory developments in the U.S. and foreign countries. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future events and circumstances discussed in the forward-looking statements in this press release may not occur, and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements included in this presentation speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or privately any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this presentation to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations. The materials do not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of any offer to buy, any securities of Akoustis, or any other entity whatsoever. Any representation to the contrary by any party should be ignored. OK, this might not come as a particularly massive surprise to you, but a psychological study has shown that beer appears to make people less shy about sex. Scientists found drinking a pint made it easier for volunteers to view explicit sexual images and the effect of this was greater for women than men. However, no change was actually seen in levels of sexual arousal. So, there you go Another effect of the beer was, yep, a boost in positive behaviour. After downing half a litre of beer, study participants were more attracted to happy faces and social situations. Which goes some way towards providing an explanation for beer goggles. You know what were talking about the influence of alcohol can *sometimes* make a person appear more beautiful than they perhaps are. Lead researcher Professor Matthias Liechti, from Basel University Hospital in Switzerland, said: The effect of many medications and substances of abuse have been tested on various tests of emotion processing and social cognition. However, although many people drink beer and know its effects through personal experience, there is surprisingly little scientific data on its effects on the processing of emotional social information. (Yui Mok/PA) We found that drinking a glass of beer helps people see happy faces faster, and enhances concern for positive emotional situations. Alcohol also facilitates the viewing of sexual images, consistent with disinhibition, but it does not actually enhance sexual arousal. These effects of alcohol on social cognition likely enhance sociability. The research was presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) annual meeting in Vienna and also appears in the journal Psychopharmacology. For the study, the researchers recruited 60 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 50 and gave half of them a half litre glass of alcoholic beer. The remaining participants were given non-alcoholic beer. The volunteers were then asked to perform a range of tasks including a face recognition test, an empathy test and a sexual arousal test. Beer drinking had no effect on levels of the hormone oxytocin, which is thought to act as a social lubricant and assist bonding between individuals. Police are appealing for help in finding a person who threw kittens at a train near Norwich in a truly horrendous incident. A train driver reported seeing a person throw the kittens from undergrowth at a foot crossing near Lingwood station. British Transport Police officers attended the scene and found a dead cat along with one dead kitten. The cat was thought to have died some time before the incident, and four other kittens were recovered alive. (Lynne Cameron/PA) They were taken to Foxy Lodge Wildlife Rescue in Hemsby, near Great Yarmouth, where they were treated by vets for cuts. So far, the rescue centre has been able to rehome two of the kittens. Sergeant Alan Bowell said: This was a truly horrendous and shocking incident. No animal should ever be subjected to such cruelty. Thankfully, not all the kittens were killed during this dreadful ordeal and are being well looked after. The incident was seen by the driver of a Norwich to Great Yarmouth train service shortly before 5.20pm on Thursday September 15. An RSPCA spokesman urged witnesses to contact British Transport Police with information. The blissful summer is finally over and its time for students to begin or resume their university life. While the thrill of freedom, boozing and escaping your parents is more than appealing to most, the burden of finances is almost enough to threaten your new-found happiness. Thanks to MyVoucherCodes.co.uk whove indexed the cost of living in the cities of the UKs top 50 attended unis we know just which areas offer the most bang for your buck (and the ones which will cause irreplaceable damage to your wallet). Rent for a one-bedroom flat It will come as a surprise to absolutely nobody that London specifically the University of Westminster will set you back an eye-watering 1,750 a month. On the other hand, students of Staffordshire University in Stoke-on-Trent are laughing with their 370 rent bill. Taxi travel (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Public transport is a favourable option for students but may not be so convenient after a wild night out. Students at De Montfort University in Leicester pay, on average, 0.60 per km (0.6 miles) in a taxi. City University students in the capital fork out 3.11 per km, but there is a silver lining Thanks to the new 24-hour Night Tube which travels through campus and halls sites they wont have to splash the cash on taxis too often. Monthly gym membership (Owen Humphreys/PA) How are students meant to take part in the overwhelming plethora of university sporting societies if they cant afford to get themselves in shape? Its certainly an uphill struggle for those at Londons Middlesex University, where a monthly gym membership costs a whopping 69.80. Not so tough for gym bods at Coventry, who enjoy fitness membership for a cheerful 18.88. Time to work those quads and sign up to Ultimate Frisbee Soc! Pint of beer (TPG/AP) Is it even possible to experience true uni life without a plastic glass of beer in your hand? When it comes to a pint, the only way to go is the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, where you can pick one up for just 1.19. City University makes another appearance, this time when it comes to booze. The average pint price is 4.20 so for every one you pick up in London, you can get three up north. Bottle of wine (Matthew Mead/AP) After a hard day swotting up on Plato and trying to solve perpetual motion, what could be more relaxing than quaffing wine directly from the bottle? Well, at Londons City university youll pay 8 per bottle for the privilege. Hardly a problem for connoisseurs at Liverpool, who only have to find 5.50 for a bottle of the good stuff. Well as good as 5.50 allows. Meal for one (Martin Keene/PA) Now this may actually come as a surprise to some but the cheapest meal for one (at an inexpensive restaurant because youre all students, after all) is in Greater London. Students at the University of Kingston can pick up a meal for 7. Those at De Montford University in Leicester arent as lucky; they cant pick up an equivalent for any less that 15, apparently. 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The two-year initiative, funded by a $1 million grant from USA Funds, will enable students to pursue their college goals with a stronger sense of purpose, increased motivation, and enhanced confidence that a chosen program of study matches academic and personal strengths, and a clear understanding of future career opportunities. The four systems selected to participate in the demonstration project include: New Hampshire Higher Education Commission Tennessee Board of Regents University of Hawaii System University of Houston and Houston Community Colleges A total of 30 two-year and four-year colleges from the four systems will work collaboratively to develop and implement a set of tools and practices that other postsecondary institutions can replicate to improve student outcomes through advisement. The new model will encourage students to explore career aspirations and choices early in their college years and help them pursue a more direct path, through their academic course work and career training, to connect with quality employment and rewarding careers following graduation. "USA Funds is pleased to support Purpose First, an innovative approach to advising of college students to help them make more informed decisions about the 'big choice' of which major and career to pursue," said Carol D'Amico, USA Funds executive vice president, National Engagement and Philanthropy. "To ensure students get the most from their tuition dollars, they need to follow a more purposeful path through college and into rewarding careers, guided by real-time information about the needs of the labor market that students will enter following graduation." "College students should not have to engage in random acts of enrollment as they chart their path through American higher education," said Complete College America President Stan Jones. "By putting purpose first, we ensure they won't have to. We give them tools to make better informed decisions on the front end, provide a clear path to graduation day and ensure they have the resources necessary to get there." About USA Funds USA Funds is a nonprofit corporation that supports Completion With a Purpose, building a more purposeful path for America's students to and through college and on to rewarding careers and successful lives. USA Funds pursues its nonprofit mission through philanthropic activities and partnerships, policy research, and programs and services that enhance preparation for, access to and success in higher education. Learn more at www.usafunds.org. About Complete College America Established in 2009, Complete College America is a national nonprofit with a single mission: to work with states to significantly increase the number of Americans with quality career certificates or college degrees and to close attainment gaps for traditionally underrepresented populations. For more information, visit www.completecollege.org. TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kerr Mines Inc. (Kerr or the Company) (TSX:KER), is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced restructuring transactions with various creditors to restructure amounts owing and to address working capital deficiencies. Further to the Companys press release of August 25, 2016 (August Press Release), the Company has now closed the following previously announced transactions: the issuance of 27,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company ( Common Shares ) to Trans Oceanic Minerals Company Ltd ( Trans Oceanic ) with respect to the conversion of the entire C$1,350,000 of principal outstanding pursuant to a previously issued convertible promissory note in December 2015 (the TOMCL Debt Conversion ); ) to Trans Oceanic Minerals Company Ltd ( ) with respect to the conversion of the entire C$1,350,000 of principal outstanding pursuant to a previously issued convertible promissory note in December 2015 (the ); the issuance of 10,000,000 Common Shares to Trans Oceanic to settle certain liabilities related to the restructuring initiatives incurred by Trans Oceanic and payable by Kerr of $1,576,318 (the TOMCL Private Placement ); ); the issuance of 18,500,000 Common Shares to Braydon Capital Corporation ( Braydon ) to convert C$1,500,000 of principal outstanding under a previously issued promissory note (the Braydon Private Placement ); and ) to convert C$1,500,000 of principal outstanding under a previously issued promissory note (the ); and the issuance of 1,000,000 Common Shares with Todd Morgan (Morgan) to settle a portion of the aggregate of $513,515.53 of indebtedness owed to Morgan (Morgan Settlement). Following the issuance of Common Shares pursuant to the TOMCL Debt Conversion, TOMCL Private Placement, Braydon Private Placement and Morgan Settlement an aggregate of 56,500,000 Common Shares has been issued by the Company to the various parties and following such issuances the Company now has 190,968,865 issued and outstanding Common Shares. The Company has obtained the required disinterested shareholder approval by way of a written consent in lieu of a shareholders meeting as previously stated in the August Press Release for the TOMCL Private Placement, Braydon Private Placement and Morgan Settlement and have submitted the final closing documents to the TSX for final approval. The TOMCL Private Placement and Braydon Private Placement constitutes a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (MI 61-101) as insiders of the Company, namely Braydon, a company controlled and owned by Claudio Ciavarella who is a director of the Company, and Trans Oceanic, a company controlled by Fahad Al Tamimi, the Companys Chairman of the board of directors (the Board), received an aggregate of 28,500,000 Common Shares under the respective transactions. The Company is relying on the exemption from the formal valuation requirement in section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 and the exemption from the minority approval requirement in section in section 5.7(1)(f) of MI 61-101 as a result of the transactions having a fair market value of less than 25% of the Companys market capitalization. Website Kerr Mines is pleased to announce it has launched a new website. Details of the Board and the strategy to focus and develop its core asset, the Copperstone Mine, is available at www.kerrmines.com. For further information contact: This news release contains forward-looking statements, including current expectations on the timing of the commencement of production and the rate of production, if commenced. These forward-looking statements entail various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations, are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in such statements. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength of the Canadian economy; the price of gold; operational, funding, and liquidity risks; the degree to which mineral resource estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources; and the degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable are present; the risks and hazards associated with underground operations. Risks and uncertainties about Kerr Mines business are more fully discussed in the company's disclosure materials, including its annual information form and MD&A, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available at www.sedar.com and readers are urged to read these materials. Kerr Mines assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements unless required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Man jailed 18 months for cruelty to cats BANGKOK: A motorcycle taxi driver has been sentenced to one year and six months in jail for cruelty to animals after killing nine cats he had adopted by answering a post on Facebook. crimedeathhomicideanimalstransportpolice By Bangkok Post Thursday 22 September 2016, 02:25PM Panuwat Singsahut, 26, is taken to a cell at North Bangkok District Court after being sentenced to a total of 18 months in jail for cruelty to animals in killing nine cats he had adopted. Photo: Tawatchai Kemgumnerd Panuwat Singsahut, 26, was charged in the North Bangkok District Court on Aug 15 with cruelty to animals after he was found to have killed nine cats on July 10, 18, 20, 24, 26, 29, 30 and 31 at his apartment on Lat Phrao Rd. Panuwat, who was free on B20,000 bail, turned up at the court today (Sept 22), accompanied by relatives, to hear the ruling. The court found he had violated Sections 20 and 31 of the Prevention of Cruelty and Welfare of Animals Act and Section 381 of the Criminal Code, and sentenced him to a total of 36 months imprisonment on nine counts, each carrying a jail term of 4 months. Due to his confession, the sentence was halved to 18 months. It was not suspended because Panuwat had previously been given a jail sentence. His relatives said they would seek Panuwats release on bail, pending an appeal. The court was told Panuwat lived in an apartment in Soi Mahadthai 13 in Wang Thong Lang district and adopted the nine cats after seeing an announcement on Facebook. He was allowed to take the cats in his care as he had adopted many cats before. On Aug 12, a message was published on the Facebook page Watchdog Thailand saying that Panuwat did not reply when contacted to return the cats. A complaint was filed with Wang Thong Lang police. During a search of his apartment on Aug 14, police found the dead cats in waste containers. Panuwat told police he had killed the cats in fits of rage. Read original story here. Unrest flares anew in US city after deadly police shooting UNITED STATES: Violence flared yesterday (Sept 21) in the southern US city of Charlotte, North Carolina, in a second night of unrest ignited by the fatal police shooting of a black man. crimehomicidepoliceviolence By AFP Thursday 22 September 2016, 11:06AM Police and protesters carry a seriously wounded protester into the Omni Hotel during a march to protest the death of Keith Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo: AFP Several hundred people taunted riot police in front of a hotel in the city centre, during which a man fell to the ground. Witnesses said police brought him into the hotel after he fell, leaving blood on the path. 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. We are calling for peace, we are calling for calm, we are calling for dialogue, Mayor Jennifer Roberts said earlier in the day. We all see this as a tragedy. Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was shot dead in an apartment complex parking lot on Tuesday (Sept 20) 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 Mr Scotts death, the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fuelled 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, last Friday (Sept 16) 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 dont know what she was thinking, the Republican said, speaking at an African-American church in Cleveland, Ohio. The Charlotte shooting took place at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT) 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 Mr Scott exit and then re-enter 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 Mr 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 Mr Scott definitively pointed the weapon specifically toward an officer. Carrying a firearm is legal under local open carry gun laws. Mr Scotts relatives told local media that he was waiting for his young son at a 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 Mr Scott had been armed. Its a lie, said Taheshia Williams, whose daughter attends school with the victims son. They took the book and replaced it with a gun. Yesterday afternoon, 100 students, mostly African-American, participated in a lay-in protesting police brutality, singing gospel songs. I do this for hope, one protester called out. I do this because Im tired of being silent, another said. One man held a sign reading Legalise being black. Protests had swelled Tuesday evening as news of the shooting spread, with demonstrators carrying signs that read Black Lives Matter and chanting No justice, no peace! Putney said the situation turned violent, with agitators damaging police vehicles and throwing rocks at officers. Riot control police were deployed and used tear gas to disperse the crowd, Putney said. A group of protesters nevertheless marched to a major highway early yesterday, shutting down traffic in both directions. They broke into the back of truck and set goods on fire, according to police. 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 Mr 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 (Sept 19) it would conduct a federal civil rights probe into the Tulsa shooting, parallel to an investigation being carried out by local authorities. Witness testimonies delay Krabi sex attack trial PHUKET: The trial of the man who carried out a sex attack on an American tourist in Krabi on Sept 1 has been delayed as Phang Nga Provincial Court is seeking further testimony from two local residents who saw the pair together prior to the attack. crimepolicesex By The Phuket News Thursday 22 September 2016, 12:25PM Apai Raingworchai, 28, is still being detained at Phang Nga Provincial Court until his trail begins. Photo: Darawan Naknakhon Ao Nang Deputy Police Chief, Lt Col Winai Poonsawas told The Phuket News this morning (Sept 21), I was told that the court is waiting for two more witnesses to testify. However, i can confirm that the suspect, 28-year-old Apai Raingworchai, who is facing charges of assault causing serious injury and sexual assault, is still being detained at Phang Nga Provincial Court until his trial begins. The two witnesses said they saw the suspect and the victim, Ms Gavios, together at the beach before they went to the mountain. The court hopes to get all their information as soon as possible so they can proceed with the trial, Lt Col Winai. Meanwhile, Lt Col Winai has also confirmed that Ms Gavois, who was previously in Bangkok Hospital Phuket where she received surgery on her spine following the attack, left the country last week. Ms Gavois left for her hometown in New York last Friday (Sept 16). Her family believed it was best for her to go back home to recover and seek further treatment there. However, I was told that she will return for the trial, Lt Col Winai added. Ms Gavois, 23, from Queens, New York fell 45 metres down a mountain at Railay, in Krabi, while fleeing a sexual attack by Apai on Sept 1. She told police that she had hired him as a local guide to lead her over the mountain back to her place of stay. (See story here.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Council on Disability (NCD) commends the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) for its inclusion of people with disabilities in discussions leading to the release of its "Federal Autonomous Vehicle Policy" guidance on Tuesday, September 20. In its guidance, NHTSA acknowledged the importance of the disability community when it wrote, "...this Policy is the product of significant input from stakeholders across the spectrum of voices from the traveling public, traffic safety professionals, researchers, industry, government, the disabled community and others." Of specific interest to the Council, NHTSA not only involved stakeholders with disabilities from the beginning of their inquiry, they also echoed recommendations made by NCD in their 2015 report "Self Driving Cars: Mapping Access to a Technology Revolution" which urged NHTSA not to impose limitations on people with disabilities through unnecessary licensure requirements to the extent possible, and to base any limitations on actual risk rather than unsubstantiated fears. "NCD is pleased that NHTSA has included disabled stakeholders from the earliest stages of the process and that several of NCD's recommendations made in 2015 were adopted," said NCD Chair Clyde Terry. "We are encouraged by NHTSA's positive first steps and urge them to make good on their commitment to universal design for autonomous vehicles in their next version of this policy so millions of disabled people who can't currently drive and have, until now, been left at the curb, will be able to utilize this technology to the fullest extent possible in keeping with the ADA's goal of full participation in society." As autonomous vehicle research and development, as well as policymaking moves forward, NCD will continue to collaborate with and advise NHTSA, Congress, and other federal partners to ensure that universal design and accessibility remain central and guiding themes in autonomous vehicles and other technological advances. Posted: September 22, 2016 11AAA semis will be awesome and more from HS football quarterfinals high-school-sports WatotoChild Care Ministries is a ministry of Watoto Church that rescues vulnerablechildren and restores dignity to them by providing holistically for theirphysical, spiritual and emotional needs. Watoto has operations in Kampala,Wakiso, Mpigi and Gulu. Power FM is a radio station owned by the Watoto Church. Organization: Green Bio Energy Duty Station: Mukono, Uganda About US: Green Bio Energy is a leader in the promotion of green energy in East Africa which specialized in energy-efficiency, affordability, reliability and locally anchored. Job Summary: The Research & Development Intern will be working with a team of engineers and supporting the Research & Development department. The Intern will conduct hands-on research to identify consumer needs, and contribute to product development as well as improving tools and machinery. Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities: Routinely analyze and understand the positioning of the product, service or process Work in close collaboration with the team to design and develop specific products, tools, services or processes Set-up tests and validation phases Correct and improve existing products, services or processes Support the production start-up Support team gather business intelligence (technology and competitive intelligence) to identify new trends and help conduct strategic planning Actively participate in benchmarking and test competitive products to gain relevant information that can be applied to product specifications Manage small R&D projects and report outcomes to R&D manager Where and when necessary, help the team gather any legal documents, including laws, regulations and patents, that are necessary for determining the projects feasibility. Actively participate in implementing, and complying with, health, safety and environmental regulations on a daily basis Apply research theories, principles, and models when conducting experiments and research activities. Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience: The Research & Development Intern should hold a graduate diploma/degree and experience in the field or in a related area Work well in the field under different conditions as well as in the office Computer literacy i.e. knowledge of MS Excel and Word Entrepreneurial spirit, with a hands-on, roll-up-the-sleeves mentality Ability to perform a variety of complicated tasks. High degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Fluency in English and Luganda How to Apply: & Administration via Email to: rebecca@greenbioenergy.org All applicants should send their updated CVs to Rebecca Rubaiza, HR& Administration via Email to: rebecca@greenbioenergy.org th September, 2016 Deadline: 30September, 2016 But the tribe has a long way to go The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to send a confirmation to it on cyber policy by September 30 A cyber breach in the Union Bank of Indias nostro account was successfully averted some months ago. A nostro account is a bank account established overseas, usually in the currency of that country, for carrying out transactions there. In July, a person tried to transfer $5 crore from a UBI account through the help of Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT). Nostros security wing in India blocked the transaction. Thereafter, transactions above $5 lakh from Indian accounts to foreign accounts were blocked. Banks in India have an IT policy, but there is no cyber security policy in place, which can sense unusual activities. The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to send a confirmation to it on setting up a cyber policy by September 30. The cyber security policy, the RBI said, should have methods to tackle cyber threat by strengthening the resilience of the banking system. The RBI has also observed that banks are hesitant to share information regarding cash security breach with it. SWIFT, a collective of more than 3,000 financial institutions, is taking initiatives to strengthen its secure messaging system after cyber attackers had initiated bogus transactions worth $850 million, from a Bangladeshi bank account, online, in February this year. Said G. Padmanabhan, former executive director, RBI, to THE WEEK, All banks have basic safety measures as of today. But that is not enough. Cyber security is a cat-and-mouse game. It is an ongoing effort. But, we cannot say that everything will be in place if we have a cyber security policy. Lets hope for the best. The war of words between India and Pakistan after the terror attack on an amry camp in Uri, is likely to escalate further. Though the ministry of external affairs remained tight-lipped about the levers that India could employ against Pakistan, its spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that actions will speak for themselves. Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned by foreign secretary S. Jaishankar on Wednesday to show the evidence that India had collected from 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, said Swarup. The offer was limited to providing finger prints and DNA evidence so that Pakistan can verify it against its national database. On being asked if there was a time line for the response, Swarup retorted that they had been waiting for eight years for the Mumbai attacks probe. While he refused to divulge details of the MEA's plan to isolate Pakistan, it was clear that the ministry is hoping that the support it has got from the world community will create the right environment to condemn Pakistan. However, there was a hint that India may use the Indus Water Treaty as a possible way to warn Pakistan. On being asked about it, Swarup said it is based on mutual trust and cooperation. He refused to elaborate further stating that everything does not need to be spelt out. In an attempt to find another way to reach Pakistan, India has also been wooing China. New Delhi has been in touch with Beijing on the issue of Masood Azhar. You would have seen very strong condemnation of the Uri attack from several major countries, said Swarup. On the other hand, Pakistans attempt to internationalise the Kashmir issue hasnt been successful, he pointed out. 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 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. One militant was killed on Thursday in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district, the police said. The militant was killed in Aragam Chitti Bandi village. The operation is still going on, the police said. Security forces had surrounded the village on specific information about the presence of militants on early Thursday morning. After the area was cordoned off, militants fired upon the security forces personnel triggering the gunfight. 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 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. As India and Pakistan spar, intelligence agencies have sounded an alert in the National Capital following the Uri strike at Srinagar. They say that the capital city is a lucrative target for the terror groups. Additional paramilitary forces will be placed at the disposal of the Delhi police to ward off any threats. The upcoming festival season also makes places of high public footfall the chosen targets for terrorists who may want to inflict maximum casualties. Terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba are active and could choose major cities and metros as their target. The intelligence agencies have warned that Delhi being the capital city is vulnerable and always a possible target for terrorist groups, especially during the festival season when there is huge gathering of people in markets and places of celebration. The Delhi police, assisted by central forces, will keep a tight vigil during the upcoming festivals like Navratras, Durga Puja, Dusshera, Diwali, Chhath Puja . A tight vigil will be maintained during processions, and at places like malls, hotels, busy markets, schools, colleges, temples, airports, metro stations, bus stands to avoid any untoward incident. The intelligence agencies have said that CCTV cameras would have to be checked and made operational in all such places. The alert in the capital follows a major terrorist trike at the Army base camp in Uri sector of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday morning, where four armed terrorists entered into the army base camp . During the attack, 17 army personnel were killed and several others wounded. Another army personnel succumbed to injuries later. The Uri terror strike had sparked a direct confrontation between Indian and Pakistan, with the former accusing Pakistan of direct involvement in the attack on its soldiers. The India-Pakistan ties are under heavy strain, with security analysts pointing out that terror outfits may use this opportunity to cause further damage and escalate the tension further. US 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 UN 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. 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 September 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. 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. US 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 US Predator drone was in the area when the convoy was attacked. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault distributed a document on Wednesday to the UN Security Council outlining a new mechanism for monitoring the truce that it wants major powers to discuss later this week. 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 effortsabandoned 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 September 17 attack by the US-led coalition against Islamic State that killed dozens of Syrian soldiers in the eastern Deir al-Zor province. Washington said 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. The need to strengthen and revitalise the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) in order to make it an effective pressure group against the western dominance in the international forum was a major takeaway from the NAM meet that was hosted by Venezuela at the Island of Margarita from September 13 to 18. In the changing global scenario, where the ruler-colony distinction is getting blurred, there are a host of rising inequities which continue to keep Africa, Asia and Latin America, with their growing economies and rising aspirations, as distinct from the traditional powers, read Eurpoe and North America. As representatives of 120 countries deliberated on a host of issues ranging from terrorism to climate change and a bigger voice in the United Nations, one need emerged very clearly. This bloc should develop a "new world information and communication order''. World over, news agencies of the western world report developments, and those reports definitely reflect their biases. The other voices are often drowned out, as their reports are unable to withstand the aggressive information bombardment of the west. Venezuelan ambassador to India, Augusto Montiel, while discussing the main outcomes of the meet, said that NAM expressed deep concern over the use of media as a tool of hostile propaganda against developing countries. NAM stressed the need to promote alternative, free, pluralistic and responsible media and communication sources which reflect the realities and views of people in the developing world. The meet also reiterated the need for reform in the United Nations, specially the security council so that it reflects contemporary geopolitical realities. The leaders also agreed that the selection of the UN general secretray should be through a more inclusive and transparent process. The meet condemned measures by Israel to alter the legal, physical and demographic structure of Syrian Golan. As the 52nd session of NAM concluded, however, there were strong questions about the relevance of the association and its role. Prime minister Narendra Modi's decision to skip the meet, which the NDA government sees as a legacy of the Congress and Jawaharlal Nehru, was evident. However, with vce-president Hamid Ansari representing the country, India's commitment to NAM couldn't be said to have completely disappeared. It just brought less media coverage to the event in India. Also, new economic realities and friendships have changed the world from the time when NAM was begun over half a century ago. "It is important for the developing world to realise our welfare is in staying together, and speaking as one loud voice at international fora,'' said Montiel. Venezuela will be the NAM head for the next three years. NAM's agreement on boosting South South cooperation is another way of strengthening this solidarity. The water level in the Mettur dam, the check point in the Cauvery where the water released by Karnataka is stored, was just 75 feet on September 4. We can release water from the Mettur dam for irrigation only if it touches 90 feet, said an official in the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department. The next day Karnataka started releasing water from its Krishna Raja Sagara dam, as per the Supreme Court order. This, however, might not do any good for the farmers of Tamil Nadu. Even if 12,000 cusecs of water is released per day till September 20, as per the Supreme Court order, we will get only 15 to 16 tmc ft water. This will not be sufficient for irrigation, said the official. The farmers in the delta, who cultivate samba crops on about 15 lakh acres, have lost all hope. This is the case every year, says K.V. Ilankeeran, president of Veeranam Farmers Association. For the fifth consecutive year, water has not been released from Mettur dam as per schedule. Veeranam is one of the lakes at the tail end of the Cauvery delta, in the Cuddalore-Chidambaram region. The Cauvery and the Vennar divide into 36 distributaries with a total length of 1,600km and feed 1,500 main channels in the delta. These channels are mostly dry. In most of the distributaries and channels, even the sand level is low owing to unregulated sand mining in distress years. I will not cultivate samba this year, said Raja Marthandan, a farmer in Thiruvaiyaru. I am sure there will be no water and there will be no yield. The court says water will be released and the politicians in my village also say that. But there is not even a single drop of water in the river. Marthandan used to be proud of making Thanjavur the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu. Not any longer. It is a curse being a farmer, he said. The favourable award from the tribunal in 2013 has in no way helped the farmers overcome their woes. The tribunal had stipulated release of 192 tmc ft of water from Karnataka through monthly deliveries. But the petition filed by Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court seeking water release had stated that there was a shortfall of 50.052 tmc ft at the interstate border, Biligundu, as on August 19. The politicisation of the issue has only made things worse. Politics is the main reason for it getting dragged, said S. Janakarajan, president, South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies, Hyderabad. Had this not been backed by any political party, farmers will not engage in violence. Farmers, anyway, have a bigger battle to wage. The samba crop cultivation, which usually begins in June-July, has not begun in the delta yet. Gazetting of the tribunal award was a moral and legal victory. But we are very disappointed. We do not know how we can save our crops this year, said Shanmuga Thevar, a farmer in Thittai, Thanjavur. Gazetting is just the first step. The next is the constitution of the Cauvery River Management Board with representation from all party states and the Central water resources ministry. This board will have the powers to implement the provisions of the final award. As per the Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956 the Supreme Court should not have entertained the contending states. It should have told them to go back to the tribunal. Nobody knows the state of the tribunal now, said Janakarajan. The protests in the delta in Tamil Nadu have not been intense, as the farmers were worried more about samba cultivation than the politics of water. In 2011, they abandoned the kuruvai crops owing to climate change and low water level in the Cauvery. This time samba will be a difficult proposition, said S. Ranganathan, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Cauvery Delta Farmers Association. [COMMUNICATED CONTENT] Three years ago, over 10,000 people were fortunate enough to attend the Yad LAchim events and witness firsthand as Maya, the daughter of the Hamas Sheikh told her dramatic life story. In a multi-city tour, her amazing story of horror, rescue, redemption and eventually working for Yad LAchim to help rescue others was an emotional tour de force. Her story is inspirational and life changing. After thousands of requests, the video of Maya, The Daughter of Hamas Sheiks telling her life story will be released. The DAUGHTER OF THE HAMAS SHEIKH VIDEO WILL BE RELEASED within the coming weeks. It will be made available for free in pre-release EXCLUSIVELY FOR THOSE WHO SIGN UP WITHIN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. To sign up to be able to see the video of Maya tell her dramatic life story before anyone else CLICK HERE NOW TO SIGN UP The Regavim organization has pledged to keep-up the pressure on the Israeli government until the it upholds the High Court rulings to demolish an illegal EU-funded squatter camp near Sussia. The call comes one day after Members of Knesset from the Land of Israel Parliamentary Caucus toured the ancient Jewish site and observed the growing illegal Arab squatter community that surrounds it. The tour was conducted by Regavim experts who monitor and report from the field. In August, Netanyahu asked the court for a two-month extension on their ruling, after the European Union and US State Department applied excessive pressure on him not to take action. On Monday, 16 Elul, lawmakers toured the ruins of the ancient Jewish city of Sussia which is home to a 1,500-year-old shul with multiple Hebrew mosaics. Following which they briefly stopped to observe the growing illegal EU-funded Arab encampment outside the site and were met by a few dozen Palestinian and European activists waving Palestinian flags and chanting With blood and fire we will protect Arab Sussia among other things. Josh Hasten, International Director of Regavim stated: We were extremely encouraged by the support we received from the Land of Israel Parliamentary Caucus. Regavim will continue to keep-up the pressure on the government until the supreme court rulings are upheld. We call upon our supporters in Israel and abroad to continue writing letters to Prime Minister Netanyahu to insist that he upholds the right of law and doesnt bow to the immense pressure being placed upon him. While in Sussiya, Jewish Home MK and Co-Chairman of the Land of Israel Parliamentary Caucus Betzalel Smotrich stated: It is unacceptable that the international community are interfering with rulings of the Israeli Supreme Court. The democratically elected government of Israel must uphold the right of law in Sussiya and demolish the illegal structures in accordance with the law. Sussiya is being used internationally as a test-case for more foreign funded Arab-land grabs in Area C in an attempt to connect Judea with Gaza and establish a de-facto Palestinian State. Likud MK and Co-Chairman of the Land of Israel Parliamentary Caucus Yoav Kisch added: Today we witnessed the rampant ongoing illegal Palestinian building around Sussiya, a 1,500-year-old Jewish City. We will be taking what weve learnt directly back to the Knesset to rally support and ensure that this unacceptable situation comes to an end Regavim is a legal advocacy organization, dedicated to ensuring responsible, legal and accountable use of Israels national land. By investigating claims on the ground level, Regavim protects national land interests, presenting its findings in the form of white papers and legal action, in addition to briefing the press and diplomatic corps. PHOTO CREDIT REGAVIM (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Despite heightened security measures around Jewish institutions in Europe, 70% of Europes Jews do not intend to attend shul on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur A recent survey held last week by the European Jewish Association (EJA) and the Rabbinical Center of Europe (RCE) shows that despite the increased security arrangements around Jewish institutions in Europe, 70% of Europes Jews do not intend to visit shul on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The findings of the survey conducted on September 12-15, 2016 among a representative sample of 700 capital cities and communities in the periphery throughout Europe from Britain in the west to Ukraine in the east, demonstrate that more that 50% of Jewish communities across the continent report a decline in the number of active members of the Jewish community, as a direct result of an increase of anti-Semitism. Only about 11% of communities across Europe reported an increase in members and 39% of the communities reported that there is no change in the number of registered community members. EJA and RCE General Director Rabbi Menachem Margolin indicates that 75% of the communities reported an increased vigilance by various governments to the dangers faced by Jews in light of the growing anti-Semitism since last years High Holidays The vast majority of community leaders also reported having to increase security and policing measures around Jewish schools, synagogues and other affiliated institutions of the community. The challenge for most of the Jewish communities has doubled in recent months, notes Rabbi Margolin On one hand, significant increasing in violence against Jews of individuals, institutions and communities (among other reasons by immigrants and Muslim refugees) and on the other as a result of the refugee crisis, there is an actual increase in the power of the far right across the continent. Currently the focus of the extreme right and their activity is focused on Islam, but testimonies of rabbis and community leaders show a great deal of concern about the growing of nationalism and xenophobia warns Rabbi Margolin. The Rabbi also called for the European Union and governments across the continent to increase educational efforts and the fight against anti-Semitism as part of the curriculum in schools. counterterrorism is of course an important measure to save lives but not enough to solve the problem from the root. As long as there will not be an educational effort focused on the Elimination of anti-Semitism, the problem will continue. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) An indictment was handed down against N.Y.P. (name on file) a 26-year-old chareidi resident of Jerusalem for claiming to be a facilitator who can expedite medical care in the Israeli system by being close to Rabbi Elimelech Firer of the Ezra LMarpeh organization and an aide to Health Minister Yaakov Litzman. The indictment was handed down on Wednesday morning 18 Elul in the Jerusalem Magistrate Court. YNP approached patients in Hadassah Ein Kerem and Shaare Zedek Hospitals ad explained he was close to Rabbi Firer and was able to expedite care for a fee. He allegedly took sizable sums of money from family members of the patients for this service. The indictment mentions that in one case, he took NIS 20,000 for a cemetery plot from a woman on her death bed RL. Police report they already have complaints from five families and are working to obtain others. It is added that three physicians, including two senior physicians from Ein Kerem, have been questioned under warning suspected of accepting bribes for expedited medical care. They deny the allegations against them. Police representative David Koriat told the court during the hearing the suspect took advantage of people when they were in a difficult situation, simply benefiting from their pain and suffering. The case came to light when a hospital security officer received a complaint from a cancer patient. YNP took a sum of money form the man for an expedited interpretation of a MRI of his head after allegedly showing forged documentation indicating the growth in his head returned while BH this was not the case. Attorney Shalom Ben-Shabbat is representing YNP, telling the court the allegations against his client lack evidentiary support. He added that even if the allegations were true, at worst his client is guilty of fraud, nothing more, and this does not request detention as police request, to hold him without bail. He added that police have failed to show any evidence that his client attempted to interfere with the ongoing investigation as alleged. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) [PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Israel Post Director General Danny Goldstein, on Monday, 16 Elul, ahead of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at the Kosel, met with Rav of the Kosel & Holy Sites Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz Shlita. Goldstein delivered a consignment of letters addressed to G-d to Rabbi Rabinowitz, letters that will be placed between the stones of the Kosel. The letters were posted from Israel as well as from countries such as Russia, China, France, Nigeria, Spain, the Netherlands, the US, the UK and many others. Hundreds of letters are mailed to Israel annually addressed to inter alia G-d, J, Our Dear Father in Heaven and the Kosel. These letters, most of which lack a return address, are sent to the Israel Post Lost and Found Dept., which then sends them, once every few months, to be placed among the stones of the Kosel. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Ran Dickstein) Estimados amigos, Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia. Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro. Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras. There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen. You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out. No soy alguien que sabe, sino alguien que busca. Only Gold is money. Everything else is debt. Las grandes almas tienen voluntades; las debiles tan solo deseos. Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada. History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity. [COMMUNICATED CONTENT] By: Julie Ahn & Hannah Levin After months of advocacy, a delegation of American-Jewish communal and business leaders who comprise the United States-Israel Security Alliance, an initiative dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-Israeli relationship, will convene on Capitol Hill to urge leading and influential members of both the Senate and the House to support legislation to combat the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and thank those that have sponsored legislation to this effect. In the guise of promoting human rights and equality, the BDS movement seeks to delegitimize Israel by calling on the international community to implement boycott and divestment initiatives against corporations which profit from business in Israel, essentially suffocating the State of Israel economically. A political, economic, cultural, and ideological global campaign, the BDS movement has become a giant that vigorously attempts to denigrate the State of Israel by falsely stigmatizing the Jewish State as a 21st Century Apartheid regime. This mission comes at a critical time, when the BDS movement has been increasing economic and political pressure to force Israel to submit to its demands, which include: boycotts and divestment from certain Israeli products, as well as resolutions for universities to divest from Israeli companies. The anti-Israel BDS sentiment is also seeping into corporate boardrooms and trade unions, with a growing trend in Europe to ban or label products made in Israeli factories over the green line. Due to this movement, there have been disruptions of Israeli cultural events, pressure to cancel events with cultural figures in Israel, as well as strong efforts to gain support for BDS from important religious institutions. The BDS movement, while claiming peace, will not stop until Israel is on her knees. In 2015, President Obama signed into law the Trade Promotion Authority Act which included an amendment to, discourage actions by potential trading partners that discourage commercial activity solely between the United States and Israel. This amendment incorporated language from the United States-Israel Trade and Commercial Enhancement Act of which was sponsored by Representatives Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Juan Vargas (D-CA). A similar bill, knows as the United States-Israel Trade Enhancement Act of 2015, was sponsored in the Senate by Senators Cardin and Portman. The Combating BDS Act of 2016, an additional legislative effort to combat BDS, was introduced on February 10, 2016 by Senators Kirk and Manchin in the Senate, and Representatives Robert Dold (R-IL) and Juan Vargas (D-CA) in the House. The delegation and its co-chairs Ken Abramowitz; Mark Meyer Appel; Andrew Friedman, Esq; Nathan Herzog; Dr. Alan Kadish; Joseph B. Stamm; and Stanley Treitel will be meeting with these members as well as many others. Recently, the State of NJ and California (pending Governor Browns signature) have passed legislation mandating state divestment from companies that boycott Israel. Other states, including New York, issued similar policies. In all, about half of the state legislatures are considering or have adopted resolutions which condemn boycotts against Israel or defund universities that participate in such boycotts. Members of the delegation will convey appreciation to members of Congress for preventing politically-motivated sanctions against Israel and protecting the right of both state and local governments to disassociate contracts from entities that engage in boycotting Israel, and will encourage further legislative efforts both on the federal and state level. Ezra Friedlander, CEO of The Friedlander Group, who is organizing the mission, summed up the objective of the mission by stating, By introducing and supporting anti-BDS legislation, members of Congress are continuing their legislative efforts to thwart the BDS movement, standing against the radical campaign to cripple Israel socially, economically, politically, and ideologically. Legislative efforts to support the anti-BDS campaign send a message against groups that force radical agendas in the name of peace. City officials initially tweeted that the injured man had died and that the fatal shots were fired by another civilian. However, they later corrected their statement to say the man was on life support and in critical condition. The unrest caused North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory to declare a state of emergency in the city. The governor told Fox News Sean Hannity that National Guard troops and State Highway Patrol members would be dispatched to aid Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated, McCrory said in a statement late Wednesday. I support and commend the law enforcement officials for their bravery and courage during this difficult situation. What started as a prayer vigil over the Tuesday shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott turned into a night of looting and arson, as police officers used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse violent protesters who had split off from the vigil. Demonstrators shouted black lives matter and hands up; dont shoot while cursing at officers with bicycles blocking intersections. 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 shot. (Source: Fox News) [PHOTOS BY JDN IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] The Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael of Agudas Yisrael convened this week to discuss concerns of the increase in Chilul Shabbos around Israel as well as state interference in chareidi education. The councils secretary, Rav Mordechai Stern sent three letters to members of the Agudas Yisrael faction in Knesset of Yahadut Hatorah; MKs Yisrael Eichler, Menachem Eliezer Moses, Deputy Minister Meir Porush and Minister Yaakov Litzman. The first letter spells out the decision of the admorim, addressing the chilul Shabbos matter and the need to protect the current religious status quo, which has been in place for decades, and in their words, serves as the basis for all religious services and matters in Israel its Orthodox rabbonim. The letter adds, if not, chareidi Jewry cannot work with such a government. The second letter quotes the admorim and their vision for the establishment of a body to oversee higher education similar to the Council of Higher Education which oversees Israels universities. This independent body the admorim feel would safeguard the chareidi education system from unwanted state interference. The third letter addresses the need to find solutions to the critical housing shortage and to find affordable solutions. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Yitzchak Pindrus at a city council meeting on Wednesday night 18 Elul discussed the machlokes that continues between the frum and secular residents of the citys Kiryat Yovel neighborhood. He explained to his colleagues that he is personally willing to sit down at a negotiating table in the hope of working out the problems but he will not agree to a situation in which the chareidi residents of the city do not receive the services they are entitled to. He stressed the latter is not a precondition to negotiations to end the machlokes in Kiryat Yovel, and that one does not try to prevent chareidim from moving to a specific area by denying services that every citizen is entitled to, and this is the situation in Kiryat Yovel today. The concept of closing a theater in the hope of chasing one out of the capital is not acceptable. The concept of depriving a child of a school or kindergarten is equally unacceptable he added. This Pindrus lamented is the operational methodology of the Kiryat Yovel minhelet neighborhood council, which feels by depriving a certain group of services the members of that group will leave the area, which is the councils goal. Such behavior only benefits us political and does not deliver you the desired results he added. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) [COMMUNICATED CONTENT] Gaza 2014 After getting wounded by a large shell that penetrated his brain, an Israeli soldier named Yehuda Hayisraeli was almost pronounced dead on the scene. But after a miraculous recovery and several long years of hospitalization, Heyisraeli found himself ready to return home. All that was needed was a special room to be built in his house to complete his physical rehabilitation. The rehab room was supposed to be paid for by the Defense Ministry as is compelled by Israeli law. The only condition was that he get a building permit. There was just one problem. He lived in a town called Ofra, a village situated in a region where the Israeli government issued a building freeze prohibiting any new building permits or additions to houses. This included the recovery room for this decorated warrior. This placed the Israeli government in an uncomfortable predicament as they are expected by their voters to look after their troops. But while the government was busy deliberating, 89,000 patriotic Israelis stepped up and launched a crowdfunding campaign raising 1.4 Million shekels ($360,000) to build him the unit he so desperately needed to complete his recovery. The same way crowds of people spent their hard-earned cash to raise close to $1 million for a wounded soldier in only 3 weeks, so too can other crowd spending sprees trigger events that help investors better position themselves to profit. Its actually a little-known economic theory called the wisdom of the crowds whereby investors study the behavior of the masses hoping to make huge profits. To understand the power of the wisdom of the crowds, one need look no further than the launch of the original iPhone. That iconic 2007 event is a perfect case study of how spending behavior of the masses can make outside observers extremely wealthy. So when 6.1 million people purchased the first iPhone within the first four days of its launch, smart investors used this consumer data to make their next move buying Apple shares like they were going out of style. This is a classic example of how traders exploit the wisdom of the crowds to profit. And you are about to see how you can too. Learn how to earn an extra income by copying the leading investors strategies. Thats because theres another investor who used this very philosophy to make his followers a six-figure salary. He is an anonymous internet trader who goes by the alias Superman704. So how can you use the wisdom of the crowds to turn a pile of money into a mountain of money? Easy-Superman704 allows anyone who wants to make quick cash copy his trades. Despite the fact that he prefers not to reveal his true identity, this online trader single handedly managed to provide his followers with a daily profit average of 487.3. The mystery investor utilizes the wisdom of the crowds to make anyone who copies his trades massive profits. And because he owes his success to the crowds, he also gives back by paying it forward. He does this by allowing anyone wishing to freeload off of his wisdom of the crowds trading strategy to make some serious profits. Superman 704 uses a social trading network to showcase his trades. And because of the impressive profits he was generating, the network became an overnight sensation attracting massive amounts of internet traffic looking to instantly grow their wealth. His trades were so sought after and copied that it even caused the social trading networks servers to crash twice and thats why only a select few are currently allowed to access his highly successful trades. Luckily, I found the link to apply for entry to Superman704s trades, Click here to apply to gain access. Learn how to earn an extra income by copying the leading investors strategies. Choose the best trader for you and start copying in 1 click! Alain Kaloyeros, longtime head of SUNY Polytechnic Institute and ally of Governor Andrew Cuomo, was arrested this morning along with several developers who were big-time donors to Cuomo, and two longtime members of Cuomo's inner circle, Todd Howe and Joseph Percoco. Kaloyeros has for years been one of (if not the) highest-paid state employee, making at least $1.17 million last year in dual roles with the college and the Research Foundation for SUNY, which channels state funding to the school. In addition to boosting nanotechnology and allegedly fixing bids for signature Cuomo development projects around the state, Kaloyeros has a taste for John Varvatos threads, Italian sportscars, and misogynistic Facebook memes. Most pertinent today is his alleged participation in rigging the Buffalo Billions project, which dedicated $1 billion in state funds to Buffalo factories, research facilities, and other developments, and the Central New York Hub for Emerging Nano Industries, a $15 million, high-tech film studio that was supposed to bring jobs to the Syracuse area (by and large, it hasn't). The feds are charging Kaloyeros with conspiracy to commit wire fraud for allegedly helping to tailor requests for proposals in the two projects to two specific developers who were allegedly paying off Howe and Percoco, and had given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Cuomo's campaign. The federal charge against Kaloyeros carries as many as 20 years in prison. "I really do hope there is a trial in this case so New Yorkers can see, in gory detail, what their state government has been up to," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara said at a press conference this afternoon. Kaloyeros is also being hit with three felony state anti-trust charges for similar alleged schemes related to dorm construction and other SUNY real estate arrangements, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced this afternoon. The charges carry 4 to 12 years in prison. "There's a long history of public corruption in New York state, going back to the days of Alexander Hamiltion and Aaron Burr, but it feels like we are living in a golden age of graft recently," Schneiderman said at his own press conference. Kaloyeros rose to prominence as a physicist evangelizing about the virtues of nanotechnology, and lately has been busy as an administrator of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, which in 2014 merged with the SUNY Institute of Technology to become SUNY Poly, and Cuomo's point person for planning big-ticket tech-jobs projects around the state. If the allegations are true, this last posting seems to have been a grave error on the part of Cuomo. To recap, from the federal complaint against Kaloyeros and the seven others: Kaloyeros allegedly hired Howe as a consultant from 2012 to 2015, paying him $25,000 a month to maintain a close relationship with the Governor's Office and help carry out large projects. In 2013 and 2014, Howe was also working for Syracuse developer COR Development and Buffalo developer LPCiminelli, who wanted access to the Governor's Office and Kaloyeros. According to the complaint, COR paid Howe $14,000 a month, and LPCiminelli paid a little under $8,500 a month. In 2013, as planning was underway for the Buffalo Billion project, Howe allegedly forwarded LPCiminelli internal SUNY Poly emails about the process, as well as emails between him and a law firm for another developer. Similarly, as the state was ramping up to put the film studio project out to bid, Howe allegedly leaked confidential details to COR. Kaloyeros allegedly tried to convince the board of directors for Fort Schuyler Management, a company created to award state development money and headed by Kaloyeros, to see the bidding as the beginning of a "strategic partnership" rather than a one-off development project, meaning the companies selected would get no-bid contracts for future projects in the respective areas. The build-up to the projects also coincided with a flurry of donations to Cuomo, which Howe allegedly encouraged. COR's executives and their family members gave at least $250,000 to get the governor elected, including $65,000 one month before allegedly supplying information on how to properly rig the Syracuse bid to Kaloyeros. LPCiminelli's Louis Ciminelli and family members gave at least $100,000 from 2009 to 2014, and while his Buffalo Billion bid was being considered in 2013, hosted a Cuomo fundraiser that netted the campaign $250,000. A diagram made by federal prosecutors to show the alleged flow of money in a corruption scheme implicating state nano-tech czar Alain Kaloyeros and two members of Governor Cuomo's inner circle. (Joshua Keefe/Gothamist) In drafting the requests for proposals, Howe allegedly reached out to the two developers for lists of specific qualifications so that he and Kaloyeros could tailor the bid requests to disqualify all other developers. As the calls for bids were drafted, he allegedly shared the companies' "vitals" with Kaloyeros, and non-public details of the plans with the developers. In one seeming smoking-gun email, upon receiving a draft request for proposals, Kaloyeros allegedly wrote, "these are not unique to LPCiminelli..we need more definite specs, like minimum X years in Y, Z number of projects in high tech, etc, etc." In another, when Howe passed along a list of COR's qualifications to Kaloyeros's work email address, Kaloyeros responded, "Please gmail not email." (This is not a good plan for keeping one's email private.) COR general counsel Joseph Gerardi allegedly offered handwritten comments on a draft RFP, writing in one section that called for proficiency in specific software that COR used, "too telegraphed??" The Syracuse call for bids was apparently so specific that no other developers bothered to submit proposals. COR would go on to build the $15 million film studio and, with no RFP, a $90 million factory in Syracuse. Howe allegedly received a $385,000 bonus for his efforts. In Buffalo, the RFP called for applicants to have 50 years of experience, a provision allegedly included to cement LPCiminelli's hold on the job. Shortly after the call went out, the SUNY Research Foundation's director of procurement emailed developers to say that was an error, and the authors meant to write "15 years." "Grrrrr," an executive at LPCiminelli allegedly wrote in an email to Ciminelli and co-defendant Kevin Schuler after receiving the "15 years" email. "50 was a bit obnoxious," Schuler allegedly responded. The Buffalo RFP drew three bids total, and LPCiminelli got picked to build a $225 million manufacturing plant in Buffalo. That contract later ballooned to $750 million. In related but separate schemes, Percoco and Howe have been charged with extortion, soliciting bribes, and fraud for allegedly stringing along a company called Competitive Power Ventures by saying they would extract various regulatory favors from other state officials, in exchange for payments funneled through a shell corporation set up by Howe, as well as a $7,500 a month part-time children's education job the company allegedly created at a power plant for Percoco's unemployed wife. Howe pleaded guilty to extortion, wire fraud, and conspiracy charges secretly this month, and is cooperating with federal prosecutors, helping them, among other things, understand why he and Percoco call each other "Herb" all the time, and refer to money as "Zitti," as in "Don't want to tip over the Zitti [sic] wagon." (Answer: It's mob lingo for money, as seen on The Sopranos.) Joseph Percoco, left, with Governor Cuomo in 2013. (AP) Percoco's lawyer Barry Bohrer told the New York Times the prosecution is "an overreach of classic proportions... Mr. Percoco performed services honestly and within the bounds of the law at all times." Also charged at the state level is Joseph Nicolla of the Albany development company Columbia Development. The three alleged schemes involving Nicolla and Kaloyeros are: The development of a SUNY Poly dorm in Albany, wherein Kaloyeros allegedly forwarded rival bidding information to the developer and gave him a heads up before the release of the RFP. The construction of a research building, wherein Kaloyeros allegedly awarded the contract to a contractor who agreed to loan $50 million to a nonprofit Kaloyeros controlled for SUNY. The influx of money to the nonprofit allegedly bumped up Kaloyeros's pay. The awarding of space in a SUNY Poly building to an architectural firm, which Kaloyeros allegedly allowed in exchange for work on SUNY projects, and a share of state money steered its way. Kaloyeros allegedly boasted to the firm about his ability to "write an RFP in such a way that only one company could win it." SUNY has suspended Kaloyeros without pay, Governor Cuomo announced earlier today. Cuomo has known and worked closely with Howe and Percoco since the 1990s, and used to be fond of talking about how his late father Mario Cuomo referred to Percoco as his "third son." He also appeared regularly with Kaloyeros throughout the past several years at events publicizing their alleged high-tech economic development projects. In a statement today, Cuomo distanced himself from all those who appear to now be going down. "I learned this morning of the charges filed by the U.S. Attorneys office that include a former member of my administration. If the allegations are true, I am saddened and profoundly disappointed," he said in a statement. "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. Like my father before me, I believe public integrity is paramount. This sort of breach, if true, should be and will be punished." Referring to the previous successful prosecutions of former Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver and former state Senate majority leader Dean Skelos on corruption charges, Bharara said that the developers and quasi-governmental wheel-greasers involved in this case show that "the state legislature does not have any kind of monopoly on graft and corruption in New York." Bharara declined to say whether his office had interviewed Cuomo as part of this investigation, or whether he was the subject of further inquiries. Additional reporting by Josh Keefe The FTSE 100 is once again within touching distance of a year-high and teetering close to the 7000 mark. The stock market yesterday climbed 1.1 per cent, or 76.63, points to 6911.4. It has been higher just once in the past 12 months, on August 15 when it closed at 6941. Tui was among the highest risers of the day as reports came that EasyJet may take a stake in the firm's German carrier TUIfly to protect its flying rights in Europe after Brexit. Tui landed 4.2 per cent, or 44p, higher at 1093p. The miners made up much of the top performers list though. The stock market yesterday climbed 1.1 per cent, or 76.6 points, to 6,911.4. It has been higher just once in the past 12 months, on August 15 when it closed at 6,941 Iron ore prices have climbed around 5 per cent amid a surge in demand from China. Glencore advanced 5.5 per cent, or 10.8p, to 207.9p as Liberum removed its 'sell' rating on the stock. Among the smaller commodity firms, Lamprell leapt higher despite admitting revenue for the year will be below expectations and it will be cutting costs. A 19million settlement for the late delivery of a rig dragged continuing operations to a 3.4million loss in the first half of the year, compared with a 15.4million profit for the same period in 2015. That's despite revenues increasing from 270.7million to 347.6million in that time. The oil and gas contracting services firm said it had been a challenging time for the industry, and project delays and cancellations are expected to continue through 2017 which will impact next year's order book and top-line performance. The firm is now focusing on costs. Staff levels have already been reduced by 10 per cent, saving the business around 3.9million a year. Liberum reiterated its 'buy' rating on the stock, but said it will review its forecasts when more details are available. Shares soared 8.9 per cent, or 5p, to 61p. STOCK WATCH - MISSION MARKETING Marketing and communications group Mission Marketing said new business had helped drive revenue up 10 per cent to 32.4million in the six months to June 30. The firm, which employs 950 people across the UK, Asia and San Francisco, secured deals with Greene King, Halfords, O2 and confectioner Mondelez. AIM-listed Mission said pre-tax profit was up 14 per cent to 2million for the period and is confident of delivering its full-year outlook. The strong results saw the firm increase its dividend by a hefty 67 per cent to 0.5p a share. Shares surged 13.7 per cent, or 5p, to 41.5p. A commitment to new digital products drove up Haynes Publishing shares. The firm, known for its manuals of the inner workings of cars, reported its year-end results yesterday. Haynes also provides digital subscriptions to some 40,000 professional mechanics across Europe in more than 25 languages. Revenue had slipped 2 per cent to 25.7million and operating profit was down 19 per cent to 2.5mililon. The group increased its investment in new product development by 14 per cent to 6.4million. A strategic review will see the company's US operations consolidated in California and freehold properties in Nashville will be sold. Chairman Eddie Bell said the group is in transition, but now the review is being implemented the firm can focus on new products and profit-enhancing initiatives. Panmure Gordon, which has a 'buy' rating on the stock, said it sees significant potential for the group's new digital operations. A new platform for consumers with more than 1,000 video clips covering vehicle maintenance and repair is in the final stages of development. Haynes is also looking to launch a new interactive app. Shares gained 1.3 per cent, or 1.5p, to 116.5p. Sophos shares advanced as a litigation ruling drew to a conclusion. A lawsuit had been brought by Finjan alleging that Sophos, a network security software provider, had infringed on five of the firm's patents. US-based Finjan was awarded a one-time damages payment of 11.5million. Sophos said it is considering all options, including an appeal of the verdict. Despite the ruling, Sophos shares closed 1.3 per cent, or 3.3p, higher at 266.2p. Investors were not taking the bait when Fishing Republic published its interim results. The fishing tackle retailer said revenue was up 34 per cent to 2.5million in the first half of the year. It also turned last year's 150,000 loss into a 157,000 pre-tax profit. Fishing Republic opened new stores in Birmingham and Crewe, relocated its Hull store and is planning to invest to grow its website sales. A funding round in June welcomed a number of new shareholders, including former Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy. Yesterday, it was reported that Anthony Weiner had sexted with a 15-year-old girl for months via various social media messaging services. Now, the Daily Mail reports that the NYPD's Special Victims Unit is investigating the matter, and Weiner could face criminal charges for the relationship with the minor. The NYPD press office would not comment when asked to confirm the SVU investigation. The girl and her father, who don't live in New York, told the Daily Mail that they weren't interested in pressing charges against Weiner because the correspondence was consensual, but they came forward "out of concern that Weiner may be sexting with other underage girls." The 15-year-old, who said her correspondence with Weiner started in January 2016, said she had become obsessed with Weiner and his scandals, calling him her "Hannibal Lecter." The girl told the Daily Mail that Weiner was fully aware of her age, and claims he encouraged her to masturbate over video chat and sent her nude photos. She also claims Weiner tried to engage her in "rape fantasy" discussions, which she says she rejected. Gov. Andrew Cuomo commented on the allegations, telling reporters, "If the reports are true, its possibly criminal and it is sick. And frankly, Ive heard enough about Anthony Weiner and I think that goes for all New Yorkers. The Daily News reports: "Under federal law, it is illegal 'to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for purposes of producing visual depictions of that conduct,' according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The charge carries a maximum prison term of 30 years." "The federal government is very strict not that state isnt but the feds are very strict when it comes to sex offenses involving children, defense lawyer Renee Hill told the Post. "He could be in some really serious trouble here." An attorney told the Daily Mail that he believes police would be able to build a strong case around the texts and the explicit photos the two shared. "All you really have to do is look at the messages there to substantiate 90 per cent of her story," said lawyer Joe Tacopina, who noted a charge of endangering the welfare of a child is punishable by up to a year in jail and three years probation. "If she is a problem child that actually makes her more vulnerable and this is even more egregious, quite frankly." According to the Post, the girl claims that a panicking Weiner pressured to write a letter to her father and a teacher in whom she had confided "and tell them what I said was false." The Post reports that Weiner gave the tabloid "a full version of the letter, which included the girls name and the names of two teachers." The Daily News published a photo of Weiner's alleged victim with her face pixelated. Previously, Weiner was embroiled in multiple sexting scandals that derailed his congressional career, his comeback attempt to run for mayor, and his marriage to Hillary Clinton advisor Huma Abedin. He is already under investigation by the city Administration for Childrens Service over sexts he took with his child in the photo. In a statement, Weiner apologized for the latest incident while saying he was the victim of a hoax: Three former Tesco executives have appeared in court for the first time to deny charges in relation to the 326million 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. 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 326million in 2014. Tesco executives: 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 yesterday for a preliminary hearing. All the defendants' lawyers indicated pleas of not guilty to the two charges. The Serious Fraud Office said the investigation into Tesco 'remains ongoing'. Apology: Reckitt Benckiser boss Rakesh Kapoor The boss of Reckitt Benckiser has been forced to apologise after one of its chemicals caused more than 100 deaths in South Korea. Rakesh Kapoor, who earned 23.2million last year, made a fresh apology for the deaths of mainly pregnant women and infants after family members turned up at Reckitt's Slough headquarters. Many of the victims died of lung injuries caused by a steriliser sold by Reckitt, which was put inside humidifiers. A link to the firm's products was discovered in 2011. Family members this week pinned banners and pictures of their loved ones to its gates. Kapoor, whose pay jumped from 12.8million in 2014, said: 'I sincerely apologise for the injury and deaths of Korean consumers resulting from the humidifier sanitiser products.' A bitter trade war has broken out between America and the EU over billions of pounds paid in subsidies to the world's biggest plane makers. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has ruled that the European Union failed to stop paying illegal subsidies to Airbus in what has become the biggest trade dispute in history. This prompted Washington to call for an immediate halt and claimed it was damaging jobs in the US. Dispute: An Airbus assembly line in Toulouse, France. The firm has been accused of receiving illegal subsidies from the EU The ruling is the latest in a 12-year spat. The WTO said the EU had failed to comply with earlier rulings to rein in billions of dollars in subsidies in the form of loans to Airbus. But the WTO is also expected to rule against the US in coming months, saying it failed to sufficiently address concerns about subsidies benefiting Boeing. It ruled that the EU failed to comply with all but two of 36 earlier rulings to cut back subsidies that European governments gave Airbus. However, it rejected US claims that it fell into the most serious category of 'prohibited' aid. Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing chairman, said: 'Today's ruling finally holds the EU and Airbus to account for their flouting of global trade rules. 'This long-awaited decision is a victory for fair trade worldwide and for US aerospace workers in particular.' Boeing also said that it could lead to America slapping annual tariffs on EU imports worth 8billion in what could spark a fresh trade war. This comes at a crucial time when international trade deals are on a knife edge because of Britain's decision to leave the EU. It will also cast a shadow over stuttering efforts by the EU and US to negotiate a wider free-trade deal. US trade representative Michael Froman claimed the panel's finding was 'a sweeping victory for the United States and its aerospace workers'. In response, the EU said: 'There are certain findings of the panel that we consider to be unsatisfactory.' The number of elderly British expats receiving the winter fuel payment fell by more than two thirds after a crackdown on sunshine benefits. Iain Duncan Smith, the former work and pensions secretary, acted to end the scandal of pensioners receiving the handout worth up to 300 a year despite living in hot countries. His success has saved the taxpayer more than 16million a year. The number of elderly British expats receiving the winter fuel payment fell by more than two thirds after a crackdown on sunshine benefits Figures show that in 2015/16, a total of 42,015 people living in the EU received the payment from the British taxpayer. This was down from 137,845 the year before. The amount spent on the payments fell from 24.5million to 8.1million. The winter fuel payment is worth 200 for over-60s and 300 for those over 80. Britain had to pay the money to expats in hot countries because of a European Court of Justice ruling described by Mr Duncan Smith as ridiculous. Iain Duncan Smith acted to end the scandal of pensioners receiving the handout The reduction was achieved because he imposed a new temperature test on those receiving the benefit. It affected countries where the average annual temperature was higher than the warmest region of the UK the South West at 42F. It meant residents of Spain, France, Greece, Portugal, Malta, Cyprus, Gibraltar stopped getting the cash. Italy is not included because its northern region has a winter climate colder than that of the British Isles. Its exclusion meant more than 2,000 Britons could claim the benefit, even in the warmer south. The Williams Companies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy infrastructure company primarily in the United States. It operates through Transmission & Gulf of Mexico, Northeast G&P, West, and Gas & NGL Marketing Services segments. The Transmission & Gulf of Mexico segment comprises Transco and Northwest natural gas pipelines; and natural gas gathering and processing, and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region, as well as various petrochemical and feedstock pipelines. The Northeast G&P segment engages in the midstream gathering, processing, and fractionation activities in the Marcellus Shale region primarily in Pennsylvania and New York, and the Utica Shale region of eastern Ohio. The West segment comprises gas gathering, processing, and treating operations in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado and Wyoming, the Barnett Shale region of north-central Texas, the Eagle Ford Shale region of South Texas, the Haynesville Shale region of northwest Louisiana, and the Mid-Continent region, which includes the Anadarko, Arkoma, and Permian basins; and operates natural gas liquid (NGL) fractionation and storage facilities in central Kansas near Conway. The Gas & NGL Marketing Services segment provides wholesale marketing, trading, storage, and transportation of natural gas for natural gas utilities, municipalities, power generators, and producers; risk and asset management; and NGL marketing services. The company owns and operates 30,000 miles of pipelines, 29 processing facilities, 7 fractionation facilities, and approximately 23 million barrels of NGL storage capacity. The Williams Companies, Inc. was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. This segment offers financial products and services through branches, automated teller machines, and mobile sales network. Its Wealth Management segment provides a suite of advice-based solutions and strategies to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, and institutional clients. The company's Insurance segment offers life, health, home, auto, travel, wealth, annuities, and reinsurance advice and solutions; and business insurance services to individual, business, and group clients through its advice centers, RBC insurance stores, and mobile advisors; digital, mobile, and social platforms; independent brokers; and travel partners. Its Investor & Treasury Services segment provides asset servicing, custody, payments, and treasury services to financial and other investors; and fund and investment administration, shareholder, private capital, performance measurement and compliance monitoring, distribution, transaction banking, cash and liquidity management, foreign exchange, and global securities finance services. The company's Capital Markets segment offers corporate and investment banking, as well as equity and debt origination, distribution, advisory services, sale, and trading services for corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, private equity firms, and governments. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and services medical devices and software products for treating cancer and other medical conditions worldwide. It operates through Oncology Systems and Proton Solutions segments. The Oncology Systems segment offers hardware and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, fixed field intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, artificial intelligence based adaptive radiotherapy, and brachytherapy, as well as quality assurance equipment. Its products include linear accelerators, brachytherapy afterloaders, treatment accessories, and quality assurance software; and information management, treatment planning, image processing, clinical knowledge exchange, patient care management, decision-making support, and practice management software. This segment serves university research and community hospitals, private and governmental institutions, healthcare agencies, physicians' offices, medical oncology practices, radiotherapy centers, and cancer care clinics. The Proton Solutions segment designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and services products and systems for delivering proton therapy for the treatment of cancer. The company has a strategic agreement with McKesson Corp. to supply treatment delivery systems and planning, services, and radiotherapy information system solutions to its U.S. Oncology Network and Vantage Oncology affiliated sites of care; and a strategic partnership with Siemens AG to represent Siemens diagnostic imaging products to radiation oncology clinics in the United States and other select markets. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. was formerly known as Varian Associates, Inc. and changed its name to Varian Medical Systems, Inc. in April 1999. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Fall is without a doubt the ideal season for hikingthe air is crisp enough to stave off sweatback, and the leaves do a neat thing with colors before they curl up and die, littering piles of crunchy leaf-corpses at your feet. While any jaunt to nature outside the city is good for the soul (and brain!), here are a few of the best hikes you can enjoy nearby. As always, leave your favorites in the comments. Note: All directions are tentative; always bring a map and check train times and directions before beginning your journey. (Rebecca Fishbein / Gothamist) SUGARLOAF HILL/OSBORNE LOOP: One of the spectacular benefits of living in New York City is Metro-North, which makes a last-minute flee from the filthy pavement and crowds ineluctably easy to pass up. Take the Hudson line to Garrison, where you can enjoy the terrain around Sugarloaf Hill, which is part of the Hudson Highlands. Once off the train, a trailhead at the southern end of the parking lot takes you past some ruined brick buildings and over a wooden footbridge. The trail diverges at multiple points, but if youre looking for a full-day hike, stick with the white-blazed Marcias Mile, which will eventually lead you up to the Garrison Institute. Set in a beautiful old monastery, several minutes spent on the Institutes website have done little to help me understand its purpose. Still, its employees are incredibly friendly, and will offer you a basic map if youve forgotten yours, which you havent. Once you leave the Institute, head toward the distant water tower and (carefully) across Route 9D. Enter Wing-Wing Road at the sign for Castle Rock Unique Area and tromp across the field until you reach another trailhead. From here, there are multiple routes available to you, demarcated by some combination of blue, yellow, red and white blazes. As ever, bring a good map and a compass, though the only real threat of getting lost is to follow the white blazes too far south, since white denotes the Appalachian Trail. The Osborne Loop, which adheres to some combination of blue and red blazes, is a mid-level hike that takes around five hours, affording occasionally spectacular views of the valley below and, toward the end, the imposing West Point military academy. Theres not much by way of post-hike dining options available off the train, so take it one stop up to the adorable town of Cold Spring, where restaurants, bars and apothecaries abound. Its an incontrovertible fact that beer never tastes as good as it does after a hike, so have two. BREAKNECK RIDGE: Breakneck Ridge is the bread and butter hike of carless wanderers thirsting for the great outdoors. Be aware that Metro-North only stops here on weekends, though the trailhead is a painless cab ride (or mile walk) from Cold Spring, which runs daily. One of the great benefits of this hike is the soaring feeling of accomplishment that comes from traveling a relatively short distance (around 4 miles), since the trailhead starts at river-level and spikes sharply upward for around 1.5 miles. Gasp and scramble up the rocksbe careful with your hands, some of them are sharpfor around 1,500 feet. Once thats over, the blue-blazed trail will join the Breakneck Ridge trail, which you can follow until you reach a fork. Take the left one, and then in around half a mile make another left onto the yellow-blazed trail. In about 1.5 miles, youll reach the overlooks. Its a slog, especially if youre a desk-bound stick of butter like me, but the view at the top is worth it. Catch your breath and take in the incredible, sweeping views of the Hudson River, enjoying in particular Storm King Mountain across the way, Bannerman Castle on Pollopel Island to the north and, if its a clear day, the Manhattan skyline. This is a moderate to difficult hike, so prepare yourself accordingly. No flip flops. ANTHONY'S NOSE: Anthonys Nose doesnt require the same gnarly climb as Breakneck Ridge, but its nevertheless nothing to sneeze at. (GET IT? Sorry.) If youre looking for a hike that will afford you stunning views on a time-budget, youre hard-pressed to find a better one than this. Anthonys Nose has been known as such since 1697, the year it appeared on a grant patent. Its unclear who the Anthony is in this scenariosome say St. Anthony, since St. Anthonys Face was the name of a rock formation on nearby Breakneck Ridge before it was destroyed. Others say it refers to a pre-Revolutionary War sea captain named Anthony Hogan. Legend has it that as Hogan and his crew sailed by, someone caught sight of the peak and suggested it looked like the captains nose. Its unclear whether he was subsequently tossed off the ship and left to drown in the churning waters, but in either case, today it joins Dunderberg Mountain to comprise the South Gate of the Hudson Highlands. Start at the Appalachian Trail coming off of Route 9D, following the white blazes as they guide you up the well-placed rocks almost directly skywarddont worry, the steep part lasts for less than a mile. Continue to follow the white blazes of the Appalachian Trailor dont, but be damn careful not to get lost, I will not have you perishing in the wilderness on my watch. Hang a right at the blue-blazed Camp Smith trail and enjoy a pleasant strollthe hike portion of your ordeal is over, having given way to flat, gentle terrain. Once youve reached the top, take a load off and enjoy the view of the Bear Mountain Bridge, which stretches over the Hudson like a tautly pulled ribbon. Smile while you eat your sandwich, pitying the car-encased slobs as they inch across in their vehicles, for they are not truly free. On the weekends, you can reach Anthonys Nose by taking Metro-Norths Hudson Line to Manitou. The trailhead is about a mile and half walk from the station. via Foursquare BLUE MOUNTAIN RESERVATION LOOP: Blue Mountain is one of the largest parks in Westchester, and its a beauty. The Blue Mountain Reservation itself is 1,583 acres, and encompasses all sorts of outdoorsy goodies like picnic areas, fishing, archery and shooting ranges. The loop is around five miles and allows hikers a pretty good taste of what the mountain has to offer. This hike is moderately easy, and its worth mentioning that dogs and mountain bikes are allowed here, too. Bring one or the other (or both!) if youve got em, and if you dont, beware that youll have to share the path, especially on weekends. Keep this destination in mind for winter as wellits a great place to cross-country ski. In the warmer months, though, youll experience a nice diversity of terrainponds and streams hold a bushel of fun wildlife like bullfrogs and turtles (beware of snakes), and a dense forest filled with maple, oak and beech trees. To get here, you can take Metro-Norths Hudson Line to Peekskill, though its a bit of a walk to the trailhead. If youre driving, follow the signs for Parking Area 3. If you decide to hoof it from the train, reward yourself with a post-hike beer at the adjacent Peekskill Brewery, which also boasts a solid dinner menu. Go ahead, get the poutine AND the carnitas nachos. Youve earned it. LAKE SKONOTO LOOP: The Lake Skononto Loop is a relaxed, 5.5 mile hike that traverses around lovely Harriman State Park, accessible by Metro-North on weekends by hopping off at the Tuxedo stop. The trailhead is about a half mile north from the stationwalk to E. Village Road (because you can never truly escape the East Village) until you hit Grove Street, which will take you to the trail. From there, youll walk along the Ramapo Dunderburg trail, blazed with red dots on white backgrounds. Look at that lake! Its so beautiful! Is that a chipmunk? etc. Stop for lunch on the banks of its relaxing waters, and then take the Victory Trail, marked with a blue V in a white blaze, until you hit the Blue Disc trail (more blue on white blazes). This is but one hike available in the expansive Harriman State Park, which boasts more than 200 miles of trails and holds the title of New York states second largest park. The land was originally owned by Edward and Mary Averell Harriman, who donated a large part of their holdings in exchange for the government to scrap its plans to build a prison at Bear Mountain. In earlier days, there used to be a steamboat service from Manhattan, which would take city-dwellers up the river for 85 cents round-trip. Those days are over, but the lake remains just a short jaunt from the city. The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V.. Read More The Department of City Planning abruptly canceled last night's public meeting to discuss a proposed housing development in the Broadway Triangle, a plot of land that borders Bushwick, Bed-Stuy and Williamsburg that has sparked contentious battles over rezoning over the last nine years. Representatives from development company The Rabsky Group had been scheduled to present their plans to the city and the public at a public school auditorium in Williamsburg, but the meeting was called to an abrupt end after a group of raucous protesters refused to let them speak. Chaos erupted at the moment a City Planning representative called the meeting to order. A young woman rushed one of the speaker's podiums and declared that the proposed Rabsky development, which would contain a mix of retail, green space, market rate housing and affordable housing, "wasn't for us, and we're going to shut this down." The auditorium, which was populated almost entirely by opponents of the project, erupted into chants as people waved signs, blew whistles and noisemakers and eventually began marching around the room chanting "Shut it down" and "Si se puede." City officials sat and watched the chanting and marching, which eventually stoppedbut only to allow for a couple of short speeches to be delivered through a bullhorn. Council Member Antonio Reynoso told the crowd through a bullhorn, "I want to be perfectly clear with the City of New York, that what they're seeing today is a community saying that no decisions get made here without our input first," and said opponents of the project would stay until 10 o'clock at night and "pitch tents if they have to" to shut the meeting down. Evelyn Cruz, a representative from Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez's office, focused on the problems of the city-owned land in the triangle that was rezoned, and told the crowd that "it's un-American to have a community divided by race, by ethnicity in 2016." In 2009 a judge ruled that the rezoning of the city-owned land in the Broadway Triangle violated the Fair Housing Act by tilting development too heavily in favor of the neighborhood's ultra-Orthodox Jewish residents at the expense of the area's black and Latino population. When it became apparent that order would not be restored, the City Planning representative called the meeting to a close. The slideshow, table and poster-board were all packed up, and the gathered opposition marched out of the auditorium cheering. The "meeting" lasted for about 15 minutes. Council Member Reynoso didn't characterize the night as a victory, later telling reporters that the night was "about this community letting the de Blasio administration know that if they want to develop in this community, the process they've gone about is not the one we're going to move forward with." Reynoso said he wanted a process similar to Bridging Gowanus, "a forum where people are putting stickers on the wall, whether they say they need more supermarkets or they say they don't mind 12 story buildings if they get 80% affordable housing. Let the people decide what they want to see." Council Member Antonio Reynoso, right, speaking with police officers. (David Colon/Gothamist) Reynoso also criticized the Rabsky Group for what he called broken promises in regards to affordable housing at the Rheingold Brewery development, as well as a community jobs and training program Rabsky was supposed to participate in but hasn't, according to Reynoso. "As a City Council we have to be careful about that," Reynoso said. "How do we hold them accountable for not following through with community-based commitments if we allow them to build somewhere else?" The Rabksy Group did not respond to a request for a comment on last night's meeting. The proposed development is on a lot bordered by Harrison Avenue, Gerry Street, Union Avenue and Wallabout Street. It would be made up of eight buildings between five and 14 stories tall, containing 1,147 apartments, with 344 set aside as affordable housing under the city's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing rules. The development would also contain 64,807 square feet of retail space and 26,000 square feet of public green space. The proposed rezoning of the lot from manufacturing to residential would need approval from the City Council. Council Member Stephen Levin, in whose district the project and rezoning request sits, spoke to us after the meeting endedhe said he hadn't seen Rabsky's proposed development yet, and had hoped to that night. Levin drew a distinction between the rezoning of the city-owned land in the Broadway Triangle and the lot that was up for discussion last night. "This is a private application on privately-owned land," Levin said. "Pfizer properties have nothing to do with the Broadway Triangle rezoning except that they were near it." (The development plan which the meeting was scheduled to discuss, while located in the Broadway Triangle, was owned by the Pfizer Corporation before they sold it to the Rabsky Group.) Levin said that the Rabsky Group was entitled to the same process as any private landowner initiating a rezoning of their property. Characterizing the scoping meeting as specifically existing to get public input into the project, Levin said "what the action today did was deprive a private owner of property from their due process by shutting down the workings of government. And that's not how we operate as a city, as a society. We have a representative government, we're governed by laws. I'm very concerned about what happened tonight, because that's not how we address our differences." A City Planning spokesperson issued this statement following the meeting: "Tonight's meeting was intended to listen to all sides to help shape a required environmental review of a private land use application. It's never acceptable to prevent the public from being heard and we intend to reschedule the meeting to ensure that the public has that opportunity." The following companies are subsidiares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft: ABFS I Incorporated, ABS MB Ltd., Alex. Brown Financial Services Incorporated, Alex. Brown Investments Incorporated, Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft mbH, Ambidexter GmbH i.L., Argent Incorporated, BHW - Gesellschaft fur Wohnungswirtschaft mbH, BHW Bausparkasse Aktiengesellschaft, BHW Holding GmbH, BT Globenet Nominees Limited, Bainpro Nominees Pty Ltd, Baldur Mortgages Limited, Bankers Trust Investments Limited, Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc., Berkshire Mortgage Finance, Betriebs-Center fur Banken AG, Better Financial Services GmbH, Better Payment Germany GmbH, Borfield Sociedad Anonima, Breaking Wave DB Limited, Cardales UK Limited, Cardea Real Estate S.r.l., Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Asset Management Company Limited, Cathay Capital Company (No 2) Limited, Cedar (Luxembourg) S.a. r.l., Chapel Funding, China Recovery Fund LLC, Consumo Srl in Liquidazione, D B Investments (GB) Limited, D&M Turnaround Partners Godo Kaisha, DB (Barbados) SRL, DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Asing) Sdn. Bhd., DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Tempatan) Sendirian Berhad, DB Alex. Brown Holdings Incorporated, DB Aotearoa Investments Limited, DB Beteiligungs-Holding GmbH, DB Boracay LLC, DB Capital Markets (Deutschland) GmbH, DB Cartera de lnmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Chestnut Holdings Limited, DB Corporate Advisory (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., DB Delaware Holdings (Europe) Limited, DB Direkt GmbH, DB Elara LLC, DB Energy Trading LLC, DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equity Limited, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology SRL, DB Group Services (UK) Limited, DB HR Solutions GmbH, DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB IROC Leasing Corp., DB Impact Investment Fund I. LP., DB Industrial Holdings Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DB Industrial Holdings GmbH, DB Intermezzo LLC, DB International (Asia) Limited, DB International Investments Limited, DB International Trust (Singapore) Limited, DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Partners Limited, DB Investment Resources (US) Corporation, DB Investment Resources Holdings Corp., DB Investment Services GmbH, DB London (Investor Services) Nominees Limited, DB Management Support GmbH, DB Nominees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB Nominees (Jersey) Limited, DB Nominees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, DB Omega BTV S.C.S., DB Omega Holdings LLC, DB Omega Ltd., DB Omega S.C.S., DB Operaciones y Servicios lnteractivos Agrupacicm de lnteres Econemico, DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Holdings Limited, DB Print GmbH, DB Private Clients Corp., DB Private Wealth Mortgage Ltd., DB Re S.A., DB Service Centre Limited, DB Service Uruguay S.A., DB Services (Jersey) Limited, DB Services Americas. Inc., DB Servizi Amministrativi S.r.l., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Products Inc., DB Trustee Services Limited, DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB UK Bank Limited, DB UK Holdings Limited, DB UK PCAM Holdings Limited, DB US Financial Markets Holding Corporation, DB USA Core Corporation, DB USA Corporation, DB Valoren S.a. r.l., DB Value S.a.r.l., DB VersicherungsManager GmbH, DB Vita SA., DB lmmobilienfonds 5 Wieland KG i.L., DB lo LP, DBAH Capital. LLC, DBCIBZ1, DBFIC Inc., DBNZ Overseas Investments (No.1) Limited, DBOI Global Services (UK) Limited, DBR Investments Co. Limited, DBRE Global Real Estate Management 18 Ltd., DBRMS4, DBRMSGP1, DBUK PCAM Limited, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ2 S.a. r.l., DBX Advisers LLC, DEBEKO lmmobilien GmbH & Co Grundbesitz OHG, DEE Deutsche Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, DEUKONA Versicherungs-Vermittlungs-GmbH, DEUTSCHE BANK AS., DI Deutsche lmmobilien Treuhandgesellschaft mbH, DISCA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DWS Alternatives France, DWS Alternatives Global Limited, DWS Alternatives GmbH, DWS Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, DWS Beteiligungs GmbH, DWS CH AG, DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Far Eastern Investments Limited, DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA, DWS Group Services UK Limited, DWS Grundbesitz GmbH, DWS International GmbH, DWS Investment GmbH, DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment S.A., DWS Investments Australia Limited, DWS Investments Hong Kong Limited, DWS Investments Japan Limited, DWS Investments Shanghai Limited, DWS Investments Singapore Limited, DWS Investments UK Limited, DWS Management GmbH, DWS Real Estate GmbH, DWS Service Company, DWS Shanghai Private Equity Fund Management Limited, DWS Trust Company, DWS USA Corporation, Deposit Solutions, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Capital Holdings New Zealand, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Foreign Investments New Zealand, Deutsche (New Munster) Holdings New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Access Investments Limited, Deutsche Aeolia Power Production Societe Anonyme, Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (UK) Limited, Deutsche Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd, Deutsche Asset Management (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Australia Limited, Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited, Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Deutsche Bank (Suisse) SA, Deutsche Bank (Uruguay) Sociedad Anenima lnstitucien Financiera Externa, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corp., Deutsche Bank Europe GmbH, Deutsche Bank Financial Company, Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Deutsche Bank Mutui S.p.A., Deutsche Bank Mexico. S.A., Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Deutsche Bank Polska Spelka Akcyjna, Deutsche Bank Representative Office Nigeria Limited, Deutsche Bank S.A, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Limited, Deutsche Bank Societe per Azioni, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Delaware, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation, Deutsche Bank. Sociedad Anenima Espanola, Deutsche CIB Centre Private Limited, Deutsche Capital Finance (2000) Limited, Deutsche Capital Hong Kong Limited, Deutsche Capital Markets Australia Limited, Deutsche Capital Partners China Limited, Deutsche Cayman Ltd., Deutsche Custody N.V., Deutsche Domus New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Equities India Private Limited, Deutsche Finance No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Foras New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur lmmobilien-Leasing mit beschrenkter Haftung, Deutsche Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Group Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Deutsche Group Services Pty Limited, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Deutsche Grundbesitz-Anlagegesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Holdings (BTI) Limited, Deutsche Holdings (Grand Duchy), Deutsche Holdings (Luxembourg) S.El r.l., Deutsche Holdings Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 3 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 4 Limited, Deutsche India Holdings Private Limited, Deutsche India Private Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services (Ireland) Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services Limited, Deutsche International Custodial Services Limited, Deutsche Investments (Netherlands) N.V., Deutsche Investments India Private Limited, Deutsche Investor Services Private Limited, Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd., Deutsche Leasing New York Corp., Deutsche Mexico Holdings S.a. r.|., Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Limited, Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, Deutsche Nederland N.V., Deutsche New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Nominees Limited, Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office AG, Deutsche Overseas Issuance New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Postbank, Deutsche Postbank Finance Center Objekt GmbH, Deutsche Private Asset Management Limited, Deutsche Securities (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Securities (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities Asia Limited, Deutsche Securities Australia Limited, Deutsche Securities Inc., Deutsche Securities Israel Ltd., Deutsche Securities Korea Co., Deutsche Securities Mauritius Limited, Deutsche Securities SA. de C.V.. Casla de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, Deutsche Services (Cl) Limited, Deutsche Services Polska Sp. z o.o., Deutsche StiftungsTrust GmbH, Deutsche Strategic Investment Holdings Yugen Kaisha, Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, Deutsche Trustee Services (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Trustees Malaysia Berhad, Deutsche Wealth Management S.G.I.I.C. SA., Deutsche lmmobilien Leasing GmbH, Deutsches lnstitut fur Altersvorsorge GmbH, Durian (Luxembourg) S.a. r.l., EC EUROPA IMMOBILIEN FONDS NR. 3 GmbH & CO. KG i.l., Elizabethan Holdings Limited, Elizabethan Management Limited, European Value Added I (Alternate GP.) LLP, Fiduciaria Sant Andrea S.r.l., Finanzberatungsgesellschaft mbH der Deutschen Bank, Funfte SAB Treuhand und Verwaltung GmbH & Co. Suhl "Rimbachzentrum" KG, G Finance Holding Corp., German American Capital Corporation, Grundstucksgesellschaft Frankfurt Bockenheimer LandstraBe GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Miesbaden LuisenstraBe/Kirchgasse GbR, Hollandsche Bank-Unie, ISTRON Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs-GmbH, IVAF l Manager S.a.r.l., Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben I GbR, J R Nominees (Pty) Ltd, Joint Stock Company Deutsche Bank DBU, Jyogashima Godo Kaisha, KEBA Gesellschaft fur interne Services mbH, Kidson Pte Ltd, Konsul lnkasso GmbH, LA Water Holdings Limited, LAWL Pte. Ltd., Leasing Verwaltungsgesellschaft Waltersdorf mbH, Leonardo lll Initial GP Limited, MEF I Manager. S. a r.|., MIT Holdings Inc., Maher Terminals Holdings (Toronto) Limited, Morgan Grenfell & Company, MortgageIT, MortgagelT Inc., MortgagelT Securities Corp., OOO "Deutsche Bank TechCentIe", OOO "Deutsche Bank", OPB Verwaltungs- und Treuhand GmbH, OPB-Oktava GmbH, OPB-Quarta GmbH, OPPENHEIM Capital Advisory GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Manager GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, PADUS Grundstcks-VermietungsgeseIlschaft mbH, PB Factoring GmbH, PB Spezial-lnvestmentaktiengesellschatt mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, PCC Services GmbH der Deutschen Bank, PT Deutsche Sekuritas Indonesia, Pan Australian Nominees Pty Ltd, Plantation Bay. Inc., Postbank Akademie und Service GmbH, Postbank Beteiligungen GmbH, Postbank Direkt GmbH, Postbank Filialvertrieb AG, Postbank Finanzberatung AG, Postbank Leasing GmbH, Postbank lmmobilien GmbH, Quantiguous, R.B.M. Nominees Pty Ltd, RREEF, RREEF America LLC., RREEF China REIT Management Limited, RREEF European Value Added I (G.P.) Limited, RREEF Fund Holding Co., RREEF India Advisers Private Limited, RREEF Management LLC., RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., Route 28 Receivables. LLC, SAB Real Estate Verwaltungs GmbH, SAGITA Grundstucks-Vermielungsgesellschaft mbH, SAPIO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, Sal. Oppenheim, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Beteiligungs GmbH, Sharps SP l LLC, Stelvio lmmobiliare S.r.l., Suddeutsche Vermeigensvewvaitung Gesellschaft mit beschrenkter Haftung, TELO Beleiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Tempurrite Leasing Limited, Thai Asset Enforcement and Recovery Asset Management Company Limited, Treuinvest Service GmbH, Triplereason Umited, VOB-ZVD Processing GmbH, WEPLA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Wealthspur Investment Ltd., World Trading (Delaware) Inc., lmmobilienfonds BuroCenter Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben II GbR, lmmobilienfonds Wohn- und Gescheftshaus Koln-Blumenberg V GbR, and norisbank GmbH. Read More Bancolombia S.A. provides banking products and services in Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. The company operates through nine segments: Banking Colombia, Banking Panama, Banking El Salvador, Banking Guatemala, Trust, Investment Banking, Brokerage, International Banking, and All Other. It offers checking and savings accounts, fixed term deposits, and investment products; trade financing, loans funded by domestic development banks, working capital loans, credit cards, personal and vehicle loans, payroll loans, and overdrafts; financial support to real estate developers and mortgages for individuals and companies; factoring; and financial and operating leasing services. The company also provides hedging instruments, including futures, forwards, options, and swaps; and brokerage, investment advisory, and private banking services, including selling and distributing equities, futures, foreign currencies, fixed income securities, mutual funds, and structured products. In addition, it offers cash management services; foreign currency transaction services; life, auto, commercial, and homeowner's insurance products; and online and computer banking services. Further, the company provides project and acquisition finance, debt and equity capital markets, principal investments, M&A, hedging strategies, restructurings, and structured financing; money market accounts, mutual and pension funds, private equity funds, payment and corporate trust, and custody; internet-based trading platform; inter-bank lending and repurchase agreements; managing escrow accounts, and investment and real estate funds; and transportation, securities brokerage, maintenance and remodeling, and outsourcing services. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 1,015 branches; 28,676 banking correspondents; 529 PAMs; 210 kiosks in El Salvador and 187 in Colombia; and 6,094 ATMs. Bancolombia S.A. was incorporated in 1945 and is headquartered in Medellin, Colombia. Telefonica Brasil S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides mobile and fixed telecommunications services to residential and corporate customers in Brazil. Its fixed line services portfolio includes local, domestic long-distance, and international long-distance calls; and mobile portfolio comprises voice and broadband internet access through 3G, 4G, 4.5G, and 5G as well as mobile value-added services and wireless roaming services. The company also offers data services, including broadband and mobile data services. In addition, it provides pay TV services through direct to home satellite technology, IPTV, and cable, as well as pay-per-view and video on demand services; network services, such as rental of facilities; other services comprising internet access, private network connectivity, computer equipment leasing, extended service, caller identification, voice mail, cellular blocker, and others; wholesale services, including interconnection services to users of other network providers; and digital services, such as entertainment, cloud, and security and financial services. Further, the company offers multimedia communication services, which include audio, data, voice and other sounds, images, texts, and other information, as well as sells devices, such as smartphones, broadband USB modems, and other devices. Additionally, it provides telecommunications solutions and IT support to various industries, such as retail, manufacturing, services, financial institutions, government, etc. It markets and sells its solutions through own stores, dealers, retail and distribution channels, door-to-door sales, and outbound tele sales. The company was formerly known as Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A. - TELESP and changed its name to Telefonica Brasil S.A. in October 2011. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company offers various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its products include A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, bearings, belts and hoses, calipers, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition and lighting products, mufflers, radiators, starters and alternators, thermostats, and water pumps, as well as tire repairs. In addition, the company offers maintenance products, such as antifreeze and windshield washer fluids; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; brake and power steering fluids, and oil and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, cabin, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paints and accessories; refrigerants and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wipers. Further, it provides air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, interior and exterior accessories, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products, as well as towing services. Additionally, the company provides a sales program that offers commercial credit and delivery of parts and other products; sells automotive diagnostic and repair software under the ALLDATA brand through alldata.com and alldatadiy.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through autozone.com. As of November 20, 2021, it operated 6,066 stores in the United States; 666 stores in Mexico; and 53 stores in Brazil. The company was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee. First, climate change came for our lobsters. Then, it started threatening the crops. But it can pry coffee from our cold, dead hands. Which is fitting because most of us will be dead from climate change in the very near future. A new report by The Climate Institute has combined several studies that link climate change with the depletion of the world's coffee supply. The troubling report points to disappearing farm lands and the rise of diseases and insects that compromise the coffee plants. Just let the sea waters sweep us away. Caffeine-deprived zombies aren't the only downside, of course. The report notes that over 125 million people rely on the coffee industry to survive and coffee is a huge player in certain economies where the beans are a major export. "It's a severe threat," Peet's Coffee vice president Doug Welsh, who's also a board member of the World Coffee Research, affirmed to the Times. "It's anecdotal, but I don't know any coffee farmers who don't believe that their weather, and with it their disease and productivity issues, have changed dramatically over the last decade." So there you go, we're all pretty much screwed. Drink while you can and use that last jolt of energy to pressure world leaders to do something now. BAE Systems plc provides defense, aerospace, and security solutions worldwide. The company operates through five segments: Electronic Systems, Cyber & Intelligence, Platforms & Services (US), Air, and Maritime. The Electronic Systems segment offers electronic warfare systems, navigation systems, electro-optical sensors, military and commercial digital engine and flight controls, precision guidance and seeker solutions, military communication systems and data links, persistent surveillance systems, space electronics, and electric drive propulsion systems. The Cyber & Intelligence segment provides solutions to modernize, maintain, and test cyber-harden aircraft, radars, missile systems, and mission applications that detect and deter threats to national security; systems engineering, integration, and sustainment services for critical weapons systems, C5ISR, and cyber security; and solutions and services to intelligence and federal/civilian agencies. It also offers data intelligence solutions to defend against national-scale threats, protect their networks, and data against attacks; security and intelligence solutions to the United Kingdom government and allied international governments; anti-fraud and regulatory compliance solutions; and enterprise-level data and digital services. The Platforms & Services (US) segment manufactures combat vehicles, weapons, and munitions, as well as provides ship repair services and the management of government-owned munitions facilities. The Air segment develops, manufactures, upgrades, and supports combat and jet trainer aircraft. The Maritime segment designs, manufactures, and supports surface ships, submarines, torpedoes, radars, and command and combat systems; and supplies naval gun systems. It also supplies naval weapon systems, missile launchers, and precision munitions. The company was founded in 1970 and is based in Farnborough, the United Kingdom. The following companies are subsidiares of Lloyds Banking Group: A G Finance Ltd, A.C.L. Ltd, ACL Autolease Holdings Ltd, ADF No.1 Pty Ltd, Addison Social Housing Holdings Ltd, Alex Lawrie Factors Ltd, Alex. Lawrie Receivables Financing Ltd, Amberdate Ltd, Anglo Scottish Utilities Partnership 1, Aquilus Ltd, Automobile Association Personal Finance Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services 2 Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 2) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 3) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland)) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 1 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 2 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 3 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 4 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 5 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 6 plc, BOS (USA) Fund Investments Inc., BOS (USA) Inc., BOS Edinburgh No 1 Ltd, BOS Mistral Ltd, BOS Personal Lending Ltd, BOSSAF Rail Ltd, Bank of Scotland (B G S) Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland (Stanlife) London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Branch Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Central Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Equipment Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Foundation, Bank of Scotland LNG Leasing (No 1) Ltd, Bank of Scotland London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Nominees (Unit Trusts) Ltd, Bank of Scotland P.E.P. Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Structured Asset Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Transport Finance 1 Ltd, Bank of Scotland plc, Bank of Wales Ltd, Barents Leasing Ltd, Barnwood Mortgages Ltd, Birchcrown Finance Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Financial Services Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Land Development Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Mortgage Services Ltd, Black Horse (TRF) Ltd, Black Horse Executive Mortgages Ltd, Black Horse Finance Holdings Ltd, Black Horse Finance Management Ltd, Black Horse Group Ltd, Black Horse Ltd, Black Horse Offshore Ltd, Black Horse Property Services Ltd, Boltro Nominees Ltd, British Linen Leasing (London) Ltd, British Linen Leasing Ltd, British Linen Shipping Ltd, C.T.S.B. Leasing Ltd, CBRail S.A.R.L., CF Asset Finance Ltd, CF1 Ltd, CM Venture Investments Ltd, Cancara Asset Securitisation Ltd, Capital 1945 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 12 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 3 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 5 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 9 Ltd, Capital Bank Property Investments (3) Ltd, Capital Personal Finance Ltd, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2018-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2019-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Cardnet Merchant Services Ltd, Cashfriday Ltd, Cashpoint Ltd, Caveminster Ltd, Cedar Holdings Ltd, Celsius European Lux 2 S.A.R.L., Central Mortgage Finance Ltd, Chariot Finance Ltd, Cheltenham & Gloucester plc, Cheltenham II Securities 2020 DAC, Cheltenham Securities 2017 Ltd, Chepstow Blue Holdings Ltd, Chepstow Blue plc, Chester Asset Options No.2 Ltd, Chester Asset Options No.3 Ltd, Chester Asset Receivables Dealings Issuer Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings No.2 Ltd, Chiswell Stockbrokers Ltd, Clerical Medical Finance plc, Clerical Medical Financial Services Ltd, Clerical Medical International Holdings B.V., Clerical Medical Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Clerical Medical Managed Funds Ltd, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Spanish Prop Co SL, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Prop Co SA, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Property Company S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Funding S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Investments S.A.R.L., Conquest Securities Ltd, Corbiere Asset Investments Ltd, Create Services Ltd, Credit Card Securitisation Europe Ltd, Dalkeith Corporation, Deva Financing Holdings Ltd, Deva Financing plc, Deva One Ltd, Deva Three Ltd, Deva Two Ltd, Dunstan Investments (UK) Ltd, Edgbaston RMBS 2010-1 plc, Edgbaston RMBS Holdings Ltd, Elland RMBS 2018 plc, Elland RMBS Holdings Ltd, Eurolead Services Holdings Ltd, First Retail Finance (Chester) Ltd, Fontwell Securities 2016 Ltd, Forthright Finance Ltd, France Industrial Premises Holding Company, General Leasing (No. 12) Ltd, General Reversionary and Investment Company, Gresham Nominee 1 Ltd, Gresham Nominee 2 Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 1) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 10) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 11) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 12) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 13) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 14) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 15) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 16) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 19) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 20) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 21) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 22) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 23) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 24) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 25) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 26) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 27) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 28) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 29) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 3) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 30) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 31) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 32) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 33) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 34) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 35) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 36) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 37) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 38) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 39) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 40) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 41) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 44) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 45) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 46) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 47) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 48) UK Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No 3) Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No.11) UK Ltd, HBOS Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS Final Salary Trust Ltd, HBOS Financial Services Ltd, HBOS Insurance & Investment Group Ltd, HBOS International Financial Services Holdings Ltd, HBOS Investment Fund Managers Ltd, HBOS Social Housing Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS UK Ltd, HBOS plc, HSDL Nominees Ltd, HVF Ltd, Halifax Credit Card Ltd, Halifax Financial Brokers Ltd, Halifax Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Halifax Financial Services Ltd, Halifax General Insurance Services Ltd, Halifax Group Ltd, Halifax Investment Services Ltd, Halifax Leasing (June) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (March No.2) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (September) Ltd, Halifax Life Ltd, Halifax Loans Ltd, Halifax Ltd, Halifax Mortgage Services Ltd, Halifax Nominees Ltd, Halifax Pension Nominees Ltd, Halifax Premises Ltd, Halifax Share Dealing Ltd, Halifax Vehicle Leasing (1998) Ltd, Heidi Finance Holdings (UK) Ltd, Hill Samuel Bank Ltd, Hill Samuel Finance Ltd, Hill Samuel Leasing Co. Ltd, Home Shopping Personal Finance Ltd, Horizon Capital 2000 Ltd, Housing Association Risk Transfer 2019 DAC, Housing Growth Partnership GP LLP, Housing Growth Partnership LP, Housing Growth Partnership Ltd, Housing Growth Partnership Manager Ltd, Hyundai Car Finance Ltd, IBOS Finance Ltd, ICC Enterprise Partners Ltd, ICC Equity Partners Ltd, ICC Holdings Unlimited Company, Inchcape Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Software Ltd, International Motors Finance Ltd, Kanaalstraat Funding C.V., Katrine Leasing Ltd, LB Healthcare Trustee Ltd, LB Motorent Ltd, LB Quest Ltd, LB Share Schemes Trustees Ltd, LBCF Ltd, LBG Brasil Administracao LTDA, LBG Capital Holdings Ltd, LBG Equity Investments Ltd, LBI Leasing Ltd, LDC (General Partner) Ltd, LDC (Managers) Ltd, LDC (Nominees) Ltd, LDC GP LLP, LDC I LP, LDC II LP, LDC III LP, LDC IV LP, LDC Parallel (Nominees) Ltd, LDC V LP, LDC VI LP, LDC VII LP, LDC VIII LP, LTGP Limited Partnership Incorporated, Legacy Renewal Company Ltd, Leicester Securities 2014 Ltd, Lex Autolease (CH) Ltd, Lex Autolease (VC) Ltd, Lex Autolease Carselect Ltd, Lex Autolease Ltd, Lex Vehicle Finance 2 Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing (Holdings) Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing Ltd, Lime Street (Funding) Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I Holdings Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I plc, Lloyds (Gresham) Ltd, Lloyds (Gresham) No. 1 Ltd, Lloyds (Nimrod) Specialist Finance Ltd, Lloyds America Securities Corporation1, Lloyds Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Branches) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Colonial & Foreign) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (I.D.) 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Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Subsidiaries Ltd, Lloyds Bank Trustee Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank plc, Lloyds Banking Group Pensions Trustees Ltd, Lloyds Capital GP Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Properties Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Property Investments Ltd, Lloyds Corporate Services (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Development Capital (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Engine Capital (No.1) U.S LLC, Lloyds Far East S.A.R.L., Lloyds General Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Group Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Hypotheken B.V., Lloyds Industrial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds International Pty Ltd, Lloyds Investment Bonds Ltd, Lloyds Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Lloyds Investment Securities No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Leasing (North Sea Transport) Ltd1, Lloyds Leasing Developments Ltd, Lloyds Nominees (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Offshore Global Services Private Ltd, Lloyds Plant Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Portfolio Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Premises Investments Ltd, Lloyds Project Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 3 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 4 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Secretaries Ltd, Lloyds Securities Inc., Lloyds TSB Pacific Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Rentals Ltd, Lloyds UDT Hiring Ltd, Lloyds UDT Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Ltd, Lloyds Your Tomorrow Trustee Ltd, Loans.co.uk Ltd, London Taxi Finance Ltd, London Uberior (L.A.S. 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Spencer And Company Ltd, Ranelagh Nominees Ltd, Retail Revival (Burgess Hill) Investments Ltd, SARL Coliseum, SARL Hiram, SAS Compagnie Fonciere De France, SCI Astoria Invest, SCI De LHorloge, SCI Equinoxe, SCI Rambuteau CFF, SW Funding plc, SW No.1 Ltd, SWAMF (GP) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (1) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (2) Ltd, Saint Michel Holding Company No1, Saint Michel Investment Property, Saint Witz 2 Holding Company No1, Saint Witz 2 Investment Property, Salisbury II Securities 2016 Ltd, Salisbury II-A Securities 2017 Ltd, Salisbury III Securities 2019 DAC, Salisbury Securities 2015 Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 Holdings Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 plc, Sandown Gold 2012-1 Holdings Ltd, Sandown Gold 2012-1 plc, Savban Leasing Ltd, Scotland International Finance B.V., Scottish Widows Administration Services (Nominees) Ltd, Scottish Widows Administration Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Annuities Ltd, Scottish Widows Auto Enrolment Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Europe, Scottish Widows Financial Services Holdings, Scottish Widows Group Ltd, Scottish Widows Industrial Properties Europe B.V., Scottish Widows Ltd, Scottish Widows Pension Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Property Management Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth (ACD) Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Wealth Holdings Ltd, Scottish Widows Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Funds Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Trust Managers Ltd, Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance Society, Seabreeze Leasing Ltd, Seaspirit Leasing Ltd, Share Dealing Nominees Ltd, Shogun Finance Ltd, Silentdale Ltd, St Andrews Group Ltd, St Andrews Insurance plc, St Andrews Life Assurance plc, St. Marys Court Investments, Standard Property Investment (1987) Ltd, Standard Property Investment Ltd, Sussex County Homes Ltd, Suzuki Financial Services Ltd, Swan Funding 2 Ltd, Syon Securities 2019 DAC, The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Plc, The British Linen Company Ltd, The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Mortgage Business plc, Thistle Financing Holdings Ltd, Thistle Investments (AMC) Ltd, Thistle Investments (ERM) Ltd, Thistle Leasing, Three Copthall Avenue Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (10) Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (7) Ltd, Tranquility Leasing Ltd, Trinity Financing plc, UDT Budget Leasing Ltd, UDT Sales Finance Ltd, Uberior (Moorfield) Ltd, Uberior Co-Investments Ltd, Uberior ENA Ltd, Uberior Equity Ltd, Uberior Europe Ltd, Uberior Fund Investments Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments (No.2) Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments Ltd, Uberior Investments Ltd, Uberior Nominees Ltd, Uberior Trading Ltd, Uberior Trustees Ltd, Uberior Ventures Australia Pty Ltd, Uberior Ventures Ltd, United Dominions Leasing Ltd, United Dominions Trust Ltd, Universe The CMI Global Network Fund, Upsaala Ltd, Vine Street IX LP, WCS Ltd, Ward Nominees (Abingdon) Ltd, Ward Nominees (Birmingham) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees (Bristol) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees Ltd 1, Waverley Fund II Investor LLC, Waverley Fund III Investor LLC, Waymark Asset Investments Ltd, West Craigs Ltd, Wetherby II Securities 2018 DAC, Wetherby III Securities 2019 DAC, Wetherby Securities 2017 Ltd, Wood Street Leasing Ltd, and Zurich Insurance Group - UK Workplace Pensions and Savings Business. Read More General Mills, Inc. manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates in five segments: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; Asia & Latin America; and Pet. It offers ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream, nutrition bars, wellness beverages, and savory and grain snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. It also supplies branded and unbranded food products to the North American foodservice and commercial baking industries; and manufactures and markets pet food products, including dog and cat food. The company markets its products under the Annie's, Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Blue Buffalo, Blue Basics, Blue Freedom, Bugles, Cascadian Farm, Cheerios, Chex, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Cookie Crisp, EPIC, Fiber One, Food Should Taste Good, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, Gardetto's, Go-Gurt, Gold Medal, Golden Grahams, Haagen-Dazs, Helpers, Jus-Rol, Kitano, Kix, Larabar, Latina, Liberte, Lucky Charms, Muir Glen, Nature Valley, Oatmeal Crisp, Old El Paso, Oui, Pillsbury, Progresso, Raisin Nut Bran, Total, Totino's, Trix, Wanchai Ferry, Wheaties, Wilderness, Yoki, and Yoplait trademarks. It sells its products directly, as well as through broker and distribution arrangements to grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, e-commerce retailers, commercial and noncommercial foodservice distributors and operators, restaurants, convenience stores, and pet specialty stores, as well as drug, dollar, and discount chains. The company operates 466 leased and 392 franchise ice cream parlors. General Mills, Inc. was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Morgan Stanley is the 6th largest financial institution in the US. The company is ranked 61st on the Forbes Fortune 500 list and is the 39th largest bank in the world. A financial holding company, Morgan Stanley provides a full range of financial services to clients around the world. Morgan Stanley was formed in 1935 as a result of the Glass-Steagall Act. Glass-Steagall separated commercial and investment banking in a way that forced the then-largest bank J.P. Morgan & Co to split into two groups. J.P. Morgan & Co. chose to retain the commercial side of the business while partners Henry S. Morga, grandson of J.P., and Harold Stanley took the investment end. In its first year, Morgan Stanley did 24% of the IPO business and maintains a lions share of the market to this day. The original company existed and grew through acquisitions until 1987 when it merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co. The new Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Discover & Co existed for 14 years until 2001 when the name was shortened back to Morgan Stanley. The bank is credited in part with both beginning and ending the financial crisis of 2007/2008. The Process Driven Trading unit lost $300 million in one day due to a short-squeeze that popped the bubble in the housing market. After teetering on the brink of failure Morgan Stanley agreed to become a bank holding company regulated by the Federal Reserve, a key factor in the original decision to split from parent J.P. Morgan & Co. Ironically when given the chance, present-day J.P. Morgan refused to buy Morgan Stanley but that was for the better. Today, Morgan Stanley operates through three segments via offices in 41 countries and employs more than 75,000 people. Revenue in 2021 topped $49 billion and total assets topped $1.15 trillion. The operating segments are Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. The Institutional Securities segment is by far the largest and most profitable. It offers a range of services and products for businesses, institutions, and entities that include capital raising, strategic advisory, underwriting, advice on M&A, restructuring, and real estate. The Wealth Management segment provides brokerage and investment advisory services for individuals and employers. The services include brokerage, financial planning, company stock-plan administration, insurance, mortgage loans, lines of credit, and retirement planning. The Investment Management segment provides investment products to a range of institutions, organizations, corporations, and governments. The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. 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Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. 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Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Becton, Dickinson and: Accuri Cytometers, Accuri Cytometers Inc., Alverix Inc, Alverix Inc., Atto Bioscience Inc, BD Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., BD Infection Prevention BV, BD Kiestra BV, BD Kiestra Total Lab Automation, BD Rapid Diagnostic (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., BD San Luis Potosi S.A. de C.V., BD Switzerland Sarl, BD Ventures LLC, BD West Africa Limited, BDX INO LLC, Bard (Thailand) Limited, Bard ASDI Inc., Bard Access Systems Inc., Bard Acquisition Sub Inc., Bard Australia Pty. Limited, Bard Benelux N.V., Bard Brachytherapy Inc., Bard Brasil Industria e Comercio de Produtos Para a Saude Ltda., Bard Canada Inc., Bard Chile S.p.A., Bard Czech Republic s.r.o., Bard Devices Inc., Bard Dublin ITC Limited, Bard EMEA Finance Center Sp.z o.o., Bard European Distribution Center N.V., Bard Finance B.V. & Co. 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Bard Inc, CME America LLC, CME Ltd., CME Medical (UK) Limited, CME UK (Holdings) Limited, CRISI Medical Systems, CRISI Medical Systems Inc., Caesarea Medical Electronics, Cardal II LLC, Care Fusion Development Private Limited, CareFusion (Barbados) SrL, CareFusion (Shanghai) Commercial and Trading Co. 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B.V., Dymax Corporation, Embo Medical Limited, Enturia de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Enturican Inc., FJ International Inc., FlowCardia Inc., FlowCardia LLC, FlowJo LLC, Franklin Lakes Enterprises L.L.C., GSL Solutions, Gamer Lasertechnik GmbH, GenCell Biosystems, GenCell Biosystems Ltd., GeneOhm Sciences Canada ULC, GeneOhm Sciences Inc, Gentest Corporation, Gesco International Inc., Gesco International LLC, Glentech Inc, HandyLab Inc, HandyLab Inc., IBD Holdings LLC, Iontophoretics Corporation, JoHome LLC, Kabushiki Kaisha Medicon (Medicon Inc.), Liberator Health and Education Services Inc., Liberator Health and Wellness Inc., Liberator Medical Holdings Inc., Liberator Medical Supply Inc., Limited Liability Company Bard Rus, Loma Vista Medical Inc., Loma Vista Medical LLC, Luther Medical Products Inc, Lutonix Inc., Med-Design Corporation, Med-Design Investment Holdings Inc., Med-Safe Systems Inc, Med-Safe Systems Inc., MedChem Products Inc., Medafor Inc., Medegen LLC, Medinservice.com Inc., Medivance Inc., NAT Diagnostics Inc., NAT Diagnostics Inc., NOW Medical Distribution Inc., NOW Medical Distribution LLC, Navarre Biomedical LLC, Navarre Biomedical Ltd., Neomend Inc., Nippon Becton Dickinson Company Ltd., Omega Biosystems Incorporated, P.R.C. (Isialys) Societe a responsabilitie limitee, PT Becton Dickinson Indonesia, PharMingen, PharMingen., Plasso Technology Ltd, PreAnalytiX GmbH, Pristine Access Technologies Inc., ProSeed Inc., Procesos para Esterilizacion S.A. de C.V., Productos Bard de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Productos Para el Cuidado de la Salud S.A. de C.V., Puls Medical Devices AS LC, PureWick Corporation, Roberts Laboratories Inc., Rochester Medical Corporation, Rochester Medical Ltd., Saf-T-Med Inc, Safety Syringes Inc., Scanwell Health Inc., Sendal S.L.U., SenoRx Inc., SenoRx LLC, Shield Healthcare Centers Inc., Sirigen Group Limited, Sirigen II Limited, Sirigen Inc., Sistemas Medicos ALARIS S.A. de C.V., Specialized Cooperative Corporation, Specialized Health Products Inc., Specialized Health Products International Inc., Specialized Health Products International LLC, Staged Diabetes Management LLC, Straub Medical AG, Straub Medical AG, Surgical Site Solutions Inc., TVA Medical Inc, TVA Medical Inc., Tepha Inc, Tepha Inc., Tissuemed Ltd., Tri-County Medical & Ostomy Supplies Inc., TriPath Imaging Inc., Tru-Fit Marketing Corporation, Vas-Cath Incorporated, Vascular Pathways Inc., Velano Vascular, Velano Vascular Inc., Venclose Inc., Venetec International Inc., Venetec International LLC, Visitec, Y-Med Inc., Y-Med LLC, and ZebraSci Inc.. Read More The owner of Crow Bar, a new bar on Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights, refuses to bow to criticism that his latest venture broadcasts a racial slur above its entrance. Crown Heights was known as Crow Hill in the 19th century, and while historians debate the origin of this moniker, at that time the word "crow" was used as derogatory term. "I mean, in a black neighborhood, of all the names there is, that's the name you would choose?" said 62-year-old Renold Griffith, who was standing outside of the bar on the corner of Union Street on Tuesday night. "I mean come on. I'm not against the bar, but that name brings back a lot of memories." "Why would you name it that if you want to attract your clientele from this area?" said Esteban Giron of the Crown Heights Tenant Union, which represents tenants who live above the bar. "You either didn't want to or you just don't care." His group has been vocal in opposing Crow Bar since last winter, when Giron voiced concerns to the owner at a Community Board meeting. Crown Heights is predominantly black, though its demographics have shifted in recent years. Dan Wilby, who owns Crow Bar and the Hollow Nickel in Boerum Hill, does not live in Crown Heights, and he said he didn't know much about the neighborhood before he started planning for the bar. When opening a new business, "I try to find out all the history inside a neighborhood to see if there's something kind of interesting to pull out and pay homage to," he told Gothamist this week. "Honestly Crown Heights doesn't have a lot of real rich history to it that I could find recorded," he added. What he did find were references to Crow Hill. Crown Heights was known as Crow Hill for the better part of the 19th century, up until Crown Street was built in 1916. From 1848 to 1907, the Kings County Penitentiarya prison for minor offenders known also as the Crow Hill Penitentiarystood on Carroll Street between Nostrand and Rogers avenues. Wilby adheres to a benign interpretation of the Crow Hill name. "The penitentiary was called Crow Hill after the crows that sat on top of the hill," he said. Zaheer Ali, an oral historian at the Brooklyn Historical Society, said Wilby's claim is a minority opinion. "Most historians suggest that the name originated as a derogatory term in reference to the earliest black residents of the settlement, which would become Crown Heights," Ali said. Wilby bristled when asked to comment on this interpretation. "If people are offended I'm sorry," he said. "It's not the intention of it, but it's a free world I guess." "Even still, what would my intention be?" he added. "To keep the people out who are here right now?" Wilby, who's white, gestured around the room, where numerous black patrons sat at high tables and low booths. "Like, really? So I don't know what to say." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle made frequent reference to Crow Hill in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and accounts of the name's origins vary. In one article from August of 1873, the reporter interviews a retired police officer. "How did the settlement get to be named Crow Hill?" he asks. To which the officer responds: Well, they [the residents] had to live away from the white people, and they got up there in these woods. The woods were at that time full of crows, and it was called Crow Hill, partly because there were a great many crows there and partly on account of the people nicknaming the darkies 'crows' too. "The Eagle itself had an obvious racial bias," said Ivy Gocker, manager of special collections at the Brooklyn Public Library. "Although if you're looking at Eagle articles it does seem that the name definitely had racial connotations for people using it in the late 19th century." Crow Bar isn't the first local business to reference the Crow Hill legacy. Bar Corvo, an Italian Restaurant on Washington Avenue, uses the Italian for "crow." (The restaurant did not respond to requests for comment, though a New York Times review from 2012 calls the name "a salute to Crow Hill, as the northern end of Crown Heights was historically known.") Crow Hill CrossFit opened on Park Place in 2013, and moved to Dean Street in 2014. A manager told us this week that he understood the name to be a tribute to the neighborhood. "This could be good press," he said, agreeing to pass on our request for comment. "But it could also be a controversial subject. They might not want to get involved." Evangeline Porter, 83, founded the Crow Hill Community Association in the late 1980s. For her, the name isn't loadedit's simply a nod to the history of the neighborhood she grew up in. "We went to the library to find out what that area was called originally," she said. "It was called Crow Hill, and that's how the group got its name." Many patrons at Crow Bar this week said they weren't aware of the controversy. "I just read about it online and decided to come here," said a white man in his 30s who declined to provide his name. "Since it was across the street from a hardware store, I thought it was a pun." A black woman from Fort Greene who also declined to provide her name was similarly unaware. "I had no clue it meant all that," she said. "I knew that Crow Hill used to be the name of this neighborhood, but I did not know that Crow was a derogatory term." "There could be a benign origin," said Amaka Okechukwu, an oral historian and archivist at the Weeksville Heritage Center. One of America's first free black communities, Weeksville neighbored Crow Hill. "But I think the fact that there are so many racial connotations associated with the name is significant. It speaks to the persistence of racism, and how people perceive the value of communities." On Tuesday, Sean (he declined to give his last name), a 31-year-old black resident of Crown Heights, stood outside Crow Bar smoking a cigarette. "That's like me being in a Caucasian neighborhood and having something named the Cracker Killer Club. You understand?" Sean said, pointing to the sign. "That's like me having the Cracker Killer in the suburbs. Nobody is going to accept that." Austin, Daniel Berry. Brooklyn Kings County Penitentiary. 1907. Print. Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection. The northern stretch of Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights has become increasingly crowded with bars, boutiques and new residential towers in recent years. The southern section, where Crow Bar opened on Monday, less-so. But Crow Bar joined a small cluster, the third bar to open around the intersection of Franklin and Union since January 2012, following Butter and Scotch and Union Street Pub. "The amount of pressure it's put on the buildings on our blocks is insane," Giron, of the tenants' union, said this week. Last month, the tenants' union gathered outside Crow Bar to discuss the plight of the tenants who live above it. "This is a 35-unit building," said a 25-year tenant who gave her name as Marcia M. "There are about five units with long-standing tenants, and these new tenants are paying up to $4,000 for an apartment." "It isn't about my bar. It's about the tenant association," Wilby, who resides in Murray Hill, surmised this week. The tenants' union, he believes, is one small cell of opposition."They want to keep their rent stabilized apartments." "This is just one more chapter in the ongoing challenges in a neighborhood undergoing rapid change," said Ali, the BHS historian. "I'm just saying, whatever you choose to do, acknowledge the baggage you are carrying." Additional reporting by Joshel Melgarejo and Erica Siudzinski. The following companies are subsidiares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.: 2235158 Alberta Limited, A.J. Amer Agency, AHC Digital LLC, AIX Limited, AJG Coal LLC, AJG Financial Services LLC, AJG Meadows LLC, AJG North America ULC, AJG RCF LLC, AJGRMS of Louisiana LLC, ARM RE Ltda., AVIATION INSURANCE SERVICES, AVRECO, Ace IRM Insurance Broking Group, Acumus Holdings Limited, Acumus Interco Limited, Acumus Ltd, Adams & Associates International, Adaptive Marketing LLC, Adco General Corporation, Advanced Benefit Advisors, Aequus Trade Credit, Affinity Marketing Group, Ahrold Fay Rosenberg, Aires Consulting Group, Alesco Risk Management Services Limited, Alize Limited, Allied Claims Administration Inc., Alternative Market Specialists, Altman & Cronin Benefit Consultants, American Freedom Carriers Inc., American Security Services Corp., American Wholesalers Underwriting Ltd, Andrew-Anthony Insurance Agency, Anthony Hodges Consulting Limited, Antrobus Investments Limited, AquaSurance, Argentis, Argentis Financial Group Limited, Argentis Financial Management Limited, Argus Benefits, Armstrong/Robitaille/Riegle, Artex (SAC) Limited, Artex Cedar Hill, Artex Corporate Services (Malta) Limited, Artex Corporate Services Limited, Artex Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Holdings (Malta) Limited, Artex Insurance (Guernsey) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance (Tennessee) PCCIC Inc., Artex Insurance Brokers (Malta) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance ICC Limited, Artex Intermediaries Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Cayman) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Guernsey) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (International) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Malta) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (UK) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions Inc., Arthur J Gallagher (Norway) Holdings AS, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AUS) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Illinois), Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher (Aus) Pty Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Bermuda) Holding Partnership, Arthur J. Gallagher (Life Solutions) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (U.S.) LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Asesoria S.A.C., Arthur J. Gallagher Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd., Arthur J. Gallagher Brokerage & Risk Management Services LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Broking (NZ) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Financial Services Professionals Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Group Quebec ULC, Arthur J. Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Latin America LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Management (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Real Estate Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services (Hawaii) Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services of Utah Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher School Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Service Company LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Services (UK) Ltd, Ashmore & Associates Insurance Agency, Atlantic Risk Management Corp., Atrex Insurance (Cayman) SPC Limited, Avantek Pty Ltd, Axe Insurance PCC Limited, BIS Insurance Services, Baker - Tillys employment benefits solutions, Ballard Benefit Works, Bankers Financial Benefits, Barmore Insurance Agency, Behnke & Co. Inc., Bellisle Pty Ltd, Belmont Associates Consultants, Belmont Insurance Holdings Limited, Belmont International, Belmont International Limited, Benefit Development Group, Benefit Management Group, BenefitLink Resource Group, Benefits Planning & Insurance Agency, Benefits Unlimited, Bennett & Shade Co., Bergvall Marine, Bergvall Marine A.S., Besselman & Little Agency, Big Savings Insurance Agency Inc., Blenheim Park Ltd, Blenheim Park Services Limited, Blue Holdings Pty Ltd, Blue Horizon Insurance Services, Blue Water Benefits, BluePeak Advisors, Blueleaf Consulting Pty Ltd., Bluewater Incorporated Cell Insurance Company, Bollinger Inc., Bollinger Insurance Services Inc., Bowen Miclette Britt & Merry of Arkansas Inc., Brendis & Brendis, Brim AB, Broker Benefit Services, Brokerage Professionals, Brown Hobbs & McMurray Insurance, Bultman/Bell Associates Inc., Burkwald & Associates, Burns-Fazzi Brock & Associates, Bushong Insurance Associates, C&B Consulting Group, CGM Gallagher Insruance Brokers (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, CJM Solutions Inc., CMA Solutions LLC, Cairnstone Financial, California Insurance Center, Capital Bauer Insurance Agency, Capitol Benefits Group, Capsicum CRLA LLP, Capsicum Re Brasil Participacoes Ltda, Capsicum Re Latin America Corretora De Resseguros Ltda, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Bermuda Limited, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Miami Inc., Carefree Marketing Inc., Carpenter Cammack & Associates, Cashan & Co., Castle Insurance Associates, Centennial Insurance Agency, Charity First Insurance Services Inc., Charles Allen Agency, Charter Lakes Insurance Agency, Chris Schroeder Insurance, Christie-Phoenix, Cintran Claims Canada Limited, Classic Insurance Services, Cleaveland Insurance Group, Cohen & Lord Insurance Brokers, Cohn Financial Group, Coleman Group Holdings Limited, Coleman Holdings Limited, College and University Scholastic Excess Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Commercial Insurance Brokers, Complete Benefit Alliance, Complete Financial Balance, Complete Financial Balance Pty Ltd, Consolidated Casualty Specialties LLC, Construction Risk Solutions, Contego Underwriting Limited, Contego Underwriting Ltd, Continental Excess & Surplus, Convergence Risk Services Ltd, Copper Mountain Assurance Inc., Cornwall & Stevens Co., Corporate Benefit Advisors, Corporate Life Consultants, Countrywide Accident Assistance Limited, Coverdell & Company Inc., Coverdell Canada Corporation, Cowles and Connell, Craig M. Ferguson & Co., Crist Elliott Machette Insurance Services, Crombie Lockwood (NZ) Limited, Davis-Poston & Associates, Denman Consulting Services, Detlefs Johnson & Partners, DiBrina Group, Dickinson & Associates, Discount Development Services L.L.C., Discovery Benefit Solutions, Dodson-Bateman & Co., Donald P. Pipino Co. Ltd., E. S. Susanin Inc., EHE Holdings LLC, EHS Holdings Limited, Elantis Premium Funding (NZ) Limited, Elantis Premium Funding Limited, Elite Benefits Insurance Marketing Services, Employee Benefits Analysis Corp., Employee Benefits of The Carolinas, Encore Insurance & Bonding, Everett James, Evolution Risk Services Limited, Evolution Technology Services Limited, Evolution Underwriting Group, Evolution Underwriting Group Limited, Evolution Underwriting Limited, Excel Insurance Services, FYI Direct Canada Corporation, FYI Direct LLC, Farallone Pacific Insurance Services, Fenchurch Faris Limited, Fidelity Benefits & Insurance Services, Financial Profiles Inc., Finergy Solutions Pty Ltd, First Agency, First Iowa Insurance Agency, First Premium Inc., First Premium Insurance Group, Fish & Schulkamp, Fishermans Insurance Services, Foley Healthcare Limited, Fortress Financial Solutions Pty Ltd, Fortress Insurance LLC, Foundation Strategies, Fox Lawson & Associates, Franklin-Case Agency LLC, Fraser MacAndrew Ryan Limited, Friary Intermediate Limited, Fuller & O'Brien, G.S. Chapman & Associates Insurance Brokers, G.S. Levine Insurance Services, GBS (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd, GBS Administrators Inc., GBS Insurance and Financial Services Inc., GBS Retirement Services Inc., GBS Specialty Markets LLC, GGB Finance 1 Limited, GGB Finance 2 Limited, GGB Finance 3 Limited, GGB Finance 4 Limited, GPL Assurance, GPL Assurance Inc., Gabor Insurance Services, Gale Smith & Co. Inc., Gallagher (Bermuda) Insurance Solutions Ltd., Gallagher - Grace/Mayer Insurance Agency, Gallagher Bassett Aires Inc., Gallagher Bassett Canada Inc., Gallagher Bassett Insurance Services Ltd., Gallagher Bassett International Ltd., Gallagher Bassett NZ Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Inc. , Gallagher Bassett Services Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Workers Compensation Victoria Pty Ltd., Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada) Group Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services (Holdings) Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services Management Company Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Pty Ltd, Gallagher Benefits Consulting Limited, Gallagher Bomford Couch Wilson, Gallagher Burgess, Gallagher Canada Acquisition Corporation, Gallagher Caribbean Group Limited, Gallagher Clean Energy LLC, Gallagher Communications Limited, Gallagher Community Clinic RPG LLC, Gallagher Consulting Ltda, Gallagher Corporate Services LLC, Gallagher Coyle, Gallagher CyberRisk, Gallagher Energy Risk Services Inc., Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC, Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Bermuda Company Limited, Gallagher Holdings Four (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Three (UK) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (Barbados) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Kitts & Nevis) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Lucia) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Vincent) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers Jamaica Limited, Gallagher International Cash Management s.r.l., Gallagher International Holdings (US) Inc., Gallagher Investment Advisors LLC, Gallagher Inwest Group, Gallagher Koster, Gallagher Lambert Group, Gallagher Madison Risk & Insurance Services, Gallagher Mauritius Holdings, Gallagher Mississippi Brokerage LLC, Gallagher RE Colombia Ltda Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Gallagher Risk & Reward Limited, Gallagher Risk Group LLC, Gallagher Risk Placements Pty Ltd, Gallagher SKS, Gallagher Service Center LLP, Gallagher-Tarantino, Galtney Group, Game Day Insurance Inc., Gardner & White Corp., Gardner Marine Agency, Garza Long Group, Gatehouse Consulting Limited, Gault Armstrong Kemble Pty Ltd, Gault Armstrong SARL, Giles Group, Giles Holdings Limited, Giles Insurance Brokers, Gillis Ellis & Baker Inc., Goodman Insurance Agency, Grandy Pratt Co., Greenseed Alternative Mangaers Platform Ltd, Grossman & Associates, Group Benefits of Arkansas, Group Insurance Associates, Gruppo Marcucci, HLG Holdings Limited, HMG-PCMS Limited, HPF Investments LLC, HR Owen Insurance Services Limited, Hagan Newkirk Financial Services, Hagedorn & Company, Hardman & Howell Benefits, Harlequin Insurance PCC Limited, Hartstein Associates Inc., Healthcare Professionals Purchasing Group LLC, Healthcare Risk Solutions, Heath Lambert Group Ltd., Heath Lambert Limited, Heath Lambert Overseas Limited, Heiser Insurance Agency, Henderson Phillips Fine Arts Insurance, Herbruck Alder & Co., Heritage Insurance Brokers (CI) Limited, Hesse & Partner AG, Hesse Consulting, Hexagon ICC Limited, Hexagon Insurance PCC Limited, Hill Chesson & Woody, Hogan Insurance Services, Home & Travel Limited, Honour Point Limited, Horseshoe Corporate Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services USA Inc., Horseshoe ILS Services UK Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Advisors US LLC, Horseshoe Insurance Advisory Ltd., Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings US Inc., Horseshoe Management (Gibraltar) Limited, Horseshoe Management (Ireland) Ltd, Horseshoe Management Ltd., Horseshoe PCC Limited, Horseshoe Re Limited, Horseshoe Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Services (Pty) Ltd, Horton Insurance Agency, Housing Authorities Services Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Human Resource Management Systems, I-Protect Underwriting Pty Ltd, IBIS Advisors, IBS Reinsurance Singapore Pte Ltd, ILS Fund Services Ltd., ISG International, ITI Solutions, Igloo Insurance PCC Limited, Independent Benefit Services, Independent Fiduciary Services, Ink Underwriting Agencies Limited, InsSync Group Pty Ltd, Inspire Underwriting Limited, Instrat Insurance Brokers, Instrat Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, Instrat Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Insurance Acquisitions Holdings Limited, Insurance Associates Inc., Insurance Dialogue Limited, Insurance Dialogue Ltd., Insurance Plans Agency, Insurance Plus Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Insurance Point, Insurance Risk Managers of Missouri Inc., Insure My Villa Limited, Insure Pty Ltd, Integrated Healthcare Strategies, InterNational Insurance Group, InterPacific Underwriting Agencies, Intermountain Financial Benefits, Interstate Insurance Underwriters, JPGAC LLC, James F. Reda & Associates, James R. Weir Insurance Agency, Jenkins and Associates, Joe E. Martin Inc., John P. Woods Co. Inc., Jones Brown, Jones Brown Group Inc., Jones Brown Insurance Solutions Inc., Joseph Distel, Joseph James & Associates Insurance Agency, Just Landlords Insurance Services Ltd, KDC Associates, KRW Insurance Agency, Kahl Insurance Services, Kaler Carney Liffler & Co. Inc., Kane Group - Insurance Management Operations, Kelly Financial, Kent Kent & Tingle and RBS, Keyser Benefits Corp., Kingspark Enterprises Pty Ltd, L&R Benefits, LSG Insurance Partners, Learn About Money Limited, Lewis & Associates Insurance Brokers, Leystone Insurance & Financial, Life Plans Unlimited, Lincoln Financial Management, Longfellow Financial, Lucas Fettes Limited, Lucas Fettes and Partners Limited, Lutgert Insurance, MA Underwriting Pty Ltd, MDM Insurance Associates, MG Advanced Coal Technologies-1 LLC, MGA Insurance Services, MRS Holdings Ltd., Madison Scott & Associates, Managed Healthcare Solutions, Mannequin Insurance PCC Limited, Marchetti Robertson & Brickell Insurance, Marine Insurance Service, Martin Gordon & Jones Inc., McDowall Associates Human Resource Consultants, McIntyre Risk Management, McLean Insurance Agency, McNeary, McPherson Benefits Group, McRory & Co., Mecacem Insurance SPC Ltd, MedInsights Inc., Melton Insurance Associates, Memberworks Canada LLC, Merit Insurance, Metcom Excess, Metzler Bros. Insurance, Meyers-Reynolds & Associates, Mid America Group, Midwest Surety Services, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers Limited, Mike Henry Insurance Funding Limited, Miller Buettner & Parrott, Miller-Harrison Insurance Services, Milne Alexander Pty Ltd, Minvielle & Chastanet Insurance Brokers, Monument Insurance (NZ) Limited, Monument Llc, Monument Premium Funding Limited, Mortgage Insurance Agency, Murphy Consultants, Mutual Insurance Services, NationAir Aviation Insurance, National Administration Co., National Ethics Association, National Transportation Adjusters, Nelson/Monarch Insurance Services, Nicoud Insurance Services, NiiS/Apex Group Holdings, Nonprofit Insurance Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Noraxis Capital Corp, Nordic Forsakring & Riskhantering AB, North Alabama Insurance, Nourse Insurance Brokers, O'Gorman & Young, OAMPS (UK) Limited, OAMPS Gault Armstrong Pty Ltd, OAMPS Limited, OAMPS Special Risks Ltd, Offshore Market Placements Limited, Optimum Talent, Orb Financial Services, Orb Financial Services Limited, Osprey Insurance Brokers Limited, Oval Group, Oval Healthcare Limited, Oval Insurance Broking Limited, Oval Limited, Oval Management Services Limited, Oxygen Insurance Managers, P2 Group, PEN Insurance Management Advisors Ltd, PT IBS Insurance Broking Service, Pacific Insurance Agency, Palmer Atlantic Insurance, Palmer Atlantic Insurance Ltd, Palmer Atlantic Risk Services Ltd., Park Row Associates, Parkstar Enterprises Pty Ltd, Parmia Pty Ltd, PartnerSource, Pastel Holding (NZ) Company, Pastel Holdings Pty Limited, Pastel Purchaser (NZ) Limited, Pastel Purchaser Pty Limited, Pavey Group Holdings (UK) Limited, Pavey Group Holdings Limited, Pavey Group Limited, Pearson Dunn Insurance Inc., Pen Underwriting Canada Limited, Pen Underwriting Group Pty. Ltd., Pen Underwriting Limited, Pen Underwriting Pty Ltd, Persing Dyckman & Toynbee Inc., Personal Advice Services Pty Ltd, Petty Burton Associates, Pointer Insurance Agency, Portmore Insurance Brokers (Wilshire) Limited, Portmore Insurance Brokers Limited, Potter-Holden & Co., Powell Insurance Agency, Premier Insurance Services Inc., Premier Risk Services, Premium Finance Corporation, Preston-Patterson, ProSource Financial, Professional Agents Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Professional Claims Managers, Proinova AB, Proinova Agency AB, Pronto California Agency LLC, Pronto California General Agency LLC, Pronto Florida Claims LLC, Pronto Florida General Agency LLC, Pronto Franchise LLC, Pronto General Agency Ltd, Pronto General Agency Management LLC, Pronto Holdco Inc., Pronto Holding California LLC, Pronto Holding Florida LLC, Pronto Insurance Agency of Laredo Inc., Pronto Premium Finance LLC, Property & Commercial Ltd., Property Insurance Initatives Limited, Property and Commercial Limited, Protected Insurance Company, Protection Plan Association Inc., Protek Group Limited, Providium Consulting Group, Ptarmigan Underwriting Agency Limited, Ptarmigan Underwriting UK Limited, Purple Bridge Claims Management Limited, Purple Bridge Finance Limited, Purple Bridge Group Limited, Purple Bridge Investments Limited, Purple Bridge Online Services Limited, Purple Bridge Publishing Limited, Quantum Underwriting Solutions Limited, Quillco 226 Limited, Quillco 227 Limited, R. L. Youngdahl & Associates, R.G. Speno Inc., R.W. Scobie, RA Rossborough (Guernsey) Ltd., RA Rossborough (Insurance Brokers) Ltd, REGENCY Group inc., RGA Referencing Limited, RGA Underwriting Limited, RIL Administrators (Guernsey) Ltd., RJ Dutton Inc., RSM Insurance Services Limited, Reassurance Holdings Inc., Rebholz Insurance Agency, Reid Manson Ltd., Reimbursement Services, Rentguard Limited, Reward Management Limited, Reynolds & Rodar Insurance Group, Riley & Associates, Rio 587 Limited, Rio 588 Limited, Risk & Reward Group, Risk Management Partners Limited, Risk Placement Services Inc., Risk Planners, Risk Services (NW) Limited, Risk Services (NW) Ltd., Risk Solutions Group Limited, Robert A. Schneider Agency, Robert Keith & Associates, Roberts & Roberts Insurance Service, Robinson-Adams Insurance, Rossborough Healthcare International Ltd, Rossborough Insurance (IOM) Ltd., Rossborough Insurance Services Ltd. (Jersey), S. A. Freerks & Associates, SEG Insurance Ltd, SGB-NIA Insurance Brokers, SHILLING Ltd, SKANCO International, SMERI AB, SRS Underwriting Pty Ltd, Secure Enterprises Pty Ltd, Securitas Re, Sellers Group, Sentinel Indemnity LLC, Septagon Insurance PCC Limited, Shuford Insurance Agency, Sigma II Insurance Agency, Sinclair Billard and Weld Limited, Sobieski & Bradley, Solid Benefit Guidance, Spanjers Insurance Agency, Spataro Insurance Agency, Specialised Broking Associates, Specialty Risk, Stackhouse Poland, Stackhouse Poland Bidco Limited, Stackhouse Poland Group Limited, Stackhouse Poland Holdings Limited, Stackhouse Poland Midco Limited, Stackouse Poland Limited, Stanton Group, Stark Johnson & Stinson Inc., Steel Agency, Strata Solicitors Ltd, Strategic Health Plans Corp., Strathearn Insurance Brokers, Strathearn Insurance Brokers (Qld) Trading Trust, Strathern Insurance Group Pty Ltd, Strathern Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Strathern Unit Trust, Strong Financial Resources, Summit Insurance Group, Sunday and Associates, Sunderland Insurance Services, Super Advice Corporate Services Pty Ltd, Taylor Benefits, Texas Insurance Agency, Texas Insurance Managers, The BeneTex Group, The Buchholz Planning, The Chapman Group, The Commonwealth Consulting Group, The Daniels Group Inc., The EHE Group LLC, The EHE Insurance Agency LLC, The Eagle Insurance Agency LLC, The Eriksen Group, The Forker Company, The Gleason Agency, The Great Lakes Agency, The HR Group, The Hawk Agency, The Human Capital Group, The Lance Group, The Levitt/Kristan Co., The MW Bagnall Company, The Old Greenwich Consulting Group, The Parks Johnson Agency, The Plus Companies Inc., The Presidio Group, The Producers Choice, The Rains Group, The Splinter Group, The Titan Group, The Treiber Group, The Woodsmall Companies Inc., Title & Covenant Brokers Ltd., Title Investments Limited, Tom Sherwin Insurance Agency, Total Reward Group, Total Rewards Group (Holdings) Limited, Towle Agency, Transwestern, Tri-State General Insurance Agency, Triad Insurance Agency, Triad USA, Tribeca Strategic Advisors, Trinder & Norwood, Trip Mate, Trissel Graham & Toole, Tropp & Co., Tudor Risk Services, Tyloma Holdings Limited, Uni-Care Inc., Unison Inc., Universico Group, Unoccupied Direct Limited, V2V Holdings LLC, VEBA Service Group, Vasek Insurance Services Limited, Velo ACU LLC, Velo Holdings Inc., Verbag AG., Vertrue LLC, Victory Insurance Agency, Vincent L. Braband Insurance, Vital Benefits, Voluntary Benefits Solutions, W. E. Kingsley Co. Inc., WM. W. George & Associates, Walker Taylor Agency, Welling Associates, Wesfarmers Insurance - Insurance Brokerage Operations, Western Benefit Solutions, White & Company Insurance, Whitehaven Insurance Group, William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers, William H. Connolly & Co., Williams Insurance Agency Inc., Williams-Manny Insurance Group, Winn & Company Insurance Brokers, Wischmeyer Benefit Partners, Woodbrook Underwriting Agencies, Woods & Grooms, WorkCare Northwest, Worksite Communications, Y. S. Liedman & Associates, YOA Capsicum Reinsurance Broker Limited, Zenor Limited, Zuber Insurance Agency, and e3 Financial. Read More ESCO Technologies Inc. produces and supplies engineered products and systems for industrial and commercial markets worldwide. It operates through Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Shielding and Test segments. The Aerospace & Defense segment designs and manufactures filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines. It also designs, develops, and manufactures elastomeric-based signature reduction solutions for U.S. naval vessels; and mission-critical bushings, pins, sleeves, and precision-tolerance machined components for landing gear, rotor heads, engine mounts, flight controls, and actuation systems for the aerospace and defense industries. The Utility Solutions Group segment provides diagnostic testing solutions that enable electric power grid operators to assess the integrity of high-voltage power delivery equipment; and decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind and solar. The RF Shielding and Test segment designs and manufactures RF test and secure communication facilities, acoustic test enclosures, RF and magnetically shielded rooms, RF measurement systems, and broadcast and recording studios; and RF absorptive materials and filters, active compensation systems, antennas, antenna masts, turntables, electric and magnetic probes, RF test cells, proprietary measurement software, and other test accessories to perform various tests. It also provides services, such as calibration for antennas and field probes, chamber certification, field surveys, customer training, and various product tests. The company distributes its products through a network of distributors, sales representatives, direct sales teams, and in-house sales personnel. The company was incorporated in 1990 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri. Team, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides asset performance assurance and optimization solutions in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. It operates through Inspection and Heat Treating (IHT), Mechanical Services (MS), and Quest Integrity segments. The IHT segment offers non-destructive evaluation and testing, radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle inspection, liquid penetrant inspection, positive material identification, electromagnetic testing, alternating current field measurement, and eddy current testing services. This segment also provides long-range guided ultrasonic testing, phased array ultrasonic testing, terminals and storage inspection and management program, rope access, mechanical and pipeline integrity, heat treating, and robotics and inspection services. The MS segment offers engineered composite repair, emissions control/compliance, hot tapping, valve insertion, field machining, bolted joint integrity, vapor barrier plug and weld testing, and valve management services, as well as leak repair services for pipes, valves, and flanges, as well as other parts of piping systems, pipelines, and related assets. The Quest Integrity segment provides furnace tube inspection system-enabled, in-line inspection, pipeline integrity management, engineering and condition assessment, and robotics and inspection services. It also offers onstream services comprising of line stopping and on-line valve insertion solutions. The company serves refining, power, renewables, nuclear, liquefied natural gas, chemical, petrochemical, pulp and paper, automotive, mining, valves, terminals and storage, pipeline, offshore oil and gas, and aerospace and defense industries, as well as amusement parks, bridges, ports, construction and buildings, roads, dams, and railways. Team, Inc. was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for President and America's last, best hope of stopping the Trumpapocalypse, sat down with Zack Galifianakis for a new episode of his parody online talk show Between Two Ferns. Clinton addresses a multitude of topics during the interview, including the Trans Pacific Partnership, gun control, pant suits, Scott Baio, and the historic nature of her candidacy. Not to take away from the historic significance of you perhaps becoming the first female president," Galifianakis says, "but for a younger, younger generation you will also become their first white president. And thats pretty neat, too. Just like his past Between Two Ferns session with President Obama, Galifianakis sticks to the bit of saying wildly rude stuff to his guests, only to get dissed and dismissed. (Galifianakis to Bruce Willis: "Did you know that some actors turn down roles?") In a way, this should serve as perfect debate prep for Clinton, who's set to square off against "white power tie" Donald next Monday night. Trump actually makes an appearance in the episode...sort of. Election 2016 is the worst, but B2F is the best. Watch the full segment below. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Are you a fan of NYC's rich architectural legacy? And have you wanted to take an exclusive tour of the Woolworth Building's at the new Woolworth Tower Residences? Well, maybe you're one of the 34 lucky people who completed the Historic Districts Council's #PreservationPays challenge! Over the past weeks, the Historic Districts Council has invited the public to take photographs of themselves in front of seven historically significant buildings, and then tag themselves with #PreservationPays (and the HDC's handle) on Twitter and Instagram. You can see some of the entries above! The next step is for the HDC to announce the winners, which they will do next week. On Wednesday, September 28th, the Historic Districts Council is inviting contest participants and the public to its #PreservationPays Party at Jimmy's No. 43 in the East Village. Besides the winners' announcement, there will be live music and drink specials. The five winners will be treated to a private tour of the Woolworth Tower Residences atop the iconic building, led by Historic Districts Council Adviser and official Woolworth Building Historian Lisa Renz. This tour, which is supported by Sotheby's International Realty, is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit one of New York City's finest landmarks. The HDC also wants to remind everyone that "preserving historic buildings and neighborhoods is good for New York City." Most New Yorkers believe this to be true in their hearts, but it is sometimes helpful to have the facts to back it up. In response, the Historic Districts Council created a series of infographics entitled How Historic Preservation Benefits New York City. The graphics have a simple message: as part of New York Citys multi-billion dollar tourism trade, a generator of good jobs and an attractive option for affordable housing, landmark buildings and historic districts are a positive force for the financial well-being of the city. Based on the expansive 2014 report A Proven Success: How the New York City Landmarks Law and Process Benefit the City, the infographics consolidate critical facts and figures to demonstrate the value of historic preservation in our city. For full details about the #PreservationPays Challenge, please visit www.hdc.org/challenge . Gothamist was a partner in the contest. 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DiNapoli presented the report at Queens Central Library at 89-11 Merrick Blvd., accompanied by Queens Library CEO Dennis Walcott, Borough President Melinda Katz and other elected officials. It helps to build on successes, and to create an agenda to move forward, DiNapoli said during the press conference. Were seeing diversity of employment and business growth in many areas. The rates of population growth, business growth and increases in the median household income all exceeded the citywide rate. DiNapoli said Jamaica was the second most-populated neighborhood in the city, and immigrants now made up 41 percent of the population, compared to 18 percent in 1980. The number of businesses in the area increased by 39 percent over 20 years, with particular strength in social assistance, business services, food services and hotels. Most of the 69 businesses with 100 or more employees were in the health care, retail or transportation fields. DiNapoli acknowledged Jamaica had been particularly hard hit by the recession, losing 2.5 percent of its jobs in 2009. Employment levels improved by 2012 but dipped again in 2013, with the area losing three times as many jobs as were lost in the recession. However, the comptroller said employment had neared the pre-recession level by the end of 2015. Household income increased by 11 percent in 2011, although state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) noted that households may have four or more incomes contributing to the total. According to the report, 12.5 percent of Jamaica households were in apartments with more than one person per room, a higher rate than the borough and the city. City Councilman I. Daneek Miller (D-St. Albans) said while Jamaica was a transportation hub with six Long Island Rail Road lines passing through the Jamaica station, the price of a ticket was often cost-prohibitive for residents in southeast Queens. He said everyone needed to work to help longtime residents stay in the area despite increasing rental prices. We want to ensure that those who have endured, who have been here three, four or five decades that they are here to enjoy this growth, he said. The housing crisis continues to plague Jamaica, according to the report. Home prices in 2014 were 20 percent lower than in 2008, and a previous report by DiNapoli found that more than half of the mortgages that had been issued in 2006 were subprime. Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced Wednesday that the state would invest $69.5 million into the Jamaica LIRR station, including the construction of new platforms and tracks The new platform would include heated waiting areas, Wi-Fi and USB charging stations. As a surprise at the end of the presentation, DiNapoli presented Earl Simons, the director of community relations for York College, with a check for $6,805 that came from unclaimed funds the college had not retrieved. A full copy of the Jamaica report can be found on the comptrollers website at www.osc.state.ny.us/ . Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Gina Martinez Ozone Park residents and leaders are voicing their concerns over a potential homeless shelter in the neighborhood. The proposed transitional home would be run by the non-profit Breaking Grounds, which has several locations in all five boroughs. Breaking Grounds is a street outreach program that provides supportive temporary housing to the homeless while helping them find permanent housing. During their stay, the organization provides them with food, medical care and a place to sleep. At the Community Board 9 meeting earlier this month residents expressed their reservations about the shelter, which would belocated at 100-32 Atlantic Ave., the former site of Dallis Bros Coffee and Tea shop. We had a lot of people at the meeting, a community board member said. Most people, I believe, are very apprehensive and not sure of whats going to go on. A majority of people dont want the center. State Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) thinks this shelter will not help solve the homeless problem. Each time an attempt is made to open yet another inappropriate homeless shelter in a poorly thought-out location, the crisis we face as a city gets incrementally worse, he said. I do not believe that shuffling vulnerable individuals from one inadequate shelter to another is any way to treat homeless New Yorkers, who need our help to get back on their feet. Addabbo urgeed Mayor Bill de Blasio to come up with a better system to deal with the homeless in the city. Rather than continuing to warehouse people in hotels or other vacant properties that are not meant to serve as a primary residence, I believe Mayor de Blasios administration should be focusing more of its efforts on finding long-term housing for homeless individuals and making sure they are provided with vital resources such as job training, counseling and access to public transportation, the lawmaker said. Only then can we begin to provide some real relief to the more than 50,000 people across New York City who are currently without homes. But according to Breaking Grounds, drop-In centers help support homeless. Drop-In Centers are an important resource for the homeless and a critical step in their journey from the street to permanent housing and stability, said Jeff Scheuer, vice president of external affairs. Breaking Ground has been serving the homeless for more than 25 years as New York Citys largest provider of supportive housing, running the citys largest safe haven, and homeless street outreach in three boroughs. Since 1990, we have helped more than 12,000 people escape and avoid homelessness. CB 9 chairman, Raj Rampershad, said the board is planning a public meeting. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Mark Hallum The Bling Bling Body Works at 39-25 Bell Blvd. was shut down by the Police Department in a State Supreme Court order posted to the door. The business, which occupied the upper level of the building, is alleged to have been shuttered for prostitution and unlicensed massage Sept. 16, according to the posting. The massage parlor, whose owners were not known to the police, ran their operation on the second floor above an optician whose business is called Eye Supply. An unidentified undercover agent provided the information for the summons and complaint, the posting said. A spokeswoman for the Queens district attorney said the case was in civil court. The recent bust is another added to the list of massage parlors in northeast Queens, which have been closed by authorities in recent months. In August, three Murray Hill establishments were forced to close their doors after the NYPDs Vice Enforcement Division unit gave the order to vacate. This followed an occupancy inspection by the city Department of Building, prompted by state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside). Avella then notified the Queens DA and law enforcement about the DOBs findings. Although the DOBs investigation was not a human trafficking probe, the community has long feared such activity was taking place. Its unbelievable just how many of these massage parlors exist in our communities, operating under false pretenses in an effort to conceal illegal acts Avella said after the August closings, while expressing fear that some of the women working in businesses masked as spas could in fact be the victims of human trafficking. In a major crackdown back in March, 31 people in Flushing and Whitestone were arrested by the Queens North VICE unit of NYPD, which visited 18 establishments and brought suspects in on mainly unlicensed masseur charges. Other charges were prostitution related, the police said. Hopewell Community Park remains a 'labor of love' for local community The lush green park is a product of the combined efforts of the Hopewell Township community and a symbol of decades of conservation efforts in Beaver County. Montague County investigators, FBI agents honored for work on Howard case Two veteran law enforcement investigators from Montague County were honored along with two FBI agents with the U.S. Attorneys Award of Excellence. SHARE CHRISTOPHER WALKER/TIMES RECORD NEWS Wichita County District Attorney Maureen Shelton answered questions from local and state leaders Wednesday in a meeting about the county's financial troubles. Topics included rising jail and indigent health care costs. CHRISTOPHER WALKER/TIMES RECORD NEWS Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom spoke with local and state leaders Wednesday during a meeting held in the Wichita County commissioner's courtroom. The meeting was called to discuss the county's mounting financial problems. CHRISTOPHER WALKER/TIMES RECORD NEWS County and state leaders huddled Wednesday about Wichita County's mounting financial troubles. CHRISTOPHER WALKER/TIMES RECORD NEWS Wichita County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jeff Watts answered questions Wednesday about the county's mounting financial obligations. By Claire Kowalick of the Times Record News State representatives met with Wichita County commissioners Wednesday afternoon in an unprecedented work session. Craig Estes, Texas state senator for District 30; James Frank, Texas House of Representatives for District 69; Drew Springer Jr. Texas House of Representatives for District 68; and Sandra Ross, deputy district director for Mac Thornberry, U.S. Congressman for Texas' 13th District, met with commissioners, Judge Woody Gossom, District Attorney Maureen Shelton, Auditor Deborah Stevens, Sheriff David Duke and other county staff. Commissioner Lee Harvey said he requested this meeting to discuss how state and county leaders can work better together. During the two-hour session, Stevens presented 10-year and five-year time lines of county expenses and revenue. She pointed out that there is a trend of expenses growing faster than the revenue to pay for them. Several areas of concern were discussed including indigent defense, indigent health care, adult and juvenile detainment. Frank said he appreciated the compilation of information, but did not see any increase recently that would account for the county's property tax increase. "What has been said is the county is raising eight percent the reason is unfunded mandates. I don't believe the math backs that up," Frank said. Looking at the 10-year chart, Frank said the information says to him that the big increases were five years ago and a tax increase at that time already covered that. "Bottom line is we need to have the discussion about these things, but I don't believe anything I've heard says it's the state mandates that caused this increase," he said. Estes said the meeting was helpful to him, as state leaders do not often get feedback once an item goes down the line. He asked Wichita County leaders, together with the Texas Association of Counties, to consider a handful of the most important items the state can help with and they will review them before January. "Sometimes when we meant to do THIS, there are unintended consequences and we need to know about THAT," Estes said. Frank asked the commissioners to think about what the state could do in the next session to make the system more efficient. One issue Gossom said may be state wide is the wait time for drug-testing results from Department of Public Safety laboratories. Shelton agreed, saying an average wait time is nine to 12 months for drug-test results to return. Gossom said he will discuss issues with other TAC members at their meeting next month and distill the most important issues for counties. Frank said to him, the numbers do not justify the county's tax increase county leaders and staff disagree. While there may be butting heads for now, both sides agree that opening the lines of communication is a productive step toward an amiable solution.

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. 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[ 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. 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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. While this article outlined potential candidates from one screen, the Zacks Premium service gives you access to the Zacks #1 Rank Uptrends and 45 other premium screens designed to give you superior investment returns. To use Zacks Premium Screens to find more stock picks based on criteria thats most important to you plus, gain access to the Zacks Rank for your stocks, mutual funds and ETFs; Zacks Style Scores, Equity Research Reports; Focus List portfolio of 50-longer-term stocks and more start your 30-day free trial to Zacks Premium. 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 >> Get todays Zacks #1 Stock of the Day with your free subscription to Profit from the Pros newsletter: About the Bull and Bear of the Day Every day, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research select two stocks that are likely to outperform (Bull) or underperform (Bear) the markets over the next 3-6 months. About the Analyst Blog Updated throughout every trading day, the Analyst Blog provides analysis from Zacks Equity Research about the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. About Zacks Equity Research Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Continuous analyst coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Click here to subscribe to this free newsletter today. About Zacks Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. 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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 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) "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." - 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. "This conflict has never been about the settlements or about establishing a Palestinian state," said Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN headquarters Jewel Samad (AFP) Lebanon says IS suspect arrested at refugee camp 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. The Ain El-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp, where Imad Yassin was detained, is considered a powder keg, with frequent clashes between rival factions and security left in the hands of Palestinian forces Mahmoud Zayyat (AFP/File) "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. Trump courts blue-collar Ohio with job promises Shiny new Jeep Wranglers and Cherokees, lined up in their thousands, wait to be shipped out by train from the Chrysler plant in Toledo, Ohio where Donald Trump has come to court blue-collar voters with promises of jobs. The industrial city on the shores of Lake Erie, which has lost a quarter of its population since the 1970s as jobs dried up, is a Democratic stronghold with a big union presence. President Barack Obama saved the local auto industry from bankruptcy, and the Democratic White House nominee Hillary Clinton enjoys solid support among the city's black voters. Supporters watch as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Toledo, Ohio on September 21, 2016 Mandel Ngan (AFP) But the Republican Trump hopes to chip away at that support in the final stretch to the November 8 vote. "My economic agenda can be summed up in three very beautiful words: jobs, jobs, jobs," Trump told more than 2,000 supporters at a local theater on Wednesday. "If Trump is president, you watch how good it will be." Starting next year, pledged the real estate magnate, "jobs are going to start leaving other countries and coming back to us, believe me. That includes Apple products." The target of Trump's pitch are voters like Dusky Raker-Bishop, 40, who cares full time for her husband and mother, both disabled. In 2008, she voted for Obama -- but she has since soured on the Democrats. "I would never vote for Hillary, she's going to do the same things that Obama is doing, ship everything overseas," she told AFP. On her chest she had pinned a badge reading "Deplorable" -- a jab back at Clinton who sparked an uproar this month by describing half of Trump's supporters as a "basket of deplorables." - Playing both sides - Brandon, a 33-year-old union member who withheld his last name, works at a local tire factory. "Sometimes you've got to play both sides," he said. While his union supports Clinton, he says he himself cannot back her, arguing that "she is in favor of bad trade deals that are going to close down my factory." Hillary Clinton now stresses that she opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership backed by Obama. But many voters mistrust her on the issue -- since she defended the deal when she was part of the Obama administration. So many blue-collar workers find themselves leaning towards Trump -- who has waged a staunchly protectionist campaign even though his Republican Party is traditionally anti-union and pro-free trade. It isn't the first time Trump has come to court Toledo voters; he came in May as well, promising that economic help was on the way. His return here highlights how critical local white voters are to his electoral strategy. - Ohio, electoral puzzle piece - Why Ohio rather than neighboring Michigan? The US presidential election is effectively the sum of 50 state elections, with each candidate gunning for a majority of 538 electoral votes divided among the states. Trump would only need to get one more vote than Clinton here to take home all 18 of Ohio's electoral votes. Michigan, which faces similar economic challenges, still appears most likely to vote Democratic. But Ohio is so close as to be considered up-for-grabs. Trump at the moment has a slight poll lead over Clinton in Ohio -- thanks in part to backing from 57 percent of white men in the latest CNN survey. Democrats in turn are going door-to-door in mostly black areas of Toledo and Cleveland to try to boost turnout -- and counter Trump's surge with white working classes. The Clinton campaign has just opened its 55th local office in Ohio, it told AFP; Trump had just 16 earlier this month, according to PBS. What his campaign lacks in organization, Trump hopes to make up for by whipping up voter excitement, helped by social media. Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee in 2012, also came to Toledo in the last campaign but his opposition to Obama's auto industry bailout cost him votes. Above all, he offered none of the populist rhetoric that has propelled Trump so far -- most recently with a pledge to create 25 million new jobs over 10 years. Trump's recipe is simple: slam today's decision-makers and promise, if elected, to renegotiate trade deals and start again from scratch. "Jobs will return, don't you like the sound of that? Income will rise, and new factories will come rushing onto our shores." "My economic agenda can be summed up in three very beautiful words: jobs, jobs, jobs," Donald Trump told more than 2,000 supporters in Toledo, Ohio Supporters watch as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks in Toledo, Ohio on September 21, 2016 Mandel Ngan (AFP) Pentagon helping Southeast Asian allies tackle IS 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. US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter (L) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 22, 2016 Win McNamee (Getty/AFP) "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. Syria army announces offensive on rebel-held Aleppo 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. Syrian pro-regime fighters patrol the Ramussa area south of the city of Aleppo, on September 21, 2016 George Ourfalian (AFP/File) 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. 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. Burkina Faso a 'model of religious tolerance': Crisis Group Burkina Faso, despite suffering Islamist attacks, stands out as a "model of religious tolerance", the International Crisis Group said in a report published Thursday. The report, entitled "Burkina Faso: Preserving the Religious Balance", stressed the prevailing tolerance created by a "deep-rooted" religious pluralism. This is in sharp contrast to "the rising tide of religiously motivated violence in West Africa and the Sahel" region, the Brussels-based NGO said in its report. Roch Marc Christian Kabore, President of Burkina Faso, addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on September 22, 2016 Dominick Reuter (AFP) "Burkina has never suffered civil war or religious conflict. Muslims, Christians and animists are neighbours, live together and inter-marry," according to the report which was presented in the capital Ouagadougou. Nevertheless jihadist attacks in the capital in January left 30 people dead, according to the Burkina government. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed it was behind an assault on a top hotel and a cafe, both popular with foreigners, which also left 70 people wounded. Those attacks "were a shock to both the general public and the ruling class," the ICG report said. "Isolated incidents of verbal aggression against Muslims were reported in the following weeks. They revealed some degree of stigmatisation and reflected concerns that had not been present until then." Muslims make up 60 percent of the Burkina population in the impoverished West African nation. Nineteen percent are Catholics, 15 percent animists and 4 percent protestant but religion is "only a secondary badge of identity," according to the ICG There are few Burkinabe who do not have a friend, relative or neighbour of a different faith and it is rare for all members of a broader family to practise the same religion, the report said. However there are frustrations among the majority Muslim community as they are "poorly represented among the political and administrative elite" compared to the Christian population. US police officer charged in death of black man in Tulsa 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. The shooting of Terence Crutcher was recorded by dashboard cameras and a police helicopter in Tulsa HO (Tulsa Police Department/AFP/File) 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." 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. News / Africa by Staff reporter The government of Malawi had denied social media rumours claiming that President Peter Mutharika had suffered a cardiac arrest.According to a Nyasa Times report, Mutharika had been reported as having "good health" while reports confirmed that he was currently in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly.Francis Kasaila, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation in the country, dismissed the claims, assuring Malawians that Mutharika was enjoying his stay in the United States.Describing the Malawian leader as "very strong and healthy", Kasaila expressed his suspicions that the rumour was spread by members of the opposition who had malicious intent.The development followed on shortly after social media posts surfaced saying that the southern Africa country leaders was down after being affected by cardiac arrest.Mutharika has since been captured looking fit and vibrant while mingling with dignitaries in New York.False reports on the state of Mutharika's health have caused the President to recently seek regulation regarding social media recently, with the president claiming that the dissemination of rumours might cause Malawians to panic unnecessarily.Mutharika, 76, sparked concerns over his health in previous months, after he was caught on camera tripping and falling during a tree planting ceremony. UN Syria chemical weapons probe extended for one month The UN Security Council has given a panel investigating chemical weapons use in Syria another month to complete its work and determine who is responsible for chlorine attacks in the war, the United Nations said Thursday. The UN-led joint investigative mechanism (JIM) last month reported that Syrian government forces had carried out at least two chemical attacks in 2014 and 2015 and that Islamic State jihadists had used mustard gas as a weapon. It was the first time an authoritative probe had pointed the finger of blame at President Bashar al-Assad's forces after years of denial from Damascus. A young man breathes with an oxygen mask on March 17, 2015 at a clinic in Sarmin, the capital of Syria's Idlib province, following reports of suffocation cases related to an alleged regime gas attack in the area Mohamad Zeen (AFP/File) The JIM will have until October 31 to finish the probe, the United Nations said in a note to correspondents. Its mandate had been due to expire on Friday. The United Nations said the extension was granted "under exceptional circumstances to allow for the completion of the mechanism's fourth report." That report on the remaining three cases involving chlorine used in barrel-bombs is expected in the coming weeks. France is pushing the Security Council to impose sanctions on Syria based on the findings of the report, but other diplomats have privately expressed concern that the probe could be shelved as part of US-Russian negotiations on Syria. Russia has questioned the findings of the JIM, saying they were not conclusive enough to trigger sanctions. Chlorine use as a weapon is banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria joined in 2013, under pressure from Russia, Assad's ally. Japanese PM in Cuba to 'open new page' in ties 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. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and his wife Akie Abe arrive at the Jose Marti International airport in Havana on September 22, 2016 Adalberto Roque (AFP) 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. US claims trade win after WTO says Airbus illegally subsidized Boeing and US trade officials declared victory in a long trade battle Thursday after the World Trade Organization ruled that the European Union failed to end illegal subsidies for Airbus. The EU and member states did not implement an order to remove subsidies that Boeing alleges helped Airbus beat it in major multi-billion dollar contract battles, the global free-trade arbiter said in Geneva. 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, US Trade Representative Michael Froman said. An Airbus A380 aircraft performs during a flying display at the Farnborough Airshow, south west of London, on July 14, 2016 Adrian Dennis (AFP) "This report is a sweeping victory for the United States and its aerospace workers," he 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 the United States could now levy retaliatory duties against the European Union of up to $10 billion a year as a result of the ruling Thursday, although US officials refrained from saying they would take such a step. "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," the company said. - 'Ready to negotiate' - Shares of both aircraft builders rose on the ruling. Airbus was up 2.0 percent to 53.72 euros ($59.95) in Paris, and in New York, Boeing finished up 1.0 percent at $131.87. The ruling came after a fight dating back to 2004 over support and subsidies given both sides' aircraft builders. Airbus and Boeing are leading employers and exporters on their home turfs, and compete head-to-head to sell to airlines around the world. The European Union said in a statement that it found some of the WTO findings "unsatisfactory," noting it has the right to appeal the ruling. It also pointed out that the WTO is likely to rule in coming months on EU and Airbus complaints about what they say is illegal US support for Boeing. US trade officials did not say what their next step would be. "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 backs the company's argument that EU support for the company 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," she added. "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 - The WTO had ruled in 2011 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. US officials subsequently 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 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," Froman said. "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." Boeing claimed that, as a result of the ruling, the United States could levy retaliatory duties against the European Union of up to $10 billion a year Paul J. Richards (AFP/File) Syria meeting breaks up without plan to restore truce A high-level international meeting on the crisis in Syria broke up Thursday 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. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) and United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan Mistura attend the International Syria Support Group meeting, September 22, 2016 in New York Bryan R. Smith (AFP) "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." Kerry, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and envoys from the other 21 nations of the International Syria Support Group are in New York for the UN General Assembly. The US diplomat said he was ready to meet Lavrov again on Friday 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." Authorities ID man shot in Connecticut casino garage MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (AP) Connecticut authorities have identified the man who was shot by a tribal police officer and fell from the fourth floor of a parking garage at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. State police identified the man Wednesday as 23-year-old Michael Goodale, of Groton. The shooting happened at around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Fox Tower parking garage at the Mashantucket (mash-ehn-TUHK'-eht) resort. State police say Goodale was wanted by police for violating his probation. The Mashantucket Pequot (PEE'-kwaht) Tribal police attempted to arrest Goodale in the parking garage, where police say Goodale pointed a firearm at officers. State police say at least one officer discharged at least one round. Goodale then fell to the pavement below. It wasn't clear whether he died from the shooting or the fall. No other injuries were reported. German expert says de-radicalizing radicals can work in US MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A German expert who evaluated six Minnesota men who pleaded guilty to trying to join the Islamic State group has developed counseling plans for each of them aimed at keeping them off the path of violence. He has also trained 20 to 25 local probation officers in his techniques. Daniel Koehler, who directs the German Institute on Radicalization and De-radicalization Studies in Stuttgart, sat down with a small group of reporters Wednesday to discuss his work. He was joined by the chief U.S. probation officer for Minnesota, Kevin Lowry. Here are some highlights: DOES DE-RADICALIZATION WORK? Daniel Koehler, who directs the German Institute on Radicalization and De-radicalization Studies in Stuttgart, Germany. poses for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 in Minneapolis, Koehler, a German expert who evaluated six Minnesota men who pleaded guilty to trying to join the Islamic State group has developed counseling plans for each of them aimed at keeping them off the path of violence (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) Koehler said it can if offenders are willing, but he acknowledged there's insufficient data for reliably calculating recidivism rates because the number of cases is too low. He also noted there's a risk that people going through the program will simply lie and tell authorities what they want to hear. But he said his program is designed to safeguard against that because his specific counseling recommendations for each subject are confidential, even from the offenders. And he said he's trained probation officers in how to fine-tune the counseling "almost like a medication." Most terrorism offenders will get out of prison eventually, but if there's no intervention in the meantime they'll get more sophisticated about weapons and violence, they'll radicalize others in prison, and they'll emerge angrier and more committed to their cause, he said. "Not working with individuals, from my perspective, is always the worst decision," he said. CAN U.S. AUTHORITIES SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT IT? Lowry said they can. He said it's not that different from the work probation officers do already monitoring people, imposing conditions, instituting rehabilitation programs and protecting the community. He said 85 percent of what they do with offenders every day will be the same, while 15 percent will focus on de-radicalization, implementing Koehler's process to mitigate risks to the community and rehabilitate the participants. WILL IT BE DONE ELSEWHERE IN THE U.S.? Minnesota is the first place in the U.S. to try it. Koehler said the U.S. is 16 to 20 years behind Europe but can catch up quickly. Authorities in other states are now closely watching to see what happens in Minneapolis, he said. Koehler said he has been contacted by people in seven other states for assessment studies since U.S. District Judge Michael Davis first announced he was considering the idea, but that they've mostly been defense lawyers and public defenders so far. De-radicalization programs can take many forms, he said. Public-private partnerships work very well in Europe, he said. The process can start in prison but then nonprofits can be brought in for mentoring. Civil society groups can also play an important role before law enforcement needs to step in, he said. HOW WILL THE PROGRAM AFFECT CURRENT AND PAST TERROR CASES? Judge Davis, who sought out Koehler's help, said Tuesday that his recommendations will be just part of the information he'll use when he hands down sentences in November for the six defendants. Each faces up to 15 years in prison, but they've cooperated with authorities to varying degrees. Lowry's office supervises offenders after they get out of prison, but he said his office will be working with prison officials. Specialized treatment and evaluation while they're incarcerated "will be critical for our success when they come out on supervision," he said. A Bureau of Prisons representative has taken part in the local training sessions, Koehler said. Lowry pointed out that the federal courts in Minnesota have already handled around 21 cases involving supporters of the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab. He said some of those convicted are now on supervised release, and their probation officers are already using Koehler's training. WHAT'S IT COSTING? Lowry, whose office is paying Koehler's bills, declined to say due to contracting rules but added that it's "commensurate" with what he pays for other professional services. The Latest: Air Force identifies pilot who died in U-2 crash BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) The Latest on the crash of a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane in California (all times local): 5:45 p.m. The U.S. Air Force has identified the pilot who died after ejecting from a U-2 spy plane that crashed in Northern California as Lt. Col. Ira S. Eadie. Colonel Larry Broadwell, commander of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and Beale Air Force base, near Marysville, Calif., discusses the crash of a U-2 spy plane Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. One pilot was killed and another injured when they ejected from the plane shortly after taking off from Beale, on a training mission. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) Military officials said Wednesday 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. Base officials said another pilot who survived sustained injuries that are not life-threatening and is in good condition at a local medical facility. The surviving pilot was not identified. The pilots ejected from their stricken plane shortly after takeoff on a training mission. It crashed about 20 miles from the runway. U-2 flights from Beale have been suspended. ___ 5:15 p.m. 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 Wednesday she could not discuss what caused one pilot to die in Tuesday's incident. The Air Force has not released the identity of the pilot or information about the condition of a comrade who survived. Barnes says military investigators are looking into the cause of the crash, but there's no timeline for them to conclude their probe. They ejected from a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft shortly after a routine takeoff from the base north of Sacramento, California. The plane slammed into a mountainous area and caught fire about 20 miles west of the runway. ___ 4 p.m. Commanders at Beale Air Force Base are scheduled to hold a news conference on the fatal crash of a U-2 spy plane in Northern California. One pilot was killed and another injured Monday when they ejected from the high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft shortly after a routine takeoff from the base north of Sacramento. The plane slammed into the side of the Sutter Butte mountains and caught fire about 20 miles west of the runway. The pilots landed a short distance away. Officials have not released the identity of the pilot who died or information about the condition of the surviving airman. The U-2 "Dragon Lady" flies at extremely high altitudes to capture images, radio signals and other information useful to intelligence officers and battlefield commanders. Smoke rises from the wreckage of a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane that crashed in the Sutter Butte mountains, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, near Yuba City, Calif. The plane had just taken off on a training mission from nearby Beale Air Force Base. The two pilots ejected before the crash. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) ADDS CONDITION OF PILOTS - An Air Force officer stands guard in front of the burnt U-2 spy plane assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance squadron at Beale Air Force Base, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016 in Sutter County, Calif. The aircraft crashed during a training mission and went down on the lower slopes of the Sutter Buttes. The U.S. Air Force says one pilot killed, and one was injured after they ejected from the plane. (Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee via AP) A California Highway Patrol helicopter drops water on a fire caused by the crash of a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane in the Sutter Butte Mountains, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, near Yuba City, Calif. The plane had just taken off on a training mission from nearby Beale Air Force Base. The two pilots ejected before the crash. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) Authorities look over part of the wreckage of a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane that crashed in the Sutter Butte mountains, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, near Yuba City, Calif. The plane had just taken off on a training mission from nearby Beale Air Force Base. The two pilots ejected before the crash. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) ADDS CONDITION OF PILOTS - An aircraft assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance squadron at Beale Air Force Base and on a training mission went down on the lower slopes of the Sutter Buttes on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016 in Sutter County, Calif. The U.S. Air Force says one pilot was killed, and one was injured after they ejected from the plane. (Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee via AP) ADDS CONDITION OF PILOTS - The wreckage of a U-2 spy plane that crashed after taking off from Beale Air Force Base on a training mission in Northern California, is seen Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. The U.S. Air Force says one pilot was killed, and one was injured after they ejected from the plane. (Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee via AP) This June 16, 2015, photo released by DVIDS/U.S. Air Force shows a mobile chase car pursuing a U-2 Dragon Lady as the aircraft prepares to land at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. Mobile chase cars guide the aircraft during takeoffs and landings. One American pilot was killed and another injured when they ejected from a U-2 spy plane shortly before it crashed in Northern California on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016 the U.S. Air Force said.(Airman 1st Class Ramon A. Adelan/Released U.S. Air Force via AP) Colonel Larry Broadwell, commander of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and Beale Air Force base, near Marysville, Calif., pauses while talking to reporters about the crash of a U-2 spy plane Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. One pilot was killed and another injured when they ejected from the plane shortly after taking off from Beale, on a training mission. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) Colonel Larry Broadwell, commander of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and Beale Air Force base, near Marysville, Calif., discusses the crash of a U-2 spy plane Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. One pilot was killed and another injured when they ejected from the plane shortly after taking off from Beale, on a training mission. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) A U.S. Air Force Hazmat team inspects the wreckage of a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane that crashed in the Sutter Butte mountains, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, near Yuba City, Calif. One pilot was killed and another injured when they ejected from the plane shortly after taking off from Beale Air Force base on a training mission. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) A firefighter puts water on the flames of a fire caused when a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane crashed in the Sutter Butte mountains, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, near Yuba City, Calif. One pilot was killed and another injured when they ejected from the plane shortly after taking off from Beale Air Force base on a training mission. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) A U.S. Air Force Hazmat team inspects the wreckage of a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane that crashed in the Sutter Butte mountains, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, near Yuba City, Calif. One pilot was killed and another injured when they ejected from the plane shortly after taking off from Beale Air Force base on a training mission. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) Kurt Busch's ex pleads not guilty to stealing from charity WASHINGTON (AP) The former girlfriend of NASCAR driver Kurt Busch has pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing from a military charity she led. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia says Patricia Driscoll turned herself in Wednesday, a day after being indicted on eight charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, and tax evasion. Online court records show Driscoll pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was released on her personal recognizance. Court documents don't say how much prosecutors believe she took from the District of Columbia-based Armed Forces Foundation. Autopsy: Jailed Texas woman died from blood clots DALLAS (AP) A woman who went into convulsions at a Texas jail in May died after blood clots traveled into her lung, according to an autopsy. The Harris County Institute of Forensics ruled that 22-year-old Symone Marshall died of pulmonary thromboemboli due to deep vein thrombosis. Her manner of death was ruled natural, according to the autopsy, which was released Tuesday. Authorities have said Marshall had been in Walker County jail in Huntsville for two weeks when she died on May 10 after being taken to a hospital. She was being held on $5,000 bond after Texas Department of Public Safety officers arrested her following a single-vehicle rollover on April 26. She was accused of possession of a controlled substance and failure to identify by giving false information. FILE- This undated handout photo provided by the Walker County Sheriff's Department in Walker County Texas shows, Symone Marshall. An autopsy has found the 22-year-old woman who went into convulsions at a Texas jail in May, died after blood clots traveled into her lung. The autopsy released Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016 by the Harris County Institute of Forensics ruled Marshall died of pulmonary thromboemboli due to deep vein thrombosis. Her manner of death was ruled natural. (Walker Ccounty Sheriff's Department via AP File) Authorities have said Marshall declined medical treatment immediately following the wreck and was later seen by jail medical staff after complaining of loss of appetite. The case drew attention on social media in May, with some questioning the circumstances of her death. The autopsy said that such clots can develop because of inherited or acquired conditions and that an inherited condition can't be ruled out in Marshall's case. The autopsy, which noted Marshall had no evidence of injuries, said she had a family member who died from pulmonary thromboembolism. Walker County Sheriff Clint McRae has said emergency medical responders were called after the wreck. The sheriff said Marshall and another person exited the car and walked around. He said neither had visible injuries and both denied medical treatment. The sheriff said while Marshall was jailed, she was seen by medical staff after experiencing a loss of appetite and was at one point seen by a doctor. Marshall's sister, Honey Marshall, had told Houston television station KHOU that her sister complained to her from jail that her head was hurting and she felt like blacking out. Dr. Judy Melinek, an independent forensic pathologist from San Francisco who is unaffiliated with the case, reviewed the autopsy. "Family history suggests that the blood clots were at least, in part, due to genetics, but without genetic studies on her blood it would be speculative to say with any certainty," she said. She said it doesn't appear that the death would have been the direct result of any traumatic injuries from the vehicle accident, but noted that immobility is a "major risk factor" for clots to develop. For example, if Marshall were immobilized from pain following the accident, that could have been an indirect contributor, she said. The autopsy does not mention the accident or how active Marshall was in jail. The sheriff did not return a call from The Associated Press Wednesday. Ex-Starkey execs indicted in $20M embezzlement conspiracy MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Three former executives of Minnesota-based Starkey Hearing Technologies took part in a conspiracy to embezzle more than $20 million from the hearing aid maker and its principal owner, the U.S. Attorney's office alleged Wednesday. According to an indictment, between 2006 and last September, the defendants conspired to embezzle and misappropriate money and business opportunities belonging to Starkey and Sonion, a major supplier of hearing aid components to Starkey. The alleged scheme included a web of sham companies and dummy entities, federal prosecutors said. "The defendants carried out a complex scheme to accomplish a simple goal: to embezzle funds for their own benefit," U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Andrew Luger said in a news release. The indictment charges former company President Jerry Ruzicka, 59; former Chief Financial Officer Scott Nelson, 58; and former human resources head Larry Miller, 63. It also charges two other men who were business associates of Ruzicka's: Jeffrey Taylor, 55, who was president of Sonion, and Lawrence Hagen, 63. Ruzicka's defense attorney, John Conard, said his client "has done nothing wrong." "Jerry Ruzicka started working at Starkey in 1977. He has been dedicated to the company and its employees since his first day," Conard said in a statement. The defendants are scheduled to make their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis later this week. It was unclear if the other four defendants have attorneys. A message left for a number believed to be Miller's was not immediately returned. Phone numbers for the other defendants could not immediately be found. Ruzicka, Nelson and Miller were among Starkey executives fired from the private Eden Prairie-based company last September. Starkey said the indictments "describe a web of criminal activity and concealment among former top executives." "That description is in marked contrast to our long-held values and those of our separate foundation," the company said. Starkey is known for its foundation that hosts annual star-studded charity galas headlined by such celebrities as former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Katy Perry and Elton John. News / International by Stephen Jakes Public Affairs Section United States Embassy in Harare has said it is thrilled to announce that the application process for the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship opened today and will be open until October 26th."Eligible young leaders between the ages of 25 and 35 can apply by visiting https://yali.state.gov/apply/ " announced the embassy."We are excited about this opportunity for young Zimbabwean leaders in business/ entrepreneurship and civil society sectors and encourage interested eligible candidates to begin their applications immediately," said Nicole Finnemann, Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy."Applicants can take their time in making the application and have the ability to save their work as they go along. They can revisit the application later, edit until it is ready for submission," she explained. Applications cannot be edited after submission.Since 2014, 120 Zimbabwean youth leaders have participated in the program. They represent the extraordinary promise of an emerging generation of entrepreneurs, activists, and public officials. They have proven track records of leadership in a private, or civic organization; and demonstrate a strong commitment to contributing their skills and talents to building and serving their communities."The time I had in the U.S. was a quantum jump in my experience. I would recommend such an eye-opening experience to any young African leader who hopes to grow themselves. Equally any country or society would benefit if it taps into the rich fund that are YALI graduates are," commented Vivid Gwede, 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow.The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the President's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies U.S. commitment to invest in the future of Africa. Participants undergo six weeks of intensive executive leadership training, networking, and skills building, followed by a Presidential Summit in Washington, DC. Through this initiative, young African leaders gain the skills and connections they need to accelerate their own career trajectories and contribute more robustly to strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa.Upon returning to Zimbabwe, the Fellows continue to build the skills they developed during their time in the United States through support from the Embassy and the YALI Network. Through these experiences, Mandela Washington Fellows have access to ongoing professional development opportunities, mentoring, networking and training, and competitive seed funding to support their ideas, businesses, and organizations. Interior Department touts efforts to protect sage grouse DENVER (AP) A broad effort to save the greater sage grouse across the West without resorting to the Endangered Species Act is making progress, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Wednesday. "There's some really good work going on," Jewell said during a visit to a national wildlife refuge outside Denver, where she announced a year ago that the rare bird wouldn't be listed as endangered or protected. Instead, conservation agencies are relying on cooperation among federal, state and local governments as well as help from oil and gas companies and ranchers. In this April 20, 2013 photo, male greater sage grouse perform their mating ritual for a female grouse outside Walden, Colo. U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is in Colorado on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, to tout efforts to save the greater sage grouse across the West one year after the federal government decided not to invoke the Endangered Species Act to protect the rare bird. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file) Endangered Species Act protection would have meant stricter restrictions on oil and gas exploration, grazing and other human activities. Greater sage grouse live in 11 Western states. About 200,000 to 500,000 remain, down from a peak population of about 16 million. The Interior Department released a report Wednesday listing steps taken so far to save the birds, whose habitat often overlaps with oil and gas fields and ranches. The report includes a study by the federal Bureau of Land Management and the University of California-Davis on the effects of the noise of oil and gas exploration and wells on the birds. Other steps include restoring and protecting sagebrush ecosystems, protecting sage grouse habitat from wildfires and allowing habitat exchanges that let energy companies and others offset damage to sage grouse habitat by financing improvements elsewhere. The report had few details about restrictions on energy development and ranching, expected to be the most contested component of the conservation plan. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to review how effective the sage grouse efforts are in 2020. At the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge outside Denver, Jewell met with more than a dozen officials from federal, state and local governments, conservation groups and private companies. Paul Ulrich of Jonah Energy told Jewell the sage grouse program has been successful, but he said it is important to balance conservation with the economic benefits of oil and gas development. Will McDowell of the Environmental Defense Fund praised habitat exchanges as an innovative solution. ___ Follow Dan Elliott at http://twitter.com/DanElliottAP. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/dan-elliott. Analysis: Trump proposals would add $5.3 trillion to debt DENVER (AP) A new analysis from a nonpartisan group finds that Donald Trump's latest tax proposals would increase the federal debt by $5.3 trillion over the next decade, compared with $200 billion if Hillary Clinton's ideas were enacted. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget looked at Trump's newly revised tax plan as well as other proposals. However, it says its analysis can't be certain of the actual size of Trump's tax plan because his campaign won't spell out how it will treat certain businesses' tax liabilities. The committee took a "mid-range guess" between two estimates provided by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. When Trump introduced his economic plan last week, he vowed that his tax cuts would be paid for partly by triggering record economic growth. The committee was skeptical and presumed they would generate no new growth. Several economists have projected that Trump's economic agenda especially his restrictions on immigration and trade would slow economic growth and possibly cause a recession. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks with Steve Staub, right, president of Staub Manufacturing Solutions and his sister, Sandy Keplinger, vice president, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 in Dayton, Ohio. (Ty Greenlees /Dayton Daily News via AP, Pool) Trump has also proposed a sharp increase in spending on the military and veterans. He has proposed some spending cuts, but the committee calculated they wouldn't come close to balancing the budget. South Korea asks Samsung to extend Galaxy Note 7 refund SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 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 Thursday. 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 Aug. 19 to rave reviews, but following reports of the high-end phones catching fire Samsung stopped sales on Sept. 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 U.S. alone, including 26 reports of burns and 55 reports of property damage, including fires in cars and a garage. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an official recall on Sept. 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. 3rd night of Charlotte protests stays largely peaceful CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Protesters massed on Charlotte's 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. Protesters block I-277 during a third night of unrest following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) 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 family's lawyer said he couldn't tell whether Scott was holding a gun. But Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said earlier in the day 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 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 wouldn't 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 city's bustling downtown section. The NASCAR Hall of Fame was among the places damaged. 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 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 Scott's family, watched the video with the slain man's 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 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. 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 we've 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, "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 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/ National Guardsman stand on the street in downtown Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) National Guardsman stand on the street in downtown Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Protesters shout as they march downtown on the third night of protests in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) A member of the clergy stands in front of a line of police officers in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. blocking the access road to I-277 on the third night of protests following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) A protester walks in front of a line of police officers blocking the access road to I-277 on the third night of protests in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Demonstrators stand on the street in downtown protesting Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Police confront protesters blocking I-277 during demonstrations following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Police confront protesters blocking I-277 during a third night of unrest following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Police confront protesters blocking I-277 during demonstrations following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Demonstrators take to the streets of uptown during a peaceful march following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Members of the North Carolina National Guard stand guard outside the Omni Hotel as demonstrators take to the streets following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Protesters take to the streets of uptown during a peaceful march following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police chief Police Chief Kerr Putney pauses before answering a question during a news conference after a second night of violence following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Putney plans to show video of an officer shooting Scott to the slain man's family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Police stand by a damaged storefront stemming from overnight protests following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte's police chief said Thursday he plans to show video of an officer shooting Scott to his family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) A crime scene photographer looks out a storefront damaged overnight by protesters following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte's police chief said Thursday he plans to show video of an officer shooting Scott to his family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police chief Police Chief Kerr Putney gestures as he answers a question during a news conference after a second night of violence following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Putney plans to show video of an officer shooting Scott to the slain man's family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II speaks during a news conference after a second night of violence following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlottte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney has said that Scott refused officers' repeated commands to drop a gun, but he said during a news conference that the video does not definitely show Scott pointing a gun at anyone. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police chief Police Chief Kerr Putney, right, gestures as he answers a question as Charlotte mayor Jennifer Roberts, left, watches during a news conference after a second night of violence following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Protesters shout as they march downtown on the third night of protests in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Cows in Fukushima radiation zone find new purpose: science NAMIE, Japan (AP) In an abandoned Japanese village, cows grazing in lush green plains begin to gather when they hear the familiar rumble of the ranch owner's mini-pickup. This isn't feeding time, though. Instead, the animals are about to be measured for how they're affected by living in radiation radioactivity that is 15 times the safe benchmark. For these cows' pasture sits near Fukushima, a name now synonymous with nuclear disaster. The area was once a haven for agriculture with more than 3,500 cattle and other livestock. Ranchers who refused a government order to kill their cows continue to feed and tend about 200 of them. The herds won't be used as food; now science is their mission. In this Aug. 27, 2016, photo, cows stand during their medical check-up at Komaru Ranch in Namie town, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Ranchers who refused a government order to kill their cows continue to feed and tend about 200 of them as part of a study by researchers who formed the nonprofit Society for Animal Refugee & Environment post Nuclear Disaster. They visit every three months to test the livestock living within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius of the Fukushima plant, where three reactors had core meltdowns after it was swamped by a tsunami in 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) Researchers visit every three months to test livestock living within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius of the Fukushima plant, where three reactors had core meltdowns after the facility was swamped by a tsunami in 2011. It is the first-ever study of the impact on large mammals of extended exposure to low-level radiation. The ranchers are breeders, as opposed to those raising cattle to sell for beef, and tend to be attached to their animals. They treat them almost as if they were children, even giving them names. The research gives them a reason to keep their beloved cows alive, and to hope that someday ranching might safely return here. Under a drizzling rain, doctors and volunteers wearing blue Tyvek protective suits draw the cows into a handmade pen of aluminum pipes. Five to six cows line up in the cage and are tied with a rope around their head and through their nose ring for solid support, so they won't be hurt when the needle draws blood from their neck. The gentle beasts moo from discomfort. The doctors work swiftly, drawing blood, collecting urine and checking for lumps or swollen lymph nodes. The check-up takes five minutes or less per cow. Namie, 11 kilometers (7 miles) northwest of the plant, is a ghost town with no prospect of being habitable for years. But 57-year-old Fumikazu Watanabe comes every day to a ranch to feed 30 to 40 cows owned by seven farmers. "What is the meaning of slaughtering the cows?" Watanabe said at a worn-out barn where healthy cows used to spend the night tending to their calves. The bones of animals that have died litter the ground outside. "Keeping the cows alive for research purposes means that we can pass on the study to our next generation instead of simply leaving a negative legacy," he said. The research team, made up of veterinary and radiation experts from Iwate University, Tokai University and Kitasato University, was established a year after the meltdowns. They formed a nonprofit group called Society for Animal Refugee & Environment post Nuclear Disaster. Members volunteer to take the blood and urine samples and test them. In 2012, the Japanese government ordered all livestock in the restricted area killed for fear that the breeding cows would continue to reproduce, and that cows exposed to radiation would have no sale value. Keiji Okada, associate professor of veterinary medicine and agriculture at Iwate University, said the government considered it pointless to study the animals, since it couldn't determine how much radiation they were exposed to immediately after the disaster. Okada disagrees. He said the data will help researchers learn whether farmers can eventually work in affected zones. "There are no precedent studies of animals being exposed to low-dose radiation, and we have no idea what results we are going to get," he said. "That is exactly why it needs to be monitored." So far, the animals' internal organs and reproductive functions have shown no significant abnormality particularly linked to radiation exposure, Okada said, but it's too early to draw conclusions about thyroid cancer and leukemia. Radiation could cause leukemia, but so could mosquitoes, which have infected cattle around the world with bovine leukemia virus. "Even if we detect leukemia in the cows, we don't know whether it's caused by radiation or if it's a bovine leukemia from a virus," Okada said. "It is this year's objective to be able to differentiate the two." Many cows have died during the study period, but food shortages have played a role, making it all the more difficult the doctors to determine causes. The dead cows are dissected and the radiation dosage in their organs is measured. Is radiation killing the cows, or making them sick? Okada said the research team is working toward reaching a conclusion by March. The team worries that the study results could spark overly broad fears that the region will no longer be habitable or fit for agriculture. Ultimately, Okada said, the team believes that further monitoring of the animals will show under what conditions it is safe to raise livestock exposed to low-level radiation, and how best to deal with such a leak should it happen again. Yukio Yamamoto, owner of the large Yamamoto Ranch surrounded by a mountain, a river and a vast plain, travels three hours roundtrip from his temporary home to feed his remaining cows. Yamamoto initially followed government orders to kill his cattle. He watched a mother cow being killed while a calf was still suckling on its milk, and then the calf following that. "The cows are my family. How do I dare kill them?" Yamamoto said. "If there is a God, I'm sure some day we would be rewarded for the sacrifice we are making." He hopes one day to see his barn come to life again, filled with a hundred cows and calves cared for by his children and grandchildren. In this Aug. 27, 2016, photo, a cow has a medical check-up by the Society for Animal Refugee & Environment post Nuclear Disaster at Yamamoto Ranch in Namie town, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Ranchers who refused a government order to kill their cows continue to feed and tend about 200 of them as part of a study by the researchers. They visit every three months to test the livestock living within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius of the Fukushima plant, where three reactors had core meltdowns after it was swamped by a tsunami in 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) In this Aug. 28, 2016, photo, Keiji Okada, associate professor of veterinary medicine and agriculture at Iwate University, examines a cow at Ikeda Ranch in Okuma town, 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of Japan's crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Ranchers who refused a government order to kill their cows continue to feed and tend about 200 of them as part of a study by researchers who formed the nonprofit Society for Animal Refugee & Environment post Nuclear Disaster. They visit every three months to test the livestock living within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius of the Fukushima plant, where three reactors had core meltdowns after it was swamped by a tsunami in 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) In this Aug. 27, 2016 photo, members of the Society for Animal Refugee & Environment post Nuclear Disaster draw blood from a cow for a medical check-up at Yamamoto Ranch in Namie town, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of Japan's crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Ranchers who refused a government order to kill their cows continue to feed and tend about 200 of them as part of a study by the researchers. They visit every three months to test the livestock living within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius of the Fukushima plant, where three reactors had core meltdowns after it was swamped by a tsunami in 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) In this Aug. 27, 2016, photo, a cow is examined by members of the Society for Animal Refugee & Environment post Nuclear Disaster at Komaru Ranch in Namie town, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of Japan's crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Ranchers who refused a government order to kill their cows continue to feed and tend about 200 of them as part of a study by the researchers. They visit every three months to test the livestock living within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius of the Fukushima plant, where three reactors had core meltdowns after it was swamped by a tsunami in 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) In this Aug. 27, 2016, photo, members of the Society for Animal Refugee & Environment post Nuclear Disaster withdraw blood from cows for a medical check-up at Komaru Ranch in Namie town, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of Japan's crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Ranchers who refused a government order to kill their cows continue to feed and tend about 200 of them as part of a study by the researchers. They visit every three months to test the livestock living within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius of the Fukushima plant, where three reactors had core meltdowns after it was swamped by a tsunami in 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) In this Aug. 27, 2016, photo, Yukio Yamamoto, owner of the large Yamamoto Ranch, looks at his cow after its medical check-up at his ranch in Namie town, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Ranchers who refused a government order to kill their cows continue to feed and tend about 200 of them as part of a study by researchers who formed the nonprofit Society for Animal Refugee & Environment post Nuclear Disaster. Yamamoto, who travels three hours roundtrip to feed his remaining cows from his temporary home, carried out decontamination work on his ranch on his own. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) In this Aug. 27, 2016, photo, a cow eats grasses after getting a medical check-up by the Society for Animal Refugee & Environment post Nuclear Disaster at Komaru Ranch in Namie town, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Ranchers who refused a government order to kill their cows continue to feed and tend about 200 of them as part of a study by the researchers. They visit every three months to test the livestock living within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius of the Fukushima plant, where three reactors had core meltdowns after it was swamped by a tsunami in 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) In this Aug. 27, 2016, photo, cows stand at Komaru Ranch in Namie town, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of Japan's crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Ranchers who refused a government order to kill their cows continue to feed and tend about 200 of them as part of a study by researchers who formed the nonprofit Society for Animal Refugee & Environment post Nuclear Disaster. They visit every three months to test the livestock living within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius of the Fukushima plant, where three reactors had core meltdowns after it was swamped by a tsunami in 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) In this Aug. 28, 2016 photo, a worker feeds cows at Ikeda Ranch in Okuma town, 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of Japan's crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Ranchers who refused a government order to kill their cows continue to feed and tend about 200 of them as part of a study by researchers who formed the nonprofit Society for Animal Refugee & Environment post Nuclear Disaster. Although closer to the plant, Okuma towns radiation level is lower than Namies, and decontamination work is ongoing, because the government plans to build research facilities related to the decommissioning of the Fukushima plant. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) Trump proposals would add $5.3 trillion to debt DENVER (AP) A new analysis from a nonpartisan group finds that Donald Trump's latest tax proposals would increase the federal debt by $5.3 trillion over the next decade, compared with $200 billion if Hillary Clinton's ideas were enacted. The Trump campaign disputed the findings. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget looked at Trump's newly revised tax plan as well as other proposals. However, it says its analysis can't be certain of the actual size of Trump's tax plan because his campaign won't spell out how it will treat certain businesses' tax liabilities. The committee took a "mid-range guess" between two estimates provided by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. When Trump introduced his economic plan last week, he vowed that his tax cuts would be paid for partly by triggering record economic growth. The committee was skeptical and presumed these steps would generate no new growth. Several economists have projected that Trump's economic agenda especially his restrictions on immigration and trade would slow economic growth and possibly cause a recession. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks with Steve Staub, right, president of Staub Manufacturing Solutions and his sister, Sandy Keplinger, vice president, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 in Dayton, Ohio. (Ty Greenlees /Dayton Daily News via AP, Pool) Trump has also proposed a sharp increase in spending on the military and veterans. He has proposed some spending cuts, but the committee calculated they wouldn't come close to balancing the budget. Trump economic adviser Peter Navarro disputed the analysis, criticizing it for failing to account for the growth he says Trump's policies would release. "No tax cut would ever make sense from a purely budgetary perspective in a static world," Navarro said. "It's even sillier for this group to ignore the trade, regulatory, and energy policy reforms that provide positive revenue offsets in the trillions of dollars." Mylan CEO infuriates lawmakers at hearing on EpiPen costs WASHINGTON (AP) Mylan CEO Heather Bresch infuriated lawmakers as she tried and mostly failed to explain steep cost increases of her company's life-saving EpiPens. Outraged Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday grilled Bresch about the emergency allergy shot's sky-high price and the profits for a company with sales in excess of $11 billion. The list price of EpiPens has grown to $608 for a two-pack, an increase of more than 500 percent since 2007. In almost four hours of questioning, the soft-spoken CEO at times seemed unsure, or declined to answer directly, when asked questions about the company's finances and profits, angering lawmakers. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, before the House Oversight Committee hearing on EpiPen price increases. Bresch defended the cost for life-saving EpiPens, signaling the company has no plans to lower prices despite a public outcry and questions from skeptical lawmakers. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) "You could make this thing go away by being honest and candid but I don't think you are," House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, told Bresch as he ended the hearing. Afterward, he told reporters he thought she created more problems with her vague testimony. The frustration was bipartisan. Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the oversight panel, compared Bresch's answers to a game of "hide the ball." Defending the company's business practices, Bresch said she wishes Mylan 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 and signaled the company has no plans to lower prices. Families who rely on multiple EpiPens to respond when their children have allergic reactions, whether at home, school or sporting events, have lashed out at Mylan in a growing public outcry. Bresch blamed the furor partly on the complexity of drug pricing. In response to one question, Bresch acknowledged she made $18 million in salary last year. "Sounds like you're doing pretty well on this," said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla. Chaffetz, said high executive pay at Mylan "doesn't add up for a lot of people" as the EpiPen price has increased. He said executives for the company made $300 million over five years while the list price for a pair of the 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 approximately $50 in profit on each shot. But Chaffetz said he finds that "a little hard to believe." 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 distributed tens of thousands of free shots to schools 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. 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 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. ___ AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone and AP Medical Writer Linda A. Johnson contributed to this report. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, before the House Oversight Committee hearing on EpiPen price increases. Bresch defended the cost for life-saving EpiPens, signaling the company has no plans to lower prices despite a public outcry and questions from skeptical lawmakers. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Mylan CEO Heather Bresch points to her chart to help her answer questions while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, before the House Oversight Committee hearing on EpiPen price increases. Bresch defended the cost for life-saving EpiPens, signaling the company has no plans to lower prices despite a public outcry and questions from skeptical lawmakers. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Mylan CEO Heather Bresch holds up an EpiPen while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, before the House Oversight Committee hearing on EpiPen price increases. Bresch defended the cost for life-saving EpiPens, signaling the company has no plans to lower prices despite a public outcry and questions from skeptical lawmakers. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) FILE - In this July 8, 2016, file photo, a pharmacist holds a package of EpiPens epinephrine auto-injector, a Mylan product, in Sacramento, Calif. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch is defending the cost for life-saving EpiPens and is offering no suggestion that there are plans to lower prices. Breschs prepared testimony was released by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee ahead of her Sept. 21 appearance before the panel. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) Obama speaks, and listeners hear nothing but 'Donald Trump' NEW YORK (AP) It doesn't 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 Obama's final few months to be viewed almost entirely through the prism of campaign politics. As Obama carries out his presidential duties, voters can't 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. President Barack Obama, with first lady Michelle Obama, waves as they walk from Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. The Obama's were returning from New York where the president addressed the United Nations General Assembly for his final time as president. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) 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 Trump's 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, Obama's final speech to the U.N. General Assembly took him on a world tour of global hotspots 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 don't respect walls." Though he never mentioned him by name, Obama and his speechwriters 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 U.N., Obama also urged leaders not to tolerate the stoking of class divisions by those who feel they've been left behind by globalization "a crude populism," as Obama put it. To be sure, those transnational concerns are of the same flavor as ones that Trump has found ripe for political exploitation. But Obama isn't worried about Trump alone: He's consistently sought to use his perch on the world stage to offer an alternative viewpoint. Obama advocated strongly against Britain's EU exit, or Brexit, and this week organized a U.N. summit to pressure nations to take more refugees. Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian at Princeton University, said it's natural at this late stage of an administration for the president's words and actions to be taken in the context of the election. He said that's 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. "It's 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. He's said questions about the GOP nominee come up in every meeting with a foreign leader, and he's 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. ___ Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP News / Local by Stephen Jakes A man from Bulawayo's Pelandaba suburbs is in trouble after he allegedly smuggled goods worth $200 from Botswana.Wisdom Shumba (23) was not asked to plead to smuggling when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tawanda Muchemwa on Tuesday. He was remanded out of custody to September 30.The court heard that on September 8 this year the detectives from the Minerals and Border Control Unit in Bulawayo received a tip off that Shumba smuggled some goods from Botswana into Zimbabwe through the Plumtree border post.They intercepted him while abode a Harare bound PCJ Travel Tours bus. On searching his luggage they discovered that he had several electrical goods and they asked him to produce declaration forms but he failed. He was arrested and the goods were confiscated. Kerry admits diplomacy at impasse as Syrian truce collapses NEW YORK (AP) The United States and Russia ended any pretenses Thursday of their cease-fire for Syria remaining in force after days of increased violence and the Syrian military's announcement of a new offensive in Aleppo. "We can't go out to the world and say we have an agreement when we don't," Secretary of State John Kerry said after meeting the top diplomats from Russia and more than a dozen European and Middle Eastern countries. Kerry's statement, after three days of private and public diplomacy on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, provided an ominous endnote to a week diplomats had hoped would be a major capstone toward peace. United States Secretary of State John Kerry delivers a statement following a meeting of the International Syria Support Group, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) Instead, Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who negotiated the truce two weeks ago, went their separate ways as violence in Syria flared up anew and the relationship between the two key foreign powers in the conflict appeared to reach a new low. No one spoke of being able to quickly resuscitate the cease-fire. While Kerry and Lavrov were set to hold more talks Friday, even confidence-building measures seemed beyond their reach at this point. As the diplomats huddled in a New York hotel, Syria's military command said it would restart operations in the northern city of Aleppo, scene of some of the bitterest fighting in recent months. According to one official present in the gathering, Kerry was informed of the news when his chief of staff showed him a headline on his BlackBerry. A furious Kerry then told the entire room, Lavrov included, that "even while we are meeting here, they are doing this," said the official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity. Lavrov told Russian media that consultations would continue to "guarantee" the cease-fire. But even as Kerry vowed to press on with all efforts to find a peaceful solution to the war between Syrian President Bashar Assad's Russian-backed government and U.S.-backed rebels, the American acknowledged the current strategy wasn't working. "We can't be the only ones trying to hold this door open," Kerry told reporters. "Russia and the regime must do their part or this will have no chance." He called for the immediate grounding of planes and helicopters that have launched airstrikes, including a Russian one earlier this week that the U.S. says hit an aid convoy, killing 20 civilians. Russia has denied responsibility, while raising a range of ulterior scenarios for how the caravan might have been struck. "Absent a major gesture like this, we don't believe there is a point to making more promises or issuing more plans or announcing something that can't be reached," Kerry said, describing a "moment of truth" for Syria, Russia and all those trying to halt the bloodshed. The meeting came after Assad told the AP in an interview in Damascus that the United States was to blame for the deal's failure. He cited U.S. inability to control "terrorist" groups and a weekend attack that killed dozens of Syrian soldiers. The U.S. apologized for what it described as a mistake. Lavrov had sought a three-day pause in fighting to revive the cease-fire. But U.S. officials said there was no point returning to a situation in which rebels would be pressed to hold fire, while the Syrian and Russian military's could violate the agreement. American officials described the two-and-a-half-hour meeting in the Palace Hotel as "contentious." Kerry and others made the point repeatedly to Lavrov that Russia had to undertake new steps that went beyond previous agreements to salvage the process. Lavrov pushed only for all sides to recommit to the Sept. 9 truce, according to officials. Russia provided "unsatisfactory" answers, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said. Kerry said he would wait for Lavrov to tell him Friday if Russia would suspend airstrikes for a significant period of time. At the U.N., Assad's other major supporter also rejected the U.S.-led call for aircraft to be grounded. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said doing so would aid "terrorists." "This course has no foundation, no logic," said Rouhani, whose country has directed Iranian troops and Hezbollah forces in support of Assad. The war has killed as many as a half-million people, contributed to Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War II and allowed the Islamic State group to emerge as a global terror threat. ___ Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and United States Secretary of State John Kerry talk during a meeting of the International Syria Support Group, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) US Marine jet crashes off Okinawa, pilot ejects safely TOKYO (AP) A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8 Harrier fighter jet crashed Thursday into the ocean off the coast of southwestern Okinawa in Japan, but the pilot ejected safely from the aircraft and was rescued. The U.S. military in Camp Butler in Okinawa said the cause of the crash is still under investigation. The aircraft 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. Other details were not immediately available. The Japanese Coast Guard also confirmed the crash, which was about 153 kilometers (95 miles) east of the main Okinawan island. The coast guard initially received a request to help in the rescue, but it was withdrawn after a U.S. Air Force helicopter recovered the pilot, a coast guard official said. FILE - In this June 21, 2007 file photo, a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8 Harrier fighter jet from VX-9 Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is seen on a training flight from the cockpit of an F-16 based at the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing over California. A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8 Harrier fighter jet, the same type shown in this photo, crashed Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, into the ocean off the coast of southwestern Okinawa in Japan, but the pilot ejected safely from the aircraft and was rescued. The U.S. military in Camp Butler in Okinawa said the cause of the crash is still under investigation. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File) 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. Crashes are sensitive. In 2004, a U.S. military helicopter crashed into a university campus in Okinawa, although students were on summer vacation and the accident did not cause any civilian deaths or injuries. Also contentious is a plan to relocate the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to a less densely populated part of Okinawa. The relocation is part of a 1996 bilateral agreement, which also includes the transfer of about 9,000 U.S. Marines outside of Japan. The plan followed widespread outrage over the 1995 rape of a schoolgirl by three American servicemen. ___ Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at twitter.com/yurikageyama Lawmakers formally request perjury probe over VA hospital DENVER (AP) A bipartisan group of lawmakers formally asked the U.S. Justice Department Thursday to investigate whether Veterans Affairs Department executives lied to Congress to conceal massive cost overruns at a Denver-area hospital. Twelve Republicans and nine Democrats on the House Veterans Affairs Committee made the request in a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch. "It is an absolute fact that numerous VA officials repeatedly misled Congress regarding cost overruns related to the replacement Denver VA medical center," committee chairman Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Florida, said as he announced the request. FILE - In this May 21, 2015 file photo, members of a construction crew work at the site of the Veterans Administration hospital complex under construction in Aurora, Colo. Federal investigators say "gross mismanagement," delays and lax oversight by the Veterans Affairs Department added hundreds of millions of dollars to the cost of a new Denver-area VA hospital and delayed it by years. A report from the department's internal watchdog released Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 also said a former senior VA official knew the project was veering toward huge cost overruns but didn't tell lawmakers that when he testified before Congress in 2013 and 2014. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, file) The letter asks for an investigation into statements by Glenn Haggstrom, formerly the department's top official in charge of construction projects, and Stella Fiotes, director of the VA's Office of Construction and Facilities Management. No one answered a call to Haggstrom's home Thursday. Fiotes didn't immediately return a phone message. VA officials declined to comment on the lawmakers' letter. Officials at the Justice Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The letter cites statements by Haggstrom and Fiotes during committee hearings in 2013 and 2014. They told the committee that no cost overruns were expected and that the project would be finished at or near its budget of about $604 million, according to transcribed excerpts from the committee. The hospital is now expected to cost around $1.7 billion. The 184-bed facility in suburban Aurora is about 70 percent complete, and construction is expected to be done in January 2018. It will replace an aging, overcrowded facility still in use in Denver. The request for a perjury investigation came one day after the VA's inspector general, an internal watchdog, released a report saying Haggstrom knew the project was veering toward huge cost overruns but didn't tell Congress about the development. "I believe the department and its various congressional witnesses knowingly painted an inaccurate picture of the Aurora project in its representations to Congress in an effort to avoid criticism, embarrassment, and ultimately, accountability," Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, said in a separate letter to the inspector general's office. Haggstrom retired in 2015, one day after he was questioned by VA officials about what went wrong, department officials have said. The inspector general's report said mismanagement, delays and lax oversight by the VA added hundreds of millions of dollars to the cost of the hospital and delayed it by years. It accused senior VA leaders of making poor business decisions, allowing architects to include lavish and unnecessary design features and delaying decisions on construction changes by up to three years. The department conducted a separate internal investigation of the hospital debacle, but it has refused to make the results public. The Veterans Affairs Committee issued a subpoena two weeks ago demanding the VA turn over documents from that investigation by Sept. 28. The lawmakers asked Lynch not to start any perjury investigation until after that deadline. ___ Follow Dan Elliott at http://twitter.com/DanElliottAP. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/dan-elliott. Vegas defense lawyer sheds 'Black Lives' pin; keeps arm band LAS VEGAS (AP) A deputy public defender in Las Vegas gave in to a judge's request on Thursday to remove a "Black Lives Matter" pin in court, after a free-form discussion about the politics of protest and free speech amid a national debate over police brutality and race relations. In a new show of defiance that wasn't directly addressed by the judge, Deputy Public Defender Erika Ballou and several attorneys in the audience behind her wore black arm bands. "I'm taking off the button. I will not wear it in this courtroom in the future," Ballou told Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Herndon. Clark County public defender Belinda Harris, center, embraces Erika Ballou, a deputy Clark County public defender, outside of court, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Las Vegas. Ballou had agreed to remove a "Black Lives Matter" pin after Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Herndon held firm and said he wouldn't allow displays of political viewpoints during proceedings in his courtroom. Ballou was in court to represent a client at a sentencing hearing in a domestic violence case. (AP Photo/John Locher) "You've expressed the fact that you intend to be viewpoint-neutral, and so I will take it off," she said, "and I believe we can go forward." In front of an audience full of supporters, including several who kept wearing their "Black Lives Matter" buttons, Ballou and her boss, Clark County Public Defender Phil Kohn, acknowledged that case law wasn't on their side. They agreed with the judge, who said courts have ruled a courtroom is a "non-public forum" where judges can enforce "reasonable and viewpoint-neutral" restrictions on free speech. "It doesn't have anything to do with Black Lives Matter," Herndon said. "It's about political speech. It's about remaining neutral and impartial in the court." "A black defendant or a white victim ... or a Hispanic witness, or a member of the public," the judge added. "Nobody should come in and think, 'Gee, is the judge focusing on that?'" Outside court, Ballou, who is black, compared the arm band to ribbons that uniformed police and court officers wear on badges to mourn colleagues killed in the line of duty. She said she believes such displays are also political in nature, and suggested that the issue may end up before state and federal appeals courts. "It might have to go higher up than this," she told The Associated Press. Ballou balked Tuesday at Herndon's request that she remove the small round "Black Lives Matter" pin from her blouse while representing a white domestic battery defendant at his sentencing hearing. Herndon sentenced the man on Thursday to five years of probation with strict in-patient substance abuse and domestic violence counseling, Ballou's protest came two months after a black defense attorney in Youngstown, Ohio, was arrested on a contempt of court charge for wearing a similar pin in a municipal courtroom. That attorney, Andrea Burton, said Wednesday she settled her federal civil rights lawsuit with an agreement that allows her to wear the pin in the courthouse but not in the courtroom. She said she believed the agreement means uniformed officers also won't be able to wear black bands on badges in court. Ballou and Burton said they've never met or communicated with each other, and didn't know of the other's protest until they were informed by a reporter. Ballou said she knew wearing her pin this week would be controversial after the Las Vegas police union sent a letter to judges complaining about what the union executive termed "'Black Lives Matter' propaganda" in courtrooms. Erika Ballou, a deputy Clark County public defender, stands outside of a courtroom Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Las Vegas. Ballou agreed to remove a "Black Lives Matter" pin in court after Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Herndon held firm and said he wouldn't allow displays of political viewpoints during proceedings in his courtroom. Ballou was in court to represent a client at a sentencing hearing in a domestic violence case. (AP Photo/John Locher) Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Herndon speaks in his courtroom, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Las Vegas. Erika Ballou, a deputy Clark County public defender, agreed to remove a "Black Lives Matter" pin after Herndon held firm and said he wouldn't allow displays of political viewpoints during proceedings in his courtroom. (AP Photo/John Locher) A woman wears a "Black Lives Matter" pin in support of Erika Ballou, a deputy Clark County public defender, in a courtroom Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Las Vegas. Ballou agreed to remove a "Black Lives Matter" pin in court after Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Herndon held firm and said he wouldn't allow displays of political viewpoints during proceedings in his courtroom. (AP Photo/John Locher) The Latest: Syria's military announces new Aleppo operation BEIRUT (AP) The Latest on the war in Syria (all times local): 10:50 p.m. Syria's military command for Aleppo says it is commencing operations in the contested city's rebel-held eastern quarters. Syria's permanent representative to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, right, talks with Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin before the start of a Security Council meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) In a statement carried on state news Thursday the command calls on citizens to keep away from "terrorist groups." It says it will provide shelter to any residents leaving the neighborhoods through designated safe passages. It was not clear from the statement whether it will start ground operations or air raids. Activists say at least 12 people have been killed in presumed government or Russian air strikes and shelling on the eastern quarters Thursday. A spokesman for the Nour el-Din el-Zinki rebel factions in the city says government forces have not been able to make any advances in the city in the last 24 hours. ___ 8:25 p.m. The White House is pushing back on Syrian President Bashar Assad's claim that the U.S. responsible for the collapse of the cease-fire. Assad said in an Associated Press interview that the U.S. intentionally struck Syrian troops last week. But White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the U.S. has been responsible by acknowledging publicly that the strike was likely an error by the U.S.-led coalition. Earnest says in contrast, Assad hasn't "owned up" to targeting hospitals and refugee camps or to using barrel bombs and chlorine gas against civilians. He says Assad has "contributed greatly to violence, chaos and bloodshed" in Syria. Earnest is also faulting Russia for its role in failing to ensure Syria lives up to its commitments under the cease-fire. He says, quote, "that creaking sound you hear is Russia's international credibility taking an additional hit." ___ 8:20 p.m. Activists say at least 12 people have been killed in fierce bombing on the contested city of Aleppo, as diplomats in New York struggle to revive a cease-fire for Syria. A spokesman for the Civil Defense search-and-rescue group said rescuers are still trying to reach victims of the presumed Syrian government or Russian air raids Thursday on neighborhoods in the city's opposition-held eastern quarters. Ibrahim Alhaj says "for anyone who hears the airstrikes from yesterday, at 7 p.m., until now, they would say it is a world war in Aleppo." Video from the city and the nearby town of Kafr Dael show massive fires fueled by what appears to be incendiary munitions. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group says 14 civilians have been killed in the east of Aleppo since the morning. ___ 8:00 p.m. Residents say a 23-truck convoy has delivered humanitarian assistance to a Damascus suburb besieged by government forces, as the U.N. resumes its aid convoys to the country's opposition areas. Local media activist Wassim al-Ahmad says the trucks to Moadamiyeh carried medical and food supplies from various U.N. agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, which supervised the delivery, says the convoy covers the needs of 7,000 families, and another convoy to support 5,000 more will soon follow. The government says 35,000 people live in the suburb. The U.N. suspended all convoys to besieged and hard-to-reach areas Tuesday after a suspected Russian or government air strike razed a Red Crescent warehouse and convoy in opposition territory in the country's north. ___ 7:30 p.m. A top Russian diplomat is throwing cold water on the U.S. Secretary of State's proposal that flights be banned over some parts of Syria. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov is quoted Thursday by the state's Tass news agency as saying, "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." US Secretary of State John Kerry has called for called for all warplanes to halt flights over aid routes in Syria. ___ 6:30 p.m. Turkish military officials say their warplanes and artillery units have attacked Islamic State group targets in Syria, after rockets fired from across the border injured at least six people in a Turkish border town. The officials say Turkish Howitzers and multi barrel rocket launchers attacked IS positions in the Tugali, Dabik and Turkmen Bari regions, soon after two rockets struck the town of Kilis, wounding five children and an adult. In a statement sent to journalists Thursday, the officials say Turkish F-16 jets later attacked more IS group targets near the regions of al-Rai, Ihtimalat and al-Athaniyah, after a third rocket hit the town. They say a number of IS militants were killed in the strikes. Turkey's military routinely retaliates to rocket attacks fired from Syrian territory. The officials provided the information on condition of anonymity, in line with Turkish government regulations. __Suzan Frazer in Ankara 5:00 p.m. The State Department's spokesman has dismissed claims made by Syrian President Bashar Assad during an interview with The Associated Press as "ridiculous," adding they show that Assad has lost his legitimacy to govern. In the interview, Assad tells AP that the U.S. deliberately targeted Syrian government soldiers in an airstrike that killed dozens. The U.S. has said the strike was accidental and they had intended to target Islamic State group militants. Assad says the U.S. lacks "the will" to join forces with Russia in fighting extremists. State Department spokesman John Kirby says "it's 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." He says it underlines how vital it is for the international community to "achieve a political solution that gives the Syrian people a voice in their future." ___ 4:45 p.m. Syrian state TV says buses have evacuated 261 residents from the last rebel-held neighborhood in Homs, the country's third largest city. The broadcaster says evacuations have finished for Thursday. They are part of an agreement between rebels and the authorities to lift a government blockade on the neighborhood that has been enforced since November 2013. Residents agree to allow the government to restore its authority over the neighborhood, under the deal. Gunmen who object to the arrangement have agreed to be evacuated. An estimated 75,000 residents are still in the neighborhood, with dwindling supplies of food and medicine. The group that left Al-Waer Thursday contained 103 gunmen and 158 women, children, and older men. They were transferred to the northern Homs countryside, and will be bussed to rebel-held Idlib on Saturday. ___ 4:40 p.m. Syrian activists say a suicide attack in a southern village has killed several people, including local opposition officials. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the blast in the rebel-held village of Inkhil killed 11 people and wounded dozens. The Local Coordination Committees and the Observatory say among those killed in Thursday's blast was Yacoub al-Omar, the minister of local administration. Ahmad al-Masalmeh, an opposition activist in the southern province of Daraa, says an opposition official who held the title of Daraa governor was also killed. They say the suicide was wearing an explosives belt which he detonated among the officials. Such attacks are not uncommon in Syria and opposition officials and rebels have been killed in similar blasts in the past. ___ 3:45 p.m. A senior official says at least six people were wounded by the rocket that struck the Turkish town of Kilis, on the border with Syria. Gov. Ismail Catakli told Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency that the wounded included five children. One of the wounded was in serious condition. Earlier, a ruling party legislator had said three Syrians were wounded. ___ 3:30 p.m. A U.N. official has denied a claim by Syrian President Bashar Assad alleging the United Nations ruled out an airstrike as responsible for an attack on an aid convoy near Aleppo. Ramzy Ramzy, the top deputy to U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura, said: "We did not say that." In an Associated Press interview in Damascus published Thursday and conducted a day earlier, Assad said, "even the United Nations said that there were no airstrikes against that convoy." Ramzy told reporters in Geneva that the U.N. was seeking an "independent investigation" into Monday's attack on a Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy that killed 20 civilians. The United States said it believes it was carried out by a Russian-piloted aircraft. Russia has denied that its aircraft or Syrian warplanes struck the convoy. ___ 3:20 p.m. Syrian President Bashar Assad says U.S. airstrikes on Syrian troops in the country's east were "definitely intentional," lasting for an hour, and blamed the U.S. for the collapse of a cease-fire deal brokered with Russia. In an interview with The Associated Press, Assad said the war, now in its sixth year, is likely to "drag on" because of what he said was continued external support for his opponents. Assad, in the interview conducted Wednesday, said the U.S. "doesn't have the will" to join Russia in fighting Islamic militants in Syria. The Syrian president rejected accusations that Syrian or Russian planes struck an aid convoy in Aleppo and denied that his troops were preventing food from entering the rebel-held part of the city ___ 3:15 p.m. An official says a rocket fired from Syria has struck the Turkish border town of Kilis, wounding at least three people. The private Dogan news agency says the rocket, believed to have been fired by Islamic State group militants, landed near a market place in Kilis on Thursday. Resit Polat, a ruling Justice and Development Party legislator for Kilis, says the rocket wounded a Syrian child and two Syrian women. Rockets fired into Kilis have killed at least 21 residents and wounded scores of others since January. The Turkish military routinely responds to the rockets with artillery fire. Last month, Turkey sent troops and tanks into northern Syria to clear a border region of IS militants and to curtail the advance of Syrian Kurdish ___ 12:55 p.m. Buses began evacuating gunmen, wounded residents, and military defectors from the last rebel-held neighborhood in Homs, Syria, as part of an agreement between the government and local rebels to dismantle a blockade that has restricted food and medical supplies to the neighborhood since 2013, an activist group and a regional official said. Homs governor Talal Barazi said 150 gunmen, some accompanied by their families, are expected to leave the al-Waer neighborhood as part of the settlement. The first buses carrying the evacuees moved midday, transferring them to a rebel-held area in the northern Homs countryside. Homs is Syria's third largest city. The U.N. is not taking part in the evacuation, Barazi says, saying it's position was "unconstructive and surprising." The U.N. was criticized for facilitating a similar evacuation from Homs' Old City in 2014. The opposition and other observers said the deal was tantamount to forced displacement. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group says it expects 350 residents to evacuate Thursday. As part of the agreement, the government is expected to loosen its blockade on the neighborhood, offer an amnesty for residents who rebelled, and ultimately reassume control of the area. Local media activist Beibars al-Talawi told the AP by phone that the evacuees, including those leaving for medical treatment, would not be allowed to return. __ 12:05 p.m. A senior Russian diplomat says Moscow views a cease-fire in Syria as the best option possible. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov says Thursday, according to Russian news agencies, that Moscow sees no alternative to the U.S.-Russia-brokered cease-fire in Syria. The truce declared Sept. 12 has been on the verge of collapse amid fighting around Aleppo and an attack on a humanitarian convoy. Ryabkov said the deal was the best possible option amid sharp disagreements over Syria, adding that Russian and U.S. diplomats need to "calmly sit down and think what needs to be done to keep the agreement afloat." He added that the rebels have sabotaged the agreement and noted that Washington has failed to meet its pledge to encourage moderate rebels to disengage themselves from terrorist groups. ___ 10 a.m. 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 in New York. 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. Thursday's meeting of the International Syria Support Group comes after the two men blamed each other for spoiling the country's 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. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during a Security Council meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Members of the Security Council meet to address the situation in Syria, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Germany: Small-town clash exposes tense mood toward migrants BAUTZEN, Germany (AP) Standing on a hillside near this ancient town in eastern Germany, Firas al-Habbal winces as he explains why he doesn't go "there" anymore. "There" is the center of Bautzen with its cobblestone streets, centuries-old churches and cozy cafes. In particular, it's the town square where residents recently clashed with a group of young refugees in a burst of violence that made headlines around the world, sparking days of anti-migrant protests by both far-right groups and locals. "Over the past two years, I personally didn't have a single case where I felt people hated me or foreigners," said al-Habbal, who came to Germany in 2014 as part of the first big wave of refugees from Syria. "Life was great." FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 18 file photo people take part in a demonstration in the east German city of Bautzen, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Verbal and violent attacks have erupted between about 80 Germans and around 20 young asylum seekers in Bautzen, a town between Dresden and the Polish border, last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer, file) Since last week's violence, however, the 24-year-old is afraid of going into town lest anyone mistake him for one of the migrants involved in the trouble. "Now I'm really scared," he said. "The last week was very, very tense." Police said the violence began when one refugee threw a bottle at a group of locals. Authorities reacted by imposing a curfew and an alcohol ban on the migrants, to the consternation of left-wing activists who blamed the fighting on neo-Nazi thugs. While such incidents are rare and most of those who have sought asylum in Germany in recent years have caused little or no problem, violence of the kind seen in Bautzen stokes anti-migrant feelings among the wider population and is driving voters into the arms of nationalist parties such as Alternative for Germany. The party swept into five state parliaments this year, boosted by anger over a string of thefts and sexual assaults by foreigners in Cologne at New Year's and two bloody attacks carried out by migrants in July. The situation is particularly frustrating for people like Peter Rausch, one of many Germans who have worked hard to help integrate the hundreds of thousands of newcomers seeking safety and a better life in Europe. Rausch manages a hotel on the outskirts of Bautzen that was converted into a home for 300 asylum-seekers. A native of Germany's Black Forest who moved to the city 14 years ago, he has an outsider's eye for far-right activities to which locals are sometimes oblivious. A fire at another refugee shelter and the booing of Germany's president by a neo-Nazi mob in the city earlier this year were clear signs of the trouble to come, he said. Yet Rausch has harsh words, too, for those who automatically defend all migrants and blame far-right extremists for the violence. "On the one hand, there's rich ground for right-wing violence and resentment. On the other hand, we've got a few do-gooders who are wandering around the place with such rose-colored glasses that they're making the same mistakes as the right," he said. "It should be possible to say there are a few asylum-seekers, a few kids or youths, who need to be caught and disciplined," said Rausch, acknowledging that two of the migrant troublemakers lived at his hotel. "It's not about putting them in jail or cuffs. But I think our democracy and state of law has ways to discipline these kids, just as it has ways to discipline German youths." Back in the town, a crowd gathered Sunday on Kornmarkt Square, which was the setting for last week's violence. It's the day when stores are closed and low-hanging clouds threatened to burst open at any moment, but scores of people had come to hear far-right activists rail against migrants and the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom they hold responsible for the surge of asylum-seekers to Germany over the past year. Engelbert Merz, a local businessman, is angry at what he considers to be a soft attitude toward criminal foreigners. "Put these boys on a boat and send them back where they came from, because they're not worthy of staying in this country since they aren't abiding by the law," says Merz. His dim view of migrants doesn't stop at the troublemakers, though. Merz believes Germany should be helping those closer to home before taking in refugees from Africa or the Middle East. "We have 24 million jobless young people in Europe but no money to pay for German lessons in those countries," he says. "We've got enough problems of our own." Such talk worries Sven Scheidemantel, a local politician and chairman of a pro-refugee group, Welcome to Bautzen. "There's a siege-like mood in the city," he says, warily watching the protest from a distance. Scheidemantel says the problems in Bautzen won't be solved unless the authorities acknowledge that far-right extremists are exploiting a fairly minor incident involving a handful of refugees to make this city of 40,000 a symbol for failed integration. "The problem we have is that we always ask where the criminals are from. That shouldn't be so. Criminals are criminals, wherever they're from," Scheidemantel said. Firas Al-Habbal agrees. Having learned to speak German and worked as a translator for the past two years, he is hoping to soon start training to become a medical technician. "There are a few of my fellow Syrians, one has to be honest and not ignore this, who didn't behave themselves. And this was the result," he said of the clashes. "What I'm sad about is that these few bad people are sullying the image of all refugees in Bautzen." Al-Habbal thinks the troublemakers should be split up and distributed across the country. "Then we've solved the problem. Because this is dangerous for us too. I don't want to have to leave Bautzen." On Wednesday, a 72-year-old Algerian-born man with German citizenship was knocked to the ground in the city by two youths who shouted "Foreigners out!" before running away. The victim had been living in Germany for four decades, police said Thursday. ____ Follow Frank Jordans on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/wirereporter In this Sept. 18, 2016 photo a person walks behind a refugee home entrance in Bautzen, eastern Germany. The words read: 'No admission for unauthorized persons'. Verbal and violent attacks have erupted between about 80 Germans and around 20 young asylum seekers in Bautzen, a town between Dresden and the Polish border, last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) In this Sept. 18, 2016 photo Engelbert Merz, a businessman from Bautzen who took part in the anti-refugee demonstration last Sunday, gestures in Bautzen, eastern Germany. Verbal and violent attacks have erupted between about 80 Germans and around 20 young asylum seekers in Bautzen, a town between Dresden and the Polish border, last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) In this Sept. 18, 2016 photo Firas Al-Habbal, a 24-year-old Syrian from Damascus who has lived in Bautzen since two and a half years ago and works as a translator at the Spreehotel, stands in front of the hotel, in Bautzen, eastern Germany. Verbal and violent attacks have erupted between about 80 Germans and around 20 young asylum seekers in Bautzen, a town between Dresden and the Polish border, last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) In this Sept. 18, 2016 photo Firas Al-Habbal, a 24-year-old Syrian from Damascus who has lived in Bautzen since two and a half years ago and works as a translator at the Spreehotel, leaves the Spreehotel in Bautzen, eastern Germany. Verbal and violent attacks have erupted between about 80 Germans and around 20 young asylum seekers in Bautzen, a town between Dresden and the Polish border, last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) In this Sept. 18, 2016 photo Firas Al-Habbal, a 24-year-old Syrian from Damascus who has lived in Bautzen since two and a half years ago and works as a translator at the Spreehotel, talks with journalists in Bautzen, eastern Germany. Verbal and violent attacks have erupted between about 80 Germans and around 20 young asylum seekers in Bautzen, a town between Dresden and the Polish border, last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) In this Sept. 18, 2016 photo the gate at the entrance of the Spreehotel, a former four-star hotel that is now a refugee home on the outskirts of the city, is opened in Bautzen, eastern Germany. Verbal and violent attacks have erupted between about 80 Germans and around 20 young asylum seekers in Bautzen, a town between Dresden and the Polish border, last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 18 file photo people take part in a demonstration in the east German city of Bautzen, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Verbal and violent attacks have erupted between about 80 Germans and around 20 young asylum seekers in Bautzen, a town between Dresden and the Polish border, last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer, file) In this Sept. 18, 2016 photo Peter Rausch, manager of the Spreehotel, a former four-star hotel that is now a refugee home on the outskirts of the city, sits in his office in Bautzen, eastern Germany. Verbal and violent attacks have erupted between about 80 Germans and around 20 young asylum seekers in Bautzen, a town between Dresden and the Polish border, last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) Hanjin Shipping to get more funds to resolve cargo crisis SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Hanjin Shipping is to receive as much as $100 million in additional funds to resolve the cargo crisis caused by its slide toward bankruptcy. Hanjin's lead creditor, Korea Development Bank, said Thursday it will offer a credit line of 50 billion won ($45 million) to help the shipper unload cargo stranded offshore. The announcement comes a day after Korean Air Lines' board approved a 60 billion won ($54 million) loan to the troubled ocean shipping line. Korean Air and Hanjin Shipping are part of Hanjin Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in South Korea. Chairman Cho Yang-ho and former Hanjin Shipping chair Choi Eun-young earlier contributed a combined $44.6 million from their personal wealth to pay for unloading cargo on Hanjin's container ships. A model of container ship with Hanjin Shipping Co.'s logos is displayed at its head office in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Hanjin Shipping is to receive as much as $100 million in additional funds to resolve the cargo crisis caused by its slide toward bankruptcy. (Park Dong-ju/Yonhap via AP) KOREA OUT The state-owned bank said its credit line will be used only when other available funds from Hanjin Shipping, Korean Air, the company officials and others are used up. Even with the help of the bank, it was not clear if the new funds would be enough to solve the cargo crisis. South Korea's Yonhap News cited a South Korean court as saying that Hanjin Shipping needs 173 billion won ($157 million) to unload cargo at ports. Including fees for transporting cargo to final destinations, the company needs 270 billion won ($245 million), Yonhap said. Dozens of ships around the world have remained stranded for nearly a month since Hanjin's Aug. 31 bankruptcy filing because it couldn't cover fuel bills or guarantee payment to dockworkers and others. That left billions of dollars' worth of clothing, electronics, furniture and other goods expected to fill the shelves ahead of the fall shopping season stranded offshore. Several ships were unloaded after a U.S. court provided Hanjin protection from any more seizures in U.S. territory but many are still marooned at sea. The crisis also left sailors trapped for weeks on those ships. South Korea's maritime ministry said sailors on the Hanjin Scarlet used rainwater for cleaning to save drinking water in case they are stranded on the vessel for a longer term. The ship only has enough food and water for its sailors until Oct. 6. Dozens drown after migrant boat capsizes off Egypt's coast ROSETTA, Egypt (AP) Survivors, some handcuffed to hospital beds, described watching women and children drown after an overcrowded migrant boat capsized off Egypt's coast, as Egyptian authorities said Thursday 51 bodies had been recovered and an international NGO estimated that over a hundred people were still missing at sea. Fishermen in boats were first at the scene early Wednesday, an Egyptian official said, and in the more than five hours it took the coast guard to arrive, they rescued dozens of survivors and retrieved bodies. The capsizing could potentially rank among the deadliest incidents in the migrant route across the Mediterranean. However, the final death toll will require first obtaining a reliable figure for how many people were on board the boat, and more bodies could yet be recovered at sea or along the coast. Young Egyptians detained at a police station sleep on the floor in Rosetta, Egypt, after rescued from a boat capsized off the Mediterranean coast near the Egyptian city of Alexandria, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Egypt's 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. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Estimates for the number of passengers aboard the boat ranged between 250, 350 and 600. Survivors said most of those who died were women and children. The International Organization for Migration said the boat carried 350 migrants, but cautioned that the figure was an estimate, according to IOM spokesman Joel A. Millman in Rome. He did not say how the agency arrived at that figure. Quoting unidentified sources, he said the Egyptian coast guard had rescued 163 migrants and recovered 42 bodies, leaving 145 unaccounted for. "We're still working to verify what has happened to survivors. I'm sure you can appreciate the difficulties in gathering accurate information in cases like this,' said Jenny Sparks of IOM in Geneva. Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira province, where Rosetta is located, told The Associated Press that authorities did not have a precise number for those who were on board the vessel, but that 250-400 seemed likely. He said 157 people were rescued. Egypt's state-run Middle East News Agency, MENA, on Wednesday put the number at 600, but did not say where the figure came from. The U.N. refugee agency said it had received preliminary estimates of around 450 people aboard, with 150 survivors. Spokeswoman Barbara Molinario said the agency hadn't yet interviewed survivors, which is often a crucial piece of the puzzle in determining passenger numbers. The estimates came from UNHCR's contacts with Egyptian authorities. The head of the local council in the area, Ali Abdel-Sattar, said the loss of life would have been much heavier had a fishing vessel not been close by when the boat capsized. He identified the skipper of the fishing boat as Mohammed Abu Hamid. "If this man wasn't there, if this man wasn't sent by God, the entire group of migrants would have been dead by now," said Abdel-Sattar. He said the coast guard did not start its rescue operations until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, more than five hours after the boat capsized. Hassan Suleiman, a relative of one of those who were on board, said authorities were slow to rescue the migrants and that fishing boats were first at the scene, plucking bodies from the water and rescuing survivors. He also claimed that traffickers in the area were known to police by name and that some policemen were paid by them to look the other way. "This is shameful. This is shameful for our children and our young people that go to them." He said migrants go out to sea in small groups and gather at bigger boats, which begin the journey to Europe when traffickers believe they have gathered enough passengers. He said on bigger boats, the space below deck at the front of the vessel is often packed tight with people. "Those are dead, for sure." He said smugglers were charging migrants around 35,000 pounds (nearly $4,000) each for the perilous journey to Europe. "They paid money to go and die," he said. Egyptian authorities, meanwhile, arrested four people in connection with the incident and issued arrest warrants for five more. They said the four were members of the vessel's crew and were remanded in police custody for four days pending further investigation. They face charges of human trafficking and manslaughter. An initial breakdown of the nationalities of the migrants showed that they included 111 Egyptians, mostly teenagers and men in their 20s, said Sultan, the Beheira governor. There were also 25 Sudanese, while the rest were sub-Saharan Africans and Syrians. Thousands of illegal migrants 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 migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean from Egypt to Europe has increased significantly in the past year, EU border agency Frontex recently said. 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. Many of the survivors in the latest tragedy were detained briefly by police, before they were released. Some of those rescued after suffering injuries were taken to hospitals, where they lay handcuffed to beds under police guard. One survivor, Ahmed Darwish, blamed traffickers for the tragedy, saying overcrowding caused the boat to capsize, and accused authorities of not reacting quickly enough. "The boat is meant to hold 200, and they put 400 in it. And this is what caused the catastrophe," he said. Many of the dead, he explained, 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. Mina Fawzi, a 19-year-old survivor, told AP that there were already about 250 people on the boat when the smugglers brought along another 250. "With the large number of people, the boat sank," he said. ___ Associated Press writers Maggie Michael in Cairo, Nicole Winfield in Rome and Mostafa Hassan in Rosetta, Egypt, contributed to this report. Young Egyptians detained at a police station sleep on the floor in Rosetta, Egypt, after rescued from a boat capsized off the Mediterranean coast near the Egyptian city of Alexandria, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Egypt's 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. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Wael Mahmoud Ahmed, an Egyptian man, sleeps at a hospital in Rosetta, Egypt, after rescued from a boat capsized off the Mediterranean coast near the Egyptian city of Alexandria, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Egypt's 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. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Metwaly Mohamed Ahmed, an Egyptian man, sleeps at a hospital in Rosetta, Egypt, as he was detained after rescued from a boat capsized off the Mediterranean coast near the Egyptian city of Alexandria, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Egypt's 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. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Young Egyptians rest at a police station in Rosetta, Egypt, as they were detained after rescued from a boat capsized off the Mediterranean coast near the Egyptian city of Alexandria, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Egypt's 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. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Mahmoud Abd el-Latif, an Egyptian man, sleeps at a hospital in Rosetta, Egypt, after rescued from a boat capsized off the Mediterranean coast near the Egyptian city of Alexandria, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Egypt's 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. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) An Egyptian man sleeps at Rashid Hospital in Rosetta, 65 kilometers (40 miles) northeast of Alexandria, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 after being rescued from a boat which sank in the Mediterranean Sea. A boat carrying African migrants headed to Europe capsized off the Mediterranean coast off the coast of Alexandria on Wednesday, killing many people, Egyptian authorities said. Egypt's official news agency MENA said the boat was carrying 600 people when it sank. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) An Egyptian man sleeps at Rashid Hospital in Rosetta, 65 kilometers (40 miles) northeast of Alexandria, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 after being rescued from a boat which sank in the Mediterranean Sea. A boat carrying African migrants headed to Europe capsized off the Mediterranean coast off the coast of Alexandria on Wednesday, killing many people, Egyptian authorities said. Egypt's official news agency MENA said the boat was carrying 600 people when it sank. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Egyptian fishermen depart in their boat to participate in a search operation for survivors of a Europe-bound boat that capsized off Egypts Mediterranean coast, in Rosetta, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The Egyptian military said the boat was 12 nautical miles off the coast near the town of Rosetta when it capsized Wednesday. Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira province said 157 people were rescued but did not have a precise number for those who were on board the vessel, but 250-400 seemed likely. Egyptian authorities have arrested four people in connection with the death of at least 42 migrants from the boat. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Relatives of Egyptians whose Europe-bound boat capsized off Egypts Mediterranean coast watch departing boats that are participating in a search operation, in Rosetta, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The Egyptian military said the boat was 12 nautical miles off the coast near the town of Rosetta when it capsized Wednesday. Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira province said 157 people were rescued but did not have a precise number for those who were on board the vessel, but 250-400 seemed likely. Egyptian authorities have arrested four people in connection with the death of at least 42 migrants from the boat. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Egyptian fishermen depart in their boats to participate in a search operation for survivors of a Europe-bound boat that capsized off Egypts Mediterranean coast, in Rosetta, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The Egyptian military said the boat was 12 nautical miles off the coast near the town of Rosetta when it capsized Wednesday. Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira province said 157 people were rescued but did not have a precise number for those who were on board the vessel, but 250-400 seemed likely. Egyptian authorities have arrested four people in connection with the death of at least 42 migrants from the boat. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) An Egyptian man sleeps at Rashid Hospital in Rosetta, 65 kilometers (40 miles) northeast of Alexandria, Egypt, after being rescued from a boat which sank in the Mediterranean Sea Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. A boat carrying African migrants headed to Europe capsized off the Mediterranean coast off the coast of Alexandria on Wednesday, killing many people, Egyptian authorities said. Egypt's official news agency MENA said the boat was carrying 600 people when it sank. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Egyptians wait on shore as a coast guard boat arrives carrying the bodies of migrants from a Europe-bound boat that capsized off Egypts Mediterranean coast, in Rosetta, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. According to the Egyptian health ministry, at least 50 bodies have been recovered so far from the early Wednesday disaster and up to a 100 more migrants remain unaccounted for in what could potentially rank among the deadliest incidents in the migrant route across the Mediterranean. Thousands of illegal migrants have made the dangerous sea voyage in recent years, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Egyptian coast guard and rescue workers bring ashore a body from a Europe-bound boat that capsized off Egypts Mediterranean coast, in Rosetta, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. According to the Egyptian health ministry, at least 50 bodies have been recovered so far from the early Wednesday disaster and up to a 100 more migrants remain unaccounted for in what could potentially rank among the deadliest incidents in the migrant route across the Mediterranean. Thousands of illegal migrants have made the dangerous sea voyage in recent years, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) An Egyptian coast guard dinghy brings bodies from a Europe-bound boat that capsized off Egypts Mediterranean coast, to the shore in Rosetta, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. According to the Egyptian health ministry, at least 50 bodies have been recovered so far from the early Wednesday disaster and up to a 100 more migrants remain unaccounted for in what could potentially rank among the deadliest incidents in the migrant route across the Mediterranean. Thousands of illegal migrants have made the dangerous sea voyage in recent years, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Egyptian coast guard and rescue workers bring a body ashore from a Europe-bound boat that capsized off Egypts Mediterranean coast, in Rosetta, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. According to the Egyptian health ministry, at least 50 bodies have been recovered so far from the early Wednesday disaster and up to a 100 more migrants remain unaccounted for in what could potentially rank among the deadliest incidents in the migrant route across the Mediterranean. Thousands of illegal migrants have made the dangerous sea voyage in recent years, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Egyptian coast guard personnel, rescue workers and family members look to identify a body that was brought ashore from a Europe-bound boat that capsized off Egypts Mediterranean coast, in Rosetta, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. According to the Egyptian health ministry, at least 50 bodies have been recovered so far from the early Wednesday disaster and up to a 100 more migrants remain unaccounted for in what could potentially rank among the deadliest incidents in the migrant route across the Mediterranean. Thousands of illegal migrants have made the dangerous sea voyage in recent years, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Eman Helal) Death toll from Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen reaches 32 SANAA, Yemen (AP) Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition targeting rebels in Yemen that hit civilian homes in a Red Sea port city have killed at least 32 people, officials said Thursday, raising the death toll from an attack a day earlier. Sami Motair, a medical official at al-Thawra hospital in Hodeidah, told The Associated Press that scores of bodies were buried under at least three houses that the missiles hit in a neighborhood known as Indians Alley. He said that he expects the death toll to rise as more bodies are uncovered, and stressed that conditions at the hospital were difficult as it was filled to capacity. Over 75 wounded were being treated. The Wednesday airstrikes targeted a building known as the presidential palace in the city earlier in the day. South African police battle stone-throwing students JOHANNESBURG (AP) South African police battled students on a university campus on Thursday in the latest violence over protesters' calls for free education, a demand that the government has dismissed as unrealistic in a country with a weak economy. Police fired tear gas at stone-throwing students on the University of KwaZulu-Natal campus in the city of Pietermaritzburg, South African media reported. Police surrounded a student residence where protesters gathered, the African News Agency reported. Several hundred students and university staff also rallied outside parliament in Cape Town to demand more financial support for higher education. The University of Cape Town was closed in recent days because of student protests. A students holds an placard reading 'Blade here's your Bomb # return to sender' as she and other students from the University of Cape Town, UCT, protest outside the South African Parliament building against government announcement of student fee increases in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Students protested this week at other South African universities, the demonstrators have been reacting to a government announcement that universities can increase fees by up to 8 percent next year. Blade in the caption refers to Minister of Higher Education Blade Ndzimande. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) Violent protests occurred earlier this week at several South African universities, including the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. The demonstrators have been reacting to a government announcement that universities can increase fees by up to 8 percent next year. The government also promised to pay about $180 million to cover the costs of poor students in 2017, a measure that it says will benefit more than 70 percent of undergraduates. University students have the right to protest peacefully, said Blade Nzimande, the education minister. But he condemned violent protests by what he called "fringe and rogue elements exploiting the situation through acts of hooliganism and criminality for their perverse agenda." South African universities need tens of millions of dollars annually to function, and students who can afford to pay for education should do so, Nzimande said. The government made a concession to students after big protests in 2015, agreeing to freeze fee increases for this year. ___ Follow Christopher Torchia on Twitter at www.twitter.com/torchiachris A red bus used by tourists to explore areas around Cape town, passes students and representatives, left, from the University of Cape Town, UCT, as they protest outside the South African Parliament building against government announcement of student fee increases in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Students protested this week at other South African universities, the demonstrators have been reacting to a government announcement that universities can increase fees by up to 8 percent next year. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) A woman holds a placard reading 'We Love our Students, Double the GDP on Education' as she and others from the University of Cape Town, UCT, protest outside the South African Parliament building against government announcement of student fee increases in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Students protested this week at other South African universities, the demonstrators have been reacting to a government announcement that universities can increase fees by up to 8 percent next year. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam) News / National by Staff reporter President Robert Mugabe says Zimbabwe is fully committed to the implementation of the Agenda 2030 adopted by the United Nations member countries last year and has even aligned the agenda with the country's economic blueprint, the ZIM ASSET, but the punitive and heinous sanctions imposed on the country are the biggest impediment to the full realisation of the agenda.Mugabe made the remarks while addressing the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly debate at the UN headquarters in New York this Wednesday."On our part, I am happy to inform you that we have established national multi-stakeholders and multi-sector structures to domesticate and implement the 2030 Agenda in a co-ordinated and integrated manner with our national development programme, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset). Our biggest impediment to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda is the burden of the punitive and heinous sanctions imposed against us by some among us here," said Cde Mugabe."My country, Zimbabwe, is the innocent victim of spiteful sanctions imposed by the United States and other powers and these countries have for some reason maintained these sanctions for some 16 years now. 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, that is, possessing and owning their natural resources, and listening to and responding to the basic needs of our people," he added.Under 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that make up the Agenda 2030, countries are expected to, over the next 15 years, mobilise efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.President Mugabe said the successful implementation of the agenda requires genuine and total commitment by all.He, however, admonished the west and its neo colonial policies and attitudes, saying disadvantaged nations have been asking for UN reforms for the past 20 years but there is no progress."For over 20 years, many of us have come to this rostrum, pleading and demanding for reforms of the Security Council. Today we are no closer to achieving that goal than we were 20 years ago. This is so in spite of the universal acknowledgement of the injustice, unfairness and inappropriateness of the current composition of the Security Council.""We now have an opportunity, in the ongoing negotiations, in the intergovernmental negotiations, to redress this unjustifiable and unjust situation in the interests of a strong and more united organisation capable of delivering on its mandates," said Cde Mugabe.President Mugabe reiterated his calls for self-determination and independence as intrinsic and fundamental rights that should be enjoyed by all people without distinction.To that end, he said peace in the Middle East and the full realisation of the rights of independence for the people of Western Sahara must be prioritised by the global organisation by fulfilling its duties as enshrined in the UN Charter.On a positive note, President Mugabe commended the outgoing UN Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki Moon for a successful tenure at the helm of the global organisation and also noted the inclusivity and transparency shown by the UN in the selection of the next UN secretary general. Ghana professors campaign for removal of new Gandhi statue ACCRA, Ghana (AP) Professors at a university in Ghana's capital are campaigning for the removal of a new statue of Indian independence leader Mohandas Gandhi. The petition, delivered Thursday to the University of Ghana's governing council, takes issue with what the professors call Gandhi's "racist identity" and controversial references to Africans in his writings. Launched online on Sept. 12, the petition has garnered more than 1,250 signatures. India's President Pranab Mukherjee unveiled the statue at the center of campus during a visit to Ghana in June. A statue of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi in Accra, Ghana, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Professors at a university in Ghana's capital are campaigning for the removal of a new statue of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. (AP Photo/Christian Thompson) Gandhi, a lawyer, traveled to South Africa in 1893 and stayed for two decades, fighting to expand rights for Indians there. The petition quotes writings from that period in which Gandhi refers to black South Africans as savages. "The fact that we erected the statue means we're not clear on Indian history and how it relates to African people," said Obadele Kambon, one of the petition's organizers. "How are students supposed to look up to Gandhi, a man who said we are only one degree removed from animals?" Kambon said the university should instead feature statues of Ghanaian heroes like Yaa Asantewaa, who led a rebellion against British colonialism in 1900, or Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president. University officials did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. Student Eric Asomaning said he supported the professors' campaign. "We have our own views and people pioneering our own freedoms," he said, "so why not erect statues of people like that?" Assad blames US for collapse of Syria truce DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) He's been stigmatized internationally, a contentious figure presiding over a ruinous civil war that seems to slip into further depravity every day. But in his power base in the Syrian capital, President Bashar Assad projected confidence conceding nothing to his critics, and accusing the U.S. of derailing a cease-fire and lacking the "will" to fight extremists in his country. In an interview with The Associated Press, Assad rejected U.S. accusations that Syrian or Russian planes struck an aid convoy in Aleppo this week and that his troops were preventing food from entering the city's rebel-held areas. He maintained deadly airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition on Syrian troops last weekend were intentional, dismissing American officials' statements that they were an accident. In Washington, the State Department countered that Assad's assertions were "ridiculous." In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo released by the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad speaks to The Associated Press at the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria. Assad said U.S. airstrikes on Syrian troops in the countrys east were definitely intentional, lasting for an hour, and blamed the U.S. for the collapse of a cease-fire deal brokered with Russia. In the interview with the AP, Assad said the war, now in its sixth year, is likely to drag on because of what he said was continued external support for his opponents.(Syrian Presidency via AP) While acknowledging that the war will "drag on" indefinitely as long as his opponents were still receiving external support from countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Assad said Syria will bounce back as a more unified state, and pledged to rebuild the ruined country and even welcome back refugees if assistance to the insurgents were to stop. Assad, who inherited power from his father and is now in his 16th year in office, cut a confident figure during the interview Wednesday a sign of how his rule, once seriously threatened by the rebellion, has been solidified by his forces' military advances and by the year-long air campaign by his ally Russia, which has turned the tables on the battlefield. In Damascus, the seat of Assad's power, where life goes on nearly as normal and the six-year-war feels like a distant inconvenience, many cling to his rule, fearing the alternative. World leaders, including the United States and Turkey, have quietly walked back their calls for Assad's immediate departure, focusing instead on fighting the Islamic State group, which flourished in the chaos of the country's conflict. The sense of detachment projected by the 51-year-old Assad was striking. While acknowledging some mistakes, he denied any excesses by his troops and claimed the rebel-held parts of Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, weren't really under siege. "If there's really a siege around the city of Aleppo, people would have been dead by now," Assad said, and questioned how rebels were able to smuggle in arms but apparently not food or medicine. The ancient city, which has become both a symbol of resistance and the high price that civilians are paying in the war, has been carved into rebel- and government-controlled areas since 2012. It's eastern, rebel-held neighborhoods are encircled by government forces and there are reports of malnutrition and severe shortages of food and medical supplies. 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 that ended Monday. During the brief truce, trucks carrying aid sat idle on 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-held cities. Millions have fled Syria, some drowning at sea in the Mediterranean while trying to reach safety. Assad denied any hospitals were purposely targeted. "They accuse Syria of attacking hospitals, so you have hospitals and you have doctors and you have everything. How could you have them?" 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 the 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 ... you don't see any witnesses," he said. What a coincidence." State Department spokesman John Kirby, commenting on Assad's assertions, said: "It's 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." Syria and the United States have been at loggerheads since an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition that hit Syrian troops in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour on Saturday. U.S. officials said the attack the first direct hit on Syrian forces since the civil war began was accidental and that the warplanes intended to target 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 dismissed the U.S. account, saying the attack targeted a "huge" area for more than an hour. "It wasn't an accident by one airplane... It was four airplanes," Assad said. "You don't commit a mistake for more than one hour." Assad also flatly rejected U.S. accusations that Syrian or Russian planes carried out an attack on an aid convoy on the outskirts of Aleppo that killed 20 people, many of them aid workers. The strike late Monday hit a warehouse as aid workers unloaded cargo, 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 U.S. 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. Assad also 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 there's no difference between bombs: "When you have terrorists, you don't throw at them balloons, or you don't use rubber sticks. ... You have to use armaments." ___ Associated Press Writer Bradley Klapper contributed to this report from New York. In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo released by the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad speaks to The Associated Press at the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria. Assad said U.S. airstrikes on Syrian troops in the countrys east were definitely intentional, lasting for an hour, and blamed the U.S. for the collapse of a cease-fire deal brokered with Russia. In the interview with the AP, Assad said the war, now in its sixth year, is likely to drag on because of what he said was continued external support for his opponents.(Syrian Presidency via AP) In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo released by the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, speaks to Ian Phillips, Vice President, International News for The Associated Press, at the presidential palace in Damascus. Assad said U.S. airstrikes on Syrian troops in the countrys east were definitely intentional, lasting for an hour, and blamed the U.S. for the collapse of a cease-fire deal brokered with Russia. In the interview with the AP, Assad said the war, now in its sixth year, is likely to drag on because of what he said was continued external support for his opponents. (Syrian Presidency via AP) In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo released by the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad speaks to The Associated Press at the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria. Assad said U.S. airstrikes on Syrian troops in the countrys east were definitely intentional, lasting for an hour, and blamed the U.S. for the collapse of a cease-fire deal brokered with Russia. In the interview with the AP, Assad said the war, now in its sixth year, is likely to drag on because of what he said was continued external support for his opponents.(Syrian Presidency via AP) Full transcript of AP interview with Syrian President Assad DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) The Associated Press sat down with Syrian President Bashar Assad at a palace in downtown Damascus. Here's a full transcript of the 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. In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo released by the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad speaks to The Associated Press at the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria. Assad said U.S. airstrikes on Syrian troops in the countrys east were definitely intentional, lasting for an hour, and blamed the U.S. for the collapse of a cease-fire deal brokered with Russia. In the interview with the AP, Assad said the war, now in its sixth year, is likely to drag on because of what he said was continued external support for his opponents.(Syrian Presidency via AP) 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? Tensions loom in the Balkans over Bosnian Serbs' referendum SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) Bosnia's Serb mini-state is holding a referendum this weekend that has turned into a proxy political battle between the West and Russia, stoking ethnic tensions and triggering fears of new clashes more than 20 years after the end of the Balkans War. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. On January 9, 1992 a Serb Christian Orthodox religious holiday the Bosnian Serbs declared the creation of their own state within Bosnia, fueling a war that resulted in at least 100,000 people dead and millions homeless. During the worst carnage in Europe since World War II, the Serbs helped by neighboring Serbia expelled Bosniak Muslims and Catholic Croats from the territory they occupied, with the aim of making it part of Serbia. In this photo taken on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Bosnian man passes by flags of Bosnia's Serb mini state Republic of Srpska and t-shirt with photos of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Bosnian town of Banja Luka, 240 kms (150 miles) northwest of the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. Bosnias Serb mini-state is holding a referendum this weekend that has turned into a proxy political battle between the West and Russia, stoking ethnic tensions and triggering fears of new clashes more than 20 years after the end of the Balkans War. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Radivoje Pavicic) A U.S.-brokered peace deal signed in 1995 created Republika Srpska, an autonomous region within Bosnia. For Bosniaks and Croats whose federation represents the other half of Bosnia Jan. 9 still symbolizes their expulsion and a sign that the Bosnian Serb-controlled territory is still meant just for Serbs. Bosnia's constitutional court has banned the referendum, but the Serbs said they will hold it anyway. The vote sparked the most heated exchange between Bosniaks and Serbs since the war in the 1990s. Serbian officials said they were ready to defend Republika Srpska if it was attacked, and ordered the Serbian army to be more vigilant. Apart from challenging the country's rule of law, Bosniaks also fear this referendum is a test for a more serious one in 2018 on independence which would not go down peacefully, officials in Sarajevo warned. "Nobody is more ready to defend this country all the way to the end," said Bosniak leader Bakir Izetbegovic. "Nobody should ... force people who love this country to prove it again," he added. The referendum also reflects the wider tensions between Western nations which are supporting the Bosniaks and Croats and Russia, which is backing the Serbs. The U.S. embassy in Sarajevo threatened unspecified "consequences" if the referendum is not canceled, while the Russian ambassador openly supported the referendum, saying it is an act of democracy. Russia is a traditional backer of Orthodox Slavic Serbs. "Russia's economy has been hurt badly by Western sanctions imposed because of Ukraine," said Balkans expert and author Tim Judah. "If Russia can cause the West problems in return, which it seems determined to do in Bosnia now, then so be it. Never mind if this tips Bosnia back into conflict, never mind that Russia has nothing to offer the Balkans, this is simply a good way to cause problems to the West." Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who initiated the referendum and went to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin this week, called Bosniak reactions "hysteria." "This is not a referendum about secession as many want to portray it," he said. "It is not even a beginning of such a process." International officials overseeing Bosnian peace accords were outraged by Dodik's defiance and threats of new clashes. "In the past 20 years we have not heard such language," said the High Representative for Bosnia, Austrian diplomat Valentin Inzko. The Peace Implementation Council, an international body overseeing Bosnia, said there will be no redrawing of borders and called on everybody "to refrain from reactive measures and divisive rhetoric." It also urged the Bosnian Serbs to cancel the vote, but Council member Russia distanced itself from the statement. The referendum is "both a test for state institutions as well as an attack on them," Inzko told the AP in an interview, noting also that Bosnia's criminal law foresees jail terms from six months to five years for those who disobey the constitutional court. The sanctions could also include travel bans, asset freezes and the halting of international projects in the country, Inzko said. "All options are open," he said. ____ AP Writer Dusan Stojanovic contributed from Belgrade, Serbia. In this photo taken on Wednesday, Sep. 21, 2016. Bosnian woman passes by poster for Sundays referendum in the Bosnian town of Banja Luka, 240 kms (150 miles) northwest of the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo , Bosnia. Bosnias Serb mini-state is holding a referendum this weekend that has turned into a proxy political battle between the West and Russia, stoking ethnic tensions and triggering fears of new clashes more than 20 years after the end of the Balkans War. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Radivoje Pavicic) In this photo taken on Wednesday, Sep. 21, 2016, a Bosnian woman passes by armed policemen guarding government building in the Bosnian town of Banja Luka, 240 kms (150 miles) northwest of the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo , Bosnia. Bosnias Serb mini-state is holding a referendum this weekend that has turned into a proxy political battle between the West and Russia, stoking ethnic tensions and triggering fears of new clashes more than 20 years after the end of the Balkans War. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Radivoje Pavicic) In this photo taken on Saturday, May. 14, 2016. Bosnian Serb Milorad Dodik, President of the Bosnian Serb region of Republic of Srpska, sings song during a protest of his political party in the Bosnian town of Banja Luka, 240 kms (150 miles) northwest of the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo , Bosnia. Bosnias Serb mini-state is holding a referendum this weekend that has turned into a proxy political battle between the West and Russia, stoking ethnic tensions and triggering fears of new clashes more than 20 years after the end of the Balkans War. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Radivoje Pavicic) In this photo taken on Saturday, May. 14, 2016, Bosnian Serb Milorad Dodik, President of the Bosnian Serb region of Republic of Srpska, gives money to a street musician during protest of his political party in the Bosnian town of Banja Luka, 240 kms (150 miles) northwest of the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo , Bosnia.Bosnias Serb mini-state is holding a referendum this weekend that has turned into a proxy political battle between the West and Russia, stoking ethnic tensions and triggering fears of new clashes more than 20 years after the end of the Balkans War. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Radivoje Pavicic) In this photo taken on Wednesday, Sep. 21, 2016 Bosnian top international official Valentin Inzko talks to AP journalist during interview in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Bosnias Serb mini-state is holding a referendum this weekend that has turned into a proxy political battle between the West and Russia, stoking ethnic tensions and triggering fears of new clashes more than 20 years after the end of the Balkans War. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) The Latest: Police don't plan to remove peaceful protesters CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Latest on protests in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the fatal police shooting of a black man (all times local): 12:30 a.m. Charlotte police say they don't plan to forcibly remove protesters from the street after curfew as long as the situation remains peaceful. National Guardsman stand on the street in downtown Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Capt. Mike Campagna says in a CNN interview that the midnight curfew is a tool the police can use if it becomes necessary, but they hope that won't be the case. Campagna says people inside the group of demonstrators helped keep things peaceful Thursday, the third night of protests after an officer fatally shot a black man. He says community members intervened with aggressors after seeing the need when protests became violent Wednesday night. ___ 12:05 a.m. A curfew has taken effect in Charlotte with demonstrators still on the street. Mayor Jennifer Roberts signed documents Thursday night to put in effect a curfew from midnight until 6 a.m. After midnight, dozens of protesters continued to march and chant in the city's business district. Officers didn't appear to be trying to arrest people or force them off the streets several minutes after midnight passed. ___ 10:50 p.m. Protesters in Charlotte who spilled onto an interstate highway are being pushed back by police officers in riot gear. After peacefully circling the city's business district for several hours, several dozen demonstrators climbed onto Interstate 277 and stood in the middle of the highway. A line of police officers with shields and face masks advanced on the protesters, and many dispersed and climbed back up embankments off the road. Thursday marked the third night of protests after a shooting earlier in the week of a black man by police in Charlotte. ___ 9:45 p.m. Charlotte's mayor is imposing a curfew starting at midnight after three nights of protests. Mayor Jennifer Roberts told reporters Thursday night that she had signed documents to impose a curfew that will run from midnight to 6 a.m. She expects it to be in place for multiple days until officials determine they no longer need it. The city's government issued a Tweet saying the curfew is citywide. Protesters took to the streets for a third night but were largely peaceful Thursday. Two previous nights of chaotic protests included injuries, one death arrests and vandalism. ___ 8:40 p.m. Hundreds of protesters are marching through the heart of Charlotte's business district. The protesters stopped for about 15 minutes to chant and block an intersection near Bank of America's headquarters. They then moved on as police and members of the National Guard monitored them. The demonstration that began about 7:30 p.m. at a park has so far been peaceful. The crowd includes curious onlookers who emerged from hotels and office buildings to take pictures. The business district, known locally as uptown, has been on edge Thursday after two nights of chaotic protests that included vandalism and injuries. The protests stem from the fatal shooting this week of a black many police. ___ 8: 20 p.m. A North Carolina congressman says that people are protesting in Charlotte because they "hate white people." U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, a Republican whose district includes parts of Charlotte, was asked by an interviewer for Britain's BBC TV what grievance the protesters have. In the video posted online Thursday, Pittenger responded: "The grievance in their mind is the animus, the anger they hate white people because white people are successful and they're not." He later released a statement apologizing and saying that his anguish over the situation led him to give a response he regretted. Chaotic protests broke out Tuesday and Wednesday in Charlotte after a black man was shot to death by a police officer. The North Carolina Democratic Party released a statement saying Pittenger's remarks were inexcusable and racist. ___ 8 p.m. Charlotte police say the man shot in the head during Wednesday night's protests near a downtown hotel has died. Police spokesman Keith Trietley says in a news release that 26-year-old Justin Carr died Thursday at the hospital. Carr was shot as protesters clashed with police in riot gear lined arm-in-arm protecting the Omni Hotel about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. City officials say Carr was not shot by an officer. Police Chief Kerr Putney says the detectives are determined to find who fired the fatal shots. No arrests have been made. ___ 7:50 p.m. The lawyer for relatives of a black man killed by Charlotte police says he couldn't tell after watching police video if the man had anything in his hands when he was shot. Keith Scott's family was shown the dashboard and body camera footage by police Thursday. After viewing it, attorney Justin Bamberg said in a statement they want the video released to the public immediately. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney has said he won't release the video while a criminal investigation continues. Bamberg says Scott is seen in the video calmly exiting his vehicle Tuesday and while police give him several commands, he does not approach officers. Bamberg says Scott's hands were by his side and he was slowly walking backward when he was shot ___ 7:35 p.m. About 100 protesters have gathered at a park in uptown Charlotte, launching a third night of demonstrations over the fatal shooting of a black man by a black police officer. With dwindling daylight, the protesters formed a circle and chanted several slogans, including "We believe that we will win." Some of them wrapped bandanas around their faces to protect themselves from tear gas. About 50 feet away, about a dozen Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers sat on bicycles observing the protesters. Camouflage Humvees carrying National Guard members are patrolling downtown interspersed with civilian vehicles. Guard members with fatigues and rifles walked through a plaza near the headquarters of Bank of America. ___ 6:45 p.m. The attorney for relatives of a black man shot to death by Charlotte police says the family has seen police videos of his killing. Lawyer Justin Bamberg tells television crews he would not detail what they saw. Bamberg says: "There are some things to digest." Members of Keith Scott's family didn't talk to reporters as they quickly left Charlotte's police headquarters Thursday afternoon. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney said earlier Thursday he won't release the body and dashboard camera video while the criminal investigation into Tuesday's shooting continues. ___ 4:15 p.m. An attorney for relatives of a black man shot and killed by an officer in Charlotte says the victim's wife "saw him get shot and killed." Attorney Justin Bamberg spoke Thursday on behalf of the family of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott during a news conference. He says the family was not present because they were still grieving. Bamberg said: "My understanding is that his wife saw him get shot and killed. That's something she will never, ever forget." He did not give other details about what the wife saw. Bamberg says the family will view police video of the shooting later Thursday. It is not clear when, or if, dash and body camera video of the shooting might be publicly released. ___ 3:55 p.m. An attorney for relatives of a black man shot and killed by an officer in Charlotte says the family will view police video of the shooting later Thursday. Attorney Justin Bamberg spoke on behalf of the family of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott during a news conference. The family was not present, he says, because they were still grieving. He says they don't know what's on the video, only what law enforcement says on the video. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney has said that Scott refused commands to drop a gun; residents say he was unarmed. Putney also says the video does not definitively show whether Scott pointed the gun at anyone. It is not clear when, or if, dash and body camera video of the shooting might be publicly released. The attorney says the family wants to know the truth but worries about the emotional impact if the video is released. ___ 3:10 p.m. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory says he supports the Charlotte police chief's position that body and dashcam video of the deadly police shooting of a black man shouldn't be released to the public while the investigation continues. At a news conference Thursday, McCrory said he hadn't changed his mind about a law he signed that will make it harder for police shooting videos to be released starting next month. McCrory spoke as officials try to head off another day of protests stemming from the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. Police say he refused to drop a gun; residents say he was unarmed. McCrory says he expects less chaos in Charlotte because the National Guard and state troopers are helping Charlotte police. ___ 2:20 p.m. The Congressional Black Caucus is demanding that Attorney General Loretta Lynch authorize federal intervention into the police killings of unarmed African-American men and women. The action comes in the aftermath of the killing in Charlotte, North Carolina, of Keith Lamont Scott. Police say he refused repeated commands to drop a gun, but residents say he was unarmed. The black lawmakers walked Thursday from the U.S. Capitol to the Justice Department to present the letter to Lynch, who was having a news conference of her own inside the building. Democratic Rep G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina, the caucus's chair, said they would tell the attorney general that "enough is enough." The letter asks for state and federal investigations, indictments and prosecutions of police officers whose actions harm or kill unarmed African-Americans. ___ 12:55 p.m. A North Carolina gun-rights group says just because there's a state of emergency in Charlotte doesn't mean people there are unable to carry their concealed handgun for defense if they have a permit for one. Grass Roots North Carolina President Paul Valone wrote Thursday in a memo to its supporters strongly advising them to carry these lawful firearms if they can't avoid being in Charlotte and surrounding Mecklenburg County. There have been two nights of violence in Charlotte stemming from the shooting of a man by a police officer. Valone points to a 2012 federal court ruling striking down a broad state law making it a misdemeanor for people to possess or transport any dangerous weapon outside of their homes within an area where a state of emergency exists. Grass Roots was a plaintiff in the litigation. Grass Roots counts 20,000 people among its members. ___ 12:05 p.m. The chief state prosecutor in Charlotte is asking the State Bureau of Investigation to look into the shooting of a man killed by a police officer earlier this week. District Attorney R. Andrew Murray said in a statement Thursday that he was making the request for a state investigation at the request of the family of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney says he plans to show video of the shooting to the slain man's family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public. He also said during a news conference Thursday that the video does not definitively show Scott pointing a gun at anyone, though police maintain Scott refused commands to drop the weapon. ___ Noon The family of a black man shot to death by a police officer in Charlotte is calling on protesters to be peaceful. Reykia Scott says in a statement released Thursday that she is devastated by the death of her husband, 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, and understands people's frustrations. But Reykia Scott says hurting people or damaging property is not the answer. The Scott family's comments come after a second night of unrest in Charlotte after the fatal shooting. Police Chief Kerry Putney told reporters Thursday he planned to show video of the shooting to Scott's family but would not immediately be releasing it to the public. Putney says the video does not definitively show Keith Scott pointing a gun at anyone. Police say Scott refused repeated commands to drop his gun, but residents say he was unarmed. ___ 11:45 a.m. Charlotte's police chief says he sees no reason to impose a curfew in North Carolina's largest city, even after two nights of violent protests following the shooting of a man by a police officer. Chief Kerr Putney said the city now has more resources to deal with problems, following a declaration of a state of emergency and the arrival of the North Carolina National Guard and more officers from the State Highway Patrol. Mayor Jennifer Roberts said earlier Thursday the city was considering a curfew. She defended the decision not to seek an emergency declaration earlier, noting the city had been calm during the day Wednesday. She says the request was made at the appropriate time when more resources were needed. Roberts again called for calm as the shooting investigation continues. ___ 10:55 a.m. Charlotte's police chief says he plans to show video of an officer shooting a black man to the slain man's family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public. Police Chief Kerr Putney said during a news conference Thursday that the video does not definitively show 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott pointing a gun at anyone. Putney says he is working to honor the request from the family of Scott to view the video. It's unclear when or if the video might be released publicly. The video could be key to resolving the chasm between police, who say Scott refused repeated commands to drop his gun, and residents who say he was unarmed. It's not clear what the body cameras worn by three officers who were present during the shooting may have captured. ___ 10:15 a.m. Life is returning to normal on downtown streets in Charlotte despite two nights of violence. On Thursday morning, a few uniformed police officers are walking around the area. The governor declared a state of emergency Wednesday night and called on help from the National Guard, but no Guard members were present on the street Thursday morning. Glass and uprooted plants can be seen on the sidewalk from the protests Wednesday night. Traffic is flowing in the area although at least three major companies asked their employees to stay home on Thursday. ___ 9:55 a.m. The mayor of Charlotte says officials have no time frame for when they might release camera footage of the fatal police shooting of a black man. Mayor Jennifer Roberts told "NPR" Thursday morning that releasing the police video "depends on the investigation and its progress, and it depends on the discretion of the chief to some extent." Calls for police to release the video have increased along with the violent protests, but the police chief has resisted. North Carolina has a law that takes effect Oct. 1 requiring a judge to approve releasing police video, and he said he doesn't release video when a criminal investigation is ongoing. Roberts said she hopes to watch the video Thursday or Friday. "I certainly would feel better being able to see it," she said, adding that she doesn't know how conclusive the video footage is until she watches it. Police said the plainclothes officer who shot 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, identified as Brently Vinson, has been placed on leave, standard procedure in such cases. Three uniformed officers at the shooting scene had body cameras; Vinson did not, police said. ___ 9:45 a.m. Federal help is on the way to Charlotte after two nights of violence after the fatal police shooting of a black man. The Justice Department is sending a team of trained peacekeepers designed to help resolve community conflict. The department's Community Relations Service has been deployed to other cities roiled by tense flare-ups between police and residents. ___ 8:50 a.m. The mayor of Charlotte says the city is considering a curfew after two nights of violence in the wake of the shooting of a black man by police. Mayor Jennifer Roberts told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Thursday that city officials are talking about imposing a curfew. Streets were calm Thursday morning, but several civilians and police officers were hurt in the second night of violence Wednesday night. City spokeswoman Ashley Simmons told local media that Roberts' office will discuss a possible curfew with city police and the National Guard on Thursday. The mayor said she wants people to know Charlotte is open for business Thursday. But at least three major companies told workers to avoid downtown offices. The North Carolina National Guard arrived at a Charlotte armory early Thursday and some Guard vehicles left the armory about 8 a.m. Protesters take to the streets of uptown during a peaceful march following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Members of the North Carolina National Guard stand guard outside the Omni Hotel as demonstrators take to the streets following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) A demonstrator stands on the street in downtown protesting Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Demonstrators stand on the street in downtown protesting Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Attorney Justin Bamberg, representing the family of Keith Lamont Scott, addresses the media in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 following Tuesday's police shooting of Scott. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Workers cover large windows with plywood at a downtown hotel after a second night of violence following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) National Guardsman stand on the street in downtown Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) A couple watches along Trade Street in uptown as demonstrators take to the streets following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Protesters block I-277 during a third night of unrest following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) A member of the clergy stands in front of a line of police officers in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. blocking the access road to I-277 on the third night of protests following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) A couple looks at line of police officers blocking the access road to I-277 on the third night of protests in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) PICTURED: Barcelona pageant celebrates transgender women BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Despite facing violence and discrimination in many countries, 28 transgender women found a place to shine. The women competed last weekend to be crowned Miss Trans Star International, Europe's largest beauty pageant for transgender women and one of a growing number of events aimed at celebrating a population more often condemned. Latin America had the most contestants in the Barcelona pageant, which has been held five times since 2010. The continent is home to both a robust transgender rights movement and where 79 percent of the 269 transgender women killed around the world last year lived, according to the Berlin-based Trans Murder Monitoring project. In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, Linni Rows Wiman, from Sweden, is made up by friends ahead of the Miss Trans Star International 2016 celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. Twenty-eight women representing as many countries competed last weekend to be crowned Miss Trans Star International, Europes largest beauty pageant for transgender women and one of a growing number of similar events aimed at celebrating a population more often condemned. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) But in a sign of the movement's global momentum, the Miss Trans Star contest also for the first time attracted participants originally from Egypt, Turkey, Nigeria and Sri Lanka, countries where neither gay nor transgender citizens have legal protections. Organizer Thara Wells, a model and performer in Spain, says besides giving transgender women a place to showcase their looks and talent, the pageant is a platform for denouncing discrimination against the LGBT community. The competition, Wells says, gives "more visibility to the transsexual community fighting for equal rights." To be eligible, contestants are not required to have undergone gender reassignment surgery, but must have a face and figure that fits with traditional notions of ideal feminine beauty. During two days of competition, contestants took the stage dressed in swimsuits, formal wear and costumes reflecting their homelands. Miss Brazil, aka Rafaela Manfrini, emerged as the winner. Another pageant favorite, Tallen Abu Hama of Israel, was named first runner-up. Abu Hama, a Christian Arab from the city of Nazareth, won Israel's first transgender pageant in the spring. The spirit of the contest was summed up by the woman representing Nigeria, a British citizen who says she fled the African nation after twice attempting to take her own life and being beaten on the street for wearing a women's scarf. She goes by the name Miss Sahhara to avoid retribution. "We just need to have the chance and right for us to be ourselves and to survive. Unfortunately, that is not allowed in my country," she said. "I want to go back to Nigeria next year to try to teach them that to be a transgender is something normal. We have blood in our veins and we are human beings." In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, Britanie Eichenholc, from France, right, is seen silhouetted during her performance at the Miss Trans Star International 2016 show celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, Jey Jonnais, from Panama, applies make up ahead of the Miss Trans Star International 2016 show celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, participants performance at the Miss Trans Star International 2016 during a show celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. Twenty-eight women representing as many countries competed last weekend to be crowned Miss Trans Star International, Europes largest beauty pageant for transgender women and one of a growing number of similar events aimed at celebrating a population more often condemned. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, Britanie Eichenholc, from France, applies make up ahead of the Miss Trans Star International 2016 show celebrated in Barcelona, Spain, (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, participants line up at the Miss Trans Star International 2016 show celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. Twenty-eight women representing as many countries competed last weekend to be crowned Miss Trans Star International, Europes largest beauty pageant for transgender women and one of a growing number of similar events aimed at celebrating a population more often condemned. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, Paris Nemc from Slovakia, looks at her phone during an interval at Miss Trans Star International 2016 show celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. Twenty-eight women representing as many countries competed last weekend to be crowned Miss Trans Star International, Europes largest beauty pageant for transgender women and one of a growing number of similar events aimed at celebrating a population more often condemned. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, participants wait on stage ahead of Miss Trans Star International 2016 show celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. Twenty-eight women representing as many countries competed last weekend to be crowned Miss Trans Star International, Europes largest beauty pageant for transgender women and one of a growing number of similar events aimed at celebrating a population more often condemned. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, Linni Rows Wiman, from Sweden, applies make up ahead of the Miss Trans Star International 2016 show celebrated in Barcelona, Spain, (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, Victoria Caram, from Argentina takes part in the Miss Trans Star International 2016 show celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. To be eligible to compete, contestants are not required to have undergone gender reassignment surgery, but must have the face and figure that comports with traditional notions of what constitutes ideal feminine beauty. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, the representative of Brazil, Rafaela Manfrini, smiles wearing the crown of the new Miss International Trans Star 2016, during a show celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. To be eligible to compete, contestants are not required to have undergone gender reassignment surgery, but must have the face and figure that comports with traditional notions of what constitutes ideal feminine beauty. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, Sahhara, from Nigeria, is made up by friends ahead of the Miss Trans Star International 2016 celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. To be eligible to compete, contestants are not required to have undergone gender reassignment surgery, but must have the face and figure that comports with traditional notions of what constitutes ideal feminine beauty. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) US toughens stance on Haitians seeking entry at border SAN DIEGO (AP) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that it was widening efforts to deport Haitians, a response to thousands of immigrants from the Caribbean nation who have overwhelmed California border crossings with Mexico in recent months. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Sarah Saldana testified in Congress that other governments told her on a recent trip to Central America that 40,000 Haitians were on their way and called it an "emergency situation" on California's border. She said the estimate of people on their way contributed to the policy shift, as did changing conditions in Haiti. The move lifts special protections that shielded Haitians from deportation after their nation's 2010 earthquake. Since 2011, U.S. authorities have avoided deporting Haitians unless they were convicted of serious crimes or posed a national security threat. Now they will be treated like people from other countries. FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010, file photo, Haitian national Carole Manigat, left, holds her daughter Hadassa Carole Albert as she waits for her turn to fill out temporary protective status papers at Notre Dame d'Haiti Catholic Church in the Little Haiti neighborhood in Miami. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, that it was widening efforts to deport Haitians, a response to thousands of immigrants from the Caribbean nation who have overwhelmed California border crossings with Mexico in recent months. The move lifts special protections that shielded Haitians from deportation after their nations 2010 earthquake. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File) Secretary Jeh Johnson said the new posture doesn't apply to Haitians who got temporary status to live and work in the U.S. after the earthquake and have remained in the country since January 2011. The change may dramatically affect Haitians who have been showing up at U.S. border crossings in California, claiming they lived in Brazil for several years, left for economic reasons, and traveled through Central America and Mexico. Homeland Security officials say about 5,000 Haitians have been stopped at San Diego's San Ysidro port of entry since October, compared to only 339 for the 2015 fiscal year. Large numbers have also turned themselves in to U.S. inspectors in Calexico, California, 120 miles east of San Diego. The influx is so heavy that inspectors at San Ysidro, the nation's busiest border crossing, are turning back Haitians with appointments to come at a later date, leaving hundreds waiting in Tijuana, Mexico. Many stay at one of the Mexican border city's five migrant shelters that volunteered in May to help. The Rev. Pat Murphy, director of Casa del Migrante in Tijuana, said Haitians arriving at the San Diego crossing on Wednesday wouldn't get an appointment until Oct. 12. His shelter now houses 1,000 people a month, up from 600 before the Haitians began arriving. About half who stay there are Haitians. "We've opened the doors and sometimes we've opened the floors so people can have a place to sleep," Murphy said at a news conference Wednesday at San Diego's Christ United Methodist Church, which has provided food, clothing and temporary shelter over the last few months to about 3,000 Haitians after they arrived in the U.S. Murphy said 90 percent of the people who have come to his shelter in the last six weeks are Haitians who moved to Brazil after the 2010 earthquake. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been releasing many Haitians with notices to appear before an immigration judge, triggering a process that can take years in the overcrowded courts. Many head to Florida, which has a large Haitian community. The new posture subjects Haitian arrivals to enforcement policies that Johnson announced in 2014, which, among other things, make people who are caught at the border a high priority for deportation. Still, if a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer finds they have a "credible fear" of persecution at home, they can stay in the country until they appear before an immigration judge for asylum or other relief. "Haitians are not going to be treated any different than anyone else," Saldana said at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. "If they have an ... asylum claim or claim to be a refugee we will consider those claims along with everything else." It is unknown if Haiti will agree to take large numbers of its citizens back and how quickly. Presidential elections are scheduled there for Oct. 9. Johnson said conditions have improved enough in Haiti to lift the post-earthquake protections against deportation but the toughened stance drew criticism from immigration advocacy groups. Andrea Guerrero, executive director of Alliance San Diego, said it betrays a U.S. pledge to assist earthquake victims. "Haiti is not in a situation to accept anyone," Guerrero said. "It all sounds nice for political rhetoric but the reality is if they're going to attempt to deport recent arrivals from Haiti, it's nonsensical and inhumane." ___ Associated Press writer Alicia A. Caldwell in Washington contributed to this report. Duterte to invite UN chief, EU to probe Philippine killings MANILA, Philippines (AP) The Philippine president said Thursday 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 in which he again lashed out at critics of his crackdown, including President Barack Obama and European countries. He accused them of hypocrisy for raising concerns about his anti-crime fight while launching military strikes that have killed innocent people in the Middle East. The tough-talking former city mayor cited the recent shooting to death of a black man in the U.S. and the involvement of European countries in military actions in the Middle East. Opposition Senator Leila De Lima gestures during a news conference she called at the Philippine Senate, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines. De Lima, who led an investigation into President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody anti-drug campaign, was ousted Monday from the justice committee in a vote that human rights advocates said could derail accountability in the crackdown. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) After the European Parliament called for an end to the drug killings and expressed concern over the scale of deaths, Duterte hit back earlier this week with a profane insult and raised a fist with his middle finger thrust out. "I will write them a letter to invite them for an investigation but, in keeping with the time-honored principle of the right to be heard, after they've grilled me, I'll also question them," Duterte said in a speech in southern Misamis Oriental province. "Everybody would be invited," he said of his public questioning of his critics. "Just watch how I will scrub down those demons." Turning to America, he asked, "What if I deploy a rapporteur to America and ask why the blacks there were being shot?" More than 3,000 suspected drug dealers and users have been killed since July and more than 600,000 others have surrendered for fear of being killed in Duterte's crackdown. Despite growing alarm, Duterte said he won't stop the campaign. Duterte also hit out at a vocal critic of his anti-drug war, Sen. Leila de Lima, whom he has accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade through a former driver who allegedly used her influence to collect payoffs from detained drug lords. De Lima has denied any wrongdoing and said in a news conference Thursday that she feared for her life. She denounced the disclosure of her cellphone number in a congressional inquiry led by Duterte's allies on the drug problem in the national penitentiary, where drug lords are alleged to have helped finance her senatorial campaign. "I'm now a subject of persecution and I'm no longer safe," de Lima said. "Can I rely on the regular authorities in government?" The 71-year-old Duterte overwhelmingly won election in May on an audacious promise to eradicate corruption and crime, particularly illegal drugs, in six months. He recently said he underestimated the magnitude of the drug problem and will extend the crackdown by another half year. "Even if I wanted to, I cannot kill them all because the last report would be this thick," Duterte said this week, displaying a new police list of drug suspects that he said includes many village chieftains, town mayors and provincial governors. Opposition Senator Leila De Lima gestures during a news conference she called at the Philippine Senate, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines. De Lima, who led an investigation into President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody anti-drug campaign, was ousted Monday from the justice committee in a vote that human rights advocates said could derail accountability in the crackdown. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) US asks citizens to avoid Starbucks, others in Turkish city ANKARA, Turkey (AP) The United States has warned its citizens to avoid Starbucks coffee shops and other businesses catering to Westerners in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, near the border with Syria. In a security warning sent to U.S. citizens Thursday, the U.S. Embassy said Turkish police were investigating a "terror cell" in Gaziantep that could be targeting "shopping centers, Starbucks, Big Chef Restaurants" and other businesses in the city. The warning did not specify the organization that is under investigation. Turkey has suffered a series of bombings by Islamic State group or Kurdish militants in the past year, including an IS attack on Istanbul's main airport. Indiana house explosion ringleader appeals murder conviction INDIANAPOLIS (AP) An attorney for a man convicted in a deadly Indianapolis house explosion urged the Indiana Supreme Court Thursday to set aside his convictions, saying testimony that he wanted a witness killed should not have been presented at his trial. Attorney Victoria Bailey said Mark Leonard's right to counsel was violated because he didn't have an attorney with him when he spoke to a government informant about his alleged plans to have the witness killed following his arrest in the house explosion. Bailey called the right to counsel "the bedrock upon which the American criminal justice system is built" and told the justices that Leonard's constitutional guarantees were "lost and justice was not done." But deputy attorney general Andrew Kobe countered that Leonard's rights had not been violated and the trial court properly admitted the statements about his efforts to hire a hit man to kill the witness. Leonard, 47, was convicted last year of murder, arson and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud in the November 2012 natural gas explosion that destroyed his then-girlfriend's home and killed two next-door neighbors. That blast damaged or destroyed more than 80 homes. Prosecutors said Leonard, who was sentenced to two life sentences without parole, plus 75 years, was the ringleader of a plot to tamper with the natural gas flow in Monserrate Shirley's home to destroy it after two failed attempts to burn it down. The goal was to collect $300,000 in insurance, prosecutors said. Four others were charged in that scheme, including Leonard's half brother, Bob Leonard, who was convicted in February of murder, arson and other charges. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without parole, plus 70 years. Shirley and another defendant have reached plea deals and the trial of a fifth person is pending. A separate case against Mark Leonard in the murder-for-hire scheme is pending. During Thursday's hearing, Kobe also faulted Leonard's argument that prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence that he knowingly killed John and Jennifer Longworth, who lived next door to Shirley's home. Under questioning from the court, Kobe said Leonard should have known filling Shirley's house with gas and then igniting that gas with a microwave timer would have killed anyone nearby, including the Longworths. "Here the defendant blew up a 3,000-square-foot house that was 10 feet away from the nearest house. If you detonate a bomb like that you're aware of a high probability that someone is going to die," Kobe said. But Justice Robert Rucker questioned Kobe about whether there was evidence Leonard knew that blowing up the house "would in fact kill somebody." "Other than the high probability, what's the evidence he knew that?" he asked. Kobe conceded there was no statement from Leonard that he knew detonating the house would result in deaths. News / National by Stephen Jakes Unit L residents in Seke, Chitungwiza are a bitter community as they complained that the council was charging them for water yet they are not getting any running precious liquiid from the councl.Harare Residents Trust reported that the residents are charged for water and sewerage yet they have septic tanks and do not receive municipal water from the Chitungwiza Municipality."Their ward councillor has reportedly built a shop near the community borehole at the boundary of Chigumba area and the Unit L Extension suburb. Most of the houses built in the suburb are built on top of a line reserved for sewerage pipes, and some of the houses are built in areas where sewerage bursts are prevalent," said the trust "With the rainy season beckoning, the situation will be desperate. It would seem that the whole housing crisis in Chitungwiza is fueled by identified politicians from both Zanu PF and the MDCT, in and outside of council."The trust said even former councillors and MPs are heavily involved, parceling out council land to desperate homeseekers."Most of the roads in the community are unnamed, with nearly half of the houses without stand numbers. Therefore they receive municipal services like refuse collection but do not pay any money to the council. Instead they pay their money to individual land barons," said the trust. Donald Trump steps deeper into US race debate PITTSBURGH (AP) Stepping deeper into America's race debate, Donald Trump on Thursday warned African-American protesters that their outrage was creating suffering in their own community, as he worked to walk a line between his law-and-order toughness and new minority outreach. "The rioting in our streets is a threat to all peaceful citizens and it must be ended and ended now," Trump, the Republican nominee for president, declared at a rally in suburban Philadelphia on Thursday night. "The main victims of these violent demonstrations," he added, "are law-abiding African-Americans who live in these communities and only want to raise their children in safety and peace." Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Sun Center Studios, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Aston, Penn. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) The comments came hours after a white Oklahoma police officer was charged with manslaughter Thursday in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man whose vehicle had broken down in the middle of the street. That and another police shooting of a black man in North Carolina have sparked fierce protests that continued to simmer Thursday night. Trump, eager to blunt criticism that his campaign inspires racism in the midst of what he called "a national crisis," has sought to express empathy in recent days. But his words could rankle some in the African-American community, underscoring the challenges he faces. Earlier in the day, Trump seemed to suggest that protesters outraged by the police shootings of black men were under the influence of drugs. "I will stop the drugs from flowing into our country and poisoning our youth and many other people," Trump declared at an energy conference in Pittsburgh. He added, "And if you're not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what you're watching on television at night." Trump's campaign rejected the interpretation that he was talking about the protests seen on cable news the last few nights. "It is clear what he said, and what he meant. It's obvious that he was referring to the recent increase in drug-related deaths and subsequent news reports, thus making it a hot-button issue," said campaign rapid response director Steven Cheung. Trump also raised eyebrows Wednesday when he seemed to call for the national expansion of "stop-and-frisk," a police tactic that has been condemned as racial profiling. On Thursday, Trump clarified that he had been referring only to murder-plagued Chicago. Democrat Hillary Clinton did not address escalating racial tensions Thursday as she prepared for her first debate-stage meeting with Trump. She dinged her opponent, albeit in a humorous way, in an interview released Thursday on comic Zach Galifianakis' web program, "Between Two Ferns." The comedian asked her what Trump might wear to Monday's debate. "I assume he'll wear that red power tie," Clinton said. Galifianakis responded, "Or maybe like a white power tie." "That's even more appropriate," Clinton said. At his evening rally, Trump hit back, accusing Clinton of supporting "with a nod" "the narrative of cops as a racist force in our society." "Those peddling the narrative ... share directly in the responsibility for the unrest that is afflicting our country and hurting those who have really the very least," he 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. 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. On Thursday, Trump tried at times to project a softer message, calling for a nation united in "the spirit of togetherness." "The job of a leader is to stand in someone else's shoes and see things from their perspective. You have to be able to do that," he said. At the same time, Mahoning County, Ohio, chair Kathy Miller, a campaign 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. In North Carolina, Republican Rep. Robert Pittenger, whose district includes parts of Charlotte where protests have turned violent, said they stemmed from protesters who "hate white people because white people are successful and they're not." Pittenger later apologized. Clinton has made curbing gun violence and police brutality central to her candidacy. She said Wednesday 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." ___ Peoples reported from Washington. AP writers Jason Keyser in Chicago and Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Colvin on Twitter at https://twitter.com/colvinj and Peoples on https://twitter.com/sppeoples ___ What political news is the world searching for on Google and talking about on Twitter? Find out via AP's Election Buzz interactive. http://elections.ap.org/buzz Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump listen as he speaks during a campaign rally at Sun Center Studios, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Aston, Penn. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) Christie works to shore up legacy as trial threatens it NEWARK, N.J. (AP) A public forum on his push to change school funding. Opening a cancer institute. Dedicating a new high school. And, so no one could say he's not still having fun, Gov. Chris Christie also spent four hours hosting a sports talk radio show. Was he tired of talking about the George Washington Bridge scandal, WFAN host Craig Carton asked on Tuesday? "Dead on," Christie replied. FILE- In this Aug. 29, 2016 file photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie listens to a question from the media in Trenton, N.J. Christie, with two years left in his second term as governor, has insisted for three years that he had no knowledge of a plot to shut down access lanes to the busy bridge connecting New Jersey and Manhattan as part of a political vendetta. On the first day of a trial that started this week in the scandal that has become known as "Bridgegate," prosecutors said their key witness will testify that's not true. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) Christie, with two years left in his second term as governor, has insisted for three years that he had no knowledge of a plot to shut down access lanes to the busy bridge connecting New Jersey and Manhattan as part of a political vendetta. On the first day of a trial that started this week in the scandal that has become known as "Bridgegate," prosecutors said their key witness will testify that's not true. Christie has not been charged, but as witnesses for both sides are expected to detail links over the next six weeks between the alleged plotters and Christie's administration, his legacy is also on trial. He is meeting the attention with a heavier-than-usual schedule, offering a counter-narrative and focusing on policies he counts as a key part of his legacy. He has also foreshadowed a potential next act as a media figure by going on sports radio, something he's done increasingly lately. The trial comes as Christie's approval rating in New Jersey is at record lows, and he said this month that the scandal was likely a factor in Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's decision not to nominate him as his running mate. It also comes as Trump heads down the home stretch of a tight contest with Democrat Hillary Clinton. As prosecutors allege officials he appointed launched a political revenge plot, Christie is leading Trump's transition team, which will be responsible for filling thousands of positions in the federal government if the businessman wins. Christie, whose name is on a list of potential witnesses who may be called to testify, insists there's nothing new to be learned about his involvement and instead spent the week touring the state. While helping inaugurate a new cancer institute at University Hospital in Newark on Tuesday, he was philosophical and cast the institute as a legacy item. "There's lots of things you get to do as governor," he said. "There's nothing that I've done that's more important than this." Bridget Kelly, Christie's onetime deputy chief of staff, and Bill Baroni, deputy executive director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey during the closure, are on trial for wire fraud, conspiracy and civil rights charges as revenge against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, the community on the New Jersey side of the bridge, for not endorsing Christie in his 2013 re-election bid. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna started the trial by revealing that former port appointee David Wildstein will testify that he bragged to Christie about the scheme at a Sept. 11 memorial in New York three days after the gridlock began. The two went to high school together, but Christie denies they have a close relationship and has denied Wildstein told him anything of the sort. Wildstein, who has pleaded guilty, was handed the job as director of interstate capital projects, a position created for him even though he falsely said in an application he had a college degree that he doesn't hold, Baroni's attorney Michael Baldassare said in court this week. Defense attorneys in their opening statements implied he was foisted on Baroni, who technically was Wildstein's superior, by Christie because Baroni wasn't deemed tough enough. One portrayed him as a ventriloquist's dummy sitting on Christie's lap. Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye testified Thursday that he couldn't fire Wildstein because it was "practically complicated" and later said in response to a defense attorney's question that he didn't interview Wildstein during an internal review of the lane closures because Wildstein was being "protected" by Christie. In addition, Foye testified Wednesday that Baroni told him on Sept. 13, 2013, the day Foye ordered the traffic lanes reopened, that "senior staff" in Trenton had been briefed about the closures. Christie insisted in December that no one on his staff was involved, then publicly expressed embarrassment a month later after he said he discovered that Kelly and only Kelly had lied. In Fort Lee, where the plot gridlocked traffic, residents shrugged at suggestions Christie was aware of the scheme before he has said. Jim Nola, a former New York City firefighter and current Fort Lee crossing guard, said he did not have a bad opinion of Christie before the closure, but after the indictments he came to view him harshly. "You're crucifying the whole town because you're mad at the mayor," he said. "If you have a beef with me you take it up with me." But Nola, who works an intersection near a senior center, shrugged when asked if many people were watching and talking about the trial. He said people had mostly formed their opinions about Christie already. "People look at him differently. I do," he said. "(But it's) water under the bridge." ___ This story has been corrected to show that Foye testified that Wildstein being "protected" by Christie was the reason he didn't question Wildstein, not that the reason Wildstein wasn't fired. CORRECTS SPELLING OF BARONI - Bill Baroni, center, and his attorney Michael Baldassare, far left, arrive at the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse in Newark N.J., Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Baroni and Bridget Ann Kelly Baroni are charged with causing traffic jams near the George Washington Bridge in September 2013. Baroni was an executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Kelly was Christie's deputy chief of staff. (Danielle Parhizkaran/Northjersey.com via AP) Bridget Anne Kelly and her attorney Michael Critchley, far left, arrive at the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Kelly and Bill Baroni are charged with causing traffic jams near the George Washington Bridge in September 2013. Kelly was Christie's deputy chief of staff. Baroni was an executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. (Danielle Parhizkaran/Northjersey.com via AP) Al-Shabab attacks Kenya police post, 3 wounded, 2 missing NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) A Kenyan police spokesman says two policemen are missing and three others wounded after suspected Islamic extremists attacked a police post in eastern Kenya. George Kinoti said Thursday that more than 50 suspected members of Somalia's Islamic extremist group al-Shabab attacked the Hamey Police Camp, within Garissa County but the officers managed to repulse them. Kinoti said the attackers retreated and returned in a bigger number in a truck and fired three explosives into the camp, destroying some tents and forcing the officers to retreat. Vietnamese court upholds activist blogger's jail sentence HANOI, Vietnam (AP) A court in Hanoi rejected an appeal by a prominent Vietnamese blogger on Thursday and upheld his five-year prison sentence for anti-state writings. Nguyen Huu Vinh, better known as Anh Ba Sam, was convicted of abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the state at a one-day trial in March. His colleague, Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy, was given a three-year jail term on the same charge. Presiding Judge Ngo Hong Phuc said 24 articles Vinh and Thuy posted on their two blogs sullied the prestige of the state and its leaders, and presented an incorrect understanding of the government's policies. Vietnamese prominent blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, left, and his colleague Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy stand at the dock during their trial at the Higher Peoples Court in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The court heard appeals from the prominent blogger who was sentenced to five years in prison for anti-state writings. Nguyen Huu Vinh, better known as Anh Ba Sam, was convicted of abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the state and sentenced to five years in prison in March. (Doan Tan/Vietnam News Agency via AP) "The crimes committed by the defendants are serious, obviously infringing on the interests of the state," Phuc said. He said the lower court's sentences were "well-founded, in line with regulations of the law." Vinh, 60, quit his former job as a policeman and set up a private investigation firm. He then launched the blog Dan Quyen, or Citizens' Rights, in 2013, and Chep Su Viet, or Writing Vietnamese History, in early 2014. The blogs provided links to news on political, social, economic and cultural issues from state media as well as from activists. Prosecutors said the two blogs contained 2,397 articles and generated more than 3.7 million hits, and that 24 of the articles had "untruthful and groundless contents" which tarnished the country's image. Vinh maintained his innocence throughout the trial. "Once again I would like to declare that I'm absolutely innocent. I'm extremely proud of my contributions to society throughout the last nine years ... particularly the more than two years in prison. These are the finest, the most significant and happiest times of my life," Vinh said in his final words Thursday before the audio was cut off. The defendants' lawyers said security police had violated the law when collecting evidence, and that it should not have been used against their clients. Security around the court house near downtown Hanoi was tight, with roads blocked off. Vinh's wife and son were allowed in the court, where six lawyers represented Vinh and Thuy. Diplomats and international media followed the proceedings in a separate room via closed circuit TV. International human rights groups and Western governments including the United States have criticized Vietnam for jailing dissidents. Hanoi denies that, saying it only detains those who break the law. New York-based Human Rights Watch called for the release of Vinh and Thuy. "Vietnamese authorities have decided it is a crime to provide independent information to the Vietnamese public," Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement Tuesday. U.S. officials say Vietnam has made some progress in its human rights record with fewer arrests, but that more needs to be done if it wants to expand bilateral ties. FILE - In this March 23, 2016 file photo, Vietnam's prominent blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, left, and his assistant Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy stand together during a trial in Hanoi, Vietnam. A court in Hanoi began hearing an appeal Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, from a prominent Vietnamese blogger who was sentenced earlier this year to five years in prison for anti-state writings. (Bui Doan Tan/Vietnam News Agency via AP, File) Polish police bust major ring making false Viagra WARSAW, Poland (AP) Poland's police say they have arrested 14 people and seized 100,000 fake Viagra pills and 430,000 portions of fake doping substances worth millions of euros in a raid on an illegal factory. The Police Central Bureau of Investigation said earlier this week it raided the factory in apartment house near Bydgoszcz, in central Poland, and a number of other sites, run by a group that produced and distributed the substances. They said Thursday it was the biggest illegal factory of fake medication they have seen. They seized substances valued at over 4 million euros ($4.5 million), and some 1 million euros worth of production machines. Iran oil industry fires, blasts raise suspicions of hacking DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) A series of fires at Iranian petrochemical plants and facilities have raised suspicions about hacking potentially playing a role, with authorities saying that "viruses had contaminated" equipment at several of the affected complexes. Iran officially insists the six known blazes over the span of three months weren't the result of a cyberattack. However, the government acknowledgment of supposedly protected facilities being infected points to the possibility of a concerted effort to target Iranian infrastructure in the years after the Stuxnet virus disrupted thousands of centrifuges at a uranium enrichment facility. Among the worst of the fires was a massive, days-long inferno in July at the Bou Ali Sina Petrochemical Complex in Iran's southwestern province of Khuzestan. Insurance officials later estimated the damage at some $67 million. Authorities preliminarily blamed the blaze on a leak of paraxylene, a flammable hydrocarbon, without elaborating. In this photo released by the semi-official Iranian Isna News Agency, and taken on July 4, 2016, firefighters try to extinguish a blaze at the Bou Ali Sina Petrochemical Complex at the Imam Khomeini port, southwestern Iran. A series of fires at Iranian petrochemical plants and facilities have raised suspicions about hacking potentially playing a role in the blazes. Iran officially insists the six known blazes this summer werent the result of a cyberattack. However, authorities themselves saying that viruses had contaminated equipment at several of the affected complexes. (Borna Ghasemi/ISNA via AP) Other recent blazes include: A July 29 fire at a storage tank at the Bistoon Petrochemical Complex in Iran's western province of Kermanshah that authorities blamed on an electrical fault; An Aug. 6 gas pipeline explosion in the port city of Genaveh that killed one person and injured three; An Aug. 7 fire at a storage area of the Bandar Imam Khomeini Petrochemical Complex that burned for two days; An Aug. 30 inferno that erupted in a sewage unit at Iran's South Pars gas field; and A Sept. 14 gas leak and fire at the Mobin Petrochemical Factory that services the South Pars gas field that injured four workers. Initially, Brig. Gen. Gholam Reza Jalali, who heads an Iranian military unit in charge of combatting cybersabotage, dismissed any notion that the fires could have been caused by hacking. Iran's aging oil pipelines and plants, hit hard by years of Western sanctions, have seen a rapid push to increase production this year to take advantage of the nuclear deal with world powers. Iran also faces occasional separatist attacks on its pipelines. But on Aug. 27, Jalali acknowledged Iran's petrochemical industry had been the target of cyberattacks. He put the blame on imported and installed components at the facilities. "The viruses had contaminated petrochemical complexes," he said, according to a report by the state-run IRNA news agency. "Irregular commands by a virus may cause danger." But despite the infections, Jalali said cyberattacks had no hand in the fires and explosions. He also said "defensive measures are underway," without elaborating. Beyond Jalali's vague comments, what actually infected the plants remains unclear. It's unknown if Iran, which has boosted its own cyberwarfare and defense capabilities in recent years, has sought outside assistance in its investigation. The Russian antivirus firm Kaspersky Lab, whose analysts were among the first to investigate Stuxnet, said it wasn't involved in investigating this outbreak and declined to comment. However, Jalali's comments that the viruses spread through imported parts suggests a concerted effort by a foreign power. Iran likely relied on black-market parts while the country faced international sanctions, said Robin Mills, a Dubai-based oil industry analyst and CEO of Qamar Energy. "Maybe they couldn't always get the high-quality parts coming from countries who are sanctioning it and had to get second-hand parts or parts not of the right specifications and put these pieces together without a lot of international expertise," Mill said. "In that case, of course, accidents can happen." But the number of fires in row has raised suspicions of Iran being targeted. Such an attack "requires a lot of resources" that individual hackers would not have, said Idan Udi Edry, a former Israeli air force captain who now is the CEO of Nation-E, a cybersecurity firm specializing in protecting industrial systems. Asked if the Iranian blazes were the result of hacking, Edry said he was "100-percent" sure, based on his own company's experience and surveillance. "No company, organization or nation in the world would like to admit they've been hacked," he said. "This specific attack was exact the same one (like Stuxnet), only on a different critical infrastructure area." However, Ralph Langner, another industry expert who studied the Stuxnet virus, said it seemed "unlikely" the fires were caused by cyberattacks, though his firm hasn't investigated. Stuxnet, widely believed to be an American and Israeli creation, infected thousands of centrifuges at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant at the height of Western fears over Iran's nuclear program. The virus targeted the machines through the industrial control systems that set their speeds, causing them to spin out of control and destroy themselves. Such control devices, used for years in fields ranging from utility companies to the oil industry, are especially susceptible to hackers. That's because they weren't initially envisioned to be connected to the internet and that most security attention focuses on consumer products such as email and laptops. While the Stuxnet virus was the most famous hack to exploit them, there have been others that caused real-world destruction. German authorities say a steel mill sustained massive damage to its blast furnace in 2014 after hackers took control of its industrial control systems, though details on the incident remain few. Iranian hackers also allegedly penetrated the controls of a small dam less than 30 kilometers (20 miles) away from New York City. That dam's system, however, was connected directly to the internet, while the Iranian oil industry is believed to be "air-gapped" or not connected directly to the web. Meanwhile, hackers of all kinds appear to be increasingly targeting industrial control systems. In the U.S. alone, a Homeland Security center tasked with handling such attacks reported it responded to 295 incidents in 2015, up from 245 the year before. "Cyberattacks are no longer how to steal information," Edry said. "These are attacks that are meant to shut down a country." ___ Associated Press writer Malak Harb in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/jon-gambrell . FILE - This Nov. 17, 2007, file photo, shows a portion of the Tehran oil refinery, in Tehran, Iran. A series of fires at Iranian petrochemical plants and facilities have raised suspicions about hacking potentially playing a role in the blazes. Iran officially insists the six known blazes this summer werent the result of a cyberattack. However, authorities themselves saying that viruses had contaminated equipment at several of the affected complexes. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File) German nationalist probed for selling Nazi-era memorabilia BERLIN (AP) A leading member of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party is under investigation following reports that he sold Nazi-era memorabilia, German prosecutors said Thursday. Rudolf Mueller, the party's top candidate for elections in the western state of Saarland next year, allegedly sold Nazi medals and currency used in a concentration camp at his antiques store. The claims were first reported by the weekly Stern and the public broadcaster ARD. FILE - In this July 3, 2016 file photo top candidate of the nationalist party Alternative for Germany, AfD, for elections in the western state of Saarland next year Rudolf Mueller poses for a photo in Voelklingen, Germany. Mueller allegedly sold medals and currency used in Nazi internment camps at his antiques store. Saarbruecken prosecutors said Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, that they are probing whether Mueller broke the law banning the use of symbols deemed to be in breach of Germany's constitution. (Oliver Dietze/dpa via AP, file) Saarbruecken prosecutors said they are probing whether Mueller broke a law banning the use of symbols deemed to be in breach of Germany's constitution. Such symbols include the Nazi swastika, which was often found on German World War II medals. There are exceptions allowing for artistic and educational use to document the Holocaust and other Nazi crimes. Reached by phone Thursday, Mueller referred to an interview he gave the Saarbruecker Zeitung newspaper, in which the politician said that he didn't believe he broke the law. Alternative for Germany, or AfD, has been dogged by allegations of anti-Semitism and far-right links among its members and supporters since it was founded three years ago. The party has still gained significant support with campaigns against migrants and now has members in ten of Germany's 16 state parliaments. Most recently, it received 14.2 percent of the vote Sunday in the election for Berlin's state assembly. Following that vote, AfD's co-chairwoman Frauke Petry brushed aside reporters' questions about anti-Semitism in the party as "outrageous" and "insinuations." US-Philippine combat drills announced under critical Duterte MANILA, Philippines (AP) Philippine military officials on Thursday announced the first large-scale combat exercises between U.S. and Filipino forces under President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been critical of American security policies. Military officials said the annual maneuvers by about 1,400 U.S. military personnel and 500 Philippine marines will involve amphibious landing and live-fire exercises at a northern gunnery range from Oct 4 to 12. Describing himself as a socialist, Duterte has had an uneasy relationship with the U.S. He has said he is charting a foreign policy not dependent on the U.S., a treaty ally, and has taken steps to revive ties with China, which had been strained under his predecessor over longstanding territorial conflicts. He repeated in a speech Thursday that he would not allow Filipino forces to conduct joint patrols with the U.S. military in the disputed South China Sea because that could spark an armed conflict in Philippine territory. He has also said he wants U.S. forces out of the country's south, where he said minority Muslims resent the presence of American troops. German, British security officials pledge closer cooperation BERLIN (AP) Germany and Britain's top security officials say they've agreed to even closer cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism, and to manage the challenge of the migrant flows to Europe. British Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who took her position after the British voted this summer to leave the European Union, and German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in a joint statement provided by the British Embassy on Thursday that to fight terrorism, they would expand the exchange of intelligence information and cooperate more closely in investigations and de-radicalization measures. News / National by Stephen Jakes A political analyst Vince Musewe has warned President Robert Mugabe and his henchmen that the youth are fed up of the,m and now want change as soon as possible.'You cannot arrest change! My message to President Mugabe et al is that our youths who make up in excess of 60% of our population have had enough they want change now. Not tomorrow, not next year but today," her said. "They don't want running battles with the police, they don't want to sell airtime for a living, they don't want to stay at home with their parents because they can't afford a flat, they don't want to be poor, unemployed and hopeless. Surely there is nothing wrong with that because their success is the country's success?"Musewe said the sanctions excuses will not work anymore, blaming imaginary detractors will not work anymore."The claim that the West is driving change in Zimbabwe is a fallacy, a myth, a persistent and unrealistic lie which has become so boring and vacuous. Rather it is our youth's unmet expectations, shattered dreams and hopes which are fueling for the fight for change and the freedom we must now demand," he said. "There is no going back and the sooner Zanu (PF) realises this the better. You can crush dissent but you cannot crush an idea whose time has come. Zimbabweans have woken up to the reality that it is only them who can change things." Berlin's Jewish Museum opens show on mystic golem creature BERLIN (AP) 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. 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. A women walks past the artwork 'Golem' by Joshua Abrabanel during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) 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." 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." The installation 'Crisalidas' by Jorge Gil is pictured during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) The installation 'Crisalidas' by Jorge Gil is pictured during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) A man looks at the installation 'Crisalidas' by Jorge Gil during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) A woman walks past a Golem costume of the Malenki Theater in Tel Aviv, left, and a Golem sculpture of the Schaubuehne Theatre in Berlin for 'Death, Destruction and Detroit II', right, during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) A man walks through a door covered by a giant photo, titled 'Golem', by photographer Joachim Seinfeld during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) Israeli leader invites Abbas to the Knesset in UN speech UNITED NATIONS (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended an unprecedented invitation Thursday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, urging him to address Israel's parliament. Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly, Netanyahu offered in turn to appear before the Palestinian legislature. The Palestinians quickly rejected the invitation as a "new gimmick" designed to mask what they described as Israel's intransigence on moving forward with the Mideast peace process. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Netanyahu addressed the world body moments after Abbas delivered his own speech. Both presented sharply different views of the path toward reviving peace talks that have been stalled for more than two years. "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," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu rejects a settlement freeze, rejects the 1967 borders as the basis for talks and rejects any division of Jerusalem. He has also said he would not uproot settlements. Slamming Israel's "abhorrent" settlement policy, Abbas demanded the United Nations take a bigger role in the effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As the 50th anniversary of Israel's occupation approaches in June, Abbas urged the 193-member General Assembly to declare 2017 "the international year to end the Israeli occupation of our land and our people." He called on the Security Council to take up a resolution on the settlements, adding, in a clear reference to the United States, "we hope no one will cast a veto." Netanyahu rejected the idea of greater U.N. involvement in the peace process. "We will not accept any attempt by the U.N. to dictate terms to Israel. The road to peace runs through Jerusalem and Ramallah, not through New York," he said. Netanyahu reiterated Israel's longstanding complaints that the U.N. system is biased against Israel, declaring "the U.N., begun as a moral force, has become a moral farce." But he also insisted Israel's relations with much of the world were rapidly improving, even in the Arab world, where he said many countries are increasingly seeing Israel as an ally against the Islamic State group and Iran. Abbas denounced Israel's reluctance to involve the international community in the Mideast peace process. He accused Israel of "continuing to evade" an international conference that France wants to hold before the end of the year to work out a framework for negotiating peace. He insisted "our hand remains outstretched for making peace" but said Israel refuses to "abandon the mentality of hegemony, expansionism and colonization." The Palestinians have rebuffed Netanyahu's past offers for meetings, although Russia said this month that Abbas and Netanyahu have agreed "in principle" to meet in Moscow for talks aimed at relaunching a peace process. Palestinian Ambassador to the U.N. Riyad Mansour dismissed Netanyahu's suggestion that Abbas address the Knesset as a "new gimmick." "Will he attend the International Conference proposed by France and supported by many to be held by the end of the year?" Mansour said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. "You can measure Netanyahu's interest in achieving peace through the number of illegal settlements he builds and Palestinian homes he destroys. He has chosen occupation over peace." In his speech, Abbas also accused Israel of perpetrating extrajudicial killings against Palestinians, an allegation Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon vehemently rejected. He said Abbas' "dangerous words" were "a ticking time-bomb" that would lead to more attacks against Israel. "The Palestinian youth listening to his speech today, will be the terrorists of tomorrow," Danon said. The General Assembly also heard from Iranian President Hassan Rohuani, who blamed the world's "major powers" for the spread of violent extremism and terrorism since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S. He said world powers have fostered more insecurity through "repression and military intervention under the pretext of creating a secure environment for their citizens." ____ Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer, George Jahn and Michael Astor contributed to this story. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas leaves the podium after speaking during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Lebanon's President of the Council of Ministers Tammam Salam addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Lebanon's President of the Council of Ministers Tammam Salam waits to be introduced to address the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, is seen on a video screen as he speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Tammam Salam, President of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Hassan Rouhani, President of Iran, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas leaves the podium after speaking during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Serge Telle, Minister of State of Monaco, addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledges applause after his address to the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, waves after speaking during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Luis Guillermo Sol's Rivera, President of Costa Rica, listens during a press conference at U.N. headquarters, Thursday Sept. 22, 2016, as the 71st session of the General Assembly continues. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Jury pool of 45 selected in Georgia hot car death trial BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) A judge and attorneys have selected a final pool of 45 potential jurors who 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. Pretrial publicity caused the judge to move the case 275 miles from the Atlanta suburbs to coastal Brunswick. News organizations report the judge and attorneys agreed on the jury pool Wednesday after eight days spent questioning potential jurors. US claims win in dispute with EU over aerospace subsidies WASHINGTON (AP) The Obama administration on Thursday claimed a victory in its long-running trade dispute with the European Union over whether the 28-country bloc is illegally helping airplane manufacturer Airbus. In June 2011, the World Trade Organization found that the EU and four of its member countries provided billions of dollars in subsidized financing to Airbus. While the EU subsequently claimed to have come into compliance, the United States disagreed and requested that a compliance panel intervene. The WTO panel on Thursday ruled mostly in favor of the U.S. The international body, which helps solve trade disputes, found the EU had provided billions of dollars more in subsidies, causing lost sales worth tens of billions of dollars for Airbus' archrival Boeing Co. The WTO, however, found that EU financing was acceptable for some Airbus models notably the A380, the massive double-decker plane meant for long hauls. Boeing praised the overall ruling, which the EU can appeal, saying the "day of reckoning" has finally arrived. It went so far to say that Airbus might not even exist today if not for continued support of European governments. "Today's historic ruling finally holds the EU and Airbus to account for their flouting of global trade rules," Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a statement. "This long-awaited decision is a victory for fair trade worldwide and for U.S. aerospace workers, in particular." United States Trade Representative Michael Froman says the finding is "a sweeping victory for the United States and its aerospace workers." He called on the EU, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Spain to "respect the WTO rules" and "end subsidized financing of Airbus immediately. This decision is independent of the EU's case against the United States, in which the WTO is considering whether Boeing received banned federal and state support in the U.S. "Watch this space," Airbus said in a statement in reaction to Thursday's ruling. "Before year-end the record subsidies for the 777X will almost certainly be condemned as illegal," it said, referring to a new Boeing airliner. The Boeing Company is the only American producer of large civil aircraft and is the largest single U.S. exporter. Boeing has major facilities around the country, including in Washington and South Carolina. Members of the Washington congressional delegation joined the administration in hailing the ruling, which has the potential to result in tariffs that would likely cost Airbus market share. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., called on the EU to come to the negotiating table and settle, rather than wait for future tariffs on Airbus planes. "Without having to compete against illegal, market-distorting practices, Boeing should win more sales around the world," Cantwell said. ___ Amid scrutiny, for-profit colleges see enrollment slide Some of the nation's largest for-profit colleges are suffering steep declines in enrollment amid growing competition, new regulation and government pressure that led to the collapse this month of one of the industry's biggest players, ITT Technical Institute. The industry has been losing students for the past six years, but the crisis appears to be deepening with alarming speed. Some schools, in their latest corporate filings, reported a pronounced drop. Enrollment at the University of Phoenix chain fell 22 percent this year, to 171,000 students, marking a 70 percent loss since 2010. DeVry University reported a 23 percent drop this year, to about 26,500. Hondros College, a chain of nursing schools, slid 14 percent. FILE - This Nov. 24, 2009, file photo, shows the entrance to the DeVry University in Miramar, Fla. Some of the nations largest for-profit college chains are suffering steep declines in enrollment amid heavier government scrutiny. DeVry University says the number of students taking classes is down 23 percent this year, and the University of Phoenix is off 22 percent. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter, File) Meanwhile, community colleges are reaping the benefits. In Columbus, Ohio, Beth Kulp withdrew from ITT Tech when she heard it was in trouble. She considered other nearby for-profit colleges but feared they might close, too, so she transferred to Columbus State Community College. "I didn't want to waste any time or money just to end up where the students at ITT ended up with nothing," said Kulp, who is 34 and is studying to become a nurse. For-profit colleges underwent years of rapid growth before seeing their fortunes change. With jobs more plentiful, fewer adults are going back to school, experts say. Traditional universities have lured students away with new online programs. And Democratic President Barack Obama's administration has cracked down on for-profit colleges amid allegations many were using aggressive recruiting tactics, lying about the success of their students, pushing them into risky loans and leaving them saddled with heavy debt and few job prospects. Officials at many of these companies had no comment. But Steve Gunderson, president of Career Education Colleges and Universities, an industry lobbying group in Washington, said some schools are in danger of collapsing, in part because of "the incredible eight-year regulatory, ideological assault by the administration and their allies." Under the updated federal rules, schools can no longer pay recruiters bonuses based on the number of students they enroll. The government has vowed to cut funding to academic programs if their graduates don't find jobs that pay well. And a new proposal would force colleges to repay student debt if they're found guilty of fraud. Last month, the Department of Education barred ITT Tech from enrolling new students on federal financial aid and ordered it to put up $152 million as a kind of insurance in case it went out of business. The money was to be used to cover student refunds and other liabilities. ITT reacted by closing all 130 of its campuses in 35 states, leaving 35,000 students in the lurch and throwing 8,000 people out of work. It was the second major chain to topple under government pressure. The 72,000-student Corinthian Colleges group agreed to sell or close its more than 100 campuses in 2014 amid fraud allegations. Other chains have been accused of deception in scores of lawsuits and investigations, including DeVry and the University of Phoenix. One effect: The University of Phoenix saw the number of new students fall 38 percent this year. Some schools say enrollment also has been hurt by government scrutiny of the nation's largest accreditor of for-profit colleges. On Thursday, after a months-long review, federal education officials decided to cut ties with the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools, which had been accused of overlooking misconduct at some colleges. The decision could lead many for-profit schools to lose their accreditation and their eligibility for federal financial aid. To cope with the drop-off in enrollment, some for-profit chains are scaling back. Since 2014, DeVry has closed 39 campuses and plans to shutter more in the upcoming year. But some are starting to take cues from traditional universities, offering more scholarship money and focusing on improving their graduation rates, said Kevin Kinser, an education professor at Pennsylvania State University who studies the industry. "What they're doing is investing in students so that students have positive outcomes," he said. "Before, they were focused on lobbying their way out of the problem." Nguyen, of San Jose, was has been charged with making terror threats He was restrained and pilots made an unplanned stop in Lubbock, Texas Threatened other passengers on flight Thursday morning, affidavit says Jerry Ba Nguyen, 24, was flying from Ontario, California to Dallas, Texas An American Airlines flight to Dallas was forced to make an unplanned stop after a passenger made a terror threat and threatened passengers, according to police. Jerry Ba Nguyen, 24, was traveling on the red-eye from Ontario, California to Dallas on Thursday morning when he threatened other passengers, according to an arrest affidavit. Pilots landed in Lubbock, Texas, where Nguyen was taken to the hospital, then to the Lubbock County jail, according to airport and law enforcement officials. Other passengers helped flight attendants restrain Nguyen, American Airlines said. Jerry Ba Nguyen (pictured), 24, is accused of making terror threats while traveling on the American Airlines red-eye flight from Ontario, California to Dallas, Texas on Thursday morning The Dallas-bound flight from Ontario landed in Lubbock, Texas at 5:17 am and was delayed by about an hour. It continued to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and landed at 7:12 am Nguyen, of San Jose, has been charged with making terror threats. He is accused of banging on the cockpit door during Flight 2542, according to NBC 5. Nguyen was acting strange and got up from his seat suddenly, walked to the cockpit and started yelling, another passenger told the airline. Several people forced him to the ground and Nguyen was escorted out of the plane by police officers, according to other passengers. The flight landed in Lubbock at 5:17 am and was delayed by about an hour. It continued to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and landed at 7:12 am. The Boeing 737 left Ontario with 143 passengers aboard, including an infant, plus six crew members. Jury pool selected for dad's trial in son's hot car death BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) 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. Estonia declines Moscow's invitation for security talks TALLINN, Estonia (AP) Estonia says it has declined Russia's invitation for bilateral security talks on the Baltic Sea security situation. Defense ministry spokesman Andres Sang said Thursday such "military-political" discussions between NATO-member Estonia and Moscow are not possible because of NATO's 2014 decision to halt civil and military cooperation with Russia. Any discussions would have to be conducted within the NATO-Russia Council and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Sang said, adding that Moscow's invitation was apparently meant "to play (NATO) members against each other". Following a NATO-Russia Council meeting in July, Russia said it may, among other things, consider a proposal to reduce the risk of an accidental military confrontation in Baltic Sea airspace by switching on transponders on its military planes. The Latest: Pakistan says India can't wish away Kashmir rift UNITED NATIONS (AP) The latest on the high-level U.N. General Assembly meetings (all times local): 11 p.m. Pakistan's foreign ministry has criticized India for terming Pakistan a "terrorist state" during the U.N. General Assembly. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) An Indian diplomat did so late Wednesday after Pakistan demanded a U.N. investigation of India's suppression of protests in disputed Kashmir. The foreign ministry said in its statement Friday that India's words cannot alter the facts of Kashmir's status and the dispute cannot be "wished away." It said Kashmir's people have the right to self-determination and that Pakistan will continue its diplomatic and political support of them. The portion of Kashmir under India's control has had its largest protests in years after Indian forces killed a popular rebel leader in July. ___ 8:45 p.m. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se says North Korea has failed as a nation because of its "fanatical and reckless" pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles and its membership in the United Nations should be questioned. Yun, addressing the U.N. General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting Thursday night, said North Korea has failed repeatedly to abide by its obligations under the U.N. Charter. "I believe it is high time to seriously reconsider whether North Korea is qualified as a peace-loving U.N. member, as many countries are already questioning," he said. North Korea conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test to date on Sept. 9, claiming it as a successful nuclear warhead detonation that proved its ability to mass produce "standardized" nuclear weapons that could be used on missiles. The Security Council strongly condemned the move and is currently discussing the possibility of tougher sanctions on the country. ___ 6:45 p.m. Iran's president says his country is following the U.S. elections but it's not important who wins. Hassan Rouhani told reporters at a news conference on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting that what's important is whether the winner is willing "to respect the rights and dignities of nations," particularly Iran. He said Iran won't just be looking for that willingness but also for action "to show ... a decrease in tension." Then, Rouhani said, the U.S. will receive an "equal response" from Iran. During the last 38 years, Iran has seen different presidents from different parties. "But altogether the people of Iran are not happy (with) the results of the ... behavior and actions of the United States governments, not a specific administration, many administrations," Rouhani said. "It has caused a severe deficit in trust, a severe gap." He expressed hope that the next president will respect Iran's national interests and safeguard the nuclear agreement, which he called "vital" to the two countries and the world. He said this will reduce tensions between the two countries. ___ 5:30 p.m. Iran's president has rejected a U.S. call for all warplanes to halt flights over aid routes in Syria saying any grounding of aircraft will aid "the terrorists." Hassan Rouhani told a news conference Thursday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly's annual meeting that "the terrorists" opposing President Bashar Assad have sophisticated military equipment including mortars, tanks, missile systems and artillery but they don't have an air force. The U.S. proposal was certain to be on the agenda of a meeting of the roughly 20 nations that have declared interests in Syria, including Iran, on Thursday afternoon. "When we ground flights, then we're taking a step against righteousness and for and in support of terrorism," Rouhani said. "So this course has no foundation, no logic." Iran strongly backs Assad's government and Rouhani said the first priority now should be getting aid to those in need. The second must be a continued focus "on the fight against terrorism," and the third should be "to pave the proper path" to elections including all groups and political parties in Syria, he said. ___ 4:40 p.m. Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto rejects criticism of an upcoming referendum on whether to accept possible EU quotas to resettle migrants. The Oct. 2 referendum has been criticized by rights groups for fomenting xenophobia and intolerance. "International law says very clearly that the right to a safe life is a human right, but it is not a human right to pick a country where you would like to live in," Szijjarto said Thursday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. He said even if voter turnout fails to reach the 50 percent needed for it to be valid it would send a strong statement of the people's will. Szijjarto added that far from damaging image abroad, he feels the Hungarian position has the support of the European people. ___ 3:40 p.m. The leaders of small Pacific nations are giving emotional tributes to Ban Ki-moon for becoming the first U.N. 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 U.N. General Assembly on Thursday that he "quite sad that though that this is the last general debate of our beloved secretary-general." Maamu thanked Ban for his "unwavering commitment and passion focusing global attention on the most vulnerable." Ban, whose term ends in December, visited Kiribati in 2011 as part of his efforts to mobilize a global fight against climate change. Maamu said he was "so proud" that Ban became the first U.N. chief to visit his country. A day earlier, Nauru President Baron Waqa said Ban's enduring legacy would be his "tireless efforts to ensure that no country is left behind, no matter how small." He said Ban has an "open invitation to visit Nauru." Micronesia President Peter Christian said Wednesday he hoped the next secretary-general also would be "responsible and effective for and behalf of us all, not just elite nations." ___ 1:40 p.m. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is inviting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to address Israel's parliament, the Knesset. In a speech before the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, Netanyahu said that in return he would like to address the Palestinian Legislative Council. "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," Netanyahu said, arguing that recent changes in the Middle East would lead to improved relations with Israel's neighbors. He also predicted that Israel would have a bright future at the U.N. as world governments grew to appreciate Israel's contributions to cyber-security and the fight against terror among other things. The Palestinians have rebuffed Netanyahu's past offers for meetings, saying there is no point given his hardline positions on all core issues. ___ 12:45 p.m. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is urging the U.N. General Assembly to declare 2017 "the international year to end the Israeli occupation of our land and our people." As the 50th anniversary of Israel's "abhorrent" occupation approaches in June 2017, Abbas also called on the international community to exert greater effort than at any time in the past to establish a truly independent Palestinian state. He accused Israel of "continuing to evade" an international conference that France wants to hold before the end of the year to focus on a framework and timeline for ending the occupation. Abbas said "our hand remains outstretched for making peace" but he questioned whether any Israeli leader is ready to make "a true peace ... that will abandon the mentality of hegemony, expansionism and colonization." ___ 11:30 a.m. El Salvador's President Sanchez Ceren is telling the U.N. General Assembly that building walls is not the answer to the challenges of migration. Ceren said Thursday that the only way to stop Central Americans from fleeing poverty and violence is through "efforts aimed at improving the conditions of the communities were migrants come from." "A wall is not the solution because it generates more hate," he said. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has vowed to build a wall along the southern U.S. border and make Mexico pay for it. ___ 11:15 a.m. The Lithuanian president is urging the international community to make women a central part of its pursuit of global development goals. Making gender equality the cornerstone of her address to the U.N. General Assembly, Dalia Grybauskaite said the world's greatest challenges cannot be addressed without full participation of women, who are "often more impacted, but left behind and ignored." "Only if all members of the society - both women and men - are fully represented and engaged, can the world's future be truly sustainable," Grybauskaite said Thursday. ___ 11:00 a.m. Iran's president is blaming world powers for the spread of terrorism over the past 15 years, saying their "repression and military intervention" has led to a more insecure world. Hassan Rouhani also accused regional rival Saudi Arabia of spreading "hate ideology" in the region in speech Thursday to the U.N. General Assembly that touched on familiar Iranian concerns. He also criticized a U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing families of victims of bombing attacks linked to Iran to receive monetary damages from the country. At risk for Tehran is 1.75 billion in bonds, plus accumulating interest. At the same time, he praised the nuclear deal reached with the United States and five other powers last year as a "win-win approach" for both sides. ___ 10:45 a.m. Japanese officials say that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe requested that Iran cease military cooperation with North Korea. Abe made the request at a Wednesday meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the conversation between the two leaders. The appeal from Abe reflects a desire to cut sources of revenue for North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. The officials say Rouhani responded that development of weapons of mass destruction would not contribute to world stability and he supports denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, there's no evidence that Iran and North Korea have engaged in nuclear cooperation but they have on missile technology. ___ 9:00 a.m. 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 U.N. General Assembly late Wednesday. It was responding to Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who had demanded a U.N. 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 Indian soldiers in Kashmir, the deadliest attack on a military base there for years. 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." Hassan Rouhani, President of Iran, leaves the podium after speaking during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Salvador Sanchez Ceren, President of El Salvador, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Hassan Rouhani, President of Iran, prepares to leave the stage after speaking during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Kiribati's President Taneti Maamau addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana, President of Madagascar, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Iranian president Hassan Rouhani speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledges applause after his address to the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, waves after speaking during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) 5 best times to buy a new car That chill in the air signals not only the onset of autumn but also cooling auto sales. For bargain hunters, this could be a great time to get a good deal on a new car. But sales downturns aren't the only time to buy a new car. New model rollouts, carmakers' redesign schedules and other events can uncover bargains for those who know how to read the tea leaves of the auto market. Just picking an opportune time isn't enough. First, cover the basics: Arrange financing, check local dealer inventories, and research pricing guides for the current market value of your desired vehicle. FILE - In this Thursday, July 2, 2015, file photo, customer Armando Barillas, originally from Guatemala, left, talks to Sergio Rosas, sales manager at the New Century Volkswagen dealership in Glendale, Calif. For bargain hunters willing to be patient, some car-buying times are better than others. Seasonal fluctuations and carmakers redesign schedules can often lead to good deals. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File) Then, consider these five potential opportunities to up your chances of snagging a bargain. 1. MODEL CHANGEOVER The big three U.S. carmakers launch their new models in August and September while some foreign carmakers sprinkle new-vehicle introductions across the calendar. Most buyers are drawn to the newest models, which pressures dealers to offer deeper discounts and incentives to clear their inventory of the previous year's models. "We're at a critical time where dealers need to clear out 2016 inventory to make room for 2017's, and that's good news for shoppers who will see some great deals on outgoing models in the coming weeks," says Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at car shopping site Edmunds.com. That means "as a consumer I'm not going to have to arm-wrestle or play the back-and-forth game to get a good price," says Dave Cavano, AAA's car buying expert. Dealers "are much more likely to cut to the bone more quickly so it's less of a hassle." Current bargains are available in compact sedans and luxury vehicle segments, while pickup trucks and SUVs still are commanding higher prices, says Steven Szakaly, chief economist for the National Automobile Dealers Association. Auto sales dropped 4 percent year-over-year in August, but Szakaly calls it a "plateau." In fact, 2016 is shaping up to be a strong year with an expected sale of 17.7 million vehicles, the association predicts. Meanwhile, figures from car shopping site TrueCar show the average transaction prices for 2015 and 2016 dropping across the summer and into fall while sale incentives remain high which is a good combination for buyers. Cavano warns that buyers shopping for newly redesigned or recently introduced models will pay dearly for wanting to be the "first on the block to own that car." Manufacturers "trickle out" a few vehicles for each dealer to drive up interest. Eager buyers will have to pay sticker price and sometimes a bit more. 2. END-OF-MONTH PRESSURE Of all the days of the month, traditionally the last five are when dealers have the greatest incentive to sell. That's because some carmakers offer bonuses when dealers hit certain sales numbers, says Christian Wardlaw, an analyst for the New York Daily News' autos section. "Dealers know they can take a loss on that vehicle because they know they'll get the bonus for hitting their quotas," Wardlaw says. These kinds of bargains are more common at high-volume domestic dealers. However, it's hard for the average consumer to know which dealers are facing the pressure to hit quotas, Szakaly points out. Shopping at the end of the month can help you better your odds. "You're hoping you are the lucky person who walks in at the end of the month and the dealer is missing the one sale he needs," he says. 3. YEAR-END SALES The final week of the year brings with it some great deals, particularly from luxury carmakers such as Lexus, Mercedes and BMW, Cavano says. It's when "manufacturers are trying to eke out those last few sales . and they will push money out to their dealers and say, 'OK guys, let's get this done.'" Keep in mind, however, that with dwindling inventories, you might not be able to get your first choice of color and options. 4. MODEL REDESIGN When manufacturers redesign models, dealers have both the outgoing and new models for sale at the same time. That leads them to offer incentives and discounts to get rid of older models. Of course, the resale value of the vehicle would be lower. And sometimes, the new model may be "heads and tails better than the outgoing model," Wardlaw says. 5. LAST YEAR OF A MODEL'S PRODUCTION This tip is for serious penny pinchers. When a car is being discontinued or "rebranded" as a different model, the outgoing model's prices drop even more dramatically. Examples on the market include the 2016 Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200, according to Edmunds' handy list of best leftover cars for 2016. Current pricing in California for the Chrysler 200 shows a savings of nearly $5,000 off the sticker price, according to TrueCar's pricing. Times when you shouldn't buy a car follows a simple pattern, according to these experts. When there is plenty of foot traffic on the car lot, the dealer will keep prices higher, believing there will be a better offer from another shopper. So weekend afternoons aren't optimal because besides higher pricing, the sales staff will be busy and test-drives will be rushed. Instead, shop mid-week, communicating with dealers via text or emails. Swapping advice about car buying is a great sport for buyers, and Wardlaw has a final recommendation: Don't be lured by the promise of crazy deals. "When it comes down to it, the best time to buy a car is when you really need one," he says. ___ This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Email staff writer Philip Reed: preed@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @autoreed. RELATED LINKS: Associated Press: US auto sales fall 4 percent in August http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AUTO_SALES NerdWallet: How to buy a new car https://nerd.me/1-nerdwallet-autos Opinion / Columnist Contact: infomlo13@gmail.com Leaders of the so called placard gate can be likened to a foolish man who soils the well that he also drinks from and later cries foul when the whole well smells of his sh***t.The same state newspaper, The Herald, which is leading the so called placardgate is the same newspaper which two years back gave its boss, Nathaniel Manheru aka George Charamba acres of space in its newspaper to attack the people of Matabeleland for speaking out against Matabeleland genocide.Nathaniel Manheru did not write one or two articles but three of them, tribally loaded and tribally driven, reducing the painful Matabeleland genocide to a "myth." Opening all the wounds of gukurahundi genocide and rubbing salt on them. Today the same paper is unashamedly leading a hullabaloo over a placard. You evil pretenders denounce the cold blooded murderers in your midst, who have killed innocent people because they are not of their tribe before you attack the innocent placard bearer.The Zimbabwe National Army 5th Brigade code named gukurahundi (the wind that blows away dirt) was officially deployed in Matabeleland by President Mugabe with the instruction to wipe out all Matebeles.They went out on a brutal killing spree as per the command. 40 000 unarmed civilians including women, old people and the unborn were murdered in cold blood, 100 000 women including school girls raped,resulting in most girls dropping out of school because of gukurandi pregnancies, 100 000 homes burnt down some of them with people inside. More than 1 million displaced into neighbouring South Africa and Botswana.The bodies of those brutally killed were carelessly thrown into mine shafts, caves or piled into mass graves dug by their relatives with their bare hands. The sites of shallow graves are known as well as the mine shafts.To The Herald newspaper and its insensitive handler Nathaniel Manheru aka George Charamba and their equally tribalistic readers and supporters the above savage acts are cause for celebration. They have never denounced the evil acts but instead they form a human shield to defend perpetrators of genocide and cold blooded murderers.How do you describe such people? One who has the guts to call them dogs through a placard becomes a hero. But to say such cruel, insensitive and inhuman people are dogs is an understatement and an insult to dogs, because dogs are honest and loyal. The very reason why they are called the man's best friend. Hateful conspirators, betrayers, discriminators, genocidists and human life destroyers do not deserve to be called dogs. They are worse than dogs.The "Shona dogs" placard man has done nothing wrong, he has bravely crossed the straight line dividing the inferior Matebele and those who regard themselves as superior and untouchable and told them his piece of mind via the placard. The whole Shona supremacist system has been shaken they are boiling with anger and their political stoogies based in Matabeleland are also angry on behalf of their masters. Who cares? If the truth makes the perpetrator angry let it be.Under normal circumstances oppressed all over the word would express themselves in many different ways, anywhere, anytime. Some would use media to say out their grievances. In a situation where their voices are suppressed by the media, they would write on the stones, walls, placards, anywhere and if they have access to the bedroom of their oppressor they would soil the walls with graffiti expressing their grievances. Let the placard man exercise his freedom of expression. Find the cure for the root cause do not bully him into silence.Matabeles must not fear the tribalism tag that is waved before their faces by the people of Mashonaland to intimidate and shout them down to bully them into submission. The placard man is not the first one nor the last one to be attacked by the anti-Matebele Shona crusades.Former President of Zapu Cde Joshua Nkomo emphasised on tribalism and corruption. The tribalism tag was raised by the people of Mashonaland, some called for his arrest, some wished him to die in exile and some wanted him to be hanged. Today tribalism and corruption which is in the DNA of the Shona people has brought the country to its knees.The President of MLO, Cde Paul Siwela, peacefully advocated for the restoration of the statehood of Matabeleland. The same culprits from Mashonaland waved the tribalism tag and he was labelled the "Chief tribalist" the government of Zimbabwe arrested and charged him with treason. When they found out that the treason charge was not enough to silence him and the people of Matabeleland from demanding their independence from Zimbabwe, they plotted to assassinate him. Fortunately he received a tip off and left for Sweden. And there are many Shonas who say Cde Paul Siwela must die in exile.When a leader of Matebele origin is elected to lead a political party in Zimbabwe the same people flash the tribalist tag; "he is a regional leader or he is a village politician," they would say. Suggesting that all political leaders must come from Mashonaland and that anything Shona is national and anything about Matebele is regional.When the people of Matabeleland speak out against genocide and the systematic extermination of their identity, languages, culture and dignity, speak out against Shona domination marginalisation, tribal discrimination and raise the issue of self determination. Again the tribalism tag comes out. The people of Mashonaland do not see the above listed as grievances they view them as "tribalism" they want to impose their grievances on us at all cost. This suggests that they view us as their subjects who must obey and take without questioning all decisions made in Mashonaland.People of Matabeleland will not tolerate this kind of nonsense. One placard in the stadium and Shona teachers that are chased from Matabeleland schools for their incompetence is nothing compared to what is coming. The masses of Matabeleland led by MLO under the leadership of Cde Siwela will resist Zimbabwe oppression and fight tooth and nail to regain the independence and sovereignty of the statehood of Matabeleland.MLO was formed to protect the vulnerable people of Matabeleland who are killed and abused on daily basis by the government of Zimbabwe and its people before the eyes of the world yet the world remains silent. We are the last line of defense. Above all our duty is to lead the down trodden Matebele masses to their independence and freedom, a job we are prepared to do unapologetically and without fear, using any means possible.Honourable Priscilla Misihairambwi put it well when she said, "Today it's just a placard, tomorrow it could be guns; it could be dead bodies. Instead of being upset and angry with the person who did the placard, we should be saying this is just but a symptom of a bigger problem that we have and how do we quickly address it. Otherwise, we are headed for a serious problem." In Afrikaans they say, "Hier kom groot kak."We agree with honourable Priscilla Misihairambwi. She said it right in their own parliament. We hope the government of Zimbabwe and the people of Mashonaland who are seemingly over-drunk with power which they are misusing and abusing to oppress Matebeles will listen to her words of wisdom. There is bottled anger all over Matabeleland. The Shona Supremacist System will be shocked to see how the masses of Matabeleland will respond to the pains of oppression.The Republic of Matabeleland by 2018!Izenzo kungemazwi! Poland's lawmakers open debate on divisive anti-abortion law WARSAW, Poland (AP) Poland's lawmakers on Thursday opened a divisive debate on changing the restrictive anti-abortion law, among Europe's toughest, in this predominantly Catholic nation. The 10-month-old conservative government considers the current law to be too liberal. The policy of Prime Minister Beata Szydlo's government focuses on various forms of support for large families in order to boost the country's sagging birth rate. The lower house discussed two opposing drafts proposed by civic groups. One, from Stop Abortion group and supported by the government, calls for a total ban on abortions. The other one, backed by the opposition, is seeking to allow abortions through the 12th week of pregnancy, like in many European Union nations. The lawmakers will decide Friday whether to send the drafts for fine-tuning in special commissions. Anti abortion activists led by priests pray during a demonstration in front of the Polish parliament, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Polands lawmakers on Thursday opened a divisive debate on changing the restrictive anti-abortion law, among Europes toughest, in this predominantly Catholic nation.he placards read: Yes for Life. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) The house is dominated by the ruling Law and Justice party whose members declare attachment to the Catholic Church and to its insistence that human life has to be protected from conception until natural death. Observers say the government is bowing to the expectations of many Church leaders, whose support helped the party win elections last year. Hundreds of activists from both sides of the abortion debate picketed in front of parliament. The anti-abortion group, some with small children in pushchairs, prayed aloud, while pro-abortion rights activists were clad in black to signify mourning over the restrictions in the availability of abortion. Under 1993 legislation, abortion is currently allowed in Poland if the woman's life or health is endangered, the pregnancy results from rape or incest or the fetus is irreparably damaged. The law was criticized by both sides. Opponents of abortion said the law allows for termination of pregnancies when the fetus is diagnosed with Down syndrome. Those seeking liberalization said the law leads to about 100,000 illegal abortions each year. A pro abortion protester, dressed in black to signify grief in terms of the abortion ban, shouts slogans towards supporters of the abortion ban, as she is guarded by police officers in front of the Polish parliament, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Lawmakers on Thursday began discussing a draft supported by the conservative government that calls for a total ban on abortions, and another by the opposition seeking to allow abortions through the 12th week of pregnancy. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) Anti abortion activists led by priests pray during a demonstration in front of the Polish parliament, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Polands lawmakers on Thursday opened a divisive debate on changing the restrictive anti-abortion law, among Europes toughest, in this predominantly Catholic nation. The placards read: Yes for Life. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) Pro abortion protesters, dressed in black to signify grief in terms of the abortion ban, shout slogans during a demonstration in front of the Polish parliament, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Polands lawmakers on Thursday opened a divisive debate on changing the restrictive anti-abortion law, among Europes toughest, in this predominantly Catholic nation. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) Anti abortion activists pray during a demonstration in front of the Polish parliament, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Lawmakers on Thursday began discussing a draft supported by the conservative government that calls for a total ban on abortions, and another by the opposition seeking to allow abortions through the 12th week of pregnancy. The placards read: Yes for Life. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) Pro abortion protesters, dressed in black to signify grief in terms of the abortion ban, shout slogans during a demonstration in front of the Polish parliament, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Polands lawmakers on Thursday opened a divisive debate on changing the restrictive anti-abortion law, among Europes toughest, in this predominantly Catholic nation. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) Model Gigi Hadid manhandled in Milan MILAN (AP) Model Gigi Hadid was manhandled outside a Milan Fashion Week venue Thursday by a former Ukrainian television reporter who has pulled similar stunts in Paris, Los Angeles and Moscow. A video posted on website TMZ.com shows a man grabbing Hadid from behind and lifting her off the ground as she and her sister, Bella Hadid, exited the venue of the Max Mara runway show Thursday morning. Hadid reacted angrily, wriggling out of his grip, saying "Let go of me!" followed by expletives. A bodyguard took her arm as she began to go after the assailant and helped her into the car, where the model told someone "go find that guy." Model Gigi Hadid wears a creation part of the Max Mara women's Spring-Summer 2017 collection, that was presented in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) In an email to The Associated Press, Vitalii Sediuk confirmed that he had lifted Hadid off the ground, saying it was a form of protest against the use of celebrity models. "While I consider Gigi Hadid beautiful, she and her friend Kendall Jenner have nothing to do with high fashion," Sediuk said in the emailed statement. "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." He said he also objected to having the Kardashians featured in Vogue magazine. Kim Kardashian has been a previous object of Sediuk's uninvited attention. He caused her to stumble briefly in Paris when he provoked a kerfuffle at a fashion week event two years ago. Sediuk previously spent two days in jail after jostling with Brad Pitt at a Los Angeles film premiere, and he crawled underneath America Ferrera's dress at a film premiere at the Cannes festival. Police in Milan could not immediately confirm whether any complaint had been filed in the incident. Hadid, several hours after the incident, appeared in perfect form on the Fendi runway. Model Bella Hadid wears a creation part of the Max Mara women's Spring-Summer 2017 collection, that was presented in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Model Gigi Hadid wears a creation part of the Max Mara women's Spring-Summer 2017 collection, that was presented in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) FILE - In this June 2, 2014 file photo, Vitalii Sediuk poses at the AP office in Los Angeles. Sediuk, a former Ukranian television reporter, confirmed that he had lifted Hadid off the ground outside a Milan Fashion Week venue, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, saying it was a form of protest against the use of celebrity models. A video posted on website TMZ.com shows a man grabbing Hadid from behind and lifting her off the ground as she and her sister, Bella Hadid, exited the venue of the Max Mara runway show. (Photo by Casey Curry/Invision/AP, File) FILE - In this June 2, 2014 file photo, Vitalii Sediuk poses at the AP office in Los Angeles. Sediuk, a former Ukranian television reporter, confirmed that he had lifted Hadid off the ground outside a Milan Fashion Week venue, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, saying it was a form of protest against the use of celebrity models. A video posted on website TMZ.com shows a man grabbing Hadid from behind and lifting her off the ground as she and her sister, Bella Hadid, exited the venue of the Max Mara runway show. (Photo by Casey Curry/Invision/AP, File) Model Gigi Hadid wears a creation part of the Max Mara women's Spring-Summer 2017 collection, that was presented in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Gigi Hadid has been manhandled outside a Milan Fashion Week venue by a former Ukranian television reporter who has pulled similar stunts in Paris, Los Angeles and Moscow. A video posted on website TMZ.com shows a man grabbing Hadid from behind and lifting her off the ground as she and her sister, Bella Hadid, exited the venue of the Max Mara runway show Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Latest: Dad charged with killing 4 kids, torturing wife DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) The Latest on a man charged with killing his two children and two stepchildren and torturing his wife in suburban Detroit (all times local): 11:55 a.m. A man charged with killing his two children and two stepchildren at the family's home in suburban Detroit has been jailed without bond. In this undated photo released by the Michigan Department of Corrections, Gregory Green is shown. The bodies of two young children and two teenagers were found at a Dearborn Heights, Mich., home early Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 after Green called 911 to report that he had killed them, police said. Two girls, ages 4 and 5, were asphyxiated in a car using exhaust, while a 17-year-old girl and a 19-year-old male were fatally shot. Green's wife was shot and stabbed but is in stable condition and is expected to survive. Green, 49, is in custody. Green had served 16 years in prison for second-degree murder the fatal stabbing of his pregnant wife in 1991, records show. (Michigan Department of Corrections) Gregory V. Green also is accused of torturing his wife Wednesday by tying her up, cutting her face and shooting her in the foot before fatally shooting her two teenage children in front of her at their home in Dearborn Heights. Green made an initial court appearance Thursday and told a judge that he didn't deserve bond. He wasn't accompanied by an attorney. Green is accused of killing his 4-year-old and 5-year-old daughters with carbon monoxide poisoning. Police have said he confessed to the killings during a 911 call. His wife, Faith Green, survived her injuries. She filed for divorce in August. ___ 10:45 a.m. A Detroit-area man who served 16 years in prison for killing his first wife has been charged with killing his two children and two stepchildren, and attacking his wife. Charges were filed Thursday against Gregory V. Green, a day after his daughters, ages 4 and 5, died of carbon monoxide poisoning and his teenage stepchildren were fatally shot at the family's Dearborn Heights home. Green also is accused of attacking his wife, Faith Green, who is the mother of all four children. Authorities say she was shot and cut but survived. She recently filed for divorce. They married in 2010, two years after Gregory Green left prison. He pleaded no contest to killing his first wife in 1991. Charges dropped against British-Australian man in Dubai DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The United Arab Emirates has dropped charges against a British-Australian dual national living in Dubai over his efforts to raise money for Afghans who fled their country's war. Scott Richards' supporters say he was arrested July 28 and charged under the UAE*s cybercrime laws for urging people to donate to a charity that was not registered in the UAE. He'd posted online about the Zwan Family Charity's efforts to provide displaced families with tarps. Radha Stirling, a lawyer based in Britain whose advocacy group Detained in Dubai assisted in Scott Richards' defense, confirmed the news in a statement Thursday. The Latest: Treasure hunter's family searching for answers ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) The Latest on a Colorado man who died while searching for hidden treasure in New Mexico (all times local): 10:45 a.m. The family of a man who went missing while searching for a $2 million hidden treasure in northern New Mexico has no plans to give up looking for answers to what may have led to his death. Autopsy results show Randy Bilyeu had no broken bones or other injuries, but medical investigators were unable to determine what caused his death due to the few clues gleaned from his skeletal remains. Bilyeu's ex-wife, Linda Bilyeu of Orlando, Florida, said Thursday that the 55-year-old father and grandfather was brave enough to face the odds in an endeavor that he felt confident about and that some kind of unfortunate event cost him his life. She says Bilyeu's mishap should serve as a reminder that accidents can happen no matter how prepared a person might be. ___ 9:24 a.m. Medical investigators are unable to shed more light on the final moments of a Colorado man who went missing during his search for a $2 million hidden treasure in the wilds of New Mexico. The skeletal remains of Randy Bilyeu were discovered this summer by a crew with the Army Corps of Engineers that had been working along the Rio Grande just north of Cochiti Lake. Autopsy results obtained by the Associated Press show there wasn't enough evidence left for the Office of the Medical Investigator to determine what caused Bilyeu's death. There were no broken bones or other skeletal injuries. The report notes the possibility that he could have succumbed to hypothermia, the effects of dehydration or even something like a heart attack. McConnell unveils stopgap spending bill, anti-Zika funds WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate's top Republican on Thursday unveiled legislation to prevent a government shutdown next weekend and provide more than $1 billion to battle the Zika virus. It also would provide $500 million to help Louisiana rebuild from last month's devastating floods. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the stopgap measure was "clean" of controversies and he left out internet-related language demanded by Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. But Democrats immediately blasted the proposal for failing to fund one of their top priorities: money to help Flint, Michigan, repair its lead-tainted water system. FILE - In tis June 21,2016 file photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., accompanied by, from left, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, listen to a question during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Democrats are criticizing the latest Republican version of legislation that's needed to avoid a government shutdown next weekend. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada told reporters that McConnell will unveil the stopgap spending bill and a long-delayed bill to combat the Zika virus on Thursday, Sept, 22, 2016, but that Democrats haven't signed on to the measure. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Democrats in that chamber won't back the measure, either. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) McConnell's move could set up a showdown vote next week. Democrats said they would likely filibuster the measure since it omits a bipartisan plan to provide $220 million to help Flint and other cities with lead emergencies replace pipes and take other steps to clean their water. "To see the (stopgap funding bill) come to the floor with help for Louisiana and not for the families of Flint is outrageous," said Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. "And I will do everything in my power to make sure that this does not happen." She noted that the Flint aid has been many months in the making and is financed by spending cuts, while funding for flood aid in Louisiana is added directly to the national debt. McConnell said the measure is "the result of many, many hours of bipartisan work across the aisle," noting that it would also allow stepped up spending to combat opioid abuse a priority of several Senate Republicans who are up for re-election, such as Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Rob Portman of Ohio. It also contains the budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs. McConnell's bill is drawn from weeks of negotiations. Those talks, however, failed to produce an agreement as the sides wrangled over campaign finance disclosures, Flint, and an administration proposal to allow the Export-Import Bank to finance larger transactions and help overseas customers of companies like Boeing and General Electric purchase U.S. products. The internet provision was an unusual instance where the Trump campaign inserted itself directly into the nitty-gritty of legislative negotiations under way on Capitol Hill. But Trump's intervention, in the form of a statement from a senior adviser on Wednesday, apparently carried no weight with McConnell, who left out the language Trump wanted without ever even mentioning anything about it in public. Cruz, with Trump's backing, wanted to block the government from going ahead with a transition of the U.S. Commerce Department's role in governing the internet's domain name addressing systems that would transfer responsibility to a nonprofit consortium known as ICANN. Cruz said foreign governments such as China would potentially gain influence over content on the internet. Experts in the field, however, said his concerns were mostly groundless. The stopgap spending bill needs to pass to prevent the government from shutting down next Friday at midnight. Republicans control Congress and have taken the blame for previous shutdowns, such as one that shuttered the government for 16 days in 2013. But McConnell drafted the measure in hopes of making it as difficult as possible for Democrats to filibuster. For instance, it retains a top McConnell priority, to block the SEC from requiring corporations to disclose political spending permitted under the Supreme Court's 2010 decision allowing unlimited political spending by businesses. That would extend a current ban that McConnell won last December but that Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and other Democrats were eager to reverse. "They're all about protecting big, dark money donors," said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California. The $1.1 billion to battle the Zika virus is long overdue and has been held up by a series of battles and setbacks. In the end, however, McConnell dropped controversial provisions that would have blocked Planned Parenthood's affiliates in Puerto Rico from being eligible for new Zika treatment and prevention funds. He also dropped a House bill to ease Clean Water Act rules on pesticide spraying. Top Democratic negotiator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland urged further talks on the bill, which she said was a "Republican-only bill." "We Democrats cannot vote for that substitute and urge others to vote against it," she said on the floor. "What we want to be sure is we avoid a government shutdown and a government showdown, and continue the constructive talks that we've had. But the substitute offered by the Republican majority leader falls short." Democrats supported flood aid for Louisiana but hoped to pair that money with overdue funding to help Flint clean up its water. GOP leaders in both House and Senate, however, promised that Flint funding would be handled in a separate water projects measure that would be finalized in the lame duck session. "This is a very good first step" on Louisiana flood aid,"said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. "It can be used to help people with housing, help get people back to work, and rebuild communities." The Latest: Kaloyeros' lawyer says client will be exonerated NEW YORK (AP) The Latest on federal charges against a former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (all times Eastern): 8:30 p.m. The attorney for the head of a state research institute accused of violating state law by rigging bids for a developer for three multimillion-dollar contracts says his client is innocent and looks forward to being exonerated. United States Attorney Preet Bharara announces charges against nine people, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo's former deputy secretary, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in New York. Joseph Percoco, formerly one of the governor's most loyal advisers, was named in a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan on public corruption charges. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) The attorney general's office says SUNY Polytechnic Institute president Alain Kaloyeros is accused of restraint of trade along with 59-year-old Joseph Nicolla, president of Columbia Development. Kaloyeros was charged with related federal crimes earlier Thursday along with seven other people. The state complaint alleges Kaloyeros agreed to steer construction contract awards to hand-picked companies, including Columbia for student housing. Kaloyeros' attorney, Michael Miller, says his client "has always sought to make sure the right company was doing the right job on the right project. He committed no crimes along the way." Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-mo) said Thursday that Kaloyeros has been suspended without pay from his job at SUNY. ___ 3:10 p.m. Three executives from a New York construction and development firm have appeared in court in connection with an alleged bid-rigging scheme related to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's (KWOH'-moz) economic development initiatives. Louis Ciminelli, Kevin Schuler and Michael Laipple were arrested at their homes Thursday morning and appeared in U.S. District Court later in the day. Schuler was released on his own recognizance. Laipple and Ciminelli were released on bond. None of the men commented to reporters as they left the courthouse. Their attorneys say all are innocent. A federal criminal complaint alleges the men committed wire fraud conspiracy and bribery to ensure LPCiminelli won a lucrative state bid that was part of Cuomo's Buffalo Billion project. The company says it's "confident" the three men will be vindicated. ___ 2:30 p.m. New York authorities have accused the head of a state research institute with violating state law by rigging bids for a developer for three multimillion-dollar contracts. The attorney general's office says SUNY Polytechnic Institute president Alain Kaloyeros is accused of restraint of trade along with 59-year-old Joseph Nicolla, president of Columbia Development. Kaloyeros was charged with related federal crimes earlier Thursday along with seven other people. The state complaint alleges Kaloyeros agreed to steer construction contract awards to hand-picked companies, including Columbia for student housing. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-mo) said Thursday that Kaloyeros has been suspended without pay from his job at SUNY. Neither Kaloyeros nor his attorney has returned messages seeking comment. ___ 1:35 p.m. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says federal allegations that a former top aide solicited bribes from companies with business before the state are saddening and "profoundly" disappointing. The Democratic governor's statement on Thursday came after federal authorities accused his former executive deputy secretary Joe Percoco of soliciting more than $300,000 in bribes from an energy company and a Syracuse developer. Seven others are also charged in the case, which alleges a bribery and bid-rigging scheme connected to some of Cuomo's signature economic development initiatives. Cuomo says breaches of public integrity will be punished. Percoco intends to plead not guilty. Another former Cuomo insider, lobbyist Todd Howe, has already pleaded guilty to charges connected to the case and is cooperating with prosecutors. ___ 1:05 p.m. A federal prosecutor says there are no allegations of wrongdoing by Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose administration has been rocked by allegations that a former top aide solicited bribes. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara says the extortion and conspiracy charges against Joe Percoco expose another "sordid" case of Albany corruption. Authorities say Percoco solicited bribes from companies involved in state economic development projects. Percoco's attorney says his client will plead not guilty. Seven others are also charged in the case, which alleges a widespread bribery and bid-rigging scheme relating to upstate economic development initiatives. Another former Cuomo insider, lobbyist Todd Howe, has already pleaded guilty to charges connected to the case and is cooperating with prosecutors. ___ 12:45 p.m. A former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will plead not guilty to federal extortion and conspiracy charges relating to state economic development projects. Joe Percoco's attorney said Thursday that the case against his client is "an overreach" that seeks to criminalize legal activities. Percoco was the former executive deputy secretary to the Democratic governor. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's office has accused Percoco and seven others of participating in extensive bribery and fraud schemes relating to upstate economic development initiatives. Authorities say Percoco solicited bribes from companies that stood to make hundreds of millions of dollars in the projects. A Cuomo spokesman declined to comment Thursday morning. Another former Cuomo insider, lobbyist Todd Howe, has already pleaded guilty to charges connected to the case and is cooperating with prosecutors. ___ 9:45 a.m. A former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is among nine people charged with bribery and fraud in the governor's signature economic development projects. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has scheduled a news conference at noon Thursday to discuss the case. Joseph Percoco is the former executive deputy secretary to the governor. The Democratic governor's office said in April that Bharara was examining possible undisclosed conflicts of interest and improper bidding related to Cuomo's efforts to attract high-tech jobs upstate. The federal probe revealed a web of individuals and businesses tied to Cuomo that stand to make millions from the projects. Also charged is Alain Kaloyeros, president of SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Messages left with Cuomo's office were not immediately returned. Percoco's lawyer and Kaloyeros weren't initially available for comment. United States Attorney Preet Bharara announces charges against nine people, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo's former deputy secretary, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in New York. Joseph Percoco, formerly one of the governor's most loyal advisers, was named in a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan on public corruption charges. Included in the charges are allegations of a bid-rigging scheme involving Buffalo and Syracuse developers seeking work on state projects. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Latest: Another blaze breaks out on California military base LOS ANGELES (AP) The Latest on a wildfire at a California military base (all times local): 4:15 p.m. Another wildfire has broken out and forced the evacuation of buildings on a military base on California's central coast where another blaze has been burning all week. A California Highway Patrol investigator looks at the wreck of a water tender fire truck involved in a rollover crash near Vandenberg Air Force base that took the life of a Ventura County Fire Dept. firefighter and injured another firefighter Wednesday morning, Sept. 21, 2016, near Lompoc, Calif. The accident happened as firefighting crews gained ground in their effort to contain the wildfire at the base near launch pads used to send satellites into space. The truck crashed before dawn at a roundabout on a two-lane highway just outside Vandenberg, said Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Steve Swindle. (Len Wood/The Santa Maria Times via AP) Officials at Vandenberg Air Force Base say the new fire that broke out Thursday on the north side of the huge and mostly undeveloped base is unrelated to the other fire that's on the south side. The blaze is causing the evacuation of administrative buildings, but it is not yet a threat to any of the housing or key facilities on the base. It is sending a great deal of smoke over Lompoc, a city of 40,000 people at the edge of the base, though the flames themselves are not threatening the city. The earlier fire that broke out over the weekend is 70 percent contained and has burned about 19 square miles. The entire base is about 155 square miles. ___ 9:30 a.m. Crews have increased containment while halting the growth of a wildfire burning in remote, rugged land at a central California military base. The blaze at Vandenberg Air Force Base is 70 percent contained and officials say they're hopeful that number will go up Thursday. The fire that broke out in a remote canyon over the weekend is holding steady at about 19 square miles. There is no word of any threatened structures on the sprawling base, much of which is undeveloped. The cause is under investigation. Authorities said a firefighter assigned to the blaze was killed and another was injured hurt Wednesday when the water truck they were in overturned on a highway miles from the fire lines. Skid marks lead to the scene of a rollover crash of a water tanker truck near Vandenberg Air Force base that took the life of a Ventura County Fire Dept. firefighter and injured another firefighter Wednesday morning, Sept. 21, 2016, near Lompoc, Calif. The accident happened as firefighting crews gained ground in their effort to contain the wildfire at the base near launch pads used to send satellites into space. The truck crashed before dawn at a roundabout on a two-lane highway just outside Vandenberg, said Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Steve Swindle. (Len Wood/The Santa Maria Times via AP) The Latest: Minneapolis police save man from swollen river MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Latest on flooding in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin (all times local): 6:45 p.m. Police officers and other emergency responders plucked a man from the rain-swollen Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. Residents and volunteers in St. Clair, Minn., lay down sandbags to protect the citys' water treatment plant from the rising Le Sueur River Thursday morning, Sept. 22, 2016. Heavy rains has flooded homes, closed major highways and stranded motorists in several Midwestern states. (Pat Christman/The Free Press via AP) Sgt. Catherine Michal says the man, who is in his early 20s, was perilously close to being washed down the river Wednesday night until rescuers pulled him to safety. He was holding onto a rope when the first responders arrived. Michal says the man and a friend were exploring near a storm drain that empties into the river, close to the University of Minnesota, when the water suddenly came up on him. She says the current was so strong, it ripped some of his clothes off. Michal says the man was grateful he didn't get swept away, but he's feeling a little sheepish about the incident and is unwilling to be identified. ___ 6:15 p.m. Gov. Scott Walker has declared a state of emergency for 13 western Wisconsin counties that have been drenched by torrential rains since Wednesday. Walker says he's instructing the Wisconsin National Guard and all state agencies to provide assistance to those affected by the disaster, which has caused widespread flooding and mudslides in the region, including one death. His declaration will help local governments pay for the costs of damage and cleanup to public infrastructure. The covered counties are: Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, Trempealeau and Vernon. ___ 5:30 p.m. About 60 homes in the northeast Iowa town of Greene took on waist-deep floodwaters from the Shell Rock River. Butler County Emergency Manager Mitch Nordmeyer said this reminded him of the devastating 2008 flood that caused extensive damage. People in the towns of Clarksville and Shell Rock filled sandbags in preparation for the river's crest there Friday. Audrey Smith's husband had to be rescued after the tractor he used to try and retrieve a freezer of meat from the couple's home in Butler County was swamped. Smith told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier they'd worked all night to remove items from their home, but they didn't finish before floodwaters arrived. Water was 4 feet high during the 2008 flood and the Smiths rebuilt. Smith said: "Guess what? We aren't rebuilding again." ___ 4:20 p.m. Authorities in western Wisconsin have recovered the body of a man whose home was destroyed by a mudslide amid heavy rains that drenched the region. The home slid onto State Highway 35 and blocked the road near Victory around 4:30 a.m. Thursday. Crews started searching debris for the missing resident, whose body was recovered Thursday afternoon. The victim's name has not been released. ___ 2 p.m. A mudslide has destroyed a home in southwestern Wisconsin. State emergency management officials say a mudslide Thursday morning pushed a home onto Highway 35 near Victory in Vernon County. Search and rescue crews were looking for victims in the debris. Officials also were monitoring dams on the La Crosse River near West Salem and the Black River in Jackson County. They said neither dam was at immediate risk of failure. Officials say up to 10 inches of rain have fallen across western Wisconsin since Wednesday afternoon. ___ 1:45 p.m. The water was maybe ankle deep when Glen Steberg went into his barn along the Zumbro River in the southern Minnesota town of Wanamingo (wah-nah-MING'-goh) around 7:30 a.m. But an hour later Thursday morning, his son and their neighbor were chest-deep in dark, cold water, rescuing six calves and maybe a dozen steers. Steberg tells the Post-Bulletin of Rochester (http://bit.ly/2d7whoL) the water wasn't all that deep in the barn, but to get the calves to safety, they had to go through the cow yard, where the water was chest-high. Neighbor Logan DeWitz says the calves had to swim like dogs. Steberg says this was the fastest he'd ever seen the Zumbro rise. The river was dropping by 11 a.m., so he says he's out of danger for now. ___ 1:05 p.m. The southern Minnesota city of Faribault (FAIR'-boh) has declared a state of emergency as it works to hold back the Cannon and Straight Rivers. The Faribault Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/2dcKsol ) that a large sandbagging operation was launched Thursday morning to protect the Faribault Woolen Mill, a popular tourism destination, while crews were building a berm at the Caves of Faribault, which are known for their award-winning, cave-aged blue cheeses. About 5 inches of rain fell overnight in Faribault. Numerous roads remain closed in the area. Nearby Northfield is also bracing for flooding. Last month, the Cannon River flooded parts of the Carleton College campus. Northfield Police Chief Monte Nelson says he's been telling businesses to prepare for flood levels they last saw in 2010. ___ 12:30 p.m. Firefighters, city workers and residents have been filling sandbags in the southern Minnesota town of St. Clair, where the rising Le Sueur River threatens wastewater treatment facilities and several homes. Nearly 7 inches of rain fell on the area Wednesday, and The Free Press of Mankato reports (http://bit.ly/2dktUuY ) the problems there are likely to grow as the river rises in the coming days. The Le Sueur River starts to the east, near the Waseca area, which had 14 inches of rain in 48 hours, and that water will flow toward St. Clair. Public Works Supervisor Thad Baker says the biggest concern is water coming over a permanent earthen dike and getting into the treatment plant's lift station. If the lift station gets flooded, he says, sewage will back up into homes. ___ 12:10 p.m. A train has derailed in southwestern Wisconsin after rain washed out tracks along the Mississippi River. State emergency and BNSF Railway officials say the seven-car train derailed early Thursday morning about 25 miles north of Prairie du Chien in Crawford County. They say a fuel tank on one of the train's locomotives ruptured, spilling about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, some of which reached the river. BNSF officials say they hope to get on the river when high water levels stemming from the recent rains subside and install a boom to capture the fuel. None of the crew is injured. ___ 11:55 a.m. Authorities say about 100 people are being evacuated from two apartment complexes in Mason City in northern Iowa. Cerro Gordo County emergency management spokesman Michael Groesbeck says Chelsea Creek has left its banks, forcing the evacuations. The National Weather Service says more than 2 inches of rain has fallen in the past 12 hours at Mason City and more is in the forecast. The Winnebago River sits 2 feet over flood stage of 10 feet and is expected to crest at 14.2 feet early Friday morning, near the top of the dike on the north side of Mason City. The city says an emergency shelter has been set up for those who've been evacuated. ___ 8:30 a.m. It's a soggy start to fall for several Midwestern states, where heavy rain has flooded homes, closed major highways and stranded motorists. In Minnesota, where as much as 8 to 10 inches of rain fell in the Twin Cities area Wednesday night, the Department of Transportation fired up its snowplows to move standing water off major thoroughfares. About 75 miles to the south, several homes were evacuated in Waseca where nearly 14 inches of rain fell over two days. In western Wisconsin, a portion of Highway 35 was closed because of a number of mudslides. Several school districts canceled classes Thursday because of travel difficulties. In Iowa, the National Weather Service says at least three tornadoes knocked down trees and destroyed a couple of sheds in Floyd and Butler counties. Ellery Forsythe makes his way around his neighborhood assessing the flooding on a Waseca street, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Waseca, Minn. Heavy rain has flooded homes, closed major highways and stranded motorists in several Midwestern states. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP) Ellery Forsythe pushes some kids on an air mattress to get a closer look at the submerged vehicles on a Waseca street, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Waseca, Minn. Heavy rain has flooded homes, closed major highways and stranded motorists in several Midwestern states. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP) The Faribault Woolen Mill dam in Faribault, Minn., is completely underwater on Thursday, Sept 22, 2016, after much of southern Minnesota saw upward of 5 inches of rain. Heavy rain has flooded homes, closed major highways, stranded motorists and derailed a train in several Midwestern states. (Brad Phenow/Daily News via AP) A woman who was helping with the sand-bagging operation at the Faribault Cheese Cave, in Faribault, Minn., walks through the water on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Heavy rain has flooded homes, closed major highways, stranded motorists and derailed a train in several Midwestern states. (Brad Phenow/Daily News via AP) Heavy rains forced closure of many roads, including this washout just south of Cadott, Wis., in Chippewa County on Hwy MM, Thursday, Sept.22, 2016. It's a soggy start to fall for several Midwestern states, where heavy rain has flooded homes, closed major highways, stranded motorists and derailed a train.(Dan Reiland/The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram via AP) Volunteers build a sandbag barrier as the Shell Rock River rises over West Traer Street Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in downtown Greene, Iowa. Heavy rain runoff and flooding from the Shell Rock River forced the evacuation a few homes in Greene County in northern Iowa, as well as rescues at five homes. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP) Justin Sampson, a member of the Waseca High School football team checks out the flooding on the football field from a kayak near the Waseca High School, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Waseca, Minn. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Several Midwestern states were a soggy mess Thursday after up to 10 inches of rain fell in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP) Men stand around to help sand the ice arena near the Waseca High School, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Waseca, Minn. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Several Midwestern states were a soggy mess Thursday after up to 10 inches of rain fell in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP) Members of the football team check out the flooding on the football field near the Waseca High School, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Waseca, Minn. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Several Midwestern states were a soggy mess Thursday after up to 10 inches of rain fell in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP) Dayton Deutsch and his football teammates walk through the flooding on the football field near the Waseca High School, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Waseca, Minn. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Several Midwestern states were a soggy mess Thursday after up to 10 inches of rain fell in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP) Men move a tractor to higher ground in Greene, Iowa, as the Shell Rock River rises into residential areas Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Several Midwestern states were a soggy mess Thursday after up to 10 inches of rain fell in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP) Fallen branches lay on the sidewalks and streets from overnight storms in Greene, Iowa, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Several Midwestern states were a soggy mess Thursday after up to 10 inches of rain fell in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP) A truck brings another load of sand for sandbags as the Shell Rock River continues to rise in Greene, Iowa, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Several Midwestern states were a soggy mess Thursday after up to 10 inches of rain fell in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP) Dustin Osier and other volunteers fill sandbags as the Shell Rock River continues to rise in Greene, Iowa, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Several Midwestern states were a soggy mess Thursday after up to 10 inches of rain fell in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP) City of Mankato workers watch water flow over Indian Lake Road near Mount Kato Ski Area Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Mankato, Minn. Overnight heavy rains caused flooding and mudslides. (Pat Christman/The Free Press via AP) US astronaut will vote from orbit if homecoming is delayed CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) The lone American in orbit will end up voting for president from the International Space Station, if her homecoming is delayed. NASA astronaut Kate Rubins said Thursday that she doesn't know yet whether she'll return to Earth in late October as planned. The Russians have delayed the next crew launch for technical reasons. It was supposed to take place Friday, but it's off for at least a month. Rubins and her two crewmates a Russian and Japanese can't come home until the next three-person crew arrives. NASA likes to have an overlap of several days, if not more. In this image from video made available by NASA, U.S. astronaut Kate Rubins speaks aboard the International Space Station during an interview on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Rubins said that she doesnt know yet whether shell return to Earth in late October as planned. The Russians have delayed the next crew launch for technical reasons. (NASA via AP) Rubins told The Associated Press she got an absentee ballot before she rocketed away in July, just in case. When she's not in space, home is Houston, Texas, but in this case, the absentee ballot lists her address as "low-Earth orbit." "It's very incredible that we're able to vote from up here," she said, "and I think it's incredibly important for us to vote in all of the elections." American astronaut Shane Kimbrough is waiting in Russia to join her at the space station, along with two Russians. Rubins said she's got plenty to keep busy, regardless of when she returns. There is so much science work up there, "Nobody would mind too much if we got extended a little bit. We would be able to get a lot of research done." A professional virus hunter before becoming an astronaut, Rubins, 37, last month became the first person to perform full-blown DNA decoding, or sequencing, in space. She's already racked up more than 1 billion base pairs, which are the building blocks of DNA. The pocket-size sequencing device was launched over the summer by SpaceX, currently grounded by a launch pad accident on Sept. 1. Rubins said the biomolecule sequencer has worked surprisingly well in space, despite the different way bubbles and fluids behave in weightlessness. All of the sequencing data are beamed down immediately to scientists on the ground, so any potential delays in SpaceX deliveries and return shipments won't hamper the experiment. This real-time processing will prove beneficial for diagnosing astronaut illnesses in the future, Rubins said, as well as ascertaining any potential bacterial outbreak in the orbiting outpost itself. The space station, meanwhile, is well-stocked with both supplies and research materials, Rubins said. In fact, she has "more work than I have hours to do in the day." Orbital ATK, NASA's other station supplier, is targeting Oct. 9 or soon thereafter for its next shipment, after being grounded for two years by a launch explosion. "Spaceflight is a tricky business," Rubins told the AP. "It is definitely difficult, and I think we forget that sometime." ___ Online: Opinion / Columnist Botswana President, Ian Khama, please put hands-off Zimbabwe by respecting our internal affairs. You are not qualified to urge our constitutionally elected President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, to leave office when his people overwhelmingly voted him into power on July 31. 2013.Even the opposition presidential aspirants accepted his landslide victory in a free and fair poll. No challenge to his current election was ever raised. This is an indisputable indication that President Mugabe is the choice for his people till this day.Khama you are advised that you should solve your personal issues against President by other means. Is it because President Mugabe is an anti-gay proponent which is a principle that you cherish as your founding life value?Khama's call urging President Mugabe to relinquish power due to old age comes hard on the heels of a recent violent reaction by his government to deport a US pastor, Steven Anderson, after he said on a local radio that homosexuals should be "stoned to death". In an interview with Reuters, President Ian Khama, confirmed that he had personally ordered his arrest.Instead of dealing with the crisis raised by the pastor, he turned his anger to President Mugabe who shares the same view with Pastor Anderson to vent off his unbridled anger.Khama needs more lectures on upholding democratic values in contemporary societies. Periodic polls are a cornerstone of democracy when citizens are given the opportunity to choose their leaders for a specified period of time. President Mugabe is a product of this process.It is quite amazing that Khama does not honour freedom of expression which is a natural right for all people across the globe. Pastor Anderson should be respected for sounding his personal views. Tolerance is a founding tenet of democracy Mr Khama.Khama is propelled by the zeal to conciliate his Uncles of Britain whom I believe he wanted to please by incriminating Anderson for uttering anti-gay sentiments.------------Sparkleford Masiyambiri State Secrets: Abusive doctors shielded, patients at risk ATLANTA (AP) A lack of transparency in the system for disciplining physicians across the U.S. provides cover for doctors accused of molesting patients or other forms of sexual abuse against them, according to an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. No state routinely requires doctors who have been punished for sexual misconduct or other offenses to tell patients about their disciplinary history, the newspaper reported. Many states impede patients from unearthing information themselves about their doctors. Four post no disciplinary records online, and eight purge files after as little as five years (http://on-ajc.com/2ddxLhE ), the newspaper reported. It said up to 21 states sometimes may issue private orders that allow doctors to continue practice with no public hearings and no public scrutiny. The Journal-Constitution's findings come from a national investigation into sexual misconduct by doctors. Through examining tens of thousands of documents from state medical boards, the newspaper identified more than 2,400 physicians disciplined for sexual offenses involving patients since 1999. About half are still licensed. Medical boards typically require doctors on probation to notify hospitals where they have privileges, as well as their malpractice insurers, disciplinary records show. However, patients are almost always are left in the dark, the newspaper reports (http://on-ajc.com/2cNHM5i ). The system was at the heart of a contentious debate in California over whether doctors should have to tell patients about their tainted records. Consumer groups said that patients deserve openness from the physicians in whom they place so much trust. "From a patient's perspective, he looks just like a doctor practicing medicine," said Lisa McGiffert, director of the Safe Patient Project, an affiliate of the advocacy group Consumers Union. "But there is a big difference between a doctor on probation and a doctor not on probation." Medical lobbyists said the California proposal treated doctors unfairly. They said they worried that doctors might have to disclose unsubstantiated or even fabricated allegations, often without having the chance to defend themselves before a medical board. The California Medical Association considered the bill "in direct violation of due process rights," Laura Braden Quigley, the organization's vice president of communications, said in a statement. It "does nothing to increase patient safety and arbitrarily ignores most providers in the continuum of care." Proponents said most doctors accept probation to avoid a full airing of the allegations against them. Often, they are required to have a chaperone present while examining patients and may be restricted from practicing without supervision. The paper reported on one plastic surgeon, Dr. Mark Knight, in Orange County, California, saying he is under such restrictions until 2020 and will face close monitoring until then. The report said Knight, 47, surrendered his medical license in 2010 after the state medical board accused him of sexual misconduct with two female patients. The paper added that the doctor, who was not charged with any crime and was subsequently reinstated by the California medical board in 2015, doesn't have to tell patients about his disciplinary status. The newspaper said board records showed one of those patients accused him of massaging her surgical scars and kissing her against her will. It said the other woman complained the doctor "forced himself" on her by initiating intercourse, according to a lawsuit she filed with her husband, in addition to board records. Knight denied the allegations contained in the lawsuit, since dropped. Knight did not respond to emails and phone messages requesting an interview. The legislative proposal to require patient notification failed in the California Senate in June. The sponsor, Sen. Jerry Hill, a Democrat who represents much of Silicon Valley, said he will try again next year. "There is absolutely no legitimate reason" to oppose disclosure, Hill said. "There is a self-interested reason. That's no excuse for not informing the patient." ____ For the newspaper's full series, visit www.ajc.com/doctors ___ Cook County staffer who posed as judge defends actions CHICAGO (AP) A Chicago-area lawyer once on a fast track to a high-salary, high-status job as a judge spoke publicly for the first time Thursday since her firing as a court staff attorney for donning a robe and hearing real cases on the bench, saying the matter has been blown out of proportion. Rhonda Crawford's brief role playing as a Cook County judge astonished the legal community, drew ridicule and triggered a criminal investigation that could lead to charges before the November election, when she's up for a judgeship that she was once a shoo-in to win. The 45-year-old said she had been shadowing judges, observing how they work with the expectation she'd soon be a judge herself. It was on Aug. 11, she said, that Judge Valarie E. Turner "encouraged" her to put on the judge's robe and sit in her chair during a hearing on several traffic cases. Rhonda Crawford,left, a court staff attorney fired after donning a robe and hearing real cases on the bench, listens to her lawyer Victor Henderson at a news conference in Chicago on Thursday, Sept.22, 2016. Crawford says she regrets overseeing several traffic cases. But she says the actual judge, Valarie E. Turner, stood over her the whole time and issued all rulings. Crawford was fired over the incident and Turner was removed from the bench indefinitely. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune via AP) "I did not pronounce any judgments. ... I did not tell anyone that I was the judge," she said, reading a prepared statement at her lawyer's office. "I want to emphasize that the judge was always standing over me. She never left the bench." While she downplayed what she'd done, she said she now regretted it. "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 life-long ambition of being on the bench," she said. "It is a lesson I will never forget." Crawford, who was a staff attorney assigned to Chief Judge Timothy Evans at the time, was fired from her $57,000-a-year position; her annual salary as a judge, should she win in November, would be more than $180,000. Turner, a former federal prosecutor, was removed from the bench indefinitely. Both she and Crawford could be subject to actions from disciplinary organizations. Crawford's lawyer, Victor Henderson, said at Thursday's news conference that a grand jury is hearing the case and could indict Crawford before the Nov. 8 election. He declined to say what potential charges she could face. He said her actions were, at worst, "a minor infraction." The Cook County state's attorney's office has said it is looking into whether a crime may have been committed. But an office spokeswoman declined comment regarding any grand jury. One Chicago-based attorney, Alan Tuerkheimer, said one possible charge under Illinois law would be that of impersonating an elected official, which is a misdemeanor. But he said if Crawford's decision to sit on the bench was spur-of-the-moment during a sincere effort to educate herself, prosecutors might be reluctant to pursue charges. Crawford was unopposed for a judgeship after winning the Democratic primary against someone endorsed by the party. But a judge this week overturned an election commission decision and said Cook County Judge Maryam Ahmad can wage a write-in campaign against Crawford. Henderson cited that decision in alleging that Democratic powerbrokers are seeking to undermine Crawford. Studies focus on acidic ocean impact on Dungeness crabs MUKILTEO, Wash. (AP) Millions of pounds of Dungeness crab are pulled from Pacific Northwest waters each year in a more than century-old ritual for commercial and recreational fishermen. But as marine waters absorb more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, federal scientists are worried that the ocean's changing chemistry may threaten the sweet-flavored crustaceans. So scientists with the NOAA Fisheries' Northwest Fisheries Science Center are exposing tiny crab larvae to acidic seawater in laboratory experiments to understand how ocean acidification might affect one of the West Coast's most lucrative fisheries. A tiny Dungeness crab larvae swims next to air bubbles in a lab container at the NOAA Fisheries' Northwest Fisheries Science Center, in Mukilteo, Wash., on July 26, 2016. Millions pounds of Dungeness crab are pulled from Pacific Northwest waters each year. But as marine waters continue to absorb more atmospheric carbon dioxide, federal scientists are worried that the changing ocean chemistry may put Northwest Dungeness crabs at risk. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Research published this year found that Dungeness crab eggs and larvae collected from Puget Sound and exposed to higher levels of carbon dioxide which increases ocean acidity grew more slowly and larvae were more likely to die than those in less corrosive seawater. Now, researchers are taking the experiments a step further to study how the crabs respond to multiple stressors during various growth stages. They also plan to analyze the sublethal effects: Even if the crabs don't die, are they affected in physiological or other ways by ocean acidification? "They're so economically and ecologically important here on the West Coast," said Paul McElhany, a research ecologist with the Northwest Fisheries Science Center north of Seattle, who is leading the current experiments. Crab larvae are valuable food for small salmon and forage fish like herring that are eaten by salmon. Dungeness crabs are also the top revenue-fetching fishery in Washington and Oregon. In 2014, nearly $200 million worth of crabs were harvested along the West Coast. Previous research has found that levels of ocean acidification expected within a century are likely to impact red king crab and Tanner crabs, two commercially important species in Alaska. One long-term experiment found that both crab species grew slower in acidified waters and survival decreased. In Puget Sound, McElhany and Audrey Djunaedi set out in a boat one morning over the summer to retrieve crab larvae from light-catching traps. Once back in the lab with their catch, Djunaedi and others readied equipment so each crab could be reared separately in different treatment containers. An intricate complex of tubes, pipes and sensors control the levels of CO2, temperature and oxygen in each container. High carbon dioxide and low oxygen create the most stressful conditions, while low carbon dioxide and high oxygen simulates more benign environments, in addition to other combinations. The experiments simulate current conditions as well as what can be expected in the future as the seas absorb more carbon dioxide. "We don't see them outright dying in the experiment, but there are still some physiological cost to being reared in these high CO2, low oxygen conditions," McElhany said. After the crabs molt, they're frozen and researchers will analyze their chemical changes to understand those impacts. "There's some sort of metabolic cost, there's some sort of physiological cost for them in trying to maintain their internal pH in the presence of this lower pH in the external environment," he added, referring to the measure of acidity in the water. Because Puget Sound has naturally higher CO2 levels from upwelling events that bring water higher in carbon dioxide up from the deep ocean one worry is that adding more human-caused carbon emissions will make conditions even worse. Not all species of crabs may be affected by ocean acidification in the same way. And the broad range of habitats that Dungeness crabs occupy along the West Coast gives McElhany hope that the crustaceans can do well in some environments even if they don't survive in others. "It's something we want to watch and follow. The challenge is that by the time we know there's a problem, it's really too late to do much about it which is why we need to be concerned and proactive now," McElhany added. Hugh Link, executive director of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, said his group is concerned about anything that affects the resources, including the high levels of domoic acid that delayed or temporarily closed Dungeness commercial crabbing last year. "Nobody wants to catch the last crab. We want to make sure our children and our grandchildren and great-grandchildren can go out fishing and enjoy this resource," he said. Paul McElhany, a research ecologist with NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, pilots a boat to retrieve Dungeness crab larvae from light-catching traps set out the day before in the marine waters outside of the center's station in Mukilteo, Wash., on July 26, 2016. The crabs, found from central California to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, play an important role in the oceans ecosystem. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Audrey Djunaedi, a lab technician with NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, looks into a light-catching trap set out the day before to collect Dungeness crab larvae in the marine waters outside of the center's station in Mukilteo, Wash., on July 26, 2016. As marine waters continue to absorb more atmospheric carbon dioxide, federal scientists are worried that the changing ocean chemistry may put Northwest Dungeness crabs at risk. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Tiny Dungeness crab larvae, partially translucent except for their eyes and some body mass, line the bottom of a bucket they share with other marine life caught in light-catching traps set out the day before by NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, in Mukilteo, Wash., on July 26, 2016. Research published earlier this year found that Dungeness crab larvae collected from Puget Sound and exposed to high CO2 conditions grew more slowly and that more larvae died faster than those in less acidic seawater. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Danielle Perez, right, Taylor Schmuki and Grace Morris, all working with NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, carefully scoop out tiny Dungeness crab larvae that were caught in marine traps set out the day before for testing in Mukilteo, Wash., on July 26, 2016. Scientists are exposing tiny Dungeness crab larvae to acidic seawater in lab experiments to understand how ocean acidification might affect one of the West Coasts most lucrative fisheries. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) A NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center technician carefully scoops up tiny individual Dungeness crab larvae that were caught in marine traps set out the day before for testing in Mukilteo, Wash., on July 26, 2016. Research published earlier this year found that Dungeness crab larvae collected from Puget Sound and exposed to high CO2 conditions grew more slowly and that more larvae died faster than those in less acidic seawater. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Paul McElhany, a research ecologist with NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, stands in the lab where Dungeness crab larvae are exposed to simulated current conditions as well as what can be expected in the future as the seas absorb more carbon dioxide, in Mukilteo, Wash., on July 26, 2016. Federal scientists are worried that the changing ocean chemistry may put Northwest Dungeness crabs at risk. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) An intricate complex of tubes, pipes and sensors control the levels of CO2, temperature and oxygen in individual containers holding Dungeness crab larvae in NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, in Mukilteo, Wash., on July 26, 2016. The experiments simulate current conditions as well as what can be expected in the future as the seas absorb more carbon dioxide. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Bernd Wiesberger leads European Open by 2 strokes BAD GRIESBACH, Germany (AP) Bernd Wiesberger shot nine birdies and one eagle to lead the European Open by two strokes after a shortened opening day on Thursday. Play started 3 hours, 25 minutes late because of fog, and some leading contenders did not complete the first round in fading light. Wiesberger finished with an 8-under 63, notching five birdies on the back nine, where he started. The Austrian, who hasn't missed a cut on the European Tour this season, produced a double bogey on the first, and had another bogey on the fourth, but recovered with an eagle on the eighth. Renato Paratore of Italy was two shots adrift, with six birdies and an eagle to compensate for a double bogey on the fifth. Denmark's Lucas Bjerregaard, American Daniel Im, and England's Steve Webster all held the lead before Wiesberger's late charge took him to the top, and they finished the day at 5 under, along with Sweden's Michael Jonzon. The Latest: New Charges filed in foster care sex abuse case RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) The Latest on an investigation into New York's foster care system following the arrest of a Ridge, Long Island man on child sex abuse charges (all times local): 1:30 p.m. Prosecutors have filed new charges in the case of a suburban New York man accused of sexually abusing foster children. FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney's office in Riverhead, N.Y., shows Cesar Gonzales-Mugaburu. The Suffolk County prosecutor tells the Associated Press that a special grand jury has been empaneled to investigate the foster care system and "all the facts" surrounding the Gonzales-Mugaburu case. Gonzales-Mugaburu was arrested in the winter of 2016 and charged with victimizing multiple children in Ridge, N.Y. (Suffolk County District Attorney's Office via AP, File) An indictment unsealed Thursday alleges another child was victimized by Cesar Gonzales-Mugaburu (Gon-ZAH'leyz Moo-gah-BOO'-roo). It also alleges new crimes committed against two children named in a prior indictment. An attorney for the Ridge, Long Island man pleaded not guilty on his behalf in a court appearance in Riverhead. The attorney tells reporters the allegations of sexual abuse are lies being told by the alleged victims. Prosecutors have said at least seven foster children were abused by Gonzales-Mugaburu. Suffolk County District attorney Thomas Spota says statute of limitations laws prevent filing additional charges involving other children. ___ 1:50 a.m. A prosecutor says a special grand jury has been empaneled to investigate New York's foster care system. This follows the arrest of a Long Island man accused of sexually abusing foster children. Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota (Sp-OH-tah) tells The Associated Press the grand jury has been meeting since Aug. 17. The grand jury is looking into "all the facts" surrounding the Cesar Gonzales-Mugaburu (Gon-ZAH'leyz Moo-gah-BOO'-roo) case. That includes additional possible crimes by the defendant. The Ridge, New York, man was arrested last winter on charges he sexually abused seven children in his home on Long Island. He has pleaded not guilty. Authorities say he provided foster care for dozens of boys over two decades. Spota says "multiple agencies" are being examined in the grand jury probe. 1 charged, another sought after Mississippi man set on fire HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) Police made an arrest Thursday in an attack on a man who was doused with gasoline and set on fire in Mississippi. The Hattiesburg American reports (http://hatne.ws/2dmMQwa ) 39-year-old Kunta Kidd of Gulfport was arrested early Thursday and booked into the Forrest County Jail in Hattiesburg to await an initial appearance on an aggravated assault charge. It was not immediately clear if he's got a lawyer. Police also said they were looking for a second suspect. The name of the alleged victim was not immediately released. Hattiesburg Police Lt. Jon Traxler says the man was taken to Forrest General Hospital and treated for burns early Saturday. ___ Italian team arrives in Libya to investigate kidnappings BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) Libyan officials say a team of five Italian investigators has arrived in a town near the Algerian border where two Italians and a Canadian were abducted at gunpoint earlier this week. Hassan Osman Eissa of the Ghat municipal council says the team met local authorities Thursday, adding that the kidnappings were not, to his knowledge, the work of al-Qaida as some reports stated, but rather "a local group of outlaws." Libyan authorities say they are searching the area after the foreigners were kidnapped Monday off a nearby highway in Libya's southwestern desert. The Latest: Vegas lawyer removes 'Black Lives' pin for court LAS VEGAS (AP) The Latest on a Las Vegas defense attorney's effort to wear a "Black Lives Matter" pin in a Nevada courtroom (all times local): 11 a.m. A Las Vegas defense attorney has agreed to remove a "Black Lives Matter" pin from her blouse after a Nevada state court judge held firm and said he wouldn't allow displays of political viewpoints during proceedings in his courtroom. Erika Ballou, a deputy public defender in Clark County, Nev., speaks with colleagues outside of a courtroom Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, in Las Vegas. Ballou sparked a protest in a Las Vegas courtroom where she refused on Tuesday to remove a "Black Lives Matter" button from her blouse despite a judge's request not to demonstrate what he called "political speech." (AP Photo/John Locher) Deputy Public Defender Erika Ballou and her boss, Phil Kohn, acknowledged Thursday that case law, including federal appeals court rulings, gives judges broad discretion in requiring and enforcing courtroom decorum. Ballou was in court to represent a white client at a sentencing hearing in a domestic violence case before Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Herndon. Herndon says he asks everyone to leave political and opinion protests at the courtroom door. Ballou, who is black, refused Tuesday when Herndon asked her to remove the pin or to remain outside the courtroom. She cast it as a stand for free speech, due process and civil rights. That made her a new voice of protest in a national debate over police brutality and race relations. ____ 2 a.m. A Las Vegas defense attorney is expected to again challenge a state court judge's rule against courtroom displays of what he terms political speech by refusing to remove a "Black Lives Matter" pin. Erika Ballou, a deputy Clark County public defender, is due to appear Thursday for a client's sentencing hearing before Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Herndon. Ballou, who is black, refused Tuesday when the judge asked her to remove the pin. Herndon says he asks everyone to leave political and opinion protests at the courtroom door. Ballou is the latest voice of protest in a national debate over police brutality and race relations. She says she's taking a stand for free speech, due process and civil rights. She says it's not a question of black lives versus police lives. Judge Douglas W. Herndon listens to Erika Ballou, a deputy public defender in Clark County, Nev., in a courtroom Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, in Las Vegas. Ballou sparked a protest in a Las Vegas courtroom where she refused on Tuesday to remove a "Black Lives Matter" button from her blouse despite a Herndon's request not to demonstrate what he called "political speech." (AP Photo/John Locher) RETRANSMISSION TO CORRECT LOCATION OF COURTROOM TO YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO -Attorney Andrea Burton poses for a portrait Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, in Las Vegas. Burton touched off a protest about race and free expression in a Youngstown, Ohio courtroom when she refused to remove a "Black Lives Matter" button (AP Photo/John Locher) Funeral service set for Ohio boy fatally shot by police COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Funeral services have been set for a 13-year-old Ohio boy fatally shot by a Columbus police officer investigating a report of armed robbery. Attorneys for the family of Tyre (ty-REE') King say the funeral will be held Saturday morning at a Columbus church. The services are open to the public. Police say Officer Bryan Mason shot Tyre on Sept. 14 after the boy ran from investigators and pulled a BB gun that looked like a real firearm. This family photo provided by Walton + Brown LLP shows Tyre King. Authorities say the fatal police shooting of King, a 13-year-old Columbus, Ohio boy who officers said pulled a BB gun from his waistband that looked like a real weapon will be investigated thoroughly to determine if charges are warranted. Evidence from Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016 shooting will automatically be presented to a grand jury. (Walton + Brown LLP via AP) Evidence in the shooting investigation will automatically be presented to a grand jury to determine if the officer's actions were justified or charges are warranted. Tyre's family wants an independent investigation. In announcing Tyre's funeral, his family said it "stands in solidarity" with others recently killed by police in North Carolina, Oklahoma and elsewhere. FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, file photo, Columbus, Ohio, Police Chief Kim Jacobs displays a photo of the type of BB gun police say Tyre King pulled from his waistband before he was shot and killed by a police officer investigating an armed robbery report, during a news conference in Columbus, Ohio. As Ohio authorities investigate the fatal police shooting, law enforcement agencies are grappling with suspects use of fake guns to commit real crimes. Some police departments say theyve noticed an uptick in replicas. (AP Photo/Andrew Welsh-Huggins, File) Ex-convict flees France, nabbed by Swiss in asylum bid PARIS (AP) An Algerian man who fled house arrest in France five years after his conviction in a terror-linked case was arrested on Thursday in Switzerland after applying for asylum, Swiss police said. A special intervention squad arrested 43-year-old Merouane Benhamed in Vallorbe, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Lausanne, in the Vaud region, a police statement said. He had applied for asylum in Switzerland a day earlier, thus signaling his whereabouts. French authorities had been trying to locate the 43-year-old Benhamed since he slipped away from house arrest two weeks ago, on Sept. 8. Portrayed as a former militant with the Algerian extremist Armed Islamic Group, which carried out brutal attacks in the North African country in the early 1990s, Benhamed fled to France. He was among 25 people convicted in 2006 for plotting an attack in support of Islamist fighters in Chechnya. He was freed from prison in 2011, but since then was under house arrest. France uses house arrest to monitor foreign ex-convicts who have served their terms and are no longer wanted in France, but can't be deported. Benhamed was convicted in absentia in Algeria and sentenced to death and can't be returned to his homeland. Swiss authorities jailed Benhamed ahead of extradition proceedings, which could take time because he refused a simplified formula for extradition, the police statement said. More than a half-dozen foreigners convicted in France for terror-linked crimes are currently under house arrest, usually sent to far-flung towns where they must report to police several times a day. ___ Opinion / Columnist As the whole world watched the traitorous behavior of the bogus pastor, Evan Mawarire and the fake doctor, Patson Dzamara, literally calling for economic sanctions against their own motherland on foreign soil, Zimbabweans got very angry against those malcontents.The bogus pastor, Evan Mawarire, recently had the guts to gloat that he had told Africa's richest man, Mr Alhaji Aliko Dangote, not to invest in Zimbabwe, further waffling that "in Zimbabwe government ministers loot investors' money." Mr Dangote is a multi billionaire whose investments are thriving in many African countries and beyond. In Zimbabwe, the billionaire has already clinched business deals worth billions of dollars which should create employment for many jobless Zimbabweans. That is what Zimbabwe desperately needs at this time when the economy is being ravaged by illegal economic sanctions imposed by some evil western regimes in pursuit of the regime change agenda in the resource rich African country.For the gullible bogus pastor to brag that he advised Mr Dangote not to invest in Zimbabwe is the highest form of treason one can commit against his own country.Not to be outmaneuvered is the fake doctor, Patson Dzamara, who is taking advantage of the alleged disappearance of his brother to siphon money from western empires. The fake doctor unashamedly tells the whole world that he presented a petition to the World Bank, calling upon the multi-lending institution to shun Zimbabwe. This is the height of horrible insanity, to say the least. Dzamara is unashamedly using his brother's alleged disappearance in order to hoodwink gullible regime change agenda architects to lubricate his pockets.Zimbabweans are watching these two traitors with anger. They better stay in foreign lands making total fools of themselves because if they dare come back to Zimbabwe, with their treachery, they will get a rude awakening from ordinary Zimbabweans who have endured much suffering at the hands of some western vampires.The demonstrations against President Mugabe, organized by the Mawarires and Dzamaras of our time, during the United Nations General Assembly currently taking place in New York, USA, have proved to be a dismal flop. The Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) indicated that they will join Mawarire and other malcontents in the demonstrations. However, it is puzzling as less than twenty hooligans, hired by regime change agenda vampires, are participating in the treachery unfolding in the United States of America. These bunches of misguided hooligans' ill informed actions are being totally eclipsed by the December 12 Movement, together with many patriotic Zimbabweans, who gave the Zimbabwean leader an unprecedented hero's welcome in New York. Zimbabweans watched perplexed as the famous Pan African movement reminded Mawarire and his fellow traitors that they are selling out to the western evil governments who are after looting Zimbabwe's abundant resources.It is sickening to be told, in your face in a foreign country by citizens of that country, that you are a traitor doing a hatchet job for enemies of your motherland. Americans may disagree with how their government is running the country but they never demonstrate in foreign lands against their leaders. Republicans and Democrats, in the United States of America, may differ at home but have common interests on foreign lands.Mawarire is not fooling anyone by denying that he is not being sponsored by enemies of Zimbabwe to malign his President on foreign soil. Is he gainfully employed in foreign lands or he is a mercenary for hire? He is planning to continue with his chicanery in Australia, Newszealand, Britain and Canada among the many foreign destinations on which he intends to make a complete fool of himself. Such travelling itinerary is very expensive; hence, Mawarire owes Zimbabweans an explanation of who is sponsoring his treasonous adventure.Zimbabweans will never be misled by foolish mercenaries and traitors, who are dining with the devil, into causing anarchy in their homeland as they are a peaceful people. Fishermen who fled slavery in San Francisco sue boat owner SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Two Indonesian fishermen who escaped slavery aboard a Honolulu-based tuna and swordfish vessel when it docked at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf are suing the boat's owner for tricking them into accepting dangerous jobs they say they weren't 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 Hawaii's 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. In this photo taken Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, is the Sea Queen II docked at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. Abdul Fatah and Sorihin, Indonesian fishermen who escaped slavery aboard the Honolulu-based tuna and swordfish vessel when it docked at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf are suing the boat's owner for tricking them into accepting dangerous jobs they say they weren't allowed to leave. Attorneys for the fisherman said in a lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, that they were recruited in Indonesia years ago to work in Hawaii's commercial fishing fleet without realizing they would never be allowed onshore. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) 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 lawyer's 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 don't 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 state's 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. Here's 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, they'd fish some more. After a few trips, three relatives of the captain's joined them as crew. "The captain's 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 wasn't 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 Fisherman's Wharf dock over to Scoma's, a classic San Francisco seafood restaurant where diners enjoyed the freshest catch. Then they'd 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 Francisco's historic waterfront and eventually boarded a southbound train toward San Jose, where they sought help from an Indonesian man they knew of. "I didn't think I'd 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 Fisherman's Wharf. Earlier this year, before filing their lawsuit, they looked at photos of the Sea Queen II and their former captain. "That's him," said Sorihin, shaking his head when asked if he would take a short walk to see the boat. "I'm 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/ Putin names close ally to head Russia's spy agency MOSCOW (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin has named his longtime ally, the speaker of parliament and Putin's chief of staff, to head the country's foreign intelligence service. The appointment of Sergei Naryshkin, announced Thursday by the Kremlin, came days after the Kremlin's power-base party United Russia, won a crushing victory in parliament elections, taking three-quarters of the seats. He replaces Mikhail Fradkov, who was prime minister under Putin for four years before taking leadership of the intelligence service, the SVR, in 2008. From left, Foreign Intelligence Service head Mikhail Fradkov, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and parliament speaker Sergei Naryshkin meet in Moscow's Kremlin Russia, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Putin offered Fradkov a post of a head of board of directors of the Russian railways and Naryshkin a post of a head of Foreign Intelligence Service. (Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Animal rescue team captures wayward manatee off Cape Cod FALMOUTH, Mass. (AP) An animal rescue team has captured a manatee that repeatedly had been spotted off Cape Cod, far from its usual Florida haunts. Rescuers with the International Fund for Animal Welfare netted the 8-foot-long animal off Washburn Island near Falmouth, Massachusetts. IFAW spokeswoman Kerry Branon says experts planned to evaluate the manatee's health before bringing the mammal to Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. Fishermen had spotted the creature on numerous occasions since mid-August. A tip led rescuers to it Thursday. Guatemala ex-prosecutor detained in fatal hit-and-run case GUATEMALA CITY (AP) Guatemalan authorities have detained a prominent former human rights prosecutor in a fatal hit-and-run accident. Prosecutors' spokeswoman Julia Barrera says the accident happened in July in the department of Zacapa, east of the capital. Former prosecutor Orlando Lopez allegedly was behind the wheel of a vehicle that ran over a person and left without helping the victim, who later died. In this March 22, 2013, former human rights prosecutor Orlando Lopez, left, listens to a witness during the trial of former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, in Guatemala City. Guatemalan authorities have detained Lopez in fatal hit-and-run accident that happened in July according to the Prosecutors' spokeswoman Julia Barrera. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) Prosecutors contend that Lopez had the car repaired in an effort to hide the evidence. Three members of his security team were also detained. Lopez told journalists he would not comment until he learned more why he was detained Thursday. Quotes from the gathering of world leaders at the UN UNITED NATIONS (AP) Key quotes from world leaders at the U.N. meetings on Thursday. ____ "The U.N., begun as a moral force, has become a moral farce." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. ____ "I am compelled to again warn that what the Israeli government is doing in pursuit of its expansionist settlement plans will destroy whatever possibility and hopes are left for the two-State solution on the 1967 borders." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. ____ "A wall is not the solution because it generates more hate." El Salvador's President Sanchez Ceren, in a reference to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's proposal to build a wall along the southern U.S. border to deter illegal immigration. ____ "In some parts of our country, whole villages had to relocate due to severe coastal erosion and flooding. Food crops have been destroyed. Our fresh water lens, our major source of drinking water, are increasingly being contaminated by the intruding sea water." Kiribati President Taneti Maamau. ____ "Although around half of the world's agricultural work is done by women, if food is running out, women are the first to suffer." Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite. ____ Delaware teen pleads guilty in crossbow killing of father DOVER, Del. (AP) 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 Thursday 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 Nov. 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. French-American honored for helping thwart 2015 train attack PARIS (AP) President Francois Hollande has bestowed a Legion of Honor award on a French-American who was among passengers who stopped a gunman on a high-speed train in 2015, and was wounded after grabbing his assault rifle. Mark Moogalian, 52, was honored on Thursday at the Elysee Palace. He was hospitalized when three Americans and a British man who overpowered Moroccan suspect, Ayoub El-Khazzani, were honored. Moogalian grabbed an assault rifle from El-Khazzani then was shot with a handgun. Francoise Rudetzki, former head of "SOS attentats" (SOS attacks), an association of victims of terrorism, right, and French-American Mark Mooligan listen to the speech of France's President Francois Hollande, prior to being awarded the Legion of Honor, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Mooligan, 52, on a French-American who was among the heroes who stopped a gunman on a high-speed train in 2015, and was wounded after grabbing his assault rifle. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, Pool) Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, U.S. Army Spc. Alek Skarlatos, their friend Anthony Sadler and Briton Chris Norman received the honor in August 2015, shortly after the drama. A Frenchman who asked to remain anonymous also was honored. Moogalian, a musician and teacher, has lived in France for more than two decades. France's President Francois Hollande awards French-American Mark Mooligan with the Legion of Honor by France's President Francois Hollande, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Mooligan, 52, a French-American who was among the heroes who stopped a gunman on a high-speed train in 2015, and was wounded after grabbing his assault rifle. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, Pool) Francoise Rudetzki, former head of "SOS attentats" (SOS attacks), an association of victims of terrorism, right, and French-American Mark Mooligan listen to the speech of France's President Francois Hollande, prior to being awarded the Legion of Honor, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Mooligan, 52, on a French-American who was among the heroes who stopped a gunman on a high-speed train in 2015, and was wounded after grabbing his assault rifle. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, Pool) Francoise Rudetzki, former head of "SOS attentats" (SOS attacks), an association of victims of terrorism, right, and French-American Mark Mooligan talk, prior to being awarded the Legion of Honor, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Mooligan, 52, a French-American who was among the heroes who stopped a gunman on a high-speed train in 2015, and was wounded after grabbing his assault rifle. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, Pool) France's President Francois Hollande awards Francoise Rudetzki, former head of "SOS attentats" (SOS attacks), an association of victims of terrorism with the Legion of Honor, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Mooligan, 52, a French-American who was among the heroes who stopped a gunman on a high-speed train in 2015, and was wounded after grabbing his assault rifle. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, Pool) France's President Francois Hollande, left, applauds Francoise Rudetzki, former head of "SOS attentats" (SOS attacks), an association of victims of terrorism, right, and French-American Mark Mooligan, center, after they were awarded with the Legion of Honor, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Mooligan, 52, a French-American who was among the heroes who stopped a gunman on a high-speed train in 2015, and was wounded after grabbing his assault rifle. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, Pool) Muslim Brotherhood bloc wins 15 of 130 seats in Jordan vote AMMAN, Jordan (AP) Election officials on Thursday released the results of Jordan's parliament election, and the opposition Muslim Brotherhood said its electoral bloc won 15 of 130 seats, roughly in line with its own predictions. The number of female legislators rose to 20, from 18 in the outgoing legislature, according to the Independent Election Commission. In Tuesday's election, about 1.5 million Jordanians cast ballots for competing lists of candidates in 23 districts under a new proportional system. High school principal Huda Etoum poses for a portrait at her home in Jerash, Jordan, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Etoum was one of 20 women elected to Jordan's 130-seat parliament this week, up from 18 female lawmakers in the outgoing legislature. Etoum, the second Jordanian lawmaker wearing a face veil, said in an interview that she's been in public service for more than two decades and that her ultra-conservative dress won't be an obstacle in parliament. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil) The Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, the Islamic Action Front, had boycotted elections in 2010 and 2013 to protest the previous system, which it said unfairly favored pro-monarchy tribal representatives. The IAF competed this time, forging electoral alliances with Christian, ethnic minority or tribal candidates in some areas. The IAF-led alliance won 15 seats, the party announced Thursday, after final results were released. The alliance will be the largest voting bloc in the new parliament, enough to serve as a vocal opposition, but likely too small to challenge establishment legislators. In the new parliament, 15 seats were reserved for women, nine for Christians and three for ethnic minority Chechens and Circassian. The total number of female legislators in the new parliament will be 20, including five who won competitively, outside the quota, election officials said. Salma Nims, who heads Jordan's quasi-governmental National Commission for Women, said she was encouraged by the increase. "It shows that the quota (system) is an opener for women," she said. The female lawmakers can try to build consensus on some issues, such as labor laws, even if some are secular and others devout Muslims, she said. One of the newcomers is Huda Etoum, a 52-year-old high school principal from the central city of Jerash. Etoum, one of three women in the IAF-led electoral bloc, will be the second lawmaker to wear a face veil. She said in a phone interview Thursday that she has been in public service for more than two decades and that the face veil, or niqab, was never an issue. "It is not my mind that is covered, it is my face," she said. "Covering my face won't hinder my public service or dealing with men in any of my activities." AP FACT CHECK: Is US giving away the internet? WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump's campaign says a government plan to give up managing key operations of the internet poses a threat of outside censorship of online information. But such an outcome is highly unlikely. The upcoming Oct. 1 transition, which will result in no immediate discernible change for internet users, is the result of planning that started under President Bill Clinton in 1998 and continued largely unopposed during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The U.S. government's role has diminished as the behind-the-scenes, technical administration has increasingly been performed by a California-based nonprofit organization that coordinates with private experts around the world. An office within the Commerce Department, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, still has limited oversight over the system of internet addresses. But day-to-day management long ago was ceded to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, known as ICANN. It administers the directories that steer internet traffic to its destination. FILE - In this May 10, 2016 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, walks past reporters as he returns to the Capitol Hill in Washington. Donald Trumps campaign says a looming government plan to disengage from managing key operations of the internet poses a threat of government censorship of online information. But such an outcome is highly unlikely. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) Without it, buying items online, sending or receiving emails, browsing websites, sharing digital photos and watching movies online would be impossible. Trump's campaign asserted this week that Obama intends to use his own authority to turn control of the internet over to the United Nations and the international community, and said Democrats aligned with Hillary Clinton are failing to protect online activity. "Internet freedom is now at risk with the president's intent to cede control to international interests, including countries like China and Russia, which have a long track record of trying to impose online censorship," said Stephen Miller, Trump's policy director. Sen. Ted Cruz, who late Wednesday praised Trump's stand on the issue, has led Republican opposition that wants to maintain the status quo. Cruz pushed to add language to a must-pass spending bill that would force the Obama administration to delay or head off the move, but the effort appeared headed for failure Thursday. "Under the guardianship of the United States and the First Amendment, the internet has become truly an oasis of freedom. But that could soon change," said Cruz, R-Texas, who headed a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the subject last week. "The only government that loses power in this transition is the United States government. All the others gain power," Paul Rosenzweig, a former deputy assistant secretary in the Homeland Security Department, told Congress. He worked on the transition plan and favors it but said improvements are needed to address how to resolve disputes about intellectual property claims and human rights complaints. Since its creation, ICANN has quietly administered the internet's address system without significant controversy. The premise for the transition has been to turn over such key functions to the private technical experts and businesses that helped build the internet, rather than governments. The diminished American role also has coincided since 2013 with heightened suspicions about the U.S. government's designs on the internet, after Edward Snowden revealed that the National Security Agency had hacked into networks overseas used by U.S. corporate data centers. Alternatives to ICANN's role include turning over control to a U.N agency, the International Telecommunication Union, where countries with less regard for freedom of speech would have a greater say and the private groups have little influence. Also in play: the risk that foreign governments may develop their own private networks that might not function seamlessly with the internet. "If we don't make a transition to a more global form of governance, many people will say, 'Look, this is a U.S tool, and we're going to make our own internet,'" said Michael Chertoff, former Homeland Security secretary under George W. Bush and Obama. "We have to realize that even though we know our motives are good motives, there are people who will argue that if we don't give it up that we have bad motives. To maintain credibility we have to go through this process." DA: Sheriff's deputies justified in fatally shooting man BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Sheriff's deputies in Baton Rouge acted in self-defense and were legally justified in fatally shooting a suicidal man who tried to flee by ramming his car into a deputy's vehicle, a district attorney announced Thursday. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III said his office ruled out any criminal charges against four deputies who fired shots at Travis Stevenson during the Feb. 23 confrontation. Moore said evidence gathered by Louisiana State Police investigators showed that one of the deputies, Lt. Michael Birdwell, was caught between Stevenson's accelerating car, a parked car and an apartment building. Deputies fired 21 shots; Stevenson had seven gunshot wounds and died at the scene, according to Moore. Some of the shots were fired at the car Stevenson was driving in an attempt to immobilize it. An autopsy later found he was under the influence of alcohol, cocaine and marijuana. Moore called it a "very dangerous, intense situation" for the deputies. "None of the deputies involved expected this situation to escalate as quickly as it did," he said. Moore added he met with Stevenson's relatives Thursday to explain his decision. Michael Bell, an attorney for Stevenson's family, said they are disappointed nobody was indicted. "They have a lot of questions as to why not, but they're at peace," Bell said, adding that the family likely will file a wrongful death lawsuit. "We believe it was excessive, the number of shots, the number of participants." The deputies were responding to a 911 call from Stevenson's girlfriend, who said he fled after pepper-spraying her and her daughter. Then he called the girlfriend from the road, and deputies got on the phone. Stevenson told them he was going to jump off a bridge over the Mississippi River because he didn't want to go back to jail, according to a report prepared by Moore's office. And about three minutes before Lt. Birdwell confronted him, Stevenson threatened to kill himself in a text message to his girlfriend, the report said. The report says Birdwell parked directly behind Stevenson's Cadillac, approached him on foot and shouted at him to get out of his car. "Stevenson refused to comply and actively attempted to escape by ramming his vehicle backward into the deputy's vehicle and rapidly accelerating forward into a metal pole next to the building," the report says. A deputy broke the driver's window on the Cadillac, but Stevenson continued to rapidly accelerate back and forth near where deputies stood as they opened fire, the report adds. "I guarantee you Lt. Birdwell just wanted him out of the car to speak with him." Moore said. The shooting wasn't captured on videotape, but State Police investigators interviewed several witnesses. "One witness described what she saw as a deputy fired two shots to protect himself from being run over," he added. Investigators recovered two cans of pepper spray from Stevenson's vehicle, but no other weapons. "The 6,700-pound vehicle was the weapon in this case," Moore said. Stevenson was a 48-year-old black man; all four deputies who fired shots are white. Moore said Stevenson was a father of four who had a "difficult life." He was 6 years old when his mother was killed in 1973, not far from where he was fatally shot. "It's clear from the family that Travis was severely depressed and had been depressed for many years," Moore said. Bell, the family's attorney, said they don't believe his mental health history is a "real issue" in the case. Opinion / Columnist When it comes to how Robert Gabriel Mugabe relate to others, be it at an individual, group or national level, everything he has ever said or done have all been guided by the following three cardinal rules:"What is yours must be ours in true socialist tradition and spirit of sharing." Mugabe can be a socialist to the bone marrow and will use all manner of tricks to force everyone else to become a socialist and an egalitarian. He has haunted the petty bourgeois, capitalists and colonialists and blamed them for all the ills in this world.Mugabe has turned Zimbabwe into a Chinese colony; right now he has started giving the farms he seized from the European white farms to the Chinese. He gave the farms initially to his Zanu PF cronies but has taken them back after they failed to put them into productive use.Corruption is Zimbabwe is rife which suits the Chinese given the Chinese government's secretive culture. The Chinese are also at the heart of the wholesale looting and plunder of Marange diamonds and other resources. So the Chinese are actually worse than the British as a colonial power but they are Mugabe's friends and we, ordinary mortals have no say."What is ours must be mine." All wealth and power in Mugabe's Zimbabwe is ostensibly owned by the people with government managing and controlling it much as a guardian of a minor would. The Zimbabwe government owns and runs the usual state institutions like civil service and judiciary, state controlled institutions like NRZ and ZESA which Mugabe has increased since independence by the forced acquisition of such companies as the country's biggest bus company ZUPCO and government has since extended its reach and influence to every sector of society include the private sector giving rise to such self-contradictory anomalies as GONGO (Government Organized) None Governmental Organizations.From the word go Mugabe has deliberately made the distinction between government and his party Zanu PF blurred but his end and purpose has been very clear government is there to above all else serve the party's interest to become the new owner of everything and to secure absolute power.Whilst on paper Zimbabwe is and has always been a multi-party democracy; in practice Mugabe has ruthlessly pushed his selfish agenda to turn it into a de facto one-party dictatorship in line with his desire to secure and enjoy absolute power. He has bribed, cheated, harangued and even murdered his political critics and opponents to ensure he secured and retain absolute power at all times.So in Zimbabwe ownership of wealth and power has moved from the white colonial regime and the mainly white capitalists to black government to Zanu PF and ultimately to Robert Gabriel Mugabe."What is mine is mine and mine alone, you touch it and you die!" Mugabe has often said "Zimbabwe is mine!" and nothing has encapsulated that he meant this literally and in deadly earnest that his cavalier attitude when he admitted that corruption was costing the country billions of dollar!Zimbabwe is facing a serious economic meltdown with unemployment now a nauseating 90% and government is so short of cash it is failing to pay civil servants their wages let alone pay for other necessities as medicine. And yet when Mugabe announced that $15 billion of diamond revenue had been "swindled" he could not have been more casual about it. He has since underlined that point by doing absolutely nothing to hunter down the swindlers and thus recover the loot and, more significantly, to stop the looting.$15 billion is a fortune even to a wealthy nation like USA with a GPD of $18 trillion; it is humongous amount money to a country like Zimbabwe with a GDP of $14 billion!On the political front, Mugabe has ruthlessly robbed the ordinary people their freedoms and basic human rights including the right to free and fair elections and even the right to life itself with the arrogance and heartless indifference of the slave master!Robert Mugabe's speech to the UN General Assembly captured the essence of his arrogance and his me! me! mentality perfectly."For over 20 years, many of us have come to this rostrum, pleading and demanding for reforms of the Security Council. Today we are no closer to achieving that goal than we were 20 years ago. This is so in spite of the universal acknowledgement of the injustice, unfairness and inappropriateness of the current composition of the Security Council," said Mugabe.There five permanent members on the Security Council and they have a veto; make no mistake about it Mugabe demand a permanent seat and veto too, initially for Africa but ultimately for himself of course.The UN has often failed to protect the weak and voiceless people all over the world, especially those from failed states of which Africa has plenty of, because existing five permanent members have abused their UN Security Council veto to serve their selfish interests. Now imagine adding to that mix a corrupt, vote rigging and murderous tyrant like Mugabe wielding a UN veto too; that will rather the UN completely useless!"This session of the General Assembly will elect the next Secretary-General of our organisation. We have witnessed commendable efforts aimed at making the selection process of the next Secretary-General inclusive and transparent. The greater involvement of the General Assembly, and therefore of the majority of our membership, does not, however, mask the opaqueness of the process at Security Council level." Every Zimbabwean was surprised to hear Mugabe say this.Here is the man who has never, in his 36 years in power, ever held free, fair and credible elections talking of an "inclusive and transparent" election process. He has failed to release the voters roll at least a month before the July 2013 elections as is required by law and has failed to do so to this day.Nearly one million voters were denied the vote that year because their details were not in the constituency voters roll where they expected. If the voters roll had been made public as judiciously as is required by law; most of these people would have had the mistake put right proof this was in fact a deliberate and calculated vote rigging move. Mugabe's victory margin was just over a million!But without doubt the crass of Mugabe's duplicity and hypocrisy was in him lying about why Zimbabwe has repeatedly failed deliver any meaningful economic development."On our part, I am happy to inform you that we have established national multi-stakeholders and multi-sector structures to domesticate and implement the 2030 (UN development) Agenda in a co-ordinated and integrated manner with our national development programme, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset)," explained Mugabe. "Our biggest impediment to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda is the burden of the punitive and heinous sanctions imposed against us by some among us here."Anyone remotely familiar with Zimbabwe's economic story knows that ZimAsset died soon after the rigged July 2013 elections. Mugabe thought he would rig economic recovery just as he had rigged the elections; that did not happen. He failed to get anyone, not even his "all weather" Chinese friends to bankroll the $27 billion ZimAsset budget; without the funding the plan was died in the water.Mugabe continues to live in his own cloud-cuckoo-land not subject to the same laws of thermodynamic and of basic economics that apply in the real world. In the real world there is no way an a country with a GDP of $14 billion would sustain much less thrive and prosper when corruption in the said country has reached the nauseating heights of $15 billion is "swindled" in a few years and those in positions of power and authority are not even alarmed!Mugabe's epitaph should simply read:Here lays a tyrant who believed and ruthlessly imposed his maxim; "What is yours is ours. What is ours is mine. And what is mine is mine, touch it and you die!" North Dakota tribes seek review of pipelines under reservoir BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) An oil-rich group of American Indian tribes in North Dakota has asked a federal appeals court to quickly decide whether a Texas company needed tribal permission to place a pair of pipelines 100 feet beneath a Missouri River reservoir. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation asked the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' three-judge panel Wednesday to expedite their review of the Sacagawea pipeline because it "raises issues of unusual magnitude and urgency." The tribes say they own mineral rights under Lake Sakakawea and were not assured that the water would not be harmed by the pipeline. Officials with Paradigm Energy Partners LLC said in federal court earlier this month that the $125 million, 70-mile (113 km) oil pipeline is complete, and that it needs to complete the $16.6 million gas pipeline by Nov. 1 due to an agreement with a private landowner. Paradigm has said delays jeopardize the project and the future of the Irving, Texas-based company. Paradigm did not return telephone calls Thursday by The Associated Press. "Obviously, we want to see this decided as quickly as possible," said former North Dakota U.S. Attorney Tim Purdon, who is representing the tribes. The Sacagawea pipeline is the second such project being challenged by American Indians in North Dakota. About 150 miles (241 km) downstream on the Missouri River, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is protesting against the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline, which they say could disturb sacred sites and impact drinking water for 8,000 tribal members and millions further downstream. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes, requested the Sacagawea pipeline be halted last month. The project is named for American Indian guide Sacagawea, who joined explorers Merriweather Lewis and William Clark in what is now North Dakota, where her name commonly spelled Sakakawea. Lake Sakakawea is the largest of six Missouri River reservoirs. U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland temporarily allowed construction to continue, saying the company was not required to get the tribe's permission and that it received proper permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to bore beneath the lake. About 20 percent of the more than 1 million barrels of oil produced daily in North Dakota comes from the Fort Berthold Reservation, occupied by the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation. The tribes have a 12 percent stake in the oil pipeline, but no working interest in the gas pipeline. The tribes said the company offered up to $2 million in June to resolve certain issues while drilling already had started beneath the lake. The tribes also have asked the company to, among other things, assure the more than 12,500 tribal members on the reservation that the pipelines are safe. That appeal came amid allegations by former construction workers this summer that the oil pipeline was not properly inspected before it placed beneath Lake Sakakawea. The company has denied that, saying the workers had been fired. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is conducting an investigation, agency spokeswoman Artealia Gilliard said Thursday. The Latest: Attorney: Prosecutors right to charge officer TULSA, Okla. (AP) 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. People hold signs at a "protest for justice" over Friday's shooting death of Terence Crutcher, sponsored by We the People Oklahoma, in Tulsa, Okla., Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) 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 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 officer Betty Shelby is innocent until proven guilty. Shelby was responding to an unrelated call when she came across Terence Crutcher's 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 they're unhappy that officer Betty Shelby wasn't charged with first-degree murder in the Sept. 16 death of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher. They held signs reading, "I can't 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 Crutcher's 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 Crutcher's 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. Government severs ties with for-profit colleges accreditor WASHINGTON (AP) The Education Department withdrew recognition of the nation's largest accreditor of for-profit colleges on Thursday, a decision that could force schools to close and threaten financial aid to hundreds of thousands of students. The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools said it would appeal the decision to Education Secretary John B. King Jr. In a statement, ACICS Interim President Roger Williams said the council would "continue diligent efforts to renew and strengthen its policies and practices" to meet the department's criteria for accreditors. The accrediting agency has been accused of lax oversight of its schools, which included those once owned by the now-defunct Corinthian Colleges Inc. and the recently shuttered ITT Technical Institute. FILE - In this July 8, 2014 file photo, an Everest Institute sign is seen in a office building in Silver Spring, Md. The Education Department withdrew recognition of the nation's largest accreditor of for-profit colleges on Sept. 22, 2016, a decision that could force schools to close and threaten financial aid to hundreds of thousands of students. The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools has 10 calendar days to notify the department if it will appeal the decision to Education Secretary John B. King Jr. The accrediting agency has been accused of lax oversight of its schools, which included those once owned by the now-defunct Corinthian Colleges Inc. and the recently shuttered ITT Technical Institute. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) The department's decision was announced in a blog post on its website. In a letter to the council released later Thursday, Emma Vadehra, King's chief of staff, said "ACICS' track record does not inspire confidence that it can address all of the problems effectively." Vadehra said the department found fundamental problems with the council's work as an accreditor. Her decision followed staff and advisory panel recommendations to sever ties with the council. If ACICS loses its appeal, hundreds of schools would be forced to find a new accreditor within 18 months or lose their ability to participate in federal financial aid programs, such as student loans and Pell Grants. About 600,000 students currently attend ACICS-accredited institutions, Williams said. While the appeal is pending, ACICS retains its federal recognition and remains determined to fully execute its accreditation responsibilities in a professional manner, he said. Thursday's decision was met with praise from Democratic lawmakers. "Accreditors are supposed to be watchdogs, but this negligent agency rubber-stamped shady institutions like ITT and Corinthian for years, right up until the moment they collapsed," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. But Steve Gunderson, president of Career Education Colleges and Universities, an industry lobbying group that represents for-profits, said the decision will have "horrible ramifications for hundreds of thousands of students, thousands of dedicated faculty and staff, and hundreds of communities and employers that rely on institutions accredited by ACICS." Republican Rep. John Kline of Minnesota, chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, echoed those concerns. "Hundreds of colleges will be forced to scramble to find a new accreditor so students don't lose their aid and everything they've been working toward," said Kline. Advocacy groups, lawmakers and others have long complained about the council. It has been accused of continuing to accredit schools under investigation for falsifying job placement rates and claims for federal aid, illegal recruiting practices and misleading marketing claims. The council had allowed Corinthian Colleges, one of the largest chains of for-profit colleges, to continue to receive accreditation even while it was under investigation for fraud. Corinthian sold many of its campuses, closed others and filed for bankruptcy protection last year. Thousands of its former students are asking the Education Department to forgive their federal loans, in a taxpayer bailout that could top $3 billion. And earlier this month, ITT Technical Institute announced it was shutting down all 130 of its U.S. campuses, leaving more than 35,000 students scrambling across more than 30 states. The chain was banned in late August from enrolling new students who used federal financial aid because Education Department officials said the company had become a risk to students and taxpayers. ___ Priest kidnapped in Mexico adds to worries after 2 killed MEXICO CITY (AP) Roman Catholic Church officials pleaded on Thursday for the life of a priest who was kidnapped from his parish residence one day after two other priests were abducted and killed in another part of Mexico. The Archdiocese of Morelia said priest Jose Alfredo Lopez Guillen was abducted Monday from his parish residence in the rural town of Janamuato, in the western state of Michoacan. The archdiocese said he was kidnapped after he was robbed. "We plead that the life and physical integrity of the priest be respected," the archdiocese said. Priests attend the funeral Mass for slain Rev. Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz at Our Lady of Asuncion Church in Paso Blanco, Veracruz state, Mexico, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Mourners packed the church for the funeral Mass in memory of the Roman Catholic priest who was murdered along with another cleric in the troubled Gulf coast state of Veracruz. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) In a video statement, Cardinal Alberto Suarez Inda, head of the Morelia archdiocese, said, "After sharing the enormous pain of the death of two young priests in the diocese of Papantla, Veracruz, we are now suffering our own anguish with the disappearance of one of our priests." Two priests were kidnapped Sunday in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, and their bullet-ridden bodies were found on a roadside the next day. "Our community suffers the death or anguish of any of the faithful," the cardinal said. He said the missing priest "is a good man, a man who does good, a peaceful man, and so this barbarity is in no way justified." The two attacks on priests have raised concerns, although prosecutors in Veracruz state said the two priests kidnapped Sunday knew their attackers and had been drinking with them. Robbery was also a suspected motive in that attack. The Catholic Media Center says 28 priests have been killed in Mexico since 2006, not counting this week's slayings. Tulsa, Oklahoma, police officer charged in man's death TULSA, Okla. (AP) Prosecutors charged a white Oklahoma police officer with first-degree manslaughter Thursday, less than a week after she killed an unarmed black man on a city street and just days after police released graphic videos, saying in court documents the officer "reacted unreasonably." Tulsa officer Betty Shelby fatally shot 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16. The affidavit filed with the charge says 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 over reacted." Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said arrangements were being made for Shelby's surrender. This undated file photo provided by the Tulsa Oklahoma Police Department shows officer Betty Shelby. Police say Tulsa officer Shelby fired the fatal shot that killed 40 year-old Terence Crutcher, Sept. 16, 2016. Prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma, charged Shelby, a white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man on a city street with first-degree manslaughter Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (Tulsa Police Department via AP, File) The swift action in Tulsa stood in contrast to Charlotte, North Carolina, where police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video of the shooting of another black man this week and the National Guard was called in to try to a head off a third night of violence. Demonstrations in Tulsa since Crutcher's death have been consistently peaceful. 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. They also pointed to an enlarged photo from police footage that appears to show Crutcher's window was rolled up. And police said Crutcher did not have a gun on him or in his vehicle. The affidavit filed Thursday also indicates that Shelby "cleared the driver's side front" of Crutcher's vehicle before she began interacting with Crutcher, suggesting she may have known there was no gun on the driver's side of the vehicle. The affidavit says Shelby told police homicide investigators that "she was in fear for her life and thought Mr. Crutcher was going to kill her. When she began following Mr. Crutcher to the vehicle with her duty weapon drawn, she was yelling for him to stop and get on his knees repeatedly." Crutcher was wearing "baggy clothes" but Shelby "was not able to see any weapons or bulges indicating a weapon was present," the affidavit states. Prosecutors offer two possible theories in charging documents: that Shelby killed Crutcher impulsively in a fit of anger or that she wrongly killed him as she sought to detain him. The case first goes to a judge, who will decide whether there is enough evidence for a trial. Lee F. Berlin, a Tulsa-based defense lawyer and a former assistant district attorney in Oklahoma, said prosecutors may at some point decide to move forward with only one of the theories or could present both to jurors and let them decide. If convicted, Shelby faces between four years and life in prison. Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, said the family was pleased the criminal charge was filed and urged a vigorous prosecution that leads to a conviction. "Our goal now is to ensure that this never happens to another innocent citizen," Tiffany Crutcher said. "We're going to break the chains of injustice. We're going to break the chains of police brutality." Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett said police worked quickly to provide Kunzweiler with the information he needed to decide whether to charge the officer. "I appreciate their efforts as well as the District Attorney's usual thorough evaluation of the rules of law for which we are all accountable," Bartlett said in a written statement. "We will continue to be transparent and ensure the system carries out its responsibility to provide justice." 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." Police Sgt. Dave Walker has said investigators found a vial of the drug PCP in Crutcher's vehicle. Shelby's attorney, Scott Wood, has said that Shelby completed drug-recognition expert training and thought Crutcher was acting like he might be under the influence of PCP. Attorneys for Crutcher's family said the family didn't know whether drugs were found in the SUV, but that even if they were, it wouldn't justify the shooting. A toxicology report could take several weeks. Wood did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment about Shelby being charged. In the videos, the officers surround Crutcher and he suddenly drops to the ground. A voice heard on the 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. "The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Crutcher are on the hearts and minds of many people in this community," Kunzweiler said. "It's important to note that despite the heightened tensions felt by all, which seemingly beg for an emotional response and reaction, our community has consistently demonstrated the willingness to respect the judicial process." At least two dozen people gathered outside the courthouse after the district attorney announced the officer was charged. Later, a peaceful rally was held in front of City Hall. Some demonstrators expressed disappointed Shelby wasn't charged with first-degree murder, but others considered Thursday's announcement a victory. "Today we can say without a shadow of a doubt that the system has worked for black lives," said activist Marq Lewis, an organizer of the civil rights group We the People Oklahoma, which led the rally in front of City Hall. "We are getting something done in Tulsa that no other city is getting done." Earlier this year, a white 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, who was also black and unarmed. ___ Murphy reported from Oklahoma City. Associated Press writers Michael Tarm in Chicago and Ken Miller in Oklahoma City contributed to this report. Tulsa District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler addresses the media during a news conference at the Tulsa County Courthouse on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Tulsa, Okla. Kunzweiler announced that his office has filed first degree manslaughter charges against Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby after the shooting death of Terence Crutcher last Friday night. (Ian Maule/Tulsa World via AP) In this photo made from a Sept. 16, 2016 police video, Terence Crutcher, left, with his arms up is pursued by police officers as he walks next to his stalled SUV moments before he was shot and killed by one of the officers in Tulsa, Okla. When it comes to charging an officer, legal experts say, the most important determination isn't whether the officer was actually in danger in hindsight. It's whether the officer reasonably believed in his or her own mind that they or fellow officers were in danger at the split second they choose to shoot. There's no clear, standard formula investigators can rely on to answer the question of whether an officer's belief that he or she's in peril is reasonable, a former federal prosecutor in Chicago said. (Tulsa Police Department via AP) This undated photo provided by the Parks & Crump, LLC shows Terence Crutcher, right, with his twin sister Tiffany. Crutcher, an unarmed black man was killed by a white Oklahoma officer Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, who was responding to a stalled vehicle. (Courtesy of Crutcher Family/Parks & Crump, LLC via AP) In this photo taken from video, The Rev. Joey Crutcher and Leanna Crutcher, parents of Terence Crutcher, stand at the podium at the National Action Network in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Their son, Terence Crutcher, was shot and killed by a white Tulsa, Oklahoma police officer on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Joseph Frederick) In this photo made from a Sept. 16, 2016 police video, Terence Crutcher, left, lowers his right arm as he is pursued by police officers moments before he was shot and killed by one of the officers in Tulsa, Okla. When it comes to charging an officer, legal experts say, the most important determination isn't whether the officer was actually in danger in hindsight. It's whether the officer reasonably believed in his or her own mind that they or fellow officers were in danger at the split second they choose to shoot. There's no clear, standard formula investigators can rely on to answer the question of whether an officer's belief that he or she's in peril is reasonable, a former federal prosecutor in Chicago said. (Tulsa Police Department via AP) In this image taken from video, The Rev. Joey Crutcher, father of Terence Crutcher, speaks to the media at the National Action Center in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Crutcher's son, 40 year old Terence Crutcher, was shot and killed by a white Tulsa, Oklahoma police officer on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Joseph Frederick) In this image taken from video, The Rev. Al Sharpton, center, speaks to the media at the National Action Center in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 about the shooting death of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. Forty-year-old Terence Crutcher, who was black and unarmed, was fatally shot Friday by a white, Tulsa, Oklahoma police officer. At right is Crutcher family attorney Benjamin Crump. The Rev. Joey Crutcher, Terence Crutcher's father, is second right. Looking over Rev. Sharpton's shoulder is Leanna Crutcher, Terence Crutcher's mother. Terence Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, is standing at right. (AP Photo/Joseph Frederick) AP-GfK poll shows which candidate voters trust on top issues WASHINGTON (AP) Americans are more likely to trust Hillary Clinton than Donald Trump to handle a variety of issues facing the country, even when it comes to national security topics that have been a major focus of his campaign, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. Trump is trusted slightly more than Clinton on just one key issue: job creation. Here's a closer look at the poll results: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump talks with customers during a visit to Geno's Steaks, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) ___ CLINTON'S ADVANTAGES According to the AP-GfK poll, American voters say they trust Clinton more than Trump by large margins to handle health care, 42 percent to 29 percent, and race relations, 48 percent to 20 percent. By a 40 percent to 33 percent margin, more trust the former secretary of state to handle negotiating with Russia. Clinton has slimmer edges on filling Supreme Court vacancies, 39 percent to 34 percent, and handling international trade, 40 percent to 34 percent. The Democratic nominee is also slightly more trusted to handle immigration, 42 percent to 38 percent. The poll shows immigration issues are particularly important to Trump's supporters. They're far more likely than Clinton's supporters to call immigration a very or extremely important issue, 79 percent to 51 percent. ___ NO TRUMP EDGE ON SECURITY Despite a focus on national security, Trump has no apparent edge over Clinton on the issue. Voters are closely split on which candidate would better handle protecting the country, with 40 percent trusting Clinton more and 37 percent trusting Trump more. They're evenly divided on who would better handle the threat posed by the Islamic State group, with 38 percent saying they trust each candidate. Clinton has a big edge over Trump on who would do a better job handling the U.S. image abroad, 47 percent to 27 percent. Trump's supporters are much more likely than Clinton's to consider the threat posed by the Islamic State group to be very or extremely important to them personally, 87 percent to 65 percent. More generally, the two candidates' supporters are about equally likely to say the U.S. role in world affairs is very or extremely important, 71 percent for Clinton's supporters to 69 percent for Trump's. ___ JOB CREATION GOOD FOR TRUMP Economic issues are a relative bright spot for Trump. He is narrowly favored as the candidate trusted more to create jobs, 39 percent to 35 percent. In general, voters are about equally split on which candidate would better handle the economy, 39 percent for Trump to 38 percent for Clinton. It's a good issue on which to have even a narrow advantage. Economic issues are rated as very or extremely important by 92 percent of voters, more than say the same of the U.S. role in world affairs (68 percent), the threat posed by the Islamic State group (70 percent) or immigration (60 percent). American voters aren't happy with the economic status quo, the poll shows. By a 55 percent to 45 percent margin, they're more likely to call the economy poor than good. That's even though they're far more likely to say their personal financial situation is good than poor, 66 percent to 34 percent. Voters are also slightly more likely to trust Trump than Clinton on handling gun laws, 39 percent to 35 percent. ___ WHO'S A UNITER? Americans are more likely to trust Clinton than Trump as the candidate who can unite the country, 35 percent to 24 percent. But just as many say they don't trust either candidate as say they trust Clinton more. Clinton is also seen as better able to handle working with Congress, 42 percent to 27 percent. ___ The AP-GfK Poll of 1,694 adults, including 1,476 registered voters, was conducted online Sept. 15-19, using a sample drawn from GfK's probability-based KnowledgePanel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, and for registered voters is plus or minus 2.5 points. Respondents were first selected randomly using telephone or mail survey methods and later interviewed online. People selected for KnowledgePanel who didn't have access to the internet were provided access for free. ___ Online: Poll results: http://ap-gfkpoll.com ___ Follow AP Polling Editor Emily Swanson on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/EL_Swan Bomb blast led to fear, confusion at building for the blind NEW YORK (AP) When a pressure cooker bomb exploded on the street in front of Robert O'Garro's apartment building for the blind, it shook him to his bones even 11 floors up. "I felt the shock wave," said the 58-year-old resident of Selis Manor, the city's only dedicated apartment building for the blind and vision impaired. "It just came through me. Then I heard the windows breaking." Windows were blown out four floors up the 12-story Manhattan building. Elevators stopped. And dust and smoke filled the hallways. But none of the 500 residents was hurt. In this Sept. 17, 2016 file photo, first responders work near the scene of an explosion in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, in New York. Although the pressure cooker bomb that wounded over two dozen people on the street went off in front of an apartment building for the blind, none of the building's residents were hurt in the blast. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File) More than two dozen people outside in the Chelsea neighborhood suffered mostly minor injuries when Saturday night's explosion sent out a concussive blast, ball bearings and other metal shrapnel in all directions. Investigators say an Islamic radical, Ahmad Khan Rahami, placed the bomb and another, which didn't go off, a few blocks away. Rahami, an Afghan-born U.S. citizen, also is accused of setting off a pipe bomb a few hours earlier in a New Jersey shore town, but that didn't injure anyone. A public defender has sought a court appearance for Rahami so he can hear the federal terrorism charges against him. For blind residents of Selis Manor, the explosion outside made them especially anxious because it was unclear what was happening. High-pitched alarms wailed through stairwells and corridors. Shaking that coursed through the building led some to think it was an earthquake. O'Garro said, "You had people milling in the hallways, saying, 'What should I do?'" What 57-year-old blind musician Victor Lopez chose to do was what he does every night: walk his dog. About midnight, three hours after the attack, he made his way down from his eighth-floor apartment using the stairs. Police would not allow him onto the sidewalk, so he went to the back of the building. "I heard the noise. It was strong. Wow, it was terrible!" Lopez said. "It was a crazy moment. The police, the firemen it was crazy." Back in his apartment, he listened to radio news with his agitated wife, who's also blind, "and I tried to calm her down." They were up all night, "because we had to pay attention to any announcement telling us to get out." But there was no evacuation. And O'Garro, the 11th-floor resident, had no trouble sleeping. "This is all part of life," he said. That was the sentiment up and down the block, which on Thursday bustled with crowds and packed businesses less than a week after the explosion. But near the heart of the blast, the King David Gallery glass-and-mirror design store was still heavily damaged. Shattered decorative mirrors, some of which had been priced at more than $1,000 each, were lined up against a wall. Israeli-born owner Daniel Peretz said the irony is that he and his wife had left their country after a Molotov cocktail was thrown into his wife's car only for them to become victims of American violence. "But don't let the terrorists scare us," he said. "If they scare us, where are we going to go? Everywhere it's the same thing." ___ This story has been corrected to show the quote about milling in hallways was from O'Garro, not Lopez. FBI seeks public's help in Minnesota mall stabbings MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Federal investigators are asking for the public's help as they investigate the stabbings of 10 people at a Minnesota mall. The FBI issued an appeal Thursday for information or cellphone video from people who were at Crossroads Center in St. Cloud on Saturday evening. Authorities say Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, wounded 10 people before he was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. An Islamic State-run news agency claimed Adan was a "soldier" for the group. Kentucky's GOP governor overridden in feud with Democrat FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) Kentucky's Supreme Court has overridden the state's Republican governor in a bitter dispute with the son of a Democrat who preceded him, ruling the state's top executive cannot cut millions of dollars from public universities without legislative consent. Thursday's ruling by the state's highest court further inflamed the political feud between Gov. Matt Bevin and Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear and could intensify elections across the state as both parties seek control of the House of Representatives in November. The court ruled Bevin was wrong to override the state legislature and order more than $17 million in spending cuts at all but one of the state's public colleges and universities, saying "the governor, like everyone, is bound by the law." Kentucky Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear discusses a state Supreme Court ruling on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Frankfort, Ky. The ruling declared Republican Gov. Matt Bevin cannot cut the budgets of colleges and universities without approval from the state legislature. Beshear had sued to stop Bevin's cuts. (AP Photo/Adam Beam) Beshear, who has already sued Bevin three times in the 10 months they've both been in office, said he hoped Bevin would take the ruling as "a turning point" and "re-think the approach that he has been taking." That appeared unlikely as Bevin's spokeswoman Amanda Stamper lashed out in a statement afterward against Beshear and his father, former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear furthering the acrimony between the political newcomer Bevin and one of Kentucky's most powerful families. "The Attorney General clearly does not understand the severity of the pension problem which became the nation's worst funded plan under the watch of his father's administration," Stamper said. Bevin and Beshear both took office in December, about one month before Bevin had to present his first spending proposal to the state legislature. After years of deficits, Kentucky was enjoying a budget surplus. But it also had an estimated debt of more than $35 billion spread across its public pension systems for state workers and public school teachers. Bevin called for budget cuts of 4.5 percent for most state agencies, including public colleges and universities. The state legislature approved the cuts for the next two years, but they refused to approve cuts for the current year. Bevin made the cuts anyway, ordering allotments for public colleges and universities reduced by 2 percent, or $17.8 million under an agreement reached with several university presidents during a private meeting at the governor's mansion. All of the universities then approved tuition increases of up to 5 percent for the upcoming academic year, in part blaming the cuts. Beshear sued. A lower court sided with Bevin, ruling he had the power to order the colleges not to spend all of the money the legislature gave them. Beshear appealed, saying the ruling was dangerous because it would give Bevin free rein to control billions of dollars of public money without the checks and balances of an elected legislature. A majority of the court agreed. "This is not to say that every penny appropriated must be spent," Justice Mary C. Noble wrote for the majority. "But the Governor does not have the power to make that decision for the Universities." The ruling means Bevin will have to release a total of $17.8 million to all of the state's public colleges and universities except Kentucky State University, whose budget wasn't cut. The money is not significant to the institutions, since it makes up less than half of 1 percent of their combined $6.6 billion budgets. But it is a significant victory for Beshear in his repeated run-ins with Bevin. Beshear has filed three lawsuits so far challenging the extent of Bevin's authority, including his decisions earlier this year to abolish and replace the boards for the Kentucky Retirement Systems and the University of Louisville. After Thursday's ruling, Beshear called for Bevin to immediately release the $17.8 million to the colleges and universities. And he asked the colleges and universities to return that money to the students as rebates on future tuition. The University of Louisville, which will get back nearly $2.8 million, said it would put the money back in its general operating budget "to fund student success initiatives." Stamper said no decisions will be made about the money until Bevin's lawyers have finished reviewing the court's decision. The feud comes amid campaigns for control of the state House of Representatives, the last legislative chamber in the South still controlled by Democrats. Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo was quick to declare victory. Head of bridge agency says Christie appointee 'protected' NEWARK, N.J. (AP) A former official who has pleaded guilty in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case was "protected" by Republican Gov. Chris Christie, according to an executive of the agency that controls the bridge. Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, testified that this Christie association was partial reason why he didn't interview David Wildstein during an internal review of the September 2013 traffic jams. Thursday was Foye's second day on the stand in the case against Christie's former deputy chief of staff, Bridget Kelly, and former Port Authority executive Bill Baroni. They are charged with closing access lanes to the George Washington Bridge to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing Christie. CORRECTS SPELLING OF ANNE - Bill Baroni, center, and his attorney Michael Baldassare, far left, arrive at the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse in Newark N.J., Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly are charged with causing traffic jams near the George Washington Bridge in September 2013. Baroni was an executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Kelly was Christie's deputy chief of staff. (Danielle Parhizkaran/Northjersey.com via AP) Foye also testified that he couldn't fire Wildstein because it was "practically complicated," though he conceded he had the statutory authority to fire him. Wildstein was a high school classmate of Christie's, but Christie has denied having a close relationship with him. Wildstein was handed the job as director of interstate capital projects, a position created for him even though he falsely said in an application he had a college degree that he doesn't hold, Baroni's attorney Michael Baldassare said in court this week. Prosecutors said Monday that Wildstein bragged to Christie about the lane-closures on the third of their four days, something Christie has long denied. ___ THE LEAK Foye's chief of staff, John Ma, testified he gave an off-the-record interview to a reporter on Sept. 12, 2013, the day before Foye ordered the lanes reopened, during which he told the reporter the Port Authority wasn't conducting a traffic study at the bridge. Ma said Foye knew he was making the call. That contradicted the official Port Authority news release sent the following day that said the agency was studying traffic safety issues at the bridge. Foye admitted Wednesday he approved the release even though he knew it was untrue. He said it was a narrative suggested by Baroni and Wildstein. ___ SILENT TREATMENT Tina Lado, head of the Port Authority's community outreach arm, testified her office, which normally communicates with local officials if roadwork or traffic studies could potentially have an impact on traffic in their towns, wasn't notified about the alleged traffic study at the bridge. She also testified she tried to contact Baroni on the first day of the lane closures after fielding a complaint from Fort Lee's borough administrator, but didn't receive a response. She said when Baroni returned her message the following day he curtly told her that her department's outgoing phone charges were being reviewed because they were too high, which she took to mean she wasn't to contact Fort Lee. ___ COMING FRIDAY: Wildstein is listed on Friday's witness list, but may or may not make it onto the stand before the first week of the trial comes to the close. Matt Mowers, a former campaign staffer for Christie, is expected to testify for the prosecution Friday. Mowers worked on Christie's 2013 gubernatorial campaign. Mayor Mark Sokolich testified Tuesday that Mowers sought his endorsement several months before the election. Opinion / Speeches Statements by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, R.G. Mugabe, to the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly debate and on the occasion of the High-Level Meeting of the 71st UN General Assembly on Anti-microbial Resistance in New York on September 21, 2016.YOUR Excellency Mr Peter Thomson, President of the 71st Session of the General Assembly; Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government; Your Excellency Mr Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations; distinguished delegates; ladies and gentlemen; comrades and friends.Let me begin by congratulating you, Ambassador Thomson, on your election to the Presidency of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. I also extend our deep appreciation to your immediate predecessor, Mr Mogens Lykketoft, for his able stewardship of this Assembly during the 70th Session.Mr President,We all vividly recall the momentous occasion in September last year when we adopted the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals "Agenda 2030". This Assembly provides us with a unique opportunity to review the measures we have taken thus far at both international and national levels in line with our commitments to global socio-economic transformation.While compromises were un- avoidable, even inevitable, in developing this important agenda, compromises or half-measures have no place in its implementation phase. We need sincere, genuine and total commitment by all to the implementation of this agenda if it is not to join many other previous well-crafted global agendas that ended in failure and non-delivery. We feel that this time around this agenda will meet a better fate.We are encouraged that since September last year, foundational steps have been and are being taken at various levels to implement Agenda 2030. In this regard, we note the convening of the Global Infrastructure Forum in April this year, the convening of the Multi-Stakeholder Science, Technology and Innovation Forum here in June, the launch of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism and activation of its online platform.We also note the follow-up meetings pertaining to the development of concrete actions for the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development. These activities at the global level have been equally matched at the national level, with virtually all member states reporting preparations to implement this universal agenda.Mr President,On our part, I am happy to inform you that we have established national multi-stakeholders and multi-sector structures to domesticate and implement the 2030 Agenda in a co-ordinated and integrated manner with our national development programme, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset).Our task of domesticating Agenda 2030 has been made relatively less challenging in that the vision and aspirations of our national economic blueprint and the global agenda are basically the same. Our biggest impediment to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda is the burden of the punitive and heinous sanctions imposed against us by some among us here.My country, Zimbabwe, is the innocent victim of spiteful sanctions imposed by the United States and other powers and these countries have for some reason maintained these sanctions for some 16 years now.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, that is, possessing and owning their natural resources, and listening to and responding to the basic needs of our people.Those who have imposed these sanctions would rather have us pander to their interests at the expense of the basic needs of the majority of our people. As long as these economic and financial sanctions remain in place, Zimbabwe's capacity to fully and effectively implement Agenda 2030 is deeply curtailed.I repeat my call to Britain and the United States and their allies to remove the illegal and unjustified sanctions against my country and its people. We must all be bound by our commitments to Agenda 2030, under which we all agreed to eschew sanctions in favour of dialogue.Mr President,This session of the General Assembly will elect the next Secretary-General of our organisation. We have witnessed commendable efforts aimed at making the selection process of the next Secretary-General inclusive and transparent. The greater involvement of the General Assembly, and therefore of the majority of our membership, does not, however, mask the opaqueness of the process at Security Council level.We expect the current experience to lead to a more inclusive and transparent process in the future.Mr President,For over 20 years, many of us have come to this rostrum, pleading and demanding for reforms of the Security Council. Today we are no closer to achieving that goal than we were 20 years ago. This is so in spite of the universal acknowledgement of the injustice, unfairness and inappropriateness of the current composition of the Security Council.We now have an opportunity, in the ongoing negotiations, in the intergovernmental negotiations, to redress this unjustifiable and unjust situation in the interests of a strong and more united organisation capable of delivering on its mandates.Mr President,Our common commitment to leaving no one behind demands that we address the plight of peoples still living under colonialism and occupation. The people of Palestine have lived under occupation and persecution for over 49 years. It is high time that the United Nations, in particular the Security Council, fulfils its Charter duties and obligations by implementing its resolutions, including Resolution 181, Resolution 242 and Resolution 338.The two-state solution, based on the pre-June 1967 border, should now be pursued within set parameters and set timelines. This is the only way to achieve durable peace in the Middle East.On our own continent, the United Nations is duty-bound by the principles of the Charter to redouble efforts to ensure full realisation of the right of self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Agenda 2030 recognises that sustainable development cannot be achieved without the full realisation of the rights of people living under colonial and foreign occupation.We urge the holding of the independence referendum for the Saharawis without much further delay.Mr President,Let me conclude by thanking the Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, for the tremendous work he has done during his tenure. We have appreciated his presence at the Africa Union summits and his visits to Africa as clear testimony to his commitment to and partnership with Africa.We particularly applaud the Secretary-General's leadership in mobilising the entire United Nations system and indeed the international community to partner with Africa in stopping and rolling back the Ebola epidemic which claimed thousands of lives and undermined socio-economic development on our continent.He has indeed been an indefatigable advocate for self-determination and a persistent champion for inclusive development, peace and building coalitions to deal with humanitarian and other crises. We wish him well in all his future endeavours.I thank you. Top Democrats say they've concluded that Russia behind hacks WASHINGTON (AP) The top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees said Thursday that they have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies are making a "serious and concerted effort" to influence the U.S. presidential election. A joint statement issued by Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Adam Schiff goes farther than the Obama administration in pointing a finger at Moscow for recent hacking of political computer systems. Federal officials are investigating cyberattacks at the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Election data systems in at least two states also have been breached. "Based on briefings we have received, we have concluded that the Russian intelligence agencies are making a serious and concerted effort to influence the U.S. election," the two lawmakers from California said. "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." They called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to order a halt to the political hacking, which Moscow has denied. "We believe that orders for the Russian intelligence agencies to conduct such actions could come only from very senior levels of the Russian government," they said. The U.S. hasn't formally blamed Russia for the hack of Democratic emails, but the White House has publicly noted that outside investigators have determined that Russia is to blame. Determining Russia's involvement in the public disclosure of the emails is seen as a prerequisite to any sanctions the U.S. might levy on Russia in response to the hacks. Earlier this month, Lisa Monaco, President Barack Obama's homeland security adviser, said it would be difficult for someone to hack into America's voting systems in a way that could alter the outcome of an election. She said election systems by and large are not hooked up to the internet and are diffusely operated by state and local governments. Asked whether the U.S. might respond to the hacking, Monaco said "Stay tuned." Lawmakers from both parties have called for a U.S. response to the hacking. Manchester United and Manchester City win in EFL Cup and will meet in round four Manchester United and Manchester City both won their EFL Cup ties on Wednesday evening to set up a derby in the last 16. Goals from Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford saw United to a 3-1 win over Northampton, who went into half-time level at 1-1 after Alex Revell's penalty. City won 2-1 against Swansea with goals from Gael Clichy and Aleix Garcia but were left with another injury worry over captain Vincent Kompany. Pep Guardiola, pictured, will renew hostilities with Jose Mourinho and is awaiting news on Vincent Kompany's injury The Belgium defender played for the first time since May but left the field and went straight down the tunnel shortly after Gylfi Sigurdsson's stoppage-time consolation goal for Swansea. Manager Pep Guardiola said afterwards: "Hopefully, it will not be a big problem. We're going to wait for the results from the doctors." The two Manchester giants were then pitted against each other in a fourth-round draw which also saw Liverpool drawn against Tottenham and Chelsea handed a short trip to West Ham's London Stadium. Spurs enjoyed a 5-0 stroll against League One Gillingham thanks to two goals from Christian Eriksen, Vincent Janssen (penalty) and Josh Onomah's first strikes for the club and one from Erik Lamela. West Ham left it late to seal their progress, requiring a Dimitri Payet free-kick six minutes into stoppage time to see off Accrington 1-0. There were also late winners for Hull and Bristol City, who will meet in the next round. Markus Henriksen saw Hull past Stoke 2-1, having also set up Ryan Mason's equaliser after Marko Arnautovic's thumping opener. The Robins trailed 1-0 to Fulham after Lucas Piazon's diving header, but hit back through Aaron Wilbraham and Tammy Abraham either side of Cauley Woodrow's penalty miss for the Cottagers. Marion Cotillard denies involvement in Brangelina split Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard has broken her silence to announce she is pregnant and deny a romantic entanglement with Brad Pitt. The French star, 40, was dragged into Angelina Jolie and Pitt's divorce, with reports that she and Pitt had an affair while filming upcoming Second World War drama Allied. Cotillard has responded to the rumours on her Instagram page, where she has confirmed she is expecting her second child with French actor and director Guillaume Canet. Marion Cotillard has said she is expecting her second child with French actor and director Guillaume Canet (AP) The couple already have a five-year-old son, Marcel. The La Vie En Rose star said she had to "speak up" as rumours had been "spiralling and affecting people I love". She wished Jolie, 41, and Pitt, 52, "peace in this very tumultuous moment". "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," Cotillard wrote. "I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously but as this situation is spiralling 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 of whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment. "With all my love, Marion." Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences. She is set to be represented by powerhouse lawyer Laura Wasser, famous for her role in dissolving marriages for Hollywood's A-list stars. The couple, who have six children, married in 2014 after 10 years together. Cotillard and Pitt play undercover allies who develop a romantic relationship in new film Allied. A trailer for the movie, showing the pair kissing, was rushed out after the news broke. Hillsborough victims posthumously awarded Freedom of the City of Liverpool The 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster have received the Freedom of the City of Liverpool in an emotional "bitter-sweet" ceremony. Families of those who lost their lives in Britain's worst sporting tragedy on April 15 1989 collected a specially designed scroll and a unique medal with the name of their loved one inscribed on it. It was the first time the city has posthumously awarded its highest civic honour. Candles are lit as the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster are posthumously awarded the Freedom of the City at a ceremony in Liverpool Town Hall Also receiving the Freedom of the City at St George's Hall from the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Roz Gladden, were Professor Phil Scraton, who led the research by the Hillsborough Independent Panel, and former Liverpool FC manager Kenny Dalglish and his wife, Marina. Each family member who picked up their award was greeted with rapturous applause, as were the Dalglishes, but the biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for Prof Scraton, whose tireless campaigning since the tragedy eventually led to the fresh inquests into the deaths, the unlawful killing verdicts from the jury in Warrington and the ongoing criminal investigation. Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said she was "delighted" that Prof Scraton had been honoured by his home city, while Trevor Hicks, whose daughters Sarah, 19, and Victoria, 15, died in the tragedy, said it was "very deserving". Speaking ahead of the service, Prof Scraton said: "On the one hand it's a bitter-sweet experience. "We should not be here, those people should never have died so I cannot help but think that the most important part of tonight is the commemoration of those who died. "But at the same time it is also a celebration - a celebration of ordinary people who can pick up the mantle and fight for justice, and that they can win. "To me that is a tremendous, tremendous indication to other families in other situations to never give up. "From my own point of view, I did a job. I'm an academic, I'm from Liverpool. I knew from the outset intuitively what I felt has happened had happened at Hillsborough, and I worked on it. "I felt I should never give up because I don't think you can commit to something like this just for a short time. "So once the inquests had ended the first time, once we had been through all the inquiries and investigations and we went into what I thought were the fallow years when nothing happened, I still felt it was important that the struggle for justice continued and that led invariably, inevitably, to the Hillsborough Independent Panel, and then from the panel to the inquests and now on to the next stage. "So all those things taken together, I suppose in one sense, is a vindication that we should always look for the depth, the understanding and knowledge around these dreadful awful situations but at the same time we should never back down in the face of authority." Ex-Liverpool manager Dalglish and his wife, Marina, were recognised for their "unstinting support given to the Hillsborough families over 27 years" and for their "substantial charity work". The couple have helped raise millions of pounds for cancer treatment in the city through the Marina Dalglish Appeal after she successfully battled breast cancer. Dalglish, who was joined at the ceremony by ex-team mate Alan Hansen, said he felt "very very humble" to be honoured. He said: "All we did is we went out, enjoyed ourselves, played football and won a few trophies. "When Hillsborough came along we only did to the families of Hillsborough what they did for us and that was support us. "I think it is normal for people to help each other in their moment of need. If somebody wishes to reward you then, that is their choice. "We did it because it was the right thing to do. Myself, the players, everybody involved at the football club, it was our responsibility to turn supporter and help them through the darkest days they had. "I think it's a tremendously rewarding night for them (the families) because of what they have achieved. "They can look forward and be very proud of themselves at what they have achieved, the sacrifices they have had to make to get here. "They are the real heroes. It is nothing to do with us, we only lent them a hand." His wife told reporters: "I think it is sad we are here at all. "I wish we were not getting an award and everyone was still here but I think it is great that we are accepting it on behalf of everyone that has helped, because Kenny and I got it but there were hundreds and thousands of people who helped. We are accepting it on behalf of them." Mrs Aspinall said: "As everybody knows, Kenny supported an awful lot of families in difficult, difficult times. How he has done it I will never know. "To face one family in grief is hard enough, Kenny had to face so many, and his wife Marina. They thoroughly and richly deserve this honour. "And also for what Marina has done as well for cancer research and everything else in this city. She has been amazing. They are just icons as far as I am concerned." She said the ceremony was "a beautiful tribute but bitter-sweet". She said: "I think it means a great deal to the families because it eases a bit the pain that people are going through. "It doesn't take away the grief and the heartache, obviously. Nothing can ever repair that damage. But to know that the city is still thinking of them 96 after 26 years says a great deal about the people and the city itself." The Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, told the audience that the Hillsborough victims would be "forever immortalised in the history of our city". Hollywood jumps channels to stick with Bake Off Paul Hollywood decided to join The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4 despite being approached by the BBC about Top Gear. The judge, 50, is jumping ship for the rival channel even though co-judge Mary Berry, and presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins are staying put. A TV source said: "He was offered a significant role on Top Gear. It was serious money. The word is he would only get it if he signed up exclusively to the BBC." Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry are taking different paths (BBC/PA) Top Gear relaunched earlier this year with Chris Evans at the helm, but the Radio 2 DJ later quit following falling viewing figures. A BBC source said there were discussions about Top Gear, but not for a full presenting role. "There were discussions about a guest presenting role for Top Gear. It was not a full presenting role," the source said. Hollywood has come under fire from fans of the show for moving to Channel 4 - after his co-host Berry and the presenters opted not to follow the dough. The star is getting a pay rise, with reports that he could be earning 300,000 by making the move. Until now, he is said to have been paid around 60,000 per series. After days of speculation, Berry announced she was saying "farewell to soggy bottoms". The baking queen, 81, who gained national treasure status on the back of Bake Off, decided not to move to the rival broadcaster and said she would stay with the BBC out of loyalty. But Hollywood, famous for his steely gaze and often dubbed a "silver fox", said he could not "turn my back" on Bake Off as the white tent is where he belongs. He said: "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. "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." Hollywood has faced flak on Twitter for moving to Channel 4, which outbid the BBC for the programme. Jess Taylor wrote: "Badly done Paul Hollywood... badly done. #GBBO." James Williams said: "Channel 4 have paid 25 million for Paul Hollywood and a tent." Joey1970 tweeted: "Paul Hollywood I thinks it's the wrong decision but good luck to you," while Andy Jacksson added: "Not watching Bake-Off just for Paul Hollywood. It's all four of them or nothing." But Helen McCarthy wrote: "Don't slag off Paul Hollywood, as if you'd turn down millions to eat cake and judge people," and ZlatOnPitch was also supportive: "Meanwhile everyone in the UK is angry at Paul Hollywood for... well... earning a living." The split of one of TV's most famous pairings has been compared to the divorce of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Hollywood was also criticised for failing to mention Berry in his initial statement about his future, despite thanking the BBC, Giedroyc and Perkins. "I want to thank the BBC and Mel and Sue for making my time in the tent great fun and really rewarding," he initially announced. He later tweeted to say how much he would miss Berry, saying: "I'm staying in the tent with the bakers where I belong. I want to thank Mary. I'll miss her but she has made the right decision for her." In a further statement, he added: "Let there be no doubt: I have loved every minute of my time working with Mary. I have learned so much from her and we are great friends inside and outside the tent... I will miss her." Berry and Hollywood have been judges on the show, which sparked a nationwide craze in baking and became famous for its innuendos, since it first aired on BBC Two in 2010, alongside Giedroyc and Perkins. Berry earlier issued a statement saying she would stay with the BBC, which has "nurtured me", and she added that she feels "sad" for the audience who do not want the show to change. "What a privilege and honour it has been to be part of seven years of magic in a tent - The Great British Bake Off. The Bake Off family - Paul, Mel and Sue - have given me so much joy and laughter," she said. "My decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty to them, as they have nurtured me, and the show, that was a unique and brilliant format from day one. "I wish the programme, crew and future bakers every possible success and I am so very sad not to be a part of it. Farewell to soggy bottoms." Giedroyc and Perkins revealed last week that they would not make the move to Channel 4. Richard McKerrow, creative director at Bake Off makers Love Productions, attempted to reassure fans the show will not change substantially, despite the loss of its hosts and one of its judges. "We want to reiterate to Bake Off fans that the show they love will remain wholly familiar, and that Channel 4 is a great place to make our show," he said. "Bake Off will be produced by the same team, in the same tent, with the same recipe." The BBC is believed to have offered Love Productions 15 million a year to keep the programme, but that is reported to have fallen 10 million short. The first Bake Off to be broadcast on Channel 4 will be a celebrity version of the show in 2017, in aid of Stand Up To Cancer. Around 15 million watched as Nadiya Hussain was crowned winner in 2015. Jamie Oliver - who has been mooted as a potential replacement judge as the show moves to Channel 4 - congratulated Hollywood on his move. He posted on his Twitter account: "Welcome @PaulHollywood I know you and the team will do an amazing job on bake off big love j." WPP invests in French media group in post-Brexit focus on Europe Advertising giant WPP has announced that it is investing in a French media firm as it ramps up growth in Europe following Britain's 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. "As a result of the UK's referendum decision to leave the European Union, WPP will place an even greater emphasis on growth in western continental Europe, which includes four of the group's top 10 markets worldwide: Germany, France, Italy and Spain," WPP said. Sir Martin Sorrell, boss of WPP Sir Martin was an advocate for the UK remaining in the European Union. William fears African elephant will be gone from wild by time Charlotte turns 25 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. The Duke of Cambridge speaks at the Time For Change event at the Shard skyscraper in London "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. European Parliament president urges Britain to enact Brexit as soon as possible The president of the European Parliament has urged Britain to enact Brexit as soon as possible, ahead of a meeting with Theresa May. Martin Schulz said he wants the "earliest possible triggering of Article 50" and that negotiations for Britain's departure should finish before European elections, which are scheduled for mid 2019. Article 50 starts a two-year countdown on negotiations, so it would need to be invoked by May next year to fit with this timetable. Martin Schulz said he wants the "earliest possible triggering of Article 50" 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. "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." Mr Schulz, a member of Germany's centre-left Social Democrats, who leads the 28-nation EU's legislative assembly, said he "understands that the British government wants to take its time". But the dpa news agency reported that he warned it would not be good for Britain or the EU if the British were voting for members of the EU parliament while negotiations to leave the bloc were still going on. Mr Schulz is in Britain for a two-day trip where he will hold a series of talks on Brexit. After his meeting with the Prime Minister he will meet the mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Thursday. He will then meet Jeremy Corbyn on Friday before going on to give a talk at the London School of Economics called The EU and the UK - parting ways but working together. Terminally-ill boy 'forced to spend hours lying on the floor at Heathrow' A terminally-ill teenager was forced to spend several hours lying on the floor while waiting to change planes at Heathrow Airport, his mother has claimed. Fifteen-year-old Polish boy N ahuel Matias Santucho, who has a tube in his windpipe to help him breathe, was tra velling with British Airways from Warsaw to Buenos Aires via the west London hub. He was accompanied by his parents, brother, sister and a medical escort for the journey, to spend the "last days of life" with relatives in Argentina, his mother, Andrea Lopez said. Nahuel Matias Santucho was travelling with British Airways from Warsaw to Buenos Aires Their first flight landed one hour late at 9pm and they were not able to make the second plane, despite having around 90 minutes to get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5. Ms Lopez said the group had to wait 45 minutes even before they could leave the first plane, with BA cabin crew telling them there was a problem with an airport lift. Nahuel, who suffers from an incurable disease that mainly affects the brain and spinal cord, was eventually given a "very narrow and uncomfortable wheelchair", his mother said. Instead of then being taken to the second plane, she claimed they were left in a corridor at Terminal 3 for several hours. Ms Lopez said: "W e were supposedly going to be moved to the second plane. But the time was passing and this never happened. "We were really concerned about losing the flight and the airport staff just kept telling us that they knew nothing about this second flight as they were 'only' the wheelchair men. "We tried once, and once again, to convince them to make the proper phone calls for transferring us to Terminal 5 as soon as possible, but again nothing happened and we stayed at the corridor of the airport absolutely locked and blocked without any chance to do anything. "Our sick son started to moan and show evident signals of tiredness and discomfort, as well as our other two children." Nahuel's condition means he cannot stay in a seated position for long periods of time, so he was laid on the floor and seen by a paramedic. His parents repeatedly complained about the situation "without any valid response form the airport staff", Ms Lopez said. She added that a member of staff from BA eventually came to their assistance in the early hours of the morning to arrange for them to move to a hotel close to the airport and rebook their flights. They were able to fly to Argentina 24 hours later than planned. A Heathrow spokeswoman said: "This is clearly a distressing time for Nahuel's family, for which we are sorry. "From our initial investigations, we understand Nahuel'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 Nahuel's relatives and medical staff he was transported to a local hotel by the London Ambulance Service before travelling out the next day. "We continue to work with all parties involved to find out all the detail of what happened and how his journey could have been made more comfortable." A BA spokeswoman refused to comment on whether Nahuel had travelled with his own wheelchair. She said: "We understand this must have been a very upsetting time for the family. We provided hotel accommodation for Nahuel and his carer to make them as comfortable as possible, and booked them on to the next available flight to get them home as quickly as we could. "We arranged for a doctor to provide suitable food during his stay and provided a temporary wheelchair to get him to and from the aircraft. Model Gigi Hadid lifted off ground by celebrity prankster 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. Gigi Hadid was targeted by the prankster in Milan 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. Kautman-Jones endorses Davis Please support Meredith Davis in her re-election to the Genesee County Board of Commissioners - 8th District. I have had... Writer recommend Delor, Jones for GB school board I have met heard April Delor and Patricia Jones for the Grand Blanc School Board. They both have many years... Chairman Matt Smith reminds you to vote It is important that the voters of Genesee County show up and cast their ballot on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022.... Boris Johnson: Government working towards triggering Article 50 in early 2017 The Government expects to begin formal talks for Britain to leave the European Union by "the early part of next year", Boris Johnson has said. The Foreign Secretary said ministers were working towards triggering Article 50 of the EU treaties - marking the official start of negotiations - in the first part of 2017. Speaking in New York where he has been attending the United Nations, Mr Johnson suggested the discussions could be wrapped up before the two-year deadline. Boris Johnson only campaigned to Leave the EU to further his political ambitions, one of his Foreign Office ministers claimed on the eve of the referendum vote. "We are talking to our European friends and partners in the expectation that by the early part of next year you will see an Article 50 letter. We will invoke that," he told Sky News. "In that letter I am sure we will be setting out some parameters for how we propose to take this forward. "I don't think we will actually necessarily need to spend a full two years but let's see how we go." Mr Johnson's remarks are likely to be welcomed by pro-Leave campaigners as an indication the Government is preparing for a "hard Brexit". They go further than Theresa May, who has said only that Article 50 will not be invoked before the start of 2017. When European Council president Donald Tusk said she had told him she expected the negotiations would start in January or February his comments were rejected by Downing Street. The Foreign Secretary also dismissed suggestions that Britain would have to continue to allow some free movement of labour with the EU if it wanted to maintain access to the single market. "They would have us believe that there is some automatic trade-off between what they call access to the single market and free movement. Complete baloney. Absolute baloney," he 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." Mr Johnson insisted that even after Brexit, the UK would continue to be a "participant" on defence and security issues. "We will continue to be a participant in common European defence discussions, security, foreign policy, counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and all that kind of thing," he said. While he acknowledged that Britain could not block a proposal by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker for a "European army", he said member states fully understood the need not to do anything that would undermine Nato. "If they want to create these new cathedrals of intellectual beauty for their new common defence policy, they may," he said. "It would be a mistake to do anything that undermined the transatlantic alliance and the Nato security guarantees. "That's what really keeps Europe safe and actually that is completely understood in all the capitals of Europe." His comments came as it emerged that Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan had claimed on the eve of the referendum vote that Mr Johnson had not really wanted Britain to leave the EU. In a clip shown as part of the BBC2 documentary Brexit: A Very British Coup?, Sir Alan - who was then a backbencher - said he believed Mr Johnson had only put himself at the head of the Vote Leave campaign to position himself for a Conservative leadership challenge. "I think there are a lot of Leave people who don't believe it, and I've always thought that Boris's wish was to lose by one so that he could be the heir apparent without having to have all the S-H-1-T of clearing up all the mess, that's always been my view of Boris," he said. "By championing Leave, he can be the great heir apparent of the future, darling of the activists, but actually it would be quite good if he didn't actually win the referendum because there would be total chaos." The Foreign Secretary however insisted that Britain would continue to thrive outside the EU. "We are going to benefit from the fantastic opportunities for free trade with our friends in the EU. It is overwhelmingly in their interests to do it," he said. A Number 10 spokesman distanced the Government from Mr Johnson's comments that Article 50 is expected to be triggered early next year. The spokesman said: "The Government's position has not changed - we will not trigger Article 50 before the end of 2016 and we are using this time to prepare for the negotiations." Boris Johnson rejects calls to back inquiry over 'Saudi human rights breaches' Boris Johnson has rejected calls for him to back an international inquiry into allegations Saudi Arabia has breached humanitarian laws in the war in Yemen. The Government has faced mounting criticism for continuing to sell billions of pounds worth of arms to Saudi Arabia despite claims the regime has breached international humanitarian law during its military campaign. And two senior MPs have written to the Foreign Secretary urging him to use UN proceedings to push for an inquiry into the allegations. Boris Johnson dismissed calls for a UN inquiry Stephen Twigg, chairman of the International Development Committee, and Chris White, chairman of the Committees on Arms Export Controls' inquiry into the use of UK-manufactured arms in Yemen, urged Mr Johnson to " seize this opportunity" and support the establishment of a UN inquiry. But speaking to Channel 4 News from New York, where he is at the UN, Mr Johnson rejected the pleas. He said: "I don't happen to think that is the way forward. "I'm not going to hide my concern about this, because I am concerned about it, but as things stand at the moment we don't think there are breaches of international humanitarian law. "In fact I think it's a great mistake to try and draw some equivalence between what is happening in Yemen and what is happening in Syria. The two things are really very different." He said the Government is "deeply concerned" at a recent airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition which killed at least 19 civilians, including children. But Mr Johnson dismissed calls for a UN inquiry, insisting that instead the Government is " using a very, very wide variety of information sources about what is happening to acquaint ourselves with the details" about the allegations. A parliamentary report published last week said it had been presented with evidence of "clear violations" of international humanitarian law, including an airstrike on a wedding party which killed 47 civilians and injured 58 more. The joint report by the House of Commons Business and International Development Committees said all sales of UK weapons which could be used in Saudi Arabia's military action in Yemen should be halted until the completion of an independent inquiry into the allegations. But the publication exposed deep differences between MPs on the issue, as the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee released its own rival report, insisting that exports should be blocked only if the UK courts rule the weapons sales unlawful. There have been claims that UK-made armaments are being used in indiscriminate bombing raids on civilian targets by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Shia rebels known as the Houthis in Yemen. Paramedics urged to check oxygen tanks after patient dies in ambulance fire 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. The scene at Naas General Hospital in Co Kildare 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. Theresa May: Troops must be protected from legal system abuse Theresa May has told defence chiefs "every effort must be made" to stop the legal system being abused and British troops hounded. The Prime Minister hailed Britain's armed forces as the "best in the world" and stressed her determination to prevent vexatious claims being brought against them. It comes amid mounting criticism of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), which was set up to investigate allegations of murder, abuse and torture by British troops. Prime Minister Theresa May with defence chiefs as she reiterated her commitment to crack down on vexatious legal claims against troops. Former soldiers have claimed they have been hounded through the courts on unfounded claims and there are growing calls for Ihat to be shut down. Mrs May raised the issue during an in-depth meeting with defence chiefs during which she also discussed the fight against Islamic State (IS), also known as Daesh. She 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 the 90-minute update. A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said she told of her pride in the British armed forces and stressed that abuse of the legal system must be prevented and troops protected from vexatious claims. She also discussed tackling the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean and air strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria. Mrs May said: "The men and women of our armed forces do an incredible job, often making huge sacrifices to keep us safe. "Whether taking the fight to Daesh in Iraq and Syria, helping to tackle the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean or providing flood relief at home - we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. "Our armed forces are the best in the world and with the biggest defence budget in Europe and the second biggest in Nato we will continue to play our part on the world stage, protecting UK interests across the globe." MP Johnny Mercer, a member of the Defence Select Committee who is heading an investigation into Ihat, has branded the legal pursuit of troops "a national disgrace" and called for the team to be axed. More grammar schools 'likely to widen attainment gap between rich and poor' Creating more grammar schools is likely t o widen the attainment gap between rich and poor children, and there is no evidence it will raise overall educational standards, a report is warning. An expansion of grammar schools in areas which already have a large representation of selective schools is likely to lead to "small but growing attainment losses" for those not attending selective schools, research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) shows. This would be greatest among poor children, who are already under-represented at grammar schools, the independent research body said. The report warned there is no evidence it will raise overall educational standards The gap between children on free school meals (FSM) attaining five A*-C GCSEs, including English and maths, and other children is 6% wider in selective areas than in non-selective areas, the study found. FSM pupils in selective areas who do not attend grammars perform worse than the national average. But the EPI found that, at a national level, there did not appear to be a significant attainment penalty from not attending a grammar school. David Laws, EPI chairman, said: "It is clear from our analysis that creating additional grammar schools is unlikely to lead to either a significant improvement in overall education standards or an increase in social mobility. "Indeed, without far more success in getting poor children into grammar schools, the total attainment gaps between poor children and richer children could well increase." Mr Laws continued: "Our analysis shows that there is a risk that in those areas with large numbers of selective places, more grammar schools will, on average, reduce the results achieved by poorer children." The EPI warned that it would be "very challenging" to significantly improve grammar school access for poor children as 60% of the attainment gap takes place before the age of 11, when children sit the entrance test. The resources which might be used to create additional grammar schools could be deployed to help create high-attaining non-selective schools, which are much more socially representative than grammars, it suggested. The first generation of academies sponsored by Labour are now helping to educate around 50,000 FSM children, the organisation said, compared with 4,000 in grammar schools. The report, Grammar Schools and Social Mobility, focused on attainment at Key Stage Four (GCSE level), using data from the school performance t ables, the School Census and the Department for Education's national pupil database. The EPI will continue research to see if these findings hold true at Key Stage Five. Education figures urged the Government to abandon its "disastrous" and "misguided" plans in the wake of the report. Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said: "This report could not be more timely, and its conclusions could not be more devastating for the Government - that there is no evidence that overall educational standards in England would be improved by creating additional grammar schools. "Theresa May has embarked on a disastrous policy of re-introducing grammar schools without a shred of evidence that it will achieve her laudable aim to increase social mobility. "The Government should listen to the evidence and ditch its intention to use 1950s' solutions to 21st century problems." Malcolm Trobe, interim general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "It is vital that Government policy is based on evidence rather than nostalgia and anecdote." It added that the "misguided" policy was a "dangerous distraction" from the critical issues of a teacher-recruitment crisis and funding pressures. A Department for Education spokesman said that it would ensure new selective schools prioritise the admission of pupils from lower income households or support other local pupils in non-selective schools to help raise standards. "We know grammar schools provide a good education for disadvantaged pupils, helping to all but eliminate the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, and we want more pupils from lower income backgrounds to benefit from that. "Our proposals are not about recreating the binary system of the past, which is what this report is based on. Probation service 'revolution' not yet delivered - MPs A promised "revolution" in the rehabilitation of criminals has yet to be delivered, a Commons committee has concluded. The Ministry of Justice is now more than two years into reforms of probation services which were intended to drive down re-offending - but they are far from complete, MPs claimed. Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: "There is a real danger the Ministry of Justice has bitten off more than it can chew." The Ministry of Justice is more than two years into reforms of the probation services, a report says Under the overhaul introduced in 2014, the National Probation Service (NPS) was created to deal with high-risk offenders, while remaining work was assigned to 21 new Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs). The committee's report said: "The Ministry of Justice has yet to bring about the 'rehabilitation revolution' it promised and must do so at the same time as implementing other far-reaching new reforms, all with increasingly constrained resources." MPs found there is still no clear picture of how the new system is performing in important areas of the reforms. One key change introduced as part of the shake-up was the extension of supervision after release to offenders sentenced for less than a year. The committee said it was unclear whether this is "having the desired impact", adding: "Nearly 60% of people who receive short prison sentences of less than 12 months reoffend within a year." The report also said information and communications technology systems in probation are " inefficient, unreliable and hard to use". Ms Hillier said: " Ambition is one thing, but, as our Committee continues to document across government, delivering positive results for taxpayers and society in general is quite another. "' Revolution' is a potent word the Government may regret using to describe its reforms to rehabilitation. After two years these are far from complete and there remain serious risks to achieving the performance levels expected by the end of 2017." Official figures show that from October 2013 to September 2014, around 496,000 adult and juvenile offenders were cautioned, received a non-custodial conviction at court or released from custody. Around 128,000 - or one in four - of these offenders committed a new offence within a year. Last year, former justice secretary Michael Gove lamented the failure to reduce reoffending rates as "horrifying". Justice Minister Sam Gyimah said: "We are carrying out a comprehensive review of the probation service to improve outcomes for offenders and communities. "Public protection is our top priority and we will not hesitate to take the necessary action to make sure our vital reforms are being delivered to reduce reoffending, cut crime and prevent future victims." Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "No one should be surprised that a rehabilitation revolution is struggling to get off the ground in our overcrowded, unsafe local prisons. Million private renters suffer under rogue landlords, says Shelter More than a million private renters across England have suffered at the hands of law-breaking landlords over the last year, according to estimates from Shelter. Around one in eight (12.9%) renters have experienced problems ranging from landlords entering homes without permission and deposits not being properly protected to renters being abused, threatened or harassed by landlords or feeling they were unfairly treated due to their race, nationality, gender or sexual orientation. The housing charity warned that "a minority of rogue landlords" are causing misery to renters by committing civil and criminal offences. Shelter warned "a minority of rogue landlords" are causing misery to renters by committing civil and criminal offences It said renters often do not know what their rights are. In the last year, Shelter's website has had more than 220,000 unique visits to its advice pages for people facing problems with a private landlord. The research among more than 3,200 renters by YouGov estimated that, in the last 12 months, 64,000 renters across England have had landlords cut off utilities without their consent, and nearly 50,000 have had their belongings thrown out of their home and the locks changed. Over 600,000 renters have had their home entered by a landlord without permission or notice being given, more than 200,000 have been abused, threatened or harassed by a landlord, and more than 110,000 felt they had been treated unfairly due to their race, nationality, gender or sexual orientation, the research estimated. Shelter's helpline adviser Danielle Goodwin said: "Every day at Shelter we speak to people at the end of their tether after a law-breaking landlord has caused chaos in their lives. "These range from instances where the renter has been unaware of their rights, to cases where renters are exploited and subjected to terrible experiences by a minority of law-breaking landlords." David Cox, managing director of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (Arla), said: "These are very worrying statistics indeed, but they don't echo sentiment from our members. "There is a minority of rogue operators in the sector and Arla continues to campaign for much greater regulation of the industry, and better enforcement against those who bring the sector into disrepute." He continued: "I t is essential that if we are to eliminate these criminal operators, the prospect of fines and enforcement must be seen as an actual deterrent, rather than merely a cost of doing business." Richard Lambert, chief executive officer at the National Landlords Association (NLA), said: "These figures highlight serious issues that are simply unacceptable but our research with tenants shows that 82% say they are happy with their current landlord. Furthermore, Shelter's figures show the vast majority of landlords to be law abiding." Mr Lambert said "it's not just a one-way street" and three in 10 landlords across the UK say they have been either verbally or physically abused by a tenant. He continued: "What's important is that anyone who is harassed, abused or subject to what they believe to be illegal behaviour seeks immediate advice and reports the matter to the police and relevant authorities." A Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) spokesman said: "We're cracking down on rogue landlords with over 40,000 properties inspected and more than 3,000 landlords facing further enforcement action or prosecution. France to seek compensation from carmakers exceeding CO2 goals PARIS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - France may seek compensation from carmakers whose vehicles far exceed carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions targets in normal driving, budget minister Christian Eckert said on Wednesday. Addressing lawmakers at the National Assembly, Eckert said government legal services were preparing action to recover "lost tax receipts" from carmakers whose vehicles should have incurred higher green penalties at the time of sale. The diesel scandal, which broke a year ago when Volkswagen admitted cheating U.S. nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions tests, prompted industry-wide investigations in France and other countries. Besides on-the-road NOx emissions far in excess of regulatory lab scores, the inquiries found gaps between claimed CO2 output and actual fuel efficiency for many car models. Under France's "bonus-malus" scheme, cars with lower CO2 emissions and fuel consumption benefit from sales subsidies funded by penalties on the sale of less economical vehicles, based on the amount CO2 emitted per kilometre. Venezuela PDVSA awards $3.2 bln oil service contracts to boost output CARACAS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA has awarded $3.2 billion in contracts to drill wells in the Orinoco Belt with the aim of increasing production by 250,000 barrels per day in the next 30 months, the Caracas-based company said in a statement on Wednesday. Schlumberger NV, Oklahoma-based contractor Horizontal Well Drillers and Venezuelan contractor Y&V won contracts to service three joint ventures between PDVSA and foreign partners. Italy sets trial for suspected African human-smuggling boss PALERMO, Italy, Sept 21 (Reuters) - A Sicilian judge on Wednesday ordered a trial for an Eritrean man accused of running a people smuggling network that sent thousands of migrants to Europe and many to their deaths during dangerous sea voyages to the continent. Judge Alessia Geraci said Medhanie Tesfamariam Berhean would stand trial in Palermo, capital of Italy's southern island of Sicily, on Nov. 16 on charges of abetting illegal immigration and engaging in human trafficking. Medhanie was arrested in May in Sudan and extradited to Italy, the European entry point for many migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea in rickety boats from North Africa. It was the first time a suspected trafficking kingpin was tracked down in Africa and brought to face justice in Italy since Europe's migration crisis started almost three years ago. However, friends and family of Medhanie say it is a case of mistaken identity, arguing that he was an impoverished 29-year-old refugee with no criminal background, who was living quietly in Khartoum and seeking to join his siblings in the United States when he was arrested in a rundown cafe. Medhanie denies all the charges. His arrest was coordinated by Italy and Britain's National Crime Agency. They maintain they have the right man, but acknowledged that they initially got his name wrong and put out the photograph of another man. ExxonMobil to pay $12 million in Montana oil spill settlement By Laura Zuckerman Sept 21 (Reuters) - ExxonMobil Corp. has agreed to pay $12 million to Montana and the U.S. government to restore natural resources damaged or destroyed by a pipeline rupture in 2011 that spilled oil into the Yellowstone River, according to a settlement proposed on Wednesday. ExxonMobil Pipeline Company's Silvertip pipeline burst July 1, 2011 at a crossing beneath the flood-swollen Yellowstone River near Billings, Montana, about 150 miles (241 km) downstream from Yellowstone National Park. The release of 1,500 barrels of crude oil affected 85 miles of a river known for its near pristine waters, wealth of wildlife and world-class fisheries. Under the agreement unveiled Wednesday, funds from Exxon would be used to mitigate harm caused by the spill to fish, wildlife, migratory birds and aquatic habitat. A restoration plan drafted by the state and federal governments would, among other things, seek to restore riparian and terrestrial habitats, stabilize river banks and expand fishing access in and around the river. The deal struck between the Texas-based oil company and Montana, the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies still must be approved by a U.S. District Court judge in Montana and is subject to 30 days of public comment, legal documents show. The settlement and proposed restoration plan follow a years-long assessment of damages from the pipeline leak to the river and its floodplains. Montana Governor Steve Bullock and Attorney General Tim Fox hailed the agreement for holding Exxon accountable and helping to make whole a state that boasts a $6 billion outdoor economy. But Alexis Bonogofsky, whose pastures along the Yellowstone River were fouled five years ago by oil-tainted water said she was disappointed by the size of the settlement. "I'm sorry, but $12 million is a drop in the bucket for ExxonMobil and doesn't teach them anything about accountability," she said. Exxon spokeswoman Ashley Smith Alemayehu said the company was sorry for the accident. "We regret this spill happened and are committed to learning from it to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future," she said in a statement. Under a 2012 deal between Exxon and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the oil company paid a fine of $1.6 million in connection with the spill, the largest penalty ever levied in the state for violations of its water quality regulations. Congo opposition calls for new sanctions on leaders for protest deaths By Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON, Sept 21 (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. Brazilian lawmakers under fire for slush funds amnesty bid By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA, Sept 21 (Reuters) - President Michel Temer on Wednesday criticized a surprise move by Brazilian lawmakers, including some members of his party and even a cabinet minister, to wipe the slate clean on illegal donations they allegedly received. As prosecutors in the widening Petrobras corruption scandal start to indict some of the 50 politicians investigated for receiving kickbacks, lawmakers anxious to avoid prosecution attempted to pass a bill to specifically criminalize off-the-books donations. But the late-night debate in the lower chamber of Congress on Monday was a ploy: the bill's supporters argued that new laws cannot be retroactive, so past offenders would be off the hook, something legal experts said was absolutely false. The spurious bill was blocked by lawmakers from parties whose members are not implicated in the massive graft scheme at state-run oil company Petrobras over the last two years. Temer distanced himself from the bill sent for debate by coalition party whips, including from his Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB). "I was surprised. I gave no guidance on this at all. Personally, I do not think it is a good idea," he told reporters in New York after speaking to foreign investors. His minister for congressional affairs, Geddel Vieira Lima, however, said slush funds, a traditional form of under-the-table election funding, are not named in Brazil's criminal code, so a specific law covering them should be passed. That, he argued, would be a law that could not retroactively punish lawmakers who had accepted such funds. Critics, such as Congressman Alessandro Molon, strongly refuted that, saying that laws on the books already mandate that politicians must declare all donations, and that any undeclared donations - the slush funds - are considered illegal. So the creation of a law simply naming them would not result in an amnesty for those who took such funds in the past. Former vice-president Temer was sworn in last month as president after the removal by impeachment of his predecessor Dilma Rousseff amidst Brazil's biggest corruption scandal that has landed executives in the country's top construction firms in jail and implicated dozens of members of the once-ruling coalition. Rousseff and her leftist Workers Party ousted from power after 13 years accuse Temer of leading a plot by politicians seeking to take over the government to avoid prosecution. Monday's attempt to quickly pass a law that could have put dozens of politicians in the clear pointed to a political establishment scrambling to curb the sprawling Petrobras investigation dubbed "Operation Car Wash" and led by anti-corruption Judge Sergio Moro. The president of Brazil's Senate, Renan Calheiros, a member of the PMDB and himself under investigation for graft, on Tuesday criticized the "excesses" and "exhibitionism" of federal prosecutors in the investigation. On Tuesday, Moro put former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on trial for corruption, sending a message to lawmakers under investigation that there will be no respite. Molon, who quit Lula's party due to its involvement in corruption, said Brazilian politicians will continue to look for ways to escape prosecution. Colombia's Santos warns FARC: We'll come after your money By Daniel Trotta NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday warned leftist rebels that their illicit fortune would be seized and used to pay reparations to war victims should voters approve a peace agreement in an Oct. 2 plebiscite. Speaking at Reuters Newsmaker forum in New York, Santos noted Colombia's history of seizing assets from drug cartels, recalling how the Medellin and Cali cartels were once considered invincible at their peak strength in 1980s and '90s. "They were not invincible. We destroyed them," Santos said. "We know how to go after their (the guerrillas') money and we're not by any means allowing them to launder their money. If we find any property, and we have many of their properties already identified, we will simply take those properties away and use that money to repair the victims." Santos says the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) accumulated cash, property and bank accounts as a result of their alliance with Colombia's drug traffickers, assets the FARC may seek to shield. Colombian voters will decide whether to approve a peace agreement between the government and guerrillas of the FARC. A "yes" vote would end Latin America's longest war, which has killed 220,000 people and displaced millions since 1964. Santos's government, which reached the deal after four years of negotiations with the FARC in Cuba, opted to put the agreement up for a vote. Although opponents led by former President Alvaro Uribe are campaigning against the peace deal, public opinion polls show it is favored to win. If approved, the agreement would require the FARC to pay war reparations to victims. The FARC also agreed to sever any ties with the drug trade and help the government destroy coca crops and drugs labs. Though the famed Medellin and Cali cartels were broken up, and the U.S. government has provided billions of dollars in military aid to fight their drug-trafficking successors, Colombia remains the world's leading exporter of cocaine. Santos, who staked his 2014 re-election campaign on the peace process and has seen his popularity plummet in his second term, nonetheless predicts victory and peace for the first time in decades. India, US Ex-Im Bank in talks on $8-9 bln nuclear loan, snags remain By Sanjeev Miglani and Douglas Busvine NEW DELHI, Sept 22 (Reuters) - India is negotiating with U.S. Export-Import Bank for an $8-9 billion loan to finance six Westinghouse Electric nuclear reactors, two sources familiar with the talks said, although a lending freeze at the trade agency threatens progress. The mega-project, the result of warming U.S.-India ties in recent years, could open up billions of dollars of further investment in India's nuclear power sector, which was for decades shut out of the global market. India now targets a tenfold expansion in capacity to 63,000 MW by 2032, and U.S., French and Russian companies are among those chasing the business. The Westinghouse deal, however, is contingent on financing and Ex-Im cannot approve loans of more than $10 million, owing to a row in the U.S. Congress over board appointments stemming from a campaign by conservatives to close the government lender. Only two of five seats on Ex-Im's board are filled and the appointment of a third director - the minimum needed to clear board decisions - is on hold due to opposition from the Senate Banking Committee Chairman, Republican Richard Shelby. "Financing of the reactors is the critical piece; everything is down to this," said one source involved in protracted negotiations to build the reactors in the south-eastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The source, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said Indian negotiators and Ex-Im officials were trying to set the terms of the financial package in the hope that the freeze on the bank, affecting potential sales of several major U.S. companies, would lift soon. Westinghouse is owned by Japan's Toshiba Corp but is based in the United States. In addition to U.S. Ex-Im, India is also seeking funding from Japan and South Korea for the reactors to be built in Kovvada, two sources familiar with the talks said. Ex-Im had asked a South Korean export credit agency if it would be interested in partly financing the Westinghouse deal, since some of the nuclear equipment and materials are expected to come from South Korea, an official at the agency with direct knowledge of the discussions told Reuters. The agency was willing to fund a part if a Korean contractor was involved, with Ex-Im providing the majority of the total, the official said. The U.S. bank had not made any request to its Japanese counterpart to extend loans to the nuclear project in India, a source with direct knowledge said in Tokyo. LEADERSHIP LOBBY Both U.S. President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been promoting the nuclear deal, which was stuck for years because of an Indian law that made nuclear equipment suppliers liable in case of an accident, and not just the plant operators as is the global norm. India has since set up an insurance pool to indemnify suppliers, and both Westinghouse and India's state-run operator Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) are working to a June 2017 deadline to sign the contract laid down by Obama and Modi. "The goal right now is to get that financing done during President Obama's tenure, knowing full well that it may or may not stick in a new administration following the ... presidential election," said industry veteran Vijay Sazawal, principal of International Atomic Energy Consulting in Washington D.C. While negotiators are unlikely to nail down a contract under Obama, who steps down in January, their challenge will be to come up with concessional financing terms that will make Westinghouse's AP1000 reactors affordable. Westinghouse did not respond to a request for comment, while a U.S. Ex-Im Bank spokeswoman declined to comment. An NPCIL official said the firm had nothing to say at this stage. Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. Congress were pushing this week to include a provision in a must-pass spending measure that would lift the board quorum requirement for deals above $10 million. But negotiations between party leaders were dragging on and congressional aides and lobbyists said on Tuesday it was unclear whether the Ex-Im provision would prove too controversial to make it into the final spending extension package, needed to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1. The deal with Westinghouse would be the first since a landmark 2008 U.S.-India nuclear pact that allowed New Delhi access to foreign technology and finance even though it has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and runs an active weapons programme. Under the rules of non-proliferation, no U.S. or Japanese firm could engage in nuclear trade with a non-signatory, but since Washington made an exception for India, Tokyo has also signalled its assent. The nuclear agreement crafted by the George W. Bush administration was seen initially as an attempt to build India into a military and economic power to counter China, but has since become linked to Washington's effort to wean major economies such as India off fossil fuels to cleaner forms of energy. India is also in talks with Russia to build four more reactors on top of the two already completed in Kudankulam in southern Tamil Nadu state, as well as with France's EDF for the construction of six reactors of 1650 MW each in western India, which would be the world's biggest nuclear power complex. But talks with Westinghouse are more advanced than those with the French, with the two sides aiming to sign an early works agreement next month, sources familiar with their progress said. A delegation from the U.S.-based firm visited New Delhi earlier this month to finalise the pact that would include the timeline and up-front costs such as land acquisition and site preparation, said a source familiar with the matter. German committee reaches deal on inheritance tax break reforms for firms' heirs BERLIN, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The mediation committee of Germany's upper and lower houses of parliament has agreed to reform tax breaks for people who inherit firms, officials said on Thursday, after a bitter dispute between political parties that has lasted nearly two years. The mediation committee of the Bundestag lower house and the Bundesrat upper house agreed that heirs should in future still be able to get a 100 percent tax break if they keep the firm going and preserve jobs. But the conditions for those tax breaks will be made stricter. The Constitutional Court ruled in December 2014 that the existing system violated the principle of equal tax treatment in its scope and application and said tighter restrictions were needed for family-owned firms to qualify for tax breaks. A 2009 law allows ownership of "Mittelstand" firms - the medium-sized and often family-owned manufacturing companies that form the backbone of Europe's largest economy - to be passed from one generation to the next tax-free as long as the firms' heirs keep them going for seven years and maintain employment levels. The Constitutional Court had given the government until mid-2016 to propose new legislation, but that deadline passed without a result. The model that the mediation committee agreed on still needs to be given the green light by both the Bundestag and Bundesrat. It was unclear as to when the compromise will be put to either house of parliament. Around 90 percent of German companies are family-run and they employ around half of the country's working population. "No tolerance" for repeat of abuses in upcoming Iraq campaign-U.S. envoy By Yara Bayoumy UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. envoy to the anti-Islamic State coalition said on Wednesday there would be "no tolerance" for sectarian torture and other abuses resulting from the planned offensive to recapture the group's de-facto Iraqi capital of Mosul. Brett McGurk, speaking at a meeting on the sidelines of the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders, said the coalition was already taking steps to ensure there would be no repeat of the abuses seen in the wake of the recapture of Iraq's Falluja in June, when Shi'ite militias detained, abused and tortured scores of Sunni civilians. Improved screening of people fleeing the city was crucial, he said, to ensure that ordinary residents received assistance and did not face abuses. "We must make sure the screening process in Mosul is done professionally with some third-party observers at the screening centers, that is what we hope to have," McGurk told the meeting. With a population at one time as large as two million, mostly Sunni Mosul is the largest urban center under the ultra-hardline militants' control. Its fall would mark their effective defeat in Iraq, according to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Given the plethora of armed forces involved in fighting in Iraq, including the Kurdish peshmerga and the Popular Mobilization Forces, a government-affiliated coalition of mostly Iranian-backed Shi'ite Muslim militias, there are major concerns on how the offensive will play out and whether it could unleash further sectarian violence. McGurk said Washington was working to make sure that many security forces used in Mosul would be those trained by the coalition and that the roles of different forces would be agreed on ahead of the operation, which could begin as soon as October. "We need to plan for the worst-case scenario, we can hope for the best but plan for the worst. We do not know what Daesh will do in Mosul," he said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. Lise Grande, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, told the same meeting that Iraqi authorities had given reassurances that the screening of people leaving Mosul would be done by security forces and not by militias. Families would be transported either to an emergency camp or public buildings, she said. Grande said Iraqi security forces would take steps to protect civilians, including alerting them of the upcoming campaign, identifying escape routes, and preparing safety cards. The U.N. says the Mosul offensive risks triggering a major humanitarian crisis, with 1 million or more people potentially fleeing the city. Stephen O'Brien, the U.N. aid chief, appealed to countries to speed up their aid donations ahead of the operation. "To prepare for Mosul, partners launched a flash appeal for $284 million year in July this year ... and 48 percent of this funding, that's $136 million, has been received," he said. In first U.N. address as leader, Suu Kyi defends efforts on Rohingyas By David Brunnstrom UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - In her first address to the U.N. General Assembly as national leader, Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi defended her government's efforts to resolve a crisis over treatment of the country's Muslim minority. Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner and Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been criticized for doing too little to address the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar's Rakhine state, said the government did not fear international scrutiny, but asked "for the understanding and the constructive contribution of the international community." "We are committed to a sustainable solution that will lead to peace, stability and development for all communities within" Myanmar, she said. "Our government is taking a holistic approach that makes development central to both short- and long-term programs aimed at promoting understanding and trust." Suu Kyi pointed to the establishment of an advisory commission for Rakhine state chaired by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, with a mandate covering basic rights and security issues. Suu Kyi said there had been "persistent opposition from some quarters" to the establishment of the commission, but the government would persevere in its efforts to achieve peace in Rakhine. "By standing firm against the forces of prejudice and intolerance, we are reaffirming our faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person." Suu Kyi told a subsequent event at the Asia Society in New York that Myanmar was only at the start of its road to democracy, given that 25 percent of parliamentary seats were still held by the unelected members of the military and peace needed to be affirmed with all armed groups. She said the main priority was to create jobs and the government would have to ensure investment was attracted to less-developed ethnic minority areas. Suu Kyi said the government was trying to bring progress as well as peace to Rakhine state. "The Rakhines are poor, the Muslims, they are poor, and we want everybody there to be safe and secure. What we have been trying to do is to find a way of relieving communal tension and putting and end to communal strife," she said. 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 in Myanmar. Around 125,000 Rohingya remain confined in temporary camps after waves of deadly violence in 2012 between Buddhists and Muslims, when more than 100 people were killed. The Rohingya have long been persecuted, being seen by much of the majority Buddhist population as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even though many have lived in Myanmar for generations. Most were stripped of their ability to vote in last year's election, which brought Suu Kyi to power as de facto leader. Under global scrutiny, China has to cut steel exports -industry body By Manolo Serapio Jr DALIAN, China, Sept 22 (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. 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. KDB to extend $45 mln credit line to help unload Hanjin cargo By Joyce Lee SEOUL, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Korea Development Bank (KDB), the lead creditor of Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd said on Thursday it will offer a 50 billion won ($45 million) 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. 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. ($1 = 1,099.9000 won) Biden warns Ukraine on reforms, says EU sanctions on Russia at risk Sept 21 (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 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. China's steel demand seen shrinking for a third straight year -CISA By Manolo Serapio Jr DALIAN, China, Sept 22 (Reuters) - China's steel demand is likely to drop for a third year in a row, an industry official said on Thursday, as mills in the world's top producer focus on reducing capacity. China's crude steel consumption slipped 1.9 percent over January to July and there may be a slight drop for the year, said Wang Liqun, vice chairman of the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA). "For the whole year, the rate of decline may be smaller," Wang said on the sidelines of an industry conference. Driven by a drop in China's steel inventory levels amid shutdowns in the past year, steel prices have rallied more than 40 percent from end-May to mid-August, but have since fallen back as output recovered. The price rally helped boost steel margins among member mills of CISA, which includes major producers such as Baoshan Iron and Steel (Baosteel). On average, profit margins among mills stood at around 1 percent in January-July, Wang said. Data from Baosteel shows margins were at minus 2.2 percent for China's large and medium-sized steel mills last year. For the rest of 2016, it would be very difficult for the margin to rise further "but if we can keep it at 1 percent it would be very good", CISA's Wang said. Ji Chao, assistant to Baosteel's president, said the market needs to "get used to this new scenario of slower, steady growth in demand". At the moment, the priority for China's biggest listed steelmaker is to reduce capacity, in line with Beijing's efforts to tackle a chronic glut, Ji said at the conference. Baosteel has pledged to cut its production capacity by 9.2 million tonnes in three years. It is also taking over loss-making Wuhan Iron and Steel to create the world's No. 2 steelmaker as part of Beijing's push to overhaul the stricken industry. Faced with global anger from Asia to the United States and Europe over a flood of cheap Chinese steel products, Beijing has 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. Reality check for Australia's "mining to dining" hopes: Russell By Clyde Russell LAUNCESTON, Australia, Sept 22 (Reuters) - One of the themes in Australia as the resource boom comes to an end is that the country will be able to compensate by boosting its agricultural sector, the so-called "mining to dining" manoeuvre. An Internet search of the terms Australia and "mining to dining" reveals almost 4,000 items, many focused on the view that China, the top buyer of Australia's resources, will not only continue to suck up the country's iron ore and coal, but also all the farm goods it can produce. This idea became all the more prevalent as the prices of iron ore and coal, Australia's major exports, started to plunge in 2011, shattering the unrealistic hopes of politicians and voters of an endless commodity boom that would deliver a tax revenue bonanza. The gloom was reinforced by the downgrading of expectations of the next big hope, liquefied natural gas (LNG), where prices dropped by more than 70 percent in the past 2 1/2 years just as Australia was completing eight new export plants of the super-chilled fuel. Enter agricultural produce and China's seemingly endless appetite for quality beef, dairy, wine and fish as Australia's new positive narrative. However, while Australian agricultural exports have shown strong growth in recent years, they too appear to now be experiencing the limits of China's appetite. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), a federal government forecaster, said it expects the value of the country's farm exports to drop by 5.6 percent to A$44 billion ($33.6 billion) in the 2016-17 fiscal year that started on July 1. This is despite an expected 2.8 percent rise in the volume of farm output, with ABARES saying price declines for exports of wheat, dairy, barley and chickpeas will more than offset expected price increases for wool, wine, lamb, sugar, cotton and some other farm products. The struggles of the dairy industry illustrate just how difficult it is to engineer a sustainable lift in production. Dairy processors ramped up output in recent years on the back of rising Chinese imports of both fresh and powdered milk products, encouraging farmers to increase output and the amount of land devoted to dairy. However, prices collapsed as China built up its own dairy industry and placed stricter controls on imported products. Nonetheless, Australian farm exports have performed admirably in recent years, rising 6.8 percent from A$41.2 billion in the 2013-14 year to the estimate for the current 2016-17 period. MINERALS AND ENERGY ON THE REBOUND? But they still have some way to go to close in on iron ore, which remains top dog despite the 80 percent plunge in spot Asian prices <_.IO62-CNISI> between February 2011 and the recent low point reached in December last year. Iron ore exports are forecast to earn A$48.85 billion in 2016-17, according to the government's June Resource and Energy Quarterly publication. This is down from the record A$74.6 billion in 2013-14, but the point to note is that there is an upside risk to the current forecast, given iron ore's <_.IO62-CNISI> 29 percent rally so far this year. However, Australia's farm exports are now more valuable than its shipments of coal. The government forecasts combined metallurgical and thermal coal exports worth A$31.9 billion in 2016-17, down from A$40 billion in 2013-14. This is a reflection of weaker coal prices, but, similar to iron ore, these appear to have bottomed and are on track to record the first year of gains in 2016 after five years of losses. The value of LNG exports is also expected to surge in 2016-17 as the new plants ramp up output, with the government forecasting A$25.3 billion for the fiscal year, up 55 percent from the A$16.3 billion in the 2013-14 year. The value of all Australia's resource and energy exports is expected to reach A$163.4 billion in 2016-17, up from the prior year's A$158.2 billion, but down from A$194.9 billion in 2013-14. This means resource and energy exports are still nearly four times the value of farm exports. The gap has narrowed in recent years, but mainly because resource and energy prices have fallen sharply while farm products have performed better. The shoe now appears to be on the other foot, with rural products struggling and mineral and energy commodities showing signs of a sustainable recovery. Abandoning discretion, Iranians proclaim their role in Syrian war By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Babak Dehghanpisheh DUBAI/BEIRUT, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Abandoning a long-standing reticence, Iranians are increasingly candid about their involvement in Syria's war, and informal recruiters are now openly calling for volunteers to defend the Islamic Republic and fellow Shi'ites against Sunni militants. With public opinion swinging behind the cause, numbers of would-be fighters have soared far beyond what Tehran is prepared to deploy in Syria, according to former fighters who spoke to Reuters, and commanders quoted by Iranian media. Iran has been sending fighters to Syria since the early stages of the five-year war to support its ally, President Bashar al-Assad, in the struggle against Sunni rebels backed by Gulf Arab states and Western powers. Once Tehran described these forces as military "advisers" but with around 400 killed on the battlefield, this discretion has slipped and several thousand are now believed to be fighting Islamic State and other groups trying to topple Assad. Many Iranians initially opposed involvement in the war, harbouring little sympathy for Assad. But now they are warming to the mission, believing that Islamic State is a threat to the existence of their country best fought outside Iran's borders. "The first line for the security of Iran is Syria and Iraq," a would-be volunteer named Mojtaba told Reuters by email from Tehran. Mojtaba, who asked that he be identified by only his first name, said he had been trying in vain to get out to fight in Syria for the past two years. While Islamic State still holds large areas of Syria and Iraq, it has so far failed to stage attacks in neighbouring Iran like it has in Turkey. Nevertheless, Iranian media have reported the breaking up of cells linked to the jihadist group at home, and the large numbers of people such as Mojtaba willing to join the battle in Syria suggest Tehran has the stamina to pursue its involvement there for years if it wishes. "DEFENDERS OF THE SHRINE" Iran alludes to its fighters in Syria as "defenders of the shrine", a reference to the Sayeda Zeinab mosque near Damascus, which is where a granddaughter of the Prophet Mohammad is said to be buried, as well as other shrines revered by Shi'ites. It is casting its recruitment net wide. As well as Iranians, it has gathered Shi'ites from Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan to battle the Syrian opposition in what has become a sectarian conflict. Brigadier General Mohsen Kazemeini, the Revolutionary Guard Corps commander for greater Tehran, said last month there were so many volunteers that "only a small number of them are sent to (Syria)", according to the Defa Press site. Fighters killed in Syria are praised as heroes on state television and given lavish funerals. Iranian wrestler Saeed Abdevali dedicated the bronze medal he won at the Rio Olympics to the families of "defenders of the shrine" who have been killed. Some volunteers, disappointed at the long waiting list, take a shortcut. They fly directly to Damascus and volunteer at the Sayeda Zeinab shrine, according to postings on Modafeon, a web site dedicated to news and pictures of the "defenders". The potent message of protecting the shrines has drawn in Shi'ite Afghans, some of whom live in Iran and others in Afghanistan. These Afghans fighting in Syria under the supervision of the Revolutionary Guards are known as the Fatemiyoun. SACRED BELIEFS A 26-year old Afghan student living in Mashad in northeast Iran described how he was sent with other Fatemiyoun to fight in Damascus and Aleppo for about 45 days after limited training. "My motivation is the same as the Iranians," the student, who asked not to be identified because of security concerns, said. "We are both fighting in Syria, so it shows our cause is far beyond geographic borders. We are fighting to defend our sacred beliefs and Shi'ite ideology." Asked if he thought Iranian society had grown more welcoming to those who fight in Syria, he said "One hundred percent. When I was deployed, people were saying that they were doubtful if our fight would change anything. But now they respect the fighters more, as they are more familiar with the threats the rebels in Syria and Iraq can cause to Iran." He said that pay, or the promise of gaining Iranian citizenship upon their return from the battlefield, are also incentives for some Afghans to volunteer. The Afghan fighters get about $450 a month, according to a Fatemiyoun commander interviewed by the Tasnim news site. Senior officials regularly discuss the role of the Revolutionary Guards and Iranian special forces in Syria in terms of confronting the existential threat that mostly Shi'ite Iran faces from Sunni militant groups such as Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS. Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said this appealed more to public opinion than support for Assad. "Fighting Shi'ite-hating bloodthirsty ISIS jihadists is easier to sell to Iranians than wasting billions on a ruthless dictator who gasses his population," he said. A video regularly featured on Iranian state television shows a group of children wearing fatigues and combat boots singing about a religious duty to fight in Syria. "The red lines around the shrine are made of my blood," they sing. Children under 18 may go to Syria to serve in non-combat support roles as long as they are accompanied by a guardian, according to postings on the Modafeon web site. LESSON FROM EUROPE Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has described the wars in Syria and Iraq, where Iranian-backed authorities are also fighting Sunni militants, as crucial to the survival of the Islamic Republic. If Iranians had not gone and died fighting there, "the enemy would enter the country", he said, This perception has won over many doubters. Sasan Sabermotlagh, a 34-year-old decorator in Tehran, said he was initially "100 percent" against the war, but he and many others he knows had changed their mind. Despite Iran's often fraught relations with the West, Sabermotlagh cited attacks staged by Islamic State in Europe in recent months. "Now that people completely know (Islamic State) and after the incidents in France, Germany and elsewhere, you can say that 90 percent of the people who criticised the 'defenders of the shrine' don't anymore," he said. Sabermotlagh even considered joining the fight. "When I see the videos and the pictures it has a big effect on me," he said. "I think if (Islamic State) or a similar group find their way to Iran then we will suffer similar things." Lloyd's of London cautions on Brexit as H1 pre-tax profits rise 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. Bangladesh finds 18 bodies after ferry capsizes DHAKA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Bangladeshi rescue workers have recovered 18 bodies since an overcrowded ferry capsized on Wednesday under the weight of a collapsing river bank, police said on Thursday. Low-lying Bangladesh, with extensive inland waterways and slack safety standards, has an appalling record of ferry accidents, with casualties sometimes running into the hundreds. Overcrowding is a common factor but little is done to improve safety even though the government continually vows to toughen regulations. S.Korea orders battery safety measures for Samsung Note 7 By Se Young Lee SEOUL, Sept 22 (Reuters) - South Korea said on Thursday it ordered Samsung Electronics Co Ltd 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. Ericsson plans to stop manufacturing in Sweden, cutting 3,000 jobs -media 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) Austria reduces estimate of 2015 budget deficit to 1 pct of GDP VIENNA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Austria's national statistics office on Thursday trimmed its estimate of the country's budget deficit for last year to 1.0 percent of gross domestic product from the 1.2 percent reported in March. Some 785 members of Turkey's labour ministry sacked following coup, minister says ANKARA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Some 785 members of Turkey's labour ministry have been sacked for ties to the U.S.-based cleric who Ankara blames for orchestrating a failed coup in July, Turkey's labour minister said on Thursday. Mehmet Muezzinoglu made the comment at a meeting with reporters in the capital, Ankara. Some 100,000 people in the military, civil service, police and judiciary have been sacked or suspended following the failed July 15 coup attempt, when a group of rogue soldiers attempted to topple the government. Bush Radio 89.5 fm is the Mother of Community Radio in Africa. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Bush Radio exists with the sole purpose to uplift, develop and educate the communities it serves. To find out more about Bush Radio go to www.bushradio.co.za, where you can also listen on-line. Please share your comments on our news: feedback@bushradio.co.za Nigeria would welcome U.N. intermediaries in Boko Haram talks to free girls ABUJA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Nigeria would welcome United Nations representatives as intermediaries in any talks with Boko Haram on the release of about 200 schoolgirls kidnapped from the northeastern village of Chibok in 2014, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday. Nigeria would "welcome intermediaries such as UN outfits, to step in", Buhari told United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at a meeting on sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly, in New York, a statement issued by the president's office said. Rocket Internet trims losses, increases debt buyback By Emma Thomasson BERLIN, Sept 22 (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. 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. 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) China to crack down on fake overseas M&A deals to curb money flight BEIJING, Sept 22 (Reuters) - China's forex regulator said on Thursday it will crack down on fake overseas mergers and acquisitions used by some local firms and individuals to move assets out of the country, even as capital outflow pressure is easing. The government will support "genuine" overseas mergers and acquisitions by Chinese firms, although rapid rises in outbound investment have had an impact on cross-border capital flows, Guo Song, an official with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), told a Beijing news conference. "In the past year we found some Chinese firms and individuals moving assets overseas via outbound investment, this is certainly a key area of concern for us," Guo said, without disclosing details. The authorities will "definitely put high pressure" on tackling fake overseas mergers and acquisitions, he said. China will crack down on illegal activities to keep its foreign exchange markets stable, SAFE official Xu Weigang told the same conference. The Chinese government has been encouraging local firms to invest overseas under Beijing's "One Belt, One Road" programme, but rapid rises in outbound direct investment (ODI) have fanned concerns over increased pressure on China's foreign exchange reserves and external payments. China's overall ODI jumped 18.3 percent in 2015 to a record $145.67 billion, surpassing the annual foreign direct investment that reached $135.6 billion, earlier government data showed. Despite the phenomenon, pressure on cross-border capital outflows is easing, which will help lower depreciation pressure on the yuan, SAFE spokeswoman Wang Chunying said. Du Peng, another SAFE official, however, said no "large-sized" capital outflow via fake trade deals has been detected by the supervisory body so far, and discrepancy between custom data and forex data is no proof that fake trade deals are happening. Recent data showed net foreign exchange sales by China's commercial banks in August fell to the lowest in about a year, but net foreign exchange sales by the People's Bank of China in August hit the highest in six months, as the central bank sought to support the yuan. Nigeria says would welcome U.N. help in negotiating schoolgirls' release ABUJA, Sept 22 (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 organisation 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. Violent past revisited as Afghanistan signs accord with notorious warlord By Josh Smith and Mirwais Harooni KABUL, Sept 22 (Reuters) - 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 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 U.S.-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. Indonesia seizes fertilizer ship in Bali, suspecting bomb plot DENPASAR, Indonesia, Sept 22 (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. PRESS DIGEST - RUSSIA - Sept 22 The following are some stories in Russia's newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. VEDOMOSTI www.vedomosti.ru - Russia's Economy Ministry has prepared a revised scenario for the country's economc development. The ministry expects the recession-battered economy to return to growth next year, but recovery will be sluggish, the daily writes. - The largest seller of furniture and home furnishings in the world, Swedish company IKEA, is preparing to launch online sales in the Moscow region, the daily reports. KOMMERSANT www.kommersant.ru - Russia's Ministry of Education and Science is preparing a large-scale reform of scientific personnel training. It has developed a preliminary model of postgraduate studies, the daily wriyes. IZVESTIA www.izvestia.ru - Russia's national rating agency has conducted a study of Russia's agriculture and come to the conclusion that this branch of the economy has emerged from crisis. For the first time since 2009, the share of the agricultural sector in Russia's economy has returned to 4 percent,the daily says. - The number of foreign tourists visiting Russia has increased by 20 percent over the past year mainly due to tourists from Asia and Southern Europe, the newspaper writes. According to the Federal Tourism Agency, Russia is among the ten most visited countries in the world. Turkey labour ministry sacks 785 employees since failed coup - minister ANKARA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Turkey's labour ministry has so far sacked nearly 800 employees over links to a U.S.-based cleric blamed by Ankara for orchestrating a failed coup in July, the minister said on Thursday. Around 100,000 people in the military, civil service, police and judiciary have been sacked or suspended following the July 15 coup attempt, when a group of rogue soldiers attempted to topple the government. Turkey blames followers of the cleric Fethullah Gulen for the coup and has demanded his extradition from the United States. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, has denied the charges and condemned the coup. The scope of the crackdown has alarmed rights groups and some of Turkey's Western allies, who fear President Tayyip Erdogan is using the failed coup as a pretext to crack down on dissent and also to go after those suspected of being sympathetic to Kurdish militants. Labour Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu told reporters his ministry had sacked 785 people and was investigating a further 319 over possible links to Gulen's movement. It has also reinstated 383 people suspended after the coup, he added. Separately, more than 100 court employees have been detained at a courthouse in Istanbul on suspicion of being linked to Gulen, broadcaster Haberturk reported. Erdogan accuses Gulen, a former ally-turned-arch-foe, of building a "state within a state" that threatens Turkey's democracy and national security. Three former Tesco executives appear in UK court on fraud charges LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Three former senior executives of Tesco appeared in court on Thursday, charged with fraud and false accounting at Britain's biggest supermarket chain. 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) earlier this month 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, lawyers for the men said their clients would plead not guilty. They were told they would face trial at Southwark Crown Court and were granted bail until their next court appearance on Oct. 20. The SFO said the alleged crimes occurred between February and September 2014. Tesco identified a 250 million pound ($327 million) overstatement of first-half profit in September 2014 and the discovery led to the suspension of eight senior members of staff including Bush, Rogberg and Scouler. It saw Tesco's shares plummet and plunged the firm into the worst crisis in its near 100-year history. The profit overstatement, discovered three weeks after Dave Lewis took over as Chief Executive from the sacked Philip Clarke, was later raised to 263 million pounds. The SFO investigation into Tesco continues. Gabon oil workers to stay home until final election result -union LIBREVILLE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Gabon oil workers will stay at home from Thursday over concerns about potential violence when a court delivers a final verdict on the central African country's disputed election result, their union said. The statement, signed by the union's deputy secretary general, Sylvain Mayabi Binet, added that the minimum service at Gabon oil installations will be assured by "expatriate staff whose families are not exposed to the danger of likely unrest". Riots erupted after results from an Aug. 27 election handed victory to incumbent President Ali Bongo by fewer than 6,000 votes, extending a half-century dynasty that has been in place since his father took power in 1967. Presidential rival Jean Ping has denounced the poll as a fraud and the Constitutional Court has until Friday to decide on Ping's complaint. Gabon produces around 200,000 barrels a day, its main producers being Total and Shell. "If there is a refusal to secure installations ... the workers will leave them at the employer's risk," Binet said, adding: "Forcing workers to stay on site, against their will ... would be to expose installations to all kinds of risks." Authorities are stepping up security in the capital Libreville, where much of this month's violence occurred. Turkey won't take part in Raqqa operation if Kurdish militants do - Erdogan spox ANKARA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman on Thursday ruled out the possibility of Turkey joining an operation by coalition forces against Islamic State militants in Syria's Raqqa if Kurdish fighters also take part. "Negotiations are still ongoing, there is nothing certain yet. Our principled stance is the same as it was with Manbij and Jarablus. It is out of the question for us to take part in an operation in which the PYD/YPG are present," Ibrahim Kalin told an interview on state run news channel TRT Haber. Turkey considers Kurdish YPG forces fighting in Syria as closely linked to Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants, and deems both groups terrorist organisations. Lloyd's of London readying EU move plans By Carolyn Cohn LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The Lloyd's of London insurance market is already working on plans to move some business to the European Union, aiming to be ready for the shift as soon as Britain starts divorce proceedings from the bloc, its chairman said on Thursday. Britain is not expected to leave the EU for several years but the remarks from chairman John Nelson show how some financial players are acting rapidly due to the time it will take to set up operations in countries that remain in the bloc. The world's leading specialty insurance market said earlier this month it would have to operate some business from the EU after Brexit if Britain loses so-called passporting rights for financial companies based in the country to sell products across the bloc. Lloyd's, which started life in Edward Lloyd's coffee house in 1688, and houses more than 90 insurance syndicates in a striking building in the City of London, is already preparing for that possibility, Nelson told Reuters. "Our aim is to have a contingency plan so we can write business onshore in the EU ready by the time Article 50 is triggered," he said by telephone. "We've had on the shelf quite a few options, we are now refining those options," Nelson said, without giving more details. Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out giving formal notification this year of Britain's intention to leave the EU under Article 50 of the EU treaty, but has not given any clear guidance of her intentions beyond that. Irish prime minister Enda Kenny said this week that members of the British government have indicated they may be ready to launch the formal negotiations as soon as January or February 2017. European Council President Donald Tusk has made similar comments, citing recent talks with May. Once the exit process has been started, Britain has an initial two-year period to negotiate its departure. But Nelson's remarks show that some financial players may not be prepared to wait for the outcome of those talks. SYNDICATE SHELTER The syndicates which operate under the auspices of Lloyd's offer specialist insurance and reinsurance in areas such as marine, energy and political risk. They benefit from Lloyd's strong credit rating and its licences that enable the syndicates to sell their products across the globe. The traditional market is still based on face-to-face contact during specified trading hours, unlike London's stock market, which is fully electronic. Around 11 percent of the 25 billion pounds ($33 billion) in gross premiums written last year by the Lloyd's syndicates came from the EU, although it is insurance, rather than reinsurance, business that would be affected by the loss of passporting. Reinsurers act as a financial backstop for insurers, helping them to pay for large damage claims from hurricanes or earthquakes in exchange for part of the premium. Insurers have shown more willingness than banks or asset managers to disclose plans for post-Brexit moves to the continent. Lloyd's of London insurer Beazley has said it is planning an insurance subsidiary in Dublin, while rival Hiscox has said it would consider an EU-based insurance company. To carry on selling insurance to EU countries, the most likely option is for Lloyd's to turn one of its European branches into a regulated subsidiary, insurance specialists say. Dublin is seen as the most attractive centre for Lloyd's to set up a European base, due to its proximity to London and the English language. The insurance regulator is also considered to be similar in operation to Britain's Prudential Regulation Authority. If Lloyd's sets up operations in the EU, syndicates which operate only on Lloyd's and do not offer other insurance business would not need to set up their own EU unit, insurance specialists say. The regulatory process of setting up an insurance subsidiary could take up to a year, they added, while recruiting staff could add to lengthen that timescale, saying firms could not afford to wait too long before making those decisions. Lloyd's posted a 22 percent rise in pre-tax profits to 1.46 billion pounds in the first half of 2016, helped by strong investment returns, it said earlier on Thursday. But the market 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. Lloyd's said claims had increased in 2016, mainly due to wildfires in Fort McMurray, Canada. Insurance and reinsurance premiums have been falling in the past few years, as new capital, including pensions and hedge funds, comes into the sector, to take advantage of double-digit returns. Lloyd's has also been acting to fend off loss of its position in emerging markets by applying for new licences across the world. A 2014 report by the London Market Group, a trade body, showed London was losing market share in high-growth markets of Asia, Latin America and Africa. The British capital's competitiveness in insurance was "under threat from other locations which are investing heavily", it said. Islamist militants free Indonesian in southern Philippines MANILA, Sept 22 (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. Oxford ranked world's top university, just as Brexit looms By Peter Hobson LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - 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, but its vice-chancellor warned that Brexit could damage its long-term prospects. 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. Oxford, which educated four of the last six British prime ministers, ousted its U.S. rival after its research funding rose 10 percent and overall funding rose to 1.4 billion pounds ($1.83 billion), while the impact of its research increased, said Phil Baty, editor of the rankings. But Baty said Britain's exit from the European Union "is a serious risk to our success" by making it harder to attract top academic staff and plug them into research projects. Brexit risks driving away students, staff and funding, Oxford's vice-chancellor, Professor Louise Richardson, told BBC radio. Richardson said rival universities had stepped up efforts to poach the 17 percent of Oxford's faculty who are EU citizens, and whose status in Britain was no longer guaranteed following the June 23 vote. "There are many universities in the world that would be thrilled to have them and who are approaching them and asking if they would return to their universities instead," she said. The government had also offered no reassurance that it would replace around 67 million pounds a year it receives from the European Research Council to fund its work, she said. "To be honest we're really quite worried about it." While Oxford, the University of Cambridge and London's Imperial College make the top 10 along with ETH Zurich, the list is dominated by U.S. 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. Cambridge was ranked fourth, Imperial eighth and ETH Zurich ninth. But St Andrews university in Scotland and Sheffield university fell out of the top 100. In Europe, Germany and the Netherlands were the third and fourth best performers, with 41 and 13 universities respectively in the top 200. Southern European countries such as Spain and Italy did less well due to underfunding and problems recruiting good staff, Baty said. More broadly, 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 another four joining the top 200. Peking University rose to 29th place from 42, and Tsinghua ranked 35, up from 47th last year. Two police missing after al Shabaab attack base in Kenya By Humphrey Malalo NAIROBI, Sept 22 (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. Spain's regional rift makes third election more likely By Sonya Dowsett GUERNICA, Spain, Sept 22 (Reuters) - At the back of a council building in the Spanish town of Guernica, people take photos of each other in front of an oak sapling, a direct descendent of sacred trees under whose branches village elders held assemblies in medieval times. This oak, which still plays an important role in the swearing-in ceremony for the regional head, is revered as a symbol of the independent spirit of the Basque people, just over two million of whom live in this mountainous northern part of Spain. "I don't feel Spanish, I've never felt Spanish. Since I was a little girl I've felt Basque and that's it," says Maddalen Txakartegi, a 33-year-old doctor standing chatting with friends at a market nearby. Despite the identity rift, many had hoped regional parties from the Basque Country and Catalonia would help unblock a nine-month national political stalemate by furnishing parliamentary seats needed to reach a majority and form a government. This has been the case for five of 12 governments during Spain's four decades of democracy, with regional parties acting as the glue to stick minority-led national governments together often in exchange for more favourable terms on regional issues. As Spain tries to avoid a possible third general election in one year, two regional ballots in the Basque Country and Galicia this weekend had been framed as game changers, re-defining the balance of power between parties at a regional and national level and smoothing the way for coalition government in Madrid. But acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's virulent anti-regionalist rhetoric in the face of a breakaway bid from the north-eastern region of Catalonia has alienated these parties, dividing those who want greater independence for regions from those who believe in centralised rule from Madrid. "These parties that you help to govern in Madrid later say no to your demands," said Andoni Ortuzar, leader of the conservative Basque National Party (PNV) which has ruled the regional government for much of the democratic era. "Rajoy has been like a steam roller, especially in regional issues. It's unlikely that now we are going to help him to govern Spain," he added in an interview with Reuters, ahead of regional elections the PNV is expected to win. The PP says regional parties should focus not on getting more autonomy but on creating jobs and ensuring Spain's remarkable three-year economic rebound continues. "If the PNV was really interested in the well-being of the Basques, it should help Mariano Rajoy form a government and become Prime Minister so the economic recovery can continue," said Nerea Llanos, PP secretary general in the Basque Country. AN UNEASY UNION High mountain barriers and diverse climates have forged strong regional identities in Spain, ruthlessly brought together under the centralising forces of the four-decade dictatorship of Francisco Franco, but given their own autonomous rule when Spain entered democracy in the late 1970s. The Basque Country has one of the greatest levels of autonomy of nearly any region in Europe with powers to raise its own taxes and control over where most of that revenue goes. Like Catalonia, it also has its own police and controls policy areas ranging from education to health and jobs. High spending on education and health and investment in industry has given the region one of the highest economic outputs per head, second only to Madrid, one of the lowest school drop-out rates and the lowest unemployment rate in Spain. "For me, the Pais Vasco elections this Sunday are much more important than the Spanish elections," said Inaki Larrazabal, a 57-year old businessman buying cheese in Guernica market. "Most of the decisions that will affect me are made here rather than Madrid." Stallholders set out piles of tomatoes and green peppers, chatting in the pre-Romance Basque language, a linguistic riddle peppered with 'x's and 'k's that bears no relation to Spanish, French or Portuguese. It was on a market day in 1937 that German bombers at the request of Franco razed the town to the ground killing hundreds of civilians in an attack that horrified the world and inspired the eponymous painting by Pablo Picasso. Regions have recovered their identities since the dark days of the Civil War and the dictatorship that followed, reviving previously suppressed languages like Basque and Catalan. But some want more, with Catalonia seeking to hold a referendum on independence from Spain, blocked in courts by the PP government. WE WANT MORE The Basque government, led by the PNV, also wants more autonomy, stopping short of full independence. It says Madrid has not conferred competencies over pensions and prisons like it was supposed to under the terms of the constitution. "Rajoy is deaf at the moment," said Ortuzar of the PNV. Polls show the PNV winning most votes in a Basque regional election on Sunday, but it may have to ally with another party to form a majority government. Unlike in the Spanish parliament, coalition administrations are the norm in the Basque Country. Ortuzar says Madrid's stonewalling of requests for more autonomy will only raise pressure for more independence. Death toll from air strike in Yemen rises to 26, sources say SANAA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The death toll from an Arab coalition air strike which hit a house in a residential area in western Yemen has risen to 26 people, medics and residents said on Thursday. A spokesman for the Saudi-led alliance was not immediately available for comment on the strike, the latest in a string of deadly raids that have killed civilians. The coalition, which began operations in Yemen in March last year to try to reverse the rise to power of the Iran-allied Houthis movement, says it does not target civilians. Alliance fighter jets launched missiles on Wednesday at a residential neighbourhood in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah where Houthi leaders were staying, a resident and medical workers in the Houthi-controlled area told Reuters. The raid hit a house in a neighborhood populated by workers, according to medical services and local officials. Apart from those killed, 60 others were wounded, they said. The deputy governor of Hodeidah province, Hashim Azazi, had earlier put the death toll at 19 civilians, but said rescue workers were still pulling victims out of the rubble. A Houthi leader, Ali al-Amad, said in a Tweet he had survived a raid on the presidential palace. U.N.-sponsored talks to try to end the fighting that has killed more than 10,000 people collapsed in failure last month and the Houthi movement and allied forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh resumed shelling into neighbouring Saudi Arabia. People wounded after rocket fire hits Turkish border town -CNN Turk ISTANBUL, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A rocket fired from Syria hit a market in a Turkish border town on Thursday, 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. Serbia arrests 16 for trafficking migrants to Western Europe BELGRADE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Serbia has arrested 16 people suspected of trafficking refugees from the Middle East, Asia and Africa, as part of increased efforts to stem the flow of illegal migrants trying to reach Western Europe, the interior ministry said on Thursday. In a statement, the ministry said all 16 suspects detained by police and state security agents came from the southern towns of Presevo and Bujanovac, just outside Macedonia. "They facilitated illegal crossings of the border between Macedonia and Serbia and ... transfers through Serbia to EU countries," the statement said. Serbia was at the centre of last year's migrant influx into Europe, when hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war in the Middle East journeyed up through the Balkans to reach sanctuary in the European Union. Over the summer, many migrants have attempted the sea crossing from North Africa to countries such as Italy. But as autumn brings rougher seas, the land route through the Balkans may see a revival of activity. More than 110,000 migrants have passed through the country so far this year, with most heading north towards the border with Hungary, which Budapest sealed a year ago. Around 7,000 migrants are stranded in camps throughout the country, up from 4,000 in July. Many paid smugglers to reach Serbia from Turkey via Macedonia or Bulgaria. Since its creation in July, a Serbian military and police task force that patrols the southern borders with Macedonia and Bulgaria has prevented around 8,000 migrants from entering the country, Defence Ministry spokesman Jovan Krivokapic said. "In the past two weeks, there's an increased pressure of migrants on the Bulgarian border (with Serbia) where we frequently spot groups of over 50 people," he told Reuters. A military and police patrol had found 24 migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan crammed in a van near the border with Bulgaria on Wednesday, Krivokapic said. Late on Wednesday, Serbian prime minister Aleksandar Vucic said Belgrade could tighten its migrant policies. "We cannot become a parking lot for Afghans," news agency Tanjug quoted Vucic as saying at a conference in New York. Warplanes hit Aleppo in heaviest attack in months, defy U.S. By Tom Perry and Ellen Francis BEIRUT, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Warplanes mounted the heaviest air strikes in months against rebel-held districts of the city of Aleppo overnight, as Russia and the Syrian government spurned a U.S. plea to halt flights, burying any hope for the revival of a doomed ceasefire. Rebel officials and rescue workers said incendiary bombs were among the weapons that rained from the sky on the city. Hamza al-Khatib, the director of a hospital in the rebel-held east, told Reuters the death toll was 45. "It's as if the planes are trying to compensate for all the days they didn't drop bombs" during the ceasefire, Ammar al-Selmo, the head of the civil defence rescue service in opposition-held eastern Aleppo told Reuters. "It was like there was coordination between the planes and the artillery shelling, because the shells were hitting the same locations that the planes hit," he said. The assault, by aircraft from the Syrian government, its Russian allies or both, made clear that Moscow and Damascus had rejected a plea by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to halt flights so that aid could be delivered and a ceasefire salvaged. In a tense televised exchange with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the United Nations on Wednesday, Kerry said stopping the bombardment was the last chance to find a way "out of the carnage". Moscow and Washington announced the ceasefire two weeks ago with great fanfare. But the agreement, probably the final bid for a breakthrough on Syria before President Barack Obama leaves office next year, appears to have suffered the same fate as all other doomed peace efforts in a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and made half the nation homeless. The truce foundered on Monday with an attack on an aid convoy, which Washington blamed on Russian warplanes. Russia denied involvement. Prior to that, tensions between Washington and Moscow spiked over a lethal air strike on Syrian government troops by the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian military or mention on state media of Thursday's bombardment of Aleppo. "It was the heaviest air strikes for months inside Aleppo city," said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which monitors the conflict from Britain. A senior official in the Levant Front, an Aleppo-based rebel group, told Reuters: "The Russians only want surrender. They have no other solution." In another sign of the Syrian government's determination to press on with seizing and holding territory, it evacuated more rebel fighters from the last opposition-held district of Homs, which would complete the government's recapture of the central city, now largely reduced to ruins. U.N. RESUMES AID DELIVERIES President Bashar al-Assad, helped by Russian air power and Iranian-backed militias, has steadily tightened his grip on the opposition-held eastern areas of Aleppo this year, achieving a long-held goal of fully encircling it this summer. Capturing the rebel-held half of Syria's largest city would be the biggest victory of the war for the government side, which has already achieved its strongest position in years thanks to Russian and Iranian support. The United Nations announced that it was resuming aid deliveries to rebel-held areas on Thursday following a 48-hour suspension to review security guarantees after Monday's attack on an aid convoy near Aleppo that killed around 20 people. "We are sending today an inter-agency convoy that will cross conflict lines into a besieged area of rural Damascus," Jens Laerke, spokesman of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told Reuters. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for a temporary halt to all military flights: "If the ceasefire is to stand any chance, 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. HOMS EVACUATION But the president of Iran on Wednesday dismissed that idea, saying it would help Islamic State and the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's Syrian branch, which changed its name in July and says it cut its ties to the network founded by Osama bin Laden. Assad has appeared as uncompromising as ever in recent weeks, reiterating his goal of taking back the whole country on the day the U.S.-Russian brokered truce took effect. The government's main focus has been to consolidate its grip over the main cities of western Syria and the coastal region that is the ancestral homeland of Assad's Alawite sect. On Thursday, around 120 rebel fighters and their families were evacuated from the last opposition-held district of Homs under an agreement with the government by which they were given safe passage to nearby rebel-held areas. The opposition says such 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 the al-Waer district. President Assad to AP: Syria war will "drag on" as part of global conflict BEIRUT, Sept 22 (Reuters) - President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview with AP News broadcast on Thursday that Syria's war will "drag on" as long as it is 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 don't control, it's going to drag on," Assad said. Syria's five-year-old war pits Assad, backed by Russia, Iran and Arab Shi'ite Muslim militias against a myriad of Sunni Muslim rebel groups, including some supported by the United States, Turkey and Gulf Arab states. The conflict has wrought a devastating human toll, killing hundreds of thousands, displacing half the country's pre-war population of 22 million and included poison gas attacks, starvation sieges and raids on hospitals. Assad told AP that Russia was not behind a deadly attack on an aid convoy on Monday, for which U.S. officials have said they believe Moscow was responsible. "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," Assad said. "We don't have any idea about what happened." 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 ceasefire collapsed last week as violence flared up around the country once again. Assad cast doubt on the intentions of the United States in Syria, saying it "doesn't have the will" to fight militants. "I don't believe the United States will be ready to join Russia in fighting terrorists in Syria...the United States is not genuine regarding having a cessation of violence in Syria." Bahrain court dismisses appeal against dissolution of Shi'ite opposition group -paper DUBAI, Sept 22 (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. Six people, including five children, wounded in rocket Turkey rocket attack -governor DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Six people were wounded, five of them children, when a rocket hit the Turkish border town of Kilis on Thursday, the local governor, Ismail Catakli, said in a statement. Vietnam seeks to up retiring age as population pressures pensions HANOI, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Vietnam is trying to raise the retirement age of both men and women to mitigate the economic impact of a rapidly aging population and take pressure off of its depleted social welfare funds. The Labour Ministry wants to get the issue on the agenda of parliament having faced resistance from legislators fearful that by keeping people in work longer, the younger generation might have problems getting jobs. Vice labour minister Pham Minh Huan on Wednesday said the aim was to gradually raise the retirement age to take advantage of the current workforce while keeping the social insurance payouts manageable. It wants to raise the retirement age by two years to 62 for men, and make it a three-year increase to 58 for women. Huan said retirement ages should vary in different industries, according to proposals the ministry will complete next month. A young and cheap labour force is among the factors that has been attracting a rush of foreign investment into Vietnam, which hit a record $14.5 billion last year. About 70 percent of the 90 million population is of working age, according to the World Bank, which says Vietnam is aging at one of the world's fastest rates and at a much lower income level than other countries showing the same trend. Of concern to the government is pressure on social insurance schemes, which the International Labour Organization (ILO) has predicted would be exhausted by 2034 if policies are not overhauled. Local Yemeni al Qaeda leader killed in U.S. drone strike - official DUBAI, Sept 22 (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 travelling 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. Eight wounded as rockets from Syria pound Turkish border town By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ayla Jean Yackley DIYARBAKIR/ANKARA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Six children were among eight civilians wounded when three rockets fired from Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria hit a Turkish border town on Thursday, the Turkish military said. The attacks on Kilis were the first since Turkish-backed Syrian 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. U.S.-led coalition forces carried out 20 air strikes against Islamic State targets in northern Syria on Thursday, "neutralising" 40 militants, the Turkish military said. "As of 1800 hours (1500 GMT) clashes were continuing between (Syrian) rebels...and Daesh terror group elements who carried out a broad attack to take back areas they had lost," it said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State. It said the Turkish Air Force also carried out strikes on Islamic State targets, destroying five buildings, while six rebels were wounded in an Islamic State car bomb attack northeast of the town of Azaz. "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. The military said it tracked the origin of the rockets fired at Kilis using radar, and returned 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 attacks on Kilis have provoked local 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 SHIELD Turkish tanks rolled into Syria from Kilis province this month as part of "Euphrates Shield", which has helped the 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. Egypt considers international auction after mobile operators spurn 4G licence offer 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. Turkish army says returns fire at Islamic State in Syria after rocket attack ANKARA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - 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. Vietnam upholds jail terms for political bloggers HANOI, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A well-known Vietnamese political blogger and his assistant lost their appeal on Thursday when a higher court upheld their jail terms and reaffirmed they had abused their freedom and hurt the state's interests. The five-year term for blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, 60, and the three-year term for Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy, 36, were handed down in March and human rights and press freedom advocates have called for their release. The two were found guilty for "abusing the rights to freedom and democracy to infringe upon the interest of the state", the presiding judge said, adding that posts by Vinh and Thuy distorted the truth about Vietnamese leaders and the state. "I am fully innocent," Vinh said in his last words in a calm but decisive voice prior to the verdict, speaking to a small group of onlookers, including his wife and son, in the court, roads to which were blocked by police. The case has captured much interest, in part due to Vinh's long association with the state. He was once a policeman and private investigator and is the son of a late cabinet minister and former ambassador to the Soviet Union. Vietnam has come under much western criticism for its human rights record and its treatment of those who speak out against the ruling Communist Party. It was in the spotlight in May when U.S. President Barack Obama visited Vietnam and lifted a decades-old arms embargo in recognition of improving ties, only for the authorities to next day detain several activists Obama had arranged to meet. Vinh's speech was interrupted as loudspeakers in the media room reserved for reporters and diplomats were muted, without explanation. Thuy also pleaded not guilty, rejecting all accusations against her. Hinkley Point a boost to UK steel, but not a game changer By Maytaal Angel LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - UK steelmakers will likely get lucrative deals to supply the 18 billion pound ($23.5 billion) 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 some 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. <_.HRC-NEDSI>. 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 the likes of China 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 the project's construction spend 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 some $84 million <_.RCB-NEDSI>, according to Reuters calculations. 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, UK 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 UK government was not immediately available to comment on how it will enforce its rules as regards Hinkley Point. 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." ($1 = 0.7651 pounds) EU court moves to keep Hamas, Tamil Tigers off terrorism list LUXEMBOURG, Sept 22 (Reuters) - 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. 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. At the time, Israel, which has had fraught relations with the EU in recent years, recalled Europeans' treatment of Jews in the Holocaust and denounced the bloc's "staggering hypocrisy". Israel offered no immediate comment on the court officer's advice on Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement which controls the Gaza Strip and has fought Israel for three decades. 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 organisations 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 U.S. 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. France protests after Belgian police drive migrants over its border PARIS/BRUSSELS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - France has protested vigorously to its northern neighbour after two Belgian policemen drove a group of illegal migrants into France and released them. The local Belgian police commissioner for Ypres, George Aeck, appeared unrepentant, telling the broadcaster RTBF: "We didn't do it for money, this isn't human trafficking ... We only gave them a hand. We took them a little way in the direction they wanted to go." French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve telephoned his Belgian counterpart Jan Jambon on Wednesday to protest, and also had what French government spokesman Stephane le Foll on Thursday called a "frank and clear" exchange with the Belgian ambassador. "We cannot fathom this. It must not happen again," said one French government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It's contrary to the rule of law and cooperation between the two countries." The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, began when a man driving a truck through Belgium alerted police after hearing noises in the back. Belgian police found a dozen people inside, transferred them to a police van and drove them across the nearby frontier to the edge of a cornfield in France before their van was intercepted by French police, the French official said. The two Belgian officers were taken for questioning and then released, a police spokesman in northeastern France said. A second French source familiar with the case, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Belgian officers had remarked that it was "not necessarily the first time" such a thing had happened. Death toll rises to 52 after migrant boat capsizes off Egypt CAIRO, Sept 22 (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. Migrants tell of clamour to survive as teeming boat sinks off Egypt By Amina Ismail BURG RASHID, Egypt, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Mohamed Mabrouk hoped to sail from Egypt to a better future in Europe. But just before sunrise on Wednesday, the teen called his uncle in a panic as the boat carrying him and hundreds more migrants across the Mediterranean was overwhelmed by water. Saeed Abu Hamed, 37, was asleep at home when his phone rang. He recalls hearing the anguished voice of his nephew repeating: "Uncle help me! Uncle help me! People are dying around me, the boat is sinking, water is coming in from all sides." "I heard people screaming 'help us' in the background. It was horrifying. I don't know how I will be able to forget this," he told Reuters. Mabrouk was one of about 169 people to survive. About 52 bodies have been recovered so far, but security officials said almost 600 people may have been squeezed aboard the wooden vessel, suggesting hundreds more may have perished in what is just the latest disaster for migrants desperate to reach Europe. 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. Those on the boat that sank included people from Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as Egyptians. One survivor said the vessel had waited for two days at sea so the smugglers could squeeze more migrants on board before heading north. But as they climbed in, the boat began to capsize. Panic spread as the boat tilted, casting people overboard. Ahmed Darwish, 27, said he was in the water for seven hours. "The captain of the ship couldn't control the boat any more ... We told him this boat won't take us there safely ... The captain couldn't move the boat; it kept swaying until it fell on its side," Darwish said, as he lay in a blue gown on a bed at the public hospital in the coastal village of Burg Rashed. Darwish described spotting a fishing boat about a kilometre away and desperately trying to attract its attention, afraid it would not see his head bobbing above the waves. "I had a bag in my hand, I kept struggling against the water while the water struggled against me until they finally saw me and waved back with a white shirt ... Within seconds I saw them turn the boat and come like a rocket to save me," he said. Egypt's military said its coastguard had busted a people-trafficking operation and led a life-saving rescue operation. But angry relatives complained of official inaction, saying it was the local fishermen who had saved lives. Another relative of someone on board, Gamal Assad, said he received a call from his 17-year-old brother, Bassem, around 5 a.m. "I immediately called the coastguard, but they didn't move at all. The fishing boats saved them," Assad said. As dozens of relatives waited for news of their loved ones near the coastguard post on Wednesday night, a Reuters witness saw a fishing boat carrying 12 bodies arrive. Distraught at the sight of bodies being carried of the boat, relatives shouted at military and coastguard officials, complaining they had done too little to save lives when the vessel had capsized so close to the Egyptian coast. "If we were foreigners, Italians or French, you would have done something," yelled one of the relatives. EU court moves to keep Hamas, Tamil Tigers off terrorism list LUXEMBOURG, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The European Union's top court took a step on Thursday towards confirming the removal of Hamas and the Tamil Tigers from an EU terrorism blacklist, despite protestations from Israel and the Sri Lankan government. An advocate general at the European Court of Justice, whose advice is usually followed by judges, recommended that they reject an appeal by the Council of EU member states against the lower General Court's decisions in late 2014 to remove both movements from the sanctions list due to flawed procedures. At the time, Israel, which has had fraught relations with the EU in recent years, recalled Europeans' treatment of Jews in the Holocaust and denounced the bloc's "staggering hypocrisy". Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman 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. "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." The United States has urged the maintenance of sanctions on Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement which controls the Gaza Strip and has fought Israel for three decades. 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 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 organisations 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 by which they had been put there were flawed. The EU Council's appeal also cited the lower court's failure to accept its argument that the groups' presence on the U.S. 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. Investor dos Santos signals support for BPI's Angolan deal LISBON, Sept 22 (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. Sweden plans wider police powers in clampdown on asylum seekers STOCKHOLM, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Swedish police will be able to raid companies to catch illegal migrant workers under new proposals announced on Thursday, part of the centre-left government's clampdown on asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected. Sweden made an abrupt U-turn last year on decades of generous immigration policies, introducing border controls and tighter rules after 163,000 people applied for asylum in 2015. With numbers down sharply, the government has turned its focus to sending back those who have been told they cannot stay, many of whom have gone underground. "Those who have had their asylum application processed by the judicial system and been rejected must go home again," Migration and Justice Minister Morgan Johansson said. Johansson said up to 40,000 people would face expulsion from Sweden this year and next. The new measures include potential jail terms for employers hiring illegal workers and an expansion of the police's rights to conduct fingerprint testing and to confiscate passports. The Left Party, which backs the minority government in parliament, criticised the proposal. "The proposals could lead to racial profiling, where those of us who have dark hair or brown eyes are treated as suspects and constantly have to prove they have the right to be here," said Christina Hoj Larsen, the party's migration spokesperson. More than 12,000 people who face deportation or voluntary repatriation have already gone missing, Swedish television said. After insisting a year ago that Europe did not "build walls", Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has now adopted some of Europe's toughest asylum rules. His government has already withdrawn welfare and housing support for asylum seekers whose cases are rejected and cut grants to local authorities to house unaccompanied minors. New rules make it harder for refugees to bring their families to Sweden and have restricted grants of permanent residency to all but a few asylum seekers. Regulators expect Monte dei Paschi to ask Italy for help - sources By John O'Donnell LONDON Sept 22 (Reuters) - European regulators expect Italian bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena will have to turn to the government for support, three euro zone officials with knowledge of the matter said, although Rome would strongly resist such a move if bondholders suffered losses. Less than two months after the Tuscan lender announced an emergency plan to raise 5 billion euros of fresh capital, having come last in a health check of 51 European banks, there is growing concern among European regulators that the cash bid will fall short. While the bank is determined to see through the capital raising, if it were to disappoint, it would be left with a capital hole. Now euro zone authorities are considering whether state support would have to be tapped after what bankers have described as slack interest in the bank's share offer. "There is clearly an execution risk to the capital raising," said one official with knowledge of the rescue attempt, adding that the bank's value, about one ninth the size of the planned 5 billion euro cash call, would be a turn-off for investors. That person said a "precautionary recapitalisation by the Italian state" could be used to make up any shortfall once attempts to raise fresh cash from investors had concluded in the coming months. Monte dei Paschi declined to comment. The Italian treasury did not want to comment for this story. A spokesman for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said he was not aware of any expectations among European regulators that Monte dei Paschi may turn to the state for help. Monte dei Paschi faces a considerable challenge in convincing investors to back its third recapitalisation in as many years. Further complicating the picture, a constitutional referendum, expected to be held by early December that could decide the future of Renzi, is likely to push the bank's fund-raising into next year, the officials say. The bank's fragile state poses a threat to confidence in other Italian lenders and even to heavily-indebted Italy, the euro zone's third-largest economy. Renzi and his economy minister, Pier Carlo Padoan, have said in recent days Monte dei Paschi's capital raising will be successful. Sources close to the consortium of banks that have made a preliminary commitment to underwrite the 5 billion euro privately-backed cash call dismissed suggestions it may fall short as "nonsense." Reopening the question of state support, which had already been explored and dropped because of the losses it requires for bondholders under European bank crisis rules, is politically charged, and would reignite a dispute between Italy and Germany. Berlin had objected to Rome's efforts to back the struggling bank without imposing a loss on its bondholders, according to another senior official. But while some in the German government argue that Italian savers are wealthy enough to shoulder the bank's problems, Rome wants to spare both institutional investors and ordinary Italians who have tied up their money in its bonds at all costs. Renzi's government fears that hitting bondholders would be extremely unpopular and could trigger a wider confidence crisis in the Italian banking system. Those tensions were visible recently when Renzi took a public swipe at Germany, telling its central bank chief Jens Weidmann to fix the problems of its own banks which he said had "hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of billions of euros of derivatives". STRICT TERMS As regulators, the European Central Bank, the European Banking Authority and the European Commission, are involved in the debate. The European Union's executive has responsibility for enforcing rules to stop countries giving local companies an unfair advantage through state aid. On Thursday, the Italian head of the European Banking Authority Andrea Enria told a newspaper, when asked about Monte dei Paschi, that, while he could not comment on individual banks, "if state aid could be part of the solution, let's use it." While Enria has no direct say in the process, his comments chime with ECB President Mario Draghi's public backing in July for a state-sponsored backstop in helping Italian banks sell down some of their bad loans. The ECB is influential as banking supervisor but whether any such step would be taken by Italy depends on the terms imposed by the European Commission. A "precautionary recapitalization" of Monte dei Paschi would allow Rome to inject public funds, under certain conditions, without imposing steep losses on all of the bank's bondholders, as would normally be required by the EU. The rules, however, are vague and there would still be room for argument on this point. "It is certainly one of the options ... on the table," said one official familiar with thinking at the European Commission, referring to such state-backed recapitalisation. "Their (Italy's) preferred option is to find private investors." That regime of recapitalisation, enshrined in European Union law, requires the bank to first convert some of its debt into shares, according to people familiar with the matter. The debt conversion is a step that Monte dei Paschi is considering as part of its own plan, although on a voluntary basis. A spokeswoman for the European Commissioner in charge of state aid cases, Margrethe Vestager, said that it had "taken note" of the bank's "plans to launch a private capital raising exercise." "This is fully in line with EU rules: any additional capital needs should in the first place be raised from the market and, or from other private sources." GRAINS-Corn drops on fund sales; soybeans up slightly By Mark Weinraub CHICAGO, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade corn futures sagged 1.3 percent on Thursday on a round of fund selling as the pace of harvest quickened around the U.S. Midwest and cash markets weakened, traders said. Wheat futures also fell, following corn lower, while soybeans firmed on strong crude oil markets and some bargain buying. Corn hit resistance and turned lower after nearing a one-month high, a level it has struggled to break through several times during September, overnight. "You had your ... corn pushed up to a pretty solid area of resistance and the market backed off," said Dewey Strickler, president of Ag Watch Market Advisors. "You got a little bit of fund liquidation." At 10:47 a.m. CDT (1547 GMT), CBOT December corn futures were down 4-1/4 cents at $3.35-3/4 a bushel. CBOT December soft red winter wheat futures were off 1-1/2 cents at $4.06-1/4 a bushel. Wheat traders were cautious about prospects for a return to normal activity in Egypt given twists and turns in its policy on ergot this year. State grain buyer GASC was holding an import tender on Thursday, following Wednesday's announcement that the country would revert to an international standard on ergot. Traders said that GASC received offers from four wheat suppliers after the grains buyer amended its rules to make final inspection of supplies at the port where the wheat is loaded. CBOT November soybean futures were up 3 cents at $9.78-1/2 a bushel after dropping 1.4 percent on Wednesday. Oil rose 2 percent on Thursday, heading for its largest weekly gain in a month, after a surprisingly large drop in U.S. crude inventories emboldened investors ahead of next week's meeting between OPEC members and Russia to discuss supply. Expectations for rain that could slow harvest in key soybean growing areas lent additional support. "The U.S. Midwest has been trending a little drier this week, but forecasters say their models are now pointing to wetter conditions for the more soybean-heavy production regions today through to Sunday," said Tobin Gorey, director of agricultural strategy at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Are China's booming copper exports the new normal? Andy Home By Andy Home LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - China continued to pump refined copper out into the international market last month to the tune of 57,000 tonnes. Cumulative exports so far this year now total 335,000 tonnes, already exceeding any previous calendar year. To be sure, the country is still absorbing more refined copper than it is exporting. But it is increasingly clear that the acceleration in outbound flows which started in the second quarter is not a statistical blip. And with the copper market full of talk about further large inflows of metal into London Metal Exchange (LME) warehouses, the question is whether Chinese exports, once something of a rarity, are becoming the new normal. Graphic on China's refined copper trade: http://tmsnrt.rs/2d6VYps Graphic on China's copper raw materials trade: http://tmsnrt.rs/2d6WfJ2 SOAKING UP SURPLUS Underpinning the changed dynamics of China's trade in refined copper are even more significant shifts in the country's copper raw materials trade. Net imports of 175,000 tonnes of refined metal in August were the lowest monthly read in over three years. But imports of copper concentrates at 1.45 million tonnes (bulk weight, not metal contained) were the third highest on record, eclipsed only in December last year and February this year. Cumulative imports of copper concentrates have risen by a staggering 34 percent to 10.86 million tonnes so far this year. This is what that much-talked-about copper surplus looks like. Global production of copper concentrates rose by six percent in the first half of this, according to the International Copper Study Group (ICSG). And much of that extra material is flowing into China because that's where much of the world's available smelter and refinery capacity is located. Citi analyst David Wilson argues that "high levels of capacity (and capacity additions) and low utilization rates make China the only location with sizeable spare capacity to be able to process new concentrates coming from Peru in particular." ("Copper - Taking stock of shifting inventory trends", Sep. 20, 2016) Peruvian copper production is currently surging, up 51.5 percent in the first half of 2016. So too are Chinese imports of concentrates from the Latin American country, up 95 percent year-on-year in the January-August period. The flip side to this raw materials boom is a continuing decline in Chinese imports of copper scrap. The country's smelters simply don't need as much because they can feast on concentrates surplus. THE TOLLING BUSINESS This abundance of raw material is driving Chinese refined copper production ever upwards. Output totalled 743,000 tonnes in August, representing a 12.4 percent increase on last year. Year-to-date production is 5.50 million tonnes, up 8.7 percent, running far ahead of the ICSG's global output growth assessment of 2.5 percent. And more metal is seeping out of the country because more Chinese smelters are getting involved in the tolling business, converting raw materials into metal for traders, according to Citi's Wilson. In doing so they avoid both the 17-percent VAT hit on concentrate imports and the 15-percent tax hit on refined metal exports. As such, a tolling smelter in China is the same as a tolling smelter anywhere else in the world except for its physical location. And like tolling smelters anywhere else, the key determinant of where a Chinese smelter ships its metal is price. If it's more profitable to ship to LME warehouses in easily accessible ports such as those in South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, that's where the metal will go. Earlier this year, the LME incentive came in the form of a persistent premium for cash metal due to depleted exchange inventory. More recently, it has taken the form of warehouse incentives, which according to Citi, reached $65 per tonne in June, even as the Chinese premium itself was languishing below $50 per tonne. SHORT-TERM SLOWDOWN? Shanghai premiums have since risen to $55-60 over LME cash, according to LME ring-dealing broker Triland Metals. That may be why the pace of copper inflows at LME Asian locations has slowed this month. The three good-delivery ports in South Korea have seen fresh warranting activity drop to 17,200 tonnes from 88,325 tonnes in August. Arrivals at Singapore have tailed off to 6,000 tonnes so far this month from 36,650 tonnes in August, while the tally at the Taiwanese port of Kaohsiung has dropped to 2,000 tonnes from 6,300 tonnes. It seems highly likely that September's trade figures are going to show a slowdown in Chinese exports to these countries. Faced with a diminishing incentive to ship to the LME warehouse system, tolling smelters can simply divert metal into China's own bonded warehouses. For tax purposes such movement still counts as an export. And, rather confusingly, such metal counts as an import if it moves back into the mainland. The fourth largest supplier refined copper imports to China in August, for example, was, er, China with 18,321 tonnes. LONG-TERM CAPACITY More Chinese smelters playing the fine-margin economics of tolling concentrates is probably going to add an extra level of complexity to China's copper trade. One determined by physical premiums and warehouse incentives as much as underlying London-Shanghai arbitrage mechanics. Flows will therefore not be consistent as operators and their merchant partners capitalise on short-term shifts in profitability drivers. Those drivers seem to be shifting away from LME delivery back towards Chinese bonded warehouse delivery right now, promising some let-up in export flows, although how significant remains to be seen. However, the key takeaway is that China's build-out of smelter and refinery capacity means the country can, if the conditions are right, export large amounts of refined copper. Just how large we are seeing this year. That export capability is the new normal, even if it doesn't necessarily translate into continuous high exports. OPEC in new push to clinch first deal to curb output since 2008 By Rania El Gamal and Alex Lawler DUBAI/LONDON, Sept 22 (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. 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. Pouyanne says Total looking to divest Italy petrol station JV with ERG PARIS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Total is looking at divesting its Italian petrol station joint-venture with ERG next year, Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanne told investors in London on Thursday. The TotalErg joint venture with Italian renewable energy group ERG owns one of Italy's biggest petrol station networks. Pouyanne said Total was divesting, monetizing or repositioning in areas where it has a too low market share, and had done so in Switzerland and the UK in 2015. Uber rival Grab partners with driverless car firm in Singapore SINGAPORE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Users of ride-hailing firm Grab will be able to book driverless cars from Friday as it partners with a start-up testing the technology in Singapore, just days after rival Uber debuted its self-driving vehicles in the United States. The move comes as technology companies and automakers race to build autonomous vehicles and develop new business plans for what is expected to be a long-term makeover of personal transportation. Southeast Asia's Grab said its app will allow select commuters to book and ride start-up nuTonomy's driverless vehicles within a western Singapore district, where the vehicles are being tested, and adjacent neighbourhoods. A safety driver and support engineer will ride in each nuTonomy car, the two companies said in a statement. nuTonomy, which started a limited public trial of the first driverless taxi in August in Singapore, has said it hopes to have 100 taxis working commercially in the city-state by 2018. Countries around the world are encouraging the development of autonomous technologies, and Singapore, with its limited land and workforce, is hoping driverless vehicles will encourage its residents to use more shared vehicles and public transport. Grab said its data showed drivers in Singapore are less likely to accept a passenger booking request originating from or destined for remote locations, highlighting the need for "robo-cars" that can meet transportation needs in far-flung areas. If a trip requires travel on roads outside of Singapore's one-north district, the safety driver will take control of the vehicle for that portion of the trip. The public trial will run for the next two months, and may be extended by the companies for as long as it continues to yield valuable feedback and data, they said. "There is no direct monetary funding (in nuTonomy)," a Grab representative said. "At this point, the partnership is focused on Singapore - though there may be other potential synergies between nuTonomy and Grab that we could decide to explore in the future." The partnership ups the ante in the competition between Uber and Grab, which just raised $750 million in a funding round that gives it more ammunition to take on the U.S. firm in southeast Asia. Last month, Uber bought self-driving trucks startup Otto and formed a $300 million alliance with Volvo Car Group to develop self-driving cars. It launched its self-driving pilot programme this month, marking the public unveiling of its secretive work in autonomous vehicles. Mexico investigates Veracruz governor for embezzlement MEXICO CITY, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Mexican federal prosecutors have taken over two local investigations that include embezzlement charges against the governor of the Gulf state of Veracruz, an official said. Javier Duarte, from the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, is being investigated for diverting public funds, among other charges, federal prosecutor Jose Guadalupe Medina told reporters late on Wednesday. President Enrique Pena Nieto's PRI fared poorly in state elections earlier this year, including losing the governorship of Veracruz. Duarte, who has been blamed for driving up the state's debt and failing to contain a spike in drug gang crime, remains in office through the end of November. In July, Pena Nieto's office filed a suit with the Supreme Court alleging that new state anti-corruption offices set up in Veracruz and the tourist hub Quintana Roo were unconstitutional. Despite sanctions, Russia raises $1.25 bln in Eurobond top-up By Kira Zavyalova and Katya Golubkova MOSCOW, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Foreign investors put $1.25 billion into a Russian sovereign Eurobond top-up on Thursday in a deal more than six times oversubscribed, showing Moscow can readily tap global markets in spite of Western sanctions. The top-up, which allowed the finance ministry to fill its external borrowing needs for this year, was different from the initial offer of $1.75 billion in May, when it was carried via Russia's National Settlement Depository (NSD) only as major Western financial institutions chose to steer clear. "We saw a huge demand from investors... Around 200 investors from the United States, Britain, Europe, Asia and Russia submitted their bids," Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said in a statement. "Placement was done in less than 10 hours." One of world's biggest settlement houses, Euroclear, started servicing the initial issue of 10-year paper in July, and it and NSD are both handling the $1.25 billion top-up. Russia's VTB Capital was acting as a sole arranger of the whole issue. The demand, which was over $7.5 billion, allowed the yield to be cut to 3.9 percent from initial guidance of 3.99 percent and 4.75 percent offered in May. The top-up was priced at 106.75 percent of par, Siluanov said. Investor appetite for the issue was driven in part by a search for returns, especially after the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to keep its rates unchanged rather than raise them on Wednesday. "The combination of a global hunt for yield and the lack of Russian securities after 2 years of sanctions is creating a very strong technical backdrop so I wouldn't be surprised if this or any other Russian issue triggered a lot of interest among investors," said Michael Bolliger, head of asset allocation for emerging markets at UBS Wealth Management. SANCTIONS Russian Eurobond issues are not directly covered by the Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine, but the sanctions have cast a shadow over Russian debt-raising efforts. "Moscow will be eager through this tap to send a message that it can still finance itself in the market - circumventing or eroding the impact of Western sanctions," said Tim Ash, senior credit strategist at Nomura. In May, the finance ministry blocked Russian state banks from participation in the Eurobond issue, aiming instead to encourage foreign and private investors. Siluanov said on Thursday that the additional issue was placed among foreign investors only, of which the United States accounted for 53 percent, Europe - 43 percent and Asia - for 4 percent. Russia's external borrowing plan calls for raising $3 billion in 2016. The government is trying to prevent the budget deficit from widening beyond its target of around 3 percent of gross domestic product. Its plans to raise extra revenue via privatisations were knocked off course when the government postponed the sale of shares in mid-sized oil company Bashneft last month. "The budget will benefit from any extra money after the decisions to postpone the major privatization deals and rising risks of having the federal budget get closer to 4 percent of GDP," ING said. Russian Economy Ministry Alexei Ulyukayev said on Thursday that the Eurobond top-up and the privatization process were not linked to each other. Top U.S. general: Unwise to share intelligence with Russia on Syria By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (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 militants after a cessation of hostilities and delivery of humanitarian aid. The text of one of several related documents, published on Thursday by the State Department, said both countries would "share intelligence and develop actionable targets for military action" against the al Qaeda-linked group formerly known as Nusra Front. It also called for "independent but synchronized efforts" in the fight against Islamic State. But Marine General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested any such military 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. The ceasefire quickly collapsed, making the possibility of future cooperation between the former Cold War foes look remote. Still, U.S. critics of the deal warned that 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, with Moscow backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Washington has called for him to step aside. 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. CRITICISM FROM MCCAIN 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. One document published by the State Department said the two countries would share information on things such as training camps, storage sites for weapons and concentrations of personnel from Nusra Front. "The process of target development through the JIC and airstrikes against Nusra targets by Russian Aerospace Forces and U.S. air forces will be ongoing and continuous," the text read. (http://bit.ly/2d8hlqq) Advocates for the initiative have said the world has run out of good choices in Syria's war. Critics say recent events in Syria provide numerous reasons to be skeptical of cooperation. Dunford criticized an attack on an 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. Secret mediator helped guide Colombia to peace deal By Luis Jaime Acosta CALI, Colombia, Sept 22 (Reuters) - For more than a decade, Henry Acosta regularly headed into Colombia's mountains and jungles on foot and mule, fording rivers and evading military intelligence on a secret mission to promote peace between the government and Marxist rebels. There had been several attempts before in the 1980s and 1990s, but all ended in failure, with the war bloodier and the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, stronger after each lull. Acosta, an economist and former agriculture expert at the United Nations, became involved following a chance meeting with a top FARC commander in 1998, his first step in a journey that ended with this year's pact to end a half-century conflict that killed some 220,000 people. Peace between Latin America's oldest guerrilla army and President Juan Manuel Santos's government will be signed on Monday after four years of negotiations in Cuba. The final hurdle will then be a plebiscite on Oct. 2, which polls indicate will pass easily. "I was patient, confident, positive, discreet, resolved and above all transparent with both sides of the conflict," Acosta, 67, told Reuters at his home in the western city of Cali, saying he was often called upon to counsel both sides behind the scenes to help break deadlocks in talks. Traveling back and forth between Colombia and Cuba, Acosta had the ear of both Santos and FARC leaders. In 2013, he helped persuade Santos to stay at the negotiating table when the president was angered by the FARC's attempt to expand the agreed agenda. "That was a really serious crisis," he said, adding that Santos' own advisers had told him to walk away. Acosta's odyssey began 18 years ago when his truck was stopped by FARC fighters as he headed along a dirt track in western Valle del Cauca province to inspect agriculture projects on behalf of some local businessmen. The rebels took Acosta to their commander Pablo Catatumbo, demanding he explain his presence in guerrilla territory. Instead of taking him hostage, as the FARC frequently did, Catatumbo spent hours talking politics and current affairs with Acosta. "We had a very long conversation, all day, and I ended up staying because it was too late to leave. That's how it all began," said Acosta, recalling that Catatumbo invited him back to the rebel camp to bring books. TOUGH START Acosta's role in bringing the FARC and government together for talks was confirmed by top officials, including government peace negotiator Sergio Jaramillo. "Henry played an extremely important role. We started exchanging messages with the FARC through Henry Acosta," said Jaramillo, who is also high peace commissioner. "Without Henry none of this would have happened, that is the reality." Acosta's dealings with the FARC were not always easy and his role as a mediator - visiting rebel camps dozens of times - began in difficult circumstances. In 2002, the FARC kidnapped 12 lawmakers from Cali, including the son of a close friend. Acosta sought to intervene for his friend and negotiate their release with Catatumbo. But the FARC often used high-profile captives as bargaining chips and refused to release them. Years later, 11 of the lawmakers, including his friend's son, were shot dead by the FARC. But Acosta's intervention triggered interest from then President Alvaro Uribe, who asked him to take a message to Catatumbo and then FARC leader Alfonso Cano. The hardline Uribe, whose eight-year military offensive debilitated the rebels, was not interested in negotiations: he wanted surrender. "Henry, I'm not going to negotiate anything. I have to make them surrender. Tell them to turn in their weapons," Acosta recalled Uribe as saying as he handed him a letter asking for a secret meeting with the FARC. While Uribe's efforts - known to only a few of his inner circle and not the wider military - ended after he left office in 2010, Acosta wrote to new president Santos and asked him to keep the possibility of peace alive. Santos accepted. "Tell them yes, if Pablo Catatumbo and Alfonso Cano come to a meeting, I'll go too," Acosta cited Santos as saying. "It was one of the happiest days of my life" when the FARC accepted, added the jovial and bespectacled Acosta. Secret meetings first took place with FARC leader Cano. But in November 2011, he was killed in an air raid, and Acosta feared negotiations would be scrapped. Two days later, however, he was invited to meet the FARC close to where Cano died. As army helicopters flew above the bomb site, a message from Catatumbo was relayed to him: "Tell the president everything we have discussed stands, this does not affect the dialogue." Acosta telephoned Santos. The peace plan was revealed in August 2012 and tricky negotiations concluded last month with a final accord. COSCO sees Greece's Piraeus among world's top 30 ports by 2018 By Angeliki Koutantou ATHENS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - China's biggest shipping company, COSCO Shipping, plans to ramp up container volume at Greece's biggest port in Piraeus by 35 percent by 2018, the port's new managing director, Fu Cheng Qiu, told Reuters on Thursday. COSCO Shipping, which owns the world's fourth-largest container shipping fleet, bought 51 percent of the port's operating company last month for 280.5 million euros ($315.5 million), one of Greece's biggest and most strategic privatisations since a debt crisis began in 2009. COSCO wants to boost the port's container traffic to 5 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent container units) by 2018 under its plan to turn Greece into a transhipment hub for rapidly growing trade between Asia and Eastern Europe, Fu said in his first interview since COSCO took control of the port. "If we reach that level...Piraeus port would be among the world's 30 largest container ports," he said from his office, decorated with European Union, Chinese and Greek flags. The planned expansion would take Piraeus to Europe's fifth-busiest container port from eighth, overtaking Spain's Algeciras and Valencia, according to data from website PortEconomics. COSCO has been managing two of the port's cargo piers through its Greek unit, PCT, since 2009, when the debt crisis shut out the nation from debt markets and scared investors away. The shipping group has spent millions of euros to upgrade port facilities and annual throughput has more than tripled to 3.3 million TEUs last year from 880,000 TEUs in 2010. It is projected to reach 3.7 million this year. Piraeus has shot up world rankings of container ports to 44 last year from 93 in 2010, Fu said. Container business accounts for more than half of Piraeus' total turnover of around 100 million euros last year. Under the privatisation deal with Greece, COSCO must conclude investments of about 300 million euros in five years before buying an additional 16 percent stake in the port. Fu said the additional investment would be used mainly to upgrade ship repair, logistics and cruise operations, adding that a detailed business plan would be ready in November. Greece has been struggling to kickstart its economy and reduce youth unemployment of 49 percent after seven years of austerity-induced recession. "Through our investments (we want) to create more jobs for the benefit of the local community," he said. "A company, of course, always needs new blood...in order to be growing." Piraeus employs about 1,100 people. Labour unions opposed the port sale, fearing job and wage cuts and worsening labour conditions. Fu said COSCO "is very careful and very serious about these issues...and is handling them in line with the law". USS Cole victims can get Sudan assets, over U.S. objection -U.S. court By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) - 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 U.S. appeals court ruled, as it rejected U.S. arguments that this could interfere with treaties and its dealings with foreign governments. By a 3-0 vote on Thursday, the 2nd U.S. 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 U.S. position, but said "the State Department's views are not conclusive." Christopher Curran, a lawyer representing Sudan, declined to comment. The U.S. Department of Justice declined to provide immediate comment. The Oct. 12, 2000 attack on the USS Cole, while the Navy destroyer was refueling in the Yemeni port of Aden, killed 17 sailors and injured 39 others. Fifteen injured sailors and three spouses sued Sudan, saying it had provided support to al Qaeda for the bombing. After winning the $314.7 million default judgment, the plaintiffs won court orders that BNP Paribas SA, Credit Agricole SA and Mashreqbank PSC turn over Sudanese assets to help cover it, court papers show. Sudan then entered the case, saying the original lawsuit was not properly served on its foreign minister, and the turnover orders were improper. The U.S. government got involved last November, saying the Sept. 23 ruling ran contrary to federal law and its treaty obligations, and left it vulnerable to being haled improperly into foreign courts. But Chin said "the requirements of the statute were met" because the plaintiffs had mailed the documents to the Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs via the embassy, which acknowledged receiving them. Andrew Hall, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in an interview: "The decision will force Sudan to recognize its responsibilities to the victims of terrorism, including victims of the USS Cole bombing." Despite supporting a rehearing, the U.S. government said it "deeply sympathizes with the extraordinary injuries to the U.S. military personnel and their spouses who brought this suit, and condemns the terrorist acts that caused those injuries." On Tuesday, the State Department said it welcomed Sudan's "recent efforts to increase counterterrorism cooperation with the United States." The U.S. designated Sudan a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993. Iraq targets 4.75-5 mln bpd share of global oil production -minister BAGHDAD, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Iraq aims to maintain its share of global oil production at between 4.75 million and 5 million barrels per day, Oil Minister Jabar Ali al-Luaibi said in a statement on Thursday. Luaibi said Iraq would support setting a production ceiling to prop up global oil prices at next week's informal meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC countries in Algeria. U.N.-backed Libyan leader open to talks with eastern rival By John Irish and Yara Bayoumy NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The prime minister of Libya's U.N.-backed government said on Thursday he was open to talks with an eastern Libyan commander despite his self-styled army's offensive on oil facilities that threatens to plunge the country backwards. The advance is the latest power struggle over the OPEC member's energy assets after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and ensuing chaos left the North African country splintered into rival armed factions. The commander, Khalifa Haftar, opposes the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and has resisted its attempts to integrate his Libyan National Army into unified armed forces. Haftar's seizure of ports risks a response from brigades allied with the government in western Libya and a deepening of regional divisions. "I am willing to talk with anyone for the sake of solving the problems of Libyans," the prime minister, Fayez Seraj, told reporters after a meeting on his country in New York on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly. "There are many obstacles of course and one of them is trying to have a unified army under (the control) of the political body." But beyond the aspirations for the two sides to come together to form a more representative national unity government, the meeting, which included the United States, Italy, France, Egypt, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, appeared to yield little more than a call to not fight over the country's oil resources. Armed conflict and disputes have left Libya's oil installations under the control of different factions and cut output to a fraction of the 1.6 million bpd produced before an uprising toppled Gaddafi. The National Oil Corporation has ambitious goals of producing more than 900,000 bpd by year-end, but said it needs funding for its operating budget and the reopening of blockaded pipelines in western Libya to reach that target. "The oil question should unite and not divide," Martin Kobler, the U.N. Special Envoy to Libya, told reporters. "This is a longish process. Armed groups don't disappear because of a piece of paper. There have to be a strong institutions." Western powers urged Seraj's government to do more to integrate authorities in eastern Libya, although some acknowledged that pressuring the Libyans was at times ineffective. Yahoo says hackers stole data from 500 mln accounts in 2014 By Dustin Volz Sept 22 (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc said on Thursday that at least 500 million of its accounts were hacked in 2014 by what it believed was a state-sponsored actor, a theft that appeared to be the world's biggest known cyber breach by far. Cyber thieves may have stolen names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and encrypted passwords, the company said. But unprotected passwords, payment card data and bank account information did not appear to have been compromised, signaling that some of the most valuable user data was not taken. The attack on Yahoo was unprecedented in size, more than triple other large attacks on sites such as eBay Inc, and it comes to light at a difficult time for Yahoo. Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer is under pressure to shore up the flagging fortunes of the site founded in 1994, and the company in July agreed to a $4.83 billion cash sale of its internet business to Verizon Communications Inc. "This is the biggest data breach ever," said well-known cryptologist Bruce Schneier, adding that the impact on Yahoo and its users remained unclear because many questions remain, including the identity of the state-sponsored hackers behind it. On its website on Thursday, Yahoo encouraged users to change their passwords but did not require it. Although the attack happened in 2014, Yahoo only discovered the incursion after August reports of a separate breach. While that report turned out to be false, Yahoo's investigation turned up the 2014 theft, according to a person familiar with the matter. Analyst Robert Peck of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey said the breach probably was not enough to prompt Verizon to abandon its deal with Yahoo, but it could call for a price decrease of $100 million to $200 million, depending on how many users leave Yahoo. Steven Caponi, an attorney at K&L Gates with a practice including merger litigation, said that Yahoo's breach could fall under the "material adverse change" clause common in mergers allowing a buyer to walk away if its target's value deteriorates. "That would give Verizon the opportunity to renegotiate the terms or potentially walk away from the transaction if it is a material change. Whether it is a material change will depend in large part on what kind of information was compromised," Caponi said. Still, it is rare for mergers to fall apart over material changes. Verizon said in a statement it was made aware of the breach within the last two days and had limited information about the matter. "We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests," the company said. Shares of Yahoo stock closed a penny higher at $44.15, while shares of Verizon, were up about 1 percent. RISING ATTACKS The Yahoo breach follows a rising number of other large-scale data attacks and could make it a watershed event that prompts government and businesses to put more effort into bolstering defenses, said Dan Kaminsky, a well-known internet security expert. Retailers and health insurers have been especially hard hit after high-profile breaches at Home Depot Inc, Target Corp, Anthem Inc and Premera Blue Cross. "Five hundred of the Fortune 500 have been hacked," he said. "If anything has changed, it's that these attacks are getting publicly disclosed." Three U.S. intelligence officials, who declined to be identified by name, said they believed the attack was state-sponsored because of its resemblance to previous hacks traced to Russian intelligence agencies or hackers acting at their direction. Yahoo said it was working with law enforcement on the matter, and the FBI said it was investigating. "The investigation has found no evidence that the state-sponsored actor is currently in Yahoo's network," the company said. While the breach comprised mostly low-value information, it did include security questions and answers created by users themselves. That data could make users vulnerable if they use the same answers on other sites. A former Yahoo employee said the Q&A were deliberately left unencrypted, which allowed Yahoo to catch fake accounts more easily because fake accounts tended to reuse questions and answers. News of the massive breach at one of the nation's largest email providers may fan concern that U.S. companies and government agencies are not doing enough to improve cyber security. Democratic Senator Mark Warner said in a statement he was "most troubled by news that this breach occurred in 2014, and yet the public is only learning details of it today." Belgium's D'Ieteren agrees to buy 41 pct of Moleskine By Agnieszka Flak and Gabriela Baczynska MILAN/BRUSSELS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Belgian luxury car importer D'Ieteren has agreed to buy a 41 percent stake in notebook maker Moleskine and will launch a mandatory offer for the remaining shares of the Italian company, which could see it delisted from the Milan bourse. D'Ieteren, in a statement on Thursday, said it had agreed to buy Moleskine shares at 2.40 euros each, offering a 12 percent premium to the Italian company's closing price on Thursday of 2.14 euros. The offer values all of the company at around 510 million euros ($572 million). The Belgian group will buy the initial stake from private equity groups and reference shareholders Syntegra Capital and Index Ventures. Its mandatory takeover offer will be launched in the final quarter of this year and Moleskin will be delisted if the required threshold of share ownership is reached, it said. Founded in 1997, Moleskine is most widely known for its pocket-size notebooks that emulate those used by writers Ernest Hemingway and Jack Kerouac and painters Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh. The Milan-based company listed in April 2013 at a price of 2.30 euros a share. In recent years it has branched out to bags and digital products, among others, and opened a cafe in Milan. "Our ambition is to be able to help entrepreneurs while acting as a strategic sparring partner," D'Ieteren Chief Executive Axel Miller told a conference call, adding his group was a long-term investor. "An aspirational lifestyle brand has been built and this is something we can bring to the next level." D'Ieteren's businesses include importing Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche cars into Belgium. The company also owns glass repair and replacement group Belron. Chief Financial Officer Arnaud Laviolette said the group would seek to expand Moleskine's reach among a larger target group of urban, well educated 18-50 year-olds, with some creative ambitions. "We believe there is much more potential in this market," he said. D'Ieteren said it would finance the initial investment through available cash, while shares acquired in the takeover bid would be paid for through a mixture of cash and debt. GRAINS-Fund sales pressure corn prices, soy firm after sell-off By Mark Weinraub CHICAGO, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade corn futures sagged 1.1 percent on Thursday on a round of fund selling as the pace of harvest quickened around the U.S. Midwest and cash markets weakened, traders said. Wheat futures also fell, following corn lower, while soybeans edged higher on strong crude oil markets and some bargain buying. Corn hit resistance and turned lower after nearing a one-month high, a level it has struggled to break through several times during September, overnight. "You had your ... corn pushed up to a pretty solid area of resistance and the market backed off," said Dewey Strickler, president of Ag Watch Market Advisors. "You got a little bit of fund liquidation." CBOT December corn futures settled down 3-1/4 cents at $3.36-3/4 a bushel. CBOT December soft red winter wheat futures were off 2-1/4 cents at $4.05-1/2 a bushel. Wheat traders were cautious about prospects for a return to normal activity in Egypt given twists and turns in its policy on ergot this year. State grain buyer GASC was holding an import tender on Thursday, following Wednesday's announcement that the country would revert to an international standard on ergot. Traders said that GASC received offers from four wheat suppliers after the grains buyer amended its rules to make final inspection of supplies at the port where the wheat is loaded. Export prospects for U.S. wheat remained dim. There were no U.S. supplies offered in the Egyptian tender. CBOT November soybean futures settled up 1 cent at $9.76-1/2 a bushel after dropping 1.4 percent on Wednesday. Oil rose about 2 percent on Thursday, after a surprisingly large drop in U.S. crude inventories emboldened investors ahead of next week's meeting between OPEC members and Russia to discuss supply. Expectations for rain that could slow harvest in key soybean growing areas lent additional support although commercial hedging following a pick-up in farmer sales this week limited the gains. "The U.S. Midwest has been trending a little drier this week, but forecasters say their models are now pointing to wetter conditions for the more soybean-heavy production regions today through to Sunday," said Tobin Gorey, director of agricultural strategy at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Gabon court says to issue ruling on Friday on disputed election By Edward McAllister LIBREVILLE, Sept 22 (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 metres 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. U.S. Senators seek Labor Department probe of Wells Fargo By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Eight U.S. Democratic senators asked the Labor Department on Thursday to launch a probe into whether Wells Fargo 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. "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.'" Rhode Island man pleads guilty to conspiracy to help Islamic State BOSTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A Rhode Island man charged last year with planning to behead enemies of Islamic State and lend support to the militant group pleaded guilty on Thursday, agreeing to a sentence of up to 22 years in federal prison. Nicholas Rovinski, 25, was arrested last year along with his friend David Wright, 26, of Massachusetts, and charged with plotting with Wright's uncle, Usaamah Abdullah Rahim, who was fatally shot by law enforcement agents in Boston last year when he threatened them with a knife. Rovinski pleaded guilty on Thursday to two criminal counts of conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization, under a deal that could see him sentenced to 15 to 22 years in prison. If found guilty at trial, he could have faced a possible life sentence. Prosecutors also contend that the men intended to target individuals such as Pamela Geller, organizer of a "Draw Mohammad" cartoon competition in Garland, Texas, that was attacked by two gunmen last year. Wright has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Federal prosecutors alleged that Rahim and Wright had been planning an attack on police but that Rahim snapped in June 2015, telling his nephew: "I'm just going to, ah, go after them, those boys in blue." Rahim's family denied he had shown any signs of radicalization. U.S. lawmakers accuse Russia of seeking to influence U.S. election WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The top Democrats on the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives intelligence committees accused Russia on Thursday of trying to influence the Nov. 8 U.S. election via computer hacking, and called on President Vladimir Putin to order a halt. "Based on briefings we have received, we have concluded that the Russian intelligence agencies are making a serious and concerted effort to influence the U.S. election," Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Adam Schiff said in an unusually strongly worded joint statement. Officials in the administration of President Barack Obama have said they concluded that Russia or its proxies were responsible for hacking political party organizations. The government has not publicly blamed Russia. Russia has denied it sponsors or encourages any hacking activity. The lawmakers said the Russian effort was intended to sow doubt about the security of the U.S. election, and that the orders for intelligence agencies to conduct such actions could come only from "very senior levels" of the Moscow government. "We call on President Putin to immediately order a halt to this activity. Americans will not stand for any foreign government trying to influence our election. We hope all Americans will stand together and reject the Russian effort," the statement said. U.S. relations with Russia have had a high profile in campaigning for the Nov. 8 election, in which the White House, one third of the Senate seats and all the House seats are up for grabs. German major sees lengthy battle for Islamic State Iraq stronghold By Sabine Siebold ERBIL, Iraq, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Islamic State militants are expected to fight bitterly to hold onto their de-facto Iraqi capital, and the battle to retake Mosul will likely be a bloody one, a German major helping train local forces said on Thursday. Major Rene Braun leads a group of 40 German soldiers who are training Kurdish peshmerga forces on how to fight the ultra-hardline militants at close range, in a reconstructed village near Erbil and another site that simulates a large city. "Islamic State will fight long and hard, and then - as they've said themselves - they'll presumably regroup in north Africa," Braun told reporters. "The big problem is that you are fighting at very short range and can't keep the enemy at any distance," he said, noting that such conditions tended to result in large numbers of injuries. "This is my personal assessment, but the enemy will fight long and it could result in heavy casualties," he said. With a population at one time as large as 2 million, mostly Sunni Mosul is the largest urban centre under Islamic State's control. Its fall would mark their effective defeat in Iraq, according to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Given the plethora of armed forces involved in fighting in Iraq, including the Kurdish peshmerga and the Popular Mobilization Forces, a government-affiliated coalition of mostly Iranian-backed Shi'ite Muslim militias, there are major concerns on how the offensive will play out and whether it could unleash further sectarian violence. A major offensive by the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State, which could begin as early as next month, could trigger a humanitarian crisis, with 1 million or more people potentially fleeing the city, U.N. experts say. Florian Gottschalk, an official with Germany's Federal Agency for Technical Relief, said about 600,000 of those fleeing Mosul were expected to head to Baghdad. Another 200,000 to 400,000 were expected to go to northern Iraq, joining 1.6 million people that have already sought refuge there. German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen pledged to support the Iraqi government in its fight against the group. "We will continue to support them as we have in the past, be it in training, working cooperatively in emergency medical services, combating chemical weapons and defusing explosives," she told reporters. Von der Leyen also pledged continued aid to Iraq in its efforts to dealing with the refugee crisis. An estimated 3.3 million people - or about 10 percent of the population - have fled their homes to get away from Islamic State militants. Jordan's Islamists gain foothold in parliament after long absence By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN, Sept 22 (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 organised political grouping, had shunned previous elections in protest at a system that skews representation towards 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 democratisation 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. From time to time, some Pakistani official or the other keeps threatening India with its nuclear arsenal. India is told that Pakistan is a nuclear power and that they wont hesitate to drop one on their arch enemy. Pakistan is somehow under the delusion that India will keep quiet after taking a hit due to world opinion and global pressure. That, and we are actually a very peaceful and cowardly country. Where they have got this delusion from nobody really knows. We have thrashed them already in enough wars. But then they are also delusional over Kashmir and have been trying to capture it for close to 70 years with disastrous consequences. They lost East Pakistan in the past and have totally destabilised their own country in the present with their foolhardiness. First, the short answer to what will happen if Pakistan drops a nuke on India. India will retaliate with at least 5-10 nukes dropped at strategic nuclear and military sites in Pakistan to neutralise it. India will then declare an all-out war with Pakistan. The largest free standing army in the world, one of the most powerful air forces, a navy that annihilated the Pakistani Navy in 1971, the entire nuclear arsenal and missiles... they will all be activated. You can be very sure of that! India is currently a very angry nation and has been taking Pakistani wars, conflicts and terror attacks for decades. We are a cornered tiger and we are going to pounce sooner or later. We are a strong believer of the Mahabharata philosophy as espoused by Krishna: Explore each and every single avenue of peace - but when it all fails, go for all-out war. Play out any scenario you like, the results will be disastrous for India but absolutely catastrophic for Pakistan. Of course we know it is not as simple as that. There is no nuclear button sitting on the table of the Pakistan government, pressing which will lead to nuking New Delhi in half-an-hour. If Pakistan wants to conduct a nuclear strike, it will have to make a comprehensive real-time nuclear strategy. It knows one nuke will not be enough; it may have to arm 20-30. It will have to decide whether to attack by missiles, fighter planes or via the navy and how many by each. It will have to spread out its nukes all across the country at strategic places and put all its forces on alert. Can Pakistan really do that in secret? The whole world will know months in advance and India would do the same. We would move at lightning speed and deploy all our nukes and put all our forces on high alert. That would lead to either a stalemate or a MAD (mutually assured destruction) scenario. Again, Pakistan would either be unable to fire first or be destroyed at the end of a nuclear war if it did. India is currently a very angry nation and has been taking Pakistani wars, conflicts and terror attacks for decades. (Photo credit: PTI) Then what of Big Brother America which is stationed in Pakistan? They say that the three As control Pakistan (Allah and Army being the other). But currently, the superpower A has turned Pakistan into a puppet state. After 9/11, America has been calling the shots and Pakistan can only watch powerlessly, like the way Osama bin Laden was snatched from right under the headquarters of the Pakistani Army. Pakistan is swarming with CIA agents and Special Forces operatives. That is because America is paranoid that if Pakistani nukes go rogue, one of them may invariably land on American soil. America wants Pak nukes to stay under lock and key not because they want to protect India, but because they want to protect themselves. There are about 10,000 American troops stationed in Afghanistan along with 13,000 more under the leadership of NATO. Then there are the American drones which can come in and out of Pakistan and attack what they want at will. Can Pakistan really launch nukes under the nose of the US? America is the most selfish country in the world and will go out of its way to ensure it doesnt face a nuclear threat, no matter how remote. Then what of the world community? This is not like World War-II where the world was desperate to end the threat of Adolf Hitler and his allies, and thats why it looked the other way when Hiroshima and Nagasaki happened and in fact even cheered it. If theres an all-out war and Pakistan and North India get nuked, then southern China will face the threat of nuclear radiation. No matter how much China hates India, it too like America wants Pakistans nukes to stay under lock and key because of that. Right now the worlds biggest threat is terrorism. Thats especially if terrorists get hold of a nuke. That may happen in a nuclear war because Pakistan wont deploy one nuke, but dozens. What if one of them falls into the hands of a terrorist group? Its not as far-fetched as it sounds. In fact, when the world is at threat, dont be surprised if America and China get together to de-nuke Pakistan. Our enemys nuclear dream will backfire and turn into a nuclear nightmare. Pakistan is ravaged by terrorists. In the War of North Waziristan, 30,000 terrorists have already died along with 7,000 Pakistani soldiers and it rages on. Elsewhere in Pakistan, 50-60,000 civilians have died in terror attacks. There are independence movements in Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. In such a scenario, taking out 20-30 nukes has a high probability of one of them going rogue. The Israelis have the best intelligence in the world and if they even suspected Pakistan planning a nuclear attack, they would immediately inform India and America. In fact, the Pakistani nuclear bluff has already been called. The country became an official nuclear power in 1998 and its worst days began after that. It was humiliated in the Kargil War in 1999 and turned into a puppet state after 9/11. And today it is totally destabilised and faces break-up. All that after it became a nuclear power! The highly destructive and virulently anti-Indian Prime Minister Zulfikar Bhutto once famously declared that Pakistan would eat grass but build the bomb. Well hows that for a prophecy. With the way their economy is going, they will be forced to hug all their nukes and eat nothing but grass! Dear Pakistan, Drop a nuke on India. There are wars and then there are wars. An India-Pakistan no-holds-barred nuclear showdown is no longer a matter of raging fantasy of ageing generals, but something we are conducting social media polls about, eager to arrive at a collective decison. Should we continue with strategic restraint? Should we teach Pakistan a lesson it wouldn't quite exist to forget? The verdict, if reader opinions are a good indicator, is clearly divided. Peaceniks constantly warn against a nuclear meltdown, while those who are agitated, aghast at Pakistan's repeated betrayals, especially the latest one at Uri and since then Pak PM Nawaz Sharif's singing a statesmanly tune at the United Nations General Assembly, are not afraid of an all-out war. Evidently, the times are of hightened paranoia and security threat, but we should wait. War is about crossing the Rubicon of patience. Let's hold on some more. DailyO readers weigh in: Kris Li: I am not sure whether there would be a Nuclear confrontation between Pakistan and India, unless it so happens that Pakistan chooses to take forward its ever-favored nuclear rant. But, I am sure of one thing and would agree with Albert Einstein's words: I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. Pradeep RA: Come on you guys. You are from the media whoom can influence millions of people with 8your news. Please be responsible. This is not a Israel Palestine issue where a modern army is fighting stone pelters. The government has promised retaliation we must have patience and not do war mongering. Pakistan will learn a lesson and I believe Modiji is capable of handling the situation. Sunil Mangra: Better no war... Why cant these two countries live in peace with each other... War only brings pain and destruction so many innocent lives taken away.... Why...??? What do these countries gane by going to war or creating war against each other..... This world has so much sinfull people..... Please India and Pakistan join together and be one.... But please no WAR........ The following companies are subsidiares of Stanley Black & Decker: 2315708 Ontario Inc., 3-V Fastener Co. 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Read More Leggett & Platt, Incorporated designs, manufactures, and markets engineered components and products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Bedding Products; Specialized Products; and Furniture, Flooring & Textile Products. The company offers steel rods, drawn wires, foam chemicals and additives, innersprings, specialty foams, private label finished mattresses, mattress foundations, wire forms for mattress foundations, adjustable beds, industrial sewing and quilting machines, and mattress packaging and glue drying equipment, as well as machines to produce innersprings for industrial users of steel rods and wires, manufacturers of finished bedding, big box and e-commerce retailers, bedding brands and mattress retailers, department stores, and home improvement centers. It also provides mechanical and pneumatic lumbar support and massage systems for automotive seating; seat suspension systems, motors and actuators, and cables; titanium, nickel, and stainless-steel tubing, formed tubes, tube assemblies, and flexible joint components for fluid conveyance systems; and engineered hydraulic cylinders to automobile OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, aerospace OEMs and suppliers, and mobile equipment OEMs. In addition, the company offers steel mechanisms and motion hardware for reclining chairs, sofas, sleeper sofas and lift chairs; springs and seat suspensions; components and private label finished goods for soft seating; and bases, columns, back rests, casters, and frames, as well as control devices for chairs. Further, it offers carpet cushion and hard surface flooring underlayment, structural fabrics, and geo components to manufacturers of upholstered and office furniture, flooring retailers and distributors, contractors, landscapers, road construction companies, retailers, government agencies, and mattress and furniture producers, as well as manufacturers of packaging, filtration, and draperies. The company was founded in 1883 and is based in Carthage, Missouri. Everest Re Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, and internationally. The company operates through Reinsurance Operations and Insurance Operations segments. The Reinsurance Operations segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Insurance Operations segment writes property and casualty insurance directly, as well as through brokers, surplus lines brokers, and general agents in Bermuda, Canada, Europe, South America, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The company also provides treaty and facultative reinsurance products; admitted and non-admitted insurance products; and property and casualty reinsurance and insurance coverages, including marine, aviation, surety, errors and omissions liability, directors' and officers' liability, medical malpractice, mortgage reinsurance, other specialty lines, accident and health, and workers' compensation products. In addition, it offers commercial property and casualty insurance products through wholesale and retail brokers, surplus lines brokers, and program administrators. Everest Re Group, Ltd. was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. A Wednesday evening car chase that began near Pantops on Interstate 64 in Albemarle County and at time exceeded 100 mph ended with a crash in Richmond and a man behind bars, according to the Virginia State Police. Police said the incident began when an Albemarle police officer attempted to stop a car believed to be driven by Sky R. Almodovar, 32, of North Chesterfield, about two miles east of the I-64-U.S. 250 interchange. State police said the county officer had information that the man may have been driving with a revoked license and be a felon possessing a firearm. The stop never took place. The vehicle took off and police gave chase east on the interstate, with state police taking the lead as the fleeing vehicle entered Fluvanna County. The vehicle hit speeds of more than 100 mph as it headed toward Richmond, police said. The chase didnt end until the driver lost control of the car in a curve while exiting southbound Chippenham Parkway to Jahnke Road at the Richmond-Chesterfield line. The chase wasnt completely over, however. Police said the driver rammed two state police cars before finally being contained and stopped at the bottom of the exit ramp. Almodovar was arrested and taken to Chippenham Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. A woman passenger in the car was not injured in the incident and no officers were injured. Almodovar is charged with three felony counts of eluding police, three counts of driving while license revoked, making an unsafe lane change, disregarding a stop light and unauthorized use of a state inspection sticker. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and more charges are pending, state police said. RICHMOND The State Water Control Board will decide Thursday on a water-discharge permit that will govern the dewatering of coal-ash ponds at Dominion Virginia Powers 1,640-megawatt Chesterfield Power Station, the largest fossil-fuel power station in Virginia. Technically a re-issuance of an existing permit, it also will include other wastewater streams at the plant, which will continue to burn coal, unlike other Dominion plants that have switched to natural gas generation. Instead of using ash ponds, the plant will convert to dry management of coal ash, a $300 million project that includes the construction of a new lined landfill onsite. The decision will be the fourth rendered by the board on draining coal-ash ponds by treating and releasing the wastewater to adjacent waterways after the federal Environmental Protection Agency, acting in the wake of major coal-ash spills in North Carolina and Tennessee, established new regulations governing coal-ash management. The board has approved draining permits for Dominions Bremo and Possum Point stations and Appalachian Powers Clinch River plant. The actual closure of the ponds, by capping with a synthetic liner, will be governed by a separate solid waste permit process. And though past permit decisions have been hotly contested by environmental and riverkeeper groups, at least part of the controversy over Chesterfields permit has been allayed by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Dominion agreeing to incorporate additional treatment protocols for the wastewater from the two Chesterfield ponds, which contain nearly a total of 13.4 million tons of ash. The utility made similar agreements for enhanced treatment when testing reveals certain levels of heavy metals such as arsenic, selenium, lead, copper, antimony and thallium with the James River Association for the Bremo plant and with Prince William County for the Possum Point station. But the even with those stipulations, some will press the board Thursday for stricter limits, particularly given treatment testing results from those power stations that show Dominion hasnt come close to its permit limits. Theyre doing a good job removing toxic metals from that waste steam, said Brad McLane, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center in Charlottesville. The permit allows arsenic to be as high as 440 parts per billion. The experience at Possum Point and Bremo has been that arsenic has not been over 50 parts per billion. Wed like to see end-of-pipe limits that are set more stringently. The group will also press for stricter temperature controls on cooling water entering Farrar Gut and ask the board to eliminate mixing zones, which would allow Dominion to take into account dilution caused by adding the treated pond water to the James River when calculating discharge limits. We want to tighten up some of the requirements and shorten some of the time frames for Clean Water Act requirements. That will be our ask to the water board, McLane said. He acknowledged, however that the board has usually deferred to the Department of Environmental Quality. DEQ spokesman Bill Hayden said the agency will recommend that the board approve the permit in its current form. Its at least recent experience that its a challenge to get the water board to depart from what the DEQ recommends. They have a tendency to defer to the agency staff, McLane said. Robert Richardson, a Dominion spokesman, said the company will spend about $80 million on water treatment technology involved in closing the ash ponds at Chesterfield and converting to dry management, in which ash from power generation is conveyed through tubes to the new landfill. He said the permit up for consideration Thursday incorporates new stringent limits for the station and will ensure that discharges from the station over the next six years are fully protective of aquatic life and other uses of the James River. The permit hearing comes a day after a poll conducted on behalf of an environmental group found that a majority of Virginia voters disagree with Gov. Terry McAuliffes handling of coal-ash disposal and his support for the construction of a pair of natural gas pipelines. The poll was conducted by The Cromer Group, which has done public opinion research for political candidates and organizations, nonprofits, private corporations and media outlets, among others, including on environmental issues. The agency asked 732 Virginia registered voters selected at random two questions. One asked if they supported the governors enthusiastic embrace of a pair of proposed pipelines, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which will transport fracked natural gas through Virginia from the Marcellus and Utica basins, which cover parts of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Opposition has centered on the risk of pipeline failure, destruction and seizure of private property through eminent domain and the potential for increased pollution and drinking water contamination. Fifty-five percent of respondents said they did not support the governors stance, while 28 percent did and 17 percent were unsure or did not have an opinion. The other referenced Dominions proposal to largely to cap in place its coal ash ponds, with the exception of Possum Point, where the ash is being consolidated into a pond with a clay liner. In other states, such as Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, utilities are removing ash from the banks of waterways and depositing it in lined landfills, either voluntarily or to comply with legal settlements or state regulations. In some cases, however, those closures will take considerably longer than Dominions plans. And they are not uniformly excavating all ash. Georgia Power, for example has opted to excavate ash at facilities near waterways but close in place others. Dominion called the poll an obvious effort to use biased questions based on incorrect information to slant the results. Dominions plans for closing coal ash ponds as well as building the ACP protect the environment. To say otherwise is untrue, Dominion Virginia Power spokesman David Botkins said in an email. Over the last many months Dominion has developed plans to close our ponds by consolidating the ash on station property. EPA endorses that approach. Environmental groups such as the James River Association, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network and the Southern Environmental Law Center have pointed to testing they saw shows the existing ash ponds have been leaching contaminants such as lead, arsenic and other metals into waterways for years. Dominion has maintained its closure plans will protect the environment and that there is no evidence that there have been any offsite impacts from their ponds. Seventy-one percent of respondents said McAuliffe should follow the approach of other Southern states in handling coal-ash waste. Only 14 percent said the governor should support Dominions approach to handling coal-ash waste. Fifteen percent were unsure or undecided. The poll had a sampling error of plus or minus 4 percent at a 95 percent level of confidence, which means that at least 95 percent of the time the survey results will differ by no more than the 4 percent margin of voter if every voter in Virginia had been interviewed. Christina Nuckols, a spokeswoman for the governor, said in a statement that McAuliffe has made it clear to state agencies that they are charged with ensuring that all of these projects are handled in a way that protects human health and minimizes the impact on Virginias natural resources. She said the governor supports the proposed pipelines because of the tremendous economic benefits that will be generated as communities across Virginia obtain access to new energy sources but has also called for them to be developed in a way that minimizes impacts to the environment, landowners and historic resources. She added that the Virginia Department of Environmental Qualitys requirements for coal-ash pond closure exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements and state laws. The agency is requiring utilities to obtain separate water and solid waste permits to protect human health and aquatic life, she said. Those projects will be closely monitored to ensure that they remain in compliance at all times with the state permits. In a conference call with reporters Wednesday, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Virginia Organizing, a nonprofit that has allied with McAuliffes administration on restoring voting rights to felons, also announced a picket of McAuliffes offices on Oct. 3, 4 and 5 to call for more executive action on the environmental front. It will be the latest broadside from similar groups aimed at the Democratic governors environmental record. MOUNT CRAWFORD In an effort to understand the concerns of farmers and other agricultural business owners within his district, Del. R. Steven Landes, R-Weyers Cave, spent Wednesday touring several ag-related operations from Mount Crawford to Crozet. Organized by Katie Frazier, president of the Agribusiness Council of Virginia, the tour began at the Mount Crawford Creamery, before heading to Maple Springs Farm and Marshall Farms in Weyers Cave. Landes stopped for lunch at the Valley Pike Farm Market and then concluded the tour at Kellys Turkeys in Crozet. [I want to] see what [the local] operations are, how theyre working, and get a firsthand look at some of these businesses, Landes said of his goals for the tour. I want to see how the policies and the budgetary actions that we take can impact the businesses in positive or negative ways. Grants and other incentives for small-business owners, including farmers and agri-businesses, were among the topics discussed during the tour. Landes, now in his 11th term in the House of Delegates, said he wanted to try to maximize opportunity for local entrepreneurs. Toward that end, he asked the business owners he visited with what their main challenges are in dealing with state and federal government agencies, and how they think the process of setting up and running a business could be streamlined and less burdensome for farmers. One of the concerns weve heard consistently is just regulations, Landes said. Rules and regulations. One of the difficulties states contend with when they try to revamp their regulatory system, Landes noted, is making sure the revised rules dont contradict federal regulations. That can slow down the process and can often make easing burdensome regulations at the state level difficult, at best, he said. He wants to explore additional incentives through tax deductions or credits to help farmers and business owners. Thats one thing that can be really beneficial for small businesses, said Landes, whose district includes portions of Albemarle County. David Gardner, owner of the Valley Pike Farm Market in Weyers Cave, echoed those sentiments, stressing in particular the difficulties associated with regulations both in terms of expense and even simple compliance with complicated and at times seemingly unnecessary red tape. He said regulations and conditions on small businesses seem to have increased recently, adding that it was interfering with entrepreneurial activity. Unless we get a handle on it, I dont see a young person being able to do what weve done, Gardner said. The frustration of the permitting and the bureaucracy were strangling ourselves with regulations. I think a lot of people just throw their hands up and say forget it. On a brighter note, the Valley Pike Farm Market is an example of the good that can come from local businesses working together to help spur growth. The market sells Virginia-made foods and beverages almost exclusively. It sells several products from the other stops on Landes tour, including milk and ice cream from Mount Crawford Creamery, as well as local meats, beers, wines and gourmet items. Offer a personal message of sympathy... You'll find individual Guest Books on the page with each obituary notice. By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. . From a Guest Book, you may log in with your Google, Facebook, Yahoo or AOL account to leave a message. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that. Otherwise, it's simple to create a new one by clicking on the Create "Sign up" button and following the simple steps on the Sign Up page. On a Sunday morning 20 years ago Thursday, sportsmen exercising their dogs discovered the remains of a woman whod been bound and burned and left in a remote area of Culpeper County. The victim, Anne Carolyn McDaniel, a 20-year-old woman who lived in a group home in the Town of Orange, had been reported missing four days earlier. The discovery of her body was yet another blow to a region already reeling from the unsolved killings of four other women and the disappearance of a Spotsylvania teenager, who, it would later be learned, had fallen victim to a serial killer. By the end of a 14-month span, between March 1996 and May 1997, the serial killer would strike again and the overall count would reach eight murdered women and girls. The serial killer, who lived in Spotsylvania, would later be discovered and linked to the murders of the three youngest victims. But the other five homicides, including McDaniels, remain unsolved. A Culpeper County sheriffs detective, however, said this week that there have been promising new developments in McDaniels case, developments he believes could help solve her murder. I absolutely think it is solvable, Detective Wes Butler said. McDaniel had a mental disability caused by cerebral palsy, her parents told The Free Lance-Star at the time. She moved into the President Madison Inn in downtown Orange because she wanted to be independent. I think she was too trusting, the young womans mother, Shirley McDaniel, told an FLS reporter two days after learning of her daughters death. The day after she was born, she was put in a neonatal unit [at the hospital]. She wasnt expected to live, and later we were told that she wouldnt be able to walk or talk. She had come so far. Here, she was a young woman trying to get charge of her life, and now this. Her parents have both since died. In another FLS story at the time, Dornin Formwalt, a co-owner of the Firehouse Cafe and Market in downtown Orange, said McDaniel had talked to her about working as a bus girl. She was very sweet and eager to do well, Formwalt said. McDaniels body was found in a remote area of Culpeper off State Route 723 near Lignum. Butler, the detective, said her remains were located some distance from a hunting cabin near Mount Pony. The young womans killer left her remains within seven miles of Alicia Showalter Reynolds shallow grave and four miles from the home of Thelma Scroggins, both of whom had been killed earlier that year. Authorities initially thought the body might be that of Sophia Silvas, a teen whod vanished from her Spotsylvania home nine days before McDaniel was reported missing. After the remains were proven not to be the teens, authorities confirmed that the body was McDaniels. The medical examiner determined that McDaniel was killed on Sept. 21, three days after her reported disappearance. Butler said the cause of death was asphyxiation. Investigators initially zeroed in on a man whod volunteered at the group home where McDaniel lived and also was someone she had described as her boyfriend. Police interrogated the man and seized items and other evidence from his home and property, which was about 11 miles from where McDaniels remains were found. The man was never charged. In an interview this week, Butler said the focus of the investigation has changed because of recent developments. He resubmitted all of the evidence for lab analysis more than a year ago, and it has been retested using the latest technology. DNA was found, but it was insufficient to match anyone so far, he said, adding that more examinations are forthcoming and that he is about to submit another piece of evidence he believes could be crucial to solving the case. Butler said a new timeline and location of the last reported sighting of McDaniel has been another crucial development in the case, and it has shifted focus away from the original suspect. I have conducted a lot of interviews and several people have told me they saw her around 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, at the 7-Eleven on Main Street in Orange, the detective said. These were people who knew her, he noted. They said she was looking for a ride. This change in the time she was last seen is really, really important. McDaniel, he added, had been known to hitchhike. Butler said he has two persons of interest on his radar, but no direct evidence to link either. The veteran detective and Capt. Nick White believe there is someone out there who may know something that will help break the case. Were still looking for leads, said White. LONDON - England - From birth, the human condition of distinction of differences is a natural human mechanism, conditioned over thousands of years of human existence, called racism or being racist. Sticking George Soros into a room full of migrants, all talking their own language, some cooking with their pots on the floor, others with their bare toes a few centimetres from his face. Gesticulating arguments and the smell is all too overpowering. Some are defecating in the corner of the room, it is okay in their culture. Mr. Soros is to stay in this room for 48 hours, with a good mix of races, some from Africa, Eastern Europe, some from the Middle East or South East Asia. Elements of the group surround Soros, his $45,000 suit stands out, and he wears a $250,000 watch that could finance a home for 2,000 refugees. Ah, I hear you say, this illustrates poverty, not racism. You are right but wrong, maybe one should consider there is a link between the two. Soros, the only pale, well fed individual in the room is eventually pleading for his life. Where are his bodyguards now? He curses these darkies under his breath as they strip him of all he wears, then beat him into a pulp, leaving him quivering on the floor in his own blood and urine. You see everyone is inherently racist. From birth, if you can distinguish other colours, you are racist. It is a perfectly natural human condition. Now distinguishing and discriminating are two different concepts, but here is the crux of the problem, when one distinguishes, he chooses, therefore he discriminates from other choices he could have chosen. In most cases, from birth many stay within their own birth tribe/culture/colour/team/religion or whatever you wish to call it. This is the human conditioning working all too well, thousands of years of conditioning cannot be changed in a short time. Now, the elite globalists, are merely trying to shock the system. We are now seeing races and cultures from the deepest zones of the earth foisted upon the predominantly Aryan Western countries, who have never encountered such things before. This causes a natural culture shock to the nation involved in the program. The elite, are of course as racist as any other man, purely because they are exclusive individuals, but they are racist in educated ways, and this is why it permissible for them. Above the echelons and ramparts of the pyramid, an educated elitist from Burkina Faso can understand the elitist from Oxford, England quite well, as can the elitist from Beijing or Washington D.C. In relation to the current time we are experiencing now, one could postulate that the globalist controllers have overplayed their hand slightly, but to come to that conclusion one must first find out the modus operandi of these controllers. That, certainly cannot be revealed here in full, but if you think about it, by inflicting millions of culturally and racially different people onto an established predominantly mono-racial nation, many changes take place. A singular world, a truly global one world order, must eradicate the differences as much as possible in the mind of the globalist architects. Therefore, there must be a singular race mixed up from many gene pools, a singular religion mixed up from many religions and refined into one, and a singular banking currency mixed up from multiple global currencies. From the many, we move to the singular much more easily controlled state. A singular security force which will enforce the New World Order with great voracity from the temptations of jingoistic national fervour. The key to addressing the New World Order is how does one achieve this progression when blocked by certain nations who are staunchly unwilling to suddenly shock their citizens with a mass influx/invasion from different cultures and races? War is probably the only answer to those who do not capitulate to forced migratory quotas. War or complete economic depletion. We shall see. Between a Rock and a Hard Place April 2017 Kobo: Coming iBooks: Coming A Very Jaguar Christmas is coming in October. Its hard, but this is often how it works. Its freezing out, Im writing about the jungle heat. Its steaming out and Im writing about a blizzard. So how do I get in the mood? Believe me, I really dont feel in the mood to watch Christmas stories right now, or listen to Christmas music. But, I began making Christmas trailers for the two books coming out this year. First, A Silver Wolf Christmas for the Oct 6 release, and then for Alphas Unwrapped, Dec 1 release. Finding music and Christmas pictures for them, diving into the Christmas stories helped. Then having the Christmas party for A Silver Wolf Christmas did too. I watched Arctic Blast a while back when it was soooo hot, I think it is called, campy movie, but its cold. There are others like it where people are running around in the frigid cold and they work well for giving the visuals to help create a cold snowy environment in my mind. But wait! These are jaguar shifters. It gets cold in Texas, but not that snowy. And if we have snow, its in the new year, February, later. Its ruining my whole Christmas mood. NOT to mention that its 97 degrees this weekend, even though we are near the end of September. Did anyone mention to the weather god that it is nearly fall now? Please turn off the heat. And while youre at it, we desperately need some rain. Max fell into a foot-deep crack in the earth yesterday when I took him walking in the front yard. Jaguars lived in the southern states bordering MexicoTexas, Arizona, NM, California. No longer, but at one time, they did. So my jaguar shifters live in Texas. And they go on vacations to South America and other locations where jaguars still run free, though who knows how long that will last as people still illegally hunt them for sport. So, here is my dilemma. I want a Christmas card Christmas for them. Without it, it just doesnt seem like Christmas. Even though for most of my life, Ive had to go north to see snow if I want the Christmas card experience with snow. Florida, Texas, California, no snow at Christmas. When we lived in Florida, we had an aluminum tree and colorful wheel of lights. It was really pretty, but Florida just didnt seem Christmassy enough to warrant a green tree. That had me revising my trip plansfor my jaguars. They have to go north to see a white Christmas. Have to. Now Im in the mood for Christmas. Tiger says he doesnt even want to hear about another cat shifter story that is about a big cat other than him. I took this picture of the tiger at the San Diego Zoo. Isnt he beautiful?A Very Jaguar Christmas is coming in October.Its hard, but this is often how it works. Its freezing out, Im writing about the jungle heat. Its steaming out and Im writing about a blizzard. So how do I get in the mood? Believe me, I really dont feel in the mood to watch Christmas stories right now, or listen to Christmas music.But, I began making Christmas trailers for the two books coming out this year. First, A Silver Wolf Christmas for the Oct 6 release, and then for Alphas Unwrapped, Dec 1 release. Finding music and Christmas pictures for them, diving into the Christmas stories helped. Then having the Christmas party for A Silver Wolf Christmas did too. I watched Arctic Blast a while back when it was soooo hot, I think it is called, campy movie, but its cold. There are others like it where people are running around in the frigid cold and they work well for giving the visuals to help create a cold snowy environment in my mind.But wait! These are jaguar shifters. It gets cold in Texas, but not that snowy. And if we have snow, its in the new year, February, later. Its ruining my whole Christmas mood. NOT to mention that its 97 degrees this weekend, even though we are near the end of September. Did anyone mention to the weather god that it is nearly fall now? Please turn off the heat. And while youre at it, we desperately need some rain. Max fell into a foot-deep crack in the earth yesterday when I took him walking in the front yard.Jaguars lived in the southern states bordering MexicoTexas, Arizona, NM, California. No longer, but at one time, they did. So my jaguar shifters live in Texas. And they go on vacations to South America and other locations where jaguars still run free, though who knows how long that will last as people still illegally hunt them for sport.So, here is my dilemma. I want a Christmas card Christmas for them. Without it, it just doesnt seem like Christmas. Even though for most of my life, Ive had to go north to see snow if I want the Christmas card experience with snow. Florida, Texas, California, no snow at Christmas. When we lived in Florida, we had an aluminum tree and colorful wheel of lights. It was really pretty, but Florida just didnt seem Christmassy enough to warrant a green tree.That had me revising my trip plansfor my jaguars. They have to go north to see a white Christmas. Have to. Now Im in the mood for Christmas. A Very Jaguar Christmas (Book 5) Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Very-Jaguar-Christmas-Heart/dp/1492621803 B&N: http://tinyurl.com/he7fyol iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-very-jaguar-christmas/id1128526691?mt=11 Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/a-very-jaguar-christmas BAM: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Very-Jaguar-Christmas/Terry-Spear/9781492621805 Terry Spear Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality. Connect with Terry Spear: Website: Goodreads: Facebook: Twitter: Have a great one!!!Terry SpearGiving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.Connect with Terry Spear:Website: http://www.terryspear.com Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear Okay, White Wolf Christmas is not up for preorder yet, but will soon be. Ill post when it is.Between a Rock and a Hard Place is available for preorder. Theyre working on the cover now. Bishop, September 22 Source: https://www.ewtn.com/ Educator, philanthropist, born at Fuentellana, Spain, 1488; died at Valencia, 8 September, 1555. Son of Aloazo Tomas Garcia and Lucia Martinez Castellanos, the saint was brought up in the practices of religion and charity. Every Friday his father was wont to give in alms all the meal he earned at the mill, besides his usual daily dole of bread. On great feast-days he added wood, wine, and money; while to poor farmers he loaned money and seed. On the death of her husband, Lucia continued the usual alms, and supplied indigent maidens in the neighbourhood with clothing and money. When sixteen tears old, Thomas entered the University of Alcala, where, after proceeding master of arts and licentiate in theology, he filled the chair (1514) of arts, logic, and philosophy. Among his auditors were the famed scholars Ferdinand de Encina and Dominic Soto. With Alcala, however, ended his university associations, he having declined the chair of natural philosophy at Salamanca, where he joined the Augustinians in 1516, his vows following a year later, and his ordination to priesthood the year after; his first Mass was celebrated at Christmas, 1518. At Salamanca Convent Thomas was given the class of scholastic theology because of his attachment for books, chiefly the Lombard and St. Thomas, and his exemplary life. Preaching in the pulpits of Spain was soon added to his duties, among other places at Valencia, the field of his later trials, and Valladolid, seat of the imperial Court and residence of the Emperor Charles V when on his visits to the Low Countries. In this last-named city St. Thomas was named by the emperor his court preacher, and one of his councillors of state. Rarely, however, did the saint pay visits of ceremony to the then master of Europe, though his written correspondence with Charles, who held his opinions in high esteem, was voluminous. Towards the close of his life, while at Valencia, he had all the emperor's letters destroyed; his own letters to the emperor, however, are now stored at Simancas. Apart from these burdens Thomas held many offices of trust in his order, e.g. as convent prior in various cities, among others at Valladolid in 1544, the very year he was called to the See of Valencia. Moreover, he was twice provincial-prior, first of Andalusia and Castile in 1527, then six years later of Castile alone, whence the first mission band of his brethren was sent across the Atlantic in 1533 to establish houses of their order in Mexico. On 5 Aug., 1544, he received his nomination to the Archbishopric of Valencia, a post that for well-nigh a hundred years had witnessed no bishop in residence, an appointment that was confirmed by Paul III. Previously St. Thomas had declined the See of Granada, offered him by the emperor, while that of Valencia he accepted only through obedience to his superiors. He was consecrated in the church of his order at Valladolid by Juan, Cardinal Tavera de Pardo, Archbishop of Toledo. On his entrance to his see on 1 Jan., 1545, of which he was thirty-second bishop and eighth archbishop, St. Thomas opened his career as legislator and philanthropist, which won for him the titles of "Almsgiver", "Father of the Poor", and "Model of Bishops", given him at his beatification in 1618 by Paul V. During his eleven years of episcopal rule his most noteworthy deeds were as follows: a visitation of his diocese, opened a few weeks after entrance into his see. Among other amendments he inhibited his visitators from accepting any gifts whatever. He then held a synod, the first at Valencia for many years, whereby he sought to do away with a number of abuses, as bloodshed, divorce, concubinage, and many excessive privileges or unreasonable exemptions; he abolished the underground prisons; rebuilt the general hospital at Valencia which had just been destroyed by fire; founded two colleges, one for young ecclesiastics, the other for poor students; laboured for the conversion of the , whose profession of Christianity was largely mere outward show; established a creche near his palace for foundlings and the offspring of indigent parents; had Mass said at early hours for the working-classes; and in brief, by statutes, by preaching, and by example, strove to reform the morals of churchman and layman. Towards the poor especially his heart was ever alive with pity; to them his palace gate was always open; daily he had a repast for every poor person that applied for help, as many even as four to five hundred thus getting their meals at his hands. In every district of the city he had almoners appointed with orders especially to search out the respectable persons who shrank from asking alms; these he had supplied with money, food, clothing, while as to indigent workmen, poor farmers, and mechanics, he replenished their stock and brought them tools, thus putting them in the way of making a living. His whole life as replete with acts of practical kindness. He spent his spare time chiefly in prayer and study; his table was one of simple fare, with no luxuries. His dress was inexpensive; he mended with his own hands whatever needed repairs. Numberless are the instances of St. Thomas' supernatural gifts, of his power of healing the sick, of multiplication of food, of redressing grievances, of his ecstasies, of his conversions of sinners. He was taken ill in August, 1555, of angina pectoris, of which he died at the age of 67, at the termination of Mass in his bedroom. His last words were the versicles: "In manus tuas, Domine", etc.; his remains were entombed at the convent Church of Our Lady of Help of his order outside the city walls, whence later they were brought to the cathedral. The saint was of well-knit frame, of medium height, with dark complexion, brilliant eyes, ruddy cheeks, and Roman nose. He was beatified by Paul V (7 Oct., 1618), who set his feast-day for 18 Sept., and canonized by Alexander VII on 1 Nov., 1658. Various reasons are given to account for St. Thomas' non-appearance at the Council of Trent, among them that he was ill, unable to stand the fatigue of travel; that his people would not brook his absence; and that the emperor was unable to do without his aid at home. The writings of St. Thomas, mainly sermons, are replete with practical norms of mystic theology. Some twenty editions have been published, the best and most complete being probably that of Manila, 1882-1884, in 5 tomes. (Taken from Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints) This page may be updated if the event is repeated Past Event - Saturday, October 22, 2022 This page may be updated if the event is repeated $25 The Ohios Hospice of Dayton 3k/5k Remembrance Walk offers families and friends an opportunity to honor the memory of a loved one and raise funds to support patient services. WHAT: Walk in honor or in memory of a loved one. Awards will be presented to the team and individual who raises the most money. T-shirts will be available for pick up on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at the Hospice House. WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 Registration opens at 8:30 am. Walk begins at 10 am. WHERE: Ohios Hospice of Dayton 324 Wilmington Ave. Dayton, OH 45420 WHY: Net proceeds benefit Ohios Hospice of Dayton patient care and services. QUESTIONS: Please email Sydney Munch at SMunch@OhiosHospice.org or call 937.222.WALK. PRICING: Individual Walker: $25 Team of 10 or More: $20 each Youth Walker (Age 12 and under): $15 Active Military or Veteran: $20 Memory Walk Signs: $20 DETAILS: With the purchase of a memory walk sign, your sign will be displayed along the main entrance of the Hospice House. Fruit and water will be available Saturday morning for those coming to pick up T-shirts and walk the memory sign path. Must register by October 3, 2022 to guarantee an event T-shirt. Awards for top individual and top team will be given out. General Motors has taken a big step by announcing the price of the electric car, the Bolt. The electric hatchback is priced in the US at around Rs 20 lakh (under $30,000). It was showcased at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas and is expected to hit select dealerships by late 2016. The least expensive Bolt will start at $37,495 (Rs 25.1 lakh) before taking into account a $7,500 (Rs 5 lakh) federal tax credit which, GM said, means it would sell for $29,995. At this price, the car would be almost $5,000 (Rs 3.35 lakh) cheaper than the most affordable Tesla the Model 3 which will be available in the second half of 2017. The electric Bolt claims a driving range of around 383km on full charge a good 37km better than the Tesla Model 3 and considerably larger than any other electric car on offer in the market. Aesthetically, the car is almost the same modest hatchback concept that was shown at the CES earlier this year, with its smiling front grille, sleek LED headlamps, a sloping roof and sharp contours. On the occasion, Chevrolets manager for car and crossover marketing, Steve Majoros, kept his cards close to his chest when asked about the number of orders for the car so far. He did reveal, though, that the interest in the vehicle is strong, including from corporate and government fleets. GM also plans to deliver Bolts to its ride-services partner Lyft. The American carmaker has also kicked off promotions for the Bolt, including a website that lets buyers calculate the number of miles that they drive in a day and how much they would save by going electric. Personalities like Apple Inc co-founder Steve Wozniak, who expressed interest in the electric Bolt, have only helped the cars cause further. Source: CarDekho.com McLaren has built some of the fastest and most expensive supercars in the world based on its Formula One technology.(Photo: McLaren.com) London: British supercar maker McLaren said 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 in a statement to AFP. 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 (1.7 billion euros, $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 percent 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. FTIL is in crisis following the Rs 5,600 crore payment default at its subsidiary NSEL in August 2013 affecting 13,000 investors. New Delhi: 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 odered 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. The Note 7 phone went on sale in South Korea on Aug. 19 to rave reviews, but following reports of the high-end phones catching fire Samsung stopped sales on Sept. 2 and recalled 2.5 million units. Seoul: 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 Thursday. 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 Aug. 19 to rave reviews, but following reports of the high-end phones catching fire Samsung stopped sales on Sept. 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 U.S. 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 Sept. 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. South Korean consumers who bought the defective Note 7 began getting notifications that they can get a new one starting Monday. But employees at mobile carrier shops in Seoul said Samsung had not supplied them with enough units of the new. Sebi has lined up wide-ranging relaxations to its norms for REITs and InvITs. New Delhi: With an aim to make it easier for overseas investors, regulator Sebi is considering allowing some categories of Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to directly trade in Indian markets, starting with debt segment. Besides, the markets regulator plans asking companies to seek minority shareholders' approval before granting special powers relating to operations of the firms to non-promoters such as private equity investors. In addition, to make domestic capital markets more attractive, Sebi has lined up wide-ranging relaxations to its norms for REITs and InvITs and an easier set of listing rules for startups. Several attempts are being made to garner due attention from business houses in the country but all the efforts failed leading to Sebi reconsidering the proposal to give further relaxations. The issues are likely to be discussed in the board meeting of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) tomorrow, sources said. The regulator may float consultation papers for FPIs and private equity funds and the final decision will be taken after taking into account views of all the stakeholders. Under the proposed norms for FPIs, Sebi may permit overseas investors to directly trade in capital markets. It has proposed to begin with allowing them to trade in debt markets and gradually access to equity markets may also be permitted. Currently, FPIs trade in Indian markets through domestic stock brokers, who get a significant chunk of their revenues from such investors. The norms might be applicable for Category-I FPIs that include sovereign wealth funds and central banks as well as Category-II FPIs, which include mutual funds and banks. However, hedge funds, individuals and other high risk foreign investors may not get this facility. The move is aimed at boosting foreign inflows in Indian capital markets. However, it will have negative impact on domestic brokerage houses as they will lose out on revenue. Currently, investments made by Sebi-registered FPIs in domestic capital market stands at Rs 11.5 lakh crore. This include Rs 8.45 lakh crore in equities and Rs 3.06 lakh crore in debt. With regard to the proposed regulation to private equity fund, Sebi may ask companies to seek approval of minority shareholders before granting special powers relating to operations of the firms to non-promoters such as private equity fund. The new norms would ensure that special rights given to private equity funds are approved by minority shareholders. There are rules mandating special power relating to operations of companies to promoters, while there are no specific rules for private equity players, who have been making significant investments in new age companies. Mumbai: There is no doubt that Hrithik Roshan is one of the most stylish looking actors in the industry. He is often referred to as a Greek God and is known for his well-built physique and handsome looks. And now it seems that his sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan are also on their way to displaying a similar style. Hrithik recently posted a picture of him with his sons, all three of them looking dapper in stylish suits. While the picture is lovable on its own, the caption makes it even more endearing as he talks about convincing them for three hours to wear the outfit. A few days ago, Hrithik had also shared another picture with kids where they wanted to exchange ice-creams with him, but he flatly refused. The perfectionist actor also seems to be a perfectionist dad! Mumbai: Amidst the frenetic shooting for Imtiaz Alis next film The Ring along with Anushka Sharma, SRK gives us a glimpse of his humorous side. King Khan, who is shooting in freezing temperatures of Amsterdam, took to Twitter playfully requesting his female fans to send him hugs for warmth and boys to courier their leather jackets. Cold nite shoot in Amsterdam. Girls send me a hug for warmth. Boys courier me a pure leather jacket. pic.twitter.com/uzbcL4BycJ Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 22, 2016 The Badshah of Bollywood will soon be seen in Rahul Dholakias Raees, the teaser of which has already created a lot of excitement. SRK has also been signed for Aanand L Rais untitled project. Countless interviews, meeting fans on set, incessant shooting, being a doting father so many duties to carry out yet he manages to stay funny. Traits of a true King? Yes! Mumbai: 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 in the year 2000. Mumbai: A fire broke out in popular television actor Amit Behls house in Malad, Mumbai on Wednesday, killing three of his pets. The actor was not at his 23rd floor flat in Rushi Heights when the fire occurred and was in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Behl, who is joint secretary of the Cine and Television Artists Association of India, is representing the organization, at a conference of the Federation of International Congress. The actor, who has been in the industry since several years now, is currently a part of the television show Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat. Behl revealed the news on his Facebook profile, where he thanked his neighbours for managing the situation and requested his well wishers to pray for his pets, who passed away in the incident. The actor also stated that he will come back to Mumbai on 29th of this month. Allu Arjun is all set to debut in Kollywood and the team officially announced the news in Chennai on Thursday. The actor, along with director Lingusamy and producer Gnanavel Raja, attended the event. I was born and brought up in Chennai. This place is like home to me. I want to enter the Tamil industry with the right kind of film, said Allu Arjun in Tamil. The producer and director praised the actor for his dedication towards his work, and said that the Tamil audience like his films and his dance moves. Veteran actor Sivakumar (actor Suriyas father) was a special guest at the event and wished Allu Arjun great success. If biting into your regular vada pav after stopping at the train station has become too stale and boring for you then Mumbai railways is offering a reason to rejoice. Now train commuters will have the option of tucking in a freshly made pizza at the station courtesy a machine that will dispense it within five minutes. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, also known as the IRCTC, plans to install anytime-pizza machines for a pilot project at five busy railway stations in the city: Kalyan, LTT, Mumbai Central, CST and Andheri. The machine will be able to dispense a freshly made pizza in just five minutes at the touch of a button, according to local media reports. All you have to do is insert a token and then select from any of the four varieties and the toppings. This special pizza ATM also allows one to observe the entire pizza preparation process. The idea of pizza dispensing machines was conceptualised in Netherlands. Their parts are manufactured in Japan and assembled in China. Watching TV for short periods does not impact on the number of creative ideas that young children come up. (Photo: Pixabay) London: Children who spend just 15 minutes or more a day watching television may become less creative as compared to those who read books or solve jigsaw puzzles, a new study has warned. Watching TV for short periods does not impact on the number of creative ideas that young children come up, researchers said. However the research, conducted with 60 children of three years of age at Staffordshire University in the UK, has found that 15 minutes of children's television temporarily reduces the originality of the ideas they come up with. "We were looking at the immediate impact of television on children's creativity," said psychology lecturer Dr Sarah Rose, who conducted the study. "We compared children who watched slow and fast paced episodes of Postman Pat with children who were left to play with books and jigsaws. We then tested the children for the numbers of creative ideas and the originality of those ideas," Rose said. "While there was very little impact of TV on the number of creative ideas generated, there was clear evidence that the children came up with less original ideas immediately after watching television although these effects seemed to disappear after a short time. "Over time if children are less creative in their play, this could negatively impact their development," Rose said. The new research is potentially useful to producers of children's television, early years' educators and parents as little study has been carried out on the development effects of television on young children, researchers said. "There is a belief that the more slow-paced programmes are more educational but our findings do not support this," Rose added. Third molars, or so-called wisdom teeth, generally emerge fully or partially between ages 17 and 26 into limited space and they are often wedged against the second molars. (Photo: Pixabay) Although removal of wisdom teeth is very common, there are no studies that show a benefit to taking them out when they are not causing pain or other problems, according to a new review of existing research. Third molars, or so-called wisdom teeth, generally emerge fully or partially between ages 17 and 26 into limited space and they are often wedged against the second molars. This can cause swelling, root damage, decay or gum disease, and in these cases experts agree the wisdom teeth should be removed. But if there are no symptoms, it is unclear whether the benefits of surgery outweigh the risks, researchers write in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Given the fact that wisdom teeth are removed on a large scale worldwide, it is surprising that high quality research is lacking, said lead author Hossein Ghaeminia of Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. In the USA for instance, the preventive removal of asymptomatic disease-free wisdom teeth is very common, Ghaeminia told Reuters Health by email. In the UK, the NICE guidelines advise not to remove asymptomatic disease-free wisdom teeth. The researchers searched for studies that compared outcomes, such as the likelihood of various dental problems, after disease-free impacted wisdom teeth are either removed or retained. They found just two studies, including one randomized controlled trial from a dental hospital in the U.K., and one prospective study in the U.S. But neither compared most aspects of health-related quality of life after removal versus retention of asymptomatic wisdom teeth. The U.S. study, which involved 416 healthy men, found that men who still had their impacted wisdom teeth may have had a higher risk for gum disease around the adjacent molar over the long term compared to men who had their wisdom teeth removed or did not have any to begin with. The U.K. trial randomized 164 participants to either removal or retention of impacted wisdom teeth and found no evidence of notable differences between the groups in dental health afterwards. The studies did not measure other outcomes like cost, cyst or tumor formation, bleeding, nerve damage or infection. The most common risks of surgery are infection, inflammation of the tooth socket and temporary nerve injury causing impaired sensation of the lip and chin, Ghaeminia said. Surgery is covered by most dental insurance but it generally is not covered by medical insurance, said Martha E. Nunn of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, who was not part of the new study. We will likely conduct another prospective cohort study to examine risks from retained asymptomatic third molars, Nunn told Reuters Health by email. I personally disagree with surgical removal of third molar tooth buds when an adolescent is young, as I have seen permanent bone damage as a result, she said. Some might say that preventive removal should be stopped since there is no high quality evidence to support this practice, but that may lead to more surgeries at an older age when wisdom teeth do become symptomatic, and surgery has more complications for adults than for teens, Ghaeminia said. On the other hand, preventive removal of all asymptomatic wisdom teeth is also undesirable: if the tooth would stay asymptomatic and disease free during lifetime, the patient might have been exposed to an unnecessary risk of complications and costs, he said. In the absence of evidence, orthodontists, dentists and oral surgeons should discuss the pros and cons of wisdom teeth removal in each case individually. The presence of the vaccine-derived virus in the environment is a cause of concern.(Photo: Representational purpose only) Hyderabad: A type 2 vaccine-derived polio virus was isolated from Amberpet and Nagole nalas on August 28 by an environment surveillance team. This is the second instance of the virus being discovered in the city in five months; a polio-derived vaccine virus was earlier found in April in the Amberpet nala. Following the latest find of the virus, the governments family welfare department has sent out an alert to all state-run and private hospitals to inform the government if they come across any polio cases. The presence of the vaccine-derived virus in the environment is a cause of concern as it means that the virus can strike again and there can be polio cases. Docs sound alarm as polio virus is still around A type 2 vaccine-derived polio virus was isolated from Amberpet and Nagole nala on August 28 by an environment surveillance team. A senior doctor said, Its a major cause of concern for Hyderabad. Earlier it was found only in one nala, in Amberpet. But now it is has been found in two nalas which gives an indication that somewhere some children have been missed (being vaccinated) or the immunity has not built up. The existence of the virus in the environment means that the polio virus is still around and surveillance at ground level must improve. In the last session more than one lakh children were administered polio vaccines again. Despite that, the two nalas have shown presence of the virus, which has got the authorities worried. The health department has been asked to also survey the migrant population as they are often left out from these programs as they travel from one place to another. Pune: A 55-year-old woman from Pune was denied service at a well-known spa here as she has vitiligo, a non-contagious condition that leads to white patches on skin. Narrating her humiliating experience, the woman, a resident of Kalyaninagar here, told PTI that on September 5, she went to the Koregaon Park-based spa for a massage session. "At the outset, the staff at the spa was quite welcoming and did not show any restrain. When I went inside the therapy room and was lying on a bed with my face down, the therapist came inside and after seeing white patches on my hands and legs, she went back," the woman said. When the therapist did not come back for almost 20 minutes, the woman decided to check and found the staff behaving a little strange. "I was shocked when the management of the spa told me that the therapist has refused to serve me since I was having skin condition and even told me that it could be harmful. "I was shocked and felt humiliated," she said adding that following an argument with the staff, she left the place. The elderly woman said she has been living with the condition for last 40 years and except a similar incident during her school days, she never experienced the discrimination which she faced at the spa. She said until this incident, she believed there was adequate awareness in the society about this health condition. "However I was wrong as still there is a great need to spread awareness among people about the skin condition and explain to them that it is not contagious and people with this condition can live a normal public life," she said. She appealed to people with such skin condition not to get dejected or disappointed if they face such an incident. Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes (the cells that make pigment) in the skin are destroyed. As a result, white patches appear on the skin in different parts of the body and it is not contagious and can spread only genetically. After the woman's daughter took up the matter with the spa, its management tendered an apology to her. When contacted, the spa said that upon receiving the grievance, they tendered an apology to her immediately. "What happened is unfortunate. It is our policy to offer therapies in case of non-infectious skin diseases. Accordingly, we train our therapists to offer therapies in cases of vitiligo. We regret this incident," it said. "A senior official from our team spoke to the guest on the same day and apologised for what happened. We have taken disciplinary action against the therapist in question," the spa's director said in a statement. "We have also arranged for re-education and re-training to be done for all our spa teams to sensitise them and prevent any such incident in future," he added. Coimbatore: In a major breakthrough in the sensational highway robbery case involving Rs 3.9 crore of unaccounted money, the Coimbatore rural police on Wednesday arrested four persons including a police inspector from Karur district. A sub-inspector and a constable, who were also part of the illegal operation, are now on the run, police said here on Wednesday. A five-member gang including inspector Muthukumar from Paramathi police station, sub-inspector Saravanan and constable Dharmendran in police uniform intercepted a car on August 25 on the Neelambur Bypass Road under the pretext of a vehicle check. Their plan was to execute a robbery as they were already aware that the four men in the car bound for Kerala from Chennai were tasked by Anwar, 32, a gold trader from Malappuram to dispatch lump sum money, police said. The four men, Muhammed, 53, Mujeer, 35, Sithosh, 32 and car driver Anand, 29, were then taken in a Bolero jeep, which too had a sticker as police, for an enquiry at the police station. Two other members of the gang followed them in the car of the complainants. On nearing Karpagam College junction on the Pollachi main road, the four men were dropped and asked to come to the police station by themselves. It was only on reaching the police station that they came to know that they were robbed. Police probing the case meanwhile secured three persons Subash, 42, Sudhir, 33, both from Thrissur and Sabiq, 28, from Malappuram on Tuesday, who spilled the beans on the involvement of the cops in the robbery. The tainted inspector Muthukumar, who also confessed to his involvement, told the police that they executed the robbery on the information given by one Sridhar, a kingpin in the hawala operations. After executing the robbery successfully, the three cops took away a good share of Rs 3.9 crore, while giving a portion of the amount to Hawala kingpin Sridhar. New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday granted bail to AAP 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. On a complaint by Khan's sister-in-law, a case under IPC sections 354A(sexual harassment), 506(criminal intimidation), 509(word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 120B(criminal conspiracy) and 498A(husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) was lodged at Jamia Nagar police station. He 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. That case was registered under Sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman or eve teasing) of the IPC at Jamia Nagar police station. Fifteen AAP MLAs have so far been booked by the Delhi Police on various charges and 12 have been arrested. Mumbai: A Bollywood stuntman was arrested barely three hours after he fled with a luxurious car that he allegedly stole from Worli area, police said on Thursday. 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. The three deceased were wanted by the police in connection with over a dozen cases of loot and murder, police said. (Photo: Representational Image) Muzaffarnagar: Bodies of three suspected wanted criminals were found with bullet injuries in a house at Ghasipura village in the district, police said on Thursday. 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. New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti was on Thursday arrested by the Delhi police for allegedly assaulting security guards at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). An FIR was registered on September 11 against controversial former Delhi minister Somnath Bharti, for allegedly misbehaving with security guards at AIIMS in Delhi. The case was registered at Hauz Khas police station. The chief security officer (CSO) of AIIMS lodged the complaint against Bharti, alleging that he misbehaved with security personnel and damaged government property on September 9. But this is not the first time the former Delhi Law Minister has fallen afoul of the law. 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 was a part of the first AAP Cabinet formed after the 2013 elections, and gained notoriety for raiding the homes rented by Africans in Khirki Extension to look for drugs. When the police refused to do so, citing a lack of a warrant, a group led by Bharti allegedly caught four women and forced them to give urine tests. Bharti also faced flak in 2014 for revealing the name of a Danish tourist who was raped in the capital, in contravention of laws that prohibit naming a rape victim. Proactively From the Sea; an agent of change leveraging the littoral best practices for a paradigm breaking six-sigma best business case to synergize a consistent design in the global commons, rightsizing the core values supporting our mission statement via the 5-vector model through cultural diversity. 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 Tuesday doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs. (Photo: Shajil Kumar/ DC) Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Wednesday 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 Supreme Court direction. "The Cabinet has decided to defer release of water," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters in a brief statement after an emergency Cabinet meeting which was preceded by an all-party and council of ministers meetings during the day. 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. He said the all-party meeting had advised the government to call the special legislature session to discuss the Supreme Court's direction and the Cabinet decided accordingly. Accordingly, Siddaramaiah met Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala and Congress leader SM Krishna on Thursday, and asked the former to convene a special session. 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 Tuesday doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs from September 21 to 27 after Tamil Nadu pressed for water to save its samba paddy crop. On September 5, the court had ordered release of 15,000 cusecs of water for the next 10 days to address the plight of the farmers in Tamil Nadu. The quantum was reduced on September 12 to 12,000 cusecs to be released till September 20. Karnataka had complied with these directions thought it had been maintaining that the storage in its reservoirs was inadequate to meet the drinking water needs of its people. Siddaramaiah had on Tuesday termed the Supreme Court's fresh order on release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as "unimplementable" and called for the all-party meeting. State BJP President B S Yeddyurappa welcomed the state government's late night decision, maintaining that the party had been from the beginning insisting on convening the legislature session and not to release water. "Though belated, it is a welcome decision," he said. "We will support and cooperate with the government in the legislature session," Yeddyurappa said. JDS leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said after the all-party meeting that "not even a single drop of water should be released to Tamil Nadu for any reason whatsoever". Asked about BJP not attending the all-party meeting,? Siddaramaiah said, "I hope that they will participate in the Assembly." Sporadic protests over the water issue continued in the river basin basin districts, especially Mandya, the epicentre of the Cauvery agitation, where the agitators blocked Bengaluru-Mysuru road at various places. Government, which has appealed for peace, made elaborate security arrangements in the city and southern districts to ensure that no untoward incidents happen. State Reserve Police, City Armed Reserve Police, Rapid Action Force and Quick Reaction Teams have been deployed all over city, where prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPc is in force. City police has prohibited sale of liquor and opening of bars, wine shops and pubs from 6 am on Wednesday to 1 am on Thursday in the commissionerate limits. Bengaluru: The city police have successfully pinned down almost all pro-Kannada outfit leaders who were nowhere to be on Tuesday and Wednesday even after the Supreme Court ordered the state to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. The police have kept these leaders under complete control, not allowing them to stage any kind of protest. On September 12, Kannada activists went on the rampage across the city and indulged in large-scale violence. The cops have regularised arrests of over 800, but it is believed that over a thousand activists have been kept under detention and are being interrogated for their involvement in Monday's rioting and arson. Extension of prohibitory orders under Section 144 till Sunday and heavy police bandobast at sensitive and hypersensitive areas in and around Bengaluru, especially at the west and north police divisions, too have helped in containing riots. The police have also picked up several activists under preventive custody. On Wednesday, over 100 Karnataka Rakshana Vedike protesters were taken into preventive custody when they were getting ready to stage a protest on Cauvery row in Gandhinagar. Mr T.A. Narayana Gowda, president, Karnataka Rakshna Vedike (KRV), said, How long can the police stop us from rightfully protesting in a democracy? The police have imposed Section 144 and are making preventive arrests and booking cases against us. The SC on Tuesday ordering Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water for farming in Tamil Nadu when our state has no water to drink shows how the Tamil Nadu lobby is working at the Centre. The citizens of Karnataka have been denied their right even for protesting. The court has also ordered to constitute a Cauvery Development Board which will be controlled by the union ministry on decisions of releasing water to the neighbouring state. This casts doubt if Karnataka really exists as one of the states in the Indian Union. He said, We want all the 224 MLAs, ministers, including the chief minister, and all the 28 MPs to resign and create a political crisis in the state. We will see for a couple of days and then we will make a clarion call to all our 60 lakh KRV activists statewide to come and gather in Bengaluru and we believe only a lakh of us would be suffice to lay siege to Vidhana Soudha here to get our message across. 827 activists detained The city police have arrested 827 people belonging to various pro-Kannada organisations who were involved in rioting and arson on September 12. The police have identified the accused based on CCTV and video footage obtained from various sources, including social media and news channels. So far, there are 204 criminal cases registered and more arrests are likely to follow, a senior police officer said. On Wednesday, members of the Kannada Okkoota, led by Vattal Nagaraj and others, were detained by the police when they tried to lay siege to Vidhana Soudha while Chief Minister Siddraamaiah was holding an all-party meeting to discuss the Cauvery issue. The protesters tore the recent judgement copy of the Supreme Court and tried to barge into Vidhana Soudha when the police stopped them and bundled them into a van for violating prohibitory orders. As a precautionary measure, security was stepped up at the chief ministers residence, Vidhana Soudha and Legislators Home. Elaborate security arrangements continued in the city with over 16,000 police personnel with additional paramilitary forces monitoring the law and order situation in sensitive areas. Pubs, wine shops, bars and restaurants remained closed on Wednesday. Byatarayanapura inspector transferred? The police top brass is not taking kindly to officers who failed to react in time to prevent violent protests on September 12. Nearly a week after the two deputy commissioners of police T.R. Suresh (North) and Ajay Hilori (West) were shunted out of their positions for widespread rioting in their jurisdictions, the police higher-ups have transferred West Divisions Byatarayanapura police station inspector Hemanth Kumar, sources said. He has been transferred without a posting. The clean-up will not stop here and many more officers are likely to face action, the source said. The West and North Divisions were affected the most in September 12 violence. Chennai: With a special session of the Karnataka legislature scheduled for Friday to discuss the Cauvery issue, Tamil Nadu Opposition DMK on Thursday 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. On Wednesday, 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. Govturged the children to act like sanitation agents to motivate families towards safe sanitation. (Photo: Representational Image/PTI) New Delhi: 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 on Wednesday 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. New Delhi: Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugtis application seeking political asylum in India was on Thursday received by the Home Ministry which is examining it. "We have received Bugtis 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. New Delhi: India on Thursday 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. 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 senior most 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. 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 Army's recruitment drive would move north from September 29, when such a rally would be held in Bandipora district. (Photo: Representational Image) Srinagar: Defying the separatists' call of agitation, around 500 Kashmiri youths on Wednesday turned up for an Army recruitment rally in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, one of the worst-hit places in the ongoing unrest in the Valley. "Over 500 youths took part in today's recruitment rally which took place at Anantnag High Grounds," an Army official said. He said the recruitment rallies in south Kashmir would continue till September 25. The official said more than 12,000 youths across Kashmir have applied online under the recruitment process. "The number of applicants could have been more had there been no problems in the internet connectivity in the Valley," he said. The Army's recruitment drive would move north from September 29, when such a rally would be held in Bandipora district. Anantnag is one of the worst-hit districts in the current unrest in the Valley. Violence broke out in the state in the aftermath of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8. While mobile internet was snapped across Kashmir on July 9, authorities have cut wire-line internet in the Valley on a few occasions. As many as 81 people, including two cops, have lost their lives in over two-month-long violence in the Valley. Many expressed a sense of shock and anguish at the proposed 2016 amendment of the Citizenship Act 1955. Guwahati: Prominent citizens and academicians 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 emphasized, is irrespective of linguistic and religious affiliation," the release pointed out. The eminent persons said the National 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. 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. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: 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 on Wednesday, and Senior Supreme Court advocate U.R. Lalit appearing for the convict who is the son of former parliamentarian, D.P. 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. 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". New Delhi: The SAARC meeting held in Delhi on Thursday was graced by top diplomats, but Pakistan was the sole nation, that chose to send junior officials to the high-profile event. The move is seen as a bid to undermine India as tensions continue to simmer between the two countries over the situation in Kashmir and the more recent Uri attack. According to a Hindustan Times report, Pakistan deliberately decided against sending any senior diplomats to the two-day meeting which is being hosted on the recommendation of the SAARC Ministerial Declaration on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism. Pakistans Director General of Intelligence Bureau, Aftab Sultan, was supposed to be at the Delhi meet, but the country decided to send counselor-level officers instead of him. A statement from the Home Ministry also confirmed that while all countries, i.e, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives sent their top diplomats; Pakistan was the only nation which sent junior officers. The aim of the meeting is to strengthen the SAARC Anti-Terror Mechanism. The first meeting was held in New Delhi in February, 2012. The agenda of the meeting includes functioning of SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk (STOMD) and the SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD), countering terrorism and strengthening anti-terrorism mechanisms in SAARC, intelligence sharing and police cooperation, human resource development and relationship building, combating corruption and cyber crimes, among others. India emphasised that Pakistan had made false promises on combating terrorism over and over again, to it and to the international community. (Photo: AP) United Nations: Replying to Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, India hit back at its neighbour, accusing it of war crime by sponsoring terrorism as state policy. 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." 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 had been hiding for years and was killed by US forces. The land of Taxila is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism. It attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over world. The effects of its toxic curriculum are felt across the globe she said at the UNGA in response to Pakistan. India said it was surprising that a country which was the global epicentre of terrorism was preaching human rights in Kashmir and self-determination for its people. Pakistan is a terrorist state which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to raining, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against its neighbours, Gambhir said on India's behalf. Terrorist entities and their leaders, many of whom the UN has designated as terrorists, continue to roam Pakistans streets freely and operate with State support, India said. With approval of authorities, many terrorist organization raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan's international obligation, Gambhir added. Even today we heard support by the Pakistan PM for a self acknowledged commander of known terrorist org Hizbul Mujahideen, said India referring to Nawaz Sharifs praise for Burhan Wani. Gambhir said India was committed to protecting all our citizens from all acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Taking a dig at Pakistan, Gambhir said, We've heard Pakistan whose nuclear proliferation record is marked by deceit, talking about restraint, renunciation and peace. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start. India emphasised that Pakistan had made false promises on combating terrorism over and over again, to it and to the international community. Earlier, raking up Kashmir at the UN, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday 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 inquiry into the extrajudicial killings" and a UN fact-finding mission to Kashmir "so that those guilty of these atrocities are punished." 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. 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..." New Delhi: Congress on Thursday 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. Ludhiana: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader from Punjab Jagdish Gagneja, who was attacked by two motorcycle-borne assailants near Jyoti Chowk in Ludhiana in August, succumbed to a kidney infection on Thursday. According to reports, Gagnejas condition worsened on Wednesday night and was declared dead at 9:16 am on Thursday. Gagnejas intestines and other organs had been ruptured with bullets and he was ob ventilator for some days before his death on Thursday. 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 team studied the entire file prepared by the Punjab Police and even visited the locations frequently visited by the RSS leader. However, no one has been arrested yet for the attack. New Delhi: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal on Thursday 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 was 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. "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. The incident occurred last evening when the fishermen, who had set out in 50 boats, were fishing near Katchatheevu. (Photo: AP) Rameswaram: More than 200 fishermen from Rameswaram island were forced to return without their catch after they were allegedly chased away by the Sri Lankan naval personnel for fishing off Katchatheevu islet. The incident occurred last evening when the fishermen, who had set out in 50 boats, were fishing near Katchatheevu, Rameswaram Fishermen's Association President P Sesuraja said adding Sri Lankan authorities had warned them against fishing in their territorial waters before driving them off. There has been an increase in such incidents in the last one month, he said. Fishermen in the region have accused the Sri Lankan navy of preventing them from fishing in their territorial waters. Several fishermen are deprived of their livelihood and are migrating to neighbouring states in search of jobs, he said. Sesuraja urged the Centre to take steps to retrieve Katchatheevu, ceded to Sri Lanka, so that fishermen could fish in their traditional areas. The fishermen's association also sought the retrieval of 103 boats still in the custody of the island nation. On September 13, over 3,000 fishermen from Rameswaram were forced to return without catch after Sri Lankan Naval personnel allegedly snapped the fishing nets of 50 mechanised boats near Katchatheevu. A man ducks to cross an iron barricade with coils of razor wire near a military base at Braripora, Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo: AP) Uri: Initial investigations into the terror attack on a highly-guarded Army camp in Kashmir here have pointed towards several procedural lapses including lack of coordination between two guard posts. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), meanwhile, was finishing documentation work in the case besides effecting seizures of material evidence from the scene of attack. The investigators probing the deadly attack in which 18 soldiers were killed have also found that the perimeter of the highly sensitive Brigade Headquarter of the Army was not properly fenced at several places, official sources said on Thursday. The probe also pointed towards the possibility of the four terrorists involved in the attack having sneaked in from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) through Haji Peer Pass on the intervening night of September 16/17 and stayed put at village Sukhdar, overlooking the Brigade headquarter, they said. Sukhdar village is located at a vantage point allowing an unhindered view of the layout of the army base and movement of personnel inside it. The growth of wild grass and bushes around the perimeter of the brigade is seen as one of the factors that could have facilitated undetected movement of the terrorists close to the fencing, which was cut by the ultras to sneak inside the base, the sources said. Standard security procedures provide for mowing any tall grass and cutting of bushes around vital security installations but it was not done around the target site. The initial probe has also pointed towards the failure of two manned guard posts, located barely 150 feet from each other, to detect the intrusion inside the base by the terrorists, they said, adding it could have been due to lack of coordination between the two guard posts. Jammu and Kashmir Police has collected call details and internet data usage of all active cellphones and broadband connections in Uri town for the period of 24 hours prior to daring attack on the army base, the sources said. The sources said the data along with the partial analysis carried out by state police has been handed over to the NIA for further investigation. The state police has also handed over the DNA samples of the slain militants to the NIA. The authorities have buried the slain militants in a village graveyard close to the Brigade headquarter. The last rites of the deceased were performed by the local Imam and some residents, the sources said. The NIA team, which arrived here on Tuesday, is in the process of completing the case documentation and collecting the material evidence from the site which would form part of seizure memo, the sources said. They said the arms, ammunition and other seized articles have been packed in wooden boxes for transportation to Delhi as these would be part of case property. The NIA team is also trying to retrieve data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) sets recovered from the slain militants. The NIA on Tuesday registered a case to probe the terror attack at the Army installation in Uri. It took over the investigation from the state Police, which had registered a case on Sunday, and began probe by collecting evidence available with the Army formation at Uri. The NIA team led by Inspector General G P Singh has been camping in Uri since its arrival here yesterday. Some members of the team will return to Delhi tomorrow while others will stay back at Uri to carry out further investigation including questioning of people who might be familiar with the movement of the militants prior to the attack. The team would prepare a dossier and may make a formal request to Pakistan once the identity of the four was ascertained. Army has also instituted an inquiry into the attack with preliminary probe suggesting that the terrorists had entered the area at least a day before mounting the brazen assault. The inquiry besides ascertaining lapses, if any, would also suggest measures to prevent such attacks in the future as Pakistani-based groups were indulging more in "shallow infiltration", which means that terrorists strike the first available installation after crossing the Line of Control. Meanwhile, the road passing through the Brigade headquarter--which connects Uri town to 12 villages close to the Line of Control-- was today thrown open for civilian traffic after remaining off limits for the past four days. Civilian vehicles were allowed to pass through after thorough checking but the brigade premises were kept out of bounds for media personnel. Hyderabad: The GHMC has asked the Army for help in relief operations in the city. As per Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Raos directions, GHMC commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy on Thursday met defence officials and discussed the situation in the city following two days of rain. The GHMC has asked Army officials to inspect Begumpet, Nizampet, Alwal and Hakimpet areas, especially low-lying colonies. Demolition drive by civic body The GHMC has asked the Army and NDRF for help in relief operations in the city. The Army has offered to help in shifting people by boats, and in rehabilitation operations. Based on the intensity of rain, the GHMC will vacate residents from 50 colonies. Army officials will inspect vulnerable pockets, narrow lanes and areas close to lakes. The city was lashed by 3 cm of rain on Thursday. Three buildings collapsed and two persons were injured. The GHMC demolished 13 old and dilapidated buildings including those located H. No.1-2-457 to 460, Domalaguda. LB Nagar, Uppal, Kapra, Malkajgiri, Alwal, Quthbulla-pur have been put on alert. The Hasmatpet Nala was flowing above the road level. West Marredpally received 4 cm, Malkajgiri, Chilkalguda, Mon-da Market, Trimulgherry, Fe-ver Hospital, Balanagar 3 cm. Hyderabad: The Bahamas Leaks by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists have revealed the names of seven city-based industrialists including Nimmagadda Prasad and his brother Nimmagadda Prakash who had allegedly registered around 30 companies in the tax haven from 2007 to 2009. The ICIJ released nearly 1.5 million documents from the Bahamas corporate registry on Wednesday. The data included the names of directors of around 1.75 lakh companies, foundations and trusts registered between 1990 and 2016, including 475 linked to India. The ICIJ stated: We do not intend to suggest or imply that any persons, companies or other entities included in the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database have broken the law or otherwise acted improperly. Blue Lotus International Limited, Heramec Limited, Marsun Enter-prises Limited linked to the Hyderabad-based industrialist were also named. Mr Prasad had been chargesheeted by the CBI in the Vanpic ports case of quid pro quo investments involving AP Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The CBI had alleged that Mr Prasad had invested Rs 854.50 crore in Mr Reddys companies and in return was allotted thousands of acres of land in Guntur and Prakasam districts of AP. Bahama Leaks no link to Vanpic The Bahamas Leaks by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists have revealed the names of seven city-based industrialists. The Bahamas Leaks has nothing to do with the Vanpic quid pro quo investment case. According to the Bahamas Leaks, both Prasad and Prakash were directors of overseas companies and had resigned from most of them later. Prasad was director of Crystal Lake Properties LLC, Best Skyline Inc. and Rougemont Holdings Limited. Prakash was director of Silver Cliff Properties Inc, Best Skyline Inc, Crystal Lake Properties LLC, Best Horizon Inc, Coventina Estate Inc, Top Skyline Inc, Superscape Inc and Rougemont Holdings Limited. Both have quit almost all companies except for one or two. Investigations revealed that 28 companies had the same address, in Sairam Towers in Secunderabad. Mr Prasad and Mr Prakash were not available for comment. Hyderabad: Floods in several areas of Hyderabad over the past two days caused huge monetary loss for damaged civil infrastructure like roads and financial losses to car and bike owners and also property loss, mostly due to burning of electric metres in cellars. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporations initial estimates are that about Rs 60 crore will be needed to relay around 200 lane kilometres of roads that have been damaged. GHMC executive engineer (Disaster Cell) R. Srinivas Reddy said, We need Rs 30 lakh to relay each lane kilometer of road, totalling to about Rs 60 crore. Outside Hyderabad, from September 11 to September 20, the government has estimated around 8,788 hectare of crop damage, mostly in Adilabad, Ranga Reddy and Mahbubnagar. Though only five houses collapsing were reported in the city, around 3,000 cars and 5,000 bikes were damaged over the last two days in Nizampet, Bhandari Layout and Quthbullapur. Insurance companies have been receiving claims for bikes and cars from these localities. The GHMC disaster control room informed that one car was completely washed away, in Macha Bollarum. Hyderabad now has five sinkholes Three more sinkholes opened up on Thursday, taking the total to five after just two days of rain. A one-metre diameter sinkhole opened up on the road opposite HDFC Bank in Basheerbagh and another one on the road at King Koti. Earlier in the day, a four-foot deep sinkhole formed on the Shivam Road near Amberpet on Thursday, the third after two days of rain following the ones on NTR Marg and at Neredmet. A tanker-trolley got stuck in the Shivam Road sinkhole at about 6 am on Thursday, and was cleared using two large cranes at about noon. The accident caused a massive traffic jam and congestion along the busy road from Osmania University to Amberpet. Traffic police barricaded the sinkhole, even as emergency repairs were being undertaken. At Basheerbagh, Narayanaguda traffic inspector A. Balaji said he and his team had barricaded the sinkholes. The road at Basheerbagh is a busy route. We have diverted traffic from one side of the road. GHMC and water works officials will begin repairs from Friday morning, he said. About the massive NTR Marg sinkhole that had opened up on Wednesday, Sewerage and Water Board MD M. Dana Kishore said six teams had been set up to reduce water flow into the site. Emergency response teams have been posted at the sinkhole itself. Infrastructure Repairs will begin after the flow of water stops. Another sinkhole had opened at Neredmet on Wednesday. petitionerscontended that when second counselling was done for A category seats, the same method should be adopted for the B category seats too. (Representational image) Hyderabad: Making it clear that the C category NRI seats in private medical colleges in AP and TS cannot exceed the limit fixed by the Supreme Court, the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday ordered the colleges to fill all the management quota B Category seats, by second counselling if necessary. A division bench, comprising Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Justice Anis, was granting the order while dealing with a petition challenging the state governments permitting the managements to convert B category seats into C category (NRI quota) in the guise of some students who are allotted B category seats not reporting in time to join the colleges. The petitioners told the court that fee for Bcategory seats was Rs 11 lakh per year, whereas the fee for C category was Rs 33 lakh to Rs 55 lakh in both the states. They said that the managements were converting the unfilled B category seats to C category to make money. They contended that when second counselling was done for A category seats, the same method should be adopted for the B category seats too. The bench felt that in view of Supreme Court judgment such conversion was not permissible. The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday sought to know from the TS government under which Section of the Law cases pertaining to TS employees pending before the AP Administrative Tribunal would be transferred to the High Court in the backdrop of the Centres notification deleting TS from the jurisdiction of the AP AT. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice U. Durga Prasad Rao was hearing two petitions moved by P.V. Krishnaiah and B. Kiran Kumar, both practicing advocates of the city, challenging the Centres notification issued on September 15, 2016 deleting TS from the jurisdiction of the Tribunal. The bench pointed that as per Section 29 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, the High Court had empowered to cases to the Tribunal, but how could the Tribunal transfer cases to the High Court. K. Lakshmi Narasimha, counsel appearing for the petitioners, contended that the Centre cannot issue the notification without amending Section 75 of the AP Reorganisation Act 2014. TS advocate-general K. Ramakrishna Reddy contended that as per the judgment of the Madras High Court, there was a provision for abolishing the Tribunal and the petitioners have no locus to question the notification of the Centre as they are not parties before the tribunal. He said the High Court has power to deal with disputes between both the states and pass appropriate orders. While adjourning the case to September 29, the bench asked the AG to place the judgment of the Madras High Court before it. The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday directed the Mahbubnagar district collector to pay compensation and extend all rehabilitation benefits to the Project Displaced Families in Aluru village of Gattu mandal of the district that stands to be submerged due to the Ryalampadu Balancing Reservoir within a week.Justice Suresh Kumar Kait was dealing with two petition moved by Harijan Nagesh and Harijan Maldkal and 223 villagers of Aluru. The judge sought an explanation from district collector Sridevi, joint collector Ramakrishna and other officials who appeared before the court pursuant to its direction over the delay in extending benefits to the affected families despite the court order. When the officials started blaming each other for the delay, the judge expressed dismay and directed the collector to pay compensation by depositing the amount into the accounts of the petitioners and extend all the rehabilitation benefits to them within a week. The petitioners told the court that though the government issued the GO 68 on April 8, 2005 for disbursal of their entitlements under R&R package, the authorities failed to extend the benefits to them. They said that 35 of them have not even been allotted plots in the new R&R Centre that is supposed to house 1465 families displaced from the old Aluru village. The next EnVision Bus Read more [...] Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao interacts with Union home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Thursday. TRS leaders K. Kesava Rao and Jitender Reddy are also seen. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is in New Delhi at present, met Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday and urged him to resolve all bifurcation-related issues pending between TS and AP at the earliest. Mr Rao also met Union labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya and sought his help in speedy disbursal of Central funds to TS. The Chief Minister took up the issue of delay in bifurcation of High Court with Mr Singh and requested him to take steps to speed up its bifurcation besides resolution of disputes over sharing of assets and liabilities of common institutions listed under Schedule IX and X of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. He thanked the Centre for sanctioning Rs 1,290 crore to lay National Highway along Godavari and Pranhitha rivers in Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar and Adilabad districts. The CM urged Mr Singh to take the initiative of getting the approval of the Cabinet committee on economic affairs for the project so that the construction work could begin at the earliest. He also submitted proposals on laying additional roads in rural areas under the Centres Rural Road Development Plan. The CM also sought Rs 300 crore assistance to lay the highway to Kaleshwaram Addagutta, a 1-km long bridge over Godavari near Kaleshwaram, Racharla-Vemanapally road, Somini-Gudem road, Gudem-Balasagar road. Mr Rao said these places are located in remote forest areas and need roads for development. Mumbai: The Navy, Indian Air Force base and police in Mumbai were put on highest level of alert after two schoolchildren from the coastal town of Uran, 50 km away from Mumbai, claimed to have seen five armed men early on Thursday morning. According to the two students of Uran Education Society the girl studies in Class X and boy in Class IX, the men wore black masks and pathani suits of the same colour. The men moved around the Uran bus depot in a suspicious manner. The alert, which comes four days after the Uri attack which left 18 soldiers dead, has led to elite forces like the National Security Guard, the state polices specialised commandos Force One and the ATS being roped in for the search and security. The Navy pressed its helicopters for aerial surveillance and heightened patrolling in the sea by its vessels and high-speed boats. The two school students were questioned by several senior police officers and other security agency officials. Currently, we are at the Uran police station speaking to the kids. Our teams are scouting the entire area, Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale said. The girl was on her way to school around 6.30 am when she allegedly saw four to five armed men near the Uran bus depot. Then around 6.45 am, another boy who was at home getting ready to go to school also claimed to have seen a group of armed men. Air, sea patrol on in full swing The Navy, Indian Air Force base and police in Mumbai were put on highest level of alert after two schoolchildren from the coastal town of Uran claimed to have seen five armed men early on Thursday morning. The children told their teacher in school about it. The school authorities immediately informed the Uran police, who alerted senior officers from the Navi Mumbai police about the sightings, said a senior officer from Navi Mumbai. Maharashtra Director General of Police Satish Mathur confirmed about the incident and said that they had alerted the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard as well. We have put the city on high alert and increased patrolling across the city, said Mr Mathur. A high-ranking officer said that keeping in mind Urans proximity to Mumbai via the sea, security forces had been deployed along the coastal areas as well. The state has also roped in the National Security Guard (NSG), Force One and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to conduct searches and beef up security in the area. The Navy deployed helicopters to conduct aerial surveillance and increased sea patrolling by using its vessels and high-speed boats. Sources confirmed that 50 members from the elite commando team Force One had reached Uran. Searches and other actions as per procedure have been initiated. On September 14, acting on the contempt petition, the Bench had ordered status quo in admission to undergraduate medical courses in private medical and dental colleges and issued notice to the colleges for their response. (Representational image) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled all the admissions made so far by private medical colleges and dental colleges in Madhya Pradesh through Neet and directed fresh admissions to be done within a week. A five-judge Bench comprising Justices Anil R. Dave, A.K. Sikri, R.K. Agrawal, A.K. Goel and Ms R. Banumathi passed this order on a contempt petition by the state government against the admissions made through counseling by association of private medical and dental colleges for five of the 11 colleges. Six colleges had opted for centralised counseling by the state agency. The Bench, while making it clear that no further hearing is necessary in the contempt petition, directed the state government to conduct centralised counseling for admissions within a week in these five private colleges. The Bench asked the state government to allow two representatives from the private medical and dental colleges at the time of counseling. On September 14, acting on the contempt petition, the Bench had ordered status quo in admission to undergraduate medical courses in private medical and dental colleges and issued notice to the colleges for their response. Appearing for the state government, additional solicitor general P.S. Patwalia said the private colleges had issued advertisements for admitting students on the basis of their own counseling. Patna: Bihar Congress MLA, Bhavna Jha, on Thursday invited criticism after her selfie at the spot where 27 people had died in a bus accident in Madhubani went viral on social media with the legislator defending her act. The MLA from Benipatti in Madhubani district, posted the selfie on Facebook, following which BJP said it was an "insensitive act". The Legislator was seen clicking selfie with people on the spot of the accident near Basaitha chowk where 27 passengers lost their lives after the bus fell into a roadside pond on September 19. She said the picture was taken with people while they were doing rescue work on the spot and requested her for a selfie. "The youths who rendered service at the time of distress had requested me for a selfie and I agreed for their sake," Jha told. State BJP chief spokesman Binod Narayan Jha slammed the MLA's act of taking a selfie at the accident site. "This is height of insensitivity towards a human tragedy. These politician who have parachuted into politics without any struggle treat even a human tragedy as picnic," Binod Narayan Jha told. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Prem Kumar, demanded that she seeks apology from people of Bihar for this. Meanwhile, the Congress MLA accused BJP of triggering a controversy over the issue for political gain. "I reached the accident spot when locals prevented police and civil officials to go there. I joined hands with them in relief and rescue operation of the victims," she said. "In place of appreciating my service towards the victims, political rivals are throwing mud on me over the selfie," the Congress MLA said. The woman legislator also got support from party colleague and state's Revenue Minister Madan Mohan Jha. "She has done a great service to people after the bus accident. This should have been highlighted instead of maligning her over a photograph," the minister said. Police said the hostel warden found the girl dead on Wednesday afternoon when the warden went to the room as the girl failed to turn up for lunch. (Representational image) Chennai: A 19-year-old college girl in her second year BSc Nutrition in a government aided college in Chengalpet committed suicide by hanging herself in her hostel room on Wednesday morning. The victim was identified as Hemamalini, daughter of Ravi, a church employee in Anna Nagar residing in Thiruvallur. Police said the hostel warden found the girl dead on Wednesday afternoon when the warden went to the room as the girl failed to turn up for lunch. The warden had taken her to doctor in the morning after she complained of chest pain. The doctor diagnosed gastritis and gave medicine. It is not clear what forced her to take the extreme step. No suicide note was found, the police said. The youth hold their letters which were written in blood. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Sambhal: At a time when 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 such slogans 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. KOZHIKODE: The BJP has left no stone unturned in making the national executive and council meetings here from Friday to Sunday a mega event though the central government is under pressure following the terrorist strike at the Uri Army camp. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive at Karipur airport at 3. 45 p.m. on Saturday as scheduled. BJP national president Amit Shah will kick off the year-long birth centenary celebrations of Deendayal Upadhyaya at Kadavu resort on Friday morning. Mr Amit Shah arrived here a day ahead of the programme. Apart from attending the delegates session, Mr Modi will address a public rally on Kozhikode beach on Saturday evening. He will then attend the Smriti Sandhya programme at the Zamorin's Higher Secondary School where the Jan Sangh's meeting was hosted 50 years ago. Deendayal Upadhyaya was then elected as the all-India president of the party. The national executive will begin at Kadavu resort at 10 a.m. on Friday with all national general secretaries being huddled for a brain-storming session. At 3 p.m., the national office-bearers, state presidents and state organising secretaries will meet for a prolonged session. At a meeting at the Zamorins Higher Secondary School at 7.45 p.m., Mr Modi will felicitate the senior BJP leaders who had attended the 1967 Jan Sangh summit. Veteran BJP leaders like L.K. Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi, V. K. Malhotra, O. Rajagopal, K. Raman Pillai and a plethora of other senior leaders would be present. Those who were locked up in jails in Kerala during the Emergency would also be felicitated. Mr Modi will attend the full-day session of the national council at Swapnanagari grounds from 9.30 a.m. till 5.30 p.m. on Sunday, which will pass a political resolution. By 5. 45 p.m., Mr Modi will leave for New Delhi by a special flight. A photo exhibition, Upadhyanam 2016 is also being held at Malabar Christian College grounds where the pictures of the strikes and protests the Sangh Parivar had staged over the last several decades and those of the Jan Sangh summit in 1967 will be displayed. It will conclude on Sunday evening. The BJP state leadership claims that 1,700 leaders would be in Kozhikode during the three days and the majority of them have already landed. Some 400 media personnel would throng the Kadavu resort and Swapnanagari grounds on all the three days. The Narendra Modi governments response to the brutal Uri terror attack, in the short term as well as in the long term, will play a decisive role in shaping the Prime Ministers legacy on a mass of tangled issues whose tackling will continue to cast its shadows on his government. As part of his tactic to emerge as serious contender for power, Mr Modi started sharing views on national and international issues despite at least three others holding competing positions party president and leaders of the party in the two Houses. Mr Modis intervention on issues outside his remit as chief minister was with the aim of being seen as the primary carrier of the alternate viewpoint. In the immediate aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks, Mr Modi had to be advised by then Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to delay his visit. When he eventually toured the city, he used media interactions to criticise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demanded a meeting of all state chief ministers and asked sarcastically kya kiya before replying kuch nahi kiya. This was the first indication that Mr Modi was projecting himself as not just a majoritarian leader but also a menacing neo-nationalistic leader. Between 2008 and 2014, Mr Modi referred to 26/11 in his campaign time and again. He expressed disapproval of the non-military initiatives of the UPA government to isolate and weaken Pakistan. Mr Modi found fault with the exchange of lists of wanted terrorists, referring to communication with Islamabad as love letters and demanded that replies to Pakistan should be in the language it understood. Aatankwad ko panpaane waalon ko, usi bhaasha mein samjhaana padega. Mr Modi constructed his image of a no-nonsense nationalist and claimed diplomatic manoeuvres to check Islamabads design were useless. Sample this: Pakistan comes and hammers us and we send out minister to America. He laments Obama, Obama. Why go to America, go to Pakistan. By the time Mr Modi was swept to power, his admirers were certain that at the slightest provocation, Mr Modi would press a few nondescript buttons and efface Pakistan. India finally had a leader who could talk tough. For generations that grew with the dream of Akhand Bharat, Mr Modis statements were an indication that what was left unfinished in 1971 would be accomplished under his leadership. But even before he assumed charge, Mr Modi demonstrated that his campaign mantra was being toned down and his pragmatic side was revealed when he invited Saarc leaders to his inaugural. Because of the manner in which Indo-Pak ties are intertwined with the Kashmir imbroglio, the handling of the two issues has cast a shadow on the other. Cancellation of foreign secretary-level talks in 2014 provided indication that Mr Modi was not keen on dialogue with separatists. The BJPs Mission 44+ in J&K demonstrated audacious political ambition of the party. But subsequent government formation with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed did not please BJP cadre. Likewise, in its handling of the dialogue, or the lack of it, with Pakistan, Mr Modi displayed vacillation alternating between a hard stance and a reconciliatory approach. After the meeting with Nawaz Sharif in Ufa, Russia, and before the Pathankot attack, Mr Modi did not live up to the image of an aggressive leader. If his Lahore visit and response to Pathankot attack angered his flock, they were placated by his mentioning the B-word in his I-Day speech. In the alternating actions of the Mr Modi, his supporters are awaiting for what they would be conclude as a macho response. Publicly, the official Bhakt brigade has not yet expressed dismay at the absence of immediate military intervention but large sections, not politically indoctrinated, are growing restive and want direct military action. The challenge that Mr Modi faces on his response is similar to his troubles stemming from over-hyping promises. Managing conflict with Pakistan has never been easy and has been acutely faced by each of Mr Modis predecessors. Islamabads role in promoting proxy war against India took a different turn after the two South Asian adversaries acquired nuclear teeth in their armoury. While a rogue state could count on Indias restraint and trigger the Kargil conflict, India has no such assessment to bank on. Moreover, globally Indias image has been greatly enhanced as a responsible power and much is at stake to ensure that this reputation is not shattered. Prior to 9/11 there were few takers internationally, on Indian claim of being victim of cross-border terrorism. Indian support for the US-led war on terror and its calibrated response post-December 13 terror attack on the Indian Parliament it remains the grisliest terror attack on India earned goodwill even though Western nations withdrew their diplomats from the most dangerous place on earth. The Indo-US relationship was revived during President Bill Clintons visit in March 2000. The Vajpayee government and the UPA built on this foundation and this investment benefited India as the US somewhat turned the screws on Pakistan. Under Mr Modi, there were apprehensions if Indo-US ties would remain at par or begin a downhill slide again. But as events have demonstrated, the relationship between the two nations is now at an all-time high. For this association to remain firm, Mr Modi cannot be belligerent while responding to Uri or act unilaterally. Instead he has to draw support from diplomatic allies. To secure this Mr Modi even took the questionable decision of inviting a Pakistani probe team to gather information after the Pathankot attack. Any action that is not overtly militarist in nature does not display immediate result. Consequently, Mr Modi will become open to accusations that he levelled against Dr Singh. After all, no meeting of chief ministers was called in the aftermath of the January attack and likelihood of one now appears remote because it will serve little purpose. Much has to be done besides using the phone a friend option. This includes initiating long-term measures to beef up security of high-risk installations. Mr Modi will undoubtedly struggle to retain support of those who expected quick response and fight to finish. He will also have to find ways to fend accusations of the Opposition: Kya kiya? Kuch nahi kiya. Pakistans cup of sorrow couldnt be fuller. It got into overdrive fomenting violence by its proxies in Kashmir since July, and followed this up with an attack on an Army administrative post in Uri last Sunday by terrorists despatched for the purpose, killing 18 soldiers. The aim was to showcase its advocacy of the cause of self-determination in Kashmir at the UN General Assembly, and seek to highlight human rights violations by India in Kashmir. But by the time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took the floor at the UN last Wednesday to use these tired expressions, he was already a defeated man. Leaders of the leading countries of the world, including the key Islamic states led by Saudi Arabia, publicly chastised Pakistan for the Uri attack. Muslim countries of the South Asia region Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Maldives did the same. Russia went to the extent of cancelling military exercises that had been planned with the Pakistan Army. So, there really wasnt much for India to do in its right of reply to Mr Sharifs rant on Kashmir. Our diplomatic representative aptly noted that the land of Taxila, the leading centre of learning in ancient times, had now become the Ivy League of terrorism. He also pointed out that when terrorism was practised as an instrument of state policy, as is the case with Pakistan, it was tantamount to war crime as terrorism leads to the worst violation of human rights. The effects of terrorism through proxies could be felt far beyond South Asia, it was pointed out in the Indian reply, an allusion to the Pakistani hand in 9/11. Pakistan has come to sound like a North Korea gone berserk. Its PM said in his speech that relations with India cannot be normalised until the Kashmir issue was resolved through peaceful negotiations but India was placing unreasonable conditions. Astoundingly, this is how the ending of terrorism was described. Islamabads UN representative Maleeha Lodhi said Pakistan would not bring down its nuclear stockpile, brushing aside the advice of US secretary of state John Kerry. While India mulls over its options after Uri, and takes on board Pakistans announced stand that relations cant be made normal, it can go ahead and suo motu declare our western neighbour a state sponsor of terrorism, take appropriate economic boycott-type steps, and call upon other countries to take action in that spirit to the extent that they can until terrorism cease to be state policy. Its really not much point losing time in trying to mobilise the leading powers first. We can improvise as we go along on how to isolate Pakistan further. Millions of devout Muslims recently performed Haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. The journey to the House of God during specified days in this month of Zil Haj, the 12th month in the Islamic lunar calendar is an essential pillar of Islam. Those who can afford are commanded to go at least once in a lifetime. Seeking inner meaning of the pilgrimage, Sufis developed a parallel between the esoteric and literal aspects of Haj. Imam Junaid, the famous mystic and teacher would ask his disciples if they had stripped themselves of human attributes as they did their clothes, while putting on the prescribed pilgrim wear. He questioned if they had departed from sin as they departed for Haj. Sufis see the sacrifice of the animal at Haj as the slaying of the pleasures of the lower self. Haj rituals include a symbolic stoning of the devil on a prescribed wall of stone. Sufis see this as throwing away ones selfish and evil thoughts away forever. The tenth century Sufi Muhammad bin Fazl wondered why people wander searching Gods house and not witness Him within themselves. He said while Haj came once a year, one could experience God every day in ones own heart. Of Kaaba, the name of the black cube, the house of Allah in Mecca, the mystic woman Rabia of Basra would say, I seek not the Kaaba, but its owner. I have no use of the Kaaba. An early Sufi scholar, Qushayri wrote, Kaaba is a house made from stone but it is connected with eternity. Those who look at it as an object will stand separated. Those who look at it through eye of association will receive the communion. The House of God is of stone and man is a fistful of dust. Both are related to each other. It is the spirit and yearning for communion that is significant. If not, it is the clay in the body human body meeting stone. Do not place this House in your heart that was made for you, but rather empty your inner heart empty to receive the Friend. My favourite Sufi story of Haj is of the Persian Sufi Bayazid Bastami. Once on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Bayazid encountered a poor man who asked how much many he had on him. The Persian admitted to having two hundred dhirams for his journey. The man requested Bayazid to give him the money to save his children from dying of hunger and starvation. He suggested that Bayazid go around him seven times instead of the Kaaba. Bayazid gave him all the money and circled around the man. After completing the seventh circle, Bayazid experienced Divine Light in his heart and went into a state of spiritual ecstasy. He proclaimed, Subhani, Glory to Me. How great is My Majesty. It is said that at that moment, Bayazid ceased to exist and all that existed was God. This led to accusations of heresy being hurled at Bayazid and he was thrown out of the city of Bistam. Artist's illustration of China's 8-ton Tiangong-1 space lab, which is expected to fall to Earth late next year, unless it's boosted to a higher altitude. Credit: CMSE China launched its first space station named The Tiangong-1 or The Heavenly Palace back in 2011 as a part of an ambitious scientific project that could potentially turn China into a space superpower. This manned mission was notable for including Chinas first female astronauts Liu Yang and Wang Yaping. However, it seems like officials may have lost control of the 8.5 tonne module after it reportedly suffered some kind of technical or mechanical failure. Based on our calculation and analysis, most parts of the space lab will burn up during falling, the deputy director of Chinas manned space engineering office, Wu Ping, was quoted as saying by official news agency Xinhua. She also claimed that its return to earth was unlikely to affect aviation activities or cause damage to the ground. China has always highly valued the management of space debris, conducting research and tests on space debris mitigation and cleaning, Wu said, according to Xinhua. If necessary, China will release a forecast of its falling and report it internationally, she added. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. On September 21, Google rolled out a new AI-centric messaging app, named Allo which can run on both Android and iOS platforms. Google began offering the highly anticipated app at a time when players like WhatsApp, Facebooks Messenger, and Apples iMessage has already established themselves as a popular alternative to the traditional text message service. Allo has been termed as WhatsApps new competitor with its ability to let people chat and make plans, using artificial intelligence integrated within the app. However, unlike WhatsApp Allo has missed out a major featurethe end-to-end encryption. In April 2016, WhatsApp made its messaging apps E2E encrypted. What it means is that conversation of around one billion people using the service is secure, no one can see inside the message: no cyberciminal, no government agency and not even WhatsApp itself. But, what about Allo? When Google first announced Allo at I/O conference earlier this year it planned to introduce E2E encryption in Incognito Mode and assured that the app would only store message transiently, rather than indefinitely. However, when Allo was launched, Google's plans to store all conversation (not started under the incognito mode) was revealed. The version of Allo rolling out today will store all non-incognito messages by default a clear change from Googles earlier statements that the app would only store messages transiently and in non-identifiable form, reported The Verge. In fact, former CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) contractor Edward Snowden posted a series of tweets warning everyone not to use the app. What is #Allo? A Google app that records every message you ever send and makes it available to police upon request, he posted. Google earlier messaging services, such Hangouts and Gmail do offer encryption between the device and Google server. The conversation done using either of these services is stored on Googles server using encryption, but the messages are still accessible to Googles algorithm. And now, Google seems to make Allo work on the same guidelines, as Hangout and Gmail has been working. Google claimed the change was made to improve the Smart Reply feature, which has been introduced to deliver quick conversation. The feature can guess answers and response to messages with just a tap of button. For instance, if a friend asks you how you're doing, the app will make a suggestion; say Good tnx. You can tap on it and it will be sent as your reply. Google said with more data available with them they will be able to make the app more efficient. However, with this move the company would actually be making a compromise to customers privacy. Thus, by default Allos conversation will be accessible to lawful requests, and Google may need to hand over the information to government when asked. Though, Google has mentioned on its blog that subpoenas are not sufficient to obtain information, We believe a warrant is required by the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution, reads Google post, but in the past there have been instances where agencies have used various ways to dig information when it required, as it happened at time of unlocking the iPhone of the San Bernardino gunman case, and WhatsApp temporary ban in Brazil. Taking into account such past incidents, it is yet to see till what time Google Allo will be able to prevent itself from sharing on users data when asked, especially under lawful requests. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. A new educational grant email scam has hit students in major universities across UK. (Representational image) A prominent UK-based financial site has been alerting students about a new educational grant phishing mail scam, which lures students into revealing sensitive bank details. According to BBC, financial website Money Saving Expert said it is aware of the phishing email scam that has been targeting students at renowned universities. For instance, one student from Queen Mary University London (QMUL) was tricked into revealing bank details and losing 300. According to the victim's mother, her daughter had received the malicious mail last week and it looked as if it came from the universitys finance department along with the logo. It invited the student to claim a government scholarship. As she processed to comply with further instructions, she was asked to fill an online form, which required her personal and banking details. Subsequently, she was redirected to a bank verification page after which she became suspicious. However, the money had already been taken from her bank account by the fraudsters. In its defence, QMUL said the scam did not originate from its own systems and hadnt affected many students. The University of Glasgow said it had knowledge about the scam and advised its students to ignore such mails. The university also said it never asks students to disclose banking details in such a manner. In a mail sent out to all students, the university alerted students about the educational grant email scam. It said: "This is an email message that appears as if it has come from the University of Glasgow's finance department. It has not. According to the Student Loans Company, Phising mails are usually sent in batches, especially around main payment dates in September, January, and April. Students have been advised to be vigilant while going through such mails and avoid clicking on unknown links. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. New Delhi: 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 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. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. It was not clear if the grand jury would file additional criminal charges, or issue a report on its findings, with recommendations for changes in the foster care system. (Representational image) New York: A special grand jury has been empaneled to investigate New York's foster care system following the arrest of a suburban man on child sex abuse charges. The man had welcomed dozens of boys into his Long Island home, dating back two decades, before the revelations of alleged sex abuse surfaced, creating questions about oversight over the foster parent system. Suffolk County District Attorney, Thomas Spota, said that the special grand jury, which has been meeting since mid-August and may not conclude its work until early 2017 is "assessing all of the facts and circumstances involving how he was able to take all these boys in." It also is investigating other possible crimes involving the suspect. It was not clear if the grand jury would file additional criminal charges, or issue a report on its findings, with recommendations for changes in the foster care system. Various governmental agencies and private foster care organizations are being examined. Cesar Gonzales-Mugaburu, 59, of Ridge, was arrested last winter and charged with victimizing seven children as young as 8-years-old. One count in an indictment alleges he sexually abused a dog in front of a child. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail. He has a court appearance scheduled Thursday. Spota said previously that statute of limitations laws prevented prosecutors from filing charges involving other alleged abuse. Since the scandal erupted, separate investigations have been started by state, city and Long Island officials. Questions remain about how Gonzales-Mugaburu was able to keep getting children placed in his home, despite years of concern about his conduct. Before his arrest, Gonzales-Mugaburu was the subject of nine previous investigations involving alleged abuse dating to 1998, according to a spokeswoman for Suffolk County. Each of those inquiries led to a finding at the time that the allegations weren't credible, and none of them immediately led to the removal of children from his split-level ranch home on eastern Long Island. A break came in January, when detectives said two brothers who lived in the house came forward with credible stories of abuse. Once Gonzalez-Mugaburu was in custody, others felt more comfortable about coming forward, authorities said. SCO Family of Services, an agency that placed 72 New York City children in Gonzales-Mugaburu's care over 20 years, said that it never uncovered evidence of sexual abuse or improper sexual behavior in the home. But the organization's chief strategy officer, Rose Anello said in July that there were other issues with the home, particularly around 2013, "and in retrospect and knowing what we know now, a decision to close the home should have been made at that time." She said those issues involved Gonzales-Mugaburu being uncooperative and unwilling to accept staff guidance on parenting style, but none of the issues then hinted at anything like the allegations uncovered this year. Following the Gonzales-Mugaburu arrest, the city's Administration for Children's Services temporarily halted placing children in SCO facilities, but announced in July that a review of 370 homes operated by SCO uncovered no indications abuse was occurring at any of those sites. Sarwar Danesh, Vice-President of Afghanistan, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters. (Phoito: AP) United Nations: 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 he Taliban and al-Qaeda residing, and where were they killed t 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. 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 UN General Assembly. (Photo: ANI Twitter) 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 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. New York: Donald 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 on 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 on 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 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." It was a frank statement of apparent political expediency for the billionaire businessman, who for five years had raised questions and insinuations about the president's birthplace and the authenticity of his birth certificate. The so-called "birther" movement helped fuel Trump's political rise, transforming him from a reality television star into a popular political figure in some Republican circles. 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 he'd come to his conclusion, and had not answered questions on the topic since. His rival Hillary 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." United Nations: During his address at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that his country itself is a victim of terrorism. He also said that Burhan Wani was a young leader and not a terrorist. "My country has been the principal victim of terrorism including that supported, sponsored, financed from abroad and Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces has emerged as a symbol of latest Kashmiri Intifada," Sharif was quoted as saying. 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 Kashmiri people for self-determination". However, Twitterati could not digest his words and took to the micro-blogging platform to express their thoughts: Many terrorists have been found hiding in Pakistan, including those from the Taliban and the dreaded Haqqani Network. (Photo: AFP) United Nations: Taking a swipe at Pakistan, India on Thursday said the land of Taxila "is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism" and attracts aspirants and apprentices from around the globe. Exercising India's Right of Reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir made a strong rebuttal. "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. She noted 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. Many terrorists have been found hiding in Pakistan, including those from the Taliban and the dreaded Haqqani Network. Taliban chief Mullah Omar and al-Qaeda supremo Osama bin Laden were both hiding in Pakistan. Osama was killed in a daring US Navy SEALs raid at his Abbottabad compound in 2011. The term Ivy League has connotations of academic excellence and selectivity in admissions. The eight top US institutions part of the Ivy League are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University and Yale University. Alex wrote the letter to Obama after he saw Omran's bloodied and dazed photograph in war-torn Syria. (Photo: YouTube Screengrab) Washington: In an exceptionally kind gesture, a six-year-old boy from New York wrote a touching letter to President Barack Obama, requesting him to bring a Syrian refugee, Omran Daqneesh, to America. Alex wrote the letter to Obama after he saw Omran's bloodied and dazed photograph in war-torn Syria. Five-year-old Omran was injured after an August airstrike hit the rebel-held eastern Aleppo where he lived with his family. Although Omran survived the blast, his family was killed in the airstrike. In his letter addressed to Obama, Alex wrote, "Dear President Obama, remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria?" Alex said that he wanted to make Omran a part of his family and that he and his younger sister Catherine would like to play with him. He also went on to say that Catherine would collect butterflies and fireflies for Omran when he comes to America. The letter written by Alex to Barack Obama. (Photo: White House) His letter reads as follows, "Dear President Obama, Remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria? Can you please go get him and bring him to [my home]? 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. Catherine, my little sister, will be collecting butterflies and fireflies for him. In my school, I have a friend from Syria, Omar, and I will introduce him to Omar. 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. Please tell him that his brother will be Alex who is a very kind boy, just like him. Since he won't bring toys and doesn't have toys Catherine will share her big blue stripy white bunny. And I will share my bike and I will teach him how to ride it. 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. Thank you very much! I can't wait for you to come! Alex Six years old" Prosecutors also allege that Rovinski, while in jail, tried to recruit people to carry out plans for violent attacks in the United States, including the beheading of nonbelievers. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP) Boston: A Rhode Island man charged with plotting to help the Islamic State group is expected to plead guilty to conspiracy charges, including a plot to kill conservative blogger Pamela Geller. A change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for Nicholas Rovinski on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Boston. The 25-year-old Rovinski is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization and conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries. Prosecutors say Rovinski, of Warwick, Rhode Island, plotted with two Massachusetts men to behead Geller. The plot was never carried out. Prosecutors also allege that Rovinski, while in jail, tried to recruit people to carry out plans for violent attacks in the United States, including the beheading of nonbelievers. Rovinski's lawyer says his client now renounces violence and any allegiance to the Islamic State group. 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. 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 agreement is signed after two years of negotiations between the High Peace Council, the leadership of the Afghan Government and the Hizb-e-Islami. The peace negotiations have been successfully completed," deputy HPC chief Habiba Sorabi said at the ceremony. 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 country's 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 seen by AFP, 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. The child servants 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. (Photo: Representational Image) Baw lone kwin village: 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. 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. I will keep her at home," she said. Manila, Philippines: Philippine military officials on Thursday announced the first large-scale combat exercises between US and Filipino forces under President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been critical of American security policies. Military officials said the annual maneuvers by about 1,400 US military personnel and 500 Philippine marines will involve amphibious landing and live-fire exercises at a northern gunnery range from Oct 4 to 12. Describing himself as a socialist, Duterte has had an uneasy relationship with the US He has said he is charting a foreign policy not dependent on the US, a treaty ally, and has taken steps to revive ties with China, which had been strained under his predecessor over longstanding territorial conflicts. He repeated in a speech Thursday that he would not allow Filipino forces to conduct joint patrols with the US military in the disputed South China Sea because that could spark an armed conflict in Philippine territory. He has also said he wants US forces out of the country's south, where he said minority Muslims resent the presence of American troops. Still, Duterte has said he will not abrogate the mutual defense treaty with the US and will maintain the long alliance with America. An international report has said India should be given a generous support package to pursue its ambitious developmental projects as it has done less harm to the climate than most of the countries. (Photo: PTI) Singapore: India should be given a "generous support package" to pursue its ambitious developmental projects as it has done less harm to the climate than most of the countries despite having 18 percent share of the worlds population, according to an international report. "It should be noted that India has done less than most countries to cause the climate problem despite having 18 percent of the worlds population, it has accounted for just three percent of historical global CO2 emissions," Oil Change International report The Sky's Limit said on Wednesday. It pointed out that India, with per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of just USD 1,600, has an urgent need for economic development. "Therefore, many argue with good justification that it is unreasonable to expect a country like India to bear an equal burden of addressing climate change to those with far greater historic responsibility. "The solution could be a generous support package, primarily provided by the wealthy countries that are most responsible for climate change, including climate finance and technology transfer, to help India pursue a low-carbon development path," the report said. Citing International Energy Agency data, it said India's goal to raise coal production to 1.5 billion metric tonnes per year by 2020. But most commentators expect production growth to fall well short of these goals, it observed. The report also called on China and Indonesia to make permanent the recent moratorium on new coal mine development. The US has also imposed limited moratorium on new coal mines on public lands but Australia continues with its coal extraction, said the report which examines and questions the December 2015 Paris Climate Goals, under which world governments agreed to limit global average temperature rise to well below 2C, and to strive to limit it to 1.5C. "The potential carbon emissions from the oil, gas, and coal in the worlds currently operating fields and mines would take us beyond 2C of warming," it warned. In December last year, 195 countries agreed to the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions as part of the method for reducing greenhouse gas. With 1.25 billion people, India is world's second most populous nation after China. PAF had tried landing aircraft on the Islamabad-Lahore highways as part of a mock drill. NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, the Pakistan Air Force flew its F-16s over Islamabad, triggering panic late on Thursday night. Reports said hundreds of people poured out onto the streets on hearing the sound of the aircraft at about 10.20 pm local time. According to Pakistani media reports, the highway between Islamabad and Peshawar has been closed; earlier in the day, the PAF had tried landing aircraft on the Islamabad-Lahore highways as part of a mock drill. Pakistan-based journalist Hamid Mir tweeted about the flying jets. F-16 planes flying at 10:20 pm over Islamabad, his tweet said. Speaking to a TV channel, Mr Mir said the aircraft made three or four sorties over the Pakistan capital. 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. 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. At the time, Israel, which has had fraught relations with the EU in recent years, recalled Europeans' treatment of Jews in the Holocaust and denounced the bloc's "staggering hypocrisy". Israel offered no immediate comment on the court officer's advice on Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement which controls the Gaza Strip and has fought Israel for three decades. 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 organisations 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 there was no set date for a ruling. A military helicopter landed at Greece's Alexandroupolis airport on July 16, carrying eight officers who were seeking asylum after a failed coup in Turkey. (Photo: AFP) 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, who represents eight Turkish officers overall, 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. The move came as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- the target of the coup -- in New York early on Thursday. According to state agency ANA, Tsipras told Erdogan that democracy was "very important" to Greece and coup plotters were "not welcome." 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. The lawyer said the rejection was based on the "arbitrary" assumption that the officer in question had taken part in the foiled coup. Tomara 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". Unable to swim, the victim drowned in the pool as other swimmers watched in horror but refused to intervene. (Photo: YouTube Screengrab) Morelia, Michoacan: A Mexican man has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for repeatedly drowning his three-year-old stepdaughter in a swimming pool, leading to her death. A CCTV footage showed the accused throwing the minor girl into the pool of a hotel in Morelia city in south western state of Michoacan. According to a report in the Daily Mail, the victim tried to keep herself afloat as her father stood by the edge of the pool and watched her. The victim made several attempts to reach the edge of the pool and save herself, but her father held her tightly in such a position that she was unable to breathe. Unable to swim, the victim drowned in the pool as other swimmers watched in horror but refused to intervene. At first, the victim's mother did not realise that her daughter had drowned. Later when she returned to the pool, she was shocked to see her daughter's lifeless body in the pool. The victim was then taken to the hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. Her mother claimed that she was not aware of her daughter being mistreated and came to know about her husband's actions only after she saw the CCTV footage. On the basis of the CCTV footage, the accused was convicted of the crime. During the trial, prosecutors demanded a jail term of up to 40 years for the accused. However, after reviewing the CCTV footage, the judge slapped the accused with a more severe punishment -- 100 years in jail. The unidentified man was asked to inform the police whenever he decides to have a sexual relationship or a one-night stand with any woman. (Photo: YouTube Screen Grab) York: A North Yorkshire man who had been banned from engaging in any form of sexual activity unless he gave a days prior notice to the police in UK, got the order lifted from a judge. The judge ruled that the man has to inform the police "as soon as is reasonably practicable" and not necessarily every time. The man had not been convicted for any sex crime, yet the police had sought a sexual risk order for him. Sexual risk order is often sought for a person who is thought to be unsafe for the public, say reports. The unidentified man was asked to inform the police whenever he wanted to have a sexual relationship or a one-night stand with any woman. An individual can be issued a sexual risk order by a court, under which the person becomes liable to inform the police about any sexual activity that he or she wishes to engage in. A person who has been issued a sexual risk order may not necessarily be a sexual offender. It says, the individual does not need to have committed a relevant (or any offence)" for the order to be imposed. A sexual risk order can last for a minimum of two years, and on breaching, it can land a person into prison for a term of up to five years. Sarah Green, the acting director at End Violence Against Women, said that such orders were essential to keep potential victims safe. One particular day, she lit 17 candles for a romantic date with Ian, accidentally setting her house on fire. (Representational Image) London: A UK woman, who was in a relationship with an imaginary man, died after she lit 17 candles for a romantic date with him, accidentally setting her house on fire. According to a report in the Daily Mail, the woman identified as Jane Ellis, was in a relationship with an imaginary man named 'Ian' and would often light candles to summon him. One particular day, she lit 17 candles for a romantic date with Ian, which led to a fire in her house. Soon after, her neighbours rushed to her apartment to tell her that the building had caught fire. However, she slammed the door on their face and ignored their warning, a neighbour recalled. When the fire was doused and firefighters broke into her apartment to check if she was alive, they found her lying in the bathroom with her face down. She was then airlifted to the hospital in an induced coma state. She succumbed to her injuries later. Medics said that she died of injuries to the brain caused by smoke inhalation and burns. During investigation, her friend told police that she knew the victim for the past 20 years and that she had a history of mental illness. Police are carrying out further investigations and are trying to reach a possible conclusion. Moscow: President Vladimir Putin has given Russia's highest award to a police officer who was killed by militants after refusing to renounce his duties. Magomed Nurbagandov from the volatile North Caucasus province of Dagestan was captured by Islamic militants and shot dead in July. Security services later found a video showing the officer's captors demanding that he urge his colleagues to resign from the police. Instead, Nurbagandov defied them, saying "Keep on working, brothers!" before being killed. During Thursday's Kremlin award ceremony, Putin praised the 31-year-old officer as a model for others and handed the Hero of Russia medal to his parents. Dagestan has become the epicenter of an Islamist insurgency after two separatist wars in neighboring Chechnya. Militants mount regular attacks on police. London: Theresa Mays government is committed to introducing an Alan Turing law and will, in due course, pardon thousands of gay men convicted under historic gross indecency crimes. Sources close to the Prime Minister confirmed that her government is committed to introducing the legislation, which will effectively act as an apology while the ministry of justice added they would now find the right legislative vehicle to push this through. This government is committed to introducing posthumous pardons for people with certain historical sexual offence convictions who would be innocent of any crime now. We will bring forward our proposals in due course, a government spokesperson added. Mr Turing, the Enigma code breaker responsible for decrypting Nazi messages, was granted a posthumous royal pardon in 2013 61 years after he was charged at Manchester police station over homosexual activity. El-Sissi is in New York attending meetings of the UN General Assembly. (Photo: AP) Cairo: The head of news in Egypt's state television has confirmed he was fired after the network mistakenly aired an old interview with the country's president instead of one he gave this week. Mustafa Shehata, in comments published by Cairo dailies today, described the mix-up as a "gross error." The wrong interview was on the air for nearly 10 minutes before the transmission was halted Tuesday. The state television's chief has apologized for the mistake. The erroneously broadcast interview was given last year by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to the US network PBS. The one that was meant to be broadcast was given to the same network this week in New York. El-Sissi is in New York attending meetings of the UN General Assembly. A Nigerian woman was promised a Kalashnikov assault rifle in case of divorce or if her husband died, the pro-govt forces revealed. (Photo: AP) Tripoli: Islamic State group marriage contracts unearthed by pro-government forces battling the group in Libya reveal that the jihadists offered their brides unusual dowries: machine guns and explosive belts. Forces allied with the country's unity government discovered the archives as they searched buildings seized during their months-long battle to oust ISIS from its coastal bastion of Sirte. The documents belonged to the jihadists' "Judicial and Complaints Department". Published on pro-government forces' Facebook pages, they include marriage contracts and divorce rulings without any real name or personal information. In one example from November 31, 2015, Abu Mansour, a Tunisian born in 1977, married a Nigerian called Miriam, in the presence of Sudanese and Malian witnesses. In contrast to Islamic norms, Abu Mansour did not pay a dowry but vowed to pay compensation in the event of his death or the marriage being dissolved -- in the form of an explosive belt. Fatima, from Nigeria, was promised a Kalashnikov assault rifle in case of divorce or if her husband, Malian Abu Said, died. IS jihadists took over Sirte in June 2015 and imposed a reign of terror including executions in public squares. They patrolled the streets in 4x4s to ensure that men were observing prayer times and women were not venturing out alone. Forces allied with Libya's Government of National Accord launched an offensive on May 12 to retake the port city that was the home town of late dictator Moamer Kadhafi. They cornered the jihadists in a small area in central Sirte but were slowed down by snipers and suicide bombings that have killed some 450 pro-government fighters. The strikes were also reported by the rebel administration in the capital Sanaa, which reported civilian casualties without giving a specific toll. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP) Aden: 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, which reported civilian casualties without giving a specific toll. The loyalist official said the residential neighbourhood was probably hit in error. He said the presidential palace in Hodeida was also hit. 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. Islamabad: At least 150 Pakistani nationals, including the son of a former minister and an ex-lawmaker of fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party, were among the people owning offshore firms in the Carribean tax haven of Bahamas, according to new set of data published on Thursday. The information has been shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and originally obtained and released by German newspaper Sddeutsche Zeitung. A brief shared by various media sources suggested that about 150 Pakistanis have been identified as directors of nearly 70 companies, out of 175,000 firms incorporated in the Bahamas between 1959 and 2016, Dawn newspaper reported. Jibran Khan, son of former federal minister Mohammad Naseer Khan, has been named in the Bahamas Leaks, while the name of former Jamaat-i-Islami senator Khursheed Ahmad also figured in the data as director of a registered bank in Miami. Obaid Altaf Khanani, Samina Durrani and Karachi-based builder Mohsin Sheikhani also own offshore companies, the report said. The new cache of documents - known as the Bahamas Leaks - come five months after the so-called Panama Papers leak, that spotlighted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family and more than 250 other Pakistanis as having offshore companies. Also, the new leaks come just ahead of the September 30 protest announced by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan at Sharif's Raiwind estate residence near Lahore over the offshore companies the premier's children have according to 'Panama Papers'. Bahamas is a constellation of 700 islands. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly. (Photo: AP) Beijing: China on Thursday 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 Nawaz Sharif on September 21 in New York. They exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as international 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 USD 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. Bangladeshi policemen stand guard outside a morgue at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital during the autopsy on the bodies of suspected Islamic militants who were killed Tuesday in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo: AP) Dhaka: A Bangladeshi charity on Thursday buried the five Islamist extremists behind July's devastating attack on a Dhaka cafe after their families refused to take the bodies, police said. The five shot and hacked to death 20 foreign hostages at the Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1 in Dhaka's Gulshan neighbourhood - an attack claimed by the self-styled Islamic State group. Military commandos brought the hostage crisis to a bloody end the next morning after they stormed the compound and gunned down the extremists. The military handed over the bodies of the five attackers and their alleged associate to the police today after no relatives came to claim the bodies for nearly three months. "We gave the six bodies to Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Since their death no one came to us to take the bodies," military spokesman Colonel Rashidul Hasan said. Dhaka police spokesman Masudur Rahman said they handed over the bodies to the Anjuman-e-Mufidul Islam, a Muslim charity which collects and buries unidentified bodies according to their religious rites. "They buried the bodies in a Dhaka graveyard," he said. "How long can we keep the bodies in the mortuary?" The father of one of the attackers said he had disowned his son after he learnt about the attack. He said he was too "ashamed" to be the father of an extremist. Local media reported that other families were reluctant to take the bodies as they did not want to be seen as sympathic towards their children. Since the attack Bangladeshi security forces have shot dead at least 28 suspected Islamist extremists in a massive crackdown. Police have said a local Islamist extremist outfit, led by a Canadian citizen of Bangladesh origin, was responsible for the cafe carnage, rejecting IS' claim that its fighters carried out the attack. We can think about Aadhaar-embedded Skype, where it can be used to verify citizen identity. Right now, you verify your ID using OTP (one-time password), but it could be verified using your iris, he added. Pramanik said that the company is focusing on talent, innovation and market in the country to lay thrust on Digital India. Pramanik said that he received the privilege to be a part of a great Indian journey, from main frame computing, to the mobile-first and cloud-first world. With our mission of empowering every individual and organistion to achieve more, Microsoft India has done phenomenal work in partnering the Digital India game plan, he said, pointing out that health, agriculture and education are primary focus areas for the company in the country. We have already tied up with the Andhra Pradesh government in education. We are soon signing an MoU with the Punjab government as well, he said. Microsoft Research India and Microsoft India Research and Development are also conducting research with interdisciplinary approach. We have been conducting research in natural language processing. Here, we have been doing lots of work in the space of artificial intelligence and machine learning, he said. Microsoft has evinced plans to build Aadhaar-enabled products for the Digital India initiative, and showcase them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When asked about Aadhaar project, Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik said that the company is ready to align with the government in this regard. We are ready to make our devices Aadhaar-compliant, as they will help citizen service delivery become smoother, going forward, he said. Trouble spots Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 and Chechnya, where a powerful armed secessionist war raged for over a decade, too voted in favour of the United Russia. Although the recent election was far cleaner than the one in 2011, it was not free of irregularities. The electoral arena did not provide a level playing field; the process was skewed in favour of the United Russia from the start. It got more time and favourable coverage on state-controlled television and was not hamstrung by any shortage of resources. However, analysts are pointing out that vote rigging was more at the local level rather than orchestrated at the national level. It was blatant in some constituencies. Consider this: Ramzan Kadyrov, who heads the Chechen Republic and is a close ally of Putin, won 98% of the votes. Equally worrying is the poor voter-turnout. Just 47% of voters showed up to exercise their franchise, down from 60% turnout in the 2011 election. Significantly, the turnout in cities was particularly dismal: just 28% voted in Moscow. Crimea too posted a low turnout of 40%. Low voter turnout is worrying as it indicates frustration with democratic processes. Many of those who stayed away are reportedly critics of Putin, who probably were disinterested as they knew United Russia would win anyway. The next big election in Russia is that of the presidential election, which is scheduled for 2018. Putin is expected to contest again and win another term, if the just-concluded endorsement he has received is any indication of his popularity. Another stint in the Kremlin seems likely and this should give him the confidence to shift focus away from his present preoccupation with stirring national sentiment to take bold steps that addresses economic and other prob-lems the Russian masses are struggling with. The landslide victory of the Vladimir Putin-backed United Russia party in the Russian parliamentary elections will tighten the presidents already considerable grip over Parliament. The United Russia secured over 54% of the vote and won 343 seats in the 450-member Duma, the Russian Parliament. The party had won 49% of the vote in the 2011 general election and held 238 seats in the outgoing Parliament. Although the just-concluded election was a vote to determine who sits in Parliament, it was President Putins personality and popularity that dominated the campaign, the vote and the outcome. The United Russias massive mandate is therefore being interpreted as an endorsement of Putin and his policies. As in the past, he will continue to call the shots in Parliament. Significantly, he will have no challenge inside Parliament as only pro-Putin parties have won seats. A day after the gruesome murder of a 22-year-old school teacher by her spurned lover, relatives of the woman protested on Wednesday by placing the body on road. The demonstration created traffic jam around Burari Chowk in North Delhi, blocking traffic between Burari and Sant Nagar. Crowd started to gather around the body around 2 pm. We diverted the traffic to different roads, said Deepak Gauri, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-Outer range). Eyewitnesses said hundreds of people shouted slogans against the police and started marching towards the Burari police station. However, senior police officers intervened and persuaded the protestors to end the demonstration. We requested them to stop the protest march after which the body was taken to Nigam Bodh Ghat for the last rites, said a senior police officer. The deceased Karuna Kumar was stabbed 22 times by Surendra Singh, 34, with a scissor on Tuesday morning while she was on her way to Novel Riches School where she used to teach. In the over three minute CCTV footage of the incident, scores of passersby were seen passing by the scene and no one dared to stop the man seemed to be possessed with a murderous rage. Only after several minutes when Surendra was finished rendering the woman near-dead, did the crowd gather courage and overpowered Surendra. Karuna was rushed to a Trauma Centre where she was declared brought dead. We have taken Surendra for four days custody. We will ask him about the motive for the killing and investigate if some other people are also involved in it, said a senior police officer. According to investigators, Surendra had reportedly been stalking her for the past six months. Sources said Surendra had been enraged ever since he saw photos of Karuna which she had sent to a man on his WhatsApp number. On Tuesday, Surendra had asked Karuna to meet him at GTB Nagar Metro station. The two met, hours before he killed her, sources said. Meanwhile on Wednesday, Delhis Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra and Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal met Karunas family. The DCW chairperson met the mother of the victim and recorded her statement. The DCW on Wednesday issued a notice to Delhi Police regarding the case, PTI reported. I met the mother and other family members of the girl. They have alleged that the girl had submitted a written complaint against the said accused to Burari Police Station in the first week of May, the notice issued to Joint Commissioner of Police, Sanjay Singh said. However, it is alleged that the police did not take any action against the culprit as the father of the man is retired Delhi Police officer and he used his clout to prevent any action against his son. This inaction, further emboldened the man to carry out the heinous act, it added. DCW has asked police to provide it the copy of girls complaint and FIR registered in the said incident of murder within 48 hours. Facing flack over his absence from the national capital when the Delhi government was battling outbreak of vector-borne diseases, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday decided to hold review meetings everyday with head of different departments to ensure speedy and time-bound works. Starting the series of such meetings, Sisodia on Wednesday met with the heads of four departments environment, information technology, revenue and forest at the secretariat here, two days after he returned from his official visit to Finland. A senior government official said the Deputy CM has asked all departments to stress on outcome of schemes rather than on achieving spending targets and stating how much money was spent on particular project. Sisodias recent visit to Finland to study the countrys education system courted controversy with Opposition saying AAP ministers was missing from the capital when it battled the dengue and chikungunya crises. The Deputy CM will hold numbers of meetings to review works of departments regularly. He has asked officers to stress on outcome instead of getting into data of estimates of various projects. From today, he has started holding meetings with HoDs, the official said. In Wednesdays meeting, the HoDs gave presentations on their various projects and schemes. If there is any specific point that needs to be dealt with separately, the Minister will call separate meeting, the officer said. The Deputy CM was upset with the forest department over tree census not being conducted. He sought to know why the department has not conducted tree census so far. The main purpose of the meetings is to ensure works being done by various departments are expedited, another official said. The Delhi Congress has sought a probe by the Central Vigilance Commission into alleged corruption in leasing premises for 105 mohalla clinics from AAP supporters on inflated rents adding up to Rs 2 core a year. Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken wrote to the CVC on Wednesday alleging that that to extend pecuniary advantage to the members of the ruling party the AAP government blatantly violated the CVC guidelines. While setting up mohalla clinics at multiple locations, owned by members and office bearers of the AAP, the government has not only extended undue and illegal consideration to the AAP members but also permitted use of dilapidated and unhygienic premises for the purpose, he said. After being found guilty of large-scale misuse of public funds for party advertisements, this is another classic case wherein Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in association with Health Minister Satyender Jain and others, have deliberately violated the CVC guidelines and indulged into corrupt or illegal means in order to benefit ruling party members at the cost of taxpayers money. The annual expenditure on rent of these 105 mohalla clinics is almost Rs 2 crore, wrote Maken. On the basis of findings of a city-wide survey conducted by the Congress, Maken alleged the Delhi government by-passed the tender process in the mohalla clinic pilot project and shunned the obligation to ascertain the market rate while renting the multiple premises. The intention was to convey illegal monetary gain to members of the ruling party through the said project, he wrote. Our findings have confirmed that not only many clinics are operated in unsuitable premises owned by AAP members, 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, he said. Hours after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal reacted sharply after an FIR was registered against him in connection with the irregularities in the functioning of the DCW, the ACB said it wont probe the case against him for now as his name doesnt figure in the inquiry report. ACB chief Mukesh Kumar Meena said Kejriwal, whose name figures in an FIR pertaining to irregularities in the functioning of Delhi Commission for Women, is not an accused in the case till now. Till now, we are not probing the role of Arvind Kejriwal since his name doesnt figure in the report. As on date, he is not an accused, he said. In the FIR, the essence of the complaint is written. If someone gives a complaint, it is written verbatim in the FIR. We dont have any power to manipulate the language of the complaint. This is procedural law, Meena said. The ACB had taken up the probe on a complaint by former DCW chief Barkha Shukla Singh, who alleged that several AAP supporters were given plum posts in the womens panel since Swati Maliwal was made its chief. Maliwal was on Monday booked by the Anti-Corruption Branch on charges of alleged irregularities. Singh, in her complaint, had listed 85 names who, she claimed, got jobs without requisite credentials. Meena said the CM hasnt been named in the inquiry report prepared on the basis of the preliminary inquiry. He needs to read the report in totality and not in isolation. His name doesnt figure in the inquiry report. The inquiry report will be considered final, he asserted. He said the inquiry is based on documentary evidence. Till now, we have found irregularities in appointments made in DCW by Swati Maliwal and others, he said. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had reacted angrily saying the ACB has registered the FIR against him at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the FIR registered by the ACB, my name is also there...But it does not contain any detail on my alleged role. One does not put the name of the Chief Minister in the FIR just like that, he had said. It cannot happen without the Prime Ministers approval. ACB has already sent a notice to Maliwal that a team will be interrogating her on September 29 at her office, Meena said. He said other officers will also be probed. The role of Deputy Director (Finance), Delhi government is also under scanner and he has been summoned to explain why he authorised DCW as a body with financial autonomy, said Meena. 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. Saturday, September 17, was the 229th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States, and to mark the occasion, students in 11 Tennessee schools will participate in Constitution Week events sponsored by the office of U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). At an event on Wednesday, Sept. I am proud to join my fellow Tennesseans in celebrating the United States Constitution, which has served as the foundation of our country for more than 200 years, said Sen. Corker. I am continually amazed by the incredible foresight and vision our Founding Fathers had when crafting this cherished document. I hope the students who attended our Constitution Week event are inspired and recognize the gift we have been given to live in this great nation. The Constitution of the United States was signed on September 17, 1787. In 1956, Congress requested that President Eisenhower proclaim a Constitution Week each September. Senator Corkers office has held Constitution Week events across the Volunteer State every year since the senator assumed office in 2007. A second night of race-related clashes in Charlotte in the US state of North Carolina has left one protester on life support, with the renewed violence prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency. Several hundred people taunted riot police late yesterday amid clashes in the city center, a second night of unrest ignited by the fatal police shooting of a black man. Governor Pat McCrory said on Twitter that he was activating the National Guard and Highway Patrol officers to assist local law enforcement. "We cannot tolerate violence. We cannot tolerate the destruction of property and will not tolerate the attacks towards our police officers that are occurring right now, and I feel very strongly about that," the governor later told CNN. "That is not the American way." The protests were sparked by the death of Keith Lamont Scott, 43, fatally shot in an apartment complex parking lot on Tuesday after an encounter with officers searching for a suspect wanted for arrest. A protester was critically wounded and on life support, the city said, after erroneously reporting that the person had died. 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. The evening started out with a peaceful vigil for Scott, but 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. 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. "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. Some demonstrators stood on cars and hurled objects at police, who fired what appeared to be tear gas, sending the protesters scattering. Scott's death is the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across the US. Ahead of yesterday's protest, 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. 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 Chinas 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 Cares 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. A top intelligence officer today 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. India's 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. 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 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. Admissions in undergraduate medical courses after counselling by private medical colleges or varsities "shall stand cancelled forthwith", the Supreme Court ruled today, holding that such counselling can be done "only" by the state government. "If any counselling has been done by any College or University and any admission to any medical seat has been given so far, such admission shall stand cancelled forthwith and admission shall be given only as per centralised counselling done by the state Government," a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice A R Dave said. Disposing of Madhya Pradesh government's plea for contempt action against private colleges for holding separate counselling, the apex court asked the state government to hold counselling afresh and complete it by September 30. The bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri, R K Agrawal, Adarsh Kumar Goel and R Banumathi, said the private medical colleges could send their representatives at the place of counselling to witness the process. The court referred to its April 11 order by which it had recalled its 2013 verdict scrapping single common entrance test (NEET) for admission to MBBS, BDS and PG courses in all medical colleges. "We observe that the mandate of our judgment was to hold centralised entrance test followed by centralised state counselling by the state to make it a one composite process. "We, therefore, direct that admission to all medical seats shall be conducted by centralised counselling only by the state Government and none else," it said today. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General P S Patwalia, appearing for Madhya Pradesh, told the bench that though state has already concluded the first round of counselling, it was willing to hold it afresh. "We may note at this stage that the state government has done the first counselling. However, the Additional Solicitor General has made a statement at the Bar that the state government is ready to undertake the entire process afresh and assures that it would be completed by September 30, 2016 which is the last date for admission," the bench noted in its order. The bench, which quashed the counselling done so far by the private medical colleges and universities in Madhya Pradesh, said it would be a "proper course of action" if private colleges are allowed to "send their representatives at the place of counselling as per the information which may be displayed by the counselling authority forthwith at its website." The bench also recorded the assurance given by the state through its law officer that all seats, whether of government colleges or the private institutions, "shall be filled up and no seat shall remain vacant." Disposing of the contempt plea, the bench said it does not "intend to proceed further and discharge the contempt notice...the contempt petition stands disposed of on the aforesaid terms." The order came on the 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. Yesterday, the apex court had ordered status quo in admission to undergraduate medical courses in private medical institutes in Madhya Pradesh. The apex court, on April 11, had recalled its 2013 verdict scrapping single common entrance test (NEET) for admission to MBBS, BDS and PG courses in all medical colleges. As a result, the private colleges are required to get students through NEET. Ask a hundred people what they did on their Swiss trip and theyll tell you pretty much the same things had fondue at Zurich, walked around the streets of Geneva and maybe, took a cruise on Lake Geneva. When we decided to make a trip to Europe, we knew we wouldnt do anything that was cliched. We threw out the guide books and decided to rough it out. Our trip to Switzerland was part of a larger Western Europe tour. We spent a week in the Swiss countryside, living in a small village called Gluringen. Its not easy getting there, but when you do, you realise its the most magical place. Its the Switzerland that tourist brochures dont write about and tourists dont know about. Its a hidden Switzerland thats just postcard perfect. One of the first things that strike you as you exit the Matterhorn Express at the Gluringen station is the stillness. The air is cold and very still. There is a hushed, peaceful silence as the train rolls away sliently through the Alps stretching all around you, and you feel a glorious sense of freedom from everything that was holding you back. A pleasant 20-minute walk through the cobbled village roads, past churches and small all-in-one stores brings you to a lovely little bed-and-breakfast nestled high up in the middle of rolling green pastures. There are only two places to stay in Gluringen a tourist hotel just outside the train station, and a bed-and-breakfast called Wallis where we stayed. The place is run by a sweet Austrian couple, Peter Paul and Mary, and is listed on Airbnb. The hotel is a lovely little place with about eight rooms, and a large airy dining area. The meals are cooked by Mary, and you need to tell her what you want to eat. The food, once served, is spectacular. The view from our room was serene on one side, vast, sloping, green pastures as far as the eye can see, peppered with flowering plants of all colours, and in between, narrow grey cobblestoned streets lined with identical thatched roof huts, and on the other, the mighty, majestic Alps looming over the village. All we could hear was the jingles of the bells tied around the countless cows grazing on the pastures, and the occasional gush of wind as it rushed down the mountains and tried its best to break down the wooden huts in the village. We took a train to Fiesch, a municipality in the district of Goms in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. A picturesque town, this is slightly more well-known than Gluringen because of the Eggishorn Mountain. The Eggishorn is a mountain of the Bernese Alps, located north of Fiesch. A cable car station is located on a secondary summit named Fiescherhorli, about 500 metres south of the main peak. The cable car ride from the base to the very top of the Eggishorn summit was slow and dramatic; as the car creaked its way up to the peak, the lands fell away and the mountains threatened to crash into us, we were in awe at the burst of colour all around us. Its an experience truly worth having. At the peak, almost 3000 metres high, the air is freezing cold, thick snow blankets everything and your breath freezes in mid-air. Theres a little coffee shop that serves hot chocolate, which is a blessing, and ice cream, which is insanity. The peak is supposed to have a lot of positive energy, especially for stimulating the mind, and there are energy rocks all around the peak. When you sit at the edge of the peak, knee-deep in snow, and look out over the world stretching away beneath you, the valleys, the gorges, and the glaciers, you are filled with a deep sense of optimism. Maybe there is a chance for peace everywhere. If only everyone could experience it at least once. The hidden Switzerland has more secrets up her sleeve than one can imagine. How to get there One can take a Jet Airways flight from Bengaluru to Zurich or Geneva. The cost is Rs 32,000 for a round trip for one. From either of these places, get on to the Matterhorn Express going towards Jungfrau or Grimwald. You can get down at Reckingen or Gluringen. The train cost is approximately Rs 900 per person one way. Places to stay We stayed at Wallis Hotel in Gluringen. The cost for two adults is approximately Rs 16,500 a day which includes the stay, food, and sightseeing (including the cable car cost and a day trip to Fiesch). Mansi Pal (The author can be contacted at hello@mansipal.com) When he and two friends clubbed together to buy a riad (traditional Moroccan house) in Marrakech in the late-1990s, artist and designer Hassan Hajjaj used it chiefly to throw wild parties. It shot up in value, though, and by 2002, he had the funds to buy another, this time alone, which he turned into an opulent home and studio. Since then, the space, which follows the traditional riad structure of a square within a square surrounding a courtyard, has become an art gallery, shop and tea room, too. Hassan, 55, who spends about half the year there, designed it from top to bottom. When I first saw the place it was only just about liveable, but I had to make more of a mess before I started, he says, speaking from the shop he owns in Shoreditch, east London, where he is based for the other half of the year. Ive chopped up rooms and moved stairs; remade the ceilings, the floors, the walls. I changed everything. Hands-on It took him four years partly for financial reasons, but also because everything had to be done by hand. I was using old materials such as tadelakt (traditional Moroccan plaster that produces a marble-like, waterproof surface), ceramic and wood. And those buildings are old; they tell you what to use. There were certain things I wanted and I kept trying them, but they didnt work. In the end I had to just go with it it was a bit like doing up a classic car. Riad Yima, as his home is called, is hidden away in Marrakechs medina, among the spice stalls of Rahba Lakdima. When Hassan moved in, the area wasnt an artistic one, but since the debut of the Marrakech Biennale in 2004, several galleries have opened nearby. The riad is stuffed with both his artworks (his photographs are in the permanent collections of museums around the world, including the V&A in London, and regularly command up to 15,000 at auction) and his furniture (household objects made from recycled commercial products such as tin cans, flour sacks and crates). It is open to the public six days a week and known locally as a cool place to hang out Hassans pop-culture-inspired creations have led to his being dubbed Moroccos Andy Warhol and customers and friends come to Riad Yima to lounge on technicolour pouffes and cushions while flicking through art books and sipping mint tea. Its not a place youd stumble across, Hassan says, so the people who come, come because theyve sought it out, and they spend a long time here. Hassan was born and grew up in Morocco, in the seaside town of Larache, about 300 miles north of Marrakech. He remembers that period of his life as barefooted freedom, and full of games. His parents moved him and his two sisters to London when Hassan was 14. I didnt speak English, and it was hard to fit in, he says, but luckily at that age, you can adapt quickly, and I found my way. The family returned to Morocco every year, but when he was 19, Hassan decided he wanted to see the rest of the world. It was a decade before he would visit Morocco again. Everything I had left behind was still there, but it was no longer familiar. Everything stood out bottles of juice, cigarette packaging, tins of cooking oil, washing-powder logos. Thats when I became interested in product design. To make his furniture a logo-festooned, rainbow-hued range that includes lamps, chairs, tables and stools, Hassan sources everything himself, usually from local markets in Marrakech. Some of the original materials feature patterns and typography dating from the 1950s and 60s, so his pieces blend old and new in beautiful ways. I like to work with the traditional and make it look contemporary, he says. Theres also a bit of humour and cheekiness in there. His photographic portraits, which are shot against vibrantly patterned mosaic or textile backgrounds, their subjects in arresting clothing, are partly inspired by the work of the Malian photographer Malick Sidibe. Though they are often of people he knows, Hassan has also set up his portable backdrops on the streets of Morocco and London, as well as Paris, New York, LA and Dubai. I didnt study art; I didnt plan to be an artist, he says. Ive run underground club nights, Ive owned a clothes shop, Ive driven a van. I was always just doing this and that, and one thing led to another. I bought a camera from a friend in the late-1980s, and my love of photography brought me here. When we speak, he is about to get on a plane to New York to prepare for a solo show next year, and hes back and forth shooting a documentary in Morocco. He hasnt had a holiday in 10 years, but Im not going to complain. I find something that inspires me wherever I go music, film, art, food, markets, sound, cold, hot, sad, happy it all comes together in my work, he adds. Wipro Consumer Care on Thursday announced that it would acquire Chinese FMCG company Zhongshan Ma Er Daily Products in an all-cash deal, which will be completed by the end of October, and the company expects revenues from the same month. This is the 10th acquisition for Wipro Consumer Care. It started acquiring companies from 2003, and the first one was Glucovita, followed by Chandrika in 2004, and Unza in 2007. With this acquisition, we are adding more brands, and our international businesses would now contribute 55% of our total global revenues. Our revenues in FY 2016 were Rs 5,942 crore. Zhongshan has a strong footprint in China and Hong Kong. This adds to our distribution muscle, Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting CEO Vineet Agrawal said. The Chinese companys brand portfolio includes shower brands Enear, Zici and Vcnic, and fabric care brands Pahnli and Sunew. With Pahnli and Sunew, we are entering into liquid detergent, which is a fast-growing category in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and the Middle East. The Chinese firm already enjoys a market share of 10% in this category, said Agrawal. Post acquisition, Wipro Unza, the Southeast Asian arm of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, which recorded revenues of $11 million, from its China business in 2007, will touch an annual run rate of close to $150 million. Wipro Unza has its presence in China with brands like Enchanteur and Romano. Including this acquisition, the companys total headcount touches 10,000. We already have two manufacturing facilities in China, and we will decide whether to have one more there. Apart from eight manufacturing units in India, at present, we have seven units outside the country, he said. DH News Service It was supposed to be a dramatic but quick recall. Samsung Electronics said two weeks ago that it would recall 2.5 million units of its new high-end smartphone, the Galaxy Note 7, just days after some customers said their phones had caught fire. The recall is the largest in the history of the smartphone industry, but it also won Samsung praise from some in the gadget industry for the South Korean companys speed and decisiveness. Today, the recall looks anything but smooth. Safety regulators in the United States have issued warnings in recent days cautioning consumers not to turn on their Note 7s on airplanes and not to use their phones at all. South Koreas flight regulator, in a reversal, followed suit, as have others around the world. The constant reminders of potential combustibility have further dented Samsungs reputation and shaved as much as $14 billion off its market value, just when it looked to be gaining ground on Apple, its longtime rival, with its new line of sleek Galaxy smartphones. They also raise questions about whether Samsungs rush to take back the phones created more problems. Experts say it led to a ham-handed effort that confused customers, frustrated regulators and continued to generate headlines both in the US and at home. Data from the mobile analytics firm Apteligent showed that while Samsungs recall appears to have stopped new sales of the phone, the majority of people who have affected phones are continuing to use them. I thought, How is it that this is happening? said Jennifer Shecter, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Consumer Reports. She said the group found an inconsistent response to the recall across America, with some stores and carriers still selling the phones days after Samsungs announcement. Samsung made an announcement, but the government wasnt involved, there wasnt a clear message, there wasnt an approved remedy and there wasnt a clear fix, she said. A Samsung spokeswoman declined to comment on its discussions with regulators, pointing only to a company statement that said it was working with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The recall is an embarrassing comedown for Samsung, an icon of South Korean innovation that accounts for one-fifth of the countrys exports. Its importance can lead to deference from regulators, experts say. South Koreas flight regulator recommended last week that airline passengers not use or charge their Note 7 phones on flights only after the US Federal Aviation Administration made the same recommendation. Flight regulators in Europe, Japan, India and elsewhere have issued similar notices. The situation is regrettable, said Kang Jeong-hyeon, deputy director of the flight standards division of South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. He said the ministry initially had not acted because Samsung informed the ministry that the risks were manageable. But when the United States made its recommendation, South Korea had no choice but to follow, Kang said. As the authority in the country, the ministry felt concerned about the repercussions, and also, should S Korea be the first to ban the gadget on airplanes, he said. Samsung confirmed that company representatives had met with the ministry but declined to comment further. Korean consumer safety regulators say the companys effort had complied with South Korean law, and Samsung has taken additional steps in recent days to minimise the damage. Last week it issued a software update that would keep the Note 7 from fully charging, reducing the risk of overheating. It has also bought advertising in American and South Korean media. Samsung has not given specifics about how many affected phones are in which markets, but many of the affected phones were most likely sold in critical markets where the company ships phones first, like the US, South Korea and European countries such as Britain. In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission requires companies to notify it of defects and to coordinate public notification of recalls. The commission also asks the companies to work with it to determine how to notify customers and coordinate how the defective products can be replaced or returned. But when Samsung said on Sept 2 that it would replace 2.5 million Note 7s, it issued a news release by itself. It set up its own website telling Note 7 users to go back to where they had bought the phones or to contact its call centre. Recall notice The US agency still has not issued a formal recall notice. In a Sept 9 statement, it warned consumers not to use the phones at all. It also said it was working with Samsung to announce an official recall. In Hong Kong, Samsung initially told consumers they would not be affected because the models there used a different battery. A day later, it said about 500 would be affected after all. Experts say Samsungs desire to deal with the problem quickly may have created confusion. Kim Jinbaek, a professor at the School of Business at Chung-Ang University in Seoul and a former Samsung employee, cited the example of Toyota Motor in Japan, which was criticised beginning in 2009 for dragging its heels in what turned out to be a major safety recall. At that time, Kim said, Toyota was in discussions with US safety regulators. Samsung, on the other hand, decided not to wait through such coordination, he said. Adding to the confusion, Samsung in its initial statement said it would replace the phones, avoiding use of the more damaging word recall. Samsung also did not advise users to stop using the phones altogether until Sept 10. Samsungs own employees called on the company in an internal electronic bulletin board to act swiftly, according to local media reports that were confirmed by the company. The service allows employees to post messages anonymously. We want you to make the best decision so that we dont feel ashamed before our customers who use the Galaxy phablet smartphones, one posting said, using a word for big phones like the Note 7 that approach the size of the tablet. The company owes much to the customers who pre-ordered our phones or purchased them, read another. Our future lies in how well we treat these loyal customers. Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader has announced that double fortified salt would be distributed under public distribution system (PDS) from January. Addressing mediapersons here, Khader said, while the schedule remains to be fixed, tentatively it has been decided to distribute salt either from January 2 or the first week of that month. Every family would be given two kg of salt with more iron contents which would prove beneficial in improving health of the people. Hoping to streamline the system within three months, Khader said, the coupon system would be launched in a full-fledged manner on October 1, followed by the installation of point of sales (POS) machine at fair price shops. Though the machines were installed on a pilot basis earlier with biometric facility, they were not seeded with Aadhaar numbers of the ration card holders issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Now, the facilities have been improved with a pre-recorded voice announcing the exact quantity of ration issued, as and when card holders give their thumb impression, besides generating a bill towards it, he added. Cauvery issue On the ongoing dispute over sharing Cauvery river water with neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Khader said he would abide by the decision of the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the special assembly session convened in Bengaluru on Friday. Khader wanted the Union government to come to the aid of the state government, by filing an affidavit before the Supreme Court. Tirade against BJP Launching a tirade against principal opposition party BJP for staying away from the all-party meeting convened on Wednesday, Khader said, By not attending the meeting, the party has unmasked its real face before the people. Instead of expressing solidarity to show the strength of unity, the party has proven adamant, as really understood by the people. Though the BJP has 18 Lok Sabha members from the state, yet again they have failed to vent their anger against injustice being meted out to the state, at least by staging a token protest in front of the Parliament house. To a question on why Congress leader in Lok Sabha M Mallikarjun Kharge has kept mum on the issue, Khader sought to clarify, Kharge has already held talks with authorities concerned in this regard. A citizen group is asking a city board to discontinue a tax break for the Walnut Commons apartment complex. Helen Burns Sharp of Accountability for Taxpayer Money (ATM) said, "On Thursday at 2 p.m. in the City Council Building, the Chattanooga Downtown Redevelopment Corporation (CDRC) will be asked to approve a resolution aimed at allowing the Walnut Commons apartment complex to keep its tax-exempt status. "The owners currently do not pay city and county property taxes, including for schools. Their PILOT tax break amounts to $2,400,000 over a 14-year period (2012-2025). Our governments have already abated $1,000,000 and will lose an additional $1,400,000 in tax revenues if the tax break is allowed to continue. "ATM, a citizens public interest advocacy group, hired attorney John Konvalinka to research and answer the question of whether CDRC is obligated to pass this resolution and whether another city board, the HEB, is obligated to take title to the property. His conclusion is that this is a choice and not an obligation. ATM is requesting CDRC to exercise the right choice and place this upscale property on the tax rolls. "The members of the CDRC are the Mayor's Chief of Staff Stacy Richardson, City Finance Director Daisy Madison, City Council Chair Moses Freeman, David Dalton, and Julian Bell, III. "What the Walnut Commons owners are requesting is a whole new deal, an entirely new transaction. The HEB approved a PILOT agreement for the original local owners to build an affordable housing complex downtown. (It has never been affordable, but that is another story.) Shortly after occupancy, they "sold" the project to new owners in Nebraska. It was not part of the original deal for the LLC to purchase in the name of the HEB. Why would two city boards want to do back flips to get this done for the new owners so they don't have to pay taxes for schools, public safety, streets, etc.? "Earlier this week the City Council did a very good job of addressing public interest concerns in their discussions about the new Housing PILOT program. The tax-paying public, the school system and city and county deparments are counting on the CDRC to place the largest of the "old" PILOT properties on the tax rolls, beginning in 2017. "ATM submits that the Health Educational and Housing Facility Board of the City of Chattanooga (HEB) is not obligated to take title to the property upon which Walnut Commons LLCs project (Property) is located. The HEB has a choice as to whether to take title to the Property. Initially, in 2007, there was a lease between Chattanooga Downtown Redevelopment Corporation (CDRC) and Walnut Commons LLC (the 2007 Lease) which provided, among other provisions, for Walnut Commons to pay rent and for Walnut Commons to have the option to purchase the Property and terminate the 2007 Lease. "In 2016, Walnut Commons wished to exercise the option to terminate the 2007 Lease (as amended) and purchase the Property to stop paying rent to CDRC. Walnut Commons, as the Sublessee, requested the HEB, as the Sublessor, to ratify HEBs Chairmans execution of the Exercise of the Option to Purchase the Property. At the HEB meeting on February 24, 2016, ATM questioned the status of the title to the Property. This question was not addressed, considered, or answered at the meeting. As described below, the title to the property is still in the name of CDRC and the HEB is the Sublessor. There have been seven amendments to the 2007 Lease. A number of them were dated as an effective date which was before the actual date of execution (i.e, backdated). "A Limited Warranty Deed dated effective as of December 1, 2010 was signed on August 27, 2012. This backdated Limited Warranty Deed was registered in the Hamilton County Register of Deeds on August 27, 2012, conveying Walnut Commons interest in the Property to the HEB. The only interest Walnut Commons had was as Lessee of the 2007 Lease, as amended. As of December 1, 2010, the HEB leased to Walnut Commons the Property (the Sublease) as part of the PILOT process. "The Memoranda of Lease reflecting these transactions were recorded in the Register of Deeds on August 27, 2012. Paragraph 11.02 of the Sublease provides Walnut Commons an option to purchase the Property but the Sublease is terminated when purchased. What HEB and CDRC are being asked to do by Walnut Commons LLC is another transaction not contemplated by existing documents in order to prolong the PILOT and continue to be exempt from property taxes. This is a choice and not an obligation. ATM is requesting the CDRC exercise the right choice and place the Property on the tax rolls." The Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) has planned to set up a special squad after the gazette notification approval of the new rule from the Directorate of Municipal Administration to trace the people who dump the waste all over. Informing the House about the new set of rules in the general body meeting which was the continuation of the last meeting, which ended abruptly following the walk out staged by the opposition members, CMC Engineer Raghavendra said the squad would focus on the people who recklessly dump the waste in public places and impose spot fine. However, prior to the introduction of the stringent rule, announcements would be made. The gazette notification would be issued by 15 days and constant vigilance would be in place and boards would be put up at crucial junctions, he added. Sterilisation of dogs also came up for discussion and the survey to be taken up which would cost Rs 15,000. Raghavendra said a company from Pune in Maharastra has come forward to take up the task. The survey would be conducted in the morning and evening hours following certain yardsticks of the standard survey method. The sterilisation, de-worming and post-operative care for each male and female dog would cost Rs 590. The sterilisation would be taken up after the survey, said the official. Commissioner Manjunathaiah said the stray dog menace is disturbing every ward and the action to sterilise the dogs would be taken up immediately. Member Vasanti Shetty expressed dissatisfaction on spending nearly Rs 3 lakh for the maintenance of the water supply infrastructure. The commissioner said the pipe connections and other water connections are damaged frequently. He said that due to the national highway construction, the expenses are too high and the problems would persist until the completion of the national highway works, he added. Member Dinaker Shetty said the Mescom is totally irresponsible and the deep holes dug to put up the LED lamps on the ground have been left unattended. The holes are dangerous and the cattle die falling into it, he said. The Mescom official said that last year 76 works were completed and Rs 70 lakh each was released for two years for the purpose. The work of replacing the sodium lights with that of LED lights is underway, he added. The commissioner said the elaborated Under Ground Drainage (UGD) plan has been designed and rectification of existing ones have also been also incorporated in the design. Dinaker Shetty demanded that the NOC and the occupancy certificate for the houses should be given only if the applicant has taken UGD connection. Strict action should be taken as against the illegal UGD connections, he urged the civic body. The opposition members expressed their dissatisfaction over keeping them in dark over the construction of Vishweshwaraiah shopping complex. The members had staged a walk out in the last meeting expressing their objection to the issue. Following the exchange of a heated argument, the ruling Congress assured the House that it would forward the objections to the government. It also consented that the process would be taken up transparently henceforth. A section of legal experts on Thursday said the legislature has got the distinct freedom to decide on its proceedings, including passing resolutions against Supreme Court orders. However, such resolutions will put the legislature in direct conflict with the judiciary, which could complicate matters for the state government. The decision of the state Cabinet to defer further release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu seems to have set the stage for a confrontation with the Supreme Court if one goes by the arguments put forth by legal experts. A special session of the state legislature on Friday is expected to pass a resolution that Karnataka is not in a position to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu any further. Former law minister M C Nanaiah said that if the legislature decides not to release water to Tamil Nadu, it would not amount to contempt of court. While taking such decision, the legislature would have to explain the reasons for the stand. We can explain the low water levels in the Cauvery basin reservoirs to the House and the same could be reflected in the resolution to be passed by the legislature. We have to explain that the available water can only cater to the drinking needs of the Cauvery basin. As and when the inflow to the reservoirs increases, then the quantum of release of water could be increased, he said. Asked what the government can do after passing the resolution, Nanaiah said a copy of the resolution would have be presented to the Prime Minister or President of India. The mandate of the legislature can also be presented before the Supreme Court. In case someone petitions the court saying Karnataka has disobeyed the court order, Karnataka can always explain that it is mandated by the legislature not to release water. If at all the contempt procedure begins, then the notices would have to served to 300 legislators. In case there is a constitutional crisis, then the government may have to tender an apology. Without the consent of the President, no government can be dismissed. I do not think such a crisis would arise, he said. Ticklish situation Former Secretary-General of Lok Sabha Secretariat and political scientist Subhash C Kashyap said the legislature confronting the judiciary was a ticklish situation. Members of the state legislature have distinct freedom when it comes to the matter of expressing their views. But Supreme Court orders are the final word as far as the law is considered, Kashyap said. He said a way would have to be found for resolution of the conflict between the two constitutional functionaries. Senior advocate in the Supreme Court and former additional solicitor general of India K N Bhat said courts have no jurisdiction on the proceedings inside the legislature. The courts cannot punish the members or the Speaker on whatever happens inside the House. However, the legislature, by adopting the resolution, will be complicating the issue. The state government has to face the Supreme Court at its next hearing on September 27, Bhat said. Former advocate general B V Acharya said when there is a conflict between two constitutional bodies like the legislature and judiciary, the state government will be compelled to follow any one of them. The state can submit before the Supreme Court that it could not obey its orders as it was following the directive of the legislature, he said. Writers flay Centre Kannada writer Chandrashekar Patil, on Thursday, flayed the Centre for not having trust in the democratic system of governance and discriminating between the states, reports DHNS from Mandya. Participating in the protest being held by the Cauvery Raitha Hitharakshana Samiti near the Visvesvaraya Statue in te city, he said that the Supreme Courts order had been unfair to Karnataka. Writers K Marulasiddappa, C P Krishnakumar, former minister B T Lalitha Nayak, music director Hamsalekha, actor Mukhyamantri Chandru and others were present. Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said the Supreme Court order to release more Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu appears to be a conspiracy to bring a bad name to Bengaluru city. Bengaluru is a fast-growing city. Investors will hesitate to come to Bengaluru if it has no drinking water. So, the order appears to be a conspiracy to defame the city, he told reporters while staging a dharna along with Congress MPs from the state against the Supreme Court order to release water to Tamil Nadu, in front of the Gandhi statue at the Vidhana Soudha. The MPs also opposed the courts order directing the Centre to set up the Cauvery Management Board, saying it will be detrimental to the interests of farmers of the Cauvery basin. They demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modis intervention in resolving the issue. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met senior Congress leader S M Krishna at his residence in Sadashivanagar here and discussed the Cauvery issue. Krishna is learnt to have advised Siddaramaiah how to handle the situation and asked him to compensate farmers for the losses they have suffered due to crop failure. After the meeting, Krishna told the media that the Supreme Court ordered the water release despite a water crisis in the Cauvery basin. The government has, therefore, taken the right decision by deferring the release of water. The right decision at this juncture is to go against the court order, he added. Earlier, Siddaramaiah met Governor Vajubhai Vala at the Raj Bhavan and apprised him of the steps taken by the government on the Cauvery issue. Ministers T B Jayachandra, H C Mahadevappa and H S Mahadeva Prasad accompanied him. DH News Service Torrential rain accompanied by strong winds continued to pound the Mumbai Metropolitan Region on Thursday. Waterlogging and traffic jams in several areas slowed down the fact-paced commercial capital of the country. In the salt-pans in Vasai, more than 400 people were stranded as the water rose to alarming levels and gushed into over 100 to 125 houses. Twenty firemen of the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation and one boat was pressed into service, which rescued over 30 people, mainly senior citizens and ailing people. However, later, the water level started receding. The twin townships of Vasai Virar received 200 to 250 mm rainfall in two days. The low-lying areas of Vasai and Nalasopara were inundated and road traffic was badly affected. The Dahanu-Boisar belt too received good rain and in the past 24 hours, more than 300 to 350 mm rainfall was recorded. In Raigad district, Pen taluk received heavy rainfall, leaving several places flooded. The Kalyan-Dombivali area of Thane district received over 100 mm rainfall. Mumbai too was pounded by overnight rain. In the past 24 hours, Mumbai city recorded 84 mm rainfall, eastern suburbs 76 mm and western suburban 96 mm, according to the disaster management unit of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Water-logging was reported from Andheri-Goregaon on western suburbs and central Mumbai areas of Sion, Parel, Lalbaug and Hindmata. The Regional Meteorological Centres Colaba observatory recorded 145 mm rainfall, while Santacruz recorded 104 mm. Rain and showers are likely to occur at most places over Konkan-Goa and Madhya Maharashtra, in Marathwada, a few areas in the Gujarat region and isolated places in Saturashtra, read the weathermans forecast for Friday. During the next 24 hours, the city is expected to witness more moderate to heavy rain. At present, the city is witnessing massive traffic jams. To top it all, a stretch between Dadar and Sena Bhavan have 200 potholes, causing more inconvenience to the residents, private weather forecasting service Skymet Weather said. There were endless traffic delays on the Versova bridge along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, which joins Ghodbunder Road connecting Palghar and Thane districts. One side of the bridge is undergoing repair works. Public Health Minister Dr Deepak Sawant had to walk for two km to avoid the jam. This is an issue of the people," he said, adding that he along with Public Works Minister Eknath Shinde would meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to resolve the matter. A woman in Tamil Nadu has asked the government authorities to let her euthanise her mentally ill 18-year-old son, reigniting the debate on euthanasia. The police said 51-year-old Manimegalai, a widowed mother of two sons hailing from Coimbatores Sukarwarpet area, approached District Collector Hariharan to obtain permission to put down her son Jai Ganesh, who has been causing trouble for her neighbours. Manimegalai said her second son had a mysterious illness when he was 14 and developed serious mental issues. Jai Ganesh began walking in the house in the nude and began inflicting injuries on himself either with pieces of wood or with a knife. Manimegalai admitted her son at the Kilpauk mental hospital in Chennai, but authorities there sent him home since they were short of orderlies. A daily wage labourer, Manimegalai had to feed three children and therefore had no means to look after her mentally ill son after her husbands death. As a final option, she approached the district collector asking for his permission to euthanise Jai Ganesh. The district authorities refused her request and sent her for counselling. The M M Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar Hatya Virodhi Sangha of Dharwad has stated that Home Minister G Parameshwara had conducted a meeting with them in Bengaluru recently and disclosed that right-wing activists were involved in the killing of research scholar Kalburgi. Informing this to media persons here on Thursday, Sangha representatives Basavaraj Sulibhavi and others said that they had taken out a protest to mark the first death anniversary of Kalburgi on August 30 in Dharwad. Thinkers and activists had set a 30-day deadline to the government to crack this case and book the assassins who are still at large. Following this, the home minister conducted a meeting with the activists and apprised them of the CID investigation. Sulibhavi said Parameshwara told them that the CID had begun investigation into the incident from several angles and zeroed in on a few right-wing organisations for hatching a conspiracy to eliminate Kalburgi. It is suspected that Dr Veerendra Tawade, arrested in Pune a couple of months ago, is the mastermind in the killing of Kalburgi. Efforts are on to get more information from Tawade, said Sulibhavi, quoting the home minister. The Congress top brass on Thursday gave its green signal to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to induct former Minister K J George into his Cabinet. Siddaramaiah met AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka affairs Digvijaya Singh and discussed re-induction of George. George, who had accompanied the Chief Minister, told reporters, the party gave approval to my re-induction. It is left to the Chief Minister when to re-induct me. George had resigned on July 18 after a court directed the police to register an FIR against him and two others in the DySP M K Ganapathi suicide case. The CID recently gave a clean chit to George. India on Thursday stepped up offensive against Pakistan saying the dastardly Uri attack was one among a series of terror strikes for which all logistical help originated from across the border. New Delhis strong remarks came at the second meeting of the high level group of experts to strengthen the Saarc anti-terrorism mechanism here in the presence of Pakistani officials. Delegations from other Saarc countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka were also present. In his opening remarks, Director of Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma asked Saarc nations to strictly enforce sanctions against terrorist entities and individuals. India has been maintaining that Pakistan was allowing terrorists freedom and not taking action despite international sanctions. Mincing no words on the Uri terror strike in which 18 soldiers were killed last Sunday, Sharma said: 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. Pakistan has not sent its top security officials, including its Intelligence Bureau chief Aftab Sultan, while other countries have sent senior officials with the Maldives delegation being led by its deputy minister for home affairs. India sees Pakistans decision to send two counsellors from High Commission in New Delhi as an effort to shield their top officials from being cornered on charges of aiding terrorism. Acknowledging that terrorism has emerged as a big challenge, Sharma said no country can tackle terrorism on its own. Close cooperation and sharing of real-time intelligence are imperative, he said. Talking about how terror outfits use easily accessible technology to attack both soft and hard targets, he pointed out that self-radicalisation over Internet and social media, and spread of influence of Islamic State all over has added new dimensions to the threat. An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Bandipora district of north Kashmir on Thursday. Sources said the gunfight broke out after security forces cordoned off a house located in the forests in Chapran, Gujjarpatti, in Bandipora, 65 km from here, early on Monday following information about the presence of a heavily armed group of militants. The trapped militants fired at the search party, which retaliated. In the gunfight, one unidentified militant was killed, while two to three of his accomplices managed to escape from the encounter site, a source said. Deputy Superintendent Police (Operations) Bandipora Murtaza Mir confirmed the killing of one militant and said the identity of the slain militant was being ascertained. Reports said following the encounter, clashes erupted in the area. Security forces resorted to teargas shelling to foil a protest by villagers who were demanding the release of the body of the militant. We demand the body of the person who has been killed in the gunfight, a local told DH over phone. Four encounters between militants and security forces have been reported in the past three days in the north Kashmir areas. Two operations were on in the Nowgam sector of Kupwara district and Lachipora area of Baramulla, where two infiltration bids were foiled by the army. The latest encounter comes four days after fidayeen militants attacked a strategic army installation in Uri area near the Line of Control, killing 18 soldiers and injuring 19. Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy said on Thursday that the government had decided to file criminal cases against vice chancellors of three universities, registrars and finance officers over irregularities and instances of corruption. However, he declined to name the persons involved. He said that a government order to this effect would be issued in two days. The minister told a press conference here that the charges had been proved through investigation. He said that he had given instructions to all universities to submit annual reports of their activities and financial transactions to the government. Rayareddy said that the government was committed to maintaining transparency in the appointment of vice chancellors and syndicate members. On the rejection of the governments proposal to appoint Isro chief Prof Kirankumar as head of the search committee for new vice chancellors to Visvesvaraya Technological University by Governor Vajubai Vala, the minister said the government would request the governor again to consider the proposal. He said the government was planning to bring in a uniform education Act for universities to maintain a uniform calendar of events for admissions, fees, exams, evaluations and announcement of results. Rayareddy said an action plan had been prepared for upgrading teaching and non-teaching staff, besides providing infrastructure facilities in all government first grade colleges. An amount of Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore was needed for this and the government was planning to seek funds from the World Bank, the minister said. DH News Service Kenna Stock, chief executive officer of Harbin Clinic, Michele Taylor, superintendent of Calhoun City Schools, and John Thomas, chief energy services officer of Dalton Utilities, were sworn in as the newest members of the board of directors at Georgia Northwestern Technical College.Pete McDonald, president of GNTC, swore in the three new board of directors members at a meeting held on the Gordon County Campus in Calhoun.Ms. Stock has been with Harbin Clinic in Rome since 1999.Before becoming chief executive officer, she served as executive director, chief operating officer, and business office director. Prior to her roles at Harbin Clinic, Ms. Stock resided in St. Louis and served as reimbursement manager for Esse Health and as administrative director at Metro Imaging. She received her bachelors degree from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. and her masters degree from Shorter University in Rome.Ms. Taylor was assistant superintendent of Calhoun City Schools prior to becoming superintendent in 2007. Her professional education experience also includes serving as adjunct professor at Berry College, Lincoln Memorial University, Piedmont College, and Valdosta State University; principal, Calhoun Elementary School; improvement initiative coordinator, Georgia Leadership Institute; Instructional Coordinator, Kingston Elementary School; media specialist and classroom teacher, Calhoun Elementary School and Calhoun Middle School. Ms. Taylor earned a specialist and doctoral degree from University of Sarasota, a masters degree from University of West Georgia, and a bachelors degree from Shorter University.Mr. Thomas was the manager of Electric and Gas Engineering and Operations at Dalton Utilities from 2008-10 before becoming chief energy services officer. He previously served in the U.S. Navy as electrical division officer on the USS Carl Vinson in Newport News, Va., and as gunnery division officer and damage control division officer on the USS Thomas S. Gates in Pascagoula, Ms. He received his bachelors degree from Auburn University. Mr. Thomas military training consisted of entry level officer leadership training, 30 hours of basic management training, security, offensive personal confrontations and crowd control."Georgia Northwesterns board serves both in a community advisory capacity and in a limited administrative capacity, performing certain oversight responsibilities as designated by State Board policy. The local board is comprised of 16 members from the business and industrial communities from nine counties in the service area (Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties). State Board Policy defines the role and responsibilities of the local board. Board members are selected because of their experience, ability, and dedication to deal with issues that relate to the mission of occupational education and are without contractual, employment, or personal financial investment in the school," officials said. Pakistans unabated push to violence in Kashmir through non-state actors is likely to shadow the three-day BJP conclave here from September 23, with party leaders anticipating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will respond to Sundays Uri terror strike that has evoked strong public reaction. Modi, for the first time after the Uri Army base attack, will address the public at Calicut beach on Saturday, the penultimate day of the BJP national council meet. The party leaders are also looking up to the prime minister to give them an insight into the government's thinking on his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif being unfazed post Uri attack. Instead, Nawaz Sharif is seeking a United Nations backed enquiry into Kashmiri militant commander Burhan Wani's killing by the Indian Army, which has precipitated violence in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP, under pressure from its cadres not to come across as a soft state on national security as they perceive UPA was, has so far officially not articulated its political response to the latest Pakistan-sponsored terrorist act though Modi and party president Amit Shah had tweeted post incident reactions. In his condolence message, the prime minister had stated that the perpetrators would not be spared. Except for hawkish individual reactions such as "for one tooth complete jaw," the party leaders have largely toed prime ministers line and stated that the government was convincing the world to declare Pakistan a "pariah state," given its official use of terror as a diplomatic tool. The party conclave, dedicated to celebrating the birth centenary of its ideologue and former Jan Sangh chief Deendayal Upadhyaya, would adopt only one resolution indicating its stand on the terror attack at the army base that left 18 jawans dead, said BJP sources. Amit Shah's inaugural address will broach the national security aspect and cross border terrorism, another party leader stated. This is to counter Opposition's attempt to derive political mileage in poll bound states, especially Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand. Bahujan Samajwadi Party chief Mayawati has already attacked the Modi government for not being firm on handling Pakistan. It may be because a large chunk of recruitments to the armed forces and paramilitary forces take place from these states. An explanation is also required since the party had sought to espouse nationalist fervour with its Tiranga Yatra to mark the countrys 70 years of independence. The party will also deliberate on its welfare agenda for the poor to counter the anti-Dalit tag that the Opposition has given it. Most of the issues with the government over the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary have been sorted out, Chief Justice of India (CJI) T S Thakur said on Thursday. His statement comes close on the heels of his breakfast meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week. Most of the things have been sorted out. Some issues are there which need to be discussed. I think may be in a week or two, these issues will be sorted out. Efforts are on..., he said. The CJI was talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event when he was asked about the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP). He said the long-pending MoP to govern appointment of judges to higher judiciary is expected to be ready in a week or two. The MoP came out of the Supreme Court verdict quashing the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act and upholding the collegium system of appointments to higher judiciary. The government had recently acceded to some demands of the collegium, including removing the cap on the number of jurists and lawyers, who can be appointed to the apex court as judges. On Saturday, Justice Thakur drove to Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar and greeted Modi on his 66th birthday. Non-government organisations on Thursday wrote to Union Environment Minister Anil Dave demanding release of complete biosafety data on the Genetically Modified (GM) mustard. They also sought four months time to comment on the GM oilseed. We urge you to extend the public feedback time to 120 days, to get the regulators 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, said the NGOs in a letter to Dave. They also wanted feedback to be collected in all forms without any prescribed formats. More than 90 non-government outfits and some prominent citizens associated with civil society movements are among the signatories. On September 5, the green ministry published a report on the food and environment safety of GM mustard developed by the Delhi University, seeking public comments in a prescribed format. The report suggested GM mustard would not cause any ecological damage and is superior to the conventional mustard varieties being cultivated in India. Scientists at Delhi University created three genetically engineered varieties of mustard, which they claimed, would provide better yield than conventional varieties. The claims were questioned by the NGOs, which also raised objections towards the GMOs carrying a herbicide tolerant gene. While scientists observed the herbicide tolerant gene was used only as a marker and did not have any functional role, the anti-GM lobby did not believe the developers. We are also alarmed at the non-scientific, opaque and deceptive processes being adopted by the regulators in the name of collecting public feedback on GM mustard. Only 30 days of public feedback time has been given, without placing the biosafety dossier in the public domain. There are also restrictions on how such feedback is to be given, they wrote in the letter. Ignoring widespread protests, newly appointed Samajwadi Party (SP) state unit president Shivpal Singh Yadav continued axing supporters of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. According to SP sources here, Shivpal issued show-cause notices to three party legislators and four SP nominees for next years Assembly elections, seeking explanation for raising a banner of revolt against party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadavs decision to remove Akhilesh as the president of the partys state unit. A list of the leaders who had taken part in the demonstration in front of Shivpal and Mulayams residences in support of Akhilesh is being prepared....some more leaders may face action, a Shivpal loyalist told DH. At least a dozen leaders of youth wings may be shown the door, he added. SP sources said the expulsions could trigger a fresh crisis within the party. The party has been facing unprecedented dissent following action against the supporters of Akhilesh and SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav. A large number of party office-bearers at the district level have sent in their resignations. The situation is quite alarming in Azamgarh, Budaon, Mainpuri and Allahabad....several senior leaders have resigned, said a SP leader, considered to be close to Ram Gopal. Those who have come out in the open against Shivpal included district panchayat functionaries, village pradhans, leaders of student wings and block-level office bearers of the party. Some leaders have even written to Mulayam in blood, seeking reinstatement of Akhilesh as the state unit chief. Shivpal had earlier expelled MLCs Sunil Singh, Anand Bhadauria and Sanjay Lathar and four presidents of the partys youth wings on charges of anti-party activities. He had also ousted Ram Gopals nephew and MLC Arvind Pratap Yadav from the party over charges of land grabbing and patronising the illegal liquor mafia. Shivpal ruled out any leniency towards these leaders, saying indiscipline would not be tolerated under any circumstances. The party will be strengthened by their exit, he said. If it is true that culture is a vehicle of international understanding and those promoting it are its ambassadors, then Alice Boner, indeed, deserves to be called an Ambassador of Indian culture, this is what Alfred Wuerfel, German photographer, said about his Swiss friend and artist in 1979. However, there is little information available on the contributions Boner has made in promoting Indian performing and classical arts. Acknowledging that there was a need to recognise her efforts, the National Museum collaborated with Rietberg Museum and Alice Boner Institute, Varanasi and has brought to the city a two-month long exhibition Alice from Switzerland: A Visionary Artist and Scholar across Two Continents which narrates the life story of the nonagenarian through her photographs, sculptures, drawings and sketches. She has left a huge and unique photographic archive. What makes it so special is its diverse and manifold content. Alice not only took or collected photographs of historic buildings and landscapes; she also took photographs of historic monuments for her research on Indian temple architecture, curator Johannes Beltz tells Metrolife. The Padma Bhushan recipients association with India began in 1926 when she met dancer Uday Shankar at one of his performances in Zurich an encounter that resonated deeply with her. It was with him she first came here in February 1930 (for eight months) to help Shankar raise money to build his dance troupe, which they eventually did after several obstacles. The troupe that finally came into being consisted of 11 members, including Shankars youngest brother, Ravi Shankar, the renowned sitar player. When she came back in 1935, she had no intention of staying here. She wanted to go back to Europe, but the looming war made that impossible. So she found a house at Assi Sangam (Varanasi) in 1936, and thus started soaking herself in the vibrant, spiritual culture of India. She is best remembered for supporting and building Shankars troupe, but its her initiatives to investigate and revive Kathakali, at a time when the classical dance form was highly forgotten, that need to be recognised. The exhibition illuminates this aspect through a series of photographs which she used as a tool to document the decline of the art form, . Her photographic archive is also a kind of visual inventory of her work, social relations, and her biography, points out Beltz. She used photography as a departing point for her own research drawing on them and using them for further sketches. Born in Legnano, Italy, Boner grew up in an open-minded environment where her parents supported her decision to study art. Her formative education was such that she learned to look and draw art as geometrical diagrams. This characteristic of her artistic practice reflects from her early sketches, as well as, paintings of Goddess Kali from her later years. In these works, symmetrical lines have divided the canvas in equal segments, a feature quite ubiquitous to all her works. She employed similar technique in exploring temple structures in India. The discovery that temples have certain geometrical scheme and can be studied in terms of line of energy was made at the caves of Ellora. Alice sensed that Ellora was to be of primary importance for any understanding of art... From then on, Alice systematically explored temple structures in India. She drew outlines of sculptures repeatedly and realistically and reduced them to their basic form, reads the catalogue. Bringing together a strict geometrical perspective into an analysis of a sculpture, Beltz says, Was definitely one of her major contributions in the field of art history. However, he is quick to add that while she is considered to be generous and one of the foremost patrons of Indian artistes and performers, there is another, even more, important detail associated with her life. She was one of the first scholars who studied original Sanskrit texts and used them for her studies. Together with Pandit Sharma she translated the Shilpaprakasha, a manual on temple architecture, into English. She published original sources (manuscripts) about the sun temple in Konarak and her translation of the Vastusutra Upanishad was published by Bettina Baumer posthumously, he says. This combination of geometry, field work at the archaeological sites, and philological research is definitely her major contribution to field of Indian arts, he adds. Alice from Switzerland: A Visionary Artist and Scholar across Two Continents can be viewed at the National Museum till October 30. The Supreme Court on Thursday granted Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) a week to respond to Nestle Indias plea to permit it to destroy about 550 tonnes of recalled stock of Maggi noodles, which have passed their shelf life. A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan posted the matter for September 30. In an application, Nestle said the storage of such a huge quantity of noodles at 39 locations across the country may lead to a health hazard. Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Maggi, said earlier too they had destroyed 38,000 tonnes of noodles in the incinerators of the notified cement plants. We have followed the due process agreed between the FSSAI and the company, Salve said. But the counsel for the food regulator said destruction of stocks as destruction of evidence was also the subject matter of two petitions pending in the apex court. The counsel sought a week to seek instruction and file a reply to Nestle Indias plea. A special session of the Karnataka legislature is expected to pass a unanimous resolution on Friday that the state is constrained to release more Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The resolution may also explain the severe shortage in the reservoirs of the Cauvery basin, which is forcing the legislature to take such a stand. The Assembly and the Council are scheduled to meet at 11 am and the Cauvery row is the only subject on the agenda of the day-long session. The three major political parties the Congress, BJP and the JD(S) are expected to take a unanimous stand against releasing water to Tamil Nadu despite the Supreme Court order. The state Cabinet on Wednesday had decided to take the legislature route to express its inability to release water to the neighbouring state, following the apex courts directive to Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu every day from September 21 to 27. If sources in the government are to be believed, the state stopped releasing water to Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. However, the government has been on guard when it comes to backing its claim by releasing relevant data. Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad said he had not fixed any time frame for Fridays discussions. Once the discussions conclude, I will put the resolution to vote for adoption. In all probability, the session will conclude on Friday, he said. According to sources, once the resolution is adopted, the government may submit before the apex court that it could not implement its order as the legislature had mandated it not to release water because of paucity. The available water is hardly sufficient for drinking and therefore, it is not possible to release water for irrigation activities in Tamil Nadu. The Congress has issued a whip to its members to mandatorily attend Fridays session, while the BJP has given oral instructions that attendance is compulsory. All the JD(S) members are also expected to participate in the session. The BJP has come under criticism for boycotting Wednesdays all-party meeting convened by the chief minister. The BJP, like the JD(S), has been suggesting that water should not be released to Tamil Nadu. Not releasing water However, till Wednesday, Siddaramaiah had not spoken in terms of not releasing water. Soon after the government decided to defer the release of water, BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa said his party legislators would attend the legislature session. Stick to stand Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar said the BJP would stick to its stand that the government should not release water to Tamil Nadu. But the party would not hesitate to expose the failures of the government in protecting the interest of the state in the court, he said. Earlier in the day, JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda called up BJP leaders Yeddyurappa, Shettar and K S Eshwarappa and urged them to back the Cauvery issue. A high alert has been sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas on Thursday after a group of men, appeared to be armed and wearing Pathani suits, were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district. The sighting by two schoolchildren has prompted massive combing operations by multiple agencies. An aerial surveillance has been mounted even as intelligence agencies like the Research & Analysis Wing and the Intelligence Bureau are gleaning information from their assets. The Coast Guard has enhanced patrolling along the Mumbai coast, while the marine police have beefed up security measures along the creeks and important shore assets. Uran is about 50 km from downtown Mumbai and is of immense strategic importance because of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, the biggest container terminal in India; vital bases of the navys Western Naval Command (WNC) like INS Tunir, the missiles and weapons storage facility of the navy, INS Abhimanyu, the training facility of the elite marine commandos and a facility of the ONGC, besides several companies. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre at Trombay is not far away from Uran. Two students from Uran Education Societys school first spotted the suspects and told their teachers and principal, who informed the local police. Some reports said that the men were wearing black Pathani suits and had their faces covered. Officials of the WNC and the Maharashtra Police confirmed the development. There is a massive security build-up. The information cannot be taken lightly in the wake of incidents like attacks on the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot, the Army camp in the Uri sector and the 26/11 attacks, an official of the State Intelligence Department told Deccan Herald. According to a report, five to six persons were sighted in Pathani suits and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks. WNC has expeditiously reacted to the situation by initiating an alert and informing all the coastal security stakeholders. Searches and other actions as per procedure have been initiated, WNC spokesperson Commander Rahul Sinha said. The Navy is liaising with the police. Two students have said they had seen suspicious-looking men in Uran. Following the information, multiple agencies are probing it, Director General of Police Satish Mathur said. On Friday, he will submit a report to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K P Bakshi. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is the Home Minister and currently on an official visit to the US, has been briefed on the matter. We have taken all measures. Our request to people is to be on alert and not panic or believe in rumours, Minister of State for Home Deepak Kesarkar said. Alert at Karwar base A high security alert has been sounded at the Sea Bird naval base in Karwar, Uttara Kannada district. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday started examining Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugtis request seeking political asylum in India. The request was forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs to MHA, official sources said. The final call on the plea, which was filed by Bugti at the Permanent Indian Mission in Geneva on Tuesday, will be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The last time India granted an asylum request was in 1959 to the Dalai Lama. Bugti, who fled Pakistan to Geneva via Afghanistan in 2010, is presently based in Switzerland where he runs his Baloch Republican Party, but without official authorisation from the Swiss government. Sources said Bugti, grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006, will have to undergo verification before he is granted an Indian ID card and travel papers. The biggest baby and maternity expo in the south is coming to Chattanooga on Saturday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m. at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Babypalooza is designed to connect participants with resources, services and boutiques in Chattanooga to help with the newest member of the family. Erlangers Womens Health Services will have booths promoting the many Erlanger services available to new and expectant mothers. In addition, the Erlanger Womens Health Services team will be available to help guide and prepare new and expectant mothers on an array of pre-and postnatal health topics. Representatives from various Womens Health Services departments will be on-hand providing health information a variety of topics including: Tennessees First and Chattanoogas Only Baby Friendly Hospital Life Force Air Medical Baby Transport Breastfeeding 101 Preparing for Baby Prenatal Classes Safe Sleep for Infants My Room at Home High Risk OB Ask an OB OB Emergency Childrens Hospital at Erlanger UT Erlanger Urology Mens Health Dads attending should make plans to stop by the UT Erlanger Urology Daddys Den. This area, designed especially with dads in mind, will feature recliners, College Game Day streaming on large flat-screen TVs, tailgating snacks, corn hole, as well as mens health tips for men in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. Babies-r-Us will be there with products on display. Participants will be able to see and demo the most popular car seats, strollers, diapers and more. There will also be a nursery design center with cribs, bassinets and gliders. Guests will also be able to start a registry at the Babies-R-Us area and receive a gift bag while supplies last. There will be an area focusing on natural and organic parenting methods and health resources. Guests will be able to connect to local doulas, lactation consultants and babywearing educators. Babypalooza is a celebration of life. Its a big baby shower with raffles, complimentary samples, coupons and interactive baby shower games. Babypalooza is free but parents are encouraged to register at http://www.babypaloozatour.com A road network of 4,315 km will be developed in the third phase of the Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project (KSHIP), Public Works Minister H C Mahadevappa has said. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the third phase at the Vidhana Soudha here on Thursday. Mahadevappa said that 2,795 km of state highways and 1,520 km of major district roads (MDRs) would be developed at Rs 3,500 crore. The government has sanctioned Rs 2,710 crore for state highways and Rs 790 crore for the MDRs. In 2016-17, the PWD will develop 1,400 km of roads at Rs 1,150 crore. Our objective is to improve connectivity between taluks and districts and inter-taluk and inter-district roads, he said. The third phase also includes road-widening. Karnataka has a core road network of 24,226 km and the government is in the process of strengthening the same, he added. In the first phase of the KSHIP, the government developed a road network of 3,390 km. The second phase saw the development of 3,134 km at Rs 3,488 crore. The department is also working on converting the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway into a six-lane road and will complete the project by the end of this year. The 706-km road between Bidar and Chamarajanagar, the second longest state highway in the country, has also reached the final stage, the minister added. On the occasion, six engineers each from the last three years who have excelled in their service were honoured with the Sir M Visvesvaraya award. DH News Service The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has refrained from numbering sites in Kempegowda Layout to prevent applicants lobbying for particular sites. A BDA engineer told DH on condition of anonymity that though sites were already marked with stones, numbering was not done. When we marked site numbers in Arkavathy Layout, applicants lobbied for their preferred sites. We do not want this to happen in case of Kempegowda Layout, he said. 5,000 sites marked The BDA has marked all the 5,000 sites with stones. Sites of 20x30 ft dimension have around nine-metre-wide roads while 12- and 15-metre roads run along 30x40 and 40x60 sites, respectively. Sites of 50x80 ft have been marked on wider roads. Civic amenity sites have been distributed across the layout. The BDA has planned to create 20 parks of various dimensions in the layout. The work on roads, drains and culverts has been completed. This will ensure that no sites are left vacant citing lack of infrastructure facilities unlike in the previous BDA layouts, the officer said. Many people visit the layout every day to assess the status. They enquire with officials and ground workers on the details about the sites. That is the reason why we have not numbered any site. The crowd doubles on weekends and the layout resembles a picnic spot. The crowd is mixed and includes families and groups of men in SUVs. Some real estate agents have also frequented the layout, the official said. Final notification in Oct The final list of 5,000 people who will get sites in the first phase of Kempegowda Layout will be announced by the first week of October, Mahendra Jain, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, said on Thursday. The site allotment committee is finalising details of the allottees. The BDA has received 1,100 objections. We are closely checking the objections before announcing the final list. After this, work will start to develop and sell 5,000 more sites under the second phase, an official said. British Deputy High Commissioner Dominic McAllister and his team engaged with Whitefield stakeholders, British nationals and civil society groups at Whitefield on Thursday as part of their outreach visit. Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of Britain Meets Business @ Whitefield event at the VR Bengaluru, McAllister said: Whitefield is a unique part of Bengaluru which has evolved into a vibrant community and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hub. UK firms such as ARM, Tesco, Test & Verification Systems UK (TVS UK) and Essential Energy have chosen to set up shop here. Many British expats have also made Whitefield their home. During his company calls to Mu Sigma and Essential Energy, McAllister highlighted opportunities for firms to tie up with the UK at the upcoming India-UK Tech Summit, to be held in New Delhi from November 7-9. McAllister later told DH: The summit will see five large delegations from UK and 20-plus businesses taking part. It will focus on healthcare, life sciences, advanced engineering and science and innovation. We will travel to Bengaluru from November 9 to 11 to strengthen ties with the city-based businesses and research centres. McAllister added: UK and India are an unbeatable combination for enormously successful partnerships. UK is committed to India, Karnataka and the city. We plan to hold outreach visits to Peenya and Electronics City soon. He also interacted with members of Whitefield civil society Whitefield Rising wherein issues related to education and urban development were discussed. The High Court on Thursday quashed the proceedings against 11 BBMP health officers, saying that Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) does not have the jurisdiction to receive a complaint against them. Justice Anand Byrareddy quashed the FIR on the ground that BMTF can investigate and receive complaints pertaining to building violations and not with regard to health officers. Udayshankar, a social activist, had lodged an FIR with the BMTF, complaining that the health officers had claimed allowances from the BBMP for a post-graduation (PG) course in public health in an unrecognised college. The medical officers had submitted that they had taken up the course at Padmashree School of Health. Following an enquiry into the matter, the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) had written a letter to BMTF, noting that the said college and the PG course were not recognised by RGUHS. The FIR was filed against Dr Vedavathi B J, Dr Sujatha S, Dr Devika Rani, Dr G Dhanalakshmi, Dr Komala K R, Dr N Bhagyalakshmi, Dr Nayanatara N Patil, Kalavathi Devi L, Dr Sunitha B and Dr Sandhya Rani. Two scientists from the city have won the prestigious NASI-Scopus Young Scientist award, 2016. Amit Singh, an assistant professor at the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, IISc, earned the recognition for his extensive research on understanding tuberculosis. Dr Jaydeb Sarkar, an associate professor at the Indian Statistical Institute, Bengaluru, has been recognised for his work in the field of mathematics. Singhs research focuses on understanding how mycobacterium tuberculosis causes the tuberculosis infection that affects around 30% of the worlds population and why its treatment requires six to 12 months of multi-drug therapy. We developed cutting edge tools, which can precisely tell us about the biological state of TB bacteria inside human cells. We have collaborated with chemists at IISER, Pune, and Scripps Research Institute, Florida, USA, and developed several drugs to target drug-resistant TB bacteria, he said. Talking about his research, Sarkar said: I try to explore the relationship between four different mathematical traditions: operator theory, commutative algebra, complex geometry and several complex variables. Elseviers Scopus, the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature, and the NASI instituted the NASI-Scopus Young Scientist Awards in 2006 to recognise Indias contribution to world science. The awards are given in nine areas of science, technology and medicine and carry a citation, plaque and a cash prize of Rs 75,000. Chief Fred Fletcher, Community Champion with La Paz Chattanooga's Executive Director Stacy Johnson Latino Leader of the Year, Carmen Quezada Hutson Chattanooga's Choice, Erwin Ovalle La Paz Chattanooga's Executive Director Stacy Johnson and Board Chair Rick Mathis with Alondra Gomez, Emerging Leader Previous Next Twelve individuals were honored for their ongoing commitment and the impact theyre making daily in the Greater Chattanooga community at the 5th Annual Latino Leadership Luncheon hosted by La Paz Chattanooga, officials said. The luncheon, which was presented by the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust, featured a keynote message from Mike Suco, a Cuban-American who is vice president of the East Region of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc. The luncheon was held on Sept. 19 at the Chattanooga Trade and Convention Center.In his presentation, Mr. Suco discussed the importance of his Latino heritage and shared his parents story of immigrating from Cuba to the United States in early 1960s, establishing themselves in the community while overcoming cultural barriers. His main takeaway point for those in attendance was to continue to lead by example, as he witnessed through the hard work and dedication of his immigrant parents.Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke also was on hand to welcome those in attendance. Innovation happens when people who are different come together and collaborate when they create something new with their unique and different backgrounds, said Mayor Berke. This program today is one big example of how cultural inclusion has proven to be innovative and helpful in broadening the prosperity of our community.La Paz Chattanooga recognized the following local Latino leaders for their achievements in both their professional and in their volunteer service in the community:Andrea Cribben-Acosta,Hamilton County Juvenile Court and Founder of Olivencia & Cribben Law Office, LLCJuan Antonio,Chattanooga State Community CollegeXavier Cotto,Tennessee Valley AuthorityVivianne Fernandez,First Tennessee BankCarmen Quezada HutsonPartnership for Families, Children AdultsMiriam Lemon,St Josephs ClinicAlex Loza,The Loza Studio and Atelier of Figurative ArtsAndres Miranda,Pastor of Light for the Nations ChurchJuan Alonso SantillanaChattanooga State Community CollegeIn addition to the recognition of these nine individuals, five special awards were also handed out in the following categories:2016 Latino Of The Year Award recipient:Carmen Quezada Hutson, Partnership for Families, Children and AdultsAward: The Latino Leader of the Year Award was given to Ms. Hutson for the incredible commitment and service over the course of many years she has given in her assistance to and advocacy for families through her work at the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults. She is known to lead with a humble heart, caring deeply about the community.2016 Chattanooga's Choice Award recipient:Erwin Ovalle, MCS, Nerdwebs and OvallesAward: The Chattanoogas Choice Award, given to the Latino leader honoree who received the most number of public votes from the local community, was given to Mr. Ovalle. Several people commented on the unselfish level of service that he provides to so many people around him without seeking any recognition in return. He uses his business ventures, including Management Customer Services and Ovalles Catering, to help fund various projects in the community to help those in need.2016 Community Champion Award recipient:Chief Fred Fletcher, Chattanooga Police DepartmentAward: The Latino Community Champion Award was given to Chattanooga Police Chief, Fred Fletcher, for his continued efforts in reaching out to better serve and protect the local Latino community. From the moment he first took office, Chief Fletcher has made it a point to reach out to La Paz Chattanooga and other organizations to consider ways the department can improve their service to the community. And through the implementation of several significant outreach projects, including the Hispanic Citizens Police Academy and R.I.S.E. (Refugee and Immigrant Safety Education), he has shown to follow through on his determination to make the Chattanooga Police Department more inclusive and culturally sensitive.2016 Emerging Latino Leader Of The Year Award recipient:Alondra Gomez, Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Chattanooga StateAward: Ms. Gomez was honored with the Emerging Latino Leader of the Year Award, and was given a $1,000 Anne Shelton Memorial Scholarship for the pursuit of her educational aspirations. Beyond having a desire to achieve academically, Ms. Gomezs impact has also extended to her immediate social circle. She has been a student leader in the newly formed Tennessee Educational Equity Coalition, honored as a Champion State Gold and National Bronze medalist for her efforts in SkillsUSA, and has served as a Cultural Ambassador and International Achiever at Chattanooga State Community College.2016 Anne Shelton Memorial Volunteer Of The Year Award recipient:Olga de Klein, community advocate and artistAward: The Anne Shelton Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award, which is named in honor of the memory of a former, long-time La Paz volunteer, was given to Olga de Klein, who has spent countless hours of service to La Paz Chattanooga. Ms. de Klein spent over 120 hours using her artistic skills to teach art theory and design to the women involved in La Pazs Entre Nosotras (Amongst Us Women) womens peer-to-peer fellowship and leadership development program. In addition, she has used her positions on several community boards to advocate for and include the voice of the local Latino community, and she has gone above and beyond to assist the La Paz staff with their special event and fundraising initiatives throughout 2015 and 2016.Our 2016 Latino Leadership Award winners have been an inspiration to Chattanoogas growing Latino community and have been valued partners to La Paz, said Stacy Johnson, executive director of La Paz Chattanooga. We are honored to give much deserved recognition to our award winners and thank them for their leadership and dedication. They are truly making Chattanooga a better place.For more information about La Paz Chattanooga or their annual Latino Leadership Awards Luncheon, contact Christian Patino, director of operations at La Paz Chattanooga, at 423-624-8414. By Max Blau and Paul Vercammen 24 August 2016 (CNN) A decade ago, Ben Ray had hoped to ease into retirement at his two-story wooden house nestled in the heart of the Sequoia National Forest. But the 79-year-old central California general contractor, who built homes for his future neighbors in Sierra Nevada Mountain communities such as Ponderosa and Pierpont, and his wife, Michelle, havent had the luxury of relaxation. Thats because hundreds of once verdant pine and cedar trees, stretching far beyond their 5 acre spread, have perished at a rate so fast hes lost count of the carnage. I dont know what to do, said Ray, a rugged heavyset man whose eyes wet behind his tinted sunglasses as he speaks of the destruction. Its just devastating to see our forest dying like this. The pine and cedar trees that have died on Ben and Michelles property are among the 66 million trees in California that have died since 2010, according to the US Forest Service. Over the past six years, thousands of fires have raged throughout the states lush forests, turning tens of millions of pine trees a charred shade of black. The disastrous drought conditions in California have turned forests into tinderboxes, resulting in record levels of tree deaths during that time. Its gone from critical to catastrophic, said Don Florence, emergency planner for Mariposa County, nearly 200 miles northwest of the Ray household. If you drive around here, youll be at a loss over the pine trees. This isnt a disaster affecting us tomorrow, or the next day. It means change that will affect the community for multiple generations. Now the lasting effects of a five-year drought have opened the door for the bark beetle, an indigenous insect the size of a grain of rice, to feast on pine trees left virtually defenseless in the wake of a water shortage. [] In a heartbeat, this could be gone, just gone, he said. Our home, our future, gone. [more] August 2016 (Climate Central) Torrential rains drenched south Louisiana in mid August, with parts of the state receiving nearly 30 inches of rain from August 10 to the 17. The state capital, Baton Rouge, suffered through nearly a foot of rain on a single day, August 12, and nearly as much the day after. Historic flooding of the state claimed at least 13 lives and damaged more than 60,000 homes. Rescue teams saved 30,000 people from the floodwaters and relocated displaced residents to drier grounds. Among the evacuees were Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards and his family, who sought shelter when rainwater flooded the governors mansion in Baton Rouge. The federal government declared a dozen parishes major disaster areas. The Red Cross deemed the flooding in Louisiana the worst natural disaster in the United States since Superstorm Sandy slammed into the U.S. East Coast in 2012. The extreme nature of this event left many asking whether climate change may have played a role. On August 12, NOAAs Weather Prediction Center described the heavy rain event as an inland sheared tropical depression. The event bore some of the same characteristics of a tropical depression: very slow-moving low pressure system combined with extreme tropical moisture. The subsequent historic rains and floods that paralyzed Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf Coast resulted largely from a combination of these two conditions. Scattered thunderstorms began popping up in parts of Louisiana on August 9 with the storm system forming to the east, off the Florida Panhandle. As the slow-moving storm crept west, it sucked up tremendous amounts of tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Downpours increased as the storm moved closer to Louisiana. Regions in Louisiana and nearby Mississippi received more than six inches of rain on Thursday, August 11. The next day a continuous downpour soaked Baton Rouge, submerging the state capital in 11.24 inches of rain. Even greater amounts came down in other parts of the state. On August 13, the nearly stationary area of low pressure continued to wring moisture from the Gulf, dumping more than 10 inches on sodden areas of Louisiana. At the close of the weekend, August 14, scores of cities in the region could measure total rainfall in feet. The unnamed storm would eventually shower Louisiana with an estimated 7.1 trillion gallons of water more rain than Hurricane Isaac in 2012, and three times as much rain as Hurricane Katrina in 2005. With the deluge came catastrophic inland flash flooding and river flooding. More than a half-dozen rivers in southeast Louisiana broke records, not just by inches but by feet. The Amite River in Magnolia, Louisiana crested at 58.56 feet, more than six feet above the old mark established on 27 April 1977. Figure 1 shows the total three-day rainfall which occurred from August 12 to the 14. This quantity represents the meteorological variable that best captures the event. [more] Black Lives Matter Urge 'No More Police' After Chicago Pledges To Hire 1K New Officers By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 22, 2016 8:07PM Early this month, Mayor Rahm Emanuel confirmed reports that he was looking to hire hundreds of additional police officers to help quell violence in Chicagonow on pace for the worst year in over a decade. On Monday, Supt. Eddie Johnson made it official, announcing the Chicago Police Department's intention to hire nearly 1000 more policemen, including 516 officers and 200 detectives. Later that afternoon, Black Lives Matter, an activist organization that has been critical of expanded police force in the past, responded on Wednesday with an essay titled "No More Police!" In it, BLM argues that "more policing will not 'fix'"the underlying conditions that perpetuate violence. In a post on Medium attributed to BLMChicago, the group criticized increased taxes "for even more policing." Questions about funding still exist, as recent property-tax and sewer hikes will likely go toward funding the existing pension crisis. (This Bloomberg article about "debt vs. death" is worth a look.) They also noted the cost of police misconduct settlements: Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago Police Department and City Council are incapable of solving the conditions that produce street crime in Chicago. Neither Emanuel, Johnson nor (Ald Roderick) Sawyer (who requested more officers) offer solutions that will benefit the people of Chicago, nor address the conditions that case the Citys rampant intracommunal violence. Instead they propose tax payers money go for even more policing, in a City which already has the most police per 100,000 people in the country. Chicago has spent over $100 million in police misconduct (ie. abuse/murder/rape) settlements in the last 2 years, and this will undoubtedly continue as police have not stopped killing people. This year alone, police killed 16 year old Pierre Loury, whose family still has not received the police report and most recently, 18 year old student, Paul ONeal, both of whom were shot while running away from police. Our response to Eddie Johnson's announcement of hiring 970 more police. TLDR: No More Police. Stop divestment.https://t.co/K0kU3BjCAR pic.twitter.com/LVUrwb6SEm BLMChicago (@BLMChi) September 21, 2016 Even as homicides and non-fatal shootings have risen, the concept of police divestment has gained more traction this year, as activists at the Freedom Square campacross from the CPD's Homan Square "black site"have furthered the idea, and groups like Mothers Against Senseless Killings have seen success with more community-focused monitoring, as profiled in the Chicago Reader. The activist network argues that a host of underlying failures lie at the root of Chicago's violence, not the degree of CPD manpower: The hiring of more police means the mayor and his administration have no plans to address the conditions of poverty, lack of affordable housing, food insecurity, underfunded schools, lack of access to healthcare and unemployment. This is a recipe for disaster and will result in more killings by police, more police torture and violence, more people entered into the prison system, and more intra-communal violence further distressing the people of Chicago. In what could be the most important speech of his career, Emanuel on Thursday evening will address Chicago violence. He's expected to discuss the extra police hiring and talk about the expanded youth mentoring services. Beyond that, it remains to be seen if and how he plans to address the issue mentioned above. "It's a complex set of problems that will be addressed in a very comprehensive way," Emanuel said last month. "Everything from police, to children, to what we have to do for their safety to guns, to making sure we're providing hope where there is despair." How Emanuel chooses to fill in those gaps tonight may determine whether or not he'll ever be able to close the divide between his administration and portions of the community he serves. Chicago Bicyclist Fatally Struck By Motorcycle In Franklin Park By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 22, 2016 10:15PM A 60-year-old Chicago bicyclist was fatally struck on Monday afternoon in Franklin Park. Wlodzimierz Woroniecki was hit by a motorcycle while riding his bike at around 2 p.m. in the 11300 block of Franklin Ave, in the near west suburb of Franklin Park, the Cook County Medical Examiners Office told Chicagoist. He was taken to Loyola University Medical Center and pronounced dead at 8:16 p.m. Woroniecki lived in the 2800 block of N Melvina Ave., in Belmont Central, according to the Medical Examiner's Office. Chicagoist was not able to immediately reach Franklin Park Police officials, but the Sun-Times reports that the motorcyclist, 51, sustained minor injuries and was transported to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. September 22, 2016 --The 3rd Global Sensor Summit & China IoT Applications Summit was grandly held in Hefei, China on September 22, 2016. More than 1000 attendees from over 500 organizations, including IC industry administration, domestic and international renowned sensor and IoT applications companies, system houses, scientific research institutions and investment institutions, gathered together to discuss the development of sensor and IoT Industry. On the opening ceremony, Brite Semiconductor (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (Brite Semiconductor), a leading ASIC/SoC design and turnkey solution provider, announced the establishment of Hefei Brite Technology Co., Ltd (Brite Tech) in Hefei. Dr. Charlie Zhi, President & CEO of Brite Semiconductor, and its strategic partner Synopsys, Cadence, Mentor and ARM Accelerator signed a Memorandum of Understanding respectively. Ding Wenwu, President of China National Semiconductor Industry Investment Fund, Ye Tianchun, Director of Institute of Microelectronics of Chinese Academy of Science, Wang Xiang, Deputy Mayor of Hefei and Song Daojun, Director of Administration Commission of Hefei State Hi-tech Industry Development Zone witnessed the signing of the memorandum. Brite Tech established deep cooperation with Synopsys, Cadence and Mentor, the world leading providers of IP/EDA to jointly provide services for Hefei IC enterprises. At the same time, Brite Tech and ARM Accelerator (ARM Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator, founded by ARM, is the incubation and acceleration platform focusing on intelligent hardware and IoT startup.) signed an agreement to establish a joint laboratory to integrate the existing IoT application solutions of ARM Accelerator with IC design technology, solution and platform of Brite Tech to create an entire ecosystem of intelligent hardware. The laboratory can not only bring the end electronic users for Brite Techs fabless customers, but also provide ASIC solution for intelligent hardware startups on ARM Accelerator incubation platform, which will play an active role of connection. After the settlement in Hefei, relying on its IC design service technology and the industrial leading position, Brite Semiconductor will work together with Hefei government to build an IC Industrial Park. Meanwhile, as the first batch of project signed in Chip City in Hefei State Hi-tech Industry Development Zone, Brite Tech will help achieve the goal of Hefei IC City. Director Song of said, The introduction of Brite Semiconductor will help incubate more IC design enterprises in Hefei to promote the leaping development of Hefei IC design industry. Brite Semiconductor is a leading ASIC design services company, co-founded by SMIC, the largest foundry in Mainland China, and venture capital firms from China and Silicon Valley. We believe that Brite Tech will together with its upstream and downstream partners to provide high quality technical support for Hefei IC design companies. Dr. Zhi of Brite Semiconductor said, The settlement of Brite Semiconductor in Hefei is owing to the strong determination and scientific planning of Hefei on the development of IC Industry, and through the development in recent years, Hefeis IC Industry chain tends to be mature. Meanwhile, Hefei has the talent advantage of USTC and Hefei University of Technology and many system companies. Brite Tech will make full use of the resources of Brite Semiconductors design service technology and BriteIPs IP platform to create an eco-system environment of IC Industry to accelerate the development of Hefeis IC Industry. Oh No! Navjot Singh Sidhu Is Quitting Kapil Sharma Show For Politics? Your Guide To Expo, Chicago's Ultimate Art Weekend By Carrie McGath in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 22, 2016 7:06PM Usher in the colors of autumn this weekend with art events throughout the city. The fifth annual Expo Chicago: Begin your visual voyage at Navy Pier, where 145 galleries representing 22 countries from all around the world showcase the work of artists working in an array of mediums. Countless artists will be represented throughout the fair, giving casual viewers, enthusiasts, and collectors a unique opportunity to be immersed in contemporary art and ideas. Mark your calendar for /Dialogues, a series of panel discussions and discourse with artists and art professionals presented with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Highlights include Kerry James Marshall in conversation with Sarah Thornton at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, presented in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). This talk works in tandem with the closing of the Kerry James Marshall exhibition, Mastry, on view through Sept. 25 at the MCA. Learn about art in the marketplace at this kickoff panel on Friday at 11:30 a.m.: "The New Global Economy: Contemporary Art from Africa and Its Diaspora in the Marketplace", and check out Expo Video and IN/SITU, which features site-specific installations and performances in and around Navy Pier throughout the weekend. Explore Museums and Art Centers: Head west of the Pier to Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art to see two provocative exhibitions on view in their galleries. Post Black Folk Art in America 1930-1980-2016 and Private Eyes: Selected Artwork from the Kinsey Institute Collection both contain artwork by self-taught artists that is rarely on public display. The Ed Paschke Art Centers exhibition, Beta, features bright and textured acrylic works on canvas by Chicago-based hip-hop artist, Wasalu Jaco (aka: Lupe Fiasco). The Smart Museum at the University of Chicagos exhibition, There Was a Whole Collection Made: Photography from Lester and Betty Guttman highlights the couples ample drive and studied passion for collecting fine art photography. Head over to River Norths Driehaus Museum for With a Wink and a Nod: Cartoonists of the Gilded Age, an exhibition featuring work from the cutting-edge magazine, Puck and other vintage magazines with artwork by Louis Dalrymple, Franklin Howarth, Frederick Opper, William Rogers, and more. Explore Public Art: In addition to Expos IN/SITU, Expo is also featuring public artwork throughout the city. Override: A Billboard Project is peppered throughout the city on 28 digital billboards that went up on display on Aug. 29 and will remain on display through Sept. 25. Chicago artist, Tony Tassets Artists Monument in Grant Park is worth a visit as it is a massive, color-blocked wall with the names of artists etched into the surface. Visit the musical sculpture, Untitled Sounding Sculpture by Harry Bertoia located outside the Aon Center Plaza at 200 E. Randolph St. The copper-beryllium, brass and granite sculpture looks like reeds and cat-tails and creates deep sounds from the breeze or by touch, making this a hidden public art gem. Tickets for a available now and can be purchased at Navy Pier or by visiting their website. Student, group and senior rates are available. Expo Chicago goes from Friday, Sept. 23 through Sunday, Sept. 25. New data from a study evaluating a closed-loop hybrid artificial pancreas shows the device maintains normal blood sugar levels in young people with type 1 diabetes. Medtronic says this data, which was taken from its hybrid closed-loop system, demonstrated that patients had less glycemic variability and spent more time in the target blood sugar range compared to those using sensor augmented pumps. The findings were presented at the 52nd annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Munich, Germany. The hybrid closed-loop system is designed to use the Medtronic MiniMed 670G insulin pump, fourth-generation sensors and a control algorithm to determine basal insulin delivery. The three-month trial involved 124 patients all of whom had type 1 diabetes and were aged 14 and older. The results comprised over 12,000 patient-days in the evaluatio, making it the largest and longest at-home closed-loop study in the US. Researchers monitored the differences between open- and closed-loop systems and effects on several health markers, such as HbA1c, insulin requirements and body weight. This large at-home study demonstrated that participants with the Hybrid Closed Loop system experienced improved glucose control and did not demonstrate any safety issues; during the study phase, there were no episodes of severe hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis in patients with type 1 diabetes on the therapy, said lead investigator Dr Richard M. Bergenstal, International Diabetes Centre. Those who used the device also had reduced HbA1c levels, and researchers are buoyed by the findings. Medtronic has already sent a pre-market approval application for the system to the FDA. The data is compelling and shows that the systems ability to automate insulin dosing 24 hours a day has the potential to impact patients lives in a very meaningful way particularly at night when its most challenging to maintain target blood glucose levels, added Bergenstal. Alejandro Galindo, president of the Intensive Insulin Management Diabetes business at Medtronic, said: We are pleased with the progress we have made in automating basal insulin delivery and that each new advancement in our phased approach delivers increased automation and greater peace of mind by helping to simplify diabetes management. The study findings were published online in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The software called Conversation AI will use machine learning to spot trolls on the internet. Alphabet, the parent company of everything Google, is working on an Artificial Intelligence based software to combat trolls on the internet. The software based on machine learning has been designed and developed by the companys subsidiary called Jigsaw, previously known as Google Ideas. Called Conversation AI, the software works by identifying abusive language, threats and harassment on the internet. Researchers at Jigsaw are attempting to understand the nuances and context of abusive language at scale. A recent story by Wired describes how Conversation AI was trained using 17 million comments left under New York Times stories and 13,000 discussions on Wikipedia pages. The report goes on to state that the AI can spot abuse with 92% accuracy and a 10% false-positive rate compared to humans. Heres what Wireds Andy Greenberg had to say about Conversation AI in his piece: I suggest the first ambiguously abusive and misogynist phrase that comes to mind: "Whats up, bitch?" Adams types in the sentence and clicks Score. Conversation AI instantly rates it a 63 out of 100 on the attack scale. Then, for contrast, Adams shows me the results of a more clearly vicious phrase: "You are such a bitch." It rates a 96. In fact, Conversation AIs algorithm goes on to make impressively subtle distinctions. Pluralizing my trashy greeting to "Whats up bitches?" drops the attack score to 45. Add a smiling emoji and it falls to 39. Greenberg goes on to report that the Times is looking to use Conversation AI to filter abusive remarks from its comments section and Wikimedia is also considering adopting the new AI troll tagger. Armadale, a South African based mining company, saw activity decelerate at its Mpokoto Gold Project, as it sought alternative financing, and raised doubts as to whether a planned drilling campaign at its Mahenge Liandu project had begun. The outfit was looking to find arrangements wherein the company can reduce its exposure to risk by no longer being the sole financer of MpoKoto, located in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The key elements of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), which forms the basis of the mining plan, are now largely complete. There has however been a deceleration of activities on the site as the firm tries to finalise financing discussions with its potential partners, African Mining Contracting Services Group. These discussions are proving lengthy and to date, unrewarding, and so the Board is assessing alternative potential commercial arrangements through which Armadale could retain an interest in Mpokoto, but would have less exposure to the execution risk and potential dilution at Group level, which may be unavoidable if we were to finance the development of Mpokoto independently said the Directors. The company generated no revenue in the first half of the year, recording a loss before tax of 279,000, which was narrower than that of the previous period at 365,000. Nonetheless, according to the chairman William Frewen, the companys immediate future is the Mahenge Liandu Graphite Project in south-east Tanzania, which was acquired post period end. The prospect delivers a compelling investment opportunity in the graphite market. The potential for commercial grade graphite has led the Board to determine that the Mahenge Liandu Graphite Project will increasingly become a focus for the company." Yuen Low from Shore Capital said: A drilling campaign was to have commenced on the Mahenge Liandu graphite project in Tanzania in Q3 2016, but the language in the interims suggests to us that this may not yet have occurred. The Board is also seeking to divest Armadales interest in Mine Restoration Investments Ltd and some of its portfolio of smaller quoted and non-core investments. Cash and cash equivalents at 30 June 2016 rose to 614,000 from 26,000. Set against this was 0.58m of payables. Shore Capital expect that another fundraise will be required in the first half of 2017. Loss per share increased to 0.29p from 1.05p. The share price fell 19.24% to 1.92p at 15:18 BST on Thursday. Dunelm: HSBC starts coverage at buy with a target price of 1000p. Brown N Group: UBS keeps at neutral, 190p target. Tesco: Barclays keeps at neutral with a 215p target. Associated British Foods: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform with a 3550p target. BBA Aviation: Barclays keeps at overweight with a 280p target. Relx: Exane BNP Paribas keeps at outperform with a target price of 1650p. Centrica: Jefferies downgrades to underperform with a target price of 190p. Countrywide: Barclays stays at equal-weight with a 250,5p target. Pearson: Exane BNP Paribas downgrades to neutral with a target of 900p. Easyjet: Credit Suisse reiterates neutral with a 1109p target. Whitbread: UBS keeps at neutral with a 4050p target. Glencore: Liberum downgrades to hold with a 185p target. The World Trade Organisation ruled on Thursday that the European Union did not do enough to stop governments providing subsidies to plane manufacturer Airbus . The US government praised the WTO decision, which is the latest in a long-running transatlantic dispute surrounding the France-based company. Its main rival Boeing also said the decision was justified as the it had lost sales as a result of the preferential treatment given to Airbus. CEO Dennis Muilenburg thanked US authorities for aiding its fight against the EU's non-action on the subsidies. "Today's historic ruling finally holds the EU and Airbus to account for their flouting of global trade rules," Muilenburg said. "This long-awaited decision is a victory for fair trade worldwide and for US aerospace workers, in particular. We commend the administration, specifically the Office of the US Trade Representative, and the US Congress for their unwavering commitment to this matter and to enforcing global trade rules," he said. The subsidies provided by the EU, Germany, France, the UK and Spain reportedly cost Boeing billions of dollars in lost revenue. The tit-for-tat between the US and the European Union over the two planemakers stretches back to 2004, as both accused each other of illegally helping their own companies to get ahead. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have pledged to invest $3bn in the next 10 years in an attempt to rid the world of disease. The couple's Chan Zuckerberg Initiative will use the money for advancing technology to be used in combating cancer, heart disease and neurological diseases. In a presentation from the pair at the University of California, San Francisco, Zuckerberg begged the question over whether all disease could be taken on. "Can we cure, prevent or manage all disease by the end of this century?" he asked. Chan made the pledge to invest the sum in order to aid transformational technology. "Our aim is to bring together teams of innovative scientists and engineers to build transformational tools that unlock a new era of accelerative progress in scienche and health," Chan explained. "For this initiative we'll be investing more than $3bn over the next decade to achieve our collective mission." Last December Zuckerberg and Chan vowed to give away 99% of the wealth gained from their Facebook stock for charitable purposes, through the Chan Zuckerberg initiative. They made the announcement after the birth of their first child Max. Both acknowledged the ambitious nature of the project, and said that it would not be an easy objective to achieve. "It's a big goal," admitted Zuckerberg. "By investing in science today, we hope to build a future in which all of our children can live long and rewarding lives," Chan added. Morale among small to medium sized businesses fell for the first time in four years, an industry body said on Thursday, due to concerns about the future of the British economy. A survey from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) found that in the first three months to the end of August, since the country voted to leave the European Union, business confidence dipped into negative territory for the first time since 2012. However, the survey of 1,035 small firms, found that immediate economic conditions were improving as small firms reported greater access to finance, a rise in employment and reduced space capacity in their business. The small business index found that confidence fell -2.9, which is the second largest year-on-year fall in the indexs history. Business confidence fell for the last three quarters in a row. Although, the report said businesses may have priced-in the impact of the EU referendum result and were now looking for opportunities to grow. In the quarter, 55% of small business said they hoped to grow in the 12 months, the highest level since the end of 2015, but the number of businesses expected to downsize, or close, fell to 11%. The survey found that 7% of small businesses increased staff, the first time small companies reported an increase in recruitment this year, and they expect the trend to continue in the final quarter of 2016. About 62% of small businesses said the British economy was a barrier to growth aspirations in the third quarter, up from last year with 49%. However, this was only slightly higher than the 58% seen in the first and second quarter of 2016, which suggested that it could not be due to the EU referendum result. FSB chairman Mike Cherry, said the low pound and the resilience of consumer demand had prevented a fall, but it had only concealed issues limiting growth which would reappear over the next six months. He said: There is no doubt that the political shock of the Brexit result has taken place at a time of weakening business confidence. For the first time in four years, confidence is in negative territory. This persistent downward trend in UK business confidence reflects underlying issues that predate the Brexit decision. Small firms are resilient and will survive the current fragile economic outlook, but to avoid an economic slowdown this data should be a wake-up call for our elected politicians. Cherry said that the Chancellor Philip Hammond should use the autumn statement in November to back infrastructure projects at local and national level, to simplify the tax system and to help reduce the costs of doing business. In August, the Confederation of British Industry reported that small and medium sized manufacturers said they could experience a fall in orders in the final quarter, and suggested that business optimism had fallen at its fastest rate since January 2009 due to the Brexit vote. British Home Secretary Amber Rudd is facing calls to resign after a Guardian investigation found leaked information regarding undeclared business practices in the Bahamas. The investigation claimed that Rudd held a director's position at two companies in the Carribean tax haven. She had previously defended former prime minister David Cameron over his role in his father's investment company in the country without mentioning her own possible interest. Files leaked to German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung supply a list of 175,000 registered companies in the Bahamas, with Rudd being named as director of Advanced Asset Allocation Fund and Advanced Asset Allocation Management. The Home Secretary's career before politics has been shrouded in doubt and questionable companies, such as her involvement with Monticello. She resigned as a director of the company just five months after a dubious interview by co-director Mark O'Hanlon led to a rapid share price increase before trading was suspended on it. A spokesman for Rudd denied involvement in any wrongdoing. "It is a matter of public record that Amber had a career in business before entering politic," the spokesman told the Guardian. "Monticello was thoroughly investigated 16 years ago and those who acted wrongly were identified and prosecuted." Confidence among small businesses is at a four-year low because of concerns among companies that the economy will weaken as Britain prepares to leave the European Union. A survey by the Federation of Small Businesses has revealed that confidence has fallen for the third consecutive quarter. Those who are pessimistic about their prospects outweighed those feeling optimistic for the first time since 2012. The lobby group described the study as a wake-up call for politicians to act to avoid an economic slowdown. - The Times Hedge funds are being warned that they could inadvertently put Anheuser-Busch InBevs 79 billion takeover of SABMiller at risk unless they convert their derivatives in the Peroni and Grolsch brewer into shares. Although the odds are that the vote by SABMiller investors will be waved through next week, advisers are warning that because of the unusual nature of the vote, there is a small chance the funds could unintentionally block it. - The Times Officials at the European Central Bank fear they could be hemmed in by legal action as they look for ways to extend their quantitative easing programme to help fuel the eurozones fragile recovery. The 80bn-a-month bond buying plan is already the subject of a legal challenge and officials fear that its problems in court will increase if the ECB relaxes the conditions of the scheme a move staff are considering. - Financial Times Foreign demand for British cars has helped push automotive manufacturing to its best August for 14 years as the industry reported a boom in exports following sterlings post-Brexit plunge. UK car plants produced 109,004 new cars last month, a 9.1pc increase from the previous year, with the majority of cars destined overseas. In the past 12 months, 1.13m vehicles have been made in the country, up 12pc from last year. - Telegraph The UKs new insurance regulator has told the industry to strengthen its planning for big disasters. David Rule, who took over as the Bank of Englands top insurance supervisor in July, used his first speech to warn insurers that they need to do more to plan for big losses caused by events such as Hurricane Andrew, which hit Florida in the 1992, and the September 11 terror attacks of 2001. - Financial Times A Labour MP has accused Marks and Spencer of threatening to sack thousands of staff over the Christmas period if they do not accept new proposals that could cut their take home pay. Siobhain McDonagh, the MP for Mitcham and Morden who is leading a campaign against unscrupulous pay cuts, said that she had been contacted by more than 120 M&S employees who will be losing out after a consultation on employment contract changes. - The Times Libya has exported its first cargo of oil from the port of Ras Lanuf since 2014, reviving hopes of a recovery in production in the country. Officials at the terminal, located 230 miles (370km) from Benghazi, said that the tanker Seadelta had set off for Italy after a lull in fighting between rival groups. - The Times Unpublished field trials by pesticide manufacturers show their products cause serious harm to honeybees at high levels, leading to calls from senior scientists for the companies to end the secrecy which cloaks much of their research. The research, conducted by Syngenta and Bayer on their neonicotinoid insecticides, were submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency and obtained by Greenpeace after a freedom of information request. - The Guardian Amber Rudds business career has come under scrutiny following a Guardian investigation that reveals her involvement with two companies in an offshore tax haven, and another where her co-director was jailed for fraud. A fresh leak of tax haven data names the home secretary as having been a director of two companies in the Bahamas a fact she did not refer to earlier this year when defending David Cameron over his fathers investment fund in the same country. - Guardian A company offering the UKs first online property ISA has secured 1.3m of backing from Zoopla and prolific venture capitalist Robin Klein ahead of its launch. Bricklane.com aims to allow individuals to invest in the property market with a contribution of as little as 100, which the company will invest in properties in Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds which are then let out to tenants. - Telegraph Maverick investor Terry Smith has more than doubled the amount of money he has invested in his own funds to 200m. Smith has sold his stake in FTSE 250 investment company Tullett Prebon, where he was chief executive until August 2014, and ploughed the cash into his own Fundsmith. - Mail Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have vowed to spend $3bn over the next decade to try and cure all diseases. The Facebook founder and his wife, who pledged to give away 99pc of their wealth to good causes following the birth of their daughter last year, said the money would be used to assist scientific work and build new research tools. - Telegraph Trump Says He'll Fix Chicago With Stop And Frisk By aaroncynic in News on Sep 22, 2016 4:11PM Republican Presidential candidate and fascist demagogue Donald Trump threw another log on the fire of opinions from people who dont live in Chicago Thursday morning: What the city really needs, he said, is more stop and frisk. In a phone interview with the all-white, (and also not from Chicago) crew of Fox and Friends, the carnival-barking Republican presidential nominee clarified some comments he made on a town hall forum with Sean Hannity Wednesday evening where he called for the use of the controversial tactic. I see whats going on here, I see whats going on in Chicago, I think stop and frisk, Trump told an audience member according to a partial transcript Tweeted by NBC reporter Alexandra Jaffe. Trump will propose nationwide stop-and-frisk to address violence in black community 2nite on Hannity: pic.twitter.com/HDSPYtepqb Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe) September 21, 2016 Chicago is out of control... They asked me about Chicago and I was talking about stop and frisk for Chicago. You had 3,000 shootings this year so far. Obviously you cant let the system go the way its going. I suggested stop and frisk and some people think thats a great idea. Some people probably dont like it but when you have 3,000 people shot and so many people dying, its worse than some of the places were hearing about like Afghanistan. As Fox and Friends showed clips of the protests in Charlotte , North Carolina, which began after police shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott and later turned violent after police showed up with riot gear and military hardware, Trump expanded on his statement: Trumps latest comment is another in a very long list of remarks made by conservatives and others who dont live in Chicago and havent spent much, if any, time in its neighborhoods. Last month, the law and order candidate said that he could stop the violence in just one week. The fact that the controversial stop-and-frisk tactic disproportionately targets people of color and has been the source of widespread violations of civil rights was not discussed. A March 2015 report by the ACLU showed that Chicago police conducted a quarter million stops that did not lead to an arrest, surpassing that of New York City, which Trump said really straightened things out with stop and frisk. Chicago has been systematically abusing this practice, for reasons that are not justified by our constitution, Harvey Grossman, legal director for the Illinois ACLU, said at the time. And while Trump said that evidence showed police shaking down random peoplemostly in communities of colorfor no reason works, actual data shows something more complex. An extensive look at stops and the much maligned contact cards officers used to keep track of them in Chicago by WBEZs Chip Mitchell showed that as more cards were filled out, less happened: The records, obtained by WBEZ through the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, show negative trends as officers reported more stops: Gun seizures dropped, detectives solved fewer murders, and a decade-long decline in gun violence ended. It's also worth noting that yet again, completely absent from the discussion was talk of addressing the root causes of crime, such as poverty, barriers to socioeconomic change, racism, mistrust between police and people who live in the community, and the long-term effects of segregation in the city. Blue Jackets goalie Merzlikins, family threatened verbally Aleksandra Merzlikins, the wife of the Blue Jackets goalie, has posted online about verbal abuse and threats directed at her family by fans. Joint performances of two classic plays of British playwright William Shakespeare and Chinese counterpart Tang Xianzu were staged in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday nights as a bridge of communications between students of the two countries. Yang Changchun, vice president of the University of International Business and Economics, speaks to audiences before the theater production "A Midsummer Night's Dreaming Under the Southern Bough" at the 77 Theater in Beijing on Sept. 20, 2016. [Photo / China.org.cn] "William Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu: Celebrating a 400 Year Legacy," is a unique global collaboration by the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) and the University of Leeds to create a new special stage production "A Midsummer Night's Dreaming Under the Southern Bough" to commemorate the death anniversaries of the two men, featuring university students from both the U.K. and China. Student actors separately performed Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and Tang Xianzu's "A Dream under the Southern Bough" in a modern interpretation. Chinese director Li Jun added Chinese elements to the Shakespeare play, while Steve Ansell and Adam Strickson provided a British setting for the Tang play. Yang Changchun, vice president of UIBE, said in his opening remarks on Tuesday that this was an international collaboration in the name of dreaming. "The two giants were both great playwrights, and both created plays themed on dreams. Their literary souls echoed each other in the same era across two continents. They died in the same year, too, which was not only a great coincidence, but also provided abundant inspirations for later generations." The Chinese-British project was initiated as early as February 2015. Yang considered the collaboration to be one to enhance friendship and cultural exchanges between young people from the two countries. Li Ruru, professor of Chinese Theatre Studies from the East Asian Studies Faculty at the University of Leeds, one of those leading the project, said this kind of cultural exchange would have a subtle influence on actors, and "this influence will also pass on to more Chinese and British people through their performances." Li also pointed out that even many Chinese didn't know much about Tang Xianzu, "We have to have cultural confidence, but we cannot afford not to know our own culture." She said the performance offered Chinese audiences a chance to reconsider their own culture. From July to September, the joint performances were staged 13 times at the Leeds Intercultural Theater Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the 2016 Shanghai William Shakespeare Festival and at the 77 Theatre in Beijing. Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming praised the production at the world debut of the show in July at Leeds Intercultural Theater Festival, saying, "It is a creative interpretation of Shakespeare's and Tang's classic works. This ingenious re-production transcends time and culture, and brings two literary masters to the same stage." Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. Instant noodle products are seen on the shelf in a supermarket. [File photo] Master Kong, the top instant noodles brand in China, has been suffering indigestion lately. According to the interim report of owner Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp., the net profit of its instant noodles products dived 60.30 percent year-on-year. On Sept. 5, the company was removed from the Hang Seng set of indexes. Tingyi was included at the end of 2011, and the year became the watershed in its history. In the decade before 2011, the company share price rose more than 20-fold. However, from 2012, profits began to drop continuously, with the total market value shrinking nearly HK$100 billion from a peak HK$140 billion to the current HK$40 billion. Master Kong is the largest instant noodles brand in China, and its current woes are typical of the dramatic change in the fast food industry. According to the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST), this is the fourth consecutive year that Chinas instant noodles industry has seen sales decline, and this trend is expected to continue. Last year, 36.25 billion packages of instant noodles were produced on the Chinese mainland, down by 8.54 percent from the year before. Total sales stood at 49.09 billion yuan, down by 6.75 percent. Meng Suhe, CIFST president, said: The industry has made no progress since 2006. Faced with a shrinking market, major producers have tried all means possible to attract customers. Master Kong spent a huge sum of money on advertising. However, this only added to costs and caused an even bigger revenue loss. Uni-President, the arch rival of Master Kong, launched a series of high-end products and reaped some benefits. In the first half of 2015, gross profits of its instant noodles priced above five yuan grew 5.3 percent. However, when it tried to maintain the momentum by launching a premium cup noodles priced at 30 yuan, the result was a major setback. The high price deterred both retailers and consumers back, so the product is rarely seen in supermarkets these days. Many consumers thought the idea crazy, because with that kind of money, they could order a decent meal online. The emerging online food ordering and delivery industry indeed has inflicted a heavy blow to the instant noodles sector, because there is a considerable overlap in target consumers -- young people less rich who spend a lot of time at home rather than eating out. This group used to be the main consumers of instant noodles. However, they have gradually been abandoning instant noodles, as, with a few clicks on their cell phone, tempting dishes can be sent to their door. This is even easier than adding hot water to a cup of instant noodles, and obviously, the foods are more delicious and healthy. JML, another major mainland instant noodles brand is trying to cope with the growing public pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. At the China Convenience Food Conference held last week, it launched two new products, using freeze drying technology to preserve daily dishes, so as to add more flavor and healthiness to instant noodles. It also vowed to launch one or two novel products every year. However, Chinese financial author Wu Xiaobo believes that, no matter what approach producers adopt, the decline of the instant noodles industry is inevitable, and is a natural symptom of Chinas reform process. On one hand, the emerging of middle class has brought about a major change in consumption patterns, with growing demand for natural, healthy foods. On the other hand, Chinas labor structure is undergoing a significant transformation. Since 2011, the growth of the number of migrant workers, chief customers of instant noodles, has slowed down and this is reflecting in slumping sales. Industrial transformation marked the second half of Chinas reform, which featured consumption upgrading and labor transformation. The fate of instant noodles shows the pain of change and the dawn of success, Wu said. Rafale deal to give IAF much-needed strike capability As India and France on Wednesday finally agreed upon the terms and conditions for the purchase of 36 Rafale jets by the Indian Air Force from Dassault Aviation, there was probably more relief than jubilation. Dassault had won the tender in January 2012 but had been locked in negotiations with the Indian government over the technical details ever since. When Prime Minister 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, says a Firstpost analysis. The conclusion of the deal, to be signed on 23 September, will be a relief to the IAF 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 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 the Meteor, an air-to-air missile with a beyond-visual range of over 100 km, and Storm Shadow (known as Systme de Croisire Autonome Longue Porte Emploi Gnral 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 international boundaries. Integration of the Brahmos-NG, a smaller version of the Brahmos supersonic missile, will make the Rafale a lethal platform. 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 per cent 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 amount. A 50 per cent offset agreement obligates Dassault to re-invest half the money from the deal in India, creating hundreds of new jobs. India's decision to buy only 36 planes, barely two squadrons, will not fill the gap in the IAF's numbers, nor will the Rafale's nuclear capability add much to the Indian offensive armoury. One can only assume that once the first set of jets is delivered, a further order will be placed to augment the 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 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. 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. (See: Cabinet clears decks for buying 36 Rafale fighter planes). Dublin Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a new Asian elephant calf. Proud mum, Asha, gave birth to the healthy calf on Monday evening, 19th September, after a 22 month gestation period. The calf is estimated to be just under 1 metre tall and weighs approx. 70kg. The new arrival is Ashas first calf and the fourth elephant calf born at Dublin Zoo in two years. The new arrival will join the herd of eight Asian elephants, including dad Upali, in the Kaziranga Forest Trail, proudly sponsored by The Natural Confectionery Company. Gerry Creighton, Operations Manager at Dublin Zoo said, We are delighted with the new arrival and happy to report that both mum and calf are doing very well. This is Ashas first calf and so far she has done a remarkable job. Asha has incredible maternal instincts and over the past two years has watched the other females in the herd raise their calves and learned from their behaviour. This is a very special birth for the animal care team and a historic day for Dublin Zoo. Mum Asha was the first Asian elephant born in Dublin Zoo back in 2007 and today we are celebrating her first calf. A decade ago Dublin Zoo set out to be a centre of excellence in elephant care. We now have three generations of elephants at Dublin Zoo, matriarch Bernhardine, her daughter Asha and now this new arrival. We are very proud of the expanding herd and recognise the significance of these births for the future of endangered Asian elephants. The new-born is a significant success for Dublin Zoo as part of the international breeding programme established to assist the survival of the Asian elephant. It is estimated that only 30,000 to 60,000 of these animals exist in the wild, with the largest population found in India*. Dublin Zoo is inviting the public to suggest a name for the newest arrival based on her Asian origin. Name suggestions can be submitted at www.DublinZoo.ie Visitors can see the herd of Asian elephants at the Kaziranga Forest Trail in Dublin Zoo. You can also keep an eye on the herd on the elephant webcam at www.dublinzoo.ie. Gynaecology and Ante-Natal clinics are expected to be re-instated at Dungloe Community Hospital by January 2017 at the latest. Thats according to Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty, who has welcomed the news. In a statement Deputy Doherty said the confirmed formal date for the services return comes after continued lobbying and campaigning efforts by him to have maternity services at the hospital restored, following their suspension in November 2014. Deputy Doherty said: I am very happy to have now it confirmed to me that Ante-natal services will be re-instated at Dungloe Community Hospital in the coming months, and that clinics will once again be operational by January 2017 at the latest. Regarding Ante-natal and Gynaecology services at Dungloe, the Minister and the HSE have informed me that the Saolta University Healthcare Group plan to develop clinics as a midwifery led service at the hospital, and that these will be similar to those already in place in community hospitals in Galway, and are a model for best practice. In the interim, I understand that the Obstetric and Gynae Directorate are presently reviewing these arrangements for the anticipated return of these services, and that a meeting with the Management of the hospital is scheduled to take place next week as part of these preparations. This is a fantastic result for women throughout West Donegal, and I am absolutely thrilled to finally have a confirmed timeframe for the restoration of the service provided by the HSE. Between 2010 and 2014, some 1,200 appointments took place at the clinics at Dungloe Community Hospital prior to the services suspension, figures which clearly demonstrate the importance of having such a facility in the region, he said. The two women who died in a road collision in Ballybofey on Wednesday are to be laid to rest following funerals in Stranorlar on Saturday and Sunday. Mother of three Maria Wallis (38) of 78 Blue Cedars, Ballybofey will be laid to rest on Saturday following 11am Requiem Mass in Church of Mary Immaculate, Stranorlar. Kiara Baird (19) will be laid to rest following Requiem Mass in the same church on Sunday following 11am Requiem Mass. The two women died after a single-vehicle collision on the R252 on the outskirts on Ballybofey at around 4.15pm on Wednesday. The blue Citroen C3 they were travelling in left the road on a wide bend about 800 metres from Jacksons Hotel. A man in his forties survived with non life-threatening injuries. Maria Wallis is survived by her husband David; sons David, Darren, and Andrew; parents Mary and David, and brothers Mark and Michael. Originally from Derry, she had been living in the area for 13 years. Kiara Baird is survived by her parents Tracy and Andrew, siblings Cian, Cody, Cayden and Kayleigh; her extended family, relatives and many friends. She had been living in the area for about six years after her family relocated from Dublin. Local priest, Fr John Joe Duffy, said the deaths were a terrible shock for the families of the two young people involved. I would ask people to keep the families and all concerned in their minds and in their prayers, he said. It is a terrible tragedy and the families have lost two young people and it can show us how life can be fragile for some of us. It is so very sad to see two young lives taken away so quickly and tragically. An oil-burning Bentley is finally a reality. The British ultra-luxury brand has revealed details of its first diesel-powered model, the Bentayga Diesel, ahead of its official debut at next week's Paris motor show. It uses the same triple turbo-charged 4.0-litre V8 as the Audi SQ7, which produces 320kW and 900Nm and is capable of slingshotting Bentley's hulking SUV from 0-100km/h in 4.8seconds and on to a top speed of 270km/h while using a claimed average of 7.9L/100km. By comparison, the flagship Bentayga with its twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12 engine generates 447kW and the same 900Nm of pulling power, but can reach triple figures in 4.1seconds, tops out at 301km/h and consumes significantly more fuel with a claimed average consumption of 12.8L/100km. As it does in the Audi, the V8 diesel utilises a new 48-volt electrical system and a world-first electric-powered compressor that prevents turbo lag and ensures the engine produces its maximum pulling power from just 1000rpm. Bentley also claims the Bentayga Diesel features "a bespoke exhaust system that has been acoustically engineered to be as quiet and refined as possible" and the car is identified by a number of subtle visual differences such as the Bentaya Diesel badges on the lower section of the front doors, modified exhaust tips and a new front grille treatment. Otherwise, the Diesel features the same mechanical layout as the W12 with an eight-speed automatic driving all four wheels through an adaptive transmission. A multi-mode air suspension set-up and myriad of electronic driver aids provides the Bentayga with both a luxurious ride and a surprising level of off-road capability. The Bentley Bentayga Diesel will be available in Australian showrooms early next year with pricing expected to undercut the W12 at less than $400,000. Read all the latest Bentley news and reviews here Tesla has rolled out a security patch for its electric cars after Chinese security researchers uncovered vulnerabilities they said allowed them to remotely attack a Tesla Model S sedan. The automaker said that it had patched the bugs in a statement to Reuters on Tuesday, a day after cyber-security researchers with China's Tencent Holdings Ltd disclosed their findings on their blog. Interest in car hacking has surged since Fiat Chrysler last year recalled 1.4 million US vehicles to fix onboard software bugs uncovered by two researchers. They demonstrated that they were able to gain remote control of a Jeep travelling at high speeds in a dramatic video posted on Wired.com. Tesla said it was able to remedy the bugs uncovered by Tencent using an over-the-air fix to its vehicles, which saved customers the trouble of visiting dealers to obtain the update. Tencent's Keen Security Lab said on its blog that its researchers were able to remotely control some systems on the Tesla S in both driving and parking modes by exploiting the security bugs that were fixed by the automaker. The blog said that Tencent believed its researchers were the first to gain remote control of a Tesla vehicle by hacking into an onboard computer system known as a CAN bus. In a demonstration video, Tencent researchers remotely engaged the brake on a moving Tesla S, turned on its windshield wipers and opened the trunk. "We have verified the attack vector on multiple varieties of Tesla Model S," the blog said. "It is reasonable to assume that other Tesla models are affected." Tesla said it pushed out an over-the-air update to automatically update software on its vehicles within 10 days of learning about the bugs. "Our realistic estimate is that the risk to our customers was very low, but this did not stop us from responding quickly," the statement said. It said the attack could only be triggered when a Tesla web browser was in use and the vehicle was close enough to a malicious WiFi hot spot to connect to it. The development comes after Mercedes R&D chief Thomas Weber told Drive that Tesla's major "over the air" updates left the brand open to hacking. "You should be careful, because if you open this door others can enter, via hacking for example," Weber said at the international debut of the latest E-Class in January. "Therefore we do this carefully. For this new E-Class we can do flashing over the air for telematics features, for example, because there is not a risk there. But we do not and we intend not, in the first step, to do changes for safety relevant features over the air." - with David McCowen Home Four wheelers France To Penalise Carmakers For Exceeding CO2 Emissions oi-Sukesh France Budget Minister Christian Eckert has stated that France may seek compensation from car manufacturers whose vehicles exceeds carbon dioxide emission under normal driving condition. Speaking to lawmakers at the National Assembly Ecker said that government legal services are planning to take action to recover lost tax from car manufacturers, whose vehicles should have imposed with higher penalties at the time of sale. The Volkswagen diesel emission scandal which broke a year ago triggered worldwide investigations including France and other countries. Besides the NOx emissions exceeding the limit, investigations have revealed a gap in claimed CO2 output and actual fuel efficiency. France has come up with a scheme called as "bonus-malus." Under this package cars with lower CO2 emissions and fuel consumption will get benefited from sales subsidies, which are funded by penalties collected from less efficient cars based on CO2 emitted per kilometer. The new face of menswear in Dundalk is set to open it's doors on October 1st. Lawless Clothing will be situated in 18 Park Street, the former, spacious premises of DNG Property. The store will sell high-quality menswear labels from across the globe. The Shops owner, Niall Lawless, son of the late Pat Lawless, owner of W. Lawless Barbershop, has been working in menswear retail for many years. He spoke to the Dundalk Democrat about his exciting new venture. I have been living in Dundalk my whole life. I started off working in menswear with Phil Lynch at 'Phil Lynch for Men' on Clanbrassil Street for 20 years, then with his son Dessie for another 18 years. For the past year I have been the manager of Diesel Menswear in the Marshes Shopping Centre, but decided it was about time to start up my own business. We will be stocking menswear for all ages. So far, we will be stocking clothing from top brands such as Crosshatch, Dissident, Le Shark and Flawless. We're really looking forward to the grand opening, and would like to thank everyone for their support. According to Niall the online response from the people of Dundalk, at the news of the shops opening, was incredible. Hundreds poured in their words of support and well-wishes to Niall and co. It's fantastic to see another retail outlet opening in the town. You can find Lawless Clothing on Facebook (@LawlessClothingDundalk) for more information on the shop and it's opening. There was great excitement at Scoil Ui Mhuiri recently when the schools first year students gathered with their new teachers to turn the sod on the schools new extension. Principal Ms. Fiona Kindlon, Deputy Principal, Ray Donagh, students and staff gathered along with LMETB CEO Peter Kierans and LMETB chairman, Cllr. Oliver Tully, chairperson of the schools Board of Management, Cllr Mr. Liam Reilly to mark this historic day in Scoil Ui Mhuiris campus development for present and future students of Dunleer and surrounding areas in the schools catchment area. Also in attendance were Board of Management members, Ms.Frances Kirwan, Ms. Jacqueline Matthews and Mr. Aiden Matthews along with Chairperson of the Parents Association Ms. Antoinette Rourke, Architects on the project from. McGarry Ni Eanaigh and representatives from the building contractor for the project Mc Aleer and Teague. Once complete, the school will have the capacity to cater for 750 students. It will be of a similar size to the existing school building which means an effective doubling of the current building infrastructure at the school. Ms. Kindlon explained that "this is an exciting time for Scoil Ui Mhuiri as it embarks on this latest phase of its development. This will be the third extension to the school in recent years and is an indication of the rapid growth the school is experiencing. The new two storey extension will comprise a range of specialist rooms including a new science lab, engineering room, construction/woodwork room. Multimedia lab, library, pastoral offices and general classrooms. The school also looks forward to doubling its provision for students with Autism by providing a Special Needs Unit which will also have the capacity for 12 students fully equipped with classrooms, meeting rooms and daily living skills area. The new extension will also have a high specification ICT infrastructure installed throughout. The building will be ready to accommodate students in late 2017/early 2018. Ms. Kindlon also stated that she was delighted to be working with Mc Garry Ni Eanaigh and McAleer and Teague whoc both have a wealth of experience in school design and construction. There are certainly exciting and challenging times ahead for Scoil Ui Mhuiri Dunleer. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. A reader of these notes whom I met in Park Street last week asked me if I knew when the Mullaghcurry Races had stopped? I had to confess that I did not know but thought that it was a very long time ago, maybe up to 100 years, but it seems that I was wrong about that because they may to have lasted up until about 1950. In any event the truth was that I had forgotten all about this annual event except for their connection with Oriel Park and the Mullaghcurry Stand which had been there in the late 1960s and early '70s. Then I recalled a story I had heard from Peadar Roe, a director of the old Democrat company and father of Tom Roe, Editor of the newspaper from 1966 to 1996! Peadar had been born in 1879 and, when I joined the staff in the early 1950s, he recalled that the Mullaghcurry Races were once one of the biggest social events in County Louth. He must have attended the Races at the Hill of Mullacurry, half-way between Dunleer and Ardee, on a regular basis when he was young man and may even have met his future wife there, who was from Ardee. One his stories about the Races that stuck in my mind was about Sir Thomas Callan Macardle who was head of the Macardle, Moore Brewery at Cambrickville and one of the most prominent men in Louth at the beginning of the last century. Mr. Roe claimed that he had been present when Sir Thomas had taken a fall from his horse at the Races and died later as a result of his injuries. I had thought, at the time, that the incident had taken place a long time previously but subsequent research has revealed to me that Sir. Thomas Macardle died in December 1925 and is buried in old Castletown Cemetery. His obituaries I have seen say that he died in a Dublin nursing home but make no mention of a horse riding accident. Sir Thomas was father of Dorothy Macardle, a famous historian who was a friend of Frank Aiken and has written an historical account of the War of Independence and the subsequent Civil War from an Anti-Treaty point of view. What I did not realise, however, was that her father had very different views of the politics of the time and that, in fact, had received his knighthood as a result of his support of the British Empire during World War 1. He was High Sheriff of the County in 1917 but, more significantly, he was Chairman of the British Army Recruitment Committee for the County from the start of the War in 1914 and had a son, Kenneth, a young Lieutenant, who was killed at Trones Wood during the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. Thomas did not receive his knighthood until 1920, at the height of the War of Independence. Sir Thomas was aged 69 at the time of his death and I do not recall whether or not Peadar Roe had said that he had been riding in one races at the Mullaghcurry meeting or just a spectator but, I suppose, it would not have been all that unusual for a fairly elderly man of his class to be taking part. He was certainly one of the organisers of the event as far back as 1872 and probably did ride, as an amateur jockey, at annual event many times over the years. With regard to the Mullaghcurry Races themselves, I am very much indebted to Father Michael Murtagh, P.P. Dunleer, who has sent me writings by the late Padraig Faulkner, T.D. and Minister of State from Dunleer, about the annual event which was attended by thousands of spectators at its height. Faulkner states that the races were started in 1859; were suspended for a few years after 1872 apparently because of financial difficulties, but reinstated in 1881 and lasted up until the end of World War 11 in 1945. He points out that the race course was not in the townland of Mullaghcurry but in a neighbouring townland of Paughanstown. The gentleman who asked me about the ending of the Races tells me that there are still traces of the old course in existence in the area. The reason given, from another source, for the ending of the event, which Fr. Murtagh says used to take place in late April or early May each year, was that that course was disrupted by the enforcement of a Government Tillage Order during the Wartime Emergency between 1940 and 1948. This Order, which forced local farmers to sow grain or other foodstuffs in times of emergency, is very interesting in that it had been enacted in An Dail as early as 1922 but was not used until World War 11. Another reason given for the ending of the Mullaghcurry event was 'competition from other horse racing venues'. If true, this reason leads one to speculate that the Mullaghcurry Racecourse might have become the premier horse racing course in the North East because it had existed before the meetings at Dowdallshill had become established. It appears that one of the reasons for the popularity of the Mullaghcurry Races was the existence of Dunleer Railway Station which opened in 1851. This was before the Mullaghcurry Races began but it appears that the G.N.R. (I) Railway Company popularised it with excursions from Dublin and Belfast after it was established in 1875. The Dromin Junction Halt, which was nearer the course, was not opened until 1896. Of course, the very same stewards from The Louth Hunt, including Sir Thomas Macardle, who ran the Mullaghcurry event, established the horse racing at Dowdallshill in about 1889. The finalists of the 2016 Telstra New South Wales Business Womens Awards have been announced, with mining engineer and motivational speaker Turia Pitt (pictured above) among the 20 nominees. Pitt, a finalist in the Young Business Womens Award category, will join C-level executives, entrepreneurs, for-purpose sector professionals and others at the Awards Gala Dinner in October. Telstra Business Womens Awards Ambassador, Group Executive, Media, and Chief Marketing Officer Joe Pollard, said that NSW women are changing business, one brilliant business woman at a time. Now in their 22nd year, the awards champion women from diverse industries, ensuring their achievements are given the recognition they deserve, and continue to raise the profile of women in business, she said. The 2016 finalists demonstrate the unique combination of skills required for professional excellence: the courage to take risks, sound financial management, strong leadership skills and of course, sophisticated business acumen allowing them to thrive. The C-level executives among the finalists include: Jacqueline Arias, founder and CEO of Fairtrade-certified coffee brand, Republica Organic; Melanie Hilton, COO of Macquarie Groups Macquarie Business Banking; and Jenni Seton, CEO of Redkite, a national charity providing support to children and their families who are impacted by cancer. A finalist in the Entrepreneur category, Matina Jewell, is a war veteran and one of the most highly-decorated females in Australian military history. She is now a motivational speaker sharing her learnings from active duty and advice on how to apply them to the corporate world. Pollard said many of the finalists are working and excelling in traditionally male-dominated industries. These include Kim-Louise Liddell, who founded Non Destructive Excavations Australia, a business which manages the risks of underground excavations in dense cities, and Sally-Ann Williams, an executive program manager at Google Australia, whose work promotes STEM and computer sciences as part of the Australian and New Zealand educational curriculum. There are six Telstra Business Womens Awards categories in 2016: Entrepreneur, For Purpose and Social Enterprise, Public Sector and Academia, Corporate and Private, Young Business Womens and, Business Woman in Asia (new). Telstra is a passionate advocate of women in business and we are thrilled to extend the Telstra Business Womens Awards program into Asia this year to further recognise and reward the courage, leadership and creativity of brilliant business women, Pollard said. Winners of the 2016 Telstra New South Wales Business Womens Awards will be announced at a Gala Dinner at Doltone House, in Pyrmont, on Tuesday 11 October. State and Territory category winners will be flown to Melbourne for the National Awards judging, culminating in a glittering celebration dinner on the night of Wednesday 16 November 2016. For information about the Awards and to purchase tickets to the Awards Gala Dinners please call 1800 817 536 between 9am and 7pm AEST Monday to Friday. Nominations for the Telstra Business Womens Awards are open year-round. "We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose." - President Eisenhower, First Inaugural Address Sussex News Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today introduced the Promoting Transparency in Trade Act, a bill designed to shine more sunshine on trade negotiations that result in treaties like the much-maligned Trans-Pacific Partnership. If signed into law, the legislation will require government officials to publically release the text of ongoing trade negotiations and ensure the position of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Transparency Officer is free from conflicts of interest. Dingell as has been a vocal critic of the TPP, particularly with regard to its lack of prohibitions of currency manipulation by our so-called trade partners like China. The TPP was negotiated with little input or oversight from Congress or the public which might help include these sorts of controls. The debate over the TPP has made one thing abundantly clear: the American people are tired of trade deals that benefit other countries at the expense of the American worker, said Dingell in a statement. Our countrys trade negotiations are neither transparent nor accessible, and do not reflect input from Congress or the working men and women we represent. What is most outrageous is that the role of USTR Transparency Officer is currently held by their General Counsel hardly an unbiased person who would be working in the interests of transparency. This legislation would ensure that future trade negotiations are open to public debate so the American people can see for themselves whether these agreements are good for them and their families, and so Congress can carry out our constitutional responsibility to ensure trade deals promote economic growth and keep jobs in this country. The bill requires the USTR to appoint a Transparency Officer who does not have, or appear to have, any conflict of interest in ensuring the transparency of the activities of the Office of the Trade Representative. The USTR would also be compelled to publicly publish text after each round of trade deal negotiations so that all interested parties can monitor the ongoing negoatiations. Promoting Transparency in Trade Act is co-sponsored by Democratic Representatives Rick Nolan of Minnesota, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Tim Ryan of Ohio, and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois. It has the support of labor and advocacy groups including the AFL-CIO, UAW, OpenTheGovernment.org, Union of Concerned Scientists, Public Citizen, and Electronic Frontier Foundation. Its easy to stand on the sidelines and shout about how bad secretly-negotiated trade deals are. While that pressure is useful in shaping future policy, it takes actual changes in the law to enact those policies and thats exactly what this legislation is all about. It doesnt say we shouldnt enter into trade deals with other countries; international trade is a good thing when done properly. However, if the process is done behind closed doors without public input and scrutiny, its far too easy for corporate interests and others to influence what goes into the treaties in order to benefit their profit statements. And, with both presidential candidates decrying the TPP, this is the perfect time to get legislation like this passed. More than 10 million acres burned across the U.S in 2015, the National Interagency Fire Center reported on Monday. Thats roughly the size of Connecticut and Massachusetts combined. In 2015, a total of 10,125,149 acres burned, surpassing the previous record set in 2006 at 9,873,745 acres. Four million more acres burned than average, according to the organization, with fires in Alaska contributing to half the total acres burned. Wildfires burned 10 million acres in 2015, the first time on record that's happened https://t.co/y8wKFZTaIT pic.twitter.com/6VpcxNECpL Climate Central (@ClimateCentral) January 6, 2016 Nine of the 10 worst years for acres burned have occurred since 2000, National Interagency Fire Center spokesman Randall Eardley told USA Today. A record warm winter coupled with exceptionally dry conditions in the Western U.S. sparked destructive fires. Alaska saw its second-worst fire season on record. At one point in the summer, the state had more than 300 active blazes. Washington and Oregon also had record fire years, with the Okanogan Complex in Washington surpassing last years Carlton Complex to become the largest fire in the states history. And California had two fires rank among the top 10 most destructive in its history, The Washington Post reported. The U.S. Forest Service accurately predicted in May 2015 that last years wildfire season would be the worst one yet due to climate change and a prolonged drought in the Western U.S. Its well-documented that wildfire seasons are worsening. Wildfire season has gotten almost 20 percent longer over the past 35 years worldwide as a result of rising global temperatures and fewer rainy days, ClimateNexus reported. In the U.S., climate change has led to fire seasons that are now 78 days longer on average compared to 1970. U.S. wildfires have also seen significant growth, both in terms of acreage burned and in financial costs to property owners and communities. However, the federal government is not adapting to this new reality. The Washington Posts Darryl Fears explained: Agriculture Department officials have warned that fire seasons are starting earlier and lasting longer than years ago, and theyve sought to convince Congress to change the way it funds firefighting because its budget appropriation falls short nearly every year. So far, Congress has refused. Lawmakers base their funding on the average cost to fight fires over the previous decade. But that doesnt account for wildfire seasons that now run from April through December instead of June to September. It once was rare to see 5 million cumulative acres burn in a year, fire officials say, but recent seasons have recorded twice that. At least two controlled wildfires are currently burning in California and Texas, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. To cover budget shortfalls, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, has been taking money allocated to other Forest Service programsincluding ones designed to prevent forest firesto fight fires. In December 2015, Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack demanded lawmakers adequately fund the agency. In response to the record-setting 2015 wildfire season, Vilsack renewed his call for Congress to pass the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act. He said: Last month I directed our staff to end the practice of fire borrowing and slow the consuming growth of fire as a percentage of the Forest Service budget and, instead, ensure that all resources in the 2016 budget are spent in the manner intended, such as the important forest restoration work that helps to minimize wildfires in the first place. Todays disquieting report should serve as a powerful call to once and for all fix how the Forest Service pays for firefighting. With a predictably long fire season on the horizon in 2016, lives, property, and the future of our forests and grasslands hang in the balance. Congress must fix this issue once and for all. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Its About Time: California Governor Declares Porter Ranch a State of Emergency Five years ago today, in the middle of the night, an oil pipeline operated by Enbridge ruptured outside of Marshall, Michigan. It took more than 17 hours before the Canadian company finally cut off the flow, but by then, more than a million gallons of tar sands crude had oozed into Talmadge Creek. The oil quickly flowed into the Kalamazoo River, forcing dozens of families to evacuate their homes. Oil spills of that magnitude are always disastrous, but the Kalamazoo event was historically damaging. Submerged oil recovery on the Kalamazoo River. Photo credit: EPA The first challenge was the composition of the oil. Fresh tar sands crude looks more like dirt than conventional crudeits far too thick to travel through a pipeline. To get this crumbly mess to flow, producers thin it out with the liquid constituents of natural gas. Diluted bitumen, or dilbit, as its called in the tar sands industry, is approximately three parts tar sands crude, one part natural gas liquids. When dilbit gushed into Talmadge Creek in 2010, the mixture broke apart. The volatile natural gas liquids vaporized and wafted into the surrounding neighborhoods. The airborne chemicals were so difficult to find and eliminate that Enbridge decided it would be better to simply buy some of the homes that were evacuated, preventing the residents from ever returning. The tar sands oil, which stayed in the water, presented an even bigger chemistry problem. Most forms of oil, including conventional crude, are less dense than water. Thats why oil makes such pretty colors when dropped into a rain puddleit floats and plays tricks with the sunlight. Traditional oil spill cleanup technology relies heavily on this density relationship. Skimmers and vacuums remove it from the surface. Floating booms prevent surface-level oil from moving into environmentally sensitive areas. Tar sands crude behaves differently. Tar sands bitumen is a low-grade, heavy substance, says Anthony Swift, director of NRDCs Canada Project (disclosure). Unlike conventional crude, when bitumen is released into a water body, it sinks. (See Sink or Skim, onEarths infographic on why tar sands oil is more difficult to clean up than conventional crude.) Try pumping this through a pipeline. Photo credit: SUNCOR Put simply, the spilled dilbit traveled in every directioninto the air, with the current, to the bottom of the riverat the same time. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) indisputably naive response reveals how little anyone knew about tar sands crude. The EPA demanded that Enbridge remove the oil from wetlands surrounding the pipe by August 27, a little more than one month after the spill began. The agency wanted the stuff out of the creek, river and shorelines by Sept. 27. Those deadlines would have been practical for a typical spillbut not for a tar sands oil spill. A half-decade later, some of the oil still remainsthough, much of that has to do with Enbridge botching the cleanup effort (see onEarths three-part series, The Whistleblower.) By Joe Sandler Clarke Chemical giants Bayer and Syngenta commissioned private studies which showed that their neonicotinoid pesticides can cause serious harm to bees, a Greenpeace investigation has uncovered. The revelations come with the UK set to decide its own policy on pesticide use once it leaves the EU. The UK lobbied against the current EU ban when it was introduced. Dead bees in a French beekeeping farm. Wikipedia Commons The company researchdesigned to reveal the level at which their products harm beeswas obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests to the U.S. environmental regulator. Publicly, the two firms have often sought to play down suggestions that their products can cause harm to honeybees. Weak Research However, the studies will cause little surprise in industry circles. Industry and scientists have long known that the products can harm bees at certain levels. Instead, the research has been criticized by experts because it assumes a very narrow definition of harm to bee health and ignores wild bees, which evidence suggests are more likely to be harmed by neonicotinoids. It means the studies may substantially underestimate the impact of the two firms products on pollinators. Due to commercial confidentiality rules, Greenpeace Energydesk is not allowed to release the studies in full. Transparency The latest revelations have sparked calls for greater transparency from the industry and regulators to publish data on the impact of pesticides on pollinators used to makeor lobby forregulatory decisions. Responding to Greenpeace, Syngenta said its study was due to be published in a journalthough the company did not give details. Bayer said the study would be discussed at an upcoming conference. Both firms claimed that whilst the studies did show a risk to honeybees from their products this would only apply at higher concentrations than normally seen in agriculture. Each study focused exclusively on honeybees, though recent research has shown that the chemicals have a negative impact on wild bees. Matt Shardlow, chief executive of the charity Buglife, told The Guardian: These studies may not show an impact on honeybee health [at low levels], but then the studies are not realistic. The bees were not exposed to the neonics that we know are in planting dust, water drunk by bees and wildflowers, wherever neonics are used as seed treatments. This secret evidence highlights the profound weakness of regulatory tests. Bee Deaths The newly uncovered studies examined the impact of Bayers clothianidin and Syngentas thiamethoxam on honeybees at varying concentrations. Both show that chemicals can seriously harm honeybee colonies at high concentrations, though the effects were less marked at lower levels, concentrations of 50 parts per billion (ppb) and 40 ppb respectively. Bayer and Syngentas commitment to pollinator health should include publishing these data or otherwise making them public, Christian Krupke, an entomologist at Purdue University, told Energydesk. This work presents a rich dataset that could greatly benefit the many publicly-funded scientists examining the issue worldwide, including avoiding costly and unnecessary duplication of research. In the U.S., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently conducting a review of neonicotinoid pesticides and their impact on pollinator health. Back in January, the first stage of this review found that imidacloprid, which is made by Bayer, harmed honeybees and suggested it could potentially take action to restrict or limit the use of the chemical by the end of 2016. The findings of the reviews into thiamethoxam and clothianidin, from which these two studies are taken, are due to be published in 2017. Denials The unpublished research comes after previous assurances by Syngenta in particular about the impact of its product on pollinators. On its website, Syngenta states there is no direct correlation between neonicotinoids use and poor bee health and the allegation that neonicotinoids-based pesticides are inherently damaging to bee colonies or populations is not true. In statements issued to Energydesk last month, the firm added, None of the studies Syngenta has undertaken or commissioned for use by regulatory agencies have shown that thiamethoxam damages the health of bee colonies and we stand by the integrity of our neonicotinoid product. The private research did not examine the impact of the product on bee colonies in normal conditions. However, other studies have done so. Last month, a study by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology linked the long-term decline of wild bees in England to the use of neonicotinoids. A major field study in Sweden last year found that wild bees were badly affected when exposed to fields treated with clothianidin, while honeybees proved more robust. Energydesk reached out for comment from the EPA, but did not receive a response at press time. In a statement to Energydesk, a Bayer spokesperson said: The study conducted in North Carolina is an artificial feeding study that intentionally exaggerates the exposure potential because it is designed to calculate a no-effect concentration for clothianidin. Although the colony was artificially provided with a spiked sugar solution, the bees were allowed to forage freely in the environment, so there is less stress (which can be a contributing variable) than if they were completely confined to cages. This protocol was developed jointly by Bayer and the EPA several years ago and it is now being applied to other compounds. Based on these results, we believe the data support the establishment of a no-effect concentration of 20 ppb for clothianidin, which is consistent to that of other neonicotinoids. One of our research scientists will make a public presentation next week at the International Congress of Entomology meeting in Orlando, Florida, in which he will discuss the similarities of the findings of these studies, as well as the merits of the new test protocol. Responding to our story, a Syngenta spokesperson said: The EPA asked us to do this study and agreed the methodology. A sucrose based mechanism was used on the basis that it was required to expose bees artificially to Thiamethoxam to determine what actual level of residue would exert a toxic effect. There were transient effects observed and the reported No Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for this study was 50 ppb (parts per billion). It is accepted that residues of Thiamethoxam in pollen and nectar from seed treated crops are in the single ppb level. So this reported NOAEL of 50 ppb indicates that honeybee colonies are at low risk from exposure to Thiamethoxam in pollen and nectar of seed treated crops. This research is already in the process of being published in a forthcoming journal and is clearly already publicly available through the Freedom of Information process in the United States. After months of speculation, China has finally confirmed their first space station is heading for Earth and officials dont know where it is going to land. In a press conference last week, a senior official with the Chinese space program said the countrys first space station, Tiangong-1, which means Heavenly Palace, is expected to fall into the Earths atmosphere in the second half of 2017. While officials said most of the space lab will burn up upon re-entry into the Earths atmosphere, the location of where its remnants will land, and whether the country will have the ability to steer the space lab is unclear. Harvard Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell told The Guardian the announcement suggested China had lost control of the station and that it would re-enter the Earths atmosphere naturally. You really cant steer these things, he said. Even a couple of days before it re-enters we probably wont know better than six or seven hours, plus or minus, when its going to come down. Not knowing when its going to come down translates as not knowing where its going to come down. McDowell added that while most of space station would burn up, the bigger partssuch as the rocket engineswouldnt burn up completely and just the slightest change in atmospheric conditions could nudge the landing site from one continent to the next. There will be lumps of about 100kg or so, still enough to give you a nasty wallop if it hit you, he said. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiiEtV_bF00 The 34-foot-long space station was in service for four and a half years, two and a half years longer than it was built for, and served as a stepping-stone toward a larger space complex that China wants to launch into Earths orbit around 2020. Tiangong-1 has obtained a great deal of application and science data, which is valuable in mineral resources investigation, ocean and forest application, hydrologic and ecological environment monitoring, land use, urban thermal environment monitoring and emergency disaster control. Remarkable application benefits have been achieved, CMSE officials wrote in a 2014 statement. It provided timely data during Chinas Yuyao flood disaster in 2013, and collected imagery of a devastating Australian forest fire as well. Encouraged by the Obama administrations shelving of the Keystone XL pipeline and its revoked authorization for construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline on federal lands, activists are now eyeing new battles. At least 14 new pipeline projects are in the works, carrying both oil and natural gas. These projects involve at least 24 states, adding to the existing 2.5 million miles of energy pipelines in the U.S.the largest network in the world. Driven by low natural gas prices and the fracking boom, these new pipelines will cross major urban areas as well as important watersheds. Some of the proposed pipelines being monitored by activists. Oil Change International/E&E Publishing Supporters say that they supply energy needs for many communities, provide jobs and are safer for oil transport than truck or rail. Take the case of the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline expansion. Running from Louisiana through the Southeast all the way to Long Island, New York, the project is an expansion of an existing Transco pipeline operated by Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Williams Companies. Counting branch pipelines, Transco is a 10,200-mile system that can move 10.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. The company transports 10 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S., but it was built to move gas mainly from the Gulf of Mexico to the Northeast. Now, the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania provides lower-cost gas and the Atlantic Sunrise will be reconfigured to move product south. In 2014, 1,370 wells were being drilled in the Marcellus, with high-yield wells using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The Marcellus provides more than 36 percent of the shale gas produced in the U.S. Williams Companies said that construction of the pipeline expansion in Pennsylvania will create 2,300 jobs for one year, with 15 permanent full-time jobs after that for operation and maintenance. Citing U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) statistics, the companys website states that pipelines are the safest method for transporting energy. They add that their safety practices include 24/7 monitoring of the pipeline. But critics arent convinced. While pipelines are, statistically, far safer than trucks or trains, When a pipeline does fail, the consequences can be catastrophic, ProPublica said. On a quiet Thursday evening, six years ago this month, a massive blast shattered the peace of San Bruno, California, as a tower of fire erupted from a natural gas pipeline under the city of 41,000. Whipped by fierce winds, the blaze killed eight people and severely injured 58. It destroyed or damaged 55 homes. Last month, a federal jury convicted Pacific Gas & Electric of obstructing the investigation and violating pipeline safety laws both before and after the explosion. From October 2015 to February 2016, the largest methane leak in U.S. history spewed out of a natural gas storage field near Porter Ranch, California, releasing 94,500 tons of the powerful greenhouse gas. The leak sickened thousands and forced the temporary relocation of more than 5,000 households. Methane absorbs heat more effectively than carbon dioxide. NASA: Porter Ranch Gas Leak Was So Big It Could Be Seen From Space https://t.co/AToTYowaYC @energyaction @tcktcktck EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) June 17, 2016 In the first two decades after its release, methane is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. Southern California agreed to pay $4 million to settle criminal charges but still faces civil actions. In March, the Los Angeles Times found leaks in 229 natural gas storage fields in California, and said that they are often left untreated for months. Oil-carrying pipelines may leak or rupture, creating dangerous spills. In 2010, an Enbridge Energy pipeline released 840,000 gallons of heavy tar sands oil into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan. Oil flowed for 17 hours before the pipeline was shut down. Cleanup costs reached $1.2 billion, making this the most expensive on-shore oil spill in U.S. history. The company agreed to a $177 million settlement, which also included violations relating to a 269,000 gallon pipeline spill in Illinois. And in 2011, an ExxonMobil pipeline spilled 42,000 gallons of crude oil into the Yellowstone River, agreeing Wednesday to a $12 million settlement. Enbridge, the company responsible for the Kalamazoo River spill, is now seeking to pump 800,000 barrels of tar sands crude per day through North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin by expanding its Alberta Clipper pipeline. This facility crosses the Great Lakes and Mississippi River, along with tribal lands including Fond du Lac, Red Lake Nation and Leech Lake Indian Reservation. Enbridge is also behind the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, which threatens the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia. While the Obama administration has put a stop to the Dakota Access Pipeline, it has permitted two pipelines linking the Permian Basin in Texas with customers in Mexico. Despite the administrations legacy of conservation actions and its role in the historic Paris climate agreement, fossil fuel development continues unabated. The U.S. Energy Information Administrations Annual Energy Outlook 2016 projects a 55 percent increase in natural gas production by 2040. The currently planned gas production expansion in Appalachia would make meeting U.S. climate goals impossible, states a July 2016 report published by Oil Change International. Which brings us back to the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. The state is enjoying a boom to the tune of more than $10 billion in pipeline projects. Production from the Marcellus gas wells is outpacing the capacity to bring it to market. Thats why the Atlantic Sunrise project is seen as key to the states economy. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has voiced concerns about the pipeline. In a June 27 letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), EPA Associate Director Jeffrey D. Lapp criticized FERCs draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). [The] EPA is concerned that the selection of the current preferred alternative may result in significant adverse environmental impacts, the letter states. The EPA also voiced concerns about terrestrial resources, including interior forests, aquatic resources, rare, threatened and endangered species. The rush to build pipelines may soon result in overcapacity. Referring to two competing projects in the Mid-Atlantic, the Atlantic Coast pipeline and the Mountain Valley pipeline, the Southern Environmental Law Center said in a report published last week that they would be unnecessary if the Atlantic Sunrise project is completed and a proposed upgrade to an existing Columbia Gas pipeline goes through. Hundreds of activists, joined by high-profile allies including Susan Sarandon, Shailene Woodley and Josh Fox, rallied outside the U.S. District Court in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe on Aug. 24. Against this background, activists look askance at every new pipeline proposal. Protests have taken place against the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline in both Pennsylvania and at FERCs office in Washington. The Sierra Club in Pennsylvania is working to stop the pipeline. Elsewhere in the state, both the EPA and National Park Service have condemned FERCs DEIS for the Penn East pipeline, which would connect the Marcellus Shale to markets in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The proposed Pilgrim Pipeline is under attack in New York and New Jersey by residents and numerous conservation groups. More than 60 towns and cities in the two states have passed resolutions opposing the pipeline, which would carry oil across major groundwater aquifers and two aqueducts feeding New York Citys public water supply. https://twitter.com/climatehawk1/statuses/776224281789210624 are cued up to be the next hot spots. They have river crossings, and there are such historic grounds of American historyliterally land given by George Washington to families during the wars, Bold Alliance President Jane Fleming Kleeb said. As pipeline builders take private property, desecrate sacred Native American land and attack protesters with dogs and mace, angry citizens prepare for future battles. In a win for climate activists and the anti-fracking movement, and a blow to fossil fuel polluters and the federal regulatory agencies that enable them, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) denied a key permit to companies seeking to build a 124-mile fracked gas pipeline. The Constitution Pipeline Projecta joint venture between four oil and gas companieswas proposed to transport fracked natural gas from Susquehanna County in Pennsylvania through Broome, Chenango, Delaware and Schoharie counties in New York to existing interstate pipelines. The pipeline route would have crossed hundreds of streams and wetlands, including those supplying drinking water to families along the proposed route. Using the power granted under the Clean Water Act, DEC officials rejected the companies permit application, citing damage the project would do to water supplies along the pipeline route. Today is an incredible Earth Day! Thank you again to Governor Cuomo and the Department of Environmental Conservation for putting the protection of our precious water and the public health and safety of New Yorkers ahead of the special interests of the oil and gas industry, Mark Ruffalo, advisory body member of New Yorkers Against Fracking, said. This is what real climate leadership looks like. The nonprofit environmental law organization Earthjustice has been staunchly opposed to the project and represented a coalition of groupsCatskill Mountainkeeper, Riverkeeper, Clean Air Council, Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, and the Pennsylvania and Atlantic chapters of Sierra Clubin pipeline approval proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC.) Last month FERC gave the go-ahead to pipeline developers to clear-cut 20 miles of trees along the pipelines planned route through Pennsylvania. Pointing to the fact that New York State had not yet issued a permit, Earthjustice and other environmental groups called FERCs move premature and illegal. New Yorks rejection of the project today bolsters support for criticism of FERC as an agency that rubber stamps fossil fuel infrastructure projects. The DECs decision comes as world leaders gathered in New York City to sign the historic Paris climate agreement. More than 170 countries, including those responsible for the bulk of the worlds climate pollution, signed the commitment to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. Heres what Earthjustice attorney Moneen Nasmith had to say about todays announcement: Today in New York City, world leaders gathered to sign the COP 21 climate agreement. Today in Albany, state leaders displayed precisely the leadership necessary to help us meet the goals of this historic climate treatyby choosing to protect New York States waterways and reject a massive fossil fuel infrastructure project. The 124-mile Constitution pipeline, planned to run through five counties and two states, and hundreds of waterways is the sort of massive fossil fuel investment that would have locked our region into continued extraction and burning of fossil fuels and irreparably damaged precious water resources at a time when we need instead to be protecting these resources and speeding the transition to 100 percent renewable energy for all. World leaders and our leaders in New York State are doing whats necessary. Unfortunately their efforts are undermined by rogue agencies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission which is failing to do its job and evaluate the environmental and climate impacts of the massive fossil fuel infrastructure projects it approves. FERC is an outlier agency that, with every day, is exposed as being drastically out of step with its peers. Its time for fossil fuel industry enablers and apologists to step aside and let the rest of us continue the work necessary to solve the climate crisis and transition our society to 100 percent renewable energy. Food & Water Watchs executive director Wenonah Hauter agrees: Governor Andrew Cuomos smart decision to reject the Constitution Pipeline sends a clear message: New Yorkers health and safety will not be sacrificed for fossil fuel industry profits. Just a year after his monumental decision to ban fracking statewide, Cuomo has clearly embraced the urgings of thousands of grassroots activists: Clean, renewable energy is the only responsible path forward for New York. This latest act by the governor against fracked gas infrastructure sets a bold example for all public officials in America: Environmental leaders dont frack, and they dont tolerate new fracking infrastructure either. The Cuomo administration set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. The state would not be able to meet that by swapping out one fossil fuel for another. Thats what new pipelines and gas-fired power plants would doand why rejecting the Constitution pipeline was the only sensible option. The world needs maple syrup, not climate chaos: 7 Arrested at 'Pancakes Not Pipelines' Protest at FERC https://t.co/Ba3W3KFWea via @ecowatch Dr. Sandra Steingraber (@ssteingraber1) March 24, 2016 YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Leonardo DiCaprio: The World Is Now Watching Watch: River Explodes Into Flames From Methane Coming From Nearby Fracking Sites 12 Arrested in Earth Day-Themed Protest Against Gas Storage in Seneca Lakes Salt Caverns 7 Arrested at Pancakes Not Pipelines Protest at FERC The civil disobedience movement of which Im a part, We Are Seneca Lake, opposes the transformation of a beautiful upstate New York lakeshore into a giant storage depot for natural gas from out-of-state fracking operations. To that end, whenever possible, we like to lend a hand to those who are also fighting out-of-state fracking operations, including pipelines. So on Friday, six Seneca Lake defenders drove across the border to stand with our brothers and sisters in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania who oppose the seizure, via eminent domain, of the Holleran-Zeffer maple grove and its transformation into a 120-foot-wide right-of-way for the proposed 128-mile-long Constitution Pipeline. We Are Seneca Lake defenders joined two dozen other protesters in the Holleran-Zeffer maple grove. Photo credit: Colleen Boland This pilgrimage is one that many others have made before us ever since Jan. 29 when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a partial Notice to Proceed with tree-cutting along the Pennsylvania portion of the pipeline, which will carry natural gas from the fracking fields of northeastern Pennsylvania into Schoharie County, New Yorkand, from there, throughout New England, Canada and possibly to overseas markets. After visiting the maple grove, we attended the court hearing where Judge Malachy Mannion of the U.S. District Court in Scranton was ruling on whether the five defendants were guilty of contempt of court for obstructing tree cutting on their property and whether his previous order allowing the tree-cutting to make way for a shale gas pipeline could be challenged in court. Accompanying us on yesterdays road trip was our beloved videographer, Bob Nilsson. Nilsson had a particularly dramatic day. First, en route to the maple farm, while filming a chainsaw-wielding group of tree cutters on a nearby property, he was charged by one of them and nearly punched out. This is Bob Nilsson, videographer for We Are Seneca Lake. Note: his name is Bob. Not Jeff. Photo credit: Colleen Boland Then, later that afternoon, while Nilsson was seated in the back of the courtroom in Scranton, a witness under oath wrongly fingered him as Jeff, an individual who was alleged to have participated in obstructing a tree-cutting crew in the Holleran-Zeffer maple grove on Feb. 10. The witnessretired state trooper Monty Morgan who now works security for the pipeline companyclaimed that he recognized the gray sweatshirt and goatee. From up on his bench, Judge Mannion sized up our videographers clothing and facial hair. Is your name Jeff? What is your name, sir? My name is Bob Nilsson. But that single case of mistaken identity may ultimately have helped to play a role in the final verdict of that hearing. The lawyer who argued the case for the defense, Mike Ewall of Energy Justice Network, went on to demonstrate that Morgan could identify none of the defendants among those who were said to have prevented workers from cutting trees in recent weeks. (Energy Justice Network is the only staffed organization in northeast Pennsylvania supporting landowners facing eminent domain). Read page 1 Ruling that the lawyers for pipeline company, Oklahoma-based Williams Partners, had inadequate proof of identity, the judge dismissed the contempt of court citation against the five defendants. The five had stood accused of flaunting the judges previous order to allow the tree cuttingwhich itself upheld the decision of FERC when it denied a stay on cutting the familys maple trees earlier this month. The pipeline right-of-way requires the destruction of 200 maples on this farm aloneroughly 80 percent of the familys sugaring trees. We consider this a victory because the judge found insufficient proof of contempt, Ewall told me after the hearing ended. Constitution Pipeline Company is threatening this familys livelihood for a pipeline that may never be built. They still dont have FERCs permission to construct, yet they bully and intimidate landowners while offering paltry compensation for taking their land. Megan Holleran, 29, a family spokeswoman, agreed: This is the best outcome that we could have hoped for. She seemed visibly relieved at the ruling, noting that her mother was one of the defendants. We still have hope that the Constitution pipeline company will wait to cut trees until they have construction permission. We will continue to ask for that. At the U.S. District Court in Scranton, family spokeswoman Megan Holleran speaks with the landowners. attorney, Michael Ewall after the hearing that found insufficient evidence to charge five of her family members with contempt. Photo credit: Colleen Boland But, for those who support maple sap lines over gas pipelines, the Holleran familys triumph over the contempt charge was the only good news of the dayand could prove a Pyrrhic victory in the end. The maple trees themselves were put on the literal chopping block. Judge Mannion reaffirmed his earlier decision to grant eminent domain status to the pipeline company and made clear in his ruling that, from here on out, he will direct U.S. marshals to arrest and detain people interfering with tree cutting and that violations of this order may result in other penalties, including the costs of additional security and the costs to the pipeline company for delays. Further, he warned the landowners that they have an affirmative duty to remove people from their land who intend to obstruct the tree cuttingor they themselves will be compelled to pay such costs. Survey stakes mark the path of the proposed Constitution pipeline as it cuts through the Holleran-Zeffer familys maple grove near New Milford, Pennsylvania. Photo credit: Colleen Boland In other words, the property owners cannot stop their trees from falling and have no right to tell the FERC-approved tree cutters to get off their land even if those trees are the basis of the family business. the owners do not consent to the seizing of their property by eminent domain to serve the needs of a pipeline company hellbent on fossil fuel expansion. the sap is already running in the sap-gathering lines, and e ven if the maple sugar season is heartbreakingly early this year and the emergency of fossil-fuel induced climate change hangs over us all, and any hope of survival depends on many more trees pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and much less natural gas heading to burner tips. As the federal judge in a federal courthouse made clear yesterday, with me and an ill-treated videographer bearing witness, the rule of law dictates that the trees must fall. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Mark Ruffalo: Theres No Fracking That Can Be Done Safely Harvard Study: U.S. Likely Culprit of Global Spike in Methane Emissions Lawsuit Filed Over Oklahomas Fracking Earthquakes as Its Third Largest Quake Is Felt in 7 Other States Second Review of EPAs Fracking Study Urges Revisions to Major Statements in Executive Summary Cowboys and Indians are at it again. Americans who dont live in the West may think that the historic clash of Native Americans and pioneering settlers is long past because the Indians were, after all, defeated and now drive cars, watch television, and shop at Walmart. Not so. That classic American narrative is back big time, only the Indians are now the good guys and the cowboyswell, their right-wing representatives, anywayare on the warpath, trying to grab 640 million acres of public lands that they can plunder as if it were yesteryear. Meanwhile, in the Dakotas, Americas Manifest Destiny, that historic push across the Great Plains to the Pacific (murdering and pillaging along the way), seems to be making a return trip to Sioux country in a form that could have planetary consequences. @mikewfritz / Twitter Energy Transfer Partners is now building the Dakota Access Pipeline, a $3.7 billion oil slick of a project. Its slated to go from the Bakken gas and oil fracking fields in northern North Dakota across 1,100 miles of the rest of the Dakotas and Iowa to a pipeline hub in Illinois. From there, the oil will head for refineries on the Gulf Coast and ultimately, as the emissions from fossil fuels, into the atmosphere to help create future summers so hot no one will forget them. Keep in mind that, according to global warmings terrible new math, theres enough carbon in those Bakken fields to roast the planetif, that is, the Sioux and tribes allied with them dont stop the pipeline. This time, in other words, if the cavalry does ride to the rescue, the heroes on horseback will be speaking Lakota. Last Stand at Standing Rock If built as planned, the Dakota Access Pipeline will snake through the headwaters of the Missouri River, a life-giving source of fresh water for millions of people who live downstream, including Native Americans. Its supposed to pass under that river just a few miles from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation that straddles North and South Dakota. Protestors point out that, eventually, the pipeline is likely to leak into that vital watershed and the contamination could prove catastrophic. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which green-lighted the projects design, and Energy Transfer Partners have continued to insist that there is no such riskeven though, suspiciously enough, they decided to change the pipelines route to avoid the water supply of North Dakotas capital, Bismark. As ever, tribal leaders point out, they were ignored rather than consulted in the planning stages, even though the project was to pass directly through their lands. We Stand in Solidarity with Sioux Nation to Stop Dakota Access Pipeline EcoWatch https://t.co/ldsZh4Zzg4 @IdleNoMoreNews @NoTarSands EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) September 1, 2016 When the Keystone XL pipeline, slated to bring especially carbon-heavy tar sands from Alberta, Canada, to the U.S. Gulf Coast, was killed thanks to years of fierce environmental protests, the stakes were raised for the Dakota Access Pipeline. Keystone was a disaster for the energy industry. In its wake, opponents claim, the new project was fast-tracked without the usual environmental reviews so that construction could be completed before a Keystone-style opposition formed. Fast as they were, it turns out that they werent fast enough. Keep in mind that such a project wasnt exactly a first for the native peoples of the region. In the wake of their defeat and confinement to reservations in the 19th century, they lived through a profound transformation of their landscape. Settlers let cattle loose on meadows cleared of wolves, cougars and bears. The rude stamp of progress followed: fences, roads, dams, mines, sawmills, railroads, power lines, towns, condos, resorts. And in the 21st century, vistas increasingly pockmarked with frackings drill rigs and service roads. In the Dakota prairies, hundreds of species of grass and flowers were replaced by monocultures of soy and corn, while millions of cattle were substituted for herds of free-roaming bison. As recently as the 1950s and 1960s, the neighboring Sioux and Cheyenne lost 200,000 more acres of valuable reservation farmland to dams built without their permission. Entire villages had to relocate. The Dakota Access Pipeline is just the latest of these assaults and yet, in every way, its potentially more disastrous. As Lakota Chairman David Archambault puts it, To poison water is to poison the substance of life. Slaughter, internment and neglect were bad enough, say tribal leaders, but threatening the peoples life-giving water was the last straw. As a result, thousands of Native Americans drawn from 280 tribes across the country and even around the world are now camping out at the construction site where the Dakota Access Pipeline nears the tip of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Almost 2 million signatures have been gathered on a petition opposing the pipeline, dozens of environmental groups have signed on to the resistance and tribes nationwide have expressed their solidarity. On Sept. 3, the private security guards hired by Energy Transfer Partners used pepper spray and dogs on those trying to block the pipeline. This eruption of violence halted work until U.S. District Judge James Boasberg could rule on the tribes request for an injunction to block construction while its case was heard in court. On Sept. 9, while conceding that the United States relationship with Indians has been contentious and tragic, he denied that request. Then, in a move described even by the Sioux as stunning, the Obama administration suddenly stepped between the protesters and the pipeline construction crews. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior and even the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers called for a halt to the process until the permitting procedure could be reviewed. Although putting an oil pipeline under a major river should have triggered an environmental review, the Corps chose not to do one. Now, it will take a second look. The administration also committed itself to finding better ways to include Native Americans in future land-use decisions. Where this goes next is anyones guess. The construction halt could, of course, be lifted if the protesters were to disperse under a false sense of victory. The Sioux now plan to litigate vigorously against the pipeline. One prediction, however, is easy enough. The unity and purpose experienced by the people in that encampment will resonate powerfully for years to come. A movement has been born along the banks of the Missouri River. Native Americans have played the crucial role in this campaign to keep it in the ground, just as they were leaders in the successful struggle to block the Keystone XL pipeline, the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline that would have carried dirty crude across Canada to the Pacific, and the building of a massive coal export port on Canadas Pacific coast. As Native American leader Winona LaDuke puts it, For people with nothing else but land and a river, I would not bet against them. This Town Aint Big Enough for the Both of Us Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the cowboys have been engaged in a not-so-old-fashioned range war over who can best manage 640 million acres of public lands now owned collectively by the American people. Backed by the Koch Brothers and their American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) legislators across the American Westwhere most of the public lands are locatedare calling on the federal government to cede control and management of them to counties and states. This would include some of our most beloved national parks. In Utah where I live, the Republican-dominated legislature has put forward the Public Lands Initiative (PLI). Its the latest round in a 30-year feud pitting conservationists and businesses tied to tourism and recreation against ranchers and miners. At stake: whether to give the last publicly controlled wild places in the state formal wilderness status and federal protection or (though this isnt often directly said) let private interests exploit the hell out of them. Every few years the Utah legislatures cowboy caucus has pushed just such a wilderness bill filled with poison pills and potentially devastating loopholes that the local conservation community cant abide. Billed this time as a potential grand bargain to settle who controls public lands and how they can be used, the PLI has proven no different. It was, in fact, generated by local fears that President Obama might use his wide-ranging powers under the Antiquities Act to create a new national monument in the state as he left the Oval Office. This was exactly what Bill Clinton did in 1996, establishing the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument on 1.9 million acres of land in southern Utahs spectacular canyon country, already the home of five national parks. That 1906 act, passed while Teddy Roosevelt was in the White House, gives the president wide-ranging authority to create national monuments from public lands in order to protect significant natural, cultural or scientific features. Since activities like drilling for oil and gas, mining, timber cutting and grazing are barred or tightly restricted on such protected lands, Western politicians tend to regard them as a tool wielded by conservationists to suppress economic development. Grave Robbing for Fun and Profit Sure enough, the nightmare of the cowboys is being realized. A coalition of five tribes, all either presently in Utah or claiming ancestral lands there, is now pushing a bold proposal for just such a national monumenta park co-managed by the five tribes and the U.S. National Park Service (which in itself would be a significant first for the Native American community). It would include 1.9 million acres of the ancestral grounds of the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Ute Mountain and Ute Indian tribes and would be known as the Bears Ears after the areas most famous landmark, twin buttes that are said to resemble a bears ears. Interior Secretary Sally Jewel recently toured the proposed monument and was amazed by what she saw, including spectacular cliff-house ruins, as well as paintings and rock carvings depicting clan signs, shamanic visions and ghostly herds of bighorn sheep and elk. Bears Ears would possess more than 100,000 archaeological sites, including many of the oldest and most spectacular ruins in the U.S. Members of the coalition of tribes regard them and the ground littered with their ancestors artifacts and bones as sacred. A grassroots group, Utah Dine Bikeyah, did extensive groundwork collecting data and interviews to create cultural maps of the region. The extraordinary archaeological and historical record they built effectively made their case that the ancestors of the coalition tribes have relied on that landscape for hunting, gathering and ceremonial activities for centuries. The Utah conservation community, which had mapped out its own plans for such a monument, stepped aside for the tribal proposal. Protecting the Bears Ears is considered an urgent matter. A mere handful of rangers currently patrol thousands of square miles of rugged canyons where the looting of archaeological sites for fun and profit is a rural tradition. In remote outposts like Blanding, Utah, Indian grave robbing was considered an acceptable family pastime until agents from the FBI infiltrated the black market for artifacts and busted a prominent local family. Ute leader Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk expresses a motivating concern of the tribal leaders. Without swift action we fear that the archaeological and cultural riches of the Bears Ears will suffer shameful, disgraceful dissolution and obliteration, she said. Her fear is well founded. In recent years, for instance, rural county commissioners have led illegal all-terrain-vehicle rallies on a route through Recapture Canyon that Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rangers shut to motorized traffic because it crosses several key archaeological sites. State and county politicians were not content to challenge the BLMs closure of that canyon in court. Instead, they openly promoted such rides to defy the feds. The last of these protests in 2014 did, in fact, significantly damage unprotected archeological sites. The indigenous community saw it as a shocking show of disrespect, like driving directly over cemetery graves. The well-armed vigilantes who rode through Recapture Canyon were led by Ryan Bundy, son of Cliven Bundy and the famous hothead of the Bundy clan. You may remember the colorful Bundy boys. After all, they became the stars of the cowboy rebellion against federal regulation on public lands. In 2014, BLM rangers were dispatched to Nevada to remove Cliven Bundys cows from lands on which they had been grazing illegally for 20 years. The feds claimed that he owed the taxpayers a million bucks in unpaid grazing fees. He, on the other hand, insisted that such public lands belonged to the ranchers whose grandparents first grazed them. The rangers sent to enforce the law were met by hundreds of armed cowboys, many of whom took up sniper positions around them. Faced with such overwhelming firepower and the prospect of bloodshed, they withdrew and a range war was on. The Gang That Couldnt Shoot Straight That retreat in Nevada undoubtedly emboldened the Bundy clan and their militia allies to seize Oregons Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January 2016. Well-armed, they occupied the visitor center at that bird refuge, leaning on every cowboy cliche in the book. They dressed the part with chaps, boots, buckles and Stetson hats, carried American flags, and regularly posed with their horses for news photographers. In the end, despite the Marlboro Man look and the Clint Eastwood demeanor, the Bundyites came across as the gang that couldnt shoot straight. The constitutional revolution they wanted to spark by seizing Malheur fizzled amid a festival of cognitive dissonance and irony: men carrying assault rifles and threatening to use them proclaimed themselves peaceful protesters and, while declaring it off limits, attempted to return land to the American peopleland that they already owned. Federal agents eventually arrested all of the principal players in both the earlier Nevada standoff and the Malheur fiasco, except for one killed at a roadblock when he charged armed rangers and reached for his gun. Trials began on Sept. 7 and are slated to last for months. Given the open hostility of state and local politicians to the protection of sacred sites, as well as their willingness to break the law and offer tacit support for vigilantes like the Bundys, tribal leaders decided to take their concerns about protecting their ancestral grounds to the top. A delegation traveled to Washington and met with President Obama, while a media campaign was begun to persuade others to endorse the plan. A broader coalition of tribes and the conservation community rallied to the idea, especially because it was the first time that Native American tribes had proposed such a monument. The vision of a park to honor sacred indigenous lands, shaped and directed by Native Americans themselves, caught the public imagination. The New York Times and The Washington Post have both written editorials urging the president to create such a park and Utah polls show a solid majority of citizens in favor of it. Peace Pipes, Not Oil Pipes The genocidal policies that accompanied settlement across North America crested in Sioux country at the close of the 19th century. The survivors of the vanquished indigenous nations there were interned on reservations. Their children were taken from them and sent to boarding schools where their hair was cut and their language and ceremonies banished. This wasand was meant to bea form of cultural genocide. In the Bears Ears and Sioux country today, however, the culture of Native Americans endures. The descendants of those warriors who died defending their homeland and of those children taken from their families and their native cultures have proven remarkably resilient. They are once again defending their world and, as it happens, ours too, because even if you dont share the Missouri River watershed, you live on a planet that is being rapidly transformed by the sort of toxic cargo that will fill a future Dakota Access Pipeline. In the Hollywood Westerns of my youth, Indians were often one-dimensional villains who committed atrocities on good white folks trying to bring civilization to the frontier. As with so many notions I inherited in my youth, reality has turned out to be another story. Certainly, before the onslaught of colonialism, the way indigenous people across the planet viewed what we now call our environment has come to seem like sanity itself. The land, as the Sioux and other tribal peoples saw it, was a living being saturated with spirits that humans should both acknowledge and respect. The Indians whom the cowboys and bluecoats fought didnt share European concepts of cash, property, profit, progress, and, most importantly, technology. Once upon a time, we had the guns and they had the bows and arrows, so we rolled over them. But heres the wondrous thing: a story that seemed to have ended long ago turns out to be anything but over. Times have changed, and in the process the previous cast of characters has, it seems, swapped roles. An economy hooked on carbon is threatening life on Earth. The waters of seas and oceans are warming fast; the weather is becoming unpredictable and harsh. Perhaps its time to finally listen to and learn from people who lived here sustainably for thousands of years. Respecting Sioux sovereignty and protecting the sacred sites of tribes in their own co-managed national monument could write the next chapter in our American story, the one in which the Indians finally get to be heroes and heroines fighting to protect our way of life as well as their own. Reposted with permission from our media associate TomDispatch. In a major setback for environmental groups, a federal judge in California has tossed out allegations that the U.S. Forest Service allowed Nestles bottled water operation to take water from the San Bernardino National Forest on a permit that expired back in 1988. A federal court has ruled in favor of the U.S. Forest Service for allowing the Nestle to continue its use of a four-mile pipeline that siphons water from the San Bernardino National Forest. The decision regards a lawsuit filed against the Forest Service in October 2015 by the Courage Campaign Institute, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Story of Stuff Project. The groups alleged that the agency was allowing Nestle Waters North America to pipe water from public lands on a permit that had long expired. With the ruling, the multinational food and drink corporation can continue its use of a four-mile pipeline that siphons thousands of gallons of public water a day from the Strawberry Creek watershed and sell it back to the public as bottled water. The water is sold under the Arrowhead brand. U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal wrote in a Sept. 20 order that since the Forest Service received a request to renew the permit in May 1987, the effort was considered a timely and sufficient application for renewal, thus keeping the original permit valid. Bernal rejected the plaintiffss argument that the Forest Services failure to act on the May 1987 request renders the permit invalid. Plantiffs do not identify, and the court cannot find, any authority holding that an agencys failure to act within a reasonable time invalidates a special use permit, Bernal wrote. The decision was criticized by the three environmental groups that initiated the lawsuit. Federal Court Denies Request to Turn Off Nestle Spigot Despite Decades of Water-taking in San Bernardino Nati https://t.co/rzY46NRAOm Center for Bio Div (@CenterForBioDiv) September 21, 2016 The court has just confirmed what many Americans fear, massive corporations play by a different set of rules than the rest of us, Eddie Kurtz, executive director of Courage Campaign Institute, said in reaction to yesterdays decision. Nestle has been pulling a fast one for nearly 30 years, taking a public resource, depriving plants and animals of life-sustaining water, and selling that water at an obscene profit without the right to do so, but apparently our justice system is OK with that. Were shocked by the courts decision to let Nestle continue its operations, and we will continue to stand with hundreds of thousands of Californians and people across the nation to take back control of this public water, added Michael OHeaney, executive director of the Story of Stuff Project. This fight is far from over. Lets not forget that California is experiencing its fifth year of an epic drought. The Center for Biological Diversity pointed out that in 2015 alone, Nestle had piped away an estimated 36 million gallons of water from the forest to sell as bottled water. Nestle pays an annual permitting fee of $524 for permission to run its pipeline. Reports from the end of 2015 and the summer of 2016 indicate that water levels at Strawberry Creek are at record lows, threatening local wildlife that are already dealing with the ongoing drought in Southern California, the Center for Biological Diversity said. The courts decision is disappointing, but the real tragedy lies in the fact that Strawberry Creek is drying up, dooming the plants, fish and animals that have relied on it for tens of thousands of years said Ileene Anderson, senior scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity. Bottling water is not worth sacrificing Strawberry Creek, so were considering our options for appeal. Environmentalists have long decried bottled water as wasteful, expensive, unnecessary and a major source of plastic pollution. Annie Leonard, the executive director of Greenpeace USA, argued in November: A four-year review of the bottled water industry in the U.S. and the safety standards that govern it, including independent testing of over 1,000 bottles of water found that there is no assurance that just because water comes out of a bottle it is any cleaner or safer than water from the tap. In fact tap water is tested more frequently than bottled water. Nestle Waters was not a party in the case but told EcoWatch in a prepared statement it was pleased with the ruling. The Forest Service has acknowledged that our permit is in full force and effect until the renewal process is concluded, Christopher Rieck, spokesman for Nestle Waters North America Inc., said. We look forward to working in close cooperation with them to continue to manage the Arrowhead Springs in Strawberry Canyon sustainably for the long-term. The company added that it recognizes the impact the drought is having across the state, and we have implemented new technologies in our California facilities that will conserve 55 million gallons of water each year. Nestle carefully monitors all spring sources and manages them to ensure long-term sustainability and healthy habitats, he said. Natural gas is not cleaner than coal. But thanks to boatloads of advertising and campaign contributions, oil and gas lobbyists has convinced many politicians, including President Obama, that replacing coal with natural gas is a viable way to stave off catastrophic climate change. But it isnt. The now-famous Aliso Canyon methane leak, its impacts on thousands of residents of near Porter Ranch and its damage to the climate is just the latest and most public example showing that we need to keep natural gas in the ground, not burn it. The first direct overhead photo of the leaking Aliso Canyon well pad since the leak began. Photo credit: Earthworks / Pete Dronkers The oil and gas industrys argument for natural gas boils down to this: to generate electricity, burning natural gas is cleaner than burning coal. While that is true, its only part of the story. But its the only part industry tells because its the only part they like. Unfortunately for all of us, though, natural gas is far more than just a replacement utility-scale fossil fuel. SoCalGas, a division of Sempra Energy, provides natural gas not just to power plants, but to 21 million customers in Southern California. Now youre cooking with gas, is the Bob Hope adage from the 30s and 40s as natural gas began to be piped into homes for heating and cooking. To look at it another way, the leaking Aliso Canyon gas storage facility supplies millions of kitchen ovens with the blue flame prized by home chefs. But to see the true cost of natural gas we need to look beyond the burner. The environmental and community health damage caused by fracked natural gas extraction is well known at this point, and science is confirming its danger with every new peer-reviewed study. Californians attention turned to the problem of aging pipeline infrastructure in our cities, when a suburban neighborhood in the town of San Bruno was destroyed in a 2010 natural gas pipeline explosion. Then Nathan Phillips at Boston University used gas analyzers to develop 3-D methane maps in urban environments, estimating 7-15 percent of global manmade methane pollution could be coming from pipes in cities bringing natural gas to consumers. Until Aliso Canyon, we werent looking at the step in the supply chain before urban pipelinesstorage facilities. Refined natural gas has been stored in former oil wells at Aliso Canyon since the 70s; when the oil wells were emptied, they were repurposed for storage of natural gas. The volcano of methane that is now Californias largest single source of greenhouse gases is coming from a broken well that was last inspected in 1976. The LA Weekly reports that the wells safety valve was inexplicably removed in 1979. Among the hundred at the facility, other wells also lack safety valves. Aliso Canyon was a disaster waiting to happen. The facility was old, poorly managed and experienced abysmal oversight. Gov. Jerry Brown finally declared a state of emergency last week, directing state agencies to take unprecedented action on underground gas storage in the Golden State. There are more than 300 similar facilities around the country. We need to to make sure that we dont have other climate and health disasters waiting to happen in California and around the U.S. We need: An emergency statewide effort to shut down facilities that lack basic safety equipment, including Aliso Canyon. Gas storage wells that lack shut off valves should be taken offline before other Porter Ranches happen. Increased oversight and management of these facilities. Support for residents affected by pollution, including health care as well as financial compensation. A rapid transition for consumers away from gas. The Solutions Project has mapped out a 100 percent fossil fuel free plan by 2050 . This transition would protect communities from underground storage risks, gas line leakage and explosions like the one in San Bruno. Weve already wrapped our heads around a rooftop solar revolution and what it might mean for distributed energy generation rather than big boxes of fossil fuels. Now its time to start planning to get rid of the blue flames on our stovetops, water heaters and furnaces. There is an electric or solar electric alternative to every natural gas appliance. We cant just cut natural gass electric cord; we have to cut the pipeline too. What Is Climate Change? Is It Different From Global Warming? Climate change is actually not a new phenomenon. Scientists have been studying the connection between human activity and the effect on the climate since the 1800s, although it took until the 1950s to find evidence suggesting a link. Since then, the amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases) in the atmosphere have steadily increased, taking a sharp jump in the late 1980s when the summer of 1988 became the warmest on record. (There have been many records broken since then.) But climate change is not a synonym for global warming. The term global warming entered the lexicon in the 1950s, but didnt become a common buzzword until a few decades later when more people started taking notice of a warming climate. Except climate change encompasses a greater realm than just rising temperatures. Trapped gases also affect sea-level rise, animal habitats, biodiversity and weather patterns. For example, Texas severe winter storms in February 2021 demonstrate how the climate isnt merely warming. Related: What Are The Top States For Solar Incentives? Why Is Climate Change Important? Why Does It Matter? Marc Guitard / Moment / Getty Images Despite efforts from forward thinkers such as SpaceX Founder Elon Musk to colonize Mars, Earth remains our home for the foreseeable future, and the more human activity negatively impacts the climate, the less habitable it will become. Its estimated that Earth has already warmed about one degree Celsius, or two degrees Fahrenheit, since the start of the Industrial Revolution around the 1750s, although climate change tracking didnt start until the late 1800s. That warming number may not sound like much, but this increase has already resulted in more frequent and severe wildfires, hurricanes, floods, droughts and winter storms, to name some examples. Environmental Impacts Then theres biodiversity loss, another fallout of climate change thats threatening rainforests and coral reefs and accelerating species extinction. Take rainforests, which act as natural carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But as rampant deforestation is occurring everywhere from Brazils Amazon to Borneo, fewer trees mean that rainforests are becoming carbon sources, emitting more carbon than theyre absorbing. Meanwhile, coral reefs are dying as warming ocean temperatures trigger bleaching events, which cause corals to reject algae, their main food and life source. Fewer trees, coral reefs and other habitats also equate to fewer species. Known as the sixth mass extinction, a 2019 UN report revealed that up to a million plant and animal species could become extinct within decades. Human Impact It can be easy to overlook climate change in day-to-day life, or even realize that climate change is behind it. Notice theres yet another romaine lettuce recall due to E. Coli? Research suggests that E. Coli bacteria are becoming more common in our food sources as it adapts to climate change. Cant find your favorite brand of coffee beans anymore? Or that the price has doubled? Climate change is affecting that too. Climate change is also worsening air quality and seasonal allergies, along with polluting tap water. Not least, many preliminary studies have also drawn a line between climate change and the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that is still gripping much of the world. Future pandemics are likely to happen more frequently until the root causes, such as deforestation, are addressed. Speaking of larger-scale issues, global water scarcity is already happening more frequently. The Caribbean is facing water shortages due to rising temperatures and decreased rainfall; Australias dams may run dry by 2022 as severe wildfires increase and Cape Town, South Africa has already faced running out of water. As touched upon earlier, its one thing to be inconvenienced by a lack of romaine lettuce for a couple of weeks or higher coffee bean prices, but reports warn how climate change will continue to threaten global food security, to the point of triggering a worldwide food crisis if temperatures surpass two degrees Celsius. Many of these factors are already contributing to climate migration, forcing large numbers of people to relocate to other parts of the world in search of better living conditions. Unless more immediate, drastic action is taken to combat climate change, future generations will have to contend with worst-case scenario projections by the end of the 21st century, not limited to coastal cities going underwater, including Miami; lethal heat levels from South Asia to Central Africa; and more frequent extreme weather events involving hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis, droughts, floods, blizzards and more. Related: What Are The Best Solar Companies? Whats Happening and Why? Fiddlers Ferry power station in Warrington, UK. Chris Conway / Moment / Getty Images The Earths temperature has largely remained stable until industrial times and the introduction of greenhouse gases. These gases have forced the atmosphere to retain heat, as evidenced by rising global temperatures. As the planet grows warmer, glaciers melt faster, sea levels rise, severe flooding increases and droughts and extreme weather events become more deadly. The Greenhouse Effect In the late 1800s, Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius studied the connection between the amount of atmospheric carbon and its ability to warm and cool the Earth, and while his initial calculations suggested extreme warming as carbon increased, researchers didnt start to take human-induced climate change seriously until the late 20th century. But proof of human-led climate change can be traced to the 1850s, and satellites are among the ways that scientists have been tracking increased greenhouse gases and their climate impact in more recent years. Climate researchers have also documented warmer oceans, ocean acidification, shrinking ice sheets, decreased snow amounts and extreme weather as among the events resulting from greenhouse gases heating the planet. Numerous factors contribute to the production of greenhouse gases, known as the greenhouse effect. One of the biggest causes involve burning fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, to power everything from cars to daily energy needs (electricity, heat). From 1970-2011, fossil fuels have comprised 78 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Big Ag is another greenhouse contributor, particularly beef production, with the industry adding 10 percent in 2019. This is attributed to clearing land for crops and grazing and growing feed, along with methane produced by cows themselves. In the U.S. alone, Americans consumed 27.3 billion pounds of beef in 2019. Then theres rampant deforestation occurring everywhere from the Amazon to Borneo. A 2021 study from Rainforest Foundation Norway found that two-thirds of the worlds rainforests have already been destroyed or degraded. In Brazil, deforestation reached a 12-year-high in 2020 under right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. As it stands, reports predict that the Amazon rainforest will collapse by 2064. Rainforests are important carbon sinks, meaning the trees capture and remove carbon from the atmosphere. As rainforests collapse, the remaining trees will begin emitting more greenhouse gases than theyre absorbing. Meanwhile, a recent study revealed that abandoned oil and gas wells are leaking more methane than previously believed, with U.S. wells contributing up to 20 percent of annual methane emissions. Not least is the cement industry. Cement is heavily used throughout the global construction industry, and accounts for around eight percent of carbon dioxide emissions. Natural Climate Change Granted, natural climate change exists as well, and can be traced throughout history, from solar radiation triggering the Ice Ages to the asteroid strike that rapidly raised global temperatures and eliminated dinosaurs and many other species in the process. Other sources of natural climate change impacts include volcano eruptions, ocean currents and orbital changes, but these sources generally have smaller and shorter-term environmental impacts. How We Can Combat Climate Change Participant holding a sign at the climate march on Sept. 20, 2020, in Manhattan. A coalition of climate, Indigenous and racial justice groups gathered at Columbus Circle to kick off Climate Week with the Climate Justice Through Racial Justice march. Erik McGregor / LightRocket / Getty Images While the latest studies and numbers can often feel discouraging about societys ability to prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening, theres still time to take action. As a Society In 2015 at COP 21 in Paris, 197 countries came together to sign the Paris Agreement, an international climate change treaty agreeing to limit global warming in this century to two degrees Celsius, and ideally 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels; its believed that the planet has warmed one degree Celsius since 1750. Studies show that staying within the two-degree range will prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening. Achieving this goal requires participating parties to drastically slash greenhouse gas emissions sooner rather than later. However, there have already been numerous setbacks since then, from former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrawing from the Paris Agreement in 2020 to world leaders, such as China, the worlds biggest polluter, failing to enact aggressive climate action plans. Yet many of the treaty participants have been slow to implement changes, putting the world on track to hit 3.2 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st century even if the initial goals are met. However, its worth noting that U.S. President Joe Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement in 2021, and pledged to cut greenhouse gases in half by 2030. Then theres the Montreal Protocol, a 1987 global agreement to phase out ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons, chemicals that were commonly used in air-conditioning, refrigeration and aerosols. Recent studies show that parts of the ozone are recovering, proving that a unified commitment to combatting climate change issues does make a difference. On a smaller scale, carbon offset initiatives allow companies and individuals to invest in environmental programs that offset the amount of carbon thats produced through work or lifestyle. For example, major companies (and carbon emitters) such as United Airlines and Shell have pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in part by participating in carbon offset programs that remove carbon from the atmosphere. The problem is that these companies are still producing high levels of fossil fuel emissions. While individuals can make a small impact through carbon offsets, the greater responsibility lies with carbon-emitting corporations to find and implement greener energy alternatives. This translates to car companies producing electric instead of gas vehicles or airlines exploring alternative fuel sources. It also requires major companies to rely more on solar and wind energy for their energy needs. In Our Own Lives While its up to corporations to do the heavy lifting of carbon reduction, that doesnt mean individuals cant make a difference. Adopting a vegan lifestyle, using public transportation, switching to an electric car and becoming a more conscious consumer are all ways to help combat climate change. Veganism Consuming meat relies on clearing land for crops and animals, while raising and killing livestock contributes to about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UNs Food and Agricultural Organization. By comparison, choosing a plant-based diet could reduce greenhouse gas footprints by as much as 70 percent, especially when choosing local produce and products. Public Transportation Riding public trains, subways, buses, trams, ferries and other types of public transportation is another easy way to lower your carbon footprint, considering that gas-powered vehicles contribute 95 percent of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Electric Vehicles Electric cars and trucks have come down in price as more manufacturers enter the field, and these produce far lower emissions than their gas counterparts. Hybrid vehicles are another good alternative for lowering individual emission contributions. Conscious Consumption Buying locally produced food and items is another way to maintain a lower carbon footprint, as the products arent shipped or driven long distances. Supporting small companies that are committed to sustainability is another option, especially when it comes to clothes. Fast fashion has become a popular option thanks to its price point, but often comes at the expense of the environment and can involve unethical overseas labor practices. Not least, plastic saturates every corner of the consumer market, but its possible to find non-plastic alternatives with a little research, from reusable produce bags to baby bottles. Climate Activism Those interested in becoming even more involved can join local climate action organizations. Popular groups include the Sunrise Movement, Fridays for Future, Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, to name a few. Voting, volunteering, calling local representatives and participating in climate marches are additional ways to raise your voice. Takeaway Its taken centuries to reach a climate tipping point, with just a matter of decades left to prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening. But theres still hope of controlling a warming climate as long as individuals, companies and nations make an immediate concerted effort to lower greenhouse gas emissions. As the world already experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic, a rapid unified response can make all the difference. Meredith Rosenberg is a senior editor at EcoWatch. She holds a Masters from the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in NYC and a B.A. from Temple University in Philadelphia. On June 24, foreign oil company TransCanada filed a lawsuit against the U.S. under NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, arguing that the U.S. rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline violated NAFTAs broad rights for foreign investors by thwarting the companys expectations. As compensation, TransCanada is demanding more than $15 billion from U.S. taxpayers. TransCanadas case will be heard in a private tribunal of three lawyers who are not accountable to any domestic legal system, thanks to NAFTAs investor-state system, which is also included in the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The controversial TPP would empower thousands of additional corporations, including major polluters, to follow TransCanadas example and use this private tribunal system to challenge U.S. climate and environmental policies. TransCanadas Request for Arbitration follows the Notice of Intent to submit a claim to arbitration that it filed on Jan. 6. TransCanadas attempt to make American taxpayers hand over more than $15 billion because the companys dirty Keystone XL pipeline was rejected shows exactly why NAFTA was wrong and why the even more dangerous and far-reaching Trans-Pacific Partnership must be stopped in its tracks. The TPP would empower thousands of new firms operating in the U.S, including major polluters, to follow in TransCanadas footsteps and undermine our critical climate safeguards in private trade tribunals. Today, we have a prime example of how polluter-friendly trade deals threaten our efforts to tackle the climate crisis, spotlighting the need for a new model of trade model that supports rather than undermines climate action. We urge our members of Congress to learn from this historic moment and commit to reject the TPP. Heres more information on the TPP: Environmental opposition to the TPP is mounting. Earlier in June, more than 450 environmental, landowner, Indigenous rights, and allied organizations sent a letter to Congress warning that pending trade deals like the TPP threaten efforts to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Read the Sierra Clubs report on how the TPP would roughly double the number of corporations that could follow TransCanadas example and challenge U.S. safeguards in private, unaccountable tribunals. The corporations that would gain this ability include hundreds of foreign-owned fossil fuel firms, such as the U.S. subsidiaries of BHP Billiton, one of the worlds largest greenhouse gas emitters and one of the U.S.s largest foreign investors in fracking and offshore drilling. The TPP would nearly double the number of foreign fracking firms that could challenge new U.S. fracking restrictions in private tribunals. The deal also would enable oil and gas corporations with nearly 1 million acres worth of U.S. offshore drilling leases to use this private tribunal system to try to undermine new restrictions on offshore drilling. No prior U.S. trade deal has granted such broad rights to corporations with such broad interests in maintaining U.S. fossil fuel dependency. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Stanford Professors New Zero-Net Energy Home Sets the Standard for Green Living Diablo Shutdown Marks End of Atomic Era Tesla Makes $2.8 Billion Offer to Acquire SolarCity Koch Brothers Continue to Fund Climate Change Denial Machine, Spend $21M to Defend Exxon (Photo: L'Osservatore Romano.)Pope Francis meets with Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan at the Vatican Aug. 29, 2016. Pope Francis has warned that when journalism is based on rumors or on stoking public fear, it can become a "form of terrorism" and a "weapon of destruction" of both people and nations. The Pope met Sept. 22 with the Italian National Council of the Order of Journalists at the Vatican, telling them that truth, professionalism and respect for human dignity are essential elements in their work. The pontiff told them that there are few professions that have "so much influence on society like that of journalism." He noted that they are usually the ones who are there to record what has been called, the "first draft of history," and "the building of the news agenda and introducing people to the interpretation of events." Francis also urged journalists not to stoke fear regarding phenomena such as migration forced by war or hunger, Crux reports. "I have often spoken of rumors as 'terrorism,' of how you can kill a person with the tongue," Francis said. "If this is valid for an individual person, in the family or at work, so much more it's valid for journalists, because their voice can reach everyone, and this is a very powerful weapon," he said. The Pope said, however, criticism is legitimate, as well as the "denunciation of evil, but this must always be done respecting the other, his life, his affections." He said this because an article is replaced from one day to the other, but the life of a person "unjustly defamed can be destroyed forever." Francis addressed close to 400 journalists from group and he took time after his remarks, to greet each one of them. The pontiff also said that when practiced with professionalism, journalism is a fundamental element of an independent and pluralist society. He named three essential elements in the work of a journalist, that he said, could serve to "improve the society in which we live." These are: to love the truth, to embody professionalism and to respect human dignity. On the first, the pope said that it's not about believing in something or not, but about being honest, and never publishing a story - either in print, radio, TV or social media- knowing it's false. 24 HOURS A DAY NEWS CYCLE "I understand that in today's journalism, with an uninterrupted flux of facts and events told 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it's not always easy to get to the truth, or even to get close to it," Francis said. He also referred to a concept he's used when talking to priests, saying that everything in life is black or white. "Even in journalism, it's necessary to discern between the shades of gray of the events being told," he said, particularly when it's about topics such as politics or war, that are rarely the result of clear dynamics. Living with professionalism, according to Francis, means not to pin one's profession to the interests of others, either economic or political. "It's important to always reflect on the fact that, across history, dictatorships- of any orientation or 'color'- have always tried to not only undertake the media, but also to impose new rules to the profession," he said. Francis called journalists to be an "instrument of construction," factors in the common good, capable of avoiding the temptation of fomenting confrontation and instead promoters of a "culture of encounter." In decades past, governors have leveraged their bully pulpit to advance increasingly bold education agendas. Theyve had their own children integrate schools, pledged that every child would have a laptop computer, and overhauled learning standards. Next year, theyll enjoy fresh leverage in school accountability, courtesy of the nations flagship K-12 lawand that prospect already has amped up the volume of education debate in several of this years gubernatorial contests. The Every Student Succeeds Act tosses power back to states to design their own school-accountability and teacher-evaluation systems, among other measures, after more than a decade when the federal government used the No Child Left Behind Act to set priorities for education policy nationwide. Election Watch: Governors Voters in 12 states will pick governors this year, with only five incumbents up for re-election. The winners will have considerable power to shape state education policy under the new Every Student Succeeds Act. Education policy has taken a central role in many of these states. Delaware LEFT: Democrat: John Carney RIGHT: Republican: Colin Bonini Indiana LEFT: Democrat: John Gregg RIGHT: Republican: Eric Holcomb Missouri LEFT: Democrat: Chris Koster RIGHT: Republican: Eric Greitens Montana LEFT: Democrat: Steve Bullock (Incumbent) RIGHT: Republican: Greg Gianforte New Hampshire LEFT: Democrat: Colin Van Ostern RIGHT: Republican: Chris Sununu North Carolina LEFT: Democrat: Roy Cooper RIGHT: Republican: Pat McCrory (Incumbent) North Dakota LEFT: Democrat: Marvin Nelson RIGHT: Republican: Doug Burgum Oregon LEFT: Democrat: Kate Brown (Incumbent) RIGHT: Republican: Bud Pierce Utah LEFT: Democrat: Mike Weinholtz RIGHT: Republican: Gary Herbert (Incumbent) Vermont LEFT: Democrat: Sue Minter RIGHT: Republican: Phil Scott Washington LEFT: Democrat: Jay Inslee (Incumbent) RIGHT: Republican: Bill Bryant West Virginia LEFT: Democrat: Jim Justice RIGHT: Republican: Bill Cole Source: Education Week Twelve states will pick governors Nov. 8, and two-thirds of them will be new faces regardless of the partisan outcome, as incumbents exit the stage because of term limits or other factors. Of the 12 races, six governorships are held by Democrats, five by Republicans, and one (West Virginia) by an independent. That fluid situation and the Every Student Succeeds Acts new grant of policy flexibility to the states may clear the way for a more activist stance on education policy by the nations governors, according to James B. Hunt Jr., who served as the governor of North Carolina from 1977 to 1985, and then again from 1993 to 2001. He now runs the Hunt Institute, which aims to help shape the education agenda of politicians aspiring to serve as a governor. Back in the days before [the No Child Left Behind Act], we were making huge changes to increase education resources and focusing on teacher improvement with a laser-like focus, he said. With ESSA, what youre going to see now is governors throw themselves back into the education arena. In the 12 gubernatorial races this year, school funding, finance formulas, and accountability have dominated the debates. Here are some of the hot spots to watch as the elections near: Delaware Delaware is one of the only states not to provide extra funds for students with special needs, English-language learners, and poor students, a situation creating a pitched battle between districts in the Wilmington area over which will serve which neighborhoods. Many of the states districts are reluctant to take on these students since they wont get extra money to serve them. In 2015, Democratic Gov. Jack Markell appointed a task force called the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission, made up of business leaders, parents, and district administrators, to come up with a way to address the problem. The legislation they crafted, which would have shifted more money toward high-poverty schools and redistricted parts of Wilmington, failed this year. Its now become a campaign issue for the gubernatorial candidates. I believe strongly that we need to preserve the progress that WEIC has made and build on it next year, Democratic candidate John Carney said, according to The News Journal, a Wilmington newspaper. I am, however, committed to doing whatever is necessary to give every child the quality education they deserve, particularly those facing the kinds of obstacles WEIC is most concerned about. Republican nominee Colin Bonini has said that hes an advocate of local control and opposes top-down mandates from the state. Indiana Under Republican Govs. Mitch Daniels and Mike Pence, Indianas government crafted one of the nations most aggressive and punitive school accountability systems. It grades both schools and teachers, based mostly on test scores. When botched test scores were released this year, superintendents and the states teachers revolted, complaining that the legislature had gone too far in scrutinizing public schools. Meanwhile, the state has been hit with a teacher shortage thats left several districts having to increase class sizes and use uncertified teachers. Weve seen some of the biggest changes that have impacted public education [of] any state in the union, said J.T. Coopman, the executive director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents. The things that they referred to as reforms have actually decimated public education. Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, who stepped in as the GOP nominee for governor after Pence was tapped to run for vice president on the national Republican ticket, doesnt have an extensive track record on education, though he has served under both Daniels and Pence. Thats left several observers in the state wondering in which direction he would go on education policy if he moves up to the states top job. Among our top priorities will be retaining and attracting a 21st-century workforce, ... striving to make Indianas public school system the best in the country, supporting teachers as role models, and equipping them to develop outstanding young Hoosiers, Holcomb said, according to local reports. His Democratic opponent, John Gregg, said during a debate in August that he thinks education has become too political in recent years. We also must eliminate the ISTEP testing, he said of the statewide test, according to the Princeton Daily Clarion. Teachers must be part of the solution. The rivals for the governorship will have an education-focused debate later this month at the states superintendent and school board association fall conference. Missouri While most states have seen an increase in revenue since the rebound from the Great Recession, others, for a variety of reasons, have had to make cuts to their public schools as tax revenue dropped. In Missouri, at least 15 districts have gone to four-day school weeks to save money. Many educators have lobbied the legislature to overhaul the states funding formula. A bill that would have done so failed during the 2016 legislative session. Democratic nominee Attorney General Chris Koster opposed the bill, saying it would have lowered education spending in the state. A billion dollars annually is cut from the [elementary school] budgets; infrastructure investment has come to a halt at the hands of the Republican legislature, he said at a debate this summer, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Im trying to bring some balance back to the state government. On his campaign page, Republican nominee Eric Greitens, a retired Navy SEAL, said he wants to reduce the state governments footprint. I believe in results and accountability, Greitens said. I pledge to shrink government, to eliminate waste and fraud, and to act as a budget hawk, who looks after your every dollar. North Carolina In North Carolina, Republican incumbent Pat McCrory and Democratic nominee Roy Cooper, the states attorney general, have sparred over whether teachers salaries have indeed increased over the past four years, when Republicans for the first time in decades controlled the state House, the Senate, and the governors mansion. For years, teacher pay in North Carolina had been declining and ended up near the bottom, said McCrory in a widely distributed campaign ad. But now average teacher pay next year will be over $50,000 and thats just the start. The legislature, following the lead of McCrory, has expanded the states charter school sector and given the state department of education the authority to start taking over underperforming schools and running them directlyall actions that have upset teachers. The teachers union say the legislature has damaged morale, leading to a teacher shortage in many districts. Cooper, who has been endorsed by the states teachers union, argues that, according to his staffs calculation, teachers still make among the lowest average pay in the region. I have a plan to make education a priority, ... ensuring our classrooms have the resources they need and raising teacher pay to at least the national average, said Cooper in a video posted on his website. Weve done it before and we can do it again. As enthusiasm about growth mindset spreads across schools, researchers who popularized the idea are concerned that teachers might not have the resources or understanding to use it effectively in their classrooms. And teachers themselves seem to be well aware of the gap between knowing about growth mindset and having the skills to incorporate it into their classroom strategies. In a nationwide poll of K-12 teachers conducted by the Education Week Research Center, 77 percent said they were familiar or very familiar with growth mindset, but 85 percent said they wanted more professional development in the area. Growth-mindset research suggests that students will be more engaged in learning when they understand that their talents and intellectual capabilities can strengthen through effort and strategy. Thats counter to a fixed mindset, which is the belief that such skills are inherent and unchangeable. Students with a fixed mindset are less likely to respond to mistakes by developing strategies to improve in the future, research suggests. Mindset researchers are now faced with a balancing act: encouraging educators to seek a deeper understanding of the concept without squelching the enthusiasm that got them interested in the first place. Were really at the critical juncture of whether the idea will be effectively adopted or whether its going to get discarded, said Jacquie Beaubien, a senior program manager for the Project for Education Research That Scales, or PERTS, a Stanford University research lab that investigates practical ways to put mindset research to work in K-12 schools. Without effective, research-based practices, teachers may abandon growth mindset as just another buzzword or fad, Beaubien said. Thats why the Stanford lab is offering online training modules for teachers, creating a diagnostic tool to determine if their classroom practices are supported by mindset research, and assessing their professional-development needs around the subject. In its survey of teachers, the Education Week Research Center found that 53 percent of respondents said that their use of growth mindset was a very important factor contributing to academic achievement, ranking it below others such as motivation, teaching quality, and school climate. An online poll of a national sample of more than 600 teachers who are registered users of edweek.org was conducted in May. Demand for Practical Training Its not uncommon for teachers to want more practical training in how to use mindset research, even if they are very interested in the concept, educators noted. Many teachers didnt learn about this approach to student motivation in their preservice training, instead picking up on it from books, articles, and discussions with peers. As a result, Stanford researchers working with focus groups found that those teachers often have misconceptions about the research. Among them: equating a growth mindset with a general sense of optimism, emphasizing sheer effort instead of teaching students to develop new learning strategies, and focusing on how they communicate with students rather than adapting broader classroom practices. They become very focused on labeling students behavior and not really probing whats driving that behavior, Beaubien said, adding that some teachers mistakenly identify a student with a lack of interest in a subject as someone who has a fixed mindset and a fear of making mistakes in front of his or her peers. See Also Mindset in the Classroom: A National Study of K-12 Teachers Just 35 percent of teachers surveyed by Education Weeks Research Center said their training and professional development had included strategies for collaborating with other teachers on incorporating growth-mindset concepts into their classroom practices, which researchers have identified as an important way to develop strong and meaningful approaches to using their work. Respondents did demonstrate an understanding of mindset research. A majority identified the kinds of student praise that would be more likely to nurture a growth mindset. (The Education Week Research Center consulted a panel of experts on the subject to formulate that question). And a majority of respondents reported using on a daily or weekly basis practices that experts have linked to promoting growth mindsetssuch as praising students for effort. Fewer respondents said they used practices known to lock in a fixed mindset, such as praising students for their intelligence, on a daily or weekly basis. When asked how they integrated growth mindset into their teaching practices, 33 percent of respondents said they did so by praising students for taking risks and persevering, the most popular answer. Less popular among respondents were other strategies that researchers say promote growth mindsets: using formative assessments, self-evaluation, and assignment revisions, 18 percent; encouraging multiple strategies for learning, 17 percent; and supporting peer-to-peer learning, 13 percent. Leaders of ongoing schoolwide and districtwide professional development in mindsets say those deeper changes to classroom practices are necessary to help students learn how to respond to mistakes. Staying Informed Is a Challenge Another problem identified by the Stanford labhigh teacher-turnover rates in high-poverty schoolsmakes it difficult to keep a teaching staff informed about the concept. Thats especially problematic because researchers have found that while students from low-income families are less likely to have a growth mindset, their learning is affected more dramatically than their wealthier peers when they adopt the approach to learning. Some districts, both high- and low-income, have worked to address that churn effect by making mindsets part of ongoing discussions and working groups. In Baltimore, what the Stanford researchers call a mindset revolution started when two teachers became interested in the concept and formed a group of peers in their school to read books and share effective strategies for putting it to work in classrooms. That effort has remained teacher-led as it expanded to other schools, said Tina Jablonowski, the districts coordinator of new-teacher support and development. Two years ago, she incorporated growth-mindset discussions into the districts new-teacher-induction program, which includes summer training and follow-up with a mentor for the first few years in the classroom. Teaching students how to learn and take risks and really think through their learning process was something that we didnt do in the classroom, Jablonowski said. We see students who struggle, and its almost like theyre paralyzed because they dont want to fail. An understanding of mindsets gives new teachers a way of thinking about all kinds of classroom practices, including how to grade, organize student groups, and conduct classroom discussions, she said. Thats been true in the school system in Marshing, Idaho, said Ken Price, the director of the districts 21st-century learning-center site. After a district wide training about mindsets, teachers began applying what they learned to every area of their work, even classroom management. A 5th grade teacher put signs in her room describing traits like honesty and kindness. She encouraged students to pick a trait they wanted to improve in themselves and to identify ways to do so. She shared her own answer, talking about past mistakes and regrets. When an adult shares their vulnerabilities and their hopes, then kids go, Hey, thats OK for me to do, too, Price said. While the growth mindset concept is intuitive to many teachers, it takes time and collaboration to incorporate it into classroom practices, he said. We dont have to do this perfectly all at once and we dont have to be comprehensive all at once. To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020. Tynwald president attends Gibraltar celebrations There was Isle of Man representation when Gibraltar celebrated its annual national day. President of Tynwald Steve Rodan was visiting the British Overseas Territory when they marked the occasion on September 10th. Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo invited Mr Rodan to the celebrations alongside other dignitaries. The visit also provided a chance for both countries to discuss the Brexit vote, with Gibraltar having voted strongly in favour of remaining in the European Union. In return, Chief Minister Picardo has been invited to attend Tynwald Day next year. Polls open for General Election It's election day on the Isle of Man with voters heading to the polls to pick Members of the House of Keys. There's been a big change since the 2011 General Election, with a review of constituency boundaries reducing the number of voting areas and ensuring every constituency picks two representatives. 24 MHKs will be picked across 12 constituencies to serve a five-year term in the Island's parliament. 63 candidates are standing, including 17 seeking re-election after serving in the last term. As a result, there will be several new faces in the House of Keys, with a number of current members choosing not to seek re-election. Those elected will be sworn in next week before meeting in Tynwald to pick the next Chief Minister on October 4th. Polling stations opened at 8am and those on the electoral register have until 8pm to cast their votes. The largest special economic zone (SEZ) in the country proposed by one of the biggest industrial houses, Reliance Industries, in Raigad district near Mumbai, Maharashtra was shelved after farmers refused to part with their land. It was a historic referendum which manifested participative governance in the worlds largest democracy. The book under review is based on the experiences of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Nipun Vinayak who was the collector of Raigad district, during the historic referendum. The documentation provides an insight into the process of conducting the referendum from an administrators viewpoint. The book has its limitations, considering that it is authored by a government officer. It reveals the complicated process involving one of the largest industrial houses in the country, governmental machinery, farmers, political parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). It also indicates the slyness with which the profit-driven private sector negotiates, as well as the ambiguities with which government policies are formulated. Historys silence resonates in the textual silence of the Indian Constitution on the immense scale of violence and exodus accompanying the partition of the subcontinent, despite the contemporaneity of partition and constitution writing. Clearly discernible on a closer reading of the Constituent Assembly's debates are implicit influences of partition on key constitutional decisions, such as citizenship, political safeguards for religious minorities and provisions creating a strong central tendency in the union. The constitutional memory of partition, as a freak occurrence for which the "outsider" was to be blamed, resembles the understanding of official historiography. Behind these common registers of memory lie powerful nationalist narratives of identity and unity, which indicate a deep and abiding connection between constitutional amnesia and nationalism. Julien Barnes-Dacey (European Council on Foreign Relations) Five years have passed since the beginning of the civil war in Syria and its impact on the country and the region has been devastating. In June this year, a series of attacks by the Islamic State sparked the fear of escalation and expansion of the conflict to the neighboring countries, in particular Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Similar concerns have arisen many times since the beginning of the crisis and the individual countries have dealt with the problems in different ways. Despite the influx of the refugees, the economic problems caused by the war in the neighboring countries and the attacks by the Islamists, Jordan and Lebanon have coped with the crisis well. Lebanese Hezbollah and the Jordanian army closed the border at the right time and thus prevented an uncontrollable arrival of refugees and ISIS units. Both countries have also experienced internal unrests, which they, however, endured while they continue to prevent any escalation and spread of the conflict from Syria. In Turkey, though, the situation is completely different. The Turkish government is actively involved in the Syrian crisis, which has become a big problem. Not only has Turkey exacerbated relations with its Kurdish population, it has also openly launched a campaign against the Syrian Kurds but has also failed to prevent the arrival of 2.7 million refugees. Turkeys position has also deteriorated outside the region when the downing of a Russian aircraft over the countrys borders provoked retaliatory sanctions by Russia, which has so far cost Ankara about 10 billion euros. The relations with the EU have deteriorated as well since the EU does not agree with the Turkish policy in Syria. However, in addition to the disagreement, the Union can engage in the conflict in a different way. Member States should increase financial and other support for Syrias neighbors. For example, the number of refugees in Lebanon accounts for around 25 percent of the countrys population, and therefore Lebanon is dependent on foreign aid. The EU can neither forget about the cooperation within the region, nor can it, at the same time, turn a blind eye to the policies of President Erdogan, which are targeted against the Syrians and Turkish Kurds. That does not, however, mean that the EU should rashly send resources to the region. The EUs support must arrive where it is supposed to go and not to the hands of other gunmen and gangsters, who will further destabilize the region. (The study can be downloaded here:http://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/the_war_next_door_syria_and_the_erosion_of_stability_in_jordan_lebanon_7066) Alicia Garcia Herrero and Jianwei Xu (Bruegel) China and Russia are very important partners of the EU. Russia is one of the EUs most important partners since the EU economy depends on the imports of certain goods, especially energy. China has the highest purchasing power parity. The Sino-Russian business cooperation has, however, recently changed its character. Bilateral relations, which used to be very complicated in the past, have recently been transformed into a close business cooperation. We can thus question if the deepening Sino-Russian business relationship can have a negative impact on the Union. The strengthening of the cooperation between China and Russia can be linked to Chinas membership in the World Trade Organization. Further economic convergence started occurring after 2014 when the West imposed sanctions on Russia over the annexation of the Crimea. Chinese imports to Russia increased from 2000 to 2014 by as much as 15 percent. In the context of these developments, two important questions arise. Will the increasing Sino-Russian cooperation have an impact on the Union? If this were the case, then in what sectors of the EU economy? With regards to the EU products in the Chinese market, these only complement the Russian exports. Therefore, we do not hitherto need to be overall concerned that the Russian products will be able to fully replace the EU imports in the Chinese market. What can, however, turn out to be a problem is the possibility that Chinese exports will be increasingly replacing the EU exports in the Russian market. A simulation of closer trade cooperation between Russia and China, which reduced import duties to zero, revealed that such a trade agreement would actually reduce EU exports to Russia in a significant way. It therefore seems that the deepening Sino-Russian economic relations could have a substantial impact on the Union in the future. Sectors that would be affected the most by the strengthening Sino-Russian economic ties are electronics, mechanical engineering, electronic equipment and machinery. Another export article in jeopardy would be nuclear reactors. What do the strengthening relations between Russia and China overall mean for the Union? The EU should maintain the trend of modernization of its industrial enterprises at the highest level so that it is capable of competing with China, which had until recently the fastest growing economy in the world. Moreover, it should also consider a possible scenario that it may lose some of its sales in the Russian market in the future. (The study can be downloaded here:http://bruegel.org/2016/07/the-china-russia-trade-relationship-and-its-impact-on-europe/) Turkmenistan and the European Union are in talks regarding the diversification of Turkmenistans gas exports to EU countries, the countrys President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said on Monday (29 August) at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Central Asian country, which has one of the largest natural reserves in the world, has been in negotiations to sell some of them to China, India and Afghanistan. The country is also hoping to sell gas to Europe and it has been engaged in talks to deal with technical and legal issues regarding the sales to Europe. We in Turkmenistan are interested in delivering our energy resources to the West, Turkmenistans President Berdymukhamedov said, adding that his cabinet had presented the European Commission proposals for what to do next. The countrys deliveries to the Old Continent would come via the Caspian Sea but will, however, require approval by Russia and Turkey. Interestingly, the improving relations between Russia and Turkey have revived the TurkStream gas pipeline that could compete with gas deliveries from Turkmenistan. TurkStream is supposed to directly connect the large gas reserves in Russia to the Turkish gas transportation network, creating a reliable source of energy for Turkey and southeastern Europe. The pipeline was announced by Russian president Vladimir Putin in December 2014 during his state visit to Turkey and the proposal is supposed to replace the earlier cancelled South Stream project. Russia plans to sell this gas to Turkey, but also in the EU, via the Greek border. The project has, however, been through rocky times it was suspended by Russia after the Turkish shoot-down of a Russian Su-24 aircraft, formally abandoned by Turkey in December 2015 and put back on table in July 2016 following a reconciliation meeting between both sides in Moscow. The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and the UK Trade Policy Observatory warned in their recently published reports that the worlds developing countries could lose 378 million year if the existing trade deals that they have with the EU will no longer apply to the UK after the country leaves the block. Both think tanks believe that many of the poorest economies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) could lose up to 203 million annually in the event of Brexit, as they would lose the preferential access to the British market through the EUs trade policy. The worlds poorest economies pay very little or no duty on their exports to Europe under the EUs generalized scheme of preferences (GSP). Moreover, the Everything But Arms deal gives these countries duty- and quota-free access to all products except for weapons and ammunitions. According to Leonard Winters, Director of the UK Trade Policy Observatory, the failure by London to protect these preferential deals could have negative repercussions for both trade and foreign policy. A number of developing countries take Kenya, for example have got serious export industries who sell to the UK, he said and added that If suddenly they ended up with some tax bill of an extra 2.4 million in order to sell their current amount in the UK, theyd search out [sales] to other markets. Developing countries have already been hit hard by the falling pound in form of remittances. The World Bank estimates the loss at 8.3 billion last year the remittances sent to developing countries are now worth much less than before the British poll to leave the EU. Some economists also estimate that a weak UK economy and the pound will result in developing countries struggling to manage, as they have fewer instruments at their disposal to cushion some of these shocks. The European Union is going to send more humanitarian assistance to Yemen by providing 40 million to cover health care, water, nutrition and food supplies for the conflict-ridden country. The EU announced this decision yesterday (21 September) at the 71st United Nations General Assembly as it strives to address one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world. Yemen has been stuck in an ongoing conflict that started in 2015 between two factions claiming to constitute the Yemeni government. The conflict has displaced more than four fifths of the countrys population and put many in need of assistance. Many, including children, are in danger of famine as the de facto blockade imposed on Yemen led to the destruction of basic infrastructure and thus severely affected imports of food, fuel and medicine. Humanitarian organizations estimate that about 14.4 million people are food insecure, 14.1 million are in need of health care and 19.3 million lack access to water and sanitation. Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, commented that The EU is stepping up vital humanitarian assistance to Yemen, which is in a desperate situation. The whole country is suffocating from a lack of food, of water, fuel, and the economy is collapsing. Civilians are paying the highest price for the conflict, as their resilience has reached its limits. Attacks against civilians, including aid workers, continue to happen. The humanitarian response needs to be scaled up. Mr Stylianides then added that This additional funding will help humanitarian agencies in the country that operate under extremely difficult circumstances to continue providing life-saving assistance, such as health care, water and sanitation, nutrition and food security. The new tranche of funding comes on top of the 80 million in humanitarian aid that the European Commission has provided since the beginning of the conflict to respond to the looming humanitarian disaster. Much has been written in recent months, including in these pages, about the purported benefits of the United States adopting a policy of nuclear no-first-use (NFU). Let us be clear at the outset: US adoption of NFU would produce no tangible benefits, while likely undercutting deterrence of attack against NATO, weakening allies confidence in the US and spurring nuclear proliferation. Based on evidence from the past seven decades, the US nuclear deterrent helps deter war and safeguard stability by compelling potential aggressors to consider the US nuclear deterrent in any of their prospective plans to attack us or our allies. A US NFU pledge now would instead encourage aggressors to calculate that they need not fear the US nuclear deterrent in response to their potential massive first-use of conventional forces, or chemical and biological weapons. NFU, therefore, would threaten the credibility of US deterrence and stability. Taking a step that would degrade the credibility of the US nuclear deterrent might have been acceptable to some in the benign post-Cold War period; but we no longer live in benign times. Russia and China have expressed the goal of overturning the existing international order. They are rapidly expanding their military capabilities, including nuclear, pursuing aggressive, expansionist policies in Europe and Asia respectively, and issuing explicit nuclear threats to US allies in the process. Given these contemporary realities and the stakes involved, our goal should be to maintain the most effective deterrent possible, not to adopt policies that threaten to ease aggressors calculations of risk regarding their possible massive first-use of force. US adoption of NFU would also shake allied confidence in US security guarantees to them. In fact, US allies Japan, South Korea, Great Britain, and France have informed Washington that a NFU policy would be detrimental to their security. Many US allies rely on a credible US nuclear deterrence umbrella for their security. A US NFU policy would compel some to take steps to mitigate its possible degradation of the US nuclear deterrent. One avenue would be the acquisition or creation of their own independent nuclear weapons. Polls already reveal considerable South Korean support for the development of nuclear weapons; US NFU would only increase that motivation. In short, NFU would likely increase the prospect for new nuclear powers and severely undercut the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Proponents of NFU often assert that US and allied conventional forces alone could ultimately defeat an opponents massive use of military force, including advanced conventional weapons, and chemical and biological weaponsand thereby claim that the US nuclear deterrent threat is unnecessary for this purpose. This presumption of Western military dominance is questionable in some key geographic areas. For example, Russia is militarily superior to NATO at every point along the common borders it shares with NATO states. More importantly, arguing that Western conventional force dominance reduces the value of nuclear deterrence confuses the distinction between deterrence and war-fighting. We should want to deter an opponents massive use of force from ever taking place, and not be compelled to wage war, even a winning non-nuclear war, in order to recover lost territories. Such a war would cause unprecedented levels of death and destruction wherever it is fought, which is why every Democratic and Republican administration for seven decades has favored effective deterrence and rejected NFU, and why key US allies also strongly oppose it. NFU advocates often claim that US NFU adoption would lead other nuclear powers to similarly do so, and thus contribute to deterrence stability. In truth, however, there is zero evidence that US NFU adoption would lead others to mimic the United States. The idea that the rest of the world follows the United States in this way is outdated, arrogant, and contrary to considerable evidence. The utter failure of President Obamas Prague Agenda to convince Russia, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, or other nuclear powers to reduce the role nuclear weapons play in their respective security policies is a powerful testament to this fact. Russia by its own open statements is committed to coercive and unambiguous nuclear first-use threats and possible employment to support an expansionist agenda in Europewhich means it hardly would follow a US NFU agenda. Indeed, a senior Russian official recently responded to US arms control overtures by observing that Russian nuclear policies are driven strictly by Russian security needs, not by mythical universal human values. Other nuclear powers similarly pursue their own paths and do not seek to emulate the United States. In 2009, the bipartisan US Congressional Strategic Posture Commission concluded that the United States should not adopt NFU. In 2010, the Obama administrations own Nuclear Posture Review reached the same conclusion. Since then, the international security situation has deteriorated dramatically. US adoption of NFU now would only reflect wilful US detachment from this global reality and would be perceived as such by friends and foes alike. Now is not the time for idealistic US policies that so contradict reality and which would bring about outcomes precisely opposite of those claimed by NFU proponents. The opinions articulated above represent the views of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Leadership Network or any of its members. The ELNs aim is to encourage debates that will help develop Europes capacity to address the pressing foreign, defence, and security challenges of our time. The upcoming hour-long documentary Revolutionary: Michael Behe & The Mystery of Molecular Machines is headed to Texas in advance of next months release of the film on DVD and Blu-ray. Join us in the greater Houston and Dallas areas to preview the film and meet Dr. Behe, who will answer questions from the audience at each event. Revolutionary looks back twenty years to the publication of Behes Darwins Black Box and ahead to the future of intelligent design. See below for links with event details including times and locations. October 8, Greater Houston: A screening co-sponsored by the Houston Chapter of the Center for Science & Culture, and hosted at Kingsland Baptist Church in Katy, TX. See here for more information about our Houston Chapter and future events. October 9, Greater Dallas: An afternoon screening at the Covenant School, in Dallas. An evening screening at Denton Bible Church, in Denton, TX. We premiered Revolutionary here in Seattle last month to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the CSC, launched by Stephen Meyer and John West in 1996 just ahead of the release of Dr. Behes revolutionary book. See the trailer now. We shouldnt lose sight of how truly revolutionary the past two decades have been with evolutionary theory now open to major scientific critiques, as Novembers Royal Society meeting illustrates well, not merely the religious ones of the past. For that, no one deserves more credit than Dr. Behe. He hopes, as we do, to see you in Texas soon! Twenty years after Darwins Black Box, the irreducibly complex outboard motors showcased by Michael Behe still confound Darwinism. Thats one theme of our upcoming documentary Revolutionary: Michael Behe & The Mystery of Molecular Machines, which heads to Texas next month for previews. Behes challenge is the past, the present, and the future. Look at this quote from a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: The bacterial flagellar system has been an object of intense study for many years. It has helped to elucidate issues of assembly, motility, and chemotaxis at a molecular level in a relatively simple system, typically containing 40 different proteins. It has also been the icon for creationists in the United States who deny evolution. [Emphasis added.] Ah, the bacterial flagellar system. The paper by scientists from Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, and the U.S. (University of Virginia) purports to show how a simpler flagellum in a species of archaea provides evidence for evolution of the more complex flagellum in bacteria. Its satisfying to reflect that the authors remain irritated by the creationist icon. They cant let it rest. As expected, they refuse to cite Behe directly (or any other ID source), so their only references supporting the creationist charge are to 6-to-12-year-old writings by Kenneth Miller, Barbara Forrest, and E.H. Egelmann. Have it your way. What matters is the substance of Behes argument and evidence, which attracted the attention of researchers in four nations. Meanwhile, farther east particularly in Japan scientists dont seem quite so motivated to defend Darwin. Two new papers dealing with molecular motors show their openness to design thinking. Cilium Mimicry The first deals with designing a mimic of cilia, another one of Behes examples of irreducibly complex (IC) systems. Five biomedical engineers from Tokyo, writing in Science Advances, succeeded in making Artificial cilia as autonomous nanoactuators. They call this Design of a gradient self-oscillating polymer brush with controlled unidirectional motion. Here, we have prepared a polymer brush surface similar to a living cilium, exhibiting self-oscillating and unidirectional wave motion of the grafted polymer at the nanometer scale. This study provides a new concept to design autonomous polymer brush surfaces effective in the nanometer scale as bioinspired dynamic soft materials. They pay tribute to the design in cilia and other cellular machines that inspired their own work: Spatiotemporally well-ordered mechanical actuation of biomacromolecules in the nanometer-order scale driven by chemical reactions, such as enzymatic reactions, plays an important role in living organisms. For example, motor proteins bind to a polarized cytoskeletal filaments and use the energy derived from repeated cycles of adenosine 5-triphosphate hydrolysis to move steadily along them. In addition, many motor proteins carry membrane-enclosed organelles to their appropriate locations in the cell. Cytoskeletal motor proteins move unidirectionally along an oriented polymer track. In this process, they use chemical energy to propel themselves along a linear path, and the direction of sliding is dependent on the structural polarity of the track. Recently, the construction and design of these biomolecular motor systems with well-controlled unidirectional motion have become an area of great focus in advanced sciences. The word design appears ten times in the paper. References to evolution are completely absent. Another team worked on imitating the cilia in hair cells of the inner ear. Publishing in Natures journal Scientific Reports, they proudly announce, Here we present a novel, completely biomimetic flow sensor which attempts to replicate the intricate morphological organization and function of the hair bundles of the hair cells found in zebrafish. Neither of the cheap imitations, however, contain anything like intraflagellar transport in biological cilia (see our report). As for the origin of these intricate structures, the team treated evolution as magic: Natures evolutionary path led to sensors of high functionality and robustness, in terms of material properties, anatomical architecture and energy expenditure. Thats all the press Darwin got. They used the word design, though, 15 times. Flagellum Focus Back in the 1990s, Behe relied on relatively crude electron micrographs of flagella. Imagine twenty years ago if he had been able to see in detail one protein in the stator of the flagellum. Thats what Japanese scientists from Nagoya University revealed with advanced imaging techniques. So has the case for design grown stronger or weaker since Darwins Black Box was published? A paper in Natures open-access journal Scientific Reports reveals the answer. You can see their composite image of the stator protein MotA here: It looks more like a well-designed outboard motor than ever! Many bacterial species use spiral propellers (flagella) attached to motors to move through a liquid environment. An interaction between the rotor and stator components of the motor generates the rotational force required for movement. The stator converts electrochemical energy into mechanical force after undergoing a structural change caused by a movement of charged particles (ions) through an internal channel. Previous studies investigated the stator and its interaction with the rotor by constructing mutant proteins and analyzing their functions. However, little was known about stator structure. A team of Japanese researchers led by Hommas laboratory of Nagoya University have now purified the stator protein MotA from a bacterium found in hot springs (Aquifex aeolicus) and analyzed its three-dimensional structure using electron microscopy mainly in cooperation with Nambas laboratory of Osaka University. The stator protein MotA shows an elegantly crafted channel for ions. These are arranged in groups of four at the base of the stator on the cytoplasmic side. Two slender molecules of MotB extend into the periplasm. Identifying the structure is an important step on the way to figuring out how the flagellum works. The stator is one of the most important parts for the proper functioning of the bacterial flagellar motor, and is believed to work as an energy-converting unit that transduces electrochemical potential gradient across the cytoplasmic membrane into mechanical force. The interaction surfaces of the stator and the rotor have been well studied by mutational analyses. However, the mechanism governing energy conversion remains unknown because of the lack of structural information on the stator. How is chemical energy converted into rotational energy (torque)? It is believed that the ion influx through the channel induces a conformational change in the stator, allowing its interaction with the rotor to generate torque, they say. A little reflection suggests that the components must be well matched. Imagine for a moment a flow of ping-pong balls trying to turn a large metal turbine. It wouldnt work. Somehow, in ways still to be determined two decades after Behes book was published, tiny hydrogen ions or sodium ions are able to make particular parts of the stator undergo conformational changes that can get the rotor to turn. How that works is bound to be interesting. We know from the discussion in Unlocking the Mystery of Life that not only must the parts be well matched, they must be assembled in the right order, in the right amounts, at the right place and time all directed by instructions in the genetic code. While these Japanese researchers do not mention Behe or his conclusions, their work underscores the case for irreducible complex molecular machines as prima facie evidence for intelligent design. Nowhere do they credit evolution for the motors of the cell: Various motor proteins are essential for different biological activities such as cell locomotion, cell morphogenesis, metabolism, and material transport. Motor proteins convert various types of energy, such as ATP hydrolysis or electrochemical potential, into mechanical force for directional motion. Motor proteins are divided into two types: linear motors, such as myosin-actin and kinesin/dynein microtubule motors; and rotary motors, such as ATP synthase and bacterial flagellar motor. Behes intuitive first impression of the flagellum, Thats an outboard motor! has stood the test of time. Thats what the Japanese teams still call the cilium and the flagellum in 2016. Scratching the Itch Now back to the PNAS paper. Did the Western nations solve Michael Behes challenge? If so, they have a strange way of claiming success: The proteins that form the bacterial flagellar system have no known homologs in eukaryotic cells. The eukaryotic flagellar [sic], based on a microtubule-containing axoneme, is vastly more complicated. In fact, the current estimate for the number of different proteins in the axoneme is 425. In contrast, the archaeal flagellar system appears simpler than the bacterial one and can contain as few as 13 different proteins. As with the eukaryotic flagellar system, the archaeal one does not have homology with the bacterial one and must have arisen by means of convergent evolution. Ah yes, convergent evolution again. But think about what they say here. The vastly more complicated eukaryotic flagellum has no known commonalities with the bacterial flagellum, and the bacterial flagellum has no homolog in the archaeal flagellum: In archaeal flagellins, however, no homology has yet been found outside of the N-terminal domain with any bacterial or eukaryotic proteins. Do they show any common ancestry between these motors? None. Are we to believe, then, that blind processes happened upon three naturalistic miracles independently? Notice that the archaeal flagellar system that appears simpler contains as few as 13 different proteins. How many different parts were required for the mousetrap? Behes pithy illustration of an IC system had only five parts. How much more is an IC system with 13 parts, or with 40 parts, each unrelated to machines with similar functions in other types of cells? If the best that evolutionists can come up with in response to Behe is convergent evolution, then his 1996 statement can be seen as prescient: An irreducibly complex biological system, if there is such a thing, would be a powerful challenge to Darwinian evolution (p. 39). Only he could reword it now with much more confidence: Irreducibly complex biological systems continue to pose a powerful challenge to Darwinian evolution and are best explained by intelligent design. Image: Composite image of the stator protein MotA, by Michio Homma via EurekAlert. Surprising as it may be, not everyone has an employer paying for shipping or any relocation allowance.. it was 5 years ago so rules may have changed but we shipped personal goods and furniture here before we had residency and without any documents from employer/sponsor. Choose a company with a good reputation online (not necessarily always the more expensive operators) for both the UK business and their UAE agent, and be prepared to pay a bit more for customs clearance and storage if it arrives too soon or you take longer than you expect to get visa and/or housing. Pack yourself or let them do if you can afford it, sometimes for insurance purposes it's better for the company to pack everything. Going the other way uae to uk in 2014 we paid around GBP 3000 for a 20' container door to door. Hello All, I had some questions in regards to E-2 Visa . I'm a Canadian citizen looking to purchase Make an investment in a business ( Gas station + Convenience Store ) . I understand by researching that hiring a good Attorney who knows the entire process of E2 helps alot and a strong business plan helps the case alot. if had some questions if someone can help me with . 1. Can we purchase a home to live in on the E-2 visa or are there any restrictions around hat 2. If the business listed for $300k and I'm have a capital of $200k - This makes it 67% of the cost - Can the remainder portion be financed through a bank? 3. If the business is successful , in the future can another business be purchased ? do we need another application for the E2? or any restrictions if the business type has to be the same 4. when its renewal time, do I have leave USA and enter again ? 5. I have kids who are under 7 at the moment. I understand they can do to college university and all - if The business is still on going , kids will be going to university there - In my knowledge, college usually finishes at the age of 22-23 ? what are the options after they turn 21 . Thank you for your help. Hi, You will need to take lessons and a test - unless your country of origin has a direct licence swap with the UAE. If you have a Kuwaiti passport then you can simply swap your Kuwaiti driving licence for a UAE one. If your passport is from India, Syria, Pakistan, Egypt etc. - then you need to take lessons and a test. Cheers Steve The trial ha resumed in Khartoum in Sudan for four Christians who are being accused of bringing Christian persecution to the attention of the public. Last December, Fox News reported that two evangelical pastors from the Church of Christ in Sudan were abducted from their churches and thrown into jail. Moreover, Rev. Abdulraheem Kodi and Rev. Kuwa Shamal Abu Zumam, including Petr Jasek, a Czech aid worker and Abdulmonem Abdumawla were reported to be charged with numerous offenses which included waging war against the state, espionage and undermining Sudan's constitutional system. According to Sudan Tribune, Rev Taour and Rev Shamal were charged on Sunday with "fabricating videos of incidents of claimed genocide, killing of civilians and burning of villages, besides claims of persecution of Christians in Sudan". Two of the defendants might face death penalty if found guilty. Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services have accused the pastors of exposing state secrets however, theur defenders say that the said claims have been concocted and they are being persucted by al-Bashir as well as the Sudanese government. Thus, they are pleading for international community to intervene the said trial. "We call for their protection and immediate release and urge that the U.N., U.S. government - including Congress - and other world communities demand the freedom of these two men of God and other prisoners," said the Rev. Andudu Adam Elnail, bishop of Kadugli Diocese. "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 lamented. "We need the international community to pressure the government of Sudan to give us our freedom of religion." "The pastors are accused of sharing evidence of the government burning down churches in Khartoum and bombing churches in the Nuba Mountains," said Philip Tutu, a native of the Nuba Mountains, who now resides in the U.S and advocates for the rights of the Nuba people. "The government says its security policy is to keep this information confidential to avoid pressure from the international community. "Clearly, the pastors are unfairly targeted. The hearings are postponed repeatedly. A lot of people are showing up for the hearings and not everyone is able to attend, including some attorneys for the pastors." The lawyers of the accused feared the governemnt retaliation and stressed that they need more action to support the pastors and protect Christian in Nuba Mountains, where ther are deemed to be "atheists." Sources claimed that an official from U.S. State Department said they have been tracking this case and have repeatedly raised concerns about this. "We are committed to working with countries to make tangible improvements in respect for religious freedom and continue to look for opportunities to address these issues with the government of South Sudan," the spokesperson said. A Christian human rights organization, Open Doors USA has called the persecution of Sudanese Christians akin to "ethnic cleansing" and stressed out that the case needs the right kind of attention. "The more influential voices that can be heard on this issue, the more likely the government of Sudan is to at least consider objections to this miscarriage of justice," said Open Doors president and CEO David Curry. The pastors' trial is set to resume Wednesday. From: Lillian Too -- Feng Shui Expert For Immediate Release: Dateline: Los Angeles , CA Wednesday, September 21, 2016 Im writing to you today from the BIG APPLE! Yes, thats right Im in New York for a few days before heading down to Boston and the 40th reunion of my class at Harvard Business School! Dont worrywere taking lots and lots of photosand Ill be sharing them with you in the coming weeks. Here in New York I can just feel the pulsating energythe bright neon lights of Broadway, crowds of people everywhere all heading in their own particular direction, great delis and delicious foodit has brought back a lot of memories from my Harvard days. So much yang energyday and night! One thing I have noticed is the competitive nature of everything from what Broadway show to see, which souvenir store to shop at, where to find the best deals in electronics to what clothing stores have good sales on! Mind blowing! As an asidewe Chinese know that Kuan Yu (or Kuan Kung) is not only a fierce protector but also one of the most important wealth gods found among business owners at home in KL and throughout Asia. He also helps to overcome competition, yet I havent seen one here ha haexcept in Chinatown of course. Youll forgive me for not writing more todayI want to spend every minute out on the town! Love from the Big Apple! Lillian Whats happening inside your bedroom? Probably too much! Your bedroom should be a comfortable and relaxing place somewhere to sleep and re-energize your body. Its not a place for using your treadmill or working on your laptop or tablet. Its a place of comfortand rest. And speaking of restand getting the most out of a good night sleep, remember that any mirrors facing the bed are a real feng shui taboo. If you have mirrored closet doors or a mirror of any sort facing your bed, you should remove the mirrors and replace with wooden doors or a hanging drape be sure to cover them up as they could cause interference in your marriage. Another thing to watch for is ceiling fans or exposed beams that may be overhead. Move your bed if possible to avoid sleeping directly underneath them. If you cannot do this, try to camouflage them in some way. Of course wed all love to have the perfect bedroomlocated in the sector of the house that corresponds to our family and marriage direction but this isnt always possible. What you can be sure to do instead is have your head pointed in your best personal direction. If you dont know what this is be sure to go to Remember above allthis is a peaceful place of solitude, rest and relaxation! Sweet dreams! Lillian Im writing to you today from the BIG APPLE! Yes, thats right Im in New York for a few days before heading down to Boston and the 40th reunion of my class at Harvard Business School! Dont worrywere taking lots and lots of photosand Ill be sharing them with you in the coming weeks.Here in New York I can just feel the pulsating energythe bright neon lights of Broadway, crowds of people everywhere all heading in their own particular direction, great delis and delicious foodit has brought back a lot of memories from my Harvard days. So much yang energyday and night! One thing I have noticed is the competitive nature of everything from what Broadway show to see, which souvenir store to shop at, where to find the best deals in electronics to what clothing stores have good sales on! Mind blowing!As an asidewe Chinese know that Kuan Yu (or Kuan Kung) is not only a fierce protector but also one of the most important wealth gods found among business owners at home in KL and throughout Asia. He also helps to overcome competition, yet I havent seen one here ha haexcept in Chinatown of course.Youll forgive me for not writing more todayI want to spend every minute out on the town!Love from the Big Apple!LillianWhats happening inside your bedroom? Probably too much! Your bedroom should be a comfortable and relaxing place somewhere to sleep and re-energize your body. Its not a place for using your treadmill or working on your laptop or tablet. Its a place of comfortand rest.And speaking of restand getting the most out of a good night sleep, remember that any mirrors facing the bed are a real feng shui taboo. If you have mirrored closet doors or a mirror of any sort facing your bed, you should remove the mirrors and replace with wooden doors or a hanging drape be sure to cover them up as they could cause interference in your marriage.Another thing to watch for is ceiling fans or exposed beams that may be overhead. Move your bed if possible to avoid sleeping directly underneath them. If you cannot do this, try to camouflage them in some way.Of course wed all love to have the perfect bedroomlocated in the sector of the house that corresponds to our family and marriage direction but this isnt always possible. What you can be sure to do instead is have your head pointed in your best personal direction. If you dont know what this is be sure to go to http://www.wofs.com and download your kua number in the upper right hand corner of the screen. If its still a problem to have your head pointed in your best personal direction, make sure you are not facing any one of your four inauspicious directions (also revealed by your kua number).Remember above allthis is a peaceful place of solitude, rest and relaxation!Sweet dreams!Lillian PROUD AND FIERCEKUAN KUNG! I always tell my students to adopt a defensive strategy and to protect themselves from bad feng shui before trying to enhance good feng shui. One of the ways to do this is by using guardian images. When you use celestial guardians in your home or office they must be placed in the correct location. As you know, one of the areas requiring maximum protection is your front door (main entrance) or nearby. This is the mouth of the home where the chi enters. One excellent guardian to consider using is Kuan Kung. Its said that even the most desperate criminals and wandering spirits are scared off when they enter and find his fierce countenance facing them! You might consider a brass image of Kuan Kung as this will serve the dual purpose of controlling certain earth related afflictions as well as keeping criminals at bay. You may not be aware that Kuan Kung can also attract mentor luck when displayed in the NW corner of your home and powerful support and protection for the patriarch! And finally he is of course a wealth God tooespecially effective if your business is suffering and/or facing competition. There are fabulous images of Kuan Kung both standing and on horseback but the ones on horseback are considered best for business people. Be sure that his expression is very fierce and powerful! To Your Success! Lillian Grand Master Lillian Too is undoubtedly the worlds most prolific and popular writer and advocate on living with good feng shui! She has written over 100 books that have been translated into 31 different languages, and over 10 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. After graduating with an MBA from Harvard Business School, Lillian went on to pursue a highly successful business career in banking and finance in the 1980s in Hong Kong. Her business acumen, drive and abundant energy soon led her from the finance world to the world of luxury department stores and boutiques where, through a leveraged buy out, she became Chairman and shareholder of The Dragon Seed Group. All the while she was guided and taught by her feng shui masters in Hong Kong and China and she attributes much of her monumental and quick rise to success in Hong Kong directly to them. Lillian soon decided to retire from active corporate life and return to Malaysia to raise her beautiful daughter, Jennifer, and spend more time with her family. It was at this time she began to devote her energy to writing and furthering her study of feng shui. She published her first book in Malaysia in 1995 that quickly became a best seller and the rest is history. Today she is Chairman of Wofs.Com, a feng shui franchise and merchandising company run by her daughter, Jennifer Too. She trains feng shui students and future consultants at her Certified Consulting Institute in Malaysia and is much loved by her readers, associates and students for the way she teaches practical feng shui in a user-friendly way, using ordinary situations and circumstances that interest people and affect their everyday lives. In November 2009, at the International Feng Shui Convention in Singapore, the well-deserved title of GRAND MASTER OF FENG SHUI was conferred upon Lillian Too. Immediately following this accolade, in early January 2010, she received the prestigious Brand Laureate Personality of The Year Award presented by the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia! There seems to be no stopping her popularity and these days! Lillian believes everyone should know her secrets and learn how to adapt feng shui to modern life and she warmly welcomes you into her Mandala. You can learn more about Lillian by visiting her website at www.lillian-too.com. Lillian Too Mandala North American Office 3840 Blackhawk Rd, Danville, CA 94506 Toll Free Info and Customer Servce : 1 866 508 8806 Email: info@lilliantoomandala.com Fax: +1 925 736 6177 Feng Shui For Office Doors You can improve your success luck if the location, direction and design of the door that leads into your private office comply with good feng shui. Make sure the door is not hit by anything harmful such as poison arrows. Try to have your door located in a corner of your room and facing a direction that is auspicious for you. No glass panels on the door please. Try for the following door colours in the respective sectors: brown for east and southeast (wood); white for the west and northwest (metal); maroon for the south (fire); black for the north (water); and beige for the southwest and northeast (earth). Nothing will bring you greater happiness than the practice of generosity. Surprise someone today with a gift that is totally unexpected and watch what happens! There is a lot of joy in the simple act of giving. Nothing will bring you greater happiness than the practice of generosity. Surprise someone today with a gift that is totally unexpected and watch what happens! There is a lot of joy in the simple act of giving. Thursday, September 22, 2016 Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), picks her adversaries so well that she gains popularity and unearned credibility through the power of cognitive dissonance. Listen closely, however, and you will hear the ranting of a class-biased demagogue. Joining in on the bipartisan and well-deserved roasting of Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf before the Senate Banking Committee hearing this week, Warren accused Stumpf of profiting from the mass scam in which over 5000 bank employees signed up customers for services they hadnt requested, without their knowledge. The bank collected fees for these accounts, cards and services, and the employees got bonuses. He probably did profit, since the bank did more business and his stock holdings increased in value. Was he aware of the scam, or even behind it? There is no evidence of that yet. Warren also said he should resign. Shes sure right about that. He is accountable as the CEO, and he failed his duty of oversight. It is, as Warren said, typical and wrong that all the firing so far have avoided the executive suites. But Warren seems to be oddly unaware of her double standard regarding management and leadership accountability. The standards that she was railing at Stumpf for not meeting should also apply to Barack Obamas accountability for a corrupt IRS, a rogue NSA, a drunk Secret Service, a politically-biased Justice Department, a horrifically incompetent Office of Personnel Management, a criminally negligent VA, and, of course, a technically-challenged State Department that was operated as cash-cow for its Secretarys personal foundation. Elizabeth Warrens application of standards are driven by class bias and partisanship, not conduct or principle. She has enables an administration that has avoided assigning accountability or accepting it for multiple fiascos. The most recent? From Fox News: More than 800 illegal immigrants from countries of concern who were set for deportation were mistakenly granted U.S. citizenship because the Department of Homeland Security didnt have their fingerprints on file, according to an internal audit released Monday. The Homeland Security Departments inspector general found the immigrants used different names or birthdates to apply for citizenship with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration. In the case of 858 immigrants from special interest countries or neighboring countries with high rates of immigration fraud, the discrepancies werent caught because their fingerprints were missing from government databases. A few even managed to get aviation or transportation worker credentials, though they were later revoked. One became a law enforcement officer. Did you miss this? You might have, because the only reports of it that I could find were on so-called conservative media sites.all part of the mainstream medias We have to stop Trump even if it means not reporting news that makes Democrats look bad initiative. Warren grilled Stumpf about cross-selling, which she described as if it was evil incarnate. Cross-selling is nothing more than getting current customers to buy additional products and services. Its Business 101: your best future customers are your current ones. This is capitalism, and Warren, a socialist who views the profit motive as unethical, often talks as if she would like to criminalize it, and perhaps she would. Cross-selling is all about pumping up Wells stock price, isnt it? Warren asked. Well, its about making moneyyou know, then more jobs, higher salaries, families with more resources. Companies that make money see their stock rise. This is why Stumpf has been the best paid of the various bank CEOs: the bank under his management made money and avoided the scandals other banks kept falling into. Only people like Bernie Sanders and Warren make that sound shady, because their message is banks bad, bank management bad. The fact that the stock of a bank goes up when the bank makes money doesnt intrinsically have anything to do with illegally charging customers for what they didnt ask for or agree to, but youd be hard pressed to get that from Warrens rhetoric. Warren produced transcripts of Wells Fargo earnings calls Stumpf participated in from 2012 to 2014, while the scam was in full swing. In all 12 of these calls, you personally cited Wells Fargos success at cross-selling retail accounts as one of the main reasons to buy more stock in the company, Warren told Stumpf. She went on to quote him from the transcripts, as he touted the companys record growth to more than six accounts per household. So what? If the accounts were legitimate, it means that customers liked their bank, and sought more services and product for it. If the customer base was averaging six accounts per household, great! Thats something for Stumpf and his bank to be proud of, and it should raise the value of the stocks. The problem is that the growth was a sham. If it wasnt a sham, theres nothingnothingwrong with cross sales, nothing wrong with the bank making money, nothing wrong with the stock rising, nothing wrong with Stumpf being rewarded except that his compensation is obscene and unreasonable already. Still, thats not what the hearing was supposed to be about. Warren produced documentation that Stumpf held about 6.75 million shares in the company in that time frame, and that the share price had risen by about $30, which comes out to more than $200 million in gains, all for you personally, and thanks in part to those cross-sell numbers that you talked about on every one of those calls. Again, so what? Is Warrens point that the CEO of a company shouldnt make money if the business does well? Is her point that a bank shouldnt seek profits, or try to sell customers products and services they may want? If her point is that Stumpf was aware of the scam and did nothing about it, she has nothing but the weakest of circumstantial evidence, and knows it: she was a law professor, for heavens sake. You should resign and you should be criminally investigated. The bank certainly should be investigated, and it is being investigated. A US Senator should not imply in a public hearing that a citizen is a criminal without actual evidence or at least a hint of some. Yes, it is impossible to believe that over 5000 employees in the same company all independently came up with the same plot to cheat customers. It was a stupid plot, however: what were the chances that it wouldnt be discovered? Why would the highest paid bank executive risk everything for such an outrageous conspiracy? To Elizabeth Warren, Stumpfs crime is that he runs a bank. Here was the full, unexpurgated, anti-capitalism and ethics-addled demagogue at work, as Warren delivered her final attack on the Wells Fargo CEO: Heres what really gets me about this, Mr. Stumpf. If one of your tellers took a handful of $20 bills out of the crash drawer, theyd probably be looking at criminal charges for theft. They could end up in prison. But you squeezed your employees to the breaking point so they would cheat customers and you could drive up the value of your stock and put hundreds of millions of dollars in your own pocket.And when it all blew up, you kept your job, you kept your multi-multimillion-dollar bonuses, and you went on television to blame thousands of $12-an-hour employees who were just trying to meet cross-sell quotas that made you rich. This is about accountability. You should resign. You should give back the money that you took while this scam was going on, and you should be criminally investigated by both the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. This just isnt right. 1. Yes, the bogus charges for fake accounts constituted theft, just as taking cash from the till is. 2. Contrary to Warrens innuendo, however, just as the bank manager whose teller steals twenties isnt guilty of a crime, neither is the CEO whose employees engage in a conspiracy to bill customers for services and products they didnt ask for. 3. Correct: neither should incompetent management benefit from criminal conduct that employees engage in while they are asleep at their posts. Warren is right that Stumpf and other Wells Fargo executives should give back any enrichment created by the illicit product fees. 3. I must have missed the part about Stumpf squeezing employees to the breaking point. Because Warren hates business and capitalism, she appears to believe that sales bonuses are some kind of torture. IF, and only if, management knows or should know that its sales quotas are causing employees to cheat and break laws, then management should be criminally culpable. Warren has no proof of that at all. 4. Whats the breaking point where any employee has no choice but to break the law, steal money from customers and falsifying documents? There is none. This is the I have no choice rationalization for unethical conduct. Sure, there is a choice. Dont cheat. Dont be corrupted. There was no gun to the heads of any of those 5000+ employees. If an employer tells an ethical employee, Cheat or youre fired! the response is, I quit! and also, Im going to talk to a local reporter and a lawyer about this. 5. The worst: You went on television to blame thousands of $12-an-hour employees who were just trying to meet cross-sell quotas that made you rich. Warren is dangerous and shameless. a. Just trying to meet quotas? No, they were just robbing customers. This is deceit by Warren. Just meeting quotas would mean just meeting them fairly and honestly. b. He blamed them because they were guilty. The fact that Stumpf is accountable, responsible, and should resign or be fired doesnt remove the blame earned by employees who stole from customers. c. Warren here embraces the dead bottom of the situational ethics barrel where classist revolutionaries dwell: if you arent rich, its okay to steal. Her inspiration comes from Abby Steal This Book Hoffman, Lenin, Jesse James and all the anarchists and demagogues through history who told their followers that the way to achieve social justice is to steal wealth from those who have worked to earn it, and give it out like CARE packages to the unfortunate, the criminal, the lazy and the manipulative. d. The dishonest employees salaries are irrelevant to the seriousness of their misconductexcept to Warren, who suggests a sliding scale: the less one is paid, the more justifiable crime is. Moreover, it was not only tellers (whose starting salaries are about 12 dollars an hour, but who earn more with seniority) but also their managers who perpetrated the scam. e. Cross-selling is not what was wrong here, but again and deceitfully, Warren misleads the public by suggesting otherwise. It is nothing less than frightening that this radical, anti-capitalist demagogue could be elected to the Senate, and that she is so effective at attracting support through misleading rhetoric and cleverly disguised socialist ideology. ______________________ Facts: NPR, New York Times, USA Today Graphic: NPR SAN FRANCISCO Benicias rejection of plans to bring trains filled with crude oil to Valero Corp.s refinery in the city was hailed by critics of the countrys expanding oil-by-rail operations, who hope the flexing of local power will reverberate across the nation. Of particular interest to environmentalists and local opponents, who for years have argued that Valeros proposal brought the danger of a catastrophic spill or fire, was a last-minute decision by U.S. officials that Benicias elected leaders not the federal government had the final say in the matter. Word of that decision arrived just before the City Council, in a unanimous vote late Tuesday, dismissed Valeros proposal for a new $70 million rail depot along the Carquinez Strait off Interstate 680. The San Antonio-based refiner had said the project would not only be safe but bring local jobs, tax revenue and lower gas prices. Were pleased with the decision and the implications it will have across the country, said Jackie Prange, a staff attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of several groups opposed to the project. This issue is live in a number of sites across the country. This is definitely a decision that I think cities in other states will be looking to. As oil production has boomed across North America, so has the need to send crude via railroad. The uptick in tanker trains, though, has been accompanied by a spate of accidents in recent years, including a 2013 derailment in the Quebec town of Lac-Megantic in which a 72-car train exploded and killed more than 40 people. The authority of communities to limit oil trains has been clouded by the assertion of some in the petroleum industry that local officials dont have jurisdiction to get in the way. Companies including Valero have contended that railroad issues are matter of interstate commerce and hence are the purview of the federal government. Shortly before Tuesdays meeting, however, Benicia officials received a letter from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, which wrote that Valero was not a railroad company and that the proposed rail terminal fell under city jurisdiction. Its what I was waiting for to help me make my vote more defensible, Councilman Alan Schwartzman said at the meeting. Earlier this year, Valero had asked the Surface Transportation Board for pre-emption protection for the project after Benicias Planning Commission rejected the proposal. The plan proceeded to the City Council upon appeal. The plan called for oil deliveries from up to two 50-car trains a day, many passing through several Northern California communities en route from the Bakken Shale formation in North Dakota. Those trains would carry as many as 70,000 barrels of oil. The company billed the project as a way to keep gasoline prices low in the absence of a major oil pipeline serving the West Coast. Crude is currently brought to the Bay Area mostly by boat or through smaller pipelines. Valero officials expressed frustration at the citys decision. After nearly four years of review and analysis by independent experts and the city, we are disappointed that the City Council members have chosen to reject the crude by rail project, spokeswoman Lillian Riojas wrote in an email. At this time we are considering our options moving forward. The vote directly hit the citys pocketbook. Nearly 25 percent of Benicias budget comes from taxes on the oil giant, and the city coffers stood to grow with more crude. The refinery employs about 500 people, according to city records. But the citys environmental study showed that oil trains presented a hazard. The document concluded that an accident was possible on the nearly 70 miles of track between Roseville in Placer County and the refinery, though the likelihood was only one event every 111 years. The document also suggested that much of the crude coming to the Bay Area from North Dakota, as well as from tar sands in Canada, was more flammable than most. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. Several cities in the Bay Area and Sacramento area joined environmental groups in calling for rejection of the project. The councils vote is a tremendous victory for the community and communities all throughout California, said Ethan Buckner of the opposition group Stand, who was among more than 100 people who turned out for the councils verdict. At a time when oil consumption in California is going down, projects like this are unnecessary. At least two other plans are in the works for oil delivery by rail elsewhere in the region in Richmond and Pittsburg. A handful of other proposals have been put forth in other parts of California, including the expansion of a rail spur at a Phillips 66 refinery in San Luis Obispo County, which is scheduled to be heard by the county planning board Thursday. Prange, with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said this weeks finding by the Surface Transportation Board gives cities the confidence to reject the proposed oil trains, if they wish to do so. It reaffirms the power of local government to protect their citizens from these dangerous projects, she said. U.S. oil deliveries by rail have grown quickly, from 20 million barrels in 2010 to 323 million in 2015, according to government estimates. In response, federal transportation officials have worked to improve the safety of oil-carrying cars with new regulations. But over the past year, rail deliveries nationwide have slowed, in part because of the stricter rules as well as local opposition, falling crude prices and new pipelines. Critics have complained that the tightened rules have fallen short, pointing to incidents including a June train derailment in Mosier, Oregon, which spilled hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude into the Columbia River. Leaders in Oregon are discussing a statewide ban on crude trains. San Antonio-based broker-dealer Investment Professionals Inc. has been censured and fined $170,000 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, an industry regulatory organization. FINRA said IPI failed to supervise nine of its stockbrokers. The brokers were considered dually registered as securities brokers at IPI and as investment advisers at other firms that had no affiliation with IPI. IPI failed to report trades made by the brokers for clients of the advisory firms, FINRA said. Broker-dealers are required to be aware of everything their brokers are doing, such as how they are being compensated and potential conflicts of interest. Investment Professionals, Inc. (IPI) is pleased to resolve items from its 2014 FINRA audit exam, the company said in an emailed statement. These issues involved record retention and monitoring investment advisers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These issues did not involve IPI customer assets, accounts or investments. IPI is committed to the financial success of our clients and the proper supervision of all business lines. A spokeswoman declined to answer questions. A FINRA spokeswoman said it would not comment beyond what was in a settlement it entered into with IPI. The firm accepted FINRAs findings of violations, consented to the sanctions and waived its right to a hearing, but it did not admit or deny the findings. The size of the fine indicates that IPIs failure to supervise the brokers was not a one-time problem but rather a systemic issue. IPI has been in business for 24 years and has more than $8.2 billion in assets under management, according to its website. The firm has more than 450 employees. The settlement document stated the firm has 361 brokers and 305 branch offices. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. The nine brokers were not identified by FINRA, but it reported they had more than $500 million in assets under management. IPI also failed to maintain a supervisory system meant to comply with securities industry rules, the settlement document showed. In addition, FINRA found IPI didnt preserve securities-related emails that were sent and received by five of its brokers in a Pennsylvania branch office. pdanner@express-news.net Twitter: @AlamoPD Wisconsin Farmers Union members headed to Washington D.C. Sept. 11-14 for the National Farmers Union Fall Legislative Fly-In. Seventeen WFU members were among 275 farmers and ranchers from across the country who had the opportunity to meet directly with lawmakers, USDA leaders and other administration officials to discuss important issues regarding family farmers and ranchers. Chippewa County residents who attended the event were Cathy Statz of Chippewa Falls and Danielle Endvick from Holcombe. The members had the opportunity to advocate for legislative priorities including farm bill programs and the farm safety net, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Renewable Fuel Standard and corporate consolidation in agriculture. They also attended the U.S. Department of Agricultures briefing about farm programs. The annual legislative fly-in is an important part of NFUs ongoing grassroots advocacy efforts, NFU President Roger Johnson said in a press release. Family farmers and ranchers are the best advocates we have for agriculture, and the fly-in is a good opportunity for our members to follow up on the conversations theyve had with their elected officials during the August congressional work period. The USDA announced that it will extend the deadline for dairy producers to enroll in the Margin Protection Program (MPP) for dairy to Dec. 16. Hello friends! I recently took some time away from the office traveling the backroads of rural America to the Land of Lincoln. It seemed appropriate in this election year to visit the home of this historical president. It was also fitting since Abraham Lincoln signed into law an act of Congress establishing the independent Department of Agriculture of which I am employed. Dairy Recently the USDA announced that it will extend the deadline for dairy producers to enroll in the Margin Protection Program (MPP) for dairy to Dec. 16, from the previous deadline of Sept. 30. This voluntary dairy safety net program provides financial assistance to participating dairy producers when the margin the difference between the price of milk and feed costs falls below the coverage level selected by the producer. Dairy producers can calculate levels of coverages available from MPP based on price projections using the USDA web tool available at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool. To learn more about the Margin Protection Program for dairy, you can visit www.fsa.usda.gov/dairy or stop by your FSA County office. Dairy operations enrolling in the program must meet conservation compliance provisions and cannot participate in the Livestock Gross Margin Dairy Insurance Program through Risk Management. Forage Concerned for reduced forage quality? Reduced forage quality is now considered a production loss for weather disaster assistance coverage under the new buy-up provisions of the FSA Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). This safety net is important for cattlemen who produce non-insurable forages for feeding livestock. Previously, FSA only considered a decrease in overall forage tonnage produced when determining if the producer suffered a compensable loss after a qualifying weather event. Under FSAs new NAP buy-up provisions, a decrease in forage quality such as protein content is also considered. To receive coverage for the 2017 crop year, producers must enroll their eligible forage in NAP by Nov. 20. Beginning, limited resource and targeted underserved farmers or producers are eligible for a waiver of the NAP service fee and a 50 percent premium reduction in buy-up provisions. Home sweet home Although it is always great to get away and see new things, I always find it makes me appreciate what I have in my own backyard. There is nothing like hearing the rooster crowing at the crack of dawn and seeing the cattle out grazing in the pasture. With the air turning crisper I start thinking of drinking cider, pumpkin picking, hay rides and attending the Farm Science Review. The USDA will again be represented Sept. 20-22 in London, Ohio. Please stop by at 577/ABBooth4 on Soybean Avenue and chat a bit and ask FSA personnel all those pondering program questions. Thats all for now! FSA Andy Bear Island has always been considered the center of the lake as all five of the Temagami's far-reaching fingers come together at the big island. Bear Island, the second largest island on sprawling Lake Temagami in Ontario, Canada, is home to a native population whose history is thousands of years old and still revered as the anchor of civilization here. Although recorded history and oral storytellers place the first inhabitants of Bear Island some several thousand years ago, perhaps 5,000, there is no defined beginning. Formed by nature It is certain, however, that Bear Island, like the other 1,199 islands that dot the expansive and wandering Lake Temagami, were formed by nature following the last Ice Age as a retreating glacial mass scoured the region into deep, rock-strewn valleys and towering slabs of heavy stone. Once filled with water, the lake itself became what was then and continues to be, a remarkable, natural landmark that holds the secrets of the regions native history. Indeed, Bear Islands permanent native inhabitants are members of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai community, a distinct and proud people who are as much Temagami as the lake and surrounding wilderness as the water and land themselves. Center of the lake Bear Island has always been considered the center of the lake as all five of the Temagamis far-reaching fingers come together at the big island. Even now, vacationing cottage owners often meet at events held on the island, especially in the winter months when travel is by snow machine and nights are long. Over the years, the Bear Island community, and various entrepreneurs have featured needed services such as fuel and groceries. There is a small church, government buildings, and tribal facilities. During our annual visits to Temagami, Bear Island visits for an ice cream treat are almost required as an afternoon boating destination. I once drove the few miles to the island over the frozen lake to meet friends for a snowmobile outing. Ice road An ice road from an access road is developed by annually plowing the snow, which allows the exposed roadway to freeze until the ice is thick enough to support even trucks. Eerie feeling. Admittedly, it is an eerie feeling to drive a vehicle over 200 feet of water below. I drove with the door open. Way be back in the 1600s, the Hudsons Bay Co. established its presence in the area and eventually opened a full-blown post on Bear Island that remained a central point of business for hundreds of years. Trapping supplies It was the place to go for thick wool blankets and other reliable winter gear and of course, trapping supplies. And too, where the regions many trappers could sell their harvest. After all, it was the fur trade that developed travel routes which weaved a still-present travel web of foot paths throughout the entire area. As kids, we would beg for permission to visit the Hudsons Bay Post, where we would dream about what it would have been like to live back then. I still wonder about that. (Readers may contact this writer at mtontimonia@att.net.) Well, here we are in mid-September already, and, like most years, pastures have slowed down, and water supplies, too. I know that here in Noble County weve been blessed with a little more rain than some, but its September and its always dry. This is gonna sound a little crazy, but, what would you do if your pasture or hay field had no grass left in it? I told you it sounds crazy, but in some cases its happened. Here in the northeast corner of Noble County, there is an outbreak of a weed that is ruining some folks fields. If you havent heard of Spotted Knapweed, then consider yourself lucky. Displace other plants Left alone, this plant will displace native species, change plant community structure, and reduce forage for livestock. Spotted Knapweed is a native to the grassland steppes of Northern Asia, and somehow found its way to British Columbia around 1883. By 1920, it had spread its way to Montana and eventually could be found in every county in the state. How it got to Southeastern Ohio is still unknown, but it sure is here. Each mature plant yields between 500 and 4000 seeds and the seeds are viable for up to eight years. While there is nothing special about the seed itself, it seems to have the ability to jump on vehicles and equipment (the seed heads get caught when driving through), and dispersed miles away. It may also be spread through contaminated seed and hay, and even fill-dirt and gravel. Roadside mowing Locally, it seems that roadside mowing spreads it. Driving the roads this time of year is an easy way to spot it. Any hay made in these fields would only help spread the seeds. Although it only spreads by seeds, it is also allelopathic it produces biochemicals that have a negative influence on other plants and I wasnt kidding when I mentioned that it will completely over-run some fields. I did exaggerate a little on the pastures. Sheep and goats will keep it under control, cattle and horses will eat the leaves, but they prefer almost anything else. So now the question is, how do you get rid of it? There have been lots of studies done, and a lot of them have been from Montana, including one that I am referencing called Biology, Ecology, and Management of Montana Knapweeds. Preventing seed heads Mowing doesnt seem to help much, as they will flower and seed in a lawn. Broadleaf herbicides are the weapon of choice for most producers anything from 2,4-D in the spring to a product called Milestone that is very effective, but quite expensive and has some restrictions involved. There are also some biological controls available weevils that feed on the roots and some that feed on the flower heads that seem to be working well in the western states. Even though I mentioned one part of our county, it sure doesnt stop at the county line. Southeastern Guernsey and Western Belmont and Monroe border us, but it can be found along the road almost anywhere around. The keys to prevention are early detection and rapid response. If you think you have some, check with your local Extension office. Like most invasive species, it doesnt take long. In addition to vaccinations, horse owners also should work to reduce the mosquito population and eliminate possible breeding areas. REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio The first positive case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in an Ohio horse has been confirmed. Testing on samples taken from a seven-year-old Standardbred in Tuscarawas County confirmed the positive WNV diagnosis to the Ohio Department of Agriculture Sept. 12. The horses veterinarian first examined the animal Aug. 29. The animal was euthanized after exhibiting significant clinical signs, including shaking, agitation and thrashing. The horse had not been vaccinated. Signs of virus West Nile Virus is transmitted to horses via bites from infected mosquitoes. Clinical signs for WNV include flulike symptoms, where the horse seems mildly anorexic and depressed. Changes in mentality, drowsiness, driving or pushing forward (often without control) and asymmetrical weakness may be observed. Mortality rate from WNV can be as high as 30-40 percent in horses. Infection with WNV does not always lead to signs of illness in people or animals. WNV is endemic in the United States and Ohio has reported three positive cases in horses each of the last few years. Prevention State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey said, this should serve as a warning to horse owners to get their animals vaccinated. In addition to vaccinations, horse owners also should work to reduce the mosquito population and eliminate possible breeding areas. Recommendations include: removing stagnant water sources; keeping animals inside during the bugs feeding times, which are typically early in the morning and evening; and using mosquito repellents. DES MOINES, Iowa DuPont Pioneer announced plans to double acreage of Pioneer brand soybeans with the Plenish high oleic trait in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio for 2017. This growth is driven by increasing demand for Plenish high oleic soybean oil by food companies and industrial products companies. New contracts Farmers around Bunge locations at Delphos and Bellevue, Ohio, and Decatur, Ind., will have the opportunity to produce Pioneer brand Plenish high oleic soybeans under contract and be eligible for a grain premium. Participating growers will be able to deliver grain to a participating elevator or directly to designated Bunge North America facilities for processing. Soybean growers who contract to grow Pioneer brand soybeans with the Plenish high oleic trait in the 2017 growing season will receive a 50 cent per bushel incentive for producing and storing the beans or a 40 cent per bushel premium for a harvest delivery contract. Elite genetics Pioneer brand Plenish high oleic soybean varieties are being developed with elite genetics using Pioneers latest Accelerated Yield Technology (AYT) 4.0. Five years of field testing has confirmed yields are on par with similar elite commercial soybean varieties. Traits included in Plenish high oleic soybean products have received regulatory approvals in nearly all key U.S. soybean export markets and approvals are pending in remaining export markets. The award recognizes an individual who places significant value in service to the industry and community, and displays high standards of conduct. HARRISBURG, Pa. James and Rita Kennedy, of Valencia, Butler County, will receive the Obie Snider Award at the 53rd All-American Dairy Show, Sept. 17-22, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. The award, established in memory of Obie Snider of Bedford County, a founding father of the All-American Dairy Show, recognizes an individual who places significant value in service to the industry and community, and displays high standards of conduct. Jim and Rita have lived a life of service, especially to the agricultural industry on the local, state and national levels, said Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding. Their commitment to the dairy industry and the All-American Dairy Show is parallel with the goals and vision set by the namesake of this award Obie Snider. Together, the Kennedys operated Four Seasons Farm in Butler County where they raised their five children Jeffrey, Jill, Janelle, John and Jason milked Brown Swiss cows, and row-cropped 700 acres. Jim and Rita also have 16 grandchildren and their first great-grandchild is on the way. The husband and wife team have both served the National Brown Swiss Cattle Association, National Dairy Shrine, Pennsylvania Grange and Farm Bureau, Farm Credit, Farmers Cooperative Market of East Liberty, Butler County Extension and 4-H, Butler County dairy promotion and members of the Mars Presbyterian Church. Rita A pioneer for women in agriculture, Rita has served on many local, state and national dairy organizations. For 24 years, she has been on the Pennsylvania Dairy and Allied Industries Association board, serving as president of the All-American Dairy Show for 10 of those years, and is a member of the All-American Dairy Foundation. She has dedicated nearly 30 years to dairy promotion organizations including American Dairy Association and Dairy Council Mid-East, the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, along with the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess and Promotion Services. She is also a member of the Pennsylvania Dairymans Association and Friends of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Foundation. In 2001, Rita was named the All-American Dairy Show Image Award winner and Pennsylvania Dairywoman of the Year, and the World Dairy Expo Dairywoman of the Year in 2002. Jim Jim was a Butler County commissioner for 15 years, and was committed to promoting agriculture statewide as part of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. He also served as a local school board director for 17 years. On the state level, Jim was a charter member and held leadership positions in the Pennsylvania Dairy Task Force, the Pennsylvania Department of Agricultures Center for Dairy Excellence and the Dairy Policy Action Coalition. He also served as the state agriculture departments regional director for 32 counties in western Pennsylvania for two years. WASHINGTON, D.C. The Environmental Protection Agency has violated the personal privacy of tens of thousands of farmers and ranchers, according to a unanimous ruling issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The ruling in American Farm Bureau Federation and National Pork Producers Council vs. EPA concerned the federal agencys 2013 release to three environmental groups of a vast compilation of spreadsheets. Released data The spreadsheets contained personal information about farmers and ranchers who raise livestock and poultry in 29 states. The case also related to similar personal information from farmers and ranchers in seven additional states that had yet to be released. The information included the names of farmers, ranchers and sometimes other family members, home addresses, GPS coordinates, telephone numbers and emails. EPA claimed that it was required to disclose the information under the Freedom of Information Act. Privacy This was an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy by a federal agency in violation of law, said AFBF General Counsel Ellen Steen. The courts decision is a vindication of the right of farm families to control their own personal information. Farmers and ranchers have a strong privacy interest in their personal information, including their home address, even when they live and work on the farm. Farm families usually live on the farm and the court took note that EPAs disclosures in this case could facilitate unwanted contact and harassment of farmers and ranchers by the FOIA requestors and others. This case assures us that individuals still have a privacy interest in their personal information, Steen said. The fact that government agencies may have that information and even store it on the internet does not eliminate the individuals privacy interest. According to the court, EPAs release of the complete set of data on a silver platter, so to speak, basically hands to the requesters a comprehensive database of their own, whatever their motives might be. EPA now has to recall all of the personal information it unlawfully released, but unfortunately that information has now been in the hands of the FOIA requestors for three years, and many feel that the damage is done. AFBF will continue to work to ensure that personal information about farmers and ranchers is not disclosed by EPA, Steen said. The rain wasnt expected to last for long. Just a few showers. Seventy-five years later, Audrey Freagon remembers what happened, and how those showers unleashed as much as 14 inches of rain in some areas. There was a rumor that the dam was going to break. If it did, it would have taken our house, said Freagon, 91, who now lives in the Chippewa Manor. Freagons home in the Flats area of Chippewa Falls survived the great Labor Day flood of 1941, marking its 75th anniversary this month. When the sky cleared, she and her sister, Vivian Ostenson, were able to hike to downtown Chippewa Falls to witness the damage. There was a lot to see. Almost every building from lower Bridge Street to Spring Street was surrounded by the floodwaters, wrote James M. Campbell, Sr. in the Sept. 8, 2011 Herald. He based his account on stories in newspapers, including the Heralds predecessor, the Chippewa Herald-Telegram. Some downtown stores not reached by the floodwaters found water seeping into their basements or coming from overloaded sewer pipes. There had been other bad floods in Chippewa Falls. The worst happened in 1884, and an overflowing Duncan Creek made a mess of downtown in 1934. But the Labor Day flood of 1941 ranks with those floods. Campbell wrote the estimated crest of the Chippewa River reached 22 feet, only about five feet lower than the 1884 flood. Different days Freagon was born in the Flats section of Chippewa Falls when there two houses down there. Her family lived on six acres, and had a cow and horse. As a girl, she recalls butchering hogs and then making blood sausage. Her family included her brother, George L. Anderson, who went on to serve as Chippewa Falls fire chief from 1972-77. Audrey attended First Ward Elementary School, Chippewa Falls Junior High School (where Gordys Market is now located at 212 Bay St.) and Chippewa Falls Senior High School. We didnt have (school) bus service in the Flats, she said. Everyone walked, including having to walk to what was then the route of Highway 178 to pick up the familys mail. She said she was either 15 or 16 when the flood of 1941 hit. Rising waters Campbell wrote the flood was the result of the overflowing waters of a Northern States Power Company reservoir near Winter coming with waters of other northern Wisconsin rivers. By noon on Saturday, the floodwaters coming through the dam at Chippewa Falls was beginning to back up into lower Bridge Street causing the waters of Duncan Creek to rise, Campbell wrote. Families along south Main Street needed to be evacuated. A family in one house was trapped by the high water, and had to be rescued by boat, Campbell wrote. No home was destroyed by the floodwater, but each hit by the flood had moderate or severe water damage. Surge of water In another article published in the Herald in Aug. 30, 2011, Campbell recounted how his day of adventure going to Irvine Park the Saturday morning before Labor Day turned into ordeal. He wrote he and a cousin found a bridge was blocked off by wooden sawhorse barriers. While a police officer tended to a driver, Campbell and his cousin ducked under the barriers and ran onto the bridge. The police officer followed, yelling at the boys to stop. It wasnt until he stopped chasing us that we became aware of the rushing floodwaters coming toward us from the NSP dam. The large rocks at the base of the dam caused the flood waters to surge so high into the air that all we could see was a brownish-white wall of water and large bodies of foam riding on top of the water that was rushing under the bridge, Campbell wrote. The boys continued running and made it home safely. But the memory of one of the worst floods ever to hit Chippewa County remain strong, even 75 years later. MONTVILLE, Ohio The Thompson Ledge Dairymen celebrated 80 years of helping 4-H dairy youth during the clubs most recent meeting. The club celebrated by having new T-shirts made. The club did very well again this year at the Geauga County Fair, bringing home many ribbons. The club will be holding a dinner later this fall to celebrate. NEWBURY, Ohio The Breeders and Feeders 4-H club wrapped up the Geauga County Fair, which was a great success. The next event is Huntsburg Pumpkin Festival Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 where the club will have a wagon booth that will offer apple cider. Each family is to bring baked goods to sell. There will also be a game booth. There is also a parade Oct. 2 at 2:15 p.m. and members can ride on a hay wagon in the parade. This is a mandatory event for all members. The next meeting is Nov. 6 at Munson Town Hall. FONTANET, Ind. Green Leaf Inc., a Fontanet, Indiana manufacturer of agricultural products, Tractor Supply Co. and 4-H Youth Development awarded Erica Shafer, of New Waterford, Ohio, as the Columbiana County winner of the 2016 4-H Bright Futures Award. Shafer is a member of the Rowdy Wranglers 4-H club. PALMYRA, Ohio The Southeast FFA held a chapter meeting Sept. 15. The chapter will be sending seven members to Indianapolis for the National Convention in October. It will also be sending a soils team to participate in the district Land Judging CDE near Wooster later this month. Sept. 10 the chapter volunteered at the Deerfield Friends Church Fall Kick Off. Southeast FFA members will also be at the Maplewood Career Center Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m. for the Harvest Reception. PLYMOUTH, Ohio The Plymouth FFA Forestry Team placed second in the District Forestry Contest Sept. 8. The top six team members will travel to the state competition Oct. 1. Team members include: Claudia Caudill, Susan Grube, Alfonso Hernandez, Emily Kanney, Douglas Reer, and Avery Sexton. Kanney and Reer also placed in the top 4 individually. WELLINGTON, Ohio Firelands FFA members exhibited at the Lorain County Fair. The supreme exhibitor was Sophia Pohorence. To receive this award participants must bring the largest amount of shop, crop, and animal projects. Pohorence also received reserve grand champion medium reconstruction and second place in senior turkey showmanship. Graduate, Rachel Minek received class champion hog and overall swine showmanship. Graduate, Caitlin Gallagher received reserve champion steer, class champion steer with two steers, and reserve champion overall beef showmanship. Graduate, Mike Anadell earned third overall beef showmanship. Graduate, Ali Butler received pygmy goat overall reserve champion doe, class champion wether, class champion doe, and reserve champion doe. Bianca Inman earned second in beginner beef showmanship and a honorable mention for overall horse showmanship. Ty Ostrander received second place for FFA engineering. Sean Miller received grand champion horticulture crop award. Ian Valerius earned grand champion FFA vegetables crop award. Ben Bickel received grand champion Ag engineering exhibit. Samantha Ives earned pygmy goat senior showmanship and showman of showman grand champion pygmy goat. Braedan Casper received reserve class champion gilt in type. Breanna Dechant earned grand champion poster, reserve champion type class pygmy goat, and reserve champion type class bantam hen. Kaitlyn Frazier received grand champion pygmy goat doe 0 to 6. Erica Benton received second place showman of showmen and overall grand champion pygmy goat doe. Aaron Myers earned reserve grand champion type for pen of two chickens. Megan Brandich received grand champion level two pack goat. Genalda Finely received second place in boer goat showmanship. Grace Pohorence earned first place in senior turkey showmanship. CHILLICOTHE, Ohio Zane Trace FFA members attended the Ross County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and Field Day Aug. 28, at Gene Carters farm near Kingston Ohio. The field day included presentations on drones in agriculture, pond management, hop production, bees and honey, agricultural legal questions, CAUV, berry production, water quality, estate planning, and a grain bin rescue trailer. During the event, FFA members helped teach children lessons about food. Attending members included: Cassidy Corcoran, Sky Graves, TJ Pack, Olivia Plaumer, Alanee Fannin, Cody Clark, Kylie Lathey, Maranda Havens, Ann Shelby and Katie Shelby. Zane Trace FFA members also participated in a National FFA grant project called Growing and Giving. Over the summer, 60 FFA members donated nearly 150 hours to provide fresh vegetables, canned goods and eggs to the Church Triumphant Food Pantry just five miles from the high school. Since planting seeds in March, the chapter has raised close to 250 pounds of vegetables and collected over 60 dozen eggs and will continue collect into the school year. Students have also learned how to make salsa, tomato juice and pepper relish out of the vegetables to donate as well. This fall members are planning to raise a small group of market broilers to donate for meat to the pantry as well. MILLERSBURG, Ohio The West Holmes FFA held its annual meeting Aug. 29 to plan out its activities for the year. The following motions were passed: to pay for the jacket of the first freshman member in each class to recite the creed, send members to Greenhand camp, send juniors, seniors, and officers to the 5th Grade Farm Tour and pay for supplies for the farm safety presentation, allow any new member that sells $150 or more in the barbecue sauce sale to get their FFA jacket for free, send sophomores to district soils, participate on the Antique Festival and ha This papier-mache Halloween lantern is actually horrifying Most jack-o'-lanterns are made from pumpkins, but this particular papier-mache pear is a unique, antique find. Nestling at the foot of Firle Beacon on the South Downs in Sussex, Middle Farm is a 625 acre working family farm. We offer a warm country welcome, with something for every member of the family to enjoy. Six generations of farming have given us a unique insight into British food production. The highest standards of animal welfare and environmental care show in our milk and meat products. We demand those same high standards from everyone whose produce we stock. We aim to promote the excellence of British farming by presenting to our customers the finest food and drink from the British countryside, maintaining the best of all that is traditional, whilst welcoming innovation wherever we find it. Maps AHDB is shining a spotlight on the opportunities available to attract young talent into the food and farming industry. It has taken on management of the Bright Crop careers initiative, as of the beginning of September. The move is part of a wider AHDB review of its role in addressing the industry skills shortage and complements its existing work on agricultural apprenticeships and school-level education. It marks an enhanced commitment to "help ensure the agriculture and horticulture industries are able to develop and attract workers with the skills needed to operate effectively." A 2015 government report showed the agri-food industry has five times more skilled trade jobs than other UK industries and these roles are generally three times more difficult to fill. Improving image with young people AHDB Chief Executive, Jane King, said: "We recognise the food and farming sectors can do more to improve their image with young people making decisions about their careers. Ensuring the industry attracts the brightest of the next generation is vital to its long-term viability. "Over the coming months, well be looking at where and how we can capitalise on opportunities to show young people our industry is exciting, progressive and sophisticated, offering a range of rewarding and fulfilling career options." Previously, Bright Crop was run by FACE (Farming and Countryside Education) and partly funded by AHDB, with additional sponsors from across the agri-food supply chain. It has promoted careers in the food and farming industry through careers events, school visits, web and press activity, with the support of 380 ambassadors. 'Ambitious and thriving sector' Ian Pigott, Chair of FACE, said: "The farming and agri-food industry is an ambitious and thriving sector. "It is imperative that we inspire and connect our leaders, workforce and consumers of tomorrow." "I am delighted that AHDB will be carrying on the excellent work of FACE and driving Bright Crop forward for our future success." Katie Garner who has been responsible for running the programme has been welcomed to the AHDB team as part of the transfer. David Yiend, who chairs the Bright Crop steering group, said: "We are delighted with the progress that Bright Crop has made as a cross-industry initiative. "We believe now, with the reorganisation of AHDB, this is the right place for Bright Crop to sit to ensure it remains firmly linked with the customer-base on behalf of which it is working." 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. According to Rabobank Beef Quarterly Q3 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. 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. "Russian beef imports have the potential to return to pre-2015 levels if import bans are removed" 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." 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 the market 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. The importance of food and farming will be spoken about with Labour officials at their autumn party conference in Liverpool. The National Farmers Union (NFU) is hosting a fringe event at 7pm on Monday 26 September in Liverpool. NFU North West Regional Director David Hall said he would like to see a strong turnout of farmers from the host region to "impress upon" Labour MPs the "importance of supporting the countrys agricultural industry with the right policies." Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire have many Labour MPs who have already pledged their support for the farming industry. One of those is Member of Parliament for Lancaster and Fleetwood Cat Smith who toured local farms on Monday 19 September with Shadow Defra Secretary of State Rachael Maskell MP who will be one of the main speakers at the fringe event. Food and drink is the largest manufacturing industry in the UK and worth 108 billion to the nation 'Farming is important in Lancashire' Cat Smith MP said: "Farming is an important part of the economy in Lancaster and Fleetwood as well as in the UK more widely, and Im proud to support and work with my local farmers. "Buying British is a big part of backing British farming and something everyone can do. "But as an MP I know backing British farming also has to be about speaking up in Parliament and ensuring the delivery of services to rural communities, and calling on government to protect farm land from flooding and the after effects of a flood." Labours MP for Garston and Halewood Maria Eagle has also recently given her full backing to a campaign spearheaded by NFU North West Combinable Crops Board Chairman Olly Harrison who has planted and grown about 75,000 sunflowers in aid of charity. Ahead of the event, Mr Hall said: "Food and drink, the largest manufacturing industry in the UK and worth 108 billion to the nation, is one that no political party can take for granted. "So its important NFU members from the North West take time out of their busy schedules to help their MPs recognise the importance of the rural economy. "The decision to leave the EU will impact on every UK citizen. But for farmers, the decision will inevitably mean changes to our businesses some of them potentially quite substantial as we look at where and how we trade. "We now have the opportunity to take learnings from the Common Agricultural Policy to produce a tailor-made domestic farming policy, one built on a cross-party consensus to support a new, invigorated domestic agricultural policy which can match the scale of vision not seen since the post-war years." Landowners should build and manage their own affordable housing in the countryside to help solve the housing crisis, the Country Land and Business Association has said. CLA President Ross Murray will share a stage with Princess Anne today after she delivers her keynote speech on putting affordable rural homes in the spotlight at the National Housing Federation conference. Mr Murray said landowners were keen to build and manage their own affordable housing and were best placed to deliver this because of their economic role within the community. However, he said there are not enough incentives to encourage more landowners to bring sites forward and manage them. Acute shortage "The capacity of landowners to help alleviate the acute shortage in homes in rural areas is an untapped resource," he said. "Many landowners already manage large residential portfolios and affordable housing is a part of that. CLA President Ross Murray will share a stage with HRH Princess Anne today "Landowners have strong multi-generational ties to their communities and are often local employers, they wish to sustain that community for future generations, and long-term investment in affordable housing is an excellent way of doing this. "However, it is important to recognise that developing market houses for sale is a more profitable enterprise than providing affordable housing to rent so there needs to be a range of incentives to encourage landowners to invest for the longer term." Mr Murray added that high house prices in rural areas have a significant impact on the rural economy. He said: "Job creation is stifled, perpetuating low wages because young people cannot afford to live and work in the countryside. "We do not want to build all over our beautiful countryside but we want to see incremental growth in existing villages. "This can help sustain local services and stop these areas from becoming dormitory zones for commuters and holiday homes. "We want life in our villages to support young families, local workers and those in the community who are ready to downsize." Extending capital gains The CLA also said allowing landowners nomination rights for who lives in an affordable property they have built, for example, a retired agricultural worker, was another motivating factor. Adding affordable rental housing to the asset classes eligible for conditional exemption from inheritance tax upon death. Extending capital gains rollover relief on sale proceeds when a landowner sells land as a rural exception site development. "This should also apply for 100% affordable housing or for Section106 mixed market and affordable housing sites where the affordable housing contribution is 20% above the requirement set in the local plan," the group said. Northern Ireland has today announced details of the capital element of the Farm Business Improvement Scheme which is expected to open next month. The Rural Affairs Michelle McIlveen said the Capital Scheme will only be for farmers who are actively involved in farming. "It will be an important part of the Farm Business Improvement Scheme package of measures aimed at improving the competitiveness and sustainability of farm businesses," said Miss McIlveen. "The Capital Scheme will offer tiered support, linked to the needs in the farmers business plan. "The grant rate for the Scheme will be 40% of eligible costs. Tier 1 of the scheme will support smaller scale investments, costing less than 30,000, to improve the sustainability of farm businesses. "Tier 2 will drive larger scale, transformational investment in projects costing over 30,000." Agri-Minister McIlveen (middle) has set out her vision for the future of NI's rural economy She added: "I want to ensure that we invest in the next generation of farmers and those committed to developing themselves and their farm practices. "Therefore the Capital Scheme will favour both young farmers and qualified farmers at the selection stage." All applicants must have a Category 1 Farm Business ID and will have to provide a Making it Safer self assessment certificate as part of their application. The Minister said: "This Preparation Stage will allow time for farmers to start to prepare before the Scheme opens. "I would encourage farmers to begin thinking about what they need to do now if they are interested in applying for grant support." Northern Ireland is bidding for up to 40million, covering two tranches for each Tier of the Farm Business Improvement Scheme capital scheme. It is anticipated that Tranche 1 for both tiers will open in October. Tier 1 of the scheme will support smaller scale investments to improve the sustainability of farm businesses. All successful projects costing from 5,000 - 30,000 will attract funding and it is primarily aimed at the purchase of equipment and machinery. A reference priced list of equipment will be provided by DAERA for Tier 1 when the scheme opens. Tier 2 will drive larger scale, transformational investment in projects costing from 30,000 to an unlimited amount and will attract funding to a maximum grant of 250,000. Its focus will be primarily on construction projects and the purchase of higher value equipment linked to the needs in the farmers business plan. Politicians and environmentalists all too readily reach for the 'farming scapegoat' when they are faced with problems regarding wildlife conservation, according to the Farmers' Union of Wales. One in 14 species in Wales is at risk of disappearing according to data collected by the State of Nature 2016 report. FUW said the report placed 'misguided emphasis' on some environmental factors. Stephen Bladwell, RSPB Cymru Biodiversity Manager and one of the authors of the 2016 report, says the findings suggest that land management and climate change are two of "the greatest factors that impact nature". Naturalist and TV presenter Iolo Williams said species reduction was 'alarming'. 'Farming scapegoat' Responding to the report, FUW Land Use Committee Chairman Gavin Williams said: "While we would certainly not agree with some of the assertions made in the Welsh State of Nature Report, I welcome the fact that it is far more balanced than the UK report in terms of recognising the positive role of farmers in conservation, and the validity of concerns we have been raising for decades." Growing recognition of the environmental damage that under-management and the loss of farming has had, FUW said Amongst those concerns are the fact that under-grazing sometimes as a result of agri-environment scheme rules is having a damaging effect on many species and habitats, said Mr Williams. "It is heartening that 67 percent of the priority species assessed in the report are classified as stable or increasing in numbers. "However, for those species which are not performing so well we do need to consider what actions must be taken." Mr Williams said that a proper assessment of the factors influencing such declines should be undertaken. "The various state of nature reports across the UK recognise factors such as increases in avian and mammalian predators, and the abandonment of grazing, burning and cutting, all of which have a negative impact on species and habitats. "There is a growing recognition of the environmental damage that under-management and the loss of farming has had, and would have if we were to see farming becoming even less financially viable, and these concerns are starting to be reflected in reports such as this. However, Mr Williams said there were still those who reach for the farming scapegoat whenever they are faced with problems. He says they remain in denial about "uncomfortable truths" such as the fact that growing numbers of predators are "dining out" on some of our most endangered species. "Politicians and environmentalists need to be honest with themselves and the general public about factors such as predation, otherwise they risk causing further damage to the environment." Mr Williams emphasised that despite some differences, there was a vast amount of common ground between the farming community and the authors of the report, and that the FUW would continue to work with other bodies in order to secure an economically and environmentally sustainable future for Welsh agriculture. "Our Farming Matters campaign emphasises the fact that farming is important to everything we have and do in Wales, and that includes our environment and the species which make Wales such a unique place," he added. Its all about student engagement. If the Chippewa Falls teacher could get her students more involved in the learning process, she thought there was a better chance for them to be successful. Tina Parker is an interventionist at Southview and Hillcrest elementary schools but received recognition for her previous work as a first grade teacher when she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching on Sept. 8 in Washington D.C. The award is the nations highest honor for teachers in those fields, according to the PAEMST website. President Obama announced the winners of the award from every state Aug. 22. As the United States continues to lead the way in the innovation that is shaping our future, Obama said in a press release, these excellent teachers are preparing students from all corners of the country with the science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills that help keep us on the cutting-edge. Parker applied for the award in 2014 (along with over 10,000 applicants) when she worked as a teacher at Sam Davey Elementary School in Eau Claire for six years. Since then, she has moved out of the classroom and to the Chippewa Falls School District. She found out she was one of three finalists from Wisconsin during the 2014-15 school year and then began the long wait for the final announcement. I was actually pretty surprised because I was beginning to think they were never going to announce the award at all, Parker said. It was just a waiting game until the White House released the nominee they selected. Part of the application process is submitting a 45-minute lesson video where she said every teacher had to keep an area of focus in mind. An area of education she believes in strongly is using engaging-type activities. She does small group work as well as whole group lessons where students lead and facilitate the activity. During this, she said she can sit back, evaluate student responses and ask probing questions to get the results she would like. She focuses on game-based activities and creates a number of her own that meet the needs of every student in the classroom. Parker said she also has a strong home-school connection as well and looks to get parents involved by making games the parents can do with their child at home. Just like with anything, if students are not interested, then theyre more likely to tune out, she said. Public school teachers are required to teach a certain curricula. What I did is take that and try to change it a little bit to make it more interactive and related to students. And how did she become the best teacher she could be? Lots and lots and lots of hours, she said. Its a lot of work to try and meet the needs of all her students. Thats why she felt it was important to create everything herself so she could specialize to those needs. Right now, Parkers role as an interventionist has her working with small groups of students in various grade levels to find skills theyre struggling with and get them the help they need to be successful. Parker said shes always had a passion for working with struggling kids and is glad to know what she is doing helps students succeed. This is something Ive always done, she said. This award to me is just reaffirming that what I have been doing is beneficial to students. Many dairy farmers have took to diversifying their produce in order to combat the worst dairy crisis the UK has seen in recent history. With milk prices finally starting to recover, things should be looking up for the United Kingdoms beleaguered dairy farmers. Britains milk producers have suffered the longest and deepest market downturn in living memory. A surplus of milk on world markets drove farm gate prices down to unsustainable levels. Dairy farmer Jeremy Holmes has said the market is starting to recover Many dairymen were driven out of the industry after suffering huge losses and others took to the streets in protest to highlight their plight. Award-winning dairy farmer Jeremy Holmes says the market is starting to recover. Jeremy, who was recently named farmer of the year by the Yorkshire Post, has sought to improve his own plight by turning some of his milk into artisan ice cream and by selling raw milk direct to consumers from the farm gate. But, although the market may be starting to improve, Jeremy says it still has some way to go before his dairy business returns to profit. The raw milk vending machine, straight from the farm Raw milk straight from the farm "There is an upturn in the industry," said Jeremy, "but the milk prices are still very low. "There is more belief that the industry will get back to how it was two years ago, and by Christmas we will hopefully return to better times. "We have reduced our cow numbers, we were milking 110 cows and now we have reduced it to 70 cows. Jeremy has introduced an Italian-made 200 litre tank vending machine which sells his milk in raw form. Consumers pick up an empty bottle out of the fridge, put money in the machine and pour the milk themselves. "People need to trust the farm, they need to believe me when I say that is it 100% hygienic and then they make their choice. "We have customers coming back time and time again, saying it is milk that they had years ago," explained Jeremy. From milk, to artisan ice cream Jeremy looked at other ways of utilising his spare milk, and ice cream seemed an obvious, popular choice for his customers. "We looked at cheese, we looked at yogurt - we just thought ice cream was the obvious one for us," said Jeremy. "I think you have to have the right location, and the right belief, to deal with the public everyday - it is a challenge. "We are always trying to do something different on the farm to appeal to the customers more," concluded Jeremy. The National Farmers' Union Cymru Milk Board said they were very forthright in its view that much more money should now be coming back to farmers and that processors are clearly dragging their feet in this respect. "The gap between most producer prices and commodity prices is now quite significant," said NFU Cymru Milk Board chairman Aled Jones. "All the price indicators point towards a milk price of 25ppl if not more, yet the reality for most farmers is that milk prices are still around 20ppl." 82% of the British public say they would disappointed to see a reduction in UK dairy farming and would be willing to pay a little extra to support it, according to a recent AHDB survey. Celebration was part of St. Marys homecoming By Diego Flammini Assistant Editor, North American Content Farms.com During the first weeks of high school, many students may arrive in new cars that were purchased over the summer holidays. At one high school in Iowa, a group of students drove some larger vehicles to class. As part of its homecoming celebrations, St. Marys High School in Remsen, Iowa, held Farmer Day. Students drove tractors, combines and even rode horses to school to show off their agricultural heritage. I grew up in a family of farmers, I think Id be a fifth generation farmer, Roman Staab, a senior, told ABC 9 News. Its just a really big thing in my family and in the community. The young minds understand the roles agriculture plays in everyday life and the importance of spreading a positive message. Farming is important to me because everybody in society has some tie to agriculture no matter what, its where their food comes from, Jacob Loutsch told ABC 9 News. Its up to us farmers to get the knowledge out and the word out on how we produce food safely and effectively to feed the world. Some students drove farm equipment to school at part of Farmer Day. Photo: ABC 9 News Professors at the school understand their student body is unique when compared to other schools. A very large percentage of our students would like to farm, professor Paul Mugge told ABC 9. Relative to other schools that are more urban in nature. And thats a good thing. Photos of the Farmer Day celebrations can be viewed on St. Marys Facebook page. Last year, Meat and Livestock Australia, V&V Walsh, Grand Farm and DAFWA signed an MOU to cooperate to get better alignment between WA producers and Chinese consumers and to undertake projects to increase supply opportunities from WA.As part of the opening delegation, DAFWA agribusiness development manager Terry Burnage travelled to China to attend the unveiling of the facility and tour the region, to focus on the red meat trade. The group of farmers took the unprecedented step following the disastrous Esperance fires to fund their own review employing the services of Pacer Legal, saying they were unhappy with how the fire was handled. Spokesman for the group and Grass Patch farmer Dan Sanderson said while they hoped to have the review out much earlier they had been waiting on DFES information. Mr Slee said he was proud of working with the WA canola industry during the introduction of the growing and marketing of genetically modified (GM) canola in WA and ensuring integrity through the supply chain. The ram was by AL130134 and was in the top 10 percentile band for weaning weight, post weaning weight and yearling weight and in the top 1pc for yearling clean fleece weight and it was wool quality that was a key factor not only for the top price ram but also for several other sons that made good money. Wednesdays storm that dumped up to nine inches of rain near Chippewa Falls and caused an estimated $600,000 damage was not a once-in-a-lifetime storm. It happens less frequently than that. The 5.1 inches of rain Eau Claire received within a 12-hour period was a 1 to 2 percent storm, said Craig Schmidt, a National Weather Service hydrologist in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Thats more rain than at least 98 percent of rain storms. Thats a pretty rare event, Schmidt said. But the nine inches of pounding rain recorded near Chippewa Falls that left several roads flooded or washed out is what the weather service terms as a .002 percent storm. That means it happens two thousandths of one percent of the time. Schmidt said Chippewa Falls was not alone in that category. The Minnesota towns of Waseca and Maple Grove also had a .002 storm. Maple Grove in particular had 10 inches of rain. Chippewa County was included in a 13-county State of Emergency declaration by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Preliminary damage assessment found three homes sustained major damage and 12 minor damage. Total private sector damages are estiated at $300,000. Ten homes have major damage, two minor and 10 affected. Public sector damage (roads, bridges, etc.) are estimated at $300,000, reported the Wisconsin Emergency Operations Center in Madison. The storm made its presence known in Stanley, in eastern Chippewa County. We had several residences in town, including even the fire department, had flooding, Stanley Police Chief Lance Weiland said. The only structural damage to a road in the area was on County X, between Dewey Street and County NN. It definitely could have been worse, he said about damage from the storm. Tropical moisture Soaked residents in Chippewa County can point to several reasons for the storm. This time of year we had more of a summertime air mass, Schmidt said. There was just a lot of moisture to work with. Some that that moisture from the air mass from the south came from Tropical Storm Paine. As the storm moved east, some locations were belted with storm after storm after storm. The result was several roads in Chippewa County were flooded and needed to be closed, including for a time Highway 29 near Highway 27. The Chippewa County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday and Thursday received 13 calls about road washouts, 25 calls about water over roads, seven calls about vehicles stuck in traffic lanes, and 36 miscellaneous calls related to the storm. There was also one call about water in a basement and one about a sinkhole. One barn fire was reported at 9:09 p.m. at 8841 320th St. The Stanley Fire Department responded with fire tenders coming from Cadott and Thorp. Units from Cadott and Stanley Fire left the scene at 9:46 p.m. The following list by Dennis Brown, director of emergency government in Chippewa County, of storm damage was issued at 4 p.m. Thursday: Washouts-closures County MM west of Highway 27 washed out to 250th St. (Town of Sigel). County F from Hwy X to County N (Town of Wheaton); Highway X (Maple St.) from County NN to Highway H (Stanley); 25th Avenue west of County P (Town of Hallie); County UN south of 15th Avenue (Town of Hallie); 240th St. at 115th Ave. (Town of Arthur); 20th Avenue from 210th St. to County K (Town of Lafayette); 50th Avenue at 199th St. (Town of Lafayette); 30th Avenue East of County J/County K intersection (Town of Lafayette); 30th Avenue between 210th St. and 220th St. (Town of Lafayette); 45th Avenue East of 220th St. (Town of Sigel); 220th St. north of 67th Avenue (Town of Goetz) Road; 80th Ave. west side of 223rd St intersection (Town of Goetz); 240th Street north of County O; Highway 29 westbound near County X, mudslide encroaching on driving lane; Water over Highway 29 east of County K near Paint Creek (Lafayette); 50 feet of Canadian National railroad track bed/ballast was washed out in Stanley; 150 feet of CN track washed out in Town of Wheaton. Vehicle accidents 28716 70th Avenue, Boyd, vehicle in washout; 30th Ave. west of 220th St.; Hwy OO, car off road; 120th St. south of 115th Ave., vehicle slide in; County SS and Highway 64, slide in. Water over road-receded County XX south of County X; County S east of Highway 53 (at Tractor Central); 300th St. north of Highway 29 (Town of Delmar); County X and 80th Avenue; County H on north side of Stanley; First St. from Wells to State Street in Chippewa Falls; 700 Bridge St., Chippewa Falls; Woodward St., Chippewa Falls; Pine Needle Drive, north of 1st Ave., Chippewa Falls. Fire response 313 Summit Ave., Chippewa Falls; 104 Duncan St., Chippewa Falls; two lightning strikes in Cadott; 8841 320th St. (south of County O), fully engulfed barn. Other 223rd St., 30 inches of water in main level on home; two residences evacuated on East First Avenue in Stanley; extensive shoulder damage to roads in southern portion of the county; transformer blew out on County NN, south of Highway 29; signal lights out at Seymour Cray and Highway 29; 45th Ave. and 250th St., disabled vehicle between washouts 900 block of Pine Needle Drive north of 1st Ave., Chippewa Falls, water in basements; hail in southwest part of county to Albertville, 1-inch+ size. What was it like to be an Oath Keeper? John Zimmerman can tell you That means renewable energy has not yet disrupted industrial processes such as cement and steelmaking. And that's a problem because the world has an insatiable appetite for those materials. Cement, for instance, is used to make the concrete required to build homes, hospitals and schools. These industries are responsible for more than a fifth of global emissions, according to the EPA. In the prior post I talked about enforcement efforts that lagged in the Netherlands but are now gaining more traction. This post will cover recent amendments to the Dutch Criminal Code that are helping authorities prosecute overseas bribery, and Dutch civil remedies used to fight graft. On January 1, 2015, relevant amendments to the Dutch Criminal Code came into force. The amendments simplify and harmonize the offenses for foreign bribery, including removing the distinction between bribery to induce a violation of official duty and bribery to receive a benefit within the officials duty. The amendments also increase the maximum sanctions for foreign bribery. The Netherlands has made improvements to the regime of criminal liability of legal persons. But the OECD expressed regrets that the Netherlands has not amended its legislation since the OECD Working Groups December 2012 Phase 3 Report to increase protections for foreign bribery-related whistleblowing in the public and private sectors. A copy of the Phase 3 Report is here (pdf). Meanwhile, there are several legal instruments to assist a victim of corruption. If the fraudster or corrupt criminal is prosecuted by the Dutch public prosecutor, the victim can request access to the criminal file. This evidence can be used in civil proceedings against the fraudster or corrupt criminal or against related third parties. Additionally, instead of starting civil proceedings against the fraudster or corrupt criminal, it is possible to join the criminal proceedings as a civil party and request damages. Even if the Dutch public prosecutor reached an out-of-court settlement, the victim is not left empty-handed. According to a specific provision in the Dutch Code of Criminal Procedure, victims may choose to file a written complaint to the court on the grounds that an out-of-court settlement pertains to assets that belong to them. Such complaints should be filed within three months after the fraudster or corrupt criminal complies with the out-of-court settlement. Before doing this, though, one could also reach out to the public prosecutor who dealt with the out-of-court settlement and explain that a client is a victim of corruption and suffered substantial financial damages. Then the public prosecutor can be requested to share the disgorged proceeds collected under the out-of-court settlement connected to the corruption be returned to the victim. These victim-related remedies only work if litigants have access to independent judiciaries one of the markers Transparency International recognizes as a common characteristic of the least corrupt countries on its Corruption Perceptions Index. The Netherlands currently ranked fifth on the CPI is perceived as one of the least corrupt countries in the world. While it is doing more to fight overseas corruption, as I discussed in the prior post, theres still room for improvement. And some are questioning whether the tendency by prosecutors and regulators to settle overseas corruption out of court might reduce the deterrent effect of the enforcement actions. Thats a subject for another post. _____ Cathalijne van der Plas is an associate partner at Hocker Advocaten in the company law division. Cathalijnes practice is international in nature, consisting in large part of civil fraud and asset recovery matters. Shes a contributor of FraudNet, the network of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) which provides support to victims of commercial fraud (international or otherwise). When I was 21, I met a man who was handsome and smart and had forearms like tree trunks from a childhood spent rock climbing. We were completely wrong for each other. He was spontaneous, I was structured. He wanted to travel the world, I wanted to stay in London, the city I had just moved across an ocean to live in. He loved to camp, I loved my hair dryer. He thought conflict was a good thing. I thought it was the worst. Melissa Pimentel Of course, we got married. We seem to conflate difficult with desirable, especially when we're young. My friends and I spent our twenties comparing relationships over long emails and bottles of wine, picking over the bones of recent blow-outs, sympathising with each other's heartaches, offering advice on how to work things out. Why is this so hard? we'd cry. Relationships take work, we'd remind each other. Love isn't supposed to be easy. In reality, we were probably making things more difficult for ourselves than was strictly necessary. Good relationships do sometimes require work, it's true, but that work shouldn't be constant. There were times when it felt like our real jobs were keeping our relationships together, and the low-paid, low-on-the-totem-pole office jobs we went to five days a week were more like a reprieve from the work of being with the people we'd chosen to spend our lives with. At 27, my husband and I split up. The hard work had become too hard to bear, and it was increasingly clear that no amount of elbow grease or active listening would stop us from making each other miserable. The simple truth was that we wanted different things in life. This wasn't clear when we met at 21, because at 21 no one is sure what they want in life and everything seems tantalisingly possible. By 27, I knew more about who I was. So did he. And we both knew that the people we'd become weren't meant for each other. The drama I sought out in my twenties no longer cast the same spell over me. The idea of unpicking someone's brooding complexity didn't have the same appeal. I had better things to do, and so, it seems, did my friends. One by one, we found ourselves settling down with guys who we enthusiastically described as nice. The endless dissection of our relationships stopped. No news is good news, not a deficiency. When I was 28, I met a man who was handsome and smart and had a mind so large and expansive that I no longer needed to consult Google if I had a question about the world - I could just ask him. He made me laugh. We was kind. And most of all, the rhythms of our lives chimed rather than clashed. We could talk for hours or we could be happily silent. Being with him was comfortable. Warm. Easy. Of course, we got married. Love doesn't have to be hard. Sometimes, if you're lucky, it's easy. And the older you get, the more you appreciate that sense of ease. Marlon Wayans and Regina Hall have been signed up by Netflix to star in remake of 'Naked'. Marlon Wayans The American actor has confirmed that he is to star in the remake of the 2000 Swedish romantic comedy and he has also written the script alongside Cory Koller and Rick Alvarez. Speaking about his upcoming role in a statement, Wayans said: "The response I've gotten from fans worldwide to my films on Netflix has been overwhelming, and I'm thrilled to be working with them on an original film. Also, I'm excited to be working with Regina again." Wayans will also be reunited with director Michael Tiddes for the first time since they worked together on 'A Haunted House'. Tiddes most recently directed erotic thriller 'Fifty Shades of Black'. Netflix plans to start production next month (October) in Charleston, SC, and will premiere the film around the world on its streaming site in 2017. The story is based on an immature man called Rob Anderson, played by Wayans, who wakes up on his wedding day naked in an elevator and cannot stop reliving the hour before the ceremony over and over again. The film is being produced by Wayans, Alvarez, 'White Chicks and Little Man' star Todd Garner, and Ryan Lewis. Sean Robins, Michael Flynn and Paul Hanson serve as executive producers. By Rachel Sewell Relationships on Female First When envisioning a romantic getaway Iceland isn't necessarily the first place that springs to mind, however the Nordic nation is fast becoming a hotspot for couples and it's not hard to see why. We've rounded up our top reasons to head there with your partner Out of this world landscapes Almost everywhere you turn in Iceland you're faced with views sure to make you fall in love. A personal favourite is the enchanting Snfellsnes peninsula. Made up of sweeping, golden beaches, lava fields, cascading waterfalls and fiery geysers, there's no shortage of stunning backdrops Cheap travel Getting to Iceland needn't break the bank with budget airlines such as WOW air offering flights from London to Keflavik from as little as 29.49! Plus it's only 3 hours away, meaning you can fly there for roughly the same time it takes to drive from London to Weymouth Adventures of a lifetime Fancy couples' snowmobiling, glacier hiking, or lava caving? These are just a few of the adrenaline-fuelled activities on offer through excursion specialists such as Reykjavik Excursions Unique wedding destination If you and your other half are serious / already on the way to the altar Iceland is an affordable place to tie the knot. Companies such as Love Iceland offer wedding services starting at just 15.000 ISK (around 100) Cold weather The name gives it away - Iceland is cold! With max temperatures of 0 degrees during the winter months you're sure to be brought closer together as you cuddle up for warmth! Natural wonders There's no shortage of natural wonders to marvel at, from the iconic Northern Lights to the Blue Lagoon, all of which make postcard-perfect photos Romantic restaurant/bar scene Reykjavik is crammed full of quaint, dimly lit restaurants and bars sure to set the mood for date night. Those who consider themselves adventurous foodies can get into the culture by sampling traditional dishes like shark and sheep's head - not for the faint-hearted! Welcoming locals You'll be made to feel at home, as Icelanders are among the world's happiest people according to the World Happiness Report 2016 Peace and Quiet If you're a couple that prefer to get away from it all and just spend time with one another you can rent a car and hole up in a remote location. The country has a total population of just 332,353 concentrated mostly in the capital city, so socialising is optional Great accommodation Dependent on your preference there are lots of charming accommodation options to rest your head at night, from the stylish Hotel Ion, to the modern Reykjavik Lights hotel in the city centre Buckingham Palace's flag pole has been refurbished. Queen Elizabeth Workers have been busy cleaning up the gold and red structure, which features the shape of a crown at the top, at Queen Elizabeth's home and the "finishing touches" have now been applied. A tweet on the official Royal Family Twitter account read: "The finishing touches have been applied to the newly refurbished flagpole at Buckingham Palace" It's not the only refurbishment to have been carried out at Buckingham Palace this summer. Work was underway recently to install more satellite channels at the royal residence. A planning report stated: "Televisions within Buckingham Palace are fed by a signal distribution system that runs throughout the building. "The system is now 12 years old and is to be replaced. "We are looking to install the new satellite dishes during the summer recess when the Queen is at Balmoral." It was hoped the work will be completed in time for the queen's return from her Scottish residence. Last year, it was revealed Buckingham Palace needed new plumbing and wiring. A source said: "One option is for the palace to be vacated. The initial estimate for the refurbishment of Buckingham Palace looks like 150 million. "That depends on how you go about refurbishment, whether you do it in parts or the whole thing (at once)." Duchess Catherine will embark on her first solo royal engagement abroad next month. Duchess Catherine The Duchess of Cambridge will head to Holland on October 11 for the day, where she will have a full schedule in Rotterdam which will include visiting King Willem-Alexander and hosting a roundtable discussion about mental health and addition. A series of tweets on the official Kensington Palace Twitter account confirmed the 34-year-old royal's plans, stating: "The Duchess of Cambridge will visit the Netherlands on 11th October for a day of official engagements in The Hague and Rotterdam "On arrival, The Duchess is pleased to have the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands "The Duchess will also visit the @mauritshuis exhibition 'At Home in Holland: Vermeer & his Contemporaries from the British Royal Collection' "HRH will host a roundtable discussion @Trimbos on addiction, intervention, family and mental health with @AFNCCF and @ActionAddiction "The Duchess will then 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 @ukinnl" Catherine is set for a busy few weeks as on Saturday (24.09.16) she, along with husband Prince William and their children, Prince George, three, and 16-month-old Princess Charlotte, will travel to Canada for an eight-day trip. During the tour - which will be Charlotte's first foreign engagement - the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will meet Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire, as well as visit Vancouver and Bella Bella among other destinations. Prince George dresses in traditional wear so his clothes don't date in photos. Prince George Children's wear designer Rachel Riley believes Prince William and Duchess Catherine opted to purchase some of her Riley's clothing for their three-year-old son because the items she sells are timeless and well suited to "formal occasion wear". She said: "While I don't wish to mimic period drama [shorts are wider and longer, proportions more relevant for the 21st century], I do think my clothes are traditional and that is perhaps the appeal for the Duchess of Cambridge. "My clothes are better suited for formal occasion wear, which is predominantly what people come to us for. They're not going to date in photos in years to come." While Rachel couldn't confirm what George and his sister Princess Charlotte, 16 months, will wear for their forthcoming royal engagement in Canada next week, she is expecting William and Catherine, who are both 34, to have purchased some patriotic attire for their kids. She added to the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "It's an official engagement and they are representing their country so I imagine something red, white and blue might feature." The designer also admitted royal fans could see the pair in some more casual attire in the north American country. She said: "But Canada is also known as the great outdoors so I'm sure there will definitely be some casual pieces, too." The eight-day visit will be Charlotte's first overseas engagement. William, Catherine, George and Charlotte will head to Canada on Saturday (24.09.16), where they will first visit Victoria. Sunscreens are skincare essentials that we often forget to use. But even if you were to remember, to make it effective and protect our skin from a host of assaults, make note of these sunscreen basics by Dr Rasya Dixit, Cosmetologist & Dermatologist and Medical Director of Dr Dixit Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic, Bangalore. 1. Look for a broad spectrum sunscreen that gives you UVA and UVB cover. UVA exposure leads to aging while UVB exposure causes sensitivity and redness. 2. Check for two ratings - Boots and SPF. A good sunscreen should have a three-star-plus Boots rating and most dermatologists would recommend an SPF factor of 26 and above. 3. Apply a sunscreen at least half an hour before you leave home. You will need to apply a teaspoon of sunscreen every two hours. But most people do not use the recommended dose since it can make your skin oily and cakey. Thats why dermatologists recommend an SPF40 and above sunscreen, so even if you scrimp on it, you will get some cover. If youre in and out of water, use a water-proof sunscreen and re-apply every 90 minutes. 4. Gel-based sunscreens are good for oily skin and lotion-based sunscreens are ideal for dry skin. There are two other types of sunscreenschemical and physical sunscreens. The chemicals in the former react with the skin to protect it. Physical sunscreens dont react with the skin and act as a barrier. For children below 16 years, use physical sunscreens. 5. For people who work in high intensity light environments actors, models, chefs, even techies who spend long hours in front on a TV screen, dermatologists recommend infrared sunscreens. Its always better to pick up a sunscreen recommended by a dermatologist than an over-the-counter sunscreen, because you can be sure that the former has been tested for efficacy. Next Story : Not Your Average Gift: Our Handpicked Thoughtful Diwali Gifts MADISON If youre Hillary Clinton, you must have to laugh at those who insinuate that the mainstream media is tilted to the left. Lets face it, there are few politicians in this nations history who have undergone as much scrutiny for as long as she has. True, shes thrust herself into the spotlight, first as first lady, then as a U.S. senator and then as secretary of State. But the intensity of that scrutiny, as former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson has pointed out, has seldom been visited on male politicians. Its little wonder that many young voters, unaware of Clintons tireless work with the poor and her advocacy for kids and womens rights before her husband became president, have been conditioned to view her as the Wicked Witch of the West. It proves that age-old adage that if you tell a lie enough times it eventually becomes the truth. The right-wing media in this country, led by Rush Limbaugh, questioned whether Hillary Clinton had masterminded the murder of Vince Foster. Then the newly born Fox News Network became obsessed with the so-called Whitewatergate scandal involving her Arkansas law practice. Those issues, plus relentless attacks on everything from her defense of her husband to her attempts to reform health care, have succeeded in branding Clinton as something akin to an untrustworthy ogre. Yet, as former Labor Secretary Robert Reich pointed out, It is worth noting that despite all the stories, allegations, accusations, insinuations and investigations spread over a quarter of a century there has never been any finding that Hillary Clinton engaged in illegal behavior. And that includes the overblown emails-on-a-private-server fiasco and the continued ridiculous claims about Benghazi. But the mainstream media marches right along with the pack. The latest was the completely over-the-top expose by the Associated Press that over half the people Clinton met with as secretary of State had made contributions to the Clinton Foundation. The mainstream news service focused on 154 people who met the parameters of its study and found 85 of them had held meetings or conversations with her. Never mind, of course, that Clinton held meetings with more than 1,700 people during her reign as secretary of State. And few ever explain what the Clinton Foundation is and where the money it receives goes. Its not to the Clintons, but to suffering kids and victims of disease. Meanwhile, the so-called mainstream press has given a pass to Donald Trumps refusal to disclose his tax returns. Youll read and hear about emails from now until Election Day, but Trumps tax returns, which may give the electorate an idea of what to expect if we vote for him, are on the backburner. The press is now doing fawning stories on how Trump is staying on message and looking more presidential, as if that can magically erase all of his campaigns bigotry and intolerance. Hillary wasnt my first choice for the Democratic nomination, but shes certainly the best thing now. Hopefully, shell survive that left-leaning mainstream media. Hollywood power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reportedly ended their two-year marriage. According to TMZ.com, the Oscar-winning actress, filed divorce documents on Monday, September 19, citing irreconcilable differences. According to the report, Jolie is asking the judge for physical custody of their 6 children - Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox. She is also asking the judge to grant Pitt only visitation rights and not 'joint physical custody'. Contrary to reports of an alleged 'third person', the report states that Angelina decided to divorce the Hollywood star because she was 'extremely upset with his parenting methods'. The stars who met on the sets of 'Mr and Mrs Smith' were together for ten years before tying the knot in a low-key wedding in August 2014. Jolie is not asking for spousal support and has listed September 15, 2016, as the date of separation. Next Story : Not Your Average Gift: Our Handpicked Thoughtful Diwali Gifts Myntra announces its latest brand association with Italian high fashion brand Love Moschino. Who: Founded in 1983 by Italian designer Franco Moschino, brand Moschino is globally acclaimed for its innovative and colourful designs that challenge contemporary conventions in fashion. Love Moschino is the brands younger counterpart. With: Love Moschino has come to India by partnering with Myntra, India's leading platform for fashion brands and pioneer in m-commerce play. Myntra has partnered with over 2000 leading fashion and lifestyle brands and services over 19,000 pin codes across the country. It also houses over 30+ top global brands. What: Myntra announces its latest brand association with Italian high fashion brand Love Moschino. Who: Founded in 1983 by Italian designer Franco Moschino, brand Moschino is globally acclaimed for its innovative and colourful designs that challenge contemporary conventions in fashion. Love Moschino is the brand's younger counterpart. With: Love Moschino...# Collection: Myntra e-tails a variety of handbags, backpacks, sling-bags, clutches and wallets from Love Moschino. Merging pop culture with high fashion, the collection comprises a range of quilted bags and iconic patchwork totes to geometric-cut and studded box clutches. Price points: INR 7999-24,999. Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The government of India is focused to spend on infrastructure in a big way to create smooth logistics experience for industries, commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. Nearly 12 states have satisfied 75 per cent of the conditions on ease of doing business, which is a welcome step where states are responding positively. The interaction between industry and government is essential, Sitharaman said while addressing the inaugural session of the Invest North Summit. She said that regulatory quality will improve but not the frequency and intensity. The two-day Invest North Summit will focus on investment climate in Northern States of India. The government of India is focused to spend on infrastructure in a big way to create smooth logistics experience for industries, commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. Nearly 12 states have satisfied 75 per cent of the conditions on ease of doing business, which is a welcome step where states are responding positively.# The recent Logistics Performance Index (LPI) released by the World Bank ranks India at the 35th position from amongst 160 countries, as against the LPI rank of 54 in 2014, a jump of 19 places. The LPI is an interactive benchmarking tool created to help countries identify the challenges and opportunities they face in trade logistics. Among the six-components of the LPI report rankings, customs was ranked 38, infrastructure at 36, international shipments at 39, logistics quality and competence at 32, tracking and tracing at 33, and timeliness at 42. The LPI is based on a worldwide survey of stakeholders on the ground providing feedback on the logistics friendliness of the countries in which they operate and those with which they trade. Feedback from such stakeholders is supplemented with quantitative data on the performance of key components of the logistics chain in the country of work. Improvement in India's rank in LPI shows steady performance in India's competitiveness in manufacturing and trade, which also acts as one of the growth drivers of the 'Make in India' programme. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India As polyester blends are coming up, textile mills now need to think beyond cotton , feels Kaytee Corporation MD Premal Udani. In the present global situation, the textile industry needs to adjust itself without asking for protection from the government. By reducing its dependence on the government for everything, the textile industry can shape its own destiny. The textile industry was sunrise industry since independence and till 90s, but now the scenario has changed and the industry's contribution to the GDP growth has come down to 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent as against 4 per cent previously, Udani said at the 10th CEO conference of the Southern India Mills' Association. Realising that apparel sector is the growth engine, the government has recently announced a special package for the apparel sector which includes 25 per cent capital subsidy for this sector, he said at the conference held in Coimbatore on the theme 'Navigating Future Textile Business'. As polyester blends are coming up, textile mills now need to think beyond cotton, feels Kaytee Corporation MD Premal Udani. In the present global situation, the textile industry needs to adjust itself without asking for protection from the government. By reducing its dependence on the government for everything, the textile industry can shape its own destiny.# We should have level playing field vis-a-vis Bangladesh with respect to duty advantage they are enjoying. This advantage Bangladesh has not only affected the spinning sector but the entire textile value chain including apparel sector, he said. He explained that the industry should have AIM in which A stands for Adapt, I stands for Innovate & Invest in weaving and processing sectors, and M for Marketing. He said that relentless marketing is required to survive in the business. With regard to cotton, he said that cotton is no more an important fibre, as other fibres are coming in the market. Volatility in cotton prices cannot be avoided. He said that there will be trade barriers and import of fabrics cannot be prevented. He emphasised the need to create buffer stock of cotton in India to face any crisis situation, as done by the US and China. If apparel sector opts to import fibre, it would affect the domestic fibre manufacturers. So, the domestic fibre manufacturers should ensure supply to the apparel sector for the growth of entire textile value chain. Although most of the problems that existed 20 years back continue even today, he felt that the next five years will be good for the entire textile value chain. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India SRK's Hottest Selfie Shahrukh Khan posted this mirror selfie on Twitter and wrote, "Cold nite shoot in Amsterdam. Girls send me a hug for warmth. Boys courier me a pure leather jacket." SRK With Fans This is the recent picture of Shaharukh Khan posing along with his fan. See, how hot Shahrukh Khan is looking! In Picture: SRK With A Fan Interestingly, in a recent event, actress Kriti Sanon revealed that , "Among the actors, I like Shah Rukh Khan sir's style. He is very laidback and so comfortable in what he is wearing...And he looks good." SRK On A Selfie Spree Here's the another selfie of Shahrukh Khan from Amsterdam. He wrote, "Surrounded by Masters keeping a Nightwatch. Rembrandt and others at the awesome Rijks Museum. #Amsterdambeautiful" Work Mode On Check out ShahrukhKhan's work mode. In the picture above, he can be seen with his hair stylist Raaj Gupta during the shooting for Imtiaz Ali's next in Prague. 'When It Rains Umbrellas' Yesterday, Shahrukh posted this artistic selfie and captioned the picture beautifully. He wrote, "When it rains umbrellas..." His sense of humour is always on point! SRK & Imtiaz When Shahrukh & Imtiaz pose for a picture. SRK wrote, "I am a cage, in search of a bird." Kafka in Prague. In our case we r only trying to discover characters in our film." An Artistic Pic Of SRK An artistic picture of Shahrukh Khan during the shoot of 'The Ring'. "Earth without 'art' is just 'Eh'. Read this on a wall and was inspired to requote it against a wall of my own...," wrote SRK. Nivin Pauly, the crowd-puller of Mollywood has garnered a huge fan following with his blockbuster flick Premam. Recently young Telugu actor Naga Chaitanya showered praises on Nivin, through his Twitter post. Recently, Nivin had wished the Premam Telugu team for the audio launch, through his official Twitter handle. Naga Chaitanya, who replied to Nivin's tweet stated that the roles played by him are inspiring and he always looks forward to Nivin's films. @NivinOfficial thank you so much ! Always look forward to your films .. the roles you play always inspire chaitanya akkineni (@chay_akkineni) September 20, 2016 Chaitanya is reprising the role played by Nivin, in the Telugu remake of Premam. The team has recently released the official trailer of the movie, which has already taken social media by storm. However, the songs and trailer of Premam Telugu remake haven't impressed the fans of the original. Both the trailer and lead actor Naga Chaitanya have been heavily trolled by the social media since the trailer release. But, the team states that only the basic plot is taken from the original, while the Telugu version is narrated in a totally different way. Reportedly, the names of the characters and their backgrounds are different. Madonna Sebastian and Anupama Parameshwaran will be reprising their roles from the original in the Telugu version. Shruthi Haasan has replaced Sai Pallavi as the third leading lady of the movie. Back-to-back summits on refugees and migrants are being held this week at the United Nations and the White House. Such an important discussion couldnt come at a more appropriate time, given that we are in the midst of the biggest refugee crisis since World War II, with an estimated 65 million forcibly displaced people around the world. Unfortunately for these people in need, the political climate in the United States is less than hospitable to their plight especially in the case of the millions of Syrian refugees. Many Americans have genuine concerns about who these people are and what the risk of bringing them within our borders might be. As a U.S. Army veteran, I firmly believe that not only do they not pose a security threat to us in fact, we have a moral obligation and strategic reason to welcome as many of them as we can to our society. The most important thing to know is that we have a rigorous process for vetting refugees that is controlled by our intelligence community. The United States begins the process by selecting from a pool of refugees who have already been through initial screening by the United Nations. Multiple U.S. government organizations, including the Department of Defense, the FBI Terrorist Screening Center, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the Department of Homeland Security, all run health checks, gather biometric data, and conduct multiple in-person interviews with these candidates. The whole process can take six months to two years, and Syrian refugees in particular are subject to additional rounds of screening and wait periods. Put simply, the system is exhaustive, and it works any politician trying to tell voters otherwise is ignorant or lying. The fact is that any terrorist leader wanting to send agents to attack American soil would have no more inefficient way to deploy those agents than through the refugee program. The wait would be incredibly long, and the agent would need a personal backstory they know as well as their own life with biometric and historical data to back it up. Whats more, even if they were successful in staying consistent through every screening, the agent would have no control over where they ended up within our country! It would be a massive waste of time and resources. So refugees do not pose a plausible security threat. What then is the value of welcoming them to our shores? For one thing, America is a nation of refugees, immigrants, and those who have fled oppression, violence and persecution. We have integrated countless groups to our society before, and we will do so in the future. Refugees are not looking to perpetuate violence theyre fleeing exactly that from their war-torn homes, none more so than Syrians. Thinking about the worldview of terrorist groups like ISIS gives us one more reason to welcome refugees. These extremists want Syrians to choose between their own perverted version of Islam or death; the idea that Muslims could live peacefully in the West breaks that mold. If we offer another choice one of safety, opportunity and prosperity we are providing a powerful moral rebuke and a desperately needed escape route for people around the world. Can we ever be totally certain that someone who comes to our nation doesnt wish to do us harm? Of course not. No interview, process or questionnaire can look into the heart of another person and see only the truth. But what is in our own hearts if we shut out so many and fail to lead the rest of the world by our example if we shrink from our responsibilities in fear and suspicion of the most vulnerable people on earth? We can and must stay true to our values and safety at the same time. We can and must continue to welcome refugees to our great nation. BASEL (dpa-AFX) - Novartis (NVS) published proof of concept study results in the New England Journal of Medicine showing that its new antimalarial compound, KAF156, demonstrated activity against both vivax and falciparum malaria, including artemisinin-resistant parasites. KAF156 is the first compound from a novel class of drugs called imidazolopiperazines whose mechanism of action is still being characterized, but may be related to a previously uncharacterized gene (Plasmodium falciparum cyclic amine resistance locus, Pfcarl). In line with WHO guidance that antimalarials be co-formulated to mitigate the risk of parasite resistance development, it is expected that KAF156 will become part of a combination regimen when used to treat malaria. Researchers saw that KAF156 resolves signs and symptoms of illness and cleared parasitemia rapidly in both vivax and falciparum malaria patients, including infections with artemisinin-resistant parasites. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Anthem Inc. (ANTM) and Cigna Corp. (CI) have accused one another of breaching their $48 billion merger agreement, the U.S. Justice Department said in a court filing. A lawyer for Cigna said during a teleconference last month that in-house attorneys for the companies had exchanged letters alleging each violated the deal's terms, the government said in the filing Wednesday in Washington. The Justice Department raised the issue as part of a dispute over evidence in its lawsuit against the insurers seeking to stop their merger. the U.S. said, 'Governance disputes between defendants have escalated, and the firms are now accusing each other of breaching the merger agreement. Because the breach letters reveal the current state of hostility between defendants, the letters evince barriers to integrating these firms and are relevant' to one of the defenses raised by the companies. Tensions between Anthem and Cigna have been evident since before the Justice Department sued the companies in July to stop the merger, which it says would reduce competition and reduce choice for consumers. At court hearing in August, an Anthem lawyer said there is 'contentiousness' with Cigna and that Cigna intends to walk away from the deal after an April 30 deadline for closing the deal rather than extend the timing. The government lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial on November 21. As part of their case, Justice Department lawyers are seeking all documents from the companies related to alleged breaches of the merger agreement. The companies are withholding correspondence between their in-house lawyers alleging the breaches, the government said in Wednesday's filing. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de PARIS and MILAN, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Group ' s first half 2016 consolidated revenue was 2.6 million and its backlog [ 1] of orders was 6.0 million Gross margin was 1.1 million, equal to 42% of consolidated revenue in the first half of 2016 The Group ' s net financial position was 2.8 million at the end of June 2016 [ 2] and, as of September 2016 , it received a new credit line of 2.5 million from Unicredit to support growth Projects pipeline conversion rate [ 3] increasing to 10% Solid project pipeline in Africa and Asia , thanks to technological partnerships and credentials with Enel, Toshiba, Terna, Necsom and General Electric Planned in Chile the commissioning of the first hybrid power plant with HyESS integrated with the hydrogen-storage module Reorganisation of its management team and Group governance: Paolo Morandi appointed Chief Operating Officer along with three new highly experienced executives, including Paolo Bonetti as Chief Financial Officer, Michela Costa as Executive Vice President of Operations and Andrea Rossi as Chief Business Officer The Board of Directors of Electro Power Systems S.A. ("EPS", or the "Group"), a pioneer in technology for clean-energy storage solutions, chaired by Massimo Prelz Oltramonti, has examined and approved its Half-Year 2016 Financial Report. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410465LOGO ) FINANCIAL OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS Read more here: http://electropowersystems.com/eps-accelerates-development-and-strenghtens-its-management-team/ In the first half of 2016, the Group's consolidated revenue was 2.615.517, compared to 198.429 in the first half of 2015. The Group's backlog of orders is equal to 6.0 million, and its project pipeline conversion rate increased to 10%. [1] Backlog means (i) invoices already issued in 2016, but not yet recorded as revenues; (ii) purchase orders already received as at the date of this press release and (iii) revenues already contracted or expected to be generated in 2016 and/or 2017 on the basis of agreements currently in place. [2] According to the Liquidity Agreement, 0.1 million in our own shares and liquidity were included, increasing the net financial position to 2.9 million, the figure announced in our 28 July 2016 press release. [3] Pipeline Conversion rate means the amount in euro of backlog of orders, divided by the nominal aggregate amount of total projects in pipeline. 22 September 2016 AURA ENERGY LIMITED ("Aura" or the "Company") AURA ENERGY NOTES EXCEPTIONAL GOLD DRILLING RESULTS BY ALGOLD AT TIJIRIT PROSPECT, MAURITANIA AURA RECENTLY SECURED ADJACENT TENEMENTS TO ALGOLD (TSX) ON PRIME UNDER EXPLORED ARCHEAN GREENSTONE BELTS AURA'S TASIAST SOUTH TENEMENTS OFFER MULTI MILLION OUNCE GOLD & BASE METAL POTENTIAL ALONG 45 KMs OF GREENSTONE BELT WITH STRONG DRILL RESULTS Aura Energy recently secured rights to acquire 2 exploration permits (Tasiast South Project 27 th June 2016 ) on extensive Archean Greenstone belts in Mauritania along strike from the +20 Moz Kinross Tasiast Gold Mine Excellent drilling results showing both system size and elevated gold grades from previous work at Tiris South TSX listed Algold Resources has recently reported excellent drilling results in tenements adjacent to Aura's Aura will soon commence an exploration program on both its highly prospective tenements Aura Energy Limited (ASX:AEE / AIM:AURA) the uranium development company focused on developing projects in Africa and Europe towards production, notes the exceptionally strong gold exploration results achieved by Algold Resources (TSX) at its Tijirit gold exploration prospect in Mauritania. Aura's prospects cover portions of the Tasiast and Tijirit Greenstone Belts adjoining the Algold tenement and have been only lightly explored by one other company which suspended activities despite having located zones of significant gold mineralisation. Members of Aura's current technical team were involved in this previous work and are well acquainted with the area. Peter Reeve, Aura Energy's Executive Chairman said "Aura remains extremely optimistic about its recently acquired gold prospects in Mauritania. The exceptional gold exploration results of Algold, and in the region generally, are compelling for the future of Aura's gold exploration program given the similarity in the geological setting of each company's tenements and the very limited exploration of these extensive greenstone belt packages (See Figure 2). With the large Tasiast Gold Mine on the same belt just north of our project, and a maiden gold resource and very positive drilling results emerging on the Algold ground, the potential for multi-million ounce discoveries, in the eyes of our technical people, is high". Aura's Tasiast South project consists of two tenements covering 175 km2 One tenement of 134 km2 lies 50 kilometres south of Kinross' giant 21 Moz Tasiast Gold Mine, along strike on the same greenstone belt. (See Figure 1) The second tenement of 41 km2 is adjacent to Algold tenement package which has recently been reporting spectacular drilling results in several locations. (See Figure 1) To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/investor/ASX Announcements/2016/Gold Update Mauritania 22 September 2016.pdf Figure 1: Location of the Aura Tasiast South Tenements and Algolds Tenements The recent Algold results have included the following drill assays; T16RC071 - 6 m @ 39.85 g/t Au T16RC072 - 4 m @ 1.35 g/t Au T16RC070 - 3 m @ 30.03 g/t Au and 2 m @ 1.94 g/t Au T16RC045 - 5 m @ 6.64 g/t Au T16RC083 - 2 m @ 5.47 g/t Au T16RC035 - 7 m @ 3.2 g/t Au T16RC027 - 6 m @ 16.4 g/t Au T16RC069 - 3 m @ 2.03 g/t Au T16RC031 - 6 m @ 9.64 g/t Au T16RC024 - 6 m @ 4.23 g/t Au T16RC024 - 6 m @ 4.23 g/t Au The full press releases on September 8th and 14th and August 16th 2016 explaining these results in detail can be found at; http://algold.com/press-release/ To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/investor/ASX Announcements/2016/Gold Update Mauritania 22 September 2016.pdf Figure 2: Location of Aura areas in relation to known mineralisation Future Work Program and Other Opportunities Next steps envisaged at Tasiast South are: Ground electrical geophysics to locate the strongest zones of disseminated sulphide development for drill targeting Additional bedrock sampling by air-core or auger-drilling to better define the high nickel ultramafics and zones of copper/nickel for follow up drilling Deeper drill testing (RC and DD) of the mineralised targets already located This release is also found on the Aura website with complete diagrams. Web link is; http://www.auraenergy.com.au/investor/ASX Announcements/2016/Gold Update Mauritania 22 September 2016.pdf About Aura's Tasiast South Gold Project Aura's Tasiast South project area has the following attributes; Tenements over two lightly explored greenstone belts covering 175 km 2 The +20 Moz Tasiast gold deposit and strong gold mineralisation at Algold's Tijirit project are nearby on the same greenstone belts and highlight the potential for major deposits in the region (See Figure 3) A$3m has been expended in a well conceived program by the previous explorer on airborne geophysics, reverse circulation and air-core drilling, and sampling has been expended in a well conceived program by the previous explorer on airborne geophysics, reverse circulation and air-core drilling, and sampling Broad zones of gold mineralisation have been identified in previous exploration with strong similarities to the Tasiast Gold Mine mineralisation and alteration. (See Figure 5) No testing deeper than 150m with most previous holes less than 100m High grade drill intersections have been reported by others in the district from both past and current programs, which highlight the current interest and potential in these poorly tested belts To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/investor/ASX Announcements/2016/Gold Update Mauritania 22 September 2016.pdf Figure 3: Location of the Tasiast South project To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/investor/ASX Announcements/2016/Gold Update Mauritania 22 September 2016.pdf Figure 4: Aura's Ghassariat Zone location and gold anomalous zones defined by air core drilling Air-core drilling to bedrock by the previous explorer located several anomalous gold zones, up to eight kilometres in length (See Fig 4). Of particular interest is Aura's Ghassariat Zone, which has 1-3 g/t gold values on three of the four air-core traverses drilled. This anomaly extends over about eight kilometres parallel to the strike of the greenstone belt. The Ghassariat Prospect intersections occur in strongly sulphidic and quartz-veined altered mafic volcanics and have marked similarities with some of the ore zones and near-ore alteration zones at the neighbouring Kinross Tasiast Mine (See Fig 5). Drilling to date has generally been shallow with a near absence of deeper testing below the air core drilling. A very small number of RC holes have provided very good results however the density of drilling is very low averaging approximatelyone hole per 20 km2. A systematic program of infill drilling and drilling beneath existing positive drill results, and further shallow drilling on new targets is required to evaluate the long term potential on these tenements. Intersections in the Ghassariat Zone reported by the previous explorer, in the only program of RC drilling completed, include: TGRC 022 - 71m @ 0.3 g/t Au including: 5m @ 1.2 g/t Au, 3m @ 1.0 g/t Au 11m @ 0.5 g/t Au TGRC 007 - 38m @ 0.4 g/t Au including: 1m @ 6.1 g/t Au 6m @ 0.7 g/t Au To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/investor/ASX Announcements/2016/Gold Update Mauritania 22 September 2016.pdf Figure 5: Sections (all at same scale) comparing Aura's Ghassariat Prospect's broad zones ofsulphidic & gold alteration to the Tasiast gold mines alteration & mineralised shells The Tasiast gold mineralisation is in Archean greenstones with strong similarities in terms of rock types, structure and mineralisation style with the great gold provinces in the Archean belts of Australia and Canada in which there have been many hundreds of gold mines. In the Tasiast district there has only been one discovery, reflecting how little explored this belt is (See Fig 6). The Directors believe the potential for additional and substantial discoveries in the Tasiast district is very high. To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/investor/ASX Announcements/2016/Gold Update Mauritania 22 September 2016.pdf Figure 6: Comparison highlighting the lack of major gold deposits discovered in the lightly explored Tasiast district versus the well explored Yilgarn Province of Western Australia Nickel and Base Metal Potential While previous exploration on the Aura permits was directed at gold the work also located strongly anomalous nickel and copper/nickel values in several areas, associated with ultramafic rocks (See Figure 7). In parts of the tenements high nickel values are associated with anomalous copper highlighting potential for nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation, as also occurs in the greenstone belts of Australia and Canada. At this stage there has been no follow-up work carried out on these nickel targets. To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/investor/ASX Announcements/2016/Gold Update Mauritania 22 September 2016.pdf Figure 7: Key nickel results in bedrock sampling by historical air-core drilling Aura's Chief Geologist, Neil Clifford, led the previous exploration in these areas, and has extensive and successful experience in international minerals discovery and deposit evaluation particularly in gold. He has played key roles in the discovery of at least 9 major mineral deposits in Australia, South America and Africa, for a variety of commodities including gold, uranium, copper and tin. These discoveries have included 20 million ounces of gold, including Sunrise Dam, and seven have subsequently become mines. He also played the lead role in the discovery of Aura's Tiris uranium deposits in Mauritania. He has been involved in West Africa since 2005. References in this announcement to exploration results and potential have been approved for release by Mr Neil Clifford (Geologist and Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy) who has more than 40 years relevant experience in the field of activity concerned. Mr Clifford is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Clifford has consented to the inclusion of the material in the form and context in which it appears. For more information please visit www.auraenergy.com.au or contact the following : On 12 September 2016 AB Agrowill Group (hereinafter, the Company) disclosed that Baltic Champs Group, UAB, which is a shareholder of the Company, signed 7 agreements on granting options in the future regarding shares in the Company with the following persons (hereinafter each of them individually referred to as a "Seller", whereas all of them collectively - as the "Sellers"):1. Vretola Holdings Limited, registered in the Republic of Cyprus, legal entity code HE270472 (the number of the option shares: 27.511.660);2. UAB Eastern Agro Holdings, registered in the Republic of Lithuania, legal entity code 300125868 (the number of the option shares: 8.728.512);3. Harberin Enterprises Limited, registered in the Republic of Cyprus, legal entity code HE 268672 (the number of the option shares: 2.000.000);4. Volemer Holdings Limited, registered in the Republic of Cyprus, legal entity code HE 268133 (the number of the option shares: 28.440.895);5. Domantas Savicius (the number of the option shares: 766.857);6. Marius Zutautas (the number of the option shares: 435.000);7. Vladas Bagavicius (the number of the option shares: 645.000).On 21 September 2016 all Sellers expressed their will in writing to sell the option shares they hold. Due to this, Baltic Champs Group, UAB has acquired the duty to buy all the option shares held by the Sellers and to pay the option price by 15 November 2017, inclusively, and the title to the option shares will pass from the moment of payment of the full option price payable to a relevant Seller.According to the agreements signed with the Sellers indicated in items 1-3 above, the option price is EUR 0.622 for 1 (one) share of the Company if Baltic Champs Group, UAB pays the option price to a relevant Seller by 15 November 2016 inclusively or EUR 0.721 for 1 (one) share of the Company if Baltic Champs Group, UAB pays the option price to a relevant Seller by 15 November 2017 inclusively.According to the agreements signed with the Sellers indicated in items 4-7 above, the option price is EUR 0.579 for 1 (one) share of the Company if Baltic Champs Group, UAB pays the option price to a relevant Seller by 15 November 2016 inclusively or EUR 0.666 for 1 (one) share of the Company if Baltic Champs Group, UAB pays the option price to a relevant Seller by 15 November 2017 inclusively.Referring to the above, the Company would like to draw investors' attention to the fact that it is not clear at this moment for what final price the shares of the Company would be bought - as it is evident from the information given above, the purchase price of the shares of the Company would depend on the payment date selected by Baltic Champs Group, UAB (by 15 November 2016 or by 15 November 2017).Vladas Bagavicius, Member of the Board Tel. +370 610 318 07 European utilities are planning to invest US$526 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure between 2016 and 2025, according to new forecasts from Bluefield Research. A combination of drivers including utility market restructuring, water and wastewater directives, and improved efficiency have encouraged cities and public water utilities to resume the most aggressive investment programs Europe has seen since 2007. Bluefield anticipates annual water infrastructure investment to increase 23%, from $46 billion in 2015 to $57 billion in 2025. "Water infrastructure needs steadily increased during Europe's fragile economic growth. Now the region is poised for a renewed push in CAPEX growth," says Keith Hays, Vice President of Bluefield Research. "After years of delayed projects due to macroeconomic instability, Europe's water utilities acknowledge investments must be made to secure networks for the future," concludes Mr. Hays. Europe will focus its CAPEX investment in two key areas: wastewater and pipes with 61% of spend allocated to improving wastewater infrastructure and the remaining 39% for water infrastructure. US$256 billion will be dedicated to maintaining and expanding Europe's 6.7 million kilometers of ageing and leaking pipe networks. Europe's highly fragmented municipal water market, with over 61,000 water and wastewater systems, is consolidating. Led by France, Italy, and the UK, the number of water and wastewater service providers dropped by 16% between 2008 and 2014. Bluefield expects this consolidation trend to continue bringing economies of scale, more efficiencies, and unlocking new funding for network improvements. While Europe, as a whole, is investing in infrastructure, market conditions vary across the region. Southern Europe faces water stress from higher consumption levels and lower resources. Eastern Europe is focusing on wastewater while addressing cost-recovery. With more severe rainfall events expected, Northern Europe leads investment for flood resilience and improved storm water management. "Grappling with stagnating population growth and decreasing household water consumption, European utilities are becoming smarter and more resilient," said Mr. Hays, adding "To get the most out of new technologies and deliver on performance targets, service providers must also commit to major CAPEX investments for underlying infrastructure." About Bluefield Research These findings are from Bluefield's new report: Europe Municipal Water Infrastructure: Utility Strategies and CAPEX Forecasts, 2016-2025. Bluefield Research provides data, analysis and insights on global water markets. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005373/en/ Contacts: Bluefield Research Steph Aldock, +34 93 681 4325 or 415-404-8195 saldock@bluefieldresearch.com New video case study breaks down how Impartner PRM technology automates LogRhythm's partner program, allowing its channel teams to focus on driving strategic relationships SILICON SLOPES, Utah, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- When LogRhythm, The Security Intelligence Company, launched a search for a new partner relationship management solution, it had a very specific list of requirements: drive engagement with its rapidly growing, global partner network; help educate and drive use of LogRhythm partner marketing programs; develop a partner portal that reflected corporate branding and messaging; and finally, meet the company's stringent vendor software security requirements. LogRhythm chose Impartner's PRM technology, the industry's largest and most award-winning, pure-play SaaS solution. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410488 Logo- http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150821/260238LOGO In a new video case study launched today which details that journey (https://www.impartner.com/resources/case-study-logrhythm.aspx), LogRhythm's Director of Global Channel Marketing, Ed Cepulis, said meetings with Impartner executives were key in ensuring the launch was successful. "We were able to tell them what we were trying to accomplish, and they were truly concerned with what we were trying to do," Cepulis said. "They listened and came back with demos, and it was a very interactive process. That interaction and the relationship we built with the team was invaluable in our ability to deploy successfully." Since the launch, Cepulis said the most important thing about the portal is how it has allowed the team to shift its focus. "Externally, we've allowed our channel account managers to spend more time really building strategic relationships with our partners and having deeper discussions, instead of spending time discussing administrative tasks," Cepulis said. "Internally, the conversation is now not about 'how do we update the portal,' but rather how can we do more marketing, how can we build a blog, and how can we automate even more of the partner onboarding activities that have been manual?" Cepulis said that for any vendor to work with LogRhythm, it must first be evaluated by the company's LogRhythm Labs, which is staffed with cyber security experts and helps its customers resolve cyber security incidents. "LogRhythm Labs put Impartner's solution to the test, and it passed with flying colors," Cepulis said. "Not all vendors pass, and we've had some that have failed pretty significantly." The change to LogRhythm's business since launch, said Cepulis, has been immediate and significant. "In our last quarterly business review with the channel team, the consistent theme was clear, 'it's amazing what one quarter has done - and it was based on the implementation of the portal,'" he said. "We've been able to brand it as a LogRhythm portal, and it looks like our other assets and provides partners with a consistent experience. We're able to keep it updated and current with the latest resources, the latest content and the latest news, so we are able to create a sense of urgency and a sense of engagement with our partners. I would strongly recommend Impartner." To watch the LogRhythm/Impartner case study, click here. To learn more about Impartner and how the company has helped other leading corporations like A10, Asigra, Carbon Black, Fortinet, Ixia, National Instruments, Tegile and Workfront harness the power of their partner networks, visit http://www.impartner.com. About Impartner With nearly two decades of experience in accelerating indirect sales, Impartner delivers the industry's most advanced SaaS-based Partner Relationship Management solution, helping companies worldwide manage their partner relationships and accelerate revenue and profitability through indirect sales channels. The largest pure-play PRM vendor in the world, Impartner provides the industry's only out-of-the-box solution that can deploy an enterprise-class Partner Portal in as few as 30 days, using the company's highly engineered, multi-award winning, three-step Velocity' onboarding process. For more information on Impartner, which is based in Utah's tech hotbed, the Silicon Slopes, visit www.impartner.com, or in the United States call +1 801 501 7000, for EMEA general call +33 1 40 90 31 20, for London call +44 0 20 3283 4465, and for LATAM call +1 954 364 7883. Follow Impartner on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Contact: Kerry Desberg Impartner 425-231-9529 Kerry.desberg@impartner.com Company launches new Women of the Channel website and first-ever European conference WESTBOROUGH, Massachusetts, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Channel Company is expanding its robust portfolio of initiatives designed to empower women in technology and support their ongoing advancement in the IT industry. The company has just launched a new Women of the Channel' website (http://wotc.crn.com) and will debut its first Women of the Channel Europe (WOTC Europe) event (http://www.thechannelco.com/events/wotceu16/about) in Barcelona, Spain on November 9-10. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160804/395711LOGO "The Channel Company is proud to be at the forefront of a growing movement to recognize women's vast contribution to the IT community and promote their increased professional advancement in the channel," said Lisa Mackenzie, partner and senior vice president, The Channel Company. "For years we have been leading the push to identify and celebrate the many women whose hard work and ingenuity have a profound impact on the IT channel every day. We are excited about the future of Women of the Channel and will continue our mission to empower women in technology though our events and online community." The Channel Company's WOTC live events have consistently grown in size in response to steeply increased demand; over the past seven years, attendance across the events has more than tripled (from a mere 120 guests at the very first event to nearly 800 in 2016), gaining huge momentum in what has historically been a male-dominated IT industry. The WOTC Europe conference in November will introduce Women of the Channel to the European technology sector, bringing together influential women from solution provider, technology supplier and distributor organizations across key European markets to tackle pressing business technology issues and assess the state of today's global IT channel. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com Follow us on social media: Twitter - @WOTChannel | Facebook - "Women of the Channel" Contact Melanie Turpin The Channel Company 508.416.1195 mturpin@thechannelco.com Landmark Art Deco Hotel Starts New Era in its 90-Year History, Joining the Sheraton Brand's Premier Tier of Best-in-Class Hotels and Resorts Around the World Sheraton Hotels Resorts, part of Marriott International, Inc (NASDAQ:MAR), today announced the official unveil of the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane after a multi-million pound transformation of its 303 guest rooms and public spaces, including the famed Palm Court Lounge and Grade II listed Art Deco Ballroom and Silver Gallery. Led by interior designers MKV Design, in partnership with the Sheraton brand's global design team, the renovation project draws on the property's heritage and enviable location directly opposite Green Park, while adding modern and stylish design touches throughout. Following the robust renovation, the hotel has been designated as a Sheraton Grand, the brand's premier tier of hotels recognised for their enticing destinations, distinguished designs and excellence in service and guest experiences. The Sheraton Grand London Park Lane is the first property in London to join this select portfolio of 35 Sheraton hotels worldwide. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161020005977/en/ Sheraton Hotels Resorts Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Art Deco Suite (Photo: Business Wire) "A major global hub for travel, London is a crucial market for Sheraton, Marriott International's most global brand, to have a premium flagship property in," said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts. "The Sheraton Grand Park Lane London and its extravagant renovation will certainly create a halo effect for the brand and serve as a great example of our transformation efforts." From its heyday as the hangout of choice for socialites, celebrities and the aristocracy, the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane has a long history of bringing people together in the heart of Mayfair. Building on the hotel's Art Deco heritage and social sway, the new interior is designed to provide a series of well-connected spaces where business and pleasure seamlessly combine. The 303 guestrooms have been completely redesigned in order to create an elegant, luxury hotel experience, capturing the spirit of the Art Deco era. New to the hotel, 43 Sheraton Club Rooms and suites offer exclusive access to the Sheraton Club Lounge, a private space where guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast, drinks and snacks during the day, a taster of The Palm Court afternoon tea, a full bar and evening canapes. For business travellers, the Club Rooms also include complimentary use of a private meeting room within the Sheraton Club Lounge, which can seat up to eight people. The hotel's 21 suites have been reconfigured to make best use of the internal space and take full advantage of leafy views over Green Park. Many now have the option of opening up into adjoining suites to accommodate large family groups. The hotel's Grand Suite is a statement in luxury, comprised of an entrance lobby, master bedroom and bathroom, as well as living and dining areas. Rooms are interconnected with double-width, sliding pocket doors enabling the entire suite to be opened into a single space. "The transformation of the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane marks a milestone for the Sheraton brand in the United Kingdom" said Even Frydenberg, Chief Operations and Franchise Support Officer Europe, Marriott International. "Thanks to a successful collaboration with Sir Richard Sutton Limited, this newly renovated hotel is a shining representation of the brand's Grand tier and a strategically important asset in our Sheraton portfolio." The renovation has also created contemporary meeting places for local and global travellers alike. In the hotel's famous Palm Court Lounge, sleek furniture and a magnificent stained glass ceiling provide the perfect backdrop to a vibrant atmosphere and lively social scene. In-keeping with the tradition of the grand hotel lounges of the 1920s and 30s, breakfast, Afternoon Tea, dinner and cocktails will all be served, with imaginative menu additions through Paired, the Sheraton brand's reinvigorated food and beverage programme, which offers small plates and eclectic bar snacks served alongside suggested premium wines and local craft beers. The authentic Italian restaurant, Mercante, offers fresh and seasonal dining for hotel guests and visitors alike. A speedy Business Lunch menu caters for those mid-week meetings, while the Italian style Prosecco Brunch gives a unique spin on the established foodie trend. As a more traditional offering, the 1920s themed bar Smith Whistle serves cocktails and craft beers alongside British-inspired sharing plates. Outdoor dining is also available in both Mercante and Smith Whistle. "As hoteliers, we are delighted to have partnered with Sheraton Hotels Resorts in this 2 year project to restore this Piccadilly icon," said Christopher Lacey, Managing Director, Sir Richard Sutton Limited. The Sheraton Grand London Park Lane rates starting at 249 for a classic room. For more information or to book, please visit www.sheratonparklane.com About Sheraton Hotels Resorts Sheraton Hotels Resorts, part of Marriott International, Inc., makes it easy for guests to explore, relax and enjoy the possibilities of travel at more than 440 hotels in over 70 countries around the world. Sheraton continues to enhance the brand through innovative guest experience, differentiating design, multi-channel marketing and asharp focus on service. To learn more, visit www.sheraton.com. Stay connected to Sheraton: @sheratonhotels on Twitter and Instagram and facebook.com/Sheraton. Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is the world's largest hotel company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 5,700 properties in over 110 countries. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. The company's 30 leading brands include: Bulgari Hotels and Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, W, EDITION, JW Marriott, The Luxury Collection, Marriott Hotels, Westin, Le Meridien, Renaissance Hotels, Sheraton, Delta Hotels by MarriottSM, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Vacation Club, Autograph Collection Hotels, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels, Gaylord Hotels, Courtyard, Four Points by Sheraton, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, AC Hotels by Marriott, Aloft, Element, Moxy Hotels, and Protea Hotels by Marriott. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com and @MarriottIntl. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161020005977/en/ Contacts: Media requests Starwood Hotels Resorts Aurelie Ternisien, T +44 (0)207 290 7107 M +44 (0)7 826 921 753 Director of Communications, UK Ireland Aurelie.Ternisien@Sheraton.com VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - The Board of A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S (AMKAF.PK, AMKBF.PK) has decided to reorganise A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S' portfolio of businesses into two independent divisions; an integrated Transport & Logistics division and an Energy division. The company said main growth focus of A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S going forward will be delivering best in class transportation and logistics services as an integrated Transport & Logistics company. The Board expects that the oil and oil related businesses will require different solutions for future development including separation of entities individually or in combination from A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S in the form of joint-ventures, mergers or listing. The objective is to find solutions for the oil and oil related businesses within 24 months. Transport & Logistics will consist of Maersk Line, APM Terminals, Damco, Svitzer and Maersk Container Industry based on a one company structure with multiple brands. Energy will consist of Maersk Oil, Maersk Drilling, Maersk Supply Service and Maersk Tankers. Financial reporting for the new structure will be effectuated from the financial year 2017. The management of A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S will be composed and changed as: Sren Skou will continue as Group CEO of A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S and CEO of the Transport & Logistics division; Claus Hemmingsen will be appointed Group Vice CEO of A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S effective on 1 October 2016 and CEO for the Energy division. Jakob Stausholm will be appointed Group CFO of A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S as of 1 December 2016. On the same date, Group CFO Trond Westlie will step down as member of the registered management and leave the Group. Jakob Thomasen will step down as member of the registered management and CEO of Maersk Oil effective on 1 October 2016 and will leave the Group on 1 November 2016. Kim Fejfer will step down as member of the registered management effective on 1 October 2016 and as CEO of APM Terminals effective on 1 November 2016 when he will also leave the Group. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de COPENHAGEN (dpa-AFX) - Denmark's consumer confidence declined in September, after improving in the previous month, figures from Statistics Denmark showed Thursday. The consumer confidence index fell to 1.8 in September from August's 4-month high of 4.8. Moreover, this was the lowest reading since May 2013, when it marked -2.6. Households' view on the general economic situation of the country for the next twelve months worsened in September. The corresponding index dropped to -1.3 from 3.0 in August. Similarly, the index measuring their own financial situation over the next year weakened to 9.8 in September from 12.5 a month ago. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WOLFSBURG (dpa-AFX) - Volkswagen (VKW.L, VLKAF.PK, VOW.BE) shareholders have filed new lawsuits in Germany seeking a total of 8.2 billion euros or about $9.2 billion in damages. In the lawsuits, said to be Germany's biggest ever investor lawsuit, the investors allege that they lost billions as the carmaker's share value plunged post its diesel emissions cheating scandal. As per reports, more than 1,400 complaints from institutional and individual shareholders were filed in a regional court in Germany's Braunschweig, near Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg. Of these suits, 750 were submitted on Monday alone, on the first business day after the one-year anniversary of the United States authorities' disclosure of Volkswagen's cheating. The court may need about four weeks to register all the complaints, it said. The company had admitted that it had equipped about 11 million diesel vehicles with illegal software to cheat on American pollution tests. The diesel emissions scandal had wiped out a third of the company's market value. Investors allege that they lost money on shares as the company was slow in disclosing the emissions-cheating issue. The company had already reached a $15 billion settlement in the United States and set aside 17.8 billion euros to cover the costs related to the scandal. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LONDON, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As a part of China's efforts to step up global environment governance and seek broader international cooperation in the environmental protection industry, a Chinese delegation, led by China Environmental Science Academy, arrived in London to participate in the "Sino-UK Environmental Protection Technology Summit" held by the Chinese and UK governments since Wednesday. The world's second largest economy is currently implementing its One-Belt-One-Road initiative, an ambitious infrastructure plan that aims to connect China to Europe, and during the five-day summit participants from China will discuss industrial development at length with officials from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) and British Chambers of Commerce. In a keynote speech about site remediation technologies and its challenges, Ling Jinming, executive director of Beijing GeoEnviron Engineering & Technology Inc. (BGE), was invited to introduce the company's experience in China over the past two decades. As a pioneer in the industry, BGE has been focusing on environmental governance since 1992 and has become a leading player in the site remediation industry. The company entered the international market as early as 2006, and has taken part in many high-profile projects, including a World Bank project about pollution control in Kazakhstan. To promote industrial upgrading, BGE has also introduced advanced waste incineration technology (third generation) from Germany. As part of efforts to boost international cooperation, BGE has established an R&D center with Stiefel Delegation from Switzerland, and a sludge research center with i+M GmbH & Co.KG from Germany. Members from the Chinese delegation also paid a visit to leading companies in the UK, including sustainability and environmental consultancy Atkins, waste management leader Biffa Group, and energy assessor and certification body Quidos, during their stay in the UK. Chinese companies at the summit said they hoped it would offer a platform to boost strategic cooperation and bilateral relations to achieve further comprehensive innovation and technological upgrading. Contact: Yue Fuqiang +86-10-62490055 brand@bgechina.cn Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - 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 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. PARIS, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The overwhelming majority of voters are endorsing the upcoming referendum in Azerbaijan on constitutional reforms, according to a survey by Opinionway, a French research company. While 87 per cent of respondents emphasized the importance of the proposed constitutional amendments, 88 per cent believe that these changes will positively affect the development of the respective areas in the country. "Azerbaijanis believe that the proposals in connection with the security, protection, constitutional guarantees of human rights and freedoms will give impetus to further development," said Bruno Jeanbart of Opinionway. Over five million Azerbaijani voters go to the polls on September 26th in a referendum that will ask voters to approve 29 constitutional amendments, with a separate vote on each one. Among the key changes proposed are an extension of the presidential term from five to seven years as well as the introduction of the new position of First Vice President, who would become the country's number two, instead of the Prime Minister as is the case now. The minimum age to stand for parliament will be lowered from 25 to 18 and there will be no age limit for participating in the presidential elections (currently 35). "The survey clearly shows that voters are happy about their political leadership," Jeanbart said, noting that 81 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the work of the political system in Azerbaijan and 93 per cent believe the country is headed in the right direction. Of the most important issues facing voters, the economy ranks behind Nagorno-Karabakh, the Azerbaijani territory which - along with seven surrounding provinces - continues to be occupied by Armenia in defiance of resolutions by international institutions such as the United Nations or European Parliament, calling for an unconditional and immediate withdrawal. "Nagorno-Karabakh remains a highly emotional issue for voters, especially following the resurgence of hostilities in April," Jeanbart said. The survey was based on interviews with 1,200 respondents that were randomly selected across the country. They answered 12 questions aimed at studying respondents' socio-demographic indicators, the political and economic situation in the country as well as the upcoming referendum. Accenture Payments-Platform-as-a-Service Solution built on D+H Global PAYplus Software Accenture (NYSE:ACN) today announced a multi-year contract with UniCredit Business Integrated Solutions, the global service company of UniCredit, to implement a state-of-the-art Payments-Platform-as-a-Service (PPaaS) solution. Accenture's new PPaaS solution, which is built on DH Corporation's (TSX:DH) (D+H) global payments services hub software, is a highly scalable, pay-per-use solution that will process SEPA and international payments, and will adapt to new regulations and industry updates, as well as provide flexibility for future expansion. The new Payments-Platform-as-a-Service solution from Accenture and D+H will help industrialize payments processing by centralizing, automating and simplifying how payments are processed, addressing compliance with changing regulations and providing access to innovations, such as immediate payments and blockchain technology. The platform combines Accenture's world-class systems integration, application maintenance and IT operations capabilities with D+H's market-leading payments software. UniCredit Business Integrated Solutions selected Accenture through a competitive bid process; they signed a contract through which Accenture will implement and manage the service, with the first release scheduled in Austria. After roll-out in Austria, UniCredit Business Integrated Solutions intends to expand the implementation of the solution to other geographies, such as Italy and Germany. "We are pleased to be the first client of Accenture's Payments-Platform-as-a-Service solution, which brings together leading industry experience and capabilities from Accenture with D+H's cutting-edge software; we believe this is an innovative solution that will enable us to better manage costs while delivering faster payments services for our clients," said Daniele Savare, head of PL Payments, UniCredit Business Integrated Solutions. The vast majority of UniCredit's business requirements will be covered by the out-of-the-box version of the solution, requiring minimal customization. The Group will benefit from the pay-per-use solution, including: Transformation and consolidation of its payments processing technology. The platform is capable of meeting current and future regulatory requirements and market standards, and will reduce the complexity and resources required to meet and comply with these requirements and standards. Increased straight-through processing (STP) rates. The platform will provide reduced operational risk and significantly less manual efforts. Scalability. The platform will provide a scalable base to fulfill future growth and expansions. UniCredit will immediately benefit from additional volume. Immediate and sustained cost reductions. The pay-per-use model will help keep long-term IT costs low and provides for a lower cost implementation. Future proof. The platform, supported by D+H's payment processing hub, will meet the requirements of changing regulations and innovations, such as immediate payments and blockchain. Clients will also have easy access to the unmatched variety of local clearing connections, schemes and formats that D+H supports. "European banks are facing a critical point in time as emerging technologies, changing consumer behavior, regulations and competition from new entrants are changing the payments landscape and putting additional pressure on revenues," said Massimo Proverbio, senior managing director and global lead of Accenture Payment Services. "This new solution provides faster payments processing that is scalable, regulatory compliant and transparent, and will help banks better manage large payment transaction volumes at a lower cost. "With the increase of payment types, channels and volumes, payments technology has become mission-critical for financial institutions and corporates, and UniCredit Business Integrated Solutions will benefit from this new PPaaS solution," said Chris Zingo, group head, sales account management, Global Payments Solutions, D+H. "D+H expects that other banks will follow suit and is already seeing interest in the market, as banks begin to realize that a centralized model will drive down payments transaction costs and relieve the burden of infrastructure maintenance." About Accenture Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions underpinned by the world's largest delivery network Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 373,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com. About D+H D+H (TSX:DH) is a leading financial technology provider that the world's financial institutions rely on every day to help them grow and succeed. Our global payments, lending and financial solutions are trusted by nearly 8,000 banks, specialty lenders, community banks, credit unions, governments and corporations. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, D+H has more than 5,500 employees worldwide who are passionate about partnering with clients to create forward-thinking solutions that fit their needs. With annual revenues in excess of $1.5 billion, D+H is recognized as one of the world's top FinTech companies on IDC Financial Insights FinTech Rankings and American Banker's FinTech Forward rankings. For more information, visit dh.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005145/en/ Contacts: Accenture Erfan Hussain, 44-7557-866901 erfan.hussain@accenture.com or D+H Patrick Kilhaney, 1-917-286-1053 Public Relations Analyst Relations Manager patrick.kilhaney@dh.com 53 Percent of Global Organizations Use Two Common, But Unsuccessful Methods to Erase Active Files from Computers/Laptops, External Drives & Servers ATLANTA and LONDON, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Data breaches, such as those that struck Sony Pictures in 2014 and Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca in 2016, are a daily reality and wreak havoc on organizations. The use of improper data removal methods and the poor enforcement of data retention policies have created the 'perfect storm' for confidential, oftentimes sensitive data to be lost or stolen, according to the Delete vs. Erase: How Companies Wipe Active Files study released today by Blancco Technology Group. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151006/274522LOGO The study, which surveyed over 400 IT professionals in the United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, China and India, indicates just how challenging and complicated it can be to permanently erase data. When asked how they wipe files from company-owned laptops and desktop computers, 31 percent reported dragging individual files to the Recycle Bin and 22 percent said they reformat the entire drive. Combined, that represents over half (53 percent) of global IT professionals who are using two common, but ineffective methods to erase data. Richard Stiennon, a former Gartner analyst and Chief Strategy Officer of Blancco Technology Group, cautions organizations against making such mistakes. "Over the last several years, we've worked with businesses in the finance, healthcare and government sectors to help them understand the need to permanently and verifiably erase data from IT equipment and devices. But while organizations may see the value of data removal when their equipment reaches end of life, they often overlook and dismiss the importance of erasing active files from desktop computers, laptops, external drives and servers. In doing so, they leave large volumes of sensitive, confidential and potentially compromising data exposed and vulnerable to loss or theft." Key findings from the study include: The fear of losing intellectual property and login credentials is very real. 14 percent of IT professionals are most concerned with securing confidential product development materials, followed by company revenue statements (12 percent), customer contracts (11 percent), usernames and passwords to the company intranet (10 percent), and login credentials to company systems and portals (9 percent). 14 percent of IT professionals are most concerned with securing confidential product development materials, followed by company revenue statements (12 percent), customer contracts (11 percent), usernames and passwords to the company intranet (10 percent), and login credentials to company systems and portals (9 percent). It's easy to confuse deleting and erasing files. Over half (51 percent) of the respondents believe files are permanently gone when they empty the Recycle Bin on their desktop computers/laptops. Another 51 percent believe performing a quick format and/or full reformat of a computer's entire drive is sufficient. Over half (51 percent) of the respondents believe files are permanently gone when they empty the Recycle Bin on their desktop computers/laptops. Another 51 percent believe performing a quick format and/or full reformat of a computer's entire drive is sufficient. Storage and handling of IT equipment are more important than you think. 33 percent of IT professionals store non-functional desktop/laptop computers, external drives and servers in easily accessible, unsecured locations. 33 percent of IT professionals store non-functional desktop/laptop computers, external drives and servers in easily accessible, unsecured locations. Data retention policies need better oversight and enforcement. 30 percent of organizations don't have written data retention or removal policies in place. 30 percent of organizations don't have written data retention or removal policies in place. Data removal, historically overlooked or considered a lesser security threat, is inching up the list of IT security priorities. Over one-third (34 percent) of the respondents said data removal is high on their overall list of IT security priorities and 47 percent place it in the middle of their priority list. Stiennon concludes, "With 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created every day, it's critical that data is safely erased when it's no longer needed, or when regulation demands its removal, as in the case of the EU GDPR. Only by controlling the metastasizing of data through secure data erasure, coupled with data retention policies, can organizations minimize the likelihood of data breaches." About Blancco Technology Group Blancco Technology Group is a leading, global provider of mobile device diagnostics and secure data erasure solutions. We help our clients' customers test, diagnose, repair and repurpose IT devices with the most proven and certified software. Our clientele consists of equipment manufacturers, mobile network operators, retailers, financial institutions, healthcare providers and government organizations worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alpharetta, GA, United States, with a distributed workforce and customer base across the globe. Blancco, a division of Blancco Technology Group, is the global de facto standard in certified data erasure. We provide thousands of organizations with an absolute line of defense against costly security breaches, as well as verification of regulatory compliance through a 100% tamper-proof audit trail. SmartChk, a division of Blancco Technology Group, is a global innovator in mobile asset diagnostics and business intelligence.We partner with our customers to improve their customers' experience by providing seamless solutions to test, diagnose and repair mobile assets. SmartChk provides world-class support, pre and post implementation, allowing our customers to derive measurable business results. Media Contacts: SHIFT Communications for Blancco Technology Group (US) David Heffernan, Account Manager T: (617) 779-1839 E: blancco@shiftcomm.com SAY Communications for Blancco Technology Group (Europe) Robert Hickling, Senior Account Manager T: 44 (0) 20 8971 6427 E: blancco@saycomms.co.uk The Hoffman Agency for Blancco Technology Group (APAC) Miyuki Washino, Senior Consultant T: 81 3 5159 5750 E: blanccoapac@hoffman.com Blancco Technology Group Ragini Bhalla, Senior Director of Global Communications E: ragini.bhalla@blanccotechgroup.com Nexira, worldwide supplier of natural innovative ingredients for the food, nutrition and health industries announced the buyback of 24% of its capital previously held by Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners through its Winch Capital 2 fund. This transaction, partially financed by Credit Agricole de Normandie-Seine, means that Nexira is wholly owned by the Dondain family and consequently reinforces its independence. Nexira chose CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre and the Sorej law firms to advise it with regard to this transaction. The French mid-market family company founded in 1895, acacia gum global leader (+ 40% market share) and one of the leaders of natural ingredients and botanical extracts, recorded turnover in 2015 of 112.5 million with 90% being generated in the international market. "We would like to acknowledge the efficient involvement of Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners in the Nexira capital which strengthened our strategic development decisions. Its role, as our financial partner, demonstrated its respect for the values of our family group throughout the last six years," said Stephane Dondain, Nexira Chairman. Since 2011, Nexira has recorded 40% growth and boasts seven production plants in the world, five of them located in France, in addition to eight subsidiaries throughout the world, the main one being based in the United States. "Nexira is underpinned by a capital and organisational structure that will secure our role as a benchmark company in the acacia gum industry through to 2020. With innovation and new acquisitions, we are developing our position as leader in the field of natural ingredients in Health and Nutrition, underlined Mathieu Dondain, a member of the fourth generation of the family group, who recently became Nexira Managing Director. Nexira's continued growth is based on three pillars: Plans concerning external growth and diversification by the end of 2017 in North America in nutraceuticals and nutrition industries, without excluding opportunities concerning ingredients or natural additives for food applications. Innovation and marketing with the launch of new Health and Nutrition products. R&D, through maintaining a significant level of investment for the development of new functional and nutritional properties of acacia gum, and a patent pending concerning digestive health. Nexira, respecting environmental obligations and a responsible approach to business, has been investing for many years in the protection of natural resources, in particular with regard to sourcing acacia gum and cactus. As part of its sustainable development approach, Nexira has been involved for just under ten years in an ambitious programme in Chad with the NGO SOS Sahel. The acacia tree has been identified as a major resource in the ''large green wall'' international project. These trees, which withstand difficult climatic conditions, are at the heart of this programme: a belt of trees stretching over 7,000 km from Senegal to the Republic of Djibouti to hold back the expansion of the Sahara, restoring 50 million hectares of land and reducing the production of CO 2 In order to support its ambitious development strategy, Stephane Dondain, current Chairman and Mathieu Dondain are backed by high-level executives in the Executive Committee with Olivier Houalla, Operations Deputy General Manager, Frederic Ducluseau, Risk Assessment Deputy General Manager, and Philippe Vialatte, Procurement/Supply Chain Deputy General Manager. "Nexira is fully geared up to confirm its position as one of the world leaders in natural ingredients for the food, health and nutrition industries while safeguarding our independent family group culture," stated Mathieu Dondain. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005499/en/ Contacts: Press contacts ComCorp Muriel Martin, +33670456646 mmartin@comcorp.fr or Nexira Veronique Asselin Dugardin, +33232831818 v.asselin@nexira.com LONDON, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The LPE structure addresses the limitations on accessibility and liquidity posed by the traditional limited partnership (LP) model used by PE. LPE allows investors simple, liquid access to an attractive asset class for the price of one share, albeit with reduced information and less efficient cash management than in the LP structure, as well as the additional costs involved in running a listed company. LPE funds have recently been trading at wide discounts to net asset value (NAV) of >20% even though investment performance has been good over the last five years. This implies there is an information gap which, if addressed through wider engagement with the investor community, could help move LPE more into the investment mainstream. Recent corporate actions by informed, sophisticated investors, such as the bid by HarbourVest for SVG Capital, might indicate that the market is beginning to recognise the mismatch between low LPE fund valuations and strong underlying investment performance. This suggests there might be an interesting value opportunity for investors in the sector now. Click here to view the full report. All reports published by Edison are available to download free of charge from its website www.edisoninvestmentresearch.com. About Edison: Edison is an international equity research firm with a team of over 110 analysts, investment and roadshow professionals and works with both large and smaller capitalised companies, blue chip institutional investors, wealth managers, private equity and corporate finance houses to support their capital markets activity. Edison provides services to more than 420 retained corporate and investor clients from offices in London, New York, Frankfurt, Sydney and Wellington. Edison is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Edison is not an adviser or broker-dealer and does not provide investment advice. Edison's reports are not solicitations to buy or sell any securities. Contact details: Learn more at www.edisongroup.com and connect with Edison on: LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/edison-investment-research Twitter www.twitter.com/Edison_Inv_Res YouTube www.youtube.com/edisonitv Google+ https://plus.google.com/105425025202328783163/posts For more information please contact: Robert Murphy Edison Investment Research +44(0)20-3077-5700 Gavin Wood Edison Investment Research +44(0)20-3077-5700 investmenttrusts@edisongroup.com Logo- http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130417/608168 BRUSSELS, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The ongoing recovery of the European solar industry is in jeopardy because of a renewed wave of dumping exports by Chinese solar manufacturers. The current Chinese onslaught has its foundations in failed state planning and is responsible for jobs being axed in the solar sector all over the world and especially across the EU. The Chinese government abruptly cut off local funding of domestic solar energy installations for the rest of the year, and as a result, large quantities of overproduction of solar modules are again being dumped at prices far below manufacturing costs into Europe. This in turn is leading directly to production cuts and layoffs from domestic EU solar manufacturers. This week there were 500 lay-offs in Germany alone. According to EU ProSun, a joint initiative of European solar manufacturers, Chinese producers are flagrantly violating European customs regulations to maximize their exports to the EU. "The EU urgently needs to enforce its antidumping and circumvention rules because Chinese manufacturers are fudging and cheating to circumvent anti-dumping measures. Their aim is simply to increase sales in Europe by all means and to push competitors out of the market," Milan Nitzschke, President of EU ProSun explains. On Thursday and Friday, European Trade Ministers will meet in Bratislava, inter alia, to discuss the relationship with China, and how to address effectively China's illegal trade practices. "We see a similar situation in the European solar sector as we have seen in the steel, aluminium and many other sectors; how companies in market economies suffer from misguided planning in the state-run economy of China. China is playing with Europe as though it were nothing but a ping-pong ball," states Mr Nitzschke. Instead of reducing overcapacities, the Chinese government is actively encouraging further expansion and the construction of new solar factories funded by the state-owned banks. Existing Chinese production capacities are more than 30% greater than total global demand for solar PV products. More information: http://www.prosun.org Email: info@prosun.org Phone: +49(0)163-7024864 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Denison Mines Corp. ("Denison" or the "Company") (TSX: DML)(NYSE MKT: DNN) is pleased to report the expansion of the high-grade A and B series lenses both down-dip and up-dip on the southwestern portion of the Gryphon deposit, located on the Company's 60% owned Wheeler River project in the infrastructure rich eastern portion of the Athabasca Basin region in northern Saskatchewan. A further four exploration drill holes have been completed at the Gryphon deposit, with each hole returning significant uranium intersections outside of the existing mineralized extent of the current mineral resources estimated for the Gryphon deposit. Two of the exploration drill holes, located on 50 metre spaced sections and drilled approximately 50 metres down-dip from the previously delineated A and B series lenses, returned high-grade mineralization as follows: Drill Hole WR-602D1 -- 1.2% eU3O8 over 11.4 metres (from 692.7 to 704.1 metres), including -- 3.8% eU3O8 over 1.0 metres (from 693.2 to 694.2 metres), and -- 4.6% eU3O8 over 1.7 metres (from 699.4 to 701.1 metres) Drill Hole WR-674 -- 2.5% eU3O8 over 4.4 metres (from 744.8 to 749.2 metres), including -- 3.2% eU3O8 over 3.4 metres (from 745.5 to 748.9 metres) Two additional exploration drill holes, located on 75 metre spaced sections and drilled approximately 50 metres up-dip from the previously delineated A and B series lenses, returned results as follows: Drill Hole WR-673 -- 1.1% eU3O8 over 1.0 metres (from 627.6 to 628.6 metres), and -- 0.27% eU3O8 over 10.8 metres (from 642.05 to 652.85 metres) Drill Hole WR-675 -- 1.36% eU3O8 over 1.0 metres (from 607.9 to 608.9 metres) The abovementioned results are reported as radiometric equivalent U3O8 ("eU3O8") from a calibrated total gamma down-hole probe. Radiometric equivalent U3O8 results are preliminary in nature and all mineralized intervals will be sampled and submitted for chemical U3O8 assay. The holes were drilled at a high angle to mineralization to allow for better evaluation of true thicknesses which are expected to be approximately 75% of the intersection lengths. Dale Verran, VP Exploration of Denison commented, "The mineralized footprint around Gryphon continues to grow with ongoing drilling. As the summer 2016 drilling program wraps-up over the next couple of weeks, we are in the fortunate position of having the Gryphon deposit open in numerous areas with exciting future targets and encouraging potential for resource growth. As drill results come in from the summer program, our exploration team continues to plan for 2017, which is set to be another exciting year with the drill bit at a project that keeps delivering new and meaningful mineralization." The Gryphon deposit is hosted in basement rock and is currently estimated to contain inferred resources of 43.0 million pounds U3O8 (above a cut-off grade of 0.2% U3O8) based on 834,000 tonnes of mineralization at an average grade of 2.3% U3O8. The current resource estimate, with an effective date of September 25th, 2015, includes the A, B and C series lenses defined from drilling campaigns in 2014 and 2015. Exploration drilling at Wheeler River during 2016, which has focused on expanding the mineralization in the vicinity of the Gryphon deposit, has resulted in the discovery and expansion of the Gryphon D series lenses (see Denison's Press Release dated September 7, 2016) and the discovery of additional uranium mineralization down-dip and up-dip of the A and B series lenses reported herein. Table 1 provides highlight mineralized intersections from exploration drill holes WR-602D1, WR-673, WR-674 and WR-675. Table 1: Highlight mineralized intersections from exploration drill holes WR-602D1, WR-673, WR-674 and WR-675 Section Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Length (m)(5) eU3O8(%)(1,2) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4900 GP WR-602D1(3) 692.7 704.1 11.4 1.2 (including)(5) 693.2 694.2 1.0 3.8 (including)(5) 699.4 701.1 1.7 4.6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4925 GP WR-673(3) 627.2 631.0 3.8 0.36 (including)(5) 627.6 628.6 1.0 1.1 (and)(3) 634.2 652.9 18.7 0.18 (including)(4) 642.05 652.85 10.8 0.27 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4950 GP WR-674(3) 691.8 692.8 1.0 0.13 (and)(3) 740.9 742.2 1.3 0.65 (and)(3) 744.8 749.2 4.4 2.5 (including)(5) 745.5 748.9 3.4 3.2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5000 GP WR-675(5) 607.9 608.9 1.0 1.36 (and)(3) 613.4 614.6 1.2 0.14 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: (1) eU3O8 is radiometric equivalent U3O8 from a calibrated total gamma down- hole probe. eU3O8 results are preliminary in nature and all mineralized intervals will be sampled and submitted for chemical U3O8 assay. (2) Composites are compiled using 1.0 metre minimum ore thickness and 2.0 metres maximum waste (3) Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 0.05% eU3O8. (4) Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 0.1% eU3O8. (5) Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 1% eU3O8. (6) As the drill holes are oriented steeply toward the northwest and the basement mineralization is interpreted to dip moderately to the southeast, the true thickness of the mineralization is expected to be approximately 75% of the intersection lengths Illustrative Figures & Further Details A property location and basement geology map is provided in Figure 1. A plan map of the northeast plunging Gryphon deposit mineralized lenses, projected up to the simplified basement geology at the sub-Athabasca unconformity, is provided in Figure 2. The plan map shows the location of the D series lenses interpreted from winter 2016 drilling results, the previously reported summer mineralized intercepts as yellow stars (see Denison's Press Release dated September 7, 2016) and the location of intersections from the A and B series lenses reported herein as light blue stars. Further details regarding the Gryphon deposit and the current mineral resource estimates are provided in the NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Wheeler River project titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Wheeler River Uranium Project, Saskatchewan, Canada" dated April 8, 2016 with an effective date of March 31, 2016. A copy of this report is available on Denison's website and under its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. Qualified Persons The disclosure of a scientific or technical nature contained in this news release was prepared by Dale Verran, MSc, Pr.Sci.Nat., Denison's Vice President, Exploration, who is a Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. For a description of the assay procedures and the quality assurance program and quality control measures applied by Denison, please see Denison's Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2016 filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). About Wheeler River The Wheeler River property is a joint venture between Denison (60% and operator), Cameco Corp. (30%), and JCU (Canada) Exploration Company Limited (10%), and is host to the high-grade Gryphon and Phoenix uranium deposits discovered by Denison in 2014 and 2008, respectively. The Gryphon deposit is hosted in basement rock and is currently estimated to contain inferred resources of 43.0 million pounds U3O8 (above a cut-off grade of 0.2% U3O8) based on 834,000 tonnes of mineralization at an average grade of 2.3% U3O8. The Phoenix unconformity deposit is located approximately 3 kilometres to the southeast of Gryphon and is estimated to include indicated resources of 70.2 million pounds U3O8 (above a cut-off grade of 0.8% U3O8) based on 166,000 tonnes of mineralization at an average grade of 19.1% U3O8, and is the highest grade undeveloped uranium deposit in the world. On April 4th, 2016, Denison announced the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the Wheeler River Project, which considers the potential economic merit of co-developing the high-grade Gryphon and Phoenix deposits as a single underground mining operation. The PEA returned a base case pre-tax Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 20.4% based on the current long term contract price of uranium (US$44.00 per pound U3O8), and Denison's share of estimated initial capital expenditures ("CAPEX") of CAD$336M (CAD$560M on 100% ownership basis). Exploration results from the winter and summer 2016 drilling program have not been incorporated into the resource estimate or the PEA. The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. On July 19th, 2016 Denison announced the initiation of a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") for the Wheeler River property and the complimentary commencement of an infill drilling program at the Gryphon deposit to bring the inferred resources to an indicated level of confidence. About Denison Denison is a uranium exploration and development company with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan. Including its 60% owned Wheeler River project, which hosts the high grade Phoenix and Gryphon uranium deposits, Denison's exploration portfolio consists of numerous projects covering over 350,000 hectares in the infrastructure rich eastern Athabasca Basin. Denison's interests in Saskatchewan also include a 22.5% ownership interest in the McClean Lake joint venture, which includes several uranium deposits and the McClean Lake uranium mill, which is currently processing ore from the Cigar Lake mine under a toll milling agreement, plus a 25.17% interest in the Midwest deposit and a 63.01% interest in the J Zone deposit on the Waterbury Lake property. Both the Midwest and J Zone deposits are located within 20 kilometres of the McClean Lake mill. Denison is also engaged in mine decommissioning and environmental services through its Denison Environmental Services division and is the manager of Uranium Participation Corp., a publicly traded company which invests in uranium oxide and uranium hexafluoride. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian legislation concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Denison. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or the negatives and/or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the following: exploration (including drilling) and evaluation activities, plans and objectives; potential mineralization of drill targets; the estimates of Denison's mineral resources and the results of its PEA. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Denison to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Denison believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable but there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and may differ materially from those anticipated in this forward looking information. For a discussion in respect of risks and other factors that could influence forward-looking events, please refer to the "Risk Factors" in Denison's Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2016 available under its profile at www.sedar.com and in its Form 40-F available at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. These factors are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Denison does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information after the date of this press release to conform such information to actual results or to changes in its expectations except as otherwise required by applicable legislation. Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources: This press release may use the terms "measured", "indicated" and "inferred" mineral resources. United States investors are advised that while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves. United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. To view Figure 1, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070181_fig1.pdf To view Figure 2, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070181e_fig2.pdf Contacts: Denison Mines Corp. David Cates President and Chief Executive Officer (416) 979-1991 ext. 362 Denison Mines Corp. Sophia Shane Investor Relations (604) 689-7842 Follow Denison on Twitter: @DenisonMinesCo www.denisonmines.com LONDON (dpa-AFX) - British manufacturers expect production to accelerate rapidly in months ahead, the latest monthly Industrial Trends Survey from the Confederation of British Industry showed Thursday. In September, 18 percent of businesses reported total orders to be above normal and 22 percent said orders were below normal, giving a rounded balance of -5 percent, in line with expectations. A balance of 11 percent reported an increase in output volumes in September. Output growth is expected to increase over the next three months. About 37 percent companies expected a rise and 15 percent forecast a fall, resulting in a balance of +22 percent. Average prices are forecast to reduce slightly over the next quarter. The survey was conducted among 481 firms. The fall in sterling has boosted international competitiveness for many businesses, with export order books remaining well above average in September, Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief economist, said. 'But there are plenty of challenges ahead for manufacturers as we adjust to a new relationship with the EU and the rest of the world,' Newton-Smith added. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Provides Tailored Corporate Apparel for the World's Largest Airline FREMONT, California, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Twin Hill, a subsidiary of Tailored Brands (NYSE: TLRD), is proud to announce the launch of an exclusive new corporate apparel collection for American Airlines employees. This week, more than 70,000 front-line representatives, including pilots, flight attendants, customer service agents and premium service representatives began to wear the updated professional attire at the world's largest airline, formed by the merger of US Airways and American Airlines. "We are delighted that American has chosen to partner with our corporate apparel division and we look forward to bringing a world class customer service experience to American's employees worldwide," said Doug Ewert, president and chief executive officer of Tailored Brands, Inc. The tailored corporate apparel collection, initially made up of over 1.2 million garments and accessories, has been designed exclusively for American Airlines and is produced and distributed by Twin Hill. The new American Airlines attire reflects the new American Airlines branding that launched following the merger with US Airways in December of 2014. Elegant and modern yet reminiscent of a bygone era of luxury travel, the attire offers great style and design, high-quality performance and functionality that can take on the rigors of the job. About Tailored Brands, Inc. Tailored Brands, Inc. is the largest specialty retailer of men's suits and the largest provider of rental product in the U.S. and Canada with over 1,700 stores, including tuxedo shops within Macy's.The Company's brands include Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Joseph Abboud, Moores Clothing for Men and K&G Fashion Superstores.Tailored Brands also operates a global corporate apparel and workwear group consisting of Twin Hill in the United States and Dimensions, Alexandra and Yaffy in the United Kingdom and Europe. For additional information on Tailored Brands, please visit the Company's websites at www.tailoredbrands.com, www.menswearhouse.com, www.josbank.com, www.josephabboud.com,www.mooresclothing.com,www.kgstores.com,www.twinhill.com, www.dimensions.co.uk and www.alexandra.co.uk. Press Contact: Tailored Brands, Inc. Director of Public Relations, All Brands Diego Louro, diego.louro@tailoredbrands.com Corporate Apparel Division Operational Contacts: Daryl Stilley Twin Hill Senior Vice President and Managing Director North, Central and South America +1 888-206-0699 Hayley Brooks Dimensions Managing Director United Kingdom, Europe, Rest of World +44 1332 856800 DUBLIN, Dec 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Medical Disposables Market Analysis 2016 - Forecast to 2022" report to their offering. This analysis is one of the most accurate studies performed using the combinational analytical tools. The report contains up to date financial data derived from varied research sources to present unique and reliable analysis. Assessment of major trends with potential impact on the market during the next five years, including a deep dive analysis of market segmentation which comprises of sub markets, regional and country level analysis. The report provides a comprehensive outlook about the market share along with strategic recommendations based on the emerging segments. Annual estimations and forecasts are provided from the year 2013 to 2022 for each given segment and sub segments. Market data derived from the authenticated and reliable sources is subjected to validation from the industry experts. The report also analyzes the market by discussing market dynamics such as drivers, constraints, opportunities, threats, challenges and other market trends. This report provides: Market Sizing estimations and forecasts for 6 years across the given market segments. Identifying market dynamics. Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations. Regional and country level market analysis. Competitive landscaping of major market players. Company profiling covering the financials, recent activities and the future strategies. Companies Mentioned: Johnson & Johnson Bayer AG Becton, Dickinson and Company Abbott Laboratories Covidien Plc Medtronic 3M Company Baxter International Roche Diagnostics Corporation Cardinal Health Ahlstrom Corporation Smith & Nephew Medline Industries, Inc. First Quality Enterprises, Inc. Dynarex Corporation Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Executive Summary 3 Market Analysis 4 Porters Five Force Analysis 5 Medical Disposables Market by Raw Material 6 Medical Disposables Market by Product 7 Medical Disposables Market by End Users 8 Geographical Segmentation 9 Vendor Landscaping 10 Company Profiles For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/q5nnxk/global_medical Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA.TO) and DigitalGlobe, Inc. (DGI) announced a merger agreement, pursuant to which MDA will acquire DigitalGlobe for $35.00 per share in a combination of cash and stock. The transaction values DigitalGlobe at an equity value of approximately C$3.1 billion or US$2.4 billion, and an enterprise value of C$4.7 billion or US$3.6 billion, including assumption of DigitalGlobe's C$1.6 billion or US$1.2 billion, in net debt. Each DigitalGlobe common share will be exchanged for US$17.50 in cash and 0.3132 MDA common shares, representing a per share value of US$17.50. MDA will apply to list its shares on the NYSE in addition to the TSX. Upon completion of the transaction, the combined company will continue to execute its U.S. Access Plan strategy. This will include further reorganization of all or part of the combined Company's corporate and operating structure to ensure that the ultimate parent of DigitalGlobe is incorporated in the U.S. by the end of 2019. Lance, president and CEO of MDA and president and CEO of SSL MDA Holdings, will lead the combined company. The combined company will have approximately 4,600 employees in the United States and will continue to employ more than 1,800 in Canada. The transaction is expected to be accretive to MDA's operating EPS in 2018 and the combined company will deliver meaningful revenue and cost synergies of C$75-150 million on a run-rate basis by 2019. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- -- Gulf's key asset is a 100% owned high quality DSO Bauxite Project in QLD -- Gulf's Directors have unanimously recommended the Offer(1) -- Pre-Offer acceptances for 55.6% of Gulf's shares received The Board of Moly Mines Limited (ASX: MOL) ("Moly") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an Offer Implementation Agreement ("Implementation Agreement") with Gulf Alumina Limited ("Gulf"), under which it is proposed that Moly will acquire all the issued ordinary shares in Gulf (the "Offer"). The Offer will be extended to all ordinary shares in Gulf which are issued as a result of exercise of Gulf options. Gulf shareholders who accept the Offer will receive a combination of A$0.46 cash plus 1.4 Moly options ("Moly Options") for each Gulf share they hold. Strategic Rationale for the Offer The proposed acquisition provides Moly with the ideal opportunity to develop a low-cost mining operation at Skardon River and position itself as a leading independent supplier of low temperature Direct Shipping Ore ("DSO") bauxite into the expanding seaborne Asian markets. -- Acquisition of a high quality DSO bauxite development project located approx. 90km north of the world class Weipa bauxite mine -- Gulf undertook a Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") in early 2016 which has highlighted the potential for commercial extraction of the bauxite -- Control of key onsite infrastructure in particular the existing Skardon River port -- Significant exposure to the expanding Chinese based alumina markets, with clear focus on the more energy efficient "low temperature" alumina refineries -- Key environmental Commonwealth and Queensland approvals are at an advanced stage -- Leverage off Moly's previous experience in operating and developing low cost DSO operations following its successful development and mining of the Spinifex Ridge iron ore mine -- Reinstatement of quotation of Moly shares on the ASX subject to ASX and Moly shareholder approvals (1) In the absence of a superior proposal. The Offer The Offer will be made by way of a private, contractual offer from Moly to each Gulf shareholder. Each offer will be made on the same terms to each Gulf shareholder. The Board of Directors of Gulf have unanimously recommended to all Gulf shareholders that they ACCEPT the Offer, in the absence of a superior proposal. The Moly Options issued to Gulf shareholders who accept the Offer will not be quoted on the ASX and will be exercisable at A$0.16 expiring on the date that is 3 years after the issue date. The Offer is conditional on: -- minimum acceptances of 50.1% of the issued capital of Gulf; -- FIRB approval of the Offer, including the acquisition of Gulf shares; -- approval by Moly shareholders at an EGM of resolutions under ASX Listing Rules 11.1 and 7.1 and such other resolutions as Moly considers necessary to facilitate the Offer and the reinstatement of quotation of Moly shares on the ASX following re-compliance with Chapters 1 and 2 of the ASX Listing Rules; -- all necessary regulatory and other approvals, consents and waivers being obtained, including ASX approval for the shares of Moly to be reinstated for quotation on the ASX; and, -- satisfaction of other customary conditions as detailed in the Annexure to this announcement. A summary of the key terms of the Implementation Agreement is contained in the Annexure to this announcement. Under the Implementation Agreement, Gulf has agreed to various exclusivity arrangements with Moly for a period of 6 months. These arrangements include 'no talk' and 'no shop' obligations, and Gulf must notify Moly if it receives a competing proposal. Gulf has also granted Moly a right to provide a matching or superior proposal if Gulf receives a competing proposal. In connection with the Offer, Moly has agreed to provide Gulf with a A$1.9 million unsecured loan facility to assist Gulf meet general working capital requirements during the Offer period. Interest is payable on amounts drawn under the loan facility at 8% p.a. A summary of the key terms of the loan facility is contained in the Annexure to this announcement. In addition, Moly has entered into Pre-Offer Agreements with Gulf shareholders representing 55.6% of the issued capital of Gulf, requiring those Gulf shareholders to accept the Offer in respect of all their shares held (including any shares issued resulting from the exercise of their Gulf options (if any)) in the absence of a superior proposal. Each Director of Gulf who has a relevant interest in Gulf shares has entered into a Pre-Offer Agreement. A summary of the key terms of the Pre-Offer Agreements is contained in the Annexure to this announcement. Moly will fund the cash portion of the Offer from its existing cash balance. Indicative Timetable for implementing the Offer and Moly shareholder meeting ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Despatch of Moly Notice of Meeting late October 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Despatch of Offer materials and Prospectus to Gulf late October 2016 shareholders ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Moly General Meeting late November 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Close of Offer to Gulf Shareholders early December 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reinstatement of quotation of Moly shares on ASX mid December 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The timetable set out above is indicative only and may, subject to the ASX Listing Rules and any laws, be varied by Moly in its sole discretion. Moly will be required to re-comply with Chapters 1 and 2 of the ASX Listing Rules before ASX will reinstate quotation of its shares on ASX. If the Offer terminates or is otherwise unsuccessful, and Moly is unable to complete another transaction which enables Moly to re-comply with Chapters 1 and 2 of the ASX Listing Rules by 23 April 2017, ASX has advised Moly that it will be removed from the ASX Official List. About Gulf Alumina Gulf is an Australian unlisted public company with 45 shareholders which was established in 2004 to develop bauxite deposits for export to China's rapidly expanding merchant alumina refining markets. Skardon River Project The Skardon River project has been the subject of extensive exploration and economic studies over the past five years which resulted in Gulf undertaking a DFS in 2015. The results of the studies highlighted the potential for commercial extraction of DSO bauxite ore. The bauxite occurs as a laterally extensive horizontal layer ranging from 0.5 to 4.0m thickness, directly below a relatively thin surface soil profile generally less than 1.0m thick. The bauxite has developed as a result of weathering and comprises a high percentage of "Gibbsitic" bauxite which is the key type of bauxite feed for "low temperature" alumina refineries many of which are located on the east coast of China. The DFS considers a mine operation based on free-dig mining of bauxite using front end loader; transport of bauxite by haul trucks between 5 and 15km to the wharf loading and stockpiling facility; transhipment down the Skardon River using self-propelled barges to the ocean going vessels located off-shore for shipment to the customer. The current mining leases within the Skardon River Project include existing infrastructure and improvements comprising of an airstrip, port wharf, haulage and access roads, as well as civil works associated with the village services and power distribution. The DFS proposes that there will be upgrading of the infrastructure to accommodate the proposed mining and shipment operation. Moly will provide additional information relating the work completed by Gulf at Skardon River in the coming weeks and in the Prospectus to be lodged in late October. To view Figure 1 Skardon River Project tenement location and photos of existing infrastructure: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070276-F1.pdf Environmental Approvals Proposed amendments to the existing Environmental Authority ("EA") at Skardon River required Gulf to submit a full EIS in late 2015. Following an extensive public consultation period, the Queensland Government (DEHP) approved the EIS and has issued draft Conditions for review prior to final approval of the EA. Commonwealth approval under the EPBC Act has progressed in line with the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and Queensland governments. Final approval for the Skardon River Project is currently being determined by the Minister for the Environment. Importantly, these approvals cover key project requirements including mining of the bauxite resource, upgrades to the existing infrastructure such as the wharf and port facilities, haulage and transhipment operations. Bauxite Market Moly believes, on the basis of analysis of reports by industry experts and commissioned by Moly, that there is growing demand for seaborne bauxite in China as local resources are depleted. Moly believes that Gulf is well positioned to take advantage of this increased demand especially in light of recent bans on the DSO exports from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Moly intentions if the Offer is successful If the Offer is successful, Gulf will become a subsidiary of Moly and Moly will control the composition of Gulf's Board of Directors. No changes are presently contemplated to the Board or senior management of Moly as a consequence of the Offer. Upon completion of the Offer, Moly intends to continue to pursue the necessary project development activities required to progress the Skardon River Project into production as soon as possible. Effect on Moly if the Offer is successful If Moly acquires 100% of Gulf under the Offer, the combined group is expected to have pro forma total consolidated assets of A$88.5 million(2) and pro forma total equity interests of A$71.8 million(3). The transaction is not expected to have any material impact on Moly's consolidated annual revenue until such time as production commences at the Skardon River Project. Moly's budgeted expenditure, exclusive of any acquisition costs, for the 12 months to 30 June 2017 is A$4.02 million. The combined group is expected to have pro forma budgeted expenditure of A$12.72 million over the same period(4), an increase of approximately A$8.7 million. Effect on the total issued capital of Moly if the Offer is successful As mentioned above, in addition to A$0.46 cash per Gulf share, Gulf shareholders who accept the Offer will also receive 1.4 Moly Options for each Gulf share they hold. (2) Pro forma as at 30 June 2016. Moly's standalone total consolidated assets at 30 June 2016 were A$75.5 million. (3) Pro forma as at 30 June 2016. Moly's standalone total equity interests at 30 June 2016 were A$59.9 million. (4) Based on Gulf's budgeted expenditure. The following table summarises the expected changes to the capital structure of Moly if the Offer is successful: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ordinary shares Warrants Moly Options ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Issued capital at date of 384,893,989 4,832,157 with Nil this announcement an exercise price of A$0.0001 and an expiry date of 15/2/20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maximum number of Moly Nil Nil 128,117,045 securities to be issued under the Offer (assuming 100% acceptance of the Offer and all Gulf options are exercised(5)) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total issued capital post 384,893,989 4,832,157 with 128,117,045 Offer (assuming 100% an exercise acceptance of the Offer) price of A$0.0001 and an expiry date of 15/2/20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5) Includes Gulf options which remain subject to Gulf shareholder approval No funds will be raised under the Offer. Additional information about the companies is available on the Moly and Gulf websites (see www.molymines.com and www.gulfalumina.com.au) Yours sincerely For and on behalf of the Board of Moly Mines Limited Graeme Kininmonth, Chief Executive Officer Disclaimer This announcement has been prepared by Moly. However, no representation or warranty expressed or implied is made as to the fairness, accuracy, correctness, completeness or adequacy of any statements, estimates, opinions or other information contained in these materials. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Moly, and its directors, officers, employees and agents disclaims liability for any loss or damage which may be suffered by any person (including because of negligence or otherwise) through the use (directly or indirectly) or reliance on anything contained in or omitted from this announcement. This announcement may include forward looking statements about Moly or Gulf. To the extent that this announcement contains forward looking information, the forward looking information is subject to a number of risk factors, including those generally associated with the bauxite industry. Any such forward looking statement also inherently involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance and achievements to be materially greater or less than estimated. These factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which Moly and Gulf operate or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation. Any such forward looking statements are also based on current assumptions which may ultimately prove to be materially incorrect. Readers should not rely on this announcement as a forecast by Moly. Information about Gulf The information in this announcement about Gulf, including resource and reserve data, is based on information published by Gulf and accessible on its website. Moly has not verified this information. Gulf is an ASX unlisted public company. The disclosure obligations of Gulf are less onerous than those of listed company and, accordingly, Moly shareholders are encouraged not to place undue reliance on the information about Gulf in this announcement. Moly does not, except as required by law, make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. ANNEXURE Summary of key terms of Offer Implementation Agreement Outline of proposed Moly Mines Limited (Moly Mines) and Gulf Alumina transaction Limited (Gulf Alumina) have entered into an Offer Implementation Agreement (OIA) whereby Moly Mines is proposing to make an offer for all of the shares in Gulf Alumina (Offer) and the directors of Gulf Alumina propose to recommend the Offer in the absence of a superior proposal. Subject to the terms and conditions of the offer terms agreed between Moly Mines and Gulf Alumina (Agreed Offer Terms), the consideration to be offered for each share in Gulf Alumina is A$0.46 paid in cash and 1.4 Moly Options (the terms of which are summarised below). The terms of the Offer under the Agreed Offer Terms will be provided to Gulf Alumina shareholders in accordance with the timetable agreed between the parties. The Offer will be made by way of a private, contractual offer from Moly Mines to each shareholder. Each offer will be on the same terms to each shareholder. The Offer is not subject to Chapter 6 of the Corporations Act. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Making the Offer - Subject to Moly Mines entering into certain agreements with those shareholders listed in Schedule 2 (Pre-Offer Agreements), Moly Mines agrees to make the Offer on terms consistent with the Agreed Offer Terms and to publicly announce its proposal to make the Offer. - If Moly Mines makes the Offer, all of the directors of Gulf Alumina have informed Moly Mines that they unanimously recommend that Shareholders accept the Offer and will accept, or procure the acceptance of, the Offer in respect of any Gulf Alumina shares that they own or control, subject to there being no superior proposal. - Full details and other information in relation to the Offer will be provided to Gulf Shareholders separately. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Withdrawal of the The Offer may be withdrawn by Moly Mines at any time by Offer giving notice to ASX and Gulf Alumina if: - one or more defeating conditions are not fulfilled as at the end of the offer period or, in Moly Mines' opinion (acting reasonably), are not reasonably likely to be fulfilled as at the end of the offer period; - the OIA terminates on or before the end of the offer period; or - the Gulf Alumina board is permitted to change or withdraw its recommendation in relation to the Offer pursuant to the OIA and publicly announces its recommendation that shareholders accept the superior proposal. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Conditions Completion of the Offer is subject to the following precedent to conditions precedent (unless waived by Moly Mines): completion of the Offer - Foreign Investment Review Board approval One of the following occurring: - the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia (Treasurer) advising Moly Mines before the end of the offer period to the effect that there are no objections to the Offer in terms of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) (FATA) or Federal Government's foreign investment policy; or - no order being made in relation to the Offer under section 22 of the FATA within a period of 40 days after Moly Mines has notified the Treasurer that it proposes to acquire Gulf Alumina shares under the Offer, and no notice being given by the Treasurer to Moly Mines during that period to the effect that there are any such objections; or - where an order is made under section 22 of the FATA, a period of 90 days having expired after the order comes into operation and no notice having been given by the Treasurer to Moly Mines during that period to the effect that there are any such objections. - Other regulatory approvals Before the end of the offer period, all approvals or consents that are required by law, or by any government or governmental, semi-governmental, administrative, monetary, fiscal or judicial body, department, commission, authority, tribunal, agency or entity in any part of the world, including the Takeovers Panel and a court (Government Agency), as are necessary implement the Offer or the reinstatement of quotation of Moly Mines' shares to ASX (Re-Listing) are granted, given, made or obtained on an unconditional basis (or on terms acceptable to Moly Mines), remain in full force and effect in all respects, and do not become subject to any notice, intimation or indication of intention to revoke, suspend, restrict, modify or not renew the same, including that ASIC and ASX issue or provide all relief, consents, approvals, waivers, confirmations or other acts necessary, or which Moly Mines believes are desirable, to implement the Offer and the Re-Listing and such relief, consents, approvals, waivers, confirmations or other acts necessary have not been withdrawn, revoked or suspended before the end of the offer period. - No regulatory action Between the date of signing the OIA and the end of the offer period (each inclusive), there is not in effect: - any temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, decision, decree or other order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or by any Government Agency; or - any other legal restriction or prohibition and no action or investigation is announced or commenced by any Government Agency, which restrains, prohibits or otherwise materially adversely impedes or impacts upon (or could reasonably be expected to restrain, prohibit or otherwise adversely impede or impact upon): - the making of the Offer or the completion of any transaction contemplated by the Offer; - the Re-Listing; or - the rights of Moly Mines in respect of Gulf Alumina or the Gulf Alumina shares, or requires the divestiture by Moly Mines of any Gulf Alumina shares or the divestiture of any asset of Gulf Alumina. - Minimum acceptance At the end of the offer period, Moly Mines has relevant interests in at least 50.1% (by number) of the Gulf Alumina shares (on a fully diluted basis). - No material adverse change Between the date of signing the OIA and the end of the offer period (each inclusive) there is no event, change, matter, circumstance or thing which occurs whether individually or when aggregated with all such events, changes, matters, circumstances or things of a like kind that: 1.has had, or would be reasonably likely to have, a material adverse effect on the business, assets liabilities, financial or trading position, profitability or prospects of Gulf Alumina taken as a whole, as determined by an independent expert jointly appointed by the parties; 2.has sterilised, or would be reasonably likely to sterilise, more than 20% of the stated ore reserves of Gulf Alumina as set out in the ore reserves statement prepared by Australian Mine Design and Development Pty Ltd and issued in May 2015; or 3.has caused, or would be reasonably likely to cause, a diminution in the total non current assets of Gulf Alumina by at least $2.5 million compared to the $12,511,939 of non-current assets stated in Gulf Alumina's 30 June financial statements, other than those events, changes, matters, circumstances or things: 4.required or permitted by the OIA or the Offer; or 5.done or not done at the prior written request or with the prior written acknowledgement and approval of Moly Mines, (Material Adverse Change). - No prescribed occurrences Between the date of signing the OIA and the end of the offer period (each inclusive), no prescribed occurrence (being those conduct of business restrictions summarised below) occurs. - CBIX Bauxite Index fall At any time between the date of signing the OIA and the end of the offer period, the CBIX Bauxite Index does not: - fall to a level which is below or equal to 70% of the level of the CBIX Bauxite Index as at the Announcement Date; and - remain at or below 70% of the level of the CBIX Bauxite Index as at the Announcement Date for at least 15 consecutive Business Days. - No Insolvency Events Between the date of signing the OIA and the end of the offer period (each inclusive), no insolvency event occurs in respect of Gulf Alumina. - Moly Mines Shareholder approval Before the end of the offer period, Moly Mines shareholders approve, by the requisite majorities, each of the Moly shareholder resolutions. - Re-Listing ASX provides Moly Mines with written advice that its shares will be reinstated to quotation on ASX, subject only to customary or procedural conditions that can be satisfied in the ordinary course. - Loss of tenure Between the date of the OIA and the end of the offer period: - no event, change, matter, circumstance or thing occurs or is announced, and no new legal proceeding, dispute or claim is notified, foreshadowed or commenced, which materially impacts, or which is reasonably likely to materially impact, the capacity of Gulf Alumina to lawfully undertake, within a period of 24 months from the date of signing the OIA, open-cut bauxite mining operations and associated activities within the boundaries of the mining tenements at a level that achieves production of at least 3 million tonnes per annum of direct shipping bauxite ore; - no Government Agency makes a public announcement or provides notice or other communication to Gulf Alumina that advises, intimates or indicates an intention to: --revoke, suspend, terminate, adversely modify, or not renew, grant, modify or issue, any authorisation required for the Skardon River Bauxite Project including (i) the mining tenements; (ii) Environmental Authority EPML00967013 or any amendment required thereto; or (iii) approval under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conversation Act 1999 (Cth); --exclude bauxite from the mining tenements; or --require that Gulf Alumina share its port, haul road or other mining or logistics infrastructure with other mining operations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Termination of the Either party may terminate the OIA at any time before OIA completion if: the other party is in material breach of the OIA and, to the extent that the breach is capable of remedy, that breach is not remedied by that other party within - 10 business days of it receiving notice from the first party of the details of the breach and the first party's intention to terminate; a representation or warranty given by the other party under the OIA is or becomes untrue in any material respect and the breach of the representation or warranty is of a kind that, had it been disclosed to - the first party before its entry into the OIA, could reasonably be expected to have resulted in that first party either not entering into the OIA or entering into the OIA or agreeing the agreed Offer terms on materially different terms; or Moly Mines withdraws the Offer in the circumstances - contemplated by the Agreed Offer Terms. Gulf Alumina may also terminate the OIA if: - Moly Mines shareholders do not approve the Offer; or the ASX will not reinstate Moly Mines shares to quotation on ASX at completion of the Offer or ASX - imposes a condition on Moly Mines which is not reasonably capable of satisfaction by Moly Mines. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Moly Mines may also terminate the OIA if the board of Gulf Alumina changes or withdraws its recommendation (on the terms permitted under the OIA) in relation to the Offer and publicly proposes its recommendation that Gulf shareholders accept a superior proposal. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exclusivity 'No talk' Gulf Alumina and its related persons must not, during the period from signing of the OIA until the earlier of: (1) 6 months after signing of the OIA or (2) the end of the offer period (Exclusivity Period), participate in negotiations or discussions for a competing offer or proposal, accept any competing offer or proposal, or disclose non-public information with a view to obtaining (or which may reasonably be expected to lead to receipt of) a competing offer or proposal, or communicate any intention to do any of the foregoing things, to: - directly or indirectly acquire a relevant interest or an economic interest in 50% or more of Gulf Alumina shares; - directly or indirectly acquire control of Gulf Alumina; - directly or indirectly acquire or become the holder of any interest in all or a substantial part of the business or assets of Gulf Alumina; - directly or indirectly acquire an economic interest in any of the mining tenements listed in the OIA or the Skardon River Bauxite Project; or - otherwise acquire or merge with Gulf Alumina, whether by way of takeover offer, scheme of arrangement, shareholder approved acquisition, capital reduction, buy back, sale or purchase of shares or assets, joint venture, offtake agreement, dual listed company structure (or other synthetic merger) or other transaction or arrangement, (Competing Proposal). 'No shop' Gulf Alumina and its related persons must not during the Exclusivity Period directly or indirectly solicit, facilitate, encourage, invite or initiate steps with the objective of receiving an offer or proposal by any person in relation to any Competing Proposal, or communicate any intention to do any of the foregoing things. 'Notification' During the Exclusivity Period, Gulf Alumina must as soon as possible notify Moly Mines if: - any approach, enquiry or proposal is made, directly or indirectly, to Gulf Alumina or any of its related persons with respect to a Competing Proposal, whether solicited or otherwise; or - any request is made to Gulf Alumina or any of its related persons for any information relating to Gulf Alumina or its businesses or operations in connection with a current or future Competing Proposal. 'Matching right' During the Exclusivity Period, Gulf Alumina must not enter into any legally binding agreement, arrangement or understanding pursuant to which Gulf Alumina, a third party or both proposes to give effect to a Competing Proposal and must procure that none of its directors change their recommendation in favour of the Offer to publicly recommend an actual, proposed or potential Competing Proposal (or recommend against the Offer), unless: the Gulf Alumina Board acting in good faith and in order to satisfy what the members of the Gulf Alumina Board consider to be their statutory or fiduciary - duties (having received written advice from its legal advisers and financial advisers) determines that the Competing Proposal is a superior proposal; Gulf Alumina has provided Moly Mines with the material terms and conditions of the actual, proposed or - potential Competing Proposal, including price and the identity of the third party making the actual, proposed or potential Competing Proposal; Gulf Alumina has given Moly Mines at least 5 business days after the date of the provision of the information - to provide a matching or superior proposal to the terms of the actual, proposed or potential Competing Proposal; and Moly Mines has not announced a matching or superior proposal to the terms of the actual, proposed or - potential Competing Proposal by the expiry of the 5 business day period. If Moly Mines provides a matching or superior proposal to the Competing Proposal by the expiry of the 5 business days (Moly Mines Counterproposal), both parties must use their best endeavours within 10 business days of Gulf Alumina's receipt of the Moly Mines Counter Proposal to amend the Offer to reflect the Moly Mines Counter Proposal, implement it, and Gulf Alumina must procure that its directors continue to recommend the Offer, unless the amendments cannot be agreed within the 10 business day period. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The OIA contains warranties given by Gulf Alumina and Moly Mines that can be considered customary for an Warranties agreement such as the OIA. The warranties given by Gulf Alumina also relate to certain matters including the Skardon River Bauxite Project and the mining tenements. In addition to the customary warranties, Moly Mines also warrants that it will continue to operate the Skardon River Project and at completion will have current assets above a specified threshold. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Conduct of business Between the date of signing the OIA and the end of the during Offer earlier of: (1) the end of the offer period and (2) period / termination of the OIA, Gulf Alumina must ensure that Prescribed business is conducted in the ordinary and usual course, Occurrences and in particular Gulf Alumina does not: - No material commitments Enter into any contract or commitment, or vary any existing commitment or contract, which will involve any expenditure, including capital expenditure, which is either not provided for, or which exceeds the amount provided, in the agreed budget. - No disposals Acquire or dispose of any assets (other than in the ordinary course of the business or as provided in the agreed budget), whose aggregate value exceeds $50,000. - Mergers or acquisitions Merge or consolidate with any other entity or acquire all or substantially all of the shares or the business or assets of any other person or entity or agree to do any of the foregoing. - New employees Engage, or agree to engage, any new employee, consultant or contractor except as permitted by the agreed budget. - Contractor terms Vary, or agree to vary, the terms of agreement (including remuneration or other benefits) between Gulf Alumina and any employee, consultant or contractor except as permitted by the agreed budget. - Insurance Cancel any existing insurance policy in the name of or for the benefit of Gulf Alumina unless a replacement policy has been put in place. - Retirement benefits Pay, or agree to pay, any director, officer or consultant of Gulf Alumina any bonus, incentive payment, or retirement or termination benefit for loss of office which has not been disclosed to Moly Mines prior to the date of the OIA. - Authorisations Voluntarily terminate, relinquish or dispose of, fail to renew, or vary, any mining tenement or other material authorisation or agree to do any of the foregoing. - Liabilities Fail to pay, perform or discharge any liabilities relating to the business of Gulf Alumina as they fall due or incur any liabilities except in the ordinary course of business or as provided in the agreed budget. - Encumbrances Create an encumbrance over any mining tenement or other authorisation or any other of its assets. - Share capital - distribute or return any capital to its members or otherwise reduce its capital; - buy back any of its shares; - pay or declare any dividends or make any other distributions of its profits; - convert all or any of its shares or other securities into a larger or smaller number or reclassify, combine, split or redeem any of its shares; - issue any shares, options or securities that are convertible into shares in Gulf Alumina, except as a consequence of the exercise of options; or - agree or resolve to do any of the foregoing. - Litigation Settle or compromise any litigation, dispute or claim, including the indigenous proceedings. - Constitution Alter its constitution. - Material agreements Enter into or vary, or agree to enter into or vary, any agreement or arrangement: - with all or some of its shareholders; - which requires it to pay a royalty on bauxite produced or sold by Gulf Alumina from the Skardon River Bauxite Project or to otherwise share, or provide any ownership interest in, bauxite produced from the Skardon River Bauxite Project; - relating to engineering, procurement, construction or mining services, or - which requires Gulf Alumina to pay compensation to land owners or native title holders. None of the restrictions listed above prevent Gulf Alumina from performing permitted actions under the OIA, the Loan Agreement, the agreed budget, during emergencies, or actions approved by Moly Mines. Gulf Alumina also agrees, subject to reasonable notice, to provide Moly Mines with reasonable access to the Gulf Alumina sites, records, and senior management, and is entitled to be informed and consulted regarding certain matters in relation to the conduct of business. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The parties agreed that on or about the date of the OIA, they will execute a loan agreement for the Loan Agreement provision of a loan to Gulf Alumina by Moly Mines (Loan Agreement), the key terms of which are summarised in Schedule 3. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The key terms of the Moly Options are summarised below. Moly Option terms Detailed terms will be provided separately to Gulf Shareholders. - Exercise Period The Moly Options are exercisable at any time on or after the issue date until the date that is 3 years after the issue date. - Exercise Price The exercise price of each Moly Option is A$0.16. - Allotment Moly Mines will issue to the option holder one fully paid ordinary share issued in the capital of Moly Mines for each one Moly Option exercised. - Ranking The shares allotted upon the exercise of Moly Options will rank equally with the ordinary shares on issue in Moly Mines, and are subject to the constitution of Moly Mines. - Voting rights A Moly Option does not confer on an option holder any right to vote at any meeting of Moly Mines shareholders. An option holder is however entitled to attend general meetings of Moly Mines. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Lapse If the Moly Options are not duly exercised within 3 years of the issued date, the Moly Options will lapse and cease to be exercisable. - Dividend The Moly Options do not attract or pay dividends or distributions of any kind. - Transferability Subject to the law, the options may be transferred by an option holder at any time by delivering to Gulf Alumina a transfer instrument which has been duly executed by the option holder and the transferee. - Compliance with ASX Listing Rules The terms of the Moly Options may be amended at Moly Mines' absolute discretion to ensure compliance with the ASX Listing Rules. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Schedule 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary of the key terms of the Pre-Offer Agreements ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Outline Each of those Gulf Alumina shareholders listed in Schedule 2 (Pre-Offer Shareholders) have entered into Pre-Offer Agreements the key terms of which are summarised below. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timing of - At any time commencing 21 days after the date of the acceptance Offer and ending on the date 3 business days before the end of the offer period, Moly Mines may require the Pre-Offer Shareholders to accept the Offer in respect of all the Gulf Securities held by the Pre-Offer Shareholders. - Moly Mines may only require Pre-Offer Shareholders to accept the Offer during the period of 6 months from the date of the Pre-Offer Agreement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Holders of Gulf - If a Pre-Offer Shareholder holds Gulf Alumina options, Options then if as at the date the offer becomes free of all defeating conditions, some or all of those Gulf Alumina options have not been exercised, then the relevant Pre- Offer Shareholders agree to exercise all such unexercised options and to do all things (within their power) to ensure that Gulf Alumina issues new Gulf Alumina shares resulting from the exercise of the options. - Following the issue of the Gulf Alumina shares as contemplated above, the Pre-Offer Shareholders agree to accept the Offer in respect of those Gulf Alumina shares. - Moly Mines will pay the exercise price of the unexercised options to Gulf on behalf of the relevant Pre-Offer Shareholder on the basis that this amount will be set off against the Offer consideration which is payable in relation to the shares which are issued on exercise of the options. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- No disposal nor Pre-Offer Shareholders must not, during the term of the withdrawal of agreements: acceptance - dispose of, agree to or offer to dispose of or encumber any of their Gulf Alumina shares or options, except pursuant to an acceptance of the Offer; or - enter into any discussions or negotiations relating to any possible disposal of their Gulf Alumina shares or options. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Termination The Pre-Offer Agreements will terminate if: - Moly Mines withdraws the Offer or the Offer terminates or lapses for any reason; or - the Gulf Alumina board is permitted to change or withdraw its recommendation in relation to the Offer pursuant to the OIA and publicly announces its recommendation that shareholders accept the superior proposal ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Schedule 2 Pre-Offer Agreement Shareholders ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gulf Alumina shareholders who have entered into Pre-Offer Agreements in relation to their Gulf Alumina securities are as follows: Name of shareholder Number of shares Number of options ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- William (Cheng) Wang 3,850,000 150,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 18/2/20(6) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weidong Zhang 7,090,000 935,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 18/2/20(7) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wenzhen Zhang 6,714,760 Nil ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Qiuyun Shen 6,060,372 Nil ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shandong Nanshan Aluminium 10,316,146 Nil Co., Ltd ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hong Jiang 3,654,920 Nil ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yanhua Liu 4,140,460 Nil ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ping Zhang 6,771,240 Nil ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- George Gaal 111,667 160,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 8/1/17 50,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 10/3/19 85,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 18/2/20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Keppo 100,000 80,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 8/1/17 50,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 10/3/19 85,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 18/2/20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- HSA International Pty Ltd 600,000 100,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 8/1/17 50,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 10/3/19 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jianbo Song Nil 200,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 8/1/17 150,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 10/3/19 150,000 exercisable at $0.30 expiring on 18/2/208 (6) Pending Gulf shareholder approval (7) Pending Gulf shareholder approval (8) Pending shareholder approval Schedule 3 Loan Agreement ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Unsecured ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commitment A$1,900,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Currency Australian Dollars ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Use of proceeds General corporate purposes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Funding Rate 8% per annum ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Availability Period from the date of execution of the Loan Agreement or the OIA, whichever is later until the last day of the offer period, unless the Commitment is cancelled at an earlier date. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Warranties and The Loan Agreement contains warranties and undertakings undertakings customary for an agreement such as the Loan Agreement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Governing Law New South Wales Contacts: Moly Mines Limited Graeme Kininmonth Chief Executive Officer +61 8 9429 3300 Moly Mines Limited Natalie Frame Investor Relations +1 416 371 7541 www.molymines.com HUDSON, OH--(Marketwired - September 22, 2016) - Life Equity is pleased to announce that Scott Willkomm has joined Life Equity as its Chief Executive Officer. Under Mr. Willkomm's leadership, Life Equity will continue to build on its legacy of excellence in service to the life settlement industry. "I am excited for this opportunity to work alongside a talented team. Life Equity has become one of the leading life settlement providers, and I am eager to be a part of its continued growth," said Scott Willkomm. During Mr. Willkomm's thirty-year career, he has served as chief executive of several insurance, reinsurance and financial services organizations. He has extensive experience in life settlements and structured settlements, including his previous roles as Chief Executive Officer of Life Settlements and Mortality-Linked Products with J.G. Wentworth and President, Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Re Group. Mr. Willkomm is also an alumnus of Coventry's Capital Markets group where he worked with life settlement investors. Most recently, Mr. Willkomm was President and Founder of Old Stone Capital Partners, a boutique strategic consultancy and financial advisory firm focused on the global insurance, reinsurance and financial services sector. "In addition to Scott's many industry accomplishments -- his talent, work ethic and commitment to growth are impressive," said Alan H. Buerger, Life Equity's former interim CEO. "We are very pleased to have him lead the Life Equity team." Life Equity was founded in 2000 and is an established leader in the life settlement industry. As a life settlement provider, Life Equity offers origination and advisory services to investors seeking to buy or sell life insurance policies in the secondary and tertiary markets. Also, Life Equity excels as a third-party servicer of life settlement portfolios and assists investors with maximizing the value of their life settlement investments. To learn more about Life Equity call 330.342.7772 or visit www.lifeequity.com. Media Contact: Life Equity Robert Colacarro +1 330 342 7772 Email contact PUNE, India, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Spectrum Analyzer Market by Offering (Product & Software), Type (Swept-Tuned, Vector Signal, Real-Time), Range (<6 GHz, 6 GHz-18 GHz, >18 GHz), Form Factor (Handheld, Portable, Benchtop), Network Technology, End-User Industry - Global Forecasts to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to reach USD 1,750.0 Million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 8.48% between 2016 and 2022. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 87 market data Tables and 77 Figures spread through 199 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Spectrum Analyzer Market". http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/spectrum-analyser-market-216110863.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The major factors driving the growth of the spectrum analyzer market include the growing market for wireless technology, growth in the demand for spectrum analyzers with multi-tasking capabilities, technological advancement leading to innovation in spectrum analyzer offering, significant advancements in terms of bandwidth & frequency, and the growing trend of portability in the spectrum analyzer market. "Spectrum analyzer Market for IT & telecommunication end-user industry expected to hold a major market share during the forecast period" Spectrum analyzer has a huge opportunity for growth in the field of IT & telecommunication. The spectrum analyzer market is expected to continue to evolve in this industry. Considering the growth and demand in the field of IT & telecommunication, there is a huge necessity to develop infrastructure to cater to this demand and fulfill the needs of advanced technologies such as LTE, LTE-A, 4G, and 5G. Thus, this sector would be the prime end user for spectrum analyzers between 2016 and 2022. "Market for >18 GHz frequency range expected to grow at the highest rate between 2016 and 2022" The spectrum analyzer market for the >18 GHz frequency range is expected to grow at the highest rate between 2016 and 2022. The >18 GHz range is also known as the super-high frequency range, in which super refers to super audio frequencies or frequencies above the audio range. In most of the high-end industries such as defense and IT & telecommunication, measurement and testing systems of a high frequency range (from 18 GHz to 85 GHz) are widely used; therefore, the market for spectrum analyzers with >18 GHzfrequency range is estimated to grow at the highest rate. "APAC expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period" Spectrum analyzers have a growing demand in APAC owing to the increasing focus of the region toward automotive, telecommunication, and healthcare sectors. In this study, the APAC market has been divided into India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Rest of APAC. Asia-Pacific is a major market for various sectors such as semiconductor & electronics and healthcare among others. Moreover, the Asia-Pacific region is one of the potential markets for the automotive and telecommunications industries as countries such as China, India, and Australia, among others are actively trying to strengthen their positions in these markets. Inquiry Before Buying: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=216110863 The major companies involved in the development of spectrum analyzers include Keysight Technologies (U.S.), Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co., Kg. (Germany), Fortive Corporation (U.S.), Anritsu Corporation (Japan), Advantest Corporation (Japan), Cobham PLC (U.K.), Giga-tronics Incorporated (U.S.), Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Japan), National Instruments Corporation (U.S.), LP Technologies Inc. (U.S.), Teledyne LeCroy (U.S.), Avcom of Virginia Inc. (U.S.), B&K Precision Corporation (U.S.), and Stanford Research Systems, Inc. (U.S.), among others. Browse Related Reports Test and Measurement Equipment Market by Type (Oscilloscope, Signal Generator, Spectrum Analyzer, Multimeters, Power Meter, Network Analyzer), Service (Calibration Services, & Repair Services), Application, and Geography Global Trends and Forecast to 2022 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/test-measurement-equipment-market-116452716.html Automated Test Equipment Market by Component (Industrial PC, Mass Interconnect, Handler, Prober), Type (Memory, Mixed Signal, Digital), Application (Consumer, Automotive, Aerospace & Defense, Medical) and by Geography - Analysis & Forecast (2013-2020) http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/automated-test-equipment-market-237275050.html Know More About our Knowledge Store @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Knowledgestore.asp About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical info graphics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan MarketsandMarkets 701 Pike Street, Suite 2175, Seattle, WA 98101, United States Tel: 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/electronics-and-semiconductors Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Robert Friedland, Executive Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN), and Lars-Eric Johansson, Chief Executive Officer, today announced assay results from another sixteen holes of the ongoing 2016 drilling campaign at the Kakula Discovery on the company's Tier One Kamoa Copper Project, near the mining centre of Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Kamoa Project is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining. "Kakula is continuing to demonstrate that it is substantially richer, thicker and more consistent than other mineralization that we have found elsewhere on the Kamoa Project," said Mr. Friedland. "Given the consistent and thick intercepts at shallow depths of very-high-grade copper mineralization, Kakula is quickly becoming a key focus in our planning for the development of the Kamoa Project." Highlights of the latest drill results, which further reinforce the exceptional grades and shallow, flat-lying geometry of the Kakula mineralized zone, include: -- DD1024 intersected 6.14 metres (true width) of 6.52% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off, beginning at a downhole depth of 312.0 metres; 8.21 metres (true width) of 5.58% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 12.99 metres (true width) of 4.34% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 14.42 metres (true width) of 4.10% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. -- DD1036 intersected 5.48 metres (true width) of 6.90% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 274 metres; 7.38 metres (true width) of 5.77% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 13.05 metres (true width) of 4.31% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 13.99 metres (true width) of 4.13% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. -- DD1039 intersected 11.91 metres (true width) of 6.23% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 332 metres; 17.87 metres (true width) of 5.08% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 18.56 metres (true width) of 4.98% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 20.55 metres (true width) of 4.65% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. -- DD1041 intersected 4.04 metres (true width) of 7.39% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 615 metres; 4.80 metres (true width) of 6.63% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 6.70 metres (true width) of 5.42% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 13.36 metres (true width) of 3.37% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. -- DD1043W1 intersected 4.21 metres (true width) of 9.44% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 346.74 metres; 4.89 metres (true width) of 8.48% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 12.50 metres (true width) of 4.69% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 15.24 metres (true width) of 4.09% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. -- DD1045 intersected 8.44 metres (true width) of 6.96% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 505.22 metres; 9.31 metres (true width) of 6.59% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 11.44 metres (true width) of 5.81% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 13.94 metres (true width) of 5.03% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. -- DD1047 intersected 7.90 metres (true width) of 8.85% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 359 metres; 8.89 metres (true width) of 8.17% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 14.37 metres (true width) of 5.89% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 21.28 metres (true width) of 4.47% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. Kakula copper mineralization continuing to be shown to be consistently bottom-loaded and chalcocite dominant The consistent, bottom-loaded nature of Kakula mineralization supports the creation of selective mineralized zones at cut-offs of between 1.0% and 3.0% copper, and potentially higher. The recent assay results are shown at various cut-offs in Table 1, while the accumulation of copper and thickness of mineralized intercepts at 1.0%, 2.5% and 3.0% cut-offs are shown in figures 5 through 8. The Kakula copper mineralization displays vertical mineral zonation from chalcopyrite (approximately 35% copper) to bornite (approximately 63% copper) to chalcocite (approximately 80% copper), with the highest copper grades associated with the siltstone unit consistently characterized by chalcocite-dominant mineralization (see Figure 4 for strip-logs showing typical Kakula-style mineralization in holes DD1047 and DD1039). Chalcocite (copper sulfide, Cu2S) is high-tenor mineral that is opaque and dark-gray to black with a metallic lustre (see figures 1 and 3 for examples of high-grade chalcocite drill core from Kakula). Due to its very high percentage of contained copper by weight (the tenor, the percentage of the mineral that is actual metal to be extracted, is 80% copper by weight) and its capacity to produce an exceptionally clean, high-grade concentrate, chalcocite is considered to be the most valuable copper mineral. To view Figure 1. Drill core from DD1041 with disseminated chalcocite in diamictite at a depth of 619 metres (chalcocite is approximately 80% copper by weight), please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266f1.jpg. The Kakula Discovery remains open along a northwesterly-southeasterly strike, while high-grade copper mineralization has been outlined along a corridor that now is at least 3.5 kilometres in length. The high-grade copper zone is less than 300 metres below surface in the central section, and gently dips to the southeast and northwest. A total of seven rigs are drilling at Kakula. Two rigs are drilling step-out holes to the southeast of Kakula's currently defined high-grade core, looking to extend the high-grade mineralization beyond the current 3.5-kilometre strike length. Two other rigs are drilling step-out holes further to the northwest to test the possible extension of the high-grade core. Two additional rigs are drilling in-fill holes and one is drilling a large-diameter core hole for the second phase of metallurgical test work. The initial metallurgical test results received in July 2016 from a sample of drill core from the Kakula Discovery zone achieved copper recoveries of 86% and produced a copper concentrate with an extremely high grade of 53% copper. The July results also indicated that material from Kamoa's Kakula and Kansoko zones could be processed through the same concentrator plant, which would yield significant operational and economic efficiencies. Earlier metallurgical testwork indicated that the Kamoa concentrates contain arsenic levels of approximately 0.02%, which are extremely low by world standards. Given this critical competitive marketing advantage, Kamoa's concentrates are expected to attract a significant premium from copper-concentrate traders for use in blending with concentrates from other mines. The Kamoa concentrates will help to enable high-arsenic concentrates from mines in Chile and elsewhere to meet the limit of 0.5% arsenic imposed by Chinese smelters to meet China's new environmental restrictions. Independent Mineral Resource estimate for the Kakula Discovery on track for completion in early October Approximately 27,000 metres of drilling has been completed since the current Kakula drilling program began earlier this year. The initial plan was to drill a total of approximately 34,000 metres in 2016. However, given the outstanding success of the program, plans are being developed to expand the 2016 drill program and extend it into 2017. Kamoa Copper intends to prepare an initial independent Mineral Resource estimate for the Kakula Discovery in early October, 2016. Results for nine holes remain outstanding that will be included in the estimate. Amec Foster Wheeler, of Reno, Nevada, has been engaged to oversee the estimate. The main objective of the current drilling program at Kakula is to confirm and expand the thick, flat-lying, bottom-loaded zone of very-high-grade, stratabound copper mineralization at the southern part of the Kakula Discovery area (see Figure 2) that has the potential to be amenable to bulk, mechanized mining and therefore could have a significant, positive impact on the Kamoa Project's future development plans. The 60-square-kilometre Kakula exploration area is approximately 10 kilometres southwest of Kamoa's planned initial mining area at Kansoko Sud. To help advance the ongoing evaluation of Kakula, the Kamoa technical team is proceeding with the engineering and preparation of tender documents for the construction of a box cut at Kakula to accommodate decline ramps that will provide underground access to the deposit. A preferred site for the box-cut development has been chosen and geotechnical work has begun. To view Figure 2. Kamoa Project map shows the planned initial mining area at Kansoko Sud and the adjacent Kakula exploration area, please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266f2.jpg. To view Figure 3. Intercept from DD1055, an in-fill hole in the north-west of the Kakula Discovery, with massive chalcocite at a depth of 347 metres (chalcocite is approximately 80% copper by weight), please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266f3.jpg. To view Figure 4. Strip-logs of drill holes DD1047 and DD1039 showing typical Kakula-style mineralization, please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266f4.pdf. To view Figure 5. Kakula Discovery Area. Drill-hole location plan for the Kakula Area shows holes completed and in progress, superimposed on 1% composite grade thickness contours, please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266f5.jpg. To view Figure 6. Recent assay results at a 1.0 % copper cut-off, please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266f6.jpg. To view Figure 7. Recent assay results at a 2.5% copper cut-off, please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266f7.jpg. To view Figure 8. Recent assay results a 3.0% copper cut-off, please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266f8.jpg. To view Figure 9. New cross-section A-A' of Kakula Discovery area, showing true thicknesses of drill intercepts at a 2.5% copper cut-off, please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266f9.jpg. To view Figure 10. New cross-section A-A' of Kakula Discovery area, showing true thicknesses of drill intercepts at a 3.0% copper cut-off, please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266f10.jpg. To view Table 1. Assay composites from newly released Kakula drill holes at various copper cut-offs, please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266t1.pdf. To view Table 2. Collars of completed drill holes, please visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1070266t2.pdf. Kamoa Copper Project description The Kamoa Copper Project, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. and Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd., is a very large, stratiform copper deposit with adjacent prospective exploration areas within the Central African Copperbelt, approximately 25 kilometres west of the town of Kolwezi and about 270 kilometres west of Lubumbashi. The Kamoa mining licence covers approximately 400 square kilometres. In 2015, Ivanhoe sold a 49.5% share interest in Kamoa Holding Limited, the company that presently owns 95% of the Kamoa Project on an indirect basis, to Zijin Mining for an aggregate cash consideration of US$412 million. In addition, Ivanhoe sold a 1% share interest in Kamoa Holding to privately-owned Crystal River Global Limited for US$8.32 million, which Crystal River will pay through a non-interest-bearing, 10-year promissory note. Kamoa is the world's largest, undeveloped, high-grade copper deposit. On February 23, 2016, an updated Mineral Resource estimate was issued for the Kamoa Project. Kamoa's Indicated Mineral Resources presently total 752 million tonnes grading 2.67% copper and containing 44.3 billion pounds of copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off grade and minimum thickness of three metres. In addition to the Indicated Resources, the updated estimate included Inferred Mineral Resources of 185 million tonnes grading 2.08% copper and containing 8.5 billion pounds of copper, also at a 1.0% copper cut-off grade and a minimum thickness of three metres. The initial independent Mineral Resource estimate for the Kakula discovery, which is expected to be issued in early October, 2016, will be in addition to the Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources announced on February 23, 2016. Qualified Person and Quality Control and Assurance The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Stephen Torr, P.Geo., Ivanhoe Mines' Vice President, Project Geology and Evaluation, and a Qualified Person under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Torr has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release. Ivanhoe Mines maintains a comprehensive chain of custody and QA-QC program on assays from its Kamoa Project. Half-sawn core is processed at Kamoa's on-site preparation laboratory and prepared samples then are shipped by secure courier to Bureau Veritas Minerals (BVM) Laboratories in Australia, an ISO17025-accredited facility. Copper assays are determined at BVM by mixed-acid digestion with ICP finish. Industry-standard certified reference materials and blanks are inserted into the sample stream prior to dispatch to BVM. For detailed information about assay methods and data verification measures used to support the scientific and technical information, please refer to the current technical report on the Kamoa Copper Project on the SEDAR profile of Ivanhoe Mines at www.sedar.com. About Ivanhoe Mines Ivanhoe Mines is advancing its three principal projects in Sub-Saharan Africa: Mine development at the Platreef platinum-palladium-gold-nickel-copper discovery on the Northern Limb of South Africa's Bushveld Complex; mine development and exploration at the Kamoa Copper Project - which includes the remarkable Kakula high-grade copper discovery - on the Central African Copperbelt in the DRC; and upgrading and exploration at the historic, high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-lead-germanium mine, also on the DRC's Copperbelt. For details, visit www.ivanhoemines.com. Cautionary statement on forward-looking information Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including without limitation, the timing and results of: (1) statements regarding the Kakula Discovery being a key focus in the planning for the development of the Kamoa Project; (2) statements regarding the expectation to have an initial independent Mineral Resource estimate prepared for the Kakula Discovery in early October; (3) statements regarding the primary objective of the current drilling program is to confirm and expand a thick, flat-lying, bottom-loaded zone of very high-grade copper mineralization at the southern part of the Kakula Discovery area that has the potential to have a significant, positive impact on the Kamoa Project's future development plans; (4) statements regarding the plan to drill approximately 34,000 metres at Kakula this year and extend the program into 2017; (5) statements regarding the high-grade Kakula zone remains open along a southeasterly and northwesterly strike; and (6) statements regarding the expectation that Kamoa's concentrates will attract a significant premium from copper-concentrate traders for use in blending with concentrates from other mines Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release. All such forward-looking information and statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Ivanhoe Mines' management in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believe are appropriate in the circumstances. These statements, however, are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information or statements including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure, or delays in the development of infrastructure, and the failure of exploration programs or other studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations. Other important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements also include those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's most recently filed MD&A as well as in the most recent Annual Information Form filed by Ivanhoe Mines. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information and statements, and the risks that could cause the actual results to differ materially are set forth in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in the company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis report and Annual Information Form, available at www.sedar.com. This news release also contains references to estimates of Mineral Resources. The estimation of Mineral Resources is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Mineral Resource estimates may have to be re-estimated based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in platinum, palladium, gold, rhodium, copper, nickel or other mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling; (iii) results of metallurgical testing and other studies; (iv) changes to proposed mining operations, including dilution; (v) the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates; and (vi) the possible failure to receive required permits, approvals and licences. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release. Contacts: Ivanhoe Mines - Investors: Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834 Ivanhoe Mines - Media North America: Bob Williamson +1.604.512.4856 South Africa: Jeremy Michaels +27.11.088.4348 www.ivanhoemines.com CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- NXT Energy Solutions Inc. ("NXT Energy" or the "Company") (TSX: SFD)(OTCQB: NSFDF) are in the news! Interview with NXT CEO George Liszicasz in Mexico: Mexico's leading newspaper REFORMA published an interview on September 20th, conducted with NXT CEO George Liszicasz, during his recent visit to Mexico. The interview focused on NXT's relationship with PEMEX and the benefits that the SFD Technology can deliver to Mexico. For details on the press coverage and the interview, please see the following link: http://www.reforma.com/aplicacioneslibre/articulo/default.aspx?id=943368&md5=9df2c38fc99e0f3df6e1c7cbd8d8b184&ta=0dfdbac11765226904c16cb9ad1b2efe&po=4 The article was titled "Canadian Company seeks alliance with PEMEX" and is in Spanish. However a brief summary of the content is as follows: "NXT Energy Solutions Inc. is seeking an alliance with PEMEX to utilize their technology for the exploration of hydrocarbons. George Liszicasz, CEO of the company, expressed that the energy reform (in Mexico) gives Pemex the opportunity to form partnerships. Having enhanced geophysical information provided by NXT will allow them to increase the value of such partnerships. Mr. Liszicasz is quoted as saying, "Our technology provides information that is vital for any E&P company to have (with respect to new exploration targets)." The article explains that this may work in favor of Pemex and the State, since having better information regarding potential reservoirs would make the exploration for hydrocarbons more attractive to exploration companies. The article emphasizes the importance of PEMEX continuing its exploration activity to ensure continuity of production in the future." Update on proposed project in Sri Lanka with Potential Revenues of US$29 million to NXT: As announced on September 19th, NXT are pleased to partner with SHINE Quests FZC in a project where the SFD survey method is the lead technology in the proposed "Project SHINE", currently under consideration by the Sri Lankan government. The SFD survey data will provide information on trap integrity (the simultaneous presence of trap, reservoir and seal). The purpose of the project is to build a new multi-client data set for Sri Lanka. This will involve the integration of the SFD survey data with all existing G & G data, (which includes regional seismic data), that is available for the Mannar Basin. The project is being fully funded and the revenue to NXT is estimated to be approximately US$29 million. Work is expected to commence in Q4 2016. Please refer to the previous press release for more details on this potential project. It should be noted that the article contains information on a number of projects, therefore care should be taken to read the appropriate section. NXT Presents Joint Technical paper with YPFB of Bolivia in Symposium: The XII Bolivarian Symposium featuring Petroleum Exploration in the Sub-Andean Basins will be held in Bogota, Colombia next week. The NXT Director of Geosciences of the Americas is attending and will make a presentation on the SFD survey project that was conducted in 2015 for YPFB. The presentation will be available for viewing on the NXT website next week, and all interested parties are urged to review the project and its exciting results. For further information about NXT, please contact NXT's Head office at nxt_info@nxtenergy.com. NXT Energy is a Calgary-based company whose proprietary Stress Field Detection ("SFD") survey system utilizes quantum-scale sensors to detect gravity field perturbations in an airborne survey method which can be used both onshore and offshore to remotely identify areas with exploration potential for traps and reservoirs. The SFD survey system enables our clients to focus their hydrocarbon exploration decisions concerning land commitments, data acquisition expenditures and prospect prioritization on areas with the greatest potential. SFD is environmentally friendly and unaffected by ground security issues or difficult terrain, and is the registered trademark of NXT Energy Solutions Inc. NXT Energy provides its clients with an effective and reliable method to reduce time, costs, and risks related to exploration. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may include forward-looking statements. When used in this document, words such as "intends", "plans", "anticipates", "expects" and "scheduled", are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties, and although the Company believes that the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will be realized. Any number of factors can cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Risk factors facing NXT Energy are described in its most recent MD&A for the period ended 30th June 2016, which has been filed electronically by means of the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") located at www.sedar.com. Such forward-looking statements are made as at the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them, either publicly or otherwise, to reflect new events, information or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities law. Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) nor the OTCQB Markets accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: NXT Energy Solutions Inc. Bev Stewart V-P Finance & CFO 403-206-0807 info@nxtenergy.com NXT Energy Solutions Inc. Bill Mitoulas Investor Relations Manager 416-479-9547 bmitoulas@nxtenergy.com www.nxtenergy.com Kin Communications Investor Relations 1-866-684-6730 / 604-684-6730 sfd@kincommunications.com RALEIGH, NC -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 --Percona, the company that delivers enterprise-class MySQL and MongoDB solutions and services, today announced the Call for Speakers for Percona Live Open Source Database Conference 2017 is open and accepting proposals through Oct. 31, 2016. Percona Live Open Source Database Conference 2017 will take place April 24-27, 2017 at The Hyatt Regency Santa Clara and Santa Clara Convention Center. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and Super Saver Registration Discounts can be purchased through Nov. 13, 2016 at 11:30 p.m. PST. Percona Live Open Source Database Conference 2017 is the premier event for the diverse and active open source community, as well as businesses that develop and use open source software. Topics for the event will focus on three key areas -- MySQL, MongoDB and Open Source Databases -- and the conference sessions will feature a range of in-depth discussions and hands-on tutorials. The 2017 conference will feature four formal tracks -- Developer, Operations, Business/Case Studies, and Wildcard -- that will explore a variety of new and trending topics, including big data, IoT, analytics, security, scalability and performance, architecture and design, operations and management and development. Speaker proposals are welcome on these topics as well as on a variety of related technologies, including MySQL, MongoDB, Amazon Web Services (AWS), OpenStack, Redis, Docker and many more. The conference will also feature sponsored talks. Breakout sessions are 50 minutes in length, including a Q&A. Tutorial sessions are focused on an immediate and practical application of in-depth knowledge, and are targeted at a level between a training class and a conference breakout session. Tutorial speakers should assume that attendees will have laptops to work through detailed and potentially hands-on presentations. Tutorials are typically three hours in length, including a Q&A, but submissions will also be accepted for full-day, 6-hour tutorials. Selected speakers will receive a complimentary full conference pass. Conference Committee This year's Conference Committee is divided into three subgroups: MySQL, MongoDB and open source databases. Current MySQL committee members include: Jean-Francois Gagne, Booking.com Ben Mildren, Digital Ocean Shlomi Noach, GitHub Fred Descamps, Oracle Jenni Snyder, Yelp Giuseppe Maxia, VMWare Current MongoDB committee members include: Kim Wilkins, Rackspace (CHAIR) Jon Hymann, AppBoy Mark Callaghan, Facebook David Murphy, Percona Jeff Carr, SlamData Current OSDB committee members include: Jeremy Cole, Google Colin Charles, Percona Konstantin Osipov, Tarantool Alvaro Hernandez, ToroDB/8k Data Sponsorships Sponsorship opportunities for Percona Live Open Source Database Conference 2017 are available and offer the opportunity to interact with more than 1,000 DBAs, sysadmins, developers, CTOs, CEOs, business managers, technology evangelists, solution vendors, and entrepreneurs who typically attend the event. Planning to Attend? Super Saver Registration Discounts for Percona Live Open Source Database Conference 2017 are available through Nov. 13, 2016 at 11:30 p.m. PST. Visit the Percona Live Open Source Database Conference 2017 website for more information about the conference. Percona Live Conferences What: Percona Live Open Source Database Conference 2017 Where: The Hyatt Regency Santa Clara and Santa Clara Convention Center 5101 Great America Parkway Santa Clara, CA 95054 When: April 18-21, 2017 Call for Papers Deadline: Oct. 31, 2016 About Percona With more than 3,000 customers worldwide, Percona is the only company that delivers enterprise-class solutions for both MySQL and MongoDB across traditional and cloud-based platforms. The company provides Software, Support, Consulting, and Managed Services to large, well-known global brands such as Cisco Systems, Time Warner Cable, Alcatel-Lucent, Rent the Runway and the BBC, as well as smaller enterprises looking to maximize application performance while streamlining database efficiencies. Well established as thought leaders, Percona experts author content for the Percona Database Performance Blog and the Percona Live Open Source Database Conferences draw attendees and expert technical speakers from around the world. For more information, visit www.percona.com. Percona, XtraBackup, TokuDB and Fractal Tree are registered trademarks of Percona LLC or its subsidiaries. All other registered and unregistered trademarks in this document are the sole property of their respective owners. Company Information Press Contacts Brigit Valencia For Percona (360) 597-4516 Email Contact MILPITAS, CA--(Marketwired - September 22, 2016) - ZL Technologies, Inc. (ZL), the leader in unified information governance and analytics for the large enterprise, will continue its history of dedication to ARMA International's professional development opportunities at ARMA LIVE! Conference and Expo. Participating as a Gold Sponsor, ZL's involvement will also include a keynote speaking session and exclusive hosting of the conference's Welcome Reception. The event will be held September 25-27 at the San Antonio Convention Center, featuring ZL Technologies in Booth 109. As digital information evolves and the volume of "dark data" across the modern enterprise continues to expand, the distinction between a record and non-record becomes increasingly difficult to define, and the intricacies of policy assignment more nuanced. Records functionality no longer exists in isolation from other governance applications, but rather records management must be embedded within the overarching information governance strategy of the entire enterprise. Now more than ever, education within the community is essential to navigating the new, dynamic landscape of records management. As the premier event for records managers and information governance professionals, ARMA LIVE! has long been esteemed by ZL Technologies as an ideal setting for facilitating such education. In addition to being available at Booth 109 throughout the event, ZL's appearances at ARMA Live! will proceed as followed: Keynote -- Governance and Analytics: Convergence or Collision? Sunday, September 25, 2016 | 9:00 AM Kon Leong, CEO of ZL Technologies, will address innovative approaches to confronting modern challenges in records management, with an emphasis on reconciling the inherent tension between governance and analytics. ZL Welcome Reception Sunday, September 25, 2016 | 5:15 -- 7:00 PM Venue: The Lonesome Dove Room and The Grotto ZL will once again host the Welcome Reception in the Lonesome Dove Room and the Grotto in the convention center, an opportunity for networking with industry peers and thought leaders. Education Session -- Governance of File Shares: Are We There Yet? Monday, September 26, 2016 | 2:40 -- 3:30 PM Venue: Room 206 Files are innately difficult to track because of their unstructured nature, and because they have no clear owner or defined location, as do emails. This Education Session will discuss file cleanup as a step in the process of ongoing information governance. "You don't navigate a ship without a compass, yet this is exactly what companies do by failing to analyze and manage their data landscape," said Kon Leong, CEO of ZL Technologies. "This leaves them lost at sea, waiting for a storm to hit." To learn more about ARMA LIVE! Conference and Expo, please visit the event website. About ZL Technologies, Inc. ZL Technologies makes Unified Archive software (ZL UA) to enable large enterprises to manage all unstructured content such as email, files, and instant messages to satisfy corporate needs for eDiscovery, records management, regulatory compliance, information governance, and storage management. By providing singular and comprehensive data management architecture, it also enables business content to be leveraged proactively for analytics and competitive advantage, via ZL Enterprise Analytics' (ZL EA). ZL UA's unique differentiator is its unified architecture, which consolidates all applications and billions of documents under one platform, thus eliminating today's fractured data silos which significantly raise operating costs, increase legal risk, and derail effective Big Data analytics initiatives. Demonstrating a proven track record with Global 500 customers and strategic partnerships with major players such as Oracle, Unisys, PwC, and SunGard, ZL has emerged as the technology leader in harnessing unstructured "Big Data" for strategic advantage. For more information, please visit www.zlti.com. Media Contact Anupama Kumar ZL Technologies akumar@zlti.com (408) 240-8989 TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - September 22, 2016) - Keek (TSX VENTURE: KEK) (OTCQB: KEEKF) today provided updates on the transition towards offering the Peeks livestreaming service to the existing Keek user base. The Peeks livestreaming beta service has been available to the general public on both iOS and Android platforms since August, being downloaded by thousands of users in over 100 countries to date. This has provided Keek an opportunity to monitor the stability of the apps as well as the metrics and performance of the built in e-commerce engine prior to the transition of the existing Keek user base to the service. "The service has performed remarkably well and succeeded in monetizing users from day one. These early results have provided confidence that the Peeks livestreaming service is ready to handle the significant Keek audience. It's time to open the flood gates and bring the Peeks livestreaming service to 75 million current and former Keek users," said Mark Itwaru, CEO of Keek. Keek has been pursuing a viable robust e-commerce monetization solution for its existing and planned future social media products for over a year. The Peeks service, through its e-commerce engine, has been able to successfully process over 16,000 transactions in a live environment in its first month, including significant amounts of inter-user transactions, credit card purchases, and withdrawals directly to broadcasters' bank accounts. The service will also soon allow users to buy products in real time by tapping their screens inside a livestreaming broadcast. Based on the metrics of the Peeks service to date, Keek also announced it is immediately beginning to market the new service to its 75 million registered users, and is advancing the consolidation of the Keek legacy apps and the Peeks service, which is expected to be completed in phases over the next several months. Keek also announced that it has issued 40,000 common shares at a deemed price of $0.30 relating to the settlement of an employment claim. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Release. Forward looking statements: The information and statements in this news release contain certain forward-looking information relating to the implementation, timing, and roll out of the Peeks platform, including related products, services, functionalities, and third party involvements. This forward-looking information is subject to certain risks and uncertainties and may be based on assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking information. Keek's forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, Keek undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information. For further information, please contact: Keek Inc. Mark Itwaru Chairman & Chief Executive Officer 647-992-7727 mark@keek.com DUBLIN, IRELAND -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Aqua Comms Limited ("Aqua Comms"), a provider of scalable, subsea capacity-based network solutions, today announces that it has established a Point of Presence (PoP) at 1025Connect, Long Island's premier network-neutral Meet-Me Room for network interconnection and colocation. 1025Connect customers can now leverage Aqua Comms' suite of bandwidth and spectrum services via the company's next-generation transatlantic subsea fiber optic network and its Irish Sea cable. Uniquely, this is the only cable currently available that offers encryption and protection across its New York, Ireland and UK routes, up to 100Gbps Aqua Comms' 6,800km cable system between America and Europe was completed in January 2016, and coupled with its Irish Sea cable, offers the most advanced optical solution on a transatlantic route. The solution ensures the highest reliability by providing high capacity, low latency connections between the U.S. and Europe with diverse terrestrial sections on both continents. With the least amount of shallow water exposure of any transatlantic system, the network provides unprecedented security, encryption and reliability. "This site on our groundbreaking cable system adds to our current strategic access points in Dublin, Slough, Manchester, London and New York metro markets," states Greg Varisco, Chief Executive Officer of Aqua Comms. "Customers looking for secure, reliable and fast links between the world's top business hubs have yet another key entry option to the most advanced optical transatlantic solution available. We're proud to partner with 1025Connect, which offers fast cross-connects to other local and global cable systems in a critical subsea cable launching point." "Aqua Comms and 1025Connect share a mutual commitment to high performance connectivity between customers, countries and continents," states Dan Lunde, Managing Director at 1025Connect. "This partnership is a natural one, as Aqua Comms' world-class network solutions require an industry-leading colocation facility in the business capital of the world. We are proud to offer the company's unique, best-in-class solutions to the industry." For more information on Aqua Comms, visit www.AquaComms.com or email info@aquacomms.com. For more information on 1025Connect, visit www.1025connect.com. About Aqua Comms Limited Aqua Comms Limited (Aqua Comms) is the owner and operator of the transatlantic cable AEConnect and the Irish Sea cable CeltixConnect, and was established to build, acquire or merge with subsea fiber optic cable networks to provide capacity networking solutions to the global media, content providers and IT companies. To learn more about Aqua Comms and its new transatlantic subsea cable system, AEConnect, visit www.AquaComms.com. About 1025Connect 1025Connect is Long Island's premier network-neutral Carrier Hotel located at 1025 Old Country Road in Westbury, New York. This facility is renowned for its ability to connect subsea systems to terrestrial networks with the optional ability to bypass Manhattan for greater network diversity. 1025Connect provides colocation solutions that enable network interconnections through its highly-secure Long Island data center. Network operators of all types within 1025Connect benefit from direct access to Manhattan Bypass fiber routes, multiple transatlantic and Latin American submarine cable systems and multiple enterprise networks -- all without monthly recurring cross-connect fees. visit www.1025connect.com. EDMONTON, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Iberian Minerals Ltd. (the "Company" or "Iberian") (TSX VENTURE: IML)(OTCQB: SLDRF) is pleased to announce a research collaboration for the eco-friendly HM X-leach, non-cyanide based leach formula with the University of British Columbia's NBK Institute of Mining Engineering. The collaboration is awarded through Mitacs, a national not-for-profit training and research organization, which connects companies with university researchers who apply their specialized expertise on a research challenge. Interns transfer their skills from theory to real-world application, while the companies gain a competitive advantage by accessing high-quality research expertise. For the previous 12 months, the Iberian technical team, who are working in conjunction with Met-Solve Laboratories, have been developing and testing the unique X-leach formula on a number of different ores, concentrates, tailings and electronic waste. The patent-pending X-leach formula has been developed to be a non-toxic, economical and effective alternative to cyanide and acid based lixiviants. Independent testing has proven that the X-leach formulas and processes are typically faster than Cyanide and have effective recovery rates to 99%. The research collaboration, awarded by Mitacs, is for one year and is valued at $45,000. Through a Mitacs Accelerate internship, Iberian Minerals will develop a close relationship with the UBC NBK Institute of Mining faculty, who will be overseeing the PhD student/intern on their research and development of the HM X-leach. Hanif Jafari, B.Sc., M.Eng., the selected intern for the project, has entered into the UBC PhD program in Mining and Mineral Process Engineering. Hanif was most recently an associate researcher with UBC for over two years focusing on chemical analysis, analyzing test work data for processing plants, and applying processing methods such as floatation and leaching, gravity and magnetic concentration. In addition, he has worked as a field and mining engineer on various projects in Iran from 2007 to 2011. Hanif will be working closely with our technical team at the Iberian Minerals laboratory in Coquitlam. "We are proud to be part of this impressive research team assembled by Mitacs," commented Duane Nelson. "The University of British Columbia has a world-class team of researchers, including Dr. Marcello Veiga, Hanif's supervisor, who has extensive experience as a metallurgical engineer and environmental geochemist. We look forward to working with this team to advance our innovative non-cyanide based leach formula." About Iberian Minerals Iberian Minerals is a Canadian junior mining company positioned for growth through the partnership of advanced cash flow mining opportunities utilizing the Mineworx environmentally friendly toll processing technologies. In addition the Company is undertaking strategic alliances with its Spanish minerals assets. For further information, go to www.iberianminerals.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Iberian Minerals Ltd. Rick Gliege V.P. Corporate Development rick@iberianminerals.ca (250) 751-3661 Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Steve Hosein: shosein@renmarkfinancial.com Media - D. Elizabeth Culley: dculley@renmarkfinancial.com (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989 www.renmarkfinancial.com LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Coca-Cola European Partners plc reported that its profit for the second-quarter declined 3.5 percent to 151 million euros from the previous year. Earnings per share fell 32.0 percent to 0.45 euros. Pro forma profit was 273 million euros, up 5.5 per cent, or up 7.5 per cent on a pro forma and fx-neutral basis. Revenue for the quarter was 2.167 billion euros, up 25.0 percent from last year. Pro forma revenue was 2.87 billion euros, down 3.5 per cent, or down 1.5 per cent on a pro forma and fx-neutral basis. For 2016, Coca-Cola European Partners expects revenue to be flat with operating profit growth in a modest mid-single-digit range and earnings per share in a mid-teen range, all on a comparable and fx-neutral basis. In addition to operating profit growth, full-year 2016 diluted earnings per share growth is benefiting from differences in interest and tax rates between pro forma comparable 2015 figures and 2016 outlook. Based on recent rates, currency translation would negatively impact full-year 2016 earnings per share by approximately 0.07 euros. Year-end 2016 net debt to EBITDA is expected to be just over 3 times. CCEP does not expect to repurchase shares in 2016. The CCEP Board of Directors authorised the Company's first dividend since the Company's inception in May of this year. In line with its commitment to deliver long-term value to shareholders, and the Company's prior commitment to have an initial dividend pay-out ratio of 30 per cent to 40 per cent of profit after taxes, the Board has approved an initial quarterly dividend of 0.17 euros, equivalent to an annualised dividend of 0.68 euros per share. The dividend will be paid 17 October 2016 to those shareholders of record on 3 October 2016. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/29/16 -- TANTALEX Resources Corporation (CSE: TTX)(CSE: TTX.CN)(FRANKFURT: 1T0) ("TANTALEX" or the "Corporation"), is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, United Materials Congo SARL ("UNITED MATERIALS" or "UMC"), located in the province of Katanga, has been granted the operating status of Category A Processing Entity by the Democratic Republic of Congo Ministry of Mines. This allows UMC full rights to process, transform and export Lithium, Tantalum and other minerals originating from their properties in Tanganyika, to buyers be them domestic or international. Dave Gagnon, Chief Executive Officer of TANTALEX, explains: "This is a very important and necessary step toward TANTALEX becoming a producer, processer and exporter of high-tech minerals. With this granting of status, we can now reach international markets where these minerals are in shortage and very much in demand." About TANTALEX Resources Corporation TANTALEX is a mining company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and distribution of Lithium, Tantalum and other high-tech mineral properties in Africa. The Corporation is listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (symbol: TTX) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (symbol: 1T0). Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Although TANTALEX believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, TANTALEX disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed this news release and does not accept responsibility for its adequacy or accuracy. For further information, please contacts Investor relations: ir@tantalex.ca Or visit us at: WWW.TANTALEX.CA Contacts: TANTALEX Resources Corporation Dave Gagnon Chief Executive Officer +16479637476 +37254728653 dg@tantalex.ca TANTALEX Resources Corporation Kyle Appleby Chief Financial Officer +14164179176 ka@tantalex.ca TANTALEX Resources Corporation Christina Lalli Manager, Investor Relations +14379924114 cl@tantalex.ca Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2016) - Gunpowder Capital Corp. (CSE: GPC) (CSE: GPC.PR.A) (FSE: YS6N), (the "Corporation") announced today that it has been retained by Advantagewon Oil & Gas Corp., ("Advantagewon") to assist in Advantagewon's proposed going public transaction. In order to provide Advantagewon with a sufficient public float, GPC will subscribe for up to Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ("$250,000.00") CDN of common shares in the capital of Advantagewon by issuing up to Two Million Five Hundred Thousand ("2,500,000") Gunpowder Capital Corp., common shares to Advantagewon. As compensation for Gunpowder's services, which will include managing administrative and compliance matters, Advantagewon will pay Gunpowder Capital Corp., Thirty Thousand Dollars ("$30,000.00") CDN. It is anticipated - barring any regulatory delays - that it will take approx., 30 - 45 days in order for Advantagewon's non-offering prospectus to be approved by the OSC. The OSC's approval will then give Advantagewon the ability to apply to the Canadian Securities Exchange ('the CSE") in having its common shares listed onto the CSE. Upon successful listing of Advantagewon's common shares onto the CSE, Advantagewon will issue Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ("$250,000.00") worth of Advantagewon common shares to Gunpowder Capital Corp. About Advantagewon Oil & Gas Corp Advantagewon was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on July 10, 2013, and is a widely-held privately owned, Toronto-based oil and gas company with a focus on development opportunities in Texas, U.S.A. Advantagewon currently owns two properties in Texas: (i) the Saratoga property located in Hardin County, Texas (the "Saratoga Property"); and (ii) the La Vernia property located in Guadalupe County, Texas (the "La Vernia Property"). Saratoga Property The Saratoga Property contains 260 acres and is located near the Spindletop oil discovery of 1901. A National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101") reserves report, dated November 1, 2013 (the "Saratoga Reserve Report"), indicates gross proved plus probable reserves of 1.61 million barrels of oil and net proved plus probable reserves of 1.20 million barrels of oil on the Saratoga Property. A well drilled by Advantagewon on the Saratoga Property in May 2014, resulted in an initial production of 100 barrels of oil per day ("bbls/d") from the Cook Mountain Formation Yegua Group. The total current production of that well as of November 17, 2014 is approximately 105 bbls/d. The Saratoga Reserve Report indicates that additional oil reserves are present in other locations updip to wells that watered-out in previous years. Due to the strong water drive flow and pressures of the Cook Mountain formation updip oil from prior oil well producers in this formation was not recovered, leaving several potential drilling locations. La Vernia Property The La Vernia Property is a low-risk, low-cost infill drilling development project. Advantagewon is currently acquiring additional land in the area, with a goal of acquiring 6,000 acres. This project is currently not producing. A NI 51-101 reserves report, dated November 1, 2013 (the "La Vernia Reserve Report"), indicates gross proved plus probable reserves of approximately six million barrels of oil equivalent ("MMBoe") and net proved plus probable reserves of 4.7 MMBoe on all available leases, with potential production coming from shallow (i.e. less than 1100 feet) Cretaceous and Tertiary strata. In addition, potential reservoirs are present at a depth of approximately 1,000 to 3,500 feet. This area is in the heart of the South Texas oil fields (25 miles southeast of San Antonio). Roads and pipeline infrastructure and service companies are excellent, allowing for easy development of the field. For further information please contact: Mr. Frank Kordy Interim CEO & Director Gunpowder Capital Corp. T: (647) 466-4037 E: frank.kordy@gunpowdercapitalcorp.com Mr. Paul Haber CFO Gunpowder Capital Corp. T: (416) 363-3833 E: paul.haber@gunpowdercapitalcorp.com Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although Management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. - 30 - GENEVA, November 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cipla and Mylan are the First Companies to Apply for WHO's Prequalification of Dolutegravir The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) announced today that two of its generic manufacturing partners are the first companies to apply for prequalification of generic dolutegravir (DTG), a new antiretroviral that the MPP licensed from ViiV Healthcare in 2014. Cipla and Mylan have applied to WHO for prequalification of generic versions of the 50 mg tablet of DTG, a necessary step in allowing international procurers such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNICEF and UNITAID to purchase and distribute the treatment in developing countries. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160706/813286 ) "We congratulate our generic partners on achieving this milestone so quickly after signing agreements with the MPP," said Greg Perry, MPP's Executive Director. "We have worked closely with our partners on rapid product development to ensure the availability of generic DTG in low- and middle-income countries shortly after its rollout in high-income nations." Recently recommended as an alternative first-line treatment by the WHO, DTG is considered a significant improvement in antiretroviral therapy. The treatment does not require boosting and has a good barrier to resistance, as well as high efficacy and tolerability at a relatively low dose. As part of a daily regimen, the 50 mg tablet is currently prescribed for patients that have never taken HIV therapy, as well as for the many that have developed resistance to current treatment. "Dolutegravir is an important innovative antiretroviral drug with great ability to reduce viral loads quickly, as well as effectiveness in preventing resistance of the virus," said Sharadd Jain, Head of Cipla Global Access. "This kind of alternative treatment is imperative if we hope to meet international treatment scale-up targets and progress towards the elimination of HIV." "We recognize the critical importance of growing our ARV portfolio, because 50% of people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide who are receiving treatment depend on a Mylan product," commented Mylan President Rajiv Malik. "Our submission of dolutegravir for WHO prequalification is another way we're demonstrating Mylan's commitment to providing the world's seven billion people access to high quality medicine." ViiV Healthcare granted MPP two non-exclusive licences for the generic manufacture of DTG: one for the production of the medicine for adults and another for children. Both licences permit generic pharmaceutical companies based anywhere in the world to manufacture DTG and to combine the treatment with other drugs to develop fixed-dose combinations of regimens recommended by the WHO. In the spring of 2016, the two parties extended the adult licence to all lower middle-income countries, allowing sale of generic DTG in more than 130 countries. ViiV Healthcare is facilitating applications for Tentative Approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) of DTG products manufactured by MPP generic partners by waiving its right to a five-year new chemical entity (NCE) exclusivity for DTG, solely for the purpose of allowing the US FDA to review these applications. Currently, nine MPP licensees are developing DTG as an active pharmaceutical ingredient and in formulations and will be submitting dossiers to the WHO PQ programme and/or the US FDA, some of them very soon. "Robust competition among MPP licensees will improve access for this key medicine," concluded Perry. About the Medicines Patent Pool The Medicines Patent Pool is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to HIV, viral hepatitis C and tuberculosis treatments in low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, the MPP partners with industry, civil society, international organisations, patient groups and other stakeholders to prioritise, forecast and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations. To date, the MPP has signed agreements with six patent holders for twelve HIV antiretrovirals and for one hepatitis C direct-acting antiviral. Its generic partners have distributed more than three billion doses of low-cost medicines to 119 countries. The MPP was founded and remains fully funded by UNITAID. DENVER, CO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Ubiquitech Software Corp. (OTC PINK: UBQU), CEO and the management of (UBQU) is announcing the first BETA test of its new direct mail campaigns designed to increase sales of its CannazALL CBD brand to the www.HempLifeToday.com website. The first BETA test of these campaigns is scheduled for the week of September 26th. The company projects, that through the addition of regular monthly direct mail campaigns to its customer lists it can increase sales by a margin of at least 20%, while maintaining a very high profitability rate. In addition, the costs of direct mail campaigns to the company's targeted customer lists meets or exceeds the company's stated goals of cost effective advertising, resulting in higher profits at lower costs. The company bases its projections on several key factors including the already established data on customer responses to weekly email promotional campaigns, as well as frequency of customer reordering rates. With the known response rates from the Company's many email promotions, which average a 15% -20% "Open" rate, the Company expects the direct mail campaigns to have significantly higher results as virtually 100% of its customer database will be exposed to the direct mail offers. With this increased awareness of HempLife Today offers and discounts on USA grown and formulated CannazALL CBD products, and the increase in exposure to these offers, the company projects that adding direct mail can increase sales revenues by 20%, or more. "We want our shareholders to know that we are moving ahead with all of the plans outlined in our previous press releases," said James Ballas CEO (OTC PINK: UBQU). "This includes adding platforms that increase our sales, lower ad costs, and increase bottom line just as outlined. In addition, we are working on all of the other items we've laid out for growth and success in this industry and now that we've officially announced our name change to HempLife Today, we will be announcing our new symbol in the next few weeks as well." The company announced the official name change to HempLife Today on September 20th, and symbol change is currently pending. Official symbol change will be announced as soon as possible. About Ubiquitech (HempLife Today) Ubiquitech Software Corp, through its subsidiaries is a dynamic multi-media, multi-faceted corporation utilizing state-of-the-art global internet marketing, Direct Response (DRTV) Television, Radio, and traditional marketing, to drive traffic to the new and emerging multi-billion dollar industries like its subsidiary HempLifeToday.com. HempLifeToday focuses on the exciting and dynamic new thinking in the world today that recognizes the important health and life enriching enhancement that CBD Oil from the Hemp plant can bring. Through its network of quality USA growers HempLifeToday.com has developed multiple and proprietary CannazALL CBD oil products that include; It's popular CBD Tinctures, Oils, GelCaps, CBD Powder, Skin Salve, Wax Crumble, and e-liquid, all offered @ www.HempLifeToday.com This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects", "intends', "believes', and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, the ability to secure additional sources of finance, the ability to reduce operating expenses, and other factors described in the Company's filings with the OTC Markets Group. The actual results that the Company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statement due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward- looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. Contact: Investor Relations E-mail: Investors@UbiquitechSoftware.com CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Perisson Petroleum Corporation ("Perisson" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: POG) is pleased to announce that it has been successful in renegotiating the royalty burden that was part of the assignment of the Ribstone acquisition as announced on August 15, 2016. Closing of the acquisition is expected to occur in late September, 2016 when the vendor obtains shareholder approval for the transaction. The royalty burden was previously 10% of the oil production which would be produced from the Ribstone lands. The Alberta Energy Regulator has assigned 6 million barrels of oil in place to the Ribstone pool, and, to date, only 5% of this oil has been recovered. The vendor has identified 10 future McLaren well locations and 8 Sparky well locations which it believes can be placed on production for less than $15,000/BOE/day. This reduced royalty burden will now significantly reduce the deductions which apply to the Perisson oil production, and make future investments for drilling and improvements to the property, even more economically attractive as Perisson develops the property to its fullest potential. Upon closing of the Acquisition, Perisson will become operator of the properties and intends to improve the operating efficiencies at Ribstone by recompleting one of the existing wells, or by drilling a new well, to provide onsite water disposal and reduce the current operating expenses. Perisson is also pleased to be a member of the 8020 Connect network, and invite all of our shareholders to become members with us. 8020 Connect (www.8020Connect.com) is the investment industry's newest social network, developed to deliver corporate information to shareholders, investment industry experts and like-minded investors, while enabling these member groups to interact with each other and with our corporate management team. Through the 8020 Connect Shareholder and Investor Network, Perisson is able to communicate its corporate message and update advancements and financial information to all shareholders and investors in a timely and effective fashion. The 8020 Connect social media component provides direct interaction with shareholders, allowing the Company to respond to questions and inquiries directly or in group forums. The 8020 Connect network will also allow Perisson to expand its audience exponentially to interested investors and industry experts worldwide. About Perisson Petroleum Corporation On July 21, 2016, Perisson Petroleum Corporation commenced trading on the TSX-V under the symbol "POG". The Company holds a 100% working interest in 39,927 hectares (almost 100,000 acres) known as the VMM-17 block, a license located in the prolific, stable, oil-producing region of the Middle Magdalena Basin in central Colombia. The Corporation also maintains a beneficial interest in certain oil and gas producing properties (approximately 200 boe/d) in the Twining area of Alberta, Canada. The Corporation's objectives are to explore, exploit and produce oil from its growing interests in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin as well as the relatively shallow reservoirs believed to be within the VMM-17 block. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain information, with management's assessment of Perisson's future plans and operations, and contains forward-looking statements which may include some or all of the following: (i) anticipated production rates; (ii) expected results of capital programs; (iii) expected timelines for production optimization; (iv) net debt levels; (v) anticipated operating costs; and (vi) expected capital projects and associated spending; which are provided to allow investors to better understand the Company's business. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties; some of which are beyond Perisson's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, changes in environmental tax and royalty legislation, competition from other industry participants, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, stock market volatility and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and other risks and uncertainties described under the heading 'Risk Factors' and elsewhere in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis and other documents filed with Canadian provincial securities authorities and are available to the public at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The principal assumptions Perisson has made includes security of land interests; drilling cost stability; finance and debt markets continuing to be receptive to financing the Company, the ability of the Company to monetize non-core assets and industry standard rates of geologic and operational success. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Perisson disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's registered filings which are available at www.sedar.com. Barrel ("bbl") of oil equivalent ("boe") amounts may be misleading particularly if used in isolation. All boe conversions in this report are calculated using a conversion of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one equivalent barrel of oil (6 mcf=1 bbl) and is based on an energy conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the well head. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities offered have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Trading in the securities of Perisson Petroleum Corporation should be considered highly speculative. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Perisson Petroleum Corporation Chien-Yeh (Gary) Chen Chairman of the Board and CEO gchen@perisson.com Perisson Petroleum Corporation Wayne Rousch President Direct Line: (403) 827-8597 wrousch@perisson.com MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Earth Alive Clean Technologies Inc. (CSE: EAC) ("Earth Alive" or the "Company"), a leading Canadian Clean-Tech company, developer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art microbial technology-based products for the Agriculture and Mining industries, is pleased to announce the following: The Corporacion para del Desarrollo de la Region de Atacama (CORPROA), in Chile, has approved funding for mining operations interested in testing the Company's EA1 microbial dust control technology. EA1 is a 100% organic and biodegradable dust suppressant which is locally manufactured and distributed in Chile, as well as in other parts of the world by the Company's distribution partner Brenntag (see Company's press releases dated December 14, 2015 and August 18, 2016). Earth Alive's EA1 product uses microbial technology to control soil born dust emanations by trapping and keeping the suspended dust particles in the ground. EA1 reintroduces natural microbial strains and various natural compounds in the soil to create binding and stabilisation conditions in the roadbed. CORPROA, which recently brought Lundin Mining, Atacama Kozan Mining and Minera Pucobre together to a meeting in the City of Tierra Amarilla, seeks to support and contribute to the relationship between the mining industry and the community of Atacama. The Atacama region of Chile opened its doors to CORPROA's program in order to prove the effectiveness of Earth Alive's EA1 microbial technology, as contamination by road dust is one of the greatest environmental concerns of the mining industry in the Atacama region of Chile. Together with CORPROA, mining companies are assessing the feasibility of using the Chilean Economic Development Agency's (CORFO) financing instruments available to find better dust control solutions. "We are grateful to CORPROA for initiating testing of our EA1 dust control technology as the preferred solution and the best ally for controlling road dust in the mining industry's operations," said Mauricio Pino, Dust Solutions Vice President for Earth Alive in Chile. "Our EA1 product can play a decisive role in making mining operations' dust control operations more economical and efficient. EA1 controls road dust emissions by up to 90%, as well as reduces fresh water needs to control dust by up to 80%". Mr. Pino concluded by saying, "EA1 is by far the most environmentally sustainable dust control technology available in the world today." "Our EA1 technology already has a strong track-record in Chile with its large scale use at Barrick Gold's Pascua-Lama mine," stated David Gilmour, CEO of Earth Alive. "We are very pleased to be building upon that success with CORPROA, and we are extremely confident that these applications will further confirm the performance and benefits of using our dust control technology, resulting in many more new partnerships." Dr. Viviane Yargeau, CTO of Earth Alive, stated, "A performance white paper produced with completed testing at Pascua-Lama confirmed the high effectiveness of specific microbial strains to control airborne dust particles. With the availability of EA1, modern mining operations are no longer required to cause environmental harm by using harsh chemicals and large quantities of water in their dust control operations." Please click on the link below to see the Corporacion para del Desarrollo de la Region de Atacama (CORPROA) announcement posted by G&M Gestion Minera on its website: http://gmgestionminera.cl/earth-alive-cono-sur-trabaja-en-alianza-publico-privada-para-demostrar-eficacia-de-producto-con-tecnologia-microbiana-capaz-de-controlar-el-polvo-en-90-en-faenas-mineras-de-chile/ The English language translation below was prepared by Earth Alive: http://earthalivect.com/conosur-is-working-on-a-public-private-partnership/ About Earth Alive Clean Technologies: Earth Alive aims to be a key player in world markets of environmentally sustainable industrial solutions. The company works with the latest innovations in microbial technology to formulate and patent innovative products that can tackle the most difficult industrial challenges, once only reserved to environmentally harmful chemicals and additives. The company is focused on environmental sustainability in 1) dust control for the mining industry, and 2) the agriculture industry. For additional company information, please visit: www.earthalivect.com The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" occur. Although Earth Alive believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contacts: For media information and interview: Mr. David Gilmour 514-814-2899 dgilmour@earthalivect.com For investor relations: Mr. Frederick Chabot 438-863-7071 frederick@contactfinancial.com LONDON, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Kingdom Minister for Universities and Science visited Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University today, marking the first time a UK minister has visited the University. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410785 Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, visited XJTLU as part of an official visit to China, which focused on innovation and higher education collaboration between the UK and Jiangsu province. He was joined on campus by a number of delegates from the UK as well as important Chinese guests and officials, including Xiaochang Ding, deputy director of the Jiangsu Province Department of Education. In order to celebrate the collaborative relationship between the UK and Jiangsu province, Mr Johnson witnessed the signing of six new agreements to deepen collaboration in research, innovation and higher education. These included a collaboration between XJTLU, the British Council, and financial services provider Gold Finance to introduce scholarships for British students to study television and film in China. As part of the visit, Mr Johnson also addressed students and staff at a lecture during which he called XJTLU an "extraordinary achievement" and said those involved in its development could be "tremendously proud". His speech highlighted the UK's commitment to international engagement through transnational education programmes with China: "We want to work with China to address the challenges in education, to develop globally aware citizens equipped with the skills and cultural understanding that is essential in today's globalised economy," he said. He noted the high standard of the education on offer at XJTLU, reiterating to students that they would acquire "some of the most desirable qualifications available from any institution anywhere in the world" and that they were the future of UK-China partnerships. "You are all ambassadors of the UK-China friendship and the bedrock of the strong relationship between our two nations and, for that, I thank you," he said. While at XJTLU's newly-opened South Campus, Mr Johnson unveiled the University's International Research Centre, which will serve as a hub for entrepreneurship, research commercialisation, and international technology transfer, driving economic activity in Suzhou and the surrounding region. Founded in 2006, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is the largest international joint venture university in China, a partnership between Xi'an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool. Our vision is to become a research-led international university in China and a Chinese university recognised internationally for its unique features. TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Sandy Lake Gold Inc. ("Sandy Lake") (TSX VENTURE: SDL) announces that it has received a formal notice of arbitration (the "Notice") pursuant to the option agreement between GPM Metals Inc. ("GPM") and Goldeye Explorations Limited ("Goldeye") dated April 15, 2015 relating to the property known as the Weebigee Project (the "Option Agreement"). GPM's rights under the Option Agreement were acquired by Sandy Lake as previously announced on July 21, 2016. The Notice demands arbitration concerning, among other things, the dispute regarding 1,421 claim units known as the "East Block" (the "Additional Interest") that were staked by GPM surrounding the property known as the Weebigee Project. Goldeye alleges that, pursuant to the Option Agreement, 525 of those claim units have become part of the Weebigee Project, and 896 of those claim units have become part of a 50/50 joint venture. Sandy Lake vehemently disagrees with these allegations and states that Goldeye did not make timely payment to GPM of its share of the costs of acquiring the Additional Interest as required, such that Goldeye has not acquired, and does not have any right to acquire, any rights or interest in the Additional Interest. In addition, the Notice sets forth certain ancillary claims made by Goldeye and seeks relief regarding other matters concerning the Weebigee Project including, without limitation (i) an order that the previously announced event of force majeure declared by Sandy Lake is invalid; and (ii) an order relating to the validity of certain expenses claimed by Sandy Lake in satisfaction of the obligation to incur certain exploration expenditures on the Weebigee Property in accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement. Sandy Lake disputes Goldeye's allegations contained in the Notice, and intends to defend its position accordingly. Sandy Lake will provide further updates as they occur. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy and / or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements - Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Sandy Lake, including, but not limited to the results and timing of any proposed arbitration, the effect of any future discussions with First Nations, the length of time for which the event of force majeure in respect of the Weebigee Project may continue, the nature of any resolution to the matters giving rise to the disputes described herein (if any such resolution is reached at all), the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, and exploration risk. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Contacts: Sandy Lake Gold Inc. Forbes Gemmell Chief Executive Officer (416) 845-4942 f.gemmell@sandylakegold.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Silver Bear Resources Inc. ("Silver Bear" or the "Company") (TSX: SBR) is pleased to announce that the Company and Closed Joint Stock Company "ZAO Prognoz" ("Prognoz"), the Company's indirect wholly-owned Russian subsidiary, have received US$42,924,995 on drawdown of the Tranche A funds under the previously announced facilities agreement dated September 5, 2016 (the "Facilities Agreement") with the Company's major shareholders, Inflection Management Corporation Limited ("Inflection") and A.B. Aterra Resources Ltd. ("Aterra") with respect to the financing of the final development, construction and commissioning of the Company's Mangazeisky Silver Project. The Tranche A term loan facility of approximately US$42.9 million (the "Tranche A Funds") consisted of approximately US$30.44 million provided by Inflection and US$12.47 million provided by Aterra. US$32.9 million of the Tranche A Funds was made available to the Company and US$10 million of the Tranche A Funds was made available to Prognoz. On drawdown, the Company used approximately US$32.9 million of the Tranche A Funds to repay, by means of set-off, the principal and accrued interest on certain outstanding promissory notes previously issued by the Company to Inflection and Aterra, as required under the terms of the Facilities Agreement. The remaining US$10 million of the Tranche A Funds will be used by Prognoz for final development, construction and commissioning of the Mangazeisky Silver Project and for general administrative and corporate expenses. The Facilities Agreement provides for the drawdown of three tranches (collectively referred to as the "Secured Loan Funding") as follows: -- Tranche A - a term loan facility of approximately US$42.9 million, being the Tranche A Funds, which the Company received on September 22, 2016; -- Tranche B - a working capital facility of US$10 million; and -- Tranche C - a contingent facility of US$2 million. The Company expects that after the repayment, by means of set-off, of certain outstanding promissory notes previously issued by the Company, the Secured Loan Funding will result in net new funding to the Company and Prognoz of approximately US$22 million. Please see the material change report of the Company dated September 15, 2016 available on SEDAR for additional details on the Facilities Agreement. About Silver Bear Silver Bear (TSX: SBR) is focused on the development of its wholly-owned Mangazeisky Silver Project, covering a licence area of approximately 570 km2 that includes the high-grade Vertikalny deposit, located 400 km north of Yakutsk in the Republic of Sakha within the Russian Federation. The Company was granted a 20-year mining licence for the Vertikalny deposit in September 2013 and completed a Feasibility Study in Q2 2016. The Company is implementing a fast-track execution plan to complete major construction of the Mangazeisky Silver Project by the end of 2016, with steady state production planned to start in Q1 2017. Other information relating to Silver Bear is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com as well as on the Company's website at www.silverbearresources.com. Cautionary Notes This release and subsequent oral statements made by and on behalf of the Company may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations. Wherever possible, words such as "intends", "expects", "scheduled", "estimates", "anticipates", "believes" and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this release reflect management's current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Silver Bear cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause events and achievements to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, but are not limited to: the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with the terms of the Facilities Agreement; the possibility that the amount of additional new funding to the Company may be less than anticipated; and risk factors identified by Silver Bear in its continuous disclosure filings filed from time to time on SEDAR. These factors should be considered carefully and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve significant known and unknown risks, assumptions and uncertainties that may cause Silver Bear's actual results, events, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Silver Bear has attempted to identify important risks and factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors and risks that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and Silver Bear assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, unless otherwise required by law. Contacts: Silver Bear Resources Inc. Graham Hill President and Chief Executive Officer UK+44 755 2524 982 info@silverbearresources.com Silver Bear Resources Inc. Judith Webster Investor Relations Manager +416 453 8818 jwebster@silverbearresources.com NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Integral Ad Science (IAS), the technology and data company that empowers the advertising industry to effectively reach and influence consumers everywhere, today announced it is the first company accredited by the Media Rating Council (MRC) for viewable ad impression measurement to also gain MRC accreditation for Sophisticated Invalid Traffic (SIVT) detection for desktop and mobile web traffic. In addition to the SIVT accreditation, IAS was also granted first-time accreditation by MRC for its mobile web and in-app SDK viewability measurement for display and video ads, and was granted continued accreditation for brand risk monitoring, blocking of display ads that do not meet brand risk parameters, and viewable desktop display and video ad impression measurement. The accreditations further demonstrate IAS as a leader in media quality measurement and optimization for advertisers and publishers. "The cornerstone of our business is a commitment to transparency and arming brands, agencies, and publishers with metrics that matter and solutions that protect and enhance their advertising impact," said Scott Knoll, CEO of IAS. "We take great pride in being accredited by the MRC for both mobile in-app display and video viewability measurement, and SIVT detection for desktop and mobile web. Alongside our other MRC accreditations, these highlight our work to solve the issues our customers face every day." MRC accreditation signifies that IAS's solutions adhere to the MRC's Minimum Standards for Media Rating Research and to industry-accepted standards for digital campaign measurement and ad verification: The mobile web and in-app display and video viewability accreditation validates IAS's capabilities to measure impressions served and viewable during ad campaigns, and additional viewability metrics. IAS's accreditation for SIVT validates the company's proprietary technology to detect, measure, and report on invalid activity on desktop and mobile web traffic. "We congratulate Integral Ad Science for meeting the extremely rigorous requirements necessary to achieve MRC accreditation for SIVT detection and filtration," said George W. Ivie, Executive Director and CEO of MRC. "IAS's MRC accreditation for SIVT, Viewable Impression measurement, and its brand safety functionalities clearly place it at the forefront of industry leadership in ensuring a high quality environment for digital advertising." About Integral Ad Science Integral Ad Science (IAS) is a global technology and data company that builds verification, optimization, and analytics solutions to empower the advertising industry to effectively influence consumers everywhere, on every device. We solve the most pressing problems for brands, agencies, publishers, and technology companies by verifying that every impression has the opportunity to be effective, optimizing towards opportunities to consistently improve results, and analyzing digital's impact on consumer actions. Built on data science and engineering, IAS is headquartered in New York with global operations in ten countries. Our growth and innovation have been recognized in Inc. 500, Crain's Fast 50, Forbes America's Most Promising Companies, and I-COM's Smart Data Marketing Technology Company. Learn more at www.integralads.com. About MRC MRC is a non-profit industry association established in 1963 composed of leading television, radio, print and Internet companies, as well as advertisers, advertising agencies and trade associations whose goal is to ensure measurement services that are valid, reliable and effective. Measurement services desiring MRC Accreditation are required to disclose to their customers all methodological aspects of their service; comply with the MRC Minimum Standards for Media Rating Research; and submit to MRC-designed audits to authenticate and illuminate their procedures. In addition, the MRC membership actively pursues research issues they consider priorities in an effort to improve the quality of research in the marketplace. Currently approximately 110 research products are audited by MRC. Additional information about MRC can be found at http://mediaratingcouncil.org/. DALLAS, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Multifamily Leadership Magazine and Best Companies Group (BCG) have named Lincoln Property Company as a finalist in their 2017 Best Places to Work in Multifamily campaign. A survey and awards program dedicated to recognizing the industry's best employers and providing organizations with valuable employee feedback, Best Places to Work in Multifamily identifies companies that have excelled in creating quality workplaces. One of only a select few apartment management firms chosen in the entire multifamily industry, Lincoln Property Company was announced as a finalist earlier this week. The in-depth evaluation was overseen by BCG, assessing employee policies and procedures and surveying the firm's employees. Each campaign finalist will learn their ranking at the Multifamily Leadership Summit from December 6 - 8, 2016 in Scottsdale, AZ. Sheri Killingsworth, Lincoln Property Company's Vice President of Marketing and Communications, stated, "Because of our 50+ years of experience in multifamily, we pride ourselves on providing clients our industry expertise and a serious commitment to the success of their assets. We would not be able to do so without the dedication and strength of our employees. It's reassuring to know that they recognize our investment in their growth and opportunity with LPC -- we're truly a company about people and without our fantastic people, we wouldn't be here. Multifamily Leadership mentioned the strong correlation between profitability and creating a great place to work, and we believe Lincoln is a prime example. We have a lot of tenure here, I myself have been here for 16 years, which speaks volumes to Lincoln's success in engaging and empowering our teams." Lincoln Property Company is the second largest multifamily manager in the United States with over 170,000 units under management and over 4,700 employees in their residential division. About Lincoln Property Company Lincoln Property Company was founded in 1965 as a builder and operator of high-quality residential communities. In the early 1970s, Lincoln expanded its product mix to include commercial, build-to-suit, office, hotel, industrial, and other mixed-use assets. In 1972, Lincoln took this expertise within the United States to Western Europe and the Middle East. In 2001, Lincoln joined forces with the U.S. Department of Defense to renovate and redevelop family housing at selected bases for the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Army. Through innovative management, property rehabilitation and award-winning new construction designs, Lincoln is now one of the largest operators of military housing in the country. Lincoln continued its growth in 2013 with the acquisition of Grand Campus Living, increasing the depth of knowledge in the rental housing sector for the firm. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, Lincoln focuses on real estate investment, construction and development, in addition to property management. Their national reputation has enabled Lincoln to attract a large client base of owners and investors who count on their ability to deliver quality results and continually serve as a market leader. For more information about Lincoln Property Company, please visit http://www.lincolnapts.com/management-services or visit http://www.lincolnapts.com/regions/ for apartment listings in your area. Follow Lincoln Property Company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook to hear about all the new deals to help you look forward to moving into your new home! Media Contact: Sheri Sandefur Killingsworth Vice President - Marketing & Communications 214-740-3300 corporate@lpsi.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Aldrin Resource Corp. ("Aldrin" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: ALN)(FRANKFURT: OAA) today announced the signing of an agreement to acquire two prospective lithium projects with previously completed work programs having demonstrated the presence of lithium over wide areas. The properties, respectively at Case Lake, Ontario and Larder River, Nova Scotia, have positive past drill results, drill ready targets and nearly ten kilometres of combined strike length. Details of the agreement and properties follow below. President and CEO Johnathan More, noted: "The forecasted demand for lithium is set to continue to expand as batteries, electric vehicles and energy storage play a greater and greater role globally. The Company intends to play a meaningful role in meeting the needs of the lithium market. We are extremely pleased to have been able to bring onboard assets that already have demonstrated lithium values of up to 2% Li2O, through drilling over true widths similar to those seen at projects such as Nemaska's 27.3 million tonne Wabuchi deposit. Both properties allow year-round access and are close to major infrastructure. As well, pegmatites outcrop at surface and appear to be formed in a stacked sequence, which should allow the Company to undertake an aggressive drilling campaign with the goal of confirming an NI 43-101 compliant resource, in a rapid and cost efficient manner." CASE LAKE, ONTARIO The Company can earn a 100% interest in the 2,500 acre Case Lake project, which is located 130 kms NE of Timmins, a major mining town in northern Ontario, as well as 80 kms east of Cochrane, and adjacent to Batholithic & Sub-province Boundaries. Highlights/Geology Case Lake is host to 3 main dikes presently with the potential to host many more, including the untested NE dike that sampled 2% Li2O. The local geology of pegmatite dike swarms gives Case Lake the potential for large tonnage. Spodumene-rich pink pegmatites outcrop intermittently over at least 1200 m, averaging 15% of the Main dike. Government geologic mapping indicates presence of pegmatites over a strike length of in excess of 5 kms. A limited drilling campaign to a depth of 75 metres in 2010 yielded strong grades and widths including: 14.07m @ 1.35% Li2O 9.2 m @ 1.98% Li2O 8.8m @ 1.02% Li2O 4.4m @ 1.49% Li2O Mr. More states "The drill results from 2010 confirm that the Case Pegmatite hosts lithium mineralization comparable in grade to other pegmatite dikes in Quebec including Jilin Jien Nickel Industry Co., Ltd's 60 million tonne Quebec lithium mine near Val d'Or, and Nemaska's 27.3 million tonne Wabuchi deposit near Chibougamau. Aldrin views Case Lake as one of the most exciting high priority spodumene targets in the Ontario and Quebec batholiths." LARDER RIVER, NOVA SCOTIA The company can earn a 100% interest in the 3,200-acre Larder River project which is located three kilometers west of the village of New Ross, N.S., in the central portion of the South Mountain Batholith -- 100km from Halifax, right off of the highway and proximal to port. Highlights/Geology Examples of LCT pegmatites that are currently mined include the Tanco pegmatite in Manitoba, the mammoth Bikita and Kamativi pegmatites of Zimbabwe, the giant Greenbushes pegmatite of Western Australia, and the spodumene pegmatites of North Carolina including Kings Mountain. There are close geological similarities between areas of Nova Scotia and North Carolina's Gaston and Cleveland Counties which contain more than 80 percent of the known reserves in the United States, and in 1980 produced over 50 percent of the world's estimated output. The Larder River project is located in the central region of the South Mountain Batholith near the village of New Ross. The area is underlain by highly evolved granites and leucogranites containing several pegmatite and greisen occurrences that are known to contain minerals indicative of highly fractionated granitic fluids such as lepidolite, fluorite, columbite, tantalite, amblygonite, tourmaline, beryl as well as molybdenite, wolframite and cassiterite. It should be noted that the Brazil Lake spodumene deposit is located at the southwestern end of the South Mountain batholith where it has many of the same geologic affiliations, particularly the leucogranite source rock and the accessory minerals, as does the Larder project area. Of note is the occurrence of rubidium bearing micas and feldspar at Brazil Lake. Soil sampling, carried out in 2009 showed that the area containing the Larder River pegmatites is strongly anomalous in rubidium as well as lithium and tantalum. A core drilling program of 28 holes in 2011 at Brazil Lake encountered LiO2 as high as 7.7% in spodumene with average deposit drill intersection grades of 1.08% (North Pegmatite Dike) and 1.39% (South Pegmatite Dike). Larder River has a 1km by 75m strike length of strongly elevated lithium levels associated with a columbo-tantalite bearing pegmatite dike, from work conducted in 2009, including existing lithium sampling up to 769 ppm, along with 3340 ppm Nb+Ta. A 1962-63 drill program conducted by the Nova Scotia Department of Mines to promote the presence of tin in the province including drill holes that intersected as many as 4 individual pegmatites. The property hosts a stacked sequence of pegmatite dikes which could means multiple zones of lithium mineralization and result in lower CAPEX and OPEX for both resource definition work and mining. Further, local overburden is generally fairly thin (less than 2m) and any coherent rare metal anomalies could be trenched where practical for low development, drilling and delineation costs. John F. Wightman, MSc. (Geology), P.Eng., FGAC, a qualified person, prepared the disclosures reports related to these projects. National Instrument 43-101 reports have not been prepared on these properties. Ontario Terms The Company can earn 100% of Case Lake by making cash payments of $325,000, and spending $200,000 on exploration and development over 36 months, and issuing 11,000,000 million shares of Aldrin. The property is subject to a 2% NSR. Nova Scotia Terms The Company can earn up to 100% of Larder River by making payments of $1,335,000, and spending $2,425,000 on development of the project over 36 months, and issuing 4,000,000 million shares of Aldrin. The property is subject to a 2% NSR, 1% of which can be purchased for $750,000 and 1% for $1,250,000. Finders Fee A finder's fee is payable on the transaction. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the mineralization of the Case Lake or Larder River Properties, the payment of funds and incurring of expenditures toward exploration of such properties, and the earning of interests therein. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; and the results of current exploration and testing. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Specifically, there is no assurance the Company will be able to raise the necessary funds to make all the cash payments and incur all of the exploration expenditures required to earn an interest in any of the mineral properties described herein; that it will be able to verify past drill results; that it will determine the existence of any mineralization, resources or reserves within any of the properties, whether of lithium or any other metal or substance. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Contacts: Aldrin Resource Corp. Johnathan More 646-661-0409 info@aldrinresourcecorp.com www.aldrinresourcecorp.com MONTREAL, QUEBEC and BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release. Lumenpulse Inc. (TSX: LMP), a leading pure-play specification-grade LED lighting solutions provider, announces it will now be known as the Lumenpulse Group. The rebranding enables the LED luminaire manufacturer to present all its recent strategic acquisitions as distinct brands, offering a complete portfolio of lighting solutions to the architectural specification market. "Bringing our brands under the Lumenpulse Group banner is an acknowledgment that we now have a comprehensive offering and that we have focused our strategy to better capitalize on each brand's full potential," says Francois-Xavier Souvay, President and CEO of the Lumenpulse Group. "This realignment allows the brands to further innovate and excel in their respective markets, while leveraging the Lumenpulse technology portfolio." The Group encompasses five brands, each one serving a distinct sector of the lighting industry: Lumenpulse, high-performance exterior and interior LED luminaires; Lumenalpha, indoor architectural LED downlight and track systems (formerly AlphaLED); Lumenarea, LED urban, pedestrian-scale and professional landscape lighting (formerly SDL Lighting); Exenia, indoor architectural technical-decorative luminaires and Fluxwerx, high-performance general and commercial LED lighting. The move reflects Lumenpulse's desire to reinforce the strong entrepreneurial approach and character of each brand. "Lumenpulse's five brands each have their own set of strengths and values which are vital to their growth. Uniting under one group captures the essence of each brand's innovative thinking and strengthens Lumenpulse's positioning to offer a full suite of solutions for architectural specification-grade lighting applications," says Mr. Souvay. The rebranding also coincides with the launch of the company's new website, showcasing the Lumenpulse Group's complete range of lighting solutions. The updated website, organised by brand and by region, becomes a powerful tool for clients and partners looking for quick access to the most accurate and relevant information. "The new website and branded sub-sites truly reflect our passion, commitment to innovation, and our continued desire to better serve our network of agents, distributors and the international specifier market," adds Mr. Souvay. The new name is effective immediately, and has been implemented across all of the brands' websites. For more information, visit Lumenpulse's new home at www.lumenpulsegroup.com Editor's Notes: About Lumenpulse Group Founded in 2006, the Lumenpulse Group designs, develops, manufactures and sells a wide range of high performance and sustainable specification-grade LED lighting solutions for commercial, institutional and urban environments. The Lumenpulse Group is a leading pure-play specification-grade LED lighting solutions provider and has earned many awards and recognitions, including several Product Innovation Awards (PIA), three Next Generation Luminaires Design Awards, two Red Dot Product Design Awards and a Lightfair Innovation Award. The Lumenpulse Group now has 605 employees worldwide, with corporate headquarters in Montreal, Canada, and offices in Vancouver, Quebec City, Boston, Paris, Florence, London and Manchester. Lumenpulse Inc., which is the parent company within the Lumenpulse Group, is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol LMP. Additional information about the Lumenpulse Group and Lumenpulse Inc., including its 2016 Annual Information Form, is available at http://www.lumenpulsegroup.com and on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160921-news-lumenpulse-group_800.jpg Contacts: Andreanne Sirois-Carey Public Relations Manager 1 (514) 937-3003 ext. 294 asiroiscarey@lumenpulse.com DUBLIN, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Delivery and Takeaway Food Market 2016-2020" report to their offering. The global delivery and takeaway food market to grow at a CAGR of 2.74% during the period 2016-2020. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global delivery and takeaway food market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the delivery and takeaway of food items in the commercial foodservice customer segment. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. The perception of fast food being unhealthy is deep-rooted in the consumers' mind, which in turn makes them skeptical about fast food. Consumers prefer other nutritious food restaurants over fast food while ordering online or for takeaway. This makes fast food operators lose their market share, and if this continues over a period of time, fast food restaurants will be left behind in the competition. Many QSRs have thus introduced nutritious and healthy meals in their menu. They often serve half or full size salads containing fruits and fresh vegetables. This not only removes the perception of fast food always being unhealthy but also attempts to increase its customer base. This trend is expected to affect the market in a positive way. According to the report, funding from investors will be a key driver for market growth. Funding is a common phenomenon in this market. Online takeaway operator, Just Eat, experienced robust growth in 2015 as its orders rose by 50%. This rise in the number of orders was aided by the acquisition of the French business Alloresto.fr and the Mexican subsidiary Sindelantal.mx that have been possible with funds from investors such as 83North, Index Ventures, and Redpoint. With financial aid from investors, the online food aggregators are performing well, showcasing robust growth, and acquiring their competitors when necessary. For instance, Just Eat acquired La Nevera Roja.com in 2016 and Menulog in 2015. Key vendors Delivery Hero Just Eat Foodpanda Takeaway Grubhub Other prominent vendors Domino's Delivery Foodler Olo Pizza Hut Snapfinger Yemeksepeti Zomato Key Topics Covered: PART 01: Executive summary PART 02: Scope of the report PART 03: Market research methodology PART 04: Introduction PART 05: Market landscape PART 06: Five forces analysis PART 07: Segmentation by online versus offline ordering PART 08: Geographical segmentation PART 09: Key leading countries PART 10: Market drivers PART 11: Impact of drivers PART 12: Market challenges PART 13: Impact of drivers and challenges PART 14: Market trends PART 15: Vendor landscape PART 16: Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9hvh6x/global_delivery Related Topics: Fast Food and Take Out Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Coalition to Hold Rally at Mexican Embassy in Washington, DC in Support of the Pro-Family Movement in Mexico Contact: Joseph Grabowski, National Organization for Marriage , 202-457-8060 ext 110, jgrabowski@nationformarriage.org The rally in DC on the 23rd and the March in Mexico City on the 24th are the latest organized demonstrations aimed at protesting proposals put forward earlier this year by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to impose same-sex 'marriage' across Mexico and to add so-called 'gender identity' education into the public school curriculum. Organizers believe that these proposals are out of touch with the values of the Mexican people as well as unscientific and dangerous with regard to the welfare of children and the promotion of civil order. Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage and the World Congress of Families, said: "The proposals by President Pena Nieto's government are based on a narrow ideology that is rejected by the vast majority of the Mexican people. Citizens worldwide are concerned at seeing more governments attempting to impose on their people the belief that marriage is anything other than the union of one man and one woman, to say nothing of the radical and unscientific idea that children should be taught that they can simply 'choose' their gender at whim. The marriage based family, centered around the union of a man and a woman, is the basis of any healthy civic order, and our world leaders should work to promote the family rather than undermine it with extreme and illogical proposals denying the fundamental complementarity of the sexes." In addition to rallying before the Embassy, the coalition will deliver a letter of concern to the Mexican Ambassador expressing solidarity with the pro-family movement in Mexico on the part of Mexican Americans and other concerned citizens in the United States. They will also present petitions of support which have been promoted by the coalition and has garnered over 13,000 signatures. "The family is a universal value that knows no borders," Brown said. "Our demonstration is being held in recognition of the fact that the extreme gender ideology and LGBT radicalism being exported around the world by certain elites, including some within our own government, is an unseemly imposition, and a form of what Pope Francis has called 'ideological colonization.' We stand with the Mexican people in rejecting this imposition from remote interests, and support their efforts to defend the values of marriage and family." The coalition said that, in addition to the rally in DC, they are aware of rallies being held at several other countries' Mexican Embassies on the same day. "This truly represents a global pro-family movement that is underway," Brown added, "and it is only going to continue growing in size and strength." Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), in partnership with the World Congress of Families (WCF) and CitizenGO, will host a rally in front of the Mexican Embassy to the United States at 1911 Pennsylvania Ave NW in Washington, DC to express solidarity with the historic National March for the Family that will take place in Mexico City on Saturday, September 24th, organized by El Frente Nacional por la Familia (FNF) [The National Front for the Family]. The rally at the Mexican Embassy will take place at noon on Friday and will bring together Mexican Americans and pro-family activists from the United States to support the efforts of the FNF and the historic pro-family movement underway in Mexico.The rally in DC on the 23rd and the March in Mexico City on the 24th are the latest organized demonstrations aimed at protesting proposals put forward earlier this year by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to impose same-sex 'marriage' across Mexico and to add so-called 'gender identity' education into the public school curriculum. Organizers believe that these proposals are out of touch with the values of the Mexican people as well as unscientific and dangerous with regard to the welfare of children and the promotion of civil order.Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage and the World Congress of Families, said: "The proposals by President Pena Nieto's government are based on a narrow ideology that is rejected by the vast majority of the Mexican people. Citizens worldwide are concerned at seeing more governments attempting to impose on their people the belief that marriage is anything other than the union of one man and one woman, to say nothing of the radical and unscientific idea that children should be taught that they can simply 'choose' their gender at whim. The marriage based family, centered around the union of a man and a woman, is the basis of any healthy civic order, and our world leaders should work to promote the family rather than undermine it with extreme and illogical proposals denying the fundamental complementarity of the sexes."In addition to rallying before the Embassy, the coalition will deliver a letter of concern to the Mexican Ambassador expressing solidarity with the pro-family movement in Mexico on the part of Mexican Americans and other concerned citizens in the United States. They will also present petitions of support which have been promoted by the coalition and has garnered over 13,000 signatures."The family is a universal value that knows no borders," Brown said. "Our demonstration is being held in recognition of the fact that the extreme gender ideology and LGBT radicalism being exported around the world by certain elites, including some within our own government, is an unseemly imposition, and a form of what Pope Francis has called 'ideological colonization.' We stand with the Mexican people in rejecting this imposition from remote interests, and support their efforts to defend the values of marriage and family."The coalition said that, in addition to the rally in DC, they are aware of rallies being held at several other countries' Mexican Embassies on the same day. "This truly represents a global pro-family movement that is underway," Brown added, "and it is only going to continue growing in size and strength."Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Share Tweet VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/03/16 -- Rainmaker Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: RIR) ("Rainmaker") is pleased to announce successful completion of its first NI 43-101 Exploration Target Technical Report for the Sarcobatus Flat Lithium project in Nevada. The report indicates very positive exploration potential exists on the property, with high lithium content and a geologic setting similar to that of nearby producing Lithium brine deposits. "This milestone marks Rainmaker's first technical report, and we are very excited by the results of this study, which clearly indicates both the quality of the asset and the potential for significant lithium brine," Chris M. Healey, P. Geo, President and CEO of Rainmaker reported. "The next steps in the development of the asset would include completion of the recommended geophysical surveys, which will enable us to subsequently launch an optimized drill program, culminating with a PEA." The report was completed by Doug Beahm, P.E., P.G., Principal of BRS Inc, located in Riverton, WY. Mr. Beahm concludes that the property has the exploration potential to host lithium brine resources in the range of 113,500 to 384,000 short tons(i) of lithium carbonate. Mr Beahm states in the report that, "Sarcobatus Flat is an early stage exploration project seeking Lithium brine deposits within a closed playa basin in the Basin and Range Geologic Province of Nevada. The geologic model for the Project follows the US Geological Survey Preliminary Deposit Model for Lithium Brines (Bradley, D, et al 2013). The geologic setting of the Project is similar to that of producing Lithium brine deposits in the Clayton Valley approximately 45 air miles north of the Project." Additional consideration was given to published results on a property immediately to the east of the Rainmaker property. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESTIMATED EXPLORATION TARGET (NI 43-101) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aquifer Li2CO3(i) Thickness Effective Area Grade Li (Pounds Short Range (Feet) Porosity (%) (Acres) (ppm) x1,000) Tons(i) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Low 350 0.2 3,744 60 227,000 113,500 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- High 350 0.27 3,744 150 768,000 384,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i)Numbers rounded. The foregoing estimate of an Exploration Target for the Project is allowed as a restricted disclosure under NI 43-101 Part 2.3.2, which defines the disclosure of the potential quantity and grade of mineralization, expressed as ranges, for further exploration. All tonnages, grade and contained lithium as stated in this release should not be construed to reflect a calculated mineral resource (inferred, indicated, or measured). The potential quantities and grades for exploration targets are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient work to date to define a NI 43-101 compliant resource. Furthermore, it is uncertain if additional exploration will result in discovery of an economic mineral resource within these areas. RECOMMENDATION FOR ADVANCEMENT The full recommendation for exploration and development of Sarcobatus Flat includes 6 phases, culminating in a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). The report recommends that the Company initially carry out two geophysical surveys, gravity followed by CSAMT (controlled source audio-frequency magnetotellurics). The expected cost for these 2 phases is estimated at US$125,000. This would be followed by phase 3, an initial drilling program in order to determine the presence or absence of lithium-rich brines, expected to cost approximately US$600,000. Subsequently, phases 4 and 5 would include conceptual engineering, reservoir analysis, and a follow-on drill program. The estimated cost for all of the above recommendations, inclusive of a Mineral Resource Estimation and PEA, is noted at US$2,375,000. To view the map associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20161103-rainmaker-map.jpg. (i)Numbers rounded. The foregoing estimate of an Exploration Target for the Project is allowed as a restricted disclosure under NI 43-101 Part 2.3.2, which defines the disclosure of the potential quantity and grade of mineralization, expressed as ranges, for further exploration. All tonnages, grade and contained lithium as stated in this release should not be construed to reflect a calculated mineral resource (inferred, indicated, or measured). The potential quantities and grades for exploration targets are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient work to date to define a NI 43-101 compliant resource. Furthermore, it is uncertain if additional exploration will result in discovery of an economic mineral resource within these areas. SARCOBATUS FLAT LITHIUM PROJECT, NEVADA Sarcobatus Flat is located approximately 70 km southeast of Clayton Valley - home to the only producing lithium mine in the United States. According to a recent U.S. Geological Survey, "Lithium supply security has become a top priority for technology companies in the United States and Asia." This area of Nevada has seen a rapid rise in exploration success. Access to the Sarcobatus Flat property is ideal as the project lies directly adjacent to a major US highway. Easy access to this flat and arid property means exploration costs are expected to be low and environmental impact will be minimal. The lithium content of soils and vegetation in the Sarcobatus Flat property, as reported by the Company (see Rainmaker release August 4, 2016) compare favourably with samples from Clayton Valley. INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS -- Lithium: crucial mineral for electric car batteries and many other tech purposes -- Favourable Terms: share acquisition, cash reserved for exploration -- High-Potential Project: Company sampling of the near surface clays show lithium values of 140 - 300 ppm -- Location: mining-friendly Nevada -- Large Land Package: 234 placer mining claims totalling approximately 4,680 acres -- Infrastructure and Accessibility: adjacent to US Highway 95 -- Rapid Advancement: lithium brines projects tend to require only a moderate amount of drilling to advance the property -- Low-Cost Exploration/Development/Production: the accessible nature of lithium brine deposits results in low costs overall ABOUT RAINMAKER Rainmaker Resources is a TSX-V listed company focused on creating shareholder value through the exploration and advancement of mineral projects connected to emerging technologies. The company controls an option to acquire the Sarcobatus Flat lithium project in Nevada (see News Release June 9, 2016) and has completed a 43-101 report on the project (November 3, 2016). In addition, Rainmaker currently owns a 12.5% joint venture interest in Dufferin Lake - a uranium asset. Dufferin Lake is operated by NexGen Energy, a public company with a large asset portfolio and a market capitalization exceeding $800 million CDN. For more information about Rainmaker Resources, please visit our website at www.rainmaker-resources.com. For additional information about Rainmaker, please see the company's profile at www.sedar.com. Doug Beahm, P.E., P.G., Principal of BRS Inc, is the Qualified Person, under National Instrument 43-101, who is responsible for the technical content of this release as it relates to the Technical report, and consents to its release. Chris Healey, P.Geo., President and CEO of Rainmaker, is the Qualified Person, under National Instrument 43-101, who is responsible for all other technical content of this release, and consents to its release. The Rainmaker Board of Directors, on whose behalf this release has been prepared, accepts responsibility for its contents. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). Contacts: Rainmaker Resources Ltd. Chris Healey, P.Geo President & CEO 801-1 Adelaide St. E, Toronto, ON, M5C 2V9 (778) 996-1810 A clinical development plan already well underway: New clinical immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combination collaborations signed with Bristol-Myers Squibb for TG4010 (lung cancer) and with Merck KGaA/Pfizer for TG4001 (head and neck cancer) First patients dosed in trials combining ICIs with TG4010 (lung cancer) and with Pexa-Vec (solid tumors) Very favorable change in finance: Net loss significantly reduced: 25.2 million in 2016 compared to 46.4 million in 2015 Cash and cash equivalents increased: 56.2 million as of December 31, 2016, increasing financial visibility until the end of 2018 Acceleration of the clinical development plan will generate a rich news flow over the next 12 months Conference call scheduled today at 6:00 PM CET (in English) Regulatory News: Transgene (Paris:TNG) (Euronext Paris: TNG), a biotechnology company focused on designing and developing viral-based immune-targeted therapies for the treatment of cancers and infectious diseases, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, and provided its outlook for 2017. In 2016, Transgene has focused its efforts on implementing its strategy, which looks to combine Transgene's immunotherapies (therapeutic vaccines and oncolytic viruses, which boost the immune system), with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Over the last twelve months, additional data from clinical studies combining active immunotherapies with ICIs have confirmed the strong rationale behind this strategy. During the second half of 2016, Transgene signed two clinical collaboration agreements that allow clinical studies with: TG4010 in combination with Bristol Myers-Squibb's ICI nivolumab in lung cancer patients receiving a 2 nd line of treatment and; line of treatment and; TG4001 with Merck KGaA's and Pfizer's ICI avelumab in patients with HPV-positive head and neck cancer. Several clinical trials have recently started or are being initiated to confirm the potential of Transgene's immunotherapeutics in combination with ICIs. The first results from these studies are expected around the end of 2017. During the 2016 fiscal year, the Company strengthened its financial structure which will provide it with the funding to execute its clinical development plan through the end of 2018. This improved financial situation was the result of: a loan of 20 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB), 10 million of which was drawn down in June 2016 a 46.4 million rights issue that was completed in November 2016; as well as the significant reduction of our net loss 25.2 million compared to 46.4 million in 2015. In parallel with strengthening its financial position, Transgene completed its reorganization with the result it is now focused on research and clinical development (R&D). As part of the restructuring, Transgene sold its production facility to ABL Europe, a Merieux Group Company, for 3.5 million. Philippe Archinard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Transgene said: "Our achievements in 2016 have reinforced our position as a major player in immunotherapy. Our portfolio of immunotherapies, our clinical collaborations and our much-improved financial position have put us in a strong position to execute our clinical plan which is designed to deliver a rich news flow over the coming months. Positive results from these studies would allow us to conclude partnership agreements with pharmaceutical companies. We are looking forward to demonstrating the important clinical benefits that our immunotherapies in combination with ICIs can offer to patients with severe diseases." Product pipeline review 1. Therapeutic Vaccines TG4010 in advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer TG4010 is a therapeutic vaccine that induces an immune response against MUC1 expressing cells. TG4010 is being developed in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). TG4010's mechanism of action and excellent safety profile make it a very suitable candidate for combinations with other therapies. TG4010's development plan is focused on Phase 2 studies that can generate a comprehensive data package for TG4010 in 1st- and 2nd-line treatment of advanced NSCLC over the next 9 to 18 months. The clinical trials aim to confirm the synergies that are expected to result from the combination of a therapeutic vaccine and an ICI. The expected clinical benefits are an increase in the response rate, in the quality and in the duration of the response to current and future standards of care. TG4010 + Opdivo (ICI) (nivolumab) Phase 2 Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) 2nd-line Trial of TG4010 in combination with Opdivo, conducted by UC Davis Medical Center (USA), with the support of Bristol-Myers Squibb (supply of nivolumab) First patient treated in March 2017 (NCT02823990) and first results expected around the end of 2017 TG4010 + ICI + chemotherapy Phase 2 Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) 1st-line Preparation of a Phase 2 clinical trial combining TG4010 with an ICI and with standard chemotherapy in patients with tumor cells expressing low or undetectable levels of PD-L1 Ongoing discussion with a pharma to conduct this trial First patient expected to be enrolled towards the end of 2017 TG4001: trial in combination with avelumab following collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA and Pfizer TG4001 is a therapeutic vaccine that has already been administered to more than 300 patients with high grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN 2/3). This clinical experience has demonstrated good tolerability, a significant HPV clearance rate and promising efficacy results for TG4001. Its mechanism of action and good safety profile make TG4001 an appropriate candidate for combinations with other therapies, such as the anti-PD-L1 ICI avelumab. TG4001 + avelumab (ICI) Phase 2 HPV positive head and neck cancer 2nd-line Signed clinical collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA and Pfizer, with supply of avelumab for the trial First patient expected in 2H 2017 Prof. Christophe Le Tourneau, Institut Curie, principal investigator TG1050: ongoing recruitment in the Phase 1/1b trial, results expected in 2H 2017 TG1050 is a therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. In 2015, Transgene started a study (NCT02428400) evaluating the safety and tolerability of TG1050 in patients who are currently being treated for chronic HBV infection with standard-of-care antiviral therapy. The technology of TG1050 is also being developed in China, where Transgene operates a joint-venture with Tasly Biopharmaceutical Technology. TG1050 + Standard-of- Care Antiviral Phase 1/1b Chronic hepatitis B Phase 1/1b clinical trial is progressing following positive recommendation of the Safety Review Committee in July 2016 First data readout in 2H 2017 2. Oncolytic viruses Pexa-Vec: ongoing Phase 3 trial, initiation of the Phase 2 clinical trials in combination with ICIs Pexa-Vec is an oncolytic virus designed to selectively destroy cancer cells through intracellular viral replication (oncolysis), and by stimulating the body's immune response against cancer cells. Its mechanism of action and its tolerability profile make it an appropriate candidate for combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Pexa-Vec + sorafenib (PHOCUS) Phase 3 Advanced liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma HCC) 1st-line 1 st patient enrolled (January 2016) patient enrolled (January 2016) Ongoing recruitment in line with forecasts, 1 st patient to be treated shortly in Europe patient to be treated shortly in Europe Clinical trial conducted by SillaJen, Inc., Transgene's partner First data readout expected in 2019 Pexa-Vec + nivolumab (ICI) Phase 2 Advanced liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma HCC) 1st-line 1st patient expected to be treated in 2Q 2017 Pexa-Vec + ipilimumab (ICI) Phase 1 Solid tumors 1 st patient treated in February 2017 in a clinical trial evaluating the tolerability and efficacy of intratumoral injection regimen patient treated in February 2017 in a clinical trial evaluating the tolerability and efficacy of intratumoral injection regimen Centre Leon Berard, sponsor of the trial (NCT02977156) First readout around the end of 2017 TG6002: preparation of first-in-human trial TG6002 is a next generation oncolytic immunotherapy. It has been designed to induce the breakdown of cancer cells (oncolysis) and express the FCU1 gene in cancer cells it has infected leading to the local production of 5-FU, a widely used chemotherapy. TG6002 could potentially be used both in combination or as monotherapy. TG6002 Phase 1 Glioblastoma Preparation of the clinical trial with AP-HP (Pr Delattre principal investigator), with the support of INCA (French national cancer institute) Trial to start in 2Q 2017 3. Research and preclinical portfolio Transgene has delivered multiple important research and preclinical milestones in 2016. Transgene is exploring a new generation of armed oncolytic viruses. These oncolytic viruses can be armed with ICIs and/or therapeutic moieties that modulate the tumor micro-environment. These novel therapeutic payloads are designed to modify cell interactions within the tumor and enhance the efficacy of oncolytic viruses. Transgene has filed a patent for an oncolytic Vaccinia Virus expressing an anti-PD1 antibody. Transgene presented a poster at the AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) meeting in April 2016, demonstrating our capacity to engineer advanced multifunctional viruses. Corporate Restructuring plan and sale of the production facility to ABL Europe for 3.5 million finalized. Annualized recurring savings are estimated to be approximately 15 million. Management team strengthened: Maud Brandely, MD, PhD appointed Chief Medical Officer, and John Felitti, JD, LLM appointed General Counsel Corporate Secretary. Key financials for 2016 Net cash burn for 2016 was 30.6 million (including 5 million linked to the restructuring), versus 34.8 million in 2015. This was lower than expected due to a delay in an $4 million milestone payment to SillaJen. This payment is to be made in early 2017. million (including 5 million linked to the restructuring), versus 34.8 million in 2015. This was lower than expected due to a delay in an $4 million milestone payment to SillaJen. This payment is to be made in early 2017. Cash available at year-end 2016: 56.2 million , compared to 31.7 million at the end of 2015. This higher cash balance includes the 10 million draw-down of the EIB loan and the net proceeds of 45.2 million from the rights issue which was concluded in November 2016. , compared to 31.7 million at the end of 2015. This higher cash balance includes the 10 million draw-down of the EIB loan and the net proceeds of 45.2 million from the rights issue which was concluded in November 2016. Net operating expenses of 33.0 million in 2016 , compared to 45.8 million in 2015. , compared to 45.8 million in 2015. Significantly reduced net loss of 25.2 million in 2016, compared to a loss of 46.4 million in 2015. "Transgene's 2016 financials reflect the completion of the reorganization that started in 2015. This has led to a significant reduction of our operating costs and as a result a 46% reduction in our net loss when compared to 2015. This reduction in fixed costs has enabled us to devote a greater proportion of our increased financial resources to our key strategic clinical and pre-clinical programs," said Jean-Philippe Del, Vice President, Finance. The financial statements for 2016 as well as management's discussion and analysis are attached to this press release (Appendices A and B). Financial Outlook 2017 Transgene expects its cash burn to be around 30 million in 2017. This figure takes into account the increase in costs related to the launch of clinical trials in 2017, as well as a confirmed significant reduction of our fixed costs following the restructuring that has taken place since 2015. The Company still has access to further funding of up to 10 million from the second tranche of the EIB loan. Transgene will host a "R&D Day", on June 22, 2017. The event which will be conducted in English will feature presentations from several leading international scientists and clinicians. The Board of Directors of Transgene met on March 17, 2017, under the chairmanship of Philippe Archinard and closed the 2016 financial statements. Audit procedures have been performed by the statutory auditors and the delivery of the auditors' report is ongoing. The registration document, which includes the financial report, will be available in April 2017 on Transgene's website, www.transgene.com A conference call in English is scheduled on March 20th at 6 PM CET. Webcast link to English language conference call: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/s3ysrdo7 Participant telephone numbers: France: +33 (0)1 76 77 22 26 UK: +44 (0)20 3427 1917 USA: +1646 254 3360 Confirmation code: 6000739 A replay of the call will be available on the Transgene website (www.transgene.fr) following the live event. About Transgene Transgene S.A. (Euronext: TNG), part of Institut Merieux, is a publicly traded French biotechnology company focused on designing and developing targeted immunotherapies for the treatment of cancers and infectious diseases. Transgene's programs utilize viral vector technology with the goal of indirectly or directly killing infected or cancerous cells. The Company's two lead clinical-stage programs are: TG4010, a therapeutic vaccine against non-small cell lung cancer and Pexa-Vec, an oncolytic virus against liver cancer. The Company has several other programs in clinical and preclinical development. Transgene is based in Strasbourg, France, and has additional operations in Lyon, as well as a joint venture in China. Additional information about Transgene is available at www.transgene.fr Follow us on Twitter: @TransgeneSA Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The occurrence of any of these risks could have a significant negative outcome for the Company's activities, perspectives, financial situation, results, regulatory authorities' agreement with development phases, and development. The Company's ability to commercialize its products depends on but is not limited to the following factors: positive pre-clinical data may not be predictive of human clinical results, the success of clinical studies, the ability to obtain financing and/or partnerships for product manufacturing, development and commercialization, and marketing approval by government regulatory authorities. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risque") section of the Document de Reference, available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Transgene's website (www.transgene.fr). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Transgene undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Opdivo is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Appendix A: 2016 Financial Statements CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, IFRS, (In thousands) ASSETS December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 4,855 3,285 Other current financial assets 51,352 28,365 Cash, cash equivalents and other current financial assets 56,207 31,650 Trade receivables 2,385 1,784 Inventories 221 1,164 Other current assets 15,242 12,930 Assets available for sale 3,500 Total current assets 74,055 51,028 Non-current assets: Property, plant and equipment 14,580 16,559 Intangible assets 423 485 Financial fixed assets 5,023 4,050 Investments in associates 3,923 1,148 Other non-current assets 24,946 27,599 Total non-current assets 48,895 49,841 Total assets 122,950 100,869 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Current liabilities: Trade payables 4,504 6,521 Financial liabilities 10,198 9,396 Provisions for risks 1,456 7,038 Other current liabilities 3,761 3,770 Total current liabilities 19,919 26,725 Non-current liabilities: Financial liabilities 52,803 44,401 Employee benefits 3,725 3,196 Other non-current liabilities Total non-current liabilities 56,528 47,597 Total liabilities 76,447 74,322 Equity: Share capital 56,432 88,196 Share premiums and reserves 504,258 476,788 Retained Earnings (487,987) (491,263) Profit (loss) for the period (25,207) (46,374) Other comprehensive income (983) (800) Total equity attributable to Company shareholders 46,503 26,547 Total equity and liabilities 122,950 100,869 CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT, IFRS (In thousands, except for per-share data) December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Revenue from collaborative and licensing agreements 2,346 1,465 Government financing for research expenditure 6,382 8,100 Other income 1,583 384 Operating income 10,311 9,949 Research and development expenses (26,419) (32,138) General and administrative expenses (6,236) (5,798) Other expenses (320) (7,819) Net operating expenses (32,975) (45,755) Operating income from continuing operations (22,664) (35,807) Finance cost (602) (930) Share of profit (loss) of associates (917) (1,172) Income (loss) before tax (24,183) (37,909) Income tax expense Net income/(loss) from continuing operations (24,183) (37,909) Net income/(loss) from discontinued operations (1,024) (8,465) Net income (25,207) (46,374) Basic loss per share () (0.45) (1.20) Diluted earnings per share () (0.45) (1.20) CASH FLOW STATEMENT, IFRS (in thousands) December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Cash flow from operating activities: Net income/(loss) from continuing operations (24,183) (37,909) Net income/(loss) from discontinued operations (1,024) (8,465) Cancellation of financial income 602 930 Elimination of non-cash items Income of associates 917 1,172 Provisions (8,247) 8,697 Depreciation 2,267 2,636 Share-based payments 266 462 Others 5,038 11 Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities before change in working capital and other operating cash flow: (24,364) (32,466) Change in operating working capital requirements: Current receivables and prepaid expenses (3,182) 73 Inventories and work in progress 942 (14) Research tax credit (6,425) (8,532) Assets available for sale 2,000 Other current assets (524) (2,150) Trade payables (2,022) (1,685) Prepaid income (479) 461 Employee benefits 526 (841) Other current liabilities (57) 2 Net cash used in operating activities: (33,585) (45,152) Cash flows from investing activities: (Acquisitions)/disposals of property, plant and equipment (27) (1,527) (Acquisitions)/disposals of intangible assets (20) Other (acquisitions)/disposals (2,020) 3,843 Net cash used in investing activities: (2,067) 2,316 Cash flow from financing activities: Net financial income proceeds (283) (165) Gross proceeds from the issuance of shares 46,300 477 Share issue costs (1,220) Conditional subsidies (180) 923 (Acquisition)/disposal of other financial assets (22,933) 34,176 Net tax credit financing 6,761 8,209 Bank loan 10,000 Financial leases (1,223) (1,040) Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities: 37,222 42,580 Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents 28 Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents: 1,570 (228) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 3,285 3,513 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period: 4,855 3,285 Investments in other current financial assets 51,351 28,365 Cash, cash equivalents and other current financial assets: 56,206 31,650 Appendix B: Management Discussion of 2016 Financials Revenue: During the periods under review, revenues from collaborative and licensing agreements mainly included: research and development services for third parties amounting to 0.5 million in 2016 (0.8 million in 2015); and income related to commercial use of technologies or products provided under license by Transgene amounting to 1.8 million in 2016 (0.7 million in 2015). This mainly comprised a non-recurrent compensation of 1.3 million paid by Sanofi Chimie under the terms of the 1991 cooperation agreement between the two companies. As of December 31, 2016, government financing for research expenditures consisted of a research tax credit, as well as grants received and receivable: the research tax credit (CIR credit impot recherche) amounted to 6.3 million in 2016 (7.9 million in 2015). Related eligible expenses (net of grants received during the fiscal year) amounted to 21.3 million in 2016 and 25.8 million in 2015; and research grants amounted to 0.1 million in 2016 (0.2 million in 2015). Operating expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses amounted to 26.4 million in 2016, compared to 32.1 million in 2015. This decrease of 18% was mainly due to the impact of the restructuring plan initiated in 2015, with a decrease in payroll costs and operating expenses. The following table details R&D expenses by type: In millions of euros Dec. 31, 2016 Dec. 31, 2015 Change Payroll costs 10.8 14.6 -26% Share-based payments 0.1 0.3 -67% Intellectual property expenses and licensing costs 1.1 1.5 -27% External expenses for clinical projects 5.0 4.2 +19% External expenses for other projects 3.8 4.4 -14% Operating expenses 4.1 5.1 -20% Depreciation and provisions 1.5 2.0 -25% Research and development expenses 26.4 32.1 -18% Employee costs allocated to R&D (salaries, employer contributions and related expenses) amounted to 10.8 million in 2016, compared to 14.6 million in 2015. This decrease of 26% was explained by the reduction in the headcount as results of the restructuring plan decided in 2015, especially in preindustrial development activities. Intellectual property and licensing expenses amounted to 1.1 million in 2016 versus 1.5 million in 2015. External expenses for clinical trials amounted to 5.0 million in 2016 versus 4.2 million in 2015. This increase was due to the acceleration of clinical trials with TG4010 (1.6 million in 2016 vs. 1.0 million in 2015) and Pexa-Vec (2.4 million in 2016 vs. 2.3 million in 2015). Other external expenses, including expenses for research, preclinical and manufacturing projects, amounted to 3.8 million in 2016 versus 4.4 million in 2015. As results to the sale of the manufacturing unit, the Company now subcontracts the clinical lots manufacturing, notably to ABL Europe, the new owner of the Illkirch's unit since February 2016. This manufacturing subcontracting amounted to 1.2 million in 2016. Furthermore, the expenses for the commercial production unit with Sanofi/Genzyme decreased at 0.5 million in 2016 versus 2.0 million in 2015, due to the end of the construction part of the project, which enters into validation step. No expense related to regulatory toxicology studies was booked in 2016 (0.4 million in 2015 for TG1050 and TG6002). Operating expenses, including the cost of operating research laboratories, amounted to 4.1 million in 2016 versus 5.1 million in 2015 (-20%), as expected as results of the restructuring. General and administrative (G&A) expenses amounted to 6.2 million in 2016 versus 5.8 million in 2015. The following table details G&A expenses by type: In millions of euros Dec. 31, 2016 Dec. 31, 2015 Change Payroll costs 3.8 2.9 +31% Share-based payments 0.1 0.1 N/S Fees and administrative expenses 1.5 1.7 -12% Other fixed costs 0.7 1.0 -30% Depreciation and provisions 0.1 0.1 N/S General and administrative expenses 6.2 5.8 +7% Employee costs allocated to G&A amounted to 3.8 million in 2016 versus 2.9 million in 2015. This increase was mainly due the transfer of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer's home entity. Fees and administrative expenses amounted to 1.5 million in 2016 versus 1.7 million in 2015. Other income and expenses Other income amounted to 1.6 million in 2016 versus 0.4 million in 2015. In 2016, the Company participated to a capital increase of Transgene Tasly (Tianjin) BioPharmaceutical Co. Ltd. This operation was performed half in kind and half in cash and generated an income of 1.2 million with the transfer of TG6002's rights in China to this joint-venture. Other expenses amounted to 0.3 million in 2016 versus 7.8 million in 2015. The decision in 2015 to restructure the Company resulted in a net restructuring charge of 7.5 million in 2015. Interest income (expense): Net interest expense amounted to 0.6 million in 2016 versus 0.9 million in 2015. Financial income (investment income) amounted to 0.9 million in 2016 versus 0.5 million in 2015. This was mainly related to the appreciation of assets related to interest in SillaJen, Inc. subsequent to the disposal of Jennerex, Inc. shares in 2014. Interest expense amounted to 1.5 million in 2016 versus 1.4 million in 2015. This mainly consisted of bank accrued interests on EIB loan (0.4 million), discount of the advances received by Bpifrance under the ADNA (Advanced Diagnostics for New Therapeutic Approaches) program (0.6 million) and interest on financing leases (0.2 million). Net loss from continuing operations: Net loss from continuing operations was 24.2 million in 2016, compared to 37.9 million in 2015, decreasing of 36%. Net loss from discontinued operations: Net loss from discontinued manufacturing operations amounted to 1.0 million in 2016, compared to 8.5 million in 2015. The manufacturing assets were sold to ABL Europe for 3.5 million on February 1, 2016. Total net loss: Total net loss for 2016 was 25.2 million, compared to 46.4 million in 2015, decreasing of 46%. Net loss per share was 0.45 in 2016 (1.20 in 2015). Investments: Investments in tangible and intangible assets (net of disposals) amounted to 0.1 million in 2016 (1.4 million in 2015). Repayable advances and loans: No repayable advances were received by the Company in 2016. In 2016, the Company refinanced its 2015 research tax credit of 7.8 million. To this effect, it took out a bank loan with Bpifrance that matures in mid-2019, at which time the receivable is expected to be paid by the French government. The tax credit for competitiveness and employment was also financed in 2016 in the amount of 0.1 million through a loan from Bpifrance (which matures in mid-2019). In June 2016, Transgene drew down the first tranche of a loan granted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) in January 2016. This first 10 million tranche out of a total 20 million is payable in 2021. The interest accrued is payable starting in 2019. Liquidity and capital resources: The Company's cash is invested in short-term money-market mutual funds or placed, at market conditions, in a cash pool managed by the majority shareholder of Transgene, Institut Merieux. As of December 31, 2016, the Company's available cash amounted to 56.2 million versus 31.7 million on December 31, 2015. At the date of this document, the Company had no bank debt subject to covenants. Cash flow: Excluding capital increases and EIB loan, the Company's net cash burn amounted to 30.6 million in 2016 versus 34.8 million in 2015. Post-closing events: None. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170320005860/en/ Contacts: Transgene: Lucie Larguier, +33 (0)3 88 27 91 04 Director Corporate Communications IR investorrelations@transgene.fr or Media contacts: Citigate Dewe Rogerson David Dible Marine Perrier, 44 (0)20 7638 9571 transgene@citigatedr.co.uk MUMBAI, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Developing Alternate Applications for Non-hazardous Industrial Waste Through Material Design and Research India's growing manufacturing ambition is going to bring global issues of excessive waste with it. In response to this, Godrej & Boyce, one of India's major manufacturing conglomerates, is moving towards a circular economy by considering their industrial waste as a valuable resource. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410818 ) Godrej & Boyce has adopted a unique approach, moving towards a more sustainable manufacturing practice by taking accountability of their footprint and being transparent about waste generation. The Punah Project, incubated by the 'Innovation & Design Centre' of Godrej & Boyce in India, was called to life in February 2015 to address these issues. Read more at http://www.punahproject.com. Mr. Hemmant Jha, Chief Design Officer, Godrej & Boyce,said,"As initiators of The Punah Project, we are focusing on developing alternative applications for non-hazardous industrial waste through material design and research. We aim to adopt a zero-waste policy across all the Godrej & Boyce manufacturing sites. We are happy to have displayed the applications that are a result of our extensive research on over 600 materials and several collaborations with different manufacturing teams at Godrej & Boyce as well as skilled craftsmen and designers across India." Visit us at the London Design Festival | 22nd to 25th September | Tent London | D06 Hall T1 About Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd.: Godrej is one of India's most trusted brands serving over 1.1 billion customers worldwide, every day. Godrej & Boyce, the holding company for the $4.1billion Godrej group, is a 119 year oldconglomerate whose businesses span from locks to aerospace. More on http://www.godrej.com. For further information, please contact: Nalini Kala Associate General Manager Corporate Communications Innovation & Design Centre Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. M: +91-9820305269 E: nalini@godrej.com Hemmant Jha Chief Design Officer Innovation & Design Centre Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. E: hemmant@godrej.com Shubhi Sachan Design Specialist/Material Futures Punah Project Lead Innovation & Design Centre Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. M: +44-7990528213, +91-9833697970 E: shubhis@godrej.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Carl Data Solutions Inc. (CSE: CRL)(FRANKFURT: 7C5) ("Carl" or the "Company"), a developer of Big-Data-as-as-Service ("BDaaS")-based solutions for Industrial Internet-of-Things ("IoT"), is pleased to announce that the Company has initiated a monthly draw-down of the remaining funds from the senior collateralized convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of CAD$2,000,000 (the "Notes") pursuant to its note purchase agreement dated May 30, 2016 (the "Note Purchase Agreement") with AIP Asset Management Inc. ("AIP"). As announced on June 30, 2016, the Company closed the first tranche of the Notes by issuing a note in the aggregate principal amount of $500,000. After satisfying various closing conditions as set out in the Note Purchase Agreement, Carl has received approval from AIP to initiate a monthly draw-down of the remaining $1,500,000 of the Notes. During the month of September and as part of the monthly draw, the Company received gross proceeds of $160,000 from AIP. Greg Johnston, CEO of Carl, commented, "We are very pleased to have satisfied AIP's requirements to begin to draw on the ongoing funding. Through this process, AIP has demonstrated a strong understanding of, knowledge of and support for the Company. The continuous financial support provides stability and capital to allow Carl to accelerate its business development by way of strategic acquisitions, the launch of new applications and the expansion of our BDaaS and IoT technology." Share Issuance The Company is also pleased to announce that it has issued 750,000 common shares at a price of $0.40 per share to an investor of the Company for a fair value of services of $300,000, in return for the provision of a limited personal guarantee to AIP by the investor in relation to the Company's Note Purchase Agreement with AIP. About AIP Asset Management Inc. AIP is a Toronto based Investment Fund Manager, Portfolio Manager and Exempt Market Dealer with offices and representatives in Toronto, Moscow, Seoul and Dubai. AIP focuses helping clients, whether institutional investors, hedge funds, family investment offices or retail investors, achieve investment goals. AIP has gained a reputation for its innovative approach to portfolio construction and commitment to investor advocacy. AIP was recently nominated for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. AIP has also been named Best Emerging Market Focused Private Investment Firm in North American at the Alternative Investment Awards and was named Best Macro Hedge Fund in Canada at the Hedge Fund Awards sponsored by Barclay Hedge. More information can be found at www.aipassetmanagement.com. About Carl Data Solutions Inc. Carl Data Solutions Inc. is focused on providing next generation information collection, storage and analytics solutions for data centric companies. Building on its recent acquisitions, Flow Works Inc., a company that helps its clients analyze and understand all forms of environmental data through a powerful platform of data collection, monitoring, analysis and reporting tools and Extend to Social Media Inc., a company that specializes in unstructured data analysis from Social Media, Carl develops applications to work with new cloud-based mass storage services and analytics tools (Big-Data-as-a-Service ("BDaaS")). Carl's development platform can accommodate virtually unlimited storage of any type of data. This technology allows Carl to build advanced applications for monitoring, reporting and analysis. Carl's data collection and storage methods allow the company to build smart Software-as-a-Service ("SaaS")-based applications that can collect data from many diverse sources and provide deep insight for decision-making purposes. More information can be found at www.carlsolutions.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Greg Johnston President, Chief Executive Officer, Director Carl Data Solutions Inc. The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this press release related to the Notes are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the draw-down of the Notes, including whether the full amount of the Notes will be drawn, and whether this source of financing will allow the Company to accelerate its business development by way of strategic acquisitions, the launch of new applications and the expansion of its BDaaS and IoT technology. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks which may cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including: the risk that the Company's will be able to complete the financing for the Notes, including the risk that the entire amount may not be funded by AIP as expected or at all; that the proceeds from the Notes may be used other than as set out in this news release; the effects of government regulation on the Company's business; risks associated with the Company's ability to obtain and protect rights to its intellectual property; risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's ability to raise additional capital; and other factors beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity or performance. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the impact of such factors on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Readers should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factor disclosure outlined in the Company's continuous filings filed from time-to-time with the British Columbia Securities Commission on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Contacts: Tiffany Tolmie Corporate Communications Carl Data Solutions Inc. (778) 379-0275 tiffany@carlsolutions.com Vierema, Finland, 2016-09-22 15:28 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --This week, Ponsse will have a strong presence at the DEMO International 2016 held on the west coast of Canada in British Columbia on 22-24 September. Ponsse will widely demonstrate its new PONSSE model series, harvesting solutions for steep slopes and PONSSE H8HD, a completely new harvester head model for big timber.The new PONSSE H8HD harvester head is specifically designed for harvesting and processing big timber in demanding conditions. It continues the success of the smaller PONSSE H7HD harvester head and can be installed on the PONSSE Bear harvester and on over 20-tonne track-based machines. The new harvester head model offers a superior performance considering its size. A powerful feed, combined with its geometry which firmly supports larger trunks on feed rollers, guarantees extreme productivity and fuel economy. Thanks to the Opti automation system, it has an excellent cutting precision, and trees are always fed directly to the specific length at maximum speed.PONSSE H8HD is also available with a top saw for processing curvy trees with a lot of branches. The PONSSE harvester head range also includes PONSSE H10 intended purely for processing. Also demonstrated at the DEMO International 2016, the sturdy and reliable H10 is designed for over 25-tonne track-based machines.Ponsse has been developing harvester heads since the 1980s. The extensive harvester head range offers applications from first thinning to heavy-duty regeneration felling, as well as models from debarking eucalyptus heads to processing. Larger harvester heads can also be fitted on track-based solutions.PONSSE Synchrowinch for effective harvesting on slopesA full range of new PONSSE machines (stands A-12 and SS-1) will be in action at the DEMO International 2016. The PONSSE Bear harvester, a powerhouse for demanding logging sites, and the PONSSE ElephantKing forwarder will be demonstrated working on a slope (stand SS-1). Both of these will be equipped with the PONSSE Synchrowinch, a cost-effective and productive winch solution for harvesting on steep slopes. The Synchrowinch allows the harvesting fleet to be used extensively at various sites - in a safe and eco-friendly manner.From a dream of a machine entrepreneur to one of the world's leading manufacturers of forest machinesPonsse was founded in 1970, first for the needs of forest machine entrepreneur Einari Vidgren: he needed to build a forest machine himself as others did not build them strong enough. Today, the Finnish family company is one of the world's leading forest machine manufacturers with experience gained from more than 11,000 PONSSE forest machines, and its customer-oriented operations are still heavily guided by the wishes and needs of forest machine entrepreneurs.Throughout its history, Ponsse has been a pioneer in effective and environmentally friendly cut-to-length logging. The PONSSE product range covers harvesters, forwarders, harvester and processing heads, cranes, loaders and information system products. Ponsse has 11 subsidiaries and 30 retailers, and its service network covers almost 40 countries. The Group employs nearly 1,500 forest machine professionals, with exports accounting for 78% of its net sales.Currently, Ponsse is looking for a retailer in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. On the east coast, Ponsse's retailers are A.L.P.A. Equipment Ltd (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia), Hydromec (Quebec) and ReadyQuip (Ontario).Ponsse's stands A-12 and SS-1 will feature daily harvesting demonstrations with the machines of the new PONSSE model series and additional information about our new products. Stand SS-1 will demonstrate how the PONSSE model series works on steep slopes using the PONSSE Synchrowinch solution.Welcome and take a look at productive harvesting!PONSSE H8HD: http://www.ponsse.com/products/harvester-heads/h8hd PONSSE Synchrowinch: http://www.ponsse.com/products/ponsse-synchrowinch Photos from the Demo International 2016: http://www.ponsse.com/media-archive/images/events/2016/demo-international-2016-b ritish-columbia-canadaVierema, 22 September 2016PONSSE PLCFURTHER INFORMATION Jarmo Vidgren, Sales and Marketing Director, Ponsse Plc, tel. +358 40 519 1486 Eero Lukkarinen, Area Director (North American Dealers), Ponsse Plc, tel. +358 40 656 5139 Janne Loponen, Product manager (harvester heads), Ponsse Plc, tel. +358 40 502 8018 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Donald J. Trump has expressed his opposition to the US Government's decision to pass on its power to govern the Internet domain name system (DNS) fully to ICANN - the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. In a statement issued on behalf of the GOP presidential candidate, the Trump Campaign's National Policy Director Stephen Miller said the U.S. should not turn control of the Internet over to the United Nations and the international community. The United States' National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the Department of Commerce, is set to hand over the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions to ICANN on October 1. The IANA stewardship transition represents the final step in a nearly 20-year effort by the US Government and Internet multi-stakeholder community to privatize the Internet domain name system. DNS, one of the Internet's most important components, pairs the easy-to-remember web addresses with their relevant servers. Without DNS, websites can be accessed only by typing in its IP address. Trump urged the Congress to act quickly to stop President Obama from using his authority to surrender American internet control to foreign powers. Trump said U.S. oversight has kept the Internet free and open without government censorship. 'Internet freedom is now at risk with the President's intent to cede control to international interests, including countries like China and Russia, which have a long track record of trying to impose online censorship', he added. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The Republic of Slovenia is announced as the latest nation to officially sign up to Expo 2020 Dubai in an exchange of letters at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005815/en/ SLOVENIA SIGNING CEREMONY (Photo: ME NewsWire) His Excellency Sultan Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, met with His Excellency Zdravko Pocivalsek, Slovenian Minister of Economic Development and Technology, on Thursday for an exchange of letters to officially confirm Slovenia's commitment to participate in Expo 2020 Dubai. Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General Bureau Expo Dubai 2020 said: "I am delighted that Slovenia has confirmed its participation so early in the process. We look forward to working closely with Slovenia throughout the journey to Expo 2020, collaborating on a great global showcase and forging a lasting economic legacy of closer cooperation." Slovenia enjoys long-standing ties and increasingly strong economic relations with the UAE. Minister Pocivalsek said that today's meeting sets "the foundation for our cooperation over the next four years. Signing this letter of intent is an important step." As one of the earliest nations to sign up to participate in Expo 2020 Dubai, Slovenia will now begin the process of designing its national pavilion for the mega event, which is expected to attract 25 million visitors. Hosting the World Expo will leave an economic legacy for the UAE. Expo 2020 Dubai is forecast to have a significant beneficial impact on the UAE economy, generating more than 17 billion Euros in gross value added, and supporting over 250,000 jobs. Twenty per cent of Expo 2020 Dubai's budget comprising AED 5 billion (1.2 billion Euros) will be allocated to SMEs as part of existing efforts to enhance SME integration into the Expo 2020 Dubai supply chain. *Source: ME NewsWire View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005815/en/ Contacts: Expo 2020 Dubai David Bishop, +971(0)50-409-2837 Director - Communications david.bishop@expo2020dubai.ae www.expo2020dubai.ae Twitter: @expo2020dubai Facebook: @Expo2020Dubai Instagram: @Expo2020Dubai MOSCOW, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. updates Elcomsoft Phone Breaker, the company's mobile acquisition tool, adding full support for Apple's latest version of iOS, the iOS 10. Elcomsoft Phone Breaker 6.10 can decrypt password-protected local backups by attacking the original plain-text password, and perform remote acquisition by downloading iOS 10 backups from iCloud. When analyzing password-protected backups, examiners can decrypt and explore the keychain. A Mac OS X version of Elcomsoft Phone Viewer is soon to join the company's mobile forensic range. When released for both OS X and Windows platforms, Elcomsoft Phone Viewer 3.0 will receive full support for local and cloud iOS 10 backups out of the box. The new tool is scheduled to release in a week. "iOS 10 is a major milestone", says Vladimir Katalov, ElcomSoft CEO. "Among many things, the new OS introduces major tweaks in security settings and changes many things about local and cloud backups. Our mobile forensic tools are updated to support acquisition and analysis of Apple backups in the new format." Backup passwords protect local iOS backups produced via Apple iTunes. By decrypting password-protected Apple backups, investigators can gain access to application data and keychain items such as passwords to Web sites and social networks, payment information and, in many cases, a password to the user's Apple ID account. What Else Is New Below is the full list of changes in Elcomsoft Phone Breaker 6.10: -Recovers original passwords to iOS 10 offline backups -Decrypts iOS 10 backups with a known password -Explores iOS 10 keychain -Downloads iOS 10 backups from Apple iCloud -Supports NVIDIA Pascal architecture (GTX 1080 and other 1000-series boards) Elcomsoft Phone Viewer 3.0: Now for Windows and Mac OS X, iOS 10 Support Elcomsoft Phone Viewer for Mac is a welcome addition to ElcomSoft's range of mobile forensic tools. Now available on Mac and Windows, Elcomsoft Phone Viewer is finally ready to become a fully-featured companion to Elcomsoft Phone Breaker on both platforms. Elcomsoft Phone Viewer 3.0 receives iOS 10 support out of the box in both Windows and Mac OS editions. Elcomsoft Phone Viewer 3.0 will be released before the end of September. About iOS Backups Unlike competing platforms, Apple mobile devices come with extensive support for both offline and online backups. While today's users are much more likely to use iCloud for backing up their data, offline backups are commonly used by forensic examiners during the acquisition of iOS devices. Offline backups can be produced by Apple iTunes and third-party forensic tools. Users can protect offline backups with a password. Once a backup password is set, no data leaves the device unencrypted. If a backup password is not known, removing or resetting that password is absolutely impossible without performing a full factory reset that permanently destroys data. Forcing an iPhone or iPad to produce an offline backup and analyzing resulting data is one of the very few acquisition options available for devices running iOS 10. At this time, it remains the only acquisition option available for iPhone 5s, 6/6Plus, 6s/6sPlus and 7/7Plus running iOS 10 that offers access to device keychain. Keychain Decryption Somewhat counter-intuitively, password-protected iOS backups enable forensic access to more information compared to backups without a password. Password-protected backups expose access to iOS most secure storage, the keychain. Keychain items include highly sensitive information such as logins and passwords to Web sites, passwords and/or authentication tokens to various social networks and instant messengers. In many cases, password-protected backups are found to contain passwords or authentication tokens to the user's Apple ID account, which may open access to files synced with the user's iCloud. Elcomsoft Phone Breaker 6.10 allows investigators decrypting iOS 10 keychain in password-protected backups. The new Keychain Explorer allows browsing and searching keychain items, and includes a one-click tool to locate and extract password and/or authentication token to the user's Apple ID account. About Elcomsoft Phone Breaker Elcomsoft Phone Breaker is an all-in-one mobile acquisition tool to extract information from a wide range of sources. Supporting offline and cloud backups created by Apple, BlackBerry and Windows mobile devices, the tool can extract and decrypt user data including cached passwords and synced authentication credentials to a wide range of resources from local backups. Cloud extraction with or without a password makes it possible to decrypt FileVault 2 containers without lengthy attacks and pull communication histories and retrieve photos that've been deleted by the user a long time ago. About Elcomsoft Phone Viewer Elcomsoft Phone Viewer is a compact, fast and easy to use mobile forensic tool to enable experts viewing information stored in unprotected local and cloud backups. Supporting backups produced by popular Apple, BlackBerry and Windows Phone devices, the tool offers access to contacts, messages, call logs, notes and calendar, media files and Web activities, and allows viewing information about the device. The small, affordable tool offers a simple and convenient user interface that matches the usage experience of Elcomsoft Phone Breaker, thus requiring no additional learning curve. Pricing and Availability Elcomsoft Phone Breaker 6.10 is available immediately for both Windows and Mac OS X. Home, Professional and Forensic editions are available. iCloud recovery is only available in Professional and Forensic editions, while password-free iCloud access as well as the ability to download arbitrary information from iCloud and iCloud Drive are only available in the Forensic edition. Elcomsoft Phone Breaker Pro is available to North American customers for $199. The Forensic edition enabling over-the-air acquisition of iCloud data and support for binary authentication tokens is available for $799. The Home edition is available for $79. Local pricing may vary. Elcomsoft Phone Viewer 3.0 will be available before the end of September 2016. System Requirements Elcomsoft Phone Breaker 6.10 supports Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and Windows 10 as well as Windows 2003, 2008 and 2012 Server. The Mac version supports Mac OS X 10.7.x and newer. Elcomsoft Phone Breaker operates without Apple iTunes or BlackBerry Link being installed. About ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. Founded in 1990, ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. develops state-of-the-art computer forensics tools, provides computer forensics training and computer evidence consulting services. Since 1997, ElcomSoft has been providing support to businesses, law enforcement, military, and intelligence agencies. ElcomSoft tools are used by most of the Fortune 500 corporations, multiple branches of the military all over the world, foreign governments, and all major accounting firms. ElcomSoft is a Microsoft Partner (Gold Application Development and Gold Intelligent Systems), Intel Premier Elite Partner and member of NVIDIA's CUDA/GPU Computing Registered Developer Program. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Hillary Clinton has vowed that if elected President, she will fight to protect drinking water, including by investing in modernizing the country's outdated drinking and wastewater infrastructure, and supporting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. In a statement issued ahead of the Great Lakes Restoration Conference Thursday, Clinton said she will set a goal of doubling the size of the outdoor economy within a decade-which will benefit communities all around the Great Lakes. 'And I will support collaborative approaches to protect our environment, like the agreement between Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario to reduce nutrient pollution that contributes to harmful algal blooms,' she added. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. 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 /Christian 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 Share Tweet BSD Crown Ltd. (LSE: BSD) (the "Company") Tender offer for shares in the Company by Yossi Willi Management and Investments Ltd Ramat Gan, Israel, 22 September 2016 The Israeli lawyers to Yossi Willi Management and Investments Ltd ("YWMI") yesterday informed the Company that on 20 September 2016, YWMI made a cash offer (the "Offer") to holders of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company to acquire not less than seventeen and three quarters (17.75) per cent. and up to twenty (20) per cent. of the voting rights of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer. YWMI's intention to make the Offer was previously referred to by the Company in its announcements of 2, 6 and 21 September 2016. The Company has been asked to make available a copy of the Offer document published by YWMI in respect of the Offer on its website (www.bsd-c.com), together with a tender form and tax declaration form for use in connection with the Offer, available - these documents are now available on the Company's website. The Offer values each share of the Company at GBP 27.5 pence (the "Offer Price"), which is higher than the amount previously notified to the Company (GPB 25 pence) and referenced in its announcement of 2 September 2016. Although the Company's board of directors is not required by law to state its position vis-A -vis the Offer given that the Offer does not constitute a "special tender offer" under Israeli Companies Law, the board believes that the following information should be provided to the Company's shareholders: 1.As previously announced, Israel 18, which holds 43.5 per cent. of the Company's shares directly and indirectly, is currently involved in court proceedings before the Economic Department of the Tel-Aviv District Court (the "Court") with Mr. Naftali Shani and Adv. Arnon Gicelter (the "Petitioners"), which may result in such holdings being sold through an auction which is being conducted by the the Court to satisfy a debt owed to the Petitioners by Israel 18. 2.Offers have been lodged with the Court as part of the auction process to purchase Israel 18's shares at prices ranging between US$25M and US$35M, which is equivalent to a between price per share of GBP 47 pence and GBP 66 pence. 3.YWMI is controlled by Yossi Williger, who is the brother of Mr. Zvika Williger. Zvika Williger is participating in the auction process and has made a bid to buy Israel 18's shares for US$25M, which is equivalent to a price per share of GBP 47 pence. 4.The auction process is due to take place in the Court on 27 September 2016. 5.The Offer made by YWMI does not currently require a special tender offer; however, in the event that Zvika Williger wins the auction, YWMI's tender offer, based on the opinion provided to the Company by Professor Ehud Kamar of Tel-Aviv University, would mean that the Offer would need to be revised to comprise a special tender offer under Israeli Companies Law. 6.Furthermore, as previously announced, the Company has filed a claim against Israel 18 for an amount of US$13M and currently has a lien over any shares sold by Israel 18 in the auction process following the repayment of the debts secured against such shares. 7.At this time, the Company does not know if the auction will take place or the likely outcome of such auction. 8.Shareholders should also be aware that under the UK Listing Rules, in the event that the percentage of shares in public hands falls below 25 per cent., the UK Financial Conduct Authority has the power to cancel the Company's listing. If the listing is cancelled there will no longer be an exchange on which the Company's shares can be readily traded. Trading of the shares remains currently suspended pending the Company filing its audited accounts. Enquiries: Gregory Gurtovoy, Chairman of the Board: office@bsd-c.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The violence in the City of Charlotte, where a black man was shot to death during protests, shows the lack of spirit between white Americans and African-Americans, according to Donald J. Trump. Keith Lamont Scott was shot to death by an officer Tuesday, while another protester was critically wounded in the 'civilian-on-civilian' shooting. In the wake of violence erupted during a second night of protests over the police killing of the black man, North Carolina's Governor has declared a state of emergency in the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. 'It just seems that there's a lack of spirit between the white and the black. I mean, it's a terrible thing that we're witnessing,' Trump told 'Fox and Friends' Thursday. 'You're seeing it. I'm seeing it, and you look at what went on last night in Charlotte - a great place - and you just see it,' he added. 'There's a lack of something. Something's going on that's bad, and what's going on between police and others is getting worse,' according to the GOP presidential candidate. Meanwhile, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory said he has initiated efforts to deploy the National Guard and Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement in Charlotte. He made it clear that although he understands concerns and frustration, he will not tolerate violence. The Obama Government is facing the ire of the African-Americans as Scott was the third black man killed by US police in a week. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Donald Trump's decision to admit that President Barack Obama was born in the U.S. made headlines last Friday, but the Republican presidential nominee has now suggested that the statement was an effort to prevent the issue from being a distraction. In an interview with ABC6/FOX28 in Toledo, Ohio, on Wednesday, Trump was asked why he changed his mind after years of expressing doubt about Obama's place of birth. 'Well, I just wanted to get on with, you know, we want to get on with the campaign.' Trump said. 'A lot of people were asking me questions.' 'We want to talk about jobs. We want to talk about the military. We want to talk about ISIS and how to get rid of ISIS,' he added. '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, etc.' Trump announced his reversal on the so-called 'birther' issue at an event last Friday at the new Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., in what some referred to as a media stunt. The real estate tycoon spent the better part of the event receiving praise from military veterans and touting the amenities of his hotel before finally declaring that Obama was born in the U.S. Trump blamed Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for first raising the issue of Obama's birthplace, although that claim has been debunked by independent fact checkers. Responding to Trump's interview with the Toledo television statement, the Clinton campaign argued that his remarks prove he was not being sincere. 'After spending 5 years championing a conspiracy theory to undermine our first African American President, Donald Trump hasn't actually changed his mind,' said Clinton Spokesman Jesse Ferguson. 'He only gave his 36 second press statement last week to try to change the subject - and it didn't work.' (Photo: Michael Vadon) Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - For most voters, the 2016 presidential campaign was one to forget, according to a quadrennial post-election survey by Pew Research Center. Post-election evaluations of the way that the winning candidate, the parties, the press and the pollsters conducted themselves during the campaign are all far more negative than after any election dating back to 1988. The survey was conducted November 10-14 among 1,254 voters who were originally interviewed before the election. It finds that half are happy that Trump won the election, while nearly as many (48 percent) are unhappy. That is little different from initial reactions to the election result four years ago, when 52 percent were happy that Barack Obama won. For the first time in Pew Research Center post-election surveys, voters give the losing candidate higher grades than the winner. About four-in-ten (43 percent) give Clinton an A or B, which is 13 percentage points higher than Trump's (30 percent). Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. VAL-D'OR, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 11/03/16 -- Metanor Resources Inc. ("Metanor") (TSX VENTURE: MTO) is pleased to announce it has filed the "NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), Barry Gold Project, Quebec, Canada" in support of the press release published September 22nd 2016. The preliminary economic study ("PEA") completed by Geoservices Inc. GoldMinds, onthe Barry gold project (Mining Lease number BM 886) located 100 km east of Lebel-sur-Quevillon and 115 km south of the Bachelor Mine in Quebec, establishes the following (CAD dollars): -- Net present value (NPV) before taxes (at 6%) of 53.5 M$; -- Internal rate of return (IRR) before taxes of 198%; -- NPV after taxes (at 6%) of 25.9 M$; -- IRR after taxes of 94%; -- Capital startup of 8.5 M$; -- Payback of 0.71 years with a gold price of $1,560 / oz; -- All-in production cost of 1,114$ / oz (US $891 / oz); -- For the life of the mine, a production of 193,457 ounces of gold over 9 years; -- An average of 21,495 ounces of gold production with up to 37,573 ounces in year 2; -- Milling of 1,200 tonnes per day at the Bachelor plant, with an average grade of 1.75 g/t diluted for the life of the mine including the first 3 years at 2.61 g/t with a metallurgical recovery of 95%; -- Strip ratio of 2.17 to 1. The additional details are available in the technical report as well as in the September 22nd press release. ((i)) Cautionary statement NI 43-101: The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred resources that are considered speculative geologically to have economic considerations that would categorize them into mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the conclusions of the PEA will be realized. About Metanor Metanor is a Canadian based gold mining company with a focus on the added value of action by the operation, diligent exploration and development of its properties. Qualified Persons Pascal Hamelin, P. Eng., Vice-president of Operations, is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101, responsible for reviewing and approving the technical information contained in this news release. Claude Duplessis, Ing., of Goldminds Geoservices Inc., is the independent qualified person under NI 43-101 who has prepared and reviewed the technical information contained in this release. Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". The potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature as there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. All statements in this discussion, other than those of historical fact, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and projected exploration, including costs and other estimates upon which such projections are based, and events or developments that the company expects, are considered forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 438,785,949 outstanding shares Contacts: Metanor Resources Inc. Ronald Perry Vice-president 514-262-8286 rperry@metanor.ca PUNE, India, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Global DC-DC Converters Market by Application, Output Number, Input Voltage, Output Voltage, Output Power, Sales Channel, Form Factor, Product Type and Region - Forecast to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets. The global market is projected to reach USD 3.94 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 2.66% during the forecast period. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 90 market data Tables and 66 Figures spread through 185 Pages and in-depth TOC on"Global DC-DC Converters Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/global-dc-dc-converter-market-17565254.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on report. Rapid industrialization in the APAC region is driving the market for DC-DC converters. The wide range of applicability of DC-DC converters across industry segments, especially the high level of growth in the ICT and medical devices segments also bolsters the demand. There is a lack of alternatives for DC-DC converters due to which there is a growing trend towards miniaturization and increasing deployment efficiency. The market players catering to the ICT industry are required to ensure a high speed in innovations in order to keep pace with the quickly changing technological needs of this industry. The communication segment is projected to lead the global DC-DC converters market during the forecast period. The communication segment is estimated to capture the largest market share in 2016. Communication has resulted in transforming the world into a single market. With the rapid development in the communication industry and increased adoption of broadband-enabled mobile devices, the requirement for power supply for communication equipment is also growing at a rapid pace, resulting in driving the demand in the global DC-DC converters market. The three output segment is expected to be the fastest-growing in the global DC-DC converters market, by output number, during the forecast period. At present a majority of the systems are prepared for the multi-tasking approach. Analog and digital circuits need several different supply voltages to operate, resulting in the increased use of multiple output DC-DC converters. Increase in the number of on-board applications is driving the market for the three output segment. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the largest market for global DC-DC converters. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region are home to major DC-DC converter manufacturers. Manufacturers in this region are competing with global rivals in various sectors such as automotive, electronic devices, and industrial components. China, Japan, and Taiwan are estimated to drive the market for DC-DC converters. These countries are major manufacturers of electronic devices such as laptops, cell phones, integrated circuits among others, which is expected to increasingly drive the demand for DC-DC converters. Inquiry Before Buying: - http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=17565254 General Electric (GE) (U.S.), Ericsson (Sweden), Texas Instruments (U.S.), Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd (Japan), and Delta Electronics, Inc. (Taiwan), among others are the key players operational in The Global DC-DC Converters Market. The market share analysis has been carried out by tracking all the products of the key market players, their geographical presence, and recent developments. Browse Related Reports DC-DC Converter Market for Space by Application (Surveillance, Communication, Navigation, Scientific Research, Remote Sensing), Output Voltage (<3.3, 5, 12, 15 VDC), Output Power (<20, 20-40, 40-100, >100 W), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/dc-dc-converter-market-159918662.html Small Satellite Market by Type (Nano, Mini, & Microsatellite), by Application (Earth Observation & Meteorology, Scientific Research & Exploration, Surveillance & Security, and Others), by End-User, by Geography - Global Forecast to 2021 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/small-satellite-market-150947396.html Know More About our Knowledge Store @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Knowledgestore.asp About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr.Rohan Markets and Markets 701 Pike Street, Suite 2175, Seattle, WA 98101, United States Tel: 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://mnmblog.org/market-research/aerospace-defence Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People's Republic of China to offer CPPIB's expertise in assisting Chinese policy-makers as they address the challenges of China's aging population, including pension reform and the promotion of investment in the domestic senior care industry from global investors. "As we continue to deploy capital in important growth markets like China for the benefit of CPP contributors and beneficiaries, there is significant value for a long-term investor like CPPIB in sharing information, experience and successful practices with policy-makers as they work towards improving policy frameworks," said Mark Machin, President & Chief Executive Officer, CPPIB. "We are honoured to have the opportunity to share our perspective and expertise with Chinese policy-makers to tackle the issues of providing for an aging population." As part of the MOU, CPPIB has agreed to share its experiences and leverage its advantages to offer intellectual support to the NDRC in formulating policies related to China's aging population, including providing joint training, workshops and research on pension reform and attracting international capital for the senior care industry. The MOU was included as part of the bilateral agreements signed today, witnessed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and China's Premier Li Keqiang in Ottawa. About Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) is a professional investment management organization that invests the funds not needed by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to pay current benefits on behalf of 19 million contributors and beneficiaries. In order to build a diversified portfolio of CPP assets, CPPIB invests in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed income instruments. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, New York City and Sao Paulo, CPPIB is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm's length from governments. At June 30, 2016, the CPP Fund totalled $287.3 billion. For more information about CPPIB, please visit www.cppib.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Contacts: Dan Madge Senior Manager, Media Relations +1 416 868 8629 dmadge@cppib.com Mei Mavin Director, Corporate Communications +1 646 564 4920 mmavin@cppib.com LAGUNA HILLS, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- See Jane Go, Inc., the first commercially launched women-driving-women ride-hail service, today announced it has been named one of AutoMobility LA and LA Auto Show's 2016 Top Ten Automotive Startups. Winners were selected based on a combination of the following criteria: vision, innovation, broad applicability, the likelihood of adoption/success, execution and management, determination, existing customers, partners and endorsers, revenue potential, business model and demonstrable product. The first app to offer a ride-hail service designed exclusively for women, See Jane Go is creating a movement to provide a new, trusted option for women both as drivers and passengers. Launching initially in Orange County, Calif., See Jane Go offers women an alternative to existing ride-hail options where they may not feel comfortable getting into a car with a male driver. That said, See Jane Go is unique in that it won't exclude males from enjoying its service. In order to partake in See Jane Go, a male passenger will simply need to be hosted by a female passenger. "Only 15 percent of Americans are early adopters of ride hail and one third of Americans are not familiar with existing ride-hail services. This creates ample opportunity for new market entrants that provide differentiation and value," said founder of See Jane Go and prominent wealth manager, William Jordan. "Additionally, only about 25 percent of drivers in the traditional ride-hail space are women. This illustrates a concern that might be causing them to be slow adopters of the driver opportunity. We are thrilled to have AutoMobility LA and the LA Auto Show recognize the market demand for See Jane Go and recognize us as a Top Ten Automotive StartUp." This highly coveted honor sets 10 startups, including See Jane Go, apart from thousands of newcomers by placing products and services on AutoMobility LA's global stage touting each as the hottest startups to hit the new mobility scene. The roster of past winners includes companies such as HopSkipDrive, a rideshare service for kids, which garnered more than $10 million in investments after being named an award recipient. With aggressive plans to expand to cities across the country, See Jane Go is available for download nationwide. To become a See Jane Go driver or rider, register today at www.seejanego.co. Interested investors are encouraged to visit the website to learn more about the investment opportunity. About See Jane Go See Jane Go was conceived during a conversation between Founder William Jordan and his daughter, Savannah, while driving home from an L.A. Lakers game. Savannah expressed interest in driving for an existing ride-hail service and William was adamantly opposed due to concern for his daughter's safety. The idea for See Jane Go, the first women-driving-women ride-hail app, was born. Today, See Jane Go meets the specific needs of female drivers and passengers in Orange County, Calif., with aggressive plans to expand nationwide. It is steered by an all-female executive management team and committed to providing women the opportunity to earn an income on their terms and a trusted ride-hail alternative for female passengers. Interested drivers and riders can join Jane's tribe online at www.seejanego.co. CONTACT: Lindsay Miller Lindsay@echomediapr.com (714) 573-0899 x224 SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - September 22, 2016) - Zephyr Real Estate top producing agent Tanya Dzhibrailova will be a featured speaker at this year's San Francisco Real Estate Mastermind Summit on September 27. Speakers and panelists include San Francisco's top producers who are experts in marketing, sales, networking, time management and much more. Together, they will share their tools and methods for taking success to its next level. Dzhibrailova's list of credentials, achievements and skills is long and distinguished. In addition to being a consistent top producer, she possesses many professional designations: Certified Buyer's Representative (ABR), Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Certified Internet Professional (e-PRO), Certified GREEN Sustainable Property (GREEN), Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), Certified International Property Specialist, and Certified Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES). She is a member of the Women's Council of Realtors and the Top Agent Network. Over 90 percent of her business is repeat or referrals, and her track record speaks for itself. Her Yelp.com and Zillow.com reviews attest to her dedication and commitment to her clients. In an industry charged with ups and downs, the difference between thriving and surviving lies in the skills and strategies developed by real estate professionals. Real Estate Mastermind is committed to achieving that next level. Though the industry is creative and filled with possibilities, it requires work and dedication. The Mastermind summit is designed to help those "who are willing to work for it," according to Steven Marshall, Founder and CEO of Real Estate Executive Magazine. The event is expected to draw over 600 real estate agents and mortgage originators to a standing-room-only crowd. "This is an exciting opportunity, and I am delighted to be a part of Mastermind's top-producer panelists," commented Dzhibrailova. "It's very energizing to be a part of such an elite team." About Zephyr Real Estate Founded in 1978, Zephyr Real Estate is San Francisco's largest independent real estate firm with nearly $2.3 billion in gross sales and a current roster of more than 300 full-time agents. Zephyr's highly-visited website has earned two web design awards, including the prestigious Interactive Media Award. Zephyr Real Estate is a member of the international relocation network, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World; the luxury real estate network, Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate; global luxury affiliate, Mayfair International; and local luxury marketing association, the Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco. Zephyr has six offices in San Francisco, a brand new office in Greenbrae, and two brokerage affiliates in Sonoma County, all strategically positioned to serve a large customer base throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, visit www.ZephyrRE.com. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/9/22/11G115239/Images/Tanya_Dzhibrailova_headshot-9d844078b5b1b688a5114ebdba88fdfe.jpg Contact: Melody Foster Zephyr Real Estate San Francisco, CA 415.426.3203 Email contact Solid sales momentum in Spine, with further acceleration of Jazz in the United States (+101% in the 1 st half) of Jazz in the United States (+101% in the 1 half) Rigorous operational cost control Strong gross margin improvement to 52.5% of revenue Regulatory News: IMPLANET (Euronext: IMPL, FR0010458729, PEA-PME eligible) (Paris:IMPL) (OTCQX:IMPZY), a medical technology company specializing in vertebral and knee-surgery implants, today announces its financial results for the 1st half of the year to June 30, 2016, as approved by the Board at its meeting of September 20, 2016. In thousands IFRS H1 2016 H1 2015 Revenue 4,094 3,307 Cost of products sold -1,943 -2,173 Gross margin 2,152 1,134 Gross margin (%) 52.5% 34.3% Research Development -532 -483 Regulatory matters, Quality control -510 -472 Sales, distribution and marketing costs -2,606 -2,283 Operating costs -526 -398 General costs -1,534 -1,773 Operating Profit/Loss -3,556 -4,275 Net Profit/Loss -3,802 -4,299 Revenue: further ramping up of Jazz in the United States and France Over the 1st half of 2016, the Group recorded revenue of 4.094 thousand, up 24% compared with the 1st half of 2015, notably due to a further increase in Spine activity (+38% compared with H1 2015). This growth momentum was a direct result of Implanet's growth in the United States and France, markets in which Implanet markets its Jazz technological platform directly and where sales increased by 101% and 40% respectively. Close to 800 surgical interventions were carried out using the Jazz technological platform in the 1st half of 2016, taking the total number of patients treated via this technology to more than 2,800 since its launch in 2013 (with more than 15,000 implants in total). The substantial acceleration in the number of surgical operations carried out reflects the growing adoption of Jazz technology by surgeons around the world (111 surgeons as of June 30, 2016), notably due to the excellent clinical results obtained by Jazz in adults and adolescents and the growing use of Jazz technology on the degenerative bone disorder segment, the largest market segment. Knee activity recorded a 12% increase in sales to 2.1 million over the first six months of the year. As anticipated, this increase was driven by the particularly buoyant growth of over 50% on the French market, which now accounts for over 70% of this division's revenue. Strong increase in the gross margin, tight control of the operational structure In the 1st half of 2016, the gross margin came to 52.5% of revenue, a substantial improvement of 18.2 percentage points. This is a direct result of the increase of Jazz sales in the United States, the market with favorable unit sale prices and an excellent overall product and geographic mix. The 302 thousand increase in operating expenses compared with the 1st half of 2015 was mainly due to the 323 thousand increase in sales and marketing costs that accompanied the buoyant growth in activity, in particular in the United States (including 184 thousand in personnel costs following the strengthening of the sales team and the appointment of Brian T. Ennis to head the US subsidiary, as well as a 173 thousand in sales commissions paid to sales agents). Other operating costs remained stable compared with the 1st half of 2015, reflecting tight control over expenses. Taking all these factors into account, Implanet recorded a 17% improvement in its operating result to -3,556 thousand in the 1st half of 2016 (vs. -4,275 thousand in H1 2015) and a 12% improvement in its net loss to -3,802 thousand (vs. -4,299 thousand in H1 2015). Cash, cash equivalents and financial investments As of June 30, 2016, Implanet had cash and cash equivalents of 2.0 million and financial investments of 1.9 million, i.e. a total of 3.9 million. Operating cash burn was 3.5 million in the first half of 2016, versus 4.6 million in the first half of 2015 (giving a 24% reduction in cash burn). Implanet also has the possibility to request, under certain conditions, the subscription of 340 convertible bonds coupled with equity warrants (OCABSA) with L1 EUROPEAN HEALTHCARE OPPORTUNITIES FUND for a total amount of 3.4 million, and recently obtained an interest-free innovation loan of 0.8 million from Bpifrance Aquitaine. Ludovic Lastennet, CEO of Implanet, says: "Over the first half of this year, we have successfully continued to implement our growth strategy in our direct markets: France and the United States. This strategy prioritizes the following development routes: continue our expansion via the contribution of the new Jazz Claw implant for major deformities and Jazz Lock implant for degenerative bone disorders, demonstrate Jazz's clinical efficacy through major clinical studies and continue improving our financial performance through the ramping up in the United States and tight control over our spending. Significant milestones and events in 2016 Since the beginning of 2016, Implanet has continued its buoyant growth on the Spine segment (Jazz), the Company's core business and main development priority, driven by conclusive results, notably in the United States and France. Clinical Success of the first idiopathic scoliosis surgical procedure in Brazil using the Jazz platform; Launch of a multicenter clinical study designed to document the outcomes of Jazz technology in adult degenerative and adult deformity indications; Success of the first surgical procedures in France, Italy and the USA with the new Jazz Lock implant. Innovation Regulatory American (510k) and European (CE) regulatory clearance granted for the new Jazz Lock implant; American (510k) and European (CE) regulatory clearance granted for the new Jazz Claw implant; Key US patent obtained, further strengthening Implanet's competitive advantage in the United States. Financing Listing on the OTCQX International market in the United States; Issuance of the remaining bonds convertible into stock and stock warrants within the framework of the financing put in place in October 2015; Zero-interest innovation loan of 800 thousand agreed with Bpifrance. Appointments Appointment of Brian T. Ennis as President of Implanet America; Appointment of Mary E. Shaughnessy, Senior VP Finance Planning at the Partners CC group, as an independent Board member. Next financial press release: revenue for the 3rd quarter of 2016, on October 25, 2016 About IMPLANET Founded in 2007, IMPLANET is a medical technology company that manufactures high-quality implants for orthopedic surgery. Its flagship product, the JAZZ latest-generation implant, aims to treat spinal pathologies requiring vertebral fusion surgery. Protected by four families of international patents, JAZZ has obtained 510(k) regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and the CE mark. IMPLANET employs 48 staff and recorded 2015 sales of 6.7 million. For further information, please visit www.implanet.com. Based near Bordeaux in France, IMPLANET established a US subsidiary in Boston in 2013. IMPLANET is listed on Compartment C of the Euronext regulated market in Paris. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005753/en/ Contacts: IMPLANET Ludovic Lastennet CEO Tel.: +33 (0)5 57 99 55 55 investors@implanet.com or NewCap Investor Relations Florent Alba, Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 implanet@newcap.eu or NewCap Media Relations Nicolas Merigeau, Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 implanet@newcap.eu or AlphaBronze US-Investor Relations Pascal Nigen, Tel.: +1 917 385 21 60 implanet@alphabronze.net Regulatory News: Adocia (Paris:ADOC) (Euronext Paris: FR0011184241 ADOC), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on diabetes treatment with innovative formulations of approved proteins, announces today that it received the EY Global Company Award for the Auvergne Rhone-Alpes region, during the 24th EY Entrepreneur of the Year event in Lyon. The award ceremony, which was co-organized by the newspapers l'Express, took place on Tuesday September 20th in the reception rooms of Lyon's City Hall, in the presence of David Kimelfeld, First Vice President of the Lyon Metropole and of Emmanuel Imberton, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Lyon Metropole St Etienne Roanne. Adocia received the Global Company Award, which recognizes a company who is a leader on its market and whose strategy and culture are international, with at least 25% of its turnover made overseas. "We are delighted to receive the EY Global Company Award. We would like to share it with the teams of Adocia who daily contribute to the development of the company." said Gerard Soula, President and CEO of Adocia. "This award also recognizes our strategy focused on innovation in diabetes treatment and our internationally reknowned expertise." For more than 20 years, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award has been first presented to companies in a regional competition. Regional laureates then compete for the National Award in their respective category. The EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award benefits from the financial support of its partners Group Edmond the Rothschild, Verlingue, Bpifrance and the media support of Les Echos and Widoobiz. About ADOCIA Adocia is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that specializes in the development of innovative formulations of already-approved therapeutic proteins. Adocia's insulin formulation portfolio, featuring four clinical-stage products and one preclinical product, is among the largest and most differentiated in the industry. The proprietary BioChaperone technological platform is designed to enhance the effectiveness and/or safety of therapeutic proteins while making them easier for patients to use. Adocia customizes BioChaperone to each protein for a given application in order to address specific patient needs. Adocia's clinical pipeline includes four novel insulin formulations for the treatment of diabetes: two ultra-rapid formulations of insulin analogs (BioChaperone Lispro U100 and U200), a rapid-acting formulation of human insulin (HinsBet U100) and a combination of insulin glargine and a rapid-acting insulin analog (BioChaperone Combo). Adocia is also developing an aqueous formulation of human glucagon (BioChaperone Glucagon), two combinations of insulin glargine with GLP-1s (BioChaperone Glargine Dulaglutide and BioChaperone Glargine Liraglutide) and a concentrated, rapid-acting formulation of human insulin (HinsBet U500), all of which are in preclinical development. In December 2014, Adocia signed a partnership with Eli Lilly for the development and commercialization of the BioChaperone Lispro projects. Adocia aims to deliver "Innovative medicine for everyone, everywhere." To learn more about Adocia, please visit us at www.adocia.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005860/en/ Contacts: Adocia Gerard Soula, Tel.: +33 4 72 610 610 Chairman and CEO contactinvestisseurs@adocia.com or Adocia Press Relations Europe MC Services AG Raimund Gabriel, Tel.: +49 89 210 228 0 raimund.gabriel@mc-services.eu adocia@mc-services.eu or Adocia Investor Relations USA The Ruth Group Tram Bui, Tel.: +646.536.7035 tbui@theruthgroup.com SHANGHAI, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The 10th Interpol Intellectual Crime Conference was held on 19-20 September 2016 at the iconic Guildhall in the City of London. The event was jointly hosted by the City of London Police and Underwriters Laboratories. The central conference theme was to crack down on international intellectual property crime and consolidate on the decade of success to date. Sinofaith IP Group was a Platinum Sponsor of the meeting. Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160922/0861609839 The agenda was wide and varied with senior law enforcement, local dignitaries, senior government officials and prominent private sector representatives speaking on topics including measuring investigative effectiveness, the impact of technology, the realities of enforcement cooperation, challenges in the pharmaceutical field, disruption of financial transactions related to IP crime, regulating the proliferation of Free Trade Zones, food related crimes and looking to the future. With over 500 delegates attending, the sessions promoted informed and thought-provoking debate. Joann Chan, the vice president of Sinofaith IP group, undertook speaking roles on China Free Trade Zones IPR protection and facilitated a well-received breakout session on cross-border IP crime enforcement. The conference was deemed an overwhelming success. Sinofaith has been a consistent supporter of the event over the years and will continue its patronage going forward in furtherance of its commitment to the principles of good governance and to play its part in the fight against IP infringement, which poses many dangers to consumers and society at large. Contact Person: Cassie Office Number: +86-755-8359-9993 Email: cassie@proexpo.cc To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-representative-of-sinofaith-ip-group-spoke-on-the-10th-interpol-international-ip-crime-conference-300332700.html HOUSTON, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Orthodontists across Europe who have integrated AcceleDent into their aligner treatment protocols report improved predictability of clinical outcomes resulting in a superior orthodontic experience. AcceleDent employs patented SoftPulse Technology that more efficiently and effectively translates orthodontic forces from braces or aligners thereby increasing the predictability of tooth movement. Manufactured by OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc., AcceleDent, which has also received FDA clearance, bears the CE mark as a Class 2A medical device in accordance with the Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC/Annex V by the London-based British Standards Institute. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410891 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410890 Dr. Tommaso Castroflorio and Dr. Francesco Garino, two highly respected orthodontists and lecturers, say that AcceleDent, when used for 20 minutes a day by patients, improves aligner tracking and predictability. Invisalign Platinum Elite Providers, Castroflorio and Garino are well-published orthodontic researchers who serve as founding partners and board members of the European Aligner Society. "I offer AcceleDent to my aligner patients because the pulsatile force helps better seat the aligners so that the teeth track more predictably," said Castroflorio, who is a professor at University of Torino's School of Orthodontics. His practice, Studio Associato Icardi Castroflorio Odontoiatri has two locations -one in Torino and the other in Neive. "The biomechanical forces of the aligners and attachments are only effective if the aligners seat perfectly on the teeth, so having patients use AcceleDent during aligner therapy helps ensure the forces designed into the aligners are delivered efficiently and effectively." Castroflorio says that the clinical benefits of AcceleDent are significant and that patients are attracted to it because they get the beautiful smile they want more quickly and with less discomfort. One of his patients, a 25-year-old female, presented as a Class II malocclusion with a transversal deficiency and excessive 10+ mm overjet. The patient is a makeup artist who travels frequently between the United Kingdom and the United States so she was interested in a comfortable and efficient orthodontic solution. Castroflorio prescribed aligner therapy with AcceleDent. Her treatment included 60 aligners with a projected duration of 30 months without AcceleDent. With AcceleDent however, the patient completed treatment in 18 months without any midcourse corrections or refinement aligners. "This case demonstrates that AcceleDent is effective for even complex treatments and that it creates convenience for busy patients," said Castroflorio, who added that the patient was instructed to change aligners every seven days and, to accommodate her busy travel schedule, she only needed to return to the office every four-to-six months for monitoring. "AcceleDent allows my staff and me to remain one step ahead throughout the entire treatment process, creating a more desirable treatment experience for everyone, especially the patient." Similarly, Garino, a Diplomate of the European Board of Orthodontics who practices at Studio Ortodontico Associato Dr. Garino in Torino, says that AcceleDent creates added efficiency for his practice. "AcceleDent improves tooth tracking, allowing us to achieve a clinical outcome that more closely aligns with our virtual projections," said Garino. "Specifically, when an aligner treatment protocol is complex, AcceleDent reduces the number and duration of aligner refinements while also reducing the pain patients experience when changing their aligners." During a consult with a 14-year-old patient and his family, Garino offered AcceleDent after noticing that the teenager was highly motivated to complete correction of a Class I malocclusion. The patient also presented with crowding on both arches and a deepbite. Instructed to change aligners every week because of the accelerated treatment, the patient completed treatment with 28 aligners in just eight months with no refinement aligners. Garino predicted that standard treatment for this non-extraction expansion case would have taken 14 months. "Because the patient was compliant in using AcceleDent 20 minutes a day, treatment progressed more predictably and his treatment completed faster. The patient also reported that he did not experience any pain when changing his aligners," added Garino. When assessing retention at the patient's one-year follow up appointment, Garino reported that results remained stable. According to the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, AcceleDent is the most common accelerated treatment technique used by orthodontists. The innovative technology is currently available in 300 orthodontic locations in Europe and in more than 3,300 orthodontic locations in North America. For more information about AcceleDent or to view additional case presentations, visit AcceleDent.co.uk. Based in Essen, Germany, OrthoAccel's EMEA office can be contacted at +49.322.2109 6266. About OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc. OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc. is a privately owned medical device company engaged in the creation, manufacturing, marketing and sales of innovative solutions that enhance dental care and orthodontic treatment. Among the company's innovations is AcceleDent, an FDA-cleared, Class II medical device that speeds up orthodontic treatment by as much as 50 percent and reduces discomfort associated with orthodontic treatment when used in conjunction with braces or aligners. OrthoAccel, the Leader in Accelerated Orthodontics, has received positive feedback from patients and leading orthodontists from around the world who recommend the award-winning AcceleDent as the fast, safe and gentle solution to accelerate orthodontic treatment. Ranked onDeloitte's 2015 Technology Fast 500as one of the fastest growing companies in North America, OrthoAccel is based in Houston, Texas and maintains a global presence through its EMEA office in Essen, Germany. To learn more about OrthoAccel's focus on improving the journey to healthy, beautiful smiles, visit AcceleDent.com. NEEDHAM, MA--(Marketwired - September 22, 2016) - Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI), a division of Cambridge Innovation Institute, announces extended programming for its 8 th Annual SCOPE: Summit for Clinical Ops Executives at the Hyatt Regency Miami, FL, January 24-26, 2017. January 24-25: Protocol Development, Global Site Selection, Feasibility and Site Management Enrollment Planning and Patient Recruitment Clinical Trial Forecasting and Budgeting Establishing and Outsourcing Strategy Implementing Risk-Based Monitoring - Part 1 Clinical Data Strategy and Analytics Managing Late Stage Research and Observational Studies Symposium: Managing Precision Trials January 25-26: Improving Site-Study Activation and Performance Patient Engagement, Enrollment and Retention through Communities and Technology Managing Outsourced Clinical Trials Implementing Risk-Based Monitoring - Part 2 Clinical Technology and Innovation Leveraging Real World Data for Clinical and Observational Research Symposium: Sample, Lab and Diagnostic Services in Clinical Trials "SCOPE has grown over the past eight years into a must-attend clinical trial innovation and biopharma clin ops leadership gathering with over 1,200 delegates," said Micah Lieberman, CHI's executive conference director. "CHI's primary objective is to build a world-class program for large and small biopharma companies, CROs, tech vendors, sites, and academia so they can overcome clinical operations challenges, get new therapies to patients faster, and meet new partners." Day One officially starts at 8:20 am on January 24, 2017, with a co-presentation by Katherine Vandebelt, Senior Director of Clinical Innovation; and Janelle Sabo, Senior Group Director of Product Delivery at Eli Lilly and Company. They will present "Bringing Design Thinking into Clinical Trials," which considers how we can re-evaluate our current approach to the planning and management of our studies. The presentation will be followed by an executive panel led by Craig Lipset, Head of Clinical Innovation at Pfizer Inc. The panel will feature thought-leaders from Biogen, Genentech, GSK and Eli Lilly. Day Two's plenary keynote session starts with our annual Clinical Informatics News' "Best Practices Awards" and then a keynote by Jeremy Sohn, a VP and the Head of Digital Business Development & Licensing at Novartis. Jeremy will present on clinical innovations underway today that seem to be the most successful to date and how we can, as an industry, accelerate meaningful change in the ways we run our trials. The panel following will then focus on how to "Move Digital Health Innovation from PowerPoint to Action." There are plenty of other highlights as well, including 6 short courses, 18 breakout discussion groups, networking functions, and an exhibit hall with 135 exhibitors. Bioclinica endorsed SCOPE 2017 as a Signature Sponsor. Premier Sponsors include BBK Worldwide, Clinical Ink, Comprehend, DrugDev, inVentive Health, OmniComm Systems, Inc., PAREXEL International Corporation, PRA Health Sciences, and Quintiles. For more information, visit www.scopesummit.com. Writers and editors are invited to attend. To request a press pass, email Lisa Scimemi, lscimemi@healthtech.com. About Cambridge Healthtech Institute (http://www.healthtech.com) Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI), a division of Cambridge Innovation Institute, is the preeminent life science network for leading researchers and business experts from top pharmaceutical, biotech, CROs, academia, and niche service providers. CHI is renowned for its vast conference portfolio held worldwide including PepTalk, Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference, SCOPE Summit, Bio-IT World Conference & Expo, PEGS Summit, Drug Discovery Chemistry, Biomarker World Congress, World Preclinical Congress, Next Generation Dx Summit and Discovery on Target. CHI's portfolio of products include Cambridge Healthtech Institute Conferences, Barnett International, Insight Pharma Reports, Cambridge Marketing Consultants, Cambridge Meeting Planners, Knowledge Foundation, Bio-IT World, Clinical Informatics News and Diagnostics World. Lisa Scimemi Corporate Marketing Communications Director lscimemi@healthtech.com VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - September 22, 2016) - Optimize Consulting Inc., an international business performance consultancy, announces its expansion in the United Kingdom, through a new partnership with former U.K. Consul General Rupert Potter. Rupert's extensive expertise, knowledge and global network, is a natural fit for Optimize to further enhance its clients' operational performance, expansion and succession planning. In his role as British Consul General from 2012 to 2016 he supported British businesses in Canada, and helped Canadian companies looking to invest in the U.K. Rupert is highly regarded as a motivational leader with a record of delivering strong organizational performance, and is a specialist in international relationship development. "I am really excited to be joining the talented team at Optimize Consulting, and at this moment in particular," he said. "The UK's decision to leave the E.U. means businesses are wondering what the future holds, and more importantly, how to ensure they can thrive in a new context. Creating a clear workable strategy, delivering change and developing excellent leadership is always a fantastic challenge; and it's more crucial than ever right now. It's also incredibly rewarding, so I'm looking forward to helping our clients succeed through this uncertain period, and beyond." 2016 is proving to be a year of dynamic change. From the UK's decision to leave the E.U. to the U.S. elections, resource price challenges and disruptive technologies; a constantly shifting global environment means companies have to be fluid in adapting and learn the most effective strategies going forward. President of Optimize, Mark Crocker, said, "This is a time of great potential growth for companies willing to take the necessary steps. Businesses in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe can start scenario planning to determine what Brexit will mean for them, and put the necessary processes in place to maximize their performance. Being on the ground, with Rupert joining the team, brings us closer to our clients to support them in their growth." About Optimize Consulting Inc. Optimize www.optimizeconsulting.ca is a multi-national consultancy which helps clients to unlock latent potential and enhance their business performance. With offices in Canada, the Middle East and U.K., they help clients to create clear workable strategies, develop leadership, and deliver changes that are right for them, ensuring they adapt and thrive. The approach has delivered remarkable results for businesses in a wide range of sectors, including energy, technology, financial services and healthcare. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/9/21/11G115110/Images/Rupert-1faaeb9666b79cfa863f4f4980e4e986.jpg For more information and media inquiries, do not hesitate to contact Mark Crocker 403-630-0562 email mark.crocker@optimizeconsulting.ca In the U.K. Contact: Rupert Potter Phone: +44 7495 919 926 Email: rupert.potter@optimizeconsulting.org ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Chibougamau Independent Mines Inc. (TSX VENTURE: CBG) (STUT: CLL) is pleased to announce to shareholders that it has acquired 100% interest in 12 claims thereby giving Chibougamau Independent Mines Inc. ("Chibougamau") 100% interest in the Mont Sorcier iron/titanium/vanadium deposit now consisting of 57 claims located in Roy Township (32G16) 18 km east of the Town of Chibougamau. The Mont Sorcier property covers two strataform, sub-vertical magmatic separation type magnetite/titanium/ vanadium deposits associated with gabbroic and anorthositic rocks of the Lac Dore complex, termed the North and South Zones. The North Zone is 2.4 km long by up to 137 m wide and the South Zone is 2.1 km long by up to 61 m wide. Both zones are open to depth. The Mont Sorcier zones have undergone several stages of drilling and metallurgical test work. Work by Campbell Chibougamau Mines Ltd. and Quebec Government Laboratories generated the following historic resource. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ South Zone 102,800,000 tons grading 27.4% Fe and 1.05% Ti02 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ North Zone 171,000,000 tons grading 30.0% Fe and 1.06% Ti02 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The resources described above are historic and met the industry standard of the day. A qualified person has not done sufficient work for Chibougamau to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resource and Chibougamau is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources under National Instrument 43-101 and CIM Standards for mineral resources and reserves. These historical resources should not be relied upon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Davis Tube Tests done in 1974 returned the following magnetite concentrate analysis from the zones. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ South Zone 67.8% Fe Grade of Magnetite Concentrate -------------------- 0.95% Ti02 -------------------- 0.68% V205 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ North Zone 66.2% Fe Grade of Magnetite Concentrate -------------------- 1.32% Ti02 -------------------- 0.57% V205 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Combined Zones ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ratio of mineralized zone to magnetite concentrate 2.88:1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Potential tons of magnetite concentrate 93,900,900 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Source: Ferchib Project, Campbell Chibougamau Mines Ltd., Magnetite Bay Deposit - North Zone, 1965/1966 and 1974. Diamond Drill Hole Assays, Davis Tube Test Results Dec. 1974, GM 31867). And Ferchib Project, Campbell Chibougamau Mines Ltd., Magnetite Bay Deposit - South Zone, 1965/1966 and 1974. Diamond Drill Hole Assays, Davis Tube Test Results Jan. 1975, GM 31867). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In addition to the zones of iron, titanium and vanadium, there are two sulphide horizons, the Sulphur Converting Zone, north of and parallel to the North Zone which extend for a strike length of at least 1,500 meters and having widths of up to 25 metres. The enclosing rocks are chloritized felsic tuff. The sulphide mineralization consists of massive and stringer pyrrhotite and pyrite with chalcopyrite (Cu) and sphalerite (Zn). Historical drilling also encountered gold and silver mineralization. Trenching was reported to have returned up to 1.22 gpt Au over 1.22 m with a grab sample at the same spot from a sulphide vein returned 21.81 gpt Au and 1.8% Cu. Grab samples from a magnetite vein returned up to 6.64% Zn and 4.07% Cu. Grab samples are selective by nature and are unlikely to be representative of average grades. Chibougamau staff has not yet returned to the showing in order to resample it. As a result of the acquisition of the 12 claims which now give Chibougamau 100% interest in both the North and South Zones, Globex and Chibougamau have agreed that Globex's 3% Gross Metal Royalty (GMR) on the original Mont Sorcier claim group will be reduced to 1% GMR but will now apply to the expanded Mont Sorcier claim package. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release. This press release was written by Jack Stoch, P. Geo., President and CEO of Chibougamau Independent Mines Inc. in his capacity as a Qualified Person (Q.P.) under NI 43-101. We Seek Safe Harbour. CUSIP Number 167101 203 Forward Looking Statements Except for historical information this News Release may contain certain "forward looking statements". These statements may involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity and performance to be materially different from the Companies expectations and projections. A more detailed discussion of the risks is available under "disclaimer" on the Company's website. 37,228,542 shares issued and outstanding Contacts: Jack Stoch, P.Geo., Acc.Dir. President & CEO 819.797.5242 819.797.1470 (FAX) info@chibougamaumines.com www.chibougamaumines.com Strategic financing to further accelerate Impartner's leadership in the partner relationship management market SILICON SLOPES, Utah, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global pure-play Partner Relationship Management (PRM) leader Impartner today announced that it has received $8 million in growth capital financing from ORIX Growth Capital, a leading growth finance company, and Silicon Valley Bank, the bank of the world's most innovative companies and their investors. The financing from ORIX and Silicon Valley Bank will allow Impartner to further accelerate their already strong growth by increasing sales and marketing expenditure, continuing to capture momentum in the fast growing PRM market, which analysts estimate could be as large as $5 billion. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150821/260238LOGO "Impartner is a clear innovator in the PRM space," said Jeff Bede, co-head and managing director at ORIX Growth Capital. "We recognize the growing PRM market opportunity and Impartner's differentiated product suite and strong customer traction. We believe Impartner has the right management team and product offering to maintain a leading market position in this sector." "Since the acquisition of Impartner (formerly known as Treehouse Interactive) by Kennet Partners in the spring of 2015, Impartner has been on an absolutely explosive growth trajectory driven by companies' increasing focus on accelerating revenue by embracing indirect channels," said Bert Young, Impartner chief financial officer. "We couldn't be more pleased to have ORIX and SVB as our investment partners in fueling additional growth and we appreciate their understanding of the market opportunity and their willingness to grow with the company over time." In the past eighteen months, Impartner has focused on taking PRM functionality to main street corporations; making powerful PRM functionality available in an out-of-the-box solution that delivers ROI in as few as 30 days. In the process, Impartner has won numerous national and international awards that have turned it into the most award-winning PRM vendor in the market. About ORIX Growth Capital ORIX Growth Capital specializes in designing highly customized financing solutions for high-growth companies with investments starting around $5 million and growing to $50 million. The team has committed over $1.4 billion to more than 125 companies. ORIX Growth Capital is a business unit of ORIX USA, a Dallas-based financial services firm known for providing innovative capital solutions that clients need to propel their business to the next level. With more than 600 employees spanning 20 offices across the U.S. and Brazil, ORIX USA and its family of companies hold $6 billion of assets and manage an additional $29 billion, approximately. Its parent company, ORIX Corporation, is a Tokyo-based, publicly owned international financial services company with operations in 37 countries and regions worldwide. ORIX Corporation is listed on the Tokyo (8591) and New York Stock Exchanges (IX). For more information on ORIX Growth Capital, visit www.orix.com/growth-capital. About Silicon Valley Bank For more than 30 years, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has helped innovative companies and their investors move bold ideas forward, fast. SVB provides targeted financial services and expertise through its offices in innovation centers around the world. With commercial, international and private banking services, SVB helps address the unique needs of innovators. Learn more at svb.com. About Impartner With nearly two decades of experience in accelerating indirect sales, Impartner delivers the industry's most advanced SaaS-based Partner Relationship Management solution, helping companies worldwide manage their partner relationships and accelerate revenue and profitability through indirect sales channels. The largest pure-play PRM vendor in the world, Impartner provides the industry's only out-of-the-box solution that can deploy an enterprise-class Partner Portal in as few as 30 days, using the company's highly engineered, multi-award winning, three-step Velocity' onboarding process. For more information on Impartner, which is based in Utah's tech hotbed, the Silicon Slopes, visit www.impartner.com, or in the United States call +1 801 501 7000, for EMEA general call +33 1 40 90 31 20, for London call +44 0 20 3283 4465, and for LATAM call +1 954 364 7883. Follow Impartner on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Contact: Kerry Desberg Impartner 425-231-9529 kerry.desberg@impartner.com DARMSTADT, Germany, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- New partnership under Healthy Women, Healthy Economies initiative facilitates women to overcome health barriers to economic participation Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced its partnership with the Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS) of Jordan to advance health awareness and education particularly on thyroid disease amongst Jordanian women. Women are five to eight times more likely to suffer from thyroid disorders than men[1]. This memorandum of understanding and its resulting policies, which has been signed today, will support women's health and well-being in Jordan, helping women to be more active participants in their local economies. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410985 ) "We areexcited aboutour new partnership with Merck, which opens new horizons for RHAS toscale up andexpand its outreachwith a particular focus on women," Hanin Odeh, Director General of RHAS, commented on thesigning."Through this initiative, we are not onlyhelpingwomen look after the health of their children and familiesbetter, but more importantly, ensuring that women are looking after theirownhealth.No doubt, if women are not healthy, we are jeopardizing our country's potential on various levels. We are glad that we could benefit from Merck's experience in this area, and adapt scientific and tested approaches, towards a healthier Jordan." The memorandum is part of the global Healthy Women, Healthy Economies initiative, an innovative public-private partnership that explicitly links the issue of women's health and well-being with economic growth. The partnership will focus on developing a thyroid awareness campaign through expanding the Healthy Community Clinic program under RHAS' umbrella. This campaign aims to reach patients, most of whom are women, and health practitioners to promote healthy lifestyles, raise awareness on the importance of diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease, and it will lay the ground work for further programs addressing other non-communicable diseases that disproportionately affect women. "Advocating for better health, and especially women's health, creates a ripple effect, uplifting entire families, communities and future generations. We are proud to partner with RHAS to expand the Healthy Women, Healthy Economies initiative into Jordan. When women do better, communities become stronger and this reflects favourably on economies," said Belen Garijo, Member of the Executive Board and CEO Healthcare at Merck. This memorandum is now the second of its kind signed by Merck under the program, following a 2015 partnership with the Philippine Department of Health and Philippine Thyroid Association. Healthy Women, Healthy Economies is an innovative public-private partnership under the auspices of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, Merck, and the U.S. and Philippine governments that explicitly links the issue of women's health and well-being with economic growth. Merck pursues three strategic spheres of corporate responsibility, namely health, environment and culture. Healthy Women, Healthy Economies brings to life Merck's heritage of corporate responsibility and long-term vision to tackle big issues in health, like gender equality in the workforce and access to high-quality health solutions. Healthy Women, Healthy Economies brings together the evidence about women's health and well-being and its impact on economic growth with the best practices that governments, employers and non-governmental organizations can follow. It aims to identify and implement policies that advance women's health and well-being to increase their economic participation in the societies they live in. References According to the American Thyroid Associationhttp://bit.ly/1X9oSBf About RHAS The Royal Health Awareness Society was established in 2005 under the direction of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah to promote health awareness and to empower Jordanians to adopt healthy lifestyles and behaviors. To achieve its mission, RHAS adopts a comprehensive approach, through implementing preventative public health and safety programs based on the right to health for all, targeting school children, youth and the community at large. All Merck Press Releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Website. Please go to http://www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service. About Merck Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life - from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck generated sales of 12.85 billion in 66 countries. Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151207/293543LOGO ) (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151019/278051LOGO ) WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has expressed support for the controversial policy of 'stop-and-frisk' as part of an effort to reduce crime. In a town hall hosted by Sean Hannity of Fox News on Wednesday, Trump was asked what he would do to address 'violence in the black community' and 'black-on-black crime.' 'I would do stop-and-frisk,' Trump said. 'I think you have to. We did it in New York, it worked incredibly well and you have to be proactive and, you know, you really help people sort of change their mind automatically.' He added, 'In New York City it was so incredible, the way it worked. Now, we had a very good mayor, but New York City was incredible, the way that worked, so I think that could be one step you could do.' 'Stop-and-frisk' policies allow police officers to stop and pat down individuals they deem suspicious, although the practice has been criticized as amounting to racial profiling. A federal judge in New York ruled in 2013 that the practice is unconstitutional, as it unlawfully targeted blacks and Latinos. Trump later told 'Fox and Friends' he was specifically referring to implementing 'stop-and-frisk' to address the spike in violent crime in Chicago and not proposing a national policy. 'I think Chicago needs stop and frisk,' Trump said. 'You have to do something. It can't continue the way it's going.' (Photo: Michael Vadon) Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- On Friday, September 23, the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) will honor six Albertans who have dedicated their lives and their careers to improving the health care and wellness of Albertans. The evening awards presentation will take place during the AMA's Annual General Meeting and Representative Forum (RF) at the Hyatt Regency in Calgary. The AMA's Medal of Honor and Medal for Distinguished Service represent the highest honors bestowed by the AMA. The AMA Award for Compassionate Service will also be presented. The AMA Medal of Honor is presented to non-physicians who have made a significant personal contribution to ensuring quality health care for the people of Alberta. This year there are two Medal of Honor recipients. Dave Colburn is a tireless advocate for student health and wellness. First elected to Edmonton Public Schools in 2004, Mr. Colburn was instrumental in eliminating unhealthy foods from school vending machines and played a pivotal role in championing several other important issues. This included working to stop school closures in mature communities and creating policies to protect the rights of LGBTQ students. Mr. Colburn holds a master's degree in sociology from Dalhousie University and spent more than 30 years working as a conductor and locomotive engineer with first CN Rail and later Via Rail. Today, he is a student wellness advisor for the Canadian School Boards Association and a student wellness consultant for the Alberta School Boards Association. Dr. Jocelyn M. Lockyer's commitment to medical education and to advancing the role of family physicians has had a measurable impact on the health and wellbeing of people across Alberta. A highly respected leader, scholar and researcher, she has been instrumental in developing educational programs, activities, courses and tools at the University of Calgary that improve both physician practice and patient care. Dr. Lockyer holds a master's degree in health administration from the University of Ottawa and in 2002 received a PhD from the University of Calgary's Faculty of Education. A passionate educator and researcher, she has been involved in several collaborative research projects. In 2012, Dr. Lockyer was appointed senior associate dean of Medical Education in the Cumming School of Medicine. The Medal for Distinguished Service is awarded to physicians who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their community and passion for their work. Each of this year's three recipients have made outstanding contributions to the medical profession and to the people of Alberta and, in the process, have raised the standards of medical practice in our province. Dr. John M. Conly is considered one of the world's preeminent experts on antimicrobial resistance. He has served in several leadership roles at the University of Calgary, including as head of Internal Medicine and co-chair of the Institute of Inflammation, Infection and Immunity (now the Snyder Institute). In addition to his expertise in antibiotic resistance, infectious disease, hospital epidemiology and molecular epidemiology, Dr. Conly is an expert in health care innovations, particularly the use of technology to enhance health care delivery. Dr. Conly is a professor in the departments of Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary. He is also the medical director, Infection Prevention and Control, at the Foothills Medical Centre and medical director of Alberta Health Services Antimicrobial Utilization and Stewardship program. Dr. Christopher J. (Chip) Doig, a former president of the AMA, is a highly respected expert on the care of the critically ill and a tireless champion for the medical profession. Dr. Doig joined the staff of the Foothills Medical Centre in 1995. In 2004, he became the ICU medical director in the Department of Critical Care Medicine, where he quickly became known for his expertise in resuscitation of the critically ill and his ability to manage patients with severe sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome with care and compassion. Dr. Doig is an accomplished researcher with numerous publications in leading national and international journals. He was recently bestowed the Canadian Medical Association's Dr. William Marsden Award in Medical Ethics for his exemplary leadership, commitment and dedication in advancing and promoting excellence in medical ethics. Dr. Charles H. Harley is a skilled clinician, impassioned teacher and visionary leader who has dedicated his almost 50-year career to the advancement and improvement of health care for patients and their families. He has served in many leadership roles including as facility medical director at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. He has been instrumental in the creation of many important initiatives, including the expansion of physiatrist positions to support stroke and brain injury rehabilitation and implementing bed map changes to the Glenrose to facilitate patients returning home rather than transferring to continuing care. In 1972 Dr. Harley embarked on a teaching career that would span several decades and influence thousands of medical students. He helped develop the pioneering International Medical Graduate Clinical Preceptorship Program, where he has served as medical director since 2003. This year, the AMA will also present its second annual Award for Compassionate Service, given to a physician who has demonstrated outstanding compassion, dedication and extraordinary contributions to volunteer or philanthropy efforts to improve the state of his or her community. Dr. Annalee Coakley has dedicated her career to caring for marginalized and vulnerable patients, including the many refugees who arrive in Canada dealing with myriad health issues after enduring unimaginable trauma. As medical director of the Mosaic Refugee Health Clinic in Calgary, she not only provides compassionate care to new Canadians, but also advocates for her patients locally, nationally and internationally, and works tirelessly to ensure her patients receive the highest standard of care. She was part of a team of concerned citizens who spoke out about cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program, spending countless hours working directly with patients who had been declined status or lost their health care privileges. More recently, Dr. Coakley marshaled the community to welcome and care for the influx of Syrian refugees arriving in Calgary. Contacts: Shannon Rupnarain Assistant Executive Director, Public Affairs Alberta Medical Association Cell: 780.907.9003 media@albertadoctors.org CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) will install its president for 2016 on Saturday, September 24, during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Representative Forum (RF) at the Hyatt Regency in Calgary. The AMA president serves a one-year term, in addition to one year each as president-elect and immediate past president. Dr. Padraic E. Carr will officially assume the role of AMA president at the end of the RF meeting on Saturday afternoon. Dr. Carr is a psychiatrist in Edmonton. He received his medical degree in 1990 from the University of Alberta. In 1995 he became site leader/facility chief for Grey Nuns Community Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, a position he held for 11 years. He was president of the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta, the Alberta Psychiatric Association, the Grey Nuns Community Hospital Medical Staff, and representative to the Assembly of the American Psychiatric Association for Western Canada. More recently, he was president of the Canadian Psychiatric Association. He was recognized internationally in 2004 as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Carr has mentored and instructed medical students and residents for 21 years and is currently a clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta. Dr. Carr has been actively involved on many AMA committees, beginning in 1992 as the resident representative on the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws. He was a member of the Board of Directors from 2006-14 and has been a Representative Forum delegate since 2003. In his role as AMA president, Dr. Carr will serve as a member of the Board of Directors and on various committees. During the AGM, current AMA President Dr. Carl W. Nohr will reflect on some of the highlights of his year as president and comment on the events and issues that have defined his term. Dr. Nohr will also officially welcome the Canadian Medical Association's (CMA's) 149th President, Dr. Granger R. Avery, to Alberta. Dr. Avery became CMA president in August at the CMA's Annual General Meeting, held this year in Vancouver. At the Lunch with the CMA President on Saturday, Dr. Avery will officially install Dr. Carr as the AMA president, address RF delegates and present the CMA Honorary Membership awards to Alberta physicians. Dr. Avery, a world traveler in his youth, studied at the University of London in England and Auckland University in New Zealand before settling in British Columbia in 1973. Following additional training and a residency, he started a general practice in Port McNeil, which included emergency medicine, obstetrics, surgery and general anesthesia. He has been teaching at the University of British Columbia for over 35 years. He became president of the BC Medical Association (now Doctors of BC) in 1997. In that role, he improved rural physician recruitment in BC and authored the "Wait List" system, which recorded the number of patients awaiting surgery and diagnostic care, now a national initiative. Recognizing the need for a coordinated medical body to help manage issues faced by those practicing in rural environments, he created with government the first BCMA Collaborative Committee, which now manages BC's rural programs. Dr. Avery has been involved in the CMA for many years in various roles and is a member of a range of associations and commissions. He has been working to improve the "continuum of care" - a physician's life cycle and the necessary system supports. In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Avery has received many awards including the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for his services to rural medicine. The Representative Forum is the governing body of the AMA. It includes representatives of all sectors of the profession - specialty sections, zones, students, residents, past presidents and deans of medicine. The RF meets at least twice a year to establish policy and set direction. Contacts: Shannon Rupnarain Assistant Executive Director, Public Affairs Alberta Medical Association Cell: 780.907.9003 media@albertadoctors.org MILWAUKEE, WI -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- EnSync, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ESNC), dba EnSync Energy Systems, a leading developer of innovative energy management systems for the utility, commercial, industrial and multi-tenant building markets, today announced that Mr. James Schott, chief financial officer of EnSync, will retire effective September 30, 2016. Fred Vaske, currently the company's Vice President of Structured Finance, has been appointed Chief Administrative Officer and will oversee all finance, accounting, treasury and investor relations responsibilities for the company. "We are fortunate to have someone with Fred's experience to drive the next stage of our strategic plan. As our business model has evolved to the construction and sale of power purchase agreement (PPA) projects, in addition to sale of systems and components, Fred's knowledge of our business and ultimate project customers ideally positions him to take on this expanded role. Fred has been critically important to the company's transition to a leading provider of distributed energy resources that can be seamlessly integrated to the grid network, and most recently closed the sale of our first tranche of PPA projects, including the first storage plus solar projects behind the meter, in Hawaii. We look forward to Fred's continued strong execution during the remainder of the fiscal year and for many years to come," commented Brad Hansen, chief executive officer of EnSync Energy Systems. Mr. Hansen added, "I appreciate the contributions Jim has made to help transition our business model during the past year. Jim joined us at a formative time for the company as we were making several transitions to the commercialization stage. He helped us drive our new products into the market, as well as move to our new PPA business model, while also putting in place a vital discipline that helped us to drive down our cash expense. Jim's operating experience and steady hand have been critical. We wish him well in retirement." Dilek Wagner, the Company's current Vice President of Finance, will continue in that role and will now report to Mr. Vaske. Fred Vaske joined EnSync Energy Systems in December 2015 as the Vice President, Structured Finance where he brought 25 years of experience in project and asset finance, valuation and consulting. He has held senior finance positions in the solar industry for the last 10 years, and led the closing of over $2.5 billion in debt and equity transactions in the utility and commercial solar photovoltaic industries. Prior to joining EnSync Fred served as Vice President of project finance for Recurrent Energy, Hanwha Q CELLS USA and Scatec Solar USA. In all organizations he established and built strongly capable teams that led project financing efforts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, Spain and Japan. Fred also served as Director, Structured Finance for SunPower where he negotiated solar Power Purchase Agreements with commercial customers, and led the company's first financings of those contracts. Prior to entering the solar industry in 2007, he spent over a decade in the big-ticket asset finance industry, including seven years with GATX Capital where he was Vice President, Structured Finance and led the financing of portfolios of aircraft, railroad rolling stock, and technology assets. Fred holds an MA in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis and a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Claremont McKenna College. About EnSync Energy Systems EnSync, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ESNC), dba EnSync Energy Systems, is enabling the future of electricity with advanced energy management systems critical to a global economy becoming increasingly reliant upon the expansion of renewable energy. Whether part of the grid power transmission and distribution network, or behind the meter in commercial, industrial and multi-tenant buildings, EnSync technology brings differentiated power control and energy storage solutions to electricity-challenged environments. Our technologies also serve as the system level intelligence in microgrid applications, by seamlessly integrating multiple generation and storage assets to deliver power in remote and community level environments not served by the grid, or areas electing to use the grid secondary to microgrid assets. In 2015, EnSync incorporated power purchase agreements (PPAs) into its portfolio of offerings, enabling electricity savings for customers and providing a stable financial yield for investors. EnSync is a global corporation, with a joint venture in AnHui, China at Meineng Energy, as well as a strategic partnership with Solar Power, Inc. (SPI). For more information, visit: www.ensync.com. Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements made in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended that are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seek," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate" or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements in this press release may address the following subjects among others: our ability to monetize our PPA assets, statements regarding the sufficiency of our capital resources, expected operating losses, expected revenues, expected expenses and our expectations concerning our business strategy. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. BIRMINGHAM, AL -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- Momentum Telecom, a premier provider of Business Voice, Broadband Management and Unified Communications solutions, will be demonstrating their best-in-class solutions at booth 1900 during SCTE's Cable-Tec Expo. The show will take place from September 26th-29th at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. During the expo, Momentum will be demonstrating the enhanced feature set of their Proactive Network Maintenance (PNM) tool, which is a fully integrated add-on to their BBX Broadband Management platform. The 24/7 monitoring tool is designed to help companies track network health, pinpoint faults, develop better reliability and reduce truck rolls. "Our new PNM features will further enable operators to grow their businesses by becoming more efficient at managing and building networks. We're very excited to share these updates with our customers and SCTE attendees," said Scott Helms, Senior Vice President of Advanced Services at Momentum Telecom. In addition to PNM, visitors to Momentum's booth will also be able to see demonstrations of Momentum's newly released BBX WiFi capabilities. BBX WiFi enables operators to view data points to diagnose slow speeds and easily complete tasks such as password resets and security profile updates. "BBX WiFi will allow operators to more tightly manage and monitor their WiFi devices, which will reduce the time customers spend on the phone with support for simple tasks such as updating passwords. This will not only increase productivity and efficiency for the operators, but also improve overall customer satisfaction," said Tara Kelley, Vice President of Customer Experience at Momentum Telecom. SCTE Cable-Tec Expo is an annual event that brings together over 10,000 attendees, companies and thought leaders with the goal of learning, teaching and growing as an industry. For more information about Momentum Telecom or to discuss partnership opportunities email WL@momentumtelecom.com or call 877-251-5554. Momentum Telecom is a premier provider of Business Voice, BBX Broadband Management and Unified Communications solutions. Momentum's solutions offer smart, customizable cloud-based applications including voice, video and collaboration tools that enhance business productivity and efficiency for direct customers and more than 500 nationwide white label and channel partners. Momentum Telecom is committed to delivering best-in-class products backed by a geo-redundant network paired with industry-leading uptime and customer service. Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, Momentum Telecom has regional offices actively serving customers across the United States. To learn more visit momentumtelecom.com or connect with us on Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter, LinkedIn or check our blog. At Momentum Telecom, our mission is to enable others to thrive by combining smarter technology with seasoned experts while delivering unmatched customer experience. Media Contact Beth Hildreth bhildreth@momentumtelecom.com 315-579-7112 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. has issued a warning to its citizens to avoid Starbucks coffee shops and other such chains that are frequently used by Westerners in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, near the border with Syria. The U.S. Embassy has warned that Turkish police were investigating a 'terror cell' in Gaziantep, who are targeting 'shopping centers, Starbucks, Big Chef Restaurants' and other businesses in the city. 'US citizens in Gaziantep are advised to exercise caution when patronizing these sorts of businesses and to avoid them if possible,' it said in the notice published late Wednesday. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Higher sawlog prices in Russia, Brazil, Germany and British Columbia in the 2Q/16 contributed to the first increase of the GSPI sawlog price index in over two year, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. An increase in lumber demand and slightly higher log trade than last year have put upward price pressure on softwood sawlogs in most major markets of the world this year. The Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) was up 4.2% in the 2Q/16 to US$71.18/m3, the highest quarter-over-quarter increase since the 2Q/11. Sawlog prices increased in 16 of the 19 regions tracked by the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ) and were generally higher in both the local currencies and in US dollar terms. The biggest price increases in dollar terms occurred in Russia, Brazil, Germany and British Columbia. The only regions that experienced lower log prices in the 2Q/16 were Chile, where lumber export markets weakened, and the US Northwest, where log export to Asia slowed down the first few months of the year and the domestic sawmills run at fairly low operating rates. During the first half of 2016, global trade of softwood logs was up about one percent as compared to the same period in 2015, according to estimates by the WRI. Almost 50% of globally traded logs are imported to countries in Asia (specifically China, South Korea and Japan) followed by Europe and North America. Asia's share was down from 52% in 2015 because of reduced importation to China. The biggest change over the past ten years has been that the Nordic import share of the global log trade has fallen from almost 18% in 2005 to only nine percent in 2015, because the three Northern European countries have increased their domestic timber harvests to decrease the reliance on imported wood raw-material. The major trade flows in 2015 were, in descending order: 1. New Zealand to China 2. Russia to China 3. US to China 4. US to Canada 5. Norway to Sweden The global log trade continued at a healthy pace in early 3Q/16 with shipped volumes generally being higher than the same time in 2015. Global lumber, sawlog and pulpwood market reporting is included in the 52-page quarterly publication Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). The report, which was established in 1988 and has subscribers in over 30 countries, tracks sawlog, pulpwood, wood chip, lumber and pellet prices, trade and market developments in most key regions around the world. To subscribe to the WRQ, please go to www.woodprices.com Wood Resources International LLC (WRI), an internationally recognized forest industry-consulting firm established in 1987, publishes two quarterly timber price reports and have subscribers in over 30 countries. The Wood Resource Quarterly, established in 1988, is a 52-page market report and includes sawlog prices, pulpwood and wood chip price and market commentary to developments in global timber, biomass and forest industry. The other report, the North Americam Wood Fiber Review, tracks prices of sawlogs, pulpwood, wood chips and biomass in most regions of Canada and the US. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922006322/en/ Contacts: Wood Resources International LLC Hakan Ekstrom info@woodprices.com (info@wri-ltd.com) www.woodprices.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2017 / Canyon Copper Corp. (TSXV: CNC) ("Canyon") announces that it has allotted and issued 200,000 common shares in the capital of Canyon ("Bonus Shares"), pursuant to the terms of the loan agreement, entered into on May 3, 2016, with Metamin Enterprises Inc. ("Metamin"). The Bonus Shares are subject to restrictions on resale expiry on September 16, 2017. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Stephen Wallace" CANYON COPPER CORP. Stephen Wallace, CEO Contact: Canyon Copper Corp. Investor Relations (604) 331-9326 (604) 684-9365 (FAX) info@canyoncc.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information This News Release may contain, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phases such as "believe," "expect," "plan," "anticipate" and similar expressions identifying forward-looking statements. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Canyon's expectations, and expressly does not undertake any duty to update forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to the following, limited operating history, proposed exploration and/or drill programs and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Canyon to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. SOURCE: Canyon Copper Corp. Regulatory News: This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161115006113/en/ Jeanne Hecht (Photo: MEDIAN Technologies) MEDIAN Technologies (Paris:ALMDT), a leading medical imaging solutions and service provider for image interpretation and management, today announces the appointments of Jeanne Hecht as Chief Operating Officer and of Nicholas Campbell as Chief Commercial Officer. They both join the MEDIAN Executive Team and are based in the US. As Chief Operating Officer, Jeanne Hecht is responsible for leading, implementing and driving the company's global strategy. Jeanne Hecht has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry and is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She is expected to join MEDIAN's Board of Directors at the next General Shareholder's Meeting on 16 December 2016. Jeanne was previously at Quintiles, the industry leading Contract Research Organization where she served in a variety of capacities. Most recently she was Senior Vice President of Site Patient Networks. In 2012, Jeanne partnered with MEDIAN Technologies when she was Global Head of Sales at Quintiles. Earlier in her career, Jeanne was a founding member of a company utilizing biomarkers for companion diagnostic purposes. Jeanne earned her Master of Business Administration and bachelor's degree in Science from the University of Michigan. "I am personally honored and thrilled to be joining the MEDIAN team. The good work that MEDIAN is accomplishing changes lives and the ability to be engaged with such a mission is the fuel that allows common people to attain extraordinary results," said Jeanne Hecht. As Chief Commercial Officer, Nicholas Campbell is responsible for all commercial activity and strategy execution across the MEDIAN organization. He has more than 18 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience and a proven track record of sales leadership, market building, strategic partnering and driving business growth across multiple geographic regions (US, EU and Asia), service lines and organizational structures (from start-up to Fortune 500). Previously, Nicholas served as Vice President and Managing Director within Quintiles Customer Solutions Management Group with prior leadership positions as global head of sales for its early clinical, cardiac safety and genomic service businesses and Head of Sales for Quintiles East Asia. Nicholas Campbell holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors from University of Wolverhampton, UK and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Plymouth Business School, UK. "I am delighted to be joining an organisation that is truly pushing the boundaries of science, data and medicine to help both our sponsors and the bio-pharmaceutical industry bring life-changing medicines to the patients that need them most," said Nicholas Campbell. "We are proud that such high level and successful professionals as Jeanne and Nick chose to join MEDIAN. Their knowledge of the US and Asia markets will be instrumental in the development of our company in these important regions," said Fredrik Brag, CEO of MEDIAN Technologies. About MEDIAN Technologies: MEDIAN Technologies develops medical imaging software and services dedicated to oncology clinical trials, cancer screening, and clinical practice. MEDIAN Technologies standardizes and automates the interpretation of medical images in oncology to optimize the diagnosis of cancer patients and the assessment of their response to therapy. MEDIAN serves two primary markets: drug development and patient care. MEDIAN has a strategic partnership with the world's largest CRO (Contract Research Organization) to offer integrated imaging services for clinical trials to biopharma sponsors worldwide, and a strategic partnership with Canon to develop new imaging technologies, and to address the patient care market. Founded in 2002, MEDIAN Technologies is based in Sophia-Antipolis, France, and has a US subsidiary in Boston. MEDIAN has a global reach and actively works with clinical sites located in Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Australia. MEDIAN has received the label "Innovative company" by the BPI and is listed on Euronext Paris' Alternext market. ISIN: FR0011049824- ticker: ALMDT. The company is eligible for the PEA PME SME equity savings plan setup. For more information on MEDIAN, please visit: www.mediantechnologies.com "We are committed to the improvement of cancer patient outcomes through innovation in medical imaging and quality execution for better screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of patients." View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161115006113/en/ Contacts: MEDIAN Technologies Fredrik Brag, +33 4 92 90 65 82 CEO fredrik.brag@mediantechnologies.com or Press ALIZE RP Caroline Carmagnol Wendy Rigal, 33 1 44 54 36 66 median@alizerp.com or Investors ACTIFIN Ghislaine Gasparetto, +33 1 56 88 11 11 ggasparetto@actifin.fr TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/22/16 -- 1720548 Ontario Inc. and Allan Fredette (collectively, the "Concerned Shareholders"), being shareholders who collectively own approximately 7% of the outstanding common shares of Bison Gold Resources Inc. ("Bison") (TSX VENTURE: BGE), announced today that they have requisitioned (the "Requisition") the Bison board of directors to call a meeting of shareholders of Bison for the purpose of reconstituting Bison's board by removing 4 of the 5 incumbent directors and electing 4 new independent directors. The Concerned Shareholders believe that Bison has an excellent asset, the potential of which can be unlocked with the right leadership and the right plan for change. The Concerned Shareholders have lost faith in Bison's existing management and board to effect this change and drive shareholder value. The Concerned Shareholders were particularly concerned about Bison's most recent decision to complete a very dilutive private placement financing without respecting a prior commitment to conduct a rights offering which would have better protected existing shareholder interests. In addition, the Concerned Shareholders also believe that there has been a failure to keep shareholders informed over the past year which has led to a weakened relationship between Bison and its shareholders during a trying market. The Requisition proposes the removal of each of Amir Mousavi, Dale Dunlop, Chris Carmichael and Mark Robinson as directors of Bison and the election of Glen Collins, Wayne Guidolin, Hamid Mumin and Rob Rostecki to Bison's board. Once in place, the new board's immediate priorities will be to review the performance of the existing management team and establish an experienced board who can develop the full potential of Bison's assets while maximizing shareholder value. The information contained in this press release does not and is not meant to constitute a solicitation of proxies within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although the Concerned Shareholders have requisitioned a meeting, there is currently no record or meeting date set for such meeting and shareholders are not being asked at this time to execute a proxy in favour of the nominees of the Concerned Shareholders or any other resolution set forth in the Requisition. Contacts: If you have any questions or concerns please email: bisondissidents@gmail.com WEST JORDAN, UT--(Marketwired - September 22, 2016) - Mountain America Credit Union is hosting a member appreciation day in celebration of the newly remodeled branch in Woods Cross, Utah. Residents of Woods Cross and the surrounding communities are invited to check out the newly remodeled branch on Friday, September 23, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mountain America will be giving away Swig drinks, cookies and prizes. The Woods Cross branch is located at 1849 500 W, Woods Cross, Utah, 84087. The branch is managed by Assistant Vice President of Branches, Tyler Turner, who will lead his team to deliver world-class service in a branch with an innovative design. Turner joined Mountain America 12 years ago, and has continuously led successful teams in delivering high quality member service. Turner has been a resident of Davis County for over 30 years, and his dedication to the community includes a run for Farmington City Council in 2012. "We are excited to offer our members an updated and fresh branch experience," notes Turner. "The remodel has created an open, welcoming feeling, with additional working spaces to accommodate and serve even more members comfortably. Our team is eager to invite the community to enjoy the afternoon and celebrate with us." The Woods Cross Branch provides a wide range of financial products and services, including traditional savings, insurance, investments, auto and RV loans and a full array of mortgage loans and services. Mountain America also offers an innovative checking account called MyStyle, which allows account holders to customize their accounts with rewards such as music downloads, loan discounts and credit monitoring. Being federally chartered, Mountain America provides a broad assortment of services, including real estate and business lending. About Mountain America Credit Union Mountain America Credit Union has more than $5.7 billion in assets and serves more than 600,000 members, wherever they are, through online and mobile banking, 85 branches in five states, and provides access to more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs and 5,000 shared-branching locations nationwide. With credit union roots dating back to the 1930s, Mountain America has become a tradition for many members, offering a variety of financial products and services for consumers and businesses, including savings accounts, auto loans, checking accounts, mortgage loans, business checking, student loans, SBA loans and retirement options. Visit www.macu.com for more information. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/9/22/11G115380/Images/DSC_8617-db9b9962131eafe78a0330c5de496cc6.jpg Media Contact: Bryan Packer 801-325-6439 Email contact SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/22/16 -- The CSCMP San Francisco Roundtable kicked off its 2016-2017 program season in grand style with a sold out Port of Oakland boat tour and dinner event on Thursday, 9/15. At the event, CSCMP-SFRT President Michele Carroll announced two full year sponsors for its 2016-2017 program season: Google and RK Group are supporting the non-profit organization at the 'Friends of the Roundtable,' level which secures regular participation and visibility at all events throughout the year. CenterPoint, Doing What Matters and the Center for International Trade Development (CITD) for Northern California sponsored the Sept. 15 kickoff event which featured a Port of Oakland boat tour aboard the Commodore Cruises private luxury yacht, Merlot, followed by a dinner and keynote presentation by Chris Lytle, Executive Director, Port of Oakland, at Jack London Square in Oakland, CA. CSCMP SFRT president Michele Carroll said, "We couldn't be happier by starting our year with a sold out event showcasing the current and future capabilities of the 5th largest U.S. seaport. We are so grateful for the generous support of our sponsors who enable our Roundtable to curate events that provide a valuable forum for networking and learning for the Bay Area's supply chain management and logistics community." The next event on the Roundtable's program calendar, in partnership with the 9th Annual Bio Supply Management Alliance Conference (BSMA) is a luncheon program taking place October 20, 2016 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City, CA. The program, titled: Preparing the Biotech Supply Chain for 2025 "Move It Don't Lose It" features Sean Monohan, Partner, A.T. Kearney, Franck Toussaint, Managing Director, Biolog Europe, and Horacio Enriquez, Sr. Manager, Bio-Rad Laboratories. For information on this event and to register go to: www.cscmpsfrt.org/event-2340866. For additional information about the CSCMP-SFRT and to view the complete 2016-2017 program calendar go to: www.cscmpsfrt.org. About CSCMP Serving 9,000+ members worldwide, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (www.cscmp.org) is a non-profit membership association that helps supply chain managers and executives connect, collaborate and become more effective professionals. One of the most dynamic of its 100+ Roundtables around the globe, the San Francisco CSCMP provides regular educational events, networking opportunities and a scholarship program. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3059427 Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3059439 Contact: Michele Carroll Email Contact 925-980-1767 In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome! LONDON, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GFT, the global provider of advisory, business consulting, IT and software services to the financial services community, announces its membership of Google's Partner Programme. This new collaboration allows GFT to deploy its distributed ledger test infrastructure for banks on Google's Cloud Platform, helping global banking clients to simulate real-world distributed ledger models within a globally distributed and scalable test environment. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150616/223614LOGO ) Utilising the Google Cloud Platform, GFT is able to rapidly deploy the code developed by their client development teams into GFT's blockchain incubator to simulate real-word scenarios. At the click of a button, it is possible to simulate additional banks coming online to a distributed ledger, then rapidly gather and interpret the data using Google BigQuery. This provides clients with detailed and specific insights into how their blockchain solutions will operate in the real word. Rapid deployment and data feedback, enhanced with tools such as Google Cloud Bigtable and BigQuery along with the latest DevOps solutions such as containerization and Kubernetes, supports agile decisions and allows innovators to focus development efforts on the most efficient channels possible. Disruptive business models, underpinned by distributed ledger technologies, typically enable banks that have an 'untrusted' relationship, to communicate with trust, but without a 'middleman' who traditionally provides the 'trusted' confirmation. This brings great potential to overhaul many of the core issues that have hindered the financial industry, such as costly and complex legacy infrastructure. However, such advances must be tested securely and at scale before they can be considered to be a viable solution. The most recent implementation of GFT's test environment has been for a distributed ledger domestic and international payments solution on the Ethereum platform, working with a large European bank. During the course of this testing, GFT has supported its client to understand how their platform scales to realistic payments volumes, and provided them with valuable information on how the solution stacks up. Gareth Richardson, Managing Director, GFT said: "We are really excited to be able to support our clients in driving their distributed ledger agendas; helping them to make their innovation investments a reality. Through our partnership with Google we are able to better understand the capabilities of this exciting technology and its impact on the financial services interbank architecture. GFT is well placed to assist our clients as they mature their distributed ledger business models and solutions." Nick Weisfeld, Head of GFT's Blockchain and Data Practices comments, "It is important for us to work with a partner where there is a complimentary relationship that delivers mutual benefit. Working with Google has enabled us to create a test environment for a new Royal Bank of Scotland application using real-world volumes, providing them with valuable information on how their solution operates detailed in a new technical paper. This ability to test at scale has enabled our client to bring their distributed ledger initiative out of the lab and into the real-world in record time, creating an industry-leading solution." About GFT GFT Technologies SE (GFT) is a business change and technology consultancy trusted by the world's leading financial services institutions to solve their most critical challenges. Specifically defining answers to the current constant of regulatory change - whilst innovating to meet the demands of the digital revolution. GFT brings together advisory, creative and technology capabilities with innovation culture and specialist knowledge of the finance sector, to transform the clients' businesses. Utilising the CODE_n innovation platform, GFT is able to provide international start-ups, technology pioneers and established companies access to a global network, which enables them to tap into the disruptive trends in financial services markets and harness them for their out of the box thinking. Headquartered in Germany, GFT achieved consolidated revenue of around EUR 374 million in 2015. The company is represented in twelve countries with a global team spanning more than 4,000 employees. The GFT share is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the TecDAX (ISIN: DE0005800601). http://www.gft.com Leukos Biotech, a Barcelona, Spain-based biotechnology company, raises 3.5m in funding. The round was led by Inveready with participation from Dr. Enrique Llaudet, who joined Leukos as CEO. Founded in October 2015 by the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute and by expert in Leukaemia and stem cells Dr. Ruth M. Risueno, Leukos will develop a novel class of drugs around a newly discovered therapeutic target that selectively destroys Leukemic Stem Cells. The company intends to use the funds to advance a first candidate into clinical trials for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia for patients who are 60 years old or over and that are not suitable for bone marrow transplant or aggressive chemotherapy. Leukos will also develop a pipeline of follow up candidates against Leukaemia Stem Cells in other types of Leukaemia. FinSMEs 22/09/2016 Saleduck, an online coupon and deals platform formed in The Netherlands, is today present in 15 countries. The company recently launched in the Asian markets. We have interviewed CTO Ben Rogmans about the company, the platform and its features. Ben also explained to use the opportunities and difficulties of going to Asia and said to us whats hot over there right now. FinSMEs: Hi Ben, first, can you tell us a bit more about you? Ben: My name is Ben Rogmans and I am the CTO and co-founder of Saleduck. I am based in Kuala Lumpur to initiate the expansion of Saleduck to Southeast Asia. FinSMEs: Lets speak about Saleduck Asia? Which market opportunity have you taken? Ben: Since we opened our office in February 2016, Saleduck Asia has launched in five countries. We are now providing customers to webshops in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. While the development of these digital markets has taken off several years later than Europe and the US, they are making up for it with spectacular promptness. This high paced evolution can be observed in giant markets like India and China as well but we are currently not interested in those markets because we feel like the bets are too high. In Southeast Asia we believe we can break-even this year, become market leader and maintain that position while the market is growing explosively. FinSMEs: How does Saleduck work? Ben: On our online discount portals, we collect discounts and coupon codes from over 100 advertisers -both big and small. Some of these include names such as Hotels.com, Expedia, Alibaba and Sephora. Consumers go to Saleduck when they already have a buying intention but want to find the service or product they are looking for at the cheapest price. People can browse through our websites to see what deals are available and then decide on using the deal most relevant to their needs. Our platform also operates as an outlet for discovery. Take for example, someone who wants to go on holiday but dont have a particular destination or online platform in mind to book the trip. When they visit our website and see a good deal from Expedia to Thailand, they might be interested and end up booking their holiday. Same goes for buying presents or wanting a new wardrobe, we give people an incentive to shop and indulge a little without having to break bank. We receive a commission every time a visitor purchases something from our partners webshop. This commission is based on a CPA (cost per acquisition) model. FinSMEs: Where are you in terms of growth? Ben: Although Saleduck launched only a few months ago, we are already serving thousands of people on a daily basis. Next year we will expand to other Southeast Asian countries. FinSMEs: you have gone to Asia.a huge market for deals and couponsIs it challenging doing business in Malaysia in particular and Asia in general? Which are the main difficulties? Ben: We have been granted MSC status by the Malaysian government. The MSC Malaysia status is reserved for technology-driven businesses that bring innovation to services or products to Malaysia. This acts as a symbol of our companys prestige and because of this, other parties are more eager to collaborate with us and it has led to many opportunities for us. Weve come to see Kuala Lumpur as a really modern city with great quality of living. It is also really easy to do business in the whole of Southeast Asia because other large cities such as Singapore and Jakarta are only about a 2-hour flight away. Of course there have also been difficulties. It has not been easy finding local talent, especially for Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia and the hiring process did take quite a while. Affiliate marketing specifically and online marketing in general isnt as big in Southeast Asia as it is Europe yet, meaning there are also less people with relevant e-commerce experience. Not all parties see the full potential of affiliate marketing yet so sometimes it is harder to establish a working relationship. Of course there are the language and cultural differences that we have to adapt to, but this has mostly been an interesting and fun experience. FinSMEs: What do you recommend to entrepreneurs doing business over there? Ben: Be patient. A lot of times we have thought that some of our marketing campaigns were not working in Southeast Asia but in the end they proved to be an even bigger success here than in Europe, it just took longer for them to take off. I would also recommend to reach out to people face-to-face as much as possible. Ideally, aim for the most important person in the company. They can refer down, but they usually dont refer up. Of course it is faster to send out a few e-mails but there is a chance that you may not get a response from them as people really value the chance to meet you in person and trust you a lot more to do business once you have met. Also, listen to your local employees. They have more knowledge about the market and in our case most of the time, they are able to foresee whether or not a campaign will succeed. Weve come to learn that some things which may work in Europe, may not garner the same results here. It is also good to meet and build relationships with other entrepreneurs active in the same regions. Even though you are not in the same business this can prove to be really helpful. In our case VISA application processes and other administrative HR related affairs went quite smooth because of friends who shared tips and tricks with us. I would suggest to other entrepreneurs to implement flexible working hours. For most employees, this is a really important factor given the fact that during peak hours, the traffic jams can get really intense. FinSMEs: Which tech trends do you personally see as particularly hot in Asia? Ben: Soon our world will get to a point where we use free energy from the sun. We will also be able to take our trash completely apart so we can convert it back to its raw materials. We are building robots that can do all our physical labour. 3D Printers that people have at home (or larger ones that people share) enable them to build products themselves. Because of that, the value of goods is decreasing and will eventually reach zero. We will be able to build new products from our trash and it will not cost us exhaustive energy. The companies of the future will therefore not be providing us with goods, but with services. We can notice this movement today by the rise of the service providers: transportation of people, transportation of goods (and food), accommodation facilitators, intermediaries for peer to peer transactions You name it. This might be happening all over the world, but Asia shows how incredibly fast paced the adoption and implementation (of new ways of doing things) is. FinSMEs 22/09/2016 Solina Group, a Breal-sous-Montfort, France-based provider of food ingredient solutions, is to acquire New Ivory, a producer of innovative culinary sauces, from Rob Whitehead. Solina was supported by Ardian, who became majority shareholder in the company a few months ago. Following the deal, which represented the the first step in Solinas new international expansion strategy, Rob Whitehead is selling its majority stake, while New Ivory managing director, Adam Jones, and the rest of the management team will stay at the company. The group aims to reinforce its position in Europe through targeted add-ons in Germany, the UK, and Central and Southern Europe. It will also accelerate its expansion outside of Europe, in particular through acquisitions in the USA. New Ivory is a producer of innovative culinary sauces in the UK for the meat, fish and poultry industries. Headquartered in Elland, West Yorkshire, it has approximately 180 employees. Led by Laurent Weber, CEO, Solina Group provides ingredient solutions for the food industry in the areas of fish, meat, nutrition, ready meals and snacks. The company, which operates 11 production facilities, multiple R&D centers and local sales offices, has approximately 1,000 employees and has presence in 17 countries. The Groups net sales are over 315m in 2015, across 75 countries. FinSMEs 22/09/2016 Avalara, Inc., a Seattle, WA-based cloud provider of tax compliance automation for businesses of all sizes, raised approximately $50m in growth capital. Existing shareholders including Warburg Pincus, Sageview Capital, Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV), and others invested a total of $96m in Avalara, approximately $50m of which will be used to fund growth and acquisitions. The remainder was used to repurchase shares from early investors. Led by Scott McFarlane, founder and CEO, Avalara provides businesses of all sizes with a cloud-based platform to achieve compliance with transactional taxes, including VAT, sales and use, excise, communications, and other types. The company offers pre-built connectors into accounting, ERP, ecommerce and other business applications and each year processes billions of tax transactions for customers and users, files hundreds of thousands of tax compliance documents and tax returns, and manages millions of exemption certificates and other compliance related documents. Since 2004, Avalara has raised more than $300m with venture capital investors including Sageview Capital, Battery Ventures, Warburg Pincus, Technology Crossover Ventures, Arthur Ventures, and other institutional and individual investors. The company also has offices across the U.S. and in Brighton and London, England; Brussels, Belgium; and Pune, India. FinSMEs 22/09/2016 Waterline Ventures, a Cambridge, MA-based venture capital firm, has launched its second fund. According to a regulatory form filed with the SEC, Waterline Ventures II, L.P. has a target of $15m. No funds have been raised, yet. Led by Managing Director Robert Greenglass, Waterline Ventures, invests in early stage healthcare technology and services companies dedicated to improving the way care is delivered addressing such issues as increasing costs, inconsistent quality, and inadequate access to services. The firms portfolio includes Avizia, Hale, Zipnosis, Wellframe, Madaket, Bright Health, Redbrick Health, Geneva Healthcare, etc. Investment advisors are vc and healthcare industry veterans such as Bob Higgins, Jack Shields, Bijan Salehizadeh and Ambar Bhattacharyya. FinSMEs 22/09/2016 Visaranai, a Tamil drama about the exploitation of prisoners and police corruption was picked as India's official entry to the Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category for the 2017. Ketan Mehta, the head of the Film Federation of India's jury for the year, picked Vetrimaaran's film from 29 films, reports Times of India. Visaranai, which is based on M. Chandrakumars novel Lock Up about a autorickshaw driver, who shares his experience after he and three of his friends are arrested on false charges; is director Vetrimaaran's third film and is produced by Dhanushs Wunderbar Productions. The film has already has already won three National Awards this year Best Feature Film in Tamil, Best Supporting Actor and Best Editing. It also won the Amnesty International Italia Award 2015 and has been doing the rounds of festivals ever since. Last year's entry, a Marathi national award winning film, Court, failed to make the nominations list at the Oscars. So far, nearly 60 countries have submitted their entries for the foreign-language Oscar before its 3 October 2016 deadline, reports Vareity. This includes Clash from Egypt which documents the story if a number of detainees from different political and social backgrounds thrown together in the violent aftermath of the Arab Spring. There's also Iceland's Sparrows, a coming-of-age film from director Runar Runarsson which follows a teenager trying to adjust to living with his father in a rough town in Iceland's far north. Will India make the cut for the nominations this year? The official nomination list for the category will be announced in January 2017. Here's the trailer for Visaranai: An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Bandipora district of north Kashmir Thursday 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. Firing was going on at the encounter site when last reports came in, the official said, adding more details about the operation were awaited. According to ANI, one of the terrorists has been gunned down and an operation is still underway. Greater Kashmir reported that the encounter is ensuring in Aragam village of the district. According to the army officer quoted by the report, the encounter had "erputed after forces cordoned off a house located in the forests" in Aragam village. The army officer also mentioned that terrorists were holed up inside the house and that there was firing going on from both sides. This attack comes just days after the Uri attacks which claimed the lives of 18 soldiers, leaving several others injured. In the Uri attacks, explosions and gunfire erupted as the militants attacked the camp, which is located barely few metres away from the Army's Brigade Headquarters in Uri town, 102 kms from Srinagar. Firstpost's Sameer Yasir has reported that the Army confirmed that the Uri attacks were carried out by terrorists belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant outfit based in Pakistan. According to an IndiaSpend report, the armys combat death toll in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is 64 this year (until 18 September), the highest since 2010, when 69 soldiers died. Heavy rainfall hit Guntur in Andhra Pradesh and rain water reportedly started creeping inside the houses on Thursday. Heavy downpour hits Guntur (Andhra Pradesh); rainwater enters houses. pic.twitter.com/DJrmk8ctO6 ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 ANI reported that incessant rains triggered a flood-like situation in Guntur. Rescue operations are underway to help people get out of the waist-deep water. Guntur (Andhra Pradesh): Heavy rainfall triggers flood-like situation; rescue operation underway. pic.twitter.com/Pmwhyc5zPR ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 Efforts were on to save a bus full of passengers which was left stranded in flood waters, reported NDTV. Guntur, which is about 300 km from Hyderabad had been receiving rains since 11 pm on Wednesday. The report quoted district collector Kantilal Dande as saying, Between 4 and 8 am, there was record rain. Normal life was thrown out of gear and at several places, streams and tanks are also overflowing, The New Indian Express reported. The entire road network in Palnadu region Guntur district has gone haywire. Movement of vehicles between Hyderabad and Guntur was hampered due to flooding, The Hindu reported. The Hyderabad-bound Palnadu Express was stopped at Reddygudem village in Rajupalem mandal. A middle-aged woman was killed when her house wall collapsed due to heavy rains in Guntur, The Times of India report read. Train services between Macherla and Guntur were also cancelled after a 500-m portion of the railway tracks was washed away in the flood. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has spoken to the collectors of Guntur and Prakasam districts and asked them to be on alert. More rainfall has been forecast for the next 24 hours. The Times of India report also said that the collectors have been asked to provide alternative transport to stranded passengers. India ripped into Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday calling him out for glorifying the 22-year old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. "It is shocking that a leader of a free nation can glorify a self-declared terrorist. This is self-incrimination by Pakistan," Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar told a press conference in New York. Sharif's 20-minute speech, quite incendiary in tone was aimed at Indian paramilitary forces in Kashmir which he accused of using excessive force. He used the UN platform to accord martyr status to Wani, a separatist leader who advocated a Kashmir free of both Indian and Pakistani rule. Sharif described Wani as a young leader murdered by Indian forces who has become the symbol of the latest Kashmiri intifada." Tensions between India and Pakistan are boiling over after Sunday's terrorist assault in Uri. With 18 soldiers dead, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should toughen Indias stance against Pakistan and its sponsorship of militancy in the Kashmir valley. India has a few military options that it could consider against Pakistan. It could attempt a surgical artillery strike on Pakistani army positions which are used to help militants cross over into parts of Kashmir, military experts say. A second option on the table would be sending special forces inside Pakistan to attack guerrilla training camps. Indian forces killed at least 8 suspected Islamic militants along the 800 kilometre border with Pakistan, ahead of Sharif's rambling speech on Wednesday to the UN General Assembly. More skirmishes are widely expected on the troubled Kashmir border. Responding to Sharif's claim that Pakistan has "gone the extra mile and repeatedly offered dialogue," Akbar tartly replied, "We haven't seen the first mile, where is the question of the extra mile?" "Pakistan wants dialogue while holding a gun in its hand. Talks and guns don't go together," said Akbar. "We have always been ready for dialogue, but will not succumb to a government of blackmail that uses terrorism as a policy," he added. For the last 15 years, India has followed the course of "strategic restraint" despite mounting public anger after the 2008 Mumbai attacks carried out by Pakistani militants that left 166 dead. Instead, New Delhi has used international gatherings like the UN platform in New York to highlight Pakistani support of terrorists. India was heartened that despite Sharif's repeated appeals for UN intervention in Kashmir, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made no reference to Kashmir in his last address to the 71-year-old institution. "The terrorist tag clung even harder to Pakistan following the arrest of the New York serial bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami who was radicalized after extended stays in Pakistan. The episode has brought further attention to the terrorist eco-system in Pakistan selectively fostered by its military and political elite," wrote Chidanand Rajghatta in The Times of India. The United States has finally run out of patience with Pakistan and has been sending a message to Sharif. It has seen so much double-dealing by Pakistan in Afghanistan that it is now far more sympathetic to the Indian position, said Myra MacDonald, a South Asia specialist. President Barack Obama refused to meet with the Pakistani prime minister before his UN address. Two American lawmakers on Tuesday also introduced legislation in the US Congress aimed at designating Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism in a humiliating setback to Islamabad ahead of Sharif's speech. "Not only is Pakistan an untrustworthy ally, Islamabad has also aided and abetted enemies of the United States for years. 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," Congressman Ted Poe from Texas said bluntly while announcing the bill. "It is time we stop paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is: a state sponsor of terrorism," Poe added. According to author and South Asia expert Sumit Ganguly, the United States is much more willing to cut Pakistan loose after learning hard lessons about Pakistan's support of the Taliban in Afghanistan. "Pakistan is of far lesser significance to the United States today than it was in 2008. The circumstances are markedly different and consequently there is much less interest in coddling Pakistan," said South Asia expert Sumit Ganguly, who holds the Rabindranath Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilisations at Indiana University in Bloomington. Srinagar: Rejecting a plea seeking ban on use of pellet guns in controlling street protests in Kashmir Valley, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has cited the ground situation and observed that as long as there is violence by unruly mobs, use of force is inevitable. A bench comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey also declined the plea to prosecute the officers who ordered use of pellet guns or fired them even as it directed the authorities to provide adequate medical treatment to the injured by specialists in or outside the state. "Having regard to the ground situation prevailing as of now and the fact that Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs has already constituted a Committee of Experts through its Memorandum dated 26 July, 2016 for exploring other alternative to pellet guns...." "Before filing of the report by the Expert Committee and a decision taken at the government level, we are not inclined to prohibit the use of pellet guns in rare and extreme situations," the court said in its order in Srinagar on Wednesday. The bench was hearing a petition filed by Kashmir High Court Bar Association seeking ban on use of pellet guns for crowd control. The court said "it is manifest that so long as there is violence by unruly mobs, use of force is inevitable". What kind of force has to be used at the relevant point of time or in a given situation or place, has to be decided by the persons in-charge of the place where the attack is happening, it said. "This court in the writ jurisdiction without any finding rendered by the competent forum/ authority cannot decide as to whether the use of force in particular incident is excessive or not," the court said. The bench also declined the plea to prosecute the officers who ordered use of pellet guns and those who actually fired them. "Same cannot be considered in this petition as no findings on use of excessive force, violating the guidelines issued in SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), have been recorded by any fact-finding authority," it said. Hence the persons alleging use of excessive force due to which death or injury has occurred, can very well approach the appropriate forum to establish the same and seek redressal, the bench ruled. However, the court said the pendency of the PIL with regard to other prayers will not be a bar for the state government for paying compensation to deserving family members of the deceased or injured persons. The court directed the concerned authorities to ensure that all the injured are extended adequate medical treatment for whatever injury they sustain and provide all possible required medical treatment to the injured by specialists. If specialists are not available in the state, appropriate arrangement has to be made to treat the patients by inviting specialists in the state or to shift the patients to hospitals outside the state wherever specialists are available, the court said. Kohima Village Council (KVC) on Thursday warned the Nagaland government of an explosive situation if it goes ahead with the implementation of 33 percent reservation of seats for women in the urban local bodies of the state, a law that it passed recently. The resistance comes at a time when Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland, is ready for a facelift under the smart city initiative taken by the central government. In a statement issued by its chairman Medoselhou Keretsu, and press secretary Thejao Sekhose, the KVC said that in spite of intense objection from several quarters to the implementation of the 33 percent reservation of seats for women in civic bodies, the state Cabinet had gone ahead in passing the Women Reservation Bill in August 2016 without holding discussion or consultations with Naga society groups, who are also stakeholders. They, however, demanded that elections for urban local bodies should be held as early as possible without any kind of reservation for women, as lack of municipal committees and town committees have caused great losses. The village council claims that reservation for women is "contrary to Naga Culture" and "alien" to them. Article 371A(1) of the Constitution preserves the social and religious practices and customary laws of the Nagas. Rosemary Dzuvichu, a Naga feminist leader and adviser of the Naga Mothers Association, a civil society organisation, sees this move by the village council as patriarchal. Dzuvichu, who has been fighting a case in the Supreme Court for a long time demanding reservation for women in the urban local bodies, says that the election is outside the purview of villages. She categorically adds that this election has nothing to do with Naga culture as per an earlier order passed by the apex court. Rather, she says that, as per the order, it is directly related to the implementation 74th Amendment of the Constitution that hands over the powers, to develop their own towns and cities, to the localites through urban local bodies. "Hence, you can see what is at play," she laments. She further says, "Some of the members of the village council, who are male, are also ex-councillors of the local civic body. If the reservation law is implemented, then some of them will lose seats previously held by them to women candidates." Since the apex court has not stayed the election process, she expects that soon the elections will be held, and the dream of making Kohima a smart city will be realised. As per the guidelines, a special purpose vehicle with the members of the local body has to be constituted to implement the smart city project. But Kohima has not held its urban local body election for half a decade. The KVC press release further claimed that in Nagaland "there is no discrimination between menfolk and womenfolk and that our Naga women in general were never underprivileged in any form in society." It also went on to say that "Menfolk are never more privileged than the womenfolk. Men and women alike get their due importance in different segments and their status, identities, importance differ in different arena." But a renowned ethnographer in Kohima, who is unwilling to express identity, says that it is hardly the case. "Naga society, like many other societies in northeast India, is patriarchal. Women even do not enjoy the right to inherit ancestral property and rarely get an opportunity to share power." Temsula Aao, a Sahitya Academy award winner and writer based in Nagaland, believes that the reservation law should be implemented as early as possible to bridge this divide. The Maratha community, a dominant force in Maharashtra politics, has been taking out silent marches in various towns in the state over the last one month, following the rape and murder of a girl at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district two months ago. On Wednesday, members of the Maratha community took out another such morcha in Navi Mumbai. In a show of strength, thousands marched from Kharghar to the office of the Konkan Divisional Commissioner. A similar protest was planned for Thursday in Amravati. Nearly five lakh community members were expected to take part in that protest. The protests may be 'silent' morchas but they have still caused a kind of tension in Maharashtra which, according to many journalists, has not been seen in the state since it was formed in 1960. Kopardi gangrape and murder The trigger On 13 July, a 15-year-old Maratha girl was allegedly gang raped and murdered by four Dalit youths who inflicted injuries all over her body and broke her limbs before throttling her at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar. "The incident took place on 13 July between 6.45 pm and 7.30 pm when the victim was returning after meeting her grandfather. She was accosted by three accused who gangraped her violently before throttling her to death. Her both shoulders were found to be dislocated," Ahmednagar district Superintendent of Police Saurabh Tripathi had told PTI. Reports had also said that the flesh from all over the victim's body, including her genitals, were torn. Her hair had been pulled out, hands were dislocated from the shoulders, her teeth were smashed and she was strangled to death after rape. The incident had sparked public outrage as well as a political slugfest, with the Congress demanding Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' resignation on "moral grounds". The protests and the demands After the gangrape, Maratha Kranti silent morchas were held in Akola, Nanded, Beed, Osmanabad, Aurangabad, Jalgaon and Jalna districts over the last one month. They had received huge response, forcing all political parties to take note of the community's grievances. Three lakh people had taken part in the morchas in Beed and Osmanabad, according to The Asian Age. On Wednesday's march in Navi Mumbai, the 'Muk Morcha', which began from the Central Park at Kharghar in Raigadh district, wended its way through the highway before culminating at the Konkan Bhavan at Belapur. Unmindful of heavy downpour, the protesters, clad in black and carrying saffron flags, walked the 6-km stretch. A delegation of five girls, who were part of the march, later met Konkan Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh and submitted a memorandum on behalf of the Sakal Maratha Samaj, demanding strict action against the culprits in the rape case. Apart from demanding death penalty for the accused, the Maratha community leaders have been pressing for scrapping of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act), saying it is grossly misused, and also raised other demands like quota in in education and jobs. Five lakh people were expected to take part in the morcha in Amravati on Thursday. "The morcha is not against any caste but against the tendency involved in Kopardi case," the organisers had said at a press conference. The real reason behind the protests According to this article in The Indian Express by Bhalchandra Mungekar, over 150 crimes against Dalits, including some brutal murders, were committed just in Ahmadnagar district in the last four to five years. "Yet, not a word of protest was uttered by any section of society in the state, let alone the Maratha community, other than the Dalits. This once again underlines that community sensitivity or conscience even in the crime of rape is determined by ones caste," said the article. Moreover, the organisers of the silent morchas had also said that college youths alone would lead the morcha on Thursday as there would be no political or other leaders involved in the march. However, the participants in the protests according to The Indian Express report belong to a wide range of political parties like Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and BJP. The OBCs are also not allowed to take part in the protests, even though many Dalits including the entire Dalit community of Kopardi village also wanted death penalty for the accused. This puts a question over whether the protests are actually about punishing the guilty or about a longstanding issue of reservation and a divide between Marathas and Dalits. "The Khopardi gang-rape may be a trigger but the anger is directed more at the reservation benefits the Dalit community receives. Marathas say only a small fraction amongst them are rich and influential, the rest are poor and unemployed. Educating their children is a huge financial strain and illiteracy amongst Marathas is on the rise. Those educated say that reservation has rendered them jobless," said another article in Open Magazine. With input from agencies By Maya Palit In April 2012, Salamuni and her husband, a rickshaw puller based in Bundelkhand, visited a hospital in Chitrakoot. She was pregnant and ill, and they assumed she would get better medical treatment there. The doctor on call, Ranjana Sharma, was aggressive in her attempts to convince Salamuni to have a sterilisation operation. Despite Salamuni insisting that she was too weak, Sharma made her sign a document, gave her an injection, and initiated an abortion as well as sterilisation before the anaesthesia kicked in. According to Salamunis account, the doctor spent three hours pumping air into her to locate the nerve, and when she screamed from the pain, the sari she was wearing was stuffed in her mouth before she lost consciousness. She had to spend eight days recovering at a hospital in Allahabad after the ordeal because the bleeding wouldnt stop, she told activists from Sahayog, a womens reproductive health advocacy group. Salamunis case was an extreme version of the scores of botched sterilisation jobs that are frighteningly common in India. Earlier this year, the central government reported 113 deaths caused by tubectomy surgeries in the last year, but several womens health activists have rejected this as a conservative estimate, and the National Alliance on Maternal Health and Human Rights (NAMHHR) suggested during a press conference last Friday that approximately 1,000 of the 4 to 5 million women who undergo sterilisation die every year. This has been attributed to the appalling conditions under which the abdominal operation is conducted often in dharamshalas, under torchlight at night, sometimes with very poor hygiene and unsanitary tools like bicycle pumps and rusty scalpels. The particularly horrific case of the 18 women who died in 2014 after contracting septicemia and other complications in a sterilisation camp in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh is now widely known. RK Gupta, the doctor who operated on 83 of those women over five hours was briefly put in police custody but then released because of insufficient evidence. The news that in the same year he had been rewarded for his record career of 50,000 surgeries only epitomises the target-obsessed mentality of the Family Planning programme. It was the gory details of a similar incident that took place four years ago when 53 Dalit and Scheduled Caste women were operated on at night in a government school in Araria, Bihar that convinced the Supreme Court last week to direct the Centre to end sterilisation camps across the country, acting on a petition filed in 2012 by health rights activist Devika Biswas. Activists working on maternal health and human rights have since organised meetings to discuss the implications of the judgment. While they welcomed the decision, they were not optimistic about the 3-year transition period which the Court provided the Centre, and said that until an actual blueprint is written out to end these mass camps, it is difficult to say what impact the judgement will have. Kavita Krishnan, Secretary of the All India Progressive Womens Association and member of the CPM pointed out at the conference that the family planning debate is still very much centred on tackling population control rather than focusing on womens reproductive rights: "The question [should not be] about which is the next best technological fix in contraception but about what actions will empower women to gain control over their bodies, and encourage men to take responsibility for contraception," she said. Unfortunately, the focus on population control has governed family planning since the late 80s, ever since the Pomeroy method of tubal ligation through laparoscopy made abdominal operations easier to conduct. And as Deepa Dhanrajs 1991 film Something Like A War shows, doctors had begun conducting them in unsanitary situations early on: I spend 45 seconds per operation. I have conducted 3,13,939 operations, this year, more than two thousand in schools and government halls says one gynaecologist in the film. Abhijit Das, co-founder of Healthwatch Forum and a trained doctor working at the Centre for Health and Social Justice in Delhi, added that paranoia about the population explosion has been so deeply ingrained in the public mindset that the government feels justified in its search for quick-fix solutions. The alternative, he says, is aiming for population growth to be spread over years: India has a very young population. What you want is for reproduction to take place over time, rather than people having many babies and getting sterilised at 24. Sterilisation should also happen later because it has been associated with high regret and hysterectomy rates. One of the most crucial questions that was raised at the NAMHHR conference concerned the (lack of) temporary contraceptive and alternatives in the family planning programme. The post-partum intra-uterine contraceptive device (PPIUCD) is another measure that has been gaining popularity. Rajdev Chaturvedi, from the Gramin Punarnirman Sansthan in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, spoke about increasing cases of the device being inserted without womens consent or knowledge after they give birth. He was also skeptical about the impact of the judgment, claiming that the real change would involve the improvement of access to counselling for women regarding contraception, as at the moment they are targeted while they are vulnerable and in pain during deliveries. Jashodhara Dasgupta, a coordinator of Sahayog who also works with Healthwatch Forum, UP, emphasised the importance of expanding the objectives of family planning to include a variety of contraceptives so that women can make informed choices. These include measures for those who find the PPIUCD invasive or adolescents at the start of their sexual lives, for whom sterilisation is entirely unnecessary. The government has put off a long-term vision that encompasses the diversity of peoples needs for so long, she said. But the reason that non-consensual sterilisation is so rampant in the first place is because doctors are given annual (unofficial) targets or ELAs (Expected Levels of Achievement) to fulfil. Although the recent Supreme Court judgement directs the government against encouraging incentivised consent or setting even informal targets for health workers, this may well conflict with Indias commitment to providing contraceptive services to 48 million additional users as part of its family planning goals for 2020. And as of last year, more than 80 percent of the annual family planning budget was spent on promoting sterilisation. Even though the most recent National Family Health Survey statistics suggest that female sterilisation has decreased overall in many states in the last decade, in states like Andhra Pradesh, as many as 68.3 percent of women across rural and urban areas have undergone sterilisation it doesnt look like a problem that can be completely eradicated right away. It remains to be seen, then, whether this judgement will be the beginning of a much longer battle to reorient the family planning programme. The Ladies Finger (TLF) is a leading online womens magazine delivering fresh and witty perspectives on politics, culture, health, sex, work and everything in between. Srinagar: The flux security situation in the Kashmir Valley since the killing of the charismatic Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander, Burhan Wani, has taken a turn for the worse with a major fidayeen attack on the Indian Army brigade headquarters in the Uri sector of North Kashmirs Baramulla district. The attack which took place on Sunday morning has resulted in the killing of the 18 soldiers and left many others critically injured. Even though the Uri-type of attacks has happened in the past, Sundays attack adds to the woes of the already embattled security establishment in Kashmir. It also poses new challenges to the security forces battling the newly reinvigorated local militancy since Wanis killing. If media reports are to be believed, militancy is gaining ground in the villages of south Kashmir with new local recruits. A report from the last week suggested that there have been 80 youth missing from these areas, who are believed to have joined the militants. Locals attribute this surging number of local recruits to the prevailing situation in the Valley where for the first time people from the rural areas have come out on roads and streets chanting anti-India slogans in the aftermath of Wanis killing. Many of these protests have involved local youth attacking the police parties and police stations in south Kashmir, with some snatching weapons from the cops. In a private conversation with the Firstpost, a policeman from south Kashmir said that those youth involved in the weapons snatching, realised that they are left with only two choices, either surrender before the authorities or become a militant. Apprehending that their future is imperiled in any case, most of them have preferred to join the militant ranks, rather than facing the punishment from the authorities, he said. This could be one of the reasons why so many youth have turned militants, after Wanis killing. Moreover, even after two months, the situation in many villages of south Kashmir presents no clear picture with virtually nil presence of the government, paramilitary and state police, and only occasional patrols by the army. As a result, there seems no semblance of normalcy in these areas with protesters continuing to block the roads, lock government offices and take out processions on a daily basis. The continuing absence of the security forces is possibly making the ground more fertile for militancy in these areas. A sympathetic attitude of the locals from last few years is becoming more intense towards the militants or the mujahideens. But their changing attitude towards the local militants allegedly due to repression faced by them from the security forces and violence is also seen as a catalyst for the local militancy. In the last few years, a trend has been seen where people in south Kashmir would take out processions to give safe passage to the militants trapped in the encounters with the security forces and an ever burgeoning number flocked to attend the funerals of the killed militants. Kashmiris also attribute the rise in local militancy to the anger among the people. Firstly, people were unhappy with the unholy PDP-BJP alliance and now the security men are using excessive force against the youth, which could be the major reason for the rise in militancy, Bashir Ahmad, a local from south Kashmirs Anantnag district told Firstpost. He believes that people in rural areas had put their faith on the PDP and voted for it in the assembly elections. Now they feel betrayed due to PDPs joining hands with the BJP, Ahmad said. Not only people, but even the members of the PDP have shown anger with their partys leadership. Citing the ongoing bloodshed in Kashmir valley, the PDP MP from Srinagar Tariq Hamid Karra recently resigned from Lok Sabha and the party membership. Some others look at the problem in a different manner saying that it has nothing to do with any partys ideology. Kashmir problem will go on like this. People will carry on protesting and engaging in violence until India stops suppressing the Kashmiri youth, Ishaq Beg told Firstpost. They are using excessive force and violent measures to tackle the Kashmir problem, which is the main cause for the youth to take up arms against India, he said. Sundays Uri attack and the spate of earlier militant attacks on the security forces, coupled with the rise in local youth taking up arms, presents a dilemma for the security forces which are keen to bring stability to Kashmirs security situation. However, more the current spate of protests prolong, the more difficult their job is becoming in bringing back normalcy in Kashmir. The author is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar. He focuses on the socio-political issues of the Kashmir Valley. In spite of getting embroiled in controversies, ranging from a domestic violence case to threatening security guards of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Aiims), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Malviya Nagar Somnath Bharti has always remained dear to the partys top leadership. With more than a dozen of AAP MLAs already being arrested by the police on various charges (and subsequently given bail), Bharti stands out among others. Though arrested on Thursday for allegedly assaulting Aiims security guards, Bharti is no first-timer. He was earlier arrested and released on bail in 2015. The original bad boy legislator of AAP, Bhartis name surfaced from time to time in relation to one issue or the other. If at one time it had been related to charges of domestic violence by his wife, on the other it was by Ugandan women over a midnight raid at Khirki Extension in South Delhi. Bharti no first-timer Prior to the latest incident of allegedly assaulting Aiims guards, there had been a series of complaints against Bharti. The Delhi police had registered a case of attempt to murder, domestic violence and cheating against Bharti on his wife Lipika Mitras complaint in 2015. In her 26-page complaint, Mitra had also accused him of forgery. In 2011 too, she had lodged a domestic abuse complaint against him, with the Delhi police cell for crimes against women, which she later withdrew. Even during the 49-day AAP government in 2014, Bharti had made it to the headlines for all the wrong reasons. He had then led a midnight raid on a private house in Khirki extension in New Delhi, in which he and his supporters were accused of forcing four Ugandan women to undergo medical tests for proof of narcotics. Bharti had allegedly personally led the raid after the Delhi police refused to comply with his instructions. The repercussion of his alleged high-handedness against the Ugandan women trickled down at the party level, and there again Bharti had an encounter with one of the founding members of AAP Madhu Bhaduri, a former diplomat, who was a national council member of AAP, but later resigned. After a lot of drama, Bharti was arrested in September 2015. He was later released on bail. What makes Bharti different from other arrested MLAs? There are a few AAP leaders whether a minister or an MLA who had to lose their jobs after getting arrested by the police, though they had been a first-timer. Minister Sandeep Kumar was not only sacked after a sleaze CD allegedly showing him in a compromising position became public, but was also strongly condemned by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Similarly, two other ministers Jitender Singh Tomar and Asim Ahmed Khan in Kejriwals Cabinet had met a similar fate in 2015 on the charges of fake degrees and bribery respectively. However, they were all first-timers unlike Bharti. Somnath Bharti did no wrong. It was the Aiims management, who encroached a parking space and Bharti along with the PWD and police visited the spot to remove them. There was nothing illegal in the action. Police complaint against him was politically motivated, like in case of some of our other legislators. Had Bharti been wrong in any of the cases, Arvind wouldnt have tolerated him and thrown him out despite being named in so many controversies, a senior AAP member said on condition of anonymity. After her brush with Bharti during national council meeting in 2014, Madhu Bhaduri had told Firstpost, I was heckled in the meeting of the national council of AAP on 31 January, 2014, when I tried to raise the issue of midnight raid on Ugandan women. In spite of this, the party supported Bharti, which shows the AAP leadership has the same mentality as khap panchayats on gender justice. However, there are many old-timers in AAP who would like to differ. Everyone is aware what goes on at Khirki extension and what Bharti did was not wrong. It was the locals who had approached him to solve their problem and being the local MLA, he did what was right. Bharti is not only educated, but has a strong support base among party volunteers due to his courage to lead from the front, shared a senior AAP volunteer of south Delhi. Bharti has intentionally been projected as a bad boy by the Congress and the BJP. He cant be compared with other AAP legislators who have been arrested and sacked from their posts. Our CM takes him seriously, the senior volunteer added. Even in the case of latest allegation against Bharti related to assault on Aiims guards, the party has backed him strongly, though remains tight-lipped after his arrest. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal has denied any wrongdoing in appointments made by her in the commission and stated the recent charges against her as baseless. She has termed the allegations levelled against her by the predecessor that led Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) of Delhi to register an FIR on 20 September as "politically motivated and an act of malafide intentions". In an interview to Firstpost, Maliwal, an engineer-turned social activist-turned womens panel head, has strongly condemned the ACB for allegedly naming Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the administrative and financial irregularities in the functioning of the DCW. Here are excerpts from the interview: What do you have to say on Wednesdays incident regarding the allegation against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal that ACB has named him in an FIR related to DCWs functioning at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi? The fact is an FIR cant be registered against a CM without prior approval from the top and that too in a case of corruption. Its a highly condemnable act of ACB, because it has named a person (Kejriwal) involved in financial irregularities, who has been an anti-corruption crusader throughout. I doubt the CM has ever signed a single file of DCW. After all, were not a department of the government that needs CMs signature. If at all he has done, its related to approval of a scheme. Its nothing but a political conspiracy to defame us and also not to let the AAP government work smoothly in Delhi. But what about the FIR registered against you by the ACB on alleged irregularities in recruitment in DCW? The FIR has been registered on the complaints made by two persons one former DCW chairperson Barkha Shukla Singh and the other, former chief secretary of Delhi, Umesh Sehgal. Singh was an MLA when she was heading this commission and now a Congress spokesperson. Moreover, her eight-year tenure as DCW chairperson is questionable. While, her complaint is clearly politically motivated, Sehgal complained against me because we compelled police to register an FIR against him. A woman approached us alleging charges of molestation against Sehgal and said the police had refused to file an FIR. We took up the case of the victim with the police and despite registering an FIR, no arrest has been made yet. What do you have to say on Barkha Shukla Singhs allegations that you appointed AAP volunteers without following due process? Allegation made against me is absolutely false. We appointed 90 people, out of whom 74 are working with us. Due process was followed while making appointments. When I took over, I found a large number of cases to deal with and our work was expanding. We had to make short-term appointments (three-month basis) for various functions in the first year. Now, we have been able to create an ecosystem. In one year, we have handled 11,500 cases and attended 2.25 lakh calls on women helpline number 181. We appointed counsellors to assist rape victims to police stations, courts, etc. Wherever rape was reported, we were present to assist and guide the victims. On the contrary, Barkha Singh in eight years dealt with only one case! She appointed wives of IAS and IPS officers without giving any advertisement for recruitment. It was to oblige the officers. We've all necessary documents to support our claim, which well give to the ACB at the right time. Had Singh done some tangible work in her tenure, we wouldnt have had to make these appointments in large number. The investigating officer at ACB has reportedly said that after investigation, they have found that 91 appointments were made without following due process Its completely wrong. No investigation has been done. On 19 September, a day before the FIR was registered against me, the ACB handed me a list of 27 questions and asked me to reply. As I was very busy on 20 September with the release of our annual report, which was attended by Union Minister for Women & Child Development, Maneka Gandhi and MoS (Home) Kiren Rijiju, I asked for time and the ACB gave me a weeks period to reply. Shockingly, the ACB registered an FIR on 20 September morning without waiting for my reply. Its so surprising that were the only body in Delhi in which both the central government and Delhi government have been jointly working towards women safety. It shows that they dont want us to work. While, cases of rapes are on the rise, they dont want us to work. The message is clear hurdles will be created against those who want to work in Delhi. Has DCW ever taken any action against AAP leaders like Sandeep Kumar, Amanatullah Khan against whom there are sexual allegations? DCW is a statutory body of the Delhi government constituted to investigate and examine all matters relating to the safety and security of women under the constitution and other laws of Delhi. In the cases of Sandeep Kumar, Amanatullah Khan and others, police already took action. Our role is to intervene, when police do not take action or dont register an FIR on victims complaint. I was the first to condemn former Delhi minister Sandeep Kumar when he was arrested in the sleaze CD case. It was DCW that took action against AAP MLA Manoj Kumar, when his wife approached us complaining against him on charges of domestic abuse. Were the only womens commission working apolitically. What next after this FIR? This FIR against me on charges of irregularities has hurt me the most. In my 11 years of working, I worked for nine as a volunteer, spending nights in shelters. Ive worked with utmost honesty and in DCW, we have tried to work as much as possible, even on Saturdays and Sundays. Ive got response from all political parties. Ill cooperate in the investigation and provide all proofs as and when required. Now, its for the public to decide my work. If charge of corruption even of one rupee is proved against me, Ill give up my life. 1 Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) September 20, 2016 (A note: Late on Wednesday, the ACB chief MK Meena said that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwals name did not figure in the FIR regarding alleged irregularities in the DCW.) Siddaramaiah has decided to bite the bullet. And in the process of doing so, his political stature has been elevated in Karnataka. What is ironical and politically significant is that the man who played a role in guiding him was his boss-turned-political rival, HD Deve Gowda. The former prime minister persuaded Siddaramaiah to see the larger picture. In HD. The easier option for Karnataka would have been to comply with the Supreme Court order to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water every day till 27 September. But there was a bigger game to play for higher stakes. And so, in extremely cautious and clever semantics, Siddaramaiah said Karnataka was deferring the release of water till the special session of the Karnataka assembly met on Friday and took a call on what to do next. Technically, it is contempt of court because Karnataka has refused to go by the time schedule set by the apex court. But by not completely refusing to release water, Siddaramaiah has kept just a bit of the door open for himself to squeeze out of a difficult legal situation. But the political grapevine is abuzz with how Cauvery has led to a regrouping of friends-turned-bitter foes. Siddaramaiah was Deve Gowda's trusted lieutenant till relations soured in 2005, when he was asked to quit as deputy chief minister. Junior Gowda, HD Kumaraswamy's movement up the JD(S) ladder meant Siddaramaiah looked for greener pastures in the Congress. That broke relations between Deve Gowda and Siddaramaiah completely, with the two looking to undercut each other at every available opportunity. Those in the know say things changed after Siddaramaiah lost his 39-year-old son, Rakesh, to multi-organ failure in July. He became a much mellowed man, and when Gowda met him to offer condolences, the old relationship was revived to an extent. The ice was certainly broken after more than a decade. Binding the two leaders also is the Cauvery dispute. The river and its tributaries flow in their backyard. Siddaramaiah is from Mysuru district, while Gowda hails from Hassan. Once the controversy broke, Siddaramaiah, and his irrigation minister MB Patil have been regularly in touch with Gowda, even dropping in at his residence in Bengaluru for advice. Sources say Gowda got Siddaramaiah's favorite snack (made with raw banana) prepared when the CM called on him. And on Siddaramaiah's insistence that Gowda must attend the all-party meeting on Cauvery, the JD(S) veteran entered the Vidhana Soudha after two decades on Wednesday. Deve Gowda at 83 has not lost any of his combative acumen. He has been quick to realise that even though restricted to south Karnataka, there is a feeling that Karnataka has been pushed around. While this is obviously not the opinion Tamil Nadu or for that matter a large part of India shares, the politician in Gowda has been able to spot an opportunity for the phoenix to rise from the Cauvery river bed. Having Gowda on his side works well for Siddaramaiah because it helps isolate the BJP. Cauvery was the trigger, the meeting in fact, helped seal the continuation of the Congress-JD(S) alliance in the Bengaluru municipal body the BBMP where the two came together to keep out the largest party, the BJP, out of the power equation. The BJP was making overtures to the JD(S), but the party that has acquired the reputation of being a political freelancer has decided to work with the Congress for now. Power in the BBMP is critical because this gives access to cash, which will be a much-needed commodity for successive assembly and Lok Sabha elections in 2018 and 2019. Getting a former PM to back him lends strength to Siddaramaiah's ability to stand up the top court of the land. It also sends a subtle message to the Congress high command that should they try to mess with him over handling of the Cauvery issue, he can checkmate them with new-found friends. The BJP also has been talking in terms of not releasing water to Tamil Nadu, but it did not want Siddaramaiah to walk away with the credit in Karnataka. It chose the easier option of not attending the all-party meeting on the plea that the CM did not heed the BJP's advice the first time around on 6 September. Siddaramaiah-Gowda's next ploy will be to make the BJP commit on the floor of the Vidhana Soudha on Friday that it too backs the government. That will help Siddaramaiah emerge as the face of Karnataka, with the BJP unable to make political capital. How does Deve Gowda gain from it? Mandya, the ground zero of the protests is his territory, dominated by his Vokkaliga community. If the Congress government had released water, he would have criticised Siddaramaiah and won votes for his candidates. But here, he gets the chance to emerge as an elder statesman, who stood along with the CM to protect Karnataka's interests. Not to forget that this buttresses his oft-repeated claim of being a farmer leader. Gowda also has been claiming that as PM, he solved the Narmada, Tehri and Ganga water disputes, asking why Narendra Modi cannot do the same with Cauvery. But more than anything else, the man who behaved more like the prime minister of Karnataka during his innings in the top job in 1996-97, sees in Cauvery an opportunity to arrest the slide in his party, besides emerging as a player whose opinion matters. Washington: A rocket fired by Islamic State jihadists at US forces in Iraq may have carried a chemical agent, a US defense official said Wednesday. No one was injured in Tuesday's blast near an airfield by the northern town of Qayyarah and no one showed any immediate signs of exposure to the suspected mustard agent, the official said. Several hundred US troops are working with Iraqi partners to strengthen the airfield ahead of a push on the IS stronghold of Mosul. The defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said an incoming round had exploded within the base perimeter during an "indirect fire" attack. A small team of US troops later inspected the fragmented ordinance and found one bit with a suspicious, tar-like black oily substance that they tested in the field. That 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 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. Still, the troops who handled the fragments went through a standard decontamination procedure. US-led coalition warplanes last week destroyed a factory near Mosul suspected of being used by IS to make chemical weapons. Observers have repeatedly alleged IS 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 IS seized in 2014 and which remains the jihadists' last main stronghold in Iraq. New Delhi: French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian will arrive on Thursday night for signing of the Euro 7.8 billion deal on Friday for 36 Rafale jets which will come equipped with latest missiles and weapon system, giving IAF a cutting edge over arch rival Pakistan. The deal for the aircraft, the first fighter jet deal in 20 years, will be signed on Friday in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Drian, sources in Defence Ministry said. Also present will be the chief executive officers (CEOs) of top French companies, including Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale. The deal comes with a saving of nearly 750 million Euros than the one struck during the previous UPA government, which was scrapped by the Narendra Modi government, besides a 50 percent offset clause. These combat aircraft, delivery of which will start in 36 months and will be completed in 66 months from the date the contract is inked, come equipped with state-of-the-art missiles like 'Meteor' and 'Scalp' that will give IAF a capability that had been sorely missing in its arsenal. The features that make the Rafale a strategic weapon in the hands of IAF is its Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Meteor air-to-air missile with a range in excess of 150 km. Its integration on the Rafale jets will mean IAF can hit targets inside both Pakistan and across the northern and eastern borders while staying within India's territorial boundary. Pakistan at present has only a BVR with 80 km range. During the Kargil war, India had used a BVR of 50 km range while Pakistan had none. However, Pakistan later acquired 80-km-range BVR, but now with 'Meteor' the balance of power in the air space has again tilted in India's favour. 'Scalp', a long-range air-to-ground cruise missile with a range in excess of 300 km also gives IAF an edge over its adversaries. Sources said the "vanilla price" of just the 36 aircraft is about 3.42 billion Euros. The armaments cost about 710 million Euros while Indian specific changes, including integration of Israeli helmet-mounted displays, will cost 1,700 million Euros. The rest of the cost includes spare parts and maintenance. Professor Andrew Appel of Princeton University says at least 10 states are still using machines that are vulnerable to hacking. And you don't need the Russians to play dirty. Anyone with access to the machines for a reasonable amount of time, fraud on their minds and geeky enough can rig this thing. "How do you know these machines have not been giving you wrong results for the last five years?" Prof Appel told Firstpost while chatting after the on-cam interview. Touch screen voting machines riddled with bugs and security holes will be in full force in Louisiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Delaware, Kentucky. The low level game of election fraud is to just rig the machine to behave badly, the high stakes game end is to create cheating programs that shift votes around and are taught not to cheat while they are being tested. 44 million registered voters, accounting for 25 percent of the total US voters, live in jurisdictions that rely on paperless systems, including millions in contested states such as Georgia, Pennsylvania and Virginia. That means one in four registered voters in America live in areas that will use electronic voting machines that dont produce a paper backup. For those of you who want to do a deep dive, here's what we read up before this interview: https://freedom-to-tinker.com/2016/08/18/security-against-election-hacking-part-2-cyberoffense-is-not-the-best-cyberdefense/ https://freedom-to-tinker.com/2016/09/20/which-voting-machines-can-be-hacked-through-the-internet/ https://freedom-to-tinker.com/2016/08/17/security-against-election-hacking-part-1-software-independence/ Vodafone India has announced that it has received an equity infusion of Rs. 47,700 crore from Vodafone Group in the first half of the current fiscal. The telecom operator claims this equity infusion via foreign direct investment (FDI) is largest ever FDI infusion in the country. The funds will help Vodafone India to continue its investments in spectrum and expansion of networks. It will also help Vodafone compete against the new entrant Reliance Jio. Sunil Sood, MD & CEO, Vodafone India, said, 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% 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. AT&T plans to launch a streaming video service by the end of the year, CEO Randall Stephenson said this week at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference. Dubbed "DirecTV Now," it will offer more than 100 channels at a "very, very aggressive price point," Stephenson said. He indicated that the data required to stream it would be "incorporated into the price of the content," suggesting it will be exempt from data caps. It's likely that such an exemption would apply to a customer's home broadband plan from AT&T in addition to mobile data plans. AT&T, which owns DirecTV, recently announced that its cellular plan customers who are also DirecTV subscribers can now watch streaming TV content without using up their mobile data allotment. If the data cap exemption extends to mobile viewing, it would follow in the footsteps of services like T-Mobile's Binge On, which allows unlimited audio and video streaming from many different providers. It has been popular with consumers but drawn criticism from net neutrality advocates. Stephenson did not elaborate on how much the DirecTV streaming service would cost or whether it would be available to people who don't already have a DirectTV subscription. But he said the cost of providing it would be lower than that of traditional TV service, since there's no installation required. Whether or not DirecTV Now will be a worthy competitor to the likes of Netflix, HBO Now, and Amazon Video depends to a large degree on partnerships with TV and movie studios. Stephenson said that "we've been doing what I would consider some win-win arrangements with the content providers." A DirecTV spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This article originally appeared on PCMag.com. The World Trade Organization said on Thursday the European Union had failed to rein in billions of dollars in subsidies to planemaker Airbus , prompting Washington to call for an immediate halt to support to unwind damage to U.S. jobs. The ruling is part of a series of tit-for-tat transatlantic complaints about aircraft subsidies that together make up the world's largest trade dispute, still raging after 12 years of bitter arguments. The WTO said the EU had failed to comply with earlier rulings by the global trade body against all but two of 36 contested measures, including billions of dollars of European government loans to Airbus stretching back decades. The loans were a "genuine and substantial" cause of significant lost sales for its U.S. competitor Boeing, it said. In a blow to Europe's long-held argument that the most recent Airbus plane, the A350, fell outside the case, the WTO said funding for the jet had been subsidized but rejected U.S. claims it fell into the most toxic category of "prohibited" aid. The United States said Airbus had failed to undo subsidies worth $22 billion, including $4 billion for the A350. European industry officials dispute those numbers, saying they overstate the amount of support at stake within the loans. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said the subsidies had cost U.S. workers exports worth tens of billions of dollars. "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," he said in a statement. The EU, however, suggested it would appeal the latest findings, saying it found some of the report "unsatisfactory". "We are closely analysing the report," the European Commission said, adding the 574-page document should be read in the context of two other WTO reports expected to address U.S. subsidies to Boeing in coming months. It comes amid a U.S. presidential campaign where claims that U.S. companies are suffering from alleged cheating by foreign competitors is a prime topic for both candidates, and amid growing support for protectionism on both sides of the Atlantic. In earlier findings, the WTO ruled that both Airbus and Boeing received unfair subsidies worth billions of dollars. Both sides have sought WTO permission to draw up sanctions that could penalize other industries, with the U.S. calling for up to $10 billion in counter-measures and the EU $12 billion. But no reprisals are expected until the WTO process, which is already running about three years behind schedule, has been exhausted, which trade sources say could take months or years. Many analysts expect a negotiated settlement instead. (Story refiles to remove extraneous word in paragraph six.) (Additional reporting by David Lawder and Alwyn Scott; Writing by Tim Hepher; Editing by Mark Potter) Image source: Getty Images. There are plenty of ways to profit on a stock's movement beyond investing in the actual stock itself. Options provide a nearly endless array of strategies, due to the countless ways you can combine buying and selling call option(s) and put option(s) at different strike prices and expirations. A call is an options contract that gives the owner the right to purchase the underlying security at the specified strike price at any point up until expiration. A put is an options contract that gives the owner the right to sell the underlying asset at the specified strike price at any point up until expiration. One of the most basic positions that an investor can take is a long put. The basic setup A long put is simply owning a put option. You would purchase a put option if you believe that the stock is going to fall, since the value of a put goes up if the underlying stock price goes down. However, any option has the risk of expiring completely worthless upon the expiration date, so buying options is considered a speculative strategy. For example, let's say a stock is trading at $50. If you believe that the stock will go down, you could consider purchasing a $45 put. Let's say that the premium for that put is $2. Maximum loss: premium paid Any time that you purchase an option, the most that you can lose is the premium that you paid for the option. This is true for both calls and puts. This occurs if the option is out-of-the-money upon expiration, in which case it expires worthless. In this example, you would lose the full $2 in premium if the stock closes upon expiration above $45, since the put would then be worthless. Maximum gain: strike price minus premium The lowest a stock price can go is $0. The best-case scenario for a bearish investor purchasing a long put is that the stock goes to $0. Under this scenario, you could exercise and sell the stock at the strike price, but the stock is worth nothing. In this example, if the underlying stock went to $0, you would be able to sell a stock with no value to the counterparty for $45, for a gain of $45. After factoring in the premium cost of $2, your net gain would be $43. Breakeven: strike price minus premium The breakeven on a long put is the strike price minus the premium. If the stock closes at this price upon expiration, the gains associated with the trade will exactly offset the upfront premium paid. In this example, if the stock closed at $43, you would gain $2 on the trade itself (buying at $43 and selling at $45). This would offset the $2 in premium paid upfront. The $15,834 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $15,834 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after.Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) is the globe's biggest animal health company, and its sales and profit are benefiting from tailwinds that are supporting market growth, including an expanding population and increasing global wealth. Nevertheless, billionaire investor Bill Ackman -- a longtime bull on the company -- sold over 20 million shares of Zoetis' last quarter, or roughly half his total stake in the company. Should investors follow Ackman out of Zoetis, or should they double down and buy more? In this clip from The Motley Fool's Industry Focus: Healthcarepodcast, analyst Kristine Harjes and contributor Todd Campbell weigh in on the global animal health giant and whether it still deserves to be owned in investors' portfolios. A full transcript follows the video. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. This podcast was recorded on Aug. 31, 2016. Kristine Harjes: I think it's pretty clear that pet spending is a big spending force. How can an investor take advantage of this? What companies are in the space? Todd Campbell:Well, the big kahuna that investors need to focus on, or at least spend a little time getting familiar with, is a company called Zoetis. The symbol on that stock is ZTS. This was formerly the animal-health products division ofPfizer; it got spun off by Pfizer back in 2013, when Pfizer was downsizing, after it lost patent protection on its multibillion-dollar cholesterol drug Lipitor. Zoetis is a very intriguing company. It's the biggest player out there. It's a pure play on animal health. They operate both companion-animal businesses and livestock businesses. Harjes:Right, we haven't really touched on livestock business very much, but that's a pretty big part of a lot of these companies, in addition to what you would imagine when you think of pet healthcare, with your medicines and vaccines and vet trips. Campbell:Right, you want to keep your livestock healthy. If you're a farmer and you have cattle, you want to make sure that they're healthy when they make it to market. So, you have vaccinations and other things that you do to make sure these animals are healthy. Harjes:Exactly. One other part of the Zoetis story that I think is worth mentioning is that there's some involvement with a famous billionaire named Bill Ackman; he runs Pershing Square Capital Management. Their latest 13F revealed that they actually dumped a ton of their stakes in Zoetis: They now own 55% less of it than they did at the end of the first quarter. This has something to do with them having an activist campaign, trying to get the company to cut costs. And, as always, when we talk about billionaires, you should not follow them blindly. What do you think, Todd? Is this an instance where you might want to follow Ackman? Do you find the stock interesting? Campbell:I think you have to take it with a very big grain of salt. Anyone who's listened to our program in the past knows that Ackman has a big stake in a company calledValeant. Valeant's shares have been hit pretty hard. It wouldn't shock me if some of the sale in Zoetis, which is up 56% since Feb. 2013, some of that is profit-taking to free up some cash. I think investors are much better served, when it comes to looking at the pet category, to ignore the machinations of the billionaires who may be trafficking in and out of these stocks, and just simply look at the long-term potential for sales and earnings. Harjes:Right. With that, I will reiterate -- this is your biggest pure play. It can be kind of hard to find pure-play stocks in animal health. The norm is that it's a small subsection of another bigger company -- ofMerck,Bayer,Eli Lilly-- all have relatively small parts of their business devoted to animal health. But with Zoetis being spun off from Pfizer, it stands alone as: "I want to invest in this trend, and this is a way that you could do so." Campbell:And that gives it a lot of advantages over these other companies. Think about this: All of the efforts for Zoetis are focused solely on driving sales growth and profit growth in the animal-health business. It doesn't have to compete with other pharmaceuticals, like if you're talking about Merck, for research dollars. So, there can be a lot of advantages associated with buying a company like Zoetis, rather than trying to say, "OK, I'm going to buy Merck & Co. because it's the second-biggest maker of animal-health products." It's a much smaller piece of Merck's puzzle. You look at Zoetis' competitive advantage. They say they're 45% bigger than the next biggest. So, it's a massive company. They expect they're going to do about -- I think it's $4.8 billion in sales this year -- they think they can grow that to $5 billion-plus next year. It's a profitable company, it makes some money. Investors should probably bank on somewhere around single-digit top-line growth from here, like 3% to 6%, and maybe better than that on the bottom line. Maybe earnings are going to grow closer to double digits because of some cost savings, into being able to leverage greater sales against fixed costs. Kristine Harjes has no position in any stocks mentioned. Todd Campbell has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2022 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. FAQ - New Privacy Policy Image source: Disney. There are conflicting opinions on the impact that the Zika virus outbreak is having onDisney's(NYSE: DIS)theme park resort in Florida. Yesterday, we got to hear an update from the Big Cheese himself. "We also said fairly recently that we've seen no impact in the United States -- in Orlando -- because of Zika," CEO Bob Iger said at theGoldman Sachs 25th Annual Communacopia Conference yesterday. "That's still the case, by the way -- no discernible impact whatsoever." It may seem difficult to believe at first. Disney has set up "mosquito prevention" kiosks through all four of its Florida theme parks, offering up information and complimentary repellants. "Walt Disney World Resort has an extensive mosquito prevention and monitoring program," the signs explain at the kiosks that have been up since late last month. Things don't end there. The park's official My Disney Experience has a mosquito prevention pop-up for guests in the park, and informational brochures have been handed out by the entrance. A solution in search of a problem Disney claims that Zika isn't weighing on its performance. However, drawing attention to the situation has to test the mettle, if not the confidence, of its guests. There hasn't been a single case of Zika reported at any of the area's theme parks, but there have been plenty of cases in the state. Is that really not going to weigh on a potential visitor? Disney draws young families, and sometimes that includes a pregnant mother. If you're expecting a baby, why not take the family to Disney World since it may be a couple of years before you consider that the eventual newborn is ready? Give the older siblings a treat before the baby arrives. Are you telling me fears of the Zika virus don't weigh into that travel decision? We have to take Disney's word for it. It takes too long to count guests or unrented strollers. Viral videos The counter to Zika concerns is that Disney beefed up its security last year -- all of the area theme parks did -- and it's not as if guests feel any less safe at area attractions. If anything, they may feel more secure that the safeguards are there. Information and easy access to repellant sprays could be making guests less concerned about Zika at the parks. That's certainly possible, but we may never truly know if Zika was a factor this summer. Attendance fell at Disney World during the March quarter, a rare year-over-year dip. Disney's domestic theme parks experienced a 4% slide during the June quarter. It won't be a surprise to see that streak stretch to three quarters, and there will be plenty of scapegoats to blame when it happens. Attendance was already slipping months before Zika entered our vernacular. Disney can blame the international shortfall in tourists, a lack of new attractions, or its ownrecent price hikesfor the declines, but it has chosen to shake things off for the most part. If attendance bounces back soon, it'll just be a lull in retrospect. We may never know why attendance is in a funk, but it's safe to say that Disney will be giving us the reasons why folks are coming back when the turnstiles begin clicking in the right direction again. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Rick Munarriz owns shares of Walt Disney. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Walt Disney. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Chipotle promotes most of its managers from within. Image source: Chipotle. Like most companies, Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) has a complicated compensation picture. The company pays what many would consider below-average starting wages (though it's on par or even above other quick-serve or fast-casual chains), but it also offers extensive benefits and prides itself on promoting from within. As is the case for other companies that hire entry-level, limited-skill workers, hourly compensations get all the headlines, but it's not the full story. Chipotle ignored two email requests for specific wage info, but Communications Director Chris Arnold did respond by directing attention to the company's careers web page. He also provided the following statement: That's a bit of a dodge, but it can be interpreted as Arnold and the company directing us to look at the entire picture, not just what its lowest-level workers make or only the hourly wage number. It's also worth noting that at the time of The Motley Fool's email request to Chipotle public relations, the company was also in the middle of being sued by nearly 10,000 workers over unpaid wages, according to CNN Money. It's very possible that the lawsuit, which involves workers claiming they are being forced to work extra hours without being compensated, has caused the company to be very cautious when it comes to making any statement on wages. Chipotle has denied any wrongdoing in the case. What does Chipotle pay its workers? Chipotle has a graphic on its careers web page, which shows the progression workers can follow along with possible salaries. On the last screen of that illustration, which shows that a theoretical "restaurateur" leading two to four Chipotles could make $133,000 a year, it also finally offers the disclaimed text associated with an asterisk next to the salary numbers on every page shown. Understanding that the company shows $28,000 for "crew," which requires no experience, $33,000 for "kitchen manager," and $36,000 for "service manager." The numbers climb higher as workers move up into management with the graphic showing "apprentices," sort of the precursor to being a top boss, taking in $53,000 while general managers earn $67,000 and "restaurateurs" can make around double that. At the bottom level for "crew," that works out to $13.46 an hour -- a good number for the industry. The company does not spell out how that number is broken down, but based on other widely reported hourly compensation-only numbers, it does appear that figure counts non-hourly wage benefits. Glassdoor, which tracks wages based on employee reports, has about 1,000 Chipotle workers identifying themselves as "crew" or "cashier" reporting salaries in the range of $9.14 to $9.44 an hour. Indeed.com also has salary information submitted by workers, and while it has a broader range of numbers and job titles under what could be considered "crew" than Glassdoor, its ranges are similar or even a bit lower. Both Indeed.com and Glassdoor, it should be noted, show much higher rates for manager and supervisor titles. What does this mean? While Chipotle's starting wages fall well below the $15-an-hour threshold activists have been pushing for, the company does make a path to eventually attaining that wage. It's hard to weigh the value of benefits versus straight salary, because at the lower end of the wage scale, people struggling to eat or pay rent may not be overly worried about 401(k) matches. That said, Chipotle pays within industry norms for entry-level workers while offering them training and a path to advancement. That should give the company a loyal, well-trained workforce, which may give it an advantage over rivals that do not make the same efforts to promote from within. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Daniel Kline has no position in any stocks mentioned. He wants to try the chorizo, but it has not come to West Palm Beach. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Petrobras may be cutting spending, but its emphasis on deepwater could be a net positive for Seadrill. Image source: Getty Images. On September 20, Brazilian oil and gas giant Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (ADR) (NYSE: PBR) announced a "strategic plan and business management plan" targeted largely at making the company safer and reducing its debt leverage over the next five years. This is a laudable and reasonable strategy for Petrobras, which is buried in $123 million in debt and has suffered heavily under low oil prices. Factor in a disaster of an economy in Brazil, and Petrobras' leadership is taking necessary steps for that company. This news is likely to be good for Petrobras investors over the next several years, and the initial reaction is that it's bad for offshore drillers, particularlySeadrill Ltd(NYSE: SDRL), which counted on Petrobras for 20% of its work in 2015. However, it's not so clear that Petrobras' new strategic plan, even though it does call for a 25% cut in capital spending, is actually going to be bad for its offshore drilling contractors. Here's a closer look at why that might be the case. A closer look at Petrobras' plan Two years into the oil downturn, there remains a glut of global supplies. But at the same time, the sharp reduction in capital spending over the past year or so is starting to catch up to the oversupply, with production at existing oil sites set to decline without further investment. Because of this, a popular expectation is that major oil producers would start spending again in 2017, even if at an only moderately higher level than the past few quarters. So, when one of the world's largest producers, Petrobras, says it will cut another 25% from its spending plan over the next five years, it's worrisome for investors in companies such as Seadrill, which rely heavily on producers to invest in developing and growing their production. But it may not be as bad for Seadrill and its peers as it seems on the surface, for three reasons: Divestments of multiple oil and gas assets. Petrobras' exit of several non-oil and gas industries. Plans to focus on existing deepwater reserves. At least part of the reduction in planned spending is tied to the decision to exit the fertilizer, biofuels, and some petrochemicals businesses, the divestment of a number of non-core exploratory assets (including a recent $2.5 billion deal with NorwegianStatoil), which means the company's capital spendingshouldfall. At the same time, the company's plans to focus on existing deepwater reserves are probably a good thing for offshore drillers like Seadrill. Petrobras' new strategic plan could be good for Seadrill, but... It's really too early to know for sure. At this point, Seadrill and its subsidiaries only have three vessels working for Petrobras, and they're all under contract into 2018. But at the same time, if the company does indeed plan to emphasize its currently producing offshore reserves, it will almost certainly need to invest in more drilling work there. Whether that work goes to Seadrill or not, though, is far from clear. At this stage, Petrobras has only announced the rough outline of its strategic plan, and it's not likely to become clear for many months if the "picks and shovels" work actually involves Seadrill. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early, in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Jason Hall owns shares of Seadrill. The Motley Fool recommends Seadrill and Statoil. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 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. Charlottes big businesses are moving to keep their employees safe following the second night of violence in the city. Charlotte, which is the second-largest banking sector after New York City, is moving to keep employees safe and secure. Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC), the nations third-largest bank, said employees who work in the companys uptown Charlotte headquarters are not required to report to work on Thursday due to the state of emergency. Team members are being asked to work from home or work from alternate locations if they are able, a Wells Fargo spokesperson told FOXBusiness.com. Employees who are unable to work outside Wells Fargos offices will not be required to take paid time off. Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) also has asked employees at its Charlotte building to work from home. A spokesperson for the Cincinnati-based company added that Fifth Third closed its branch on Charlottes Tryon Street. In total, approximately 200 employees were affected. BB&T (NYSE:BBT) said its regional headquarters in Charlotte is operating under normal business hours, although it gave associates the option to work from home. BB&Ts downtown Charlotte branch opened normally but will close early at 3 p.m. First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ:FCNCA) closed its Charlotte office on South Tryon Street and its drive-through retail location on South Church Street, according to a spokesperson. Associates who work at those two offices have relocated to other offices in the city. The No. 2 bank in the U.S., Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Bank of America is headquartered in Charlotte. Along with being a major U.S. financial hub, Charlotte is also home to Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK), the nations largest electric power company. Headquartered in downtown Charlotte, management is telling 5,500 of its non-essential employees to work from home. We are watching the situation very closely, Duke Energys Tom Williams told FOXBusiness.com. Duke oversees 2 million square feet throughout downtown Charlotte as well as 11 nuclear units in and around the Carolinas. While Duke commands its own security force it is working closely with local law enforcement to monitor the ongoing developments said Williams. Political unrest in communities nationwide has become the norm over the past 12 to 24 months, in most cases sparked by police shootings or arrests of African-American individuals. Last April, riots rocked the city of Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray, a young black man who died while in police custody. Along with the human toll, there is an economic impact. Companies in Baltimore including CVS (NYSE:CVS) and T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ:TROW) were forced to close during the unrest. In the prior year, the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, gained national attention. Protestors locally and those that traveled to the area forced police to establish curfews among other methods to maintain order for months following the August incident. 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. 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. Siemens Corp and Siemens Medical Solutions, units of Siemens AG , have agreed to pay a $175,000 fine for failing to disclose corporate felony convictions to the Federal Communications Commission, the agency said on Thursday. Under FCC rules, wireless license holders, like Siemens, Siemens Medical, and some of their subsidiaries, are required to disclose any felony convictions in their license applications, the FCC said in news release. The FCC said an investigation found that Siemens AG pleaded guilty in 2008 to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Siemens, Siemens Medical, and some of their subsidiaries failed to meet their statutory and regulatory obligation to timely disclose the felony conviction on applications filed between 2007 and 2015, the FCC said. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by David Alexander) Yahoo Inc said on Thursday information associated with at least 500 million user accounts was stolen from its network in 2014 by what it believed was a "state-sponsored actor." The data stolen may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and hashed passwords but may not have included unprotected passwords, payment card data or bank account information, the company said. "The investigation has found no evidence that the state-sponsored actor is currently in Yahoo's network," the company said. Yahoo said it was working with law enforcement on the matter. It was not clear how this disclosure might affect Yahoo's plan to sell its email service and other core internet properties to Verizon Communications Inc . Verizon said in July it would buy Yahoo's core internet properties for $4.83 billion. Verizon said on Thursday it was notified of the breach in the last two days. "We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests ... Until then, we are not in position to further comment," the company said. (Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila) Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe weighed in on racism in Hollywood, telling the BBC that Hollywood isnt as progressive as people would like to think. We like to think of ourselves as being a very, very progressive industry, but we have been lagging behind in all kinds of areas, he told the Victoria Derybshire show. When asked if the Hollywood is racist, Radcliffe was firm in his feelings. Its pretty undeniable, he said. In his latest role in Imperium, Radcliffe plays and FBI agent who goes undercover to investigate a white supremacy group. He said the role led him to reflect on the sentiments reflected in the movie. The actor also said that gay actors are not always comfortable making their sexuality known in Hollywood because they fear being typecast in gay roles. During the chat, Radcliffe also slammed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, stating he believes Trump has stirred up feelings of fear and hatred" in the U.S. The FBI - and not the Los Angeles Police Department - is handling allegations against Brad Pitt about an incident possibly involving child abuse, the department and federal sources told Fox News Thursday. An LAPD spokesperson told us, "There was an incident that occurred on [a] plane and the FBI is currently handling it. We're not handling any investigation into this incident...[with] Brad Pitt." The LAPD spokesperson explained because the alleged incident occurred on an airplane, the investigation is out of their jurisdiction so they handed it off to the FBI. Federal sources told Fox News that they were referred a case in regards to Pitt and his children. They have not officially determined whether there is any merit to the case, but are leaning towards referring the case back to Child Protective Services where a case does exist. This does not mean any law was broken, but that if there was a law or laws broken, the jurisdiction very likely would not reside with the FBI, but with local authorities. An FBI spokesman said the bureau is "continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued." TMZ reported an investigation was launched after an anonymous caller reported an incident September 14 where Pitt allegedly got "physical" and "verbally abusive" with one of his children on the couple's private plane. They were reportedly flying from France back to the United States. People reported that Jolie and their other five children were present at the time of the alleged incident. A source told TMZ Pitt has been interviewed by authorities and is taking "the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children." The source added, "It's unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light." A rep for Pitt did not return our request for comment. Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt Monday, citing irreconcilable differences. The actress is seeking physical custody of their six children, with visitation rights for Pitt. Pitt released a statement to People magazine at the time saying, "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." An attorney for Jolie, Robert Offer, told the Associated Press Tuesday that her decision to divorce was made "for the health of the family." Their children are: 15-year-old Maddox, 12-year-old Pax, 11-year-old Zahara, 10-year-old Shiloh, and 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. The couple has been together for 12 years; they married in August 2014. It was the second marriage for Pitt, 52, who previously wed actress Jennifer Aniston, and the third for Jolie Pitt, 41, who was previously married to Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller. The pair infamously got together on the set of their movie "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," while Pitt was married to Aniston. Fox News Adam Housley and the Associated Press contributed to this report. The United States could save at least $15.5 billion in annual health care spending if malnutrition caused by chronic diseases is better addressed, according to a study. The study, conducted by Abbott Laboratories' nutrition division and the University of Illinois, noted one in three patients who arrive at a U.S. hospital suffer from malnutrition. A further one-third become malnourished during their stay. Disease-associated malnutrition (DAM), which is linked with longer hospital stays, higher rates of readmission and increased mortality, is considered an invisible affliction as it occurs in both obese and underweight individuals. It disproportionately affects the elderly, who have vulnerable immune systems and are commonly afflicted with chronic diseases. While individuals over 65 represent only 14 percent of the American population, they accounted for nearly a third, or $4.3 billion, of DAM costs, according to the study. An aging population and rising medical costs are expected to lift health care spending by an average 5.8 percent annually over the next decade, the U.S. federal government estimated in July. Malnourished patients cost 20 percent more to treat on average, said lead author Dr Scott Goates, a health economist at Abbott's nutrition division, which accounted for about 34 percent of the company's $20.41 billion in 2015 net sales. The study used publicly available data to calculate the increase in expenditure due to malnourishment associated with eight common chronic diseases, including stroke, depression, dementia and colorectal cancer. It did not factor in patients' socio-economic status. Companies, including Abbott, Nestle SA and Danone SA, sell products that help in recovery following illness, injury or surgery. These products are particularly useful for patients having trouble swallowing or digesting. "Of course, this could also be accomplished by drinks made from scratch at home," said Dr Carol Braunschweig, professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 An 8-month-old Chinese boy has undergone the first of three surgeries to correct a rare defect wherein he was born with 31 fingers and toes. Asia Wire Report (AWR) reported that the unidentified boy, who is being called Hong Hong and Yuan Yuan, has 15 fingers and 16 toes, but no thumbs on either palm. He suffers from polydactyly, which leads to extra digits, but doctors say this boys case is rare due to the number of extra fingers and toes he has. They speculated that he may have inherited the condition from his mother, who has an extra finger on each hand. Studies suggest the prevalence of polydactyly varies, but AWR reported its incidence is one in every 1,000 live births. According to the National Institutes of Health, the condition may have a genetic link. The boys surgeries will involve cutting off then reshaping his digits. Surgeons plan to operate on his bones, joints, skin and nails, as well as his critical veins. Doctors predict a lengthy and rigorous recovery regime, AWR reported. They have already operated on his feet. AWR reported that, after hearing of the boys case, the No. 6 Hospital in Ningbo City, in East Chinas Zhejiang province, agreed to lower the cost of his treatment, which could be as high as about $75,000 in the country. The hospital also promised follow-up treatments for the boy for the next 16 years, AWR reported. They plan to finish the surgery series by the time he begins school. The war in Syria has been ravaging on for five years and six months producing four million refugees, 400,000 deaths and a growing threat to regional peace and security. Despite President Obamas pronouncements of concern, his U.N. Ambassadors consistent tweeting about the violence and death, his 60 plus nation coalition and his secretary of states flurry of diplomatic meetings, the president of the United States has been unable to make real progress towards peace or even stability. President Obama is having a hard time with candidate Obamas promises to end all wars, not start any new ones and bring all U.S. troops home. In other words, candidate Obamas grandiose commitments from 2008 are running smack into President Obamas intelligence briefings. A few weeks before his re-election in 2012, Obama promised that his political calculus would change if he saw that the Syrian government was using chemical weapons in the war. Shortly thereafter, the United Nations confirmed that the Syrian government and military was indeed gassing their own people. Four years after his re-election eve campaign promise, Obama hasnt followed through on his promise to protect the Syrian people. In his eighth and final United Nations speech this week, Obama missed the opportunity to lead once again. While thousands of international diplomats gathered in the UN General Assembly hall to hear him, the president largely ignored the Syrian conflict. It was a glaring omission and missed opportunity to re-focus the worlds attention on ISIS and Assad. For the Syrian government to utilize chemical weapons on its people crosses a line that will change my calculus and how the United States approaches these issues, Obama said in April 2013. It was a statement heralded at the time by U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power, who made a loud and proud commitment of her own before becoming ambassador to the U.N. that if she was ever in a position of power that she would commit to the U.N.s Responsibility to Protect doctrine, calling on powerful nations to proactively protect vulnerable people in crises. Instead, Obama has kept his original campaign promise to not send additional U.S. troops to Syria, relying instead on Kurdish forces to gather the necessary intelligence needed to run an air campaign. But finding the command and control center of the Islamic radical group ISIS is proving to require more than just a daily bombing campaign. Timely and consistent intelligence from the ground is the only way to pinpoint the location of the ISIS leaders and the way to avoid mistakes like the one last week where U.S. forces accidentally killed 62 Syrian government troops they had mistaken for ISIS fighters. The Kurdish forces gathering most of the U.S. intelligence, meanwhile, are being attacked by Turkey, the U.S. NATO ally. The rules of engagement we are required to follow dont allow us to act in the way we want to, a U.S. military planner told me. We see what is needed but arent allowed to go there. The U.S. military is the best in the world, but without the freedom to gather the necessary intelligence on ISIS, we wont be able to find them and destroy them as they move around the country. NATO and the U.N. can only be successful in fighting extremism and combatting terrorism if the U.S. is leading the strategy. And with Turkey fighting the Kurds, Russia defending President Bashar al Assad while the U.S. policy says Assad should go, it is clear the U.S. isnt leading. At the Democratic Convention in July, President Obama made clear that the next president of the United States would still be trying to defeat ISIS in January 2017. It was a stunning admission. In his eighth and final United Nations speech this week, Obama missed the opportunity to lead once again. While thousands of international diplomats gathered in the UN General Assembly Hall to hear him, the president largely ignored the Syrian conflict. It was a glaring omission and missed opportunity to re-focus the worlds attention on ISIS and Assad. Its clear to even the casual foreign policy observer that President Obama has resigned to the fact that he has failed to stop ISIS and that Bashar al-Assad will still be in power when he leaves the White House. Was Donald Trump inciting violence against Hillary Clinton when he spoke last Friday about disarming her bodyguards? Tim Kaine, Hillary Clintons vice presidential running mate, says so. The media was hysterical. According to Martha Raddatz, host of ABC News This Week: The message sounds a lot like a threat or encouraging violence. On NBCs Meet the Press, Chuck Todd claimed: Trump again raised the specter of violence against Hillary Clinton. Over the weekend, news show after news show made similar claims. So what was Donald Trumps supposedly threatening statement? "She's [Clinton's] very much against the 2nd Amendment... I think that her bodyguards should drop all weapons. They should disarm, right?... Take their guns away. She doesn't want guns. Take their and let's see what happens to her. Take their guns away. OK? It would be very dangerous. Trumps point is simple: It's the height of hypocrisy for elites to employ armed guards (or live in super-safe neighborhoods / gated communities / doorman buildings) and then demand the disarmament of law-abiding people living in much more dangerous areas. Trumps comment was obviously rhetorical. He was not actually advocating that her bodyguards be disarmed. He was pointing out that doing so would be absurd and very dangerous. By making Americans consider Clintons need for security, he is making the point that Americans should by extension have a right to their own (personal) armed security. Clinton, who would never want to give up her bodyguards, obviously understands that guns make her safer. Wealthy gun control advocates such as Michael Bloomberg also want guns for their own protection. Bloomberg even provides armed bodyguards for the executives at Everytown for Guns Safety and Moms Demand Action, two of his organizations. Even Justice Stephen Breyer, one of the strongest gun control advocates on the Supreme Court, relies on guns for protection. In 2012, after being robbed in Washington, DC for the second time in three months, he demanded that armed police protection be provided for him at taxpayer expense. Yet, he has argued that there is not an individual right to self-defense, let alone a right to use a gun for defense. Trumps point is simple: It's the height of hypocrisy for elites to employ armed guards (or live in super-safe neighborhoods / gated communities / doorman buildings) and then demand the disarmament of law-abiding people living in much more dangerous areas. It is about time that someone stood up for the everyday citizens who fear for themselves and their families. Unlike armed guards, the police simply cant be relied on for protection. Gun control advocates such as Clinton claim that they care for poor minorities. But it is poor minorities who are particularly disarmed by the gun control regulations that Clinton pushes. Clinton keeps pushing for background checks on private transfers of guns. She never mentions that virtually all of the 2.4 million initial denials have been mistakes cases of law-abiding citizens having similar names to prohibited individuals. Nor does she mention that blacks and Hispanics are disproportionately affected by these mistakes. Instead of fixing this broken system, the Obama administration has instead pulled everyone off of checking for mistakes. It is difficult to appeal denials without the help of a lawyer, and few poor minorities can afford to pay thousands of dollars in legal fees. Gun buyers and sellers are also stuck with all of the fees for background checks. In New York City and D.C., the fee for privately transferring a gun is at least $125. In Washington state and Oregon, the costs of transferring a gun are about $60 and $55, respectively. Bloomberg and Clinton will still have world-class security, but these costs may make the difference for a poor black who wants to defend his family. Trump is also right that Clinton is opposed to the Second Amendment. Hillary Clinton has vowed to appoint Supreme Court Justices who would overturn the Heller and MacDonald decisions. This clearly means that government would again have the power to ban guns. Until 2008, a handgun ban was in effect in Washington, D.C. It was also a felony to put a bullet in the chamber of a gun. In effect, these laws constituted a complete ban on guns. The Supreme Court struck down these laws in District of Columbia v. Heller. In June, Clinton told ABCs George Stephanopoulos: I think that for most of our history, there was a nuanced reading of the Second Amendment until the decision by the late Justice Scalia and there was no argument until then that localities and states and the federal government had a right, as we do with every amendment, to impose reasonable regulation. Hillary Clinton keeps pushing regulations that will primarily disarm the most vulnerable people in our society -- poor minorities who live in high crime areas. Even the media must understand the obvious: self-protection isnt just for the rich and powerful. Last summer, the United States, Iran, and other world powers, minted the so-called Iranian Nuclear Deal. After which, at this time last year, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani triumphantly told the U.N. General Assembly in New York City that the deal was a brilliant example of victory over war that sets a strong precedent and would serve as a basis for foundational change in the region. Im sure well hear much of the same when Rouhani addresses the UN again on Thursday. As he did a year ago, Rouhani will no doubt talk about peaceful intentions; hell make the case that Iran is complying with the term of the nuclear deal; and hell declare Iran open for business. And, in each case, he will employ the deceptive and dangerous Iranian double-speak Tehran trades in reflexively. Iran talks peacebut promulgates terrorism and radical Islam, while an uncritical American press and feckless international class turns a blind eye to ongoing UN violations. All the while the Iranian regime uses recent cash infusions and new business to expand their radical ambitions. This week Iran will use the grandeur of the U.N. to gain further credibility; but, to quote candidate Barack Obama, you can put lipstick on a pigbut its still a pig. Make no mistake about it: despite the foolish efforts of the current American administration to put lipstick on the Iranian nuclear deal, the regime there remains our avowed enemy. Iran wants to kill Americans. Ive seen them do it in Iraq. They might even wait 10 years (cue, sarcasm) for the means to do it on a much larger scalethe timeframe after which our current deal expires. Just ask our friends in Israel. Military veterans like me opposed the Iranian deal in the first place because, as we saw first-hand on the battlefield, Iran is an active enemy to American, our allies, and the West. The post-revolutionary Iranian regime was literally founded on opposition to American and the West, with their lodestar being Death to America. From death squads to powerful IEDs, regime-backed Iranian agents have targeted and killed Americans and our allies wherever possible. Death to America literally means dead Americans. In fact, the so-called moderate who will stand at the UN podium today personifies this Iranian mantra. In 1995 he stood before a group of pro-regime students and proclaimed, The beautiful cry of Death to America unites our nation. Just three years ago, the so-called moderate Rouhani said during his campaign, that Saying Death to America is easy. We need to express Death to America with action. Saying it is easy. Rouhani has taken action, and history is checkered by countries who didnt take radical words like this seriously. Not surprisingly to those who understand the nature of Irans regime, the signing of a piece of paper has not changed this entrenched viewonly accelerated it. Before the ink was dry on the deal, Iran was using their newfound military, financial, and international legitimacy to flex their radical muscles. In direct contradiction to terms of the deal, Tehran actively violates UN resolutions by testing multiple ballistic missiles, defies the UN Security Council by ordering fighter jets without permission, and is continues to reward the families of Palestinian martyrs with cash payments. Not to mention the deceptive way they have administered their nuclear sites. Economically, there is also a dangerous misconception that because of the deal, Iran should somehow be viewed as a global economic partner. The truth is business flowing back into Iran will quickly transform Iran from a relatively weak, overstretched economic backwater into a hulking economic and regional power with vast means to support its political and military ambitions, terror proxies, and the eventual realization of the regimes dream to build a Shia empire. Businesses contemplating Tehran as a new investment opportunity should contemplate enabling such geopolitical consequences. Were already seeing this newfound muscle-flexing shape. In the past year, Iran has boldly captured American sailors for use in propaganda videos, and continues to actively swarming our ships in international watersarrogantly violating international norms. Not to mention fanning the flames of extremism and chaos in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel to name a few. All the while, the Obama administration equivocates, backs down, and apologies; a cycle of appeasement interpreted as sheer weakness by the Iranians. Bottom line, New York Citythe city we love that, as we saw last week, remains an active terror targetshould not open its arms to the leader of a regime that remains the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism. When the enemy comes to town, we should give them what they deserve: the cold shoulder and condemnation. The Iranian deal has not changed the nature of the Iranian regime; instead, it has only made that regime more powerful, more legitimate, and more dangerous. The next president will confront this scary reality. An internal Obama administration email shows immigration officials may be literally working overtime to swear in as many new citizen voters as possible before the Nov. 8 presidential election, a powerful lawmaker charged Thursday. The email, from a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office chief and part of a chain of correspondence within the agency, urges the unnamed recipient to swear in as many citizens as possible due to the election year. The Field Office due to the election year needs to process as many of their N-400 cases as possible between now and FY 2016, reads the email, which was disclosed to FoxNews.com by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who chairs the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. If you have cases in this category or other pending, you are encouraged to take advantage of the OT if you can, the email continues. This will be an opportunity to move your pending naturalization cases. If you have not volunteered for OT, please consider and let me know if you are interested. Parts of the email were redacted before it was disclosed to FoxNews.com, but it was sent by the branch chief of the Houston Field Office District 17. It was not clear to whom it was addressed. I couldnt have said it better! reads the July 21 note introducing the forwarded missive. Its the end of the year crunch time, so lets get crunchy! Go Team Houston! Thanks for all your hard work! Johnson and Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, in a Wednesday letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, said it appears the agency is trying to swear in new citizens as the election between Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton and GOP choice Donald Trump approaches. Your department seems intent on approving as many naturalization cases as quickly as possible at a time when it should instead be putting on the brakes and reviewing past adjudications, the senators letter read. Johnson referred to a report this week from the Department of Homeland Securitys Inspector General that found at least 858 people from terror hotspots and other countries of concern had been mistakenly granted citizenship despite facing orders of deportation under other identities. "Considering that USCIS already has a troubling record of inadequate review of naturalization applications, and mistakenly giving away citizenship to terrorists, criminals and other fraudsters, it is disturbing that they are now in full and blind rubber stamp mode to crank out new citizens," said Jessica Vaughan, director of Policy Studies for the Center for Immigration Studies. In a USCIS planning document submitted to Congress earlier this year, USCIS reported it expected to receive 828,000 total applications this year, up from a planned 815,000 last year, an increase of 13,000, Vaughan said. A USCIS official, though, said the processing push has to do with managing applications in a timely manner -- and officials are merely trying to deal with the surge in applications typical in election years. "USCISs goal is to process applications for naturalization within five to seven months, regardless of external events such as elections," the official said. "USCIS anticipated that there would be a spike in applications this year, as we usually see in an election year, but the increase in N-400 applications has exceeded expectations. USCIS has detailed staff to offices experiencing increased workloads and has authorized overtime for many offices." The official added: "USCIS certainly encourages our naturalized citizens to be active participants in our democracy. However, like other citizens, no new U.S. citizen is required to register to vote, or participate in any election. The issue at hand is our desire to ensure naturalization applications are processed within our normal times." The effort is reminiscent of a similar bid to bring in new voters when Bill Clinton ran for re-election in 1996, said Claude Arnold, a retired U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations. "I am not at all surprised by this revelation," Arnold said. "This is a repeat of the Clinton election playbook. Then it was to help re-elect Bill Clinton, this time it is to help elect Hillary Clinton." The all-out push shows the Obama administration is using levers to help Clinton win, said Dan Stein, president of Federation for American Immigration Reform. "In the pursuit of a partisan advantage, one party has decided integrity in the system is irrelevant," Stein said. "They dont really care about checking backgrounds or verifying status and eligibility it is more about increasing the number of eligible voters in the upcoming election." The Obama administration should put the brakes on a transition of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority away from U.S. control scheduled to take place at the end of the month, a regulator on the Federal Communications Commission said on Wednesday. "The current model of Internet governance has been a tremendous success," FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai said in a statement. "Under American stewardship, the Internet has become an unprecedented platform for free expression, innovation, and democratization. "That's why two years ago, when the Department of Commerce first announced its intent to relinquish its role in overseeing the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, I argued that the burden of proof was on those favoring this momentous change," Pai said. "When it comes to Internet governance, I do not believe the transition should take place on October 1." Commerce is scheduled to hand IANA, a key agency responsible for overseeing Internet Protocol addresses on the Web, over to the international Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers effective Oct. 1. The action is aimed at killing the last vestiges of American control over the Internet, a move critics have argued could result in censorship by countries like Iran and China. Pai, the FCC's senior Republican, has long warned of a growing effort by Democrats to use his agency as well as others, including the Federal Election Commission, to impose greater limitations on free speech. Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com The Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee says he's prepared to take what may be unprecedented action to get the remaining Usama bin Laden documents from the nation's top military and intelligence agencies and subpoena the files. "If they don't provide these documents to the committee by October 11th, then we're going to have to subpoena them -- which I don't want to have to do but it appears like we've run out of all options," Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., told Fox News. "For the administration to basically mislead the American people for this many years is flat-out wrong." Nunes is seeking documents and relevant analysis, which is thought to comprise at least 50 reports. In a Sept. 22 letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, and Defense Department Undersecretary for Intelligence Marcel Lettre, Nunes says the law required them to comply nearly two years ago based on Section 313 of the Intelligence Authorization ACT (IAA) for fiscal 2014. This section mandated a "complete declassification of the Abbottabad documents within 120 days." "Making the material widely available for public analysis will serve the public interest and help to demystify bin Laden and al-Qaida without compromising national security," Nunes wrote. "The anemic pace of the declassification review and release of the Abbottabad documents is an insufficient response to congressional direction." The congressional letter also provides new detail about the amount of intelligence recovered by Navy SEALs during the 2011 raid in Pakistan that killed bin Laden. There are enough documents to fill a "small college library," Nunes wrote -- but only a fraction is public. The letter goes on to describe that documents "came from the information on over 100 thumb drives, hard drives, cell phones, paper files and other documents." The letter said the 216 documents released to date represent only a minuscule percentage of the documents deemed to have intelligence value and an exponentially smaller percentage of the total Abbottabad document collection. In the months after the raid that killed the Al Qaeda leader, the administration characterized bin Laden as isolated, with a terror network on the run and in disarray. Critics charge that subsequent reviews by CIA and military analysts at CENTCOM in Florida suggest the Al Qaeda leader was engaged with his affiliates outside the region, maintained a significant relationship with Iran, and had a plan to globalize the terror network. The top White House spokesman rejected criticism the documents are being slow-rolled because of conflicting narratives. "No, because that's not the criteria thats being used to evaluate the release of this information," Josh Earnest said in response to a question from Fox News White House correspondent Kevin Corke. "Again, I guess you would just have to ask the ODNI (Office for the Director of National Intelligence) for an update on the status of that declassification effort. A spokesman for Clapper said they have received the letter and will respond directly to the Committee." The House oversight committee voted Thursday to recommend holding the former State Department IT specialist who set up Hillary Clintons private server in contempt of Congress, after he again ignored a subpoena to appear before the panel. The resolution to hold Bryan Pagliano in contempt goes next to the full House, which would ultimately decide whether to hold the controversial figure in the Clinton email case in contempt. Subpoenas are not optional, committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said. This committee cannot operate, it cannot perform its duty if subpoenas are ignored. Chaffetz swiftly moved to consider the contempt resolution after issuing a subpoena for Pagliano to appear Thursday, following a no-show earlier this month. He said the committee was left with no choice when Pagliano skipped again. Its unclear when and whether the full House would vote on the measure, which cleared the committee on a 19-15 vote. Majority Republicans, though, were accused of partisanship by Democrats and Paglianos attorneys. This is nothing but a blatantly partisan Republican attack on Clinton, said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the top Democrat on the committee. He read a letter from Paglianos legal counsel reiterating that Pagliano plans to continue to assert his Fifth Amendment rights not to answer questions. Further, the letter said the subpoena serves no valid legislative purpose and is for a political agenda, according to Cummings. The move comes after Pagliano earlier ignored a subpoena to appear before the same committee on Sept. 13. Other tech experts who helped maintain the system did attend the hearing but asserted their Fifth Amendment right not to testify. At the time, Chaffetz vowed the committee would pursue a full range of options to address Paglianos failure to attend. Pagliano is considered a vital witness in the Clinton email case. He spoke previously to the FBI under immunity, telling the bureau there were no successful security breaches of the server. On Thursday, Chaffetz noted that Pagliano was brought in in 2009 to help set up Clintons server at her New York home. Further, he said the State Department has only been able to find a handful of his emails. We have questions about this, he said. Pagliano also refused to answer questions last year before a House panel investigating the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya. His lawyers said at the time that Pagliano did not want to relinquish his rights under the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination. Paglianos lawyer earlier said the committees request was an abuse of process. Chaffetz, though, rejected the argument that Pagliano does not need to appear before his committee because he already took the Fifth before the Benghazi committee. Chaffetz noted he has questions that fall outside the purview of the Benghazi panel. Mr. Paglianos testimony could provide important information informing possible reforms to ensure this disaster never happens again, Chaffetz said. Even if the House votes to hold Pagliano in contempt, it would be up to the Justice Department to decide whether to pursue charges meaning the contempt bid could start and end at the House. Fox News Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Despite public outcry and sharp questions from lawmakers, the head of Mylan Inc. - the maker of the EpiPen - defended her companys massive price hike for the life-saving allergy medication by claiming it offers rebates and discounts to customers. "Price and access exist in a balance, and we believe we have struck that balance," CEO Heather Bresch said in her opening statement before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday. The price of EpiPens has grown to $608 for a two-pack, an increase of more than 500 percent since 2007. Bresch downplayed the profits and said the company only makes about $100 on each two-pack of the auto-injectors it sells for $608. "The misconception about our profits is understandable, and at least partly due to the complex environment in which pharmaceutical prices are determined," Bresch said. "The pricing of a pharmaceutical product is opaque and frustrating, especially for patients." House Oversight chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said families struggling to pay for the emergency allergy shots had the right to be outraged by the rapid rise in cost from a company whose sales are in excess of $11 billion. The panel's top Democrat, Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, also blasted Mylan -- accusing the company of raising prices to get filthy rich at the expense of our constituents. Bresch, who sat emotionless while lawmakers condemned Mylan and other big pharma companies for engaging in greedy business practices, said she wishes Mylan had better anticipated the magnitude and acceleration of the rising prices for some families. "We never intended this," she said. Bresch said the company has made strides to more widely distribute the drug to schools and others. 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. "We don't want to go back to a time -- not that long ago -- when awareness of anaphylaxis was much lower and epinephrine auto injectors were only available in schools with a prescription for an individual child," she said. "Achieving this level of expansion of awareness requires significant investment." Bresch has some familiarity with Capitol Hill -- she is the daughter of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. But lawmakers so far haven't cut her any slack because she is related to a colleague. Several other committees also have called for investigations into the matter. Bresch said the company has confronted the EpiPen issue head on by announcing the first ever generic version of the EpiPen product, which will be priced at $300. This unprecedented move is the fastest and most direct way to reduce the price for all patients, she said. Bresch also said the company is creating a direct ship option which will allow customers to purchase the generic product directly from Mylan for $300. She added Mylan also doubled the eligibility of patients receiving free pens from $48,600 to $97,200 for a family of four. 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. In the Senate, leaders of the Senate 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 Senate Aging Committee requested briefings on the issue, and Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has written several letters to Mylan demanding answers. Fox News' Rich Edson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Distribution of power is the essence of the U.S. Constitution. In fact, the Constitution does very little to pave the way for efficient government; rather, sparking conflict among the three branches in an effort to make power diffuse. Even in an atmosphere of constant conflict, however, a rare constitutional meteor shower is about to light up the skies. At issue is a white-hot bill approved by both bodies of Congress to permit families of 9/11 terrorism victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia. President Obama wants to veto the measure. Both bodies of Congress are tentatively prepping to override Obamas veto. The founders entrusted the legislative branch with extensive powers. But writing in Federalist paper #73, Alexander Hamilton worried about restraining the legislature. Hamilton suggested that the executive branch might hesitate to contest the legislative branch. So Hamilton pushed for a presidential veto: a mechanism where the executive could overrule the legislature and hold it in check. Veto is Latin for I forbid. But, conflict is the quintessence of the U.S. Constitution. So Hamilton advocates something less than an absolute veto for the president. He suggests tipping the scales back in favor of the legislature if both bodies of Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote. Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution dictates how a bill becomes a law. It states that both bodies of Congress must approve the package and requires the presidents signature. Heres where the veto escape clause lies. If the president disagrees with the bill, he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated. Congress then has the option of attempting an override. Still, an override effort is not mandatory. If the president returns a bill to sender, he must issue his veto message within 10 days (excluding Sundays) of receiving the legislation. A bill becomes law without the presidents signature if he doesnt veto the bill within the 10-day threshold. President George Washington first used his veto pen on April 5, 1792, on a measure dealing with congressional reapportionment. It would be another 53 years before Congress overrode a veto. Congress overrode a veto by President John Tyler on March 3, 1845, on a bill dealing with the construction of revenue-cutter ships. The override proved to be an ignominious punctuation point to Tylers fluky presidency. Tylers term expired the next day. Congress has never overridden one of Obamas vetoes. Lawmakers stumbled to override the president on bills dealing with the Keystone pipeline and repealing ObamaCare. Congress last successfully overrode a presidential veto in July, 2008. A Democratic House and Senate overrode the veto of President George W. Bush on a Medicare package. The veto and override apparatus sets up the ultimate conflict between the executive and legislative branches. The Constitution entrusts a lot of power to the people via the legislative branch. But with a veto override option, the Constitution returns the ultimate authority to the bodies representing the people -- if lawmakers muster a supermajority in both chambers. The Senate originated the 9/11 bill. So it was up to the Senate to send the measure to the White House. The Senate did so on Monday, Sept. 12. That set in motion the 10-day calendar (excluding this past Sunday) which requires Obama to veto the bill by 11:59:59 p.m. ET Friday, Sept. 23 or the bill becomes law regardless. It was thought the Senate could approve all of its work for the fall last week and skip town. That would have been the perfect scenario for the Obama administration. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., itches to cut loose vulnerable GOP senators facing competitive re-election bids. Also, it was doubtful the president would veto the bill while he huddled with world leaders at the start of the U.N. General Assembly in New York this week. Many thought it was unlikely the Senate would reconvene prior to the election for an override vote. Moreover, punting the override vote until after the election inoculated lawmakers who may oppose the bill. Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution requires a recorded roll call tally to document how lawmakers vote on an override. So, postponing an override vote protects lawmakers from bad optics of opposing 9/11 family victims. But Congress hasnt figured out a way to expeditiously finish its work to fund the government this week, let alone last week. So Congress will meet at least through next week. And McConnell plans a veto override effort in the coming days. So expect the president to veto the bill Thursday or Friday and return the package to Capitol Hill alongside an exhaustive set of objections. Terrorism and foreign policy are emerging as a major theme for the GOP just six weeks before the election. There were this weekends terror attacks in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota. The House is voting on multiple bills dealing with the so-called ransom the U.S. paid to Iran to release hostages. Congressional Republicans might not be able to duplicate the efforts of lawmakers in 1845 when they handed President Tyler a veto on the day before he left office. But the GOP can sure saddle Obama with a big defeat on a national security issue just before an election with the first successful override of a veto. Capitol Attitude is a weekly column written by members of the Fox News Capitol Hill team. Their articles take you inside the halls of Congress, and cover the spectrum of policy issues being introduced, debated and voted on there. The top U.S. military officer told Congress on Thursday that he believes Russia bombed a humanitarian aid convoy in Syria earlier this week, killing 20 civilians in an "unacceptable atrocity," as the bitter feud between the two nations over the five-year Syrian civil war escalated further. The statement from U.S. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, marked the first time a senior U.S. official has publicly pointed the finger at Moscow for the incident. Russia's defense ministry quickly disputed Dunford's comments. The testimony from Dunford and Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who also appeared before the panel, underscored the Pentagon's mistrust of Moscow and highlighted the hurdles of forging a lasting truce in Syria, where the war has killed nearly 500,000 people and allowed the Islamic State group to develop into a global threat. 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 for his own conclusion, Dunford said he believed Russia launched the airstrike. U.S. officials initially said the aircraft that dropped the bombs were Russian Su-24 fighter jet but that 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. When first asked if Russia bombed the aid convoy, Dunford said it wasn't certain which aircraft dropped the bombs. Under further questioning from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on whether it was Russia, Dunford answered, "that hasn't been concluded, but my judgment would be that they did." He was later asked again if it was Russia, and he answered yes. Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for Russia's defense ministry, called Dunford's testimony his "personal opinion" and contended that the U.S. fears having to acknowledge responsibility for the attack. The ministry had denied any Russian or Syrian involvement and also suggested a U.S. coalition Predator drone was operating nearby when the convoy attack occurred. The Pentagon said no drone was in the area at the time. At the White House, spokesman Josh Earnest heaped on further criticism for what it called Moscow's failure to ensure Syria lived up to its commitments under the cease-fire. "That creaking sound you hear is Russia's international credibility taking an additional hit," Earnest said. Dunford and Carter faced Republicans angry that the Obama administration is not taking more aggressive steps to end the war in Syria. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the committee chairman, accused Secretary of State John Kerry of being "intrepid but delusional" for trying to work with Russia to secure long-term peace in Syria. A Sept. 9 temporary truce in Syria brokered by the U.S. and Russia has all but collapsed. The cease-fire envisioned a military partnership between the two countries against the Islamic State and al-Qaida if violence was reduced and aid delivered over the course of seven continuous days. The Pentagon, however, voiced reservations about coordinating airstrikes and sharing intelligence with Russia. Dunford told the committee he doesn't believe that "it would be a good idea to share intelligence with the Russians." Kerry called for all warplanes to halt flights over aid routes, and at a U.N. Security Council session, he raised "profound doubt" about the willingness of Russia and Syria to abide by the cease-fire. Carter and Dunford both disagreed with a Kerry proposal to ground all warplanes. They told the committee the U.S. should not discontinue flying aircraft over Syria. Dunford said he sees "no reason to ground our aircraft" and that the U.S.-led coalition needs to maintain pressure on the Islamic State group. During the wide-ranging hearing, Dunford also said the Obama administration is considering directly arming the Syrian Kurds whom the U.S. has been backing in the fight against the Islamic State. "They are our most effective partner on the ground," Dunford said of the battle-hardened Kurds, who are senior partners in an opposition group the U.S. calls the Syrian Democratic Forces. Dunford said it "is very difficult" to manage the balance between supporting the Kurds and dealing with the Turkish government's adamant opposition to that support. Turkey sees the Kurds as a long-term political threat. Asked whether arming the Syrian Kurds is a viable military option, despite the Turkish government's opposition, Dunford said "reinforcing" the Syrian Democratic Forces' military capabilities "will increase the prospects of our success" in enabling the recapture of Raqqa, the defacto Islamic State capital in Syria. Dunford also said during an exchange with Graham that Syrian President Bashar Assad "is in a much stronger place than he was a year ago." While all modern humans originated in Africa around 200,000 years ago, scientists have long debated on exactly when and how we spread across the globe. A trio of studies published this week posits that, with one tiny exception, all people living today are descended from the same wave of humans that left Africa between 50,000 and 80,000 years ago, the New York Times reports. Discover calls the research "complex, even for genomic studies," but the gist is this: While humans may have left Africa in two (or more) wavesand as early as 120,000 years agothe populations that left early died out (either on their own or with help from subsequent waves), leaving all of us to trace our ancestry to a single wave of African migrants. The exception to this is the natives of Papua New Guinea, at least 2 percent of whom show some DNA evidence of earlier migration waves, the BBC reports. Researchers found no other such evidence in hundreds of populations around the world. The most important impact of the studies, which the Times calls a "series of unprecedented genetic analyses," may be in our understanding of the human genome. To conduct the studies, researchers created high-quality genome sequences from people in more than 270 indigenous populations around the world. That information could one day help scientists understand and treat a whole host of genetic conditions. This article originally appeared on Newser: We All Come From Single Wave of African Migrants The wreck of the British warship HMS Warrior the "last shipwreck" from the Battle of Jutland during World War I has been discovered near Norway. The marine exploration team that found the shipwreck also recently located the wreck of a World War II-era British submarine in the same region. The HMS Warrior is the last of the Jutland wrecks to be located, out of 14 British and 11 German warships that were sunk on May 31 and June 1, 1916, as the Imperial German High Seas Fleet tried to break out from the Royal Navy blockade of the North Sea. "It's the only wreck left from the Battle of Jutland that we can categorically say is completely unspoiled," said Innes McCartney, a marine archeologist at Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom. [See Photos of the Search for the WWI-Era HMS Warrior] "Its completely upside down, and it sank down into an area of very soft seabed, right to the level of the upper deck so everything inside it is completely sealed in, McCartney told Live Science. More than 250 warships took part in the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval engagement of World War I, and more than 8,500 men were killed, according to British and German wartime records. McCartney said the HMS Warrior, an armored cruiser, was heavily damaged during the battle by gunfire from the German cruiser SMS Derfflinger, but it had attempted to make its way back to Britain. When the ship's engines failed, the Warrior was towed throughout the night by a British aircraft carrier, the HMS Engadine. By morning, however, the Warrior had filled with water, and it was abandoned after its surviving crew of around 700 were taken off, McCartney said. He added that the final resting place of the Warrior was unknown until the wreck was discovered on Aug. 25, using sonar scans and a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) equipped with video cameras. Submarine find The Warrior is the second major shipwreck found in the area within a few months by McCartney and Danish marine exploration firm JD-Contractor AS, which operates the survey ship Vina. The survey is sponsored by the Sea War Museum Jutland at Thyboron in Denmark. In March, the team reported the discovery of the wreck of the HMS Tarpon, a British submarine from World War II that sank with around 59 crewmembers aboard after a battle with an armed German merchant ship in 1940. "The survey was initially aimed at Jutland, but there were 25 ships sunk in that battle, and we've found 10 times that number," McCartney said. "In the case of Tarpon, it was simply a matter that the direction that we left harbor took us past a potential location for this sub, so I requested we stop and do a survey there. And within about an hour or so we found it." [Sunken Treasures: The Curious Science of 7 Famous Shipwrecks] Last week, a Danish TV channel broadcast live video from the wreck of the Tarpon as divers from the exploration team were visiting the site. The submarine is now lying on the seafloor at a depth of about 130 feet, located about 50 miles off the north coast of Denmark. McCartney said the sub had been heavily damaged by the depth charges that sank it 76 years ago, and that two of the submarines torpedo tubes are empty, which suggests the Tarpon had fired twice at the enemy ship. Wrecks in ruins Although the wrecks of the Tarpon and the Warrior are legally protected as war graves, McCartney said all war wrecks in the area are threatened by illegal salvage operators, who plunder them for the valuable metals inside. He said the most valuable items are the bronze condensers that were used in many wartime ships engines, which are worth tens of thousands of dollars as bronze scrap when melted down. "We estimate that in the last 10 years, anything up to 1.5 million pounds worth of bronze has been ripped out of these [Jutland] wrecks," McCartney said. "And the majority of those wrecks are also the graves of the sailors who died in the battle, and so it's just wrong that they should be doing this." McCartney said that salvaging naval vessels without permission from the owning navy is illegal under international law, but very little has been done to protect the wrecks. "There are millions of shipwrecks on the bottom of the ocean it's the world's largest museum. And at the moment it's being trashed just for a want of people standing up to their responsibilities," he said. He said the authorities in Europe, in particular, should track salvage ships and monitor their whereabouts. "And when they're stopping over wrecks that they're not allowed to be on, then they need to be [inspected] when they get back into harbor," McCartney said. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Owner cites farm economy, changes in minimum wage and overtime laws Customers arriving at Pizza Hut in David City on Wednesday found a sign explaining that the restaurant was permanently closed. Customers of David City Pizza Hut, economic factors have forced us to make the decision to close. We want to thank you for the many years of patronage and the privilege to serve you, the sign on the door stated. Dave Staab, president of Staab Management of Grand Island, which owns the store, confirmed the closing on Thursday morning. Staab has owned the David City store for more than a decade after purchasing it from the previous owner, Chuck Jura. The building will now be put up for sale. A combination of factors led to the closing, Staab said, including the increase in the minimum wage approved in Nebraska and the upcoming changes which will require previously exempt salaried employees to be paid for overtime hours they work. The rural economy also has been affected by the drop in farm commodity prices to their lowest level in the past decade. It is making it tough to operate in these rural markets, Staab said. Its not just David City. There are stores throughout the country where its somewhat marginal. Ive seen McDonalds close in rural markets as well. As these brands continue to require improvements in facilities, it puts even more risk in the ability to offset profits and loss. Mark Salzle, the regional manager of eight stores, was at the restaurant Thursday morning taking care of supplies and other closing duties. He said that the restaurant market has changed, citing the discount prices that customers can find, social media coupons and other factors making it much more competitive. The David City market doesnt have enough customers to make up for the need to sell pizzas at lower prices. He said the store had maintained its carryout traffic, but dine-in business had decreased. The restaurants 10 employees received a phone call about the closing, Staab said. He explained that in order to protect staffing and customer service up to the date of the closing, the closing could not be announced too far in advance. You get to the point where you have to make a decision. It is always tough for the crew. Folks ask Why did I not know? Staab said. Salzle said the company was pleased with the employees who worked at the restaurant over the years. For some teen age employees, cooking and waiting tables at Pizza Hut was their first regular job. He said the community has good kids who have come to work and done a good job. (Closing) had nothing to do with that, Salzle said. Staab said the employment was relatively OK. We havent had too much of a problem with finding help, Staab said. Some of the more higher caliber help is in the rural market. We probably struggle more in metro markets. There is so much more availability and need. The company will work to create opportunities for the David City staff to work at the stores in Schuyler and Columbus, Staab said. Staab owns 31 Pizza Hut locations in Nebraska. No other Nebraska locations have closed. The company also owns eight stores in Iowa, five in Minnesota, six in Missouri, and 15 in Kansas. One other store in the Minneapolis, Minn. area was closing. We have a lot of stores in rural markets that we hate leaving, Staab said. Pigeons may be sometimes likened to "flying rats," but these birds are no dummies, according to a new study. Scientists recently taught pigeons to read kind of. In a new study, researchers trained pigeons to distinguish real words from gibberish, using 308 four-letter words that baboons had learned in a previous study. Some of the birds learned to identify dozens of words, with the most successful pigeon being able to recognize 58 words, the researchers said. The pigeons were presented with word and nonword stimuli along with a star symbol on a screen. When a word was shown, the pigeons were supposed to peck the word, and when a nonword was shown, the pigeons were supposed to peck the star. When the birds responded correctly, they were rewarded with treats from a hopper bird feeder. [The 5 Smartest Nonprimates on the Planet] Four of the pigeons excelled at the word recognition test, and the scientists continued more intensive training with these birds. These advanced pigeons were even able to distinguish correctly spelled words from those with rearranged characters, like "very" and "vrey," or words that were completely misspelled, the researchers said. "The pigeons performance is actually more comparable to that of literate humans than baboons performance," for the misspelling tests, the scientists wrote in the study. To determine whether the birds were learning to distinguish words from nonwords rather than merely memorizing the correct answers, the pigeons were introduced to new words throughout the study. According to the researchers, the pigeons correctly identified the new words as words at a rate that was significantly above mere chance. "This transfer suggests that during training, the pigeons derived some general statistical knowledge about the letter combinations that distinguish words from nonwords," the authors wrote. The researchers suggest that the pigeons tracked the statistical likelihood that certain pairs of letters, such as "EN" and "AL," were more likely to be associated with words or nonwords. One of the study's authors, neuroscientist Onur Gunturkun of Ruhr University Bochum in Germany, said that it's remarkable that the pigeons have the ability to visually recognize words (known as orthographic knowledge). "That pigeons separated by 300 million years of evolution from humans and having vastly different brain architectures show such a skill as orthographic processing is astonishing," Gunturkun said in a statement. The new study is the first to identify a nonprimate species as having these orthographic abilities. And the researchers said that by studying the pigeons' ability to learn words, they could provide insights into the origins and function of language. The study also highlights the intelligence of pigeons, which study co-author Michael Colombo, a professor of psychology at the University of Otago in New Zealand, said may spark the need "to seriously rethink the use of the term 'birdbrain' as a put-down." The findings were published online Sept. 16 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Engineers at the U.S. Armys Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey are developing an ambidextrous multi-purpose hand grenade, which is the militarys first new lethal hand grenade in more than 40 years. The Enhanced Tactical Multi-Purpose (ET-MP) grenade will let soldiers set the grenade to fragmentation or concussive effect with the flip of a switch. The weapon is also designed for ambidextrous use so it can be both armed and thrown easily with either hand. Current grenades require a different arming procedure for left-handed users, according to the Army. War Is Boring reports that the Armys current M67 grenade was designed for right-handed soldiers, so left-handed troops are trained to flip the grenade upside and hold the safety lever down with their left thumb, while pulling out the ring with the opposite hand. The Army is also touting the new grenades ability to provide both fragmentation and blast overpressure more effectively and safely. Blast overpressure refers to the impact of the grenades shock wave on body surfaces. Defense expert Peter Quentin, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, sees the ET-MP as an important addition to the Armys arsenal. Whats quite interesting is the objective they are trying to achieve with this, which is a discretionary weapons system, he told FoxNews.com. This is important because it is all about minimizing collateral damage and civilian casualties, ensuring the appropriate effect is easily achieved and simple concussion/fragmentation selection makes it more likely to employ appropriate force. The request for a multi-purpose grenade was received from service personnel in 2010 and research began almost immediately. Engineers have been working with the U.S. Armys Infantry School, as well as active-duty soldiers and Marines, to find exactly what troops require in a grenade. Our warfighter lost the capability of using an alternate lethal hand grenade when the MK3A2 concussion grenade was taken out of service in 1975 due to an asbestos hazard, leaving the M67 fragmentation grenade, explained Picatinny Arsenal, in a statement. Engineers with the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) are working on the ET-MP, along with the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning and the Armys Project Manager for Close Combat Systems. The weapon will give more flexibility to troops. They are currently carrying one M67 grenade that provides lethal fragmentation effects, said Jessica Perciballi, ARDEC Project Officer for ET-MP, U.S. Army, Grenades & Demolitions Division, in the statement. With the new multi-purpose grenade, they can carry one ET-MP grenade and have the ability to choose either fragmentation or concussive effects desired for the situation. The ET-MP also has electronic fuze timing. Detonation time can now be narrowed down into milliseconds, and until armed, the hand grenade will not be able to detonate, said Matthew Hall, Grenades Tech Base Development Lead, in the Armys statement. RUSIs Quentin, a former British Army officer who served as a liaison to the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan, emphasized that grenades are unique weapons. Any weapon system that you use has some sort of sighting device, but with a grenade youre using your own judgment and skill to be precise, its one of the most dangerous weapon systems that you use, he said. If you fumble that in a trench, its not just you but all your comrades around you that are likely to be harmed by that. The Armys Project Manager Close Combat Systems will get the ET-MP in Fiscal Year 2020. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers Twitter has released its latest biannual transparency report detailing the legal requests it has received in regards to user information, content removal, and intellectual property-related requests thus far in 2016. The company has made it easier than ever to consume the comprehensive info provided in the report with bolder visualizations, a clearer breakdown of the numbers, and more specific details regarding Twitter content. Whereas the trademark and copyright sections are business-oriented, the most noteworthy info from a Twitter user's perspective is the information requests the platform receives from governments. Twitter claims that these user account data requests are made "typically in connection with criminal investigations." Between January and June 2016, the U.S. government made 2,520 Twitter information requests in relation to 8,009 user accounts -- comprising 44 percent of the total requests received by Twitter. Other countries that made the most amount of info requests included Japan (732) the UK (631), France (572), and Turkey (280). For the first time in the report's history, Twitter has identified the U.S. law enforcement agencies that make the highest volume of data demands. They include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service, and the New York County District Attorney's Office. The U.S. section of the report also reveals the amount of info requests received by state, further identifying whether the demand was made by a federal or local agency. For example, for the state of New York, Twitter has received 339 account data requests thus far this year; including 223 requests from a federal agency. Overall, Twitter complied with 82 percent of its U.S. requests. Compared to the previous reporting period, Twitter claims it received 2 percent more government requests for account information affecting 8 percent more accounts during the first half of 2016. New data in the transparency report includes info on Vine and Periscope, emergency disclosure requests, and the amount of requests regarding Twitter content (such as tweets, DMs, and other media). A passenger has been removed from an American Airlines flight to Dallas after causing a disruption that led pilots to make an unplanned stop in Lubbock, Texas Thursday morning. Airport Safety and Operations Deputy Director Steve Nicholson said American Airlines Flight 2542 from Ontario, California, to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was diverted and landed in Lubbock at 5:20 a.m., according to Lubbock Online. Nicholson described the disruptive passenger as a single male subject who was not complying with flight crews directions, and apparently was restrained aboard the aircraft. The airline says other passengers helped flight attendants restrain the man during the redeye flight Thursday morning from Ontario, California. American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein says the flight, which was carrying 143 passengers and six crew members, continued on to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport after a delay of about an hour in Lubbock. No injuries were reported onboard. Upon arrival in Lubbock, the subject was taken into custody by airport police. He was later transferred to University Medical Center for a clinical evaluation. All of our first responders handled the incident very well, Feinstein said, there were no other passengers in danger. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Muslim group is suing the city of Yonkers over a house that received landmark designation that it had purchased to turn into a mosque. A lawyer for the Islamic Community Center for Mid-Westchester says the suit was filed Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan. The organization bought the house last year. A neighborhood group filed for it to receive the landmark designation, which the city approved in May. The designation means exterior changes must go through an approval process. The Muslim group says the landmark decision was discriminatory. The suit asks for an injunction nullifying the designation. Yonkers spokeswoman Christina Gilmartin says the group is welcome to build a mosque. She says members aren't being discriminated against, they're being asked to follow the same historic preservation rules as everyone else. Ugly scenes emerged from Wednesday nights rioting in Charlotte, including Twitter video of a white man being beaten and dragged by a mob, and the brother of the black man whose death in a police shooting touched off protests telling media that all white people are devils. Charlotte officials appealed for calm on Thursday, two days after 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was killed and just hours after violent riots stemming from Scott's death. The unrest resulted in one man being shot and killed, while several several police officers and civilians were injured. Police made 44 arrests. Images and language in this video may be disturbing to some viewers: Just know that all white people are f****** devils, all white cops are f******* devils and white people," said a man identified as Scott's brother. The police officer who shot Scott was African-American. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency at 12:30 a.m. and called in the National Guard after Charlottes police chief said he needed the help. "The events that we saw last night are not the Charlotte I know and love," Mayor Jennifer Roberts said during a Thursday morning news conference. "They are not reflective of our community, of the deep-seated traditions we have of collaboration and peace." Roberts called for a "full, transparent investigation" of the police shooting on Tuesday of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, however, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney would not commit to releasing video of the incident to the public. Putney said Scott's family had asked to see the video and authorities were trying to "accomodate" that request. What started out on Wednesday evening as a prayer vigil after Scott's shooting turned into an angry march and then a night of violence. The unidentified civilian was shot as protesters charged police in riot gear trying to protect an upscale hotel. Video obtained and verified by The Associated Press, which was recorded right after the shooting, shows someone lying in a pool of blood as people scream and a voice yells for someone to call for help. People are then told to back up from the scene. The chaos resulted in two police officers receiving treatment for eye injuries and three others for heat-related issues, Putney said. Nine civilians were also hurt. Those arrested were charged with varying crimes, including failure to disperse, assault and breaking and entering. Demonstrators shouted "black lives matter" and "hands up; don't shoot" while cursing at officers with bicycles blocking intersections. 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 Omni 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 shot. Putney defended his officers' actions in an interview with Fox News' Megyn Kelly on "The Kelly File" Wednesday. "We're trying to disperse the crowd," Putney said. "We've been very patient, but now they've become very violent." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Police made an arrest Thursday in an attack on a man who was doused with gasoline and set on fire in Mississippi. The Hattiesburg American reports 39-year-old Kunta Kidd of Gulfport was arrested early Thursday and booked into the Forrest County Jail in Hattiesburg to await an initial appearance on an aggravated assault charge. It was not immediately clear if he's got a lawyer. Police also said they were looking for a second suspect. The name of the alleged victim was not immediately released. Hattiesburg Police Lt. Jon Traxler says the man was taken to Forrest General Hospital and treated for burns early Saturday. Police made an arrest Thursday in an attack on a man who was doused with gasoline and set on fire in Mississippi. The Hattiesburg American reports (http://hatne.ws/2dmMQwa ) 39-year-old Kunta Kidd of Gulfport was arrested early Thursday and booked into the Forrest County Jail in Hattiesburg to await an initial appearance on an aggravated assault charge. It was not immediately clear if he's got a lawyer. Police also said they were looking for a second suspect. The name of the alleged victim was not immediately released. Hattiesburg Police Lt. Jon Traxler says the man was taken to Forrest General Hospital and treated for burns early Saturday. ___ Information from: The Hattiesburg American, http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com Expanded text ads ( ETAs) are here and marketers everywhere are jumping in to take advantage. You should too. If youre unfamiliar with ETAs, they offer almost 50 percent more ad text that you can use to reach people in your target market. Unsurprisingly, the expanded format is designed specifically for mobile users. According to Googles own research, longer ad headlines are more useful to mobile users because they provide additional information about your business before they click your ad. In fact, as of October 26, 2016, you will be required to create ETAs. AdWords will no longer allow you to create or edit standard text ads, so now is a good time to master the art of advertising with longer text. Here are some tips to help you. Related: 3 Takeaways From the Google Performance Summit 1. Create a superior call to action. With ETAs, you get 30 characters in each of the two headlines and another 80 characters in the description text. Thats a world of opportunity for one or more calls to action. Some people like to put the CTA in the description, usually at the very end. Experiment with what works best for your brand. The point is, youve got extra characters for a CTA. Use them wisely. 2. Ask a question. With the extra digital real estate that AdWords is offering, you have a space for a question. So why not ask one? You might have been squeezed out of asking a question in the past with the 25-character limit. Now that you have a few extra characters, think about how you can pose a question to people in your market that will make them want to click. For example, if youre a bankruptcy lawyer running an AdWords ad, you might pose the following question in the second headline -- Need Help With a Bankruptcy? Thats 28 characters. You couldnt run that question in the old format. A great question like that is an implied CTA, but its better than more traditional CTAs because its not telling the user to do anything. Its just asking a question. 3. Brag. With ETAs, youve got a second headline. Use it to tell people how great you are. One effective strategy is to include your brand name in the first headline, and use the second headline to brag in a way that includes the search term. For example, if some searches for SEO Company, your ad would display your company name in the first headline, and fill the second headline with copy something like this -- Rated Top SEO Company by Clutch.co That text just barely fits in at exactly 30 characters. Of course, its only a valid boast if, in fact, your company is rated well by Clutch.co. Related: 6 Essential Components of a Solid Growth Strategy 4. Use the Ad Preview tool. Lets take a break from advertising strategy for a moment to have a look at the logistics of ETAs. Heres what you need to know. In some cases, Google might shrink your 60-character double-headline down to just 33 characters. That will be an especially sore point if you produce some outstanding ad copy that requires all available text. Google says that it will sometimes truncate headlines when serving text ads for certain devices in order to optimize the search experience for users. Thats why you need to preview your ad in Ad Preview. You can see exactly what it will look like to the people that youre trying to reach. 5. Generate scarcity. Now that you have some extra characters to play with, its much easier to employ Marketing 101 concepts that posed a challenge with the old ad format. One of those concepts is the idea of generating scarcity. Youre probably familiar with the principle -- people who sense that theres a limited supply of something are generally more likely to be inclined to purchase it. Thats why its such a great marketing tactic. With the additional headline and characters, you can give people the impression that time is running out on your great deal and, if they dont act fast, they might miss out on a fantastic opportunity. Related: 6 Life-Saving Tips on How to Stay Afloat in an Economic Storm 6. Prove youre better. Lets face it, youre probably not the only business in your industry running AdWords ads. If you Google certain search terms relevant to your industry, youll likely find competitors running ads right alongside yours. Use that to your advantage by running expanded text ads that explain why youre better than your competitors. For example, if you see that competitors are offering blue widgets for $99, offer your blue widgets for $89. Make it clear right there in the ad copy. Your competitors are explaining what they offer in ads above and/or below yours. Use your ad to explain why your offer is more attractive so that people in your market can do some on-the-spot comparison shopping. Review their ads and pick apart their sales pitch in yours. Your best bet is to get started now. ETAs offer a wealth of opportunity to digital marketers. If you havent already done so, start split testing with new ads in the expanded format to find out what works best for your business. It is a good idea to get on it soon, because the new format is not an option, it is a must. Medical investigators are unable to shed more light on the final moments of a Colorado man who went missing during his search for a $2 million hidden treasure in the wilds of New Mexico. The skeletal remains of Randy Bilyeu were discovered this summer by a crew with the Army Corps of Engineers that had been working along the Rio Grande just north of Cochiti Lake. Autopsy results obtained by the Associated Press show there wasn't enough evidence left for the Office of the Medical Investigator to determine what caused Bilyeu's death. There were no broken bones or other skeletal injuries. The report notes the possibility that he could have succumbed to hypothermia, the effects of dehydration or even something like a heart attack. The 55-year-old Bilyeu went missing in early January, prompting months of intensive searching. To her husband, she was Lori Kennedy. But to a dogged federal investigator, she was "Jane Doe," a Texas mother who killed herself in her family's driveway in 2010 after spending decades using stolen identities to erase a past mired in mystery. Now, six years after her death, a Social Security investigator and forensic genealogist cracked the case by discovering the woman was a teenage runaway who fled her mother's Pennsylvania home in 1986 -- never to be seen by her family again -- according to the Seattle Times, which first reported on the story. DNA testing confirmed the mystery woman was Kimberly McLean, who was 18 years old when she ran away 30 years ago from her mother's home in King of Prussia, Pa., following her parents' divorce, the newspaper reported. The quest to uncover McLean's identity was a tedious and convoluted one. Social Security investigator Joseph Velling took on the case, working to find the real identity of Lori Erica Ruff, who was Lori Erica Kennedy before marrying into an East Texas family in 2004. Prior to that, she was known as Becky Sue Turner, an identity forged with the birth certificate of a long-dead child. Velling, a seasoned government sleuth, had been stumped in figuring out the true name and background of the woman, who took on aliases with spy-like sophistication. And the theories explaining her stolen identities were many: Was she running away from a crime or an abusive family or relationship? Did she join a witness-protection program? "She created a false identity for the sole purpose of getting lost in America, Velling told FoxNews.com in 2013. "She wanted a complete break from her past," he said. "By changing her name, she created a clean identity a person with no past." The mystery surrounding McLean's identity began in May 1988, when the then-unknown woman requested the Bakersfield, Calif., birth certificate of a 2-year-old girl, Becky Sue Turner, who died in a 1971 house fire in Fife, Wash., Velling said. The woman used the birth certificate to obtain a valid Idaho identification card under the name Becky Sue Turner, issued on June 16, 1988, and bearing the photo of Jane Doe. In July 1988, she moved to Dallas, where, according to court documents, she legally changed her name to Lori Erica Kennedy. Days later, she applied for and received a Social Security number a move that effectively erased her past. She obtained a Texas drivers license in 1989, listing her age as 19. She enrolled at Dallas County Community College in the fall of 1990 and eventually graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a business administration degree in 1997. By the time she married Jon Blakely Blake Ruff, of Longview, Texas, in January 2004, her phony identification was as solid as her real past was distant. The two moved to Leonard, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas and roughly 125 miles from Ruffs parents in Longview. On Christmas Eve, 2010, the woman everyone knew as Lori Erica Ruff pulled into the driveway of the Ruff family home and shot herself. She left behind an 11-page suicide note but apparently no clue that she had lived a secret life. It wasnt until the Ruffs found a safebox hidden inside their daughter-in-laws bedroom closet that showed the woman wasnt who she had claimed to be. In the box, which she told her husband never to touch, were all the documents exposing her elaborate ruse the paperwork showing the name change and the application for a Social Security number, among other receipts. In his search, Velling was later assisted by a California scientist who said she believed the woman came from a family back East named the Cassidys, the Seattle Times reported. Colleen Fitzpatrick, a forensic genealogist and former nuclear physicist, turned to DNA for the answer. Lori and her husband had a daughter in 2008 and that daughter shared Loris DNA. According to the newspaper, the Ruff family sent a saliva sample to 23andMe and Ancestry.com, companies that help people trace their families by analyzing their DNA. After hours of research, Fitzpatrick was able to trace Ruff's DNA back to a relative named Michael Cassidy, who lived in the Philadelphia area, the paper reported. Velling then flew to Philadelphia in March and confronted a relative of Michael Cassidy's. When Velling showed the woman pictures of Lori Kennedy Ruff -- including her most recent driver's license -- the woman said, My God, thats Kimberly! And so the puzzle was solved: Michael Cassidy's aunt, Deanne, who was married to a James McLean, was Lori's mother. Deanne, who is now 80, took a DNA test and confirmed the match, the newspaper reported. Deanne declined to speak to the paper but her brother, Tom Cassidy, revealed details about Kimberly McLean's upbringing. Kimberly grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs with a sister, mother and father, who was a carpenter and volunteer firefighter. When Kimberly was a teenager, her parents divorced. Her mother remarried a man named Robert Becker and moved the two sisters to a home in Wyncote, Pa. Kim never adjusted to the new house and the divorce, Cassidy told the newspaper. Then one day, Kimberly told her mother she was running away and warned her never to look for her. "For the life of me, we cant figure why," Cassidy said. Click for more from the Seattle Times FoxNews.com's Cristina Corbin contributed to this report. One of the federal government's marquee programs to save an endangered species is facing extinction, as lawmakers reconsider the genetic history of the red wolf. A decision by federal officials to delist the species would, by all accounts, amount to a death sentence for a wolf that once roamed the Southeast. Today, there are just 29 red wolves left in the wild -- a number that would be even lower were it not for exhaustive federal efforts and millions in taxpayer spending. But the question now is: Was the red wolf ever actually a distinct species? "This is a case of well-intentioned biologists going back several decades, trying to bring back a species they believe existed," says Gary Mowad, a former deputy chief of law enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "But it turns out now the science clearly indicates red wolves from the very beginning were nothing more than a hybrid between a coyote and a grey wolf. This animal is not an endangered species. This animal is a hybrid and should be delisted immediately." Supporters are expected to fight, although the latest science is not on their side. "The red wolves history will always be challenged," says the Red Wolf Coalition's executive director, Kim Wheeler. "All canids are a soup, there is nothing pure about any canid on this landscape, so to make the assumption or point out or specifically say that the red wolf is something that it's not, is ludicrous. Since the red wolf was given government protection in 1967, U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologists spent almost 50 years and some $35 million trying to save it from extinction. The recovery program involves 44 zoos and almost 2 million acres of private land and federal refuge. But after trapping, captive breeding and releasing 132 wolves, the program is worse off today than when it started, with only 2 breeding pairs left in the wild. "They're spending about $1.5 million a year. The federal government has had 30 years to make this experiment work, and it has failed," says Jett Ferebee, a North Carolina landowner spearheading the effort to delist the wolf. "Recent DNA analysis has shown it's merely a hybrid. It is 75 percent coyote, and 25 percent grey wolf." After the red wolf was declared extinct in the wild in 1980, the USFWS attempted to save the species by trapping what it considered to be 400 pure red wolves in the bayous of Louisiana and East Texas based on what they "looked" like, not genetics. Even Curtis Carly, the original FWS red wolf coordinator, said in 1979 the original 400 wolves "could not even be positively identified" because the species was "on the brink of extinction." Biologists then used skull measurements, weight and markings to cull the 400 down to 12 "pure" pairs to begin the captive breeding program at Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Wash. According to records, the dozen produced 81 hybrids in the first 10 years, and 216 between 1977 and 2002. Over that period, the agency released 132 red wolves into two national wildlife refuges in North Carolina. "They absolutely invented a species and called it endangered," says program critic Scott Griffin, from the group Citizens Science. Fish and wildlife knew this was a hybrid from the beginning." Faced with doubts, when wildlife officials inquired, the U.S. Solicitor General warned the agency in 1977 that hybrids are "not" protected by the Endangered Species Act. "Extending the protections of the ESA to hybrids ...would not promote the purpose of Congress in enacting the ESA," Solicitor General Donald Berry wrote in an Aug. 2, 1977, opinion. Berry is now a vice president at Defenders of Wildlife, which is suing the federal government to protect the red wolf hybrids. Backed by other conservation groups like the Red Wolf Coalition and the Southeast Environmental Law Center, the USFWS moved forward. But once in the wild, the wolves quickly bred with coyotes, producing an especially hardy "super hybrid" that multiplied faster than the conservationists could contain. USFWS tried trapping and sterilizing the hybrids to stop their proliferation. It also went den hunting, euthanizing hybrid newborns using water buckets and hammers to kill the offspring. While considered inhumane, some animal rights advocates support the technique, sacrificing the coyote as a means of saving the wolf. "It's very difficult, we've often been asked, 'Why can't they just let those animals live?'" said Wheeler. "So then, we have more hybrid genetics on the landscape. You really have to stay focused on what the goals of this program are." The use of steel leg-hold traps was also controversial. In California, the Animal Welfare Institute is suing to stop their use, while in North Carolina it is suing FWS for failing to use the traps to stop hybridization. "Consistent mismanagement by the FWS has led to a rapid decline in North Carolina's red wolf population, down from 130 just two years ago to fewer than 45 today," according to another plantiff, Defenders of Wildlife. "Never before has the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service so directly turned its back on an endangered species recovery effort." Under fire, USFWS contracted with one of the world's top geneticists, Dr. Robert Wayne, at UCLA, to test the red wolf population. In 1991, he concluded: "Genetic characterization of these same animals with whole mitochondrial DNA genome restriction analysis found that they exhibited either coyote (84 percent) or grey wolf (16 percent) DNA and that morphological and genetic classifications often did not correspond." In other words, a red wolf may have looked like a red wolf, but genetically it was a hybrid. Further analysis by Wayne, published in "Science Advances" supports his earlier opinion. "The red wolf, which lives in the Southern U.S. ...are in fact coyote and grey wolf hybrids," Wayne told the Los Angeles Times in July. We found that the red wolves are about 75 percent coyote ancestry. There is no evidence for distinct red wolf species. Nevertheless, Wayne and his colleagues argue the red wolf deserves protection. We maintain that the ESA could be interpreted in a modern evolutionary framework, devaluing the Victorian typological concept in exchange for a more dynamic view that allows for natural selection," Wayne said. Others claim the red wolf is not technically a hybrid. John Vucetich, a professor at Michigan Tech University, told Congress the species contains an "admixture" of genomic material from different wolves and doesn't deserve to be delisted, an opinion shared by Steve Guertin, FWS deputy director of policy. We believe there is enough scientific evidence that the red wolf has been treated as and will continue to be treated as a separate species," Guertin told a congressional panel Wednesday. "Thats based on genetics, behavioral, taxonomic and other criteria." Because of the lack of scientific consensus, and the hybridization, the FWS is transferring any remaining red wolves from private lands into the captive breeding program, where just 29 breeding pairs remain. "We need everyone's help to ensure this species is around for future generations," Cindy Dohner, the service's Southeastern regional director, told reporters in a conference call last week. As to the wolves true genetic history, she said it was "uncertain." Wheeler and other supporters are not giving up. "It is a unique species, the Fish and Wildlife [Service] has not strayed from that, and that's where we stand moving forward," Wheeler said. As controversial as it is, there is precedent for allowing refusing to recognize hybrids. In 1981, only five Dusty Seaside Sparrows remained, all of them male. Biologists proposed mating them to a close relative. Even though future generations would have shared 98 percent of the same genetic material, FWS refused to protect hybrids and the Dusky Seaside Sparrow became extinct. A judge and attorneys have selected a final pool of 45 potential jurors who 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. Pretrial publicity caused the judge to move the case 275 miles from the Atlanta suburbs to coastal Brunswick. News organizations report the judge and attorneys agreed on the jury pool Wednesday after eight days spent questioning potential jurors. The judge plans to seat a final jury of 12 people plus up to four alternates Oct. 3. Attorneys will then deliver opening statements in the trial of Harris, who moved to Georgia from Alabama in 2012. The attorney for relatives of a black man shot and killed by a Charlotte police officer called Thursday for peaceful protests after a night of violence and looting in North Carolina's largest city. Justin Bamberg said relatives of Keith Lamont Scott viewed the police body camera and dashcam video of Scott's death late Thursday afternoon. When asked if the video supported the police version of the shooting, the family's attorney said "no comment." Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney has said that Scott refused commands to drop a gun before he was shot Tuesday; residents say he was unarmed. Putney also says the video does not definitively show whether Scott pointed the gun at anyone. "I haven't seen any evidence None of you all have seen any evidence that a gun was there," Bamberg told reporters. The family did not attend the news conference because they were still grieving, the attorney said. It was not clear if or when the video would be made public. Putney has said that the video shouldn't be released while the investigation is ongoing. Bamberg appeared to agree with the chief, saying that the family was worried about the emotional impact the video might have. A North Carolina law taking effect next month would block the release of police body and dash camera footage except by a court order. Officials are trying to head off a third day of violent protests in Charlotte. Dozens of people have been injured in melees between rioters and police, including one man who was shot and critically injured Wednesday night. "[The Scott family] does not agree with rioting or innocent individuals being injured and killed," Bamberg said Thursday. Addressing the protesters, he then added "Feel free to voice your opinion. Feel free to speak up against the things that you see as injustice." The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Rhode Island man charged with plotting to help the Islamic State group has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, including a plot to behead conservative blogger Pamela Geller. Nicholas Rovinski pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Boston to two federal charges including conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries. Prosecutors say Rovinski, of Warwick, plotted with two Massachusetts men to kill Geller. The plot was never carried out. Rovinski's lawyer says his client renounces allegiance to the Islamic State group. Prosecutors alleged the 25-year-old, while in jail, tried to recruit people to carry out violent attacks in the United States. A plea agreement Rovinski reached with prosecutors called for a sentence of between 15 and 22 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for March 23. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 The nation's top military officials are likely to face sharp questions on Thursday from Republicans angry the Obama administration is not taking more aggressive steps to end the 5-year-old-civil war in Syria. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to appear before the GOP-led Senate Armed Services Committee after the latest attempt to secure a cease-fire in Syria all but collapsed. Republicans are skeptical, even hostile, to the idea that Russia is a willing partner for peace and would work with the United States to combat Islamic State militants and al-Qaida. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a defense hawk and one of President Barack Obama's most vocal critics, said he anticipates the hearing will be contentious because of the mounting frustration among lawmakers over the lack of a coherent strategy for ending the conflict. "I expect this to be confrontational," Graham said. "At the end of the day, I think Congress needs to challenge what's going on in Syria." The failure to establish a no-fly zone in the country's north to protect Syrians from the bombing has been a mistake, according to Graham, and he also criticized the reliance on the Kurdish fighters the U.S. has been supporting in the fight against the Islamic State. Although the battle-hardened Kurds have proven to be effective, their success has alarmed Turkey, which is grappling with a Kurdish insurgency in its southeast. Although Turkey has repeatedly called for a no-fly zone, the Obama administration has resisted, unwilling to wade too deeply into an intractable conflict. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, had expressed doubt from the start that the cease-fire in Syria would hold. McCain said Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have "deluded themselves" into believing they could negotiate deals that involve Syrian President Bashar Assad and his chief backers, Russia and Iran. Tensions between Russia and the United States have only heightened in recent days after authorities in Washington determined with a very high degree of confidence that an attack on a humanitarian aid convoy in Syria earlier this week was carried out by a Russian piloted aircraft. The strike on the Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy killed 20 civilians. Washington had said initially that Russia was to blame, but that the strike delivered by a Russian-made Su-24 could have been carried out by Russia or Syria. Both militaries use Su-24 fighter jets. But officials said Wednesday the U.S. has gathered enough intelligence to conclude that Russia, not Syria, launched the airstrike. Kerry called for all warplanes to halt flights over aid routes and at a U.N. Security Council session he raised "profound doubt" about Russia and Syria's willingness to abide by the cease-fire. The Sept. 9 truce envisioned a U.S.-Russian military partnership against the Islamic State and al-Qaida if violence was reduced and aid delivered over the course of seven continuous days. The Pentagon, however, voiced reservations about coordinating air strikes and sharing intelligence with Russia. ___ Follow Richard Lardner on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rplardner Q: Election season has polarized my company. Several employees argue over politics, and work relationships are getting strained. How do I keep things civil? A: You don't have to become a dictator to fix your office's cold political climate, but you will need to be a strong leader. And you're right to be concerned: Political commentary is often bad in the workplace, and colleagues who don't respect others' beliefs can create a hostile work environment for everyone. So it falls to you to define boundaries and help your employees get back to a place of tolerance and respect for each other -- no matter whom they're voting for. First, have a meeting with the most partisan members of your work caucus. Tell them what you have been witnessing: a deteriorating environment, and political debates that get louder and louder. Ask what their take on the situation is and how they'd like to see disagreements handled in the office. Listen to and address concerns. Then say you need their help. Request that they clear the air with any colleague who may have been offended by past political exchanges. And come up with a plan -- with their input, but knowing that you have final say -- about how to move forward. Can politics still be talked about in the office, but in a toned-down way? Or does there need to be a total moratorium? Maybe someone will accuse you of trampling their First Amendment rights. Incorrect. Don't forget, that protects people against government interference of free speech. You're the boss here, and you just want people of all political persuasions to work together peacefully. Everyone should vote for that. Related: Four Ways to Foster Fairness in the Workplace Q: I talk a lot about teamwork, but this quarter some employees really stepped up. I want to recognize them as individuals, but how do I remain fair to everyone? A: Your recognition (and reward?) will mean a great deal to those employees, but it's true: You're entering tricky territory. You don't want the other employees to think your emphasis on teamwork was insincere. So here are your keys: openness and consistency. Everyone must understand your scorecard. Before you do anything, think through the values and behaviors that help the team thrive, and what specific achievements merit an individual reward. (Also, make sure you're identifying true individual performance; you don't want to praise one person for their whole team's work.) Then make all that clear to your employees, and reinforce it regularly without bias. This can't be a one-time recognition; whenever someone reaches your goals, be generous with praise. Encourage your whole team to notice and acknowledge each other's contributions. Related: 6 Key Tips for Leading by Example And don't stop there. To truly encourage teamwork, reward it as well. Ask your employees what they'd like for superior teamwork. Perhaps an extra paid day off? With the right incentive, you can motivate individuals to rally together -- and make everyone's work better. Ten years ago, if someone in Detroit said he or she was an entrepreneur, a listener's first thought might have been, "This person is out of a job" -- and with good reason: From 2000 to 2010, Michigan lost over 850,000 jobs -- more than all other states combined. Related: Detroit Is Cultivating Local Entrepreneurship to Secure Its Future Even before Detroit entered bankruptcy, it was clearly time to rethink "business as usual." The region could no longer rely on just one industry (read: "automotive") and a handful of companies as the source of its wealth and prosperity. In this regard, Detroit was not alone, of course. Around the nation, theories abound on the best approaches to revitalize Rust Belt economies. Many of these debates -- the proper role of government, how to build a 21st century workforce and more -- continue today. It was against this backdrop that many in Southeast Michigan in recent years coalesced around an economic development strategy that has been, in fact, part of Detroits DNA: entrepreneurship. To regain its position as a global leader, businesspeople said, Detroit needed to diversify its economy through innovation, small business growth and culture change. But, absent a well-functioning private market, it was the third sector, philanthropy, which stepped in. Ten foundations, both local and national, came together to commit $100 million to a new fund. And so the New Economy Initiative (NEI) was born in 2007, with the ambitious goal of transforming an economy that had left too many residents behind into a diversified engine of opportunity through entrepreneurship. Related: Detroit Is Beckoning to Tech Entrepreneurs Today, nearly 10 years later, its worth asking: Has this model of entrepreneurship-centered economic development worked? And what lessons, good or bad, can be learned from the experiment? The first answer is clear: Yes. Entrepreneurship is beginning to transform metro-Detroits economy. Since 2009, NEIs investments in organizations supporting entrepreneurs have helped launch 1,700 companies (40 percent of which are minority-owned, twice the national average) and create 17,500 jobs (many in high-tech sectors), according to new studies by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research and PricewaterhouseCoopers. This, in turn, has boosted output in the regional economy by nearly $3 billion. Perhaps more importantly, there is a change in culture happening in Southeast Michigan. Were no longer skeptical of entrepreneurs here; in fact, entrepreneurship is both encouraged and celebrated. In a recent survey, over 60 percent of local entrepreneurs said they were receiving more attention from local governments and media today than they had five years ago. The percentage who felt there was sufficient financial and technical support for businesses like theirs increased three-fold over that same period. Since 2007, the number of business-service providers -- including accelerators, incubators and training programs -- has jumped from only a handful, to nearly 60 in 2016. A truly robust network of support has been built -- and Detroit entrepreneurs can feel it. As Justine Sheu, the founder of two local tech startups, recently put it: Three millennials with zero business backgrounds were able to build and grow two companies because of the ecosystem here The entrepreneurial energy is palpable. So, should other U.S. cities replicate this entrepreneur-first model? While every region is unique, there are universally applicable lessons to be drawn from Detroit and NEIs experience: 1. Investing in inclusion is critical. Historically underrepresented groups -- women, people of color, immigrants -- must be central to economic development efforts. Cities cannot afford to apply a neighborhood or urban core strategy alone; they must take a regional approach. Inclusiveness extends to the type and size of businesses, as well. We must support the barbershop and biomedical research center, the tamale-markers and tech companies, alike. 2. We need to define cities by their assets, not deficits. When people used to talk about Detroit, they were fixated on the citys shortcomings. Yet the region has the largest concentration of engineers in the world, a wellspring of creatives and three top-tier universities. Investment decisions should be directed toward areas where value already exists, not toward simply solving for the deficiencies. 3. Collaboration should be celebrated. Building something as complex as an economic ecosystem requires the private, public and nonprofit sectors to work together. Financial resources are important, but so too is leadership, vision and connections. As NEI has learned, to foster innovation, you must first embody it. There is no question that much work remains in metro Detroit. Entrepreneurship has not and cannot cure every ill afflicting the city. Solutions to issues like education, public safety and housing are desperately needed. Related: The Business of Urban Farming Takes Root in Detroit But there is no question that entrepreneurship has led to remarkable economic and social progress in the last decade. Our collective task now -- in Southeast Michigan and across the nation -- is to ensure that this progress is felt by each and every person who calls Detroit A female Tulsa police officer was charged with first-degree manslaughter Thursday in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man. Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed the charge against Officer Betty Shelby after viewing dashcam video and helicopter video of the Sept. 16 shooting, according to a statement from his office. The statement said Kunzweiler reviewed 911 calls, witness interviews and other information before making the decision to charge Shelby. Kunzweiler said arrangements were being made for Shelby's surrender. "I do not know why things happen in this world the way they do," Kunzweiler said, adding that he determined first-degree manslaughter the appropriate charge. "We need to pray for wisdom and guidance." Video from 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. Crutcher's family immediately discounted that claim, saying the father of four posed no threat to the officers, while also pointing to an enlarged photo from police footage that appears to show Crutcher's window was rolled up. Police have said Crutcher did not have gun on him or in his vehicle. "The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Crutcher are on the hearts and minds of many people in this community," Kunzweiler said. "It's important to note that despite the heightened tensions felt by all, which seemingly beg for an emotional response and reaction, our community has consistently demonstrated the willingness to respect the judicial process. Among the definitions in Oklahoma for first-degree manslaughter is a killing "perpetrated unnecessarily either while resisting an attempt by the person killed to commit a crime, or after such attempt shall have failed." "We are happy that charges were brought, but let me be clear, the family wants and deserves full justice," said Solomon Simmons, the family's attorney. "Never lose sight of these cases," he added. "It's not about hashtags, it's about people." If convicted, Shelby could face a minimum of four years in prison. Shelby, who joined the Tulsa Police Department in December 2011, was on her way 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, officials said, 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. Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett said police worked quickly to provide Kunzweiler with the information he needed to decide whether to charge the officer. "I appreciate their efforts as well as the District Attorney's usual thorough evaluation of the rules of law for which we are all accountable," Bartlett said in a written statement. "These are important steps to ensure that justice and accountability prevails. "We will continue to be transparent and ensure the system carries out its responsibility to provide justice." 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An American English teacher in Yemen was detained in the capital on suspicions of espionage Tuesday There were conflicting reports on where the teacher was taken. Yemeni officials told the Associated Press that he was taken from his home in Sanaa. However, Reuters reported that armed men in civilian clothing entered a school and forced the teacher in their car, while other faculty and students looked on. "We were shocked when the armed group entered the building. They got to his office and took him to an unknown location," a Yemeni teacher at the school told Reuters. Shiite rebels known as Houthis captured Sanaa in 2014, and are allied with security forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. It was not immediately clear if the American was being held by the Houthis or their allies. "We are aware of reports of U.S. citizens being held in Yemen. Privacy considerations prevent us from commenting further on this case," a State Department spokeswoman told Reuters. The civil war in Yemen has led to the remaining Americans in the country to be detained on suspicion of espionage by the Iranian-backed Houthis. The Houthis accuse the U.S. of arming and supporting the Saudi-backed coalition which has intervened in the conflict to aid Yemeni government forces. Oman had previously facilitated the release of two other Americans held by the Houthis. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from Reuters. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 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. 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. 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. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Egyptian authorities on Thursday arrested four people in connection with the death of at least 42 migrants whose Europe-bound boat capsized off Egypt's Mediterranean coast. Officials said the four were members of the vessel's crew and were 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 the tragedy, according to the officials. The Egyptian military said the boat was 12 nautical miles off the coast near the town of Rosetta when it capsized Wednesday. Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira province, where Rosetta is located, told The Associated Press that authorities did not have a precise number for those who were on board the vessel, but 250-400 seemed likely. He said 157 people were rescued. An initial breakdown of the nationalities of the migrants showed that they included 111 Egyptians, mostly teenagers and men in their 20s, said 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, he added. Thousands of illegal migrants 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 migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean from Egypt to Europe has increased significantly in the past year, EU border agency Frontex recently said. 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. Many of the survivors in the latest incident have been detained by police. Some of those rescued who suffered injuries were taken to hospitals, where they lie handcuffed to hospital beds under police guard. One survivor, Ahmed Darwish, blamed traffickers 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 don't have a bit of mercy in their hearts," he told the 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 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, describing what happened after the boat capsized. ___ Associated Press writer Maggie Michael in Cairo contributed to this report. Prosecutors are investigating a leading member of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party following reports he sold Nazi-era memorabilia. Rudolf Mueller, the party's top candidate for elections in the western state of Saarland next year, allegedly sold medals and currency used in Nazi internment camps at his antiques store. The claims were first reported by weekly Stern and public broadcaster ARD. Saarbruecken prosecutors said Thursday that they are probing whether Mueller broke the law banning the use of symbols deemed to be in breach of Germany's constitution. Such symbols include the Nazi swastika that was often found on German World War II medals. Mueller says he doesn't believe he broke the law. Alternative for Germany has been dogged by allegations of anti-Semitism and far-right links among its members and supporters. Abu Chiad boasted about beheading infidels, raping women and children and slaughtering in the name of Islam. Speaking from a prison in the city of Kirkuk, in northern Iraq, he told Dr. Jan Kizilhan that these acts would get him to heaven. Kizilhan, 49, a German of Kurdish background, is a psychology professor and trauma expert who has worked with trauma victims in Rwanda and Kosovo. He went to Iraq with Michael Blume, minority affairs expert for the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, to help the victims of ISIS. Their mission was to bring traumatized women and children back to Germany for treatment. In a telephone interview, Blume said he eagerly took advantage of an opportunity to save a thousand lives. Baden-Wurttemberg has authorized $107 million over three years for this humanitarian work in response to an appeal from the 100,000-member German-Yazidi community following the ISIS massacre two years ago of Yazidis in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq. The Yazidis are an ancient non-Muslim minority in Iraq. Theyve lived in the Sinjar region for centuries. Chiad, a 26-year old Chechen, had moved his wife and three children to Raqqa, Syria, to join the fight to create an Islamic State across Syria and Iraq. He embraced the ethnic cleansing that was intended to rid the region of Christians, Jews, non-Sunni Muslims and Yazidis. I asked Abu Chiad how he could show love for his wife and children and murder people the same day, Kizilhan said in a phone interview from Stuttgart. He said Chiad showed no remorse as he spoke about making daily trips to a marketplace to behead people and rape Yazidi women, after which he would return home as a loving father and husband. Killing them was like killing a chicken, Chiad told Kizilhan. In Chiads mind, Kizilhan said, the victims were not human. He said ISIS killers and rapists rationalize their behavior by dehumanizing their victims, much as the Nazis justified their mass slaughter of Jews in the Holocaust. He has written a book, The Psychology of ISIS, in which he analyzes this savage behavior. It will be published in Germany in October. Kizilhan had horrifying stories to tell about the 1,100 women and children, former ISIS captives, who are now being treated in Germany, most of them at a facility near Stuttgart in Baden-Wurttenberg. Rinda, 10, and her mother were abducted on Aug. 3, 2014, when ISIS invaded the Sinjar region. They were taken to Raqqa. Rinda was sold eight times to ISIS fighters, who beat and raped her. Her parents fate is not known. Yasmin, 16, who feared another rape, wanted to make herself undesirable, so she doused herself with gasoline and lit a match. Badly burned, she is in a German hospital facing more than 20 surgeries. Now she looks like a zombie, and children cry when they see her, Kizilhan said. It is so difficult to see what the fire did to her. Most of the 400,000 Yazidis who lived in Sinjar have been displaced, captured or killed. According to a United Nations report, 5,000 Yazidi civilians were murdered in 2014, and women and children were sold into slavery. Many of the abuse victims have committed suicide. Duzen Tekkal, a German-Yazidi journalist, went to Iraq to make a documentary Hawar about the plight of the Yazidi people. She went because people told her: You are a Yazidi and a journalist and must come here and tell the world our story. I knew it was very dangerous, Tekkal said in a phone interview. But I knew I had to go there. Like Kizilhan, she has difficult stories to tell. She speaks of children who are no longer children. In one case, she said, A 9-year-old said, Take me to be raped, not my little sister, please dont touch her, take me, So they took the 6-year-old down the mountain, and they raped her. Tekkal said that many of the children repressed their rapes as a defense mechanism. One 12-year-old said she wasnt raped. But she was pregnant. Tekkal praised the work Kizilhan is doing. We need hundreds of Dr. Kizilhans to deal with all the wounds inflicted by ISIS, she said. Kizilhan said Rinda often asks how ISIS can do such terrible things, how people can be so evil. I ask the same question, he said. Why is humanity still so evil in the 21st century? A 15-year-old Muslim student in Switzerland was told Wednesday that he is required to shake the hand of his female teacher despite his claim that it went against his religious belief, The Independent reported. The issue started in April, when Amer Salhani and his older brother refused to shake their teachers hand at their school in Therwil, which is outside Zurich. The brothers were reportedly granted a waiver but education officials decided that a teacher has the right to demand a handshake. The report pointed out that the school, at first, appeared to side with the students, but the issue created public outcry and was rescinded. Since the decision, the older brother has left the school and Amer has reportedly still refused to shake hands. Shaking hands with teachers is deeply rooted in our society and culture, Monica Gschwind, the head of the citys education department, told the paper. For me it is clear: the handshake is enforced, no ifs, no buts. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 South African police have fired tear gas at stone-throwing students demanding free education at a campus in a provincial capital. The African News Agency is reporting that violence broke out Thursday at the Pietermaritzburg campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The agency says police have surrounded a student residence where protesters have gathered and have fired tear gas into the building. The unrest follows protests this week at other South African universities. The demonstrators have been reacting to a government announcement that universities can increase fees by up to 8 percent next year. The government made a concession to student protesters in 2015, agreeing to freeze fee increases for this year. The government has promised to pay about $180 million to cover the costs of poor students. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 A volunteer group that rescues civilians from bombed-out buildings in Syria shares 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 on Thursday announced the 2016 winners are the Syria Civil Defense group, also known as the White Helmets; Egyptian women's rights activist Mozn Hassan and the Nazra for Feminist Studies; Russia Svetlana Gannushkina; and Turkish independent newspaper Cumhuriyet. They will share a cash award of 3 million kronor ($350,000). 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. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's two top aides are apologizing and are repaying a portion of the $207,000 Canadian (US$157,000) in expenses they incurred in moving to Ottawa from Toronto. Chief of staff Katie Telford and principal secretary Gerald Butts said in a statement Thursday they followed all the rules but don't feel comfortable about some of the relocation costs. Trudeau, elected last fall, faced questions about the moving expenses since they were revealed by the government earlier this week in response to a written question from an opposition Conservative lawmaker. Both will reimburse the government for miscellaneous moving expenses. Butts says he will further reimburse for a land transfer tax associated with his family's new Ottawa home. A Bank of England panel says Britain faces a challenging period of adjustment following the vote to leave the European Union, as uncertainty about the country's relationship with the bloc reinforces some financial risks. The Financial Policy Committee said Thursday there continues to be a risk that foreigners will reduce investment in the U.K. The panel underscores the threat to the commercial real estate market, where "the risks of a sharp adjustment are crystallizing. Prices have fallen and transactions are at their lowest level since 2009." The warning comes after recent reports suggested that the short-term impact on Britain's economy had been measured, despite warnings of economic mayhem before the vote. The committee says the central bank's intervention helped prevent more dire consequences. The first swells of a mammoth new refugee flood are starting to overwhelm international relief efforts in northern Iraq, as more than a million residents in and around the Iraqi city of Mosul are beginning to flee before a vicious battle is joined between ISIS and forces trying to displace the terrorist forces. They are the latest, enormously disruptive chapter of what President Obama termed a global refugee crisis of epic proportions at a special, 32-nation summit he convened on Tuesday at the United Nations. The effects of the growing tide of desperate internally displaced persons, or IDPs, as the U.N. calls them, rising around the northern Iraqi city are still unpredictable. But they already seem to be well beyond the over-stretched and underfunded, U.N.-coordinated humanitarian efforts that are still being put in place to contain and help them. The coming challenge exodus is beyond my ability to articulate, warns Suad Jarbawi, Iraq country director for Mercy Corps, one of the worlds largest non-government relief organizations, which has worked in Iraq since 2003. The order of magnitude we are going to see is tremendous, she told Fox News from her base of operations in the nearby Iraqi city of Erbil. Do we know how it is going to unfold? No. Relief planners like Jarbawi are still trying frantically, juggling funds and reworking plans to preposition supplies and camps for as many as 1 million to 1.5 million civilians who could be fleeing Mosul within weeks, or even days, when U.S.- and NATO-backed Iraqi government forces assault the city to retake it from the ISIS jihadists who have held it since 2014. Where exactly they will flee is also not known. Im looking at version 12 of a Mosul planning map, one coordinator told Fox News. Its not going to be the last. We plan with a very high degree of uncertainty. Even as the relief contingents scramble, about 135,000 Iraqi residents of small towns and villages south of Mosul have fled preliminary Iraqi government advances in the so-called Mosul corridor that were preliminaries to the main drive on the city. The larger assault could happen in a few weeks, or even days, depending on the Iraqi governments coherence and determination. The early departures, which one humanitarian expert described as only a trickle, are forcing additional grim forms of relief triage on aid organizations in northern Iraq that are struggling to deal with massive earlier displacements caused by ISIS and recent government counter-offenses in neighboring Anbar province. Weve had to stop actions in other areas, one relief coordinator told Fox News. This is only a taste of what we are going to get. As newcomers arrive, they also force humanitarian organizations to reduce, or even eliminate, relief supplies and cash handed over to earlier refugees, who are supposed to transit, in many cases, the relief from the Iraqi government. But the government, in turn, is increasingly swallowed in a financial crisis brought on, atop the costs of war and human upheaval, by dramatically shrinking international oil prices. Moreover, as one aid worker put it, Iraqi [government] ministries are absolutely overwhelmed. They dont have systems to carry the load, along with the support, discipline and training. The outcome: no money. We dont have enough to cover our needs today, one humanitarian official told Fox News. That is especially true of life-preserving supplies like sanitary water tanks. A U.N.-coordinated humanitarian response plan for Iraq this year that asked international donors to provide $861 million for relief efforts is only about 60 percent funded. The previous years $704 million humanitarian response plan was 74 percent funded, but support trailed off significantly in the second half of the year. For Mosul, the news is worse: an additional $284 million flash appeal for the impending relief effort, announced in January, is only 48 percent covered. Virtually every cent of the money so far comes from the U.S., which announced a week ago that it would contribute $181 million overall in new aid for Mosul. Along with relief supply shortages there are other fast-growing needs, including doctors and health workers, teachers to keep displaced children in school, and other social services. Nobody is taking up the slack, one relief worker told Fox News. Some 3.3 million civilians overall are already displaced in Iraq as a result of years of war and the U.N. considers that 10 million overall are in need of assistance. U.N. humanitarian appeals predict that the number in need could rise to 12 million to 13 million by the end of the year. The full weight of the Mosul exodus, when it arrives, will offer real competition to Syria as a refugee catastrophe -- although Syria, which nearly 5 million residents fleeing abroad and 6.5 million internally displaced, is still in a league of its own. The mammoth size of the Syria cataclysm has, in turn, also helped to overshadow the full dimensions of the calamity in Iraq. Relief experts, however, say that Mosul is likely to be the single largest, most complex humanitarian operation in the world this year. Part of the complexity will be the strains it may cause between Iraqs still unstable central government and the Kurdish regional government in the north, where distrust of Baghdad is acute. Kurdistan is already hosting more than 1 million Iraqi internal refugees, as well as some 239,000 Syrians. Another part of that complexity is the effort required even when ISIS has been driven out of areas, as it already has been elsewhere in Iraq. What is left behind is often ruins, frequently mined and booby-trapped, that will require months of painstaking and dangerous effort to reclaim. The refugees may well be unable to return home, as one official put it, for an indeterminate period. The looming Mosul crisis could quickly help to drown the added multinational efforts at refugee financing, retraining and resettlement that Obama extolled as the outcome of his summit earlier this week, and which were intended as an antidote to donor fatigue and climbing unhappiness about immigrant absorption in the region and well beyond. Participants at the Obama summit claimed that they will collectively add $4.5 billion beyond 2015 levels to U.N. and other humanitarian appeals -- with about $1 billion more to come from the U.S. The new funds also are intended to lift some of the strain from neighboring countries, such as Jordan and Lebanon, that have been reeling under the impact of refugee flows from Syria. More controversially, in terms of U.S. presidential elections, the summiteers said they would roughly double the number of refugees they would resettle or otherwise admit to their own countries -- and specifically bump U.S. resettlement numbers for refugees from 70,000 in 2015 to 85,000 this year to 110,000 in 2017. Mosul got no specific mention in a joint statement by the U.S. and its summit co-hosts, which included Canada, Germany, Jordan and Mexico. Nor did it figure in Obamas own remarks at the meeting, though the $181 million in recently announced Mosul aid doubtless was part of the announced $1 billion in additional U.S. assistance. CLICK HERE FOR THE LEADERS STATEMENT CLICK HERE FOR OBAMAS REMARKS Nor, moreover, did Mosul figure in a sprawling and wafty New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, passed by U.N. members at yet another summit convened a day earlier by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The 22-page document, with annexes, offered a variety of empty promises (we will ensure a people-centered, sensitive, humane, dignified, gender-sensitive and prompt reception for all persons arriving in our countries) alongside a variety of windy profundities (statelessness can be a root cause of forced displacement; in turn, forced displacement can lead to statelessness). It also promised that signatories would commit to implementing a 6-page Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework developed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), whose actions in Syria and overall organizational abilities have been criticized harshly, even inside the U.N. itself. Accompanying the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework is supposed to come a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, which would deal with all aspects of international migration, including the humanitarian, developmental, human rights-related and other aspects of migration. It would, a declaration assures the world, make an important contribution to global governance and international cooperation on migrants and human mobility. All of that will be chewed over through a process of intergovernmental negotiations, for which preparations will begin immediately. The negotiations -- presumably including governments whose barbarities are causing mass migrations in the first place -- will culminate at yet another intergovernmental conference in 2018. And that, in turn, will be followed by a High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, to be held in New York no later than 2019. CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW YORK DECLARATION A non-government humanitarian official who observed the U.N. meeting -- only governments could participate -- called it a wasted opportunity to reform the U.N.s, and the worlds, ponderous and under-funded humanitarian relief system. They could have taken the money involved in holding the conference, he said, and spent it on humanitarian supplies. George Russell is Editor-at-Large of Fox News. He is reachable on Twitter at @GeorgeRussell and on Facebook at Facebook.com/George.Russell This article is archived and available in its entirety for free for registered members only. Please login or register to read more. Are you looking for a different vacation experience? Do you like to discover old villages and to stay in a charming hotel in a quiet and historical place? Besides this, are you eager to learn? Most of all, are you a fragrance lover? Well, if you are into all of these things, heaven is less than a month away. You can do all of this and even meet Luca Turin and Victoria Frolova from Bois de Jasmin in the South of France from 20 to 24 October 2016. The event is called The Art of Scent and it is part of the Science and Vacation programme. Luca and Victoria are guiding us into the world of science and perfume in a 3 day course. Every morning they will transmit all of their knowledge in a relaxed atmosphere. Drawing on his long-standing experience in biophysics, quantum biology, molecular biology and fragrance chemistry, Luca Turin will explain what is known and just as importantly what isn't known yet about smell. On the other hand, fragrance expert and journalist Victoria Frolova will explain the principles of fragrance construction and history. Her professional training gave her a glimpse inside the secret and competitive world of the perfume industry, and in turn, she will share her experience. You will learn about the perfumers palette, smell rare vintage fragrances and learn exercises to sharpen your sense of smell. The Science and Vacation Programme was created by Sergey Kuznetsov and Katya Kadieva and they have covered a number of different aspects of science in different gorgeous settings. This time they have chosen to work around the scientific and historical aspects of fragrance. The chosen spot for this experience is a splendid hotel in one of the mountain villages of the Luberon region, in Provence, France. The Moulin de Vernegues Hotel is a 5 star resort where you can relax during the afternoons, but you can also walk and visit the villages nearby after classes. Fragrantica was invited to attend this programme and we are happy to report from France, telling you all about this experience. Before we pack and fly to France, we asked Victoria Frolova for a little preview: Miguel: Hello Victoria. I am very excited to meet you and Luca Turin. I am sure it will be extremely interesting to hear what you have to teach us. Can you tell me about this concept? Who had this idea? Victoria: I've known Luca for more than 10 years. So it's a friendship that goes back a long while. Regarding this course, Sergey Kuznetsov, who is the organizer, manager and director of Science and Vacation, was inspired by the idea of adult education. He did this fellowship in Stanford for journalists and what he loved during that experience was that he was an adult going back to learning, in an atmosphere where you learn very intensely but you also enjoy yourself and you have other people around you who are very interested and enthusiastic. You always learn better when you are around other people. Sergey is a chemist so he has a strong science background. Perfumery is quite a scientific field as well, so he decided to have something around olfaction, science, chemistry and art. Then he reached out to Luca, which seemed like a very natural person to talk about it in this course. Luca is a scientist and he has quite an understanding of perfumery in various aspects. Luca invited me because it's a three day course and one person can't do it alone. Plus he needed someone with complimentary knowledge and I have professional perfumery training so I am well-versed with the process of creating a fragrance and the aspects of perfume history. iso e super molecule Miguel: What can we expect to learn from this course? Victoria: We started to discuss it and I thought that the idea was excellent. The course is open to anybody. People don't have to have a Phd in Chemistry or any knowledge about perfume to participate. But by the end of the course they will come out having a very rich and multifaceted understanding of fragrance. That's our hope, of course, and we are working to make sure that's what happens. It's a very ambitious program and I like that, too. To be able to convey to someone the artistic elements of perfume but also the science and all of the intricate work that goes into it is great. We are going to smell fragrances of the past and fragrances of today as well as some of the best materials in the perfumer's palette. I think that's a very rare chance and of course you don't have many means to be exposed to it. Image from Bois de Jasmin Miguel: Luca Turin's approach to chemistry can sometimes be quite dense and hard to follow, as we could see in his book The Secret of Scent. What can we expect and how will you balance it in order to make it accessible to everyone? Victoria: Well, Luca is a fantastic speaker. You will see, he can actually express the most complicated concepts very easily and make them accessible. But in practical terms we are also alternating between each other. It's not going to be a day for Luca with chemistry and another for me with perfume history. It's going to be blended. So you have an hour where you learn about how to improve your sense of smell, for instance. How do we smell? How does our nose operate? And then he will have an hour where you will learn how to smell better, how to describe scents... A lot of things that seem to be simple but they are actually quite complicated and also very interesting. Miguel: Will those in attendance have the chance to participate, ask questions and share personal experiences? Victoria: Yes, absolutely. That's a very important part. In order not to deliver spoilers, our conversation had to be very short and I will have the opportunity to ask Victoria and Luca many more questions. So if you are interested, here's more information about the topics to be discussed: VIBRATIONAL THEORY OF SMELL VS. SHAPE THEORY OF SMELL The vibrational theory affirms that the smell of substances is based upon the frequencies of vibration of their molecules. This is in opposition to the shape theory of smell, which imagines smell molecules fitting into conveniently shaped receptors in our noses. HISTORY OF PERFUME Nowadays the multi-million dollar industry of fragrance creates hundreds of new scents each year. How did something as shapeless as smell get such an impressive history and culture? SOME POSSIBLE DISCUSSION TOPICS: WHAT does a particular molecule smell like? HOW is our nose connected to our brain? WHY does perfume smell differently on different people? HOW do we choose which perfumes to review? Total Cost: 2600 per person, per single accommodation in a double room. 4400 per two persons (accommodation in a shared double room). This cost includes accommodation, breakfast, wine testing and courses. You can book your place in the course at the Science and Vacation official website. MEH #MindYourOwnBusiness I shook Paul Kagame's hand yesterday. A colleague and I were discussing the difference between historical and anthropological approaches to politics, there was a bit of hush, and there he was - a person of world historical importance, hand outstretched. http://africasacountry.com/2016/09/mindyourownbusiness/ Le Meridien Crown Jewel Shines in the City of Light: Brand Reintroduces Its First-Ever Hotel to Paris after Multi-Million Dollar Renovation Mid-century Modern Meets Parisian Chic at Le Meridien Etoile with Reimagined Upscale Guestrooms, Signature Le Meridien Hub and Legendary Jazz Club PARIS - September 22, 2016 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - From the birthplace of the brand, Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today marked a milestone as its first-ever hotel and celebrated flagship in Paris revealed the completion of its multi-million dollar renovation. Following the hotels transformation, Le Meridien Etoile now boasts reimagined guestrooms, suites and the transformation of the hotels public spaces, including the legendary Jazz Club Etoile and brands signature lobby concept: Le Meridien Hub. With a stronger and more globally diverse portfolio than ever before, Le Meridien has hit its stride with guests and locals as well as owners and developers around the world, said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts. We are delighted to have the crown jewel of our brand shining brightly once more in the City of Light, as Le Meridien returns to its roots with distinctive design and bold Destination Unlocked positioning. Located in the 17th arrondissement, anchored by Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees, Le Meridien Etoile is the largest hotel in central Paris. The redesign of the hotels rooms was led by French interior architect Jean-Philippe Nuel, while London-based firm Michaelis Boyd restyled all the public areas; both draw inspiration from Le Meridien brands mid-century modern design aesthetic. Paris: A Destination & Inspiration The interiors of all 1,025 guestrooms and suites have been redesigned with residential texture and details inspired by the destination: the lighting and the muted colour palette of grey, light blue and charcoal are underscored by eye-catching accents. Travel and discovery are woven into the fabric of the design, with illustrated maps of Parisian arrondissements that adorn the headboards and deconstructed images of the city that are displayed in the rooms and corridors. Art and design also provide an element of discovery throughout the public spaces of Le Meridien Etoile. Art Curator Marion Vignal selected four Parisian, contemporary artists to express their unique perspectives of Paris through different mediums. For instance, Arnold Goron, the sought-after sculptor and set designer for several French fashion houses, created the arrival art installation and impressive mural fresco, both composed of brass petals forming a map of Paris. From the arrival lighting installation that represents the traffic circles of the city, to the custom-tiled accent wall that pays homage to Paris metro system, Le Meridien Etoile has transformed the staid, traditional lobby into the brands signature Le Meridien Hub. Set amidst this thoughtfully-designed space, the Longitude 217 Bar provides Le Meridien signature eclairs, light bites and illy coffee, expertly prepared by the hotels creative Master Barista, creating an experience that brings creative and curious-minded guests and locals together. Le Meridien Etoile features 2,500 square metre of thoughtfully-designed meeting spaces with design cues taken from the 17th arrondissement. The small meeting rooms or Petits Salons hold up to 25 people and are named after local streets, while the large Grands Salons hold up to 1,200 people and bear the names of neighbouring avenues and boulevards. Each of the spaces is designed with the brands mid-century modern aesthetic and offers modular furniture that allows personalization. Custom photography, depicting scenes from each Boulevard, was shot by one of Frances most influential Instagrammers, Vutheara Kham, and aims to inspire creativity. The renovation of the conference centre and public areas was overseen by London-based architectural duo Alex Michaelis and Tim Boyd. Jazz Club Etoile: The Legendary Music Club Created in 1975 with celebrated drummer F.A. Galepides, known as Moustache, the Jazz Club Etoile has been entirely renovated in a mid-century modern style, with an emphasis on bright colours and vintage furniture. Parisian touches once again pepper the decor with white tiles, reminiscent of the metro stations, surrounded by the works of visual artist Christian Gastaldi, who was inspired by the posters displayed in the metro system. While preserving the essence of the Jazz Club Etoile, former music booker and friend of Moustache, Jean-Pierre Vignola, has collaborated with Jonathan Miltat, an experienced Jazz producer, to renew the musical offering and put the spotlight on Jazz, Soul, Funk and Blues. Both locals and hotel guests alike can now discover legendary artists and new talent in the intimate venue with a new menu curated by Executive Chef Laurent Belijar. Destination Unlocked Position Propels Parisian-born Brand Ten years after Le Meridien joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the brand now stands stronger than ever before, said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. Highlighting our commitment to strengthening the brands portfolio around the globe, over 50% of Le Meridien hotels in Europe and the Middle East have been upgraded over the last three years. We are proud to celebrate Le Meridien distinctive design aesthetic and bold Destination Unlocked positioning in the brands home city of Paris. Since 2005, Starwood and its hotel ownership groups have transformed Le Meridien into a contemporary lifestyle brand now focused on unlocking the destination through culture, the arts, and cuisine. Now Le Meridien boasts the strongest portfolio levels in the brands history, growing in key destinations around the world, Le Meridien Denver; Le Meridien Singapore, Sentosa; 6 newly-built Le Meridien hotels in China, including 2 in Shanghai alone; and the brands re-entry into Italy with the opening of Le Meridien Visconti Rome early next year. For more information, please visit: www.lemeridien.com. About Le Meridien With more than 100 Hotels & Resorts worldwide and the strongest, most globally diverse portfolio in its history, the Paris-born Le Meridien brand connects the curious and creative-minded traveller to unexpected and engaging experiences within their destination. With its brand promise of Destination Unlocked, Le Meridien has transformed numerous guest touch points through global partnerships with creative minds such as illy, Johnny Iuzzini, Gray Malin, and Nouvelle Vague. Plans call for dynamic portfolio expansion within the next five years in some of the worlds most exciting destinations, concentrating on markets in Asia-Pacific and the Americas. For more information, please visit LeMeridien.com or follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005352/en/. SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Contact: Katie Roberts Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts 212-380-4049 Katie.Roberts@starwoodhotels.com ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Like many diseases, cancer has its own special language. Its one of the first things I learned after I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2011. Well, actually, I learned it at the exact same time. Your biopsy results came back, the radiologist told me over the phone. Theyre all positive. Oh thank God, I said, relief washing over me. A nanosecond later, the relief was gone. Apparently, positive is not positive in the world of cancer. Positive is awful. Negative results are what you want. What else do you want? Unremarkable body parts, especially if those body parts have just been scanned by CT or PET or MRI. My uterus is unremarkable according to my scans, which I at first thought was a snide jab from some lab tech until my doctor explained it just meant there was no sign of cancer. So apparently cancer isnt just positive, its also remarkable. Thats not confusing at all. Whether its topsy-turvy meanings for words like positive, negative or progression (another bad thing in Cancerland), stilted phrases like poor outcome or end-of-life event when referring to death, or the murky, quirky alphabet soup of medical-speak You have ER+ PR+ HER-2/neu negative invasive lobular carcinoma, or ILC. Any questions? most cancer patients have run up against a lost-in-translation moment with their doctors. Im not talking about patients who speak a different language (although this can certainly up the confusion). Or the shell shock that happens as soon as somebody in a white coat drops the C-bomb, that thing where time stands still and you suddenly turn into a patient version of that old "Far Side" cartoon What dogs hear: Blah blah blah cancer blah blah blah blah cancer blah blah blah. Im talking about leaving a surgeon's or oncologists office with absolutely no clue as to whats going on with your body or what theyre going to do about it. If your doctor uses euphemisms like neoplasm or malignancy to explain your diagnosis, you might not even know you have cancer. Steele & Co Expand Home Moving Services To Include International Moves and Removals Steele & Co has expanded its service to offer international moves to and from Europe, and even further afield, with carefully matched international partners. -- Brexit means Brexit, and the UK is leaving the European Union. This has created considerable consternation among Brits living abroad, and international populations within Britain. As a result, many people are looking to move abroad, and many are looking to return to the UK. Steele & Co (http://www.steeleandco.co.uk/) is one of Hampshire's best and most committed moving companies. In the wake of Brexit and the uncertainty around people's futures, both in the UK and expats living overseas, the company has expanded its services to ensure people can move to and from anywhere in the world with the greatest of ease. Steele & Co's international moving service offers a comprehensive, professional export packing and shipping service, that can help people to move anywhere in the world. The company can ship items via sea or air freight, offering reliable and economical services. The same trained staff that handle residential moves will complete the packing, using purpose-made materials to ensure that all valuables are fully protected prior to loading. The company can even offer assistance in transporting pets, so there are no limits placed on movers. These services are expected to come into ever higher demand in the coming months and years, as Article 50 is triggered. The company has established links with reliable suppliers throughout the EU and the International Community, to ensure the same quality of service is provided on both ends of the move. A spokesperson for SteeleandCo.co.uk explained, "We want to be able to facilitate people's international moves with a minimum of disruption and stress. As such, we have carefully selected shipping and moving partners throughout the world and established strong relationships with them, to ensure our clients get the best service from start to finish, whether they are moving to or from the UK. We offer outstanding value, superb service, and fully comprehensive insurance for complete peace of mind." About Steele & Co: Established in 2001 by Gavin Waite and Paul Steele, Steele & Co has fast become the mover of choice throughout Hampshire towns, including Winchester, Romsey, Chandlers Ford and Southampton. This independent Removals and Storage Company offers a bespoke moving and storage service to all its clients. They guarantee experienced and expert employees, delivering a superb service at a great price. For more information, please visit http://www.steeleandco.co.uk/ Contact Info: Name: Gavin Waite Email: info@steeleandco.co.uk Organization: Steele & Co Moving Services Ltd Address: Central Administration Office, Steele & Co Moving Services Ltd, C6 Deacon Trading Estate, Tower Lane, Eastleigh, SO50 6RS Phone: 02380 647662 or 01962 878553 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/steele-co-expand-home-moving-services-to-include-international-moves-and-removals/133900 Release ID: 133900 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Private Jet Charter Houston Launches Brand New Website The company is creating an exceptional online experience for those searching for the perfect jet charter, reports www.privatejetchartershouston.com. -- Private Jet Charter Houston has recently announced the launch of their new website. In order to better serve their clientele, the company has been working behind the scenes to create an exceptional online experience for those currently searching for a private jet charter that meets their needs, fits their budget, and flies on their schedule. The new website is available at https://privatejetchartershouston.com/. Brian Wallace, a representative of Private Jet Charter Houston, stated "Whether the trip is for business or for leisure, clients all over the world understand why private jet charters are the way to go. Unfortunately, finding and booking the perfect charter hasn't always been an easy process. This is why we're so excited to be launching our new website to the world. Not only does it give our clients the important details about who we are the services that we can offer to them, but it also gives them an easy way to get in contact with us when they're ready to discuss their next private jet charter." The new Private Jet Charter Houston website does more than just provide clients with information about the company and its services. At https://privatejetchartershouston.com/private-jet-charter-vs-commercial-airline/, clients can educate themselves with important information about private jet charters and how they work. The new website includes details on the different types of jet charters, vital charter security measures, the company's safety standards, and even the opportunity that clients have to save money with empty leg flights. Wallace went on to say, "We see it as our mission to educate our clients as well as to consistently provide the most excellent service in the business. Creating and launching this new website is just one of the ways that we are accomplishing both of these goals. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our clients and invite them to learn more about how we can give them a world-class experience during their next travel adventure." Clients who would like to discover more about Private Jet Charter Houston and keep up with the latest news from the company can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/privatejetcharterhouston. About Private Jet Charter Houston: Private Jet Charter Houston is focused on providing their clientele with exceptional service and remarkable experiences through privately chartered jet services to and from Houston, Texas. Their team believes charting a private jet in Houston shouldn't be complicated, and their friendly staff makes every part of the process easy. Whether the charter is for business or pleasure, clients can be confident in knowing that Private Jet Charter Houston's team of professional pilots and knowledgeable staff will ensure each chartered flight is a superior experience from start to finish. For more information, please visit http://www.privatejetchartershouston.com Contact Info: Name: Brian Wallace Organization: Private Jet Charter Houston Phone: +1-713-865-9532 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/private-jet-charter-houston-launches-brand-new-website/133911 Release ID: 133911 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Peanut Butter Announces Partnership With Credible Partnership expands Peanut Butter services for employers offering student loan assistance. Peanut Butter Announces Partnership With Credible Partnership expands Peanut Butter services for employers offering student loan assistance -- Today, from the Innovate! and Celebrate Conference, where Peanut Butter is a semi-finalist for Tech.Co's Startup of the Year competition; Peanut Butter is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with Credible, an industry leader in the student loan refinancing market. This partnership fuels both brands, and serves to expand Peanut Butter's capacity to provide a full suite of student loan assistance services to employers looking to attract, retain, and engage college-educated talent. With respect to today's announcement, Peanut Butter Founder and CEO David Aronson said, "We are thrilled to partner with Credible. Employers looking to provide student debt refinancing options best serve their employees by giving them easy access to multiple lenders. Credible provides this broad coverage through an intuitive experience that gets employees competitive rates from 7 different lenders in under 2 minutes." According to Peanut Butter's recent Millennial Benefit Preferences Study, employers offering student loan repayment can expect shorter hiring timelines, lower turnover rates, stronger employee engagement, and improved diversity. The alliance between Peanut Butter and Credible empowers companies to not only offer repayment assistance, but also provides a savvy platform for those who would like to offer employees a refinancing option. Credible's unique platform ensures employees with a broad range of income and credit levels have access to refinancing options. Said Credible Founder and CEO Stephen Dash, "As a company that is dedicated to helping people find solutions and provide relief from the crushing weight of college debt, we couldn't be more thrilled to join forces with Peanut Butter. Our combined offering allows employers to help their employees solve one of the biggest financial challenges they face." About Peanut Butter, Inc.: Peanut Butter helps employers attract and retain millenial talent by offering company-sponsored contributions to employee student loans. To learn more about Peanut Butter or to find out how you can partner with Peanut Butter to become an employer of choice, please visit their website at www.getpeanutbutter.com or call direct at 800-913-6651. About Credible: Credible is a multi-lender marketplace that allows borrowers to request competitive loan offers from vetted lenders without impacting their credit scores. www.credible.com. For more information, please visit https://www.getpeanutbutter.com/ Contact Info: Name: Chris McMillin Organization: Peanut Butter, Inc. Phone: 618-444-1475 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/peanut-butter-announces-partnership-with-credible/133917 Release ID: 133917 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cooking enthusiasts Kitchen Utensil Launched August Glossoro Enterprises, LLC announced the availability of their new Kitchen Utensil "Native Spring Box Grater with Interchangeable Stainless Steel Blades " launched last August. More information can be found at http://www.amztk.com/boxgrater. -- Customers looking for the latest Kitchen Utensil will be able to purchase the Native Spring Box Grater with Interchangeable Stainless Steel Blades by Glossoro Enterprises, LLC. Today Heather Brinkley, Media Director at Glossoro Enterprises, LLC releases details of the Native Spring Box Grater with Interchangeable Stainless Steel Blades 's development. The Native Spring Box Grater with Interchangeable Stainless Steel Blades is designed to appeal specifically to Cooking enthusiasts and includes: Removable base to catch, store and release food - This feature was included because it cuts the process of food preparation by enhancing the process flow. This is great news for the consumer because it minimizes waste and is easy to use. Non-slip base to keep securely in place - This was made part of the product to minimize movement during food preparation. Customers who buy the Native Spring Box Grater with Interchangeable Stainless Steel Blades should enjoy this feature because it increases productivity. Coarse, medium and fine grating and slicing surfaces - Glossoro Enterprises, LLC made sure to make this part of the Kitchen Utensil's development as it adds flexibility. Customers will likely appreciate this because it allow consumers to choose their desired size and texture. Heather Brinkley, when asked about the Native Spring Box Grater with Interchangeable Stainless Steel Blades said: "With a durable material, consumers will find this very versatile product useful in their various food preparation needs. We make sure all our products are high quality and affordable at the same time." This is Glossoro Enterprises, LLC's twenty-first release of a new product and Heather Brinkley is particularly excited about this release because they've been in production since start of the year. Those interested in learning more about the business can do so on the business website at http://nativespringessentials.com/ Those interested in purchasing can go directly to the product listing, here: http://www.amztk.com/boxgrater For more information, please visit http://nativespringessentials.com/ Contact Info: Name: Heather Brinkley Organization: Glossoro Enterprises, LLC Release ID: 130040 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Story Highlights 56% of HBCU students say students can deny press access to protests 45% say freedom of assembly is secure HBCU students more positive about racial climate on campus PRINCETON, N.J. -- A majority of students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), 56%, believe campus protesters should be able to deny the press access to protests. Those views contrast with the opinions of college students nationally, including black students at non-HBCU colleges, two-thirds of whom say the press should be allowed to cover campus protests. College Students' Views of Denying the Press Access to Covering Campus Protests As you may know, student protesters on some campuses attempted to prevent members of the media from reporting on their protest. Do you think students should or should not be able to prevent reporters from covering protests held on college campuses? HBCU students All college students Blacks students, non-HBCU colleges % % % Yes, students should be able to deny access 56 28 31 No, students should not be able to deny access 43 70 67 Knight Foundation/Newseum Institute/Gallup The results are based on a Gallup poll conducted in partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Newseum Institute that looks at HBCU students' views on First Amendment issues. The poll and its related report are a follow-up to a study released earlier this year that examines U.S. college students' and national adults' views of First Amendment freedoms. Last fall, a wave of protests on racial matters swept through college campuses across the country. Those protests made clear that tensions can arise when individuals attempt to exercise their First Amendment rights. One prominent example of these tensions came at the University of Missouri when protesters, exercising their rights of free speech and assembly, attempted to block reporters, exercising their free press rights, from covering the protests. HBCU students were especially attuned to those protests -- 43% said they heard or read "a great deal" about them, compared with 25% of all U.S. college students. HBCU students are sympathetic to a variety of rationales protesters might have for denying the press access to a campus protest, including asserting a right to be left alone and believing the reporting will be unfair. This is in contrast to the larger population of U.S. college students who are divided on the legitimacy of those reasons. College Students' Perceived Legitimacy of Reasons to Deny Press Access to Campus Protests or Public Gatherings Do you believe each of the following is -- or is not -- a legitimate reason for people attending a protest or other public gathering to deny the press access to an event? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]? HBCU students All college students Blacks students, non-HBCU colleges % Yes, legitimate reason People at event say they have a right to be left alone 73 48 61 People at event believe press will be unfair in its reporting 73 49 66 People want to tell their own story on the internet/social media 62 44 53 Knight Foundation/Newseum Institute/Gallup HBCU students may sympathize more with student protesters than the press because they express a high level of distrust in the news media. Seventy-three percent of HBCU students say they have little or no trust in the mass media to report the news accurately and fairly, compared with 59% of all U.S. college students and 61% of black students at non-HBCU colleges. HBCU students might also side with protesters over the media because they believe free press rights in the U.S. are secure (75%), but they are much less likely to say the same about free speech (60%) and, in particular, free assembly (45%) rights. Their views on the security of free press rights are similar to those of college students nationally, but they differ on free speech and assembly rights. College Students' Perceptions of First Amendment Freedoms as Secure in the U.S. Do you think each of the following rights is very secure, secure, threatened or very threatened in this country today? HBCU students All college students Blacks students, non-HBCU colleges % Very secure/Secure Freedom of the press 75 81 74 Freedom of religion 62 68 57 Freedom of speech 60 73 62 Freedom to petition the government 56 76 69 Freedom of assembly 45 66 40 Knight Foundation/Newseum Institute/Gallup Of the five rights that the First Amendment guarantees Americans, HBCU students differ most from the national college student population in their perceptions that freedom of assembly and freedom to petition the government without fear of retribution are secure in the U.S. HBCU Students Comfortable With Exercise of Free Speech Rights on Campus The poll also assessed HBCU students' views on the exercise of speech rights on campus and the racial environment at their college. HBCU students (70%) are similar to the larger population of U.S. college students (78%) in saying colleges should foster open learning environments that allow a wide range of expression, including offensive speech. A smaller 29% of HBCU students and 22% of all college students instead believe that campuses should foster positive learning environments that prohibit potentially offensive speech or expression. While college students nationally are more likely to agree (54%) than disagree (46%) that the racial climate on their campus prevents people from saying things they believe because others might find them offensive, HBCU students take the opposing view. Fifty-six percent of HBCU students disagree that their campus climate prevents students from expressing their thoughts, while 44% agree. HBCU students (68%) are similar to college students nationally (71%) in saying the steps their college has taken to adopt campus policies aimed at deterring offensive or biased speech have "been about right." However, black students at non-HBCU colleges (54%) are less likely to say the same; 42% say their school has not gone far enough. HBCU students report a more positive racial climate on their campus (41% describe it as "excellent") than college students nationally (26%) and black students at non-HBCU colleges (20%). These differences may reflect the majority-minority composition of student bodies at HBCU colleges. Implications College protests last fall called attention to the ongoing challenges of achieving racial equality on many campuses, but also the tensions that can flare when First Amendment rights are fully exercised. Students at historically black colleges and universities were closely following the news about the protests, but their college environment and experience are different from those of many of the students participating in the protests. Nevertheless, HBCU students largely sympathize with the claims of the protesters over those of the press. HBCU students' antipathy toward the media and their belief that free assembly rights are less secure than free press rights in the U.S could be shaping those sympathetic views. However, protests also may be influencing how HBCU students view the media and assess the security of the various First Amendment rights. For the full report, visit the Knight Foundation website. Survey Methods Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Feb. 29-June 9, 2016, with a random sample of 302 students, ages 18 to 24, who are attending a historically black college and university. For results based on the total sample of HBCU students, the margin of sampling error is 6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the sample of 3,072 U.S. college students, ages 18 to 24, interviewed Feb. 29-March 15, 2016, the margin of sampling error is 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the sample of 357 black students at non-HBCU colleges interviewed Feb. 29-March 15, 2016, the margin of sampling error is 7 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting. Nintendo NX Release Date, News & Update: Device to Beat Xbox One Scorpio, PlayStation 4 Pro; Games for the Console Teased The Nintendo NX has surely acquired quite an admiration from those who believe in the ability of the company to make a high-end piece of hardware. That being said, some already see the potential of the particular future generation console to topple its rivals. As some may already know, the Nintendo NX has some tough competition with the other companies such as Sony with their PlayStation 4 Pro, as well as Microsoft's Xbox One Scorpio. Despite such prominent names and brands, the proposed features of the Nintendo entry may be enough to take it to the top. According to Ars Technica, the Nintendo NX cordially promises not just the traditional wonders of the Nintendo label, but way beyond it. The most dominant rumor about the console is that it is a hybrid-made up of a handheld device as well as the traditional console controls. As per Express, the Nintendo NX may not contain the same power as that of its contemporary opponents, the Xbox One Scorpio or the PlayStation 4 Pro, but its versatility may be the one to bring the fight further. The capacity to be pluggable on the TV and be carried around as pleased may be the biggest advantage that the said hybrid has. This said rumor is anticipated to be the bread-and-butter of the Nintendo NX. An example usually stated is that if a particular role-playing game will have a lighter mission at hand, the player can perhaps bring it along on-the-go and accomplish the remaining harder tasks back at home later. With such outstanding expectations, the Nintendo NX rumors may reached the verdict of some high-end game manufacturing companies. Such is The Pokemon Company's President, Tsunekazu Ishihara, who affirms that they will create some games for the said Nintendo device in the near future during a Wall Street Journal interview. With the expectations for the Nintendo NX soaring, fans will most likely end up disappointed if the aforementioned console is to come at such a late time-or if the idea will be sent to the dumps. Nevertheless, Nintendo followers will have to keep their patience long if to wait for the upcoming hybrid device as speculated. 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 23-year-old 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 vehicle matched the description of one that was reportedly driving recklessly earlier Wednesday, a Nebraska State Patrol spokesperson said Thursday. Cox said Baier stopped, then drove off and then stopped again. Then, he said, Baier got out and confronted Reiff, who is a four-year veteran with the sheriff's office. At some point during the altercation that followed, Reiff fired his service weapon, hitting Baier, 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 the town of about 1,100 people. 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. 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. Tesla News & Update: Driverless Cars & Tesla Model S Accident Repercussions; US Calls For Tech Regulation US government pushes for stringent policy in driverless car business including manufacturers to provide the blueprint of this technology. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stressed that details about driverless or autonomous cars is necessary to dissect safety features. In the US senate, Michigan's Gary Peters observes that driverless car technology is evolving rapidly and state regulations are not as quick to adapt. Peters added that it is imperative for NHTSA to ensure that car builds do not compromise public safety. Safety issue is hyping up right now especially in California where several manufacturers obtain clearances to proceed with road tests. Meanwhile, US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said that the proposed regulatory code should be mandatory, according to Reuters. Another call is for annual updating of the regulations should it get passed, thereby ensuring synchronized efforts against driverless car development. Also, the word "innovation" should be the ethos of NHTSA from now on, Foxx added. To recall, a Tesla Model S was figured in a fatal crash in May. This incident killed 40-year old Joshua Brown of Ohio and received national attention. Tesla later admitted in a senate investigation that there was a technical failure in the car's braking system. However, Tesla stressed that driverless car technology in general shouldn't get the blame because autopilot did not register any issues, New York Times said. The investigation revealed that Brown's Tesla Model S driverless car collided with a trailer coming from blind curve and was dragged underneath. Tesla explained that anti-crash and visual radar was not at fault because obstacles could be detected only if there are no obstructions. Since the accident happened in a tight corner, the car has very limited time to "react" or was too late to anticipate the incoming trailer. With the regulation issue pumping up again in several states, NHTSA reiterates the call for safety assurance. It also compares driverless cars to airplanes where aviation authorities peek through the technology first before issuing necessary clearances. Tom Cruise 2016 News & Update: Scientology Leader David Miscavige Obsessed With The 'Mission Impossible' Actor? Tom Cruise has been the face of Scientology for as long as we all can remember. He may not be the head of the controversial church, but it seems like Tom Cruise can do and get whatever he wants. A new report claims that the actor's special relationship with the Scientology leader Miscavige has something to do with Tom Cruise' power in the Scientology church. Stuff has pointed out the unique bond of the "Mission Impossible" star Tom Cruise and Scientology leader David Miscavige. The site even went on to say that the Scientology leader David Miscavige is obsessed with the famous Hollywood actor. To prove how much he adored Tom Cruise, Scientology leader David Miscavige was willing to demolish a large section of the well-maintained 200-hectare Scientology compound. The grand gesture was to help Tom Cruise fulfill a fantasy that the latter had with ex-wife Nicole Kidman. Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman publicity still for Eyes Wide Shut pic.twitter.com/rNl98r7Q9y (@ebnz3at) September 5, 2016 Scientology leader David Miscavige has learned that Tom Cruise wanted to run through a field of wildflowers with actress Nicole Kidman at the time. The Scientology leader made sure that Tom Cruise will get what he wanted and ordered some workers to start creating this field of wildflowers for him. But even with the Scientology leader David Miscavige's command of making Tom Cruise' fantasy a reality, the actor didn't get to run through the wildflowers with Nicole Kidman. The wildflowers didn't blossom and weeds took over the field. Scientology leader David Miscavige didn't like the outcome and he ordered to scratch the plan and sown the field with plain grass instead. We would never know if the field of wildflowers could have saved the marriage of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, as the Australian actress filed for divorce after 11 years together. Nicole Kidman is happily married now and has moved on from her failed marriage with Tom Cruise. Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise shares two kids together, Isabella Jane Cruise and Connor Cruise. Homeland Season 6 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Claire Danes Carrie To Part Ways With Rupert Friends Quinn? Cast, Plot Details After a year-long absence, fans finally have a definite "Homeland" Season 6 release date to look forward to next year. Understandably, interest in the hit Showtime political thriller is picking up; fans want to know what happens to their favorite characters such as Carrie played by Claire Danes and Quinn, played by Rupert Friend, next season. 'Homeland' Season 6 Cast, Spoilers - Quinn Played By Rupert Friend, Survives Sarin Exposure One of the most critical questions asked by fans is the condition of Rupert Friend's character Quinn. It can be recalled that season 5 ended with Quinn's survival uncertain as he lies in a hospital bed after his exposure to sarin gas. Naturally, fans are asking if Quinn makes it to "Homeland" Season 6 air date next year. Finally, fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Quinn will definitely be around with the arrival of "Homeland" Season 6 release date this coming January. This confirmation was made by Alex Gansa, Executive Producer of the series, who affirmed that 'Quinn is alive, I can say that much," as reported by Access Hollywood. 'Homeland' Season Cast Injured But Won't Affect Season 6 Air Date In fact, Rupert Friend could be causing some disruption in the filing of "Homeland" Season 6. Apparently, the actor figure in some minor accident involving his right ankle reports Deadline. Fortunately, the showrunners found a way to continue filming the upcoming series by reshuffling schedules. As such, Friend's injury is not expected to make any changes on the upcoming "Homeland" Season 6 air date which is already slated to arrive this January. Quinn To Return A Changed Man In 'Homeland' Season 6 While Rupert Friend's character will survive, the sarin exposure will make him a changed man which will soon become evident with the arrival of "Homeland" Season 6 release date. According to Alex Gansa, "You're going to see a very changed and altered Quinn this year." The EP hinted that Quinn's brush with death as well as suffering a major stroke afterwards are some of the factors that will bring about changes to the character. Claire Danes's Carrie To Part Ways With Rupert Friend's Quinn In 'Homeland' Season 6? To fans, this spoiler might be a bit of a downer. But when "Homeland" Season 6 release date comes, Carrie, played by Claire Danes could be seeing less and less of Rupert Friend's Quinn. Last season, Carrie was asked to rejoin CIA, an offer which she already declined. In fact, fans will see Carrie be back in the mainland working for a private foundation when "Homeland" Season 6 air date, reports Movie Pilot. For this reason Claire Danes and Rupert Friend's characters will most likely be apart from each other next season. 'Homeland' Season 6 Air Date Fans will have to wait a little more before the next season commences. "Homeland" Season 6 release date is already slated this coming January 15, 2017 on Showtime. Stay tuned to GamenGuide for news and updates. Before Wendy Xu and Austin Whitesell started their first class of the new school year at Oregon State University, they worked in a lab to create a complex timetable for a research project to use robots to improve patient care during outbreaks of highly infectious diseases like Ebola. So, not your average first day of class. But Xu and Whitesell are in a program that OSU is hoping will also be far from average: its robotics graduate program. Wednesday marked the start of the programs second year, and the start of fall term at OSU. For graduate students, Xu said, the class is mostly about learning what they need to do their research, but officially starting the program represents both a challenge and opportunity for her. Xu came to the robotics program from a computer science background, in which she worked on human and computer interaction. At OSU she is transitioning to working in the field of human and robot interaction, which she said is a less developed field. Because you are a pioneer in a field, theres lots of opportunity to make a difference, she said. Xu said she chose pursuing a doctorate in the robotics program at OSU over a graduate program at University of California, Berkeley. Its interesting to see how many people are choosing this over name-brand programs, she said. Bill Smart, an associate professor of robotics and co-director of the robotics program, said OSU seeks to become a top-tier robotics program. Were never going to be (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), but weve made the decision to focus in a few areas that we can be really world-class in, like forestry and marine science, he said. Within engineering, he said, the focuses are disaster resiliency and robotics. And that focus may be paying off: In April the program was rated as the fourth-best robotics program by Grad School Hub. And Smart said the program already has the luxury of being choosy about applicants: It only accepts 5 percent of applicants. "Our students are as good as at any program in the world," he said. And Smart said OSU has been recruiting faculty members to match those students. He said some of the teachers in the program could be teaching at places like Stanford University or MIT. Smart said all the top robotics programs have niches in which they specalize. At OSU, he said, the niche is getting robots out into the real world. That often includes interactions with other departments, such as forestry or marine sciences, where robots can be used to collect data. Giving students the chance to work on projects that have real-world applications makes them better academics and gives them more marketable skills, Smart said. Because were doing things that matter, the stakes are higher, he said. He said while many people fear robots will replace human workers, they can be used to make work safer for people. As an example, he said the robotics program worked with a foundry in Portland, which now uses a robot to hold metal pieces in place while workers grind on them. By not having to move around 500-pound pieces of metal, the workers can avoid chronic injuries. And Smart said the fact of the matter is that robots are increasingly a part of our lives. Weve been saying for 30 to 50 yeas that robots are coming, he said. You can look around and people own robots weve got to the point where its not just an academic thing anymore. Smart said the robotics lab at OSU underwent a $1.3 million renovation last year. In addition, the lab spent about $2 million on various research projects. He thinks that figure eventually may settle out at about $10 million a year as junior faculty members begin to win larger research grants. The research projects in the program are wide-ranging, and include: A new version of a walking robot that extends some of the departments past research. An undersea robot that could operate autonomously for months. A robotic sensor to study how spiders locate things by tracing vibrations through their webs, which could eventually pave the way for a spider robot. A study on improving the ability of a robot to pick things it has never seen before by programming it with a database of thousands of crowd-sourced images of good and bad grips. An open-source and low-cost adapter that could be installed on power wheel chairs so that they could navigate to predetermined locations autonomously. Whitesell, who did his undergraduate degree at OSU before beginning his doctorate this fall, said he liked that the program gave him the opportunity to work on a research project he cared about. Its exciting to transition from a world of classes and grades to a world of research, he said. Perhaps you noticed the recent call for help from the man who runs the state's program to accredit marijuana labs: Gary Ward, who runs the Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, sent a letter to officials at the Oregon Health Authority that the program was "on the verge of collapse" because of increased workload and inadequate staffing. In response, the state borrowed staff from the Department of Environmental Quality and stopped all accreditation work involving out-of-state labs. But that's not at all the end of the story. More on that later. First, some background about why this accreditation work is important: Starting Oct. 1, new products headed to marijuana dispensaries will have to be tested at accredited labs. The testing standards are intended to address concerns over pesticide contamination, a big issue in states with legal pot markets. This backlog could become a major thorn in the side of the state's booming marijuana business. Despite the state's response to the backlog, Ward said it wasn't enough: As The Oregonian reported last week, Ward fired off another letter, in which he said, among other things, that the extra bodies from the Department of Environmental Quality lacked the necessary expertise to make much of a dent in the backlog. Ward also said the decision to stop testing out-of-state labs could have dire budget consequences for the program, since those labs pay a premium price for the accreditation work. In other words, the mess that broke out a couple of weeks ago still appears to be a mess. Legislators are watching carefully. As they gather this week for committee meetings in Salem, expect some of them to say that they've run out of patience with the Health Authority and to suggest that this accreditation program (and, potentially, others related to marijuana, such as medicinal pot) be shifted to the state's Oregon Liquor Control Commission. Rep. Andy Olson, the Albany Republican who serves on the joint committee that's been working over the last few years on legalized marijuana, is among the legislators who are leaning that way. In Olson's view, OLCC has done outstanding work in helping to develop the regulations that have guided Oregon in its experiment with recreational marijuana. And the Health Authority, he noted, just seems to be swamped. The entire incident helps to highlight a related point: The Legislature's committee overseeing marijuana issues (the official name, quite wonderfully, is the Joint Committee on Implementing Measure 91) has had plenty of work to keep it busy since the November 2014 statewide vote to legalize recreational pot. This blowup over the marijuana accreditation program suggests that plenty of work still remains. It's not clear yet whether the Legislature's leadership sees a need for the joint committee to continue with its work. The events of the last couple of weeks suggest that shutting down the committee now would be premature at best, and downright foolish at worst. India is witnessing an onset of a new trend. Increasingly Indians and not just non-resident Indians (NRIs) are looking towards making a property investment outside India. These buyers do not necessarily work in that particular country but are willing to own a house in the foreign shores. Lucrative property prices, relaxed government norms, higher return of investment (ROI), an organised sector, etc are some probable explanations propelling the outer flow of money. Both residential and commercial sectors are drawing plans to lure Indians into buying real estate assets in their country. Recently, His Excellency, Mahmood Al Hashemi, general manager of Ajman Free Zone in United Arab Emirates was in India inviting Indian companies to buy retail space in the zone which is strategically located at the doorway of Arabian Gulf, and positioned to serve both Eastern and Western markets. He said, With a large Indian diaspora residing in UAE and around the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), India and its business community is of strategic importance to us. True to what he mentioned, other countries, such as Singapore and Thailand are easing out the process of buying a property to make investment attractive to foreigners. Making investment lucrative As mentioned before, buyers residing in India are showing their keenness to invest abroad. Why should you invest? Here are the top reasons: Current property prices suggest that buying a house in an Indian metro city is similar to buying a house abroad. Therefore, there is no extra expenditure incurred if one buys in some foreign cities. Also, currency fluctuations give a boost to their investment value. Vimal Anand, director, International Real Estate Expo told Magicbricks, The returns of investing abroad are lucrative. Other than Central London which is very expensive, investing in markets like the UAE, Australia, Europe and the US are more or less like investing in Delhi and Mumbai. Real estate sector outside India is comparably more organised. They are governed by better practices. Anand further says, In a new development, developers adhere to timelines. They cant invest your money in another projects. The money you invest goes into an escrow account which ensures the project is completed on time. World over property is sold on carpet area unlike in India where you buy about 2000 sq ft but get only about 1400 sq ft of usable area. Earning more returns is one of the primary reasons behind buying a property anywhere. When the opportunity to gain higher profits outside India is more, then it is only natural that Indians would look at these shores for a property purchase. Rental returns in UAE is about 6 per cent unlike the 2 per cent in India. In addition, this income is tax-free. Relaxation of government norms makes it easier to buy a property outside the country. In Asia, no special clearance from the government is necessary. Apartments can be bought easily, with only an additional approval from the authorities. Ajit Krishnan, partner & sector leader - Infrastructure and Real Estate, Ernst & Young India told media that under the liberalised remittance scheme, a payment of $200,000 per financial year will allow Indians to own houses abroad. One can also acquire a property outside India by way of gift or inheritance from a person resident outside India. Property purchase minus heavy-duty paperwork His Excellency, Mahmood Al Hashemi says, We have a streamlined bureaucracy sans any red tape. The pricing is very competitive. There are usually no hidden fees or service charges." India seems to have warmed up to this idea. It is one of the top three trading partners of the UAE. According to data shared by Ajman Free Zone, out of over 17,000 registered companies, over 40 per cent are of Indian ownership. To make things more attractive, the entry cost being offered to Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs have been successfully met. There is also a provision for entrepreneurs looking to grow their business under strict budgets. Executive Office License have been designed to provide economies of scale. UAE easily scores over other countries in the preference charts as the distance from India is short. Over a journey of two and a half hours, visits to the investment destinations is feasible. If you can stretch your waiting period to 5-6 years for best returns on your investment, then do go ahead and look at properties outside. Magicbricks Bureau Korean Embassy : Korea Week in Bonn Bonn Its the second annual Korea Week in Bonn and an opportunity for people to learn about Korean culture. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken For the second time, the consulate of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, together with the City of Bonn, will host Korea Week. From Friday until Tuesday, interested persons can visit an array of events while getting to know the multi-faceted culture of Korea. On Saturday at 2 p.m., there will be demonstrations of traditional dance, music and Taekwando on a stage in front of the Alten Rathaus (Old City Hall). At the Stern movie theater on Markt 8, they will show The Admiral: Roaring Currents at 7 p.m. on Friday. It is the most successful Korean production up to date. A music drama, Cest Si Bon will be shown on Saturday at 5 p.m. as well as a portrait of poet Yun Dong-ju (7:15 p.m.). Those wishing to attend the film days are asked to please register per e-mail at: koreawoche2016@gmail.com Asia chain : Asian restaurant to open in residential building on the Rhine Bonn An Asian sushi, wok and grill restaurant plans to move into the empty commercial space at Rheinlogen residential building. Its been a bumpy road for the rental space. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken It was suppose to be a premier building, bringing new life and adding value to the area at the Rhine between the Kennedy Bridge and Altem Zoll. Finished in 2012, it was considered as leading the way in bringing renewal to that part of the city. All 77 apartments have been sold and are occupied. But the commercial space looks pretty empty even after four years. An organic food bar moved out after a few years. Then came a planned ice cream cafe turned bar which caught the attention of police and public order officials. According to city deputy spokesperson, Marc Hoffman, the license had to be taken away many times. The owners began to operate a shisha bar there without permission and without any proper ventilation. There was also no permit for outside seating. Since the building was completed, the 750 square meters intended for a restaurant has stood empty. Mehdi F. Zadeh administers the realty for his brother-in-law who lives in Tehran. He did not want to name the owner but said he was a school book publisher in the Middle East. Zadeh used to run the Limao bar in Bad Godesberg. Today, he runs the real estate firm Deede 3 on Brudergasse. Zadeh reports that he has had a renter for the commercial space for some time already. The Asian restaurant chain, Yangtse, which is already in Cologne and Hochheim, wishes to open a sushi, wok and grill restaurant there. The owner Meifeng Peng, born in Bonn, had been looking for an upscale place to open the restaurant in her hometown. Guests should be able to order from iPads at their tables. She also wants to offer outdoor seating with permission from the city. There are several reasons why an opening of the new restaurant has not happened yet. Apparently, the restaurant was not in the initial building permit so another application had to be filed, costing time and money. There was also conflict about a big fan installed on the roof, and fire safety standards still have to be approved. When these are approved in the coming weeks, then the restaurant could open. Zadeh did not want to name any dates, however, Ive been surprised too many times, he commented. Salafist Koran distribution : Police and the city say their hands are tied Bonn Bonn police and city officials say they are powerless to stop the Salafist campaign Lies as long as no crimes have been committed. Meanwhile, extremism is on the rise. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Burkhard Freier, head of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) Constitution Protection, indicated that all the bigger cities in the state, including Bonn were working together with the NRW Interior Ministry to find a way to prevent some of the Lies (Read) Koran distribution events from taking place. City of Bonn spokesperson, Monika Horig said that with regard to Bonn, this could not be confirmed. From a legal standpoint, it is very difficult to prevent the Salafist sponsored campaign. As long as they dont openly recruit for a terrorist group such as the Islamic State (IS) during their distribution campaign, glorify such a terrorist group or their acts, or collect donations to support a terrorist group, the city cannot withhold a permit. For every Lies event, they must apply for a permit, and they are granted one every time. It would be different if fighters were being recruited or punishable crimes were being committed during the Koran distribution events, but the city and police say they are not aware of any such cases. Islamist Ibrahim Abou Nagie, who now lives in Bonn, and Said El-Emrani who grew up in Bonn are behind the Lies campaign and also the group, Die Wahre Religion (The True Religion). This group has 177,038 likes on Facebook and this number is on the rise. It shows that group members are handing out free Korans nearly every Saturday in Bonn city center, in Tannenbusch or in Bad Godesberg. Security officials are concerned about the growing extremist Salafist scene in Germany. It typically attracts young Muslims, mainly men, who reject democracy and fight against it. The number of extremists has grown in the last three years from 5,500 to 9,200. The same hotspot in Earths mantle that feeds Icelands active volcanoes has been playing a trick on the scientists who are trying to measure how much ice is melting on nearby Greenland. According to a new study in the journal Science Advances, the hotspot softened the mantle rock beneath Greenland in a way that ultimately distorted their calculations for ice loss in the Greenland ice sheet. This caused them to underestimate the melting by about 20 gigatons (20 billion metric tons) per year. That means Greenland did not lose about 2,500 gigatons of ice from 2003-2013 as scientists previously thought, but nearly 2,700 gigatons instead a 7.6 percent difference, said study co-author Michael Bevis of The Ohio State University. Its a fairly modest correction, said Bevis, the Ohio Eminent Scholar in Geodynamics, professor of earth sciences at Ohio State and leader of GNET, the Greenland GPS Network. It doesnt change our estimates of the total mass loss all over Greenland by that much, but it brings a more significant change to our understanding of where within the ice sheet that loss has happened, and where it is happening now. The Earths crust in that part of the world is slowly moving northwest, he explained, and 40 million years ago, parts of Greenland passed over an especially hot column of partially molten rock that now lies beneath Iceland. The hotspot softened the rock in its wake, lowering the viscosity of the mantle rocks along a path running deep below the surface of Greenlands east coast. During the last ice age, Greenlands ice sheet was much larger than now, and its enormous weight caused Greenlands crust to slowly sink into the softened mantle rock below. When large parts of the ice sheet melted at the end of the ice age, the weight of the ice sheet decreased, and the crust began to rebound. It is still rising, as mantle rock continues to flow inwards and upwards beneath Greenland. The existence of mantle flow beneath Greenland is not a surprise in itself, Bevis said. When the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites began measuring gravity signals around the world in 2002, scientists knew they would have to separate mass flow beneath the earths crust from changes in the mass of the overlying ice sheet. GRACE measures mass, period. It cannot tell the difference between ice mass and rock mass. So, inferring the ice mass change from the total mass change requires a model of all the mass flows within the earth. If that model is wrong, so is the ice mass change inferred from GRACE, he explained. Models of this rock flow depend on what researchers can glean about the viscosity of the mantle. The original models assumed a fairly typical mantle viscosity, but Greenlands close encounter with the Iceland hot spot greatly changed the picture. To the GNET team, the 7.6 percent discrepancy in overall ice loss is overshadowed by the fact that it concealed which parts of the ice sheet are most being affected by climate change. The new results reveal that the pattern of modern ice loss is similar to that which has prevailed since the end of the last ice age. This result is a detail, but it is an important detail, Bevis continued. By refining the spatial pattern of mass loss in the worlds second largest and most unstable ice sheet, and learning how that pattern has evolved, we are steadily increasing our understanding of ice loss processes, which will lead to better-informed projections of sea level rise. Computer models can give a good estimate of mantle flow and crustal uplift, he said, and GNETs mission is to make those models better by providing direct observations of present-day crustal motion. Thats why the GNET team includes GRACE scientists and earth modelers as well as GPS experts and glaciologists. The team used GPS to measure uplift in the crust all along Greenlands coast. Thats when they discovered that two neighboring stations on the east coast were uplifting far more rapidly than standard models had predicted. We did not expect to see the anomalous uplift rates at the two stations that sit on the track of the Iceland hot spot, Bevis said. We were shocked when we first saw them. Only afterwards did we make the connection. He added that the discovery holds big implications for measuring ice loss elsewhere in the world. For instance, GNET has a sister network, ANET, that spans West Antarctica. It employs roughly similar numbers of GPS stations, but spread out over a vastly larger area. Unless more stations are added to ANET, anomalous rates of uplift may go undetected, Bevis cautioned, and analyses of GRACE data will lead to inaccurate estimates of ice loss in Antarctica. The authors of the paper included Shfaquat A. Khan and Per Knudsen of the Technical University of Denmark; Ingo Sasgen and Veit Helm of the Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research; Tonie van Dam of the University of Luxembourg; Jonathan L. Bamber of the University of Bristol; John Wahr (now deceased) of the University of Colorado; Michael Willis of Cornell University; Kurt H. Kjaer and Anders A. Bjork of the University of Copenhagen; Bert Wouters and Peter Kuipers Munneke of Utrecht University; Beata Csatho of the University at Buffalo; Kevin Fleming of the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences; and Andy Aschwanden of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. GNET is an increasingly international project led by the USA, Denmark and Luxembourg. It is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and by the governments of the partner nations. Reference: Shfaqat A. Khan, Ingo Sasgen, Michael Bevis, Tonie Van Dam, Jonathan L. Bamber, John Wahr,, Michael Willis, Kurt H. Kjr, Bert Wouters, Veit Helm, Beata Csatho, Kevin Fleming, Anders A. Bjrk, Andy Aschwanden, Per Knudsen and Peter Kuipers Munneke. Geodetic measurements reveal similarities between postLast Glacial Maximum and present-day mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet. Science Advances, 2016 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1600931 Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Ohio State University. The original item was written by Pam Frost Gorder. Article Protecting the worlds oceans an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs. Buhari's Driver Allegedly Finds & Returns Missing Money To Authorities In Saudi Arabia bohlah at 22-09-2016 06:32 AM (6 years ago) (m) According to Facebook user Buhari Sallau who shared the story, President Buhari's official driver, Sa'idu Afaka, found a bag containing huge sums of foreign currencies that someone misplaced and returned it to the proper authorities. According to Facebook user Buhari Sallau who shared the story, President Buhari's official driver, Sa'idu Afaka, found a bag containing huge sums of foreign currencies that someone misplaced and returned it to the proper authorities. Read according to the source below... "PRESIDENT BUHARI'S DRIVER FOUND MISSING MONEY IN SAUDI ARABIA AND TENDERED TO AUTHORITY! Impressively, I am proud to report that Staff Sergeant Sa'idu Afaka being the Official driver of President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently undergoing Hajj operation in Mecca, Saudi Arabia has found a bag containing huge sums of foreign notes including US Dollars and Saudi Riyals that got missing from someone. When Afaka realized it was money, he quickly looked for authorities and submitted the bag to the Hajj Commission located at Ummul Jud in the city of Mecca and demands they should please look for the owner. It was when he brought the money to the authorities that they all realized that there was an International Passport of the owner of the money. WOW! CHANGE IS TRULY HERE AND THIS IS COMMENDABLE!" Read according to the source below..."PRESIDENT BUHARI'S DRIVER FOUND MISSING MONEY IN SAUDI ARABIA AND TENDERED TO AUTHORITY!WOW! CHANGE IS TRULY HERE AND THIS IS COMMENDABLE!" Post Reply I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist Posted: at 22-09-2016 06:32 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero Wazubia at 22-09-2016 06:40 AM (6 years ago) (m) And so what? Make him return the one oga has been sharing, and giving him also. Posted: at 22-09-2016 06:40 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac And so what? Make him return the one oga has been sharing, and giving him also. Reply diutopep at 22-09-2016 07:06 AM (6 years ago) (f) A good citizen though! But I don't think dis one is in connection to Buhari's negative change ...poster! Posted: at 22-09-2016 07:06 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac A good citizen though! But I don't think dis one is in connection to Buhari's negative change ...poster! Reply kayveetee at 22-09-2016 07:07 AM (6 years ago) (m) I logged in, I read & I commented... 9ice one. No be every time them go dey hear our name 4 bad thing. Posted: at 22-09-2016 07:07 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac I logged in, I read & I commented... 9ice one. No be every time them go dey hear our name 4 bad thing. Reply winace at 22-09-2016 07:50 AM (6 years ago) (f) Good for him. Dat money can not leave Saudi anyway cus if he try it at all. Na death by hanging. Trust them there. Its either u return d money or die. Posted: at 22-09-2016 07:50 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero Good for him. Dat money can not leave Saudi anyway cus if he try it at all. Na death by hanging. Trust them there. Its either u return d money or die. Reply kswagger at 22-09-2016 08:33 AM (6 years ago) (m) So make we dey run or clap for him? Dr Prince ken,omoba Ijebuode Posted: at 22-09-2016 08:33 AM (6 years ago) | Upcoming So make we dey run or clap for him? Reply sandler at 22-09-2016 09:03 AM (6 years ago) (m) WASTED GENERATION Posted: at 22-09-2016 09:03 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac WASTED GENERATION Reply odegbalegu at 22-09-2016 09:05 AM (6 years ago) (m) arrangee Posted: at 22-09-2016 09:05 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac arrangee Reply bashoo8888 at 22-09-2016 09:22 AM (6 years ago) (m) Goood samaritan.. That'z what i want heare Posted: at 22-09-2016 09:22 AM (6 years ago) | Upcoming Goood samaritan.. That'z what i want heare Reply gogoman at 22-09-2016 09:25 AM (6 years ago) (m) @FREETHINKER IF NA U SEE THAT KIND MONEY I KNOW WETIN U GO DO Posted: at 22-09-2016 09:25 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero @FREETHINKER IF NA U SEE THAT KIND MONEY I KNOW WETIN U GO DO Reply AmazingMarie at 22-09-2016 10:20 AM (6 years ago) (f) good example to other to follow. Posted: at 22-09-2016 10:20 AM (6 years ago) | Hero good example to other to follow. Reply ruthie at 22-09-2016 11:04 AM (6 years ago) (f) we hear Posted: at 22-09-2016 11:04 AM (6 years ago) | Hero we hear Reply emytex74 at 22-09-2016 11:32 AM (6 years ago) (m) Poster the thing happened in Saudi Arabia n not in Nigeria so nothing concern change for this matter Posted: at 22-09-2016 11:32 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac Poster the thing happened in Saudi Arabia n not in Nigeria so nothing concern change for this matter Reply anitajoseph at 22-09-2016 12:04 PM (6 years ago) (f) USELESS SET OF PEOPLE SO YOU WANTS ME TO CLAB ABI? IN YOUR DREAMS Posted: at 22-09-2016 12:04 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac USELESS SET OF PEOPLESO YOU WANTS ME TO CLAB ABI?IN YOUR DREAMS Reply oluyemibanjoko at 22-09-2016 01:01 PM (6 years ago) (m) Why won't he? The money is probably a pittance compared to what he gets daily from his boss Posted: at 22-09-2016 01:01 PM (6 years ago) | Newbie Why won't he? The money is probably a pittance compared to what he gets daily from his boss Reply tweetynene at 22-09-2016 04:11 PM (6 years ago) (f) This one sabi body.....nice1 Posted: at 22-09-2016 04:11 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac This one sabi body.....nice1 Reply kison at 23-09-2016 04:40 AM (6 years ago) (m) EVERYTHING NA NEWS FOR GISTMANIA,,POSTER BE careful, be very very careful, CAREFULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE STATE OF NIGERIA ECONOMY HOW? Posted: at 23-09-2016 04:40 AM (6 years ago) | Hero EVERYTHING NA NEWS FOR GISTMANIA,,POSTER BE careful, be very very careful, CAREFULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. 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It is available at Rs. 13,549 on Amazon India with 25% off as well. You can get your order in a day with Amazon Prime as well. Click Here For New Laptops Best Online Deals Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier Those who habitually put items in their recycling bins that don't belong there are the target of the ordinance amendment, not those who make an occasional, accidental mistake, said Public Works Director Jeff Demers. Deputy Secretary Discusses Third Offset, First Organizational Construct By Cheryl Pellerin DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2016 The Defense Department's technological and organizational leaps over the decades have been characterized as strategies to offset or overcome the conventional strengths of potential adversaries. DoD is now in the throes of the Third Offset Strategy, according to defense officials, and today Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work explained the offset's main elements -- and discussed its first organizational construct -- to an audience at the Air Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber conference in National Harbor, Maryland. "Offset strategies are not about technology per se," Work said. "... [They're] about technologically enabled operational and organizational constructs that [give] the joint force an advantage -- primarily at the operational level of war, but also the tactical -- thereby strengthening conventional deterrence. And we're starting to see examples of both." JICSpOC The Third Offset's first organizational construct is the Air Force's Joint Interagency Combined Space Operations Center, or JICSpOC, he said, at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado. JICSpOC went live in October 2015 as collaboration among U.S. Strategic Command, the National Reconnaissance Office, the Air Force Space Command, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the intelligence community and commercial data providers, according to the Stratcom website. In January the center held a tour for distinguished visitors who included Stratcom Commander Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney and senior defense officials. Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited the center in May. Work said JICSpOC "is designed to perform battle management and command and control of a space constellation under threat of attack. It has to fight through those attacks and provide the space support that the joint force relies upon." He added, "We've never had something like that before because we've never needed something like that before but it is the first step in the Third Offset to start to readdress and to extend our margin of operational superiority." After his visit, Carter described space as a domain that must be the province of warfighters and not just engineers. "JICSpOC is about combining the operators with the space community -- the DoD space community and the intelligence community, which operates very important space systems," Carter said. " What the JICSpOC is doing is asking itself how we would change the way [the Global Positioning System] operated if the GPS constellation came under threat or attack, electromagnetic or physical attack." Offsetting What? As early as 2012, Work said, DoD started thinking about a Third Offset Strategy simply to restore the margin of operational and tactical advantage that underwrites conventional deterrence. In response to the question, "Offsetting what?" the deputy secretary makes a list. "Most of our combat power is in the United States. We no longer have large concentrations of forces in theaters [where] they might fight [giving] our potential adversaries an initial advantage in time and space and probably numbers," he said. Second, great-power competitors now have achieved rough guided-munitions parity with the United States, something the nation hasn't had to deal with in quite some time, Work added. Third, he said, adversaries "know how important and how powerful our networks are so they spend an awful lot of money to pay for counter-network technologies such as electronic warfare, cyber and counter-space because they know how central the space constellation was to the second offset" in the 1970s to the 1990s. AI and Autonomy Achieving the Third Offset depends on taking the advice of the Defense Science Board, whose members surveyed a range of technologies and determined that improving the battle network's performance meant exploiting advances in artificial intelligence and autonomy, allowing the joint force to assemble and operate advanced joint collaborative human-machine battle networks of even greater power, Work said. "We believe strongly that this will help restore the margin of operational superiority and strengthen conventional deterrence," he added. The five key technologies described by the deputy defense secretary are as follows: -- Learning machines; -- Human-machine collaboration, which Work said means using advanced computers and visualization to help people make faster, better and more relevant decisions; -- Assisted human operations, which means plugging every pilot, soldier, sailor and Marine into the battle network; -- Human-machine combat teaming, creating new ways for manned and unmanned platforms to operate; and -- Network-enabled autonomous weapons, he said, all connected on a learning command, control, communications and intelligence, or C3I, network. "We believe this vision is very well-matched for an evolving era of technological dynamism as well as warfare where challenges are multidomain and multifunctional and operations -- especially cyber, electronic warfare and guided-munition salvos -- move at high speeds," Work said. "These speeds are going to shrink the human-based [observe, orient, decide and act] loop and we're going to have to go after these technologies to fight fire with fire and buy back the time for our [people] to make decisions that will allow us to prevail at the tactical and operational levels of war," he added. Emerging Constructs Work said that new operational constructs are emerging not only from the Air Force but from the Army and the Navy. The Army's new operational construct is the concept of multidomain battle, he said, and the Navy has introduced an idea called electromagnetic maneuver. In an introduction to a 2016 Naval War College Review reading posted to the Army Capabilities Integration Center website, Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, deputy commanding general-futures at the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, wrote that multidomain battle is cross-domain operations in the context of joint combined arms maneuver that creates temporary windows of superiority across multiple domains, and allows joint forces to seize, retain and exploit the initiative. An unclassified briefing called A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower presented in March 2015 characterized electromagnetic maneuver as the Navy's warfighting approach to gaining military advantage in the electromagnetic spectrum, or EMS, to enable freedom of action across all Navy mission areas. The approach would let the Navy understand and control signatures, command the EMS as critical maneuver space, and use the EMS to deliver integrated fires, according to the briefing. To the Air Force, the deputy secretary described a specific area where airmen could naturally help advance third offset thinking and serve the joint force. "We need ideas about how to connect sensing and effect grids through a command and control grid that is multidomain, multifunctional and coalition friendly," Work said. "We need Air Force thinkers to expand the idea of the [combined air operations center] and think in terms of building a joint learning C3I network that can mesh operations across domains, across functions, with allies and sometimes across regions," he added. "All have the potential to once again transform the way the joint force fights," Work said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Must Maintain Strongest Military in World, Dunford Tells Airmen By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2016 Any discussion about the U.S. military has to start with the fact that today the force is unrivaled in the world, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Air Force Association's annual meeting this morning. "The joint force -- to include your Air Force -- is the most capable, professional military force in the world," Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford said. "We can defend the nation. We can meet our alliance responsibilities, and I'm confident that we can maintain a competitive advantage over any potential adversary." Military Not Broken The United States military is not broken," Dunford said. "It is not at a competitive disadvantage," he said. "And I say this fully knowing that all the services are feeling the effects of the unstable fiscal environment we've been in the past few years." The Air Force has been hit particularly hard by this as the service has not had a break in operations since before Operation Desert Storm, the chairman said. The services still have personnel in certain specialties doing one-to-one deployments, Dunford said. He saw it most recently with pararescuemen in Djibouti and aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Barry in Japan. These deployments put tremendous stress on service members, their families, their equipment, their training cycles and so on, the chairman said. "There are associated trends with that [operations tempo] and that fiscal environment that absolutely concern me," he said. Pilot Shortage The Air Force has a shortage of pilots, Dunford said, and equipment across the board is showing signs of wear and tear. Readiness challenges have been exacerbated by delays in some of the major programs like the F-35 Lightning II and in the nuclear enterprise, he noted. "So I understand that we can't be complacent about today's competitive advantage," the chairman said. "We have to restore our readiness. And that means recruiting and retaining the right number of high-quality people, modernizing the force, delivering quality training, and catching up on the maintenance of some of our infrastructure that has been neglected for many years." This will be tough, he said, and all service members are going to have to look for and put in place innovations that will keep the U.S. military the most capable force in the world. Joint Readiness "In the end, we have to develop and maintain what I describe as comprehensive joint readiness," the chairman said. "And for me, this is actually the deliverable for all of us in the joint force. We have got to deliver viable military operations to the national command authority during a crisis or a contingency, and we have got to maintain the flexibility to be able to transition from one crisis or contingency to another across the range of military operations." This will be his focus in his remaining time as chairman, Dunford said. As a construct, DoD will use the four-plus-one threat matrix to build the force, he said. This means planning for the threats posed by Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, and the threat of extremist terrorists. "If we take a look at those four plus one, and we build joint capabilities and capacities that can deal with the challenges associated with those four plus one or some combination thereof, in the future we will find ourselves with a competitive advantage against any adversary," the general said. The United States must address the capabilities associated with these threats, the chairman said. "We look at the current capabilities they have, we look at their organizational structure, when we look at the scenarios under which we might find ourselves confronting those four plus one, I think we'll be close to getting it right, even with a recognition that where we fight in the future may not have anything to do with those four plus one if past is prologue," he said. The bottom line for service members is that leaders want to ensure that no American "soldier, sailor, airman or Marine ever finds themselves in a fair fight," Dunford said. "That's what this discussion and dialogue is about: We maintain that competitive advantage in the future." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Middle Class North Koreans Living High Life Despite International Sanctions Sputnik News 21:06 21.09.2016(updated 21:09 21.09.2016) North Korea is undergoing economic reforms that have resulted in a blossoming middle class, Professor Andrey Lankov, an expert in Korean affairs at Seoul's Kookmin University, told Sputnik Japan. North Korea has taken steps to improve its economy and a middle class is beginning to emerge despite sanctions, Professor Andrey Lankov of Kookmin University in Seoul told Sputnik Japan. On Monday the Foreign Ministers of the US, Japan and South Korea met in New York, where the UN General Assembly took place last week, and agreed a joint statement condemning North Korea's nuclear testing. Pyongyang conducted its latest nuclear test on September 9, reportedly the biggest yet. After the response by the US, Japan and South Korea, a joint call for countries to effectively implement sanctions against North Korea, Pyongyang responded with an announcement that it had carried out a "successful" ground test of a new rocket engine to launch satellites. Professor Andrey Lankov, an expert in Korean affairs at Seoul's Kookmin University, told Sputnik Japan that while developing the country's military capabilities has led to international sanctions, Kim Jong-un has carried out some market-oriented reforms that have allowed a North Korean middle class to prosper. Lankov said that "North Korea is still a poor country by any standards," and data Pyongyang reports to the UN shows that one-quarter of the population doesn't have enough food during spring. However, Pyongyang may exaggerate its reporting of economic difficulties in order to receive more international aid. "Whether that's true or not, there isn't famine, and there is even some economic growth. Changes are taking place and while there is not word of reform, only agricultural reform, they are visible," Lankov said. "The reforms are working, life is getting better and there are already a lot of private cars in the country. There are even traffic jams in Pyongyang sometimes, and there is a construction boom everywhere. As a result, property prices are rising. Elite apartments in Pyongyang can cost up to $200,000, although that's an exception. A nice apartment in the North Korean capital costs $70-$90,000." "There are rumors, I have heard them from too many different people to ignore them, that Kim Jong-un has given a secret instruction not to ask questions about the origin of funds if someone is planning to invest large sums in an apartment or business." "We have noted that Kim Jong-un has not issued any law or regulation prohibiting private business. This is a commercial 'gray area' which began to flourish when the new leader came to power, though officially it doesn't exist," Lankov explained. The country's burgeoning middle class is the beneficiary of the reforms implemented by the North Korean leader since he succeeded his father as leader in 2011. However, their good fortune could still be cut short by the authorities. "The North Korean middle class is doing great. They live well and eat in private restaurants, they have apartments and there is apparently even an unwritten rule not to touch them. However, all their possessions could be confiscated at any time, they could be arrested, because the unwritten rule is still unwritten," Lankov said. The economic improvements come despite international sanctions in response to Pyongyang's nuclear testing. These include the freezing of financial assets, an arms embargo, export ban and inspection of all cargo entering and leaving the country. The country has been subjected to five sets of UN sanctions since it conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, and the latest set was announced by the UN Security Council in March, following a nuclear test in March this year. On September 9 North Korea announced it had successfully tested a nuclear warhead in its fifth nuclear test, conducted on the country's National Day. South Korea estimated the test to be Pyongyang's biggest-ever, with a yield equivalent to ten kilotons of TNT. "Our nuclear scientists staged a nuclear explosion test on a newly developed nuclear warhead at the country's northern nuclear test site," a North Korean TV announcer said. "Our party sent a congratulatory message to our nuclear scientists for conducting the successful nuclear warhead explosion test," she said. North Korea has also recently received international condemnation for testing ballistic missiles. On September 5 Seoul reported its northern neighbor had fired three ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Rouhani urges all parties to observe JCPOA implementation IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency New York, Sept 21, IRNA -- President Hassan Rouhani urged all parties to stay committed to the precise and timely implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Iranian President made the remarks on Tuesday night local time (Wednesday morning Tehran time) in a meeting with the British Prime Minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the 71st United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. He referred to the JCPOA as a great development which could be used as a role model in tackling basic problems and fundamental differences. The President noted that Iran has been completely faithful to its JCPOA commitments and would continue to do so as long as the other parties involved in the landmark nuclear agreement stayed committed to their obligations as well. Iran and the world six major powers (US, Russia, Britain, China, France and Germany) signed a historic nuclear deal in July 2015 ending more than a decade of nuclear disputes between the two sides. The implementation day of the agreement was January 16, 2016. According to the JCPOA, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program and provide enhanced access to international atomic monitors. The other sides have in return committed to terminating all nuclear-related sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) against Iran. President Rouhani stressed that other parties could not claim to be faithful to their promises while certain problems in banking and insurance areas were still not solved. Noting that European governments have to ensure big European banks for cooperating with Iran, President Rouhani stressed, 'London can take the major step to this end.' Expressing happiness over the improving relations between Tehran and London over the past few years, he said the two countries could 'overcome negative historical impressions through cooperation built on the bases of common interests and mutual respect.' Touching upon the sensitive conditions in the Middle East region, President Rouhani stressed, 'Sophisticated regional problems could be settled only through diplomatic solutions.' He went on to voice Iran's readiness to cooperate with the European Union including the UK as well as regional countries to promote security and stability in the Middle East especially in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Meanwhile, the British premier voiced satisfaction over the growing political and economic relations between the two countries recently and said she supported upgrading of bilateral relations in all possible areas. Noting that London would continue its support for the JCPOA, Prime Minister May stressed the need for all parties to stay committed to their obligations. She further noted that London is lobbying with all JCPOA parties to tackle the existing banking and insurance problems to facilitate Iran's access to economic opportunities. London is preparing to send a big banking delegation to Tehran for technical purposes, the British Prime Minister added. President Rouhani is currently in New York to attend the 71st annual meeting of the UN General Assembly. He is also to address the Assembly. Prior to his visit to New York, the President paid an official visit to Cuba, where he met and conferred with his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro and Cuban revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro respectively. President Rouhani's visit to Cuba took place on the second leg of his tour to two Latin American countries. On the first leg of his tour, he went to Venezuela where he addressed the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement which was held on September 17-18. 1424**1394 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Najafi: Iran is not satisfied with conduct of parties to JCPOA IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Vienna, Sept 21, IRNA -- Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi said on Wednesday that Iran is not satisfied with conduct of the parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Najafi said that the JCPOA has required the two parties to take reciprocal actions for the settlement of the nuclear dispute and that the other parties to the nuclear accord failed to honor commitments to the sound implementation of the JCPOA. Elaborating on the IAEA Board of Governors held on Wednesday, he said that the Board of Governors attributed short time to statements about the JCPOA made by the delegates compared to the former meetings over the past several years. He said that majority of the delegates supported the JCPOA and some others made reservations about the Board of Governors report about JCPOA demanding further details about. 'We stated in our statement and the report released by IAEA indicated that the Islamic Republic of Iran has fully carried out its commitments and made advances with enrichment program and producing heavy water in the context of JCPOA,' he said. Based on the IAEA Safeguards Agreement and Article V of the Additional Protocol, the IAEA is obliged to preserve the information as concealed and it has been stipulated by the JCPOA that all information gained through inspections should be protected and kept as classified, Najafi said. He dismissed allegations made by the Israeli representative to the Board of Governors, saying that Tel Aviv regime failed to respect the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the International Conventions including the comprehensive ban on weapons of mass destruction and open up the nuclear sites to the IAEA. He said that as usual representative of the Israeli regime made repetitive statement and was given due response. In fact, the fabricated regime hid its nuclear sites from the international inspection posing major threat to the international peace and security and that of the Middle East, Najafi said. 1430**1416 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran marks Sacred Defense Week with military parades Iran Press TV Wed Sep 21, 2016 5:10AM Various divisions of Iran's Armed Forces are holding annual military parades on the first day of the Sacred Defense Week, which marks the 36th anniversary of the eight-year Iraqi war on Iran. The parade in Tehran, held in an area near the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, features military units from the Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as well as the Police Force. Similar rallies were also held in other Iranian provinces to commemorate the occasion. During the parade in southern Tehran, Iranian Armed Forces showcased their latest achievements in the area of defense, including various missile defense systems. Among the military equipment showcased during the event was the S-300 missile defense system as well the domestically-built Emad ballistic missile successfully test-fired in October. Units of the Army's ground forces also put on display a series of defense hardware, including a new generation of the Zolfaghar battle tanks, the Fajr rocket-launching vehicles and the Kia'an 120mm self-propelled guns. Meanwhile, Iran's southern waters near the port city of Bandar Abbas have also been the scene of another large-scale naval parade featuring 500 vessels, submarines, fighter jets and helicopters. During a military parade by ground forces in Bandar Abbas, Iran's state-of-the-art Zolfaghar missile defense system was unveiled. Zolfaghar is a multiple reentry vehicle (MRV) missile capable of carrying several warheads. It is the latest generation of Iran's long-range missiles and can carry out precision-strikes against targets on the ground and airport tarmacs. In late September 1980, the regime of slain Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein launched a war against Iran. Iran holds a military parade every year to honor the martyrs of the eight-year war imposed by the former regime in Baghdad. Head of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri has delivered a speech at the event in place of President Hassan Rouhani, who is currently in New York to attend the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly. 'Enemies cannot catch Iran off-guard' In his address, Major General Baqeri said the Sacred Defense Week is a reminder of the Iranian nation's bravery in the face of an enemy that failed to achieve its goals in a war that it waged 36 years ago with the backing of Western and Eastern powers. Enemies masterminded the eight-year offensive against Iran to bring the country to its knees, but that turned into a "strategic opportunity" for the nation and the establishment to display their capabilities in defending their independence and the ideals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. "During the Sacred Defense, our soldiers learned how to stand on their own feet under sanctions," said the senior commander, adding that "the preparedness of Iran's Armed Forces is currently at a satisfactory level." He further said the strategies and defense plans of Iran's Armed Forces have been designed in compliance with the country's internal and external security as well as its ability to give a timely response to enemy threats. Major General Baqeri further said Iran's military achievements are aimed at strengthening its defense might, adding that the country's "military tests and maneuvers will continue as scheduled, and will not be suspended or postponed under any circumstances." Iranian Armed Forces are "closely and precisely monitoring all enemy's moves in the region," said the senior military official, emphasizing that the country is "capable of foiling the attempts of regional and extra-regional enemies." He said enemies fear Iran's defense power and "that is why they seek to pile pressure on the resistance front by purchasing large amounts of weapons as well as training and supporting terrorists." The ultimate goal of the United States, the Zionist regime and their supporters in launching proxy wars "is to destroy the infrastructure of Muslim states," he stated. The senior commander described Iranians as a "peace-seeking" nation, saying the Islamic Republic has never initiated any war against any country throughout its history. Armed Forces, 'Iran's iron fist against enemies' Addressing the event in Bandar Abbas, IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari advised the Americans against wasting their people's resources on boosting their "mischievous presence" in the Persian Gulf. Jafari said the Armed Forces will be "the Iranian nation's iron fist in the face of enemies," adding, "This is our home, and we are highly sensitive vis-a-vis the enemies wandering around our home." The senior commander slammed the United States for its "unprofessional conduct" in the region, saying the Americans' "unbalanced behavior and lack of intelligence command" come at considerable cost to the US and other states. The Islamic Republic has proved to be qualified for controlling and protecting the security of this sensitive and strategic region, said Jafari, stressing that the Iranian Armed Forces are doing their best to boost their capabilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqis will be ready for Mosul ops in early October: US general Iran Press TV Wed Sep 21, 2016 3:23PM US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford says preparations for a long-anticipated operation by Iraqi forces to retake the militant-held city of Mosul will be finished in a matter of days. Dunford said during a military event in Washington on Wednesday that Iraq would be ready by early next month to attack the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the major city, which is the last important urban spot under the control of the group in northern Iraq. "We assess today that the Iraqis will have in early October all the forces ... that are necessary for operations in Mosul," Dunford said, adding, "Timing of that operation now is really just a function of a political decision by Prime Minister (Haider al-)Abadi." For months, Iraq has been preparing for the assault on Daesh in Mosul, the country's second largest city which slipped into the hands of the terrorists in the summer of 2014. Government forces have managed to recapture all the other places that Daesh had seized, with the last major one being the city of Fallujah, about 50 kilometers west of the capital Baghdad, which was liberated in late June. The operation for Mosul is highly significant as estimates say about half of the city's pre-war population of two million still remain there. Daesh, based on intelligence information, has between 4,000 and 5,000 terrorists in the city, making the situation more complicated. Dunford claimed that the United States and its allies, which have been carrying out airstrikes against purported Daesh positions in Iraq and neighboring Syria over the past two years, would spare no efforts in helping the Iraqis in the battle. Washington has thousands of soldiers remaining on the Iraqi soil nearly 14 years after the US invasion of Iraq. Iraq, however, has mostly relied on its army and volunteer fighters in the previous anti-Daesh operations. The Kurdish Peshmerga fighters will also join the Mosul operation from the north of the city. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq Claims 180,000 Internally Displaced Have Returned Home By Edward Yeranian September 21, 2016 Iraqi officials say tens of thousands of refugees from several parts of the country, including Anbar and Salahedin provinces, have returned to their homes after Islamic State militants were pushed out of large swathes of territory by Iraqi government forces and Shi'ite volunteer militiamen earlier this year. Iraqi media showed video of dozens of people returning to Anbar province's second largest city of Fallujah. Families that were forced to leave the city during fighting to expel Islamic State militants earlier this year are starting to trickle back in, albeit under extremely close government scrutiny. Names were being examined closely at a government security facility at the only entrance to the city. Fallujah police chief Colonel Latif Jamal told Arab media his forces were just doing their job. He said that security measures are imposed temporarily until law and order is restored in the city and that security personnel are doing their jobs and are imposing the law fairly, on everyone. The chief of the refugee return department at the Iraqi Ministry of Emigration and Displaced People, Hamoudi Mahjoub, indicated Tuesday 180,000 people had returned to their homes since their areas were cleared of IS. VOA could not independently confirm the figure. Skepticism over motives But many residents in the town of Habaniya east of the Anbar capital of Ramadi, complain that nothing works. A middle-aged merchant said many residents of Habaniya have returned, despite false promises and exaggerated claims by the government, and they have paid the price for the ongoing refugee crisis, since there is no running water, no electricity and no services to speak of. American University of Beirut political science professor Hilal Khashan tells VOA he is suspicious about the Shi'ite-dominated Iraqi government's motives in claiming that large numbers of displaced Sunnis have returned to their homes. "I think that the extent of the return of the refugees is grossly exaggerated. This announcement about the return of refugees is politically driven and characterized by expediency to pave the way for the beginning of the battle for Mosul and for the participation of [Shi'ite volunteer militiamen] in it." Khashan argued the impending battle to recapture Mosul from IS is likely to be a "major human tragedy, since about one-and-a-half million people are likely to leave the city as fighting to retake it gets under way." He thinks that the Iraqi government is trying to give the impression that refugees are being allowed to return to their homes in order to make the battle for Mosul "appear more palatable." Arab media reports that Islamic State has begun to dig a moat around Mosul to try and stave off an eventual assault by government forces. The Iraqi military and its Shi'ite militia allies are reported to be close to the center of the nearby town of Shirqat. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian MoD Board to Discuss Aircraft Carrier's Entry to Active Service Sputnik News 08:45 21.09.2016(updated 08:55 21.09.2016) The Russian Ministry od Defense will discuss Wednesday preparations for Russia's only aircraft-carrying cruiser for active service, the ministry said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Russian Defense Ministry Board headed by Minister Sergei Shoigu will discuss Wednesday preparations for Russia's only aircraft-carrying cruiser for active service, the ministry said. "The board will address the construction of offshore maritime zone warships precision weapons carriers, preparations for Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser's entry into combat service and completing state tests of the Admiral Flota Gorshkov frigate," the ministry said. The Admiral Kuznetsov is Russia's only aircraft-carrying cruiser, sometimes designated by the West as an aircraft carrier, commissioned into the Russian Navy on December 25, 1990. A Russian defense industry source told RIA Novosti last month the Admiral Kuznetsov was undergoing upgrades before going on assignment to the Mediterranean later this fall. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Banker Casts Doubt on Reports of Putin's Secret Wealth By Isabela Cocoli 21 September 2016 A Russian banker has reportedly tried to argue that President Vladimir Putin does not have vast secret wealth because he is "very much dedicated to his job." In an interview with U.S. television channel CNBC in Moscow, Andrey Kostin, chief executive of Russian state-owned bank VTB, cast doubts on a $2 billion money trail revealed in financial documents known as the Panama papers that also link close Putin aides with offshore firms. "I don't believe that Mr. Putin has 2 billion, because even if he wanted to have, I don't know how he is going to spend them," CNBC quoted Kostin as saying in a summary of the interview published Tuesday on its website. "I think those people are doomed for the rest of their life to live a life where everybody will be screening them or watching them and I don't think he is that kind of person," he said. According to Kostin, Putin "is very much dedicated to his job. He really wants to change Russia." Kostin said he does not think that "earning the private wealth is something" among Putin's priorities in life. He said "nobody ever saw this billion or even millions of Putin's money." By assets, VTB Bank is Russia's second-biggest after Sberbank. The state has large stakes in both banks with 60.9 percent in VTB. This has led to suggestions about government interference, which Kostin denied. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reported in April that suspicious payments made by "Putin's cronies may have, in some cases, been intended as payoffs, possibly in exchange for Russian government aid or contracts." The secret documents suggested that much of the money originally came from a bank in Cyprus. The ICIJ said "that, at the time, was majority-owned by the Russian state-controlled VTB Bank." The documents also showed dozens of transactions involving people or companies linked to Putin from 1977 through 2015, including his old friend, cellist Sergei Roldugin and the wife of Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. Putin has admitted that information about Roldugin was accurate while insisting it showed no illegal activity. Roldugin, who runs the Music House in St Petersburg, has said all the money was spent on musical instruments for talented young Russians. He dismissed any suggestion that he was very wealthy or was safeguarding money or assets for Putin. In a media conference in April, Putin spokesman Peskov said Russia had "available the full arsenal of legal means in the national and international arena to protect the honor and dignity of our president." The question remains whether Andrey Kostin is part of that "arsenal." ICIJ, in cooperation with the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung and more than 100 other news organizations, reported in April 2016 that 11.5 million documents it obtained from Panama's Mossack Fonseca law firm showed that politicians and public officials, including 12 current and former world leaders, were involved in tax dodging. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Senate Rejects Effort to Block Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia By Michael Bowman September 21, 2016 The U.S. Senate defeated a resolution disapproving an arms sale to Saudi Arabia after hours of contentious floor debate that aired sharp criticism of Riyadh and revealed rifts among lawmakers about America's relationship with its longtime Middle Eastern ally. Wednesday's 71-to-27 vote to set aside the resolution all but assured that the $1.15 billion arms sale of Abrams tanks and other equipment can go forward without congressional interference. A bipartisan group of senators opposed the transaction based on Saudi actions in neighboring Yemen and the kingdom's backing of a fundamentalist version of Islam. Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut said that with U.S. backing, Saudi Arabia has targeted Yemeni civilian populations in a bombing campaign against Houthi rebels. "We've begged them to stop bombing civilians, and yet in a 72-hour period earlier this summer, the Saudi-led coalition bombed another Doctors Without Borders facility, a school, and the principal's house next door," Murphy said. "It [the resolution] is about whether we will be complicit in a war in Yemen," said Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. "There are said to be 3,000 innocent people who have died in Yemen from Saudi bombs. "When 100 people die at a wedding in Yemen, what do you think happens to those families? Do you think they have a warm fuzzy feeling for Saudi Arabia and the United States?" Paul added. 'No evidence' of Yemen targets Resolution opponents said the measure is misguided. "We've been selling ground combat equipment to Saudi Arabia for decades," said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. "There is no evidence, none, that the Saudis have used the Abrams tank and ground combat [equipment] within Yemen. These systems have been used along the Saudi border to defend against Houthi incursions." Another Republican, John McCain of Arizona, put the question in geo-strategic terms. "Let's be clear what the arms sale is all about. It's about giving a nation that's under attack by Iranian-sponsored militia the arms that it needs to defend its people and its territory," McCain said. "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." Links to extremism Beyond human rights concerns, Murphy argued the United States should signal its disapproval of Saudi Arabia's backing of Wahhabism beyond its borders. "If we remain silent on the primary progenitor of this brand of Islam that feeds into extremism, how can you say you are serious about strangling ISIL when the textbooks that are produced inside Saudi Arabia are the very same textbooks that are handed out to recruit suicide bombers?" Murphy asked, using an acronym for Islamic State. Issue of alliances Whatever Saudi Arabia's faults, its defenders in the Senate stressed that the kingdom is a critical ally in a turbulent region. "If you want to send a signal to the Ayatollah [in Iran] that America is out of the fight and we are no longer a reliable ally, stop helping Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab states that have been helping us, as imperfect as they may be," said Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. "Voting against this arms sale is not going to end it's not going to even permanently damage our relationship with Saudi Arabia," Murphy countered. "We are allies; we'll continue to be allies." Proponents of the arms sale noted that the weapons are being purchased entirely with Saudi funds, not U.S. aid, and that Riyadh could buy similar weapons from other nations if the sale were blocked. The arms sale is not the only issue that has Saudi Arabia under a microscope on Capitol Hill. Earlier this year, Congress passed a bill allowing foreign sponsors of terrorist attacks on U.S. soil to be sued in American courts. Although the bill specifies no nation, it is widely seen as an effort to end Saudi Arabia's immunity from lawsuits pertaining to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The White House said President Barack Obama intends to veto the legislation, which likely would trigger votes to override in both houses of the Republican-led Congress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kerry Calls For No-Fly Zone Over Key Syria Areas September 21, 2016 U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said all aircraft in certain parts of northern Syria need to be grounded in order to establish a credible cease-fire in the area. Kerry told the UN Security Council on September 21 that he believes there is a way "out of the carnage" in Syria and that a no-fly zone could restore credibility to attempts to end the civil war there and allow humanitarian aid to flow into people living in besieged areas. He spoke as a U.S.-Russian cease-fire agreement for Syria reached on September 9 had collapsed, with both sides accusing the other of not fulfilling agreements. Kerry said it was imperative that Russia force the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad to ground its planes. He added that only Russian and Syrian warplanes had flown in northern Syria on September 19 where a UN aid convoy and Red Crescent warehouse were hit by an aerial attack, killing at least 20 civilians. Moscow has said neither Russian nor Syrian planes were involved in the bombing. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at the Security Council meeting that Russia and Syria would not take part in any more "unilateral pauses" that he said opposition groups fighting the Syrian regime used to rearm themselves and strengthen their positions. The UN suspended all aid deliveries after the strike on the humanitarian convoy. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/syria-us-russia- kerry-no-fly-zone/28005063.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia, U.S. Trade Accusations Over Syria Convoy Strike; Kerry Pushes No-Fly Zone September 21, 2016 by RFE/RL Russia and the United States have traded angry accusations over the attack of a Syrian humanitarian aid convoy, as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for a no-fly zone in some parts of northern Syria. The White House has openly blamed Moscow for the September 19 attack that killed dozens and destroyed aid being delivered to a town near besieged Aleppo. U.S. officials have said privately that two Russian Su-24 jets were in the skies directly above the convoy at the time of the attack. Moscow has angrily rejected those accusations, offering evidence it says shows a U.S. drone in the vicinity of the attack. Moscow's accusations echoed earlier denunciations of a U.S. air strike on a group of Syrian soldiers over the weekend. Washington has denied any U.S. drones were in the area, and said that the earlier attack was a mistake. At the UN Security Council on September 21, Kerry said a no-fly zone could restore credibility to a fraying cease-fire and allow humanitarian aid to flow into people living in besieged areas. Kerry said it was imperative that Russia force the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad to ground its planes. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at the Security Council meeting that Russia and Syria would not take part in any more "unilateral pauses." He said opposition groups fighting the Syrian regime used them to rearm themselves and strengthen their positions. Lavrov said the United States bore the biggest responsibility for peace by separating opposition forces from terrorists. He called for the United Nations to expand its terrorism list to include groups at the fringes of a U.S.-backed rebel umbrella group and repeated earlier denunciations of the U.S. strike on Syrian positions as an "outrageous violation." The United Nations, meanwhile, said late on September 21 that it was preparing to resume aid deliveries that had been suspended after the strike. But underscoring the unremitting violence against aid groups, a relief aid group reported on September 21 that an air strike in northern Syria killed four medics responding to an earlier bombing raid. The attack that killed the medics took place shortly after they arrived at the scene of an air strike in the rebel-held town of Khan Touman. As the medics deployed, planes circled around and struck the area again, said Oubaida al-Moufti, vice president of the International Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations. The group later said two nurses and two ambulance drivers were killed, while a third nurse was in critical condition. The phenomenon of having warplanes return immediately to the site of an earlier attack and hit it again is known as a "double tap." 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. After the Security Council meeting, Kerry summed up the situation in a message posted to Twitter: "This is a moment of truth in Syria, for Russia & the regime, for opposition, for international community. Cannot let spoilers prevail," he wrote. With reporting by AP and Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/syria-us-russia- kerry-no-fly-zone/28005063.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Jet Crashes North of Damascus, Cause Unknown Sputnik News 13:33 21.09.2016(updated 17:50 21.09.2016) The Syrian Air Force aircraft crashed east of the capital city of Damascus, media reported Wednesday. Daesh terrorist group shot down a Syrian government forces' jet near Damascus, a Syrian military source told Sputnik on Wednesday. Reports quoting the banned terrorist organization's outlets claimed that the Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) was behind the downing on the northeastern outskirts of Damascus known as East Qalamun. "Daesh downed the warplane. The pilot was rescued in an area controlled by the Syrian army," the source said, adding that the jet was shot down while performing raids against Daesh in the area. Earlier Arabic media reported that the Syrian Air Force aircraft crashed east of the capital city of Damascus, but the cause of the crash was unknown. It was not clear yet if the plane was shot down or crashed due to a technical failure. The fate of the pilots was unknown. Syria, along with neighboring Iraq, has been suffering from the advance of the Islamic State terrorist group, which is outlawed in Russia and the United States as well as in many other countries. The radical group has become notorious for its brutal acts of terrorism and human rights atrocities. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Jets Unable to Fly at Night, Not Behind Attack on Aid Convoy Near Aleppo Sputnik News 10:33 21.09.2016(updated 12:47 21.09.2016) The Syrian Arab Air Force cannot carry out operations after daylight hours, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Syrian Arab Air Force could not have been involved in a recent attack on a humanitarian aid convoy in the vicinity of the Syrian city of Aleppo as it cannot carry out operations after daylight hours, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday. On Monday, the UN officials said that an aid convoy was hit near Aleppo and there were casualties. Several western officials, including the ones from the White House, have blamed the attack on Russia and Syria. The Russian authorities have refuted the allegations. "Our military have already made statements that our aircraft did not operate here. The Syrian aircraft could not have operated [there], because the attack against the convoy was conducted in the night time and the Syrian Air Force does not perform flights in this time, it has no such capabilities. The attack took place after humanitarian cargo had already been offloaded in eastern Aleppo," Lavrov said as broadcast on the Rossiya-1 television channel. Following the attack, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had studied video of the attack and said neither Russian nor Syrian government munitions had hit the aid convoy. The ministry has repeatedly stated that Russia launches its airstrikes with advance air surveillance and careful verification of data provided by the Syrian military. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that analysis of the attack footage revealed no signs of bombs, suggesting that fire traces resulted from the offensive launched by Jabhat Fatah al Sham, formerly known as Nusra Front (outlawed in Russia). Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks at the Council Session on Syria Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State United Nations Headquarters New York City September 21, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Mr. President, good morning, and good morning to all of our colleagues here on the United Nations Security Council. I want to thank my colleague from New Zealand particularly for hosting this very important session on the crisis in Syria. And I think it's appropriate that we are gathering here a couple of rooms over from where yesterday so many heads of state came together in what I thought was a remarkably moving and eloquent statement of the consequence of this war in Syria. I listened to King Abdullah particularly talk about the impact on his country of these millions of people who are distorting their economy, putting huge pressures on the social structure of their country, living under the worst circumstances, and in some areas, presenting a threat because of the ability of Daesh/ISIS to or Nusrah to slip people in and present a security threat to a country. We listened to the young Olympian tell us about her dreams and how she was able to compete this year because of a refugee Olympic team. And we saw the images in a beautifully Bono-narrated video that really made us think about the consequences of this. And I hope everybody will come here today really focused on these consequences and not engage in word games that duck responsibility or avoid the choices that this great institution has in front of it with respect to war and peace, life and death. I listened to my colleague from Russia, and I sort of felt a little bit like they're sort of in a parallel universe here. He said that nobody should have any preconditions to come to the table. Well, we met in Vienna twice. We met here in New York and embraced a United Nations Security Council resolution. We met again in Munich. And in each place, the International Syria Support Group, and here in the Security Council, the Security Council embraced a ceasefire applicable to all parties. That's not a precondition. That's an international agreement, four times arrived at. Four times, countries have said, "We will do this," and four times, it's been shredded by independent actors, by spoilers who don't want a ceasefire. So this is not a precondition. 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? Are you supposed to sit there and have happy talk in Geneva under those circumstances when you've signed up to a ceasefire and you don't adhere to it? What kind of credibility do you have with any of your people? It's not a precondition; it's something we all agreed on in the United Nations and in the International Syria Support Group. And I have to say the documents which we're prepared to release we've told people, we announced that yesterday at the International Syria Support Group, people in the support group have the documents but you don't need to read these documents to understand it's against international law to bomb hospitals. You don't need these documents to understand that you don't drop barrel bombs on children. These are flagrant violations of international law. So I don't want to obfuscate this process, folks. I didn't come here this morning to do that. Supposedly we all want the same goal. I've heard that again and again. Russia, Iran, the United States, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, 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. And let's face it: Everybody in this room understands that there are proxies at this table and proxies outside of this room and we know who they are who have the ability to have an impact on the players in this conflict that has provided the greatest humanitarian catastrophe since World War II. So let's just review the bidding a bit. I was privileged to serve in the United States Senate with a fellow who spent a lot of time here. He was the ambassador to the United Nations, Daniel Patrick Moynihan. And he would famously remind us that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts. And as President John Adams once said, facts are stubborn things. So I don't think we can let anybody here, if we're going to deal with this situation, have their own set of facts about Syria. Everybody here understands the depth of human tragedy. Everybody I mean, the words are getting you wonder why people in various parts of the world are so angry about governance. It's because all they hear are words and we know how many times we've demanded action and it doesn't take place. So I want to share some facts with you this morning facts. Last night, we have reports of airstrikes that hit a medical facility near Aleppo, and four aid workers were killed despite the fact there's 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. On Monday and Sergey just said, well, let's examine the facts and see what happened on Monday, 20 aid workers were killed in an outrageous, sustained, two-hour attack directed at a fully authorized humanitarian mission near Aleppo fully authorized. All of the permits had been given. Everybody was on notice. Now, 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 the Assad regime can or will live up to the obligations that they agreed to in Geneva. It also raises questions not this attack, but other events raise questions about some of the opposition. Those are facts. And the simple reality is we cannot resolve this crisis if the major parties who come to the table and agree to do something are unwilling to do what's necessary to avoid escalation. But we don't get anywhere by ignoring the facts and denying common sense. Yes, the coalition did hit people on Saturday. We did it, a terrible accident. And within moments of it happening, we acknowledged it. We didn't put out a bunch of obfuscating facts. We said, yeah, it's a terrible thing, it happened. Defense Department apologized and we tried to find out how that happened. But I got to tell you, people running around with guns on the ground, from the air, is a very different thing from trucks in a convoy with big UN markings all over them. Now I am saying this and I want to lay out these facts because it underscores why at this moment we just can't do business as usual. We can't walk out of this room and say, okay, we're going to try to continue or we'll have a ceasefire that everybody knows can't work. The facts require countries to restore credibility to this process. That's what's critical. And just think about what happened in the last couple of days. First, President Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, claims that the attack on the humanitarian convoy was somehow a necessary response to an alleged offensive by al-Nusrah elsewhere in the country. That's the first claim. Then a Russian ambassador said that Russian and Syrian forces were not bombing the area but they were targeting Khan Tuman. Then we heard a completely different story. The defense ministry said that the aid convoy had been accompanied by militants in a pickup truck with a mortar. We've seen no evidence of that. But that, in any case, would not justify a violation of the cessation of hostilities. And by the way, that mortar could never have inflicted the damage that has been caused on those trucks. Then the defense ministry switched completely and it denied Russia's involvement. It said, according to spokesman Igor Konashenkov, I quote, "Neither Russia nor Syria conducted airstrikes on the UN humanitarian convoy in the southwestern outskirts of Aleppo." That's a quote. Then Konashenkov went further and he said the damage to the convoy was the direct result of the cargo catching fire. The trucks and the food and the medicine just spontaneously combusted. Anybody here believe that? I mean, this is not a joke. We're in serious business here. If we can stand up and say, yes, accidentally, we had a strike, we should have some responsibility maybe it's an attempt to distract attention or to somehow deflect this, but I think what it underscores is that we have a responsibility here to find a way forward. And guess what? Everything I just said is contradicted by public information, by conclusions already reached by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross, the Red Crescent Societies, the Syrian Arab Crescent, independent journalists, and aid workers on the ground, eyewitnesses. The eyewitnesses will tell you what happened. One of them said that he was standing on the ground and all of a sudden the place became hell, and the fighter jets were in the sky. That's an eyewitness report the place turned into hell and fighter jets were in the sky. There's a lot more. I'm not going to go into it all because I really want the key here to be an acceptance of responsibility to change this equation by everybody here. The primary question is no longer: What do we know? The primary question is: Collectively, what are we going to do about it? In other words, this is a moment of truth. It's a moment of truth for President Putin and Russia; it's a moment of truth also for the opposition; and it's a moment of truth for the people who support the opposition. And for too long, some elements of the opposition have relied on an unholy alliance with al-Nusrah, and al-Nusrah is al-Qaida al-Qaida's branch in Syria and we can't look the other way if groups are on the ground fighting alongside al-Nusrah, an organization that overtly rejects a political solution to this crisis and is an enemy of all of us in this room. So it's a moment of truth for the international community too. Okay? If we allow spoilers to choose the path for us the path of escalation if we decide not to do what it takes to make this work, this cessation of hostilities, then make no mistake, my friends, the next time we convene here, we're going to be facing a Middle East with even more refugees, with more dead, with more displaced, with more extremists, and more suffering on an even greater scale. That is a certainty. There is only one choice, and it's to get to that table with Staffan de Mistura and it is get to a negotiation and get a ceasefire so we stop the flow of refugees, stop the suffering, and provide the people of Syria with a chance to breathe, to live. When this ceasefire first began a few weeks ago, guess what, it worked. People actually months ago, people actually were out in the streets, they went to cafes again. Some people even demonstrated and felt their political rights. Other people were able to walk from one place to another with a sense of safety. And all of that dissipated. So I want to emphasize this, and 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. Our shared task here is to find a way to use the tools of diplomacy to make that happen, and that's exactly what we've been trying to accomplish. For weeks over the summer, experts from my government worked with our counterparts from Russia in good efforts to develop a plan that would take into account the lessons learned from the original cessation, and the key elements of that plan launched in Geneva two weeks ago include the renewal of a cessation of hostilities, excluding only Daesh and al-Nusrah. Importantly, it included arrangements for the unfettered delivery unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid to people in Aleppo and elsewhere in the country, and it envisioned the possibility providing humanitarian assistance was unimpeded and sustained, and provided there were at least seven days of consecutive adherence to the cessation that the United States and Russia would begin to coordinate their efforts against Daesh and al-Nusrah. And I want to make it clear, under President Obama's orders, all preparations were being made in order to achieve that cooperation in terms of our military and intelligence community and the work we would do. So we're committed to that. It was also very importantly part of the plan that when those efforts of cooperation commenced, Syrian war planes would be prohibited from flying over areas where the legitimate opposition and al-Nusrah were present in order to give us the opportunity to work at the separation. Now, I have said to Russia many times it's very hard to separate people when they are being bombed indiscriminately and when Assad has the right to determine who he's going to bomb, because he can, quote, "go after Nusrah" but go after the opposition at the same time because he wants to. You create a confusion that is impossible to separate out, and therefore preserve the ceasefire. So we need to get to the prohibition on flying, my friends. That would 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 Nusrah. Our purpose in this negotiation was to put an end to the kind of horrific and indiscriminate attacks that have been the primary cause of fear, of suffering, of displacement. And under our plan, all of this could be quickly accompanied by serious negotiations between the parties aimed at a political transition and a conclusion to the conflict. So, my colleagues, I want you to know the United States remains convinced that the objectives outlined in the Geneva agreement are the right objectives, and the tools many of them are the right tools but it may not be complete. Our hope was that the renewal of cessation of hostilities and the resumption of aid deliveries, the isolation of al-Nusrah and Daesh, and the beginning of a Syrian-led negotiating process could provide a pathway out of the conflict and make possible the restoration of a peaceful Syria. Now, clearly, there are some people it includes Assad and his allies, and al-Nusrah and Daesh on the other side who fear this very outcome. Assad is a spoiler he doesn't believe in the ceasefire; and al-Nusrah and Daesh are spoilers they don't want a ceasefire, they want to keep fighting Assad. So the question for us here today is whether we bend to their will or continue to pursue our agenda as best we can and in every way that we can a diplomatic solution to this conflict. Now, those who believe the crisis in Syria cannot become even worse are dead wrong, as are those who believe that a military victory is possible. This could be like Carthage with the Romans, if you call that a victory. The plan announced in Geneva is far from perfect, but I have yet to hear an alternative that is remotely realistic that will lead to a better outcome. And if we could get monitoring on the ground, that would be ideal. We'd love to have monitoring on the ground, but most countries you talk to and say, "Would you go in and monitor?" are very, very quick to say, "Not on my life." Now, as my colleagues from the International Syria Support Group will attest, yesterday we had a meeting and there was near unanimity in that room that this process, the ceasefire, as troubled as it is, gives us the best chance available to bring relief to the people of Syria. Now, here's the nub of it: We have said for days that it will take significant and immediate steps now to try to get things back on track. How do we get things back on track? How do we restore the concept of the ceasefire? How do we give people who have again and again seen this fall apart some sense of credibility? Believe me, there are a lot of people who believe it can't happen, and there are some people who believe that major parties don't want it done. So 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 de-escalate the situation and give a chance for humanitarian assistance to flow unimpeded. And if that happens, there is a chance of giving credibility back to this process. In Geneva, Russia related that Assad was prepared to live by the cessation of hostilities and would accept the idea of not flying over agreed-upon areas. But because of what's happened in the last few days, my friends, we have no choice but to try to do that sooner, not later, move immediately to restore confidence, and demonstrate the readiness to implement a genuine ceasefire now. The future of Syria is hanging by a thread and I urge this council not to give up, but instead to support the steps outlined by the United States and Russia in Geneva. And I call on every party in Syria and those who support them, I call on all members of the opposition, to cooperate and revive this plan. And I call on every country to cease providing support of any kind to any party that is trying to sabotage this plan. I call on the international community to support UN efforts to begin a real negotiation in Geneva on a political transition that can provide the only durable route to peace. And I urge the entire international community to get behind the best chance that we have yet had to reduce the violence, to provide humanitarian assistance, and to open up the space for negotiations. I thank you for your patience. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Ministerial Statement on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC September 21, 2016 The Eighth Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Ministerial Meeting, which took place in New York on September 21, 2016, issued the following statement to which the United States associated itself. Begin Text: This year, as the international community marks the twentieth anniversary of the opening of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) for signature, we, the Foreign Ministers issuing this statement, stand united in our commitment to promote and pursue its entry into force without further delay. We regard the Treaty to be a core element of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and its entry into force as a major contribution to international peace and security. The total ban on any nuclear weapon test explosions, or any other nuclear explosions, established by the CTBT will contribute to a world without nuclear weapons by constraining their development and qualitative improvement. We welcome the significant progress made towards the universality of the Treaty, with signature by 183 States and ratification by [166] States to date. We particularly welcome a number of positive developments since our last meeting, including: the ratification of the Treaty by Angola [, Myanmar, and Swaziland]; the adoption of a Declaration and Measures to Promote the Entry into Force of the CTBT by the Article XIV Conference in September 2015; and the convening of the 20th Anniversary Ministerial Meeting in Vienna in June 2016. There is more work to be done. We urge all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Treaty without delay, in particular the remaining eight States listed in Annex 2[1] of the Treaty. We appeal to all States to make the utmost efforts to achieve its prompt entry into force. We dedicate ourselves individually and jointly to continuing to raise awareness among the general public and to advocate at the highest political levels. We must ensure that the resolute determination of the international community to bring the CTBT into force is finally realized. Pending the entry into force of the Treaty, which remains our urgent goal due to its legally-binding effect, we call upon all States to maintain all existing moratoria on nuclear weapon test explosions and other nuclear explosions and to refrain from any action that would undermine the Treaty's object and purpose. However, these do not have the same permanent and legally-binding effect to end nuclear weapons testing and all other nuclear explosions, which will only be achieved by the entry into force of the Treaty. We must finish the work we started twenty years ago. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is the only country that has conducted nuclear tests in this century. We condemn in the strongest terms its nuclear tests in 2006, 2009, 2013 and in January and September of 2016 and demand that DPRK refrain from conducting further nuclear tests. We urge DPRK to fully comply with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and all its commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks, to abandon all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes and immediately cease all related activities. We continue to underline the need for a peaceful solution of the DPRK nuclear issue. We welcome advances made by the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and its Provisional Technical Secretariat in ensuring the Treaty's verification regime is robust and world-class. Today, the International Monitoring System is nearing completion and, in addition to advancing the Treaty's primary nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament objective, it plays an important role in scientific and civilian applications, including providing accurate, timely data about earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear accidents. We promote scientific cooperation between States in support of the verification regime and we reaffirm our commitment to support the effective and efficient completion and maintenance of all its elements and related capacity-building activities. We urge all States signatories to support these efforts and to bring about the Treaty's entry into force. End text. For further information, please contact AVC-Press-DL@state.gov. [1] There are eight Annex 2 States, whose ratifications are necessary for entry into force, which have yet to ratify the Treaty: China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Pakistan and United States of America. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Alan Burkitt-Gray speaks to Don MacNeil, chief operating officer of GTT, about its company restructuring after coming out of Chapter 11 and its strategic roadmap for the next 12 months. David Frizzell found guilty of attempted capital murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Earlier CHATHAM Juanita Haley bowed her head and prayed when the chaos erupted on Oct. 30, 2015. Her boyfriend, David Miller Frizzell, was just standing there next to the car she was driving as Pittsylvania County sheriffs deputy Jason Woods approached him, she testified in court. Then the shots went off. Frizzell, 52, is on trial because prosecutors believe he fired at least five shots at Woods none striking him. He is charged with attempted capital murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Haley testified that Frizzell was clearly intoxicated that day. Earlier, he had bought a bottle of Jim Beam and small bottles of vodka, Haley testified in court. Frizzell started to drink a little more after becoming frustrated with the builders of their new home in Axton, Haley testified. Haley also testified that when upset or mad, Frizzell would drink a lot, then pass out; He would also smoke marijuana. That evening, Frizzell had called Haley asking the whereabouts of his remote, keys and bottle of liquor. Defense attorney John Light said in his motion to strike the charges against his client that Frizzell was highly impaired that night. But Pittsylvania County Commonwealths Attorney Bryan Haskins argued in his response that Frizell was aware of his surroundings and aware of Woods because he addressed the deputy by his first name. A man who is blackout drunk cannot have premeditation in an attempt to kill, Light argued in his response, especially if he was completely unresponsive to all stimuli like being tased and not going down. Judge James Reynolds denied Lights motion to strike. Before the incident with Deputy Woods, Steven and Angela Holland testified that Frizzell drove to their residence on Mosco Road. They saw a car pull up in the driveway and we didnt know who they were, Angela Holland said in court. Frizzell was blasting music out of his vehicles speakers, talking vaguely to Steven Holland about how we need to stick together, Holland testified. Steven agreed to ride with Frizzell and Haley to get them to their residence safely. Then, we got pulled over, Holand testified. Theres [Deputy] Jason [Woods], Haley said. She had known Woods since 2010; he rented a house from me before, Haley said. Frizzell, in the backseat of the car, got out of the vehicle. Haley opened the drivers door and said to Woods, Jason, its me, Juanita, trying to get his attention. Woods was focused on Frizzell. Get back in the vehicle, Haley remembers Woods telling Frizzell, but her boyfriend did not react. Woods deployed his Taser, and Haley said her boyfriend looked like he was being shocked but he did not go down. Then, she testified Woods drew his service weapon. I told Jason not to kill him, Haley testified. [Frizzell] was having an alcoholic blackout. Haley testified she didnt hear Woods command Frizzell to take his hand out of his pocket, nor did she see anything in Frizzells hand. But Holland later testified Mr. Frizzell had his hand on something in his pocket. Neither Haley nor Holland say they actually saw the shots fired. Haley ran across the street when it started. Holland was in the front passenger seat the entire time, he testified, and while he didnt see the shots, he heard the shots. According to him, after the shooting, Frizzell threw a .38-caliber revolver in the backseat and then Holland got out of the vehicle with his hands up. Haskins provided a transcript of Hollands interview with Virginia State Police investigators where Holland said he heard Frizzell say to Woods, Dont [expletive] up, brother. When troopers arrived to investigate the incident, Haskins said Haley told authorities Frizzell had a gun and pulled it out of his right pants pocket. Haley said she doesnt remember Frizzell having a gun or pulling her out of the car. Other witnesses testified on what they saw that night. Dontae Carter was on Whispering Pines Road not far from Mosco Road with family, and he testified that Frizzell started shooting at the officer during the traffic stop. Carter had known Woods since grade school. He learned that Woods was the deputy during an interview with investigators. Frizzell retired from the Reidsville Police Department after 26 years of service. Cathy Osborne knew Frizzell for 19 years and testified that he was well respected by police officers. The trial will continue Thursday in Pittsylvania County Circuit Court. Livingston reports for the Danville Register & Bee. LONDON, Sep 21, 2016 - Orsu Metals Corp. (TSX:OSU) - Highlights of the Sergeevskoe Gold Project Transaction: Orsu Metals Corp. ("Orsu" or the "Company") has agreed to acquire, subject to the conditions as described in this release, the Sergeevskoe Gold Project located in the Mogocha District of the Zabaikal'skiy Region of the Russian Federation. The Russian style P1 to P3 categories: The most recent study conducted in July 2016, prior to discussions with Orsu, estimated a total of 29.736 million tonnes of mineralization in several prospects within the Sergeevskoe license area with a total of 59.31 tonnes (approximately 1.91 million ounces) of gold to a depth of 100 metres. A long-established gold-mining province: the area around the Sergeevskoe Project is a known host to a cluster of producing gold deposits. The Sergeevskoe Gold Project has a common license border with the Klyuchevskoe gold mine immediately to the east of Sergeevskoe, which contains 4 million ounces in Russian-style A+B+C1 and C2 categories. To the west, it neighbours the recently commissioned Alexandrovskoe open-pit operating mine with Russian-style resources in excess of 2 million ounces of gold. Excellent infrastructure: the Project is located in an economically developed area of Russia with ready access to all significant infrastructure: (1) federal highway M58 is approximately 8 kilometres away, (2) the Trans-Siberian railway is approximately 35 kilometres away; and (3) access to the national electricity grid. Water is readily available in the area, as is a local skilled labour force. Analogous deposit nearby: the Klyuchevskoe mine has produced over 1.3 million ounces of gold in its history. The Klyuchevskoe mine hosts an analogous mineralization and historical information published about that mine greatly helps to evaluate the geological and metallurgical risks of the Sergeevskoe Gold Project. According to the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Agency, the Klyuchevskoe mine is in the advanced stages of being sold to China National Gold Group. (See footnote 4.) The Sergeevskoe Gold Project has extensive historical exploration data: In Soviet times the project was extensively explored with, inter alia, approximately 8 500 meters of drilling performed and 16 200 meters of trenches excavated. Historical exploration works at the 7.6 km 2 license area of the Sergeevskoe Gold Project identified intrusion-hosted gold mineralization over an area of 5x2.2 km (including a 1.1 km 2 license area of the Klyuchevskoe gold deposit). In its eastern part, the historically identified mineralization forms a western continuation of the orebodies extending from the Klyuchevskoe deposit, with most prospective mineralization identified at the Zone 23 and Kozie occurrences. license area of the Sergeevskoe Gold Project identified intrusion-hosted gold mineralization over an area of 5x2.2 km (including a 1.1 km license area of the Klyuchevskoe gold deposit). In its eastern part, the historically identified mineralization forms a western continuation of the orebodies extending from the Klyuchevskoe deposit, with most prospective mineralization identified at the Zone 23 and Kozie occurrences. At the Zone 23 occurrence, Soviet era drilling intercepted wide intervals of gold mineralization. Historical hole C-222 intercepted mineralized intervals (at a cut-off of 0.5 grammes per tonne of gold) of: 3 metres grading 0.63 grammes of gold per tonne (from 46 metres); and 5 metres grading 1.56 grammes of gold per tonne (from 51 metres); and 38 metres grading 1.48 grammes of gold per tonne (from 58 metres), including: 6.5 m grading 2.23 grammes of gold per tonne (from 62 metres), 3.0 m grading 2.97 grammes of gold per tonne (from 84 metres). Historical hole C-215 intercepted five mineralized intervals (at a cut-off of 0.5 grammes of gold per tonne) of: 3.5 metres grading 0.86 grammes of gold per tonne (from 16.5 metres); and 3.5 metres grading 1.11 grammes of gold per tonne (from 23.5 metres); and 31.6 metres grading 1.2 grammes of gold per tonne (from 54.1 metres), including: 2.1 m grading 2.20 grammes of gold per tonne (from 59 metres), 5.5 m grading 2.13 grammes of gold per tonne (from 63.1 metres), 2.0 m grading 1.30 grammes of gold per tonne (from 70.6 metres); and 44.8 metres grading 0.82 grammes of gold per tonne (from 95 metres), including: 4.0 m grading 1.73 grammes of gold per tonne (from 101.2 metres), 6.8 m grading 1.08 grammes of gold per tonne (from 107.2 metres), 3.8 m grading 1.30 grammes of gold per tonne (from 135 metres); and 27.5 metres grading 0.71 grammes of gold per tonne (from 167.5 metres), including: 5.0 m grading 1.26 grammes of gold per tonne (from 176.5 metres). At the Kozie occurrence, historical drillholes intercepted (at a cut-off of 0.5 grammes of gold per tonne): 7.5 metres (from 65 metres) grading 2.59 grammes of gold per tonne in hole C-140; 7.5 metres (from 125 metres) grading 1.53 grammes of gold per tonne in hole C-141. At the Karamaevskoe occurrence, historical hole C-197 intercepted a mineralized interval (at a cut-off of 0.5 grammes of gold per tonne) of: 20.0 metres grading 1.55 grammes of gold per tonne (from 28 metres). All potential quantities and grades referred to in this announcement are conceptual in nature; there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. The results referred to are primarily based on historical data prepared between 40 and 60 years ago, and as such their relevance and reliability may be uncertain. Further analysis will be required, including confirmatory drilling and/or trenching and assays of the core plus updated analysis and assessment of the historical data in order to verify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or reserves. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or reserves. The Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or reserves. Orsu, the London-based TSX listed company (TSX:OSU), today announces that it has entered into Exclusive and Binding Heads of Agreement ("Heads of Agreement") for the potential acquisition of 100% of Sibzoloto Investments Limited ("Sibzoloto"), a Cyprus registered company which is the sole owner of LLC GK Alexandrovskoe ("LLC GK Alexandrovskoe"), which in turn is the sole holder of the Sergeevskoe licence area in the Russian Federation ("Sergeevskoe Project"), from two arm's length parties, (1) Metalsib Group (BVI) ("Metalsib") and (2) OC Management Group (BVI) ("Olympia Capital"); (Metalsib and Olympia Capital, together defined as the "Sellers"). Summary of the Heads of Agreement The following sets out the key terms of the Heads of Agreement, which will be filed on the Company's SEDAR profile: 1. Orsu has agreed to acquire: 100% of the Sergeevskoe Gold Project via the acquisition of Sibzoloto, and 100% of a nearby work camp via the acquisition of LLC Davenda, a company under effective control of the Sellers, (the "Proposed Transaction") conditional upon good faith negotiation of formal definitive sale and purchase documentation (including a formal sale and purchase agreement), and completion of due diligence, for the consideration set out below. The exclusivity period runs until January 31, 2017 ("Exclusivity Period") and may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties. 2. The consideration for Sibzoloto will be the issue of new common shares of Orsu as follows: The Company will issue 146,605,683 new common shares in Orsu to the Sellers for the acquisition of 30% of the outstanding shares of Sibzoloto at closing such that, post-closing, the Sellers will own approximately 44.5% of the enlarged share capital of Orsu (or 42.5% of the total enlarged and fully diluted share capital of Orsu, assuming exercise of all issued and outstanding options). The Sellers shall transfer the remaining 70% of the outstanding shares of Sibzoloto at the time the Company completes the sale of its Karchiga Project (as announced on April 11, 2016). In the event that the proceeds from the sale of the Karchiga Project are not received by June 30, 2017, the Company will issue a further 378,731,348 common shares of Orsu (the "Top-up Shares") to the Sellers such that the Sellers will own in aggregate a combined total of 525,337,031 common shares of Orsu or, approximately, 74.2% of the enlarged share capital of Orsu (or 72.5% of the total enlarged and fully diluted outstanding common shares of Orsu, assuming exercise of all issued and outstanding options). The issuance of the Top-up Shares will be conditional upon the Sellers transferring the 700 remaining shares in Sibzoloto such that Orsu owns all 1,000 shares (100%) of Sibzoloto. Any subsequent receipt of proceeds from the sale of the Karchiga Project will inure to the benefit of all shareholders of Orsu as at a date to be established in the definitive sale and purchase documentation (excluding the Sellers). 3. Orsu will acquire 100% of LLC Davenda, a company under effective control of the Sellers, that owns the fully operational work camp located near the Sergeevskoe Gold Project area for aggregate cash consideration of US$600,000, with US$180,000 to be paid on closing of the Proposed Transaction and the balance of US$420,00 to be paid within ten days after completion of the sale of the Karchiga Project. In the event the sale of the Karchiga Project is not completed by June 30, 2017, the balance of US$420,000 within ten days after June 30, 2017. The acquisition by Orsu of LLC Davenda is inter-conditional with the acquisition by Orsu of Sibzoloto. 4. The Proposed Transaction will be subject to the completion of technical, legal and financial due diligence by each Party. Orsu's due diligence requirements will also include the production of a technical report compatible with the requirements of Canadian National Instrument 43-101. 5. The Proposed Transaction is subject to the following Conditions Precedent: 1) Execution of a Sale and Purchase Agreement ("SPA") and definitive documentation; 2) Necessary approvals, if any, from the Russian Federation for the transfer of ownership of the Sergeevskoe Gold Project to Orsu; 3) Approval of the Proposed Transaction (including the issue of new shares) by any applicable governmental, corporate and shareholder approvals that may be required for completion of the transaction, including, inter alia, the approval by the Orsu shareholders at a Shareholders' Meeting; 4) TSX approval of the Proposed Transaction (including the issue of shares) and any other regulatory approvals required by the TSX or by the applicable securities commissions or regulatory authorities in Canada. 6. Pursuant to the Heads of Agreement, Orsu has been granted an exclusivity period expiring on January 31, 2017 in order to complete its due diligence and enter into definitive documentation to complete the Proposed Transaction. The Heads of Agreement will automatically terminate on the later of January 31, 2017 or any extension of the Exclusivity Period agreed by the parties. In addition, Orsu has the right to terminate the Heads of Agreement without any obligation at any time during the due diligence process in the event of material adverse finding during the course of such due diligence. 7. A representative of the Sellers will be granted the right to attend board meetings of Orsu as an observer prior to completion of the Proposed Transaction. Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Sellers will have the right to appoint two directors in total to the Board of Directors of Orsu and the total number of directors of Orsu will be five. The appointment of such directors will be subject to any approvals required by the Toronto Stock Exchange or other applicable regulatory bodies for such individual appointee. 8. Orsu has agreed not to authorize any additional expenditure over and above current contractual obligations and those required for its ordinary course of business in excess of US$5,000 without the prior written consent of a Representative of the Sellers. 9. Shortly following completion of the Proposed Transaction, Orsu will make available no less than US$1,500,000 to fund the exploration of the Sergeevskoe Project. 10. Orsu intends to consolidate its common shares on a ratio of one post-consolidation common share for every ten common shares currently outstanding prior to completion of the Proposed Transaction. The number of common shares of Orsu to be issued as consideration pursuant to the Proposed Transaction will be adjusted according to the final ratio of such share consolidation. 11. Immediately prior to completion of the Proposed Transaction, Orsu will have a minimum of US$3,000,000 cash and cash equivalents on its books (including the initial payment of US$180,000 in respect of Orsu's acquisition of Sibzoloto and the total consideration of US$600,000 in respect of Orsu's acquisition of LLC Davenda). 12. The structure and form of the Proposed Transaction will be more particularly defined in a formal sale and purchase agreement to be negotiated in good faith and entered into by the parties. About the Sergeevskoe licence area The Sergeevskoe licence covers an area of 7.6 km2 and is located approximately 40 km to the southwest of the town of Mogocha, Zabaikal'skiy Region of the Russian Federation. Mogocha is an administrative centre of the Mogocha District and hosts a large railway station on the Trans-Siberian Railway which runs within approximately 35 km of the licence area. The newly built Chita-Khabarovsk motorway (M58) is approximately 8 km to the south of the licence area. The distance to the Sergeevskoe Project area from the city of Chita, an administrative centre of the Zabaikal'skiy Region in eastern Siberia, is approximately 650 km. The Sergeevskoe licence area is located immediately west of the Klyuchevskoe gold deposit (see image below), which is owned by Sun Gold Ltd ("Sun Gold"). According to Dr BI Benevolskiy, who published detailed accounts of historical production of gold in a monograph "Gold of Russia" (Benevolskiy, 2002; see footnote 3), the Klyuchevskoe deposit has historically produced over 1.3 million ounces of gold from an open pit, whose western wall is located 300 metres from the eastern margin of the Sergeevskoe license area. According to public information published by Vestnik Zolotopromyshlennika (Gold Miner Bulletin) on August 31, 2016 (see footnote 4), the Klyuchevskoe deposit has estimated mineral resources containing 47.8 tonnes of gold in Russian style A+B+C1 categories, 26.6 tonnes of gold in Russian style C2 category and 4 tonnes of gold in 'out of balance' category, complying with Russian Code for the Public Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, all grading up to 2 grammes of gold per tonne. According to the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Agency, the Klyuchevskoe mine is in the advanced stages of being sold to China National Gold Group (see footnote 4). The nearby Alexandrovskoe gold mine, which was commissioned in September 2013, lies to the west of the Sergeevskoe license area (see image below). Alexandrovskoe Gold Mining Limited has disclosed on its website that in the end of 2012, the Russian style reserves were approved by Protocol No.2853 of the Russian State Reserves Committee, amounting to 7.898 million tonnes in Russian-style ?A1+?A2 categories (balance + off-balance) with 23.894 tonnes (715 381 ounces) of gold grading 2.9 grammes of gold per tonne. Alexandrovskoe Gold Mining Limited also reported Russian-style resources at Alexandrovskoye ore field estimated to be more than 2 million ounces of gold (see footnote 4). To view the map accompanying this press release, click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Orsu921.jpg Orsu conducted a site visit in July 2016 and, based on this and a review of the technical information made available, believes that the geology of the Sergeevskoe Project area is principally similar to the Klyuchevskoe deposit area. Some orebodies from the Klyuchevskoe deposit extend into the Sergeevskoe license area. Granitoid intrusions are a principal host for 150 million years old mineralization. The Sergeevskoe Project area hosts numerous gold occurrences, discovered and partially drill tested in the 1950s and 1960s, with geophysical and geochemical works performed in the 1970s. No field exploration activity was undertaken from the mid-1980s until 2013, when the Sellers acquired the Sergeevskoe Project via public auction from the Government of the Russian Federation. No approved historical Soviet-style or JORC compliant mineral resources exist for mineral prospects within the Sergeevskoe Project area. However, several reports estimated potential resources of the Sergeevskoe Project area in Russian-style "P" category. These historical estimates, combined for several prospects within the license area, range from 2 to 4 million ounces of gold grading 1.67 to 1.77 grammes of gold per tonne, which is not compliant to the standards of the Canadian National Instrument 43-101, but can be possibly treated as an indication of exploration potential. On July 7, 2016 the Technical Board for the Department of Subsoil Usage, Zabaikal'skiy Subsection, Central Siberian Region, Russian Federation has approved Protocol N81 with the Russian-style P1 to P3 categories, containing a total of 29.736 million tonnes of mineralization in several prospects within the Sergeevskoe license area with a total of 59.31 tonnes (approximately 1.91 million ounces) of gold, calculated to a depth of 100 metres. The mineralized system in all prospects remains open to depth. All potential quantities and grades referred to in this announcement are conceptual in nature; there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. The results referred to are primarily based on historical data prepared between 40 and 60 years ago, and as such their relevance and reliability may be uncertain. Further analysis will be required, including confirmatory drilling and/or trenching and assays of the core plus updated analysis and assessment of the historical data in order to verify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or reserves. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or reserves. The Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or reserves. Historical works included soil-geochemistry sampling at 1:10 000 scale as well as different ground and airborne geophysical surveys resulting in the delineation of a number of gold, copper and molybdenum anomalous areas. The most advanced occurrences include Zone 23, Koziy, Vodorazdelnoe (Peak Klyuchi) and Karamaevskoe (see image above). Gold mineralization is arranged along the 5 km long west-east trending quartz vein-veinlet system, which is often accompanied by alteration (tourmalinization, sericitization) together with primary sulphide mineralization. Judging from a visit to the nearby Klyuchevskoe open pit, primary sulphides are oxidized down to 180 meters, with drilling-confirmed vertical extent of gold mineralization at the Klyuchevskoe deposit to 600 meters. Numerous trenches (totaling more than 16,200 metres at the Zone 23, Koziy and Vodorazdelnoe (Peak Klyuchi) occurrences) intercepted wide gold-mineralized intervals within a 1 000 x 600 metres west-east trending area in the eastern part of the Sergeevskoe license area, including Zone 23, Kozie and Vodorazdelnoe occurrences. The historically identified mineralized intervals range in width from 2 to 48 metres with grade variations from 1 to 5 grammes per tonne of gold. The 850 metres long historical trench K-679, cross-cutting both the Zone 23 and Kozie occurrences, intercepted several intervals separated by low grade or unmineralized material (from south to the north). In the south, over 325 metres across Zone 23 occurrence: 2 metres grading 1.0 gramme of gold per tonne, and 24 metres grading 1.4 grammes of gold per tonne, and 2 metres grading 3.2 grammes of gold per tonne, and 2 metres grading 1.6 grammes of gold per tonne, and 48 meters grading 1.7 grammes of gold per tonne, and 7 metres grading 1.3 grammes of gold per tonne, and 8 metres grading 1.7 grammes of gold per tonne, and 16 metres grading 1.8 grammes of gold per tonne, and 6 metres grading 3.1 grammes of gold per tonne, and 4 metres grading 2.0 grammes of gold per tonne, and 4 metres grading 2.1 grammes of gold per tonne. This was followed by approximately 200 metres of unmineralized interval before reaching the Kozie occurrence, where the same trench intercepted the following intervals over 200 metres across the latter: 3 metres grading 1.8 grammes of gold per tonne, and 9 metres grading 2.3 grammes of gold per tonne, and 1 metre grading 3.0 grammes of gold per tonne, and 2 metres grading 2.0 grammes of gold per tonne, and 38 metres grading 2.1 grammes of gold per tonne, and 1 metre grading 3.2 grammes of gold per tonne, and 40 metres grading 3.8 grammes of gold per tonne, and 2 metres grading 1.4 grammes of gold per tonne. Approximately 8 500 meters of drilling was historically completed at the Sergeevskoe Prospect in the 1950s and 1960s, with approximately 4900 metres drilled at Zone 23, Koziy and Vodorazdelnoe (Peak Klyuchi) occurrences and remaining balance drilled at the Karamaevskoe and other occurrences. No drill core from the historical holes is preserved. The reported historical core recoveries were approximately 50 percent. There were also some limited underground developments (shallow shafts and one adit with cross-cuts). Historical drillholes at Zone 23 returned wide intercepts of gold mineralization. In particular, hole C-222 was drilled in the southern direction at 75 degrees to a depth of 160 metres and intercepted mineralized intervals (greater than 2 metres in thickness at a cut-off of 0.5 grammes of gold per tonne) of: 3 metres grading 0.63 grammes of gold per tonne (from 46 metres); 5 metres grading 1.56 grammes of gold per tonne (from 51 metres); 38 metres grading 1.48 grammes of gold per tonne (from 58 metres), Including 6.5 m grading 2.23 grammes of gold per tonne (from 62 metres), 3.0 m grading 2.97 grammes of gold per tonne (from 84 metres). Including Hole C-215, which was drilled to a depth of 200 metres in the southwestern direction at approximately 74 degrees to the surface. This hole intercepted five mineralized intervals (greater than 2 metres in thickness and above 0.5 grammes of gold per tonne cut-off): 3.5 metres grading 0.86 grammes of gold per tonne (from 16.5 metres); and 3.5 metres grading 1.11 grammes of gold per tonne (from 23.5 metres); and 31.6 metres grading 1.2 grammes of gold per tonne (from 54.1 metres), including: 2.1 m grading 2.20 grammes of gold per tonne (from 59 metres), 5.5 m grading 2.13 grammes of gold per tonne (from 63.1 metres), 2.0 m grading 1.30 grammes of gold per tonne (from 70.6 metres); and 44.8 metres grading 0.82 grammes of gold per tonne (from 95 metres), including: including: 4.0 m grading 1.73 grammes of gold per tonne (from 101.2 metres), 6.8 m grading 1.08 grammes of gold per tonne (from 107.2 metres), 3.8 m grading 1.30 grammes of gold per tonne (from 135 metres); and 27.5 metres grading 0.71 grammes of gold per tonne (from 167.5 metres), including: 5.0 m grading 1.26 grammes of gold per tonne (from 176.5 metres). including: The combined width of the mineralized intervals in hole C-215 is 102.4 metres, indicating that more than 50% of the total length of this hole is mineralized above the 0.5 grammes of gold per tonne cut-off. Historical drillholes at the Kozie occurrence, located some 350 metres north from Zone 23, are also reported to intercept gold mineralization (at a cut-off of 0.5 grammes of gold per tonne). In particular, historical hole C-140, which was drilled to a depth of 110 metres in the southern direction at approximately 75 degrees to the surface, intercepted 7.5 metres (from 65 metres) grading 2.59 grammes of gold per tonne. Historical hole C-141, which was drilled to a depth of 170 metres in the southern direction at approximately 70 degrees to the surface, intercepted 7.5 metres (from 125 metres) grading 1.53 grammes of gold per tonne. The 15.8 metres deep shallow vertical shaft (N28) intercepted mineralization grading between 0.4 and 4.3 grammes of gold per tonne. Another 25 metres deep shaft (N29) intercepted mineralization grading between 2.4 and 15.2 grammes of gold per tonne. At the Karamaevskoe occurrence, historical hole C-197 was drilled in the southwestern direction at 70 degrees to a depth of 104 metres and intercepted a wide mineralized interval (at a cut-off of 0.5 grammes of gold per tonne) of 20.0 metres grading 1.55 grammes of gold per tonne (from 28 metres). Despite promising intercepts, none of the prospects has been systematically drilled. Orsu collected 15 lump samples during its site visit and inspection of the historical trenches. These samples were submitted by Orsu to the SGS Vostok Limited laboratory ("SGS Vostok") in Chita, which is a Russian subsidiary of SGS Societe Generale de Surveillance S.A. and member of SGS Group, the inspection, verification, testing and certification company, independent from both Orsu and the Sellers. SGS Vostok has assayed 15 samples, including one field duplicate, but no blanks or external standards were included by Orsu. SGS Vostok used a standard fire assay technique with detection limit of 0.03 grammes of gold per tonne. Of these, 13 assays returned between 0.18 to 5.69 grammes of gold per tonne for samples, generally collected randomly from the mineralized intervals shown on the historical maps for the above-mentioned trench K-679 at Zone 23 and Kozie occurrences. The duplicate samples Ser-003 returned 0.53 and 0.55 grammes of gold per tonne, indicating good correlation for this limited sampling programme. Dr Sergey V Kurzin, Executive Chairman of Orsu, commented: "I am very excited by this opportunity. Gold is a commodity in which management and partners of Orsu have extensive experience, especially in the Former Soviet Union. We believe that the Sergeevskoe Gold Project has significant potential value to be added. I am looking forward to working with the group of new partners who are also very experienced in Russian gold geology, finance and the industry. The combination of the project's potential, Orsu competencies and a strong local team will allow us to fast-track the exploration works to its fruition." Notes to Editors: 1. Dr Alexander Yakubchuk, Chief Operating Officer for Orsu and a qualified person as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release. Dr Alexander Yakubchuk has verified the data disclosed in this press release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in this news release. 2. All $ figures are United States Dollars unless otherwise indicated. 3. Benevolskiy BI, 2002. Gold of Russia: Problems of the Use and Replacement of Mineral Resources. 2nd Revised Edition. Moscow, ZAO Geoinformmark, 464 pp. In Russian. 4 Based on publicly available information, which was not prepared, or independently verified, by Orsu. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws that reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information contained in this press release includes, but may not be limited to, the anticipated completion of the Proposed Transaction or the completion of the Karchiga Transaction and the terms and timing related thereto, the Company's use of the proceeds from the Karchiga Transaction, and the expected effect of the Proposed Transaction on the Company, including (but not limited to) management's belief that the Sergeevskoe Gold Project could have significant value for the Company. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the inability of the parties to satisfy any conditions to the completion of the Proposed Transaction disclosed herein, which include the negotiation and execution of a definitive SPA before the end of the Exclusivity Period, unsatisfactory due diligence results, the failure to obtain the necessary approval of the Russian Federation for the transfer of ownership of the Sergeevskoe Gold Project, the failure to obtain approval of the Proposed Transaction by Orsu shareholders, the failure to obtain the required authorizations and/or approvals from the TSX. Other risks relating to the completion of the Proposed Transaction include the regulatory framework in Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, adverse changes in the laws or political environment in Kazakhstan or the Russian Federation, adverse changes in commodities prices, as well as certain other risks set out in the Company's public documents, including its annual information form dated March 30, 2016, filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information in this press release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this press release, the Company has made assumptions about; the Company's business, the economy and the mineral resources development and extraction industry in general; available historical information will be useful in the Company's evaluation of the geological and metallurgical risks for the Sergeevskoe Gold Project; the Company's ability to obtain the requisite regulatory approvals; and the seller's ability to obtain the requisite governmental approvals. The Company has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of the Company's normal course of business. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Any Russian style "A, B, C1, C2 and P" category figures referred to in this press release are historical estimates and no assurances can be given that the indicated levels of minerals will be verified and/or produced. Such estimates made at a given time may significantly change when new information becomes available. By their nature such estimates are imprecise and depend, to a certain extent, upon statistical inferences which may ultimately prove unreliable. Due to the uncertainty that may be attached to such estimates, it cannot be assumed that all or any part of such estimates will be upgraded to mineral resource as a result of continued exploration. Any forward-looking information speak only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Contact Alexander Yakubchuk, Chief Operating Officer Orsu Metals Corp. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7518 3999 Kevin Denham, Chief Financial Officer Orsu Metals Corp. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7518 3999 www.orsumetals.com CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Sep 21, 2016) - Antioquia Gold Inc. ("Antioquia" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:AGD)(OTCQX:AGDXF) announces today that it has entered into an agreement to settle approximately CAD$4,501,339 of debt under an existing operating loan with Infinita Prosperidad Minera SAC (formerly Desafio Minero) ("Infinita"), the Company's largest shareholder. Pursuant to the agreement, Antioquia will issue 66,686,498 common shares at a deemed price of $0.0675 per share. Prior to the shares for debt transaction, Infinita owned and controlled 147,868,346 common shares, representing approximately 62% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. After this transaction, Infinita will own and control 214,554,844 common shares, representing approximately 70% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. The shares for debt transaction is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. For further information on Antioquia Inc., visit our website at www.antioquiagoldinc.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Reader Advisory This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are made as of the date of this press release and the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: capital expenditures, operating costs, and the anticipated project schedule. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "schedule" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain assumptions by the Company and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Antioquia to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business prospects and strategies and the environment in which Antioquia will operate in the future, including the price of gold, anticipated costs and Antioquia's ability to achieve its goals, anticipated financial performance, regulatory developments, development plans, exploration, development and mining activities and commitments. Although management considers its assumptions on such matters to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Additional risks are described in Antioquia's most recently filed annual and interim MD&A and other disclosure documents available under the Company's profile at: www.sedar.com. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. MONTREAL, Sept. 22, 2016 - Cyprium Mining Corp. ("Cyprium" or the "Company") (TSXV: CUG) is pleased to announce that at a special meeting of debenture holders held on September 21, 2016 (the "Meeting") the holders of $750,000 in principal amount of unsecured debentures bearing interest at 12% per annum (the "Debentures") overwhelmingly approved all matters presented, including the extension of the maturity date from February 28, 2017 to February 28, 2019. The Corporation had issued the Debentures under a debenture indenture dated February 28, 2014 (the "Indenture"). The Debentures were entitled to be voted at the Meeting on the basis of one vote for each one dollar of principal amount.The matters approved at the Meeting are to: (i) authorize CST Trust Company, as debenture trustee, to grant an extension of time for payment of principal on the Debentures from February 28th, 2017 to February 28th, 2019, (ii) amend the Indenture to allow past due and future interest to be payable through the issuance of common shares in the capital of the Corporation (the "Common Shares"), (iii) amend the Indenture to allow for conversion of the principal amount and any accrued and unpaid interest of the Debentures into Common Shares, the option of the holder, at a price per Common Share equal to $0.10 before February 28th, 2017 and $0.15 thereafter; (iv) approve the delisting of the Debentures from the TSX Venture Exchange; and (v) waive any past defaults, and direct the debenture trustee to waive any past defaults, on the part of the Corporation in complying with any and all provisions of the Indenture.The Corporation is also pleased to announce that it has extended the maturity of US $1,026,000 of 12.5% bonds from March 15, 2018 to January 1, 2019 (the "Bonds"). The Bonds were issued as part of the bond financing announced by Cyprium in March 2015. As part of the amendment of the Bonds, the Corporation was granted the option to pay all interests in common shares of the Corporation.Alain Lambert, Chairman and CEO of Cyprium commented: "I'm glad to report that 96.8% of the principal amount of debentures voted at the meeting were in favour of all matters presented. This sends a clear message of support for the company's business plan. Our objective remains to finalize in the next two weeks further extensions of the maturity date of various loans so that at least 90% of the company's loans will mature in 2019. Achieving this objective will pave the way for greater access to the equity market as well as possible corporate transactions to ensure the development of the Potosi mine and the La Chinche exploration property."Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "propose", "project", "outlook", "foresee" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Such statements include, among others, those concerning the Company's anticipated plans for developments of the Company and its mining projects". Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, management's expectations regarding future growth, plans for and completion of projects by Company's third party relationships, availability of capital, and the necessity to incur capital and other expenditures. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, operational risks in the completion of Company's anticipated projects, delays or changes in plans with respect to the development of Company's anticipated projects by Company's third party relationships, risks affecting the ability to develop projects, risks inherent in operating in foreign jurisdictions, the ability to attract key personnel, and the inability to raise additional capital. No assurances can be given that the efforts by the Company will be successful. Additional assumptions and risks are set out in detail in the Company's MD&A, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company's securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law. Investors should note that the Potosi silver mine and La Chinche property have no established mineral resources or mineral reserves as defined by NI 43-101. Although Cyprium Mining has made a production decision regarding the Potosi silver mine based on historical production records and results from recent sampling, a feasibility study of its projects has not been completed and there is no certainty that the proposed operations will be economically or technically viable. Alain Lambert, Chairman and C.E.O.E-mail: alaint@cypriummining.comRon Keenan, C.O.O.E-mail: rkeenan@cypriummining.comPhone + 1 514 915 3836Website: www.cypriummining.com TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 22, 2016) - Aberdeen International Inc. ("Aberdeen", or the "Company") (TSX:AAB) is pleased to announce that it has released its financial results for the second quarter ended July 31, 2016. Highlights: Net income for the six months ended July 31, 2016 was $12.4 million or $0.13 per basic share; Aberdeen's largest public shareholding by value, Lithium X Energy Corp., continues to trade well and closed at $2.27 per share on the TSX Venture on September 21, 2016; Completion of the NCIB by repurchasing and cancelling 6.6 million Aberdeen shares. As at July 31, 2016, Aberdeen's shareholders' equity and net asset value ("NAV") was $37.1 million, or $0.42 per share. Given the nature of Aberdeen's operations, there is currently no difference between "shareholder equity" and "net asset value" for Aberdeen. On a year-over-year basis, Aberdeen's shareholders' equity increased by $9.5 million. July 31, 2016 January 31, 2016 July 31, 2015 Shares outstanding 88,912,282 95,546,628 96,658,252 $ $/Shares $ $/Shares $ $/Shares Cash on hand 319,206 0.004 604,613 0.006 412,186 0.004 Investments Publicly traded 19,016,290 0.214 2,754,448 0.029 8,950,692 0.093 Private 17,652,452 0.199 19,322,417 0.202 15,313,996 0.158 Non-trading warrants Intrinsic value - - - 0.000 137,000 0.001 Option value 234,190 0.003 423,920 0.004 462,160 0.005 234,190 0.003 423,920 0.004 599,160 0.006 Portfolio Investments 36,902,932 0.415 22,500,785 0.235 24,863,848 0.257 Loans 2,839,640 0.032 - - - - Total 40,061,778 0.451 23,105,398 0.241 25,276,034 0.261 For the three months ended July 31, 2016, Aberdeen reported a net loss of $0.3 million or $0.00 per basic share on total revenue of $0.7 million. Revenue was comprised of $0.7 million from net investment gains, $0.1 million from interest income and advisory fees. For the three months ending July 31, 2015, Aberdeen reported a net loss of $8.6 million or $0.09 per share on total revenue of $(7.9) million ($(8.1) million from net investment losses and $0.2 million from interest and dividend income and advisory fees). For the six months ended July 31, 2016, Aberdeen reported net earnings of $12.4 million or $0.13 per share on total revenue of $14.3 million. Revenue was comprised of $14.1 million from net investment gains, $0.2 million from interest income and advisory fees. For the six months ending July 31, 2015, Aberdeen reported a net loss of $8.1 million or $0.08 per share on total revenue of $(6.3) million ($(6.8) million from net investment losses and $0.5 million from dividend income and advisory fees). Aberdeen's management is encouraged by the corporation's solid performance during the first half of 2016 and is looking forward to continuing to build on that performance through the balance of the fiscal year. Management expects that its investment in African Thunder Platinum will continue to develop as the company takes steps to complete a going public transaction. Concentrated Positions in a Few Companies Poised for Growth Aberdeen has also acquired additional equity interests in a few companies management believes are positioned for significant and transformative growth in this continuing rally in commodity stocks. Aberdeen has acquired these positions for investment purposes and, given the positive outlook for these companies, Aberdeen may acquire additional securities in the future. On September 20, 2016, Aberdeen acquired 983,000 Pitchblack Resources Ltd. ("Pitchblack") common shares through a non-brokered private placement financing. Before this private placement, Aberdeen also had certain control and direction rights in respect of Ore Acquisition Partners ("OAP"), which also holds 295,800 Pitchblack common shares. Consequently, via its direct shareholdings and its certain control and direction rights in respect of OAP, Aberdeen can be considered to have ownership, control or direction over an aggregate of 1,278,800 Pitchblack common shares, which represents approximately 19.96% of the outstanding common shares. Aberdeen also holds 6,800,000 common shares and 2,400,000 share purchase warrants of Fura Emeralds. Each warrant provides Aberdeen with a right to acquire one Fura common share at a price of $0.17 at any time prior to June 23, 2017. Upon exercise of these warrants, Aberdeen would hold 9,200,000 Fura common shares, which would represent about 24.8% of the outstanding common shares. Aberdeen has covenanted to the TSX Venture Exchange that it will not exercise any warrants if such exercise would result in Aberdeen holding more than 20% of the outstanding Fura common shares. Aberdeen has also acquired a significant shareholding in Kombat Copper Inc. as it holds 9,205,000 common shares and 10,000,000 share purchase warrants. Each Kombat warrant entitles Aberdeen to acquire one common share at a price of $0.10 until February 17, 2017. Upon exercise of these warrants, Aberdeen would hold 19,205,000 Kombat common shares, which would represent approximately 13.2% of the outstanding Kombat common shares. For a copy of any early warning report regarding these investments, please contact Ryan Ptolemy at +1.416.861.5882. Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB") During the six months ended July 31, 2016, the Company purchased and cancelled 6,634,346 shares at an average price of $0.18. The Company has now completed its NCIB for the year. ABOUT ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL Aberdeen International is a global resource investment company and merchant bank focused on small capitalization companies in the mining and metals sector. African Thunder Platinum, Aberdeen's premiere investment, is a lower-cost platinum group metals project in South Africa's well-known Bushveld Complex. Aberdeen has further enhanced its investment holdings with its holding of 50% of Potasio y Litio de Argentina SA, which holds the Sal de los Angeles lithium project in Argentina. For additional information, please visit our website at www.aberdeeninternational.ca and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and check out Aberdeen's YouTube Channel. Cautionary Notes Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding the financial results of Aberdeen; past success as an indicator of future success; net asset value of the Company; the potential of investee companies and the appreciation of their share price; the future intentions of the Company with regard to its investments; the Company's plan of business operations; and anticipated returns. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, financing risks, acquisition risks, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2016 Galane Gold Ltd. ("Galane Gold" or the "Company") (TSX-V: GG) is pleased to announce that Ringler Consulting and Research GmbH has initiated coverage of the Company in a research report released today. The full report is available at http://mining-research.de/research-berichte-2. About Galane Gold Galane Gold is an un-hedged gold producer and explorer with mining operations and exploration tenements in Botswana and South Africa. Galane Gold is a public company and its shares are quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange and the Botswana Stock Exchange under the symbol "GG". Galane Gold's management team is comprised of senior mining professionals with extensive experience in managing mining and processing operations and large-scale exploration programmes. Galane Gold is committed to operating at world-class standards and is focused on the safety of its employees, respecting the environment, and contributing to the communities in which it operates. Cautionary Notes Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's future financial position and results of operations, strategy, proposed acquisitions, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "plan", "continue", "will", "may", "would", "anticipate", "estimate", "forecast", "predict", "project", "seek", "should" or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to: the Company's dependence on two mineral projects; gold price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Botswana and South Africa; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to the Company's exploration, development and mining activities being situated in Botswana and South Africa; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks arising from the Company's fair value estimates with respect to the carrying amount of mineral interests; mining tax regimes; risks arising from holding derivative instruments; the Company's need to replace reserves depleted by production; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; lack of infrastructure; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; health risks in Africa; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; risks related to restarting production; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; development of the Company's exploration properties into commercially viable mines; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; risks related to the market perception of junior gold companies; and litigation risk. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Galane Gold Ltd. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 22, 2016) - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:MMV) is pleased to announce that that Trevor Thomas has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors, effective September 21, 2016. Mr. Thomas has over twenty years' experience practicing as a lawyer in the areas of corporate commercial, corporate finance, securities and mining law, both in private practice and in-house positions. Most recently, Mr. Thomas has worked as in-house legal counsel for Hunter Dickinson Inc. ("HD") for the past 10 years and currently acts as General Counsel for HD, and as Corporate Secretary for a number of the member companies within the HD group of companies. In connection with his appointment, the Company has granted Mr. Thomas options to acquire 250,000 common shares of the Company at a price of CAD $0.455 for a period of five years. About Mineral Mountain Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd., through its wholly owned subsidiary Mineral Mountain Resources (SD) Inc., is focused on the systematic exploration using modern methods and, if warranted, the development of its 100%-owned Rochford Gold Project situated a short distance from the highly prospective Homestake Mine within the same Belt located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, U.S.A. The Rochford Project, which is continuously expanding, covers approximately 5,500 acres and straddles several bands of auriferous iron formation over a 9 km strike length and across a 4 km stratigraphic width. The Rochford Gold District geologically is remarkably similar to the Homestake Mine and largely under-explored. The Rochford Project is located near Rapid City where it is easily accessed by a network of roads and has hydro-electricity and modern internet services to the drill sites. As well, the area offers a skilled labor force and is one of the lowest cost exploration areas in the United States. South Dakota has a low political risk and embraces responsible mineral development. On Behalf of the Board of Directors MINERAL MOUNTAIN RESOURCES LTD. "Nelson W. Baker", President and CEO Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities laws. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, constitute forward looking-information. Forward looking information consists of statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions, such information does not constitute guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information. Factors that cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking information include gold prices, results of exploration and development activities, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government approvals, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The Company cautions the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on the Company's forward-looking information should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information. TSXV: NEV VANCOUVER, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp. ("Nevada Sunrise" or the "Company") (TSXV: NEV) is pleased to announce the signing of a definitive joint venture agreement dated September 21, 2016 on the Gemini Lithium Project ("Gemini", or the "Project"), a 50-50 joint venture with Eureka Resources Inc. ("Eureka"") (TSXV: EUK). Nevada Sunrise acquired Gemini in the Lida Valley, Esmeralda County, Nevada, by claim staking in November and December 2015 and later optioned a 50% interest to Eureka in January 2016 (see Nevada Sunrise news release dated January 21, 2016). In August 2016, Nevada Sunrise granted Advantage Lithium Corp. (TSXV: AAL) (formerly North South Petroleum Corp., now "Advantage") an option for Advantage to earn a 50% interest in Gemini as part of a transaction involving five Nevada lithium exploration properties. Upon exercise of the option earn-in by Advantage, Nevada Sunrise would relinquish its 50% interest in Gemini, and retain a 2% gross overriding royalty (for further information on the Advantage transaction, see Nevada Sunrise news release dated June 20, 2016). About Gemini Nevada Sunrise owns a 50% participating interest in Gemini, located in the western Lida Valley, Esmeralda County, in south central Nevada, approximately 40 kilometres (26 miles) from North America's only producing lithium mine at Silver Peak. Gemini currently consists of 247 placer claims totaling 4,940 acres (2,000 hectares). Gemini is situated in a flat, desert basin hosting two interpreted sub-basins and with a similar geological setting to the Clayton Valley. Recent geophysical work at Gemini has outlined conductive zones interpreted as brine horizons, which the Company plans to test by drilling. The exploration program for Gemini is estimated to cost approximately US$400,000. Nevada Sunrise is pleased that all of the pre-requisites to commence a drilling program at Gemini have been completed, including receipt of the drilling permit from the Bureau of Land Management, the placement of a reclamation bond, and surficial cultural studies. For further information on Gemini including a map showing its location, see the Company's website under "Projects-Nevada Lithium" at: http://www.nevadasunrise.ca/projects/nevadalithium/ John R. Kerr, P. Eng., is the Company's designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. About Nevada Sunrise Nevada Sunrise is a junior mineral exploration company with a strong technical team based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, that holds interests in nine mineral exploration projects in the State of Nevada, USA. Nevada Sunrise began acquisitions of Nevada lithium properties in September 2015, which include options to earn 100% interests in the Neptune and Clayton Northeast projects, and a 100% interest in the Aquarius project, all located in the Clayton Valley area. The Company also holds options to earn 100% interests in the Jackson Wash and Atlantis projects, and has a 50% participating interest in the Gemini project, each located in playas proximal to the Clayton Valley. The Company has optioned five of Nevada lithium projects to Advantage Lithium Corp., and a sixth, the Atlantis project, is currently under option to American Lithium Corp. (TSXV: LI). The Company's three key gold assets include a 21% interest in a joint venture with Pilot Gold Inc. (TSX: PLG) at Kinsley Mountain near Wendover, a 100% interest in the Golden Arrow project near Tonopah, and the right to earn a 100% interest in the Roulette gold property at the southeastern extremity of the Carlin trend near Ely, with each of the properties subject to certain production royalties. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp. ("Nevada Sunrise") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements that address future mineral production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, the future price of lithium, potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, potential size of a mineralized zone, potential expansion of mineralization, the timing and results of future resource estimates, or other study, proposed exploration and development of its exploration properties and the estimation of mineral resources. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Nevada Sunrise to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the interpretation and actual results of historical exploration at the Gemini property, reliance on technical information provided by third parties on any of our exploration properties, including access to historical information on the Gemini property, current exploration and development activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2016, which is available under Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Nevada Sunrise has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Nevada Sunrise disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and accordingly are subject to change after such date. Except as otherwise indicated by Nevada Sunrise, these statements do not reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring or other special items or of any dispositions, monetizations, mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or other transactions that may be announced or that may occur after the date hereof. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Nevada Sunrise does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are included in this document, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release. The Securities of Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp. have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to the account or benefit of any U.S. person. SOURCE Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 22, 2016) - THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. NEWS AGENCIES Asante Gold Corp. (CSE:ASE)(FRANKFURT:1A9)(OTCBB:ASGOF) ("Asante" or the "Company") announces its intention to complete an exploration campaign and working capital private placement ("Private Placement") of up to 5,555,555 units of the Company at $0.18 per unit (each a "Unit") for aggregate gross proceeds of $1 million. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one half of a transferrable Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.25 for twenty four (24) months from the closing date of the Private Placement. In the event that the Private Placement is oversubscribed, the Company may increase the placement by up to 25%. Proceeds from the private placement will be used for general working capital, including drilling and other work programs on the Company's Keyhole, Betenase, Fahiakoba and Kubi projects in Ghana. Finder's fees may be payable on a portion of the offering. All securities purchased under this offering will be subject to a four month and one day hold period. Certain directors and officers of the Company may participate in the private placement. Any such participation would be considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The transaction would be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of any units issued to or the consideration paid by such persons would not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Douglas R. MacQuarrie, President & CEO states, "We plan on commencing an initial drill program on the MEM showing at our Keyhole project at the earliest opportunity. This showing has extensive artisanal workings, and to our knowledge has never been drilled. Historical underground sampling results of quartz reefs have reportedly graded to 8 metres of 25g/t Au (please see our news release: www.asantegold.com/news/asante-acquires-strategically-located-keyhole-gold-project-ghana). Geophysical surveys to outline additional targets in the vicinity of the showing will also commence, to be tested by an expected Phase 2 drill program." On behalf of the Board, Douglas R. MacQuarrie, President and CEO About Asante Gold Corporation Asante Gold Corp. is a Vancouver based gold company, developing the Kubi Gold Project as a potential near term 500tpd underground mine; and exploring the Betenase, Fahiakoba, Keyhole and, pending closing, the Ashanti II concessions, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines and near the centre of Ghana's Golden Triangle. This news release contains statements of forward-looking information (or "FLI") including those in respect of future exploration, development, permitting and mining at Kubi and the other properties in which the Company has an interest, financings, requisite shareholder approvals and timing for closing of the options. FLI involves risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to vary from the FLI. The risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: the risk of failure to obtain sufficient financing; the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties; the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other exploration data; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the geology, grade and continuity of mineralization; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; accidents, equipment breakdowns, labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in production and operations; the availability and costs of suitable toll milling facilities; fluctuating prices of metals and other commodities; currency fluctuations; the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability and the lack of any assurance that the Company will receive all of the necessary governmental title and approvals to proceed with the development of its projects. The material factors and assumptions on which the FLI is based include the extensive Kubi drilling database and current mineral resource estimate, the previously successful permitting, mining, trucking and milling operations at Kubi, the local availability of skilled labor, plant and machinery, and the positive results from previous metallurgical tests on the Kubi Main deposit mineralization. The Company undertakes no obligation to update FLI except as required by applicable law. Such information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on FLI. Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Vancouver, September 22, 2016 - Dajin Resources Corp. ("Dajin") (TSX-V: DJI) (OTC: DJIFF) (Frankfurt: A1XF20) is pleased to announce that it has retained Welsh Hagen Associates, (Reno, Nevada), to provide engineering services at Dajin's 100% owned Teels Marsh Lithium brine project located in Mineral County, Nevada. With the seismic survey now complete, drill targets have been chosen and will be permitted under the Bureau of Land Management Notice of Intent (NOI) procedures. This exploration phase will focus on five acres - the maximum allowable disturbance under a NOI. Road construction and drill pad design is underway to access two sites on the playa surface. A water well will also be drilled to provide water for construction and drilling. Capuano Engineering (Santa Rosa, California) has prepared well design proposals to be used in discussions with drilling companies. Dajin plans to drill two wells from each pad. A shallow well will test the stratigraphy down to 500 feet and a second well will drill deeper to test deeper targets. The drilling results, in conjunction with the high resolution seismic survey and structural interpretation, will provide data to constrain any resource estimate calculated following drilling. Dajin's geophysical and geological analysis has confirmed that the playa is over 6,500 feet (2,000 metres) deep. Within the playa a number of strong reflectors are present from shallow to deep levels. The nature of these strong reflectors will be confirmed during this drilling campaign. These reflectors may indicate interstratified accumulations of volcanic ash and sands, gravels, evaporites and other types of sedimentary deposits. Volcanic ash deposits from Long Valley Caldera (called the Bishop Tuff) are likely to be found in the marsh due to the size of the catchment basin (313 square miles or 812 square kilometers) and its proximity to Long Valley. These ash layers have proven to be productive brine sources in Clayton Valley, where the only North American lithium brine deposit is being mined by Rockwood Lithium Inc. (owned by Albemarle Corp.). The technical information in this press release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements of National Instrument 43-101 and has been reviewed and approved on behalf of Dajin Resources Corp. by Dajin Director, Dr. Catherine Hickson, P. Geo, a Qualified Person. About Dajin: (www.dajin.ca) Dajin is an energy metals exploration company holding a 100% interest in 294 placer claims known to contain Lithium and Boron values in the Teels Marsh region of Mineral County, Nevada. These claims, which cover 5,853 acres (2,369 hectares), are adjacent to the birth place of US Borax Corp's first borax mine. Dajin also holds 191 placer claims covering 3,851 acres (1,558 hectares) in the Alkali Lake region of Esmeralda County, Nevada. Dajin has entered into an option agreement with Nevada Energy Metals Inc. to explore these claims located 7 miles (12 kilometers) northeast of Rockwood's Clayton Valley Lithium operation. In Argentina, Dajin holds a 100% interest in concessions or concession applications in Jujuy Province, that were acquired in regions known to contain brines with Potassium, Lithium and Boron values. These concessions total approximately 93,000 hectares (230,000 acres) and are located in the Salinas Grandes/Guayatayoc salt lakes basin adjacent to concessions held by Orocobre Ltd.. Dajin has signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding with Lithium S Corporation ("Lithium S") whereby Lithium S has been granted an option to earn a 51% interest in Dajin's lithium properties in Argentina by making a payment of CDN $1.0M and expending a total of CDN$2.0M on the properties. http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2016/21/c5536.html DAJIN RESOURCES CORP. Brian Findlay, President & CEO The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. All figures presented in Canadian Dollars, unless specified otherwise VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 22, 2016) - NOT FOR DISSEMINATION INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES Atlantic Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AGB) ("Atlantic" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of a bought deal private placement financing for gross proceeds of $5,747,700 (the "Brokered Offering") through the issuance of 5,474,000 flow-through common shares of the Company at a price of $1.05 per share (the "Offering Price") led by National Bank Financial Inc. ("NBF"), and including Haywood Securities Inc. (together, the "Underwriters"). The Brokered Offering was originally announced on September 1, 2016 for gross proceeds of $4,998,000. The Underwriters subsequently exercised the Underwriter's option to raise an additional $749,700. The Company also announces the completion of a non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of $3,449,828 (the "Non-Brokered Offering", together with the Brokered Offering, the "Offerings") through the issuance of 3,285,550 flow-through common shares of the Company at the Offering Price. The Non-Brokered Offering was also originally announced on September 1, 2016 for gross proceeds of $2,999,850. The over-allotment option was subsequently exercised to raise an additional $449,978. The proceeds from the Offerings will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) on the Company's properties in the Province of Nova Scotia (the "Qualifying Expenditures"). Specifically, the proceeds will be used in conjunction with the Company's resource definition drilling program on the Company's Cochrane Hill and Fifteen Mile Stream deposits and regional drilling program on other exploration prospects within Nova Scotia, as originally announced on September 8, 2016. The Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2016, in the aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of the gross proceeds raised from the Offerings. In consideration for the services of the Underwriters under the Brokered Offering, the Underwriters received a cash commission equal to 5% of the gross proceeds raised under the Brokered Offering. The securities issued by the Company in connection with the Offerings are subject to a 4-month "hold period" as prescribed by the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable securities laws. Insiders of the Company purchased an aggregate of 3,235,550 flow-through common shares and, accordingly, the Non-Brokered Offering is a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuance of flow through common shares to insiders is exempt from the valuation requirements and the minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemptions in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, since the fair market value of the consideration for the flow through common shares issued to insiders did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Steven Dean, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this press release, and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding discussions of future plans, guidance, projections, objectives, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the activities contemplated in this news release. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements related to the use of proceeds from the Offerings and timing for the Qualifying Expenditures being renounced to the subscribers. The forward looking statements in this news release involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results may vary. Important factors that may cause actual results to vary include without limitation, the timing and receipt of certain approvals, changes in commodity and power prices, changes in interest and currency exchange rates, risks inherent in exploration estimates and results, timing and success, inaccurate geological and metallurgical assumptions (including with respect to the size, grade and recoverability of mineral reserves and resources), changes in development or mining plans due to changes in logistical, technical or other factors, unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications, cost escalation, unavailability of materials, equipment and third party contractors, delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), political risk, social unrest, and changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the assumptions that: (1) market fundamentals will result in sustained gold demand and prices; (2) the receipt of any necessary approvals and consents in connection with the development of any properties; (3) the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of any mineral properties; and (4) sustained commodity prices such that any properties put into operation remain economically viable. Information concerning mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates also may be considered forward-looking statements, as such information constitutes a prediction of what mineralization might be found to be present if and when a project is actually developed. Certain of the risks and assumptions are described in more detail in the Company's audited financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the Company's unaudited financial statements and MD&A for the period ended June 30, 2016 on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. The actual results or performance by the Company could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements relating to those matters. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company. Except as required by law, the Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. SHARE By Alison Young, USA TODAY Government regulators have no idea how often laboratories working with some of the world's most dangerous viruses and bacteria are failing to fully kill vials of specimens before sending them to other researchers who lack critical gear to protect them against infection, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office. The risks to scientists, shipping companies and the public became the subject of international scrutiny last year when it was discovered that an Army lab in Utah had unwittingly made 575 shipments of still-live anthrax specimens labeled as killed to 194 labs and contractors around the world from 2004 through 2015. Yet GAO investigators found it was impossible to determine how often this kind of problem occurs in public and private labs nationwide, in large part because the incident reporting forms used by federal regulators and other oversight agencies aren't designed to capture and track this kind of problem. In addition, not all pathogens are covered by federal incident reporting requirements. The result: Federal officials can't easily search their databases, making it difficult for them to understand the magnitude of the problem, spot trends and ensure corrective actions are being taken to prevent future accidents, the GAO found. "We've averted disaster for some time, but it's going to become a question of when and not if," Reps. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Tim Murphy, R-Pa., who have been investigating safety and security issues at U.S. laboratories, said in a statement. "This report sounds the alarm," they said, that federal regulators lack important reporting of such incidents and don't have clear and consistent criteria on how to handle them. Upton is chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and Murphy chairs the committee's oversight and investigations subcommittee. The committee, which provided a copy of the unpublished GAO report to USA TODAY, is scheduled to hold a hearing Friday. A USA TODAY Network investigation last year revealed hundreds of safety accidents at corporate, university, government and military labs nationwide. It also exposed a system of fragmented federal oversight and pervasive secrecy that obscures failings by facilities and regulators. The GAO, the nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress, notes in the new report that it has raised concerns for years about limited oversight of high-containment biological laboratories, those working with some of the most dangerous pathogens, such as anthrax bacteria and Ebola virus. While some previous recommendations have been followed, the report says the U.S. still lacks a national strategy to identify the risks associated with the expansion in this kind of research since the 2001 anthrax attacks, and there is still no single entity designated for providing coordinated oversight. The new GAO report recommends that the Federal Select Agent Program, which oversees biodefense research with certain "select agent" pathogens that could be used as bioterror weapons, revise incident reporting forms, improve guidance for kill methods, and develop consistent criteria for taking enforcement actions. The program, which is jointly run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, agreed with the GAO's recommendations, the report said. "Without more comprehensive guidance protocols will vary in their scientific soundness, increasing the risk of incomplete inactivation," the GAO said. Letter to the Editor: Vote your values Dr. David R. Currie writes that public education, health care, economy and religious freedom are important topics to consider as election day nears SHARE By Jennifer Rios Stories generated from inside the walls of Blaine's Pub spilled out at the end of funeral services for the man who created the bar and filled it with Texas Country artists. Nearly 500 people - some in suits, others with cowboy hats clutched to their hearts - paid their last respects to Blaine Martin on Wednesday at Johnson's Funeral Home. Father Charles Greenwell of the Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart delivered the service. Martin, 53, died in his bed Sunday morning at his home in Arlington. His family members, who lived in San Angelo for about 30 years, came home to be near friends and family. Martin, the former owner of Blaine's Pub and the person responsible for organizing the San Angelo Picnic for nine years, is survived by his wife and two children. Jackie Martin and her son Joe, 18, called close friends Jimmy Lee Jones and Johnny Bush to help put together music for the service. As a result, slow country music took the place of traditional hymns - versions of "Amazing Grace," "I'll Fly Away" and "Pico de Gallo." Joe said the last song was picked because Blaine always requested it when he saw Jimmy. A slide show at the front of the room showed photos of family and friends, and in the vestibule, more were framed. Sitting on the same table was a flier, asking those who wished to make a gift in Martin's name to do so to his favorite organization - the Tom Green County 4-H. As the service ended, many headed for 10 W. Harris Ave., where the iconic pub bearing Blaine's name was holding a fundraiser for the 4-H scholarship fund that also bears his name. Martin hosted fundraisers for several organizations around town, and hosted two scholarships for 4-H - one for a boy and one for a girl. At the service, his friends talked about his willingness to help a stranger just as quickly as he would help a friend. Joe said one of the reasons Martin had such a generous hand was because of his own financial struggle growing up. "Growing up, he never had a lot," Joe said. "So that's what always made him want to give." Joe, his mom and sister each have a small urn they plan to keep so they always have him with them. Martin wanted the rest of the ashes spread at the Spring Creek Marina on Lake Nasworthy where he and Jackie met. His family planned to follow his request. "He said he wanted to be put in a coffee can," Joe said, but added that was just his dad joking. Everyone who shared stories at the funeral remembered Martin's jokes. Jim Ryan, one of the three family friends who spoke, had people laughing through their tears as he told stories about what kind of a jokester Martin was. On a fishing trip to Alaska, Ryan said, he and Martin saw other men with bells attached to them, and carrying pistols, explaining it was for the bears. When the men asked the two what they had for protection, Martin piped up that he had a jar of honey. "If I see a bear, I'm gonna squirt Ryan with honey and take off running," Martin told them. Everyone who knew him has his or her own "Blaine stories," Ryan said during the service, and will hang on to them as long as they can. The Blaine Martin file * Born: Oct. 26, 1955, Bartlesville, Okla. * Married: Jackie Willberg, Aug. 21, 1978 * Established Blaine's Pub: 1997 * Established San Angelo Picnic: 1998 * Profession: Engineer, entrepreneur. * Died: Jan. 25, 2009, Arlington, Texas. SHARE Truan will be director of the Permanent School Fund Income Division. New land position aims for more public ed funds By Matthew Waller AUSTIN In college, Rene Truan stayed in the back of the room soaking in Senate hearings. He was observing while his father, the late state Sen. Carlos Truan of Corpus Christi, guided the legislative process. Years later Rene Truan took his fathers statewide service to heart in particular a care for education. Rene Truan has worked for 25 years at the General Land Office, which endows Texas public schools. Family was extremely important to him, Truan said of his father. Understanding what public service was about was important to him. Education was important to him. Carlos Truan, a Democrat, served 34 years in the House and Senate, and he was the first Hispanic member to become the Dean of the Senate, the most senior member. He died in 2012, having been a pioneer for bilingual education in Texas. Now Rene Truan is part of a division of the General Land Office that aims to get more money for the education that his father prioritized. The General Land Office has sundry duties, everything from taking care of beaches to raising money for education through state-owned land with oil and gas leases. The General Land Office just got a new statewide elected commissioner, George P. Bush, the only Hispanic to hold statewide office and a rising GOP star. Bush is the nephew of former President George W. Bush and son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. His mother is Hispanic. As the new land commissioner who will take office in January, Bush has announced plans to consolidate departments. Rene Truan is going to be director of the Permanent School Fund Income Division, which combines three other divisions to increase efficiencies and reduce administrative redundancies, according to a General Land Office release. Its a consolidation of our resources and our efforts, Truan said. Now Truan will try to get more funds for education, although how much more is too early to call, Truan said. Im excited about the challenges ahead, Truan said. We have a great program right now, and we put so much money in the Permanent School Fund. The Permanent School Fund endows the Available School Fund, which in turn goes toward funding the Foundation School Program, the main way public schools are funded. The Permanent School Fund holds about $38 billion now, Truan said, the largest educational endowment in the country. Chandra Villanueva, with the progressive Center for Public Policy Priorities think tank in Austin, said the Available School Fund money that goes to education is a small slice of the overall Foundation School Program, about 6.4 percent of the program. Recently the Available School Fund sent $2.6 billion, while lottery proceeds also go to the fund at about $2 billion, for instance. The Foundation School Program, at about $20 billion per year, is only half of what is spent on schools. The rest comes from local property taxes. The state can also use the Permanent School Fund money for bonds for facilities funding, she said. Truan said he hopes to be able to grow the Permanent School Fund by keeping abreast of what the market is doing and getting the best value for the state, and Bush gave Truan general accolades for his long service. Rene Truan is the perfect choice to lead the Permanent School Fund Income Division and to oversee the realignment we are implementing, Bush said in a news release. From his days as a college intern to his new senior management position, Mr. Truan has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the GLO and serving the people of Texas. Truan lives outside of Austin in Round Rock, although his mother and sisters still live in Corpus Christi. Truan attended Incarnate Word Academy and graduated from Richard King High School. He attended the University of Texas and Texas State University, graduating with a political science and economics degree from TSU. Matthew Waller covers state news as the Scripps Austin Bureau chief. Contact him at matthew.waller@scripps.com or follow him on Twitter @waller_matthew. Doyle McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Readers may send him email at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com. SHARE In 2008, when Hillary Clinton first ran for the Democratic presidential nomination against Barack Obama, I asked one of her oldest allies how she could be losing a race that appeared to be hers to win. "I've known Hillary for many years, ever since she came to Arkansas," former Sen. Dale Bumpers told me. "She'll find a way to screw it up. She always does." Eight years later, the conventional wisdom is that Clinton is a much better candidate. She learned hard lessons from her failure in 2008; her campaign this year is smarter and less chaotic. And she isn't running against Obama, a once-in-a-century political talent; she's running against an ill-disciplined rookie, Donald Trump. And yet, as Clinton's poll numbers have sagged, Democrats have started freaking out: What if the Clinton of 2016 is just as error-prone as the Clinton of 2008? Others have piled on with less reticence. "Antibiotics can take care of pneumonia," former Obama adviser David Axelrod wrote, referring to Clinton's brief health crisis. "What's the cure for an unhealthy penchant for privacy that repeatedly creates unnecessary problems?" But while Democrats are right to be worried, they're wrong to be panicked. This presidential race was always going to be close. Clinton is still in the lead, even if her margin has narrowed. Last week, the average of national polls compiled by the RealClearPolitics website showed Clinton winning 46 percent of the popular vote to 44 percent for Trump. If Democrats and Republicans behave as they do in most campaigns, they'll stick with their respective parties' candidates by massive margins and the outcome should be a close win for Clinton. In truth, the polls are doing exactly what campaign strategists on both sides expected: narrowing as Election Day nears. Clinton won a "bounce" from a successful Democratic convention in July; in August, that average of national polls stood at 48 percent-40 percent. Now, more than a month later, the margin has returned roughly to where it stood before the two conventions. Besides, Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster who isn't working for Clinton, noted that the "fundamentals" of this year's election a sluggish economy, a party seeking its third term in office always made it an uphill climb for Clinton. "Were it not for Donald Trump, this was set up as a good year for Republicans," he said. I don't mean to suggest that Clinton hasn't screwed up. She has. In the short term, Clinton's missteps her speech calling half of Trump's supporters "deplorables," her decision to keep her pneumonia secret until after she appeared to collapse probably contributed to her swoon in the polls. But she has also announced a strategy to reboot her campaign: a shift to positive themes instead of negatives about Trump. That shouldn't sound like an innovation but this year, it is. Meanwhile, Trump seems to have heard much the same advice from his new campaign advisers and has improved, too. He's given a series of policy speeches on topics from the economy to child care, a stark contrast to the freewheeling Trump who won his primary campaign mostly by belittling rivals. A major test will come in the candidates' first debate on Monday. In theory, Clinton should have the advantage. She knows more about policy than Trump, to put it mildly. She has more experience talking about how she would actually govern. She's less likely to resort to name-calling. The test for Trump, remaining within the chalklines his advisers have sketched out, looks tougher. Clinton has other advantages in the campaign's final stage. She has more high-level surrogates to argue her case, from Obama and Bill Clinton to Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren; Trump's wingmen, Rudy Giuliani and Chris Christie, don't compare. She has a larger and more professional campaign organization to make sure Democratic voters get to the polls. "The biggest challenge she's going to have is turnout," David Plouffe, Obama's former campaign manager, said last week. "I think they'll get there." "To win he's got to get historic republican turnout, get historically bad democratic turnout, and win the center," he added. "I don't see any evidence of that." My bet is that Plouffe is right, and that Clinton is going to prove Dale Bumpers wrong. She's a better candidate now; she's still likely to win. But she's also going to keep Democrats fighting off panic attacks for the next seven weeks right up until Election Day. Doyle McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Contact him at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com SHARE David Sedeno, Dallas I grew up in San Angelo and, in fact, my byline appeared on the pages of this newspaper years ago on many stories, particularly those about the community. I've been away for more than 30 years, but recently returned for the funeral of my uncle Eliseo "Chayo" Flores. And now I find myself writing about the community again. Because of another event in the gym at the Catholic church where my uncle's funeral Mass was celebrated, we were scrambling to find an appropriate location for his post-funeral reception. Like the story of the Holy Family searching for lodging for the fortuitous birth of a child, I called numerous places, looking for a large-enough venue so that the numerous family members, some of who had not seen each other in years, could come together to remember and celebrate our beloved uncle's life. In the end, it was the great people at First United Methodist Church who found a way to make its gymnasium available. The caveat: They did not want a dime for the rental, apologizing that the floors were worn and that the roof surely would leak if it rained. The rain did come the night prior to the reception, but custodian Joe Torres put in extra hours to clean up the wet floors so that it would be dry in time for us to use it. As Catholics celebrating the Year of Mercy, we recognize these gestures of kindness as emblematic of our Christian faith. This community should celebrate the lessons of compassion and embracement of ecumenism that First United Methodist Church teaches its congregation particularly its youth and young adults, the community's future generation of leaders. Republican gubernatorial challenger Bill Bryant on Wednesday sought to turn festering problems at a state psychiatric hospital into a central campaign issue, calling Gov. Jay Inslee's record one of "mounting incompetence."During a news conference at his south Seattle campaign headquarters, Bryant displayed 25,000 keys on a table -- the number of master keys that were found to be missing from Western State Hospital, according to a critical report on security lapses at the state facility.Tracing a litany of problems over many years, which have put the mental hospital's federal funding in jeopardy, Bryant accused Inslee of poor management and even deception."The cumulative evidence woven together reveals negligence and incompetence at best and an election-year cover-up at worst," he said, pointing to Western's decision to pull out of an accreditation program without informing the public or hospital staff.Jaime Smith, a spokeswoman for the governor's office, said Western State officials "needed to do a better job" when it came to disclosing to staff that it had withdrawn from the accreditation program. She denied a cover-up was intended.In a statement, Inslee campaign spokesman Jamal Raad shot back at Bryant, calling his attacks "a desperate press stunt from a faltering campaign that has failed to gain any traction with Washington voters."He added that Inslee has fought to restore mental-health funding that had been slashed during the Great Recession.Inslee publicly fired Western State's CEO Ron Adler in April after an accused murderer and another patient escaped from the 800-bed Pierce County facility. That was only the latest in a litany of problems including assaults on staff and patients.Bryant argued Inslee's actions were too little, too late, citing a Department of Corrections investigation into security lapses at the hospital. The report was finished months ago but only became public last week after it was obtained by The Associated Press following a public-records request.In addition to the missing master keys, inspectors found tools used to open patient windows had been misplaced and faulted management for failing to recognize security risks that could jeopardize public safety. The problems were similar to those that had been called out in a security assessment six years earlier, the report noted.Bryant did not roll out any detailed plan on how he'd fix Western State but said he'd have acted more swiftly and would have accepted bipartisan reforms contained in legislation approved by the Legislature this year.Inslee vetoed sections of that bill, including one that would have allowed highly trained psychiatric nurses to perform more work at the hospital in an effort to combat a staffing shortage.In his veto message, Inslee said he agreed with that goal but objected to the bill changing the state's existing process for creating such new staff classifications.Raad noted Bryant has failed to unveil a long-promised education plan to deal with the state's underfunding of public schools, despite talking about possibly releasing one this week.Asked about that at the news conference, Bryant said he was still "talking with a lot of people" but gave no timetable.Inslee and Bryant are scheduled to meet in their second televised gubernatorial debate on Monday at Seattle University. North Dakota will offer an affidavit to voters who don't bring an identification to the polls, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland's order comes roughly a month and a half after he said North Dakota couldn't implement its voter ID laws without offering some kind of "fail-safe" mechanism. Seven members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa sued Secretary of State Al Jaeger in January, arguing the voter ID laws passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2013 and 2015 disproportionately burden Native Americans.The 2013 change eliminated the option to use an affidavit, which voters could use to swear they were a qualified elector in a particular precinct, as well as the ability for poll workers to vouch for a voter's eligibility.The order Hovland handed down Tuesday requires the state to offer an affidavit if a voter is not able to provide a valid form of ID. It also lists a current North Dakota driver's license, a non-driver's identification card, a tribal government-issued ID and a long-term care certificate as valid forms of ID, which reflects current law.Hovland's order came less than two months before the Nov. 8 election. Jim Silrum, the deputy secretary of state, said the order gives election workers some "clarity."The plaintiffs submitted a proposed order in late August that allowed for poll worker verification, affidavits and more forms of ID to be used at the polls. Still, Matthew Campbell, an attorney for the tribal members, said they were "pleased" the judge ordered the state to provide a "fail-safe" mechanism."We were hoping that he would go back to the old system that was in place before the new voter ID laws, but he chose to allow the state to go forward with only the affidavit fail-safe system, which we are definitely pleased with," he said.The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party issued a statement Tuesday evening criticizing the state for its proposed order, filed in late August, because it didn't include the poll worker voucher option. Hovland ultimately didn't include the voucher system in his order."This is another attempt by Republicans to restrict the voting rights of those North Dakotans who are most likely to use the voucher system," the party's executive director, Robert Haider, said in a statement. "It's no coincidence that the Native voters who are more likely to be disenfranchised by the secretary of state's proposal are the same voters who are less likely to support the Republican agenda."But in an Aug. 31 court filing, the state argued that "poll worker vouching is riddled with opportunities for allegations of abuse and discrimination" that can undermine the election process, incite litigation and "destroy voter confidence in the fairness of the process."Also, even when done completely properly, poll worker verification is not available to all voters, as neighborhoods are increasingly becoming places where people do not know their neighbors well enough to vouch for all of them," the state said, adding that the voucher system provides "no real functional benefit that is not already covered by affidavits." The Kentucky Supreme Court dealt a decisive blow to Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's executive power Thursday, finding that he exceeded his statutory authority by cutting state universities' budgets by 2 percent this spring, after the General Assembly had already appropriated their funding.The 5-2 ruling reverses a May 18 decision by Franklin Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate, who said the state's universities and colleges are part of the executive branch of government and that Bevin has the power to reduce budget allotments to units within that branch.Kentucky's high court disagreed, concluding that whatever power Bevin has to reduce spending "does not extend to universities, which the legislature has made independent bodies politic with control over their own expenditures."The ruling said Bevin's executive order "effectively intercepted the funds before they became available to the universities.""By reducing the final quarterly allotment, the governor has essentially frustrated the overall appropriation by the General Assembly," the opinion says. "Money that the General Assembly made available to the universities through its appropriations was made unavailable by the governor's actions. Simply put, there is a difference between exercising an authority not to spend money once it has been made available and preventing the money from being made available to the entity that has the power to decide not to spend it."Oral arguments were held last month. Attorney General Andy Beshear, who filed suit against Bevin, said the governor violated the state constitution's separation of powers by usurping legislative power over the budget, while Bevin's general counsel, Steve Pitt, said state law allows the governor to alter financial payments to state agencies through the State Budget Office.Bevin had first ruled that universities should be cut by 4.5 percent to help prop up the state's ailing pension system, but later reduced the cut to 2 percent.In his earlier ruling, Wingate ordered the state to put $18 million _ the amount of the 2 percent cut _ in a separate account until a final decision is reached.Beshear called on Bevin Thursday to immediately release the money "he wrongfully withheld from our public colleges and universities."The court noted that universities differ from the rest of state government because appropriations are made directly to them, instead of having their bills paid through the treasurer's office.The decision also noted that "there is no question" the governor has the authority to make budget cuts specifically when there is a budget shortfall of 5 percent or less and there is a legislative budget reduction plan.The court did not address the constitutional question that Beshear raised about the separation of powers, saying the issue could be dealt with through state laws.The decision is the first resolution is a series of legal and personal skirmishes between Beshear and Bevin, including Beshear's challenge to Bevin's dissolution of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees. Bevin has also hired a private firm of lawyers to investigate the administration of Beshear's father, former Gov. Steve Beshear.Beshear called Thursday's ruling a "turning point" for Bevin."It is time for him to stop attacking, and to instead join me in building a better Kentucky," Beshear said, citing Kentucky's numerous problems with child abuse, senior citizen scams and drug abuse. "These are the problems Kentuckians expect us to address, and they are problems that all of us _ Democrats, Republicans or independents _ can address together. So I would hope that 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."Bevin's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The states highest court, tossing out a Boston mans gun conviction, ordered judges Tuesday to consider whether a black person who walks away from a police officer is attempting to avoid the recurring indignity of being racially profiled and not because the person is guilty of a crime.The Supreme Judicial Court overturned the conviction of Jimmy Warren, citing studies by the American Civil Liberties Union and Boston police, both of which found that black people were more likely to be stopped and frisked by police between 2007 and 2010.The finding that black males in Boston are disproportionately and repeatedly targeted for [what police call Field Interrogation and Observations, or stops] suggests a reason for flight totally unrelated to consciousness of guilt, Justice Geraldine Hines wrote in the courts unanimous opinion.Civil rights advocates lauded the decision, but police insisted that they did not engage in racial profiling.This is huge for advocates who have been trying to get courts to recognize racial profiling across the country, said Boston NAACP president Michael Curry. After years of insisting Chicago police could make do without adding officers, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration acknowledged Wednesday that the department needs hundreds more to combat the violence plaguing the city, announcing a plan to hire nearly 1,000 beat officers, detectives and supervisors over the next two years.Unlike previous promises to add officers to patrol by reassigning existing members of the department, Emanuel's announcement includes a complicated formula that sets a goal of reaching a net gain of 970 officers by the end of 2018. It's a tall order, given that for many years the city has not even hired enough officers to replace those who retire or leave.In addition, how the department will pay for new officers -- which will cost about $135 million annually in its early years -- remained unclear. Emanuel pledged not to raise taxes to pay for police hiring.The announcement comes as the mayor and his police department have been under intense pressure to reverse the rising tide of violence ravaging the city's most vulnerable neighborhoods -- a relentless drumbeat of grim news that has shaped a perception of the city nationally as a chaotic and dangerous place.The hiring plan includes more than 500 new police officers, and hundreds more to beef up the ranks of detectives and supervisors. Police officials said they plan to then hire new officers to replace those who are promoted. The new hiring, they insisted, would be separate from the need to hire new officers to replace those who retire or leave the department for other reasons.The hiring will begin in January, when the department starts enrolling an additional 100 recruits a month to the Police Academy, police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said."I owe you a department stronger in numbers, equipped for the 21st century, richer in skills and best practices to manage and challenge peacefully and honorably," Johnson, flanked by his top brass, said at a news conference filled with rank-and-file officers.While couching the announcement in terms such as "hiring goals," which critics said raised questions about the department's ability to actually hire the new officers, Johnson said he could not address the city's rampant violence by shifting officers from safer areas to more dangerous places."We can't rob Peter to pay Paul when it comes to the safety of our city," Johnson said. The plans announced Wednesday "will make us a bigger department, a better department and a more effective department."Emanuel's office and the Police Department did not reveal the cost of the additional officers or how the hires would be funded. Aldermen who were briefed said the mayor's aides did not tell them either. Ald. Ariel Reboyras, 30th, chairman of the City Council's Public Safety Committee, said the estimate was $135 million a year once fully implemented in 2018.The cost of a new officer is $138,000 in the first year, which includes salary, supervision and other benefits, city officials have said. So, $135 million would pay for roughly 978 officers. By the fifth year in the department, the cost of each officer including benefits rises to $180,000, with the same 978 officers then costing the city $176 million per year."There was no explanation provided to us on how it's going to be paid for," Ald. James Cappleman, 46th, said. "Alex Holt, the budget director, wanted to get back to us on that."Holt later released a statement."The budget office has been working to ensure that the 2017 budget includes these critical investments," she said in the statement. "While the 2017 budget is not yet final, we continue to identify all possible savings, reforms and sustainable funding to invest in the police department, but we won't have an increase in property tax, sales tax or gas tax."Asked how the city would pay for the extra officers, Johnson also deflected the question."Listen, I'm superintendent of police. I'm a crime fighter, that's what I do," Johnson said to laughs from his fellow officers. "I can tell you this: The mayor and I have had several conversations. He has assured me the resources he's committed to giving us will be there."Emanuel played down concerns about funding the hires, and reiterated his promise not to raise taxes to fund the plan."I'm determined that this is not a budget question. We won't raise property taxes. We won't raise taxes to pay for it," the mayor said Wednesday at an unrelated event. "We'll have the resources to meet our obligation."The prospect of hiring more officers has been off the table in previous years because of the city's budget woes -- a stance that was backed up by confident assurances from top police officials that the department could manage well without them.In Emanuel's first year in office, his new superintendent, Garry McCarthy, said the department did not need more officers even though leaders might want more officers if money wasn't a concern.When asked to address the about-face on police staffing after years of relying on overtime, Emanuel said that in previous years of his administration violence rates had been low historically for Chicago. In fact, violence rates had been uneven in the city since Emanuel took over. The homicide rate spiked in 2012 and again in 2015.This year, however, is a different story, with the murder rate on pace to match figures not seen since the crack cocaine wars that bloodied the streets in the late 1980s and 1990s. The city has already surpassed 3,000 shooting victims for the year and will most likely exceed 600 homicides for the first time in 13 years.That surge has been accompanied by a decline in the number of murder cases that are solved -- known as the clearance rate -- below a level that already trailed the national average. Adding to the pressure, the U.S. Department of Justice continues to investigate the department's oversight in the wake of a string of shootings by cops.On Wednesday, even the mayor acknowledged that circumstances had changed."What happened this year is new," Emanuel said. "So we're meeting it with a new response, which is more police, more technology, greater investment in our mentoring, our summer jobs and our after-school."One crime expert said that residents had reason to be encouraged. James Alan Fox, a criminology professor at Northeastern University in Boston, said the new police positions were a "hopeful sign" for a city such as Chicago experiencing spikes in violence. But he said where the officers are deployed will be more important for the Police Department in how it fights the violence.Fox said it will take time for newly hired officers to gain experience on the street. He also noted that there's still a chance the violent crime statistics can go down for reasons that have nothing to do with beefed-up manpower.But inaction, he said, would court trouble. "If you do nothing," he said, "there's always a tendency for it to go up."The mayor's office chose to roll out the news over multiple days leading up to a major speech Emanuel will deliver Thursday on his efforts to address the violence afflicting the city's poorest and most segregated neighborhoods.In addition to beefing up the ranks of the police, the mayor is expected to promise more resources for mentoring and educational opportunities for young people most threatened by violence."Every child will have a mentor in our 20 worst violent-crime areas and neighborhoods of the city," Emanuel said. "Because we're going to make sure not another generation falls to the grips of gangs."Johnson said that in addition to the new patrol officers, the department would increase its number of detectives by 200, which would bring the total to 1,063 -- still about 100 fewer than in 2009. The plan calls for hiring 112 new sergeants, 50 new lieutenants and 92 new field-training officers. Hiring more supervisors is likely to be among the demands that will eventually be made by the Justice Department in its ongoing investigation of Chicago police, which was prompted by the Laquan McDonald officer-involved shooting scandal.Replacing officers who retire or quit will be one of the challenges Johnson faces in implementing the plan. The department already lags behind in filling those vacancies, and union leaders and officers say that accumulation of bad press and low morale has more officers considering retiring early, seeking suburban police jobs or even a career change. Although budgeted for 12,500 officers, the current staff level is at 12,100, spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.The added officers would bring the total number officers budgeted to 13,535, Johnson said. If Johnson keeps his pledge to erase the deficit in attrition replacement, the plan would actually add 1,435 officers to the ranks.But it is attrition that poses one of the biggest challenges. In a typical year, 200 to 300 officers leave the department, Guglielmi said. He was unable to say how many officers had formally given notice of their plans to retire in the coming year, but union officials have said the figure is higher than normal. Johnson was careful to tailor some of his remarks to about 200 officers in the room Wednesday at the news conference."This is not an easy time to be a police officer," Johnson said. "The pressure to perform is greater than ever before. The cameras and phone videos means we are always constantly in the spotlight."The vacancies have been especially troubling to the detective division. The department is budgeted to have 992 detectives, but department staffing figures released by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 recently showed the detective staffing at 862. In 2009, that figure stood at more than 1,150.The impact of such losses shows up on how often killers are brought to justice.The department's 2016 homicide clearance rate is 30 percent, far lower than the rate in other cities. When homicides from other years cleared this year are removed from the equation, the clearance rate for 2016 homicides drops to 21 percent."It's time to rebuild the detective division," Johnson said.While the department will focus on hiring more officers, Johnson said he will look into jobs that can be done by civilians instead of sworn members.Chicago had about 4.4 officers per 1,000 residents, more than any of the other four largest American cities, according to FBI statistics for 2014, the most recent year available. New York had 4.1, Los Angeles 2.5, Houston 2.4 and Philadelphia 4.1.But each of those four cities had more civilian employees per capita than Chicago, the FBI statistics show. New York's civilian ranks were much higher, with 1.8 civilian employees in its police department for every 1,000 residents -- more than four times as many than Chicago.Emanuel last year took steps to address that disparity by hiring 319 new civilian Police Department employees and shifting an equal number of cops to street duty. But the city still lags the other four large cities in the number of civilian employees.The FBI statistics also show that the number of cops in Chicago declined by more than 400 -- to fewer than 12,100 -- between 2010 and 2011, the year Emanuel took office. Between then and 2014, the numbers of sworn personnel remained about 12,000.The staff level of about 12,100 is about 400 fewer than the numbers reported to the FBI in 2010, former Mayor Richard M. Daley's last full year in office.As crime has spiked over the past few years, critics such as the police union and some aldermen have said the evidence clearly indicated the department's use of overtime to cover the city was not working and was stretching the rank and file to the breaking point. This year critics had become more vocal in urging Emanuel to face facts and find the money to hire more officers."Unfortunately, it took five years to come to the realization that we didn't have a force that was able to do the work that they need to do in our communities," said Ald. John Arena, 45th. "It's a good plan, if we follow through." On Tuesday, in the morning, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey hosted an Investiture Ceremony for residents of Queensland, recipients of Australian honours and awards announced on Queens Birthday 2016 and by the Bravery Council in 2015 and 2016. In the afternoon, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey hosted an Investiture Ceremony for residents of Queensland, recipients of Australian honours and awards announced on Australia Day 2016, Queens Birthday 2016 and by the Bravery Council in 2016. Description GIS 22 September 2016: The European Union (EU) has donated 300 000 vaccines to the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security to help Mauritius in the vaccination campaign against Food and Mouth Disease (FMD). The European Union (EU) has donated 300 000 vaccines to the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security to help Mauritius in the vaccination campaign against Food and Mouth Disease (FMD). The handing over ceremony was held this morning in Port Louis in the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Vishnu Gondeea, and the EU Ambassador to Mauritius, Mrs Marjaana Sall. In his address, Mr Gondeea said that as at yesterday, some 21 000 pigs and 11 883 animals including cattle, goats and sheep have been vaccinated with the support of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) who has brought in ten Malagasy veterinarians to help with the vaccination campaign. Moreover, the Veterinary Epidemiologist of the IOC proceeded to Rodrigues along with senior officials of the Ministry to take stock of the situation when FMD was detected there. Some 30 000 animals have already received the second dose of the vaccine, Mr Gondeea said. Recalling that FMD is a highly contagious animal disease that has large socio-economic impacts, he stated that Government has agreed to provide a total of Rs 35 million to compensate farmers for their slaughtered animals. Thus, breeders will get Rs 35 000 for each slaughtered ox/cow, Rs 6 000 for each goat or sheep, and Rs 5 000 for each pig. For her part, Mrs Sall acknowledged the good work of the Ministry which quickly dispatched samples abroad to be analysed. These 300 000 vaccines will help control the spread of the disease, she said. It is important to make sure that FMD does not extend further, she stated, adding that the EU is ready to bring its expertise and help Mauritius fight the disease. It is recalled that when FMD was first detected in Mauritius in early August, a Crisis Committee was set up for a better monitoring of the situation. The Committee comprises representatives of the Ministry, Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, the Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Disaster and Beach Management, the Ministry of Local Government, the Police Department as well as the Chamber of Agriculture and the Mauritius Meat Producers Association. Description GIS - 22 September, 2016: Mauritius stands ready to accommodate the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and as host country is entirely committed to provide full support for the early and effective operationalisation of the Hub. Mauritius stands ready to accommodate the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and as host country is entirely committed to provide full support for the early and effective operationalisation of theHub. The Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, reaffirmed Mauritius determination in providing all the necessary facilities in terms of local human resources as well as appropriate office space for the Hub during the signing ceremony of the Host Country Agreement for the establishment of the Hub with the Commonwealth Secretariat. The agreement was signed on September 20 on the side lines of the United Nations General Assembly 2016. The Hub will have as main objective to palliate the deficiency in information on climate finance and to assist particularly Small Island States and LDCs in the preparation of bankable projects. According to the PM, the Hub is an answer to the call of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDC) in the setting up of an effective mechanism to unlock critical climate Funds, adopted during the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta in 2015 in the wake of challenges faced by climate change. Sir Anerood Jugnauth reiterated Mauritius concerns with regards the challenges faced by SIDS in accessing crucial funding to mitigate and adapt to the socio-economic havocs caused by climate change and underpinned the importance to access to finance, technology, capacity building and development in an endeavour to build resilience against climate change. As we head towards Marrakesh for COP 22, he further said, it is vital to ensure that the most affected and vulnerable states obtain all the support they need to realise their National Determined Contributions [NDCs] and meet the ambition of the Paris Agreement. The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude towards the Australian government for pledging 1 million dollars to the Climate Finance Access Hub and called upon other States to follow same in ensuring the sustainability of the Hub. Moreover, he encouraged all beneficiary countries particularly the Small Island States and LDCs that constitute the majority Membership of the Commonwealth, to take full advantage of this Hub. He recalled that according to the Climate Funds Update more than 15 Billion US Dollars of available climate finance are available worldwide and that the 31 Small Island States of the Commonwealth have been able to access only 5% of those funds. Hence, he underpinned the crucial role of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub which through its operation will channel SIDS, LDCs and other States with limited capacities to know where the funds are located and how to access them. California DOJ Launches Police Use-of-Force Incident Reporting Michigan Unveils CareConnect360 On Thursday, Sept. 22, the California Department of Justice released a new police use-of-force data collection system that will gather law enforcement information from across the state and funnel it into a centralized repository.The Web-based tool has been christened URSUS which is named after the Grizzly Bear on the California state flag, not an acronym for the program. URSUS was developed under direction of state Attorney General Kamala Harris in partnership with the civic tech nonprofit Bayes Impact, an organization specializing in data science.Now California law enforcement agencies and police departments can report and disseminate any incident that results in serious injury or death of officers and citizens, and avoid the arduous and inefficient paper forms. Further, the application is set to equip Californias roughly 800 police departments with a set of analytics tools to track data through interactive charts and pivot tables.As a country, we must engage in an honest, transparent and data-driven conversation about police use of force, said Attorney General Harris. I am proud that California continues to lead the nation in the adoption of technology and data to improve our criminal justice system and keep our streets safe.Further, Ursus is enhanced by a piece of state legislation that passed in 2015 that requires all agencies and police departments to provide annual reports of any use-of-force incident. Said another way, there is no allowance for law enforcement to opt out of the transparency effort. The law, Assembly Bill 71, is exacting in its specificity as well. Data will include, among other things, information about incidents involving civilians shot by officers, officers shot by citizens, and any incident where an interaction with police ends in a life-threatening injury.The first step toward fixing a problem is to fully understand it, and improving data collection will help us strengthen accountability and save lives on all sides," said California U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in a release. "I commend California Attorney Kamala Harris and everyone involved in this important project.Greater contextual data will add to this narrative with details about gender, race and age. Other statistical information records the incident date, time, location, number of parties involved, weapon types and whether a citizen was armed.At Bayes Impact, we believe technology combined with policy can be a powerful lever for making change, and in policing, that change begins with better data, said Eric Liu, U.S. Executive Director of Bayes Impact. Our collaboration with CalDOJ on the development and launch of URSUS is an important step in addressing this issue for both California and the country.The URSUS system could set a precedent for states and law enforcement agencies across the nation.The White House has already launched its Police Data Initiative to accomplish similar goals throughout the country, and Boxer and New Jersey U.S. Sen. Cory Booker have co-sponsored a piece of legislation known as the Police Reporting Information, Data and Evidence Act of 2015 (PRIDE Act), a bill that, if passed, would apply many of the same reporting standards nationally.By using innovative technology and data to shed a spotlight on police practices that work and do not work, Californias AB 71 is an important precedent for the country, Booker said., sister publication to reported that URSUS was developed in less than eight months with philanthropic funding through Bayes Impact. CalDOJs Bureau of Crime Information and Analysis worked with Bayes Impact to develop the Web-based application and the first data standards for police use of force.The system was developed in agile, and is cloud-based and open source. By taking this approach, CalDOJ estimates it saved millions of dollars in development costs,reported, and helped local law enforcement agencies avoid having to build their own data collection systems.A public demonstration of URSUS is available at https://ursusdemo.doj.ca.gov On Sept. 21, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) pulled the curtains off of CareConnect360, the states newest care management platform that is equipped with analytics and a data warehouse that integrates information from a bevy of departments.The architecture of CareConnect360 has been designed to not only improve state services, but also to turbo charge them in a way the state has never seen before. The platform, whose features are still being fine-tuned, boasts an impressive ability to give foster care, medical care and social services staff a comprehensive view of residents across multiple programs.What that means in simple terms is that foster care workers can now place children faster and attend to them more responsively. Information-gathering tasks that might have taken a week for a single case can now be accomplished in a matter of key strokes. Populations on specific health-care plans and their health conditions can be compared to state averages and other plans in a matter of minutes, and social workers can prioritize high-need and high-risk cases for outreach and services.Attending the IT Services Management Conference in Phoenix, Sept. 18-21, MDHHS Policy Director Meghan Vanderstelt and Optum Project Manager Jeanne McNeil said that among the many upgrades that 360CareConnect will receive, some include opening access to child welfare workers, integrating Michigan Juvenile Justice data (via the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System), adding a notification and alerts for tracking cases and trends, and inserting data about immunizations and long-term care history. Californians will soon have the ability to check local crime rates, arrest demographics and the actions of law enforcement, courts and correctional institutions in one place.Legislation signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Jerry Brown requires the California Department of Justice to publish valuable criminal data on its transparency website for the public to easily access.Bill author Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks, praised the governor for signing a measure she hopes will improve transparency, accountability and community trust.By making the mountains of valuable criminal justice data available to the public in a comprehensive way, we can build stronger bridges of understanding and trust between the criminal justice system and the citizens it serves, Irwin said in a news release Wednesday.The bill builds upon CalDoJs OpenJustice Web portal launched last year by Attorney General Kamala Harris, who sponsored the measure in the Legislature. The website is home to data sets such as arrest records, crime and clearance data, and officers killed and assaulted.Earlier this year, population and demographic information, unemployment rates, poverty rates, and educational attainment levels were added to the portal in an effort to enrich the data with city, county and state statistics. Reports on racial and identity profiling and officer and civilian-involved uses of force will soon be added, according to the Department of Justice.On Thursday the Department of Justice announced a new all-digital data collection platform that law enforcement agencies will use next year to report officer-involved shootings and other police use of-force incidents.In a statement, Harris said data and technology have the power to dramatically increase transparency and accountability in our criminal justice systemAs many as 60 percent of local agencies currently submit crime data to the California DOJ on paper, according to the Assembly floor analysis of the bill. The new law directs local law enforcement to transition to digital reporting, which supporters say will allow the state to more frequently update the statistics in its Web portal.The law also directs the Department of Justice to evaluate the transition from summary crime reporting to incident-based crime reporting, reporting its findings to the Legislature every year until 2019.The Web portal is also designed to replace the current annual report delivered to the governor every year that details the previous years criminal statistics with dynamic, customized information online that will engage the public. PHOENIX The severity of the nations opioid epidemic is only increasing, and in response, state and local governments are hunting for both tech and policy tools to combat the problem.Opioid addiction played a central role at this years IT Solutions Management conference . The four-day gathering brought state and federal officials into the heart of downtown Phoenix on Sept. 21 to discuss different approaches to contain the deadly spread of overdoses.Joined by a representative from the National Governors Association (NGA), Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources William Hazel delivered more than a few candid insights on his states efforts to confront opioid addiction. Hazel said the situation has grown so dire and expanded so rapidly that punitive measures alone cannot handle the problem anymore. Looking at fatalities, Virginia now has more deaths from opiate overdoses than from motor vehicle accidents and gun violence.New solutions and resources are something Virginias police force has requested time and time again. One of the biggest changes Ive seen is when law enforcement comes in and says, We cannot arrest our way out of this, Hazel said.The likely answer, he conjectured, is one that requires a mixture of data intelligence for near real-time tracking , policymaking and collaborations with data-sharing agreements between medical and law enforcement services at the state and local levels.It starts with data sharing Hazel said. All of this has to be in the same ecosystem to get really quick, actionable results and have a [data analytics] dashboard.Anonymized data could track the amount of legally prescribed opioids for pain relief to reduce overprescription by medical providers a significant problem. Hard figures could also identify populations and geographies most impacted and susceptible by tabulating, for example, the use of naloxone, a drug that counteracts the effects of opioid overdose.However, agencies solve the issue, it's clear that something needs to be done. NGAs representative, who spoke on background, highlighted a publicly available road map that the organization has drafted with input from field and policy experts across the nation.Key statistics from the report note that every day 78 people die from an overdose related to prescription opioids and heroin, and in 2012, health-care providers prescribed enough opioids for every American adult to have his or her own pill bottle. The consequence, NGA said, is that Medicaid the most common source of funding for opioid hospitalizations has seen its costs quadruple between 2002 and 2012. Complicating matters further, fentanyl, a quick-acting synthetic opioid pain medication, is growing in popularity and may soon become a common illegal narcotic.I see fentanyl as the new meth, because youll be able to make it at your house without the dangers of the explosions that meth labs had, Hazel said. This is a real, real challenge for us going forward.Among its lengthy list of recommendations, the NGA called for stricter guidelines on opioid prescribers, removing methadone from Medicaids preferred drug lists for pain relief, increasing access to naloxone and boosting the reach of state prescription drug monitoring all initiatives that would require greater data from the health-care industry. Hazel said the trick is convincing, or perhaps compelling, the industry to do so since it doesnt always see it in its best interest due to the heightened accountability.Culturally there is much to be done as well, and Hazel went on to say that, at least for the time being, a major amount of public outreach and education is needed.People must be able to discern the difference between legal prescriptions and safe consumption not always the same thing; patients and health-care providers must pivot away from a reliance on opioids as quick-fix remedies; and socially the U.S. as a whole must learn to be more sympathetic to those who suffer, or have suffered, from addiction. Employers often reject job applicants with past drug convictions, and family members and friends might cut support when its needed most.We have to recognize that those who are addicted, are addicted, Hazel said. And they are with us. And they are going to be with us if all goes well. They have to be able to have a life and to be self-sufficient and self-sustaining. (TNS) -- At the first of four meetings on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard to discuss plans to modernize the local electrical grid and gauge what customers want, Cape Light Compact officials on Tuesday made their concerns over Eversources ideas clear.In 2012, the Department of Public Utilities ordered utilities across the state to file modernization plans, hoping to meet goals to reduce the number and duration of power outages, reduce system and customer costs, and allow customers with renewable energy sources to help with the grid reliability.The compact was formed in 1997 to buy power in bulk for electric customers on the Cape and Vineyard, provide energy-efficiency programs for local businesses and residents and advocate for ratepayers.Eversources modernization plan for the next five years is estimated to cost $496 million. But, the utility relies heavily on improving the reliability and resiliency of the current grid, and downplays the benefits of giving customers more access to information and pricing transparency, Compact power supply planner Austin Brandt said during the meeting in the Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School.Eversource takes a very conservative approach to grid modernization, emphasizing incremental investments, according to a report produced by the Compact.Bert Jackson, the president of the Cape Cod Technology Council, also voiced concerns with Eversources plans.My overall concern is that the plan is essentially hardening what they already have, Jackson said.The council would like to see Eversource take advantage of technology being used in other parts of the country, such as smart meters.Smart meters allow two-way communication between utilities and customers, Brandt said. Customers can monitor real-time prices of electricity, as well as stay informed of outages, he said. Real time prices allow customers to monitor rates that vary depending on the time of day. During peak use times, when electricity would conceivably cost the most, customers could cut back on their use, and lower their bills.National Grid and Eversource have two different rollout methods for smart meters. Eversource plans to have an opt-in policy, meaning customers would have to ask and pay an extra fee for the meters, while National Grid customers would have to opt-out of the meters. Cape and Vineyard residents, who are in Eversource territory, also need to have their electricity supplied and delivered by the utility to have access to the data necessary for time-varying rates, Brandt said.Eversource is defending its plan.It balances customer priorities and costs to customers, Eversource spokeswoman Rhiannon DAngelo wrote in an email.We know that limiting power outages and making it easier to integrate renewable technologies are crucial factors when it comes to modernizing the electric grid, she wrote. It's also important to note that a smart grid is not just about adding smart meters to customer homes. Eversource is an industry leader when it comes to the deployment of a smart grid already -- mainly the addition of smart switches to our system.The switches, which allow electricity to be routed around problems, result in fewer and shorter outages, she wrote.This technology has already significantly reduced outages on the Cape since we began installing them ten years ago, DAngelo wrote.The company ran pilot programs for smart meters and studied research from around the country that showed it is difficult to get customers to participate in the programs and that the cost was higher than the benefit, she wrote.Instead, Eversource is giving customers the choice, while achieving the majority of the benefits of an opt-out program at a fraction of the cost, according to DAngelo.Inside a Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School classroom, Brandt had three different phones on a table. One was a rotary phone, another was a newer landline with a cord, and the third was an iPhone.The rotary phone was a metaphor for the current grid.Its not very user friendly and it really can only do one thing, Brandt said.Eversources plan was like the newer landline phone, he said. Its a bit more modern, but still isnt all that different from the rotary phone, Brandt said. A smart grid is more like the iPhone, he said.Cape Light Compact officials handed out surveys to attendees of Tuesday's meeting that are also available online to collect feedback from customers about what they want from their utility. People may not want a smart meter or care if they know the real time electricity prices, Brandt said. Depending on whom you ask, Vermont has either struck a life-threatening blow to solar adoption in the state or thrown it a critical lifeline. In late June, the Public Service Board announced a plan to rework its solar incentives. Under the new regulations, consumers who generate solar energy may be paid less and, in some cases, charged more.For several years now, Vermont has encouraged homeowners, businesses and communities to build thousands of solar projects through a so-called net-metering program. Under the program, solar customers are able to sell any excess electricity generated back to the utility at a guaranteed price. That program is credited with making Vermont one of the most solar-friendly states in the nation. As of 2015, Vermont ranked seventh nationwide for the amount of solar energy it generates per person.But now the state wants to restructure those incentives, and some are worried those changes will set back solar adoption in the state. Under the proposed new rules, Vermont has suggested lowering prices for some categories of net-metering projects, imposing an annual cap on allowable net-metering development and subjecting existing project owners to new fees. These reforms are in part meant to protect the utilities, who are losing revenue to net-metering programs. The utilities say that as solar grows in the state, its eating into their profits. They argue that an ever-smaller base of traditional power customers could get stuck paying all the costs of maintaining the grid if things dont change.Its an argument utilities are making nationwide. Vermont is only the latest state to weigh changes to its solar incentives in an effort to balance the interests of utilities, solar companies and customers. In Nevada, for instance, the state abruptly ended generous incentives for homeowners with rooftop solar. As a result, energy providers SolarCity Corp. and Sunrun Inc. decided to lay off hundreds of employees and pull up stakes there in December. Hawaii has also slashed incentives; California, however, has retained high rates for the energy that solar customers sell back.If Nevada represents one end of the spectrum and California the other, then Vermont represents the middle. It still wants to incentivize solar adoption, but it wants to incent people to generate solar where its most valuable. In essence, the state wants to encourage solar in already developed areas, such as roofs, parking lots, landfills and other preferred sites. People who build solar projects in these places will be guaranteed a higher rate for the energy they sell back. As solar becomes more important, you start making the system more sophisticated and encouraging people to adopt it, says Nathanael Greene, a policy director at the Natural Resources Defense Council. There can be tradeoffs, but we want to use those in the right places.Still, some solar advocates in Vermont worry that increased costs and reduced incentives could discourage residents from going solar. More than 900,000 homes across the U.S. now have solar panels thanks largely to these programs, which have helped reduce the cost of home solar panels by up to 30 percent. But it still costs residents between $15,000 and $25,000 upfront to install solar panels. If theres no savings down the road, critics worry, then whats the point of taking on such a large expense?In addition, constantly changing the incentive system also hurts peoples faith in the future of solar energy, according to Olivia Campbell Andersen, executive director of the nonprofit Renewable Energy Vermont. Its difficult for customers and businesses to operate not knowing if they will be able to [earn a profit], she says. You cant make investments -- in equipment, in project development, in employees -- if every single year you dont know at what point, all of a sudden, it will change.Critics of Vermonts new proposed rules are worried that they will also impact the states ability to achieve its goal of using 90 percent renewable energy by 2050. But David Hill, managing consultant of the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, remains optimistic. The overarching message, he says, is that Vermonts [solar energy] process is growing and being responsible to public concerns about siting and long-term viability. (TNS) PROVIDENCE, R.I. The Gov. Gina Raimondo administration is acknowledging "some technical issues" with the state's new $364-million computer system that is preventing customers of the ObamaCare program known in Rhode Island as HealthSource RI from updating their personal information online."Existing customers may view their online account and make a payment, but they must contact HSRI if they want to report a change such as a new address, change in income, or new member of the household,'' Ashley G. O'Shea, the spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Health & Human Services said Wednesday."Our team is working as quickly as it can to resolve this issue," she said, noting the new enrollees have not been effected.It is not yet clear how many customers have already been affected, and how many more customers of the state's health-benefits exchange might be so. But it is one of many questions unanswered since the somewhat bumpy roll-out a week ago of the state's largest ever IT project known as UHIP.Shortly after The Journal reported the filing of a grievance by one of the state workers assaulted by an upset client, at the Department of Human Services field office in Providence on Day One of the computer launch, Department of Administration Director Michael DiBiase issued this statement to the media:We have heard concerns from our workers about security, and we want to be responsive to those concerns. Out of an abundance of caution, we will be providing additional security at our DHS offices for a limited period of time.Late Wednesday afternoon, an administration spokeswoman elaborated on how many additional officers have been stationed at the DHS field offices where wait times ran long, and emotions ran high last week as computer glitches and worker-training issues slowed operations to a crawl in some reported cases.Prior to computer launch, "each office had one security officer with the exception of Providence, which had 3 Capitol police officers. After going live we added an additional security officer in Providence and Pawtucket and Wakefield."Late last week, J. Michael Downey, president of Council 94, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees characterized the roll out as an "absolute mess.'' DHS employee Valeria Varrecchione filed a grievance in hopes of convincing the administration to provide more security at the field offices where state workers process applications for food stamps, cash assistance, subsidized child care and health care.She did so after an upset client who was later charged by state police with disorderly conduct and simple assault reportedly slapped her across the face with a sheaf of papers, after slapping and shoving a computer at a colleague.DiBiase initially said: The transformation of a three-decades-old system to a modern, digital enrollment and eligibility system ... has gone smoothly by any reasonable expectation ... Our team has been working around the clock to address issues as they arise.- DiBiase's statement on the decision to provide extra security came a day later.kgregg@providencejournal.com(401) 277-7078On Twitter: @kathyprojo2016 The Providence Journal (Providence, R.I.)Visit The Providence Journal (Providence, R.I.) at www.projo.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Niki Lauda says he will push the teams to allow Pirelli to do some pre-season testing in a warm location like Bahrain. As the Italian marque prepares for the vastly different car and tyre specifications for 2017, teams have until now argued against straying beyond Europe for the limited pre-season test programme. But Mercedes team chairman Lauda insisted: "It would be madness to test the new cars and tyres only in Europe. "What happens if it rains?" he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. Agreement on non-European testing will only be possible with the unanimous consent of all the teams. (GMM) 18-Month Jail For Mallya's Aide In a rude shock to Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya, who has been on the run at present, a special court in Hyderabad on Thursday sentenced his close aide A Raghunathan to imprisonment for a period of one and a half years in connection with the cheque bounce case. Apart from jail conviction, Raghunathan was also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000, which he paid immediately. Raghunathan, the accused No. 3 in the case, however filed a petition seeking suspension of the sentence for a period 30 days, stating that he had only acted according to the instructions given by Mallya. The case pertains to bouncing of two cheques of Rs 50 lakh each by Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. to GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL), which operates Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, towards charges for using the facilities at the airport for Kingfisher Airlines flights. The case was filed under the Negotiable Instruments Act. In all, 17 cases have been filed against Kingfisher Airlines in different courts over outstanding amount of Rs. 22.5 crore, which it owes to GMR. Jagan Strikes The Right Chord On Special Status YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy has at last been able to find the right nerve to attack his political rival, Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on the special category status issue. Jagans Yuva Bheri programme held at Eluru in West Godavari district was a huge success, as he could communicate with the students in a more effective way that he had done in the past with general crowd. The students heard him with rapt attention and also interacted with him after his speech. And almost all the students expressed their solidarity with Jagan in his fight against the Naidu government for its failure to secure special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Affirming that the fight for special status would continue, Jagan said the State and Central governments were constantly on the lookout for lame excuses to shelve the special category status which would immensely benefit the future generations more than any package or welfare scheme. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu have gone back on their poll promise and are desperately trying to push the special category status to back burner on some pretext or the other but we will fight for our right and will achieve it, he said. Special status will come with many incentives to the industrialists which will pave way for development, creation of jobs and increase in economic activity and it is a boon for the youth. We have to join hands and fight till we achieve the goal, he said. A massive recall of sleep apnea machines is expected to drag into next year. That's caused frustration for U.S. patients and led federal officials to consider rare legal steps to speed the replacement effort. Dutch manufacturer Philips has recalled more than 5 million machines worldwide due to foam that can deteriorate, releasing potentially harmful byproducts. While customers were supposed to receive new machines within a year, the company says shipments will continue into 2023. That's left many U.S. patients to choose between using a recalled device or trying other risky remedies. U.S. regulators have warned they may take the unprecedented step of ordering Philips to step up its effort. The men who occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon last winter were armed and engaged in an illegal act. Did that give law-enforcement authorities the right to gun them down? No, that wasn't necessary or justified. An interesting Charlotte Observer story raises a similar question in the wake of Tuesday's fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by a police officer. Police say Scott had a handgun. They haven't released video but apparently will show it to Scott's family today. Family members have said Scott was holding a book, not a gun. But what if he was holding a gun? Does that alone justify a police order to drop it and, if the subject fails to comply, the use of deadly force? Police have not claimed that Scott pointed the weapon at officers or threatened to shoot. Rather, "According to the city, 'In spite of these verbal commands, Mr. Scott exited the vehicle still armed with the handgun as officers continued to tell him to drop his weapon,'" the Observer reports. 'The subject posed an imminent deadly threat to the officers and Officer Brentley Vinson subsequently fired his weapon striking the subject. The officers immediately requested Medic and began performing CPR,' the city said." But there's this from the Observer story: "Gregory Wallace, a law professor at Campbell University in Raleigh, said the citys statement raises questions as to why police ordered Scott to drop his gun. "In North Carolina, the open-carry of a handgun is legal. Concealed carry is also legal, so long as you have a permit. "He said the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2013 that someone carrying a handgun does not give the police the ability to stop and search them or someone with them." Unless otherwise prohibited by law, people in North Carolina have a right to openly carry a gun. So, absent some other reasons to give police probable cause to stop or detain the subject, it seems that police should not arbitrarily order someone who happens to be carrying a gun to drop it. Should everyone exercising his right to carry a gun be ordered to drop it by every police officer he encounters? If he fails to comply quickly enough to suit the officer, is that justification for the officer to shoot? This is a question that Second Amendment advocates should take seriously. Many conservatives are quick to place the blame on black men who are shot by police if they don't comply instantly with police orders (some shootings have happened even when the subject did comply). Is that the standard they really think should apply? Is there a right to openly carry a firearm or not? Clearly, the number of people who walk around with guns today, legally or otherwise, poses great difficulties for the police. People who choose to carry guns should be aware that they might make police officers nervous not to mention the rest of us. For their own safety, they should obey police orders, justified or not. But not everyone who carries a gun poses a threat to anyone. Most probably don't. It shouldn't be assumed that they're criminals. Carrying a gun is not, in and of itself, a threat. Is it? GREENSBORO - Greensboro Day School will showcase the personal Steinway & Sons piano of Van Cliburn, one of classical musics most revered artists, during the school's Van Cliburn Festival on Friday and Saturday. The Van Cliburn Festival will feature concerts, interactive displays, speakers and the legendary Model D, Serial #443530 Steinway and Sons Concert Grand piano. The festival at the school at 5401 Lawndale Drive will feature two free public events: 7 p.m. Friday: Performance by the Triad Institute for Young Musicians. In addition to special student lectures presented by Steinway Piano Gallery Charlottes Mark Love on Van Cliburn and the political impact of his historic 1958 Tchaikovsky Competition win in Moscow Greensboro Day School will present high school students from the area performing works from Cliburns historic Moscow repertoire. Also on display: recorded Van Cliburn performances showcased on the Steinway Spirio player piano system. Admission to the performances and lobby display is free. 7 p.m. Saturday: Vincent van Gelder will perform selections from Van Cliburns 1958 Tchaikovsky competition program as well as works by Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, and Liszt. Also on display: recorded Van Cliburn performances showcased on the Steinway Spirio player piano system. Admission to van Gelder performance and lobby display is free. Go online to www.greensboroday.org for more information. The school also announced Thursday that sophomore Michael Drusdow has been designated as a Young Steinway Artist by Steinway and Sons. This is the beginning of a lifelong partnership between Michael and the Steinway Piano Family, which will begin this week as he participates in the Van Cliburn Festival. The piano's appearance is part of the Steinway Piano Gallery - Greensboro and Charlotte regional tour. The instrument was a Cliburn favorite, and accompanied him to the great stages of the world for some of his most memorable performances. The piano will make appearances in the Triad and will be available for viewing and playing by appointment, used in performances by music students, concert artists and competition winners. Cliburns piano was completed in 1976 at the Steinway & Sons factory in Astoria, N.Y. It was chosen to be one of Steinways famed Concert & Artist piano inventory, where it received its new moniker: CD 375. Although Van Cliburn owned many Steinway pianos, CD 375 was played by him as much or more than any in his collection over the years. Having the Van Cliburn piano in the Triad is special, said Mark Love, co-owner of Steinway Piano Gallery - Greensboro and Charlotte. Were thrilled to provide piano lovers with the opportunity to not only hear performances on this notable instrument, but also to have the chance play it themselves. The piano is a piece of American and world history. Like most of us, Judith Belzers life and work continue to be shaped by her surroundings. And as a painter, the changing landscapes shes studied while moving across the country and seeing the world have made her take a closer look at her environment the natural and the man-made, and the visual patterns that they share. Belzers work has been featured nationwide for more than 20 years. Her newest exhibit, Canal Zone: Recent Work From the Panama Project, includes 13 abstract canvases on display at Guilford College Art Gallery through Oct. 30. On Sept. 29, she will discuss the works and the experience that inspired her to create them. After growing up in suburban Chicago, Belzer moved to the East Coast to attend Bennington College in Vermont, and later Barnard College and the New York Studio School. In 2003, she moved to Berkeley, Calif., with her husband, best-selling author and journalism professor Michael Pollan, and their son. Those changes in scenery caused a shift in her artistic focus, she says. In New England, the landscape is very much in a one-to-one scale with us, and it invited a very close-up look, but gradually after I moved out West, I started to look more inside of nature, and doing works about the insides of trees. I really got into their structure and started to look up, and out, and also to think about man-made things, Belzer says. Once you start to look at nature at an almost microscopic level, you see abstract forms and geometry that you dont expect to find in organic places. It really led me to realize that there are many rhyming relationships between things built by us and things found in nature. An avid hiker, Belzers daily treks around the Bay Area and objects she finds along the way provide a wealth of inspiration, she says. I quickly started to realize that all the ways that Id viewed art and nature were very weighed out in the Bay, where I could see all these different landscapes jutting out against each other the bridges, the national seashore park, the port of Oakland, the oil refinery. Its just this crazy mix of things, so I got very interested in this larger landscape, she says. By way of its geography, its just a condensed sort of area where theres a lot going on. There are beautiful unspoiled places and I really dont like to make these clear distinctions between places but there are areas where weve tried to protect the land, and areas where weve freely moved into the landscape, and its interesting to think about those relationships. As she began to read articles about the expansion of the Panama Canal, she became interested in the project. In 2014, after being awarded the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship for the Fine Arts, she traveled to the canal site to see things firsthand. I realized that these landscapes are popping up all around the world as our global trade has expanded, and it just seemed like another kind of landscape to think about regarding these issues that Id been exploring for a long time. I feel like looking at that is an important way to perhaps think about the ways in which we can engage with nature more intimately, how were actually building out into it and how we can move forward in a thoughtful way. The Canal Zone paintings are somewhat of a departure from Belzers earlier work, particularly in terms of the vivid colors she incorporated. That really grew out of the imagery, she says. Theres a very amped-up kind of coloration in this newer work, and a sense of energy and movement to it; it really sort of pops more. They employ a lot more drawing, and a speedier, faster kind of mark-making, and this all grows out of just trying to convey what it feels like to be there. My earlier work has a palette that is much more organic in feel, and those colors were much more about taking an intimate and more contemplative kind of look. This imagery allowed me to make my paintings in a different way. Belzer says she hopes the exhibit will inspire more conversations about our ever-changing natural and industrial landscapes. I dont intend for this work to be directive, she says. Im not trying to tell people that anything were doing is really bad or really good. This is more of an invitation to take a long, hard look and think about how were organizing the spaces around us. Donald Trump announced at his recent visit to Asheville that he would bring thousands of new jobs to North Carolina if elected president. At first I was skeptical, but then I remembered his pledge to deport 11 million undocumented people from the U.S. North Carolina is one of the largest farmworker states, with an estimated 75,000 undocumented farmworkers. So, documented North Carolinians could apply for these jobs. It would be especially attractive to those who like to work outside and get lots of exercise, dont mind pesticides and heat, and dont need health benefits. Some of the jobs even meet minimum-wage standards. It also would provide opportunity for housing in farm labor camps. As a bonus, this would open up thousands of foster-parenting opportunities to accommodate the children left behind because their deported parents were afraid to subject their U.S.-born children to the dangers and hardships of the homelands from which they had fled. Raleigh Bailey Greensboro GREENSBORO Allen Gunn Travis, Jr., 79, passed away at home September 20, 2016 surrounded by family. A public graveside burial will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, September 24 at Forest Lawn Cemetery. At 12 p.m., a church service will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC.Allen was born in Caswell County on November 1, 1936 to the late Allen and Vella Travis. He served honorably in the Army in the early 1960s in Texas. He was a proud police officer of the Greensboro Police Department for over 30 years. He served primarily as a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division. After retirement, he worked for 14 years as a deputy marshal in the Federal Buildings of Greensboro and Winston-Salem.He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Bonnie Lee Travis. Also, his children, Heath Allen Travis (Amy Travis) of Greensboro and his daughter, Leigh Ann Travis (Wes Davis) of Salt Lake City, Utah. One of the happiest moments in his life was when he became a grandfather to Catherine (Catie) Travis, 22, Caroline Travis, 17, and Cooper Davis, 14. He was a true friend to many and always willing to lend a hand. His understated motto was to do something for someone when no one was watching. He is also survived by two sisters, Ida Lee Jones, Reidsville, and Frances Barts, Caswell, County and one brother James Travis, Reidsville. He was preceded in death by one sister, Rosa Ellington, Ruffin. The family would like to thank the oncology department at Baptist/Wake Forest University. Also, tremendous thank you to Hospice and Palliative Care. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Centenary United Methodist Church, 2300 W. Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27403 or Hospice Foundation of Greater Greensboro, 2500 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405. A special thank you to the pastor, Kelley Groce, for her steadfast prayers and commitment to the family. Allen was a strong believer in checking on your neighbor and being a good friend. He would be content to know people will continue this tradition. STAMFORD As some 100 Macys stores around the country face closings, the firm that operates and co-owns the Stamford Town Center expects that the department-store chain will maintain its establishment in the citys mall. What they said to me is that they have no plans to close any stores within our portfolio of centers, Bill Taubman, chief operating officer of Taubman Centers Inc., said in an interview Thursday with Hearst Connecticut Media. Macys did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the announcement from Taubman points to the stability of the Stamford Town Center. The mall has lost only one anchor tenant in the past 10 years, and it has rebounded quickly from its most recent departures. Managing uncertainty In response to ongoing financial struggles, Macys announced last month that it would close approximately 100 full-line stores out of a portfolio of 728 locations. The value of Macys stock has dropped almost 40 percent in the past year. Macys executives positioned the closings as a move to help the company focus on its highest-performing stores and invest more quickly and more extensively in digital and mobile platforms. By its own estimate, the department store chain would give up about $1 billion in annual sales by closing the stores. But company officials said that they would offset that loss through savings. Nearly all of the stores to be closed are cash flow positive today, but their volume and profitability in most cases have been declining steadily in recent years, Macys President Jeff Gennette said in a statement. We recognize that these locations do not yield an adequate return on investment and often do not represent a customer shopping experience that reflects our aspirations for the Macys brand. Macys has not yet announced which stores it would shutter, but it has said that most of the closings would occur in early 2017. Covering about 245,000 square feet, Macys comprises the Stamford malls largest anchor tenant. In total, the malls gross leasable area covers about 763,000 square feet. Despite the upheaval confronting the company, Taubman said that he expects Macys to keep running its Stamford store during the next five to 10 years. Its a critical piece of Stamford Town Center, and its the only Macys store in the heart of Fairfield County, Taubman said. Its a fabulous store and a wonderful anchor. It has a clear market position. The customer knows and respects them. In addition to Stamford, Macys runs southwestern Connecticut stores in the Danbury Fair mall, Westfield Trumbull Mall and Connecticut Post Mall in Milford. Confidence in other tenants Stamford Town Center last experienced an anchor-store departure in 2014, when Saks Fifth Avenue closed its doors. The following year, Saks returned with a Saks OFF 5TH store, which now occupies about 78,000 square feet in the same space that held the Saks Fifth Avenue. They seem to be doing well here, Taubman said of Saks OFF 5TH. Saks Fifth Avenues exit marked the first loss of an anchor tenant at Stamford Town Center since the 2006 closure of the department store Filenes. Taubman Centers redeveloped that part of the mall property into a restaurant row. The hubs latest arrival, The Cheesecake Factory, is scheduled to open next month at the corner of Greyrock Place and Tresser Boulevard. It succeeds a P.F. Changs restaurant, which closed earlier this year. Cheesecake does well everywhere, and I think theyll do very well in Stamford, Taubman said. A number of local business leaders said that Stamford Town Centers long-term prospects will hinge on other factors in addition to the retention of anchor tenants. Some are concerned about a new mall planned in Norwalk taking away business from the Stamford mall. A new mall would clearly have an impact on the Stamford mall, said Joe McGee, The Business Council of Fairfield Countys vice president of public policy. Theres going to be a conversation about the role of retail in an urban environment. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott The WorkPlace has been awarded its fourth major grant in as many months, this one aimed at helping at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 24 in Bridgeport. The U.S. Department of Labor announced Thursday that the Bridgeport-based organization would receive a nearly $1.1 million YouthBuild grant. In total, 77 programs in 35 states across the nation were granted $80.3 million in grants to help 5,000 at-risk youth earn a diploma or GED, earn certifications or the skills necessary to obtain a job. The grants ranged from $700,000 to $1.1 million each. All young people are gifted and talented, and it is everyones responsibility to help draw out those gifts and talents, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said in a statement. YouthBuild provides young people with an important opportunity to gain the education and skills they need for good-paying jobs, while also helping them become more engaged members of their communities. That can mean everything to a young person who didnt get the easiest start in life. Tom Long, vice president of communications and development for The WorkPlace, said the two-year program had been implemented several years ago by the Bridgeport agency but its funding expired. The new funds would resurrect it and help about 65 young people. The unemployment rate for people between 16 and 24 in the region in 33.3 percent, Long said. The organization has received significant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor and other sources over the last several months. In June, the agency received a $3.4 million federal grant to help parents gain access to child care and for training programs. The following month, it was awarded a $500,000 federal grant for its efforts to prepare women inmates at the York Correctional Institute in Niantic to re-enter the workforce upon their release. And just recently, The WorkPlace was awarded $400,000 per year for two years for its Retail Career Academy, which will offer assistance and resources to people in the retail industry. That grant came from The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, made possible by the Walmart Foundation. Long said the agency makes an effort to constantly apply for federal, local and foundation grants, as well as seeking private donations, to fund its numerous programs and expand its services even further. Were always looking to do more, he said. ktorres@hearstmediact.com; 203-330-6227 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH The Board of Selectman has banned outdoor sprinklers and other water uses in response to this summers drought. This situation is serious and is one that requires all of our cooperation, First Selectman Peter Tesei said Thursday. The selectmen also prohibited the use of water to wash driveways, sidewalks, decks, and the outsides of buildings or other structures. People cannot wash cars or clean windows unless it is a means of livelihood. And water cannot be used for decorative purposes: fountains, waterfalls or reflecting pools. Restrictions apply to all residents, including those on private wells, and are in place until further notice. Officials do not anticipate lifting the ban anytime soon. It would take quite a bit of rain to get our system up to where we want, said town Conservation Director Denise Savageau. She called the water ban critical because when temperatures drop and ice forms, even more water will be removed from the towns drinkable water supply. Greenwich Police will be responsible for enforcing the conservation measures. If officers see residents watering illegally, their first move will be to issue a warning, said Sgt. John Slusarz of the departments Traffic Division. Each subsequent violation will be subject to a $91 fine. The Greenwich Police Department will not be proactively patrolling for violators of the newly imposed town ordinance, said Police Lt. Kraig Gray. Our plan is to inform and educate our citizens, and we are confident that the residents of Greenwich once informed will cooperate. No new water diversions or hookups, including new wells or diversions from surface water supplies, will be permitted while the ordinance is in effect. A variance can be obtained from the town for the watering of recently planted lawns. Water levels in Greenwich are very low, officials from Aquarion said Thursday. The water company serves 51 towns in Connecticut and provides water to 50,000 Greenwich residents. Town reservoirs are currently at 34 percent of their highest capacity, typically observed in spring, said Bruce Silverstone, vice president of communications for Aquarion. Typically in September, reservoirs are at 65 percent of spring levels. While some rain fell earlier this week, Savageau said it was too little to have much of an impact, especially because it was limited to the southern part of town. The regions drought was recently reclassified from moderate to severe by the National Weather Service. A persistent weather pattern not favorable for much rain this spring and summer has led to rainfall deficits of up to three inches during the month of August, and so far a half-inch to an inch (below normal) for September for southern Connecticut, reads a current National Weather Service advisory. Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan and Darien are where the most acute issue is in all of our towns, said John Walsh, vice president of operations for Aquarion. Aquarion has issued a mandatory watering ban in all these towns. So far, Greenwich is the only town to enact an emergency ordinance from local government, said Silverstone. On Thursday, however, Stamford Mayor David Martin urged residents to heed the ban. Since the watering ban was issued on Sept. 16, Aquarion has seen a 25 to 30 percent reduction in water demand, officials said. They attributed this reduction to customers reacting quickly to the ban and limiting their water use. Most people, when the message is strong enough, will react, said Savageau. And I think thats what our message needs to be. The last time the town had to use mandatory water restrictions was in 2002. In that year, no fines were issued to residents for violating the ban, Savageau said. The town, police and Aquarion are using many methods to spread the word about the water restrictions. The town has sent information to Greenwich Public Schools that will be incorporated into newsletters sent home with students next week. On Thursday afternoon, the town recorded an emergency message detailing the ban that will be sent to all resident landlines. The Greenwich Police Department is installing electronic sign boards throughout town warning residents. Aquarion has sent staff knocking on doors. We do not want the water level to drop so low that it cannot recover and the problem continues next year, said Silverstone. emunson@hearstmediact.com; @emiliemunson This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH When First Lady Caroline Harrison moved to the White House with her husband Benjamin in 1889, she began to indulge her interest in blossoms, both wild and domestic. She painted orchids in the White House studio, until 1891, the year she grew ill. A pain in her chest turned to a blood-tinged cough, and a year later she died of Tuberculosis. A White House maid packed some of her paintings, along with outfits from various presidential occasions, into a trunk she sent to Harrisons son-in-law, James Robert McKee, who stored it in his estate for years. That estate was called the Berkeley Lodge. It still stands today, about a mile north of Greenwich Country Club. I think the trunk was stored right up here, the homes current owner, Lisa Davies said on a recent afternoon. She indicated an upstairs closet, the only one in the house that doesnt have a renovated interior. It still smells like the cedar the walls its made of. Closet and house (but not trunk) are currently on the market, listed for $5,995,000 by Joanne Mancuso of Houlihan Lawrence. Most of the house has been extensively renovated, but select pockets feel like they havent changed since that famous trunk arrived. (The paintings and clothes are currently part of the collection of the Benjamin Harrison Home in Indianapolis, Indiana.) A room that speaks to the homes history is the large, wooden library adorned with old paintings and bookshelves. Leather furniture blends in with dark wooden walls, and the cream colored ceiling is braced by broad, chocolate-colored beams. But, proving the home has marched forward with time, under the library is a modern media room with comfortable couches and a big-screen television. The surrounding area has several rooms that Manscuso said would make great wine cellars. Back upstairs, large windows peer out onto a manicured yard, similar to many expanses of property found at Greenwich estates, save for one feature: its bomb shelter. Resembling an old root cellar, or maybe a Hobbit home, on the outside, the shelter is tucked under a mound of earth in the lawn. Inside, the shelter is a far cry from grandiose. Anyone used to living in the 11,000-square-foot mansion beside it wouldnt last long in there. Mancuso said she thought it could make a good pool house. The shelter is indeed only a stones throw from the pool, with a hedge of blossoming flowers acting as a barrier. The pool is a rectangle with soft corners and a favorite destination of Davies dogs, who like to climb in before turning around to see the reaction of their owner. They are going to miss this place, Davies said. The house has been expanded over the years, and now counts seven bedrooms and five bathrooms. A large ground-floor kitchen looks out over a room that Davies is particularly proud of. It has the feel of a luxurious beach condo more than a historic English manor, with windows on all sides and cushioned wicker furniture. It even has a small skylight where the ceiling raises to a point. It is a great place to watch a storm, she said. pfrissell@hearstmediact.com; @PeregrineFriss Deja vu. Photo: Blue Bell Blue Bells summer is going out with the wrong kind of bang: The creamery whose facilities have had listeria more often than not in the past 18 months is recalling another nearly 2,000 cartons out of an abundance of caution that the bacteria may once again be lurking inside. The notice, which went out Tuesday, says the voluntary recall covers two flavors Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (in half-gallons and pints) and Cookie Two Step (in half-gallons) that were made with a chocolate chip cookie dough ingredient supplied by a third party supplier, Aspen Hills. Which is sort of the firm but nice way of broadcasting: Not our fault this time, people! Blue Bell says it notified Aspen Hills, and both companies decided to round up the potentially tainted products. The listeria was discovered at Blue Bells Alabama plant during the enhanced internal testing procedures now required by the Feds. The ice cream was sold in ten states: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, and then North and South Carolina, two states Blue Bell just bragged about finally expanding back into last week. Published on 2016/09/22 | Source Added episode 10 captures for the Korean drama "Moonlight Drawn by Clouds" (2016) Advertisement Directed by Baek Sang-hoon, Kim Seong-yoon Written by Kim Min-jeong-II, Lim Ye-jin Network : KBS With Park Bo-gum, Kim Yoo-jung, Chae Soo-bin, Jin Young, Kwak Dong-yeon, Kim Seung-soo,... 20 episodes - Mon, Tue 22:00 Synopsis 'Moonlight Drawn by Clouds' is a palace romance inspired by the genius Crown Prince Hyomyeong in the later era of Joseon, who loved etiquette and music. The drama will tell the coming-of-age story of youthful romance in Joseon era which was unwritten in the history. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2016/08/22 More Published on 2016/09/22 | Source Children have lunch in the playground of their elementary school in Gyeongju in South Gyeongsang Province on Wednesday after a series of aftershocks drove them out of the building. /Yonhap Advertisement Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Calls for Immediate Halt to U.S. Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia News Release from Office of Rep Tulsi Gabbard, September 21, 2016 Washington, DCRep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) and a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers are urging the President to immediately halt the proposed $1.15 billion arms sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The congresswoman is an original co-sponsor of H.J.Res.98, the House companion to S.J.Res.39, which is expected to go to the floor for a vote today in the Senate. Saudi Arabia continues to spend billions of dollars funding the spread of the Wahhabi Salafist ideology that fuels groups like ISIS, al Qaeda and other jihadist groups around the world. Saudi Arabia continues to arm and equip these groups in Syria in their effort to overthrow Assad, fueling the civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians, and driven millions of Syrians from their homes. Meanwhile, they're dropping cluster bombs and other munitions targeting hospitals, schools, markets, places of worship, and other non-military facilities in Yemen, killing over 3,700 civilians so far. The U.S. must stop arming Saudi Arabia, stop fueling this fire, and hold Saudi Arabia accountable for their actions, said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. ---30--- CNN: Senate rejects bid to block US-Saudi Arabia arms deal VIDEO: Watch Rep. Tulsi Gabbards interview on CNN calling on Saudi Arabia to stop their ongoing funding of jihadist extremist groups Hawaii Longline Fishing Industry Takes Immediate Action On Labor Abuse News Release from The Hawaii Seafood Council (HSC) September 20, 2016 Honolulu, Hawaii - On September 8, 2016, an article was published by the Associated Press (AP) which included allegations of forced labor (slavery), human trafficking and poor working conditions on Hawaii longline fishing vessels that use foreign contracted crewmen. The industry takes the AP report seriously, is actively assessing the situation and is committed to making certain that if found, forced labor and labor abuse is eliminated from the fishing industry says Jim Cook, Hawaii fishing industry member and advocate. On the day the AP report was published, a Task Force was formed made up of influential vessel owners, suppliers, the Honolulu Fish Auction and the Hawaii Seafood Council to begin to assess the problem and work on solutions to protect the welfare of the crewmen. The Task Force hired a consultant who is a recognized expert in evaluating labor practices in supply chains to provide guidance to the group and bring understanding and experience of standards and alternative approaches to social auditing of labor practices. The fishing industry has taken immediate action since September 8 to quickly put into place a system of checks and balances to protect the foreign crewmen and to make certain that no fishing vessels in the Hawaii fleet are using forced labor or abusing the crew. said Task Force member Jim Cook. Immediate efforts are focused on answering whether forced labor is occurring on individual vessels. Simultaneously, the group began working on developing a Vessel Inspection Checklist to assess the working conditions on the vessels. Then to help verify the findings of the inspection of crew documents and vessel conditions, the Task Force is developing a checklist for interviewing the crewmen so that their voices can be heard. The Task Force is also taking steps to engage other parties who can strengthen the process including U.S. Custom and Border Patrol and the consulates or embassies that are responsible for looking after the welfare of their countrymen where they are working overseas. Wholesaler buyers of Hawaii longline-caught fish were alerted to the AP article and the immediate actions being taken to assess the situation, set up an evaluation system and to implement it as soon as possible. The US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) held two meetings at Pier 17 and Pier 38 for foreign crewmen only without owners or captains present. The purpose was for CBP to inform foreign crewmen about the allegations of force labor and to provide a safe forum for them to alert the CBP if they had any complaints. The Task Force obtained the United Nations International Labor Office (ILO) definition of Forced Labor and developed a list of criteria and documents required to prove whether or not forced labor is occurring. A standardized Universal Crew Contract has been designed to address the Forced Labor evaluation criteria and required documents to streamline the assessment process. The Universal Crew Contract has been vetted with the Task Force and a sample of vessel owners. Bilingual versions are being translated into the first languages of the foreign crewmen. This will be completed and the contracts will begin to be distributed to vessel owners for completion with the crew on September 20. The Task Force is seeking a public statement from the US Custom and Border Patrol on their activities and findings regarding the allegations of forced labor in the fleet. The group is seeking the cooperation of the CBP because of the agencys central role in inspecting travel documents and monitoring the arrival, working situation and departure of foreign crewmen working on contract on Hawaii longline vessels. The Task Force held a meeting to inform Hawaii-based seafood wholesalers and longline vessel owners about the allegations of forced labor and what steps are being taken to assess and resolve the issue. The Task Force has held meetings with large retail and wholesale seafood companies to understand their requirements and evaluation criteria for labor practices in supply chains to guide the assessment process. To make these changes quickly and credibly, the industry looked for an effective choke point in the distribution channels from vessel to consumer. The Honolulu Fish Auction receives and auctions the vast majority of Hawaii longline-caught fish. The auction has taken a zero tolerance stance for fishing vessels involved in forced labor. according to Michael Goto, Task Force member from the United Fishing Agency which runs the fish auction. The Task Force has obtained the commitment of the Honolulu Fish Auction to serve as the choke point. Starting on October 1, 2016, the auction will deny auction services to vessels that are unable to demonstrate that forced labor is not being used based on the review of the Universal Crew Contracts. The Vessel Inspection Checklist and Crew Interview Checklist are being developed and will be translated and implemented after being vetted. The Task Force is in the process of hiring a person who can be effective in conducting the fleet assessment using the Vessel Inspection and Crew Interview Checklists within the next few months. The Task Force will be able to re-focus efforts based on the findings of the fleet assessment. This fishery has proven itself over the years to be responsive and an industry leader in meeting the challenges arising from new information about fishery impacts on fish populations and protected species. The allegations of labor abuses present a serious and new challenge, and the industry is rallying to respond quickly. I am confident that through this process we will ferret out any vessel from the fleet that is involved in forced labor, labor abuse or substandard working conditions and treatment of the crew. says John Kaneko, Task Force member and Program Director of the Hawaii Seafood Council. ### The Hawaii Seafood Council (HSC) is a non-profit (501c3) organization, dedicated to educating the public about Hawaiis fisheries and seafood on issues of seafood quality, seafood safety and sustainability. HSCs mission is accomplished through its program of education, outreach, training and research. Find out more about HSC at www.hawaii-seafood.org Meanwhile: Dishonesty is Unsustainable by Joni Kamiya, Hawaii Farmers Daughter, September 22, 2016 The more I pay attention to what the anti-GMO activists do and say, Ive come to realize that after 3 years of their charades, some people are getting a clue of the sham that they are pulling. When the lady who accused my dad of poisoning her has the guts to come and apologize to him and even give him a hug, it tells me that there is hope. She could have easily forgotten it and walked by the fields but she didnt. She came and did the right thing. As I was listening to Ashley Lukens, the director of the Center for Food Safety, talk on Thursday, I heard some very interesting claims being made. I also wanted to thank my friend, and fellow academic, Robert Perkinson and the American studies department, for creating this space here at UH for us to bring. I just want to thank Robert. Robert has helped to bring a lot of great thinkers to Hawaii in the 10 years Ive lived here. Ive had the opportunity to meet with activists from around the world who work with a variety of issues and its because Robert has this incredible willingness to navigate the complex hierarchy of UH Manoa like nobody I have ever seen. It takes about 72 pieces paper all signed off with the perfect signature to reserve a room and do it every time so I really appreciate it. Anyone who is a professor here at UH, this is the unpaid labor of being a professor and I really appreciate you. And also the Chancellors Thought Leader Series helped us put this on and the UH Office of Sustainability. She makes the claim that the Chancellors office helped with this event, which caught me by surprise. She also has it in her citation-free handouts that UH is a partner of the Center for Food Safety. Just like the name of their group, the Center for Food Safety, they use deception to get the public to believe their legitimacy. The name alone makes make people think that they really are a food safety group and yet no one ever questions the fact that theres nothing on the hepatitis A outbreak. Nor do they ever post any food recalls either to inform the public. By putting the University of Hawaiis name on their partners, the unsuspecting person will think that if the university supports it, then they must be genuine. Being the skeptical person I am, I decided to contact the Chancellors office directly and find out the truth. Turns out, Ashley Lukens wasnt totally truthful that night to the large audience in attendance. Heres the email I received back from Dr. Clifton Tanabe, the executive assistant to the Chancellor. Im the executive assistant to the Manoa Chancellor. David Lassner asked me to look into the Center for Food Safety event held on Sept. 14 at the UHM Architecture Auditorium. I have learned that this event was not endorsed nor sponsored by the Chancellors Office. Robert Perkinson (who, I understand, may have helped with arrangements for the auditorium) does organize a different speaker series for the Chancellors Office, but this event was not at all part of that series. Once again, Ashley must think that people dont pay attention to what their group says. Yes, your die hard GMO free activists believe and worship what you say but everyone else doesnt fall for your shtick at all. Shes an expert of political manipulation and its getting to be pretty easy to pull her information apart because its fact-less. The emotional arguments made by the Center for Food Safety can go all over the place. They have no bar in what they will claim or say, much like what the Food Babe does. Therein lies the huge difference between the anti-GMO folks and the rational, logic based, science supporters. Were tied to facts that cant go all over the place. We are bound to what the evidence shows and Ashley and friends will do and say anything to get their way. That reckless way of behaving and acting can only last so long before people get tired of it. Like the Babes Against Biotechs Nomi Carmona giving up the 300 domain names she registered of people in the ag community, these kinds of actions can only last so long. These folks will learn the lesson that you can only fool people for so long before they realize what has been done. Meanwhile, the farmers are still producing crops and the GMO free activists are still yelling and giving the bird with no farm or actual product produced from it, other than their historical tantrums documented online. The ugly mark they made in the world and the dishonest tactics they launched will be sustained in history forever. ---30--- Commission Welcomes Your Public Testimony on Ethics in State Government From Hawaii State Ethics Commission, September 15, 2016 Do you have suggestions for how the State Ethics Commission can best serve the public? If so, please join us on October 20, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. for a public meeting on ethics in state government! The Commission is interested in hearing from state officials, lawmakers, lobbyists, non-profit organizations, and the general public as to how the Commission can best fulfill its constitutional duty to promote the highest ethical standards in state government. As the Hawaii Constitution says, The people of Hawaii believe that public officers and employees must exhibit the highest standards of ethical conduct and that these standards come from the personal integrity of each individual in government. The Legislature passed laws to implement this mandate specifically, the Hawaii Ethics Code (Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 84) and the Lobbyists Law (Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 97) and created the Hawaii State Ethics Commission to implement and enforce these laws. The Commission is considering its mission and how best to promote and foster integrity in state government; the Commission will discuss these questions at its October public meeting, and invites all interested individuals to participate in person and/or in writing. The Commission will consider issues such as whether to: (1) ask the Legislature to amend existing laws; (2) begin the process to pass administrative rules to interpret existing laws; and/or (3) focus its enforcement efforts in a particular area. The Commission intends to hold this meeting in its usual meeting location (1001 Bishop Street, Suite 960) but may move to a larger venue if necessary. To assist the Commission in its planning, kindly RSVP to ethics@hawaiiethics.org if you plan to attend (though a reservation is not necessary to attend). If you are on a neighbor island and would like to participate, please let us know; please also notify us if you require an accommodation of any kind and we would be happy to assist you. The Commission strongly encourages those with feedback for the Commission to submit written comments in advance of the meeting (to ethics@hawaiiethics.org); this will give the Commissioners an opportunity to consider and address the communitys concerns in its discussion. The meeting agenda will be posted on the State Ethics Commissions website (http://ethics.hawaii.gov) no later than Friday, October 14, 2016. If you have any questions, please contact us at ethics@hawaiiethics.org or (808) 587-0460. ---30--- Official blames fish dust for explosion at Alaska seafood plant According to Alaska Dispatch News, a seafood processing facility in Dutch Harbor was severely damaged by an explosion on 22 September which a public safety official said was likely caused by the ignition of fine fish-meal dust. There were employees inside the building at the time of the explosion, but no injuries were reported. Dutch Harbor on the island of Unalaska, Aleutian Islands Mike Holman, director of Unalaska's Department of Public Safety, said the blast occurred inside the Westward Seafoods plant in Dutch Harbor, probably caused by an undetermined ignition source detonating dust from the production of fish meal, often used as feed for other fish. Holman said the exact cause of the blast was still undetermined and an investigation would take place to find the cause. He said he had seen two other fish-meal dust explosions at Dutch Harbor plants during his 21 years with the department. The plant's sprinkler system extinguished the resulting fire before crews arrived but contributed to damage estimates well beyond $100,000. With HR under-represented in the boardroom, businesses are missing out on the benefits of a strong, constructive and authentic culture, said Peter Hartnett, head of people and culture at Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing. There is enough evidence out there that having a business that looks after, involves, and connects with its people means having a more sustained business. To this end, it is important that businesses recognise this at the highest level by creating diversity and having the people function represented. However, Hartnett added that HRs role in the boardroom would have to be much more than about people. If an HR professional is on the board, they need to ensure they understand and can contribute to all areas of the business, including finance, sales, marketing and operations. One hurdle to this broadening of scope was that HR, in general, may not understand the key core competency of business acumen, said Gregory Robinson, managing partner of Blenheim Partners. Unfortunately, many purist senior HR directors may not have had the line management and P&L experience required as a base to effectively contribute to the issues addresses by boards, he said. As a senior HR professional who is currently on a corporate board, Nicole Gower, director of HR at Macquarie University, echoed this sentiment by saying that HR needs to contribute as an equal member of the board and not solely within the HR function. She also cautioned HR to keep an open-minded approach to agendas put forward in the boardroom. While the HRD has an important role to provide thought leadership for executive colleagues on people matters, they need to resist the urge to become the sole owner of the people, culture and leadership agendas. These are collective accountabilities of executives and leaders more broadly. Compiled by Jesse Wood Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency last night because of the unrest in Charlotte, which started after a Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department officer shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott in an apartment complex parking lot. Law enforcement officials say he was armed, while family members say he was holding a book. The ACLU called on law enforcement officials to release police footage from dash or body cams. Read a minute-by-minute timeline of the situation from WSOC-TV here. Below are releases from Gov. McCrorys office. Governor Pat McCrory declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday at 11:00 p.m. upon the request of Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney. The governor has also initiated efforts to deploy the North Carolina National Guard and the State Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement. Upon a recent request of Chief Putney, the National Guard and State Highway Patrol are sending in resources to further help the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, said Governor McCrory. 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. The declaration allows the state to send the N.C. National Guard to Charlotte to provide support to the State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement as needed. Charlotte officials requested state assistance following two nights of violent riots. Department of Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry will direct the States Emergency Operations Plan and deploy the State Emergency Response Team to assist Charlotte and Mecklenburg County officials in maintaining safety and security in the city. To view Executive Order 102 click here. Prior to last nights declaration, McCrory issued these two statements yesterday on the situation in Charlotte: Statements from McCrory: Governor Pat McCrory issued the following statement on the events in Charlotte: I want to assure the people of North Carolina that our SBI has already been assisting the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department throughout the last 24 hours. Upon a very recent request of Chief Putney, the State Highway Patrol is sending in troopers to further help the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. The state has many additional assets nearby to assist. 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. Governor Pat McCrory issued the following statement on the events in Charlotte: Ive been in conversations with the mayor and other city officials since early this morning. We 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. My prayers are with the Scott family and also our law enforcement, especially the 16 police officers who were injured last night. As governor Im going to do everything I can to support the entire city leadership in their effort to resolve this situation. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket By Jesse Wood Just in time for the fall equinox, RaysWeather.coms popular Blue Ridge Parkway Calendar for 2017 is hitting stores and shipping to customers this week. The 2017 Blue Ridge Parkway Calendar features 50 photos depicting the 469-mile highway, an iconic stretch of road that begins near Waynesboro, Virginia and ends near Cherokee, N.C. As a bonus, the calendar features pages for November and December, which will be here in no time. Each year, RaysWeather.com holds a photo contest to decide which images to choose. This past spring, more than 14,000 people cast votes on the 645 entries to be considered in the 2017 calendar. Kathryn Greven was awarded the cover and the grand prize for her shot of the Milky Way. Ray Russell of of RaysWeather.com said that the long exposure images like the cover shot and an aerial photo taken in the fall by Jordan Nelson are examples of whats unique in this years calendar over the past. We try not to do the stock images you see from the same places all the time on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Russell said, adding that if they select an image depicting a standard scene theyll look for refreshing take. A description of the calendar states that its stunning photography from often missed nooks and crannies of the Parkway, [offer] unique perspectives of your favorite vistas, but also many of your favorite classic scenes. The calendar also includes a map of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a historic chronology of the Blue Ridge Parkway and information about the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, a nonprofit that works on behalf of the national treasure. Order your calendar by clicking here. To see a list of stores, check back to the previous embedded link. Below are the images representing the 12 months and additional November and December month. January February March April May June July August September October November December November December Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket It was a scandal that rocked a community and changed the way Pennsylvania handles court cases involving juveniles. In 2008, it was discovered that two judges in Luzerne County received financial kick-backs for sending more than 2,500 youths to detention facilities in what is now known as the Kids for Cash scandal. On Thursday, Midstate lawyers came together at Penn State Dickinson School Law to discuss the scandal and better understand the legal issue that allowed it to happen. We think its always relevant to keep remembering what happened then that could happen somewhere else, Cumberland County Bar Association President Hubert Gilroy said. (We also want to) address some of the legal issues that were presented on that in a forum that would be interesting for non-lawyers and be educational for lawyers. Roughly 100 lawyers were in attendance. Thursdays event was hosted by the bar association and provided an opportunity for lawyers to earn continuing education credits needed to maintain a law license. During the session, the film Kids for Cash was shown to the room, with breaks intermittently to allow for a panel discussion of the concerns raised. This whole concept, when this was going on, was so foreign to us, Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said. ... Its never been about locking kids up. Its amazing to watch this film and realize that these kids were getting locked up. Freed was joined on the panel by Judge Kevin Hess, Chief Public Defender Michael Halkias, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Sam Miller and Clinical Law Professor Lucy Johnston-Walsh. One of the first legal issues raised by the film was the lack of legal representation for juveniles during the court proceedings. Many of the youths appeared for their hearing without an attorney. This spurred a change in the law that requires an attorney be appointed to the juvenile if they appear in court without one, Hess said. I cant imagine the situation that some 14-year-old could convince me that they knew what they were doing by waiving council, Hess said. I cannot imagine that scenario. Eating honey and using it topically can be good for you and may provide you with health benefits. The suspect, Jesse Torniainen, has an extensive history of violent transgressions, according to the detention request. The prime suspect in the widely-publicised assault of a man during a neo-Nazi protest outside Helsinki Railway Station on 10 September, 2016, has been detained for probable cause of assault and grossly negligent homicide by the District Court of Helsinki. The case currently under investigation cannot be regarded as an isolated case in light of the suspect's previous violent behaviour but rather as an operational model, the investigators argue in the request. The Helsinki-based suspect has been convicted of several counts of assault and possession of a dangerous object, according to Helsingin Sanomat. Torniainen, the newspaper reveals, has for example been found guilty of assault for kicking a victim lying on the ground with another man in 2007, when he was under the age of 18. He may also be face charges for his suspected involvement in a violent far-right protest and two assaults in Jyvaskyla in 2015. Torniainen, by contrast, has argued that the assault was an isolated incident and contested the charges. The Finnish Resistance Movement (SVL) prohibits active violence, which may be grounds for expulsion, he writes in his response to the District Court of Helsinki. The Helsinki Police Department revealed earlier that a man, identified as the suspect based on security camera footage, kicked another man in the chest during the demonstration, causing the victim to fall down and hit the back of his head on the pavement. The victim died roughly a week after the assault. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Jussi Nukari Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi Many people are to blame for the rise of Donald Trump as a political force, and most of them reside on my side of the aisle. But that story is familiar by now. And well be hearing a lot more about it. Should Trump lose, conservatives will be lucky if the ensuing riot of recriminations falls short of outright civil war. Should Trump win, Im hoping to get a tent upwind from the latrine at the re-education camp. (I kid, I kid.) Still, not all of the blame belongs inside the conservative family. Consider President Obama. One of the central insights of both the Obama campaign and administration (the difference is subtle but real) is that Obama benefits when his critics overreact. In 2008, then-political adviser David Axelrod coined the phrase no drama Obama to describe not only his clients personality but his messaging. By seeming unflappable in the face of criticism, Obama comes across as presidential. The more heated the criticism, the more presidential he seems. The thing is, Obama often intentionally provokes the conservative base. As the Washington Posts Paul Waldman put it in January 2015, Obama seems to come up with a new idea every couple of weeks to drive [the GOP] up a wall. That makes him a master at trolling. For those still not up to speed with the lingo, trolling is an Internet term for saying outrageous things in order to elicit an even more outraged response. Or, as Urban Dictionary defines it, The art of deliberately, cleverly and secretly pissing people off. For instance, although ideology and policy no doubt play a role in Obamas frequent refusal to use the phrase Islamic terrorism, he also seems to enjoy watching his critics shriek about it. In late 2014, when Obama announced that he was going to unilaterally block the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants in the country after insisting for years that the Constitution wouldnt allow him to do anything of the sort many writers on the left and the right recognized that at least part of his strategy was to bait Republicans. Obama could have changed the policy quietly, without much fanfare. Instead, he sought to incite as much right-wing anger as possible. Tellingly, the White House didnt give the exclusive to Univision or MSNBC, but to Fox News. As liberal writer Bill Scher put it in Politico, Operation Epic Troll was a smashing success. Obama played a similar game with his birth certificate and the whole birther craze. He could have released his birth certificate as early as 2008, when the Mephistophelean Clinton henchman Sid Blumenthal was whispering in reporters ears. But Obama didnt for years in part because he knew the conspiracy theory would galvanize his base. It not only confirmed everything liberals wanted to hear about the right, it also provided Obama with an endless supply of one-liners. And for a long time that worked well for Obama; he got to mock birthers and play the dignified victim. You can probably already see the problem. When you throw out so many buckets of chum, you have no idea what kinds of creatures youll attract. Obama chummed the waters for so long, he pulled in a Great White Shark. A man often in error but never in doubt, with a thumbless grasp of facts and a total willingness to repeat conspiracy theories, rumors and innuendo as the truth, Trump was almost the personification of the collective id of the angrier strata of the Republican base. Trumps claim last week that he was doing a public service by ending the issue Clinton started was itself a brilliant bit of trollery. He was trying to have it both ways, simultaneously saying that the birther movement was nefarious and illegitimate from the beginning, and that he was some kind of statesman for relentlessly pushing the birther story. None of that matters now. Like Obama, Trump exploited birtherism for his own advantage, worming his way into the GOP. Obama allowed the issue to fester in the fever swamps of the right, and now hes facing the real possibility that he will be replaced by the Swamp Thing. CCEA approves winding up of Hindustan Diamond Company Private Limited Published: September 22, 2016 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval for initiating the process of winding up of Hindustan Diamond Company Private Limited (HDCPL). The winding up of HDCPL will not affect supply of rough diamonds to Indian diamantaires as Indian diamond industry has grown in these years. Besides, the HDCPL had become inconsistent with changing times to facilitate the constant supply of rough diamonds and to make India an International Diamond Trading Hub. About Hindustan Diamond Company Private Limited (HDCPL) HDCPL was a 50:50 joint venture of the Central Government and De Beers Centenary Mauritius Limited (DBCML). It was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 in 1978 to supply rough diamonds to diamond processing industry in India. Its objective was to supply rough diamonds particularly to small and medium diamond jewellery exporters, who had no direct access to rough diamonds from Diamond Trading Company (DTC), London. Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016 Topics: Cabinet Decisons CCEA Disinvestments HDCPL National Latest E-Books Incredible India Tourism Investors Summit-2016 begins in New Delhi Published: September 22, 2016 The Incredible India Tourism Investors Summit (IITIS) 2016 has begun in New Delhi after it was inaugurated by Union Finance Minster Arun Jaitley. The three day summit has been organized by the Union Ministry of Tourism in association with Tourism Finance Corporation of India (TFCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Key Facts IITIS will provide a common platform for domestic and international investors to meet project owners from across Indian states and the private sector. It will host presentations of investible properties, session on why invest in India, Micro of Small and Micro Enterprises (MSME) in tourism sector. Besides, it will also host panel discussions on core infrastructure for tourism, session on start-ups, digital India, Swadesh Darshan, PRASAD and niche tourism products, B2B meetings. The summit will also have dedicated space for seminars, business to business (B2B) meetings and roundtables around focus themes. There will be participation from major stakeholders including states/UTs with their ready investible projects, banks and financial Institutions, business developers. It will also see domestic investors, entertainment companies, global investors, helicopter services, infrastructure-developers, hoteliers, international associations, restaurateurs, tour and travel operators, venture capitalists, urban developers and civic amenity providers. Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016 Topics: Business CII Economy Events National Tourism Sector Latest E-Books A judge told potential jurors they must not take part in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick if they were affected by the banking crisis or were members of anti-austerity groups. The trial of former Anglo boss FitzPatrick began at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, where he denied misleading the bank's auditors about millions of euro in loans. A specially enlarged jury panel of 15 has been sworn in for the trial, which is expected to run for three months. Mr FitzPatrick (68) is accused of failing to disclose to the bank's auditor Ernst & Young the details of loans of up to 119m which he received from Anglo between November 2002 and February 2008. Mr FitzPatrick - of Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow - pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act. These include 22 charges of making a misleading, false or deceptive statement to auditors and five charges of furnishing false information in the years 2002 to 2007. In addition to the usual exclusions, potential jurors were told they must not serve if they were affected by the banking crisis or have expressed any views on it on social media or any other public forum. They were told they should not serve if they are a member of any protest group, including anti-austerity groups. Banking sector employees and shareholders were also excluded. One woman was excused from serving after telling the court she is "decidedly not neutral when it comes to bankers", Another man said he was willing to cancel a holiday to serve but he was objected to by the defence. Excluded The defence challenged eight potential jurors while the prosecution challenged four. Counsel are allowed to challenge up to eight jurors each without giving reason. Another 72 were excused for various reasons before a final jury of eight women and seven men was sworn in. Judge Aylmer told jurors they must not seek out information on the trial outside of the court. "We're all aware of the availability to everyone of the internet, newspapers or social media," he said. He also asked the jurors not to discuss the case with family or friends. The case should finish by Christmas. The jury will return on Monday before being sent away for two weeks while legal arguments take place. A former Lord Mayor of Dublin has put forward a bizarre proposal to place people on ships in an effort to help alleviate the capital's accommodation crisis. Labour Party member Mary Freehill, who is a Dublin City Council representative for the Rathmines/Pembroke area, made the motion at the local authority's Planning Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) meeting. In her submission, Ms Freehill (70) said that the Council should investigate the possibility "of encouraging floatels to Dublin" in conjunction with the local port and docklands authority. "These are large accommodation ships that can accommodate 200 separate living units and are anchored on water," Ms Freehill said. "They are widely used to accommodate oil workers in areas where there is a shortage of accommodation. Also they are used in Asian countries and come with all different specifications and standards of accommodation. "Conscious to the current cost and shortage of accommodation for students and workers in Dublin, it might be worth exploring this type of accommodation on a temporary basis, for say two years, until the supply increases," the Labour representative added. Mary Freehill was elected as Dublin Lord Mayor in 1999. Pressure Speaking to the Herald, Ms Freehill said that the proposal "was an idea" that should be put before the Council. "There is obviously an accommodation crisis in the capital at the moment and this could be one way of easing the pressure. "We haven't looked into cost or anything like that, it's a proposal and an alternative that will be debated next Tuesday at the Planning SPC," she said. Meanwhile, religious orders have been urged to offer the State vacant or disused priests' homes, convents and buildings to ease the housing and homeless crisis. Housing, Planning and Local Government Minister Simon Coveney issued the plea after revealing three properties have been handed over in Cork, Kerry and Waterford in recent months. Eighteen congregations signed deals with the State to meet 350m of the cost of compensating abuse survivors. By last year, property worth 42m was handed over, but Mr Coveney appealed for all religious orders in the country to consider if they could donate any other buildings or homes to put a roof over people's heads. "If there are any religious congregations listening and you have properties that are no longer in use or you are looking to vacate in the coming months or years we are interested in talking to you," Mr Coveney said. Convicted criminal Alan 'Fatpuss' Bradley has settled into a quiet life since his release from jail this week. The Finglas man (42) declined to talk about his four years behind bars, but one of the first tasks he undertook on his release was to check on a community pets corner he helped establish for local children in the Co Meath estate where he lives. In 2011 Bradley made the headlines for altogether different reasons than his involvement in criminal circles. He was seen remonstrating with gardai and council officials when they rolled into the Churchfields estate in Kentstown on July 12 to dismantle the community area and pets corner that he had helped construct with neighbours in order to keep their children safe. The council argued that the community amenity had no planning permission and said there were question marks over its ownership. An emotional Bradley was unable to stop them dismantling it at the time. However, days later Meath Co Council reinstated a section of fencing after Bradley and others argued that its absence put the safety of kids at risk from injury from half-buried building materials that had been dumped down a hillside and never removed. "It's a disgrace what they are doing here. We were ringing the council about cleaning the site up - the council wouldn't clean it up and they had no interest in it," he said at the time. "All we care about is the safety of the children. They [the council] don't seem to give a s**te about the safety of anybody, they just want to enforce their planning laws," he added. Now, more than five years later, the small outhouses and sheds that form the community facility are still there, and one of the first things Bradley did on his arrival home was to visit the area. Meath Co Council was unable to clarify if the planning and ownership matters of the amenity had been cleared up when contacted yesterday. Bradley is now settling down to a quiet life after winning his High Court battle to be freed on bail while a legal argument about whether he should receive enhanced remission is decided upon. Crime Bradley, along with his brother Wayne, pleaded guilty in the Circuit Criminal Court to conspiring to steal from a cash-in-transit van in November 2007 at Tesco, Celbridge, Co Kildare. He had been sentenced in April 2012 to nine years, dating from February 14, 2012, with the final two years suspended. This sentence was reduced on appeal to eight years with 18 months suspended. Younger brother Wayne (37) was released from prison last December. Alan Bradley's legal team said he is entitled to enhanced remission on various grounds, including that he has engaged in crime awareness, anger management and peace education programmes. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has praised the "resilience" of the people of Dublin's north inner city as "quite incredible" in the face of gang violence and drug-dealing. He says he has taken the issue "very much to heart" and told of a recent visit to the area where he witnessed drug dealers operating openly on the streets. Mr Kenny said he's opposed to the legalisation of drugs, but that he's in favour of medically supervised injection centres for addicts. A Ministerial Taskforce to help the community was set up amid the ongoing feud between the Kinahan cartel and the Hutch gang. Visited Mr Kenny said he has visited the area several times in recent months. "I was down at the back of the IFSC there recently and there were nine dealers on the street within a hundred yards of that building," he said. He said that people in the community are some of the "most solid, committed citizens of this country" but "the area's been given a bad name by a very small percentage of people". Mr Kenny said there is now a very visible garda presence in the area. "Obviously we want to see that people are safe in their homes and on the streets," he said, adding that he wants children in the area to have opportunities. In a wide-ranging briefing to journalists, Mr Kenny argued that Fianna Fail's policy of abolishing water charges would mean "everybody could leave their taps on" and the taxpayer would have to foot the bill. Measures Fine Gael supports conservation measures through metering, and a "fair and affordable contribution" from households, he said. Mr Kenny said the Citizens' Assembly to discuss the Eighth Amendment - the law giving equal status to a mother and an unborn child - will meet for the first time on October 15. Asked if he would still be Fine Gael leader for the three Budgets agreed with Fianna Fail, Mr Kenny replied that his focus is on the government's "very big agenda". He said he was not concerned about his political legacy, but joked: "The one remaining thing I'd like to do is to see the green and red take up Sam Maguire at Croke Park." A devastated mum has said her son would be "alive and well" today if the hospital she was treated in had acted more quickly. Siobhan Whelan's son Conor died in Cavan General Hospital just 17-and-a-half hours after he was born by emergency caesarean. When she presented to the hospital after calling ahead to say she was in labour she discovered she was bleeding and cried out for help. "An earlier elective caesarean section, even earlier that day, we firmly believe Conor would be alive and well here with us today," she said yesterday. Ms Whelan had been suffering from an undiagnosed condition, known as vasa previa. The condition causes foetal blood vessels to block the birth canal. It is rare but the inquest heard survival rates are greatly increased if it is detected during pregnancy. The inquest into Conor's death on May 14, 2014, returned a verdict of death by medical misadventure, after three days of evidence in Cavan Court. Ms Whelan and her husband Andrew were visibly emotional after the verdict. Ms Whelan had told the inquest it had been a "battle" to get to the inquest stage. "We are Conor's voice and it has taken two-and-a-half years to get answers to our many questions. It will not bring Conor back, unfortunately. However, his life mattered and his legacy in his short time with us will go on to hopefully prevent future unnecessary deaths," she said. Ms Whelan also hit out at maternity care standards and the "lack of equality of care" for women as a "big issue". "Unfortunately, the lack of detailed scanning in a lot of our maternity units, not just in Cavan, and a lack of equality of care for all pregnant mothers is a big issue that needs to be turned around. "Every pregnant mother is entitled to a decent scan, to leave the ante-natal clinic knowing for sure that everything is as it should be and to have it afforded to every mother in Ireland not just by postcode lottery," she said. During her pregnancy in March 2014, a concern had been raised about a low-lying placenta but a scan did not confirm this. Ms Whelan said she raised the issue several times throughout her pregnancy, but it was never addressed with the internal check-up she said she had been promised. The placental abnormality could have been an indicator for her condition. Her waters were manually broken by a process known as an artificial rupture of the membrane. The consultant who carried out the procedure said that had vasa previa been diagnosed, she would not have carried it out. The court heard that it was not thought of on the day that the blood loss could have been from the baby, but it later emerged it was. Dr John Gillan, the pathologist who carried out the post-mortem on Conor, said the cause of death was organ failure brought on by blood loss. Pressure on the vasa previa caused a rupture that led to the baby losing blood. Encouraged Last night, Ms Whelan encouraged women who had concerns to insist on being tested. "Until the recommendations are fully implemented I would just encourage every mother out there to stand up for themselves and insist on being screened. "I would ask all the medical people to consider vasa previa with any of the risk factors, a mother turning up with unexplained bleeding to consider vasa previa ... it wasn't thought of on the day," she said. The Whelan family also received an apology from the management of Cavan Hospital. Recommendations were also made by the jury, including the need for every pregnant woman to be scanned at 20 weeks. Union Cabinet approves Agreement between India and Samoa for exchange of information with respect to Taxes Published: September 22, 2016 The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing and ratification of Agreement between India and Samoa for the exchange of information with respect to Taxes. It will help to stimulate the flow of exchange of information between India and Samoa for tax purposes which will help curb tax avoidance and tax evasion. Key features of agreement Enables competent authorities of both countries to provide assistance through exchange of information with respect to Taxes Information received under agreement will be treated as confidential and may be disclosed only to persons or authorities including administrative bodies or courts. Information will be disclosed to any other person or authority or jurisdiction with the prior written consent of the information sending country. Provides for Mutual Agreement Procedure for agreeing on procedures or for resolving any difference or under the Agreement. Background: The Union Government under section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is authorized to enter into an Agreement with a foreign country with respect to Taxes It is mainly for exchange of information for the prevention of avoidance or evasion of income-tax chargeable under the Income-tax Act, 1961. Negotiations for Agreement were finalized between India and Samoa in June, 2016 and both countries have agreed on the text of the Agreement. Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016 Topics: black money Cabinet Decisions National Taxation Latest E-Books ABINGDON, Va. The former mayor of Clinchco, Virginia in Dickenson County, was sentenced Thursday in federal court to fraud charges stemming from her use of town funds used to make improvements and repairs to her personal home while she was mayor, U.S. Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. said. Peggy Sue Stanley Mickens, 50, previously pleaded guilty to one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud. In district court, Mickens was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of six months and was ordered to make restitution to the town of Clinchco in the amount of $6,179.47. Peggy Mickens abused her position of trust to enrich herself and for that she has been held accountable, Fishwick said. The United States Attorneys Office takes reports of public corruption seriously and will continue to pursue federal charges against public officials, when appropriate. According to evidence presented at previous hearings by Russell County Commonwealths Attorney and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian Patton, Mickens was elected Mayor of Clinchco in May 2012, at which time she gained access to, and possession of the towns banking instrument, credit cards, invoices and banking statements. In 2013, Clinchco received approximately $20,000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] via a Community Development Block Grant, to be used to rehabilitate homes and/or construct new homes in the town. Mickens, without any type of procurement formalities or approval, hired a contractor to remodel her home and paid for it from the towns BB&T bank account via checks signed by her. The defendant took these actions without the knowledge or consent of town officials. Mickens also fraudulently used a Lowes credit card maintained by the Town of Clinchco, without the knowledge or consent of town officials, to charge $662 from the Lowes store in Wise, Virginia to obtain materials for her personal home. The Bonne Terre City Council met for a work session Wednesday evening and during the meeting they heard a presentation on updated insurance options for the city. First off, the council meeting started with Erik Schonhardt being sworn in as the new Ward 3 alderman after Shawn Kay resigned his seat during the last council meeting to take a full-time position with the city. City Administrator Jim Eaton said Kay was hired as the Public Works superintendent, which Eaton considers a new position. He will oversee the public works department for the city of Bonne Terre, which consists of all the utilities, said Eaton. It was something that I did. It was part of the job and we felt it would be a good way to approach improvements the city needed to make. Eaton said Schonhardt was selected for the Ward 3 seat because of his past interest in running for the Ward 3 seat in a recent election and he felt he was a good fit for the city. Next, First State Insurance Broker Kyle King introduced himself to the council. He told them after looking at the citys insurance premiums he noticed they have been on a grandfather plan for quite a long time. It looks like the last time it actually went out to market was seven years ago, said King. A lot has changed since then and the premiums right now are really, really high. I was confident at that time we could go out and get standard shelf rates for a lot less than what you are currently paying without making current adjustments. King told the council they could keep their same deductible, co-pays on all of the prescription cards, office visits and things like that. Its true, you can save a ton of money by making some changes, said King. The packet is the presentation I gave to Jim (Eaton) and Dawn (Sens) about a week ago. It has multiple plan design ideas, which might incorporate things like an HSA which is a savings account for employees, a reimbursement arrangement for employees if you buy a higher deductible. King went over each plan and tier with the council and explained the different savings each one offered. Currently the city pays an annual premium of $345,319.44 for a premium plan. Bonne Terre Police Lt. Bill Stegall spoke up after viewing the different plans and seeing the increase in co-pays. This could add up pretty quick from what I am looking at here, $8 for generic copays for prescriptions to $20, said Stegall, which if you have one a month thats one thing, but there are lots of people who have way more than that. I look down through there and Im also seeing where going through Urgent Care is significantly higher and co-pays are going back and forth. This could stack up pretty quick. Stegall indicated a lot of the employees dont make a lot of money. He asked if this was some sort of cafeteria plan they were talking about. So there would be immediately an assessed amount of money in place towards each employee to be able to use and once that runs out then thats it? asked Stegall. King replied that would be on the HHS plan and Alderwoman Andrea Richardson also replied saying it would be up to the employee to make contributions. If the employee wants to make contributions they can or they dont have to, responded King. Bonne Terre Police Chief Doug Calvert said if they dont make contributions they are rolling the dice. You are right, said King. You want to keep your employees in mind, but this grandfather plan does not exist any longer. Youre not going to go get any sort of co-pays and plan designs you have right now with Anthem. It still exists if the city keeps it though, right? asked Calvert. King said it will. The city could renew as is, but that is a lot of money that could be spent for other things, he said. Calvert said the healthcare has been the big retention tool that has kept low employee turnover. Im just playing devils advocate, because you could certainly renew 'as is,' Im not saying you shouldnt, said King. At that point Stegall turned to the council and apologized, saying he wasnt trying to be disrespectful. The council said they want to hear what he has to say. It is concerning for me and Im not here to speak for the entire city employees, but as myself and for the department, Doug and I can certainly speak on it, said Stegall. Eaton said they are going to have other presentations and what they are asking for is options to give them so they have something to think about. King said the other point he would make, is that as premiums continue to rise in the grandfather plan, what point can the city no longer afford to pay the employee premium. All of a sudden the premium is a 75/25 split to the employee and now you are paying a premium rather than a difference in co-pay, said King. Stegall said the only thing he can speak from is that he understands cities only have limited monies. The one big thing that makes the city work and the employees, is the people who work within it, said Stegall. Its sad if we get to a point of where those employees are put on the back burner for other things. There are things that we ask for in our budget, but we realize we may or may not be helped with and there are others as well. Stegall said the number one thing when they turn their budget in each year is retention of employees. Anthem is the citys current carrier and the proposal included quotes from United Healthcare, Aetna and LifeStyle Health Plans. Each plan and tier offered a different amount of savings, with the highest amount of saving capping out at $193,527.72 in savings on a level funded Lifestyle Health Plan. The new Farmington Menards Mega Store is now open and announces an eight-day "Grand Opening Celebration" that will begin on Saturday. During the grand opening, Farmington Menards will be giving away more than $50,000 in prizes, including a $500 merchandise certificate to 11 guests on each of the eight days. Plus, there will be product demonstrations, guest appearances and great deals on merchandise. The new Farmington Menards Mega Store is located at 1280 Maple St. The celebration at the new Farmington Menards Mega Store runs through Oct. 1. The store is open Monday-Saturday from 6:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. A number of special guest appearances are scheduled during the grand opening celebration. Legendary chainsaw artist John Gage will make wood carvings from simple logs during appearances at the store from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 25-28. Representing Remington Chainsaws, Gage is well-known throughout the Midwest as a personable and talented artist. Gages carvings will be available for public sale. Larry Menard, one of the Menard family members, will be at the store from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday signing autographs. Menards is a family-owned and family-run business since 1958. Shake hands with one of the Menard family members as Larry Menard will be at the store to share many stories about the history of Menards. The No. 27 Paul Menards car is scheduled to be on display from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. This is a great opportunity to see a real NASCAR race car up close. Bring the entire family and take a photo with the vehicles. There will also be racing merchandise for sale at the display. In addition, race car driver appearances are scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Paul Menard will be at the celebration to greet fans and sign free autographs. Menard is the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series Driver Winner of the 2011 Indy Brickyard Race and drives the No. 27 Menards Chevy SS full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and No. 2 Menards Chevy Camaro on a part-time basis in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Legendary race car driver and Fenton, Missouri native Kenny Schrader will also be in appearance. Schrader participated in 763 NASCAR Cup Races during 29 seasons. Schrader is best known for his exceptional driving skills plus great personality as he raced for many years at all levels throughout the country. Schrader is currently the team owner for the No. 52 Ansell/Menards car driven by Matt Kurzejewski in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. We make it a habit to offer the lowest prices every day and sales, too, said Farmington Menards General Manager Chris Matz. The new store has everything you need to build a new house, add an addition or update your existing home. The days are shorter, but not the list of things you can do. The 15th Annual JPs Midwest Cub-Arama will be held Friday and Saturday in Azalea and Wanda Priest Parks in Fredericktown on South Main St. The event promises to bring history in the form of private collectors International Harvester and Farmall items to the public eye. The free event is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and will feature some of the countrys top tractors, including some antiques, in a parade at 1 p.m., Saturday in Jaycee Park. The national attention JPs Midwest Cub-Arama and Fredericktown have received is truly amazing as we start to celebrate our 15th show, Jamie Hargis, event director said. In the last 14 shows folks have traveled from 27 states and Canada. Spectators can see the wonderful displays of International Harvester/Farmall tractors, trucks, and equipment. There will be a Kiddie Tractor Pull for children between the ages of 3 and 7 on Saturday, with winner prizes and a ribbon for everyone. The Missouri International Harvester Collector Club will hold its fall membership meeting and offer IH merchandise for sale, as well. Tractor enthusiasts and visitors will also be able to see live demonstrations, how-to clinics, tractor slow races, repair seminars, door prizes, concessions and much more. Registration fees are required for display items in order to cover show expenses. For more information call Hargis at 573-561-4524. Members of the Missouri General Assembly returned to Jefferson City this week for the annual veto session, which officially convened at noon on Wednesday. By the time it wrapped up 10 hours later, state lawmakers had voted to override 13 of the governors vetoes. While passing a bill during regular session only requires a simple majority, a successful veto override requires a two-thirds majority in each chamber, which comes out to 23 votes in the Senate and 109 votes in the House. The two measures on the minds of many Missourians heading into Wednesday were House Bill 1631, pertaining to voter identification, and Senate Bill 656, pertaining to firearms. By a vote of 115-41 in the House and 24-7 in the Senate, legislators overrode the veto of House Bill 1631, which requires that all Missouri citizens wishing to vote must present a valid, non-expired form of government-issued ID at their polling location. As part of a compromise, HB 1631 permits any person who does not have a valid ID to sign a statement, under penalty of perjury, attesting to their identity; the voter may then present an alternative form of ID (e.g., a student ID) and cast a regular ballot. Any person who does not want to sign the statement may cast a provisional ballot. It also requires the state and all fee offices to provide free photo IDs and any underlying documents necessary to obtain an ID. House Bill 1631 will strengthen the integrity of Missouris public elections while ensuring no eligible voter is disenfranchised. The measure will only take effect if Missouri voters approve its companion constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution 53, at the polls on Nov. 8. We also overrode the veto of Senate Bill 656, a measure that aims to strengthen the Second Amendment right of all law-abiding Missouri citizens to keep and bear arms. Thanks to SB 656, Missourians will have the legal right to use deadly force in public spaces to protect themselves and their families from physical threats. It also enacts what is known as constitutional carry, enabling Missouri citizens who are legally allowed to possess a firearm to carry a concealed firearm without first having to obtain a state permit. For a complete list of all veto overrides, click here or visit the Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov. With the end of veto session, our legislative work in the Capitol is all but finished for the year; however, a number of interim committees will continue to meet until January. As we quickly approach the 2017 session, I encourage you to contact my office about any questions or concerns you may have with state government. I always appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at 5730751-4008. You may write me at Gary Romine, Missouri Senate, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101; or email me at gary.romine@senate.mo.gov; or www.senate.mo.gov/romine. The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed with bipartisan support, Missouri 8th District Congressman Jason Smiths bill H.R. 5659 also known as the Expanding Seniors Receiving Dialysis (ESRD) Choice Act. The bill passed Wednesday, said Smith, "expands access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage options for Americans suffering from kidney failure by removing current federal restrictions that block patients with End Stage Renal Disease from enrolling in certain medical plans like Medicare Advantage." Prior to passage of his bill Smith, a Republican, commented, The vulnerable patients suffering from End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) deserve access to the right doctors and the right treatment at the most affordable cost. Unfortunately, I heard from several folks in southeast and south central Missouri suffering from kidney failure who have been denied that access and option by the federal government. Patients suffering from kidney failure deserve the same health care choices that all Americans have. My bill will help ensure that the over 640,000 Americans diagnosed with ESRD benefit from having new options for care and coverage which are currently disallowed in federal statute. According to Smith, there are over 640,000 Americans 11,000 of those in Missouri who are currently diagnosed with kidney failure, or ESRD. Under the current law, patients with the pre-existing condition of ESRD are the only disease group specifically denied the ability to enroll in more flexible care Medicare Advantage plans. The bill expands the options for ESRD patients and allow them to choose these plans by ending the current federal restriction. After the bill's passage, Smith said, The passage of my bill today will ensure that those suffering from kidney failure are protected. America deserves these types of solutions to improve our health care system. Americans, not the federal government, should be in control of choosing the best heath care options for those in need. DEAR ABBY: I have been happily married for 20 years to an amazing man, "Boyd." Eight months ago, he left his administrative job to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an actor. He is working hard on auditions and shoots, and I am very proud of him. However, when he left his job, it felt to me like a pronouncement rather than the result of our usual mutual decisions. Unfortunately, I communicated my frustration to family members at the time, and they have completely written Boyd off. They don't want to talk to him or hear news about him, and he is not welcome in their homes. Boyd didn't take this well. He has, in return, written THEM off. It has reached the point that I can't share news about them with him. I have had to take down family photos -- which was my choice -- but it felt necessary. The irony is my family felt he had created undue stress for me, but the breach in family harmony has been far more stressful than my husband's career change. Any thoughts on how to bring detente to this situation? It's keeping me up at night. -- ACTOR'S WIFE IN ATLANTA DEAR WIFE: Have you told your family that by shunning your husband they have caused you more stress than his decision -- however one-sided it may have been -- to become an actor? If you haven't you should, because it is causing discord in your marriage. Your relatives do not have the right to punish your husband for his career choice, and you should not have encouraged or allowed them to alienate him. You may want to remind them that you and Boyd are a unit, and if they care about more contact with you, they will bury the hatchet. Or perhaps you could convince everyone to agree to family counseling. The ball is now in your court because you are the person who started it rolling. DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married for a very long time and have a good marriage. However, he has one annoying habit that drives me crazy. We live in a small house, and he has stacks and piles of things lying around collecting dust and creating clutter. When I ask him to put them away, he says just to leave them where they are so he will remember to look at them "someday." Abby, these are videos, magazines, books or paperwork. It could be anything, really, like some gadget he wants to check out. A neat and tidy house is important to me. This is nothing new; it has been going on during our entire marriage. What can I say to him to get him to change his ways? -- ANTI-CLUTTER IN IOWA DEAR ANTI-CLUTTER: Probably not much at this point. But I can offer this insight. The tendency to do what your husband is doing is a sign of OCD, an anxiety disorder. For your husband, letting go of things he "may" want to look at "sometime" can be emotionally upsetting. A doctor might be able to help your husband, but that would necessitate your husband admitting that what he has been doing is causing a problem. DEAR ABBY: Ill bet this is an issue in many homes. When my son Chet graduated from high school, we gave him a very nice graduation party, which included his friends and family. He received many gifts. I gave my son thank-you cards, stamps, and a detailed list of whom to send the cards to. So far, he has refused. Chet is normally thoughtful and considerate. I dont know what to do. Im embarrassed by his lack of gratitude. I have told him we have received thank-yous from his friends and that the cards can be brief. Should I send the thank-you notes myself, or just let it go? EMBARRASSED MOM IN CALIFORNIA DEAR MOM: If the amount of mail I receive from readers complaining that their gifts are not acknowledged is an accurate barometer, your problem is very common. Without being confrontational, ask your son why he refuses to thank the people who gave him gifts. If the answer is he doesnt know what to say and hes embarrassed that he has procrastinated, offer to help him by making suggestions. Youre right; the thankyous dont have to be lengthy. But DO NOT write them for him. Chet is a big boy and the responsibility is his. DEAR ABBY: I am a divorced, single woman in my 50s. I love my grandchildren dearly but am faced with a dilemma. I work full-time and take my grandchildren some nights and on the one day I have off usually on weekends. I cant plan things on a weekend without feeling I have made it difficult for my son and his wife to find someone to watch their children. Her mom, a stay-at-home wife, watches them several days a week. I want to continue spending time with my grandkids, but I also want the freedom to be there when I choose to be. I realize finding a sitter you can afford and trust to watch your children is a challenge. I have tried talking to my son, but it doesnt seem to get through to him. I know I need to do something, but what? Im afraid I wont see the kids at all if I take a stand. LADY ON THE LAKE IN MICHIGAN DEAR LADY: Check your calendar and plan some time for yourself one or two weekends a month. Then tell your son and his wife which ones you will be AVAILABLE. Free baby-sitting services are hard to come by, and you are not giving yourself enough credit. If the unspoken threat is that its all or nothing, then, frankly, you should step back further and let your son and daughter-in-law shoulder even more responsibility for the children they brought into this world. DEAR ABBY: Im the middle child. Our father died in the Gulf War. None of us really knew him, but my younger sister, Delia, has no memory of him at all. She has been acting out for years now, and has broken our mothers heart more times than I can count. Whenever she messes up, she blames it on not knowing our father and the life she could have led. It has been 20 years, Abby! The past is the past. Delia continues to ruin her future and blame our mom. It has Mom wondering why she was able to survive this crisis 20 years ago but cant manage to deal with my sister. I think Delia may have a chemical imbalance, or just never dealt with our fathers death. How do you convince someone to get help? How do you make her see that Dad died so she could enjoy the many freedoms of America? DRAINED IN DELAWARE DEAR DRAINED: Im sorry for your familys loss, but we are all responsible for our own behavior and our own emotions. You cant force help on your dysfunctional sister. Before shell be willing to accept that she needs it, she will have to accept that SHE has been responsible for her own mistakes and behavior. If your father had lived, her life might not have been any different than it is. The person who COULD use some professional help might be your mother. Counseling might help her to quit trying to rescue her adult daughter, or blaming herself for the problems Delia has created for herself. Im not saying it will be easy letting go rarely is. But it might improve her emotional and physical health. HICKORY Nearly 14,000 Catawba County residents received care from Catawba County Public Health in Fiscal Year 2014-15, according to an end of year report released earlier this month. The report presents data ranging from finances to disease prevention. The year brought unique challenges to the department like Ebola precautions and changes to child immunization laws, CCPH Director Doug Urland said via the report. Almost 70 percent of the clients served by CCPH were females, according to the report. The two age groups seen most frequently by Public Health were ages 0-9 and 20-34. The department saw a balanced budget for FY 2014-15, according to the report. Total expenditures equaled $10,277,277 and clinical/program services saw the bulk of expenditures at $5,903,702. Catawba County Public Health strives to meet the needs of the community through the responsible and effective use of monetary resources, according to the report. By spending conservatively, forecasting potential needs and pursuing grant opportunities, (CCPH) has continued to maintain quality services for residents. The threat of Ebola required CCPH to create an action plan in case the virus spread in the United States. Public Health worked in partnership with Catawba Valley Medical Center, Frye Regional Medical Center, Catawba County Emergency Management, local law enforcement and 911 representatives, according to the report. Catawba County Public Health and other local partners spent more than 2,000 hours on Ebola preparedness with $15,000 of federal funds dedicated to training and exercises. It gave us an opportunity to beef up our plan for isolation and quarantine for a potential outbreak, Preparedness Coordinator Chantae Lail said via the report. Another project conducted by CCPH and other area health departments was the distribution of potassium iodide to residents within a 10-mile emergency planning zone of the McGuire and Catawba Nuclear Stations, according to the report. Officials said potassium iodide, an over-the-counter medication, can protect the thyroid gland from radiation exposure. The health departments issued nearly 1,000 doses to 324 households in Catawba County, according to the report. Providing health care services, as well as creating action plans, were only part of the achievements of CCPH last year. In 2013, only two of the local farmers markets were able to accept vouchers for the Women, Infants and Children program. CCPH offers a limited number of Farmers Market Nutritional Program vouchers to WIC recipients. Only 51 percent of recipients redeemed these FMNP vouchers in 2012 according to CCPH. Public Health believed convenience might be a barrier to FMNP utilization as a result, Catawba County Public Health opened and operated a new community farmers market, according to the report. In 2014, the redemption rate in the county increased to 64.37 percent, the highest county rate in the state. For more information, visit www.catawbacountync.gov/phealth. SHERRILLS FORD The chief of the Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue department released a statement Wednesday about a N.C. Department of Labor citation issued Tuesday in regards to the June death of Capt. Bradley Long. There are things in the OSHA report which are incorrect and conclusions which we believe are inaccurate, Fire Chief Rick Davis said via the release. The fire department is looking into options on how to deal with this. Davis declined to comment on the citation further, including on the departments option to contest the citation. We ask that everyone continue to respect the familys and fire departments privacy as we all continue to grieve and work through the healing process, Davis said. SFTFR is a publicly funded governmental agency under the oversight of Catawba County Emergency Services. Emergency Services assistant director Mark Pettit declined to comment about the citation. We firmly believe that all our departments work to ensure the safety of their employees, Pettit said. We have the upmost confidence in our first responders. The fire department has 15 days to either pay or contest the $5,600 fine. According to the citation, the department was in violation of North Carolina general statute 95-129(1), which states that employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious injury or serious physical harm to his employees. NCDOL spokesperson Neal OBriant noted that recognized hazards are ones that an employer can prevent or mitigate. For firefighters, this means heat-resistant gear, proper safety measures for the team and air tanks when inside a burning building. As previously reported, the citation lists out the following failures by SFTFR during the June 7 diving operation that took the life of Long: Failure to monitor the air supply of two divers At least one diver attached a body recovery bag and a search rope bag to his rig, creating an entanglement hazard Failure by at least one diver to perform an equipment check prior to the dive Lack of a redundant air supply by one of the divers Failure to train at similar depths and conditions to where the recovery was taking place Lack of an annual evaluation of the rescue dive team Failure to maintain consistent dive records Failure to maintain training documentation, medical evaluations and certifications The value of these regulations is to keep employees safe, OBriant said. OBriant said if the department decided to contest the citation, the matter would go to administrative court. If the department does not contest the citation, they will have to complete corrective measures in addition to payment. The citation suggests several means to correct the violations: Change training and dive rigs to comply with National Fire Protection Association and Professional Association of Diving Instructors standards Train at conditions similar to potential operational ones Institute pre-dive equipment checks prior to the actual dive, instead of beginning of day checks Equip divers with redundant air supply Once these measures are taken, the department would have to submit documentation of compliance. The incident occurred June 7, when the SFTFR dive team conducted an operation to recover the body of a drowned man. During the dive, Long indicated to another diver he was out of oxygen. The two other divers surfaced, but Long did not. A rescue attempt was made, but failed to recover Long in time. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ Despite the worsening Afghanistan quagmire, this months 15th anniversary of the longest war in American history attracted little attention. The raging battles highlight United States President Barack Obamas failed strategy to wind down the war. The Afghanistan situation today is worse than at any time since 2001, when the US invasion helped oust the Taliban from power, forcing them to set up their command-and-control structure in Pakistan, their creator and steadfast sponsor. Now the resurgent Taliban hold more Afghan territory than before, the civilian toll is at a record high, and Afghan military casualties are rising to a level that American commanders warn is unsustainable. From sanctuaries in Pakistan and from the Afghan areas they hold, the militants are carrying out increasingly daring attacks, including in the capital Kabul, as illustrated by the recent strikes on the American University and a site adjacent to the defence ministry and presidential palace. Read | Eight Afghan police killed in friendly fire by US in Tali area: Officials In declaring war in Afghanistan on September 21, 2001, after the worlds worst terrorist attack in modern history 10 days earlier in the US, President George W Bush explained why 9/11 was a turning point for the country: Americans have known wars but for the past 136 years, they have been wars on foreign soil, except for one Sunday in 1941 [Pearl Harbour]. Americans have known the casualties of war but not at the centre of a great city on a peaceful morning. Americans have known surprise attacks but never before on thousands of civilians. All of this was brought upon us in a single day Yet before he could accomplish his war objectives in Afghanistan, Bush invaded and occupied Iraq one of the greatest and most-calamitous military misadventures in modern history that destabilised West Asia and fuelled Islamist terrorism. Obama came to office with the pledge to end the Bush-era wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In Iraq, he ended the Bush war, only to start a new war in the Syria-Iraq belt. Read | Afghanistan set to sign peace deal with notorious warlord Hekmatyar In Afghanistan, Obama thought he could end the war simply by declaring it over. This is what he did in December 2014, when he famously declared that the war is coming to a responsible conclusion. But the Afghan Taliban had little interest in peace, despite Washington allowing them to set up a de facto diplomatic mission in Qatar and then trading five senior Taliban leaders jailed at Guantanamo Bay for a captured US Army sergeant. The result is that Obama repeatedly has had to change his plans in Afghanistan. In July 2011, he declared that by 2014 the Afghan people will be responsible for their own security, adding seven months later that, By the end of next year, our war in Afghanistan will be over. Just two months ago, however, he decided to keep 8,400 US troops in Afghanistan indefinitely and leave any withdrawal decision to his successor. Some 26,000 American military contractors also remain in Afghanistan. Read | Pakistan backing terrorists in a full-scale war, Afghanistan tells UNGA Why is the US still stuck in the war? In large part, it is because it has fought the war on just one side of the Afghanistan-Pakistan divide and been reluctant to go after the Pakistan-based sanctuaries of the Afghan Taliban and its affiliate, the Haqqani network. The US assassination of Afghan Taliban chief Akhtar Mohammad Mansour in May by a drone strike inside Pakistani territory was a rare exception a one-off decapitation attack that did little to change the military realities on the ground. Research shows that militant groups are generally resilient to the loss of a top leader, unless their cross-border sanctuaries are systematically targeted. Indeed, decapitation can help a militant group to rally grassroots support in its favour and against the side that did the killing. No counterterrorism campaign has ever succeeded when the militants have enjoyed cross-border havens. Read | Pak inaction against terrorists due to India phobia: Afghan minister Although Obama hailed Mansours killing as an important milestone, the decapitation cast an unflattering light on US policy: America took nearly 15 years to carry out its first drone strike in Pakistans sprawling Balochistan province, the seat of the Afghan Talibans command-and-control structure. The US military has failed to disrupt the Haqqani network because Pakistan has moved the groups leadership from FATA to safe houses in its major cities, while allowing the Afghan Taliban leadership to stay ensconced in Balochistan. Tellingly, the US has not designated the Afghan Taliban as a terrorist organisation. The Obama White House indeed has engaged in semantic jugglery to explain why the group is missing from the US list of foreign terrorist organisations. In truth, the US is willing to accommodate the medieval Taliban in a power-sharing arrangement in Afghanistan. It assassinated Mansour because he defiantly refused to revive peace negotiations. Read | Uri terror attack: 5 reasons why isolating Pakistan globally wont be easy For almost eight years, Obama has pursued the same Afghanistan-related strategy, changing just the tactics. His strategy essentially has sought to use inducements to coax the Pakistani military and its rogue Inter-Services Intelligence agency to go after the Haqqani network and get the Afghan Taliban to agree to a peace deal. The inducements have ranged from billions of dollars in aid to the supply of lethal weapons that could eventually be used against India. The carrots-without-sticks approach has only emboldened the Pakistani military to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. With the Afghan governments hold on many districts looking increasingly tenuous, Obamas successor will have to make some difficult choices by facing up to a stark truth: The war in Afghanistan can only be won in Pakistan. Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist and author The views expressed are personal Tannishtha Chatterjee, the face of alternate cinema, is happy binge-watching Netflix, reading Sex and the City, and listening to item numbers. A string of acclaimed indie and crossover films, check. A regular at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Cannes Film Festival, check. No Bollywood potboilers, check. Actor Tannishtha Chatterjee (36) certainly has done everything you expect of a quintessential art-house star. When we meet her for an interview, we first spot her looking frazzled as she struggles to find a parking spot. She introduces herself as the busiest broke in town. Were meeting at The Little Door in Andheri and not at her residence, because she is currently homeless. I sold my house a few months back and, since then, I have been looking for a flat, but in vain. Finding a house in this city is like a match-making process, she laughs. READ MORE: Radhika Apte: Theatre actor to thinking cinemas poster child Once in the cafe, Chatterjee talks without restraint. Noticing our photographer, she is quick to replace her worn out flip-flops with a pair of stilettos. We ask her how she feels about being tagged the poster girl of alternate cinema, and she is frazzled again. Thats the perception the media has created you guys are the ones who feel that way. I dont follow such brackets; they only limit the scope, she says. To make her point, Chatterjee lets us in on her playlist. It features everything from Mozarts symphonies to Munni Badnaam Hui (Dabangg, 2010). She adds that she binge-watches Netflix, she enjoys reading all sorts of books, including Sex and the City. The fine line Chatterjee has had an eventful year, full of releases Island City, Lion, UnIndian. Today, her film Parched gets a theatrical release, after doing the festival rounds (it was screened as part of Special Presentations at TIFF 2015). These smaller, offbeat films should remain in that space. The moment you become mainstream, you start succumbing to market pressures, and you lose your freedom as an artist. An underground movement should, and will always, be there to push the boundaries, says the actor. Play mode The perks of having a father with a transferable job found Chatterjee growing up amid eclectic cultures in Tokyo (Japan), Perth (Australia), Nairobi and Mombassa (Kenya), and London (UK), before returning to Delhi. As a result, she felt somewhat disconnected from her roots. It all changed when she joined National School Drama (NSD), Delhi, for her graduation. I had not really mingled with Indians from different backgrounds. But at NSD, people from various strata lived and worked together. It was an eye-opening experience, says the actor. In fact, when she first moved to Mumbai, she was busy with theatre. While plays have taken a backseat with multiple film projects, she is currently co-writing a new play with Divya Jagdale. It is a comedy and will premiere in December at NCPAs annual theatre festival, Centrestage, she says. Dont miss: Parched, by Leena Yadav, starring Tannishtha Chatterjee, Radhika Apte, Surveen Chawla and Lehar Khan releases on September 23. DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a few days late in my cycle. This never happens to me, so I am definitely worried. Even worse, if I were pregnant, I have two possible "baby daddies." There's just no way I could explain this to my ex and someone I thought I'd never have to see again. If I turn out to be pregnant, how do I approach this very sensitive topic? -- Father 1, Father 2, Jackson, Mississippi DEAR FATHER 1, FATHER 2: Find out immediately if you are pregnant. There is no need for wondering. Take a test -- now! If you are pregnant, you have to decide how to handle the news. Ask your doctor how long it will take before you can determine the paternity of a child, but know that it is not instant. You are going to have to deal with the uncertainty well before this child comes into the world. You must decide what you want. Obviously, you were confused in your relationship choices at the time of conception, or you would not have the question of who the father is. Right now, you need to assess what you want. Who would you want to build a life with? Would either man be willing to raise this child with you if the child were not his? Does either of you want a child? You have to assess that. No matter what, do not lie. Sort it all out with honesty and as much dignity as you can muster, speaking to each man individually. If possible, leave names out of it. DEAR HARRIETTE: I have turned into the go-to caretaker for my friend when she gets too drunk. No one else wants to deal with her intoxicated ways, so I usually end up getting a call at least once a weekend. My friend "Jenna" means a lot to me, but when I always have to take care of her, it ruins the fun for me. I would never not come to help (she could be in an unsafe position), but I want to make her understand that her excessive drinking gives me mediocre nights because I feel like a parent to her. -- 21 and No Fun, Cleveland DEAR 21 AND NO FUN: It is time for you to draw the line for your own sanity, and for your life. Your friend needs professional help, which you cannot offer. Right now, you are enabling her by watching out and scooping her up when she falls apart. It is time for you to tell her that you are no longer willing to be her rescuer. That means you have to stop going out with her until she gets her act together. Explain that she will either need to stop her irresponsible behavior or find someone else to answer her late-night calls. Then you have to be willing to hold your ground. Alcoholics are living with a disease that often spurs them to irrational behavior. To support your extraction from this situation, consider visiting Al-Anon meetings (al-anon.org). Al-Anon offers free meetings designed to help the loved ones of people who are dealing with alcoholism. DEAR HARRIETTE: I have never had a car of my own, but I feel like having one could change my life. I live in a rural area, so any trip requires begging someone with a car for a ride. I've done some research and found that I can afford monthly lease payments, but not the down payment. The other option is buying a used car, but I wouldn't even be able to drive over and see the car before purchasing. I feel so stuck, and I want to stop having to latch onto others for a lift. Should I take on my first debt to buy a car? -- Open Pavement Dreams, Virginia DEAR OPEN PAVEMENT DREAMS: Don't give up on the car seller so fast. If the person really wants to sell, there's a good chance he will meet you somewhere with the car for you to test it out. Ask. Find out all of the details about the car in advance so that you can check it out on carmax.com. Also, look into special deals for new cars with low or zero down payments. Many options are out there, including something that could be perfect for you. Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106 Heres some great news for Bollywood fans: Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Salman Khan are all set for a film together. Earlier rumours claimed Salmans home production Jugalbandi is the movie that brings the two actors together. Reports now claim that it is a film to be directed by Filmistaan director Nitin Kakkar. This movie, too, is being produced by Salman Khan Films. Read: Fawad Khan to star in Salmans next Bollywoodlife quoted Nitin Kakkar as saying, We go on floors with Fawad sometime next year. He is locked in. We are currently in the process of getting an actress on board. The film will roll early next year when Fawads dates are available. However, unlike the directors last film Filmistan, there is no social message in this one. The director adds, This is an urbane love story. But more than that, its an interesting take on relationships between a boy and a girl. Fawad will soon be seen in Karan Johars Ae Dil Hai Mushkill. Amar Butala, who heads SKF (Salman Khan Films), has been in constant touch with Fawad. The two have decided to work together. But its not for Jugalbandi, the tabloid quoted a source as saying. Fawad has greenlit Filmistaan director Nitin Kakkars next film instead. Hindustan Times could not independently verify the report. Earlier, when asked about Jugalbandi, Fawad had told HT, I really cant comment on that right now. Lets just say that we have been in talks with a lot of people, maybe Jugalbandi is one of them. Nothing is concrete right now. Besides, I dont like talking about anything until I havent penned it down on a piece of paper. When we are ready to make a public announcement, we will. As of now, we arent associated with anything. Read:Women may be swooning but Fawad doesnt think he is good looking The production house of Salman is currently busy with the Kabir Khans directorial venture Tubelight and will start the work on Nitin Kakkars project after wrapping up this movie. Fawad clearly has a lot on his plate, as he will soon be seen in Karan Johars directorial Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Follow @htshowbiz for more The new crop of actors in Bollywood is known for speaking their mind, and Banjo girl Nargis Fakhri is no different. The American model-actor feels blessed to have worked in the Hindi film industry for a good five years despite limited talent. In an interview to the Times of India, Nargis said, Sure, Id like to try but only up to a point. I have been blessed to have made it this far here with no skills, no knowledge, no family, no friends and without sacrificing my values and morals. #teamnargis #banjo #promotions @marksandspencerindia @edesigns_mumbai @zara @zaraindiaofficial A photo posted by Nargis Fakhri (@nargisfakhri) on Sep 21, 2016 at 8:04am PDT Nargis, who made her acting debut in the 2011 romantic drama Rockstar, goes on to say that she, on her own, wouldnt ever have come here to try. Id have chosen another career. And Id do that even now whenever I move back home because theres no need to pigeonhole your career in a cramped space. Dont be surprised if you find me doing some charity work in another country. Itll be far more satisfying. #banjo A photo posted by Nargis Fakhri (@nargisfakhri) on Sep 18, 2016 at 3:38am PDT She was asked Would you like to do more Hollywood films now? Answering another question, this time about her sickness, she said, Its not anyones business to know. When you are sick, you are sick. Period. New York-born Nargis, 36, also talked about her rumoured relationship with Uday Chopra. Yeah, I see that. But thats cool. I guess they have nothing better to do. But that way, I make headlines, which means I am relevant. Im totally cool with that. Banjo, starring Nargis, who is of Pakistani-Czech ethnicity, opposite Riteish Deshmukh, will hit the screens this Friday. Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor Purab Kohlis love for music is well known, but not many fans know that while shooting for his upcoming film, the sequel to Rock On!!, he also learned to play the mouth organ. The actor, who will be sharing screen space for the film with actors such as Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal and Shraddha Kapoor, saw his co-star Shashank Arora playing the instrument effortlessly and decided to learn it from him. Read: Purab Kohli to tie the knot with fiancee Lucy? I am a very curious person when it comes to music. So, when I saw Shashank playing mouth organ, I knew I wanted to learn it. We spent time practicing different tunes and I finally mastered the art of playing a mouth organ, says Kohli. Read: Purab Kohli to play a war prisoner in a TV show That is the best part of being an actor that you get to learn new things. Doing this film and engaging in constant jam sessions with my co-stars has brought me close to music, adds the 37-year-old actor. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In what appears as the biggest cyber breach ever, Yahoo Inc on Thursday said information of at least 500 million user accounts was stolen from its network in 2014 by what it believed was a state-sponsored actor. Yahoo said data stolen may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and encrypted passwords but that unprotected passwords, payment card data and bank account information did not appear to have been compromised. This is the biggest data breach ever, said well-known cryptologist Bruce Schneier. He said it was too early to say what impact the breach might have on Yahoo and its users because many questions remain, including the identity of the state-sponsored hackers behind it. Three US intelligence officials, who declined to be identified by name, said they believed the attack was state-sponsored because of its resemblance to previous hacks traced to Russian intelligence agencies or hackers acting at their direction. Yahoo said it was working with law enforcement on the matter. The FBI said it was aware of the matter, and the U.S. Secret Service was not immediately available for comment. The investigation has found no evidence that the state-sponsored actor is currently in Yahoos network, the company said. Shares of Yahoo stock were barely changed for the day after the news, while shares of Verizon Communications, which has agreed to buy the companys Internet business, were up about 1 percent. It was not clear how this disclosure might affect Yahoos deal with Verizon. Verizon, which announced in July an agreement to buy Yahoos core internet properties for $4.83 billion, said in a statement it was made aware of the breach within the last two days and had limited information about the matter. We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities, the company said. Technology website Recode first reported Tuesday that Yahoo planned to disclose details about a data breach affecting hundreds of millions of users. That followed an August 1 story on the technology news site Motherboard, which said a cyber criminal known as Peace was selling the data of about 200 million Yahoo users but did not confirm its authenticity. Peace has previously claimed responsibility. Peace also previously attempted to sell on a hacker forum information purportedly belonging to hundreds of millions of accounts at MySpace and LinkedIn, including names, passwords and email addresses. The first meeting of the newly-constituted Goods and Services Tax Council, with finance minister Arun Jaitley as chairman, is scheduled for two days from Thursday amid high expectations that the country will see a new indirect tax scheme in place from April 1, 2017, as targeted. Among the items on the meetings agenda is the election of a vice-chairman of the council -- likely to be one of the members of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers, officials said. Other items on the agenda include deliberations on the actual GST base rate, the various slabs, the items that need to be subsumed into and exempted from the new regime, and draft central, state and integrated GST laws. A discussion on dispute resolution mechanism is also an important issue on the agenda,a finance ministry official said. The progress in GST is being monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. The Prime Minister has directed that all steps must be completed much before April 1, 2017, a statement from his office had said last week. In order to ensure that there is no slippage on date of implementation of GST from April 1, 2017, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress made on various steps needed for the roll out of GST relating to preparation of model GST laws and rules to be framed, establishment of IT infrastructure for both centre and states, training of officers and outreach for awareness of trade and industry. A Hyderabad court on Thursday sentenced A Raghunathan, former CFO of Kingfisher Airlines Ltd and a close aide of businessman Vijay Mallya, to 18 months imprisonment in connection with two cheque bounce cases. The Third Special Magistrate Court at Erram Manzil also imposed a penalty of Rs 20,000 on Raghunathan, who has been named accused no. 3 (A-3) in the case. Raghunathan paid the penalty amount in the court. He also filed a petition seeking suspension of the sentence for a period of 30 days, pleading that he was only an employee of the company who acted according to the instructions of the chairman. Magistrate Justice M Krishna Rao referred the petition to the Nampally Criminal Courts in the city. The case pertains to bouncing of two cheques of Rs 50 lakh each issued by Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. to GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL), which operates Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, towards charges for using the facilities at the airport for Kingfisher Airlines flights. The case was filed under the Negotiable Instruments Act. As per the GMR counsel, a total of 17 cases have been filed against Kingfisher Airlines in different courts over an outstanding amount of Rs. 22.5 crore, which it owes to GMR. The court had earlier issued non-bailable warrants against Kingfisher Airlines, its chairman Mallya and Raghunathan on the ground of dishonouring the two cheques. Counsel for the GHIAL Ashok Reddy also submitted a petition to the court seeking a direction to the Kingfisher Airlines to provide fresh addresses of the Airlines and Mallya. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indigo Airlines has put a blanket ban on alloting large-leg-rooms premium seats to domestic fliers traveling with children. The airline, which caters to almost 4 of 10 domestic passengers in India, said that fliers with kids below 12 are banned in premium seats i.e rows 1-4 and 11-14 also described as Quiet Zones by the airline. The policy is discrimatory. It means that you cannot ask for more leg space while traveling with your children, said Pune resident Anshuman Sinha. Sinhas sister and brother-in-law learnt about the policy on Saturday when they were traveling with their infant from Pune to Nagpur. Its clear that they do not want children to disturb fliers paying extra for these seats. But then why permit children in the nearby rows either? added Sinha. Sunetrika Mookherjee had a similar experience on the airline on September 14. According to her Twitter feed, the airline denied her seats on row 1 and 2 citing the same policy. On Wednesday the Indigo spokesperson asked for a day to respond on the issue, but refused to comment a day later. But the airlines Twitter replies to passengers denied seats under this pretext was clear about its new policy. In order to provide a hassle-free flying experience for our customers, rows 1-4 and 11-14 will serve as Quiet Zones. These seats will not be assigned to passengers below 12 years of age, read the airlines standard reply to fliers alleging discrmination. When the civil aviation ministry permitted airlines to charge extra for frills such as exit row seats, meals and baggage, it stated the policy should be on opt in basis, not opt out. One can understand that the emergency exit row seats are denied to fliers with kids as a safety measure but this is tweaking the policy purely with the business interest of appeasing premium customers, said an industry expert requesting anonymity. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The enforcement directorate (ED) has identified assets worth 7,000 crore of liquor baron Vijay Mallya for seizure to add muscle to its attempt to bring him back in to the country. Government sources said the idea is to corner Mallya, so that he is forced to come back. We will soon attach more assets belonging to Mallya. We have identified assets worth 7,000 crore for the next round of attachments, a top source in the know of the matter, who did not wish to be named, told HT. He has to feel vulnerable so that he feels the need to get back to India. Vijay Mallya, who has been in the UK since March, owes over 9,000 crore to a consortium of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India. The directorate has so far attached properties worth 8,041 crore belonging to him. He has professed willingness to return to India, but said he cannot travel as his passport has been impounded. The next round of seizure would not be limited to Indian shores or to properties and assets directly held by Mallya, the sources said. To force him to join the EDs probe we have now located properties held directly or indirectly by Mallya in foreign countries, they said. These would involve properties in the United Kingdom and South Africa, mostly in the name of Mallyas family members, they added. Mallyas lawyers in India did not comment, as the matter is under litigation. So far, ED has been seizing Mallyas assets under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the next edition of attachments will be carried out under sections of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). The agency has got a proclamation issued by a Mumbai court under CrPC against Mallya after he skipped multiple summonses to depose in its money laundering probe in the bank loan case. The agency has drawn up a list of his assets: Mallyas 32.4% shares in UBHL, 22% shareholding in Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers, a 55% stake in UB City, a luxury mall in Bangalore and directly and indirectly held properties in India, UK and South Africa. The agency, meanwhile, has also moved to add fresh charges against Mallya in its existing request to Interpol for issuance of a global arrest warrant. ED has also been using the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between India and the UK to try and force Mallya to come back to India to face the legal proceedings. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In view of a good monsoon and the seventh pay commission that will raise government employees salaries by up to 23%, two-wheeler manufacturers are bullish on sales in rural areas this festive season. About 40% of all two-wheeler sales, which are expected to touch 18 million units in 2016-17, occur in rural areas. For the last couple of years, sales have fallen or stagnated for most two-wheeler makers. We have prepared for this day for four years, said Yadvinder Singh Guleria, head of sales and marketing at Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI). The firm has created small clusters at the taluka (administrative district of a few villages) level to promote its motorcycles. It gives government officials a cashback of 2,000. There are attractive retail finance schemes, too. The firm also offers an exchange bonus of 1,500 at its best-deals outlets. Apart from HMSI, its erstwhile partner Hero MotoCorp, and TVS Motors are vying to attract more rural buyers. Hero, the countrys largest bike maker, is launching three new motorcycles for the festival season, offering exchange carnivals, and engaged 1,000 sales executives to generate leads. The Khushiyan har Aangan campaign is to target influential villagers via cultural activities. We offer a special 3.99% interest scheme on all two-wheelers. We also offer an EMI scheme at rural dealerships, wherein you dont need to pay in cheques, said Arun Siddharth, vice-president, marketing (motorcycles), TVS Motors. The company often holds rallies and fairs to promote its products. We offer special exchange offers to our rural customers in the festive season, said Siddharth. Deep discounts unlikely on cars Since big car makers such as Tata Motors, Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki have seen a surge in car sales, they are unlikely to offer deep discounts this festival season. For instance, Tata Motors car sales doubled during Onam, an important festival in south India which marks the beginning of the festival season in the country, as compared to last year. We will see similar demand in West Bengal, with Durga Puja round the corner, said Vivek Srivatsa, head of marketing (passenger vehicles) at Tata Motors. The company managed this feat without offering deep discounts. We are only giving loyalty and exchange bonuses to customers. Rakesh Srivastava, head of sales and marketing at Hyundai India, said there was latent demand in the market. We are already witnessing a sales growth of 25% ... The cash component in discounts has come down, he said. The company is offering limited editions of Xcent, Grand i10, and Creta (automatic) petrol with more features at a slightly higher price. Indias largest manufacturer Maruti Suzuki that is working towards double digit growth is betting on the festival season. Without divulging specifics, a company spokesperson said, Discounts cannot be decided in isolation as they are impacted by the market situation and competitors moves. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Doctors, nurses and staff members at government hospitals and dispensaries have been putting in extra hours to take care of patients flooding into fever clinics. The city had till Saturday recorded more than 4,000 cases of dengue and chikungunya, with the government cancelling the leaves of all hospital staff to manage the crisis. The doctors say that they are overworked. Five days after he got fever and joint pain, Dr Vikram Arora was called back to work as his department could not afford to give him any more leaves. When I started running a temperature and got joint pains, I was sure that I had chikungunya. I called up the hospital and was told that they could only give me a four-day leave, he said. Arora, who works in the orthopedic department, added that he was told that many doctors had been diverted to the fever clinics to tackle the huge crowd of people coming in with fever. Besides that, we also manage dengue or other fever patients who are admitted in the orthopedic ward, he said. Though his fever has subsided, Arora said that his joints still bothered him. Pulling 12-hour shifts is difficult. I have to take a paracetamol every three-four hours and use gels to curb the pain, said Dr Arora. Aroras colleague Dr Sumit Paria said he joined back work immediately after his fever subsided during the first week of September. He still has joint pains, but has been doing 18-hour shifts. My mother is also suffering from chikungunya and my daughter has viral fever. But I cannot take a leave because there is a severe shortage of doctors. All of us here know at least one person who has chikungunya. This is because we are the first point-of-contact for the patients and hence are at a high-risk, said Paria. A doctor from Lok Nayak hospital said all leaves, apart from medical ones, had been cancelled for doctors. Doctors have been working for close to 10 days at a stretch without a leave, he said. Lok Nayak has been receiving around 600 fever patients daily in its fever clinics alone. NEW DELHI: Old Delhi is not getting any newer. There has been no development since an underground utility duct was completed in Chandni Chowk in 2014. Following a month-long series run by Hindustan Times on the state of the Walled city last August-September, Delhi had initiated the Shahajanabad redevelopment project. Heres a status report: LACK OF STAFF Sources said the government did not have enough workers and funding to carry out the redevelopment project. Construction of utility duct on southern side is yet to begin. Its drawings and designs have not been finalised, which should have ideally been prepared six months ago. There are 12 vacancies in Shahajanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC), which have not been filled. The corporation requires engineers, architects and archaeologists to move forward, said a source. FREQUENT TRANSFER OF CONTROL Administrative shifts between departments and frequent transfer of officers were another stumbling block. Initially, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was the head of SRDC. Then, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was given charge. Thereafter, administrative powers of the corporation were shifted from the urban development department to the Public Works Department (PWD) and minister in charge Satyendra Jain was made the chairman. This led to confusion with regard to seeking approvals. Later, the PWD secretary was appointed as its chairman a month ago, said the source. FUND SHORTAGE According to a Comptroller and Auditor General ( CAG) report, Rs 150 crore was allocated for the project till 2014-15. However, only Rs 5.93 crore was released. Rs 20 crore was to be allocated to incentivise haveli owners to keep their structures in their original form. But the money did not come. A proposal for funding and assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the project was prepared, but never submitted. The proposal has not been deliberated on even once , a source said. DEPARTURE OF ARCHITECT The original architect left the project in March citing lack of clarity over decisions. Several decisions were reversed or decisions were not taken at appropriate level. The entire project became mundane. It has turned into merely a street improvement plan, said Abhimanyu Dalal, the former architect of the project. The government has since assigned the job to a new consultant. DELAY IN REMOVAL OF ENCROACHMENTS To remove illegal occupation and encroachment, Delhi Police constituted a committee on August 29. This committee has not met. Madhur Verma, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), North, said :The committee was formed 20 days ago and police have contacted all stakeholders. Meetings will be convened next week in which vendors, RWAs, market associations will be present. We will discuss encroachments and modalities for relocation of vendors. THE OFFICIAL WORD Nitin Panigrahi, deputy general manager, project and administration of SRDC said all proposals are lying with the government for consideration. The work is likely to be expedited after receiving drawings from the newly appointed consultant, said Panigrahi, who is also nodal officer of the project. NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday criticised the three municipal corporations, the New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi government and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for not taking stringent measures to control the spread of dengue and chikungunya in the capital. What were you doing for the last two months? It looks like you have no plan. Everyone in Delhi is sick, the green panel, headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar, said. Except vague statements which are being made by the corporations and authorities that they have been making all possible efforts to control these diseases, nothing substantial has been placed before us on record. There are averments which are unbelievable, the bench said. The green court also constituted a principal committee headed by the chief secretary of Delhi government to formulate an action plan to control the outbreak. The committee will include commissioner so fall corporations, vice-chairman of DDA, head of the Delhi Cantonment Board, New Delhi Municipal Council, principal secretary of health and director general of health services of Delhi government as members. The committee has been asked to submit a comprehensive report to the court within a fortnight. The committee has also been asked to conduct an urgent meeting on Thursday at 11am at the chief secretarys office. The order came while hearing a petition by former Central Pollution Control Board scientist, Mahendra Pandey, who demanded that action be taken to ensure that residents of Delhi are not exposed to serious diseases like dengue and chikungunya. APEX COURT TO HEAR PIL ON DISEASES The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a petition filed in public interest on the outbreak of mosquito borne diseases like chikungunya and dengue in the capital. The petition, filed by Delhi doctor Anil Mittal, has sought direction that a panel of experts be set up to ascertain the steps taken to tackle diseases like chikungunya in the country in general and Delhi in particular. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Mittal, said: Certain areas falling under the South Delhi Municipal Corporation have become garbage dumping grounds where mosquitoes are breeding. Gonsalves referred to photographs showing heaps of garbage lying in residential areas of south Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party legislator Somnath Bharti was granted bail on Thursday by a court, just hours after his arrest for allegedly assaulting security staff at Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences earlier this month. The complaint was filed by the chief security officer of AIIMS on September 9 following which a case was registered under sections of rioting, damaging public property and obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty. Bharti was arrested from his office in south Delhis Green Park. He is the second AAP leader to be arrested in two days. MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested on Wednesday afternoon on charges of sexual harassment. AIIMS chief security officer accused Bharti of trying to encroach on government land and disrupting peace in the hospital. The officer said the MLA and about 300 of his supporters beat up security personnel who had asked them to leave the hospital premises. He alleged that the Malviya Nagar MLA, in whose constituency the part of the hospital is located, insisted that the area was public property and a fence must be demolished. The complainant said the MLA did not have any order from a competent authority to stall the work but allegedly went ahead with the demolition forcefully. Around 9:45am, Somnath Bharti along with 300 of his supporters assembled in Gautam Nagar near Nallah Road and started breaking the fence on the boundary wall with the help of a JCB machine in order to provide unauthorised people access AIIMS. They were claiming that the road belonged to the public, the complaint read. They were requested to produce the orders of the competent authority in this regard, but they could not. They were also not accompanied by any government official. They damaged the fence on the boundary wall and when I objected to it, they started shouting at me and misbehaving with the security personnel, he said in the complaint. In his defence, Bharti posted a letter from the chief engineer (south), PWD, to the AIIMS director stating that the road leading to the Gautam Nagar nullah was a public property and had to be opened for general public use. I m in hauzkhas police station under arrest in gautam nagar kalah. Adv. Somnath Bharti (@attorneybharti) September 22, 2016 Minutes copy issued on 15.09.2026 by PWD dealing d entire event. Page 2 top says that 09.09.2016 action was of pwd. pic.twitter.com/7Op198OuE9 Adv. Somnath Bharti (@attorneybharti) September 22, 2016 AIIMS has been using the area as a parking space for its dental college. Bharti had stated that the PWD had already given permission to open the area as AIIMS never responded to their notice. According to the letter uploaded on Twitter by Bharti the engineer requested the director of AIIMS to come for a meeting but no representative was ever sent. Minutes of the meeting were also sent, but there was no response from AIIMS. Accordingly it is presumed that it has no objection to the proposal of opening the road for public, the letter read. The security officer also alleged that some of his men sustained minor injuries while protecting the government land. ....They used abusive language, disrupted the peace in the hospital and caused disturbance to the patients and employees of AIIMS. They adopted unlawful ways to encroach the government land. Strict action needs to be taken against the persons for an attempt to assault government servants on duty and disrupting peace in the hospital, the complaint read. Read| I am a go-getter, can go to any extent if issue is right: AAP MLA Somnath Bharti At least 12 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs have been arrested and 15 booked by Delhi Police on various charges in the 19 months since the AAP came to power in February 2015. The list of its legislators mired in legal trouble is growing by the day with the latest arrests of MLA Somnath Bharti and legislator Amanatullah Khan within a space of two days. Both the MLAs were arrested for the second time. Here is a look at all the arrests and bookings: Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharati Bharati was arrested on Thursday for allegedly assaulting security staff at Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences earlier this month. He was earlier arrested in September 2015 after his wife Lipika Mitra filed cases of attempt to murder, domestic violence, and cheating against him. Two other cases were lodged against him in connection with the midnight Khirki Extension raid in 2014 during which African women were allegedly molested and manhandled by a mob led by Bharti. Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan Khan was first arrested by the police on July 24 this year for allegedly threatening a woman with rape and murder. The woman, who had gone to his house to discuss the issue of power cuts, had alleged that Khans men stalked her and threatened to kidnap her children. She also claimed that Khan tried to run her over with his car. He was sent to a 14-day judicial custody and released on bail. On Wednesday, Khan was arrested again on charges of sexual harassment. Khans relative alleged that he had forced her to get into a physical relationship with him. She also complained that her husband allegedly demanded dowry and forced her to do as Khan asked. Mehrauli MLA Naresh Yadav Yadav was booked by the Punjab police in connection with the alleged sacrilege of the Quran in Sangrur districts Malerkotla on June 24. Yadav was booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code after one of the accused, Vijay Kumar, arrested in connection with the incident, claimed he threw the torn pages of the Quran in a drain at the behest of the AAP MLA. Deoli MLA Prakash Jarwal There are two FIRs against Jarwal. The recent one was filed on July 6 after a woman accused him of molestation and threatening her when she went to Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to file a complaint. He was arrested a day later. The first FIR was on filed on May 22, 2014, for assaulting a DJB engineer when he refused to listen to his instructions while supervising a drilling work in Sangam Vihar. Sangam Vihar MLA Dinesh Mohaniya Mohaniya was arrested on June 25 for molesting, assaulting and threatening a woman who had gone to meet him about a water problem in her area on June 22. A day later another FIR was filed against him for slapping and manhandling a senior citizen in Govindpuri. The senior citizen alleged he was beaten when he complained about local issues. Hari Nagar MLA Jagdeep Singh Singh was arrested on May 29 for causing hurt, criminal intimidation and wrongful restraint of manager of a waste management company on May 21. Vikaspuri MLA Mahindra Yadav Yadav was arrested on January 29 for rioting and assaulting a public servant during a protest in west Delhis Nihal Vihar on January 27. Model Town MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi Tripathi was arrested on charges of molestation in November 2015. Delhi Cantonment MLA Surinder Singh Commando Singh was arrested on August 21, 2015, for making casteist remarks against a New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) sanitation inspector belonging to the Schedule Caste, obstructing him and other employees from performing government duty. Tri Nagar MLA Jitender Singh Tomar Tomar was arrested on June 10, 2015, for enrolling with Delhi Bar Council using fake LLB and BSc degree. An FIR was registered at the Hauz Khas police station on June 8, 2015. Chandni Chowk MLA Alka Lamba An FIR was lodged against Lamba in August 2015 on the complaint of a businessman who said she trespassed into his shop and ransacked it. She was also booked for manhandling a constable at the spot. She was not arrested. Kondli MLA Manoj Kumar There are four FIRs against Kumar for charges including land grabbing, outraging a womans modesty and causing hurt that were registered at three east Delhi police stations. Kumar was not arrested in any of the cases. Matia Mahal Asim Ahmed Khan An FIR was registered in October 2015 against Khan, the then food minister, for accepting a bribe of Rs 6 lakh. Delhis chief minister Arvind Kejriwal sacked him on charges of corruption. Janakpuri (West) MLA Rajesh Rishi An FIR was registered against him at Janakpuri police station on July 20, 2016, after a woman, who attempted suicide on July 15 alleged that another woman was harassing her husband and her at Rishis behest. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday kicked off the governments special fogging campaign from his residence at Flag Staff Road. All city streets will sprayed with anti-mosquito pesticide on alternate days during the month-long campaign. Delhi is in the grip of dengue and chikungunya both caused by mosquitoes. Around 150-200 fogging machine have been launched, the rest will start working in two days, said Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain. Read More: CM Kejriwal back in Delhi, says lets wage united war against mosquitoes Fogging will be carried out in each assembly constituency with 8-10 machines between 7am and 11am and 4pm and 7pm, said Jain. This fogging drive will be in addition to the one being conducted by the municipal bodies. We are not stopping the MCDs or NDMC from doing whatever they are doing, said Jain. This will be in addition to that. They were unable to control mosquito breeding, therefore we have now taken it upon ourselves. We have received complaints that fogging was not being done properly, otherwise the mosquito population would have been brought under control, the minister said. Read More: Chikungunya: Delhi a distant second, Karnataka tops list of affected states On Sunday, when the CM came back (from Bangalore), he called me and said that if the MCDs werent able to do their job, the government should have. He ordered me to get it done even though it is not the job of the government, said Jain, who also holds the public works department (PWD) portfolio. The fogging machines have been hired from a professional company, a government official said. The staff has been diverted from all maintenance departments under the PWD. He aspired to sleep in an air-conditioned room, but his home didnt have any. He wished to drive flashy sedans, but couldnt afford one. Born into a lower middle-class family, Amrit Singh, a 19-year-old east Delhi resident, found an answer to his aspirations when he was barely 12. He took to stealing car batteries and parts, gradually graduating to the whole vehicle. Amrit, who called himself Don, was arrested on Wednesday evening in east Delhis Gandhi Nagar after he was caught on CCTV footage stealing a car in the neighbourhood recently. The police team that arrested the teenager said he stole because he loved driving at night, and after a joyride he parked the car by the roadside and slept with the air-conditioner on. He was picky as well, preferring Honda City cars six of which were recovered from him along with a scooter. He operated in west Delhi, far from his home. He was a good student till class 5, but fell into bad company. I am surprised he drives such expensive cars. At home, he used to trouble me to buy him a Rs 5 sachet of washing powder, mother Harjinder Kaur said. Amrit found money to buy petrol for his joyrides and sleepovers by selling stolen scooters, and once he got bored of driving a car, he abandoned it and stole another, DCP (East) Rishipal said. He roamed with his friends the whole night and slept inside a car because he couldnt sleep without an air-conditioner, a luxury his parents cant afford. The teenager is a serial offender with 16 theft cases against his name in the Capital. He was arrested last December and released on August 8. He had implored his mother to bail him out of jail, promising he would never steal again. His parents, who live in a modest two-room house, too begged him to mend his ways, as did his neighbours. But he didnt listen. Read | How a teens fascination for cars led him to crime Aam Aadmi Party legislator Somnath Bharti, who was arrested on Thursday for allegedly assaulting security staff at Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences earlier this month, is not new to controversies. Bharti, a founder member of Delhis ruling AAP, though is considered as one of the most accessible legislators, has also acquired the dubious reputation of being the enfant terrible of the party. At least three FIRs have been filed against him in less than three years. Here are some of the major controversies Bharti was involved in: Tampering of evidence In 2013, the then CBI special judge Poonam A Bamba pulled up Bharti and his client Pawan Kumar - facing prosecution on corruption charges - after the probe agency accused them of influencing a prosecution witness by speaking to him on the phone and discussing the case. Vigilantism The Malviya Nagar MLA first made headlines during his tenure as the law minister in 2014 when he allegedly led a midnight raid in south Delhis Khirki Extension targeting African women that snowballed into a major controversy. News channels had aired the footage showing Bharti engaged in heated argument with the top cops after leading local crowds to expose a drug and sex cartel. Domestic abuse allegations Bhartis wife, Lipika Mitra, accused him of dowry harassment, sexual and mental torture and infidelity and filed a complaint with the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) in June 2015. She had also complained to the police. He was on the run after the matter came to light. Faced with the predicament, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had to tweet and ask Bharti to turn himself in. The AAP legislator faced a similar domestic abuse complaint in 2011 with his wife moving the Delhi Police cell for crimes against women, but she later withdrew it. AIIMS row The chief security officer of AIIMS accused Bharti of trying to encroach upon government land and disrupting peace in the hospital on September 9. In his complaint, the officer said the MLA and at least 300 of his supporters beat up security personnel who had asked them to leave hospital premises. A case was registered under various sections pertaining to rioting, damaging public property and obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty. Watch | Somnath Bharti and his controversies Noida Police on Thursday arrested four men for allegedly robbing Rs 50,000 from a B. Tech student near Sector 94 on Tuesday evening. The accused identified as Rohit, Sagar Chauhan, Yash Tyagi and Prince Tyagi allegedly robbed the B.Tech student, Ravi Shankar, around 4pm on Tuesday. Police said the Shankar, 21, a resident of Sadarpur village, was on his way to submit his college fee when the incident took place. The victim was travelling in a Hyundai Eon and the robbers stopped him after overtaking his car. Shankar later told the police that he pleaded with the accused and told them to let him go as the money he had was meant to pay his tuition fee. While being robbed, one of the accused asked him if he knew people from Sadarpur. When Shankar gave out three names, the robber told him that one of the persons Shankar had named was their Facebook friend. The accused later fled the spot. In a bid to threaten the victim, one of them also showed Shankar a stamp of jail on his hand and claimed that he had been released recently from prison. We checked the friends list of Shankar on Facebook and found one person whose brother was lodged in jail, said Babar Raza Zaidi, station house officer, Sector 39 police station. The police identified the suspect as Rohit, who had gone to meet his brother Mohit in the city jail on Tuesday morning. Rohits hand had been stamped when he entered the jail. We conducted a raid but Rohit was found absconding from his residence. Investigations then led us to three of his friends. Following intelligence inputs, Sagar Chauhan, Prince Tyagi and Yash Tyagi were nabbed from Sector 97 on Wednesday evening, said Zaidi. On being grilled, the accused gave up Rohits whereabouts after which he was arrested too. During interrogation, it was found that the accused were involved in three other similar cases of robbery. We have recovered Rs 35,000, two mobile phones and other looted items from the possession of the accused. They were produced in a local court that sent them to jail, said Zaidi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal on Thursday alleged that the prostitution racket, operational in central Delhis 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 name anybody. Maliwal alleged she was being targeted so as to remove her as DCW chief through lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung as she trying to unearth the racket. Read | ACB raid due to extensive work done by DCW: Swati Maliwal 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. 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 L-G (Jung), get me removed from the DCW, she alleged. Maliwal is under fire from the Anti-Corruption Branch for alleged irregularities in recruitment in the womens panel. On Tuesday, an FIR was lodged against her. Read | FIR against Delhi womens panel chief for illegally hiring AAP supporters The DCW had conducted a number of raids in GB road area earlier this month. A couple and six others were 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. Read | ACB officials question Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal Maliwal also said DCW had asked the municipal corporation to demolish the illegal basements being used to hide 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... I am getting messages that dont 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. Old wine in old bottles is the best way to describe Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs speech before the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday . Islamabads old whine has been that India is a foreign occupier and oppressor of Kashmir and that the rest of the world should intervene and, preferably, hand over this part of Kashmir to Pakistan. The past several years, Pakistan has sought to divert attention from its sponsorship of terrorism to accomplish this goal by portraying itself a victim of violent extremism, even claiming, as Mr Sharif did, that this was also a creation of New Delhi. It is a sign of how little credibility these hackneyed lines command with the rest of the world that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid them no heed, most major powers preferred to focus on the Uri attack and even China preferred not to take sides. Read | Word for word: Takeaways from Sharifs UN speech, Indias response Nine out of 10 speeches at the UN and other major multilateral fora by Pakistani leaders who talk of Kashmir and India are dictated by the countrys military. It is almost certainly the case for Mr Sharif given his dire political situation at home. The UN speech only underlines what the slow-but -steady uptick in Pakistani-sponsored infiltration and terrorism the past few months has made obvious: Mr Sharif is now irrelevant to the India-Pakistan relationship. This was not the original view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In their many meetings, Mr Modi found in Mr Sharif exactly what other PMs before had a Pakistani leader who believed in greater economic relations, closer civil society linkages and desired that bilateral differences be resolved through negotiations rather than violence. Mr Modi also came to realise that Mr Sharif had no authority to convert these views into actual policy. Nonetheless, he persevered in what amounted to photo-op diplomacy with Mr Sharif, perhaps in the hope that one day he would wake up to find the generals back in the barracks. Read | Pakistan now host to Ivy League of terrorism: India at UNGA There were some benefits to Mr Modis attempt to keep up appearances with Mr Sharif. It was applauded by the rest of the world, for one thing. Domestically, the positives have been more muted. Now, however, the dividends have been reduced to zero. Mr Sharif battered by the Panama Papers scandal and the military if anything having an even tighter hold on Pakistans foreign policy is now the straw man of South Asia. The wreckage of the Islamabad summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), which was supposed to have been put a diplomatic spotlight on Mr Sharif, will be the denouement of the Modi-Sharif dialogue of nothing. New Delhi has no choice but to refocus on Rawalpindi. The generals have rebuffed earlier offers of engagement. The only language they understand, unfortunately, will be those spoken in the form of defence budgets, increased involvement in Afghanistan, striking sparks in Balochistan and putting up resistance to the Chinese economic corridor. Mr Modi has been able to avoid having a real Pakistan policy. That period is now over. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Just an hour of protests organised by the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) compelled MP higher education minister Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya on Wednesday to concede to their demands and lift a ban on students union elections in degree colleges and universities. The protests also made him decide to do away with the semester system in under-graduate courses. The students union elections were suspended five years ago. The last direct elections were held in 1986. They were suspended for some years and finally resumed, albeit in an indirect manner, under recommendations of the Lyngdoh committee. These continued till 2011 when they were again suspended. According to the announcement made by the minister, the elections would be held from the next academic year and the semester system will also be done away with from the next session. Citing violence on the campus due to the elections, the direct election was banned in 2008. In 2011, a student council election was held on the basis of merit but it was also discontinued later. The semester system was introduced in 2008 and the associations said the syllabus was not divided well and since there were two examinations in one year, the universities and college management could not conduct the examinations properly and the exams were always delayed. On Wednesday, hundreds of ABVP workers with their leaders staged a protest in the state capital on the issue of quality of education which, they alleged, got affected due to the semester system. In the 35 charter demand, revocation of ban over student council election, ending semester system, increasing fees of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students and increase in number of hostels for girls were the main demands. The ABVP claimed it had support from its parental organisation RSS to take on the political wing of the RSS the Bahratiya Janata Party, the ruling party in MP on the issue of education. They claimed the quality of education was deteriorating by the day whereas the government had adopted an indifferent attitude towards higher education. ABVP national general secretary Vinay Bidre, state secretary Rohin Rai and technical wing head Ankit Garg were leading the protests. They took out a protest rally from Ayush Ground and were planning to gherao the state secretariat but the police stopped them at Tin Shed near New Market. Rai said, We urged the government many times but they were not paying any attention to our demands so we were compelled to take this step against the BJP-led state government. The pressure from its own student union forced MPs higher education minister to appear in the rally and make the announcements conceding to four demands. Pawaiya announced that scholarship for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students will be increased and more hostels will be opened for girl students. Locals react The protest rally was nothing but a drama by the ABVP and the BJP government, said Vivek Tripathi, spokesperson of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) the student wing of the Congress. Tripathi said, In the capital city, contract teachers, contract employees and many other organisations held rallies for their pending demands but no minister ever bothered to listen to their problems. But in todays rally, the higher education minister himself came to make the announcements. He said this all happened as the ABVP was losing its base from the educational institutes and to strengthen them, the drama was staged. However, the teachers and the students welcomed the decision. MP Government Collegiate Professor Association secretary Anand Sharma said, The students union elections are an important part of the democratic set up. This will not only develop leadership qualities among the students but also help them in raising their problems. The decision to end the semester system is also a good move as without proper infrastructure and teaching staff, the system had failed, he added. Paramount has unveiled a new trailer for its forthcoming WWII drama Allied, starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard. The clip shows Pitt, alongside his co-star Cotillard, fighting off the Nazis in their roles as Max Vatan, an intelligence officer, and French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour. The trailer follows the duo as they fall in love, heading everywhere from the desert to London on their adventure. This comes just days after Pitt, and his wife Angelina Jolie announced they were splitting up after more than a decade together. It was previously rumoured that an alleged affair between Pitt and Cotillard was the reason for their split. The film, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is set for release in theatres on November 23. Follow @htshowbiz for more French actor Marion Cotillard, who is widely being cited as the reason behind the sudden split between Hollywood power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, denied on Wednesday any such involvement and has wished that the two will find peace. But she confirmed her pregnancy with her long-time partner Guillaume Canet. 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. The Oscar-winning French actor 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. Cotillards name was mentioned in some reports as media outlets and fans tried to understand what led to the sudden divorce of one of Hollywoods most visible couples, known for their good looks, successful films and activism. Pitt and Cotillard star together in the upcoming war drama Allied. 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 Pitts marriage to actor Jennifer Aniston and, more recently, possible trouble in the marriage. Follow @htshowbiz for more. Speculation is rife that Tom Hanks may be set for his first Oscar win in over 20 years for his performance in Sully, but the actor, who has won Oscar twice previously, is ignoring it. The 60-year-old star won the Best Actor Academy Award two years in a row in 1994 and 1995 for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, but has since experienced an Oscar drought and has not been nominated since 2001 for Cast Away. Early reviews for his new film Sully have sparked Oscars buzz, but Hanks is keeping level-headed on the matter, reported Contactmusic. Thats somebody elses responsibility, I dont have to do anything like that. Ill go anywhere they invite me, man. Ill take that. But oh man, its September. Cut us some slack will you, Hanks said. Sully follows the true story of heroic pilot Chesley Sully Sullenberger, played by Hanks, who saved the lives of all the 155 passengers and crew on board US Airways Flight 1549 by landing his stricken plane on New Yorks Hudson River in 2009. Follow @htshowbiz for more. The Narendra Modi government is working on a multi-pronged plan incorporating military options in its post-Uri campaign against Pakistan. The diplomatic part of the plan has been launched at the United Nations with India calling Pakistan a terrorist state that poses a global threat. New Delhi plans to intensify the diplomatic effort with Islamabads traditional supporters in West Asia next by providing direct evidence of the involvement of a Pakistan-based terror group in the Uri attack. Read | Pakistan is a terrorist state, carries out war crimes: India at UNGA South Block sources said a military action plan has been handed over to the government by defence minister Manohar Parrikar. The decision on its operationalisation is for Prime Minister Modi and his Cabinet to take, they said. There is no point in retaliating now with Pakistan forces beefed up across the Line of Control and an alert on the international border with India, a senior official said on condition of anonymity. There are no Pakistan markings on either the AK-47 rifles or the two under-barrel grenade-launchers used in the attack but two code sheets in Urdu for wireless communication, two map sheets, two global positioning system (GPS) devices, two wireless set and stores recovered from the four terrorists killed at Uri reveal that the attackers were from a proscribed terrorist group from Punjab in Pakistan, sources said. Read | Uri puts a stamp on Indias Pak policy of stern reciprocity The National Investigation Agency (NIA) team probing the September 18 attack that claimed the lives of 18 soldiers is expected to return to Delhi by the weekend. The damaged GPS devices will then be examined by experts to ascertain the route used by the four terrorists to cross the LoC and attack the army brigade at Uri. The wireless codes have already been deciphered by the security agencies, incriminating the terror group behind the attack. Most of the Indian casualties were suffered as soon as the attack began and have been attributed to the fires in the tents and building housing the advance party of a Bihar Regiment unit. The terrorists were, however, prepared for a long operation as they were carrying dry fruit, medicines and nine packets of Pakistan-made juice powder and pouches. For full coverage on the Uri attack, click here SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Political parties and farmers bodies in Tamil Nadu condemned the Karnataka government on Thursday for defying the Supreme Court order on Cauvery waters and urged the Centre to set up the water management board immediately. AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi told Hindustan Times that it was time the Centre and even the Congress central leadership intervened and ensured that Siddaramaiah followed the top courts judgment. What he has done is very unfair and unjust. And if a CM disobeys the law, what will happen to the common man and will there be a rule of law in that state? Saraswathi asked. On Wednesday, Karnataka deferred the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu disregarding a Supreme Court order that had sparked large-scale violence in countrys IT hub Bengaluru last week. Read: Karnataka defers release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu The decision was taken at an emergency cabinet meeting called a day after the top court revised an earlier order and asked the Karnataka government to release 6,000 cusecs of water to the neighbouring state until September 27. PMK chief S Ramadoss said Karnataka chief minister S Siddaramaiah was stirring a constitutional crisis by creating a confrontation between the legislature and judiciary. He should, in fact, be taught a strict lesson, the PMK chief said in a statement. He added that Karnataka might pass a resolution against giving water to Tamil Nadu at the special assembly session convened on September 23 on the issue. Ramadoss accused the Karnataka government of lying that it had no water to share and added that the Karnataka CM may cite this as a reason when the case comes up for hearing on September 27 in the Supreme Court. 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 Supreme Court on Tuesday has directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks a Cauvery water management board as directed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its award in 2007. Read: Understanding the Cauvery dispute: From SC order to possible solutions The farmers bodies in the state have expressed dismay and shock over the Karnataka governments refusal to release the water and demanded that the central government must ensure justice to Tamil Nadu farmers. BR Pandian, president of Tamil Nadu Federation of Farmers Associations, said the Tamil Nadu government must file a formal complaint against the Karnataka government, in the apex court. Pandian said the Karnataka government was being aided by Union minister Sadanand Gowda, who is from Karnataka, and added that the TN government must also file a complaint against him for obstructing dispensation of justice. He added that the matter now rests with Union water resources minister Uma Bharati and PM Modi to ensure justice and also praised Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa for securing a favourable court verdict. The farmers leader too demanded that Centre immediately constitute the Cauvery River Water Management Board that will sort out the problem once and for all. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It signals more than just the end of a Raj-era practice. The NDA governments decision to abandon a separate rail budget has brought to grinding halt a 92-year-old journey that enabled the countrys largest transporter to enjoy a separate presentation of its finances along with intended expenditures. On Wednesday, when the cabinet approved merging the Railway and general budgets starting next fiscal, history also chugged back up till 1924-25. That was the financial year when the rulers of undivided India initiated an exercise in according priority and vitality to rail development in the country. Half a century after Independence, by the turn of the 21st century, rail budgets had themselves turned into a strategy handy for regional satraps to further their political agendas in a coalition era. Read | Rail budget must be done away with? Prabhu agrees Read | Budget overhaul: All you need to know The worth of pending railway projects is still high at a whopping Rs 5 lakh-crore. Only that railways ministers in the recent past have announced projects for political considerations, point out experts. As an official put it, These projects have been bleeding the organisation. In a quarter century of multi-party coalition rule at the Centre, the rail portfolio had mostly come in the quota of a key partner. Powerful regional leaders had fought keenly often bitterly to get the prized portfolio. The trend broke in 2014, when the Narendra Modi-led BJP clocked electoral victory on its own. Till then, Railway used to be a particularly prized portfolio. Bihar strongmen Ram Vilas Paswan and Lalu Prasad had both made their preference known for the Rail portfolio at the start of UPA-I in 2004. When Bengals Trinamool Congress extended support to the Manmohan Singh government in UPA-II, the partys leader Mamata Banerjee made it clear she would settle for nothing less than railways. Often, railways ministers in the past have been like the opening batsmen of one-dayers: Having been the first to make policy announcements relating to an important government department at the start of parliaments budget session. They mostly ended up stealing the thunder of the finance ministers budget speech that would come two days later. Mostly, regional leaders used Parliament as a platform to strengthen or resurrect their political careers. For instance, in 2005, ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, Prasad as railway minister attempted an image makeover by projecting himself as a management guru of sorts by claiming to have brought about a turnaround in rail finances. Its another matter the strategy did not yield rich political dividends in his native state. Banerjee, who succeeded Prasad as the railways minister, was more successful that way. Throughout the 11 months she was in office, the Trinamool leader was gallivanting across her West Bengal, inaugurating one rail project here, another there. Observers agree that her rail bonanza for West Bengal did contribute substantially towards her partys victory in the 2010 state elections. With some notable exceptions like Madhavrao Scindia, the railway ministers of the past have often succumbed to the temptation of populism. If Prasad launched the air-conditioned Garib Rath to target his constituents, Banerjee started the non-stop Duronto trains. Both Prasad and Banerjee refrained from raising passenger fares, with Banerjee going a step ahead in prevailing upon the then prime minister to drop her nominee Dinesh Trivedi from his charge as the Railways Minister after he had announced a fare hike without her consent. Populism has come at a cost. Losses from the passenger segment are today estimated at Rs 32,000 crore. The Railways have little funds for infrastructure expansion. The decision to merge the Railways budget with the general budget will bring an end to the patronage raj culture of the railways, according to KL Thapar of the Asian Institute of Transport Development. It will enable the organization to function in an efficient and professional manner. Also read | Changes in budget are a move towards transparency SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modis 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 ministrys top bureaucrat said on Thursday. Modi made a shake-up of Indias 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 Indias biggest overhaul of indirect taxes, the goods and services tax (GST), a victory for Modis 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 parliaments 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 dont 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 September 2 to protest against the policies. Read | Nationwide strike by trade unions, essential services likely to be hit 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. Bills on social security and working conditions remain under discussion with states and trade unions. Indias 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% of Indias manufacturers employed fewer than 50 workers, compared to 25% 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. Union home ministry on Thursday received Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugtis application for political asylum in India. The founder-president of the Baloch Republican Party, Bugti is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006. The application is being examined at the moment. A decision will happen after completing the due process, said a home ministry official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Bugti had applied for asylum through the Indian consulate in Geneva three days ago. Read | Baloch activists to protest outside UN during Sharifs address The application was sent to the home ministry which deals with all asylum matters, including those of refugees. Ultimately, it is a political decision at the highest level but we need to follow the process for the requisite paperwork, the official said. Pakistan has strongly opposed India giving asylum to Bugti, calling him a terrorist. Read | Musharraf calls Bugti a terrorist, says Pak not involved in Uri attack The ministry is also looking at past cases like the process adopted by the Jawaharlal Nehru government in 1959 to give asylum to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his followers. India doesnt have a uniform national asylum policy. So, the government could give him permanent residency or long-term visa like it provides to persons from persecuted minority communities from Pakistan or other neighbouring countries. The government deals with asylum matters on a case-to-case or nationality-to-nationality basis. Only recently, the home ministry began the process of drafting a national asylum policy. The objective is to formally define a refugee, eligibility for asylum, rights, entitlements and obligations and set a time-bound legal framework for naturalization, said the official. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says India has around 2.1 lakh people of concern and they include nationals from Afghanistan (13,381), Myanmar (18,914), Somalia, Tibet (1.1 lakh) and Sri Lankans (64,600). The UNHCR works with refugees who are not from the neighbouring countries, except Myanmar. Also read | We dont want to live with Pakistan anymore: Baloch leader Bugti SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The human resource development ministry (HRD) has said the elite Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) will have to provide reservation in teaching appointments. According to sources, the ministry pointed out that reservation is provided in the Constitution and no one can bypass it. There are a few technical and research institutes that are exempted but IIMs are not. A number of them are already following the reservation policy in faculty, said a source. There might be a few who are not implementing it completely but there is no complete defaulter. Many dont get enough candidates. Sources further said that a number of IIMs face difficulty in getting quality faculty and are unable to fill the quota seats. The ministry said that it was a temporary arrangement if they are not able to follow reservation completely as they are unable to get candidates but are not exempted. HT on September 15 had reported that IIMs will have to follow the reservation in teacher appointments, which has been a contentious issue. Sources said that many of the countrys 20 IIMs have resisted introducing reservation in appointment of faculty, citing quality concerns. The government in 2008 asked all centrally funded institutions, including Indian Institutes of Technology and IIMs, to set a quota for SC, ST and OBCs in teaching positions. On September 20, HRD minister Prakash Javadekar held a meeting of chairmen and directors of IIMs at IIM-Shillong and discussed the issue, sources said. There were protests against the move. Then HRD minister Arjun Singh had brought in a bill exempting Indias leading education institutes, including IITs and IIMs, from reservation. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill but not the Lok Sabha. The proposed law lapsed after the 14th Lok Sabha was dissolved. IITs, despite strong reservations, toed the government line while recruiting assistant professors but IIMs remained defiant. In 2013, higher education secretary Ashok Thakur asked IIMs to follow the reservation system after a parliamentary panel pointed out that the business schools were not following the quota system. Javadekars predecessor Smriti Irani had in April again asked IIMs if they were following the reservation policy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India claimed on Thursday to have diplomatically scored over Pakistan at the United Nations amid deteriorating bilateral ties following the killing of 18 soldiers in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters in New Delhi that India was 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, a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif aggressively raised the Kashmir issue in his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York. The spokesperson said most countries have condemned Sundays attack at Uri near the Line of Control (LoC) - the de facto border between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. No one and I mean no other country at the UN has spoken on the subject Nawaz Sharif devoted 80% of his time to, Swarup said. India has said the militants who attacked the military base had come from Pakistan and belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), headed by Masood Azhar - the militant commander released in exchange for an Indian Airlines flight hijacked to Afghanistan in December 1999. Asked if India was preparing any fresh dossier on Pakistans involvement in terrorist activities, Swarup said: We dont need a dossier, the whole world is aware of Pakistans role in promoting terror. Read: Pakistan now host to Ivy League of terrorism: India at UNGA Slamming Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for glorifying slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani at the UN, India on Thursday said his remarks show Pakistans continued attachment to terrorism. Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UNs highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Minister of state for external affairs, MJ Akbar said that it was 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 responding to Sharifs 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, Akbar said. Read: Pak is terrorist state, carries out war crimes: India at UNGA In his nearly 20-minute speech, almost half of which was focussed on Kashmir, Sharif hailed Wani as the symbol of the Kashmiris freedom movement. He said a new generation of Kashmiris has risen spontaneously against Indias illegal occupation - demanding freedom from occupation. During his address to the UN General Assembly session on Thursday, Sharif raked up Kashmir issue and described Wani as a young leader. Pakistan Prime Minister said Wani, who was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement. Sharif also claimed that he had gone the extra mile to offer a dialogue to address all outstanding issues but India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in a dialogue. Responding to Sharifs allegations, Swarup said Indias only condition for talks is an end to terrorism. PM Sharif at #UNGA says India poses unacceptable conditions to dialogue. Indias only condition is an end to terrorism. This not acceptable, Swarup said. Read: After Uri attack, Parrikar dismisses nuclear threat from empty vessel Pakistan A probe team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has found that many families migrated from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh due to threats pertaining to increase in crime and deterioration of law-and-order situation there. Based on its findings, the Commission has sent a notice to the chief secretary and director general of police of the state to submit an action taken report, on the observations and recommendations of the team within eight weeks. The team also examined relevant witnesses, victims, independent witnesses, police officials concerned and SDM. Copies of relevant records were also obtained and analysed. The team also obtained list of 346 displaced families or persons from PS to the MP, Kairana. Out of that list three residential localities were selected and at random at least six alleged victims or displaced families or persons were chosen for verification. The team also had telephonic verification from at least four displaced families mentioned in the list who had migrated to distant places such as Dehradun and Surat from Kairana town in Shamli district, the NHRC said in a statement on Thursday. Read: No exodus but fear in Kairana, says fact-finding team of saints Most of the witnesses stated that many families migrated due to threats pertaining to increase in crime and deterioration of law-and-order situation, the Commission says, quoting the teams findings. However, in June, a probe conducted by the Shamli district administration into the alleged migration from Kairana had found that in the list of 346 families, 188 had left over five years ago. The inquiry had then found that only in three cases the families had faced rangdari threats and police took timely action. A home department spokesman had said that on verification of the list provided by BJP MP Hukum Singh, it was found that 66 families had left Kairana 10 years ago. The NHRC probe team has also found that in 2013, after resettlement of about 25,000-30,000 members of Muslims community in Kairana town from Muzaffarnagar, the demography of Kairana town changed in favour of the Muslim community, it becoming the more dominating and majority community. Most of the witnesses examined and victims feel that the rehabilitation in 2013 has permanently changed the social situation in Kairana town and has led to further deterioration of law-and-order situation, says the teams findings. Read: Marriages in a knot: Would-be brides dumping Kairana men over safety A Uttar Pradesh government spokesperson said, We are yet to receive the NHRC notice. And, we will respond to it only after receiving it. At least 24 witnesses said the youths of a specific majority community in Kairana pass lewd/taunting remarks against the females of a specific minority community as per the NHRC findings. Due to this, females of the specific minority community in Kairana avoided going outside frequently. Some of the displaced persons also verified that it was one of the reasons for their migration from Kairana town, the NHRC said quoting the teams findings. Under the Constitution of India, the Supreme Court has been vested with power to punish for contempt of Court including the power to punish for contempt of itself. The Supreme Court has been given plenary power to pass such order as is necessary for doing complete justice. The Supreme Court exercise this power in rare cases of violation of its order. It is even rarer to see the apex courts order being defied by a state government. HT takes a look at some of the cases where the states have violated the top courts directions. September 21, 2016: Karnataka government decides to defy Supreme Court order that directed the state to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu per day till September 27. The decision was made after a series of state cabinet meetings and an all-party meet on Wednesday. March 18, 2016: In yet another water dispute between states, in defiance of Supreme Court order, the Punjab government unanimously passed a resolution to not allow the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal since it is not in the interest of the state. Haryana had sought to restrain Punjab from publishing the Punjab Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal (Rehabilitation and Re-vesting of Proprietary Rights) Bill in the official gazette. December 4, 2015: The Supreme Court issues contempt of court notice to Uttar Pradesh government for non- compliance of its order to appoint a new Lokayukta in the state. October 13, 2011: The Haryana government was penalised Rs 50,000 by the Supreme Court for failing to implement its direction on introduction of high security number plates for all vehicles. October 25, 2002: Cauvery water row: The then chief minister of Karnataka SM Krishna was pulled up by the Supreme Court when he defied its order to release water to Tamil Nadu. October 24, 1994: The Supreme Court gave a symbolic punishment to the then Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh by sending him to prison for a day and imposing a fine of Rs 2,000 for failing to protect Babri Masjid in Ayodhya despite the assurances given to the court. The Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992. The ongoing Kashmir unrest may delay Indias plans of scaling up infrastructure along the disputed India-China border in the sensitive Ladakh sector. The government on Thursday said issues related to ferrying construction material and equipment to forward areas had hampered works in Ladakh region and would severely impinge on the completion of strategic roads. The projects are already years behind schedule. Of the 73 strategic roads identified for construction along the disputed Line of Actual Control, the defence ministrys Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is executing six major projects in Jammu and Kashmir. The BRO was tasked with building 61 such roads with a total length of 3,417 km in J&K, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Only 23 strategic roads have been built. All roads should have been completed four years ago. Read | Himachal govt irked over slow pace of work on border roads Before the unrest, BRO had estimated the remaining roads would take at least four more years to complete. However, it will have to revise its deadlines. In a statement issued on Thursday, the defence ministry also flagged concerns about several road projects in Kashmir Valley being hit by the unrest. The ministry said the loss of over three months of working season in the summer was a matter of serious concern and the BRO would be unable to meet its targets. Works in Tangdhar, Anantnag, Kupwara and Bandipora are among the worst affected. Endeavours are being made to execute work. But owing to restrictions on movement of vehicles and persons, desired progress could not be made, the ministry said. The projects that have been affected include the four-laning of the Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri highway and the handing over of the Sinthan Pass-Anantnag road to the National Highways Authority of India. Damage to the BROs vehicles and equipment will also affect ongoing projects, the ministry said. Availability of labour is another worry. The majority of the non-local labourers from the Valley have moved out of the state due to continuous disturbance, the ministry said. Also read | Army stops construction of road along Ladakh LAC after China protests Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the need for the Kisan budget, for which he raised a demand on Wednesday, has arisen as the Modi government is not paying any heed to the problem of farmers. After I suggested bringing Kisan budget yesterday (on Wednesday), Arun Jaitley ji said why did not Rahul Gandhi say this when his UPA government was in power, I did not say this as farmers had confidence that Congress will do justice for them in the general budget itself, he said on way to Unnao from Kanpur during his Deoria to Dilli Kisan Yatra. They (farmers) fear that BJP government and Arun Jaitleyji will not give farmers their rightful share so I have asked the government to directly tell what it will do for the farmers next year, the Congress vice-president stressed. When the Congress party waived off farmers loan we did a big rally in Delhi... all including the then PM Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and I myself told the people what we have done...the meaning is that when some step like this is taken leaders tell the public about it, he said The Congress leader said in the past two and a half years, Narendra Modi has waived off Rs 1 lakh 10 thousand crores , we had waived off Rs 70,000 crore, why is Modi ji, Jaitley ji and Gadkari ji not saying anything on it... they are silent because they have given this waiver to 10 to 12 biggest industrialist of the country. Speaking in Kanpur on Wednesday, Gandhi had asked the Modi government to come up with a Kisan Budget to ensure farmers get the right price for their produce. I have heard the railway budget is being merged with the general budget. If this can be done, I would ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prepare Kisan budget...it will ensure that farmers get right prices for their crops, as they are not getting it now, he added. Interacting with the locals in Unnao on Thursday, Rahul asked them whether they have benefitted from any of the poll promises made by Modi like Rs 15 lakh in their accounts or jobs to two crore youths. In the past over two year, he has only travelled abroad which has not helped the common people in anyway, he alleged. The 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty on Thursday cropped up in the current hostile Indo-Pak discourse with India making it clear that mutual trust and cooperation was important for such a treaty to work. The assertion came amid calls in India that government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of audacious Uri terror attack earlier this week. For any such treaty to work, its important that there must be mutual cooperation and trust between both the sides. It cannot be a one-sided affair, foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said cryptically when asked if the government will rethink on the Treaty given the growing strain between the two countries. He also noted that the preamble of the Treaty itself said it was based on goodwill. Pressed further if India will scrap the Treaty, he refused to elaborate and only noted that in diplomacy everything was not spelled out and that he has not said that the treaty was not working. Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six river - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries. Pakistan has been complaining of not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in couple of cases. Swarup also noted that there were differences over the implementation of the treaty between the two countries. The government appointed on Thursday Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Navtej Sarna, as the countrys new ambassador to the United States. A 1980-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Sarna will take over from Arun Kumar Singh, who has retired from the service. Navtej Singh Sarna (IFS: 1980) has been appointed as the next ambassador of India to the United State of America. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly, external affairs ministry said. Sarna, who has authored several books, fiction as well as non-fiction, had succeeded Ranjan Mathai as Indias envoy to the UK. The 59-year-old career diplomat served as the ministrys spokesperson from 2002 to 2008, the longest anyone has served the MEA in that capacity. He then headed for Tel Aviv, serving as Indias ambassador to Israel till 2012. For two years from August 2012, Sarna served as additional secretary in-charge of international organisations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in north Kashmirs Bandipora district on Thursday morning, police said. The gunfight broke out in Aragam Chitti Bandi village in the district after security personnel were tipped off about the presence of militants there. The encounter is underway, the police added. #FLASH Encounter between security personnel & terrorists begins in Bandipora district (J&K); 1 terrorist killed. Operation underway. ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 The encounter comes three days after militants believed to be from Pakistan attacked an army camp in Uri. A week before the army base attack, a policeman and four intruders were killed in a gunfight in Jammus Poonch. Read | Soldier, eight infiltrators killed in two separate Kashmir encounters Meanwhile, there was increased deployment and stricter restrictions in Srinagar city ahead of march call by the joint separatist leadership. The separatist leaders have called for a march to the uptown areas of Srinagar and Anantnag. The separatists have extended the strike to September 29 and Kashmir remained shut for the 76th straight day. (With inputs from agencies) Read: Uri attack: India summons Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit, offers evidence SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pakistan sent a junior official to a Saarc meeting in Delhi on Thursday in an apparent bid to lower the events profile amid mounting tensions between the two nations following a militant attack on an army camp in Kashmir. Fauzia Manzoor, counselor in the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi, represented her country in the meeting. Sources said it was expected that the chief of Pakistani Intelligence Bureau, Aftab Sultan, will come for the meeting as it was being presided over by his Indian counterpart Dineshwar Sharma but the neighbouring country decided against sending anyone from Islamabad. The two-day High Level Meeting of Eminent Experts to strengthen counter-terror mechanism in the region began as India tries to diplomatically isolate Pakistan at global fora following a militant attack on an army base in Kashmirs Uri town. India says the attackers were from Pakistan, a charge flatly denied by Islamabad. Except from Pakistan, the meeting was represented at a high level by other South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries that comprises India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives. Maldives sent a deputy minister of home affairs for the meeting. Sources said Pakistans causal approach in dealing with terror is evident from the fact that no one from Islamabad came for a similar meeting here in 2012 as well. In his inaugural address, Dineshwar Sharma said Indians were highly agitated over the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers died and an equal number of them were battling for their lives. Sharma did not name Pakistan in his speech but said the incident is only one in series of 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 it was necessary that all internationally-mandated sanctions against terrorist entities and individuals are strictly enforced. Sharma 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. Sharma said all SAARC countries have experienced ravages of terrorism in one form or other. Terrorist outfits have easy access to technology to attack both soft and hard targets to undermine public confidence and eventually the structure of the state. Islamic States spread has added new dimension to threat, he said. No country today is in a position to tackle the problem on its own. Close cooperation and sharing of real time intelligence are therefore imperative for all of us to secure out countries and people. India has called Pakistan a terrorist state that funds extremism across the region, in a stinging reply to Pakistani prime ministers speech at the United Nations general assembly. The two countries are expected to face off several times in the 193-nation event. Read| Reading between the lines: A message for US in Sharifs UNGA speech SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pakistan is a terrorist state that carries out war crimes against Indians by sponsoring terrorism, New Delhi said on Thursday in a stinging response that underscored plummeting relations following a militant attack on an army base in Kashmir. The statement came hours after Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the United Nations general assembly and spoke out against alleged human rights abuses by Indian forces during the current unrest in Kashmir that has claimed 86 lives. The worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practised as an instrument of state policy, it is a war crime, said diplomat Eenam Gambhir, exercising Indias Right of Reply to Sharifs long tirade. 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. Gambhir is first secretary in the Indias permanent mission to the UN. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj who speaks on Monday is also expected to give a befitting reply to Sharif. India and Pakistan are locked in a bruising battle of words after a brazen militant attack in Kashmirs Uri town killed 18 soldiers. New Delhi says the militants came from Pakistan and has moved to isolate Islamabad globally. But Sharif and Pakistans top military leaders have rubbished the claim. Gambhir 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. Read| Reading between the lines: A message for US in Sharifs UNGA speech She also noted 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. The effect of its toxic curriculum is felt across the globe, she said. It is ironic that a country, which has established itself as the global epicentre of terrorism, is preaching human rights and talks about ostensible support for self-determination. The comments came on a day of high drama when Pakistan closed its air space in the countrys northern regions and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his top ministers and officials to chalk out a strategy. Despite growing domestic pressure on the prime minister, the government has indicated that any response will be long-term. Read| Pakistan PM Sharif offers peace talks, but needles India on Kashmir at UNGA Indias minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar also branded Sharifs UNGA address as immature and full of threats. He scoffed at Islamabad for wanting dialogue while holding a gun, adding India will never succumb to such tactics and blackmail. Addressing a press conference moments after Sharifs address, Akbar stated that Pakistan seemed to be run by a war machine rather than a government. Talks and guns dont go together. He expressed shock at Sharifs mention of dead Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in his address. Wanis death triggered a two-month-long cycle of violence in Kashmir that left 86 dead and thousands injured. We heard the glorification of a terrorist. Wani was a self-declared commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen. This organisation is widely acknowledged as a terrorist group internationally. This is self incrimination, Akbar said. Akbar emphasised that Islamabads consistent use of war and terrorism was at the cost of development of the people of Pakistan, adding that the people there were paying the price of a malevolent policy. The diplomat 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 US forces. Earlier, the Pakistan PM 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. 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, he said. Read| Word for word: Takeaways from Sharifs UN speech, Indias response Read| Glorification of Burhan Wani is self-incrimination by Pak PM Sharif: India Prominent Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez has been shifted to Kot Bhalwal prison in Jammu, even as his family and lawyers said they have not received an official copy of the order of detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA). The Jammu and Kashmir PSA, 1978 allows the state to detain a person up to six months without trial. Activists describe it draconian, while the Amnesty International previously called it a lawless law because of its alleged arbitrary use by the government. Parvez (39), who is the chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances, and the programme coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, was booked under the PSA on Wednesday, a day after a Srinagar court ordered his release from preventive detention. He was moved to the Jammu jail around midnight. Read: Rights activist Khurram Parvez detained even after court orders release Police have not officially confirmed the slapping of the PSA on the internationally-renowned activist, who lost a leg in a 2004 bomb blast while on election-monitoring duty in north Kashmir. Last week, Parvez was shifted to Kupwara sub-jail after being lodged for a day in a Srinagar prison. Then, on Tuesday evening, principal district and sessions judge, Srinagar, Rashid Ali Dar, ordered his release and said the earlier order for his detention was not in accordance with the law. Parvezs family and lawyers claimed that the activist, after being released from the sub-jail following the court order, was detained for over three hours in Kupwara police station. From there, he was shifted to Kothi Bagh police station in Srinagar in the wee hours of Wednesday. His family and lawyers were not given a reason behind his continued detention. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A play performed by the students at Central University of Haryana in Mahendragarh on Wednesday, which had a scene portraying armymen committing rape, invited demonstrations from various sections of the society on Thursday. The Bharatiya Janata Partys student wing Akhi Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), ex-servicemen and some villagers led protests in the district and burnt effigy of the university vice-chancellor, demanding FIR against those involved in the play. According to the English literature department, the students performed Draupadi play written by eminent writer Mahasweta Devi, who passed away in July this year, in her memory. The play, set in 1970s in tribal areas, shows the army men questioning the protagonist to reveal the names of those involved in a tribal movement in a one-minute scene. When she denies, the army men rape her to press for the information. The half-minute scene has overshadowed the entire meaning of the play due to some students political inclinations, said Sanjeev Kumar, head of the department. As literature students, if theyre not even allowed to perform plays written by legends like Mahasweta Devi, then I think theres some serious problem of freedom of expression in our country, he said. Sources told HT the real problem occurred after the play got finished. In her speech at the end of the play, a professor at the department gave NCRB (National Crime Record Bureau) data trying to prove the atrocities against the tribal women by the Indian army. The play was in English, so most of the audience didnt even understand. But the speech by the professor was in Hindi, which triggered protests, an eyewitness told HT. The demonstrators on Thursday gave a two-day ultimatum to the V-C RC Kuhad to act against the guilty. Kuhad said, I have taken cognisance of the matter. But the protests are highly politically motivated. We have held talks with most of the protesting army men and pacified them, by explaining the entire viewpoint of the play. Still, I have constituted a three-member committee under the surveillance of two literature experts and an army man to suggest if there was any wrong act committed. The faculty, too, has been asked to give their explanation, he said. The deadliest attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 has yet again exposed gaping holes along the 744-km long Line of Control with Pakistan. While India weighs its options to counter Pakistan, HT looks at existing security grid along the vast and porous frontiers of J&K. While Pakistan had raised an embankment after the 2002 Indo-Pak ceasefire agreement on their side of Punjab province along 198 km long international border (IB) with Jammu region, India has put on hold a project of acquiring 135-feet wide land along the entire length of the border. The Centre is reconsidering it and as such no work on it has started. In fact, the project has been shelved. The land had to be acquired for raising fresh border fence and not an embankment, a home department official told HT. The IB runs from Paharpur on Kathua-Punjab border to Chickens Neck area of Akhnoor, north of Jammu on the Indian side. The Centre had planned the embankment (135 feet wide and 10 feet high) which was to be an amalgamation of the existing structure on the border including cattle fence, border fence, floodlights, earthen mounds followed by a road that would have run parallel to the border from Paharpur to Chickens Neck in Akhnoor. Read: Uri terror attack: 5 reasons why isolating Pakistan globally wont be easy Fences Not Foolproof While the Border Security Force (BSF) guards the IB, the army protects 744-km long LoC in J&K. The BSF presently has an anti-infiltration obstacle system (AIOS) in place that includes border fence, electric live wires, sensors, sirens, foot patrols, floodlights, other surveillance devices including hand held thermal imagers. We also have raised laser walls in some of the riverine gaps, said a top BSF source. During winters, terrorists shift their focus from the LoC to the IB, largely a plain area to infiltrate for staging attacks. The BSF is the first line of defence at the IB followed by a miniscule presence of troops from the Western Command and then comes the turn of border police and Village Defence Committees in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts. The LoC in J&K is one of the most difficult terrains in the world that witnesses heavy snowfall and avalanches during winters and landslides, and floods during monsoons. The AIOS is not a foolproof system. Though it consists of 10 to 12 feet high and 6 to 7 feet wide mesh of concertina wire followed by flood lights, sensors, sirens, thermal imagers, minefields and foot patrols and drones for recee, it remains vulnerable, said a senior Army officer. The AIOS, which costs Rs 8 crore per km, gets buried in winters under heavy snow and then it becomes easier for the infiltrators to walk over and enter India. After the attack on the Pathankot air base last January, the Centre had decided to set up a comprehensive integrated border management system comprising CCTV cameras, thermal imagers and night-vision devices, surveillance radar, underground monitoring sensors and laser barriers to plug the Indias porous border. The project has been started in a couple of stretches in Jammu on an experimental basis but it has not gained the desired momentum. It moves at a snails pace, said the officer. Read: Prepare for the worst: The Indian State is in retreat in Kashmir Tunnel Threat Pakistans secret trans-border tunnels have also exposed vulnerability of the security grid along the borders. Since July 2012, Pakistan has attempted three trans-border tunnels in Jammu. Tunnels in Chachwal village of Samba, Pallanwala in Akhnoor sector and RS Pura sector of Jammu district were undoubtedly new tools in Pakistans proxy war. A BSF official said there was no foolproof technology to detect underground tunnels and therefore the force has put the border under physical domination and regularly undertakes anti-tunneling drives. Ground penetrating radars, too have their limitation, he said. More than 40 vulnerable unfenced stretches have to be covered with laser walls along the Indo-Pak border. Read: UNGA: Sharif hits out at India, says Kashmirs struggle is legitimate According to Lt Gen RR Nimbhorkar, GOC of 16 Corps, 150 to 170 terrorists have been waiting in various launch pads on other side of the LoC in PoK and there are at least 17 terror camps opposite the Poonch sector. While the undulating grounds in the plains of Jammu have their own challenges, the hilly terrain, high altitude, vast area and terror camps close to the LoC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) present their share of difficulties. Another top army officer told HT that they have started replacing conventional concertina fence on the LoC with a new type of fence having an integrated system with a lot of sensors. It is stronger than the previous fence. A total of 457 villages with a population of 4,51,856 are located at the IB and LoC in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts in the Jammu region. HT In-depth: Frontier Diaries Winter Aids Infiltration About 30% of the fence along a 344-km stretch of the LoC inKashmir gets damaged every winter. The LoC in Kashmir starts from Gulmarg in Baramulla to Kupwara and Gurez in Bandipora district. Northern Army Chief Lt Gen DS Hooda had told this correspondent last year that, to overcome the problem, we already have about three new designs, which we are looking at. We have already done the trials and it has been put up at Shamshabari in Kupwara district. The new design has integrated modern sensors and night vision devices. However, top army sources confided to HT that no fence could guarantee zero infiltration because of the hilly terrain, topography, dense jungles and heavy snowfall in Kashmir during winters. The LoC in Kashmir has many more than 40 infiltration points. While militants keep changing routes, there are 16 to 18 launch pads across the LoC in Kashmir, said an Army officer. Besides Keran, Machhil and Tangdhar in Kupwara, Gurez in Bandipora and Kanzalwan and Nowshewra ridges were used by the militants to get into the Valley. Former GOC of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain wrote in a recent article that through 1990s there was infiltration into the valley from every direction, even over the Pir Panjal range. Since the training camps (42 of them) were spread all over PoK, even well south of Pir Panjal in the Kotli, Nikial and Mangla areas on the PoK side, infiltration took place in Jammu division too. Here, staging areas and bases were established, he had said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India is looking at the highest ever summer-sown food output, with production of rice, maize and pulses projected to go up on the back of a good monsoon, farm minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Thursday. The foodgrain production was estimated to touch 135 million tonne, an all-time high, and a jump of 9% from last year, the minister said, hoping higher output would lead to lower prices. The output is 3.7% higher than the 131.3 million tonnes in 2011-12, the previous record, under the UPA government . (This is) the result of policies, hard work of farmers and good weather, Singh said, revealing the first of the four quarterly estimates. The big boost is expected in pulses that have roiled household budgets because of scarcity and high prices. With an expected harvest of 8.7 million tonne, kharif pulses would see a 57% rise over last year. This is 1.6 million tonne more than the record output of 2010-11. Summer crops account for slightly more than half of the countrys total production. If rains are adequate, the overall economy gets a boost. Higher farm incomes push up rural sales of most consumer items -- from gold to cars. When the harvest is good, nearly half of all the television sets and motorcycles are sold in the countryside, important to keep the manufacturing sector going. Two policy decisions aided a shift to food crops, especially pulses. The government offered higher minimum support prices for pulses that also act as a floor price for private traders. The government will also buy large amounts of pulses from farmers and hold them in reserve. These measures are aimed at giving cultivators a ready market. Farmers sowed 4% more area than what is considered normal for summer. Sugarcane output, however, is estimated to be lower at 305.24 million tonne from 352.16 million tonne last year. The south-west monsoon -- vital because 60% of farms dont have irrigation facilities -- has been normal or surplus in 88% of the countrys total area. Overall, the rain has been 5% below average. The turnaround in harvest comes after two years of crippling drought. In 2014 and 2015, the rains were deficient by 12% and 14%, leading to widespread rural distress. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The latest reminder for the Modi government that action speaks louder than words has, once again, come from within the BJP. Party MP Subramanian Swamy tweeted on Thursday in favour of solid action on ground. According to him, military action on the ground will avoid the India-Pak diplomatic hyphenations. In the dealing verbally with Pak we should guard against the danger of India-Pak hyphenation. Solid action on ground can avoid that, Swamy, a Rajya Sabha MP, tweeted. In the dealing verbally with Pak we should guard against the danger of India-Pak hyphenation. Solid action on ground can avoid that. Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) September 22, 2016 The tweet comes hours after India countered Pakistan at the United Nations and Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Shariff unsuccessfully tried to shore up support from the international community. Two days ago, Swamy had also talked about different aspects of preparing for war. Being prepared for war means : War aims, priorities of the aims, strategy of war, and human, financial & natural resource mobilization, he tweeted on Tuesday. A section of the BJP establishment is also in favour of action on the ground and feels that mere diplomacy is not enough to teach Pakistan a lesson after suspected Pakistani militants killed 18 soldiers at an army camp in Kashmirs Uri on Sunday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Tension is mounting in Karnataka ahead of Fridays special session of the state assembly to discuss the Supreme Court directive to release Cauvery water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Chief minister Siddaramiah called the special session, hoping to pass a resolution that will convey to the top court that its Tuesdays directive to release 6,000 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu until September 27 is not implementable. It instead decided to defer the implementation at least until the special session. Political commentators say it is a high-stakes gamble as any defiance of the court order could even lead to the dismissal of the state government. Siddaramaiah has opted to take on the apex court despite the fact that similar tactics by earlier governments have not succeed. In 1991, Congress chief minister S Bangarappa passed an ordinance that sought to negate the tribunals interim award. The Supreme Court struck it down. Again, in 2002, Congress chief minister SM Krishna defied an apex court order to release water to Tamil Nadu. But he had to later apologise to the court and release the water. Sharing Cauvery water has always been an emotive issue in Karnataka, which was roiled by violent protests in the second week of September. The violence turned into a Tamil vs Kannada slugfest with businesses and vehicles of each other targeted for attacks in both states. Realising that a meek surrender could hurt him politically, Siddaramiah is hoping that an assembly resolution against the court directive could turn the dispute into a constitutional wrangle. The Congress state government, under pressure from opposition parties, farmers associations and linguistic chauvinistic groups, has finally succumbed to their demand to virtually defy the apex court. According to these pressure groups, Karnataka is facing severe water shortage owing to poor rains and the drinking water supply is also dependent on the Cauvery, as against Tamil Nadus demand for agricultural use. Despite the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal adjudicating a final deal in 2007 between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu there is no end to the conflict. Under the powerful Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956, the tribunal award is not open to judicial review and has to be implemented at any cost. In times of good rain both sides have no issue and plenty of Cauvery water is available for agriculture and drinking. During these times, more water than stipulated flows from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu. (The writer is a senior journalist based in Bengaluru) India has called Pakistan a terrorist state that hosts the Ivy League of terrorism while responding to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs speech at the UN General Assembly that raked up the Kashmir issue and sought a fact-finding mission into alleged brutalities. The response marked the latest round in a war of words that has escalated after Sundays terror attack on an army camp in Uri that killed 18 soldiers. India also said the onus is now on Pakistan to act against terrorist groups engaging in cross-border attacks while threatening to withdraw or downgrade the Most Favoured Nation status granted in 1996. During his nearly 20-minute speech on Wednesday, Sharif described the unrest in Kashmir as an indigenous uprising and an intifada (uprising) and accused India of brutal suppression and gross and systematic violations of human rights. He also referred to militant commander Burhan Wani, whose killing sparked the unrest, as a young leader murdered by Indian forces. India hit back in a right-of-reply statement, delivered by Eenam Gambhir, first secretary in Indias permanent mission to the UN, who started by saying: 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 neighbors are facing today is Pakistans long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region. Recalling the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, she said, The land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism. She added Pakistan is a terrorist state that channels billions of dollars to training and backing terror groups used as militant proxies against it neighbours. Minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar referred to Sharifs description of Wani and told reporters, We heard the glorification of a terrorist. Wani is a declared commander of Hizbul (Mujahideen), 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 the Pakistan PM. Pakistan has been linked to some of the worst terrorists attacks, and attempts, in the US in recent years the Times Square bombing attempt in 2010, the San Bernardino shootings in 2015, in which 14 people died, and one over the past weekend. Ahmad Khan Rahami, the New York-New Jersey bombings suspect, spent a lot of time in Pakistan, where he married a local woman. A bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives earlier this week to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism. If enacted, it would cut all financial aid and sales of military equipment to Pakistan. Briefing reporters in New Delhi, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the onus is squarely on Pakistan to act against terrorist groups that find safe havens and all types of supportand indulge in cross-border terrorism against its neighbours. India would not set a timeframe for this but it would be in Pakistans interest to act as swiftly as it can against perpetrators of terror, he said. Minister of state for finance Arjun Meghwal warned the government might withdraw or downgrade the Most Favoured Nation (MFN)-status for Pakistan. He told India Today channel: We are seriously reviewing the MFN status given to Pakistan. Indias security is always our priority. Trade makes our nation strong but our priority will be security. Meghwal also said an economic diplomatic crackdown against Pakistan was on the governments agenda. Thought process is on to isolate Pakistan on the economic front in view of their consistent support to acts of terror, he said. Swarup also noted that despite Pakistans efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue, the UN Secretary General and none of the countries that had participated in the debate at the General Assembly had referred to the issue that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif devoted 80% of his speech to. Instead, all countries had referred to terrorism as the main threat to international peace, a fact that Pakistan still remains in denial of. The Secretary General also did not talk about intervening in the Kashmir issue and had said this issue needs to be settled bilaterally, Swarup said. Karthiyani, a housewife from Tamil Nadu, is getting frustrated by the day. It has been months now that she had been dialing a phone number of the ministry of external affairs, seeking help to secure the release of her husband from a jail in the Arab emirate of Abu Dhabi. To her dismay, the phone rings but no one answers. Her husband, Tennarasu Arumugham, is one of the four Indians lodged in a jail in the desert kingdom on charges of spying. Arumugham is serving a three-year sentence. The three others Muhammad Ibrahim, Manarathodi Abbas and Mohammed Mukthar have been sentenced from 5 to 10 years. Another Indian, Shihani Jamal Mohammad from Kerala, is also in jail undergoing trial on similar charges. Though Abbas, Arumugham and Ibrahim were detained in 2014, they were sentenced at different times between May 2015 and January this year. The charge levelled against Arumugham is grave and his future looks grim. But what worries Karthiyani more is the Indian governments lack of concern for him or the others. Except for a meeting the MEA called in Delhi on April 13, there has been no action from the government. They had given us a contact number, but no one answers it, she laments . New Delhis response, or the lack of it, to the jailing of the five is in sharp contrast to its much-publicised campaign to secure the release of Sarabjit Singh, jailed by Pakistan in 1990 for being an Indian spy. Sarabjit caught the publics imagination and there was a nationwide outpouring of support for his freedom, but he died a prisoner in 2013. Like Karthiyani, the relatives of the other jailed Indians, are equally distraught. We placed a request to Sushma Swaraj seeking help through BJP MP Suresh Gopi, and we met [Kerala chief minister] Pinarayi Vijayan who sent a letter to Swarajs office. But the MEA is yet to respond, said a relative of Ibrahim, sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of an Indian equivalent of Rs 9.06 crore. The Abu Dhabi court judgment against Ibrahim, a copy of which Hindustan Times has accessed, says he (Ibrahim) handed over confidential defense information of the State to two intelligence officers of the Indian embassy Ajay Kumar and Rudranath Juha. Ibrahim and Abbas, have been convicted for allegedly spying at the Mina Zayed deepwater port. Both were working at the port. Arumugham was convicted for sharing sensitive data with Indian embassy officials while he worked with a UAE-based telecom company, a charge his family denies. Repeated attempts by HT to speak to the MEA failed, with both calls and emails evoking no response. Relatives of the jailed Indians say they have been made scapegoats. There was a lot of pressure from the two embassy officials on Ibrahim to divulge details about the movement of ships at the port. Initially the embassy put pressure on him by delaying the renewal of his and his sons passports. Later these officials befriended him to obtain details, a relative of Ibrahim alleged on condition of anonymity. They have, however, not given up hope yet and say if New Delhi puts pressure on the UAE government, their relatives will be freed, now that India-UAE relations are stronger. India, especially after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, has built strong ties with the UAE government. If New Delhi intervenes they will release my brother and the others, says Hameed, brother of Abbas. Meanwhile, the relatives are planning to petition BJP leaders expected to gather at Kozhikode, Kerala, for the partys national executive over the weekend. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The picturesque coastal town of Kozhikode in Kerala, which will host 1,700 BJP leaders over the next three days, could play a role in shaping in shaping the NDA governments security and foreign policies. The BJP national council, the apex decision-making body of the ruling party, will brainstorm over Indias response to the terror attack on the army base in Uri and the partys line on the over-10-week-long unrest in the Kashmir Valley. Kozhikode or Calicut is the birthplace of late VK Krishna Menon. The legendary diplomat, who later became defence minister, had in 1957 made an eight-hour-long speech--the longest ever--at the United Nations defending Indias stand on Kashmir. Six decades hence, Kozhikode could again play a role in defining Indias policy on Kashmir--and also its response to recent cross-border terror attacks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will reach Kozhikode on Friday evening, is likely to share his thoughts on the recent developments at a rally the next day. BJP leaders, known to bristle at the first signs of public outrage over any Indo-Pakistan fracas, have been guarded, albeit pent-up. None have come out in public to endorse party general secretary Ram Madhavs jaw-for-tooth strategy vis-a-vis Pakistan. Senior government functionaries have also been cautious. They have called Pakistan a terrorist state and warned that the perpetrators will not go unpunished - remarks that were adequate to preempt many storm petrels - but have refrained from feeding into jingoistic sentiments. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will further address their concerns by slamming Pakistan in her speech at the UN General Assembly on September 26. It will be the first time post-Uri attack that the entire top leadership of the ruling party at the Centre will join heads to discuss these issues at the BJP national council meeting. The BJP will surely take a tough line on Kashmir. But will the ruling party draw another red line talk and terror cant go together being the first for the resumption of India-Pakistan dialogue. After committing to a dialogue with all stakeholders in Kashmir in the agenda of alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party, will the BJP renege on it when it comes to talks with Hurriyat leaders? What happens to another commitment for a review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)? The BJPs stand on these issues will determine the longevity of the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. The Kozhikode meeting will also see the BJP make another attempt to showcase the Narendra Modi governments welfare schemes to fend off attempts by opposition leaders, especially Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, to project it as a party of the rich. Kozhikode has an important place in the BJPs history. It is here that Deen Dayal Upadhayay was elected the president of Jan Sangh, the BJPs former avatar, in 1967. Upadhyaya propagated the idea of Antyodaya, which means uplift of the poorest of poor. The partys national council will attempt to showcase the partys inclusive agenda to counter the oppositions allegations about the BJP being anti-Dalit. The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday asked the Haryana government why all the FIRs, except the one registered into the alleged Murthal gangrape case, should not be handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further probe. The high court bench of justice SS Saron and justice Lisa Gill also sought CBI response on the petition by Saturday. The development comes during hearing of an application moved by Satyapal Sindhu, brother of finance minister Captain Abhimanyu, who approached the court on Thursday, alleging inaction by the state police into FIR registered into damage to his properties during the quota stir. A total of 2,104 FIRs, including one for alleged gangrapes in Murthal, were registered in connection with the Jat quota violence in February this year. A total of 701 persons have been arrested. The Haryana government has already requested the central government to entrust the CBI with probe of three FIRs registered in Rohtak of vandalism and arson, including at the residence of finance minister Captain Abhimanyu during the agitation. But the request is still pending. Appearing for the finance ministers brother, senior advocate RS Rai said that despite lapse of six months, the state government had failed to arrest the perpetrators of arson and loot in February. Even the lower court had expressed its displeasure over the progress of probe into the FIRs registered into damage to his properties. Every day, the petitioner sees those persons who were responsible for the act roaming free in the area. But no arrest so far by the police, he said seeking the courts intervention. The court was told that Sindhus properties worth `15 crore were damaged. These include Hari Bhoomi Communication Private Limited press, Shyam Indus Power Solutions Pvt Ltd and Sindhu Farms. The arsonists stole the parts of machines and other material placed inside the office of the press and these places were turned into ashes, the court was informed. Appearing for the government, additional advocate general Lokesh Sinhal said that a report would be submitted on the next date of hearing, but added that three of the eight accused had been arrested and two were on bail. The high court observed that there appeared lack of proper follow-ups by the advocate generals office and further stated that the court would have to ask the local magistrates to take over the probes, if this continued. Intervening in the matter, amicus curiae Anupam Gupta said that fault lay with the government, not with the advocate generals office. Let the government not hide behind the callousness of the advocate generals office. The finance ministers brother is here. It could not be worse than this. Let CBI be roped in, he said demanding a CBI probe and referred to recent transfer of alleged Mewat gangrape case stating that the police botched up probe in these cases as well. Hence, government sent the matter for CBI probe. He alleged that the government was trying to cover up the Jat quota violence cases. Later, the court issued a notice to CBI and asked the state as to why all the FIRs should not be sent for CBI probe, except the one relating to the alleged Murthal gangrape case. The court was earlier told by special investigation (SIT) head Mamta Singh that two weeks time was needed for any further probe report on Murthal FIRs as some reports sent to forensic laboratory were awaited. The court did not seek response on these FIRs. It also ordered that the police file pertaining to f Sindhus FIR be presented on Saturday. Top hoteliers want chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to go easy on excise rules for avoiding any adverse effect on tourism in Madhya Pradesh. Chouhan will be in Indore on Thursday to inaugurate a three-day convention of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI). The hoteliers move to seek relaxation in excise rules comes a few days after Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar launched his prohibition rally with the support of the Narmada Bachao Andolan activists in Barwani. Moreover, Chouhan has often repeated his stand on no new liquor shop in the state. FHRAI president Bharat Malkani told the media that Maharashtra to promote tourism had identified five tourist zones in Mumbai where liquor was allowed 24 hours a day. We are against prohibition in any form as it badly affects tourism. We have been lobbying with various state governments to relax rules related to serving of liquor, he said. Another major problem was high taxation which stood at over 20 per cent, he said. In most countries, it is around 5 per cent. This is turning away tourists. We are promising that at 5 per cent tax, the industry will pay taxes three times it does now within five years due to growth. FHRAI was holding the convention in Madhya Pradesh and a relatively smaller city like Indore for the first time, Malkani said. Usually such conventions are held in big cities, as there is fear that attendance will be low, but we are happy to note that 500 delegates have registered and the figure may touch 700. Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) former president Kamlesh Barot said 7.6 million tourists come to India, while Hong Kong which was smaller than Mumbai saw over 60 million visitors. Barot said the hotel industry generated a lot of employment, especially for those who did not possess a college degree. The industry provides 24 million in direct employment and 53 million in indirect employment. For every `10 lakh invested, the hotel industry gives employment to 45 people while agriculture employs 18, he said. The associations Indore unit president Sumit Suri said the convention would boost tourism in the state. Madhya Pradesh is looking at up to 15 per cent increase in tourist arrivals to around 7.5 crore this year as it undertakes a slew of initiatives to promote the state as a preferred destination. The state saw about 7 crore tourist arrivals last year. It offers heritage sites, wild life, nature, religious destination to tourists visiting the state. Its couldnt have been a better Puja gift for flyers from Kolkata. Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate, is ready to launch operations in Kolkata from January 2017 and has submitted a proposal to the Centre. For chief minister Mamata Banerjee, its a personal victory because she has been desperately trying to woo foreign airlines so that she could get investments to Bengal. Recently, the CM appealed to both Air India and SpiceJet to start direct flights to Europe from Kolkata. While Air India has turned down the offer, SpiceJet is yet to revert with a definitive response. Though a few airlines such as Vistara, Indigo, Air India and SpiceJet have announced a number of flights out of Kolkata, but all of them are on domestic sectors. SpiceJet is keen on flights to Dhaka and Chittagong, but Mamata is eyeing the European routes. In January 2013, the revamped Kolkata airport was thrown open to airlines. Since then, a significant amount of traffic has increased with new airlines such as Etihad Airways, Bhutan Airways (Tashi), Mihin Lanka and Vistara launching operations from the city. Qatar Airways, Silk Air and Dragon Air already had flights out of Dum Dum. Read: AI flight returns after pilot suspect technical problem We hope to start operating from 2017. All our papers are ready and we are just waiting for the bilaterals to happen. This can take place by the end of this year, or early next year, said Sunil V A, regional vice-president of Oman Air. Oman Air is currently operating from 11 destinations in India. A lot of Bengalis stay in Oman. This flight will be a boon for them. Also, the out-bound traffic from Kolkata would get another carrier which can take them to Europe, African and other Arab nations, he added. In fact, Oman Air has plans to boost tourism in Bengal too. A lot of Omanis come to India for tourism. They will be able to explore Bengal. We would speak to the state tourism department on this once we get the permission. The flying time between Kolkata and Oman is just four hours. So, city residents can explore Oman, Sunil said. Read: Flight cancellations hit over 18,300 passengers in Aug The ministry of tourism of the Sultanate of Oman has set up a camp in Kolkata where they met 50 tour operators to showcase Oman for destination weddings and holidays. Oman is largely unexplored. It has 3,600 km of coastline, mountains and valleys. While one can soak in nature, tourists can also take up adventure tourism and go camping, said Lubaina Sheerazi from the tourism ministry of the Oman. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON If you are planning a weekend trip to Lonavla or Khandala by road, your commute is likely to be less harrowing as triple-axle and multi-axle vehicles have been banned from Khalapur Toll plaza to Urse Toll plaza on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway for six hours on Fridays and Saturdays and for seven hours on Sundays and Mondays. The highway traffic police started with a pilot project on the last two weekends under which vehicles with three axles and more were not allowed on the 50km stretch. Referred to as Golden Hours exercise, the initiative will save six hours of a motorists travelling time on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, said newly appointed highway traffic additional director general RK Padmanabhan. According to officials, the heavy vehicles, which will be banned during no-entry time constitute 10 per cent of vehicular traffic. Padmanabhan added, To facilitate smooth movement for the 90 per cent cars, bikes and buses, the other 10 per cent can reschedule their travel time. The highway traffic chief aims at making the Mumbai-Pune Expressway congestion-free with the help of the Golden Hours exercise. In another initiative, the traffic department has deployed Spotters Squad from September 16. They are traffic constables discreetly roaming selected E-way sectors to identify traffic violations. The constables note down registration numbers of vehicles violating rules and send it to officers posted at booths, who stop the erring motorists. We greet them with a Namaskar, Padmanabhan said emphasising the need to be civil with motorists. The officer tells the motorist about the rules he flouted and if he agrees to the offence, we penalise him and let him go. If he denies, we still let them go with a namaskar, but next time he will not break rules knowing someone is watching him, said Padmanabhan. For over-dimensional carriers (ODCs), the vehicles will have to undergo a road fitness test while entering the Expressway. The ODCs take a road fitness test once a year and even if the vehicle is in a poor condition, they will not get it repaired, officials said. To make such defaulters fall in line, the department has started banning the ODCs from the E-way if they fail the fitness test. The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) will not suffer Monday morning blues on September 26. At 9.15am, the 389-seater auditorium at the Victor Menezes Convention Centre will see euphoric students hooting and applauding as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch Pratham the first microsatellite designed and developed by IIT-B from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Weighing around 10kgs and designed to fit within a 30-cm cube, Pratham will orbit at an altitude of 670kms. The microsatellite set to be launched on the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV- C35, will orbit over India at 11.25am every day. The satellite will measure and map the total electron count in the ionosphere, which will help for predicting tsunamis. It will also enhance the accuracy of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in India, said Ratnesh Mishra, final-year student, aerospace engineering department, IIT-B, who worked on the satellite for three-and-a-half years. Read: IIT-B set to conquer space with launch of new satellite Though the life cycle of the mission is four months, the team said the satellite will be able to continue collecting data on the electron count. With a ground station at the institute, the data collected during the first two months will be accessible only to the Pratham team. The satellite data collected over the next two months will be an open source that can be accessed by the student community. When the satellite passes over India, IIT-B will transmit the data so that any university with a small ground station will be able to detect the beacon signal from Pratham, and measure the total electron count above their respective ground stations. Conceptualised in 2008, students of the aerospace engineering department and spread over seven batches have been involved in various stages of developing Pratham ranging from designing, analysis, to fabrication and testing. In an effort to share information, IIT-B has helped set up ground stations to track the satellite at engineering colleges such as the Atharva College of Engineering, Malad. The institute has also collaborated with universities overseas such as the University College London and the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (Institute of Earth Physics of Paris). We are looking forward to the success of this mission, which is at a basic level of scientific research, said professor Hemendra Arya. Navratri promises to be a stress-free affair for housing societies across the city this year. Reason: The state has repealed the polices powers to grant permission to host such events or hire orchestras in the society. The nine-day festival begins on October 1. The only police permission required is for the use of loud speakers under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. These rules require maintaining ambient noise levels and switching off the loudspeakers by 10pm. In the past, housing societies had to apply for permission (NOC) for everything from orchestras to dancing during Navratri. In 1961, the state government, through a notification issued under Section 33 (1) of the Bombay Police Act, 1951, (now The Maharashtra Police Act), had made it mandatory for housing societies to obtain premises and performance licences from the police while organising functions on the open premises of the society. However, through another notification in March this year, the government (promulgated through the Mumbai police commissioner) has withdrawn these powers, thus paving the way for minimum police intervention in celebrations within housing societies. The relaxation not only extends to Garba or orchestra alone, but for organising other functions and marriage receptions on the society premises as well. Police commissioner Dattatreya Padsalgikar told HT that the purpose of the amendment was to let citizens celebrate without any hassles from the police. These are small-scale events meant for residents of housing societies only. There is no commercial interest attached to them. So, the need for police permission should not arise at all, Padsalgikar said and added, However, they have still got to get permission if they want to play loudspeakers. The notification has made it clear that for performances in open public places and public premises (like big-ticket Garba mandals at various public grounds across the city), the organisers will have to get the NOC from the local police as well as the traffic police. These are large public gatherings where police personnel are needed to maintain law and order and regulate traffic. Also, the purpose of such big events is to make money by selling tickets and getting sponsors, a senior Mumbai police officer said, while explaining the need for approval for performances at open places. According to the notification, schools and colleges have also been exempted from obtaining police NOCs during their in-house festivals. The same goes for get-togethers, functions and conferences in star-category hotels too, the notification says. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai was put on high alert and security at important points along the citys coast was beefed up after schoolchildren spotted suspicious men near the naval base at Uran on Thursday. The police released the sketch of a man based on a description by one of the students. The port zone of the Mumbai police stepped up security at all landing points along the citys coast to look out for suspicious activity. A policeman keeps vigil at the Badhwar Park, Colaba on Thursday. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT PHOTO) We have declared a state of alert in the city following the incident and requisite steps are being taken to secure it, said Deven Bharti, joint commissioner (law and order) of the Mumbai police. All police stations in the city were ordered to tighten security at vital installations in their jurisdictions and set up nakabandis at designated spots. Local crime branch units were also put on alert. They kept an eye on the movements of suspicious people and conducted combing operations in hotels and lodges across Mumbai to verify the identities of people who have booked rooms in the past few days. The coastal wing of the Mumbai police deployed 14 speedboats to patrol the coast. They coordinated closely with the coast guard and the Indian Navy, which have jurisdiction over the deep seas. The jurisdiction of Mumbai polices port zone extends to 12 nautical miles from the coast. Read: Mumbai: Navy on alert after schoolkids spot suspicious men, NSG teams deployed The anti-terrorism squad was also alerted and asked to keep tabs on any possible chatter about attacks on vital installations in Mumbai or Navi Mumbai. The local police instructed their network of informers to be on alert as well. Officials said security at the citys entry and exit points was tightened and that every vehicle entering the city was being scanned. The police also concentrated on securing crowded places, for which they teamed up with private security agencies. Precautionary measures are being taken and all coastal police stations have been told to step up their presence in the sea in order to keep an eye on any suspicious movements in the waters, said Sunita Thackray, deputy commissioner of police (port zone). Officials said the primary focus was on the eastern coastline of Mumbai, which faces Uran and Navi Mumbai. . NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday approved the merger of the rail and general budgets from next year, ending a 92-year-old practice of a separate budget for the countrys largest transporter. The common budget could be announced in the first week of February as the government also approved in-principle advancing the budget schedule. While the merger will lessen the burden on the cash-strapped Indian railways, an advance budgetin tandem with the targeted roll-out of the goods and services tax (GST) from April 1will give the states and the Centre early access to funds for construction activities in summer. Experts said an early budget could give the government additional revenue between Rs 80,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore annually as any increase in indirect taxes will come into effect from April 1 instead of the two-three months delay at present. It will also help people do better tax planning. While we are in favour of advancing the budget date and finishing the entire financial business before March 31, the actual dates (for budget presentation) will be decided after consultations and depending on calendar of the state elections, Union finance minister Jaitley said after a cabinet meeting. Five states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, are scheduled to go to the polls early next year. Jaitley said the cabinet did not discuss the dates of the winter or budget sessions of Parliament. The previous NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had changed another British-era practice in 2001, advancing the time of presenting the budget to 11am from 5pm. The union cabinet also decided to do away with the demarcation of planned and non-planned expenses to keep the government accounts simpler and more transparent. A common budget will allow a seamless national transportation policy, insulating the railways from political pressures. The idea was first floated by Niti Aayog member Bibek Debroy. The railways will, however, continue to enjoy its functional autonomy, railway minister Suresh Prabhu said. The Indian railways ferries around 23 million people daily, equivalent to the combined population of Australia and New Zealand, on its network of tracks running up to more than 64,000 km. Railway unions which have been seeking government help to bail out the PSU running at losses, welcomed the move. The railways will benefit if finance ministry handles its burden of subsidies and pensions and waives off the annual dividend, Shiva Gopal Mishra, general secretary of All India Railwaymens Federation, said. KL Thapar of the Asian Institute of Transport Development said the merger would end the trend of populism in rail budget speeches and save precious time of parliament being lost in needless discussions. BANGALORE: Karnataka will not release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, the state cabinet decided on Wednesday, defying a Supreme Court order that had sparked large-scale violence in Bangalore, the countrys IT hub, last week. The decision was taken at an emergency cabinet meeting called a day after the top court revised an earlier order and asked the Karnataka government to release 6,000 cusecs of water to the neighbouring state till September 27. The cabinet has decided to defer release of water, chief minister Siddaramaiah said after the meet, adding that an all-party meeting held earlier in the day decided to convene a special assembly session on September 23 on the issue. Tamil-speaking people, their properties and vehicles registered in Tamil Nadu were damaged across Bengaluru on September 12 when mobs vented their anger against the Supreme Courts earlier order directing Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water to the neighbouring state till September 20. The state challenged the order. Karnataka, where farmers are facing water shortage due to a deficient monsoon, stores the rivers water at the reservoir on the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam in Srirangapatna near Mandya. The state has witnessed sporadic protests, especially at Mandya, the epicentre of the Cauvery agitation, since Wednesday morning, where agitators blocked the Bangalore-Mysuru road at various places. Bangalore police imposed prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more people till September 25. Additional security forces have also been deployed all over the city. Earlier during the day, the BJP skipped the all-party-meeting attended by JD(S) leaders including former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. State BJP president BS Yeddyurappa said the party did not want to be a culpable partner in the Congress governments sins of omission and commission. Deve Gowda is understood to have advised Siddaramaiah against releasing water to Tamil Nadu stating the drinking water requirement of Karnataka was more important. Drinking water should be given priority. If they (Tamil Nadu farmers) suffer crop losses it can be compensated but we cannot compromise on drinking water, Gowda told media persons. NEW DELHI: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday made a fresh offer of peace talks to India even as he called for an independent inquiry and a UN fact-finding mission into rights violations in Kashmir. Against the backdrop of tensions triggered by the terror attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri, Sharif used his speech at the UN General Assembly to call for a serious and sustained dialogue for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, especially Kashmir. However, some of his remarks were bound to anger New Delhi such as his description of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, whose killing sparked the current unrest in Kashmir, as a young leader murdered by Indian forces who has become the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada. Sharif dwelt at length on Kashmir during his speech, and demanded an independent inquiry into the extrajudicial 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. He said Pakistan will share with the UN Secretary-General a dossier with evidence of rights violations. He also contended that a new generation of Kashmiris had risen spontaneously against Indias illegal occupation and said Pakistan supports the Kashmiri peoples demand for self-determination. At the same time, Sharif also made a fresh offer of dialogue. 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, he said. But India has posed unacceptable pre-conditions 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. He said peace and normalisation between the two neighbours could not be achieved without resolving the Kashmir issue. WASHINGTON: The United States has urged Pakistan to cooperate in the investigation into the terrorist attack on the Indian army facility in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri on Sunday, suggesting, by implication, Islamabad can indeed help. A state department spokesman said Wednesday US secretary of state John Kerry discussed the incident with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif when they met on the sidelines of the UN general assembly on Sunday. The secretary urged Pakistani cooperation in the investigation, the spokesman added. The US also offered to help with investigations into the attack, which left 18 Indian soldiers dead, in a phone call by deputy secretary of state Anthony Blinken to foreign secretary S Jaishankar. India has said the attack was carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammad, a Pakistan-based terrorist outfit that was also blamed for the attack on Indian airbase in Pathankot in January. A source said while the US had strongly condemned the attack then, as it has now, it had not followed up by asking Pakistan to cooperate in the investigation. Implied here in the present instance is a suggestion of a certain leverage Islamabad has with these groups, the source added, pointing to a similar call from the US after the 2008 Mumbai attacks carried out by another Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The spokesman also addressed the question of US policy on Kashmir, saying, The US position on Kashmir has not changed. It is an issue for India and Pakistan to resolve. There were reports in Pakistan media that Prime Minister Sharif had urged secretary Kerry at their Sunday meeting for US intervention to resolve the dispute. Sharif got a more positive response from his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, who said Wednesday, according to Pakistan Radio, We stand by Pakistan and will continue to raise our voice in Pakistans support at every forum. We attach great importance to Pakistans position on Kashmir. Asked who the US believed was behind the Uri attack, the state department spokesman said, 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 spokesman went on to reiterate the clear and longstanding US view that Pakistan needs to take steps against externally focused militants including against groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. Last year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change told policy makers that by 2050, most countries will be fighting over water. Barely a year later, India is already witnessing deaths, strikes and incidents of self-immolation over sharing of the natural resource between its constituent states. Karnataka has been on the boil ever since SC ordered that it release Cauvery water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Odisha called for a bandh in August to protest against Chhattisgarhs projects on Mahanadi, a river shared by the two states, forcing Centre to intervene. Punjab, for its part, has refused to provide Sutlej water to Haryana despite an SC order, resulting in a public spat between the NDA-led governments of Parkash Singh Badal and Manohar Lal Khattar. The genesis of the rising water disputes, however, lies in the unclear and overlapping Indian water law that allows states to exercise absolute territorial power over water flowing through their territories and politics that incentivises water wastage. In the Constitution, water is a state subject that allows excess use of water without consulting lower riparian states. In such a scenario, the Centre can only redress conflicts with limited powers of arbitration. At best, it can appoint an inter-state water tribunal whose order can be challenged in the Supreme Court leading to a long-drawn judicial battle. The Cauvery dispute first landed in the apex court in the 1950s, and the Sutlej water-sharing dispute between Punjab and Haryana has been languishing there since 1975. There is another dimension to this problem that gets overlooked. Many states promote water-intensive crops that gulp down the limited natural resource. For instance, the cultivation of pulses in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has more than doubled in the last 20 years, and this is spurring farmer protests over sharing of Cauvery water. Our agriculture economy wastes more water than it conserves, says Himanshu Thakkar, an independent water expert. We have invested billions in dams and irrigation networks, but very little on water conservation. India has seen three droughts in the last 10 years (the most for a decade in the last 150 years), and the situation will only worsen due to climate change. Terming 54% of India as water-stressed, a 2015 World Resources Institute report said: Almost 600 million people are at higher risk of surface-water supply disruptions. Vandana Shiva of Navdanya, a non-government advocacy group, has written on how water is being abused and overused in India. To illustrate her point, she cites how the amount of water used to produce a quintal of farm produce in India is the highest in the world. There is a solution to this quandary, but it would require harsh and politically difficult decisionmaking. The erstwhile Planning Commission, in its 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) report, recommended putting a price on every drop of water, scrapping power subsidy for pumping ground water, and providing incentives for water conservation and reuse. Sadly, it still remains a recommendation. (With inputs from state bureaus) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Defence minister Manohar Parrikar dismissed on Wednesday a nuclear threat from Pakistan, describing the neighbours provocative statements after the Uri strike as a case of empty vessels make more noise. His statement came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his top ministers and military commanders to weigh an effective response to the deadly weekend terrorist attack at the north Kashmir army base that killed 18 soldiers. The stronger man doesnt make too many arguments, Parrikar said, responding to a question on Pakistans nuclear saber-rattling amid calls for a swift retaliation. How to punish, that is for us to work out. We are serious about it. It wasnt immediately known what the Modi-headed cabinet committee on security decided, but he has been under pressure to keep his election promise two years ago to deal firmly with attacks on India from Pakistan. The army has said it will retaliate at a time and place of its choosing. Something obviously went wrong in Uri, Parrikar said, stressing the government will take steps to prevent such attacks from happening again. He said he believed in the principle of zero error and India needed to ensure wrongs are not repeated. What next? Parrikar said he preferred to execute things rather than talk. India is a responsible power but that doesnt mean I will sleep over this kind of terrorism that is being pushed from across the border, he said. Politicians and army veterans have called for a muscular response, including air strikes on training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Despite growing clamour for punishing Pakistan, India is unlikely to act rashly and its moves will be well-calculated, senior military officers said. Parrikar said: If required I can have a knee-jerk reaction. Sometimes knee-jerk reaction is required. He was quick to add he was talking in general terms and not specifically about the Uri attack. There are expectations that the NDA government will respond strongly, given that its top leaders consistently accused the previous UPA regime of being soft on terrorism. Former army chief General (retd) Bikram Singh believes the political and strategic climate has changed and the government has clearly spelt out a more robust policy on Pakistan. The cautious and too idealistic approach of the past has been replaced by more realistic policy, Singh said. Pakistan will be paid back in its own coin and spoken to only in the language it understands. Even after three months into the academic session, getting a hostel accommodation continues to be elusive for many students on the Panjab University campus as their names are still stuck in the waiting lists. While in some hostels, the waiting list has as many as 60-70 students, there are hostels that have no vacancy, but students have put in applications for an accommodation nonetheless, alleging unhygienic conditions in their allotted ones. Besides, some who are waiting for their clearance and are waiting to be adjusted in any one of the PU hostels are paying a rent worth Rs 15,000 per month for a room in International hostel. The dean students welfare (DSW) office is flooded with applications from students, some of whom are filing requests to get them adjusted in any room with two other students as rent at paying guest accommodation is unaffordable. We are trying our best to accommodate all the students in the hostels, not more than 400 students are there in the waiting list till now, said Nandita Singh, DSW (women). She added, This time, we even assured that the guest rooms in each of the hostels, which were meant for the parents visit are converted into rooms to adjust the students. By October, we are expecting vacancies as MPhil students will leave for their dissertations and other projects. As per the dean students welfare (Women), of the nine girls hostels, the most number of demands are coming for hostel number 6 and 7 because of the better living conditions in both of them. Rupali Garg, currently staying at the International hostel submitted an application for accommodation in the north campus hostel. She wrote, Apart from the total rent of Rs 8,000, the total bill I have been paying at the International hostel since two months is coming out to be Rs 15,000, which I cannot afford any longer. I have visited the north campus hostels including 3, 4 and 5 and none of them have hygienic conditions, thus it is requested to shift me to hostel number 6 or 7. Meanwhile, rest of the hostels have long waiting lists of students waiting to get an accommodation. A list of 40-45 students is sent weekly from the DSW office to the respective hostels for the clearance. Similarly, one of the residents of girls hostel number 3, Vanshika Jain, who gave her application to DSW to change her hostel, complained that since she has health issues, poor living conditions in hostel number 3 will worsen her condition. Officials also say that the bigger problem is not to adjust the students but to convince some of the hostellers who have been staying in the same room since 4-5 years and they have been occupying single room, to which they are not even entitled to. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON To provide better health facilities to elderly population, city member of Parliament (MP) Kirron Kher has asked the UT administration to pioneer a project family medicine which will facilitate the provision of general physicians on call. Most likely, the project will be inaugurated on International Day for older persons October 1. The idea was floated by Kirron Kher during the meeting of district-level vigilance and monitoring committee at the UT guest house on Wednesday. The project is in the initial stage and details are yet to be finalized. UT administration will fix the rates charged by these general physicians so that elderly people are not fleeced. In view of the large number of senior citizens living alone, Kirron Kher has suggested that the pilot project may be started to provide medical facilities on fixed nominal charges to these old-age people at their doorstep by involving retired doctors through Red Cross Society, said an official statement. It is the biggest need of the hour in Chandigarh. An idea has been floated today in the meeting and a detailed plan will be made, said Kirron Kher. There should be general physicians who take house calls. There are many elderly people who cannot go to hospitals and stand in long queues for minor ailments. They need a facility where doctors can check them at home only, she said. Kher said that she wants to revive the concept of good old general physicians. It is a dream project for me. I want to pioneer the family medicine project in the city. I will be happy if I can serve the elderly people of the city, Kher said. The projects will be named as family medicine and not geriatrics as MP Kirron Kher believes that old people do not like to be termed as geriatrics. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A filmmaker from Ferozepur, one of Punjabs hinterland towns on the border with Pakistan, has brought a slice of glory as video footage submitted by him is part of a feature screened at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month. The one-and-a-half-hour Google documentary film titled India in a Day was made with about 16,000 clips of 370 hours, and some footage submitted by me is part of the final film, explained Sunil Kataria, a resident of a locality in Ferozepur cantonment area who works in Chandigarh. The film tries to capture the essence of India through footage shot on a single day. It is co-produced by filmmakers Ridley Scott and Anurag Kashyap while Richie Mehta directed it. It will be theatrically released too in some main towns on Friday, he added. Whats the footage? He shot it last October when he was otherwise working in a news channel at Hyderabad. I recorded the newsroom culture besides some shots from the life of a common man, within 10 minutes, said Kataria. Its been a wonderful experience watching the film in an online live-stream special screening on Wednesday before its official release. Also, I had a live discussion with director Mehta with other co-directors. Two years ago, Katarias 41-second micro-film titled Honesty is the Best Policy was screened at the Third International Film Festival of South Asia and the Punjabi International Film Festival in Toronto too. Kataria says he has recently joined a media firm in the state capital but at his heart he remains equally committed to his passion, filmmaking. Four members of a Dalit family committed suicide by jumping into a canal in Faridkot after holding their neighbours responsible for the extreme step, police said on Thursday. They were residents of Society Nagar Basti, a poor locality of Faridkot. The bodies of Jagtar Singh, 50, and his wife Salwinder Kaur, 42, were recovered from the Rajasthan feeder in Muktsar, 30 km away, on Thursday evening. The bodies of their daughters Parveen, 18, and Harbhajan Kaur, 19, are yet to be traced. Police said Jagtar did manual labour, while his wife prepared pickles that he sold on a cart. The family did not have a regular source of income. While Parveen was a student, Harbhajan was married to Kuldeep Singh. A month ago, the family had a fight over a minor issue with their neighbours, the police said. Jagtar lodged a complaint after he claimed the neighbours threatened to harm his daughters. Kuldeep Singh said the family had gone to pay homage at the shrine of Sufi saint Baba Farid on Wednesday evening. A five-day annual fair called the Baba Farid Aagman Purb, which concludes on Friday, is on in the town. When they did not respond to repeated calls, Harbhajan Kaurs husband, Kuldeep Singh, came to check on the family but found the house locked. Later, he said he found the suicide note in Punjabi. Police sources said the name of Faridkot planning board chairman and local Akali leader Harjit Singh Bhoolwalan was also in the suicide note. Senior superintendent of police DS Mann said police acted on Jagtars complaint last month and arrested the accused. They were later released on bail. The suicide note will be sent to forensic experts, the police added. As senior RSS leader Brigadier (retd) Jagdish Gagneja breathed his last in Ludhiana on Thursday after being shot at by two bike-borne assailants in August, many leaders thronged the Hero DMC Heart Institute to pay tributes. Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, in a statement issued here, said: Its a huge loss to the state and the country. 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. Read | Punjab RSS leader Gagneja dead, was pointsman with BJP in state All his life, he served the nation in the true traditions of a soldier, maintaining a low profile even while contributing in a most significant way to the welfare of Punjab and Punjabis, he said. We have lost a great champion of Hindu-Sikh unity and communal harmony but the ideals to which he devoted his life would be upheld by the people, he said. The self-effacing and humble manner in which he took up Punjabs causes at various national forums will serve as an example to those who place the interests of the state above their own, said the CM in his condolence message. Badals advisor on national affairs Harcharan Bains told reporters that the CM is away to Patna to participate in the International Sikh Conference to mark the 350th Parkash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singh and will visit the bereaved family on his return. In a statement, Badal said the attack on Gagneja was an attempt to disturb the hard-earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in the state for which he worked hard all his life. But the designs of those who committed this heinous crime will never be allowed to succeed, he said. The chief minister appealed to the people of Punjab to maintain peace and communal harmony in the state at all costs. This will be the best and the greatest tribute to the departed leader, said Badal. Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal also condoled the death of Gagneja. He tweeted: I join Punjabis in mourning the demise of RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja who has fallen victim to anti-national forces bent on disturbing peace Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) September 22, 2016 Brig Gagneja fought like a true soldier till the end. Let us pledge that we will not allow his sacrifice to go waste. Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) September 22, 2016 Former Aam Aadmi Party state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur also tweeted (I) condole the death of RSS leader Brig Jagdish Gagneja. He further said there was no law and order in the state and the government had proved to be complete failure. Former PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa tweeted: My deepest condolences to the family of senior RSS leader Brig (retd) Jagdish Gagneja.May the departed soul rest in peace. Partap Singh Bajwa (@Partap_Sbajwa) September 22, 2016 Finance minister Arun Jaitley tweeted Condolences on the sad demise of Prant Sah-sarsanghchalak Brigadier (Retd) Jagdish Gagneja ji. May God render peace to the departed soul. Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) September 22, 2016 While many senior RSS and BJP leaders, including Phul Chand Jain, Anil Sarin, commissioner of police Jatinder Singh Aulakh and Ludhiana districts additional deputy commissioner Rishi Pal had reached the hospital in the morning, Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore also reached by the afternoon. Gagneja will be cremated in Jalandhar on Thursday evening. The Punjab governments move to park eight people in Pepsu Townships Development Board has hit a technical snag even as the Akali Dal-BJP government passed the amendment bill in the recent Vidhan Sabha session. The legal remembrancer (LR) secretary (law) to government in the rank of district and sessions judgeinformed the Vidhan Sabha secretariat and the state government on Wednesday that The Pepsu Townships Development Board (Amendment) Bill-2016 cannot be notified, government sources said. This bill, the LR has pointed out, was not routed through him (law secretary) for vetting before it was sent to the Vidhan Sabha for converting it into a law. By this modification in the Pepsu Townships Development Board Act-1954, the Parkash Singh Badal government wants to appoint a senior vice-chairman, a vice-chairman and six members. At present, chief minister Badal is the chairman of the board. The bill was moved by revenue and rehabilitation minister Bikram Singh Majithia on September 9 in the assembly on the grounds that board needs to be made more broad-based. Sources in the Vidhan Sabha secretariat confirmed having received a communication from the LR that this bill cannot be notified due to technical reasons. This bill pertains to a minor amendment to create posts. We had obtained four-point advice from the LR before sending it to the cabinet for approval. Inherently, there is no illegality in the processIts a technical issue, Karan Bir Singh Sidhu, additional chief secretary-cumfinancial commissioner (revenue), told Hindustan Times. Sources say the LR has raised the issue of revenue department not following rules. The contention of the LR office is that after cabinet approved the bill draft, it has to go to the LR for the final approval (vetting). Otherwise, the bill cannot be notified even if passed in the assembly. Financial commissioner (revenue) Sidhu has now directed his department to be meticulous in future, it is learnt. Sources say the government was trying to amicably resolve the matter administratively with the LR so that the bill can be sent to the governor for assent and convert it into an Act. Three months back, the cabinet of the poll-bound Badal government had decided to appoint senior vice-chairman and vicechairman in all the boards and corporations. At the root of this decision was an attempt to adjust more party workers even as it meant more burden on the exchequer. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) has finally given approval to the four-lane project on a 2-km portion of the Jalandhar-Kapurthala highway at Basti Bawa Khel. Additional deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan and deputy commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav, who had come to the MC office, confirmed the development on Wednesday. I have just received a confirmation from the PIDB that it has approved the project and it will release `8 crore for the work in the area, said Girish Dayalan. The deputy commissioner affirmed that now there would be no roadblocks in carrying out the work on the Jalandhar-Kapurthala road stretch that has been lying incomplete for more than a year. The work in the area will start from tomorrow as there will be no further delay, said Yadav. Yadav informed mayor Sunil Jyoti and municipal commissioner GS Khaira, who were sitting by his side, that he will soon release Rs 2 crore for starting the work in the area. Authorities said that work in the area will be complete in three months. The project had been facing roadblock for the past two months after Major General Vikram Bhatt, technical adviser to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, questioned the MC plan in including the four-lane project under the Urban Rural Regeneration Mission even when the stretch belonged to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). It is to be mentioned that this was not the first time that the project had faced hurdles. Only after some weeks when the foundation stone for the elevated road project was laid in February 2014 by Sukhbir Singh Badal, local shopkeepers had raised objection stating that the project will affect their business. Considering the high cost of the elevated road project and resistance of the locals in the area, the project was changed to four-lane project. The municipal corporation had submitted an estimate of `8 crore to the PIDB to carrying out the road project. Political prisoner, activist, journalist, hymn-writer, emerging think tanker, aspiring novelist, "tribal elder", parliamentary candidate for North West Durham, Shadow Leader of the Opposition, Speedboat, proudly banned from Twitter so officially more dangerous than the Taliban, eagerly awaiting the second (or possibly third) attempt to murder me. Punjab Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja (retd), who was battling for life after being shot by two motorcycle-borne assailants in Jalandhar on August 6, died of multiple organ failure at Ludhianas Hero DMC Heart Institute on Thursday morning. He was 68. Read | Jagdish Gagneja: A low-profile, yet powerful RSS leader in Punjab As the prant sah sanghchalak or state vice-president of the RSS, Gagneja was the key link between the BJP and the Sangh in Punjab. A confidant of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who also visited him in the hospital recently, Gagneja kept a low profile and declined security. He was the oversight for the BJPs plans in poll-bound Punjab. He became an RSS pracharak before joining the army, which he served for 40 years, and returned to the Hindu right-wing organisations fold as sanghchalak in Jalandhar in 2003. He became the second-in-command of the Punjab RSS after state president Brij Bhushan Bedi five years ago. Doctors said Gagnejas condition worsened on Wednesday night. He was declared dead at 9.16am after cardiovascular collapse. The RSS leader was on life support ever since he was brought to Ludhiana. His small intestine was damaged at five places and the large intestine at three points. A bullet was still stuck in the liver. The post-mortem was conducted amid tight security. Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore, who was in Ludhiana, laid a wreath. RSS and BJP workers paid tributes amid slogans of Bharat mata ki jai and Vande mataram. There was resentment among them over the police failure to arrest the attackers. Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal paid tributes to Gagneja and met his family members. He was accompanied by local Akali leaders, including Adampur MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu and Sarabjit Singh Makkar. Doctors and hospital workers shift Gagneja to Ludhianas Hero DMC Heart Institute from a private hospital in Jalandhar. (HT File Photo) Punjab BJP chief Vijay Sampla, Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik, state health minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, local bodies minister Anil Joshi, former state cabinet minister Tikshan Sood, Jalandhar central BJP MLA Manoranjan Kalia were also present. Congress MP Santokh Chaudhary, district congress chief (urban) Rajinder Beri, Awaaz-e-Punjab leader and MLA Pargat Singh and Amritsar East MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu paid tributes to Gagneja. Gagnejas wife, Sudesh, cries at their residence in Jalandhar Cantt on Thursday. (Pardeep Pandit/HT Photo) A local RSS leader read out the message of sangh general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi before the funeral. Gagnejas son, Colonel Rahul Gagneja, performed the last rites. Later, Sukhbir told reporters that the probe had been handed over to the CBI as the role of a foreign hand with the aim of creating disturbance in Punjab was suspected. Sukhbir said he will meet union home minister Rajnath Singh to expedite the probe. Governor VP Singh Badnore (in turban) pays tributes to Gagneja outside DMCH in Ludhiana on Thursday. (HT Photo) Commissioner of police Arpit Shukla meets police officials outside Gagnejas residence in Jalandhar Cantt. (Pardeep Pandit/HT Photo) Read | Attack on RSS leader: Assailants dodge CCTV cameras after crime, cops wonder how Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal consoles the family of state RSS unit vice-president Brig Jagdish Gagneja (retd) after his cremation in Jalandhar on Thursday. (HT Photo) The school van that took 40-odd students into a drain and killed seven of them was too old to even be on road. A day after the accident at Muhawa village in this district, driver Satnam Singh remains on the run. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Harkamalpreet Singh says survivors claim in recorded statements that they told the driver to slow down. But he didnt listen. And then he abandoned the children after putting their lives in danger. Amritsar district transport officer (DTO) Lovejeet Kalsi said here on Wednesday that the van was more than 15 years old and illegal to operate under the Motor Vehicle Act. Its registration expired in December 2015, she said. It doesnt fulfil even Punjabs Safe School Vahan rules notified in November 2013 (on the direction of the Punjab and Haryana high court). Read | Amritsar accident: Knew bridge was unsafe, never imagined losing kids, say kin The vans driver and owner, besides the school management, are booked for negligence already. Kalsi said she had penalised the operators of 200 school buses and impounded 108 vans but I cant be everywhere. Police now plan to impound old vans. The DTO asked the school for the drivers details and accused the parents of compromising their childrens safety for saving a few bucks on transport fee. The Punjab unit president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vijay Sampla, has said that the party will approach all deras in the state, seeking support for the SAD-BJP alliance in the assembly polls. We will go to the deras in full public view. We will go to each one of them, even if their ideology doesnt match with ours, Sampla said at a meeting with journalists here on Tuesday. There are 582 deras which Scheduled Castes have faith in and numerous others belong to people of other castes and religions. Even if a dera has a following of four people, we will not like to miss it, he said. Speaking on BJPs prospects in the polls, Sampla said the party was improving fast and was no longer a weak contender. He said they will hold a meeting with the leadership of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to finalise the seat-sharing. As per reports, the BJP and SAD are willing to swap four seats this time. Sampla said they will send full-time workers to all the 23 constituencies the BJP will field candidates from, three to four months before the polls to oversee preparedness. Our people are committed and they will stay in the constituencies through the elections. I have asked for a list of volunteers who can spare time, he said. Actor Allu Arjun will soon be working with filmmaker N Lingusami in a yet-untitled Tamil-Telugu bilingual film, the makers have announced. The project, which will mark the debut of Arjun in Tamil filmdom, will roll from February next year. The project has been in the offing for nearly two years. Were glad that things finally fell in place, said producer Gnanavelraja. The film was officially launched here on Thursday. Arjun will commence work on this project as soon as he wraps up Harish Shankars Telugu directorial, DJ-Duvvada Jagannadham. Watch the trailer of Anjaan which Lingusami directed: Watch the trailer of Rajini Murugan which Lingusami produced: ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Actor Dhanush expressed great happiness at his production and critically acclaimed Tamil drama Visaaranai becoming Indias official pick for Oscars 2017 in the Foreign Language Film category. He has thanked everyone for believing in him and supporting his vision. The announcement was made on Thursday. Based on the novel Lock Up by auto-rickshaw driver-turned-writer M Chandrakumar, the film is about organised crime within the police force. It also throws the spotlight on police brutality. Visaaranai, helmed by filmmaker Vetrimaaran, stars Dinesh, Samuthirakani, Ajay Ghosh and Kishore. Visaaranai was produced by Dhanush, who had released the film under his home banner Wunderbar Films. The film earned critical acclaim earlier in 2015 when it had its world premiere at Venice International Film Festival. It also won National Film Awards. Watch the trailer of Visaaranai here: Dhanush released a statement after the announcement, expressing his gratitude. The statement read: Good evening everybody. This is just turning out to be a glorious day. After the super positive initial reports for Thodari now Visaranai has been selected as the official entry to Oscars from India. Proud moment for Wunderbar Films and Vetrimaaran. Dream big. It is the ninth Tamil film to have been chosen as a hopeful to bring the Oscar statuette to India. Kamal Haasans Hey Ram (released in 2000) was the last film in the language to compete. Last year, India put Marathi film Court in the Oscar race. Mother India, Salaam Bombay! and Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India are the only Indian films that made it to the top five in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards. Dhanush added: My sincere thanks to all those who believed in me and my production house. I would like to thank the fantastic cast of Visaaranai, Dinesh, Samuthirakani, Kishore. And I would also like to thank the pillar of Wunderbar Films, my executive producer S Vinod. My thanks to the crew, press, media, well wishers, my fans and cinema lovers, each and every one of you who watch movies in theatres from the bottom of my heart. Its a joyous moment for all of us. God bless, spread love. The film is expected to release soon as Vicharana in Telugu. ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Prosenjit Chatterjee has a few conditions before signing an ensemble film. The actor says that the director either needs to give him a powerful character or a strong reason behind casting him. Filmmaker Srijit Mukherjee gave Prosenjit both in his upcoming Bengali film, Zulfiqar, an adaptation of Shakespeares Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra. The actor will be seen in the titular role, which draws inspiration from the character of Roman general Julius Caesar. Today, everyone (read filmmakers) knows that I am in no rush to do films. In fact, I am willing to sit back at home if I dont get an exciting character. This film brings together a number of actors from the Bengali film fraternity. All the actors (Dev, Jisshu Sengupta, Parambrata Chatterjee and Ankush and others) came together in support of good cinema by keeping their egos aside. We want this film to draw equal fan following for all the actors including me so that it creates a box-office record which is better than what any Bollywood film has so far got on the opening day in West Bengal, says the actor. Read: My film Zulfiqar is a tribute to The Godfather, says Srijit Mukherji The Moner Manush actor also admits that the film has strengthened the bond between the actors, which will help the Bengali film industry in the long run. He adds that the actors are trying to bridge the gap between commercial and middle-of-the-road cinema through this ensemble film. I have always admired the works of Mani Ratnam. He targets both classes and masses with his content. This film too will be trying the same, says Prosenjit, who first worked with Srijit in his debut film Autograph (2010). This will be the actors fifth film with Srijit, the others being 22 e Srabon, Mishawr Rahasya and Jaatiswar. Prosenjit as Zulfiqar Ahmed. (Shree Venkatesh Films) Interestingly, Julius Caesars character has a brief presence in the original text. Prosenjit informs that the director has added background information on the character. The actor also says that he tried to create a larger-than-life image of the character on screen. When Srijit narrated the script to me, he told me that he wanted to tap the star image of Prosenjit. Its a take on two of Shakespeares most famous plays. Here, Caesars character is an underworld don but I wont call it a dark film, says Prosenjit, who is presently busy dubbing for two Hindi films. Prosenjit, who has worked with the likes of Tapan Sinha, Tarun Majumdar, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Rituparno Ghosh to Gautam Ghose, shares that its really interesting the way Srijit has named the characters in the ensemble drama. We dont get to see too many Muslim protagonists in our films. But most of the characters in this film are Muslims. We also have a few Hindu and one Christian character. Its a fascinating amalgamation, he observes. Director Srijit Mukherji with actor Prosenjit Chatterjee before the release of Jaatiswar in 2014. (Samir Jana/HT) However, Prosenjits Bengali television show, Mahanayak, which is based on Uttam Kumars life, has failed to garner high TRPs. So much so, that the shows time slot has now been pushed to 11 pm from 7.30 pm. Even yesteryear actresses such as Sabitri Chatterjee and Supriya Devi, who have worked with Uttam Kumar, too have expressed their dissatisfaction with the content of the show. However, Prosenjit, who plays the titular role on the show, goes on a defensive mode about the shows content. We are happy with the new time slot. The serial is meant for matured urban audience. I was in San Francisco recently and was surprised to see the reaction of the young girls. They regularly watch the show. I have gone on record saying that the show is not entirely based on Uttam Kumars life. We have borrowed some episodes from his life. Whatever may be the TRPs, I will never stop experimenting, he smiles. Read: Superstar Prosenjit lends voice to Bengali Pujo album with Rituparna The actor also informs that he is yet to sign any new film, as doctors has advised him rest given that he has been shooting for 400 days at a stretch. I was shooting back-to-back projects since October 2015. Now, I am taking rest and reading scripts, says Prosenjit, who will also be seen in Srijits new Kakababu film, which will be the first 3D Bengali film. Watch the song Ek Purono Masjide from Zulfiqar: ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Conde Nast Traveler teased us with the ultimate foodie bucket list for our travels around the world. And were happy to announce that three Indian restaurants rank among the worlds best. The magazines first-ever worldwide guide contains 207 of the greatest restaurants around the globe, according to those who eat, cook, and travel for a living. Bombay Canteen of Mumbai and Bukhara and Indian Accent, both from New Delhi, landed on the list of best restaurants in the world. Click here for Conde Nast Travelers exhaustive where in the world to eat guide. For the print-it-out, laminate-it, take-a-screenshot-of-it, globe-spanning hit list, Conde Nast Traveler relied on a panel of experts, including chefs, food writers, and most-in-the-know travellers. Heres what the cross-referenced and impassioned guide had to say about these Indian restaurants: Bombay Canteen, Mumbai Amazing vibe, some of the best Indian/fusion food Ive ever had. - Sarah Khan Curious to know what's cooking for our Thanda Thanda Cool Cool Dawat on 18th May?!? You're going to just have to log on to @insider.in to find out! Link in our profile! #kuchhatkedawat #specialdinner #indiainspired #thebombaycanteen #mumbai A photo posted by The Bombay Canteen (@thebombaycanteen) on May 13, 2016 at 6:14am PDT This Parsi New Year, we have something very special and delicious cooking in our kitchen at @thebombaycanteen. Mark your calendars from 17th to 31st August! And watch this space for more details. #CanteenwallaMenu #comingsoon #celebratingparsis #thebombaycanteen #indiainspired #mumbai A photo posted by The Bombay Canteen (@thebombaycanteen) on Aug 11, 2016 at 7:40am PDT Have you!!? #thenationwantstoknow #thandacocktails #summerdrinks #thebombaycanteen #churchboard #mumbai A photo posted by The Bombay Canteen (@thebombaycanteen) on May 23, 2016 at 10:25pm PDT Bukhara, New Delhi We love that nothing about this placethe decor, the yogurt and cane-vinegar marinated barrah kebab (leg of lamb)has changed in 30 years. The result is the most masterful North-West Frontier tandoor-style cooking imaginable. Best of all, you eat everything with your hands. - Pilar Guzman One of the best indian restaurant in India.. #awesomefood #itcbukhara A photo posted by rishab dhussa (@rishabdhussa) on Jul 26, 2016 at 9:14am PDT #naan #bukhara #itcbukhara #india #foodgasm #foodporn #delhi #food #sodelhi A photo posted by Amit (@amit21nov) on May 28, 2016 at 11:28am PDT The Famous #dalkhyber inspired by #itc #dalbukhara #itcmaurya # #itcbukhara #peshawari #longnaan @yelpnewjersey A photo posted by Restaurant & Caterers (@khybergrillcaterers) on Aug 21, 2016 at 1:41pm PDT Indian Accent, New Delhi Unquestionably the best restaurant in New Delhi, thanks to the baingan bharta, a classic Punjabi eggplant dish served inside a cornetto cone made with sun-dried tomato. Dinner reservations are toughgo for a weekday lunch. - Justin Bergman Chef's Table at Indian Accent, an 8-course menu paired with wines...a bespoke culinary experience. #InventiveIndian #IndianAccent #Delhi A photo posted by Indian Accent (@indianaccent) on Aug 16, 2016 at 5:11am PDT Fresh pomegranate and churan kulfi...prefect for hot humid day. #IndianAccent #InventiveIndian #ChefManishMehrotra A photo posted by Indian Accent (@indianaccent) on Sep 12, 2016 at 6:47am PDT Baked Paneer Pinwheel, Indian Pesto.#onthemenu #IndianAccent #Delhi #InventiveIndian A photo posted by Indian Accent (@indianaccent) on Aug 9, 2016 at 1:04am PDT "The philosophy behind Indian Accent has been to delve into our culinary heritage and bring ingredients, recipes and cooking styles from it to upscale dining", says @chefmanishmehrotra #IndianAccent #ChefManishMehrotra A photo posted by Indian Accent (@indianaccent) on Jul 13, 2016 at 6:10am PDT "Whatever fusion & combination I do, there has to be a reason behind it. I am not mixing totally alien things and combining them together. I have a Blue Cheese Naan on the menu, because bread and blue cheese is a classic combination all over the world" says @chefmanishmehrotra #InventiveIndian #IndianAccentDelhi A photo posted by Indian Accent (@indianaccent) on May 16, 2016 at 2:18am PDT SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ten jihadists and three pro-government fighters died in clashes on Thursday around the last positions of the Islamic State group in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte, medical and military sources said. Our forces are advancing on the last holdouts of Daesh in the only district of Sirte still held by IS, said the media office of the pro-government fighters, using an Arabic acronym for the jihadist group. Three car bombs driven by jihadists were destroyed before reaching their targets, it said. Sirte was an IS stronghold before forces loyal to the countrys Government of National Accord launched an offensive against the jihadists in May. Medics at a field hospital set up on the outskirts of Sirte said three pro-GNA fighters were killed, while loyalist military sources said at least 10 IS militants also died in the latest fighting of the four-month-old battle. Suicide bombings and sniper fire from the cornered jihadists have slowed the offensive to retake Sirte, 450 km east of the Libyan capital Tripoli. More than 450 members of the loyalist forces have been killed and around 2,500 wounded since the operation began. Losses in IS ranks remain unknown. Bangladeshi rescue workers have recovered 18 bodies since an overcrowded ferry capsized on Wednesday under the weight of a collapsing river bank, police said on Thursday. Low-lying Bangladesh, with extensive inland waterways and slack safety standards, has an appalling record of ferry accidents, with casualties sometimes running into the hundreds. Overcrowding is a common factor but little is done to improve safety even though the government continually vows to toughen regulations. The accident happened in the southern district of Barisal. Two Belgian policemen were arrested after being found in a French border town with a vanload of migrants, officials said Thursday, 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 didnt 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. Belgiums ambassador to France, Vincent Mertens de Wilmars, was summoned Thursday 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. Chandigarh-based Divya Sharma has been selected as the first recipient of a scholarship at the University of Oxford named after Cornelia Sorabji, who was the first Indian woman at any British university and went on to become the first woman to practice law in colonial India. The announcement was made on Thursday by the college where Sorabji came to study in 1889. Alice Prochaska, principal of Somerville College whose alumni includes Indira Gandhi said the scholarship was instituted to mark the 150 birth anniversary of Sorabji (1866-1954). Sharma, who completed her law education at the National Law Institute University in Bhopal, will study for the one-year Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford in the academic year beginning later this month. The scholarship currently meets half of the cost of studying and living during studies at Oxford, but we are moving towards providing a full scholarship. This adds to our colleges long links with India, institutionalised through the Oxford India Centre, Prochaska said. Alice Prochaska, principal of Somerville College, Oxford. (HT Photo) Another law scholarship for Indians at the college from this year is the Hemant Sahai Scholarship. The college is already home to a thriving postgraduate programme on sustainable development, partly funded by the Indian government. One of the main contributors to the Sorabji scholarship is London-based historian Kusoom Vadgama, author of a book on pioneering lawyer. Oxford has set up a foundation in India where tax-exempt donations can be made to fund scholarships. The college, Prochaska said, will hold a special celebration on November 17 to mark Sorabjis 150th birth anniversary. One of her nephews, Richard Sorabji, a professor of philosophy with long-standing links with Oxford, will be among the speakers at the event. Prochaska said the college and university receives a large number of applications from highly talented Indians every year, but funding remains a major issue. She said the university continues to lobby with the British government to have a more rational visa policy for Indian and other non-EU students. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 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 in New York. 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. Read | Pakistan PM Sharif offers peace talks, but needles India on Kashmir at UNGA 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 Xinhuas story on Li-Sharif meeting. A report in Pakistani daily Dawn had said Li had assured that China would continue to support Pakistans 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 Pakistans position on Kashmir and said Pakistan itself was a victim of terrorism, it said. Read | Pakistan now host to Ivy League of terrorism: India at UNGA 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. Read | Word for word: Takeaways from Sharifs UN speech, Indias response Police surrounded a Sikh man carrying a kirpan after they received calls about an apparent Muslim roaming 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. However, police said those who alerted them 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, but a kirpan -- one of the five articles of 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. Rescuers brought more bodies ashore and searched for dozens still missing on Thursday 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 12km 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 boats 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 hasnt been opened and there must be a lot of people inside. The accident 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 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 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, carrying up to 450 people, keeled over due to overcrowding, as well as the agonising hours-long wait for help to arrive. 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. said survivor Ahmed Gamal, 17. 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 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. Frontex chief 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. The number is down from 520,000 in the first nine months of 2015. But 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 UNs refugee agency, the UNHCR. 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. Marriage contracts of the Islamic State (IS) unearthed by pro-government forces battling the group in Libya reveal that the jihadists offered their brides unusual dowries: machine-guns and explosive belts. Forces allied with the countrys unity government discovered the archives as they searched buildings seized during their months-long battle to oust IS from its coastal bastion of Sirte. The documents belonged to the jihadists Judicial and Complaints Department. Published on pro-government forces Facebook pages, they include marriage contracts and divorce rulings without any real name or personal information. In one example from November 31, 2015, Abu Mansour, a Tunisian born in 1977, married a Nigerian called Miriam, in the presence of Sudanese and Malian witnesses. In contrast to Islamic norms, Abu Mansour did not pay a dowry but vowed to pay compensation in the event of his death or the marriage being dissolved -- in the form of an explosive belt. Fatima, from Nigeria, was promised a Kalashnikov assault rifle in case of divorce or if her husband, Malian Abu Said, died. IS jihadists took over Sirte in June 2015 and imposed a reign of terror including executions in public squares. They patrolled the streets in 4x4s to ensure that men were observing prayer times and women were not venturing out alone. Forces allied with Libyas Government of National Accord launched an offensive on May 12 to retake the port city that was the home town of late dictator Moamer Kadhafi. They cornered the jihadists in a small area in central Sirte but were slowed down by snipers and suicide bombings that have killed some 450 pro-government fighters. In her first address to the UN General Assembly as national leader, Myanmars Aung San Suu Kyi defended her governments efforts to resolve a crisis over treatment of the countrys Muslim minority. Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner and Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been criticized for doing too little to address the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmars Rakhine state, said the government did not fear international scrutiny, but asked for the understanding and the constructive contribution of the international community. We are committed to a sustainable solution that will lead to peace, stability and development for all communities within Myanmar, she said. Our government is taking a holistic approach that makes development central to both short- and long-term programs aimed at promoting understanding and trust. Suu Kyi pointed to the establishment of an advisory commission for Rakhine state chaired by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, with a mandate covering basic rights and security issues. Suu Kyi said there had been persistent opposition from some quarters to the establishment of the commission, but the government would persevere in its efforts to achieve peace in Rakhine. By standing firm against the forces of prejudice and intolerance, we are reaffirming our faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person. Suu Kyi told a subsequent event at the Asia Society in New York that Myanmar was only at the start of its road to democracy, given that 25 percent of parliamentary seats were still held by the unelected members of the military and peace needed to be affirmed with all armed groups. She said the main priority was to create jobs and the government would have to ensure investment was attracted to less-developed ethnic minority areas. Suu Kyi said the government was trying to bring progress as well as peace to Rakhine state. The Rakhines are poor, the Muslims, they are poor, and we want everybody there to be safe and secure. What we have been trying to do is to find a way of relieving communal tension and putting and end to communal strife, she said. 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 in Myanmar. Around 125,000 Rohingya remain confined in temporary camps after waves of deadly violence in 2012 between Buddhists and Muslims, when more than 100 people were killed. The Rohingya have long been persecuted, being seen by much of the majority Buddhist population as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even though many have lived in Myanmar for generations. Most were stripped of their ability to vote in last years election, which brought Suu Kyi to power as de facto leader. In Washington last week, Suu Kyi urged businesses to invest in Myanmar as a way to advance its democratic transition. U.S. President Barack Obama also pledged to lift longstanding sanctions on the Southeast Asian country. Read | Myanmar Rohingya boat victims forced to travel by sea A top US university has hired a professor to provide comfort to stressed students and the new faculty member is no renowned academic but a 2-year-old dog. The University of Southern California (USC) has hired a goldendoodle named Professor Beauregard Tirebiter, according to USC News, a university news site run by USCs communications team. He resides on the second floor of the universitys student health centre, where he provides affection and comfort to stressed students as a wellness dog, USC News wrote. He even has office hours, a uniform and business cards -- though he has trouble handing out the latter. The hope is that Professor Tirebiter will help create a sense of community on campus, in addition to providing therapeutic companionship, said Paula Lee Swinford, director of the Office of Wellness and Health Promotion at USC. We wanted to do something that would change our culture, Swinford was quoted as saying. Research suggests that positive interactions with dogs can create a sense of calm and well-being, said Olga Solomon, an assistant professor at the USC. Petting a therapy dog can increase serotonin, beta- endorphin and oxytocin - chemicals and hormones that make people happy - and decrease cortisol, a stress hormone, Solomon said. For now, Professor Tirebiter is learning to get comfortable all over campus, in addition to some tricks, said Amanda Vanni, his handler, who is also a health promotion specialist at USCs student health centre. Im teaching him how to do a Fight on right now, she said, referring to the schools official fight song. (W)ere working on a paw out in the air, she said. PTI ASK AKJ ASK A Bangladeshi charity on Thursday buried the five Islamist extremists behind Julys devastating attack on a Dhaka cafe after their families refused to take the bodies, police said. The five shot and hacked to death 20 foreign hostages at the Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1 in Dhakas Gulshan neighbourhood - an attack claimed by the self-styled Islamic State group. Military commandos brought the hostage crisis to a bloody end the next morning after they stormed the compound and gunned down the extremists. The military handed over the bodies of the five attackers and their alleged associate to the police on Thursday after no relatives came to claim the bodies for nearly three months. We gave the six bodies to Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Since their death no one came to us to take the bodies, military spokesperson Colonel Rashidul Hasan told AFP. Dhaka police spokesperson Masudur Rahman said they handed over the bodies to the Anjuman-e-Mufidul Islam, a Muslim charity which collects and buries unidentified bodies according to their religious rites. They buried the bodies in a Dhaka graveyard, he said. How long can we keep the bodies in the mortuary? The father of one of the attackers said he had disowned his son after he learnt about the attack. He said he was too ashamed to be the father of an extremist. Local media reported that other families were reluctant to take the bodies as they did not want to be seen as sympathic towards their children. Since the attack Bangladeshi security forces have shot dead at least 28 suspected Islamist extremists in a massive crackdown. Police have said a local Islamist extremist outfit, led by a Canadian citizen of Bangladesh origin, was responsible for the cafe carnage, rejecting IS claim that its fighters carried out the attack. Rumours swirled of Pakistans armed forces preparing for possible hostilities with India as combat jets participated in a wargame on Thursday, but analysts and commentators in Islamabad ruled out a military confrontation between the two sides. A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesman said F-7 and Mirage jets touched down on the M1 Motorway, a 155-km highway linking Peshawar and Rawalpindi, as part of the Highmark exercise. Pakistani social media users posted footage of a jet landing on the highway. Beautiful Landing of MIRAGE on Motorway MW Police taking selfies with Pak Armed Forces ..Oops @MoeedNj #NationStandsWithPakArmedForces pic.twitter.com/R4TziiWaNn Riz Khan (@Huzefa1983) September 22, 2016 Despite officials insisting the exercise had been planned in advance, the closure of airspace and flights by combat jets fuelled rumours that the Pakistani military was preparing for a possible attack in the wake of the terror attack in Uri that killed 18 Indian soldiers. Highmark, one of the largest wargames organised by the PAF, is expected to end on September 24. The exercise, coming at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries, also fuelled speculation on mainstream media. Despite the talk of possible conflict, Pakistani analysts and commentators said a confrontation was unlikely. We are seeing a lot of tough talking but whether that translates into anything more substantial is doubtful, said leading analyst Lt Gen (retired) Talat Masood. India-Pakistan relations have settled into a comfortable pattern which usually have their high and low points, he said. This time around, the only fear was that India would want to break the pattern as there is intense pressure on the Modi government to not take the Uri attack lying down, he added. The analysts also said common sense seems to have prevailed. We are seeing a cooling of tempers, said journalist Mujibur Rehman. But Pakistan needs to do something for face-saving of the Modi government. The Express Tribune newspaper quoted a strategic assessment by Pakistani security agencies, which said that when it comes to making major decisions like cross-border action, the Indians realise that if they attack Pakistan it does not play out in their favour. TV news channels and social media reports had speculated that airspace restrictions over Gilgit-Baltistan and the M1 and M2 Motorways were part of Pakistans preparations for possible hostilities, including surgical strikes. The government had also cancelled all civilian flights to Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday. An unnamed senior military official rejected reports of a change in the alert level over the past few days and told the Dawn newspaper that extreme vigilance was being exercised in view of current threats from India. The local media also quoted a senior PAF official who dismissed reports that the exercise was linked to the current tensions. Some acknowledged that the worst is far from over. The option before India is to pressure the US to take Pakistan to task, said Rehman. But he noted this is unlikely, given the deterioration of relations between Pakistan and the US. 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, which reported civilian casualties without giving a specific toll. The loyalist official said the residential neighbourhood was probably hit in error. He said the presidential palace in Hodeida was also hit. Dr Khaled Suhail of Hodeidas 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 Hadis 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 Yemens Red Sea coast as well as the capital Sanaa and much of the central and northern highlands. Lamenting a lack of spirit between whites and blacks, Donald Trump encouraged racial unity in the face of a national crisis on Thursday, even as he called for one of Americas largest cities to adopt policing tactics that have been condemned as racial profiling. In a mixed message, the Republican presidential contender confronted racial tensions after another night of violent protests in North Carolina following police shootings of black men. Trump has been eager to blunt criticism that his campaign inspires racism. 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, Trump declared at an energy conference in Pittsburgh. He suggested that drugs are a very, very big factor in the violent protests. This is a national crisis, he continued, without mentioning the black men shot by police in Oklahoma and North Carolina in recent days. He said that its 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. Read | Emergency declared in Charlotte amid protests over police killing of black man The comments came hours after the New York billionaire falsely suggested that Chicago is more violent than Afghanistan, and endorsed a stop-and-frisk policing method. Thats a tactic that a federal judge said New York City had used unconstitutionally because of its overwhelming impact on minority residents. I think Chicago needs stop and frisk, Trump said in a phone interview on Fox News Fox and Friends. 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, you know, the war-torn nations. Both presidential candidates are courting minority voters with Election Day less than seven weeks away. Trump, in particular, has struggled to balance a message that appeals to his white, working-class base with one that improves his standing with minority voters and educated whites who may worry about racial undertones in his candidacy. Trump was slow to disavow former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke earlier in the year and has repeatedly promoted tweets by white supremacists during his White House bid. Read | Immigration is a useful tool for Trump, a member of elite class The Republican nominee admitted for the first time publicly last week that President Barack Obama was born in the United States after spending much of the last five years questioning the authenticity of his birth certificate. And as recently as last week, Trumps eldest son tweeted a meme commonly used by white nationalists. With his latest comments on racial tensions, Trump faces new scrutiny. For instance, his suggestion that Chicagos violence is worse than that of Afghanistan is incorrect. There have been 2,521 shooting incidents this year in the city, according to the most recent preliminary police figures, which go through September 18. Its unclear how many people were shot overall because a single shooting incident can involve multiple victims. The United Nations assistance mission in Afghanistan documented a total of 11,002 civilian casualties in 2015 3,545 people killed and 7,457 injured, exceeding the previous record set in 2014. Trumps endorsement of stop and frisk follows similar comments from the day before during the taping of a Fox News town hall. He said the 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. Current New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat who supports Clinton, slammed Trumps call for more stop-and-frisk as appalling. Also read | Violent protests over fatal US police shooting of black man in North Carolina A Washington Post editorial arguing for the prosecution of intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has sparked an outcry in the media community -- including from some of the newspapers own journalists. The weekend editorial provoked a heated response, with some pointing out the irony that the newspaper was calling for criminal charges against a source who helped it win a 2014 Pulitzer Prize for public service reporting. The editorial board has no say on news, and just showed why, said a tweet from Barton Gellman, the Post reporter who led the team that shared the Pulitzer with The Guardian for the reporting on global surveillance based on Snowdens leaks of National Security Agency documents. Gellman added that Snowdens disclosures served the public. WP journalists are proud of our role. Jane Kirtley, a professor of media ethics and law at the University of Minnesota, said the Posts editorial view comes as a shock to the media community even if there is a separation of the opinion and reporting units. It does seem to me that any news organization that is going to rely on a source and potentially imperil that source, really needs to stand by that source, Kirtley told AFP. I personally think Snowden should come back and face charges, but I didnt take Snowdens leaks and put them all over my newspaper. Read: On the back of new Snowden biopic, Amnesty appeals to Obama for a full pardon Kirtley noted that prosecuting sources for leaks should be troubling for the world of journalism. It is my belief that going after sources for leaks using the Espionage Act is a prelude to going after the journalists who receive that information, she said. It hasnt happened yet, but it is possible. Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan also broke with the editorial board, calling for Snowden to be pardoned. Snowden did an important -- and brave -- service for the American public, Sullivan wrote in a column yesterday. Without his decision to bring the information to journalists, it is very unlikely that we would know what we do about mass surveillance in the post-9/11 world. A more blunt response came from Glenn Greenwald, a member of the Guardian team that met with Snowden and now an editor at the online news site The Intercept. Read: Edward Snowden was a disgruntled employee: US house committee The Washington Post has achieved an ignominious feat in US media history: the first-ever paper to explicitly editorialize for the criminal prosecution of its own source -- one on whose back the paper won and eagerly accepted a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, Greenwald wrote. The debate comes amid increasing calls for a pardon for Snowden, who has been living in Moscow out of the reach of US law enforcement. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif used his speech at the UN General Assembly to mount one of his strongest attacks on India on the Kashmir issue, describing militant commander Burhan Wani as a murdered young leader and calling for a UN fact-finding mission to probe rights violations. Indias swift response was equally strong, describing Pakistan as a terrorist state that is host to the Ivy League of terrorism. India also said Pakistan is run by a war machine rather than a government even as it ruled out ruled out dialogue as long as Islamabad used terrorists and terrorism as policy. Here are key takeaways from the Pakistani premiers speech and Indias response: Sharifs speech: * He said confrontation should not be the destiny in South Asia and 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, he added. * He said peace between Pakistan and India cannot be achieved without resolving the Kashmir dispute. Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada..., he said. Sharif said Pakistan will hand over to the UN Secretary-General a dossier on alleged rights violations in Kashmir. He also called for an independent inquiry into the extrajudicial killings and a UN fact-finding mission to investigate brutalities. * Sharif called for the Kashmiri people to be given the right to self-determination, steps by the UN to de-militarise Jammu and Kashmir and consultations with India, Pakistan and the representatives of the Kashmiri people to implement Security Council resolutions. * He also offered a serious and sustained dialogue to settle all outstanding disputes, especially Kashmir, and said Pakistan wants to establish strategic stability in the region. He further said Pakistan cannot ignore Indias arms build-up and will take measures to maintain credible deterrence. He also offered talks on a bilateral nuclear test ban treaty and bilateral arms control and disarmament measures to prevent conflict. * Sharif said Pakistan is fully eligible for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group as he sought reform of the Security Council without creating new centers of privilege. Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York. (REUTERS) Indias response: * Pakistan is a terrorist state that channels billions of dollars to training and backing terror groups as militant proxies against it neighbours, said Eenam Gambhir, first secretary in Indias permanent mission to the UN, while responding to Sharifs speech. The worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime, she added. Referring to the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in 2011, she said Pakistan is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism. * Criticising Sharifs glorification of Wani, minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar said this was self-incrimination by the Pakistani leader. Akbar said it was shocking that a leader of a nation could glorify a self-declared, self-advertised terrorist at the UN General Assembly. * Rejecting Sharifs call for talks, Akbar said Pakistan is talking about dialogue with a terrorist gun in its hand. Pakistan seems to be run by a war machine rather than a government and talks and guns dont go together, he added. Referring to Sharifs remarks about going the extra mile for peace, Akbar said: We have not seen the first mile. Where is the question of the extra mile? * Dismissing Sharifs allegations about rights violations in Kashmir, Akbar said the only occupation in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a part of India, is the occupation of a part of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistans occupation army. Pakistans use of war and terrorism has been at the cost of development and the people of Pakistan were paying the price of a malevolent policy, he said. * Gambhir said Pakistan was a country with a democracy deficit that practices terrorism on its own people. It also suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights, she added. She further said Pakistans nuclear proliferation record is marked by deception and deceit and the country had made false promises to the international community on terrorism. SAO PAULO: Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to stand trial on corruption charges. He will face charges of accepting a $1.14 million bribe in connection with a corruption probe at the state-run oil company Petrobras. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LONDON : More than 50 leaders from business and politics on Wednesday called on the British government to extend to Indian nationals the new 87 two-year visitor visa pilot programme currently underway in China. The call was made in a letter by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) in The Daily Telegraph. It was signed by Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of the Confederation of Indian Industry; entrepreneur Karan Bilimoria and senior Labour MP Virendra Sharma MP, among others. The letter follows a RCS report in July in partnership with leading aviation, tourism and industry groups that outlined the case for visa reform. The pilot visa scheme lasting two years was offered to China in January. However, Indian visitors pay 330 for a two-year visa, or 87 for six months. The reports author, Tim Hewish, director of RCS Policy and Research, said: This letter demonstrates the broad support for reform of the UK-India visitor visa scheme across tourism, aviation, business and politics. We urge the UK government to listen to these individuals as leaders in their field and proactively discuss this proposal with the Indian government without delay. The reform is expected to help reverse the UKs falling market share of global Indian tourists. BEIJING:The pride of Chinas space industry, the Tiangong-I or the Heavenly Palace lab will come down crashing and burning next year, triggering the possibility of its free-falling debris colliding with objects in the sky. The Tiangong-1 was launched amid much fanfare in September 2011 and was touted by the state media a Chinas symbol of power in the final frontier. But last weeks announcement by a senior official of Chinas expanding space program dropped enough hints that it will not be a controlled ending for the space lab as its mechanical lifetime expires. Last week, officials at a satellite launch centre in the Gobi Desert said that the unmanned module had comprehensively fulfilled its historical mission and was set to re-enter the earths atmosphere at some point in the second half of 2017. Based on our calculation and analysis, most parts of the space lab will burn up during falling, Wu Ping, deputy director of Chinas manned space engineering office, was quoted as saying by official news agency Xinhua. Based on our calculation and analysis, most parts of the space lab will burn up during falling, she was quoted by Xinhua as saying. Wu added it was unlikely to affect aviation activities or cause damage to the ground. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell told The Guardian it seemed China had lost control of the station and that it would re-enter the Earths atmosphere naturally. WASHINGTON: Protests and looting rocked a North Carolina city early on Wednesday, following the fatal police shooting of a black man, with a dozen officers and several demonstrators injured in the violence. Several hundred people gathered to protest the shooting of African American Keith Lamont Scott, 43. Demonstrations began late on Tuesday and grew through much of the night near an apartment complex in the city of Charlotte, where the shooting occurred. As news of the shooting in Charlotte spread, protesters gathered, carrying signs that read Black Lives Matter and chanting No justice, no peace! Later in the night, some protesters in Charlotte set fires blocking a major road, and others set trucks ablaze, according to news reports. The violence comes just days after another police shooting, captured on video, of an unarmed black man in Tulsa, Oklahoma. NEW YORK: Donald Trump used funds from his charitable foundation to pay settlements in legal cases involving his businesses, an apparent violation of laws governing non-profits, the Washington Post reported. The cases involved a combined $258,000 paid out by the Donald J. Trump Foundation, a charity almost entirely funded with other peoples money, the newspaper said, and follow a review of legal documents and the foundations tax records. The newspaper conducted a long investigation into the charitys finances, finding that Trump himself has not contributed a dollar since 2009. It is funded by donations from third parties instead. One of the suspect payments was a $100,000 donation to a veterans charity in 2007 as part of a legal settlement with the city of Palm Beach, Florida. WASHINGTON: Republican nominee Donald Trump has teased his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to sleep well ahead of the first presidential debate next week, which is likely to attract record viewership. With less than two months before the election, Clinton attended no public events on Tuesday and 70-year-old Trump promptly ridiculed her for taking a break. Hillary Clinton is taking the day off again, she needs the rest. Sleep well Hillary - see you at the debate! Trump tweeted after it was reported that Clinton has taken a days off from her grilling campaign schedule. It was only the latest dig on 68-year-old Clinton by Trump, who has repeatedly mocked his rivals stamina, although he wished her well after she was diagnosed with pneumonia and left the 9/11 commemoration ceremony. The first of the series of three presidential debates are scheduled for September 26 in New York. In American presidential elections, a lot depends on performance of a candidate in these debates. Given the sharp polarisation of voters during the general elections, the first presidential debate is expected to attract a record 100 million viewership, The Hill newspaper said. Trump continued his attempted outreach to African-American voters as he and running mate Mike Pence met with a group of pastors on Wednesday in Cleveland. Polls show Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton with a wide advantage among black voters. African-Americans could prove crucial in several battleground states. LONDON : Britain is taking forward plans to tighten its ban on trade in ivory after campaigns by Prince Charles and Prince William brought the issue into the spotlight in recent years - and some priceless ivory items from colonial India have been at the centre of the discourse. Prince William and environment secretary Andrea Leadsom are due to speak at an international conference to be held simultaneously in London, Tokyo and Johannesburg on Thursday, when the issue will again be highlighted. It is already illegal to sell post-1947 ivory in Britain but antique dealers are known to exploit the difficulty of determining the age of an item. Under new rules that are to be announced, dealers will be told to prove the age of items using carbon dating or face having them confiscated and destroyed. A spokesman of the department for environment, food and rural affairs said: We have some of the strictest rules governing ivory anywhere...We know there is more to be done and we want to work with traders to strengthen documentary proof on the age of items and ensure greater confidence that antique items are genuine. Prince William, who has been passionately campaigning to ban ivory trade, was in the spotlight in February 2014, when he reportedly remarked he would like to see all the ivory owned by Buckingham Palace destroyed. After the remark, one of the ivory items from colonial India in royal possession mentioned in the media was the exquisite throne gifted by the Maharaja of Travancore to Queen Victoria in 1851, which has rarely been seen in public since it was first displayed at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London. NASA is once again pioneering humanity's space ventures in hopes to intercept a dangerous deep-space asteroid and reel it once more into the atmosphere of Earth. The first of the two missions will be crucial for the deepening of understanding of NASA's mission to Mars, as well learning more about the inner workings of the solar system. If the mission proves to be a success, then the asteroid can be used as a series of petrol pump bases for space missions that will happen in the future. NASA hopes to successfully send astronauts into the asteroid in order to put a robotic spacecraft that will be responsible for steering off the massive chunk of rock into the desired place. What's with NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission? The asteroid will then be brought back to the orbit of the moon, enabling astronauts to obtain rock samples from the asteroid back into the earth. NASA calls the asteroid as 2008 EV5, and that speculation on the budget reaches a whopping $1.25 billion. The asteroid was once thought to be a very dangerous heavenly body that can wipe out life on earth as we know it. However now, it is already regarded as one of an ideal space bodies for space agencies to lay their hands on. The Risks of NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission Despite the seeming positive benefits that we can get from hurling it back into the earth, there is still a certain amount of risk involved as alien microbes, bacteria, or even extraterrestrial virus can reach our planet and in turn inflict a massive wide scale epidemic. Jonathan McDowell, a professor at the Smithsonian Institution says, "There isn't too much concern about asteroids contaminating Earth remember we get hit by them every now and again, so they've already contaminated us good and proper. Bigger concern, albeit just scientific, is us contaminating the asteroid." @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Further details on controversies surrounding the divorce of former celebrity couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie continue to unfold, as reports indicate that Pitt is "furious" over Jolie's handling of the divorce. According to a report in Telegraph, Pitt is concerned about the impact of the divorce to their children. A source cited by the Telegraph said that Pitt is worried that Jolie might put the kids at risk because of the way the actress handled the divorce. Pitt is now focusing on battling his former wife's request for sole custody of their kids. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were once a golden celebrity couple. They are just like the usual king and queen that many normally saw in movies and fairy tales. Great looks, successful careers, lovable children. Many thought that their relationship would end up in a happy ending, just like what the normal fairytales would end. But the once-dubbed "Brangelina" couple shocked the world when Jolie filed a divorce last Monday. TMZ reported that the main reasons for the divorce include anger problems, use of substance and issues connected to raising their kids. According to Inquisitr, when Jolie filed the legal documents on Monday, she requested for sole custody of their six kids. In said request, Brad Pitt will be given visitation rights instead of joint physical custody. The former celebrity couple have 3 biological children - Shiloh, 10 years old, and twins Knox and Vivienne, both eight years old. They also have three adopted children - Maddox (15) from Cambodia, Pax (12) from Vietnam and Zahara (11) from Ethiopia. Jolie addresses a statement about the divorce through her attorney, Robert Offer, saying, "This decision was made for the health of the family." On the other hand, Brad Pitt also released a statement to PEOPLE, saying that his main focus is in the "well-being of our kids." @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Immigrants have been trying to reach the UK from Calais, France through the tunnel under the English Channel. This doing has caused disruption and delay of vehicles approaching the port. For this reason, a joint project of France and UK has been made that involves creating a wall in Calais. The project is the latest attempt of the UK government to stop refugees and migrants from reaching the country. People have reportedly been trying to hide themselves on trucks crossing the tunnel. This wall will supposedly prevent them in getting closer to the vehicles. The "anti-intrusion wall" will be four meters tall and approximately one kilometer long. The wall, which is an extension of high fences and barbed wire, stretches along the road that leads to the harbor. British Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill has said in an announcement, "We've done the fence. Now we're doing a wall." It has been years since migrants were trying to reach Britain in an overcrowded and informal migrant camp, referred to as "The Jungle", located along the English channel. As of this time, the estimated population of migrants in the camp are reaching from 7,000 to 10,000 people. According to Home Secretary Amber Rudd, the wall is 'not a new initiative.' Rudd added, "We support the French with money to help them do that. It is up to them how they decide to secure their borders in Calais and around it." CNN reported that the project is a part of a 17 million ($23 million) deal between France and the UK. However, British truck drivers say the wall is a "poor excuse of taxpayer's money." Head of Road Haulage Association, Richard Burnett, said that the money used in building the wall should instead be spent on increasing security not just within the port perimeter, but in the surrounding areas as well. According to NY Times, Francois Guennoc, an activist of L'Auberge des Migrants, an organization that helps migrants in Calais, said, "It's a bad way of wasting British money. Walls don't work." He added that the wall would only move the problem further inland along the road. The work on the wall began on September 20 and is due to finish this December. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Weeks after the launching of the iPhone 7, another surprise awaits Apple users and fanatics. iPhone 8 is coming in 2017. This early, the anticipated specifications have already been floated around. Based on Apple's far-reaching improvement prowess, introducing an 10-nanometer A11 processor and a new iOS 11 will only make future iPhones better. Aside from the utilization of the lightning port, iPhone 8 users will be looking towards wireless charging. The use of charging mats has been a cutting-edge component attributed to android smartphones from Samsung, Google and Sony. In this case, Apple is exploring the possibility of remotely charging the iPhone. Proof of this is the action taken back in 2010 when Apple lodged a patent application for the concept of using an iMac as a base for wireless charging using near-field magnetic resonance (NFMR). Under this technology, devices can be set to receive power wirelessly from a NFMR power source within a distance of at least a meter. Another of Apple's patent application is in the works with the perceived use of an all-glass iPhone. A glass enclosure will be formed using hollow glass tube or a couple of class members bonded together. It is the intention of this enclosure to promote a water-resistant gadget. Following the release of the ceramic-made Apple Watch Series 2, Apple intends to widen its manufacturing prowess with a ceramic design for the iPhone 8. Considering that ceramic is four times harder than steel and way cheaper and economical to use since it won't scratch or tarnish, the approach may make a lot of sense. Within this context, Apple will be in position to release a variety of colors judging from the fact that ceramic, notably the zirconia type, can be made transparent or be pigmented to produce any color. For a long stretch, Apple seeks to revamp the design of the iPhone. The iPhone 8 is a potential product to exhibit the use of edge-to-edge display. If this plan pushes through, the Home Button will be altered to accommodate an embedded Touch ID sensor with the front camera directly into the screen's display. To a certain extent, a digital crown can also be paired with the sensor. Meanwhile, a reported deal with the OLED suppliers of archrival Samsung may hint that Apple is due to incorporate the light emission device into the iPhone 8 in 2017. Manufacturers are retooling their factories to build a boat load of OLED screens for the next iPhone. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Following the devastation of Typhoon Lionrock in North Korea, 138 people were killed, 400 others missing and 20,000 houses were destroyed, leaving 140,000 North Koreans homeless. "Given the scale of destruction, the number of individuals affected, and the fact that winter is rapidly approaching, time is of the essence," said U.N. human rights spokesman Tomas Ojea Quintana. "[Aid is] now critical to protect the rights to food, health and adequate housing of those affected." North Korea recently fired a land-based missile for satellites launching, with a new type of high powered engine. The new engine gives the rocket carrier's ability to launch various types of satellites, including those for observing the earth's surface, although analysts believed it is probably intended to power ballistic missiles. According to the North Korean news agency, a test was monitored by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This was his first public appearance at a military event since Pyongyang took the fifth nuclear test on Sep. 9. Although Kim Jong Un was pleased with the launch of satellites, back on earth things in North Korea weren't quite so promising. However, continues military tests are reducing a chance of vital aid donations. Supreme Leader of North Korea has drawn international censure after his fourth and fifth nuclear test so even China, South Korea and Japan, North Korea's only friendly nation and the biggest pledgers of aid are lost their goodwill to help. The latest test, conducted in the midst of global condemnation of the fifth nuclear test by North Korea earlier this month, and calls from the US, Japan, and South Korea this week for and putting more pressure on Pyongyang for contempt of UN resolutions prohibiting its missile and nuclear programs didn't help. North Korea is diverting all resources to its nuclear weapon programs instead of helping its people ravaged by recent floods, South Korea's foreign ministry said Thursday, ruling out any possibility of relief assistance to Pyongyang. "The costs of the nuclear tests and launching 22 missiles (this year) are estimated at US$200 million, and this surpasses by far the size of the damage from the floods," Sun noted. "This fact should be considered when contemplating any assistance over the latest floods." He highlighted that the North's disregard for the lives of its people in favor of developing its nuclear and missile programs is "unpardonable." @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ever since iPhone 7 made it to the market, it has been grabbing eyeballs in huge numbers but the high price has proven to be a major deterrent for buyers. The good news is that Apple has pitched in with its own financing options to maximize the sale of their latest smartphone. The blue-chip company is expected to come up with financing options for its customers. It will be providing its customers easy purchase options so that they can bring home iPhone 7 and its other models Mobile & Apps reports. The credit facility is an attempt to increase the sales of the expensive phones but it will not be without caveats. According to ValueWalk, before proving loan for the purchase, the technology pioneer will examine the credit rating of the potential customer. The credit facility will be given only after the rating is found to be ok. Those customers whose credit rating is in the high category will be given the option of buying iPhone 7 directly from Apple as it would be a financially feasible option. What is more, few international carriers like Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T Sprint are offering groovy deals for iPhone 7. One can exchange their old iPhone model like iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s or 6s Plus for the latest one i.e. iPhone 7. For instance, Verizon offers a credit facility of $300 for iPhone 4 or Android phones like LG G4 or V10, HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, Note 5, Turbo trade-ins and Droid Maxx. Some others are also providing easy deals wherein the customer can exchange other smartphones. A few carriers in the UK have come up with cash-back offers and other best deals that allow the customers to buy the 3 GB iPhone 7 at a reduced price. It helps to bring down the high price of 599 to 484, which translates to a reduction of 115. Vodafone is also offering a cashback of up to 115.50. Various monthly offers have also sprung up that claim to help the customers lay their hands on the latest Apple launch. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Asteroid and meteor attacks are not common events and mostly comprise the stories science fictions are made of. However, one must not think that they are just imaginary phenomenon and would not ever take place in our lifetime. NASA has said that asteroid attack on earth is inevitable and our planet is vulnerable. The space research organization is very much aware of the threat these celestial objects pose to the earth, reported Catholic Online. This is why it has sponsored several academic projects to ascertain the methods that will help to save Earth in case of meteor strikes. The scientists have thought of blowing the meteor up in the space or changing its orbit with the help of solar sails. However, these solutions will take time to transform into reality. So, does that mean human beings are doomed if the scientists run out of time? The sad answer is yes, and it is very likely that nations would not react. The only ones who can harbor hopes of safety would be the people with privileges. The ones who wield power and would have the money to buy safety gear like super strong bunkers. This is indeed scary, but the Bible has mentioned it in Revelation Chapter 8. Also, it is not like people have not seen the catastrophic effects of meteor attack before. On Feb. 15, 2013, an undetected asteroid, weighing 14,000 tons, hit the earth in a massive way. It exploded over a populated area and caused injuries to many people. Thousands of people were sent to hospital. The attack was really like a warning for what could happen in future and thus, one must be ready for it. There might come a time when some destructive celestial object hits the earth and throws millions into the jaws of death. NASA definitely keeps monitoring the space for dangers but if it is out of the control of the scientists, they would not do much and human beings would be left at the mercy of their fates. Looks like only God can save them. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Amid acclamation as haven of war refugees, Canada has been castigated for the detention of hundreds of children annually, including those coming from warn torn countries. This after the International Human Rights Program of the University of Toronto disclosed that the country jailed an average of 242 children annually, from 2010 to 2014, for various immigration violations. The report was released Thursday. Children, some of them forced to separate from their parents, were sent to correctional facilities, medium security immigration holding stations or solitary confinements. From the average of 10 days, the length of detention period could extend to 30 days to a few months. The report pointed out that most of the detained children came from sub-Saharan Africa and Syria, who fled for safety from the unending chaos of their home countries. Samer Muscati, the report's editor, was quoted by The Guardian questioning the immigration policy of Canada that contradicted to its principle as global promoter of human rights. Canada's immigration system has been condemned for its practice of detaining children, including the new born. In response to the call, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) vowed to ease its immigration guidelines especially among children. The agency promised to observe it commitment to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, saying that detention of children will be the last resort and only after the child's interest is closely considered. "When a child is held, it will be for the shortest time possible," the agency added. It likewise guaranteed to release unaccompanied minors to family members or to a child protection agency. Those children who are with their parents will remain with their parents in a CBSA immigration holding center. According to the report, this is the first time that the Canadian government and CBSA took serious steps to end child detention after many years of being silent on the issue. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Hong Kong Niccolo Hotels, the new luxury hotel brand, is set to catapult into the limelight with the announcement of its exciting new flagship property in Hong Kong. The Murray, a Niccolo Hotel, Hong Kong, being part of the government's Conserving Central Project will open in October 2017, on Cotton Tree Drive in Central. As well as being the first significant new luxury hotel to open in Hong Kong for several years, The Murray will breathe new life into one of Hong Kong's most iconic and historic buildings. The tall white landmark structure, with its distinctive arches and unique recessed windows, was built in 1969 and has since won many awards for its ground-breaking and energy-efficient design. World-renowned architects Foster and Partners, whose works in Hong Kong include The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank headquarters and the Hong Kong International Airport, have been engaged as designers for the project. With its unique location in a stand-alone building positioned between the Central business district and the green oasis of Hong Kong Park, the 336-room hotel will offer a sophisticated, urban chic sanctuary in the heart of the city. Among its unique features will be a stunning rooftop bar with some of the most breathtaking views of the city. A series of signature restaurants are also being planned. Seasoned British-born hotelier Duncan Palmer has been appointed as the hotel's Managing Director, and will bring his many years of experience with The Savoy, The Connaught, Mandarin Oriental and Langham Hotels amongst others to create a truly world-class new hotel for Hong Kong. "I am quietly confident this will become the preferred hotel in Hong Kong for visiting dignitaries, captains of industry and leaders in style. They will appreciate the sophisticated and international standard of hospitality that the Niccolo brand delivers." said Mr Palmer. The first hotel under the brand, the stylish Niccolo Chengdu opened in April 2015 and has quickly been recognised as the city's leading centre for luxury accommodation, fine dining and events. It is superbly located as part of the International Finance Square (IFS) a mixed-use retail and commercial centre which has become the epicentre of Chengdu's events. The new Niccolo Hotels brand was conceived and designed to cater to the growing maturity and sophistication of the luxury hotel sector in China, and Chengdu was chosen as the setting for the brand's first hotel since it has become the most successful economy of any city in mainland China. Niccolo Hotels was recently recognised as the "Best Luxury Hotel Brand of the Year" at the 2016 Asia Hotel Awards held in the mid of September, adding yet another illustrious accolade to the brand's growing list of honours. Dr. Jennifer Cronin, President of Niccolo Hotels, stated: "The Chengdu property is a great success and we are very excited to be able to announce another even more exciting landmark project for Hong Kong. The Murray, a Niccolo Hotel, Hong Kong will certainly establish our Niccolo brand and the excellence it stands for firmly in the minds of international travellers." For more information on The Murray, please visit themurrayaniccolohotel.com About Ultratravel Collection Membership in Ultratravel Collection is reserved for the very best hotels and resorts in the world genuinely luxurious and iconic properties that deliver the finest service and personalised guest experiences. Member hotels share an integrated global platform for guest recognition and loyalty rewards, the DISCOVERY programme from partner Global Hotel Alliance, as well as beneficial relationships with Ultratravel Collection's other founding partners, Travel Leaders Group and the multi-media brand, Ultratravel. For more information visit ultratravelcollection.com About Wharf Hotels The Spirit of Discovery | Emanating the spirit of discovery, Wharf Hotels, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Wharf (Holdings) Ltd, is based in Hong Kong and currently operates 16 owned or managed hotels under Niccolo or Marco Polo Hotels in Hong Kong, China and the Philippines. Niccolo Hotels was added to the group's portfolio in 2015 as the new luxury collection, positioning the brand as contemporary urban chic. The Murray, Hong Kong, a Niccolo Hotel, opened in January 2018 as the brand's flagship hotel, with 2 new Niccolo hotels currently under development in China following successful openings in Chengdu and Chongqing. Marco Polo's deluxe hotels in established locations maintain their ethos to explore, discover and experience a destination, drawing on the philosophies of its namesake, Marco Polo: an adventurer, a traveller, an entrepreneur and a connoisseur of culture - just as Marco Polo's modern travellers are today. Further details are available at wharfhotels.com. About Ultratravel Collection Ultratravel Collection brings together hotels of distinction for the discerning traveller. Its membership is reserved for the very best hotels and resorts in the world - genuinely luxurious and iconic properties that deliver the finest service and personalised guest experiences. Member hotels share an integrated global platform for guest recognition and loyalty rewards, the DISCOVERY programme from partner Global Hotel Alliance, as well as beneficial relationship with the multi-media brand Ultratravel, the other founding partner of Ultratravel Collection. For more information visit ultratravelcollection.com. Shay Sabido (852) 3163 0180 Wharf Hotels PARIS From the birthplace of the brand, Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today marked a milestone as its first-ever hotel and celebrated flagship in Paris revealed the completion of its multi-million dollar renovation. Following the hotel's transformation, Le Meridien Etoile now boasts reimagined guestrooms, suites and the transformation of the hotel's public spaces, including the legendary Jazz Club Etoile and brand's signature lobby concept: Le Meridien Hub. Guestroom at Le Meridien Etoile Design by interior architect Jean-Philippe Nuel. (Photo: Business Wire) "With a stronger and more globally diverse portfolio than ever before, Le Meridien has hit its stride with guests and locals as well as owners and developers around the world," said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts. "We are delighted to have the crown jewel of our brand shining brightly once more in the City of Light, as Le Meridien returns to its roots with distinctive design and bold Destination Unlocked positioning." Located in the 17th arrondissement, anchored by Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees, Le Meridien Etoile is the largest hotel in central Paris. The redesign of the hotel's rooms was led by French interior architect Jean-Philippe Nuel, while London-based firm Michaelis Boyd restyled all the public areas; both draw inspiration from Le Meridien brand's mid-century modern design aesthetic. Paris: A Destination & Inspiration The interiors of all 1,025 guestrooms and suites have been redesigned with residential texture and details inspired by the destination: the lighting and the muted colour palette of grey, light blue and charcoal are underscored by eye-catching accents. Travel and discovery are woven into the fabric of the design, with illustrated maps of Parisian arrondissements that adorn the headboards and deconstructed images of the city that are displayed in the rooms and corridors. Art and design also provide an element of discovery throughout the public spaces of Le Meridien Etoile. Art Curator Marion Vignal selected four Parisian, contemporary artists to express their unique perspectives of Paris through different mediums. For instance, Arnold Goron, the sought-after sculptor and set designer for several French fashion houses, created the arrival art installation and impressive mural fresco, both composed of brass petals forming a map of Paris. From the arrival lighting installation that represents the traffic circles of the city, to the custom-tiled accent wall that pays homage to Paris' metro system, Le Meridien Etoile has transformed the staid, traditional lobby into the brand's signature Le Meridien Hub. Set amidst this thoughtfully-designed space, the Longitude 217 Bar provides Le Meridien signature eclairs, light bites and illy coffee, expertly prepared by the hotel's creative Master Barista, creating an experience that brings creative and curious-minded guests and locals together. Le Meridien Etoile features 2,500 square metre of thoughtfully-designed meeting spaces with design cues taken from the 17th arrondissement. The small meeting rooms or 'Petits Salons' hold up to 25 people and are named after local streets, while the large 'Grands Salons' hold up to 1,200 people and bear the names of neighbouring avenues and boulevards. Each of the spaces is designed with the brand's mid-century modern aesthetic and offers modular furniture that allows personalization. Custom photography, depicting scenes from each Boulevard, was shot by one of France's most influential Instagrammers, Vutheara Kham, and aims to inspire creativity. The renovation of the conference centre and public areas was overseen by London-based architectural duo Alex Michaelis and Tim Boyd. Jazz Club Etoile: The Legendary Music Club Created in 1975 with celebrated drummer F.A. Galepides, known as Moustache, the Jazz Club Etoile has been entirely renovated in a mid-century modern style, with an emphasis on bright colours and vintage furniture. Parisian touches once again pepper the decor with white tiles, reminiscent of the metro stations, surrounded by the works of visual artist Christian Gastaldi, who was inspired by the posters displayed in the metro system. While preserving the essence of the Jazz Club Etoile, former music booker and friend of Moustache, Jean-Pierre Vignola, has collaborated with Jonathan Miltat, an experienced Jazz producer, to renew the musical offering and put the spotlight on Jazz, Soul, Funk and Blues. Both locals and hotel guests alike can now discover legendary artists and new talent in the intimate venue with a new menu curated by Executive Chef Laurent Belijar. "Destination Unlocked" Position Propels Parisian-born Brand "Ten years after Le Meridien joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the brand now stands stronger than ever before," said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. "Highlighting our commitment to strengthening the brand's portfolio around the globe, over 50% of Le Meridien hotels in Europe and the Middle East have been upgraded over the last three years. We are proud to celebrate Le Meridien distinctive design aesthetic and bold 'Destination Unlocked' positioning in the brand's home city of Paris." Since 2005, Starwood and its hotel ownership groups have transformed Le Meridien into a contemporary lifestyle brand now focused on unlocking the destination through culture, the arts, and cuisine. Now Le Meridien boasts the strongest portfolio levels in the brand's history, growing in key destinations around the world, Le Meridien Denver; Le Meridien Singapore, Sentosa; 6 newly-built Le Meridien hotels in China, including 2 in Shanghai alone; and the brand's re-entry into Italy with the opening of Le Meridien Visconti Rome early next year. For more information, please visit: www.lemeridien.com. About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,300 properties in some 100 countries and approximately 188,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences under the renowned brands: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Meridien, Sheraton,Tribute Portfolio, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft, and Element, along with an expanded partnership withDesign Hotels. The company also boasts one of the industrys leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG). Visit www.starwoodhotels.com for more information and stay connected @starwoodbuzz on Twitterand Instagram and facebook.com/Starwood. Katie Roberts St. Regis Hotels & Resorts 212-380-4049 Starwood It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home In year-over-year comparisons, the industry's occupancy was nearly flat (+0.2% to 72.0%). Average daily rate (ADR) increased 4.1% to US$129.37. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) grew 4.3% to US$93.13. The U.S. hotel industry recorded positive results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 11-17 September 2016, according to data from STR. In year-over-year comparisons, the industry's occupancy was nearly flat (+0.2% to 72.0%). Average daily rate (ADR) increased 4.1% to US$129.37. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) grew 4.3% to US$93.13. Among the Top 25 Markets, Orlando, Florida, posted the largest year-over-year increases across the three metrics. Occupancy in the market rose 9.3% to 69.6%; ADR was up 12.0% to US$104.92; and RevPAR grew 22.5% to US$73.05. Of the nine additional markets to experience a double-digit lift in RevPAR, two reported growth above 15.0% for the week: Dallas, Texas (+15.8% to US$88.37), and Boston, Massachusetts (+15.3% to US$209.44). Three markets experienced a double-digit decrease in RevPAR: San Francisco/San Mateo, California (-14.3% to US$247.55); Houston, Texas (-14.2% to US$65.20); and Miami/Hialeah, Florida (-11.8% to US$97.23). After Orlando, five markets recorded a double-digit rise in ADR: Denver, Colorado (+11.7% to US$142.42); Boston (+10.9% to US$235.17); Dallas (+10.8% to US$113.86); Oahu Island, Hawaii (+10.6% to US$236.35); and Chicago, Illinois (+10.1% to US$194.67). San Francisco (-15.7% to US$264.10) was the only market to report a double-digit decline in ADR. Houston saw the only double-digit drop in occupancy (-10.3% to 61.1%). View weekly U.S. hotel performance review About STR STR provides clients from multiple market sectors with premium, global data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 10 countries around the world with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and an international headquarters in London, England. For more information, please visit str.com. Earlier this week, Google launched further into the world of travel with the release of Google Trips, a smartphone app that serves as a personalized tour guide. The app, which is available for Android or Apple devices, has the potential to shift travel data in a new direction by way of acting as a new front-end for existing information. By pulling data from Google Maps, Flights, and Places and marrying that information with travel information stored in your e-mail, Google is encouraging habitual use and ultimately shifting the way travelers utilize relevant information on-the-go. Not only does the app store reservation details in one place even without access to an Internet connection, it also suggests activities for what to do at a particular location based on weather, time of day, and past behavior. Should tour guides and hoteliers be worried? Not necessarily. Googles commitment to providing services and products that aid users across a variety of tasks makes their further exploration into the travel and hospitality sector an inevitability when considering the frequency with which we travel. According to the U.S. Travel Association in 2015, U.S. residents logged 1.7 billion person-trips for leisure purposes with the intent of visiting relatives, shopping, visiting friends, going to the beach and many other activities. Other types of travel are growing too, with U.S. residents logging 459 million person-trips for business related purposed in 2015. With $2.1 trillion in economic output generated by domestic and international visitors in that same year, we should not expect to see Google retreat from this sector any time soon. Google Trips makes it easy to see which attractions are open and estimate how long it will take travelers to get from one destination to another, helping individuals make the most of their time. However, when travelers find a match to a restaurant, bar, hotel or area attraction that matches their itinerary, they cannot make a reservation without contacting the provider directly. By virtue of its design, Google Trips is more appropriately marketed as a place to store information about a trip once plans have already been made. For those in vacation mode, the app serves a very specialized function despite its early limitations. Today, the app serves as a purely organic product and Googles main priority appears to be building a positive user experience before exploring advertising functionalities within Google Trips. To be seen and remain competitive in a digital landscape, hoteliers should ensure that they have developed a robust digital marketing strategy that not only attracts customers at every point in the purchase funnel but also is personalized to their target markets. Since Google Trips algorithm appears to have a solely organic function, hoteliers should ensure that they have a mobile-friendly website that offers fresh, unique content that is search engine optimized. Further, hoteliers should focus on strategies that drive traffic and bookings directly to their site including setting up local listings and directories to maintain a consistent local search presence, encouraging and responding to user reviews, and focusing on off-page SEO strategies to impact the many ranking signals that Google considers. Google has succeeded in developing a product that will likely be part of the travel experience for many. In addition to focusing attention to their own digital marketing strategies, hoteliers can supplement the information that travelers find on Google Trips with an editorial voice to provide their clients with the human touch that travel often demands. In that capacity, hoteliers can help guests craft truly personalized experience, helping them find places to go and things to do that travelers and the app may have not necessarily have known to look for. How can independent and branded properties begin to accomplish this this? A good place to start is with engaging content. About the Author and HeBS Digital Megan Harr is Manager, Copy & SEO at HeBS Digital. Founded in 2001, HeBS Digital helps hoteliers drastically increase direct bookings and lower overall distribution costs by deploying industry best-of-breed digital technology, consulting and marketing (www.hebsdigital.com). The firm has won more than 350 prestigious industry awards for its digital technology, website design and marketing services, including numerous Adrian Awards, Stevie Award in the American Business Awards, W3 Awards, WebAwards, Magellan Awards, Summit International Awards, Interactive Media Awards, and IAC Awards. A diverse client portfolio of top-tier major luxury and boutique hotel chains, independent hotels, resorts and casinos, franchised properties and hotel management companies, convention centers, spas, restaurants and bars, DMO and CVBs are all benefiting from HeBS Digitals direct online channel strategy and digital marketing expertise. Contact HeBS Digitals consultants at (212) 752-8186 or success@hebsdigital.com. Back in May, H&M announced that it was partnering up with French luxury brand Kenzo for a collection that would be hitting retailers this November. In addition to their collab with Kenzo, the brands have also commissioned Chance The Rapper to be the face of their new campaign, which was just recently revealed. In the new video clip, Chance talks about his love for film and screenwriting, and how that connects with his musical stylings. The upcoming H&M x Kenzo campaign also features Rosario Dawson, supermodel Iman, and Vietnamese rapper Suboi. The collection will arrive in over 250 H&M stores worldwide, as well as online, on November 3rd. Chance The Rapper Riots broke out in uptown Charlotte last night as more approximately 600 protesters marched in the name of Keith Scott, the man who was shot and killed during an altercation with police earlier this week. However, things ultimately turned violent during the protests Wednesday night and the governor of North Carolina declared a State of Emergency, calling on the National Guard for help. Property was damaged, numerous people were injured, and stores, including the Charlotte Hornets team store, were looted. In light of the tragic events in Charlotte, Michael Jordan issued a statement urging the people of Charlotte to restore peace in the community. MJ has, for the most part, avoided political and social advocacy issues during his playing career and in his retirement but he has become increasingly more vocal in recent months. Back in July he pledged to make two separate $1 million donations to help bridge the gap between police and communities, so it shouldnt come as a surprise that he is using his status again to encourage everyone to stop the chaos in Charlotte. Michael Jordan According to the Associated Press, prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma have announced first-degree manslaughter charges against Betty Shelby, the officer who fatally shot 40-year old Terence Crutcher just last week. The AP notes that, among the definitions in Oklahoma for first-degree manslaughter is a killing perpetrated unnecessarily either while resisting an attempt by the person killed to commit a crime, or after such attempt shall have failed. Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed the charges against Shelby and has said that arrangements were being made for her to surrender. I do not know why things happen in this world the way they do, Kunzweiler said, adding that he determined first-degree manslaughter the appropriate charge. We need to pray for wisdom and guidance. Video footage from a police dashboard as well as a helicopter showed Shelby, a five year veteran of the Tulsa police force, opening fire on Crutcher while he was being tased by another officer just outside of his vehicle. After the horrific incident, Tulsas police chief, Chuck Jordan, announced that Terence Crutcher was unarmed and did not have a weapon inside the vehicle that he was leaning on. Shelbys lawyer, Scott Wood, contested that she thought Crutcher had a weapon on him and that he acted erratically, refused to comply with several orders, tried to put his hand in his pocket and reached inside his car window before he was fatally shot. If convicted, she could face a minimum of four years in prison. [Via] Terence Crutcher North Carolina Governor, Pat McCrory declared a State of Emergency in Charlotte last night and called in the National Guard as more riots broke out in the wake of the Keith Scott killing. According to reports, what began as a march throughout Uptown Charlotte around 7:30pm turned into a full-blown 600-person riot when one civilian was critically wounded by a gun shot. Although, reports suggest it was not a police officer who fired the shot. As shown in the chaotic footage, some protesters started lighting fires, vandalizing vehicles and property, and looting stores, including the Charlotte Hornets team store. Some reporters were even attacked during the events as police officers in riot gear used tear gas to combat the mayhem that unfolded throughout the night. A few businesses like Wells Fargo and Bank Of America urged non-essential employees not to report to work today in the aftermath of the riots. Due to the State of Emergency in Charlotte, Wells Fargo team members are not required to report to work in Uptown today. Team members are being asked to work from home or work from alternate locations if they are able. Team members unable to find alternate arrangements are not required to take PTO today. Furthermore, ESPN is reporting that Carolina Panthers officials are planning to meet this morning to discuss security issues for Sundays home game against the Vikings. Officials are concerned with whether or not there will be enough police officers to keep the city in order and also keep the stadium secure. More protests are reportedly anticipated on Sunday. The wife of Keith Scott released a statement encouraging protesters to do so peacefully and urging them not to harm police officers, damage property, or loot stores in the name of her husband. Check out some of the intense video footage, as well as her full statement, below. Charlotte Riots A federal jury in Houston found a local businessman guilty of defrauding investors through a Ponzi scheme that promised returns of at least 20 percent by investing in crude oil futures. Christopher Donrick Daley, 32, was found guilty of three counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud during a two-day trial this week. Daley was taken into federal custody and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 3 before U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes. Daley faces up to 20 years in prison. In 2010 and 2011 oil prices were hovering in the $70- to $80-a-barrel range. Daley, who operated a company called the Del-Mair Group, told investors he had a way they could make substantial sums of money by investing in crude oil futures, according to a federal indictment filed in Houston federal court. He "falsely" represented to investors that his commodity pool never had a losing month, the indictment said. Some of the investors did get paid, but the money didn't come from returns, but rather from the new investors he recruited to the scheme, according to the indictment. Daley also spent some of the funds for his own benefit, according to the indictment. Government prosecutors allege that Daley sent false statements to his investors An arrest warrant was issued last fall, according to court documents. Daley turned himself in to the FBI on Oct. 30 and was subsequently released on a $50,000 bond, according to court documents. The government is seeking restitution of $1.6 million, according to the indictment. Houston lawyer Nicole DeBorde, who is representing Daley, said she would wait to comment until Daley is sentenced. Julie Jacobson/STF Whole Foods Market has reached a $3.5 million settlement with regulators over its improper identification or mishandling of hazardous waste at stores. The Environmental Protection Agency announced the fine and an agreement Tuesday for Austin-based Whole Foods to comply with waste regulations and better train workers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The message to the dozens of Wells Fargo workers gathered for a two-day ethics workshop in San Diego in mid-2014 was loud and clear: Do not create fake bank accounts in the name of unsuspecting clients. Similar warnings were being relayed from corporate headquarters in San Francisco to regional bankers in Texas, as senior management learned that some Wells employees had been trying to meet exacting sales goals by creating sham bank accounts and credit cards instead of making legitimate sales. Across the vast retail bank, more risk professionals were deployed in efforts to stamp out the illegal activity. But the banks efforts were not enough. Three years after the first false accounts were exposed publicly and authorities began investigating, Wells, one of the nations largest banks, said it was still firing employees over the questionable accounts well into this year. Some former employees say the explanation is simple: Wells continued to push the sales goals that caused employees to break the rules in the first place. In fact, the goals at the center of a $185 million civil settlement and investigations by prosecutors in three states are not set to be phased out for another three months. They warned us about this type of behavior and said, You must report it, but the reality was that people had to meet their goals, said Khalid Taha, a former Wells Fargo personal banker who resigned in July. They needed a paycheck. Since banking regulators and the Los Angeles city attorney announced the settlement with Wells over the illegal sales practices, Wells Fargo executives, including the chief executive, John Stumpf, have denied that the misdeeds were the result of a flawed incentive structure or an aggressive sales culture. In all, 5,300 employees have lost their jobs because of the scandal. Wells said in its defense that over the past several years, it had adjusted its compensation structure to place less emphasis on meeting sales goals and more on other factors such as good customer service. The bank analyzed potentially questionable accounts and employee terminations from 2011 through much of 2015 and concluded it had made progress in cleaning up its act. Mary Eshet, a Wells Fargo spokeswoman, said the banks analysis of that period showed the questionable accounts and the terminations had been declining since 2013. The steps we have been taking have been effective, she said. And we are continuing to do more. In interviews, former employees say the fact that the behavior has continued to occur even if less frequently shows that the bank has not been doing enough to stop it. The biggest problem, the former employees say, has been Wells Fargos aggressive sales culture, which was nurtured and honed over decades at the banks highest levels. The branch managers were always asking, How many solutions did you sell today? said Sharif Kellogg, who used to work in a Wells Fargo branch in Catonsville, Maryland. They wanted three to four a day. In my mind, that was crazy thats not how peoples financial lives work. Stumpf, Wells Fargos chief executive, has been called to testify at a Senate Banking Committee hearing Tuesday, and federal prosecutors are considering bringing charges. He has publicly said he feels accountable for what has happened, but he blamed workers for misinterpreting sales goals. Customers like Grantham arent buying it. They deny it because they dont want to affect their million-dollar bonuses and jobs, but at some level they had to have an idea, he said of Wells senior management. When 5,300-plus employees lose their jobs, its not just them theyre the scapegoats. Former employees also have scoffed at the banks suggestions that the sham accounts were primarily the result of bad decisions by unethical workers. In an online discussion on Reddit, former Wells employees swapped grim stories about the dichotomy between their ethics training where they were formally told not to do anything inappropriate and the on-the-job reality of a relentless push to meet sales goals that many considered unrealistic. Kellogg said he was constantly being hounded by his supervisor to increase his sales, or solutions, as they were known. I was always getting written up for failing to bump my solutions numbers up, he said. Some of his co-workers, facing the same pressure, bent the rules, said Kellogg, who was making $11.75 an hour when he left the bank in 2012. They would ask local business owners whom they knew well to open additional accounts as favors, saying they could close them later. It seems as though youd have to be willfully ignorant to believe that these goals are achievable through any other means, Kellogg said. During our training we go through SO much training about ethics and how you CANNOT do that, another former Wells teller wrote in the Reddit forum. I got threatened to be fired as a teller with them because I wasnt meeting my numbers. I told them I didnt believe in trying to convince someone to spend money they dont have, get what they dont need. Bank employees were expected to hit sales goals as part of their regular duties. If they hit the goals, it also factored into their yearly bonus. The bank said the goals were only one of several factors used to evaluate an employees job performance. But some former employees said they worried that they would lose their jobs if they did not meet them. Other former Wells employees have vented their frustrations in a series of cartoon videos on YouTube that spoof on the banks hard-driving culture and the fact that they were hardly getting rich from hitting their bosses targets. In one video, a cartoon banker drones on: If tellers and bankers make those sales numbers each day, at the end of the month everybody in the branch will get a $5 gift card to McDonalds. The district manager will get a $10,000 cash bonus. After the practice of creating phony accounts was first reported in the Los Angeles Times in late 2013, the bank stepped up its monitoring and ethics training, former employees said. For its part, the bank said it had caught the behavior and started firing workers before the article appeared. In San Diego, Taha said he attended two days of ethics training where employees were shown the difference between valid and improper accounts. But the problems persisted. Taha, 28, said he fielded complaints from customers about questionable accounts until shortly before he left the bank this summer. He said bank managers had grown weary of writing up reports on potentially improper sales. It was like jaywalking, Taha said of the practice of creating fraudulent accounts. It was hard to police. Taha now belongs to the Committee for Better Banks, an advocacy group that has been petitioning banks such as Wells to improve working conditions for lower-level employees. Customers all over the country have experienced the effects of the questionable sales. Early last year, Walter Mankowski, a 52-year-old computer science researcher who lives in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, received a Wells Fargo credit card in the mail that he had not applied for. He essentially forgot about the card until months later, when a $45 annual fee for it turned up on one of his account statements. It took talking to three different people at Wells Fargo to cancel it, Mankowski said. I probably spent half an hour on the phone trying to cancel this card I didnt know about and didnt want. He is not alone. When the Los Angeles city attorney, Mike Feuer, sued the bank in May last year over the phony accounts, his office received hundreds of calls from Wells customers and employees. Some of those complaints regarded questionable accounts created only months before the lawsuit was filed. Clearly the necessity to fire 5,300 employees shows that there is something that needs to change with Wells' internal oversight and with its practices generally, Feuer said in an interview. Some customers even those who were not victims agree and are voting with their feet. Darin Grantham, 43, a management consultant who lives in Phoenix, said he planned to close his checking, savings and credit card accounts with Wells Fargo this week not because he had a bad experience, but because I lost trust in them because of the scandal. In its settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other regulators, announced Sept. 8, Wells agreed to develop a broad oversight program of its sales practices, among other measures. But it was not until four days later that the bank announced that it would halt the sales goals altogether starting Jan. 1. Eshet said the bank had considered this step for quite some time before finally deciding to eliminate the goals. We dont want there to be any doubt on the part of our customers that our team members have their best interest at heart, she said. Still, the bank decided to wait a few months to implement the change because it needed enough lead time to roll out the change correctly, she explained. It was really important when we are making changes in compensation structure for team members that we get it right, Eshet said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN FRANCISCO - Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, on Wednesday announced an ambitious plan to spend $3 billion over the next 10 years to help cure or better treat disease. "Can we cure, prevent or manage all diseases by the end of this century? That doesn't mean that no one will get sick, but it should mean that people will get sick less," Zuckerberg told a crowd at the University of California, San Francisco. The initiative, Chan Zuckerberg Science, is designed to help bring scientists and engineers together, build new tools and technologies and grow a movement to help fund more science, he said. This is the first major science project developed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a charitable effort the couple set up after the birth of their daughter last year to focus on promoting equality in areas such as health, education, scientific research and energy. It is also the single largest charitable pledge in the fields of health and science, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, which tracks such gifts. During the announcement, Zuckerberg thanked Dr. Huda Zoghbi, a Houston geneticist/neuroscientist who's an adviser on the project, "for her really honest and direct organizational feedback and thinking on how to structure organizations that do science research. (She is) super insightful and has been an invaluable adviser." Zoghbi expressed her "deep gratitude" to Chan and Zuckerberg for "recognizing the importance of basic science research and the profound impact scientific discoveries can have on mankind." The initial investment in science is for the Biohub, a $600 million collaboration among UCSF, UC Berkeley and Stanford University. The Biohub will be independent research center that links experts across disciplines and include engineers, computer scientists, biologists and chemists. Chan, a pediatrician, talked about why the work was important to her. "As a pediatrician, I have worked with families at the most difficult moments of their lives, from making a devastating diagnosis of leukemia to sharing with a family that we are unable to resuscitate their child," said Chan, whose daughter, Max, is 10 months old. Chan said she hopes for a better future for children. "We set a goal: Can we all work together to cure or better manage disease for all children in our lifetime?" she said. In December, just after the birth of their daughter, they announced they intended to give away 99 percent of their shares in Facebook in their lifetimes. Unusually, they set up a limited liability company, or LLC, rather than a nonprofit charitable trust or foundation because it allows for more flexibility in how to distribute wealth. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has, until Wednesday, invested in education, including a coding project in Africa called Andela, and Byju, an Indian education startup. Zuckerberg also introduced Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who Zuckerberg said has been an inspiration for his philanthropic efforts. Gates returned the praise, expressing how he's been impressed by the couple's love for science and commitment to "where it can take us." Todd Ackerman contributed to this story. The late Dr. James "Red" Duke Jr. is often described as a Houston icon. Now Memorial Hermann Hospital has brought together the images that show the many colorful sides of the beloved trauma surgeon. In a new exhibit at the hospital's Rick Smith Gallery, "Our Dr. Duke" celebrates the cowboy-style doctor who delivered homespun health advice on nationally syndicated television programs and founded Life Flight, the city's helicopter ambulance system. The exhibit was timed to coincide with this summer's 40th anniversary of Life Flight and first anniversary of Duke's death. "You could definitely say Dr. Duke was a man who wore many hats -- though his cowboy hat is probably the most memorable," Dr. Richard Andrassy, chairman of surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, wrote in an exhibit placard. "He was a surgeon, minister, hunter, fisherman, television celebrity and friend. But, first and foremost, he was a teacher. It didn't matter if he was rounding in the hospital or sharing dinner with friends and colleagues Dr. Duke was always pontificating, always teaching." The exhibit features not just artwork, photographs, video and memorabilia but also personal stories, shared in placards, from close friends, colleagues, former patients -- his spot-on diagnosis that a cafe cashier's arm injury was really gout; his tension-relieving jokes during surgery; the confidence he instilled in a pilot about to fly him into Hurricane Alicia; his love of bursting into songs of his favorite country singers; the salad he fashioned solely of tomatoes and onions during a lunch interview with a job applicant.. Of course, no exhibit to Duke would be complete without a tribute to people's favorite Dukeisms, the piquant vernacular with which he peppered his speech. A 1989 Houston Post cartoon, depicting the bespectacled Duke riding a horse and typing on a typewriter, recalls one of the classics: "Hey Bubba, y'all ain't got an armadillo's prayer on a four-lane blacktop!" Some others remembered at the exhibit: "That's as helpful as a rubber crutch;" "any day above ground is a good day;" "he's as crazy as a two-pecker owl." But perhaps the exhibit's most lasting image is the photograph of Duke, wearing a look of detached amusement, poised next to a pink flamingo, dressed to look like him as part of a Memorial Hermann contest. Both wear green scrubs and white coat, brown cowboy boots, gold wire-rimmed glasses, a Texas A&M patch and, of course, the signature mustache. The creation won the Life Flight team the award for most spirited flamingo. It is all perhaps best summed by one colleague's recollection of a Duke quote that sums up his charm: 'We don't save lives, God does. It's our job to keep our patients entertained 'til He makes up His mind.' The exhibit is open to all, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No end date has been set yet. This is the eighth installment since the gallery, located near the hospital's main lobby, opened in 2012 in memory of Rick Smith, the late director of Memorial Hermann's chaplaincy services. Previous exhibitions have featured paintings, photographs, mixed media and sculptures of the hospital's pet therapy programs; hand-drawn portraits of caregivers by pediatric patients; the Holocaust Museum Houston's Butterfly Project; and a history of Life Flight. You can read more about the "Our Dr. Duke" exhibit here. A Houston Police Department officer has been relieved of duty after he was arrested on a charge of prostitution Wednesday, officials said. Jermaine Tyree Owens, 40, is charged with prostitution, a misdemeanor, after he allegedly agreed to pay for sex, according to court documents filed in the case. Mayor Sylvester Turner will lead a Houston delegation to Cuba on Sunday in a quick trip to pitch our city as a possible future business partner with the communist island and to seek opportunities that may exist since President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed in December 2014 to end their countries' long estrangement. In announcing the Sept. 25-27 trip, a joint effort of the city and the Greater Houston Partnership, Turner said he wants to promote Houston as "the preferred U.S. gateway for travel to Cuba" and to explore new opportunities "under the more relaxed relationship" with the country of 11 million people. Havana has become a popular destination for American politicians, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott who led a trip there last November to, among other things, drum up business for Texas agricultural producers. Aside from the steady flow of trade delegations and a flood of U.S. tourists to the once-forbidden island, not much has happened except a few deals that got a lot of hype but were fairly low-wattage. Some of the inaction can be blamed on Cuban leaders, who after half a century of enmity with the U.S., want our money and commerce for their moribund economy, but don't want too much dependence on what they call "the empire" or too much change to their system. They believe that while Obama has restored relations and called for an end to the U.S. trade embargo, enacted fully since 1962 to supposedly bring down Fidel Castro, he still seeks to change Cuba, but by other means. The continued existence of the embargo, which Obama has weakened with executive orders but only Congress can end, is also a major stumbling block for business and part of the reason for Cuba's biggest economic problem - its lack of money. For years, Cuba has depended upon benefactors for its survival. The Soviet Union basically kept the country afloat for three decades before its own collapse. Then Hugo Chavez-led Venezuela began providing most of the island's oil and several billion dollars a year in exchange for the services of Cuban doctors and other professionals. But Venezuela, now facing low oil prices and political unrest, has dramatically slashed the flow of oil and money, which has forced Cuba to cut electricity generation, impose blackouts and reduce public transportation. The Cuban government reportedly has asked its old allies in Moscow for oil, but President Vladimir Putin is said to have doubts about it for economic reasons. No one should expect immediate benefits from the upcoming trip, but showing the Houston flag is worthwhile. Cuba needs many things our city would happily sell it - oil and oil exploration expertise, for example - and one day might have the means to buy them. Upon its return, we would urge the Houston delegation to step up political pressure on our representatives in Washington to end the failed embargo, which now impedes progress. At the same time, we urge the Cuban government to do more to encourage U.S. investment, which will require changes in rules and changes in thinking. Both could benefit Cuba's long-suffering people, trapped for decades between two governments pursuing failed policies. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. 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Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. or change is inevitable in todays fast-paced environment and employers must remain attractive if they want to succeed but how do they do it? Here, one leading HR figure from a particularly agile industry explains how she keeps a steady focus on talent despite the pace of change.The need for continuous recruitment in todays market is critical because every business is undergoing change, says Kylie Goodwin , talent acquisition director for Fairfax Media.There is no business in the world which is not undergoing some sort of change or transformation in terms of keeping up with their audience, their customers, whoever theyre serving or whatever product theyre providing, she continues.According to Goodwin, communicating the companys plan is one of the biggest hurdles employers have to overcome when recruiting in times of uncertainty.I think the difficulty that comes in quite often is being able to convey what your business is trying to achieve and where the business is going to a candidate who doesnt know about your business and who doesnt sit in the business every day, she told HRM. That can be quite challenging in how you communicate that and how you provide them with a level of understanding and comfort.The Sydney-based HR leader says employers in the situation are under more pressure than ever before because employees have more options when it comes to where and how they choose to work.There is such a variety of employers in the market now gone are the days where you can be a big corporate with a really well-known brand and you attract people, you literally open the front door and candidates walk through it, she told HRM.There is so much more opportunity now to be a freelancer or to join a big corporate or to join a start-up or do whatever you want so the traditional ways of recruiting, based on who you are as a business, have been completely wiped out as people have far more choice, she continued.Despite the challenges, Fairfax Media continues to attract valuable employees.I think its all about transparency, says Goodwin, when asked how Fairfax remains appealing to jobseekers. Its about understanding that not every candidate it right for you and youre not right for every candidate.There is a real level of awareness that leaders, leadership teams and recruitment teams need to have around the fact that they need to be transparent, open and honest about their business the good and the bad.People like honesty, they know that not every business is going to be perfect so the amount of transparency you can put into that conversation, or into the messages you send out into the market when you are looking to hire new people, is quite critical.Its really important that you can try and convey through your own people and through your business what its like to be here and again good, bad and indifferent its not for everybody and we know, as a media business, this business is not for everybody.Goodwin, who has been with Fairfax since 2012, says employers who find themselves hiring in times of uncertainty should never avoid the subject with candidates no matter how tempting it might be.One of the things that Im always really strong on regardless of whether or not there is a significant piece of change or uncertainty is that you need to be really honest with your candidate, you need to say to them; This is whats happening, this is how were dealing with it as a business, this is how I deal with it as a leader, and this is what it means for you.I think its also really valuable if the candidate comes in and meets the team something we really strongly encourage at Fairfax to actually get the team to talk to them about how they feel about the change going on in the business and convey that feeling to the potential candidate.Kylie Goodwin will be discussing the difficulties of recruiting in times of uncertainty at the upcoming HRM Leaders Forum . Here, she will cover a range of strategies to ensure organisations not only remain attractive but also stand out from their competitors.To find out more about the event, or to secure advance tickets, click here Three major Canadian banks set up thousands of offshore companies in one of the world's top tax havens, leaked records show. RBC, CIBC, and Scotiabank registered 1,960 companies in the Bahamas over the course of 26 years, The Toronto Star reported Wednesday. Advertisement RBC was responsible for 847 companies, while CIBC had 632. Scotiabank had 481. There is no suggestion that the banks did anything against the law representatives told the Star that each bank has measures to ensure they're not handling money illegally. However, the Bahamas have long been the focus of international authorities concerned about whether its anti-money laundering measures comply with those of other countries. The records made up of 1.3 million files from the Bahamian corporate registry were leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung. Advertisement The documents were then shared with the Star, as well as with CBC/Radio-Canada. The papers reveal information about almost 175,500 companies, foundations and trusts that were registered in the Bahamas from 1990 to 2016, the ICIJ reported. The records which are publicly searchable contain information such as companies' names, creation dates, addresses, and directors. And Canadians will recognize at least one name in the Bahamas leak Finance Minister Bill Morneau. He appears as managing director of Morneau Shepell (Bahamas) Ltd. a subsidiary of the human resources company where the minister served as executive chariman before his foray into politics. Advertisement Morneau's office told the Star that he resigned from the director's position on Oct. 26, 2015, as is required of cabinet ministers. The newspaper was told that his name still shows up in the leaked documents because they are out of date. Catherine Ronberg, a spokesperson for Morneau Shepell, said the company set up in the Bahamas to help with pension consulting with businesses and governments throughout the Caribbean. She said the company does not funnel money from its Canadian business through the Bahamas. Morneau previously pledged to fight tax evasion following the release of the Panama Papers in April. His name is far from the only prominent one that shows up in the latest leak. Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, a former Qatari prime minister, is named as a director of a company called Trick One Limited. Neelie Kroes, a Dutch former commissioner with the European Union (EU), also appears in the database. She's named as the director of a company called Mint Holdings Ltd. Advertisement Kroes didn't mention that company in mandatory disclosures of her financial interests, according to the CBC. But, as with Morneau, her office said someone neglected to take her name off company documents, even though Mint Holdings essentially ceased to exist a decade ago. Corporations have been known to set up offshore companies in an effort to keep corruption secret, according to former FBI agent Debra LaPrevotte. "Offshore companies are often used as intermediaries to facilitate money laundering and, frequently, the companies are only used to open bank accounts," the ex-agent told the ICIJ. Advertisement "Thus the corporate registry documents, which might identify the beneficial owners, are part of the evidence." Bahamas once blacklisted In 2000, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development placed the Bahamas on a blacklist that identified countries that helped people dodge taxes, the ICIJ reported. It was taken off that list nine years later, though it was later added to a second "gray list." That roundup encompasses countries whose standards don't exactly conform with international practices. Nicholas Shaxson, the author of "Treasure Islands: Tax Havens and the Men Who Stole the World," told the Star that the Bahamas doesn't meet international standards because it doesn't depend on any major countries for business. "It has more of a developing country flavour about it," he said. "[The Bahamas] has to look for a niche elsewhere. Its niche has been being more secretive, being more willing to burn a blind eye." Advertisement Also on HuffPost Marion Cotillard has had enough with rumours. On Wednesday, the French actress addressed reports that she had an affair with her "Allied" co-star, Brad Pitt, via an Instagram post. 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 "Macbeth" star captioned the pic an image of a bird flying through stars. Advertisement I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously but as this situation is spiraling [sic] and affecting people I love, I have to speak up, she continued. 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. The 40-year-old actress was referring to her partner, French actor Guillaume Canet. The couple have been together since 2007 and have a son named Marcel together. Advertisement Her Instagram post also served as an announcement that the couple is expecting their second child. "Secondly to those who have indicated that I am devastated, I am very well thank you," Cotillard wrote. "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." Not long after news broke Tuesday that Angelina Jolie had filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday, reports surfaced that the actor allegedly had an affair with Cotillard during the filming of their movie, "Allied," for which the trailer was released this week. According to Page Six, Jolie ended her marriage to Pitt after a detective she hired uncovered the alleged affair between Pitt and Cotillard. But Us Weekly reports that Cotillard wasn't the reason for the split. "Marion had nothing to do with it," a source told the tabloid, while another source added, "Marion was not the reason for the divorce and Angelina did not hire a private eye." Advertisement According to one of her attorneys, Jolie made the decision "for the health of the family." In a second statement through her manager, Geyer Kosinski, the "Maleficent" actress reiterated that she filed for divorce for the good of her family, which includes her and Pitt's six children. "Angelina will always do what's in the best interest of taking care of her family," Kosinski told E! News. "She appreciates everyone's understanding of their need for privacy at this time." According to divorce documents filed by Jolie, the actress listed Sept. 15 as the couple's date of separation and cited "irreconcilable differences." Advertisement Jolie is not requesting spousal support from her estranged husband but is asking for physical custody of their kids. She is also asking Pitt for "miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects" as well as "earnings and accumulations" she made "from and after the date of separation." Pitt and Jolie married in August 2014, at their French estate. They were together for 12 years. Also on HuffPost It takes a lot of work to build a trustworthy brand. You need strong customer service, social and environmental values, and authenticity among other things. The Gustavson Brand Trust Index asked 6,384 Canadians to rank 276 different companies based on trust earlier this year. Advertisement Canada's Most and Least Trusted Brands (2016) See Gallery The index, which comes out of the University of Victoria, measures trustworthiness by five factors: Brand trust Whether a company acts with integrity Functional trust How its products perform Values-based trust The brand's social responsibility Relationship trust A brand's interactions with customers Net recommendations Would a customer recommend this brand to someone else? MEC sells items such as tents, sleeping bags, and ice axes. It operates as a retail co-operative, prioritizing "values" and not profits. Anyone who shops at MEC becomes a member and, therefore, a part-owner in the business. That opens the door for consumers to attend and vote at the company's general meetings. President's Choice, meanwhile, is a Loblaw brand that applies to various foods in its stores. Advertisement Last place in the index went to Volkswagen. The German automaker's dismal rating follows some of its most troubled years, in which the company had been dogged by allegations that it cheated on emissions tests. Earlier this year, it was discovered that diesel engines in many of its cars had devices that changed their performance while they were being tested, BBC News reported. Volkswagen agreed to pay $10 billion to settle lawsuits after that news broke. Other brands that landed in the index's bottom 10 included Sun Newspapers, Red Bull, and Bell Canada. Last year, Canadians dubbed Tim Hortons as a most-trusted brand. The coffee chain was followed by President's Choice and Shoppers Drug Mart. OTTAWA Former embattled Conservative immigration minister Chris Alexander is hoping to join the Tory leadership race. Alexander, the former MP for AjaxPickering, told The Huffington Post Canada he is currently collecting signatures supporting his potential run. Advertisement "I am actively considering a bid to lead the Conservative Party of Canada and excited by the exchanges I'm having about how to renew and reinvigorate our Party," Alexander said in an email. "I'll have lots more to say on other subjects when I'm ready." Former immigration minister Chris Alexander speaks to media in Toronto on Sept. 19, 2015. (Photo: Aaron Vincent Elkaim/CP) The 48-year-old was seen as a rising star in the party after an impressive stint as Canadas first ambassador to Afghanistan and later as the United Nations deputy special representative there. Advertisement During the 2015 election campaign, however, Alexander took heat for the Tories handling of the Syrian refugee crisis. He was left to defend the governments unambitious actions when images of three-year-old Alan Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach flooded the airwaves and his Canadian aunt told reporters she had tried to get her family to Canada but was refused. Alexander, first elected in 2011, lost his bid for re-election last October to Liberal Mark Holland. 'I spent two weeks being called a baby-killer' "I spent two weeks being called a baby-killer by other MPs and by people in the media. That was not pleasant," he told Global News after the election. Alexander also stood next to current leadership hopeful, Kellie Leitch, when both announced that a re-elected Conservative government would establish an RCMP tip line so citizens could report incidents of "barbaric cultural practices." His tenure as citizenship minister was also marred by controversies dealing with cuts to refugee health care, bans of the niqab during citizenship swearing-in ceremonies, and legislative efforts to revoke the Canadian citizenship of dual-citizens convicted of terrorism offences. Advertisement The Liberals quite successfully argued to ethnic communities that the Tories wanted to create two classes of citizenship. Needs support of 300 members The Liberals had spread "poison" across the country, Alexander told Global News while noting that the Tories had failed to communicate their law better. Alexander needs the support of at least 300 party members in no less than 30 ridings spread across least seven provinces and territories, to be accepted as a candidate. He will also need to make a $50,000 deposit. There are currently five official candidates in the Conservative leadership race: MPs Leitch, Michael Chong, Maxime Bernier, Tony Clement, and Deepak Obhrai. MPs Lisa Raitt, Andrew Scheer, Brad Trost, Erin OToole and Steven Blaney are also considering entering the race. Advertisement Also on HuffPost Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is now the least popular provincial leader in Canada, a new poll suggests. According to numbers from the Angus Reid Institute released on Thursday, Wynne has taken the ignominious title from Newfoundland and Labrador's Dwight Ball. Wynne has an approval rating of 20 per cent, while Ball sits at 21 per cent. Advertisement The firm tests the approval ratings of premiers each quarter. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne speaks at the International Plowing Match in Harriston, Ont. on Sept. 20. (Photo: Hannah Yoon/CP) Seventy-four per cent of those surveyed said they disapprove of the job Wynne's doing, while six per cent said they are not sure. The results come just days after Wynne was booed at an event in rural Ontario over skyrocketing hydro rates in the province. Advertisement Wynne prorogued the legislature earlier this month and returned with a throne speech promising some relief by removing the provincial portion of the harmonized sales tax from hydro bills. The move is expected to cost taxpayers $1 billion a year and save the average Ontario household about $130 annually. The government projects rural electricity customers struggling to pay their bills can expect additional savings of $540 a year. Story continues after slideshow: Least, Most Popular Premiers (Sept. 2016) See Gallery Wynne also shuffled her cabinet this summer to bring fresh faces to her front bench, including new Energy Minister Glen Thibeault, as she prepares for another provincial campaign in 2018. Her party recently lost a Toronto byelection to Patrick Brown's Progressive Conservatives. Since then, Brown has faced his own controversy over a 2015 email to a social conservative supporter, in which he said he would repeal Ontario's sex-ed curriculum. Brown denied during the byelection campaign that he would scrap the curriculum. Still, Angus Reid Institute noted in the poll summary that Wynne's approval rating has declined steadily since her Liberals captured a majority government in June 2014. Advertisement As has become old hat, Saskatchewan's Brad Wall remains the most popular premier with an approval rating of 57 per cent. Yet, the firm says that represents a slide of nine per cent since May after a summer that saw his deputy premier charged with impaired driving. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, perhaps still in a honeymoon period after capturing his own majority government in April, sits at 53 per cent. British Columbia Premier Christy Clark saw her job performance rating spike seven percentage points after her government imposed a controversial, 15 per cent tax on foreign buyers of Vancouver homes. She called the tax, implemented in August, a move to calm down a "distorted" housing market. Clark, gunning for re-election in 2017, now sits at 34 per cent support. However, 60 per cent of respondents still disapprove of her performance. Advertisement While Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard saw his approval rating dip five points to sit at 28 per cent, things were mostly stable for other leaders. Alberta's Rachel Notley rating of 31 per cent and New Brunswick's Brian Gallant rating of 24 per cent signify small dips from the spring. Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil, meanwhile, is down three points to sit at 38 per cent. The Angus Reid Institute does not test the approval rating of Prince Edward Island Premier Wade MacLauchlan because the sample size for the province is too small. The survey was conducted online among 4,629 Angus Reid Forum panelists between Sept. 5 to 11. Similar surveys have a margin of error of two per cent, 19 times out of 20. Advertisement Any binge-watcher knows that when you're watching a show you love, there's always one episode that sucks you in. Netflix recently released data to pinpoint exactly when TV-watchers around the world get hooked on their favourite shows. Looking at both the global scale and the Canadian one (scroll down to that list below), it's fair to say people get addicted to shows pretty quickly, sometimes even after episode two. Advertisement According to the infographic above, shows like "Stranger Things," "The Fall," and "Grey's Anatomy" all hooked global audiences by episode two. Canadians also loved "Grey's" and "The Fall", getting hooked on episode two, but "The Last Kingdom" and "Love" were just as popular. The data looked at member activity between January 2015 to August 2016 and at countries around the world like Brazil, Finland, India and South Africa. Getting "hooked" to an episode, Netflix explains, is when 70 per cent of viewers who watched that hooked episode actually watched the whole season. Advertisement And while the data looked at episodes specifically, it didn't look at plot points, for example. And since every month on Netflix always has new offerings, we wonder what the next "Stranger Things" will be. But what about Canada? Below we take a look at when Canadians, on average, got hooked on some of Netflix's most popular shows. Let us know, which show is your favourite? Edmonton is the first city in Canada to test a new type of technology allowing cars to talk to objects including stop signs or traffic lights. With project ACTIVE-AURORA, scientists at the University of Alberta's Centre for Smart Transportation are using wireless devices to improve road safety and lessen congestion. Advertisement This technology is going to revolutionize the way we think and move. It will allow vehicles to be able to communicate information to each other and talk to the infrastructure, civil engineering professor Karim El-Basyouny said in a release last week. The University of Alberta is testing a project that would let cars communicate with each other. (University of Alberta/Centre for Smart Transportation) The connected vehicles will be able to warn drivers of pedestrians, let them know if they're following a vehicle too closely. The connected cars will also be able to alert drivers when a green light is about to turn red. Advertisement Right now, the project is being tested on three roads: Whitemud Drive, Anthony Henday Drive and 23 Ave. One of the reasons Edmonton was chosen for the project was because of Alberta's chilly winter climate. Road salt or freeze and thaw cycles can impact how traffic behaves. The project will cost about $2.4 million, and is being funded by the municipal, provincial and federal governments. Minister of Transport Marc Garneau said as an engineer, he's excited about the initiative's possibilities. "This innovative technology has the potential to make Canadas transportation system safer, more efficient, and secure for passenger and commercial traffic throughout the country," Garneau said in a statement. Advertisement Canada's official welcome for Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is tomorrow. Unofficial welcome from Xavier tonight. Le Canada accueille officiellement demain le premier ministre chinois Li Keqiang. Xavier laccueille officieusement ce soir. A photo posted by Justin Trudeau (@justinpjtrudeau) on Sep 21, 2016 at 5:39pm PDT OpenRangeStock via Getty Images Indoor marijuana garden with leafy plants under lights The global cannabis industry is maturing, but it hasn't yet outgrown the awkwardness of adolescence. It still doesn't know how to mind its manners. That's going to change, because incentives for it to start acting like a responsible adult are coming soon. The clash of two recent headlines announces why: Advertisement From The Guardian, "Breakthrough as US and China Agree to Ratify Paris Climate Deal." From EcoWatch, "Humboldt County's Marijuana Boom is Destroying Redwoods and Killing Rare Wildlife." Last November, just before global climate negotiations began in Paris, the G20 released a statement calling climate change "one of the greatest challenges of our time." Just prior to this year's G20 summit, on September 3rd the world's two heaviest greenhouse gas producers - China and the U.S. - jointly committed to ratifying the Paris climate agreement. Punctuating the urgency and seriousness of the commitment, China's President Xi Jinping said, "Our response to climate change bears on the future of our people and the well-being of mankind." U.S. President Obama stressed, "Just as I believe the Paris agreement will ultimately prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge today's efforts as pivotal." Whether or not the cuts to greenhouse gas emissions proposed by the G20 are sufficient to avert the climate disaster some believe is looming is hotly debated, but one thing is for certain: The world is more focused than ever on the environmental effects of our human carbon footprint and on implementing regulations to ensure that, planet-wide, industrial production is made to become less environmentally harmful. At the very time the world is focused on limiting environmental pollution, the global cannabis industry is earning a reputation as an ecological vandal. Advertisement EcoWatch quotes Natalynne DeLapp, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center: "The single biggest threat to our environment right now has been unregulated cannabis. In the last 20 years we've seen a massive exponential growth in cannabis production in the hills of Humboldt County and we've seen really devastating environmental effects." Cultivation operations are dumping sediment, pesticides, fertilizers and trash into the rivers, diverting water for irrigation which has left some riverbeds dry and others unable to sustain the wildlife that depend on the region's waterways, and killing large numbers of wildlife with rodenticides meant to keep rats out of the cannabis plants. To promote organic cannabis and protect their environment, a group of responsible cannabis growers in the area have formed the Humboldt Sun Growers Guild. They've now turned to local government to request regulation of their industry's energy, land, water and pesticide use and banning the conversion of timber lands for cannabis operations. As one member explained, "It's about protecting the small and mid-range farmer and creating a viable industry that's going to pass all the environmental scrutiny it needs to. We welcome environmental regulation." While the EcoWatch article addresses damage by outdoor growing in Northern California, indoor cannabis cultivation is wreaking its own environmental havoc across Canada, the US and Europe, and it won't go unnoticed. Advertisement Recognition of these effects is not new. A 2013 article in AlterNet explained "Why Growing Cannabis Indoors Is a Major Environmental Problem," citing the widely referenced 2011 study by Evan Miles at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that even then found indoor cannabis production accounted for "1% of national electricity production, using $6 billion worth of energy per year, and creating greenhouse gas pollution equivalent to that of 3 million cars." As the steady march toward legalization progresses, concerns are logically being expressed that these problems will only increase -- unless they're addressed now. Today's methods for the indoor production of cannabis originated in the need to keep an illegal business hidden. In the days of absolute prohibition, those methods generally satisfied the need for secrecy -- but at a high cost. They demanded electricity for the grow lights and then more electricity for cooling systems to draw off the heat from the grow lights. They demanded a place for the unwanted heat to go (which might be a nearby creek). And indoor production demanded piped-in water to irrigate thirsty plants that were sealed off from rainfall. Indoor growing still makes those demands, even when the growing is legal, and no method has been devised to keep that production mode from being an insult to the environment. Advertisement The thought of being bad ecological citizens never bothered some illegal growers, for whom it was just part of being an outlaw. The legal growers who are taking over the industry won't be allowed to imitate them. The worldwide trend toward the legalization of cannabis -- the whitening of a previously black market -- isn't merely a trend toward permissiveness for users. It is also a trend toward regulation of providers. The regulatory regimes established so far have been modeled on the rules for alcohol: strict licensing requirements for producers and sellers, restrictions on vertical integration, standards for purity and labeling and a prohibition on sales to minors. But a social process now underway will extend the rules to cover other topics. Recent complaints about environmental damage from cannabis production are a signal that regulation of the product won't stop with the kind of rules that apply to beer and vodka. From here on, the legal cannabis industry should expect licensing requirements to include enforceable commitments to environmental standards. Want a permit to build a large-scale facility for growing marijuana? Please answer our inconvenient questions about where the water and electricity are going to come from and where the waste products, which include 99% of the plant material, are going to go. Advertisement Regulatory frameworks will develop jurisdiction by jurisdiction, but not in isolation. The point of view of environmental regulators is global. They became regulators because they are attuned to the ways in which seemingly local activity can affect the entire planet. For that reason alone, the environmental elements of cannabis regulation will be driven by an urge for international uniformity and harmonization. And because cannabis (unlike, say, coal) is just now becoming legal, it offers a regulatory blank slate. Today's regulators have an opportunity to get it right, with no need to accommodate longstanding local rules. Some readers may know how circumspect I am about government regulation. People who produce shouldn't be made to suffer cost-blind kibitzing from people who only produce rules. But cost-aware regulation -- rules that require producers to bear the full environmental cost of what they produce -- are another matter. Such rules would deliver powerful incentives for avoiding damage to the environment, and they would help steer the legal cannabis industry toward the locations and toward the production modes that make sense both economically and environmentally. If plants could speak, this is what they would tell us: For optimal, rapid growth, cannabis requires warm temperatures. It requires consistent moisture. And as a prelude to abundant flowering, it requires a cycle of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. Those conditions are available outdoors, naturally and for free, in the equatorial regions of the planet - and nowhere else. Go there. Advertisement As the prohibitions on cannabis are repealed, the cost of importing the material to Europe and North America -- which currently includes all the expenses of a smuggling operation -- will drop to basic shipping cost, which for cannabis is trivial. As that happens, with no prodding from anyone, production will migrate to areas near the equator. Cost-aware regulation, which requires producers to pay for the environmental effects of what they do, will only speed that migration. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Earlier this month, Shoshanna, a mother of two girls and three boys, shared a photo depicting the stark contrast between two magazine covers -- Girls' Life and Boys' Life. The male version's main header jumps off the page with the strong messages "Explore your future" and "Here's how to be what you want to be." The female magazine's headlines are anchored in archaic notions of femininity, focused instead on back-to-school fashion -- how to "slay on the first day," "first kiss confessions" and "waking up pretty." Advertisement Shoshanna's open letter to the magazine editors went viral on her Facebook page. I first came across the story in Refinery 29, and had to double-check the publish date since I was in partial disbelief that these opposing covers were in fact from 2016. To this day, sexism still pervades our media landscape and oftentimes advertising appears to have been pulled straight from the Mad Men era. Many magazines, commercials and billboards still tell girls that they are less intelligent or weaker than their male counterparts. Their value lies in their appearance, not their contribution to society. From magazine covers to real life -- girls are still discriminated against. The reality is that young girls face more adversity than others due to their age coupled with their gender, making them one of the most vulnerable groups in the world. We should be mindful of the conflicting messages girls are exposed to and the unique challenges they face. Girls have a remarkable inner strength and I want to shine a light on their inherent power and potential. I am proud to be part of a team that launches campaigns that depict girls as heroes of their own lives. Our latest campaign, Rally Behind Her, disrupts the status quo and rightly portrays girls from around the world as powerful champions. The exact kind of heroism that is traditionally associated with boys and men. Advertisement The campaign places a girl at the heart of her own story of adversity and triumph, which plays out in a stadium filled with a cheering crowd. When we rally behind girls, they can break down barriers and realize their inner power. The Rally Behind Her campaign portrays girls from around the world as powerful champions. (Photo: Plan International Canada). Our responsibility to rally behind girls also carries significant weight on a global scale. Every day, millions of girls around the world are denied their basic human rights simply because they are young and female. In fact, 62 million girls worldwide are denied an education. Girls are twice as likely as boys to be malnourished. Girls are forced into child marriage, live in fear of gender-based violence, and are prevented from making important decisions about their own futures. Behind each statistic is a real story. I often think about a remote rural community in Bangladesh where the rainy season creates a dangerous walk through waist-high water for girls to get to and from school. Ultimately, parents and children rallied behind the idea of school boats and girls' dormitory, and thanks to community sponsors these ideas became a reality. By helping to eliminate the barriers to education, these girls now have a chance to stay in school and thrive. Advertisement In Bangladesh, girls wade through a river to get to school, (Photo: Plan International/Saikat Mojumder) The stories keep on coming -- around the world, girls continue to fear for their safety, even when they're walking in public places. Just this week, a woman in India was stabbed 20 times in broad daylight as dozens of passersby declined to step in. This is why this campaign is so necessary. I am delighted to work at an organization where our work -- whether it's in the field or through our storytelling, serves as a constant reminder that young girls everywhere are capable of incredible feats. Whether it's penning a Facebook open letter to the editors of a girls' magazine, signing a petition or sponsoring a girl, the onus is on everyone to help girls everywhere defy the odds. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE - In this Dec. 26, 2014 file photo, a North Korea's mock Scud-B missile, center, stands among South Korean missiles displayed at Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea said Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015 that rival North Korea has a 6,000-member cyber army dedicated to disrupting the South's military and government. The figure is a dramatic increase from its earlier estimate that the North had a cyberwarfare staff of 3,000. Seoul's Defense Ministry said in a report that North Korea may also have gained the ability to strike the U.S. mainland because of its recent progress in missile technology, which was demonstrated in five long-range missile tests in 2009 and 2012, and is advancing in efforts to miniaturize nuclear warheads to mount on such missiles. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) Make no mistake: neither North Korea's latest nuclear weapons test nor the recent high-stakes stalemate over Iran's nuclear program are the root of nuclear insecurity. They are but symptoms of a nuclear disarmament regime in a severe state of disrepair. While every other category of weapons of mass destruction has been specifically prohibited under international law, nuclear weapons -- by far the most destructive of them all -- remarkably still have not. What is needed is a global legal ban on nuclear weapons, with specific provisions for the elimination of existing arsenals and a timeline for verified implementation. Advertisement A rare opportunity for progress on this front has opened up. A UN-established Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) met in Geneva three times this year with a mandate to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations. The final OEWG report included a recommendation, supported by a majority of participating states, to convene a conference in 2017 "to negotiate a legally-binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination." The expectation is that there will be a resolution to operationalize this proposal at the UN General Assembly First Committee (on disarmament and international security) when it meets in October. Notably, Canada voted against the OEWG recommendation -- along with most other members of NATO, itself a nuclear weapons alliance. Despite being a non-nuclear weapons state, Canada stands not with the growing number of nations, organizations, and individuals that believe that a legal prohibition on nuclear weapons is long overdue. Instead, Ottawa's position is aligned with that of the few who question the merits of a nuclear weapons ban. Advertisement Canada's current stance -- and that of most nuclear weapons states -- is that conditions are not ideal for a ban on nuclear weapons. But the reality is that they never may be. Nuclear disarmament negotiations must therefore be started, realized and concluded under geopolitical conditions that are predictably less than perfect. An increasingly loud denunciation of the intransigence of states with nuclear weapons, however, has done little to persuade them to change course. Nuclear-weapons states still purport to be at the same time arbiters and direct beneficiaries of global norms on the acceptability of nuclear weapons possession. Consider the lopsided logic by which the very states that have developed, stockpiled, tested, and used nuclear weapons deem themselves fit to chastise others on the risks of proliferation. The moral high ground they claim is built upon an extremely weak and inherently unjust foundation. They demand immediate, consistent compliance with non-proliferation obligations, but disregard their own responsibility to disarm. They extol the value of nuclear weapons in safeguarding their national security, but expect no one else to embrace the same rationale. Some countries deem the pursuit and possession of nuclear weapons by certain states unacceptable, but seem content to accept the nuclear-weapons programs of military or economic allies, even outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty (NPT) framework. Advertisement The United States and Canada, for instance, not only turn a blind eye to the notoriously opaque Israeli nuclear weapons program, but engage in nuclear cooperation agreements with India, contravening the longstanding principle that such cooperation should be reserved for NPT states parties. The pervasive notion that the primary problem of nuclear weapons is the risk of their proliferation, and not their very existence, cannot be further perpetuated. So let us be clear: the main problem with the existence of nuclear weapons is the existence of nuclear weapons. Proliferation concerns are no doubt important, but they will not be fully allayed unless and until the responsibility to disarm is taken seriously by states with nuclear weapons. Especially problematic is the determination of several nuclear-weapons states to retain a nuclear arsenal as long as such weapons exist. This strategic, political, and logical straitjacket all but ensures that a world without nuclear weapons will never be achieved. Today, more than 15,000 nuclear warheads continue to threaten civilization. Even a limited nuclear exchange would bring about incalculable loss of human life and catastrophic effects for the environment. So the objective cannot be nuclear weapons management or containment. Nor are sporadic reductions and reconfigurations of nuclear systems sufficient. Only complete and irreversible disarmament will do. Advertisement Tired arguments over the purported value of nuclear weapons possession have been replaced by a renewed emphasis on the humanitarian imperative for nuclear disarmament. The catastrophic humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons use outweighs any and all alleged benefits. Further, billions of dollars (some estimates put the price tag at more than $1-trillion) are slated to be spent modernizing arsenals and related infrastructure while the most basic needs of a significant segment of the world's population are still unmet. From this perspective, the time certainly seems ripe for turning nuclear swords into ploughshares, so to speak. The UN First Committee resolution on a legal instrument to ban nuclear weapons will afford Canada a unique opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the security of a world free of these instruments of mass destruction. Come October we will know whether it was seized. Or squandered. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook With the recent news release, that Ontario students are doing poorly at math, it is imperative to focus on this issue now as it affects not only our current students and schools but our economy in the long run. While STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focused professions are the future of our economy they require a high level of math knowledge. For example, to enter an engineering field one must have a high understanding of math and, if not learned early it may be a loss that the next generation will have to deal with when losing opportunities in the future. While the idea of having a one hour blocked time for math learning in classrooms is a great solution, I am personally not convinced when it comes to the online learning strategy. It is very interesting to see how many kids and their parents will actually have access to online resources considering that, although we live in one of the best nations in the world, many people do not have a computer and Internet access at home. Advertisement A 2011 study showed that one in five households did not have a computer or Internet at home, in Canada. It is hard to believe that many of these people are not interested in having access to a computer and Internet access considering that just about everything we do now requires online access starting from learning in the classroom and at home to looking and applying for work as a basic need of a computer with Internet access. Online learning has become increasingly popular, and many courses are offered online starting with seeking resources for students and their parents in Grade 1 to the end of their studies in University. However, the question remains, who has access to it? Who will benefit from it in the long run? At hEr VOLUTION, during our hEr VOLUTION Think Tank Accelerator, a program designed to offer young women in conflict with the law or at risk of, employable skills we require the use of technology on a daily basis. Advertisement With that said, 98 per cent of our participants do not have a computer with Internet access at home. This requires a lot of effort on our part to partner with the right stakeholders who can support this initiative offering us the space with the right equipment. That is a tall order on our part to ensure that although the resources are limited, the young women still get the education that they deserve. While it is argued that there are many resources available outside of school with access to computers and Internet access, many libraries for example are packed with people who wait to use it and time is usually limited to 30 minutes. Many community centres do not have computers in good working conditions and one must meet the age and location criteria to use them at the times the centre is open not considering that many of the people require the use of a computer after working hours, particularly parents of the students from Grade 3 and up. The question still remains, how are we going to facilitate online learning for young students and the future generation when they do not have access to adequate resources? The answer still stands that, if we do not dig deep to the root of the problem, children from remote areas and the ones from low income households will still not be able to take advantage of the full learning experience; not only for the EQAO test but also for the learning that is required to improve our economy in the long run. Advertisement Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: Cyndi Monaghan via Getty Images Little boy bundled up in a blue winter coat with fake fur trim around the hood. Winter. Childhood. Humor. by Erik Ryken It can be difficult to keep track of where many of the materials in our clothing come from. Every country has a unique set of regulations and trade agreements when it comes to fur, so if you're trying to only wear cruelty-free clothing, it may be safest to avoid faux fur until some laws are changed or clarified. Imagine the horror of learning that the faux fur-trimmed coat you just purchased was not made from synthetic material, but dog or cat fur. Surprisingly, in Canada, this is not only a real possibility but one that is potentially legal. In contrast, the U.S., E.U., U.K. and Australia all prohibit the importation of dog and cat fur. Lacking federal laws and labeling requirements, retailers in Canada are able to market the fur of dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals as "faux fur." Advertisement There is no clear stipulation -- despite Canada's Competition Act requiring label accuracy -- for fur to even be identified. In the U.S. this would be a misdemeanour punishable by up to $5,000 USD or a year in prison. Some labels will be printed with contents "exclusive of trim," leaving the consumer to determine whether the fur-like trim is real or not. Cat or dog could be labelled as mink if a retailer needed to improve sales. The Globe and Mail reported that counterfeit Canada Goose parkas apprehended by police used dog and cat fur. Gloves, toys and figurines were also found with trim from these companion animals. In a recent Toronto Star investigation vendors were found to be willing to produce mislabeled items upon request. Cat or dog, for example, could be labelled as mink if a retailer needed to improve sales. Small items like toys or children's boots wouldn't need labeling at all. It's these small items that go under the radar, especially to a customer who hadn't considered the possibility of real animals being in the mix. What is keeping this practice open and what is being done to change it? It would appear that Canada's Textile Labelling Act would regulate such products, but unless it is removed from the animal's skin, fur does not require labeling of the species of origin. Changing this was the goal of Bill C-296, a private member's bill first introduced in 2013 that did not become law. Although the industry lobby -- The Fur Council of Canada -- claims that no consumer has found a garment made from dog or cat fur in Canada, the importation and sale of these animal furs remains legal in this country. Advertisement The most recent bill relevant to this issue, C-246: Modernizing Animal Protections Act, amends the Criminal Code and three federal regulations to prohibit the importation and mislabeling of dog and cat fur, skin and hair. It also seeks to prohibit the import and sale of shark fins. In June 2016, an electronic petition, e-123, was presented to the House of Commons. Sponsor Don Davies hopes this will lead to a ban that symbolically "sends a really strong message to our trading partners what the values of Canadians are -- that we are not interested in purchasing dog and cat fur." It was initiated by The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals. The process is slow but it appears Canada could be on its way to finally banning dog and cat fur for good. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: Sean Gallup via Getty Images BERLIN - JANUARY 08: The rotary handle to a valve stands locked and chained over a natural gas pipe leading to spherical gas containers at a natural gas storage facility of local gas supplier GASAG on January 8, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. Russian natural gas supplier Gazprom has announced it has stopped gas flows to pipelines in Ukraine in an ongoing dispute over payments and prices, which has also meant that several countries in southeastern Europe are without gas. Germany too has been partially affected, though it can draw gas from other countries and officials have said the country has enough reserves to last throughthe winter. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Gregor Robertson's green obsession should be a grave concern for Vancouver taxpayers trying to make ends meet. Lost in the hubbub over housing prices in the Lower Mainland this summer was the Vision-dominated city council rubberstamping its Renewable City Strategy, committing Vancouver to completely eliminating natural gas within city limits by 2050. Robertson wants a 70 per cent cut in natural gas use by 2020, and 90 per cent gone within 10 years. Advertisement This will cost individual residents thousands of dollars -- and was approved by Robertson and his council without any thought to the affordability crisis in Vancouver. This plan will make it more expensive for people to heat their homes and to buy things from businesses in Vancouver, and it means higher taxes to cover rising costs for hospitals, schools and buses. Today, 56 per cent of all energy used by homes in Vancouver comes from natural gas, mainly to heat rooms and water. FortisBC has more than 108,000 customers in Vancouver -- including homes, condo buildings, medical centres, restaurants and schools. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson speaks at a conference in the Casina Pio IV at the Vatican, Wednesday, July 22, 2015.(Photo: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Advertisement There are only two energy alternatives that could realistically replace natural gas -- a district energy system run by the city, or electricity. Both are roughly the same price. Even with the news that FortisBC is hiking its natural gas price by $82 per year for the average residential customer, natural gas is still far cheaper than these alternatives. Based on BC Hydro and FortisBC rates and average energy usage, a single-family home could see a $1,400 per year rise in energy bills if it moved from natural gas to electricity -- and that's on top of the up-front cost (likely thousands of dollars more) to convert or replace water heaters and furnaces. It gets worse. In commercial, institutional and industrial buildings, 37 per cent of energy comes from natural gas. That means higher prices for customers, who will have to pay more to help business and restaurant owners foot the bill for the conversion and higher ongoing energy costs. Hospitals are huge users of natural gas, not just to heat their buildings, but to sterilize equipment. A mid-sized hospital saves as much as $600,000 per year by using natural gas. Force them to use electricity, and more tax dollars will be needed to fund them. Robertson and his green gang know all this - and they don't care. More than a hundred schools use natural gas in Vancouver. The Vancouver School Board could need another $3.6 million per year for higher electricity costs. Advertisement Vision Vancouver is coming after vehicles, too. TransLink has been buying natural gas-powered buses for a few years, but Robertson's plan may soon force them to buy fuel-cell buses -- at more than twice the price. You can bet TransLink will be asking taxpayers for more money to cover it. Robertson and his green gang know all this -- and they don't care. "The discovery in North America of large quantities of shale gas has now caused the price to crash, and this low cost is expected for years to come. What is not included in this price are the health and environmental damages caused by climate impacts from burning large amounts of natural gas," their Strategy says. That will come as a surprise to taxpayers who have been shelling out for carbon tax on their natural gas bills for nearly a decade. And all this money will be spent by Vancouver residents to address less than 2.5 of the 732 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions released in Canada annually -- one-third of one per cent (and Canada's emissions are only 1.6 per cent of world emissions). Vancouver taxpayers should demand City Hall scrap the plan to outlaw natural gas. And if Robertson refuses, the provincial government should step in and remind Vision of the need to cut the cost burden on Vancouver residents. Otherwise, the greenest thing about Gregor Robertson's Vancouver will continue to be the stacks of money needed to live there. Advertisement Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: I've watched Terence Crutcher die eight times. I've watched it with the original audio, with the play-by-play announcement of the helicopter pilot punctuated by Betty Shelby screaming that shots had been fired. By her. I've watched it with no audio, intruding on my Facebook page when I was scrolling for memes and travel selfies. Once it starts, I can't stop watching. Not until Terence is lying on the ground. I didn't know blood stains were that dark. Advertisement I've watched it with Creative Commons music pumping in the background and Helvetica captions explaining the story to me in under two mobile-friendly minutes. I've watched it with heavy editing, with the moments of the gunshot replaced with a picture of Terence and his twin sister, Tiffany. The following content may be considered disturbing to some audiences. This undated photo shows Terence Crutcher, left, with his father, Joey Crutcher. (Photo: Courtesy of Crutcher Family/Parks & Crump, LLC via AP) Advertisement I've watched him die sandwiched between a video of a Pomeranian playing piano and Justin Trudeau playing a cute game for Buzzfeed. I watch until I get sick and tired. I watch and then make excuses for not hanging out with friends. I joke about having "The Sads." And then I watch him die again. There's nothing redemptive about this. There's no silver lining. But when faced with objective negativity, a lot of people do everything in their power to find one. It's not possible, but they try. I've had people tell me that at least this is going to raise awareness. As if black people being shot to death by cops who are scared to the point of murder by the mere sight of a Black person is an underfunded disease that can be cured if it gets enough viral attention. We're apparently one Ice Bucket Challenge away from #BlackLivesMatter really catching on. What small physical imperfection, what inadvertent stumble will be the reason I'm murdered on a jittery impulse? I watch him go down from the one-two punch of a Taser and several gunshots to the body. I don't know why they followed up a successful non-lethal takedown with lethal force, but I'm not a police officer. If you were to take every single piece of shaky cam and mobile phone footage showing police officers killing unarmed or complying black people and splice them together, you'd have a horror movie. Or a snuff film. When it's time for me to die on camera, how will it look? Who will film me? What small physical imperfection, what inadvertent stumble will be the reason I'm murdered on a jittery impulse? It's like flipping to the wrong page in a Choose Your Own Adventure book. Bad ending, start over. Your hand got too close to the window of your vehicle. Advertisement Terence Crutcher, centre, is pursued by police officers as he walks to an SUV in Tulsa, Okla. Crutcher had no weapon on him or in his SUV according to Tulsa police. (Photo: Tulsa Police Department via AP) The list of Things Black People Cannot Do Without Getting Killed is so vast and so deep, and I can't help but infringe. And I know when I'm doing it. I visited Texas alone. (I was forced by my family to put the address of the Canadian embassy in my phone in case I was wrongfully arrested.) I travel. (I've been accused of shoplifting, yelled at for ruining Prague, and asked to my face if racism was real or if I was just being sensitive. This was just in the last month and change.) I walk around holding a white woman's hand. (Every time someone's gaze lingers on us throughout Europe, I wonder if this is when the fight starts.) Advertisement I speak up and know my rights. (Against my mom's longtime advice.) I break up fights when I see them. (Against pretty much everyone's advice.) Which one will get me killed? Will it be recorded by a stranger on the street? Will it go public when the body-cam footage from the officer is released? Do I look like a big bad dude? Do I own too many hoodies? Sixteen-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a member of the neighbourhood watch. Martin was wearing a hooded sweatshirt as he walked to his father's home. (Photo: Family of Trayvon Martin) Here's something you might not know: if the street is quiet enough, I can hear the sound of you locking your car door as I walk by. I can see you cross the street a few blocks ahead of me. I can turn my head and see you cross back once I've passed. I've watched Terence Crutcher die as the officers uttered their preemptive excuses for killing him on sight. I've seen a man die by the same reflexes that lock car doors instinctively as I pass. Advertisement Instinctively, they protect themselves from me. Instinctively, they protected themselves from him. Trained professionals. Books and covers. Every time another person who looks like me is murdered on video, I tell myself that this will be the one that makes people angry. This is the hard evidence that says "Yes, we haven't been lying. No, racism isn't over. Yes, it's really that bad. No, it's not just some bad apples." And every time, it's not enough. Being upset about murder has become a personal problem, a political stance, an awkward conversation. It gets turned around and presented as more evidence of PC culture gone wrong. Rev. Joey Crutcher, father of Terence Crutcher, speaks to the media at the National Action Center in New York on Sept. 21, 2016. (Photo: Joseph Frederick/AP) Advertisement I can't educate every single person I talk to and walk them through why this is very real. I need them to take me at my word, I need them to trust that people of colour know the realities of our own lives. The trust isn't there. Just skepticism and a belief that there's more to the story. It makes living an act of rebellion. It makes success an act of revolution. It makes me tired. I can't watch him die anymore. If we're all determined to only acknowledge the truth of someone else's life if they can prove it to us, how many black deaths need to be on camera before someone starts to take our word for it? No child wants to die on camera when they grow up. We don't always get what we want. This post originally appeared on Medium. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: Chris Wattie / Reuters Abdullah Almalki (C), with Muayyed Nureddin (L) and Ahmad El Maati, speaks during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa October 12, 2007. The men who allege they were tortured in Syria because of information provided by Canadian authorities demanded on Friday that a secret investigation into their case be opened up to the public. REUTERS/Chris Wattie (CANADA) While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was at the United Nations delivering a speech to the UN delegates on how "[t]here is an appetite for Canada's approach and Canada's solutions, promoting diversity as a strength. ... Canada has a narrative the world needs -- we're happy to share," it seems that he has forgotten that at home there is another narrative that won't be easily erased from the history records: Canada's role in torture. Indeed the case of the three Canadian citizens: Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati and Muayyed Nureddin, resurfaced this week in the media bringing back again the dark side of Canadian complicity with regimes that routinely use torture and forced disappearance in their so-called "war on terror." Advertisement It was already public information that these men were tortured in Syria and in Egypt. Former Supreme Court of Canada, justice Frank Iacobucci, concluded in 2012 that the three men were tortured abroad and that Canadian officials contributed indirectly to their torture. But what the CBC News revelations brought into light are new facts that are definitely even more disturbing. Instead of asking for the release of the Canadian men, Canada's ambassador to Damascus, Franco Pillarella, used his extensive connection with Syrian intelligence to provide questions about Almalki to his Syrian tormentors. Pillarella, who was never held accountable for his actions, lived in a world of denial: "He said he was aware of widespread allegations of torture in Syria, but unless a person witnessed it 'one cannot say for a certainty that this is what would happen.'" This is like saying you're aware of the gravity force on Earth but unless one can see the force, we are not sure it really exits! Canada can't be an example to the world as long as these victims of torture haven't been compensated and provided with a public apology. In 2012, Human Right Watch released a report documenting the torture centres in Syria based on former detainees and prisoners' accounts. Even if this report was published after the events that led to the torture of the three Canadian citizens, it seems appalling how a Canadian diplomat, who was supposed to represent Canada's interests, either feigned ignorance or gave the benefit of the doubt to a regime, whose actions the U.S. State Department described as follows: "The security forces committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, caused politically motivated disappearances, and tortured and physically abused prisoners and detainees with impunity." Last December, Canada's Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale quietly declared that controversial directives, commonly known as the "torture memo" -- which was enacted by one of his predecessors, Vic Toews, under the previous government and gave Canadian officials the green light to use information that might be extracted through torture -- will be reviewed. At that time, we considered this initiative to be promising, a first step in the right direction. Unfortunately, almost ten months later, this news remains dormant and nothing has been done by this government to distance itself from torture. Last but not least, we shouldn't forget the other troubling case of Omar Khadr, who turned 30 years old on Monday. He spent half of his life detained in Guantanamo Bay and both the Liberal and the Conservative government didn't lift a finger to bring him back, even though, it became public knowledge that he was physically and mentally abused. Advertisement Canada can't be an example to the world as long as these victims of torture haven't been compensated and provided with a public apology. They deserve nothing less. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook ALSO ON HUFFPOST: Big Cheese Photo via Getty Images Mocking speaker during business meeting It is often said that people fear public speaking more than death - which once prompted Jerry Seinfeld to quip that most individuals would apparently prefer lying in a casket... to standing over it, delivering a eulogy. Given a choice, it is doubtful that you would actually chose death over speaking to a group. But there is no question that making a speech ranks high on the anxiety scale, somewhere between toenail extraction and a Thanksgiving weekend with in-laws. Advertisement In reality, the ability to communicate effectively to groups is a key requirement for any business executive. As one who has written speeches for various politicians and business executives for decades, I often get asked if there are any "tricks" that might make the ordeal more palatable. Inevitably, people eventually get around to asking about humour. Should they start a speech with a joke? My emphatic answer to this question is "maybe." And it is based on actual experience. I began my corporate speech writing career with IBM World Trade, specifically the division that included Canada, the Caribbean, all of South and Central America, plus all of Asia, including Japan. Advertisement I was recruited from government. The IBM offer essentially doubled my salary -- literally too good to refuse. All I had to do was keep the CEO, a physically imposing and somewhat blustery individual hailing from Ohio, happy. After keeping Bob Dole more or less happy for almost four years, how hard could that be? What the IBM recruiter failed to mention was that this particular CEO had been running through speech writers at an alarming rate. His nickname was "The Bear" and new speech writers were referred to as "fresh meat". My biggest challenge, I soon learned, was that Ralph (also semi-affectionately known as "King Ralph") liked to start every speech with a joke. No matter the audience or occasion. I was OK with this at first. But then I saw trouble on the horizon - Ralph was scheduled to speak to a large IBM Japan contingent in six weeks or so. Not having written for a Japanese audience, I went to a colleague to ask his advice. "You're cooked," he said. "That assignment is where speech writers go to die". He explained that it was not part of Japanese business culture to laugh at a senior executive. Advertisement I suddenly realized that doubling your salary isn't a great bargain if you only collect it for three months. Fortunately, I had a trip scheduled to Japan prior to the speech. I became good friends with the head of IBM Japan communications, who initially said, "This is a very difficult problem, like giving a kamikaze pilot a two-ship quota". This was not reassuring, but eventually he added, "Please, just leave this with me. When you finish the speech, send it to me and mark where the joke is." I did as he said. When the day came, there was my new best friend, in the second row. He gave me a nod and then, as the punchline approached, he turned to his assembled colleagues and gave them a signal. That simple signal unleashed gales of laughter. Afterwards, Ralph said the speech was a great success and that my future was secure. Of course the real lesson in all of this is not to artificially engineer a reaction to a joke or quip, but be very judicious in using humour. Advertisement Yes, humour can be a good ice-breaker with an audience (and can serve to relax a speaker) - but a joke at the outset that falls flat can create a hole that is difficult to crawl out of. Here are my tips regarding the use of humour: 1. Know your audience . There are huge cultural differences between, say, Toledo, Timmins and Tokyo. Do your research. 2. Know your situation. Many best men at wedding receptions offer toasts that might have been better given at the stag party the night before, forgetting that for many in the bride's family, this is their initial -- and lasting -- introduction to the bridegroom. 3. Be self-deprecating. Poking fun at one's self is the safest way to go. It humanizes the speaker and creates at least the illusion that he or she is not an egomaniac. (Bob Dole was particularly good at this). 4. Make sure the joke links directly to the speech topic. Remember, humour should be used to spark interest in your main thesis, not distract from it. Advertisement 5. When in doubt, leave it out. I had one client, a former cabinet federal minister, who said he couldn't tell a joke or use humour. Doubtful, I had him give it a try. He was right - he couldn't tell a joke to save his life. Self-awareness is a beautiful thing. If it makes you feel any better, people would also purportedly prefer to be covered in insects and bugs or stand at the edge of a precipice to delivering a speech. Which is pretty funny, when you think about it (Robert Waite teaches a graduate course in advanced presentation skills at Seneca College and has written speeches for some of Canada's top executives.) The five things you need to know on Thursday, September 22, 2016 1) WARRING PEACE After months of bitter infighting, the Labour leadership election ballot closed at midday yesterday. But is the war really over? Thats upto Jeremy Corbyn as he and his team meet Tom Watson, Rosie Winterton, PLP chair John Cryer to try to hammer out a deal over Shadow Cabinet elections. Advertisement Jezza declared in his close-of-poll statement (and on the BBC too, so it was no slip of the tongue) that he wanted to wipe the slate clean for all those former frontbenchers who had criticised him and backed Owen Smith. It proved that the conciliators around the leader are playing to his natural instinct to avoid conflict, but there are some hardliners who still want him to ram his new mandate down the PLPs throat. In his BBC interview, Corbyn showed Laura Kuenssberg his olive tree from which hes offering his olive branches to MPs. But as HuffPost revealed this week, the tree was itself given to him by a Labour councillor - who has been suspended for suggesting deselection of MPs. And on avoiding conflict more broadly, Corbyn underlined his preference for jaw-jaw to war-war in his Ken Loach interview, revealing his plan for a new Minister for Peace and a Minister for Disarmament (full marks to the Telegraphs Asa Bennett for spotting it at the end of the hour-long documentary). If hed called it a Minister for Peacekeeping, that may have pre-empted the ridicule that followed online. Then again, it may not. And as a keen reader of novels, did Corbyn have any idea that 1984 included a Ministry of Peace? Ahead of the Liverpool conference, we reveal that party staff have been issued with an unprecedented advice note on how to respond to threats of aggression and potential violence from activists. Moreover, amid fears of a clear out of alleged moderates at HQ, staff werent exactly reassured when Corbyn wrote to them saying at this stage no compulsory redundancies were planned in the party. Advertisement 2) BONUS OF PROOF Andrew Lansley is disliked on the Left for his NHS reforms and on the Right for his avid Remainer views. Now the former Health Secretary has combined his twin interests by calling for a 5bn-year Brexit Bonus for the NHS. In his NHS Providers annual lecture, Lord (yes, hes a peer dont forget) Lansley tried to call the bluff of the Leavers by saying theyd promised extra cash post-Brexit, and should now prove they can deliver. As it happens, its Lansleys own clinical commissioning group (CCG) structure that is causing controversy on several fronts today. Different CCGs have differing funding rates for a breast cancer drug that charities say could save thousands of lives. And on IVF treatment too, theres a local lottery, with parts of England failing to hit the Nice guidelines, while Scotland guarantees three cycles. As with mental health funding (see below), that Lansley localism has a political downside. On the EU more generally, Leavers are delighted that the OECD has admitted it was too gloomy about the immediate impact of a Brexit vote (though it is still gloomy about 2017). As for Labours stance on free movement, more former shadow ministers are joining Rachel Reeves in saying curbs are crucial. Jonathan Reynolds today tells HuffPost:People who have a genuine emotional concern about the scale of immigration want to see that addressed. Chuka Umunna said yesterday that immigration was the missing issue in his partys leadership election. One to watch. Advertisement 3) A RATIO HORNBLOWER Its not just hard Brexit that worries some in the Treasury. Tory MPs believe the Chancellor has real concerns about some of the horn-blowing rhetoric from No.10 on taking on company fatcats and plans to name and shame firms with large inequality ratios on pay. As part of her mission to be on the side of the ordinary working class voter, May and her team want a US-style annual publication of the ratio between the CEOs pay and the average company workers pay. But the FT reports that officials have warned the PM that the calculation could produce perverse results where some big banks (like Goldman Sachs) end up looking fairer than retailers such as John Lewis/Waitrose, which prides itself on an enlightened pay policy. Simply because banks have fewer low-paid staff, they come out with a better ratio. Downing Street seems undeterred by what it calls anomalies. But May is famously a Waitrose shopper (and unafraid to say so), and officials are hinting they may reconsider the one size fits all approach to how the data is presented. BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR Watch this pizza delivery guys wheelie fail in Clapham 4) GIANT LEAP FOR MANC KIND George Osbornes shot across Theresa Mays bows over the Northern Powerhouse looks like it may have paid off. Having launched his new think tank to boost his pet project last week (accompanied by a slightly menacing interview on the Today prog) the former Chancellor appears to have got his way. Advertisement Writing for the Manchester Evening News, May has lavished praise on the Northern Powerhouse. Having struggled to even utter the phrase after she entered No.10, the PM uses it no fewer than five times in her short article. May pledged that she will ensure the whole machinery of government gets behind it. The Sun reports that Osbo has however ducked the chance to put his own political future where his mouth is. Asked if he would run for the Tory candidacy for Manchesters Metro Mayor, he replied that he was flattered by the interest and committed to making the new Greater Manchester mayor a success, but I will do that from the House of Commons, not the town hall. The fact that the Tories have a snowballs chance in hell of winning is, of course, a mere detail. 5) MENTAL WEALTH SPENDING Long the cinderella of the NHS and care system, mental health has in recent years risen up the political agenda. But according to Luciana Berger, the Government is still failing to deliver. The former shadow health minister has some new figures showing that funding will be cut again in many areas and the postcode lottery will keep on producing losers as well as winners. At least 73 local areas will see their GP mental health budgets slashed in 2016/2017. The gap between the smallest and largest spends will also widen: Haringeys Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) will put 16 percent of its budget on mental health, for West Hampshire that figure will be 5 percent. Advertisement Jeremy Hunt had promised that CCGs are committed to increasing the proportion of their funding that goes into mental health. But Berger said the commitment had not been met. As an aside, I wonder if she is one of the ex shadow ministers planning a return to the Corbyn frontbench? She worked well with him on mental health, and hes been a lifelong campaigner on the issue If youre reading this on the web, sign-up HERE to get the WaughZone delivered to your inbox. Like many new freelancers, I never saw the need for an accountant when I was starting out. Hiring one seemed like an unnecessary expense, a luxury that I couldn't afford. In my ignorant mind, creativity and business just didn't mix. I've now come to realise that they aren't mutually exclusive, and that having an accountant was literally something I couldn't afford not to have. Freelancers' tax can get pretty complicated, especially when you have an international client-base. While it's all-too-easy to simply send out invoices, collect the cash, and not worry about taxes until April, it's not a functional way to conduct business - yes, even us freelancers are a business! I always thought that a record of my invoices in a nice ledger or Excel spreadsheet would suffice. Oh how I was wrong... There's a reason why the accountancy profession is such a specialised craft. It wasn't until I received a phonecall from Skatteverket (the Swedish equivalent of HM Revenue and Customs) in January that I realized my financial records were a complete mess. I was going through a dry spell with work at the time, so when they handed me an invoice for over 13500 Swedish kroner (around 1200), with only 30 days to pay, I literally had to beg them give me a break. Fortunately they understood my predicament and set up a monthly payment plan. Throughout the ordeal there was one thing that they kept telling me "You really need an accountant." Advertisement Learn From My Mistakes! My grandfather was a notorious tax evader, ignoring demands from HMRC for so long that they eventually wrote off his entire backlog of unpaid taxes. While a great man, with a kind heart, he certainly wasn't the best role model when it came to business. Unfortunately, his lax attitude rubbed off on me. The damage... Two late VAT declarations equating to 1250 Swedish kroner (the equivalent of around 110); unclaimed VAT equating to over 500; and unclaimed deductions from operational equipment (computer, telephone) somewhere in the thousands. While you're probably reading this and thinking, "what an idiot" - I certainly feel like one - I urge you to learn from my mistakes and get some help before you're lumbered with bills and penalty charges. Had I not secured a long-term position as a script writer, my entire business would have collapsed overnight. What's worse, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I've been freelancing for over four years and dread to think about how much money I literally threw away, just because I wasn't willing to set aside a few quid each month. I will never know the final total of my losses, but when I take penalties, conversion charges and unclaimed deductions into account, the figure will almost certainly be in the thousands. My advice to you... 1. Consider Getting VAT Registered If you use an intermediary to acquire work - such as an agent or freelancing website - and have to pay them a commission, or if you primarily work with overseas clients (outside of the EU), get yourself VAT registered. While you will have to charge VAT on orders within the EU (which may make your services more expensive), you will also be able to claim back a percentage of your expenses. Therefore, if the VAT you pay exceeds the VAT you charge, registering will be a more lucrative option. Since most of my clients are based outside of the EU, I am already scheduled to have a hefty VAT rebate at the end of the financial year. Advertisement 2. Keep Your Books In Order There are literally hundreds of open source accounting programs available. Until recently I used OpenOffice to manually create invoices and spreadsheets, but did most of my billing directly through PayPal. Nothing was automated. I started using Freshbooks to bypass PayPal fees, which were equating to around three percent of my gross income. If there's one thing I've learned about bookkeeping, it's that software will highlight trends in your method, allowing you to consolidate waste before giving it the purge. In my case, this was PayPal fees. When you've found a tool that you feel comfortable with, get yourself on damage control. Andrew Charles at Sochall Smith sums it up perfectly, "investing in systems that allow businesses to mine their data for useful information can not only increase sales and profitability but can also help to eliminate waste and inefficiencies." You may be working in a creative field, but on paper, you're still a business. And pinpointing problems is the only way to sustain that business for the long haul. 3. Find a Specialist Choose an accountant that speaks your "language." The art of accounting is extremely broad, so you will need a specialist. When I started searching for an accountant I managed to find someone in Gothenburg who specialised in freelance expats from the United Kingdom - quite the niche! Look for someone who not only understands your situation, but is willing to educate you about it. Remember, you are a team; you can't expect to simply hand over your invoices and reap the benefits. You still need to have an understanding of the process in order to keep your books in good standing. 'So why did you get into sustainable fashion?' is a question I get asked pretty much every week and I don't think I've ever been able to give one definitive answer. For me it's been a cumulative thing, a build up of various life experiences. Advertisement I've been very fortunate to have worked for some amazing companies - ASOS, Fab.com, Rocket Internet/Finery London - and these companies taught me a huge amount about the fashion industry, from how technology can be leveraged to ease lives but also how large marketing budgets are needed to stay afloat. Going back to my roots, I was born and raised in India to a mother who loves collecting sarees from different regions of India. I visited the town of Kanchipuram on a school trip and bought my Mum one of their Kanjivaram silk saris. I got to visit the looms and see how the nine yard sari was woven by hand by numerous craftsmen using fine gold thread to weave intricate patterns of paisley, flowers, elephants... Looking back, I realise that this was definitely the beginning of my love affair with sustainable fashion and desire to preserve these traditional methods. Fast forward a few years and I found myself studying and working in finance in the US. I became lactose intolerant and started being more considerate of what I ate and where it came from, eating mainly organic food. The experience of changing my eating habits made me think, if I can be careful about what goes inside my body, why can't I be careful with what goes ON my body. I've moved a lot - lived in 11 cities, 5 countries and visited 40 countries. With all my moves and travels I've absorbed the style and culture of the city. From cruising in stilettos in NYC, hoodies in SF, to wearing monochrome in Berlin. Because of all these moves, over time I've learnt how to work with a small wardrobe but have also had it bursting with clothes courtesy of wonderful employee discounts at the fashion companies I've worked for. Every time I'd move I'd downsize my wardrobe and realise how I picked up stuff because it was cheap or trending when I didn't really need it. I now live by the "buy less, choose well" mantra. Advertisement We all contribute to the landfills with our purchases and while we can't just stop buying, over the years I've managed to create my own individual style, from independent, ethical brands that capture who I am and my experiences - which I believe sustainability also stands for - sustaining yourself. It's all about being open to the other options that are out there, and being mindful. Sustainable fashion is most commonly associated with the Rana Plaza disaster in Dhaka and the 1134 people who lost their lives - most probably because they didn't have any options, and were earning just 25/month at the time of their deaths. Yes, per month! Last week I was visiting home in Mumbai and rode in the packed local trains; not because I had to, but because I had the option - as it is more faster and practical than being stuck in traffic. In developing countries the options are not always straightforward like in the western world and we need to create fair wage options so that people are not compelled to work in sweatshops. I moved back to India in 2010 to start a marketplace for Indian handicrafts. Inexperienced and overwhelmed I didn't even launch it, but realised my career calling of mixing my analytical and financial side with my creative side. I then started working in Product Management for fashion/lifestyle eCommerce companies. That brings us to present day and the launch of Anek (which means variety in Hindi) a marketplace for independent fashion with 85+ designers from 16 different countries. I'd become so frustrated by the lack of variation available from the big retailers but also very disappointed by the lack of transparency and sustainability in many of their supply chains. I didn't want to wear the same top that I'd spot on five other people while walking down Oxford Street and I didn't like not knowing how that top was made. Advertisement I launched Anek at the end of summer this year and am so proud of the designers we have on board. Their stories and the people, crafts and causes they support inspire me more and more everyday. They really do prove that you don't have to spend a fortune to shop both stylishly and sustainably. To have created a platform to give these incredible indie brands a voice that they couldn't really get by themselves gives me the best feeling in the world. To discover and shop over 5000 unique products from 85+ independent designers visit our website at www.shopanek.com or download our iPhone app here. Or follow us on Instagram // Facebook // Twitter by Amrita Kriplani, Co-founder at Anek ______________ Image Credits: Image 1: Ille de Cocos, Salient Label, Jodi, Love Too True, Arc & Bow, Her Apparel Image 2: Grav Grav, Olio, Bing Bang This September The Huffington Post UK Style is focusing on all things sustainable, for the second year running. Our thirst for fast fashion is dramatically impacting the environment and the lives of thousands of workers in a negative way. Our aim is to raise awareness of this zeitgeist issue and champion brands and people working to make the fashion industry a more ethical place. Facebook's handling of their spat with Norway's leading newspaper Aftenposten, the Norwegian Prime Minister and millions of outraged users is old news. But this case has some uncanny resonances with another high tech nudity argument - over NASA's Pioneer 10 plaque - which like the photo of Kim Phuc, also dates back to the early '70s. It shows a curious twist of cognitive bias akin to 17th century art censorship in social media's largest cultural melting pot. Behind their liberal marketing communications, has Facebook inherited some dissonant old fashioned notions of public decency? image credit Andrew Keith Walker You're probably aware of the timeline. Writer Tom Egeland posted an article featuring Nick Ut's Pulitzer Prize winning 1972 image of 9-year-old Kim Phuc and other children burned by napalm. Facebook deleted the post on the grounds it violated community standards (child nudity) and suspended Egeland's account. When Aftenposten reposted the article, Facebook told them to remove it or pixellate Kim Phuc's nudity, subsequently removing Aftenposten's article themselves. Then everyone from the Norwegian PM Erna Solberg to ordinary users reposted the image in protest. Facebook, insisting they were a community focused tech company - and therefore merely enforcing their own content policy rules on nudity in user posts - climbed down about a week later. Advertisement The problem was one of editorial judgement for the newspaper and a distinct lack of it by Facebook. That photo isn't merely an image, it's a historical document. It's an image that is already in the public domain and of great historical significance as a primary source in war reporting. Judging that kind of image by the same rules that apply to general nudity, porn or illegal images of child abuse is bizarre. Would Facebook ban pictures of Auschwitz mass graves on the grounds of nudity? No. Would it classify Botticelli's Venus in the same category as some dodgy schoolgirl Hentai? No. Mark Zuckerberg's response that they aren't a media company and tech platform content rules are there for a reason (the "we're just geeks" defence) doesn't wash. With billions of eyeballs and petabytes of content, they're a media company whether they like it or not. They made a bad call, simple as that. The similarities to a similar case of bone-headedness at NASA reveal something else about the decision. Back in 1972, when Carl Sagan was designing the message plaque that was attached to the Pioneer 10 spacecraft, a similar issue occurred over the depiction of naked humans. The man is anatomically accurate, but the woman has no genitals. Many in the scientific community claimed this omission made the role of gender in human reproduction confusing to any ET that might try to work out what it meant, but nevertheless Sagan asked the artist (his wife Linda Salzsman Sagan) to remove the labia line from the woman's mons pubis, apparently to appease objections from NASA's then head of space science, John Naugle. This was the 1972 equivalent of pixellating-out the same region of Kim Phuc's body, as Facebook originally suggested to Aftenposten. Advertisement Both cases are redolent of influential figures demanding fig leaves obscure the genitals of artistic nudes in centuries past. The Pioneer 10 images were based on Da Vinci's anatomical studies and, like renaissance artworks that received retrofitted fig leaves, the blanked female crotch suggests the strange idea that all instances of female nudity imply a sexual dimension of some sort. Which is nonsense, as every male who's used a mixed European sauna, taken children to the seaside, worked in a hospital / health spa / leisure centre / backstage at London Fashion Week or seen their mum in the bath knows... as well as every single woman in the world, ever. This prudish knee-jerk response to female nudity is an unconscious gender bias, particularly strong in the USA and UK. Naked or fig-leaved, it makes little difference to male artistic nudes because it's physically obvious when the naked male image is presented in a sexual context. Female nudity in art has always been treated as sexually ambiguous by the censoring eye. The history of art is full of male nudes defined by their context and female nudes defined by nothing more than their basic anatomy, regardless of context. It's the visual materialisation of the term "sex object". Commentators talk of 'seismic 'shifts in the political landscape, varying states of post-Brexit 'crisis' and hard-to-dispute daily assertions, with supporting evidence, that we live in uncertain and tumultuous times. Yes, agreed, but when are we going to get to the heart of the matter? Does this state of near constant turmoil, brought into sharp relief by the EU Referendum, not turn our suspicions to the theory of a persistent and obvious menace - Britain is in a state of hidden civil war. If a civil war isn't fought with the fire of ammunition, can it be cultivated by an untamed media, self-interested legislators and cowardly, unaccountable corporations? What happens if it's a near-undetectable, low hum sounding throughout all of our lives? If we don't notice it, we're agents of it and unable to resist. How do we choose sides? How can we win? Let's start by facing up to it. Advertisement Britain's hidden civil war is a state that was exposed, first via the financial crisis of 2008, when the tide went out and revealed the vested interests of the dominant and most powerful elements of our society, sustained over the following eight years in the interests of the same, prevailing forces, before turning its latest trick: the campaign to leave or remain in the EU aiming to skewer what remained of cohesive society. At first glance, the idea of a civil war within these lands may seem crazy, but just how far-fetched is this in the age of the Hillsborough revelations, phone tapping by the media and the disappearance of thousands of BHS jobs in the name of creating unimaginable individual wealth? We fear terrorism, nuclear disaster and other unlikely, catastrophic events more readily than civil war as our state of conflict is, perhaps, our 'new normal'. The signs of militarised violence are replaced with domestic violence and abuse, household debt and payday loans, deterioration of the NHS, increases in racial tensions, fragmentation of communities and zero-hours contracts. It is the environment in which 'us versus them' cultures proliferate amongst people without power and privilege, without the means to determine their own laws, leaving the road clear for those that do. Just who does really benefit from ideas such as Brexit, austerity and privatisation? These are the questions found at the heart of the work of a number of artists from the UK and around the world that are stepping up to the plate - not just now, but constantly - to examine the constant attacks on people who can't ascend the accepted economic and political systems. Those people might be migrants, the unemployed and, perhaps, the artists themselves. Advertisement An artist and activists role is often to challenge what is true, acquire knowledge of alternatives and, as a result, challenge the norms that become engrained. Newcastle is home to Hidden Civil War, a concentrated period of art expression throughout October, inviting artists such as Darren Cullen - the originator of the 'pop-up' Pocketmoney Loans for children outlet as well as a series of maimed Action Men toys - and Richard De Domenici, who held a funeral cortege for London's social housing provision earlier in the year, to find and reveal evidence of our hidden civil war. Asking artists to do it, often in collaboration with communities, means we get to appreciate and celebrate alternative voices and expressions of life with honesty, whilst also disrupting and dis-lodging mainstream forms of knowledge and understanding. Hidden Civil War won't be some 'lefty finger pointing exercise', as the organisers we know that we are truly all in this together, in as much as we are all economic addicts and unwittingly complicit. Recently, Australia had the dubious honour of being labelled the 'nanny state capital of the world.' While places around the world are dealing with serious health epidemics like Ebola and Zika, politicians in Australia have been focused on intrusions into people's personal lives in the name of public health. Sadly, Australia is not alone in its quest to become a global 'nanny state' superpower. The truth is that Australia will never be able to compete with the taxpayer-funded World Health Organisation (WHO) under the leadership of Margaret Chan. We live in a globalised world where pandemics like Ebola and Zika grip the attention of the global community. The reaction of the largest health organization, the WHO, is confusing and the WHO is distracted with social engineering. Advertisement For example, while the world was in the middle of an Ebola crisis in 2014, the WHO was forcibly kicking the media out of their Moscow meeting on tobacco regulations. This year, while fears of Zika spread throughout South America and the Caribbean, the WHO was presenting an award to a dictator in Turkmenistan. Unless the WHO cuts its bureaucracy and focuses on real health crises, the next emerging pandemic may have catastrophic consequences for mankind. There is a legitimate question mark over the WHO's ability to react to such rapidly-spreading diseases. Smoking is one issue where, with an open mind and progressive thinking, the WHO can lead rather than struggle. Instead, the WHO would rather hold meetings and give awards to dictators in Turkmenistan and tell Syrians in the middle of a civil war to implement plain packaging regulations for tobacco. Australia has been a staunch opponent of smoking and has some of the most stringent laws in the world to reduce tobacco use. Logically, it would make sense for Australian officials to support the WHO's anti-tobacco crusade. But, in a recent report by former Australian Labor Minister Gary Johns, the WHO is condemned for its draconian policies and lack of transparency. Advertisement The most pointed criticism of WHO by Dr Johns is that under the current Director-General, Margaret Chan, anyone who disagrees with WHO policies relating to tobacco or vaping cannot contribute to their debates or meetings. "The WHO FCTC is a closed shop which uses exclusion to silence debate," said Mr Johns. "This is one of the many issues the next WHO Director-General must urgently address if the organisation is to survive. It is my experience, as a former Australian Labor Minister, that the most effective policies incorporate a wide range of stakeholders and viewpoints, even if you disagree. These meetings should be held in a transparent fashion and in public view." By its very nature, the WHO does not have world-renowned experts in every field - it's impossible to do so even when it is inviting world leaders and their consorts to their conferences. So why do they refuse to let media attend their event coming up in New Delhi in November? Why, when there are so many millions of deaths from smoking, would they not want to have tobacco companies contributing to the debate and collaborating in order to find long-term solutions that benefit mankind? Why do they reject all the science that suggests that electronic cigarette products are less harmful and could therefore cut deaths from smoking? Even if they do not accept the evidence, at least listen and discuss it in a forum where smoking-related issues are the focus. These meetings should be the exchange of ideas, not one idea. Advertisement And when illegal trading of tobacco products is running rampant and funding terrorism and organised crime, it would be valuable for the WHO (a United Nations organization funded by taxpayers) to work with tobacco producers, farmers and distributors (and even consumer groups) to ensure that counterfeit products, considered way more toxic than genuine tobacco, is stamped out. Even Interpol have been excluded from WHO meetings in the past. Other UN conventions are open, encourage free debate with experts given the opportunity to share the platform to give the best opportunity for progress and benefit, while the WHO creates and issues reports in secret. Where is the transparency that the United Nations is founded upon? Why does the WHO fear debate on issues that affect so many? Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said: "If only those with power ... would listen to and incorporate the experience of those who have first-hand knowledge of the reality of the situation on the ground - the results would transform the ideas of leadership and decision-making." After months of controversy, bullying and disaster for Labour, the ballot has closed. On Saturday this whole sorry saga will come to an end as the new Leader of the Opposition, and therefore Labour, is announced. With Jeremy going into this election with the support of the vast majority of the membership, he can go into Saturday with a degree of confidence. But Owen Smith, sadly, can too. Both of them have had mixed campaigns, and clashed with each other on numerous occasions, such as how Corbyn lambasted Smith for his refusal to serve in his shadow cabinet should he win. But the main problem is, this Leadership Election has made us look like a weak, un-unified, aggressive party, and certainly won't help our chances of being elected. Advertisement I obviously come across as very Pro-Corbyn and Anti Owen Smith. And that's fine, I don't mind. Because that's how I feel. Smith had the chance to change my mind and didn't. Instead he came across as thoroughly untrustworthy and actually very rude on occasions. I just have a very odd feeling about Smith. I don't like him at all. That's not to say he isn't a good politician, because in order to stand against one of the most popular Labour Leaders in terms of the membership takes guts. He proved above all else that he is a charismatic and gutsy MP. And I respect him for that. But let's be honest, his whole 2nd EU Referendum idea is quite frankly ridiculous. I can see his reasoning, because yes, there were clear lies that supported the Brexit campaign and the whole referendum was a bit of a farce in terms of the way the sides acted. But to say he wants a 2nd referendum is thoroughly undemocratic and ridiculous. As I have already said in a past article, it is Smith saying "I hate the way you voted you bunch of mugs. Let's go again and get the result that I want!" Well let me make this clear to you Owen, THE COUNTRY HAS SPOKEN. Yes we were deceived into voting for Brexit but we did it, and now we cope with the consequences. This ridiculous policy would destroy Labour once and for all if he is elected as Labour Leader on Saturday. Tim Farron, Lib Dems Leader has already faces vast criticism for the same policy he's adopted, so why should we make ourselves look like fools by taking it ourselves. But back onto the point, I'm overly glad that this whole petty campaign is over. I can honestly say it has changed my view of the party. And it's funny, because I, as a Corbyn supporter, have been called deluded and stupid for my support of him, ironically by Owen Smith fans on the Labour Party Forum. So I do not want to hear anymore nonsense about it just being us Corbynites that are the bullies because, to be quite honest, that's crap. Advertisement So how do we move on from this? If Corbyn wins then we do of course (allegedly) face a split. MP's such as Angela Eagle and Chucka Umuna have been linked to the Lib Dems recently, and I say let them have them. They have been instrumental parts of the coup, so why on earth would we want them in the party? If they agree to serve Jeremy then fine, let them stay, because they are strong MP's in all fairness. But if they refuse to serve a two time democratically elected leader, then get rid of them. I doubt many members would miss them. In terms of an unlikely Owen Smith victory, I believe that at least 40% of the membership will be gone. Maybe even more. We currently have over 600,000 members, and that makes us the biggest political party in Europe in terms of membership. But that could all change, because a lot of the members joined because of Corbyn. Many members would of course be banned, because as Owen Smith said, Momentum members should be banned (links at the bottom of the article). Because of course, that is great unity from the unity candidate. He faces tearing apart the membership only to help maintain the PLP. Tom Watson talked about the PLP being 'the heart of the party'. I disagree. The membership is the heart of the party in my opinion. The PLP is primarily just full of people rebelling against the leader. So of course they are more important than the membership... But anyway, in all honesty I wish both candidates all the best for 11:45 am (I believe) on Saturday. Whatever happens, whoever wins, they have a tough challenge ahead of them to rebuild the party. I sincerely hope Corbyn wins, but well done to Smith for a hard fought campaign, even if it was full of lies and deceit in my opinion. Links to Owen Smith talking about banning Momentum and Pro Corbyn members: http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2016/09/16/owen-smith-momentum-members-could-be-banned-by-labour-party Advertisement It was an astonishing event that reverberated far beyond the Sikh community. Last week, over fifty Sikhs interrupted a wedding that was taking place at a Sikh Temple in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. The reason? Because a Sikh bride was marrying a Hindu groom, and the protesters objected to a mixed-faith wedding taking place. For Jews, this was a reminder of similar angst that dominated communal thinking from the 1960s to 2000s, when intermarriage was seen as the foremost problem that British Jewry was confronting. But was is so eerie is that for both Sikhs and Jews, the arguments heard against intermarriage are exactly the same, as they may well be for Catholics, Hindus, Muslims and other minority faith groups. Advertisement First, that it will be an unsuccessful relationship for the couple themselves, as they will be bound to fall out over religious differences at some point, and the marriage end in divorce. Second, that it will confuse the children as to their identity, while it will also lead to them being the battleground between the warring parents. Third, that it will endanger the future of the community itself, with the traditions not being handed down and large numbers being lost to the faith. These are genuine concerns, although they can also be accompanied by an overlay of prejudice against those who are different - the dislike of the unlike - as well as the irrational fear that the person of the other faith will alienate one's son/daughter and steal them away from their family. The parallel between the two communities is simply due to a matter of dates: Jews have been settled in Britain for much longer, initially mixing with its own circles and then emerging into wider society, while this is a process through which the Sikhs are now engaging. The result is inevitable: those who work together during the day, play together afterwards. Whether they meet at university, the office or gym, Jews and Sikhs interact with those from other backgrounds and fall in love. Advertisement The Sikhs may wish to learn from what happened to the Jewish community: at first the rabbis denied there was an issue, as if talking about it would somehow endorse and encourage it. Then, when the intermarriage rate began to rise to a point at which it could not be ignored, they strongly condemned it in sermons and articles. Some of the language used was extreme, referring to intermarriage as a 'cancer' within Judaism that was destroying the faith. But rabbinic fulminations were no match for social trends. For almost three decades I ran seminars to counsel mixed-faith couples and never did any couple ask , 'Rabbi, shall we get married', but instead they said ' Rabbi, we are getting married, can you help?' Eventually, the community realised that ostracising Jews who had married non-Jews just guaranteed they were lost to Judaism, and it was far better to welcome the non-Jewish partner and introduce them to the Jewish way of life. A minority convert, but those who do not at least come to respect the Jewish traditions of their partner and are willing to discuss passing them on any children. We have learnt that it is very hard to lessen the rate of intermarriage, but we can effect its impact depending on our reaction, and whether we greet the couples with a smile or a scowl, push them away or embrace them. Most Jews who marry a non-Jew do so not because they want to reject their Jewish heritage, but because they have fallen in love with that person. It is chance, not an act of heresy. The Sikh community would be wise not to regard marrying out as opting out, but as a social reality that is part of a tolerant pluralist society and not the automatic death-knell of their faith. Advertisement It seems like the distant past now, but in the few weeks up to the registration deadline for the EU referendum, more than 1.35 million people applied to register. On the day of the deadline, 525,000 people applied to register to vote. And then, when the website crashed around midnight and the government extended the deadline to register, 400,000 applied to vote. All big numbers. The thing is, a huge proportion of those people were already signed up. Yet they had no easy way of knowing if they were already on the register. And because of the devolved nature of registration in the UK (there's no national database - it's all sent to individual councils), over-worked local electoral administrators get sent thousands of application requests from people already on the register - with just a few weeks before the vote. All of which just causes a headache for all those involved - voter and ERO. Advertisement So a new report by the Association of Electoral Administrators raises a very sensible suggestion: there should be some way of checking you're on the register. This 'lookup facility' - which would presumably have a decent verification process and opt-outs for those on the full (closed) register and the 'anonymous register' (for those who have experienced domestic violence and abuse etc.) - would be hugely helpful in making elections go as smoothly as possible, and free up time for electoral officers to focus on making sure the actual vote itself is well-planned and conducted. That's not the only sensible proposal. The AEA are also calling for: A standard legislative timetable which should apply to all elections, with a view to 'extending some aspects' - something that very much echoes our recent 'It's Good to Talk: Doing Referendums Differently After the EU Vote' recommendations A review of the risks introduced by the combination of polls we saw earlier this year - when Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Police and Crime Commissioner elections and some local elections happened on the same day - and just a month or so before a very different vote on the EU, sometimes causing a worrying conflation and clash of debates. Advertisement A single Electoral Administration Act - something the Law Commission recently recommended - setting out the framework governing elections and referendums in the UK. This framework would govern all votes as standard, 'with the operational detail of registration, absent voting, and elections contained in secondary legislation - all with the key aim of achieving the simplification and consistency of rules across all electoral administration matters'. Knowing where you stand - or, in other words, the rule of law - is absolutely crucial in ensuring people have faith in our democracy, so this is a perfectly reasonable call. 'The government should make provision for either a candidates' mailing or the delivery of a booklet containing information about PCC elections and about the candidates to all households'. This is a very welcome call - our research in the run up to May showed that 9 in 10 people couldn't name their local Police and Crime Commissioner. That's a big problem for democracy and the legitimacy of those roles. So alongside their call for the Electoral Commission to develop a full set of templates and resources for PCC elections, this would be a good start in remedying that. It's great to see another body calling for ways to improve how we do democracy in the UK - and we hope the government looks closely at the report. And soon, too. After all, who knows when the next referendum might be?... Read the Association of Electoral Administrators' new report, 'Pushed to the absolute limit: 2016 - the electoral year never to forget' I met my boyfriend Patrick at Nottingham Trent University in the year 2000. Back then he was a super skinny, shaved head skater dude with a penchant for very large, white nylon shirts. He also liked to climb random things like lamp posts and bus shelters. I was a virtual cheerleader, always ensuring my eyeliner matched my New Look stilettos and constantly assessing which inappropriate outfit I should wear to the next 'Saucy Saucy' student fancy dress party. Romance was not on the cards, then. Fast-forward 14 years and by the power of Facebook, our worlds collided once more. However the once skinny skinhead had thrown off his baggy shirt and become, might I say, quite the don (with biceps my Mother would be proud of). I however now lived down south in Hackney, so couldn't be seen dead with matching purse and shoes and instead preferred to buy ill fitting grandma clothes from local charity shops whilst drinking over priced skinny lattes in independent coffee houses. Somehow, nanna cardi's aside, Muscles From Brussels was still keen. "I co-own an industrial textiles factory in Nottingham," Muscles told me on our first date, as we sat at the bar of a once-old-man-boozer-now-hipster-hangout in Hackney. "We're really proud to be one of the few remaining British manufacturers at a time when many others seem to have moved production abroad to countries like China." Advertisement "Wow, that's amazing," I cooed. This guy was creative, entrepreneurial and ultimately valued more than just his bank statement's bottom line. I was impressed. So what if he lived 150 miles away? I'm in. Fast-forward a year. "Yeah, but if you moved production abroad to someplace like China, you could totally move anywhere," I keenly suggested. "Like London for instance. And property prices really aren't as high as they all say... " Muscles looked at me with that look. It was worth a shot. Falling in love with a man 200 miles away is not ideal. But now, two years on and many expensive train journeys later, we are pretty confident that we will go the distance romantically so perhaps it's now time to lessen the distance geographically. I am a comedy writer and performer with no fixed office or permanent contract. Patrick on the other hand has a heavy, machinery filled factory with lots of people inside and it's not easy to get that on an East Midlands Train. After much resistance, I realised it was me that needed to make the move. Accepting this has not been an easy one. I have been cultivating my creative and comedy career in London for the past 10 years. My people are in London. I have lots of successful creative friends who in fact hail from Nottingham, but I met them all down in London where they now live permanently. I barely know anyone in Nottingham bar Patrick. It's hard making new pals when you're in your 30's. By this age everyone is fixed with their own crew and making an effort with cats like me is, quite simply, a chore. In Nottingham I'm the new kid with no local work, no local community, no idea how it's going to work out. The lead up to this has been pretty daunting. Advertisement On the other, more positive hand, there are a bounteous creative people in Nottingham, some of the best writers, musicians, actors and artists to ever exist have come from Nottingham and still remain here. So if others have and do thrive here, then maybe, just maybe, so might I. Being a hippy-hobo spiritual astronaut who is willing to give anything alternative a go, my pal Juliet advised me to see what her Angel cards said: 'Forget old habits and embrace new adventures'. Right you are. Sorry London but Nottingham, here I come. "Tell me you're moving here for reasons bigger than the Angel cards?" questioned Patrick. "Why do you consistently refuse to embrace my spiritual side?" "Because the cards themselves are not spiritual. They were likely mass-produced alongside millions of others in a factory in China." "Jeez man, stop being so down on foreign production...." Ok, it wasn't just the Angel cards. I've actually become rather excited about the move. Now that I have committed to Nottingham, I already feel supercharged by the city. I have joined a beautiful co-working space in an old lace factory called Cobden Place, set up by the mega resourceful Becky Evers and her business partner Liam Woodgates (owners also of the super cool vintage, antiques and art centre Hopkinson). Here I've met another Nottingham newbie Daniel Lingham, creator of the exciting new sculpting publication Sculptorvox and just eaten lunch from the already phenomenally successful new vegan cafe in Cobden Chambers, Amala Living Foods. I've been to an electronica festival curated by the super awesome events and festivals producing, record label running and music publishing crew I'm Not From London, who are also based within the space and I've committed to attending a screen-printing workshop run by the lovely Craig, Ben and team upstairs at the School of Print. I've been hugely inspired reading the Nottingham arts publication Left Lion written by an ever growing team, which is focused on other creatives flourishing in the city. I've booked in to Nottingham Playhouse's script reading group Act 2, run by Gareth Morgan and I've been heartily welcomed by the brilliant and fabulous energy that is Penny Chettle, owner of film production company Spool, part of the Confetti Media Group, based at Antenna, the creative hub in Nottingham's city centre. Ultimately, having only officially been here a week I'm already having conversations with super interesting people working in the creative industries and everyone is unexpectedly open and willing to help the girl from London (a Darlington lass originally) to feel right at home here in the East Midlands. I must say, it took a darn sight longer than that in London. I've also sealed the deal with Patrick by buying a canal boat together that will be moored near the castle. It's currently still a bit of a wreck but renovations are underway and we should be in hopefully by the end of the month. Where else can you say you have a full-blown castle at the bottom of your yard? So Nottingham, this is my call to you to say I'm here and I'm ready to embrace all the wonderful creative and fabulous opportunities you have to offer. Following Lord Byron's lead, I want to write letters to my pals in London that prove it to be an equal creative competitor to the capital, if not more so. I haven't abandoned London entirely and will continue to make frequent visits for meetings, gigs and catch ups with best pals, but for now, I'm committed to making this fine city of Nottingham my home and place of wild creative abandon. Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive New figures show that more than half of local areas are not delivering on the Government's mental health spending pledge In January, the then Prime Minister David Cameron promised a revolution in mental health. Almost a billion pounds of investment was pledged to improve mental health services across the country. Beneficiaries of the funding were to include child and adolescent services, as well as provision in the community and hospital emergency departments. The Prime Minister called for an end to 'sweeping mental health issues under the carpet.' It was, he said, time for a frank and open discussion on the matter. Advertisement This was not the first bold claim that the Government has made about mental health. "Parity of esteem" has been enshrined in law for the past four years, courtesy of the Health and Social Care Act - meaning that mental health should be treated in exactly the same way as our physical health. Considered at face value, these headline-grabbing announcements, along with countless others we have heard from Ministers over the past six years, paint a very rosy picture indeed. But for patients, and nurses and doctors working on the frontline of our NHS, the story is an altogether different one. In reality this Government's approach to mental health has been characterised by nothing more than hollow gestures and empty promises. Much of the one billion pounds pledged at the beginning of the year was exposed as not being new at all. In many cases stretched Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are diverting funding away from mental health to prop up acute services. And parity of esteem? It was thanks to a Labour amendment in the House of Lords back in 2012 that the principle was written into law. Ministers' don't hold back from mentioning its existence, but for all their talk of parity of esteem, it is clear that we are very far away from any semblance of equality between physical health and mental health. This Government has presided over services stretched to breaking point, patients at risk, and proper standards of care being undermined. There are staff cuts, massive waiting lists and bed shortages. By all accounts, the Government is betraying the millions of people in our country who experience a mental health condition. Today I have released more evidence which proves the gulf between what Ministers say they will do and what is actually happening on the ground. Figures I have uncovered through a series of Freedom of Information requests show that 57 per cent - more than half of CCGs across the country - plan to reduce the proportion of their budget they spend on mental health this year (2016/17). This is in spite of a key government commitment that every CCG in the country would increase their spend on mental health at least in line with overall budget increases. Advertisement I have had to conduct this research because the Coalition Government stopped publishing the annual survey of mental health spend. This is the third year in a row I have been able to prove that the Government has yet again failed to honour its spending promise. This time last year, a third of CCGs planned to decrease the proportion of their budget spent on mental health. This year the majority of CCGs are planning a reduction, indicating that it is becoming more and more difficult for CCGs to meet the Government's target. Yesterday the Public Accounts Committee published a damning report on mental health which shed even more light on how difficult the journey ahead is going to be. It questioned how the Government could commit to improving services when the cash flow to support its ambitions is simply not being made available. There are too many people today experiencing mental health problems who can only access help when they have already reached crisis point. We need investment in prevention, early diagnosis and intervention. We cannot ignore the ticking time bomb that is the product of stripping out so much early intervention. Theresa May acknowledged this during her first speech as Prime Minister, when she said, "If you suffer from mental health problems, there's not enough help to hand." It is vital that our new Prime Minister steps in and makes sure that mental health services get the funding they so desperately need - and which they have been promised - before it is too late. If she doesn't, she risks failing a generation and allowing a dangerous situation to become critical. Dear Brad and Ange, I write to you in response to the distress you have caused me today. As professionals, you are no doubt aware that your role as a celebrity brings with it certain responsibilities. I therefore feel that your actions are tantamount to gross misconduct, and, with that in mind, I urge you to respectfully resign from your posts as professional celebrities. You have seriously diluted the brangelina brand - yet, unlike Gwyneth Paltrow - a popular role model for famous divorcees- you have failed to provide a catchy replacement. The distress caused is widespread. It's not just me - there are others. Thousands of people are showing clear signs of PTSD, having been confronted with your negligence. Advertisement I have gathered evidence (albeit anonymously, as I wish to protect their feelings as they have not asked for this attention) from some of the anguished users of Twitter today. @K********o said: 'Beautiful, Rich, Famous & Powerful: In spite of having it All, They are still not satisfied with their lives...with each other.' Case in point number 1. You do have it all. And you haven't used your 'all' positively, as professional celebrity role models should. From the moment Girl Interrupted and Thelma and Louise hit the big screens, and your ridiculously generous fees were paid, you had a duty to activate your CERPP membership (Celebrity Emotional Resilience Protection Plan) to safeguard you from needless negative emotional states and natural human responses to life events that spill over into the public's everyday lives. The media has even reported that you have both suffered with mental health problems - namely depression - which is astonishing given you have absolutely nothing to feel sad about. I mean, sort it out! This is an industry act of gross negligence, and it has impacted on the efficiency of thousands of businesses across the world as employees closely monitored #brangelina in a race to get the next big Jennifer Aniston meme trending. In fact, I predict that commercial output for 20/09/16 will be even lower than that of 26/02/15 (#dressgate #hyenas) . Poor. And you are responsible. Advertisement @C*****a added: 'So two narcissistic, rich, self indulgent, egotists are getting divorced....So?' The author of this tweet is obviously in denial. And I fear that their counselling fees will inflate massively as they attempt to manage their anger and resentment towards you. But they are correct in their observation. Taking a shortcut to celebrity status by using mere acting and directing skills is incredibly narcissistic. Real celebrities put stardom first, craft second. Their sole purpose is to raise awareness of themselves so that they can help others. What have you done? @Ny*******r:'These two are rich. I'm guessing those kids have nannies all over. I think the kids will be fine. Prob a better Xmas than most.' Your children are not like other children and we don't, and wont, feel sorry for them. They will grow up getting everything they want, sunning themselves in the celebrity limelight as well as the South of France. There are kids living on poor estates who are at increased risk of mental health problems. I bet you've never thought about them have you? Meanwhile, the Hollywood kids have it all from day one; lapping up loads of attention, getting their faces in the glossy magazines for all to see, having their own hash tag before they're even born! Some even get to skip school and work on cushy, glamorous jobs as child actors. Just look at Lindsay Lohan and Corey Haim. Child-stars, living the dream. I'd do anything to give my kids the sort of life that they have had. So please, stop pretending that you're anything but a celebrity. You chose to be a celebrity. Stop going undercover as an actor or director, or a frontline, hands on charity worker. We all know that individuals who become successful artists have an over-inflated sense of self, trying to play it down by faking relationship struggles, nervous breakdowns, depression and panic attacks (which, by the way, cost me over 25 when Zayn Malik selfishly cancelled a gig! A disgrace). You have a duty to us now. So pull yourself together. Because if you don't, the press will still be knocking down your door, you'll be forced to speak out about your most private affairs for the whole world to hear immediately. And remember, whatever you say during this time of emotional turmoil will be analysed, scrutinised and immortalised forever by hash tag search engines. NUS The list of problems we have with housing seems endless. Lack of affordable homes, absence of construction of social housing, and rapacious landlords are just some of the things which we have all become used to. Far too many of us are forced to live in overcrowded, run down spaces, for outrageous amounts of rent. Little is different for students. In halls, the choice is increasingly between roughly affordable but often squalid housing on the one hand, and outrageously priced "luxury" housing on the other. All over the country, a key aspect of the marketisation of higher education has been the rapid growth of extremely expensive residences geared up for the benefit of big business, not the students who live there. Advertisement On average, the price of UK student accommodation has reached a frankly unbelievable 95 per cent of the maximum student loan. Our research at NUS has found that there is an average 8,000 shortfall between living costs and income from loans and grants for students. This is pushing students into working more hours or getting deeper into debt. Or both at the same time. The situation has hit breaking point. Students have begun fighting back, challenging university managers on inadequate, inaccessible and overpriced housing. Last year we saw new forms of student action against the exclusionary university, geared towards the rich and the privileged. Students engaged in rent strikes, refusing to continue to acquiesce passively while the situation gets worse. The strikes were effective. At UCL, students won more than 1 million worth of concessions from management, including grants for students from poorer backgrounds and rent freezes. These campaigns are going national. Earlier this week, I had the immense pleasure of speaking at the national rent-strike weekender held in Bermondsey. Over 100 students met over three days to discuss the current reality for housing - both on and off campus - to share tactics and plan coordinated action for the year to come. Advertisement The debates ranged from gentrification and social housing to migration and the rise of overpriced housing in universities. The campaign calls for students across the country to take part in a national wave of rent strikes. Students were looking forward to taking this idea back to their campuses and start building. I was personally delighted to hear the organisers of the conference talking about forming a rent strike block on the NUS-UCU national demonstration on November 19. At NUS, we're putting our money where our mouth is. Affordable and adequate housing is one of the 8 demands of this year's priority campaign 'Liberate Education'. We have also passed policy to support rent strikes in universities up and down the country in order to encourage the growth of such actions. I was elected to develop regional networks and re-energise grassroots action in our union. That's why we're holding regional meetings for students and union officers each term, where issues and campaigns can be discussed between students and officers across higher and further education institutions in the same region. It was Frederick Douglas who said that 'Power concedes nothing without demand. It never did and it never will'. With that in mind, NUS will amplify the efforts and demands of existing campaigns. And after our regional meetings, we hope that hundreds of officers and students struggling with overpriced housing will start planning their own campaigns and strikes for the year ahead. Students starting university this year are faced with extortionate costs - both to study and to live. They are having to work extra hours to afford to survive, rather than focussing on the opportunities that higher education brings. These growing pressures cause unprecedented stress levels, pulling students between the demands of study and work. This is one factor contributing to the record number of students struggling with mental health problems - especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Advertisement Fighting for decent affordable housing is a crucial aspect of improving students' lives. That's why we will support student rent strikes across the country, and continue to raise the issue nationally. We will provide advice to students facing housing difficulties and support those who want to take action. And by doing all of this, we will put student housing at the heart of our vision for a free, accessible and liberated education. Learn more about the rent strikes and how you can get involved at the regional networking events taking place across the country this October As I'm about to start my second year at university, I can't help wondering what on Earth am I doing here and is there any point to it all. A university student faced with an existentialist crisis is really nothing new. What with all the pressure to find internships, get a decent degree, all the while keeping up with your social life and (possibly) sports. But, I can't help but feel that in some ways my situation is unique, but also similar to that of numerous immigrants in the UK right now. The fact that I spent the last week saying good bye to good friends who went back to their country of birth after completing their Masters, because they couldn't find anyone to sponsor them for a worker's visa. Not surprising to be honest, given the difficulty of obtaining one. For one, it required the prospective employer to guarantee a salary of 20,800 or more. Makes me wonder whether after graduating in two-years-time, I will be sent packing. A daunting prospect, especially since I left Russia at the tender age of 11 and didn't plan to return. Not that I have anywhere to return to. After my parents divorced, my mother moved to London to live with her now-husband and my dad's relationship with me is a whole different story. Well, at least I'll be in good company of the likes of Jackie Nanyonjo - a lesbian activist deported back to Uganda by the Home Office. Advertisement Obviously, there's no better motivation to do well in my studies than the prospect of being kicked out. Especially, as I need to cough up another 18,600 in fees for the next academic year. Not that those 18,000 will guarantee a long and happy future for me in the UK. And were I to try staying legally, large amounts of paperwork would have to be filled in, not to mention solicitor fees that run in the thousands (literally). Still this is no guarantee the prized permission to stay will be granted, as my friend's brother who spent more than a year waiting for the Home Office to deliberate could testify. In the end, he gave up and went back to Hong Kong. In the end, it didn't matter that he had a Maths Masters from Cambridge and a BNO (British National Overseas) passport. I can't even begin to imagine what it'd be like for me with my Russian passport and a somewhat vague degree from UCL. Not to mention the demeaning nature of the process itself. It begins to look like Britain is not so much a promised land as a land of promises that never come true. This is definitely the case in Brexit Britain. Even though the Leave Campaign claimed that leaving the EU will benefit non-EU migrants, so far the only noticeable change was the escalation nationalist aggression against all non-British and in non-white people; whatever dignity we had as people studying and working in this country has been stripped away; never did I have to think twice before sharing a joke in my mother-tongue on the public transport. Advertisement The Mexican government runs a fund to train poorly resourced American defense lawyers. This piece was reported through The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization that covers the U.S. criminal-justice system. When the body of 25-year old Lesley Hope Plott was found lying in a ditch in Russellville, Alabama, in February of 2013, police had little trouble zeroing in on a suspect: hours earlier, a nearby church's security camera had recorded her being beaten and stabbed by her estranged husband, Angel Campos Nava. Born in Mexico, Nava, 36, had come to the United States years earlier. He had already been convicted of assaulting Plott on 2 earlier occasions. A murder conviction could result in the death penalty. It was up to Rebecca Thomason, Nava's lawyer, to convince the Franklin County district attorney to instead seek a life sentence, or, failing that, to convince a jury to spare his life. It didn't help that Nava was undocumented, and they were in Alabama, a state with some of the harshest anti-immigration laws in the country. Then, Thomason received a call offering her something few lawyers in death penalty cases get: money, training, and advice, courtesy of the Mexican government. Nava's case had caught the attention of the Mexican Capital Legal Assistance Program, created by Mexican officials in 2000 to save the country's citizens from execution in the United States. One of the program's chief purposes is to help defense attorneys construct a biography of the accused - to humanize them. Poverty, family dysfunction, and developmental disability, are frequent themes in their clients' lives. When presented as part of a defense, such themes can encourage mercy among jurors and dissuade them from handing down a death sentence. To that end, the program arranges for lawyers to go to Mexico to track down school and hospital records and stories about their clients' lives, either paying for their travel costs or advising them on how to request money from local courts. Under the program, Mexico pays American lawyers up to $220 an hour to track potential death penalty cases around the country - watching court decisions and news stories from the moment of arrest, all the way through the last minute scramble before an execution - and advise court-appointed lawyers like Thomason. Since 2008, the program has provided these attorneys with an average annual budget of around $4 million to track as many as 135 cases at a time, according to the program's filings with the Department of Justice. That comes out to roughly $29,000 per case, per year. By contrast, the Equal Justice Initiative, which represents numerous inmates on Alabama's death row, has reported that many of them were sentenced to death after their attorneys' fees were capped at $1,000 for out-of-court trial preparation. More resources and training translates into more compelling stories, as defenders plead for mercy for their clients. Monica Foster, a lawyer in Indianapolis who worked with the program for several years, explained that she would connect defense attorneys with officials in Mexico, who would help them travel to their clients' hometowns, many of which were often inaccessible by paved roads. "We'd help them understand...how you take that story and meld it into a complete package of 'How did this person end up in [the United States] and why should a jury feel compelled to extend mercy to them?'" Houston-based attorney James Stafford was appointed to represent Mexican immigrant Francisco Castellano in 2005 for the murder of Castellano's niece. "When you're court-appointed you have limited resources in terms of what the court will give you to develop a defense," Stafford said. "It creates a team approach, where you have people at your disposal who can do research, talk to witnesses, etc., instead of it being a 1-man shop." Stafford says the program's help finding mitigation evidence led to his success getting a district attorney to drop the death penalty and allow a plea for a life sentence. Such a scenario is not uncommon. In a 2008 Hofstra Law Journal article, Greg Kuykendall, the Tucson, Arizona-based director of the program, claimed that it had a 95 % success rate in keeping roughly 300 Mexican nationals from being executed. Such numbers are difficult to verify, however, because the program tends not to share much about its work publicly; Kuykendall was not granted clearance by the Mexican government to be interviewed for this story. Mexican Embassy spokesman Ricardo Alday told The Atlantic, "Mexico in no way condones or sympathizes with any criminal behavior for which some of its citizens have been accused," but the country's government "opposes the death penalty as a matter of principle and has a strong policy of protecting its nationals abroad including in the United States." The program reflects how widespread international opposition to the death penalty is having an impact in the United States. It also highlights a complaint routinely made by defense attorneys - that they are not given enough resources to do their jobs effectively - by showing what often happens when they do have those resources: they avoid the death penalty. The United States and Mexico have a long, contentious history when it comes to the death penalty. In the 1920s, American journalist Alma Reed campaigned to save the life of a 17-year-old Mexican on death row in California, earning herself an audience with the country's president, Alvaro Obregon. Writing on the current defense program in the Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law, lawyer Michael Fleishman has noted that, since then, Mexico's largely Catholic population has come to consider American executions of their citizens a "tool of the bully to the north" and a sign of "Yankee imperialism." In the 1970s, as the U.S. Supreme Court struck down and then revived the death penalty, the United States saw a lull in executions. But when they resumed, some invariably involved Mexican nationals, and the country's government began giving money and advice to defense lawyers in the United States - a precursor to the current program. This, inevitably, sparked the occasional flare-up. In 1994, a Mexican migrant worker named Aurelio Barajas was sentenced to death for the murder of a convenience store clerk in Idaho. Mexico helped fund his appeals, which eventually led prosecutors to negotiate down to a life sentence once his lawyer produced evidence that suggested he was mentally incompetent to stand trial, and showed that the psychologist who examined him did not speak Spanish. At times, capital punishment has joined a broader set of tensions over U.S. immigration policy towards Mexicans. "Imagine an American in a small town in Mexico accused of killing someone ...We are going to use the same force the United States would in such a case to help one of our own," Laura Espinosa, a deputy consul in Salt Lake City, told The Los Angeles Times at the time. In response, Idaho solicitor-general Lynn Thomas complained about "foreign governments bankrolling the opposition with unlimited resources." At times, capital punishment has joined a broader set of tensions over U.S. immigration policy towards Mexicans. In 1997, a mariachi band played "Beautiful and Beloved Mexico" at a bridge over the Rio Grande river to greet the returning body of Irineo Tristan Montoya, a Mexican national who had been executed in Texas for stabbing to death a driver while hitchhiking. "Steel walls along parts of the border, increasingly restrictive immigration laws, violence and discrimination faced by many immigrants in the United States - Montoya has come to represent all such insults," the Associated Press reported at the time. 5 years later, shortly after the 2002 execution of Mexican citizen Javier Suarez Medina in Texas for the murder of a police officer, Mexican president Vicente Fox refused an invitation to George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. Sandra Babcock, the American lawyer who in 2000 became the first director of Mexico's formal program to help capital defendants, saw the country's involvement in capital defense as proof that her own country was falling down on its obligations to defendants. "I think it's shameful," she told The Texas Observer. "There's extreme poverty and here we have the wealthiest country in the world that cannot provide adequate resources and competent legal counsel to people who are facing the loss of their lives." The help didn't always lead to success: 10 Mexican nationals have been executed in the United States since 1976, according to the Death Penalty Information Center (in addition to 22 citizens of other countries). In some cases, foreign consulates have not been informed that citizens of their nations were were facing the death penalty in the United States. Mexico, the United Kingdom, Paraguay, and Germany have all argued that they might have been able to help their citizens avoid a death sentence had they been informed. These complaints came to a head in 2004, when Mexican lawyers convinced the International Court of Justice in The Hague to rule that, in more than 50 death penalty cases, the United States had violated the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by failing to notify Mexico when its citizens had been arrested. That ruling led to Medellin v. Texas, a U.S. Supreme Court case in which the state, represented by then-Solicitor General Ted Cruz, argued that the international court's ruling had no power over the states. The court ruled 6 to 3 in favor of Texas, noting there was no federal law making that treaty binding on the states. Since then, the Mexican government has lobbied Congress to pass a law requiring states to notify Mexican consulates when their citizens are arrested. In a 2014 letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, Mexican Ambassador Eduardo Medina Mora wrote, "I respectfully submit that the United States would not countenance the same treatment of U.S. citizens by another signatory" to the Vienna Convention. Shortly after Rebecca Thomason was appointed to defend Nava in 2013, the program flew her to Texas and California for training. At one session in Houston, she met Charlie Goff, an anthropologist who runs a language and culture school in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Goff flew to Alabama and discovered that a court-appointed interpreter had been using a Spanish dialect unfamiliar to the defendant, who spoke little English. "Nobody else could talk to him," Goff said. He convinced Nava to share details about his background. He said he was from El Terrero, a tiny village in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero. So Thomason and Goff planned a trip (El Terrero is on the U.S. State Department's travel warning list. Before Thomason left, the local district attorney, Joey Rushing, joked darkly that he would create a GoFundMe page to raise money if she was kidnapped). There are no hotels in El Terrero, so the defense team stayed with Nava's extended family. "I think she had probably never seen poverty like that ... Open sewage, dirt streets," Goff said of Thomason. She learned about Nava's upbringing - "the drunken father, the angry mother taking a piece of firewood and hitting the kids." It became clear to her why her client would have been desperate to leave. When Thomason returned to Alabama, she met with Rushing, the district attorney, and was candid about the mitigation evidence she would bring before the jury. "I told him how many people lived in one little bedroom, how when he was a child he was beaten," Thomason said. "He tried to pretend like it didn't get to him, but it got to him." Rushing - who, like other district attorneys interviewed for this story, expressed no qualms about Mexico's involvement - shared this information with the victim's family. They agreed to support his decision, in June 2015, to let Nava plead guilty and avoid the death penalty. Nava is currently serving a life sentence. He will be up for parole in 2028. If let out, he will immediately be deported to Mexico. | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; send a submission; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Jack Taylor via Getty Images Another leadership election, another hatchet job by Panorama, another set of Labour grandees merrily running their keys along the paintwork of the party. The saner Labour people on either side of the debate - if one is generous enough to grant it the title - have largely resorted to huddling in a corner and praying for the bombardment to end, so that we can come out and begin the rebuilding process. (A friend of mine told me early in the contest that he was only allowing himself to read Ed Miliband's Twitter feed, which he described as being 'like morphine'.) Even the aftermath now looks grim. None of us can be sure that Labour will have a frontbench for the next four years. What serves to make these events still more tragic is the fact that the contest could, possibly, have been a constructive process. Certainly, it was a grand and outrageous dereliction of duty for the party to start eating its own feet immediately after the greatest political, economic and constitutional shock for a generation or more, and when I consider that this time should have been spent cheerfully pointing the press towards Tory European cage-fights I want to gouge my own eyes out with the shiny new membership card that seems to have occupied more of the party's efforts than has holding the government to account. Advertisement Nonetheless, something positive could have come out of it; indeed, to an extent, already has. Corbyn's policy-making machine, having been so active during the 2015 contest, seemed to go into hibernation after he won the leadership; now someone seems to have given it a dose of red bull and it's back in full frenetic action. Corbyn's media operation has apparently become slicker as well. However, benefiting from nearly exclusive press focus and very little actual competition for his position, Corbyn could have tried to address the country's concerns about his capacity for leadership: instead he has often appeared parochial, happier to be immersed in party squabbles than to be persuading sceptics in the country. His more rabid supporters - for whose actions, contrary to the claims and insinuations of the PLP and the press, the man himself can hardly be held responsible - have been even worse, running amok on social media and providing the material for the smears that are then catapulted at Corbyn. Owen Smith has appeared no less introspective. As one of my friends in the Conservative Party gleefully pointed out, his campaign literature only ever advocates making Labour a strong opposition, never an actual government. This acknowledges the basic pessimism of the anti-Corbyn MPs, some of whom have already conceded the next election and want to retain as many of their jobs as possible. It is hardly a confidence-inspiring message: "Vote Smith for some degree of parliamentary representation." At the same time, Smith has been unable to move beyond the rhetoric that failed Cooper, Burnham and Kendall last year. At hustings after hustings, meeting after meeting (they call them rallies, but I think you need more than 50 people to make a rally), in between throwing off bizarre and offensive statements that may or may not be jokes about his penis size or fighting chimpanzee-style over the right to copulate with his wife, Smith tells the membership that 'we need to win elections'. I'll wager you even read that in his voice. Advertisement The problem with this argument is precisely that it is completely incontrovertible. Contrary to popular myth, and Mike Gapes, Corbynites do want to win elections. Much was made of Jon Lansman's tweet a few months ago, claiming that "'winning' is the small bit that matters to political elites who want to keep power themselves". This was a stupid thing to say given the absolute certainty that it would be misinterpreted to support the Corbynite stereotype, but Lansman did not mean that winning was unimportant, only that a narrow focus on winning power without the intention of redistributing it to the people was wrong. In fact, many Corbynites are furious that Labour MPs and centrist commentators seem to have abdicated their own will to get Labour elected. For years, the most compelling argument that New Labour's adherents could make, while they handed public services over to private interests, accepted huge corporate donations for favours, and launched illegal wars, was that you needed to vote Labour to keep the Tories out. Now, Alan Johnson is talking about "relentless rebellion" against the party leader (some Momentum activists tired of being dismissed as Trotskyites might spot a grim irony in a Labour moderate's calls for 'permanent revolution'), and Barbara Ellen has said in the Guardian that she will not vote for Corbyn's Labour under any circumstances. Apparently, then, they do not think that the priority is to get Labour elected, since internal revolt and a sulky electoral boycott are both surefire ways of keeping the Tories in power. The false caricature of the actively anti-victory Corbynite might be reassuring to Labour MPs who want to feel that they are fighting an unambiguously righteous fight against entryist purists, but it has thrown an entire toolbox in the works of the leadership debate. The reason why it is so futile for Smith to keep repeating that 'we need to win elections' is that no-one disagrees with his premise; Corbyn voters simply do not think that Smith is the one who can win elections. It is here that the Smith campaign's strange combination of pessimism ('we have to be a strong opposition') and optimism ('we have to win elections') blends into pure self-delusion. Just as some Corbynites who are unwilling to confront poor polling figures have decided that the party is suffering in the polls solely because of the PLP's coup, so too have anti-Corbynites persuaded themselves that the leader alone is responsible for the party's slump in popularity. Advertisement It is as if they have forgotten the shock of the 2015 defeat and the tectonic demographic shifts that it uncovered. It is as if they have forgotten that Labour's old electoral coalition - the majority of the working class, a portion of the socially-responsible, 'vegetarian' middle, and at least a plurality in Wales and Scotland - is disintegrating further with each new election, finding new homes among, variously, Ukip, the Greens, the nationalist parties, and the Tories. Instead their critique of Labour's electoral prospects seems to boil down 'Get Corbyn' - as if by replacing the man who has been leader of the party for one year, they can reverse the trends of a decade. This is why so few Corbynites are being persuaded by Smith's self-consciously left-wing platform, along with the basic lack of trust that now reigns in the party. (Not a single Labour left-winger is at all convinced that Smith genuinely believes in a wealth tax and a massive investment programme; we all expect that if he does win the contest he'll disown those policies before you can say 'Pfizer lobbyist'.) He, and the PLP, do not seem to have an answer to Labour's existential crisis. Corbyn, by contrast, might be able to tap into the emerging strength of the country's anti-Establishment sentiment, the one which produced Ukip and Brexit, and could win back votes in the nation's deprived corners with a Keynesian borrowing and investment scheme. Those claiming that Corbyn cannot win over Tory voters fail to comprehend the politics that the majority of people entertain, which are not aligned to any kind of ideology and mostly look for economic coherence and competence, whether that be in the form of austerity or of spending to induce growth. The real Corbynite perspective is this: if Labour unyieldingly advocates a new form of economics, based on spending to encourage growth - something that John McDonnell has been doing quite competently of late - then they can win over centrists for whom the priority is simply prosperity. If it offers whatever the Conservatives are doing, to a slightly lesser extent and with slightly more social justice, then there is no point in voting for it. Those deriding us as ideological purists who fancy controlling an opposition party are intellectually lazy, and will condemn the party to perdition if their preference for triangulating over an ever-shrinking patch of the electorate prevails. A friend of a friend is trying to separate from her husband. Actually, she is already separated. She pays her own rent, utility bills and food as well as solely providing for her three children, all under the age of ten. Her peace of mind and happiness are all on hold as she tries to obtain a divorce through the Sharia Council because he refuses to grant her one. Like most things associated with Muslim women in the media; burkinis, forced marriages and being murdered in the name of so-called honour, the Sharia councils are under the spotlight. They are currently the subject of two easily confused enquiries, one by the Home Office and the second by the Home Affairs Select Committee. There are arguments for and against them. Some would argue that the councils are relegating women to a second class legal system. Others would argue for their existence due to demand by these very women. Advertisement For a Muslim man, it is simple. He merely has to say 'I divorce you' (talaq) three times over a period of separation and the divorce is legitimate. The commonly misused 'triple talaq' is in fact an innovation prevalent in certain Muslim countries and frowned upon by Islamic scholars. A Muslim woman cannot say the words. She has to go to an Islamic Judge in a Muslim country, or a Sharia council in non-Muslim countries to seek a judicial decree on specific grounds to be free. If she does not have any grounds for a divorce, she has to waive her 'Mehr' - a compulsory financial gift by her husband. I remember my friend's friend at social events ten years ago when she was dating her husband to be. She was so happy. He was so charming. He was the type of man who insisted on paying for all her friends at the table if they were single, or unaccompanied by a husband. We all thought he was a gentleman and she revelled in the knowledge that he was all hers. They tied the knot with an Islamic ceremony, the Nikah, and didn't bother with a civil one. They were happy until the pressures of married life and children brought a whole different reality to their lives. He cheated ... several times. She forgave and tried to adjust her life, her views, and her tolerance levels over and over again. It went on for a while until something changed. She became more spiritual and in doing so reached the conclusion that she did not have to tolerate his behaviour. She was worth more. Her faith taught her that she was an equal human being who was worthy of respect. He tried to twist her new found spiritual learning. 'God rewards wives for their patience and obedience in the hereafter.' She was not having any of it. Something had stirred in her. She had re-discovered her self-esteem, despite his best efforts to thrash into tiny pieces over the years. Advertisement Her answer was simple: 'I want to be happy in this life.' He took her rejection of him in his stride and re-married after the separation. Not a civil ceremony, mind, but an Islamic one. He's clever enough not to want a paper trail following him under the country's laws. Due to the fact that he won't grant her a divorce, she is left hanging in limbo whilst he is free to build a new relationship with another woman and perhaps have more children. Most people would wonder why my friend's friend doesn't do the same. Why does she need a religious person or certificate to tell her that their marriage is over? Surely his lack of financial contributions to their children and her household proves that he has ended his relationship with her. Why go to a 'parallel law system' to obtain a 'divorce' she does not legally require. The Director of Southall Black Sisters, Pragna Patel has this to say: "Sharia codes like all discriminatory religious codes are very much a part and parcel of the continuum of domestic and gender based violence and other abuses that BME women face in their daily lives. They reinforce discrimination, deny exit and prevent women from accessing justice or from asserting their right to equality. We must resist right wing fundamentalists who want to remove BME from the protection of the rule of law just as we must resist the state from fobbing us off with second rate justice systems. We cannot and must not allow injustice in the name of religious freedom to prevail. For these reasons and more, parallel legal systems must not be allowed to exist." Despite struggling to obtain her divorce, my friend's friend will pay no heed to Pragna's words. In her mind, she is a Muslim woman who entered a religious marriage contract with this man. It is the Nikah and in the eyes of her faith and her community she is married to him. And in order to be free from him, she needs to be granted that divorce. The civil law courts under which she should have been protected cannot grant it because she was naive/foolish/ignorant/bullied of her rights. Not undergoing a civil ceremony was one of the biggest mistakes of her life. She gave up her own rights willingly. She fully understands how she has allowed herself to become a victim, but she still wants a religious end to her religious wedding. Legally, this means nothing but spiritually and culturally, she believes she will be committing a sin if she marries another man without obtaining a divorce first. It is this belief and the lack of protection for these women under the country's law that has led to Sharia councils springing up in the UK. According to the thinktank Civitas, there are about eighty five in existence. Some are informal gatherings of 'authoritative figures', others are formal setups attached to mosques. For my friend's friend the pursuit of the divorce has been soul destroying. It has been a longer process than she would have liked. He has thrown a spanner in the works by disputing the custody of the children, then claiming that perhaps they would be better off with their mother, but refusing to commit to maintenance if he can't have them full-time. The man is mocking her, and despite the rage of her family and friends, there is nothing anyone can do. They have to wait for the Sharia council to issue the decree when the latter is satisfied that the couple's marriage should officially end. So how do we compromise? How do we make the law better and offer protection to women of faith? Aina Khan, Head of the Islamic Department at the law firm Duncan Lewis and campaigner for better protection for women believes she has the answer. She launched her campaign 'Register `Our Marriage' in 2014 to lobby for a change in the law and to spread awareness of lack of rights. "The Marriage Act 1949 must be updated to require all faiths to register their marriages. This would mean Muslims must register religious ceremonies under civil law, just like they do in every Muslim country. (For decades, Imams abroad have faced criminal prosecution if they carry out an unregistered marriage and the husband is declared on a woman's ID card. There are also civil systems in place for divorce). This change in our law will give British Muslim women the right to a civil divorce and a share of matrimonial finances. This civil divorce can be simply mirrored by an Islamic divorce from a Sharia Council within a few weeks and at low cost. This is already being done by my Islamic Department, which does not charge a client for an Islamic divorce if they have already obtained a civil one, and the fee of the Sharia Council is 100. In contrast, if there has not been a civil marriage, the fee of the Sharia Council is 300-400 because of the extra work needed to investigate the divorce application. Plus I am increasingly hearing complaints of one year plus delays and misogyny, which causes deep distress to women who are already suffering." But what about the backlog of women who have not entered civil ceremonies and still need an Islamic divorce. What of them? Aina has her proposals ready: "If there has been no civil ceremony and the wife does apply to a Sharia Council, the divorce should become a paper process as in English law and there should be no requirement to attend before a panel of scholars and discuss private matters, unless the divorce is defended. There must be a central governing body to ensure Best Practice including astandardised application form, fee, divorce certificate and timescales, so the service is the same across the UK." I am sure my friend's friend will be granted her decree by the Sharia council one day. The procedure has dragged and cost her money and non-stop stress. Yet it is a path she has insisted on because of her faith. She wants to break the religious contract with the father of her children. Only then will she believe herself to be free to marry again if she wishes. Aina Khan's proposals hold weight. It's not often we can say that British Muslim women's rights should match those of the women in Muslim countries. I very clearly remember the day it started. It was one of those chilly autumnal mornings and we were all piling into the car to head off for lunch with friends. As my husband carried our two year old son out of out of the house, he remarked, "I didn't know he had a cough". "He doesn't!" I replied. But sure enough, as I listened, he was coughing. Actually, he was coughing a lot. He had eaten his breakfast just before coming out and maybe he had eaten too fast, I reasoned. My husband also seemed to have a bit of a cough that day so I didn't think much more about it. After that, it was just small things that didn't quite add up. If our son had an ice-cream or giggled a lot when we tickled him, the cough would be back. At night time too, especially when it was chilly, he would cough. Sometimes quite a bit. But again, this wasn't every night and settled quite quickly. My husband too often had a cough at similar times so I sometimes thought they both had a cold. Otherwise, our son was just as a little boy his age should be: into everything with endless energy and full of toddler gorgeousness. Then when he was four, out of the blue, he had a severe allergic reaction to a brazil nut. As I sat up through the night anxiously monitoring him as he slept, it began to dawn on me. That cough, which came at seemingly random times of day and night, could it be asthma? Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I began to piece it together. Allergies and asthma often go hand in hand, don't they? On our return from holiday, I made an appointment to see our doctor. Advertisement Listening to the symptoms I described, our GP was helpful and prescribed us a brown inhaler known as a 'preventor' to try. Although he showed me how to use it, the demonstration was crammed into the end of a short appointment. There was no further follow-up for some time. Since then, the care was not regular enough to really get a clear picture of whether the inhaler was helping or indeed whether we were even using it properly. The following winter, my father in law, a retired GP, came to stay and heard our son coughing. He told me to get him quick smart to the doctor and get a blue inhaler - also known as a 'reliever'. Looking back, I feel really bad that I didn't spot the signs earlier. Why hadn't I put the pieces together? I suppose to me, as with many other people, asthmatics have a wheeze and our son certainly had never had that. My experiences have really made me wonder, how many people have never had their children's symptoms diagnosed or are needlessly mismanaging their children's asthma or indeed their own, through lack of regular check-ups and specialist care? According to Asthma UK, we have one one of the highest rates of asthma in Europe but it is estimated that seven out of ten people with asthma do not receive care that meets even the most basic clinical standards. Tragically, every day in the UK, three people die of asthma, yet two thirds of asthma deaths are considered preventable with good, basic care. An asthma nurse recently told me that September is a peak time for emergency hospital admittance for children who have asthma. One of the reasons she suggested was because people mistakenly stop using their brown (preventer) inhalers over the summer. I wonder too, whether all schools have the necessary expertise to spot and accurately manage asthma once term starts. Advertisement We really need a co-ordinated strategy to address this common condition. All parents should be advised of the common symptoms and all adults acting in loco-parentis should know how to best care for children who have asthma. Adults too need to be aware of the symptoms and be proactive about asking for specialist medical advice if it isn't offered as a matter of course. There are many things I now know to do which minimise the chance of our son even needing his blue inhaler. Small things that make a big difference to him: closing the windows in his bedroom during the day in Summer to reduce the chance of pollen aggravating his breathing at night; ensuring he has his flu vaccinations in winter and consistently and carefully helping him to use his brown inhaler correctly. Importantly, I also make sure that I book in regular appointments with the asthma nurse. For us now, thankfully, our son's asthma is mostly under control and barely affects him unless he gets a cold or bug. The care we have received lately has been of the very best quality too - a recent home visit from a specialist asthma nurse answered all our questions, reviewed how our son uses his inhalers and she was full of top advice. But this was arranged at my persistence and the recommendation of friends rather than offered as a matter of course. We have also found out that my husband has asthma. Suffice to say, we now have quite a collection of inhalers in our house but at least we now know how to properly use them. Mlenny Photography via Getty Images In the last 50 years, the way we produce and consume fashion has dramatically changed. Fast fashion retailers have made the case that they have democratised the fashion experience - no longer reserved for the elite, fashion is available and accessible to all. Everyone can afford to wear the latest trends, and to regularly experience the short-lived high of a new fashion purchase, and the pleasure of wearing something new. Advertisement For large fashion retailers "fashion democracy" has happily coincided with burgeoning sales, revenues, and profits. This has become the model that dominates High Streets, certainly in the UK and the US, and increasingly elsewhere. On the surface it seems to suit everyone - certainly those who have buying power and thus influence in a market-driven business model. A Divided Industry In my ten years of growing the Ethical Fashion Forum, I have seen a movement gather pace against fast fashion as the status quo. This has coincided, particularly in the last 5 years, with several of the most established High St retailers outwardly and publicly committing to sustainability targets and goals, and investing in innovation to solve sustainability challenges. Especially for independent brands for whom sustainability is part of their DNA, this development is an uneasy one. Competition with the High St, and consumer perceptions of what fashion "should" cost, are already probably the biggest challenges they face. Now they face competition on their sustainability values too - from companies with the ability to allocate, in relative terms, enormous budgets towards the communication of their sustainability commitments. In many ways, we have reached a stand-off between these two fashion industry camps - a stand-off that drives heated debate in every fashion industry forum, and much frustration. Yet, the challenges of sustainability are common to all of us, to every fashion consumer and to every business owner. Fast fashion is not going any where fast, so how can we unite the most creative minds of this industry, the pioneering thinkers and actors, towards positive solutions that unite rather than divide us? Advertisement I recently had the opportunity to join the brilliant Catarina Midby, Sustainability Manager at H&M, for a discussion on fast fashion on Radio 4's Women's Hour. It inspired me to write this article - sharing my latest thinking on fast fashion from the unique position that the Ethical Fashion Forum has given me, as the "eyes and ears" of our industry. What Is "Fast Fashion"? Initially "fast fashion" was about increasing the speed of production, reducing the time it takes to go from fashion design to final product on shelves. Rather than two collections annually, this made it possible to have new product in store in multiple drops throughout the year. The ultimate goal being to sell more product and decrease the trend cycle - and to have something new that consumers need to get in their wardrobes every few weeks in order to be in line with latest trends. This went hand in hand with reduced prices; it is psychologically easier to make a purchase at a lower price point. There is evidence that consumers will spend more over a year with regular low cost "fashion fixes" than on more exclusive pieces that they fall in love with and will treasure. With a higher cost item, it is so much easier to see what is going out of the bank. In addition, there is that trait many of us have of feeling guilty about indulging - spending on ourselves (or at least, admitting to it). As a result, we've developed a "bargain boast" culture - where we boast about how great a bargain we got, and how little we paid. Bargains make it feel okay to buy a new dress (or 3...) every week, if each one only cost 24.99. (or 4.99...) Now fast fashion is less about fast production - regular drops, rather than seasonal collections have become the standard on the High St - and more about sales - how much product can be shifted, and how quickly. Shifting product quickly means producing a lot of stuff at as low a price as possible, which puts pressure on suppliers to make huge volumes at a low price to tight deadlines. That pressure caused Rana Plaza in 2013. Sustainable Fast Fashion At the Ethical Fashion Forum, we define sustainable fashion as an approach to fashion that maximises benefits to people, and minimises impact on the environment. Can fast fashion be sustainable? At the Ethical Fashion Forum, we define sustainable fashion as an approach to fashion that maximises benefits to people, and minimises impact on the environment. We believe that the social and environmental aspects of sustainability are inherently linked; one does not come without the other. Let's start with the environment. The single most effective thing we could do tomorrow to reduce the impact of the fashion industry on the environment would be to buy a lot less. Every garment has an environmental footprint at every stage in its production. That is why there is an inherent contradiction between the fast fashion business model - a model driven by selling lots of stuff fast - and the concept of environmental sustainability. I've seen as much passion and dedication from individuals working within fast fashion retailers, championing more sustainable practices, as amongst smaller business pioneers. The difference being that the fast fashion insiders have, in many ways, a tougher challenge because the commercial drivers of the businesses they work within are in conflict with reducing environmental impact. For me, this conflict represents the heart of the problem we need to address as an industry - it is the "elephant in the room". It cannot be resolved by any business working alone, and it will not be resolved through stand-off. If all parties truly acknowledge this elephant in the room, here lies an opportunity for constructive debate. When it comes to benefits to people, the case for fast fashion is easier to defend. Take Bangladesh as an example - a primary production hub for fast fashion retailers globally. In the last 30 years we have seen huge gains, especially for women in Bangladesh, who have been able to exit a cycle of poverty for themselves and their families, largely through the mass manufacture of clothing. By 2013 about 4 million people, mostly women, worked in Bangladesh's $19 billion-a-year, export-oriented, ready-made garment (RMG) industry. Several pioneering fast fashion retailers have developed exemplary initiatives in their supply chains to improve working conditions, support communities, and empower their workers, in Bangladesh and beyond. Advertisement Despite this, from the observer standpoint, we see more column inches and campaign focus from large retailers on the environmental message, even though there is an inherent contradiction in it. I see great value in more promotional space being given by large retailers to the benefits to people through more sustainable and conscious fashion. Quality of Life, Fulfilling Work, and Society Values Historically, the production of textiles and clothes has been highly creative, highly skilled, and offered opportunities for fulfilling and meaningful work. 'Maximising benefits to people' through sustainable fashion business has strategic implications that go beyond whether a factory is clean and safe, and even whether workers are paid a living wage. From the silk route in China to the sought-after textiles and embroidery of Thailand, Indonesia, and India, for thousands of years this industry and its products have inspired wonder and driven global trade. The process of consuming textiles and fashion, right into the 1960s and 70s, was also a creative one - people would often sew their own clothes, or pay a seamstress to create something unique to them that would be treasured and passed on (supplying the growing market for vintage fashion today). In contrast, the majority of work in garment factories supplying fast fashion retailers is repetitive, tedious, low-skilled, and the opposite of fulfilling. Advertisement The process of buying fashion consumes hundreds of hours, and often, most Saturdays (and Sundays) especially for teenagers and young people, wherever they have disposable income and access to a High St (or computer). All this, so we can have wardrobes full of cheap clothes, most of which ends in landfill? If we were to step back and strategically plan our industry to maximise benefits for people on both sides of the supply chain, I am sure we would come up with something very different. Fast Fashion Culture Shifting a lot of fashion product fast - and making high margins as a result - means it makes sense to invest a lot of money in advertising, which pervades every part of our media from print, to billboard, TV, and alongside everything we browse online. As members of a consumer society, we are presented with two big messages: what we need to aspire to look like, and that we can all afford to do so. So go shopping! As the mother of two girls I see the effects of this first hand. At 9 years old my daughter is already concerned about body image; despite her perfect proportions, she does not conform with what she is told to aspire to. Already, her thoughts are occupied with what she could and should wear, with when she can next go shopping. She has brilliant intelligence and spirit, and her creativity from the age of 9 could be addressing much more fulfilling and meaningful tasks than what to wear. We as a society - and as a business community - can change this. Is Closed Loop The Antidote to Fast Fashion? Closed Loop - or a "circular production model" - is an exciting and innovative concept, and one which illustrates the opportunities for collaboration between small and larger business in the fashion sector. A circular production model means that the end product is entirely recycled and transformed back into the original fibres and other components so that it can be recreated again, as good as new. The vision of a circular model is that it will be almost entirely zero waste, massively reducing the environmental footprint of a mass production model. Can a circular model then "fix" the environmental challenges with fast fashion - the elephant in the room - and let us get on with business as usual? There is no question that this is a fundamental component to a more sustainable industry. However, I would argue that this is not an antidote. A circular model, within a fast fashion context, addresses the symptoms of the problem - waste and burgeoning energy consumption - rather than the cause (our addiction to buying and selling vast quantities of low cost products). Advertisement Circular Fashion, launched by Swedish Consultancy firm Green Strategy, sets out an excellent synopsis of Key Principles associated with a Circular Fashion Model. At the top of this list are "Design with a Purpose" and "Design for Longevity" - both principles which do not sit easily with our low-cost, fashion-fix culture. Positive Steps Towards A More Sustainable Industry I've sat through countless industry events and round tables where the challenges of our industry are discussed. In the last 5 years, the "elephant in the room" is being increasingly exposed. However, I am sure that if you have been to an industry forum on fashion and sustainability, you will share my frustration. There is far more discussion of problems than focus on solutions. Yet, it is the solutions that need the full focus of the great thinkers in our industry - from both sides of the fast fashion divide. If we are to address the root of the problems with our industry - and go beyond treating the symptoms - we need to see more New Leadership. John Kenneth Galbraith defined great leadership as "The willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time." If Climate change is the greatest anxiety of our time, confronting it will require a radical change in the way we produce and consume fashion. Doing Fast Fashion Better We have seen leadership amongst fast fashion retailers which can, and is, significantly increasing benefits to people and reducing impact on the environment. Doing fast fashion better is a fundamental first step towards change. Advertisement I see 4 ways in which meaningful impact can be achieved: 1. Acknowledging The Elephant in The Room I have been a part of too many industry forums where percentage reduction in water or energy use are discussed in the same breath as expansion plans to open 3 new stores during the same period and increase production and sales to match. A combined strategy which results in a considerably increased environmental footprint overall, rendering the percentage reductions almost pointless. For me, doing fast fashion better means sharing the full picture evaluating sustainability proposals, and planning and reporting on impact in the context of a growth model. Its time to stop ignoring the elephant. 2. Operating in 3 Dimensions Too often, professionals within fashion businesses are incentivised against improving social or environmental standards. Their commercial Key Performance Indicators are in opposition to the recommendations of the CSR department and CSR does not have representation at board level. Wherever we see sustainability targets being taken seriously in High Street Fashion, sustainability management sits alongside financial management and this approach filters across the business so that each department is empowered rather than being frustrated by its impact targets. (Hats off to H&M on this point). I would like to see this leadership and commitment strengthened through more fashion businesses following the leadership of Patagonia and registering as B Corporations. The B Corp movement can and will move our industry towards a 3-Dimensional model (We're talking to you, H&M and Kering!). 3. Following Circular Fashion Principles Say no more. 4. Sharing and Building Social Impact From an observer's perspective, we hear more about the environmental initiatives of large fashion retailers, even though this doesn't sit easily within a fast fashion model. I would like to see and hear much more from leading retailers on what fashion, made well, can do for people behind the product. I would like to see more real commitment to paying living wages and empowering workers. I would like to see advertising budgets raising awareness about the value of skills and craftsmanship, and how consumers can positively influence the well-being of the people behind fashion by buying well. Next In The Series... Doing fast fashion better will be a huge step forward. But, it is not going to change our industry. Next week, I will be exploring 3 big ideas to change the direction of the fast fashion juggernaut. Interested in the fast fashion debate? Join our mailing list for the next article in this series, or tell us what you think on Twitter. Advertisement This September The Huffington Post UK Style is focusing on all things sustainable, for the second year running. Our thirst for fast fashion is dramatically impacting the environment and the lives of thousands of workers in a negative way. Our aim is to raise awareness of this zeitgeist issue and champion brands and people working to make the fashion industry a more ethical place. When Prince died, I was devastated. It was like losing my best friend. It still hurts and knowing what he struggled with so privately magnifies that hurt tenfold. But my pain has had to take a back seat as frustration and, quite honestly, anger have taken hold of my emotions and my focus. Social media can be as harmful as it is helpful and informative and I have seen on that medium several fan groups and individuals who have circulated unnecessary petitions as of late to uncover "the truth" about Prince's death and claims of murder under the auspices of conspiracy to steal his master recordings. In particular, they have accused Prince's former label WB with whom he entered into a mutually beneficial agreement in 2014. These "advocates" and seekers of "justice" launched their campaigns as early as April 22, 2016, the day after Prince passed away. Some didn't even wait that long. Many began by by reading more into his last Tweet than he probably meant. Prince could be cryptic at times on purpose and in jest, but most times he actually said what he meant and meant what he said. He advertised most of his Hit N Run (HNR) shows these days via Twitter and they always said the same thing, "just when u thought u were safe". I followed Prince from the time he opened a Twitter account and I have seen these hints about the HNR shows. His final show in Atlanta was advertised that way. So, then, why was the final Tweet taken down? He likely did it himself before he died. Prince used independent promoter, Lucy Lawler-Freas, to book dates. She has attested to this in interviews and it is on her LinkedIn profile. She's said she was still trying to secure other venues for the "Piano and a Microphone" tour at the time of his passing. Perhaps he knew he wasn't well enough to do the next date and needed time for recovery, to include detox and treatment for opiate dependency, and removed the Tweet as opposed to misleading his fan base. Maybe there wasn't a location booked beyond Atlanta and rather than teasing fans with the promise of a show that fell through, removed the Tweet. As private as Prince was it is highly unlikely anyone else was able to access his Twitter account as I suspect he changed the passwords, daily. Advertisement These conspiracy theories and petitions do, however, point to a reality the creators of such fail to acknowledge: they are struggling to accept his death as a horrible accident that resulted in the death of one of the most beloved and most brilliant artists of a generation who, like many, hid a very real problem from the public and from friends. That has me coming to the resolve that many of these "advocates" retreated from Prince in the 1990s and feel guilty for doing so because now he is dead. No petition or Facebook fan group is going to change any of this; and no petition will bring him back. We have to accept what director/producer Charles Ferguson has observed, "Prince was...human. He was ultimately killed by the collision between his perfectionism and by his shame about having flaws, and by society's hypocrisies: the pressure to appear effortlessly spectacular in performance (which destroyed his body); to use dangerously powerful drugs to manage his pain...and to never, ever show weakness." People have endlessly and impetuously quoted one of his signature songs to say that this, his death, "is what it sounds like when doves cry," but I think people have only listened to that song in part; the part that only concerns them and their emotions about his life and his death. Prince was a private man because he was a proud man. Even the most insecure among us have pride and pride is a very fragile thing. When I was a kid, people teased me for being a Prince fan, friends, family, everyone. They thought he was weird and by association, so was I. But I have never wavered in my fandom and appreciation of him and his art. Not ever and I am proud of that; it is why I can look at his life and see a man who was imperfectly perfect and perfectly imperfect. I can be proud of that and I can live with it. However, those raising the speculation that his death was part of a conspiracy strip away the very thing that keeps his legacy alive: his pride. It was his pride that made him fight the industry for control of his art. It was pride that kept him going through with the release of Emancipation and subsequent tour even though he just suffered the most immense pain one could imagine. It was his pride that let him perform through agonizing hip pain for years. And it was pride that prevented him from seeking help until the very the end and concealing his inner turmoil from those closest to him. Advertisement I can see why he hid things, no matter how detrimental to his well-being, and respect him for it because we all hide things. This is a very human thing to do and Prince was, if nothing else, human. He was just like us and said so in a 1985 MTV interview. I don't care how he died. We all die, eventually, and the circumstances are all different. What I care about most is how he lived. Did he smile when butterflies touched his skin? The song "Glam Slam" tells me he did. Did he cry on days when he missed his son? "Comeback" tells me he did. Did he randomly quote James Brown lyrics in casual conversation like I randomly quote his lyrics in casual conversation? "Gett Off" affirms this for me. When he was younger, did he "sit out on the stoop" to "just watch all the cars go by" like so many of us do as children and teens, especially in the African-American community? According to "Reflection," yes, he did. He was just like us. He did all the things we so-called normal people do and that includes hurting, physically and emotionally. For whatever reasons he had, Prince was hurting and it was his pride that prevented him from seeking the help he needed. This is the case with most people. He wasn't alone. He was human. So many people who knew him over the years talk about him being "moody," up some days and then way down on others, genius often works that way. But do we know that when he was alone in a room by himself, that he was okay? Was he lonely? Maybe. It is possible to have friends, close friends, and parties, etc. and still feel incredibly lonely. I know that feeling. I have had it more than I care to admit, but sometimes I revel in it because it stirs creativity. I wonder if he was the same. Basically, Prince, "I wonder u"...I always have, I always will and I will always wonder why you left us so soon, not the how, but the why because I was not prepared for it. But that is MY issue to resolve and it is not the duty of the State of Minnesota. COLOGNE, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 03: Expatriate Kurds living in Germany attend a rally to protest against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on September 3, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. Erdogan has led an aggressive crackdown against the PKK, the armed Kurdish militia in Turkey, after he undermined peace negotiations with them last year, and his government has also sought to marginalize Kurdish political groups and media. More recently Erdogan has used the failed July coup against him to cement an authoritarian rule over Turkey that has included the arrest of thousands of journalists, members of the police force and university professors whom he claims are suspected of supporting the Fethullah Gulen movement. (Photo by Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images) 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. Advertisement 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 a la the Iraqi Kurds. Advertisement 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 Ocalan 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 Ozal. In 1999, Ocalan was arrested and sentenced to death, but under European pressure and due to the prospect of EU membership, Turkey abolished the death penalty and Ocalan'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. Advertisement 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. His parading of Turkish democracy, however, was nothing but empty rhetoric. In May 2016, he pushed his AK Party-controlled parliament to approve a bill to amend the constitution to strip parliamentary immunity from lawmakers, clearly aimed at Erdogan's chief enemies, Gulenists and Kurds, paving the way for trials of pro-Kurdish legislators. Under EU pressure, peace talks took place in late 2012, but by July 2015, the negotiations collapsed and full scale hostilities resumed between Turkish forces and the PKK, each side blaming the other for the failure of the negotiations. Advertisement This failure, though, was almost a given. The parliament was deliberately left out, the public was kept in the dark, the military had no clue about the negotiating process, and the negotiations were reduced to concerns over terrorism rather than the substance of Kurdish demands, ensuring deniability as to which side was to blame for the inevitable collapse of the negotiations. Moreover, being that the prospect of EU membership was all but dead, Erdogan ultimately aborted the negotiations, fearing that if he provided any opening, it would encourage the Kurds to seek full autonomy as they would be emboldened by their counterparts in Syria and in particular Iraq, where they enjoy full autonomy. In the wake of the failed military coup in July, Erdogan wasted no time in rounding up tens of thousands of people from the military, academia, think tanks, and teachers connected to the Gulen movement. He then moved on to the Kurds, believing that in so doing he will put an end once and for all to the Kurdish problem. Only recently in the Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced that around 14,000 Kurdish teachers would be suspended for having ties with the PKK. Erdogan's rampage against the Kurds continued in spite of the US' and EU's call to stop his heavy-handed approach that was arbitrary at best and an outright violation of basic human rights. Advertisement Ocalan's recent call to engage in peace negotiations for the third time, and the PKK's willingness to abide by his call as they have in the past, provided another opportunity to end the violence, but Erdogan refuses to heed Ocalan's call. Violence, however, regardless of the reason, is not acceptable, even though Erdogan is using equivalent violent measures. Regardless of how legitimate the Kurds' grievances are, civil disobedience will ultimately be far more effective in achieving their political goals, as well as engendering international sympathy, instead of resorting to violent resistance which plays directly into Erdogan's hand. Even his erstwhile ally, former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, recognized the need for Turkey to return to the peace process, but was rebuffed by Erdogan, whose national fanaticism overshadows the future stability and well-being of the country that he presumably wants to secure. After 30 years of bloodletting, none of the prerequisites to end the conflict are present. Neither side has reached a point of exhaustion, both expect to improve their position over time, and no catastrophic event has occurred to change the dynamic of the conflict, leaving both sides fighting a protracted war that neither can win. Erdogan will be wise to remember a popular Turkish proverb that says, "No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, turn back." Indeed, unless Erdogan finds a solution through negotiations, and heeds Ocalan's renewed call for talks, the conflict will continue to fester and would doubtless outlast him as it has outlasted his predecessors. Advertisement Erdogan will not succeed in killing every PKK fighter -- not only because of the nature of guerilla warfare, but primarily because of the Kurds' determination to realize some form of semi-autonomous rule and preserve their rich culture and language that no people would sacrifice, regardless of how much pain and suffering they endure. It's been a year since we adopted the Sustainable Development Goals--a new roadmap for international development. Since then, I've noticed something strange. I can't remember the last time someone mentioned the SDGs without calling them "ambitious." It's as if we've collectively rebranded them the "Ambitious Sustainable Development Goals." Sometimes I worry that it reflects a belief that the goals are too hard, that we can't achieve them. Poverty Reduction and the Private Sector Ambition is a good thing. We should be aggressive about ending extreme poverty. But we need to be clear-eyed about the resources it will require. To fully fund the SDGs would take additional investments between $1 trillion and $3 trillion a year. That leaves a big gap, but the good news is that we aren't in this alone. Today, private sector financial flows account for 91% of the resources flowing from the U.S. into the developing world. That includes things like private investment, private philanthropy, and people sending money to family members back home. Advertisement Official development assistance is just a small piece of this puzzle. So, if we are serious about ending extreme poverty--and I believe we are--it's time to evolve and expand our thinking. As donors, we need to ask: How can we be more catalytic? How can we help businesses spur economic growth and reduce poverty? This is not a new idea. USAID has partnered with the private sector since the 1960s. And about 15 years ago, we built two powerful vehicles to unlock investment in sectors that matter for development. Through Global Development Alliances, we have formed more than 1,500 partnerships with organizations whose interests align with our development objectives. And, through the Development Credit Authority we have entered into hundreds of loan guarantee partnerships to mitigate risk for lenders. Between the two, we have mobilized more than $18 billion in public and private funds through public-private partnerships and catalyzed more than $3.9 billion in credit through guarantees. These partnerships work best when there is strong shared value. For example, USAID partnered with Intel, Arizona State University, and Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training to strengthen engineering education in Vietnam. It was a win-win: Vietnam wanted to improve job readiness for their growing tech industry and Intel wanted stronger engineering talent for their local business operations. Even after USAID's involvement ended, Intel continued investing in the project, and other tech companies have joined the effort. The Next Generation of Partnerships: Pathways to Scale Tools like the Development Credit Authority and Global Development Alliances remain a mainstay of USAID's work. At the U.S. Global Development Lab, we are looking for additional ways to make an impact at a scale to match the ambition of the SDGs. We see three promising frontiers: leveraging private capital, engaging with local private sector actors, and building multi-stakeholder alliances. Advertisement Leveraging Private Capital For example, Power Africa is a multi-stakeholder partnership working to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. Mobilizing private capital is core to its approach. It works with more than 130 partners, from Fortune 500 companies to small, African-owned businesses. So far, the United States' initial commitment of $7 billion has mobilized more than $40 billion in private capital to finance energy access in sub-Saharan Africa. The Lab is supporting Power Africa by funding innovations in off-grid household solar energy and through the Scaling Off-Grid Energy Grand Challenge for Development, including its newly announced call for high efficiency, low-cost, off-grid refrigeration solutions. Our work with start-up companies that offer off-grid energy solutions to households often involves blended financing approaches--using USAID grant funds to catalyze private investment into early-stage businesses. Engaging the Local Private Sector As we work toward the Sustainable Development Goals, local actors will matter the most in driving outcomes. That's why USAID is partnering more and more with local companies on the ground: they are the most important drivers of economic growth and job creation in their countries. These companies have strong local networks, and they have long-term commitments to the markets in which they operate. Farmers deliver their crops to the Cold Chain Bangladesh Alliance collection center. Photo: USAID Bangladesh In an 1857 speech, Fredrick Douglass offered this advice: Let me give you a word of the philosophy of reform. The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of earnest struggle. [...] If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. Douglass called for a struggle for a democracy in which the disempowered are the active agents and shapers of their own destiny. Donald Trump and promoters of unelected school boards would have us acquiesce to a contrary subservient vision. How dare I equate Trump's racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, authoritarian appeal with charter-school advocates who wrap themselves in the mantle of civil rights? Well, I am not equating, but I am asserting that they share a dangerous dismissal of the vitalness of democracy. Advertisement Trump wears his disdain for democracy proudly on his sleeve. I am your voice... No one knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it. Trump's message is that the solution to persistent problems is not democracy or for people to join with one another in a struggle for a better life, but rather to trust him. Advocates for privately governed, but publicly funded, charter schools are more circumspect. To justify abandonment of democracy, they point to the dysfunction of elected school boards. Netflix's billionaire CEO Reed Hastings, a charter school cheerleader, argued that instability due to turnover in elected school boards makes long-term planning difficult. Similarly, in one post the Fordham Foundation asserted, "When it comes to school boards, what matters most is the character of those who serve -- not how they were selected." Whatever it takes to get the job done assertions have a practical and utilitarian patina, but are profoundly anti-democratic as its apostles typically eschew the inconvenience of dissent and challenge. History is replete with examples of the slippery slope that begin with constrained restrictions of inconvenient democracy in the name of addressing real or trumped up threats but end with more generalized despotism. The solution to the necessary messiness of contentious democracy is never its avoidance in the name of expediency. In contrast to Douglass's call for struggle, Trump, and advocates for privately governed charter schools share a let others solve your problems for you philosophy. Many share something else. They are- or claim to be- billionaires. The already empowered stake their claims to legitimacy on convincing "the less fortunate" that despite vast differences in wealth, power, and life circumstances, they should trust the judgment of their self-appointed defenders rather than one another. One such disingenuous pitch is that poor folks should have the same school choices as the wealthy. The cynical messages are: Give up on struggle for equity across your racial differences. Give up on democratically governed schools. Improvement depends on being out for yourself, just like us. Advertisement "If you don't like the product, take your business elsewhere," may suffice for individual choices like buying cars or a burger, but it is a terribly dangerous way to govern the broad public good of educating all of our children. Individual choice within an inequitable system is no substitute for democratically directed improvement for all. The rub of the selfish approach is that it has never worked well except for a very few exceptional class escapees while leaving the privileged still in power and still privileged. Douglass was not only historically accurate about victories for liberty. He was also prescient about the next century. All of the benchmarks of 20th-Century progress for social, economic, civic, and racial justice and human rights were achieved through common struggle. Placing faith in, "Just trust me. I know what's good for you," exhortations, whether they come from a presidential candidate, elected office holder or charter school board is a perilous abdication and very risky bet. Expertise-when it is real- is valuable, but it only works when it is democratically authorized, monitored and controlled on behalf of equity-driven values. By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - Security officials of China's Liaoning Province are probing senior officials of Chinese trading firm Hongxiang Industrial Development Company, which is the main subsidiary of Liaoning Hongxiang Group's six companies, for allegedly providing nuclear resources to North Korea. Hongxiang Group founder Ma Xiaohong, already arrested, is highly likely to be harshly punished. As a result, Hongxiang Group is expected to go bankruptcy. [Hongxiang Group chairwoman Ma Xiaohong has been arrested by the Chinese authorities. She is expected to be punished harshly this time./ Source: Hongxiang Group website] According to Beijing sources well informed about Sino-Korean relations on Wednesday, the move can be seen as China's warning against North Korea's repeated nuclear tests. It can also have a preemptive effect of alleviating the external perspective that the country is permitting North Korea's provocative behavior. Besides, it can be a way to smash North Korea considering the fact that Hongxiang Group deals significant amount of the trade volume between the North and China. Furthermore, the fact that China recent arrested nearly 10 Liaoning-based enterprise representatives that are suspected of supporting North Korea can cast away international doubts over the country's willingness to keep U.N. resolution 2270, which imposed tighter sanctions on North Korea. Advertisement [Ryugyong Korean Restaurant, which is reportedly funded by Hongxiang Group. The restaurant employees take a group photograph./ Source: Hongxiang Group website] However, things get slightly different if you take a deeper look.. Most of all, it's doubtful whether China was not aware of Hongxiang's business. It doesn't make sense that China was really unaware of this, because it means that the Chinese government itself is incompetent. Then, it means that China was already aware of this, and the move was unwillingly done as the U.S. showed evidence. Chui Mo, a entrepreneur who does business with North Korea in Hangzhou, said, "Almost every Chinese enterprise doing business with North Korea is in the palm of the government authorities. Those firms and entrepreneurs that have been probed had clear evidences. China thought this would make problem anyway, so they decided to deal with it preemptively." I take precisely zero pleasure in this. I'm actually quite depressed. If it weren't for the private messages I receive on social media, or the frank conversations over a beer or two, with Corbynistas doubting their own Corbynianity (while still publicly whooping his name), I might not have the confidence to say all this. I've been to two Corbyn rallies now, with almost exactly a year in between, and the same thing has happened on both occasions. A ferment of excitement builds for days on end before; social media reaches meltdown; the big day finally arrives; the crowd swells, whipped up by speaker after speaker after speaker all praising the leader and detailing how Jeremy's going to save the world (rarely any mention of him doing this from Downing Street by the way); the energy rises into a huge wave, climbing and towering and roaring towards the beach, and just as it is ready to peak and it feels like we're all about to go surfing, something happens. It all fades away. Somewhere around 30 seconds into Jeremy's speech: a sort of hush descends as the Leader starts off on a rather odd oratory journey, broken up by nervous swallowing, breathless unwieldy sentences that are hard to follow and sometimes impossible to establish as having ended, delivered with strained expressions by a man who doesn't look, or sound, particularly comfortable. The strange frequency all this creates doesn't last long because the crowd always steps in to the rescue. Every fluffed line gets a forced cheer anyway; when a sentence peters out into nothingness, the fans drown out the silence. They pick him up and carry him through to the end, by which time the energy has returned in abundance, albeit in a more synthesised form. Advertisement It's an odd thing to witness. But to me it's also a very, very worrying thing to witness. Because out there in the real world people will be far less sympathetic when we take him to the country, and put him in leadership debates, as the guy we've picked to be Prime Minister. If more people were willing to admit that our dear Leader isn't perfect, and could do with some improvement in certain areas including public speaking, that would be one thing. If more people were willing to open the door just a tiny crack and let a few photons of reality in, I'd feel better. But this is clearly not going to happen. So I'm going to have to say it, and risk more abuse, more sullen faces, more social media slating - although hopefully not more people tagging all my main clients in a tweet imploring them to stop hiring this "gutter press" journalist. A strange type of political fundamentalism has taken hold, which no other leader in my memory has been granted. The fact that there are people who have surrendered all their critical faculties, and have been so willing to suspend their disbelief, all because of one formerly obscure man, should instantly cause uncomfortable parallels in even the slowest of mind. It's the same type of willingness that leads a person to believe that a man travelled through the night to Jerusalem on a winged horse-like creature to receive divine wisdom, that another man could walk on water, and that another received instructions from a burning bush. This level of uneducated credulity and unconditional support is particularly unhelpful given that, even if you are Jez's most fanatical supporter, you'd have to admit that he has had a divisive effect on the party. Whether you think he is the second coming, or the worst thing to ever happen to Labour- each is a subjective view and can't be proved. But about which there is no doubt, is that his leadership has divided the party. Advertisement If you don't share this analysis then I suggest you go back to get your political antennae retuned. If you prefer to rest in the false security that it isn't he who has been divisive, and if you actually believe that the current problems of the Labour Party are entirely down to the treachery of MPs, then we may as well just shut down the party now. Among the many reasons I've always held the Labour Party in such high regard is because it was above the madness of so much of left-wing politics; it drew energy from the well of principle and fervour out there, but filtered it through rationale, maturity, duty, and self-scrutiny. Instead a sort of cultism has emerged. An emotional unquestioning consensus that isn't subjected to even the most idol of self-scrutiny: it's Jeremy Corbyn or nothing now, but nobody seems, on closer intellectual inspection, to be particularly sure why. Why are so many people willing to squeeze one politician through the doors of reasonable doubt, so many times, while totally overlooking even fiercely defending every one of his flaws? Why has this one man been promoted to the status of a prophet? And since when was to even hint at imperfection in a politician a form of blasphemy, especially a politician so unassailably divisive, if not harmful, to their own party? I'm afraid the only way you can grant Jez (or anyone for that matter) this type of omniscience is if you are willing to compromise all claims of objectivity, walk around all day wearing blinkers, seeing only what you want to see. Personally I'm not willing to do that, as cosy and reassuring as it must be. I'm upset and depressed that so many supposedly smart people I know have proved themselves willing to do exactly that. As the situation has become more bleak and the prospects for the Labour Party ever getting back into power more miniscule over time, the bellowing has got louder. All that astoundingly positive energy, the wave that swept Corbyn to power and managed to sweep along with it all but the most cynical Labour members, has formed into a violent, rackety foam with a few nasty surprises bobbing about in it. Advertisement Take the London Mayoral Election. Which is listed here as being one of "Corbyn's victories so far that you won't read in the rest of the press". (I'm sure I remember reading about the London Mayoral election somewhere in the papers, but never mind). Sadiq Khan's victory has been appropriated by Corbyn supporters as, in fact, a victory for Jez. Funnily enough they fail to mention that Khan deliberately distanced himself from Corbyn during the campaign, and has since denounced him altogether - now the crowds boo and jeer at the mention of the name Sadiq Khan. On the flip side, as I write this there are people fiercely explaining why Labour's trouncing in a local council election is nothing to do with Corbyn, or the fact that, reportedly, local supporters spent the eve of the election on a Corbyn for Leader phone bank rather than doorstepping for the party. It's impossible to know, but I'm fairly certain that had the result gone Labour's way in Sheffield, it would have joined the list of Corbyn victories (that presumably you wouldn't have been able to read in the press). But then we are stepped so far in untruth and casuistry these days, what's one more lie? At the CLP nomination meeting in my own constituency of Nottingham East, Lilian Greenwood spoke in favour of Owen Smith. While she did, a document entitled "Response to Lillian [sic] Greenwood's 'speech to Nottingham South Labour Party Members'" was passed around the hall, presenting a point-by-point breakdown of why the elected MP was wrong to address her concerns about the Leader to her constituents, 'debunking' the facts behind her claims. It even had a pithy little Bertrand Russell quote, pasted unironically at the end, bemoaning the fact that propaganda is more effective when used for hate than when it "tries to stir up friendly feeling". To me this typified so much that is wrong about the party these days - not least because it entirely missed the point that Lilian, like so many others, has been robbed of all morale. And not because she's Tony Blair reborn. Let's not forget that she was a darling of the 'old' Left, five minutes before she quit Jez's cabinet with a scathing attack on his competence not his principles). No, far easier simply to rubbish an elected MP, publicly (and presumably, Paul Mason will be urging, deselect her when the time comes). If economist Richard Murphy could be deselected I'm sure he would be. If he could be hung drawn and quartered, I'm sure he would be. Murphy, on whom Corbyn based his entire economic policy, and who had moist-eyed Corbynistas screaming and cheering at rallies a year ago, has turned away from the whole program in disgust. Even darling Owen Jones has stopped sounding so unequivocal, after months of hackneyed crowd-pleasing simplifications and Lefty slogans that he didn't seem to believe himself half of the time, but nonetheless did a great deal to help Corbyn to take power. Advertisement The excuses for why Labour is going to lose the next general election are already being made. It will, of course, be all down to those treacherous plotting Labour MPs creating disunity and not supporting their leader. Which should be transparently flawed even to the dullest mind - and certainly can't be used to explain Corbyn's dismal own approval rating now. (If the public did see him as being the undeserving victim of those mean plotting MPs, surely his personal rating would be boosted in sympathy?). It's not simply mistaken to discount stats and polls like this, it's also very dangerous. Adding layer upon layer to a false, confected form of reality, and therefore not responding to the warning signs, could well be our downfall. The people who are already blaming the PLP for an impending election loss are in effect saying they believe that the British public isn't principled enough to vote on policy; not understanding enough to see through the Blairite plot; not intelligent enough to not be duped by the lies of the 'mainstream media'. In other words, anything but the possibility that there may be flaws in the plan to have him as leader. These lines are already being put out well in advance of the next election - that is by the people who aren't already happily writing 2020 off as a loss, "while we rebuild the movement". Let me ask, is it good for the Labour Party to have in circulation, whenever the next election does come around, this video compilation of some of Corbyn's most shuddering comments - ranging from merely crass remarks to the rationalisation of the London bombings, support for anti-Semitic mullahs, and the defense of an organisation that smeared the murdered Charlie Hebdo journalists? Is it good for the Labour Party to have posters on every street corner with photos of John McDonnell holding the Little Red Book, bearing slogans paraphrased from, say: "Labour wants no limits on immigration". "Labour's shadow Chancellor is a Communist sympathiser" "Jeremy Corbyn calls terrorists his 'friends'" "Labour would not use shoot-to-kill against a terrorist" "Jeremy Corbyn supported the IRA" ..which the Conservatives will do - and worse. And what happens when Corbyn is asked, for example: "As Prime Minister, would you welcome the Israeli Prime Minister to Downing Street?" Or "As Prime Minister would you condemn unequivocally Hamas for firing rockets into Israel." Or "As Prime Minister, would you defend a NATO state that had been invaded by Russia?" Or "As Prime Minister, would you seek to be conciliatory with the leaders of City banks?" Or - as has already happened - "As Prime Minister, would you authorise the Met Police to shoot-and-kill terrorists during an attack?" Pre-emptively dismiss all of that as mainstream media bias if you choose. Or accept the onslaught of reality - that these things are going to happen. And they are going to be, brutal. Advertisement If the leap of faith to imagine Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister has been too great for thousands of Labour members to make, will the general public be able to stretch to it? Bearing in mind that it won't be party members and activists who are on the whole voting - by my calculations the Labour membership makes up less than 1% of the electorate. No, it will be people who don't share the love; who haven't seen the light and never will. Who voted Conservative last time around in the 100-odd constituencies that we will have to swing from Tory to Labour to get a majority of even one MP. People for whom this Labour Party will be the hardest sell of any in recent memory. I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall repeating this basic mathematics. If it weren't for the people I know who have been bullied out of voicing or posting these doubts, I would stop the banging. Jeremy Corbyn will win the leadership. The only real question is what happens next. Assuming the party doesn't immediately split in two, what needs to follow is a period of introspection. Of honesty about the flaws of the leader (YES, flaws) and where he drastically needs to improve. If the notion that Corbyn is omniscient, infallible and divine continues to prevail, we will hand this country over to the Tories on a permanent loan basis. For the sake of the party, we need to demonstrate maturity, and self-discipline. Corbyn's supporters need to hold him to account more; de-canonise him and start being honest about where he's gone wrong. We need to compromise, get serious about how we appeal to a broader base, and demonstrate a willing to assuage the fears and frustrations of Labour MPs, not simply smear them as traitors or threaten them with political bankruptcy. On Twitter recently I received one of the standard insults you get when you dare to write anything against our dear leader: "delusional". Of course nobody thinks Jeremy is perfect, I was told. Ok then, I thought, in that case I'd be interested to hear what this person's biggest criticism of Corbyn is. The response: "He should have been less conciliatory" when he formed his first cabinet. I rest my case. Advertisement Last September 16, hundreds of Filipino activists braved the heat and police lines in marching to =the US Embassy in downtown Manila. The date is special: it marks the 25th anniversary of the Philippine Senates junking of an agreement that would have extended the 44-year stay of US military bases in Philippine soil. For Filipino activists, the date has since become a day for rallies and other activities to denounce and express opposition to US military presence in the country. This years protest is special for another reason: for the first time in history, a Philippine president has expressed criticisms of the US, called for the pullout of US special forces from the big island of Mindanao and has vowed to pursue an independent foreign policy. Return of US military bases The protestors, led by progressive umbrella organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance), were protesting the return, with a vengeance, of US military bases in the country, mostly due to the efforts of previous president Benigno Simeon Noynoy Aquino III. Aquino signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US during US President Barack Obamas visit to Manila in April 2014. His government thereafter announced five base locations across the country, distributed among the countrys biggest islands Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Palawan. The signing of the EDCA came in the heels of the US announcement of its Pivot to Asia in 2011, which observers claim is a geopolitical strategy to contain what the US views as emerging threats China and Russia and old threat North Korea. Needless to say, the Philippines, which has often been praised by the US government as a long-standing close ally in the Asia-Pacific, is seen by the Obama and Aquino governments as crucial to such a rebalancing of military forces. Until recently, the US has been trying to depict its increasing military presence in the Philippines as support for a country facing territorial disputes with China. Yet when Obama was asked, point blank, about extending military support for the Philippines if an act of military aggression is committed against the latter, he failed to give a categorical answer. For many Filipinos, this just confirms that US military presence in the country is meant to protect the interests of the US, not of the Philippines. It is increasingly clear that US military deployment in the region is part of an effort to encircle China and Russia, while enjoying continued freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, considered to be one of the busiest maritime trading routes in the world which counts among the most important products of which is oil. While the dominant discourse on the pivot highlights the US geopolitical interests, there is no doubt that its economic interests are behind the move. When US State Secretary and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton first explained the pivot strategy in detail, she said some of the key components of the strategy are economic partnerships and international trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Relations between the US and the Philippines have always been the target of condemnation of activists in the Philippines, who point to the dominance of US imperialism as the root cause of widespread poverty and hunger in the country. EDCA is seen by activists as exceeding the Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement with the US which, approved by the Philippine Senate in 1999, rolled back the Filipinos victory of September 16, 1991. The VFA has legalized the stay of 600 US troops headquartered in the Armed Forces of the Philippines West Mindanao Command in the province of Zamboanga since 2002, under the pretext of going after local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. The protestors claimed that under Aquinos rule, Filipinos became used to news about joint military exercises between American and Filipino troops, entry and departure of American military ships into Philippine waters and territory, and discoveries of flights of US drones all over the country. For many Filipinos, it was already a foregone conclusion that US military presence in the country would only grow in the coming years until, that is, the victory of Aquinos successor and erstwhile Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the last May elections. Aside from condemnations, participants in this years September 16 protest voiced agreement with and support for Dutertes recent statements on the Philippines relations with the US. Duterte vows independent foreign policy Stripped of the bombast, which included cuss words, and of subsequent efforts to modulate its messages, Dutertes statements at the recently concluded ASEAN Summit in Laos contained criticisms of the US crimes and human rights record in the world and in the Philippines, and assertions of the countrys sovereignty over its affairs. The Philippines is not a vassal state, he said at a press conference. We have long ceased to be a colony of the United States. We are not the lapdogs of the US. His statements have placed the Philippines in international news and have fuelled discussions about the countrys future. The message is even made sharper by Dutertes other recent statements. It is clear that he is now playing the China and Russia card against the US. He has made only favorable statements in relation to China and Russia, has gestured towards closer economic relations with the two countries, and is now eyeing buying weapons from them. The statements were followed by his call on US special forces to leave Mindanao, the biggest island in the Philippines and home to the Moro people, the massacre of whom during American colonization of the Philippines he recently invoked. It is clear that the immediate context of Dutertes first anti-US statements as president is his refusal to be criticized for his human-rights record stemming from his bloody and controversial war on illegal drugs. While activists criticize him for the mounting body count, they point to the fact that Dutertes stance vis-a-vis the US is historic. Duterte, indeed, is the first Filipino president who has made critical remarks against the US and has invoked an independent foreign policy against the US. He has a long record to show on this score, from his days as a student activist and member of the leftist Kabataang Makabayan (Patriotic Youth). As Davao City mayor, Duterte condemned the US for spiriting away Michael Terence Meiring, a suspected CIA agent who accidentally exploded a bomb in his hotel room in 2002, out of the country before local authorities could investigate the incident. In 2013, he claimed to have blocked the use of Davao City as operation base of US drones. He also declared his city to be a No-joint military training and No-US troops zone. Dutertes election as president is also seen as a protest vote against his predecessor. And one of the biggest scandals to have rocked the Aquino government is the death of 44 Filipino Special Action Force operatives in a US-led anti-terrorist operation in Maguindanao province in 2015. While activists welcome Dutertes assertion of an independent foreign policy against the US, they call on him to walk the talk and follow up the statements with concrete measures. Bayan is calling on him to junk the EDCA, the VFA, and other one-sided military treaties with the US; end joint military exercises with the US and dependence on the latter for second-hand and substandard armaments; probe abuses of US troops in the country; assert Philippine sovereignty over West Philippine Sea; and denounce US-led wars of aggression. Other progressives are calling on him to lead a Non-Aligned Movement similar to what Indonesian president Sukarno initiated in the 1960s, and assert national sovereignty in the economic field. Asia-Pacific solidarity vs. US pivot The protestors also denounced the US Pivot to Asia, called for the withdrawal of US military troops in the Asia-Pacific region, and expressed solidarity with the peoples of Asia-Pacific who are resisting intensifying US military presence in the region. They held placards which read Close the US military spy base in Australia! Close Pine Gap now! and Solidarity with the struggle of Australia for peace and independence! Calls for Pine Gaps immediate closure are mounting in Australia and other countries, after revelations about the military facilitys importance for spying on countries and even ordinary citizens. Various protests in the Korean peninsula are also intensifying against the US and South Korean governments decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile defense system in North Geongsang province, supposedly to counter attacks from North Korea. The truth is that after the US withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, it has been deploying missile defense systems in in various countries in order to encircle Russia and China. The people of Japan are also fighting the intensifying US military presence in their country, considered by the US as one of its most trusted allies in its rebalancing towards the Asia-Pacific. Protests are particularly strong in Okinawa province, where the US has 32 military installations, 26,000 military personnel, and various offenses against the local population. Increasing US military deployment in Hawaii, Guam and other Pacific islands are also being criticized, not least for the lack of transparency about operations and plans even to mainstream media. Also being subjected to increasing public scrutiny and criticism are US efforts to expand and establish new military exercises and agreements with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, other parts of Southeast Asia, and Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Mongolia. Five years into the US Pivot to Asia, ushered in by the US first self-declared Pacific President, protests and criticisms are mounting against increasing US military presence in the region. The US governments excuses are being challenged and its real motives exposed. Twenty-five years after the Philippines September 16, the country is in international news for its presidents assertion of an independent foreign policy. The context and form may be controversial, but Dutertes call echoes the struggles of the peoples of the world, especially amidst intensifying US military presence. Gaziantep, Turkey. About an hour south from here, just over the Syrian border, a small nondescript town called Dabiq is currently held by ISIS. "It's a nowhere place," a Syrian activist based here told me today. "I've driven through it a few times, but never stopped--why would anyone? I doubt it's even got a coffee shop." But for ISIS, Dabiq has epic importance. It's spun an impressive mythology about the place, billing it as the site of a future decisive battle against the "Crusaders." Before the war around 3,000 people lived there, but given the years of conflict it's thought that few civilians still remain. Yet it has crucial symbolic value for ISIS. The Prophet Mohammed is thought to have said that "the last hour will not come" until Muslims defeat the Crusaders at "Dabiq or Al-A'maq" before conquering Istanbul. Advertisement The imagery has been central to the group's mythology since at least 2004, when its founder Abu-Mus'ab al-Zarqawi (killed by a U.S. air strike two years later) said: "The spark has been lit here in Iraq, and its heat will continue to intensify... until it burns the crusader armies in Dabiq." Since then it's played a central role in ISIS's messaging, as it brings captives there to be killed. It's where the beheading of former U.S. Marine Peter Kassig was filmed two years ago. ISIS's glossy magazine is called Dabiq in homage to the tiny bland town. It's an odd, professionally-designed publication offering an eclectic assortment of turgid theology and instructions on personal hygiene. The latest issue presents chilling tips on how to carry out a terrorist attack: "...do not make intricate plans, but instead, keep it simple and effective. If you can obtain a weapon, do so and use it, as soon as possible and in a place that will cause the most damage and panic." It also contains an explanation for why they hate non-believers (not, apparently, "because of your lattes and your Timberlands"), a bizarre account from a fighter in night vision goggles on guard duty near Aleppo who reflects on a chance encounter with a cat that "leaped on my lap, and began purring," and a tagline of "UNTIL IT BURNS THE CRUSADER ARMIES IN DABIQ." Advertisement ISIS has made such a big deal about the importance of the dusty town as the site of an apocalyptic battle with western forces that it has to stay and fight to keep it. Having held Dabiq for two years, losing it now would be a catastrophic humiliation. Then there's this week's news that about 40 U.S. special forces soldiers were gathering about ten miles outside Dabiq. Reports stated that the U.S. troops were to join with Turkish soldiers and Syrian militias to burst through Dabiq on their way to the strategically more important town of al Bab, about 20 miles further south. But some of the Syrian armed groups were less than enthusiastic about fighting alongside the Americans, and the U.S. troops pulled back. This might have been a wise move for a number of reasons, not least because being part of a force invading Dabiq would help fulfill ISIS's prophecy of it being the site of the historic Crusader battle. Whitehead advocate, researcher and author, USAF Reserve Major William J. O'Dwyer was a driving force in the attempt in the late 1960's and the 1970's to have Gustave Whitehead recognized as being the first human to fly. Advocates for the Whitehead claims state that Gustave Whitehead (born 1874 in Germany as "Gustav Weisskopf") flew in a machine he built (his "No.21") on August 14, 1901, nearly two years prior to Wilbur and Orville Wright's history-making flights on December 17, 1903. The great majority of aviation historians find the Whitehead claims utterly lacking believable supporting evidence. O'Dwyer co-authored the pro-Whitehead book "History by Contract" (1978) with pioneer Whitehead advocate, researcher and author Stella Randolph ("Lost flights of Gustave Whitehead 1937"; "Before the Wrights Flew: The Story of Gustave Whitehead 1966"; and co-author "History by Contract" 1978). Advertisement For well over a decade, O'Dwyer and Randolph together were the leading advocates actively supporting the "first in flight" claims made by and for Gustave Whitehead, while Randolph's endorsement of the Whitehead claims dated back to the mid-1930's. All of which makes O'Dwyer's June 7, 1966, letter to famed British aviation historian and significant Whitehead critic, Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith, all the more surprising and striking. In 1966, O'Dwyer stated that he did not believe Whitehead's claims of having made a half-mile flight in 1901 and a 7-mile (circling and over water, no less) in 1902. "For my money, it never made a 1/2 mile or a 7 mile flight. I do however feel it made some short flights." O'Dwyer's notion of "some short flights" involves short low hops off the ground, not "flights" as are generally understood. O'Dwyer proposed wind tunnel testing of a modern 'replica' of Whitehead's No. 21, to determine if that machine could have flown. Of course, without also utilizing the powerplant and propellers and other elements of the original, any modern 'replica' only broadly simulates that original, and, hence, only hints but does not answer the question whether the original No. 21 could have flown. Over the years since 1966, two modern-day renditions of No. 21 have been built and tested, one by Andrew Kosch (the "No.21A") and one in Germany (the "Nr.21B" built by the "Historical Flight Research Committee Gustav Weisskopf" - "HFRC-GW"). Both have surface areas close to the original's published value of 450 sq. ft., yet allocate the surface areas between wings and tail differently. The differences in surface area between the two modern versions and the original No. 21 call into serious question the results of tests of the modern No. 21-type machines. The total surface area of an aerial machine is a major factor of whether or not that machine will lift off and fly, other factors being lift and angle of incidence of the aerofoil used, total weight, total head resistance and thrust, among other factors. The German Nr.21B used modern flight controls and employed a modern hi-revving engine and modern efficient "toothpick" propellers, as well as having many additional wires and other improvements and strengthening in construction not found on the original Whitehead No.21. Also, notably, the German Nr.21B had yaw and roll control not found on the original No.21. Advertisement The Kosch No.21A also utilized a modern hi-revving engine and "toothpick" propellers, as well as modern flight controls. Data derived from testing No. 21A and most especially the Nr.21B machine, with its many modifications based on modern understanding of structures and aeronautics, should be considered provisional. The free-flights of No. 21A and the Nr.21B are not evidence that the original No. 21 made controlled, powered flights in 1901 or at any time. O'Dwyer also draws a distinction between the "flights" of the original Whitehead No.21 - which he discounts - and other elements of the Whitehead story, saying... "When I first stuck my little toe into this matter, I too had felt that Whitehead was indeed a charlatan. Now that I am in it up to my neck, most of the previous opinions have been proven wrong. This does not include the controversial flights. I speak solely of his overall perspective." In the same June 7, 1966, letter, O'Dwyer also comments on one of Whitehead's main supporters and associates, Junius Harworth, O'Dwyer states... Advertisement "When I began this research, only 6 or 7 pages of typewritten notes were available outside of Stella Randolph's first book. Upon reading the book, I too questioned the veracity of Harworth's statement. However some of his testimony must be accepted, as a thorough research in our Squadron has proven that many of his words were verbatim of the actual events. Not the flights, mind you, but other miscellaneous details." So, O'Dwyer believes Harworth was not telling the truth about the "flights." Continuing about Harworth, O'Dwyer writes... "I have read and re-read all of his correspondence to Miss Randolph. His statements do not have continuity in many areas and from time to time I found that his statements failed to correspond with previous remarks. Harworth in my mind was sincere in his effort to strive for recognition for Gustave Whitehead, but somewhere along the way, he has transplanted himself from just a youth around the shop to a full time partner in his association. Later in his teens (17 to 19) he did aid Whitehead as a form of an associate. But his memory of flights confuses me entirely." "He was the main errand boy of the 1900-01 shop. He may easily recall various tasks Whitehead might have assigned him to, but as to being a 1st class associate, I cannot buy this at all. In my log I denounced his significance and wrote his testimony off as being un-reliable. This was done some 2 years ago. So basically we agree on this man. However, I reserve one additional remark. Where other research corroborates many of his statements as to details of shop tools, the making of the propellers, the various minute details of some of the #21 aircraft parts etc.., then I do feel that those statements hold considerable merit.. Like Peck's Bad Boy, he wasn't all bad at all." ------------------------ William J. O'Dwyer persisted for many years to gain recognition for Gustave Whitehead's efforts, even though, as can be seen, in 1966 he could not believe the claims of flight that Gustave Whitehead made. As the discussions regarding Whitehead became more heated and O'Dwyer's position hardened, he pressed on the matter of the original claims of flights in 1901 and 1902 with increasing intensity. Advertisement It is of significant historical interest that William O'Dwyer at first discounted the very claims he later promoted with such ferocity. It seems this transition was not a matter of O'Dwyer finding new evidence that the Whitehead flight claims were true, but rather that O'Dwyer became more aggressive and unquestioning as his status of being a main pro-Whitehead advocate became greater. This psychological phenomena of transitioning to becoming a "true believer" can also clearly be seen in those who have recently become advocates for the Whitehead flight claims. No amount of reasoned discussion and scientific evidence can combat their unreasoning faith. ------------------------ NOTES: A copy of the June 7, 1966, letter from Wm. O'Dwyer to Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith was located in the restricted access Connecticut Aeronautical Historical Association (C.A.H.A.) archive at the National Air & Space Museum (N.A.S.M.), Washington, DC, accessed by this writer with permission from the organizational descendant of C.A.H.A., consistent with the terms of the restrictions. This writer was evidently the first person to gain access to the C.A.H.A. material in the N.A.S.M. archive since it was placed there in 1968. The June 7, 1966, letter was first made public on September 4, 2015, on this writer's Gustave Whitehead - What Did He Do ? web site. Advertisement The four-page letter can be viewed HERE The original of the letter is held within the Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith archive at the Science Museum Library and Archives, Swindon, England. Additional Huffington Post articles by this writer on the Gustave Whitehead controversy can be accessed on this writer's Gustave Whitehead - What Did He Do ? web site. The opinions expressed in this article (other than those contained in the June 7, 1966, letter) are solely those of the writer. So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear, Farewell remorse; all good to me is lost; Evil, be thou my good. John Milton, Paradise Lost Wells Fargo is a metaphor for the Donald Trump campaign. The difference is that it is easier to effect a claw back in the Wells Fargo case than in the case of Donald Trump. In the Wells Fargo case, the need for a claw back is a disappointment. In the case of Donald Trump, it will be a disaster. Wells Fargo was more happily in the news in June 2015, when it was announced that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was taking all its accounts away from the bank because the bank was running ads featuring same sex couples who use the services of Wells Fargo. Franklin Graham, Billy's son, urged his followers to boycott the bank saying they "should speak out as Christians" in protest of the bank's advertising practices. The bank was unmoved. That was the Wells Fargo that showed how a bank could take a stand on matters of principle irrespective of its effect on business. Its Donald Trump moment is more distressing. September 2016 brought news that Wells Fargo employees had been pressured by their superiors to open unauthorized deposit and credit card accounts for existing customers. The more accounts they opened, the greater their bonuses. The fact that the customers neither requested nor knew of the benefits that bonus hungry employees were bestowing on them was of no consequence. The important thing was to open the accounts. Employees were expected to open three to four new accounts each day and the easiest way to do that was to open accounts for customers who already had accounts since the employees had all the information about the customers that they needed in order to open the accounts. September 8 it was disclosed that the bank was paying $185 million in fines and penalties because of that practice. There may have been more than 2 million deposit and credit card accounts created without the knowledge of the beneficiaries of the practice. Advertisement The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said that the fine is the largest fine ever imposed by the Bureau. The bank has thus far fired 5,300 low level employees for engaging in the practice and more firings of low level employees may be in the offing. No senior employees have been punished. John Stumpf is CEO. The only adverse effect he has suffered as a result of the malfeasance of his bank, is being grilled by members of the Senate Finance Committee. Another person who suffered no adverse consequences as a result of the activity is Carrie Tolstedt. Ms. Tolstedt is the divisional senior vice president for community banking and it was she who supervised the 6,000 branch banks where the fictitious accounts were being created. Although Mr. Stumpf knew about the fictitious accounts created under the watchful eye of Ms. Tolstedt, he described her as a "role model for responsible leadership" and "a standard-bearer of our culture." She may be all those things and the proof would be found in the retirement package she will receive when she retires at the end of the year. In addition to $23 million in compensation that was paid to her during the last three years of her employment, she will leave with benefits that could be worth as much as $125 million. According to Bloomberg News, however, the company might be able to claw back $17 million in unvested shares owned by Carrie if the board of directors believes that to be appropriate. And therein the difference between Wells Fargo and Donald Trump. Advertisement Just as Wells Fargo employees were earning money by creating fictitious accounts for customers, Mr. Trump is gathering votes by creating a fictitious narrative about the world, the country in which we live, and the qualities of his opponent. His campaign is built on lies he is able to tell with a straight face and not the least bit of embarrassment when caught out. He has lied for so much of his life, that he himself may often not recall what truth is. His lies range from the birthplace of President Obama, his supposed opposition to the Iraq war from its inception, and his assertion that there are 30 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. For the week beginning September 9, a website that is fact checking Trump's statements found 38 lies and described the week as being perhaps "Donald Trump's greatest week of lies yet." The recent police shootings of African American men in Tulsa, OK and Charlotte, NC has reignited the burning embers of distrust and animosity toward police within African American communities. This distrust and animosity is not solely or only toward white police officers, but ALL police officers. The politics of the upcoming Presidential election contest between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democrat, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has added additional inflammatory flames of political rhetoric and shameless posturing , abetted by a 24/7 cycle of a problematic media. As we have written before about police shootings of African Americans; simply put: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! STOP KILLING US! Advertisement That more African American men die from gun shootings by other African American men does not obscure or minimize the continued shooting of African American men by Police. The threshold issue in almost EVERY police shooting is why, in the case of only African-American men, is the use of lethal force ALWAYS the first option, instead of the last option, in effecting what otherwise might or could have been a lawful arrest. We have said before, and repeat again: America needs to have a "Come To Jesus/ Come to Moses Meeting" with itself on the ubiquitous existential issue of race. ALL of the current cultural, political, economic, education and social institutions in the United States in this 21st Century are embedded with the consequential legacy of slavery and its companion doctrine of white supremacy. Short term, it should be part of the training required by every police department in the major cities in our country that every police person visit and spend a FULL DAY at the new African American Museum of History and Culture at the Smithsonian Institute in Wash, DC. For those whose budgets might not support such visits they can opt for a less expensive alternative by clicking on the website of the University San Francisco. There they can inquire how they can participate on its online course, "FROM SLAVERY TO OBAMA-Renewing The Promise of Reconstruction" Advertisement This is one of those cases where a term is used so often that it loses its meaning: "luxury travel." Almost anything today can be "luxury": travel, cars, apartments, food, spirits, clothes, Jacuzzis, rehab centers, and on Airbnb I found a listing described as a "luxury church." Thomas Aquinas is spinning in his grave on that one. The danger here as that when everybody is using the term, nobody no longer knows what the term connotes We all (should) know the difference between a car and Jacuzzi, and certainly between those two and a church, but when they all use the same adjective, what does it mean? For the sake of argument, let's just stick with travel for now. The path of least resistance is easy: star power. If a hotel or cruise liner has five out of five stars -- or whatever the maximum is -- it is safe to say that the experience will be luxurious. Zagat, Michelin, and even Tripadvisor and Yelp are quick, easy, and reliable reference guides for all things top-shelf. There are just a few problems... Advertisement 1) Too Much of a Good Thing Some of these guides are beginning to lose their allure. Sometimes people are "being nice" and gush over what is something of a mediocre establishment. Other times, it is far worse and even more confusing. User-generated sites can be their own worst enemy; Yelp suffers from a low-level but on-going PR disaster with its reviewers threatening restaurants and other local businesses with abysmal reviews unless they got comp'ed over vague claims of a "bad experience." It's a brave new world out there, and it even has a name: Cyber-extortionism! Don't believe me? Check out this Eater.com article from 2008, or another from 2013, or, hey, how about this one from Uproxx in 2014, or... But even the vetted guides can, with the very best of intentions, shoot themselves in the foot. A 2015 article in Vanity Fair detailed how some chefs do not want a high Michelin rating. Bernard Loiseau, arguably one of the most accomplished chefs in modern times, was quoted as saying, "If I lose a star, I'll kill myself." And guess what? He did kill himself. The irony was that he hadn't even lost a star; there was just a rumor he might. That is an extreme example, but it highlights an old story: Once you reach the top, the pressure to stay there mounts non-stop year after year, and there is nowhere else to go but down. So indeed, there are some business and individuals who are perfectly happy staying out of the guides and letting good ol' word of mouth do the talking for them. Some of the best restaurants in the world, like Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, or El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, are, outside of a tight circle of well-informed foodies, virtual unknowns. Advertisement 2) I Want More... I run a travel business; I've seen how things can change, and that change isn't slow. With the rise of GenX and the Millennials, high thread- or star-counts are slipping into obsolescence, or at least, they are becoming seen as too simplistic a rating system. Are you really going to let a bed sheet be the deciding factor? Comfort, decor, and accommodation is always going figure into the luxury scale, but younger travelers, now connected to the larger world through so many social media platforms and other venues, increasingly want to experience a place "for real." Cultural immersion, personal experiences, and anything outside a pre-packaged, homogenized tour (We're walking! We're walking!) are inexorably gaining ground on fabulous menus and vacations that never leave the hermetically sealed, Western-style hotel grounds. It is the hotels, in fact, that are seeing the shift. Traditional accommodations like ryokans in Japan or riads in Morocco are easy-access windows into their respective cultures and are increasingly popular with travelers looking for more authentic experiences. The layout, decor, and food will only remotely be touched by Western conventions, but even the bathrooms may be in the local style (although not always; a flush toilet is one of the West's most successful exports). In the United States the "quaint B&B" can often be more reflective of its surroundings and foods than even the most meticulous chain hotel. 3) ...Or Not Then there is the problem of too many glowing reviews, which translates into a particular place being absolutely swamped. This includes restaurants, bars, and even cultural sites -- I remember having to get up at the crack of dawn to visit the ruins of Tulum in Mexico near Cancun. It is an excellent detour, well worth the trip, but by 9:30 AM is so overwhelmed with tourists it becomes a Mayan theme park. Once a place is discovered, it runs the risk of being "done," with price-gouging and made-in-China key chains soon to follow. The threat of touristiness is making a lot of travelers look not to conventional luxury, but exclusivity. To the savvy traveler, this sounds an awful lot like bespoke travel, a niche in the industry that tailor-makes vacations specific to a traveler's wants, needs, hobbies, etc. A trip to Antarctica aboard a science vessel? No problem! A culinary tour done by a master chef of India's spice trails? Not a problem! It sounds great until you start looking at the price tag for such personalized service. Bespoke costs. Advertisement For regular mortals on the luxury lookout, authenticity can trump exclusivity. The best resource for this is a surprisingly underused resource: The hotel concierge. Admit it, there are those of us that just "wing-it" on a vacation, or do just the briefest of Internet searches for local highlights, or have the trusty guidebook book (the same of which a lot of other people probably have). The thing about guidebooks, and even Google, is that rarely can they cover EVERYTHING. Esoterica often gets overlooked. Here's where the concierge comes in, and where luxury, now in full-blown semantic change, can sometimes mean a little personal attention. It is a concierge's job to know not only the hotel top to bottom, but also the destination, including those oddball attractions that make a vacation spot, even one long on the tourism radar, into a truly unique experience. And if the hotel doesn't have a concierge, get in contact with the local tourism bureau, which, again, will far better know the local lay of the land than guidebooks that by their nature tend to be brief. Even after The Hague decision, China's government continues to vociferously argue that its 'nine-dash line' of sovereignty over the entire South China Sea is based on centuries of maritime history, and that China's claim is air tight. In a letter to The Economist, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has even asserted that ample historical documents and literature demonstrate that China was "the first country to discover, name, develop and exercise continuous, effective jurisdiction over the South China Sea islands". The Chinese government has beaten this drum so hard and for so long, that the Chinese people believe it. The nine-dash line has appeared in school room maps throughout China for decades, in conjunction with the narrative of national humiliation that resulted from tales of imperialist plundering by foreign powers. The truth is somewhat different, however. As is noted in the book "The South China Sea", written by veteran journalist Bill Hayton, the first Chinese official ever to set foot on one of the Spratly Islands was a Nationalist naval officer in 1946, the year after Japan's defeat and its own loss of control of the Sea. He did so from an American ship crewed by Chinese sailors who were trained in Miami. As for the story of the nine-dash line, it began a decade earlier through a Chinese government naming commission. China was not even the first to name the islands; the naming commission borrowed and translated wholesale from British charts and pilots. It is unclear how the Chinese government translated all this into a bill of goods to be sold to the Chinese people, but by now, it is a source of national pride, however misplaced it may be. Advertisement The Chinese government, and its people, have essentially backed themselves into a corner. They have been drinking the nine-dash line kool-aid for so long that even despite this year's Hague ruling that there is no legal basis for China's claim, and even though the Chinese government has failed to produce evidence of its declaration to back their version of the facts up, national pride will not allow them to admit that what the government is doing in the South China Sea is illegal under the very international maritime law (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas - UNCLOS) to which it first subscribed on the very day in 1982 when the Convention first became a legal instrument. Although China formally ratified UNCLOS in 1996, in 2006 the Chinese government filed a statement with UNCLOS saying that it "does not accept any of the procedures provided for in Section 2 of Part XV of the Convention with respect to all the categories of disputes referred to in paragraph 1 (a), (b), and (c) of Article 298 of the Convention." These provisions of the Convention refer to "Compulsory Procedures Entailing Binding Decisions" issued by at least four venues: the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), an "arbitral tribunal" which may refer to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), and a "special arbitral tribunal". While there are venues available for the resolution of disputes under the UNCLOS regime, China does not wish to be bound by its compulsory processes -- the ICJ and PCA included. In essence, it wants to be able to pick and choose which of the statutes of the treaties it has voluntarily signed that it wishes to adhere to, and be free to ignore those that it finds 'inconvenient'. Advertisement Can a state remain a party to a treaty or convention without being bound by its rules? Can contracting states adhere to an international legal regime and simultaneously opt out of any binding force required or to be required by that regime? A state can be found to be in violation of a substantive legal norm even without a coercive or compulsory judgment in a given venue, provided of course that there is truth to the argument supporting a violation and is appreciated by the alternative venue. While China disavows UNCLOS against the Philippines, it is expressly invoking UNCLOS provisions in its claims against Japan - so it wants to have its cake and eat it, too. In 2009, China submitted a claim over the Senkaku Islands (which, like Scarborough Shoal and the Spratlys, are believed to be fuel rich) and turned to UNCLOS rules in defining and delineating its continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, again within the meaning of UNCLOS. There is some international legal doctrine supporting the view that a state's acts in one place can be used as an admission and adversely bind that State in another set of circumstances. The larger point is that China has not personified the Rule of Law in this case, or in others related to maritime borders, and wants to be able to 'cherry pick' which provisions of international treaties it will willingly comply with, and which it will not. That is behavior unbecoming of a rising global power and will make states which are signatories to treaties with China wonder if its signature is worth the paper it is printed on. This cannot be in China's long-term interest. The Chinese government had an opportunity to 'pivot' after The Hague ruling, but it chose not to, for it is a question of national pride, even if that pride is based on a doubtful historical record. In the absence of proof to the contrary, the only conclusion to be drawn is that the government has dug itself into a hole, having drunk its own kool-aid for so long, and having sold it to the Chinese people for so long, that it cannot reverse itself without losing face and credibility with its own people. That is a bad place to be. Nothing is more frustrating that hearing old debates about the flaws of neo-liberalism at a time when our global economic problems are so pervasive. The notion that pure market solutions always yield the best results has long given way to more reasonable and nuanced views. Using the trilogy of preferred policies ascribed to Prof. Robert Lucas---stabilize, liberalize and privatize--is simply a convenient mechanism to lament where poor policies have landed us, but neo-liberalism is not our biggest problem. In reality, very few governments support uncontrolled printing of money or rigid import substitution. But in a world of low growth, rising inequality, and concerns about jobs, governments often reach for bad policy options. This phenomenon was described in the section of the Spence Commission on Growth and Development Report (2008) labeled " Bad Ideas." The best way to combat bad ideas is with better ones. The latest effort to do so, the G-20's Hangzhou Summit Communique (2016), focuses squarely on the need to foster economic growth and to catalyze new drivers of growth, such as innovation. No one disputes the role of technological progress as a major factor of growth dynamics, so innovation is undoubtedly a good thing. It will produce winners and losers, such as those described by Prof. Joseph Stiglitz (2002) with respect to globalization, and indeed, disruptive technologies will do so with much greater rapidity. That's a legitimate public policy challenge; however the bigger dilemma is how to produce more innovation, greater productivity, and ultimately more economic activity. Here is where the limits of communiques are acutely felt. Advertisement Identifying new growth engines, providing new skills, catching the wave of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are all inspiring ideas emanating from Hangzhou, but they require more than rhetoric and greater commitments than seen in the G-20's Innovation Action Plan or the G-20's Blueprint on Innovative Growth. At the individual country level, they require a combination of vigorous competition, openness to new ways of doing things, and fluid capital markets alongside public policies to successfully deal with " winner take all " innovations, greater wealth concentrations, and job displacement. What we need is Schumpeter with safety nets; incentives to be more productive; and policies less focused on the present. At the international level, we are replete with diagnoses of what ails the global economy, but short on practical solutions and weak on means of global coordination. Grand pronouncements do not inspire confidence because national political pressures prevent real commitments to undertake actions that would move us forward. The G-20 Summit was right to focus on economic growth as the major challenge, since sustainability and inclusiveness objectives are even less attainable if the current slump persists. But where will we find the innovation-led growth that the Communique hangs its hat on? Currently, the U. S. economy is seen as the most open to innovation, but it is weak on the side of effective taxation of certain sectors and slow to recognize unfairness. Europe, on the other hand, has much more developed social policies, but is at its core not really open to free competition. Calls for structural reform in the G-20 context are both hollow, since economic rigidity suits incumbents and stifles innovation, and unenforceable. For this reason, it is worrisome to hitch the growth challenge to innovation since this requires a fundamental change in ideology about the acceptable pace of change, openness to new entrants, and changes in markets that few countries are willing to sanction. The final problem is the world's second largest economy, the G-20 host, and others practice state capitalism in a way that blends industrial policy, state financing, and politics is a way that Adam Smith would not have tolerated and that the global economy can no longer afford. Advertisement So where does that leave us? We must hope that surplus countries and those with the ability to stimulate growth will do so for their benefit and that of the collective; that national incentives to invest in the real economy will move resources into more productive endeavors; and that countries will eschew new forms of protectionism even as innovation proceeds. Is this too much to hope for? Is it impossible to imagine a consensus emerging around a real innovation and growth agenda? No, but it will require a fundamental change in mind-set. As long as influential governments continue to be shortsighted in their policy formulation, or status-quo oriented in pursuit of pan-national interests or abusive of markets to gain nationalist goals, we will not solve this problem. And the result will be a continued debate about old ideologies rather than current realities. Citations G-20 Leaders Communique Hangzhou Summit, 2016, www.g20.org Commission on Growth and Development, World Bank, Washington, D. C. (2008) Stiglitz, Joseph, Globalization and Its Discontents, Princeton U. Press (2002) "Resistance to high-risk extreme extraction is building a global, grassroots, and broad-based network the likes of which the environmental movement has never seen." Naomi Klein, This Changes Everything (2014) Credits: Sacred Stone Camp Facebook Page Something extraordinary and unprecedented is happening within the environmental movement. The epicenter of this "Earth"-quake is Sacred Stone Camp on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota. For some time, a small group of Standing Rock Lakota ("Sioux") has gathered on the banks of the Cannon Ball River to protest the continued development of the "black serpent": the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). When and if completed, the 1200-mile, 30-inch-diameter pipeline will transport daily 500,000 barrels of crude oil from the Bakken Oil Reserve to Patoka, Illinois, where it will then be shipped to processing facilities. Advertisement Proponents of the pipeline tout the "efficiency" and "safety" of pipelines relative to oil transport via truck and rail. Opponents, principally residents of Standing Rock Reservation and other reservations along the DAPL's proposed route, hold that pipeline construction threatens sacred ancestral lands, and that the pipeline itself -- prone to eventual leaks, like all pipelines -- threatens precious water resources all along its route, particularly the Missouri River, the nation's longest. Given that the developing conglomerate -- Energy Transfer Partners -- has nearly four billion dollars at stake, expect a fierce fight. Indeed, on Labor-Day weekend, the developer's private security guards were caught on Democracy Now! video unleashing attack dogs and pepper spray on protestors. The video went viral, mobilizing resistance. North Dakota's governor, Jack Dalrymple, has since called in the National Guard, and an arrest warrant is out for journalist Amy Goodman, who reported the event. It's a David and Goliath struggle, but the odds just might be on David. In a short time, Sacred Stone Camp has grown from seven teepees into a semi-permanent camp of several thousand men, women, and children. Two hundred fifty tribes from across North (and South!) American have joined the protest in solidarity. A GoFundMe website has collected nearly $700,000 to support the camp's needs. Last week solidarity protests sprung up in dozens of cities across America, among them Phoenix, Boulder, Richmond, Sacramento, San Francisco, Denver, New York, Albany, Washington, and Kansas City. "There are moments in history that can heal the past and the future. This is a healing moment. It's extraordinary." Carolyn Raffensperger, environmental activist (The Guardian, September 12, 2016) What we are witnessing is the solidification of Blockadia, Naomi Klein's term for the environmental resistance movement. Here's a front-line post from Blockadia by "Tim." "I just returned from the Sacred Stone camp and it was one of the most powerful events of my life. I am a non-native white man from Connecticut with a backpack full of camera gear and a drone to document the event. I had no idea of how or if I would be welcomed by the Tribal members. Let me tell you, from the moment I set foot on that sacred land I was welcomed with open arms and open hearts . . . . These are quite frankly the best people I have ever met. Their connection to Mother Earth, their ancestors, and their community was something that truly left me in awe." As Blockadia unites groups that were once separate, it becomes an irresistible force. In New York, Black Lives Matter (#BlackLivesMatter) has joined #NoDAPL in the long overdue recognition that the struggles of African Americans and Native Americans are fundamentally conjoined. The same mentality that would poison the water in Flint, Michigan, to save a few municipal bucks, is hell-bent on profiting from oil and gas extraction that is jeopardizing water resources on Native lands, and in truth, nationwide. In some cities, Dreamers have also joined the resistance, as the social-justice and environmental movements begin to link arms, heeding the call of Pope Francis. From the chapter "Blockadia" in Naomi Klein's environmental blockbuster This Changes Everything: "What unites Blockadia . . . is the fact that the people at the forefront -- packing local council meetings, marching in capital cities, being hauled off in police vans, even putting their bodies between the earth-movers and earth -- do not look much like your typical activist, nor do the people in one Blockadia site resemble those in another. Rather, they each look like the places where they live, and they look like everyone: the local shop owners, the university professors, the high-school students, the grandmothers." Credits: Ruth Jost, Harrisonburg, Virginia On Tuesday, September 14, I attended a sympathy protest in my locale: Harrisonburg, Virginia, a rural college town of 50,000 residents. The protest -- which set up a symbolic teepee on the town's courthouse square -- drew one-hundred people, astounding for a city our size. Sure enough, as Klein suggests above, these protestors are salt-of-the-earth citizens: Mennonites, Quakers, and all manner of people of faith; children, high school students, and college students; professors from area universities; parents; grandmothers and grandfathers; a Central American Dreamer and an indigenous South-American shaman; lawyers and doctors; home-builders and activists; a homeless blogger and indefatigable truth-teller, and a few of the city's well-heeled. Advertisement What unites us is simple: a love of the Earth and a love for the peoples of the Earth. Both are jeopardized by the fossil-fuel industry's profit-driven insistence on business as usual at a time when atmospheric carbon is choking-off the very life-support systems of the planet. Our best science tells us that the preponderance of fossil fuels must remain in the ground if we are to have any chance of stabilizing the climate and preserving a viable future. When historians of the future -- assuming humankind has one -- write of the upheavals and transitions of the twenty-first century, the world's indigenous peoples will be the heroes and heroines who, on the front lines of Blockadia, led the fight to preserve a livable planet. May Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit, bless them -- and all those who stand in solidarity with them. The group is enjoying a meteoric online rise after their hit single Cardboard Box and proving that the genre is far from dead. After decades of collecting vintage western paperbacks, (published 1939-1960) I decided to downsize and part with the approximately 3,000 novels I'd acquired. Getting rid of a collection is tough. So I decided to scan the covers. In the time-consuming process of handling each book, scanning it, and making color corrections, I picked up a strong pattern. Westerns were a large part of pop culture in the 1940's-1960's. The primary reader was the white male, most likely a veteran of World War II or even World War I. He had lived through the Depression and was now in the Cold War era in which Communists were the enemy. The reader was probably in a 9-5 union or office job or working the land. He might have suffered some degree of PTSD through it wasn't recognized at the time and the stoic male did not admit to suffering any mental problems whether he was a veteran or not. Advertisement Here's what I found about the vintage paperback depiction of the Old West: Out of 3,000 covers, maybe five include black men. (Paperbacks about the Civil War, of course, included more black men). Of the 3,000 books, women grace the covers of maybe 50. They are fairly equally divided into passive women, those being threatened, and strong women with guns. The few Hispanics are either villains or poor ranch workers. There are no Asians. Almost all Native Americans are villains -- primitive, hostile and violent -except the women. They're beautiful and sexy. The vast majority of the covers depict strong, white males, mostly in some alpha state of confrontation or fighting. Nearly all have guns and most of these are six-shooters. Advertisement While the covers depict a moment of confrontation or violence from the book, the novels themselves were written by men who knew the west and created fairly accurate descriptions of the region and daily life, mainly from the 1870's through the 1890s. The artists themselves were primarily New York City or New England residents, most of whom had never been west of Pennsylvania. But no matter. What is important is the myth, distilled and popularized by Easterner Owen Wister with The Virginian and Zane Grey, beginning with Riders of the Purple Sage. The myth features a hero with a moral code who stands up to evil, greedy men, East Coast bureaucracy and big business. The heroes are not formally educated. Their education is life experience - the fittest surviving by living off the land, animal instincts, hard fists, quick triggers and accurate aim. (The subhead for one novel: "Iron fists and hot lead made him the Boss of the Panamint.") The reality of opening the west to white culture was a complex, messy affair including the genocide of Native Americans, shooting buffalo to near extinction and using Mexican and Chinese as what might as well be called slave labor. Advertisement All this was an effort to" tame the land." The irony is that savage behavior was the norm while moving white civilization into the "Wild West." In the myth the messiness is cleaned up and simplified. The white male hero goes forth into this vast wilderness to combat evil, almost always single-handed, relying on his moral code, courage, and his six-shooter. While the Western genre is out of favor now, the myth is as strong as ever. White males of European descent must have their guns to preserve the American Way of Life. Their "enemies" are black men, non-Christians and LGBT folks. (Even Communists seem to have fallen off the 'enemies list" since Trump began praising Putin.) The readers of these vintage westerns have passed on. But the myth of the self-reliant, strong, white American male relying on his fists and guns has roared forth again over the past few years. It will probably be with us for a time even after white males become the minority in the near future. A myth is hard to alter, especially when it helped create and maintain an entire culture. Blog Hinangai While there is much discussion in Guam about the economic benefits of increasing the islands military presence, the damages/dangers that they represent are rarely mentioned. This blog, a supplement to the Peace and Justice for Guam Petition, is meant to counter that by providing information about the US military in Guam, with the hopes of steering policy away from a dangerous unilateralist course to more sustainable notions of regional development and a strengthening international solidarity. Humans have been studying the oceans since time began. Ancient civilizations monitored the tides and the moon as a way to determine the best fishing strategies for their village. During the age of exploration, many country-funded expeditions to discover new worlds included biologists and chemists aboard the vessel to record all the life that the vessels encountered. Interest in a systematic approach to studying the oceans began in the early 20th century, fueled by conflicts such as World War I and II. During this time, the United States government helped establish many research organizations at several universities by investing funds in the study of the oceans. The study of the ocean is very encompassing, as there are many disciplines that go into the ocean. There is chemical oceanography, which investigates the chemical components of the water column, the organisms that live in the water column, and the chemicals they produce. There is geological oceanography or the geology of the ocean which seeks to understand questions such as what is the sand composed of, what are the rocks on the beach composed of, what is the crust under the ocean composed of? Why and how do these structures form, and what is the physical process behind it? There is biological oceanography, or the life within the ocean. This is a very broad term and covers many plant/fungi/animal/bacteria/protista interactions within the ocean. An additional aspect of oceanography is physical oceanography, which studies the mechanical drivers of the water within the ocean, records how the water and atmosphere interact, (including travel patterns), why they flow in any particular direction, and prediction of flow patterns based on mathematical equations and known constituents. One may also include marine technology (i.e. how to tie a bowline, what side of the boat is port or starboard) and marine legislation in this all-encompassing science field. Jobs within the industry are unlimited, but can include things like marine fisheries observers, marine fisheries modelers, aquarists, researchers, educators, ocean advocacy leaders, oceanographers for the Navy, meteorologists, coral reef biologists, sea grass biologists, ocean chemists, etc. The very celebrated Syrian ceasefire crumbled with the Assad army intentionally attacking and devastating a humanitarian convoy on its way to the dying city of Aleppo. No surprise there, and for me, the only surprise is when I read and hear those who who do not understand how ''he can do it to his people." Elementary to sober Syrian watchers, HE does not view these people as his. They are Sunnis and others, only nominally Syrians, practically enemies, and the Syrian conflict is ALL OR NOTHING, either ''we'' the Alawites, or ''them'' the Sunnis. This blog called attention way back to the genocidal nature of the campaign over Aleppo, and much before to the overall nature of the civil war, as being one which may end up in ethnic cleansing and genocide. That said, even a terrible situation can get MUCH worse, and we are witnessing now a very potentially dangerous scenario developing. It is the actual turning of Syria into the regional and international playground. American aerial attack leaves scores of dead Syrian soldiers dead, Russian air attacks, Turkish invasion designed to create a very large security buffer, as President Erdogan speaks now about 5000 square KMs size territory, contrary to the early statements about few miles of depth, and much less talked about, but probably most ominous of all, Iran and Hizballah are trying to establish a base in South Syria. From there more ''incidental'' shootings towards Israel. In a way, nothing surprising here, just a confirmation of the disintegration of the Syrian state, but still an ever threatening situation due to the special circumstances of the disintegration. Take a similar case in mind, but just superficially similar, Lebanon in 1975-6. Then, there was a regional dimension to the civil war, but one restricted mainly to Israel and Syria. Only one international player of consequence, the US, and so it was not so difficult for American mediation to bring Israel and Syria to agree on the so-called Red Lines Agreement, which in effect was in place until 1982-the Israeli-PLO war in which Syria was involved. Not the case now. US AND Russia in the international scene,with Russia so much at play due largely to American no-policy policy. Turkey, Iran and Hizballah as regional actors, and NO Syria. This is a situation with serious destabilizing implications in North Syria, where most of these players are in operation, but potentially catastrophic implications in South Syria, where Israel may very soon need to deal by itself with Iran and Hizballah, with no third party capable of being the go-between like the US was in 1975-6 in Lebanon, and no viable neighboring country to play the role about Syria, which the former played about Lebanon back then. Advertisement The frequency of attacks from Syria indicates,that the hostile forces there are testing Israel and its resolve. What adds fuel to the fire is the fact, that the Syrian army in the South is incapable and very likely unwilling to intervene and reassert authority over the various factions which dig in there. The Syrians definitely owe Iran and its allies for their support in the civil war. Why not attacking Israel? The Assad regime maintained traditionally very quiet border with Israel until 2011, but then it was a strong regime and one Syria. No more, and there are growing signs, that what is left of the Assad regime is more ready than before to play the Israeli card and provoke troubles on the border. Hizballah will surely prefer troubles with Israel in the Golan, rather than in Lebanon, and Iran? Well, after the Iran nuclear deal, the Islamic Republic just sharpened the anti Israel rhetoric. Israel cannot afford the creation of an Iranian-Hizballah mini republic in South Syria on top of the one in South Lebanon. Netanyahu will soon have to make a decision and while he has displayed a very reserved attitude until now, he may be forced to reverse his policy, if the attacks from Syria will intensify, there will unfortunately be Israeli casualties and consequently domestic pressures to act. Situations with such a high risk potential as this one should be nipped in the bud. Israel may have to act soon, sooner than what its leaders and army have had in mind. Russia's winters just got a lot colder: last week, the government banned PornHub. Given that 92% of all Internet use in Russia involves porn (according to one estimate) this is great news for Netflix subscribers--streaming video is going to be a lot faster. Russia is far from alone in blocking porn sites: it now belongs in the excellent company of Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Botswana, and Sudan. Still, there are plenty of compelling rationales for banning or restricting pornography: feminist arguments (about exploitation of women), sex-positive arguments (about providing unrealistic and even harmful models of sex to virginal minors), and even anti-chafing arguments (about the industry's role in driving pubic hair to the edge of extinction). Sadly, none of these are the arguments invoked by Russia's media watchdog, Roskomnadzor. Famous for its sense of humor, Pornhub's management tweeted @roscomnadzor on September 14:" if we give you guys a Pornhub Premium account, will u un ban Pornhub in Russia?." Advertisement @roskomnadzor's response: sorry, we are not in the market and the demography is not a commodity. That's right: Internet porn is not a moral or ethical problem, but an existential threat to Russia's survival. Apparently, pornography lowers birth rates. Babies 'R'us(sia) This is not the first time demography has reared its sexy head in debates about public morality. Concerns about Russia's birth rates are a popular weapon in the homophobic arsenal as well. Just look at some of the statements made by Russia's most famous legislative crusader for sexual propriety, Elena Mizulina. To those who haven't heard of her, one might describe Mizulina as the love child of Margaret Thatcher and Dolores Umbridge, but imagining Mizulina's two mommies probably violates the gay propaganda law. As Mizulina told Vladimir Pozner, banning "gay propaganda" is not just a matter of values, but also of ensuring the existence of subsequent generations: "Well see if there'll be such a high birth rate in France after the legalization of same-sex marriage." Tthere are plenty of obvious reasons why young Russians might not be breeding like rabbits, from housing shortages to poor economic prospects. But the gay propaganda law and the explanation for the PornHub ban are perplexing. They betray a shaky understanding of human sexual response, as well as a real lack of faith in heterosexuality. Apparently, people would rather do anything else--watch porn, have gay sex--than engage in heterosexual intercourse. Since when did straight sex become the erotic equivalent of eating your vegetables? In the case of PornHub, it is as though policy were being made by green-blooded aliens who learned about hu-man sex from nineteenth-century marriage manuals (or maybe from an old B-52 song). How, exactly, is pornography a demographic threat? Advertisement Let's Meet and Have a Baby Now I bring up the nineteenth century for a reason: Roskomnadzor's response assumes a sexual zero-sum game, a Victorian bodily economy in which precious life-giving fluids can be wasted. To put it bluntly, banning PornHub is a fight against masturbation. Masturbation has had a bad rap in modern Russian culture, even in Soviet times (when, as Frances Bernstein showed, it allegedly caused an epidemic of "nervousness" among young men()). Now, the question is posed differently. Witness this exchange between Roskmonadzor and "mrrborisova": Dear @roscomnadzor, if you're going to block PornHub, could you at least offer an alternative?" "Dear Lyolya, as an alternative, you could meet someone in real life." It's an amusing response, but it once again suggests a complete misunderstanding of how sex actually works. Apparently, masturbating to Internet pornography somehow prevents people from having sex in real life, since meeting someone is such a bother. Never mind that studies show that even married people use pornography, that couples might watch it together, or that for most people, masturbation is a life-long habit. Not to mention the fact that masturbation is still possible without pornography. Forgetting this fact is like fighting for morality with one hand tied behind your back. Clearly, it will only work if both hands are tied. Epic Fap Battle of History The saddest part of this story is that the guardians of morality and demography are missing a real opportunity. Here we might recall a short story written by Yulii Daniel (Nikolai Arzhak) in the 1960s: "The Man from MINAP." A man named Volodya catches the attention of the authorities for his numerous sexual partners. It turns out that Volodya can guarantee the pregnancy of any woman he sleeps with. Not only that, he can even determine the sex of his offspring: if his partner wants a boy, then, during sex, he pictures Karl Marx. If she wants a girl, he thinks of Klara Zetkin. Why not update the story for today's era of traditional values and "spiritual braces"? If "The Man from ANTIFAP" wants a son, then during sex he can picture Vladimir Putin (but not, you know, in a gay way). For a girl, just imagine Elena Mizulina (you know, like you always do). Advertisement More to the point, consider the potentially positive role that pornography could play. After all, if the demographic crisis is not about couples choosing not to have children, but rather choosing not to have sex (the only implication that makes sense in this context), then shouldn't we treat Russian couples with the same care that zookeepers take with reluctant pandas? Clearly, this is a job for an educational video. With a soundtrack by that fan-favorite Russian rock group, Ruki vverkh! (Hands Up!). Since no one else seems to be volunteering for the job (Chuck Tingle is busy elsewhere), allow me to step in. Roskomnadzor, starring in "Block My Traffic" The doorbell rings. It's ROSKOMNADZOR, wearing tight shorts, suspenders, and no shirt. ROSKOMNADZOR: Did someone order a pizza? I mean, a pirog? VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY: My, aren't you nice hunk of heterosexual virility? And are those spiritual braces you're wearing? That's so hot. ROSKOMNADZOR: Thank you. I, too, admire you're beauty. And I like your scent. What is it? VYL: It's called "Traditional Values." Hey, you seem like a nice guy. Maybe your little green man would like to invade my peninsula? ROSKOMNADZOR: Definitely. But let us first go register our union and get married in the Church. And then we can make hot, moral love in the missionary position, with the lights turned off. Advertisement VYL: Yes! Yes! And let's be sure not to use birth control! ROSKOMNADZOR: I agree! Nothing turns me on like the possibility of an unplanned pregnancy! That's just a taste, Roskomnadzor. If you want more, just give me your credit card information and your date of birth. The charge will appear under the name "Putin Family Values." Did you know that when surveyed across the globe, folks under the age of 35 said the No. 1 thing they wanted was jobs? One year ago, I had the honor of taking the stage at the Social Good Summit alongside some of my dearest friends and talking about how technology is going to help create a more sustainable future through job creation and entrepreneurship. We discussed how Leila Janah's Samasource and her newly launched company LXMI are creating a better world for those who need jobs and helping lift them out of poverty; how Trisa Thompson is using Dell's 2020 Legacy of Good goals to help underprivileged youths through solar-powered Learning Labs; and how Adrian Grenier's work around reducing ocean plastics and the Lonely Whale Foundation is bringing visibility to a massive environmental issue. Advertisement That week, the United Nation passed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or what I like to call the world's to-do list. It's a comprehensive set of objectives covering everything from cleaner oceans to equality for women to ending hunger, and by accomplishing these goals by 2030, we can make the world an infinitely healthier, cleaner, more productive place. The goal that I threw my weight behind--alongside Michael Dell--was Goal 8: global job creation and entrepreneurship. Together with the forces at Dell, we rallied support from world leaders, heads of companies, and entrepreneurs to make sure that decent work for all was a priority for the UN. We started the #EntrepreneursUNite movement and garnered feedback and support from people around the world who also believe that employment is the answer to getting the economy on track, enriching communities and giving everyone a shot at a fulfilling and productive life. At the end of the campaign, we had gathered more than 1.3 billion actions, and knew that we were on to something! Thanks to the overwhelming support we received, Goal 8 was officially adopted into the SDGs. Over the course of the past year, we've been standing behind the goal and working with other companies and entrepreneurs to support job creation around the world. Advertisement I've seen the results of what determined entrepreneurs can make happen, especially when it comes to job creation. Entrepreneurs create 70 percent of jobs, and up to 90 percent in developing nations. While large companies certainly have a role to play, I'm putting my trust in small businesses to create the most new job opportunities. One of the best parts of my job is meeting many of these entrepreneurs who are out there giving it their all and working tirelessly to become profitable, scalable, badass companies. I had the chance to meet an abundance of especially amazing ones at the Dell Women Entrepreneur's Network Summit this summer in Cape Town, South Africa. This annual gathering of global, high-growth women entrepreneurs is always an incredible melting pot of ladies who are out there hustling hard, breaking down barriers and creating unbelievable businesses. One such woman is Sarah Collins, founder of the Wonderbag--a non-electric slow cooker that she's using to help end global poverty. By employing a buy-one-give-one model, the Wonderbag is helping with many of the SDGs, such as good health, gender equality, creating sustainable communities and ending deforestation. At this year's Social Good Summit, I took the stage with Sarah as we discussed concepts such as time poverty--something that afflicts everyone in the world, from women in Africa who spend 6-8 hours a day collecting firewood and cooking over open flames, to American women working full time jobs and going home for a second shift to care for their families. Advertisement I know that people like Sarah who are out there running businesses and creating jobs for people in their communities are moving the needle on Goal 8, along with so many other SDGs. I'm confident that if we continue to enable entrepreneurs like her with the right technology, proper access to capital and supportive networks, they'll continue to thrive and provide the jobs this world needs. Boris Johnson(L), UK foreign secretary looks on as US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during a Security Council Meeting September 21, 2016 on the situation in Syria at the United Nations in New York.The UN Security Council met Wednesday for crisis talks on Syria as air raids shook Aleppo and diplomatic tensions ran high over an attack on an aid convoy. / AFP / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images) UNITED NATIONS - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, feuding with Russia, called for an immediate grounding of aircraft in key areas of Syria. France said a new group was needed to monitor any truce and Spain advocated an international court to try crimes by terrorists. At a high-level UN Security Council meeting among presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers, most delegations agreed there had to be political talks, some kind of cease-fire, safe passage for humanitarian convoys and an end to the bombing of civilians, hospitals and schools. Advertisement More than 300,000 Syrians have been killed in the five-year old civil war. Millions are homeless and at least a million more have left the country reluctantly in the worst refugee crisis since World War II. Kerry's proposal, equivalent to a no-fly zone, appeared to fall on the deaf ears of the Syrian ambassador as well as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The Russian minister and Kerry had negotiated a temporary cease-fire and deliveries of humanitarian aid and then political negotiations. Bombing hospitalsDropping diplomatic niceties, Kerry said: 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? Are you supposed to sit there and have happy talk in Geneva under those circumstances when you've signed up to a ceasefire and you don't adhere to it? What kind of credibility do you have with any of your people? Short of U.S. military action, which now appears nil, there is little leverage to convince Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus to cooperate. In the divided crucial city of Aleppo and other parts of northern Syria, Assad, backed by Russia, seems bent on controlling as much territory as possible should peace talks ever succeed. Advertisement The most recent September 9 cease-fire appeared be holding. But violence exploded on Monday when a convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid for 78,000 people was hit from the air, killing at least 20 people, including the director of the Syria Red Crescent Society. The strike was launched in Urum al-Kubra, northwest Aleppo. A Red Crescent warehouse was also hit and a health clinic operated by the Red Crescent was damaged, the organization said. Aid convoys are often denied by Damascus and at times areas are bombed shortly after goods are delivered.Who flies in northwest Syria?Only Syrian and Russian planes fly in that area whereas other aircraft are bombing ISIS controlled regions. One disastrous exception was last week when US warplanes struck Syrian government troops, by accident, in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour. Russia, Venezuela and China mentioned it. Russia's Lavrov said all groups should lay down their arms and that opposition fighters were operating in the area where the convoy was hit. He also said the Syrian conflict was a consequence of foreign military action in Iraq and Syria and called for the strike on the convoy to be investigated. But Kerry mocked Russian spokesmen and officials in Moscow by reading a series of contradictory accounts about who did what. Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy trying to organize peace talks, told reporters that there was a chance for a cessation of hostilities, a prerequisite for serious negotiations, and "you will know it in two days time." Advertisement Battle lines are muddled in nearly all areas of the country. Iran is sending security forces to back Assad. Turkey is fighting Kurds, which have been successful in combating ISIS. Saudi Arabia and Qatar back Islamist rebel groups and the moderate opposition has, at times, joined forces with the well-equiped Al-Nusra front, influenced by Al Qaeda. Sinking bar of depravitySecretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened the meeting that focused on restoring the recent cease-fire. "The Syrian tragedy shames us all. The collective failure of the international community should haunt every member of this Council," he said. On the aid convoys, he told the General Assembly on Tuesday: "Many groups have killed many innocents but none more so than the Government of Syria, which continues to barrel-bomb neighborhoods and systematically torture thousands of detainees..."Just when we think we cannot get any worse, the bar of depravity sinks lower." France's foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, called for a grounding of all of Assad's troops and have them confined to barracks. He proposed a neutral mechanism to study violations of any truce to "resist the temptation to point a finger at one another." Then Spain's foreign minister, Jose Manuel Farcia-Margallo, said his country, New Zealand, Egypt and Malaysia supported an international court devoted to terrorism to make bestial actors accountable. Wednesday's meeting was called by New Zealand which holds the rotating Security Council presidency. Its president, John Key, presided... Advertisement Issuing a warning, Key said: Emmys, Oscars, Grammys and MTV Music awards, you can be assured if there are super stars and red carpets involved, trends will be set. This is especially true when it comes to the beauty industry, particularly where fashion and hair are involved. It's so fun to see all the different hair styles when our favorite Hollywood personalities walk the red carpet. The styles worn on these special nights are often iconic. Over time this has even developed its own place in the beauty industry history books being coined as the "Glamorous Hollywood Red Carpet Look". If you are a serious fashion or hair artist, watching these shows is a must. These shows offer you a free education on the trends and are strong indicators of what will soon become mainstream. They provide so many great ideas that you can utilize to change your client's style or your own style for that matter. They also provide you with a preview of what skills and looks you need to educate yourself on for the upcoming seasons. Advertisement On the personal side, it could be that you are searching for a new idea or a new way to style your own hair. Maybe you're considering going for a more dramatic look such as a deep rich color or a short sassy cut. Often if you have the opportunity to see this on another person, say one of your favorite Hollywood A-listers, it may just push you over the edge to go for it and actually try something new. This year at the Emmys there were some definite styles that stuck out in my mind. Let's just start with Cicely Tyson. I am already enamored by her beauty but the gorgeous salt and pepper tones she rocked looked insanely beautiful on her. Love, love, loved it! Fall was definitely in the air for many of those that appeared on the red carpet. This was apparent with darker roots that subtly blended into lighter ends. This look reflected natural grown out highlight which is exactly what we saw with Heidi Klum. She looked absolutely stunning wearing a darker tone from what we have seen her wear in previous years. She finished off the look with just the right amount of baby lights that delicately framed her face. I also love the fact that women are now embracing their curls. Carol Kane and Kerry Washington were perfect examples of this. Likewise, I noticed a lot of asymmetry regardless of if the hair was actually cut in that manner or just being styled to create an asymmetrical illusion. Several accomplished this by creating a deep side part with one side tucked tightly behind the ear and with the opposite side left for more creativity. A great example of this was the soft waves worn by Kristen Dunst and Felicity Huffman which complimented the side part. Advertisement Constance Zimmer also had an incredible geometric cut resembling the 1990 s movie pulp fiction; really bold and beautiful! Over all this season we are seeing natural looking hair and a lot of texture. So, perhaps if you're looking for a change this is a direction you may want to go. By Becky Mahan More people than ever before live in cities. In places likely to experience a natural disaster (think tsunamis, or floods on the coast or earthquakes on tectonic fault lines) are especially vulnerable to catastrophe. It's easy to forget the threat when years, or even centuries(!), go by without a disaster, but it's important to remember that in the end, we're not the ones in charge. We rounded up 10 destinations that are in potential danger of being damaged, or even utterly destroyed, by natural disasters: Greatest threat: Earthquakes, followed by river flooding Residents of Los Angeles (and all of SoCal) half-jokingly wonder when "The Big One" is going to hit - and by "big one," they mean a catastrophic earthquake along the San Andreas Fault (which runs right beneath Los Angeles) that could topple buildings and essentially flatten downtown. The rumors that California is going to break off the continent and float out to sea are highly exaggerated, but we still don't like to tempt Mother Nature. Read More: Best Hotels in Los Angeles Greatest threat: Earthquakes If Los Angeles is in danger, San Francisco is right in the line of fire. If "The Big One" hits, much of the older city infrastructure will likely be flattened - but don't worry, a giant chasm in the road (like in the film San Andreas) won't open up. Nor will a tsunami topple the Golden Gate Bridge. But plenty of chaos will definitely ensue, like it did after the notorious 1906 earthquake that decimated the city. Greatest threat: Earthquakes, and thus tsunamis With over 23 million people living in this city alone, the threat of tsunamis (the biggest natural disaster threat to Japan as a whole) is a worrisome one. Poor Nagoya is not only right in the direct path of a northern Pacific tsunami, it also faces the threat of the other four main perilous natural disasters: river floods, earthquakes, storm surges, and wind storms. Greatest threat: Earthquakes, and thus tsunamis It's no secret that Tokyo, with its incredible population density and location right on the Pacific Rim (or 'Ring of Fire' in the geological world) is a sitting duck for earthquakes - and their byproducts, tsunamis. When the catastrophic Tohoku earthquake struck northern Japan in March 2011? That was several hundred miles from Tokyo, and it shook the city enough to alarm normally earthquake-desensitized residents. Greatest threat: Flooding and landslides (caused by storms) The beautiful string of five colorful villages on the coast was hit by a devastating storm of Biblical proportions in 2011, and rebuilding efforts are still going on. With half the famous hiking trail that connects the five villages still unstable and unsafe for public access, the effects of natural disasters on this region are serious. Of all the destinations on the list, we'd qualify that as the most important to truly "see while you have the chance." (The Cinque Terre is also under threat by a non-natural disaster: too many tourists.) Greatest threat: Volcanic eruption Hilo is very aware of its precarious placement near Mauna Loa - which just so happens to be the largest volcano on earth. It produces more lava than any other Hawaiian volcano, but there's one lucky catch: the lava flows are notoriously slow, which means residents would have plenty of time to evacuate if Moana Loa ever totally blows her top. (Though raining ash and embers render the situation not entirely danger-free, and the city itself would be powerless to escape the damage.) Greatest threat: Volcanic eruption Settled just outside the Masaya Volcano National Park, Nicaragua's capital is probably not located in the best place. The national park is a desolate, almost creepy caldera littered with lava rock and wildflowers - oh, and a giant crater that consistently eeks out clouds of sulfur dioxide. The volcano erupted in 2001, 2003, and 2008, and scientists expect it to erupt again any time. Greatest threat: Hurricanes, and thus flooding Americans vividly remember Hurricane Katrina, which decimated the Big Easy when it hit the Louisiana coast in 2005 and caused 1,577 deaths. The levees had to be rebuilt and the infrastructure underwent serious upgrading, but the threat still remains: a significant part of metro New Orleans is not directly protected by the new levees. Plus, the land in the region continues to sink (and sea levels rise), which not a good combination maketh. Greatest threat: Totally disappearing into the sea With Amsterdam, it's basically Humans: 1, Mother Nature: 0. The Dutch are outrageously skilled water masters, with their elaborate system of canals and dikes that keep the North Sea from swallowing up the entire city. The problem is, they suck at keeping it maintained. There was a major flood defense failure in 2010, and experts have said that some of the dams are so fragile they couldn't even sustain hairline cracks. So...give the sea just one good blow to deal, and Amsterdam could potentially become the new Atlantis. Greatest threat: Earthquakes Poor Wellington. The city has managed to develop in a place where everything - like, EVERYTHING - is against it. First off, it's located at the tip of an island...with the water literally lapping at its feet. Though the last major tsunami roared over the place in 1946, the next one is overdue (geologically-wise), thanks to the ginormous active fault line right beneath the city. Oh, and there are a bunch of volcanoes just north of the city (there's a reason Peter Jackson used this region as the landscape for Mordor.) One year ago, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan released a study validating what many residents were shouting from the rooftops for months--the water in Flint was unsafe to drink. Until that point, no one was listening. Despite residents' bringing bottles of brown, foul smelling water to public meetings as evidence something was wrong, officials paid no attention and failed to see the problem. That is, until September 24, 2015. On that day, Dr. Hanna-Attisha went public with results of her study of 1,746 Flint children that showed elevated blood-lead levels--lead poisoning. Until that moment, government officials dismissed evidence brought to them by their constituents, and did not believe the very people forced to drink the contaminated water were in danger. One year later after firm evidence of the health crisis brought about by stunningly bad judgment in every level of government, Flint is still not fixed: Congress has yet to pass a federal aid package, many people in Flint still do not have regular access to safe, clean water--and there appears to be no resolution in sight. It's easy to wonder if we are in 1816 rather than 2016... If the officials paid heed to the evidence and voices of the people of Flint from the beginning, this community wouldn't be in this endangered, unfair and unacceptable situation. Advertisement What happened in Flint is the polar opposite of what happened when elevated levels of lead were found in congressional buildings earlier this year. Congress took immediate action to shut down the drinking water supply, provide bottled water, offer blood lead level testing for congressional staff and accelerate lead in water testing for other buildings. While this self-regarding, self-serving, Royalist self-dealing of some in Congress may present a great opportunity to insert a punch line about democratically elected Representatives acting like clueless little princelings, the crisis in Flint, which still continues to this day, is no laughing matter. It is a shocking failure of moral responsibility, social solidarity and denial of fundamental justice. Congress has yet to send any aid to Flint, more than two years after their water was contaminated with lead. Adding insult to injury--the Senate has passed a bill to provide a federal aid package but Michigan's own Rep. Fred Upton, who chairs the House committee handling the Flint aid package will not act to pass it. As Congress gets ready to adjourn until after the November election, it appears, federal aid for the people of Flint has become a can that will be kicked down the road. Meanwhile real people like you and me, the mothers, fathers, children and families across Flint continue to wait for aid, for clean safe water and to rebuild their lives. Most anniversaries typically call for celebratory toasts in fancy flutes, but not anniversaries of tragedies. This year the people of Flint would gladly trade fancy champagne for the ability to drink and bathe in clean water right out of their taps. I'm sure many would say access to water is not only worth more than gold--it is in fact invaluable, a necessary condition of life and a resource everyone should have as a matter of right. Koans are the special short questions of spiritual masters in the Chan and Zen traditions. (Chinese Chan became Japanese Zen). Some seventeen hundred koans have lasted for over a thousand years and have been itemized in various collections. Koans are used to move students beyond reason, rationality, and discursive thought and take them to a higher level of intuitive comprehension. The surface meaning of the koan is meaningless, not syntactically but in terms of ordinary rational understanding. Consider this ancient koan: 'What was the shape of your face before you were conceived?' Syntactically, this is workable sentence, but it is hardly one that anyone would utter as a rational query. And so, as the student answers the koan, he is not at all tempted to seek and offer a rational reply: 'I had no face prior to conception. May I go now?' Advertisement The student must seek another type of path to another type of answer. The answer to the koan, in Japanese called the wato and in Chinese it's called the huatou, is just as illogical as the query. Actually, there is no one answer, no one wato, and the answer given is deemed right or wrong by the master. 'My face was the pale Amur.' 'Never was treasure lost or found.' 'I as soft sand sift through fingers.' These are all watos. Perhaps! It is for the Zen master to decide. Now, let's step back and ponder Zen, a spiritual tradition that does not generally esteem words, or thought, or philosophical conundrums, or psychological reverie. Zen is meditation eventuating in buddahood. Mediation upon airy nothing. And yet Zen finds in words needful things: spiritual filigree, pious stepping stones, a meditative lattice. Zen wants to get beyond words and common logic but it cannot. Zen wants to get to a point where speech exhausts itself but it cannot. The super-sensual a-rational intuition that Zen celebrates cannot rid itself entirely of rationality. Advertisement After all, the koan was not constructed thus: 'Shape were was of face what the before conceived you your?' All the words of the original koan are there. Why not use them in this order? In a system that wants to get beyond words, why isn't gibberish the medium of enlightenment? This should remind us of mystics who claim an ineffable experience and then compose well-written inch-thick books describing the experience. What if I told you the world could take one action this year that would shave off a half a degree Celsius of warming from our overheating planet? Would world leaders seize that opportunity and do everything in their power to leave their citizens a chance of a safer world with less devastating impacts from climate change? Leaders have a chance when they meet in Kigali, Rwanda next month to secure a phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol. Countries around the world have helped to create much stronger momentum for such an agreement with their new announcements at an event in New York today. Here is what countries just announced. 105 countries send a clear signal that they want a strong agreement to significantly cut future HFC growth this year. Capable of avoiding warming of up to 0.5C by 2100, an agreement on HFCs is critical to upholding the Paris Agreement's ambition of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C. Countries are already converging on a phasedown schedule for developed countries, likely to start in 2019. The timing for the phasedown schedule of developing countries is under serious debate, with widely divergent proposals. The Africa Group, Pacific Island countries, leading Latin American and Caribbean countries, the U.S., European Union, Japan, and other developed countries have the most ambitious proposal, with a freeze on HFC use for developing countries to begin in 2021. India, seeking to continue HFC growth for another 15 years, is proposing a freeze in 2031. The 10-year gap between leading and lagging proposals makes a major environmental difference: waiting for the developing countries to freeze in 2031, would allow at least 33 billion extra CO2-eq tons of HFC use--equal to world's CO2 output for an entire year. Advertisement With this statement, 105 countries have sent a powerful signal that they want an agreement this year under the Montreal Protocol that: "includes an early first reduction step for non-Article 5 parties [developed countries], an early freeze date for Article 5 parties [developing countries], and an ambitious phasedown schedule for all parties". The countries in support of this statement are a diverse group: the major developed countries (such as the U.S., European Union, and Japan), leading developing countries (such as Argentina, Mexico, South Korea, Colombia, Chile, and Uruguay), and some of the most vulnerable countries in the world (such as all of the Africa Group and all of the Pacific Island nations). Will any country want to stand against this diverse group of countries including some of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change? Developed countries put forward significant money to aid countries in making the urgent transition. The developed countries have signaled that are prepared to adopt a Montreal Protocol agreement where they mobilize significant finance to assist developing countries in making the transition towards coolants that have less of an impact on the climate system. This is the proven recipe of the Montreal Protocol, where developed countries have successfully contributed billions of dollars to the Multilateral Fund (MLF) of the Montreal Protocol. To help start that transition early, major governments and private foundations have promised $80 million in new "prompt start" funding to assist developing countries. Leading developed countries have pledged $27 million for investments next year to the MLF "if an ambitious HFC amendment is adopted at the October 2016 Meeting of the Parties with a sufficiently early freeze date for Article 5 parties [developing countries] to warrant fast-start support for implementation". On top of that 19 philanthropists announced their intent to provide $53 million to developing countries to support improvements in energy efficiency, including those that can occur when companies phase-down HFCs. This new funding will help developing countries make early transitions and take advantage of the energy efficiency savings by an early transition. Studies have shown that the energy efficiency benefits enabled by a smart HFC phase-down could provide significant climate benefits. For example, for a large country like India, a switch to lower-global warming potential (GWP) room ACs with energy efficiency improvements could offer a 15% energy savings over a business-as-usual. Advertisement It is critical that developed countries mobilize additional finance to help developing countries with the transition that will occur with aggressive phase-down schedules that will hopefully be agreed next month. Developing countries should insist on this as a part of the final Montreal Protocol agreement. Major companies and subnational governments show their support for an aggressive Montreal Protocol agreement. More than 500 major global companies and associations outlined that they want an aggressive phase-down of HFCs this year. This includes such name brand companies as Aveda, Ben & Jerry's, The Chemours Company, Daikin, Dell, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), Gap, General Mills, Godrej Group, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Honeywell, Ingersoll Rand, Johnson Controls, Microsoft, Nike, Red Bull, Unilever, and many more. These companies are showing that they are fully behind efforts to secure the biggest climate win this year and put the world on a safer trajectory to achieve the climate targets agreed to in the Paris Agreement. The announcement includes over 100 state, provincial, and city leaders from around the world. As the statement says: "we declare our intent to work to reduce the use and emissions of high-global-warming-potential HFCs and transition over time to more sustainable alternatives in a manner that maintains or increases energy efficiency". --- Following on the heels of the successful Paris Agreement, a strong HFC phasedown amendment under the Montreal Protocol could show which leaders want to be on the right side of history. The announcements by over 100 companies, major funders, and key companies helps to build momentum to achieve a Montreal Protocol agreement this year that will leave a safer future for our children and grandchildren. Advertisement Republican senators outraged by Wells Fargos fraud want to eliminate the agency that uncovered it A funny thing happened in the United States Senate today, as a chorus of cross-party agreement broke out during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on revelations that Wells Fargo employees created hundreds of thousands of fraudulent bank accounts and credit cards in order to meet company targets for cross-selling new products to existing customers. The targets were extremely aggressive so aggressive that they couldnt actually be met so thousands of employees responded by faking it.Wells Fargo is paying $185 million in fines and fired more than 5,000 rank-and-file employees, but so far nothing has been done to personally punish the high-level executives who reap the rewards when the company performs well.Senators today werent having it, with banker scourge Elizabeth Warren telling Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf that he ought to resign and face personal investigation. She described his failure to take responsibility as gutless leadership and said we may need tough new laws to hold executives personally accountable for their misdeeds.-~- I've invited Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, the premium brand in the Royal Caribbean family, to speak to our graduate students next week. One of the issues on our agenda will be the importance of creating and reinforcing a well-defined corporate culture that supports strategy and an overall vision of what an organization wants to be. What I expect our students will realize is that culture is a complicated mix of systems, attitudes, and values linked to the ways in which the organization accomplishes its goals. Our students are excited to welcome Lisa. The curricula of our Professional Studies master's programs, though diverse across disciplines, are designed to develop expertise in data analysis, strategic thinking, and management and leadership skills. And, integrated into our management and leadership training is the importance of defining and disseminating a strong corporate culture that links back to that analysis and strategy. Lisa will provide the perfect bridge between theory and practice--through an executive's lens. Aligning culture with strategy can, of course, go right or wrong for a company. Some of the most successful companies have built their fortunes on the integrity of their unique work environment. Corporations such as Google and GE are representative examples. Other organizations can lose sight of the big picture and allow inappropriate systems, values, and attitudes to develop. As an example, it was recently revealed that Wells Fargo employees created phantom accounts to make stringent sales quotas, and overcharged customers in the process. This is clearly an example of culture gone askew. How did the bank's results-driven culture supercede the legal implications of employee actions? Did the bank's leadership consider all facets in its mission statement and strategy? How did the bank's operational processes, leadership, and informal norms allow the culture to stray away from the ethical? Questions of company culture should come under great scrutiny in situations like this. Advertisement Culture pervades everything a business does and has a profound effect on how it grows and succeeds. It affects strategic decisions from hiring to product development to geographic expansion. Analyzing three corporate examples, let's dive into what well-defined organizational culture models and the types of strategic ends they can support: - Google's culture supports a strategy that depends on constant development and innovation; - PricewaterhouseCoopers, which traditionally has had a young workforce, developed a culture in which employees of varying ages can overcome generational differences in expectations; - General Electric has weathered many changes over its 130-year history and strategically emphasizes a culture of agility. Advertisement Fostering Innovation at Google Megatech companies are famous for their cultures of innovation, and at the forefront of these is Google. Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg, in How Google Works, write about the very conscious steps taken to keep Google's culture of innovation in motion. With a flat leadership model, messy desks, and crowded offices, employees (there called "smart creatives") are encouraged to avoid processes, invest their time in "moonshot" projects, and continuously work together to always improve the product. When Sergey Brin and Larry Page took the company public in 2004, they included a mission statement with the IPO. "The founders didn't care about maximizing the short-term value and marketability of their stock, because they knew that recording the company's unique values for future employees and partners would be far more instrumental to long-term success. As we write this today, the arcane details of that IPO a decade ago are a matter of history, but phrases like 'long-term focus,' 'serving end users,' 'don't be evil,' and 'making the world a better place' still describe how the company is run." Google's employees were told to think in grand terms about what they could achieve, and they were given a safe environment where they could try out ideas without fear that short-term interests would trump the company's commitment to ideas, progress, and ethics. By defining the atmosphere they knew would best foster innovation, they were taking active steps to create an ideal Google culture. With a codified mission statement in place, Google's smart creatives have been on the cutting edge of tech innovation for over fifteen years, with everything from optimized search and Google Maps to self-driving cars to show for it. Advertisement Bridging Generations at PwC Teaching employees how to respond to cultural shifts can be crucial to maintaining a competitive advantage. PricewaterhouseCoopers--a company well known for employing large numbers of young workers--noted how the generational gap between millennial (which now comprises 80% of its employees) and non-millennial employees was beginning to affect workplace needs and attitudes. PwC conducted studies and educated employees of findings in order to implement changes that support employee recruiting, retention, teamwork--with the ultimate goal of delivering consistently high-quality services to clients. Bob Moritz, the Global Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers International, explains how PwC uses education to bridge the culture gap between generations: "Millennials are often stereotyped as self-absorbed, quick to shift their loyalties, lazy, and uncommitted to work...At PwC we've used education to address assumptions like these. We've helped Boomers see that although Millennials may be more aware of the ill effects of stress, and may value nonwork interests and activities more than Boomers do, they're every bit as committed to the success of the firm. They're simply not prepared to sacrifice their health and well-being for it." This is a case where bridging a generational gap might not have happened naturally without a push from the company but was necessary for teams to function well for their clients. To support a culture that allows diverse employees to work together and feel invested in the company long-term, all of its employees needed to shift how it understood and reacted to the expectations of nearly 80% of its millennial workforce. Recruiting and retaining such a large group of employees--and making sure the rest of the talent could adapt--was strategically important to the success of the company. Emphasizing Agility at General Electric Former CEO Jack Welch knew the importance of defining a corporate culture--he advised others to "communicate [culture] constantly and reinforce with rewards." But even as Welch's specifically-defined culture needed to evolve over time, his emphasis on reinforcing a solid culture remains. General Electric has traditionally prided itself on its culture of preparation and competitiveness. GE must always operate using data-based decision making, with everything tied to the company's bottom line. But working on such a large global scale, the company must continuously rework its processes to remain agile. Advertisement GE surveyed its employees last year. The responses informed a newly defined culture, and the crowdsourced effort was named "The GE Beliefs." "Customers determine our success, stay lean to go fast, learn and adapt to win, empower and inspire each other, and deliver results in an uncertain world. They reflect a renewed emphasis on acceleration, agility, and customer focus." Ushering in a new culture, and allowing it to continually evolve, makes sense for an older company like GE. The VP of Human Resources at GE Healthcare, Raghu Krishnamoorthy, talks about this: "At GE, we have stayed competitive for more than 130 years because of our relentless quest for progress on all fronts, including culture. We believe that there is no such thing as a 130-year culture. In our opinion, culture is contextual, and what would have been appropriate in the 19th century, when the company was a one-product, one-country organization, is very inappropriate in today's far more globalized environment. (GE now operates in 175 countries across the globe.) So a constant reengineering of our business portfolio, operating model, and culture has been a key to our evolution." Friday, September 16th, 2016, Downtown Miami. A full moon rose (with a lunar eclipse promised later) and light beamed off Biscayne Bay in sparkling waves. Traffic was jacked as Kanye West played the arena a few blocks away from the Donald Trump rally. Two huge narcissists in the most narcissistic city during a full moon. What could go wrong? Short answer: nothing. There were no riots, fights, major interruptions or protests. There were no arrests. The vibe was surprisingly nice. At the Trump rally, there were 1000's of people, all ages, ethnicity's, sexual preferences. People were cordial, maybe a little angry, but definitely nice. Definitely enthusiastic and motivated. I saw it with my own eyes. Inside, Trump made news for his 2nd Amendment comment about Hillary's secret service men being disarmed. He catered to Cuban hardliners and played ethnic politics. He keyed up Hillary's deplorable comments with a reference to Les Miserables Advertisement And then poof just like that he was gone. This was a day Trump started in New York cloaked in birther controversy before trotting to D.C. to play the media an infomercial at his new hotel before admitting in a one sentence statement that Obama was born in the U.S. Then he made a quick fund-raising stop in D.C. somehow made it to Little Haiti, Miami by 4pm for a sit-down with local Haitian leaders and then took the stage at 6pm sharp for a rally. Nothing in Miami starts on time. Trump's rally: on time. This man is moving so fast nothing sticks to him except wafting enthusiasm and a disdain for Hillary. If he accomplished this in Miami, not Jacksonville or Daytona or Tallahassee, but in Miami, let it be clear: Donald Trump can definitely win Florida. And consequently the presidency. This is for real. Meditate on this. After eight years of George Bush, there existed an anger that allowed the nation to elect our first African-American president. Now eight years later, a similar anger exists on the other side. It just might lead to our first entertainer-in-chief. Saw it with my own eyes. Heard it with my own ears. His supporters were saying the same thing. "We are not a monarchy. No more Clinton's, Bush's or Kennedy's." They want an outsider. They see Trump as a negotiator. They understand Trump would not be king and would have to work with Congress. They were not racists. They wore the deplorable comment like a badge of honor. There is indeed a silent majority. Why share your support of Trump on social media if your "liberal" friends on social media are going to ironically bully you. Advertisement This whole thing is a cluster-fuck. What do we do with this?? It's sexist. It's wrong. It's funny. It's all over the place. A far world from "I Like Ike" swag. Black, gay, disabled, women. They were there and not paid to be there. Like a zika mosquito I shadowed supporters around thinking they were paid by Trump. They're not. This is the way it is in Miami, a supposedly liberal city. This is no endorsement for Trump. Hardly. If anything, if you support Trump (at least in Florida) you should feel good right now. If you support Hillary, you better activate yourself and everyone you know. It's time to take this shit very seriously. Because the writing is on the wall. Don't be so naive not to see it. Look at Brexit in England. Look at Boris Johnson. He literally looks like Trump. It doesn't matter if the day after England voted to annex itself from the European Union that the most Googled phrase was "What is Brexit?" Doesn't matter. Look at Bernie Sanders. He won 22 states and millions of voters. He drew thousands and thousands to rallies for over a year. Look at him in Ohio now. Advertisement Only 150 people showed up to see Bernie Sanders at a Hillary Clinton rally in Ohio. The revolution is over. pic.twitter.com/vkbEhGczZk Stefan Molyneux (@StefanMolyneux) September 18, 2016 Bernie always said it wasn't about him and he was right. It's about electing an outsider and who is that in this election? This is simply the truth. Look at Millennials. They are not activated or enthusiastic. There is no energy for Hillary, at least down here in Miami. There is no buzz. Millennials don't vote. In the 2014 midterms, with marijuana on the Florida ballot, less than fifteen percent of millennials voted. This campaign is what it is. It's a cult of personality versus the issues. Whoever wins that battle wins the election and it's clear what's trending now. Hillary's best hope are her surrogates. And it's crunch-time. The debates and October surprises are the only hurdles remaining. This is utterly insane considering this has been a 600 day campaign cycle. What a shame it's not about the issues. History is about to be made at Hofstra University, and excitement is building to a crescendo among the school's nearly 11,000 students. On Monday evening, Democrat Hillary Clinton will face Republican Donald Trump in a presidential debate that will likely be the most-watched television program in U.S. history. It will also be the first time in American history a woman presidential candidate from a major party will participate in a debate during a general election. The Hofstra debate will be a major turning point in the election. While Clinton is ahead in the polls, her lead is fragile. Meanwhile, Trump has shown some momentum recently, and he has even pulled ahead in polls from several key battleground states, like Ohio and North Carolina. Political advisors for both candidates are vigorously playing the expectations game so as to favorably position their candidate in advance with the press. If expectations are low for Trump, a good debate performance by him may win him more supporters. Each candidate has major perception hurdles to overcome with Americans. Trump is viewed as more trustworthy than Clinton by likely voters in the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, but she overwhelmingly outperforms him in temperament, being a good commander-in-chief, and experience. Trump holds an edge over Clinton in who would be best to handle the economy. Clinton enjoys a strong lead among minorities, women and young voters. Trump does well with men, white voters and those without a college degree. Interestingly, half of Trump's likely voters say they will vote for him because they are against Clinton. Advertisement A majority of Americans polled want a change in Washington, and that frustration with government gridlock and political bickering fueled the rise of Trump. Trump has campaigned as the change agent while Clinton has had difficulty clearly articulating how she would change Washington. Trump's loyal supporters don't care what he says and how he says it. But temperament will be a big factor in winning over independent and uncommitted voters who will likely make the difference election day. So Trump is certain to be on his best behavior Monday night in hopes of securing undecided voters. Conversely, Clinton will not be able in a single debate to get more voters to think she is more trustworthy. But she may be able to use her enormous experience to overshadow Trump on key issues. This will be the third presidential debate held at Hofstra University, more than any other university. During the 2012 Hofstra debate Governor Mitt Romney spoke of "binders full of women," and in the 2008 Hofstra debate Senator John McCain repeatedly brought up "Joe the Plumber." This year's debate will be moderated by NBC News' Lester Holt. There will be six 15-segments, for a total of 90-minutes. The topics, chosen by Holt, will be "America's direction," "achieving prosperity" and "securing America." The candidates will have an opportunity to respond directly to each other. To be sure, Trump and Clinton will try hard to avoid making gaffes that may change the course of the election. But will Clinton look healthy? How will she handle questions about her emails? Will Trump be able to endure 90-minutes of tough questions? Will he explain his positions on issues in-depth, like his "secret plan" to eliminate ISIS? What about his tax returns, or Trump University? And how will the recent police shootings factor into this debate? Hofstra took over the debate on short notice when Wright State University in Ohio pulled out in July for financial reasons. Hofstra's president, Stuart Rabinowitz, said at the time, "We greatly appreciate the faith shown in us by the Commission on Presidential Debates." Now, six weeks later, security around this 250-acre campus in Hempstead, NY, will be unprecedented. Monday's classes have been canceled, many parking lots and some nearby major routes will be shut all day. Meanwhile, hundreds of media outlets will take up positions on campus as Hofstra becomes the political epicenter of the universe for one day. Advertisement We're in business to create huge value--for our customers and clients, our partners and teams and, of course, ourselves and our families. But the reality is that most entrepreneurs never create as much as value as they hope to. And even those who do a great job often find themselves unable to transfer that value into maximum personal wealth to fund the next chapter of their lives. Why is that--and what can we do about it? There's probably no one better to answer those questions than Carl Sheeler of Berkeley Research Group. For 25 years, Sheeler has worked with a who's-who of advisors to and founders of privately held companies on valuation, intergenerational planning, equity transfers with estate and gift tax issues, as well as partial and full liquidity events. In short, he knows what works--and what doesn't--when it comes to building hugely valuable enterprises and realizing that value when the time comes. And as a litigation expert, he knows that poor communication and clarity leads to conflict and lost value. Advertisement I recently got to ask him for some of his best ideas for successful business owners looking to accelerate their success even further. Here are three key issues that he says every entrepreneur needs to consider when building and growing great businesses. 1. Growth versus gratification. Many entrepreneurs who want to generate revenues of $20 million or more often don't get past the $5 million to $10 million mark--while others reach their goals and even exceed them. The reason is that the entrepreneurs who hit those big numbers focus on building long-term, sustainable value--while those who fall short tend to think about the amount of profits they need to generate in a given year to expand their lifestyles in the moment. It's the classic idea of delayed gratification, taken to a whole new level. "You wouldn't invest in a publicly traded company that didn't reinvest in itself, so why would you do that with your own primary asset?" says Sheeler. To help entrepreneurs see the impact of focusing on long-term value creation, Sheeler takes them through a process whereby they identify where their companies are currently in their businesses' lifecycle--and whether or not that's where they want to be. "Some people are very happy running a lifestyle operation, and that's OK if it's what you want," he says. "But we'll show them what their companies could be worth if they choose a longer-view and holistic focus on building lasting value by changing a few things." Advertisement Example: Sheeler showed one business owner how, by using debt strategically to lower labor costs and other expenses, he could triple the value of the company in about a year a half. "That type of proposition is often sexy enough for owners to rethink their long-term vision for their companies." 2. The human capital ecosystem. If big-time value creation and liquidity is your goal, the first step is to determine if you've got the human capital resources to get you there. This is even more important than the numbers on your balance sheet. "The real differentiation between businesses is the people that they have internally in the organization, and the people that they work with," he says. "That old saying, 'It takes a village' cannot be over emphasized when you're trying to build value." Getting value from the people around you can happen in ways you might not initially appreciate. Example: your vendors. "Talk to your vendors about your competitors' best practices. They're not going to give the name of specific businesses, but they might tell you that one of them successfully applies just-in-time management, which is allowing them to carry much less inventory and boost their cash flow," says Sheeler. "Insights can come from anywhere, if you take advantage of the human capital ecosystem around you." Of course, that ecosystem of people needs to be ones who can actually help you accelerate your success to the extent you want to. That means surrounding yourself with people who have what I call an "enlightened self interest"--meaning they are motivated to help you because making your company more successful will generate more success for them. To make that happen and get everyone on board, you have to communicate your goals and priorities very clearly to them. Ultimately, you know you've got good people, partners, advisors, vendors and others if you come to think of them more like strategic partners who are the ideal fit and right there in it with you. 3. Humility versus hubris. One problem with being a successful entrepreneur is that we can start to believe we're always the smartest folks in the room--and surround ourselves with people who are all too happy to agree with us, especially, when there's a financial incentive to do so. That's a mistake, says Sheeler. "You'll do much better if you acknowledge what you don't know and then find the people who will tell you what you need to know," he says. "While egos like to be stroked, nothing shows love like a few more million in dollars. Facts are boring, but necessary to make smart decisions. Acting only on assumptions and gut feelings will get you into trouble when creating value." Advertisement Professional management is key. Indeed, just consider the thorny world of mergers and acquisitions--the vast majority of which fail to generate the synergies and additional value the parties involved expected. "Hubris among the guy negotiating the deal and the guy cutting the check plays a big part in that failure," notes Sheeler. The recent international conference of the Academy of Management posed a challenge to scholars and educators from around the world, just by choice of the Theme: Making Organizations Meaningful. Attending several of the sessions and listening to professors discuss research about how to link purpose and profit, I couldn't avoid thinking of a watershed event that happened almost a year ago. In September 2015 the international community adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a plan for achieving a better future for all -- laying out a path over the next 15 years to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet. The SDGs provide a shared vision for the world we want. The 17 goals also represent a guide for making organizations meaningful as they seek to address the development challenges of the 21st century. What makes the SDGs remarkable is that they are being driven by a new group of stakeholders that, until recently, have never been actively involved in sustainable development. Businesses are now leading sources of innovative solutions that are addressing the lingering development challenges of the 21st century, and have been warmly welcomed by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as important contributors to sustainability solutions. Advertisement Guided by the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, businesses have already started integrating the SDGs and responsible practices into their operations. The UN Global Compact pledged during the recent High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) to become a vehicle for measuring the private sector contribution to the SDGs. By retooling its data-gathering of company sustainability reports, it will capture and present relevant data to future HLPFs. Meanwhile, an effort to Make Global Goals Local Business is underway as the Global Compact's Local Networks scale up local and regional solutions. As Lise Kingo, the Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, said recently, "Change will not come as a result of meetings held at UN Headquarters alone, but as a result of deliberate and tangible action on the ground." But the success of business will be limited if CEOs and other managers are not informed about the SDGs, corporate sustainability, or responsible management. That is why the world's business and management schools will become powerful drivers of corporate sustainability by integrating responsible management education into their teaching, research, and activities. This will have a direct effect on the students who will become the business leaders of the future. Business and management schools already play a key role in shaping the skills of future business leaders. But much more can be done to ensure these leaders have the skills needed to balance economic and sustainability goals. Advertisement The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), an initiative of the UN Global Compact, provides a platform to raise the profile of sustainability in schools around the world and to equip today's business students with the understanding and ability to deliver change tomorrow. Currently over 650 schools from 87 countries have already chosen to become signatories to PRME, including 44 of the Financial Times' Top 100 business schools, demonstrating a firm interest in academia for the value of responsible management education. Even more encouraging is the passion from business school students. A recent survey has shown that over 75% of students believe all business schools should teach courses on ethics and sustainability. Meanwhile, 80% agreed that social responsibility and profitability can be compatible, and 77% say that companies should do a lot more for society and the environment. During this month's UN Private Sector Forum in New York, PRME will announce two new initiatives that will empower business and management students to advance the SDGs by identifying, analysing, and sharing the achievements of top companies' sustainability activities. In partnership with WikiRate and AIM2Flourish, this new engagement opportunity will take advantage of the UN Global Compact's newly retooled database of company sustainability reports to validate and highlight the most significant achievements from the private sector. The data gathered will then feed into next year's HLPF's assessment of the business contribution to the SDGs. To achieve these SDGs over the next fifteen years, we will need forward-thinking and responsible leadership. By equipping the business leaders of the future with the education they need today, we can overcome the hurdles ahead, and ensure a truly sustainable future for all. I cannot think of a more meaningful goal than that. Advertisement One of the latest mini-twists to come out of this year's twisted election season has to do with polling indicating that voters (particularly younger voters) Hillary Clinton has been counting on seem to be drifting to third-party alternatives. In itself, this is not all that surprising. During a year when being blown up by a giant meteor has polled roughly the same as the two major candidates, why wouldn't voters of all stripes be looking for alternatives? The odd thing about the Democratic defections (or theorized Democratic defections since - as all critical thinkers should note - this trend was spotted by imperfect polling data and covered by media more interested in novelty than reflection) is that they seem to be trending more towards the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, rather than the Left-leaning Green Party leader Jill Stein. Advertisement This seems odd, given that large numbers of young voters disinterested in Hillary Clinton recently threw their support to Bernie Sanders, an avowed Socialist whose political opinions are much more in line with Stein's Greens than Johnson's Libertarians. In order to examine this conundrum further, I turned to a nearby stand-in for young voters, my 17-year-old son. As readers of Critical Voter know, efforts to use election politics to teach critical thinking (now going on three elections) originated in a desire to teach my kids these important skills. But now that my oldest is almost (but not quite) voting age, and intensely politically engaged, I decided to ask him why his cohort might prefer to cast a non-Hillary vote for Gary Johnson. His explanation began by pointing out that, while he is not interested in supporting Libertarian candidates or a devotee of Libertarian ideology himself, he's been impressed by the pragmatic way Johnson has balanced commitment to that ideology with practicality and realism. For example, because Libertarians tend to be fiscally conservative, but socially liberal, they have their own unique challenge with difficult social issues like gay marriage. A live-and-let-live ethos would tend towards support for gay marriage (or at least rejection of attempts to use state power to ban private, personal decisions). But given that the state is involved with defining what constitutes legal marriage, their minimal statism solution has traditionally been calling to get the government out of the marriage business altogether. Advertisement The only trouble with this approach is that it is hugely impractical (or at least would constitute an extremely difficult campaign promise to deliver on, with likely unintended consequences). Given this, Johnson's solution (according to my son) is to not object to gay marriage but not to focus the party on purist solutions (like eliminating government's role in marrying people), instead prioritizing other issues which might be resolvable through practical application of Libertarian principles. This willingness to compromise impractical ideology impressed my son, as did Johnson's relatively normal, soft-spoken rhetoric which contrasts favorably with the focus-group-tested tedium and bombast we've seen from his major-party rivals. Now it should be noted that the favorable impression Johnson has made on the one young non-voter from whom I'm drawing these insights would not translate into a vote for that candidate if my son was of voting age. As mentioned earlier, his distance from Libertarian beliefs limits his interest in voting for that party, especially given its previous track record of ineffectiveness due to devotion to ideological purity. And while he has great contempt for the two-part lock in American politics generally, he also recognizes the strategic nature of voting - which means votes for third parties ultimately translates to victory of one of the two majors. Our New York neighborhoods are full of hardworking people from the transit workers, firefighters, and police department employees to home health aides, teachers and other public services workers. These same New Yorkers who take pride in their role in keeping the city moving, who open the city's doors in the morning and turn off the lights each night, are also finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. Many hardworking New Yorkers are struggling to find affordable rents. So the idea of affordable homeownership in New York City might seem on the surface like an oxymoron, or something that is too outrageous to even dream. Unlike the rest of the country where the homeownership rate hovers above 60 percent, most New Yorkers, of all income levels, do not own their homes in this city. This reality can easily lead someone to beg the question, "Why does homeownership in New York even matter?" In my experience, what it boils down to is the notion of choice. Families in the low- to moderate-income bracket in New York City do not have the luxury of making the same choices that many of us take for granted. They are in fact, marginalized into living conditions that most New Yorkers would find deplorable. Worse, they often pay more than 60% of their wages in order to cover the rising costs of rent and are forced to make desperate trade-offs with other necessary living expenses, such as their next meal, medical expenses, or a child's education. Parents, in search of lower rents, will move further out from the city's center where most jobs are located, will end up commuting longer hours and spending even more time away from the home, leaving children vulnerable and to their own devices. Advertisement A home is the foundation for healthy living, effective education, and it provides a place and a stake within a community. This is what drives the work I do to make homeownership more affordable. It shouldn't be merely a dream: people who work in New York City should be able to live within the five boroughs; people who live here should also have the choice to own here and establish roots within their communities. This is where our city and state can make smart investments. One of the primary hurdles to purchasing a home can be affording the down payment. One of the most important measures that government can take to resolve this is making it easier for working families to afford a home through down payment programs. While admirable down payment programs exist in New York State through the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA), the support they provide is not congruent to property values, which are higher in New York City than most other parts of the State. The City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) currently offers a down payment assistance program, HomeFirst, which gives prospective buyers the lesser of a $15,000 grant or six percent of the home's purchase price. Yet the program is only eligible to families making less than 80 percent of the area median income (AMI) - or about $62,000 for a family of three. Housing counselors observe that clients earning between 80 and 120 percent of AMI are often outbid by those with enough cash on hand to pay 20 percent, 30 percent or more of the purchase price upfront. Advertisement While it has become cliche to point to San Francisco's exorbitant housing costs, there is a silver lining in that San Francisco also has one of the nation's most generous and well-crafted down payment assistance programs. Through the Downpayment Assistance Loan Program, homebuyers with incomes up to 120 percent of AMI are eligible for zero-percent, deferred-interest down payment assistance loans of up to $200,000. In fact, the average down payment assistance amount in San Francisco is $53,173, the highest in the nation. This level of support enables hardworking San Franciscans to continue to live and work in the city. Like Habitat's own model, my proposal for a better down payment assistance program for New Yorkers represents not a hand out, but rather a hand up. Expanding down payment assistance would go a long way towards addressing the displacement of our city's working class and reversing decades of exclusion of longtime residents from sharing in the economic growth of their communities. A move away from a challenged environment to a stable home, at an affordable price can set just the right stage for success. "Meeting Habitat changed the course of my life," is something I have heard time and again during my tenure with Habitat for Humanity. "My child was headed down the wrong path, he was missing school, he was running with a dangerous crowd ... but we moved into a Habitat home, in a better neighborhood ... he got involved in school......,"-- these are the stories of lives and outcomes that were dramatically improved through affordable homeownership. They are stories with a happy ending, a fresh start, or a hand up for a family along the way. At Habitat NYC, we are committed to giving hardworking partner families an opportunity to own their own homes. This sets us apart from our outstanding peer organizations and leaders that are simultaneously focused on other low-income housing solutions. Advertisement I have found that in order to boost homeownership, we really need a collective effort from the private sector and public sector, where government programs and funding can make a major difference. If we collaborate to provide the best tools, we can make New York City a better partner to families and a model for other cities across the nation. I'm listening to the rhythmic gurgling of my father's breathing as Chet Baker's mournful trumpet fills the room. Over the last few years I've downloaded a sampling of the music Dad used to enjoy to my phone -- '50s jazz, Sinatra, a smattering of Chopin, Mozart and some bossa nova. He loved opera too, but I have my limits. Now when we're together I play music that I hope might spark some of the delight he used to feel before his mind unraveled. Today is another milestone in my father's decline. I've signed us on with hospice to support the nursing staff at his memory care residence in suburban Washington, DC. That's a tactful way of saying that my father suffers from advanced dementia, lives in a gussied-up nursing home and has recently been rushed to the hospital twice for severe rectal bleeding. He's been close to kidney failure and other life-threatening ailments this past week, but here we are, back in his own room on a brilliant early September day, waiting for him to die. In the meantime, I've grown to love the late jazz musician Chet Baker, his melancholy voice and yearning horn. My father's sleep is punctuated by nonsensical chatter. He occasionally utters intelligible words: "Yes, yes, yes," or "Okay, okay, okay," or "No, no, no." But he's also said, "Quackety-quack," along with a host of unrelated syllables that combine to form a new language, his own narrative of a scientist's complex mind gone to Swiss cheese. When Dad speaks, his usually slack expression takes on a distinct earnestness, so the gobbledygook that emerges is even more jarring. He appears intent on conveying his thoughts and, for a few seconds, you're hopeful that something coherent will emerge. But that hasn't happened for a couple of years. Advertisement He awakens for a few minutes every hour I sit by his bedside. "Who are you?" he demands, realizing that he's not alone. "It's Karla," I say. "Who?" "Karla. I'm your daughter, Dad. Remember Karla?" "Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes." But I can tell from the vacant look in his watery blue eyes that Karla is an abstract concept, at best. He relaxes his head on the avocado pillowcase that has gives his already pale complexion a greenish tinge. Chet's melancholy rendition of I Get Along Without You Very Well fills the air and, while I find his downbeat crooning a soothing accompaniment to sorting laundry, I decide that the mood isn't quite right for a return from a life-threatening rectal hemorrhage. I scroll through my music and find the original Broadway soundtrack of My Fair Lady between Michael Jackson and Neil Young. A young Julie Andrews' joyous I Could Have Danced All Night instantly lifts the somber mood. Like a bear rousing from a deep mid-winter sleep, my father's eyes open and he lifts his heavy head from the pillow. Turning toward the source of the music, he looks at me and a smile begins to shape his dry, pallid lips. His expression is suddenly alert, eyes more focused. His head begins to bob with the beat of the classic Lerner and Loewe song from the album my father played so often during my childhood that even I know all the lyrics some 55 years later. I could have danced all night. I could have danced all night. And still have begged for more. I could have spread my wings and done a thousand things I've never done before. I find myself singing the lyrics along with Eliza Doolittle, Julie Andrews' Cockney flower girl character, her exuberance as contagious as it was when the show debuted in 1956, the year I was born. I can still picture Audrey Hepburn (in the later film version) twirling up the stairs, trailed by a bevy of servants as she revels in the newfound magic of her life. And somewhere in the deep recesses of his cobwebbed mind, I think my father is twirling too. I'd downloaded On the Street Where You Live and just as Julie stops dancing all night, her young suitor, the proper gentleman Freddy Eynsford-Hill begins his love song: I have often walked down the street before But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before. All at once am I several stories high Knowing I'm on the street where you live. I watch my father's expression as the melodious baritone transports us both back to a more innocent era, a time when it didn't seem ridiculous for men to lean on wrought iron fences to profess their love for near-strangers. And oh, the towering feeling, Just to know somehow you are near. The overpowering feeling That any second you may suddenly appear. Dad's right leg twitches under the blanket and his foot is keeping time with his bobbing head. I'm blinking back tears as I witness the mystical power of My Fair Lady. We've listened to music many times before but show tunes are new to us. Not wanting to break the spell I scroll to The Sound of Music on my phone and instantly Julie Andrews is back in the room, singing about her favorite things from the 1965 film. Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, Silver white winters that melt into springs, These are a few of my favorite things. Though Dad is confined to a hospital bed in his unknowable version of hell, I can clearly picture him in the late '60s reclining on the living room sofa, lights dim, listening to his own favorite things on his extravagant stereo system. My mother would sometimes stretch out beside him, their intimacy evoking an odd mix of embarrassment and pride in my two brothers and me. We'd never seen other kids' parents embrace like that. It was mushy but kind of cool at the same time. My father's eyes are starting to flicker and soon he's breathing deeply again. The gurgle is from a lifetime of nicotine, the damage becoming obvious as he rounds the bend toward 90 years of age. He's asleep once more and I can only hope he's waltzing with Julie, or Audrey, or perhaps my mother. The sun is setting. It's time for an encore from our moody jazz vocalist. I select the Chet Baker Sings album from my music catalogue and The Thrill is Gone begins. It's Chet's debut vocal album from 1954 and his weary resignation now strikes just the right note. The thrill is gone. I can see it in your eyes. I can hear it in your sighs. Feel your touch and realize The thrill is gone. This is the end. So why pretend and let it linger on. Advertisement Earlier on Huff/Post50: Between global health concerns like Zika virus and antibiotic resistance, it can be easy to overlook less-alarming health problems. Yet, a habit as simple as not getting enough sleep is still having negative impacts for nearly one-third of all Americans, who report not getting enough sleep to feel rested. According to the CDC, not getting enough sleep increases your chances of having a chronic disease like diabetes, depression, hypertension or obesity. Why are so many people getting so little sleep? Here are four reasons why you might be missing out on those nightly Zs. Advertisement 1. You're too close to your phone We're connected from the time we wake up in the morning until the moment we close our eyes at night. Do you check your phone as soon as your alarm goes off for missed emails or text messages? Utilizing electronic devices, especially at night, is one of the big reasons why people have so much trouble sleeping. The problems caused by electronics can be broken down into two categories: Melatonin Suppression and Mental Stimulation. Melatonin Suppression : The blue light emitted by the screen tricks your brain into thinking that it's supposed to be awake, so in turn your brain reduces the amount of melatonin it produces. Melatonin, also known as the sleep hormone, is the key component that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. : The blue light emitted by the screen tricks your brain into thinking that it's supposed to be awake, so in turn your brain reduces the amount of melatonin it produces. Melatonin, also known as the sleep hormone, is the key component that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. Mental Stimulation: Something as simple as playing Angry Birds or checking your email might not seem very mentally stimulating, but it's enough to convince your brain that you should be awake. This will make it harder to fall asleep. The best solution for this particular sleep problem is to keep your electronics out of the bedroom. If you use your phone to wake you up in the morning, consider investing in a good alarm clock and leaving your phone to charge in the kitchen or somewhere outside your sleeping area. Advertisement 2. You're relying on stimulants to wake you up and depressants to knock you out For most of us, caffeine is part of our daily lives. We drink coffee or tea in the morning, and soda or other caffeinated drinks throughout the day to keep us going. It even hides in the chocolate in that afternoon candy bar you may have picked up from the office vending machine. While it can provide a quick pick-me-up, enjoying too much caffeine during the day can prevent you from falling asleep easily, staying asleep and even entering REM sleep, which is the most restful type of sleep. You might think that alcohol, on the other hand, is a good way to ensure you get a good night's sleep. While it's true that alcohol is considered a depressant and can slow you down, the rest you get after having a few drinks is usually restless and broken. Alcohol has been shown to decrease the amount of REM sleep that you get, as well. If you need to get a good night's sleep, consider skipping the night cap and try not to drink anything with caffeine between dinner time and when you finally bed down for the night. 3. You're only investing in your waking life How long has it been since you changed your mattress? If it's been 5-10 years, your mattress could be negatively affecting the way you sleep. Advertisement Studies have definitively shown that the more comfortable you are, the better you're going to sleep. So why do so many people put up with uncomfortable mattresses when today's sleeping options are more suited to individual needs? For example, CRaVE Mattress specializes in both innerspring and memory foam mattresses. If you're looking for a soft mattress, the innerspring would be what you want. On the other hand, if you need a firmer mattress, the memory foam option would provide more support. Oh yeah, and they'll deliver your new mattress right to your door - what could be more 21st century than that? For many people, putting up with an old mattress comes down to cost. Purchasing a new mattress is not an inexpensive proposition if you want something that's going to be comfortable. Keep in mind, though, that you're purchasing something that's going to last you, at minimum, 10 years. A $1,000 price tag on a mattress doesn't look as intimidating when you break it down to $100 a year. To think about it differently, consider how much money you'd spend on a car guaranteed to last you 10 years. The investments we make in our waking lives often get more attention because we're more engaged with them. But what you invest in your sleep can make all the difference, too. 4. Your career doesn't compliment your circadian rhythms The world doesn't stop running at 5pm, so there are millions of people in hundreds of different industries that work outside the "normal" 9-5 business hours. This "shift work" has been shown to have a detrimental effect on the sleep patterns of a number of these workers. Advertisement Two of the three major nuclear meltdowns in the last 40 years, Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, have been at least partially blamed on the sleepiness of shift workers, so that gives you a good idea of how serious a problem this can become. Constantly changing shifts, or work shifts that fall outside of what your body considers to be its normal circadian rhythm has been shown to cause problems with attention, reaction time, mood and memory. People who do not adapt well to shift work are prone to insomnia, depression, fatigue and a variety of other symptoms. There are several ways to make it easier to adapt to an odd or rotating schedule, such as utilizing stimulants (i.e. caffeine) to keep you awake and melatonin to help you reset your circadian rhythm and adapt to a new sleep schedule. Unfortunately, there are some people who just cannot adapt to shift work. If you're one of those people, the only option might be to either find a different shift or a different job entirely. Is there anything better than a new beginning, a safe bedroom to call your own, the smell of a fresh coat of paint, and people around you who want nothing but the best for you, promising to help you attain your dreams? That's what awaits young survivors of the sex trafficking industry, when they enter The Rogers Home, a first-of-its kind collaborative project among Covenant House Toronto, the city of Toronto, its housing authority, and generous donors. In Canada, as in the U.S., trafficking victims are usually not transported in from other countries -- in Ontario, 63 percent of victims trafficked to, through or from the province were Canadian citizens. In Toronto the police, following a new Human Trafficking Protocol, more than tripled their related arrests between 2013 and 2014. And almost a third of the homeless youth we serve at Covenant House Toronto have been involved in some form of the sex trade, including sex for food. We saw the number of cases of trafficking and sexual exploitation increase more than 40 percent last year, to 64. So we are overjoyed that The Rogers Home will house as many as seven young women and girls, ages 16 to 24, for up to two years. They will receive community-based trauma counseling, and can use Covenant House's educational and vocational assistance programs. When they are ready to leave, they can have access to Covenant House's community apartments and aftercare program. The location of The Rogers Home will remain confidential, for the safety of residents. A video tour of the new shelter is available here. Advertisement "We are proud to be launching this progressive program, which will provide critically needed housing and comprehensive support to these young women to help them reclaim their lives," said Bruce Rivers, executive director of Covenant House Toronto. The house grew out of a dedicated and diverse partnership. Covenant House Toronto, which will supply ongoing operating funds, has worked with more than 10 leading youth-serving organizations experienced in trauma and addiction, police and legal professionals and hospitals, to help deliver wraparound services. Toronto Community Housing (TCH) is contributing the property to Covenant House through a long-term lease at a nominal fee, and the City of Toronto and TCH provided significant capital funding for the restoration of the house and improvements to the building. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons contributed $60,000 for services in the house, and Douglas Design Studio donated its interior design work. Covenant House Toronto's $10-million fundraising campaign, chaired by Suzanne Rogers, will support the house and a comprehensive anti-sex trafficking plan over the next five years. So, far the campaign has raised $8.8 million. Advertisement The Toronto expansion is part of Covenant House's recent expansion across the hemisphere. Earlier this month, Covenant House Pennsylvania opened its new Sanctuary Drop-In Center in York, PA, to provide food, clothing, hygiene supplies, and access to showers and laundry facilities, as well as counseling and case management. Also this month, Covenant House California acquired YEAH!, a youth services agency which will, with the help of the City of Berkeley, be able to run a year-round shelter for transitional aged youth. Later this month, we will open new beds for pregnant and parenting teens in Washington D.C., and for homeless and trafficked youth in Anchorage, Alaska. Hollywood said: Why are the rabid anti-Muslims not able to see they are supporting ISIS propaganda and playing into the hands of our enemies? Are they just stupid or willingly supporting the enemy? Click to expand... When ISIS tells you upfront that they're going to hide terrorists within the refugees, do you not believe them? Are you gullible enough to believe that not excepting Muslim refugees will play into the hands of the enemy? And should we care? Protecting this countries citizens is our only concern. If not excepting Muslim refugees means not excepting terrorists with them, so be it. We're not obliged in any way, that would put our own at risk. Doing so is just plain STUPID!! By contributing writer Katie Reis for KidSpirit's Myth and Magic issue. I'm not a religious person. I was baptized a Catholic but slowly realized that many of Catholicism's beliefs and principles did not fit my own. Over the years, I have explored many different religions. After I visited Japan as part of a student exchange program about a year ago, I became fascinated with Shintoism. Shinto beliefs are encapsulated by a perspective of seeing nature and the world in all its beauty. Shintoism emphasizes an aesthetic sensitivity, placing great value on nature, harmony, and balance in a person's life. As part of my trip to Japan I stayed with a host family in the mountainous region of Nagano Prefecture in the town of Hakuba Valley. My hosts were a Japanese couple who spoke little English but showed me the silent wisdom of nature and the importance of kindness and hospitality, values that are greatly emphasized in Japanese culture. Advertisement One morning, my host mother Akiko woke me up early to walk the dog, a black lab named Toshi. The walk took us over a mountain, and along the way I noticed Shinto shrines everywhere. I felt completely at peace in the quiet morning air. I learned that shrines weren't necessarily buildings but could be as simple as a rock or as large as a mountain. In fact, in ancient times the only Shinto shrines that existed were mountains, waterfalls, rocks, trees, forests, or cliffs. It wasn't until more modern times that buildings were built to hold Shinto religious ceremonies. Mountain worship, referred to in Japan as sangaku shinko, is common among Shintoists. Although all mountains are seen as holy, the most holy mountains in Japan are Mount Koya, Mount Tateyama, Mount Hakusan, and Mount Fuji. Mountain asceticism, or yamabushi, is when people search for spiritual, mystical, or supernatural powers through isolation in nature. Many Shintoists make journeys or pilgrimages to explore their faith, linking together many sacred places in the process. These journeys are known as honzon junrei, or to wander around (jun) to worship (rei) the principal deity (honzon). No matter what form, Shinto shrines are restful places filled with sacred holiness. They provide spiritual vitality. When I felt that sense of tranquility and wholeness in nature, I felt a resonance with the Shinto psyche. One year later, I felt the magnitude of nature's magic at 6,662 feet on the peak of Mount Washington. Advertisement I stumbled but didn't fall. I had watched more experienced solo hikers turn back, but didn't feel afraid as I put one foot in front of the other. I had my crew; my crew had me. We were a force as strong as the 80 mph winds whipping our faces, held together by the unexpected bond we had formed despite having known each other for only two weeks. At incredible heights we had crawled on all fours to avoid getting blown off the cliff while straining our eyes to see our next step. The fog and rain enveloped us as we climbed. The adrenaline rush was like none I'd ever felt! Climbing Mount Washington on the last day of our two-week backpacking trek along the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire's White Mountains gave me a confidence and surefootedness that extended way beyond the physical tests I had faced. At the peak, all eleven of us stood together, huddled like penguins. I looked around and thought about the conversations and laughs I had shared with each person around me. Never before had I become so close to a group of people in such a short time. My life slowed to a walk, both literally and figuratively, as we hiked 12 hours a day up and down mountains. All non-essentials were stripped away -- phones, possessions, comfort foods, civilization. For a time, it seemed, all we had was each other. We had arrived with bits and pieces of our lives from home, but we had unknowingly left behind the superficiality of our high schools' social constructs. On the trail it didn't matter what group I belonged to or how many likes I got on an Instagram photo. I perceived the people standing right in front of me as they were in that moment. I felt present in my conversations with these fellow backpackers in a way I had not known before. I could be and think without distraction. No one had a phone to check. Our deepest thoughts stayed with us for longer and we truly paid attention to each other. Sharing my innermost thoughts and viewpoints in a trusting and accepting environment enabled me to be myself and speak my mind, unabashedly and without restraint. I could step back and re-calibrate my values. I felt carefree. Advertisement Small joys suddenly seemed big: washing my feet in a stream at the end of a long day, holding a hot cup of tea on a cold night, painstakingly flipping pancakes in a thunderstorm. I wasn't wearing makeup, my hair had become dreadlocks, and a mixture of dirt and dried blood tattooed my skin. So it came as a surprise to me that I felt happy on a deep level in a way I hadn't in a long time. I also felt a connection to Shintoism and an acute awareness of the spirituality of nature and how it shaped who I am. I felt like a mountain worshiper on a pilgrimage, surrounded by the holiness and purity of the trees, moss, and cliffs. On that last day on the peak of Mount Washington, as my heart beat fast and the adrenaline rushed through me, I felt the magic of nature. I felt magic in the connection I had formed with the people around me in such a short time. I felt something that I had never felt before. In the fresh air, as the weight of my accomplishment dawned on me, I felt complete. Upon returning to my suburban New Jersey hometown, I began to explore local forests and discovered Harriman State Park, which is just a 30-minute drive from my town. With my two dogs I hiked new trails every day. Nature has become an essential part of me. In the two weeks I spent in those New Hampshire woods, I found the freedom to own who I am and to shape my values from within. Carole has been involved in national and European research funding allocation and oversight of national and international astronomical facilities. Her experience in strategic science policy advisory work has included technology, basic research and horizon scanning beyond astrophysics and she currently serves on STFC Council. She is a committed communicator of science to the public who is recognised for changing the landscape for women in technology through her innovative approach to finding technological solutions to scientific problems within an extremely limited budget, and her work in inspiring the next generation of scientists and innovators. Carole won the Woman of the Year Award at the 2016 FDM everywoman in Technology Awards. The awards, which are run annually by everywoman, are designed to showcase inspiring female role models in the technology industry. everywoman has begun the search for nominees for its 2017 FDM Everywoman in Technology Awards, with nominations open until 3 October 2016. How has your life experience made you the leader you are today? Never losing the ability to ask questions and desire to understand is a generic thread that runs through all I do. More practically, dealing with adversity, attention to detail and an interest in people and their talents has allowed me to create and deliver on bigger visions with stubborn determination and optimism. How has your previous employment experience aided your tenure at University of Bath? In my previous employment, I built a world leading research team from scratch, with limited resource, and took on unexpected opportunities when they came along - even if they didn't look immediately attractive. This has given me the confidence and broader technological and scientific knowledge and vision to create something bigger at Bath. What have the highlights and challenges been during your tenure at University of Bath? I am building a new research group and teaching programme at the University of Bath, which I joined in March 2015. The past year has been an exciting whirlwind as we've recruited world-leading young astrophysicists and had our first year of undergraduate students pass through our courses. The pioneering spirit in our group is very energizing and the whole University is incredibly supportive and excited about what we plan to deliver over the coming years. The biggest challenges so far have been external. Astrophysics is a global industry so the uncertainty created by the referendum is an ongoing challenge. In addition, the research and teaching landscapes for higher education are set to change dramatically in the coming years. My external roles in governance and oversight give me an invaluable view as these changes work through the system and as well as opportunities to provide expert input along the way. What advice can you offer to women who want a career in your industry? Maths, physics and computer science are at the tools at the heart of my field. It is important to do well in these subjects and enjoy them. These give a strong foundation at undergraduate level. However, in the coming decade, there will be a revolution in data science, where upcoming astronomical facilities will begin to produce a deluge of complex data streams and open up studies of the time-variable Universe. At the moment, we discover 200 new cosmic black holes using dedicated X-ray and Gamma-ray satellites. By 2020, our facilities will be automatically identifying 10 million new objects per night. We do not yet know how to cope with this unprecedented rate of discovery. The need to train a new generation of technologists with the ability and desire to work across traditional academic subject boundaries will define my industry over the next 5-10 years. What is the most important lesson you've learned in your career to date? Honesty, integrity and determination - whether displayed or not by others - are my guiding principles. Even when a situation seems impossible, there is always a way through if you search hard enough. The easy option is often the harder one in the long run. How do you maintain a work/life balance? The flexibility of academic life can be a curse or a blessing. Being sensible about when to work flat out and when to pull back and do some self-care is vital. I recently took up the sport of tae kwon do with my young sons. They are veterans of the martial art and love to see and help me progress as a beginner. It's important to share experiences and doing something completely new and different to my day (and night) job has been surprisingly uplifting and life-affirming! What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace? Hostile workplace cultures remain a serious barrier for under-represented minorities in many organisations and drive out young talent. This also them impacts on the number of women available to progress to more senior roles, preventing a desperately needed increase in role models and influence. How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life? The importance of mentorship cannot be overstated - whether formal or informal. Academic life is necessarily introspective and judging - it can feel very personal sometimes. If one is a perfectionist, this can be doubly tough. Mentorship has given me a different view of myself, my abilities and how I am perceived by others - in particular in celebrating success and giving me the courage to step up to roles that I might otherwise have shied away from. Which other female leaders do you admire and why? One often looks to more senior people to find female leaders and I see those very much at the University of Bath and in my field internationally. Increasingly though, I have come to value courage and leadership from my junior colleagues and peers. The collective intelligence is vast and connecting with that, contributing to and benefitting from it is vital. Being involved with the Everywoman awards has opened up a whole new technology sector of phenomenally talented women to me and I value highly the new contacts I am making. What do you want to accomplish in the next year? Within my University environment, I obviously want to nurture and support my new research group and see its profile and success grow, in turn feeding that back into our new generation of students. I recently became Chair of the University of Bath Senior Academic Women's Network and I am looking forward to working with this energetic and talented group of women, connecting them to others in sectors outside of academia, seeing them realise their goals and, ultimately, be represented in senior leadership positions throughout the University. Within the international field of astrophysics and space science (and other fields) , a number of us are working to improve the culture for young women; sexual harassment and inadequate institutional responses have long been a problem but this is now being openly discussed. We are working with a range of agencies in our respective countries to encourage publicly funded organisations to tackle these issues at all levels and not sweep them under the carpet. Scientifically, I personally want to discover what powers the most energetic explosions in the Universe and my group and I will be developing new technology over the coming year to try to answer that and other big questions about the Universe. Oh, and I would quite like to win a medal in a national tae kwon do competition! We have put the fate of our earth's endangered species in the hands of profit-driven international organizations at the expense of our planet. To protect our future, we have to change this. What's encouraging is that we can. Last week, prayer groups globally of all cultures united with the Sioux Nation, doing ceremony to protect Standing Rock in South Dakota where the oil pipeline crisis revolved around water - sacred to Life on this planet. From the heart of White Lion territories in South Africa, I joined them, too. To many, myself included, President Obama's intervention on 9/9 came as the answer to those prayers. It stopped the bulldozers. But they haven't backtracked. Yet. What is now becoming clear is that the combination of heartfelt prayer for the earth and mass action in protest at her destruction can bring a turnaround. Advertisement Clearly, this combination of love and outrage - when people start to feel their hearts again and take action accordingly - that will radically change our world in our near future. It is not blind activism, but courageous heartfelt commitment to protect the earth and shift the consumerist paradigm that is destroying her. A year ago, an event occurred that sparked this kind of mass mobilization. The senseless brutal trophy killing of Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe by a Minnesota dentist, Walter Palmer, touched the hearts of millions worldwide who demanded accountability from our politicians. The CECIL Bill was the result. Public outrage brought about this change in legislation, and Cecil's sacrifice helped pass a bill that could serve all endangered species: Conserving Eco-systems by Ceasing the Importation of Large (CECIL) Animal Trophies Act. Advertisement It did so by activating the hearts of humanity. This kind of heart activation is the beginning of the turnaround for our earth and her restoration. It's a reminder that in our battle to save the planet, what happens to water in South Dakota and lions in Zimbabwe are interconnected in a delicate web of planetary consciousness. Water, like land, is the foundation of eco-systems. Earth needs water to germinate the seeds on which survival and sustainability depend, all the way up the food chain to the very apex of the pyramid of life: the predators, or so-called "Capstone Species". While water and soil are the foundation of the food chain, lions are the apex predators. In Nature, the role of the apex animal at the tip of the pyramid is to maintain the balance and health of the whole. Lions regulate the prey species, which feed upon the fauna which feed upon the flora, which in turn draws life from water and soil. This fundamental ecological principle is called "Trophic Cascading." In short, lions play an absolutely fundamental role in protecting eco-systems, while eco-systems support all life on this planet, including our own. If eco-systems collapse, our systems will also collapse. Conversely, the good news is that by restoring the capstone species - lions, bears, wolves, whales - to the eco-system, we restore balance and order across all interdependent species all the way down the trophic levels to the rivers. Yellowstone Park proved this principle in their wolf reintroduction. Advertisement As a critically urgent imperative, we need to ensure our human systems and legislation support these all-important eco-systems. To ensure the survival of Mother Earth, the oil pipelines that grease the global consumerist machine killing her have to go - along with those brutal structures, the conservation bodies that purport to be protecting her. As I write this, the world's two top conservation entities, IUCN and CITES, are convening to decide the fate of our wildlife. If we care about our future, it's critical that we understand the brutal yet shaky logic on which these global entities make their policy decisions. Who are these authorities? Who appointed them? Who pays them? Who funds their decisions? And most importantly, based on profit and trade, what authority do they have to determine what species is or isn't protected? CITES (Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species) has vast power over the future of our earth. Firstly, we should note the word "Trade" - rather than "Protection" - of Endangered Species, as this is the principle on which their decision-making turns. Secondly, the notion of separating species from their eco-systems and classifying them 'protected' or not, as the case may be, is fundamentally flawed - adopting pseudo-scientific jargon to create seeming legitimacy. As any true ecologist knows, all components of an eco-system are entirely interdependent. Advertisement Under the guise of saving our endangered species, CITES has maintained and legitimized a killing industry, and contributed to the dramatically declining numbers of many animals on the brink of extinction. Why? Because CITES is a commercial model controlled by trade considerations and managed by bureaucratic entities. CITES works according to a treaty between countries. Government representatives meet every 4 years to determine how species will be traded across international borders. CITES determines international legislation of trade in a given species by categorizing it according to what is considered it's "endangered status." It lists species according to three appendices: Appendix I, II or III, depending on what is deemed its vulnerability to extinction. Significantly, there is no category for NO TRADE of Endangered Species. Cross-border trade in endangered species is a given - it is just about numbers, and numbers are influenced by vested interests with secondary consideration given to the plight of the animals or the consequence to eco-systems. If we understand anything about the workings of our planet, it is firstly, that ALL species are essential to the health and vitality of the planet as a whole. Secondly, species and eco-systems are geographically specific, so the concept of cross-border relocation of species is profoundly misguided and extremely dangerous. Profit over environment is at the core of the convention, and the planet is hostage to the decisions it takes. Is CITES doing a good job of protecting our endangered natural heritage? The statistics speak for themselves. The extinction of species has never been more precarious. Take lions, for example. The most sought-after trophy animal on the planet. Lions, the King of Animals, are at the forefront of the notorious international killing industry. Their numbers in the wild have plummeted 80% in 50 years, yet escalated astronomically in captivity. There's been an estimated 300% increase in dead lion exports in the last 10 years. And perhaps the worst statistic of all: Today, there are more lions in cages than in the wild. In this cynical industry, lion killing is directly linked to lion cub petting. It's a production line in which this iconic species is commercially bred for the bullet. First, handled by international tourists as baby lions in a merciless but lucrative hug-and-kill industry, which makes dead trophies out of Africa's last surviving kings and queens - wild or tamed. Advertisement According to these statistics, lions will be extinct in the wild in our lifetimes - and the for-profit model on which CITES bases its policies cannot save them. These illegitimate structures have to be dismantled, and redesigned. There is no rational reason for these organizations to have the power to determine how many animals can legitimately be killed and traded. The fate of our earth's species must be in the hands of those wisdom keepers who uphold not only sacred sites, but all of Nature as sacrosanct. Those who recognize that all species are essential to the health and vitality of the planet as a whole. Lions are currently listed as CITES Appendix II. In the lead-up to CITES, West Africa has been motivating for up-listing lions to Appendix I for greater protection due to critically low numbers, while South Africa has been motivating for down-listing lions from Appendix II to Appendix III, affording them virtually no protective status at all. South Africa's argument is based on their view that the wild lion population in this region is "stable" and can therefore sustain increased trophy hunting levels. However, the numbers they put forward are artificially boosted due to lions bred in captivity for trading and hunting purposes. Firstly, this logic is inaccurate. South Africa has one of only five viable wild lion populations in the world, the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere; and the future of the lions here is by no means stable or secure. Due to wide-spread TB, Panthera leo in the Kruger risks an entire population crash. Secondly, as already explained, this kind of thinking is dangerous to the planetary eco-system - apex predators are essential to the presence of diverse wildlife in ways we are only beginning to rediscover. Advertisement Finally, this logic is unethical. Treating the King of Animals as a commodity to be bred for blood money should be rightly understood as sacrilege - along with polluting water as the source of life and other criminal acts of ecocide. If we have any trouble understanding this, we should all be looking to the indigenous wisdom keepers and Mother Nature herself for urgent redemption. In the commercial model of wildlife, lions have no rights to freedom or dignity. The King is treated as little more than a canned product with a price on its head, hence the name "Canned Lion Hunting" coined by the Cook Report (a British investigative TV program) when this malpractice was exposed way back in 1997. Although this abominable industry was first brought to the attention of the world two decades ago, CITES has done nothing to curb its aggressive escalation in the intervening period. In fact, the opposite: what was a handful of disreputable mafia-type operators then, has escalated now into a massive cross-border killing industry. Hundreds of lion breeding facilities have been established, and thousands of captive bred lions are being commercially bred for the bullet. The only argument for keeping and breeding lions under such abusive conditions is gross material greed. There is no conservation value. For ecological and genetic reasons, there is virtually zero probability of these captive-bred predators ever returning to the eco-system. Commoditizing lions is contrary to any concept of true and responsible custodianship of our earth. At the same time as the South Dakota nations were uniting to protect their waters, the World Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was announcing a motion to prohibit Canned Hunting of lions. Credit for this dates back to the mass public outrage that took place after CECIL's killing and to dedicated efforts by conservationists uniting to drive more humane policies forward. Advertisement However, as with Standing Rock, the bulldozers may have been halted. But they're not retreating. Yet. We will not achieve the turnaround for our earth as long as we fail to see that the IUCN and other leading conservation entities, including CITES, WWF and the US Fish & Wildlife Service, are basing their conservation logic on exploitation rather than reverence. The very basis of their arguments remain unsound: "If it pays, it stays." Pause for a moment and question: Is that sensible conservation logic? If Nature doesn't stay, we'll all pay. Yet, I have attended numerous world congresses where this illogical logic reigns. When it comes to lions, you'll hear an extension of the same rationale: "Kill one lion to save five." This is not sound thinking. Nor can it be, as long as the IUCN remains largely funded by Safari Club International, the world's biggest trophy hunting outfitter. Einstein reminds us that we cannot solve a problem without changing the mind-set that created the problem. As long as profit drives our motives, we are on a losing battle for our earth. We forget that there has always been another way. With the re-emergence of the indigenous nations and their leadership demanding sanctity for our planet, we cannot be oblivious any longer. We urgently need to reassemble our council of wisdom keepers and eco-system experts, and ensure that the power to affect transformation is handed over into their authority to protect our earth and its sacred places. Advertisement Currently, along with CITES, the IUCN is considered the world's main authority on the conservation status of species, with their Red List of Threatened Species providing an equivalent index of endangered species to CITES appendices - in similar reductionist scientific classifications. It's time we start questioning their legitimacy. The IUCN's objectives seem honorable, in principle: "To convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public and policy makers, as well as help the international community to try to reduce species extinction." But when it comes to actual implementation, the IUCN is programmed into materialistic, exploitative rationale, classifying species according to reductionist science as part of a consciousness of dominion, ego and control. And profit-driven once again. They condemn illegal poaching while upholding legalized trophy hunting of endangered animals, as if these self-serving malpractices weren't two sides of the same commercialized coin. The original ways of earth governance upheld by indigenous tribes who have offered us a model of true custodianship of our earth, are entirely dismissed as naive and primitive. In the old indigenous model, any extraction from the earth, whether plant or animal, was done with the greatest reverence, economy of scale, and ecological preservation of life. While the IUCN's constitution pays lip-service to First Nations tribes and their age-old conservation principles, when it comes to actual policy these indigenous wisdom keepers are conveniently side-lined. In the IUCN world congresses I have attended, First Nations leaders are literally marginalized and may be found at the fringes of the convention centers, holding sacred ceremonies in honor of the earth, over which the policy makers walk "roughshod." Advertisement Driven by cold-hearted commercial objectives, these so-called authorities are ill-equipped to understand the critical importance of these ceremonies: deep reverential honorings which are capable of shifting the consumerist paradigm into one of true relationship with Creation. So, who are the bulldozers in this story? The old exploitative model of "dominion over nature" must go. Along with the so-called authorities who benefit from it at the expense of our planet. In traditional Africa, and among the tribal authorities with whom I work closely, the Lion is revered in his rightful place as the king of animals. For this reason, the majority of African countries have outlawed commercial trophy hunting as a brutal relic of colonial exploitation. States that have held to a ban on lion trophy hunting for many years, such as Botswana and Kenya, have shown that conservation strategies based on non-commercial trophy hunting do work. Yet the IUCN's approach to lion conservation over the past two decades has been to intimidate African countries to follow their paradigm of international pro-trade, pro-trophy hunting. The old ways of indigenous peoples who revered Nature as a sacred heritage, for which we are accountable to the Creator, have been destroyed by this need and greed model. In both CITES and the IUCN, the protected status of Panthera leo and other precious species has been manipulated to accommodate trophy hunting interests in Western markets and a rampant trade in lion bones and parts to Eastern Markets. Advertisement If you are on the side of Nature, and her sanctity as a living flourishing heritage, you won't find help in these bureaucratic corridors. In 2009, at Wild9 Congress in Mexico, indigenous leaders from different tribes helped me drive a resolution to have the White Lions protected by all appropriate bodies by international law. These rare animals are regarded as a sacred living heritage by the indigenous peoples with whom I work. Along with the occurrence of the White Bison and other "spirit animals," they are honored as sacred across all tribes. 54 countries were represented in that Resolution. Following this Resolution, my goal was to identify those "appropriate bodies" to protect this genetic rarity intrinsic not only to the biodiversity of its region, but as indigenous wisdom keepers know, to the health and restoration of the planetary system as a whole. CITES? IUCN? Could I rely on help and protection here? No efforts have been spared, including ground-breaking genetic research, parliamentary presentation, persistent engagement at global forums as well as in policy-making, yet the White Lions have been deliberately left off any protected species list. The status quo is that there is still no law to protect these critically endangered rarities from being erased from the Earth. On the contrary, appallingly, White Lions are now #1 on the trophy hunter's hit-list. Given that money drives votes in CITES, in whose pockets are these authorities? No pockets deeper than Safari Club International, which operates out of the comfort and glitz of Las Vegas, wheeling and dealing in Africa's wild animal trophies. As for our best efforts to protect lions by motivating "motions" that they be raised to CITES I, Safari Club International goes so far as stating brazenly on their Home Page: Advertisement "To help all hunters understand the significance of this issue, SCI provides the following ... questions and answers. Q: What is CITES Appendix I? A: Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in Appendix I species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. Generally speaking, commercial trade is prohibited, but trade for personal use may be allowed. Trade in hunting trophies may be allowed because it is for personal use." Lions for "personal use?" Clearly, whatever CITES decides, Safari Club International knows it's business as usual. In the face of this kind of madness, whether CITES shifts the Appendices up or down is simply moving deckchairs around the Titanic. As a matter of critical urgency, we have to stop these illegitimate bodies from nose-diving the rest of us into its inevitable collision course with disaster. The South Dakota oil pipeline crisis is an urgent reminder that the fate of the earth should be returned to the hands of it's true stewards, those humble caretakers who understand the intelligence of eco-systems and the intricate, interdependent web of life. Each of us can potentially be such a steward. But not until we have removed the unsound paradigm that is killing our earth. Which includes stopping the US government from executing 50,000 wild horses to make way for the super-sized beef burger industry - one of the most relentless components of that killing machine. As today's history is showing, we can achieve transformation of our human systems to bring them into communion with eco-systems - through a powerful combination of prayer and protest. And then, together, let us start to build a true authority governed by eco-systems experts of different disciplines and a Council of Indigenous Elders giving voice to all species, who will ensure our earth is treated with the love and respect she has always deserved. Advertisement UPDATE Under worldwide pressure, the IUCN has emerged from its convention with a motion to prohibit Canned Hunting and a motion to protect Sacred Sites. Clearly, Standing Rock represents a turning point for Sacred Sites just as Cecil did for lions at this time last year. But it is only the beginning of rewriting the story. To be in alignment with true ecological principles, the IUCN would have to review their misguided classification of the White Lions, the White Buffalo, and the other sacred "spirit animals" known to indigenous wisdom keepers as indicator species of climate change. The IUCN would also have to withdraw their uninformed classification of these genetic rarities as having "no conservation value." Indigenous wisdom keepers, such as Sioux leader, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the White Buffalo prophecies, have long understood that these sacred animals are intrinsically connected to sacred sites, to restoration of eco-systems, and the great web of interconnected life on this planet. Going forward, the IUCN will need to pay attention not only to people's protests at the destruction of our planet, but also to the prayers of those elders who recognize the sanctity of life and natural creation. A woman greets Members of the Technical Support Committee (TSC) of the Peace, Security and Cooperation for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Region during their field visit to Mugunga Internally Displaced Persons camp near Goma, DRC. (UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti) In September 2015, world leaders gathered at the UN in New York and subscribed to the "2030 Sustainable Development Agenda". They committed together to "Transforming our World" an ambitious package of 17 Sustainable Development Goals that range from ending poverty in our lifetime to curbing dangerous climate change to building peaceful and inclusive societies. The SDGs came from their predecessors, the Millennium Development Goals, but offer something better. While the MDGs were an agreement of the rich nations to support (Goal 8) social and economic progress in poor regions (Goals 1 to 7), the SDGs are universal, applying to all countries of the world,. The SDGs, an indivisible, coherent and interconnected development package were designed as a far more ambitious agenda, as they address not only the social but also the economic, environmental, peace and governance dimensions of sustainable development. They are, admittedly, more difficult to achieve. The process of negotiating the 2030 agenda was unprecedented, with diplomats analysing paragraphs of the outcome document while millions of citizens voted on and offline for the Goals they saw as more important for the progress of their societies. The SDGs finally recognised three important features. The first one is the global commitment to leave no-one behind which means working first for the last, for those who have less access to any benefits of welfare, for the communities who are hardest to reach. Advertisement The second feature of Agenda 2030 is the focus on reducing the inequalities within and between nations. The third is the explicit recognition that "there can be no peace without sustainable development and no sustainable development without peace". That notion was enshrined into Goal 16 on building peaceful, just and inclusive societies. It was then developed through the concept of "sustaining peace" approved by the United Nations in April this year. We are saying that Peace not only needs to be conquered, and built, but also consolidated. This can be done by "preventing the outbreak, escalation, continuation and recurrence of conflict, addressing root causes, assisting parties to conflict to end hostilities, ensuring national reconciliation and moving towards recovery, reconstruction and development". An agenda as ambitious as peace itself. The focus is no longer on restoring peace after a conflict but on making the necessary investments - in policies, laws, capacity, institutions, and importantly in values and principles - to ensure that peace is an essential foundation of society. Sustaining peace requires meeting Goal 16: access to justice for all, effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, reducing violence, providing legal identity, tackling corruption and organized crime, ensuring access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms. Goal 16 is an engine for progress and an enabling tool for the other 16 Goals. Adherence to its human rights-inspired values and principles would result in a drastic reduction of conflicts, forced displacement, organized crime, violent extremism and unsafe migrations. Goal 16 furthers other parts of the agenda, such as for example the goals on gender equality, the reduction of other growing inequalities and the promotion of safe cities. Advertisement Peace is no longer a public good needed only in conflict affected countries; in today's world, peace dividends are highly valued in all societies, including in some of the most advanced. We may have become more prosperous, but if we do not pay attention to the root causes of poverty, inequality, exclusion and discrimination, we will continue to see a rise in violence, populism, xenophobia and instability. Photo: Getty Images Back when I was enlisted as a persona non grata, Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his inner circle, said things about me for days that were outright false. The Turkish media parroted these groundless claims. Some claimed that I worked for Israel, others said I was Caucasus station chief of the KGB (they think it exists today). I was battling these lies day and night, giving interviews to scores of news outlets. I even started a fact-checking website that only dealt with these types of lies. I was appalled by how officials could be so forthcoming and brazen in saying such things that a simple Google search would discredit. I was smeared so bad. That character assassination is a modus operandi of Turkey's ruling AKP, aided and abetted by the loyalist media. We're now living in an era where leaders can tell such endless lies without facing any public retribution. The Economist calls this an era of "post-truth politics." From Trump to Erdogan and to Brexit leaders, these politicians rely on "assertions that 'feel true' but have no basis in fact." Feelings, not facts, "are what matter" in this sort of politics. Advertisement Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump has become the voice of those who were let down and left behind, including by traditional GOP leaders. Isn't true about Erdogan, too? Turks both in Turkey and abroad are proud of a leader who yells at Israel (never mind the silent reconciliation) and lifted millions out of poverty, made long oppressed Muslims feel as "first-class citizens." In the words of late author Maya Angelou, "People will forget what you said or did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Because Erdogan and Trump make their electorate feel "great and empowered", who cares if they tell the truth or lie, if they respect laws or bend them? That "post-truth politics", reinforced with the social media and a wide variety of click-baiting media outlets, has also become a new battleground. These leaders design their lies in a fashion that attacking them only feeds their narrative further. It sheds more spotlight on groundless allegations. This line from that cover story in The Economist is scary for many of us in Turkey: "The deeper worry is for countries like Russia and Turkey, where autocrats use the techniques of post-truth to silence opponents." Times have changed. So lies shall set you free. Advertisement The reason why the fact-checking mechanism in these societies does not work is because polarization is so high that no one believes what the other camp is saying. If CNN or the NY Times claims that Trump is lying, they're immediately branded as dishonest liberal media. When a public figure claims that President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S. and that he is not a patriotic American, it feeds into people's worst impulses. It helps consolidate many around a single political line. Trump had to finally abandon his birther claims on Friday, because he was pandering for the votes of African Americans as well as many white people who think the GOP standard-bearer is a racist. Even when acknowledged that Obama was born in the U.S. during Friday's 28-second speech, he made two claims that were also false: Hillary Clinton started the birther controversy and that he put an end to it after President Obama published the long-form of his birth certificate in 2011. How are you going to hold leaders accountable for their false statements when millions of their supporters buy them? The more the west and the world reaches out to Iran in an attempt to reintroduce it to the international community, the more Iran finds itself under pressure at home to sustain its revolution, a revolution that is built around creating and fighting off great Satanic enemies, be they real or imagined, in order to sustain its theocratic legitimacy. The effects of this pressure has also been reflected by Iran's increasing belligerent, interventionist, and antagonistic behavior since the signing of the Nuclear deal, where it has on numerous occasion harassed US patrols (to the extent that US warships had to fire warning shots towards revolutionary guard warships), to holding US sailors hostage and embarrassing the US government, to the continuous inflammatory and contradictory remarks made by Khamenei and his inner circle against the west and the Unites States, all of which is meant to sustain the hatred and fanaticism that fuel the legitimacy of the Iranian theocracy and the revolution that is being exported regionally at an unprecedented level, leaving exceptional carnage and destruction in its wake. The United States of America, better known in Iran as the "Great Satan", the quintessential bogyman, and according to the Iranian theocracy the global patron of global terrorism, has served Iran very well in the past. It provided the all-encompassing enemy that could be blamed for all Iran's ills and failures to the Iranian people, while providing the religiously cloaked narrative that fueled regional recruitment of militias based on religious and sectarian ideals as part of a divine holy mission to defeat this Great Satan; be it in Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Shia militias in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, in addition to breeding sectarian hate in the Kingdom of Bahrain and elsewhere. Advertisement However in order to save face in the international community as part of the current approachment, America it seems can no longer serve the role of the "Great Satan", as that will be inconsistent and contradictory to the international re-approachment that is taking place. But Iran cannot dispense with the role of the Great Satan altogether, as it is a lynchpin of the theocracy's governing strategy, so the search has been on for a new player to fill this role, and based on Iran's Foreign Minister latest Op-ed in the New York times, it seems that they have settled on a replacement for America to play the role of the great Satan; Saudi Arabia and what he has dubbed as Wahhabism as the new international patron of global terrorism. Truth be told, it is an intelligent attempt by Iran to seize the opportunity to ride a wave of international, albeit targeted, criticism that is being hurdled at Saudi Arabia as some groups attempt to understand and rationalize the reasons for the uptick in global terrorism, including Islamic inspired terrorism. Such a simple approach to assign blame to a single group for a global phenomenon is very convenient for Iran and fits a well-established pattern, yet it does not add up. The fact is that the so called Wahhabism that Mr. Zarif is alluding to has been around for over 300 years, and Islamic inspired terrorism is only a recent phenomenon. Where was the so called Wahhabi influence of inspiring global jihad during the duration of the Arab-Israeli conflict, which is amongst the dearest causes to every Muslim and Arab citizen? It does not exist because the connection and oversimplification is a fallacy. Global terrorism is inspired by many factors least of which is any religious doctrine. Politics is usually the primary culprit. Advertisement There is no doubt that there are concerns when it comes to the role of Saudi Arabia, direct or indirect, in promoting a strict interpretation of Islam, and its implications on how some people are interpreting Islam today. Human rights and women's rights are causes for concern. Global financing of Islamic charities and organizations leaves room for better monitoring and accountability. However despite any role that Saudi Arabian funding, or wars launched by the United States and the west's in the region, and the collapse of Middle Eastern governments have contributed to regional instability and the ensuing global uptick in Islamic inspired terrorism, none of them will whitewash the fundamental role that Iran has and continues to play in fermenting hatred and spreading destruction and chaos in the region. Iran is not, cannot and should not be allowed to play the victim once again as it assigns blame to another "Great Satan". Iran is a critical culprit and instigator of the upheaval taking place in the Middle East and indeed an instigator of sectarianism that has torn the Arab and Muslim world apart and fueled religious extremism. The Sunni-Shia divide that the world knows today was birthed by the 1979 Iranian Revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini, who clearly and for the record stated that Iran had the responsibility to export the Shia revolution, which has since become a key tenant of their constitution and foreign policy. Since the establishment of the Shia theocracy in Iran, they have relentlessly created and supported Shia militant groups and proxies that have sowed discord in Muslim communities along sectarian lines with devastating impact. Their evolving success in this regard ranges from the power of Hezbollah (amongst its oldest creations) in Lebanon and its sectarian stranglehold on the country that has paralyzed its progress, to the setting up of Iraqi militia's that have successfully neutralized and undermined national state institutions and which been blamed for so many coalition deaths in Iraq over the past decade and hampered national unity and progress. They created and supported Shia militias in Syria to prop up and support the Alawite regime in Damascus, which allowed and directly fueled the establishment of a counter extreme Sunni militias such as ISIS and AL Nusra to stand up to Shia expansionism, thereby transforming a Syrian national revolution into a sectarian conflict that has torn the country apart. Iran has actively supported Houthi rebels in Yemen that undermined the legitimate national government and further created sectarian divisions to a point where Yemen is becoming a failed state threatening the entire world. It should not be surprising that we are seeing a resurgence of Al Qaeda in Yemen, as the Shia expansionism provides the required fuel to prop up the Sunni -extremism narrative for recruitment. Iran has also been extremely active in supporting Shia protests and militants in Bahrain to further institutionalize the sectarian divide in the country and create the conditions for further strife...and the list goes on. In fact Iran has such a strong interest in promoting sectarian strife that they have been working with extreme Sunni groups such as Al Qaeda and the Taliban as per the leaked documents by WikiLeaks in July 2010. Therefore when Mr. Zarif talks about the causes of global Islamic terrorism and extremism and tries to assign blame to everybody but Iran, be it America and now Saudi Arabia or the so called Wahhabism as the new Great Satan, the world cannot ignore the facts and the clear track record Iran enjoys in paving the way for this destructive global phenomenon and their crucial role and responsibility in solving or addressing it. Creating a new "Great Satan" will not absolve Iran or address the primary reason why Islamic sectarian fundamentalism is on the rise. The Islamic faith is innocent from inspiring global terrorism - who isn't innocent are the political theocratic regimes that thrive on fanning sectarian religious conflict to sustain their legitimacy. Solving this global challenge requires forward thinking and requires real action - not simply assigning blame on others and playing victim. Advertisement Indeed Saudi Arabia is not without its challenges and much work needs to be done to address some of its glaring criticisms. However that is exactly what Saudi Arabia is doing, it has taken ownership of its challenges and set out a broad and dare I say courageous reform program that aims to address social, economic and political issues that will further allow Saudi Arabia to play a constructive and positive role in both region and the world and in serving the Islamic faith. If anything, Iran must follow Saudi Arabia's example and launch their own comprehensive reform program, and to do so in as transparent a manner that Saudi Arabia has. This will require real leadership and real courage from Iran, but most importantly it will require Iran to rid itself and the world of its self-perpetuating Shia revolution and its mandate of exporting it throughout the world. Rather than focusing on creating a new "Great Satan" to justify their shortcoming and create more smoke and mirrors for the Iranian people and the international community to cover up their destructive sectarian agenda, Iran should focus on launching a "Great Reform Program" along the lines of Saudi Arabia's vision 2030 that will allow its citizens to thrive and actively participate in the world based on universal values and norms including respecting the sovereignty of other faiths, people and nations. _______________________ Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is an American political scientist, business advisor, best-selling author, and the president of the International American Council on the Middle East. Harvard-educated, Rafizadeh serves on the advisory board of Harvard International Review. He is a board member of several significant and influential international and governmental institutions, and he is native speaker of couple of languages including Arabic and Persian. He also speaks English and Dari, and can converse in French, Hebrew. More at Harvard. Advertisement You can sign up for Dr. Rafizadeh's newsletter for the latest news and analyses on HERE. You can also order his books on HERE. You can learn more about Dr. Rafizadeh on HERE. During Climate Week NYC and the UN General Assembly in New York this week, the international community marks the ratification of the Paris Agreement by 60 countries. It now seems likely that the Paris Agreement will enter into force before the next major gathering of the UN on this issue, COP22 in Marrakesh. Nation states remain committed to delivering on their ambition to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius - and cities have a key role to play, as partners to nations and regions, as innovators, and as leaders. For nearly two decades, the United Nations' international climate change negotiations were largely diplomatic affairs, punctuated by prominent heads of state offering ambitious rhetoric that remained largely that. And yet even as these conversations stagnated, a revolution was underway at the local level. Mayors in cities around the world realized that they increasingly commanded the world's capital - both economic and human - and their decisions held global significance - especially when it came to climate change. Through collaboration, swapping ideas and the sharing of technical expertise, city leaders began making sustainable decisions that also benefited the local economy and protected the long-term health of their citizens. Advertisement It is because of this proven track record of success that cities had a critical role to play at the COP21 climate negotiations in Paris last year, which many in the international climate community heralded as the last chance for an international climate agreement under the UN process. In the lead-up to COP21, cities began to receive global recognition for not only committing to climate action, but also providing tangible examples of successful solutions. As countries began to announce their INDC commitments in anticipation of COP21, cities developed the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Emissions, a parallel measurement and reporting framework based on the same methodology used by the IPCC. Under the Compact of Mayors - which will merge with the Covenant of Mayors in January to become the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy - cities began making their own data-driven commitments, measuring their results and tracking progress. By the time of the negotiations last year, hundreds of mayors had formally joined the effort. U.N. Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael R. Bloomberg and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo convened more than 1,000 mayors, local representatives and community leaders at the Climate Summit for Local Leaders, making a powerful statement about city support for an international climate agreement. Indeed, it was subnational actors that helped provide much-needed cover for national governments to forge the ambitious international Paris Climate Agreement, which seeks to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Cities continue to be a bright spot in the global climate conversation, implementing solutions on the ground and enabling greater and more ambitious action by their national governments. Advertisement After the international mobilization for climate action that characterised much of 2015, nations turned to the challenging task of building the policies, programmes and investments needed to achieve their intended commitments. And mayors turned quietly back to what they had been doing all along: making sound economic and environmental decisions that best served their constituents. C40 celebrates some of the most innovative of these projects each year at the annual C40 Cities Awards, which will be held this December in Mexico City. Of course, mayors' hard work is far from complete. C40 research shows that fully one third of the world's remaining safe carbon budget could be determined by urban policy decisions made before 2020. With help from networks like C40, cities are continuing to accelerate climate action and pursue more ambitious climate goals. Though cities certainly face barriers - particularly with respect to financing urban sustainability projects - C40 and our partners are devising pathways to overcome them, through mechanisms like the Financing Sustainable Cities Initiative and the C40 Finance Facility, which could unlock up to $1 billion worth of sustainable infrastructure in cities across low and middle-income countries by 2020. And increasingly, mayors are looking beyond environmental and economic health to become champions of social inclusivity. C40 Chair and Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes, for instance, used the Olympic Games as an opportunity to revitalize blighted neighbourhoods, expand services to underserved communities and connect the city's periphery with its centre through smart, transit-oriented development. C40 Chair-Elect and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Mexico City Mayor Miguel Mancera, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and other mayors around the world are declaring car-free days in their cities' iconic avenues, creating accessible temporary public parks open to all citizens. Women mayors in particular are becoming champions of their gender, expanding education opportunities and making cities safer places for women and girls. For nations, the next step forward is for enough countries to formally ratify the Paris Agreement to ensure it comes into effect as soon as possible, ideally within the year. For mayors, the next major step is the biannual C40 Mayors Summit 2016, the world's foremost gathering of political, business and intellectual leaders focused on forging a resilient, low carbon urban future. Advertisement This year, the C40 Mayors Summit will be held in Mexico City exactly one year after COP21, and will offer mayors of the world's largest and most influential cities the opportunity to collaborate directly with elected officials at all levels of government, prominent NGO leaders, executives from Fortune 500 companies and - perhaps most important - each other. On Sept. 15, a fact check I researched and wrote for PolitiFact Illinois gave a "Mostly True" rating to Tammy Duckworth's statement that Mark Kirk had embellished his military record "at least 10 times." One of the 10 incidents on which the statement was based, I found, had been updated since its initial publication and should not have been included on the list. Nine out of 10 ain't bad, but it's also not "at least 10." A few weeks earlier, I had checked a statement by Gov. Bruce Rauner in which he said Democrats "are cutting our school funding. Four times in the last 10 years before we came into office." This statement earned a "Mostly False" rating because state school funding -- the part controlled by Democrats in the years in question -- had gone up slightly. Overall funding had declined not because Democrats cut it, but because federal stimulus money went away. Advertisement Fast-forward to Monday morning, Sept. 19. A new TV ad by Mark Kirk's campaign featured the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Duckworth accusing her of covering up abuse of veterans while serving as director of veterans affairs to protect then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. How did the Duckworth campaign respond? It issued a statement that included the line, "Senator Kirk, on the other hand, has lied at least ten times about his own military record." As that news was breaking, I was attending a press conference in which Gov. Bruce Rauner answered a question about changing the system by which the state funds schools. Rauner said this was a major concern because "four times in the prior 10 years to me becoming governor the Legislature cut school funding. It's... atrocious what we've done to our public schools." Advertisement We didn't partner with PolitiFact because we expected politicians to heed our rulings as gospel and change their messages -- though we'd like them to consider it. The fact-checking we do is intended to give citizens/voters a clearer look at what's behind the statements their leaders make. As demonstrated above, once a message becomes engrained in an official's platform, it's probably not going to change, no matter how much we point out the inaccuracies behind it. Political campaigns paint with the broadest of brushes and they rarely yield the canvas to those who point out what they consider to be minute, subjective technicalities. And in political messaging, unfortunately, the ends generally are considered to justify the means. As a voter, though, you deserve to know what kind of evidence goes into building these claims. I'd write more but an urgent email from the Tammy Duckworth campaign -- subject line: "BREAKING: Kirk's new lie about his military record" just dropped into my inbox: Mark Kirk has told at least 10 different lies about his military service during his political career.... In 1971, Ray Tomlinson (a computer engineer) sent an arbitrary string of letters between two so-called minicomputers that were sitting in the same room. Back then, people relied heavily on landline telephones and the U.S. Postal Service for getting information from one place to another. Social networking was what you did at a party, and the word "hack" was largely reserved for either a taxi cab or an uninspired writer. Fast forward almost half a century, and our communication and media pathways are radically transformed. By late 2008, the volume of text messages in the U.S. had surpassed that of phone calls. Landlines could soon become museum pieces, and many organizations are eliminating voicemail in favor of digital messaging. Of course we still talk with one another, but given the reach of our social circles - different schedules, different time zones - physical, durable writing is increasingly edging out face-to-face, ephemeral conversation. This is why it's become so easy to confuse our written messages with speech. Studies show that many teenagers and young adults don't even think of their online messages as being "writing." Both speech and digital communication tend to be informal. Both are commonly composed on the fly, without editing. And both can be blunt. (No one's listening, right?) One of Colin Powell's hacked - and leaked - emails is a nice example of conversation-like digital messaging. When a former member of Obama's administration suggested this past spring, via email, that Powell consider becoming a presidential candidate in the Republican primary, Powell forwarded the message to an aide, accompanied by the single word "Sigh." Not exactly statesman's rhetoric, but perfectly capturing the facial expression and body posture we might expect, had the exchange occurred in person. Our challenge today is that although we live in a post-Snowden world, written digital messaging has become the coin of the realm for communicating, including when we want to share thoughts and feelings not intended for others. It's hard to imagine all private conversations moving to those benches in the parks frequented by Cold War spies. Equally unlikely is our shifting, en mass, from the likes of Gmail to Snapchat, where messages vanish shortly after being sent. An alternative solution might involve self-monitoring of what we put into our messages. As an internal Amazon memorandum from 1998 put it, "there are some communications that should not be expressed in writing." Maybe this tack makes sense in an organizational - or political - context, where messages are findable, open for legal review, or subject to local leaks. But business prudence doesn't address the larger vulnerability of external hacks, where the world might have a front row seat to your personal foibles or judgments about those of others. As a researcher, I have followed our blossoming love affair with electronically-mediated communication, as we have put our faith and secrets in the hands of the unknown puppeteers running - or hacking - our online communication. I have watched how the spontaneity made possible by near-instant exchange of messages with people anywhere in the world is being increasingly threatened by those with accidental, legal, or illicit access. So it's over. The love-affair-turned-celebrity-marriage-for-the-ages between Angelina and Brad has run its course. And the only thing I want to know is: who blew it? I've never been an Angelina fan, so I'd like to blame her. But then there's a story out there painting Brad as a drinking, pot-smoking philanderer who wasn't so nice to his kids. At the end of the day, we all know we won't ever really know what happened. Which begs the question: why am I hung up on pinning blame? Every major world religion shames blaming. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all encourage self-responsibility and accountability, and say that the blame-game keeps us from introspection and self-improvement. Buddhism contends that blaming keeps one from learning life lessons that lead to enlightenment. Even from a secular point of view, blame isn't a good thing: if you blame, you can't grow. And yet, we all do it. I recently conducted a research study where I asked divorced women who was to blame for the failure of their marriage: 64% of women put the blame either entirely or mostly on their ex; 29% were willing the share the blame equally. That leaves a very small proportion who are willing to hold themselves responsible. Advertisement What ever happened to "it takes two to tango?" Men are more likely to accept blame: only 44% point the finger mostly at their ex; about the same proportion (42%) spread the blame 50/50. That still leaves about 4 in 10 divorced American men who are blocking themselves from self-improvement and growth. Blaming is a mechanism of self-defense and control. We point the finger at someone whose behavior we want to change and to whom we want to express feelings of disappointment or disapproval. We also blame to protect ourselves from attack or to avoid doing the hard work of holding ourselves accountable. In politics, blaming is often part of a strategy: successfully hold some other person or group accountable and you gain leverage. In fact, politicians seem more interested in avoiding blame for bad things happening than taking credit for good things happening. Surely there must be an up-side to blame. In an unstable marriage, where emotions are raw and intense, and there's more than enough hurt to go around, blaming can feel like a life preserver, self-improvement a minor priority. This especially seems true when your spouse is doing things that aren't quite right - like cheating or yelling at the kids. There's plenty of time to learn and grow later, once enough time has passed that you can think objectively. But there could be a problem with this as well, and that problem is what social psychologists call outcome bias. Apparently, people have a hard time objectively judging others' past decisions because they are biased by how things turn out. Some decisions precede outcomes that are driven largely by chance, but that doesn't seem to matter to us: if things turn out badly, we tend to blame the decision-maker even if the outcome isn't their fault. Advertisement Imagine your spouse quitting a lucrative job to follow his dream of owning his own business, only to end up unemployed because the economy tanks. Outcome bias dictates that you won't necessarily blame economic forces for the huge blow to your household income. Instead, you're likely to blame your spouse, even though he couldn't predict the economic collapse, and even though at the time of his decision all signs strongly pointed to "yes." In other words, hindsight can make unjustified blame more likely. Which means you could be fighting with your loved one over something that neither of you are responsible for. It's hard to imagine any marriage surviving round after round of this. With potential bias at play, blame can be a dangerous game. It might serve us better to place ourselves back in time, in those moments when the "bad" decisions in question were made, and ask if those decisions were fair given that - and not the present - context. If a couple thinks less in terms of outcome and more in terms of action, they might better determine who needs to own up to what. What conflict of interest, you ask?? It seems that Deutsch Bank has been quite generous to Trump and his businesses. IN fact "Deutsche Bankand has provided financing for his various real estate projects. Trump has borrowed as much as $364 million from Deutsche Bank since 2012, and all four of the outstanding loans will come due before 2024the end of a potential second Trump presidential term."So wait. WHY is Deutsche Bank one of the only big banks to work with Trump? Well it seems that "most other major banks stopped lending to his companies long ago, after a number of large banks were burned when earlier Trump projects failed." But But But....he's such a successful business man who ALONE will fix our country. Well, isn't that a kick in the kazoo? AND where are those tax returns, Donny??"The US government has charged that the German banking giant misled investors into buying bad mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008, and it is demanding that Deutsche Bank pay $14 billion to settle legal claims." AND if Trump becomes president it presents a huge conflict.READ more here: Over the course of this election cycle, the concept of privilege has been oft-invoked in support of Hillary Clinton's candidacy; accusations of support for other candidates coming from a place of privilege were first levelled at supporters of Bernie Sanders, and even Bernie himself, and now have been targeted at those contemplating a vote for Green Party candidate Jill Stein or other Left third party candidates. Notwithstanding the substance of the argument, its use as a tool to convince supporters of Left candidates to support Clinton exemplifies a serious misunderstanding of the rationale for voting for Sanders or Stein: The distinction between Left voters and Clinton voters is not necessarily a matter of policy, but rather one of ideology, the lens through which they view the world; broadly speaking, Left voters embrace a class politics, while Clinton voters embrace an identity politics. As a result, the language of identity politics will not likely persuade many supporters of either Sanders or Stein to now back Clinton. It is, certainly, true that Sanders and Stein are to the left of Clinton--depending on who you ask, substantially so--but this is not the basis upon which most voters have decided their preferences. As FiveThirtyEight noted, Sanders supporters were not significantly more liberal than Clinton supporters were. There has been little to no polling done on Stein supporters, but it is possible that this remains true, though less so, for them as well. Advertisement But this does reveal something notable about Clinton's, and her surrogates', perspective: That "economic inequality" is a "single issue," to be subordinated or at the least placed on equal footing with every other issue, like marijuana legalization. For Sanders' supporters, on the other hand, economic inequality is more than a "single issue," and not only because properly addressing it requires the implementation of a wide range of policies. Rather, for many of them, economic inequality is the issue facing them, which explains in large part why a supermajority of voters under the age of 30--who are burdened with debt and face economic conditions far worse than their parents did--backed Sanders over Clinton. It was also the 2008 financial crisis which was to blame for the ruination of their fortunes. This has imbued young voters--and many of the other segments of the Sanders coalition--with the sort of class-consciousness the Sanders campaign represented. Moreover, if you happen to believe, as I and many others do, that the source of a vast array of social problems, from crime to health to, yes, even a substantial part, though certainly not all, of racial injustice, is economic inequality, treating economic inequality, even were it a "single issue," as a paramount concern, even the central theme of a campaign, is an entirely sensible move. Moreover, as Michael Sandel has pointed out, Advertisement [A]s money comes to buy more and more--political influence, good medical care, a home in a good neighborhood rather than a crime-ridden one, access to elite schools rather than failing ones--the distribution of income and wealth looms larger and larger. Where all things are bought and sold, having money makes all the difference in the world. What Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets 8 (2012). Certainly this understanding of the significance of economic inequality was an approach that resonated with 12 million Democrats. It is hardly surprising, then, that a non-insubstantial number of Sanders voters have turned to Stein following the end of the primary: The focus of Stein's campaign so far has been on forgiving student debt, raising the minimum wage, and instituting single payer healthcare. But the class politics of the Sanders campaign, and the identity politics of the Clinton campaign, were not limited to the prioritization of certain policies over others: They manifested as ways of identifying the driving forces behind what they believe to be the problems facing our nation. For example, Sanders certainly recognized the importance of racial justice, but the lens through which he saw race issues was one of class. To Sanders--and for many of his supporters--a substantial portion of racial injustice flows from the unequal distribution of wealth in this nation. As his campaign website explains: Communities of color also face the violence of economic deprivation. Let's be frank: neighborhoods like those in west Baltimore, where Freddie Gray resided, suffer the most. However, the problem of economic immobility isn't just a problem for young men like Freddie Gray. Despite hard-work and the will to get ahead, millions of Americans spend their entire lives struggling to survive on the economic treadmill. . .Let us not forget: It was the greed, recklessness and illegal behavior on Wall Street that nearly drove the economy off of a cliff seven years ago. While millions of Americans lost their jobs, homes, life savings and ability to send their kids to college, African-Americans who were steered into expensive subprime mortgages were the hardest hit. In light of this rationale, and in light of the imminent situation of many, suggesting to Sanders supporters that they were blinded by their privilege in supporting Bernie even in the primary was the height of absurdity. This privilege argument entirely fails to meet Sanders supporters where they are. Advertisement The situation in the general election is much the same as it was during the primary, although admittedly not identical. Without Sanders in the picture, disaffected Left voters do not really have anywhere to turn except to the marginal Left third party candidates: Clinton represents an identity politics which deliberately attempts to obscure any serious economic analysis and a continuation of the economic status quo. Clinton's campaign has, throughout, eschewed any serious meditation on the responsibility of Wall Street and the ultrawealthy for the financial crisis and the impoverishment of whole swaths of the United States. Instead, she insists, we are "Better Together":She is unapologetic about her connections to banks and what Sanders called the billionaire class. As Clinton continues to moderate her tone to attract Republican support, the cleavage apparent in the primary has become all of the more obvious. By contrast, Stein and other Left candidates have continued to campaign on student loan forgiveness, raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and a renewed embrace of the New Deal. This is not to suggest that these candidates are viable or even ideologically desirable in every case. They do, however, have an understanding of the significance that class politics now plays in this election--an understanding that the Clinton campaign either lacks or has deliberately ignored. Over the years, we've had so many wonderful and moving talks at the TEDWomen conference, but perhaps one of the most striking was Malawi activist Memory Banda. The amazing 18-year-old presented at last year's event - and inspired us all with her story. Memory began her talk by reciting a poem written by another young woman she knows, 13-year-old Eileen Piri, entitled "I'll Marry When I Want." Memory told the audience that the poem might seem odd written by a 13-year-old girl, but in her home country of Malawi, she called it "a warrior's cry." Advertisement She told the audience how there was a traditional rite of passage in her country in which young girls who have just reached puberty were sent to "initiation camps" to learn how to please men sexually. As part of their initiation, a man visits the camp and the young girls are forced to have sex with him. Many girls end up pregnant or with sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. Memory chose a different path. She refused to go to the camp. She wanted to continue her education and had dreams of being a lawyer. She became an activist and, with the help of the Girls Empowerment Network (Genet), a group dedicated to ending the practice of forced child marriage in Malawi, she began talking to other young women about their experiences. At the time, Malawi had the highest rates of child marriage in the world. A 2014 Human Rights Watch report outlined the shocking statistics: one out of two girls in the country on average will be married by her 18th birthday. "In 2010, half of women aged 20 to 24 years were married or in unions before they were 18. Some are as young as 9 or 10 when they are married." Memory continued with her own schooling and began teaching other young women how to read and write. With the support of Genet and Let Girls Lead, she worked on a storytelling project in which girls were encouraged to share their stories - the dreams they had for themselves, as well as the obstacles they faced - in art, poetry and storytelling. Advertisement Memory says that participating in Genet's River of Life project was transformational for her: "Until then, I always thought I was the only one who suffered. But sharing my story gave me strength to know that I wasn't alone." As she explained in her TED Talk, the girls published their stories and they became part of a campaign to outlaw child marriage in Malawi. A female chief from Memory's community joined the fight, and the girls worked with her and other village chiefs to develop bylaws banning the initiation camps and child marriage. Eventually, their advocacy went all the way to President Mutharika, who agreed with the girls that the sanctioning of child marriage was a "national disgrace." Last year, Malawi officially outlawed the marriage of girls younger than 18 years old. But, as Memory explained in her TED Talk, changing the law is one thing, enforcing it is quite another. Today, she continues to work on the issue, not only for young women in rural areas who might not be aware of the new protections that exist for them, but for young women in other countries where laws still need to be enacted. Since Memory appeared at TEDWomen in 2015, response to her TED Talk in Malawi and around the world has been phenomenal - it has been viewed over 1.1 million times! This visibility has helped raise Memory's profile as a global advocate and Rise Up girl leader. Memory is a globally renowned champion for girls' rights and an advisor to global leaders on the importance of investing in girls. She is currently beginning her sophomore year of college in Malawi, achieving her dream of completing her education. Fortunately, a few days ago, the cruise ship, Crystal Serenity, docked safely in New York having passed through the Northwest Passage, the first ever by a traditional cruise ship without an ice-strengthened hull. Its transit through the Arctic created considerable media interest. But it also leaves in its wake a tidal wave of misinformation about the current condition of the Arctic and its melting glaciers. What has been missed is a titanic problem: icebergs, more of them, and larger than ever before. Icebergs created potentially very hazardous conditions for the safety of the passengers aboard the ship, whose capacity is more than 1,700. Crystal Serenity sailed through an area often carpeted with hull-piercing blocks of sea ice and massive icebergs. If an accident occurred and rescue was required, the U.S. is down to one operational icebreaker, the kind of vessel that can safely get to a damaged or ice-trapped ship. Rescue might have had to be done by Canadian or Russian vessels. The Arctic Ocean is remote and treacherous. Unfortunately, the theme of many media stories about this passage was an "increasingly ice-free Arctic." Today the Arctic is far from ice-free, a term usually defined as less than 10 percent ice coverage. Satellite imaging proves at least one-third of the Arctic Ocean is still ice-covered, even now in September at its annual minimum. Advertisement The very misleading--and dangerous--wrong assumption is that as the glaciers melt that the region will become increasingly ice-free. As John Englander points out in his bestselling book, High Tide On Main Street: Rising Sea Level and the Coming Coastal Crisis, which was recently selected by Politico as one of the fifty most important books, the opposite is true. As the Arctic melts and opens up, luring cargo and cruise ships, there will be a greater risk and more opportunities for a collision with icebergs than ever before. Even having an escort ship, as did the Crystal Serenity, does not solve the problem, as the huge blocks can "bounce" back colliding into the hull. The different forms of ice can be confusing, so it is worth clarifying the terms. Glaciers are the slow-moving "rivers" of ice on land, from Alaska, across Canada, Russia, Greenland and Norway that work their way to the sea. When they move past the supporting land, they break off, or "calve" into icebergs, the huge floating structures of freshwater, with 90% hidden below the surface. As the glaciers warm and speed up their journey to sea, they create more icebergs, which is likely to increase for decades as the warming continues and intensifies. Somewhat different, the floating sea ice that has surrounded the North Pole for millions of years is mostly made from saltwater and does not ride as high as icebergs. That sea ice is thinning and breaking up into huge blocks that become a rubble field described as "pack ice," smaller than icebergs. Icebergs and pack ice can shift unpredictably, blocking restricted passages, often in just a matter of hours. And this ice can trap a ship or tear the hull apart if it is not built specifically as "ice-strengthened." For example, glaciers in Greenland are spewing out more giant icebergs than ever, as the increased warming melts and speeds up the glaciers "calving"-- a term used to describe the breaking off of large massive chunks of ice that become icebergs. As Greenland continues to melt, which it's doing at a speed far faster than any of the computer modeling predicted, the production of icebergs will actually increase. But the melting of Greenland will not only create more icebergs, it will ultimately raise global sea levels. If all the ice on Greenland melted, which it is doing at an alarmingly fast pace, it will raise the level of the planet's seas by more than twenty feet. Advertisement This year, 2016, is already on track to become the third year in a row with the highest temperatures in recorded history, which began in 1880. Most disturbing is that the heat distribution is such that the high Arctic is even warmer, causing the ice to melt quicker and the glaciers to spawn more and more icebergs. A few weeks ago, John Englander, the renowned oceanographer and former CEO for The Cousteau Society and The International SeaKeepers Society, stood on Jacobshavn Glacier with the head of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Paul Zukunft, Senator Angus King (D-ME) Co-Chair of the Arctic Caucus, and leaders from the Joint Arctic Command (Denmark) surveying this collapsing glacier and the huge icebergs that it is spawning. The Jacobshavn Glacier is believed to be the glacier that calved the iceberg that sank the Titanic in 1912. As Mr. Englander reported, "I was shocked by what I saw since last visiting Greenland in 2007; the ice sheet has melted far quicker than I could have imagined. And there is a fine gravel powder, which has been pulverized by the grinding ice sheet for thousands of years, carpeting the ice turning it dark gray, further speeding up the melting." (For further information about Greenland.) Although we need to move quickly to implement renewable energy sources and create other methods to try to slow down the dire consequences of this warming, the immediate need is to begin to create and adopt specific plans to adapt to the inevitable impact that sea level rise will have on our economy and the viability of many of our coastal cities and towns and tourist destinations. To do this, we must understand the facts about sea level rise. And so it is critically important that the public, the taxpayers, understand the facts and the urgent nature of the adaptation required--and its cost. For example, The US Coast Guard needs several additional icebreakers and other ice-strengthened ships if it is to have the capability to ensure the safety of lives and vessels--like the Crystal Serenity--as well as other missions to monitor the fast-changing conditions and to enforce various laws and regulations for the safety of all. Advertisement And it will need to adapt may of its bases to the rise of the seas. The U.S. Congress and coastal states like Florida, California North Carolina would be prudent to assemble without delay bi-partisan committees staffed by engineers, architects, economists, urban planners, climate scientists et al to identify the local and specific vulnerabilities and the adaptations that will be necessary to keep people safe. The highest priority should include estimating the costs so that funding can be budgeted. Proper adaptation will ultimately require trillions and trillions of dollars. I am relieved that the Crystal Serenity's passengers and crew are safe. And I urge the media to focus on the facts, not the romance of the Northwest Passage and the Arctic. As icebergs become more numerous and pose a greater danger to ships of all sizes and shapes, there will be no romance in a tragedy that could be avoided if the facts were known. With breakthrough technology at our fingertips, new finance services and tools are integrating with some of the world's most advanced digital minds. As a result, fintech services are disrupting a variety of industries from e-commerce, loans, investment and much more. Here are five that are definitely worth knowing; E-commerce This B2B fintech company offers e-commerce businesses a patented payment tool, that enables online retailers to instantly offer monthly installment plans at checkout, on shoppers' existing credit cards. This service is disrupting the fintech scene in such a positive way that e-commerce businesses should sit up and take note. There is no risk to the merchant since customers use their existing credit card. The service here is an intermediate layer between an e-commerce platform and a pre-existing payment gateway. Advertisement And since splitting an order into smaller monthly payments drives larger baskets for businesses, this type of fintech service is proving to be a much more valuable tool for sales compared to discounts and promotions. Loans It is almost common knowledge that student loans can be a minefield to navigate around. In fact research has shown that 71% of millennials would rather visit their dentist than their banks. Couple this with the fact that all 4 of the leading banks are in the top 10 least liked brands by millennials and hey presto - a gap in the market for another great fintech service to disrupt the industry. CommonBond are attempting to make finance more accessible. This student loan marketplace aim to offer better rates, simpler processes and better service across the board. Within a matter of minutes, applicants can find out the rate of a loan on the company website. CommonBond pay off the borrower's lender and then become the ones being owed to. They offer an intuitive, personal touch when it comes to student finance which is greatly appreciated by the borrowers. Advertisement They also organise social meet ups in an attempt to foster a community which will serve as a base for finding job opportunities, and building relationships which they rightly see as a crucial part of the lending industry. Something that makes this company unique however, is their partnership with Pencils of Promise, an organisation providing students in the developing world with an education. For every degree funded, CommonBond also fund the education of a student in need. This act of giving back to the community means this company is having a positive impact in social change. Mobile Payment This Stockholm based fintech company offers mobile payment solutions. Targeted at empowering small businesses, iZettle have created a payment tool that allows small businesses to do business in the same way larger ones do through their point-of-sale app and card reader. Using the app to helps your business get organised; iZettle lets merchants create a product library which makes it easier for customers to browse and choose an item to purchase. Once items have been chosen, upon checkout this platform allows businesses to take both card and cash payments through mobile or tablet. Additionally, with their receipt printer, customers are given the option to receive receipts by mail or printed. This service also has follow up tools to optimize the sales process; merchants can receive summaries in order to keep everything organised, and even provide a login for other members of staff within the company. Advertisement Money Transfer This money transferring service is changing the way we send money abroad. With unpredictable and often unfair exchange rates, the amount of money lost in each transaction is staggering. Backed by Sir Richard Branson, Transferwise offer a new way of sending money abroad, emphasising that transferring money no longer requires the high cost reputation it currently holds. So how does it work? With some claiming it's fairies and unicorns or even good old fashioned magic, the real answer is lies in their buzzword; peer to peer. In simple terms this means exchanging money with those who need your currency. Think of it as two money pots. One in the currency you have and want to exchange, and one in the currency you'd like to acquire. Customers put money in to one pot, and Transferwise take money out of the other pot to pay the recipient. Without bank admins or any middle-man, it's faster and a lot cheaper than transferring in the traditional way with a bank. In fact, 10 times cheaper to be precise. Investment This is an investment platform with a difference that is giving customers the ability to trade like professionals by copying strategies from successful traders. Investing money is complicated with stocks and charts so by sharing their investment strategies in a social community, others are empowered to make the same, or similar investment decisions. e-Toro gives users an insight in to successful traders' ranking, activity and performance. After choosing the right trader, users put in the amount of money they want to invest in them. With this knowledge and information, users start building their own portfolio too. Advertisement Yangon, Myanmar -- I returned to Myanmar last week for the first time in almost three decades. I lingered for a moment outside the peeling white walls of the former U.S. Embassy to see what had become of the street corner where I witnessed a slaughter of young idealists on the auspicious 8th day of August 1988. I recalled standing in a crowd of red and white clad protesters that rainy morning as many of them prepared for what looked like an inevitable military crackdown from the despised forces of the "Tatmadaw." I'm still amazed that so many democracy advocates thought on that fateful day that they would be able to fight AK-47s with slingshots firing bicycle spokes dipped in cow dung. All that was left by the end of the day were massive pools of blood and torn flip-flops -- the detritus of dead and panicked activists. For a quarter century thereafter, Myanmar - known to the world as Burma in 1988 - remained one of the saddest, most oppressed nations on earth. For most of those years, the junta banned me from returning, punishment for reporting on the democracy movement from Yangon and the borderland jungles. Advertisement Yet, this week as Myanmar's heroine of democracy, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, tours the United States and takes her rightful seat at the UN's General Assembly, realities here in Yangon are upside down and inside out. A vibrant free press ridicules the nation's former military leaders and urges men with machineguns to make real peace with myriad and unique ethnic groupings across the nation. Peace initiatives are underway: Daw Suu, also known simply as "The Lady," and who now holds the nation's senior leadership post as "State Counselor," brought in this month an old eminence grise of a diplomat, Kofi Annan, to try to repair relations between ethnic Burmans and Muslim minority groups in western Myanmar. Southeast Asia's newest Tiger-in-the-making has begun to roar with free speech and fresh yearnings for democracy. With Vietnam and Laos still tied in knots by authoritarian Marxist doctrine, and with Thailand locked in a military-led death vigil over fears of an aging King's imminent demise, Myanmar represents the freshest new light of openness in the region. At the old and much-loved "American Center," run by the U.S. Embassy, I was greeted by gleeful civil rights advocates keen to converse with a foreign interloper. I recalled the wild rumors that swirled in 1988, which had included a widespread belief that President Reagan would send in the Seventh Fleet to defeat the Tatmadaw. In the end, this small nation's democracy activists stood up themselves to brutal authority. Today, young students wanted to know what I thought of their government's continued push to uphold anti "hate speech" laws and if these rules would damage their newfound right to free speech. Advertisement Others asked what Americans would advise to stop what they claimed was a constant incursion of Muslims from Bangladesh. Their concerns sounded strikingly familiar. In a parallel to the American conundrum, most of these so-called illegal aliens have been in Myanmar for decades and - in most cases - for centuries. I explained that in America we had our own problems with bigotry and hatred and a man who wanted to "build a wall," and have our neighbor pay for it. Myanmar's recent democratic gains are far from secure. While most political prisoners have been released, there are rising insecurities and the long arm of neighboring China is fast at work. As Myanmar expert and author, Bertil Lintner, stated in the South China Morning Post, "Myanmar remains of huge economic and strategic importance to China" for the purposes of electric power as well as oil and gas supplies. In the restaurants and posh hotels of Yangon, Chinese businessmen seek to secure illegal logging and gemstone deals with the Tatmadaw by day, while partying into the wee hours with Myanmar's ladies of the night. As Lintner also notes, while China has unleashed a "charm offensive" to convince Myanmar that it is a best friend forever, "where there is a carrot, there is also a stick." China, according a regional arms expert with Jane's Defense, is funneling sophisticated anti-aircraft weaponry to the United Wa State Army, a jungle insurgency led by former Communists, which continues to destabilize Myanmar. Scrape the surface and it looks like China, with its brutal model of authoritarian rule and amoral business acumen, holds the keys to this nation's future. In truth, though, like a lot in Asia, appearances can be deceiving. This is a nation with a deep love of freedom and with a wellspring of unfulfilled aspirations for a broader and more complete democracy. Doubters only need read the memoire's of the '88 activists who suffered for years in disease-ridden prisons, the military junta's "gulag archipelago." Almost counter-intuitively, in a world where American power is on the decline, they look to Washington for their sustenance and as a model for democracy. Advertisement President Obama has made Myanmar a central focus of the U.S. State Department's "pivot to Asia," and that attention has been paying off. Young civil society workers are studying non-violence and Republican principles through new programs paid for by an expanding U.S. Embassy presence. Idealistic American diplomats contend that this country is one of the most rewarding foreign postings in the world. It is American "soft power" -- not its economic might, which remains a pittance alongside that of China -- that young Burmans, Shans, Kachins, even Muslim Rohingyas actively seek out and openly embrace. While in the U.S. this week, Suu Kyi is being applauded as a Nobel Peace Laureate and champion of the oppressed, her authority, mostly moral and political, but non-military, remains fragile at best. Without dedicated U.S. support for years to come, Myanmar stands to crumble as a patchwork of diversity and revert once more to authoritarian rule. A greedy military waits in the wings to snatch power back from "The Lady" if she dares to rail against its massive human rights violations or if she upsets the cart of deals the generals are making with Chinese and Japanese interests. Despite her brash international persona, her wings and her words remain clipped in her homeland. By Jessie Daniels Trump's candidacy appears to have closed the gap between right-wing extremists like longtime Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and the mainstream in a single campaign cycle. But as someone who has spent more than twenty years studying white supremacist rhetoric before and after the Internet, I view Trump's rise differently. It is not new but rather a continuation of a trend that has been sped up and amplified by social media. This trend involves people hijacking topics that are considered closed in mainstream society and opening them up to debate. Today, this debate happens on Twitter. It gains momentum when cable media feeds them back to the general public. This is why the sharing of a white-supremacist meme should not come as a surprise. It is hardly news. In the early 1990s, I made copies of hundreds of publications from groups like David Duke's National Association for the Advancement of White People and the Ku Klux Klan, which at the time meant travelling to an archive of printed newsletters at the Southern Poverty Law Center. What I copied back then was strange, but eerily familiar. Advertisement The language of these extremist groups was very similar to mainstream political talking points from the early 1990s. When placed side-by-side, David Duke's call to value European American heritage did not sound that different from conservative political commentator Patrick Buchanan's 1992 culture war speech. And it was not only the case on the political right, either. Bill Clinton's vilification of hip-hop artist Sister Souljah shared the extremist view of African American women as particularly threatening to society. At the same time, my students were also beginning to encounter white supremacist sites through search terms like "KKK" and even innocuous terms like "Martin Luther King." These students were not being recruited, but something was happening that I wanted to study. By then, I didn't need to go to an archive, I could just log on to the Internet, where I discovered a different kind of attack on civil rights. The website Martin Luther King dot org appears to be a tribute site, but it is actually a white supremacist site. It is intended to undermine hard-won civil rights victories by questioning Dr. King's legacy. This is a strategy shared by the white nationalist accounts that Mr. Trump is prone to retweet. Rather than simply shouting racial epithets, white nationalists would rather engage in a "reasoned debate" about ideas that are considered settled in polite society. Notions of the inherent criminality or lasciviousness of black people, or the innate avarice of Jewish people or their "control of the media," are topics that could be debated, were it not for "political correctness" of Trump and his followers. The innovation that Trump brings to white nationalism is to combine his persona from the "Apprentice," edited to offer a facsimile of realness, with the unfiltered platform of Twitter. The cable news networks have augmented this by covering his tweets as if they are news, allowing him to be a call-in guest and featuring his campaigns events. Trump then leverages this media into political feelings. His gift is the ability to arouse a noxious farrago of emotions among white people, from white resentment and rage to the faux victimhood clustered in the phrase: "We cannot afford to be so politically correct anymore." Advertisement As I stood on a platform at National Action Network (NAN) with the father and twin sister of Terence Crutcher, a man who was fatally wounded by law enforcement after his car broke down in Tulsa, OK and was no apparent imminent threat to police as he was walking with his hands up (as we've seen on videotape), I was also monitoring protests and subsequent violence in Charlotte, NC after another Black man was killed by officers there. All of this taking place as the nation prepares for what is predicted to be one of the most watched Presidential debates in modern history between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Monday. As they make their case to the country and battle it out over a host of issues, one key area they must -- must -- address is race and criminal justice reform. In fact, it needs to be the center of the presidential debate. This week, as a precursor to what we can expect, Trump came out and actually proposed nationalizing the use of stop-and-frisk, which I found both interesting and absurd. Interesting that in his hometown of N.Y.C., I was among the leadership that helped end stop-and-frisk. Even the courts ruled it unconstitutional and believed the practice violated people's civil rights. Mayor Bill de Blasio beat a Black candidate in the primaries because he stood with us against stop-and-frisk. Trump's latest suggestion is absurd because I think he has no clue as to how to implement a national police policy that would have to be interpreted and fixed to every locality from coast-to-coast. And as multiple studies have shown, stop-and-frisk did not combat crime, as most of those stopped were found with no weaponry. It instead furthered the divide between communities and those who are supposed to serve and protect them. The fundamental question as the long-awaited debate takes place however is will these important matters be reduced to sound bites and quick phrases, or are these two candidates going to be really tested and will they truly deal with questions of policing, criminalization, reform and the Black community? There is currently a pending sentencing reform bill stalled in the House of Representatives. NAN is beginning an email and phone drive initiative to contact Speaker Paul Ryan and force him to put the bill on the floor. This has bipartisan support and answers some of the grievances that are part of the frustration in our communities with the current criminal justice system. As Speaker of a house that is supposed to represent the people's will, he must bring this bill to the floor without delay. The White House Task Force on 21st Century Policing was created after the president met with civil rights leaders, top law enforcement officials, young activists and more. Many of its recommendations have been picked up, but will the 2016 presidential candidates endorse those recommendations? Will he or she appoint an Attorney General that will implement those recommendations? Who we elect as our next leader is a critical decision and we must know where they stand on the issues -- especially those issues that have a direct impact on our lives and on the society we want to live in. Whether America likes it or not, we are again in the middle of serious questions around race, and specifically around law enforcement and criminal justice. It is imperative that the next president, who will also have the burden of being the first White president taking office after a Black president, must give clear legislative and executive branch vision as to how he/she will deal with these challenges and obvious injustices. If Monday's debate fails to press the candidates for specifics on this, it will not aid the country and will in fact appear more bogus than informative. And that is something none of us can afford during these crucial times. This week in New York, the United Nations General Assembly and US president Barack Obama host back-to-back high-level summits to address large movements of refugees and migrants. On the surface, the meetings appear laudable, but goodwill postures by people in positions of power are simply not enough. What is needed, instead, is honest reflection about how complicit some countries and institutions are in creating political and economic conditions that fuel conflict and breed deprivation. Advertisement The situation of undocumented migrants is particularly concerning. Contrary to the dehumanising rhetoric that punctuates current debates about mobility across the Mediterranean, the Sahel and the US-Mexico border, what awaits most undocumented migrants is not 'heaven on earth' but rather an endless checklist of unmet primal desires: Want of education. Want of work. Want of healthcare. Want of travel. Want of rights and freedoms. Want of recognition and protection. Want of the intimacies upon which human relationships are built and sustained. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in 2010 alone 10 to 15 percent of the 214 million migrants across the globe were undocumented. More recent estimates show that at least 50 million roam the earth. While the European Union estimated that it hosted 547,335 irregular migrants in 2014, the US, with its more robust documentation, recorded 11.3 million 'unauthorised' migrants in 2014 out of a total immigrant population of 40 million. Most undocumented migrants struggle over whether to conceal or reveal too much of themselves. Both actions involve calculated risks. Even the prefixes we use to describe those without legal status point to their presumed 'abnormality': irregular, illegal, unauthorised. Advertisement But there's another realm of undocumented existence that doesn't get captured in mainstream discussions about migration. It's the often-untold stories of some of the 82 million people who migrate, not to the so-called Global North, but to countries within their regions of origin, as is the case for intra-Africa migration. It's the often-untold stories of women, men and children who leave strong social networks behind and forge new ones through sheer grit. It's the often-untold stories of highly educated adults who take on blue-collar jobs abroad, only to send half their salaries back home. It's the often-untold stories of children who adapt to new languages, mores and folkways with breakneck speed. It's the often-untold stories of those who physically reside in one place, while maintaining strong transnational ties to another. Advertisement A migrant all my life, I hope leaders in New York this week will move beyond rhetorical statements and pledges about how to 'protect' nameless, faceless people on the move. Truth is, we don't need to be 'saved'. Simply recognise us as human beings and institute policies and practices that affirm our humanity. There must be recognition at the meetings in New York--and the countless others that will surely follow--that despite their vulnerabilities to geopolitical grandstanding, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers--and all those who fall between the cracks and crevices of these labels--are not helpless and hapless. Rather, they represent complex, dignified and resilient human stories. What is required is a plan of action to change the conditions that push people to move when they do not want to, and a commitment to facilitating safe and impartial movement when it is desirable. As someone who studies migrants, their motivations, yearnings, fears, triumphs and tribulations, I hope these gatherings will be less about talk and more about concrete action. Robtel Neajai Pailey is a Liberian academic, activist and author of the anti-corruption children's book, Gbagba. She currently serves as a senior researcher at the University of Oxford's International Migration Institute (IMI), as well as a senior migration consultant for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Advertisement I am super-excited about the August release of Hurricane (Big Machine Records), the new album from Nick Fradiani (who is from my hometown of Guilford, Connecticut). It features his current single "All on You" which is currently making its way up the pop charts. My personal favorite, "Beautiful Life" is also on the album! My daughter, Topanga, and her friends were lucky to interview him in a crazy car interview! Watch below... (Photo via American India Foundation) I recently came across the story of an Indian woman named Seema, a mother from a small village in Jharkhand, India. Her story encircles around the strenuous travels she has had to commit to in order to reach some sort of substantial medical facility, which usually only consist of three doctors and three nurses while also being overcrowded with patients; her nearest hospital is a two-hour bus ride away. Such a lack of medical facilities provides dire consequences to those living in rural areas. Infants diseased with infections, toddlers whose colds develop into major breathing problems, dangerous childbirth labor methods that lead to a surplus of maternal deaths, and the list goes on to the thousands, maybe millions. Seema's demonstration of the lack of medical facilities and accessibility to healthcare across rural India reflects a much deeper-rooted setback based in the Indian government's lack of effectiveness. This also brings about an even more sinister, local consequence against Indian mothers and children who live in such rural areas that are generally neglected by the central government; particularly pregnant women and infants who often fail to obtain the vital, immediate care necessary to ensure survival and prosperity. According to American India Foundation's (AIF) Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative (MANSI), almost a quarter of all maternal deaths occur in India. Additionally, around 779,000 infants die during their first month of life in India, also accounting for a great percentage of global infant deaths. These harrowing statistics stem from thousands of situations parallel to Seema's. This is a crisis in India's public health system and is indicative of a lack of prioritization of healthcare, especially for rural mothers and children. Advertisement Now, what could be the solution to these grim consequences of a lack of medical facilities in rural India? It is easy to ponder the ideal solutions: introducing policy changes, prioritizing healthcare in rural areas, making public healthcare more accessible and affordable. Nevertheless, it is also obvious that finding solutions to such development issues are extremely difficult and fragile. Dealing with an overbearing government and attempts at communicating with those who are actually affected can make such issues seem intangible. However, the cliched yet relevant term "knowledge is power" can be applied here to take a significant step toward prevention of maternal and infant deaths in India. Whilst reading more on the healthcare crisis against Indian mothers and infants, I discovered that AIF will be holding a symposium in October which will bring doctors, researchers, and academic and philanthropic leaders from across the globe to highlight, in a large-scale manner, the maternal and newborn health crisis in India and how this issue can be strategically and empathetically conquered: through knowledge and awareness. Here lies the beauty of such nonprofit organizations. While the most powerful institution of India (a.k.a the government) has not made any progress in utilizing its own internal resources (such as the network Indian health workers and volunteers who do want to bring change), nonprofits provide the solace by furnishing the knowledge, awareness, and fieldwork necessary to ensure the increase in medical facilities and simultaneously, improvements in public welfare. They give the opportunity for fresh doctors, graduates, and even those directly affected to develop an activist mindset and bring about real time change. Seema herself is a clear example of this beauty. After given the opportunity to participate in the MANSI program, Seema gained significant knowledge and realized that she was not alone in facing a lack of medical facilities in her village; but rather, this was a pervasive issue throughout rural India. Through MANSI, Seema was finally able to set her activist mind to play and changed (and saved) the lives of multiple women and children who are victims of India's public health crisis. Advertisement Nearly a year after Jones 5 Auto Sales shut down amid a criminal investigation, the owner of the Corvallis used car dealership has been charged with fraud in federal court. Shannon Jones of Corvallis was charged last week with a single felony count of wire fraud in U.S. District Court in Eugene. Specifically, Jones is accused of defrauding a customer of $23,450 for the purchase of a van that was never delivered. The money allegedly was transmitted electronically from a bank in New Mexico on Nov. 18, the day Corvallis police descended on Jones used car lot at 1475 N.W. Ninth St. and creditors hauled off the dealerships inventory on transport trailers. According to court documents filed Sept. 13 by the U.S. Attorneys Office for Oregon, that was just one example of a much larger criminal enterprise spanning three years and amounting to more than $1.3 million in unlawful profits. Between January 2012 and November 2015, prosecutors claim, Jones fraudulently obtained over $800,000 in loan proceeds and approximately $500,000 in vehicle sales proceeds. In the court filings, federal prosecutors say that Jones preyed on clients, lenders and associates to obtain money through a variety of fraudulent means, including taking payment for vehicles that were never delivered; obtaining loans for vehicles for which he falsely claimed to hold title; and selling vehicles on consignment without paying the owners. Jones also is accused of misrepresenting to lenders and associates the financial health of his business, the existence of collateral and the intended uses of short-term loans. No hearings have been scheduled yet in the case, and a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office declined to say whether any additional charges might be filed. Walter J. Todd, the Salem attorney representing Jones, could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. The collapse of Jones 5 Auto Sales appears to have left dozens of victims in its wake, including individuals who consigned vehicles for sale, other area car dealerships that did business with Jones 5 and at least one national finance company. At least seven businesses and individuals have filed claims in Benton County Circuit Court for a share of the surety bond filed by Jones 5 with the state of Oregon. But the bond totals just $40,000, and the claims against it total far more than that. No claim in that case was filed by Next Gear Capital, a company that local auto industry insiders say had a long-term business relationship with Jones 5. Next Gear provides flooring loans to car dealers to finance operating expenses. The loans are typically secured by the titles to vehicles in the dealers inventory, but according to the federal charge against Jones, he allegedly obtained loans by falsely claiming to have titles that were not in his possession. Next Gear has declined to comment on the Jones 5 case. There also have been numerous reports of other financial losses in the case stemming from unpaid personal loans, bounced checks and misplaced title documents. The whole thing has John Robinson shaking his head. The Corvallis resident consigned his 2012 Cadillac SRX with Jones 5 at an asking price of $26,500 but was left with nothing when the dealership shut down in November. After several fruitless attempts to recover his car, Robinson said, he eventually received a settlement from his insurance company. I feel lucky Im not in the shape that most people are in, he said. But he was recently reminded of his lost Cadillac when he received a bill in the mail from the Washington Department of Transportation. Apparently the current owner of the SRX went through a toll gate in the Seattle area, and the bill went to Robinson. Its one of these things where the guy who got stung keeps getting stung, he said. But what really galls Robinson is the fact that Jones remains out of jail when so many people suffered financial losses in the collapse of his business. The guy is just walking around like nothing, Robinson said. That just isnt right. Portrait of smiling mother and daughter (6-7) Ten years ago, I started a new chapter in my life with two children aged seven and 12, two months of outstanding mortgage payments, an empty refrigerator, and $120. My marriage was over, and I began traveling the long, cracked path toward divorce. I am an attorney, and in 2006, I had a fledgling, part-time law practice focused on children's rights and no health insurance or emergency savings. Over the years I had become increasingly isolated from my social support system, and my professional network had been reduced to a valley of dry bones. That said, I still believed that my law degree combined with a dried-out professional network positioned me to bounce back much more quickly than the overwhelming majority of similarly situated mothers. However, at the time, I did not understand that I needed to do much more than leverage my law degree and resurrect a dead professional network. I had a great deal of inner soul work to do before my personal bounce back would begin. As the final chapter closed on my marriage, I joined the other single mothers swimming upstream into uncharted waters, all while formulating a plan to defy the dire predictions associated with parenting alone without support. Advertisement Initially, navigating these uncharted waters was incredibly difficult. I have lived through short but insidious seasons of depression since I was at least 15 years old. Without realizing it, I had fallen into one of these rabbit holes roughly two years into my 14-year marriage, and I was still living in that rabbit hole when my marriage ended. The end of my marriage caused my depression to erupt from somewhere deep inside like a volcano, and, after the eruption, I found it very challenging to keep swimming upstream. I was now wrapped in the awareness and heaviness of my depression. Sometimes it was so palpable that I wanted to stop swimming and drown. Fortunately, my children were not willing to drown with me. In their own way, they both reminded me that their well-being was inextricably linked to mine, and I realized we would not progress as a family unless I was mentally and emotionally healthy. So I sought the treatment I needed to climb out of my rabbit hole and continued swimming upstream. I found my early attempts to forge a new path forward intimidating because I had no frame of reference for what it means to parent alone with no support. My parents have been married for 58 years. Growing up, I led a charmed life in which I wanted for nothing. I did not know how to survive on little to no money. That said, I did not have the luxury of staying stuck on how to begin. I started right where I was: bereft, battered, and broken. Advertisement Over the last 10 years, my children and I have walked through some very tough times. It has been the grace, meaning unmerited favor, combined with others' willingness to "pay it forward" that often helped us when we needed it most. One early experience taught me a profound lesson about the power of grace and paying it forward that still resonates with me today. In May 2007, as part of my divorce, I sold the only home that my children had ever known. The house sold very quickly, leaving me only a few days to find a suitable new home for my children and me. Unfortunately, the only housing that I could find turned out to be anything but suitable. In fact, the apartment community was akin to Animal House and totally unacceptable for families, particularly those with precocious eight-year-old little girls who notice everything. By the end of the following school year, I felt that I had no other choice but to move. I used all my limited resources to secure our new residence and had no money left to pay movers. A friend, also a single mother, asked an associate minister at her church if he knew anyone who could assist me with moving. It just so happened that a missions group comprising college-aged young people from all over the United States was coming to work at her church the same weekend that I was scheduled to move. The associate minister arranged for the young men from the group to spend two hours on Saturday morning moving all of our belongings to our new home. I was shocked because I had never even visited her church and knew nothing about the missions group. I did not understand why a group of people whom I did not know would assist me with anything--especially moving. In fact, during the week preceding the move, I asked my friend repeatedly if she was certain that the missions group was actually coming to help. As promised, on Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m., a Penske truck pulled up to the back of my apartment unit accompanied by approximately 25 young men. After brief introductions, the young men started moving our furniture out of the apartment and onto the truck. I was speechless. They drove the truck to our new home and unloaded it. Before leaving, the young men thanked my children and I for allowing them to serve us. Their generosity and selflessness moved me even though I am an extremely independent person who finds it hard to accept assistance from anyone. This experience showed me that humility requires the same amount of strength as independence, and it also encouraged me to maintain a heart full of grace and compassion for others. Parenting alone with no support is an impossible job. It is a job that has pushed me to the end of myself time and again. I am responsible for attending parent-teacher conferences, handling car and home repairs, meting out appropriate punishments, giving driving lessons, teaching household skills, fostering spiritual development, and everything else in between. All hard choices and the associated consequences are mine alone to carry. I must always be the tough parent and can rarely just throw caution to the proverbial wind. I carry the guilt of not being or having enough along with the shame that society places on single mothers. The seeming impossibility of the job combined with the task of successfully launching children into adulthood is enough to completely overwhelm even the most stress hardy single mother. Advertisement The last 10 years have been the most difficult of my entire life, but I would not trade anything for my journey. I no longer live in the isolation of my former life. My professional and social circles have grown in ways that I could not imagine 10 years ago. I have met extraordinary people and learned so many important life-changing lessons, and in the midst of lack, I have received grace, kindness, and forbearance extended by friends and strangers alike. Through these life lessons there is one thing that I know for sure: nothing happens by chance or accident. Parenting alone without support is not what I signed up for, but the entire experience is working together for my benefit and directing me toward my life's purpose. So I continue to fully lean into the pain, joy, frustration, weariness, and messiness that comes with my life as a single mother, all while knowing that the joy and pain have allowed me to grow from surviving to thriving. So my dear Sisters, I leave you with the following: Do not get tired of doing what you know is right. Take a break if needed, but do not give up. In due season, you--and by extension, your children--will reap a bountiful harvest. "America's two political parties spent $4 billion on the last election and it worked -- the American people were soundly defeated." -- Swami Beyondananda If you've been reading my stuff over the past months and years, you've often heard me quote Bruce Lipton: Crisis precipitates evolution. Given the current political shituation, you don't need a weatherman to see that chances of precipitation are 100%. If you doubt there's a political crisis in this country, consider our 240-year journey from Franklin, Jefferson and Washington -- to Donald Trump. Advertisement Talk about reality checks bouncing. Talk about the lifting of the veils. As more and more ordinary Americans are willing and able to look behind the "irony curtain", Donald Trump's appeal becomes understandable. We have a sociopathic system, so why not have a REAL sociopath in charge? And ... If you doubt that Donald Trump is the luckiest man on earth, consider this. Of all the years to run for President and of all the opponents, Trump gets Hillary. There was a time - in the distant past seemingly - when a candidate was subsumed by scandal (or health crisis) that could put the future of the party or the country in danger, that individual stepped aside. That was back when people really did have a higher view and mission than their own personal ambition. Progressive voters saw that trait in Bernie Sanders, which is why nearly 50% voted for him (a higher percentage than Republicans who voted for Trump) against a candidate who was a "shoo-in". It's not just the email scandal, where Hillary was let off the hook but not exonerated. It's the feeling that public and everything else be damned, Hillary is committed to just one campaign promise: Elect Hillary Clinton president. Advertisement Those who attribute Hillary's dislikeability to the vast right wing conspiracy aren't paying attention. Nearly half the voters in the Democratic Party rejected her neoliberal policies and expressed the same distrust of her personal ambitions, agenda, and history as the right-wingers. Don't blame Bernie or his supporters for that. And now with the issue about Hillary's health and the mainstream media's stonewalling of any questions about it (e.g., the firing of Dr. Drew Pinsky after he publicly questioned her health), it almost doesn't matter what Hillary says. The latest polls show that nearly half of Americans think she is lying about her illness. Meanwhile on the conservative side, with no clear front-runner with a stash of political cache, voters resoundingly rejected neocon Jeb Bush and stealth neocon Marco Rubio. The "upwising" moved forward as voters on both sides of the red-blue divide said NO to the corporate state. And so -- unless there is a REAL October surprise -- we are in for the most insane campaign yet in history: Donald Trump - the "lone nut" Hillary Clinton - perched atop a criminally insane corporate state OK, if that's what's so ... so what? What does an awakening voter who sees deadly flaws in both candidates do? What Would SANITY Do? We've been hearing for years the contextual question, "What would Jesus do?" and even "What would Jefferson do?" So I offer my own question for setting the context for 2016: What would sanity do? Before discussing strategy, let's consider the concept of "sanity". As Bruce Lipton and I write in Spontaneous Evolution: Advertisement "Being sane and being normal aren't necessarily the same condition. Sanity is not a trait that can be tabulated by a show of hands. As psychologist and humanistic philosopher Erich Fromm reminds us, just because millions of people share the same vices doesn't make these vices virtues. Sanity is derived from the Latin word sanus, which means "healthy." By sharing a common root, the meaning of sanity and healthy are bound by a strong relationship. That which makes us healthier, makes us more sane. And vice versa." In looking at our current political and economic system from this standpoint, we have a system of "institutionalized insanity" where society's institutions are clearly at odds with our wellbeing. Consider: We have a hugely expensive health care system that is unhealthy and uncaring, run primarily for the benefit of drug companies, insurance companies and HMOs. We have a food and energy system that systematically destroys our soil, water and air. We have a military industrial complex with a huge secret budget, and we are the primary exporter of weaponry to the world. We have an educational system that seems more intent on crowd control and cover-your-ass political correctness than in cultivating innate genius or a true moral compass. Advertisement We have a political system designed to benefit a small percentage of the uncommonly wealthy rather than the commonwealth. We have a casino economy where there are a few big, big winners and mostly losers. We have a banking system ... well, as the Swami says, "I'm nostalgic for the good old days ... when PEOPLE robbed BANKS." Oh, and here in the "land of the free" we have 5% of the world's population, but account for 25% of the world's incarcerated. So why is this important? Because, ultimately no political revolution or evolution -- partisan or transpartisan -- can succeed without striking, echoing and amplifying the chord of common virtues and values that are the EXACT OPPOSITE of what our civilization is promoting through its priorities and policies. So the first distinctions that "sanity" must recognize are two key principles of political science: Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The tried-and-true way to keep corrupt power in power is "divide and conquer". On our recent visit to the small town of Fairfield, Iowa, we experienced first-hand the political divide that keeps the body politic virtually paralyzed, with well-meaning Americans unable to act in accord. We met and spent time with three kinds of folks, all of whom we consider friends and "co-hearts": Advertisement Tie-dyed-in-the-wool Bernie activists Hillary supporters who simply didn't understand why Bernie was peeing on her parade Social conservatives who felt they had "no choice" but to vote for Trump Each of these factions possessed an element of truth and clarity, and each felt extreme frustration, disheartenment and disempowerment. Each individual we spoke with would have looked at the markers of institutionalized insanity cited above and agreed that each of these conditions is unacceptable. If that's the case, how is it that we are stuck with the choice -- or lack of choice -- we have now? And ... what is the evolutionary response to the clear and present crisis we face? A New President, or a New Precedent? I still remember what it felt like being in Washington, D.C. in November of 2008, a week or so after Obama was elected. It felt like the liberation of Paris, the fall of the Berlin Wall, with people just about dancing in the streets. But a lad, and a lack. It didn't take long for the hopium to wear off, and as the Swami said not long afterward, "the empire has a new face, but the same big fat ass." Bottom line is the bottom line: The POTUS is the CEO of the American empire. Even had Bernie been able to prevail in the primaries, he would have been up against the same entrenched system, and the same divided (and consequently, conquered) populace all adrenalized about "identity issues" while the identical issues we all face and largely agree upon (the ones cited above) go largely unaddressed. As the Swami said in Swami for Precedent: A Seven-Step Plan to Heal the Body Politic and Cure Electile Dysfunction (see here) a dozen years ago, "If we the people choose a new PRECEDENT, a new President will follow." Sadly and truly, this idea is even more relevant today than it was during the Bush era. Back in those days, anti-war progressives shouted, "Impeach Bush!" Advertisement During the Obama years, conservatives cried, "Impeach Obama!" It should be obvious that left and right need to come front-and-center to impeach the entire corrupt, pay-to-play system. And while many voters are choosing to "vote their conscience" in 2016 and cast their ballot for Green Party candidate Jill Stein or Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson, neither of these third parties will ever be a first party in the United States. Why? Because despite having original and functional ideas, they are parties of ideology each identified with either the left or the right. What we require now is a movement of We the People coming from "deep center" - not the muddled middle of a Michael Bloomberg seeking to preserve the status quo, but from a willingness to "face the music and dance together". This requires a political, psychological and spiritual maturity the American people have not yet demonstrated, and yet must cultivate. Evolution HAS played its Trump card. We can no longer afford the dysfunction, and we can no longer hide behind safe ideological positions. Instead of polarizing around either/or, we must gather around both/and. As Bruce and I point out in Spontaneous Evolution, nature is progressive AND conservative. Survival and thrival require both growth and protection. Regardless of the outcome in November, awakening Americans from across the political spectrum must gather together in heartful, respectful conversation to cultivate and call forth our greatest intelligence. Instead of dueling dualities spending huge amounts of time, energy, money and resources to fight one another, these polarities of left and right must now become dynamic duo dance partners by considering together the functional aspects of both progressive and conservative: How do we wish to progress? What do we want to conserve? Will we do it? Can we do it? They say necessity is the mother of invention, and considering what a "mother" our current political reality has become, we must necessarily evolve or risk losing the legacy our country's founders (with all their flaws) called forth: Government of the people, by the people, for the people, where the government does our bidding, not the bidding of the highest bidder. Advertisement Only by graduating from being manipulated by one side or another, and by gathering together beyond the two parties and outside the boundaries of the mainstream media can we activate the true heart and soul of America, and for the first time in a long time, be a beacon to the world. If this sounds "utopian", I refer you to the choice visionary philosopher R. Buckminster Fuller outlines in his book of the same title: Utopia or Oblivion. Given THAT dualistic choice, may we choose wisely. Author's Note: In keeping with the "going sane" theme, I will continue to expand this idea on a weekly basis through and beyond election day. Your responses and feedback are welcomed. Did you #feelthebern? If so, then you supported a political movement toward the left. You supported a man who believes in free college tuition, single payer health care, combating climate change, fighting for women's equality in pay and women's choice in their own healthcare, and raising the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour. You supported getting rid of Citizen's United, mandating paid family leave, and a fair, progressive immigration policy. You supported change on Wall Street, in order to address income inequality. These issues, including legalization of marijuana, are on the Democratic Party's Platform for Election 2016. Bernie, and those who voted for him, fueled these progressive issues. It is the most progressive platform the Democrats have ever had. Here's the problem. Too many #FeeltheBern supporters between 18-34 are voting for Johnson. According to a Quinnipiac University Poll 29% of these voters are planning to vote for Johnson or Stein. But voting for Bernie and voting for Johnson are completely opposite votes (and voting for Stein is like voting for a Utopian fantasy world). If you are one of the #Feel the Bern supporters voting for Johnson, or if you know one who is, I ask you to consider the following: 1. Bernie wants environmental consideration before the government takes any action. The effect on climate change has to be considered on all decisions. Johnson wants to abolish all environmental regulations. Yes, ALL. Advertisement 2. Bernie believes in public education and tuition free college for students from families making less than $125,000 a year. Johnson wants to eliminate public education. Yes, eliminate. His belief is that the free market will take care of education, instead. "We will restore authority to the parents to determine the education of their children." The United States has already fallen far behind other developed nations in education, doing away with education would probably put us dead last. 3. Bernie supports raising taxes on corporations and the top 1% in order to make the wealthy pay their fair share. Johnson wants to repeal income tax and corporate tax. They would not pay taxes, and the IRS will be eliminated. Government, he says, should not be spending money and incurring debt. This means of course, that social security and medicare, supported by Bernie and the Democrats, would be abolished. The Libertarian Platform is far to the right of the right wing! Even the Republicans, who are "supply side" believers who want low taxes on the rich think that the Libertarian Platform is crazy. Bernie and the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, favor reforming Wall Street and taking money out of the election process by appointing Supreme Court Justices who will revoke Citizen's United, which gives corporations the rights of individuals. In other words, a vote for Johnson is not only wasted because he has no chance in hell to win the election, it is diametrically opposed to everything Bernie Sanders believes in and is fighting for. Actually, a vote for Johnson by those who "felt the Bern" is a vote for Trump, who is the very antithesis of Bernie Sanders. Trump is a climate denier who wants to expand coal and oil production, kick out Mexicans and Muslims, and start a war because the Iranians gave a US ship the finger. (Not to mention a million other reasons Trump is unfit to serve as President, and Bernie talks about them all). Advertisement Bernie Sanders is on the campaign trail for Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Platform which he had a major part in framing. If you #feelthebern, please follow his lead and vote for Hillary Clinton in order to preserve the ideals and policies you supported with Bernie Sanders. Don't let the United States become a reality show and a joke to the rest of the world. Follow the Bern! The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped a bombshell on ExxonMobil yesterday. News reports revealed yesterday that the SEC is investigating the oil company's balance sheets and how efforts to solve climate change might impact the company's bottom line. ExxonMobil and its allies have been furiously trying to wave away the mounting stack of official investigations into what Exxon knew and said about climate change, so this latest investigation must have come as a severe disappointment to them. "Right now Exxon is betting everything it has on the failure of the world to solve the climate crisis; the SEC has a chance to expose how weak Exxon's hand really is." -Annie Leonard, Executive Director of Greenpeace USA The Wall Street Journal reported that the SEC investigation is a "far-reaching" look not just into how ExxonMobil currently values its assets, but also "what would happen to Exxon under a scenario envisioned by last year's Paris climate talks -- if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced 80% by 2050." What the SEC is describing is a "stress test" for fossil fuel companies to measure their profitability in a world where we successfully limit global warming. If the report is true, it could be a big deal for the climate, and climate activists everywhere. The first thing to understand about oil companies is that their value in the marketplace is largely determined by the value of their proven reserves, i.e. the oil and gas that companies have already discovered but haven't pumped out of the ground. Since these companies are constantly selling oil and gas, they also have to be constantly finding new reserves in order to maintain that storehouse. A company that each year finds (or acquires) as much oil and gas as they sell is considered by Wall Street to be in strong financial health. A company that is not able to replace its reserves will decline and eventually go out of business. Advertisement The hard truth that fossil fuel investors must grapple with is that we already have way too many reserves. In order to limit global warming to 2 degrees C we will have to leave the majority of existing fossil fuel reserves in the ground -- to say nothing of new discoveries. Even burning the reserves we have is enough to push us over the limit. What's more, for us to have even a 50-50 chance of keeping warming under 2 degrees, demand for oil will have to peak in the next few years and then decline rapidly. In contrast, ExxonMobil's annual Energy Outlook reports confidently predict that demand for oil will grow continuously over the next several decades. The gulf between these two visions of our future is stark: Chart comparing the IEA's 450 scenario (red line) with ExxonMobil's estimate (blue line) for world oil demand from 2014 to 2040 (in units of millions of barrels of oil per day). The IEA 450 scenario gives a 50% chance of limiting global warming to 2 degrees C. Data: IEA World Energy Outlook 2015 (Figure 3.1), ExxonMobil Energy Outlook 2016 (p. 72). Protesters courtesy of the climate justice movement. The difference between the red path and the blue path is the difference between a safe climate and one careening out of control -- but it also represents a massive amount of profits that oil companies would have to give up. All of this shows that the current business model of oil and gas companies is simply incompatible with a stable climate and a healthy planet. Exxon and other oil companies may be betting the farm on climate disaster, but they are also stacking the deck, paying the dealers, and (when all else fails) bluffing. Advertisement Oil companies know perfectly well that their profits will be significantly curtailed by serious action to address climate change -- and they have known this for decades. Multiple investigations by Inside Climate News, the Los Angeles Times and the Center for International Environmental Law have all uncovered evidence that scientists working for Exxon, and other oil companies, knew the risks of climate change decades ago. Despite this knowledge, the oil companies mounted a sophisticated campaign of climate denial that has successfully delayed action on climate change for years, while carbon accumulated in the atmosphere and Exxon's profits soared. These revelations have in turn sparked investigations into whether Exxon managers committed fraud in its statements to the public or its investors. Both the New York and Massachusetts Attorneys General have opened investigations into what Exxon knew and when they knew it.The SEC investigation should give new momentum to those inquiries, while expanding their scope from what #ExxonKnew to what Exxon knows. The SEC's stress test is not likely to go well for Exxon or other oil companies. If the Paris climate goals are met then it is likely that many of the assets Exxon includes on its balance sheet will become "stranded." A stranded asset is one that cannot be produced due to falling oil demand, or a high carbon price, or other climate policies that limit the amount of fossil fuels we can combust. Because the oil industry works on very long investment timescales and high upfront costs, any decisions we make today about where to invest our money will have a profound influence on what our energy mix looks like in future decades. Advertisement You Must Be Kidding! Cross-posted with TomDispatch.com Recently, sorting through a pile of old childrens 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 Im 72 and still trapped in another era -- on paper, I have a similarly Nina-esque urge. Only the line Ive 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 youre in the mood, feel free to shout out that line with me as we go. Advertisement Nuking the Planet: Im 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. Advertisement 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 hadnt grown a little rusty when it comes to the drone strikes in Pakistans 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 Washingtons 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 whos 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). Of course, how else can the U.S. keep its near monopoly on the global arms trade and ensure that two sets of products -- Hollywood movies and U.S. weaponry -- will dominate the worlds business in things that go boom in the night? Its a record to be proud of, especially since putting every advanced weapon imaginable in the hands of the Saudis will obviously help bring peace to a roiled region of the planet. (And if you arm the Saudis, you better do no less for the Israelis, hence the mind-boggling $38 billion in military aid the Obama administration recently signed on to for the next decade, the most Washington has ever offered any country, ensuring that arms will be flying into the Middle East, literally and figuratively, for years to come.) Blessed indeed are the peacemakers -- and of course you know that by peacemaker I mean the classic revolver that won the West. Advertisement Put another way... You must be kidding! The Race for the Generals: I mean, who's got the biggest... ...list of retired generals and admirals? Does it surprise you that there are at least 198 retired commanders floating around in their golden parachutes, many undoubtedly still embedded in the military-industrial complex on corporate boards and the like, eager to enroll in the Trump and Clinton campaigns? Trump went first, releasing an open letter signed by 88 generals and admirals who were bravely standing up to reverse the hollowing out of our military and to secure our borders, to defeat our Islamic supremacist adversaries, and restore law and order domestically. (Partial translation: pour yet more money into our military as The Donald has promised to do.) They included such household names as Major General Joe Arbuckle, Rear Admiral James H. Flatley III, and Brigadier General Mark D. Scraba -- or, hey!, one guy you might even remember: Lieutenant General William (Jerry) Boykin, the evangelical crusader who made the news in 2003 by claiming of a former Somali opponent, I knew that my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God, and his was an idol." Somehow, those 88 Trumpian military types assumedly crawled out of the rubble under which, as The Donald informed us recently, the Obama administration has left the American high command. His crew, however, is undoubtedly not the embarrassment he refers to when talking about American generalship in these years. Meanwhile, the Clintonites struck back with a list of 95, including a number of 4-star generals, many directly from under that rubble, and within the week had added 15 more to hit 110. Meanwhile, members of the intelligence community and the rest of the national security state, former presidential advisers and other officials, drum-beating neocons, and strategists of every sort from Americas disastrous wars of the last 15 years hustled to line up behind Hillary or The Donald. If nothing else, all of it was a reminder of the bloated size and ever-increasing centrality of the post-9/11 national security state and the military-industrial complex that goes with it. The question is: Does it inspire you with confidence in our candidates, or leave you saying... Advertisement You must be kidding! Conflicts of Interest and Access to the Oval Office: Lets put aside a possible preemptive $25,000 bribe to Floridas attorney general from the Donald J. Trump Foundation to prevent an investigation of a scam operation, Trump "University." If that donation to a political action committee does turn out to have been a bribe, no one should be surprised, given that The Donald has long been a walking Ponzi scheme. Thanks to a recent superb investigative report by Kurt Eichenwald of Newsweek, consider instead what it might mean for him to enter the Oval Office when it comes to conflicts of interest and the national security of the country. Eichenwald concludes that Trump would be the most conflicted president in American history, since the Trump Organization has deep ties to global financiers, foreign politicians, and even criminals in both allied and enemy countries. Almost any foreign policy decision he might make could hurt or enrich his own businesses. There would, in essence, be no way to divest himself and his family from the international Trump branding machine. (Think Trump U. writ large.) And you hardly need ask yourself whether The Donald would act in the interests of the United States or his wallet, given his prior single-minded pursuit of self-enrichment. So much for conflicts of interest, what about access? That, of course, brings up the Clintons, who, between 2001 and the moment Hillary announced her candidacy for president, managed to take in $153 million dollars (yes, that is not a misprint) for a combined 729 speeches at an average fee of $210,795. That includes Hillarys 20-minute speech to eBay's Women's Initiative Network Summit in March 2015 for a reported $315,000 just a month before she made her announcement. Its obviously not Hillarys (or Bills) golden words that corporate executives truly care about and are willing to pay the big bucks for, but the hope of accessibility to both a past and a possible future president. After all, in the world of business, no one ever thinks theyre paying good money for nothing. Do I need to say more than... You must be kidding! Of course, I could go on. I could bring up a Congress seemingly incapable of passing a bill to fund a government effort to prevent the Zika virus from spreading wildly in parts of this country. (You must be kidding!) I could discuss how the media fell face first into an SUV -- NBC Nightly News, which I watch, used the video of Hillary Clinton stumbling and almost falling into that van, by my rough count, 15 times over four nights -- and what it tells us about news coverage these days. (You must be kidding!) I could start in on the constant polls that flood our lives by confessing that Im an addict and plan on joining Pollers Anonymous on November 9th, and then consider what it means to have such polls, and polls of polls, inundate us daily, teaching us about favorable/unfavorable splits, and offering endlessly varying snapshots of how we might or might not vote and which of us might or might not do it day so long before we ever hit a voting booth. (You must be kidding!) Or I could bring up the way, after five years of assiduous research, Donald Trump grudgingly acknowledged that Barack Obama was born in the United States and then essentially blamed the birther movement on Hillary Clinton. (You must be kidding!) I could, in other words, continue welcoming you into an increasingly bizarre American landscape of war and peace (without a Tolstoy in sight). Crossposted from UN Women. Dawa Dolma Tamang migrated from rural Nepal to Abu Dhabi because she wanted to improve her livelihood and support her family. She ended up paying seven times more than what was required to the recruiting agency and was wrongfully denied work on medical grounds. With the help of Pourakhi, an organization working to protect migrant womens rights, she was able to seek legal assistance and recover some of her money. Today, Tamang is working as a mason and will soon start taking the vocational and entrepreneurship skills training provided by a UN Women programme thats advancing womens economic empowerment in Nepal. Dawa Dolma Tamang (right) visits the Pourakhi office regularly to learn about upcoming training opportunities. Photo: Pradeep Shakya/ UN Women In August its blazing hot in Kathmandu. Dawa Dolma Tamang, 32, sits on a chair at Pourakhis officean organization that works with migrant women workersstaring out of the window. I want to send my children to a better school and support my husband to make a decent living. I want to make my family whole again," she says. Advertisement Tamangs story started in April 2016 when she left her remote Maheshwari village in Eastern Nepal to work in Abu Dhabi, only to find herself declared medically unfit for work upon arrival and returned to Nepal, penniless. I migrated because I wanted to earn an income and change my life, she shares. Tamangs husband was alcoholic, she had two children to support, and she saw migration as the only way out of the clutches of poverty. According to the latest report [1] on foreign migration launched by the Department of Foreign Employment in Nepal, an estimated 21,421 Nepali women are legally working overseas as of 2014-2015, mostly in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. A recruiting agent offered Tamang a job as a cleaner in Abu Dhabi and promised her a salary that she couldnt imagine earning in Nepal. She left her children in the care of her sister-in-law and went to Kathmandu to get her visa. I was completely unaware that the recruiting company in Abu Dhabi was paying for my visa and ticketsthe agent in Nepal charged me seven times more than what was required. I had to give him NRS 70,000 ($700)! Soon after arriving in Abu Dhabi, Tamang was taken to a one-room apartment shared by eight other women. As part of the recruitment process, a doctor visited her on the third day for a medical examination, which included a tuberculosis test. Although she tested positive for latent tuberculosis (TB), she was not given any information about her medical condition. After 45 days, she was taken to a hospital, where she tested positive again. The doctors at the hospital finally told Tamang that she was suffering from latent TB and treated her. When Tamang was discharged from the hospital after 25 days and declared medically fit to work, the recruitment company refused to employ her. She was given a ticket and forced to leave Abu Dhabi the next day. Advertisement I came home with no money and a strange illness for which I had to still take medicines, she recalls. For the next one month, Tamang stayed at her sisters house in Kathmandu trying to claim compensation from the recruiting agency, to no avail, as she didnt have all the receipts and couldnt prove that the agency had over-charged her. Tamangs story is dismally common among Nepali women migrants, explains Manju Gurung of Pourakhi (which means self-reliant in Nepali language), a non-governmental organization which is supported by UN Women and works to protect the rights of female migrant workers. Nepali migrant workers lack protection, are victims of non-payment of wages, retrenchment without notice or compensation, as well as unsatisfactory occupational health and safety conditions, says Gurung. The problem has been exacerbated by recruiters, who do not share the risks involved and by employers who take advantage of the women's vulnerability as they cannot access the legal system in the host country. Dawa Dolma Tamang. Photo: Pradeep Shakya/UN Women What we urgently need, is to effectively implement the Foreign Employment Act and its regulations, as this would not only end discrimination based on gender, but also adopt special measures to guarantee women's security and rights when seeking jobs overseas, by holding employers and recruiters accountable, says Mio Yokota, UN Women Programme Specialist in Nepal. According to the law, a returnee migrant is eligible to claim full compensation for the money she paid to the recruiting agency if she was declared medically fit to work and still returned on medical grounds by the recruiter. With legal assistance with Pourakhi, Tamang was able to recover 60 per cent of the money that she had paid to the agency. If I had all the receipts for the amount I paid, I would have been compensated 100 per cent. This has been a hard lesson for me. Today, as she gets her strength back, Dolma Tamang is planning for a better future. She is working as a mason and saving to pay back the loans she took to migrate. She will be enrolling in the upcoming vocational and entrepreneurship skills training as part of UN Womens Advancing Womens Economic Empowerment programme in Nepal, funded by the Government of Finland. The programme aims to support 2,000 women, including returnee migrant workers, provide business start-up and employment placement assistance and linkages to financial and private sector institutions. Advertisement Notes Crossposted from UN Women. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown First, I had to stop working because we couldnt access the communities in the suburbs of Damascus once the conflict started. Then, I lost all my friends. None of them are left in Syriathey have either left the country or are in prison. My daughter too had to leave Syria for her safety. I lost the simple things that I took for grantedelectricity, water, leisure time and the simple happiness of everyday life. Back in 2012, when the peace process for Syria started, there were no women involved at any level. This year, with the establishment of the Syrian Womens Advisory Board, we can advise the UN Special Envoy for Syria on the peace process. As members of the Womens Advisory Board, we come from diverse and opposing backgrounds, but we were able to build consensus based on our common agenda for peace. For example, while the issue of the kidnapped and the imprisoned remain contentious among the negotiating delegations, all members of the Womens Advisory Boardthose who were pro-regime and those who were aligned with the oppositionhave agreed and recommended that both the kidnapped and the imprisoned must be released. We have a long way to go, but the only way forward is through the political process. The peace negotiations must resume, and women must be able to influence the decisions. Advertisement Monira Hwaijeh, 58, is one of the 12 members of the Syrian Womens Advisory Board (WAB), established by the UN Special Envoy for Syria earlier this year. Coming from diverse backgrounds, the independent civil society representatives that make up WAB, consult regularly with the Special Envoy and provide recommendations to assist the peace talks. On 31 August, 2016, Ms. Hwaijeh, along with other members of WAB, spoke at a panel event organized by UN Women where they shared their experience and recommendations for lasting peace. Prior to the conflict, Ms. Hwaijeh worked to change discriminatory laws against women and with communities near Damascus to protect womens rights. Today, her work on peacebuilding contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goal 16, which seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies. Crossposted from UN Women. Working at the grassroots level, a programme in the worlds most populous country successfully trained young women to run in local elections, and dismantled negative perceptions and discriminatory rules that hindered womens political participation. Liao Bin, from the Hunan province in China, was elected as the head of her Village Committee at 27. Her average day looks like this: hours spent in efforts to boost the economy of the village, caring for left-behind children of migrant workers, and then whatever is left of the day, she spends visiting village residents to hear about their concerns, and organizing various skills training programmes for the villagers. Chinese women are as capable to govern and lead as men, and must be given equal opportunities to do so, she says. Advertisement Three years ago, Bin decided to pursue a career in local governance after participating in trainings on leadership and political participation for women under the Enhancing Chinese Womens Political Participation programme, run by All-China Womens Federation (ACWF), which is funded by UN Womens Fund for Gender Equality (FGE). Although it was an early champion of adopting temporary special measures and electoral quotas, China ranked 54 in 2015 in terms womens parliamentary representation, with only 23.6 per cent parliamentarians being women. From 2011 to 2015, the All-China Womens Federation programme aimed at improving laws and policies, increasing womens influence in local government, and strengthening the capacity of government, womens groups and civil society to monitor Chinese womens political participation and rights in the provinces of Shanxi, Heilongjiang and Hunan. It contributed towards the adoption of many progressive policiesin Hunan, the updated election guidelines stipulated 30 per cent representation of women in the village committees; in Heilongjiang the proportion was set to be more than 25 per cent; and in Shanxi, at least 15 per cent. Through advocacy and leadership trainings, where women learned campaigning and management skills, and by working with both men and women in leadership positions, the programme led to a significant rise in the number of women active in politics and public life, exceeding the quotas. In Shanxi, womens representation went up to 25.52 per cent in 2014 from 8.61 per cent in 2008; and in Heilongjiang, it reached 25.35 per cent in 2014, an increase of 4.05 per cent from 2011. The programme engaged more than 1,800 policy-makers, 1,000 administrative and party school teachers and students, as well as 8,000 men and women at the village level. Advertisement Local women in China after casting their vote for Village Committee election. Photo: ACWF. Chu Lijuan, 41, had some experience in running for local elections when she heard about the training workshops in 2013. I joined the workshop to gain campaigning skills so that I could prepare a better campaign for the next election, she says. In 2014, Lijuans efforts paid off, and she became the head of the Party Committee in her village in the Heilongjiang province. Along with setting up temporary special measures and quotas, the programme also engaged the media in advocacy for gender equality, highlighting positive role models and helped amend discriminatory village rules that hindered womens political participation. The gains that the programme made continue to grow today, contributing towards changes at the national level as well. Last year, the Chinese Human Resources Authority issued a regulation stipulating the same retirement age for female and male division chief/county-level officials and senior professionals, improving womens chances to rise to higher-level management positions. SWEET HOME The Sweet Home City Council decided Wednesday evening, after meeting in an executive and then a public session, to ask City Manager finalist Raymond Towery to return for a second face-to-face interview session Oct. 3. Towery was one of two finalists who spent Monday in the community, touring the area, answering questions from the public at a noon meet-and-greet session, and then interviewing with the individual council members later in the day. Finalist Harry Staven of Bandon was eliminated from the selection process that evening. Towery has extensive parks-and-recreation experience in his position with the city of Ephrata, Washington, but he has not actually been a city manager, which concerns some of the council members, who believe the next city manager will have to hit the ground running and may not have much time to learn on the job. The city will pay Towery's travel and lodging expenses for the follow-up interview, up to $750, which is contingent on his not accepting another job offer in the meantime. Christy Wurster has been the interim city manager since April. By city charter, the council will have to develop a different contract with her, because the charter sets a six-month window for an interim manager. Councilor Dave Trask said he is willing to travel to Ephrata at his own expense to speak with city staff members, who gave Towery glowing recommendations for his community work. In the interim, council and city staff will review the parameters established for the position and review council expectations, goals and priorities. After reaching a consensus in executive session, Mayor Jim Gouley told a half-dozen community members who attended the public session why the council wanted a second look at Towery. He said the councilors want to get deeper responses to a few questions asked Monday and also determine Towery's overall management experience level. City staff and community members all gave Towery high marks after Monday's events. A time and place for the October interview will be established after interim manager Wurster informs Towery of the council's decision. Deming: While R-CAT stalls, other improvement projects move forward Credit for a job well done benefiting taxpayers coupled with unbelievable bureaucratic delays is the subject of this week's column. Linn County Sheriffs Office deputies arrested a Lebanon grandfather and grandson on drug-dealing charges on Tuesday and seized nearly one pound of methamphetamine. Michael Robert Smith, 68, and Kyle Robert Smith, 21, both of Lebanon, were each arrested on charges of delivery of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine and first-degree child neglect. It was something that needed to be done, said Detective Lt. Dave Snippen. They were supplying a lot of dope to this area and other areas, too. The Smiths were arrested after a search warrant was executed in the 400 block of South 11th Street at about 9:25 a.m. Tuesday. Police found a 4-year-old boy related to the Smiths at the home, and that child was released to his mother, according to a news release. The meth seized on Tuesday had a street value of nearly $8,000, and digital scales, packaging material, drug paraphernalia, drug records, surveillance equipment, $1,970 in cash and eight firearms were seized, the news release states. One of the firearms was reported as stolen to the Albany Police Department in December 2007. Snippen said the case was not directly related to a flurry of Albany Police Department activity in Albany, Lebanon and Salem last week that resulted in the arrested of eight suspects and the seizure of 2.5 pounds of meth and more than $100,000. However, the price of meth is the lowest its been in years, and larger busts are becoming more common because of a glut of supply, Snippen said. LCSO had been actively working the case for more than six months, and had known about the suspects for longer, he added. Heather LeAnn Johnson, 27, and Rochelle Marie Brown, 51, both of Corvallis, also were in 11th Street residence on Tuesday and were each cited and released on a charge of methamphetamine possession. The initial bail for each Smith was set at $36,000 at the Linn County Jail, according to jail logs. The Lebanon Police Department assisted the Linn County Sheriffs Office in the case. Kaytranada Wins Polaris Music Prize 2016 Haitian-born, Montreal-bred electronic musician, DJ, and producer Kaytranada has won the 2016 Polaris Music Prize for his debut album 99.9%, besting the nine other albums on the Polaris Short List. For me, its crazy to get this award, said Kaytranada. Its really, truly, a big honour. Its amazing. Ceci est pour Montreal, tous mes Montrealais. Shout outs to all of yall. I want to thank the judges and everybody for voting for me. Its an honour man, I dont know what to say. The 15-track album, released on XL Recordings, features guest spots from a roster of artists that includes Anderson .Paak, Vic Mensa, Little Dragon, Syd, Craig David, AlunaGeorge, and BadBadNotGood amongst others. Awarded annually, the Polaris Music Prize is intended to recognize the best Canadian album of the year based on artistic merit without regard to genre, sales history or label affiliation, The winner of the award is determined by a Grand Jury of 11 music media professionals drawn from the greater Polaris jury pool of roughly 200 writers, editors, broadcasters, DJs and personalities from across the country. This year's award was presented during a ceremony held at the historic Carlu in downtown Toronto and hosted by CBCs Amanda Parris and Tom Power. The evening featured performances by seven of the 10 nominees, including Black Mountain, Basia Bulat, Carly Rae Jepsen, Jessy Lanza, Andy Shauf, White Lung and U.S. Girls. Grimes and Kaytranada were also in attendance. PUP, the other Short List nominated act, were on tour in Europe. via Celebrity Access Share on: The city of Redmond has closed the acclaimed recreational climbing route it constructed underneath Maple Avenue Bridge after its insurance provider expressed concerns about liability.Redmonds insurance provider, Citycounty Insurance Services (CIS), decided it wouldnt continue to cover the Maple Bridge Arches Climbing Project because of the impact of an unrelated lawsuit in Portland.Annie McVay, Redmonds parks and recreation manager, said the city doesnt intend to permanently close the recreational climbing route and believes that the bridge is very safe.[The insurance company] called our risk management department in June [to] let us know that after the [Supreme Court decision] they were doing a review of their clients, and they felt there was a high risk and wouldnt renew its coverage, McVay said. We tried to get [the insurance company] to reconsiderwe really think that the activity is very safe and has a lot of safeguardsbut it wasnt successful.Maple Avenue Bridge is a 70-foot-tall and 780-foot-long concrete bridge located in Redmonds Dry Canyon Park. The bridge was constructed in 2007 and features three 210-foot arch spans. In July 2015, the first climbing routes were developed.When the recreational climbing route was first opened in July 2015, it wasnt considered a liability risk due to the Oregon Public Use of Lands Act. The act protects public and private property owners from liability if their land is made available to the public free of charge.However, when a legally blind runner injured herself in 2009 after stepping into a hole at a Portland park, she amended her initial lawsuit, naming only the employee whod dug the hole as the defendant. The lawsuit went all the way to the Oregon Supreme Court, which decided that immunity isnt extended to employees who maintain these properties.The resulting ruling has caused insurance companies and the owners of parks and other recreational properties to reconsider their vulnerability to risk.McVay said the city hopes to reopen the recreational climbing route next year by either self-insuring or via a legislative amendment that the city supports.If you think you can help, the City of Redmonds HR and Risk Management division is on (541) 923-7713 Korey Maguire said the beeping smoke alarm and dense smoke startled her from her sleep in the middle of the night. It was just basically a situation where I woke up and realized my house was on fire, she said. Maguire carried her 2-year-old daughter out of the house, then went back inside to wake up her boyfriend, Brad Dinsmore. Dinsmore was so disoriented by the thick smoke and other chaos that he ran toward the kitchen where the fire started and was still raging before Maguire dragged him in the right direction. He almost passed out before he got a taste of fresh air outside. If it was not for my girlfriend, I would not be alive at this moment. Shes a hero of every sort, Dinsmore said. It was terrifying, Maguire said. Were lucky to have survived, and Im just happy were OK. The blaze was reported at 1:42 a.m. The Albany Fire Department responded with 18 personnel from all four stations, and were able to knock the flames down in about 20 minutes. Chris LaBelle, Albany fire marshal, said that the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it was not suspicious. The house was severely damaged. Everything inside was just destroyed. They lost everything, LaBelle added. The Red Cross and the Albany Fire Department are helping the family with a hotel stay, clothing and more. But the family needs additional assistance, said Dinsmore, a painter at Fitzpatrick Painting. We lost it all. Honestly, we just need to find a place to live. We could use clothes, gas donations, just anything right now. Every little bit of money that I had I had tapped out my savings to get into this place, Dinsmore said. His family had moved into the house on Sept. 10. To donate to the family, call Dinsmores sister Breana Vinson at 541-704-5615. Needed are: Mens shirts size large, 34-30 mens pants and mens size 10 shoes; womens size 9 clothing, size large or extra large womens shirts and size 9 womens shoes; and toddlers clothing size 2T to 3T. Maguire said Albany fire personnel tried to salvage some important items, such as a toddler bed, paperwork, cellphone chargers and more, and threw them out of the house to get them away from the flames. They really did put their necks out there to make it easier on us, she added. Passenger Airlifted to Albany After Vermont Crash The passenger in Thursday's accident, Jordan Belliveau, 20, died of his injuries later in the day at Albany Medical Center. WHITINGHAM, Vt. A single-vehicle accident seriously injured a passenger early Thursday morning on Tunnel Street, a mile north of Bosley Hill Road. It took more than an hour for the Readsboro Fire Department to extricate the passenger of a 2007 Dodge Durango that crashed into a tree at about 2 a.m. The passenger's identity was being withheld pending notification of family. North Adams (Mass.) Ambulance Service also responded to the scene. The driver was identified as Patrick Belliveau, 24, of Gardner, Mass. Belliveau had fled the scene, according to Vermont State Police, and was located a short time later about 4 miles away from the accident. Upon taken into custody, he was screened for alcohol and drug impairment and his blood alcohol level was determined to be .089 percent, above the limit of .08. The passenger was air lifted by medical helicopter from the scene to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center and is listed in critical condition. The individual suffered multiple compound fractures, internal injuries, head injuries. Belliveau, who is charged with gross negligent operation (serious bodily injury) and leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, was treated for a fractured arm at Southwest Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. Belliveau may also be charged with driving under the influence pending the results of evidentiary tests. The Durango was considered totaled with front end, undercarriage, passenger side damage. Tunnel Street was closed to traffic for approximately three hours while the crash was investigated. North Adams Anyone with information related to this crash should contact the Vermont State Police at 802-442-5421. CBREPC Chairman Robert Czerwinski said events throughout the county gave regional emergency managers a chance to work cooperatively on a countywide scale. Event-filled Weekend Tested Regional Emergency Managers DALTON, Mass. This past weekend provided an opportunity for emergency management officials to work countywide. With a plethora of events bringing thousands of people the Berkshires, the three Regional Emergency Planning Committees pre-planned responses and allocation of resources should there be a mass casualty incident. "The three divisions' executive boards convened and we looked at what was the potential across the county for that weekend? What was the weather going to be like and stuff like that. We put together plans on where we could shift resources," said Central Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee Chairman Robert Czerwinski, Pittsfield's fire chief. In North Adams, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art's three-day Freshgrass Festival brought some 5,000 to 6,000 people to the campus. Throughout much of South County, the Josh Billings Runaground brought many more. In Lee, Main Street was shut down for Founders Day weekend and an array of events surrounding it and in another part of town, the Hells Angels held a picnic. All of those events had the potential for extra emergency response should something go wrong. "We had to shift some ambulances around during the Josh. We had a great an emergency operations center for the Josh Billings," Czerwinski said. The rain caused a bicycle accident during the triathalon and one ambulance had to depart the event and go to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. Ambulance response was accommodated. Otherwise, all of the events went off without incident. "That was great opportunity for us to work together in a team fashion," Czerwinski said. The next challenge for the Central Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee will be the Wings, Wheels, and Warbirds event at the Pittsfield Municipal Airport on Oct. 8. That event will particularly cause traffic concerns but responders will also be on scene for any needed responses. The event shows off old cars, airplanes, antique military equipment, and some modern vehicles. It also includes an aerial acrobatic show. Airport officials hope to bring a full airshow to the county in the future. Czerwinski said he doesn't know what to expect with this aerial event but will be working with other officials on plans to provide adequate emergency protection. In other business, Czerwinski said the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has released the final updated ethanol incident planning guide and he hopes local fire departments, particularly those with rail lines, review it. "We know the CSX line that comes in through Richmond and basically bisects the county and goes into Becket and Chester, we've got a lot of ethanol being transported on that one rail line. Anywhere from eight to 12 times a month there are dedicated unit trains with over 2 million gallons of ethanol that go on there," Czerwinski said. Ethanol is also transported on the Housatonic and PanAm rail lines. The document is also useful for towns that field calls for service on the Massachusetts Turnpike, where ethanol is transported by trucks. "The document, the final draft that came out in the end of June, it really is a lot of background about ethanol but there is some key information in here, especially for fire chiefs," Czerwinski said. The plan gives guides on the area spill and how much alcohol-resistant, aqueous film-forming foams or water would be needed. The report is also coupled with the release of updated National Fire Protection Association guide for high-hazard flammable trains. That document focuses on on-scene incident command for such events as a train derailment with hazardous chemicals like the Lac-Megantic rail crash in Quebec, when a train carrying 30,000 gallons of crude oil derailed and killed 42 people three years ago. "If I have a rail line in my community, I would get my hands on these documents and share them with the Fire Department," Czerwinski said. Pittsfield to Welcome Syrian Refugees PITTSFIELD, Mass. Some people can't go home. They are in fear for their lives and all they want is to be productive and happy. They come from war-torn countries or areas wrecked by natural disasters. They come running from prosecution because of their religious or personal beliefs. They come wanting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And they hope to find that in the city of Pittsfield. Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts runs a refugee replacement program in the Springfield area and is looking to expand into Pittsfield. The organization wants to settle 51 refugees from Iraq, Syria, and other Arab-speaking countries and give them the opportunity to assimilate into the American culture here in the Berkshires. "These are people who cannot go home. They are in fear for their lives," Maxine J. Stein, president and CEO of JFS, said on Wednesday. "The whole idea is to get people standing on their own two feet." The organization works with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and the U.S. Department of State to run the replacement program. In Springfield, some 250 refugees were accepted and in the coming year, little by little, 51 more are eyed for Pittsfield and the surrounding area. JFS works with area landlords to accommodate rents and each refugee family is given a case worker who will help them find jobs and access needed health services. The federal government subsidizes the program and gives each individual $925 to last three months, which Stein said isn't enough for a first, last, and security deposit for a rent. So, the group arranges a housing situation first with landlords, brings the refugees in, and then starts the three-month process of getting them into a situation where they can sustain themselves. The organization solicits volunteers and donations to help these new Americans get back on their feet. By the end of those three months, the refugees are contributing members of society. "I think the success of the program is the community partners," Stein said. "It has to be that we are doing this together." The city has affordable housing units, an array of entry-level jobs available for refugees to start out at, schools with the ability to work with any students, and an array of community partners willing to step up and help, Stein said. Pittsfield has the right combination of assets to help refugees and experience with replacement programs in the past it was a settlement community for a Russian-Jewish population during the Cold War. "This is a community that has done it before and they know how to do it," Stein said. City Council Vice President John Krol has been involved with the plans for weeks now and says there is plenty of support from those in the housing business, the school system, and faith-based groups. "I think generally speaking there is a great deal of support for it," Krol said. For Krol, the issue isn't just one of compassion for those escaping war-torn cities and natural disaster sites, but also a boon for the city of Pittsfield. The city has been losing population and additional families will quickly become contributing members of the community, he said. "People who come from other countries have a great work ethic and have a huge incentive to build a new life for themselves," Krol said. "By and large, these individuals and families are contributing positively." Krol said Pittsfield was built by immigrants coming here to start new lives. Throughout the years there have been influxes of immigrants from different parts of the world and, eventually, the families assimilated well into the local culture. Not only that, but those immigrants also give back to residents here by providing the enriching experiences of understanding new cultures. "We have a long history of successfully welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees in our community," Krol said. Stein said refugees come with different skill levels and talent, but overall most are dedicated to making themselves a better life and are willing to take the jobs others are unwilling to do. And what that brings to the community is a sense of pride, greater cultural competency, enriched diversity, and a deeper workforce. "It increases diversity, which I think is important. They bring optimism and hope," Stein said. "This could be a very unifying thing for a community." The national conversation, however, has been one of wariness about the refugees particularly when it comes to safety. Krol refutes that argument and says the federal government has strong screening processes and very few refugees are dangerous. "The statistics show the number of people who are dangerous to society is miniscule," Krol said. "There is a very strong vetting process the United States currently has for the refugees." He countered the safety argument by asking "how can you ensure anyone coming into the community won't do something wrong?" Stein also said the program is "very stringent and tightly held by the U.S. government." Not only does each refugee family have to be screened but so does JFS, which has been running such programs since the 1980s, and Pittsfield as a community. And the people of Pittsfield seem supportive, according to Krol. "There were already getting a lot of people reaching out from the Berkshires saying 'how can we help?'" Krol said. JFS has scheduled a meeting on Monday at the Berkshire Athenaeum at 6 p.m. to explain the plans to the public but has been in discussions with community leaders for some time. While Pittsfield is identified as the main location to accept the refugees particularly because of difficulties accessing such things as public transportation outside it there may be some families finding homes in surrounding towns. "There is no expectation that every one of these families will be in Pittsfield proper and not all of the children will be in Pittsfield public Schools," Krol said. Mayor Linda Tyer is aware of the plans but has not yet taken a stance on the issue. "This is the start of a long series of community engagement activities led by a coalition of community partners around this important issue. As the conversations continue, we plan to actively observe, listen and learn from those discussions as to how best we can serve those who may be our new neighbors," Tyer wrote in a statement on Wednesday. Overall, Krol believes the city will greatly benefit from additional families while costing the city very little, if anything at all. The committee formed to find a way to build a public safety building is now asking to look solely at a police station. The police station at Town Hall, a former Williams frat house, is outdated and inaccessible to many with disabilities. Three years ago, a proposal to build a new station on open land next to Town Hall was met with opposition. PreviousNext Williamstown Public Safety Group Finds No Option to Combine Police, Fire Facilities Police Sgt. Scott McGowan said the police station is 'disgusting' and in desparate need of replacement. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. If the Public Safety Building Study Committee has its way, it may not be the Public Safety Building Study Committee much longer. The panel Tuesday decided to ask the Board of Selectmen to give the committee a new focus: developing a plan for a new police station. After years of analysis, the committee reluctantly concluded that the town has no viable option for a combined police and fire facility and should turn its attention to replacing the outdated and inadequate police station , currently housed at Town Hall. The committee was formed in 2013 to look at whether town government could join forces with the Williamstown Fire District, a separate taxing authority, on a combined facility. In fall 2013, the Fire District failed to win voter approval for the purchase of a Main Street parcel where fire officials hoped to build a station to replace their own cramped, outdated facility That same parcel, owned by the estate of Kurt Lehovec, was one of several potential properties studied by the Public Safety Building group, which concluded it was the only workable property for a joint facility. Unfortunately for the town, it was unable to reach a deal with the estate. "The Lehovec thing, if they don't want to work with us that is off the table," Chairwoman Jane Patton said on Tuesday. "If that is off the table, we are unaware of a suitable piece of land. If anyone wants to tell us one, we're happy to hear it." Patton kicked off the meeting by saying she still believed in the idea of a joint facility, but the conversation quickly turned when Sgt. Scott McGowan, who represents the Police Department on the committee, made a plea for the town to abandon the one-building solution. "The combination building, police and fire was economically the best opportunity and would be a better sell to the community," McGowan said. "But by no fault of this committee, it's my personal belief we have absolutely exhausted that opportunity. "I would like to thank [Patton] and Mr. [Andy] Hogeland for the work you did trying to facilitate that with the Lehovecs. I'm sure it was incredibly frustrating. With that said, I believe the Lehovec property was the only site [for a combined facility]. I think it would have been the best site." Now, McGowan said, the town needs to move forward on plans to replace the police station plans, he said, that have been on the books for 40 years. "I can tell you, as the department's investigator, I'm tired of apologizing to victims of serious crimes that the first impression of the Williamstown Police Department is this facility," he said. "This building is disgusting, and it shocks me not only as an employee but as a resident that that's what we offer to this town. Two-thirds of the time, people with disabilities cannot access this police station. I cannot believe in 2016, an individual requiring the use of a wheelchair cannot access our station. "Running a community costs money. I do not have children, but I supported the construction of a new high school. Like everyone else, I am not happy or excited about my tax bill going up [for the Mount Greylock building project], but it is for the betterment of the community. Constructing a new police station is for the betterment of the community." John Notsley, who represents the Fire District on the committee, agreed with McGowan's assessment that the time has come for each municipal entity to find its own solution to its aging facilities. Notsley declined to say what path would be chosen by the Prudential Committee, which oversees the Fire District, other than to say that for now it will just have to do the best it can with the cramped facility on Water Street. Notsley did at one point imply that the town was low-balling on the Lehovec site, for which the Prudential Committee previously had a purchase-and-sale agreement in place. "What did the town offer?" Notsley asked Hogeland, like Patton, a member of the Board of Selectmen. "I'm not prepared to say," Hogeland said. "I heard what you offered, and I would have refused it also," Notsley said. "Then there's no reason for me to say," Hogeland replied. In 2013, the Fire District had a purchase-and-sales agreement in place for $575,000 to acquire the 3.7-acre parcel. It tried at two separate special Fire District meetings to win voter approval of the bond to purchase the land. Each time a majority of voters favored acquisition, but the district did not reach the two-thirds "super majority" threshold it needed. On Tuesday evening, Hogeland said the Lehovec site is currently on the market for "around $630,000 to $650,000." "We did, as a select board, try to move forward with the Lehovecs," said Patton, with Hogeland, a member of the Selectmen. "They were not at all interested. It was a non-starter as far as they were concerned." The last holdout on the committee for continuing to pursue a combined facility site was Finance Committee member Charles Fox. Fox said Tuesday the committee should take another look at the McClelland Press site on North Street. But both Notsley and McGowan dismissed that idea out of hand, noting it sits on "the most dangerous curve in town" and was an illogical site for emergency vehicles. Ann McCallum, an architect and Planning Board member who serves on the committee, said she had done some preliminary drawings for a combined facility on the McClelland site and that it was possible but any such facility would have been cramped. McCallum even said she had concerns about the Lehovec property, given that part of it is in the 500-year floodplain, but she agreed it was the only site in town that met the committee's key criteria for a combined facility: large enough to accommodate the police and fire departments, near the center of town and available for purchase. McCallum moved that the committee rechristen itself the New Police Station Study Committee, a motion that Hogeland suggested she modify to ask the Board of Selectmen, which created the public safety building committee, to do the rebranding. The committee voted, 5-0, to approve that motion. One approach for the committee going forward was suggested on Tuesday by McGowan. He encouraged the town to look back to a police station project conceived by now retired Town Manager Peter Fohlin several years ago. McGowan said the plan, which involves acquiring a small piece of land adjacent to Town Hall from Williams College, makes sense. And he argued that opposition to the proposal was senseless. "As you'll recall, that was met with opposition and some of that opposition was that this is open land and concern about what a police station would look like at our gateway, Field Park," McGowan said. "I'm offended anyone would consider the Williamstown Police Department an embarrassment to the community. I find this piece of land an astoundingly unremarkable piece of land in the community land that is currently owned by Williams College, which can do anything they want with it. "I'm overwhelmingly confident that building an extension off this building can done and make an attractive use of that open land." An artist rendering of the $100 million banknote printing facility to be built in Malta. Crane Currency Building $100M Banknote Printing Facility in Malta Crane CEO Stephen DeFalco, left, and Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat sign an agreement paving the way for Crane's new printing facility. BOSTON Crane Currency is planning a new $100 million banknote printing facility and customer experience center in the country of Malta. The company expects to initially hire approximately 200 new employees. The 140,000 square-foot facility, expected to be completed in early 2018, is being constructed in the Hal Far industrial area. The company made the announcement during a visit to its Boston offices by Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat. Crane & Co., based in Dalton, has been printing currency for more than 200 years and is the only producer of American paper currency at its Dalton plant. "We are delighted to expand our banknote printing capacity with our new facility in Malta," said Stephen P. DeFalco, chief executive officer of Crane Currency, in a statement. "I would like to extend my gratitude to Prime Minister Muscat and Malta Enterprise for their support. We look forward to a long-term relationship with our future employees in Malta and to building the most modern banknote printing facility in the world." Crane currently supports its international customers from its Tumba, Sweden, operations, which includes a modern printing works, banknote paper mill and design services team and from its security technologies operation in New Hampshire and Georgia. We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector LINN COUNTY SHERIFF Burglary arrests 9:48 p.m. Monday, 31900 block Sand Ridge Road. A caller reported a burglary in progress, and added that he rammed a pickup truck as suspects were taking items from a shed. Deputies responded and Charles Kevin Lennon, 52, of Albany, Ragen Mosez Moustachetti, 35, of Salem, and Peter Ivan Kalugin, 44, of Vancouver, Washington, were each arrested on charges of first-degree theft, first-degree burglary and second-degree criminal trespass. Kalugin also had charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and reckless driving and three warrants out of Yamhill County. Lennon had a parole violation warrant. No bail holds were placed on them at the Linn County Jail. Moustachetti was also charged with methamphetamine possession and his initial bail was set at $32,500. Domestic assault arrest 10:13 p.m. Monday, Linn County Jail. Jill Spurgeon-Fanning, 58, of Albany, was arrested on charges of felony fourth-degree assault and interference with making a report. Her initial bail was set at $53,000. LEBANON POLICE Stolen ring 4:23 p.m. Tuesday, Anytime Fitness, 671 S. Main St. A woman reported that her wedding ring was stolen. She took off the ring when she went to work out and accidentally left it in a cubbyhole at the gym. The loss value was approximately $3,000. SWEET HOME POLICE Stolen backpack 6:06 p.m. Monday, Sankey Park. A man reported that his backpack and contents, valued at approximately $1,200, were stolen out of a friends vehicle. Nunchaku threat 10:29 Tuesday, 1100 block Main Street. A man reported he was threatened by a caller with nunchucks. An officer responded to the scene, and the information was noted. The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers. To unlock this article: Imperial Valley News Center Bonhomme Richard Launches NATO Missile Pacific Ocean - Amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) successfully engaged a target drone with a NATO Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile during a fleet firing exercise off the coast of the U.S. territory of Guam as part of the exercise, Valiant Shield 2016 (VS16), September 18. Senior Chief Fire Controlman Joshua Patat, Bonhomme Richard's combat systems maintenance manager, said the launch was conducted to test the ship's self-defense capabilities, as well as watchstanders' abilities to respond to an anti-ship cruise missile threat. "It's been five years since the last time we fired our NATO system and it operated perfectly," said Patat. "I've seen four NATO launches in my career, and I have to say this was the best and smoothest one I've ever seen. The drone ran its course as we planned, the system tracked it the whole way, and NATO killed it just as the system was designed to do." A great deal of hard work by Bonhomme Richard's crew went into preparing the equipment and making sure all the launchers were properly maintained. Additionally, the fire controlmen ran training scenarios to practice. "I was tracking the drone as it was coming in on our target video," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Amanda Bradberry, one of Bonhomme Richard's NATO technicians. "Watching it actually explode when it hit the target was really cool. None of us have ever seen that before and [it] was a great new experience." "As the FOC (firing officer's console) operator, I had to make sure everyone was tracking the target," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Corie Hill. "When the launcher was lined up with the drone, I pushed the fire button to launch the missile. Then I heard the whoosh and I felt a definite 'whoosh' of excitement myself." Before the launch, safety was the number one priority, ensuring no other ships were in the area and no people were outside the skin of the ship. "There are many safety concerns when it comes to a missile launch," said Hill. "We don't want anyone that's sailing nearby being hit with the drone or personnel being injured on deck by a potential rogue drone or the missile launch." All the hard work culminated in a safe and successful launch, and drone engagement. "The launch was phenomenal," said Patat. "Down in CIC (Combat Information Center) it erupted in applause, 'fist-bumping' everywhere. We were really excited, but had to calm back down to make sure we kept tracking in the event of a rogue drone. It was amazing to see so many long days culminate in a fantastic, four-minute evolution." "We finally got to do what FCs are meant to do," said Bradberry. "Everyone always jokes, 'all you guys do is push buttons,' and today we actually got to push a button to launch the missile, which is something that doesn't happen often for FCs in their career." According to Patat, Bradberry, and Hill, the launch proved the system operates as designed. It also provided FCs with the opportunity to show the crew what they are trained to do. Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, is currently participating in VS16. VS16 is a biennial, U.S.-only, field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration of joint training among U.S. forces. This training enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. Governor Brown Issues Statement on Death of Ventura County Firefighter Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued the following statement regarding the death of Ventura County Fire Department Fire Engineer Ryan Osler: Anne and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Fire Engineer Ryan Osler, a man who dedicated his life to protecting his fellow Californians. This tragedy reminds us of the dangers firefighters face every day. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and many colleagues who are mourning this loss. Osler, 38, of Santa Clarita, died today in a vehicle accident near Lompoc in Santa Barbara County while responding to the Canyon Fire. Osler was an 18-year veteran of the Ventura County Fire Department. He is survived by his wife and two children. In honor of Osler, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff. NIST Grants Take Regional Approach to Solve National Cybersecurity Challenge Washington, DC - The U.S. Commerce Departments National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded grants totaling nearly $1 million for five projects that are taking a community approach to addressing the nations shortage of skilled cybersecurity employees. The NIST-led National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), a partnership between government, academia and the private sector, will oversee the grants as part of its mission to support cybersecurity education, training and workforce development. The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education grants support job-driven training programs designed to fill the many cybersecurity job openings in both the public and private sectors, said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. As part of Commerces Skills for Business initiative, these grants strengthen regional workforce partnerships that engage employers to close the gap between talent supply and demand in this critically important high-growth field. A 2015 analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by Stanford Universitys Peninsula Press found that there were more than 209,000 open cybersecurity positions (link is external) in the United States, and the number of job postings had risen 74 percent in the previous five years. NIST will fund five nonprofit organizations to establish partnerships to increase the pipeline of students pursuing cybersecurity careers, help more Americans attain the skills they need for well-paying jobs in cybersecurity, and support local economic development to stimulate job growth. The partnerships will align the workforce needs of local business and nonprofit organizations with the learning objectives of the NICE Workforce Framework. The Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate Cybersecurity and Workforce Development, or RAMPS, projects will run for 15 months. By design, they align with the NICE objective of facilitating state and regional consortia to address local cybersecurity workforce needs. NICE supports local community efforts to leverage regional assets in cybersecurity education, training and workforce development, NICE Director Rodney Petersen said. The RAMPS projects can serve as models for other regions. A strong cybersecurity workforce is not just a need in the IT sector. Private and public organizations involved in critical infrastructuresuch as banking and energyas well as retail companies and small businesses, need a knowledgeable and skilled cybersecurity workforce in todays digital economy, Petersen said. The following organizations will enter into cooperative agreements with NIST: Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) - Central Region Dayton, Ohio: $198,759 SOCHEs Cybersecurity Consortium will lead the new Cincinnati-Dayton Cyber Corridor RAMPS project. SOCHE members include the Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton Development Coalition, University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton and Wright State University. They will work with Cincinnatis extensive commercial sector and Daytons large Department of Defense industry to provide a rich environment for higher education to address the complex workforce demands of cybersecurity. Old Dominion University - Mid-Atlantic Region Norfolk, Virginia: $199,883 The universitys Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research will coordinate the Hampton Roads Cybersecurity Education, Workforce and Economic Development Alliance. It will include two community colleges, two large public school districts, two universities, a large local private employer, a major federal research lab, and several small businesses. The project also will benefit from the advocacy and support of both the City of Virginia Beachs Economic Development Office and Reinvent HR, a Hampton Roads-based workforce initiative. State University of New York at Albany - Northeast Region Albany, New York: $197,085 The Partnership to Advance Cybersecurity Education and Training aligns with the universitys goals to support science, education and workforce capacity within the community. New Yorks Capital Region has a unique workforce potential, with its range of higher education institutions and STEM graduates, and growing advanced technology sectors. The project will seek to build clear educational paths and increase regional workforce capacity for a range of potential careers in cybersecurity, based on industry needs. Chicanos Por La Causa - Southwest Region Phoenix, Arizona: $199,808 The Arizona Statewide Cyber Workforce Consortium, comprising Chicanos Por La Causa and Cyber Security Canyon, will develop a unified approach to creating cybersecurity resources from a number of existing efforts developed in the past five years. The partnership seeks to connect applicants from traditional and nontraditional training backgrounds to provide skilled workers for the growing number of cybersecurity positions in the regions critical infrastructure segments, including manufacturing, health care and the defense industrial base. Pikes Peak Community College - Western Region Colorado Springs, Colorado: $199,681 The RAMPS grant will fund the next phase of the Pikes Peak Community College Cyber Prep Program to establish a formal, sustainable partnership between secondary school districts, employers and the college. Plans include building cybersecurity workforce development pathways to address local workforce needs. The funding will support development of cybersecurity programs in area high schools and in the colleges Area Vocational Program, creating a summer cyber work experience for high school students and exploring registered apprenticeships to ensure a sustainable cyber workforce for the future. The awardees will provide details of their projects at the NICE 2016 Conference and Expo, November 1-2, in Kansas City, Missouri. Belize's National Day Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I offer best wishes to the people of Belize as you celebrate 35 years of independence on September 21. "The United States values our close friendship with Belize and the many ties our countries share. We work together to empower youth, strengthen the rule of law, promote trade, and enhance citizen security. I look forward to deepening the cooperation between our countries in years to come. "On this auspicious day, we offer our warmest regards to Belizeans everywhere for a safe and prosperous future." This Isnt Our Last Love Letter Dear Don Don, Way back in 92 I walked into the room and knew Never felt this way before I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes And the feeling grew As I took a seat I knew A love that would have my heart Forever I knew Way back in 92 They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true We were the exception to that rule Our love had no where to hide A spark set fire As if this is how the universe started I never doubted our love or what we could do Together we grew Forming a bond everlasting That became our glue My euphoria was YOU Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared For how fortunate we were : to have and to hold through sickness and in health Til death do us part Until we are together again This isnt our last love letter I love you with all my heart and soul Yours forever, Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow) Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus. A True American Hero I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus. I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years. I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years. But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us. In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about. Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle. I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life. I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life. No one will ever do what he did. I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO David Jurist IMUS IN THE MORNING FIRST DAY BACK! 'Defeated Pakistan Twice': Desi Twitter 'Rejoices' With Memes after India's Loss to South Africa Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In 1959, New Yorks Museum of Modern Art sent an exhibition to eight European cities concluding at Londons Tate gallery with the calmly self-assured title of The New American Painting. It featured 17 artists, most of whom were associated with Abstract Expressionism, including Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, Arshile Gorky, Barnett Newman and Clyfford Still. While critical reactions on the continent veered between stunned admiration and outrage at this show of large, bold, abstract works (one French critic asked: Why do they think they are artists?), the mood back in New York was one of jubilant triumph. Abstract Expressionism had proved itself. They were right to feel confident: Abstract Expressionism went on to be one of the most widely known movements of 21st century art. Pollock and his paint splatters are practically proverbial today. Yet astonishingly there hasnt been a major group show of these artists in Europe since that touring blockbuster. That changes this week, when the Royal Academy in London brings together works by both core and more peripheral artists for a new group show called simply Abstract Expressionism. While many of the individual artists have had substantial solo shows in the UK over the years, this offers a rare chance to consider their work together, to allow their paintings to really speak to each other. This is a group exhibition because Abstract Expressionism was a group phenomenon, involving painters, sculptors and photographers and stretching from New York City to the West Coast, says Dr David Anfam, art historian and co-curator of the show, who adds that, given it is 57 years since the last group show, the time is ripe to do this at the RA. Willem De Kooning Woman II, 1952, Oil, enamel and charcoal on canvas, 149.9 x 109.3 cm. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller, 1995 2016 The Willem de Kooning Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York and DACS, London 2016 Digital image 2016. The Museum of Modern Art, New York/Scala, Florence Abstract Expressionism was never a self-defined movement; while many of the artists knew each other well, they had no manifesto like, say, the Futurists. The work is varied: De Koonings frantic, grotesque Woman paintings dont appear to have much in common with, for instance, Newmans more minimal, soothing zip canvasses. Still, you can say that, starting in 1940s New York, a coherent group of artists began to produce work of a certain vitality, scale and urgency. Whether through intense fields of colour or dynamic drips, slashes and splashes, these abstractions sought to express a human truth, and to elicit a powerful emotional response in the viewer. As Rothko asserted: Im interested only in expressing basic human emotions tragedy, ecstasy, doom and so on and the fact that lots of people break down and cry when confronted with my pictures shows that I communicate those basic human emotions. Showing these artists together will demonstrate the breadth of work that falls under the Abstract Expressionism banner, and the show has a revisionist side, paying attention to overlooked artists women especially and including photography, works on paper and sculpture as well as monumental paintings. But, crucially, it should also allow the artworks to connect, to hum and resonate with each other. The exhibition is deliberately organised to reveal lines of influence and aesthetic assonance in a group of artists who, as Anfam explains, were often very much aware of each other, socially and artistically. By showing the artists together it is possible to establish new sight lines and experiences for instance, connecting Barnett Newman and Ad Reinhardt, who were both involved, in their different ways, with developing extremes of colour and similar visual absolutes, he continues. Throughout, the curatorial premise is to put the various works in dialogue with each other: Arshile Gorky leading on to his disciple de Kooning, [David] Smith with Pollock, and Pollock himself with his wife Lee Krasner. Culture news in pictures Show all 33 1 /33 Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures 30 September 2016 An employee hangs works of art with "Grand Teatro" by Marino Marini (R) and bronze sculpture "Sfera N.3" by Arnaldo Pomodoro seen ahead of a Contemporary Art auction on 7 October, at Sotheby's in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 29 September 2016 Street art by Portuguese artist Odeith is seen in Dresden, during an exhibition "Magic City - art of the streets" AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 Dancers attend a photocall for the new "THE ONE Grand Show" at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, Germany REUTERS Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 With an array of thrift store china, humorous souvenirs and handmade tile adorning its walls and floors, the Mosaic Tile House in Venice stands as a monument to two decades of artistic collaboration between Cheri Pann and husband Gonzalo Duran REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A gallery assistant poses amongst work by Anthea Hamilton from her nominated show "Lichen! Libido!(London!) Chastity!" at a preview of the Turner Prize in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A technician wearing virtual reality glasses checks his installation in three British public telephone booths, set up outside the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands. The installation allows visitors a 3-D look into the museum which has twenty-two paintings belonging to the British Royal Collection, on loan for an exhibit from 29 September 2016 till 8 January 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 An Indian artist dressed as Hindu god Shiva performs on a chariot as he participates in a religious procession 'Ravan ki Barat' held to mark the forthcoming Dussehra festival in Allahabad AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 Jean-Michel Basquiat's 'Air Power', 1984, is displayed at the Bowie/Collector media preview at Sotheby's in New York AFP/Getty Culture news in pictures 25 September 2016 A woman looks at an untitled painting by Albert Oehlen during the opening of an exhibition of works by German artists Georg Baselitz and Albert Oehlen in Reutlingen, Germany. The exhibition runs at the Kunstverein (art society) Reutlingen until 15 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 24 September 2016 Fan BingBing (C) attends the closing ceremony of the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival at Kursaal in San Sebastian, Spain Getty Images Culture news in pictures 23 September 2016 A view of the artwork 'You Are Metamorphosing' (1964) as part of the exhibition 'Retrospektive' of Japanese artist Tetsumi Kudo at Fridericianum in Kassel, Germany. The exhibition runs from 25 September 2016 to 1 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 22 September 2016 Jo Applin from the Courtauld Institute of Art looks at Green Tilework in Live Flesh by Adriana Vareja, which features in a new exhibition, Flesh, at York Art Gallery. The new exhibition features works by Degas, Chardin, Francis Bacon and Sarah Lucas, showing how flesh has been portrayed by artists over the last 600 years PA Culture news in pictures 21 September 2016 Performers Sean Atkins and Sally Miller standing in for the characters played by Asa Butterfield and Ella Purnell during a photocall for Tim Burton's "Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children" at Potters Field Park in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A detail from the blanket 'Alpine Cattle Drive' from 1926 by artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner is displayed at the 'Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum for Contemporary Arts' in Berlin. The exhibition named 'Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - Hieroglyphen' showing the complete collection of Berlin's Nationalgallerie works of the German artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and will run from 23 September 2016 until 26 February 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A man looks at portrait photos by US photographer Bruce Gilden in the exhibition 'Masters of Photography' at the photokina in Cologne, Germany. The trade fair on photography, photokina, schowcases some 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries and runs from 20 to 25 September. The event also features various photo exhibitions EPA Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A woman looks at 'Blue Poles', 1952 by Jackson Pollock during a photocall at the Royal Academy of Arts, London PA Culture news in pictures 19 September 2016 Art installation The Refusal of Time, a collaboration with Philip Miller, Catherine Meyburgh and Peter Galison, which features as part of the William Kentridge exhibition Thick Time, showing from 21 September to 15 January at the Whitechapel Gallery in London PA Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Artists creating one off designs at the Mm6 Maison Margiela presentation during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer collections 2017 in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Bethenny Frankel attends the special screening of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" to celebrate the 25th Anniversary Edition release on Blu-Ray and DVD in New York City Getty Images for Walt Disney Stu Culture news in pictures 17 September 2016 Visitors attend the 2016 Oktoberfest beer festival at Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany Getty Images Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Visitors looks at British artist Damien Hirst work of art 'The Incomplete Truth', during the 13th Yalta Annual Meeting entitled 'The World, Europe and Ukraine: storms of changes', organised by the Yalta European Strategy (YES) in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation at the Mystetsky Arsenal Art Center in Kiev AP Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Tracey Emin's "My Bed" is exhibited at the Tate Liverpool as part of the exhibition Tracey Emin And William Blake In Focus, which highlights surprising links between the two artists Getty Images Culture news in pictures 15 September 2016 Musician Dave Grohl (L) joins musician Tom Morello of Prophets of Rage onstage at the Forum in Inglewood, California Getty Images Culture news in pictures 14 September 2016 Model feebee poses as part of art installation "Narcissism : Dazzle room" made by artist Shigeki Matsuyama at rooms33 fashion and design exhibition in Tokyo. Matsuyama's installation features a strong contrast of black and white, which he learned from dazzle camouflage used mainly in World War I AP Culture news in pictures 13 September 2016 Visitors look at artworks by Chinese painter Cui Ruzhuo during the exhibition 'Glossiness of Uncarved Jade' held at the exhibition hall 'Manezh' in St. Petersburg, Russia. More than 200 paintings by the Chinese artist are presented until 25 September EPA Culture news in pictures 12 September 2016 A visitor looks at Raphael's painting 'Extase de Sainte Cecile', 1515, from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence during the opening of a Raphael exhibition at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia. The first Russian exhibition of the works of the Italian Renaissance artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino includes eight paintings and three drawings which come from Italy. Th exhibit opens to the public from 13 September to 11 December EPA Culture news in pictures 11 September 2016 Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd perform during Otis Redding 75th Birthday Celebration - Rehearsals at the Macon City Auditorium in Macon, Georgia Getty Images for Otis Redding 75 Culture news in pictures 10 September 2016 Sakari Oramo conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus and the BBC Singers at the Last Night of the Proms 2016 at the Royal Albert Hall in London PA Culture news in pictures 9 September 2016 A visitor walks past a piece entitled "Fruitcake" by Joana Vasconcelo, during the Beyond Limits selling exhibition at Chatsworth House near Bakewell REUTERS Culture news in pictures 8 September 2016 A sculpture of a crescent standing on the 2,140 meters high mountain 'Freiheit' (German for 'freedom'), in the Alpstein region of the Appenzell alps, eastern Switzerland. The sculpture is lighted during the nights by means of solar panels. The 38-year-old Swiss artist and atheist Christian Meier set the crescent on the peak to start a debate on the meaning of religious symbols - as summit crosses - on mountains. 'Because so many peaks have crosses on them, it struck me as a great idea to put up an equally absurd contrast'. 'Naturally I wanted to provoke in a fun way. But it goes beyond that. The actions of an artist should be food for thought, both visually and in content' EPA Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures There are rooms devoted solely to Still and to Rothko but they adjoin each other, with the curators hoping it will be possible to make visual connections between the two artists for those who want to do so. Other rooms are thematic: one, entitled Darkness Visible, will bring together works by several of the Abstract Expressionists who, at different points in their careers, explored the hypnotic power of blackness and shadowy depths of colour. That there should be artistic overlap is no surprise; although not confined to New York, many Abstract Expressionists lived and worked there in the Forties and Fifties, and would gather in cheap bars and cafes to drink hard, and talk harder. Gorky, De Kooning, Smith and others would eat at Romany Maries, a gloomy little cafe in Greenwich Village, and afterwards many tables would be commandeered at the seedy Waldorf Cafeteria for heated discussions about art, amid a clientele of cabbies, bums and pickpockets. At the end of 1949, De Kooning, Kline, Reinhardt and others established The Club in a loft in the East Village; it hosted Wednesday evening discussion groups on lofty topics such as the function of art, and its moral value. Weekends there, however, were for dancing, the alcohol chipped in for by whoever was least broke, and served in paper cups. More booze-fuelled fervent discussion would continue in the cramped Cedar Street Tavern, where Rothko, Newman, Kline, de Kooning and Pollock all would gather. Its no wonder artistic influence not to mention petty jealousies and deeper feuds spread among them. It was Clyfford Still who influenced Mark Rothkos breakthrough into abstraction during the second half of the 1940s, suggests Anfam. Some of David Smiths sculptures also clearly echoed Pollocks paintings. And Pollock and De Kooning famously became rivals who each vied to be the numero uno, as it were, of the whole group. By the mid-Fifties, Abstract Expressionism might have been rising in artistic importance, and in financial value, but the relationships within the loose group were falling apart. Still wrote letters denouncing Rothkos desire for bourgeois success, while Newman also claimed Rothko had stolen from his paintings. Newman tried to sue Reinhardt for publishing a sneering account of him in a satirical piece about the New York art scene, and he and Still also fell out over accusations of copying. Mark Rothko No. 15, 1957, Oil on canvas, 261.6 x 295.9 cm. Private collection, New York 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko ARS, NY and DACS, London Hey, no one ever said being part of a major artistic phenomenon would be easy. But given there were such intense relationships, its surely surprising that there havent been more group shows. Aside from the physical considerations securing loans of such vast canvasses isnt easy why might this be the case? Abstract Expressionism was so huge that it soon got taken for granted throughout the art world, suggests Anfam. With many other, also highly significant, movements rapidly following it from Pop to Minimalism to Conceptualism he thinks Abstract Expressionism got somewhat elbowed out of the way. Now is the moment to see its breadth and depth afresh. Its an art of enormous ambition and originality, with which we need to reckon once more. Abstract Expressionism is at the Royal Academy in London, 24 September to 2 January Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} What does The Fall need to do in series three?, asked a newspaper think-piece earlier this year, before the journalist provided his own answer. Kill Jamie Dornan!. Charming, laughs Dornan, who plays the serial murderer Paul Spector, a broodingly handsome family man who has been stalking and strangling brunettes (his speciality) across Belfast for two series of BBC2s most watched drama in over a decade. Hunting him has been Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (played by Gillian Anderson), who, at the end of series two, finally seemed to have nabbed her man although Spector was inconveniently gunned down by an aggrieved former client (rather splendidly, Spector worked as a bereavement counsellor) that left him lying in Gibsons arms, his blood spreading across her trademark silk blouse. Gillian Anderson as DSI Stella Gibson and Jamie Dornan as Paul Spector in The Fall (BBC/The Fall 3 Ltd/Des Willie) Now, fairly obviously, Spector will survive albeit after an opening episode that is more akin to a particularly gory episode of Jed Mercurios medical drama, Critical for otherwise we wouldnt have a satisfactory conclusion to this particular game of cat-and-mouse. But finally incarcerated, can The Fall still generate enough suspense? The publicist sitting in on the interview gives a little yelp as we stray into spoiler territory, but Dornan is willing to give my question a shot. A way of answering it would be... he will do whatever it takes to stay in control of the situation, says the 34-year-old actor from Co Down in Northern Ireland. And as much as hes caught and in police custody, he hasnt been convicted of anything, so that in itself brings up a lot of interesting prospects. And what it also means is more scenes like the 20-minute two-hander between Anderson and Dornan in the final episode of series two, which Dornan describes as maybe my favourite day of work ever. Eleven episodes in, it was also virtually the first screen time that the two stars of The Fall actually got to share. After the first series people would come up to me and say, I love The Fall... whats Gillian Anderson like to work with? remarks Dornan. And Id say, Ive no idea... I saw her three times during the first series: the read-through, one moment we had in the corridor of the police station, and then one day in the make-up trailer when she was working in the morning and I was working in the afternoon. Generally it was either a Jamie day or a Gillian day, and Gillian has a young family as do I, so any time off I wasnt in Belfast, I was back with my family. We didnt see each other at all until we did all this press together and getting to know each other in the joint interviews. Dornan is married to actress Amelia Warner, and they have two children aged two and six months. He says that Warner knows its just a job and isnt fazed by the idea that her husband has become a star on the back of two roles that see him cast as a sexually-motivated serial killer and (in Fifty Shades of Grey and its already filmed sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed) as BDSM spanker Christian Grey. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up As to what the creator, writer and (later) director of The Fall, Allan Cubitt saw in Dornan to cast him as Paul Spector, the actor says he is unsure. I would like to know the answer to that one too, he laughs in his agreeably self-deprecating manner. Cubbitt himself says he went out on a limb to cast Dornan even telling the BBC that without him there would be no show. Jamie hadnt done a massive amount and there were other names floating about, but I was absolutely convinced that we had our Spector, Cubbitt tells me. I got very vociferous about it and said, if its not Jamie than we dont have anyone. And I sent the tape off to Gillian and said, I think weve found our Spector and she e-mailed me back to say Hoorah... we absolutely have. So that was a very useful help in my argument. An important difference between Dornan and the other actors during the six-hour audition came when he had to play Spector as a family man. He was apparently alone in portraying him as a normal loving father. I think it would be wrong to play him entirely as a monster, says Dornan. One of the things that makes Spector compelling is that there are relatable aspects to him... there are no undercurrents of menace in those moments because its a father talking to his daughter. The actors compellingly inscrutable performance has been the making of him and almost certainly led directly to the Fifty Shades franchise, during which he also found time to co-star with Cillian Murphy in the film Anthropoid, about the wartime assassination by Czech resistance fighters of SS General Reinhard Heydrich in 1942. He's also filmed the upcoming Netflix drama The Siege of Jadotville, about a courageous real-life defence by Irish UN soldiers besieged during a 1961 civil war in Central Africa. And he is reported to be in talks to play Will Scarlett in the upcoming Sherwood Forest epic Robin Hood: Origins, in which Taron Egerton takes the title role and Jamie Foxx portrays Little John. Jamie Dornan on 'This Morning' TV show (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock) Its all a long way from Dornans days as a highly-paid model, most famously posing with Kate Moss in nothing but Calvin Klein jeans. I hated it... I might as well as say that now, he comments of his job as a much sought-after mannequin. The work has however left him sanguine on the subject of objectification, a subject that has of late exercised other objects of the female gaze, Kit Harrington and Henry Cavill. Scenes like that are written often with an eye to attracting attention and gaining viewers, he says. Im only thinking of Poldark here because on the train yesterday morning there was a whole bloody thing about Aidan Turners body and Ive been in that situation before myself with people focusing on that instead of anything else. Dornan feels bitter-sweet about bidding farewell to his career-making role as Spector. It feels like a very appropriate and natural conclusion to the story, he says. It would have been very hard to continue the Gibson-Spector dynamic beyond a third series especially considering as he is not even loose. And even if he was, and he was still killing people and she couldnt catch him, that would get pretty tiresome after a while. Gillian Anderson has stated her desire to return to the role of Stella Gibson at a later date. What would Dornan feel about The Fall without his involvement? I would definitely watch it, he says. Id probably get a job as a runner, or make people tea, just hang out. Its a job that means a lot to me and a mainly Irish crew who have become family over four-and-a-half years. On the other hand, not have to inhabit the mind of someone so horrific will maybe be a bit of a relief. The Fall returns to BBC2 at 9pm on Thursday 29 September Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for insider tips and product reviews from our shopping experts Sign up for our free IndyBest email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyBest email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theres little more festive than a Christmas hamper a luxury wicker box filled with deliciously decadent goodies for the yuletide period. Whether its a gift for your festive host, or something for the food-lover in your life, theyre perfect for that person who just has everything. The contents are either edible or drinkable, so they wont be hanging around after 25 December. Hampers are also full of extravagant luxuries that people often wont buy themselves, which makes them exciting gifts. Wicker-style baskets, meanwhile, can be reused for years, and many of the tins inside them will find permanent homes holding biscuits or tea bags. And were sure that you or whoever you deem lucky enough to send one to will find some new favourite brands and goodies among the hampers contents, from chocolates by artisan makers to little pots of olives you simply have to have in the cupboard. But with so many to choose from, and so many newer brands getting in on the action, it can be hard to know which ones are actually worth buying. So weve done the hard work for you, and given them all a try. Read more: How we tested Our army of testers had the arduous task of tasting, cooking and sharing out the wonderful snacks, sweet treats and savoury items in these hampers, as well as drinking copious amounts of tea, coffee, cocktails and wine whether mulled or sparkling along the way. We considered the quality of the products in the hamper, the breadth of selection and the presentation of the whole thing. There were also extra points for plastic-free packaging or other eco-credentials. One of the most important factors we considered was how useful the items were, and whether or not theyd only gather dust at the back of a cupboard for years to come. And lastly, of course, the price. No one wants to feel like theyve overpaid for a wicker basket. The best Christmas hampers for 2021 are: Best for Boxing Day Rick Stein luxury Boxing Day hamper: 199, Rickstein.com Rick Stein luxury Boxing Day hamper: 199, Rickstein.com Best value hamper Pantree luxury gourmet hamper with negroni and bubbly: 145, Pantree.co Pantree luxury gourmet hamper with negroni and bubbly: 145, Pantree.co Best-looking hamper Liberty heritage strawberry thief hamper: 110, Libertylondon.com Liberty heritage strawberry thief hamper: 110, Libertylondon.com Best selection of goodies Daylesford pantry hamper: 235, Daylesford.com Daylesford pantry hamper: 235, Daylesford.com Best organic hamper Delicario joyful Christmas hamper: 150, Delicario.com Delicario joyful Christmas hamper: 150, Delicario.com Best for breakfast Harvey Nichols champagne breakfast hamper: 95, Harveynichols.com Harvey Nichols champagne breakfast hamper: 95, Harveynichols.com Best for supporting local Brixton Village x Good Sixty Guzzl food and drink selection hamper, large: 115, Goodsixty.co.uk Brixton Village x Good Sixty Guzzl food and drink selection hamper, large: 115, Goodsixty.co.uk Best crowd-pleaser Panzers Christmas connoisseur hamper: 135, Panzers.co.uk Panzers Christmas connoisseur hamper: 135, Panzers.co.uk Best fresh food hamper Fortnum & Mason pantry hamper: 150, Fortnumandmason.com Fortnum & Mason pantry hamper: 150, Fortnumandmason.com Best vegan hamper Selfridges vegan Christmas hamper: 120, Selfridges.com Selfridges vegan Christmas hamper: 120, Selfridges.com Best affordable vegan hamper Mindful Bites classic vegan hamper box: 39.99, Mindfulbites.co.uk Mindful Bites classic vegan hamper box: 39.99, Mindfulbites.co.uk Best for seasonal British produce Crowleys of Suffolk the holiday deluxe hamper: 350, Crowleysofsuffolk.com Crowleys of Suffolk the holiday deluxe hamper: 350, Crowleysofsuffolk.com Best cafe delicacies The Wolseley medium hamper: 115, Thewolseley.com The Wolseley medium hamper: 115, Thewolseley.com Best seafood hamper Wright Brothers indulgent Christmas smoked fish hamper: 105, Thewrightbrothers.co.uk Wright Brothers indulgent Christmas smoked fish hamper: 105, Thewrightbrothers.co.uk Best small Christmas hamper Selfridges selection mini classic Christmas hamper: 75, Selfridges.com Selfridges selection mini classic Christmas hamper: 75, Selfridges.com Best artisan veggie hamper Flourish and Rye after hours food hamper: 130, Flourishandrye.co.uk Flourish and Rye after hours food hamper: 130, Flourishandrye.co.uk Best luxury veggie hamper Cutter & Squidge food and wine Christmas hamper: 250, Cutterandsquidge.com Cutter & Squidge food and wine Christmas hamper: 250, Cutterandsquidge.com Best budget-friendly veggie hamper Asda extra special champagne hamper: 80, Asda.com Asda extra special champagne hamper: 80, Asda.com Best gourmet bakes Le Pain Quotidien festive hamper: 90, Lepainquotidien.com Le Pain Quotidien festive hamper: 90, Lepainquotidien.com Best for families Hampers.com family Christmas hamper: 125, Hampers.com Rick Stein luxury Boxing Day hamper Best: For Boxing Day Rating: 9/10 Number of products : 14 : 14 Last orders for Christmas: 22 December As one of the seven food hampers on offer from the TV chefs online shop, this large selection shows off plenty of the brands produce from Cornwall and beyond, and is packed full of things to up your Boxing Day feast. From savoury oat biscuits that are perfect for the cheeseboard, to piccalilli, chutneys, jams and olives that will zing up your leftover meat, theres everything you need even a jar of poached pears for an easy pudding. There are also two little tins of pilchards (one in olive oil, one in tomatoes) from the Pilchard Works, based in Newlyn, one of Cornwalls biggest fishing ports both of which make a great and easy breakfast. To the sweet things, which include drinking chocolate, cookies and branded Rick Stein chocolate bars. We particularly liked the box of truffles from local and award-winning chocolatier Nicky Grant, as well as the florentines, which are new to the hampers this year. Theyre sticky, crunchy and sweet, just as they should be, and are perfect to nibble on. But our favourite? The Kewpie mayonnaise, which you may have seen doing the rounds on TikTok, which is famed for its creamy flavour, instantly recognisable packaging and squeezy bottle. Apparently its Ricks favourite mayo too. Theres also a Rick Stein white and blue lobster printed tea towel that will bring a little touch of Padstow to any kitchen. Its a well thought out box, perfect for someone who loves to remember good times in Cornwall through its local produce. Plus, theres nothing that will sit at the back of your cupboard, unused. Buy now 199 Rickstein.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Pantree luxury gourmet hamper with negroni and bubbly Best: Value hamper Rating: 8.5 Number of products : 15 : 15 Last orders for Christmas: 23 December Set up during the pandemic by husband and wife duo Anna and Mark, Pantree makes shopping small easier. Describing itself as an Amazon challenger, it allows you to buy lots of items from small businesses all in one place, with one delivery charge. Featuring plenty of brands IndyBest already loves and has featured, including Small Beer and Nemi Teas, theres a huge range of incredible small producers handpicked by Anna and Mark themselves. With a whopping 15 products included here, its hard to know where to start. We were impressed with Forty Halls sparkling brut, which comes from the 10-acre community vineyard in north Londons Enfield. The hamper also includes four different types of charcuterie from Crown & Queue, also based in London, which uses only lovingly raised British Heritage pork. Cheese comes in the form of a classic Cropwell Bishop stilton pot and a winsdale, which is like camembert, but better. Other preserves include ChimiLoves mayonnaise, which is vegan and has a South American twist to it, and The Preservation Societys apple and ale chutney. Our favourite? The sea salt dark truffles from Wicked & Wonderful. Theyre little cubes of heaven that were going to be stocking up on. Considering the amount of items you get in this one, which is almost double some others for the same price, we think its great value, especially considering the excellent quality of the products. To top it all off, everything is shipped in eco-friendly packaging (including a wicker basket without a lid, which can be reused as storage) and carbon emissions are offset through the WWFs Gold Standard programme, supporting food-related initiatives across the globe. Hats off to you, Pantree. Buy now 145 Pantree.co {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Liberty heritage strawberry thief hamper Best: Looking hamper Rating: 8/10 Number of products : 9 : 9 Last orders for Christmas: 22 December Coming in a cuter than cute little suitcase, adorned with the famous William Morris Strawberry Thief print, this hamper immediately sets itself apart from the wicker ilk. Its topped off with a convenient metal handle to carry it around, as who wouldnt want to use this beauty in some form afterwards? Inside is just as good, as its filled with some of the most-loved treats from the department stores mini food hall. Each item is selected from artisanal producers around the country and then packaged in some of Libertys signature prints. Featuring dried goods only, this ones for the chocolate and tea lovers among us. Including tins of earl grey and breakfast loose leaf (again, both printed with the same Strawberry Thief pattern), while chocolate fans will rejoice over three slabs and a box of truffles. Made in Dorset, our favourite of the chocolate selection was the sea salt caramel need we say more? There are also two tins of shortbread, which is soft and buttery we especially liked the fruit-filled version and a little jar of strawberry jam. All of the tins are reusable, and theyre simply far too beautiful not to. For any Liberty, William Morris or tea and chocolate fan, this is a perfect gift and for those who love all of the above, its a no-brainer. Plus, you can keep the suitcase forc hildrens toys or dressing up. Buy now 110 Libertylondon.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Daylesford pantry hamper Best: Selection of goodies Rating: 9/10 Number of products : 17 : 17 Last orders for Christmas: 18 December for 20 December delivery There are big hampers, and then theres this one, complete with no less than 17 items from the organic Daylesford farm shop. It all comes inside the brands (huge) white wicker hamper, complete with leather straps and a linen lining. We actually tried the very similar Christmas pantry hamper (295, Daylesford.com), which has now sold out and is more festive-themed, but this pantry hamper is very similar. Drinks are Italian, from prosecco to a white rosso (we also had a red falerio and a small bottle of slow gin in our hamper too) and all are delicious. In our hamper we had plenty of snacks, from chili nut mixes that are great for picking at, to decadent dark chocolate salt thins. Theres also red onion marmalade and piccalilli that will effortlessly uplift your cheeseboard, along with more traditional pantry items, such as English mustard, tins of beans, chickpeas, chopped tomatoes, dried pasta, tomato and olive sauce and pea and basil dressing so you wont have to nip out to the shops during the "Twixmas" period to whip up a quick non-turkey meal. Other essentials include a caddy of organic loose breakfast tea and a bag of organic ground coffee, along with savoury biscuits that come in the signature Daylesford reusable tins. Daylesford also gives back: for every hamper sold the brand plants a native broadleaf tree which helps to promote biodiversity and restore natural habitats. Buy now 235 Daylesford.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Delicario joyful Christmas hamper Best: Organic hamper Rating: 8/10 Number of products : 8 : 8 Last orders for Christmas: 22, 23 or 24 December, depending on your location Encased in a classic wicker number with brown faux leather straps and a cotton lining, this hamper is from the online delicatessen Delicario, which specialises in items from small-scale sustainable producers around Europe that follow a farm-to-table approach. We loved seeing a generously sized classic Italian panettone inside, which is, in our opinion, a much better option than a Christmas pudding. And this one comes from one of the most highly awarded bakeries in Italy. Inside there are also snacks and sweet treats to keep guests entertained, from pistachio biscotti to hazelnuts in honey and handmade Belgian truffles, while the chilli preserve is another instant cheeseboard winner. Its all topped off with a bottle of brut champagne from a French family vineyard, which is a blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier grapes. Its creamy, fruity and fresh just what you need at this time of year. We love the excellent quality of the products here and feel like weve taken a little trip to Italy. It is expensive for eight products, compared to some other hampers weve tested, but we still think its worth it. Buy now 150 Delicario.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Harvery Nichols champagne breakfast hamper Best: For breakfast Rating: 8/10 Number of products : 7 : 7 Last orders for Christmas: 3pm on 17th December (named weekday delivery) Christmas morning is one of the most exciting breakfasts going. We think it calls for champagne, and quite frankly, going all out. To help us do just that, this hamper has all the essential ingredients. Inside the distinctive black wicker hamper is the department stores own-brand premier cru brut champagne. Made with pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes, its produced for Harvey Nichols by the well-established Lombard & Medot. And if the morning is too early for you, it will also go perfectly with canapes and nibbles later in the day. This hamper offers up a lighter bite, but adds a little decadence along the way with its preserves. Enter the strawberry jam with champagne, orange and cranberry marmalade and the orange blossom honey, all of which is perfect for slathering on toast, pastries and anything else that takes your fancy. Non-alcoholic drinks have not been forgotten either, as the hamper features a generous pack of house blend coarse ground coffee, as well as a box of 20 English teabags, so theres plenty to go around if youre hosting a lot of family members this year. And if thats not enough to satisfy your tum first thing, and you need a little something to tide you over until the main event, there are also some white chocolate shortbread biscuits. This makes a perfect gift for the host if youre staying at someones house this Christmas, and helps take the pressure of the morning if theyre otherwise engaged with a bird and an oven. Buy now 95 Harveynichols.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Brixton Village x Good Sixty Guzzl food and drink selection hamper, large Best: For supporting local Rating: 8/10 Number of products: 8 Good Sixty, an independent food-delivery service, has partners with Londons Brixton market to showcase some of its truly excellent produce. The service operates in London, Bristol, Bath, Oxford and Exter, offering the convenience of online shopping, but with the ability to buy plenty of local products in one go. Featuring items from Guzzl, a food shop based in Brixton Village since 2017 which is full of small but mighty brands, you can choose from small (57), medium (86) or large (115) hampers. You then choose between a cardboard box or two styles of wicker hamper. The pictures on the website offers an idea of the types of things you might get in yours, as you can either choose them yourself or let the brand do it for you. We did the latter, and we were impressed. Although its not outwardly festive, we still think all of it can be used over Christmas at some point, and in our box we received Seggiano organic pasta shells along with a jar of the same brands gorgeous tomato pesto sauce, for a quick and easy meal. Other treats included white vanilla hot chocolate from Love Coca (one of our favourite chocolate brands at IndyBest), and organic black pepper oatcakes from Island Bakery on the Isle of Mull. And three other products have quite rightly been given Great Taste awards. A sour cherry dark chocolate from Wicked & Wonderful (which also features in Pantrees offering), comes alongside the Hawkshead Relish Companys orange and whiskey marmalade, and an incredible jar of sunshine rosemary and garlic olives from Olives Et Al. Quite literally drenched in excellent olive oil, were now obsessed with them. The delivery service has zero emissions and you can choose from meaty or vegan-friendly boxes. It comes in a nifty red cardboard box with a handle, which can easily be reused for another gift, or recycled. Buy now 115 Goodsixty.co.uk {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Panzers Christmas connoisseur hamper Best: Crowd-pleaser Rating: 8/10 Number of products: 9 9 Last orders for Christmas: 22 December Arriving neatly presented in a sturdy ribbon-tied box rather than traditional wicker, Panzers Christmas connoisseur hamper showcases plenty of the best bits from this London-based Jewish deli. Suitably festive decadence is present in the form of 1/2lb smoked salmon and a 15g jar of caviar, but even the less extravagant details are beautifully curated. The Fine Cheese Co. crackers are good enough to nibble on their own, but all the better for a slither of the enclosed blocks of stilton or montgomery cheddar, which our testers found to be just as delicious stuffed into a cheese toastie on Boxing Day as they would be on the cheeseboard for the main event. Sweet teeth are satisfied by rich Firetree dark chocolate and traditional chocolate-dipped peel. Topped off with a selection of natural nuts and smooth, jammy Delaforce LBV port 2021 to wash down your turkey, this package is a great all-rounder that households of all sizes will love to work their way through. Buy now 135 Panzers.co.uk {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Fortum & Mason the Christmas pantry hamper Best: Fresh food hamper Rating: 8/10 Items : 10 : 10 Last order date for Christmas: N/A Designed with Boxing Day in mind, this one comes in a medium-sized signature F&M branded wicker hamper and offers up plenty of the necessities for what we think is the best day of the festivities. For us, the highlight inside is the cooked ham. It may be mini, but packs a punch when it comes to flavour which has been dry cured and glazed with demerara sugar for a sweet touch too, and will be the star of your cold meats lunch, were sure of it. Its also a time saver as you dont need to cook it hurrah.Next up is the Scottish smoked salmon, which comes in a generous 200g pack of large layers of pinky fish. It has been smoked over British oak for up to 48 hours and is delicious, fresh and almost creamy, and deserves to be the star of your breakfast. Theres also a decent wedge of cave aged cheddar, and to go with it are two boxes of crackers; walnut and seed, or beetroot. To help make your cheeseboard shine, theres a dill and mustard sauce, pitted olives in brine that are salty and dangerously morish, and of course Boxing Day chutney. Along with a bottle of robust Argentinian malbec that will help you polish off the cheese. We love the ginger and pecan buttery biscuits too that are perfect to pop out if anyone pops over for a cuppa. Fortnums never lets you down, and for any fan of the department store, or if youre going to someone elses for Boxing Day, this makes a great gift. The pantry hamper is currently out of stock but theres plenty more stellar selections in the Fortnum & Mason range. Buy now 150 Fortnumandmason.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Selfridges vegan Christmas hamper Best: Vegan hamper Rating: 9.5/10 Number of items: 7 7 Last orders for Christmas: 1pm on 22 December, for delivery 23 December When your gifting calls for a touch of extravagance without animal products, this hamper from Selfridges is as chic as it is scrumptious. Arriving in a dark brown picnic basket with trademark-yellow fastenings, opening it gives that all-important flush of excitement, while the reams of recyclable yellow paper inside, cushioning all the treats, provide a feeling of festive abundance. Contents-wise, shes a doozy, with a mix of Christmasy items that are normally vegan (turkish delight; cherry and sherry jam) and those that are not and therefore feel like a real treat were looking at you, salted caramel and chocolate panettone. And the panettone is the star of the show here: its light, buttery (somehow) and has big chunks of caramel hovering within the pillowy cakeyness, waiting to ooze salted sweetness when you bite into them. Honestly, its exceptional we had a bunch of non-vegans wholeheartedly agree. Other highlights include a densely indulgent fruit and nut fudge bar which, if microwaved, results in an absolutely ludicrous ice-cream sauce (yes, we are mavericks). Theres also some lemon-flavoured Turkish delight that sent one of our testers mothers into a total spin, and a mulled wine courtesy of a collaboration with boujie retailer Shop Cuvee. The wine was a little nutmeggy for our tastes (not for our mulled wine reviewer, though), but impressed for being miles more interesting than your average pub fare even when decanted from a Thermos in the middle of a dog walk. The coffee was a little uninspiring, but that can be forgiven considering hampers like these need to have long best-before dates its a small concession in an ultimately fabulous selection of plant-based delights. Buy now 120 Selfridges.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Mindful Bites classic vegan hamper box Best: Affordable vegan hamper Rating: 7.5/10 Number of items: 5 5 Last orders for Christmas: 17 December At the more affordable end of the gifting hamper scale, Mindful Bites makes vegan treats including, at this time of year, fabulous panettones. Although theres no picnic basket here, there is really festive packaging that feels gifty but not over the top its all easily recycled and wont put your recipient into a spin about whether or not they need to keep it. Both panettones were delicious, although we found the chocolate one to be a little lighter and more scrumptious there is a chocolate-only version of the box (39.99, Mindfulbites.co.uk) should you be willing to sacrifice a touch of Christmassyness. Theres also some very vanilla-y biscotti, that really took us back to our pre-vegan days, and two Mindful Bites chocolate spreads (one with hazelnut, one dark) which will instantly become the most-frequented jars in your larder. We found ourselves reaching for them to enjoy on toast, with desserts, and occasionally just swept over a digestive in an act of biscuit-based anarchy. Its a great-value box that we think would be the perfect thing to send the vegan (or just vegan-curious) cake-lover in your life. Buy now 39.99 Mindfulbites.co.uk {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Crowleys of Suffolk the holiday deluxe hamper Best: For seasonal British produce Rating: 8.5/10 Number of items: 17 17 Last orders for Christmas: 17 December If youre looking for a luxury hamper that celebrates the best of British produce, Crowleys of Suffolk is the place to shop. Its gourmet boxes are filled with seasonal delights, with a firm focus on homegrown items from Suffolk, and the company works closely with local food suppliers to ensure that only the highest-quality produce is included, and to keep sustainability and ethical farming at the heart of its hampers. The company offers a range of boxes at varying price points, but we plumped for the holiday deluxe hamper, its mid-range offering. Owing to most of its contents being perishable, Crowleys of Suffolks hampers are always sent via next-day delivery, and we were immediately impressed by how secure the packaging was, ensuring all of its contents were in perfect condition. The meats were vacuum sealed and packed tightly, while the hamper itself was stuffed with wool packaging to avoid any spillages. The brand recently replaced its wicker baskets with wooden boxes to optimise food preservation and to be more sustainable, and we must say that the box feels like an immediate treat upon receiving, and is something you could easily reuse. The food arrives with detailed advice on how to store and prepare it, as well as information on where everything is sourced from. Now to the good stuff: the food. The deluxe box offers everything you need for a huge festive feast. In the meat department, expect to enjoy a huge 900g slipper ham, two types of bacon, smoked duck breast and smoked salmon, as well as two wonderfully hefty handmade pies. The hamper also includes two award-winning British cheeses, crackers, and four different preserves to slather on top, as well as a nutty turron for afters. One of our favourites was the delectable ham cured in cider and black treacle, it has a delicious sweetness thats offset with a smokiness thats achieved through delicately smoking the meat over oak and beech wood. We also got quite addicted to the homemade chilli jelly, as it paired beautifully with all of the meats and cheeses, and the pie really was one of the best wed eaten (chef James Martin happens to agree, too). Everything in the hamper is brilliantly thought out and results in a really indulgent experience, and we love the celebration of British produce. Its the perfect offering for Christmas. Buy now 350 Crowleysofsuffolk.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} The Wolseley medium hamper Best: Cafe delicacies Rating: 8/10 Number of items: 7 7 Last orders for Christmas: 12pm on 20 December Thought to be Londons first grand cafe, The Wolseley is something of a British institution and is celebrating its heritage in this newly launched hamper. Anyone who has visited the restaurant will recognise the signature black and gold details and geometric shapes that are echoed in the contents packaging and wicker basket, and will no doubt be familiar with some of the delicacies included too. Inside youll find loose English breakfast tea and coffee for use in a cafetiere, both housed in beautiful jars that we plan to re-purpose, plus plenty of sweet treats from its confectionery selection, all made in-house by its pastry chefs. The salted caramel florentines were dangerously moreish, while the all-butter shortbread fingers had a hint of festive cinnamon sugar that paired wonderfully with a good brew. Chocolate fans will be relieved to see a box of truffles and a tin of hot chocolate, too. All of these goodies are finished off with the addition of a charming tea towel, adorned with a watercolour illustration of early morning at The Wolseley. Sometimes, branded keepsakes can feel a little naff, but we loved this inclusion as it made the hamper feel truly gift-worthy. Buy now 115 Thewolseley.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Wright Brothers indulgent Christmas smoked fish hamper Best: Seafood hamper Rating: 9/10 Items : 7 : 7 Last order date for Christmas: N/A Fish is big at Christmas, from smoked salmon on your scrambled eggs in the morning, or on cream cheese blinis, to fish pie or wellington on Christmas Eve, theres always time for it. So, if youre looking for an excellent edible gift for the seafood lover in your life, this is it. Coming with an incredible whole side of salmon thats up to a whopping 1.5kg, it also includes a delicious 200g of beetroot gravadlax which was the highlight for us. As well as 170g of meaty and beautifully smoked mackerel fillets, and lastly a smoked kipper thats around 320g. Sauces included are a classic hot horseradish plus a dill and mustard sauce. It all makes for an exceptional fish supper with bread and butter when you cant face doing any more cooking. You can buy it with or without champagne, from 65 or 105, and to us its a no brainer and isnt complete without the brands own Piper-Heidsieck champagne.If you need more food ideas, we also love the brands half shell gin, distilled using Carlingford oyster shells and kelp seaweed, that gives it a delicious sea salty flavour. (38, Wrightbrothers.co.uk). This particular hampers sold out but there are more indulgent hampers in the Wright Brothers Christmas range, including the luxury seafood box (99, Thewrightbrothers.co.uk) thats available all-year-round. Buy now 105 Thewrightbrothers.co.uk {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Selfridges selection mini classic Christmas hamper Best: Small Christmas hamper Rating: 7/10 Number of products: 5 5 Last orders for Christmas: 1pm on 22 December, for delivery 23 December Nothing says Christmas quite like a trip to Selfridges each one of its stores becomes a magical wonderland. To get a taste of the festive spirit, we gave this hamper a whirl in the lead-up to the big day. Each of the items comes neatly packaged in a beautifully branded wicker hamper, nestled among signature yellow packaging. The selection includes mulled wine, hot chocolate, Christmas pudding, brandy butter, and a salted caramel spread. We particularly liked the mulled wine, which is by Top Cuvee, and was frankly faultless. The perfect drink to sip while putting up the Christmas tree. While the hot chocolate was deliciously creamy and rich, and the perfect antidote to a cold winters evening. The price, 75, does seem a little steep considering the size and number of the goodies included, but to some extent you are buying into the brand and if youre sending to a friend or loved one, theyll certainly be in for a treat. Selfridges has promised us this hamper will be back in stock very soon. Buy now 75 Selfridges.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Flourish and Rye after hours food hamper Best: Artisan veggie hamper Rating: 10/10 Number of items: 13 13 Last orders for Christmas: 20 December Flourish and Rye has handpicked luxury and artisan goods from a host of high-quality, small-scale providers to make up its after hours hamper and the black wicker basket is a delight to unpack. We first tucked into a curated trio of British cheeses (all of which are from companies owned or founded by women) that included buffalo blue cheese made from a single herd of Italian water buffalo, St Cera rich cow milk cheese and Wigmore semi-soft cheese all best paired with the charcoal sourdough crackers that are also inside. The buffalo blues punchy flavour was balanced out by the warmer, fig flavours of the St Jude St Cera cheese, while Village Maid Cheeses wigmore cheese had a deliciously fruity richness. Helping give the hamper its namesake, the sweet-scented soy wax candle is ideal for unwinding during party season, while the nocellera del belice olives are a real treat. If youre hosting your own festive soiree, pour yourself a cocktail and treat guests to the trio of premixed bottles that includes lemongrass and gin, a rum old fashioned and classic negroni. And theres even the optional addition of a pair of hand-crafted, recycled cocktail glasses thrown in for good measure. Considering the number of quality items you receive from independent and organic companies, the cocktails and the lovely wicker basket packaging, we think its great value and would make a lovely gift for the cheese connoisseur or cocktail lover in your life. Buy now 130 Flourishandrye.co.uk {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Cutter & Squidge food and wine Christmas hamper Best: Luxury veggie hamper Rating: 10/10 Number of items: 14 14 Last orders for Christmas: 22 December If youre after vegetarian luxury, then this is the hamper for you. Chockablock with sweet and savoury snacks, as well as a refreshing black pomegranate candle, uniquely fragranced raspberry and lime diffuser and raspberry and lime bath salts, the handmade hamper is a deliciously indulgent treat. While theres more than enough for you to spoil yourself with, theres also plenty you might like to gift, including a pack of rich mince pies, a beautiful-looking (and tasting) Christmas fruit cake in a postable tin, orange candied ginger and white chocolate strawberry meringue flavours of chocolate bark, a hot chocolate mix tin and a Cutter & Squidge tea towel. Among our favourites were the distinctly flavoured earl grey lemon shortbread and salted caramel clotted cream fudge, while the two bottles of red malbec wine, prosecco and champagne are the boozy cherries on top. For 250, it may seem steep, but luxury sweet-treat maker Cutter & Squidge specialises in 100 per cent natural ingredients and handmade delights that will make a very delicious delivery to anyones doorstep this year. Theres also the option to gift some of its festive items individually, adding to its value for money. Buy now 250 Cutterandsquidge.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Asda extra special champagne hamper Best: Budget-friendly veggie hamper Rating: 9/10 Number of items: 21 21 Last orders for Christmas: 12 December You get a lot of bang for your buck with Asdas veggie Christmas hamper, with 21 delectable festive items inside, all from the supermarkets extra special range. Once unpacked from the box, youll find treats to more than satisfy any sweet tooth, including orange and raspberry dark chocolate bars, handmade clotted cream fudge, chocolate florentines and raspberry jam. Or if youre more of a savoury fiend, you can tuck into parmesan and garlic twists, halloumi and chili jam tortillas, crisps, chutney and biscuits for cheese that will all make the perfect pairings for your Christmas feasts leftovers. The supermarket has also got dessert covered, with its inclusion of a nine-month matured luxury Christmas pudding and brandy-soaked fruit cake complete with a fully iced festive top. Drink wise, fuel your Christmas mornings with the supermarkets own Columbian ground coffee blends and come evening, pour yourself a glass of the Louise Bernard champagne brut that makes this under 100 hamper even more excellent value for money. In short, Asda has packed a lot in for just 80, and the budget box has plenty to spoil yourself, your family or the foodie in your life without having to spend a fortune. Buy now 80 Asda.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Le Pain Quotidien festive hamper Best: Gourmet bakes Rating: 7/10 Number of items: 9 9 Last orders for Christmas: 20 December Fancy high street bakery Le Pain Quotidien has launched its signature festive hamper, which arrives in an austere-looking black box wrapped in a simple yet sophisticated, green ribbon. Inside, the Belgian bread shop has included all of its most popular treats, from gourmet staples such as mince pies and organic jams, to exotic bakes like the fruity stollen and the Belgian speculoos spread. Not had speculoos before? Its basically Biscoff and it is delicious. Dig deeper and you hit a rich seam of Christmassy goodness. Theres a snappy gingerbread cookie the size of a plate, snackable chocolate almonds, a bag of Le Pain Quotidiens winter blend of coffee, rye and charcoal crackers and black olive paste. There are mince pies here too, though these have been made with butter almost everything in the hamper happens to be vegan. There are gifts inside that will last long into the new year too. A branded Le Pain Quotidien drinking bowl feels destined to end up at the back of the cupboard, but the cold-pressed Tunisian olive oil sealed with a cork is a real treat for the senses. Theres a 15 gift voucher to spend next time youre in the bakery, as well as a bottle of merlot that lasted us approximately 45 minutes. Buy now 90 Lepainquotidien.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} Hampers.com family Christmas hamper Best: For families Rating: 8/10 Items: 20 20 Last order date for Christmas: 1pm on 22 December Gather round the family, pop open the bottle of prosecco or the blackcurrant, plum and liquorice-flavoured port and gorge on festive snacks and delicious treats with this premium Christmas hamper from Hampers.com, which includes no fewer than 20 different nibbles, all packaged in an elegant willow basket. The family Christmas hamper as its name suggests has something for every family member. Theres the tasty caramel-coated popcorn with strong cinnamon and ginger flavouring, perfect for the kids to munch on or dad, in our case while Elf plays in the background, as well as cheddar and caramelised onion crisps, chocolate biscuits, a selection of moreish fudge and some jazzies. We particularly enjoyed the range of spreads and dips on offer, including a gingerbread and caramel spread, a cranberry and port sauce, and a pear, apple and ginger chutney. It all goes exceedingly well with the cheese crackers and black pepper wafers ideal for a Boxing Day snack which can be washed down with a cuppa tea courtesy of the New English tea bags inside. Our favourite items, however, had to be the desserts, with our family devouring them in one sitting, from the fruit cake to the Christmas pudding and, of course, those mince pies. If you want a truly family-friendly hamper, with some cheeky bottles of port and prosecco for you and the grandparents, this one from Hampers.com will delight all. Buy now 125 Hampers.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The world is dangerously unprepared for a global disaster sparked by cyber attacks on space infrastructure, experts have warned. Authorities are not doing nearly enough to stop space assets being hacked and used maliciously, according to a warning from security experts. The consequences of such a hack could be disastrous anything from damage to trade and financial services to terrorists taking over strategic weapons. Much of the worlds infrastructure is dependent on space machinery almost every important business or technology on the ground is powered by space assets. And while governments have done a great deal in looking to secure those technologies on Earth, they could easily be threatened from space. Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427 more commonly known as WR 124 and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region Those weaknesses could be exploited by people and groups including states, criminal syndicates, terrorists and hackers to create a potential global catastrophe on Earth, according to a new report from Chatham House. The think tank suggested that authorities should commit to a radical review of cyber security in space. Theres currently no global organisation looking at the issue and the situation may advance so quickly that governments soon wont be able to do anything about it, argued Dr Patricia Lewis, director of the international security department at Chatham House, and her co-author David Livingstone, an associate fellow at the institute. Recommended Read more How the most dramatic iOS spyware ever found was revealed That is because space is quickly becoming somewhere that isnt dominated just by a few privileged countries. Instead, it is becoming a domain ruled by market forces, and this is likely to intensify in future. As such, the authors fear that isolated governments could do little about any specific cyber threat, and that countries must work together to respond to them. That shouldnt be done by regulation, which can tend to be slow, the authors said. Instead the world should develop a flexible new cyber security regime that can allow space companies to work together across the world and stop attacks on infrastructure. Russian rocket plunges to earth minutes after launch The authors said that they hoped the required changes would be made by the space industry itself. The space industry is renowned as a forward-thinking, market-leading community and it needs to address cyber security urgently, said Mr Livingstone. What we need is an international community of the willing that would be tasked with developing industry-led standards in order to develop pace and agility in response to the growing cyber threat in space. Patricia Lewis said that some of that work was already being done, with space agencies looking seriously at advanced protections for space infrastructure. The fact that countries such as China are prepared to try completely new approaches such as quantum entanglement, and the European Galileo space navigational network has introduced new security measures, shows the capacity and determination of the space industry to counter the cyber security challenges all of our countries face, she said. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Thousands of patients are being denied life-saving breast cancer drugs which cost just 43 pence due to an NHS funding row, research has suggested. Charity Breast Cancer Now estimates 27,000 women in the UK are being denied osteoporosis medication which can prevent breast cancer spread in the bone due to on-going uncertainty as to who is responsible for funding the medication. Bisphosphonates are low-cost drugs which can strengthen the bone and prevent cancer spreading. Research has suggested they can reduce risk of cancer spreading within 10 years by 18 per cent and risk of death from the disease to 14.7 per cent. The treatment is estimated to cost 43p per day per patient, for the medication, consultant time and subsequent monitoring. However, who should take financial responsibility for funding the drugs is disputed and campaigners say it is unclear whether hospital trusts or local commissioning groups should foot the bill. A survey conducted by Breast Cancer Now found three quarters of cancer oncologists say they are unable to prescribe the drugs due to confusion over which NHS bodies are responsible for covering the costs. They therefore estimate that of 35,700 women recommended the medicine, 27,000 are being denied it. They estimate that an extra 1,180 women each year could be prevented from dying from breast cancer. In a statement, the charity said: Despite the overwhelming evidence of the clinical benefit of these cheap drugs for women diagnosed with breast cancer and clear clinical support from UK breast cancer bodies such as the UK Breast Cancer Group and NHS Englands breast cancer clinical reference group there is still no clear national commissioning policy. This has led to difficulties for oncologists in prescribing them due to blockages in funding. This is largely due to the lack of national guidance on who should fund them. For example, in England, it remains unclear whether it is the responsibility of the hospital trust or the local clinical commissioning group (CCG) to pay for these drugs for their patients, or whether it might be funded centrally by NHS England, as many cancer drugs are. Professor Rob Coleman, orofessor of medical oncology at the University of Sheffield, said: The clinical evidence demonstrating the benefits of bisphosphonates for postmenopausal breast cancer patients is convincing and based on many thousands of women treated in well-conducted trials across the world. It should be an absolute priority for every clinician and commissioner involved in the provision of breast cancer services to ensure this simple and safe treatment is made available, as a matter of urgency. Not only can they save lives but they would reduce needless expenditure on unnecessary tests and the ever-increasing costs of treating women with secondary breast cancer. The research adds to growing concerns that funding cuts could be resulting in patients being denied or delayed treatment on the NHS. In July, doctors in an NHS clinical advisory group claimed NHS England tried to sabotage attempts to introduce drugs to treat hepatitis C because they feared they could not afford them and subsequently sought to delay their release until the following financial year. NHS England denied the claims. Breast cancer survivor gets double-mastectomy tattoos Show all 6 1 /6 Breast cancer survivor gets double-mastectomy tattoos Breast cancer survivor gets double-mastectomy tattoos Art helped Ms Black to cope with her treatment. She is pictured here with an Alice in Wonderland 'Drinke Me' bottle painted on her head, symbolising the drugs she took but didn't understand. Lillyan Ling Breast cancer survivor gets double-mastectomy tattoos Nikki as she waits to be tattooed Breast cancer survivor gets double-mastectomy tattoos Comedian Nikki Black before being tattooed Breast cancer survivor gets double-mastectomy tattoos Nikki being tattooed at The Gilded Lily Design Breast cancer survivor gets double-mastectomy tattoos Ms Black mid-way through her tattoo Breast cancer survivor gets double-mastectomy tattoos Nikki Black after being tattooed The following month, a High Court judge ruled the NHS is able to fund PrEP to treat Hiv, despite NHS Englands decision that it was unable to afford to do so. A recent investigation by The Independent revealed thousands of patients are risking their lives by buying medication on social media websites including Facebook groups after being denied treatment on the NHS due to funding cuts. A spokesperson for NHS England told The Independent that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently updating guidelines on early and locally advanced breast cancer diagnosis and management. They said: The report of the independent Cancer Taskforce included a specific recommendation on the use of bisphosphonates. We continue to work to realise the ambitions of the report and will shortly be publishing an update on progress made. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Hunt has broken his pledge to increase mental health funding, new figures have suggested. Data suggests 57 per cent of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) plan to reduce the proportion of their budget they spend on mental health. The figures, which were obtained by Labour MP Luciana Berger under freedom of information rules, suggest growing pressure on NHS budgets means access to important mental health services could be restricted. This is despite the Health Secretarys assurances in December that CCGs are committed to increasing the proportion of their funding that goes into mental health. NHS Englands Planning Guidance states that all CCGs must increase their spend on mental health services by at least as much as their overall budget increase. In July of last year, Minister for Care and Support Alistair Burt told parliament the Conservatives were committed to the pledge, saying that is as transparent as it has ever been, and we will ensure that the standard is maintained. Ms Berger, President of the Labour Campaign for Mental Health, said: The Government must urgently step in and prevent a dangerous situation developing. Time and time again Ministers have promised that mental health spending would increase. Yet for the third year in a row this has not happened, with a majority of local areas planning to spend less of their budget on mental health. The result is services stretched to breaking point, patients at risk, and proper standards of care being undermined. There are bed shortages, massive waiting lists and cuts to early intervention and community services. Vicki Nash, Head of Policy and Campaigns at mental health charity Mind, told The Independent: Its shameful that so many Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are reducing their mental health spending year after year. We know that budgets are stretched, but its vital mental health services get their fair share of funding, particularly if the Government is serious about ensuring mental health problems are treated as equally important as physical health ones. CCGs have been clearly told to invest in mental health. By ignoring these instructions, they are letting down their local communities. With a renewed focus on transparency and accountability, we want to see mental health data routinely made available to give us a better understanding of whats happening on the ground. In every local area, one in four people will experience a mental health problem this year. CCGs have a huge role to play in helping ensure everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets the help and support they need, when they need it." Critics have raised concerns NHS funding shortages are resulting in decreased services and access to care. Research released today also suggests breast cancer patients are being denied a life-saving treatment costing 43p per day due to an on-going dispute over who is responsible for funding it. Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty Amid growing concerns, the Government released a statement yesterday giving assurances that it remains committed to keeping the NHS free for patients to use via general taxation and dismissing speculation charges for access to care could be introduced. Claire Murdoch, National Mental Health Director, NHS England told The Independent: The NHS has laid out very clear plans to help more than a million extra people and invest more than an additional 1bn pounds by 2020/21. In the implementation plan published recently we set out how we would expand staff and services for a range of mental health issues to improve care for everyone. Our plans are fully costed and soon, as part of NHS Englands commitment to transparency, we will break new ground publishing data on spending locally and patient outcomes using a new dashboard. This will support local discussion about spending, need and priority and we will work closely to support those CCGs struggling to invest appropriately or deliver on significant targets in mental health care. The Independent has approached the Department of Health for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Warren Buffett was dialing for dollars at the inception of The Giving Pledge, a philanthropic initiative he created with and Bill and Melinda Gates. The pledge asks the world's wealthiest people to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. One fellow he spoke to was on the fence, and his wife wasn't keen on it, Buffett said at the 2016 Concordia Summit in New York on Tuesday. But their children asked them to do it, and they agreed to give their fortunes away. That memory stuck with Buffett, who asks those who agree to the pledge to write letters explaining why they've chosen to spread their wealth rather than keep it in the family. He said he doesn't want his grandchildren to sit on their laurels, knowing that their grandpa's wealth has them set. "The world delivers very unequal results. I am a white man, born in the US, and I was wired to do well in a capitalistic world ... but it shouldn't enable my Buffett grandchildren to do nothing but to fan themselves," Buffett said. Here's his pitch to billionaires: "I'm sitting with a bunch of certificates of Berkshire Hathaway that I bought 55 years ago. They're sitting on a safety deposit box. They have no utility to me. They can't do anything for me nor my family. Here's a lot of money that has no real utility to me, but has enormous utility to hundreds and millions of people around the world for education, research, healthcare. They can change the lives of other people, but not for my life anything I can buy, I have. So there's a million uses for that money that can really change people's lives." There are now 156 people signed on to the pledge, including prominent figures in the finance and tech world like Carl Icahn and Sheryl Sandberg. When Buffett was asked if he had tried to recruit presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, he said: "I don't think the Clintons are on the Forbes list. And Trump was on the Forbes list, but he seems to have an active argument about exactly where he should be placed. He's not one I've called. I'm not sure whether Bill's called him or not. We've probably called a majority of the names, but maybe we haven't gotten to the Ts yet. ... Maybe he'll call us!" Read more: This chart is easy to interpret: It says we're screwed How Uber became the world's most valuable startup These 4 things could trigger the next crisis in Europe Read the original article on Business Insider UK. 2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Lloyds, the home of Londons insurance market, has described the UKs vote to leave the EU as a major issue, saying it is working on contingency plans to ensure it can still trade across Europe when Article 50 is triggered. Earlier this month, Lloyds chairman John Nelson, said operations may start leaving London before Brexit negotiations are concluded unless the Government can provide clarity about the UKs future relationship with the EU. Nelsons comments came as Lloyds reported pre-tax profits of 1.46bn in its half-year results. That was 22 per cent higher than last year. But Nelson and Inga Beale, Lloyds chief executive, said they will still be operating in difficult conditions. In a joint statement, they said that Lloyds would continue to trade within the EU under the current passporting regime until Britain starts its exit from the bloc. They confirmed Lloyds had advanced its contingency planning to deal with whatever deal emerged. Clearly the UKs referendum on its EU membership is a major issue for us to deal with and we are now focusing our attention on having in place the plans that will ensure Lloyds continues trading across Europe, Beale said. Weve had some contingency plans in place for a while. Were refining them at the moment ... We have to have our plans ready to roll in the fairly near future, Nelson told City AM. He did not disclose details of the size of any EU-based branches or consequences for jobs in London. Continental Europe accounts for about 11 per cent of gross premiums written by Lloyds. Beale said that Lloyds fully expect to maintain our position in the new post-Brexit landscape. John Nelson, chairman of Lloyd's, speaks on Brexit The chief executive of Hermes Investment Management, Saker Nusseibeh, previously said that in order to maintain passporting rights, London will have to be prepared to obey Brussels regulations without the UK having an input into deciding them. He warned that business may move out of the City to continental Europe if the UK is unwilling to accept this arrangement. Earlier this week, Andrew Tyrie, the chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, revealed the scale of the threat to the UKs financial services sectors, saying nearly 5,500 British firms hold at least one passport to do business in another member state of the EU or the wider European Economic Area (EEA). It is the first time that the number of companies that will be hit by a hard Brexit option favoured by some leading Conservative Eurosceptics has been set out. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have pledged to cure all diseases by the end of the century and spend $3 billion (2.3bn) towards this goal. If the idea that a $3 billion investment will create a world free of diseases sounds like the kind of statements that would normally make scientists cringe, it is actually not as crazy as you might think. Breakthroughs in technology have allowed for the progress of medical science at an increasingly rapid rate. Naysayers will be quick to criticise philanthropicapitalism but Gates, Wellcome and other funding agencies have made a tremendous contribution to medical science, particularly in neglected tropical diseases and malaria, Prof Paul Reiter, recently retired Professor of medical entomology at the Pasteur Institute, said. He added that many important organisation are impoverished by the lack of funding citing the World Health Organisation as an example. The World Health Organisation gets constant criticismmuch of it justified yet few realise the contribution they make in orchestrating research despite having to scrabble for every penny. Since we are talking money, the $3 billion involved here is not a large budget compared to the National Institutes of Healths $31 billion budget or the UKs Wellcome Trust which aims to spend 5 billion over the next 5 years. The Medical Research Institute, the non-departmental public body funded through the government's science and research budget, gives about 845 million into medical research while UK charities raises around 1.3 billion between them, according to 2013 to 2014 figures. (Medical Research Council (2013/3014) figures (Medical Research Council (2013/3014) figures) However, the idea here is not to compete to those efforts but rather add to it. The efforts towards tackling disease will focus on three major things: bringing scientists and engineers together, developing new technological tolls and inspiring more funding of science. John Hardy, professor of Neuroscience at UCL, went as far as saying that UK could learn from the initiative. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to give $3bn towards curing all diseases It is worth noting that, dollar for dollar, UK medical research is second to none. I hope we can convince them that this makes UK science a good investment, he said. New approaches are also required. 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. Dr Jim Smith, deputy chief executive and chief of strategy at the Medical Research Council, said he applauds new tools and technologies to fight disease, and the multidisciplinary approach where medical researchers, engineers, chemists and other scientists work together to solve problems something we are doing more and more of in the UK,. It is worth noting that Zuckerberg is not the only philanthropist to engage with the scientific community for advice. This year has already seen billions of philanthropic dollars go to science, including from the likes of other tech billionaires such Napster co-founder Sean Parker to advance cancer immunotherapy research and philanthropists Sandy and Joan Weil for brain research. A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Show all 5 1 /5 A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Kim Jong-un A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Mhairi Black A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Neymar A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Kim Kardashian-West A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Alexander Wang Meanwhile, the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, created by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife gave $10.2 billion through 2014 to global health initiatives like fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Mark Zuckerbergs claim that all disease will be cured or even managed by 2100 is a big ask. However, if you would have me asked me in 1916 how much progress we would have made in a 100 years I would not have never have imagined it, Dr. Smith told The Independent. Alexander Flemming discovered penicillin, the first true antibiotic in 1928, a little less than a century ago. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Three former Tesco executives have denied charges in relation to the 326 million 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. The trio, who respectively held the positions of finance director, former managing director, and John Scouler, commercial director allegedly failed to correct inaccurately inflated income figures for the supermarket, which were then published to auditors, other Tesco employees and the wider market. All of the defendants' lawyers entered not guilty pleas to the two charges they each face at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday. 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 326 million 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. Scouler, wearing a dark suit, light blue shirt and navy tie, Rogberg, dressed in an open collared light blue shirt and a fleece, and Bush, wearing a dark suit, light blue shirt and red stripy tie, spoke only to confirm their names, ages and addresses. The first charge of abuse by position was read to them by the court clerk. The charge alleges: Mr Christopher Bush, Mr Carl Rogberg, and Mr John Scouler. Between first day of February and September 23rd, 2014, you abused your position as senior employees of Tesco PLC and Tesco Stores Ltd, in which you were expected to safeguard but not act against the financial interests. You did so dishonestly and intending to make a gain for yourself, or expose another to a loss. They are also said to have concealed the true financial position from auditors and from other persons employed by Tesco PLC. Lawyers for the three men indicated not guilty pleas for both counts. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser told the trio: Your cases are not suitable to be heard in this court, and I am therefore going to send you to the Crown Court for your trial - in any case, that is the Southwark Crown Court, the next date being October 20th. I am going to remand each of you on unconditional bail. There are no restrictions on your liberty. Bush, of High Wycombe, Bucks, Rogberg, of Chiselhampton, Oxford, and Scouler, of St Albans, Herts, were granted unconditional bail. They are due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 20 October. The Serious Fraud Office launched a probe into accounting practices at Tesco in October 2014, after the firm admitted it had overstated profits by 326 million. An investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into Tesco remains ongoing. Report: Tesco delayed payments Accounting scandal Earlier this month, Tesco's former chief financial officer Laurie Mcilwee was cleared by the accountancy watchdog, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), over his role in the scandal. Mr Mcilwee resigned as chief financial officer of Britain's biggest supermarket in April 2014, and the FRC said it had ended the investigation because there was no realistic prospect that a tribunal would make an adverse finding in relation to his conduct. Accountancy firm PwC, which audited Tesco's accounts from 1982 until it was axed by the supermaket in January 2015, remains under investigation by the FRC for its role in the scandal. The alleged fraud did not come to light until a whistleblower alerted the board to the scale of the problem. In January the supermarket watchdog found that Tesco deliberately and repeatedly withheld money owed to suppliers to boost its sales performance artificially, in a serious breach of supermarket regulations. The Groceries Code Adjudicator also said that the supermarket would encourage suppliers to give it extra cash in return for more control over where products appeared on shelves or to avoid losing out to rivals. In the weeks leading up to Tescos results presentations to the City and investors, buyers were also encouraged to push suppliers even harder to accept payment delays in order to flatter the sales figures, according to the findings. Additional reporting by AP and SWNS Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The University of Oxford has been named the top institution in the world, a first for the UK in this years Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. In the latest table the first of which was published in 2004 the British university has knocked five-time champion the California Institute of Technology into second place, as the UK takes 91 of the top 980 places. Eighty-eight of these make the top 800, compared with 78 last year. The UK is second only to the US for the number of world-class universities featured in the top 800. Within the top 200, the UK has 32 representatives, just two shy of last years sum. Alongside Oxford, the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London have also made the top 10. Despite Oxford taking the top spot, however, the universitys vice-chancellor, Louise Richardson, hit out at lack of funding, tighter government regulations and Brexit as being potential threats to the future of the institution. Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education Show all 11 1 /11 Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 1. Oxford University (UK) Rank 2016-2017 Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 2. California Institute of Technology (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 3. Stanford University (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 4. University of Cambridge (UK) Rank 2016-2017 AFP/Getty Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Rex Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 6. Harvard University (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 7. Princeton University (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Creative Commons Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 8. Imperial College London (UK) Rank 2016-2017 Getty Images Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 9. ETH Zurich Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (Switzerland) Rank 2016-2017 Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 10. University of California, Berkeley (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Getty Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education =10 University of Chicago (USA) Rank 2016-2017 She said: If our academics cannot secure funding for their research, they will move elsewhere. We, frankly, do not have the resources to commensurate with our global position. Her comments have come after some of the UKs top universities reportedly faced issues working with their European partners, including being asked to leave EU-funded projects, in the wake of the referendum result. The vice-chancellor added: We are also more tightly regulated than many of our global competitors. Ive seen no evidence to suggest all these regulations improve the quality of what we do, and yet they are a major distraction of time and resources. Ms Richardson cited the Governments upcoming teaching excellence framework (TEF) which will monitor and assess the quality of teaching in Englands universities as a particular concern, and said she is worried about the impact it will have on Oxfords one-on-one approach to teaching. I do worry the forthcoming TEF may be inclined, as most regulations are, to attempt to enforce conformity across the sector and fail to appreciate the value of its diversity and, in particular, the value of unique approaches like ours, she said. The Brexit result is also a cause for concern, with Ms Richardson revealing it was already affecting Oxfords ability to conduct research and attract top talent. She said: We have innumerable examples of academics being frozen out of collaborative research projects, withdrawing from job searches, and burnishing their CVs with a view to moving to an institution where their funding will be secure. This is the piece that worries me most. She also said the university was lobbying the Government to ensure the interests of universities were protected. THEs list has come just weeks after the QS World University Rankings highlighted how post-Brexit uncertainty and long-term funding issues are starting to stir up challenges for the UKs universities; 38 of the UKs 48 top-400 universities dropped down the rankings, with the University of Cambridge dropping out of the global top three for first time since 2004. Theresa May warns that Brexit won't be plain sailing Education Secretary Justine Greening said it was fantastic to see a UK university top THEs world rankings for the first time. She added: We want to see this success continue and provide real opportunities for students up and down the country. That is why we are reforming higher education to make sure it delivers the quality teaching and skills students and employers expect. We are also looking at proposals to require universities to open or sponsor schools to help create more great school places and ensure every child can fulfil their potential. Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said the UK must adopt a new approach to immigration and visas for international students and staff if the nation is to maintain its global position. She continued: We must also focus efforts on promoting the UKs world-class higher education sector across the globe. This is more important than ever as the UK looks to enhance its place in the world post-Brexit. Recommended Read more Top European university warns UK students to apply before Brexit Such rankings, however, cannot tell the whole story about the strength of our sector, and universities positions will vary from one international table to the next. Four UK institutions Sheffield, St Andrews, Queen Mary and Exeter slipped out of THEs top 100. As well as the four, similar trends can be seen elsewhere in Europe; France, Belgium, Spain, and Italy have each lost one top 200 representative. Europes decline occurs as Asia continues its ascent; two new Asian universities have made the top 100, while another four join the top 200. THE rankings editor Phil Baty described how the UK will have to watch out for Asias continuing ascent. He said: Although the notion of Asia as the next higher education superpower has become something of a cliche in recent years, the continents rise in the rankings is real and growing. The UK must ensure that it limits the damage to academics, students, universities and science during its Brexit negotiations to ensure it remains one of the world leaders in higher education. The full 2016/17 THE World University Rankings can be viewed here Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless. A right delayed is a right denied.Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true. Martin Luther King Jr. No one is born hating another person People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Nelson Mandela We can disagree and still love each other, unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist James Baldwin There is a fine line between free speech and hate speech. Free speech encourages debate whereas hate speech incites violence. Newton Lee The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Albert Einstein For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Survival International has lodged a formal complaint with Ofcom against Channel 4 over a report which alleged that many Brazilian tribes routinely kill disabled children. The report, which was broadcast earlier this month, focused on Atini - an evangelical mission in Brazil that cares for children which it says have been abandoned by indigenous tribes such as the Suruwaha. Survival, which campaigns for the rights of indigenous people and uncontacted tribes, said the broadcaster appeared to express support for the proposed Mujawis law. The bill, first proposed in 2008, backed by Christian evangelicals and conservative members of the Brazilian Congress forces members of tribal communities to tell outside authorities if any pregnant woman is in a situation of risk in a bid to prevent the unwanted baby being disposed of. It also gives Brazilian authorities the power to break up indigenous families if they suspect infanticide. Campaigners for the law claim that every year hundreds of babies are killed for being disabled, being twins or simply being born out of wedlock by tribes living in the Amazon rainforest, but experts have dismissed these reports as exaggerated. Anthropologists quoted by Survival said infanticide among the Suruwaha tribe was insignificant and the campaign was instigated by fundamentalists to get media attention. In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon A group from the Mashco Piro people in Peru, photographed from a distance by the Madre de Dios river Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International Dr Miguel Apraricio Suarez, who studied the tribe between 1995 and 2001, said: Infanticide among the Suruwaha is insignificant. The (campaign) was initiated by the fundamentalists, who have lost ground since the government prohibited them proselytizing. To get media attention and public opinion, the Suruwaha are the victims of a campaign to criminalise and animalise them. Dr Nicole Freris, a UN doctor who worked with various Amazon communities between 1993 and 2002, said: Through my direct contact with indigenous people, and from working with indigenists and state health services, my strong opinion is that infanticide is an extremely rare practice in indigenous cultures. It most commonly appears as a consequence of the profound disruption caused to the health and social fabric of native cultures, through contact with the outside world. Survivals legal team said they had launched the formal complaint with the UKs broadcast regulator as they said the report lacked impartiality and failed to give viewers all the relevant facts. In the complaint, Survivals Director, Stephen Corry, said: Infanticide among the tribe to which Muwaji and her daughter belong, the Suruwaha, is extremely rare. Among isolated tribal communities in the Amazon generally, many anthropologists believe that infanticide is equally rare. Channel 4s reporter made no reference at all to this body of opinion, either because he was not aware of its existence when he should have been, or because he thought that this might reduce the dramatic impact of the story. Experts say there is little evidence that the tribes living along the Amazon river engage in infanticide (file photo) (AFP/Getty Images) (AFP/Getty) In 2014 an Australian TV station, Channel Seven, was found guilty of inaccurate reporting and provoking racism by the countrys federal court after it aired a similar report on the infanticide allegations. The Australian Federal Court refused to overturn a ruling by the Australian Communications and Media Authority in 2012 which found that the edition of Sevens flagship Sunday Night programme about the Suruwaha people could provoke intense dislike, serious contempt or severe ridicule against a person or group based on their ethnicity. The programme, which was aired in 2011, reportedly called the tribe one of the worst human rights violators in the world and described them as Stone Age relics. The Independent has contacted Channel 4 for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Brangelina split has destroyed a once unshakeable belief in the enduring nature of Hollywoods golden couples, according to new research. The cries of love is dead that rang out after Angelina Jolie confirmed her decision to divorce Brad Pitt indicated the heartbreak fans across the world felt after investing so much in their ideal couple, one they believed could survive immense pressures and made them more optimistic about their own. 'Brangelina' took on a mythical status thanks to interviews reminiscing on how they fell in love with each other and the grand statements delivered by both reinforcing the apparent strength of their relationship, most notably by Jolie in her candid 2007 interview with Vogue. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: A timeline of their relationship But data collected by Jeetendr Sehdev, a celebrity branding expert and marketing professor at USC, shows their divorce and the reports emerging from it have dispelled the belief in the notion of perfect celebrity couples lives, with 67 per cent of people no longer believing in Hollywoods golden couples. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Show all 11 1 /11 Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Jay Z and Beyonce Affair rumours a-plenty there may have been, but after almost a decade of dating, Beyonce and Jay Z got married in secret in 2008, welcoming baby Blue Ivy in January 2012. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Tom met Rita on the set of Volunteers in the 80s. By 1985, they were married. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell Goldie and Kurt met on the set of Swing Shift in 1983. They've now been together for 31 years. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Jada met Will when she auditioned to be his girlfriend on The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air in 1990. She didn't get the part, but she did get herself a boyfriend, who became a husband and a father to their two children. Rumour has it the secret to their success lies in their 'open' approach to marriage. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan They met on the set of Family Ties, married in 1988, have stayed together throughout thick and thin and welcomed four children. Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan's relationship has definitely stood the test of time. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Denzel Washington and Pauletta Pearson Washington Dating since 1977, married since 1983. Four children. Respect where its due to Denzel Washington and Pauletta Pearson Washington, who met on the set of TV biopic Wilma. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick This pair have been married since 1988. That's 26 years. And two children. And they're both in the business. Their success? Keeping their private lives private and balancing work and family life. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick These two were introduced by Sarah's brother at the Naked Angeles theatre company in 1995. They wed in 1997, and have three cherubic children together. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Victoria and David Beckham Brand Beckham first became one in 1997, after the former Manchester United footballer player met VB at a charity football game. They married in 1999 and still fawn over each other in interviews today... Four children later. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule Sir Elton John & David Furnish Sir Elton met David at a dinner party in 1993. They began dating, and entered into a civil partnership in 2005. The pair will also become husband and husband when gay marriage is legalised in the UK. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? The couples who disprove the rule John Travolta and Kelly Preston They were rocked by divorce rumours, and struggled to come to terms with the tragic death of their 16-year-old son Jet, but Travolta and Preston are as strong as ever, even though they first married in 1991. To collect his data, Mr Sehdev spoke to a random sample of 1000 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the United Kingdom and found many felt "betrayed" by the sudden news of their split. He told The Independent: To regain trust with their audiences, Brad and Angelina will need to be candid and forthcoming in the next few months. Recommended Read more The actress accused of an affair with Brad Pitt speaks out His survey found a notably pessimistic view across the board in the post Jolie-Pitt perception of high-profile couples. - 89 per cent agree high-profile Hollywood couples are fake and present a manufactured image to make money. - 75 per cent agree that Hollywood couples who choose to live in the spotlight see themselves as brands. Mr Sehdevs book The Kim Kardashian Principle is being published worldwide in spring 2017. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Brad Pitt is reportedly being investigated by police over an incident where he was allegedly physical" with one of his children. Reports by TMZ and People claim the incident took place on a plane and as Pitt, his estranged wife Angelina Jolie and their children exited it. Someone who witnessed the alleged incident reported it anonymously. Pitt is reported to have been drinking at the time and became agitated on the private jet the family was travelling on. Peoples report claims the incident is being investigated by The Los Angeles Police Department after being reported to the LA County Department of Children and Family Services. TMZ claims this is standard procedure when an incident is reported. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: A timeline of their relationship He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children, a source close to Pitt told People. It's unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2014 Actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the World Premiere of Disney's "Maleficent" at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2015 Actress/director Angelina Jolie Pitt and husband actor Brad Pitt arrive at the AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi opening night gala premiere of Universal Pictures' "By The Sea" at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures June 2014 Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and her partner actor Brad Pitt, look at displayed pictures of victims of violence during the third day of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London. Pitt added his A-list support to his partner Angelina Jolie's efforts to eradicate rape in war zones when he joined her in a flashbulb-popping appearance at a global conference in London AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures March 2014 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the Oscars held at Hollywood & Highland Cente in Hollywood Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures February 2014 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the EE British Academy Film Awards 2014 at The Royal Opera House in London Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2013 Angelina Jolie, Maddox Jolie-Pitt and actor Brad Pitt arrive at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures February 2012 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the Cinema for Peace Gala ceremony at the Konzerthaus Am Gendarmenmarkt during day five of the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival Getty Images for Cinema for Peac Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2012 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive on the red carpet for the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2011 Accompanied by their children, Brad Pitt and Angellina Jolie appear before photographers upon their arrival at Haneda Airport in Tokyo AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2011 Brad Pitt and Angelina Joiie attend the Premiere of DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda 2" at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2011 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend "The Tree Of Life" premiere during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2010 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (with camera) on the 'Romeo and Juliette' film set in Budapest, Hungary Rex Features Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures July 2010 Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt arrive at the premiere of Sony Pictures' "Salt" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures December 2009 Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie and their son Maddox arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' and Spyglass Entertainment's "Invictus" at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Theater in Beverly Hills Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2009 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the Inglourious Basterds Premiere held at the Palais Des Festivals during the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2009 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at Narita International Airport with their children (L to R) Maddox, Vivienne, Zahara and Knox in Narita, Chiba, Japan Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2009 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie pose on the red carpet for the German premiere of the film 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' in Berlin AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures December 2008 Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt arrive at the premiere of Paramount's "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" held at Mann's Village Theatre on Decemeber 8, 2008 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2008 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt pose as they arrive to attend the screening of US actor and director Clint Eastwood's film 'The Exchange' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2008 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt pose as they arrive for the screening of US directors John Stevenson and Mark Osborne's film 'Kung Fu Panda' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2008 Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt attend the cocktail party during the 14th annual Screen Actors Guild awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures September 2007 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford premiere on the Day 5 of the 64th Annual Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2007 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie depart the premiere for the film 'Ocean's Thirteen' at the Palais des Festivals during the 60th International Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2007 Angelina Jolie poses as she arrives with actor and producer Brad Pitt at the Festival Palace in Cannes AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures May 2007 Angelina Jolie and her husband Brad Pitt, have a drink in a Prague restaurant "U Sevce Matouse" ("At Matous' Shoemaker") prior to the shooting of Jolie's new film "Wanted". The couple and their children Maddox, Pax Thien, Zahara and Shiloh Nouvel, arrived in Prague aboard a private plane. They are to spend five weeks in Prague AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2007 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2007 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at Newmarket Films premiere of "God Grew Tired of Us" at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures December 2006 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt attend the World Premiere of "The Good Shepherd" presented by Universal Pictures at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2006 Brad Pitt and his partner Angelina Jolie ride on a motorcycle on a busy street in downtown Ho Chi Minh city. Jolie and Pitt are expected to adopt a three-year-old Vietnamese AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2006 Angelina Jolie holds daughter Zahara as husband Brad Pitt carries son Maddox during a stroll on the seafront promenade at the historic Gateway of India AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures June 2006 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt give a press conference at a Swakopmund hotel. Hollywood's hottest couple became the proud parents of daughter Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt on 27 May in Namibia AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2006 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt leave Hotel Belvedere in Davos . UN goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie was in Davos for the World Economic Forum AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures January 2006 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt leaving the session opened by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan "A new Mindset for the UN" at the the World Economic Forum in Davos AFP/Getty Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures November 2005 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, accompanied by Jolie's children, arrive at Narita Airport in suburban Tokyo) AFP/Getty Images Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt relationship in pictures June 2005 (L-R) Regency Enterprises' David Matalon, actor Brad Pitt, Producer Arnon Milchan, actress Angelina Jolie and News Corp. President/Chief operating officer Peter Chernin arrive at the premiere of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" at the Mann Village Theater in Westwood Getty Images The Independent has contacted representatives for Jolie and Pitt for comment. The Los Angeles Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jolie filed for divorce on 19 September. In legal filings cited by TMZ, she reportedly expressed concerns over the way Pitt, 52, was parenting the children. Jolie, 41, has filed for physical custody and joint legal custody of their six children and asked for Pitt to be granted visitation rights. A source close to Pitt told the Independent he plans to seek joint custody of his children. The source said on Wednesday: Ange is a great mother and Brad is a very committed father and they both just want what is best for the kids. Unfortunately, people are introducing baseless allegations as a way of trying to ratchet up negativity when in fact the two of them want to resolve this for their children." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Harambe is not a Patronus, JK Rowling has been forced to clarify. The Harry Potter author issued a statement on her Twitter page dismissing suggestions the killed gorilla was among the forms of advanced magic that could be used to shield people from Dementors. Speculation the primate shot dead at Cincinnati Zoo was one of the raft of options provided on Rowling's Pottermore website was prompted when she retweeted an image appearing to depict the late animal as a Patronus. But the writer attempted to quell the growing source of excitement online, with a clarifying post moments later, saying: "I've been asked to make it clear that Harambe is not a Patronus you can actually get on @pottermore. The previous RT is a joke. As you were." She added that she "thought it was very funny". Discover your Patronus at Pottermore Cincinnati Zoos male silverback was shot dead in May after a three-year-old child fell into his enclosure, prompting widespread grief and anger. A series of online tributes have since been made to the slain animal, including calls for another zoo to name their new baby gorilla after him. The chief executive of Cincinnati Zoo previously asked people to stop making memes and jokes about the deceased primate amid a seemingly perpetual flow of homages to the departed beast across various sections of the internet and from across the political spectrum. In August, a Cincinnati school made a man in a gorilla outfit the new mascot for its football team in an apparent tribute to the expired creature. The most controversial animal killings Show all 6 1 /6 The most controversial animal killings The most controversial animal killings Cincinnati Zoo worker shots and kills Harambe, the 17-year-old gorilla Harambe, a 17-year-old gorilla was shot and killed by a Cincinnati Zoo worker after a three-year-old boy climbed into a gorilla enclosure and was grabbed and dragged by Harambe. The incident was recorded on video and received broad international coverage and commentary, including controversy over the choice to kill Harambe. A number of primatologists and conservationists wrote later that the zoo had no other choice under the circumstances, and that it highlighted the danger of zoo animals in close proximity to humans and the need for better standards of care Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden The most controversial animal killings Walt Palmer (left), from Minnesota, who killed Cecil, the Zimbabwean lion (pictured here with another lion shot in Africa) Walter James Palmer has been named by Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force as the shooter of Cecil, a 13-year-old prized lion. He is now wanted by Zimbabwe officials on poaching charges. The lion was protected and the subject of a decade long study by the Wildlife Unit of Oxford University in the UK. He was outfitted with a GPS collar and was killed in Hwange National Park. The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority and the Safari Operators Association said that two men were charged with poaching in connection to Mr Palmer The most controversial animal killings Kendall Jones hunting images Kendall Jones, a 19-year-old Texas Tech university student, has provoked worldwide fury after posting pictures of herself smiling next to animals she hunted, including a lion, rhinoceros, antelope, leopard, elephant, zebra and hippopotamus The most controversial animal killings Rebecca Francis hunting images Rebecca Francis, a huntress who has killed dozens of wild animals has been sent death wishes by furious social media users after a picture showing her lying down next to a dead giraffe was circulated. Rebecca Francis has a website and Facebook page dedicated to the animals she has killed in hunts across Africa and America. Francis, a prolific hunter who has also co-hosted the television show Eye of the Hunter, regularly posts pictures of herself posing next to dead bears, giraffes, buffaloes and zebras, among other animals. She uses a bow and arrow to kill her prey The most controversial animal killings The slaughter of Marius, an 18-month-old healthy giraffe in Copenhagen Zoo Copenhagen Zoo made the controversial decision to euthanise a healthy giraffe named Marius, which was later dissected and fed to lions as visitors watched. The slaughter sparked a furious backlash from social media users and zoo staff have received death threats by phone and email. Soon after the incident, Copenhagen Zoo faced an international outcry once again after four healthy lions were put down The most controversial animal killings Swiss Dahlholzli zoo kills healthy brown bear cub A Switzerland zoo faced heavy criticism from animal rights groups, after keepers put down a healthy brown bear cub to spare it from being bullied by its dominant male father. The 360 kg male bear Misha had already killed one of his 11-week old cubs in public and was bullying the second, staff at the zoo said, because he was jealous of the attention the cubs were receiving from their mother, Masha. Both adult brown bears had been donated to Berns Dahlholzli zoo in 2009. Campaigners condemned staff there for not separating the cubs, who are being referred to as Baby Bear Two and Baby Bear Three, and their mother from Misha after their birth in January Facebook Video showed the costumed man dragging a child by the arm in a manner reminiscent of the real Harambe on the fateful day the boy fell into his enclosure. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have pledged more than $3bn (2.3bn) toward a plan to "cure, prevent or manage all disease within our children's lifetime". The couple pledged the money as the next big investment by their philanthropic company, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which is also focused on education, poverty, and equality. Recommended Read more Mark Zuckerberg addresses Philando Castile shooting Speaking through tears at a San Francisco event to announce the initiative, Ms 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. Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom also attented the event. A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Show all 5 1 /5 A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Kim Jong-un A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Mhairi Black A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Neymar A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Kim Kardashian-West A selection of the most powerful millennials in the world Alexander Wang The first wave of cash will be a $600m investment in a new research centre called Biohub, which is a partnership with Stanford, Berkeley, and the University of California, San Francisco and is tasked with finding new ways to fight disease. Mr Zuckerberg said science and the medical community have made rapid advancements over the past 50 years, including eradicating smallpox and nearly eliminating polio. "Today, just four kinds of diseases cause the majority of deaths," he 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." In December last year, Mr Zuckerberg said he will give 99 per cent of his Facebook shares away in his lifetime. He made the promise in an open letter to his newborn daughter, Max, on Facebook. He said he would dedicate 99 per cent of his shares in Facebook to the four missions: personalised learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities. The Facebook founder is worth $56bn, thanks to shares in his own company. In April, he seized the opportunity to propose a new class of nonvoting stock to make sure that he retains the major control of his company. Earlier this week, Microsoft has pledged to "solve" cancer in the next 10 years. The company is working at treating the disease like a computer virus that invades and corrupts the bodys cells. Additional reporting by Reuters For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Mia Farrows son Thaddeus Wilk Farrow has died from injuries sustained in a car accident. He was 27. Thaddeus was discovered inside of his vehicle on Wednesday in Danbury in Connecticut suffering from a life-threatening injury, according to a police report obtained by People magazine. He was transported to Danbury Hospital and pronounced dead at 2:30pm. Law enforcement has said there was no foul play involved in the death. Farrow, who is best known for her roles in John and Mary and The Great Gatsby, adopted Thaddeus when he was aged 12 in 1994 from an orphanage in Calcutta, India after she divorced Woody Allen. He was a paraplegic due to polio. Notable deaths in 2016 Show all 42 1 /42 Notable deaths in 2016 Notable deaths in 2016 Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She died on December 28 in Los Angeles Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Actress Carrie Fisher died on December 27 aged 60 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Comedian and Actor Ricky Harris died on December 26 aged 54 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 British singer George Michael died on 25 December aged 53 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Rick Parfitt OBE was an English musician, best known for being a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo. He died on December 24 in Marbella, Spain Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Lord Jenkin of Roding died at the age of 90 on the 21 December PA wire Notable deaths in 2016 Rabbi Lionel Blue died on the 19 December Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Leonard Cohen died on 7 November Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Grand secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson died on 10 October aged 60 after a short illness PA Notable deaths in 2016 Aaron Pryor, the relentless junior welterweight died Sunday, Oct. 9, at the age of 60 at his home in Cincinnati after a long battle with heart disease AP Notable deaths in 2016 Polish Director Andrzej Wajda died on October 9, aged 90 Reuters Notable deaths in 2016 Stylianos Pattakos has died following a stroke on 8th October. He was 103 years old. AP Notable deaths in 2016 Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton. He represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s. He died on 8th October. He was 84 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Duke of Westminster Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor has died on 9 August, aged 64 Rex Features Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Knudsen Sir Roger Moores stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has died from cancer on 25 July at teh age of 47 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Caroline Aherne The actress Caroline Aherne has died from cancer on 2 July at the age of 52 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie, 22, who was an American singer and songwriter, known for her participation in the NBC singing competition The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando on 10 June when an assailant shot her. Grimmie was transported to a local hospital where she died from her wounds on 11 June Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Kimbo Slice Former UFC and Bellator MMA fighter Kimbo Slice died after being admitted to hospital in Florida on 6 June, aged 42 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Muhammad Ali The three-time former heavyweight world champion died after being admitted to hospital with a respiratory illness on 3 June, aged 74 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Sally Brampton Brampton who was the launch editor of the UK edition of Elle magazine has died on 10 May, aged 60 Grant Triplow/REX/Shutterstock Notable deaths in 2016 Billy Paul The soul singer Billy Paul, who was best known for his single Me and Mrs Jones, has died on 24 April, aged 81 Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Prince Prince, the legendary musician, has been found dead at his Paisley Park recording studio on 21 April. He was 57 Notable deaths in 2016 Chyna WWE icon Joan Laurer dies aged 45 after being found at California home on 20 April Notable deaths in 2016 Victoria Wood The five-time Bafta-winning actress and comedian Victoria Wood has died on 20 April at her London home after a short illness with cancer. She was 62 Notable deaths in 2016 David Gest The entertainer and former husband of Liza Minnelli, David Gest has been found dead on 12 April in the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Warf, London. He was 62-years-old PA Notable deaths in 2016 Denise Robertson Denise Robertson, an agony aunt on This Morning for over 30 years, has died on 1 April, aged 83 Notable deaths in 2016 Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Hadid, the prominent architect best known for designs such as the London Olympic Aquatic Centre and the Guangzhou Opera House, has died of a heart attack on 31 March, aged 65 2010 AFP Notable deaths in 2016 Ronnie Corbett British entertainer Ronnie Corbett has passed away on 31 March at the age of 85 2014 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Imre Kertesz Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor Imre Kertesz, who won the 2002 Nobel Literature Prize, has died on 31 March, at the age of 86 REUTERS Notable deaths in 2016 Rob Ford Rob Ford, the former controversial mayor of Toronto, has died following a battle with a rare form of cancer. The 46-year-old passed away at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on 22 March Notable deaths in 2016 Joey Feek Joey (left) passed away in March after a two-year cancer illness. She was part of country music duo, Joey + Rory, with her husband Rory (right) Jason Merritt/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Umberto Eco Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco died 19 February 2016 aged 84 EPA Notable deaths in 2016 Harper Lee Harper Lee, the American novelist known for writing 'To Kill a Mockingbird', died February 19, 2016 aged 89 2005 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Vanity Vanity, pictured performing in 1983, died aged 57 REX Features Notable deaths in 2016 Dave Mirra The BMX legend's body found inside truck with gunshot wound after apparent suicide aged 41 Notable deaths in 2016 Harry Harpham The former miner became Sheffield Labour MP in May after many years as a local councillor. He died after succumbing to cancer, at the age of 61. Notable deaths in 2016 Dale Griffin The Mott the Hoople drummer died on January 17, aged 67 REX Notable deaths in 2016 Rene Angelil Celine Dion's husband and manager Rene Angelil has lost his battle with cancer on 14 January, aged 73 2011 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Alan Rickman Legendary actor Alan Rickman has died on 14 January at the age of 69 after battle with pancreatic cancer. He is largely regarded as one of the most beloved British actors of our generation with roles in Love Actually, Die Hard, Michael Collins, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and an illustrious stage career 2015 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Maurice White The Earth, Wind & Fire founder died aged 74. The nine-piece band sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy awards Notable deaths in 2016 Lawrence Phillips Former NFL star found dead in prison cell on 13 January in suspected suicide, aged 40 AFP/Getty Images Thaddeus was one of 10 children the 71-year-old actress adopted, including Soon-Yi Previn who is now married to Allen. Thaddeus was named after Elliott Wilk, the judge who oversaw Farrow's 1993 legal battle with Allen. Two of her adopted children, Tam and Lark, are deceased. Thaddeus spoke about being adopted by the actress and thrust into the word of Hollywood in a 2013 interview with Vanity Fair. 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. Speaking about the Christmas prior to the interview which took place, Thaddeus, who walked with crutches or used a wheelchair, recounted how he finally felt able to express his emotions. I came back at Christmas time 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. At the time Thaddeus had been training to become a police officer. Farrow has yet to release a statement on the news of his death. A representative for Farrow did not immediately respond to request for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Eradicating disease worldwide is no mean feat but Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chans pledge to invest $3 billion towards a plan to cure, prevent or manage all disease within our children's lifetime is certainly a place to start. The Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, the limited liability company into which Zuckerberg and Chan poured all their Facebook shares, announced on Wednesday that it hoped to do the above by the end of the century. While the couple has frequently flexed their philanthropic credentials, this is the first time they have launched a major science initiative and could be perceived as an example of Chan marking her territory as she has a long-time interest in all things health related having been trained in paediatrics. But while Chan might be known for her bold philanthropic efforts and grand gestures, far less is known about her private life. Being media shy and fiercely private, the first lady of Facebook largely tends to eschew interviews opportunities. However, living in the public domain of Silicone Valley makes it very difficult to maintain complete privacy and on rare occasions we have been offered glimpses into her private life. Zuckerberg joins the silicon slickers with new $7m super home Show all 4 1 /4 Zuckerberg joins the silicon slickers with new $7m super home Zuckerberg joins the silicon slickers with new $7m super home 604087.bin AP Zuckerberg joins the silicon slickers with new $7m super home 604090.bin REX FEATURES Zuckerberg joins the silicon slickers with new $7m super home 604092.bin Zuckerberg joins the silicon slickers with new $7m super home 604091.bin She was the first to go to university in her family Chan was born in Braintree, a leafy suburban New England city in Massachusetts in America but grew up in Quincey, another New England town which is the birthplace of Dunkin Donuts and the Dropkick Murpheys and is ten miles from Boston. Chans parents were ethnic Chinese refugees who fled Vietnam in refugee boats. In turn, she was raised speaking Cantonese and taking on the role of interpreter for her grandparents. My mum working two jobs throughout my childhood, my grandparents not speaking English so it was my job to interpret for them, she told The Today Programme in 2014 in one of her most candid interviews to date, admitting that as a child, she was really uptight. In 2003, she graduated as class valedictorian, an academic title of success used in the US, from Quincy High School and was voted class genius by her classmates. After school, she joined Harvard University where she met Zuckerberg in 2003. The first person to go university in her family, she graduated with a BA in biology in 2007 and also studied Spanish. Wasting no time, she then started teaching science at the private Harker School for a year, before entering the medical school of the University of California in 2008. She met Zuckerberg in the toilet queue at a frat party In quintessentially American fashion, Chan met Zuckerberg in line for the bathroom at a frat party in 2003. Talking about their first encounter to The New Yorker in 2010, Chan said: He was this nerdy guy who was just a little bit out there, and recalled his novelty beer glasses imprinted with a computer programming joke. Unlike the rest of the world, Chan knew Zuckerberg prior to him becoming a billionaire. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Chan was one of the first people to join Facebook on 5 February 2004. Testimony to Zuckerbergs workaholic nature and Chans strict meticulousness, Chan reportedly had a relationship contract with Zuckerberg at one point which stated: One date per week, a minimum of a hundred minutes of alone time, not in his apartment and definitely not at Facebook. Nevertheless, this, of course, changed after they moved in together and later got married. Chan and Zuckerberg married on on 19 May 2012, just a day after Facebook's stock market launch. Anonymous sources who attended the wedding leaked the dinner menu, which comprised of both sushi and Mexican food, and the fact that one of Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day, one of Chans favourite bands, had performed. Unusually, the wedding was a surprise for all of the guests, who were duped into believing they were attending a surprise medical school graduation party for Chan. She had three miscarriages before her daughter was born The pair now has one daughter Maxima, who is was born in November 2015. In fact, it is her who the latest disease-curing initiative has been dedicated to. We want to dramatically improve every life in Maxs generation and make sure we dont miss a single soul, Chan said upon announcing the news. Well be investing in basic science research with the goal of curing disease. Despite being a deeply private couple, Zuckerberg publicly announced that the pregnancy followed three miscarriages. It's a lonely experience. Most people don't discuss miscarriages because you worry your problems will distance you or reflect upon you, he wrote in a Facebook post. So you struggle on your own. We hope that sharing our experience will give more people the same hope we felt and will help more people feel comfortable sharing their stories. She is said to be protective of her husband Having given few public appearances, little is known of Chan's exact character but an unnamed person who knew her described her as a quiet yet forceful presence who is protective of her new husband to the New York Times. Despite having an active Facebook presence, it is rare for Chan to be tagged in party snaps. She is a Buddhist According to a Zuckerberg post from October 2015, Chan is a Buddhist. Given the lack of interviews she has given, one of the few ways to judge Chans interests are Facebook. According to the social media site, she is a fan of Taylor Swift, James Taylor, Green Day, Jay Z, Beyonce, Ingrid Michaelson, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and her favourite books are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter andThe House of Spies. Her likes include Bill Gates, Glee's Lea Michelle, Wall Street Journal, Alexander McQueen and National Geographic. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Aung San Suu Kyi, in her first address to the UN General Assembly as the leader of Burma, defended her countrys efforts to secure peace for its Muslim minority. But she refused to use the controversial name that some of that minority uses for itself - the Rohingya. It has been six years since the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) opposition party was released from house arrest, and the slightly-built leader has appeared regularly at forums around the world. Yet her address on Wednesday, was her first to the UN as the de facto head of her country, and in her specially created position of State Counsellor. Ms Suu Kyi, 71, who has been criticised for doing too little to address the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in western Rakhine State, said the government did not fear international scrutiny, but asked for the understanding and the constructive contribution of the international community. It was her first UN address as the de facto leader of Burma (AP) We are committed to a sustainable solution that will lead to peace, stability and development for all communities within the State, she said, according to the Associated Press. Our government is taking a holistic approach that makes development central to both short- and long-term programmes aimed at promoting understanding and trust. Ms Suu Kyi pointed to the establishment of an advisory commission for Rakhine State chaired by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, with a mandate covering basic rights and security issues. Critics have pointed out that no members of the Rohingya community are on the commission. Burma's 2015 general election: All you need to know By standing firm against the forces of prejudice and intolerance, we are reaffirming our faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, she said. 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 in Burma. More than 100 people were killed and a number of neighborhoods were burned to the ground in 2012 when ethnic Rakhine Buddhists clashed with Rohingya Muslims. Anywhere up to 140,000 people have fled their homes and taken up shelter in refugee camps. Most Burmese - including many members of Suu Kyis NLD - do not accept the Rohingya as genuine Burmese citizens. Many of her colleagues refer to the Muslims as Bengalis, and Ms Suu Kyi has repeatedly declined to use the word Rohingya. The Rohingya have long been persecuted, being seen by much of the majority Buddhist population as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even though many have lived in the country for generations. Most were stripped of their ability to vote in last year's election, which brought Ms Suu Kyi to power as de facto leader. In Washington last Thursday, Ms Suu Kyi urged businesses to invest in Burma as a way to advance its democratic transition, a day after US President Barack Obama pledged to lift long-standing sanctions on the country We are committed to a sustainable solution that will lead to peace, stability and development for all communities within the state, Ms Suu Kyi said on Wednesday. The Nobel laureate is the daughter of Burmas founding father, and spent around 20 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 effectively heads the government. Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Fish sing dawn choruses in the ocean just as birds do on land, scientists have said. Seven fish choruses have been identified by researchers from Exeter University and Curtin University in Perth, Australia, which varied from foghorn cries to grunting noises. Using a pair of sea-noise loggers positioned at different points in the coastal waters of Port Headland in Western Australia, scientists monitored the ocean continually for 18 months and recorded distinct choruses occurring at different times of the day, particularly at dawn and at dusk, with songs predominantly heard between early spring and late summer. The study, led by Robert McCauley and published in the journal Bioacoustics, found the majority of this submarine soundscape was emitted through repetitive solo calls from fish, however these sounds also overlapped creating the choruses. You get the dusk and dawn choruses like you would with the birds in the forest, Steve Simpson, a marine biologist at Exeter University, told the New Scientist. The sounds included a deep foghorn call made by the Black Jewfish, a chorus which researchers said was comparable to the buzzer in the Operation board game, emitted by a species of Terapontid, and a chorus consisting of a ba-ba-ba call. Distinct diurnal patterns in the choruses were observed, associated with sunrise or sunset and in some cases, both, the study said. While choruses were predominantly recorded on different days, there were at total of 80 days when more than one chorus was present at the same site. These choruses comprised calls of single or multiple acoustic pulses with varying pulse repetition frequencies. Sound plays an important role in the behavioural functions and life stages of fish, researchers said, "such as spawning, feeding, territorial disputes or distress, and the catalogue of fish noises may help provide valuable ecological knowledge. These choruses help provide a context for the environmental conditions and possibly provide a complementary tool to remotely monitor marine fauna in the north-west," the study said. Chefs hunt for Norway's most prized fish Show all 7 1 /7 Chefs hunt for Norway's most prized fish Chefs hunt for Norway's most prized fish Monica Galetti lands a 12kg fish Joe Woodhouse Chefs hunt for Norway's most prized fish Ollie Dabbous and Michel Roux Jr. spot some whales near the boat Joe Woodhouse Chefs hunt for Norway's most prized fish Roux and Simon Hulstone reel in a cod Joe Woodhouse Chefs hunt for Norway's most prized fish A local child shows Robin Gill how to cut out the tongue Joe Woodhouse Chefs hunt for Norway's most prized fish The group board a boat to sail to a skrei patch in the fjord of Malangen Joe Woodhouse Chefs hunt for Norway's most prized fish Skreimolje, a traditional dish made with the cods roe, fillet and liver Joe Woodhouse Chefs hunt for Norway's most prized fish Michel Roux Jr offers a toast Joe Woodhouse Researchers said the number of recordings is growing and around 800 species of fish are believed to produce sound. However, as sound can travel for hundreds of metres underwater, researchers have not been able to identify the precise source of each song. We are only just beginning to appreciate the complexity involved and still have only a crude idea of what is going on in the undersea acoustic environment, said Mr McCauley. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} CJ de Mooi, the former star of the BBC TV quiz show Eggheads, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. The 46-year-old was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, under a European arrest warrant issued by Dutch Police. Arrested under his birth name Joseph Connagh, he is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court. De Mooi joined Eggheads when it started in 2003 as one of the panel of quiz experts who pitted their wits against contestants drawn from members of the public. The former model left the show earlier this year, announcing that he was going to South Africa to pursue a career in acting. People news in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 People news in pictures People news in pictures 7 October 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an ice hockey match between former NHL stars and officials at the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons EPA People news in pictures 6 October 2015 German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne (C) appear at the end of his Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a Chanel airport during the Fashion Week in Paris, France Reuters People news in pictures 5 October 2015 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The Chancellor argued that reducing the payments to people in low paid jobs would give them economic security by reducing the Governments spending deficit Getty Images People news in pictures 4 October 2015 Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston takes a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie Thurston, holding dark-skinned doll, after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The image quickly became the talking point of Australias National Rugby League Final and provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many praising Thurston for giving his child a toy that promotes inclusiveness and diversity Getty Images People news in pictures 3 October 2015 Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up as he greets people at the end of an audience to the participants of a meeting organized by the "Food Bank" at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican Getty Images People news in pictures 2 October 2015 Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne (L) throws an American football as he meets with former American football players Dan Marino (2nd R) and Curtis Martin (not pictured) at 11 Downing Street in London, ahead of the New York Jets playing against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley Stadium on 4 October Getty Images People news in pictures 1 October 2015 An honor guard opens the door as Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia People news in pictures 30 September 2015 Former Mrs America Lisa Christie, who alleges misconduct by Bill Cosby, holds up photos of her younger self during a news conference at the law office of attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Matt Damon has defended himself against claims that he instructed gay actors to remain in the closet. He had said I think youre a better actor the less people know about you and sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether youre straight or gay, people shouldnt know anything about your sexuality but an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show said, I was just trying to say actors are more effective when theyre a mystery. Right? Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Marion Cotillard has said that there is no place for feminism in Hollywood. Speaking to Porter magazine, she saidFilm-making is not about gender/ 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." Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Paul Walkers daughter, Meadow, is suing Porsche over her fathers death in a lawsuit that claims he was trapped in the burning car because of design flaws and the seat belt. The Fast and Furious star was killed when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a pole in California in 2013. The driver, his friend Roger Rodas, also died when the vehicle burst into flames. AP People news in pictures 28 September 2015 Robert Mugabe waits to address the United Nations General Assembly. The leader of Zimbabwe reportedly exclaimed 'We are not gay!' as he criticised Western nation's "double standards and attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. In 2013 he described homosexuals as worse than pigs, goats and birds. Reuters People news in pictures 28 September 2015 South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts the first 'Daily Show' since taking over from Jon Stewart as host. Stewart had presented the US satirical news show since 1999 and was described by Noah during the show as a 'Political father' 2015 Getty Images People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Sir Elton John may have received a phone call from the real Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesman announced he had made contact weeks after the singer was duped by pranksters pretending to be the Russian President. Getty People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was mistakenly declared as the artist who produced the Mona Lisa by Fox News anchor Shepard Smith. It was in fact Leonardo da Vinci. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 A new biography claims Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never marry. The Guardian says the a new book also claims that in 1980, Mr Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 The Dalai Lama has said that Britain's policy towards China is just about 'Money, money, money.' And asked 'Where is morality?' People news in pictures 24 September 2015 Puff Daddy secured the number-one spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list, with the publication calculating he made an estimated $60million (39m) between June 2014 and June 2015. In a brief statement, Scotland Yard gave his address as Monmouthshire, in Wales, where de Mooi is believed to have spent time living with his male civil partner. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A man was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, 21 September on a European Arrest Warrant issued in the Netherlands in relation to an allegation of murder. "Joseph Connagh, 46, self employed, of Monmouthshire appears in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday." In his autobiography, published last year, de Mooi claimed that in 1988, when he was a teenager living on the streets of Amsterdam and resorting to prostitution to survive, he might have killed a would-be mugger in self-defence. He wrote: This is the one incident of my life I do regret. I was in a phone box and this old guy, obviously a massive drug user, came up behind me with a knife in his hand he told me to turn around, open my bag and give him whatever was inside I punched him so hard in the face, knocked the knife out of his hand and threw him in the canal. I fully suspect I killed him. Ive no idea what happened to him. It was reported by the Daily Mirror, the newspaper serialising the autobiography, that Dutch police were looking into what de Mooi had written. At the time, however, there appeared to be no evidence beyond Mr de Moois own unsubstantiated claim - that any crime had been committed. In January of this year de Mooi was suspended from Eggheads after being the subject of police inquiries into allegations later dismissed - that he had sexually assaulted a 23-year-old man during a night out with friends in Glasgow. De Mooi was questioned by police, but officers later dropped the inquiry, effectively clearing the quiz star of any suggestion of wrongdoing. In May, however, de Mooi claimed that on the same day that the police dropped their inquiry, the independent production firm that makes Eggheads axed him from the show by sending him an email saying: It feels like the right time to refresh the Eggheads line-up. A friend of de Mooi was quoted by the Mirror as saying: CJ feels like hes been persecuted, gone through hell, his life and finances have completely collapsed. He feels hes got nothing left and will never appear on British TV again. Its an awful situation. De Mooi himself used his Connagh de Mooi twitter account to tell his fans: Im leaving England for my acting future in Cape Town. Im so grateful for all the show has given me but must try this now. In last years autobiography, de Mooi had claimed he grew up in a violent, racist and homophobic household in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, before running away in 1987. He ended up, aged 17, homeless, living on the streets of London, and surviving working as a rent boy in a brothel. He wrote: My body was the only commodity I had and if I wanted to eat, I had to sell it... I wish I hadnt had to do it but I dont regret doing it. He stowed away on a boat to Amsterdam, but had to resort to prostitution again after arriving in the Dutch capital. In 1989, aged 19, he moved on to Cologne, where he said he was spotted by a model scout while begging outside a nightclub. He was able to build a successful career in modelling and turned his life around. He said he changed his name by deed poll, taking the comon Dutch surname de Mooi, which translates as "the beautiful", because: "I no longer want to be associated with my family". He appeared as a contestant on a succession of TV quiz shows before Eggheads. His tirade after being voted off The Weakest Link was so memorable it was added to the shows website. He was later invited to compete in a bad losers edition of The Weakest Link, which he won. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} CJ de Mooi, the former star of BBC quiz show Eggheads, is fighting extradition to Holland after being arrested on suspicion of murder. The 46-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday, after being arrested at Terminal Three of Heathrow airport on Wednesday under a European arrest warrant issued by Dutch Police. In his autobiography, published last year, the quiz star claimed that in 1988, when he was a teenager living on the streets of Amsterdam and resorting to prostitution to survive, he might have killed a would-be mugger in self-defence. Recommended Read more 9 of the weirdest quiz show moments to date He wrote: This is the one incident of my life I do regret. I was in a phone box and this old guy, obviously a massive drug user, came up behind me with a knife in his hand he told me to turn around, open my bag and give him whatever was inside I punched him so hard in the face, knocked the knife out of his hand and threw him in the canal. I fully suspect I killed him. Ive no idea what happened to him. It was reported by the Daily Mirror, the newspaper serialising the autobiography, that Dutch police were looking into what de Mooi had written. At the time, however, there appeared to be no evidence beyond Mr de Moois own unsubstantiated claim - that any crime had been committed. On Thursday, though, the TV star, who had been returning from a business trip to South Africa when he was arrested, found himself in the dock of Westminster Magistrates' Court. Wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a green t-shirt and a hoodie, he listened as Prosecutor Brian Gibbins said: "The defendant appears today on a European arrest warrant issued by a Dutch prosecutor in Amsterdam. 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." Mr Gibbins added: "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." De Mooi, who lives with his husband in Caldicot, Wales, is opposing his extradition. 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 told de Mooi: "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." She released de Mooi on bail to appear at the court on November 28 for an extradition hearing. 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. In January of this year de Mooi was suspended from Eggheads after being the subject of police inquiries into allegations later dismissed - that he had sexually assaulted a 23-year-old man during a night out with friends in Glasgow. De Mooi was questioned by police, but officers later dropped the inquiry, effectively clearing the quiz star of any suggestion of wrongdoing. In May, however, de Mooi claimed that on the same day that the police dropped their inquiry, the independent production firm that makes Eggheads axed him from the show by sending him an email saying: It feels like the right time to refresh the Eggheads line-up. A friend of de Mooi was quoted by the Mirror as saying: CJ feels like hes been persecuted, gone through hell, his life and finances have completely collapsed. He feels hes got nothing left and will never appear on British TV again. Its an awful situation. De Mooi himself said he was moving to South Africa to pursue an acting career, issuing a tweet saying: Im leaving England for my acting future in Cape Town. Im so grateful for all the show has given me but must try this now. In last years autobiography, de Mooi had claimed he grew up in a violent, racist and homophobic household in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, before running away in 1987. He ended up, aged 17, homeless, living on the streets of London, and surviving working as a rent boy in a brothel. He wrote: My body was the only commodity I had and if I wanted to eat, I had to sell it... I wish I hadnt had to do it but I dont regret doing it. He stowed away on a boat to Amsterdam, but had to resort to prostitution again after arriving in the Dutch capital. In 1989, aged 19, he moved on to Cologne, where he said he was spotted by a model scout while begging outside a nightclub. He was able to build a successful career in modelling and turned his life around. He said he changed his name from Joseph Connagh by deed poll, taking the comon Dutch surname de Mooi, which translates as "the beautiful", because: "I no longer want to be associated with my family". He appeared as a contestant on a succession of TV quiz shows before Eggheads. His tirade after being voted off The Weakest Link was so memorable it was added to the shows website. He was later invited to compete in a bad losers edition of The Weakest Link, which he won. Referring to de Moois birth name, a Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A man was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, 21 September on a European Arrest Warrant issued in the Netherlands in relation to an allegation of murder. "Joseph Connagh, 46, self employed, of Monmouthshire appears in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday." Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A new map showing what Londons rail network would look like if Mayor Sadiq Khan took control of suburban trains has been revealed by TfL Under the plans, the Overground network would take over services from providers such as Southern Rail. Main Tube and Overground stations would be connected to suburban rail and Crossrail lines. Mr Khan says the proposals will improve the service, tackling both overcrowding and delays. TfLs board will consider the mayors proposals, before seeking approval from the Government to move forward. "Passengers on London's suburban rail routes simply aren't getting a good enough service, Mr Khan said. They face increasing rail fares year after year, yet face daily delays, cancellations and overcrowding. "Ahead of the Autumn Statement, I'm looking forward to presenting the full business case for how a transformed and modernised suburban rail network could also unlock new homes and provide other substantial economic benefits for London." Earlier in September, MPs and passenger groups were shocked to discover that Southern Rail's owner had experienced a 27 per cent hike in profits one day after 20 million of taxpayers money was committed to help end delays. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty Think tank Centre for London called on the Government to devolve the rail network this year because of strained rail services in south London. Further devolution of suburban rail service was agreed in 2016 but TfL must wait until contracts with the rail companies are up before it can take control. Franchises in southeast London and in Kent have contracts that are up for renewal in the Autumn, with South West Trains, Southeastern and Govia Thameslink Railway due for renewal by 2021. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A patient has died after an ambulance exploded outside an A&E department in Ireland. Two paramedics were also injured after a vehicle burst into flames at Naas General Hospital in Co KIldare. The incident prompted a partial evacuation of the building as fire fighters tackled the blaze. A male patient believed to be in his 70s, who is yet to be named, was inside the ambulance when it exploded and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Journal. An eyewitness said there was a lot of panic as the alarms started going off. I heard a load of alarms going off so I went to see what was going on. The old part of the hospital was being evacuated. There was a lot of panic and people were running around, Rob Curtis told the Irish Mirror. Local councillor Fintan Brett paid his respects to the man who lost his life. Imagine that poor man going into hospital, thinking he was going to get better, and then he passes away. Its absolutely terrible. My thoughts go out to him and his family, he told the Journal. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA It is not yet clear what caused the incident and members of the public have been advised to stay away from the building. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Sadiq Khan has said he believes the threat of terror attacks are part and parcel of living in a big city and encouraged Londoners to be vigilant to combat dangers. The Mayor of London revealed he had a sleepless night after the recent bombing in New York, and said major cities around the world have got to be prepared for these sorts of things to happen when people least expect them. That means being vigilant, having a police force that is in touch with communities, it means the security services being ready, but it also means exchanging ideas and best practice, Mr Khan told the Evening Standard shortly before a meeting with New York mayor Bill de Blasio. Sadiq Khan: Donald Trump's negative rhetoric about Muslims is helping Isis Mr Khan was elected as Mayor in May and quickly appointed former Met Police Authority chair Lord Harris to review Londons terrorist attack response, in particular how the capital would cope in the event of multiple attacks taking place simultaneously. Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe, Mr Khan said at the time. I want to be reassured that every single agency and individual involved in protecting our city has the resources and expertise they need to respond in the event that London is attacked. Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Show all 9 1 /9 Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Policemen outside Rouen's cathedral during the funeral of Jacques Hamel, the priest who was killed in a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray in Normandy on 26 July during a hostage-taking claimed by Islamic State group Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Two jihadists, both 19, slit Hamel's throat while he was celebrating mass in an attack that shocked France as well as the Catholic Church Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Muslims place flowers and hold a minute of silence in front of the church if Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, western France, where French priest Jacques Hamel was killed on 26 July Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Two people hold each other by the new makeshift memorial in Nice, in tribute to the victims of the deadly Bastille Day attack at the Promenade des Anglais Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the truck attack that killed 84 people in Nice on France's national holiday. Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, 31, smashed a 19-tonne truck into a packed crowd of people in the Riviera city celebrating Bastille Day Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Police work at a site where a Syrian migrant set off an explosive device in Ansbach, southern Germany, on 25 July, killing himself and wounding a dozen others Daniel Roland/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis A Syrian migrant set off an explosion at a bar in southern Germany that killed himself and wounded a dozen others in the third attack to hit Bavaria in a week. The 27-year-old, who had spent a stint in a psychiatric facility, had intended to target a music festival in the city of Ansbach but was turned away because he did not have a ticket Friebe/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Police officers walk along train tracks in Wuerzburg southern Germany on 19 July, a day after a man attacked train passengers with an axe. German authorities said they had found a hand-painted IS flag among the belongings of the man, an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, who seriously injured four members of a family of tourists from Hong Kong in his rampage Daniel Roland/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis German police killed a teenage assailant after he attacked passengers on a train in Wuerzburg, southerg Germany with an axe and a knife on 18 July, seriously wounding three people Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/AFP/Getty Images The terrorists are evolving their tactics and we have got to evolve our response to them all the time. I am afraid the consequences of a terror attack are very very scary. They want to kill. They want to maim and terrify. It is my job to try to make sure that we are as safe as we can be. The results of Lord Harriss review were due to be reported to Mr Khan over the summer, but they are yet to be made public. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish rabbi has issued a letter to thousands of women warning them it is a sin to wear skirts which show their knees, The Independent has learned. The letter, seen by The Independent, warns women to adhere to a list of cardinal points in how they dress. The rules include covering one's knees, wearing fabric loose enough to cover the outline of ones hips and forbids wearing bright colours. The letter is signed by a senior rabbi and was sent to 5,000 homes in the Stamford Hill area of North London. The letter states: The length of a skirt must extend until at least 4 (10 cm) below the end of the knee. This is required because only with this additional length is one assured that the knees will remain covered even when running, sitting down, climbing stairs etc. The width of the blouse or other top garment should be so that the shape of [the] upper body is not apparent. The width of the skirt must be such that the hips and thighs are hidden and camouflaged by skirt. The clothes should not have an unusual style as they would be eye-catching. The clothes should not have any unusual style as they would be eye-catching. Similarly the clothes must not be red, a bright yellow or fluorescent colour which are very eye-catching. Instead calm colours should be worn. Dina Brawer from the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, told The Independent: Modesty is indeed a very important Jewish value which applies equally to both women and men. It is about a mindset that values dignity and discretion. "Tasteful clothing is only one manifestation of this value. Obsessing over womens hemlines paradoxically undermines this value and smacks of male control. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA In September last year, it was revealed a state school in the community told mothers they had to adhere to a strict dress code while their children were enrolled as pupils. A parent claimed Yesodey Hatorah stipulated that mothers must "refrain from following trends which contradict the spirit of modesty... the wearing of flashy or very brightly coloured clothing is forbidden... dresses and skirts may not be shorter than 4 inches below the knees... a slit in a skirt or a dress is absolutely forbidden even if it is completely below the knees." The school confirmed the dress code but said there was no expectation that children would be expelled if their mothers did not adhere to it. The Board of Deputies of British Jews estimates there are around 30,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews living in the UK, amounting to 10 per cent of the total British Jewish population. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Foreign Office Minister Alan Duncan has said his boss Boris Johnson wanted to lose the referendum and only campaigned for Brexit to become the Tory heir apparent. Mr Duncan, who campaigned for Remain, told a BBC documentary to be broadcast on Thursday night: Ive always thought that Boriss wish was to lose by one so that he could be the heir apparent without having to have all the you know, s-h-1-t of clearing up all the mess, thats always been my view of Boris. In comments recorded the day before the referendum took place, Mr Duncan predicted Remain would win by 52 to 48 per cent and said: By championing leave, Boris can be the great heir apparent of the future, darling of the activists, but actually it would be quite good if he didnt actually win the referendum because there would be total chaos. Mr Duncan has since been appointed as Minister of State at the Foreign Office, working under Mr Johnson, who was appointed Foreign Secretary by Theresa May. It is far from the only example of words said during the referendum that will be hard to live down. Two weeks before their appointment to the same department, Mr Duncan also referred to Mr Johnson in the House of Commons as Silvio Borisconi. Mr Johnsons now counterpart at the Home Office, Amber Rudd, also told a televised debate she wouldnt get in the car with him at the end of the night. Brexit: A Very British coup? also features Jacob Rees-Mogg being forced to switch allegiance between three different candidates in the Conservative leadership election. Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a love bombing rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell On 29 June, when asked by an interviewer who he is backing in the leadership bid he replies: Oh Boris, I think Boris won the referendum for Brexit. The following day he says: I have always wanted Michael Gove to stand for the leadership of the [Conservative] party and I had encouraged him to do this. Theresa May tells UN the UK will not turn inwards after Brexit vote On 20 July he tells an interviewer: Im a complete convert to Mrs May. Two weeks before the referendum, when Michael Heseltine calls Ukip anti-immigration and racist, Nigel Farage responds: Typical disgraceful, disgraceful old man, he should be in the Natural History Museum. Listening to him reminded me why I resigned from the Conservative Party and that cheered me up. I made the right decision. Liam Fox, now Secretary of State for International Trade also calls for Remain campaigners not to make political capital out of the killing of Jo Cox, even calling for the referendum to be postponed: I hope that well not be hearing people use a tragedy of this proportion to try to change the political tone or alter the political weather, he tells an interviewer. I think theres a strong argument to consider, at least next week, as to whether we want to extend the period of the referendum itself. Brexit: A Very British Coup? Is broadcast on BBC 2 at 9pm on Thursday night Click here to download your free guide on Brexit ideas and action plans, from Independent Partner, Hargreaves Lansdown Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Britain could leave the European Union by the end of 2018, Boris Johnson has said, appearing to press the accelerator on the process. The Foreign Secretary said he expected the Article 50 notice would be invoked early next year, and that it would take less than the two years widely predicted. Speaking in New York, where he has been attending the United Nations, Mr Johnson also hailed fantastic opportunities for free trade, pouring scorn on warnings that the EU will play tough in the Brexit talks. He said: By the early part of next year, you will see an Article 50 letter which we will invoke and, in that letter, I am sure we will be setting out some parameters for how we propose to take this forward. You invoke Article 50 in the early part of next year [and] you have two years to pull it off. I don't actually think you need to spend the full two years, but lets see how we go. We are going to 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 they're not going to put that at risk. In an interview with Sky News, Mr Johnson answered the question the Prime Minister has repeatedly dodged: When will the Article 50 process start? Indeed, when EU Council President Donald Tusk revealed that Theresa May had told him that early next year was the likely timetable, he was slapped down. However, it is widely believed the process of leaving will take the full two years at least. Further time can be granted, but only if the other 27 EU states agree. Mr Johnson spoke after the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, urged the Government to get moving, as he arrived for talks in Downing Street. Mr Schulz said the European Parliament wanted Britain to have completed the exit process by early 2019. He argued it would be wrong for British voters to take part in EU Parliament elections in June 2019 while the negotiations were ongoing. What experts have said about Brexit Show all 11 1 /11 What experts have said about Brexit What experts have said about Brexit Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond The Chancellor claims London can still be a world financial hub despite Brexit One of Britains great strengths is the ability to offer and aggregate all of the services the global financial services industry needs This has not changed as a result of the EU referendum and I will do everything I can to ensure the City of London retains its position as the worlds leading international financial centre. Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Yanis Varoufakis Greece's former finance minister compared the UK relations with the EU bloc with a well-known song by the Eagles: You can check out any time you like, as the Hotel California song says, but you can't really leave. The proof is Theresa May has not even dared to trigger Article 50. It's like Harrison Ford going into Indiana Jones' castle and the path behind him fragmenting. You can get in, but getting out is not at all clear Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Michael OLeary Ryanair boss says UK will be screwed by EU in Brexit trade deals: I have no faith in the politicians in London going on about how the world will want to trade with us. The world will want to screw you that's what happens in trade talks, he said. They have no interest in giving the UK a deal on trade Getty What experts have said about Brexit Tim Martin JD Wetherspoon's chairman has said claims that the UK would see serious economic consequences from a Brexit vote were "lurid" and wrong: We were told it would be Armageddon from the OECD, from the IMF, David Cameron, the chancellor and President Obama who were predicting locusts in the fields and tidal waves in the North Sea" PA What experts have said about Brexit Mark Carney Governor of Bank of England is 'serene' about Bank of England's Brexit stance: I am absolutely serene about the judgments made both by the MPC and the FPC Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Christine Lagarde IMF chief urges quick Brexit to reduce economic uncertainty: We want to see clarity sooner rather than later because we think that a lack of clarity feeds uncertainty, which itself undermines investment appetites and decision making Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Inga Beale Lloyds chief executive says Brexit is a major issue: "Clearly the UK's referendum on its EU membership is a major issue for us to deal with and we are now focusing our attention on having in place the plans that will ensure Lloyd's continues trading across Europe EPA What experts have said about Brexit Colm Kelleher President of US bank Morgan Stanley says City of London will suffer as result of the EU referendum: I do believe, and I said prior to the referendum, that the City of London will suffer as result of Brexit. The issue is how much What experts have said about Brexit Richard Branson Virgin founder believes we've lost a THIRD of our value because of Brexit and cancelled a deal worth 3,000 jobs: We're not any worse than anybody else, but I suspect we've lost a third of our value which is dreadful for people in the workplace.' He continued: "We were about to do a very big deal, we cancelled that deal, that would have involved 3,000 jobs, and thats happening all over the country" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Barack Obama US President believes Britain was wrong to vote to leave the EU: "It is absolutely true that I believed pre-Brexit vote and continue to believe post-Brexit vote that the world benefited enormously from the United Kingdom's participation in the EU. We are fully supportive of a process that is as little disruptive as possible so that people around the world can continue to benefit from economic growth" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Kristin Forbes American economist and an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England argues that the economy had been less stormy than many expected following the shock referendum result: For nowthe economy is experiencing some chop, but no tsunami. The adverse winds could quickly pick up and merit a stronger policy response. But recently they have shifted to a more favourable direction Getty Mr Schulz said: 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. And he warned of a tough battle ahead on the crucial issue of freedom of movement for EU citizens, saying, The four freedoms of the single market goods, capital, services and persons are equally important. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The head of Oxford University, named as the worlds top institution, has warned that Brexit is risking vital research funding and student numbers, as the school has already seen rivals trying to poach its best academics. Vice Chancellor Louise Richardson said the the EU referendum had created significant uncertainty around the future, after the institution topped this years Times Higher Education World University Rankings. She revealed that other universities around the world had already attempted to lure academics away. Speaking on BBC radio she said: Our concern is that our academics who are at Oxford might decide to leave if they are concerned that they may not be able to get their research funded in the future. There are many universities in the world who would be thrilled to have them and who are approaching them and are asking them if they would return to their universities instead. The Vice Chancellor called on the Government to secure a relationship with the EU that is as close to the current situation as possible and to guarantee the status of EU citizens in the UK, who make up 17 per cent of the universitys staff. Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education Show all 11 1 /11 Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 1. Oxford University (UK) Rank 2016-2017 Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 2. California Institute of Technology (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 3. Stanford University (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 4. University of Cambridge (UK) Rank 2016-2017 AFP/Getty Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Rex Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 6. Harvard University (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 7. Princeton University (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Creative Commons Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 8. Imperial College London (UK) Rank 2016-2017 Getty Images Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 9. ETH Zurich Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (Switzerland) Rank 2016-2017 Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education 10. University of California, Berkeley (USA) Rank 2016-2017 Getty Top 10 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education =10 University of Chicago (USA) Rank 2016-2017 She went on to say that the historic institution needed to know that funding it receives from the European Research Council, worth up to 67m, would be guaranteed or matched by the Government. Theresa May tells UN the UK will not turn inwards after Brexit vote Speaking as the universitys position in the league table emerged, she said: The reason we are having this conversation is because of how well we did on the global ranking, which is predominantly determined by the calibre of our research. We currently get around 67m a year from the European Research Council, thats a very significant amount, and we need to ensure we continue to access funding for our research. Professor Richardson said the university had told current students and those starting next year they will pay EU fees, which are far lower than those charged to international students. But because of a lack of clarity about the UKs position she was unable to say what would happen to those starting at the university at later dates. She went on: It runs the risk that a, the number of our European students will decline, b, that we might only be able to attract those EU students who can afford to pay international fees and that would undermine the fabric of the institution. The UK is second only to the US for the number of world-class universities featured in the top 800 table. Within the top 200, the UK has 32 representatives, just two shy of last years sum. Alongside Oxford, the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London have also made the top 10. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Governments promise of a revolution in the rehabilitation of criminals has yet to be delivered, a new Commons report has concluded. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is now more than two years into reforms of probation services which were intended to drive down re-offending but they are far from complete, MPs added. Meg Hillier, a Labour MP who chairs the the Public Accounts Select Committee that produced the report, said there was a real danger the MoJ had bitten off more than it can chew. Ms Hillier added: It set out with some fervour a programme of reforms not just to rehabilitation but also to the courts and prison systems. Ambition is one thing but, as our committee continues to document across government, delivering positive results for taxpayers and society in general is quite another. Revolution is a potent word the Government may regret using to describe its reforms to rehabilitation. After two years these are far from complete and there remain serious risks to achieving the performance levels expected by the end of 2017. The committees report said: The MoJ has yet to bring about the rehabilitation revolution it promised and must do so at the same time as implementing other far-reaching new reforms, all with increasingly constrained resources. One key change introduced as part of the shake-up was the extension of supervision after release to offenders sentenced for less than a year. The committee said it was unclear whether this is having the desired impact, adding: Nearly 60 per cent of people who receive short prison sentences of less than 12 months reoffend within a year. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty Justice minister, Sam Gyimah, said: We are carrying out a comprehensive review of the probation service to improve outcomes for offenders and communities. Public protection is our top priority and we will not hesitate to take the necessary action to make sure our vital reforms are being delivered to reduce reoffending, cut crime and prevent future victims. Official figures show that from October 2013 to September 2014, around 496,000 adult and juvenile offenders were cautioned, received a non-custodial conviction at court or released from custody. Around 128,000 or one in four of these offenders committed a new offence within a year. Last year, the former Justice Secretary Michael Gove branded the failure to reduce reoffending rates as horrifying. Commenting on the new report, the Liberal Democrats justice spokesperson Jonathan Marks QC, said: With no Liberal Democrats in the MoJ driving forward reform and making cutting the cost of reoffending a priority we have seen progress grind to a halt. Approximately 60 per cent of those serving sentences of less than 12 months go on to reoffend within a year of release. This is a massive waste of public money, disastrous for the public and not working well enough for those stuck in the cycle of reoffending. It is outrageous that the Government has taken no steps to reduce the prison population. The evidence is clear short sentences do not work and probably do more harm than good. That is why the Liberal Democrats want to see the introduction of a presumption against sentences of less than 12 months in favour of robust community sentences and greater use of tagging. The public should see justice being done and not taxpayers money being wasted. Our prisons are dilapidated, squalid, understaffed and overcrowded. There is not enough education and appalling violence. It is no wonder that many are academies of crime. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May has been warned that her controversial plans to create more grammar schools will backfire because children from poor families will fall further behind those who secure places in them. In a major setback for the Prime Ministers flagship domestic policy, the largest study of Englands 164 grammar schools by the independent Education Policy Institute, found no evidence that expanding the network would improve overall standards. Its warning that the Governments proposals could widen the attainment gap between rich and poor pupils will increase the chances of them being defeated by MPs or peers. Up to 40 Conservative MPs are said to have doubts. In an interview with The Independent, David Laws, the former Liberal Democrat schools minister who chairs the think tank, urged Ms May to go back to the drawing board. He warned: There are very substantial risks that more selective places would make matters worse. As a grammar schools system expands, there are more losses [measured by GCSE results] for people who cant get in, particularly pupils from poor families. That is very worrying for the Government. There is a real risk that this could end up being an unproductive cul-de-sac. Mr Laws said the Prime Ministers proposals were likely to have a negative impact on social mobility, dismissing her argument that they would increase it as weak. The former Cabinet minister accused Ms May of believing a basic fallacy based on her own grammar school education, and insisted that policy decisions should be based on evidence rather than hunches or prejudice. He warned that her proposals would not help the struggling white working class families she has championed since becoming Prime Minister. If in-work families were given priority for places at the new grammars, then the very poorest pupils would miss out, he said. Mr Laws said it would be better to spend political capital and money on successful non-selective schools like the sponsored academies set up by the Blair government, because their 50,000 disadvantaged pupils get much better results than the 4,000 in grammars. Earlier intervention before school age or in primary schools is the best way to bridge the rich-poor divide, as leaving it until 11 is too late, he argued. The institutes study concluded that more grammars could bring small gains for the pupils who attend, but have a negative overall effect by widening the attainment gap between children from rich and poor families. It found that 60 per cent of this gap arises before the age of 11 by when disadvantaged pupils are already 10 months of learning behind other children. However, it rejected Jeremy Corbyns claim that grammars depressed overall educational achievement. It concluded that selective schooling has no overall impact, either positive or negative. The study found that 97 per cent of grammar school pupils get five A*-C grades at GCSE, against a national average of 57 per cent in all state-funded schools. But it judged that this high performance is driven by the very high prior attainment and demographics of grammar school pupils. The gap between children on free school meals attaining five A*-C GCSEs (including English and Maths) and all other children is wider in selective areas (34 per cent) than in non-selective ones (28 per cent). Grammars attract a larger number of high attaining, better off children from other areas and on average, their pupils travel twice as far as those attending non-selective schools. Pupils eligible for free school meals in wholly selective areas who do not go to a grammar perform worse than the national average. The report warned: An expansion of grammar schools in areas which already have a large number of selective schools could lead to lower gains for grammar school pupils and small attainment losses for those not attending selective schools losses which will be greatest amongst poor children. Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education Show all 10 1 /10 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 1. University of Oxford Rank 2016-17 Getty Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 2. University of Cambridge Rank 2016-17 AFP/Getty Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 3. Imperial College London Rank 2016-17 Getty Images Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 4. University College London Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 5. London School of Economics Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 6. University of Edinburgh Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 7. Kings College London Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 8. University of Manchester Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 9. University of Bristol Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 10. 10. University of Warwick Rank 2016-17 University of Warwick via Facebook The institute found that high attaining pupils perform just as well in high quality non-selective schools as in grammars. Labours sponsored academies programme has had a more positive impact on the attainment of disadvantaged pupils compared with the present grammar school system, it said. A Department for Education spokesman said: We know grammar schools provide a good education for disadvantaged pupils, helping to all but eliminate the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, and we want more pupils from lower income backgrounds to benefit from that. He added: Our proposals are not about recreating the binary system of the past, which is what this report is based on. Our new approach would ensure any new selective schools prioritise the admission of pupils from lower income households or support other local pupils in non-selective schools to help raise standards. We are clear that relaxing restrictions on selective education can and should be to the betterment, not at the expense, of other local schools. This is about creating more good schools in more areas, giving every child the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An emboldened Jeremy Corbyn has told rebel MPs the slate will be wiped clean if he wins the Labour leadership contest this weekend. Mr Corbyn is widely expected to beat rival Owen Smith, who himself appeared to concede defeat when he said he wont be serving in Jeremys shadow Cabinet. The Labour leader said he wanted a new working relationship with MPs who sought to topple him over the summer. But suspicions between rival factions are riding high, with one senior figure telling The Independent they had no doubt Mr Corbyns supporters would now move to weaken his opponents in whatever way they could. Others began trying to undermine Mr Corbyns expected win by suggesting he would be weakened if his margin of victory falls short of the 2015 result that first delivered him into Labours top job. In other developments: One Labour MP suggested Mr Corbyn was an ideological purist who is out of touch with working-class voters Mr Corbyns ex-wife said she had backed Mr Smith in the leadership contest because her former spouse lacked the skills to do the job Former cabinet minister David Miliband launched a scathing attack on Mr Corbyns Labour Until now, both leadership candidates have been careful not to pre-empt the contests result, but statements released within hours of each other suggested they both suspected Mr Corbyn has won. Jeremy Corbyn signals plan to 'nationalise' the Great British Bake Off Mr Smith said he would not serve on his rivals frontbench, without even adding a caveat that he meant it in the case of a Corbyn victory. Meanwhile 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. He added: In the next few days, I will be holding discussions with MPs and others about the best way to cement a new working relationship with the parliamentary Labour Party, as we democratise our party and its structures. But in a warning to those prepared to stand against him, he said all MPs had a responsibility to respect the leadership of whoever is elected. Despite the magnanimous words, Mr Corbyns critics were not convinced hostilities are over. One senior Labour figure said: There are clearly people around him trying to deliberately scupper any thought of greater unity. Owen Smith and Jeremy Corbyn clash at latest leadership debate The individual also argued that if Mr Corbyns margin of victory is smaller than the one he achieved last year, he would be weakened and more vulnerable. One of the leaders closest allies, John McDonnell, attempted to head of that claim by arguing it had been impossible for Mr Corbyn to surpass the 2015 result, because of a purge of his supporters before the contest. The shadow Chancellor said: On Saturday let me be straight with you I think its going to be really tough to get the [figure] we got last time around because of the numbers that have been prevented from voting. Some will argue if we dip below the 59.9 per cent, that somehow Jeremys mandate has lessened. If we win, no matter what, his mandate is still in place." The fractious contest has involved court cases and endless claims of bullying and abusive behaviour, with most of the accusations levelled at Mr Corbyns supporters. But in his statement the Leader suggested it has been a positive campaign that has focused on bringing people together. Jeremy Corbyn announces left-wing solution to refugee crisis The idea was lost on Ruth Smeeth MP, who revealed the extent of anti-Semitic abuse she has suffered over the summer. The former shadow minister has been taking advice from the police about security after receiving death threats and a total of 25,000 abusive messages, many of them racist attacks. In a stinging attack on Mr Corbyn, whom she accused of failing to act in the face of such abuse, she suggested the leader had little in common with working class people in her Stoke-on-Trent North seat. He earns 130,000 a year. My constituents are doing well if they earn 10 per cent of thatperhaps its easy to be an ideological purist if you can afford to live under the Tories. My constituents cant. The criticism also came from closer to home, with Mr Corbyns ex-wife Jane Chapman revealing she had not backed her former husband. The professor said in a BBC radio interview that Mr Corbyn lacked the flexibility, media skills and leadership to inspire his party. Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Show all 8 1 /8 Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith clash at a leadership hustings in Gateshead, where Mr Smith was scarcely able to answer a question without being booed by Mr Corbyns supporters PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy himself admitted he was seven out of 10 in terms of his faith in the European Union. He said it, said Mr Smith during his second live debate with Jeremy Corbyn Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Ballot papers are currently due to be sent out on 22 August and returned a month later, with the result being announced at a special Labour conference on 24 September Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn supporters cheer and wave placards as the Labour Leader addresses thousands of supporters in in Liverpool, England Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour Party leadership candidate Owen Smith poses for a picture with supporters during a picnic for young members in London Fields, Hackney in London Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith The Labour leader has a spring in his step at a leadership rally in Sunderland Screenshot Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contender Owen Smith delivers a speech at the Open University in Milton Keynes, where he promised to reverse Conservative cuts set to leave millions of low paid workers thousands of pounds a year worse off PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has urged Owen Smith to distance himself from those saying they want to split the Labour party Getty She added: One of the things about Jeremy is he hasn't actually changed that much politically. "Now, that is what a lot of people admire. But that begs the question, are the politics of the 1970s relevant to the 21st century and to post-Brexit Britain." Meanwhile, former Labour Foreign Secretary David Miliband published a damning indictment of Mr Corbyns agenda claiming he had made the party unelectable. He wrote for the New Statesman: 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. He slammed Mr Corbyns approach to Europe, Nato and Russia and argued his domestic policy does not add up. It follows a crunch meeting of Labours ruling National Executive Committee, which failed to reach a decision on whether MPs should be allowed to elect the shadow Cabinet something desired by Mr Corbyns opponents who believe it could temper his power. In response, Mr Corbyn supporters have suggested allowing members, who overwhelmingly back the leader, to elect some Shadow Cabinet positions. The matter will be discussed again at a meeting on Saturday, the same day Mr Corbyns victory is expected to be announced at a special event in Liverpool. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The current famine in north-east Nigeria will result in an estimated 65,000 children dying a year due to acute malnutrition, according to the UN. The humanitarian crisis is a direct result of Boko Harams seven year insurgency in the country, which has led to entire villages findibng themselves out of reach of assistance. So far an estimated 2.6 million people have been forced from their homes due to the fighting, according to CBC. The United Nations expert on internally displaced persons (IDPs), Chaloka Beyani, visited the region and urged the international community to take action to save lives. We are only starting to get a grip of the gravity and extent of the crisis, as civilians, including children, leave newly liberated areas. They bear the signs of advanced malnutrition, and of deep trauma, having been caught in a conflict that has cost them their homes, their livelihoods and often their family members, Mr Beyani said. The situation must no longer be downplayed and it is not too late to save many lives. But to do this, the government must act urgently to ensure that food, shelter, medical care, water, sanitation and other essential services reach IDPs without delay. Due to a gross underestimation of the crisis, the existing supplies will only cover needs for a very short period of time and will be soon outstripped by demands in the weeks or months ahead, he added. Mr Beryani said that humanitarian agencies are finding it increasingly difficult to help those in need. Food is scarce and many survive on one basic meal per day while medical care is insufficient. Civilians also require urgent protection, psychosocial support and counselling. Humanitarian agencies have little access to some areas due to security concerns and have been targeted by Boko Haram, whose terror activities have been contained by the Nigerian military but still pose a significant threat and danger, he stated. Sarah Ndikumana, Nigeria country director at the International Rescue Committee, said action must be taken before it is too late. What is most upsetting is that this looming famine is entirely man-made. We are seeing countless children under five on the verge of death because they were given no other option than to be caught in the middle of this war, she said. The international community simply cannot wait until it is too late to respond to one of the biggest and most under-funded crises in the world. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Since 2012, violence caused by the Boko Haram insurgency has led to over 23,000 civilians losing their lives and thousands of women and girls being abducted and forced into sexual slavery For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Nigeria has said it would welcome UN involvement in negotiating with Boko Haram over the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok more than two years ago. President Muhammadu Buhari invited the UN to act as an intermediary in talks when he met with the outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly in New York. In a tacit acceptance that his governments military approach to bringing back the 217 schoolgirls has failed, Mr Buhari said Nigeria would welcome intermediaries such as UN outfits, to step in. Recommended Read more Boko Haram are now fighting amongst themselves as army pressure mounts In practice, the UN is not necessarily the obvious first choice to act as a go-between in the talks. It has itself been a victim of Boko Harams indiscriminate terror attacks, including a car bomb on the UN headquarters in Abuja which killed 21 people. But Mr Buharis request was also a show of commitment to the UN and to Mr Ban, who steps down as Secretary-General at the end of this year, according to a statement from presidential adviser Femi Adesina. If the UN agrees to help, it would be the first publicly discussed negotiations between the government and Boko Haram, whose insurgency has displaced more than two million people and led to the deaths of more than 15,000 in just seven years. Mr Buhari told Mr Ban his government was willing to bend over backwards to bring back the girls, whose kidnapping sparked an international outcry. But he said finding credible Boko Haram leaders for negotiations has been difficult, especially because of the current leadership struggle among the extremists. The girls were last heard of when around 50 of them appeared in a video released by the Boko Haram faction led by Abubakar Shekau in August. Fighters loyal to Shekau have since clashed with supporters of Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who was named the groups new leader when his faction pledged allegiance to Isis. The challenge is in getting credible and bona fide leadership of Boko Haram to discuss with, Mr 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, said the president. Mr Buhari said for the first time last year that he was ready to negotiate over the release of the girls, though he provided no further details. The rise of Boko Haram Show all 20 1 /20 The rise of Boko Haram The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram The leader of the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau delivers a message. Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the mass killings in the north-east Nigerian town of Baga in a video where he warned the massacre was just the tip of the iceberg. As many as 2,000 civilians were killed and 3,700 homes and business were destroyed in the 3 January 2015 attack on the town near Nigeria's border with Cameroon AFP The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram People displaced as a result of Boko Haram attacks in the northeast region of Nigeria, are seen near their tents at a faith-based camp for internally displaced people (IDP) in Yola, Adamawa State. Boko Haram says it is building an Islamic state that will revive the glory days of northern Nigeria's medieval Muslim empires, but for those in its territory life is a litany of killings, kidnappings, hunger and economic collapse The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Nitsch Eberhard Robert, a German citizen abducted and held hostage by suspected Boko Haram militants, is seen as he arrives at the Yaounde Nsimalen International airport after his release in Yaounde, Cameroon on 21 January 2015 The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Officials of the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) visit victims of a bomb blast in Gombe at the Specialist Hospital in Gombe. According to local reports at least six people were killed and 11 wounded after a bomb blast in a marketplace in Nigeria's northeastern state of Gombe on 16 January 2015. Islamist militant group Boko Haram has been blamed for a string of recent attacks in the North East of Nigeria The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram People gather at the site of a bomb explosion in a area know to be targeted by the militant group Boko Haram in Kano on 28 November 2014 The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram People gather to look at a burnt vehicle following a bomb explosion that rocked the busiest roundabout near the crowded Market in Maiduguri, Borno State on 1 July 2014. A truck exploded in a huge fireball killing at least 15 people in the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the city repeatedly hit by Boko Haram Islamists The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram President Goodluck Jonathan visits Nigerian Army soldiers fighting Boko Haram Getty Images The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Displaced people from Baga listen to Goodluck Jonathan after the Boko Haram killings AFP/Getty The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan speaking to troops during a visit to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State; most of the region has been overrun by Boko Haram AFP/Getty The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Members of the Nigerian military patrolling in Maiduguri, North East Nigeria, close to the scene of attacks by Boko Haram EPA The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Boko Harams leader, Abubakar Shekau, appears in a video in which he warns Cameroon it faces the same fate as Nigeria AFP The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Nana Shettima, the wife of Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima (C) weeps as she speaks with school girls from the government secondary school Chibok that were kidnapped by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, and later escaped in Chibok The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram South Africans protest in solidarity against the abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls in Nigeria by the Muslim extremist group Boko Haram and what protesters said was the failure of the Nigerian government and international community to rescue them, during a march to the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Boko Haram militants have seized the town in north-eastern Nigeria that nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped from in April 2014 AFP The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram A soldier stands guard in front of burnt buses after an attack in Abuja. Twin blasts at a bus station packed with morning commuters on the outskirts of Nigeria's capital killed dozens of people, in what appeared to be the latest attack by Boko Haram Islamists, April 2014 The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram The aftermath of the attack, when Boko Haram fighters in trucks painted in military colours killed 51 people in Konduga in February 2014 AFP/Getty Images The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau (with papers) in a video grab taken in July 2014 AFP/Getty The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Ruins of burnt out houses in the north-eastern settlement of Baga, pictured after Boko Haram attacks in 2013 AP The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram A Boko Haram attack in Nigeria, 2013 AFP/Getty Images The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau, Boko Harams leader AP Last week, Nigerias information minister Lai Mohammed revealed the government had nearly secured the girls release three times, but negotiations collapsed each time. In its August video, Boko Haram said it was willing to release some of the girls as part of a prisoner release. The government said it would let the militants chose their preferred NGO to act as intermediary, but the group has not commented on that proposal. Emmanuel Ogebe, an activist with the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, suggested Nigeria engage France as a negotiator in the matter. French officials have had some success helping secure the release of Boko Haram kidnapping victims in neighbouring Cameroon. Of the 276 girls kidnapped from a single secondary school in Chibok, Borno state on the night of 14 April 2014, dozens were able to escape in the first few hours as they were being taken away in trucks. For two years, however, almost nothing was known about their whereabouts beyond the occasional hostage videos released by the militants. That was until May 2016, when one of the missing girls was found wondering on the edge of the Sambisa Forest by vigilantes loyal to the government. Amina Ali said the remaining girls were still in the forest, though a number had died in the intervening years. She is currently being held in a government facility, ostensibly for counselling, though rights groups have raised concerns she may have become a detainee. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Professors and students at the University of Ghana are calling for the removal of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi from the campus grounds in Accra, on the basis of the Indian leaders racist identity. More than 1,200 people have signed a petition demanding the Gandhi statue be pulled down, citing comments he is claimed to have made that are offensive to black Africans. The statue was paid for by India and unveiled by the Indian President, Pranab Mukherjee, during a visit to the University of Ghana in June this year. But the petitioners say calls for its removal began almost immediately after it came to the notice of members of the university community and the general public. Though he is revered in India as the leader of its movement to freedom from British colonial rule by non-violent means, Gandhis legacy elsewhere in the world is more controversial. Last year in South Africa, where Gandhi lived when he was young and described Africans in his writings as savages or the Natives of Africa, protesters splashed white paint on his statue in Johannesburg and the hashtag #Gandhimustfall was circulated on social media. That hashtag has resurfaced in the wake of the Ghana petition, which cites a series of quotes from Gandhi based on his writings as collated on the website Gandhi Serve. One is an open letter to the Natal Parliament that Gandhi wrote in 1893, in which he used the term Kaffir, a derogatory and offensive term used in South Africa to refer to a black person. He said: I venture to point out that both the English and the Indians spring from a common stock, called the Indo-Aryan. A general belief seems to prevail in the Colony that the Indians are little better, if at all, than savages or the Natives of Africa. Even the children are taught to believe in that manner, with the result that the Indian is being dragged down to the position of a raw Kaffir. The students and professors at the University of Ghana have likened their calls to the #RhodesMustFall movement, demanding statues of the apartheid leader Cecil Rhodes be removed from universities around the world including Oxford. They say that if there should be statues on our campus they should be of African heroes and heroines, who can serve as examples of who we are and what we have achieved as a people. We can do the honourable thing by pulling down the statue, the petition says. It is better to stand up for our dignity than to kowtow to the wishes of a burgeoning Eurasian super-power. Some harm has already been done by erecting the statue. We have failed the generation that look up to us, namely our students. However, to allow the statue to remain on our campus will do even more harm and make us appear to hold double-standards. We should not bury our head in the sand and expect that the storm will die down. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The man suspected of attempting a series of terror attacks in the US claimed he was inspired by Isis in a blood-soaked journal discovered after he was shot by police. Ahmad Khan Rahami is accused of detonating a bomb that injured more than 30 people in New York, as well as another device targeting a military charity run in New Jersey and two others that did not explode as planned. In a federal charge sheet filed on Tuesday, authorities revealed the existence of the journal and said it contained praise for Nidal Hasan, who massacred 13 people at Fort Hood in Texas, brother Osama bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-Yemeni al-Qaeda recruiter killed in a US drone strike in 2011. Officials made no mention of the so-called Islamic State in the indictment, but photos of the journal have revealed direct references to the terror groups chief propagandist and second-in-command, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani. Police chief and residents speak of Ahmed Rahami capture It reads: I looked for guidance an Alhumdulilah [praise God], guidance came Sheikh Anwar [al-Awlaki], Brother Adnani/Dawla. Said it clearly attack the kuffar [disbelievers] in their backyard. Adnani, the head of Isis feared Emni security service and its propaganda wing, was killed in a US air strike in the Syria last month. He was known for speeches calling on supporters to launch terror attacks around the world, which have been directly cited by several jihadists who carried out atrocities in Europe and the San Bernardino massacre in California. Rahamis journal appears to specifically refer to Adnanis last announcement, released in May, which called for soldiers of the caliphate who could not travel to Isis territories to attack civilians day and night wherever, and however, they could. The ramblings also refer to two names used by Isis for areas it controls in Iraq and Syria Dawla and Sham. Despite repeated allusions to the group, there was no mention of Isis in a charge sheet released by prosecutors earlier this week. The reason for the omission was unclear. Official documents include several other passages from the journal, which ended with the message: Inshallah [God willing] the sounds of the bombs will be heard in your streets. Gunshots to your police. Death to your oppression. It also saw Rahami announce his wish for martyrdom in the name of jihad. In pictures: New York bomb explosion Show all 25 1 /25 In pictures: New York bomb explosion In pictures: New York bomb explosion A police robot accidentally detonated one of five explosive devices left outside a train station in New Jersey. Officials said the bomb squad robot cut a wire on the mechanism in a bid to defuse it - but instead set off an explosion. The device had been left in a backpack and placed in a bin outside the train station in Elizabeth Universal News And Sport (Europe In pictures: New York bomb explosion A member of the New York City Police Department stands guard in Herald Square Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (3-R) and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (2-R) tour the site of an explosion that occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tour the site of an explosion that occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York on September 18, 2016. The bomb that exploded in New York AFP/Getty In pictures: New York bomb explosion A genral view down the street near the site of an explosion that occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York AFP/Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (L) and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo hug after touring the site of the bomb blast on 23rd St. in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion A mangled dumpster sits on the sidewalk at the site of an explosion that occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion An explosion in a construction dumpster that injured 29 people is being labeled an "intentional act". A second device, a pressure cooker, was found four blocks away that an early investigation found was likely also a bomb Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (2-R) and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (3-R) stand in front of a mangled dumpster while touring the site of an explosion that occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion A member of the New York City Police Department K-9 Unit patrols on a subway train between Grand Central Terminal and Times Square Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion FBI agents review the crime scene of remnants of bomb debris on 23rd St. in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion Members of the NYPD, FBI, ATF and other agencies investigate the the scene, following a late night explosion on West 23rd Street in New York AFP/Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials mark the ground near the site of an explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood REUTERS In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, right, walks from the scene of an explosion on West 23rd street in Manhattan AP In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers stand near the site of an explosion REUTERS In pictures: New York bomb explosion Evidence markers on the street surround police and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials near the site REUTERS In pictures: New York bomb explosion A fire truck is seen near a blocked off road near the site of an alleged bomb explosion on West 23rd Street AFP/Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York City firefighters stand near the site of the explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood REUTERS In pictures: New York bomb explosion A New York City Police emergency services officer and his dog check a bin close to the scene EPA In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York City Police and Fire Department at the scene of the explosion EPA In pictures: New York bomb explosion A New York City firefighter uses a wheeled stretcher to carry supplies near the site of the explosion REUTERS In pictures: New York bomb explosion A New York City Police emergency service heavy weapons officer guards close to the scene of the explosion on 23rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenue EPA In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, center, and NYPD Chief of Department James O'Neill, center right, speak during a press conference near the scene AP In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York City Police Emergency Services units are deployed on 27th Street and 7th Avenue where police found a second explosive device EPA In pictures: New York bomb explosion Police investigators look through the debris on the street in front of St. Vincent de Paul church where the explosion occurred EPA He was shot by police after a shootout on Monday in Linden, New Jersey, where he was taken into custody following a two-day manhunt. Rahami is accused of using a mobile phone to detonate a pipe bomb planted along the route of a charity run by US Marines in Seaside Park on Saturday. The event was due to begin around 35 minutes before the attack but was delayed and then cancelled after the blasts, where only one of three connected pipe bombs exploded after being detonated using a mobile phone. Around 11 hours later, a pressure cooker bomb in New Yorks 23rd Street exploded at around 8.30pm local time, injuring 31 people including a British citizen and causing millions of pounds of damage in a 650ft radius. Investigators were led to another device a few blocks north, on 27th Street and later found explosives accidentally set off by a bomb disposal robot at Elizabeth railway station in New Jersey. Rahami has been charged with terrorism, the use of a weapon of mass destruction, bombing, attempted murder of police officers, destruction of property and use of a destructive device. The case has seen criticism directed at the FBI, who investigated Rahami after his father raised concerns two years ago but took no further action. His wife, thought to be a Pakistani national, is to be returned to the US after presenting herself at the American Embassy in the United Arab Emirates. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency during a second night of unrest in Charlotte, as demonstrators call for justice following the killing of Keith Lamont Scott by police. The National Guard and State Troopers will be deployed to assist police who maintained a heavy presence throughout the night in controlling the protests. A protester was shot outside a hotel during clashes with riot officerslate on Wednesday night, with footage showing a man lying in a pool of blood as people screamed for help. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition and has been put on life support. City of Charlotte officials said police were not responsible for the shooting but protesters doubted the claim. We protesting. Why the hell would we target each other? Dino Davis asked. A seriously wounded man carried into Omni Hotel during second day of Charlotte protests Brian Blanco/Getty Images Police ordered demonstrators to disperse while firing tear gas and flashbangs into crowds. At least a dozen protesters were arrested throughout the evening. Recommended Read more Police insist that black man killed in Charlotte was carrying a gun The protests are reminscent of the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, more than two years ago, as calls for significant police reform including de-escalation training continue amid the consistent killings of unarmed black people in cities across the country. The Wednesday evening protest marked the second day of unrest after police shot and killed Mr Scott. Charlotte Police were searching for a suspect with an outstanding warrant in an apartment complex, when they say Mr Scott exited his vehicle holding a firearm. Witnesses at the scene, including his daughter and siblings, said the 43-year-old father of seven was reading a book in his car. But Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police maintain that he was carrying a handgun. The police report says a gun, not a book, was recovered at a scene. Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Show all 7 1 /7 Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police officers clash with protesters after police fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Charlotte REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Charlotte Police officers were searching the apartment complex for a suspect with an outstanding warrant when they gunned down Scott. The victim was not the person they were originally trying to find REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte The shooting occurred at 4 pm on 20 September, a day after police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, released video showing the shooting death of Terence Crutcher by one of their officers REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Scott reportedly exited his vehicle at his apartment complex, but got back inside when he saw officers. The police report said Scott then re-emerged from his vehicle armed with a firearm and posed an imminent deadly threat to the officers REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police officers wearing riot gear block a road during protests REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police identified two-year veteran Brentley Vinson as the officer who fired the shots. A law enforcement source told WBTV that Mr Vinson is African American REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Protesters demonstrate in front of police officers REUTERS Police dashcam and body camera footage is being reviewed by investigators but has yet to be released to the public amid the conflicting accounts. A new state law signed in July, will go into effect 1 October and would no longer consider police footage to be public record. You know the law as well as I do right now we cant release it, CMPD chief Kerr Putney said Wednesday. Itd have a negative impact on the integrity of the case, and thats something were not gonna do. Charlotte mayor Jennifer Roberts told MSNBC that she will view the video on Thursday, despite not being part of the investigation. Scott's wife, Rakeiya Scott, issued a statement on Tuesday that called into question the official account of police, but vowed to "work diligently to get answers". In addition to police transparency, Ms Scott called for calm from people seeking justice for her husband. "As a family, we respect the rights of those who wish to protest, but we ask that people protest peacefully," she said. "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. (REUTERS) On Tuesday afternnon, protesters gathered outside the apartment complex. Demonstrations later extended well into early Wednesday morning, when they overtook a portion of Interstate Highway 83. At least 16 officers were reportedly injured in the protests. It remains unclear if any protesters sustained injuries. The protests erupted amid tension between police and the black community in Charlotte, who are disporportionately affected by law enforcement. Black people make up only 35 per cent of the Charlotte population, yet they make up 74 per cent of cases involving use of force, according to CMPD data compiled by the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The family of a black man shot dead by police has called for calm as the city of Charlotte braces for fresh protests following two nights of ugly violence. They have also been shown a video that show the fatal incident. The centre of the North Carolina city had a heavy police presence on Thursday, after two successive nights that had seen peaceful protests over the death of Keith Lamont Scott, turn violent. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency during Wednesday nights rioting, which saw one man critically wounded by a gunshot. At least eight more civilians and four police officers were injured and 44 people were arrested. (Getty (Getty) Police have insisted that Mr Scott was armed and represented a threat when he was shot and killed on Tuesday. Police Chief Kerry Putney said he planned to show video of the shooting to the 43-year-olds family, but would not yet release it to the public. Later it was confirmed the family had seen it, but a lawyer for Mr Scott's relatives declined to comment on what it showed. Meanwhile, in what officials hope will defuse tension, Mr Scotts widow released a statement in which she asked for restraint. My family is devastated by the shooting death of my husband, Keith. Keith was a loving husband, father, brother and friend who will be deeply missed every day, she said. Keith Scott Protester Shot During Charlotte Rally - Warning: Graphic 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 US top law official, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, also urged for calm and understanding. She said she was sending members of the Department of Justice to Charlotte to offer assistance and support for crowd mediation. For the second day in a row, protests in response to the death of Keith Lamont Scott took place in Charlotte last night, she said. And for the second day in a row, the protests were marred by violence this time leaving one person on life support and several injured an awful reminder that violence only begets violence. Mr Scott, who had seven children, was shot and killed by a black police officer on Tuesday afternoon. Police claimed the man had emerged from a car with a gun and was threatening them, while family members said he was sitting in a car reading a book. They also said he was disabled. Mr Putney, the police chief, who himself is African American, has insisted that police recovered a weapon from the scene of the fatal shooting of Mr Scott. He admitted on Thursday, however, that dash-cam footage of the incident did not definitively show Mr Scott pointing a gun at anyone. Charlottes initial reluctance to release the video in contrast to a decision taken in Oklahoma, where officials on Monday released footage of the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher by police after his vehicle broke down on a road. That shooting is now the subject of a Department of Justice investigation. In Charlotte, as city workers cleared up the streets and repaired damaged doors and broken windows, police were out in heavy number. Katiana Hicks, 28, a nurse, who is black, said the recent protests came against a backdrop of racism that dated back centuries. She said if racism in Charlotte was not overt, it often lurked beneath the surface. I call it racism with a bow-tie - corporate racism, she told The Independent. They wont say they cant hire you because youre black, but theyll just say they are fully staffed. Mike Moret, a 25-year-old salesman, said he believed the city was more progressive than many places in the US South. Mr Moret said he believed the media may have played a role in sparking Wednesday nights agitation after rumors spread that a person who had been shot at the protests, had been a victim of police. The person, who was seriously injured but was not killed, as was initially reported, was shot by another civilian. Right after the sun went down, it started to change, said Mr Moret, who is white. I think it was because of the rumours flying about. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A soldier has delivered a powerful message to US police at the second night of protests in Charlotte, North Carolina. Demonstrators are calling for justice following the killing of Keith Lamont Scott by police. One man has been shot during the protest and is in a critical condition. Sage Lawson told AJ+ he was protesting injustice after hearing news of multiple unarmed shootings by the police after he left the military a year ago. Im out here protesting injustice. Im from the military," said Mr Lawson in a video shared on Twitter more than 1,500 times. "This is my one-year anniversary of being a civilian. And since Ive gotten out the only thing Ive heard is unarmed shootings, A state of emergency has been called by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, who said he would deploy the National Guard and State Troopers to assist police who maintained a heavy presence throughout the night in controlling the protests. Mr Lawson challenged police protocol following a week in which three black men, including Mr Scott, were killed by police. Now my biggest question to them is: What is yalls protocol? What makes you shoot a man who does not have a weapon in [his] hand? We dont even have those rules over in Afghanistan and were at war, he said. That makes so sense to me. Sot thats why Im out here protesting. Police have rejected a claim by Mr Scotts family that the father of seven was unarmed and sitting reading a book. The first night of peaceful protests turned violent on Tuesday after 43-year-old Mr Scott was shot in Charlotte that afternoon. He didnt have a gun, a woman identifying herself as his sister told local television. He wasnt messing with nobody. Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Show all 7 1 /7 Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police officers clash with protesters after police fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Charlotte REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Charlotte Police officers were searching the apartment complex for a suspect with an outstanding warrant when they gunned down Scott. The victim was not the person they were originally trying to find REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte The shooting occurred at 4 pm on 20 September, a day after police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, released video showing the shooting death of Terence Crutcher by one of their officers REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Scott reportedly exited his vehicle at his apartment complex, but got back inside when he saw officers. The police report said Scott then re-emerged from his vehicle armed with a firearm and posed an imminent deadly threat to the officers REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police officers wearing riot gear block a road during protests REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police identified two-year veteran Brentley Vinson as the officer who fired the shots. A law enforcement source told WBTV that Mr Vinson is African American REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Protesters demonstrate in front of police officers REUTERS Amid calls for dialogue coming from the citys mayor, police on Wednesday insisted that Mr Scott was carrying a handgun and had represented a threat to the officer who approached him. During the second night of protests, City of Charlotte officials said there had been a shooting, believed to be civilian on civilian, and police fired no shots. The victim is currently in critical condition and on life support. The officials previously tweeted that the shooting was fatal. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Major businesses have told their employees not to report to work in Charlotte, North Carolina, after a second night of violence surrounding the police shooting of Keith Scott. As North Carolina governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency and the National Guard streamed into Charlotte around 4am Thursday to help control protests, uptown corporations including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Fifth Third Bank, United Way and Duke Energy asked employees to stay at home. "Due to the recent events and the declared state of emergency in Charlotte, Wells Fargo team members are not required to report to work Thursday, September 22," an email from Wells Fargo read. Recommended Read more Video shows protester shot in head during Charlotte protests The Mint Museum, the uptown Epicenter and certain public transport lines are also closed on Thursday. The advice to employees comes as protesters on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning were dispersed by police with flashbangs, tear gas and bullets - one man was critically injured and is on life support. Police said they were not responsible for the injury and were trying to break up inter-protester violence. The major unrest comes after several police shootings of black peopleover the last week, including 13-year-old Tyree King who was carrying a BB stun gun in Columbus, Ohio, an unarmed 43-year-old called Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who was holding his hands above his head and then, in North Carolina, Keith Scott, a father to seven children who was reportedly sitting in his car, reading a book. Man shot at Charlotte protest in North Carolina Police have disputed claims that Scott was unarmed, and said they had found a gun at the scene, not a book. They have yet to release police dashcam footage, citing a law that the videos are not a public record and can only be released with a court order. That law does not come into effect until 1 October, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Todd Walther, spokesman of Charlotte fraternal order of police, told CNN that the protesters are out-of-town criminals who are stealing from shops and are not helping the cause. "These are not protesters," he said. "These are criminals that are doing this violence." Mr Walther said he had seen the dash cam footage and insisted that Scott was armed, ignored repeated calls to drop his weapon upon exiting his car, and that the officers surrounding him were clearly identifiable by a vest or jacket, rebutting claims they were in plain clothes. "Theres no mistaking these were officers," he said. Charlotte mayor, Jennifer Roberts, pleaded for transparency on Wednesday. She said she will watch the police video on Thursday and speak again at a press conference to provide more details. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Republican nominee has been attacked for his approach to the internet in the past. Earlier this year he said that he wanted to close up the internet, and that he would speak to powerful people including Bill Gates about doing so. But his newest statement is perhaps his strongest statement yet of his views on the web, and how it needs to be protected. Mr Trump claimed that the US is about to turn control of the Internet over to the United Nations and the international community, and that while Republican politicians were working hard to save the internet, it couldnt be done without the help of the American people. Mr Trumps statement appears to refer to a specific and highly technical part of the infrastructure that runs the internet. People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Show all 8 1 /8 People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Miley Cyrus 'God he thinks he is the f***ing chosen one or some shit! Honestly f*** this sh*t I am moving if this is my president! I dont say things I dont mean!' Jemal Countess/Getty Images People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Whoopi Goldberg 'I dont think thats America. I dont want it to be America. Maybe its time for me to move you know' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Samuel L. Jackson 'If that mother**er becomes president, Im moving my black ass to South Africa' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Raven Symone 'My confession for this election is, if any Republican gets nominated, Im gonna move to Canada with my entire family. Is that bad? I already have my ticket. I literally bought my ticket, I swear' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Cher 'If he were to be elected, I'm moving to Jupiter' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Neve Campbell 'Im terrified. Its really scary. My biggest fear is that Trump will triumph. I cannot believe that he is still in the game ... [I'll] move back to Canada' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Jon Stewart 'I would consider getting in a rocket and going to another planet, because clearly this planets gone bonkers' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Randy Blythe 'He could just be a clown. If he is the president, though, I am leaving America 'till he's gone' At the end of this month, the US Department of Commerce will hand over control of ICANN, which looks after who owns specific domain names, to the global community. That transition has been long planned and it is an attempt to move the control of one of the central parts of the internet into the global community. But Mr Trump has said that the move is actually a way of turning control of the Internet over to the United Nations and the international community. Internet freedom is at risk from the move, he wrote, and giving control of ICANN up to the international community might mean letting China and Russia impose more censorship. Mr Trump didnt say exactly how that censorship will work. Countries including China and Russia already censor large parts of the internet, and people including web inventor Tim Berners-Lee have made clear that there is no clear way of using ICANN to stop others doing so or censor the internet any more easily. The misguided call for the United States to exert unilateral control over ICANN does nothing to advance free speech because ICANN, in fact, has no power whatsoever over individual speech online, wrote Mr Berners-Lee and former White House technology chief Daniel Weitzner in an editorial in the Washington Post this week. ICANN the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers supervises domain names on the Internet. The actual flow of traffic, and therefore speech, is up to individual network and platform operators. What do Trump's neighbours think of him But Mr Trump says that the the American people need to give all the help they can to the Republicans in Congress who are working to save the internet. Hillary Clintons Democrats are refusing to protect the American people by not protecting the Internet, said Stephen Miller, Mr Trumps national policy director. The US created, developed and expanded the Internet across the globe, wrote Mr Miller. US oversight has kept the Internet free and open without government censorship a fundamental American value rooted in our Constitutions Free Speech clause. Internet freedom is now at risk with the Presidents intent to cede control to international interests, including countries like China and Russia, which have a long track record of trying to impose online censorship. Congress needs to act, or Internet freedom will be lost for good, since there will be no way to make it great again once it is lost. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The identity of the Bel Air homeowner whose property guzzled almost 12 million gallons of water in 12 months during a devastating California drought may at last have been uncovered. Recommended Read more California ends water restrictions after El Nino alleviates drought Last October, the Centre for Investigative Reporting (CIR) uncovered records showing that four of the five thirstiest homes in California were in Bel Air, a leafy, ultra-wealthy enclave of Los Angeles. (The fifth was in neighbouring Beverly Hills.) One water user stood out, however, after having drenched their property in 11.8 million gallons in just one year: enough to fill approximately 1.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools per month, or to supply some 90 average homes. In the midst of a five-year drought that would only be alleviated by 2016s wet winter, the unidentified consumer was nicknamed The Wet Prince of Bel Air. Yet the city of Los Angeles resisted calls to unmask them, saying it was not in the public interest. So the CIR delved once more, this time using a combination of satellite imaging, landscape management mathematics and an algorithm used in tracking droughts, to narrow the suspects down to a list of just seven homes in the 6.37-square mile neighbourhood. The prime suspect has now been named as Jerrold Perenchio, the former CEO of the Univision TV network and movie producer whose credits include the sci-fi classic Blade Runner, set in an environmentally devastated LA of the future. Mr Perenchios home, a 42-room chateau in the French style, has 12 bathrooms and 13 acres of grounds, including large lawns and a half-acre vineyard, which between them would require between 6.1 million and 12.3 million gallons of water per year to maintain. The house is also famous as the setting for the 1960s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. Mr Perenchios representatives declined to comment on the CIRs findings. The two other Bel Air homes most likely to consume huge amounts of water belong to film producer Peter Guber and investment banker Gary Winnick. The CIRs report, published on its website Reveal, also named four more homeowners in the vicinity whose properties use at least two million gallons of water annually: Wal Mart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie; Beny Alagem, the owner of the Beverly Hilton hotel; Robert Daly, the former chairman of Warner Bros; and couple Bradley and Colleen Bell, a soap opera producer and the US Ambassador to Hungary respectively. Just two of the seven responded to the CIRs enquiries, with Daly and Alagem both saying they were taking steps to reduce their water consumption. Whoever he (or she) is, the so-called Wet Prince has not broken the law, though under standard LA water rates, they would have spent an estimated $90,000 per year on water. The original story also incurred the wrath of some eco-vigilante Angelenos, who reportedly went in search of the culprit without success. California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill last month cracking down on heavy water users during shortages and making it easier for them to be identified in future. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The man who has been accused by a documentary of murdering his six-year-old sister is suing television network CBS. The documentary: The Case of: JonBenet Ramsey, which aired 18 September, assembled a panel of crime and forensic experts to go over the case 20 years ago, in which the young girl and beauty pageant contestant was found murdered in her home in Boulder, Colorado. The lawyer of her brother, Burke Ramsey, now 29, is targeting what he claims are the lies, misrepresentations, distortions, and omissions" in the two-part series. L Lin Wood, said the networks desire for ratings and profits was put before the truth. In doing so, CBS perpetrated a fraud on its viewers there was no new investigation by the phony TV 'experts'." Mr Ramsey was dismissed as a suspect by police in May 1999, the lawyer added, and in 2003 Georgia federal judge Julie Carnes said that abundant evidence supported assertions by the girls parents that JonBenet was murdered by an intruder on 25 December 1996, which led to the Boulder District attorney publicly exonerating the family in 2008 based on conclusive DNA evidence. Burke Ramsey hugs his father at his mother's funeral in 2006 (Getty) No fair-minded person can condone this false and heinous television attack by CBS on a young man for ratings and profits, the statement continued. Burke Ramsey shall seek redress against CBS for its outrageous accusations in a court of law where he successfully acquitted himself over 15 years ago in libel actions filed against the tabloid Star Magazine, the New York Post and Court TV for publishing similar false accusations. CBS shall be held accountable for the damage it has unlawfully inflicted on this young mans reputation. CBS experts concluded that nine-year-old Burke Ramsey had allegedly killed his sister in a fit of anger. They argued his parents allegedly created a scenario of an intruder to protect their son. The network told Business Insider that it would stand by the broadcast in court. In the documentary, the so-called experts said the mother, Patsy, made an "unusual" 911 call in that she hung up before police arrived at her house in 1996. The family said they found a ransom note on their stairs demanding $118,000. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The wife in the real Fault In Our Stars couple has died at the age of 26 from cystic fibrosis, just days after her husband died from the same disease. Katie Prager died after developing complications related to the disease and after she received a lung transplant. Her mother, Debra Donovan, wrote on Facebook that her daughter died in her bed, surrounded by family and dogs as she wished. Recommended Read more Fault in Our Stars husband dies aged 25 after FaceTiming wife "The days to follow will not be easy but I find comfort in knowing that my girl lived, she really lived," Ms Donovan wrote. The 26-year-old had been in a hospice in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, since 7 September. Dalton Prager, her husband, died on Saturday of the same disease at the age of 25. Katie wrote on Facebook that her husband had fought "a long hard battle". "He was a courageous fighter and give up wasnt in his vocabulary," she said. The couple bore a resemblance to the real Fault In Our Stars pair, featured in the 2012 book and 2014 film, where teenager cancer patients meet and fall in love. Katie and Dalton Prager met on Facebook in 2009 when they were 18 years old, after she noticed Daltons mother had posted a picture of him in the hospital. Although their relationship developed through messages, Katies doctor warned her that meeting Dalton in person could be dangerous as he had an infection called Burkholderia cepacia, which could be deadly for cystic fibrosis patients. Yet in August 2009 she met Dalton for the first time, and said she felt an instinct to hug and kiss him, as reported by CNN. Dalton and Katie Prager in hospital (Facebook) Two years after their first date at a funfair, they got married, bought a house and regularly had friends round to cook together and have game nights. The pair went traveling and remained healthy for several years. But Katie did contract the infection. In 2014 they both got lung transplants, and Dalton developed lymphoma cancer, and was then diagniosed with pneumonia and a viral infection. Katies transplant was not successful, and she went to a hospice earlier this month. The last time they saw each other was 16 July for their fifth wedding anniversary, and had to communicate via FaceTime after that. Dalton was not well enough to fly to a hospital in Kentucky, and he died in Missouri. The day before he died, she told CNN that the relationship with Dalton gave her the best years of her life. "I'd rather have five years of being in love and just really completely happy than 20 years of not having anybody." Her mother added on Facebook: One important thing i have taken away from this is to live, just live...if there is something you want to do, don't wait. Life is short, love as hard as you can. "Katie knew how much she was loved. She knew how much I loved her, I told her and showed her everyday. "We were given a great gift, we knew her time was short and she was able to do a few things that she wanted, and I am grateful for that." A YouCaring page has raised more than $32,000 to help the family with funeral expenses. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man who murdered his girlfriend after cutting out her lung while she was still alive has been sentenced to life in prison. Alexander Anthony Clever pleaded no contest to first degree murder, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys office. The 28-year-old went to a motel in California with his girlfriend Yvette Silva and two others in 2014. The pair started arguing in the bathroom before the couples companions heard muffled screams, according to the prosecutor. They tried to intervene after seeing the defendant putting an unconscious Ms Silva in a chokehold. After trying and failing to help her, they ran for help. Police arrived to discover Clevers girlfriend dead in the shower, with both her heart and right lung cut out of her body. The prosecutor said Ms Silva was still alive when her lung was removed. Clever was arrested two days later outside his home, where police found a knife that tested positive for the victims DNA. The defendant admitted to further allegations of torture and mayhem, and will serve life without the possibility of parole. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man crawled to safety after being trapped in his car with his dead girlfriend for three days. Kevin Bell lost control of his SUV in south-east Indiana before driving down an embankment and colliding with a tree, according to the Associated Press. The 39-year-old suffered such severe injuries to his legs that he was initially unable to move, but managed to get to the roadside before being found by state troopers on Tuesday. His girlfriend Nikki Reed, 37, who was sitting in the passenger seat, died instantly. Ms Reeds daughter, Brooklyn, said her mother had been heading home to her youngest sons birthday party. Friends and family tried for three days to track her down, but were eventually told by authorities she had passed away. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Brooklyn described the ordeal on a YouCaring page to raise money for her mothers funeral. Nikki Reed died instantly after the SUV she was in hit a tree (YouCaring) She died instantly," she wrote. "I don't know what happened or how it happened. All I know is that I want this to not be true, I just wish it was a dream! "I love my mom so much. I wish she was still here so I can hug her and tell her I love her one more time. Mr Bell has been taken to hospital and authorities are still investigating the incident. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A six-year-old boy has been praised by Barack Obama after asking the President to help him offer a Syrian refugee a home with his family. Last month, pictures of a young Syrian boy covered in dust and blood from a devastating air strike became a symbol of the suffering endured by civilians living under relentless bombardment in the countrys brutal civil war. Harrowing images of five-year-old Omran Daqneesh sitting dazed and silent in an ambulance after he was pulled from a destroyed family home hit by bombing in a rebel-held area of Aleppo provoked outrage across the world and intensified calls for an immediate ceasefire. The picture struck a chord with six-year-old Alex from New York who wrote a letter to President Obama asking him bring Omran to his home saying, We will give him a family and he will be our brother." Mr Obama shared Alexs letter on Facebook, calling him a "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", in a post that has garnered more than 121,000 likes. Dear President Obama, Remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria? Can you please go get him and bring him to [my home]?", Alex's letter, which has been published by the White House reads. "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. Catherine, my little sister, will be collecting butterflies and fireflies for him. In my school, I have a friend from Syria, Omar, and I will introduce him to Omar. 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. Please tell him that his brother will be Alex who is a very kind boy, just like him. Since he won't bring toys and doesn't have toys Catherine will share her big blue stripy white bunny. And I will share my bike and I will teach him how to ride it. 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. " A section of Alex's letter (The White House) Alex has also been praised by the public. Commenting on Mr Obamas post, Amanda Keller called Alex: A six year old who has more humanity, love, and understanding than most adults. While Pamela Moore OLoughlin said: Neither of these sweet little boys, someone's sons, are Skittles, referring to a tweet by Donald Trump Jr likening Syrian refugees to poisoned skittles. The President quoted the letter to world leaders gathered at this weeks United Nations Summit on Refugees, saying: 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. Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them Show all 13 1 /13 Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Wednesdays summit hosted by Mr Obama garnered pledges from dozens of countries to resettle or allow the lawful admission of some 360,000 refugees, doubling the number of slots that were available last year, the US envoy to the United Nations said. More than 50 countries and international organizations that participated in the summit had collectively increased their contributions to humanitarian groups and UN appeals this year by some $4.5 billion (3.5 billion), Mr Obama said. However, the number is "still only a fraction" of what is needed Ambassador Samantha Power said after the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) assessed that some 1.2 million refugees need to be resettled. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One week after the fatal police shooting of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher, the Tulsa County District Attorney has announced first-degree manslaughter charges against Tulsa Officer Betty Shelby. Officials issued a warrant for Ms Shelbys arrest on Wednesday and said that they have contacted her lawyer about her surrender. Video released by law enforcement on Monday shows police officers in Oklahoma fatally shooting an unarmed black man whose car was stalled in the middle of the street. He appeared to have his arms raised when the single, fatal shot was fired. I dont know why things happen in this world the way they do, Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler told reporters on Wednesday. We need to pray for wisdom and guidance on each of our respective paths in life. Each of us at the end of our days will have to account for our own actions. The only way I know to walk my path is to try every day to pray and to serve my fellow citizens so that he or she may be lifted up. Terence Crutcher killed by police Show all 17 1 /17 Terence Crutcher killed by police Terence Crutcher killed by police This undated photo provided by the Tulsa Oklahoma Police Department shows officer Betty Shelby. Police say Tulsa officer Shelby fired the fatal shot that killed 40 year-old Terence Crutcher, Sept. 16, 2016. The police chief in Tulsa says Crutcher, a black man fatally shot by a white police officer responding to a stalled vehicle, had no weapon on him or in his SUV. Police Chief Chuck Jordan said Monday Sept. 19, 2016, that an investigation is underway into the shooting death. (Tulsa Police Department via AP) AP Terence Crutcher killed by police Protesters calling for the arrest of Officer Betty Shelby, who shot dead unarmed motorist Terence Crutcher, demonstrate outside the Tulsa Police headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Nick Oxford - RTSOOXP REUTERS Terence Crutcher killed by police T'erra Estes, (L), her husband Angelo Estes and their son Angelo Estes Jr., 8, call for the arrest of Officer Betty Shelby, who shot dead unarmed motorist Terence Crutcher, with other protesters outside the Tulsa Police headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Nick Oxford - RTSOOVK REUTERS Terence Crutcher killed by police Adrian Colbert (C) calls for the arrest of Officer Betty Shelby, who shot dead unarmed motorist Terence Crutcher, outside the Tulsa Police headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Nick Oxford - RTSOOVB REUTERS Terence Crutcher killed by police Tiffany Crutcher (C), sister of Terence Crutcher, the Tulsa motorist who was shot and killed by police, stands with attorney Benjamin Crump (L) during a news conference at the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network headquarters in New York, U.S., September 21, 2016. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton - RTSOU2F REUTERS Terence Crutcher killed by police Terrence Stevens stands among protesters calling for the arrest of Officer Betty Shelby outside the Tulsa Police headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Nick Oxford - RTSOOXL REUTERS Terence Crutcher killed by police John Ballard puts his hands up as protesters call for the arrest of Officer Betty Shelby, who shot dead unarmed motorist Terence Crutcher, outside the Tulsa Police headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Nick Oxford - RTSOOWE REUTERS Terence Crutcher killed by police People hold signs at a "protest for justice" over Friday's shooting death of Terence Crutcher, sponsored by We the People Oklahoma, in Tulsa, Okla., Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) AP Terence Crutcher killed by police People hold signs at a "protest for justice" over Friday's shooting death of Terence Crutcher, sponsored by We the People Oklahoma, in Tulsa, Okla., Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) AP Terence Crutcher killed by police People hold signs at a "protest for justice" over Friday's shooting death of Terence Crutcher, sponsored by We the People Oklahoma, in Tulsa, Okla., Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) AP Terence Crutcher killed by police In this image taken from video, The Rev. Joey Crutcher, father of Terence Crutcher, speaks to the media at the National Action Center in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Crutcher's son, 40 year old Terence Crutcher, was shot and killed by a white Tulsa, Oklahoma police officer on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Joseph Frederick) AP Terence Crutcher killed by police In this image taken from video, The Rev. Al Sharpton, center, speaks to the media at the National Action Center in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 about the shooting death of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. Forty-year-old Terence Crutcher, who was black and unarmed, was fatally shot Friday by a white, Tulsa, Oklahoma police officer. At right is Crutcher family attorney Benjamin Crump. The Rev. Joey Crutcher, Terence Crutcher's father, is second right. Looking over Rev. Sharpton's shoulder is Leanna Crutcher, Terence Crutcher's mother. Terence Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, is standing at right. (AP Photo/Joseph Frederick) AP Terence Crutcher killed by police In this photo taken from video, The Rev. Joey Crutcher and Leanna Crutcher, parents of Terence Crutcher, stand at the podium at the National Action Network in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Their son, Terence Crutcher, was shot and killed by a white Tulsa, Oklahoma police officer on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Joseph Frederick) AP Terence Crutcher killed by police AP Terence Crutcher killed by police Family handout Terence Crutcher killed by police Family handout Terence Crutcher killed by police Family handout In the officer's dash cam video, Mr Crutcher can be seen raising his arms in the air in the middle of the street. He stood beside his drivers side window as several police officers followed close behind him with their weapons drawn. Officer Shelby called for backup and waited 30 seconds before discharging her weapon. Mr Crutcher then appears to fall and his bloodied body lies limp beside his vehicle. Officers appeared to wait more than one minute before approaching Mr Crutchers body. It remains unclear exactly why the officer fired her weapon. After the charges were announced on Thursday, Mr Crutcher's family expressed gratitude toward the prosecutor. Today, we are thankful to TPD. We are thankful to [police] Chief [Chuck] Jordan for providing information to the District Attorney's office, and we are happy that charges were brought, attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons told reporters. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Teachers at a Texas school have decided to take matters into their own hands when it comes to any potential outside threats their students could face and many of them may be armed and dangerous. A new sign posted outside a school in Medina. outside San Antonio, notes that some of the faculty may be carrying firearms, and they are ready to fight if need be. Attention, the sign reads. Please be aware that the staff at Medina ISD may be armed and will use whatever force is necessary to protect our students. Students between the ages of four and 18 attend the school, and the superintendent wants to make sure anybody wishing to harm them knows what they are getting into. You never know if theres a transient or someone who has zeroed in on harming a child, Superintendent Penny White told a local ABC affiliate. The famous for and against US gun control Show all 31 1 /31 The famous for and against US gun control The famous for and against US gun control Against: Robert De Niro Despite the actor being a gun-wielding fast-talker, he told Daily Mail: "There should be more control. It has just gotten out of hand, how easily you can get guns." The famous for and against US gun control For: Brad Pitt "America is founded on guns. It;s in out DNA. Its very strange but I feel better having a gun." Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control For: Angelina Jolie "Brad and I are not against having a gun in the house, and we do have one. If anybody comes into my home and tries to hurt my kids, Ive no problem shooting them." AFP/Getty The famous for and against US gun control For: Johnny Depp "When I was a kid it was a controlled atmosphere, we weren't shooting at humans - we were shooting at cans and bottles mostly. I will most certainly take my kids out for target practice." Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control For: Bruce Willis "Everyone has a right to bear arms. If you take guns away from legal gun owners, then the only people who have guns are the bad guys." Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control For: Clint Eastwood "I have a very strict gun control policy: if there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it." Reuters The famous for and against US gun control For: Whoopi Goldberg "Im an NRA member, as you know or probably dont know... I want to know that theres at least some way to prevent folks who are just getting out from mental institutions [from getting guns]." The famous for and against US gun control For: Vince Vaughn "Banning guns is like banning forks in an attempt to stop making people fat. Taking away guns, taking away drugs, the booze, it won't rid the world of criminality... I support people having a gun in public full stop, not just in your home." Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control For: Donald Trump "Democrats want to confiscate all guns, which is a dumb idea because only the law-abiding citizens would turn in their guns and the bad guys would be the only ones left armed. The Republicans walk the NRA line and refuse even limited restrictions" Getty The famous for and against US gun control Against: Matt Damon I actually hate guns. They freak me out. Rex The famous for and against US gun control Against: Mark Wahlberg "Well, I would love it if they could take all the guns away. Unfortunately, you cant do that so you hope that good people in the world have them to protect the people who cant protect themselves." AP The famous for and against US gun control Against: Sean Connery "It is said that a total ban on handguns, including .22s, would take away innocent pleasure from thousands of people. Is that more or less pleasure than watching your child grow up?" Rex Features The famous for and against US gun control Against: Arnold Schwarzenegger "Im for gun control. Im a peace-loving guy." Lionsgate The famous for and against US gun control Against: Sylvester Stallone "Until America, door to door, takes every handgun, this is what youre gonna have. Its pathetic. It really is pathetic. Its sad. Were living in the Dark Ages over there." Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control Against: Rashida Jones "Gun control is our only road to freedom. Freedom from the fear of senselessly losing children." Getty The famous for and against US gun control Against: Susan Sarandon "How much more suffering & loss will it take before we better regulate the sale of arms in our country?" Getty The famous for and against US gun control Against: Beyonce Queen B was part of the Demand a Plan campaign against guns after Newton shooting, by appearing in a video alongside a bunch of celebrities. AP The famous for and against US gun control Against: Jamie Foxx A Hollywood gang joined Beyonce in the campaign... GETTY IMAGES The famous for and against US gun control Against: Cameron Diaz Took part in the Demand a Plan campaign. Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control Against: Jessica Alba Took part in the Demand a Plan campaign. Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control Against: Jennifer Garner Took part in the Demand a Plan campaign. Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control Against: Jennifer Aniston Took part in the Demand a Plan campaign. Jason Merritt | Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control Against: Jon Hamm The Mad Men actor also appeared in the video... The famous for and against US gun control Against: Reese Witherspoon Took part in the Demand a Plan campaign. Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control Against: Ellen DeGeneres Took part in the Demand a Plan campaign. Reuters The famous for and against US gun control Against: Julianne Moore Took part in the Demand a Plan campaign. The famous for and against US gun control Against: Selena Gomez Took part in the Demand a Plan campaign. GETTY IMAGES The famous for and against US gun control Against: Peter Dinklage The Game of Thrones also appeared in the video... Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control Against: Zooey Deschanel alongside the New Girl star. Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control Against: Steve Carell Took part in the Demand a Plan campaign. Getty Images The famous for and against US gun control Against: Gwyneth Paltrow Took part in the Demand a Plan campaign, too. Ms White said she and the school board had discussed the sign for more than a year before putting it up. Board member Dr James Lindstrom said that no particular event inspired the sign. It was the general environment nationally, he said. Arming teachers became a major topic of debate following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that took the lives of 20 first-graders and six teachers in December 2012. Proponents of the issue claimed that armed staff could have prevented the deaths. The National Rifle Association funded a report that was released in 2013 that called for the arming of school personnel as a first line of defence against violent intruders. Teachers should teach, but if there is personnel that has interest and is willing to go through 40 to 60 hours of firearms training, then schools should be willing to [arm them], said former Arkansas representative Asa Hutchinson, who led the School Shield Programme task force in 2013. A new law in Texas now permits the carry of concealed firearms on college campuses. The so-called campus carry law sparked outrage from students, faculty, and staff of the University of Texas at Austin. On the first day of classes at the university, students arrived armed not with guns but with dildos to protest the policy in a campaign c**cks not glocks. But Medina residents do not seem to be particularly bothered by the sign. Schools have been a target for, for lack of a better word, crazy people, and Im perfectly fine with it, said Jillian Sides, who sends her two sons to the school. But Alisha Reagan, a mother of a third-grader at the school, feels a bit apprehensive about the sign. I dont know if thats asking for trouble or not, she said. I mean, you post a sign like that, it may bring trouble, unfortunately." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump lauded the controversial stop-and-frisk police technique and said that he would support legislation to expand the programme nationally if elected to the presidency. Speaking at a Fox News town hall in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr Trump said he would like to see the tactic which was deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge in 2013 used on a national level. One of the things Id do is I would do stop-and-frisk. I think you have to, he told an audience member. We did it in New York, it worked incredibly well and you have to be proactive and, you know, you really help people sort of change their mind automatically. The zero tolerance tactic, made prominent by the Giuliani administration in New York City, gave police officers the authority to conduct searches if they had reasonable suspicion a person was armed and dangerous. But it largely targeted black and Latino communities and was found to be largely ineffective decades after its implementation. Mayor Bill de Blasio made it a key issue in his successful 2013 campaign, and has reined in its use by the NYPD since taking office. Supporting a policy that disproportionately targeted black communities in New York seems at odds with Mr Trumps apparent outreach to black voters, whom his campaign claims to be courting after receiving zero to one per cent of their support in an August poll. Nonetheless, Mr Trump, a New York City native, believes the method is effective enough to curb violence in black communities. According to the New York American Civil Liberties Union, stop-and-frisk was not a useful method to curb crime in the city. Between 2002 and 2015, some five million people were subjected to searches and interrogations on the street, and nearly 90 per cent were innocent; 90 per cent were also either black or Latino. Mr Trump has positioned himself as a law and order candidate and regularly cites violence in black communities as reason enough for him to earn black votes on election day. Were going to rebuild our inner cities because our African-American communities are absolutely in the worst shape that theyve ever been in before. Ever, ever, ever, he said at a Tuesday campaign event in North Carolina, citing unclear statistics. You take a look at the inner cities, you get no education, you get no jobs, you get shot walking down the street. He added: Honestly, places like Afghanistan are safer than some of our inner cities." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has said he would rather not be fact-checked or challenged on veracity for anything he says during the first presidential debate next Monday. With a potential to draw 100 million viewers, the first of three debates could prove a break-out moment for one or either of the candidates for president who remain close in the polls. Earlier this week, the Hillary Clinton campaign said it wanted the moderators of each debate to feel free to interject if they believe either candidate has said something factually incorrect. A pivotal moment in the 2012 campaign came when CNNs Candy Crowley, who was the moderator in one of the debates, contradicted Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee, when he asserted that President Barack Obama had not referred to what had happened in Benghazi, Libya, a few weeks earlier as terror attacks. He did call it an act of terror, Ms Crowley said. Speaking on Fox on Thursday, Mr Trump said that when Lester Holt of NBC News takes the moderators chair on Monday, he did not want to see that happen again. I think he has to be a moderator, the Republican nominee said. I mean, if youre debating somebody and if she makes a mistake or I make a mistake ... well take each other on. But I certainly dont think you want Candy Crowley again. She turned out to be wrong, Mr Trump went on (an assertion that could warrant some fact-checking also.) I really dont think you want that. That was a very pivotal moment in that debate. And it really threw the debate off and it was unfair. No, I think you have to have somebody thats just let them argue it out. In the end it will be up to Mr Holt to decide how vigorously he holds the candidates to a standard of truth. He will, however, be keenly aware of the ruckus that was triggered by his NBC colleague, Matt Lauer, who was widely seen to have allowed Mr Trump to lie unfettered during a forum about national security in New York two weeks ago. Specifically, Mr Trump used that occasion to insist that, in contrast to Ms Clinton, he never voiced support for the Iraq War. It was an untruth he had articulated many times before and it was hard to imagine that Mr Lauer might not have seen it coming. But when it did, he said nothing. The fear at Clinton HQ is that something similar might happen on Monday. They are similarly concerned that, as was the case at the Lauer event, their candidate will be subjected to a far stricter and more rigorous set of questions from the moderator than Mr Trump will. Ms Clintons communications director, Jennifer Palmieri, shared these worries with reporters on Wednesday. Ms Clinton, thinks moderators should play a role in making sure that the audience knows the truth, she said. She also addressed the perception that interviewers tend generally to go softer on Mr Trump, who is a political beginner, than on Ms Clinton. My biggest concern is not a view of any moderator, but just that people [adjust] their questions to suit the candidate in front of them. Ms Clinton has been taking days away from the campaign trail to prepare and rehearse ahead of Mondays debate, which will be held at Hofstra University on Long Island. There will be two more presidential debates as well as one matching the two running mates against each other. While neither campaign is divulging too many details about their debate preparations, it appears that at Trump HQ they have far more casual, suggesting that Mr Trump will arrive at the venue on Monday expecting essentially to wing it. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jason Kander, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate from Missouri, has produced one of the most eye-catching campaign ads of this election cycle, assembling an AR-15 assault rifle while blindfolded to demonstrate his knowledge of firearms. Kander, 35, a US Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, is currently the Missouri secretary of state. He is challenging Republican incumbent Roy Blunt for his US Senate seat, and Blunt has repeatedly questioned his Second Amendment credentials. In the Army, I learned how to use and respect my rifle, Kander says, as he puts the weapon together by feel alone. He supports Second Amendment rights, he goes on, but adds: I also believe in background checks, so that terrorists can't get their hands on one of these. At the end of the ad, he challenges Blunt who never served in the military to perform the same feat. The spot has gained nationwide attention, and Kanders popularity is forcing Republicans to re-route valuable resources to defend Blunts seat. Though Missouri is likely to vote Republican in the presidential election, Kander is thought to have an outside chance of flipping the Senate seat to the Democrats. But the state has some of the loosest gun laws in the US, and Kander has an F rating from the National Rifle Association for his past voting record on the issue. This week, the NRA released its own response to his ad. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A womens rights group has staged a naked protest outside the Argentinian national congress in protest at what they see as the countrys prudishness and hypocrisy over the female body. Members of Urbanudismo said they were calling for the acceptance of the naked female form as it is and said their actions should not be seen as sexual or provocative. The protest in the Plaza de Los Dos Congresos in the middle of Buenos Aires lasted for several minutes, until police escorted the women away and said they were making passersby uncomfortable. The four women who stripped off said they were doing so to promote tolerance, freedom and an improvement in civic life. Urbanudismo spokeswoman Paula Brindisi told Argentinian newspaper Larazon: We want to promote the acceptance of being naked as natural, and not as something perverse or sexual. We frown on seeing a womans breasts but if a man (takes off his shirt) nobody is surprised One of the protesters said police officers who moved the women along allegedly told them it was no way to demonstrate. Another told Larazon: We came up here because there are many people who complained and felt uncomfortable with this situation. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Urbanudismo has said it is in favour of public nudity and wants to end the taboo around subjects like public breastfeeding. It says public nudity will please many, not harm or offend them. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} South Korea is planning to assemble a military force aimed at removing Kim Jong-un from power, according to the countrys defence minister. Han Min-koo reportedly told the National Assembly in Seoul a unit would be put together to target the North Korean leader in the event of war between the two nations, in a process he labelled the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR). The KMPR plan would be put into action as part of a three-pronged defence strategy including South Koreas anti-missile system and Kill Chain, a pre-emptive military strike programme devised in 2014. The minister said South Korea should maintain an army of 500,000 soldiers on active duty to counter the threat of the Norths estimated 1.2 million troops, should Kim Jong Un choose to invade. If it becomes clear the enemy intends to use nuclear-tipped missiles, in order to suppress its aims, the concept of the KMPR squad is to retaliate against key areas that include the North Korean leadership, Mr Han said, according to local broadcaster News 1. South Koreas major parties have united on the issue of nuclear weaponry, with the opposition leader saying that if China and Russia failed to join sanctions against North Koreas nuclear development, weapons must be deployed. In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test A lab employee from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety's regional office in Gangneung, east of Seoul, checks for radioactive traces in the air, in Gangneung, soon after North Korea announced it successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test. The office in Gangneung is the closest one to the site of the North's claimed test. Officials said it will take three to four days to analyze air samples in detail for any traces of radioactivity, the Yonhap news agency reported EPA In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un signing a document of a hydrogen bomb test in Pyongyang In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test People watch a TV news program showing North Korea's special announcement at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea AP In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test South Korean people watch TV news at Seoul station EPA In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Japan's meteorological agency officer Yohei Hasegawa displays a chart showing seismic activity, after a North Korean nuclear test, at the agency in Tokyo Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test Ko Yun-Hwa, administrator of Korea Meteorological Administration, briefs reporters showing seismic waves from the site of North Korea's hydrogen bomb test, at his office in Seoul Getty Images In pictures: North Korea hydrogen bomb test North Korea's border county of Kaepoong is seen from a South Korean observation post in Paju near the Demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas as North Korea announced it had successfully carried out its first hydrogen bomb test Getty Images Seoul described a recent nuclear test by the North as an act of fanatic recklessness. South Korean president Park Geun-hye said the test was a sign that leader Kim was spiralling out of control, and promised new defence programmes to protect the safety of citizens in the South. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An EU deal to allow Switzerland to offer jobs to locals first - and retain preferential access to the single market should not be seen as a pointer for Brexit, the Government has said. In a surprise move, Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission President, has suggested Switzerland could curb recruitment from abroad without losing its valuable trading arrangements. Mr Juncker backed a proposal that would allow Swiss residents to be offered all new jobs in the country first, saying: This will be possible without a doubt. That the government wants to privilege Swiss employees on the job market is OK for me if it takes place in the framework of mutual recognition. Recommended Read more Switzerland offers UK Brexit solution The comments on Monday night were immediately seen as raising hopes that the future talks with Britain could also bridge the divide between retaining single market access and ending freedom of movement. Until now, Mr Juncker and EU leaders have repeatedly insisted that restrictions on migration Theresa Mays apparent red line in the Brexit talks will mean the loss of single market membership. But Mr Juncker himself linked the likely Swiss deal with Brexit, saying: We are discussing with Switzerland, we have Britain in mind, because these questions are interlinked. However, asked if the deal could pave the way for a post-Brexit agreement, a Government spokesman said: We wont be following any other nations model the position we build outside the EU will be unique to Britain. We are about to begin these negotiations and it would be wrong to set out further unilateral positions in advance. At every step of these negotiations we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British people. Switzerland and the EU have been locked in urgent talks since a Swiss referendum in 2014 rejected free movement for EU citizens in order to cut immigration. The country does not have full access to the single market, but has a series of free trade agreements with the EU which give it preferential access for most of its industries. In return, EU citizens are currently allowed to go there for three months while they look for work. The permit can be extended for up to a year if a jobseeker can provide evidence that they have been actively looking for a job and have a realistic chance of finding one. The new Swiss proposal would give residents, including EU nationals with residence permits, first preference on jobs and prevent employers from recruiting in neighbouring countries. Mr Juncker did not give further details about what a future deal would look like after meeting Swiss president Johann Schneider-Ammann in Zurich. He did say he was more optimistic than in recent weeks and that the talks were moving in the right direction on what he called a Swiss-specific arrangement. What experts have said about Brexit Show all 11 1 /11 What experts have said about Brexit What experts have said about Brexit Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond The Chancellor claims London can still be a world financial hub despite Brexit One of Britains great strengths is the ability to offer and aggregate all of the services the global financial services industry needs This has not changed as a result of the EU referendum and I will do everything I can to ensure the City of London retains its position as the worlds leading international financial centre. Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Yanis Varoufakis Greece's former finance minister compared the UK relations with the EU bloc with a well-known song by the Eagles: You can check out any time you like, as the Hotel California song says, but you can't really leave. The proof is Theresa May has not even dared to trigger Article 50. It's like Harrison Ford going into Indiana Jones' castle and the path behind him fragmenting. You can get in, but getting out is not at all clear Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Michael OLeary Ryanair boss says UK will be screwed by EU in Brexit trade deals: I have no faith in the politicians in London going on about how the world will want to trade with us. The world will want to screw you that's what happens in trade talks, he said. They have no interest in giving the UK a deal on trade Getty What experts have said about Brexit Tim Martin JD Wetherspoon's chairman has said claims that the UK would see serious economic consequences from a Brexit vote were "lurid" and wrong: We were told it would be Armageddon from the OECD, from the IMF, David Cameron, the chancellor and President Obama who were predicting locusts in the fields and tidal waves in the North Sea" PA What experts have said about Brexit Mark Carney Governor of Bank of England is 'serene' about Bank of England's Brexit stance: I am absolutely serene about the judgments made both by the MPC and the FPC Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Christine Lagarde IMF chief urges quick Brexit to reduce economic uncertainty: We want to see clarity sooner rather than later because we think that a lack of clarity feeds uncertainty, which itself undermines investment appetites and decision making Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Inga Beale Lloyds chief executive says Brexit is a major issue: "Clearly the UK's referendum on its EU membership is a major issue for us to deal with and we are now focusing our attention on having in place the plans that will ensure Lloyd's continues trading across Europe EPA What experts have said about Brexit Colm Kelleher President of US bank Morgan Stanley says City of London will suffer as result of the EU referendum: I do believe, and I said prior to the referendum, that the City of London will suffer as result of Brexit. The issue is how much What experts have said about Brexit Richard Branson Virgin founder believes we've lost a THIRD of our value because of Brexit and cancelled a deal worth 3,000 jobs: We're not any worse than anybody else, but I suspect we've lost a third of our value which is dreadful for people in the workplace.' He continued: "We were about to do a very big deal, we cancelled that deal, that would have involved 3,000 jobs, and thats happening all over the country" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Barack Obama US President believes Britain was wrong to vote to leave the EU: "It is absolutely true that I believed pre-Brexit vote and continue to believe post-Brexit vote that the world benefited enormously from the United Kingdom's participation in the EU. We are fully supportive of a process that is as little disruptive as possible so that people around the world can continue to benefit from economic growth" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Kristin Forbes American economist and an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England argues that the economy had been less stormy than many expected following the shock referendum result: For nowthe economy is experiencing some chop, but no tsunami. The adverse winds could quickly pick up and merit a stronger policy response. But recently they have shifted to a more favourable direction Getty However, the Commission is also believed to be insisting that it must incorporate a wider agreement to allow the EU courts to enforce all disputes involving the single market. And Switzerland has been forced to retreat on demands for a cap on the number of migrants once a threshold has been reached the sort of emergency brake that David Cameron sought and failed to achieve. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Volunteers in the Calais Jungle have been accused of sexually exploiting refugees and even child migrants. The Independent has discovered a serious row has broken out among some unpaid charity workers at the camp in northern France, with some believing forging sexual relationships with adult refugees is natural in such circumstances, while others say it breaches all usual codes of conduct. One man who raised the alarm was later subjected to a barrage of online abuse. After being told of the allegations, UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, called for charities in Calais to impose "zero tolerance" policies on any exploitation to help maintain the "integrity" of volunteer work. Recommended Read more End the misery of the Calais Jungle Charity leaders working in the area have confirmed there is a serious problem, with worries about predatory behaviour by both male and female volunteers. But they say it is difficult to control due to the absence of universal humanitarian standards in the Jungle, meaning there are no official aid organisations on the ground and no controls over who can enter to volunteer. Clare Mosely, founder of Care4Calais, one of the biggest charities working there, which has a zero tolerance policy regarding relationships with refugees, said: "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." The issue came to light after a bitter online discussion between volunteers that was later deleted after concerns were raised that it would become a scandal if it were seen by journalists. The Independent saved a copy before it was removed. The exchanges were started by a male volunteer on a Facebook group for Jungle workers called Calais People to People Solidarity, which has more than 36,000 members. The Independent has decided not to publish his name. A screenshot of the Facebook post, since deleted (The Independent/screenshot) The man wrote: 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 know also, that Im only hearing a small part of a wider scale of abuse." The volunteer went on to say these sexual encounters were damaging for refugees, who are in an entirely unequal position of power and entirely dependent on the aid that is provided by volunteers. Sex from a person who is in a position of power or influence, in such a one-sided affair, especially where it is perceived that aid or better aid can be gained from it, that it is, and can be defined as sexual abuse, he said. He cited the code of conduct used by UNHCR, which states that sexual relationships between aid staff and beneficiaries are strongly discouraged due to unequal power relationships. The man added that the majority of cases in question involved female volunteers and male refugees which he claimed risked the objectification of women volunteering in the camp. He wrote: Female volunteers having sex enforces the view (that many have) that volunteers are here for sex. This impression objectifies women in the camp and increases the risks." His comments prompted accusations of sexism and misogyny from female members of the group. One commented on the post: I find this attitude incredibly patronising and paternalistic with added sexism and racism. There is a serious point in here among all the moralistic bullshit but I find it very off-putting. I find the assertion that women choosing to have sex encourages rape quite frankly disturbing. But others agreed with him and acknowledged that volunteer-refugee relationships were a serious issue in the camp that should not be covered up. One commenter wrote: I dont think we should be covering this up, just that we should be dealing with it as organisations looking to impress upon individuals the gravity of the situation and the power imbalance of volunteer-refugee relationships. Its a serious issue, and must be dealt with seriously. Another commented: Sweeping this issue under the carpet will not make it go away. We were all in uncharted territory the first time we arrived in the camp and so this was bound to happen to a lesser or greater extent. Others meanwhile called for the groups admin to remove the thread over fears a news outlet would gain access to it. The post was deleted within several hours of it being posted, but it has since emerged that the issue is well known among charities working in the area. Speaking to The Independent, Ms Mosely told how one male volunteer was recently reported for inappropriate behaviour with female refugees, but the charity leaders had no power to expel him from the camp. She said: He initially worked with another charity called Auberge des Migrants. But when he was reported for inappropriate behaviour with female refugees they told him to leave. He then came here for a day and they phoned us up and warned us. So we told him to leave, but then he went to the camp on his own and we had no power to force him out. Luckily a couple of our male volunteers went and spoke to him and persuaded him to leave. So hes gone now. But its extremely difficult for us to control. A fifth of the volunteers are here independent of any organisation. Maya Konforti, who volunteers for Auberge des Migrants, told The Independent about another case in which a British female volunteer had built up a bad reputation in the camp by sleeping with multiple refugees. Ms Konforti said: I know one British woman who had a very bad reputation in the Jungle. If she had been volunteering with Auberge she would be thrown out, but she did it on her own, she was here independently. She found the right refugee and now shes with him. Thats what I hear. Shes back in the UK and lives with a refugee. Both Care4Calais and Auberge des Migrants have stringent rules in their codes of conduct that explicitly condemn "potentially exploitative" sexual relationships between volunteers and refugees. Katie Hopkins visits Calais Jungle The codes of conduct used by both charities state: Any pattern of potentially exploitative sexual activity between associates and adult beneficiaries will not be condoned, on the basis of recognising the fundamental vulnerability of residents in refugee camps and the possibility of exploitative behaviour. We recognise that associates are in a position of trust, which can create an imbalance of power and can lead to beneficiaries being put at risk of further harm. But Ms Konforti said the rules are impossible to enforce throughout the camp: Calais is not a proper refugee camp where the entrance and exits are regulated. This is what makes the camp interesting and provides lots of opportunities for refugees and volunteers to meet, but the lack of regulation can lead to bad things as well. When you have volunteers and refugees in this environment, its going to happen. There will be people who will have sexual relationships with refugees. "We cant say its damaging for all refugees to have a sexual relationship with a volunteer, but we have strict rules to prevent this kind of thing happening because we know the risks. The problem is the independent volunteers who no one is watching out for. Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Show all 8 1 /8 Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' People gather outside the Eritrean church at the camp The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' A fire at the camp destroyed shelters for 180 people The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' A fire at the camp destroyed shelters for 180 people The Hummingbird Project In response to the reports of sexual exploitation in the Jungle, UNHCR said such reports must be promptly addressed and called for the Jungle to be replaced with more acceptable conditions. A spokesperson told The Independent: UNHCR has zero tolerance for such behaviour as the abuse or exploitation of refugees, and that such reports and allegations should be promptly addressed first and foremost by the French authorities. Volunteers are doing important work for refugees and migrants in Calais and it is essential that the integrity of that work is guarded. This camp should be replaced as soon as possible with more acceptable reception conditions. International aid organisation Save the Children expressed concern at the lack of monitoring in Calais following the accusations. Ruairidh Valler, the charity's international media manager, said: The policing in refugee camps is generally down to the state or UNHCR on the ground. But in the case of Calais, in the informal, irregular setting, this all gets more difficult. Nobody wants to criticise smaller NGOs that are doing their best and trying to do something really wonderful. But obviously with that comes the added risk of things going wrong. Theres lack of monitoring. It all stems from the fact that the Jungle has been this ignored black hole in one of the largest economies on the planet. Thom Davies, a human geographer from the University of Warwick and one of the authors of an academic study of the camp, said the alleged sexual exploitation was a symptom of the fact that the Jungle is not being recognised as an official refugee camp by the authorities. Mr Davies said: This issue exposes quite how exceptional the Calais camp and other informal camps in Europe are. In my research we compared the Jungle with the minimum standards for a regular refugee camp under the Sphere Project (an umbrella group for a wide range of humanitarian agencies) and UNHCR and it just doesnt match up. The fact that the Calais camp is not considered an official camp either by the UN or the French state has led to these issues. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The founder of an anti-refugee group has reportedly moved to Tenerife to escape persecution in Germany. Lutz Bachmann has previously referred to those fleeing conflict and persecution as scum but has reportedly been living on the Spanish island, off the coast of northern Africa, for several months. The 43-year-old is a leading member of Pegida, which stands for Patriotic Europeans against Islamisation of the West, and has led anti-immigration marches of tens of thousands of people. Described by one politician as Nazis in pinstripes, the group is regularly met by counter-demonstrations accusing members of racism, fascism and xenophobia. Pegida leader quits amid Hitler photo row Pegida members have been met with water cannon and pepper spray by riot police at recent demonstrations, with signs calling asylum seekers rapefugees frequently seen in crowds. Mr Bachmann stepped down from his official post as leader in January 2015 after dressing up as Hitler in a joke picture on Facebook, and was found guilty of inciting hatred earlier this year. But he remained a regular attendee at Pegidas Monday marches in Dresden until being conspicuously absent from several recent demonstrations. The Sachsische Zeitung reports that Mr Bachmann and his wife are now living in Tenerife, having left their former home near Dresden in May. In a video posted on social media, he said he was working on the island, adding that his wife was unable to cope with pressure in Dresden, where he said they had been subjected to vandalism and attempted break-ins. We have been persecuted, Mr Bachmann continued. There were four break-in attempts in two monthsmy car was blown up. This is for my safety and the safety of my family. In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany A police officer talks to a counterprotestor at the sidelines of right-wing movement 'Baergida' (Berlin Patriots against the islamization of the Occident), a Berlin version of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the Occident), protest in Berlin In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany Participants of right-wing movement 'Baergida' (Berlin Patriots against the islamization of the Occident), a Berlin version of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the Occident), protest in Berlin In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany People protest against right-wing initiative Pegida with a sign reading 'Stop agitation against Islam' in Berlin In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany Participants of the 'Alliance against Racism' demonstrate against right-wing initiative Pegida (Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the Occident) in Berlin. Counterdemonstrations against racism and xenophobia have been planned in Dresden, Berlin, Cologne and Stuttgart. The demonstrations staged by the anti-Islamic Pegida movement produce a series of slogans arguing that Germany is taking in too many foreigners, that the social structures are about to collapse due to the rising number of asylum-seekers, and that there is the threat of an 'Islamisation of the Occident' In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany German Justice Minister Heiko Maas takes part in a protest against the march of a grass-roots anti-Muslim movement in Berlin. The rise of the group, Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West (Pegida), has shaken Germany's political establishment In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany The lighting of the Brqandenburg Gate was switched off to make a statement against racism as People protest against right-wing initiative Pegida in Berlin In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany A left wing activist struggles with the riot police during a protest against a planed march of the Pegida movement in their first Berlin demonstration, which they have dubbed 'Baergida' In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany People protest against right-wing initiative Pegida in Hamburg In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany People protest against right-wing initiative Pegida in Munich In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany People protest against right-wing initiative Pegida in Stuttgart Tatjana Festerling, the former co-leader of Pegida who was ousted after a dispute with Mr Bachmann, claimed he returns to Germany every two weeks for a show of resistance. Mr Bachmann said he would be attending a protest scheduled for 3 October in Dresden in his video. Addressing the message to dear patriots on Tuesday, Mr Bachmann did not confirm whether he had moved to Tenerife permanently but said he was working on the island, unlike Europe tourists without fixed employment. People are not interested in where I live and work, he added. They couldnt care less as long as I show my face on Mondays. But from the reaction in Germany, he could be wrong. The countrys largest newspapers have reported on his departures, with many commenting on the irony of a person who has denied the existence of real refugees fleeing to another country for his safety. Mr Bachmann has not responded to The Independents request for a comment. Pegida continues to hold weekly marches in Dresden and has formed factions in several European countries, including the UK. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Sweden has been named as the best country for expat families to raise children in, according to a new poll. Three-quarters of respondents to the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey said their childrens quality of life had improved since making the move to the Scandinavian nation. The Czech Republic and Singapore came second and third place respectively as the best places for expat families. Recommended Read more The cheapest and most expensive countries to study in revealed The UK languished in 29th place, below Russia, the Philippines, Mexico and Poland. A healthy lifestyle and was seen as a major factor for Swedens high ranking in the survey, which questioned 26,871 expats in 45 countries around the world. Sixty-nine per cent of expat parents said their childrens health and wellbeing had improved since moving to Sweden, compared with a global average of 49 per cent. Childcare was also a prominent factor, with 75 per cent of participants rating the quality of childcare in Sweden as better than what was available at home, compared to just 47 per cent of expats elsewhere. Our daughter goes to a small preschool in the suburbs with a class of ten other kids, Jill Leckie, a Scottish expat to the country, told The Local. Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list Show all 10 1 /10 Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list 1. Peloponnese, Greece GETTY Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list 2. Aarhus, Denmark ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list 3. Venice, Italy GETTY Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list 4. The Dordogne, France REUTERS Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list 5. Lviv, Ukraine GETTY Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list 6. Warwickshire, England GETTY Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list 7. Extremadura, Spain GETTY Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list 8. East Coast Tenerife, Canary Islands Getty Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list 9. Texel, the Netherlands REUTERS Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2016 list 10. Northern Dalmatia, Croatia GETTY They spend the majority of the day outside and have fresh food prepared on-site every day. For now Im not sure I could ask for much more. Ms Leckie also cited cheap childcare costs as a factor which crystallised the huge advantages of moving to Sweden with a family. Overall, Singapore was listed as the best place for expats, taking into account other factors such as income, work life, property, healthcare and integrating and meeting people. The survey also found that moving aboard can make it easier for young professionals to get on the property ladder, with 41 per cent of respondents saying their move helped accelerate their progress towards buying a first or next property. In addition, 40 per cent of expats said living abroad helped saving for their retirement. Forty-four per cent of entrepreneurial expats said emerging economies offered more opportunities to start of grow a business, compared to just 35 per cent of expats living in developed countries. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man who allegedly kicked a woman in the face for wearing shorts told police he would be less aroused if she had worn trousers. Abdullah Cakroglu is accused of verbally and physically assaulting the 23-year-old nurse on a public bus in Istanbul. He was heard saying: Those who wear shorts must die, according to local media. The security guard was initially released despite the prosecutor deeming it bodily harm, and the 35-year-old admitting the attack. It took a social media campaign to prompt authorities to re-arrest Mr Cakroglu on Monday, but this time for inciting animosity among society. According to Hurriyet Daily News, he told investigators: She wore shorts and was sitting in an obscene way with her legs sideways. She was staring at me with an obtrusive look. I lost myself in an instant. I thought she disregarded the values of our country and society and she did not show respect for herself and the people around her with her clothing style. My spiritual side took over and I kicked her in the face. The victim, Aysegul Terzi, said three men stepped in to stop the assault, but she was left with bruises on her face. Mr Cakroglu reportedly suffers from bipolar disorder and had recently left hospital after undergoing treatment. In protest at the attack, the hashtag #AysegulTerzininSesiOlalim was used thousands of times over the weekend. Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Show all 10 1 /10 Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Brazilian women march in Sao Paulo during a protest following the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl Rex Features Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl There have been calls for protests to end to what campaigners call Brazil's 'culture of rape' after the attack Rex Features Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl An online campaign has been set up in response to the crime, using the hashtag #EstuproNuncaMais, meaning 'rape never again' Rex Features Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl The 16-year-old victim was attacked in a poor neighbourhood in the west of the city on 21 May 2016 Rex Features Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Two of the attackers posted pictures and video on Twitter of the assault, which has shocked the country Rex Features Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Brazilian women protest in front of the Candelaria Church in Rio de Janeiro AFP/Getty Images Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Seven men have been charged in connection with the attack AFP/Getty Images Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Women's underwear and photos from Brazilian photographer Marcio Freitas displayed on Copacabana beach during a protest by non-governmental organization Rio de Paz (Rio of Peace) against rape and violence against women REUTERS Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Women's underwear smeared with paint is seen during a protest against rape and violence against women in Brasilia, Brazil REUTERS Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Demonstrators attend a protest against rape and violence against women in Brasilia, Brazil REUTERS It translates into English as lets be the voice of Aysegul Terzi. Women in Turkey also posted images to social media of themselves wearing shorts in solidarity. On Sunday, campaigners gathered in Istanbul to protest the attack and put pressure on authorities to focus on ending violence against women. The attack also caught the attention of Turkeys family and social policy minister. Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya said the ministry would be pursuing the incident, adding: We stand by Aysegul Terzi and other victims of violence against women. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The king of Jordan has publicly warned Israel it faces a sea of hatred if it refuses to accept a Palestinian state. King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein told the UN General Assembly in New York that a resolution could and must be reached between Israelis and Palestinians before more blood was shed, before accusing the Jewish State of trying to alter the identity of the city of Jerusalem. No injustice has spread more bitter fruit than the denial of a Palestinian state, the king said. Peace is a conscious decision. Israel has to embrace peace or eventually be engulfed in a sea of hatred in a region of turmoil. As the Custodian of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, I will continue my efforts to protect these places, and stand up against all violations of their sanctity. At the same conference, US president Barack Obama told Israel it cannot permanently occupy and settle on Palestinian land. In August, King Abdullah stated his intention to take action against the repeated violations and attacks carried out by Israel at the Temple Mount site in the Old City of Jerusalem - a holy place in both Judaism and Islam. The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Show all 10 1 /10 The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Getty Images The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus EPA The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child The king has previously stated his opposition to Israels actions towards Palestinians and stated he believes Israel is not interested in peace. King Abdullah used the remainder of his speech to discuss terrorist activity, and his desire for the world to differentiate between Islam and terrorism - the aim of which he said was to erase human civilisation and drag us back to the dark ages. These radical outlaw groups do not exist on the fringes of Islam, they are altogether outside of it. Thus we refer to them as kharwarej, or outlaws of Islam, he said. It comes after it was reported Russian president Vladimir Putin wishes to host peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians in Moscow in the near future, which he hopes could help end the conflict For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Israeli soldiers have been photographed beating a Palestinian man in Hebron in the West Bank. The pictures show at least five soldiers from the Nehal brigade struggling with a barefoot man in the street. In one photograph, a soldier is shown holding the mans head down while another kicks him. A different picture shows a uniformed man pinning him to the ground with his knee on his head. A soldier is also captured grabbing the Palestinian by the throat. The military claimed the man was resisting arrest, but has said an investigation will be opened into the incident. Arrest was part of a security check in the area, according to army (AFP/Getty) According to the Israeli army, the arrest was part of a security check in the area. "During a routine security check, the Palestinian who was documented [in the photographs] refused to be frisked. The forces had arrested the suspect. The troops' conduct is being looked into and the incident is being investigated, the army said in a statement to Haaretz Israel has stepped up its military presence in Hebron (Reuters) Israel has stepped up its military presence in the area following escalating violence in the West Bank. The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Show all 10 1 /10 The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Getty Images The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus EPA The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child On Wednesday, an unarmed 13-year-old Palestinian girl was shot in the leg after refusing to stop at a checkpoint. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A an unarmed Palestinian child has been shot by Israeli troops after she failed to stop at a checkpoint in the West Bank. The Israeli Defence Ministry said the 13-year-old girl, named locally as Baraa Ramadan Eweisa, was injured in the leg near the Alfei Menashe settlement and taken to hospital on Wednesday. Officials said she ignored orders to stop while approaching the Eliyahu checkpoint and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers fired warning shots into the air before shooting her. Israeli army escorts Palestinian children to school Israeli officials said a border guard fired after Baraa reached towards her shirt but that searches of the teenagers bag found no traces of weapons or explosives. She told investigators I came to die during initial questioning, Israels Haaretz newspaper reported. But Palestinian police said Baraa was shot when she tried to run away, adding that one of her relatives was killed in the same place last year while trying to stab soldiers. An Israeli military court ordered her release on Thursday morning after ruling that she was not in possession of a knife or attempting an attack, the Palestinian Maan news agency reported. Saleh Ayyoub, a lawyer with the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), said Baraa was still being treated at Meir Hospital, in the Israeli city of Kfar Saba. In November 2015, a woman was shot dead by border guards at the same checkpoint at Eliyahu while carrying a knife. The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Show all 10 1 /10 The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Getty Images The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus EPA The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child Rasha Owaisi, 23, of Qalqilya, had left a note to her family saying she was acting in defence of my homeland, adding: I cant bear what I see any longer. All I know is that I cant take it. To my mother and brothers, please forgive me. It was not immediately possible to confirm whether Owaisi is an alternative spelling for Baraas surname, which has been transliterated from Arabic. The shooting came amid heightened tensions in Israel and the West Bank over a year-long wave of Palestinian attacks and crackdowns by security forces. Fresh controversy has been generated by photos of IDF soldiers beating an unarmed Palestinian man in Hebron on Tuesday. Israeli authorities said the man was resisting arrest but launched an investigation after images showed troops holding his head down and kicked him, and a soldier kneeling on the mans head. Hebron, which contains the Cave of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque, is divided between Israeli and Palestinian Authority control and has been the scene of frequent stabbing attacks, violent protests and clashes. Army claimed man was resisting arrest, but said an investigation will be opened (Reuters) At least 34 Israelis and two Americans have been killed in Palestinian stabbings, shootings and car rammings since last September, while more than 200 Palestinians have been shot dead by security forces in the same period. Israeli officials said the vast majority were carrying out or attempting attacks, but others have been killed during protests. Several incidents have been contested and the United Nations has voiced concern over reported excessive use of force, calling for independent investigations into each death and injury caused by the security services. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, has blamed Palestinian incitement for the attacks but Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General, said the violence was bred from nearly five decades of Israeli occupation and the result of fear, humiliation, frustration and mistrust among Palestinians. Barack Obama broached the issue during talks with Mr Netanyahu on Wednesday, voicing concerns about the expansion of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which are regarded as illegal under international law. Clearly there is great danger of not just terrorism but also flare-ups of violence, the US President said. We do have concerns around settlement activity as well. And our hope is that we can continue to be an effective partner with Israel in finding a path to peace. In addition to its estimate of 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank, the CIA Factbook says about 371,000 Israeli settlers were living in the West Bank as of July 2015. Neither figure includes East Jerusalem, which both sides claim. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} ]The President of Syria has said he believes a US-led 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 conducted in the presidential palace in Damascus, Bashar al-Assad dismissed the American expression of regret for the loss of life, going on to blame US officials for the collapse of the recent ceasefire on the ground due to the US not having the will to combat terrorists and militants in the war-ravaged country. Intense regime bombing campaigns have resumed in Aleppo since the breakdown of the seven-day ceasefire over the weekend. Activists on the groud described shells falling like rain. Rebel officials and rescue workers said incendiary bombs were among the weapons that rained from the sky on the city. Hamza al-Khatib, the director of a hospital in the rebel-held east, told Reuters there was a number of dead. Its as if the planes are trying to compensate for all the days they didnt drop bombs [during the ceasefire], Ammar al-Selmo, the head of the civil defence rescue service in opposition-held eastern Aleppo, told Reuters. Syria: UN aid convoy hit by airstrikes in Aleppo In the interview with AP, Mr Assad claimed it was terrorists who were to blame for the attack and subsequent blaze that hit an aid convoy and warehouse near Aleppo in a attack on Monday. 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. On Thursday, the top US military officer told a Senate committee he has no doubt that Russia is responsible for the attack on the aid convoy. US Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that both Russian and Syrian aircraft were in the area at the time of the strike. Eyewitness accounts reported that the attack came from the air and involved barrel bombs, unguided crude bombs the use of which by Syrian forces has been condemned by many Western nations although the countrys government continues to deny they are used. 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. Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them Show all 13 1 /13 Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office US State Department spokesman John Kirby called Mr Assads claims over the strike that killed the Syrian soldiers ridiculous. 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, Mr Kirby said. 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. 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? 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. The UN resumed relief operations in Syria on Thursday after a 48-hour suspension due to the deadly convoy attack on Monday and appealed to Mr Assad and rebel groups to allow aid convoys to enter eastern Aleppo. 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, UN humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland said. 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 added of the divided northern city. Mr Assad 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 on Thursday for 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It is one of the most prestigious jobs in the world and the process of appointing the next holder was supposed to usher in transparency, tearing away the much criticised secrecy and hidden deal-making which has characterised it in the past. But the race to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations has, instead, become enmeshed in accusations of dirty tricks and backstabbing, political enmity, regional rivalry and personal attacks. The inevitable analogies with Game of Thrones and House of Cards may seem incongruous in choosing the successor to Ban Ki-moon, the overwhelming feature of whose two terms have been blandness, but that is what on the lips of diplomats with passions running surprisingly high. Recommended Read more Secret poll reveals powers still divided over new UN Secretary General Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel have become involved in the realpolitik, and the support of Barack Obama is much sought. Also trying to influence the outcome is Hungarys hard-right leader Viktor Orban and some British Conservative politicians. With world leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly, the question of who becomes the new Secretary-General has been an important point of discussions on the sidelines and an opportunity for lobbying. According to the rules the successful candidate is chosen by the General Assembly of 193 member states with the 15-strong Security Council effectively drawing up the shortlist. But, in reality, no one gets in without the agreement between the five permanent members of the Security Council. The drama may be about candidates few among the public know about. But in these turbulent times of Isis and terrorism, the refugee crisis, the EU under great strain, a resurgent Russia, confrontations in the South China Sea and a possible Trump presidency, power blocs want their own man or woman to be in the seat. The chances are that it may be well be a woman with a consensus that this is so among many of the countries. Antonio Guterres, the former Prime Minister of Portugal and UN High Commissioner for refugees has established a lead over his rivals in straw polls, but the gender factor will count against him. This will also be the case with Vuk Jeremic and Miroslav Lajcak, the Serbian and Slovakian foreign ministers, who came third and second, respectively, in the polls. Mr Jeremic and Mr Lajcak are, however, from Eastern Europe, and there is a feeling that the post should go to someone from that region. The two in the running who tick both the boxes on gender and region are Irina Bokova, the Unesco director-general, and Kristalina Georgieva, the vice-president of the European Commission. Of the three other female candidates, Christiana Figueres, the Costa Rican UN official who played an important role in the climate change talks, and was said to be favoured by President Obama, has already dropped out after doing badly in the straw polls. Susan Malcorra, the Argentine foreign minister, and Helen Clark, the New Zealand Prime Minister, have also fared badly coming sixth and seventh. In any event, Britain would not favour someone from Buenos Aires getting the post with the Falklands still a contentious issue. It is in the competition between Ms Bokova and Ms Georgieva, both Bulgarian, that there has been the most intrigue and recriminations. Ms Bokova, who has been widely praised for her campaign against cultural destruction carried out by Islamists in Syria, Iraq and Mali, has scored the highest in the straw polls among female candidates. Ms Bokova has, however, been a member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party in the past and before that the Communist Party during Warsaw Pact times, albeit a reformer. The European conservatives would prefer Georgieva: she is favoured by the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP) group in the EU which has also been lobbying against Mr Guterres because he is a socialist. Reports began to surface that Angela Merkel whose Christian Democrats are part of the EPP had obtained the support of Vladimir Putin for Ms Georgiva during the G20 meeting in Hangzhou. The Kremlin reacted furiously to the claim. It said that the German Chancellor had, indeed, made such an approach but has been told in no uncertain terms that it was an unacceptable proposition. Berlin, the Russians charged, was trying to pressure the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boko Borissov to switch his countrys candidates from Ms Bokova to Ms Gerogiva. The Russian annoyance, according to senior diplomatic sources, was partly because Germany, not a permanent member of the Security Council, was deemed to have been too forward, Ms Merkel thinking she was as important in the world stage as she is in Europe. This was also the view of the French, who can hold themselves to be in a superior position to the Germans at least when it comes to the UN. The German foreign minister refuted Moscows claim of lobbying by Ms Merkel, saying this was Russian propaganda and that Germany was not pushing for Ms Georgiva. In the world of diplomatic double-speak, it is felt there was an ulterior motive behind Frank-Walter Steinmeiers very public statement. As a Social Democrat in Ms Merkels coalition he was ensuring that a right-winger did not get Berlins official support for the job. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Meanwhile Mr Borissov, faced with hostility from Moscow and Paris, shelved, for the time being, any plans of a candidate swap. But there then followed a highly publicised episode in which he appeared at a press conference with Viktor Orban during which the Hungarian leader gave vocal backing for Georgieva Orban, who has taken a conspicuously hard line against Muslim refugees and was among the first to build walls at his countrys borders, is said to be anxious that Eastern Europes candidate should be adequately right wing. There is a British dimension to this. Ms Bokova has been recently coming under public attack across the Channel. Andrew Mitchell, the former Tory chief whip, declared in a newspaper article that Ms Bokovas election would be a catastrophe, claiming she has been a disaster at Unesco, without actually giving any examples of her supposedly disastrous acts. Mr Mitchell, who had to resign his post after rowing with police officers in Downing Street, concluded: If Ms Bokova receives so few votes she drops out, a new candidate should be put forward. Easily the best would be another Bulgarian, Kristalina Georgieva. Ms Bokova acknowledges there was a critical assessment by the Department for International Development in 2011 of Unesco just after she had taken over. But the British Governments own update two years later highlighted the significant improvements in work planning, budget, HR policies, transparency and cost control which have strengthened organisations effectiveness. Two of Unescos biggest donors, Norway and Sweden, have praised her leadership. Many, like a former Irish minister for European affairs, maintained that Ms Bokova was has been subjected to a campaign which seems to be part of a crude effort to strong-arm Bulgaria to replace Bokova with Gerogiva for the top UN job. There is little doubt that the claims and counter-claims will continue. The next straw poll is on 26 September. Knives are being sharpened again, say diplomats, for the aftermath and the final lap of this bitterly fought race. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} There was something peculiarly appealing about Sudan. Big and burly, with craggy features and strangely hairy ears, he barely acknowledged me when I first met him, but within 10 minutes I found myself gently stroking his face, his skin all dusty and as tough as a tyre. Closing his eyes contentedly, he slowly rolled over. He wants you to stroke his other side now, Jacob whispered. Stunned by Sudans responsiveness, I felt shivers down my spine its not every day you get to touch a rhino, and certainly not one as special as this. Sudan is the last male northern white rhino in the world, being cared for by Jacob and a team of rangers at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in central Kenyas Laikipia County. Aged 42, hes approaching the end of his days and the reality that we might never see his like again is incredibly sad. Northern whites have been decimated not by natural evolutionary causes but by human greed, through poaching and devastating conflicts in their war-torn homelands including Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Today, World Rhino Day raises awareness about the plight of all species of rhino. A southern white rhino at Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Will Whitford) The only two remaining northern white females, Sudans daughter Najin and grand-daughter Fatu, also live in Ol Pejeta along with 29 southern white rhinos and 107 black rhinos. A winner of awards for its conservation work, the 400sq km conservancy is the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. But Ol Pejeta is more than that. In a region fast rivalling the Maasai Mara as a wildlife destination, the conservancys rolling plains and acacia forests in the shadows of Mount Kenya are home to the other Big Five beasts too elephant, leopard, lion and buffalo. Around 200 species of birds, myriad antelopes, rare Grevys zebras and Jacksons hartebeest also live here, along with 37 rescued chimps in the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Rare Grevy's zebras also live on the conservancy (Will Whitford) On game drives that crossed the equator, we saw elephants frolicking in marshy green waters and elegant elands relaxing on the plains. We were mesmerised by over 20 giraffes looking like giants as they dwarfed the acacias at sunset. And we watched lions dozing in the shade, tracking them with researchers using telemetry devices. Unsurprisingly, though, Ol Pejetas flagship species is the rhino. In 16 years of travelling in Africa, Id never seen so many as I did on my first day here. Black and white, mums and babies, lone bulls, all grazing on the plains, browsing in thickets or wallowing in mud. A number of animals, including giraffes, share space on the land (Will Whitford) But OPCs rhino cemetery was a poignant reminder of their plight. Fourteen black tombstones stand prominently on the golden plain, their epitaphs describing painful deaths from poaching. Sudan, Najin and Fatu live within the Endangered Species Enclosure, where I also met a blind black rhino called Baraka. All rhinos are in fact grey: the moniker white derives from the Afrikaans word weit, meaning wide, distinguishing their broad square mouths needed for grazing. Black rhinos, labelled hot-tempered and grumpy by Jacob, are smaller, with hooked lips for nibbling shrubs and thickets. Even the northern and southern whites are different, the former being smaller with shorter legs and those weird hairy ears. A cattle ranch dating back to the 1930s, Ol Pejeta became a rhino sanctuary in the mid-1990s, pioneering an integrated conservation system that embraces wildlife and tourism alongside its cattle. At that time, there were just 250 black rhinos in Kenya, but after the Kenya Wildlife Service decided to protect them in secure areas such as this one, the country is now home to 680 of them. The rhino graveyard is a reminder of whats at stake (Will Whitford) OPC ploughs its profits into conservation and community development benefiting the 55,000 people living around the conservancy. Those profits, however, are being swallowed by the spiralling costs of keeping and protecting the rhinos, amounting to US$1.5m (1.1m) last year. More valuable than gold, rhino horn sells for up to US$90,000 (68,944) per kilo in Asia for use in ornamental carvings and traditional medicine. Consequently, poachers are heavily-armed, organised criminal gangs. Rhinos can be bloody anti-social animals, Alex Hunter, owner of Ol Pejeta Bush Camp, told me. But they need our help: we have to get the conservation message across. Alex has been running safaris for over 30 years and 10 years ago opened Ol Pejeta Bush Camp, a recent addition to safari operator Asilia Africas portfolio. A warm and humorous host, Alex has made this camp his home. And it feels homely and welcoming, with easy chatter around the campfire or the huge dining table in the relaxing mess tent overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River. Although the camp is discreetly fenced (a reluctant consequence of Alex having been speared twice by buffalos), youre still immersed in nature: I heard a lion roaring deep in the night and hippo chomping grass nearby. The mess tent at Ol Pejeta Bush Camp Seeing Sudan is like seeing a dodo, Alex said sadly, speaking of the northern whites imminent extinction. But a project led by OPC and Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic, Sudans former home, is providing a tiny glimmer of hope. It involves IVF and stem cell technology, using deceased rhinos frozen sperm and eggs from Najin and Fatu. Because they are both incapable of carrying a baby, a southern white would act as surrogate mother. Whats happening to northern whites is happening to thousands of species across the world because of human exploitation

Richard Vigne, CEO of OPC

Its a controversial project however: critics slate it as a waste of money on a near-impossible attempt at saving a mere subspecies. Richard Vigne, CEO of OPC, disagrees: Forget whether theyre species or sub-species, were protecting their genetic traits. Whats happening to northern whites is happening to thousands of species across the world because of human exploitation. They can be ambassadors for others. And Sudan is a superb ambassador. Id been cynical about the project too, but meeting him that morning, utterly oblivious to his own potential extinction, made me think twice. Seeing his calm dignity and peculiar beauty, it seemed unconscionable that we should simply let his kind die out. Travel essentials Getting there Sue Watt travelled with Yellow Zebra Safaris (020 3199 8111; yellowzebrasafaris.com), which offers a five-night trip to Ol Pejeta Conservancy from 2,453 per person. This includes four nights with all meals and activities at Ol Pejeta Bush Camp (asiliaafrica.com), one nights B&B at House of Waine Boutique Hotel in Nairobi (houseofwaine.com) and transfers. Flights from Heathrow to Nairobi with Kenya Airways (kenya-airways.com) can be added for around 600 return. Visiting there Ol Pejeta Conservancy (olpejetaconservancy.org) offers activities including lion tracking, visits to the Endangered Species Enclosure and to Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary for US$40 (31) per person. More information British visitors need a visa to enter Kenya, costing 30 per person from the Kenya High Commission in London (020 7636 2371; kenyahighcom.org.uk). magicalkenya.com Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Tough and uncompromising, Hull is a curmudgeonly English seaport so begins the chapter on the Humberside city in Lonely Planets guide to England. In 2003, it was voted number one Crap Town in Britain, and it has been described as a city with a village mentality. In the EU referendum, Hullensians voted by more than two to one to leave Europe, despite its historic links with the Continent and the citys dependence on tourism from Belgium, Holland and Germany. But today Hull took its place on the world stage, unveiling its artistic programme for 2017 when it will be the UK City of Culture. The launch took place at the Hull Truck Theatre, pioneered by the playwright John Godber. The organisers are promising the biggest celebration Hull has ever seen. Hull's award-winning aquarium, The Deep ( Thomas Arran) The first three months are branded as Made in Hull, featuring the citys revolutionaries, the thinkers and innovators who broke the rules and made their mark on the world. The year will begin with a week-long opening event that is described as a documentary son-et-lumiere by the filmmaker Sean McAllister. Also called Made in Hull, it tells the story of the past 70 years through projections onto the citys key buildings. Bright lights, mid-size city: Hull City Hall ( Neil Holmes Photography) More mainstream events include the world premiere of Richard Beans The Hypocrite, a co-production between Hull Truck Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The city's Ferens Art Gallery is due to re-open after a 4.5m refurbishment, and will host the 2017 Turner Prize. Tony Hall, director-general of the BBC, said he wanted the Corporation to be unashamedly Hull-centric during the coming year. Rosie Millard, chair of the event's board of trustees, told The Independent: I think Hull is the most unknown city in the UK. It is an isolated place, which has been able to forge its own culture." Martin Green, director of Hull 2017, described Hull as: A historic city, a modern city, a thriving city that has a great cultural underground. The imposing Hull tidal barrier has helped reduce the risk of flooding to homes ( Thomas Arran) The place does have a different view of the world. When The Independent asked how the city planned to tempt visitors up from the south of the country, who could easily spend the same amount to visit a famously cultural European city such as Barcelona or Rome, Green pointed out that many people have already visited those places, and that "it is in human nature to discover the unknown". Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Hitchhiking in New Zealand is an easy sport, wrote Hamish Mykura a while back in The Independent. And hitchhiking in a kilt there is really no sport at all. Like going fishing with dynamite in an aquarium, its simply too easy. Regrettably, I have only ever worn trousers whenever hitching in New Zealand. But I must agree with Mr Mykura that the nation is singularly good territory for thumbing. The New Zealand Police warn visitors: Hitchhiking or accepting rides from people you dont know is not recommended. Yet it is difficult to think of a more benign nation in which to solicit a ride. On both the main islands, hitching brings out the best in Kiwi motorists. Granted, traffic is much thinner than in Europe, but a much higher proportion of drivers stop for hitchers than in most countries. So I was puzzled to read about a traveller named Cedric Rault-Verpre. He appeared in court this week after an alleged episode of hitch rage in a small settlement on the west coast of the South Island. The Frenchman is reported to have damaged road signs in a show of frustration after failing to get a lift in four days hitching south on State Highway 6 at Punakaiki. Rule of thumb: a Frenchman apparently cracked after four days of doing this without result (Shutterstock) I have experienced some mighty long waits particularly in France but waiting four days outside a village on a friendly island does not add up, even if one is wearing trousers rather than a kilt. Locals, in my experience, notice when a stranger is standing by the roadside for an extended length of time. By day two it seems inconceivable that a commuter or delivery driver would not stop out of curiosity as well as generosity. The same principle applies in all rural areas, from Punakaiki to Canada. One afternoon in northern Ontario, after I had been vainly hitchhiking outside a campsite for two hours, a camper who could bear to watch me failing miserably no longer went and got his car to drive me 20 miles down the road. In Nova Scotia, another Canadian province, I have endured some unaccountably long waits. Yet I cant imagine anyone would be left by the roadside in the hamlet of Central Economy for days on end. As in rural Canada, so in New Zealand: public transport ranges from poor to non-existent, and all the drivers know it. The wilds of Nova Scotia: where public transport is non-existent (Shutterstock) What makes New Zealand different is that the lift is often only the start of the service provided by the benefactor. A North Islander took me on a grand tour of the geological wonders of Rotorua, while a South Islander provided me with an hours city-sightseeing in Dunedin. And as I wrote in The Independent, also a while back, If you have nowhere to stay in New Zealand, you need only start hitching towards nightfall. Some generous soul will pick you up and offer you a ride and a room for the night. In the 21st century, hitchhiking is much safer than it used to be; the main risk, that of being involved in a road accident, has dwindled dramatically as highway safety has improved. Thumbing can also be friendlier these days. While most lifts still end with a courteous thank you, you can now follow it up with a note of thanks afterwards as I did in Devon this week, after thumbing a lift along the A30 with the artist Kerry Lloyd. And there is also the distant prospect that you may one day be able to trump the greatest hitchhiking story ever told. But for that, we must return to Hamish Mykura, the kilted hitchhiker. He is passing the time between cars by reading The Bone People, the Booker-prizewinning novel by New Zealander Keri Hulme. Eventually a Hillman Avenger stops. I got in, book on my lap, and we raced off. She had a big face, strong smile, something about the cheeks were slightly Maori. She nodded at the book. The Bone People? Yes, I said. Have you read it? Actually, she said, I wrote it. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An extended pause in a long-haul schedule offers the chance to breathe and provides an opportunity to add another dimension to a holiday in a faraway destination. It also gives travellers the chance to experience some of the worlds greatest locations in bite-sized form. Economically, too, booking a flight with a stopover is advantageous. It means that travellers get a bonus short break in a city they may not have been before. Travellers can earn bonus air miles, which can be accrued through flying a certain number of segments. Despite rapid aviation expansion and development, major airports on Singapore Airlines network are within easy striking distance of city centres. Most have sophisticated integrated transport links waiting to whizz travellers from the arrival hall into the thick of the action. Travellers flying on Singapore Airlines can enjoy all these advantages and more. In fact, the airlines Singapore hub is one of the best stopover options on the planet. Changi Airport the worlds most awarded - is ultra-efficient with minimal waiting times for baggage and excellent train and taxi connections to the centre of the city. Direct flights from London also mean that passengers are provided with an opportunity for a longer, unbroken period of sleep. By the time they reach Singapore, travellers will likely be well rested and ready to explore something new prior to their onward flight. (Getty Images ) (Getty Images) Singapore itself, meanwhile, deserves its billing as one of the most convenient destinations in Southeast Asia. With Singapore Airlines offering a range of discounted Singapore stopovers as well as other value adds for customers including free city tours, there has never been a better time to explore the country. A powerhouse in Southeast Asia, Singapore is vibrant and diverse and is charged with invigorating energy. It is regarded as one of the best shopping destinations in the region, while events such as the Singapore Biennale and the Singapore Arts Festival showcase the countrys cutting-edge cultural scene. Singapores reputation as a centre of culinary excellence, meanwhile, makes dining there as alluring as a perfectly cooked chilli crab the de facto national dish. Fantastic food can be enjoyed everywhere from humble hawker centres to dens of refinement that rank among the most sought-after restaurants in the world. Other possible stopover options on the Singapore Airlines network, meanwhile, include Tokyo, Japans high-energy capital. Bangkok and Hong Kong are also ideal for travellers with a few hours or a couple of days to spare. When you consider all these options, it makes sense to take a break. Singapore Airlines the worlds most awarded airline and its regional wing SilkAir, operate flights to 99 destinations in 34 countries. Fly to Bali from 495pp, Sydney from 660pp, Vientiane from 590pp, book before 30 September and you could win your flights for free - singaporeair.com Terms & conditions apply. More on Singapore: Top things to do in Singapore Singapore's top party hotspots Top 10 swimming pools in Singapore Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One of Boris Johnsons junior ministers, Sir Alan Duncan, said that the future Foreign Secretary backed Brexit only because he wanted to be Conservative leader. The day before the referendum, he said: Ive always thought that Boriss wish was to lose by one so that he could be the heir apparent without having to have all the you know, s-h-1-t of clearing up all the mess, thats always been my view of Boris. The footage will be broadcast tonight on BBC2, Brexit: A Very British Coup? Which is even more embarrassing for Sir Alan than having called his future boss Silvio Borisconi in the Commons after the referendum but before Theresa May became Prime Minister and appointed him a Minister of State at the Foreign Office. So now not only does Johnson have to clear up all the mess of Brexit, but Sir Alan has to explain to his line manager while they clear up the mess together that he has changed his mind and now realises that Johnson was a sincere Brexiteer all along. Actually, Sir Alans view was commonplace at the time. It is just that most of the people who said it about Johnson didnt end up working for him. I suspect it is wrong although in the end it is impossible to separate sincerity and self-interest in anyone, let alone in Boris Johnson. In any case, what cannot be doubted is that Johnson was pretty 50-50 about the case for leaving the EU until he made up his mind in February, and that is not a bad position for him. There has been a lot of talk recently about the centre ground of politics. George Osborne stood up for the liberal mainstream majority on the Today programme last week. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, praised Tony Blair in his speech to his party conference this week. Some people even think that Blair closed his profit-making businesses to prepare for a return to politics. And today David Miliband reminded everyone that he can still make the case for a relevant, persuasive, open-minded (that is, centrist) left in the New Statesman. I dont think either Blair or David Miliband is likely to return to British politics. Nor do I think that the Labour Party is going to split, which is some peoples idea of a short cut to the centre-left. Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Show all 8 1 /8 Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith clash at a leadership hustings in Gateshead, where Mr Smith was scarcely able to answer a question without being booed by Mr Corbyns supporters PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy himself admitted he was seven out of 10 in terms of his faith in the European Union. He said it, said Mr Smith during his second live debate with Jeremy Corbyn Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Ballot papers are currently due to be sent out on 22 August and returned a month later, with the result being announced at a special Labour conference on 24 September Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn supporters cheer and wave placards as the Labour Leader addresses thousands of supporters in in Liverpool, England Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour Party leadership candidate Owen Smith poses for a picture with supporters during a picnic for young members in London Fields, Hackney in London Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith The Labour leader has a spring in his step at a leadership rally in Sunderland Screenshot Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contender Owen Smith delivers a speech at the Open University in Milton Keynes, where he promised to reverse Conservative cuts set to leave millions of low paid workers thousands of pounds a year worse off PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has urged Owen Smith to distance himself from those saying they want to split the Labour party Getty The centre ground has been broken by Brexit. The EU divide runs right through it, and Blair found himself on the wrong side of the divide, on the 48 per cent side. A centrist would be on the 52 per cent side, reaching out to the Remainers. A centrist would accept the result of the referendum and try to make it work. Like Theresa May, a reluctant Remainer turned pragmatic Leaver. Or like Boris Johnson, a secret reluctant Remainer or an only-just Leaver who understands the benefits of immigration and the dangers of Brexit to the City of London. But unlike Blair, who was one of the first to try to keep open the option of a second referendum. And unlike David Miliband, who wants to set clear tests for the government's negotiations with the European Union, to show how a progressive approach to engagement with the EU helps manage globalisation, which implies trying to obstruct Brexit. Johnson and May are the centre ground now. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} There seems no end to the misery of those who find themselves in the squalor of the Jungle camp at Calais. All their depredations are dehumanising; all threaten the physical and mental health of those trying to survive with little shelter, irregular meals and poor sanitation; and all are a standing indictment of the failure of the British and French governments to do anything about the conditions there. The only UK-French initiative is a useless wall around the port and a pledge to clear the area, which hardly amounts to a plan to resettle people with dignity. When the police and the bulldozers move in, they will lead to even more suffering. Now we discover that some of those apparently selfless volunteers delivering much-needed aid have been accused of abusing their position of power to take sexual advantage of refugees including children. It is difficult to understand how such exploitation has been able to happen, yet evidence seems clear enough and the lawless nature of what amounts to a shanty town almost invites it. Perhaps we should not be so surprised. While the precise scale of the abuse is unclear indeed, it could not be otherwise, given the circumstances any such abuse of power by aid volunteers to refugees is obviously deplorable. Some may also be criminal offences and should be dealt with as such. If so, that would represent a rare incursion of justice into this chaotic environment. The allegations should be taken seriously by the French authorities and an investigation ought to be conducted into exactly what has been happening in the Jungle, both in individual cases and more broadly, irrespective of the immigration or national status of the victims. The British police have to be involved in that too, as British as well as French law has most likely been broken. So much for the legalities. The moral case for action, meanwhile, is as forceful as it could possibly be. The delivery of physical aid by lorry, van and car, though well-meaning, is rarely the best way to administer help. Far more effective in most circumstances is a donation of money to those agencies working on the ground to help those in most need in camps like this. Those professionals know exactly what is needed and have the experience and means to distribute it on as orderly a basis as is possible. The problem one of a very many with the Jungle is that there are no aid agencies working on the ground in this fashion, which leaves the space for individual volunteers to meet the need. No doubt many are deeply concerned and decent people guided by the best of motives and conducting themselves in a responsible way. But, as we hear today, not all. The best answer to conditions in the Jungle has always been apparent: settle those with a genuine claim to asylum among the rich nations, on an agreed, rational basis. In practice, this means settlement across the European Union, where cooperation on this has been tragically lacking. The upshot of that situation is that Germany took on an unfair share of the load, and Chancellor Angela Merkel has been punished for it at the polls, undermining future policy in that country. It remains to be seen whether this weeks UN summit on refugees, on which some hope was placed, will live up to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons billing of it as a breakthrough in our collective efforts to address the challenges of human mobility. The signs are that it wont, and certainly not so far as the British Government will be driving such an effort. The least we could do is to rescue swiftly those with a right to be in Britain, especially the unaccompanied children, and stop the sexual abuses committed by British citizens. It seems we cannot even manage that. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} At last the result of the leadership election will finish this period of Labours squabbling. Then a new period of squabbling can begin, three minutes after the result is announced, when a group of 45 MPs issue a statement saying: During the last three minutes, it has become increasingly clear that Jeremy Corbyn has lost the support of the party and must step down immediately. We were more than willing to give him a chance, and indeed for the first 40 seconds some of us even nodded when he said something. But over the last minute our poll ratings have failed to improve so we have no choice but to challenge him to another leadership election, and demand hes put in prison. They will also propose a rule change. Instead of the outdated method of choosing a leader by allowing members a vote, the challenger will fight the incumbent at Kung Fu; they have decided to stand Shi Yan Zi, the Shaolin monk and Kung Fu master, as he would be attractive to floating voters in Staffordshire and has some progressive ideas on housing. Or, instead, the leader should be decided by measuring which candidates supporters can wee the furthest although the National Executive Committee will ban 350,000 jets of wee as they didnt flow in accordance with the aims and values of the Labour Party. Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Show all 8 1 /8 Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith clash at a leadership hustings in Gateshead, where Mr Smith was scarcely able to answer a question without being booed by Mr Corbyns supporters PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy himself admitted he was seven out of 10 in terms of his faith in the European Union. He said it, said Mr Smith during his second live debate with Jeremy Corbyn Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Ballot papers are currently due to be sent out on 22 August and returned a month later, with the result being announced at a special Labour conference on 24 September Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn supporters cheer and wave placards as the Labour Leader addresses thousands of supporters in in Liverpool, England Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour Party leadership candidate Owen Smith poses for a picture with supporters during a picnic for young members in London Fields, Hackney in London Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith The Labour leader has a spring in his step at a leadership rally in Sunderland Screenshot Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contender Owen Smith delivers a speech at the Open University in Milton Keynes, where he promised to reverse Conservative cuts set to leave millions of low paid workers thousands of pounds a year worse off PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has urged Owen Smith to distance himself from those saying they want to split the Labour party Getty One method the MPs are already employing before the result is even announced is stating that, if Corbyn wins, they will ask if they can fill the Shadow Cabinet with people who have just spent the last three months calling him a miserable unelectable stinking idiot. This seems only fair after theyve gone on every single TV and radio show in the country saying Jeremy may be a nice man, but hes an international terrorist jihadist radical feminist, and I just dont feel thats the outlook we need if were to win back Nuneaton. They challenged him so, if theyve lost, it makes sense that as a compromise they get to run the party anyway. Or they could suggest Corbyn is allowed to stay on as leader, but the MPs who resigned get to choose the partys policies a handy way of spreading out the workload. He can then concentrate on other roles such as popping to the Post Office. One problem that must be addressed, whatever the result, is the number of people who keep infiltrating the party by joining it. There is overwhelming evidence that among those who have joined over the last year, are people who have their own views, and that simply cant be tolerated. Jeremy Corbyn visits boxing club for homeless Last week there were reports of a new member in Coventry, who suggested holding a fund-raising jumble in a couple of weeks, and this attempt to influence policy must be stopped if Labour is to present a modern face. Fortunately, on this occasion, the new member was banned from voting and had their membership card burned in front of their face in a satanic ritual but the checks must be more thorough in future. As the recent TV expose proved, outside organisations such as the Revolutionary Crusade for Workers Merciless Annihilation of Posh Twats, with a national membership of one, planned to join the party, which explains why Labour now has 600,000 members. Hopefully it will be agreed that to prevent this sort of trickery, from now on, no one will be allowed to join unless they were already a member before they asked to join. One welcome trend that should continue if Corbyn remains leader is the end to the daft practice of politicians talking up their results after every election. Its infuriating when MPs claim after a poor result that its all going well and theyre on course to win the election and so on. Under Corbyn, however, Labour has corrected this. Now the MPs complain that every result is a disaster. Even if a reporter says you did quite well overall, 70 MPs will rush into the BBC to say no we didnt, its catastrophic, a 4 per cent swing towards Labour in Solihull is far worse than a 1 per cent swing as it summons up the devil so Corbyn must be sacrificed on a mountain immediately or we have no chance of winning back Portsmouth Council in 2018. Recommended Read more Labour MPs should be banned from voting for supporting Tory policies Eventually everyone will come to their senses, and someone like David Miliband will take over in the tradition of Tony Blair, who proved he can win elections. Because one iron rule of history is if a set of ideas won an election in the past, theyre sure to win for evermore no matter how things turned out. Whatever else Blair may be remembered for, he understood how to get power, and thats the main thing. Because Corbyns opponents insist principles without power means nothing. And the same went for Blairs friends such as Assad and Gaddafi and the dictators who still pay him for his advice. Its no good looking up to people in places such as Libya and Uzbekistan who have principles, such as not torturing opponents, and not living in a palace where servants carry you on gold-plated elephants, as these principles dont get you power, so bollocks to them. In any case, Blair has announced from now on hell only spend 20 per cent of his time earning money, and 80 per cent on his charities. And to cut the time you spend earning millions by advising tyrants down to 20 per cent, shows just how deep his Christian ethics are. So Labour must choose another candidate to take on Corbyn immediately then another one, and another one, until theyre saying what about that bloke Tom Watson met at Glastonbury? and Ed Balls did Strictly Come Dancing so maybe he could ask Claudia Winkleman? until they finally get one who can win. Transcription 1 THE ROLE OF ENERGY IN TURKEY S RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND IRAN Authored by Tuncay Babali Director of Human Resources, Minister Plenipotentiary, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paper Prepared for an International Workshop The Turkey, Russia, Iran Nexus: Economic and Energy Dimensions Hosted by: The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey Ankara, March 29, 2012 This paper was commissioned as part of a CSIS research project called The Turkey, Russia, Iran Nexus: Regional Perspectives. This project, which CSIS is pursuing in cooperation with the Economic Policy Research Institute of Turkey (TEPAV) and Institute of Oriental Studies (IVRAN) Moscow, is exploring evolving relations between these three pivotal countries and their implications for regional developments in the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Eastern Mediterranean, and for their relations with the United States and other countries. It seeks to promote dialogue and a deeper understanding of these relations among experts and officials in all four countries. CSIS will develop a comprehensive assessment of the forces driving these relations and their long-term implications, and offer various policy recommendations. For more information on the project, please visit our website at 2 I. Turkey s Global Energy Strategy This paper briefly outlines Turkey s overall energy strategy to set the context for an assessment of how Russia and Iran figure in that strategy, particularly with respect to Turkey s ambition to become a vital east-west and north-south energy bridge. Energy is one of the tools of Turkey s re-emergence as a regional geopolitical player. Turkey s main goal in formulating its energy strategy is first and foremost to strengthen its energy security. To this end, its energy strategy can be summarized under three main principles: 1) To decrease Turkey s heavy reliance on imported energy resources by increasing the use of domestic energy resources (coal, hydrocarbon and renewables, including hydropower) and by liberalizing its energy market. This also includes raising energy efficiency within Turkey. 2) In terms of imported resources, to ensure diversification of both sources and suppliers, as well as transportation routes to become a more effective key transit country and energy hub between the energy-producing countries to its east and the energy-consuming countries to its west. 3) To introduce and gradually increase the share of nuclear energy in its energy mix. The limits of Turkey s domestic energy resources in the face of its growing energy demand have resulted in a dependency on energy imports, primarily of oil and gas. Currently, around 26 percent of the total energy demand is met by domestic resources, while the rest is supplied from a diversified portfolio of imports. Turkey imports around 91 percent and 98 percent respectively of the oil and natural gas it consumes. Consequently, the primary objective of Turkey s energy strategy is to ensure its own energy security while contributing to that of Europe. As a result, Turkey s energy picture is as follows: Dependency on foreign resources: 74 percent Turkey s annual demand increase: 4-5 percent (EU s annual demand increase: 1.6 percent). Over the last decade, Turkey has been second only to China in terms of natural gas and electricity demand increases. Turkey s principal energy demand is expected to increase by 4 percent annually until More than $100 billion investment required in the next 15 years (Annually $6-8 billion). Within this context, both the Russian Federation (RF) and Iran are important partners for Turkey in the energy field (see the tables below). Energy issues play a prominent role in Turkey s relations with both of these countries, with whom Turkey sees cooperation as complementary to its goal of becoming a natural energy bridge between East and West, North and South. 2 3 CRUDE OIL IMPORTS 2009/ (M tons) Percentage 2011* (tons) Percentage Russia ,116, Iran ,287, Iraq ,071, S. Arabia ,965, Italy 116,405 1 Kazakhstan 1,185,556 7 Azerbaijan 80,719 0 Syria 254,655 1 other 0.8 TOTAL 14,000,000 18,077, *In 2011, tons crude oil imported tons was domestic production. Total refined amount was tons. NATURAL GAS IMPORTS : 2010/2011 (BOTAS numbers) 2010 Percentage (billion cubic meters) 2011 Percentage (billion cubic meters) Russia 45.5 (14.5) Russia 55.3(21.8) Iran 25.5 (7.7) Iran 21(8.3) Azerbaijan 14.5 (4.5 ) Algeria 10.7 (4.2) Algeria 12 (3.9) Azerbaijan 9.9 (3.9 ) Nigeria 3.5 (1.1) Nigeria 3.1 (1.2) TOTAL: 32.4 bcm 39.5 bcm 3 4 II. Russia and Iran in Turkey s Global Energy Strategy Energy Relations with Russia In 2011, the RF was Turkey s second largest trading partner ($30 billion; $6 billion exports, $24 billion imports) and the principle item in bilateral trade was energy (70 percent of imports; $21 billion). Naturally, cooperation and trade in the energy field with the RF constitutes one of the main factors of Turkey s multidimensional bilateral relations. As economic cooperation is one of the factors that drive political relations, the close cooperation Turkey has established with the RF is not only reflected in the trade numbers, but has also contributed to the further deepening of relations in the political sphere by creating a mutual economic interdependence (more on energy supply dependency to Turkey). Russian Natural Gas Diplomacy Toward Turkey: Linkages Between Energy and Non-energy Issues Both Turkey and the RF attach importance to the principle of mutual benefit in energy relations any project or area of cooperation must serve the interests of both countries. Natural gas is only one aspect of their comprehensive relations. During the Russian and Ukrainian gas crisis of 2008 and 2009, as well as when Iran cut gas supplies to Turkey in 2007 and 2008 winters, Russia was extremely graceful and careful in supplying extra gas to the Turkish market to remedy the possible negative impacts of shortages. This example and similar practices later on display Russia s loyalty to its commitment as a reliable supplier. The mutual benefit or win-win principle, often referred to by Prime Minister Erdogan, aims to establish a balanced interdependence between the two countries, which makes it possible for Turkey and the RF to cooperate on such large projects as the Blue Stream pipeline and more recently the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project. However, some energy experts in Turkey are very nervous and warn the government not to adopt a one-sided approach to energy relations with the RF. Another issue in which Turkey seeks extensive cooperation is the prevention of any tanker accidents in the Turkish Straits. The large volume of tanker traffic in the Turkish Straits constitutes a serious and imminent threat to human life, the vast cultural heritage of Istanbul, and the marine environment of the Straits. An accident would also disrupt oil transportation through the Straits. Accidents can only be prevented if the Straits cease to be used as a tanker highway. Therefore, by-passing the Straits in oil transportation, be it through the realization of the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline or another project, is of utmost strategic and economic importance for Turkey. Turkey regularly raises its concerns in the ongoing, but still inconclusive, talks with the RF on Samsun-Ceyhan. The Russian side approached the Samsun-Ceyhan project as an opportunity to bring a basket deal to bilateral energy negotiations which included demarcation of the South Stream route through Turkey s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the nuclear power plant deal, and gas distribution rights in Turkey. When Turkey secured a deal with Azerbaijan on the Shah Deniz II gas field and the standalone Trans- Anatolia Pipeline (TANAP), which would jointly be built from the eastern border of Turkey to the western most part of Turkey to carry gas to supply Nabucco and/or TAP, Turkey unilaterally gave Russia the much awaited permission to use its EEZ for feasibility studies of South Stream. At that point, the basket deal was moot. Turkey s concession on demarcation did not prevent the Russian side from reacting harshly to Turkey s decision to host NATO radar installations in its eastern city of Malatya. Russia sought 4 5 to retaliate by creating a linkage between its support for allied collective self-defense efforts and the energy sector, announcing that it would suspend talks on the Samsun-Ceyhan project. Energy Flows from the Black Sea and Caspian Basin Regions: Convergence or Divergence? For almost a decade now, Turkey has not considered its interests diverging from those of the RF in the field of energy. Quite to the contrary, in the face of lost interest, strategy coordination, and political will on the side of the U.S. and the EU, the RF is one of Turkey s main partners in this field and Turkey attaches great importance to maintaining a dialogue and working with Russian partners to further their mutual interests and gain more ground in the Black Sea and Caspian basin regions. Since the beginning of official discussions, Turkey stated that it does not regard South Stream to be a rival project to the Southern Gas Corridor. Each Southern Gas Corridor project, be it TANAP, Nabucco, ITGI, or TAP, is well underway to transport natural gas originating from or transiting Azerbaijan through Turkish territory. In accordance with its understanding of the complementary nature of bilateral relations, Turkey has responded favorably to the Russian demand for the construction permit of the South Stream project in its EEZ in the Black Sea, on the condition that the environmental rules and regulations in Turkey are followed by the companies involved. Prospects for Development of Nabucco and the Southern Corridor Realization of the Southern Gas Corridor and the transportation of Azeri and Turkmen gas to Europe through the Southern Corridor has long been one of the main priorities of Turkey s energy policy. Turkey is working with Azeri and Turkmen partners as well as the EU to reach the optimum way in which this objective can be realized. Although Turkey, in principle, supports all Southern Gas Corridor projects passing through its territory Nabucco, ITGI, TAP and TANAP it is the Shah Deniz Consortium that ultimately decides which route will be used to transport natural gas to Europe. After the deal with Azerbaijan on the Shah Deniz II gas field and TANAP standalone pipeline, Nabucco is likely to start cost-effectively from the western end of it and in slices with bilateral cooperation projects en-route. The Turkish government does not give credit to arguments or any efforts by the RF or Russian companies to prevent these projects. There are deep relations, however, between Russian interlocutors and some construction and energy companies some with media connections in Turkey and from time to time they become vocal in favor of further cooperation between the two countries. However, this is only natural, given that economics always came before politics as a driver for the further strengthening of bilateral relations. Most Turkish energy experts also believe that their Russian counterparts accept that the Southern Gas Corridor will be realized and will not undermine vital Russian regional interests. Russian officials and business leaders are trying to make use these projects for their advantage. Both countries appear to have come to the conclusion that the various Southern Corridor projects complement other energy projects promoted by Russia. 5 6 Challenges in Expanding Turkey s Gas Transit Options Turkey is a natural geographic bridge between Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Turkmenistan and Europe. Turkey is also renowned as a reliable partner in the transportation of energy resources in the international arena. The successful completion of projects such as the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline, and Turkey-Greece(-Italy) Gas Interconnector projects attest to Turkey s reputation as a responsible and dependable partner. As a result, it is natural that Turkey is still regarded as the most feasible and viable route both politically and economically, in transporting natural gas from not only Azerbaijan, but also Iran, Iraq and Turkmenistan. There are many factors that will have to be taken into consideration when projects are drawn up to transport gas from these countries to Europe. All of these countries and their energy sectors have their own unique and specific conditions. These conditions, as well as the international geo-political situation, including developments in of Iran, Iraq, and now Syria, have to be taken into account. Clearly, the greatest challenge is geopolitical, not economic. The Iranian nuclear issue, the future of Iraq and relations with the Kurdish Regional Government, the future of the Syrian regime, relations with Armenia, and Nagorno-Karabakh, will all be fundamentally important issues. Cooperation on Nuclear Power Turkey envisions reducing its dependency on imported fossil fuels, especially natural gas, through the sequential commissioning of nuclear power into the Turkish electricity grid. In this respect, Turkey intends to construct around 10,000 MW of nuclear capacity by With that vision, and the uniquely favourable conditions provided by Russia, Turkey signed an intergovernmental agreement with the RF stipulating the construction and operation of a nuclear power plant at the Akkuyu site. This agreement projects a nuclear power plant composed of 4 reactors, each with 1200 MW installed capacity. Construction is expected and likely to start in However, after the Fukushima incident, Turkish public opinion has heightened concerns on nuclear safety issues. Additional measures will be taken in the design and construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant to meet the most rigorous international safety standards, which in return may result in the postponement of the actual construction phase. It is not yet clear whether Akkuyu will be the first project in a deepening cooperation with Russia on development of Turkey s nuclear power sector. However, the terms of the deal, which include educating Turkey s first nuclear scientists for the operation of the plant in Russia, and the possible success of the devised model may trigger further cooperation between the two countries. Energy Relations with Iran: Shaped by Political or Market Forces? Turkey s total demand for natural gas more than doubled from 18 bcm in 2002 to 39.5 bcm in So too did its electricity and oil demand. In the face of such requirements, energy constitutes one of the most important dimensions of Turkey s bilateral economic and trade relations with Iran. Turkey s cooperation with Iran should be seen from the perspective of Turkey s need to diversify its energy sources. Being the largest source country for oil imports (51 percent in 2011) and second largest source of gas imports makes Iran an indispensable partner in energy for Turkey The prospect of expanded energy trade is a major mutual incentive in efforts to advance cooperative political ties with Iran. However, this element of relations is far from living up to its potential for a variety 6 7 of economic and technical reasons. Developments in Syria and Iraq will also be decisive in the fate of this cooperation. Growing tensions with Iran over Syria and Iraq and political change in the region seem to have diminished interest in the energy trade with Iran. Between Failed Commitments and Bright Prospects In comparison to Russia, Iran has been considered less a reliable partner for Turkey. While Iran is Turkey s largest oil supplier and second largest gas supplier after Russia, Ankara s energy and business dealings with Tehran have never been easy. Iran often demands comparatively higher prices while gas quality and quantity often fall below the agreed terms. After more than a decade of operation of the Turkey-Iran gas pipeline, Iran still cannot supply Turkey s contracted 10 bcm of natural gas a year (only in the last two years has Iran increased its supply to the Turkish market; 6.16 bcm in 2007, 5.8 bcm in 2008, 7.7 bcm in 2010, 8.3 bcm in 2011). In both January 2007 and January 2008, Tehran slashed gas exports to Turkey because of high Iranian domestic demand. In addition, there have been problems with the quality of the Iranian gas. Following a recent row on take or pay contractual obligations regarding price and amount between the two countries, Turkey took the issue to international arbitration. Despite these past problems and lingering concerns, Turkey needs Iranian gas to meet its domestic demand. Ankara and Tehran have also come to loggerheads over Iran s failure to respect commercial contracts in the past. In May 2004, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forced the expulsion of the Turkish construction consortium TAV from Tehran s airport, despite a 15-year service contract. The same year, the Iranian government also cancelled Turkcell s successful bid to enter the Iranian cell phone market. Last but not least, there are political and financial impediments to Turkey s large-scale investments into Iran, given Iran s current tensions with the international community over its nuclear activities. Indeed, Iran could become a conflict zone if diplomacy and sanctions fail in the near future. Still, since 2007, there has been a renewed drive for an energy partnership with Iran. In July 2007, both countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in which the two sides agreed to build an ambitious 2,200 miles of gas pipelines (one from the South Pars field, the other from Turkmenistan to Turkey, forming a land connection from Turkmenistan s eastern and richest gas fields). These are costly, decades-long endeavors, which require a long-term engagement. Financing all these projects is going to be a major challenge. If completed, these projects could transport up to 40 bcm of gas annually to Europe via Turkey. Iran and Turkey have also agreed to increase cooperation in electricity generation. In this context, they plan to construct natural gas power stations in Eastern Anatolia, where power shortages take a heavy toll on the local economy, especially during the long winter months. The latter investment is supposed to be spearheaded by the two countries private sectors in order to avoid any possible sanctions on Iran. Despite these prospects, Turkey s talks with Iran, particularly regarding development in the South Pars gas field, have been far from conclusive. For example, according to a November 17, 2008 MoU (a continuation of the first MoU of July 14, 2007), the Iranian side agreed to give the development rights of the 22 nd, 23 rd, and 24 th phases of the South Pars field in the Persian Gulf to the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) under a service contract. But four years later, the details of this agreement are still being worked out by the relevant institutions. The Working Group that was established for this purpose has convened on several occasions; however, no agreement has been reached regarding the details included in the MoUs. Since Turkey s energy policy aims, among other things, to contribute to Europe s energy supply security, Ankara believes that these efforts will provide an impetus to the later phases of Nabucco and other East- West energy pipeline projects, albeit in the longer term due to current political constraints. Despite current frustrations, Iranian gas is certainly one of the options that might feed these alternative supply 7 8 sources. Recent progress on Azeri gas supplies will not by itself be sufficient to supply the later stages of the so-called Fourth Corridor. Shah Deniz gas, along with Iraqi gas and trans-caspian connections, will continue to be vital, and Turkey s interest in acquiring Iranian gas is by no means seen as an alternative to the above sources. On the contrary, Turkey s hope is that possible progress in its Iranian negotiations will help to accelerate development of these other important supply sources. Nuclear energy might emerge as an area of cooperation between Turkey and Iran if and when Iran gets its IAEA approved civilian-only nuclear program. The same Russian company (Rosatom, the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation) that provides fuel to Iran is also slated to construct Turkey s first nuclear power station in Akkuyu. Turkey stands with the United States, the European Union, and the UN in support of diplomatic efforts to stop the Iranian government from developing nuclear weapons capabilities. It seems clear that Turkey will be a continuing interlocutor in nuclear negotiations with Iran in the near future. Energy development projects can take years to put into operation; hence, engagement with Iran today is important for Turkey and other nations in order to secure their long-term energy needs. None of the countries dealing with Iran on energy matters can afford to wait until the Iranian sanctions have run their course. Turkey hopes and believes that one day the international political situation with regard to Iran will change. When that happens, Turkey wants its companies operating in the energy sector to be prepared to accelerate their activities in Iran. Effect of Oil-related Sanctions on Turkey Iran Energy Trade Turkey believes that every country has the right, under the provisions of international law, to benefit from the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In addition, without a dialogue, there will be no chance to convince Iran to cooperate with the international community, especially with the P5+1, based on the international commitments required by the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, Turkey would oppose the existence of nuclear weapons in its region. Ankara believes that the dilemma surrounding Iran s nuclear program should be solved through dialogue and negotiations. Accordingly, as a responsible member of the international community, Turkey has from the beginning actively contributed to the solution of this issue. It has also acted in compliance with legally-binding UN Security Council resolutions on sanctions. On bilateral energy relations, given Turkey s own demand dilemma, the picture is more complicated. Last year Turkey imported 51 percent of its oil from Iran. This is up from 26 percent in 2010, a huge increase. The financial sector and the oil exports of Iran are specifically targeted in the recent sanctions against Iran. The country s energy bureaucracy is anxious, as it will be a major and costly challenge to find alternative supply sources for such a sizable volume of oil. The Kurdish Regional Government and/or Iraq are often mentioned as alternative sources, but neither is immune to political complications and both suffer from infrastructural hurdles. Energy Minister Yildiz announced in late March 2012 that Turkey would reduce imports from Iran by 20 percent in the interest of diversification of supply, and that BOTAS plans to purchase oil from Libya and Saudi Arabia on the spot market, but this may not completely offset the reduction in Iranian imports. Therefore, Turkey needs exemptions, such as those that Japan has secured, if not for the total amount of oil imports from Iran, certainly for sizeable amounts. To make the picture more complicated, TUPRAS, a privately held refinery, has a contractual obligation to purchase Iranian oil until September of It is not possible for the Turkish government to oblige a private company to terminate such a contract, especially in the absence of an internationally-accepted UN 8 9 resolution. Such an act would raise the question of who would bear the legal and contractual consequences of such a termination. Therefore it will be up to TUPRAS to decide whether to proceed, regarding its current contract with Iran. Turkey has similar concerns regarding possible future sanctions on Iranian natural gas exports. Turkey believes that the new wave of sanctions will not directly target Iranian gas exports because Turkey is under long-term contractual obligation to purchase a certain amount of gas from Iran on a yearly basis. The purchase and sale contract between the two countries includes strict take or pay provisions. Aborting natural gas purchases on Turkey s part would not free it from payment obligation. Again, it does not seem possible for Turkey to disregard its contractual obligations in the absence of an internationallybinding UN resolution. International developments and Iran s response to them will determine Iran s role in this equation; Iran could eventually play an important supplier role if its politics somehow shifted. Caspian Sea Demarcation and Development of Central Asian Energy Resources It is known that a common understanding has been reached on demarcation of the northern portion of the Caspian Sea between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. Turkey hopes to see that common ground can also be found in the southern portion by Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. Turkey believes that the status of the Caspian Sea needs to be finalized only by the states bordering the Caspian Sea, namely Azerbaijan, the RF, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Turkey can substantially and most efficiently contribute to the global energy supply security by strengthening its role as a transit country and an energy hub in the region through multilateral projects. Connection of the Turkmen and Azeri gas networks and offshore oil/gas fields in the Caspian Sea would support this goal. Provided that the Turkmen and Azeris agree on the delimitation of their sectors in the Caspian, third parties have no right to intervene, since both sectors are adjacent to each other. The Trans-Caspian Natural Gas Project, through which Turkmen and/or Kazakh natural gas will reach Europe via Azerbaijan and Turkey, is also an urgent matter as it will contribute to the diversification of routes and supply sources of Europe. Turkey places utmost importance on the realization of this project, without which the East-West Energy Corridor will not be complete. From an energy security perspective, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan should not become dependent on one country and one route for exporting their natural gas. They do not favor, so far, substantial energy relations with Iran. As a result, it is high time that they consider taking new initiatives. III. Conclusion The Turkish foreign policy elite considers engaging its immediate neighbors as complementary, rather than contradictory, to Turkey s more traditional Western strategic alignments. Russia and Iran are cases in point. There is no doubt that Turkish-Iranian, and to a lesser extent Turkish-Russian, energy cooperation has angered previous U.S. administrations because they undercut American efforts to check resurgent Russian energy policy in Eurasia, and more importantly, to isolate the Islamic Republic over its defiance of previous UN Security Council sanctions aiming to suspend its uranium enrichment program. Nonetheless, Prime Minister Erdogan has repeatedly stressed that Turkey s cooperation with Russia and Iran is intended only to diversify Turkish energy supplies. It would be out of the question to stop imports from 9 10 either country [Russia or Iran], Erdogan said following the Russo-Georgian war of 2008, especially as Turkey s energy needs grow by almost 5 percent per year. This statement alone concisely summarizes Turkey s energy relations with those two countries. 10 Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} As the FBI continues its investigation into New York and New Jersey bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami, and a picture has begun to emerge about his background, his travels, his past and his eventual radicalisation some of the details are worrying. While there has been much attention placed on Rahamis trips to Afghanistan and Pakistan and his encounters with local law enforcement officials in a New Jersey restaurant, one detail the investigators have uncovered points to the extent of the global jihadi phenomenon. Investigators discovered that Rahami was inspired by the ideas of none other than Anwar al-Awlaki, a US-born leading propagandist and recruiter for al-Qaeda who was killed in a US drone strike in September 2011. Awlakis links to numerous terrorist plots are well documented and his influence on potential jihadis from beyond the grave has also been noted. Rahami wrote in a journal he was carrying at the time of his arrest that he was looking for guidance and answers, and ended up becoming acquainted with Awlakis ideas. His admission of searching for guidance demonstrates that it was Rahami who was seeking ideas, and that the attempt to address the gap in his knowledge was subsequently filled by extremism. Every one of us searches for answers throughout our lives. However, in the 21st century, Muslims are increasingly asking questions about Islam online rather than at the mosque or through other religious institutions. The starting point for almost all enquiries about matters of faith is the internet search engine. In pictures: New York bomb explosion Show all 25 1 /25 In pictures: New York bomb explosion In pictures: New York bomb explosion A police robot accidentally detonated one of five explosive devices left outside a train station in New Jersey. Officials said the bomb squad robot cut a wire on the mechanism in a bid to defuse it - but instead set off an explosion. The device had been left in a backpack and placed in a bin outside the train station in Elizabeth Universal News And Sport (Europe In pictures: New York bomb explosion A member of the New York City Police Department stands guard in Herald Square Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (3-R) and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (2-R) tour the site of an explosion that occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tour the site of an explosion that occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York on September 18, 2016. The bomb that exploded in New York AFP/Getty In pictures: New York bomb explosion A genral view down the street near the site of an explosion that occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York AFP/Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (L) and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo hug after touring the site of the bomb blast on 23rd St. in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion A mangled dumpster sits on the sidewalk at the site of an explosion that occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion An explosion in a construction dumpster that injured 29 people is being labeled an "intentional act". A second device, a pressure cooker, was found four blocks away that an early investigation found was likely also a bomb Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (2-R) and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (3-R) stand in front of a mangled dumpster while touring the site of an explosion that occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion A member of the New York City Police Department K-9 Unit patrols on a subway train between Grand Central Terminal and Times Square Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion FBI agents review the crime scene of remnants of bomb debris on 23rd St. in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion Members of the NYPD, FBI, ATF and other agencies investigate the the scene, following a late night explosion on West 23rd Street in New York AFP/Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials mark the ground near the site of an explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood REUTERS In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, right, walks from the scene of an explosion on West 23rd street in Manhattan AP In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers stand near the site of an explosion REUTERS In pictures: New York bomb explosion Evidence markers on the street surround police and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials near the site REUTERS In pictures: New York bomb explosion A fire truck is seen near a blocked off road near the site of an alleged bomb explosion on West 23rd Street AFP/Getty Images In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York City firefighters stand near the site of the explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood REUTERS In pictures: New York bomb explosion A New York City Police emergency services officer and his dog check a bin close to the scene EPA In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York City Police and Fire Department at the scene of the explosion EPA In pictures: New York bomb explosion A New York City firefighter uses a wheeled stretcher to carry supplies near the site of the explosion REUTERS In pictures: New York bomb explosion A New York City Police emergency service heavy weapons officer guards close to the scene of the explosion on 23rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenue EPA In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, center, and NYPD Chief of Department James O'Neill, center right, speak during a press conference near the scene AP In pictures: New York bomb explosion New York City Police Emergency Services units are deployed on 27th Street and 7th Avenue where police found a second explosive device EPA In pictures: New York bomb explosion Police investigators look through the debris on the street in front of St. Vincent de Paul church where the explosion occurred EPA Five years since Awlaki was killed, the ideology he espoused continues to proliferate online. Supposedly mainstream Islamic websites sites purporting to present genuine Islamic content are in fact hosting lectures, videos and publications from leading jihadi ideologues. This terrifying content is hiding in plain sight on websites that may, at first glance, seem to be quite ordinary, providing free access to the Quran or Hadith. Our research found there are almost 20,000 web searches each month for Anwar al-Awlaki a demonstration of his continued influence. Moreover, the explicitly jihadi English-language publications produced by al-Qaeda, in which Awlaki featured regularly, are also accessible via a simple search. Anyone with an internet connection can stumble across it. Rahamis actions just as with Omar Mateen in Orlando, and Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik in San Bernardino are a violent manifestation of a set of hate-filled ideas presented under the guise of religion. The violence is the unfortunate symptom of a much deeper challenge, the Salafi-jihadi ideology. Attacks in France, the US, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Somalia, carried out by Isis, al-Qaeda or others of their ilk, are bound together by a vision of the world that only recognises believers and unbelievers; one that sees the world divided into right and wrong, black and white, and in which a select few must wage war against the very nations in which they have been born, raised and educated. Jihadi violence, while sporadic, is not whimsical. An individual must accept the ideas, values, and objectives of this violent, barbaric interpretation of jihad before committing acts of violence. In this sense, stopping the spread of these ideas must be the focus of our efforts to dismantle Islamist terrorism. Recent attacks in the West have shown how, once that worldview is accepted, anything and everything can be weaponised. Rahami is reported to have bought supplies for his bombs from eBay, while Omar Mateen purchased his gun over the counter legally in the US. Elsewhere, in Germany and France, we saw the use of knives and a truck. New York bombing suspect Rahami loaded into ambulance after taken into custody Discussions on countering terrorism online are often overcomplicated with discussions about the dark web and the sophistication of the bad guys. The truth is that they are not sophisticated. They are, however, highly determined. Considerable efforts have been taken to remove extremist content from the web, however focusing on the danger of the dark web and social media isnt enough. We have to understand the religious and civic concepts that extremists manipulate to propagate their own ideas. Banning and taking content down will only take us so far. Only by understanding the appeal and reach of these ideas will we be able to successfully defeat them. The onus of this task rests not only on the shoulders of technology companies but governments and civil society. All must show a greater determination and conviction in this global battle of ideas. Mubaraz Ahmed is an analyst for the Centre on Religion and Geopolitics at the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. Follow him on Twitter: @MubarazAhmed Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Saudis step deeper into trouble almost by the week. Swamped in their ridiculous war in Yemen, they are now reeling from an extraordinary statement issued by around two hundred Sunni Muslim clerics who effectively referred to the Wahhabi belief practiced in Saudi Arabia as a dangerous deformation of Sunni Islam. The prelates included Egypts Grand Imam, Ahmed el-Tayeb of al-Azhar, the most important centre of theological study in the Islamic world, who only a year ago attacked corrupt interpretations of religious texts and who has now signed up to a return to the schools of great knowledge outside Saudi Arabia. This remarkable meeting took place in Grozny and was unaccountably ignored by almost every media in the world except for the former senior associate at St Antonys College, Sharmine Narwani, and Le Mondes Benjamin Barthe but it may prove to be even more dramatic than the terror of Syrias civil war. For the statement, obviously approved by Vladimir Putin, is as close as Sunni clerics have got to excommunicating the Saudis. Although they did not mention the Kingdom by name, the declaration was a stunning affront to a country which spends millions of dollars every year on thousands of Wahhabi mosques, schools and clerics around the world. Wahhabisms most dangerous deviation, in the eyes of the Sunnis who met in Chechenya, is that it sanctions violence against non-believers, including Muslims who reject Wahhabi interpretation. Isis, al-Qaeda and the Taliban are the principal foreign adherents to this creed outside Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Recommended Read more Saudi Arabia cannot pay its workers or bills The Saudis, needless to say, repeatedly insist that they are against all terrorism. Their reaction to the Grozny declaration has been astonishing. The world is getting ready to burn us, Adil Al-Kalbani announced. And as Imam of the King Khaled Bin Abdulaziz mosque in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, he should know. As Narwani points out, the bad news kept on coming. At the start of the five-day Hajj pilgrimage, the Lebanese daily al-Akhbar published online a database which it said came from the Saudi ministry of health, claiming that up 90,000 pilgrims from around the world have died visiting the Hajj capital of Mecca over a 14-year period. Although this figure is officially denied, it is believed in Shia Muslim Iran, which has lost hundreds of its citizens on the Hajj. Among them was Ghazanfar Roknabadi, a former ambassador and intelligence officer in Lebanon. Irans supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has just launched an unprecedented attack on the Saudis, accusing them of murder. The heartless and murderous Saudis locked up the injured with the dead in containers... he said in his own Hajj message. A Saudi official said Khamenis accusations reflected a new low. Abdulmohsen Alyas, the Saudi undersecretary for international communications, said they were unfounded, but also timed to only serve their unethical failing propaganda. In pictures: Protests around the world over Saudi executions Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: Protests around the world over Saudi executions In pictures: Protests around the world over Saudi executions Protests around the world over Saudi executions Iranian and Turkish demonstrators hold pictures of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr as they protest outside the Saudi Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, In pictures: Protests around the world over Saudi executions Protests around the world over Saudi executions Kashmiri Shiite Muslims, carrying a placard with the portrait of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, shout slogans during a protest in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, In pictures: Protests around the world over Saudi executions Protests around the world at Saudi executions Indian police used tear smoke and rubber bullets to disperse Shiite Muslims who were protesting after Saudi Arabia announced the execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday along with 46 others, including three other Shiite dissidents and a number of al-Qaida militants. In pictures: Protests around the world over Saudi executions Protests around the world over Saudi executions Shane Enright, Global Trade Union Advisor for Amnesty International, addresses demonstrators as they protest outside the Saudi Embassy in London, following Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 prisoners in one day, including a top Shiite cleric In pictures: Protests around the world over Saudi executions Protests around the world over Saudi executions Iranian protestor burn pictures of a member of the Saudi royal family in front of the Saudi Arabia embassy in Tehran, Iran, 02 January 2016. Protesters have stormed the Saudi embassy building in the Iranian capital of Tehran early Sunday amid backlash over the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric. Flammable substance was seen thrown at the building as protests gained steam over the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Reports states, protesters taking down a Saudi flag and burned the building. In pictures: Protests around the world over Saudi executions Protests around the world over Saudi executions Shiite Muslims hold placards with pictures of Saudi Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, whose execution in Saudi Arabia was announced Saturday, during a demonstration to condemn his execution, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016 in Peshawar, Pakistan In pictures: Protests around the world over Saudi executions Protests around the world over Saudi executions A Kashmir Shiite Muslim shouts slogan from Indian police vehicle after he was detained during a protest in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir, Yet the Iranians have boycotted the Hajj this year (not surprisingly, one might add) after claiming that they have not received Saudi assurances of basic security for pilgrims. According to Khamenei, Saudi rulers have plunged the world of Islam into civil wars. However exaggerated his words, one thing is clear: for the first time, ever, the Saudis have been assaulted by both Sunni and Shia leaders at almost the same time. The presence in Grozny of Grand Imam al-Tayeb of Egypt was particularly infuriating for the Saudis who have poured millions of dollars into the Egyptian economy since Brigadier-General-President al-Sissi staged his doleful military coup more than three years ago. What, the Saudis must be asking themselves, has happened to the fawning leaders who would normally grovel to the Kingdom? Footage shows extent of child malnutrition in Yemen as Britain continues to sell arms to Saudi Arabia In 2010, Saudi Arabia was crossing borders peacefully as a power-broker, working with Iran, Syria, Turkey, Qatar and others to troubleshoot in regional hotspots, Narwani writes. By 2016, it had buried two kings, shrugged off a measured approach to foreign policy, embraced takfiri madness and emptied its coffers. A takfiri is a Sunni who accuses another Muslim (or Christian or Jew) of apostasy. Kuwait, Libya, Jordan and Sudan were present in Grozny, along with you guessed it Ahmed Hassoun, the grand mufti of Syria and a loyal Assad man. Intriguingly, Abu Dhabi played no official role, although its policy of deradicalisation is well known throughout the Arab world. But there are close links between President (and dictator) Ramzan Kadyrov of Chechenya, the official host of the recent conference, and Mohamed Ben Zayed al-Nahyan, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince. The conference itself was opened by Putin, which shows what he thinks of the Saudis although, typically, none of the Sunni delegates asked him to stop bombing Syria. But since the very meeting occurred against the backcloth of Isis and its possible defeat, they wouldnt, would they? That Chechenya, a country of monstrous bloodletting by Russia and its own Wahhabi rebels, should have been chosen as a venue for such a remarkable conclave was an irony which could not have been lost on the delegates. But the real questions they were discussing must have been equally apparent. Who are the real representatives of Sunni Muslims if the Saudis are to be shoved aside? And what is the future of Saudi Arabia? Of such questions are revolutions made. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It took less than a week for the temporary Syrian ceasefire, so painstakingly negotiated between the United States and Russia, to be declared extinct. The immediate cause was the destruction of a UN aid convoy near Aleppo, which the United States and the UK blamed on Russia, and Russia vehemently denied. Recriminations continued in New York, where world leaders were gathered for the UN General Assembly. The bitter exchanges, most notably between the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and the Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, led some to ask a more fundamental question: was this plan - any plan underwritten jointly by the US and Russia - not doomed from the start? Can the US and Russia ever get along? That is indeed a question that hangs in the air, and I will try to answer it. But before that, some aspects of the latest failure to quell hostilities deserve to be considered a little more closely. Russia denies Syria aid convoy attack with release of footage First: the ceasefire did not collapse solely because an aid convoy, even this particular, 31-lorry, UN convoy, was attacked as it arrived at a Red Cross-Red Crescent warehouse. The first, most egregious, breach had come two days earlier, when US planes, apparently with British drone support, had struck a Syrian army base, killing 62 soldiers. The US eventually admitted a regrettable mistake, and UK involvement - as yet unexplained and unapologised for - emerged as a footnote. But the damage had been done, at a time - tragically - when the ceasefire had appeared to be holding. Second, the Russians have repeatedly denied that their planes attacked the aid convoy, and what really happened is still unclear. Russia has hardly helped its case by altering its exact version of events; but neither has the US produced conclusive proof the other way. It cannot be excluded that a reason for Russias inconsistency is that Moscow does not actually yet know what really happened. Nor, though, should the confidence of the US and UK be taken completely at face value. The destruction of the aid convoy offered a welcome opportunity to change the subject, and the target of blame. Until yesterday, when President Assad accused the US of deliberately attacking his troops, the mistake had practically vanished from Western headlines. Third, it is a conceit believed perhaps only by aid workers, and probably not by anything like all of them, that humanitarian assistance can always be viewed in isolation as an inherent good in itself. In this sort of war, where both sides are holding civilian populations under siege, safe passage for aid inevitably changes the balance on the ground. In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish tanks driving to the Syrian-Turkish border town of Jarabulus yesterday AFP/Getty In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish-backed gather on the outskirts of Jarabulus, Syria, ahead of an offensive on 24 August 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish army tanks make their way towards the Syrian border town of Jarabulus, Syria August 24, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish soldiers return from Syria to Turkey with tanks after a military operation at the Syrian border as part of their offensive against the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Syria, Karkamis district of Gaziantep, Turkey, 25 August 2016 EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish army tanks and Turkey-backed Syrian opposition forces move toward the Syrian border as pictured from Karkamis, Turkey, AP In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish tanks on their way to the Turkish-Syria border during an operation against Isis on 24 August 2016 EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Syrian opposition fighters being transported during preparations to enter Jarabulus in Karkamis, Turkey, on 24 August 2016. EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria An air strike hitting Isis-controlled territory near Jarabulus, near the Turkish border, on 24 August 2016. EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria A Turkish army tank and an armoured vehicle stationed near the border with Syria. Turkish media reports say Turkish artillery has launched new strikes at Isis targets across the border AP It does not matter what the aid consists of - in this case it appears to have been winter clothing, food, drink and medical supplies - the unpalatable truth is that any type of aid becomes a part of the military calculation. This is not pleasant to acknowledge, but it is true. A siege - essentially trying to starve people into submission - is as much an instrument of war as air strikes. It is primitive and callous, but that is what war is like. The passage of this aid convoy might have been cleared during lengthy and elaborate negotiations; all of its paperwork might have been in exemplary order; it may have been designed to be as neutral as it could possibly be. But there were always going to be those who would have seen it less as emergency relief to suffering civilians than as help to the other side. And fourth, did the US-Russia agreement of 9 September ever have a chance? I would stick my neck out and say that it did have a sliver of a chance, because it had been so carefully and minutely negotiated - until the US air strikes on the Syrian army base. That incident - it hardly matters whether it was accidental or on purpose - served to reinforce established views on all sides. It allowed Assad to claim that the Americans (and its ally, the British) were acting in bad faith. Similarly, the attack on the aid convoy allowed the Western side to claim Russias bad faith. All the familiar preconceptions reasserted themselves. Beyond this, though, is the complexity of the Syrian conflict. The US and Russia can conclude all manner of agreements between themselves, and the Kremlin might, just, be able to pressure Assad into compliance (though its clout is probably less than the West generally believes). But how far do the US and the UK or anyone else control the ever-shifting ranks of their allies? Islamic State may be the enemy number one, and the Kurds may be on our side. But which Kurds? What game - how many games - is Turkey playing? Iran? The Saudis? A quarter century after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, there is no script here that a joint US-Russia agreement can dictate. The proxies in this conflict are not exclusively theirs. Which is where we return to the possibility, or not, of the US and Russia being able to get along at all in the foreseeable future. Their cooperation in Syria was seen as perhaps offering an opportunity for better US-Russia relations overall. Now that seems to have come to naught. But Syria is not a useful test case. A reluctant United States has been thrown together with a Russia that intervened both to defend its own security interests (including against jihadism) and in quest of a wider diplomatic role. Any settlement in Syria will probably look more like the Russian version (with a weakened Assad) than the Western version (without him). This has nothing in common with the era of the Cold War; far more with the shifting sands of the Middle East today. Both the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and his Russian opposite number, Sergei Lavrov, seem to understand this - as may Presidents Obama and Putin. They are not trying to divide the world up between them; they are engaged in a highly practical exercise of damage-limitation. It would also appear, however, that there are forces - certainly in Washington and probably in Moscow - that are stuck in the mentality of the Cold War, and treat every misstep by the other side as an attempt to seize the advantage in what they still see as a bilateral game. There will be few tears shed here for the aborted ceasefire, because the contest for Syria is still seen, at least in part, as pitting Russia against the West. So long as this way of looking at the world persists, the prospects of the US and Russia forging a normal and productive relationship are slim. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It's 2003. In Basra, a hastily made detention centre has been set up. There is a man lying on the floor, so badly beaten he is suffering from acute kidney failure. He is not the only one. Eight other men lie broken in pain, some in their own waste. One final man lies dead on the toilet of the detention centre. He has had his nose broken, his ribs broken and these are just some of the 93 separate injuries which the autopsy will eventually uncover. In his dying moments, this hotel receptionist pleaded to be left alone, screaming, "I'm going to die. In response, his head was smashed against the wall. The person smashing Baha Mousa's head into cement was Cpl Donald Payne, a member of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment. He also decided to turn his detainees into an orchestra, by making them scream in pain to greet visitors. "Cpl Payne found this funny," former soldier Gareth Aspinall said. When visitors came across they also found it funny. Cpl Donald Payne served one year in prison after being found guilty of war crimes. One year in prison. IHAT is the Iraq Historic Allegations Team. Its task is to investigate allegations of abuse by British soldiers against Iraqi civilians spanning 2003 until 2009. Baha Mousa is one of the cases it looked into. Asked about IHAT while in New York for the UN General Assembly, the Prime Minister Theresa May said she was concerned that there may be "an industry of vexatious allegations coming forward". Let's briefly look to allay our PM's concerns by looking at what it takes for a case to go from being referred to IHAT to a courtroom and a prosecution. First is the initial assessment stage. As of the end of June, allegations relating to 3,367 victims were received - only 1,668 of these made it beyond this stage, with the others dropped for a variety of reasons, from duplication to being outside of IHAT's jurisdiction or the issue involved not being criminal. Now let's just focus in on the allegations of unlawful killing which IHAT must now consider there are 325. So far, IHAT has closed only 90 of them. In 88 such cases, it was not possible to find sufficient evidence - but the impossibility of obtaining evidence does not equate to the action being brought simply to irritate the British state. However, in two unlawful killing cases, IHAT did find it to be sufficiently serious. This means the case has done the incredible, and passed IHAT's Evidential Sufficiency Test. Only one of these was handed to the Director of Service Prosecutions (DSP), with IHAT recommending the solider was prosecuted. The DSP then decided not to prosecute - Mr Waleed Fayay Mezban, the driver of a minivan, was shot as he drove away from a British check point after stopping and speaking with one solider. Its difficult to imagine how on earth the PM can claim that cases which actually make it to court, or reach compensation, are even possibly vexatious, when they have to overcome all of the above to even reach that stage. Out of the 3,367 referred to IHAT, only one action has been successful - relating to a Mail on Sunday obtained video which shows an Iraqi man suffering a horrific, hour-long beating from a group of British soldiers. A single British soldier was identified, admitted responsibility and was fined 3,000. The case was not sent to court; instead it was merely referred to his Commanding Officer, and the soldier subsequently faced no further action. How the British media covered the Iraq War Show all 6 1 /6 How the British media covered the Iraq War How the British media covered the Iraq War Daily Mirror, 6 January 2003 How the British media covered the Iraq War The Guardian, 21 March 2003 How the British media covered the Iraq War The Daily Mail, 22 March 2003 How the British media covered the Iraq War Daily Telegraph, 21 March 2003 How the British media covered the Iraq War The Sun, 20 March 2003 How the British media covered the Iraq War Of course, May did concede in the same interview this week that "if there are allegations - proper allegations - of criminal activity, those need to be investigated." In the current environment, unbelievably, this is a progressive attitude. Since 2015 especially, the government's approach to potential prosecutions and investigations into abuse of British soldiers has been alarming. What we should all worry about is the possibility of the Defence Secretary saying British soldiers shouldn't have to comply with basic human rights standards, or the 187 compensation claims against the MoD which were forced to be dropped after a witch-hunt against the law firm which brought the claims forced the whole firm into extinction. Or the fact that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, has refused to release 10m out of a promised 150m to allow various inquiries to shed light into the darkest, most haunting corners of Northern Ireland's past. And then there are the recent revelations that Cameron tried to shut down IHAT while Prime Minister. These are just several examples indicative of a persistent attempt to derail or delegitimise these cases and inquiries, and the justification in doing so is always couched in patriotism. And I am done with it. In the coming year, we will see prosecutions brought against British soldiers, from Northern Ireland as well as IHAT. These prosecutions need to be faced with maturity and humility. The integrity of the armed forces is not protected by preventing any prosecutions, or by pretending that all claims against them are spurious. Our armed forces are better protected by weeding out those who abuse the authority they are given. We justify allowing young people to go and die in khaki on the basis of higher ideals: freedom, democracy, liberty. By protecting brutality from prosecution and murderers from justice, you destroy that argument. Blair on Iraq: From 2002-16 Caring about your country does not mean you should be blind to its ills. It should mean the opposite. During Bloody Sunday, one soldier stood over a man as he lay injured on the ground, took aim and executed him on the pavement. No one can tell me patriotism should lead you to cocoon that executor from even a semblance of justice. To suggest that what he did wasnt un-British is to devalue Britishness. The principle applies whether the victim is in Northern Ireland, or Iraq; whether they are Libyans who suffered rendition or Kenyans castrated by British soldiers for trying to exercise self-determination. Any greatness that Britain could claim lies not in shutting its eyes to its moments of cruelty, but by being brave enough to recognise what it has done and allowing justice to flood through, to wash it of these stains. Unless we disown these actions by allowing our rule of law to apply, we accept that these actions were done in our country's name; our name; and that we stand for nothing better. Theresa Mays opposition to an industry of vexatious claims against British troops over claims of abuse in Iraq doesnt speak of her love for our country; it threatens the very principles upon which it was built. Adrian Donohoe's widow Caroline, centre, receives his Scott Medal for bravery from Garda chief Noirin O'Sullivan and Justice Minister Francis Fitzgerald Murdered detective Adrian Donohoe has been remembered as a role model and inspiration as he was posthumously awarded the country's highest policing honour. In a ceremony at the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, a Gold Scott Medal was bestowed on the late father-of-two for exceptional courage and bravery. Mr Donohoe died after being shot as he confronted a gang holding up a small credit union near his home in Lordship, on the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth, on January 25 2013. Addressing the award ceremony, Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said it was a difficult yet proud day for his widow Caroline and their two children, Amy and Niall, as well his friend and colleague Detective Garda Joseph Ryan. Mr Ryan was awarded a Silver Scott Medal for his own bravery on the day of the shooting. "I hope that it can always be of some small consolation to Adrian's family and friends to know the depth of the esteem and respect that Adrian's colleagues and his whole community held for him," said Ms Fitzgerald. "That esteem and respect was shared also by the whole nation when they learned of his qualities and mourned his death." Mr Donohoe is a role model to all members of the force and his memory an inspiration to everyone, she told the ceremony. There were also three recipients of a Bronze Scott Medal: Sergeant Paul Johnstone, Garda Liam O'Leary and Garda Thomas Dalton. The Government expects to begin formal talks for Britain to leave the European Union by "the early part of next year", Boris Johnson has said. The Foreign Secretary said ministers were working towards triggering Article 50 of the EU treaties - marking the official start of negotiations - in the first part of 2017. Speaking in New York where he has been attending the United Nations, Mr Johnson suggested the discussions could be wrapped up before the two-year deadline. "We are talking to our European friends and partners in the expectation that by the early part of next year you will see an Article 50 letter. We will invoke that," he told Sky News. "In that letter I am sure we will be setting out some parameters for how we propose to take this forward. "I don't think we will actually necessarily need to spend a full two years but let's see how we go." Mr Johnson's remarks are likely to be welcomed by pro-Leave campaigners as an indication the Government is preparing for a "hard Brexit". They go further than Theresa May, who has said only that Article 50 will not be invoked before the start of 2017. When European Council president Donald Tusk said she had told him she expected the negotiations would start in January or February his comments were rejected by Downing Street. The Foreign Secretary also dismissed suggestions that Britain would have to continue to allow some free movement of labour with the EU if it wanted to maintain access to the single market. "They would have us believe that there is some automatic trade-off between what they call access to the single market and free movement. Complete baloney. Absolute baloney," he 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." Mr Johnson insisted that even after Brexit, the UK would continue to be a "participant" on defence and security issues. "We will continue to be a participant in common European defence discussions, security, foreign policy, counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and all that kind of thing," he said. While he acknowledged that Britain could not block a proposal by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker for a "European army", he said member states fully understood the need not to do anything that would undermine Nato. "If they want to create these new cathedrals of intellectual beauty for their new common defence policy, they may," he said. "It would be a mistake to do anything that undermined the transatlantic alliance and the Nato security guarantees. "That's what really keeps Europe safe and actually that is completely understood in all the capitals of Europe." His comments came as it emerged that Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan had claimed on the eve of the referendum vote that Mr Johnson had not really wanted Britain to leave the EU. In a clip shown as part of the BBC2 documentary Brexit: A Very British Coup?, Sir Alan - who was then a backbencher - said he believed Mr Johnson had only put himself at the head of the Vote Leave campaign to position himself for a Conservative leadership challenge. "I think there are a lot of Leave people who don't believe it, and I've always thought that Boris's wish was to lose by one so that he could be the heir apparent without having to have all the S-H-1-T of clearing up all the mess, that's always been my view of Boris," he said. "By championing Leave, he can be the great heir apparent of the future, darling of the activists, but actually it would be quite good if he didn't actually win the referendum because there would be total chaos." The Foreign Secretary however insisted that Britain would continue to thrive outside the EU. "We are going to benefit from the fantastic opportunities for free trade with our friends in the EU. It is overwhelmingly in their interests to do it," he said. A Number 10 spokesman distanced the Government from Mr Johnson's comments that Article 50 is expected to be triggered early next year. The spokesman said: "The Government's position has not changed - we will not trigger Article 50 before the end of 2016 and we are using this time to prepare for the negotiations." UK banks won't get unfettered access to the EU single market if Britain chooses a "hard" Brexit, the bloc's financial services chief has said. European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said "passporting" rights for banks - the ability to operate freely across borders - will be guaranteed only if the UK negotiates access to the single market after leaving. That means continuing to allow EU migration to the UK and paying into the bloc's budget, an option that Brexit minister David Davis has said is not on the cards. "If the UK remains within the internal market, it can keep passporting," said Mr Dombrovskis, the European Commission's vice-president in charge of the euro and financial services. Paying to stay in the single market would likely cost Britain even more than EU membership. Norway paid around 870m into EU funds in 2015, or 167 a head. It's more than Britain's current 160 per head. Brexit rhetoric has intensified in the last week, with Eastern European countries threatening to veto any deal that restricts EU migration, and the UK mooting the possibility of leaving without a new trade deal, in a so-called "hard" Brexit. "Being part of the EU internal market, of course, economically, will mean an entirely different thing from going for a so-called 'hard' Brexit, meaning leaving also the internal market," Mr Dombrovskis said in an interview this week. "As regards membership of the internal market, access to the internal market, it comes with conditions: respect of the four freedoms, financial contributions to the EU, and respect of EU rules and regulations," he added. "This is a strategic choice, then, for the UK to make - whether it's willing to stick with those conditions in order to have access to the internal market," he said. Since taking over the EU financial services role in July Mr Dombrovskis has been spearheading creation of a "capital markets union" across the EU to rival the City of London. READ MORE: Morgan Stanley's Irish boss fears for post-Brexit City The first new Grade A office space to be built within the original footprint of Dublin's IFSC since 2003 is set to be launched officially this evening by the Cosgrave Property Group and its partners on the project, the property investment fund IPUT. Upon completion, in October 2017, The Exchange building will be capable of accommodating up to 1,200 employees across its 105,000 sq ft (9,750 sq m) of office space, which will be laid out over six floors. Joint letting agents Savills and JLL are seeking a new HQ occupier for the 60m building, either in its entirety, or on a floor-by-floor basis. At 19,000 sq ft, The Exchange's floor plates will be arranged to allow for optimum efficiency and flexibility, creating workspace with an A3 energy rating, which can be adjusted and split to respond to occupiers' individual requirements. Designed by KMD Architects, the six-storey over basement building will be fitted out with a projected glass and granite facade, full floor-to-ceiling glazing and a full height central atrium capable of pouring natural light to each of its six floors. Its upper floors will provide extensive views across the IFSC and the wider Dublin skyline. The Exchange is centrally located on the Docklands Luas line, adjacent to the Citi Group building, just 50 metres from the CHQ Building and within a five-minute walk from Connolly Station. The property is surrounded by many of the world's leading financial services brands within the IFSC, including KPMG, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, SIG and Zurich, PwC, Morgan Stanley, and BNY Mellon. The Cosgrave Property Group's development of the Exchange is being forward funded by IPUT. The Cosgrave Group are handling the project having agreed to sell the original property on the site to IPUT for 25m. That property has since been demolished to make way for its replacement, which is being built by contractors John Sisk & Co. IPUT is poised to benefit from a 6pc income yield once the new block is completed. Apart from its investment in The Exchange, the company has spent in excess of 300m over the past four years on over 500,000 sq ft of office space within Dublin's docklands. Commenting in advance of this evening's launch at the CHQ building, offices director at Savills Andrew Cunningham noted: "The quality of the accommodation coming on stream at locations such as The Exchange is presenting a compelling offer and choice for businesses that are considering their options to expand or relocate to Dublin, particularly as the Brexit situation continues to unfold. "However, the supply of Grade A space is likely to remain tight, with estimates that 40.25pc of all new or refurbished stock for delivery next year in the CBD is already committed." Peter Cosgrave of Cosgrave Property Group said he expects The Exchange to be "one of the finest office buildings that Dublin has to offer, with a level of specification, finish and flexibility that will meet and exceed the exacting needs of global and domestic occupiers". I am a retired newspaperman. I am 69 and live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 45 years, Lou Ann. We grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. More on who I am is here. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com Offers in excess of 2m are sought for the Sandyford House pub Three sites with potential for development and carrying a combined value of over 11m have been brought to the market by agents CBRE and BNP Paribas Real Estate respectively. John Ryan and Peter Garrigan of CBRE's hotel and licensed trade division are handling the sale of the Sandyford House pub in south Dublin. Offers in excess of 2m are being sought for the property, which sits on a prime site of 0.48 hectares (1.17 acres) and comprises of a part single-storey, part two-storey, well-appointed licensed premises extending to circa 1,230sqm with car parking for over 100 cars. The licensed premises currently enjoys a high level of food, drink and off-licence turnover. In addition, there is a vacant retail property on the site. The site is zoned "Neighbourhood Centre to protect, provide for and/or improve mixed use neighbourhood facilities" under the recently implemented Dun Laoghaire Development Plan 2016 - 2022 and offers redevelopment potential. At nearby Sandyford Business Park, BNP Paribas Real Estate are seeking in excess of 3.75m exclusive of VAT for a 1.51 hectare (3.75 acre) site on Heather Road. The property benefits from zoning to provide for office and enterprise development under the DLRCC Development Plan 2016 - 2022 and Z3 ("office based employment use") under the Sandyford Urban Framework Plan. There is also potential for a tall landmark building above the building height limit, subject to planning permission. The site currently has a two-storey office building of 1,117 sq m, outbuildings, small stores and extensive car parking. Elsewhere in Dublin, BNP Paribas Real Estate are quoting in excess of 5.4m exclusive of VAT for a prime industrial site at Cragg Avenue in Clondalkin. Extending to a total area of 13.94 Hectare (34.45 Acres), the property is located within easy reach of the M50 corridor and benefits from full planning permission for a 30 MW data centre. The property comprises a large triangular shaped site and includes two-storey offices of 2,132 sq m with an adjoining warehouse of 3,672 sq m, on a tarmacadamed site of 8.3 hectares (20.5 acres) with an additional 5.64 hectares (13.93 acres) parcel of undeveloped land. The site is zoned to facilitate opportunities for manufacturing, research and development facilities, and enterprise related to industrial uses and business parks. Brexit has lead to a situation that is "worse than uncertain" for farmers, particularly those close to the border, Mairead McGuinness has warned. Speaking during a special series of talks at the Irish Independent tent in Screggan, Co Offaly, the Midlands North-West MEP said the biggest challenge for Ireland is understanding the position of other EU member states ahead of negotiations. "People in my constituency work in Northern Ireland, farmers trade with each other. If there is a hard negotiation and a tough outcome there will be difficulties, because it's impossible to say that we can hold on to the status quo today and see the UK leave," said Ms McGuinness. She said the European parliament has a "good understanding" of the political and agricultural consequences of a hard border with Northern Ireland. Expand Close Darragh Mc Cullough, Adrian Weckler and Seamus Sherlock Chairman of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association who spoke at the Rural Broadband talk at the Indo Talks at the Farming Independent tent at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore Co Offaly. Pic Steve Humphreys 21st September 2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Darragh Mc Cullough, Adrian Weckler and Seamus Sherlock Chairman of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association who spoke at the Rural Broadband talk at the Indo Talks at the Farming Independent tent at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore Co Offaly. Pic Steve Humphreys 21st September 2016 But she said Ireland "cannot seek a special deal" with the UK to maintain current relationships on work and trade. She said the situation is "worse than uncertain" and criticised British Prime Minister Theresa May for not articulating that she wants a strong Europe. Expand Close Gillian O'Shea from Fethard Tipperary at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore Co Offaly. Pic Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gillian O'Shea from Fethard Tipperary at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore Co Offaly. Pic Steve Humphreys "The noise from her Leave campaign within the Conservative party has gotten stronger and louder even this week. They want a hard leave because they believe they can ignore Europe and import from New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and that has consequences for this audience, this event and this country," she told host Dearbhail McDonald, INM Group Business Editor. Rural internet was another hotly-debated issue during talks at our stand located at block two, row 10. Carolan Lennon, open eir Managing Director, who also featured on the panel, contended that no other company has done more than Eir to provide access to high-speed broadband in Ireland. "I admit that it's slow but we are making huge progress," she said. Expand Close Richard Hobson from Rathangan Kildare at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore Co Offaly. Pic Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Richard Hobson from Rathangan Kildare at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore Co Offaly. Pic Steve Humphreys Seamus Sherlock, Rural Development Chairman of the ICSA, warned that rural Ireland is "slowly dying" as delays over the rolling out of the Government's National Broadband Plan by 2021 continues to rankle with farmers living in "black-spots". "Unfortunately many farming communities are still in the dark. The Government insist on farmers making all Single Farm Payment applications by 2018 but the truth is many of our members don't even have emails and we still have to contact them by letters and hard copy," he said. "A lot of the money a farmer relies on depends on access to the internet," he said. Darragh McCullough, Deputy Editor of the Farming Independent, described the lack of access to the internet on his Meath farm as "infuriating". Expand Close Jackie Cahill TD FF Spokesman for Food & Horticulture,Mairead Mc Guinness MEP ,Dearbhail Mc Donald Group Buisness Editor INM and Paul Wyse, MD Smith and Williamson who spoke at the Brexit Discussion at the Indo Talks at the Farming Independent tent at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore Co Offaly. Pic Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jackie Cahill TD FF Spokesman for Food & Horticulture,Mairead Mc Guinness MEP ,Dearbhail Mc Donald Group Buisness Editor INM and Paul Wyse, MD Smith and Williamson who spoke at the Brexit Discussion at the Indo Talks at the Farming Independent tent at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore Co Offaly. Pic Steve Humphreys "We're still using dongles to get a signal and charges are crazy. This is all despite the fact that we're supposed to be an economy hard wired into the tech space. Imagine telling people to wait until 2021 for electricity," he said. Technology Editor Adrian Weckler shared the view that broadband is essential to the sustainability of farming nationwide. "The agri economy is losing out significantly. Recent studies have shown that one-in-four rural residents would consider moving to a town or city to have broadband," he said. Irish cement maker Ecocem has signed a collaboration deal with Swedish mining giant Boliden - the owners of the Tara zinc mine. The deal will see Ecocem supply cement to the Meath mine, as well as the Garpenberg mine in Sweden. The company has signed a deal with the Port of Gavle near the Swedish mine for a new import terminal, officially opened today by the Irish ambassador to Sweden Orla O'Hanrahan. "These agreements are initially for three years, with options for extensions, giving Ecocem a solid base domestically and an excellent opportunity to pursue other opportunities in the Swedish market," Ecocem Ireland managing director Conor O'Riain said. This announcement comes shortly after Ecocem signed a partnership with steel manufacturers ArcelorMittal, involving a joint investment of over 47m to open a manufacturing facility in Dunkirk, France. Ireland has received a jobs boost this morning after four companies announced they will be adding to their Irish workforce. The State's biggest telecommunications company Eir is to add 100 new jobs here as the firm ramps up its operation for further roll out of its high-speed fibre network. The jobs, which are spread across areas including polling crews, cabling technicians, and fibre splicers, will be dotted across the country. Eir strategic supplier KN Network Services will recruit the staff and expects to fill the majority of the roles over the next three months. Open Eir managing director Carolan Lennon said the partnership with KN is a critical component of the company's broadband investment programme. "Not only is our partner KNNS playing a key role to ensure that we deliver our broadband solutions to communities right across the country as quickly as possible, they are doing so in a way that supports the local economy by recruiting staff from rural Ireland." Meanwhile shopping search engine Yroo is to create 33 new jobs over the next three years as it looks to grow its Irish base. The company is adding staff to its Dublin office in order to build out its global operations through customer support for over 35 countries. As well as customer support the Irish base will be responsible for management and international sales, as well as business and marketing software development. Weve seen such a rapid adoption in a very short period of time because were finally able to give users the tools to easily find exactly what they want at the right price, from the right merchant to take the frustration out of online shopping, said James Cunningham, CEO of Yroo. We believe that Ireland is the right place for us to be in order to continue to break new ground and grow well into the future. Elsewhere BioPharma Engineering is to add 70 new graduate jobs in both Dublin and Cork, primarily in the areas of engineering and project management. The Cork-headquartered firm has doubled its workforce over the last year and a half and is looking to add more with the latest investment. BioPharma co-founder John O'Reilly said the firm's new Dublin office allows it to service its clients better. Our company has delivered capital projects worth more than 500 million for our clients and we continue to scale in terms of markets, capabilities and ambition." In addition, nutrition giant Glanbia said it would create 50 new jobs via the launch of a new graduate recruitment programme. Jobs are available in areas including accounting and finance, computer science and IT, and digital media. People who buy social houses from city or county councils should be forced to sell them back to the local authority if they decide to trade up, an Oireachtas Committee has heard. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Fine Gael TD Sean Barrett said councils should buy social housing back from former tenants at an "upgraded value" of the house if occupants are moving on. Mr Barrett, who sold his parent's council house, said the current system which allows people sell social housing into the private sector is "daft" and needs to be urgently reformed. He said a former local authority house in Dalkey, South Dublin is currently on sale for 750,000. Speaking to Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe as he attended the Budget Oversight Committee, Mr Barrett said hundreds of thousands of social housing units built by local authorities have been sold into the private sector. "I am a product of a local authority house and I'm a product of a sales scheme that was mad," he said. "By all means give the tenant the opportunity to buy the house but if they sell it or the tenancy is passed on and left to kids, who have their own houses, they should be obliged to sell it back to the local authority at an upgraded value of the house," he added. Speaking after the meeting, committee member and Dublin South West Fine Gael TD Colm Brophy said he supported Mr Barrett's proposal. Anti- Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit Richard Boyd Barrett said he was also supportive of the idea but said it needs to be "teased out". Funding During the hearing, Mr Donohoe also warned abolishing waters charges will result in less funding for schools, hospitals and housing after he was questioned by committee chairman John Paul Phelan on the issue. "What is going to be the case if we end up treating water infrastructure, funding it out of general taxation it will be directly competing with all the other needs. We will have to add that to the list of housing, education and all those other needs," he said. He also insisted he expects the Department of Health's spending to come in on budget this year. He said he has made it clear to health chiefs he does not want to hear demands for more funding after he made an additional 500m available earlier this year. "There are few of us who can offer guarantees on anything but I have been absolutely clear that I expect the health budget to come in on budget for this year," he said. Meanwhile, the Government has been told by a leading think-tank that it should not over-stimulate the economy in the forthcoming budget. The reports says the Government should use its improved financial situation to focus on balancing the State books. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has said that it expects the Irish economy to remain "robust" for the remainder of this year and next year. Earlier today,released it's latest survey on how the citizens of the 50 states view their own governors. Sam Brownback (R-KS) has both the highest disapproval ranking (71%) and the lowest approval ranking (23%). That guy is dogshit. Well... this disapproval of Brownback and his policies by Kansas voters is hardly new. When he was up for reelection 2 years ago he was just as hated and polls tended to show him losing. The last poll I found showed him losing the election 39-43%. 24% of Republicans said they were going to vote for Paul Davis, Minority Leader of the state House of Representatives. In the end, a week later, Brownback beat Davis 433,196 (49.82%) to 401,100 (46.13%). Kansas has 105 counties. Davis won 7 of them-- 5 more than President Obama had won in 2012. (In fact, although Obama only got 38% of the vote in Kansas, more Democrats voted for him than bothered to show up to for against Brownback-- 427,918 for Obama and about 26,000 fewer for Davis. Right behind Brownback in Connecticut's widely-hated corporate Dem, Dan Malloy, with a 70% disapproval and a 26% approval. There are 10 governors with disapprovals numbers higher than approvals, 8 Republicans who have had an opportunity to prove themselves unsuitable for public office and 2 corrupt corporate Democrats who working families have comet realize are basically just Republicans with "D"s next to their names on the ballot, Malloy and Rhode Island crooked Wall Street shill Gina Raimondo. Here's the list (+ one governor who's tied between those who approve and those who disapprove, Mike Pence) The survey was taken before federal prosecutors finally said aloud in court what most people have long suspected, that Christie "knew" about the lane closings in real time and then lied about it to cover up... well, what he was covering up will be the subject of future litigation, but I would say it's 99.9% safe to assume he was covering up the fact that he ordered the closure of the George Washington Bridge. In any case, even before, the newest revelations, 68% of New Jersey voters said they disapproved of Christie and just 29% approved (presumably New Jersey's deplorables who appreciate how he's made himself an appendage of Trump).pointed out that "Christies negatives rose by 8 percentage points since the beginning of the year, and he lost 6 points in approval ratings." Yesterdayasked the question many Americans, including many in New Jersey, have been asking for two years: why hasn't Christie been charged? Why isn't he in prison? When the lane closure scheme became public, federal investigators got wind of it, eventually making the case that went on trial Monday. Christie himself hired a $650-an-hour Manhattan law firm-- a taxpayer expense that eventually totaled $8 million-- to investigate the scheme. That investigation exonerated him in 2014. The legislative committee also concluded its work in late 2014 without accusing Christie of involvement. But the legislative investigation was hampered by the concurrent federal investigation, which limited the ability of the state Assembly to call in witnesses. After Mondays bombshell opening remarks, a number of New Jersey assemblymen suggested that they would reopen the investigation after the trial ends. Its possible-- we don't know-- that the governor may be one of the unindicted co-conspirators," says Assemblyman John Wisniewski, who chaired the legislative investigation. "The government made it very clear. They did not hedge: They said the governor knew about the lane closures while they were happening. That is damning. That puts him at the nexus of the conspiracy. As for why he remains potentially an unindicted co-conspirator: The governor may have learned from his days as a U.S. attorney how to insulate himself by keeping the records, the paper trail, at a minimum. Whether or not that status changes will depend a lot on what is said, argued and entered into evidence at this trial, he says. ...When the federal government formally charged only his aides, Christie described the action has having exonerated him. But a former federal prosecutor who spoke to Newsweek about the case and discussed why Christie was not indicted declined to use the word exonerate. He speculates that the feds never charged the governor because federal investigators had been unable to come up with a paper trail with which to convince a jury. In theory, they seem to be saying that Christie was generally aware that havoc was being wreaked, but he wouldnt have known the particulars of what went on, says the attorney, who asked not to be identified in order to discuss the case. As a general rule, federal prosecutors say federal conspiracies are very broad, and you don't need to know all the details to be guilty of involvement. But I assume the prosecution believes the governor didn't know all the details, that he had a general knowledge, but not enough to hold him criminally responsible and to persuade a jury to hold him personally responsible. Mondays opening remarks made clear that the federal case will be based on Christies knowledge of and acquiescence to the scheme. Lawyers for the defendants were already expected to argue that the accused acted under authority of the governor. Furthermore, the prosecution will be bringing unindicted alleged co-conspirators who are expected to further elaborate on what the governor knew and when. Ultimately, it appears the federal prosecutor will make the case that the defendants are part of a corrupt system, and that the fish is rotten from the head down, one attorney says. ...In the end, the show that opened Monday in Newark reveals the abysmal state of American political culture, from presidential politics on down, characterized by the practice of laying total waste to ones opponents, seemingly without the slightest regard for duty to public service and the common good. Bridgegate is just another tactic out of a playbook that has run from Congresss government shutdowns to Trump lying about his opponent and his own record. Christie might never be held legally responsible for Bridgegate, but his reputation and very likely his political future are on trial now. Tony Hanway, ceo of Virgin Media; Sinead Desmod from TV3; and Gerard ONeill, chairman of Amarach Research, at the launch of the Digital Insights Report which has forecast a near doubling in online consumer spending in Ireland. Photo: Marc OSullivan Irish online spending will grow at a faster pace than the Irish economy over the next five years, new research has shown. The value of Irish online spending is set to almost double to 14.1bn by 2021, according to the Virgin Media Digital Insights report. Over the last two years the average online monthly spend per person has risen by 13pc. On average online shoppers are spending around 80 a month on products and services. "That rate of growth cumulatively actually adds up to a faster rate of growth than the overall economy, but also in the trend in consumer spending," Amarach chairman Gerard O'Neill said at the report's launch at the Science Gallery in Dublin yesterday. Mr O'Neill highlighted the importance of e-commerce to the overall economy and said the research firm was confident of its prediction for 2021. "Those businesses that are growth hungry will need to align themselves with the digital dynamic in terms of consumer spending if you're going to tap into those huge opportunities for the future," he said. The Irish digital economy, which is defined as the products and services sold online and the businesses and employees that deliver them, is now worth around 6pc of total gross domestic product. Virgin Media chief executive Tony Hanway said companies can make themselves "invisible" in today's economy if they don't utilise their online presence. "Ireland Inc must raise its game in online commerce or it will lose a multi-billion euro opportunity. As a small market, easy access to larger e-commerce enabled economies Ireland has much more to lose than many of our larger trading partners," he said. The study found 60pc of Ireland's online spend, or 4.5bn, goes to overseas companies selling their products to Irish consumers. Mr Hanway also said the main reason, outside of price, for consumers shopping online is due to the lack of availability of a product in a local store. "This means that if they continue to give the customer what they want they can compete with the ever-increasing digital offering." The report, which surveyed 1,000 adults across Ireland, also covered trends in device usage, tax payments, and the rise of the connected home. Just under 90pc of those quizzed used the Government's Revenue Online System (ROS) to pay their taxes, with 83pc paying their car tax online. Property tax payments also ranked highly, with 83pc saying they paid theirs online over the last 12 months. In device usage texting and talking remained the top-used services by adults, followed by Facebook and WhatsApp. Katie Prager (26), the wife in the real "Fault in Our Stars" couple, died today after complications from cystic fibrosis and a lung transplant. "Early this morning, she gained her wish of being at home, in her bed, surrounded by her mom, dad, brother and her dogs, dying peacefully, away from the hospital, tubes, IVs," her mother, Debra Donovan, posted on Facebook. "Katie knew how much she was loved. She knew how much I loved her, I told her and showed her everyday. We were given a great gift, we knew her time was short and she was able to do a few things that she wanted, and I am grateful for that." "The days to follow will not be easy but I find comfort in knowing that my girl lived, she really lived." Her husband Dalton Prager (25), who was the inspiration for the book and film 'The Fault In Our Stars', died on Saturday after complications from a failed lung transplant. The book, written by John Greene, was about a young man's romance with a young woman who suffered from cystic fibrosis while he himself battled several illnesses. He was portrayed by actor Ansel Elgort in the film which hit cinemas in 2014. When her husband died, a heartfelt tribute on Facebook by Katie read: My angel, my best friend, the love of my life, my husband went to be with the Lord our God today. "He was a courageous fighter and give up wasnt in his vocabulary." The couple were unable to be together for Dalton's final moments and so they FaceTimed each other in the last few minutes, Donovan's mother told CNN. They had intended to spend one last Christmas together, but were being treated for their conditions in two different states. Donovan recently told CNN in an interview; "I'd rather have five years of being in love and just really completely happy than 20 years of not having anybody." Anton Savage has agreed to perform a daredevil stunt to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society as part of Today FM's Dare to Care campaign Anton Savage has pledged to face his fears by performing a daredevil stunt. The Today FM presenter revealed live on air that he will attempt a very ambitious motorbike jump, as part of the station's Dare to Care campaign. Fellow presenters Dermot and Dave were also challenged to take party in his dare. They bravely agreed to allow Anton to jump his dirt bike over them... hopefully they'll walk away from the stunt unscathed. The mid-morning presenter will attempt his stunt live on air next week and it remains to be seen which other Today FM presenters will agree to allow Anton to jump them. Anton, who last drove a dirt bike 25 years ago, said: Well, Evel Knievel may be shooting slightly too high, think more Mongoose in BMX Bandits...thats kind of where Im at." Today FM presenters and listeners have been taking on dares to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society. So there you have it. Anton will be jumping over @todayfm presenters, Evil Knievel style on a Honda 450 Volunteers? Anyone? ANYONE? pic.twitter.com/kouxxVNG3k TheAntonSavageShow (@AntonSavageShow) September 22, 2016 Yesterday, hundreds of women across the country wore the wedding dresses to work as part of #WeddingDressWednesday. Presenter Ian Dempsey has agreed to get a tattoo, while Matt Cooper is preparing to write an original song and perform it in the Workman's Club, alongside Bressie. Dermot and Dave will ride the famous Cu Chulainn rollercoaster at Tayto Park the presenter has made no secret of his fear of rollercoasters but gave in after Tayto Park agreed to match the amount he raised. To sign up for your dare today, log on here To donate to Today FM, click here CJ De Mooi has been arrested on suspicion of murder CJ de Mooi, former panellist on the BBC quiz show Eggheads, who has been arrested on a European arrest warrant under his real name Joseph Connagh for an alleged killing, Scotland Yard said. Photo: Hugh Macknight/PA Wire 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." Video of the Day 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. She's been a regular on the small screen since she was 19, but Kathryn Thomas still hasn't worked up the confidence to bare all on TV. The Carlow woman (37) is one of Ireland's most recognisable faces but she's certainly not ready for audiences to see the rest of her anytime soon. Speaking about the contestants on this year's Celebrity Operation Transformation - including lawyer Gerald Kean and TV3 presenter Elaine Crowley - Kathryn admitted she isn't as brave in front of the camera as they are. "They are all really brave. Would I stand out in my knickers in front of the whole country? Probably not," she told the Diary. Expand Close Kathryn Thomas on Celebrity Operation Transformation / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kathryn Thomas on Celebrity Operation Transformation The TV host praised the show's contestants for the hard slog they have endured over the weeks. "It's all going really well. We have positive news all around. The contestants are all happy," she said. "Week three can be a tough one for people. Week one and week two the weight loss is very big, but then the weight loss starts to slow down. "I think Elaine has been amazing. She lost a stone and two pounds in two weeks. They have all been really honest. "They know the country is supporting them, it's a big thing. With a show like that, you don't know what's going to happen but everyone is behind them now." With the celeb series done and dusted, Kathryn is confident more stars will be eager to sign up for a follow-up series now they know what to expect. Expand Close Kathryn Thomas, centre, with the contestants on Celebrity Operation Transformation / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kathryn Thomas, centre, with the contestants on Celebrity Operation Transformation "I think it might be easier to recruit the celebrities the second time around because it's been out there and people will have less concerns and less fears about what may happen," she said. The blonde host recently lost one of her hosting gigs when it was revealed The Voice of Ireland would be going off air after five series to make way for Ireland's version of Strictly Come Dancing - Dancing With The Stars. Video of the Day Although she has made it clear she won't be involved with the new show, Kathryn has some ideas in mind for who should front it. "The love of my life, Eoghan McDermott. I think he is amazing. I have been in his arms on many a dance. "He knows what he's talking about and he'd be brilliant," she said. "There's loads of girls. I think Vogue Williams would be brilliant. Grainne Seoige would be amazing as well. We have an endless supply of talent." The RTE presenter is gearing up for her next round of fitness bootcamps. "We have another taster happening on October 8. We have had more than 500 clients through the door so it's gone really well. It's 85pc women," she said. Channel 4 aired a documentary last night which showed a darker side of the house sharing business and it got a big reaction. Channel 4 aired a documentary last night which showed a darker side of the house sharing business and it got a big reaction. The rise of travel site Airbnb has been well documented over the last number of years. A travel site which allows people to rent their rooms or homes to complete strangers, the business has proved a huge success as it offers a personable alternative to hotels and hostels for people on their travels. Last night, however, a Channel 4 documentary spoke with guests and hosts who revealed some of the horror stories they have experienced when renting/letting. One family returned to find their house had been trashed after the guest they rented their home to threw a huge party. Have used @Airbnb 7 times, never had issues. Up to you to do your research hosting or using #dreamornightmare kathy (@skybluebint) September 21, 2016 Read More Another person had a highly valuable print by artist Banksy stolen from their London apartment when renting it using Airbnb. The company then refused to release the address of the thieves until the landlord took to the press to lambast them. Also, the documentary showed how social housing tenants in London are illegally sub-letting their council flats through Airbnb and the company are refusing to release their details to police. Most hosts have a lot of praise for Airbnb as it provides an extra income for them, but the documentary showed that the system does have its flaws. However, many on Twitter accused the show of only focusing on the negative, with many claiming they have had great experiences using the app. Bad news makes good TV! There will be loads including me who have had great @Airbnb experiences #dreamornightmare James Hobbs (@JamesHobbsUK) September 21, 2016 Hollywood actor Mel Gibson is attending a Dublin Fringe Fest play tonight, according to performer Miss Panti Bliss. The actor (60), who is in Dublin for eight weeks to shoot his new film The Professor and The Madman, attended 'Riot', a production by Thisispopbaby. Panti stars in the production, which has been described as a kaleidoscopic evening of theatre, music, comedy, drag, variety, circus performances and searing social commentary. Tonight, Panti tweeted: "Mel Gibson is at #RIOTdublin and he's just about to see a naked Jesus in cling-film get beaten by ten people with pool noodles." While Thisispopbaby said: "Mel Gilbson watched on while Mick Wallace whipped Jesus. This is a true story. Just another night at #RIOTdublin." In the play, the Queen of Ireland gives an impassioned and inspiring speech on how destiny doesnt really exist and you simply have to seize the day and fulfil your dreams through sheer hard graft. Mel Gibson is at #RIOTdublin and he's just about to see a naked Jesus in cling-film get beaten by ten people with pool noodles. Dr Panti Bliss (@PantiBliss) September 22, 2016 Mel Gibson watched on while Mick Wallace whipped Jesus. This is a true story. Just another night at #RIOTdublin thisispopbaby (@thisispopbaby) September 22, 2016 Gibson is in the capital for eight weeks to shoot The Professor and The Madman, alongside Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn. The film tells the story of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. It is expected to shoot in Dublin for eight weeks, with production beginning at the end of the month. He previously visited Ireland for professional reasons for the filming of Braveheart, when he made use of the army reserve. The flick was filmed across several locations in Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. The Braveheart director plays professor James Murray, who began compiling the OED in 1857 and led the overseeing committee. Penn portrays Dr William Chester Minor, an inmate at an insane asylum who submitted more than 10,000 entries for the dictionary. The film is based on a book of the same name by Simon Winchester, which Gibson acquired the rights to almost 20 years ago. The film will also star a slew of up and coming Irish talent including Rob McCormack, Abigail Coburn, Zoe Moran, Phonsie Wardell, and Nora Cooper, cast from an extensive search as the family of Professor Murray. Oscar-winning Sean is also no stranger to Irish shores. The actor previously worked in the city with Italian director Paolo Sorrentino on This Must Be the Place in August 2010. BANKS and other lenders will have to submit details to the Central Bank by next summer on every loan and mortgage issued to consumers and other borrowers. The move is part of plans to roll out a new central register of all debts in a bid to prevent another credit bubble. Consumers have been assured by the Central Bank that their data will be subjected to strict security and data protection protocols. Regulations setting out how the new register will operate have now been published by the Central Bank. Setting up a central credit register was one of the financial sector reforms demanded by the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund at the start of the bailout programme in 2010. This is so banks are aware if a borrower has loans from various different lenders. During the boom developers were taking out loans from different banks, with banks sometimes unaware of the scale of the loans given out by other lenders to developer clients. The register was supposed to be in operation by now, but various deadlines have been missed. Now the Central Bank says the collection of loan data from lenders will be implemented on a phased basis. The first phase will focus on consumer lending, and the second on lending to businesses. All lenders will have to submit data on consumer loans and mortgages by the end of 2017. The Central Bank said it would notify lenders shortly of their obligations under the regulations. The bank said the register was expected to produce credit reports for individual lenders and borrowers after December 2017. Credit reports will show a profile of a borrowers credit accounts across all lenders, including their repayment history, the number of payments in arrears, and a record of inquiries made by lenders. Borrowers will be able to request their own credit report free of charge from the Central Bank, once every year. Central Bank director of resolution and corporate affairs John Coyle said the regulations were published after consultation with the Data Protection Commissioner and the Department of Finance, and a public consultation in 2015. The development of the central credit register is an important financial sector reform, contributing to financial stability and consumer protection. He said the register will match the personal and credit information received from lenders to create a complete credit report, containing all the loans relating to an individual borrower. This will facilitate enhanced creditworthiness assessments and responsible lending. Mr Coyle said the database would help the Central Banks supervision functions and provide it with better insights into financial markets. Under the Data Protection Acts, the Central Bank will act as data controller and will ensure strict security and data protection protocols are in place to safeguard borrowers information submitted by lenders to the register, he added. There will also be an awareness campaign to provide information on the register to the public. Virgin Media has been hit with a 255,000 fine from an industry watchdog for not giving its customers proper contracts. The broadband and TV company failed to provide contracts in a durable form to over 26,000 customers, according to a statement today from the Commission for Communications Regulation (Comreg). This made it difficult for the affected Virgin Media customers to recognise and see exactly what they were being charged for by the company, according to the regulator. Its the first time that an Irish broadband company has been punished by Comreg under rules governing so-called fixed payment notices. The issue arose following complaints from Virgin customers, according to Comreg. Virgin has said it accepts the fine and will pay it in full. It is to contact the affected customers and offer them the right to cancel their contracts. Author Hugh Jordan, here with his book Milestones In Murder, was the last journalist to speak to Denis Donaldson. Photo: Hugh Jordan Belfast folk of both traditions have a fondness for Donegal. For many nationalists, 'Destination Donegal' is where they polish up their Irish language skills - and it is also where some of them experience the first fluttering of adolescent romance, attending Gaeltacht summer schools. In July, the Donegal seaside village of Dunfanaghy is so popular with Protestants that local people jokingly refer to it as 'Sandy Row', after the hard-line loyalist area of inner city Belfast. I'm lucky in that being descended of two grandparents born in the county, I got to know it well. In fact, I made it my business to become familiar with every highway, by-way, bog and boreen. Years before I had written a hit song about Donegal, and I had helped make a documentary about the place which was broadcast on prime-time TV. And so when an old republican contact suggested to me that Denis Donaldson - the senior Sinn Fein figure and close confidante of Gerry Adams who admitted being a British spy - may be hiding out in Donegal, I made it my business to track him down. My source said he knew Donaldson owned an old cottage in Donegal, but the problem was, he couldn't remember exactly where it was. It wasn't much to go on, but at least it was something. Many reporters would have given their eye-teeth in return for knowledge of Donaldson's whereabouts. A quick word with the editor explaining my proposal, and I was on my way. But a full day inquiring around the Gweedore region failed to turn up any clues pertaining to the elusive Denis Donaldson. He was last seen on TV fronting-up a strained press conference, where he confessed his double-dealing. He then disappeared without trace. The next day, I headed south to Glenties, the picturesque town made famous as Glenmornan in Patrick McGill's classic novel, 'Children of the Dead End'. I parked outside the Bridge Bar on Main Street and I was reading a newspaper when something made me glance upwards. I couldn't believe my eyes. Because crossing the road - not 50 yards in front of me - was Denis Donaldson, the man I had been hoping to find. Gone was the sharp suit he wore on a daily basis while traipsing the marbled halls of Stormont as a senior Sinn Fein fixer. Donaldson had aged considerably since I last clapped eyes on him. He had grown a scraggy beard and his wispy greying hair was in need of a trim. His cargo-pants-style trousers were tucked into boots he hadn't even bothered to lace. The Belfast man had emerged from a general store carrying a small item in a paper bag when I spotted him. He was walking slowly in the direction of a blue family saloon car. I turned the ignition key and waited in anticipation. Read more: Gerry Adams 'prepared to speak to police if asked' following BBC Spotlight allegations Read more: Comment: James Bond fanatic Denis Donaldson was 'Walter Mitty-type who flaunted double life' Donaldson got into his car, started up the engine and drove off slowly. I followed at a safe distance. Towards the end of Main Street, he signalled left, taking the back road to Doochary, some seven miles away. At the top of the hill, he signalled a right and when I followed a few minutes later, I was just in time to see him walk to a small white-washed stone farmhouse. Donaldson opened the front door and disappeared inside. I turned my car, drove back towards Glenties and waited for a journalist colleague to arrive with camera equipment. We returned to the cottage hours later, I parked my car some 30 yards away and walked back toward the property in full view of anyone inside. We were filming the proceedings. Before I reached the access steps, Denis Donaldson appeared at the front door which he closed behind him. I walked straight to him and introduced myself. Donaldson shook my out-stretched hand and he told me he knew exactly who I was. As it was around lunchtime, I asked him if he fancied a bite to eat or even going for a pint in a local hostelry, but he declined both. Donaldson had the look of a hunted animal about him and I noticed one of his eyelids flickered constantly throughout our 14-minute-long exchange. I asked him why he took the momentous decision to turn his back on his Sinn Fein comrades, choosing to work instead for the sworn enemy, the British Secret Service. But the former Sinn Fein man just shrugged his shoulders declining to offer any explanation. He insisted though that there was no spy ring operating inside Parliament Buildings at Stormont. And he somewhat bizarrely claimed he was thrown to the wolves by his British paymasters in order to save the political skin of the then Ulster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble. Before leaving, I asked Donaldson what the future held for him. And he pointed to the white-washed pre-famine farmhouse without running water, which had been his home for six months. I said: "Donegal?" He replied: "Yes, I just want to live in peace." And then he ominously added: "I don't suppose there will be much peace now though." A few days later, the story was published on the front page of all editions of the 'Sunday World' and it was generally accepted as a good old-fashioned tabloid scoop - Sinn Fein's Scarlet Pimpernel had been found. All that changed though, when just over two weeks later, Denis Donaldson was shot dead in a brutal slaying inside his cottage home. It became headline news around the world. But things had changed for me. I suddenly found myself on the receiving end of accusations that I had somehow set up Donaldson for murder. Over the next two days, I did 67 radio, TV and press interviews. I said then and I repeated it again this week on the BBC 'Spotlight' programme which alleged Gerry Adams gave the green light for Donaldson's murder: in my view, only those who pulled the trigger or sanctioned the killing were responsible for Donaldson's death. Donaldson was a well-known political figure in Northern Ireland. He disappeared without trace and before he had properly explained his actions. I felt it was my duty as an investigative reporter to track him down if possible. In this regard, I was successful. My own investigations into Donaldson revealed he was sworn into the IRA in 1964 in a Belfast alleyway alongside Gerry Adams. It appears now, that his name will continue to haunt Adams until he decides to quit Dail Eireann for good. An Irish teenager who has developed a laser technology which could help millions of Parkinson's sufferers around the world, has launched a Fund It campaign to raise 20,000 to bring her invention to fruition. Edel Browne (19) from Athenry in Galway has won multiple awards for her invention Free Feet, which helps people with Parkinson's Disease walk unaided. However, she now needs the funds to build a second prototype before she can secure significant funding from international investors. The Free Feet project involves attaching a laser light to a patient's shoes. This improves mobility by giving them a target to focus on. The innovative technology has the opportunity to help millions of Parkinson's sufferers worldwide. Initial trials found the technology resulted in a 40pc reduction in gait freeze, which causes a shuffling movement and falls among Parkinson's patients. The third year Biotechnology student at NUI, Galway started work on the Free Feet project when she was just 15-years-old, winning the 'Best Individual Award' at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in 2013. The Galway teen has since juggled secondary school and university while setting up the company, picking up some prestigious accolades along the way. She was chosen as one of 30 Global Teen Leaders and attended the Just Peace Summit in New York earlier this year. Edel was also a guest at 10 Downing Street after she was named one of 200 Founders of the Future. The young student is currently Entrepreneur in Residence at Blackstone Launchpad in NUI Galway, a campus-based programme to get students thinking about developing their ideas and projects. But she must still find time for college. "I'm writing up a college lab report as we speak. It just comes down to time management. All my friends know if I'm not in college I'm working on this. I'm not at home watching Netflix. There have been no duvet days for a few years now," she said. But she now needs the vital funding if she is to bring her company Free Feet Medical any further. "We need the funding to develop a second prototype which will allow us to carry out larger scale trials. Our initial trial found a 40pc decrease in gait freezing and we want to bring this further now to see if it can reduce the severity of falls. "This will put us in position to go and look for more serious funding from investors and this will enable us to get to market as soon as possible, in order to improve quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease," she added. To donate, visit www.freefeetmedical.com. Ireland is to get its first Bachelor of Science honours degree programme in brewing and distilling next year, to help meet the rapidly-growing needs of industry. It is the course of many students' dreams - where they cannot be accused of wasting their college years drinking beer. Ireland is to get its first Bachelor of Science honours degree programme in brewing and distilling next year, to help meet the rapidly-growing needs of industry. The course, which is limited to 18 places, is building on a long tradition in biosciences at the Institute of Technology, Carlow. The college is rolling out the new, four-year programme for 2017 CAO applicants. The level of demand for the course will determine the CAO points necessary. IT Carlow president Dr Patricia Mulcahy said the college was ideally positioned to establish itself as a centre for teaching and learning in both brewing and distillation. Renaissance She said the new programme would target both national and international learners. Among those endorsing the course is Bord Bia, whose drinks sector manager Denise Murphy said the industry was in "desperate need of this type of initiative". It is coming onstream as brewing and distilling undergo a renaissance in Ireland, with 28 whiskey and gin distilleries now operating or being developed, and a massive growth in craft breweries. Brewing activity in Ireland now ranges from small lifestyle producers to microbreweries, to larger indigenous players and to the major producers The Irish beer sector employs 2,000 people and supports thousands of farming families, who grow the necessary crops. Whiskey exports have grown since 2009 while an increasing variety of craft gins are also emerging and direct employment in distilling is expected to grow 30pc in a decade. The Department of Agriculture's Food Wise 2025 National Plan envisages huge opportunities in the whisky and craft beer sectors, with plans to double whiskey exports and to increase the number of microbreweries to 100. According to Food Wise, emerging markets in Asia and the explosion of craft alcohol markets in the US provides Irish companies with enormous potential to expand. Tony O'Brien, Director General of the Health Service Executive (second left) at the scene at Naas General Hospital in Co KIldare after a patient died and a medic was injured after an ambulance burst into flames. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire The emergency department was shut down following the incident. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire The scene at Naas General Hospital in Co KIldare after a patient died and a medic was injured after an ambulance burst into flames. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire The scene at Naas General Hospital in Co KIldare after a patient died and a medic was injured after an ambulance burst into flames. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire The scene at Naas General Hospital in Co KIldare after a patient died and a medic was injured after an ambulance burst into flames. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire The scene at Naas General Hospital in Co KIldare after a patient died and a medic was injured after an ambulance burst into flames. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire A MAN has died and two ambulance workers were hospitalised after an ambulance went on fire outside the A&E department of Naas General Hospital this afternoon. The cause of the fire is not known but it has been confirmed that the patient in the ambulance at the time died. The man, from Kildare, is believed to have been in his late 70s. Sources at the hospital have said that a male patient in the ambulance was killed and two ambulance crew, aged in their thirties and their forties, were injured in what was described as "an explosion in the back of the ambulance". It is understood one of the ambulance crew received severe burns to the head, face, torso and upper limbs after he was blown back in the explosion. Expand Close Damaged ambulance at entrance to Naas General Hospital, Naas, Co. Kildare. Picture: Caroline Quinn / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Damaged ambulance at entrance to Naas General Hospital, Naas, Co. Kildare. Picture: Caroline Quinn He has been transferred to the specialist burns unit in St James's Hospital in Dublin. Director General of the HSE said they are hopeful the gentleman will make a full recovery. The second ambulance crew member received more minor injuries, including smoke inhalation while trying to assist at the scene. Expand Close Damaged ambulance at A&E entrance to Naas General Hospital, Naas, Co. Kildare. Picture: Caroline Quinn / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Damaged ambulance at A&E entrance to Naas General Hospital, Naas, Co. Kildare. Picture: Caroline Quinn A spokesperson for Kildare Fire Service told Independent.ie both Naas and Newbridge Fire Stations responded to the emergency call on Thursday afternoon. Four units attended the scene. Read More The emergency call was received at 13.33 and the first unit arrived at the scene at 13.37. Chair of National Ambulance Service Representative Association Michael Dixon paid tribute to the workers this evening. Fire at Naas hospital right now pic.twitter.com/xHcww785FK Kevin Killick (@queev) September 22, 2016 Awful to here what has happened in Kildare today, thoughts and prayers to everyone Fred Sharkey (@FredSharkey) September 22, 2016 First of all our thoughts and prayers are with the gentleman who lost his life in the back of the ambulance and also the crew members from the National Ambulance Service who were injured," he told Kildare FM. The information we are receiving at the moment is very sketchy. At the moment there are a lot of concerned paramedics around the country wondering what went on. Every ambulance carries compressed gas in cylinders however this would have to be combusted itself in order to catch fire. The question is was there a leak involved or was there a third party involved. We have to let the investigation run its course," he continued. We had some incidents years ago with new vehicles that they went on fire as there was issues with the engines but the manufacturers resolved that very quickly. Health Minister Simon Harris said: "Like all of us, I was numb when I heard about this terrible tragedy. "I visited the hospital this evening to extend my sympathies to the family on the death of their loved one. "I also wanted to support the incredible efforts of the staff in Naas General Hospital on what was an extremely difficult and upsetting day and to convey my hope of a full recovery to the injured paramedic staff. "The Director General of the HSE has briefed me on the situation and informed me that a number of investigations with now take place." "My thoughts and prayers remain with the family of the deceased man and with are injured paramedics." Closure The closure of the emergency department now means that other hospitals including Portlaoise, Tullamore, St Vincent's and Tallaght will be taking any emergencies that would have been destined for Naas. The HSE issued a statement this afternoon saying they can confirm an incident at the hospital. They confirmed that the Emergency Department is now temporarily closed. Witness Nathan Curtis told Independent.ie; ""I was just passing by and seen the smoke and when we pulled in Kildare Fire Services were there trying to put the fire out. "The whole A&E department was evacuated. I was just hoping nobody was hurt." Rob Moore said: "I heard a load of alarms going off so I went to see what was going on. The old part of the hospital was being evacuated. "There was a lot of panic and people were running around." The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has now implemented "appropriate diversion protocols". See more: This means patients are being taken to alternative hospitals. The NAS has informed both the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and An Garda Siochana and a full investigation is underway into the incident. Tonight, Naas General Hospital released a statement to say that its Emergency Department reopened at 9pm and is now receiving both walk-in attendances and ambulance admissions. "The hospital would like to thank the public for their co-operation during the disruption to services at the hospital earlier today." James Lawless TD for the area said he extends his condolences to family of the deceased. I extend my condolences to the family of the person who has passed away," he said. "It's an horrific thing to happen and my thoughts go out to the family and to the staff who are continuing to deal with the situation." More to follow Health Minister Simon Harris ruled out a second cardiac cath lab for Waterford Hospital Waterford hospital campaigners have demanded a fresh report on cardiac services amid controversy over key data supplied to an independent expert. It has now emerged that Prof Niall Herity assessed University Hospital Waterfords (UHW) need for a second catherisation lab on the basis of disputed figures supplied in relation to Waterfords catchment area population and the hospitals risk assessment rating. Health Minister Simon Harris has staunchly backed Prof Heritys findings in the Government commissioned report that Waterford does not need a second cath lab. He also warned there can be no political interference in strategic healthcare planning. His position was backed by former Health Minister Leo Varadkar and Housing Minister Simon Coveney. However, UHW doctors, Junior Minister and Independent TD John Halligan and UHW campaigner Kieran Hartley warned that there was now an overwhelming case for a full study review. Mr Halligan had threatened to resign over the failure to sanction the second cath lab, insisting it had been a key commitment of his agreeing to support the minority Fine Gael Government. He also expressed fury at the suggestion key Waterford cardiac resources should be transferred to Dublin and Cork. Two key statistics supplied to Prof Herity have now been challenged by UHW supporters. UHWs risk assessment rating was temporarily changed from 20 out of 25 to 16 out of 25 in late August a rating that Mr Hartley is convinced was critical to the independent review. The rating had been unchanged since 2012/2013. The UHW board said it was appalled at the temporary change in critical cardiac risk assessment data. One UHW medic said such a change was absolutely unprecedented and queried its timing. Serious questions now need to be answered about why critical data was either changed or understated as Prof Herity prepared to conduct his report, Mr Hartley said. Various Government ministers have warned about political interference but my fear is that there has clearly been some kind of interference in relation to Waterfords case for enhanced cardiac services, he added. It has now emerged that UHW was also assessed for its cardiac service needs on the basis of a catchment area population of 280,000 across Waterford, south Kilkenny, Wexford and south Tipperary. However, one senior UHW doctor, who asked to be unnamed, insisted that the actual catchment area population should be 520,000. A population of more than 480,000 was quoted for UHW by senior Fine Gael officials in Oireachtas debates more than five years ago, he said. So we are more than a little confused about where the smaller population catchment area for cardiac services was arrived at. UHW campaigners now want Prof Herity to review his findings in light of the two correct statistics. Leo Varadkar says gardai must investigate the latest claims surrounding Gerry Adams's role in the murder of a British spy. Senior Government figures last night ramped up the heat on the Sinn Fein president following claims broadcast by the BBC's 'Spotlight'. Sinn Fein has been left reeling by claims that Mr Adams played a central role in the murder of former senior party official Denis Donaldson. Mr Adams labelled the murder claims "lies" and said the contents of the programme are being considered by his lawyers. But Mr Varadkar warned that the constant denials should be taken with a "pinch of salt" and added: "Allegations are only allegations. But when it comes to Gerry Adams now, there are just so many allegations of his involvement in crime and murder and atrocities in the past." Chilean and Argentinian wine specialist Condor Wines and Wines of Uruguay UK have formed a partnership in a bid to become the UKs top specialist importer of premium South American wines. More than hundred wines from thirteen producers in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay will form the portfolio, created by Condor Wines Lee Evans and Carla Bertellotti of Wines of Uruguay UK. Evans said: Condor Wines initially focused on Argentina and Chile, but it was always our intention to introduce more from South America. A visit to Uruguay in April convinced me that this was a region that deserved more focus in the UK. Uruguayan wines offer something very different and will fit well within our range. We are delighted to be able to offer a strengthened portfolio to our customers and act as their one-stop-shop for quality South American wines. Carla Bertellotti added: To associate with a specialist in Argentinian and Chilean wines was the logical next step for Wines of Uruguay UK, and it means that together we will now be able to offer greater choice to our customers. Bertellotti will focus on developing the London market, while Evans and new regional manager Helen MacKenzie will concentrate on expanding sales around the rest of the country. At present, both companies will remain independent of each other, but the companies said it is hoped the collaboration will strengthen distribution of each companys portfolio and offer customers more choice. Condor Wines said its next move will be to increase its Chilean offering and is "actively looking" for new producers over the next 12 months. Police are investigating the sudden death of a man in Belfast city centre. The 45-year-old man was discovered in a car park in the Donegall Street area on Wednesday night. Business owners in the area said police and an ambulance arrived at around 11.30pm. The area remained cordoned off on Thursday morning. Detective Inspector Michelle Griffin said: "A post mortem is expected to be carried out to establish the cause of death." Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the Government will host a summit on Thursday involving those fighting homelessness Senior government ministers have pledged to bring an end to the homelessness crisis through a series of measures which include the introduction of 200 additional beds for rough sleepers. At least 1,500 so-called rapid build units, also known as modular homes, will be built by the end of 2018. And the Housing Agency will purchase 1,600 vacant properties, a number of which the Government says will be used to provide permanent homes for homeless families. The latest figures show that 4,248 adults used emergency accommodation during a week in August 2016. This is an increase of 26pc on the same figures in 2015. In total, there were 1,151 families in emergency accommodation last month. The vast majority of these were in Dublin. At Government buildings today, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and a number of senior ministers detailed plans to address the crisis. Mr Kenny says the "first priority" is to move families out of "inappropriate" accommodation such as hotels. The Government's Action Plan for Housing and homelessness commits to doing so by mid-2017, except in "limited circumstances". Some 1,750 tenancies under the homeless HAP scheme will be secured by the end of 2017. A "one stop shop" assessment centre will be put in place for families presenting as homeless. The plan also contains measures aimed at helping children who are homeless. Dedicated child support workers will be put in place through a new initiative. Health Minister Simon Harris confirmed that 2m extra will be given to the HSE to provide support for homeless people with health needs. In relation to mortgage arrears, Housing Minister Simon Coveney said the need further legislation in this year will be examined. The mortgage-to-rent scheme will also be revamped. A Dublin teenager who was killed in a horror road crash in Donegal has been described as a girl who constantly wanted more from life. Kiara Baird (19) who was originally from Clondalkin, died along with Maria Wallace (38) when the car in which they were traveling with a man in his 20s lost control on a bend on the Glenfin Road, on the outskirts of Ballybofey, Co Donegal at 4.15pm on Wednesday. Ms Wallace is believed to be a mother of three boys. Today Kiaras grandfather Declan paid tribute to her, as he came to terms with the shocking news in his Clondalkin home. He said Kiara had moved with her mother Tracy and her three siblings to Donegal around six years ago to make a better life for themselves because Tracy did not want to bring up her children in Dublin. She wanted her children to be safe. I reared all my family here in the city, and I wouldn't change that, but times have changed a lot since then and Tracy didn't want her children reared in the city, said Declan. Expand Close Kiara Baird / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kiara Baird There's another daughter of mine in Kerry for the same reason, he added. Kiara was our first grandchild. The first of the next generation of 13 grandchildren. She was special because of that. She was full of life and full of questions, and constantly wanted more from life. Kiara would still come down to Dublin a lot to go out with friends, and I would see her often. What happened is just awful, he added. I'm a youth worker myself, and Ive known a lot of young people killed in car crashes as a result. Ive been to too many funerals. I don't know what happened in the crash. I don't want to be a person looking for any blame. All I know is Kiara is gone. All I know is we miss her, Declan explained. He said Kiara had been on a training course in Donegal in recent times. The crash happened on what was billed as the European Day Without A Road Death (EDWARD) - an initiative that was hoped would see no road deaths in Europe for one day. It is understood the blue Citroen C3 that the three 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. Kiara 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 20s, 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 Kiara: "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. A man has been cut free from his car after it went over the wall of the Portstewart promenade in Derry. It happened on Thursday morning in the Crescent area of the seaside town just before 10.30am. Locals reported hearing a loud bang as the incident happened. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were called to the report of a one vehicle crash. Three fire crews attended from Coleraine, Portstewart and Portrush. Firefighters using cutting equipment freed the man from the car. A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: "Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service finished at the scene at 10:48am. John Bradley, the owner of a nearby store Sheila's Portstewart, said there were no railings at that particular stretch of road at present and that it had happened before. He said: "The car has been removed. My brother-in law was nearby and he just heard a big bang. In 2013 a couple in their late 80s had a miraculous escape after their car shot off the edge of the promenade and crashed onto rocks 20ft below. They attempted to leave the car park beside the Crescent's karting area but instead of reversing, the vehicle shot forward, falling off the edge of the walkway and landing on rocks. Deputy First minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness has confirmed that he will attend a Dail committee examining Project Eagle. He was invited, along with former first minister Peter Robinson, to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to be quizzed on the sale of Nama's Northern Ireland loan book. Mr Robinson has yet to confirm that he will attend. Mr McGuinness said he has "no problem at all" appearing before the committee. "I would like to see anyone who's invited by the committee to attend," he added but said whether or not Mr Robinson appears is "a matter for himself". As spokeswoman for Mr Robinson's party, the DUP, said that he "isn't doing any media stuff regards Nama", when asked about the invite. Both Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness were participants in a January 2014 phone call with Finance Minister Michael Noonan where the controversial deal was discussed. Labour leader Brendan Howlin said he hoped Mr Robinson will appear at PAC adding: "I think he should". But he said that the probe shouldn't "fixate on the personalities of this. We need to know what happened." PAC is examining Project Eagle after a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General for that found that Nama incurred a potential loss to the taxpayer of 190m (223m) in the Project Eagle sale. Nama has rejected the report claiming its based on 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. The Minister for Transport has warned he will not act as "some sort of Sugar Daddy" at Dublin Bus as services are set to grind to a halt for a fifth strike tomorrow. Shane Ross said he will not "rescue" the warring factions by writing a cheque to fund a 15pc pay rise that is being sought by staff over the next three years. But Mr Ross's insistence that he should not intervene came as the bus company's boss warned that the crippling campaign of industrial action will cost it 21m and leave the company in a "catastrophic" financial position. Ray Coyne appealed to his 3,364-strong workforce to get back into talks and avoid further disruption. With the minister unwilling to get involved, it appears that the onus is on the Workplace Relations Commission to intervene. The unions say they are prepared to negotiate without preconditions but Dublin Bus says it will engage on the basis that any pay rises above 8.25pc must be funded by extra productivity. Speaking at a Dail committee yesterday, Mr Ross warned politicians it was "really not going to help the situation to try to draw the minister into a battle in which he is not going to get engaged". "I've said that I'm not going to produce the chequebook" he said. "You're going to have to believe this and both sides are going to have to believe that. "I'm not going to say any more than I've already said in answer to these questions about the dispute except that I do urge both parties to get together. "I will not, they cannot expect me, in a public or a private forum, to be some sort of Sugar Daddy who is going to rescue either of them out of a difficult situation. "That is not my role. I'm a shareholder." Meanwhile, in his letter, Mr Coyne said industrial action is undermining all past efforts to cut costs and could force the management to seek further cuts. He said the strikes have the potential to return the company to a "post-2010 financial crisis". Read more: Dublin Bus workers: Resolving pay dispute is our primary concern - not the All Ireland replay Hanoi wants to get in on Vietnam's start-up race The city hopes incentives such as funding, training and simply a place to work will attract more start-ups. Hanoi, following in Ho Chi Minh Citys footsteps, has announced its intention to be at the forefront of Vietnams start-up movement. The capital aims to double its private companies to 400,000 in the next four years, said Nguyen Van Tu, head of Hanois Investment and Planning Department, on Wednesday at a workshop on start-up ecosystems. Hanoi is second only to Ho Chi Minh City in terms of overall number of businesses, and they contribute a combined 40 percent of the city's budget revenue, create 67 percent of new jobs and produce 38 percent of its total output, Tu cited official figures as saying. In order to truly become a start-up hub, Hanoi has to do more than just count the number of businesses. The citys policymakers are trying to create more favorable business conditions by simplifying business licensing procedures, said Tu. He emphasized that business licensing is the key to unlocking the potential for more start-ups. Hanoi also plans to develop a start-up ecosystem where idea-stage companies can get access to basic amenities such as a work space and broadband internet. Under the plan, the city will support start-up firms through training, networking, legal advice and funding. Vietnams start-up dream 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 fresh initiatives aimed at paving the way for the boom in technology start-ups The goal, said Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, is to have "one million start-up companies by 2020". To achieve this, the government plans to launch an online portal to keep start-ups updated about new technologies, policies and funding. Start-ups will even receive financial support from the government for training, product testing and marketing. The Ministry of Planning and Investment is working on a set of initiatives that will make it easier for foreign venture capital funds to invest in local start-ups. We are looking forward to the day the Ministry of Planning and Investment introduces a policy to clear stumbling blocks for foreign venture capitalists, making it easier for them to acquire stakes in start-ups, said Vo Tran Dinh Hieu, an executive at Dragon Capital Group. Hieu explained that if investors hold a controlling stake in a start-up, they will be committed for the long term. Related News: > Saigon, chasing the Silicon Valley dream, nurtures tech start-ups > Should the Vietnamese government invest in start-ups? > Vietnamese mobile start-up 'Shark Journey' snaps up $40,000 from Facebook The Social Democrats have appointed Brian Sheehan, a prominent activist for LGBTQ rights, as their first General Secretary. Sheehan was the co-director of the Yes campaign in last years referendum for marriage equality and has been Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network since 2007. He will formally take up the post on November 1st. In a statement, Mr Sheehan said Its a great honour for me to take up this position with the Social Democrats. The Party has a hugely important role to play in Irish politics and social change in the years to come. The Social Democrats are ideally placed to bring the essential Irish values of fairness, justice and equal citizenship to the forefront of Irish politics. Roisin Shortall T.D., co-leader of the party, said To meet our ambitions as a party we need the very best and in Brian we know weve got just that. Members have been joining in increasing numbers in recent weeks and well be stepping up our membership drive in the weeks ahead. Services will stop at 9pm tonight ahead of the strikes on Friday and Saturday. For the third week in a row Dublin Bus will carry out a 48-hour strike in a dispute over pay conditions. Dublin Bus management have once again released a statement saying services will stop at 9pm tonight to ensure the safe and secure return of buses to each depot prior to the commencement of industrial action by all employees at midnight. Here is what you need to know ahead of the strike: No Dublin Bus routes, sightseeing tours or Airlink services will operate during the strike and there will be no Nitelink services on Friday or Saturday night. Dublin Bus has said that all monthly and annual ticket holders will not be able to claim their refunds until after the strike action is over. Dublin Bus services will stop at 9pm tonight and this includes Airlink services. Unions announced last week 13 more days of strike action planned for September and October. The next strike days have been scheduled for September 27th and 28th, with more in October on the 1, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 18, 19, 24, 26 and 29. Staff are seeking a 15pc pay increase over the next three years and a 6pc increase they were due to get under the National Wage Agreement back in 2008 which was deferred. Transport Minister Shane Ross yesterday said he will not intervene in the bus strike as he is not a sugar daddy and cannot be expected to ride in on a white horse and shining armour with a cheque book. An Irish blogger who documented her labour on Snapchat has welcomed a baby girl in Dublin's Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital. Grace Mongey, the woman behind popular make-up blog Faces by Grace, shared images and video while in labour with her Snapchat followers before welcoming her first child last night. The blogger has shared details about her pregnancy with her followers throughout the past nine months, and introduced the new addition on Facebook this morning. Baby Faces entered this world at 22:29pm last night. Weighing a fab 9 pounds 4 and is perfect, the blogger wrote. Read More The make-up artist has been the recipient of much media attention since opting to share intimate moments from the delivery room and has received praise from her followers who congratulated her in their hundreds this morning. Throughout the past few days, the blogger revealed she had passed her due date and told her followers of the home remedies she was trying in the hope of inducing labour. Last nights updates from Snapchat included images of Mongey receiving epidural and images of her partner holding the pairs little doll. The first obesity plan to stop Ireland becoming the fattest country in Europe will be launched by the Government today with the aim of securing a 5pc reduction in our average weight in the next decade. The 'Healthy Weight for Ireland' plan, to be launched by Junior Health Minister Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, wants a national 'Operation Transformation'-style effort to secure a sustained weight loss annually. The cross-department drive, which will incorporate improvements in our surroundings to make it easier to exercise, will also feature a revised food pyramid which indicates what we should being eating most of and what we need to limit. The pyramid suggests the correct amount of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals we should be eating daily to maintain good health. The last food pyramid - which is divided into six shelves - was produced in 2010 and put carbohydrates, a good source of nutrients and fibre, at the bottom shelf level. This meant it was the food group we could eat most of in the day. Read more: School and shop-bought lunches make our teenagers fat It could comprise six or more servings of energy-providing carbohydrates such as porridge, potatoes, pasta, brown bread and rice. In the new guide, the highest bulk group will be replaced by fruit and vegetables. The introduction of a sugar tax on fizzy drinks is also planned but it will not be enforced until 2018. Other elements include: Making PE a Leaving Cert subject to increase the exercise of young people. It will remain optional but it is hoped to encourage more girls to be active. Food companies will come under more pressure to reduce ingredients such as fat, sugar and salt. There will be stricter codes around the marketing of food and drinks, particularly to children. More calorie posting to allow us make informed food choices. It comes as a new report in 'The Lancet' medical journal today places Ireland in 13th place on a world league table of countries for progress in meeting health targets set out in 2000. The targets cover a wide range of areas including child overweight, infant mortality and transmission of diseases. The Central African Republic, Somalia, and South Sudan were ranked as worst. Read more: Three-quarters of toddlers being overfed by parents The USA ranked 28th in the world. This relatively poor performance was mainly driven by deaths due to interpersonal violence, HIV, harmful alcohol consumption, childhood overweight, and suicide. The USA also did badly compared to other high-income countries on maternal, child, and neonatal mortality reflecting the large differences in access and quality of healthcare in the USA. Obesity expert Prof Donal O'Shea said: "We know that children as young as two are presenting to weight clinics and are seriously overweight, and we know that one in four children in Ireland is overweight or obese. "This disease is the greatest public health problem facing Irish society." Brendan Keenan: 'Better laws and foreign money needed to overcome worrying homes shortage' There is a district in Belfast known as the Holy Land. Not because of its religiosity, but because the streets - Jerusalem Street, Damascus Street and so on - are called after places in that region. Once, there were others; Little Crimea, India, and so on. Seemingly, houses were built so quickly for the city's huge expansion in the 19th century that it was too much trouble to think up original names. They eventually gave up altogether, so far as names were concerned. The Shankill area got First Street, Second Street etc, all the way up to Tenth. Premium Sinead Moriarty: 'Weve got to disconnect to reconnect to our gift of the gab' Are we losing our world-famous gift of the gab? In an attempt to save our traditional national pastime, a pub in west Cork has banned people from using mobile phones. Billy Fleming, owner of the Anchor Bar, in Courtmacsherry, has said that the locals who drink in his pub support his decision and that mobile phones have gradually killed conversation over the last few years. Gerry Adams probably thought he was being clever when he finally admitted last week: "It isn't a question of if I will step down, it's a question of when". The Sinn Fein president even added mysteriously: "We have a plan." That will stop the speculation about my leadership, he must have 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' with the claim that Mr Adams personally sanctioned the murder of fellow party veteran Denis Donaldson. That allegation cannot be verified, of course; there's a case to be made that it would have been wiser to keep Mr Adams out of the loop in that nasty episode, never mind giving him "the final say". But it matters less 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, Mr 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. Read more: Gerry Adams 'prepared to speak to police if asked' following BBC Spotlight allegations Read more: Once again Adams finds himself linked to heinous act Mr 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 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, Mr Adams must be one of the people in public life who has been most reluctant to sue his accusers. He issues vague threats of legal action, but threats are where it ends, because Mr 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 courtroom. So he is 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. 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 Irish Republic whilst Mr Adams remains their public face. 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 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. European Union leaders met in the beautiful Slovakian capital of Bratislava to plan the EU's future in the turmoil of Brexit, high unemployment and an ongoing refugee crisis. But the cheeky Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, was not impressed and derided the get-together as a "nice cruise on the Danube". Annoyed by the way the French and Germans took charge, as usual, Renzi slammed the event's conclusions for their lack of commitment on economic growth and immigration. These days, it seems to be okay to slag off the EU, even if you're in it. It's now a case of 'who knows where the European project is going?' and the leadership seems to be just making it up as they go along. But Bratislava is in Slovakia and that small country, at least, has a Plan B for how to survive within this dysfunctional arrangement and look after its own interests. Along with Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, Slovakia has created the Visegrad group to protect its interests in an unwieldly EU dominated by Germany and France. The Visegrad group is opposed to (mostly German) attempts to force it to accept more migrants but it is also opposed to attempts by the UK, post-Brexit, to limit the rights of its citizens already working in Britain, of whom there are many from these particular four countries. Isn't it time that Ireland had a similar group to look after its interests, both within the EU and beyond?. After all, the UK, our main ally, has now exited and we are suddenly exposed. The good news is that we are in one such a group and it just met in Dublin. This is the Small Advanced Economies Initiative (SAEI) a very interesting collaboration between seven countries - Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore and Switzerland. Only three members are in the EU. The group was set up in New Zealand, with which we share so many similarities, and it involves a "network of senior officials who confer on and share insights" in three key areas - Science and Innovation, Economic Policy and Foreign Affairs/International Issues. This group is good news, not least because of its seemingly eclectic but actually very strategic aspect, and shows our ability to think outside the increasingly threatened (and threatening!) EU box. We simply have to stay nimble and vigilant in these threatening times. All eventualities must be prepared for - and especially the cultivation of other links. Even the idea of rejoining the Commonwealth should not be scoffed at. We need to keep the UK close to to us, politically and economically. The reality is that we are in a scary situation now, with the EU, almost daily, coming out with pronouncements about no more favourable tax deals for corporates and a "level playing field", and basically threatening our golden goose of the 12.5pc corporate tax rate. Meanwhile, our MEPs don't exactly help things, going either native in Brussels and parroting the Juncker line, or making populist noises about attacking globalisation - and attacking Irish investors. It all adds up to an extremely challenging situation. We are going to really miss the UK batting away forcefully in Brussels, as we have always been used to coasting along in its slipstream. Now it's just us facing the Germans and French. There is also the trade aspect, of course, and Northern Ireland, but also the sense that the Irish Government doesn't yet know in what direction to develop a post-Brexit strategy because we simply don't know what the British will do, or at what speed they will exit the EU. And nor do the British themselves, apparently. So, what is our future in all of this? And how can we safeguard what are Ireland's interests and ring-fence what has absolutely given us a lifeline to economic survival and prosperity? Only this week, we had fantastic job announcements for Cork, Galway and Limerick: most of it is US pharma-based and none of it has anything to do with Brussels. On the contrary, the EU would deny us this investment for the sake of its 'competition' policy and so-called EU unity. But where was the EU unity when the Germans forced the Irish public to pay the unsecured bondholders in a toxic bank? And where was the unity when the Germans recently apparently dismissed Ireland as a special case, post-Brexit, despite the clear division of our island and the always fragile Northern Ireland peace process? And this is despite the fact that the Germans were a 'special case' when they were allowed to rush Eastern Germany into the EU in 1990 without the usual waiting period, because German re-unification was paramount and pressing. We supported the Germans on that. Are we going to get similar support? Or, more likely, are we going to be abandoned by a flailing and indecisive EU, which has just lost a man overboard and doesn't know where it is going? "If the EU wants to pass the afternoon writing documents without any soul or any horizon, they can do it on their own," said the Italian prime minister defiantly after the EU's aimless cruise in Bratislava. "If things go on like this, instead of the spirit of Bratislava [which Angela Merkel referred to] we will be talking about the ghost of Europe." Stark words, but valid ones and right now Ireland needs to be urgently thinking of other vessels and other boats in which to carry us forward. Many of those responsible for the debt have disappeared, according to the municipal customs agency. Ho Chi Minh City's General Customs Department has asked national authorities in Hanoi for permission to clear VND1,355 billion ($60.7 million) in tax debts owed by defunct import and export businesses. A new report from the agency listed nearly VND1.6 trillion in unrecovered taxes. The report described 85 percent of the money owed as difficult to recover since the responsible parties have either filed for dissolution, bankruptcy or disappeared from their registered area. Some of those responsible for the outstanding taxes are under criminal investigation. Half of the total tax debts were accumulated between 2007 and 2013. The businesses no longer operate in their registered areas and their representatives are nowhere to be found, the report said. A total of 36,626 companies in Vietnam closed in the first six months of 2016. The figure breaks down to 203 shutdowns per day, up 17 percent from the same period last year, according to data from the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Related news: > Vietnam fuel giant asks for tax support to keep unpopular biofuel in business > Vietnam looks at giving SMEs a tax break > 30 companies vanished each day in first five months: GSO report This is my first public update of the Ministerial Taskforce I established to regenerate the north-east inner city. I'm privileged to be working with the local community and appreciate their warmth and kindness when we meet. Every time we meet in person or update each other on our plans, I make sure to listen carefully to what the people in the inner city are saying. They tell me they're tired. Tired of being ignored. Tired of having work done for them, not with them. Tired of how too much of the bad in their community is reported, while too much of the good is ignored. Tired of being handed a plaster with the message 'you'll be grand', when what they need is surgery. What they want and need is a long-term plan. Not a solution for today, but strategy for 10 years from now. Decent They tell me they are angry. Angry that they sometimes have to live their lives in a headline. Angry that the presented "public" face of the north-east inner city bears no connection to the decent private reality lived by its people. They are angry that one of the oldest and proudest communities in the capital is being held hostage by a new and vicious greed, a level of thuggery and violence that is hard to rival. They are angry that a generation of children are growing up in circumstances where checkpoints and searches are necessary. They are angry that those same circumstances are robbing their children and grandchildren of their sense of security, peace of mind, and above all, their dignity as individuals. I know - as they do - that these children have both the need and the right to dream. Through the Ministerial Taskforce, we are moving to do all we can to eradicate the threat, to work with the community and its leaders to create the kind of life that will bring security, prosperity, pride and opportunity to everyone across the age groups and across the area. When the Taskforce met last Thursday, Kieran Mulvey updated us on progress being made and the meetings he has had with the community. He remains on track to report in November with long-term measures to ensure and maintain regeneration. We will use the findings as a template to respond to similar challenges in communities in other parts of the country. This Taskforce is coming up with the plans that will make the future safer and more secure for all our people - both nationally and in the north inner city. We've enacted tougher laws on drugs and the proceeds of crime which strengthen the hand of An Garda Siochana. Additional garda recruitment will mean a greater presence, and a new National Drugs Strategy is in train. Locally, the refurbishment of Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station and supports for drugs projects will provide short-term progress and assurance of our longer-term commitment. The future must be not just safe but exciting for the young people proud to call the area home. Funding has been allocated to the Brighter Futures Initiative for new sporting facilities and for more local employment opportunities which will be of short and long-term benefit. Working closely with Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe and Cllr Ray McAdam, the Taskforce has been clear - the experts here are the community themselves. The local people know what is needed to make life better in their area. Together we must get the mix and the balance right. Because what works for today's problems might be all wrong for tomorrow's. But equally, if we don't address the minor problems now, we're guaranteeing trouble in the future. That's why we are focused on the long-term vision. Yes, it's early days for the Taskforce. But we've made a start. I've made personal connection with and commitment to the people of the north-east inner city. I'm looking forward to my next visit so we can discuss both the progress made and what we do next. For a moment, just a brief moment, it appeared that the final barrier between the offspring of the blue stockings of the minor ascendency and the thrifty shopkeepers, between privilege and trade, had finally crumbled after almost five centuries. In the latest Times Higher Education 'world university rankings' it seemed that the Catholic university founded by Cardinal Newman was about to eclipse the Protestant Elizabethan splendour of its Dublin competitor. But in a "hold it there" moment, it now appears that Trinity College Dublin "submitted and wrongly signed-off" on incorrect data and has now been excluded from the rankings until the mess is sorted out. Just when we thought that Ireland's so-called 'free education system' had finally ironed out the differences that once existed between the two best-known Dublin universities, along comes a controversy that points out the contrasting vista seen by those hurrying across the cobbled squares of 'Trinners' and those toiling in the angular modernity of Belfield. Maybe it is even refreshing to believe that such differences are not entirely dead in our globalised world. Although they were both venerable institutions and, at the time separated only by the length of Grafton Street and the grassy expanse of St Stephen's Green, 'Victory in Europe Day', May 8, 1945, symbolised the chasm that existed in the hearts and minds of the students of Trinity College Dublin in College Green and University College Dublin in Earlsfort Terrace. A group of about 50 students from Trinity raised a Union flag on the college facade in celebration of an Allied victory and as a group of Tricolour-waving UCD students, among them Charlie Haughey, tried to storm the walls of the college to tear it down. A Tricolour was set on fire and in the ensuing melee windows in Dublin's fashionable Jammets restaurant were smashed a number of people arrested. It wasn't so much the events themselves as the symbolism that counted. TCD, bastion of unionism, alma mater of Edward Carson, Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker was a place where education was an indulgence. Behind the iron railings and the ominous fortified entrance, it had become the Victorian bastion of Protestant power. On the other hand UCD, a Catholic university for a Catholic people, alma mater of James Joyce, John A Costelloe and Ulick O'Connor, was considered education as a means to attaining privilege and power, or holding on to what had been wrested from the empire so identifiable with its rival university. The writer JP Donleavy, who arrived in Dublin in 1946, his education to be paid by the US government under the GI Bill described the ambience. "We walked in an aura of glamour to which was added the behavioural license of being at Trinity, in itself and at the time, a distinct status of some elegance in Dublin city." It was that influx of foreigners and the fact that students lived in cold, draughty rooms on the quadrangles, and could order goods on 'tick' from the merchants of Grafton Street, that gave it a British feeling, one reinforced by the ancient libraries, academic rivalries and ceremonial nonsense that many thought more important than education. Cardinal Newman became the first Rector of UCD, founded in 1854, and in the years that followed it took in the Jesuit and Christian Brothers-educated young men who would take such an active part in 1916 and the War of Independence. It would educate many of the leaders of the new state, its judges and office holders. In Dublin for much of the 20th century there was an educational and business apartheid. Graduates of Trinity and UCD went to work in different banks, stockbroking firms, solicitor's offices, hospitals and schools, depending on the religious ethos of the owners. This chasm between the two colleges was reinforced with an official embargo by the Irish hierarchy on Catholics attending Trinity, which lasted from 1871 until 1970, articulated by the stern admonishments of Dublin's long-serving Catholic Archbishop, John Charles McQuaid. It has to be said that 'the ban' was a little like the church's teaching on contraception even in an era before a la carte Catholicism came into vogue. Did it end with free education in 1970? Listen to the voices - David McWilliams, Hugo MacNeill, Paul McGuinness and then contrast them with Feargal Quinn, Brian O'Driscoll, Maeve Binchy. Does it tell you something? Maybe not. Joe Duffy and Sharon Ni Bheolain went to Trinity after all and Adrian Hardiman and Kevin Myers to UCD - so maybe the whole argument about class, religion and status has evaporated in recent years. But there is no denying that there remains a difference, even if it is only in our own folk memory and the rivalry that always exists between two neighbouring tribes. Like many another, I never achieved the academic qualifications to attend either institution. The nearest I got were nights in the Belfield Bar with a raffish crowd of engineering students and the dance that followed, or seeing the dawn come up over the Campanile after a night of debauchery at the Trinity Ball. I do remember one academic lamenting UCD's move from Earlsfort Terrace to Belfield, saying that it had broken an important "axis of learning" at either end of Grafton Street. Some of the neighbouring publicans regretted the "axis of drinking" that was also lost. It would seem now that ratings and league tables have replaced social status and religion as reasons for choosing a university - which makes the present at least as scary as the past. There is good news for us all in the upcoming Budget. Let me explain. The moral imperative is that resources should be applied where need is greatest. It is a non-controversial, objective fact, that the overwhelming greatest human need is being experienced by those outside our country where there is such hunger and extreme poverty. The extremely poor do not have access to the very basic necessities for life. Rather than being a right, life is the prerequisite for all human rights. We Irish think that we are generous. We agree that we should do that which is at least our fair share in eradicating extreme poverty. Indeed our successive governments have committed us as a people to do so. But we are not doing so and since we are not doing our share it is illogical to consider ourselves generous, fair or committed to justice. This outcome is unfortunately a direct consequence of our demands. Governments perceive that the electorate are not motivated to help the starving of the world - voters are motivated by more personal issues. So the Government has made its decision. Of the 900m available, 600m will now go to better services and 300m to tax relief. We would need to give 600m more to do only our fair share for those in most need. The Government is to give us back half of this. We now need only find the other half. So whatever it is you are to get from the Government in tax reduction or social welfare increase - double it and give to a trustworthy overseas charity. It will now only cost you half as much as what you should have given last year. If we all do so we will save 35,900 lives and lift 5 million out of extreme poverty. Now, that is good news. And perhaps then we can justifiably make our own, less urgent demands. Aidan Barry Farnanes, Cork Abolishing USC would be folly With the Budget looming, we are once again back to the same old politics with all the political parties demanding more and more spending while refusing to widen a already narrowing tax base. Where have we heard all this before, have we learned anything? The proposed abolition of the USC will remove 4.1bn from our tiny economy, which cannot be easily replaced and should instead, as the voters of this country demanded, be used to pay for services. Handing back a few euro to each worker while our health service, for example, is in a shambles is foolhardy. I'm tired of politicians clapping themselves on the back, claiming credit for a growing economy, an economy we are told can afford this massive refund. Who are you trying to fool? I suspect an election looming. Unfortunately, the vast majority of workers in this country haven't felt the so-called recovery. Like it or not, it was the qualified members of the Troika who laid down the foundation stone and pointed Ireland in the right direction and it is they, plus the ESRI and many more besides, who are warning Ireland not to go down the same road to disaster again. I no longer believe that economies collapse because of the great global markets; evidence in this country at least would suggest it much more likely to be bad governance. Until such time as we change our political system and elect people of substance will real qualifications, mother Ireland will always be on her knees. Eugene McGuinness Bishop Birch Place, Kilkenny Stop interfering in US election I wonder how these-high profile Irish people who are publicly meddling in the American presidential election, would feel if an American musician or CEO made public statements vilifying the leader of an Irish political party? If President Donald Trump is in the White House on March 17, will those Irish politicians who have derided Trump eat humble pie and show the entire world that they are hypocrites? There are times to be silent on the electoral affairs of another nation: this is definitely one of them. Trump has reached out to those who imagine they are disaffected, and they deeply resent outside interference, interference that will drive them to vote for Trump. The Republicans thought they had a puppet in the Tea Party - now the Tea Party puppet is a rampant monster. The old Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times" appears to be with us today. Declan Foley Berwick, Australia The light's on, but... Ian O'Doherty tells us that, as a child, one of his favourite toys was a little oven with a light that you could turn on as you pretended to cook (Irish Independent, September 20). I confess to having had one of those "ovens" for the past 40 years! Tom Gilsenan Beaumont, Dublin 9 The West is being left behind The most recent figures on Gross Value Added (2008-2014) highlight just how deep and extensive is the economic imbalance between the best- and worst-off regions of the State. When the numbers are averaged, Dublin is streaking ahead with 53,239 per head. However, GVA in the Border, Midland and Western (BMW) region is 23,385, in the West it's 27,168, and the Mid-West has 29,147 - respectively 44pc, 51pc and 55pc of the GVA for Dublin. In short, the further west you go, the further the regions are falling behind. There is nothing accidental about this; it is the inevitable result of an official mindset and deliberate policy that has treated the western half of Ireland as little more than a reservation. Dublin's economic clout has now become so commanding that, according to the Government's senior planning adviser, it is "the same in size and population terms as the next 40 towns and cities combined ... with a footprint extending from Cavan to Wexford." Clearly, there is an urgent need for new thinking - and frankly a great deal more creativity, commitment and ambition than central Government has heretofore displayed - if this dangerous imbalance is to be corrected. The best way to close the east-west gap in GVA is for the west, north-west and mid-west to develop a spine of infrastructure and a city of scale to counter the dominance of Dublin. In other words, an Atlantic Economic Corridor for transport, telecoms, energy and education connectivity between Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Derry and Belfast. This is already in the Programme for Government. So, too, is a pledge to ask the EU to revise its TEN-T Core Network map to put the BMW region back in, given that Enda Kenny's last government secretly and shamefully took it out. That's important because it could result in up to 40pc of the critical infrastructure costs being funded by the EU. The Wild Atlantic Way has done wonders for tourism. It's now time to develop a Wild Atlantic Highway of critical infrastructure to support the commitment to balanced national development. Kealan Flynn Upper Canal Road, Galway A picture posted on Instagram by an actress less than half of Brad Pitt's age was yesterday alleged to be one of the key factors in the breakdown of his marriage to Angelina Jolie. The image shows 24-year-old Selena Gomez gazing into Pitt's eyes at the Golden Globe awards earlier this year, and was said to have led Jolie to "blow a gasket". Gomez, a former Disney child star, was said to have flirted with the actor throughout the evening and has spoken of her delight at meeting him. There is no suggestion that anything untoward happened between the pair. Last night, there were growing signs that the so-called "Brangelina" divorce was descending in to bitter acrimony as Pitt's camp fought back against accusations that he was a philandering, drug-taking, poor parent. just discussing #TheBigShort -@agentoh A photo posted by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Jan 11, 2016 at 12:21am PST Pitt (52) was said to be devastated by Jolie's decision to seek a divorce and is said to be furious at suggestions that she was concerned by his alleged alcohol consumption, marijuana smoking and "anger issues". Jolie supposedly hired a private investigator to follow Pitt on set with Marion Cotillard, an actress to whom he was linked by the American media, during the filming of 'Allied' this spring. The French actress is expecting her second child with her boyfriend, the actor Guillaume Canet, and is said to be upset at being dragged into the divorce battle. Expand Close Hollywood's golden couple: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hollywood's golden couple: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Read more: 'Brad and I have our issues ... we can drive each other mad': Angelina's revealing 2015 interview Mr Pitt has reportedly told friends not to speak ill of Ms Jolie, and praised her parenting skills. But her decision to demand sole custody, with Mr Pitt only given visitation rights, was unacceptable to the actor. Mr Pitt has told friends: "There's no chance that's going to happen," according to the gossip website TMZ. It reported that he said she had "unleashed hell" by allowing friends to discuss their relationship, and he was now concerned for the safety of the children. The couple have three biological children - Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, eight. They also have three adopted children - Maddox (15) from Cambodia; Pax (12) from Vietnam; and Zahara (11) from Ethiopia. Jolie filed for divorce on Tuesday, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple were together for 12 years, marrying in 2014, and their divorce surprised even close friends, with George Clooney taken aback when asked about the separation during an American television interview. Video of the Day Jolie was apparently angered by the photograph posted by Gomez (24) of her and Pitt at the Golden Globes awards, captioned: "Just discussing The Big Short." In 2013, Gomez told the chatshow host Ellen DeGeneres about her first meeting with Pitt, at the MTV awards that April. "They knocked on my door and they said Brad Pitt would like to come in and I was like, 'He can come in.' I was trying to play cool and be really nice. As soon as he walked out I ran and I hid under a table for like two minutes because I couldn't believe it was happening." At the Golden Globes this year, Gomez had told reporters she was "on the look out" for Pitt and Ryan Gosling, who also starred in 'The Big Short'. Expand Close Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie A source told the 'National Enquirer': "Angie blew a gasket when she saw Selena's Instagram, and heard through friends about how Brad and Selena flirted so shamelessly." Jolie guest-edited BBC Radio 4's 'Women's Hour' in June and spoke about her children's upbringing, detailing the diverse languages and range of skills boasted by her brood. "All the kids are learning different languages," she said. "None of my kids want to be actors," she added. "They are actually very interested in being musicians." Read more: FIRST LOOK: Brad Pitt's electric on-screen chemistry with Marion Cotillard in new film Allied The couple are said to have been arguing for some time and discussing divorce. But Pitt was only aware of her decision the day before his wife filed the documents. She "feels like a weight has been lifted," a source told gossip magazine 'US Weekly'. The actress's lawyer, Robert Offer, would only say: "This decision was made for the health of the family. She will not be commenting, and asks that the family be given its privacy at this time." Jennifer Aniston (47), the actress whose marriage to Pitt ended after he and Jolie starred together in 'Mr and Mrs Smith', reportedly told friends "that's karma for you". Mia Farrow's son died after being found seriously injured in his vehicle in Connecticut. 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. Vietnams new customs renovation hopes to save millions of dollars each year 36 percent of shipments entering and leaving Vietnam now have to go through technical checks. Photo by VnExpress Many shipments have to go through one-week technical checks which have not proved effective. Vietnam government is pushing for a series of rule amendments that are expected to simply customs check procedures to save businesses time and money. Officials said at a meeting Wednesday that customs check now takes around ten days for an import consignment and 12 days for exports, which has been reduced from 21 days last year but is still twice the regions average. Do Hoang Anh Tuan, vice minister of finance, said at the meeting that if the procedure can be shortened by just one day, businesses can save themselves $200 each consignment, or $800 million for the whole country each year. Tuan said 36 percent of the shipments have to go through technical checks which take around seven days. The rate is three times of E.U.s and 2.5 times of the average of Trans Pacific Partnership members. But the big number of tests has not proved very helpful, he said. Weve discovered few violations. Most of the shipments put through tests passed. A new regulation by the government aims to reduce the rate of shipments subject to technical tests to 15 percent by the end of the year. The Ministry of Science and Technology has been asked to amend its laws regarding measurement rules and product quality to serve the purpose. Related news: > Vietnam cuts through red tape in bid to unleash business spirit > Online services clear customs procedures Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo attend the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center last year. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Rocker Adam Levine and his model wife Behati Prinsloo have become parents to a baby girl. Victoria's Secret Angel Behati gave birth on Wednesday to Dusty Rose Levine. The child is the couple's first. They wed in 2014. Maroon 5 frontman Adam has been anxiously waiting for the baby's arrival and on Friday, he cancelled a Monday night show in Hartford, Connecticut so he could be by Behati's side when she went into labour. Expand Close Excited mother-to-be Behati Prinsloo Levine shared this image on her Instagram account six days ago. Photo: Instagram/ @behatiprinsloo / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Excited mother-to-be Behati Prinsloo Levine shared this image on her Instagram account six days ago. Photo: Instagram/ @behatiprinsloo It was the latest date on the band's tour to be affected by the baby - the stars had already postponed seven shows originally scheduled for late September. Those gigs will now take place in February and March next year. "Sadly, it's par for the course with having a baby soon," Adam explained in a video posted on Instagram earlier this month. "It's life, and it's beautiful, but it can be complicated, and I apologise for any inconvenience." "We hope you guys can go to the shows, they'll be just as great," Adam reassured fans. "We love you, and we're sorry." Maroon 5 performed their final show before Adam's paternity leave in Worcester, Massachusetts on Saturday. They are expected to resume their tour duties on 3 October in St Louis, Missouri. A photo posted by Behati Prinsloo Levine (@behatiprinsloo) on Sep 15, 2016 at 8:34pm PDT The news of Behati's pregnancy first emerged in March Adam has previously spoken about his desire to start a family with the Namibian beauty. "If I had a kid tomorrow or in five years, that would be beautiful," he said in 2013. "I don't know when that will happen. I don't plan." Video of the Day However, he made it clear he wants a big family: "Like 17," he joked in 2014. "Is that reasonable? I love kids so much, though." Migrants are seen onboard a vessel after they were rescued from an overcrowded dinghy by members of the German NGO Jugend Rettet during an operation in the Mediterranean Sea. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra At least 29 people have drowned after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the Egyptian coast yesterday. "The toll now is 29 dead and five injured," said Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed. Another health ministry official, Adel Khalifa, confirmed the toll and said the dead included Egyptians and Sudanese and "other African nationalities". Health Ministry official Alaa Osman claimed that 155 people have been rescued, but that bodies were still being found in the area. Egypt's official news agency MENA said the boat had been carrying 600 people. It capsized off the Mediterranean port city of Rosetta, according to police officials. Rosetta lies 65km from Alexandria. Tens of thousands of Africans take the dangerous Mediterranean Sea route as a gateway to a better life in Europe, alongside those fleeing wars from Syria to Afghanistan. Smugglers often overload the boats, some of them scarcely seaworthy, with passengers who have paid for the journey. The incident comes months after the head of the EU's border agency warned that growing numbers of Europe-bound migrants were turning to Egypt as a departure point for the perilous journey. At the end of August, Italian naval ships and vessels from non-government groups plucked 6,500 refugees from the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya. In boats too weak and technically unequipped for a voyage across the stretch of the Mediterranean to the shores of Italy, the migrants had set off with a bit of gasoline in the overcrowded vessels, hoping to make it at least 30km out to sea and reach awaiting rescuers. More than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014, according to the UN. Meanwhile, French police have used tear gas to force hundreds of migrants away from a road leading to the port of Calais, which is seen as a gateway to Britain. Authorities said about 300 migrants from a makeshift camp known as "the Jungle" approached the road to Calais yesterday afternoon and dozens tried to enter the thoroughfare. Local officials in the northern Pas-de-Calais region said migrants hurled objects at police officers, who then used tear gas to push them back. A police officer received minor injuries and one person was arrested. The clash came as workers have begun building a Britain-funded wall along the road to try to keep migrants from sneaking onto ferries crossing the English Channel. River Romanian border police have detained eight migrants, including four children, after they crossed the River Danube and tried to enter Romania. Police said in a statement they found the group of six Iraqis and two Syrians near the Bistret border point in southwest Romania on Tuesday evening during a routine river patrol. The statement yesterday said the group, aged from four to 33 years, crossed the Danube in two boats that a Bulgarian guide had given them. The river forms the border between Bulgaria and Romania. The group told police they had paid between 1,750 and 3,000 to guides and were trying to reach Austria. It was also reported yesterday that Hungarian prison inmates have ramped up their production of razor wire, working around the clock as Hungary prepares to build a second fence on the border with Serbia to keep out refugees and other migrants. Razor wire manufacture at the prison in Marianosztra, northern Hungary, has increased from two shifts earlier this year, to three. Besides its domestic use, Hungary has also sold or donated fence elements, including wire and steel posts, to other countries in the region, including Slovenia and Macedonia. Human rights organisations, meanwhile, consider Hungary's fences erected last year as the first step in efforts by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government to dismantle the country's asylum system. Hungary's Helsinki Committee says the fence, the closure of asylum centres and other measures are destroying the asylum system. A close-up image reveals a galaxy rich in carbon monoxide, showing it is primed for star formation (B Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF)/ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/NASA/ESA Hubble/PA) New "significantly deeper and sharper" studies of a distant corner of the universe have been unveiled. They 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 studies, which appear in the Astrophysical Journal and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, are being hailed as the deepest ever millimetre observations of the early universe. Teams of international astronomers used a powerful telescope called the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) to explore Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) images from the Hubble telescope showing more than 10,000 galaxies in one tiny portion of the night sky. Astronomers using ALMA - which has 66 high precision antennae - surveyed this area for the first time in the millimetre range of wavelengths, allowing them to see the faint glow from gas clouds and the emission from warm dust in galaxies in the early Universe. ALMA also observed the HUDF for a total of around 50 hours. Lead author Jim Dunlop, of Edinburgh University, described it as a "breakthrough result". He said: "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." Researcher Chris Carilli, an astronomer with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in New Mexico, USA, said: "Through this, we discovered a population of galaxies that is not clearly evident in any other deep surveys of the sky." Researcher Manuel Aravena, of the Universidad Diego Portales in Chile, said: "The new ALMA results imply a rapidly rising gas content in galaxies as we look back further in time ... 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 international team of astronomers suggest this may be just the start of enlightening insights from ALMA. There is a planned 150-hour observation of the HUDF in the future. President Bashar Assad has 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 ceasefire many had hoped would bring relief to the war-ravaged country. In an interview with The Associated Press in Damascus, Mr Assad also said deadly US air strikes on Syrian troops last week were intentional, dismissing American officials' statements that they were an accident. Mr Assad said the US lacked "the will" to join forces with Russia in fighting extremists. Mr 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 on 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, Mr 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 on 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. Mr 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 September 17 US air strike last week that hit Syrian troops in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour. US 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 afterwards, IS militants briefly overran government positions in the area until they were beaten back. Mr Assad said he did not believe the American account and said that attack targeted a "huge" area constituting 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," Mr 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?" Mr Assad asked. "So it was definitely intentional, not unintentional as they claimed." A spokesman for the US State Department dismissed Mr Assad's claims as "ridiculous", adding that they underline that Mr Assad has lost his legitimacy to govern. "It's difficult to see how these ridiculous claims deserve a response, except to say they prove yet again the degree to which Mr 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 on 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 US-Russian agreement to jointly target militants in the country. Mr 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, Mr 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," Mr 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 Mr Assad's 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, MrAssad'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. 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 galvanised public opinion worldwide - but Mr 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. Mr Assad scoffed at the idea that Syria's "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 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 on Thursday. Asked about his methods, including the use of indiscriminate weapons, Mr 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." AP Charlotte's police chief has said he plans to show video of an officer shooting a black man to the slain man's family, but the video will not be immediately released to the public. Charlottte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney told reporters during a news conference that the video does not definitively show 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott pointing a gun at anyone. Mr Putney said he is working to honour the request from the family of Mr Scott to view the video. It is unclear when or if the video might be released publicly. "Right now my priority is the people who really are the victims of the shooting," Mr Putney 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." The video could be key to resolving the chasm between police, who say Mr Scott refused repeated commands to drop his gun, and residents who say he was unarmed. Residents say Mr Scott was unarmed, holding only a book, and disabled by a brain injury. But it is unclear what the body cameras worn by three officers who were present during the shooting during the shooting may have captured. The plain-clothes officer who shot Mr Scott, Brently Vinson, was not wearing a camera. Mr Vinson, who is black, has been placed on leave, standard procedure in such cases. As officials tried to quell the unrest, at least three major businesses were asking their employees to stay home for the day as the city remained on edge. Mayor Jennifer 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 should not 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." North Carolina has a law that takes effect on October 1 requiring a judge to approve releasing police video. The streets were mostly quiet on Thursday, but Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Duke Energy all told employees not to venture into North Carolina's largest city after Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency on Wednesday night and called in the National Guard after the police chief said he needed the help. The North Carolina National Guard arrived at a Charlotte armoury early on Thursday, and Guard vehicles left the armoury about 8am. Federal help also is on the way, with the Justice Department sending to Charlotte a team of trained peacekeepers designed to help resolve community conflict. The department's Community Relations Service has been deployed to other cities roiled by tense flare-ups between police and residents. A peaceful prayer vigil on Wednesday night turned into an angry march and then a night of violence after a protester was shot and critically wounded as people charged police in riot gear trying to protect an upscale hotel. Police did not shoot the man, city officials said. The unrest took many by surprise in Charlotte. 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 within days, after the white officer shot an unarmed black man who had been in a wreck and was looking for help. The jury deadlocked and the charge was dropped last summer. The city saw a few protests but no violence. On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters who were shouting "black lives matter" and "hands up, don't shoot" left after police fired flash grenades and tear gas after the shooting. But several groups of a dozen or more protesters stayed behind, attacking people, including reporters, shattering windows to hotels, office buildings and restaurants and setting small fires. The NASCAR Hall of Fame was among the places damaged. Authorities said three people and four police officers were injured. Videos and pictures on Twitter showed reporters and other people being attacked. Mr Putney, the police chief, was angered by the stories on social media, especially a profanity-laced, hour-long video on Facebook, where a woman identifying herself as Mr Scott's daughter screamed "My daddy is dead!" at officers at the shooting scene and repeating that he was only holding a book. Mr Putney was adamant that Mr 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. He also said: "I can tell you we did not find a book." AP The chief state prosecutor in Charlotte has asked the State Bureau of Investigation to look into the shooting. District Attorney R Andrew Murray said in a statement that he was making the request for a state investigation at the request of Mr Scott's family. Data from 500 million Yahoo accounts has been stolen in a massive security breach Yahoo has confirmed personal data from 500 million accounts has been stolen in a massive security breach. The hack dates back to late 2014, the web company said. It only recently discovered the break-in as part of an ongoing internal investigation. The stolen data includes users' names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birth dates, hashed passwords, and the security questions - and answers - used to verify an account holder's identity. Last month, the tech site Motherboard reported that a hacker who uses the name Peace boasted that he had account information belonging to 200 million Yahoo users and was trying to sell the data on the web. Yahoo recommends that users change their passwords if they have not done so since 2014. The Sunnyvale, California, company said its investigation so far has not found any evidence that information about users' bank accounts or credit and debit cards were swiped in the hacking attack. It said it has "no evidence" that the attacker is still in Yahoo's network. News of the security lapse could cause some people to have second thoughts about relying on Yahoo's services, raising a prickly issue for the company as it tries to sell its digital operations to Verizon Communications for 4.8 billion dollars (3.7 billion). That deal, announced two months ago, is not due to close until early next year. The timescale leaves Verizon with wiggle room to renegotiate the purchase price or even back out if it believes the security breach will harm Yahoo's business. That could happen if users shun Yahoo or file lawsuits because they are incensed by the theft of their personal information. Verizon said it still does not know enough about the Yahoo break-in to assess the potential consequences. "We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities," the company said in a statement. AP Massive container ships have been left floating in waters around the world after Hanjin went broke. Saigon Port has said it will allow boats belonging to the worlds ninth largest container shipping company Hanjin to dock without fear of being seized following news that the firm has gone bankrupt. Hanjin already has a considerable debt with the port. Saigon New Port (SNP) announced it is willing to allow 830 container carriers to dock without demanding payments for outstanding debt, according to the Ministry of Transport's newspaper. Enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City have been waiting anxiously for the shipments since the beginning of September when South Koreas largest container carrier announced bankruptcy and filed for receivership. This left many of its container ships stranded at sea with the company unable to pay for docking fees. The Hanjin Chennai was scheduled to arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on September 2 but has been left floating at sea in the largest container-shipping failure in history. Hanjin's container carriers have been given permissionm to dock at Saigon New Port without the fear of being seized. Photo by Reuters/Lucy Nicholson Numerous container carriers are temporarily anchored near seaports in 23 countries without permission to unload their shipments as seaport authorities doubt the company's ability to pay services fees. This is the peak time for Vietnamese export enterprises to prepare for Christmas and New Year in the European and U.S. markets, and late deliveries could hurt their businesses. The Hanjin Chennai will be unloaded at the 24th busiest container port in the world, Saigon New Port, which is one of Hanjins creditors. The port has pledged to help local enterprises obtain their imported goods smoothly. Saigon New Port has sent official confirmation to the Hanjin Chennai to inform the ship that the seaport is willing to receive shipments and provide full services," said Ngo Minh Thuan, the deputy director of Saigon New Port. "[We] will not seize the Hanjin Chennai or change any conditions relating to payments or unloading services. South Koreas Hanjin Shipping Co., one of the worlds largest container shipping companies, filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. on September 2 to protect its vessels from being seized by creditors. Hanjin is currently the largest shipping company in South Korea, operating approximately 60 regular lines worldwide, with 140 containers or bulk vessels, according to the Wall Street Journal. Related news: > First phase complete at $200-million international container port in HCMC > Vietnam in urgent need of deepwater port in Mekong Delta > Vietnam central city turns down cheap foreign loan for port expansion Customers stand in line at one of the few open cafes on Roosevelt Avenue, in San Juan, Puerto Rico (AP) The governor of Puerto Rico has said power is slowly being restored nearly 24 hours after a blackout swept across the island. Governor Alejandro Garcia-Padilla said about half of power customers should have electricity within hours. The director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, meanwhile, said the entire system should be back to normal on Friday. Power went out abruptly on Wednesday afternoon following a fire at a power plant in the southern town of Salinas. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Nearly everyone on the island of 3.5 million people lost power. The vast majority of Puerto Ricans do not have generators and they were forced to spend the night in darkness and without air conditioning in the tropical heat. They awoke to find most businesses and public offices closed. "Puerto Rico is not prepared for something like this," said 23-year-old Celestino Ayala Santiago, who slept in his car so he could have some air conditioning to escape the heat. Smaller, more localised power outages are common in Puerto Rico, which has an outdated energy infrastructure, but not on this scale except following tropical storms. "This is an apocalypse," said 43-year-old Jose Tavela as he ate breakfast at a small cafe in the capital that had a generator. Utility officials said they were trying to determine what caused the fire that broke out on Wednesday afternoon at the Aguirre power plant. The fire apparently knocked out a transmission line that serves the broader grid, which tripped circuit breakers that automatically shut down the flow of power as a preventive measure, said Yohari Molina, a spokeswoman for the Power Authority. As soon as the power failed, roads that are clogged with traffic on a normal day were plunged into chaos as streetlights went out. Businesses closed, long queues formed at petrol stations and rooms quickly filled at hotels with generators. Many Puerto Ricans dragged mattresses out to balconies and porches to spend the night outside, doing what they could to ward off mosquitoes in the still air. "To see everything blacked out, my God," said Virginia Davila, a nurse's assistant who lives on the 11th floor of an apartment building in San Juan. AP The European Union's executive body has been accused of failing to properly check the business interests of its top officials after leaked documents showed its former competition chief was a director an offshore company, which potentially created conflicts of interest. Neelie Kroes, who led the European Commission's powerful anti-trust unit between 2004 and 2010, was one of the most high-profile names that emerged in a cache of documents of the Bahamas' corporate registry leaked on Wednesday by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and media partners. Home Secretary Amber Rudd is also reported to have been named in the files as being a director of two offshore companies. A spokesman for Ms Rudd 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." The leak revealed the names of directors and owners of more than 175,000 Bahamian companies, trusts and foundations, ranging from prime ministers and princes to convicted felons. The disclosures have raised a chorus of criticism, and follow the international uproar over the leak of the so-called "Panama Papers" earlier this year that revealed details on offshore accounts that helped foreigners shelter their wealth. Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International said the commission's verification procedures are simply not good enough. "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," Transparency's EU director Carl Dolan said. "The European Commission carries out very limited checks or verifications on the self-declarations of Commissioners when they come into office," he said. The EU Commission responded by arguing it was powerless to make Ms Kroes disclose all of her business interests. "There are certain things that even the strictest rules can't fix," chief EU Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters. In the future, he said the c ommission "will make sure that memory doesn't fail here when it comes to declarations of interest". He did not explain how it would do so. In the Bahamas leak, Ms Kroes was revealed as director of one company - Mint Holdings - that she had not declared when she became the EU's Commissioner for Competition in 2004. Mint Holdings had been allegedly set up from the United Arab Emirates, with the aim of helping to acquire the assets of energy giant Enron, which subsequently collapsed following a massive accounting scandal. Ms Kroes, who in 2010 moved on to become the commissioner responsible for digital matters until 2014, said she did not declare her role because the company never became operational, according to the ICIJ. She did, however, declare many other business interests. Ms Kroes informed the commission about the anomaly last Friday in an email. On Thursday, commission president Jean-Claude Juncker wrote to her seeking more details about how and when she went about resolving the problem. The commission could also examine decisions she took during her term in office to identify whether there may have been any conflict of interests. If she is found to have breached EU laws, Ms Kroes could face court action which might lead to her losing her generous commission pension or other benefits. Ms Kroes, a Dutch citizen, recently came under fire for publicly criticizing the EU's anti-trust action against Ireland, when Brussels ordered the country to recover some 13 billion euros (11.1 billion) in taxes from Apple. She is currently a paid adviser to Uber and Bank of America. She is not the only former commissioner facing a barrage of criticism. Former commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has also raised eyebrows for taking a job at Goldman Sachs and for his planned role for the bank in negotiations over Britain's exit from the EU. "These kinds of cases will only become more and more common," Mr Dolan said. "What the commission needs to do is say 'are the kind of safeguards we have in place, are they good enough?'" EU politicians joined the chorus of criticism on Thursday, with a senior member of parliament's money laundering and tax evasion probe taking a swipe at Ms Kroes, Mr Barroso and the entire EU executive. "The European Commission (EC) too often means European Corruption. It is this European Union of big business and ruthless theft of Brussels oligarchs which people disdain. The very same politicians that preach to our people to cut back on wages, pensions and public services join shady criminals in the trillion euro industry of tax dodging, money laundering and corruption," said left-wing German politician Fabio De Masi. AP A 47-year-old man will spend at least nine years and 300 days in jail before he has a chance of release after pleading guilty to the rape and assault of teenage girls and making indecent images of children. Leslie Constable has been sentenced to life in prison, but can be considered for parole in nine years and 300 days, according to a statement by the Suffolk police. He pleaded guilty in July and was sentenced today. The ten charges of rape and assault and three charges of creating indecent images date back from the 1970s to 2009. The investigation began in 2015 when indecent images were discovered on his phone. Six victims came forward during the course of the investigation. Detective Chief Inspector Eamonn Bridger said The victims should be praised for their courage in finding their voices to talk about what had happened when they were younger, resulting in the full extent of the abuse coming to light. The sentence given today reflects the serious nature of the crimes, and again shows that those who have been subject to such abuse can get justice many years after the original offences were committed." Amber Rudd revealed the plans in a joint statement with her German counterpart Thomas de Maiziere Germany and Britain's top security officials said they have agreed to even closer cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism. Home Secretary Amber Rudd and German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in a joint statement that to fight terrorism, they would expand the exchange of intelligence information and cooperate more closely in investigations and de-radicalisation measures. They also pledged to cooperate with Greece and Turkey to ensure the functioning of the EU-Turkey agreement on migrants, and to work together to fight human smugglers and protect the EU's exterior borders. AP Backed by US-led coalition air strikes and paramilitary forces, Iraqi government troops have pushed Islamic State group militants from a key town north of the Iraqi capital, days after launching an operation to retake it, a military spokesman said. Recapturing the town of Shirqat posed another blow to IS militants who since late last year have suffered major battlefield losses, shrinking the areas the extremists had controlled in western and northern Iraq since a mid-2014 blitz. In a televised statement on state TV, the spokesman for the Joint Military Command, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, declared the town "fully liberated" with its centre under the control of Iraqi forces and the national flag hoisted over nearby government buildings, including the mayor's office and the main hospital. State TV interrupted its normal programmes with a series of news alerts announcing the operation and broadcasting patriotic songs. Pictures published by the Defence Ministry showed soldiers hoisting the Iraqi flag over buildings, the corpses of alleged militants and jubilant residents waving at Iraqi forces. The spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS, Colonel John L Dorrian, said that the coalition carried out "a very successful strike that eliminated a significant number of fighters who were trying to flee toward Hawija," to the east of Shirqat, which is under IS control. Col Dorrian could not give specific figures for the number of militants killed. The head of the Salahuddin provincial council, Ahmed al-Karim, said that government forces control up to 80% of the city, with the militants pushed to rural areas across the Tigris River. Mr Al-Karim added that the operation did not displace people, as residents stayed in their homes. Shirqat, about 155 miles north-west of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, was among the first areas to fall into IS hands during the militants' summer 2014 offensive. The government forces launched the Shirqat operation on Tuesday. The town lies near the city of Mosul, which is the IS group's last major urban stronghold in Iraq. Shirqat is important for Iraqi troops to secure the supply lines to forces stationed in nearby town of Qayara ahead of Mosul operation. Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, is located about 225 miles north-west of Baghdad. While the Syrian city of Raqqa is considered the caliphate's de facto capital, Mosul is the largest city under its control. The Iraqi government is now gearing up for a major offensive to retake Mosul from IS. It pledged to recapture the city this year. Late last month, Iraqi forces retook the town of Qayara, about 45 miles south of Mosul. A string of villages and towns south and south-east of Mosul have also been recaptured as part of an operation launched in March aimed at eventually unseating IS from the city. AP Syrian men rescue a baby from the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported air strike in the Qatarji neighbourhood of the northern city of Aleppo yesterday. Photo: Getty At least five staff from a French medical charity have been killed after their clinic in northern Syria was hit by an airstrike, the latest in an eruption of violence since the breakdown of a week-long truce brokered by the US and Russia. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations, known by the French acronym UOSSM, said three nurses and two ambulances drivers were killed when their medical facility was bombed outside Aleppo. "This is a deplorable act against healthcare workers and medical facilities," said Dr Khaula Sawah, the head of UOSSM USA. The strike is believed to have been carried out by either Russia or the Syrian regime. The deaths came after senior coalition officials said Russia was directly involved in the bombing of a UN aid convoy on the outskirts of Aleppo on Monday in a "revenge" attack for an earlier air strike that killed 60 Syrian soldiers. Eyewitnesses on the ground reported seeing a number of Russian surveillance aircraft circling overhead before the aid convoy was struck by a series of missiles fired by warplanes, killing an estimated 20 civilians and destroying 18 UN trucks carrying vital humanitarian supplies to besieged rebel-held areas. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, British Prime Minister Theresa May said she condemned the attack, which has exacerbated fears that the week-old US-Russian sponsored ceasefire is on the point of collapse. Ms May also used her first major foreign policy address to announce billions of pounds of funding to the Middle East and Africa designed to stop migrants travelling to Britain. Boris Johnson, the British Foreign Secretary, said: "The attack on the aid convoy in Aleppo was appalling and a clear violation of the most basic of humanitarian principles." Mr Johnson later met his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, for the first time to discuss the "unacceptable" attack while the pair were in the US for the UN General Assembly. The White House said it held Russia responsible for the air strike on the convoy. "There only could have been two entities responsible, either the Syrian regime or the Russian government," said Ben Rhodes, the White House spokesman. "In any event, we hold the Russian government responsible for airstrikes in this space." Two US officials had earlier said they had intelligence confirming that two Russian Sukhoi SU-24 warplanes were in the skies above the aid convoy at the precise time it was struck, and that the conclusion was that Russia was to blame. ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Gunmen from the besieged neighborhood of Al-Waer prepare to leave the last rebel-held neighborhood of Homs, Syria. (AP Photo /STR) President Bashar Assad has 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 ceasefire many had hoped would bring relief to the war-ravaged country. In an interview with The Associated Press in Damascus, Mr Assad also said deadly US air strikes on Syrian troops last week were intentional, dismissing American officials' statements that they were an accident. Mr Assad said the US lacked "the will" to join forces with Russia in fighting extremists. Mr 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 on 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, Mr 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 on 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. Mr 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 September 17 US air strike last week that hit Syrian troops in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour. US 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 afterwards, IS militants briefly overran government positions in the area until they were beaten back. Mr Assad said he did not believe the American account and said that attack targeted a "huge" area constituting 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," Mr 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?" Mr Assad asked. "So it was definitely intentional, not unintentional as they claimed." A spokesman for the US State Department dismissed Mr Assad's claims as "ridiculous", adding that they underline that Mr Assad has lost his legitimacy to govern. "It's difficult to see how these ridiculous claims deserve a response, except to say they prove yet again the degree to which Mr 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 on 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 US-Russian agreement to jointly target militants in the country. Mr 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, Mr 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," Mr 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 Mr Assad's 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, MrAssad'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. 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 galvanised public opinion worldwide - but Mr 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. Mr Assad scoffed at the idea that Syria's "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 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 on Thursday. Asked about his methods, including the use of indiscriminate weapons, Mr 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." Nine adjacent streets may be added to the 16-street walking area. Hoan Kiem District authorities hope to expand Hanois pedestrian walking zone around the storied "Sword Lake" by blocking vehicle traffic to a total of 24 streets, Vietnam News Agency reported yesterday. District authorities have already submitted the plan to the municipal Peoples Committee for approval. If passed, the city's tourists and residents will enjoy the additional walking space as early as the beginning of October. Officials in Hoan Kiem District said that the expansion will preserve and promote the cultural and historical value in Hanois Old Quarter by gradually reducing the number of private vehicles. They have also stated that the additional space will promote exercise activities, like jogging. While the current pedestrian zone closes off vehicle traffic from 7 p.m. on Friday through to midnight on Sunday, the additional nine streets are proposed to only be vehicle free in the evenings, 7 p.m. to midnight, Friday to Sunday. During the winter months, the additional pedestrian zone will be open an hour earlier. The pedestrian zone went into effect around Hoan Kiem Lake on September 1 as a pilot program proposed by Hanoi Peoples Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung. The pilot will continue until the end of the calendar year, at which time the city will review the results. The plan has already drawn opposition from residents inside the initial 16-streets. Hoa, owner of a book store on Dinh Le Street said: My business has been hurt. Revenue from book sales hovers between a third and a tenth of what it once was. I've started selling toys and painting statues for kids to offset my losses. Another business owner on Hang Khay Street said: The pedestrian zone should only go into effect on Saturday and Sunday evenings because residents here have to make a living, Related news: > Hanoi residents kick out at new pedestrian zone > $23 million in four days: Hanoi's tourist-friendly approach is paying off > Hanoi to install free wi-fi hotspots around Hoan Kiem Lake Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari has invited the United Nations to help negotiations to swap the kidnapped schoolgirls from Chibok for detained leaders of Boko Haram, a government statement said. Mr Buhari's government has been criticised for failing to free the Chibok girls by parents of the abducted students, community leaders and human rights activists. Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of people but the mass abduction of 276 schoolgirls in April 2014 incited outrage around the world and brought international condemnation of Nigeria's home-grown Islamic extremist group. Dozens of the girls escaped on their own within hours, but 217 remain missing. Mr Buhari's request for UN intermediaries is a "show of commitment" made to secretary general Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, said a statement from presidential adviser Femi Adesina. Mr Buhari told Mr Ban that his government is "willing to bend over backwards" to win the girls' freedom but finding credible Boko Haram leaders for the negotiations has been difficult, especially because of the current leadership struggle among the militants. Longtime Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau's faction in August posted a video showing about 50 Chibok girls and offering a prisoner swap. An unidentified fighter in the video suggests the government deal with a journalist trusted by the militants. That was an apparent reference to Dubai-based Nigerian journalist Ahmad Salkida, who was subsequently detained by Nigerian intelligence agents, and then released. He was accused of knowing the whereabouts of the girls - which he denied. Last week, information minister Lai Mohammed said the government had nearly secured the girls' release three times but negotiations collapsed. Most girls kidnapped by Boko Haram have been forced to marry fighters and are pregnant or have babies, according to some of the thousands freed in the past year as the military has recaptured territory. AP This week marks the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, a Category 3 storm which formed on October 22, 2012 and caused $70 billion in damage in roughly two weeks as it moved from the Caribbean to Canada, $11 million of which came from its impact in Rhode Island. Do you believe Rhode Island is more or less prepared to handle a large storm in the decade since Hurricane Sandy? Let us know in this week's poll question below. You voted: A moon bear is transferred to a conservation center after it had been rescued from a farm in Hanoi. Photo by Education for Nature-Vietnam More than 1,200 bears are still living in cages across Vietnam. Forest rangers in Hanoi have rescued a moon bear held captive illegally and transferred the animal to a rescue center. The rangers found the animal at a farm in Phuc Tho District during a series of raids conducted for the first time with World Animal Protection between September 8 and 16. The animal was fine apart from minor facial injuries caused by scratching against the iron cage. More than 1,200 bears are still living in cages at 430 farms across Vietnam, according to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture. That figure is down from more than 4,300 in 2005 when the animals had their bile removed for sale. Many have been rescued or handed over by the owners after the government imposed a ban on bear bile. Nguyen Thi Dung, deputy director of the Hanoi-based conservation organization Education for Nature-Vietnam, which has taken in the latest bear, said with strong actions like the recent raids in Hanoi, Vietnam is coming closer to ending the entire bear farming business. Related news: > Vietnam to beef up fight against illegal wildlife trade > Endangered moon bear rescued in Vietnam after decade in captivity Nihar Info Global applies for trademark registration for 'ONVO' Nihar Info Global Limited informed to the exchanges that it has successfully applied for Trademark registration of its private label "ONVO" under the 'Trademark Classes 18 and 21. ... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:37 pm Rupee rises 4 paisa to 82.29/$ Early on Friday, the rupee strengthened against the US dollar by 4 paise to 82.29, helped by a weak US dollar in the international market and strong local equities. The influx of new fore... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:30 pm PNB Housing Finance's net profit increases by 12% PNB Housing Finance announced on Thursday that its September 20222023 quarter net profit increased by 11.7% to Rs 262.63 crore, thanks to a little increase in core income. In the same period... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:25 pm Dhanuka Agritech soars ~8% as board to consider buyback Dhanuka Agritechs stock surged as much as 8% in Fridays intraday session and touched a high of Rs742. The company stated in its filing with the exchanges that at its ensuing ge... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:18 pm Markets trade flat amid volatility; Nifty below 17,800 dragged by metals Domestic benchmark indices in a volatile session and trading flat after a gap-up opening on Friday. Both the Sensex and Nifty benchmarks are in the green during the afternoon market session ami... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:00 pm Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, left, and his assistant Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy stand at the dock during their trial in Hanoi, Vietnam, in March 2016. Photo by Reuters The two bloggers were convicted earlier this year for "abusing democratic freedoms" with their posts. An appeals court in Hanoi on Thursday will hear the appeal of a blogger who was earlier sentenced to five years in prison for posting anti-government content, according to local media. Blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh was charged for abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state and was sentenced in March this year, the Voice of Vietnam news site reported on Wednesday. His assistant Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy also made the same appeal against a three-year sentence. Vinh, better known by his pen name Anh Ba Sam, established a blog, titled Ba Sam in 2009. He reportedly posted his own comments as well as links to other articles on political, social and economic topics. In 2013 and 2014, Vinh set up two similar sites, according to the Voice of Vietnam. The blogger then assigned Thuy as the administrator of the two sites. In September 2014, the Ministry of Information and Communications said that Vinh and Thuy had posted a total of 24 articles which the government found were based on untrue and groundless content and meant to distort the policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the State. The ministry also blamed the bloggers for providing pessimistic and one-sided points of view, which might lead to worries among the public and affect the peoples trust in the leadership of the party, the government and the National Assembly. Related news: > Blogger Ba Sam to face trial on charges of tarnishing the State > Blogger sentenced to five years in prison for 'smearing' state The Casino Pauma in Pauma Valley, California. Photo from Facebook Gov. Jerry Brown (D) appears to be on a roll when it comes to Class III gaming compacts with tribes. So far in 2016, Brown has concluded negotiations on 11 compacts, Northern California Record reports. Six were signed in August , four were signed in June and one was signed in May "California is the largest jurisdiction for tribal gaming in the nation, a spokesperson for the governors office told the Northern California Record. Brown hasn't negotiated a new agreement with the Pauma Band of Luiseno Indians . But he did sign Senate Bill 1187 into law on September 9 that requires state to repay $36.2 million to the tribe in connection with a compact dispute. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) forced the tribe into sharing more revenues with the state in exchange for adding slot machines to the Casino Pauma . The decision was the first of its kind in California and appears to be the first of its kind in the nation. Read More on the Story: California to return $36.2 million to Pauma Band after decade-long casino fight (Northern California Record 9/21) 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Decision: Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission v. State of California (October 26, 2015) Join the Conversation Related Stories The joint exercise came after Putin spoke in support for Chinas stance in the waters. Vietnams foreign spokesman has called for peace maintenance in the region as China and Russia just conducted the first joint military exercise in the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea. The spokesman said at a press briefing Thursday that all activities including military operations in the East Sea need to follow international regulations, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Vietnam hopes that all countries contribute positively to the maintenance of peace and stability, and ensure air and maritime safety and security in the East Sea as well as the whole Asia-Pacific region, Binh said. China and Russia on Monday just wrapped up their first week-long military exercise off Guangdong. The activity came after Russian President Vladimir Putin showed support for Beijings position in the East Sea during talks early this month. The two leaders are said to have shared opinions that it is inappropriate for a third party to meddle in other countries affairs, the argument Beijing has used against U.S. involvement in East Sea territorial disputes. An international tribune in the Hague on July 12 ruled that Beijing has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the East Sea resources. The ruling came after the Philippines filed a case in January 2013 accusing Beijing of violating the UNCLOS. Related news: > China, Russia naval drill in S.China Sea to begin Monday > Vietnam general warns of potential "arms race" in East Sea at Shangri-la security talks What has not been seen in the news is the fact that the Cauvery is among the most abused rivers in the country. For a country that is known to worship rivers, the treatment meted out to the river is inhuman! In July 2014, the government gave the go-ahead - approved by the National Green Tribunal - for a project to lay down 55 km of high-tension electricity cables right through Kodagu. The price paid for that was more than 20,000 evergreen tress being felled to make way for the towers to carry the cable. The result: poor rainfall this year which led to lower levels of water in the Cauvery. Trekking route in Kodagu by BCCL Kodagu is a hill station from where the Cauvery originates. The river is fed by multiple streams and rivulets flowing through the Kodagu which serves as the primary catchment area for the river. The conservation of the entire region, not just the banks of the river, is required immediately. Speaking to Indiatimes, Cheppudira Muthanna - President, Coorg Wildlife Society, rues the lack of intervention to save the Kodagu from the demographic pressure. "We are a population of only 5 lakh people who are well-connected to all major cities in the vicinity by road. We do not require the railroad." "Why can't the project fund, estimated at Rs 1,800 crore, be directed towards conservation efforts for Kodagu?" Dam across the river Cauvery by BCCL The proposed railroad, which has been approved by the government, will require nearly 50,000 trees to be felled from the region. "Simply put, no trees in Coorg means no River Cauvery. Every tree holds 30,000 to 40,000 litres of water, its roots release water underground to form tiny streams, and its leaves give off moisture into the air to create humidity that invites rain from passing clouds." A petition filed to save Kodagu from the railroad project adds, "The sad truth is that already lakhs of trees have been cut for various so-called development projects. A high-tension power line that could have gone down the coast of Karnataka, instead of coming inland to cut over 50,000 trees in the forests of Coorg. A road-widening to highway standards project, is ongoing." "The excuse of promoting tourism is being given by the Govt, but the truth is there are already too many resorts and home stays, and stinking piles of garbage are lining many of the roads,"says the statement. Col Muthanna adds, "We are not against promoting tourism but Kodagu simply is not equipped to deal with the kind of pressure of countless tourists that the railroad will bring." Origin of the Cauvery river by My Greedy Backpack "It is important for the government to understand that the railroad project needs to be shelved completely, right away. The impact on the fragile hill ecology will prove to be catastrophic for the residents of the region as well for everyone who depends on the Cauvery for their livelihood," says Col Muthanna. Every source of the Cauvery stems from wildlife reserves in Coorg and without the tree cover, the river will die at the hands of man. If you are not okay with this as well then sign the petition to make the government accountable for their oversight about the Cauvery. AP While the entire country stand with the bewildered families of the Uri martyrs Mahesh Savani, a businessman from Gujarat's Surat has come forward offering them a helping hand. The philanthropist has offered free education to the children of all the martyrs. --- 1. Mark Zuckerberg And Priscilla Chan Pledge A $3-Billion Project To 'Cure All Diseases' AP Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have announced a new initiative worth $3 billion that will aim at curing, preventing, and managing "all diseases in our children's lifetime." --- 2. These Two Indian Kids Have Dragged Facebook To Court For Whatsapp Privacy Issues Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi are only 19 and 22, and they've successfully shaken one of the biggest internet deals of the year - the Facebook acquisition of WhatsApp. Sareen and Sethi have filed a public-interest litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court asking for guidelines to ensure WhatsApp doesn't compromise user privacy. Now, two judges are assessing the petition, and have sent to WhatsApp, Facebook, the government and TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Association of India), to speak up in court this week. --- 3. One Crore Marathas Will Gather In Mumbai And Put On A Show Of Strength To Demand Reservation BCCL Agitating Marathas are planning a show of strength in Mumbai after organising large rallies in different parts of the state. Agitating Marathas are planning a show of strength in Mumbai after organising large rallies in different parts of the state. --- 4. Mukesh Ambani Still India's Richest Man, Thanks To Reliance Jio His Net Worth Is $22.7 Billion! BCCL Industrialist Mukesh Ambani was named India's richest person for a ninth year in a row with a sharp increase in his net worth to $22.7 billion, while Sun Pharma's Dilip Shanghvi was ranked a distant second with a wealth of $16.9 billion. --- 5. In A Boost For Infrastructure In North-East, Nagaland Gets Rs 340 Crore For Huge Road Projects BCCL/representational image The Central Government has sanctioned Rs 340 crore two road projects for Nagaland and also assured the state government to set up a separate High Court for the state. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 340 crore for Dimapur-Chumukedima and Kohima Check Gate to Lerie Highway while the Ministry of Law and Justice has assured Chief Minister T R Zeliang to consider establishment of a separate High Court in the State, a CMO release said here today. At the UN General Assembly, India slammed Pakistan's Prime Minister over the recent #UriAttacks, as he seemed in complete denial of the terrorism that killed 19 Indian soldiers. First Secretary, Eenam Gambhir, exercised India's Right of Reply during the general debate of the 71st UNGA session on Wednesday to talking about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. After Sharif accused India for creating unacceptable pre-conditions for dialogues on Kashmir, there was no ambiguity in her speech about Pakistans history with state-sponsored terrorism. AFP ALSO READ: Nawaz Sharif Rakes Up Kashmir At UN, Hails Hizbul Terrorist Burhan Wani As Symbol Of Kashmir Uprising Vikas Swarup, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External affairs, tweeted that PM Sharifs glorification of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani at the UN showed Pakistans continued attachment to terrorism. Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UN's highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism. Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 21, 2016 Eenam began by saying that terrorism is the "worst violation of human rights [and] when practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime". twitter Here's a summarised version of her speech in points: 1. India and the world has for long been at the receiving end of Pakistan's "long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism" and the consequences have spread beyond India and South Asia to the rest of the world. 2. The world hasnt forgotten that the trail of the dastardly attack of 9/11 - which took place not far from where the UN meeting in New York is taking place led all the way to Abbottabad in Pakistan. 3. The land of Taxila (in Pakistans Punjab), 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. And the world can feel the toxic effect of its curriculum. 4. She said it was ironical that PM Sharif was seen preaching human rights and support for self-determination when it has established itself as the global epicenter of terrorism. 5. Pakistans envoy in New Delhi was summoned with regards to the most recent terror attacks in Uri that claimed 18 Indian lives. #UriAttack is a 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. 6. Pakistan, she said, is a terrorist state that channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. 7. 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. consuladodeindia ALSO READ: 72 Hours After Uri Attacks, The Worlds Biggest Names Are Supporting India Against Pakistan 8. Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of known terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. 9. Eenam said that Pakistan has a deficit of democracy. 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. 10. 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. ALSO READ: Day After Father Died In #UriAttack, These 3 Brave Girls Wrote Exam Because They Didnt Want To Hurt His Memory Finally Eenam concluded her reply by saying, 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. youtube Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start. A report of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the alleged exodus of 250 Hindu families from Kairana in Shamli district of western Uttar Pradesh, parts of which were made public on the rights panel's website on Wednesday, all but validates what BJP MP Hukum Singh had initially said. The panel has also sought a report from UP chief secretary and DGP on the action they have taken on the findings and recommendations of its probe team - which were submitted to the state government on June 23. topyaps.com In its report, conducted by a four-member team comprising deputy SP Ravi Singh and Inspectors Suman Kumari, Saroj Tiwari and Arun Kumar, NHRC found that that over 250 Hindu families had indeed left the town due to fear of the members of a particular community which was "in majority in the area". "At least 24 witnesses stated that the youths of the specific majority community (Muslims in this case) in Kairana town pass lewd/taunting remarks against the females of the specific minority community in town. Due to this, females of the specific minority community (Hindus) in Kairana town avoid going outside frequently. However, they could not gather courage to report the matter to the police for the legal action," the report said. indianexpress.com NHRC's deputy director (media & communication) Jaimini Kumar Srivastava told TOI, "During the course of the inquiry, our team visited different places in Kairana town, Muzaffarnagar and Panipat in Haryana. The team also examined relevant witnesses, victims, independent witnesses, police and administrative officials concerned. Copies of relevant records were also obtained and analyzed. The team obtained a list of 346 displaced families/persons from Kairana MP Hukum Singh's personal secretary. Out of that list, three residential localities were selected and at least six alleged victims/displaced families/persons were randomly chosen for verification. The team also had telephonic verification from at least four displaced families mentioned in the list, who had migrated to distant places like Dehradun (Uttarakhand) and Surat (Gujarat)." The fact-finding team also confirmed the terror of Mukim Kala gang in the region. "The notorious gang leader Mukim Kala had committed at least 47 cases of robbery, murder, dacoity, extortion and violation of the Arms Act during a span of just 5 years between 2010 and 2015, in the states of UP, Haryana and Uttarakhand," the report said. hindustantimes.com The report said the resettlement of over 25,000 members of the minority community in the aftermath of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots had led to a major change in the demography of many towns in the region, including Kairana. "Most of the witnesses and victims feel that the rehabilitation in 2013 has permanently changed the social situation in Kairana town leading to further deterioration of law and order in the area," the report said. The panel has directed UP chief secretary and DGP to submit action taken report on the observations and recommendations of the NHRC team. The panel issued the order after considering the material on record, including the report of its investigation division on a complaint that Hindu families were leaving Kairana due to fear of criminals. googleusercontent.com The team was constituted on a complaint filed by Supreme Court lawyer Monika Arora, who had approached the rights panel after reports were published in newspapers about the exodus of Hindu families from Kairana and Kandhla. In June, Kairana MP Hukum Singh had alleged that around 250 Hindu families had migrated from the town, leaving behind properties, out of the fear of criminals who enjoyed political patronage. The issue became a major controversy with BJP accusing the ruling Samajwadi Party of pursuing minorities appeasement policies. Also Read: Kairana - Hindu Exodus Or Attempt At Polarisation? Heres What The Two Communities Say About The Forced Migration The name of Race Course Road in central Delhi has now officially been changed to Lok Kalyan Marg - also affecting a change in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence which will now read as '7, Lok Kalyan Marg'. Lok Kalyan Marg, the new name of Race Course Road truly connotes the motto of its principal Addressee- The Prime Minister. Congratulations. Dr. Mahesh Sharma (@dr_maheshsharma) September 22, 2016 The change came about after BJP Member of Parliament, Meenakshi Lekhi proposed the name on which Modi resides should be changed to reflect "the Indian culture". Shanker Chakravarty/The Hindu The announcement was made at a press conference which saw NDMC chairman Naresh Kumar, Lekhi, and Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal in attendance. Lekhi had earlier proposed a difference name for the road. The suggested name was Ekatma Marg, based on the philosophy of Deen Dayal Upadhyay. samachar.com Last year, Aurangzeb Road in the same central region was renamed Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road in a tribute to the late and former Indian President. 'Just good politics'. Vietnams decision to shelve the ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a free trade agreement whose 12 members comprise nearly 40 percent of the global economy, speaks volumes of the delicate diplomatic ties it holds with both the U.S. and China, analysts say. Lawmakers will not be voting on the U.S.-led trade deal at the forthcoming session of the National Assembly -- Vietnams legislature -- next month as scheduled, the house speaker has said. The ratification of the TPP has to factor in the situations in other countries, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, chairwoman of the National Assembly, told a meeting of the parliamentary Standing Committee last week. Ngan said that the ratification of the trade deal would need further assessment and approval from the ruling Communist Party. Several other lawmakers have also weighed in, saying Vietnam should not forge ahead with a trade deal that other countries have shunned. Le Hai Binh, the foreign ministry spokesman, said in a press briefing Thursday that Vietnam is taking great strides in amending relevant laws to ensure full implementation of its commitments to the TPP. Several analysts consider this delay an about-face in a country that has always exhibited steadfast determination to ratify the controversial agreement. It's too bad, Zachary Abuza, a Washington-based Southeast Asia analyst, said. I think that it sends the wrong sign to investors. Vietnam got a good infusion of foreign direct investment because of it. Vietnam should be leading the way for investor confidence. When President Barack Obama was trying to reassure U.S. trading partners in Asia at the recent G20 summit in Hangzhou, China, that he would continue to battle tooth and claw for congressional approval of the TPP, it was already almost a done deal in Vietnam. At a meeting with representatives from American businesses in late August, Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc confirmed that the national legislature, where over 90 percent of lawmakers are Communist Party members, would sign off on the TPP at a plenary session in October. But to many other observers, Vietnams hesitation in this regard should come as no surprise, given the countrys delicate diplomacy with the U.S. and China, which both are vying for dominance in Asia and accuse each other of stoking tensions there. It seems to me that Vietnam is doing the same thing it always does regarding the U.S. and China, Dennis McCornac, a professor of economics at Loyola University in Baltimore (Maryland), said. Vietnam seems to want to make sure not to antagonize whomever becomes president of the U.S. since both candidates oppose the TPP while at the same time it appeases China by not ratifying it. Just good politics, he said. Both US presidential hopefuls Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have said they oppose the TPP. Photo by AFP Slowly and steadily Republican bigwigs on Capitol Hill have reiterated that the trade deal would not come up for a vote this year. Much to the chagrin of its advocates, presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have also both expressed vehement opposition to a trade deal they equate to massive job losses in the country they are battling each other to run. But on the other side of the Pacific, the Vietnamese media have touted the prospect of Vietnam opening the floodgates to increased foreign investment, particularly to American companies, after the TPP takes effect. Media reports also croon that the deal would enable tariff-free access to the U.S. for Vietnamese companies, particularly apparel, footwear and textile exporters. It would also pave the way for Vietnams overhaul of its much-cosseted yet inefficient public sector. Vietnamese and American officials have indicated that the TPP is a strategic political instrument, not just a trade agreement, to counter Beijings rising influence. But the ambitious trade deal, after all, goes against the grain of Vietnam's ideology. One issue that has remained unexplored here is that Vietnam, along with the other 11 signatories, would have to respect patents of major pharmaceutical companies for between five and eight years. This could make it impossible for sick patients suffering from potentially fatal diseases like HIV or cancer in Vietnam to afford the drugs they need. There are around 250,000 Vietnamese suffering from HIV/AIDS, and the country also logs around 150,000 new cases of cancer annually, more than half of which prove fatal, according to the World Health Organization. Higher drug prices are not the only compromise Vietnam has agreed to make to join the TPP. One of the most glaring threats that the Vietnamese media have also glossed over is the investor state dispute settlement, an instrument which grants corporations the right to sue a foreign government. On top of that, under the deal, Vietnam is required to amend its labor laws and allow workers to form independent trade unions, a real litmus test for a country where the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor is the only legal trade union representing all workers. But the Vietnamese stance on this has shifted a bit in recent months. After eschewing several major ramifications of the TPP, the Vietnamese media have started to broach the threats of international lawsuits brought by the corporate sector. Vietnamese officials have stated publicly that change is afoot regardless of the TPP. With or without TPP, our goal is to improve our investment environment, Tran Xuan Ha, a deputy finance minister, told Bloomberg in July. With TPP, our corporate sector will need to be even more competitive to ensure it retains market share. The U.S.-Vietnam relationship will endure the non-passage of the TPP, analysts say. Vietnam has only made itself more attractive to U.S. investment in trade, Abuza said. I expect that to continue. And our strategic relationship has never been better. Trust and confidence have grown immeasurably. Vietnam has overtaken Indonesia to become the top market for U.S companies in Southeast Asia, according to the ASEAN Business Outlook Survey released recently by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. According to the survey, 40 percent of U.S. enterprises said that Vietnam was their priority market for future business expansion in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The absence of the TPP would not push Vietnam closer to China, according to analysts. The South China Sea dispute will continue to play a larger role in Vietnamese-Sino relations, inevitably forcing Hanoi to ramp up alliances with the West and Washington and become less dependent on Beijing. However, China will still be an important factor and Vietnam will be the tightrope walker in the middle with China and the U.S. holding each end, McCornac said. Given that Hillary Clinton has a good chance of getting elected, Vietnam-U.S. ties may become closer despite her flip-flop on the TPP. It was Clinton that ruffled China's feathers at a regional forum in 2010 in Hanoi by claiming that the U.S. has a national interest in freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea. Clinton is a hawk and she will support Vietnam's position on the islands so Vietnam will continue to depend on the U.S. as an ally in the South China Sea dispute, McCornac said. In the event of the TPP dying, it could embolden hardliners in Vietnam, where the U.S. intent has still raised some eyebrows. I think that conservatives [in Vietnam] will see the U.S. as being flaky, and not as committed to the region as it professes, Abuza said. But at the end of the day, underlying the TPP issue is Vietnams desire to bring fundamental political and economic reform, analysts say. It is my impression Vietnam is slowly becoming more open despite those in power, McCornac said. Related news: > TPP to give foreign investors power to sue Vietnamese government > Vietnam to approve TPP this year, but all efforts may be in vain Over the years, euthanasia aka mercy killing or assisted suicide has been the subject of a great debate. Apart from the famous Aruna Shaunbag case, there have been other cases in which permission for euthanasia was sought from the authorities. According to a report that appeared in The Hindu, G. Manimekalai, a 38-year-old woman in Coimbatore, sought permission for the mercy killing of her 17-year-old mentally challenged son. She said that the family was unable to take care of Jayaganesh, as the boy who would attend a special school till a few years back, is now confined to the house and often causes disruption with his violent behaviour. www.logiosermis.net "Jayaganesh is said to be under medication for about a decade and had been taken to many homes for mentally ill children in Coimbatore, Trichy, Aranthangi, Mayiladuthurai, Palani and Pollachi, though he failed to get long-term care from any work as I have to take care of him. My parents do mirror works and the boy damages them," she was quoted in The Hindu. Manimekalai's husband had died 13 years ago and she is staying with her elderly parents with her two sons. But the mother hasn't given up on her son without trying. According to her family, she tried to take care of the ailing boy, but his condition continued to deteriorate in the last few years. Gautham, 23, Jayaganesh's elder brother says that he often gets call from his mother and he rushes home from work when Jayaganesh gets out of control. principiumjournal.com "Earlier this year we took him to the government mental health hospital at Kilpauk. He was recovering there but the hospital asked us to take him back after two months. There are patients who are getting treated there for years together," Gautham told The Hindu. The series of complaints by neighbours and several evictions from landlords over the years have forced the family to forsake their loved one. India recently passed The Mental Healthcare Bill, 2013, which seeks to replace the Mental Health Act of 1987 with better provisions for the protection of the rights of people affected with mental illness. Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have announced a new initiative worth $3 billion that will aim at curing, preventing, and managing "all diseases in our children's lifetime." AP Speaking about their project named 'Chan Zuckerberg Science' in San Francisco, Chan said, "Mark and I believe that this is possible within our childrens lifetime. We are partnering with scientists, doctors, and engineers to help us achieve this goal...Well be investing more than $3 billion to achieve our collective vision." Reuters Zuckerberg, however, did add that it didn't mean that people won't ever get sick. The Chan Zuckerberg Science project aims to make diseases treatable or manageable by the turn of this century. "Our society spends 50x more treating people who are sick than on finding cures. We can do better than that," he added. While explaining their "plan", Zuckerberg further stated that it was a program to "bring scientists and engineers together, build tools and technology, (and) grow the movement to fund science." And to further that plan, a partnership with Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UCSF called Biohub "will focus on understanding underlying mechanisms of disease and developing new technologies which will lead to actionable diagnostics and effective therapies." Reuters Bill Gates was also present at the presentation and called this initiative "very bold". Cornered by international isolation over the Uri terror attacks, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif went out all guns blazing to defend his country's position on Kashmir. Speaking at the 71st UN General Assembly Session on Wednesday, PM Sharif said his country "fully supports Kashmir's right to self-determination". AP Sharif who had earlier called Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani a martyr termed him as a 'young leader' at the UN and said that he was the 'symbol of Kashmir's demand for resolution'. "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces has emerged as a symbol of latest Kashmiri 'intifada'." Blaming India responsible for the ongoing unrest in Kashmir the Pakistan prime minister said his country will submit a dossier to UN on the alleged human rights violations by India in the valley. Pakistan will share dossier with UN Secy General on Indian brutalities in Kashmir: Nawaz Sharif #UNGA ANI (@ANI_news) September 21, 2016 He also warned the ongoing protest will only intensify and once again called for international intervention in the dispute. "We demand an independent inquiry into the extra- judicial killings and a UN fact-finding mission to Kashmir so that those guilty of these atrocities are punished." AP Even while his country is dodging away from talks with India, Sharif on the world stage claimed that Pakistan was ready for bilateral talks, adding that India's pre-conditions were unacceptable. A day after two US lawmakers moved a bill in the US Congress to list Pakistan as a State sponsor of terrorism, Sharif played the victim card in front of the world and said his country has been the 'principal victim of terrorism'. "My country has been the principal victim of terrorism including that is supported, sponsored, financed from abroad." India responded sharply to the speech of Sharif. MoS External Affairs MJ Akbar said Pakistan has self-incriminated by glorifying a terrorist. Pakistan at the moment seems to be run by a war machine rather than a Govt. Talks and guns don't go together: MJ Akbar,MoS MEA pic.twitter.com/8IiXNa8DZJ ANI (@ANI_news) September 21, 2016 Burhan Wani is a self declared commander of Hizbul, we heard today by Pak PM the glorification of terror, was self incrimination: MJ Akbar ANI (@ANI_news) September 21, 2016 MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup said India's only pre-condition for talks is Pakistan ending support to terrorists. PM Sharif at #UNGA says India poses unacceptable conditions to dialogue. India's only condition is an end to terrorism. This not acceptable? Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 21, 2016 Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UN's highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism. Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 21, 2016 New Delhi is also expected to give a strong rebuttal to Sharif's speech when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj address the UN later in the day. Pakistan's national flag carrier PIA has cancelled flights to northern Pakistani cities, including to Gilgit and Skardu in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, due to "air space restrictions" in the wake of Uri terrorist attack. Reuters "As per directives of CAA (Civil Aviation Authority), the air space over Northern areas will remain closed on Wednesday. Inconvenience regretted," PIA spokesperson Danyal Gilani said on Twitter. No reason has been given, but officials said that Pakistani warplanes are being readied to respond to Indo-Pak tensions after the Uri attack. Due 2 northern areas airspace restrictions PIA's 21st Sep's flights to Gilgit, Skardu & Chitral ve been cancelled. Inconvenience regretted. Danyal Gilani (@Danyal_Gilani) September 20, 2016 Airspace has been a contentious issue for both countries. In August, Indian carriers sought the government's permission for routes that let them avoid Pakistani airspace. Alternative routes include flying to the Gulf from western India (Ahmedabad) over the Arabian Sea to avoid the circuitous route over Pakistan. Security fears due to deteriorating India-Pakistan ties as well as economic factors are driving the requests. Air India, Jet Airways, IndiGo and SpiceJet operate flights to Gulf over Pakistan. "In the past few days, India has asked some non-scheduled aircraft flying from Pakistan to return and Pakistan may also retaliate. This is one fear that is behind the demand and the other is pure and simple cost factors," said an airline official. Reuters Defence authorities are yet to give clearance to the direct access as it involves flying over some sensitive areas. An aviation ministry source said: "We are getting lot of requests from airlines for direct point-to-point routes and are focusing on flexi use of airspace for that. There has been significant progress on that and a lot is still to be done." There have been consistent complaints of airspace violations from both sides. A Pakistani daily also reported that almost 24 flights from the Benazir Bhutto International Airport were suspended due to Pakistan Air Force exercises. Speaking at the Leaders' Summit on Refugees held at the UN headquarters, UAE Minister Reem bint Ibrahim al Hashemi announced that the nation would be taking in 15,000 immigrants in the next years H.E. Reem AlHashimi participates in the leaders summit on refugees held in the UN headquarters in Newyork. pic.twitter.com/1OgitORHH3 Forsan UAE - English (@Forsan_UAE_EN) September 22, 2016 "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," she was quoted as saying. H.E Reem Al Hashimy discusses areas of collaboration with Filippo Grandi, the United Nations @RefugeesChief #UNGA pic.twitter.com/JrwdGO3x0y UAE Mission to UN (@UAEMissionToUN) September 21, 2016 The UAE is already home to 1,15,000 Syrians, living here before the 2011 Syrian Crisis that displaced millions. By 2016, 1,23,000 Syrians took shelter in the Emirates. While the UAE has provided over 700 million dollars in support to Syrian refugees in Greece, Iraq and Jordan, they've not opened their borders. The UAE is the first Gulf Cooperation Council to to announce Syrians asylum as refugees. A general doctor might spend his whole life without coming into contact with a patient diagnosed with cri-du-chat syndrome. Photo by VnExpress/N.P. You have never heard of a baby crying in a high-pitched, catlike shriek? Neither had the doctor at a hospital in Hanoi. An infant from coastal city Nam Dinh, about 90km to the south of Hanoi, was taken to the hospital because when he cries, he sounds like a kitten, said the mother. The one-year-old baby boy, weighing only 6 kilograms - the normal weight of a 3-month-old newborn, was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate, said Dr. Nguyen Thanh Thai, head of the facial surgery department at the Vietnam-Cuba Hospital. The doctors noted the babys head was small, his eyes were wide-spread and his reflexes were slow. And when he cried, the doctors were suspicious of something more serious than minor abnormalities. And the genetic testing confirmed their suspicion: The baby boy has cri du chat syndrome. Cri du chat syndrome, which in French means the cry of a cat, is so rare that a general doctor could spend his whole life without coming into contact with a patient. The sufferers have a missing chromosome and look like people with the more common Down syndrome. Cri du chat syndrome, which strikes about one in 50,000 babies, is most often detected in infants because of its characteristic "high, shrill, mewing, kitten-like cry," according to the National Organization for Rare Diseases. The mother said she caught a mild flu during the early stage of her pregnancy. Prenatal testing only detected the physical impairment of a cleft lip and cleft palate, said the second-time mother. When the baby boy uttered his first cry, he sounded like a kitten meowed, said the mother. Ten days after his birth, the boy was taken to obstetricians in Hanoi for a health check. There, the doctors ordered a genetic testing which confirmed the boy was born with the cry of a cat. Children with the syndrome have difficulty with speech. Nearly all have weak muscle tone and experience certain delays in walking. Even the mildest cases have some intellectual impairment, said the doctors. Doctors advised early diagnosis and intervention greatly help the patients with speech as well as social adjustment, said Dr. Thai. Related News: > Vietnam province reports first case of rare brain infection > Disabled man volunteers for first head transplant in Vietnam > Deadly diphtheria returns to southern Vietnam due to low vaccination rate Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. The migrant worker said she was afraid she could not take care of her baby. Police in Taiwan have taken a Vietnamese woman into custody for allegedly abandoning her one-week-old baby at a temple last week. The woman was arrested late Tuesday, a week after police in Taichung in western Taiwan received a tip that a baby girl was left at a local temple, Taiwans Central News Agency reported. The girl was then one week old, wrapped in a piece of cloth and put in a paper bag. Video footage from the temples camera showed a woman leaving the bag there before riding away on an electric bicycle. Police found her at a rental apartment, together with the bicycle. Taiwans National Immigration Agency said the woman is a Vietnamese migrant worker who had fled from her employer. She told police that she only realized she was pregnant when she arrived in Taiwan in January. She ran away from her employer in June on fears that she would be sent back to Vietnam due to the pregnancy. She said she left the baby at the temple because she could not take care of her daughter properly, according to the news report. The woman, whose identity is protected, is facing charges of abandonment and violating the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act. Related news: > Switched at birth: Vietnam parents raise wrong daughters for 3 years > Babies switched at birth 42 years ago > Woman gives birth at 10,000 meters A notorious criminal, Charles Emeka, popularly called Fela, who had allegedly been terrorising residents of Owerri, the capital of Imo State, and its environs, has been killed. It was gathered on Wednesday that a mob in Owerri battered him to death. Emeka, a native of Aguneze in the Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, was said to have confessed to the mob that he could not remember the number of persons he had killed. The irate mob subsequently inflicted injuries on him before the intervention of the state police command. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, told our correspondent that Fela had already been battered to death before the intervention of the police, adding that efforts to revive him at a hospital proved abortive. The PPRO said the police would have loved to interrogate him so that his gang members could be nabbed. He said, Emeka was confirmed dead on arrival at the Imo State Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, Owerri. Emeka, aka Fela, and his gang members were responsible for the multiple robberies and murder cases in the state. One of them was the case of Chigozie Onyemeam, who was attacked in front of the Federal High Court, Owerri, on June 26, 2016. Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said Fela was also linked to the murder of one Lucky of Umuonyeche on September 17, 2016, and one Goodluck David of Oguamalam Street in Owerri. The PPRO said Emeka and his gang also terrorised residents of Umezurike , Amaigbo, Enereji, Royce, Oparanozie and Lobo streets, among others in Owerri. He also disclosed that a locally-made double-barrel had gun with two live cartridges was recovered from the victim. He urged members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of other members of the gang to report to the police. Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, said the command was poised to deal decisively with anyone found breaking law and order and hampering the peace in the state. He said, The Imo State Police Command shall not rest until we have decisively dealt with criminals in the state. Source: Punch A 23-year-old man that goes by the name Tobi Aremu, has been remanded in prison custody by an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrates Court for allegedly raping a 5-year-old girl (name withheld). Police prosecutor, Sgt. Bankole Olasunkanmi, told the court that Aremu committed the offence on September 20 at Efon Alaaye. He said the accused, on the said date, unlawfully defiled the minor which led to her being hospitalized for the bruises sustained during the attack. The offence, according to Sgt. Olasunkanmi contravened Section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012. He added that the case file has been forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. Counsel to the accused, Chris Omokhafe, sought for a short adjournment pending the legal advice from the office of the DPP. Presiding Chief Magistrate Idowu Ayenimo who expressed concern on the soaring rate of rape of minors across the country failed to take the the accuseds plea and subsequently ordered him to be remanded at the Federal Prisons, Ado Ekiti till the outcome of advice from the DPP. Migrants who were rescued from a boat that capsized in the Mediterranean Sea are pictured in Al-Beheira, Egypt, September 22, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Mohamed Abd El Ghany About 400 could still be missing. A boat carrying almost 600 people capsized off Egypt's coast on Wednesday, killing at least 43, in the latest disaster among migrants trying to reach Europe. The boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Burg Rashid, a village in the northern Beheira province. Officials said 31 bodies had been found, 20 men, 10 women and one child. A Reuters correspondent later saw a fishing boat bring in 12 more bodies, bringing the total so far to 43. Rescue workers have so far saved 154 people, officials said, meaning about 400 could still be missing. "Initial information indicates that the boat sank because it was carrying more people than its limit. The boat tilted and the migrants fell into the water," a senior security official in Beheira told Reuters. The boat had been carrying Egyptian, Sudanese, Eritrean, and Somali migrants, officials said. At a coastguard checkpoint in Burg Rashid, where the Mediterranean meets the Nile, dozens gathered, anxiously waiting for news of missing relatives. "I am not going to leave until I see Mohamed," Ratiba Ghonim wailed. Her 16-year-old brother had left an impoverished village nearby in search of a better life. "It is his destiny to leave yesterday and come back dead today. They still haven't pulled his body out of the water." Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said all resources possible would be directed into the rescue mission and that those responsible had to be brought to justice. It was not immediately clear where the boat had been heading. Officials said they believed it was going to Italy. An overcrowded dinghy with migrants from different African countries is seen after members of the German NGO Jugend Rettet guided them towards the Iuventa vessel during a rescue operation, off the Libyan coast in the Mediterranean Sea September 21, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Zohra Bensemra "More will sail tonight" 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. Some 320 migrants and refugees drowned off the Greek island of Crete in June. Migrants who survived told authorities their boat had set sail from Egypt. 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. World leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, gathered in New York this week at the United Nations General Assembly to discuss the migrant crisis. Some 1.3 million migrants reached Europe's shores last year fleeing war and economic hardship, prompting bitter rows among states over how to share responsibility. If they survive the perilous maritime journey, migrants this year face stronger EU border controls. Mohamed Nasrawy, an Egyptian fisherman, said he knew seven people on the shipwrecked vessel, two of whom were still missing. He made an abortive effort to travel to Greece a year ago. "Look how this incident has shocked people, but tonight more people are going to set sail," he told Reuters. "The poverty that they are living in is what is pushing them. Although we are not Europeans, they take good care of people, while our country doesn't." Related news: > 100 migrants rescued after being stranded off Greece > As many as 900 migrants feared drowned in one week Walmart still bullish ahead of earnings according to Wyckoff analysis Trade Precise - Sun Oct 30, 9:09AM CDT Walmart (WMT) price is challenging the $143 with relatively low volume. According to Wyckoff phase analysis, there is a high probability WMT price will break above $143 to test $147 then retrace to around... WMT : 142.51 (+1.26%) Limit up on Wheat? Banghart Properties - Sat Oct 29, 7:09PM CDT News broke over the weekend that could help wheat trade limit up when it reopens. Rains in the Plains, Dow soars Sidwell Strategies - Sat Oct 29, 8:38AM CDT 1st winter wheat ratings Monday; consider carbon for cash flow during drought Open Enrollment 101: Make the Most of Your Benefits Young & The Invested - Sat Oct 29, 6:00AM CDT The 2022 open enrollment season will be a difficult one as workers have to factor in persistently high inflation while they choose their coverage. These tips can help you maximize your benefits. Hogs Rebound into Weekend Barchart - Fri Oct 28, 4:39PM CDT Lean hog futures ended the Friday round with 32 to 97 cent gains to fade the triple digit losses from Thursday. The USDA National Average Base Hog Price was $90.54 in the PM update, down by $1.15. The... HEZ22 : 86.100s (+1.15%) HEJ23 : 92.700s (+0.62%) KMZ22 : 96.125s (+0.37%) Cotton Falls Triple Digits Barchart - Fri Oct 28, 4:39PM CDT December cotton ended the day locked limit lower on the 3c loss. The March contract worked back off the limit for the bell, but still went home down by 274 points. For the week, Dec cotton closed 702 points... CTZ22 : 72.11s (-3.99%) CTH23 : 72.07s (-3.66%) CTK23 : 72.30s (-2.99%) Many have sounded the alarm that economic mobility in the United States has fallen behind that of our European peers. Some, including Princeton economist Alan Krueger and President Obamas White House, blame income inequality. According to their arguments, the United States has a gap between rich and poor that makes it difficult for those not born into wealth to get ahead. Elise Gould of the Economic Policy Institute also laments low levels of mobility. Her preferred measure of economic mobility, intergenerational earnings elasticity (IGE), shows that the United States falls behind its European peers. The United States has an IGE of 0.47, meaning that about 47 percent of the variation from the average in a childs earnings can be explained by his parents earnings. Many, but not all, European countries have a lower IGEFrance has an IGE of 0.40, and Denmark has an IGE of just 0.15. Where the analysis cannot tell us, though, is how each country fares on absolute mobility. IGE is inherently a relative measure, which tells us how individuals are faring relative to the average of everyone else. But if that average is higher, then mobility can appear lower, even if the absolute income gains are held constant. All else being equal, one would expect countries with higher inequality to have lower relative mobility. If you climb five feet on a ten-foot ladder and I climb five feet on a twenty-foot ladder, we have both made the same ascent, but your relative progress up the ladder appears much more impressive. This is important because the United States has a much taller metaphorical ladder than most other countries. For an individual at the 10th percentile of the income distribution in the United States, there is a larger gap to cover before attaining the 50th percentile. The other side of that, of course, is that an American does not need to traverse nearly as many percentiles of the income distribution to achieve a given standard of living as does a Dane or a Swede. This can be illustrated by the following example. Consider two countries, A and B, which have average incomes of $30,000 and $40,000, respectively. In each country, the average individual whose parents income is $10,000 earns $25,000 in adulthood. In other words, the absolute mobility of this individual is $15,000, and identical in both countries. In country A, the individual is $5,000 below the average, whereas his parents were $20,000 below. Therefore, 25 percent (or $5,000 divided by $20,000) of the individuals deviation from the average income is explained by his parents deviation. However, in country B, the individual is $15,000 below the average, while his parents were $30,000 below. Now, 50 percent of the individuals deviation from the average is explained by his parents deviation. Again, absolute mobility is identical in both countries, but country A appears much more meritocratic than country B by virtue of its lower average income. According to my analysis of OECD data, the disposable income boost required to move from the 10th percentile to the 50th percentile in the United States is $19,187, more than any other country in the OECD. By contrast, the egalitarian nations of Europe require much smaller boosts--$12,613 for Sweden, $11,627 for France, and $10,384 for Britain. (All these figures are in 2013 U.S. dollars adjusted for purchasing power.) This phenomenon is partially thanks to the United States higher median disposable income: $30,473, compared to $24,547 in France and $20,768 in Britain. This highlights the shortcomings of using a relative metric to measure mobilityAmerica gets penalized because it is richer. Of course, none of this is to suggest that the United States has sufficient economic mobility, or that we should not strive to increase upward mobility. But whether robust economic mobility is a more American or European trait depends quite a bit on how you look at the data. Preston Cooper is a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute. You can follow him on Twitter here. Interested in real economic insights? Want to stay ahead of the competition? Each weekday morning, E21 delivers a short email that includes E21 exclusive commentaries and the latest market news and updates from Washington. Sign up for the E21 Morning Ebrief. Bloomberg Philanthropies' global grantmaking can seem a bit boring. But a good kind of boring, because Mike and his team are keen to find solutions to often overlooked but widespread problems that contribute to millions of deaths worldwidelike smoking, traffic accidents and child drowning. To the likes of which Bloomberg has donated a vast fortune. Bloomberg Philanthropies Womens Economic Development program is a project of a different kind. It targets women as a vital part of sub-Saharan Africas economic development in rapidly growing industries like agricultural production, tourism and construction. And Bloomberg is part of a growing list of funders who are into empowering women in Africa, including the Gates, Coca-Cola, Ford, Hewlett and Caterpillar foundations. At a total of $30 million in funding across the entire Womens Economic Development program funding is comparatively low, at least by Bloomberg standards. Bloomberg has committed over $600 million to anti-tobacco use campaigns and over $259 million to road safety projects in low- and middle-income countries with a high number of road related fatalities since 2007. Related: Be Like Mike: Bloombergs Road Safety Giving is Saving Lives. Where are Other Funders? And while the recent announcement of an additional $10 million doesnt get anywhere near the kind of money Bloomberg has committed to his other causes, its a big jump. To be fair, the Womens Economic Development program hasnt been around for nearly as long as the anti-tobacco and traffic safety program, nor is it as bigboth programs span across 10 countries around the world. That total $30 million has gone toward some pretty major projects like the construction of the Women Economic Building, a training center, the Library for All literacy program, and the development of the Equal Footing data portal. Equal Footing is a free data mapping program that allows users to view the philanthropic activities in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Rwanda. The program also allows users to view the ongoing needs in seven targeted areas of economic development. The latest $10 million investment, announced at the recent U.S.-Africa Business Forum, will be dedicated to expanding the Womens Economic Development program in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The grant was awarded to the Relationship Coffee Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the livelihoods of rural Rwandan women and coffee farmers. The grant allows the institute to reach an additional estimated 20,000 women farmers who will benefit from its training and market access programs. Zeroing in on the coffee industry in Rwanda and DRC may seem a bit like niche funding, even for Bloomberg. But coffee is big business in both countries. In Rwanda, coffee accounts for about 30 percent of the countrys export revenue and some 400,000 people depend on coffee farming for their livelihoods. In the DRC, agriculture accounts for over 40 percent of its GDP and nearly 85 percent of women in the country work in the industry. Coffee, a big cash crop in the DRC, is mainly grown by smallholder farmers. According to Bloomberg Philanthropies, while coffee is a major export in both countries, the state of the current supply chain struggles to provide 25 million smallholder farmers with a fair and sustainable means to meet their basic needs. The problem is especially acute for the estimated 12 million smallholder farmers who are women. The $10 million grant builds on the work the Relationship Coffee Institute, and its main partner, Sustainable Harvest, were able to achieve with previous Bloomberg funding. This including improving womens skills related to soil management and field crop production as well as, access to knowledge of global makers and buyer networks. Related: Is Impact Investing the Next Big Thing for Bloomberg? Through its partnerships with outfits like Women for Women International, the Relationship Coffee Institute, and Sustainable Harvest, Bloomberg Philanthropies is so far putting a lot of its chips on workforce and basic business training. As well, like other funders we track, it's keen to build broader support networks to provide women the tools, resources, and knowledge necessary for increased economic security. This keeps getting more interesting. Im talking about what happens when two idealistic and ambitious millennials decide to devote tens of billions of dollars to making the world a better place. It almost sounds like a fantasy projectmore akin to the augmented reality that Facebook is working on than traditional philanthropy. What would you do with a $55 billion fortune and a five- or six-decade window to work with over the rest of your life? What will Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg do with it? Yesterday, we got more answers to that last question when the couple unveiled an initial $3 billion commitment over the next decade to finance a new push to cure, prevent or manage all diseases by the end of the century. You heard that right: Zuck and Chan want to vanquish humanitys greatest foes, and within the next 84 yearsby the time, basically, that their baby daughter Max is an old woman. Its hard to think of any philanthropists whove ever embraced so grandiose a goal, the exception being Andrew Carnegie, who, about a century ago, set out to eliminate warthe second greatest scourge of human existence. Carnegie, as we all know, didnt get so far. How are Chan and Zuckerberg likely to do with this effort? Ill get to that question in due time, but first lets look at six takeaways of yesterdays announcement, broadcast on Facebook Live. 1. Chan and Zuck Know How to Multi-Task Chan and Zuckerberg have mainly been known so far for their education giving. Zucks first big give in 2010 was to improve Newarks schools, and the couples second biggest give after that was to improve schools in the Bay Area. The first entity they set up to manage their giving was called Startup:Education, and Priscilla has even created her own school in East Palo Alto. But last year, when Chan and Zuck pledged 99 percent of their fortune to advancing human potential and promoting equality, it was clear that they were thinking in more sweeping terms about their philanthropy. The only question was how, exactly, this would play out. Now, a key piece of the picture has come into sharp focus: Like two of the greatest titans of philanthropy before them, John D. Rockefeller and Bill and Melinda Gates, the couple has set their sights on improving humanitys lot at the most elementary levelnamely, keeping people alive longer and in better health. In the next year, look for the agenda to broaden even further as Chan and Zuck drill into the equality side of their mission. Some reports, for instance, have suggested they might take on housingan area where, as we often write, theres lot of room for new donors and ideas. 2. Boldness Is Back in a Big Way Its hardly new for mega-donors to think in grandiose terms. Many of the top givers of the 20th Century, starting with Carnegie and Rockefeller, set hugely ambitious goals. But then, during the last half of that century, there was a bit of a lull as the institutionalized foundation became the main face of American philanthropy. To be sure, these entities set some big goals themselves, but more often treaded cautiouslyor "more realistically," you might say, than brash living donors. In recent years, though, more living donors and larger sums are coming to the tablethe Gates Foundations endowment is nearly four times that of Fords. The bar of philanthropy has been raised more than once, at timesas we saw yesterdayin a nearly Utopian way. While it can be tempting to view Bill Gates as a technocratic donor presiding over a large bureaucratic foundation, its important to remember how grandiose his and Melindas vision has been from the start, especially in the global health arena. In turn, the Gateses have been a model for other new donors who have followed, and especially for Zuckerberg and Chanwho are now pushing the envelope of possibility even further. Its not surprising that tech donors have led the way in introducing a new round of big thinking to philanthropy. Ideas are the main currency of their industry, with gargantuan rewards and market dominance going to innovators who come up with the next big thing. Regardless of what you may think of this industry and its various questionable practices (e.g., tax avoidance), the influence on philanthropy of donors from this sector is becoming ever more profound. 3. Youth is an Advantage in Playing the Long Game Beyond Zuckerberg and Chan, weve written a lot at IP about other new and young (or youngish) donors coming onto the scene, such as Dustin Moskovitz, Sean Parker and John and Laura Arnold. Its surely no coincidence these donors are also some of the most ambitiouswith one reason being that they can think in a more tangible way about solving problems over many decades given their life expectancy. A half-century from now, Chan and Zuck will be in their early 80s. Thats a very long runway to work with as philanthropists, and rather ahistorical, too. Never before have so many young people amassed such large fortunes, and never before have so many business leaders turned to large-scale giving while still in their career primes. In a more typical past model of philanthropy, first you made your money and later you gave it away, more in the twilight of life. In contrast, Zuck made his first $100 million give before Facebook even went public. 4. Bill Gates is a Surprisingly Good Sport One of the unexpected parts of yesterdays announcement was that Bill Gates emerged near the end of the presentation to praise Chan and Zuckerbergs new initiative. Yet, in doing so, he couldnt suppress a small chuckle as he repeated out loud their goal of taming all diseases. After all, nobody knows better than Gates what a wildly ambitious hope this really is. The Gates Foundation has thrown many billions of dollars at just a handful of diseases for over 15 years, hitting one frustrating roadblock after another along the way. Now, along come Zuck and Chanwho, by the way, dont have as much money as the Gatesesto set a far more difficult goal of getting the upper hand against every disease. Good luck with that, Bill might have said. Or maybe: Come on, kids, just pick one or two to get started. Instead, there he was on Facebook Live, giving his approval to Chan and Zucks bid to go after the whole enchilada. Good for Gates not to play the crotchety veteran telling the greenhorns why they will fail. Its a reminder that, at heart, Gates remains something of a utopian thinker himself. Its also an indication of just how much respect that Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have won over time as hardworking emerging philanthropists. 5. Newark is Ever Further in the Rearview Mirror Remember when Mark Zuckerberg was being pilloried for his missteps in backing a controversial school reform push in Newark? Yeah, me neither. More and more, thats yesterdays news, and the storyline about the Facebook co-founders philanthropy has moved on. Zuck learned a lot from that experience, and he and Priscilla have repeatedly vowed to listen carefully and get buy-in from key stakeholders for their education giving. The emergence of Chan as an equal co-partner in giving is a big part of the shift in narrative. Were no longer talking about some pipsqueak techie mucking around with big donations; now, at his side, is a daughter of immigrants whose backstory very much epitomizes the struggles of a diverse working class America. 6. Priscilla is the Real Deal Maybe the most striking thing about yesterdays announcement was when Priscilla Chan kicked things off by talking about her and Marks larger goals, along with her own motivations as a philanthropist. These are details people need to know as they ponder Chan/Zuckerberg givingwhich some critics have suggested feels like an oligarchical enterprise. Chans parents came to the U.S. as Vietnamese-Chinese immigrants and worked long hours to support their family. At Harvard, she tutored low-income income kids for all four years, and then set out to make a difference in the world by becoming a pediatrician, where she learned even more about the struggles of people of very modest means. The school Chan created is designed to help disadvantaged students succeed using a wide array of services to address their needs both in and outside the classroom. In short, Priscilla Chan is exactly the kind of person you want giving away a $55 billion fortune, assuming she and Mark can get the expert help to do so properly. And yesterdays announcement was reassuring on that score, too, as Zuckerberg introduced the people theyve found to help them wage war on disease, starting with Dr. Cori Bargmann, a top neuroscientist. *** So is this effort actually going to work? Obviously, its too early to say, and if we were feeling crotchety ourselves, we might talk about how crowded biomedical research is getting these days, and the risk of duplication in this new effort. After all, we already have the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Broad Institute, as well as a growing array of efforts focused on neuroscience and the brain, and a bunch of large cancer initiatives. Oh, and did I mention that the NIH still pumps out $30 billion in grants every year10 times more annually than what Chan and Zuckerberg plan to spend over a decade? But why dont we leave those kinds of questions for another article. The bigger point, here, as I said, is that Chan/Zuckerberg philanthropy keeps getting more interesting. And theres plenty more to come. Assets in the funds have soared. But RIAs need to be aware of some nuances before they recommend them to their clients. Investors are pouring money into target-date mutual funds, and many financial advisers say the funds make sense as a core retirement holding. I like the idea, because the funds are self-rebalancing and get more conservative as the investor gets closer to retirement, says Tom Fredrickson, a New York City financial adviser in the Garrett Planning Network. Its one-stop shopping for retirement funds. Assets in target-date funds soared to $790 billion at March 31, from $340 billion on December 31, 2010, according to the Investment Company Institute. The crucial issues for registered investment advisers in deciding whether to recommend a target-date fund for their clients are the funds asset allocation, its glide path, the quality of the underlying funds within the target-date fund and expenses. As for asset allocation, target-date funds generally begin with a heavy weighting in stocks and a light weighting in bonds. This makes sense, as younger investors can handle the higher historical risk of equities given their better historical returns, advisers say. But it gets tricky for older investors. Among that group, some will want a greater exposure to stocks than others, but if theyre in the same fund, theyll have the same exposure. Many funds are 60 percent in bonds for people in their 50s and 60s. But that might not work for everyone, says Jack Riashi, a financial adviser at Bloom Asset Management in Farmington Hills, Michigan. It might be too conservative for some. The allocation may also be too aggressive for others. In 2008, numerous target-date funds had a heavy stock weighting for investors close to retirement, causing them great heartache when the stock market plunged in 2008-09. So advisers have to pay close attention to the funds glide path. They also must check whether the fund is a glide to, which means the allocation is static after the retirement date, or a glide through, which means the fund continues to rebalance after that date. You do need to pay attention to asset allocation to make sure its compatible with your own risk tolerance, Fredrickson says. For investors who want more than just blue-chip stocks and plain-vanilla bonds, target-date funds have expanded in recent years to include small-cap stocks, emerging-markets stocks and bonds, real estate and natural resources. So do these more varied funds make sense? Alternative asset classes can have a valuable role, says Jeff Holt, associate director of multi-asset strategies at Morningstar in Chicago. It all goes back to the goal of diversifying for a smoother ride in retirement. But youre still relying on your fund manager to choose investments well, he notes. I would caution against adding asset classes just for the sake of it. And for a while, some funds seemed to be doing that, increasing their fees in the process. Since a target-date fund is just a fund of funds, RIAs should look carefully at the underlying funds makeup and performance. Fund companies often invest in their own proprietary funds, Holt says. They arent always best in class. See if the companys best funds are included. The good news is that target-date fund fees are dropping. The average asset-weighted expense ratio for a target-date fund series dwindled to 0.73 percent as of December 31, 2015, from 1.03 percent six years earlier, according to Morningstar. Target funds have access to low-price shares of their underlying funds, and some invest in exchange-traded funds. Fredrickson likes Vanguard funds for their low expenses and has one himself as his largest retirement holding. I do that with my wife in mind, knowing that if I die, theres little shell have to do when she takes it over. The hands-off approach is a benefit for many investors. Target-date funds are appealing to millennials for their low maintenance, immediate diversification and lack of complexity, says Michael Sheldon, an independent market strategist in Westport, Connecticut. But he and others warn against a complacent approach to target-date funds. They are not a guarantee of sufficient retirement savings or a steady retirement income stream, Holt says. More knowledgeable investors can create their own balanced portfolio that exactly matches their asset-allocation desires and avoids the fees of a target-date fund, Sheldon notes. But that does take homework. Get more on registered investment advisers. Equities in Europe and Asia rose in aggregate today after the Federal Reserve refrained from raising the benchmark overnight lending rate. Derivatives markets linked to interest rates suggest that investors now anticipate a single hike in 2016 to be followed by another in spring of 2017, as the gradual tightening spelled out in the Feds dot-plot chart appears to indicate. In a note to clients this morning, CCTrack CEO Robert Savage comments that lower-for-longer rates in the U.S. brings on a renewed interest in carry trades, boosts equities, lifts commodities, adding that markets suggest summer will last until the U.S. election if not December. According to Savage, the Federal Open Market Committee likely now sees the cost of waiting on rate normalization as balanced against risks to global financial stability, with the threat of larger bubbles viewed as manageable for now. Investors now appear to have relaxed with the likelihood that U.S. markets will face only a gradual incline in rates. Cooperman scoffs at SEC allegations. Hedge fund manager Leon Cooperman, CEO and founder of Omega Advisors, has vowed to fight insider-trading charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission against him. The SEC alleges that Cooperman used his insider status at Atlas Pipeline Partners to profit. Cooperman denied the charge in a note to investors in Omega, which manages more than $5 billion. Atlas is one of a number of energy companies controlled by Edward Cohen, whose corporate structuring has drawn criticism from investors in the past. Mylan chief grilled by Congress. Mylan Pharmaceuticals CEO Heather Bresch appeared before the Congressional House Oversight Committee yesterday to answer questions about her companys pricing strategy for the EpiPen allergy-shot product. Bresch maintained that profit margins for the product remained relatively modest in the face of a barrage of often-hostile questions over price increases and executive pay. Bresch is the daughter of West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin. Yahoo! said ready to admit hack. Multiple media and social network sources reported today that Yahoo! will announce a data breach affecting as many as 200 million users. The news, coming on the heels of an agreed-upon acquisition of Yahoos core business units by Verizon Communications, presents a potential hurdle to completion of the merger, which does not include Yahoos stake in Chinese online commerce giant Alibaba. Creditor throws lifeline to Korea shipping giant. It was announced today that Hanjin Shipping Co. has received a credit-line extension of slightly more than $45 million from primary creditor Korea Development Bank as part of an attempt to ease the shipping companys logistical woes as it reorganizes. The loan is conditional on additional funds already pledged by primary shareholders, including Korea Air, of the container shipper. The funding will allow the unloading of cargo currently stuck at sea as Hanjin seeks bankruptcy protection in the Korean courts. Apple moves into auto market. Apple has begun discussions to acquire a stake in U.K. performance automobile maker McLaren, as well as purchase San Francisco electric-scooter startup Lit Motors outright. The move comes as Silicon Valley is increasing focused on the automotive industry. According to unnamed sources, Apple already has a design team in place for a car aimed at entering the market by 2020. If accurate, the reports could indicate that Apple intends to compete with Tesla Motors, currently the highest-profile performance electric-car maker. Brokers should focus on innovation rather than disruption as the industry faces challenges across the value chain.Dr Amy Gibbs , digital communications and content strategy manager for ANZIIF , said that disruptors in the broking space are not reinventing the industry but they are changing their businesses alongside customer habits.For broking, it is not so much disruption but there is a big focus on innovation, Gibbs told Insurance Business.The disruption is coming from people who are, essentially, not doing anything differently in terms of the core broking function but they are doing it digitally and online.They are producing platforms and apps that allow customers to self-direct what they need but be able to speak to a broker if they want that further information.They are really putting the power back into the hands of the consumer and they are using mobile and digital to do that so brokers need to do that or people will go to other people.Gibbs noted that disruptors may not take on the whole insurance industry at once but they will attack certain aspects of the industry throughout the entire value chain.While many expect one company to topple the industry, much in the way that Uber impacted the taxi industry, Gibbs noted that insurancd may not see an Uber-like business which alters the status quo.I dont think there will necessarily be one Uber of insurance, there are thousands of them, Gibbs continued.Some will fail, but there are always going to be more. It is about customer service and if customers arent getting the service that they want with insurers then they will absolutely find something else and there will always be someone ready to provide that.A digital strategy will be important for brokers to deal with disruption from both within and outside the industry but Gibbs noted that a strategy without an innovative culture is pointless. Brokers need to focus on keeping the customer of the centre of everything that they do.As long as you are focusing on being the best that you can be and putting the customer first, there is always a place, Gibbs said.It might be a slightly different place but there will be a place. "We see these climate perils as no different to an explosion" NSI Insurance Group, a Miami Lakes, Florida, based privately held insurance agency, has acquired KMH Insurance Services, a New York based specialty insurance broker focused on serving marine and equine customers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. KMH president Kathryn Hoff and the companys employees based in its Hamptons, New York City and New Jersey offices will immediately join NSI Insurance Group following the acquisition, which will serve to expand NSIs presence throughout the Northeast. KMH specializes in insuring commercial marine vessels, commercial marine liability, luxury boats and personal watercraft. It also has carved a niche in equine insurance. NSI specializes in risk management and insurance services for a variety of industries. The company also markets under Excursioninsurance.com, which provides a platform for all categories of cruise industry tour operators to secure insurance coverage that is compliant with the requirements of major cruise lines. Source: NSI Insurance Group Topics Mergers & Acquisitions New York Agribusiness New Jerseys Homeland Security Preparedness Office is asking officials to tell it when there are special events in their towns. The request comes after a pipe bomb exploded before the start of a charity race in Seaside Park on Saturday. The office compiles a statewide list of special events that is distributed to all law enforcement agencies to provide situational awareness and to assist in local planning requirements. The office says the list helps police better protect the public. Special events include any event that attracts large numbers of people. Authorities have charged Ahmad Khan Rahami with planting bombs in Seaside Park, Elizabeth and New York. He remains hospitalized after a shootout with police Monday. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics New Jersey The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to stop the potential spread of asbestos at the former Arkell and Smiths Sack Co. facility in Canajoharie, N.Y. Exposure to asbestos can lead to lung cancer and mesothelioma. At the request of the local government, the EPA sent staff and federal resources to stop the potential release of asbestos, said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck in an EPA press release. EPA will make sure that the buildings are taken down properly and that asbestos is not spread into the community. The EPA took building and debris samples from the site in February 2016 after originally being notified by Mayor Francis Avery of Canajoharie in November 2015 about hazardous conditions posed by the dilapidated and collapsing buildings at the complex. It was determined that the asbestos from deteriorating structures on the site has the potential to impact the surrounding area, as asbestos within the building has deteriorated to a point that it could spread beyond the property. Homes are located within 30 feet of the site. Going forward, the EPA will demolish the buildings, and asbestos-containing materials will be either removed or secured at the site and disposed of properly at permitted facilities. The air will also be monitored during operations to ensure that asbestos is not spreading. While this site is not on the Superfund National Priorities List, the Superfund program operates on the principle that polluters should pay for the cleanups rather than passing the costs to taxpayers. The EPA will seek to hold any liable parties accountable for the costs of the investigation and cleanup. The original factory, which was built in the 1860s, sits on a 2.6 acre site and contains seven interconnected buildings covering 65,000 square feet. The property was sold in 2007 before eventually falling into disrepair. The EPA is coordinating with the Village of Canajoharie and local police to minimize disruptions during its cleanup work. Source: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Topics USA New York Pollution Manufacturing Beazley, the London-based provider of data breach response insurance, has appointed Rafael Sanchez as Beazley Breach Response Services (BBR Services) manager, International, to manage the breach response services provided with its international data breach business. Beazley said it has helped clients handle over 4,000 breaches since the launch of its flagship product, Beazley Breach Response, in 2009. Sanchez joins Beazley from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he was assistant general counsel and director for its UK business. Prior to that, he held senior legal positions at Morgan Stanley in London and Hong Kong and worked for Jardine Matheson in Hong Kong. Beazley said its BBR Services team coordinates the expert forensic, legal, notification and credit monitoring services that clients need to satisfy all legal requirements and maintain customer confidence. In addition to coordinating data breach response, BBR Services maintains and develops Beazleys suite of risk management services, designed to minimize the risk of a data breach occurring, the company said in a statement. Beazleys dedicated BBR Services unit is being expanded to reach more international businesses as they adapt to new EU regulations, and other breach notification regulations being enacted around the world, said Katherine Keefe, global head of BBR Services. Beazleys data breach insurance is specifically designed to give businesses access to dedicated and experienced breach response managers to manage the technical, regulatory and financial impacts of a data breach from the moment of initial notification, she added. Source: Beazley Topics Legislation Cyber New York-based JenCap Holdings LLC has acquired privately held M. J. Kelly Co. (MJK), a managing general agency and wholesale insurance brokerage based in Springfield, Missouri, with offices in nine states throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Since 1986, MJK has been owned and operated by Jim Adams who was joined by his sons Jon and Paul in 1987 and 1989, respectively. Today the agency places business with more than 200 admitted and non-admitted markets through more than 5,000 independent agents in 26 states. In conjunction with the transaction, Jon Adams will move into the position of president of MJK and Paul will take on the responsibility of branch manager of the Springfield office. Jim Adams will remain in an advisory capacity. JenCap Holdings (JCH) was formed by The Carlyle Group and JCH management in March 2016 to consolidate specialty insurance distribution businesses, including managing general agents, program managers and transactional wholesale brokers. The acquisition of MJK is the third transaction by JCH since March. PhiloSmith & Co. provided financial advice to M. J. Kelly Co. Source: JenCap Holdings Inc. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Missouri Wells Fargo & Co. customers aiming to sue the bank over bogus accounts opened in their names may be in for an unpleasant surprise: the fine print requires them to take their claims to an arbitrator instead of a court. Mandatory arbitration rules inserted into account-opening agreements prohibit customers from joining class actions or suing the third-largest U.S. bank in court. Instead, the agreements require individual, closed-door arbitration. U.S. senators highlighted the issue on Tuesday as they grilled Wells Fargo Chief Executive Officer John Stumpf during a hearing. Asked if he would set aside the mandatory arbitration agreements for customers affected by the phantom accounts, Stumpf demurred. Im not an expert in that, he said, adding he would talk to his legal team. That was not enough for some lawmakers. If we had class action on this in 2010, 2009, 2008, the problem never would have gotten so out of hand, Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said later, when questioning regulators about the practice. Class actions can be more affordable for unhappy customers, especially those with limited resources, because they can band together to sue, rather than having to hire lawyers individually. Consumers also complain that target companies often choose the arbitrators; proceedings are confidential; and decisions are hard to appeal. Three Wells Fargo customers filed a lawsuit Friday in a Utah federal court, seeking class action status on behalf of hundreds of thousands of customers nationwide they say were harmed by the San Francisco-based banks fraud and recklessness. It was unclear whether they could get around the mandatory arbitration clauses, though. Last year, Wells successfully invoked the clauses to defend against a class action suit tied to bogus accounts. In that case, the judge said customers had to arbitrate because of agreements they signed when opening legitimate accounts at the bank. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a brainchild of Warren, was part of the regulatory group that negotiated a $190 million settlement from Wells Fargo over the bogus accounts. The bureau is considering rules to ban banks, credit card issuers and other companies from forcing customers to submit to arbitration and waive their right to join class action lawsuits. Under the proposal, companies could still use arbitration, but would have to tell consumers they could join class action lawsuits instead. Mandating arbitration when signing up for financial products has become standard practice after a 2011 U.S. Supreme Court decision validated the practice. Still, the tide may be turning, said Joseph Peiffer, a New Orleans lawyer who has represented investors and others in class action lawsuits. Class actions dissuade companies from ripping people off a thousand dollars here and a thousand dollars there, Peiffer said. (Reporting by Suzanne Barlyn. Editing by Carmel Crimmins and Jonathan Stempel; Additional reporting by Lisa Lambert and Dena Aubin; Editing by David Gregorio) Related: Topics Lawsuits USA Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. is working with JPMorgan Chase & Co. to see if the insurer can find a buyer for Talcott Resolution, the unit that includes U.S. variable annuities, according to people familiar with the matter. Apollo Global Management LLC, Wilton Re Holdings Ltd., Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and JC Flowers & Co. are among potential bidders who have expressed interest, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. Talcott could fetch $3 billion to $4 billion in a sale, they said. Talcott includes so-called runoff coverage, or segments where Hartford is no longer writing new contracts, and had about $4.7 billion of statutory capital at the end of June, according to financial statements. Hartford has been exiting such policies in recent years through a variety of transactions, and Chief Financial Officer Beth Bombara, who previously led Talcott, said Sept. 12 that the insurer sees the possible advantage of a larger deal. Were always open to looking at other ways to move the risk to someone else, Bombara said at a conference hosted by Barclays Plc. Ideally, we would like to find a solution where we were able to transfer all of the liabilities and the legal entities, not do it via reinsurance. When you do pieces, reinsurance gets a little difficult. Hartford climbed 1.1 percent to $42.42 at 2:10 p.m. Wednesday, narrowing its loss for the year to 2.4 percent. The Insurance Insider reported earlier on efforts to sell the unit. Michelle Loxton, a spokeswoman for Hartford, which is based in the Connecticut city of the same name, declined to comment. Narrowing Focus Selling Talcott would help Hartford focus on auto insurance, where the company has been caught off guard by higher-than-expected claims costs, Credit Suisse Group AG analysts led by Ryan Tunis said in a note. They said the range of $3 billion to $4 billion could be a conservative estimate. Jennifer Hurson, a spokeswoman for JC Flowers, declined to comment, as did a representative for JPMorgan. Charles Zehren, a spokesman for Apollo, didnt respond to a message. Nor did Wilton Res Ray Eckert or Warren Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire. Hartford struck a deal in 2013 to sell a U.K. variable-annuity business to Berkshire, and agreed the next year to sell a Japanese operation to Orix Corp. Related: Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Dallas-based general agency CPro Associates Inc. has acquired Accident Insurance Services Inc., also of Dallas. Both companies specialize in Texas nonsubscriber occupational injury benefit plans. The stock purchase transaction becomes effective Oct. 1. Alan Hardin, CEO and founding partner of CPro Associates, said the aggregate premiums of the two firms will be greater than $35 million. At present, the two companies will continue to operate under their own names, although the majority of the AIS book of business will be moved to the CPro Texas Option plan. That plan is insured by Nationwide. Nonsubscriber plans became popular in Texas in the late 1980s, when fast-rising workers compensation costs rose precipitously. Alan Hardin was among the first to refine the plans and make them viable, attractive options for Texas employers that wanted to provide first-rate occupational injury benefit programs, but also have better cost control. About one-third of all Texas employers have nonsubscriber plans, including familiar names such as WalMart , Home Depot, Baylor, Hermann Hospitals, Neiman Marcus, Macys, Sonic, McDonalds and many more. Nonsubscriber plans often offer cost savings of 25 percent or more, compared to workers compensation plans. The CPro Texas Option product targets non-hazardous employers who are focused on employee safety, reduced expenses and excellent employee benefits. The company said it provides options not generally available within the workers compensation system, including disability benefits up to 90 percent, compared to 70-75 percent for workers compensation, and weekly benefits up to $1,000, compared to $861 for workers compensation. Source: CPro Associates Inc. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Texas Workers' Compensation An Arkansas judge has ruled Wal-Mart Stores Inc. investors may bring fraud claims against the retailer as a group, clearing a hurdle in a lawsuit over bribes it allegedly paid to help open new stores in Mexico. The ruling will make it harder for Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart to brush aside a Michigan pension funds claims that the chain artificially inflated the value of its shares by mishandling the alleged Mexican payoffs. The suit, filed in 2012, accused Wal-Mart of bribing Mexican officials to speed up approval for the opening of new stores. The chain was accused of hiding the bribery scheme for about seven years beginning in 2005. The payoffs were made public in a 2012 New York Times article. The paper reported at the time that Wal-Mart made at least $24 million in suspect payments to facilitate construction of Mexican stores. This was a procedural ruling that has nothing to do with the merits of the case, Randy Hargrove, a Wal-Mart spokesman, said in an e-mail. We continue to believe the claims here are not appropriate for class treatment. In May, the company persuaded a Delaware judge to throw out claims filed by another set of shareholders accusing directors of botching the handling of the Mexican bribery scandal. Multiple Probes The worlds largest retailer has said in regulatory filings that it spent $439 million since 2012 in connection with investigations into allegations that employees paid bribes in Mexico, China, India and Brazil. Both U.S. and Mexican prosecutors have open investigations into Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB, one of the countrys largest private employers with more than 200,000 workers. Lawyers for the Michigan pension fund contend former Wal-Mart Chief Executive Officer Michael Duke and other board members failed to thoroughly investigate the claims even though they were put on notice in 2005. The retailer began a comprehensive probe only after the Times reported on the allegations in 2012, investors said. Wal-Mart officials are accused of filing misleading disclosures with U.S. regulators about when they learned about the bribery claims and the thoroughness of the retailers internal review of its Mexican operations. In her ruling on Sept. 22, U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey in Fayetteville, Arkansas, said judicial economy and the best interests of shareholders favor allowing the case to proceed as a class action. The case is City of Pontiac General Employees Retirement System v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., 12-cv-05162, U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas (Fayetteville). Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits USA Legislation Claims Mexico Arkansas The Atlanta City Council has approved a plan to allow Uber and other ridesharing services at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. WXIA-TV reports the city council approved the plan 14-1 at its Monday meeting. It will take effect January 1, 2017. The tab for riders will go up $3.85. As in several other U.S. cities, the issue of criminal background checks for drivers was among the most contentious as Atlantas plan was developed. An Uber representative says the rideshare program will cover the costs of background screenings for its drivers. According to a statement from Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, other plan highlights include: Ridesharing vehicles and taxis will be subject to a seven-year age limit, drivers will wait for customers in a designated ridesharing area and all vehicles must display a decal while providing transportation services at the airport. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Aviation Appalachian Underwriters, Inc. has added a new property broker, Aaron Reilly, to the Sarasota, Fla., office. Reilly will be developing new business opportunities throughout the country in various property and casualty placements, including catastrophic wind, within the following classes: habitational, assisted living facilities, hotel/motels, religious organizations, retail strips/shopping centers and warehouses. Appalachian Underwriters, Inc. is a full-service MGA and Wholesale Insurance Brokerage, providing independent agents a national outlet to multiple specialized markets for workers compensation, commercial specialty, and personal lines of insurance. Topics Florida Agencies Underwriting Property Dozens of residents who live near a Florida fertilizer plant that has leaked more than 200 million gallons of contaminated water into a drinking water aquifer have asked for their water wells to be tested for pollutants. The Mosaic Co., the worlds largest phosphate provide and owner of the plant, said it had received 70 requests for well water testing, which it will provide for free. The move comes weeks after a leak was discovered on Aug. 27 at its New Wales facility in central Florida after a sinkhole opened up under a pile of contaminated waste. Florida Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Dee Ann Miller says there is no evidence the contaminated water has moved beyond the site and is threatening groundwater supplies. The leak occurred after a sinkhole opened beneath a pile of waste material called a gypsum stack. A pond atop the pile drained into the sinkhole, reaching the aquifer, Mosaic said. While the company alerted state and federal environmental agencies in August, the public was not notified until last week. The sinkhole allowed the water to migrate into The Floridan aquifer, a major source of drinking water in the state. Its one of the highest producing aquifers in the world and underlies all of Florida and southern Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. The cities of Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando, Daytona Beach, Tampa, and St. Petersburg all rely on the aquifer and it also supplies water to thousands of domestic, industrial and irrigation wells throughout the state. The DEPs Miller says the waste water pond was emptied by the sinkhole, but some seepage continues through the stack into the ground. Mosaic continues to capture the process water by pumping through its system of recovery wells, she said in an email. Again, monitoring to date indicates that the process water is being successfully contained and groundwater monitoring will continue to ensure there are no offsite or long-term effects. Mosaic did not return a message seeking comment. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Pollution Martin McCloskey, 69, of Pinon Hills, Calif., pleaded guilty this week to three felony counts of grand theft and theft of fiduciary funds after defrauding his customers by failing to remit to insurance companies more than $58,000 in premiums he collected for commercial property and liability coverage. After receiving a complaint from an insurance company, investigators with the California Department of Insurances discovered Martin McCloskey, a licensed broker, failed to remit the entire insurance premium he received from policyholders to the insurance company from Oct. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2011. The insurance company extended coverage to the policyholders affected by the shortage in premiums. The department revoked McCloskeys license on Dec. 6, 2012. McCloskey violated his clients trust and left them at great financial risk when he stole their premiums and left them without coverage, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said in a statement. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 1. Topics Agencies Fraud Chemical manufacturing giant Dow fails to warn people in farming communities throughout California when a potentially dangerous pesticide is applied to nearby fields, health advocates claimed in a lawsuit filed Tuesday. Telone is among the most commonly used pesticides in California applied to strawberry fields, almond orchards, vineyards and other crops. The chemical kills pests in the soil and dissipates before crops are planted, so health advocates say harmful residue is not found in food. Rather, they say the fumes released when it is first applied can potentially cause health issues. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the chemical can cause cancer when inhaled over long periods. The Oakland-based Center for Environmental Health said it filed the lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court against Dow AgroSciences LLC, which makes Telone. For decades, Dow and state regulators have put profits ahead of our health, Michael Green, CEO of Center for Environmental Health, said in a statement. It is long past time for California to protect children and families from Dows dangerous chemical. The center has not cited any cases of illness connected to the pesticide. Dow spokeswoman Rachelle Schikorra declined to comment about the lawsuit. As the manufacturer of Telone, Dow is responsible for making sure residents potentially in the path of its fumes know when its being used, the advocacy group says. Telone is the third most commonly used pesticide in California. It is applied to fields in the Central Valley counties of Fresno, Kern, Merced and Tulare as well as coastal Monterey County. California regulates its use, but the Center for Environmental Health says it fears that an upcoming change to Californias pesticide regulations could increase the use of Telone. Charlotte Fadipe, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, declined to comment on the lawsuit or on any proposed changes to how the state regulates Telone. It is no secret we are looking very closely at how we allow California to use this pesticide to protect crops, she said. The health advocates focused their lawsuit on Shafter, a farming community in Kern County. The lawsuit asks the court to impose penalties against Dow of $2,500 a day for each violation. Dow AgroSciences is a global company with sales last year of $6.4 billion. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits California Agribusiness Pollution Chemicals Even six years after the Panama Papers leaked a confidential list of offshore accounts held by the global elite, tax morality is still very much on the table. Un ottobre da sogno per Antonio Conte: lex ct della Nazionale italiana, attualmente alla guida del Chelsea, nelle ultime quattro gare di Premier League ha collezionato solo successi, conditi da 11 reti segnate e addirittura nessuna incassata. Numeri da record che non sono certo passati inosservati alla Federazione inglese, la quale ha conferito al tecnico leccese lambito premio di Manager del mese. Unavventura oltremanica iniziata in sordina, quella di Conte, pur a fronte di tre vittorie nelle prime tre gare di campionato. A far vacillare, anche se solo per un momento, le certezze del patron del club londinese, Roman Abramovich, i risultati conseguiti tra la 4a e la 6a giornata, coincisi con un pareggio sul campo dello Swansea City e, soprattutto, con le due pesanti sconfitte subite dal Liverpool, sul terreno casalingo di Stamford Bridge, e dallArsenal. In particolare, la debacle interna coi Reds, aveva irritato non poco il numero uno russo, poiche occorsa proprio nel giorno della sua 250esima partita da presidente della societa. Come detto, solo un momento. Dopo lincontro dellEmirates, il tecnico salentino cambia modulo, adottando un piu equilibrato 3-4-3 e inserendo elementi di corsa come lo spagnolo Pedro. Una svolta totale perche, di li in poi, il Chelsea inanellera solo e soltanto vittorie: 2 gol allHull City e al Southampton in trasferta, 3 ai campioni dInghilterra del Leicester e 4 allo United in casa, con un meraviglioso numero zero nella casella delle reti subite. Un fantastico poker, ottenuto tra l1 e il 29 ottobre. Un cambio di marcia sbalorditivo, confermato dal 5 a 0 rifilato ai toffees dellEverton nel primo match di novembre, e una scalata che, man mano, ha portato i blues al secondo posto in classifica, a soli 2 punti dal Liverpool capolista. E allora, non poteva mancare il riconoscimento di migliore allenatore del mese, ottenuto surclassando tecnici del calibro di Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) e Mark Hughes (Southampton). Tanta, ovviamente, la soddisfazione: E un grande onore e voglio condividerlo con i giocatori e con la societa ha dichiarato Conte sul sito ufficiale della Premier League -. E la prima volta che lavoro in un altro Paese, con una cultura diversa, e portare la propria filosofia non e facile, ma ora sono contento di questa scelta. A completare la festa, la premiazione del fantasista belga, Eden Hazard, come miglior giocatore di ottobre. Due risultati importanti per il club, ottimo incentivo per la rincorsa al trono dei campioni, occupato dal Leicester di Ranieri. Il prossimo appuntamento per l11 di Conte sara al Riverside Stadium, tana del Middlesborough neopromosso. Il tempo di festeggiare e gia finito. Nel terzo trimestre del 2016 il prodotto interno lordo, espresso in valori concatenati con anno di riferimento 2010, corretto per gli effetti di calendario e destagionalizzato, e aumentato dello 0,3% rispetto al trimestre precedente e dello 0,9% nei confronti del terzo trimestre del 2015. Lo sostiene lIstat. La crescita congiunturale e la sintesi di un aumento del valore aggiunto nei comparti dellindustria e dei servizi e di una diminuzione nellagricoltura. Dal lato della domanda, vi e un contributo ampiamente positivo della componente nazionale (al lordo delle scorte), in parte compensato da un apporto negativo della componente estera netta. Nello stesso periodo il Pil e aumentato in termini congiunturali dello 0,7% negli Stati Uniti, dello 0,5% nel Regno Unito e dello 0,2% in Francia. In termini tendenziali, si e registrato un aumento del 2,3% nel Regno Unito, dell1,5% negli Stati Uniti, dell1,1% in Francia. Nel complesso, il Pil dei paesi dellarea Euro e cresciuto dello 0,3% rispetto al trimestre precedente ed dell1,6% nel confronto con lo stesso trimestre del 2015. I dati Istat sul Pil sono in linea con le stime del governo ha commentato il ministro dellEconomia, Pier Carlo Padoan, arrivando alla Camera per lincontro con il gruppo Pd sulla legge di Bilancio. ll titolare di via XX Settembre in un tweet, poco prima, aveva sottolineato come i dati Istat confermano che leconomia e sulla strada giusta e le stime di crescita sono affidabili. Ma occorre spingere per accelerare Top News - Investor Idea REE Stock News - Defense Metals (TSX-V: DEFN.V) (OTCQB: DFMTF) Drills 113 metres of 2.50% Total Rare Earth Oxide at Wicheeda Vancouver, British Columbia - October 26, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mining / Metals / Green Energy Stock News - Defense Metals Corp. (TSX-V: DEFN / OTCQB: DFMTF/ FSE:35D) is pleased to announce high-grade Rare Earth Element ("REE") assay results from one additional core hole, totalling 383 metres (m), collared within the northern area of Defense Metals' 100% owned Wicheeda REE Deposit. Top Cleantech News - Investor Idea Breaking EV Stock News: Pre-orders for Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) FIVE Electric-SUV Crossover Exceed Expectations as the FIVE 'Strikingly Different' Tour Begins BREA, Calif. - October 28, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces today that the Mullen FIVE "Strikingly Different" EV Crossover Tour which began yesterday, in Pasadena, California, is off to a great start with first day reservations exceeding expectations and overwhelmingly positive customer feedback. Top Health and Wellness News - Investor Idea Health and Wellness Stock News - Endexx (OTCBB: EDXC) Secures Third Order for Non-Nicotine Vape Product HYLA Worth Approximately $1.5M in Revenue for First two Fiscal Quarters of 2023 CAVE CREEK, Ariz. - October 27, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Endexx Corporation (OTCBB:EDXC), a provider of innovative, plant-derived, and sustainable health and skincare products, today announces it has secured three key significant orders for its newly acquired, non-nicotine plant-based vape product, HYLA. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: FatBrain (OTCQB: LZGI) Acquires Confidential Computing Platform ZeroTrust to Protect Data Privacy and Accelerate Innovation for Millions of Growth Businesses NEW YORK, NY - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, has acquired the confidential computing and privacy intellectual property (IP) plus software assets of Zero2A PTE LTD ("ZeroTrust Platform"), a software company based in Singapore. Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire The top US military officer has told a Senate committee he believes Russia bombed the humanitarian aid convoy in Syria on Monday, calling it an "unacceptable atrocity". The statement from US Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the first time a senior US official publicly pointed the finger at Moscow. Under questioning from the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen. 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 on the matter, he said he believed Russia was the one that launched the air strike. US officials initially said the aircraft that dropped the bombs were Russian Su-24 fighter jets, but they were not 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. When first asked if Russia bombed the aid convoy, Gen. Dunford said it was not certain which aircraft dropped the bombs, killing 20 civilians. Under further questioning from Senator Lindsey Graham on whether it was Russia, Gen. Dunford answered, "that hasn't been concluded, but my judgement would be that they did." He was later asked again if it was Russia, and he answered yes. During a wide-ranging hearing, Gen Dunford also said the Obama administration is considering directly arming the Syrian Kurds whom the US has been backing in the fight against Islamic State. "They are our most effective partner on the ground," Gen. Dunford said of the battle-hardened Kurds, who are senior partners in an opposition group the US calls the Syrian Democratic Forces. Gen. Dunford said it is "very difficult" to manage the balance between supporting the Kurds and dealing with the Turkish government's adamant opposition to that support. Turkey sees the Kurds as a long-term political threat. Asked whether arming the Syrian Kurds is a viable military option, despite the Turkish government's opposition, Gen. Dunford said "reinforcing" the Syrian Democratic Forces' military capabilities "will increase the prospects of our success" in enabling the recapture of Raqqa, the de facto IS capital in Syria. Meanwhile, 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. Barrister Declan Murphy said the claim, made by a consultancy marketing firm against its former chief executive, Sean McGrath, was one of extortion and had been publicised in a newspaper as blackmail. He said Mr McGrath had complied with interim court orders restraining any publication of details and would later seek to have the court orders discharged on the grounds of falsehood. He told Ms Justice Miriam ORegan his client had no confidential information of the kind suggested. Mr McGrath had been traduced and wished to set out the background of the parting of the ways with his former company Madcalm Ltd, Monksland, Athlone, Co Roscommon. Brian Conroy, counsel for Madcalm, said interim orders had been granted earlier in the week and he would be seeking an interlocutory injunction. At Mondays ex-parte hearing it was alleged Mr McGrath, the former CEO of Madcalm, had threatened to publicly divulge names, addresses, and bank details of Vodafone customers. It was alleged that during a conversation with Madcalm director Ryan Baird, he had valued, on his leaving the company, his worth at 200,000 but had received only 65,000 under an exit agreement and wanted the remaining 135,000. Baird told the court McGrath had said to him: You dont want to fuck with me on this. If you dont pay me the money I will fuck you guys and if you try to go to anyone else about this I will fuck you. Mr Murphy, who appeared with Dylan Macauley Solicitors, said his client was stated to have shown Mr Baird a picture on his phone depicting computer details he allegedly held and threatened to divulge. Judge ORegan said that as she understood matters, Mr McGrath was stating he had no confidential information belonging to the company. Mr Murphy said Mr McGrath was prepared to make his phone available for analysis by a suitably expert firm. The proceedings were adjourned to the first week of the new law term to allow Mr McGrath swear an affidavit setting out his evidence with time for Madcalm director Ryan Baird to provide a replying affidavit. About 1,400 lawsuits are currently pending at the Braunschweig Regional Court, the district handling legal matters for the region where Volkswagen is based, the tribunal said yesterday. Investors are alleging they suffered damages because the company was slow in disclosing the issue. Volkswagen has rejected the allegations. Investors have lined up to sue in Germany, where VW shares lost more than a third of their value in the first two trading days after the September 18 disclosure of the emissions scandal by US regulators. Monday was the first business day after the anniversary of the scandal and investors had feared they needed to sue within a year of the companys admission it had equipped about 11 million diesel vehicles with software to cheat on pollution tests. The amount is slightly less than the 10.7bn that had been expected based on lawyers statements last week, but more suits could still trickle in because of uncertainty about when the deadline expires. The court may need about four weeks to register all the complaints, according to the release. The US Government, which uncovered the cheating, is also among the investors suing and seeking 30m. Volkswagen, based in Wolfsburg, has repeatedly said it had informed markets in a timely manner based on the information available. Earlier this week, it was reported Audi chief Rupert Stadler risks being pulled into the emissions crisis thats engulfed his marques parent company for the last year. A report by Der Spiegel said witnesses inside the company alleged the executive had known about the engine manipulation since 2010. Mr Stadler, who is also a member of the VW groups board, will be questioned by Jones Day, the law firm hired by the carmaker to help investigate what happened, the German magazine reported. Audi VWs biggest profit contributor has already been linked to the scandal, having produced 85,000 3.0-litre engines US authorities faulted for non-compliance with diesel emissions. Volkswagen has also announced its heavy-truck unit will continue to expand its global presence after striking a deal to buy a stake in US peer Navistar International, as the European manufacturer readies for technological change including rollouts of all-electric vehicles. A robust presence in each of the worlds main regions is key to balancing cyclical swings in demand, Andreas Renschler, head of the Volkswagen Truck & Bus division, said. The value of goods bought online by Irish consumers has continued to increase over the past two years, growing 13% to 7.5bn. That growth is expected to not only continue but accelerate to over 14bn worth of online sales a year by 2021. While the growth of e-commerce presents a golden opportunity for web-savvy firms, the fear is that many SMEs are missing out on significant revenues by virtue of being ill-prepared. Ever increasing numbers of Irish consumers are shopping and using services online. This is seen in the increase in spending over the last two years and the projected forecast for online consumer spending to grow from 7.5bn to 14.1bn in 2021, said Tony Hanway, the chief executive of Virgin Media, which conducted the survey. Irish websites account for just 41% some 3.1bn of Irish online purchases, with a further 4.4bn being spent offshore. If that trend continues to 2021, over 8bn euro in goods and services will be bought offshore at that time. This represents a significant potential loss of trade to the Irish economy. The Virgin Media Digital Insights Report illustrates the value Irish customers put on digital technologies, with respondents indicating that they would seek compensation of 390 per month if their broadband service was removed. This is triple the level of compensation respondents said they would seek when asked the same question in 2014. The numbers shopping online because the product is not available in high street stores and to avail of cheaper prices have both increased in the past two years. Taoiseach Enda Kenny encouraged businesses to ensure they take advantage of opportunities presented by the growth in e-commerce. It is clear that the digital economy is growing at a very fast pace and it is essential that Irish businesses, in particular SMEs, capture this increasing market, he said. This report clearly highlights the huge opportunity for Irish businesses to increase their share of online sales. Taking the leap to trading online can be a big step for many Irish businesses. It is important that businesses are encouraged to trade online and to maximise the opportunities of the digital economy. Supports are in place to help, including the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, which was launched in 2014 as part of the Action Plan for Jobs and provides matching funding to establish an online trading presence. James Conway, who was forced to leave Ireland three years ago to earn a living and is currently based in Wrexham, has pleaded with the Government to take the money from the Apple tax ruling and use it to create jobs for those who've had to emigrate. He tells the Government in no uncertain terms to: "f*** Apple, f*** the lot of them." The sheep CLP will be broadly similar to the bovine equivalent, which has operated at slaughter premises since 1998, and which is underpinned by EU and national regulations. Based on recent evaluation by DAFM of sheep carcase hygiene in slaughter plants, it is clear that there is a need to significantly improve performance in relation to the cleanliness of incoming animals, to ensure the continuation and expansion of this trade, said a department spokesperson. An effective CLP is seen as very important in terms of basic food safety, but also as a reputational issue for Irelands meat industry, and to safeguard the export trade in meat and hides. A number of recent bacterial contaminations of Irish beef products may have been linked to dirty cattle. So far this year, in France, there have been cases of enteropathogenic escherichia coli in frozen halal minced beaf from Ireland, and shigatoxin-producing escherichia coli in frozen minced meat from Ireland. Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli was found in chilled beef from Ireland in Italy, and salmonella Dublin was found in beef trimmings from Ireland in Sweden. For cattle farmers, the next steps under consideration include stepping up the CLP awareness campaign, through dissemination of information, and issuing mailshots to repeat offenders. Additional on-site DAFM inspections targeted at large scale offenders are also planned. A DAFM spokespeson said the processing industry may consider measures designed to reduce intake of Category C cattle (the dirtiest animals, considered unacceptable in the clean livestock policy). As a last resort, application of compliance action is being considered by DAFM, to avoid recurrence of ongoing breaches by penalising farmers direct payments. It is generally accepted that some operators could make a much better effort, said a DAFM spokesperson, explaining that most cattle are classified as category A (satisfactory), but category B (acceptable but subject to additional hygienic dressing controls) account for about a quarter of total slaughter numbers. And the number in category C (unacceptable) has grown from 17,376 to 29,246 over the past three years. It is also the case that a small proportion of suppliers are accounting for a disproportionately high number of the dirtiest animals. After a recent meeting with the Department of Agriculture, IFA national livestock chairman Angus Woods said the vast majority of farmers supply cattle that are clean and acceptable for slaughter, and fewer than than 0.16% of cattle farmers are repeat offenders. He said, at certain times of the year, clean livestock policy charges imposed in some meat plants are excessive. Jim ORegan, a large-scale local grower, said yesterday that its a disaster year for local growers, and follows last years local weather damage to a lot of Co Cork crops, as well as being the fourth year of low grain prices nationally. The harvest has gone bad also for other tillage farms in coastal areas nationally, and throughout the north west, which has had more than 200 wet days so far this year. It has also emerged that there was a spike in calls to the West Cork Women Against Violence Projects (WCWAVP) domestic violence crisis helpline in the wake of the murders of Clodagh Hawe and her three sons, by her husband, in Cavan, late last month. New figures also show that over 1,200 calls almost four a day were made last year to the West Cork agencys crisis helpline by women in the area seeking help. The details will be outlined at the launch in Skibbereen today of a major report commissioned to evaluate the impact and importance of WCWAVPs services in West Cork. Caroline Crowley, a rural development and social inclusion researcher, conducted the Someone to Turn To, Somewhere to Go evaluation report, surveying almost 40 clients of the service. It gives a rare insight into the trauma and danger many women and children live with in West Cork, and sheds new light on the profile of those who sought help. It shows that: Victims of domestic violence were usually older, usually employed, and well educated, but could range in age from 18 to 70; 70% had children living with them; More than two thirds were either divorced, separated, or going through the process; Many of those who contacted the service were previously unknown to social services; Many had to hide or erase the phone or laptop history as they sought help. The report also highlights the effectiveness of multi-agency co-operation and intervention by various agencies to help women and children in complex domestic violence crisis situations. Project co-ordinator Marie Mulholland said the geographic make-up of West Cork was intensely rural, which can exacerbate the isolation, fear, and helplessness that some women, and their children, live in. The scourge of domestic violence will only ever be effectively addressed when we face up to its prevalence and its consequences together as a society. In the meantime, organisations like ours are the only lifeline women have, said Ms Mulholland. Ms Crowleys research found that victims of domestic violence in the region would prefer a safe house for at-risk women in the region because accessing the city-based Edel House shelter just wasnt feasible. Several other surveyed women called for the crisis helpline operation hours to be extended to evenings and weekends, for more WCWAVP offices and longer opening hours, and more staff to improve accessibility to the services. The report also showed that some 70% of women accessed the services through WCWAVP head office in Bantry, with 26% through the Skibbereen outreach office and just 4% by phone only. Other recommendations include an increased public awareness and educational campaign to reach more potential clients, and to reduce the incidence of domestic violence, increased counselling supports, expand the number and distribution of peer support groups. You can contact the WCWAVP helpline on 1800 203136 between 9.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. While 71% said they planned to pass on the farm to a son or daughter, 13% did not know and 4% said they would be selling up. Another 10% said they would leave it to an extended family member and 1% would leave the land with a non-family member. One solicitor, whose firm has been involved in Teagasc clinics on the issue of farm succession, said one problem was farmers waiting until later in life to decide on who takes over, rather than a much longer lead-in period. Rossa McMahon of Co Limerick-based PG McMahon solicitors said he was surprised only 4% were considering selling their farm, adding: What surprises me about those figures is that the dont know [figure] is only 13% I would have thought it would be higher and I think in reality it is. Of the 71% who say they will pass it on to one of their children, I would imagine for a lot of them its what they want to do, but whether its possible is the issue. ICMSA president John Comer said: Its a natural sentiment to want to leave the farm to a child or member of the extended family. In most cases, farms would be in family for several generations and farmers do feel compelled in some sense to keep that going. There is a strong sense that you are bound to pass it on at least as good as you got it and better if possible. The problem is that children looks at the levels of effort and work involved for the return and judge not unsurprisingly that it might not be worth it. We have to convince the next generation that theres a living and a future in farming and that is a challenge for every level of the sector not just the farm families themselves. Rossa McMahon said planning was essential for a clear succession strategy, but many farmers do not engage with the issue until later in life. A lot of people leave it until they are close to retirement age without ever having a proper discussion and its causing a lot of problems now because a lot of children dont want to get into farming or do not see it as an attractive career. He said the volatility of agricultural prices in recent years might have scared some prospective new entrants into farming, and the idea that certain tax reliefs were going to be abolished also meant some people rushed to complete a transfer when they would have been better to wait and consider their options. READ MORE: The Irish Examiner / ICMSA farming survey: Methodology Find more on the Irish Examiner ICMSA farming survey HERE Dr Edel McGinnity, a GP in Blanchardstown, Dublin said the immediate needs of patients acted as serious barriers to chronic disease management and cancer screening. Dr McGinnity, a member of Deep End Ireland that represents GPs working in disadvantaged areas, told yesterdays meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare about a woman who needed a smear test. The woman, aged 54, has a background history of chronic lung disease, diabetes and eczema and has a 13-year-old with behaviour problems. When Dr McGinnity saw the woman she was not sleeping because her niece died three weeks ago and her daughter had been suspended from school. Dr McGinnity said patients like the woman were often called hard to reach for screening, but they had frequent contact with the practice. Because their acute health and social needs were often more pressing GPs like her often did not have the time to carry out routine screening, like smear tests. After dealing with all of the womans immediate problems Dr McGinnity reminded her that she needed a smear test. But by that time, the woman was not in the humour for it. And I am not in the humour for it either because the waiting room is packed and there is just so much going on, said Dr McGinnity. This is an example of how multi-morbidity is really complicated by acute mental health and social problems, and this is the norm for many of our patients, she said. This explains how acute health and social problems act as serious barriers to chronic disease management, cancer screening and prevention so our patients still dont have proper access to proper care even when they have a GP. Earlier Prof Susan Smith, a GP in Inchicore, Dublin and Professor of Primary Care medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, said Deep End Ireland was modelled on a similar project in Scotland called General Practice at the Deep End. The organisation believes healthcare resources should be distributed according to need and wants to share the lessons of other GPs working in disadvantaged areas in Ireland and Britain. Among the demands made by the group is the need for GPs working in disadvantaged areas to have more consultation time to address complex needs and to have better access to diagnostics and other speciality care supports. The objective of the committee is to devise a model for a universal single tier health service that will benefit all patients. Addressing the Oireachtas justice committee, Judge Mary Ellen Ring, the head of GSOC, said she has serious concerns regarding its ability to investigate complaints from Garda whistleblowers. Judge Ring said the watchdog needs greater powers over Garda disciplinary proceedings and the enforcement of GSOC recommendations on systemic issues in the force. Judge Ring said while 2015 protocols had improved the speed of Garda replies to GSOC requests for information, there was a lot of room for improvement. She said there were situations where Garda headquarters was conducting repeat perusal of documents before deciding to hand them over to GSOC. We should just get it, not read three times before, said Judge Ring, adding that the Garda attitude towards GSOC is we get it, when we get it. She said there is no penalty if gardai do not comply. She said GSOC is calling for a new legislative provision that the Garda commissioner shall supply GSOC with information and documentation when requested. Judge Ring said this means that failure to comply provides legal redress to the courts, which could direct the commissioner to comply. She said the police ombudsman in Northern Ireland had this power. She said the attitude of the PSNI chief constable was that, if the ombudsman sought a document, there was a purpose and it is given. Id like to see that sentiment and process here, said Judge Ring. It would at least give us teeth. TDs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly raised concerns regarding the operation of the protected disclosures system and the delays in investigating cases. Judge Ring said it was clearly an issue, and that getting all the relevant information from An Garda Siochana can take time. She confirmed GSOC was investigating four protected disclosure complaints. We would like to give more time to this area, no doubt, said Judge Ring. It would clearly be of benefit if we had a team skilled, knowledgeable, and who work in this area. My ideal would be a protected disclosures section, but at the moment our staff are doing other investigations. We do not have the resources yet. His suggestion was backed by Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe who said funding for Irish Water would compete with other demands such as housing. The pre-budget cautions put Fine Gael directly at odds with Fianna Fail, which wants water charges suspended indefinitely. Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday accused Fianna Fail of a reversal to old-school populism in insisting water charges not be reintroduced. Funding for Irish Water is being considered by a commission on water charges, due to report in November. Mr Coveney said the 2017 position on funding for Irish Water is dependent on what the commission and a follow-up Dail committee conclude. It had been planned that the subvention, or bailout, for Irish Water would be 479m. Irish Water estimates its shortfall from water charges to be 181m for this year. This brings the total subvention needed for Irish Water this year to 660m, Mr Coveney told the Oireachtas housing committee. The 181m shortfall will be plugged by the 110m that was to go to the water conservation grant, a 58m loan to Irish Water, and another 13m still to be found. Mr Coveney said the 110m from the conservation grant would not be there next year. Lets be honest about this, if the Oireachtas decides to do away with water charges, then we still need to progress and deliver on the significant capital expenditure programme that Irish Water needs to deliver on, he said. That will have to come through other revenue raising and presumably general taxation, which then limits our ability to spend in other areas and also undermines the water conservation incentive that comes with having some link between what people pay and how much they use, never mind all the issues around water directives. Funding for Irish Water will be discussed when the commission reports and in the context of the budget, the committee was told. Mr Coveney said: But the choices we make have consequences, big consequences, because regardless of what way you cut it, we have to invest billions of euros over the next five years in water infrastructure and it has got to be paid for. The only question we have to decide is, do we pay for that through general taxation; do we pay for it through a combination of general taxation and direct charging that tries to incentivise conservation and water management; or do we go back to a previous charging system? He added: There is a big cost if we decide not to have revenue stream coming from water provision to domestic houses. There are big consequences in terms of the flow of money in and out of government. Separately, Mr Coveney warned local authorities not to expect the Government to pick up the tab if they reduce property taxes next year. Some 16 councils cut rates last year and 11 had done so this year, he said. The warning on water was also made by Mr Donohoe, when he told a separate committee about budget preparations. Water treatment coming directly from general taxation would directly compete with other needs including housing, he said. It is strictly a matter for the prime minister but it is my impression from discussions is that it will happen sometime toward the end of January or early February, he said. Mr Kenny said the Government is focusing now on its preparations for budget 2017, which will be held on October 11. He said the budget will contain about 1bn in extra spending, including provision for 650 extra teachers and 800 more gardai, but these are largely to deal with the increasing population. He said he expected the supply and confidence agreement with Fianna Fail to be honoured. The Taoiseach said Fianna Fail has agreed to facilitate the minority Government, and said discussions will take place between the Government and Fianna Fail. However, he said it will be a Government budget. Mr Kenny was critical of Fianna Fails U-turn on water charges, saying it was a reversal to old-school populism. We in Fine Gael are totally united on the issue of water charges. Fianna Fail have no idea how they could pay for it, he said. The Taoiseach said he expected the commission on water to report by November. Tomorrow, Housing Minister Simon Coveney is to launch a plan to end the use of hotels as a means of emergency accommodation. Simon Coveneny Health Minister Simon Harris will announce details on mental health in homelessness, and Katherine Zappone will discuss the impact of homelessness on children. In relation to Nama, Mr Kenny said the sale of assets by Nama should not be suspended. He said the Government fully accepted the report from the Comptroller and Auditor General but that he had confidence in Nama. There is a difference of opinion here, the Government decided to set up a commission of investigation. But it has to work, he said. The Citizens Assembly will begin its deliberations on whether to liberalise the countrys abortion laws on October 15, he revealed. He signalled a report from the commission will then be put to discussion within the Oireachtas before any decision on a referendum to repeal the Eight Ammendment, which gives equal status to the right to life of the mother and her unborn child. Mr Kenny was asked about the recent hospitalisation of Finance Minister Michael Noonan. He said he had been given assurances by Mr Noonan as to his ongoing health issues. Mr Kenny said Mr Noonan rang him and told him of his cellulitis and assured him of his fitness to continue in office. He added that Mr Noonan said that if at any stage he was told by his doctors that he wasnt able to continue he would tell him, and Mr Kenny said he accepted that. ELKO Elko County took a big step forward in funding for enhanced 911 after Barrick Gold Corp. donated $74,500 with a promise of more funds by the end of the year. The gold mining company in September made the largest donation so far to the fund. Weve seen in the paper the coverage about the need to upgrade our e-911 system, Katie Neddenriep, Barrick manager of corporate social responsibility, told the commissioners. She said she talked with Elko Police Chief Ben Reed about the issue. Neddenriep, like other community members, was surprised that the county only has basic 911, which is basically a caller ID system. When someone calls 911 in Elko County, the dispatcher only sees the phone number and name attached to the account. The system does not show the address the call originates from. Neddenriep explained the issue to Barrick. After some research, she found 74.5 percent of Barricks Nevada employees have an Elko County address. This represents over 2,500 families who rely on local emergency services to respond in their time of need, she said. We want to do our part in supporting community resources which provide for the safety and security of our employees, their families and neighbors. Neddenriep said the company decided on the $74,500 amount so it was relevant to the percentage of Barrick employees in Elko County. I went to Barrick and said we need to get on this because we have a significant amount of our workforce that are depending on this, she said. I think a lot of people assume you can dial 911 on your cellphone and drop it and theyre going to show up, and thats not what happens. On top of the initial donation, Barrick also offered a matching challenge. If small businesses and individuals in the community raise $12,750 by Dec. 31, Barrick will match it dollar for dollar. I think its awesome to see how the community has gotten on board with this, Neddenriep said. So far, Coldwell Banker Algerio/Q-Team Realty, Century 21 Gold West Realty and Elko Sanitation have each donated $1,000. Ruby Radio Station opened an account for the county at Nevada Bank and Trust so the public can donate money for enhanced 911. County Treasurer Rebecca Erickson said she is in the process of finalizing the account, but the public has already donated about $200. Neddenriep said this is one funding campaign that benefits the entire community. To me its like insurance, you hope you dont use it but you want to have it. You want to know its there, she said. If the community donates the $12,750 and Barrick matches it, the county will be halfway to its $200,000 estimated cost. Reed said the surcharge the commissioners approved in September will help fund the system. The surcharge is allowed through state law. Each individual phone line will be charged 25 cents a month and each trunk line or T-1 will be charged $2.50 a month. However it could take one or two years before enough money accumulates to pay for updated technology. In the meantime first responders must use an antiquated system. Thats why this money is so important to speed this up, Reed said. If enough money is raised to pay for the initial systems, the funds accumulated through the surcharge would help maintain the system and pay for the next phases, which will include mobile devices. Jobseekers and film enthusiasts have been called to attend an open day at the Troy Studios film hub in Castletroy on October 15. The event organised by Screen Training Ireland, the Irish Film Board and Troy Studio is seen as the first step to recruitment. All those attending will be given an introduction to opportunities which beckon in Limericks new film industry. Michelle Brassil of Troy said the event would be a great opportunity to meet people in the film industry and give a taster of what its all about. The open day will suit school leavers, job seekers, new entrants to the jobs market, and graduates seeking diverse and exciting opportunities. Those attending will give people a chance to hear from experienced professionals about film production and how it works and the different aspects of film production. The studio has been developed in a 6,500sq m building at the National Technology Park, once used by Dell. Limerick City and County Council purchased the building from a Limerick businessman and have entered into a long-term lease with Troy Studios whose directors include Siun Ni Raghallaigh and Ossie Kilkenny of Ardmore Studios and producer, John Kelleher. Limerick 2030 from Matt Sullivan Cameraman on Vimeo. The council gave Troy Studios planning permission to carry out extensive internal work on the building which will double the studio space available in this country. Ardmore Studios does not have enough space to satisfy current demand. Since the new Limerick studio was given the go-ahead, a number of US film production companies and Pinewood Studios in the UK have expressed interest in it. Mr Kilkenny said: Ardmore does not have enough space to cater for the growing demand by international film makers who want to make films and TV productions here. The Limerick Twenty Thirty Company which was launched this week under former Kerry Group CEO, Denis Brosnan, is confident the Troy Studio will create more than 500 of the 5000 jobs it is targeting over the next five years. Many of those who will be taken on at the studio will include electricians, carpenters, painter/decorators and technical personnel. Those wishing to attend the information day should log on to www.troystudio.ie or www.screentrainngireland.ie. A specially enlarged jury panel of 15 has been sworn for the trial, which is expected to run for three months. Mr FitzPatrick (68) of Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow, is accused of failing to disclose to the banks auditor, Ernst and Young, the details of loans of up to 119 million which he received from Anglo between November 2002 and February 2008. He pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act. These include 22 charges of making a misleading, false, or deceptive statement to auditors and five charges of furnishing false information in the years 2002 to 2007. The prosecution intends to call 75 witnesses, including Matt Moran and Tiarnan OMahoney, who worked at the now-defunct bank. Alan Dukes, the former chairman of Anglos successor bank IBRC, will also be called. In addition to the usual exclusions, potential jurors were told they must not serve if they were affected by the banking crisis or have expressed any views on it on social media or any other public forum. They were also told they should not serve if they are a member of any protest group, including anti-austerity groups. Banking sector employees and shareholders were also excluded. One woman was excused from serving after telling the court she is decidely not neutral when it comes to bankers. Another man indicated that he was willing to cancel an upcoming holiday to serve but he was objected to by the defence. The defence challenged eight potential jurors in total while the prosecution challenged four. Counsel are allowed to challenge up to eight jurors each without giving a reason. Another 72 were excused for various reasons before a final jury of eight women and seven men was sworn in. Judge Aylmer told jurors they must not seek out information on the trial outside of the court. Were all aware of the availability to everyone of the internet, newspapers, or social media, he said. He also asked the the jurors not to discuss the case with family or friends. The case should finish by Christmas and may take less than the three-month estimate. The jury will next return on Monday, before being sent away for two weeks while legal arguments take place. However, the postal district showing the greatest jump in residential property prices comparing the year to July 2015 to the year to July 2016 was Kinsale. The average price for a home in the popular Cork seaside town increased by a massive 40.5% from 255,714 to 359,259. According to stamp duty returns filed in the 12 months to July, the average price for a property in Dublin 6 is 694,148 the highest of any postcode in the country. Joseph Cuddigan claimed Michael McDonagh, aged 25, of An Sruthain, Castlebar, Co Mayo, was in effect arrested twice and because of what he termed an arrest on an arrest was not properly before the court. Garda Laura OConnor said she went to the grounds of St Stephens Hospital, Sarsfield Court, Glanmire, in response to a call from the Garda control room at Anglesea St. Garda OConnor arrived and found armed gardai from the emergency response unit were already present. One of those officers had handcuffed Mr McDonagh because the accused had been allegedly carrying an axe. Mr Cuddigan submitted that at the time Garda OConnor arrested the defendant he had been arrested already and was therefore not properly before the court. Insp John Deasy said there was no evidence of a member of the emergency response unit arresting him. Judge Marie Keane agreed. Mr Cuddigan called his client who then testified that a member of the emergency response unit told him to drop the axe and get on the ground. He said he did as he was told and his hands were cuffed behind his back. Mr McDonagh said the only person who told him he was under arrest was Garda OConnor. Judge Keane said the accused was properly before the court. Gardai had no objection to the accused being remanded on bail provided he stayed away from certain named people and stayed out of Co Cork. He was remanded on bail until October 19 for directions from the DPP. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the two would be invited to attend as part of a wider investigation into allegations surrounding the multi-billion euro state property deal. Speaking after a private meeting at which it was confirmed Finance Minister Michael Noonan will appear on October 6, PAC chair and Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming said other high- profile figures will also face questioning. He said they will include Mr Robinson, who at the time of the deal was the leader of the Democrat Unionist Party and Northern Ireland first minister, and Mr McGuinness of Sinn Fein, who remains deputy first minister. While it is not yet decided when Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness will attend, it is likely the public grilling will take place on either the Tuesday or Thursday after Mr Noonans meeting. Next Thursday, the PAC will meet Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy a report from whom last week alleged the State lost at least 220m due to the deal and raised serious questions about then Nama official Frank Cushnahan. In addition, Namas chair Frank Daly and CEO Brendan McDonagh who dispute Mr McCarthys findings will also attend on the same day, while current and former general secretaries of the Department of Finance are likely to face further meetings. Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness have been asked to attend because of their involvement in a key January 2015 phone call with Mr Noonan, minutes of which included a letter of intent provided by US investment firm Pimco about the deal. It subsequently emerged that then Nama adviser Frank Cushnahan stood to earn over 5m if Pimco won the Project Eagle deal, a claim he denies. His comments come as the Government announces details today to end the use of emergency accommodation, such as hotels, for the homeless Mr Coveney and other ministers will also outline plans for one-stop shop or centre for homeless people, where they can access family mediation services, social protection services and charities among facilities. Mr Coveney yesterday discussed properties freely given over for housing purposes by religious congregations while outlining housing initiatives before an Oireachtas Committee. A group of nuns in Kerry had donated a property in Killarney, he said, while a former convent in Cork had also been made available. This followed the opening of a home for a housing body in Waterford, which was previously occupied by priests. He said he hoped these actions would be replicated in other parts of the country. He then appealed to any religious congregations watching the committee to contact his department directly if they had similar properties or facilities which might be used for housing. Simon Coveneny Mr Coveney said a Government 70m initiative to use vacant properties for housing had resulted in hundreds of facilities being offered so far. It is intended that the housing agency will obtain 1,600 vacant units initially through this fund for social housing. This will also be outlined at the housing launch today. Mr Coveney told the committee that a decision by some local authorities to reduce their property tax rates and therefore their income stream could have consequences. Councils could not reduce their revenue stream and then asked the general exchequer to pick up the tab, he added. Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be joined by seven ministers, including Minister Coveney, as the Government today launch proposals to end the use of hotels to house the homeless. The plan, part of the overall Government housing initiative, will include measures to help address addiction problems, mental health concerns and social housing needs. The housing plan promises that such short-term accommodation options will only be used in very limited circumstances from mid-2017. It includes ending the use of hotels and B&Bs by then. The plan includes providing families and homeless people with rapid-built units rather than staying in emergency accommodation in hotels or B&Bs. Homeless figures this week show the number of people sleeping on the streets has reached record levels. The Dublin Simon Community counted 168 people sleeping on the streets on Monday night. Another 60 were recorded as sleeping on the floor of the Merchants Quay night cafe. Mr Rosss refusal to get directly involved came as Dublin Bus chief executive Ray Coyne warned striking workers of the catastrophic impact of their actions, claiming the move risks cancelling the firms recovery and that their pay rise request will cost 50m by 2018. Speaking at the Dail transport committee, Mr Ross accepted that the strike which will see Dublin Bus services grind to a halt again tomorrow and Saturday was causing havoc. However, he said he has no intention of getting involved as the issue needs to be resolved by unions and management. I know you say I should open the cheque book, but Im not going to, Mr Ross told AAA-PBP TD Mick Barry. Im not going to ride in on a white horse and shining armour, saying I have a cheque book, he said, adding later he is not a sugar daddy for the industry. The comments provoked anger from some members of the transport committee, with Mr Barry accusing Mr Ross of failing commuters who are stuck in the middle of the crisis. The Cork North Central TD said Mr Ross must get off the fence and accept that real talks are dependent on him opening the cheque book, pointing out that the Government is not unconnected to the issue as Dublin Bus has seen its State funding levels dwindle from 86m in 2008 to just 58m. High fares but also low pay has subsidised that, said Mr Barry, adding that on a recent European list of funding levels for bus services in major cities, Dublin finished ninth on the list, out of nine. Commuters are bracing themselves for a third work stoppage tomorrow and Saturday due to the pay row between drivers unions and management. Strikes are scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday, and October 1, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 18, 19, 24, 26, and 29. Dublin Bus drivers are seeking a 15% pay increase over three years as they are being asked to work longer hours despite not receiving a pay rise since 2008. In a letter to striking workers yesterday, Mr Coyne said the action risks cancelling out the firms recession recovery, has already cost 4m, and could be catastrophic for the company. Mr Ross has been reluctant to become involved in the escalating crisis since the first work stoppages took place at the start of this month. While this position is officially based on his desire for the unions and management to resolve the matters themselves, it also comes at a time when Bus Eireann and Irish Rail workers are also seeking pay rises. National bus strike looking likely - Stephen Rogers National bus strikes are looking increasingly likely after Bus Eireann told driver unions that not only are they not in line for a pay increase but that cutbacks are likely for its Expressway service. The company said it incurred a 5.6m loss in 2015 and is forecasting a similar loss for 2016, mainly due to losses on its Expressway services. Any further increase to our costs increases the risk for all employees, so the business must urgently address its losses to survive, a spokeswoman said. 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. Bus Eireann said the cost savings had to be found internally and not through cuts to services. Therefore, it said it had prepared a plan to transform and restructure Expressway into a sustainable business. The largest driver union in the company, the National Bus and Rail Union, said it is to ballot members for industrial action in reaction to company plans to turn Expressway into a low-wage bus service. General secretary Dermot OLeary said the livelihoods of 800 Bus Eireann workers are threatened. There are huge question-marks over the Department of Transport and its stewardship of 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. The performance of Irish institutions in the high-profile Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings have been complicated by the temporary exclusion of a ranking for Trinity College Dublin (TCD). The publishers said TCD had supplied incorrect financial data likely due to human error and the negative effect on some of the 13 indicators used to calculate scores would have a material impact. A corrected score could take weeks or months to calculate, and is expected to result in an improved position from its 160th in 2015 when, TCD told THE this week, it also provided wrong data. A pre-publication THE statement issued to media earlier this week showed TCD had fallen into the band between 200 and 250, but it remains to be seen if it will end up staying in the top 200. UCD was 176th a year ago and is now in the 200-250 band, but so too are NUI Galway and the RCSI, which were both ranked between 250 and 300 in 2015. NUI Galway Unlike the QS Rankings earlier this month, in which all eight Irish institutions included had fallen apart from NUI Galway, no others have changed in THEs ranking. University College Cork and Maynooth University remain ranked 351-400, Dublin City University between 400 and 500, University of Limerick 501-600, and Dublin Institute of Technology 601-800. UCD president Andrew Deeks said it has consistently performed in areas under its control and has again done much better in productivity measures than in the student-academic ratio in which its position deteriorated. These results demonstrate we are already delivering excellent value for funding provided by the exchequer. It is worth noting that exchequer funding now accounts for less than 50% of our total budget, he said. Mr Deeks and TCDs provost Patrick Prendergast issued a rare joint statement when they both slipped in the QS rankings, calling on politicians to make urgent decisions on how to bridge the huge gap in funding of the sector. TCD The recent Cassells report on higher education funding offered the Government two realistic options on how to bridge a shortfall expected to reach 600m a year by 2020. They are to significantly increase public funding, or raise fees for students but offer loans to cover them which would only be repaid when graduates earn over a certain salary threshold. But Education Minister Richard Bruton will not bring proposals to Cabinet until political consensus is reached by the Oireachtas education committee. At NUI Galway, another ranking rise was described by its president Dr Jim Browne as a reflection of ambition, hard work, and creativity of staff and students. We have been doing the best we can with limited funding to support activities that are having a real impact globally, by working closely with industry and focusing on collaboration, he said. RCSI chief executive Professor Cathal Kelly said the increase in performance for citations of published work demonstrates the highly-influential research being carried out by its scientists and clinicians. On the TCD situation, THE said improvements are expected for 2015 and on this years pre-publication score, subject to verifying corrected data. However, any amended rankings are still likely to show a disimprovement year-on-year. Although the data which universities supply is said to account for a small proportion of overall scores, a similar issue at a Danish university saw its position improve from 149th to 106th last year. Q. I have been looking at vibrators and there is an enormous variety available. How do I choose? Are the very expensive vibrators really worth it? A. Vibrators are a very personal shop and although buying online is easy and discreet, you cant really tell what a product feels like, or how powerful it is. The biggest gripe about sex toys is the lack of power, and this is particularly problematic with battery-operated models. For this reason, it is generally worth paying more for a plug-in or a rechargeable vibrator. Yes, you do get what you pay for, but only up to a point. The Lelo Inez, for example, costs 12,000, but only because it is plated with 24-carat gold. In comparison, The Lelo Elise 2, 179, is a quieter vibrator that has two motors delivering a frequency of 120Hz and, fully charged, provides four hours of use. Lelo has cornered the luxury vibrator market, and products such as the rabbit-styled INA Wave, 179, which rhythmically presses the G-spot while stimulating the clitoris, are genuinely innovative (although the body-safe silicone of Lelo vibrators is not very soft). Or you may be someone who prefers the idea of a massage type device. For this I would recommend the Tengas Iroha range which provides an almost skin-to-skin sensation and is shaped to fit in the palm of your hand. For example, the Tenga Sakura, 90, is coated with a soft body-safe silicone and is powerful for such a small rechargeable vibrator. Similarly, the Je Joue Mimi Soft, 84.99, is a squeezable, ball-like rechargeable clitoral stimulator that you hold in the palm of your hand that has 12 different settings. If you want to experiment with G-spot stimulation, Je Joues G-Kii, 119.99, can be curved into different shapes at the touch of a button. For combined clitoral and penetrative stimulation. you could try Lovehoneys Happy Rabbit 2 69.95. This updated model of its original rabbit vibrator is more powerful and more flexible. It has a velvety finish and two motors one in the shaft and one in the clitoris-stimulating rabbit ears. Rabbit vibrators became a phenomenon in the 1990s because they provided a blend of internal and external stimulation. The Sh! Jessica Rabbit Vibrator, 40, is a reinterpretation of the classic bunny. It runs on three AA batteries so it is not very powerful, but the combination of sensations from two-way shaft rotation and internal and external stimulation makes it a good starter model. The iconic Hitachi Magic Wand has been described as the mother of all vibrators. It was made as a device to relax sore muscles, until sex educator Betty Dodson used it to teach women how to have what was often their first orgasm. Hitachi was never that happy about being associated with a sex product and the wand was withdrawn in Europe several years ago. However, a new distribution deal means that you can now buy the original plug-in Hitachi Magic Wand, 89.95 (106.22) online. Renamed the Magic Wand Original, there is also now a rechargeable version for 119.95 (141.70, www.hitachi-magic-wand-massagers.co.uk The Magic Wand may not be the most attractive toy, but if I could pick only one, this would be it. TWENTY years ago this month, the UNGeneral Assembly received a report by former Mozambican education minister Graca Machel detailing the effects of armed conflict on children. Documenting a pattern of systematic and targeted attacks, including killing, rape, and forced recruitment into armed groups, Machel concluded: This is a space devoid of the most basic human values.There are few further depths to which humanity can sink. Machel was wrong. A generation later, humanity is plumbing even greater depths of moral depravity. Children living in conflict zones are being targeted for violence on an unprecedented scale, and the elaborate system of UN human-rights provisions designed to protect them is violated with impunity. On the 20th anniversary of the Machel report, the international community must draw a line and stop the war against children. That war takes many forms. In some cases, children are frontline targets. Rape, forced marriage, enslavement, and abduction have become standard tactics for groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Boko Haram in northern Nigeria, and their counterparts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Somalia. Killing kids for attending school is viewed as a legitimate military strategy. In other cases, children are under attack from both state and non-state actors. In South Sudan, since the eruption of conflict in 2013, government and rebel forces have killed, raped, and recruited children into armed groups. So brutal, systematic, and widespread are the attacks that it seems highly likely that they are carried out with the highest level of political authorisation. And, indeed, according to a UN Human Rights Council report published earlier this year, South Sudanese government forces have been heavily implicated in such activities, which may explain why no one has been held accountable for the May 2015 murder of 130 children in Unity State. Children are also collateral damage, which stems from the relentless erosion of the laws and norms designed to protect civilians in conflict zones. In Syria, children living in Aleppo, Homs, and other cities have been barrel-bombed and gassed by government forces acting in open defiance of international law. The sanctity of schools and health centres is a dead letter: More than 25% of all schools in Syria have been destroyed or forced to close. Political leaders in Saudi Arabia clearly regard the Geneva Convention, the legal pillar of protection for civilians, as irrelevant. Last August, a Saudi Arabian airstrike on a suburb of Sanaa, Yemen, hit a school and killed ten children. This was but one episode in a larger trend of attacks on schools, health centers, and markets. Over the last year, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has struck four health facilities supported by the non-governmental organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres. The current violence against children is a far cry from what Machel envisaged two decades ago. Following her recommendations, in 1997 the General Assembly established a special representative for children and armed conflict, to identify and report to the secretary-general and Security Council on parties in conflicts that are responsible for persistent and egregious violations. The special representative monitors six types of violations of childrens rights: killing and maiming, sexual violence, military recruitment, attacks on schools and health centers, abduction, and denial of humanitarian access. Each is barred by international law, including the 1949 Geneva Convention, which requires parties in a conflict to protect civilians and maintain unimpeded humanitarian access, and the Convention of the Rights of the Child, the worlds most widely ratified human-rights treaty, which provides a comprehensive list of childrens rights. Violence against children persists not because of a deficit of rights, but because of what Eva Svoboda of the Overseas Development Institute describes as a crisis of compliance. The international community is failing to uphold the laws, norms, and rules that define civilised standards. To put it bluntly, killing, maiming, and terrorising children has become a cost-free enterprise. The crisis of compliance starts at the top of the UN system and trickles down, through the Security Council, to the General Assembly, and member governments. Consider the Saudi campaign in Yemen. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia was put on the UN secretary-generals list of shame for bombing Yemeni civilian targets and killing children. By June, however, it had been removed from the list following intensive lobbying by the Saudi government and its arms-supplying American and European allies. Regardless of these allies intent, the signal they sent is clear: Protecting lucrative arms deals takes precedence over protecting childrens rights. The endless cycle of reporting on violations of child rights is in danger of becoming a pantomime. While the special representatives office has done an excellent job exposing attacks on children and in some cases negotiating the release of child soldiers the punishments do not fit the crimes. As world leaders gather in New York this month for the 71st Session of the General Assembly, it is time to reassert the values underpinning UN human-rights provisions. The only way to end impunity for heinous crimes against children is by enforcing genuine accountability and by bringing the perpetrators to justice. At a minimum, institutions such as the International Criminal Court in The Hague and the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights should be collaborating far more closely with the UN special representative. But so vast is the scale of the problem, and so deeply embedded the culture of impunity, that bolder initiatives may be needed. Given the failure of existing institutions, it may be time to establish a new one an International Criminal Court for Children, authorized to investigate and prosecute state and non-state actors for war crimes against kids. We have collectively allowed human-rights laws to become irrelevant paper tigers. But if there is one cause that can rally a divided world, it is surely the protection of children in warzones. Kevin Watkins takes over as CEO of Save the Children UK in October. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2016. ELKO Almost 30 years ago a group of like-minded scientists came together to form the Society of Mineral Analysts. Jack Simmons and some other guys wanted to get technicians and vendors together to share information and see what new products are out there, said Ron Richardson, senior chemist at Newmonts Gold Quarry and managing secretary for the forum. At the time Simmons was working in Northern Nevadas mining industry. From its humble beginnings the group has grown into an international, nonprofit organization that meets yearly in Elko. This year members traveled from as far away as Australia and India. Membership is around 250 and approximately 100 members are attending this years conference that is being held in the Conference Center. The membership includes many areas of the minerals industry including chemists, geologists, assayers, metallurgists, refiners, technicians, environmentalists and management professionals. A number of vendors set up Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. The first get together included a cocktail mixer at the convention center Tuesday evening. Presentations and interactive demonstrations will continue through Thursday. The group attended a banquet Wednesday night. Two fire assay technical sessions presented by R. J. Varnell are among the educational opportunities that participants can attend. Vendors include IMP Automation, Kappes Cassidy and Associates, SPEX Sample Prep and Legend Inc. out of Sparks. Mark Lewis, president of Legend Inc., is a mine distributor. The company sells cupels, crucibles, flux and other expendable assay products. Lewis has been attending the symposium ever since it started. The mines around Elko are some of our biggest customers, said Lewis. This is a good opportunity to support the organization, meet existing customers and develop new relationships. IF YOU thought the term safe space had something to do with creches or playgrounds you would be wrong. It applies to universities and places of public debate, places traditionally the preserve of adults who are particularly well able to look after themselves. The term is a new construct which means it is socially unacceptable to attack or ridicule peoples cherished views and convictions or say anything that might potentially be imputed to reflect negatively on any demographic. The end of debate? Well, clearly not. Not for some at any rate. Media sphere was never more awash with opinions and theories which, of their very nature, evoke disagreement or agreement in varying measures. So, qualification is needed. People who promote the safe place concept want protection for themselves and their own views, not necessarily and, at times under no circumstances, for those who oppose them. It is the usual tyranny of the consensus, however it may be formed. Being enlightened and progressive, onside with the current zeitgeist as well as, of course, on the side of history, was always a privileged place to be. It used to the the Church that censored: It is now the new secular guardians of liberties who suppress voices of dissent. It the realms of twitterdom and other media platforms, fair and informed comments, respectfully made, are less common than offensive, bellicose ones. They chase each other down chat threads petering out often in a completely unrelated discussion. However, nothing worth its salt comes cheaply and freedom of speech and expression, within the bounds of libel and defamation laws, is surely bought cheaply if the price is merely the verbal equivalent of tomatoes and rotten eggs. So what has made the so-called snowflake generation so fragile? The same snowflakes, massed together online, can come down like an avalanche on voices who cut in on their sweet harmony of consensus. Contrarian commentators are tossed around in digital bonfires, fuelled with scorn and most toxic of all, innuendo. Commentators of both conservative and liberal persuasion are equally recipients of these long, snaking threads of verbal vitriol, some less related to anything they have written than to the existential rage of the writers, for whom they are the lightning rod of choice. Many have become hardened, taking, possibly, the sensible view that allowing free speech to others is the surest way of guaranteeing it for yourself. Or, perhaps, they consider that the splatter and drivel of most comment feeds do not form part of democratic discourse and decide not to indulge them by responding. It is a far cry from the narcissistic, self-pitying bleating that challenges the right of others to take pick and axe to the self serving world view you have wrapped yourself in. Sure, some feedback may be personalised and nasty but is it not more likely that the comments we all fear most are those that shred our arguments, leaving our cause or our case as tattered as Cinderella after the last chime of midnight? Those who most loudly rail against the voices that challenge their moral grandstanding are often advocates of open season commenting, where the sacred cows of others are concerned. In calling for repeal of our blasphemy laws, Amnesty International rightly states,religious and non-religious ideas alike should be open to any criticism. That is how human knowledge progresses. In fact, the right not merely to criticise religions, but to lampoon them outrageously was defended by all those, who marched in protest at the Charlie Hebdo killings in Paris in 2015. Amnesty called the killings a dark day for freedom of expression. So it was, but what happened to the idea of safe space for vulnerable sensitivities when you come head on with the most viscerally sensitive, brittle, volatile, and violent movement of our time? The right to freedom of speech implies there is no right not to be offended. Within the protections of defamation laws, why would a mature society have the remotest problem with this? In a way, as the Charlie Hebdo protests show, our society doesnt, at least not in theory, but in practice there can be inconsistency. Facing down murderous, extremist bullies is laudable but it should not go hand in hand with bullying others. Yet, Amnesty and other campaigners for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment are attempting to do that when they insist Irelands obligations to women and girls under international human rights law should be a key benchmark in the terms of reference of the citizens assembly which will make recommendations to the government regarding the Eighth Amendment. So, the proposed assembly may not be a safe space for those who believe the life of the unborn human person should be protected. While we are bound by the international treaties we are party to, the interpretations of monitoring bodies have no legal standing in Irish law, unless ratified by our own parliament. This is why we can have a citizens assembly and potentially a referendum to decide the question for ourselves as a sovereign people. Otherwise, both exercises would be pointless. Our Constitution, as the Supreme Court has clarified in the McCrystal and McKenna cases, obliges public broadcasting and to facilitate fully informed, balanced debate. Even if most people are judged to side with one view on the basis of polls, even if most experts are onside with those views, the imperative for full debate is not any the less. Arguably it is more. Consensus is often the result of inadequately examined thinking. Safe spaces in debate are a tool of the dominant ideology, as they always have been. It is simply a euphemism for censorship and should have no place in a truly liberal society. Sometimes it only takes a one person to point out the Emperor is wearing nothing. If we are looking for pretexts to suppress freedom of expression then we need to ask ourselves how that fits with marching in solidarity with casualties of free speech. If we cant see the contradiction, we are in the emperors parade, closed to voices that want us to take a close look at our ideological finery. Burma Civilians Bear the Brunt of Ongoing Karen State Conflict Children take a nap at a shelter providing a temporary home for displaced persons in Myaing Gyi Ngu village. / Hsa Moo CHIANG MAI, Thailand I feel sad when I see villagers fleeing for their lives; it reminds me of my childhood. Every time I see people displaced due to war, I remember when I fled my own home, said Hay Plah, a former refugee who recently visited a displaced persons shelter in Myaing Gyi Ngu village in Karen State. Fighting that broke out on Sept. 2 in Karen State between a splinter group of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) armed group and a joint force of the Burma Army and the Tatmadaw-backed Border Guard Force (BGF), has forced nearly 4,000 civilians to flee their homes and seek shelter elsewhere in the area. Many of the displaced are children and women. At a shelter known as Aye Lin Thar Yar field in Myaing Gyi Ngu, children were lying on the floor while women breastfed babies and talked idly with one another. They seem full of fear, they darent talk about the fighting, Hay Plah said. The conflict-torn Myaing Gyi Ngu and Mae Tha Waw area of Hlaingbwe Township in Karen States Hpa-an District is partially controlled by different armed groups, including the Burma Army, the BGF, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), and the DKBA as well as DKBA splinter groups. Last week, joint forces of the Burma Army and the BGF seized several military bases of one splinter group. In response, the faction said that it is now using guerrilla tactics to launch counter attacks against the Burma Army and the BGF. Maj. Saw San Aung of the group said we are outnumbered so we dont keep permanent bases. We will lose soldiers if we keep defending them, as we are outnumbered. Now we will stay mobile. The recent fighting in Karen State, also known as Kayin State, began with a disagreement over a business deal that led to the death recently of former splinter group leader Maj. Na Ma Kyar. The conflict soon escalated, with the faction releasing a statement saying that it would be opening more frontline battles. As a result, thousands of civilians have fled their homes and abandoned their houses, farmland, and belongings. The fighting has caused the road connecting Mae Tha Waw and Myaing Gyi Ngu villages to be closed, affecting small-scale border trade businesses. Shopkeeper Ma Kyi who runs a store in the Thai border town of Leh Hta, about three hours boat ride from Mae Tha Waw, said fighting has impacted her business. Its very quiet these days, we are not selling much. Our customers havent ordered any goods since the road closed, Ma Kyi told the Irrawaddy. Villagers in the conflict-torn area have previously accused the armed groups of extortion and coercion, for example collecting tolls or forcing villagers to carry supplies. In 2014, clashes between a DKBA splinter group and the BGF forced 200 villagers in Mae Tha Waw village to flee across the border to Thailand. Villagers said they were threatened, arrested, detained and forced to work for the armed groups. I got arrested for carrying the groups passengers, said Pa Baut, a driver for a local transportation business. The BGF threatened me at gunpoint, saying that they would spray my truck with bullets like rainfall if I carried those soldiers. It is very hard to deny any group. They can do anything they like to us and we have no choice, all we want is to live in harmony. Sources close to the concerned armed groups said that the Burma Army might have other interests rather than simply attacking DKBA splinter group leaders such as Maj. Saw San Aung and Lt. Kyaw Thet who are on the Burma Armys wanted list. The fighting in Karen State has gained attention from the overseas Karen community. Members of the community have condemned the fighting and are angry at BGF soldiers, who are ethnic Karen, for doing the job of the Burma Army. Meanwhile, local residents are tired of conflict that affects their safety and disrupts their daily lives. The Mae Tha Waw area witnessed a huge military offensive by the Burma Army in 1995, forcing more than 70,000 villagers to flee. Many crossed the border to Thailand where they sought refuge in camps in Thailands Tak Province. The offensive of 1995 led to the fall of the Karen National Unions headquarters at Manerplaw, less than one hour north of Mae Tha Waw. A Thai volunteer aid worker, Suwin, who delivered food and clothes to refugees who crossed the border into a Thai village in Tha Song Yang District, said that the refugees told him that the BGF forced young people to act as porters. I heard gunfire when I visited the displaced villagers. They told me that they worried that if the fighting continued they would be arrested and used as porters, said Suwin. Civilians are always the most vulnerable in war. Burma Lawmaker Calls for MNHRC Members to be Replaced U Zaw Win, member of the Myanmar Human Rights Commission, pictured at a press conference in Rangoon on Sept. 21, 2016. / JPaing RANGOON A Lower House parliamentarian submitted an emergency proposal to the legislature calling for action to be taken against members of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) for their insufficient handling of a high-profile abuse case against two underage domestic workers. U Htay Win Aung, representing Rangoon Divisions Daw Pone Township, criticized the MNHRC for recommending that the families of the young victimsaged 16 and 17accept an informal cash settlement totaling US$4,000 from the accused abusers, instead of pushing for action prescribed by law. The girls, San Kay Khaing and Tha Zin, originally from Rangoons Kawhmu Townshipalso known as Daw Aung San Suu Kyis constituencyescaped from the household of a prominent tailoring family earlier in September, after five years in domestic servitude. MP U Htay Win Aung accused the MNHRC members of ignoring existing laws in Burma, despite having worked in law enforcement. U Zaw Win, an ex-military member of the human rights commission, once served as the director general of the corrections department at Burmas notorious Insein Prison. Why did the commission not try to treat this as a case of torture? he said. Did [Zaw Win] not know the articles [of the law] when he served in the corrections department? As times change, we need to change the people, U Htay Win Aung said in reference to the commission members. That is the reasonable thing for lawmakers to do. With National League for Democracy lawmakers voicing support for the proposal, House Speaker U Win Myint gave a nod toward holding a debate session on the issue in Parliament. On Wednesday, the MNHRC held a press conference at its headquarters in Rangoon, where the commissioners defended their response in the case. Four members of the family accused of the abuse have been arrested and detained by the Rangoon police. Daw Tin Thuzar was arrested on Tuesday while Ko Tin Min Latt, Ma Su Mon Latt, and Lat U Ko Latt were arrested on Wednesday. The anti-human trafficking unit of the police force filed charges against the four offenders under Article 24, which states that anyone convicted human trafficking shall be penalized with one to 10 years imprisonment, or up to life imprisonment. On Thursday, Dr. Win Myat Aye of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement announced the ministry is currently taking care of the two victims. It will act as a plaintiff and file a case under Section 66(d) of Burmas 1993 Child Law, which states that willful mistreatment of a child can be punished with two years in prison and/or a 10,000-kyat fine. Burma Mandalay Election Criticized for Unrestricted Campaign Spending A municipal campaign in Mandalay. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy Mandalay municipal elections have come under fire as candidates are allowed unrestricted campaign spending. Observers have pointed out that the election for seats on the Mandalay City Development Committee will not be fair, citing the unrestricted spending. U Maung Maung Oo, a member of a local environmental conservation organization in Mandalay who has been observing the municipal election, said, I found that a candidates spending has exceeded the salary he would earn as a municipal committee member. Suppose it is a gambling, he is already losing a lot. Candidates say they just want to serve the town, which is quite doubtful. Candidates have ramped up campaigningoften in decorated cars bearing vinyl self-portraits that blare slogans and songs, as the municipal poll is scheduled for Sunday. It is disappointing that candidates are campaigning like that rather than showing the people what they can do, criticized U Maung Maung Oo. U Khin Maung Tun, a candidate running in Maha Aung Myay Township, has also criticized the campaign spending. I have seen the personal competition between some candidates who have high spending power. I am concerned it will lead to bribery and voting irregularities, said U Khin Maung Tun. Thirty-five candidates vie for six seats on the committee, according to the municipal election commission. The ballots will be counted overnight and the results will be announced in newspapers the following day. U Zaw Tin Moe, secretary of the municipal election commission, told The Irrawaddy, We are afraid that there will be more complaints about this years election. If disputes arise about campaign expenses, we will file a report after the election. According to the regulations governing municipal elections, only the head of each household will be allowed to vote. Under the law, candidates must be at least 30, be born of parents who are both Burmese citizens, hold a bachelors degree and have lived in the township in which they are standing for election for at least 10 years. The municipal election is estimated to cost 20 million kyat ($US16,000). There are 180,000 households that are eligible to vote, and there will be 232 polling stations and 2,000 polling station staff, according to the municipal election commission. The 11-member committee will have six elected representativesone from each townshipand five unelected members, who will be mostly technocrats, including engineers, doctors and lawyers, to be appointed by the regional government. The mayor of Mandalay will act as the chairman of the Mandalay municipality. This article was translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Burma SNLD Urges Govt Transparency on Salween Dam Projects A boat travels along the Salween River in Shan State, the slated site of the Mongton hydroelectric dam. / Saw Yan Naing / The Irrawaddy The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) has urged the government to be transparent and to ensure accountability and responsibility regarding large hydropower dam projects proposed on the Salween River in eastern Burma. Six large hydropower dams are planned to be built along the river in Shan, Karenni and Karen states, which would collectively generate 10,000 megawatts of electricitymost of which would be exported to neighboring countries. The SNLD also backs the demands of Shan civil society organizations (CSOs) and environmentalists to halt the dam projects, because of the local authorities non-transparent environmental and social impact assessment conducted last month without public consultation. On Tuesday, Nang Khin Htar Yee, a SNLD lawmaker from Shan States Hsenwi Constituency, raised the issue of the Salween River dams in the Shan State Parliament. But Soe Nyunt Lwin, the Shan State minister of national planning and finance, said the regional government was only permitted to manage smaller dam projects, which generate less than 30 megawatts. The minister suggested lawmakers raise the issue at the Union level, as the projects were beyond their control. Sai Wan Hlaing Kham, an Upper House lawmaker from Lashio district, said SNLD parliamentarians were attempting to raise the issue in the Union Parliament, which is about to conclude its second session. Parliament will be unable to act on this issue until after its scheduled break. With a plan to export up to 90 percent of the electricity from the hydropower dams to China, environmentalists and CSOs have continually protested the projects since their initial proposals, citing the harm that could be inflicted on local environments and livelihoods. Locals worry that the halt of the Irrawaddy Rivers Myitsone Dam project will push the Salween Dams through in order to appease the Chinese companies invested in the project. We will not accept the Salween Dams as a replacement for the Myitsone Dam, said SNLD spokesman Sai Leik. Sai Leik urged the government to focus on the potential which could be created by smaller hydropower dam projects on the Salween River. We understand that our country needs electricity, but we should think about self-sufficient hydropower dams, which would have less impact on our natural environment but fill the local need for electric power, he said. He said the SNLD will continue to push the government on this issuefirst in Parliament and then through national dialoguebefore the next Union Peace Conference to be held around February. Business AmCham Urges US Companies to Practice CSR in Burma A factory worker inspects bottles on a conveyor belt in a new Coca-Cola plant in Rangoon in 2013. / Sean Havey / The Irrawaddy RANGOONThe American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Myanmar is currently surveying business practices in order to give annual awards recognizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by US companies in Burma. After AmCham Myanmar was founded in 2013, more than 140 US businesses and local Burmese partners joined the group. As numbers grew, the organization began surveying adherence to CSR principles and delegating honors to those who they deemed exemplary players in 2015. Were doing a survey for the CSR recognition awards of 2016. The results will be out in November, said Clara Tang, Burma chapter coordinator for AmCham. In order to receive an award, programs must receive high marks regarding business objectives, societal needs and the creation of sustainable long-term economic and social gains. The first round of awards one year ago recognized the work of eight companies, including British American Tobacco (BAT), Chevron, Coca-Cola, General Electric (GE) and Procter and Gamble. Three awardeesBAT Myanmar, GE, and Coca-Colahave shared information on their best practices and experiences with CSR initiatives with other companies already. Another five companies will share their experiences in the coming months, Tang said. Daw Khine Wai Thwe, head of legal and external affairs at BAT Myanmar, said in a meeting on the topic on Thursday that BAT carried out CSR-related work in Mandalay Divisions Natogyi Township in 2015. There were no other local or international non-governmental organizations working for the local community in that area, she claimed. BAT Myanmar said they have spent around US$100,000 on outreach activities in five villages in the township and plan to expand their work to at least 12 villages this year. The tobacco company says that up to 6,000 people have benefited from their projects in Mandalay Division. International tobacco giant BAT has invested US$35 million in Burma since 2013. London and Lucky Strike brand cigarettes are distributed by the company. More US companies are expected to arrive in Burma, after the White House pledged to lift remaining economic sanctions on the country on Sept. 14, after meeting with State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In 2015, US exports to Burma were valued at $227 million and imports at $144 million, according to DICA figures. Since 1988, total approved US investment in Burma has been $248 million. Business Ministry to Restrict New Hotels The press conference held by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in Rangoon on September 20. / May Soe San / The Irrawaddy RANGOON The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism will impose restrictions on new hotel projects in several major tourist spots including Rangoon. The ministry has started negotiations with divisional and state governments in order to restrict new hotel projects in Rangoon and Mandalay as well as Taunggyi, Inle, Kalaw and Yawnghwe in Shan State, said Deputy Director General of the ministry U Hlaing Oo. We have asked divisional and state governments to restrict future hotel projects in certain places with many hotels, said U Hlaing Oo. High-rise hotels are being constructed in places like Inle Lake. While we can do nothing about existing projects, we ask governments to seriously consider new projects, said U Hlaing Oo. New hotels in those areas are unnecessary as occupancy rates in existing hotels are low, Hotels and Tourism minister U Ohn Maung said in a press conference on Tuesday in Rangoon. We have made this decision through discussions with experts who have a lot of experience in the industry. At present, there are around five hotels that have more than seven stories in Yawnghwe. Those buildings do not complement the countryside, said U Ohn Maung. Since they came into power in 2012, Burmas previous government was liberal with permission for new hotel projects. As a result, the number of hotels exceeds the number of visitors coming into the country, which calls for a restriction of new hotel projects in the future. Minister U Ohn Maung also warned potential investors in the hotel industry not to be deceived by official tourist figures as foreign visitor numbers include those entering the country on other visas and for other reasons. Next year, we will release the tourist figures in different groups, he said, promising to give more accurate tourist figures. If people are convinced to invest in hotels based on those numbers, they are looking for trouble. Only banks will benefit from lending money to them, he added. According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, there have been 48 hotel projects with foreign investment amounting to over 9,000 rooms in Burma. Of the 48 projects, 34 are already in operation, 11 are under construction and three have not yet been started. The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has approved a total of 17 hotel projects since April: Seven in Rangoon, one in Ngwe Saung Beach in Irrawaddy Division, two in Mon States Moulmein, one in Arakan States Gwa, one in Shan States Kalaw, one in Chin State, and two in Karen State. Another five proposals are still being assessed, according to U Ohn Maung. Ministry statistics said there are 1,373 registered hotels with 53,783 rooms in Burma346 hotels with 16,783 rooms in Rangoon, 184 rooms with 7,416 rooms in Mandalay, 88 hotels with 2,729 rooms in Inle, 32 hotels with 888 rooms in Taunggyi, and 38 hotels with 814 rooms in Kalaw. The occupancy rate of these hotels from April to July is 52 percent in Rangoon, 54 percent in Mandalay, 28 in Inle, 47 percent in Taunggyi, and 40 percent in Kalaw. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko Burma Army officers tried to convince displaced ethnic Karen on Thursday to return to their villages, despite continuous daily fighting in Karen States Mae Tha Waw area, The Irrawaddy has learned. One officer, commander of Infantry Division 22, and another, the tactical commander of Infantry Division 44, met hundreds of internally displaced people (IDPs) seeking refuge within the compound of a Buddhist monastery in Myaing Gyi Ngu, Hlaing Baw Township. They told the IDPs that the areas they had fled were, in fact, stable, and encouraged them to return to their homes. In total, more than 3,800 people have been uprooted since Sept. 9 by fighting between the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Burma Army, who are aided by the allied Border Guard Force (BGF). Among the crowd were 30 additional families who had just arrived that day after escaping fighting in the area of Ba Thraw village. The Irrawaddy overheard a conversation between a displaced Karen village head and the Tatmadaw officer from the 44th Division. They are enjoying their food here, so they dont want to go home, right? the tactical commander said. The village head replied that this was not the casethat the people in his community were too afraid to return to their land. Nay Lin Htet, who is managing the makeshift camp inside the monastery, told The Irrawaddy that any decision to go back to their homes should be made by the displaced people themselves, rather than due to pressure from above. They are saying the areas are stable, but we do not know whether its true or not, he said of the army representatives, pointing out that villagers would rather stay in their own houses, and would do so if it were possible. Until then, Nay Lin Htet added, he would do his best to make sure they are taken care of. If they keep staying here [] we will continue to help them, Nay Lin Htet said, pointing out that the Karen State government had donated food to support the displaced; since it is a monastery, all meals are vegetarian. A nurse, who is treating injured and sick IDPs in the Myaing Gyi Ngu monastery, found the officers pressure disingenuous. They were the people who created the problem, she said of the Burma Army. It is not true what they said. Maj. Naing Maung Zaw from the Karen BGF argued that it was riskier to stay in the monastery. Their property will destroyed if they abandon their homes and villages for a long time, he said, insisting that the area had been secured. The Irrawaddy observed some people leaving the monastery by car and motorbike, as well as in army trucks, but learned that they were relocating in order to stay with relatives in other, safer areas, rather than returning home. When the military transport discovered that the IDPs were not going back to their own homes, they asked them to disembark. Infantry Division 22 has set up an outpost on the nearby Salween River. A further two hours away, fighting continues in Mae Tha Waw. The road out of Myaing Gyi Ngu used to reach Myawaddy, on the Thai border, but the road is now blocked as skirmishes continue to break out along it, making it difficult to leave the country. Thursday, September 22nd, 2016 (11:37 am) - Score 15,512 The CEO of Openreach (BT), Clive Selley, has today given a progress update on their plans to improve national broadband connectivity. Among other things this included improvements to their FTTP roll-out for new build homes, a list of trial locations for the 10Mbps USO focused LR-VDSL technology and a huge extension of their G.fast pilot to 138,000 UK premises. Selleys update comes at a time when BTs network access division is under a spotlight as part of Ofcoms once-in-a-decade review of the United Kingdoms digital communications market, which has yet to reach a final deal with BT due to a conflict over the issue of Openreachs governance (here). In keeping with that Openreachs boss was keen to show that the operator wasnt just standing still and did plan to make big improvements. The result is that we today received a shotgun blast of important updates and well go through the main ones first. Free FTTP for New Build Developments of 30+ Homes As most people know BT has committed to rolling out ultrafast Fibre-to-the-Premise (FTTP) broadband technology to 2 million UK homes and businesses by 2020, which is up from around 330,000 premises today (here). As part of that the current top speed of Openreachs FTTP service will be lifted from 330Mbps (30Mbps upload) with the addition of 500Mbps (165Mbps Upload) and 1000Mbps (220Mbps Upload) tiers. The first 9 areas to benefit from this have already been announced (here) and its important to note that a lot of the extended roll-out will focus on catering for new builds, which partly reflects the deal that was agreed earlier this year in order to make Openreachs service more attractive for new builds (here). Crucially Selley today unveiled a plan for broader FTTP coverage of new builds by making the following tweaks, which should bring FTTP to even smaller developments. New site developments All new site developments of 30+ homes registered from November 2016 will be able to get FTTP built for free (reducing the threshold from 100+ homes) This will mean at least 9 out of 10 new sites homes can have access to free FTTP New site orders since May: All orders 64% will get FTTP Orders from sites with over 100+ homes 98% of plots will get FTTP New Long Reach VDSL Trial Areas Openreach are currently in the process of trialling their new fixed line Long Reach VDSL (FTTC) broadband technology, which could be used to deliver the future 10Mbps Universal Service Obligation (USO) and possibly even to expand the availability of superfast (24Mbps+) speeds (full details). The technology, which is currently being tested in Isfield (East Sussex) and North Tolsta (Isle of Lewis), is a variation of the existing VDSL2 based Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) broadband technology that can reach most of the UK. However LR-VDSL has been tweaked (i.e. higher signal power and wider frequency ranges) so that it can deliver faster speeds over longer runs of copper line from your local street cabinet (e.g. a 2km line might deliver around 9Mbps via normal VDSL2, while LR-VDSL could potentially do 24Mbps+). Today Selley confirmed that their original Proof of Concept trial with up to 200 lines in Isfield was able to deliver an average increase in download speeds of 13Mbps to locals, which is a nice boost to have (sorry for the lack of labels on the chart below, but thats how it was presented and the change is still evident). On top of that Openreach also confirmed the next batch of trial locations, which includes Ashcott in Somerset and Peatling Magna in Leicestershire, launching in early 2017. More trial locations will also be launching in 2017, covering 1,500 homes. G.fast Pilot Extended to 17 Locations Under the current plan BT hopes to roll-out their new G.fast service to 10 million premises by 2020, with most of the UK then likely to be done by 2025 (were guessing that most will equate to around 60% UK coverage). See here for the technical details. Initially G.fast will offer top download speeds of up to 300Mbps (50Mbps upload), although they will also offer a middle tier at 160Mbps (30Mbps upload). In the future BT has also talked about squeezing a top speed of 500Mbps out of the technology, but thats still a long way off. The commercial roll-out is likely to get underway later in 2017 and BT has already run a number of trials (apparently these attracted 550 customers and average headline rates of 300Mbps were attained), but before that the operator has already announced their intention to conduct a larger scale pilot (12,500 premises for each location) in Cherry Hinton (Cambridgeshire) and Gillingham (Kent). Today Openreach confirmed that they were already rolling out the pilot network and have confirmed that their equipment partners for the G.fast service will be Huawei and Nokia (nobody will be surprised to see Huawei chosen as BT has built a strong history with them); this covers switches, modems and cabinet side pods. The first pilot pricing details will also be confirmed in the coming weeks. However the big news is that Openreach now intend to extend their G.fast pilot to 17 locations from January 2017, reaching around 138,000 UK premises by the end of March 2017. Strictly speaking this is perhaps big enough to be considered the unofficial start of their commercial roll-out. When combined with FTTP this means that BTs roll-out of ultrafast broadband should have reached 500,000 premises by April 2017. G.fast Pilot Locations * Bolton, Greater Manchester * Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire* * Cheltenham, Gloucestershire * Derby, Derbyshire * Donaldson, South East Scotland * Gillingham, Kent* * Langside, Glasgow * Donaldson, Edinburgh * Gosforth, Tyne & Wear * Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire * Luton, Bedfordshire * Rusholme, Manchester * St. Austell, Cornwall * Swansea, Wales * Swindon, Wiltshire * Sheffield * London: Balham / Upton Park, London Several of the areas listed above are of course reflecting a continuation / expansion of the earlier G.fast trials (e.g. Swansea, Gillingham, Huntingdon etc.). Other Bits Elsewhere Selley also revealed that Openreach would be making some additional data available on the performance of their copper and fibre network, as well as missed appointments, although this largely seems to consist of a few limited statistics (similar to their Our Responsibilities page). For example, Openreach engineers fixed 81.9% of network faults on time in Q1 vs 77.7% in the same quarter last year. We also got an update on the trial of Ofcoms required cable Duct and Pole Access (DPA) product, which gives ISPs access to install their own cables within BTs existing infrastructure. The trial with 5 ISPs (details) has been running since July and is due to complete in December. So far 65km of duct has been reserved, with 51km under construction. As part of the DPA trial Openreach claims to have received Positive feedback on transparency and process, especially use of distribution joints and ability for CPs to use their own contractors to unblock ducts, although we know that Vodafone and Cityfibre have had a few problems (here). In keeping with that Openreach plans to release further mapping enhancements and improved access to network data next Spring 2017. The goal is for CPs [to] have the same data as Openreach when building their own networks. Finally, Openreach confirmed that their FTTC dominated fibre broadband network can now reach 25.9 million UK homes and businesses, with 6.5 million premises having subscribed (across all ISPs). Top 25: Which Cities Pay Software Engineers the Best? That Rachel McGalliard was recently named by a publication in Louisville as one of 20 People to Know in Education and Workforce Development is more of a factoid than a headline for most of us. But what got her there is pretty cool: her work at a software coding boot camp. McGalliard is vice president of operations at the Software Guild, a coding boot camp provider in Louisville that offers intensive 12-week programs on the ground, and is fast expanding online. In an interview last week, she shared the backstory of the operation, beginning with an overview of the individuals the Software Guild targets for enrollment in these boot camps: We really want to attract anyone who has an interest in becoming a software developer. They may come from any number of backgrounds we have high school graduates to Ph.D.s and M.D.s. They have an interest in coding, they may have tried to teach themselves how to code. Very often, theyre career changers, who maybe arent happy in their jobs, or want to go to the next level at their job. So we really serve a large swath of people coming from very different backgrounds. McGalliard noted that the Software Guild is especially eager to attract those who are underrepresented in the technology field: Beginning in January 2017, we will be offering a yet-to-be determined number of scholarships for women and minorities. Its important for us to make sure that gap is addressed in the tech industry. We address it ourselves we have three fantastic female lead instructors. Its important to us that theyre taking it forward, inspiring women who want to go into tech, who want to learn from leaders in the industry. Another way were addressing this is we recently won a grant through the White House TechHire initiative. Part of that is to address not only the skills gap the United States is facing, but to attract underrepresented groups. So the grant we won through LaGuardia Community College is to teach, over the next year, 50 students who are underrepresented minorities. The Software Guild currently offers programs in .Net and Java, and will launch mobile tracks iOS and Android in 2017. McGalliard explained the initial focus on .Net and Java this way: I think if you were to look at an online poll of the most widely used languages, youre also going to find in there Ruby, JavaScript, and PHP, and probably Python is going to be in that mix, as well. But the reason we focused on .Net and Java is just because theyre not typically the languages of the startups that boot camps really focused on when they started. Yet they are the languages of a lot of Fortune 500 companies, so the job demand is definitely there. The Software Guild was acquired last year by the Learning House, a Louisville-based organization that helps colleges and universities create and manage online degree programs and courses. McGalliard explained how the Software Guild has changed since that acquisition. First of all, weve been able to leverage Learning Houses expertise in the higher ed industry, to enable us to partner without being a disruption to the higher ed landscape. Were partnering with higher education institutions to help them address this skills gap, as well thats been a big plus. Secondly, part of Learning Houses core competency is curriculum development. So they were able to take what the Software Guild was doing really well on the ground, and translate it into an online format, which we now offer for all the people who would love to take our program, but just cant come to one of our immersive programs. Those are the two really big places where weve been able to partner, and expand the mission of the Software Guild. So who are the instructors? McGalliard said the Software Guild has about a dozen instructors, who are masters in their craft: Because we use a German apprenticeship model of master teaching apprentice a master being defined as someone who has over 10,000 hours of experience in their trade or craft we have masters as our lead instructors. So thats our criteria. Theres also that undefinable thing that you just cant put on a job description they need to have the passion for teaching and mentoring. Theyre people who, at their jobs, love to take new up-and-comers who are onboarding, and mentor and shepherd them through the job they just love sharing that knowledge. It has to be an intrinsic passion for teaching. The Software Guild has on-the-ground locations in Louisville, Minneapolis, and Akron, and has expanded into New York City in partnership with LaGuardia Community College. McGalliard wrapped up the conversation by noting that the expansion is ongoing: We have signed partnerships with Kent State University, Baker University in Kansas City, and most recently, Oregon State University. These will be online students to begin with; Kent State is unique, in that theyre going to be leveraging their proximity to our ground location in Akron itll probably be a combination of online and ground. Thats what the partnerships that are yet to come will look like we start online, and see what the region demands. We are hoping that we can continue to expand our mission to regions where theres a need for software developers, and offer our programs through well-known, quality institutions in those regions so we can continue to address the skills gap. A contributing writer on IT management and career topics with IT Business Edge since 2009, Don Tennant began his technology journalism career in 1990 in Hong Kong, where he served as editor of the Hong Kong edition of Computerworld. After returning to the U.S. in 2000, he became Editor in Chief of the U.S. edition of Computerworld, and later assumed the editorial directorship of Computerworld and InfoWorld. Don was presented with the 2007 Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity by American Business Media, and he is a recipient of the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for editorial excellence in news coverage. Follow him on Twitter @dontennant. Save Save HTC's success in its smartphone lineup has largely bee overshadowed by some other big tech companies like Apple and Samsung. The Taiwanese company has watched Apple and Samsung hold their dominant grip on the premium side of the business sector, and its own HTC 10 has somehow struggled to gain any sort of attention thanks to the recent releases of the iPhone 7 and the Galaxy Note 7. But just recently, the Taiwanese manufacturer released its latest stab at winning over the midrange audience, at least in Europe: the Desire 10 Pro and the Desire 10 Lifestyle. While the two devices expect to offer higher-end designs at fairly affordable prices, a glance at their spec sheets seems to suggest some compromises. Appearance Both Desire 10 phones look great. "Mature" seems to be the appropriate word here - they're made from an assortment of metal and matte plastic, with few stylish designs over the finish. If you can notice, there's definitely an Apple influence here. They also come in a variety of colors: dark, white, navy blue, and light blue. HTC also features a color that they personally call 'Valentine Lux.' Difference Despite the similar names and builds, however, the two telephones are generally different. The HTC Desire 10 Pro is the higher-end model of the two. It packs a 5.5-inch 1080p display, with an octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor, 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB or 64 GB of expandable storage, and a 3,000 milliampere-hour battery. Some specs to consider The HTC Desire 10 Pro also has stronger cameras: a 20-megapixel lens on the back and a 13-megapixel front cam. That's compared with the 13-and 5-megapixel shooters on the Desire 10 Lifestyle. The Lifestyle does have one advantage, which is it can play higher-resolution, 24-bit audio files. If you go out of your way for those - and if you have the headphones to hear it - those should sound a lot sharper than your typical streaming service fare. HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle now available! The Desire 10 Lifestyle is currently available in the United Kingdom, starting from 249 and beyond. The company states that the Desire 10 Pro will be released sometime in November, but they haven't given any price range just yet. The smartphones are also not expected to reach the US right away as it will make its first mark on other parts of Europe. WASHINGTON, D.C. The Center for American Progress, in partnership with the Institute for a Progressive Nevada, released a report Thursday analyzing the rise of anti-government extremism in the United States, anti-government groups focus on efforts to seize public lands, and the use of guns as the weapon of choice for violent anti-government extremists and domestic terrorists. The report also explores how the dangerous and violent rhetoric of these anti-government extremists has served as inspiration for even more egregious acts of violence, including the assassination of two police officers in Las Vegas in 2014 by a married couple who had visited the Bundy ranch during the standoff. Anti-government extremist groups have proliferated at an alarming rate over the past decade, and a core tenet of many of them is a call to take up arms against the government. For many of these groups, federal government control over public lands has been key focus and a primary target of their armed insurrections. No place in the country has come to represent this dynamic more than Nevada, which is home to Cliven Bundy, the rancher who brought new life and national attention to public land seizure efforts with his armed standoff with federal agents in April 2014. Nevada has been a hotbed of violent anti-government extremism in recent years, and a core element of these efforts has been the use of firearms to threaten federal law enforcement and the community as a whole, said Chelsea Parsons, CAP Vice President for Guns and Crime Policy and co-author of the report. Not only has the armed standoff by Cliven Bundy and his supporters in Nevada spawned similar actions elsewhere most notably the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon but it has inspired the most extreme adherents of this dangerous ideology to turn violent rhetoric into violent actions. This is not patriotism this is terrorism. As a native Nevadan, I am embarrassed by Cliven Bundy and his band of terrorist buddies, said Annette Magnus, executive director of the Institute for a Progressive Nevada. We know that Nevadans support common sense gun laws, and we also know that Nevadans love our public lands. It is unfortunate that Bundy comes from our state, and we are hopeful that he, his sons, and his followers are punished to the fullest extent of the law for their terrorist acts. Cliven Bundy and his followers are just one more example of extremists in this country being emboldened by guns and the violent rhetoric that is prevalent in the political climate today. These incidents and the growing use of guns as the weapon of choice for violent extremists, hate criminals, and domestic terrorists also highlights the need to enact strong laws and policies to help keep guns out of the wrong hands. Nevada has also fallen short in this regard, having among the weakest gun laws and highest gun death rates in the nation. However, voters in the state will have the opportunity to close one of the biggest gaps in the states gun laws through a strong new law requiring background checks for all gun sales that will be on the ballot this November. Comcast, which is known for being the largest cable company in the US has recently announced that it plans to widen its range to include wireless communication services. That is, it is going head to head against established providers like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint. The new venture, currently called Comcast Wireless, is set to go public by mid 2017. What Services Will Be Provided? According to Chron, Comcast Wireless will, just like all other cellular providers, will offer different options in terms of outgoing calls and web browsing in smartphones. However, Comcast has not confirmed whether or not it will offer smartphones, like current providers do. How Will This Work? Comcast currently owns a network of 15 million WiFi hotspots across the US. The company would only need to make slight changes so that these hotspots can also provide mobile voice and data services. Theoretically, there would be no need to set up and built all new cellular towers. Are Fifteen Million Hotspots Enough? Though it seems like a big number, there are areas in the Unites States that are not reachable with Comcast's WiFi hotspots. This could spell trouble for the company, as this would also limit its wireless services. However, as Fortune reports, Comcast struck deal with Verizon almost five years ago that will become beneficial this year. The deal was that Comcast would provide airwaves to Verizon that would expand the latter's cellular capacity. In exchange, Verizon promised that Comcast could ride on its infrastructure, when the need arises. As the network's president Neil Smit described, the deal "enable us to execute a comprehensive, long-term wireless strategy." Will There Be Bundles? Comcast CEO Brian Roberts shared that 70 percent of clients normally purchase products in bundles. By adding wireless to the mix, the company is looking to "sell [customers] more products." Furthermore, the company believes that providing bundles will give it an edge over future competition. The PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox Scorpio are promising fans a new age of gaming. With their vastly improved console hardware, the only device that can best reveal in complete detail the power of their graphic engines is the 4K television screens. Tech and video game analysts doubt that there would be massive adaptation for the PlayStation Pro and the Xbox Scorpio given that the time gap between the releases of the recent iterations of the consoles is not even four years yet. Most importantly many consumers do not have 4K television because these are expensive. However, recent reports say that this might be changing. According to Venture Beat, Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), said that more people are buying 4K screens today than ever, before implying the new generation of televisions are infiltrating households at a faster rate than its predecessor high-definition (HD) TVs. With the rapid rise of 4K adaptation comes a favorable environment for the forthcoming powerful consoles. "Some compare the shift to 4K to the shift to HD, but this transition is actually faster and more robust than the switch to HD," Shapiro said. "At year four of the transition to HD, we only sold 2.9 million units. But now, [with 4K], we're moving 15 million units. More than five times as many units. Our population did not grow that much in the last 15 or 20 years." Retailers expect that sales of 4K Ultra HD televisions will double to 15 million units in the U.S. by the end of this year. "Consumers are showing a strong preference for 4K. It's faster and more robust than HDTV," Shapiro added. Reports say that the sudden rise of 4K television's popularity could probably be attributed to the lower price it carries today than in the past years. The Consumer Technology Association said that the average 4K TV was priced at $1,048 in 2014, compared to just $861 this year. With games like Horizon: Zero Dawn taking full advantage of the PlayStation 4 Pro's 4K capabilities along with other forthcoming games, it would not be surprising to see the sales of the Pro and the Xbox Scorpio rising as well. "Communication is an important part of our lives, and it is important to Google as well," Google strongly pointed out during a Google Allo demo in May. Now, the tech giant has already launched what can be the smartest messaging app on the market, branded as Allo. With the release of the app, people are eyeing on the success that it can take over the older messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Apple's recently improved iMessage. Earlier this year, Google announced the existence of a new messaging app that is believed to rival the already popular messaging apps. Alongside the announcement of the app debut is the revelation of its best features. The company explained that the big difference that this new messaging app has over older apps is in its "smart" abilities as it makes a user's mobile device a "machine with a brain." Users who already have the app on their devices are said to enjoy three different styles of chat in Allo. These were set by Google being normal messaging, direct conversations with the virtual assistant, and "incognito chats." These styles are end-to-end encrypted and they feature disappearing messages. Allo also uses features that are present in other messaging apps where users can send images, videos, voice messages and a custom-designed selection of stickers to other mobile owners. The in-app assistant called "@google" that is incorporated with Allo enables any iOS and Android device to reply to messages on its own, search the internet, play videos, and a lot more that users used to control in other messaging apps. It was also disclosed that the app is powered by Google's machine learning software, which allows the users' devices to learn how they talk in order to deliver more appropriate suggested responses over time. It is said to be intelligent enough that it can even determine whether a user is a "haha" or a "lol" kind of responder. Apart from offering response suggestions, the app's artificial intelligence works as virtual assistant, which can be called to provide users answers pulled out from the internet regarding relevant directions, nearby restaurants, or up-to-minute information such as news stories. It can also embed a video on chat, and even collect flight information. "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," said Google. More of the Allo app features were revealed and, unlike other messaging apps, Allo was designed to be more "available" since it does not require users to have a Google account for it to work like the FB Messenger or Hangout. On the other hand, users have an option to sign up to it with a mobile phone number -- a feature that makes it a bit more like WhatsApp and iMessage. Another smart feature that Google explained is the image recognition software for Smart Reply. Allo app is said to accurately spot the difference between two objects then later suggest a response according to a user's "language" and the image that it detected. For instance, Allo types "aww, what a cute baby" for a received baby pic. Google also admitted Allo is containing some of the playful features of Apple's new iMessage and Facebook's Messenger, where it allows users to scribble on pictures, send larger or smaller versions of text messages, and custom-designed stickers. Google said that Allo is far from its first attempt at a messaging app. Other platforms are also moving towards smarter messaging, like Apple introducing third party apps for its recently released iMessage and Facebook launching bots for its Messenger. But according to tech-savvy users, neither of those is quite as useful as Google Allo. For five years now, fans of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" book series have been impatient for the latest installment, "Winds of Winter," which was rumored to be released after the sixth season of "Game of Thrones." At the recent Emmy Awards 2016, Martin confirmed that he will focus on the last two seasons of GoT and in writing the last two books in the series. Although there are no plans for a "Game of Thrones" prequel yet, Martin hinted that he had the material for another TV adaptation. Possible "Game of Thrones" Prequel After bagging several awards for various categories at the Emmy's and winning its second award for Best Drama, "Game of Thrones" is poised to be one of HBO's biggest successes. The Telegraph reported that GoT showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss will end the series by season 8, despite it being one of HBO's best shows. As for the possibility of a "Game of Thrones" spin-off or a prequel, Benioff passed the ball to Martin's court, saying that he was sure that another Westeros series would be in development although he and Weiss would no longer be in it. In response, Martin indicated that the most logical step is to follow up the "Game of Thrones" series with material from his "Dunk & Egg" stories, although any plans after the series are still speculations. He also emphasized that his focus after the TV adaptation is the last two books in his epic fantasy series, "A Song of Ice and Fire." The release date for "Winds of Winter," the sixth book in the series, is still unclear though as Martin is not keen on following any deadline. "Game of Thrones" Season 7 Updates As of the moment, filming of "Game of Thrones" Season is in full swing at Belfast. During the Emmy's, Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark in the hit show, dropped a hint that not all of the main characters will make it to the final season. On a quick chat with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who portrays Jaime Lannister, Variety said the actor revealed that in the last two seasons, characters will meet someone from Season 1, just like the reunion between Jon Snow and Sansa. The seventh installment in the "Game of Thrones" series would be shorter than previous seasons with only seven episodes. "Game of Thrones" season 7 does not have an air date yet but it will debut on HBO by summer of 2017. The demand for electric cars in the world is gaining momentum, spurring many car makers to market their own kind of vehicle that does not need gasoline. Leading among these companies is Tesla. However, General Motors' recent car model is trying to dethrone Tesla from its dominating spot in the electric car business. In a report by USA Today earlier this week, General Motors confirmed that it's going to price its new electric car, the Chevrolet Bolt, at $37,495 including delivery charges. This was the price range that GM CEO Mary Barra said the car had back in January 2015 when the car was first announced. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt's $37,495 could go down to $30,000 after tax credits are taken into account. At this price it is competitively positioned to have an early lead in the market against Tesla's forthcoming Model 3. GM has strategically priced the Bolt under $40,000 to give it a stronger marketing position among mid-priced cars. According to Fortune, the Bolt's price tag is slightly a little more expensive than the Tesla Model 3, but the GM car has a greater mileage range per single charge than its rival. The Chevy Bolt has a rear vision camera, a 10.2-inch color touchscreen, and a steering wheel paddle which allows the driver to brake and regenerate the battery. There will be a luxury version of the Bolt which would come at a higher cost. It will have leather seats, front and rear-heated seats, surround camera and rear camera mirror. Both Tesla and GM are hoping to get first mover advantage in the still growing electric car industry. Tesla has been known to take Apple's approach with its cars, offering only the most expensive models money can buy. GM, on the other hand, seems to be taking Samsung's approach with its mid-tier budget-friendly cars. Even after receiving reports from Chinese consumers that there have been two Galaxy Note 7 devices that caught fire in China, Samsung dismissed the cases stating that the incidents are due to "external heating." Hence, the company believes it is unnecessary to recall units sold in the country since the batteries were not made by the company but were outsourced to a local supplier. Samsung's Major Galaxy Note 7 Recall On Sept. 2, Samsung issued a statement that they will put all Note 7 sales on hold in response to numerous complaints of exploding batteries in its newest flagship device. The South Korean tech company immediately issued a voluntary recall and assured customers that it will repair, refund or replace the defective units. CNET reports that the company has more than 50,000 units to replace in Australia. The recall issued on the same date included 2.5 million phones in select countries excluding China. Biased Policies On Galaxy Note 7 Replacement After reports that the units sold in China are not part of the recall despite news that two Note 7 devices exploded in the country, Chinese consumers felt that Samsung is taking them for granted. In its report, CNBC quoted China Market Research Group representative Ben Cavender who stated that he believes that consumers in China are not happy with Samsung. Being the largest market for smartphones, China is of key importance to manufacturers. Now, with Samsung raising the ire of many consumers in the country, the company may suffer from repercussions due to perceived bias over the recall. Since the company instantly acted on overseas complaints but blames the incidents in China on external heating, customers feel Samsung is not taking them seriously. Note 7 Explosions In China Caused By External Heating, Not Faulty Batteries In Samsung's defense, it claims that the batteries in the units sold in China are made by a local manufacturer and thus, not affected by heating issues. Amperex Technology Ltd. issued a statement that it is highly likely that external issues are the problem, not the battery. This statement is based on Samsung's investigation of the phone from the first incident. However, the company was unable to acquire the phone reported in another incident. Another highly anticipated Korean drama, "The K2" is set to premiere on Friday, but lead star Ji Chang-Wook already admitted he is done with action dramas. The upcoming Korean series was earlier revealed to revolve around a heavy action and drama plot. With this said, Ji Chang-Wook spoke to the press ahead of the premiere of "The K2," where he remarked that the show would be his last action drama. "It's so difficult. It led to me telling myself that I would never do action again. 'The K2' will be Ji Chang-wook's last action drama," he said with a laugh. "I thought that as the episodes went on, the action would get reduced. It's so difficult; it's the most tiring project I've ever done," he added. The actor practiced at action school for two months, given the level of difficulty of the action in "The K2," Soompi wrote. On the other hand, Ji Chang-Wook talked about the series as a whole and said, "I was worried that 'The K2' would be similar in color to 'Healer,' but because the tone and feeling of each is different, I trusted that this project wouldn't appear too similar to 'Healer.' I want to show a manlier side, and emotion that has depth through this project." The latest teasers of "The K2" feature some of the intense action scenes from different episodes, heightening the excitement of the viewers. Most of the action moves are credited to Korea's Taekwondo team, but there are also several action scenes highlighting the moves of Brazil's Jiu-jitsu, Japan's Aikido, and Russia's Systema combat style, according to reports. As it appeared in video teasers, this action drama will feature exhilarating car chase scenes, as well as some explosive moments. Some reports even described "The K2" as a mini action movie. Reports say fans are now eyeing the on-screen pairing of Girls Generation group member Im Yoon-Ah and Ji Chang-Wook in the mystery thriller drama. At the press conference, which took place at the Imperial Palace in Gangnam, Im Yoon-Ah also shared her take on the series and talked about how difficult this drama was for her as well. "I had a lot of worries from as early as the preparation stage for the drama, since it had been so long since I did a domestic drama. Because of my confidence in Song Yoon-ah and Ji Chang-wook sunbaes and my trust in our director, I was able to muster up the courage," she shared. The new Korean series "The K2" will feature Ji Chang-Wook as a bodyguard who was placed in a compromising situation as he gets involved in a dangerous political family's war. Yoon-ah ("Prime Minister and I") plays the role of a secret daughter of a presidential hopeful, portrayed by Jo Sung-ha("Neighborhood Hero"). Song Yoon-ah ("Assembly") plays the role of Sung-ha's ambitious wife whose character was built on greed, stopping at nothing until she gets what she wants. "The K2" will debut on tvN with a Friday-Saturday airing slot starting Sept. 23. After going three years without major modifications, the best way for Apple to reclaim its reputation for being an innovative brand would be to blow everyone away with its highly anticipated iPhone 8. Prior reports indicate that Apple would go all out during their product launch to celebrate the iPhone's 10th anniversary marked by the release of the iPhone 8. iPhone 8 Release Date The release date for the new device might still be within fall but instead of a 2017 release, the iPhone 8 might be launched in fall 2018. However, this theory banks on the belief that Apple is working on the iPhone 7 S and S Plus and that by summer of 2018, there is an iPhone SE 3 handset on its way. If Apple does away with its S Plus convention, the iPhone 8 might get an earlier launching. iPhone 8 Rumors: Size And Surface Nowhereelse.fr, a French site, leaks what is believed to be an image of the iPhone 8. An image from OnLeaks, a reliable site for information about Apple, shows that the device is the size which is similar to that of the iPhone 6s at 67.12mm by 138.3mm. As for the color variants, there are claims that Apple will do away with Space Grey and instead offer a Deep Blue, Silver, Rose Gold, and Gold phone. As for the home button, rumors claim that Apple might do away with the button and create a virtual button instead. Apple reportedly filed a patent for a bezel-free device which strengthens this possibility. Apple Insider also hinted that the iPhone 8 could feature curved glass to achieve edge-to-edge display by integrating a 5.8-inch AMOLED display into the new iPhone. iPhone 8 features: Wireless Charging As previously reported, it's highly likely that Apple would push through with wireless charging and use the same technology in the smart connector for the iPad Pro. If the new feature of the iPhone 7 provides a clue, this could indicate that Apple plans to go entirely wireless. iPhone 8 Security: Iris-Recognition A previous report by Digitimes indicated that Apple could improve on its current security features. Instead of just a fingerprint sensor, the new iPhone 8 could integrate iris-recognition. There are rumors that Apple is partnering with Xintec, a company based in Taiwan, for this venture and that the tech giant plans to add this feature to a phone that will be released in 2018. iPhone 8 Camera Quality Among the numerous patents Apple acquired, the application for a small light splitter which could fit an iPhone may be featured in the iPhone 8. Apple is keen on improving camera quality and it may be making a move to achieve the same quality from DSLR photos in the new device. Furthermore, iPhone 8 rumors suggest that it would be featuring a dual camera to add depth to pictures and perhaps to support the trend towards augmented reality. As of date, there is no official announcement from Apple on their next product in development. Needless to say, the iPhone 7 has been quite a success by featuring a better camera, a faster operating system, and overall, a more resilient device. On Wednesday, Sept. 21, news broke that tech giant Apple is in talks to take over McLaren Technology Group in order to support its efforts to design the Apple car. Apple To Acquire McLaren According to Nerds Magazine, Apple talks with McLaren have been going on for several months, but the final decision to take over the world famous luxury and Formula One car producer has not yet been finalized. Tech experts believe that in case that this deal will be finalized, this can represent some big news for the highly anticipated Apple Car. For years already, there were reported rumors of the possibility that Apple is working on a secret car project. Apple has indeed "Project Titan," an automotive secretive department. However, there is still no official announcement or clear evidence that the high-tech giant Apple is working on developing its own vehicle. Talks with McLaren may spark a new round of speculations regarding the rumored Apple car. However, McLaren has denied the possibility of a full acquisition by Apple. According to Business Insider, even if a McLaren spokesperson denied that an Apple investment or takeover in negotiated, such a move from Apple would completely make sense. Regardless of the declaration of McLaren spokesperson, the idea of a buyout could be tempting for both Apple and McLaren. Apple could certainly use the decades long car-building know-how of McLaren, one of the world's finest automotive design and engineering companies. And McLaren, could use Apple's money in an industry that is very time and capital intensive. With the acquisition of McLaren, Apple would get more than a simple automotive group. The high-tech giant would also be absorbing highly valuable of automotive-focused engineers and racing technology. McLaren is the owner of several valuable patents and it has also organized the Applied Technologies group responsible for research and studies materials. Another department called McLaren Electronic Systems is involved in extensive work with sensors and data. Apple has already made several big acquisitions in the past. The tech giant acquired Beats for $3 million in May of 2014. Jimmy Iovine stated in a press release regarding the acquisition that he always felt "that Beats belonged with Apple." Apple made another move in the automotive industry earlier this year. The high-tech company invested $1 billion dollar investment in a prominent ride-hailing company called Didi Chuxing. China's large spacecraft Tiangong-1 will fall into the Earth in the latter half of 2017. This has been revealed by China's state news agency Xinhua. However, the country did not confirm whether it has lost control of Tiangong-1. They did, however, admit it will crash and burn back to Earth. Tiangong-1's Space Mission China's space station was launched in September 2011. Tiangong-1 or Heavenly Place - 1 was originally planned to operate for two years, according to NPR. It had docked with Shenzhou-8, Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 spacecraft. Deputy Director of the manned space engineering office Wu Ping spoke at a conference in China. She shared that it had comprehensively fulfilled its historical mission. Its data service ended in March. She also revealed that Tiangong-1 is still intact. The space lab is orbiting the Earth at an average height of 370km. China Has Lost Control Of Tiangong-1 Rumors about China losing control of Tiangong-1 began to spread. Amateur satellite tracker Thomas Dorman of El Paso told Space.com about the situation. He said back in June that it was in a "slow roll". His observations suggest that the space lab was out of control. He added that Tiangong-1's solar panels were in an incorrect orientation. Then, he predicted the possibility of an uncontrolled fall out of orbit. China had not commented about this. Dorman thinks China will wait until the last minute to admit the problem. Crashing Back To Earth According to The Washington Post, most small spacecraft incinerate completely in the upper atmosphere. The standard practice for a large spacecraft like the 34ft long Tiangong-1 is what they call a planned descent. So, an uncontrolled re-entry is rare. Astrophysicist John McDowell told The Guardian that China's statement suggests that Tiangong-1 will be falling naturally. He means that there will be no human steering involved. He added that its debris will most likely end up in the ocean. But if some hit the land, he assured that it wouldn't hurt anybody. McDowell admitted that it's hard to predict where the debris will fall. Wu said that China has always highly valued the management of space debris. They assured that China will continue to monitor Tiangong-1. It will strengthen early warning for possible collision with objects. They will also release a forecast of its falling. China will report it internationally. Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary and Preservation board member Robert Redford this week expressed hope that the Bureau of Land Management and Congress will heed the publics outcry and embrace humane alternatives, both on and off the range, over the Advisory Boards recommendation to euthanize 45,000 captive wild horses and burros in long-term holding pastures. Americans have an unwavering bond with the descendants of the horses and burros that have helped build our country and shape our culture a bond enshrined in The Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act 45 years ago, Redford said. "After decades of investing millions of tax dollars for the protection of wild horses after their capture and removal from the range, destroying them would be the ultimate betrayal, especially when humane alternatives have long been available. On Sept. 9 in Elko, Nevada, the Advisory Board voted to urge BLM to follow the stipulations of the Wild Horse and Burro Act by offering all suitable animals in long- and short-term holding deemed unadoptable for sale without limitation or humane euthanasia. Those animals deemed unsuitable for sale should then be destroyed in the most humane manner possible." The independent Advisory Board is empowered to make recommendations to BLM, not direct its actions, yet the public responded swiftly and emphatically. In response, BLM on Sept. 14 announced that it would continue caring for the more than 45,000 wild horses and burros off-range corrals and pastures and that it would not sell or send animals to slaughter. While pleased by BLMs recognition of the publics wishes, Return to Freedom will continue to press the agency and Congress to ensure not only that euthanasia remains off the table, but that BLM refocuses its wild horse management on proven, humane methods that can be implemented on the range and provide an aggressive timeline for implementing those changes, said Neda DeMayo, president of Return to Freedom. DeMayo urged wild horse supporters to remain vigilant about the lifting of restrictions on sales or adoptions and any proposals that would enable the transfer of wild horses and burros to other government agencies without assurances that they would receive humane treatment during and after service. In the days since the vote, for instance, little attention has been paid to the rest of that same Advisory Board recommendation: offering all suitable animals in long- and short-term holding deemed unadoptable for sale without limitation or humane euthanasia. If enacted, such a change would be a death sentence for captive wild horses and burros, many of which would surely be purchased by kill buyers then trucked to foreign slaughterhouses. It is way overdue for the Bureau of Land Management to develop a proud vision for the preservation of Americas wild horses and burros, DeMayo said. To destroy these horses would be even more irresponsible than the crisis created by the agency over the past 30 years by stalling proposals to humanely manage wild horse populations on the range. Return to Freedom advocates for minimally intrusive on the range management using proven, safe and humane fertility control in combination with other alternatives like relocation, range stewardship and incentives for ranchers who reduce or forego livestock grazing in designated wild horse Herd Management Areas. Return to Freedom stands ready to assist with responsible, minimally invasive management both on and off the range, DeMayo said: RTF has 18 years of successful, practical experience in the humane management of wild horses and burros, including the use of fertility vaccines, both at its sanctuaries and in ongoing projects with private landowners through our Wild Horse Conservator Program. "Making a Murderers" Brendan Dassey is yet to face a remarkable life turning events in the coming months with the possibility of his approaching release from prison and in overcoming his fears of the outside world. Recently, Dassey joined his lawyers in filing a Motion for Release on Personal Recognizance. They are requesting the courts to grant the petitioner his freedom as soon as possible after his conviction was overturned last month. Should the appeal get an approval, the 26-year-old along with his legal counsel has written a release plan that will bring back his life outside jail. Per Rolling Stones report, the details of the release plan will commence with Dasseys living with his mother Barb Tadych . "Counsel has identified an arrangement that would allow Petitioner to spend the initial one to three months of his release on bond living in a family-owned trailer with his mother in rural northeast Wisconsin," Dassey's lawyers wrote. He is also expected to get involve in educational, vocational and therapeutic services. The said activities will definitely boost his confidence, learning and social skills. Meanwhile, Dasseys mother admits that his son will be challenged with the new life that hell be facing soon as he gets out of prison. A report related the thoughts of Tadych about the impending discharge of her son. Actually he is very excited to get out of there and he knows he doesn't belong in there. But I think he's scared a little bit of going into the outside world, it's changed big time. He's going to have to learn everything from scratch, but he's got us to help rehabilitate him, we're going to be there every step of the way. Dassey was sentenced to 41 years in prison after being tried as an accomplice in the rape and murder of photographer Teresa Halbach. With Dasseys case and life set in the eyes of the public and media, every bit of information is carefully analyzed as it impacts his future and much awaited freedom. Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have started an effort to find a cure for all major diseases. The couple has said that they would donate $3 billion to see that major diseases would not be a worry before the end of the 21st century. According to The Washington Post, the goal of Zuckerberg and his wife is to have all major diseases be gone within the lifetime of our children. This would involve a number of things such as creating tools based on both traditional science and engineering where researchers can build on. There is also a plan to create a chip that can diagnose all, or at least, most diseases. The effort is called the Chan-Zuckerberg Science wherein a biohub would be created at the University of California at San Francisco Mission Bay campus. The aim of this biohub is to have scientists from Stanford, the University of California at Berkeley and UCSF to come together and work out on the many diseases that are out today. Zuckerberg's wife is a pediatrician and she explains that the goal is to drastically reduce the frequency and even severity of diseases. The aim then would not strictly be to wipe out all forms of diseases. With the $3 billion it is hoped that it would fund a long-term collaborative effort between researchers from various universities, as Business Insider reports. The first work that would be done is to map out every cell in the human body. That means finding out the locations and functions of each cell. The effort is said to be ambitious, and it won't be easy either. It has been known that viruses and others that can cause diseases can adapt. This would be one of the challenges that the initiative will face. Zuckerberg seems to be aware of that challenge. "We have to be patient. This is hard stuff," Zuckerberg has said about the project. For young scientists, though, this might be good as it would put less pressure on them to bring out results fast. A long-term effort would have more time then for research without the pressure of producing results at once. iTechPost also reports of a new way to treat depression and anxiety through the smartphone. When Apple announced the new iPhone 7 devices, not everyone is solely focused on the devices' new features. There are actually some people who are more concerned with figuring out how to jailbreak the iPhone 7 instead of wondering what the device has to offer. Since the device is new, some fear that Apple might have made it impossible to jailbreak. However, since it is still a smartphone and it still comes with the same basic traits as the older models, it could still be jailbroken. Popular iOS hacker Luca Todesco proved this right. Can The iPhone 7 Be Jailbroken? Apparently, yes, the latest Apple flagship phones are still vulnerable to jailbreaks. Just a few days after the release of the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, Luca Todesco revealed a photo showing that Cydia is running on the newly released iPhone 7. This pretty much proves that a jailbreak has been done. Clearly, Todesco has done it again. It was just a few weeks ago when the hacker also leaked that iOS 10 is not safe from jailbreaking. How To Jailbreak iOS 10 In iPhone 7 Needless to say, Todesco has a history of keeping his jailbreak secrets to himself. At least for now, it has been proven that the iPhone 7 can indeed be jailbroken, so Todesco's job is pretty much done for this part. For fans who are still wondering about how they can jailbreak their new iPhones here's some news for you. According to a source, the Pangu team might have also hinted working on the iOS 10 jailbreak, so fans can just keep their hopes up and wait for an announcement from the popular Chinese hacking team. The iPhone 7 is just starting to roll out to different merchants and different countries, so the demand for jailbreak tools might take a while before increasing. Also, since it has just been barely a week since the phones' release, Pangu and different teams might still need more weeks to prepare for the big reveal. Microsoft released a brand new feature phone when Microsoft fans were hoping it was the Surface phone. Unfortunately, Microsoft is sticking with the schedule it seems to have set for the 2017 Surface Phone release. Microsoft And Nokia Deal Back in 2013, Microsoft acquired Nokia; the Redmond-based tech company paid Nokia a total of $7.2 Billion and laid off a total of 7,800 people in the process. Microsoft began to explore the field of mobile phones after the acquisition of the Finnish mobile giant. Nokia released its first GSM phone in 1992 and after the first one came out, they just kept churning out one phone after another. Microsoft Talo Formerly Known As The Nokia House The Nokia House, now known as Microsoft Talo, used to be big like the Apple brand, but then the iPhone came waltzing in and stole the hearts of many forgetting the first brand to introduce us to the world of cellphones. Nokia has been out of the picture for a while, but Microsoft recently launched a new feature phone, the Nokia 216. Microsoft Gives Nokia Its Final Hurrah As iTech Post previously reported, the launch Microsoft gave for Nokia isn't so much as a welcome back, but more of a last hurrah for the brand. Nokia is throwing in the towel and the Nokia 216 is the last feature phone the firm will ever use that is from Nokia. Microsoft Releases Nokia 216 Specs And Features Microsoft is set to release Nokia 216 specs and features, but details won't be disclosed until after the regulatory scrutiny for the feature phone is over. Microsoft is set to release the Nokia 216 on October and there are rumors that we can all expect the last Nokia feature phone to keep its classic look. Engadget notes that the Nokia 216 will come with a QVGA screen display and a VGA camera. We will soon find out the rest of its features by next month. Microsoft did Nokia a favor for letting them produce one last feature phone before they draw the curtains and the credits start rolling. AT&T's soon-to-launch Internet TV app isn't intended to steal clients from its very own DirecTV satellite service bundle. The objective is to charm viewers who had already quit the conventional pay TV system. But Company President Randall Stephenson assured cutsomers that he won't be disgruntled if the latest service is enough to draw in the other current pay TV subscribers. "There is danger of it ripping apart the current produts. I imagine that, however, is a good sign," Stephenson said on Wednesday while talking at the Goldman Sachs conference in New York. "You launch products that are disruptive in the marketplace, and if you don't see them hindering your product sets, 99 times out of 100, it doesn't go anywhere." Go90 None of the present TV offerings, like Sony's Playstation Vue service, had surprised the world. People averting from conventional cable appear to be more interested in freestyle services like Amazon's Prime Video and Netflix rather than packages that bundle channels and seem to be a somewhat more affordable repackaging of old-style pay TV offers. Verizon Communications had taken advantage of this opportunity by attempting to build up a more advanced service, called Go90, although it also not yet shown much success. The offers Still, AT&T has headed the conventional course and will reveal it in the 4th annual quarter, Stephenson explained. The primary offer will be dubbed as DirecTV Now and has more than a hundred channels. A more reasonable offering, which is called DirecTV Mobile, also consolidates exceptional video with digital content. What's more, a free offer called DirecTV Preview will have shown from other apps with ads. The main offer according to Stephenson The main offer will be "100 channels at a very contentious price point," Stephenson asserted. Regarding AT&T wireless subscribers, Stephenson said, "Watching the service won't count on customer's data wages-a somewhat dubious method called zero rating." The Galaxy Note 7 is making Samsung lose customers. The Korean tech giant said recently that 500,000 smartphone replacements had arrived in the U.S. also and are available for exchange this week. By far, it has exchanged roughly 25 percent of Note 7 devices from U.S. customers. A Samsung representative said a "vast majority" have chosen a different Galaxy smartphone. The Survey from SurveyMonkey Yet, a late survey proposes that most of the first buyers, the excited fans who stormed in to get the widely praised smartphone in its first weeks of its release, want to avoid the Note 7 the second time around. SurveyMonkey discovered more than 33 percent of those who own the phone stated that they will choose a refund instead of a different model, as indicated by an online survey of 507 Americans this weekend. Around 35 percent confirmed they will look for a reimbursement, while percent stated that they will purchase an iPhone instead, Samsung's biggest rival smartphone in the U.S. Another 21 percent confirmed they would choose another Samsung phone. The most telling of them all is that only 18 percent said they are happy to stay with the Note 7. Samsung will rise again The survey's results hint harder struggles for Samsung after a million phone recalls, which analysts foresee could hinder one the world's most successful smartphone dealer about $904 million. But Samsung's recall might be only a temporary damage to its reputation since the general quality of its products is good, explained David Rogers, a brand expert and faculty member at Columbia Business School. So long as Samsung keeps on reaching out to people, the crisis should diminish in a couple of months, Rogers says. "Samsung has built a strong following with consumers buying multiple versions of its phones," Rogers said. "It is in a position of strength as the No. 2 brand in the smartphone category, after Apple. If this was a start-up, it would have a problem." Following the bittersweet farewell of NCIS Special Agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) with remarkable life-turning milestones on Season 13 finale of the action drama show are the fanatical debut of Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres on the premiere of NCIS season 14 and shocking revelations of the next episode. Fans were able to witness a dose of action and humor when the fourteenth installment of the popular series made its first appearance on screens. Nick who has been on a deep undercover mission in Argentina, was introduced in a silly yet humorous way possible -killing a guy who was hired to kill him and making a gag about it. The fist fight that Nick got involved with made him an ideal bet to take DiNozzos position but the actor who plays the tough role says otherwise. A report noted that Valderrama will not be a mere replacement for DiNozzo but will be his own character. "[Weatherly] had a fantastic journey with the show. The truth is there's no shoes to fill, I'm definitely wearing my own. I'm excited because as a new member of NCIS I get to bring a new energy to it, a different dynamic," Valderrama said. Meanwhile, Spoiler TV shared the synopsis of NCIS Season 14 Episode 2 titled Being Bad. The team will be tasked to investigate a death that happened in Quantico. In the process of examining the murder investigation, the team discovers a bombing plot and a long-running theft ring. Torres and Quinn are reported to fine-tune with their new environment on Gibbs team and will make necessary adjustments in working with Abby, Bishop, Ducky,McGee, Palmer and Vance. It looks like the fans of the show will have many reasons to celebrate the return of NCIS every Tuesdays in CBS. Indeed, the long wait was worth it. As the premiere of "The Walking Dead" season 7 slowly approaches, various TWD trailers and promo posters are being released, with the latest footage introducing the infamous King Ezekiel (played by Khary Payton) and his pet tiger to the hit AMC series. Earlier news and scoops are hinting at a battle of will between Negan and Rick, but a bigger surprise is yet to come as Ezekiel will finally be introduced. His appearance is revealed in the latest teaser trailer for the forthcoming season 7 of today's most popular zombie apocalypse show. The character was revealed in AMC's "The Walking Dead" season 7 trailer shown during the recent San Diego Comic-Con. Khary Payton was the chosen actor to give life to the character as he can give justice to the role, reports say. In the comic book of "The Walking Dead," Ezekiel is a self-proclaimed leader of a community called "The Kingdom," which is originally a college campus that was later transformed into a sustainable community after the zombie virus outbreak. As described in the "TWD" comics, the eccentric, affable, and somewhat flamboyant King Ezekiel used to be a zookeeper. This is the reason why he owns a pet tiger, Shiva, which he uses as a protection from walkers and other threats. Furthermore, Ezekiel is a friend of the Hilltop Colony and a friend to Paul Monroe. He's also known in the comics as one who has a strong hatred for Negan and the group, Saviors, leading to the Ezekiel-Rick collaboration to defeat them. Meanwhile, in the recently released trailer, fans witnessed how the powerful and self-styled monarch showed his sense of grandeur when his men captured Morgan for a mailbox robbery yet welcomed him to "The Kingdom." "I am King Ezekiel. Welcome to The Kingdom," the character said From the past season, Morgan was separated from Rick Grimes' group of survivors as he rushed to the aid of Carol to save her from a Savior. He seemed torn about the idea of not trying to find his friends, as he said, "I can't let you die out there." "The Walking Dead" season 6 ended with the gang trying to fight off the ruthless Saviors and Negan who served as the leader of the group. Fan theories say that if Ezekiel's antics in the comic book are any guide, the character could be the difference between death and survival for the former Sheriff's deputy and his group in the much-awaited season 7 of "The Walking Dead." Almost more than 55 countries have signed the Paris Agreement to stop greenhouse gas emissions. According to the UN, more than 20 leaders submitted legal documents to formally include their countries in international efforts to solve climate change. The countries that submitted the documents have their own ways on how they can help fight climate change. There are no sanctions for countries that weren't able to perform their chosen job, though. The UN let the countries do their work voluntarily. "I am confident that, by the time I leave office, the Paris Agreement will have entered into force," UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon said in a statement, following a high-level event on the Paris Agreement's entry into force at UN Headquarters in New York. "This will be a major achievement for multilateralism." Ban added. In order to take effect, the deal, which was agreed by nearly 200 countries in Paris last December, needs ratification by at least 55 countries representing 55 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Ban said the 60 countries represented more than 47.5 percent. Ban was thrilled that what once he thought was impossible was now attainable. Countries are now uniting for one same purpose. Ban will be resigning next year and he expressed his happines for what he will achieve. India, the third world's largest polluter will essentially allow its emissions to triple by 2030, which is an improvement. India's climate strategy does include references to Gandhi and yoga. Surprisingly, China, the world's largest polluter, passed their detailed plan regarding their emissions. China plans to put a national cap-and-trade system in place starting 2017. But China has also been plagued by questions about its own emissions data. "If I'm Singapore and I see China's doing it, that leads me to do it," said Jonathan Pershing, the American climate envoy. "If I'm a Latin American country and I see Mexico's doing it, I'll do it too." After the UN's non-stop negotiations with other countries, their hard work is apparently starting to pay off. Tinder has just released its newest app for iMessage, featuring the same swipe interface in its matchmaking service. This time, however, Tinder Stacks will focus on "squad" decision-making, not matchmaking. Tinder Stacks Puts Friends Over Dates Considered to be one of the hottest dating apps in the world, Tinder is known for the most convenient way to hook up online. Aside from its unique matching algorithm, the app features a convenient way to choose between numerous matches. All you have to do is swipe right if you like someone and swipe left if you don't have any interest in them. In the new iMessage app, Tinder decides to abandon its matchmaking efforts. Instead, it makes use of its unique swipe-based interface to let you interact with your "squad." Tinder Stacks is all about letting your friends vote on various options using its convenient swiping feature. How Squad Voting Works Tinder Stacks is all about visual polls. With this iMessage app, users can ask for the opinion of their friends by making a "stack" or photos slideshow that users can share with their contacts. The rest of the squad will have access to this slideshow and they can vote by swiping right for something they like or left for an item they dislike. Given this convenient feature, it's easier to request for inputs when it comes to the best dress for a date, the next destination to visit as a group, or even the person to go out with. As a user, you can base your decisions on a series of photos and you can keep tabs on your poll on the iMessage app. Tinder Stacks Availability Squad goals may be better with Tinder Stacks but the app is not available for all iOS users. The app is accessible through the iMessage App Store for devices running on iOS 10. Furthermore, Tinder Stacks may be another product from Tinder but the user accounts are not linked. It is still necessary to install the dating app to have access to the matchmaking features. While Tinder may be known only as a dating app, Mashable considers it to be one of the 100 best iPhone apps. Although Tinder promotes squad interactions through Tinder Stacks, their matchmaking days are far from over. With their recent partnership with Spotify, they have found a way to match people with compatible tastes in music. With the Spotify partnership and the new iMessage app, Tinder is on its way to becoming the next social media giant. Weaver with J. A. Bayona, director of her latest film. Javier Hernandez Juantegui This festival has always had a special place in my heart, Sigourney Weaver told journalists ahead of the Donostia award presentation ceremony at the 64th San Sebastian International Film Festival on Wednesday morning. The first time I came here was in 1979, but I dont think anybody here will remember that, added the 66-year-old, laughing as she remembered how Alien, the film that launched her career, premiered at the San Sebastian film festival that year. Weaver has since been nominated for three Oscars, for Alien, Gorillas in the Mist, and Working Girl. The career achievement award was presented to the actress at a gala on Wednesday night in the Kursaal auditorium in the northern coastal city. Today, there are women in powerful positions all around the world, and this is reflected in cinema Sigourney Weaver With Weaver at the press conference was Spanish film director Juan Antonio Bayona, who has directed her latest film, A Monster Calls. The cast of the film, which is not competing at the festival, also includes Felicity Jones, Lewis MacDougall and Liam Neeson. A Monster Calls is based on the Patrick Ness novel, which won the United Kingdoms Carnegie and Greenaway Medals for distinguished childrens books. Ness, who also wrote the movies script, tells the story of Conor, a 12-year-old boy trying to confront the illness of his mother with the help of monster that visits him at night. Weaver plays the boys grandmother, who also helps him through his rite of passage. A Monster Calls is Bayonas third feature film, and after The OrphanageandThe Impossible is the final installment in his trilogy of poignant stories centering on the strength of the mother-child bond. Much of A Monster Calls was shot in the United Kingdom, but many of the interior scenes were filmed in Barcelona. I love working in Spain, said Weaver, because I think the Spanish have a special relationship with cinema you see it as artistic expression and not just a business. I have worked here several times and always had a good time. For example, in this country the crew has always read the screenplay, and you always get a really good rush of positive energy from the team. My first ever festival was San Sebastian, and I feel very honored to be given this Donostia prize its a real encouragement to continue working, she said. The veteran actress took time to criticize the limited roles for older women in Hollywood, although she admitted things were improving: The struggles of the past are gradually leading to women being given more important roles. A Monster Calls has two important producers behind it: Belen Atienza and Sandra Hermida. In this film, as in so many others I have appeared in over the years with directors that understand me, is not just a women who goes through a few moments of vulnerability. Obviously, she does, as in real life, but like in real life, we dont just sit around waiting for a man to come along and save me. The career achievement award was presented to the actress at a gala on Wednesday night There have always been strong female characters in movies and literature. Today, there are women in powerful positions around the world, and this is reflected in cinema. Now is an excellent time for women, she said. It was clear that I had to choose Sigourney for the role of the grandmother, said Bayona, when asked why he had picked Weaver. Unlike other actresses that embody feisty women, in Sigourneys work you can see her emotional weaknesses, her sensitivity, he said. Weaver also commented on her unexpected appearance at the age of 11 in Ron Howards latest documentary movie, Eight Days a Week..., a compilation of footage featuring music, interviews and stories from The Beatles 250 concerts from 1963 to 1966. I went to a Beatles concert in Los Angeles when I was a kid. They were surrounded by women screaming and shouting. So I decided to scream every now and then so as to fit in, she joked. English version by Nick Lyne. Retailers were supposed to start accepting chip cards last October, but a year past the start of the EMV liability shift, two-thirds still haven't done so. Only 2 million merchants, representing 33 percent of the industry, are actively accepting chip cards, according to a data released by MasterCard earlier this month. This is up from 1.4 million in June. The rest are liable for in-person payment fraud. Before last October, merchants were not liable for fraudulent purchases at physical locations, only for "card not present" purchases such as those made on ecommerce sites. Visa will be releasing its numbers next week. However, a report released this Tuesday by the Strawhecker Group, a payments consulting firm, estimates that 29 percent of all U.S. merchants are now capable of accepting chip cards. An additional 15 percent have the terminals, but haven't been able to activate them yet because of certification delays. [ ALSO ON CSO: For retailers, confusion reigns after EMV rollout ] Merchants became liable last October, part of the effort to encourage them to invest in upgrades to their terminals. The chargebacks added up to $5.8 billion during the first half of this year, according to a recent report by Aite Group, a 25 percent increase from last year. Those who didn't also faced a secondary burden -- criminals stymied by the new, more secure payment system would focus their efforts on those merchants who hadn't upgraded. In fact, according to MasterCard, fraud costs fell by 54 percent for merchants who have completed their EMV adoption or are close to it. Those who didn't, saw their counterfeit fraud costs go up 77 percent. Some grocery stores even joined forces to sue credit card companies and major issuing banks, claiming that certification bottlenecks kept them from upgrading in time for the deadline. According to Aite, these stores have seen chargebacks expenses go up 20-fold. Despite this, the pace of the EMV transition may actually be slowing down, according to Michael Moeser, director of payments at Javelin Strategy & Research. That's because those retailers who planned ahead and started migration early are already done, as are the smaller merchants who rely on third-party providers for all their payment technology. "In our surveys, almost half of small businesses under $10 million have already upgraded to EMV," Moeser said. In addition, both Visa and American Express ended chargebacks for transactions under $25 this summer. According to Visa, 40 percent of all chargebacks are under $25. That might inspire some retailers to wait before spending the money to upgrade. "If most of my transactions are under $25, what's the business case?" Moeser said. Finally, some merchants have simply been caught by surprise. Despite having several years of advance notice, many thought that it would take longer for the chip cards to get into consumer hands. The liability shift only occurs when a customer uses a chip-card in a traditional terminal. "Many merchants have been taken aback by the speed at which these cards have been issued," said Moeser. "The issuers have gone very quickly to issuing the cards and capitalizing on the liability shift. I don't think the merchant community was expecting this process to be this quick." As of July, 88 percent of all MasterCard were chip-enabled. In addition, 90 percent of U.S. consumers "commonly" use chip cards, according to a survey conducted by Braun Research this summer on behalf of MasterCard. That's up from 49 percent in 2015. Meanwhile, the EMV transition does nothing to reduce online fraud -- in fact, online fraud is going up. "Criminals use POS malware, memory scrapers and other covert technologies to capture all of the payment data they need from unsuspecting retailers, despite the use of EMV," said Smrithi Konanur, global product manager for HPE Data Security at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. "And then can use the stolen data for card-not-present transactions." Now another deadline is looming. Next month, MasterCard is shifting the liability for ATM transactions -- Visa and American Express will follow in October 2017. In July, only 20 percent of U.S. ATMs had been upgraded, with MasterCard estimating that just 35 percent would be ready by the deadline. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus. An empty pond in a Friern Barnet park is filling the Friends of Friary Park with concern. Despite the many improvements to the park over the past few years, a mistake in constructing the eco pond has left it empty because it was dug too high and the water is draining out. The Friends are now investigating ways of refilling the pond but they are not optimistic about being able to maintain the water level. At a public meeting at the Old Town Hall last week, local residents also voiced concerns over problems of plant theft caused by the park's gates being left open. But there was also some good news as the Friends revealed the park is soon to get a full-time warden and there will be brass band concerts once a month at the teahouse. The warden, whose job will be to police the park, looking out for vandals, litter or graffiti, will start work in the summer. And Friary Park isn't the only one to benefit from this Barnet council-funded service ,, Sunny Hill in Hendon and Oak Hill in East Barnet are also in line to get friendly park policeman to help keep them green and clean. Dog walkers will also have to be extra wary this summer as a new Pick It or Ticket scheme comes into effect with on the spot fines for pets fouling the footpath. For details call 020 8445 3118. A photo of Diana Quer posted on social media. A month after Madrid teen Diana Quer went missing in Spains northwestern Galicia region, her mother has called on the public to come forward with information no matter how trivial it is. Dont be afraid to testify: your anonymity is guaranteed, the mother of 18-year-old Quer, Diana Lopez-Pinel, said during a press conference held outside her home in the upmarket Madrid suburb of Pozuelo. Diana Quers father has publicly said he fears his daughter is no longer alive, while her mother maintains hopeful I am asking you as a mother. Your mom loves you. Mom is waiting for you and looking for you and will continue to look until you appear, said Lopez-Pinel, addressing the missing girl directly. The latest appearance by Quers mother comes a month into a search that has received huge attention in the Spanish press and which has seen Lopez-Pinel herself grilled by police after contradictions were found in her initial statements about her daughters disappearance. Diana Lopez Pinel, the mother of Diana Quer. OSCAR CORRAL Quer was originally thought to have disappeared on August 22 after heading out along a rural path leading back to the familys holiday home in a residential estate located in the outskirts of A Pobra do Caraminal, some 55 kilometers southwest of the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela. But analysis of her cellphones positioning signals points to her having returned to the house sometime around 3am that night. This possibility ties in with other clues found inside the home, where investigators located the clothes she wore to the village fiesta. This suggests that she may have walked in, changed, and left again for unknown reasons. Some witnesses have testified to seeing the teen back at the fiestas around 4am. Another line of investigation explores the possibility that she got into a car. Her mobile phone died at 4am and there has been no trace of the teen since that time. Dont be afraid to testify: your anonymity is guaranteed Diana Lopez-Pinel, mother of Diana Quer Investigators called in Lopez-Pinel for questioning to determine why she didnt hear her daughter return home an hour after receiving a call from her, or why she told police her daughter was wearing red shorts and a t-shirt when the clothes were on her bed, suggesting she changed clothes before leaving the house for the last time. Police officers also grilled Lopez-Pinel for several hours as to why she did not tell the police about her troubled relationship with her two daughters. Diana Quers father, who is separated from Lopez-Pinel, told media earlier this month that a court had taken custody of the couples youngest daughter, Valeria, away from the mother. Lopez-Pinel also failed to tell police that she and Valeria had both visited a health center days before Dianas disappearance, where they were both treated for anxiety. Quers father has publicly said he fears his daughter is no longer alive, while Lopez-Pinel is still holding out hope. On Thursday acting Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz said all available resources were being used in the search for the teen. Around 200 law enforcement officers are currently involved in the ongoing operation. Some 1,270 people are currently listed as missing in Spain. The Interior Ministrys figures show that last year alone 24,995 missing persons reports were filed to the police (the figure so far for this year is 14,473). Of these, 24,088 have been found, reports the ministry, although very often people do not bother to withdraw a report when a loved one turns up. English version by George Mills. Town sued over denied water service The town council met in executive session last week to discuss its defense after a lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court by a Jamestown homeowner who was denied permission... Scout earns Eagle rank with boardwalk work A local Boy Scout is the latest member of Troop 1 Jamestown to lead an environmental project at a wildlife sanctuary in his mission to attain the Eagle rank. Alex... State: Steer clear while deer breeding As deer begin mating during the rut, public safety officials are urging drivers to be cautious on the roads because herds tend to move around more frequently during this time.... Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after a recent press conference. NELSON ALMEIDA (AFP) More information Las acusaciones a Lula acorralan al Partido de los Trabajadores The corruption and money-laundering accusations that will see Brazils former president Lula da Silva face trial have further poisoned Brazils toxic political waters, weakening the position of his Workers Party (PT), which is already reeling from the impeachment of Lulas predecessor, Dilma Rousseff. The major force in Brazilian politics as recently as just two years ago, when Rousseff won a second term with more than 51% of the vote in the October 2014 general elections, the PT has been brought to its knees by a lengthy judicial investigation into graft at state oil company Petrobras. Lula, who was pondering standing for reelection in 2018, now faces an uncertain future. In July, a nationwide survey showed that Lula would win the presidential elections of 2018 if he stood in the contest, as he had suggested he might. This was yet another illustration of the popularity of the man who led the country between 2002 and 2010, lifting 30 million Brazilians out of poverty during that time. If Lulas enemies topple him, they will effectively put the PT out of the running in the 2018 elections It was also a clear warning that should Lula decide to stand, anybody considering running against him would have their work cut out. Fortunately for Lulas rivals, for most of the last year, the former union leaders name has rarely been out of the news in connection with the ongoing revelations emerging from the Petrobras investigation. On Tuesday, federal judge Sergio Moro, a crusading magistrate who has investigated the hundreds of cases involving bribery, corruption, money laundering, fraud, embezzlement and just about every other financial crime uncovered at Petrobras, announced that he would put Lula in the dock to face charges that he had accepted a $1.1-million bribe from a company involved in the corruption scam along with a luxury apartment. Lula was already facing charges before all this: in July, Moro announced he would be taking up a case centered on an accusation that Lula had tried to bribe a former Petrobras official to keep quiet over the siphoning-off of funds from the state oil company. A political conspiracy So far, these are the only accusations Lula will stand trial for. There have been many others, so many in fact that some political commentators believe that Lula is the target of a political conspiracy to end his career by ruining his reputation and tying him up in legal cases that will prevent him from running for office. In March, Lula was taken to a police station by two uniformed officers to answer questions about his role in the Petrobras case. The cameras were there to capture the moment, and the next day, his photograph, in which he was flanked by the policemen, was on every front page. A few days later, prosecutors called for Lula to be held in preventive custody, charging that he headed a ring that had used violence to intimidate officials at Petrobras. The request was denied. A couple of weeks later, a telephone conversation with Rousseff was leaked to the media in which the pair discussed appointing Lula to a ministerial post, which would protect him from prosecution. In May, when Brazils Congress voted to impeach Rousseff, Lula disappeared from the headlines. After Rousseff was impeached and left office in late August, Lula is back in the news, reinforcing the former presidents arguments that he is the target of a smear campaign led by powerful, behind-the-scenes forces in cahoots with the media. The PT has been brought to its knees by a lengthy judicial investigation into graft at state oil company Petrobras Last week, federal prosecutors appeared on television to accuse Lula of orchestrating every single case of corruption at Petrobras. The only evidence they presented was the luxury apartment Lula had been accused of accepting. When judge Moro accepted the case, he warned that the evidence against Lula was open to question but that in this preliminary stage no conclusions are required. If the aim of Lulas enemies is to topple him, in doing so they will effectively put the PT out of the running in the 2018 elections: there is nobody in the party whose popularity comes close to Lulas. Fernando Haddad, the mayor of Sao Paulo, Brazils biggest city, would be the most likely candidate to step in. But the polls suggest that he will lose his job after the municipal elections in early October: he is predicted to win less than 9% of the vote. Should Lula be brought down and is unable to stand for election in two years time, then the PT, once Latin Americas most powerful left-wing force, will be sidelined, perhaps for many years. Rousseffs approval rating was 80% in 2010; by August this year, when she was about to be impeached, it had fallen to 8%. Now all that stands in the way of the PTs demise is a 71-year-old man. English version by Nick Lyne. Living in a mobile home is a dream for many, and there are many ways of living that dream. Filmmaker Felix Starck and musician Selima Taibi are a young German couple hailing from Berlin, and they recently transformed a yellow school bus into a cozy and quite comfortable home for themselves and their dog Rudi. They plan to live in it full time, while traveling from Alaska to South America. They used a 39-foot long 1996 Thomas International school bus for the purpose, which they purchased online for $9,500. Once they had it, they moved to the US and began the conversion process, dubbing the entire project Expedition Happiness. It took them 12 weeks to create a home out of the bus. Since they had next to no prior construction experience, they got help from online forums and communities, as well as another couple from North Carolina who had also successfully converted a school bus into a home. Apart from repurposing a school bus, they also used a number of other salvaged and repurposed materials, such as pallet wood. The interior is nicely spaced out, with a sizable sitting area and dining/work table at the front of the bus, behind the driveras seat. The kitchen is also quite large, and features an angled counter, stove, sink and a refrigerator. The cupboards offer plenty of storage space. They split the bathroom into two halves along the middle of the bus, which is quite an interesting solution. The toilet is located in one half, and the shower in the other. They tiled the latter with handmade tiles. They built the bed themselves, and put large storage drawers underneath it. They also placed it right under the emergency escape hatch in the roof of the bus, which makes for a great skylight. The bus can be hooked up to the grid, but it also features a solar power array on the roof. The couple has already started their journey and vlog about the experience regularly. The Microsoft research labs, dedicated to creating solutions to problems of the computer industry, will use algorithms and computers to find a cure for cancer - the deadly challenge for humans today. According to Mircosoft, the company is conducting research in Microsoft Labs, Cambridge, UK to try and merge biology with computer science, in hopes of finding a solution for the disease. According to corporate Vice-President in charge of the labs Jeannete Wing, "The collaboration between biologists and computer scientists is actually key to making this work." However, the tech giant found two approaches to the problem: first is taking biological processes as information processing systems where tools are developed and used to model computational processes, and second approach is using data to formulate analysis tools that may comprehend the complexity of cancer and its treatments. With this, 150 scientists and software developers are working together for the said research initiative, Daily Mail reported. It is said that the research teams are focused on treating cancer using "precision medicine" or understanding the role of genetics in personalized treatments. Through creating technology, they aim to come up with a close to an exact program that will mimic and understand biological processes. According to the senior director of genomics group at Microsoft, David Heckerman, they are making an effort in organizing information and turning them into knowledge, citing that this is the best way that computer science can help the biological sciences. He added, "There's a huge leap here between information and data, and knowledge and understanding." Senior researcher in Microsoft Lab in Cambridge Jasmin Fisher, on the other hand, leads a team which uses a computational approach in understanding cancer from the basic principle of how a cell becomes cancerous and how to fix it. Fisher's team is using the Bio Model Analyzer (BMA), which creates a computerized version of the biological processes inside the body. It is a powerful computational model which also shows the best possible treatments or approach to the different stages of cancer. The team made sure that the system is made in such a way that it is "biologist-friendly." Meanwhile, another research from the Microsoft Labs uses an approach to program biology the way computers are programmed. According to Head of the Bio Computation Group, Andrew Phillips, there is a lot of promise on the possible impact of the technology they are making. He added, "All aspects of our daily lives will be affected." On other news, another brainchild of Microsoft Labs, called Project Hanover, uses machine learning to collate all research related to cancer and store it in a cloud, which will be accessible to cancer experts. It sorts through all information available and makes sense of relevant data to help experts come up with the best treatment plans. The project already developed a tool called "Literome," which uses cloud computing-based system and goes through millions of genomic researchers to find the most applicable to an individual diagnosis of a patient. Microsoft is indeed revolutionizing the way to understand cancer treatment through computer science. On its early stages, the research initiatives are promising solutions to better understand cancer and its treatment methods. Microsoft is expected to come up with tangible technology to solve this life-threatening disease within ten years. A British computer scientist found a way to unlock an iPhone 5c, spending just less than 80 on a cheap tool that managed to trick the handset in a matter of two days. The technique called "NAND mirroring" takes about 40 hours and tricks that Apple handsets into forgetting how many incorrect passwords were entered. In an interview with The Telegraph, senior researcher associate in the Security Group at the Computer Laboratory of the University of Cambridge, Dr. Sergei Skorobogatov, explained that the technique bypasses the self-lock feature of Apple when incorrect passwords are entered six times. Skorobogatov managed to rewire iPhone 5c's hardware using a cheap equipment available in electronic shops, or Amazon and eBay. He cloned the NAND chip storage system of Apple devices and modified an iPhone 5c unit so that the clones may be unplugged and reconnected. The cloned chips are then used to set the failed pin attempt to zero, allowing unlimited chances of entering passwords and combinations. This means all 10,000 potential four-digit combinations may be tested within 40 hours. Skorobogatov claims that the technique takes a lot of work, but the method may be used to crack phones with six-digit codes. Cracking newer models such as iPhone 6s, iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, however, would require a more sophisticated hardware. Earlier this year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation asked assistance from Apple to help break into the phone of Syed Rizwan, gunman who killed 14 people in a Claifornia shooting. However, the tech giant company refused to help, citing that it violates their customer's privacy. Yahoo reported that FBI Director James Comey dismissed the possibility of tricking the iPhone device using the NAND tool. After months in court, they dropped the case with Apple and hired a private company to crack the device. The institution ended up paying 1 million to unlock the handset. Security researchers and experts claim that Skorobogatov's method proves that there are many ways to assist law enforcement in decrypting devices, and that authorities should have a better understanding of these options. Jan Jarab, pictured in Ayotzinapa. ALFREDO ESTRELLA (AFP) Jan Jarab, the representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico, was unequivocal on Wednesday in Ayotzinapa. Speaking on the second anniversary of the disappearance of 43 student teachers from the town, he stated that the case remains unsolved. And it cant go unpunished, he added. The United Nations visit to the town has been seen as a clear sign of support for the families of the victims and their tireless fight for truth and justice. I want to make clear my admiration for your determination and for what you have achieved, Jarab said. [Even today] the whereabouts of the 43 remain unknown and we do not have any guarantees that all those who bear criminal responsibility in this case will be punished, I want to make clear my admiration for your determination and for what you have achieved Jan Jarab His statement has done even more damage to the official account of events. Although it has reached out to the victims families over the last few months, the Mexican government considers the case closed. According to the official story, on the night of September 26 and early morning of September 27, 2014, municipal police in Iguala delivered the students to the Guerreros Unidos cartel, who thought they were from a rival gang. Guerreros hitmen are said to have killed them and burned the bodies at a garbage dump site in Cocula, a nearby town. That theory, from the Mexican General Attorneys Office, was presented as historical truth, but it drew a number of detractors from the beginning. It provides no motive (Why would the cartel kill 43 students?), and suspicions about the location where the remains were found has hurt the credibility of the experts who worked on the case so much that Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam and lead investigator Tomas Zeron resigned. Suspicions about the location of the remains has hurt the credibility of the experts Though the federal government offered critics the heads of Karam and Zeron, it failed to build bridges and connect with the victims families. Relatives say they will continue to believe the students are alive until their deaths are proven. Jarab, mindful of this conflict, tried to ease tensions by praising the government for following up with relatives and police. My personal opinion is that in the last few weeks we have seen some indication that they are investigating other leads, Jarab said. The victims families gave the UN representative a necklace of carnations during the visit. They welcomed him and bid him farewell by chanting: They took them alive, we want them back alive. English version by Dyane Jean Francois. Serzh Sargsyan: Armenia's greatest achievement is the generation of independence President Serzh Sargsyan and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan attended today a festive concert named Generation of Independence. The concert was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Armenias independence and took place at the Karen Demirjian Sport and Concert Complex. *** Presidential Address on the occasion of Independence Day Distinguished President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan, Your Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Your Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Dear Colleagues, Dear Compatriots, I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of Independence Day. We are celebrating the 25th anniversary of our independence with our heads held high. We have gone down a difficult but decent path. What did we have at the beginning of that road? We had a country, one third of which was literally leveled to the ground by a devastating earthquake. People had no place to live, to say nothing of jobs. In that situation, we received hundreds of thousands of refugees from the neighboring country. Moreover, we were standing at the verge of a full-scale war. We started under energy crisis and blockade. Probably neither of the former Soviet Republics had such unfavorable starting position. But we did not falter in our choice, remained true to our resolve to build an independent and democratic state. Our people overcame all hardships with the peculiar tenacity, wisdom, diligence, and courage. Our people revealed the ability to defend Armenia and Artsakh, to develop economy and social life. I said it before, I reiterate it once again: for me, the greatest achievement of the new twenty-five years old Armenia is the generation born in independence. In past twenty-five years, a new generation grew up in Armenia for which to be a citizen of Armenia is not just a destiny but also an honor: a new generation, which is open to the world and is educated better that the previous generations; a new generation which is politically literate and believes in the noblest and most humane values; a generation whose mentality is based on the principles of freedom and democracy. This is a new generation which does not and will not tolerate any kind of tyranny or dictatorship, will not tolerate any step aimed at the restriction of their rights and freedoms. And finally, this is a generation which is ready to fight and defend the Fatherland, and fight like lions. We may build one structure more or one structure less, but we have to build a competitive and successful society. Our greatest wealth are our children who will tomorrow become that society. Moreover, even today they already represent that society and bring honor to our country. We take pride in those children who every year win numerous medals at international Olympiads. The independence generation in our country has high standards and high demands. They also have discontent, and that discontent is an important and necessary element of progress. Could you imagine what it would be like if they were content and happy with the existing reality? They show discontent, they protest, criticize, and demand because they want to live in a better country; they want to live in a freer, more lawful, more prosperous country. They do not let the representatives of the senior generation lose vigilance and thereby, they are speeding up the reforms. Why this is the most important thing for me? State is a tool which is called to serve people and not vice versa. The independence generation wants to improve that tool. And that generation is on the right path. We are walking down a very complicated but the most promising path of building democratic stability. It is indeed very difficult to cover in a couple of decades a distance which others covered in hundreds of years. But it is possible because the course is charted. Dear Compatriots, Last twenty-five years of Armenias independence have proved once again that nobody is going to solve our problems for us. We are able and will be solving them in the order of priority. We have wonderful friends, partners and allies all over the world. We thank them for cooperation, but let us not forget that responsibility still rests with us, only and only with us. The independence generation is gradually coming to assume that historic responsibility. Before speaking of the mote in ones eye, they speak of a beam in our own. This is the right path because solutions to all problems are within us. The more mature we as a society, the faster we will solve our problems. Dear Compatriots, We are following the path of honest work, honest earning, and the truth telling path. Our society is our wealth. Whatever good there is in our country, its been done by them the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, regardless of who was leading the country. Today our country has entered a new, accelerated phase of reforms. These are not just personnel changes as some would like to think. These are structural changes which will bring about a qualitatively new state. This is not just wishful thinking; this is a succession of the preset, defined steps. We know where we are going and how to get there. If an entire nation wants to renovate its house, it will do it. Nothing will make us deviate from that route, while the amended Constitution will become a bright beacon illuminating that route. The Armenia-Artsakh-Spyurk trinity is our strength. Whatever we have done in a quarter of a century, we have done together. Tomorrow we will do even more. In the process we have not only used the existing potential but have also accumulated new experiences and new potential. We have formed new platforms and tools which open new horizons before us. I once again congratulate us all on the occasion of Independence Day. The realization of our national aspirations is in our own hands. It will take time and work to do. I wish us all peaceful skies and new achievements for the glory of our country and our nation. National Hero of the Republic of Armenia Movses Gorgissian used to say, Long live the Armenia which will come tomorrow. He was speaking of an independent and free Armenia. Today we are saying, Long live the Armenia which has come, but immediately follow by saying Long live the Armenia which will come tomorrow, and we mean a more prosperous and secure Armenia. Long live the Armenian nation! Long live the Republic of Armenia! 09/22/2016 Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded JSU a $52,500 grant to study the feasibility of expanding the universitys Little River Canyon Center in Fort Payne in hopes of increasing tourism and educational opportunities in northeast Alabama. The Canyon Center and the educational programs it offers enhances the splendor of Little River Canyon, Bentley said. I am pleased to have a role in this project that will help reveal the areas potential as an outdoor education and recreation location. JSU opened the 23,000-square-foot Canyon Center in 2008 to serve as an outdoor education and meeting facility overlooking the 23-mile-long river gorge atop Lookout Mountain. Managed by the universitys Environmental Policy and Information Center, it serves as a visitors center for the region fully equipped with an exhibit area, gift shop, stage and amphitheater. It also houses offices for the National Park Service. Proposed additions to the Canyon Center include opening a farm-to-table restaurant, tree climbing stations, a boutique hotel, luxury tree houses, a low-cost hostel or bunk house, and even an aerial recreation system. "In partnership with the National Park Service and others, we've been thinking about this for a long time and now look forward to making some really cool things happen, said Pete Conroy, director of the JSU Environmental Policy and Information Center. "These funds will enable us to study some exciting development possibilities that protect the environment and character of the region while driving economic development to places like Ft. Payne, Mentone and Centre. The feasibility study is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Tourism and recreation are important sectors of Alabamas economy, ADECA Director Jim Byard Jr. said. I commend JSU for recognizing Little River Canyon as something special and being willing to invest in the area with so many educational and recreational opportunities. It is estimated that more than 250,000 people visit the canyon annually, providing an economic impact of $16 million to the area. Other nearby attractions include DeSoto State Park, Weiss Lake and Cherokee Rock Village. "The JSU School of Business and Industry is very proud of its connection with the Canyon Center, said Dean Bill Fielding. Through this study and analysis, the proposed development will add sustainable economic impact to the entire region while protecting the natural beauty of Little River Canyon." Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | The US Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control, the real power center for the American government, has issued licenses to Airbus and Boeing allowing them to sell commercial airliners to Iran. President Obama ordered the licenses, defying the Republican-controlled Congress, which doesnt want any easing of the US economic boycott on Iran. Vice President Joe Biden called the signing of Obamacare a big effing deal but did not use the euphemism. These purchases are also a huge deal First, it is highly unethical to make it difficult for Iran to buy civilian aircraft. Irans fleet is positively ancient and only 162 of its 250 planes are able to fly, with the rest grounded for lack of spare parts. The US embargo on this sector is endangering civilian noncombatants every day and it is therefore a war crime. Americans opposing these transactions should be ashamed of themselves. Women and children fly on those planes, and only a pervert and a coward wants to kill innocent children. Second, it is crazy to give away the Iranian market (nearly 80 million people and an oil state which is very rich) to e.g. European manufacturers. American workers need good-paying jobs, and selling airplanes to Iran will generate them. Third, Boeing just became a major lobbyist for the JCPOA, the deal with Iran signed by President Obama. That deal had not had a great many supporters inside the US, after decades during which Iran and the US have demonized one another. The JCPOA is much more likely to survive and be deepened if at least some big corporations come to support it (it makes them money). BBC Monitoring translated Mehr news agency, Tehran, in Persian 1601 gmt 20 Sep 16; as saying that Irans Naft Airlines actually already has received its first Boeing 737 plane. Following the nuclear agreement, we signed a contract with Boeing to buy four 737 jets. One of those purchased aircraft was delivered to Naft Airlines two days ago, Nourollah Rezai Niaraki, the CEO of Naft Airlines, told the semi-official Mehr news agency . . . Following last years landmark nuclear agreement and the subsequent lifting of sanctions on its economy, Iran bought 118 Airbus and 80 Boeing jets to modernise its ageing fleet. Iran actually will only buy 112 Airbus planes because originally it was also purchasing six big heavy airliners that werent suited to the Iranian market. Some observers wondered if the 6 cancellations were the result of American pressure, but Iranian officials denied that that is the reason. BBC Monitoring translates, Asghar Fakhrieh Kashani, a deputy roads and urban development minister, told the semi-official Young Journalists Club (YJC) the decision had been made due to the large size of the six airliners. We did not pull out because of the Americans sabotaging [the deal]. The real reason was that airliners did not technically comply with our demands. These six jets are very heavy and used for long-distance journeys. (Iranian Young Journalists Club website, Tehran, in Persian 0750 gmt 20 Sep 16.) The Iran deal has been a disappointment to the Iranian public because it hasnt actually produced many new economic benefits for Tehran. These aircraft purchases are likely the beginning of a whole new set of relationships. The thicker the trade networks between countries the less they can afford to go to war with one another. So thats why this is a big effing deal. Related video: Press TV: Airbus receives first US license to sell planes to Iran Reddit Email 0 Shares By IMEMC | University of California, Berkeley, has reinstated a course on Palestine that was cancelled under pressure from pro-Israel groups, according to a press release. Palestine Legal said, according to WAFA, that the university reinstated the student-led course titled Palestine: A Settler-Colonial Analysis, following an outcry from students and faculty describing the action as a violation of academic freedom, shocking, and unjustifiable. Palestine Legal also sent a letter to the university chancellor, Nicholas Dirks, on behalf of Paul Hadweh, the student giving the course, warning that the suspension infringed on First Amendment rights and principles of academic freedom. Following the outcry, executive dean of the College of Letters and Science, Carla Hesse, announced in a statement that the course is reinstated. I hope we can now focus on the challenging intellectual and political questions that this course seeks to address, said Hadweh, a senior student and course facilitator whose family is originally from Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. I await an apology from Chancellor Dirks, and Dean Hesse, explained Hadweh. The university threw me under the bus, and publicly blamed me, without ever even contacting me. It seems that because Im Palestinian studying Palestine, Im guilty until proven innocent. To defend the course, we had to mobilize an international outcry of scholars and students to stand up for academic freedom. This never should have happened. Liz Jackson, staff attorney with Palestine Legal who represents Paul Hadweh, added, This is a victory for Paul who spent eight months going through all the recommended and mandated procedures to facilitate a course. Its also a victory for the 26 students who enrolled and had their academic studies severely disrupted, and for students and scholars across the U.S. who are facing a coordinated attack on the right to speak and study freely about Palestine-Israel. Echoing the concerns of Israel advocacy groups, Chancellor Nicholas Dirks had justified the suspension with concern that Hadwehs course espoused a single political viewpoint and appeared to offer a forum for political organizing. Jackson explained, The universitys response should have been that academic freedom protects the rights of faculty and students to tackle difficult and even controversial questions. The extra scrutiny on scholarship relating to Palestine is obvious here. The university does not censor Israeli studies classes because they have a political agenda or ignore history, although that case can also be made. Via IMEMC Reddit Email 0 Shares Kevin Watkins | ( Project Syndicate ) | On the twentieth anniversary of the Machel report, the international community must draw a line and stop the war against children. That war takes many forms. In some cases, children are front-line targets. Rape, forced marriage, enslavement, and abduction have become standard tactics for groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Boko Haram in northern Nigeria, and their counterparts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Somalia. Killing kids for attending school is viewed as a legitimate military strategy. In other cases, children are under attack from both state and non-state actors. In South Sudan, since the eruption of conflict in 2013, government and rebel forces have killed, raped, and recruited children into armed groups. So brutal, systematic, and widespread are the attacks that it seems highly likely that they are carried out with the highest level of political authorization. And, indeed, according to a UN Human Rights Council report published earlier this year, South Sudanese government forces have been heavily implicated in such activities, which may explain why no one has been held accountable for the May 2015 murder of 130 children in Unity State. Children are also collateral damage, which stems from the relentless erosion of the laws and norms designed to protect civilians in conflict zones. In Syria, children living in Aleppo, Homs, and other cities have been barrel-bombed and gassed by government forces acting in open defiance of international law. The sanctity of schools and health centers is a dead letter: more than 25% of all schools in Syria have been destroyed or forced to close. Political leaders in Saudi Arabia clearly regard the Geneva Convention, the legal pillar of protection for civilians, as irrelevant. Last August, a Saudi Arabian airstrike on a suburb of Saada, Yemen, hit a school and killed ten children. This was but one episode in a larger trend of attacks on schools, health centers, and markets. Over the last year, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has struck four health facilities supported by the non-governmental organization Doctors Without Borders. The current violence against children is a far cry from what Machel envisaged two decades ago. Following her recommendations, in 1997 the General Assembly established a Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, to identify and report to the Secretary-General and Security Council on parties in conflicts that are responsible for persistent and egregious violations. The special representative monitors six types of violations of childrens rights: killing and maiming, sexual violence, military recruitment, attacks on schools and health centers, abduction, and denial of humanitarian access. Each is barred by international law, including the 1949 Geneva Convention, which requires parties in a conflict to protect civilians and maintain unimpeded humanitarian access, and the Convention of the Rights of the Child, the worlds most widely ratified human-rights treaty, which provides a comprehensive list of childrens rights. Violence against children persists not because of a deficit of rights, but because of what Eva Svoboda of the Overseas Development Institute describes as a crisis of compliance. The international community is failing to uphold the laws, norms, and rules that define civilized standards. To put it bluntly, killing, maiming, and terrorizing children has become a cost-free enterprise. The crisis of compliance starts at the top of the UN system and trickles down, through the Security Council, to the General Assembly and member governments. Consider the Saudi campaign in Yemen. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia was put on the UN secretary-generals list of shame for bombing Yemeni civilian targets and killing children. By June, however, it had been removed from the list following intensive lobbying by the Saudi government and its arms-supplying American and European allies. Regardless of these allies intent, the signal they sent is clear: protecting lucrative arms deals takes precedence over protecting childrens rights. The endless cycle of reporting on violations of child rights is in danger of becoming a pantomime. While the special representatives office has done an excellent job exposing attacks on children and in some cases negotiating the release of child soldiers the punishments do not fit the crimes. As world leaders gather in New York this month for the 71st Session of the General Assembly, it is time to reassert the values underpinning UN human-rights provisions. The only way to end impunity for heinous crimes against children is by enforcing genuine accountability and by bringing the perpetrators to justice. At a minimum, institutions such as the International Criminal Court in The Hague and the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights should be collaborating far more closely with the UN special representative. But so vast is the scale of the problem, and so deeply embedded the culture of impunity, that bolder initiatives may be needed. Given the failure of existing institutions, it may be time to establish a new one an International Criminal Court for Children, authorized to investigate and prosecute state and non-state actors for war crimes against kids. We have collectively allowed human-rights laws to become irrelevant paper tigers. But if there is one cause that can rally a divided world, it is surely the protection of children in warzones. Kevin Watkins takes over as CEO of Save the Children UK in October. Project Syndicate Related video added by Juan Cole: Aleppos Children: What Life Is Like for Children in War-Torn Syria | NBC Nightly News STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces Google Ad There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Google Ad Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens VANCOUVER, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Nevada Sunrise Gold Corporation ("Nevada Sunrise" or the "Company") (TSXV: NEV) is pleased to announce the signing of a definitive joint venture agreement dated September 21, 2016 on the Gemini Lithium Project ("Gemini", or the "Project"), a 50-50 joint venture with Eureka Resources Inc. ("Eureka"") (TSXV: EUK). Nevada Sunrise acquired Gemini in the Lida Valley, Esmeralda County, Nevada, by claim staking in November and December 2015 and later optioned a 50% interest to Eureka in January 2016 (see Nevada Sunrise news release dated January 21, 2016). In August 2016, Nevada Sunrise granted Advantage Lithium Corp. (TSXV: AAL) (formerly North South Petroleum Corp., now "Advantage") an option for Advantage to earn a 50% interest in Gemini as part of a transaction involving five Nevada lithium exploration properties. Upon exercise of the option earn-in by Advantage, Nevada Sunrise would relinquish its 50% interest in Gemini, and retain a 2% gross overriding royalty (for further information on the Advantage transaction, see Nevada Sunrise news release dated June 20, 2016). About Gemini Nevada Sunrise owns a 50% participating interest in Gemini, located in the western Lida Valley, Esmeralda County, in south central Nevada, approximately 40 kilometres (26 miles) from North America's only producing lithium mine at Silver Peak. Gemini currently consists of 247 placer claims totaling 4,940 acres (2,000 hectares). Gemini is situated in a flat, desert basin hosting two interpreted sub-basins and with a similar geological setting to the Clayton Valley. Recent geophysical work at Gemini has outlined conductive zones interpreted as brine horizons, which the Company plans to test by drilling. The exploration program for Gemini is estimated to cost approximately US$400,000. Nevada Sunrise is pleased that all of the pre-requisites to commence a drilling program at Gemini have been completed, including receipt of the drilling permit from the Bureau of Land Management, the placement of a reclamation bond, and surficial cultural studies. For further information on Gemini including a map showing its location, see the Company's website under "Projects-Nevada Lithium" at: http://www.nevadasunrise.ca/projects/nevadalithium/ John R. Kerr, P. Eng., is the Company's designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. About Nevada Sunrise Nevada Sunrise is a junior mineral exploration company with a strong technical team based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, that holds interests in nine mineral exploration projects in the State of Nevada, USA. Nevada Sunrise began acquisitions of Nevada lithium properties in September 2015, which include options to earn 100% interests in the Neptune and Clayton Northeast projects, and a 100% interest in the Aquarius project, all located in the Clayton Valley area. The Company also holds options to earn 100% interests in the Jackson Wash and Atlantis projects, and has a 50% participating interest in the Gemini project, each located in playas proximal to the Clayton Valley. The Company has optioned five of Nevada lithium projects to Advantage Lithium Corp., and a sixth, the Atlantis project, is currently under option to American Lithium Corp. (TSXV: LI). The Company's three key gold assets include a 21% interest in a joint venture with Pilot Gold Inc. (TSX: PLG) at Kinsley Mountain near Wendover, a 100% interest in the Golden Arrow project near Tonopah, and the right to earn a 100% interest in the Roulette gold property at the southeastern extremity of the Carlin trend near Ely, with each of the properties subject to certain production royalties. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Nevada Sunrise Gold Corporation ("Nevada Sunrise") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements that address future mineral production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, the future price of lithium, potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, potential size of a mineralized zone, potential expansion of mineralization, the timing and results of future resource estimates, or other study, proposed exploration and development of its exploration properties and the estimation of mineral resources. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Nevada Sunrise to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the interpretation and actual results of historical exploration at the Gemini property, reliance on technical information provided by third parties on any of our exploration properties, including access to historical information on the Gemini property, current exploration and development activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2016, which is available under Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Nevada Sunrise has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Nevada Sunrise disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and accordingly are subject to change after such date. Except as otherwise indicated by Nevada Sunrise, these statements do not reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring or other special items or of any dispositions, monetizations, mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or other transactions that may be announced or that may occur after the date hereof. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Nevada Sunrise does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are included in this document, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release. The Securities of Nevada Sunrise Gold Corporation have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to the account or benefit of any U.S. person. SOURCE Nevada Sunrise Gold Corporation TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - September 21, 2016) - Gran Colombia Gold Corp. (the "Company") (TSX: GCM) (OTC PINK: TPRFF) announced today that it is monitoring the civil situation in Segovia and Remedios in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia, in which the Company's Segovia Operations are located. A local mining collective, comprised in its majority by illegal miners, has convened a civil strike in Segovia and Remedios to exert pressure in negotiations it is having with the government of the Department of Antioquia, the National Mining Agency, Procuraduria, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, and the Company. This mining collective has been in discussion with the various levels of government and the Company since February of this year related to the Colombian government's national program to formalize illegal mining in the country. At issue is Decree 1421 from the Ministry of Mining and Energy, which became effective on September 1, 2016, that requires small processing plants to obtain a registration with the Colombian government and an environmental license and to only process and sell gold with a proper certificate of origin. While the Company's employees are not directly involved in this dispute, the civil strike has now impeded their ability to safely report to work. The Company is taking appropriate measures and has implemented the necessary security procedures. There are also increased numbers of governmental authorities present to aid in controlling the situation. The Company will continue to monitor and provide updates on this situation and whether there is any significant impact on its mining operations. The Company is continuing to process stockpiles at the Segovia operations but the supply is limited and not expected to sustain operations into next week. On August 11, 2016, the Company announced it had increased its production guidance for 2016 to a total of 135,000 to 145,000 ounces of gold for the year and continues to expect total production to be in this range unless the local civil strike is prolonged. About Gran Colombia Gold Corp. Gran Colombia is a Canadian-based gold and silver exploration, development and production company with its primary focus in Colombia. Gran Colombia is currently the largest underground gold and silver producer in Colombia with several underground mines in operation at its Segovia and Marmato Operations. Gran Colombia is currently advancing a project to develop a modern, large-scale, gold and silver mine at its Segovia operations. Additional information on Gran Colombia can be found on its website at www.grancolombiagold.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information", which may include, but is not limited to, potential strategies for the Company's future. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gran Colombia to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of March 30, 2016, which is available for view on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and Gran Colombia disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. VANCOUVER, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Eureka Resources Inc. ("Eureka" or the "Company") (TSXV: EUK) is pleased to announce the finalization of the Definitive Agreement on the Gemini Lithium Project (the "Agreement") for its 50% Joint Venture ("Gemini", or the "Project") with Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp. (TSXV: NEV, "Nevada Sunrise"). Michael Sweatman, CEO of Eureka, stated, "The finalization of the Agreement sets the stage for exploration of our Gemini lithium project in Nevada. The Gemini Project is an exciting opportunity to continue in our commitment to add value for our shareholders by taking on relatively low cost projects which we believe have potential." The exploration program for the Gemini Project is estimated to cost approximately US$400,000. Eureka is required to contribute 50% of these costs (US$200,000) to maintain its 50% interest. The Company is also pleased to announce that all of the pre-requisites to commence a drilling program at Gemini have been completed, including receipt of the drilling permit from the BLM, the placement of a reclamation bond, and surficial cultural studies. Gemini Lithium Project Eureka owns a 50% participating interest in the Gemini lithium brine project, located in the western Lida Valley, located in Esmeralda County in south central Nevada, approximately 40 kilometres (26 miles) from North America's only producing lithium mine at Silver Peak. Gemini currently consists of 247 placer claims totaling 4,940 acres (2,000 hectares). The Gemini project is located in a flat, desert basin hosting two interpreted sub-basins and with a similar geological setting to the Clayton Valley. Recent geophysical work at Gemini has outlined conductive zones interpreted as brine horizons, which the Company plans to test by drilling. In August 2016, Nevada Sunrise granted Advantage Lithium Corp. (TSXV: AAL, "Advantage") an option for Advantage to earn a 50% interest in Gemini as part of a transaction involving 5 lithium properties, including Gemini. Upon exercise of the option earn-in by Advantage, Nevada Sunrise would relinquish its 50% interest in Gemini, and retain a 2% gross overriding royalty in the Project. FG Project Eureka has held the FG Property (formerly called Frasergold) since 1982. To date, over $15.0 million of exploratory work has been completed by the Company, ASARCO, AMOCO and Hawthorne Gold Corp. The historical exploration has established a Measured and Indicated (376,000 ounces) gold resource at an average grade of 0.776 g/t gold, using a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t, and an Inferred gold resource (634,900 ounces) at an average grade of 0.718 g/t gold, using a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t. Mineralization has been outlined over a strike length of 3 kilometres, and has the potential for additional mineralization that could extend along an interpreted strike length of over 10 kilometres. Details of the gold resource can be found in "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Frasergold Exploration Project, Cariboo Mining Division, dated July 27, 2015" available on SEDAR or at the Company's website. The Company recently granted an option to Canarc Resource Corp (TSX CCM). ("Canarc") which provides Canarc the ability to earn a 75% interest in the project. John R. Kerr, P.Eng., is the Company's designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information described in this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's proposed financings, objectives, goals and future exploration plans at the Gemini Project, the costs related to the Company's proposed exploration programs, the Company's intention to close additional tranches under the Offering and the business and operations of the Company. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: failure to close additional tranches under the Offering, general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; those additional risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; and other matters discussed in this news release. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. SOURCE Eureka Resources, Inc. TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 22, 2016) - ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL INC. ("Aberdeen", or the "Company") (TSX:AAB) is pleased to announce that it has released its financial results for the second quarter ended July 31, 2016. Highlights: Net income for the six months ended July 31, 2016 was $12.4 million or $0.13 per basic share; Aberdeen's largest public shareholding by value, Lithium X Energy Corp., continues to trade well and closed at $2.27 per share on the TSX Venture on September 21, 2016; Completion of the NCIB by repurchasing and cancelling 6.6 million Aberdeen shares. As at July 31, 2016, Aberdeen's shareholders' equity and net asset value ("NAV") was $37.1 million, or $0.42 per share. Given the nature of Aberdeen's operations, there is currently no difference between "shareholder equity" and "net asset value" for Aberdeen. On a year-over-year basis, Aberdeen's shareholders' equity increased by $9.5 million. July 31, 2016 January 31, 2016 July 31, 2015 Shares outstanding 88,912,282 95,546,628 96,658,252 $ $/Shares $ $/Shares $ $/Shares Cash on hand 319,206 0.004 604,613 0.006 412,186 0.004 Investments Publicly traded 19,016,290 0.214 2,754,448 0.029 8,950,692 0.093 Private 17,652,452 0.199 19,322,417 0.202 15,313,996 0.158 Non-trading warrants Intrinsic value - - - 0.000 137,000 0.001 Option value 234,190 0.003 423,920 0.004 462,160 0.005 234,190 0.003 423,920 0.004 599,160 0.006 Portfolio Investments 36,902,932 0.415 22,500,785 0.235 24,863,848 0.257 Loans 2,839,640 0.032 - - - - Total 40,061,778 0.451 23,105,398 0.241 25,276,034 0.261 For the three months ended July 31, 2016, Aberdeen reported a net loss of $0.3 million or $0.00 per basic share on total revenue of $0.7 million. Revenue was comprised of $0.7 million from net investment gains, $0.1 million from interest income and advisory fees. For the three months ending July 31, 2015, Aberdeen reported a net loss of $8.6 million or $0.09 per share on total revenue of $(7.9) million ($(8.1) million from net investment losses and $0.2 million from interest and dividend income and advisory fees). For the six months ended July 31, 2016, Aberdeen reported net earnings of $12.4 million or $0.13 per share on total revenue of $14.3 million. Revenue was comprised of $14.1 million from net investment gains, $0.2 million from interest income and advisory fees. For the six months ending July 31, 2015, Aberdeen reported a net loss of $8.1 million or $0.08 per share on total revenue of $(6.3) million ($(6.8) million from net investment losses and $0.5 million from dividend income and advisory fees). Aberdeen's management is encouraged by the corporation's solid performance during the first half of 2016 and is looking forward to continuing to build on that performance through the balance of the fiscal year. Management expects that its investment in African Thunder Platinum will continue to develop as the company takes steps to complete a going public transaction. Concentrated Positions in a Few Companies Poised for Growth Aberdeen has also acquired additional equity interests in a few companies management believes are positioned for significant and transformative growth in this continuing rally in commodity stocks. Aberdeen has acquired these positions for investment purposes and, given the positive outlook for these companies, Aberdeen may acquire additional securities in the future. On September 20, 2016, Aberdeen acquired 983,000 Pitchblack Resources Ltd. ("Pitchblack") common shares through a non-brokered private placement financing. Before this private placement, Aberdeen also had certain control and direction rights in respect of Ore Acquisition Partners ("OAP"), which also holds 295,800 Pitchblack common shares. Consequently, via its direct shareholdings and its certain control and direction rights in respect of OAP, Aberdeen can be considered to have ownership, control or direction over an aggregate of 1,278,800 Pitchblack common shares, which represents approximately 19.96% of the outstanding common shares. Aberdeen also holds 6,800,000 common shares and 2,400,000 share purchase warrants of Fura Emeralds. Each warrant provides Aberdeen with a right to acquire one Fura common share at a price of $0.17 at any time prior to June 23, 2017. Upon exercise of these warrants, Aberdeen would hold 9,200,000 Fura common shares, which would represent about 24.8% of the outstanding common shares. Aberdeen has covenanted to the TSX Venture Exchange that it will not exercise any warrants if such exercise would result in Aberdeen holding more than 20% of the outstanding Fura common shares. Aberdeen has also acquired a significant shareholding in Kombat Copper Inc. as it holds 9,205,000 common shares and 10,000,000 share purchase warrants. Each Kombat warrant entitles Aberdeen to acquire one common share at a price of $0.10 until February 17, 2017. Upon exercise of these warrants, Aberdeen would hold 19,205,000 Kombat common shares, which would represent approximately 13.2% of the outstanding Kombat common shares. For a copy of any early warning report regarding these investments, please contact Ryan Ptolemy at +1.416.861.5882. Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB") During the six months ended July 31, 2016, the Company purchased and cancelled 6,634,346 shares at an average price of $0.18. The Company has now completed its NCIB for the year. ABOUT ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL Aberdeen International is a global resource investment company and merchant bank focused on small capitalization companies in the mining and metals sector. African Thunder Platinum, Aberdeen's premiere investment, is a lower-cost platinum group metals project in South Africa's well-known Bushveld Complex. Aberdeen has further enhanced its investment holdings with its holding of 50% of Potasio y Litio de Argentina SA, which holds the Sal de los Angeles lithium project in Argentina. For additional information, please visit our website at www.aberdeeninternational.ca and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and check out Aberdeen's YouTube Channel. Cautionary Notes Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding the financial results of Aberdeen; past success as an indicator of future success; net asset value of the Company; the potential of investee companies and the appreciation of their share price; the future intentions of the Company with regard to its investments; the Company's plan of business operations; and anticipated returns. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, financing risks, acquisition risks, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO--(Marketwired - Sept. 22, 2016) - Robert Friedland, Executive Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN), and Lars-Eric Johansson, Chief Executive Officer, today announced assay results from another sixteen holes of the ongoing 2016 drilling campaign at the Kakula Discovery on the company's Tier One Kamoa Copper Project, near the mining centre of Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Kamoa Project is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining. "Kakula is continuing to demonstrate that it is substantially richer, thicker and more consistent than other mineralization that we have found elsewhere on the Kamoa Project," said Mr. Friedland. "Given the consistent and thick intercepts at shallow depths of very-high-grade copper mineralization, Kakula is quickly becoming a key focus in our planning for the development of the Kamoa Project." Highlights of the latest drill results, which further reinforce the exceptional grades and shallow, flat-lying geometry of the Kakula mineralized zone, include: DD1024 intersected 6.14 metres (true width) of 6.52% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off, beginning at a downhole depth of 312.0 metres; 8.21 metres (true width) of 5.58% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 12.99 metres (true width) of 4.34% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 14.42 metres (true width) of 4.10% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. DD1036 intersected 5.48 metres (true width) of 6.90% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 274 metres; 7.38 metres (true width) of 5.77% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 13.05 metres (true width) of 4.31% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 13.99 metres (true width) of 4.13% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. DD1039 intersected 11.91 metres (true width) of 6.23% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 332 metres; 17.87 metres (true width) of 5.08% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 18.56 metres (true width) of 4.98% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 20.55 metres (true width) of 4.65% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. DD1041 intersected 4.04 metres (true width) of 7.39% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 615 metres; 4.80 metres (true width) of 6.63% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 6.70 metres (true width) of 5.42% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 13.36 metres (true width) of 3.37% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. DD1043W1 intersected 4.21 metres (true width) of 9.44% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 346.74 metres; 4.89 metres (true width) of 8.48% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 12.50 metres (true width) of 4.69% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 15.24 metres (true width) of 4.09% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. DD1045 intersected 8.44 metres (true width) of 6.96% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 505.22 metres; 9.31 metres (true width) of 6.59% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 11.44 metres (true width) of 5.81% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 13.94 metres (true width) of 5.03% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. DD1047 intersected 7.90 metres (true width) of 8.85% copper at a 3.0% copper cut-off beginning at a downhole depth of 359 metres; 8.89 metres (true width) of 8.17% copper at a 2.5% copper cut-off; 14.37 metres (true width) of 5.89% copper at a 2.0% copper cut-off; and 21.28 metres (true width) of 4.47% copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off. Kakula copper mineralization continuing to be shown to be consistently bottom-loaded and chalcocite dominant The consistent, bottom-loaded nature of Kakula mineralization supports the creation of selective mineralized zones at cut-offs of between 1.0% and 3.0% copper, and potentially higher. The recent assay results are shown at various cut-offs in Table 1, while the accumulation of copper and thickness of mineralized intercepts at 1.0%, 2.5% and 3.0% cut-offs are shown in figures 5 through 8. The Kakula copper mineralization displays vertical mineral zonation from chalcopyrite (approximately 35% copper) to bornite (approximately 63% copper) to chalcocite (approximately 80% copper), with the highest copper grades associated with the siltstone unit consistently characterized by chalcocite-dominant mineralization (see Figure 4 for strip-logs showing typical Kakula-style mineralization in holes DD1047 and DD1039). Chalcocite (copper sulfide, Cu 2 S) is high-tenor mineral that is opaque and dark-gray to black with a metallic lustre (see figures 1 and 3 for examples of high-grade chalcocite drill core from Kakula). Due to its very high percentage of contained copper by weight (the tenor, the percentage of the mineral that is actual metal to be extracted, is 80% copper by weight) and its capacity to produce an exceptionally clean, high-grade concentrate, chalcocite is considered to be the most valuable copper mineral. Figure 1. Drill core from DD1041 with disseminated chalcocite in diamictite at a depth of 619 metres (chalcocite is approximately 80% copper by weight) The Kakula Discovery remains open along a northwesterly-southeasterly strike, while high-grade copper mineralization has been outlined along a corridor that now is at least 3.5 kilometres in length. The high-grade copper zone is less than 300 metres below surface in the central section, and gently dips to the southeast and northwest. A total of seven rigs are drilling at Kakula. Two rigs are drilling step-out holes to the southeast of Kakula's currently defined high-grade core, looking to extend the high-grade mineralization beyond the current 3.5-kilometre strike length. Two other rigs are drilling step-out holes further to the northwest to test the possible extension of the high-grade core. Two additional rigs are drilling in-fill holes and one is drilling a large-diameter core hole for the second phase of metallurgical test work. The initial metallurgical test results received in July 2016 from a sample of drill core from the Kakula Discovery zone achieved copper recoveries of 86% and produced a copper concentrate with an extremely high grade of 53% copper. The July results also indicated that material from Kamoa's Kakula and Kansoko zones could be processed through the same concentrator plant, which would yield significant operational and economic efficiencies. Earlier metallurgical testwork indicated that the Kamoa concentrates contain arsenic levels of approximately 0.02%, which are extremely low by world standards. Given this critical competitive marketing advantage, Kamoa's concentrates are expected to attract a significant premium from copper-concentrate traders for use in blending with concentrates from other mines. The Kamoa concentrates will help to enable high-arsenic concentrates from mines in Chile and elsewhere to meet the limit of 0.5% arsenic imposed by Chinese smelters to meet China's new environmental restrictions. Independent Mineral Resource estimate for the Kakula Discovery on track for completion in early October Approximately 27,000 metres of drilling has been completed since the current Kakula drilling program began earlier this year. The initial plan was to drill a total of approximately 34,000 metres in 2016. However, given the outstanding success of the program, plans are being developed to expand the 2016 drill program and extend it into 2017. Kamoa Copper intends to prepare an initial independent Mineral Resource estimate for the Kakula Discovery in early October, 2016. Results for nine holes remain outstanding that will be included in the estimate. Amec Foster Wheeler, of Reno, Nevada, has been engaged to oversee the estimate. The main objective of the current drilling program at Kakula is to confirm and expand the thick, flat-lying, bottom-loaded zone of very-high-grade, stratabound copper mineralization at the southern part of the Kakula Discovery area (see Figure 2) that has the potential to be amenable to bulk, mechanized mining and therefore could have a significant, positive impact on the Kamoa Project's future development plans. The 60-square-kilometre Kakula exploration area is approximately 10 kilometres southwest of Kamoa's planned initial mining area at Kansoko Sud. To help advance the ongoing evaluation of Kakula, the Kamoa technical team is proceeding with the engineering and preparation of tender documents for the construction of a box cut at Kakula to accommodate decline ramps that will provide underground access to the deposit. A preferred site for the box-cut development has been chosen and geotechnical work has begun. Figure 2. Kamoa Project map shows the planned initial mining area at Kansoko Sud and the adjacent Kakula exploration area Figure 3. Intercept from DD1055, an in-fill hole in the north-west of the Kakula Discovery, with massive chalcocite at a depth of 347 metres (chalcocite is approximately 80% copper by weight) Figure 4. Strip-logs of drill holes DD1047 and DD1039 showing typical Kakula-style mineralization Figure 5. Kakula Discovery Area. Drill-hole location plan for the Kakula Area shows holes completed and in progress, superimposed on 1% composite grade thickness contours Figure 6. Recent assay results at a 1.0 % copper cut-off Figure 7. Recent assay results at a 2.5% copper cut-off Figure 8. Recent assay results a 3.0% copper cut-off Figure 9. New cross-section A-A' of Kakula Discovery area, showing true thicknesses of drill intercepts at a 2.5% copper cut-off Figure 10. New cross-section A-A' of Kakula Discovery area, showing true thicknesses of drill intercepts at a 3.0% copper cut-off Table 1. Assay composites from newly released Kakula drill holes at various copper cut-offs Table 2. Collars of completed drill holes Kamoa Copper Project description The Kamoa Copper Project, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. and Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd., is a very large, stratiform copper deposit with adjacent prospective exploration areas within the Central African Copperbelt, approximately 25 kilometres west of the town of Kolwezi and about 270 kilometres west of Lubumbashi. The Kamoa mining licence covers approximately 400 square kilometres. In 2015, Ivanhoe sold a 49.5% share interest in Kamoa Holding Limited, the company that presently owns 95% of the Kamoa Project on an indirect basis, to Zijin Mining for an aggregate cash consideration of US$412 million. In addition, Ivanhoe sold a 1% share interest in Kamoa Holding to privately-owned Crystal River Global Limited for US$8.32 million, which Crystal River will pay through a non-interest-bearing, 10-year promissory note. Kamoa is the world's largest, undeveloped, high-grade copper deposit. On February 23, 2016, an updated Mineral Resource estimate was issued for the Kamoa Project. Kamoa's Indicated Mineral Resources presently total 752 million tonnes grading 2.67% copper and containing 44.3 billion pounds of copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off grade and minimum thickness of three metres. In addition to the Indicated Resources, the updated estimate included Inferred Mineral Resources of 185 million tonnes grading 2.08% copper and containing 8.5 billion pounds of copper, also at a 1.0% copper cut-off grade and a minimum thickness of three metres. The initial independent Mineral Resource estimate for the Kakula discovery, which is expected to be issued in early October, 2016, will be in addition to the Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources announced on February 23, 2016. Qualified Person and Quality Control and Assurance The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Stephen Torr, P.Geo., Ivanhoe Mines' Vice President, Project Geology and Evaluation, and a Qualified Person under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Torr has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release. Ivanhoe Mines maintains a comprehensive chain of custody and QA-QC program on assays from its Kamoa Project. Half-sawn core is processed at Kamoa's on-site preparation laboratory and prepared samples then are shipped by secure courier to Bureau Veritas Minerals (BVM) Laboratories in Australia, an ISO17025-accredited facility. Copper assays are determined at BVM by mixed-acid digestion with ICP finish. Industry-standard certified reference materials and blanks are inserted into the sample stream prior to dispatch to BVM. For detailed information about assay methods and data verification measures used to support the scientific and technical information, please refer to the current technical report on the Kamoa Copper Project on the SEDAR profile of Ivanhoe Mines at www.sedar.com. About Ivanhoe Mines Ivanhoe Mines is advancing its three principal projects in Sub-Saharan Africa: Mine development at the Platreef platinum-palladium-gold-nickel-copper discovery on the Northern Limb of South Africa's Bushveld Complex; mine development and exploration at the Kamoa Copper Project - which includes the remarkable Kakula high-grade copper discovery - on the Central African Copperbelt in the DRC; and upgrading and exploration at the historic, high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-lead-germanium mine, also on the DRC's Copperbelt. For details, visit www.ivanhoemines.com. Cautionary statement on forward-looking information Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including without limitation, the timing and results of: (1) statements regarding the Kakula Discovery being a key focus in the planning for the development of the Kamoa Project; (2) statements regarding the expectation to have an initial independent Mineral Resource estimate prepared for the Kakula Discovery in early October; (3) statements regarding the primary objective of the current drilling program is to confirm and expand a thick, flat-lying, bottom-loaded zone of very high-grade copper mineralization at the southern part of the Kakula Discovery area that has the potential to have a significant, positive impact on the Kamoa Project's future development plans; (4) statements regarding the plan to drill approximately 34,000 metres at Kakula this year and extend the program into 2017; (5) statements regarding the high-grade Kakula zone remains open along a southeasterly and northwesterly strike; and (6) statements regarding the expectation that Kamoa's concentrates will attract a significant premium from copper-concentrate traders for use in blending with concentrates from other mines Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release. All such forward-looking information and statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Ivanhoe Mines' management in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believe are appropriate in the circumstances. These statements, however, are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information or statements including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure, or delays in the development of infrastructure, and the failure of exploration programs or other studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations. Other important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements also include those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's most recently filed MD&A as well as in the most recent Annual Information Form filed by Ivanhoe Mines. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information and statements, and the risks that could cause the actual results to differ materially are set forth in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in the company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis report and Annual Information Form, available at www.sedar.com. This news release also contains references to estimates of Mineral Resources. The estimation of Mineral Resources is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Mineral Resource estimates may have to be re-estimated based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in platinum, palladium, gold, rhodium, copper, nickel or other mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling; (iii) results of metallurgical testing and other studies; (iv) changes to proposed mining operations, including dilution; (v) the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates; and (vi) the possible failure to receive required permits, approvals and licences. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release. TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 22, 2016) - Denison Mines Corp. ("Denison" or the "Company") (TSX:DML)(NYSE MKT:DNN) is pleased to report the expansion of the high-grade A and B series lenses both down-dip and up-dip on the southwestern portion of the Gryphon deposit, located on the Company's 60% owned Wheeler River project in the infrastructure rich eastern portion of the Athabasca Basin region in northern Saskatchewan. A further four exploration drill holes have been completed at the Gryphon deposit, with each hole returning significant uranium intersections outside of the existing mineralized extent of the current mineral resources estimated for the Gryphon deposit. Two of the exploration drill holes, located on 50 metre spaced sections and drilled approximately 50 metres down-dip from the previously delineated A and B series lenses, returned high-grade mineralization as follows: Drill Hole WR-602D1 1.2% eU 3 O 8 over 11.4 metres (from 692.7 to 704.1 metres), including 3.8% eU 3 O 8 over 1.0 metres (from 693.2 to 694.2 metres), and 4.6% eU 3 O 8 over 1.7 metres (from 699.4 to 701.1 metres) O over 11.4 metres (from 692.7 to 704.1 metres), including Drill Hole WR-674 2.5% eU 3 O 8 over 4.4 metres (from 744.8 to 749.2 metres), including 3.2% eU 3 O 8 over 3.4 metres (from 745.5 to 748.9 metres) O over 4.4 metres (from 744.8 to 749.2 metres), including Two additional exploration drill holes, located on 75 metre spaced sections and drilled approximately 50 metres up-dip from the previously delineated A and B series lenses, returned results as follows: Drill Hole WR-673 1.1% eU 3 O 8 over 1.0 metres (from 627.6 to 628.6 metres), and O over 1.0 metres (from 627.6 to 628.6 metres), and 0.27% eU 3 O 8 over 10.8 metres (from 642.05 to 652.85 metres) Drill Hole WR-675 1.36% eU 3 O 8 over 1.0 metres (from 607.9 to 608.9 metres) The abovementioned results are reported as radiometric equivalent U 3 O 8 ("eU 3 O 8 ") from a calibrated total gamma down-hole probe. Radiometric equivalent U 3 O 8 results are preliminary in nature and all mineralized intervals will be sampled and submitted for chemical U 3 O 8 assay. The holes were drilled at a high angle to mineralization to allow for better evaluation of true thicknesses which are expected to be approximately 75% of the intersection lengths. Dale Verran, VP Exploration of Denison commented, "The mineralized footprint around Gryphon continues to grow with ongoing drilling. As the summer 2016 drilling program wraps-up over the next couple of weeks, we are in the fortunate position of having the Gryphon deposit open in numerous areas with exciting future targets and encouraging potential for resource growth. As drill results come in from the summer program, our exploration team continues to plan for 2017, which is set to be another exciting year with the drill bit at a project that keeps delivering new and meaningful mineralization." The Gryphon deposit is hosted in basement rock and is currently estimated to contain inferred resources of 43.0 million pounds U 3 O 8 (above a cut-off grade of 0.2% U 3 O 8 ) based on 834,000 tonnes of mineralization at an average grade of 2.3% U 3 O 8 . The current resource estimate, with an effective date of September 25th, 2015, includes the A, B and C series lenses defined from drilling campaigns in 2014 and 2015. Exploration drilling at Wheeler River during 2016, which has focused on expanding the mineralization in the vicinity of the Gryphon deposit, has resulted in the discovery and expansion of the Gryphon D series lenses (see Denison's Press Release dated September 7, 2016) and the discovery of additional uranium mineralization down-dip and up-dip of the A and B series lenses reported herein. Table 1 provides highlight mineralized intersections from exploration drill holes WR-602D1, WR-673, WR-674 and WR-675. Table 1: Highlight mineralized intersections from exploration drill holes WR-602D1, WR-673, WR-674 and WR-675 Section Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Length (m)5 eU 3 O 8 (%)1,2 4900 GP WR-602D13 692.7 704.1 11.4 1.2 (including)5 693.2 694.2 1.0 3.8 (including)5 699.4 701.1 1.7 4.6 4925 GP WR-6733 627.2 631.0 3.8 0.36 (including)5 627.6 628.6 1.0 1.1 (and)3 634.2 652.9 18.7 0.18 (including)4 642.05 652.85 10.8 0.27 4950 GP WR-6743 691.8 692.8 1.0 0.13 (and)3 740.9 742.2 1.3 0.65 (and)3 744.8 749.2 4.4 2.5 (including)5 745.5 748.9 3.4 3.2 5000 GP WR-6755 607.9 608.9 1.0 1.36 (and)3 613.4 614.6 1.2 0.14 Notes: 1 eU 3 O 8 is radiometric equivalent U 3 O 8 from a calibrated total gamma down-hole probe. eU 3 O 8 results are preliminary in nature and all mineralized intervals will be sampled and submitted for chemical U 3 O 8 assay. 2 Composites are compiled using 1.0 metre minimum ore thickness and 2.0 metres maximum waste 3 Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 0.05% eU 3 O 8. 4 Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 0.1% eU 3 O 8. 5 Intersection interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 1% eU 3 O 8. 6 As the drill holes are oriented steeply toward the northwest and the basement mineralization is interpreted to dip moderately to the southeast, the true thickness of the mineralization is expected to be approximately 75% of the intersection lengths Illustrative Figures & Further Details A property location and basement geology map is provided in Figure 1. A plan map of the northeast plunging Gryphon deposit mineralized lenses, projected up to the simplified basement geology at the sub-Athabasca unconformity, is provided in Figure 2. The plan map shows the location of the D series lenses interpreted from winter 2016 drilling results, the previously reported summer mineralized intercepts as yellow stars (see Denison's Press Release dated September 7, 2016) and the location of intersections from the A and B series lenses reported herein as light blue stars. Further details regarding the Gryphon deposit and the current mineral resource estimates are provided in the NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Wheeler River project titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Wheeler River Uranium Project, Saskatchewan, Canada" dated April 8, 2016 with an effective date of March 31, 2016. A copy of this report is available on Denison's website and under its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. Qualified Persons The disclosure of a scientific or technical nature contained in this news release was prepared by Dale Verran, MSc, Pr.Sci.Nat., Denison's Vice President, Exploration, who is a Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. For a description of the assay procedures and the quality assurance program and quality control measures applied by Denison, please see Denison's Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2016 filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). About Wheeler River The Wheeler River property is a joint venture between Denison (60% and operator), Cameco Corp. (30%), and JCU (Canada) Exploration Company Limited (10%), and is host to the high-grade Gryphon and Phoenix uranium deposits discovered by Denison in 2014 and 2008, respectively. The Gryphon deposit is hosted in basement rock and is currently estimated to contain inferred resources of 43.0 million pounds U3O8 (above a cut-off grade of 0.2% U3O8) based on 834,000 tonnes of mineralization at an average grade of 2.3% U3O8. The Phoenix unconformity deposit is located approximately 3 kilometres to the southeast of Gryphon and is estimated to include indicated resources of 70.2 million pounds U3O8 (above a cut-off grade of 0.8% U3O8) based on 166,000 tonnes of mineralization at an average grade of 19.1% U3O8, and is the highest grade undeveloped uranium deposit in the world. On April 4th, 2016, Denison announced the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the Wheeler River Project, which considers the potential economic merit of co-developing the high-grade Gryphon and Phoenix deposits as a single underground mining operation. The PEA returned a base case pre-tax Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 20.4% based on the current long term contract price of uranium (US$44.00 per pound U 3 O 8 ), and Denison's share of estimated initial capital expenditures ("CAPEX") of CAD$336M (CAD$560M on 100% ownership basis). Exploration results from the winter and summer 2016 drilling program have not been incorporated into the resource estimate or the PEA. The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. On July 19th, 2016 Denison announced the initiation of a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") for the Wheeler River property and the complimentary commencement of an infill drilling program at the Gryphon deposit to bring the inferred resources to an indicated level of confidence. About Denison Denison is a uranium exploration and development company with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan. Including its 60% owned Wheeler River project, which hosts the high grade Phoenix and Gryphon uranium deposits, Denison's exploration portfolio consists of numerous projects covering over 350,000 hectares in the infrastructure rich eastern Athabasca Basin. Denison's interests in Saskatchewan also include a 22.5% ownership interest in the McClean Lake joint venture, which includes several uranium deposits and the McClean Lake uranium mill, which is currently processing ore from the Cigar Lake mine under a toll milling agreement, plus a 25.17% interest in the Midwest deposit and a 63.01% interest in the J Zone deposit on the Waterbury Lake property. Both the Midwest and J Zone deposits are located within 20 kilometres of the McClean Lake mill. Denison is also engaged in mine decommissioning and environmental services through its Denison Environmental Services division and is the manager of Uranium Participation Corp., a publicly traded company which invests in uranium oxide and uranium hexafluoride. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian legislation concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Denison. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or the negatives and/or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the following: exploration (including drilling) and evaluation activities, plans and objectives; potential mineralization of drill targets; the estimates of Denison's mineral resources and the results of its PEA. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Denison to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Denison believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable but there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and may differ materially from those anticipated in this forward looking information. For a discussion in respect of risks and other factors that could influence forward-looking events, please refer to the "Risk Factors" in Denison's Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2016 available under its profile at www.sedar.com and in its Form 40-F available at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. These factors are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Denison does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information after the date of this press release to conform such information to actual results or to changes in its expectations except as otherwise required by applicable legislation. Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources: This press release may use the terms "measured", "indicated" and "inferred" mineral resources. United States investors are advised that while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves. United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. The Afghanistan government signed a peace agreement on Thursday with insurgent group Hezb-i Islami, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. The US Embassy applauded [press release] the peace accord as an important step towards ending violence and protecting constitutional rights in the country. The peace negotiations focused on Hezb-i Islami renouncing ties to extremist groups and acts of terrorism in exchange for immunity for acts committed during the war and the removal of Hekmatyars name and that of his faction from terrorism blacklists. Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] denounced [press release] the peace agreement as a failure by the Afghan government to pursue accountability for the many victims of actions taken by Hekmatyar in the 1990s. Afghanistans chief executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah expressed his hope [Twitter statement] that the peace agreement with Hezb-i Islami would lead to a future peace with the Taliban. The ongoing conflict in Afghanistan between the government and insurgent groups has created a dangerous environment for Afghan citizens and notably for women and children. In August HRW urged [JURIST report] the government to take immediate steps to curtail the use of schools in military efforts. In July the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that civilian casualties have reached a record high [JURIST report] in the first half of 2016, with more than a third of that number accounting for children. In June three Taliban gunmen attacked [JURIST report] a court building in eastern Afghanistan, killing seven people including a newly appointed chief prosecutor. In August 2015 the UN reported a significant increase [JURIST report] in the number of women and children being hurt or killed in Afghanistans war against the Taliban and other insurgents. A policing unit in Afghanistan set up to investigate alleged war crimes committed by UK soldiers stationed in the war-torn country reportedly received [BBC report] around 600 complaints of ill treatment and abuse occurring between 2005 and 2013. Members of the Royal Military Police [official website] are investigating the allegations, and UK Prime Minister Theresa May has expressed her concern [Daily Express report] that the allegations may be false claims against soldiers. A UK Ministry of Defence [official website] spokesperson said that where there are credible complaints an investigation would be conducted. War crime investigations of UK armed forces in the past had largely focused on actions in Iraq. In July the International Criminal Court announced [JURIST report] the decision not to prosecute Tony Blair for war crimes related to the 2003 Iraq War. In May the UK Supreme Court unanimously rejected claims [JURIST report] made by Iraqi civilians that they were extrajudicially detained and physically abused by British forces. In 2005 a prosecutor argued at the opening of a much-anticipated [JURIST report] British court-martial that seven British paratroopers patrolling in southern Iraq in 2003 killed an Iraqi civilian and abused others after stopping a truck carrying them three weeks after hostilities had officially ended. This was the first trial of British soldiers for the killing of an Iraqi civilian. According to preliminary investigation data Arshak Grigoryan committed suicide In the framework of the criminal case investigated in Shirak Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee active investigatory actions are ongoing to find circumstances, motive of Arshak Grigoryans suicide. According to preliminary investigation data, on September 20, 2016 from 12:30 to 13:00 Arshak Grigoryan, born in 1990, committed a suicide in their basement with a rifle of Makarov model procured illegally. Through inspection of the site, the rifle of Makarov model with charged cartridges, a capsule, as well as a bullet was found. A decision was made to find Arshak Grigoryan as an injured party. Inspection of the body was conducted according to which wounds were found on the right and left temporal regions of the body. The clothes of the victim, as well as of the relative who had found the body were confiscated, necessary samples were taken. A number of examinations were commissioned to find circumstances significant for the criminal case, including forensic medical, forensic finger print, forensic biological examinations. A number of persons were interrogated, including the victims relatives, friends. The relevant subdivisions of the police were tasked to take operative-searching measures. During preliminary investigation it was found that there are cameras at the area the videos of which have been confiscated and video recording examination has been commissioned. Preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated according to the Parts 1 of the Article 110 and the Article 235 of RA Criminal Code is ongoing. Information on investigation results will be provided periodically. Information and Public Relations Department of the Investigative Committee A Brazilian judge on Tuesday accepted charges against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva [BBC profile] after the Petrobas Oil Scandal [NYT report]. Judge Sergio Moro allowed charges that include complaints that da Silva illegally received almost USD $1.1 million in improvements and expenses from a construction company for a beachfront apartment. In return, it is reported, da Silva secured lucrative contracts from Petrobas for the construction company. Corruption charges were filed [NYT report] against da Silva in March when prosecutors accused him of attempting to hide the property. Da Silva has also been charged for obstructing the investigation of the graft scheme around Petrobas. More than 100 individuals and 50 politicians have been arrested in connection to the Petrobras scandal, including the chief of staff under Brazils former President Jose Dirceu and the former president Fernando Collor de Mellon. Last November Brazils highest court ordered [JURIST report] the arrest of Andre Esteves, the chief executive of the countrys largest investment bank, and that of Delcidio do Amaral, a powerful senator of the countrys ruling party, both accused of bribery and corruption affiliated with Petrobras. Noted human rights lawyer Xia Lin was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Chinese court on Thursday. Xia, who famously represented many Chinese dissidents including artist Ai Weiwei, was arrested and accused of fraudulently obtaining [JURIST report] more than a million dollars to take care of gambling debts. He was convicted [QZ report] of obtaining less then half of the amount. Many accused [ChinaChange report] the court of handing down an abnormally harsh sentence to prevent other lawyers from representing activists as a part of a free speech crackdown. Xia Lin [SCMP report] was a famous human rights lawyer who credited his participation in the Tiananmen square protest as a reason to become a lawyer. In July China announced plans to prosecute [JURIST report] prominent human rights lawyer Zhou Shifeng on charges of subverting state power, furthering its recent crackdown on political dissidents. In April a civil rights lawyer was arrested and released [JURIST report] for posting an image online mocking Xi in relation to the Panama Papers release. In January Chinese authorities arrested [JURIST report] high profile human rights lawyer Wang Yu and her husband on charges of political subversion. [JURIST] The European Court of Justice (ECJ) [official website] ruled [judgment] Wednesday that a power plant in Wales has violated the EUs limit on nitrogen oxide emissions. The Aberthaw plant [official website] has operated [Reuters report] for 45 years and primarily uses Welsh coal as its fuel source. In 2008 the EU forced member states to reduce their emissions to meet new environmental standards. Though Britain argued that the plants use of Welsh coal should allow for a greater emissions limit, the European Commission [official website] nevertheless brought Britain to court in March 2015. Due to the EU courts ruling, Britain will be required to reduce the plants emissions and pay all imposed fines and legal costs. German utility company RWE [corporate website], operator of the plant, expressed disappointment in the ruling and declared its intention to continue improving the plants environmental status into the next decade. The Welsh government also stated it will continue to address the areas air quality. Environmental destruction has been an issue plaguing much of the world, including the US. Last week a policy paper was published detailing how the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] will work to prosecute environmental crimes [JURIST report]. Earlier this month environmentalists sued [JURIST report] the US Environmental Protection Agency regarding federal water quality standards. In March Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan was served with a class action lawsuit [JURIST report] over the water contamination in Flint, Michigan. In February BP supervisors were found not guilty [JURIST report] of a Clean Water Act violation after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Also in February the Supreme Court blocked [JURIST report] the EPAs Clean Power Plan, which meant to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In January, a Hungarian court acquitted [JURIST report] 15 employees of the Mal Corp for their role in the toxic red sludge spill that killed 10 people in 2010 after a reservoir burst. Also in January, Brazils Federal Police accused seven people and three companies of environmental crimes [JURIST report] in its probe into the major Fundao dam collapse that occurred on November 5. A German court said [press release, in German] Wednesday that Volkswagen (VW) [corporate website] faces over USD $8.2 billion in damage claims from investors over its emissions scandal. Roughly 1,400 lawsuits have been filed [Fortune report] at the Braunschweig court near VWs Wolfsburg headquarters. Plaintiffs allege [AP report] that VW did not inform shareholders quickly enough of the impending scandal. The biggest single claim was filed for over 3.3 billion on behalf of institutional investors. The court is still processing claims as many plaintiffs rushed to file before the one-year anniversary of the scandal on September 18. VW may need to set aside more than the USD $18 billion that they already designated to cover the cost of vehicle refits and a settlement with US authorities. VW is facing legal difficulty around the world over the emissions scandal. Earlier this month the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission sued [JURIST report] VW and its local subsidiary for misleading customers. In August a district court in Germany ruled [JURIST report] that a collective complaint against VW may move forward. Like US-style class-action lawsuits, the collective complaint was launched on behalf of multiple investors who lost money following the diesel emissions cheating scandal. In July a judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of California gave preliminary approval [JURIST report] to a $15 billion settlement between VW and the US Environmental Protection Agency, California officials and consumers. In June VW agreed [JURIST report] to spend up to $14.7 billion to settle allegations of cheating emissions tests and deceiving customers in a settlement with US regulators. In March the US Federal Trade Commission filed suit [JURIST report] against VW for false advertising. A commission under the Council of Europe [official website] on Wednesday released a preliminary report [text, PDF] finding that proposed changes to the Azerbaijan Constitution are not justified and would hinder the balance of government power [AP report]. The Venice Commission [official website], a constitutional watchdog branch of the Council of Europe, wrote the report and focused their warning on proposed changes to the powers of the president [press release]. Proposed changes include increasing presidential terms from five to seven years, allowing the president to appoint a vice president and permitting the president to set dates for early elections. According to the Venice Commission, these modifications are unprecedented in comparative perspective and have no justification in the context of Azerbaijan. The proposals also include many human rights provisions of the Constitution. While some raise concerns due to limiting certain freedoms, the Venice Commission acknowledges that some of the human rights proposals are generally positive. A referendum on the modifications will be held Monday. The human rights situation in Azerbaijan has drawn heavy criticism from the UN and various rights groups the past few years. In April Azerbaijan announced [JURIST report] a unilateral ceasefire to the fighting with Armenian forces over the disputed area of Nagorno-Karabakh. In March Azeri human rights lawyer and advocate Intigam Aliyev [JURIST news archive] was freed from jail [JURIST report] after the US State Department condemned [JURIST report] the imprisonment and called for his release almost a year before. In April 2015 Human Rights Watch reported the conviction [JURIST report] of leading human rights activist Rasul Jafarov and called for his immediate release. Authorities in Kashmir re-arrested a human rights advocate on Wednesday night under color of a controversial security law, the Public Safety Act, which allows the detention of suspects for up to six months without a trial. The arrest came almost immediately after a court had ordered him released from police custody [AI report]. Khurram Parvez had been in administrative detention since September 16 for allegedly posing an imminent threat of breach of peace, and a court had ordered his release on Tuesday after ruling that the executive official who had ordered the detention had not followed necessary procedures, including failing to adequately explain the grounds for his detention. Amnesty International (AI) has called for his release and claims that this kind of arbitrary use of the law suggests that the Jammu and Kashmir police are determined to lock up Khurram Parvez at any cost. Kashmir [BBC backgrounder] has long been a subject of international concern. Last month the India branch of AI temporarily closed its office after the organization was accused of sedition and anti-India sentiments [JURIST report]. Earlier in August UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein [JURIST report] expressed his concerns [press release] regarding Indian and Pakistani authorities refusing to allow the Human Rights Council access to Kashmir. In July Pakistani Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz [official profile] announced his countrys intention to ask the UN Human Rights Council to send a fact-finding mission to Kashmir following recent civil unrest in the disputed region. Pakistan accused [JURIST report] India of human rights violations after a clash between the Indian army and pro-independence rebels, which led to the death of militant commander Burhan Wani of the group Hizbul Mujahideen [official website]. Continued unrest following the clash preceded the use of force on which Pakistan now seeks Human Rights Council action. [JURIST] The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) [official website] on Wednesday filed a civil suit [complaint, PDF] in federal district court against Leon Cooperman [Forbes backgrounder], billionaire and head of major hedge fund firm Omega Advisors [corporate website]. Cooperman is a major shareholder in Atlas Pipeline Partners [corporate website] and was allegedly informed [NYT report] in 2010 that the company was selling off one of its operating facilities. According to SEC regulators, Cooperman took advantage of this insider information and garnered USD $4 million when Atlas stock rose following the sale. Regulators have also found that Cooperman shared this insider information with other relatives invested in the company, one of which may have made the initial report against Cooperman. While the definition of insider trading has recently been narrowed to those that seek personal benefit, regulators believe that Cooperman may still be charged since he misappropriated confidential information. Cooperman has denied all allegations and has stressed his determination to fight the charges and preserve his legacy. Insider trading is an international concern among securities regulators. In November New York a district judge ordered [JURIST report] a US House of Representatives committee and a former staffer to cooperate with an insider trading investigation into a health care policy leak. Last October the US Supreme Court rejected [JURIST report] an appeal in the case of two former hedge fund traders whose insider trading convictions were overturned by a lower court in December. In July 2015 the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued an indictment [JURIST report] against real estate agent Herbert Sudfeld for alleged insider trading, with charges including securities fraud, three counts of making false statements to the FBI, and aiding and abetting. In April of last year the Supreme Court denied certiorari [JURIST report] in an appeal brought by Rajat Gupta, the former director of Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., for his 2012 insider trading conviction. In January 2015 the Supreme Court rejected another appeal [JURIST report] by Gupta, leaving in place a lifetime ban on serving as an officer or director of a public company that stems from the civil case against him by the SEC. A senior UN official on Tuesday unveiled a draft set of principles aimed at continuing momentum toward the protection of human rights of refugees and migrants [UN News Centre report]. The momentum began with UN member states adoption of the New York Declaration [text, PDF; UN summary] earlier this week. Kate Gilmore [official profile], the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, talked about the necessity of making human rights, and how they are implemented, a consistent focus in discussions about migration movements: Specifically, the 20 draft principles focus on human rights; non-discrimination; rescue and assistance; access to justice; border governance; returns; violence; detention; family unity; child migrants; women migrants; right to health; adequate standard of living; decent work; right to education; right to information; monitoring and accountability; migrants human rights defenders; data; and international cooperation. Between these guiding principles and the New York Declaration, one goal is to eventually establish a plan for safe migration in 2018. The rights of migrant populations has emerged as one of the most significant humanitarian issues around the world, as millions seek asylum from conflict nations. Ahead of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants this week, UN experts urged [JURIST report] states to protect women and girls in the movement of refugees and migrants by adhering to international human rights conventions and standards. Last week Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy websites] said that the draft of the final outcome document for the UN summit on refugees fell short of dealing with the issue effectively [JURIST report]. According to the rights groups, the UN is missing an opportunity by not proposing anything of substance. Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said [JURIST report] earlier this month that Austria will take Hungary to the International Court of Justice if Hungary does not begin accepting returning migrants that crossed into Austria from Hungary. Last month the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al Hussein [official profile] expressed concern [JURIST report] over Bulgarias criminalization of migrants leaving and entering the country. [JURIST] The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes Baskut Tuncak [official profile] on Wednesday urged [press release] the international community to help end the silent pandemic of childhood disease and disability caused by exposure to toxins and waste. Stating that children were the most vulnerable to toxics and pollution, and that they are impacted in ways in which adults [are] not, Tuncak said that states and businesses had an obligation to protect children from these hazardous substances. He then cited examples of children being exposed to hazardous waste from the water crisis in Flint, Michigan [JURIST report], to deaths in South Korea resulting from untested products. Exposure to hazardous substances has been an issue plaguing much of the world, including the US. Earlier this month environmentalists sued [JURIST report] the US Environmental Protection Agency regarding federal water quality standards. In March Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan was served with a class action lawsuit [JURIST report] over the water contamination in Flint, Michigan. In February BP supervisors were found not guilty [JURIST report] of a Clean Water Act violation after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Also in February the Supreme Court blocked [JURIST report] the EPAs Clean Power Plan, which meant to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In January a Hungarian court acquitted [JURIST report] 15 employees of the Mal Corp for their role in the toxic red sludge spill that killed 10 people in 2010 after a reservoir burst. Also in January Brazils Federal Police accused seven people and three companies [JURIST report] of environmental crimes in a probe into the major Fundao dam collapse that occurred on November 5. I cannot say whether my relationship is good or bad with Karen Karapetyan (video) Minister of Transport and Communication Vahan Martirosyan, according to his words, still has vague idea about his sphere, and was answering the questions of the journalists that after examining in detail, he will invite all the media outlets. He gave similar answer to the question how he can assess the government of his predecessor Gagik Beglaryan, They have been ministers only for a few hours, they cannot give clear answers. The newly appointed minister promised to present his project in the near future. Was the appointment connected with good relationship with PM Karen Karapetyan, he answered, I cannot say that the relationship with Karen Karapetyan is good or bad. I cannot say that that factor had its role in the appointment. Vahan Martirosyan promised not to carry out personnel massacre in the ministry, if the people work in a normal way and meet the requirements. In reply to the question whether he has any connection with Rostelecom , he answered that he was one of the founders, but then he sold his shares, I simply remained member of the Board of Directors, according to the agreement. Initiatives aimed at involving employees in sustainability aims are now commonplace in progressive food companies, and for good reason. Ben Cooper examines employee engagement in the food industry and explains how food manufacturers are reaping the multiple benefits of enthusing employees around food sustainability objectives. Free Report What are the key consumer trends driving FMCG in 2022? Gain insight into the 12 most important trends across the FMCG value chain See the consumer survey data that underpins these insights Learn what early-movers are already doing in terms of NPD and product marketing Take a look at this report to give yourself the best standing in this developing market. The consumer landscape has permanently changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began, prompting trends to emerge or accelerate, causing subsequent macro-economic shifts. In order to stay relevant, Consumer Packaged Goods companies must stay abreast of these developments. It is here that GlobalData can offer valuable assistance. Download GlobalDatas Trendsights: Trends to Watch in 2022 report to:Take a look at this report to give yourself the best standing in this developing market. by GlobalData Enter your details here to receive your free Report. 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Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address. Thank you.Please check your email to download the Report. Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life, Confucius wrote. Whether that would be the thrust of a motivational workshop today may be open to question but the principle behind the assertion remains true. People who love their work will be more motivated and very likely more productive, with obvious benefits for the employer. Finding a sense of purpose and meaning at work is key but thats easier for a brain surgeon than a packer in a poultry plant. In that context, the increased focus being given to sustainability is a significant boon, representing an opportunity for companies to instil, or for employees across a business to discover, a sense of purpose, bolstering morale and employee motivation and enhancing both employee retention and talent recruitment. A feeling of participation in a companys ethical aspirations and shared ownership of its values helps further sustainability aims which in turn bring business benefits. Employee engagement in sustainability can therefore legitimately be viewed as a win-win-win. The question for the food industry is therefore no longer why engage employees in sustainability. The case for doing so appears incontrovertible. But, rather, but how can this be done to best effect, and are food companies taking full advantage of this motivational dividend the boost to employee motivation that workforce engagement can bring. In a recent article for the Stanford Social Innovation Review, CB Bhattacharya, the Pietro Ferrero Chair in Sustainability at the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin, and Unilever CEO Paul Polman identified eight ways to engage employees on sustainability: define the companys long-term purpose; spell out the economic case for sustainability; create sustainability knowledge and competence; make every employee a sustainability champion; co-create sustainable practices with employees; encourage competition among employees around sustainability; make sustainability visible inside and outside the company; and showcase higher purpose by creating transformational change. Defining purpose Asked to narrow this down to one sine qua non, Prof. Bhattacharya says defining the companys purpose has to come first. Only then can the other steps weve outlined click in, he tells just-food. So, I would say thats the nub of the issue. A food company should define itself not simply as producing food to grow sales and make money but the CEO has to define the social purpose of those food products, such as giving nutrition or giving energy, Prof. Bhattacharya explains. Thats something that any regular person, with a family, with children, can relate to and can latch on to that. Slipping into platitude is a constant risk in the sustainability field. Presenting an idealised, too good to be true picture of a companys values brings risks, not least in hardening the sceptics search for a double standard. But, perhaps with employee engagement a company has a little more licence to talk from the heart. They are not speaking in this instance to a sceptical activist or a hardened investment analyst. This is an audience that wants to believe in the message, that wants to feel what theyre doing is worthwhile. It is no surprise therefore that, in articulating why employee engagement in sustainability is important to Kellogg, chief sustainability officer Diane Holdorf speaks of the companys purpose, and how that gives it common cause with its employees, in just the way Prof. Bhattacharya suggests. We care about nourishing people with our foods, feeding those in need, nurturing our planet and living our founders values, Holdorf says. At the same time, our stakeholders including employees are motivated to buy from, and work for, companies and brands that share their values. Multiple motivations However, for all the emphasis on values and ethos, it is notable that discussion around employee engagement has focused extensively on resource efficiency. Making the economic case is one of the Polman/Bhattacharya eight principles and the first example they quote in their Stanford Review article is an employee-led initiative at a Unilever tea plant in the UK, which is defined both in resource-saving and cost-saving terms. Indeed, companies tend often to highlight instances of staff engagement where employees have contributed resource efficiency ideas leading to both environmental and financial savings. Prof. Bhattacharya says companies should not shy away from the fact that this is not just about values and purpose. While a companys ethos is extremely important so is economic sustainability. If you think about the triple bottom line which underlies all of this, it is people, planet, profit, so if we cant show that a company can make money by caring for people and the planet then ultimately we have no case. Indeed, encouraging employees to help maximise efficiencies is hardly new, and in that sense, the intrinsic link between resource and cost efficiency makes this an area of sustainability in the food industry that employees can perhaps relate to readily. As some employees will be motivated to engage in sustainability programmes on cost-saving and efficiency-related grounds while others may be more inspired by values, industry leaders need to pull multiple wires, Prof. Bhattacharya says. In some cases, the appeal to values and humanity might well be more effective than the appeal to efficiency. Its important not to undermine one or the other. You have this arsenal and the ability to use both of these to maximise impact on your employees. However, Geraldine Gilbert, principal sustainability advisor in the food team at UK-based sustainability non-profit Forum for the Future, says food companies should seek to engage employees on a wide range of sustainability issues, including climate change and sustainable nutrition. Resource efficiency is only one small aspect to an organisations wider sustainability approach, Gilbert says. They [food companies] need to move beyond simply focusing on resource efficiency, to engage their employees on climate change and environmental issues, as well as on health and nutrition. The work canteen is a great place for a food company to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable food, bringing its values and ethos around healthy and sustainable nutrition to life for its employees, Gilbert says, by improving the menu to be healthier and more sustainable, and by communicating effectively on the why and how behind these changes. Another way to foster broader values-led engagement is to align the companys philanthropy and community activities with key sustainability challenges, Gilbert adds. Engaging on food waste While food waste could be approached either on ethical or efficiency grounds, Prof. Bhattacharya sees this as an issue that lends itself to a values-led appeal. Of course reducing food waste makes the company more efficient and saves them money but when it comes to something like food waste, if thats announced as a cost-cutting exercise it hardly enthuses people because theyve heard about cost-cutting all their lives. Food companies can, instead, turn it around and say Isnt it our responsibility to make sure we dont waste food in a world where a billion people are going hungry?' Food waste has become a key priority for food companies and is an issue that can resonate strongly with employees. Meghan Stasz, senior director, sustainability, at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), which represents US food producers, stresses the important role employee engagement plays in the Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA), an initiative the GMA coordinates jointly with grocery retail trade body the Food Marketing Institute and the National Restaurant Association The Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA) has two Best Practices Guides that highlight company case studies on engaging employees in food waste reduction and with food donation programmes, says Stasz. As an example, Stasz cites how staff at ConAgra Foods Marie Callenders potpie facility found a way to position the pie dough on the shell to reduce the amount of excess dough that needed to be trimmed off. This employee-led change saved the company over 300 tons of pie dough in a single year, a concrete example as to how food sustainability and employee engagement affects the bottom line. The GMAs role in spreading best practice extends beyond food waste to all areas of sustainability, Stasz explains. GMA works to share best practices in sustainability, including employee engagement, throughout the membership. At the annual GMA-FMI Sustainability Summit, the sessions on how to engage employees in sustainability programmes are always among the best attended of the conference. A spokesperson for the Food and Drink Federation, which represents food manufacturers operating in the UK, says it has sought to make it easy for businesses to effectively communicate their environmental priorities to employees. As part of its Every Last Drop water initiative, the FDF created a presentation that can be delivered to employees across the business to raise awareness of the importance of water efficiency both in the home and at work. Co-creation and harmonising values While in many cases trade bodies will facilitate SMEs in adopting more sustainable business practices, on employee engagement smaller companies may not need that much help, Prof. Bhattacharya suggests. Its perhaps easier to do for an SME than for a really large corporation with hundreds of thousands of employees, complicated supply chains and so on, he says. The co- creation process can be initiated through a town-hall meeting or an ideas contest, which need very, very little resource, he continues, but will open up the sluice gate of ideas. At Forum for the Future, Gilbert adds: We certainly think its important for all organisations within the food sector, big and small, to engage employees on sustainability. There is no one-size-fits-all programme or approach, as each business is different, regardless of size. What is key is to embed sustainability at the heart of an organisational strategy, instead of being on the fringe in an enclosed team. Arguably, the smaller the company the more chance for sustainability to be an ever-present concern, felt throughout the workforce, and that is the ideal any company, large or small, whether in the food industry or not, aspires to. Employees are the people who put ideas and ethos into practice but they are also what gives a company heart and soul. In an era where distrust of corporations is worryingly high, anything which might reconcile corporate and personal values is a worthwhile endeavour. Staff engagement in sustainability is about far more than bringing employees on-message regarding ethical issues. It helps the company embed its ethos, but ideally, the two-way process should mean the company comes to reflect the values of its people, and by extension the public at large. It would not be fanciful therefore to characterise this as an organic process that can support the creation of a truly sustainable and socially acceptable business model. Related Companies Why did the equipment displayed during the military parade remain silent for four days? (video) According to the former Deputy Head of the National Security Service Gurgen Yeghiazaryan, the military parade dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Armenias Independents aimed at establishing feeling of safety and security in the society. He thinks that the military parade should be held after victory. But we have four days miserable episode, we have 800 hectares and a military parade. We must be divided between those 800 hectares and the military parade, we should try to understand why that military equipment remained silent for four days, why the enemy wasnt destroyed in its hole, said G. Yeghiazaryan. According to sociologist Aharon Adibekyan, there were two consumers for the parade- external and internal. The external consumer is our neighbors. According to the data of the U.S. Intelligence Agency, Armenia has the most efficient army in the region. First, as it has professional command staff. We are a winning army. Besides, our mental potential is higher, consequently our soldiers are cleverer that the Azerbaijani soldiers. At the same time we arent inferior to our neighbor in terms of armaments, he said. According to the sociologist, we will always be inferior to Azerbaijan in terms of quantity, but during the field battles the attacker must be four times stronger, in mountains- 8 times. It means that in order to win Artsakh, Azerbaijan must have an army of 500 000 and not 80 or 100 thousand. Yet, according to A. Adibekyan, data that now that country has population of 9 million, doesnt correspond to reality, as migration is high in that country, and we can say that about 6 billion people live there. It means that the country doesnt have an army of 500 000. NEWSLETTER Sign up Tick the boxes of the newsletters you would like to receive. Just Style Daily Update The top stories of the day delivered to you every weekday. Just Style Weekly Update A weekly roundup of the latest news and analysis, sent every Monday. Just Style Magazine The industry's most comprehensive news and information delivered every quarter. ELM CREEK - Wildlife biologists were unable to confirm reports that a mountain lion was near Elm Creek Tuesday. Nic Fryda, a biologist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, helped investigate the sighting on the north side of town near Turkey Creek at about 11:30 a.m. "We have witnesses who said they saw it, which we typically get with these situations. We didn't confirm anything, and we didn't disprove anything, so it's still up in the air. We're still looking at it," he said. "We need some kind of physical evidence like a track or some hair samples if they leave hair someplace. Pictures are good. If we can confirm they were taken in that area, that's enough to confirm it, but none of that has been found. I walked back by the creek looking for that sort of thing and didn't find anything." Elm Creek Schools Superintendent Larry Babcock said the Buffalo County Sheriff's Office notified the school just before noon Tuesday that a mountain lion sighting had been reported in the west part of town. "We did have a lockdown for a few hours, and no one went outside for lunch or recess," he said Tuesday. "That has now been lifted, and we'll dismiss at our regular time." Babcock said he had been told the lion was last seen jumping into Turkey Creek and heading west. "There was a rumor going around town that we had treed a mountain lion, but that was false," Fryda said. "We didn't find it, didn't have it in a tree or anything." Fryda said while mountain lions in this area are rare, they do pass through the state. "Since we've been getting reports, we've never confirmed one in this area. We know there are mountain lions that pass through Nebraska, so it's not out of the question, but we've never confirmed anything in this area." e-mail to: A former colleague of mine at a large high school in Montana was a very popular history teacher who occasionally used unorthodox methods to drive home an important lesson: Dont believe everything you hear or see. This educator would captivate his students with stories, anecdotes, lectures and even an infrequent prepared lesson that was, well, not exactly true. In fact, everything in this lesson was a deliberate lie just waiting to be challenged by a skeptical brat,except it never was. The trust and acceptance of his every word was validated by frenzied and frantic note taking and undivided attention. The big lie theory was taking effect. The bigger the lie you tell, the more likely people will be to believe it, since its difficult to believe that someone would tell a lie that huge with a straight face. And so it is with Donald Trumps big lies, told daily. Among the lies, Hillary Clinton will take away your guns and abolish the Second Amendment, he says. And the devoted fan base described by Clinton as the deplorables believe it with heart and soul and passion and hate and vengeance and unbelievable neuroses. Little do they know that it is virtually impossible for even the president of the United States to wield this sort of power. Two thirds of the House and Senate must approve a constitutional amendment or two thirds of the states pass it via constitutional convention. The president does not have a role in the process and his or her signature isnt necessary. Of course, my associate would only carry his practical joke exercise so far before breaking the news that the class may now tear up your notes. Youve been duped and scammed. I lied. April Fool! And, have a good day. And would you expect Donald Trump to do the same? Now thats funny. Ron Holscher, Ogallala For the many Nebraskans concerned that outdated criminal justice laws are endangering public safety and ruining peoples lives, its heartening that Congress has indicated that it hopes to take up the issue during the coming weeks. But it remains unclear whether any legislation will make it to the presidents desk. Thats why Nebraskas 39,000 employers should consider voluntarily taking action. Businesses have a powerful role to play in giving individuals with criminal records a second chance. The easiest step they can take is to ban the box. Right now, most employers require job seekers to check a box on an application if they have criminal records. Too often, this can function as an automatic application denied for individuals who have any blemish in their past. Nationwide, some 650,000 incarcerated individuals rejoin society every year, and they desperately need jobs to help them transition back into society and to provide for themselves and their families. But the criminal record box often shuts them out of the job market. A 2009 study by Harvard and Princeton researchers showed individuals who checked the box reduced their chances of a callback by 50 percent, with blacks hurt twice as much as whites. Sure enough, unemployment among those with a criminal record remains staggeringly high: A third of people without jobs between the ages of 25 and 54 have criminal records. And the lack of employment is one of the key reasons why more than two-thirds are re-arrested, more than half are re-convicted, and two out of five are re-incarcerated within three years of release. Ex-offender unemployment not only holds back individuals working to improve their lives, it also stifles our economy. A 2010 study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research estimated the annual lost economic value at between $57 billion and $65 billion. These are a few of the reasons why my employer, Koch Industries, officially banned the box on our application last year, including in Nebraska. Now we delay the question until later in the hiring process. This allows us to consider a candidates past record in the context of their other life experiences. Companies big and small have made the same choice because it makes sense from a business perspective. With an estimated one in three adults in the U.S. having some sort of criminal record, its shortsighted for an employer to potentially eliminate one-third of the available applicant pool. We should seek the best talent period with or without a record. Over the years at Koch, individuals hired with a past record have been dedicated employees who have succeeded at the company. They are valuable contributors, and more importantly, they are on a path to productive and fulfilling lives. We recognize that banning the box may not make sense for every business, which is why a government mandate isnt the solution. Each employer needs to make its own decision. If the roughly 39,000 employers in Nebraska voluntarily considered banning the box, the social and economic landscape could be defined by more opportunity and prosperity, especially for the least fortunate. Thousands of Nebraskans with criminal records try to rejoin society every year, and they want to contribute to their communities and improve their lives. Nebraska businesses can help them by breaking down barriers that stand in their way. No one should be judged forever based on what they did on their worst day. Everyone deserves a second chance. Mark Holden is general counsel and senior vice president at Koch Industries. In this Wednesday, April 20, 2016, photo, real estate agent Lauren Newman, right, prepares to show Steve Martin, a home for sale in Mount Pleasant, S.C., just over the bridge from historic Charleston. On Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, the National Association of Realtors reports on sales of existing homes in August. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Dr. Andrea Hoopes of Children's Hospital gives testimony during a hearing of the Colorado state House Marijuana Cost-Benefit Analysis Intirim Committee, at the state Capitol, in Denver, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. The panel of state lawmakers heard testimony on a range of issues Wednesday, including whether or not to give PTSD patients the ability to get a doctor's recommendation for marijuana, something many patient advocates have been seeking for more than a decade. While any vote would have no immediate legal effect, policy decisions by the interim legislative panels often carry significant weight when the full Legislature meets in January. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) In this photo taken Sept. 13, 2016, in Anchorage, Alaska, emergency medical technician Dmitri Dela Cruz, left, and nurse practitioner James Novotny are seen on a screen at the Iliuliuk Family and Health Services on Unalaska Island during a demonstration of a new telemedicine partnership with Providence Alaska Medical Center. Beginning Thursday, Sept. 22, the Anchorage hospital will virtually beam critical care doctors 800 miles away to the emergency room of the clinic to assist staffers there during medical emergencies, thanks to a satellite link instead of the usual fiber optics. (AP Photo/Rachel D'Oro) 178 Shares Share The Haitian doctors strike ended recently, and it is unclear if there are any winners. The conditions in which the striking doctors medical residents in Haitis public hospitals, to be precise work are appalling, and the low pay was galling, but without the doctors, hospitals shut their doors and the poor were left to take care of their own illnesses and injuries for nearly five months. At issue were three problems plaguing these public hospitals: poor resources, inadequate oversight of the residents by their supervising physicians, and low salaries. Prior to the strike, resident physicians earned about $125 a month while working long hours. Thats maybe a quarter of what a nurse makes and is roughly equivalent to the earnings of the housekeeping staff. The theory in medicine in Haiti as in many other countries is that residents are learning and are therefore receiving benefits beyond their pay in the form of education. The strike raised their monthly earnings to about $400 still embarrassingly low. In the United Kingdom and the United States, efforts to organize doctors and address grievances have so far remained quieter, while raising the same serious ethical questions about doctors conflicting responsibilities to their patients and to themselves, about where the line between altruism and egoism is crossed. In the U.K., doctors-in-training have been fighting increases in work hours, a contraction of pay, and patients benefit cuts within the National Health Service. At first, organizers limited their tactics to hospital staffing reductions they believed would help them gain the upper hand and force an improved negotiating position. Then, this past April, they implemented a two-day complete strike. An estimated 80 percent of junior doctors participated, despite questions about what would patients do. Now, with the junior doctors grievances still unresolved, the British Medical Association planned to strike for five consecutive days, possibly canceling tens of thousands of surgeries and an estimated one million office visits. Leading media outlets have characterized the row as a proxy war between the British government and the medical establishment over continued cuts to the NHS. Both sides are digging in. Meanwhile, in the United States, internal medicine physicians are locked in a protracted battle with the American Board of Internal Medicine, the private and self-appointed body that until recently held a monopoly over board certifications. Thousands of doctors, including myself, have refused to pay the $200 annual professional fee or to enroll in the board-required continuing medical education classes that show no evidence of benefit for us doctors or our patients. Many of us, including some media outlets, openly believe the board is guilty of fraud and profiteering. We have decided to not participate in the program at all. But that admittedly leaves patients, hospitals and insurance companies with the burden of deciding who among us meets quality standards. While different in their particulars, the situation in each country raises questions about doctors responsibilities to their patients and the public. Doctors often fight for patients rights through administrative and legal channels by lobbying hospital administrators, insurance company bureaucrats or government officials and the public generally supports the fight. When discussing our own rights, however, we enter a murky area: Is what is good for doctors always good for patients and public health? I have always believed in the power of unions to achieve goals that individual workers cant reach on their own. Weekends, paid vacations, employer-sponsored health insurance and maternity leave are all examples of basic workers rights gleaned in the U.S. through organized labor. I also support my fellow physicians right to earn a living wage commensurate with their education and training. Globally, members of my profession, including those still in training, are well-educated and stand among the top half of earners. Sympathy for our salary or benefit fights is not always widespread, least of all when work stoppages have an immediate impact on patient care. Certainly, one can argue that short-term suffering is worth the long-term gains in workplace safety and satisfaction, both for doctors and the public. But at what point do the benefits of a strike outweigh the problems? In the U.K., senior doctors should be able to cover medical needs during a short-term strike. The outcome will be limited in most cases to delays in patient care. In Haiti, however, the strike caused deaths as the poor had no place to seek medical care for several months. The stakes in this Caribbean nation are arguably higher, too. Government here accounts for only a reported 20.6 percent of total health spending fourth from the bottom of the World Banks 2014 data and far lower than either the U.S. (48.3 percent) or the U.K. (83.1 percent). Woefully underfunded, public hospitals often lack essential supplies such as gloves, gauze, and intravenous fluids. Family members purchase supplies and medications for their loved ones care at private pharmacies. Patients are often sent to private labs to obtain services as basic as chest x-rays. Hospital staff generally do all they can for their patients in these circumstances, but the odds for optimal outcomes are always against them. It is no wonder that morale among healthcare professionals in Haiti is so low, while burnout and turnover are quite high. As in the U.S., the poor suffer the most as a result of a broken healthcare system. I saw this up close after my nonprofit organization, Innovating Health International, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, opened Haitis first publicly available pathology lab outside of the capital, Port-au-Prince, in May. Our timing was unfortunate. The strike meant our laboratory technicians had very few tissue samples to test, setting them behind in terms of training and practical experience. Our program to train doctors and nurses at Haitis nine largest public hospitals in cervical cancer screening has suffered a similar setback. With no one to train, our equipment has sat idle in a Port-au-Prince warehouse. Similarly, the young doctors in these state-run hospitals have missed five months of their medical residencies over 10 percent of their professional training time. Nobody knows now whether theyll be required to make it up. The result will be either undertrained doctors or delayed emergence into the profession. Neither option is attractive. Still, the Haitian residents received their badly needed pay raise. The government committed an additional $12.5 million to the health budget, roughly a 6 percent increase. While this could be seen as a victory for both the doctors and patients, the human cost of the last five months cannot be forgotten. Vincent DeGennaro, Jr. is an internal medicine physician and president, Innovating Health International. He blogs at An American Doctor in Haiti and can be reached on Twitter @DoctorGlobal. Image credit: Ms Jane Campbell / Shutterstock.com 161 Shares Share Physician wellness begins in realizing our identity in medicine and society. Shamans, priest, and healers have existed in ancient times and in small and large indigenous tribes since man began to gather together in social packs. The unique role of tribal and community leaders who guarded health and wellness was understood as important for the whole of society. All doctors have degrees of empathy. We as an order select for this trait as much as spiritual leaders look for spirituality or politicians look for diplomacy. Society even measures doctors according to bedside manners which tells us this trait defines our order in a primary sense. We may be many things at once or as well but we are at our core empaths. As empaths, we succumb to the failings of empaths. We misread. We take on too much energy of all kinds. We feel guilty when we dont help. We feel burnt out when we havent recharged. We are alone except amongst other empaths. It is an infrequently admitted truth that we go to fix problems because the pain we feel doesnt go away until we fix the problem. When we fail the pain that made us accountable, responsible, and moved stays with us. We fail when others suffer. We fail when people die. There will be things we cannot fix and those things add to the crux of what makes doctors unwell. Physician wellness must take on a new paradigm. Narrative medicine as a literary form that engages care providers including physicians to share their witnessed stories of humanity can be an instrumental tool to repeatedly resuscitate the physician. Relationship centered medicine has been considered a way to help doctors stay in love with doctoring and that premise is supported by narrative medicine to help refocus the efforts of medicine around relationships. 1. The paradigm starts with embracing our identity as learned healers: empathic intelligent leaders. That is what we are born to do and what society needs from our birth. Society expects doctors to be compassionate. Compassion defines doctoring. Empathy is the origin of compassion. We are empaths. 2. Refueling speaks to what we are. As empaths, we must recharge to then go out and give. Refueling includes time alone. Time with natural elements. Time with other empaths who happen to be our colleagues or aids. Time to grow our self-awareness and mature our natural skills. Security and self-wellness mean there is something to give from. Running on empty when sick people are coming to you for help will lead to no healing. In fact, it will result in more pains. The patient is unheard. The physician fails and is further depleted. We dont send broken solders to fight. That gets others killed. We dont allow pilots to fly tired or stressed. That carries human cargo tangibly into danger. Unwell doctors will perpetuate suffering or create more. 3. Realization that healers are wounded by the pain around them and charged by the success around them. This realization explains why we must try to fix problems. Pain of any kind around us hurts us, and the resolution of conflict and pain is a personal relief to us. This awareness leads to solutions to achieve balance and wholeness despite the more often depleting rigors of being a healer. 4. Reconciliation that some pains dont resolve neatly or timely so we harbor them. They weigh us down and tear into our ability and deplete our reserve. We must thus unload burden of suffering. We can share our pain by logging the journeys we are so privileged to make with others. We can tell those stories to embrace them and then release those details because they increasingly bog down the engine of empathy. Narrative medicine can bring about this. Even narrative medicine by proxy where another writes with or for someone can do this. 5. Releasing the good and bad that healers stockpile over a day or a week or a lifetime can allow for more encounters and dealings. This is what happens as we seek reconciliation. Currently, physician wellness is flooded with retreats, meditations, and spa relaxations. Narrative medicine is happening now as a medium to connect physicians with themselves, with medicine, with society. It provides to society an actual log of real intimate moments that define humanity and the human condition. Arguably, it is a discourse with healing that can create a conduit to healing the healer. Writing an intimate story down or sharing an intimate story to be written down or reading an intimate story will all effectively release the healer into a place of renewed purpose and awareness. It will unbridle the empathy so the healer can go back and care again. 6. Remembering the impact healers make through logged stories and sharing can continue the orders main agenda and thus role in society. Physician wellness is not just about security, work hours, time off, meditation, massages, retreats, recognition, resilience. It is about pushing to the forefront repeatedly who doctors are in society. We are healers. It is about realizing what that means and entails. We are empaths. It is about refueling the ability to care by nurturing our empathy with empathy. It is about releasing what we did and cant do, what we fixed and cant fix back into the whole society to own. It is about remembering we are here to help and to play our given gifted role. The area of narrative medicine can help create the paradigm shift to making well those that make society well through active reflection on the humanity in medicine. Jean Robey is a nephrologist who blogs at ethosofmedicine. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 930 Shares Share When Kara Tippetts, a 38-year-old mother of four, died of breast cancer last year, more than 17,000 people live-streamed her funeral. Tippetts gained national prominence through her blog, where she confronted her impending death directly and offered a refreshingly frank take on what its like to have a terminal disease. Unfortunately, the openness Tippetts displayed is usually missing where its needed most: hospitals. Doctors, nurses and other caregivers are often reluctant to discuss end-of-life plans with terminal patients. Death is considered a taboo topic, until after a patient has died. This lack of patient-provider communication frequently leads to degraded care and needless suffering. One recent survey of patients with advanced cancers found that only 5 percent knew their projected life expectancy was just a few more months. Another found that only about half of patients dying from renal and pulmonary conditions had been offered consultations on palliative care. Denied a clear understanding of their situation, terminal patients often pursue invasive treatments that actually make their lives worse. Indeed, over 70 percent of patients with incurable colorectal, breast, lung, pancreatic and prostate cancers continue to receive aggressive care in their last months of life, treatments which typically induce vomiting, mouth sores and other torturous side effects. This collective denial of the inevitable imposes a huge cost on patient well-being and too often, its for little or no return. Over the past five years, according to a 2015 JAMA Internal Medicine study, nearly 70 percent of cancer drugs were approved without proof that they extended or improved life. While cost should never be a factor in a doctors treatment recommendation or a regulators decision the collective denial of deaths reality is also putting a financial burden on patients and their families. Indeed, families with cancer patients are nearly three times more likely to declare bankruptcy than other households. There is no right answer for how patients should respond to a terminal illness. Its a deeply personal decision based on a complex array of spiritual, social, financial and emotional needs. Some people want to keep fighting until the very end. Others prefer to ease up on care or even die on their own terms in order to focus on quality of life or time with family. This month, for example, Jerika Bolen, a 14-year-old suffering from Type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, a terminal genetic condition that causes constant pain, will end her life. The Wisconsin teen, who spends 12 hours each day connected to a ventilator and most of her time in bed, made this heartrending decision earlier this year after her 38th surgery. Her final wish? A prom. So on July 22, hundreds of friends, admirers and family members gathered at a ballroom in Appleton, Wisconsin, to dance the night away. Bolen was named prom queen. Terminal patients can only make these tough choices if their doctors are trained and able to share bad news. Yet most doctors receive zero training on how to have these hard conversations. Less than a third of primary care physicians receive instruction in end-of-life treatment. Fortunately, some medicals schools have noticed this training gap and are evolving their curricula to fill it. Stanfords medical school orientation now includes a discussion of the ethics of death. George Washington University Medical School offers a full course about dying. Johns Hopkins goes a step further and actually assigns students to write instructions for their own end-of-life care, an exercise that forces them to confront the difficult decisions terminal patients face. Here at the New York Institute of Technology, our Gold Humanism Honor Society rewards osteopathic medical students and faculty for tackling personally challenging patient care with compassion and tact. During the academic year, medical lectures include information on ethics and end-of-life issues and care. Our physician assistant studies program also includes a breaking bad news scenario in which students encounter actors role-playing as patients with a terminal illness. If properly informed, many patients with incurable illnesses may want to forgo painful and expensive treatment, choosing quality over quantity for their remaining days, with their doctors and caregivers as compassionate collaborators. Silencing such end-of-life discussions fails our terminal patients in their final need. Jerry Balentine is vice-president for medical affairs and global health, New York Institute of Technology, New York, NY. This article originally appeared in Newsweek. Image credit: Shutterstock.com By the end of the month, the Laredo Independent School District will be welcoming in their new police chief. Robert Villarreal was selected as the chief during the Board's last meeting. Villarreal has a degree in Criminal Justice from TAMIU, and an Associates from LCC in Applied Science. He's been serving as a peace officer for 24 years, and has over 3,000 hours in training. He began working under the Sheriff's Office back in 1991, but moved to United ISD in 1995. "He was a sergeant over there, and he's going to be our new chief," says LISD Executive Director of Student Services Maggie Martinez. "He does have very good qualifications. We're excited because most importantly he has school district experience as a police officer and sergeant. So, that's going to help us all." Villarreal is expected to make the transition by the end of the month. He will be replacing Chief Richard Palomo, who is now serving at a San Antonio school district. Residents in Galmoy who have been on a 'boil water notice' for more than two months now have had some welcome news today. Irish Water and Kilkenny County Council have notified all customers on the Galmoy Replacement Water Supply Scheme and the Galmoy Group Water Scheme, which serves approximately 120 houses in County Kilkenny and a small number of houses in Laois, that the boil water notice is now lifted with immediate effect. It follows remedial measures including cleaning of the local reservoir and subsequent testing, which has addressed any concerns re water quality issues in the area. Customers can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth. They have been boiling the water or buying their own drinking water since the notice was issued on July 8. Irish Water, Kilkenny County Council and the HSE Water Quality Liaison Group will continue to meet, and will review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply. The Irish Water Customer Contact Centre (1850 278 278) is available to answer customer queries in relation to this water notice. Further information is available on the www.water.ie. The Thomastown and District Community Text Alert Scheme was formally launched at the Thomastown Community Centre last week. There was a fantastic turnout on the night, and more than 200 people have now signed up for the scheme. Margaret Quinn of Community Development Group Muintir na Tire explained how the text alert system works, then Garda Sgts Peter McConnon and Ted Hughes gave talks on crime prevention and tips on how to keep your home safe. Chairperson and local councillor Breda Gardner thanked the committee members who worked so hard to set the scheme up: Bernie Dempsey, Sue Dillon, Pat Doyle, Joe Hayes and Seamus Quigley. She also thanked the community hall staff who organised the room and refreshments, and local Gardai Noelle Curran and Catherine O Gorman, and other Gardai. Breda expressed appreciation to those members of the local community who worked on the recruitment drive and administration, including Jerry Gardner, Liam Kelly, Therese Perrot and Ann Sheehy. Surrounding parishes have been a great success by bringing the local community together and helping to create a sense of security and safety. Thanks are also due to the local businesses who have sponsored the scheme, including Cullens Catering (who provided a BBQ on the night), Dunphys Centra, Glasseye Productions, Jerpoint Garage, Kissanes Pharmacy, Murphy / Kelly Mechanical Services, Prendergasts Butchers, Supervalu, Thomastown Community Centre, Thomastown Tidy Towns, Thomastown Veterinary Clinic and Bank of Ireland. Anyone wishing to join the new scheme, sponsor signage or help with recruitment can call Cllr Breda Gardner on 087-2025753 or Seamus Quigley on 087-7728170. Alternatively, call into the Thomastown Community Centre Monday - Friday between 10 am and noon to sign up. Annual membership runs from September to September costs 10 per phone. There will be another Crime Prevention Talk in early December. Families looking to trim college costs often steer their students toward public colleges in their home state instead of public colleges in another state or private institutions. Public colleges and universities typically charge two different tuition rates: one for state residents and another, much higher one for students from outside the state. The difference in sticker price (before financial aid awards are considered) is significant. During the 2015-16 academic year, the average annual sticker priceincluding tuition, fees and room and boardfor an in-state student attending a four-year public college was $19,548. The average annual sticker price for an out-of-state student attending a four-year public college was $34,031. But attending a public college in another state may be more affordable than you think. The lower, in-state tuition at public colleges isnt always reserved for students who reside in the state. A number of regional, state and college-specific programs allow some students to qualify for in-state or heavily discounted tuition at out-of-state public schools. Many of these programs fly under the radar for families, says Tom Harnisch, director of state relations and policy analysis at the Association of State Colleges and Universities. But students who meet the eligibility requirements can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars. For details about these programs, including who qualifies, have your student consult his or her high school guidance counselor as well as the websites and admissions offices at the schools he or she is considering. Some schools limit the number of students who can receive the discount each year, so your student should apply for the reduced tuition as early as possible. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up Regional Discounts Four regional compacts help students from nearly every state catch a break when it comes to paying for college across state lines. Qualifying students from 13 southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) can apply for in-state tuition at participating out-of-state colleges through the Southern Regional Education Boards Academic Common Market (opens in new tab). And residents of six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) who enroll in an eligible program pay in-state tuition at 82 public colleges and universities in the areas Regional Student Program (opens in new tab). For both of these regional programs, students must pursue a major that isnt offered in their home state to qualify for the tuition discounts. The Midwest Student Exchange (opens in new tab) program lets students from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wisconsin receive tuition discounts at more than 100 participating colleges and universities. Public colleges in the program agree to charge eligible students no more than 150% of the schools in-state tuition, and participating private colleges cut 10% off the cost of tuition for students from the region. Students typically save between $500 and $5,000 per year. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (opens in new tab) program offers eligible students from 15 states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming) 150% of the in-state tuition rate at participating public colleges across the region. Neither the midwestern nor the western regional program require that students pursue a major not available in their home state, but each program does allow colleges and universities to add their own restrictions. Friendly Neighbors In addition to the regional agreements, some states have their own smaller reciprocity programs or offer flexibility when it comes to determining who qualifies for in-state tuition. Some of the arrangements apply to students from anywhere within a neighboring state; others extend only to students living in specific counties of the neighboring state or close to the state line. For example, Colorado and New Mexico have an agreement that allows qualifying students from either state to get in-state pricing in both states a better deal than the regional Western Undergraduate Exchange program. Students from Minnesota and Wisconsin have a similar arrangement, allowing residents of either state to pay in-state rates at the other states public institutions. And students from Washington, D.C., can receive up to $10,000 each year toward the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at any eligible public, four-year college in the U.S. Individual College Programs To attract more out-of-state students, some public colleges offer out-of-state students a discount on tuition through their own programs. For example, the University of Maine at Orono recently began offering students from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont its education at the same sticker price (tuition and fees) as that of the public flagship in the students home state. To qualify for the best deal, students must earn at least a 3.0 grade-point average and score a combined 1120 on the SAT. Students from other states who meet the academic standards can receive $13,200 off the University of Maines out-of-state tuition and fees ($29,480 for 2016-17). Students with lower GPAs and scores can receive a $9,000 discount. At Texas A&M University (#180 on our list of best college values in 2016), non-Texans who earn a competitive scholarship of at least $1,000 also qualify to pay in-state tuition and fees. For 2016-17, thats a savings of more than $20,000 for out-of-state students. Similarly, the University of Arkansas will waive 70% to 90% of the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for students from Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas who earn at least a 3.2 GPA and score at least 1160 on the SAT. Special Circumstances Even if your student doesnt qualify for a regional or state reciprocity program or a program offered by a specific school, your family may qualify for a deal based on military or public service. For example, recent veterans of the U.S. military can receive in-state tuition rates at any public college or university in the country. And children of service members who are on active duty for more than 30 days qualify for in-state tuition where they currently live, regardless of how long their family has lived there or whether the family moves out of state while the students are still enrolled in school. Some colleges extend similar in-state tuition offers to students with parents who work in public service, such as police officers, firefighters and sometimes teachers. GCZ16: Gold Needs to Close Above $1,339 Gold gained solid ground after the FOMC left rates unchanged yesterday. The metal was already up 1% in the session ahead of the announcement; on the heels of the Bank of Japan, in which we discussed yesterday, and the fact that investors held serious doubt that the Fed would actually pull the trigger. Major resistance comes in at 1339.1 and Gold struggled post-meeting to punch through this level. Considering the weaker dollar today, it is imperative that the bulls achieve a close above here. The near term upside target comes in at 1351, the trend line from the July highs. Though a move out above here will spark further buying, the metal is not in the clear. Strong resistance still comes in at 1361.8-1365.8 and again at 1377.5-1384.4. Gold settled at 1331.4 yesterday and since settlement was prior to the Fed announcement a close back below here will neutralize this strength and ultimately be a win for the bear camp. Resistance 1351***, 1357.6**, 1361.8-1365.8***, 1377.5-1384.4**** Pivot - 1339.1 Support 1331.4**, 1323.9-1326.1**, 1316.4-1319.8**, 1309.2-1312.9***, 1305.5**, 1295.7*** By Bill Baruch iiTrader.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. kitco news (Kitco News) - All asset classes are higher following the Feds inaction. The Fed and global central banks are begging politicians to assist through fiscal policy. Both U.S. candidates have expressed a determination to re-build America. The issue is that neither candidate has figured out a way to pay for it. It is highly unlikely that either candidate will garner bi-partisan support for a tax overhaul and neither will be able to cut entitlements, so if they re-build America, it will be on the back of a massive debt increase. Musk needs to be working on a car a la the Jetsons, which will not require the need to fix Americas potholes and the deficit will shrink and America will once again be great, albeit not so pretty. Current global central bank policies have no option but to end very badly. When the metals launch, it will be in large moves and not the step pattern we have witnessed since December 2012. The timing is always difficult and therefore we need to watch the technicals for a break-out. Gold needs to establish itself above the $1,376 level to begin a higher trajectory. Silver requires an initial break above the $20.45 level and then through $21.25, from where it should launch to the $24 area. It is frustrating awaiting the launch, but astronauts are positioned hours before the button is pushed. A core position should not be abandoned. What you missed on this week's For Pete's Sake show: By Peter Hug, Kitco Metals Global Trading Director; phug@kitco.com HANOI, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official market and indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi at 0058 GMT. Sept 22 Sept 21 USD/VND mid-point 21,944 21,953 USD/VND interbank 22,320/22,326 22,310/22,370 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.05/36.32 36.02/36.29 NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank quotes are indicative bid/ask prices. One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co, the gold manufacturer. Interbank offered rates are indicative, quoted from market sources. For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom) (Updating to add detail in 4th and 5th paras) BEIJING, Sept 22 (Reuters) - China has launched a probe into soaring sugar imports following complaints by its domestic industry, the government said on Thursday, the latest sign that trade tensions between major commodities producing nations is intensifying. The Ministry of Commerce said the probe will look at imports since 2011 and into possible protectionist measures provided by foreign countries for their producers. It will last six months, with an option to extend the deadline, it said. The government did not say which countries it would target as part of the probe. Thailand, Brazil and India are the world's largest sugar producers and China is the world's top buyer. The move follows years of lobbying by the domestic industry as mills have struggled with rising farming costs, particularly the high local sugar price which is set by the government. This year though, business conditions have improved with a resurgence in global refined sugar prices and imports of sweetener have fallen. The investigation also comes a week after the United States filed a challenge with the World Trade Organization over Beijing's price supports for its grain farmers. Over the past year, Europe and the United States have accused China of exporting its excess aluminium and steel production, hurting the global industry and pressuring global prices. (Reporting by Josephine Mason; additional reporting by Dominique Patton; Editing by Michael Perry) (Kitco News) - Gold prices are up sharply so far in 2016, yet the major North American producers still have their feet on the ground, remaining cautious with spending, said Citi Research. The banks analysts issued a report late Wednesday in conjunction with the Denver Gold Forum. They listed their takeaways after management updates were released to forum participants by Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE: NEM), Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE, TSX: ABX), Goldcorp (NYSE: GG; TSX: G), Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (NYSE, TSX: AEM) and Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE: KGC, TSX: K). Comex December gold has rallied 26% so far in 2016 to $1,344.10 an ounce, as of 11:26 a.m. EDT. Still, miners remain cautious and are planning based on lower prices, Citi said. Balance-sheet strength, cost cutting and prudent capital allocation were a constant theme. For the industry as a whole, growth remains elusive with most of the major companies facing declining production. One of the exceptions is Agnico Eagle, which is targeting 2 million ounces in the medium term, Citi said. Capex is headed to less capital-intensive, less risky brownfield projects, but this is stabilizing production rather than growing it, Citi said. Most gold companies appear broadly comfortable with current debt levels, except for Barrick, but still generally prefer to build cash balances, Citi said. Newmont is an exception, where higher dividends look increasingly likely, Citi said, adding that expectations are for this to be discussed at a future board meeting. As for company production guidance, no news is good news, Citi said. Analysts said there have been no material changes to guidance or strategy, generally a positive, in our view, with companies able to hit production and cost reduction goals. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com Fitch Rates Maybank Indonesia Finance's Bonds 'AA+(idn)' (The following statement was released by the rating agency) JAKARTA, September 22 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings Indonesia has assigned Indonesia-based PT Maybank Indonesia Finance's (MIF, AA+(idn)/Stable) proposed rupiah senior unsecured bond tranche III 2016 of up to IDR1.5trn a National Long-Term Rating of 'AA+(idn)'. The bonds, which will be issued under MIF's bond programme, will have a maturity of up to five years. Proceeds from the issue will be used to support the company's growth. 'AA' National Ratings denote expectations of low default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions may affect the capacity for timely repayment to a greater degree than is the case for financial commitments denoted by a higher rated category. KEY RATING DRIVERS SENIOR DEBT The bonds are rated at the same level as MIF's National Long-Term Ratings in accordance with Fitch criteria. The ratings are driven by Fitch's view that MIF's parent, PT Bank Maybank Indonesia Tbk (Maybank Indonesia; BBB/AAA(idn)/Stable), would provide timely support to its subsidiary, if needed. MIF plays an important role in expanding its parent's consumer business in Indonesia. Fitch views MIF as a strategically important subsidiary of Maybank Indonesia because of their strong linkages. This is evident from the parent's full ownership and name sharing with its subsidiary, strong operational alignment, funding support and the significant contribution MIF makes to its parent's loan portfolio. The ratings of Maybank Indonesia are in turn driven by strong support from its parent, Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank; A-/Stable). RATING SENSITIVITIES SENIOR DEBT The ratings on the debt issue will move in tandem with any changes to MIF's National Long-Term Rating. A significant dilution in ownership by the parent or perceived weakening of support for MIF would exert downward pressure on MIF's ratings, including the possibility of multi-notch downgrades. However, Fitch sees this prospect as remote due to MIF's strategic role in expanding its parent's business in Indonesia's consumer finance market. Rating upside could arise if Fitch were to perceive MIF as a core subsidiary of Maybank Indonesia. This would likely result in an equalisation of MIF's ratings with its parent's national ratings, based on Fitch criteria. This could occur if there is evidence of stronger integration between parent and subsidiary and a higher contribution to the parent's assets and income on a sustainable basis. Contact: Primary Analyst Iwan Wisaksana Director PT Fitch Ratings Indonesia Financial Institution DBS Bank Tower 24th Floor, Suite 2403 Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio Kav 3-5 Jakarta, Indonesia 12940 +62 21 2988 6807 Committee Chairperson Jonathan Cornish Managing Director +852 2263 9901 Date of Relevant Rating Committee: 13 April 2016 Note to editors: Fitch's National ratings provide a relative measure of creditworthiness for rated entities in countries with relatively low international sovereign ratings and where there is demand for such ratings. The best risk within a country is rated 'AAA' and other credits are rated only relative to this risk. National ratings are designed for use mainly by local investors in local markets and are signified by the addition of an identifier for the country concerned, such as 'AAA(idn)' for National ratings in Indonesia. Specific letter grades are not therefore internationally comparable. Media Relations: Leslie Tan, Singapore, Tel: +65 67 96 7234, Email: leslie.tan@fitchratings.com. Additional information is available on Applicable Criteria Global Non-Bank Financial Institutions Rating Criteria -- Effective 4/28/2015 to 7/15/2016 (pub. 28 Apr 2015) National Scale Ratings Criteria (pub. 30 Oct 2013) Additional Disclosures Solicitation Status Endorsement Policy ail=31 ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: . IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE ' '. 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. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. kitco news Spending on gold exploration in July and August was up sharply from a year ago, says SNL Metals and Mining Research. The consultancy reports that spending totaled $986.5 million, compared to $324 million in the same period last year. Drilling activity in Canada and accounted for 39% of all significant gold results announced between July 1 and Sept. 8, with a further 29% hosted by the Asia-Pacific region, SNL adds. Capital financings by exchange shows that firms listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange accounted for 55%, or $544 million, of the total raised from July 1 through August, followed by firms listed on the Australian exchange with 30%, or $291 million. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com Gran Colombia Impacted By Civil Strife; Existing Stockpiles Could Run Out Gran Colombia Gold Corp. (TSX: GCM; OTC PINK: TPRFF) has implemented special security measures but may not be able to sustain operations into next week due to civil strife in Colombia, although so far officials are maintaining 2016 production guidance, the company says. Officials explain that a local mining collective, with the majority illegal miners, has convened a civil strike in Segovia and Remedios to exert pressure in negotiations with the government over illegal mining. A decree became effective this month requiring small processing plants to obtain a registration with the Colombian government and an environmental license and to only process and sell gold with a proper certificate of origin. According to news reports, miners without permits have blocked roads, preventing company workers from reaching the main mining complex. While the company's employees are not directly involved in this dispute, the civil strike has now impeded their ability to safely report to work, Grand Colombia says. The company is taking appropriate measures and has implemented the necessary security procedures. There are also increased numbers of governmental authorities present to aid in controlling the situation. Officials say they are monitoring developments. The company is continuing to process stockpiles at the Segovia operations but the supply is limited and not expected to sustain operations into next week, Gran Colombia says. In August, the company upped its production guidance for 2016 to between 135,000 to 145,000 ounces of gold. For now, Gran Colombia continues to expect total production to be in this range unless the local civil strike is prolonged. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com Midas Gold Files Plan For Stibnite Gold Project Midas Gold Corp. (TSX: MAX) says subsidiary Midas Gold Idaho, Inc., which operates the Stibnite gold project in central Idaho, has filed a plan of restoration and operations with the U.S. Forest Service and Idaho Department of Lands in order to initiate the environmental assessment and permitting process for the project. Midas says it expects authorities to conduct internal reviews to determine the PRO's adequacy and then begin a public-review process. "The proposal laid out in the plan of restoration and operations represents a rare opportunity to use private investment for natural-resource restoration in conjunction with the redevelopment of the site as a modern mining operation that provides economic benefits to the region," says Stephen Quin, president and chief executive officer of Midas Gold. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com (Kitco News) - The mining community needs to see a proven track record that crowdsourcing can become another venue for companies to raise much-needed capital, according to one sector-leading executive. Chad Williams, president and chief executive officer of Red Cloud Klondike Strike Inc. the company behind the worlds first regulated equity crowdfunding platform exclusively developed for the mining sector presented his platform at the Denver Gold Forum Tuesday, and speaking to Kitco News, said that the reception has so far been lukewarm. I sensed that given the demographics at the conference that this was like Expedia giving a presentation to travel agents, he said. There is some hesitancy to embrace this technology but I think people will come around once the model has been proven. The main message Williams said that he is trying to get out to the mining community is that his online crowdfunding program isnt meant to compete with the sectors traditional broker-deal funding methods. He added that they created the platform to open up the investment pool and attract new capital to the mining industry, adding that it could be a valuable add-on to their traditional businesses rather than competition. In his presentation at the Denver conference, Williams noted that a changing demographic is increasing demand for more online products. He noted that millennials are now the largest portion of the population but stats shows that this group is less invested in stocks compared to other age groups. At the same time, millennials are more likely to participate in online financing. We are trying to change peoples investment habits and that is never going to be an easy task, he said. Looking back on Red Clouds achievement with the Klondike Strike platform, Williams said that they are where they expected to be. The platform was launched following the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in March, and so far, the capital raised amounts to about 10% of the companys total business on any given offering, and that is only accessing the Canadian marketplace. Klondike Strike has without a doubt been a great addition and complimentary to our traditional broker-deal business, he said. We are able to show that crowdfunding doesnt have to compete with traditional financing. Williams said that they are still growing the platform and the next step will be to launch a U.S. version sometime by the end of the year or by early 2017. He said that it is important to build on the momentum that they have been able to generate so far this year. Radisson Mining Resources, one of the first companies to list a private placement deal on Klondike Strike, was able to raise almost $700,000 dollars in less than three months, just slightly below their goal of $1 million. By Neils Christensen of Kitco News; nchristensen@kitco.com Follow @Neils_C MOSCOW, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The yield on a Russian sovereign Eurobond top-up was 3.9 percent, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Thursday, as high demand allowed Russia to offer investors a lower yield than initial guidance. Siluanov added the new Eurobonds were placed solely among foreign investors, with U.S. investors accounting for 53 percent of Thursday's $1.25 billion placement. He said around 200 investors from the United States, Britain, Europe, Asia and Russia had submitted bids and that demand for the paper exceeded $7.5 billion. (Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; Writing by Alexander Winning; Editing by Katya Golubkova) HANOI, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0414 GMT. Sept 22 Sept 21 USD/VND mid-point 21,944 21,953 USD/VND interbank 22,305/22,320 22,310/22,370 USD/VND unofficial 22,300/22,315 22,320/22,350 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.12/36.40 36.02/36.29 Interbank offered rates Overnight 0.4-0.7 0.4-0.7 1 week 0.4-0.8 0.4-0.8 1 month 1.5-2.2 1.7-2.2 3 months 3.2-4.2 3.3-4.2 NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources. One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co. For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on . For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom) PRAGUE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The Czech Finance Ministry sold 469.7 million crowns ($19.55 million) worth of 0.00/19 government bonds in the second, non-competitive round of an auction on Thursday. Issue status: REOPENED, 5th tranche Maturity: July 17, 2019 with 0.00 percent annual coupon Settlement date: September 23, 2016 AUCTION DATE 21/09/16 24/08/16 AVG. ACCEPTED YIELD -0.371 -0.224 AVG. ACCEPTED PRICE 101.052 100.650 HIGHEST ACCEPTED YIELD -0.371 -0.224 LOWEST ACCEPTED YIELD -0.388 -0.224 TAIL (max yield less avg. yield) 0.000 0.000 ALLOCATION AT THE CUT-OFF PRICE (%) 88.462 100.000 TOTAL INVESTOR BIDS (bln crowns) 19.120 20.373 NON-COMPETITIVE BIDS (bln crowns) 0.470 0.813 SOLD (bln crowns) 6.470 6.813 FINMIN (RETAINED "+"/SOLD "-" FROM 0.000 0.000 OWN PORTFOLIO) BID-TO-COVER RATIO (1st auction leg) 3.108 3.260 AMOUNT OUTSTANDING AFTER NEW SALE 34.159 27.689 (bln crowns) NOTE. In the second round, bonds are allotted to primary dealers at the average price and yield set in the first round. Dealers are not required to buy any bonds in the top-up round. Details of the government's debt auctions can be found on page . ($1 = 24.0270 Czech crowns) (Reporting by Mirka Krufova; Editing by Jason Hovet) A fast-moving fire Monday night consumes a home at Seventh Street and McKenzie Avenue near downtown Bremerton. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN By Josh Farley of the Kitsap Sun BREMERTON The Bremerton Fire Marshal's Office has ruled a fire Monday night on McKenzie Avenue was intentionally set. Fire Marshal Mike Six said Wednesday that he believes the fast-moving blaze Monday night on the 700 block of the street was an arson. He would not elaborate about how the fire was set, citing the ongoing investigation. Six added that there was an attempt to burn a structure on the property Friday, but it did very little damage. Monday's fire destroyed both that structure and the home on the property. No injuries were reported in either fire. You can now donate to Kiwiblog Stuff reports: A cross-party committee of MPs have unanimously called on Parliament to ensure live organ donors are paid 100 per cent of their normal income during recovery. Parliaments Health Select Committee has given a ringing endorsement to National Party MP Chris Bishops bill, by calling for it to be passed into law and boosting the amount donors would be paid. Under its first iteration, the bill would have increased financial support for living donors to 80 per cent of their income. Initially indexed to the ACC rate, the bill if passed, would reward live organ donors for their altruism significantly more than the sickness benefit they were currently entitled to. It was a measure Bishop hoped would both improve New Zealands organ donation rates, and reward people fairly without providing incentive to make such a decision. There are more than 700 people accepted for a kidney transplant and around 40 people for liver, cardiac or lung transplants. Currently live organ donors are essentially penalised for their altruism, facing a large loss of income while they donate, even though their actions save lives and contribute to a healthier New Zealand, he said. In the committees report to Parliament it recommended a number of changes to be made. Donors would be reimbursed at 100 per cent of their income for up to 12 weeks during recovery, as in the United Kingdom. SHARE Leaders of business, education, and religion in Knoxville gathered after a speech by Alec Ross to discuss local implications of his advice Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 at Webb School Knoxville. (Jay Miller/Special to the News Sentinel) Alec Ross, renowned author and aide to Democratic presidential candidate, addressed community leaders at Webb School Knoxville about the future of industry in East Tennessee Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. (Jay Miller/Special to the News Sentinel) Leaders of business, education, and religion in Knoxville gathered after a speech by Alec Ross to discuss local implications of his advice Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 at Webb School Knoxville. (Jay Miller/Special to the News Sentinel) Students of Webb School Knoxville worked to organize leaders of business, education, and religion in Knoxville to gather after a speech by Alec Ross to discuss local implications of his advice Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. (Jay Miller/Special to the News Sentinel) By Jay Miller, Special to the News Sentinel Author maps Knoxville's future economies With some strategic planning, the economic future for Knoxville is bright, according to Alec Ross, renowned author and aide to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Ross discussed the future of industry in East Tennessee at a public forum at Webb School of Knoxville Wednesday evening. He said the city must harness the talent and creativity that exists here already to succeed economically. "You have a university here, that's a fairly substantial human capital asset," he said. "You've got the Scripps network, that brings assets from the creative class. Mapping that, not doing it off the top of your head, but actually studying it, looking at the data, is important." Ross is the author of The New York Times best-seller, "The Industries of the Future." He told a crowd of local leaders in business, education, and religion that computer and genetic coding are the industries Knoxville could profit from most from in the coming years. "The world's last trillion-dollar industry was built out of computer code and the world's next trillion-dollar industry is going to be built out of genetic code," Ross said. "This bodes very well for Knoxville, given some of your assets here." Ross singled out Oak Ridge National Laboratory as one of the most important resources in East Tennessee. He said that as the world becomes more interconnected, through electronic devices and social media, cybersecurity will become an increasingly important industry. "Cybersecurity is a massive industry," Ross said. "The expertise at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is as good as you will find anywhere. There are remarkable assets that are already here." Ross currently resides in Baltimore, Md. He said he has witnessed private industries benefit from harboring talent from the National Security Agency, also based in Maryland. This model, Ross said, is one that Knoxville should pay attention to. "I've seen the impact of privatizing the NSA workforce in Maryland and when I think of this part of Tennessee, I think of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory," Ross said. "To the extent that any of that does go to the private sector could be a big deal." Leadership Knoxville, Leadership Tennessee, Knowledge Launch and Webb School of Knoxville organized the event. After the forum, small groups of attendees gathered in various parts of the Webb School campus to discuss what Ross's advice could mean for the region's infrastructure, educational priorities, economic development, and civic institutions. John Tolsma, mediator and founder of Knowledge Launch, asked Ross how he would spend $10 million if he were the mayor of Knoxville. Ross had one response: computer science education. "I am a big believer of interdisciplinary learning, but if you give me $10 million and say we want the highest return of investment on this money, I would make sure that every kid going through Knoxville public schools is functional in computer coding," he said. "If you are in a public school and you do not know how to code then you are competing from behind." Chris Pratt appears in a scene from "The Magnificent Seven." SHARE By Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune On the opening day of the Toronto International Film Festival, 37-year-old Minnesota native Chris Pratt ("Parks and Recreation," "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Jurassic World," not to mention "Moneyball" and "Zero Dark Thirty") talked to me about all the jerk-boyfriend roles played en route to movie stardom, and what making his first Western was like. He's a nice guy with a firm handshake. We met at the Four Seasons in Toronto, a couple of hours before the first media and industry screening of director Antoine Fuqua's remake of "The Magnificent Seven." First-wave reviews are chilly, but Pratt's career will be fine, thanks. Opening Friday, the movie stars Denzel Washington and, second-billed, Pratt as the gambler, shootist and scoundrel Josh Farraday. He's enlisted, for a fee, to clean up the dirty town in the grip of a bad rich man played by Peter Saarsgard. Pratt wasn't into Westerns growing up; he'd watch them on TV, semi-to-moderately reluctantly, with his father. Then, years later, there he was in London, shooting "Guardians of the Galaxy," and the 1940 William Wyler film "The Westerner" with Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan came on. "I loved it. I couldn't believe how much I loved it," he said. "That was the first movie I saw that really drew me into Westerns," Pratt said. "Guardians" director James Gunn, a huge Western fan, provided a long list of must-sees for Pratt's continuing education, "High Noon," "Rio Bravo" and "The Wild Bunch" among them. And then, Pratt said, "I realized how much I wanted to do one." His laconic but wisecracking role in "The Magnificent Seven" invites a certain amount of comedy in between killings. Director Fuqua, he said, "definitely reined me in. He'd never over-explain things, but he'd come over and say just a couple of words to keep me in line: 'Remember, this guy is dangerous.' It's more in my natural instincts to do something comedic, but I try to remember there are real moments at stake, real drama, real emotions. All I'm trying to do is make whatever choice I make real. Most of the time I'm completely wrong, but that's why I try different things. And that allows a director to find the right tone in the edit." SHARE By News Sentinel Staff A Jefferson County grand jury indicted a Tennessee Department of Children's Services case manager Thursday on charges of filing false reports during a child abuse investigation, according to authorities. Brenna Elizabeth Cervino, 33, of Dandridge, is charged with two counts of official oppression, three counts of official misconduct, one count of filing a false report and one count of falsifying a government record, according to a news release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Cervino filed false reports during a 2015 child abuse case that resulted in children being removed from a home, according to the release. Cervino is also charged with one count of filing a false report in neighboring Sevier County, the release states. Cervino turned herself in on Thursday and was booked into the Jefferson County jail on a $10,000 bond, according to the release. More details as they develop online and in Friday's News Sentinel. By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel What price being falsely labeled a potential terrorist and railroaded out of the law enforcement job solely because of one's faith as a Sunni Muslim? After years of legal wrangling, a federal judge this week had the answer for former Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper De'Ossie Dingus $100,000. U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell this week ordered the state to pay Dingus $100,000 in damages for his wrongful termination and years of discrimination that culminated with Dingus accused of being a potential terrorist for questioning the propriety of a training video. "He was treated as a threat," the judge wrote. "He was labeled as a possible terrorist-in-the-making. He was subjected to humiliating circumstances. All because he is a Sunni Muslim." Dingus, a military veteran who worked for the THP for a decade, was fired in 2010 after military liaison Maj. Kevin Taylor called Dingus a potential terrorist based on a brief encounter in November 2009 when Dingus complained about the airing of a video on the radicalization of children during a training class that was supposed to teach troopers how to recognize weapons of mass destruction. Taylor claimed Dingus was disruptive and belligerent. But none of the 35 other troopers in the training class backed up Taylor's claim. An internal investigation showed none of Dingus' co-workers shared Taylor's view. THP commanders fired Dingus anyway. Attached to his termination notice was a news clipping from a mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, in which a Muslim soldier opened fire. Attorney Arthur Knight III presented documents showing Dingus' bosses began the process of firing him before the internal probe was even finished. Campbell's ruling notes the terrorist claims were the last in a long string of mistreatments of Dingus by supervisors because of his faith. "When Mr. Dingus was hired in 2000 to work as an officer for (the Tennessee Department of Safety), he attended a sixteen-week training academy," the judge wrote. "During training, he encountered problems as the result of his religious status and practices. His supervisor gave him a less favorable post as a result of his religious practices and his status as a Sunni Muslim. He was asked to join in prayer meetings with Christian employees. When he declined his supervisor later said that Mr. Dingus should have joined (for the good of the agency)." Campbell had already ruled in Dingus' favor, but there was one big legal problem when it came to damages. Rather than going to a psychiatrist or a therapist as a prelude to proving emotional distress or a doctor to corroborate stress-induced illness, Dingus hustled to pay his bills and filed a claim with the Tennessee Civil Service Commission. He won $154,000 in back pay and benefits as a result of that claim but had to agree to take early retirement. Attorney Knight insisted the Department of Safety needed to be held accountable, and a financial punch for damages was the only way to do that. But the law requires some showing of psychological and medical damages. Campbell initially awarded Dingus $1, but the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled earlier this year Dingus' case was so "egregious" it didn't matter whether he had proved psychological fallout via traditional means. The harm he suffered, the court opined, was obvious. That ruling led to this week's reconsideration of damages by Campbell. SHARE By News Sentinel Staff MORRISTOWN Authorities arrested two people on Tuesday after deputies reported finding two bags of methamphetamine in a vehicle parked at the Hamblen County jail. Hamblen County Sheriff's Office narcotics officers arrested Candice Dene Wilson, 32, of Morristown, and Wesley Allen Russell, 28, of Talbott, after searching their Toyota parked at the jail, 510 Allison Street, according to a news release. Authorities saw Wilson in the passenger seat of the vehicle and approached because of her history of drug arrests, the release states. Officers found two bags of meth weighing a total of 7.6 ounces in a pink purse and 0.7 grams of meth and a Suboxone strip in a cigarette box belonging to Russell, according to the release. Wilson is charged with felony possession of methamphetamine for resale and violation of a drug-free school zone, according to the release. She is being held in the Hamblen County jail on a $500,000 bond. Russell is charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, possession of a Schedule III drug and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the release. Russell was served with two warrants that were on file for failure to appear in court and for violation of probation. He is being held in the Hamblen County jail on a $105,000 bond. More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel. Students fill the pedestrian walkway over Phillip Fulmer Way on the University of Tennessee campus as fall classes begin Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE By Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News Sentinel Nearly two months after a secretive online watchdog group called the University of Tennessee campus a "cesspool of anti-Semitism," the school continues to field questions from lawmakers, local community leaders and alums across the country. This week, the Canary Mission, a little-known pro-Israel website that creates dossiers of individuals it deems anti-Semitic, expanded its list of current and former UT students who have made inflammatory comments online to 34. The comments range from offensive anti-Jewish jokes and praise for Adolf Hitler to expressing pro-Palestine views. UT officials have repeatedly condemned the offensive comments, but that hasn't stopped people from contacting the university. "We have heard from alumni and friends associated with the university, and a few community members locally who have asked us some questions, and we've been asked about the situation by a few lawmakers," said UT spokeswoman Karen Simsen. "It's not super widespread, but every time they post a new story, we get a flurry of those asking, 'What's the deal?'" Each time, she said, UT officials respond with the list of things they're doing to monitor the campus climate, including examining all the posts for violations of the student conduct code and meeting with Muslim and Jewish student groups. "The university takes all of these comments very seriously and we do our due diligence," said Dean of Students Melissa Shivers. "I've been meeting with members of the Muslim Student Association, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Hillel to determine any level of threat, if the climate on campus is one where they don't feel safe or comfortable." Shivers has met with the groups twice, including with faculty advisers, and so far the feedback has been no surprise, she said. The Jewish and Muslim student groups are friendly and often work together on bringing speakers to campus or other events, said Greg Kaplan, faculty adviser for UT's Hillel chapter. "I don't think (the comments are) a reflection of any population I've seen, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned in our diversity and tolerance (efforts) that things like this are being tweeted," Kaplan said. "The thing is that I'm Jewish, too, and I've never seen anything resembling this at the University of Tennessee. "I don't see any evidence that anything in the tweet is implemented or carried out. I think the students overall get along, and it's a very diverse population." Shivers said she's also spoken to one student who was called out by the Canary Mission, and the student was extremely remorseful and crying in the dean's office, Shivers said. "It was a comment they made on Twitter as a freshman as an almost first-year student," Shivers said. The Canary Mission "dug in from a long time ago and are still attributing that to (the student), and certainly in their time here they've grown a lot as a student and a person, and regretted the comment." The Canary Mission has identified more than 100 posts from the 34 students, and some date back as far as 2011. Of those identified, 20 are current students, 12 are former student who graduated or withdrew, and two were never enrolled at UT, Simsen said. The Canary Mission keeps an online database of offenders, most of whom are students, though the site includes a section on professors at high-profile universities like Duke, Columbia, Brown and UCLA. The organization does not identify who operates the site and has no contact information other than a form for submissions. The reports on UT were released first to The Algemeiner, a New York-based Jewish newspaper that quoted leaders of the Canary Mission anonymously, and have since been picked up by Fox News. Medical Assistant Karen Whaley administers a flu test to Dustin Ellis Feb. 3 at the Summit Express Clinic in Fountain City. East Tennessee's flu season is just starting, and some doctors are seeing more people come in with flu symptoms. (PAUL EFIRD/NEWS SENTINEL) By Kristi L. Nelson of the Knoxville News Sentinel It's here the time of year East Tennessee starts seeing more flu. Statewide, as of last week, Knox is one of three counties that already have lab-confirmed cases of influenza, the Tennessee Department of Health reports; Shelby and Hamilton County also have confirmed cases. All are Flu A, a strain of H1N1. But 14 people in Tennessee including four in Knox County went to a provider last week with "influenza-like illness," according to a network of providers who voluntarily report to the state. Those cases aren't lab-confirmed but probably provide a more accurate picture of flu activity, even if not every one is really influenza, said Shelley Walker, spokeswoman for the state health department. "Cases of seasonal flu are not reportable, so we don't have comprehensive case numbers to report," Walker said. "We have a network of health-care providers across the state who volunteer to report to us each week any cases of influenza-like illness they diagnose, along with any lab-confirmed cases they see. We don't have comprehensive case numbers because many people with the flu do not see a health care provider for diagnosis, and of those that do, most do not have a laboratory test, as the provider can diagnose the illness based on presentation of symptoms, and the treatment is not dependent upon a laboratory test." Summit Medical Group, which operates practices in 13 counties, plus three urgent-care clinics, is seeing an increase in the number of patients with such illness, said medical director Dr. Eric Penniman. Penniman said Summit doctors diagnosed their first cases of flu all A this week via a rapid test using a nasal swab. Though they aren't lab-confirmed, he said several practices are diagnosing more flu this week. University of Tennessee Medical Center saw its first positive flu case last week, an emergency room patient with Flu B, said Infection Prevention nurse Tarry Samsel. Knox County's reported cases of flu-like illness are a little lower than the state's average, but they're a little higher for the East Tennessee region, which includes the counties around Knox. That doesn't necessarily mean more influenza, said Knox County Health Department Director Dr. Martha Buchanan. "This is the normal time of year when we start seeing more respiratory illness, and there are all kinds of respiratory illnesses going around right now," Buchanan said. "I don't see anything to indicate that our season's going to be any different than it normally is." Flu season in Tennessee generally peaks in January or February. Buchanan said it's too early to know if it will peak earlier. However, she and Penniman said people shouldn't gamble and wait to get a flu shot, which is readily available and will be free Oct. 1 during Free Flu Shot Saturday, but takes about two weeks to be effective. "Go ahead and get your flu shot, because flu's coming," Buchanan said. "We know that." The newly restored administration building at Lakeshore Park on 5930 Lyons View Pike, which now houses the city's Parks and Recreation department, has a scenic view of the Smokies, on Wednesday Sept. 21, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE Knoxville Mayor Madelin Rogero speaks at the ribbon cutting of the newly restored administration building at Lakeshore Park on 5930 Lyons View Pike, which now houses the city's Parks and Recreation department, on Wednesday Sept. 21, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) Attendees listen as city officials speak at the ribbon cutting of the newly restored administration building at Lakeshore Park on 5930 Lyons View Pike, which now houses the city's Parks and Recreation department, on Wednesday Sept. 21, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) By Tyler Whetstone, tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com Fifty people gathered outside the administration building at Lakeshore Park Wednesday afternoon for the ribbon cutting of the offices of the Knoxville Parks and Recreation Department. Instead of looking at the newly renovated brick fortress, the ceremony began with the people looking away from the building, in the opposite direction, toward the Tennessee River. Knoxville Vice Mayor Duane Grieve wanted to point out the view: rolling hills to the river, mountains in the backdrop, before he started the ceremony. He said the city was "blessed" to have the parks department move in. The building was constructed in 1884 to house the East Tennessee Hospital for the Insane and was later renamed the Lakeshore Mental Health Institute. Lakeshore Park was created in 1995 and shared campus space with the institute until 2012, when the state closed the hospital and gave the land to the city. City Mayor Madeline Rogero said the building was home to thousands of people getting the help they needed in the past and the repurposed building atop Lakeshore Park could do similar things. "It just struck me as interesting to think about, that when you come to this park and see these views it's really a healing place and it will continue to be a healing place, both mentally and physically," she said. "Hopefully that brings some comfort to people and some comfort to the legacy of this unique building." The city tore down 18 of the 23 buildings that made up the hospital complex, but saved the administration building and gave it a $3.3 million renovation. Will Fitzgerald worked as the communications director for the hospital from 1972-1979. He stood outside the new offices and said he was glad the city saved the administration building. "It's a great building. We were afraid that they were going to tear it down and I'm glad they saved it, he said. "They tore down the others. Of course they had to; they had no purpose. But this they were able to do something with and save it." Rogero said the city has to lead by example and save buildings and projects that could be repurposed for a new life. "Certainly if you look at all the buildings this one may have been in the worst shape," Rogero said. "You could easily say that this is just a big old building and [we should] tear it down. But because of its historic significance, it is a beautiful building, it had really good bones to start with and we knew with some extensive TLC that it could be a gem again." The department will have a reception area, along with a large meeting room and a break room on the first floor, recreation department staff on the second floor and administrative personnel on the third. One Lakeshore Park Board staff member will have an office in the building. SHARE Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., on Jan. 3, 2013. By Michael Collins of the Knoxville News Sentinel WASHINGTON Republicans on a House panel investigating the practices of abortion providers voted Wednesday to recommend that a biomedical company and its CEO be held in contempt of Congress. The vote came after Democrats stormed out of the meeting in protest. All eight GOP members of the House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives voted to proceed with contempt charges against California-based StemExpress and CEO Catherine Spears Dyer, saying they defied congressional subpoenas to turn over accounting records and other documents. "A subpoena is not a suggestion," said the panel's chairwoman, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. "It is a lawful order, and a subpoena must be complied with." Democrats argued the panel had no authority to bring contempt charges and accused Blackburn and the other Republicans of a political "McCarthyesque witch hunt" intended to drive fetal tissue providers out of business. "We would not participate in what we view as a very illegitimate process," the panel's top Democrat, Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, said after all six Democrats walked out of the meeting just before the contempt vote. The contempt charges now go to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration and then onto the full House. The House is expected to adjourn soon for its October recess, so it's unlikely the full committee will take up the charges until after the November election, Blackburn said. Wednesday's chaotic meeting was the latest display of partisan warfare splitting the 14-member investigative panel. It was formed last year after videos surfaced that showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue and organs. Planned Parenthood said the videos were deceptively edited, and a number of state investigations cleared the organization of any wrongdoing. Regardless, the investigative panel has plowed ahead with its probe of companies involved in fetal tissue procurement, including StemExpress, which provides research labs with cells, fluids, blood and tissue. The company collected fetal tissue from Planned Parenthood and sent it to researchers before ending its association with the abortion provider in August 2015. On Feb. 12, the panel issued a subpoena demanding that StemExpress turn over its banking and accounting records and divulge the names of employees involved in fetal tissue procurement. A second subpoena, issued March 29, called on Dyer to release the names of the company's finance director or account manager and turn over accounting documents. Republicans argue the documents are needed for the panel to complete its work and determine if StemExpress violated federal law, which allows companies involved in fetal tissue procurement to recoup their costs but bars them from making a profit. StemExpress provided the panel with accounting summaries of its records but refused to turn over the actual documents, according to a 20-page report by the panel's Republican majority. The company also refused to provide the names of its employees, saying that could put their lives in jeopardy. Blackburn said the panel's investigators first asked for the documents nine months ago and issued subpoenas only after the company refused to voluntarily release them. "The panel is entitled to this information so we can answer the question that is raised by the (federal) statute: did companies improperly profit?" Blackburn said. Democrats countered that StemExpress has produced 1,700 pages of documents and has offered witnesses to explain its business practices. They said Blackburn abruptly decided to begin contempt proceedings with no notice to the company, as the House prepared to adjourn until after the November election. "Getting facts has never been the (panel's) goal," said Schakowsky, who slammed the contempt proceedings as a dangerous partisan attack that could shut down lifesaving research on the Zika virus, multiple sclerosis and other diseases. Republicans on the panel are trying to stop fetal tissue research, Schakowsky said. "And I'm sorry to say because of their campaign of harassment, of subpoenas, of naming names, they are succeeding," she said. A representative from StemExpress did not attend the meeting. It is unfortunate that the flu vaccine won't be available at so many Knox County elementary schools this year. For the past 12 years, the Knox County Health Department has offered the FluMist nasal spray vaccine at public schools, as well as at private schools and some large child-care centers. But this year, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that FluMist hasn't been effective the past few flu seasons, and providers were told not to use it. So the health department made plans to offer injectable vaccinations instead. The shots will be given at all Knox County middle and high schools next week through Nov. 2. But only a few elementary schools will offer the shots. Schools Director of Public Affairs Carly Harrington said each site decided whether or not to host an in-school clinic. Granted, shots can be scary for children, especially little ones. Still, it's a shame more elementary schools couldn't make in-school clinics happen. More kids likely will get the flu as a result, and they'll spread it to other people in the Knoxville area. Sterchi, South Knoxville and Dogwood elementaries are the exceptions offering injections during school hours. To try to fill the gap, the health department will offer shots at two Saturday and three after-hours clinics. Any child or adult who shows up can get injected. Insurance will be filed for those who have it, but no one will be charged for the shot. Dr. Martha Buchanan, director of the health department, urged parents to find some way to vaccinate their children against the disease "that still kills thousands of Americans every year." The Saturday clinics will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 22 at South-Doyle High School, and 9 a.m.-noon Oct. 29 at Gibbs High School. After-hours clinics will be 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the health department's Teague Clinic, 405 Dante Road in North Knoxville; 3-6:30 p.m. at the main health department, 140 Dameron Ave. off Central Street; and 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at the West Clinic, 1028 Old Cedar Bluff Road. A full schedule is at www.knoxcounty.org/health/schoolflu. Parents can be with their children when they get shots. Another opportunity to get a flu shot will come on Oct. 1: Free Flu Shot Saturday. The annual program was founded 25 years ago by primary-care physicians Charlie Barnett and Bob Montgomery to create "herd immunity" against the influenza that is, enough people vaccinated that the virus wouldn't run wild through the community. From 8 a.m.-noon Oct. 1, while supplies last, flu shots will be given to anyone 4 and older on a first-come, first-served basis at six area schools: Austin-East, Carter, Farragut, Halls and West high schools, and South-Doyle Middle School. The shots are free, but people who want to can donate to the News Sentinel's Empty Stocking Fund. The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation funds much of the annual event. Summit Medical Group and Knoxville-area Rotary Clubs also provide money and manpower. Flu season in East Tennessee can start as early as October, but it usually peaks from January to March. The shot takes about two weeks to take effect. Get one. SHARE Watching Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton make her remarks about Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's supporters being "deplorable" and "irredeemable" and then calling them racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic and Islamophobic was painful. This demonizing of certain voters is a tactic to silence their objections to policies she endorses. An example of such policy would be her decision to bring thousands of refugees from Syria to the United States, even though FBI Director James Comey stated those refugees cannot be vetted completely. Comey's statement made many people uneasy. If you spoke out against this policy, you were slapped with the label Islamophobic. This divisive practice could be excused as a political tactic to quiet the opposition. However, there is more to this than just intimidation by name calling. In 2011 Clinton, then secretary of state, applauded the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for helping pass Resolution 16/18 in the Human Rights Council at the United Nations. Free-speech advocate Jonathan Turley of George Washington University Law School argues that the resolution criminalizes freedom of expression. In the United States insulting religion is protected speech, as demonstrated by a photograph taken in 1987 of plastic crucifix submerged in a jar of the photographer's urine. Christians did not demand this type of art be stopped, just that tax dollars should not be used to fund it. The OIC had worked for years to get a resolution criminalizing defamation of Islam passed in the Human Rights Council. Turley writes that the wording of the resolution does just that. Clinton supported this demand rather than stand up for our freedom of speech rights. Furthermore, Donald Trump's supporters deserve respect, not to be denigrated for opposing policies advocated by Clinton. Brenda Miller, Knoxville Special report: TVA has reduced emissions. So why does it lag on solar? Thanks to the TVA, Tennessee led the nation in reducing its carbon footprint. But TVA lags behind its peers in the Southeast on solar. Grassy Cove Segment of the Cumberland Trail on Black Mountain near Crab Orchard, Tenn., on Dec. 3, 2015. (News Sentinel file photo) SHARE By News Sentinel staff Fall may be officially starting, but Knoxville should continue to see sunny skies and warm weather for this week at least. Thursday morning marks this year's autumnal equinox and the official first day of fall, but sunny skies and highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s are still in the forecast. Night skies should be mostly clear with lows in the mid-60s. If you're headed to the Tennessee-Florida game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, expect sunny skies with highs near 90 and calm winds. Here's an extended outlook, via the National Weather Service in Morristown: Friday: Sunny with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Friday night: Mostly clear with lows in the mid-60s. Saturday: Sunny with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Saturday night: Mostly clear with lows in the mid-60s. Sunday: Mostly sunny with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Sunday night: Partly cloudy with lows in the mid-60s. Monday: Mostly sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Monday night: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid-60s. Tuesday: Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower to mid-80s. Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Get weather warnings or alerts by signing up at MyKnoxnews.com, and follow @KnoxvilleWX on Twitter for Knoxville-area weather information. The state-run Korea Development Bank, the main creditor of the cash-strapped Hanjin Shipping Co., is considering loaning some 50 billion won ($45.4 million) to help the ailing shipper unload its cargo, industry sources said Thursday. According to the sources, the KDB will finalize the loan extension this week to the country's No. 1 shipping line, which will be used to resolve unpaid cargo unloading fees. The move came one day after Korean Air Lines Co., the largest shareholder of Hanjin Shipping, decided to loan some 60 billion won to its embattled shipping unit. Should the KDB proceed with its planned loan extension, Hanjin Shipping can receive a total of 160 billion won in cash, including 40 billion won from the personal account of Cho Yang-ho, chairman of Hanjin Group, the parent of Hanjin Shipping. Hanjin Shipping was put under receivership early this month as its creditors, led by the KDB, rejected the shipper's self-rescue plan worth some 500 billion won. Hanjin Shipping's receivership sent ripples through the global shipping network with more than half of its ships stranded at sea out of fears that they may be seized by creditors. The ships were also blocked from entering ports in the United States, China, Canada and many other nations, as lashing service firms and port workers refused to work for the shipper out of concerns that they would not be paid. Earlier, the government said Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., the country's No. 2 shipper, plans to deploy ships on Hanjin Shipping-operated routes. Hyundai Merchant Marine, currently under a creditor-led debt restructuring scheme, may seek to take over Hanjin Shipping's healthy assets, such as port terminals and global business networks. (Yonhap) By Yoon Sung-won SK Telecom and LG Uplus have failed to follow a law on reporting to the National Assembly about sharing of user location information with government agencies, according to an opposition lawmaker Thursday. Rep. Kim Sung-soo of the Minjoo Party of Korea said the location information law stipulates that all businesses handling location information are obliged to report to the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Future Planning, Broadcasting and Communications Committee every six months about when and how they have provided the authorities with location information. Kim pointed out that the two telecom companies have never submitted any such reports. "SK Telecom and LG Uplus have clearly violated the current law," the lawmaker said in a statement. "Even if the provided location information is used only for emergency rescue operations, the telecom companies have broken the minimum regulation made to prevent abuse of personal information by government agencies such as the police," he said. "This has shown that the telecom companies are still careless about information security." KT, on the other hand, has reported to the committee on 371,002 cases of providing user location information to the police in the latter half of 2015 alone, Kim said. Both SK Telecom and LG Uplus admitted their fault. "The government regulations say that we need to report both to the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) and the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Future Planning, Broadcasting and Communications Committee. But we have reported only to the KCC," an SK Telecom spokesman said. "We will make sure that this will not happen again in the future." An LG Uplus spokeswoman said, "This happened because we did not recognize the process clearly. We did not miss the report on purpose. We pledge to fulfill the duty in the future." The National Emergency Management Agency, Korea Coast Guard and the police are allowed to tap into user location data, detected by the location information businesses, to save lives from imminent danger, Kim said. Among the three authorities, the police acquired access to personal location information after earning recognition as an emergency service agency from the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee and related government institutions. At that time, some pointed out that the decision may cause abuse of private information and urged the National Assembly to oblige the police to win approval after they use such information. But the argument was dismissed for the sake of efficiency in emergency rescue operations. The two telecom companies' breach of the location information law is expected to be reiterated during an Assembly inspection slated for next week. The two companies are not expected to be subject to any legal punishment for the breach under the current law. "We need to consider preparing for backgrounds to make telecom companies take legal responsibility should they fail to fulfill their obligation to report," Kim said. By Kim Tae-gyu eBay Korea is stuck in a dilemma on whether or not to pay dividends on its tens of billions won of reserves earned between 2015 and 2016 to avoid a substantial amount of punitive taxes. Over the last two years, the overall taxable profits are estimated to be around 60 billion won after paying corporate taxes. If the company opts to keep it, an additional 10 percent tax would be levied next year under a law formulated by former Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan. The 2017 profits would be subject to the new taxes in early 2018 so that the maximum amount potentially payable by eBay Korea would approach 10 billion won. "The decision should be made by early next year. But it is up to eBay, which owns 100-percent stakes in eBay Korea. Hence, we have little to say about it," an eBay Korea official said. eBay, the world's leading online marketplace, purchased a pair of homegrown online shopping malls, Auction in 2001 and G-Market in 2009 to become a dominant player here. Composed of the two brands eBay chalked up handsome profits every year but the Seoul-based outfit has yet to pay dividends to eBay headquarters in the United States. A source familiar with the issue pointed out that eBay is required to make a decision by next March and the total amount of additional taxes on cash reserves may be much higher than 10 billion won. "eBay is seemingly pondering over the decision. If eBay Korea pays dividends, it would come under fire for the outflow of national wealth and the U.S. also imposes taxes on income from dividends earned overseas. If not, it will experience a so-called tax bomb," he said. "Either option has its own ups and downs. It remains to be seen how eBay deals with this difficult case." In 2014, a team under former Finance Minister Choi came up with the idea of taxing profit reserves and capital surpluses to force companies to invest in facilities or pay dividends to shareholders. The measure was geared toward galvanizing the moribund economy through forcing corporations to spend money instead of hoarding it. Some claim that dividends should be taxed because they hardly contribute to the economy and a bill is pending at the National Assembly on that. However, criticism rose that the move was tantamount to double taxation because firms already paid taxes on their profits; but the Seoul administration forged ahead with the tax revision. One consolation for eBay is that the regulation is a sun-set law, which means that it will expire after 2017. But there is the possibility that the country's unicameral parliament will vote to extend the law to beyond 2018. Young customers shop at an Etude House store on Siam Square in Bangkok, Thailand. This is the cosmetics brand's first directly managed overseas store, and was opened in May. / Courtesy of AmorePacific By Jhoo Dong-chan Etude House, AmorePacific's affiliate brand, is smoothly making inroads into the global cosmetics market with its enhanced brand image, an AmorePacific official said. Under a new brand slogan of "Life is sweet," Etude House has introduced a new set of product designs while strengthening its commercial campaigns to become the top global makeup brand for the young. In 2007, Etude House opened its first overseas shop in Thailand to begin its global sales operation. It also entered the Japanese cosmetics market in 2011 by opening its first shop in Shinjuku, central Tokyo, and then Hong Kong in 2012. The company's first shop in Hong Kong made over 200 million won in sales in the week after its opening. Now operating some 230 stores in 12 different countries in Asia, Etude House said that it will continue promoting its marketing operations in the region, with establishing sales footholds around megacities there. "Etude House plans to have more than 345 overseas stores in a bid to achieve half of the company's total sales from the foreign market by 2020," an official said. "The company is also strengthening global customer communication by operating various social media channels to collect their opinions about our products. We aim to have 5 million social media followers for our brand across the world within five years." In a bid to attract more customers in their 20s, Etude House has already operated a number of social media channels in Korea where it currently has some 950,000 followers on Facebook and 320,000 followers on Instagram. The number of followers increased by 30 percent compared to last year's figure while market researcher TNS said the company was this year's most mentioned cosmetics brand online. As a part of its efforts to attract more customers online, Etude House has carried out a multi-channel network (MCN) program to recruit so-called "beauty creators" since June. It selected a total of 25 global creators who will introduce Etude House products and its related makeup knowhow through various media platforms, including YouTube. The famous beauty creator under the program was Q2HAN, the U.S.-born twin sister with 150,000 YouTube subscribers (https://www.youtube.com/c/q2han). They not only broadcast beauty tutorials by using Etude House products but also introduce various tour attractions around the world, receiving phenomenal attention especially from young women in their 20s. This year's Etude House cosmetics lineup includes Play 101 Stick, Tint My Brows Gel, Dear My Blooming Lips-Talk and Real Powder Cushion. The Play 101 Stock is a multi-function color stick for eyes, cheeks and lips that creates color impact with a smooth and sheer finish. The product has gained great success since its introduction in December, sold a total of 1 million units with 25 billion won in sales across Asia. The Tint My Brows Gel is a new-concept eyebrow gel tint that makes eyebrow makeup last longer after removing the tint. The Dear My Blooming Lips-Talk is a girlish-pink inspired lipstick with a lightweight and soft texture, having gained huge attention from young people since K-pop star Crystal started to promote the product. The Real Powder Cushion is an innovative multitasking powder cushion which provides all-day flawless face makeup with a light and powdery finish. Renault Samsung Motors Co., the local unit of French automaker Renault S.A., has recalled more cars than it has sold here over the past five years, a lawmaker said Thursday. Since 2011, Renault Samsung sold 436,111 cars in South Korea while recalling 765,435 vehicles, meaning the carmaker recalled about 1.8 cars for every car sold here, according to Rep. Yoon Hu-duk of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea. Such a high rate of recall could indicate many problems with the car, but Renault Samsung officials argued it was because the company was most faithfully working to improve the quality and safety of its vehicles. "Most advanced countries encourage voluntary recalls instead of free repair services that do not require disclosure of problems with the product to the general public," a company official said, while speaking on condition of anonymity. "Renault Samsung has the highest recall execution rate of 88.93 percent among all automakers here, meaning the company is most actively working to improve the quality of its products," he added. By sheer numbers, local industry leader Hyundai Motor Co. recalled the largest number of some 1.22 million cars over the cited period, the lawmaker noted, citing related data from the transportation ministry. However, when considering the number of cars sold here, Hyundai recalled 0.3 car for every car sold here over the past five years. Out of all import brands, BMW Korea recalled the largest number of 140,867 cars between 2011 and the first half of 2016, according to Yoon. Honda Korea, the local importer of the Japanese car, had the highest recall rate of 1.9 cars per each of 43,152 cars sold here over the cited period. (Yonhap) By Jhoo Dong-chan Renault Samsung, the local unit of the French carmaker Renault, has recalled its cars most frequently in Korea over the past five years, a lawmaker said Thursday. Main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea lawmaker Yoon Hoo-duk cited data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport that Renault Samsung has recalled a total of 765,435 cars between 2011 and June this year. Considering the carmaker sold 436,111 cars in the period, it has recalled 1.8 cars for each car sold in Korea. Besides Renault Samsung, only Honda Korea had more cars recalled than sold in the period, according to Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association data. "Most governments of developed countries encourage carmakers to carry out voluntary recalls instead of free repairs without clarifying defects to customers," said a Renault Samsung official. "Renault Samsung is working actively and transparently to improve its service quality with its highest recall rate of 88.93 percent in Korea." The data also showed the nation's largest carmaker Hyundai Motor recalled a total of 1.22 million cars while its sister affiliate Kia Motors has recalled 389,869 cars in the period. The recall ratio for each car sold for the two carmakers was 0.3 and 0.1, respectively. GM Korea has recalled a total of 629,014 cars, marking its recall ratio at 0.8 cars recalled for every car sold. Of foreign import carmakers, BMW has had the most frequent recalls, recalling a total of 140,867 cars in Korea. Mercedes Benz Korea ranked second with 68,272 cars, followed by Audi Volkswagen Korea with 68,104, Toyota Korea with 56,508 and Honda Korea with 43,152. Honda Korea recalled 43,152 cars while it sold 23,177 in the period, placing its recall ratio at 1.9. By Yoon Ja-young With the fear about earthquakes increasing following tremors in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, consumers are turning their eyes to earthquake insurance. Some insurers that had halted selling such policies after the earthquake resumed sales, Thursday, amid increasing criticism that they were shunning customers when they needed insurance most. Local insurers said they have been getting hundreds of phone calls inquiring about earthquake insurance, following the 5.8-magnitude earthquake on Sept. 12. Some insurers including Dongbu, KB and Hanwha had been offering protection against earthquakes, but most of them had stopped selling it following the tremor. As the cessation led to consumer complaints, they agreed to resume selling the insurance, Thursday. A spokesman for Dongbu Insurance explained that the company had stopped selling earthquake insurance because the country was still going through aftershocks. "As the aftershocks were continuing, new subscriptions to earthquake insurance were meaningless. It would be like subscribing to car insurance while a car accident was ongoing. As the insurance companies are free from obligations in such cases, the new subscribers wouldn't be able to receive compensation even if they sustained damage from the aftershocks. We had stopped selling it so as not to confuse consumers." Amid growing complaints that customers were being left without means of resort when insurance was most needed, however, Dongbu and the other insurers resumed selling it. WeWork Meatpacking office in New York City / Courtesy of WeWork Introduces new work culture By Yun Suh-young Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could work in 100 different nicely designed offices across 30 cities for only as low as $320 a month? Well, with WeWork, that dream is now a possibility. WeWork opened a coworking space in the busy southern district of Gangnam in Seoul on Aug. 1. The Gangnam office, which accommodates 1,000 and is next to the Gangnam subway station, is only the second in Asia after the Shanghai office, which opened in July. Early next year, a second Seoul office will open at Daeshin Finance Center in Myeongdong in the northern part of the city. The Myeongdong office is expected to be the largest WeWork branch in Asia, accommodating 3,000 people. WeWork offices are usually spacious, occupying up 10 floors of a building. A WeWork office in Hollywood WeWork is a company that provides coworking spaces, that is, offices or workspaces that are shared and are available for a monthly fee. WeWork offers four options: the "hot desk" option, which allows you to occupy any available desk for 350,000 won (US$320) per month; the "designated desk" option, which provides you with a designated desk; a "private office" option, which provides you your own office; and a "member" option, which enables you to use the WeWork app to network with members around the world. WeWork has 65,000 registered members at 100 offices in 30 cities. Their members come from various industries, ranging from PR, fashion, IT and consulting to finance and legal services. They include entrepreneurs, startups and big companies such as Facebook, IBM, Dell and Microsoft. Of the 65,000 members, 10,000 are enterprises. Newly opened WeWork Gangnam in Seoul The value of networking WeWork leases workspaces to entrepreneurs and other individuals and provide them access to other necessary services and equipment related to running a business. But perhaps the most valuable aspect of WeWork's plans is the connections members can make through their online and offline platforms. The WeWork app connects its extensive network of members enabling them to chat, ask questions, seek workers and find jobs. This ability to connect with other members in a huge network is what makes WeWork stand out from other coworking spaces. "We came here because of the synergies, the great people who work here and the location. Also, for me, the app is really important because it connects this center in Gangnam with all the WeWorks around the world. The app connects all 65,000 people over the world," said Todd Sample, CEO of Sample & Park Consulting. WeWork Seattle / Courtesy of WeWork "This kind of center is really what you make of it. If you just need an office, there are lots of offices in Seoul. But you can take advantage of the potential synergies which are located not just throughout WeWork through the app, but also in this building. "If we have a business trip to New York, Washington, Hong Kong or Shanghai, then we can also reserve conference rooms there as well." At WeWork's offices across the world, members meet new clients, find business partners and collaborate with other creative and entrepreneurial people. "We moved here on the opening day on Aug. 1, and it has been wonderful ever since. We raised money here, we've met customers here and we hosted marketing events, sharing tips on video marketing. We met not only one, but many customers through WeWork and through our seminars here," said David Lee, CEO of Shakr, a video marketing company. "We could do networking and marketing and were also able to receive investment from one of the members of WeWork. At the end of the day, coming to WeWork was definitely the right move for us." WeWork Gangnam / Courtesy of WeWork Creating a new work culture WeWork calls itself a "community" company, as it builds communities by curating and creating a new office culture and enhancing the working experience. It says it is different from competitors, which function rather like traditional offices. "We're competing against office. We're changing the way people work," said Adam Neumann, one of the cofounders of WeWork, during a recent interview with Fortune. Its mission statement is "Where people work to make a life, not just a living," and its tagline is "Do what you love." It calls itself a "mission-driven business," as it helps people do what they love to do and use their work to benefit others. At WeWork, entrepreneurs can lean on its huge network of people, who are willing to offer advice and support. WeWork Gangnam / Korea Times photo by Yun Suh-young "We connect our network of 65,000 members through our platform. Members expand globally through the network, are inspired by it and engage in events and opportunities to connect. We feel proud and happy to help them learn, connect and grow," said Kim Soo-jin, community manager at WeWork in Gangnam. In this way, the company has a human-centered, or more appropriately, a client-centered culture. "We meet our members at the office every day and listen to what they do and what they need. We provide everything that would facilitate our members to focus on work. We also create events to connect members together and help them interact and gain new information." Not only that, the company is meticulous about hiring employees, as they find extreme value in finding a good match. "We invest in employees, and they build the best products which translate into profit," Neumann said. How it started WeWork was launched in 2010 during the global financial crisis by two entrepreneurs, Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey. They were struggling with the high rent of their offices, so they decided to buy an entire building floor, refurbish it and rent it out to individuals running their own businesses. Green Desk, the predecessor to WeWork, was a big success, and they sold it to their landlord in order to launch a bigger business. WeWork is currently valued at 16 billion dollars and is ranked ninth as a unicorn, or a startup that is not IPO listed but valued at over 1 billion dollars. Despite doubts from many, the company has not only survived the financial crisis, it has actually grown bigger and bigger ever since; its value grew by 160 times in just four years. Neumann and McKelvey anticipated the market trends and needs. People were becoming more open-minded about communal workspaces, and the concept of the sharing economy became an ever-growing trend. In addition, the rise of startups brought about the need for smaller and cheaper offices with one-stop services that allowed entrepreneurs to focus on work. WeWork successfully leveraged its strengths by linking its members through a global network, giving them valuable connections and another reason to stay. By Jun Ji-hye Yun Byung-se Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se criticized North Korea, Wednesday, for conducting its fifth nuclear test at a time when the country is suffering from severe flooding that has reportedly caused the loss of many lives. During a high-level human rights meeting held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Yun said Pyongyang conducted the nuclear test early this month even when people were suffering from the worst flooding in decades, and this attests to the shamelessness of the North Korean leadership that totally disregards the lives of ordinary citizens. The meeting with the theme "Preventing Conflicts through the Mainstreaming of Human Rights" was co-hosted by the foreign ministers of Switzerland and Germany. Severe flooding in North Hamgyong Province in North Korea affected by the heaviest rains since 1945 has left 138 people dead, 400 missing and at least 140,000 in immediate need of assistance, including 69,000 who have been forced to leave their homes, according to the United Nations. But the Kim Jong-un regime mobilized its national resources to carry out its fifth and most powerful nuclear test, Sept. 9, during which it allegedly detonated a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can be mounted on a ballistic missile. The latest test came months after the fourth test took place in January. This was the first time for the North to carry out nuclear tests twice a year. "The North Korean government chose to turn a blind eye to the plight of its people," Yun said. "North Korea, the world's most impoverished wasteland, has been diverting its already scarce resources into the development of weapons of mass destruction while its people have basic needs that are unmet." Yun said he hopes that the U.N. Assembly will send out an unequivocal message to the international community that massive human rights abuses committed by the North Korean government will have serious consequences. Other participants of the meeting also urged the United Nations to take action against the isolated state's dire human rights situation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2014, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution on the situation of human rights in North Korea, with 111 states voting in favor, 19 against and 55 abstaining. The resolution had been tabled by the European Union and Japan, and co-sponsored by the largest-ever number of countries ever (60), including South Korea. By Jun Ji-hye A controversy is brewing over Korea Post's plan to issue 600,000 commemorative stamps next September to mark the centenary of President Park Chung Hee's birth. Park, the father of incumbent President Park Geun-hye, has received mixed reviews from historians. He has been criticized by liberals for suppressing democracy during his 18-year military dictatorship, though others say his role in laying the economic foundation of the country should never be ignored. Those who object also cite that stamps commemorating a president's birth have never been issued in the nation. Rep. Shin Kyoung-min of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea said Tuesday that the decision to issue such stamps "just goes beyond common sense," calling on Korea Post to review and retract its decision. "Since the Roh Tae-woo government, Korea Post has issued commemorative stamps to celebrate inaugurations of presidents only as part of the government's efforts to eliminate dictatorship," Shin said during a radio appearance. "All of Roh's successors have followed this convention." In response to the controversy, Korea Post said there is a rule that it can issue commemorative stamps to mark 50th or 100th anniversaries of historic events or persons that deserve to be commemorated. It added that it held a meeting of the deliberation committee to decide whether to issue commemorative stamps for Park Chung-hee following a request from Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province, his birthplace, adding that the committee was comprised of experts from various sectors. But critics said there is another rule that politically and religiously controversial events or persons should be excluded in the issuing of commemorative stamps. Park ruled the country with an iron fist for 18 years until he was assassinated by his own intelligence chief in 1979. A portrait of the deceased Ahn Chi-beom lies on a memorial altar at St. Mary's Hospital in southern Seoul, Wednesday. Ahn died Tuesday after saving residents of a studio apartment building in Mapo-gu, Seoul, during a fire, Sept. 9. / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eun The government and the ruling Saenuri Party are pushing to have a man, who died saving residents from a building that was set on fire, to be put on the list of "those killed for a righteous cause." Ahn Chi-beom, 28, died after helping evacuate residents from a studio apartment building in Seogyo-dong, northwestern Seoul, after a fire broke out there around 4:20 a.m., Sept. 9. Saenuri Party Chairman Lee Jung-hyun said Thursday he visited the funeral altar for Ahn the previous day and he proposed to government officials that he be put on the list of righteous deaths. He added that the officials promised to review it at a committee meeting under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. "We must not forget the invaluable sacrifice of the deceased," Lee said at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly. The government recognizes deaths which occur while saving others' lives or preventing injuries or damage to property _ excluding the work of those in related professions _ as death in a righteous cause. It provides compensation for bereaved family members of such people, according to a related law. By Lee Kyung-min A Chinese tourist, who stabbed a woman to death in a cathedral on Jeju Island last Saturday, is suspected of giving false statements to police in an attempt to avoid harsh punishment, police said Thursday. According to Jeju Seobu Police Station, recently secured evidence disproves claims by the man, surnamed Chen, 50, who denied the killing was premeditated. He said that he stabbed the woman, surnamed Kim, 61, because someone controls him remotely after inserting a microchip inside his head. Chen, who entered Jeju Island on Sept. 13 on a visa waiver program, bought a knife at a mall two days before the attack and visited the cathedral twice a day before the killing. "This shows he planned the killing," a police officer said. "We suspect he gave such unreasonable statements to face lighter punishment." Police do not suspect Chen committed the crime due to mental illness, following a criminal profiler interview that concluded he showed only mild symptoms of a mental disorder. Shoeshiner Kang proud of job giving others a sheer joy By Lee Kyung-min Kang Gyou-hong, a shoeshiner with 27 years of experience, shines a shoe with a piece of cloth at his "office," a stainless steel booth near Gwanak District Office in southern Seoul. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Kang Gyou-hong, 63, has spent decades shining and repairing shoes inside a tiny stainless steel booth near Gwanak District Office in Seoul. Working with many customers over the last 27 years, Kang says he didn't make much money but learned to be grateful for what he got. Satisfaction is the greatest aspect of his work. "Customers give me a pair of dull shoes, and I make them look remarkably good," he said. "Every time my customers come to get their shoes back, their faces light up, thanking me for making their old shoes look like a brand new pair. That's where my pride and joy come from." Kang is proud of what he does. "How many professions can you think of that give others sheer joy? Politicians, lawyers, bankers, policemen, government officials or reporters like you, can they say the same?" Plus, there are other perks that come with the job. "I'm my own boss. Nobody can tell me what to do. I don't have to impress anyone or show fake emotions, which is what most office workers spend their time doing." He says he still has a lot to learn about shoeshining. "What's more, I don't have to retire. I will do this as long as I can until I'm 90 or 100. Only then, my skill will be more refined and I will be more experienced." He said people need to look on the bright side, instead of complaining about what they don't have. "It is really hard to find anyone with a smile on their face nowadays," he said. "But, almost always, they don't know what they have. Why not be thankful for not being sick? Why not be thankful the weather is not scorching hot anymore, for example?" Kang said male customers come mostly to have their shoes shined, while women come with other requests. "Some expensive shoes from Italy and France have only a thin, soft outsole. Those shoes are meant to walk on a carpet, not on asphalt or on the street. Many women come to me to add a durable rubber sole so they can wear their shoes longer with minimal damage to them," he said. Stiletto tip replacement is the next-most-frequent repair request by women, he added. "Women come for the tip replacement regularly, almost every three months. You know, some women don't like that clicking noise when they walk. For them, I have more expensive but quiet tip replacements," Kang said. The price of a shoeshine goes for usually 3,000 won ($2.68) a pair, but Kang recommends wax coating, coloring and other "extra care," which are more expensive than a simple shoeshine. "I have my special way to make shoes gleam and become more durable. And that is part of my business secret that I came up with on my own over my 40 years of experience. But, sometimes, I do it for free for my regulars." Kang and his 30 fellow shoeshiners in Gwanak have donated millions of won every year to help the needy since 1990. As of last year, they had donated 116 million won. "It's all up to how you choose to see things. Of course there are plenty of people who have far more money than I have. But do they have greater appreciation toward life and its meaning than I do? I don't think so," he said. Kang shines a shoe at his office in southern Seoul. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Slow business At 9 a.m. sharp, shoeshiner Kim, in his 50s, opens his "office," a five square-meter, 1.6 meter-high stainless steel booth. Equipped with a full set of work tools cans of boot polish, brushes, coating wax, shoe dye, scissors and hammers his office also has a high-definition monitor, a computer with an internet connection and even air conditioning. His booth is located in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, where a number of government and office buildings are clustered including Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and many law firms and bank branches. When asked how his business is these days, he says the number of his clients has shrunk, partly because of the trend that a growing number of people, even office workers, wear sneakers to work. But he has another reason for the decrease of clients. "My workplace is near office buildings where people wear suits and ties, but almost half my clients left after the government agencies began moving to Sejong City in 2012," he said. "So, now, most of my customers are from the police agency or office buildings." He and other shoeshiners say that their income is largely in line with the nation's economy their income shrinks when the domestic economy is as bad as it is now. Kang sits inside his office near Gwanak District Office in southern Seoul. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Booth management The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is in charge of managing shoeshine booths in the capital, which it began setting up for shoeshiners in 2007 in an effort to integrate them as tax-paying private business entities. Before, thousands of shoeshiners remained outside government monitoring, virtually exempt from having to pay taxes. Currently, around 1,000 such booths are set up in Seoul. Although the tax levied per booth varies according to their income, up to 1 million won is levied a year on the relatively well-off shoeshiners working affluent districts such as Gwanghwamun and Gangnam. "We do not believe that many shoe-shiners are that profitable, though," an SMG official said. "Quite a lot of them have given up on their business." SMG renews its contracts with the booth owners every year. Those who accumulate more than 300 million won in one year are disqualified from running such a business, and SMG gives the booth to a new, qualified applicant. In 2014, the SMG set the criteria for qualification of applicants: the disabled, the homeless and bereaved families or persons recognized by the SMG as "those killed or wounded for a righteous cause." Almost 70 such people have opened new booths over the past two years, according to the SMG. "Currently, more than 90 percent of the shoe-shiners have been on the job since long before 2000," the official said. "We do not shut them down, as they have been doing this for their livings for a long time. Instead, we decided to give the right to open new booths only to three groups of people as it is difficult for them to find ways to financially support themselves." Under the law, the wife of a deceased shoe-shiner can claim the right to inherit the business, but not their children. Many wives have taken the job after their husbands died. "This could be, although disputable, a stable and safe job. And granting the children the right to carry on the business would give them an unfair advantage," the official added. The SMG said it is responsible only for the shoe-shiners working inside the booths it set up, not those working inside private office buildings. "Those who collect shoes from office workers inside a building are believed to have signed a contract with building managers. They are not bound by city regulations, nor do they pay us taxes." Shoe-shiners had regional associations until 2011 when they were disbanded as many members refused to pay membership fees, citing the incompetence of the group leadership. Defense Minister Han Min-koo said there is a special task force ready to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in case of attack, during interpellation at South Korea's National Assembly on Wednesday. / Yonhap By Hong Dam-young Korea is "considering launching a special forces unit to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un," Defense Minister Han Min-koo said Wednesday. He made the comment during a parliamentary meeting in Seoul after Rep. Kim Sung-chan of the ruling Saenuri Party asked him about rumors of the plan. Han said the unit will "take action" if the North shows clear signs of attacking South Korea. This is part of the "Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation" plan (KMPR), a military response announced after North Korea's fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9, Han said. The KMPR targets North Korean leadership, including its military headquarters, with a preemptive strike that includes teams of highly trained commandos and simultaneous missile attacks capable of precision strikes, in case of the North's nuclear attack on the South. Dozens of U.N. member states on Wednesday condemned North Korea's fifth nuclear test and urged the communist nation to conduct no more testing, abide by its international obligations and scrap all of its nuclear weapons and programs. The foreign ministers of about 40 countries supportive of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) made the appeal in a joint statement adopted when they held a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly to call for the treaty's ratification. "The meeting was unanimous in condemning the recent announced nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and in urging all states who have not yet done so to sign and/or ratify the CTBT," the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization said. The CTBT was opened for signature in 1996 and then-President Bill Clinton was the first world leader to sign the treaty, but Congress has yet to ratify it. Currently, 183 nations have signed the treaty and 166 have finished ratification. But the treaty has not taken effect yet because eight countries have yet to ratify it. North Korea, India and Pakistan didn't even sign the treaty while the U.S., China, Egypt, Iran and Israel signed the pact, but have not ratified it yet. (Yonhap) South Korea's government said Thursday it has yet to receive an application from a local civic group seeking approval for contact with North Korean officials in China for a joint inter-Korean discussion on unification. A North Korean organization in a foreign country proposed holding the gathering in early October in China among the two Koreas' non-government groups to mark the 9th anniversary of the second inter-Korean summit. An official at Seoul's unification ministry said that the South civic group has not asked the government to approve its plan, hinting that it would not approve it even if it makes the request. "At a time when North Korea continues to make nuclear and missile provocations, it is not proper for civilians to seek inter-Korean exchanges," the official said. North Korea conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test to date on Sept. 9 in defiance of international condemnation. The reclusive country also said it tested a new rocket engine that could be used on a long-range missile. By law, South Koreans are required to get government approval to either meet with North Koreans in a third country or to visit North Korea. The two Koreas remain technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. In October 2007, then South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun held a summit with late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang. The two Koreas held their first summit between the South Korean leader Kim Dae-jung and Kim on June 15, 2000, producing a landmark joint declaration of reconciliation. Seoul, however, has suspended almost all civilian inter-Korean exchanges and South Koreans' visits to North Korea since Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test in January. The ministry earlier said that Seoul would not provide assistance to North Korea to help it recover from damage caused by recent floods given the high tensions following Pyongyang's most recent nuclear test. "Even if North Korea appeals for help, there is a low possibility of us providing assistance under the current situation," Jeong Joon-hee, ministry spokesman, said at a regular press briefing on Monday. (Yonhap) The South Korean tax authority is expected to reject an appeal by U.S. software giant Microsoft Corp. to refund 634 billion won ($575.7 million) in a withholding tax, according to the tax authority and industry sources Thursday. Microsoft filed complaints last month against the National Tax Service (NTS), seeking a refund of the withholding taxes paid by Samsung Electronics Co. to the NTS for using the software giant's patents. Samsung is believed to have paid about 1 trillion won to Microsoft for using the U.S. company's patents in manufacturing smartphones, personal computers and other products. Under the Korean tax rules and a tax treaty between Korea and the United States, Samsung had paid as much as 15 percent of the annual patent fees to the tax authority in corporate taxes on revenues earned by using the patents, according to the sources. Microsoft is said to claim that it is double taxation because the software giant is paying taxes to the U.S. tax authorities. The American company cited a South Korean court ruling in 1992 that the tax authority has no right to require a company to pay a withholding tax on revenues earned by using patents that are not registered in Korea. However, the NTS has claimed the withholding tax is fair because local firms pay patent royalties to Microsoft even though the patents are not registered in Korea. A 2008 revision of corporate tax law stipulates that foreign patents are valid in Korea when the patents are used to produce goods in the Korean market. As the NTS is expected to reject the appeal by Microsoft, the likelihood of Microsoft filing a lawsuit against the NTS is growing, according to the sources. (Yonhap) By Lee Hyon-soo After a series of ballistic missile tests, North Korea recently conducted its fifth nuclear test. North Korea's nuclear program has so advanced that it is a matter of time before its nukes are deployed. The international community will definitely impose harsher sanctions on North Korea in due course. In this regard, it is imperative that China should realize that it is in its best interest to rein in North Korea before it is too late. Once North Korea's nukes are deployed, South Korea will bear the brunt of the nuclear threat because it lacks a nuclear deterrence capability. The South Korean government says that it will unleash preemptive strikes to destroy Pyongyang completely, if and when there are signs that North Korea is about to launch nuclear-tipped missiles toward South Korea. But this is easier said than done. It would be very difficult to detect signs of an imminent missile launch in advance because missiles can be launched from submarines, whose whereabouts are hard to trace. In addition, if South Korea strikes first, it will have to bear the blame for having started a war. The United States assures South Koreans that they need not worry about North Korea's nuclear threat because they are protected under the U.S. nuclear umbrella. But one may wonder whether the United States will actually retaliate in the case of a North Korean nuclear attack on South Korea if the continental United States is also vulnerable to North Korea's nuclear attack. Overcome by feelings of helplessness, some South Korean politicians and opinion leaders argue that Seoul should develop nukes of its own. This too is easier said than done. We need to understand why the international community condemns North Korea's nuclear program with one voice. Of course, the whole world is concerned about the fact that North Korea's nuclear arsenal will disrupt the peace and security not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the Far East. But what is of utmost concern is that North Korea's nuclear program hampers the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. Come to think of it, horrible weapons of mass destruction such as nukes should not have been invented. But as several countries already have nuclear arsenals, the international community is trying to contain them through the NPT (Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty). That is why any challenge to the NPT is not tolerated. Granted, there are valid grounds for South Korea to want to develop nukes. Even so, its path is strewn with unsurmountable obstacles. For starters, it would be almost impossible to get acquiescence from the United States. If South Korea disregards the U.S. opposition, it will adversely affect the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty and the procurement of uranium needed for the operation of nuclear power plants. If South Korea actually pulls out of the NPT and starts to develop nukes, the international community will treat South Korea just like North Korea. And harsh sanctions will follow. If isolated from the rest of the world, a trading nation such as South Korea cannot survive. If push comes to shove, South Korea may talk the United States into redeploying tactical nuclear weapons which were removed from its soil in the early 1990s. But now is not the time to do so because such an action will give North Korea a good excuse to hang on to its nukes, and the international community will be deprived of the grounds on which to penalize North Korea. It seems that there is not much South Korea can do to counter North Korea's nuclear threat on its own. All that South Korea can do now is to reinforce its defense capability with the help of the United States and cooperate with the international community to induce North Korea to abandon its nuclear program. The writer is a retired international banker who lives in Toronto, Canada. His other writings are posted on http://blog.daum.net/tom_hslee. By Rahul Raj Since South Korea announced its decision to host the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (THHAD), there has been a great deal of discontent among citizens as well as lawmakers. The main opposition party, the Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) has raised concerns that deploying the American missile defense system would severely affect bilateral relations between Seoul and Beijing. China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, has time and again raised its concerns about the missile system and also warned of serious repercussions, which some fear could take the form of economic retaliation. However, the MPK finds itself divided, with some of its leaders supporting the system as a matter of national security and some asking government to reconsider its decision. In the midst of this internal bickering, the six lawmakers of the party took the unprecedented step of visiting China, arguing they were making an attempt to calm the situation. President Park Geun-hye criticized the lawmakers, accusing them of "sympathizing with China" in a way that "will strengthen China's position." The President asked MPK leaders to reconsider their visit but she was rebuffed. The leaders made the trip anyway, with disastrous results. After their return, these officials claimed they had made a breakthrough with China, but the Global Times, part of Chinese state media, ridiculed their visit. Adding to the insult, China denied the claim made by Shin Dong-geun, a member of the delegation, who reported that Beijing had threatened to restore ties with North Korea in retaliation for the THAAD deployment. It seems no good came of the trip other than the embarrassment of the Korean government and its president. The unusual decision by the MPK to visit China, in an affront to its own government, may be seen as akin to the invitation issued last year by Republican members in the United States Congress to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an attempt to derail President Barack Obama's Iran policy, then speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, John A. Boehner, invited Netanyahu to address a joint session of the US Congress. The invitation was offered without consulting President Obama or even informing him beforehand. It was the first time in American history that a foreign head of state was invited to speak before Congress without consulting the sitting president. In effect, the longstanding role held by the executive branch of the American government to extend invitations to and host foreign heads of state was usurped by the legislative branch. Moreover, the Republican move was unprecedented in that it invited a foreign leader directly into an internal American political and foreign policy debate. Netanyahu fully seized the opportunity, using American disagreement over the Iran nuclear weapons agreement to stoke his own political agenda and Israeli national interests in his address. The action of the Republicans over their political differences with President Obama made a mockery of the White House, obliging the president of the United States to accept the indignity of a public insult from his own countrymen, who appeared to show more courtesy, deference and respect to a foreign head of state. In the same way, the visit by the MPK lawmakers to China finds the same congruency, wherein their unusual actions have given ammunition to Beijing to exploit internal Korean political differences and invited China to insert itself into the debate over the future of Korean national security. The party has set a bad precedent in the same way as the Republican Party in the US, and may also have endangered South Korean foreign policy goals. It seems that the visit to China by MPK officials was more to score political points over the Park Geun-hye government and exploit the sentiments of those opposing the THAAD deployment. Sadly, after so much political bad blood, the kind of statesmanship and cooperation required to make critical national security decisions appears in tatters, with both the ruling and opposition parties in a tug of war in which the Korean people might end up being the losers. Rahul Raj is assistant professor in the Department of Hotel and Tourism Management at Sejong University and adjunct professor in the Department of Korean Studies, Hanyang University. By Donald Kirk North Korea is truly a schizophrenic state. All in a day we hear about the need for generous foreign donors to come to the rescue of thousands of victims of flooding in the hard-scrabble northeast where life is tough in the best of times. Then, in the next breath, the North Korean propaganda machine is pumping out reports of another weird and wonderful missile and the North's capacity for raining death and destruction on targets from Washington to Seoul. So what are we supposed to make of these conflicting images of life and death in a land with billions to spend on nukes and missiles but none left over for drowning and starving people? Stranger still, Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency puts out pictures of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un grinning at a fruit farm and extolling the virtues of a missile but none of him visiting the scenes of the flooding. Is the Onsong district, up by the Tumen River border with China, a no-go zone where he's afraid to show his fat face for fear of getting jeered at or worse by unhappy people? It's not hard to understand why Kim Jong-un is reluctant to visit the scenes of such suffering. It wasn't long ago that Onsong harbored one of North Korea's worst concentration camps, where 15,000 or so people were confined for whatever crimes they were forced to confess. The camp was closed and the prisoners transferred after a bloody revolt nearly 30 years ago that ended with hundreds dead. Without the camp, Onsong remains rife with starvation, crime and plotting by its people to escape across the Tumen River into China and, if they can avoid Chinese soldiers and police, freedom by a circuitous route through Southeast Asia or Mongolia to South Korea. Kim Jong-un is not the only North Korean leader who's reluctant to visit Onsong. We don't hear of anyone in authority on the scene. All we have are reports of soldiers and aid workers clearing out debris. We're not even told of the scope of the disaster, of the area that was hardest hit or the exact nature of the damage. The impression is the region is tightly guarded to stop citizens from either rising up in civil revolt or fleeing en masse. Maybe that's why, while calling the flooding the worst in the region in modern Korean history, representatives of non-governmental organizations are not there either. North Korean authorities have forced a number of NGOs to leave the country in recent years, but you may be sure they'd all be willing to return if assured of operating independently, free of government constraints. Nor do we hear of foreign news organizations visiting Onsong for more than a perfunctory look. The last thing North Korea needs is for foreign television crews stomping over flooded fields, sending back reports revealing how awful conditions really are. Nor, of course, do North Korean authorities want the world to see into the lives of inhabitants of a region that's produced half of the 30,000 or so who've made it to South Korea as refugees or defectors, call them by either name. Against all odds, however, diligent United Nations aid-givers seem to have a partial fix on what's going on up there. I have before me a report from the U.N. office in Pyongyang stating the urgent need of "US$28.2 million to assist people affected by flooding" in the far northeast. Plainly, the "Emergency Response Plan" released by the U.N. Humanitarian Country Team in DPRK "outlines the support U.N. agencies and international NGOs are aiming to provide 600,000 people in the six most affected counties" over the next six months. The plan "focuses on lifesaving activities in shelter, food and agriculture, health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene and education in the aftermath of flooding that killed 138 people," leaving 400 missing and 140,000 "in immediate need," including 69,000 "forced to leave their homes." Bravo for the U.N. Even as Kim Jong-un threatens to smite his enemies with his burgeoning arsenal of fearsome weapons, U.N. people are striving to rush the aid that he is unable to drum up for a region he's too frightened to visit. Sadly, however, we still have no idea where this foreign aid is going probably the bulk of it to the soldiers and police detailed to control a restive populace, not to those most in need. It's quite possible, judging from the fragmentary news we do get, that the suffering is even worse than indicated by the U.N. figures, which had to have come from DPRK sources. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un himself has nothing to say or offer in a time of tragedy. He would rather appear on camera chortling among fruit trees or bursting his outsized britches in pride over a new-fangled weapon. Donald Kirk www.donaldkirk.com, has gazed on Onsong's barren hills and desolate villages from the Chinese side of the Tumen River. He's at kirkdon4343@gmail.com. Kevin Stephenson, inaugural director of the Financial Action Task Force's Training and Research Institute, speaks during a press conference at the Press Center in central Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of Financial Services Commission By Nam Hyun-woo The paradigm of combating money laundering is changing from technical compliance to effectiveness in the wake of North Korea's fifth nuclear test, says Kevin Stephenson, inaugural director of the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) Training and Research Institute (TREIN). The 54-year-old American, a former executive secretary of Egmont Group, has been tapped as the inaugural head of the anti-money-laundering institute which opened in Busan on Tuesday. FATF is a Paris-headquartered international organization mandated to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism. Currently, it is headed by Juan Manuel Vega-Serrano from Spain who succeeded former Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Shin Je-yoon. During his term, Shin proposed the idea of establishing a research and training institution and the Korean government funded the establishment of TREIN, which Stephenson described "a timely initiative." "The Korean government was astute in recognizing a vacuum in the global network's capacity to understand and implement the FATF standards and realized the formation of a training and research institute was well overdue," said Stephenson. "The Korean government believed in the importance of this initiative at such a high level, that they have agreed to solely fund the institute in its early stages of development and have accepted the need to recruit international experts to work at and with the institute." His nomination drew keen interest amid the North's fifth nuclear test. The FATF named North Korea as a country subjected to a "call for action" along with Iran in June. When asked about the issue, Stephenson refrained from giving a detailed answer, but said there is room for TREIN to do research. "If you look at the FATF standards, they talk about targeted sanctions and proliferation financing," he said. "Jurisdictions are struggling a little bit how they can deter their financial institutions being used in proliferation financing. That's the kind of niche the FATF fits in." He stressed that there is a change in FATF's focus from members' technical compliance to effectiveness in implementation. "That's a transition and a challenge (to jurisdictions) so I think the institute can play a significant role in improving jurisdictions' understanding," he said. According to him, his main goal as director would be developing courses to assist jurisdictions in recognizing what essential elements are required in effectively combating money laundering and producing a curriculum to eventually provide a platform for training standards. When it comes to Korea's efforts in fighting money laundering and terrorism financing, he said "Korea has done a great job" but needs to upgrade its legal system and put more focus on effectiveness. "The country should focus on achieving more money laundering convictions and confiscate more proceeds of crime," he said. "One characteristic of an effective anti-money-laundering and combating the financing of terrorism regime is the well-thought-out utilization of financial intelligence. Korean authorities might consider conducting an assessment on how well financial intelligence is used in combating money laundering and terrorism financing." A model promotes LG Electronics' new clothes dryer at the company's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of LG Electronics By Yoon Sung-won LG Electronics launched a new clothes dryer with a world-first feature, Thursday. The nation's second-largest electronics company said the new dryer is the first with a door that can be opened from left to right or from top to bottom. This means users can put clothes in and take them out more conveniently, according to the size and type of the items. "As customer demand for clothes management expand, we will continue to roll out more diverse types of clothes dryers to lead the market," LG Electronics Home Appliances and Air Solution Company Senior Vice President Simon Jeon said. LG Electronics said the new dryer has sensors that detect the remaining humidity of the clothes and analyzes it to automatically adjust operating time. In this way, users can prevent dryer damage to clothes by drying them for too long or finishing the operation without completely drying them. The device, which uses liquefied natural gas for fuel, can dry 4 kilograms of clothes in 40 minutes in standard mode and finish them within 25 minutes in express mode. Users can also download additional drying programs for certain clothes such as jeans, training suits and blankets by connecting the dryer to their smartphones. The new device is priced at 1.04 million won ($942) in the Korean market, the company said. Lindstrom Group CEO Juha laurio speaks in an interview at Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Pangyo in Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. / Courtesy of PRism Communication By Lee Min-hyung PANGYO Lindstrom Group has expressed confidence in its expansion potential in the Korean market, as its corporate motto to maximize customer satisfaction is in line with the demanding appetite of clients here. In an interview with The Korea Times, its CEO Juha Laurio said the Finnish business-to-business (B2B) textile services provider hopes to raise its profile in the lucrative Korean market where no textile service operators have ever done business before. "No one else is providing the same service as Lindstrom in Korea," he said. "We are providing a very unique business model to your market. That is why Korea is a very attractive market for us." He visited Korea to mark the first anniversary of the establishment of its local subsidiary here. Since the firm established its local subsidiary here in September last year, the company has signed contracts with four renowned local food and its packaging companies _ such as Samyang and Tetra Pak. With its business booming, the company recently set a goal of increasing its workforce more than tenfold over the next five years. Currently, the company holds six employees here. The company chief underlined the importance that the firm is providing optimum "services" tailor-made for each client, with an emphasis on cost-effectiveness. "Today, customers take Samsung tablets and smartphones and only pay for what they watch. We are on the same path," he said. "We are controlling our supply chain in different markets. All the textiles are owned by Lindstrom, and our clients do not have to invest in textiles. They are only paying for what they are using," said the Linstrom CEO. Linstrom's major clients include companies in the food, beverages, electronics and engineering industries where manufacturing facilities should be maintained under an extremely clean environment. The company operates businesses in 24 countries across the globe. In particular, the company is raising its profile in Asian economic powerhouses including China and India where Lindstrom holds the No. 1 market share in the B2B textile rental service market. Although the textile rental service is less known to the Korean market, the company expressed optimism for its growth. That is because growing numbers of companies realize the importance of workplace sanitization for which Korea is no exception. "With a unique business motto, it takes some time before you build trust with customers," he said. "Being in a B2B world, we see the most important thing is to have a personal connection with our customers." "We do not stick to any short-term revenues or performance, but instead focus on creating long-term values for our clients. We are not interested about how we are doing in ten years or in 25 years. We are doing our business with a long-term perspective," he said. Lindstrom has a history of more than 160 years since it was established in Finland in 1848. Last year, the company generated some 374 billion won ($338.6 million) in sales, with about half of them coming from its hometown Finland. The company chief cited its strong brand image there as the key reason for its success, as Finland's population is only about five million population. Another noteworthy feature about Lindstrom is that the company has never withdrawn its business from any overseas markets it has entered. "We never exited any markets we tapped into," he said. "The secret lies in the fact that we have worked with local employees and local culture to optimize satisfaction for each marketplace." By Lee Min-hyung Samsung Electronics is suffering setbacks over growing numbers of so-called black consumers, mostly in the United States and Korea, making false reports of their devices catching fire, even after the company has officially started to replace Note 7 handsets with new ones due to a battery problem. In Korea, black consumers refer to those who dishonestly seeking reparations for what they allege are faulty goods. Samsung Electronics America announced Wednesday that more than 500,000 new Note 7 replacement smartphones have arrived and are available for exchange at mobile carriers and retail stores there. In Korea, the company began the Note 7 exchange program Monday. Korea and the U.S. are the firm's two biggest smartphone markets. Samsung Electronics said it will soon expand the recall to 11 other countries where the Note 7 has been available since its release last month. Despite the responsive measure, the company still faces a growing dilemma over the unceasing reports of the 5.7-inch handset catching fire while being charged. As of Thursday, the company said it has received a total of 26 false reports, including nine from the U.S. and three in Korea. Samsung has contacted those who claimed that their Note 7s had caught fire, but failed to secure the devices in the 26 cases. Critics argue this comes as some dishonest consumers, especially from other countries, are making false claims intentionally to tarnish the firm's brand at a time when the company is enjoying its heyday as the world's largest smartphone manufacturer by shipments. "Dishonest consumers will take advantage of the latest scandal, but it won't be easy as Samsung is expected to conduct a thorough inspection to verify any false claims in collaboration with other industries including insurance firms," said an electronics industry official, asking not to be named. "In the electronics industry, the decision to recall all devices is a very rare case. Normally, company officials collect defective products and thoroughly inspect what was wrong. They then decide whether to offer a refund or repairs. Samsung has decided to recall all the handsets regardless of whether they have faults or not, but the company will not offer full compensation for customers that file false reports," said the source. The U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Electronics announced it will collaborate with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to prevent further fires in the Note 7. Samsung Electronics America President Tim Baxter said in the regional subsidiary's official public relations office: "We will continue to take the necessary actions to ensure users are powering down and immediately exchanging recalled devices." The date has not currently been set for the opening of the official Apple store. / Courtesy of Twitter By Lee Han-soo Apple will open its first official store in Seoul. According to news reports, Apple Korea recently signed a lease for a property in Garosu-gil road for the nation's first Apple Store. The opening date is not yet known. But it is reported that the Korean unit of the U.S. tech company paid a 1.6 billion won ($1.44 million) deposit for the lease that runs to Feb. 29, 2036. The opening of the Genius Bar in Korea has raised expectations of changes to Apple's policy and Korea being included as a first-release nation for products. Without an Apple Store in Korea, consumers have had to turn to third-party suppliers. But this led to complaints about delays and poor service. In response, the Korea Fair Trade Commission told Apple in December to rectify its policy. Apple has also started recruiting people for the new Seoul store. The positions cover marketing, store crew and customer service. An anonymous official said it is possible Apple might consider building more stores in Korea. "Apple has been receiving huge criticism from Korean customers on its poor A/S support in Korea," said a mobile industry expert. "However, with Apple working towards fixing the problem, it can be viewed that Apple is starting to put an effort into the Korean market." Members of the House of Representatives yesterday resolved to donate the sum of N50,000 each to Team Nigeria athletes who took part in the recently concluded Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The House also resolved to host the athletes soon. The House took the decision to make the donations totalling N18 million subsequent to a motion sponsored by Ayo Omidiran (APC-Osun), stating that members of Team Nigeria having won 8 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals to finish in 17th place overall are worthy of being celebrated. Omidiran said members of the team, though physically-challenged, did what has never been done in the history of Nigerian sports, which was why she said they needed the support and encouragement of the House. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates An easier-than-expected first mammogram experience HUNTERSVILLE Scheduling a cancer screening probably ranks somewhere on your to-do list between "clean out the garage" and "donate those clothes that don't fit." Sure, you'll get to it at... Chamber retreat helps discover strengths in communication The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce has proved that networking can come in many ways. It doesnt have to come at a luncheon or happy hour or Christmas party, but... The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more PRESS RELEASE Momentum Builds from 9/11 Families JASTA Rally in Washington. Obamas Goose May be Cooked! Sept. 12, 2016 (EIRNS)Yesterdays very successful rallies in front of the White House and the Senate, demanding enactment of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) and excoriating Barack Obama for siding with the Saudis, have unleashed a momentum that could finish off Barack Obama if his expected veto of JASTA is overridden. In the wake of the rallies, leaders of the 9/11 families organization are today holding continuous meetings with members of Congress amidst widespread recognition, not only of the families courageous actions over the past four years, but also the crucial role played by the LaRouche movement, in fighting for the release of the 28 pages of the Joint Congressional Inquiry and putting the screws on Congress to provide justice to the 9/11 families and the American population more broadly. As Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) admitted to Roll Call, Congresss override of Obamas veto of the JASTA bill, is "a fait accompli"and Corker has been desperately working with the White House to amend the JASTA bill to make it less "hostile" to the Saudis. Last night, Hispan-TV produced a nice, two-minute clip of the rally in front of the White House, showing the marchers and their colorful posters, pictures, and pointed slogans, and interviewed 9/11 families leader Terry Strada as well as Matt Ogden of Executive Intelligence Review, and Jessica White, from the Manhattan Project. Additional press coverage today is widespreadboth positive and accurate, with many quotes from the marchers, who are furious at Obama. A sampling of the headlines of straightforward and positive coverage: "9/11 Families demonstrate outside White House over JASTA Politics on the Hudson," (The Lohud Journal News); "Congress Urges Obama To Act on Lawsuit Bill" (Washington Times); "Families Protest at White House, Ask Obama to Sign Bill Allowing Them to Sue Saudi Arabia," with a kicker reading, "Family members say its mind boggling and ridiculous they have to protest." (U.S. News & World Report); "Why Families of 9/11 Victims Feel Betrayed by Obama," (McClatchy DC). These articles portray family members anger, both against Obama and against members of Congress whove sided with him and the Saudis in trying to obstruct or stall on JASTA. Several marchers who were interviewed, pointed to the lobbying efforts by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Capitol Hill, and blasted those such as "Little Old Lady from South Carolina (LOLSC), Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham or Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) for colluding with him against the American people. PRESS RELEASE UN Official Walks Back on Evidence of Airstrike on Convoy, Basis of Blaming Russia; Meetings and Dialogue on Syria Continue Sept. 21, 2016 (EIRNS)Despite the atrocities of this weeks attack on an aid convoy near Aleppo, and last weeks U.S.-led air strike on Syrian soldiers, efforts continue for talks on Syria. Last night in Manhattan, the ISSG (International Syrian Support Group) met, after which Secretary of State John Kerry said, "The cease-fire is not dead. We are going to continue to work. We are going to meet again Friday on some specific steps." This morning, the UN Security Council held a High Level meeting on Syria (pre-planned), which heads of state could attend. Initial reports are that it was a rough session, of accusations. There are rightly many caveats which have been re-iterated about the process. As Russian Amb. Vitaly Churkin said last night, "It is impossible to ask other members of the UN Security Council to approve the [ceasefire] deal," if the U.S. side continues to refuse to allow the contents to be made known. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated this morning, "The key priority is to separate the opposition forces from the terrorists." Over the last 24 hours, more than one European government official at the ISSG meeting has expressed the obvious fear over the whole desperate process breaking down completely: if the United States continues to confront Russia, and no talks are possible, the situation is hopelessly dangerous. Last night, British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson put it, the U.S.-Russian effort is being seen as, "the only show in town." What if it blows up? On the outrageous, specific charges from the White House war party, on the question of the nature of the attack on the Red Cross/Red Crescent convoywhich the U.S. asserts was a Russian air strike, the initial report from the United Nations has now been corrected by a UN official. The Russian authorities have definitively denied U.S. charges three times. UN humanitarian spokesman Jens Laerke said the references to air strikes in the original UN aid statement, attributed to the top UN humanitarian officials in the region and in Syria, were probably the result of a drafting error. "We are not in a position to determine whether these were in fact air strikes. We are in a position to say that the convoy was attacked," he said. This corresponds with Russian analyses of photos and other evidence, showing likely ground-based attacks. As of today, the aid flows remain suspended. However, talks continue in Geneva to be in readiness for resumption, if the process of dialogue and ceasefire can be righted. Its a good time to be an alien hunter. In August astronomers discovered Proxima b, a potentially life-supporting planet only 4.2 light-years away. Not long after, news surfaced of a possible signal coming from HD164595, a star in the Hercules constellation, first noticed by Russian scientists in 2015. Then theres KIC 8462852, better known as Tabbys Star, a body whose inexplicable light fluctuations have inspired a rash of speculation. Are we finally going to learn that were not alone? If so, will it be good news? For Chinese science fiction writer Cixin Liu, the answer is almost certainly no. Like Stephen Hawking, who has long warned about the dangers of sending messages into space, Lius vision of extraterrestrial contact is anything but peaceful. In his Hugo Award-winning 2006 novel The Three-Body Problem (translated into English by Ken Liu in 2014), Liu described a first contact scenario in which Chinese radio astronomer Ye Wenjie discovers a species called the Trisolarians, so called because their home world circles three suns in an unstable orbit. Though the Trisolarian who receives her message warns her of danger, she persists in communicating anyway. Having watched her father get beaten to death with belt buckles during Chinas Cultural Revolution, she feels that society can use an intervention. Advertisement But even Ye Wenjie doesnt anticipate the consequences of her discovery. Upon learning about Earth, the Trisolarians send a fleet to wipe out humanity and take over its real estate. In the two sequels to the novel The Dark Forest, which appeared in English last year, and now Deaths End Liu describes humanitys effort to confront the most extreme crisis it has ever faced. Liu is a maximalist, and the scope of his books allows him to explore all sorts of sci-fi interests. He writes about the effects of hibernation technology on society, artificially constructed parallel universes, an enemy that has mastered near-perfect surveillance abilities and a video game-based religious cult. Liu is also a maximalist in structure; while the first two books in the trilogy told a relatively linear story, Deaths End doubles back to the beginning of the Crisis Era to re-tell that history from the perspective of another character, Cheng Xin. Xin is an aerospace engineer who works on a far-fetched effort to send a preserved human brain into space. Although the brain is technically dead, Xin and her colleagues hope that the Trisolarians will have the technology to revive it, thus providing humanity with an agent in the Trisolarians midst. Because the brain isnt expected to reach its destination for hundreds of years, Cheng Xin is put into hibernation. When she wakes up 264 years later, it turns out that the brain went off course long ago and hardly anyone remembers it anymore. But because she happens to own a star, given to her by the brain donor as part of another short-lived program, Cheng Xin has become wealthy and famous. She is soon called upon to defend humanity in what has become a state of mutually assured destruction with the Trisolarians. From here, Deaths End continues past the time frame of its predecessors, stretching almost to the end of the universe. With such a dramatically expanded temporal canvas, its no surprise that Liu also expands the alien cast. In Deaths End spaceships encounter mysterious artifacts when they pass through a region of fourth-dimensional space, and we meet a killer super-civilization, which wages war by altering the laws of physics. But like a lot of sci-fi writers, Liu focuses less on the aliens than on the effect their existence has on humanity. In general, Liu takes a dark view of the world. In the second book in the series he posited that the universe is essentially a dark forest, populated by predatory species that will wipe out lesser beings in an instant. Though most intelligent life forms know well enough to keep quiet, theres a stupid child called humanity, who has built a bonfire and is standing beside it shouting, Here I am! Here I am! Yet his depiction of Earth civilization in Deaths End is charitable. Society goes through some rough spots, but it learns from its mistakes and prioritizes democracy and human rights over military panic. The story is told primarily from the point of view of Chinese characters a welcome reminder that sci-fi scenarios dont exist within an exclusively English-speaking world but his future society is international, with political bodies like the United Nations taking on ever-greater roles. Unfortunately, humanitys desire for peace and prosperity also undermines its survival. Its a dangerous universe out there, Liu argues, and a global social welfare state may not be equipped to deal with it. Such ideas make Lius books compelling reading, and Deaths End is the most mind-bending of them all. While Lius humanity on the whole is conservative, some characters both heroes and antiheroes are determined to save civilization at all costs. In The Dark Forest, an officer hijacks a starship and takes off into deep space because he believes that Earth will be defeated in the coming war with Trisolaris. The main character in that novel, Luo Ji, achieves a standoff with the alien invaders because of his willingness to destroy humanity as well. And in Deaths End we encounter Thomas Wade, an American intelligence officer who is prepared to wage a horrific civil war in order to pursue transformative research into light-speed travel. Yet as a novelist Liu has weaknesses that are impossible to ignore: These characters are exclusively men. Lius women, in contrast, tend to be nurturing, sentimental and weak. While Xins motivations are pure, her inability to make hard choices threatens to be disastrous. She understood for the first time her own feelings toward this new world: maternal instinct, Liu writes. Subconsciously, she saw everyone in the new world as her child, and she could not bear to see them come to harm. It is women, Liu implies, who are to blame for humanitys softness, and who are thus responsible for its potential destruction. Such passages point not only to sexism, but to poor characterization generally. Although the books are full of thrilling ideas and scenarios, the characters are little more than cutouts, with gender stereotypes providing the most obvious pattern. This is an unforgivable defect, since science fiction long ago progressed beyond simplistic tales of macho warriors in space. Even with its flaws, however, Lius picture of humanitys place in the cosmos is among the biggest, boldest and most disturbing weve seen; perhaps its no wonder that the author himself succumbs to the comfort of familiar parental archetypes. Fortunately, Liu remains true to his dark vision. In this terrifying world, neither mommy nor daddy can save us. Glinter is a freelance writer and critic. His work has appeared in the New Republic, the Paris Review and the Boston Globe, among other publications. :: Deaths End Cixin Liu Tor: 608 pp., $26.99 Tesla Motors Inc. sued Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and other top state officials Thursday, challenging a 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 an injunction to prevent its enforcement. Last week, the Michigan Department of State denied Teslas application for a dealer license to sell to consumers, citing the law that is backed by big auto companies and their dealerships. It has not yet decided on Teslas bid to register a vehicle repair facility in the state, which is home to the Detroit Three carmakers. Advertisement 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 suit. This is not a legitimate government interest under the U.S. Constitution. Tesla, which is based in Palo Alto, said it prefers that legislation be enacted to lift the ban on direct sales but was told by legislators in June that no hearing will be held. As a result of this law, Michigan consumers are forced to accept reduced access to the products they want, less competition and higher prices. Tesla will continue to fight for the rights of Michigan consumers to be able to choose how they buy cars in Michigan, Tesla said in a statement. In 2014, the Republican governor and GOP-controlled Legislature amended state law to clarify that car companies can sell only through franchised dealers. Tesla officials said it was a last-minute, monopolistic strike at their upstart company, which has no traditional dealerships. Snyder spokesman Ari Adler said he does not comment on pending lawsuits. The governor is always willing to review legislation presented to him if the state Legislature feels a change in the law is necessary, Adler said. When Snyder signed the law, he urged lawmakers to engage in a healthy, open discussion about whether the business model in Michigan is working. Also named in the suit are Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Atty. Gen. Bill Schuette. Johnson spokesman Fred Woodhams said the agency followed the law in denying Teslas dealership application. Tesla operates stores in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Tesla also operates in 20 other countries. There are no countries where Tesla has not been able to sell directly, and the only states where it has been unable to get a license are Michigan, Texas, Connecticut and Utah. Tesla was on the receiving end of a lawsuit in Norway, where more than 100 Tesla owners claimed that their vehicles arent as powerful as advertised. The lawsuit said the Model S P85D delivers only 469 horsepower, instead of the promised 700 hp. Kaspar Thommessen, one of the lawyers representing the 126 car owners in the suit, said Thursday that under Norwegian consumer law the normal compensation would be a discount, if the seller doesnt remedy the defect. He said an Oslo court is scheduled to hear the case in December. In an emailed statement, Tesla Europe said: Testing done by Tesla and independent third parties has demonstrated that the Model S P85Ds acceleration and motor power numbers have always been accurate, even understated. ALSO: Tesla is releasing Autopilot update under shadow of security hack Temecula winemakers are sick of the haters. They want to change your mind about SoCal wine Did Wells Fargo violate overtime laws? Elizabeth Warren among 8 senators seeking Labor investigation Jose Quinonez crossed the border from Mexico to California when he was 9 years old, accompanied by his five siblings, driven out of his home after the death of their father and mother. Three decades later, Quinonez is set to receive one of the most prestigious honors offered to American professionals: a MacArthur Fellowship, known as a genius grant. Quinonez, 45, is among 23 recipients of the award, as a tribute to his work on connecting low-income immigrants to mainstream financial services, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced Wednesday. In 2007, Quinonez founded the Mission Asset Fund, a San Francisco nonprofit that reports casual lending practices between immigrants to credit bureaus so that the informal loan payments help build their credit scores. Advertisement By formalizing these so-called lending circles, in which a group of immigrants provide interest-free loans and pay one another back gradually, Quinonez is providing low-income and minority families with the means to secure safe credit, participate more fully in the American economy, and obtain financial security, the foundation said on its website. Without credit, it can be impossible to achieve the most basic milestones of financial freedom, such as buying a car, renting an apartment or taking out formal loans. We have this notion in our society that poor people are poor because they are broken, or bad, or making bad choices, said Quinonez, who earned a bachelors degree from UC Davis and a master of public affairs degree from Princeton University. Here is a successful program based on completely different assumptions about poor people, that there is something good and honest in them, to survive and thrive regardless of the obstacles. Quinonez said many immigrants from Latin America, Africa and Asia are already making loans with one another in ways that arent captured by American banks, but that should be enough to establish credit history. His organization acts as a servicer on those loans, by getting people to sign promissory notes, which are legally binding documents ensuring the repayment of the debt, and reporting the exchange to credit bureaus. To date, the organization has overseen 6,300 loans totaling $6.2 million, Quinonez said. The majority of that lending has happened in California, but the organization operates in 17 states. The program has raised the average participants credit score by 168 points, the MacArthur Foundation said. Here is someone who has shown himself to be a creative problem solver, and we have recognized him with the fellowship to see what he will do next, what other problems he will solve, said Cecilia Conrad, managing director of the MacArthur Foundation. Since he was a child, Quinonez said, hes been dealing with poverty on a personal level. His father died when he was 2 years old, and then when he was 9, his mother died of lymphoma, something he attributes to their lack of resources. When he moved to California, he often worked at a flea market with his siblings in order to scrape up enough cash to eat. He had entered the country illegally but eventually got amnesty through President Reagans 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. My siblings, we survived because we bonded together, we helped each other, he said. Thats something that drew him to lending circles, which he sees as an example of poor people trying to do right by one another and advance, financially, as a unit. Those efforts havent been recognized by banks or credit agencies until now. All of my work has been to say that there is a lot more to people than we give them credit for, Quinonez said. Giving them a credit score, he said, is one step in that direction. Natalie.Kitroeff@latimes.com Follow me @NatalieKitro on Twitter A group of senators on Thursday requested a federal investigation into whether Wells Fargo & Co. violated labor laws after allegations the bank failed to pay overtime to tellers and other employees who worked late nights and weekends to meet aggressive sales quotas. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and seven colleagues wrote to Labor Secretary Tom Perez and David Weil, administrator of the departments Wage and Hour Division saying, The emerging portrait of the companys behavior suggests potential widespread exploitation of its own workforce in order to facilitate the widespread exploitation of its customer base. Particularly when one considers that the median wage for a bank teller is about $12 an hour, it is the obligation of the Wage and Hour Division to ensure that every Wells employee that has struggled to do the right thing in the face of such exploitation has been fully paid for every hour of work, the senators wrote. Advertisement In addition to Warren, who this week called for the resignation of Wells Fargo Chief Executive John Stumpf, the letter was signed by Democrats Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. The other signer was former Democratic presidential candidate and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Wells Fargo spokeswoman Jennifer Dunn said the banks employees are our greatest asset. We strive to make every one of them feel valued, rewarded and recognized, and we pride ourselves on creating a positive environment for our team members, including market-competitive compensation, career-development opportunities, a broad array of benefits, and a strong offering of work-life programs, she said. Labor Department spokesman Jason Surbey said the department had received the letter. While we cannot discuss details of potential law enforcement decision-making, we do take the concerns raised in the letter very seriously, he said. The senators letter could add to the problems Wells Fargo faces after employees opened as many as 2 million accounts that customers never wanted in a scandal uncovered by the Los Angeles Times in 2013. This month, the bank agreed to pay $185 million to settle investigations by Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau into improper sales tactics. But Senate and House committees have opened their own investigations, and the Justice Department is looking into possible criminal charges. The Senate Banking Committee held a hearing Tuesday in which Stumpf was sharply questioned. And the House Financial Services Committee is planning a hearing next week. The eight senators requesting the Labor Department investigation noted several civil lawsuits, including one filed in Los Angeles by nine former Wells Fargo employees, and other complaints by bank workers alleging failure to pay overtime. Some of the complaints go back to 1999, the senators said. Many of the allegations stem from workers who said they were penalized when they did not meet sales quotas. When quotas werent met, employees faced threats of termination, mandated hours of unpaid overtime, harassment and other forms of retaliation, the letter said. Citing a 2013 Times article, the senators said that 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. jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com Follow @JimPuzzanghera on Twitter ALSO Wells Fargo CEO faces bipartisan wrath during fiery Senate panel hearing Are other banks committing Wells Fargos sin? Regulator is checking The burning mystery at the heart of the Wells Fargo scandal: Why does its CEO still have a job? UPDATES: 1:10 p.m.: This article was updated with comment from a Labor Department spokesman. 12:55 p.m.: This article was updated with comment from a Wells Fargo spokeswoman. This article originally was published at 11:35 a.m. The California Supreme Court agreed to review Yelps objection to a decision ordering it to strip the Internet of comments posted about a San Francisco law firm. The law firm owner, Dawn Hassell, sued Ava Bird, the disgruntled former client who allegedly posted the reviews and lower courts agreed that Yelp should be forced to remove them. After Hassell severed the relationship, someone posted critical one-star Yelp ratings against the firm, and Hassell concluded Bird had written them. The firm told Bird in an email that her comments were inaccurate and defamatory and asked her to remove them. Advertisement After she failed to delete the reviews, the firm sued her for defamation. The lawsuit was served at a house where Bird no longer lived, and when she did not respond, a default judgment was entered against her. An appeals court upheld the removal order, leading Yelp to seek the state Supreme Courts help. The San Francisco company wasnt a defendant in the case and didnt have a chance to be heard at trial. Other online powerhouses, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and Pinterest, wrote to the court in support of Yelp saying upholding the lower court order could silence a vast quantity of protected and important speech. Also backing the appeal were Internet law professors and 30 news organizations, including The Times. To the frustration of many plaintiffs attorneys, the Communications Decency Act has long freed online publishers from liability for user postings on their websites and apps. But many technology experts say the Hassell case may be the biggest threat yet to the immunity. The appellate court found that no liability was being placed on Yelp, and thus the ruling didnt go against federal law. Instead, as the administrator of the forum where defamatory speech existed, Yelp bears the responsibility of removal, the court said. Experts in technology law say theyre optimistic that the California Supreme Court will spike the order against Yelp. Hassell, who says the fears of the Internet companies are overblown, also won a judgement of more than $550,000 in damages and costs. The California Supreme Court could take several months or longer to decide the case. The courts brief order Wednesday contained no comment on the litigation. paresh.dave@latimes.com / PGP Twitter: @peard33 Times staff writer Maura Dolan and the Associated Press contributed to this report. MORE TECHNOLOGY NEWS How to spend $70 million entertaining the under-35 crowd Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg pledge $3 billion to fight diseases GoPro unveils its new Karma quadcopter, though restrictions on drones loom large The equally inspiring and enraging documentary 100 Years emerges as a portrait of one remarkable rabble-rouser, the late Native American activist Elouise Cobell. If youre unfamiliar with the 21st century plight of Native Americans at the hands of the U.S. government, prepare to get mad, and ask questions. Thats exactly what Cobell, a Blackfeet woman and banker from Montana, did when she realized that the trust managed by the government to manage the leasing of Native American lands for natural resources appeared to have some murky accounting practices. It turns out they were illegal and exploitative of a vulnerable, poverty stricken population who were beholden to the paternalistic government practices that expected them to be good little Indians. Cobell, the great-granddaughter of Blackfeet warrior Mountain Chief, filed a class-action lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of her people and their ancestors. The litigation and legislative fight lasted from 1996 to 2009. Advertisement At a swift 76 minutes, 100 Years (the title refers to the time Native Americans lived under the conditions of the trust), director Melinda Janko efficiently communicates both the endless legal battle and the frustrating bureaucratic red tape, but also the human elements of the story. It illustrates Cobells motivation in her dedication to this cause, and the urgency with which she fought her battle against the government. Its a maddening but ultimately uplifting tale about a fearless woman who fought tirelessly for her people. ------------- 100 Years Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 16 minutes Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour I met Curtis Hanson through a mutual friend some 25 years ago, before his major successes like the Oscar-winning L.A. Confidential. He lived on one of those walking streets in Venice, to be near the ocean he loved, and it was his physical presence, the light in his eye and his nimble physical grace, that struck me first. More than that, Hanson who died Tuesday at age 71 had a gracious, open quality that is precious in any business, but especially so in Hollywood. I would run into him sporadically over the years, and he was always alive to the moment, asking how things were with the innate decency that must have served him well as a director. And he was always enthusiastic but clear-eyed about what we had just seen. Because it wasnt at glamorous parties that I would bump into Hanson but often as not at repertory screenings of classic films. He was that rare director who not only paid lip service to what had come before but actually went out and saw the old films when they lighted up the big screen. So much so that the UCLA Film and Television Archive made him their first-ever honorary chairman. Advertisement That honor was especially appropriate because Hanson was also one of the small group of directors who came to making movies out of a background in both film criticism and film history. Born in Reno of Angeleno parents who actually met as students at Hollywood High, Hanson started writing about film at Cal State L.A., but his real break came when he started to work for a local publication called Cinema. Beginning as a go-fer and soon becoming both editor and art director, Hanson had the opportunity to interview and often photograph legendary filmmakers like John Ford, William Wellman, William Wyler, Vincente Minnelli, Don Siegel, John Cassavetes and a man who became a close friend, Sam Fuller. It was my film school, he told UCLA Magazine in a 2006 interview with Anne Burke. It was kind of magical. I dont think it could happen in the same way again. This great and abiding passion for the history of film helped inform another of the traits that made Hansons movies distinctive, a gift for making genre come alive for modern audiences through great narrative skill. The plots, and even the titles, of films like The Bedroom Window, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and even The River Wild could open themselves up to generic treatment. But for a director of Hansons skill and commitment, this kind of material was always to be taken seriously, always to be seen as an appropriate vehicle for great acting and potent insight into character and behavior. For the kind of satisfactions, frankly, that the best of Hollywood movies have always been about. Hansons belief in this kind of material reached its apogee with his work on L.A. Confidential, the one novel by James Ellroy, the author told the director, he thought would never, ever make a film. But Hanson and fellow Oscar-winning screenwriter Brian Helgeland persevered and made what is without doubt the definitive noir for its particular time and place. A dark, dangerous and intoxicating tale of big trouble in paradise, smartly done with the blackest possible sense of humor, this films clean, relentless storytelling sense, its ability to draw us in while always playing fair with plot details, is irresistible. Another trait that made Hanson distinctive as a director was a restless and wide-ranging curiosity that meant each of his films was a new adventure both for audiences and for himself. Just three years after L.A. Confidential, he directed a film that couldnt have appeared more different, the droll, picaresque adaptation of the Michael Chabon novel Wonder Boys, starring Michael Douglas as a writer with all kinds of problems. This venture may have seemed miles from the mean streets of Los Angeles, but it shared Hansons thoroughgoing classicism, his ability to give every on-screen element just the weight it deserves. When the great director Ernst Lubitsch died in 1947, so the story goes, fellow filmmakers Billy Wilder and Wyler left the funeral together. No more Lubitsch, Wilder said, to which Wyler replied, Worse than that. No more Lubitsch films. With his great knowledge and passion for cinema, Curtis Hanson appreciated that story more than most. How unutterably sad it is to have to tell it again with his own life and work in mind. kenneth.turan@latimes.com A sense of lethargy hangs uneasily over the lumbering new version of The Magnificent Seven. Despite its sturdy plot, seasoned director and capable cast toplined by Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke, it arrives in a comatose state, a film unlikely to arouse passions one way or another. Though the original 1960 Western and its tale of seven hired guns defending a bucolic hamlet beleaguered by bandits is much beloved, it is hardly a sacred object that shouldnt be touched. Itself a remake of Akira Kurosawas classic Seven Samurai, it spawned no fewer than three sequels plus a CBS-TV series, not to mention the occasional odd item such as 1983s Lou Ferrigno-starring The Seven Magnificent Gladiators. Advertisement And director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriters Nic Pizzolatto and Richard Wenk are nothing if not respectful toward the past. Washingtons Sam Chisolm dresses all in black, just like star Yul Brynner in the 1960 version, a few choice lines of dialogue are reprised, and even Elmer Bernsteins knockout theme reappears (with an 87-piece orchestra, no less) at the films close. The problem has little to do with the original, which benefited from the lightning-in-a-bottle phenomenon of early film work by future stars Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Robert Vaughan. Its that a way hasnt been found to bring this iteration to vibrant life. Though a fan of Westerns since childhood, director Fuqua, best known for the deft urban action aesthetic hes brought to films like The Equalizer and Training Day (which won an Oscar for Washington) is definitely not a genre traditionalist. With an attitude that owes more to Sergio Leone and even Quentin Tarantino than John Ford, Fuqua and his writers have chosen to push arch, posturing humor much too hard, for instance casting Chris Pratt, so effective in Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, as wild and crazy Josh Faraday, a man who never met a bad joke he didnt like. The problem with all this pleased-with-itself mirth, aside from being not particularly funny, is that it telegraphs that the film doesnt trust its material enough to play it straight. For The Magnificent Seven to be effective, we have to make an emotional connection to both the defenseless town and the tarnished knights who come to its rescue, and this does not happen. Certainly the Western hamlet of Rose Creek is in dire need of help in 1879. Its dominant figure is gold mine owner and all-around predatory capitalist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), who, not content with having the sheriff on his payroll and armed thugs at his beck and call, wants to drive the few remaining good citizens out of the place and own every square inch himself. These terrified citizens meet at the local church, but the only thing that comes out of the meeting is a wholesale slaughter of innocents. With the men in town not knowing what to do, newly widowed Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett) takes it on herself to find a solution. In nearby Amador City, Cullen, who at times dresses like shes headed for a West L.A. yoga class, runs into Sam Chisolm, an efficient killing machine with a bit of a conscience. Given to identifying himself as a duly sworn warrant officer from Wichita, Kan., and a licensed peace officer in Arkansas, Indian Territory, Nebraska and seven other states, Chisholm is more or less a bounty hunter, willing to bring the bad guys in living or dead. I seek righteousness, as should we all, Cullen explains to him in one of the films few serious moments. Ill take revenge. Cullens plea (or maybe its her outfits) touches something in Chisolm and he starts to round up the gang, starting with Faraday, who takes time out from blowing someones ear off to sign on. The rest of the agreeably multicultural gang quite a bunch of strays, as someone says join up in short order. These include a genial Mexican bandit (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), a Confederate sharpshooter known as the Angel of Death (Ethan Hawke), a Korean knife-fighting virtuoso (Byung-hun Lee), a Falstaffian trapper (Vincent DOnofrio) and a Comanche warrior at odds with his tribe (Martin Sensmeier). These seven men all have back stories, some of them revealed immediately, some down the road, but as presented here none are particularly compelling. More effective, though only sporadically, is the violence that is part and parcel of this films story. Defending innocent villagers is a fraught proposition, and everyone acts accordingly once the shooting starts. Its not that these people couldnt make an engrossing Western; they simply havent. ==== MPAA rating: PG-13 for extended and intense sequences of Western violence and for historical smoking. Running time: 2 hours, 8 minutes. In general release. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour The bloated, convoluted French-German co-production of Beauty and the Beast could prove the death knell for further big-screen versions of the classic fairy tale that is, if Disneys live-action remake of its 1991 musical animated hit wasnt due in theaters next year. This current adaptation, directed by Christophe Gans (Silent Hill), proves a tedious mishmash of styles, tones and time periods as it recounts the story of forbidden romance between the lovely Belle (Lea Seydoux) and the beastly being (Vincent Cassel) holding her captive in his cursed castle. The film is most acceptable when it sticks to its beauty-and-beast dynamic. Even then its too dizzying and grandiose and the chemistry between the lead characters is pretty much nil. Advertisement October movie releases But the script by Gans and Sandra Vo-Anh spends too much time off the castle grounds with satellite bits involving Belles at-odds family members ruined merchant father (Andre Dussollier), nitwit sisters (Audrey Lamy, Sara Giraudeau) and dubious brothers as well as a prince (also Cassel), a princess (Yvonne Catterfeld), and other heroes, villains and creatures that appear in dreams, fantasies, flashbacks and whatever passes for the present. Theres fine camerawork, costuming and production design. But the CG and green-screen effects are a mixed bag and the actors often seem too beset by the overblown story and settings to find their centers. ------------- Beauty and the Beast In French with English subtitles MPAA rating: PG-13, for some fantasy violence, sensuality and partial nudity Running time: 1 hour, 53 minutes Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica; Edwards Westpark 8 Irvine See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Joe Swanberg, a busy bee who has put the indie in independent filmmaker he completed seven features in 2010 alone turns to television this week as the creator, director and writer of the Netflix series Easy. A naturalistic comedy of modern manners set among the young, less young and undeniably middle-aged people of Chicago, its another basket of goodies turned up on the doorstep in a fall season barely started yet already full of them. Temperamentally, in its artful naturalism and emphasis on character or event on the events that character creates, one might say it sits companionably alongside such other new, personal, low-concept sitcoms as Atlanta, Better Things and High Maintenance, with which it shares a short-story anthology form. Two of its eight episodes have a linked narrative; all the others, though they may share some characters, go their own narrative way. With their long, loose, semi-improvised scenes and slow-to-focus narratives, there is a certain luxuriousness (some might say aimlessness) to Swanbergs movies, from early shoestring projects like LOL and Hannah Takes the Stairs, which introduced Greta Gerwig, to more recent productions, like the 2013 Drinking Buddies, with its million-dollar budget and name cast. Television, of course, has the potential to stretch a single story over many hours, even years; the venue would allow the director to work in even longer, looser scenes than are his custom, to delay their payoffs indefinitely. Advertisement But hes gone the other way here, getting in and out of a story in about 30 minutes, distilling and concentrating and amplifying whats good in his films their unflinching intimacy, their nonjudgmental interest in people and how they strive and fail and succeed, break apart and come together. That their crises are life-sized and challenges ordinary do not make them any less compelling or rich. Many of Swanbergs subjects are artists or entrepreneurs, or the people who support them, with different levels of success. (The series has a semi-bohemian milieu, sort of like Treme with snow.) They work, they date, they drink, they get sick, they laugh, they argue (quietly for the most part), they care for kids, they have sex. The sex, and there is a fair amount of it here, is not your typical premium-TV fare, ladled on like gravy for flavor, but a continuation of whatever conversation the people having it were having before they started having sex, and a prelude to whatever comes next. Notwithstanding their watchable professional attractiveness, the players seem unusually human and present in their bodies, which makes these scenes all the more intimate and emotional, without forcing the point. (Director of photography Eon Mora, who worked as an assistant cameraman on Swanbergs Drinking Buddies and Digging for Fire, is especially sympathetic to his aims.) You feel you should tiptoe back out of the room and let them have their privacy. Themes emerge, among them fidelity, responsibility, ambition, sacrifice (willing and reluctant), identity (losing it, getting it back), and aging, which is on the minds of everyone over 25. One episode, about a couch and a house guest, is almost entirely in non-subtitled Spanish, but the power arrangements are always clear. Other episodes, or parts of episodes, reflect directly or indirectly on a life in the arts, creatively and practically; one of these, the last in the series, deals with the question of whether to say small and independent and when to reach from something big. And though its couched in terms of craft beer, the resemblance is clear. The cast, drawn from within and without Swanbergs unofficial repertory company, includes among its bigger names Jake Johnston, Marc Maron, Jane Adams, Orlando Bloom, Malin Akerman, Kate Micucci, Dave Franco and Hannibal Burress. But everyone onscreen seems perfectly alive. Easy Where: Netflix When: Anytime starting Thursday Rating:TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 17) robert.lloyd@latimes.com On Twitter @LATimesTVLloyd Joe Swanberg enters new territory with Drinking Buddies HBOs High Maintenance is both funny and real in its depictions of big city weed delivery If endorsements from fictional political figures carry as much weight as real ones, Hillary Clinton has picked up a big one for her campaign in Ohio this weekend Stars from beloved political drama The West Wing will come together again in Sandusky, Toledo and Cleveland in support of the Democratic nominee in the swing state. Richard Schiff, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, Dule Hill, Joshua Malina and Mary McCormack will be on hand from the fictitious presidency of Democrat Josiah Bartlet (portrayed by Martin Sheen), whose rule lasted two terms and eight seasons on NBC from 1999 to 2006. The actors will discuss why they are supporting Clinton and urge Ohioans to register to vote ahead of the 11 October deadline, read a statement from the Clinton campaign. Advertisement See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour For much of its run particularly under creator Aaron Sorkin the Bartlet White House functioned as a sort of wish fulfillment depiction of politics and government as a place where the best and the brightest fulfill their duties with unwavering commitment and a keen moral compass that could span both sides of the aisle. Contrast that series with some of the more recent depictions of politics on TV (the U.K.s caustic In the Thick of It, the corrupt House of Cards and the comic incompetence of Veep) and you have some idea of how the current political climate has changed. This isnt the first time The West Wing cast has come back together in the real-world political scene. Last year some of the actors playfully reunited to promote a virtual big block of cheese day for the Obama administration, and in 2012 the much of cast walked-and-talked anew to reprise their roles for an informational clip about nonpartisan elections. Both of those videos included Sheen, but he will not be on hand for this weekends campaign events. However, given that he appeared with Whitford and lots of famous people in Joss Whedons video for his Super PAC aiming to get out the vote against Donald Trump, we can be pretty sure where he stands. chris.barton@latimes.com Follow me over here @chrisbarton. ALSO Samantha Bee says Jimmy Fallon and NBC tacitly condoned race-baiting demagogue Donald Trump Major League Baseball lends a hand to Pitch NBCs Today regains ratings lead in key demographic In-N-Outs menu is renowned for its simplicity: Fries. Shakes. Burgers, cheesed or otherwise. A soda if youre thirsty. But non-meat-eaters arent satisfied. Thousands of people have signed a Change.org petition asking the burger chain to add a veggie burger to the menu. Fans of the In-N-Out secret menu (a not-so-secret list of items not included on the regular menu) will be quick to point out that you can order a grilled cheese. But thats not good enough, argues the Good Food Institute, the nonprofit organization that created the petition. Advertisement If you want a meat-free meal at In-N-Out, youre going to be stuck eating multiple orders of French fries or a cheese-slathered bun, the petition reads. Bruce Friedrich, executive director of the Good Food Institute, described the 501(c)(3) organization as having a four-pronged mission to increase the availability of plant-based, sustainable and humane alternatives to traditional meat products. Part of that mission is corporate engagement encouraging chains such as In-N-Out to embrace plant-based entree options. Southern California is a mecca for plant-based eating and food consciousness. Bruce Friedrich, Good Food Institute He said the Irvine-based business is falling behind chains such as Burger King, Wendys and White Castle, which already offer meat alternatives. Southern California is a mecca for plant-based eating and food consciousness, Friedrich said. In-N-Out should be leading the charge on making it easier to eat food that is sustainably produced, healthy and humane. It will send a powerful message that their company cares about their consumer and recognizes the harms of factory farming, both of which it makes tremendous sense for a Southern California-based company to be leading on. As of Thursday afternoon, nearly 30,000 people had added their names to the Change.org petition. But not everyone is convinced. As a vegetarian myself, this is a stupid petition, reads the top-rated comment on the petition, written by Barret M. Why, as a vegan, would you want to support a company that slaughters cows by the thousands? I wouldnt ask Lucilles BBQ to make me vegan ribs. When reached by phone, the In-N-Out corporate office had no official comment on the matter. But the company is aware of the petition. Ideally, Friedrich said, the Good Food Institute would like the veggie burger to be added to In-N-Outs standard permanent menu, which he feels would send a stronger message about the importance of plant-based food. But barring that, hed be willing to settle for inclusion on the not-so-secret menu. ALSO: Everything you need to know about L.A.'s first Dessert Week Blinking Owl, Orange Countys first distillery, opens this week Roy Choi and Daniel Pattersons Locol is bringing Watts to the rest of L.A. in new food truck Tell Jessica about your favorite meatless fast food on Twitter @jessica_roy. jessica.roy@latimes.com Four people arrested Thursday in connection with a boat that capsized off Egypts Mediterranean coast, killing dozens of migrants, face charges of human trafficking and manslaughter, officials said. Officials said those arrested were crew members on a boat carrying migrants trying to reach Europe. Egypts state-run news agency reported arrest warrants were issued for five other people. It was unclear late Thursday how many migrants had been aboard the boat when it foundered Wednesday afternoon, though officials estimated there were hundreds. The boat was bound for Italy and was near Burg Rashid, northeast of Alexandria, the Egyptian military said in a statement. Advertisement The state-run news agency said 51 bodies had been recovered so far. Flavio Di Giacomo, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, said 163 people had been rescued, and that the dead included 10 women and a baby. Most of those who survived were arrested and later released, according to the state-run news agency. Di Giacomo said those aboard the boat were mainly East African and Egyptian, including many unaccompanied youths whose ranks have increased this year because of economic need and provisions in Italian law that grant them temporary papers and bar their involuntary deportation. This winter, the organization saw 10 times as many Egyptian youths make the journey. Families know that they will not be sent back, leading boys as young as 12 to make the trip, Di Giacomo said. He said the boat that capsized Wednesday set off from Damietta Port and stopped about 20 miles off the coast of Burg Rashid to take on more migrants. Usually it works that way: The migrants reach them with dinghies, with rubber boats, he said. For some reason that we dont know exactly, the ship capsized. Probably it was not fit to have all these people on board. That is usually why they capsize. The death toll was expected to climb, leading officials in Burg Rashids surrounding Beheira province to prepare their morgues for more victims, said Adel Khalifa, a health affairs spokesman for the province. He said seven survivors were in stable condition at a local hospital. Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail had ordered the swift arrest of the smugglers. The Egyptian military has been attempting to combat illegal immigration as migrants increasingly try to reach Europe through North Africa. The Egyptian coast guard also intercepted another boat Wednesday west of Alexandria near El Alamein carrying 294 people, according to a military statement. On Tuesday, the military arrested 68 people in the same area off the coast of Matrouh on a boat headed for Europe. Last week, the Egyptian navy stopped two attempts by smugglers to bring more than 400 migrants across the Mediterranean from North Perlis and Dar El-Hekma. European arrivals by sea decreased during the spring after the European Union and Turkey reached an agreement on curbing migrant flows across the Mediterranean, launching Operation Sophia, an effort to destroy smugglers boats. So far this year, 264,513 migrants reached Europe by sea, mostly landing in Greece and Italy, according to IOM estimates as of the end of last month. Thats down from 520,000 in the first nine months of 2015, United Nations officials said this week. But thats driven mostly by a dip in arrivals to Greece, which have fallen 57% compared with this time last year, down to 165,750; Italy has seen only about a 1% decrease to 130,411 so far this year, according to UNHCR. And hundreds of migrants have died this year making the crossing. In June, about 320 migrants and refugees from Egypt drowned off the Greek island of Crete when their boat sank and an additional 169 were killed the same month when another boat capsized near Sicily. This year, 3,165 migrants have died making the journey to Europe, placing the death toll on a pace to exceed last years total of 3,771, according to officials at IOM and the U.N. refugee agency, which has already dubbed 2016 the deadliest year on record in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean Sea is very well patrolled, but its almost impossible to avoid fatalities because the quality of the boats is so poor and migrants are driven by political, economic and environmental forces to flee, Di Giacomo said. We need long-term strategies. His group has urged the Egyptian parliament to pass a proposed law that would fine smugglers $25,000 and impose life sentences when the migrant women or children they transport die or are disabled, or when their smuggling is connected to organized crime or terrorism. World leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi, discussed the migrant crisis this week while gathered in New York at the United Nations General Assembly. In addressing the U.N. summit for migrants and refugees, Sisi said Egypt has fought illegal immigration, in part by appealing to youth not to make the dangerous voyage to Europe. There is no way to end this except by uprooting its causes; and this will be by reaching political agreements, not by closing borders, he said. molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com @mollyhf ALSO Pakistani intelligence looks into travel history of U.S. bombing suspect Rahami and wife Obamas tense relationship with Netanyahu colors his legacy on Israel Afghanistan takes a step toward peace with notorious ex-warlord That smoke looks pretty bad. Residents run for their lives as Cajon fire rages A helicopter battles the Blue Cut fire near Lytle Creek Tuesday afternoon. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Sheriffs deputies went door to door in various neighborhoods in Lytle Creek Canyon, asking residents to evacuate Tuesday afternoon. Ellen Pomella, 63, and her husband had been told to leave their home in Happy Jack, a neighborhood of about 160 homes. About an hour later, they were parked a few miles down the road at a ranger station, waiting to be sure an elderly neighbor also made it down. Pomella sat in her Prius, which was packed with pillows, blankets and clothes. A cat rested in its carrier. Her husband was parked in an SUV behind her, with the couples three dogs. Theyve lived in the area for 25 years and have had to evacuate before so they were well prepared and unsurprised by how fast the fire was moving, she said. Its part of living in this canyon, she said. It went fast. But its very dry. Pomella has volunteered to help with fire preparedness in her community and said she and her neighbors have worked to ensure that their properties are cleared of brush and anything else that could make them more flammable. People need to be prepared and just know that thats part of the risk of living in these kinds of areas, she said. Weve got a beautiful community. Further up the road at an RV park where deputies were knocking on doors and asking people to leave, Emilio, who gave his first name only, said he had his things packed and ready to go but would wait to see how the fire progressed. Theyre doing an amazing job, he said of the deputies and fire fighters in the area. Theyre fighting hard for Lytle Creek right now. Not far away Joe Gonzales, who has lived in his Lytle Creek Canyon home for six years now, said deputies had come by a few minutes earlier and old him to leave. He grabbed laptops and important papers and was ready to go, but was waiting first to hear from deputies whether an elderly neighbor would need a ride before evacuating himself. Im a little worried. I dont want to leave here. We love it in the canyon, he said. But that smoke looks pretty bad. Vladimir Putin: In the Sept. 20 Section A, an article about Russian President Vladimir Putins growing role on the global stage said he would address the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. The Russian government said on Aug. 29 that Putin would not attend the gathering. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is scheduled to address the group Friday. If you believe that we have made an error, or you have questions about The Times journalistic standards and practices, you may contact Deirdre Edgar, readers representative, by email at readers.representative@latimes.com, by phone at (877) 554-4000, by fax at (213) 237-3535 or by mail at 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. The readers representative office is online at latimes.com/readersrep. A judge in Northern California dealt a blow this week to a controversial campaign to make teachers more accountable for their students level of achievement, the second key setback in recent months for those behind the effort. The ruling by Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Barry Goode went against the Bay Area group Students Matter. The groups lawsuit aimed to force 13 school districts, including seven in Southern California, to make student standardized test scores a key part of teacher evaluations. For the record: An earlier version of this article said that the Supreme Court declined to hear the Vergara teacher-tenure case in April. The court made its announcement in August. Students Matter had hoped to build on a 2012 ruling against the Los Angeles Unified School District, which led to a settlement under which test scores were supposed to become part of teacher evaluations. Advertisement But in Doe vs. Antioch, the case decided this week, the judge concluded that districts had broad discretion over how to use test results. The school districts in question, including Inglewood Unified, El Monte City, and Saddleback Valley Unified, were meeting their legal obligations, he said. The Legislature endorses many uses of those tests, including evaluating pupils, entire schools and local educational agencies, Goode wrote in an opinion released Monday. But it does not say the results should be used to evaluate individual teachers. This weeks ruling follows the California Supreme Courts August decision not to re-examine a ruling that preserved traditional teacher job protections, including tenure and seniority-based layoffs. In that nationally watched case, Vergara vs. California, Students Matter argued that these job protections are unconstitutional because, by protecting ineffective teachers, they deprive students, especially poor and minority ones, of their right to an education. The Antioch decision surprised Marcellus McRae, who represented the plaintiffs, six California residents including parents and teachers. If you really think about it, this is such a basic concept that the goal of teaching is for students to learn, said McRae. It is, to me, axiomatic that teacher evaluations have to be based at least in part over whether students have learned. What other profession is there where people do not get evaluated on results as opposed to their efforts only? McRae added. How is that, in California school districts, 98% of teachers get satisfactory ratings, but only 44% of students meet the English Language Arts literacy standards? And only 34% met the standards in math? he said, referring to 2014-15 numbers. (Performance improved somewhat in the tests taken during the last school year.) Teachers unions argue that judging teachers by test scores overlooks the effects of poverty and other external factors on student achievement. They also challenged the focus on test scores as a uniquely important measure of student progress. Every day teachers across California use a variety of benchmarks, including in-class quizzes, tests, projects, and personal observation to fine-tune their approaches with their students, said Joshua Pechthalt, president of the California Federation of Teachers. There is no single method for assessing progress that is ideal or that should be used to the exclusion of all others. Students Matter, which focuses on impact litigation, also is pursuing a lawsuit in Connecticut that aims, among other things, to make it easier to open charter schools. The group is funded by philanthropists with an agenda that broadly includes greater reliance on test scores, weakening teachers unions and spurring the growth of charter schools. Allied groups have active Vergara-like cases in New York and Minnesota. A fundamental goal of their strategy is to use the courts to bypass state legislatures in which teacher unions exert powerful influence. Initially, the Antioch litigation seemed like low-hanging fruit. If L.A. Unified, the nations second-largest school system, could be brought to heel, what hope of resistance was there for Antioch Unified, a district of 18,000 students about 35 miles east of Berkeley? Perhaps fearing the worst, nine of the districts revised their evaluation processes after the suit was filed, McRae said. Both the L.A. and Contra Costa cases were based on language from the the Stull Act, which the Legislature passed in 1971 and amended several times since. It requires school districts to evaluate and assess teachers in a manner that reasonably relates to the progress of pupils toward established standards and, if applicable, to state learning goals as measured by standardized tests. The judge found wiggle room. There are serious questions about whether, and the extent to which, a pupils standardized test score is reasonably related and applicable to the performance of a given teacher, Goode wrote. Even in L.A., an evaluation process that relied directly on test scores never went into effect, Goode noted in his opinion. Students Matter is weighing whether to appeal. howard.blume@latimes.com Twitter: @howardblume To read the article in Spanish, click here MORE EDUCATION NEWS Cal State wants to double its graduation rate by 2025 UC campuses scramble to make room for thousands more new California students For the first time, California releases test scores for foster youth and theyre not good For the first time, California education officials have separated out the standardized test scores of the states foster youth and advocates now have sobering proof of what they long suspected: These students are learning far less than their peers. In 2014-15, the first year scores of the new, harder state tests were reported, 18.8% of students in the foster care system met or exceeded standards in English/language arts, compared with 44.2% of their non-foster peers statewide. In math, 11.8% of these students reached or beat the benchmarks, compared with 33.8% of non-foster students. Foster students also had somewhat lower rates of participation on the tests. In English, 27,651 foster students or 89.8% of those enrolled were tested, as opposed to 96.1% of non-foster students. In math, that number was 27,475, or 89.3%, compared with 96.3% of their non-foster peers. Advertisement The low numbers, experts say, reflect the level of disruption in the lives of children in Californias foster system. Only two-thirds stay in the same school each year, according to a study by the Center for the Future of Teaching & Learning at WestEd, a nonprofit educational research organization. One in 10 have attended three schools during the course of one year. Each move costs them between four and six months of learning progress, says the nonprofit Legal Center for Foster Care & Education, which provides information to people serving children in the foster system. Young people in foster care are too often moved from placement to placement by the child welfare system, Jill Rowland, attorney and education program director of the nonprofit Alliance for Childrens Rights, said in a statement. She said she hopes to use the information to ignite a movement to address the problem. The nonprofit alliances goal is to protect the rights of impoverished, abused and neglected youth. Foster students scores, Rowland noted, were comparable to those of English learners. Stigmas dont help, said Alex Torres, 19, a graduate of Bonita High School who is currently in extended foster care. We have this stereotype: Youve been through trouble and youre only going to bring trouble, he said. Thats why its hard for us to make friends with people on the higher end of those test scores. California has passed a number of laws aimed at improving foster childrens educational achievement. In 2015, the state added $10 million to the budget to fund a new law that helped make sure that county education offices Foster Youth Services Coordination Programs could serve all sorts of foster students. Recently, the Local Control Funding Formula, a new school funding law that pays for education based on a students level of need, singled out foster students for special attention. The broken-out results for foster students in the 2014-15 tests were due on July 1, according to the funding law but were released late last week. California Department of Education spokesman Robert Oakes said the delay was caused by other data-producing priorities with competing deadlines. We would love for it to be faster, Rowland said. But this [getting the results] is really groundbreaking. The state plans to release results for the most recent round of testing, in the 2015-16 school year, in early 2017. And while the funding law requires the state to report these numbers in every even year, the state has said it will do so for each year. When he was a child, Torres parents moved around a lot. As he got older, he desperately wanted to stay in one place for longer. Because he faced emotional and physical abuse at home, the friends he made at school became his support system. From kindergarten on, he attended seven different schools. Four years ago, he entered foster care. After the second move from foster care, I became numb and didnt care about socializing, he said. He didnt expect to go to college. He spoke of plans to do so, he said, simply to shake off social workers. But at Bonita High, he met a counselor devoted to helping students in foster care and she kept telling him how important college was. Now hes at Mt. San Antonio College, a community college in Walnut, studying to be a nurse or EMT. You can reach Joy Resmovits on Twitter @Joy_Resmovits and by email at Joy.Resmovits@LATimes.com. To read the article in Spanish, click here ALSO Californias pension crisis: The political deal thats costing the state billions UC campuses scramble to make room for thousands more new California students A car crash at USC left a student dead and a campus officer charged with manslaughter On move-in day at UCLA, freshman Ashley Sanchez pulled two bins filled with blankets, toiletries, cleaning supplies, snacks, notebooks and her favorite stuffed whale to her new dorm and opened the door. Three beds, three desks and three wardrobes were squeezed into a room that used to house two students. As the last roommate to move in, Sanchez was left with the top bunk in a tight corner with a low ceiling over the right half of the bed. For the record: An earlier version of this story said that UC Berkeleys Wheeler Hall had been shut down this year for seismic retrofitting. It was shut down for building improvements. Her mother, Silvia Valladares, surveyed the space with a protective parents eye. Advertisement This is a small, little room for three girls, she fretted. Doubles turned into triples are now the norm at UCLA, which began classes Thursday with 1,000 more registered California students like Sanchez piling onto a campus already packed from years of enrollment growth. And its not the only University of California campus scrambling to make room for the largest influx of new students in decades. Overall, nearly 8,000 more California students committed to a UC campus over last year, although final enrollment numbers are not yet known. The larger class is part of a deal UC President Janet Napolitano made with Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature to enroll 5,000 more California students this year and 5,000 more the next two years in exchange for more state money. Finding room has strained UC campuses across the state. Some are squishing four students into double rooms, moving students off campus, even leasing beds from other colleges. They are hiring hundreds of new instructors and expanding services, including tutoring and mental health counseling. Its a big pill to swallow, said Scott Waugh, UCLAs executive vice chancellor and provost. We realized we are kind of bursting at the seams. UCLA and UC Berkeley face some of the biggest challenges as the most densely populated of UCs nine undergraduate campuses. The Westwood campus educates the largest number of students 43,000 on the smallest physical footprint: 419 acres, one-third the size of most other UC campuses. When UC officials gave UCLA its enrollment target earlier this year, Waughs reaction was, Gulp. The campus population has been rising, he said, since 2010, when the recession and subsequent budget cuts pushed the school to begin aggressively recruiting more out-of-state and international students, who pay higher tuition. UCLA increased its undergraduates by 3,423 or 13% from 2010 to 2015. Incoming registered freshmen and transfer students swelled to nearly 9,900 this year. Administrators launched an undergraduate academic initiative in 2010 to accommodate the growing population without diminishing educational quality. In the last five years, the campus has added 474 lecturers and teaching assistants and more than 2,000 beds in new and redeveloped housing projects. The campus also built a new dining hall, Bruin Plate, that offers healthful gourmet meals. This is a small, little room for three girls. Silvia Valladares, mother of a UCLA freshman Thanks to more conversions this fall, triple rooms now account for 73% of all student housing. Staff received extra training to help resolve the conflicts tighter quarters may bring, said Javan Cross, resident director for Hedrick Hall, which houses 1,100 freshmen. Waugh said the improvements arent adequate, especially given the great numbers to come. He said UCLA will need at least 2,500 more beds as well as more classrooms, study areas and recreational facilities. Im just past the point of feeling comfortable. I dont see how we can put more students on this small acreage, Waugh said. Well just have to have 60-story dorms overlooking Bel-Air. UC Berkeley needs to make room this year for about 1,200 more California students the number that has registered. It doesnt help that the largest lecture space, Wheeler Hall with a 732-seat auditorium and 29 classrooms was shut down this year for building improvements. Its the perfect storm, said Bob Jacobsen, Berkeleys dean of undergraduate studies in the College of Letters and Science. To house the newcomers, about 850 sophomore beds have been turned over to freshmen, sending the older students scurrying to find off-campus housing. An additional 100 students have been placed in leased rooms a 25-minute shuttle ride away, at Mills College and Holy Names University in Oakland. The university also has offered freshmen the chance to take classes off campus in the city of Berkeley and San Francisco this fall through a program previously reserved for those admitted in the spring. More than 1,000 students have signed up, including Dani Yang. Yang, 18, said the off-campus program offered smaller, more intimate classes a setting that has helped her ease into a campus with a freshman enrollment more than 10 times her 350-member graduating class at La Canada High School. Its definitely intimidating when you see the amount of students here, Yang said. And everyone here is really, really smart. Overall, Berkeley expects to hire more than 130 new instructors and teaching assistants. The nearly $3.8 million in state funds the campus received for the new students wasnt enough to cover the extra classes, instruction, housing, tutoring, mental health services, technology, classrooms and housing. Berkeley had to redirect $2.2 million more to pay for them, even though it faces a critical budget deficit. Bigger problems loom, said Catherine Koshland, vice chancellor for undergraduate education. When todays freshmen become juniors, theyll require smaller upper-division courses taught by tenure-track faculty even as the campus will still be absorbing hundreds more students. This is not going to go away, she said. UC Irvine is breathing a bit easier, even with about 1,000 extra registered California students this fall. The campus just opened a new housing complex, Mesa Court Towers, with more than 900 beds, a dining hall, community space and recreational facilities. Irvine also increased online offerings, hired more faculty and offered students financial incentives if they took summer classes a push that began earlier as part of a plan to expand over the next decade to 40,000 students from 30,000. UC Riverside is set to enroll the largest number of new California freshmen more than 1,300 but last year it opened a new residential hall with 800 beds. The campus had already launched an expansion plan and a $300-million fundraising campaign to help it grow. Back at UCLA, Sanchez unpacked her new socks and bunny slippers, stored away her laundry detergent and put new sheets on her bed. The Santee Education Complex graduate said her dorm may seem small to her mother, but its larger than the bedroom in their Los Angeles apartment that she shared with three siblings. Its also the first room shes ever had away from home, which gives it a certain luster. Im nervous, Sanchez said. But excited. To read the article in Spanish, click here ALSO UC Berkeley reinstates controversial course on history of Palestine Josh Kun, author who uncovered L.A.'s musical counter-history, named MacArthur fellow College students take to Wikipedia to rewrite the wrongs of Internet science A wildfire burning on Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc was 70% contained Thursday, Air Force officials said. The Canyon fire has burned 12,518 acres on the South Base portion of the military facility. There was minimal fire activity Wednesday night, the Air Force said in a statement. Crews were working Thursday to build containment lines and eliminate hot spots, hoping to make progress despite high winds forecast for Thursday. Advertisement Teams from the 30th Space Wing based at Vandenberg were planning to reenter South Base to assess the damage. All off-base evacuation orders were lifted Thursday morning, officials said. A Ventura County firefighter was killed and another injured Wednesday in a rollover crash on the westbound California 246 near Lompoc as they were hauling water to fight the Canyon fire. The water tender struck a curb within a roundabout at Purisima Road and overturned, according to the California Highway Patrol. When CHP officers arrived, they found the firefighter trapped in the passenger seat. The Ventura County Fire Department identified him as fire engineer Ryan Osler. The second firefighter, who has not been identified, suffered minor injuries. The firefighters were among more than 1,000 personnel assigned to the blaze. Meanwhile, firefighters in Los Angeles on Thursday knocked down a 6.3-acre brush fire that started at 11:45 a.m. in Elysian Park near Dodger Stadium. A water-dropping helicopter aided about 100 firefighters as they attacked the flames hard and fast from the ground and the air, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement. Strong winds are forecast for portions of Southern California throughout the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters warned that powerful Santa Ana winds and low humidity combined with drought-dried brush could pose a significant fire risk in Los Angeles and Ventura counties this weekend. Wind gusts of up to 40 mph are possible. By Sunday, temperatures could reach triple digits in the valleys. hailey.branson@latimes.com | Twitter: @haileybranson veronica.rocha@latimes.com | Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA ALSO Bay Area refinery shuts down operations after oil sheen is spotted in San Pablo Bay Couple charged with killing woman and kidnapping her children Four brothers say they were kidnapped and forced to work on marijuana farm in Northern California A student was arrested this week after creating a hit list naming 33 students and teachers in a detailed mass shooting plot at Encore High School for the Arts in Hesperia, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department announced Wednesday. The student, who was not identified, had a list of names of people whom he identified as potential targets and could have been shot at the school, Sheriff John McMahon said at a news conference. The student, who is being held at High Desert Juvenile Detention Center, had limited access to firearms, he said. This threat all surrounded a shooting at the school that this student was going to be involved in, he said. Advertisement Deputies also gathered information about explosives on campus, so sheriffs bomb squad and police dogs searched the campus, at 16955 Lemon St., on Wednesday, and didnt find anything. The plot unfolded Saturday when a parent notified deputies of a potential threat at the charter school, McMahon said. Deputies began investigating the report and discovered the threats on social media. By Sunday, deputies, working with school officials, identified and interviewed the student, he said. But at the time, deputies did not have enough information to arrest the student. When school resumed the next morning, deputies and detectives went to the campus and continued interviewing students and staff about the potential threat. On Tuesday, deputies obtained a warrant and searched the homes of the students parents. Deputies found firearms, which the sheriff said were legally registered. Our deputies discovered information that supported those threats, McMahon said. The student, who did not attend classes this week, was arrested Tuesday evening. The teens parents, he said, are cooperating with the investigation. The information we have at this point is he was the lone suspect in this plot, the sheriff said. Detectives discovered the students motive for the planned attack, but McMahon declined to provide details because he feared it could damage the pending criminal case. The student will not be allowed to return to campus, according to Denise Griffin, the schools CEO and co-founder. One of the things that everyone should take from this investigation is that it is important for students, parents and staff to always remember that if you hear something, you should say something, school officials said in a letter to parents. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson hit with pie during scuffle at high school fundraising dinner A car crash at USC left a student dead and a campus officer charged with manslaughter Release of police footage in fatal shooting of Sacramento homeless man sparks protest, calls for unity All lanes of the northbound 110 Freeway were briefly closed near Elysian Park on Wednesday afternoon following a collision involving an LAPD motorcycle officer. The motorcycle and another vehicle were involved in the crash about 3:30 p.m. near the 110 Freeway and Stadium Way, according to LAPD Officer Jenny Houser. The officer was taken to a hospital in stable condition, Houser said. Advertisement Before the crash, the officer was driving his motorcycle on the northbound freeway. Its unclear if he was responding to an incident. The California Highway Patrol shut down the 110 Freeway but gradually reopened lanes. The freeway was fully reopened about 5:15 p.m. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno. UPDATES: 6:15 p.m.: This article was updated with confirmation that the freeway had reopened. This article was originally published at 5:00 p.m. The four brothers from Modesto showed up one late July night at a home in the remote town of West Point in Northern California, injured and scared. Three of them were taken to the hospital with serious injuries and a harrowing tale about being forced to work at a marijuana farm amid torture and murmurs about having them killed. The farm was near a long, narrow, winding road to the middle of nowhere, Calaveras County Sheriffs Capt. Jim Macedo said this week. It can seem like youre a world away from home. Advertisement Authorities are investigating possible drug cartel activity after the brothers said they were kidnapped and forced to work for more than five months on an enormous, illegal marijuana farm under the threat of violence. The Calaveras County Sheriffs Department this week announced the arrest of two women. Guadalupe Lupe Arrellano, 43, and Medarda Daniella Urbieta Estudillo, 34, were arrested Sept. 14 in Modesto and charged with human trafficking, kidnapping, battery with serious bodily injury, making terrorist threats and drug charges, authorities said. Sheriffs officials are still seeking two men in connection with the case. In February, Arrellano picked up two men from a Modesto business known as a place where day laborers congregate, Macedo said at a news conference. She told the men she needed help working on a landscaping project at a home in Calaveras County. The brothers worked at a home in West Point for several days before being taken by force to a nearby marijuana cultivation site, where they were threatened, according to the sheriffs office. Arrellano got the mens home address in Modesto and went to the residence, where she told family members that the two were working for her on a marijuana farm. She offered to take two more relatives to the site, but told them that if they said anything to law enforcement, their family members would be killed, according to the sheriffs office. Two additional brothers went with her to the West Point site, where they were threatened by armed men, taken to their family members and forced to work on the marijuana harvest while their remaining family members in Modesto were continually threatened by the captors, authorities said. The four men, whose names have not been released, were kept in squalid conditions, sleeping on cots outdoors. They were severely beaten for complaining about the conditions. At one point, one of the men heard a male captor ask Arrellano whether he could kill the victims, Macedo said. Arrellano reportedly told the captors no because they were nearly done with the marijuana harvest, but that they could be killed after they finished their work. About that time, one of the captors tried to stab one of the victims, holding a gun and knife at the same time, according to the sheriffs office. That night, on July 27, the men escaped and ran to a West Point home, where a resident called authorities. Three of the men had significant visible injuries. The injured men were taken to a nearby hospital, and one had to be taken to a trauma center because of the severity of his wounds. On July 28, law enforcement officials from Calaveras and Tuolumne counties and federal agencies served a search warrant near Bald Mountain Road, where they located the growing operation. Investigators found 23,245 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $18 million to $60 million, at least two firearms, multiple cellphones and $10,000 in cash. There was mention of cartel activity that has yet to be corroborated, Macedo said. There was a specific cartel mentioned, however we have not corroborated that information at this time. Macedo said it was a large-scale investigation involving numerous local and federal agencies. The amount of food stored on the marijuana growing site indicated it was a large operation, he said. While authorities searched the property, one man was seen running from investigators, according to the sheriffs department. A backpack was found along the trail on which he ran; a handgun was inside. No arrests were made at the time of the search, but authorities in the weeks following served search warrants at multiple locations in Stanislaus County. Authorities said they found a religious shrine to Santa Muerte, the folk saint of death popular among drug traffickers and cartels, during a search of a Modesto home linked to the case. Macedo said Arrellano and Urbieta Estudillo were in the country illegally and were known to use several aliases. In May, the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors made it legal for farmers to grow medical marijuana for commercial sale. The urgency ordinance was enacted in part to help the struggling county recover from last years devastating Butte fire, which charred more than 70,000 acres, destroyed 549 homes and killed two people. Authorities said the West Point marijuana farm was unregistered. hailey.branson@latimes.com Twitter: @haileybranson UPDATES: 1:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information. This article was originally published at 12:05 p.m. A Phillips 66 refinery has temporarily shut down operations at a dock in Rodeo as authorities investigate a pair of oil sheens that appeared recently in northern San Pablo Bay, officials said Thursday. The oil sheens have not been seen in the waters since Wednesday afternoon. Officials have yet to determine the source of the oil, according to a statement from a Joint Unified Command team created for the incident. The team includes the U.S. Coast Guard, the California Department of Fish & Wildlifes Office of Spill Prevention and Response, Contra Costa Countys Hazardous Materials Department and Phillips 66, as well as workers from the National Response Center and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Advertisement Operations at the Phillips 66 refinerys marine terminal in Rodeo have been shut down since Wednesday. Phillips 66 said it planned to inspect a ship docked at the refinery and test its dock transfer pipelines on Thursday. Authorities are looking at refineries, vessels and nearby facilities to determine the source of the sheens. There have been no reports of oiled wildlife. The Coast Guard spotted the sheen, which was a mile long and 40 yards wide, on Tuesday. The ferry Intintoli first reported a strong smell of oil at about 8 p.m. The next day, the Coast Guard found a sheen near the refinerys marine dock. Authorities placed 1,000 feet of boom on the water around the refinery dock and launched cleanup operations. Coast Guard officials said it was unclear if the sheens were related to the strong odor that prompted the Vallejo Fire Department on Tuesday to advise its residents to stay indoors, close their windows and turn off any air conditioning. The fire department said natural gas levels in the air were normal. But residents reported difficulty breathing because of the strong odor and many sought medical assistance at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center, KPIX-TV reported. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. UPDATES: 5 p.m.: This article was updated with officials confirming there were two sheens. This article was originally published at 2:40 p.m Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson was hit with a pie Wednesday night while attending a fundraising dinner at a high school, authorities said. The assailant was taken into police custody at the event, held at Sacramento Charter High School, which Johnsons nonprofit St. Hope Public Schools began operating a decade ago. About 6:40 p.m., Johnson listed as a host of the fundraiser was approached by the man and hit with a pie, according to Crystal Strait, a spokeswoman for the mayor. Advertisement The mayor was assaulted tonight, Strait said. Johnson tackled the assailant in a brief scuffle, the East Bay Express reported. A Sacramento police officer in Johnsons security detail requested assistance and eventually detained the man, according to a statement issued by the Sacramento Police Department. Police identified the man as Sean Thompson, 32. Thompson suffered a minor injury and was taken to the hospital for treatment. It was unclear how he was injured. Thompson was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a public official, a felony, and was expected to be booked into Sacramento County Jail. Police did not specify how Johnson was assaulted. Johnson, who did not seek reelection this year, thanked police on Twitter, writing, Appreciate everyone. Im doing fine. Be safe everyone. The mayor is a frequent guests at local events such as the dinner, officially known as the Seeds of Hope Harvest Dinner. The gathering featured a prominent local chef and celebrated Edible Sac High, a program at Sacramento Charter High that aims to teach food literacy. It is modeled on Alice Waters Edible Schoolyard Project. Myers reported from Sacramento; Hamilton, from Los Angeles. john.myers@latimes.com matt.hamilton@latimes.com ALSO Californias pension crisis: The political deal thats costing the state billions Josh Kun, author who uncovered L.A.'s musical counter-history, named MacArthur fellow A car crash at USC left a student dead and a campus officer charged with manslaughter A day after Sacramento authorities released video recordings of officers fatally shooting a mentally-ill homeless man, relatives of Joseph Mann said police were wrong to use lethal force. There was nothing about his conduct that suggested he should have been shot multiple times, said the familys attorney, John Burris. Any reasonable police officer should have noticed that he was mentally impaired. Release of the videos, which show officers firing 18 rounds at the black 50-year-old, have triggered protests by Black Lives Matter activists and calls for public unity by city officials. Advertisement The graphic videos were recorded by three police cruiser dash-cams and a private surveillance camera and show Mann wearing a backpack and walking through a Sacramento neighborhood on the morning of July 11. Police also released two 911 calls with witnesses saying Mann was armed with a gun and knife. One of the callers twice describes Mann as mentally ill. From their patrol cruiser, officers call out to Mann on a loudspeaker. Sir, we dont want to hurt you, an officer said in the video, drop the knife. The officers follow Mann as he turns onto the 1100 block of Lochbrae Road. At one point, Mann turns around to face officers, then squats and zigzags from side-to-side. At another point, he runs toward the officers and then away from them. The video then shows two officers, guns drawn, running after Mann and firing repeatedly. Mann falls to the ground as the officers continue firing. After the shooting, investigators found a knife with a four-inch blade, but no firearm. Of the 18 rounds fired, 14 struck Mann, police said. Toxicology tests later revealed that Mann was under the influence of methamphetamine or had used it at some recent point, according to Sacramento Police Chief Samuel Somers Jr. Not to put that into any context, other than it just another dimension that the officers are dealing with, he said at news conference Tuesday. Its not only people that are mentally impaired, but are also chemically impaired, and you put the two together and it just makes ... very difficult and dynamic issues for the officers to try to resolve. The chief said he was compelled to release the videos and audio due to information that was out there. Its unprecedented for us to release video before we go through the adjudication process, but we wanted to make sure we continue to be as transparent as we can, he said. We try to respect the privacy that folks have. We also try to respect the sanctity of the case that goes over to the district attorneys office, but the times that we are in today, sometimes its important that we come out with this video or audio or some of these files before we get to that process. Detectives have interviewed more than 100 witnesses while assembling the 1,200-page case file, he said. Members of Black Lives Matter said they planned to hit the streets of Sacramento on Wednesday evening, calling for changes in police tactics. The victims brother, Robert Mann, said his family didnt have a chance to review the videos before police released them. We are disappointed in the city of Sacramento for how they released this video, he said. You have all seen the video. Its very clear that they had plenty of time to use other means to deal with my brother who was mentally ill. They chose not to use any of those means, but lethal force. The officers, he said, should be held accountable. The officers were placed on three-day paid administrative leave after the shooting and later returned to work, police said. Manns family has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, claiming officers used excessive force and aggressively pursued him. Burris said even if methamphetamine was found in Manns blood, he was acting bizarrely and police should not have used lethal force. Hours after police released the videos, the Sacramento City Council, which also viewed the footage, called for reforms to strengthen accountability. It was very disturbing, Mayor Kevin Johnson said at Tuesdays council meeting. The mayor appointed a subcommittee to discuss police policy and talk to community leaders and get feedback on who the next police chief should be. Earlier this month, Somers announced he was retiring after 32 years of police work. We now more than ever really need to come together as a community, Johnson said. We dont want to be a community that pits ourselves against each other veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Northbound 110 Freeway briefly closed after crash involving LAPD officer A car crash at USC left a student dead and a campus officer charged with manslaughter North Carolina governor declares state of emergency as new protests erupt in Charlotte Nearly four decades after a pregnant womans body was found on a Wyoming ranch, prosecutors have connected her death to one of Californias most prolific serial killers, Rodney Alcala. On Tuesday, prosecutors in Sweetwater County, Wyo., charged Alcala with the 1977 killing of Christine Ruth Thornton after discovering a photo that Alcala had snapped of her before her death. The aging photograph was found among Alcalas possessions by Huntington Beach police, but it was only recently that the dead womans sister recognized Thornton among the images. The photo shows a smiling woman in jeans, a yellow blouse and flip-flops sitting atop a Kawasaki 500 motorcycle in a sage-studded desert. Advertisement The picture, even if you dont recognize her, is a distinct part of Wyoming recognizable to anyone from here, said Dan Erramouspe, the Sweetwater County attorney. The photo was among several publicized by Huntington Beach detectives after Alcala was sentenced to death in 2010 for killing four women and a 12-year-old in the late 1970s. The photo was spotted by Thorntons relatives in 2013. Known as the Dating Game killer because he appeared on the popular television program decades ago, the former photographer has also been convicted of killing two women in New York. Investigators believe the 73-year-old is responsible for scores of other deaths. They made some photos public in the hope that they would produce leads. Prosecutors confronted Alcala with the photo at Californias Corcoran State Prison. Alcala told prosecutors that he did indeed take the picture, but insisted that Thornton was alive when he left, Erramouspe said. When asked if he killed the 28-year-old Thornton, Alcala responded: Youre crazy. But he said some things that help tie him to the murder, Erramouspe said. He likes to talk. Prosecutors say Alcala met Thornton, who was from Texas, during a road trip and buried her in a remote area. She was six months pregnant at the time. Thorntons family never knew what happened to the expectant mother, but contacted Huntington Beach police when they saw her photo. Two of Thorntons siblings submitted DNA samples to a national missing persons database, which also contained DNA from the Wyoming body, which had remained unidentified for decades. In July 2015, the database connected the samples and alerted Wyoming authorities that the deceased was likely Thornton. So far, DNA recovered from the body also includes that of a Latino male, according to prosecutors. Erramouspe said samples are being sent to an FBI lab for further testing to see if they belong to Alcala. The prosecutor said he is seeking to bring Alcala to Wyoming to get justice in the 1977 killing, but no timeline exists for the move. Alcalas crimes stretch back to 1968, when he raped and beat an 8-year-old girl crimes he was convicted of four years later. The women and one girl he has been convicted of killing in California are Jill Barcomb, 18, who was sexually assaulted, bludgeoned and strangled before her body was dumped in the Hollywood Hills in November 1977; Georgia Wixted, 27, who was sexually assaulted, strangled and beaten to death in her Malibu home a month later; Charlotte Lamb, 32, who was found dead in her El Segundo laundry room after she was raped and strangled with a shoelace in June 1978; Jill Parenteau, 21, who was strangled to death and left in her Burbank apartment in June 1979; and Robin Samsoe, 12, who disappeared near Huntington Beach Pier in June 1979, and whose body was discovered days later in the Sierra Madre foothills. After his sentencing, Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas declared: Rodney Alcala is the poster child for the death penalty. Many of the detectives who worked the case believe Thornton wont be the last victim tied to the killer. Him being behind bars since 1979 probably saved a lot of lives, said Cliff Shepard, a retired cold case detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. richard.winton@latimes.com Follow @lacrimes on Twitter. Air quality regulators are considering seeking an increase in vehicle registration fees for millions of Southern California drivers to help pay for smog reduction programs. The idea, though still in preliminary stages, would be one component of a funding proposal under development by the South Coast Air Quality Management District as part of a major pollution-reduction plan, agency officials confirmed Wednesday. That plan will guide efforts to reduce emissions in the nations smoggiest region over the next 15 years. Increasing annual vehicle registration fees collected from more than 10 million drivers across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties by $30 would generate an additional $300 million a year for pollution-reduction programs, AQMD Acting Executive Officer Wayne Nastri said in an interview Wednesday. Advertisement The South Coast air district currently collects $2 per vehicle in annual registration fees through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Thats less than other parts of the state with similar air pollution problems, such as the San Joaquin Valley, where drivers pay an extra $12 a year for local air-quality improvement projects. A draft plan released in June by the South Coast district proposes cutting smog-forming emissions from cars, trucks, oil refineries, ports, logistics centers and an array of other sources largely through voluntary, nonregulatory measures that encourage, rather than force, polluters to adopt cleaner technology. The plan, which could go to a vote of the AQMD governing board as early as December, relies on finding $1 billion a year for emissions-cutting incentive programs a 10- to 20-fold increase over what is spent today. In recent months, that plan has encountered skepticism from environmental groups and some members of the South Coast air district governing board, who criticize it as unrealistic. While its industry-friendly approach has garnered support from regulated businesses, environmentalists have urged a stronger focus on emissions-cutting rules and regulations. The plan targets ozone, the lung-searing gas in smog that triggers asthma and other respiratory problems. Ozone reaches the nations highest levels in Southern Californias inland valleys and mountains. To meet a key federal deadline for reducing the pollutant, the region must slash emissions of smog-forming nitrogen oxides by 2031. Nastri emphasized that a vehicle registration fee hike is only one of a broad range of potential federal, state and local funding sources the agency is evaluating for use in fighting smog. A more detailed outline is expected by October, he said. Right now, were looking at the number of vehicles in the region, were just postulating what the potential revenue would be if we were to say 30, 40, 20, 50 [dollars], Nastri said. Well figure out whats reasonable, whats not reasonable. At a public meeting earlier this month, however, air quality board chairman William Burke said that the $30 vehicle registration fee suggested by Nastri would not be enough and that he has been discussing a $60 fee. Nobody wants to pay $60, but everybody says, you know, that would cure the problem, Burke said at an air district committee meeting on Sept. 9. Burke could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Imposing a vehicle registration fee hike would require action by state lawmakers. Because it would be considered a new tax, it would have to pass with a two-thirds majority in the legislature. Adrian Martinez, staff attorney for the environmental law nonprofit Earthjustice, criticized the idea of raising vehicle registration fees as verging on political fantasy. Our air regulators should instead do what they do best, which is requiring large polluters to clean up our air, he added. Nastri acknowledged that if we actually go to the legislature, were facing some big challenges, including competing requests for funding for transportation, infrastructure and other critical projects. But we believe that air quality and public health should rank right up there. Nastri added that the agency is pursuing a targeted approach for pollution-reduction fees that would seek to place more of the burden on high-polluting sectors, such as heavy-duty trucks, and less on low-income communities and those who drive electric vehicles. We dont want those least able from an economic perspective to pay a majority of the cleanup cost that were facing in the basin, Nastri said. Nastri has previously proposed asking Congress to create a national fund for cleaning the regions with the most polluted air, an idea modeled on the federal Superfund program for hazardous-waste sites. He has also suggested tapping money from the states cap-and-trade program or from Volkswagens settlement with regulators over emissions test-cheating software on diesel vehicles. There is some precedent for raising vehicle fees to fight smog. San Joaquin Valley air quality regulators have raised more than $133 million from drivers since 2012 by imposing a $12 increase in annual vehicle registration fees, a spokeswoman said. The fees, assessed as part of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-required penalty, are used to pay for cleaner cars, trucks, buses and farm equipment. When the South Coast air district was faced with a similar EPA penalty for missing an ozone-reduction deadline in 2010, it arranged to use money for local air quality improvement projects as credits rather than imposing tens of millions in fees on area businesses or drivers. An analysis released by the South Coast district last month as part of the agencys clean air plan found that the health benefits of meeting federal pollution reduction deadlines, including prevention of thousands of early deaths, emergency room visits and missed school days, would far outweigh the billions in costs to industry, the government and consumers. tony.barboza@latimes.com @tonybarboza The pilot who died after a U-2 spy plane crashed in Northern California was identified Wednesday as Lt. Col Ira S. Eadie, military officials said. Eadie, assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, was on a training mission Tuesday with another pilot in the two-person aircraft, according to the U.S. Air Force. The two pilots ejected just after takeoff, and the plane smashed into a rural area north of Sacramento, officials said. Advertisement The other pilot suffered injuries that were not life-threatening; on Wednesday, the Air Force said the pilot remains hospitalized in stable condition. The second pilots identity as well as Eadies age and hometown were not released. The crash occurred about 9 a.m. Tuesday. Air Force officials had initially reported the pair had safely ejected from the plane but later confirmed Eadies death. The extent of the second pilots injuries was not disclosed. Col. Danielle Barnes told the Associated Press that both pilots had deployed their parachutes. But Barnes, who oversees base operations, did not provide details on what caused the plane to go down, citing the ongoing investigation. The site of the crash will remain under monitoring by security personnel, Barnes said. We want to maintain the integrity of the crash site, Barnes said. Photographs from the scene showed the tail of the aircraft sticking out of a scorched hillside with wreckage scattered around it. Theres always inherent dangers in an ejection. The technology is fantastic, but its not foolproof, Col. Larry Broadwell, the base commander, said in a news conference. I would match the safety and maintenance record of the U-2 with any of the apparatus the Air Force flies. The Beale air base, about 45 miles north of Sacramento, is home to Americas fleet of high-altitude spy planes. The bases motto is emblazoned on signs: In God We Trust. All Others We Monitor. Heres what you should know about the U-2, a single-engine surveillance jet. The U-2 flies to 70,000 feet higher than any other U.S. military aircraft. Its also among the oldest. The spy plane was first designed during the Eisenhower administration to breach the Iron Curtain. There have been 33 updated versions of the jet that still flies today. A handful are equipped with two seats to allow for training missions, like the aircraft involved in Tuesdays incident. The U-2 is perhaps best known as the plane that was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960. Pilot Francis Gary Powers was captured and traded for a Soviet spy nearly two years later, but the embarrassing incident convinced U.S. officials that manned spy planes posed too many risks. The military now relies more heavily on drones for reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering. The U-2 is set to be retired by 2019. The last time a U-2 Dragon Lady crashed in the area was Aug. 7, 1996, in Oroville, about 40 miles north of Beale Air Force Base. The spy plane crashed into a parking lot outside the offices of an Oroville newspaper, killing the pilot. The planes wreckage also struck and killed a woman as she left the newspapers office. Times staff writer W.J. Hennigan contributed to this article. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno. A man and woman have been charged with murder and kidnapping after the womans stepsister was found dead and the pair whisked her children away, prosecutors said Thursday. Britney Humphrey, 22, and her boyfriend, Joshua Robertson, 27, were caught about 100 miles south of Denver last month after being named persons of interest in the death of Humphreys stepsister, Kimberly Harvill, and the disappearance of Harvills three children. The children were found when they were left in the care of a good Samaritan at a hotel on the outskirts of Albuquerque on Aug. 24, Los Angeles County sheriffs officials said in a statement. Advertisement Humphrey and Robertson were captured outside a motel in Pueblo, Colo., a day later. On Thursday, prosecutors charged Robertson with murder in the fatal shooting of Harvill, being a felon with two prior convictions being in possession of a firearm and kidnapping Harvills three children. Humphrey also was charged with murder and kidnapping. They face up to life in prison if convicted on all charges. Harvills body was found along Gorman Post Road in Lebec, in Kern County, on Aug. 14. A motorist who was taking a rest during a long drive spotted the slain womans body lying in roadside brush. She had multiple upper-body gunshot wounds and head trauma. Detectives determined that Harvill, Humphrey and Robertson had lived together in Fresno but were staying in Lebec in the days before the slaying. They were known to go from motel to motel, sheriffs homicide Lt. Joe Mendoza said. Joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. ALSO Bay Area refinery shuts down operations after oil sheen is spotted in San Pablo Bay Fire at Vandenberg Air Force Base 70% contained; Elysian Park blaze extinguished FBI was informed of a child welfare incident involving Brad Pitt on private jet, law enforcement source says Ambition brought Kelsey Dresser to the University of Southern California, where the aspiring therapist from Carlsbad enrolled in graduate school. But the 23-year-old students goal to become a mental health counselor was cut short last December, when she turned her red convertible into the universitys South Los Angeles campus. A USC public safety officers patrol cruiser allegedly traveling at nearly three times the speed limit smashed into Dressers 1995 Chrysler LeBaron, pushing it about 40 feet. She died the following day. Advertisement Los Angeles city prosecutors have filed a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge against Public Safety Officer Miguel Guerra, a rare step in a crash involving an on-duty law enforcement officer. The complaint alleges that Guerra, 37, was speeding and negligent. He has pleaded not guilty. On Wednesday, Dressers parents sued Guerra and USC, alleging the private university provided inadequate training for the officer that led to her death. The responsibility falls on USC, said Craig McClellan, a San Diego-based attorney representing Jill and Michael Dresser. Its especially hurtful when something like this is caused by someone who is supposed to protect the students, not kill them. Guerras defense attorney, William Genego, declined to comment. USC spokesman Eddie North-Hager said the university was unable to comment on the litigation and directed The Times to a statement issued shortly after Dressers death. This was an unprecedented and heartbreaking event for the entire USC community, and our condolences go out to the family and friends of Kelsey Dresser, the statement said. Dresser was heading west on Jefferson Boulevard at about 6:30 a.m. Dec. 3, 2015, and turned left across traffic into the Royal Street entrance to campus, police said. Guerra was heading east on Jefferson, responding to a report of a stranger in a parking garage, when he T-boned Dressers car, McClellan said. The Dressers attorney said the crash data storage system in the officers car showed he was driving at 69 mph with the gas pedal pressed to the floor before the collision. The system, known as a vehicles black box, records a cars operational data in the five seconds before a collision. Guerra slammed on the brakes a half-second before impact, the Dressers attorney said in the lawsuit. The posted speed limit at the intersection was 25 mph, according to the lawsuit. The officers emergency lights, siren and headlights were not activated, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit contends that Guerra was sleep-deprived from working two consecutive graveyard shifts, and attorneys noted that inside the officers cruiser were two energy drinks. He had been trying to keep himself amped, McClellan said, contending that tiredness from working the overnight shift would have slowed his reaction time. After the impact, Dressers vehicle skidded about 40 feet, according to the lawyer, and her head banged against her car, causing internal injuries and brain damage. She was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead the next day. The coroner lists the cause of death as traumatic head injuries. Dresser had Marfan syndrome, an inherited disorder that weakens tissue that holds together skin, muscles and organs and is marked by enlarged hands and feet, impaired vision and heart issues. Health conditions related to Marfan syndrome were listed as a contributing cause to her death, along with a rare heart condition that can lead to sudden death. Dresser was on a heart transplant waiting list and she also had a history of seizures; her last known seizure was in 2012, according to the coroners report. McClellan, the attorney, said Dresser was not hindered by medical issues and kept an active, physically fit lifestyle. Marfan syndrome, he said, had no effect on her ability to do things as any other person her age. The lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, contends that Guerra was not properly trained or supervised by USCs Department of Public Safety. Dressers parents are seeking unspecified damages as well as reimbursement for medical, funeral and burial costs. The L.A. city attorneys office filed the charge against Guerra on July 5. Guerra could not be reached for comment. A spokesman for USC said Guerra is not on active patrol but did not release further details about the officers employment status. Dresser began her graduate studies in marriage and family therapy last summer at USCs Rossier School of Education, Karen Symms Gallagher, dean of the universitys education school, said in a statement. During undergraduate studies in psychology at UC Santa Barbara, Dresser was a research assistant at an autism center and worked with a nonprofit group that promotes awareness about mental health issues among students. Kelsey had hoped to pursue counseling in a public community mental health clinic before achieving her long-term goal of establishing a private practice, Symms Gallagher said in the statement. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno. ALSO L.A. City Council members vent over distracted drivers and pedestrians Housing Orange Countys homeless vets, three shipping containers apiece Burbank man serves a year in jail for assaulting elderly man over Nutella waffle North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency in Charlotte on Wednesday night after violent new protests over the police shooting of a black man erupted in the heart of downtown, leaving one man shot and critically wounded. The shooting Wednesday night occurred as protesters waded into the streets and began streaming toward downtown hotels while police in riot gear fired tear gas and attempted to block their progress. The governor announced he has initiated efforts to deploy the National Guard and state troopers to help quell the violence, which has raged for the last two nights in Charlotte in response to the death of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. Advertisement The unidentified victim during Wednesday nights protests is a civilian who was shot by another civilian, the city said on its Twitter account. City officials initially said the man was dead, but later corrected that to say he was in critical condition, on life support. McCrory said he was ordering state assistance in response to a request from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney. Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated, the governor said in a statement. I support and commend the law enforcement officials for their bravery and courage during this difficult situation. Mayor Jennifer Roberts appealed for protesters to go home and pledged that the city would conduct a thorough and transparent investigation. We are working very hard to bring peace and calm back to our city. We know that this is not who Charlotte is. This is not who we are, she told CNN. Violence is not the answer, she said. In addition to the man who was seriously hurt, five law enforcement officers and eight other people were injured during Wednesday nights events. Their injuries were not life-threatening, according to police. 1 / 24 A protester uses milk to wash tear gas from her eyes after police used the gas to clear demonstrators who were blocking Interstate 277 in Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday. (Dillon Deaton / For The Times) 2 / 24 Protesters raise their hands as they march through downtown Charlotte, N.C., to protest the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (Dillon Deaton / For The Times) 3 / 24 Police use pepper spray and tear gas to force protesters off Interstate 277 on Thursday. (Dillon Deaton / For The Times) 4 / 24 A protester kneels after police used tear gas to clear demonstrators on the Interstate in Charlotte. (Dillon Deaton / For The Times) 5 / 24 Protesters gather outside a government building in downtown Charlotte on Thursday. (Dillon Deaton / For The Times) 6 / 24 A protester with a biblical message. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 7 / 24 As curfew in Charlotte approached Thursday night, demonstrators voiced their views loudly. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 8 / 24 Police Capt. Mike Campagna talks with a demonstrator. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 9 / 24 Demonstrators march in Charlotte on Thursday. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 10 / 24 Members of the North Carolina National Guard stand guard outside the Omni Hotel in downtown Charlotte on Thursday. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 11 / 24 Police and protesters carry a seriously wounded person into the parking area of the Omni Hotel in downtown Charlotte on Wednesday. (Brian Blanco / Getty Images) 12 / 24 A protester faces off with riot police on Wednesday. (Brian Blanco / Getty Images) 13 / 24 A policeman and a protester face to face. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) 14 / 24 A protester in downtown Charlotte. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) 15 / 24 Police fire tear gas as protesters converge in downtown Charlotte, N.C., the day after the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 16 / 24 Demonstrators take to the streets Wednesday to protest the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (Chuck Burton / Associated Press) 17 / 24 A protester sits near a pool of blood after a man was shot during a demonstration over the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. The man, Justin Carr, later died at a local hospital, and police said they arrested and charged a man with with the shooting. (Chuck Burton / Associated Press) 18 / 24 Demonstrators protest the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (Chuck Burton / Associated Press) 19 / 24 Police fire tear gas at protesters in downtown Charlotte, N.C., the day after the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 20 / 24 Protesters throw chairs at a restaurant during a demonstration against the use of deadly force by police in Charlotte, N.C. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) 21 / 24 Protesters march to demonstrate agasint the fatal police shooting of Keith Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (Brian Blanco / Getty Images) 22 / 24 Police face off with protestors on Interstate 85 in Charlotte, N.C., during demonstrations after a man was shot to death by police. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 23 / 24 Protestors march down a street in the early hours of Wednesday. The protests began after 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed by police in northeast Charlotte, N.C. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 24 / 24 A police officer in riot gear walks past a fire on Interstate 85 in Charlotte, N.C. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) Protests began quietly downtown on Wednesday afternoon, with chants of Black lives matter! and No justice, no peace! But they suddenly escalated as demonstrators moved into a central commercial zone flanked by expensive hotels and the Spectrum Center sports arena. Windows were smashed at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, the Charlotte Observer newspaper offices and the Westin Hotel. Crowds quickly grew near the Omni hotel, and police in riot gear surrounded the increasingly agitated protesters, who began knocking over pots and plants at the hotel driveway. Then the protesters tried to storm the hotel. Police fired tear gas and nonlethal grenades to quell the crowds. Blood splattered on the street after the man was struck by gunshots. Both the Ritz-Carlton and Omni shut down, with Ritz-Carlton employees barricading themselves inside with furniture blocking the entrance. At the Omni, where a streak of what looked like blood could be seen on a lobby entrance window, staffers let police in to make arrests and question protesters. Police said officers did not fire shots. Through much of the evening, they were ordering protesters to back off, shouting: Lives are in danger! But protesters continued to throw bottles and shout. Looters ransacked and broke windows at the Charlotte Hornets store at Spectrum Center, a block away from the site of Wednesday nights shooting. By 11 p.m., dozens of demonstrators remained near the shooting scene, not far from the Omni, as police continued to confront protesters, detaining a few. One demonstrator hoisted a sign saying, End State-Sanctioned Murder. On a street corner, a young couple snapped selfies, while a man repeatedly shouted, Jesus saves! Nonlethal grenades could be heard on occasion in the background. A small fire was lighted near a set of streetcar tracks but was quickly put out. Last 24 hours of violent protest worst I have ever seen in Charlotte, tweeted state Rep. Kelly Alexander Jr. (D-Mecklenburg), who urged authorities to release police dashboard-camera video of Scotts shooting ASAP. Scott was confronted Tuesday by police outside a Charlotte condominium complex where officers had gone to serve an arrest warrant on another person. Police say Scott emerged from his vehicle with a gun and refused orders to drop it; Scotts family members contend that he was not armed, and was holding a book. In a statement Wednesday, Scotts wife, Rakeyia, said she has more questions than answers about the shooting after hearing police statements, and she called for peace. 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 statement said. jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com Jaweed Kaleem is The Times national race and justice correspondent. Follow him onTwitter, Facebook and Instagram. ALSO Charlottes racial divisions deepen over police shooting Anger grows in Tulsa as police release video of fatal shooting of unarmed black man $1.9-million settlement in Sandra Bland death is the latest big payout in police-misconduct lawsuits UPDATES: Sept. 22, 8:10 a.m.: This story was updated with the latest number of people injured. Sept. 21, 10:05 p.m.: The story was updated to clarify the number of police officers injured and add details of property damage. 8:20 p.m.: The story was updated with the governors declaration of a state of emergency and decision to deploy the National Guard. 8:10 p.m.: The story was updated with additional details of the protests and a statement from the governor. 7:45 p.m.: The story was updated with the citys clarification that the person shot during the protests was critically injured, but not dead. This story was originally published at 6:30 p.m. Zikas arrival in Miami Beach didnt drive away Miriam Haskell, who is pregnant with her first child. But her questions about one of the chemicals being used to combat the mosquitoes that are spreading the virus did. Last week, the 36-year-old public interest lawyer packed up and flew to Atlanta, where she plans to stay with a friend until planes stop spraying the insecticide naled over her neighborhood. She is not alone in her fears. Naled has been banned in the European Union since 2012, and the governor of Puerto Rico refused to allow aerial spraying with the insecticide in the fight against Zika this summer. Advertisement In Miami-Dade County, the only region on the U.S. mainland with confirmed local transmission of Zika, some believe naled poses greater risks to people and wildlife than the virus itself. Concerned residents and environmental activists have been holding demonstrations outside the Miami Beach town hall to protest weekly aerial spraying that began this month. They filled a recent city commission meeting, booing and jeering elected officials who argued that the region is facing a public health emergency and must use every tool available to halt the spread of a virus that can cause severe neurological defects in babies born to women infected during pregnancy. For Haskell, its not a question of which is more dangerous. I have felt like I can personally take precautions against Zika, she said. She stayed indoors in her air-conditioned apartment and used a car to get to her air-conditioned office. When she had to be outside, she put on pants and long-sleeved shirts and applied mosquito repellent. But she did not know what, if anything, she should do to protect herself from naled. The Environmental Protection Agency says the insecticide, which has been registered for use in the United States since 1959, does not pose risks to people when it is applied according to label instructions. I just dont have any information on how to gauge that, Haskell said. She was also alarmed to read that millions of bees were killed when they were exposed to naled during spraying in South Carolina in August. I can only make a decision that is best for me, Haskell said. I understand that the county has to make a decision that is best for everyone in it I hope that they are taking things like the environmental impact into account. How dangerous is the insecticide? Here is what we know: How does naled work? When naled is sprayed, fine droplets drift through the air and kill adult mosquitoes on contact. It does this by inhibiting an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, which is critical for controlling nerve signals. Humans along with most animals also have the enzyme targeted by naled. Is it safe? Everything can be toxic, says Keith Solomon, a professor emeritus at the University of Guelph in Canada who researches the effects of pesticides in the environment. Its the dose that makes the poison. If exposed to large enough amounts of naled, people can suffer confusion, dizziness or nausea. Severe poisoning can even cause convulsions, respiratory failure and death. But according to the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aerial spraying in the United States is done in ultra-low volumes about an ounce, or two tablespoons, per acre. At those levels, people arent likely to breathe in, touch or ingest anything with enough insecticide on it to harm them, Solomon said. Even before Zika arrived, naled was widely use for mosquito control in Florida. Nearly 6 million acres of land in the state were sprayed with the pesticide in 2014 alone, the CDC says. Still, the EPA and CDC say it is a good idea to reduce unnecessary exposure to pesticides whenever possible. Those who tend to be sensitive to chemicals might experience short-term effects, such as irritation to the eyes, skin and nose. The bigger danger, however, is to other insects, including bees that are needed to pollinate crops and flowers. The EPA recommends covering up hives or, if possible, moving them during aerial spraying. Mosquito-control teams from Miami-Dade County have been spraying at dawn, when most people are at home and bees are less likely to be foraging. Winds also tend to be lower at that time, so there is less chance that the insecticide will spread outside the target area, Solomon said. Although naled does pose some risk to aquatic invertebrates, such as shrimp and water fleas, and to terrestrial wildlife, studies have found that it dissipates rapidly in sunlight and water and does not persist in the environment. If the EPA is right, why is naled banned in the EU? The EU decision cited a potential and unacceptable risk to human health and the environment. It also said that officials werent persuaded that the chemical is effective enough. The EPA disagrees with that assessment. It is required by law to consider not only the risks, but also the benefits of allowing an insecticide to be used, something that was not discussed in the EU decision. Europe does not currently have a problem with mosquitoes spreading the Zika virus. I suspect that if Zika were to arrive in Europe and become locally transmitted, that they would probably consider lifting their ban on aerial application, Solomon said. Cant they do something else? There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, so the only way to contain an outbreak is to go after the mosquito species that spreads the virus: Aedes aegypti. Its a wily adversary. Experts recommend using a combination of strategies, including draining or covering pools of standing water where mosquitoes breed, installing screens on windows and doors, and spraying with insecticides that kill adult mosquitoes and their larva. In Miami-Dade County, mosquito control agents have used two types of pyrethroid insecticides that are sprayed using equipment carried in backpacks or mounted on trucks. But Dr. Thomas Frieden, the CDC director, told reporters at the beginning of August that those methods werent working as well as hoped, and the mosquito species might be resistant to the chemicals. CDC officials credit the decision to begin aerial spraying of naled, which targets adult mosquitoes, and Bti, a bacterial agent that kills larva, with rapidly reducing the Aedes aegypti population in Miamis Wynwood district. No new cases of mosquito-spread Zika have been reported in the area, the first in the county where local transmission was confirmed, since early August. But in Miami Beach, the area of concern was expanded last week from roughly 1.5 square miles to 4.5 square miles after a cluster of new Zika cases was discovered. Another round of aerial spraying is planned there Saturday. alexandra.zavis@latimes.com Twitter: @alexzavis Wheres Hillary Clinton? Donald Trump insists shes sleeping (Mark Wilson / Getty Images ) As he traversed Pennsylvania on Thursday, Donald Trump offered, as he has several times this week, an assessment on the whereabouts of Hillary Clinton. Where is Hillary today? ... Well, they say shes practicing for the debate. Some people think shes sleeping, he said at a rally outside Philadelphia. Trump has questioned Clintons stamina on the campaign trail, even before she was forced to take several days off this month to recover from pneumonia. On Thursday, he used Clintons illness to raise money. Aides to Clinton, who held no public events Thursday, indicated the Democratic nominee was using the day to prepare for Mondays debate with Trump. Her campaign said, however, that she spoke with officials in Charlotte, N.C., where violent protests continue after the police shooting of a black man. At his rally Thursday night, Trump blamed the Democratic nominee for contributing to the current unrest and portrayed her as an elitist out of touch with the concerns of forgotten Americans. Hillary Clinton doesnt have to worry about the sirens and the gunshots at night, Trump said. No, shes sleeping. On Tuesday, Clinton also had a light schedule as she went through debate preparations, leading Trump to mock her, saying she needs rest ahead of the debate. Sleep well, he wrote in a tweet. Hillary Clinton is taking the day off again, she needs the rest. Sleep well Hillary - see you at the debate! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2016 Asked Thursday about his own preparation ahead of the debate with Clinton, Trump said simply, Its going great, while ordering cheesesteaks in south Philadelphia. He added: Im here at Genos. Unbelievable. Hillary Clinton sketches a vision of Tim Kaine as her vice president Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine are both investing a lot of time in debate prep these days. But theyre also testing each other out in veep prep. Im storing up what Im learning about him from people, Clinton told People in a newly released interview. I intend to interrogate his three children. In the interview, the Democratic ticket gave an early assessment of how they see working together in the White House with a job description for Kaine that sounds an awful lot like what Joe Biden does in the Obama administration. Ive seen it up close and know how important it is, Clinton said of the vice presidency. This is the person - the last person in the room. This is the person that you see every day, that you sit down and talk with. And yes, theres a lot of serious stuff to talk about, but kidding each other, getting some release from all of the constant stress, thats a big part of it, too. Asked about specific policy areas Kaine might focus on, Clinton first cited his experience as a city councilor and mayor of Richmond, Va. Weve got work to do in a lot of our cities, and Im going to want him helping to give direction to that, she said. She also pointed to his experience in Latin America as a former missionary, and his fluency in Spanish. We want to make sure that our neighbors to the south are going to be good partners with us in so many ways, to fight climate change, to enhance security, to create more links between our people. So its a broad menu of possibilities, she said. As part of his implementation of the presidents stimulus program, Biden -- who earned the title sheriff-- interacted regularly with local government officials, often insisting they reach out to him directly to report problems. Biden also has played a big role in the administrations policy in the Western Hemisphere, traveling often to Central America in particular and working closely with Brazil. Hes joked that Obama told him: You do the hemisphere. For his part, Kaine said he expects to play a role, but noted that ultimately the president is the boss. The vice president has a wonderful ability to make a case and influence and promote the administration being its very, very best. But at the end of the day its the president who has that weight on the shoulders, he said. Kaine joked about the hours he and his wife spent with the entire Clinton family before he was named to the ticket, and when Bill Clinton pulled him aside for a private conversation. I felt like a prospective son-in-law getting interviewed, he said. I really felt like he had to kick the tires, too. Secretary of State John Kerry has been indefatigable in pursuing a negotiated cease-fire in Syria. So it was especially depressing Wednesday when Kerry confessed in a speech at the United Nations that he entertained profound doubt about whether Russia and the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad were serious about living up to their commitments to reduce violence and make it possible for humanitarian aid to be distributed. In caustic remarks at a session of the U.N. Security Council, Kerry ridiculed Russias shifting explanations for the shocking attack Monday near Aleppo on a convoy of trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies. At least 20 and maybe as many as 30 people were killed in the attack, which U.S. officials privately have blamed on the Russian air force but which the U.S. would consider Russias responsibility even if the Syrian air force was involved. (The Russians have denied responsibility, claiming at various points that the convoy was targeted by mortar fire and that an American drone was seen in the vicinity.) Kerry contrasted the Russians denials with the prompt admission by the United States that it had accidentally bombed Syrian soldiers last Saturday, mistaking them for Islamic State fighters: We did it, a terrible accident. And within moments of it happening, we acknowledged it. We didnt put out a bunch of obfuscating facts. Advertisement During the week before it collapsed, the cease-fire did lead to a reduction in violence. The future of Syria is hanging by a thread, Kerry told the Security Council. But he also urged the parties, including Russia, to revive the peace process by grounding aircraft in key areas where humanitarian aid would be delivered. That would presumably be followed by observance of other provisions of the agreement reached by the U.S. and Russia on Sept. 9. They include, after a period of time, coordinated air strikes by the U.S. and Russia on Islamic State and on the Front for the Conquest of Syria, a group with ties to the Al Qaeda affiliate formerly known as the Al Nusra Front. Eventually negotiations would be take place on the political transition called for in a series of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Frustrating as the diplomatic process has been, Kerry is right that there are no good alternatives particularly for the United States, which rightly has made its priority in Syria the defeat of Islamic State, not the ouster of Assad. Diplomacy also remains the best option for relieving the suffering of the Syrian people. During the week before it collapsed, the cease-fire did lead to a reduction in violence. Kerry is right that it needs to be reinstated and reinforced, and he is right to shame the Russians for failing to live up to their commitments. The rest of the Security Council needs to keep up the pressure. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Californias school-construction needs are piling up while its matching-grant program to help build those projects has dwindled to practically nothing. But the grant program is emblematic of a state system for funding new and renovated schools that is badly outdated, inequitable and inefficient. The system needs to be fixed rather than perpetuated, which is why voters should reject Proposition 51 and press for a revamped measure to come before them in the next election. Unlike all the other school-bond measures placed on the ballot since the State Facilities Grant Program began in 1998, this one wasnt put there by the Legislature with the governors approval. In fact, Gov. Jerry Brown hasnt had anything good to say about Proposition 51. I am opposed to the developers $9-billion bond, he told The Times in February, referring archly to the construction industrys role as the propositions main financier. Brown also argued that it would promote sprawl and continue an inequitable system based on which school districts get to the application line fastest, not which ones need it the most. The Legislative Analysts Office had an even more critical view of the current approach to funding school construction in its 2015-16 budget report. Notably, it said, the existing program fails to treat school facility costs as an ongoing expense despite the recurring nature of facility needs, allows disparities based on school district property wealth, fails to target funding according to greatest need, results in excessive administrative complexity, and lacks adequate accountability mechanisms. Ouch. But that was just the start. The report went on to point out that as long as there is money in the state fund, developers of big new housing projects dont pay more than half the cost of building the schools necessary to serve those homes. That extra subsidy for new construction at a time when many existing schools are underutilized only encourages the sprawl that has been an environmental and resources drain on the state. Advertisement The system needs to be fixed rather than perpetuated, which is why voters should reject Proposition 51. Meanwhile, local districts are in better shape to raise their own money because, with only a 55% approval margin needed, some 80% of local school-bond measures are approved, the Legislative Analyst noted. And California is no longer in a state of frenzied enrollment growth. The student population is declining and projected to continue doing so over the next decade. The Legislative Analysts report suggested helping school districts catch up with the growing backlog of necessary school construction with a one-time allocation from Proposition 98 funds, while the state transitions to a better-planned system of ongoing grants. That sounds like a smarter way to go about it, though a statewide bond might ultimately be required to supply the necessary funds. For that matter, this isnt the best time financially for the state to issue more bonds. Financial analysts recommend that state governments limit their annual debt payments to 6% of their general fund revenue. The state Treasurers Office reports that California was at 6.54% for the 2015-16 year. In other words, the state is at or even slightly past the level of indebtedness considered to be fiscally prudent. That doesnt mean it couldnt afford the bond payments, if the bonds were sold selectively and responsibly over time, but it does mean that the state should be avoiding adding debt that doesnt meet an urgent need. Yet even this bond wouldnt come close to fulfilling the anticipated expenses for construction. Supporters are expected to bring an additional bond measure forward in 2020. That doesnt mean there isnt already need for new and fixed-up schools in the state, and some of it is urgent. But California is past the situation that prevailed some 15 years ago, when schools were in dire condition statewide. Its tempting to say, lets just pass this bond and then fix the funding system. But as long as California keeps patching the problem with more of the same old bond measures, there will be less motivation to fix an inefficient and often unfair system while the states bonded indebtedness piles up. Better to get it right, first. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook ALSO Its been an otherworldly campaign, and were not returning to Earth anytime soon Tired, torn, disgusted by this election? You still have to vote. Fear and loathing and long lines on election day In 2016, when politicos reach for a metaphor to describe the election, they often invoke stakes, and especially stakes that couldnt be higher. It seems to me they used to prefer crossroads, but I dont hear much about crossroads anymore; mainly its about those stakes that for some reason cant get any higher. When Jerry Brown finally decided to endorse Hillary Clinton, for example, he did so because the stakes couldnt be higher, not because wed reached a crossroads. Seeking numerical confirmation of my suspicion, I used the Nexis database to catalog the number of times the phrase stakes couldnt be higher appeared in news articles with the names Obama and Romney from January to September 2012. I got 52 hits. I did the same for stakes couldnt be higher with Clinton and Trump from January to September 2016. I got 111 hits. I did the same for the word crossroads, and the candidates names from January to September of 2012 and 2016. For Romney vs. Obama, crossroads appeared 2,477 times. For Trump vs. Clinton, crossroads appeared 1,171 times. Maybe weve just exchanged one hokey phrase for another, but I wonder if the shift doesnt signify a different outlook from the one we had in elections past. A different outlook, and a bleaker one. Advertisement The high stakes metaphor operates differently [than the crossroads metaphor does]. It doesnt require hope. Just fear. Almost every presidential contest has been called a crossroads of some kind. Today, wrote South Carolina GOP Chairman Chad Connelly in 2012, our country is at a crossroads and the existence of [the] American dream is threatened like never before. Michael Brown, a delegate to the Democratic convention in 2012, likely would have disagreed with Connelly about everything, but about the countrys metaphorical location he concurred: I feel like our nation is at a crossroads where one side diminishes science and history, he told the Star-Telegram. It is my duty as an American and a father to work to give my daughter the best chance to have a better life than I have led. The trouble with crossroads literal crossroads is that if you come to one and make the wrong choice, you cant just pretend that making a better choice at the next crossroads will somehow fix the problem. You have to turn around and go back to the first crossroads and make the choice you should have made before. Its a tired phrase, but at least it signifies the importance of a choice between two very different alternatives, one good and one bad. If you can call an election a crossroads, you must have some hope. And thats how we seem to have thought about the election of 2012: as a philosophical choice in which the nation might either continue its embrace of piecemeal socialism, or reject further government expansions into the free market. Democrats believed the former was the right, good path; Republicans wanted to take the other road, and they hoped to persuade a majority to take it. That wasnt necessarily an accurate assessment of the 2012 election, but thats how partisans on both sides framed it. We were at a crossroads. The high stakes metaphor operates differently. It doesnt require hope. Just fear. In a sense, the stakes couldnt be higher is just another way of expressing the truism that this years presidential election is the most important election of our lifetime. Of course its the most important election in our lifetime; its the one happening right now, and we cant predict the outcome or consequences, and that makes us nervous. Similarly: Of course the stakes couldnt be higher because the winner becomes the chief executive of the United States government, and what could possibly be higher than that? Mary Kay Henry, president of SEIU International, managed to combine the clichs in her Clinton endorsement: For working families, the 2016 election is the most consequential of our lifetimes. The stakes couldnt be higher nor the contrast starker on all of the issues our families need to get ahead. Although Henry mentioned getting ahead at the end of the second sentence, her diction isnt quite coherent at that point (working families need issues to get ahead?). What shes chiefly communicating I dont think Im wrong in thinking is the possibility of doom. If the wrong candidate wins, all is lost. The National Rifle Assn.s Chris Cox sounded just as fearful, maybe more so, when he spoke to the Daily Caller about the Supreme Court vacancy. And the stakes, with Justice Scalias passing and that fifth majority vote being gone for the basic right to own a firearm, the stakes couldnt be higher. Were not facing a choice between two visions. For Cox, as for Henry, were facing danger and ruin. The stakes couldnt be higher, then, begins to sound like code for Im not happy about it either, but the alternatives even worse. This is an unhappy place. I wish we could go back to that stupid crossroads. Barton Swaim is the author of The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook In the early days of our nation, it was a crime to teach slaves to read. And through the first half of the 20th century, segregation funneled their descendants into inferior schools. Like the ugly attempts to disenfranchise African Americans through so-called literacy tests calculated to make them seem illiterate, these efforts were a perverse tribute to literacys power, which was recognized by the many people of color who fought so hard, against the odds, to educate themselves. Now, at least in theory, literacy is universally regarded as a human right. Every state makes K-12 education mandatory, and basic education has been recognized unanimously by the Supreme Court as necessary to prepare citizens to participate effectively and intelligently in our open political system if we are to preserve freedom and independence, to quote what Warren Burger, appointed chief justice by Richard Nixon, wrote in 1972. Yet as a carefully crafted lawsuit filed this month by seven Detroit schoolchildren reveals, deliberate indifference to public schools in already disadvantaged communities means that many children of color still do not receive an education at least not an education that will prepare them to participate effectively and intelligently in our system. Advertisement The Detroit lawsuit describes a shocking and comprehensively documented denial of access to literacy. These students attend schools all but exclusively serving children of color. Barely a pretense of education takes place there, under deplorable conditions that make teaching and learning nearly impossible: classrooms without adult teachers, wildly outdated books or no books at all, sweltering or freezing temperatures, rampant vermin infestation and other grossly unsafe physical conditions. The result is whole generations of students who lack the skills to earn a lawful living and who, in consequence, are relegated to the criminal justice system. Unsurprisingly, students in these schools perform years below their grade level, many altogether unable to read or write. In one school, not a single sixth-grader achieved even minimal proficiency in English or math. The result is whole generations of students who lack the skills to earn a lawful living and who, in consequence, are relegated to the criminal justice system. The Detroit students, ably represented by attorneys from Public Counsel and Sidley Austin LLP, have asserted an innovative legal claim: that Michigan has violated the 14th Amendments equal protection clause by effectively excluding them from the states system of free public education and denying them the right to literacy. Although novel, this claim is well grounded in decades of Supreme Court precedent, including a landmark 1982 decision, Plyler vs. Doe, in which the Supreme Court held that a state cannot bar children in the country illegally from its tuition-free public schools, recognizing that the stigma of illiteracy would hobble them for the rest of their lives, rendering them a permanent underclass. Without a functioning right to literacy, moreover, the Supreme Courts affirmative action jurisprudence collapses. Some justices oppose the continued use of race-based preferences to grant students admission to college and universities; they believe that admissions, and the law, should be color blind. But that aspiration is only as good as its essential premise: that everyone has an at least minimally adequate opportunity to succeed. The Detroit lawsuit shows that some students are instead starting out with their ankles shackled, and that they have no meaningful ability to compete on equal terms either to improve their lot in life or to contribute to the life and governance of their communities. The Detroit case gives the federal court system a chance to consider the massive body of evidence demonstrating what schools undeserving of the name do to the children forced to attend them and to consider the appropriate role of the judiciary in remedying this problem. Federal judges should not look to the California Supreme Court, which last month twice decided against hearing cases that questioned the circumstances under which students may sue the state for failing to guarantee equal educational opportunity. Over compelling dissents, the California justices rejected claims that appeared to pit the interests of students against those of teachers and their unions. The Detroit litigation poses no such difficulties. Federal courts should look instead to the example set in Connecticut. A judge there recently found that the state was not fulfilling its constitutional duty to provide an adequate education to all children. He ordered state officials to overhaul the public school system. Like the historic litigation leading to Brown vs. Board of Education, the Detroit lawsuit has the potential not only to improve the opportunities afforded to poor children of color in one community, but also to make good nationally on some of our most fundamental and cherished constitutional obligations. Although the Brown ruling ended legally sanctioned segregation, it has not in practice eliminated separate and inferior schools for many students of color. The conditions in Detroit will sound all too familiar to those acquainted with school-system failures across the country. The federal judiciary has a responsibility to ensure that Brown vs. Board of Education is not, to borrow a phrase from Justice Robert Jackson, an empty promise to the ear to be broken to the hope, like a munificent bequest in a paupers will. It has a duty to ensure that a school is more than a building, and that all children have access to literacy and the broad range of powers it confers. Our Constitutions commitments to the Blessings of Liberty and to the equal protection of the laws demand no less. Recognizing that the 14th Amendment confers a right to basic literacy would mark a legal development that liberals and conservatives alike should welcome. To liberals, such a right is essential to social justice. To conservatives, it is essential to social stability and order. Laurence Tribe is a university professor and a professor of constitutional law at Harvard University. His most recent book is Uncertain Justice: The Roberts Court and the Constitution, co-authored with Joshua Matz. Follow him on Twitter @tribelaw. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook For the second time this summer, the nation is simmering over the deaths of two African-American men in two different cities in less-than-clearly-justified shootings by police. Terence Crutcher was shot to death after his car broke down in the middle of the road in Tulsa, Okla., Friday. When officers showed up, Crutcher wouldnt do what they told him to do. He was unarmed and walked away with his hands up just before he was shot. Keith L. Scott was shot when he brandished a handgun at officers in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday after he got out of his car at their orders. Or maybe it was a book. Thats what his family says. These shootings will be examined closely by local and federal authorities, as they should. But they should also be reminders that two questions raised since Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, Mo., two years ago remain unanswered. First, what justifies the use of deadly force? And second, does the public release of video benefit the publics understanding of policing or make things worse? Advertisement The first question is naturally the toughest. Police are necessarily put into dangerous positions in which they must make snap judgments. If they get it wrong, innocent people may die. They may die. But there are some situations in which use of deadly force isnt just justified, it is righteous. For example, when someone opens fire on the public or on officers. Would anyone suggest that police ought not to have shot back when terrorism suspect Ahmad Rahami opened fire on Monday? Moving toward officers aggressively is a gray area. Last year, two Los Angeles police officers shot to death a man who threw a bottle through the back window of their patrol vehicle, shattering it. The police officers thought they were under attack and when they got out of their car, the man ran at them so they shot him. Police Chief Charlie Beck thought it was a reasonable response given the circumstances. The Los Angeles Police Commission disagreed. But should running away from an officer when he or she orders you to stop be a reason enough to use deadly force? Its a crime, certainly, to evade police, but is it one that deserves a death sentence? Unless that person is reasonably suspected of hurting someone if they do get away (such as an active shooter situation) it seems excessive. Thats why the public was so outraged over the videotaped killing of Walter Scott in South Carolina last year. Scott had been stopped for a broken taillight, not on suspicion of murder, which the officer was subsequently charged with. The second question is less difficult. Transparency is what the public craves when someone is killed by police, and it is what has galvanized public support for the cost of outfitting police agencies with body cameras. Though videos cant show everything, they can help put an incident in context. That appears to have been the motivation when Fresno police released video of the encounter with Dylan Noble this summer which ended with him being shot to death by officers. It was a wise decision. After watching the video I concluded I probably would have shot the guy too. Video wont always be clearly exculpatory. It wasnt in the Crutcher shooting, so good for Tulsa police for releasing it anyway. Did that choice subdue potentially violent protests in Tulsa this week? Impossible to say. Just as it is impossible to conclude that the violence and chaos that Charlotte experienced Tuesday night have been avoided if police had released body-camera video showing Scott threatening officers with a handgun rather than holding a book. mariel.garza@latimes.com Follow me @marielgarzaLAT MORE FROM OPINION Donald Trumps approach to terrorism is simplistic and seductive Hillary Clintons wobble felt round the world New overtime rules for farmworkers are long overdue To the editor: I strongly disagree with the views expressed by Anthony Romero. Whatever his motives, Snowden committed a crime. It would be a miscarriage of justice to pardon him. Yes, he raised legitimate concerns about National Security Agency surveillance, but there would have been legal avenues for him to pursue. ( House report slams Snowden as a serial liar, Sept. 16, Two whistle-blowers, one celebrity, Opinion, Sept. 16, and He deserves a pardon, Opinion, Sept. 19) Advertisement If Snowden is such a hero, why did he choose Russia to hide out? Does anyone know what secrets were turned over to the Russians? We live in dangerous times. Our military is now actively engaged in several countries. Security breaches initiated by China and Russia are commonplace. I believe Snowdens files harmed our national security and aided our enemies. He should return to the U.S., stand trial and take his punishment. Marvin Klein, Pacific Palisades :: To the editor: Romero believes Edward Snowden deserves a pardon for betraying his country. He seems to base this on the belief that the government was wrong and invading privacy. I disagree. The government was looking at meta-data, not listening to phone calls or reading emails and, frankly, I wish it would. The laws enacted because of this affair are paranoid, knee-jerk reactions that will only damage our ability to fight terrorism. Not agreeing with government policy or laws is no grounds to break the law oneself. John Gleason, Camarillo :: To the editor: How about the folks in the Bush/Cheney administration who did more to damage our true national security than anything Edward Snowden did? Lets bring them to the bar of justice first, and then we can consider Snowden. Bob Teigan, Santa Susana :: To the editor: I am a left-of-center Democrat who sometimes supports the ACLU not this time. Snowden is not a hero, hes a coward. Whistle-blowers like Daniel Ellsberg (the Pentagon Papers) deserve our respect because they acted on conscience in disclosing government secrets and then stuck around to take the consequences. Snowden, on the other hand, took off and to the undoubted glee of Vladimir Putin is now holed up in Russia refusing to face the music. I would probably not support a pardon even if Snowden returned and was tried and convicted, but as far as I am concerned he is nothing more than a criminal on the run who betrayed his pledge of confidentiality and has no right to forgiveness. Barbara H. Bergen, Los Angeles :: To the editor: Both Snowden and former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning had the opportunity to bring their concerns to the appropriate elected officials but both decided instead to leak sensitive information to the public. This is not whistle-blowing, it is a publicity stunt to hype their own agendas. Both should spend the rest of their lives in prison. Alan Coles, Long Beach :: To the editor: Better to ask the directly affected individuals whose lives were put at risk, whose sensitive national operations were jeopardized, whose liberties were violated and whose security interests were knowingly compromised, as to whether Snowden is worthy of leniency. Snowden had options before going public. Those mentioned above did not. And, I think those individuals probably would not excuse Snowdons objectively illegal actions, regardless of the overinflated benefits those actions might have achieved. Paul Goldman, Tarzana :: To the editor: The whole mess with Snowden illustrates just how screwed-up the government is: I believe the government commits multiple, gross, secret violations of the Constitution, and Snowden is the bad guy for pointing that out? What kind of twisted logic is that? Jeanne Mount, Beverly Hills :: To the editor: I like to think that Snowden exposing the flagrant abuses of the state to eavesdrop on all Americans without warrant is heroic. But I believe heroes are born of their sacrifice. Running to Russia is far from heroic. So for Snowden to be considered a hero to me, he must serve time in a U.S. prison before any pardon. Alex Downs, Long Beach :: To the editor: As a U.S. Army veteran, I am sure Im not alone among my comrades in viewing any exoneration of Snowden as deeply offensive. In the oath to defend this country and protect its interests, there is no unless clause. America has genuine enemies, and its citizens are increasingly endangered by tech-topians like Snowden, who seem to believe that the world is as lacking in physical consequence as the Internet is. They confuse lack of experience with virtue and can usually be counted on to value their personal integrity over the safety of everyone else. Michael Jenning, Van Nuys Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Donald Trump promised to lift environmental regulations, open federal lands to oil and gas production and ease permitting for oil pipelines during a speech at a fracking conference in Pittsburgh on Thursday in which he accused Hillary Clinton of wanting to kill the energy industry. I am going to lift the restrictions on American energy and allow this wealth to pour into our communities including right here in Pennsylvania, Trump told shale industry leaders. The shale energy revolution will unleash massive wealth for American workers and families. Trump cast his energy policy as part of his larger economic agenda, which includes a major reduction of the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 15%, renegotiation of major trade deals and an end to many federal regulations. Advertisement Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Sign up for the newsletter | The race to 270 Trumps proposals would add $5.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, significantly more than Clintons, whose plans would increase the debt by about $200 billion over the same time, the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said in a new report. Trump said his stance on hydraulic fracturing and coal is at odds with Clintons agenda, which he said would devastate the economy with added taxes and regulations. He cited Clintons statement earlier this year that she would put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business, though she was marking a larger point about taking care of workers left behind by the changing economy. Shes not only declared war on the miners but on all oil and natural gas production, Trump said. Its war. Trump said Clinton would devastate Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, where shale energy and coal production are critical parts of the economy. He said it would also hurt the economy in four other presidential battleground states Colorado, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina by killing their access to off-shore drilling. Fracking, which uses drilling and massive amounts of high-pressure water to extract gas, has grown in recent years with technological advances that have made it easier. But it has also drawn controversy from those worried about chemicals polluting the groundwater. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a ban on the practice in his state in 2014. Trump is counting on his support for fracking to help him in key states with large shale reserves and large numbers of blue-collar voters who have been a key part of his coalition of support. Two of those states, Ohio and Pennsylvania, are battlegrounds where Trump likely needs to win if he hopes to become president. Polls show Trump behind in Pennsylvania by an average of 6.6% and ahead in Ohio by an average of 1.8%. Clinton had supported fracking, launching the Global Shale Gas Initiative as secretary of State to promote the industry in other countries. But, facing a tough Democratic primary challenge from Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who strongly opposed fracking, she added tough restrictions to her stance. She said in a March debate that she would give localities the final say, add regulations requiring more disclosure and that she would oppose fracking when there is evidence of water contamination. By the time we get through all of my conditions, I do not think there will be many places in America where fracking will continue to take place, Clinton said during the debate. Trump said in July that he supports hydraulic fracturing, but offered a position that mirrored that of many Democrats, calling for voters to decide at the state and local level. Voters should have a big say in it, he told a local Denver television station. I mean, theres some areas, maybe, that dont want to have fracking, and I think if the voters are voting for it thats up to them. noah.bierman@latimes.com Twitter: @noahbierman Broad shoulders and a presidential look: The Trump campaign uses gender to try to undercut Clinton Hillary Clinton has a massive fundraising advantage. Shes using it to leave no vote to chance. The presidential race in Arizona was already tight. Then voters started noticing Gary Johnson Hillary Clinton appears to have survived one of her worst stretches on the presidential campaign, including concerns about her health, with her lead intact in some key battleground states, several new polls indicate. Surveys released this week delivered good news to Donald Trump in some states, Clinton others. But the balance continues to tilt toward the Democrat. In Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio, new polls by Fox News showed Trump leading, although narrowly. A poll released Thursday by the New York Times and Siena College showed the two candidates tied in North Carolina at 41% apiece. Advertisement The average of recent polls shows the two candidates in a dead heat in each of those three states. Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Sign up for the newsletter | The race to 270 The problem for Trump is that even if he wins them, those states arent enough. If Trump wins all three plus Iowa, which is also a tossup in recent polls, and Florida, where Clinton appears to hold a slight lead he would still fall short of a majority of electoral votes. To get a majority he needs to do all that and break the Democrats hold on one of the states they have repeatedly won in recent elections. Republicans have targeted a handful of possibilities, but new polling in three of them New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania showed Clinton holding on to her lead. In two other states that once appeared to be battlegrounds, Virginia and Colorado, Democrats stopped airing television ads weeks ago because they felt Clintons lead was secure, and new polls released Thursday by Colorado Mesa University and Roanoke College indicate that continues to be the case. In New Hampshire, a survey released Wednesday by Monmouth University showed Clinton with a nine-point lead over Trump, 47%-38% among likely voters. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian nominee, drew 10%, while Jill Stein of the Green Party got 1%, the poll found. Clinton has not trailed in a New Hampshire poll since mid-July, leading in 10 surveys by different organizations by margins that ranged from one point to 15. On average, polls show her leading in the state by about six points. In Wisconsin, a poll by Marquette University, also released Wednesday, showed Clinton leading Trump 44%-42% among likely voters, virtually identical to the lead she held in late August. Clinton had a slightly larger lead among all registered voters, 43%-38%. In a four-way matchup that included Johnson and Stein, Clintons lead was similar, 41%-38% with Johnson at 11% and Stein at 2% among likely voters. Clinton led by four points among all registered voters in the four-way test. Trump has not led in a Wisconsin poll all year and on average trails by about five points in recent polls. Voters on both sides increasingly see a Trump win as a possibility and that may get more people to vote And in Pennsylvania, a poll released earlier this week by Muhlenberg College and the Morning Call showed Clinton with a nine-point lead among likely voters, 47%-38%. As in New Hampshire, Clinton has not trailed Trump in a public poll in Pennsylvania since late July. She has led in 15 consecutive polls by margins ranging from two to 11 points. On average, her lead in the state has been about six points. The polls point to some of the challenges both nominees face, which so far have proven more daunting to Trump than Clinton. The Marquette poll, for example, showed that in both parties, large numbers of voters wish their party had nominated someone else. But while Trump gets 65% of the vote from Republicans who would like a different candidate, Clinton gets 72% of the vote from Democrats who would have preferred someone else. Both candidates are viewed unfavorably by large parts of the electorate, but Trumps numbers are worse. Just over 6 in 10 Wisconsin voters view him unfavorably, while half of the states voters view Clinton unfavorably. Clintons image with Wisconsin voters has improved slightly since late August, the survey found a result in line with several other recent polls elsewhere that show small improvements in her favorability. In the Monmouth poll, Clinton got the support of 94% of New Hampshire Democrats, while Trump got backing from 85% of the states Republicans. In that state, too, voters had negative views of both candidates, but Clintons standing was just a bit better 36% favorable compared with 30% favorable for Trump. The Republican nominees recent effort to extract himself from his five-year-long advocacy of so-called birther claims about President Obama also fell flat with New Hampshire voters. Only about 3 in 10 of the states voters said they thought Trump really believes Obama is a natural-born citizen. Just over half think he said so for political purposes. One of the big reasons Trump has struggled in some of those states is his relative weakness with college-educated white voters a group that Republicans have traditionally carried. In Pennsylvania, for example, Trump is weak not only in Philadelphia, the states Democratic stronghold, but also in the Philadelphia suburbs, where the ballots of college-educated white voters have often given Republicans a majority. In North Carolina, Trump has a huge lead among whites without a college degree, 66%-17%, but among whites with a degree, Clinton has a very narrow edge, 39%-38%, the New York Times/Siena poll found. That same weakness for Trump shows up nationally. In the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal survey, released Wednesday, Trump trailed among college-educated white voters 42%-37%. By contrast, in 2012, Republican nominee Mitt Romney carried that group by 14 points, according to exit polls. Overall, the NBC/Wall Street Journal survey had Clinton ahead by six points, 43%-37%, among likely voters. Johnson took 9% and Stein 3%. Among Latino voters, Clinton led 71%-18%, the survey found about the same advantage Obama had four years ago. In a four-way matchup including Johnson and Stein, her advantage fell to 65%-17%, with Johnson at 9% and Stein 2%. The poll showed several areas of potential trouble for Clinton notably a lack of enthusiasm and interest about the campaign on the part of younger voters and African Americans. But as Republicans discovered in 2012, having an edge on enthusiasm doesnt guarantee victory. For now, with the campaigns first debate coming Monday, Clinton appears to still be on top. David.Lauter@latimes.com For more on Politics and Policy, follow me @DavidLauter ALSO The presidential race in Arizona was already tight. Then voters started noticing Gary Johnson. Broad shoulders and a presidential look: The Trump campaign uses gender to try to undercut Clinton Hillary Clinton has a massive fundraising advantage. Shes using it to leave no vote to chance. The stars of The West Wing are hitting the campaign trail. Hillary Clinton is still outspending Donald Trump on the airwaves, and Trump is promising voters change. Im Christina Bellantoni, and this is Essential Politics. Were unlikely to see much movement in where the presidential nominees stand until after the first debate concludes Monday. But one thing we know for sure is that voters are increasingly frustrated and unhappy about this election. A new poll finds they are driven to their choices more often by dislike of the opposing candidate than admiration for their own. Advertisement CANDIDATES RESPOND TO NEW POLICE SHOOTINGS Black men were shot and killed by police in two incidents this week, one in Tulsa, Okla., and one in Charlotte, N.C. Both Clinton and Trump responded with concern. Chris Megerian reports that during her speech in Orlando, Clinton called the situation intolerable, while Trump said he was very troubled. DONALD TRUMP FACES FOUNDATION, BIRTHER QUESTIONS The Republican nominee was asked for the first time on Wednesday about recent controversies involving the personal use of his charitys money and his reversal on spreading lies about President Obamas birthplace. Trump skirted both issues in an interview with a reporter in Ohio. THE STATE WHERE GARY JOHNSON COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson is garnering a healthy amount of support in Arizona, which is moving from a reliably Republican stronghold to a potential battleground. But short of winning the state outright, can Johnson tip the state to Trump or Clinton? Melanie Mason reports that Arizonas libertarian leanings may pull conservative voters from Trump to Johnson. But Johnsons popularity with millennials may harm Clinton, who needs to shore up younger voters in her base to pull off an upset victory. CLINTON LAYS OUT PLANS FOR DISABLED AMERICANS After addressing police shootings during her Orlando speech, Clinton launched into her plans to help people with disabilities. She wants to make college more affordable and increase job opportunities, saying whether they can participate in our economy and lead rich, full lives ... is a reflection on us as a country. Get the latest from the campaign trail on Trail Guide and follow @latimespolitics. Check our daily USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times tracking poll at the top of the politics page. DOUBLE VISION IN CALIFORNIAS SENATE RACE Two separate polls released Wednesday on Californias U.S. Senate race provided vastly different snapshots of the statewide contest. A new Field Poll found that Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris had increased her lead over Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez since July, and that voters now favor Harris by more than a 2-to-1 margin over Sanchez. But a new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California released Wednesday night found Sanchez had closed the gap behind Harris since July, and Harris led by seven percentage points. The findings in both polls did match up on one aspect of the race: Republicans arent too happy about having to choose between two Democrats in November. For the latest on the race, keep an eye on our Essential Politics news feed. TODAYS ESSENTIALS Someone made haikus for each of Californias 17 ballot measures. George Skelton weighs in on the Prop. 55 question of whether tax hikes on Californias highest earners should be extended. Hes against it. Days before the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, supporters of a museum dedicated to Latino American history and culture are nudging lawmakers to move their cause forward. Sarah Wire has the letter they sent to House and Senate leaders urging Congress to take a vote this year on legislation proposed by Rep. Xavier Becerra. Gov. Jerry Brown signed two bills aimed at overhauling operations of the Central Basin Municipal Water District in Commerce after years of political scandal and allegations of ethical lapses at the agency. One will expand the districts governing board from five elected members to four members elected by residents and three with technical expertise who would be appointed by water purveyors in the district beginning in 2022. David Lauter explains how Trumps jump in support among black voters provides an object lesson in how not to read polls, particularly a daily tracking poll such as the USC/LAT Daybreak survey. A new report examines the Clinton and Trump foundations. We explore the question: If Trump loses, could television be in his future? You know you want to see Lin-Manuel Miranda sing about Trumps tweeting. Joss Whedon, the director of The Avengers, returned to Twitter after a 16-month absence to promote his new Save the Day PAC. Its first star-studded video didnt mention Trump by name, but you could guess whom it targeted. The Los Angeles Times is hosting another debate watch party, and this one will be our biggest yet. Join us for the Debate Watch Spectacular on Sept. 26 at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are $13. RSVP here. Californias housing crisis isnt going anywhere. Have questions about why Browns proposal to fix the problem failed, and how you could be affected in the future? Reporter Liam Dillon will answer on Twitter at 11 a.m. PT Friday. Follow @LATPoliticsCA and @dillonliam, and use #housingchat to join in. Who will win the November election? Give our Electoral College map a spin. LOGISTICS Miss yesterdays newsletter? Here you go. Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox daily. And keep an eye on our politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics? Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com. When politicians backpedal on their word bait and switch and play voters for suckers they further erode public confidence in our democratic institutions. That provides footholds for populist demagogues such as Donald Trump. It feeds cynicism and distrust of government. And were indisputably in an era of national distrust. But this column is not about the Republican presidential nominee. Its about California Democratic politicians and their bankrolling patrons, especially teachers unions. Advertisement Specifically its about their shameless sponsorship of Proposition 55 on the California ballot in November. That initiative would extend Gov. Jerry Browns so-called temporary income tax increase into virtual permanency, at least for 12 years. A brief refresher course here: Brown, teachers unions and other labor groups sold voters on the original soak the rich tax hike, Proposition 30, in 2012. It made lots of sense back then. It was to be temporary, Brown and the tax advocates pledged repeatedly. And they were convincing. After all, no previous temporary income tax hike had become permanent. Moreover, four years ago there was a compelling reason to boost taxes. Despite years of sharp program slashing, the state budget was badly bleeding red ink because of the worst recession since the 1930s depression. Tax revenue had slowed to a trickle. The states unemployment rate was the third worst in the country, roughly 10%. Two years earlier it had exceeded 12%. The state budget deficit was a whopping $25 billion. It had been $40 billion two years before. If Proposition 30 failed, Sacramento warned, $5.4 billion would need to be yanked from K-12 schools and community colleges, plus $500 million from public universities. That seemed unconscionable. Contrast that bleak picture with todays bright outlook. The California unemployment rate in July was down to 5.5%. The state budget is running a surplus and, in fact, the governor and Legislature have been stashing money in a rainy day reserve. Sure, the $7.7 billion expected to be gleaned this year from the 2012 tax hike helps the state balance its checking account, the $122-billion general fund. But the main reason for flush times is the national economy. Regardless, Democrats and teachers unions have become addicted to the Proposition 30 revenue. And it peters out after 2018. So the California Teachers Assn. and some other groups the Service Employees International Union, California Hospital Assn., California Medical Assn. have created Proposition 55 to last through 2030. Proposition 55 would abandon a minuscule sales tax bump that was included in Proposition 30, but extend the higher income taxes paid by the top 1.5%. Single taxpayers would be affected on incomes higher than $263,000 a year; married couples double that. Rates would be jacked up an additional notch at intervals, topping out at 13.3% with annual earnings exceeding about $1.1 million. Before Proposition 30, the highest rate was 10.3%. I wont be paying those high tax rates, but its still lousy policy. Proposition 55 perpetuates a really bad, outdated tax system and discourages sensible reform. The flaw in Californias soak-the-rich tax system is that its unreliable. Its too volatile, jerking up and down like a rollercoaster. When times are good the well-heeled score big, especially with capital gains, and pour money into Sacramento. When times inevitably turn bad, their taxes dwindle. And the state is forced to cut programs for the poor. That volatility is why no one can pinpoint how much Proposition 55 would raise each year. Bean counters wildly estimate $4 billion to $9 billion. Half the money would be spent on K-12 schools and community colleges. The rest would go to healthcare, debt repayment and savings. The solution to the unstable revenue is to broaden and flatten the tax base lower the high income rates and extend the sales tax to services. Bernie Sanders followers who want to sock it to the top 1% shouldnt confuse the federal tax system with Californias. Washington may go easy on the rich. California never has, even before Proposition 30. Currently, the richest 1% pay almost half the state income tax. There are a couple of other aggravations about extending Proposition 30. Updates from Sacramento One, Brown and the Legislature grabbed Proposition 30 taxes and enacted a sort of revenue redistribution scheme, sending more money to schools with low-income and English-learner students. That would have been fine, except it came at the expense of many middle class and suburban schools. And voters werent offered a hint of it during the 2012 campaign. Two, although taxpayers pumped more money into schools, Sacramento still hasnt enacted substantive education reform, including making it easier to fire bad teachers. The union adamantly objects to that. But the glaring flaw in Proposition 55 is that its disingenuous. Proposition 30 was supposed to be temporary. This bothers Brown, who hasnt taken a position on the tax extension. Im leaving that to the people, the governor told reporters in May. I said it was temporary and I think Ill leave it there. All the polls show it passing, however. Thats because only a relative handful of people would pay the tax. Theres a reason why we tax the 1%, Brown said in June. Its because thats a tax people have shown they are willing to vote for. Theres about $50 million lined up to push Proposition 55. Hardly anyone is spending money to oppose it. But still: Temporary should mean temporary. And one broken political promise leads to another and massive mistrust. george.skelton@latimes.com Follow @LATimesSkelton on Twitter ALSO Ballot measure to extend income tax hike has strong support, poll finds State teachers union has given more than $13 million to extend income taxes on wealthy Californians Can Gov. Jerry Brown keep the promises he made with Proposition 30? Growing up in a small Chinese village, Jin-Quan Yu walked nearly four miles to school, traversing a mountain pass and rowing himself across a river to get to the campus. Every day when I reached school, pretty much the first two classes I would have missed, Yu said. And yet he didnt miss much, at least where science is concerned. Now a groundbreaking chemist at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Yu was one of 23 people named to the list of 2016 MacArthur Fellows. The high-profile honor is widely known as the genius grant. Advertisement Yu has gained attention in the chemistry world for discovering and refining new methods for breaking bonds between carbon and hydrogen atoms. These are some of the most common connections in the molecular world and some of the strongest. Yu and his 35-member team at Scripps Research use the metal palladium as a catalyst to sever these links, creating the opportunity to splice in other elements from the periodic table. This method can be used to synthesize difficult-to-create molecules such as amino acids the building blocks of life in much less time, and with much less waste, than was previously possible. Drug makers and other companies are harnessing Yus approach to try to develop new medications more quickly and to formulate novel compounds not achievable with current technology. Yu said that like those roughly eight-mile round trips to his grade school in China, realizing progress in bond-breaking has been neither quick nor easy. His current project started in 2002. It is only in the last five years that my ideas have really gotten attention, said Yu, now 50. Yu says he is already thinking of ways to use his stipend. He would love to dig deeper into the idea of using less-precious metals as catalysts for molecular bond-breaking. Copper or iron, for example, would be less costly than palladium. The beauty of this funding is you can propose some very bold ideas, he said. It allows me to open new directions that are highly risky but could be highly rewarding. Sisson writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. MORE IN SCIENCE MacArthur winner Victoria Orphan showed how deep-sea microbes keep greenhouse gas out of atmosphere Manu Prakash, newly minted MacArthur genius, builds water computers and origami microscopes Bacteria have sculpted the world we live in, and thats why MacArthur winner Dianne Newman studies them Sometimes science seems like science, and sometimes it seems like magic. This week, computer scientists at the University of Kentucky-Lexington described how they virtually unfurled a charred and crushed biblical scroll dating back nearly 2,000 years. Thanks to their work, scholars are now able to read the words embedded in this ancient text for the first time in a millennium. Advertisement This is particularly amazing because to the untrained eye, the still-intact, rolled-up parchment looks like a small piece of burnt charcoal. It is also so fragile that it disintegrates every time its touched. The discovery of the text in the En-Gedi scroll absolutely astonished us, said Pnina Shor, head of the Dead Sea Scrolls Projects at the Israel Antiquities Authority, which keeps the scroll in its archives. We never dreamt we could bring it back to life. The damaged parchment was discovered more than 40 years ago in the ancient village of En-Gedi on the western shore of the Dead Sea. The scroll was found in the remains of a Holy Ark in a synagogue that experienced a fire in the 6th century CE. Because the scroll was so delicate, archaeologists were too scared to analyze it. Physical intervention was unthinkable, the researchers wrote in a paper published this week in Science Advances. Like many badly damaged materials in archives around the world, the En-Gedi scroll was shelved, leaving its potentially valuable contents hidden and effectively locked away by its own damaged condition. The study was led by Brent Seales, a professor and chairman of the department of computer science at the University of Kentucky-Lexington who has been working with technology and damaged materials for two decades. He and his colleagues never actually saw the parchment itself. Instead, their work was based on a micro-CT scan that Shor and her team had made of the scroll years before. After receiving the scan, the Kentucky group devised a multi-step system that allowed them to take a digital representation of a rolled-up object and produce a flattened-out picture of whats written on the layers inside. They called it virtual unwrapping. The process starts with a scan that reveals the internal structure and contents of an object, like the one the Israel Antiquities Authority made when it decided, on its own, to conduct the micro-CT scan. Next, the researchers used an algorithm to help identify the different layers in the scan, a step they called segmentation. In the case of the En-Gedi scroll, this was especially tricky because it had been burned and crushed, making it almost impossible in some areas to tell one layer from another. Part of the solution to this problem was to look at small segments of the scroll at a time, the authors said. Once the individual layers of the scroll had been identified and modeled, the team began their search for readable print, a process they dubbed texturing. In a CT scan, more dense areas appear brighter. By looking at these bright regions of dense material and darker areas of less dense material on each layer in their scan, the researchers were able to determine where the ink had been placed on each layer of the scroll. But they werent done yet. Although they now had a digital model with text, their virtual scroll was still in a rolled-up position, making it difficult to read the words. This led them to invent a flattening process that is similar to the physical act of unwrapping a scroll. Because all this work was done on small sections of the rolled-up parchment, the final step was to merge these flattened pieces together. In the end, Seales and his team revealed that this hunk of burnt animal skin contained text on five complete wraps of the scroll, and thanks to their computational wizardry, it was readable. This video details the virtual unwrapping pipeline as applied to the En-Gedi scroll. (Seth Parker / University of Kentucky) When he finally sent it to us, we almost dropped off our chairs, Shor said. The scan we sent him looked like charcoal. When this came back as a written piece of flattened material that looked like a poem, you cant imagine the joy in the lab. It was unbelievable. The digital reconstruction was so successful that biblical scholars were able to confirm the scroll contained the Book of Leviticus, making it the earliest copy of one of the five books of Moses to be discovered in a Holy Ark. Michael Segal, a professor of biblical studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, who is analyzing the virtually unfurled scroll, said it offers important evidence of the state of biblical texts between the time of the Dead Sea Scrolls and those discovered several centuries later. In particular, he said he was struck that the passages revealed in the En-Gedi scroll are identical in all of their details to the Masoretic text, which is still the authoritative Jewish text used today. Since carbon dating and other archaeological evidence date the scrolls to the 3rd or 4th centuries CE, this analysis suggests that the text has not changed in almost 2,000 years. The authors note that they are not the first to peer into the interior of a burnt scroll. In 2015, Italian scientists were able to reveal a few words and letters embedded in a charred scroll that survived the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius nearly two millenniums ago. However, the new work represents the first time a text has been reproduced in full from such a damaged artifact. Its incredibly impressive, said Greg Bearman, a former JPL researcher and consultant for the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls digital library who was not involved in the work. Its a real technical tour de force. The tools the team used will become available as open-source software next year, Seales said, and he expects that new technologies will continue to improve at each step in their system. Virtual unwrapping might also be used in other contexts, he said. For example, the intelligence world could be interested in the new technique to extract information noninvasively from materials. I believe there are more discoveries to come, Seales said. Damage and decay is the natural order of things, but you can see that sometimes you can absolutely pull a text back from the brink of loss. deborah.netburn@latimes.com Do you love science? I do! Follow me @DeborahNetburn and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. MORE IN SCIENCE 6,000-year-old fabric reveals Peruvians were dyeing textiles with indigo long before Egyptians Oh, hey, Milky Way: Gaia reveals map of more than 1 billion stars in our galaxy What researchers learned about hook-up culture from volunteers who drank beer for the sake of science UPDATES: Sept. 22, 7:05 p.m.: This story has been updated to include comments from researcher Greg Bearman. The story was originally published at 7:05 p.m. on Sept. 21. The solutions to global health problems usually come with a hefty price tag. Manu Prakash is working to change that. Among his many inventions is the Foldscope, a lightweight microscope made from a single sheet of paper that costs less than $1 to build. He has also created a tiny chip that can analyze the contents of mosquito saliva that could help people stay ahead of infectious disease outbreaks. Ideas like these helped earn Prakash one of the MacArthur Foundations prestigious genius grants. The Stanford University physical biologist and inventor will receive $625,000 over five years, which he can spend any way he likes. Advertisement Its not written anywhere how scientists should do science, he said. Every scientist is unique. Prakash is fascinated by the natural world both living and nonliving systems, and the ways that their behaviors often resemble one another. He has examined how shorebirds nab prey and how insects land on water. He studies self-assembly, the tendency of materials or living things to form organized structures without the need for a central architect. I consider myself really, really, really lucky to be able to do science as a profession, and to think about science in general, he said. I worry about the vast majority of people who dont get that chance. His interest in what he calls frugal science goes back to his childhood. Growing up in Rampur, India, he played in an abandoned chemistry lab, ogling containers of sulfuric acid, liquid mercury and crystalline powders. He was about 9 when he tried to build his first microscope. He used cardboard tubes that previously held badminton shuttlecocks and lenses from his brothers glasses. (It didnt work.) In the years since, Prakash has dreamed up and built all kinds of devices. Hes made a water computer that uses droplets as its bits of information. While this device will probably never operate as fast as a traditional computer, he and his team have been beefing it up. In 2007 they built a single fluidic logic gate, and theyre currently working with hundreds in the lab now. Such a computer could lead to new manufacturing techniques. Current methods require doing one thing after another. But a computer that manipulated matter could build composite materials and structures more in the way that a plant does, able to sprout branches in different places at the same time. The long-term goal is truly to build completely new kinds of things, Prakash said. Do we know as yet the kinds of things we will be able to make using these methods? The answer to my mind is, Not yet. Theres also Foldscope, which can be assembled like origami from a paper with embedded electronics and lenses. The first one was made out of a matchstick box, Prakash said. Several years later, were still iterating, were still modifying, were still changing, were still adding functionality. ... Its quite a versatile medium to build out of. The inexpensive and portable system is meant to help researchers when theyre roughing it in the field, as well as bring budding scientists from economically disadvantaged communities into the fold. Prakash has set up a website for Foldscope users from around the world to share their findings made with the device. One recent contributor was a 6-year-old girl from North Carolina who was studying crystals. Prakash is also working on another cheap device: a tiny microfluidic chip that can collect tiny droplets of saliva from mosquito bites. With the help of a punchcard and a handcrank, those saliva samples could be screened for pathogens. This information, if crowdsourced around the world, could help public health researchers predict outbreaks of mosquito-born diseases. By sharing our tools, we can engage with a much broader group of scientists, he explained, especially scientists from countries that have infectious disease challenges that are uncontrolled. This sort of citizen science is common in other fields, said Lakshminarayan Iyer, a computational biologist at the National Institutes of Health and a Foldscope superuser. Astronomers, for instance, can upload their huge datasets of images and ask for help going through it all. But citizen science for what Iyer called the microcosmos the world of things smaller than a millimeter, invisible to the naked eye has until now been pretty sparse. Plenty of people have access to a computer; fewer have easy access to a microscope. Manu has a kind of vision which is very unique, in that its not just about making something cheap, Iyer said. Its also about building a community ... and giving the opportunities for people to go out and share their observations or build something around them. Prakash, so interested in the science of self-assembly, is helping a scientific community to self-assemble. amina.khan@latimes.com Follow @aminawrite on Twitter for more science news and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. MORE IN SCIENCE MacArthur winner Victoria Orphan showed how deep-sea microbes keep greenhouse gas out of atmosphere Bacteria have sculpted the world we live in, and thats why MacArthur winner Dianne Newman studies them MacArthur Fellow Jin-Quan Yu breaks some of natures strongest bonds to synthesize new molecules In a previous In Theory, we discussed the Johnson Amendment which prohibits churches and other religious institutions from endorsing political candidates or else risk losing their tax-exempt status and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps pledge to repeal it. According to a 2015 phone survey by LifeWay Research, nearly 80% of Americans say its inappropriate for pastors to publicly endorse political candidates during church service. Americans already argue about politics enough outside the church. They dont want pastors bringing those arguments into worship, said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, in a statement. Q. Do you think its appropriate or inappropriate for pastors to make endorsements from the pulpit? Ibelieve pastors should be allowed to exercise the same freedom of speech rights every other American enjoys, in the pulpit or out of it. The tax-exempt status of religious organizations should not suffer because its members exercise these rights. While I believe it is allowable for pastors to make endorsements from the pulpit my preference is to directly address only the moral issues behind the candidates stands on various social issues. In my experience the most common of these have included abortion, the definition of marriage and the legalization of certain drugs. Scripture is crystal clear on most moral issues, so thats what I address. The pastors (and the churchs) calling is to proclaim Gods word as it applies to the issues of the day. We are remiss if we do not. I dont go so far as to recommend or criticize any candidate by name, but usually its common knowledge where primary candidates stand on the issues anyway. Ive also learned that my church members arent always homogenous in the way they vote. To endorse one candidate over another might cause an unnecessary division in our fellowship. And frankly, there are more important issues than who each member chooses to vote for. When we choose to address potentially divisive issues how we say what we say is of utmost importance. Ephesians 4:15 says, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into him who is the head, even Christ, so our truthful speech should be rooted in love. Ephesians 4:29 continues that our speech should be with wholesome words, ones that build up and not tear others down, with the object of giving grace to those who hear. Yes, we should also reprove, rebuke, exhort, but even that should be with great patience and instruction (2 Timothy 2:4). Pastor Jon Barta Burbank My observation of pastors in pulpits is infrequent but not unknown. It is entirely possible that I have attended church many more times than a lot of believers, and as proof of the harmonic nature of the universe I did in fact go to church just this past Sunday. At the Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church I took part in a good ol time song-fest led by a couple of visiting troubadour preachers, accompanied by CVUMCs totally rockin band. (Check them out sometime at 2600 Montrose Avenue or at cvumc.org why should we atheists have all the fun?) Reflecting on the service, while not a single electoral candidates name was uttered by them, I have no doubt who the good reverends would want us to vote for, and I believe this is the likely case no matter who is in a pulpit. It is not brain surgery to assess a religions value system and align those beliefs with the available candidates, then choose. Thinking of the world of nonprofits within which churches are just one category, do we really want to be told by our business/professional groups, historical societies and beautification clubs who we should vote for? I dont, and I also dont see why an exception should be carved out for churches without them losing their nonprofit tax advantage. Appropriate or inappropriate is something that each congregation needs to decide for itself, and it seems like they may already have with 80% in the U.S. not wanting to hear pastors making political endorsements. Roberta Medford Atheist Montrose President Johnson, when he was just a Senator running for reelection back in the 50s, introduced his Amendment to the tax code to silence supporters of his opponent. Since then, its been used to diminish free speech in the pulpit, despite the fact that government has no right to impose itself upon our religious freedom. In fact, the government already taxes every member of our congregations, just like anyone else, but then they want to tax our charity and meeting place as well! Is this right? Our church feeds the homeless five days a week, twice a day. Who buys and collects the food, pays for the power, and works freely to accomplish this huge task? We do! And you want to tax us because on Sunday, when parishioners finally meet together for themselves to simply worship God and be taught from His word (the Bible) the minister may point out how certain corruption has entered the political arena (like this very subject)? If its in our Bible, we need to see it, but I believe this goes far beyond occasional endorsements of political candidates, its also about preachers repeating Gods condemnation of certain sins that perhaps 80% of America engages in and doesnt want exposed; things like adultery (infidelity), homosexuality (perversion), abortion (murder) and whatever other things our hedonistic, lecherous and materialistic citizenry enjoy. We may be a country of myriad religions, but our founding faith was Christianity, and so today most Americans identify with this default category. Unfortunately, these same people are least likely to have any genuine faith at all, and certainly nothing that changes their lives or their opinions Christward, lest this not be an issue. How many know that our American Revolution was led by pastors, like Jonathan Mayhew of Boston, who preached to his congregation that fighting tyranny was a Christian duty? And remember Rev. James Caldwell, who supplied his congregations hymnal pages to be used as wadding for our militarys muskets? Pastors are obliged to preach the truth, and though their human personalities sometimes get in the way, the Bible is still the Christian playbook and its words need contemporary application for the church, and we need freedom of speech in our religious freedom or I say we have neither! Once, when Christs apostles were threatened with prison and death, if they did not censor their words, St. Peter shouted, We must obey God rather than any human authority (Acts 5:29 NLT)! Death and taxes are certain bedfellows. Rev. Bryan A. Griem Tujunga Three housing projects totaling almost 50 units were approved by the Costa Mesa Planning Commission on Monday night. However, commissioners balked at granting one applicants request to get around a city policy requiring utilities to be moved underground a decision they acknowledged could kill the project. Its probably going to doom the project, and it doesnt make me happy to do, Commissioner Colin McCarthy said. I think its a beautiful project. In a letter to city planners Feb. 12, applicant Nick Louis said a representative of Southern California Edison told him removing a utility pole and relocating utilities underground in the public right of way next to the proposed development on Hamilton Street would cost well in excess of $500,000, which would be cost-prohibitive for a project this size. Louis project would entail tearing down four one-story residential units on about a half-acre lot at 592 Hamilton, west of Maple Avenue, and replacing them with six two-story, ranch-style homes. Three of the new homes would be 1,523 square feet and have two bedrooms; the others would have three bedrooms and 1,700 square feet. The commission voted 2-1 to approve the project, but not the request for a waiver of the utility work. Commissioner Stephan Andranian dissented because of parking concerns, and Commissioners Jeff Mathews and Tim Sesler were absent. Commission Chairman Robert Dickson said hes sensitive to the applicants concerns and hopes withholding the waiver doesnt kill the project. Another proposal approved Monday a 10-unit development on about a half-acre at 522 and 526 Bernard St., west of Harbor Boulevard, drew questions about parking. The project includes 34 parking spaces 20 in garages and 14 open. City code called for the project to have 20 open spaces, so applicant Patric Lynam sought commission approval for an alternative parking plan. ------------ FOR THE RECORD March 29, 3:15 p.m.: An earlier version of this post misspelled the first name of applicant Patric Lynam. ------------ The commission voted 2-1 to approve the project as proposed, but Andranian, who voted no, said he had a real issue with the parking requirements not being met. The planned two- and three-story units would have a contemporary design and 1,600 to 1,700 square feet. Seven existing apartments would be torn down to make room for the project. The largest of the three projects reviewed Monday 33 two-story detached homes on about 3.7 acres at the northeast corner of Harbor and Merrimac Way was approved 3-0. Those homes would have a modern Spanish, plantation or modern farmhouse style and include three or four bedrooms. They would range from 2,390 to 2,815 square feet, including garages. The project, which also features private park space, will replace a former Buick-GMC-Cadillac dealership at 2626 Harbor Blvd. The Planning Commissions votes on the proposals are final unless appealed to the City Council. Irvine police arrested a Yorba Linda man Wednesday on suspicion of stealing more than $300,000 of equipment from the camera and motion picture supply company where he worked. Officers took Todd Ryan Deck, 37, into custody on suspicion of grand theft at the Irvine offices of Red Digital Cinema, police said. Deck is suspected of stealing digital storage discs from the company for the past six months. Investigators explained that the equipment is high-end and used to store up to a terabyte of images from cinema-quality cameras. Deck is suspected of using company mail to ship the stolen discs to unsuspecting buyers but then having buyers send payments to his personal account, according to police. Deck allegedly stole at least 70 discs this way. Red Digital Cinema discovered the discs were missing and contacted police after taking an inventory, investigators said. A kitchen fire in a Costa Mesa apartment complex displaced several residents and left a pet cat dead, authorities said Wednesday. Firefighters responded to South Pointe apartments, 655 Baker St., at 7 p.m. Tuesday, said Capt. Chris Coates of the Costa Mesa Fire Department. The complex had been evacuated, and firefighters were able to contain the flames to the unit in which the fire originated within 30 minutes, Coates said. That apartment was destroyed. Six other units sustained smoke and water damage. Investigators determined that the fire started when residents who had been cooking left to check on their laundry, Coates said. When they returned, they found their apartment enveloped in black smoke. The residents ran back into their apartment to save their three cats, but one had died. The two residents were treated on scene for smoke inhalation, but declined a trip to the hospital, Coates said. Nobody else was injured. The Red Cross helped those displaced by the fire. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter: @benbrazilpilot The Laguna Beach County Water District will host its annual SmartScape Expo from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The free event will spotlight the benefits of using California native plants and employing efficient irrigation techniques in residential and commercial areas, according to the districts website. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in planting workshops, demonstrations and activities, and receive free compost. For more information, call (949) 494-1041 or visit lbcwd.org. Young dancers to take stage at South Coast Plaza A free performance given by dancers ages 9 to 15 will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Carousel Court at South Coast Plaza. The dancers, who auditioned for parts in the Festival Ballet Theatre companys December performances of The Nutcracker, will perform ballet and contemporary pieces at the Costa Mesa shopping center. For more information, visit festivalofchildren.org and festivalballet.org. Dogs to compete in surf competition this weekend Dogs will pant, paddle and catch waves this weekend in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach at the eighth annual Petco Surf City Surf Dog Competition. Competitions include stand-up paddleboarding for dogs and their owners on Saturday in Newport Beach and the surfing dog competition on Sunday at Huntington Dog Beach. Admission is donation-only. For more information and for a complete schedule of events, visit surfdogevents.com. Costa Mesa nonprofit to stage Walk for Independence Project Independence, a Costa Mesa-based nonprofit that provides programs and services for those with developmental disabilities, will hold its Walk for Independence and Healthy Living on Saturday. The walkathon and health fair event goes from 8 a.m. to noon at TeWinkle Park, 970 Arlington Drive, Costa Mesa. Those interested in participating can register at projectindependencewalk.org; at Project Independences office, 3505 Cadillac Ave., Suite O-103; or at the event, beginning at 7:30 a.m. 25th annual Race for the Cure coming to Fashion Island More than 18,000 participants wearing pink are expected to walk or run during the 25th annual Susan G. Komen Orange County Race for the Cure on Sunday at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. -------- FOR THE RECORD An earlier version of this post stated that more than 1,800 participants are expected in Sundays Race for the Cure. Organizers expect more than 18,000. ---------- A 5k run/walk will take place at 7:15 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. Other events include the kids one-mile fun run and walk at 8 a.m., and the breast cancer survivor parade at 8:45 a.m. For more information, visit komenoc.org/race. Kiddies getting ready for the Baby Olympics Hundreds of children are expected to participate in MOMS Orange Countys Baby Olympics on Sunday at the Orange County Childrens Book Festival, held at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. The Santa Ana-based nonprofit is hosting the event from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to encourage families to be active and healthy with their youngsters, especially during National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. The free event will feature Olympic-themed activities, contests, prizes and book readings by Olympic athletes, while building awareness for the programs and services offered by MOMS Orange County, according to a news release. For more information, call (800) 787-5858 or email info@momsorangecounty.org. English-language classes offered in Laguna The Laguna Beach Unified School District will offer free English as a second language (ESL) classes for adults, beginning Monday. Courses will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at 811 Manzanita St. Room 91, across from Laguna Beach High School, according to a district news release. Students can register online at bit.ly/adultesl (English), bit.ly/adultesl2 (Spanish), or during class. For more information, contact school community liaison Marissa Hoffman at mjhoffman@lbusd.org or (949) 497-7700, Ext. 5328. Local residents, businesses to be honored for National Philanthropy Day Several area residents and businesses will be recognized during the 31st annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon in November. Sandra Jackson of Newport Beach is credited with helping to start the Samueli Academy in Santa Ana. Vanis Buckholz, 14, of Corona del Mar founded a program that has recycled more than 75,000 pounds of materials and helped homeless families. Laura Davick will be recognized for her role in founding the Crystal Cove Alliance, which aids Crystal Cove State Park. The Orange County chapter of Future Leaders of Our Community, based in Laguna Beach, will be recognized as an outstanding philanthropic group. Pacific Life, an insurance firm based in Newport Beach, will be honored for its philanthropy and employee volunteerism. Festival of Arts accepting applications for 2017 The Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach is accepting applications for next years juried fine art show, scheduled for July 5 through Aug. 31. Artists, who must have lived in Orange County for at least a year, are required to submit three digital images per media, along with a completed application form, to the festival by 4 p.m. Oct. 31. Jurors will score the submitted artwork based on quality, intention and content; excellence of craftsmanship; facility with media; excellence in the use of design elements; and professional presentation, according to a news release. Jurying fees are $50 per medium submitted. Interested artists must apply online through the festivals website, foapom.com/apply. For more information, call (949) 464-4234. The festival is offering two free seminars to help artists prepare their submissions. The first is scheduled at 2 p.m. Sept. 24 at Saddleback Churchs visual arts studio, 1 Saddleback Pkwy. in Lake Forest. The second seminar is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 8 at the Wells Fargo community room, 260 Ocean Ave. in Laguna Beach. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call (949) 464-4234. Police are looking for a bike thief who stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from a bike shop in Costa Mesa Sunday morning, authorities said. Surveillance video captured images of a man breaking into The Cyclist, 1785 Newport Blvd., around 3 a.m., Costa Mesa police Lt. Greg Scott said. The burglar used a large rock to break through the front window. After entering the shop, the man quickly filled his pockets with several bike gloves and wheeled out a bike, said John Marconi, owner of The Cyclist. The burglar then repeated the process, grabbing a different bicycle and more gloves, Marconi said. He stole two specialized bikes a Fuse and a Stumpjumper, Marconi said. Marconi estimated his losses at about $8,500 a figure that includes the broken window. Police Sgt. Jerry Souza described the suspect as a clean-cut, white male, wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt and shorts with work boots. This is the third time in a year that the store has been burglarized, Marconi said, adding it was last hit about six months ago. Marconi is offering $500 reward. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter: @benbrazilpilot A widow is suing a Newport Beach-based nursing home company, alleging elder abuse, negligent hiring and poor supervision. The lawsuit alleges the womans late husband was neglected while in the care of a San Diego County center owned by the company. Jimmie Davenport was being treated for an infected sore in the intensive care unit of the Zion Medical Center in San Diego when he died on Jan. 5. He was 80. The pressure sore developed due to the lack of care he received while he was a resident at the Stanford Court Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center in Santee, according to allegations in a lawsuit filed Sept. 13 in Orange County Superior Court. Life Generations Healthcare, the owner of Stanford Court and 19 other nursing homes statewide, is based in Newport Beach. Life Generations Healthcare could not be reached for comment. Davenport was admitted to Stanford Court after a series of falls at his home, according to a news release from the law firm, Garcia, Artigliere and Medby, representing Davenports widow, Mozelle. Davenport had difficulty walking because of the medications he took for treatment of dementia, diabetes and other conditions, according to court documents. Staff was supposed to monitor him 24 hours a day and reposition him so that he wouldnt develop pressure sores, according to the law firm. The lawsuit alleges that Stanford Court staff was supposed to help Davenport from his bed when he needed to use the restroom in the middle of the night. But the facility allegedly did not use standard monitoring procedures like bedrails or an alarm system to keep staff informed of when Davenport needed to leave his bed, according to the lawsuit. About two weeks into his stay, Davenport wandered from his bed and fell, according to the news release. The under staffing and lack of training plan was designed as a mechanism to reduce labor costs and predictably and foresee-ably resulted in the abuse and neglect of many residents of the facility, the lawsuit asserts. Davenport was admitted to the ICU at Zion Medical Center in early December 2015 after the sore on his tailbone became infected for a fourth time, the court documents say. Davenport died after about a month. The pressure sore was listed as an other significant condition contributing to his death, court documents say. A trial date has not been set. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter: @benbrazilpilot A woman suspected of a hit-and-run was killed Thursday morning after her car crashed into a tree near downtown Huntington Beach, authorities said. Police found the woman deceased in the front seat of a blue 2000 Nissan Maxima by Main Street and Palm Avenue about 1:32 a.m., according to the Huntington Beach Police Department. She had lost control of the car as she was driving north on Main at a high speed and crashed into a tree, police said. After further investigation, police said it appeared the woman hit the tree shortly after fleeing from a two-vehicle collision near Main and Orange Avenue, nearly a half-mile away. No one was injured in the minor crash, police spokeswoman Jennifer Marlatt said. Police did not know if alcohol played a role in either crash. Police said the woman was 44 and from Ione, a small community southeast of Sacramento. Police did not release her name or other identifying information. The investigation is continuing. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter: @benbrazilpilot Laguna Beach Unified School District elementary teachers are getting a head start on new science standards that promote creavity and experimentation rather than rote memorization and replicating procedures. The Next Generation Science Standards developed by Achieve, the National Research Council, the National Science Teachers Assn., the American Assn. for the Advancement of Science are becoming the science equivalent for the critical thinking, interpretation and supportive claims with evidence standards mandated under Common Cores English and math instruction. The standards dictate what the students should know once they reach certain grade levels, using concepts that can be applied to life, earth, space and physical sciences. The standards creators include two Nobel laureates, cognitive scientists and science education researchers. It has been 15 years since science standards were revised ... many advances have occurred in the fields of science and science education, as well as in the innovation-driven economy, the National Science Teachers Assn. website said. Unfortunately, science and mathematics achievement continues to lag compared to our international competitors, and this lag has already begun to impact the competitiveness of young Americans as well as the competitiveness of the U.S. in the global economy. Laguna Beach Unifieds Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Alysia Odipo called the standards, which have been adopted in 17 states, revolutionary. For me, I learned about what scientists found and replicated it [through an experiment] Odipo said. The difference [now] is that we want children to think of themselves as scientists. The goal is for students to develop their own thinking rather than the teacher telling them what to do. Educators say the standards take science a step further by getting students to think about long-term patterns and ramifications found in nature. In the past, students may have studied the rock cycle as a topic in a geology unit by simply learning to define characteristics of various rock types and reciting the phases in the cycle, Lauren Madden, assistant professor of elementary education at The College of New Jersey, wrote in a July article published in Education Week. With the new standards, They can relate the rock cycle to an important overarching scientific phenomenon things in nature occur in predictable, cyclical patterns. This shift in focus opens the door for an infinite number of connections across scientific domains, from cell division to star formation, she wrote. At Top of the World Elementary earlier this week, Marianne Bynums second-grade class created towers out of index cards intended to be strong enough to support the weight of a small stuffed animal. Bynum challenged her students to construct towers 1 meter tall, but with limited supplies: 100 index cards, one 6-inch piece of tape and scissors. Bynum said the activity incorporates a key element of the Next Generation standards engineering. Every unit the teachers are teaching has an engineering component, which is different than before, Bynum said. Some students folded the cards in half, then stacked them. Others created a square base by taping four index cards together. If a tower started tilting to one side or wiggled precariously from being top heavy, Bynum walked over and asked its builders what could they do to create a sturdier structure. Other towers collapsed, but students returned promptly to work, adjusting their design or scrapping it altogether for a new tower. One groups tower nearly reached 1 meter. Kai Kaiser, 7, delicately placed a whale stuffed animal on top, hoping the structure would stay stable. But the whales weight was too much for the tower to handle. This is way heavy, Kai said. Its not about the end result as it is about the process, Bynum noted. They investigate on their own ... learn to ask questions, test theories and reevaluate. Computer-based testing associated with Next Generation standards will replace the paper-and-pencil California Standards Test given to students in grades 5, 8 and 10. Students in grades 5 and 8, and one high school grade thats not yet determined, will take Next Generation practice tests later this year and in 2017-18 in preparation for 2018-19, when theyll take the real tests and schools will begin reporting their Next Generation scores to the state for accountability purposes, state education department spokesman Peter Tira said in an email. A night custodian at TeWinkle Intermediate School died shortly after falling while he was on the job, according to county officials. Rodrigo Ospina died Sept. 1, a few days before the first day of school, TeWinkle Principal Kira Hurst told the campus community the next day. The Tustin resident was 68. The 26-year employee of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District died of blunt-force injuries to his head that were the result of a fall, according to the Orange County coroners office. The accident, which did not have any witnesses, involved Ospina falling from a 6-foot ladder, a coroner report said. After the fall, Ospina was taken to Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he was pronounced dead around 8:30 p.m. Because the incident is under investigation, Newport-Mesa Unified officials said they were not able to disclose any information related to it. Hurst wrote in her Sept. 2 message to TeWinkle staff and parents that Ospinas kind nature and sweet sense of humor will be deeply missed Our sincerest thoughts are with Mr. Ospinas family, loved ones, and to the community in which he was a beloved member. Ospinas family told the Daily Pilot on Monday that he was a happy person, a good father and good husband who liked to help people and who worked hard. Services for the longtime district employee took place Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 in Santa Ana. He was buried at Fairhaven Memorial Park and Mortuary. Communication from the superintendents office about Ospinas death was also sent on Sept. 8 to employees working in the districts main office on Bear Street in Costa Mesa, according to David Johnson, president of the Newport-Mesa chapter of the California School Employees Assn. Johnson said he has not heard about the remaining employees at Newport-Mesas other campuses receiving any notification about Ospina. He was a good employee, Johnson said. At his school site where he was, he was respected and well-liked. He added: I do think classified employees need to be offered more opportunities to go to conferences and to participate in trainings those opportunities are offered to administrators and teachers, and it would be nice if classified personnel got recognized as well. On the safety side, the safety trainings we do get, but we need to make sure people are getting it often enough and that its reaching everyone that needs to receive it. According to Johnson, training for classified employees can vary from Internet tutorials to in-house training on how to use certain equipment. The Glendale Unified School Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to deny a petition submitted by parents who sought to establish a charter school in Glendale. District officials concluded the plan for the school would fail in its execution to present a sound educational program, primarily because of financial issues. The lead petitioners, however, plan to appeal the boards decision, said Hilary Stern, a co-lead petitioner who spent two years creating a 250-page plan for the school, named the International Studies Language Academy. The charter school, which Glendale Unified officials began to formally consider in October, was expected to offer dual-language immersion programs in Spanish, German, Italian and French for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. We had hoped to work with GUSD as our authorizer, but now have no choice but to appeal to the county Stern said in an email. If granted approval through the Los Angeles County Office of Education, Stern added, she is still hopeful to establish the school in Glendale. The schools supporters favored the charters potential to meet the demand for dual-language programs, which are popular in Glendale Unified because there are seven different foreign language classes, and students spend the majority of the school day learning in their chosen foreign language. However, Glendale school officials found fault with the charters proposed staffing, educational and financial plans. While the petitioners efforts [are] admirable, and we believe that their intentions are to serve students, we found a number of significant weaknesses and deficiencies in the proposed plan, said Glendale Unified co-interim Supt. Joel Shawn. In their 18-page staff report recommending denial of the charter school, a team of 10 Glendale Unified administrators concluded that the charter school would not likely fulfill local families needs. They calculated that 74% of the charter petitions roughly 300 support signatures came from families who reside outside of Glendale. The schools plan to employ 21 teachers was also found inadequate by Glendale school officials, who said at least 33 to 35 teachers would be necessary, according to their report. Glendale school officials also projected that the International Studies Language Academy would experience a budget shortfall of roughly $937,000 when it came to adopting curriculum for the school, and stated that the charter did not budget enough money for teacher training opportunities. Glendale Unified officials also stated that the schools proposed salary compensation for teachers, at $48,500 a year, was not as competitive as the school districts average starting teacher salary of $62,433, according to the report. Co-lead petitioner Gillian Bonacci said the petitioners were disappointed in the board members decision to deny the school. Hundreds of charter schools use the same budgetary assumptions we did, and they are doing fine financially, she said in an email sent the day after the school was denied. Comparing a district budget to a charter school budget is illogical, misleading and not the way to judge the financial soundness of a charter petition. Some Glendale school board members did not go into extensive detail as they explained their reason for voting to deny the charter school, but the majority pinned their vote on what they perceived as financial weaknesses in the plan. Without elaborating further, school board members Greg Krikorian and Nayiri Nahabedian said that overall, they supported the Glendale school officials findings and grounds for denial. School board member Armina Gharpetian said she appreciated the petitioners passion and dedication to the education of children, but went on to say that she based her decision to vote against it on the financial issues presented in the petition. You have good intentions, so thank you for that. And please, continue, no matter what happens tonight, your volunteering in the schools, she said. To me, the financial stability for any district is the most important issue, and whether its a charter school or not, I think financial stability is the No. 1 priority for a school district. Fellow board member Jennifer Freemon, who sends her children to Franklin Elementary, where the charters petitioners have also enrolled their children, also denied the petition based on financial projections, as did Christine Walters, board president. I know that tremendous effort went into this, Freemon said. Financially, the model to me does not appear to be sustainable. I dont think we can support something and take that type of risk. -- Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com Twitter: @kellymcorrigan A bomb threat called in to Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale Thursday morning was a hoax, police said. The school was on a soft lockdown for less than an hour as police searched the campus after a caller, around 11:20 a.m., said the school would blow up in five minutes, according to Glendale Police Sgt. Robert William. During the soft lockdown, students could reportedly move throughout the campus but werent allowed to leave. No evacuations were ordered. School was back in session around noon, after authorities had cleared the campus. Police are investigating who placed the phone call. Anyone with information can call authorities at (818) 548-4911. -- Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @atchek After nearly two years of planning and negotiating an off-leash dog run failed to materialize, La Canada Parks and Recreation Commissioners returned to the drawing table last week, deciding to reassess public interest before continuing the matter further. The conversation about creating a linear fenced-in area for people to run or walk with their dogs has been developing since October 2014, when a group of residents expressed frustration with a Pasadena Humane Society officer they claimed was ambushing them and issuing citations and warnings for off-leash dogs. Hearing neighbors complaints, City Council members asked the parks commission to identify areas that might provide a legal alternative for dog owners wishing to play in public with unleashed canines. Five areas including the Cross Town Trail north of Foothill Boulevard behind Armstrong Nursery, Hall Beckley Canyon off Jessen Drive, and Rockridge Terrace near the Crescenta-Canada YMCA were researched by the commission. Owned by Southern California Edison and used by the city under an easement agreement, the Cross Town Trail stood out as an ideal spot for its central location and popularity among dog owners and walkers. Carl Alameda, the citys director of administration, explained to commissioners in a meeting last Thursday that city officials had been talking with Southern California Edison representatives about erecting a fence off of the main trail northward to Olive Lane where dogs could roam leash free under human supervision. Edison asked the city to present schematic designs for the project, and ongoing discussions centered around safety and land use. Alameda said those talks stalled and then came to an abrupt halt in July, however, shortly after an Edison employee working as a liaison for La Canada was reassigned and a new staff member took her place, Alameda said. The answer that we finally got back is that a dog park, in no form, would be allowed on any Edison property, he said. So with that new information staff is coming back tonight to see if theres any interest in still pursuing this as a potential project in the city or not. Commissioners considered a new location, Mayors Discovery Park by the Glendale (2) Freeway on-ramp, which a council member had suggested after seeing many dog owners recreate there. Alameda said the park currently functions, under a joint-use agreement with neighboring Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as an access point to nearby fields used by children on certain days. Alameda floated the option of piloting a dog park there once a week, on days children didnt use the fields, but indicated another newly opened dog park in La Crescenta about a mile away might be close enough to meet the needs of La Canada dog owners. Commissioners said theyd prefer to seek resident input on the newly revised set of options. It would be good to know if the demand was still there from the people who wanted it, said Commission Chair Jeff Olson. Commissioner Jim Kambe agreed. I think people are (already) using a lot of facilities off leash, whether its right or wrong, but I guess the question really is, do we still have a need for an off-leash area? The commission directed city staff to get feedback from the residents who initially raised the issue with members of the City Council and bring back the item at a future meeting. -- Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine Election-year politics came to life at Flintridge Preparatory School Monday, as Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) addressed a school-wide assembly at the request of a faculty member who wanted students to gain perspective on whats become an embattled presidential race. The congressman shared his viewpoints on international relations, cybersecurity and the credence and credentials of candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, speaking as an official Clinton surrogate. Im usually not allowed, when I come to the schools, to speak about politics, Schiff said in his introductory remarks. But Ive been given the green light today because I hear youll have a speaker who will come in to give the opposing view and I wish them a lot of luck. Student Laura Ratliff, 17, asks a question to Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank). (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer) Schiff, ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also discussed terrorism and civil rights in the wake of a series of bombings in New York and New Jersey over that weekend that culminated just hours before the assembly with the capture of a suspect. Obviously, we have a continuing challenge in dealing with terrorism (and) in dealing with homegrown radicalism, Schiff said. This is a challenge that is going to go on, not only through the end of this presidency, but well into the next presidency. Christine Madsen, chair of the schools history department, said faculty members came up with the idea of arranging visits from representatives of both the Democratic and Republican parties as it was an election year and they wanted students to be able to hear and discuss issues of national importance from both sides of the aisle. Typically, the school hosts election year debates with student speakers, but Madsen said with all the negativity thats amassed around the contest between Clinton and Trump, the history department thought it would be more instructive for the student body to hear from speakers like Schiff than to risk lapsing into name calling. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) listens to student Flintridge Prep student John Murphy, 17. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer) We were concerned with some of the statements that have been made (in the campaign), Madsen said. We didnt want to set the students up for a situation where their roles would be to be these two candidates and end up inevitably saying something we didnt think would be appropriate to say at Flintridge Prep. In a Q&A session following the discussion, preselected students put the congressman through his paces on a number of controversial topics, from the Democratic National Committee email leak and Secretary Clintons trustworthiness to the Black Lives Matter movement and the governments ability to safeguard against terrorist threats while protecting civil liberties. Prep senior Christian Yeghnazar, president of the campus Young Republican Club, said afterward that while the congressman seemed to focus more on criticizing Trump than building up Clintons electability, he was intrigued by Schiffs remarks on the DNC email leaks being the result of Russian hackers. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) addresses the Flintridge Prep student body. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer) I personally love hearing both sides of the argument, so I was interested to see what he was going to say, Yeghnazar said. It was informative hearing the other side. A Republican counterpart to Schiff has not yet been selected to visit the campus, but science teacher and adviser of Preps Young Republican Club, Rob McLinn, is working on bringing a speaker to represent a GOP viewpoint, according to Madsen. Headmaster Peter Bachmann said he was excited for Prep students to have the opportunity to hear about important national views from someone who actively participates in the decision-making process. This is a primary source, he said on his way to the assembly. We love to give students a chance to hear and work with primary sources. -- Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine Neither rain, nor headwinds, nor hilly terrain deterred Ivan Schmidt from his mission to cycle from Canada to Mexico this summer, an 1,800-mile ride to raise funds for rheumatoid arthritis research. Schmidt, 16 and a junior at Flintridge Prep, was inspired to take on the challenge by his grandmother, who suffered from the disease for many years. He was accompanied on the trip by his father, Mark Schmidt, according to a news release by the nonprofit Arthritis National Research Foundation, which received the $2,500 Ivan raised during the ride. This trip taught me to appreciate being healthy and able to exercise like this, Ivan stated in the release. Every morning Id wake up very sore, but I was still able to get up and bike, something that many people, such as those with arthritis, cannot do. The Schmidts trip got underway on July 6 at Peace Arch Park in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, and concluded Aug. 7 when they arrived in Mexico. Their route included the Oregon coastline, San Francisco and Big Sur. Along the way they were accompanied for stretches of their ride by Ivans 80-year-old grandfather, a cousin and an aunt. On Sept. 8, Ivan was feted at the offices of the Arthritis National Research Foundation, with officials there presenting him with a large poster-type check in commemoration of his gift. We are so inspired by Ivan and his accomplishments, stated Derek Belisle, the foundations marketing director. People like Ivan ensure that researchers can continue working to cure arthritis. We were thrilled to be able to thank him and celebrate his accomplishment. -- Carol Cormaci, carol.cormaci@latimes.com Twitter: @CarolCormaci Comedian and actor Jerry Lewis first performed in Las Vegas in 1949, with Dean Martin. Now Lewis is out to revive his decades-old routine on stage in Las Vegas. Lewis, whos 90 and needs a wheelchair to get around, will be seated for shows Sept. 30, and Oct. 1 and 2 at the South Point hotel-casino on Las Vegas Boulevard a few miles south of the Strip. South Point sits in what was desert wasteland when Martin, who died in 1995, and Lewis performed at the Flamingo. Advertisement His return to the Sin City stage will, according to a publicist, include his trademark zany jokes and a cappella songs from some of the comedy duos movie classics. In the 2013 drama Max Rose, Jerry Lewis played a retired jazz musician who, while mourning the death of his wife, becomes suspicious that she carried on a long-term affair with another man. Lewis will also show Hollywood screen tests he filmed while working as a director. Some have never before been seen by his fans. Tickets cost $50, $55 and $60. Despite the fragility observed by The Times Mark Olson during a recent interview, Lewis is riding a wave thanks to the recent release of the movie Max Rose. It is his first leading role in more than 20 years. In the film, Lewis plays an aging jazz musician coming to terms with the death of his wife, whom he suspects had been having an affair. A longtime Las Vegas resident, Lewis got a break early in his career when he stood in for Judy Garland at the old New Frontier Hotel in August 1956. Garland, who had laryngitis, watched from the wings as the crowd cheered. That was the greatest night in my show business career, he told UPI at the time. Sixty years later, Lewis shows no signs of stopping. He told The Times he is working on a screenplay. Im only 90, for Christs sake, he said. Info: South Point ALSO Stomp grapes, sip local wines at this vineyard near Las Vegas Ready to let your dreams fly? Check out the Rise Lantern Festival near Las Vegas Britney Spears adds 18 more shows at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas Las Vegas: Monte Carlos pool, shops, Andres restaurant to close in October The rumors started this summer: China had lost control of its first space lab, which would hurtle to Earth in a fiery ball of destruction. Chinese officials fed that speculation last week when they confirmed that the lab would return sometime next year, with most parts burning up during the fall. Several British newspapers flashed headlines about out of control equipment on a collision course with Earth. Thats one scenario. However, falling space junk has yet to injure a person on land, and analysts doubt theres great risk of anyone getting crushed by a piece of the Chinese space lab. Advertisement And the labs impending demise doesnt mean that Chinas space program is in trouble. The country just launched a second, more sophisticated space research lab, a tribute to an expanding program with ambitions to reach Mars. The uproar does underscore the political aspects of exploration and Chinas guarded efforts as it pushes toward a permanent presence in space. Im sure this is horribly uncomfortable for the Chinese because its a first and because culturally, theyre inherently opaque, said Joan Johnson-Freese, who has written extensively on space policy and is a professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College. China launched Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace 1, in 2011. State-run television broadcast the send-off of the countrys first orbiting laboratory, a mini station that could hold three astronauts for 20 days. Officials labeled it an initial step in developing a long-term space station by the early 2020s. They intended Tiangong-1 to last two years. The space agency announced its impending return to Earth a day before China sent off its second space lab, known as Tiangong-2, with Bluetooth connections and a treadmill for the two astronauts who will live in it for a month. The labs weigh more than 9 tons, as much as four midsize SUVs. Based on our calculation and analysis, most parts of the space lab will burn up during falling, Wu Ping, deputy director of the Manned Space Engineering Office, said last week, according to the official New China News Agency. Wu did not mention what control China had over the lab, but said that its fall was unlikely to affect aviation activities or cause damage to the ground, and that officials would monitor the situation. If necessary, China will release a forecast of its falling, she said. This wouldnt be the first time spacecraft has taken an unpredictable course out of the sky or triggered concern. Debris from the first U.S. space station, Skylab, rained over Australia in 1979 after people bought Skylab insurance and showed up at crash parties with hard hats. No one was injured. Everything in orbit by definition is in free fall, said Daniel Brown, an astronomy lecturer at Nottingham Trent University. That doesnt mean they are out of control and we are doomed. But occasions like this emphasize the need for an international body to help govern space activity, he said. It might be one of the turning stones where we will see how the Chinese learn from this and how they are going to run their space program. Chinas space exploration has soared since the early 1990s, when the country embarked on a dedicated campaign to develop a space program. In 2003, China launched its first astronaut. A decade later, it landed a rover on the moon; the Jade Rabbit turned into a social media phenomenon. Now China is launching large-scale satellites to explore arcane aspects of quantum physics, preparing an X-ray telescope that can scout out black holes and designing rockets that lift enough to rival those in Russia or the U.S. Theyre named Long March after the historic trek by Chinas Red Army in the 1930s that began Mao Tse-tungs ascent to power. China plans to use these rockets to explore Mars. Scientists are working on harnessing solar power and mining asteroids. Chinas permanent space station could open just as the International Space Station to which it does not belong winds down. China has ambitions to be the world leader in spaceflight, said Morris Jones, an Australian space analyst. It is making steady progress toward that goal. Even as it gains momentum, Chinas space program lacks a clear organizational structure. Its technology still lags behind those of other countries with long-established space programs, namely the United States and Russia. Its lack of transparency hinders global cooperation. The human spaceflight program in China is back where the U.S. was in the late 60s and early 70s, said Gregory Kulacki, the Los Angeles-based senior analyst and China project manager for the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit science advocacy organization. The technology is newer and different, but its the stuff we did a long time ago. These days, China and the U.S. have very little interaction when it comes to space. Congress in 2011 banned NASA from working with China because of national security concerns. Rumors like the crash of Tiangong-1 tend to circulate because we dont have a normal relationship with Chinas space community, Kulacki said. Its totally unnecessary. Chinas space budget approached $11 billion in 2013, according to estimates by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the second-largest in the world, after the $40-billion U.S. space budget. Beijings funds act as a continual stream of political and financial support at a time when budgets elsewhere are shrinking. We still have a lot of things undone in space, compared to the U.S., said Zong Qiugang, an astrophysicist at Peking Universitys Institute of Space Physics and Applied Technology, who has worked with the U.S. and Chinese space agencies. But the gap between China and the U.S. is getting smaller. Meyers is a special correspondent. Yingzhi Yang in the Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report. ALSO: In China, some people eat dogs; others have them as pets. Now an upcoming dog show is causing controversy What are the long-term health effects of living in space? NASA is studying twins Mark and Scott Kelly to find out Taiwans president won a landslide election and then her popularity sprang a leak Negotiators in Afghanistan on Thursday signed a draft of a long-awaited peace agreement that would bring a notorious former warlord into the government fold while forgiving allegations that he was responsible for serious war crimes. The deal commits Gulbuddin Hekmatyar a chameleon-like militia commander, former CIA asset, prime minister and ally of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden who has been involved in fighting in Afghanistan for four decades to renounce violence, cut ties to extremist groups and respect the Afghan Constitution. The accord is also believed to grant amnesty to Hekmatyar and leaders of his Hezb-i-Islami militant organization for suspected crimes during the Afghan civil war of the 1990s. Hekmatyars forces are blamed for indiscriminate rocket attacks against Kabul that killed hundreds of civilians, as well as the forced disappearances of political opponents. Advertisement It provides for the release of Hezb-i-Islami members being held in Afghan jails, and the removal of Hekmatyars name and those of senior Hezb-i-Islami leaders from U.S. and United Nations terrorism blacklists. The draft was signed by representatives of the Afghan governments High Peace Council, charged with negotiating truces with insurgents, and Hekmatyars representatives. It now must be approved by Hekmatyar, who is living in an undisclosed location away from Kabul, and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. While the accord probably wont reduce violence in Afghanistan Hezb-i-Islamis few remaining fighters have not been a force on the battlefield for years the Afghan government sought to portray it as a step toward a broader peace with more powerful militant groups, including the Taliban. The Afghan governments rationale for reaching a peace deal with him is aimed at encouraging other insurgent groups to join the negotiation process, to show that the Afghan government can on its own facilitate a peace talk and succeed, said Timor Sharan, Afghanistan analyst for the International Crisis Group. Ghanis national security advisor, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, who also signed the agreement, called on the Taliban to prove independence from Pakistan, where its leadership is based, and come to the negotiating table. We have proven that we are on the side of peace, Atmar said. Now you must come forward and take steps for peace. Whatever we agreed with Hezb-i-Islami, we promise the same to you. Ghanis bid to engage the Taliban in Pakistan-brokered talks collapsed this year while insurgent violence spread. In July, an Afghan government assessment concluded that more than half the countrys districts were under threat from insurgent groups. Hekmatyar, now in his 60s, is both an asset and a liability to an Afghan government that includes former warlords and has formed allegiances with others as it struggles to contain the Taliban insurgency. A former leader of the jihadi campaign against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, he rose to become prime minister before allying with Al Qaeda and later the Taliban against Western forces in Afghanistan. While never as potent as the Taliban, Hezb-i-Islami claimed responsibility for a 2013 suicide bombing in Kabul that killed at least 15 people, including six Americans. That year Hezb-i-Islami loyalists also lobbied then-President Hamid Karzai to expel U.S. special forces soldiers from parts of volatile Wardak province following allegations that they were responsible for abusing and killing civilians. The agreement does not specify whether Hekmatyar or his allies would hold posts in the government, but Amin Karim, head of the Hezb-i-Islami delegation, said the organization would continue to press for the withdrawal of the remaining foreign troops in Afghanistan, including more than 8,000 Americans. This agreement is not for our personal benefit, Karim said. It is about restoring some of our rights. Although Hekmatyars influence has waned, his return would add another powerful Pashtun to a government already led by members of Afghanistans largest ethnic group, including Ghani and his top advisors. His arrival is likely to intensify tensions within an already fragile state that is relying very much on various strongmen who have had historical grievances against Hekmatyar and Hezb-i-Islami, Sharan said. The United States, which added Hekmatyar to the State Department global terrorist list in 2003 over his support for Al Qaeda, has said it would consider lifting sanctions on Hekmatyar if he fulfilled the terms of a peace deal. Many Afghans oppose amnesty for Hekmatyar. Before the signing ceremony, a few dozen protesters gathered in central Kabul carrying signs with messages such as, We dont forgive the killer of Kabul. Human rights groups described amnesty for Hekmatyar as the latest blow to efforts to seek accountability for war crimes in Afghanistan. Hekmatyar is not alone in enjoying impunity. None of the Afghan warlords from the 1990s has been held accountable, Patricia Gossman, senior Afghanistan researcher for Human Rights Watch, wrote in a commentary. That, and the failed disarmament of abusive militias, have crippled reforms needed to build effective government institutions crucial for a lasting peace. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul said it welcomed the agreement as a step in bringing the conflict in Afghanistan to a peaceful end. The United States continues to support an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process that results in armed groups ceasing violence, breaking ties with international terrorist groups, and accepting the constitution, including protections for women and minorities, the embassy said in a statement. Ahead of a major conference of donors in Brussels in early October, the United States, European Union and other allies are looking for signs of progress in Afghanistan and have quieted their calls for accountability, analysts said. Many other former jihadis that have committed similar atrocities now occupy key positions within the state and have long been indispensable, Sharan said. Transitional justice for Afghans has long been dead. Faizy is a special correspondent. shashank.bengali@latimes.com Follow @SBengali on Twitter for more news from South Asia ALSO UC Berkeley reinstates controversial course on history of Palestine Putin is the man to watch at the UN as he deepens Russias role in the Middle East In hurry-up mode while Obama is president, 60 nations have agreed to global climate accord Mourners packed a church Wednesday for a funeral Mass in memory of a Roman Catholic priest who was killed along with another cleric in the troubled Gulf coast state of Veracruz. Parishioners filled all the standing room in the church in the community of Paso Blanco while others outside listened through the windows, huddling under the eaves as a steady rain fell. A large banner on the front of the church bore a photo 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. Advertisement You are a priest for always, the banner read. Suarez and the Rev. Alejo Nabor Jimenez were last seen Sunday in Poza Rica, and their bullet-riddled bodies were discovered the following day on a roadside miles away. One had been shot nine times. State prosecutors say they believe the clerics knew their attackers and had been drinking with them before the get-together turned violent. But some parishioners are skeptical of that theory and say organized crime has plagued Poza Rica with killings and disappearances. Unfortunately, Poza Rica is a very severe place in [terms of] security, a priest said during Wednesdays service, calling on authorities to ensure justice in the killings. Suarezs casket was on display during the Mass. People broke open the floor of the church to construct the vault that will be his final resting place. Pope Francis sent a letter of condolences calling the slain clerics victims of inexcusable violence. The letter was signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and posted online by the Mexican Conference of Bishops. Yet again we confirm that violence and insecurity have taken root in our society, Bishop Jose Trinidad Zapata Ortiz of the city of Papantla, near Poza Rica, said in a statement released by the conference. 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 28 priests have been killed in Mexico since 2006, not counting this weeks slayings. It says Veracruz, Guerrero and Mexico state are the most dangerous in the country. The U.S. 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. ALSO Nearly half a million U.S. citizens are enrolled in Mexican schools. Many of them are struggling Haitian influx continues through Tijuana, straining shelters Mexican finance minister who played a key role in Trump visit resigns Investigators have not ruled out the possibility that others helped suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami in a bomb plot in New York and New Jersey, a U.S. counter-terrorism official said Thursday. FBI agents and police are still trying to locate the two men seen on surveillance video Saturday night taking a pressure-cooker bomb out of a suitcase on West 27th Street in Manhattan, the official said. That bomb did not explode. The men were seen in the video between 8 and 9 p.m., the same hour the other bomb detonated in a dumpster on 23rd Street, a few blocks away. The two men have not been declared persons of interest or suspects in the case, but investigators have not ruled out the possibility they played a role in the plot, the official said. Advertisement Pakistans foreign office on Thursday offered new details about Rahamis background. Like thousands of Afghan nationals, his family lived in Quetta, Pakistan, as refugees before coming to the U.S. in 1995, Pakistan foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakriya said. He also said that, contrary to U.S. media reports, Rahamis wife, Asia Bibi Rahami, is not a citizen of Pakistan. This information is incorrect, Zakriya said. According to the preliminary information gathered, she is also an Afghan national, born in Kabul in 1991. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, confirmed that Asia Bibi Rahami was born in Afghanistan. She is now back in the United States and cooperating with federal investigators, according to the official. Pakistani intelligence services are looking into the travel history of Ahmad Khan Rahami and his wife, security sources in Islamabad said. In particular, they are trying to find out more about his stay in Quetta. Rahami, 28, is believed to have traveled to Afghanistan through Pakistan at least three times for months-long visits from 2005 to 2014, a U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday. Asia Bibi Rahami left the United States for Pakistan a number of weeks before the bombings and was stopped by officials Sunday or Monday in the United Arab Emirates on her way back from Pakistan, a second official said. Her husband faces federal charges of using a weapon of mass destruction, bombing a public place, destruction of property by fire or explosive and using a destructive device in the commission of a crime of violence. Staff writers Bennet and Wilber reported from Washington and special correspondent Sahi from Islamabad. UPDATES: 1:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the U.S. investigation into the bombings. 12:33 p.m.: This article was updated to say that Rahamis wife is back in the U.S. and cooperating with investigators. This article was originally published at 10:50 a.m. As flames leaped high in the battered northern Syrian city of Aleppo, hopes faded anew on Thursday for any revival of Syrias broken cease-fire. In a week meant to showcase the diplomatic drive to shore up the truce, rush humanitarian aid to the countrys hardest-hit areas, isolate and target jihadist fighters and lay the groundwork for moves toward a political solution to the grinding five-year conflict, efforts faltered on all fronts. Its clear we cannot continue on the same path, U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry told reporters Thursday after a round of high-level talks on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly meeting. Advertisement Kerry repeated the call made a day earlier for Russia and Syria to ground their aircraft operating over key aid-delivery routes. That appeal went unheeded. The heaviest airstrikes in months pounded opposition-held districts of Aleppo on Thursday, killing dozens of people, witnesses and activists reported. Activists circulated video of massive fires, apparently ignited by incendiary weapons. Syrias military command said it was launching a major offensive to seize the citys rebel-held eastern sector, the state-run news agency reported an announcement that coincided with the talks in New York by the Syrian Support Group, made up of senior envoys from countries with an interest in the conflict. Amid the new wave of violence, President Bashar Assad struck a defiant tone. In a rare interview published Thursday, he blamed the United States for the breakdown of the Sept. 12 truce and accused Washington of lacking the will to confront the militants of Islamic State claims the State Department branded ridiculous. Assad, who spoke to the Associated Press, also rejected American accusations that a U.N. convoy destroyed Monday en route to Aleppo was hit by Syrian or Russian planes. And he denied that Syrian forces were preventing aid deliveries to opposition-held parts of Aleppo, or using barrel bombs against civilians both well-documented practices. Syrias multi-sided war has been marked by the indiscriminate targeting of civilian areas, but Assad was dismissive when questioned about his methods. When you have terrorists, you dont throw at them balloons, or you dont use rubber sticks for example, he told the Associated Press. You have to use armaments. In one bright spot amid a grim landscape, U.N. trucks bearing badly needed supplies made their way to the rebel-held Damascus suburb of Muadhamiya, the United Nations said. That followed a 48-hour hiatus after the aid convoy outside Aleppo was attacked Monday night, killing about 20 civilians. But the world body said security fears were preventing vital deliveries to other besieged areas, which are home to an estimated 1 million Syrians. Jan Egeland, the U.N. special advisor on humanitarian affairs, said at a briefing in Geneva that 40 aid trucks were poised at the Turkish-Syrian frontier, unable to proceed to areas such as Aleppos rebel-held east. Describing Mondays convoy strike as the worst incident of its kind in the course of the conflict, Egeland called for an independent inquiry into the attack, asking how humanitarian workers could be expected to continue their sacred service to the Syrian people under threat of more attacks. Let this be the turning point, he told reporters. Let this be the bleakest moment. Prior to the talks in New York, Syrian opposition groups released a letter saying they would not support a resumption of the truce unless consequences for violating it were spelled out. Without such enforcement mechanisms, they said, violence would rage unchecked. Even before Thursdays talks, Russia had declared that Kerrys no-fly proposal issued amid a highly acrimonious U.S.-Russian exchange at U.N. Security Council a day earlier was infeasible. The state-run Tass news agency quoted Russias deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, as saying the U.S. plan wont work. More talks were set Friday. laura.king@latimes.com MORE WORLD NEWS: Egyptian officials arrest crew members after smugglers boat capsizes off Mediterranean coast, killing dozens Kerry lashes out at Russia, calls for grounding of all aircraft over humanitarian routes in Syria U.N. suspends aid deliveries to Syria after deadly attack on humanitarian convoy UPDATES: 4:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details, including comments from U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry. 3:09 p.m.: This article was updated with the governments announcement of a major offensive in Aleppo. This article was first published at 1:30 p.m. All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. Hollywood couple Brangelina Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt broke up on Thursday Sept. 15, 2016 leaving Team Brangelina fans heart broken and wondering how the power couple would split their funds during the divorce. Brangelinas net worth is $400 million together and Jolie is not asking for any spousal support, just full custody of the kids. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Net Worth Although Angelina does not want spousal support, the couple has assets together that would need to be split upon divorce. As of 2016, Brad Pitts net worth is $240 million while Angelina Jolies net worth is $160 million. Brangelina has acquired property together and purchased a winery during their 12-year-relationshp. The wine for Miraval Provence is produced at their Chateau Miraval estate in France and they have multiple houses throughout the U.S. Angelina and Brad put their New Orleans house on the market in 2015 and it is now worth $5.65 million. How will they split that cost? And what about the property in Los Angeles and their 8-bedroom mansion in Surrey, Calif. that is already costing them $21,000 a month. And then there are the children. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Kids Angelina and Brad share six children together 15-year-old Maddox, 12-year-old Pax, 11-year-old Zahara, 10-year-old Shiloh and 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne and Jolie wants full custody of them all with court approved visitation for Pitt. Brad thinks Angelina is a great mother, but he is also a great dad. There is no way he is going to be absent for any part of his kids lives, a source tells PEOPLE, adding that Pitt will not accept Jolie having sole custody of their children. Instead, he asks for joint custody. While Pitt tells the magazine that his main focus is on the well-being of our kids, the source says that it is likely that Brangelina will settle their differences well before a long court battle even takes place. Angelina and Brad Relationship The couple met in 2003 on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith where they played a married couple. They hit it off and have been a couple in the public eye since 2004. In 2014, they tied the knot at their Chateau Miraval estate in France where their kids read wedding vows in front of close friends and family. Is it really over between one of Hollywoods most favorite couples? A former ISIS member operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan recalls watching militants committing crimes against humanity including raping girls as young as 10 years old. The ex-militant, under the alias Lahor Shah, initially joined ISIS in early 2014 because he thought it was a movement that supported Islam. Shah tells al-Aan TV in Dubai that he later learned that ISIS was not the moderate movement in the interest of the Muslims like he had thought. I learned the truth about them when I was in their midst and in their camps, Shah says. I witnessed the worst crimes against humanity, perpetrated against Afghans, like the kidnapping and rape of girls no more than 12 years old. He later found out that ISIS was using Islam in the service of their own interests, and decided to leave. Now back with his family, he says the militant group robbed Afghan farmers by imposing unbearable taxes on traders. They are not what they pretend to be and their actions are completely against Islam, Shah says. They are always claiming that the infidels are plundering our beloved country but it is they who are destroying our country and our lives. Former Jihadist Speaks Out Another former ISIS member, Abu Ibrahim, escaped from the group after seeing a public crucifixion and learning about other harsh realities of the militant group. A lot of people when they come, they have a lot of enthusiasm about what theyve seen online or what theyve seen on YouTube, Ibrahim told CBS News in 2015. They see it as something a lot grander than what the reality is. Its not all military parades or its not all victories. The ex-militant watched a couple get stoned to death, after being accused of adultery, where leaders made an example out of them to enforce the Sharia law. Wanting to be under strict Islamic laws is what attracted Ibrahim to ISIS, but he did not accept militants publicly beheading innocent people. My main reason for leaving was that I felt that I wasnt doing what I had initially come for and thats to help in a humanitarian sense the people of Syria, he said. It had become something else. Taliban Fighters Shah joined ISIS through a friend who had been a Taliban fighter for 18 years. His friend later followed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi after joining allegiance with the group. ISIS continues to join allegiances with other Islamic groups to expand across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Los Angeles Police officials are offering a $50,000 reward for information regarding the case where a mother of two was shot and killed by a stray bullet in a June, 2016 altercation between two men at a bus stop on the corner of South Broadway and West 83rd Street. Dianey Santos may have been shot by a man in his 20s and the other man involved in the altercation has not cooperated with the police. The suspect at large had intentions to shoot him, but hit Santos by accident. #LAPD: Help solve the Murder of Dianey Santos. She was killed on June 17 near 83rd & Broadway. Call 323-786-5113. pic.twitter.com/IPBja12iyQ LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) September 20, 2016 Police say the two men were fighting near the bus stop when one took out a gun. When the intended victim tried to protect himself, he grabbed the gun and as they both fought to gain hold of the weapon, a stray bullet hit Santos in the head while she was waiting for the bus. The woman left behind two daughters, ages 15 and 9, who are now being taken care of by their godmother since their fathers are absent from their lives. Funeral Arrangements The victims 15-year-old daughter Emily Santos set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral arrangements with a goal of $5,000. In the past three months, the girl has raised almost $3,000 with the help of 59 donators. Because most of their close family members are in Mexico, the family has little to no support in America. The children were notified a day after the shooting occurred at the bus stop, and Santos died after being in critical condition for five days. The bullet hit her brain and left all her nerves in the brain completely dead yet her heart was still beating, Emily Santos, recalling the night she received the bad news about her mother at the hospital. $50K Reward for Bus Stop Shooter Emily talked about her mothers ill fate at the press conference that announced the reward for any clues regarding the shooting. My mom was my everything, never left me alone, she said. Violence is taking the lives of innocent people, her death hurts me. This year, authorities have investigated 74 murders in the same location of the shooting that took Santos life. Peter Whittinghan, captain of the LAPD homicide division and with LAPD gang crimes, believe gang members are out of control. Theres nothing wrong with waiting for the bus, he said. The gang members think they can do what they want because we have the support of the community to denounce them. Witnesses can call LAPD at 323-786-5113 to give tips about the case. A class-action lawsuit arguing undocumented children should be allowed government-appointed lawyers during deportation proceedings cannot move forward, a federal appeals court in Seattle ruled Tuesday. The three-judge panel was not addressing the claim itself; whether due process and statutory rights of minors are being violated. The decision, given in their written opinion, was based on jurisdiction and the Immigration and Nationality Act that prevents such cases from reaching U.S. District Courts. Judge Mary Margaret McKeown sympathized with the children's plight, noting the court "would be naive if we did not acknowledge that having an unrepresented minor in immigration proceedings poses an extremely difficult situation." "I write to underscore that the Executive and Congress have the power to address this crisis without judicial intervention," McKeown wrote in her concurrence. "What is missing here? Money and resolve - political solutions that fall outside the purview of the courts." Senior Circuit Judge Andrew Kleinfeld agreed with his colleague, but said immigration reform issues should be left to politicians. ACLU, Immigrant Advocacy Groups Sue The American Civil Liberties Union, along with a handful of other civil rights groups and law firms, filed the lawsuit on behalf of undocumented children two years ago. They sought to have the minors defended by U.S. government-appointed attorneys, as U.S. citizens are guaranteed under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. Plaintiffs in the case are teenagers predominately from Central America. They include: three siblings from El Salvador whose father was murdered in front of them, a 15-year-old Guatemalan boy who was abandoned and abused, and a 16-year-old Honduran boy with special education needs and limited communication skills. The U.S. Justice Department argued Constitutional rights do not apply to immigrant children. While the DOJ does help some minors find attorneys, they caution against doing so in every case given the financial strain it puts on taxpayers. Last June, U.S. District Judge Thomas Zilly certified the ACLU's class-action lawsuit. Zilly's order packaged thousands of undocumented immigrants under age 18 into a single case that protected anyone who didn't have a lawyer, couldn't afford one, or may be eligible for asylum. Tuesday's ruling said any claims bust be filed individually and in federal appeals courts only after deportation proceedings conclude. Minors Face Deportation Hearings Alone In March, senior DOJ official and immigration judge Jack H. Weil testified preschool-aged immigrants know enough about immigration issues to represent themselves. "I've taught immigration law literally to 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds," Weil said during sworn testimony. "It takes a lot of time. It talks a lot of patience. They get it. It's not the most efficient, but it can be done." Over 60,000 unaccompanied minors arrived in the U.S. between 2014 and 2015. Most fled sexual violence and gang threats in Central America. Once caught, children are placed in immigration detention centers along with men and women awaiting deportation hearings. The cleanliness and constitutionality of these centers has come into question over the last few years. Faced with deportation, children take the same course as adults. The minors make their case to immigration judge, regardless of language barriers or their understanding of immigration law. "Unrepresented kids aren't able to go through that process. They don't have the capacity," Matt Adams, legal director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, told the Associated Press. "On the one hand the judges recognize the gravity of the situation," he added. "But the court has the responsibility to resolve an issue when there's no other meaningful forum." Orxata de xufa, the delicious milky beverage made from ground almonds, sesame seeds, rice, barley or tigernuts (chufa nuts), better known as Horchata, varies in name and flavor from region to region. The sweet and infectious drink, which is served chilled or over ice, originated in Valencia, Spain, has become a favorite natural summertime refreshment throughout Europe and South America. In Mexico, Guatemala and the U.S. Taquerias often have large dispensing fountains, where the rich liquid rotates in the belly of the large containers, waiting to act as the perfect accompaniment to tacos, burritos and other fast food-style Latin food. In Mexico and Guatamala, Horchata is made with rice and cinnamon, and often with vanilla. The United States on the most part has adopted the rice-based or, less frequently used, morro horchata of Mexico, and horchata is sometimes available in grocery stores in powder form or is sold ready-made. Some places in the U.S .even offer Horchata Frappes. in Honduras, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela Southern Honduras and El Salvador use morro seeds, not rice, but includes the traditional tigernuts, as well as peanuts, almonds and cashews. It is strained before it is served. Other parts of Honduras and Nicaragua refer to horcata as semilia de jacaro, and it is made from jicaro seeds ground with rice and spices. Puerto Rico calls the drink horcata de ajonjoli, and uses ground sesame seeds, water, sugar, cinnamon sticks and evaporated milk; sometimes coconut milk, allspice, barley and lime zest is used. Venezuela uses sesame seeds, water and sugar; but, they also make chichi, a similar drink, is comprised of rice flour, sugar, water and an alcohol made from fermented corn flour. In Ecuador, they use an infusion of 18 herbs. Horchata Word Origin from Catalan In terms of etymology, the name derives from the Catalan word orxata, from ordiiata, because the drink was made from ordi (barley). There are farce tales regarding the development of the name, including one legend where Spanish Conquistador James I of Aragon visited the village of Alboraria for the first time, and partook of the sweet beverage, and allegedly proclaimed, "Aco es or, xata!" ("That's gold, darling!"). "The gold" is fairly easy to make at home, but does take patience in order to yield delicious results. There are thousands of recipes on the internet, adding and subtracting key ingredients, but there are also traditional recipes that are rumored to be quiet delicious: Authentic Mexican Horchata Makes 4-6 cups Ingredients cup uncooked, long-grain white rice 1 cup almonds 1 cinnamon stick 5 cups water, divided (3 cups hot, 2 cups cold) cup concentrated simple syrup (2 parts sugar, 1 part water) Preparation Blanch the almonds by tossing them into boiling water for about a minute, then draining under cold water. After blanching, give each of those little guys a squeeze and the skins should slip right off. Once the almonds are blanched, skinned, and dried, toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat until lightly brown. Pulverize the rice in a spice grinder or blender. Take your time and make sure it reaches a fine powder. Add the ground rice to a large jar or bowl (we used jars) with the almonds and cinnamon stick (see if you can get your hands on a Mexican cinnamon stick). Stir in the 3 cups of hot water, allow to cool to room temperature then cover and let stand overnight (not in the fridge!). THE NEXT DAY: "Spanglish" has been called English's assault on the Spanish language; an implementation of English in routine speech or writing of Spanish-speakers that leads to the invention of words and phrases that don't exist in English or Spanish. This upsets purists, who see the infiltration of English vocabulary, particularly in the United States, as blatant Americanization of the Spanish language. Spanish and English are used interchangeably, within the same sentence -- and the bilingual splicing of words is not unheard of. It has become a part of daily life, Latino American culture, and is promoted through major media outlets. Spanish words sometimes replace their English counterparts, and English words have crept "into everyday speech in Spain and Latin America, spreading to advertising, movies, and the other media of popular culture." Spanish Not Always Taught in Proper Form Latin American food such as taco, tapas, flan enchilada, flautas and burrito have made their way into America's mainstream, and the food, like the terms, have been taken into America's fold. The same can be said of other words, such as pinata and machismo. Beyond that, Spanish is being taught in classrooms all around the country, helping future generations to at least feign Spanish-speaking abilities. But classrooms don't always teach proper forms, and many don't explore the origin of words or explain exceptions to grammatical rules. Alma Flor Ada, writer for Latinalista, wrote an article about the mixing of Spanish language, and in that article included a quick tale about how she'd submitted a story to an anthology, and upon reading it, her editor's high school-age son caught a "mistake" in her Spanish. "[The editor] then went on to explain to me that, in Spanish, words that refer to feminine beings end with an -a not an -o, and thus, the mother in the story calling her daughter 'carino' and not 'carina' was a mistake detected by her son that she had hastened to correct," said Ada, Professor Emerita at the University of San Francisco, and native Spanish Speaker with a PhD in Spanish literature. "The word 'carino' is used in Spanish as a term of endearment, similar to 'darling, love, sweetheart.' It has only one form. The word 'carina' does not exist, that is, it has never been used by any group of speakers, anywhere." Ada also stated that mistakes can be easily made, but correctly asserted that to believe that English-speaking high school student's Spanish knowledge is more accurate than an educated native speaker are the kind of presumptions that "generate prejudice, racism, and the stereotypes we want to eliminate." Learning and understanding language has been replaced with a desire to command language. Spanish Has Various Forms Spanish has various forms and come from various nations (20 countries and a "cast geographical extension"), and that tends to draw errors, stereotypes and cliches. Many Americans, even some Latino-Americans, are unaware of regional expression, and varied grammatical differences. So to use semi-familiar mutated Spanish words when speaking to non-Spanglish-speaking-Spanish-speakers promises to be confusing. Latin America hasn't reacted like the French. France and parts of Canada have taken the bold and, perhaps, extreme step of banning or limiting English words in advertising. But, of course, Spanish and French differ greatly -- if not only for the fact that Spanish is a "true" international language, and French has declined in practice and use on an international level. More individuals speak Spanish as a first language than French or English. For that reason, alone, one can be confident that Spanish will persist, even if it is diluted by English. Im sitting here at Chicagos OHare Airport, on my way home from the fourth-annual Clio Cloud Conference, racking my brain for something critical to say about it. Id been to all three of the prior Clio conferences, and, frankly, Id gushed about them, calling the 2014 conference one of the best legal technology conferences Id ever attended and describing last years as deja vu all over again. So enough gushing. Surely I must have something critical to say. No conference is perfect. What were the nits I could pick here? And then it occurred to me. One huge fault with this conference. Its too short. Two days simply were not enough to take in all the great programming, learn about each of the exhibitors and spend time getting to know more of the 700 people who attended every one of whom, it seemed, had good stories to share about their law practices or businesses. But a longer conference is not to be. Clio closed this conference with the announcement of next years dates. It will again be just two days, Sept. 25 and 26, 2017. But for the first time, Clio is moving the conference out of Chicago, where it has outgrown its venue, and taking it instead to New Orleans, where it will be at the Hyatt Regency. And I before I go farther, let me alert you to a ticket deal. For this week only, you can buy a ticket at a substantial savings. While the full price will be $699, this week you can get a single ticket for $199, two tickets for $299 and four tickets for $499. The deal is available at clio.com/ccc2017. Conference News: Data-Driven Legal Trends Ill talk more about the conference, but there are a couple of notable news items to report. One was Clios announcement of its new app, which I wrote about earlier this week. It is a complete reengineering of the app and Clio did a great job with it. To learn more about it, read my earlier post. But the announcement that generated the greatest buzz was about a new initiative to enable Clio users to make more-informed decisions about their practices based on quantifiable data. Clio now has 150,000 active users in its system across 78 countries. In a year, some $60 billion in legal billing goes through Clios system. At his opening-day keynote, Clio co-founder and CEO Jack Newton announced that the company has now begun to anonymously aggregate this data in order to help its users make data-driven decisions about rates and fees and establish benchmarks for better understanding and evaluating their own practices. Clio will make this data available to its subscribers in various ways and will also publish an annual Legal Trends Report, the first of which will be released on Oct. 17 as an e-book. Newton said this report will be an annual State of the Union for the legal profession. Along with it will come the Billable Hour Index, showing national, state and local data on what lawyers charge and analyzing trends in legal billing. Newton gave a preview of these statistics, showing that lawyers charge more on average in the District of Columbia than anywhere else $280 an hour. The index will also calibrate billable hours against the cost of living, to give a picture of the states in which lawyers are earning the most in real terms. But the finding that drew the most gasps from the audience was that lawyers on average bill only 2.24 hours in an eight-hour day and that solos on average are billing just 1.6 hours and collecting 1.4. On average, you get 1.4 hours of paid time per eight-hour workday, Newton said. Our mission at Clio is to find those missing six hours for you. Some lawyers I spoke to at the conference expressed concern about Clios data aggregation and what it might mean for the privacy of their client information and there was also some back-and-forth about it on Twitter. No client or personally identifiable information is disclosed in the aggregation, as Clio explains here. However, Clio provides its users with the ability to opt out of data collection. Note that both Thomson Reuters and LexisNexis similarly aggregate law firm billing data through their products Peer Monitor and LexisNexis Counsel Benchmarking, as I wrote about in this 2014 ABA Journal article. Both products aggregate and anonymize the data in the same way that Clio does. Clios benchmarking would be the first such service for solo and small firms. (See also Carolyn Elefants post questioning what this data really means.) More News: Clio Apollo Another initiative Newton announced is Clio Apollo. This is the first-ever ground-up redesign and rethinking of the Clio web app, he said. Over the next year, Clio developers will work with the companys customers and integration partners to make Clios interface as fast and intuitive as possible. If you have to ask us how to do something in Clio, thats a defect in our platform, Newton said. This Apollo development project will take place over the course of the next year with the results to be unveiled at the 2017 Clio Cloud Conference. Programs and Speakers One of the hallmarks of the Clio Cloud Conference continues to be its programming. This year, it featured four tracks of programs two general-interest tracks on business and technology and two Clio-focused tracks to help users learn the system and use it more effectively. The speaker who garnered the most attention was keynoter Gary Vaynerchuk, an entrepreneur and social-media cheerleader. As Victor Li recounts at the ABA Journal, Vaynerchuk was rousingly received by a near-capacity crowd in the main conference ballroom. And Mike Whelan at Lawyer Forward thought Vaynerchuk was the most valuable part of the conference. I might have been the only person there who wasnt wowed. Vaynerchuk is a great speaker and a great presenter. But his 45-minute speech seemed to boil down to a pretty simple message that technology is changing the world and that we must embrace this change by becoming producers of content and by engaging in online and social media. Thats a news flash that dates back to The Cluetrain Manifesto in 1999. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of his talk was that so many in the audience seemed not to have heard this message before. One of the most interesting programs I attended was Artificial Intelligence and the Law: Science Fiction or Science Fact?, presented by Andrew Arruda, CEO and co-founder of ROSS Intelligence, the company that describes its product as the worlds first artificially intelligent attorney. Whereas too much of the talk about AI in law is full of hype and misunderstanding, Arruda offered a practical and grounded explanation of what AI is and what it can do. And Arruda offered a peak of what is to come with ROSS. While it currently works only with bankruptcy law, ROSS will soon be rolling out a number of other practice areas and plans eventually to over all major practice areas. He also revealed that on the companys long-term development wish list is to build an Alexa-like device for law, where you would verbally ask it a legal question and it would audibly give you the answer. Not all the sessions were perfect. Ryan McKeen, who decided to leave the conference early, has a good discussion of this at A Connecticut Law Blog. A couple of the sessions fell flat. McKeen thinks the conference has a problem that is existential: What is it? Is it a cutting edge legal tech conference? Who is the audience? It All Comes Down to the People I have said it of this conference in the past and I will say it again because it remains true: What most stands out about this conference is the people. Take away Clio staff and vendors from the 700 attendees, and you are left with about 600, Id estimate, who are practicing lawyers. Most of these are from solo and small firms although I spoke to one lawyer who was there from a firm of more than 500 lawyers and most are from the U.S., although this years conference included registrants from India, Portugal, the UK, Spain, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and elsewhere. What stands out about these lawyers is their enthusiasm about improving their practices and in learning new technology, management and marketing skills to help them do that. These are folks who are here to share and absorb. There are no one-way conversations. Everyone, it seems, has valuable insights from their own practices to share and they are just as eager to hear yours. To me, this is the answer to McKeens existential challenge. The raison detre of this conference is to bring together lawyers who are enthusiastic about building their practices and improving their lives and who have a thirst for ideas about how to do that through better management practices and better use of technology. The conference vibe remains Silicon Valley hip, from the dancing staffers to the abundance of black tee-shirts to the yoga breaks and massage chairs. But the takeaway is entirely practical. It is a conference that many of the attendees have come back to year after year, and that tells you a lot about what they get out of it. This conference is all about building a vision of the future of law, Jack Newton said in his opening keynote. I dont know how far into the future Newton meant, but my sense was that lawyers who came here were very much focused on their short term futures, on what they can do today to get them where they want to be in a year or two or five. Yes, robot lawyers were on the agenda, but its the conferences practical focus that keeps the human lawyers coming back. [Disclosure: This blog was a media partner of the conference and Clio paid my travel expenses to attend.] Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is planning a nearly 100,000-square-foot expansion to the rear of the existing casino. The South Bethlehem venue didn't confirm the effort to The Morning Call or attach a price tag. But the Sands has filed plans with the city and applied for a building permit to move exits. And the city's 2015 draft audit lists the Sands table game expansion as a $40 million project. Plans call for putting on a two-story expansion by knocking out the rear wall and building on an existing temporary parking lot. The 97,500-square-foot addition would add 35,570 square feet of gambling space, including a designated poker room, and restaurants with 215 seats. The current poker area is in the center of the casino floor. By moving that, room would be created to add more blackjack, roulette and craps tables, the newspaper said. Table games are a major source of casino revenue. Pennsylvania's Gaming Control Board would have to approve the changes. Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez told the newspaper he hopes the expansion would also spark other development on the huge former Bethlehem Steel Corp. property. "I think it's extremely important to make it more of a destination center," he said. The Sands opened the nation's largest live electronic table games stadium this year. This story has been updated from an earlier version. Reporter Sara K. Satullo contributed to this report. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. President Tran Dai Quang welcomes Azerbaijani Ambassador to Vietnam Anar Imanov (Source: VNA) He affirmed that the committee is an important mechanism to deepen the bilateral ties on the basis of trusted political cooperation and growing two-way trade. Speaking of Azerbaijans abundant natural resources and progresses in several industries, especially the oil and gas field, the President asked Azerbaijan to create favourable conditions to help the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group participate in oil and gas exploration and exploitation projects in the country. The two sides should study and soon sign an agreement on education and training to further tighten cooperation in this area, he suggested. He also took the occasion to convey his invitation to visit Vietnam to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The Ambassador said that the Vietnamese people who used to study or work in Azerbaijan play an important role in consolidating the traditional relations between the two countries. Potential in economic and trade cooperation has yet to be tapped fully, the diplomat stated, wishing that Vietnam will open its embassy in Baku capital in order to promote bilateral collaboration in economics, trade, culture and tourism. He expressed his belief that the first meeting of the inter-Governmental Committee, scheduled for this October, will open up new cooperative opportunities for both sides./. A Palmer Township man says the Easton Area School District had no right to suspend his 6-year-old son for two days. Al Forsythe acknowledges his autistic son, Peyton, hit his para-professional and his case manager but believes it's not appropriate or even legal for the district to have sent the boy home for behavior that comes as a result of his condition. "He's a 6-year-old boy who can't speak very well," Forsythe told the school board at Tuesday's meeting. "Until the day I die I am his voice." Although he's in first grade, the child communicates on the level of a 3-year-old, his father said. He clings to routines and struggles with unfamiliar settings and situations. That's what led to his acting out on Sept. 7, only a few days into the school year. Peyton can't find the words to communicate his anxiety. So he hits, his dad said. The Forsythes got what Al Forsythe characterized as a rude call from Tracy Elementary School Principal David Hightower telling them to keep their son home Sept. 8. Peyton was suspended for two days. "We can't have this. We're not equipped to have your son here," is what Hightower is alleged to have said. That's not the law, according to Forsythe. He said it's part of his son's Individualized Education Program that he cannot be suspended. An IEP with that stipulation is rare, according to Nicole Reigelman, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. But she acknowledged, "The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act regulations do not allow a child to be suspended when the behavior is a manifestation of the child's disability." That's what Forsythe says he's told the school district. He felt the same way when Peyton was suspended from kindergarten for a day last April. The boy was forced to stay home for a day after drawing with a marker on another student's shirt, Forsythe said. School district solicitor John Freund said confidentiality laws limit his ability to discuss the case. "The school district understands the strong feelings of the parents of children with disabilities. These are things I can assure you are being addressed and have been addressed," Freund said. A meeting with the Forsythes and top-level administrators is scheduled for Friday. "There will be a resolution in the best interest of the child and hopefully to the satisfaction of the parents," Freund said. Forsythe said the meeting is only coming as a result of his complaints at the school board meeting and his decision to hire a lawyer to consider a lawsuit. He learned on Monday, Sept. 12, during a meeting with Peyton's para-professional and case manager that Hightower had directed Peyton's teacher to keep a log of incidents involving his son. If his son disturbed other children through behavior such as yelling, poking or shoving, a note was made in the log and the child affected by Peyton would have to visit the nurse. The log was two and a half pages, he said. Forsythe said he believes the principal is trying to build a case to have his son expelled. "Hightower is trying to push my son out," Forsythe said. "He's a 6-foot-6 man picking on a kid with a disability." Hightower didn't return a phone call seeking comment. Nor did district Superintendent John Reinhart, although he assured Forsythe at the school board meeting that he takes his complaints seriously. "Nothing gets brushed under the rug," he told Forsythe. "I can tell you right away there are two sides to every story and there are circumstances surrounding all of this that need to have an open and fair look at, and we will do that." District officials and the Forsythe family have weighed whether to take Peyton out of his mainstream class and put him in an autistic support class. Al Forsythe opposes that. He says his son is at grade level in math and moving him to the special class will stall his development. "The kid's smart," he said. "It's just a matter of getting it out." He observed the autistic support class and saw children hitting themselves. He doesn't want Peyton to see that and mimic that behavior. His relationship with Hightower remains strained, he said. Forsythe said the principal hung up on him after telling him about the suspension Sept. 7. So Forsythe went to the school to continue the discussion. He wasn't allowed in past the secure vestibule, he said, and he heard Hightower call for school security before coming to the door. Forsythe said Hightower told him "You're not going in my office. There's nothing to talk about." When Hightower told his secretary to call Palmer police, Forsythe said he left. Forsythe said he wants assurances that his son won't be suspended again. Sending him home will only exacerbate the situation for a child who craves routine and familiarity. He also wants accountability. "They were quick to suspend my son," Forsythe said. "They stood behind the (principal) even though they knew he was wrong. It's been two weeks and the guy has broken every rule that can be broken in the situation and nothing has been done with him." Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. "Emotional problems" led a 36-year-old Hellertown man to download nearly 200 pieces of child pornography, according to his attorney. Brian Paul Williams was sentenced Thursday to six months in Northampton County Prison followed by six months on house arrest and four years of intense probation for downloading the images, videos and video games. Defense attorney Michael Gough said Williams started downloading the material in 2004. It was discovered in June 2015 when a roommate in his East Depot Street apartment found it on the computer. "I feel very embarrassed for my actions," Williams said through tears. "I put my family through this. I don't want to hurt anybody." Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Tatum Wilson said police found 957 pieces of digital pornography on three devices in the home. While 180 were clearly of underage girls, the remainder were of girls who appeared to be under 18 but may have been of age. Judge Paula Roscioli cited psychological reports that say Williams suffers from low self esteem and turned to pornography because he had low self-confidence. She said he started drinking alcohol in sixth grade and escalated to eight beers a night. He was charged with drunken driving in 2001. He graduated from Saucon Valley High School in 1998 and spent a year in Kandahar, Afghanistan, with the U.S. Army. Williams' mother asked the judge to keep her son out of prison so he could continue sex offender therapy. "I don't think jail's going to help any," she said. Roscioli said she sent him to prison to let other offenders know the consequences if they view child pornography. Watching the videos revictimizes the people in the videos, she said. "If you weren't viewing them and no one else was viewing them, there would be no child pornography videos being made," she told Williams. She acknowledged his remorse, the conclusions of the psychological experts and his progress in treatment as reasons to keep Williams in county prison as opposed to sending him to state prison. Williams pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of children. Williams will have to register his address with state police for the next 15 years under Pennsylvania's version of Megan's Law. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. The Bethlehem Area and Allentown school districts are among the top 20 Pennsylvania school districts in taxpayer dollars sent to a cyber school whose leaders put their own interests above educating students, the state's fiscal watchdog said Thursday. Here is a look at the top sending school districts to Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. (Courtesy image | For lehighvalleylive.com) Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, a sharp critic of Pennsylvania's charter school law, again slammed it during a news conference announcing the results of his audit of PA Cyber Charter School, Lincoln Performing Arts Center and the Midland Borough School District. All three schools are linked to Nicholas Trombetta, who recently pleaded guilty to a charge of tax evasion connected to a scheme to funnel $8 million from the cyber school he founded to other entities he created. He has yet to be sentenced. "Auditors found that leaders involved with all three of these schools had intermingled relationships that put individual self-interests above student needs while controlling hundreds of millions of taxpayer education funds from nearly every district in the state," DePasquale said. The state's largest cyber charter school, PA Cyber had almost 10,000 students from 484 school district enrolled as of Oct. 1, 2014. It received more than $118.6 million from the districts where its students live in 2013-14. Bethlehem and Allentown school districts ranked in the top 20 of sending school districts with 67 and 96 students enrolled that year, respectively. "Publicly elected school boards from nearly every school district in the state are sending state and local tax dollars to the cyber school with zero input and accountability," DePasquale said. This highlights why Pennsylvania's charter school law is the worst in the nation and must be overhauled, DePasquale said. In its response to the audit, PA Cyber notes that Trombetta has had no role with the school since 2012 and the school has "undergone significant structural changes" to its board and administration. It disputes many of the findings, but also notes reforms are in place and many of the issues flagged in the audit have been fixed. "PA Cyber has moved on," the school wrote in its response. "So, too, should the auditor general." Trombetta is a former Midland Borough superintendent, who went on to found PA Cyber and serve as its CEO until 2012. At the same time, he founded a performing arts center and served as its executive center. He also in 2005 founded the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, housed in the arts center, and served as an officer. He created the nonprofit charter school management company later known as Lincoln Learning Solutions, and was its president from 2005-08. That management company was PA Cyber's biggest vendor, receiving $153.8 million, or almost half of the school's spending, over the three years the audit covered, through June 2014. "Our audits ... illustrate just how poorly our charter school law is protecting students and taxpayers and ensuring that education dollars help students learn, not help individuals profit," DePasquale said. Most of the serious problems found in the audits -- particularly the ones associated with the management company -- are allowed under current charter school law, he said. "It is clear that the charter school management company was operating without boundaries or accountability to the officials from either charter school or to the taxpayers, who were footing the bill," DePasquale said. "As a result, we really have no idea what was provided by the management company in return for the public education money it received." PA Cyber's board and administration did not oversee the services the management company was supposed to be providing allowing it to miss deadlines and forgo a $4.2 million penalty for not delivering curriculum on time, DePasqaule said. "That penalty money should have been used to provide additional classroom resources to teachers and their students," DePasquale said."Instead it went to the management company that failed to deliver on its promises." Several trustees and administrators had connections with Trombetta and some were related to other people or groups doing business with the cyber school, the audit found. The audit points out that rather than being paid through a cost-based formula the management company got 12 percent of the school's funding from its sending districts. DePasquale emphasized this isn't a critique of all charter schools. "Most of the problems we see in our audits can be traced directly back to gray areas in the 20-year-old charter school law, not issues caused by the charter schools themselves," DePasquale said. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. MORE: 9 things to know about the creepy clown hysteria It's a trend that's sweeping the nation and social media. And now it's surfaced in Easton. Creepy clown sightings in several states have drawn the attention of police and passers-by. Easton police responded to two calls the past day of people dressed as clowns and frightening others. In both cases, though, police said they found nothing. Earlier in the week, authorities responded to calls in central Pennsylvania and in Pottsville, Pa. Both of the Easton reports were on South Side -- one Wednesday night and another Thursday morning. "We have no official clown sightings," said police Capt. Scott Casterline. "We've had two reports in the last two days, but nothing's confirmed." About 8 p.m. Wednesday, officers were summoned to Canal Street for a suspicious person in a clown costume near Lehigh Manor Apartments. When police questioned the complainant, she said she hadn't seen the clown herself but heard children talking about seeing one in the neighborhood, Casterline said. That was followed Thursday morning by a report from middle school students that they saw a group of clowns walking near St. Joseph's and St. John streets. The kids were on a school bus when they saw the group and reported it to school police when they arrived there, Casterline said. "The children were not approached," he said. "We checked the area. We didn't find anything. Our officers are still trying to get a little more information to keep an eye on it." In Pottsville, police were called around 7 p.m. Monday for a report of two clowns shouting at a group of children. Like in the Easton cases, when police arrived, the clowns were gone. On Wednesday, state police in Huntingdon County issued a news release about sightings at various locations in the county west of Harrisburg. "The public is advised to use restraint and allow the police to handle the situation," state police said. Police investigate reports of clowns yelling at children in Pa. town: https://t.co/vflIfGsru4 pic.twitter.com/2vDRTwVWMn NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) September 22, 2016 Scary clowns are the stuff of horror stories -- and fear of them even has a name. Coulrophobia is the term used to describe an excessive fear of clowns. Charles J.D. Kupfer, associate professor of American studies and history at Penn State Harrisburg, told pennlive.com the frightening clown is a storyline that's at the root of what scares us. "With clowns in particular, what makes it scary is clowns are ostensibly funny and child friendly," he told the website in Harrisburg. "So it is even spookier to think of them as unfriendly and evil." South Carolina, Maryland, West Virginia and other states have been hit with the phenomenon. Some have been determined to be false reports, chalked up by authorities to copycats or hoaxes. It's not a laughing matter, according to Neal Fehnel, a Palmer Township resident and professional clown who has been in the business for more than 40 years. Movies such as "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" and "It" gave rise to the casting of clowns as sinister and served to stain the profession, Fehnel said. People who perpetuate that should be prosecuted, he said. "I think the people who portray evil clowns should be treated the same as people who might impersonate a police officer," said Fehnel, whose Balloons the Clown character books special events and parties. "The punishment should be equivalent to that of impersonating a police officer. It's a trusted profession. And a children's entertainer is nothing less than that. Nobody's impersonating an insurance salesman for the same kind of compromise." Fehnel said he was disheartened to hear recent reports from across the country. "These people are destroying the profession," he said. "People who are doing this are creating a conversation and now it's giving them merit." Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook. Uber In this July 15, 2015, file photo, Uber driver Karim Amrani sits in his car parked near the San Francisco International Airport parking area. (AP file photo) It's become the safe way home for those who've had too much to drink at watering holes across the Lehigh Valley, and it's also emerged as a source of supplementary income for responsible drivers across the region. But popular ride-sharing services such as Uber will cease operating not only in the Lehigh Valley, but across the state if state officials in Harrisburg don't take action soon. An experimental license that allowed Uber to operate statewide is set to expire on Jan. 29, 2017. Lyft, a similar ride-sharing service, can operate until Feb. 12, 2017. The licenses don't cover Philadelphia, which has a separate arrangement that expires at the end of this month. A movement to get lawmakers to take action to allow Uber to get permanent authorization to operate in Pennsylvania has gained significant traction recently. An online petition called "Keep Uber in PA" had more than 106,000 supporters as of Thursday morning. Uber and other ride-sharing services allow customers to use smartphone apps to connect them with drivers. Customers set up accounts for transactions with the drivers, book a ride and track the vehicle that's picking them up, all through the app. No money's exchanged at the end of the trip. Uber, which has the market share in the state, began operating in the Lehigh Valley in early 2015 after the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission issued the two-year experimental license. A PUC spokesman told pennlive.com, our sister website, that neither company has applied to the PUC for an extension, but that the PUC supports legislation that would allow permanent operations. Bills have been proposed in both the state House and Senate; they could be considered as early as this week as the chambers are back in session, pennlive.com reported. The online petition cites both a reduction in drunk driving and providing flexible earning opportunities for Pennsylvania residents as reasons why Uber should stay. Nick Falsone may be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickfalsone. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Fethullah Gulen Critics of exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen gather at his Pocono Mountain compound July 16 in Saylorsburg. (Chris Post | lehighvalleylive.com contributor) By Murat Guzel Leaders from across the globe descended on Manhattan this week for the 71st United Nations General Assembly. As the term of Secretary General Ban Ki Moon concludes and the world community grapples with unprecedented challenges, the year's gathering takes on added importance. The two nations I hold most dear will take center stage in New York. The critical alliance between the country of my birth, Turkey, and my adopted country, the United States, faces a difficult road ahead, but lessons can be learned from history. As a proud Pennsylvanian, I value historical lessons and wisdom from our Founding Fathers. U.S.-Turkish friendship dates to 1831, when President Andrew Jackson established formal diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire. With the founding of Turkish Republic after World War I, President Calvin Coolidge recommitted to robust bilateral relations in a rapidly changing Middle East. Beginning in 1952 and prominently throughout the Cold War, Turkey has been a NATO ally, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Pentagon. Trade volume between the United States and Turkey has grown to from $10.8 billion in 2009 to $19.1 billion in 2014. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, my company contributes in our small way to strengthening this unbreakable alliance. With organic produce picked from 1.5 million Turkish trees growing in the Mediterranean sun, we import each year more than 1,000 containers into the Port of Elizabeth, N.J. We then bottle and package organic juice, fruits, berries and nuts for distribution to store shelves in more than 40 states. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania over the last few years has featured prominently in U.S.-Turkish relations. Indeed, this summer -- after a failed coup in Turkey -- the word "Pennsylvania" has been uttered at dinner tables, board rooms, television studios and rally stages across Turkey. The president of Turkey has called for the U.S. to extradite exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Saylorsburg, Pa. The tragic events of July 15 not only fully thrust "Pennsylvania" into Turkish vernacular, but also claimed the lives of two dear friends. The coup against a democratically elected government shook not only me, but the entire U.S.-Turkish alliance to its core. I leave it to Turkish and American government leaders to further discuss the fate of Fethullah Gulen and the future of his "exile" in Pennsylvania. What is clear is that this one situation has negatively affected not only U.S.-Turkish relations during a critical time in the war on terror, but also cast a dark shadow across our commonwealth just as U.S.-Turkish trade volume is poised to continue its exponential growth. I trust that in the discussions on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, U.S. government leaders will remember the maxim of the first U.S. Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson: "Information is the currency of democracy." Turkey is a democracy. Turkey is a critical ally in every sense of the word, not least of which commercially. Government leaders earnestly trading this currency -- candidly discussing what really happened on July 15 and what connections exist to Pennsylvania -- is in the best interest of everyone. Murat Guzel is founder and CEO of Nimeks Organics headquartered in Bethlehem. Opioid painkiller classification change challenges pharmacists Pennsylvania lawmakers are looking at legislation to cut down on the abuse of prescription painkillers. (Bill Adams) Pennsylvania is making progress against the scourge of opioid addiction, which kills 78 Americans a day. That estimate comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including deaths from both heroin and prescription painkillers. Most people know of the life-saving power of naloxone, which can reverse the effects of opioid overdose. It's now carried by emergency medical technicians, police and firefighters, and it's available for purchase at pharmacies. The state Legislature has made more money available for drug courts, where drug users can get treatment as an alternative to prison. In August the state enacted a drug-monitoring database for physicians, requiring them to check the prescription drug histories of first-time patients to try to prevent "doctor-shopping." These are welcome steps. Gov. Tom Wolf wants to strengthen the database check law, and limit painkiller prescriptions written by emergency room doctors to a one-week supply. Doctors also would have to refuse refills from people who report their meds lost, stolen or destroyed. Another idea getting a lot of play in Harrisburg is requiring health insurers that pay for opioid painkillers to also cover "abuse-deterrent" painkillers -- pills that are not easily crushed and snorted, or injected. In the midst of an epidemic, these all sound like common-sense ideas. However, they need to be vetted to make sure they don't create more problems, such as dramatically driving up costs for consumers. Wolf's call for a joint legislative session to deal with the opioid crisis is a good one. But why did a special 38-member task force on opioids operate in total secrecy, with no minutes taken, and its records still hidden from public view? The House passed a opioid-fighting bill in June without public hearings and sent it to the Senate. We're now finding out about that process. An investigation by the Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity found that opioid painkiller manufacturers and their advocacy groups, who were represented on the task force, spent more than $880 million nationally on campaign contributions and lobbying over the last 10 years to influence legislation. The House bill, according to the Associated Press, was lobbied by at least one major drug company, Purdue Pharma, maker of Oxycontin. Similar bills are being backed by drugmakers in 20 states. Not everyone is on board with mandating coverage of the abuse-deterrent drugs. Insurance company representatives say the high costs of the patented drugs will force up premiums. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that abuse-deterrent painkillers don't prevent a common form of abuse -- swallowing pills whole. Dr. Andrew Kolodny, executive director of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, called them a "waste of money" and said the pharmaceutical industry is "profiteering off the addiction crisis," according to the AP report. In January, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a similar bill, citing the medical community's continuing doubts about the upside of abuse-deterrent drugs. It's difficult to suggest that lawmakers "go slow" on a drug problem of this magnitude, but the stunning lack of openness by the task force and state House leaders suggests that the public, once again, didn't have enough of a voice at the table. The state Senate should delve into these issues and demand answers -- in public hearings. Ben Hangstorfer had two rods going Wednesday evening at Northampton County's Minsi Lake, both bearing topwater lures meant to resemble frogs. The 26-year-old originally from Atlantic City was after bass and planned on releasing anything he might catch. But thanks to a suspension of seasons, sizes and creel limits for most species in the lake, he could have had himself quite a fish fry. "As far as what I've heard, it's a free-for-all," he said. "You can bring home as many as you want." Minsi Lake, in Upper Mount Bethel Township, is slated to be drained next summer so its dam can be repaired. The lake is expected to be refilled and reopened for public use in spring 2019, according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. A public meeting to explain the project is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Bangor Area High School, 123 Five Points Richmond Road in the township. All regulations remain in effect at Minsi Lake for trout, a cold-water species. That's because of a fall trout stocking scheduled for Oct. 5 and another trout stocking for the opening day of the 2017 season, the commission says. The lake also holds bass, white perch and walleye, according to the commission. The goal in lifting limits for warm-water species is to take advantage of as many fish as possible. A fish salvage will be conducted when the 117-acre lake is drained to move as many survivors as possible to other waters, the commission says. "We have temporarily lifted the regulations in order to reduce the number of warm-water fish in the lake in advance of the drawdown and fish salvage," Jason Detar, chief of the Fish and Boat Commission Division of Fisheries Management, said in a statement. "We want anglers to fish the water and make good use of as many warm-water fish as they can." Patryk Frysz, 26, of Stroudsburg, was reeling in mostly sunnies "left and right" Wednesday evening from the crumbling block-and-earthen retaining wall that forms the impound. "We're fishing for anything that bites, really, other than the seaweed," he said alongside friend Steven Duryea, 24, also of Stroudsburg. The whole lake is "pretty weedy," in Duryea's words -- hopefully something the draining will help to alleviate, he said. "If it was bass I'd definitely keep 'em, cook 'em and eat 'em," Duryea said, referring to the state's lifting of regulations. "I mean, other than that, sunnies aren't really good to eat." Next month's meeting will include a discussion of the timeline of the project and details for draining the lake, conducting the fish salvage and rebuilding the dam. Construction is scheduled to start in summer 2017 and continue through 2018. Gov. Tom Wolf's administration announced funding for the project in August, part of $25.7 million in capital dollars released for the repair of five high-hazard, unsafe dams, including Minsi Lake, and the design of two other dams. High-hazard, unsafe means the dams have deficiencies of such a nature that if not corrected and the dams were to fail, substantial property damage and a probable loss of human life could occur, the Fish and Boat Commission says. The water level at the lake was lowered by about three feet in May 2013 and has remained at that level since. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. UPDATE: Motorcyclist killed on Route 512 was father, outdoorsman A motorcyclist from Roseto was killed in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon in Bushkill Township, according to the Northampton County Coroner's Office. Richard Gower, 47, of Liberty Avenue, was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck, which occurred shortly before 3 p.m. on West Moorestown Road (Route 512) at Miller Road. The crash also involved a pickup truck, the coroner's office reports. Gower died of traumatic injuries, and the death was ruled an accident. Preliminarily, the investigation into the crash showed Gower was believed to be headed north on Route 512 and the pickup truck was exiting Miller Road onto Route 512 when the collision occurred, township police Cpl. David Marino said. The crash closed Route 512 in the area for several hours, delaying afternoon buses from Nazareth Area Intermediate School, the principal there said in an alert to parents. The Bushkill Township Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police were continuing to investigate the collision, Marino said. Police were not immediately releasing the identity of the pickup driver. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc takes photo with WHO Regional Director Shin Young-soo (third from left) (Photo: VNA) He received Shin Young-soo, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific, in Hanoi on September 20th. He highly valued WHOs leadership at global healthcare forums and appreciated its effective cooperation with and assistance to Vietnam. Vietnam has done a good job of implementing foreign ODA-funded projects in health care such as building and upgrading medical establishments, purchasing medical equipment, training personnel, technology transfer and scientific research, he noted. He asked WHO to increase technical and financial support and mobilise resources from development partners for Vietnam, particularly in healthcare policy building, infectious and non-infectious disease prevention, healthcare network expansion, and response to public health issues. For his part, Shin Young-soo said Vietnam has obtained impressive achievements in health care. Although its average per capita income is just about USD2,000, many of its accomplishments, especially the average longevity, are comparable to countries with a per capita income of USD20,000. WHO will strengthen cooperation with Vietnam, he stressed, adding that the Government should improve the medical system, expand health insurance coverage while increasing investment in health care through public-private partnership, and calling for more private contributions to the sectors development. On the same day, PM Phuc received Vietnam - Japan Special Ambassador Ryotaro Sugi who has made significant contributions to reinforcing the two countries friendship and cooperation over the past 30 years in various fields such as culture, arts, people-to-people exchanges, and humanitarian activities. The PM said he hopes the Ambassador will have more initiatives to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Vietnam - Japan diplomatic ties in 2018 and further the bilateral extensive strategic partnership. He also expected more Japanese businesses will invest in Vietnam and agreed to boost bilateral affiliation in labor exports, especially in the field of nursing. The Ambassador said the cooperation potential between Vietnam and Japan in economics, politics and culture is enormous, adding that he will do his utmost to propel the bilateral rapport forward./. Portlaoises Tidy up the Town returns for a Part 3 this Saturday, September 24, and every community in the county town is urged to come out to tidy it up. The clean-ups were first held in the spring and summer this year. They were a resounding success, with business people and residents, young and old alike, coming out to put on their gloves and clean up. Last time we had about 60 volunteers despite having bad weather. Most of them were from residents associations and housing estates, said one of the organisers, jeweller Gerry Browne. We get great support from Laois County Council too, they take away the rubbish, and provide us with anything we need, like bags and litter pickers, he said. The first 'tidy up' gathered up an impressive 8 tonnes of litter. The second only collected 4 tonnes of mostly litter and weeds that the volunteers pulled up as they worked. The drop in rubbish collected is proof of how the town stayed cleaner Mr Browne believes. We are collecting less and less, as people are getting more aware, he said. The cleaner streets helped in the town's national rating by the Irish Business Against Litter group. The real difference is in the IBAL listings, we have gone from 40 to 20, a great improvement, all that effort is rewarded, said Mr Browne. He is a member of both Portlaoise Tidy Towns, who organise the tidy up, and Downtown Portlaoise traders group, who support it. Keeping Portlaoise clean is important he said. Nobody wants to shop in a town that is litter strewn, it is very important to every business to keep it clean outside, he said. He is asking everyone to come and help. We meet on the Saturday morning and clean up from 10am to 12 noon. We divide the town up into zones and place people in each one, Mr Browne explained. We ask everybody to get out and help, its for everybodys benefit, he said. To volunteer to take part in Tidy Up the Town, call 086 2430670. Meanwhile Portlaoise is poised to win an award at the National Tidy Towns awards in the Helix, Dublin next Monday, September 26. Portlaoise Tidy Towns has been invited to the awards night, meaning they have won at least a bronze award for their hard work. See www.leinsterexpress.ie for updates on the award. Ambulances are being diverted to the A&E in Portlaoise and other hospitals in the Dublin Midlands health division after a man died in a ambulance fire at Naas Hospital. Naas hospital's emergency department was put off call after a man has died after an ambulance went on fire outside the A&E department this afternoon. The cause of the fire is not known but it has been confirmed that one person has died. The man is believed to have been in his 70s. The patient in the ambulance was killed and two ambulance crew were injured in what was described as "an explosion in the back of the ambulance". One of the ambulance crew is understood to have received severe burns to the head, face, torso and upper limbs and has been transferred to the specialist burns unit in St James's Hospital in Dublin. A second ambulance crew member received more minor injuries, including smoke inhalation while trying to assist at the scene. Ambulance crew based in Portlaoise are not understood to have been caught up in the incident. Other hospitals including Portlaoise, Tullamore, St Vincent's and Tallaght will be taking any emergencies that would have been destined for Naas. Paralympian swimmer Nicole Turner is sure to get a great welcome home from Rio to Portarlington Community Centre this weekend. The local community has organised a big homecoming event starting at 4pm this Saturday, September 24. We invite as many people as possible to turn out to show Nicole how proud we all are of her. She is an amazing young girl and performed amazingly in Rio. We are all very proud of you Nicole, say the organisers. The Laois Marlins swimmer, who is aged 14, is also in line for a big welcome home at her school on Friday morning. Students and staff at Colaiste Iosagain have organised a big celebration for Nicole who made five finals at her first Paralympic games in Brazil. While she did not win a medal, Nicole was given the honour of carrying the Irish Flag as she led Team Ireland out at the closing ceremony in Rio. The 21st of December 2012. Thats the day the Mayan Calendar said the world would end. Thats the day our world did end. Newbridge dad Brian Conlan is recalling the ancient prophecy of doom that created a flurry of silly and amusing headlines around the world shortly before Christmas four years ago. Unfortunately, the date will forever be stuck in Brians mind, as it was the same day that his wife of 18 years, Noirin, received a diagnosis of breast cancer. Noirin passed away last October. A year on, Brian is organising a fundraising motorbike run early next month to raise money for St Brigids Hospice on the Curragh, the staff of which did so much to ease his wifes last days. She was 40 when she got her diagnosis. She died at 43. Everyone said she was an absolute lady and she truly was, a very beautiful woman on the outside and equally on the inside, said Brian. The couple met 24 years previously at a disco. I set her up with a friend of mine that didnt work out and we ended up married, he joked. The couple settled in Moorefield Park and had a son, Adam, now almost 15. Noirin, who was originally from Hillsboro, near Baroda Stud, worked in Burns Nowlan Solicitors in the town. The late Noirin Conlan People in Newbridge would have known Noirin. She had a Nissan Figaro, a cream and white Noddy car she used to drive around in. She had a really quirky dress sense, she could buy a cheap cardigan in Penneys, and bring it home and make it her own, said Brian. She always saw the good in people. She loved the simple things in life a nice walk, appreciating nature. There was neither rhyme nor reason to Noirin contracting the illness, as is often the case with breast cancer. I always say this about her to try to understand how a woman like her could get cancer. She was a vegetarian. She was only ever eight and a half stone, she was healthy, never drank or smoked, very clean living. Noirin passed away peacefully at home last year, cared for by family with the help of hospice nurses, who Brian praised. They were very caring and very, very nice, he said. He also paid tribute to Noirins employer during her sickness. Gerry [Burns] was very good to us, an absolute gentleman, he said. Now the Newbridge man is organising the bike run to raise money in his wifes memory. The inaugural Noirins Run will take place on Sunday, October 9. The 100-mile round trip motorcycle run will leave Toughers Restaurant, between Naas and Newbridge, at 12 midday. Registration opens at 10am with the cost just 10 per bike. The bikers will travel through Naas, Sallins, Clane, Kilcock, Kilbeggan, where they will stop for a break, then head to Tullamore, Portarlington, Monasterevin, Kildare town and Newbridge, before returning for tea and coffee, which is being sponsored by Toughers. The event is being organised by the East Ireland Bikers, of which Brian is a member. Bikers are invited to turn up on the day, and if other groups, such as truckers or classic car enthusiasts would like to take part, they will be more than welcome. If it goes well, Brian would like to repeat the event next year in memory of his wife. Noirin died from breast cancer but she wasnt a cancer patient, he said. She was a fun loving person, she loved to laugh and smile. However, he laughs, one thing she wasnt herself was a biker. She got up on the motorbike once, she screamed the whole way up and down the road. She got off it and she said, that was great fun... but Im not doing it again. For more information on Noirin's Run, click here. I just sat in with two of the dogs and I cried, said Andy Cullen. These are the words of the man behind the new Dublin Husky Rescue Centre. He is facing a mountainous task. Volunteers, donations and building materials are urgently needed at the centre, which is located at Friarstown, not far from the Curragh racecourse. Foster and permanent homes are also being sought for these abandoned animals. We just have to get on with it. It's so tough, but we have to do it for the dogs, he said. In existence for three-and-a-half months now, the centre is crammed to capacity and has to cater for an extra 20 breeding female huskies from a breeder who has been ordered to surrender them. Taking five at at time, Andy is dismayed at the condition they are in. This evening, we took five more dogs and some were in a bad state, very skinny," he said, It's getting to the stage where it is affecting us, but we just have to focus and come through for the dogs. There are currently 47 dogs at the centre, including 26 huskies. Some of those have been given up by their owners for various reasons with many not able to keep up with the dogs' need for exercise. Andy also has five dogs of his own. Each dog has to be fed twice a day and they are only fed in threes to ensure trouble free feeding times. That's almost 100 meals, it's huge, he said. Andy is assisted by his partner Joanne Meade and volunteers Catherine Woods and Catherine Doyle, however more help is urgently needed. People can also help by buying vouchers for food at Maxi Zoo, tins of tuna (in brine or water) or by donating building materials such as four by two posts, and chainmail fencing to help create more pens. Vouchers for building supplies would also be gratefully accepted. Anyone who wants to help out can log on to www.dublinhuskyrescuecentre.ie or look up Dublin Husky Rescue on Facebook. Forms for volunteers can be downloaded. There is also information available on rehoming options. Andy carries out rehoming checks with all prospective foster or permanent home owners. The dogs are all vaccinated, microchipped and neutered or spayed before being rehomed. Vet bills are high and since it opened, the centre has rehomed 37 dogs but more keep coming. There are also some lurchers available for rehoming but the bull breeds are taken to a Swedish rescue centre because of restrictions on Irish ownership of these breeds. Anyone who wants to help out can also contact Andy through Facebook, the website or phone 085 7619031. All contributions are hugely appreciated. UPDATE 7.30am: The deceased has been named locally as Christopher Byrne (79) from Suncroft. UPDATE 6.35pm: Investigations into the cause of the ambulance fire which claimed the life of a man today will focus on the possibility that oxygen stored within the vehicle caught fire. The lunchtime blaze occurred after the vehicle arrived at the Accident and Emergency Department of Naas Hospital, which treats nearly 30,000 people annually. Two ambulance service personnel were also injured. One was stabilised at Naas Hospital initially before being brought to St Jamess Hospital in Dublin and is likely to be discharged soon, perhaps tomorrow. The second staff member was allowed home this afternoon after being treated in Naas. Tony OBrien, Director General of the Health Service Executive, said both ambulance staff were injured as they attempted to save the patient. He said the mans death was a direct consequence of the fire and he sympathised with the victims family and said the staff at Naas did everything possible to save him as did the ambulance personnel. This a very tragic loss for his family, our sympathies are with them and they appealing for privacy, Mr OBrien said. He met with relatives of the deceased this afternoon. Tony O'Brien, director general of the HSE, speaking to reporters outside Naas hospital As a result of the fire it was necessary to close the A and E which remains closed and to suspend outpatient services, which will resume tomorrow. Its possible the A and E will reopen tonight. There is a full investigation underway by the HSE, the Health and Safety authority and the gardai. It appears the fire started towards the back of the ambulance and that it was not related to the engine. We are focusing our actions on the possibility it was an oxygen-related incident. The ambulance was less than a year old. Mr OBrien said a safety action notice has been issued to all ambulance personnel requesting them to be vigilant. A service of checks will be carried out on all ambulances equipment. This is a very serious incident and I wouldnt like to downplay it in any way, he added. It emerged that the fire started as a small explosion after the tailgate the hoist at the back was lowered and ambulance staff entered the vehicle. The ambulance was destroyed in the blaze. UPDATE 5.35pm: the A&E was still closed there was still a strong security presence at the hospital and technical experts were still examining the scene of the incident. UPDATE 5pm: the HSE said: "the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department at the hospital has been temporarily closed. All other services at the hospital remain open as normal. The decision to temporarily close the A&E department remains under review and a further update will be issued this evening." ***** A man has died following a fire at Naas General Hospital this afternoon. An ambulance technician was also injured in the blaze. The Leader understands that the technician is being treated at St James's Hospital in Dublin. The freak incident occurred when an ambulance vehicle caught fire outside the hospital building, close to the Accident and Emergency Department which was then was closed to the public. It's understood the ambulance vehicle caught fire at lunchtime and there were two occupants in the vehicle at the time. There was a partial staff evacuation of the hospital. A photo of the fire at Naas Hospital this afternoon, taken by an eyewitness Some staff members, mainly porters, were deployed to entrance points to advise visitors that the hospital was not accessible. Among those turning up were people to collect patients being discharged as well as out patients on pre-arranged appointments. Members of the public were not allowed to enter the building and the area outside and Accident and Emergency Department was cordoned off with plastic tape. A fire tender was stopped outside the A&E and a short distance away water was visible on the car park surface. There were five ambulances at the scene. The HSE confirmed in a statement "that following a serious incident at Naas General Hospital, the Emergency Department has been temporarily closed. The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has implemented appropriate diversion protocols and patients are being taken to alternative hospitals. The NAS has informed both the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and An Garda Siochana and a full investigation is underway into the incident. "The hospital has advised any member of the public seeking access to medical care to visit their GP in the first instance and if necessary to access another Emergency Department in an alternative hospital. The hospital has also requested that members of the public refrain from visiting at this time." Video: Rob Moore/Facebook MORE TO FOLLOW... At the signing ceremony in Kandal province (Photo: VNA) This will be the 16th phase of the search and repatriation since 2000. During a meeting with the Kandal provincial authorities before the signing ceremony, Major-General Phan Hoang Thu, Deputy Head of the Vietnamese Steering Committee, said that throughout 15 phases of searching across 10 Cambodian provinces and cities, soldiers of Military Zone 9 had gathered 6,604 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts. In Kandal alone, 1,081 sets of remains had been found. There remain some 4,500 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts sacrificing during wars in Cambodia which have not been found. Major-General Phan Hoang Thu expressed his thanks to Cambodian authorities, forces and people for their devoted coordination with the Vietnamese side to provide accurate information and guide the Vietnamese soldiers in realising their tasks. Mao Phirun, Governor of Kandal province, appreciated the results achieved by the two sides in searching for the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers. According to the Governor, to make the search more effective, authorised agencies should disseminate information about the search, the signed agreements between the Vietnamese and Cambodian Governments, as well as the action plans of the specialised committees of the two countries, among the authority at all levels and among the people. On behalf of Kandal provinces authority and people, Governor Mao Phirun expressed his deep gratitude with the Vietnamese Party, Government, volunteer soldiers and people for helping Cambodia destroy the Pol Pot genocidal regime, bringing peace and stability in Cambodia./. On Saturday, October 1st at 2.30 pm, Leitrim County Council CEO, Frank Curran will do the honours at the unveiling of a new monument honoring the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Susan Langstaff Mitchell. This fine monument, comprising a bronze bust atop an engraved limestone plinth, is situated at the corner of Main Street and Church Lane in the middle of the town. The brief event will be followed by light refreshments in St. George's Heritage and Visitor Centre on Church Lane, a very short walk from the monument. The project is a collaborative effort of Carrick-on-Shannon Heritage Group, Carrick-on-Shannon & District Historical Society, Leitrim County Council, MRD Marketing, Carrick Chamber, and the Bush Hotel. The monument is another marker celebrating Carrick-on-Shannon's literary heritage. Susan Langstaff Mitchell was an Irish writer and poet, a nationalist, and known for her satirical verse. Originally from Bridge Street, Carrick-on-Shannon, where her father was Manager of the Provincial Bank (the brick building now housing St. George's Terrace Restaurant) until his early death, and subsequently raised by her Unionist aunts in Dublin, Susan rebelled against privileged society and the Protestant Church in which she was reared. Objective, despite her republican views, contemporary politics and the literary world were lampooned by her at enthusiastic gatherings of statesmen and fellow writers. Plans are well advanced for the second Darren McGlynn Memorial Tractor Run, which takes place on Sunday, September 25 next. The event takes place from the McGlynn home in Cloonfour, midway between Tarmonbarry and Rooskey, and is open to both vintage and new tractors. Tractors will travel in convoy along the following route: Clonfour to Tarmonbarry, Strokestown via Scramogue, then to Rooskey, returning to Cloonfour where The Monster Prize Draw and a Tug-of-war competition involving local teams will take place. Tea and refreshments will also be served. This is the second running of the Darren McGlynn Memorial Tractor Run. Last year, the event was run in conjunction with the Mark's Wish To Walk fund. The event raised over 18,000 to help 3 year old Mark Dolan travel to the USA for surgery and treatment to help him to walk. While originally planned as a once off event, last year was such a success that the committee and local community decided to run it again in 2016, with the proceeds of this year going to two charities working in the local area, Co Longford SCUBA Divers/Search and Rescue, and Pieta House West. "The Tractor Run was a really great day last year," said Committee Secretary Claire McGlynn. "We had over 230 tractors on the Run and were really overwhelmed with all of the help and support we got from the whole community. We're working hard now getting things organised, but we have a great team of stewards, caterers, and helpers of all sorts, so we are getting excited now as the Tractor Run gets close". Admission to the Tractor Run is 20 per tractor. As is usual for these events, the normal rules of the road will apply, and all tractors taking part will need to be roadworthy and insured. Donations can be made directly to Bank Account 20917721 Sort Code 90-53-36, and more information can be found on the Facebook page of The Darren McGlynn Memorial Tractor Run. The Vietnamese and Russian Deputy Prime Ministers sign the minutes of the session. (Photo: VGP) Accordingly, the two sides re-checked the realization of minutes reached in the 18th meeting, and proposed measures to promote the bilateral economic and trade cooperation in the context of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union going into effect on October 5th. The two sides assessed that the agreement was a special opportunity. The implementation of the FTA will strongly promote economic relations between the two countries and expand the space for production, trade and investment between Vietnam and the union members. Over the past year, cooperation projects have been carried out well, especially in the energy and industrial areas, with trade turnover between Vietnam and Russia in the first 7 months of this year of USD1.56 billion, a year-on-year increase of over 30%. In terms of investment, as of late June, Russian investors placed 113 direct investment projects in Vietnam with a total capital of USD1.1 billion, while Vietnam invested in 20 projects worth USD2.93 billion in Russia. Projects in oil cooperation have been implemented effectively in Vietnam and Russia. Chairing the session, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igo Shuvalov reached specific measures to carry out cooperation in energy, mining, finance and banking, information and communications, science and technology, education and training. In addition, the two sides agreed to promote the import of agricultural products from each other, with prompt negotiations on food safety for these products to be held. Concluding the session, the two Deputy Prime Ministers signed the minutes of the 19th session of the Vietnam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee for Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technological Cooperation./. I want to respond to the challenges issued by Paddy and Vince during our conference. Paddy said the party was intellectually dead. Vince said our position on another referendum was disrespectful to the electorate. Let me take on Vince first. We and our predecessors supported UK membership of the European Community from its inception. The SDP was created largely because of Labours equivocation over British membership. We campaigned unstintingly for Remain and we remain convinced that the UK s interests are best served by being a key member of the European Union. Yes, by a narrow margin the country voted Leave but we have not changed our view and, given that there is no clear idea of what kind of relationship people want in or out of the single market let alone the hundreds of cooperative agreements built up over the last 43 years. It seems more rational to me to support negotiations for the deal that secures the best of our relationship with the EU and once we know what that is to ask people whether they accept it. Now to Paddy. We would have no credibility if we reneged on our coalition record but the drifting, divided Tory party struggling for a post Brexit identity surely gives room for revitalised Liberalism. Look at health. The slogan no privatisation of the NHS summons up the blood for campaigners but the fact is the private sector is crucial to the health service. GPs are self employed and the BMA has opposed the NHS from the outset. Where do the drugs and equipment come from except the private sector? Of course selling off the public component of the NHS will never be on the Liberal Democrat agenda. We need to boost resources for the core of the NHS and committing ourselves to raise taxes for that makes us credible but we know more will be needed. Merging health and care into one service should certainly lead to a much more rational and efficient use of resources. Theresa Mays rekindling of the grammar school debate was clearly designed to reassess the domestic agenda in the wake of Brexit but it has added further splits to the Tories and given it was not on the manifesto it will struggle to get through either house. But that debate is meat and drink to Liberal Democrats, highlighting our commitment to early years, targeted support for the disadvantaged and a pledge to support the profession of teaching. At least in England, there is a debate about education and the Liberal Democrats are in the thick of it. In Scotland a radical curriculum reform, imaginative in conception has foundered on inadequate resourcing leading to a crisis in teacher recruitment and the end of Scotlands once proud broad education. Subject scope has been reduced (especially languages) and Scottish pupils are struggling to get into any universities against outside competition and denied college places thanks to savage SNP cuts. We do need to develop our ideas, Paddy, not abandon them. * Malcolm Bruce was the Liberal Democrat MP for Gordon until 2015 and was Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2014-15. He led the Scottish Party from 1988-92 and is now a member of the House of Lords. THE heart-broken family of a three-year-old girl, killed in a traffic accident on the M20 in Limerick at the weekend, have appealed for privacy in their grief as they prepare for her funeral. The funeral services will take place this Friday and Saturday in Abbeyfeale, the familys new, adopted home. The girls twin brother and her parents who were also travelling in the car at the time of the accident were not seriously injured. There has been widespread dismay at the childs death, the eleventh fatality on Limerick roads so far this year. And the family has been comforted by friends from around the country, particularly their compatriots from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who have travelled to Limerick to support them in their grief. However, the Limerick Leader understands the family has been upset by some media coverage and has expressed a wish for privacy at this time of heartache and sorrow. The accident happened along the M20 between Adare and Patrickswell at around 4.45pm last Saturday. While the garda investigation into the accident is ongoing, it is understood that the childs mother, who was driving the car, swerved to try to avoid another car after it had mounted the motorways central reservation barrier. This car in turn had swerved to avoid another car. Emergency services personnel tried desperately to save the little girl who, it is understood, suffered serious head injuries. She was rushed to University Hospital Limerick where she was later pronounced dead. Three men who were traveling in the other car were taken to hospital but were not seriously injured. The family, believed to be from the Democratic Republic of Congo, had been living in Limerick city, but had moved in the last number of months to Abbeyfeale. Local councillor, Seamus Browne SF has expressed his sympathies to the grieving family. It is a terrible tragedy. If we can be of any assistance or supply any supports to them well do that, he said. Fianna Fail TD, Niall Collins who lives near the site of the accident also expressed his sympathy. There has been a number of fatalities on this stretch of the motorway over the years. Given the weekends events, Ill be asking the National Roads Authority to review this section of motorway, with a view to carrying out a safety audit, he said. Gardai at Roxboro Road, Limerick, have appealed for witnesses to contact them on 061-214340. LABOUR deputy and the former Minister for Education, Jan OSullivan, has condemned the delay in announcing the new patrons for two post-primary schools in Limerick. The Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is competing with the Catholic Church and Educate Together for the right to run the new facilities in Mungret, and Castletroy/Monaleen. Both schools will build up to a capacity for 600 pupils, and while the target for Castletroy is 2018, deputy OSullivan said there is a greater impetus to finalise plans for Mungret, which is due to come on steam in 2017. She added that the successful patronage for each school will impact on many parents' decisions on where to send their children. The timescale for the selection of suitable patrons was clearly laid out and implemented until now and the documents that I have outline in detail the various stages of the patronage process which was due to end with a Ministerial decision in early September, said deputy OSullivan. She said that the Department of Education & Skills is fully aware that the Mungret school is included in the list of school options for parents in deciding where they wish their child to attend from September 2017. I am acutely aware of the difficulties parents face every year in trying to secure a school place. She called on Minister Richard Bruton to make the decision for Limerick immediately. Limerick is the only place that has a central applications system and as such time is running out. With school open nights already underway parents with children in their final year of primary are anxious to know exactly what options are available to them before completing the central applications form. THE CITY will be filled with vibes driven by some of the worlds most renowned jazz virtuosos as the fifth annual Limerick Jazz Festival takes place this week. From jazz workshops to highly-anticipated performances in a myriad of venues across the city, the festival will kick off this Thursday and will conclude on Sunday evening. The festival will also mark the Limerick Jazz Societys 35 years in operation, furthermore reaffirming it as the oldest and most inclusive jazz organisation in the country. Drummer and festival organiser, John Daly, said that he was looking forward to a weekend of mayhem. We have been doing the last bit of brochure distribution, and the response, so far, has been great. And we have been gaining a lot of traction on social media, reaching out to thousands of people. Homegrown acts performing this weekend include the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra and artist-in-residence, David ORourke, who will be joined by a band featuring leading Irish jazz musicians and a jazz quartet, with Hugh Buckley, Tommy Halferty and Joe OCallaghan. International artists this year include renowned vocalist Norma Winstone and the Partisans from the UK plus Latin Jazz group Atchere from the Canary Islands. As well, all of the acts that are coming here, from all over the world, are really looking forward to this. Because Limerick jazz is known, they knew that the quality is going to be great. Jazz has no barriers. Its not like something, like, classical music; jazz musicians just want to perform, and they love to come here, because Limerick is a great hub for jazz, John added. Arts officer, Sheila Deegan said: Festivals are a great way of Limerick people coming together and celebrating, whatever the genre. Limerick Jazz Festival has been celebrating and programming quality acts since it started, and this year is no different! Limerick Jazz Festival is promoted by the Limerick Jazz Society. It is supported by the Arts Council and Limerick City and County Council. Since 2007, the society has provided jazz education programmes through its Limerick Jazz Workshop, the only regular jazz workshop in Ireland outside of the capital. For more information, visit www.limerickjazzfestival.com. Overview of the press conference (Photo: VNA) The Czech-Vietnam Association was established 19 years ago, and one of its functions is to serve as a bridge between Czech enterprises and Vietnamese enterprises, as well as Czech enterprises and Vietnamese workers. At the press conference, Marcel Winter, Chairman of the Czech-Vietnam Association, announced a report stating the Czech labour market lacks 140,000 workers and this directly affects to enterprises production and indirectly impacts the Czech economy. However, Mr. Winter said that, the authorities of the Czech Republic seem to not care about this. Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Smolek recently said on television that the Government of the Czech Republic didnt want to receive a large number of workers from countries not belonging to the European Union (EU). According to Mr. Winter, the appointment registration system for visa interview through the Internet of the Czech Republics Department of Foreign Affairs for foreign citizens has crippled Czech enterprises access to Vietnamese workers. He confirmed that the trade union's worries about foreign workers, including Vietnamese workers, getting jobs of Czech people, are groundless. At the press conference, Ms. Lydie Malcharkova, Head of the Department of Public Relations of Triola fashion firm, concurred with Mr. Winters opinion. She said that her company needs to recruit some skilled tailors, but both Czech and Ukrainian workers dont meet the requirements, while Vietnamese workers meet all criteria but face visa barriers. Mr. Winter also announced a project of the Czech-Vietnam Association at the press conference titled "You help us and we will help you". The Czech-Vietnam Association will cooperate with Vietnam to help Czech enterprises recruit, teach Czech and English languages and provide vocational training course for Vietnamese workers in accordance with the needs of Czech employers. However, Czech enterprises must register as collective members of the Czech-Vietnam Association. To carry out the projects successfully and bring benefits to both Czech businesses and Vietnamese workers, it must have the goodwill of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic. Earlier, on the sidelines of a conference on using Vietnamese technicians in the Czech market and the cooperation possibility in training, Deputy Head of the Lower House of the Czech Parliament Vojtech Filip said that in the 1980s, tens of thousands of Vietnamese workers worked and being apprentices in Czechoslovakia. They were appreciated by Czechoslovak enterprises by their diligence, hard work and skill. Currently, Czech businesses have demand for recruiting qualified Vietnamese labourers, Czechs educational establishments have ability to train high-tech human resources for Vietnam to use for some time in the Czech Republic and long-term use in Vietnam. Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic Jiri Vanasek asserted that the unemployment rate of the country is 3.7%, and each vacant job has 3.3 available candidates. However, there is still demand for foreign labour recruitment, but only for qualified technical personnel and focused on some sectors. Enterprises must give priority to recruit Czech and EU citizens. Only after over a period of 30 days without finding Czech or EU candidates for the vacant job, enterprises are granted a quota of recruiting foreign workers by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. The hardest thing for Vietnamese workers is to register an appointment for visa interview and critical procedure for granting long-term visa of Czechs Ministry of Home Affairs. Mr. Ondrej Brychta, representative of the Department of Immigration and Refugee Policy under the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the Ministry of Home Affairs is drafting an amended immigration law to make it easier for Czech businesses and foreign workers to meet each others' demands. However, the granting of visas for foreign workers will depend on combined activities between the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic./. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email alerts for the top daily stories sent straight to your e-mail The names of a restaurant and two shops that will open in the new Cornhill development in Lincoln have been revealed. The 12m transformation of the Corn Exchange and former Cornhill Market is set to open next summer and big names have already been fighting for their space. Lincolnshire Co-op, behind the development, has announced that UK chain restaurant Cosy Club, Danish home and general store Flying Tiger Copenhagen and suit hire chain Moss Bros will all be coming to the site. Branding itself as 'luxury comfort food', Cosy Club serves a range of meals and includes breakfast choices, sandwiches and salads, as well as tapas, burgers and steak. The chain, which also has restaurants in Stamford, Derby and Leicester, offers meal deals for different days of the week including a free drink with any burger or salad on Marvellous Monday and a Tapas Tuesdays offer of three tapas dishes and a glass of wine for 11.95. Flying Tiger Copenhagen, which is the new name of retailer Tiger, promises to bring a unique shopping experience 'to delight and surprise its customers' at The Cornhill Quarter. The store will bring a range of affordable products for the kitchen, bedroom, office as well as beauty and partyware. And with stores all over the country, popular suit hire firm Moss Bros provides tailoring and formal hire needs for all occasions. Demolition work started on the development this month for the scheme that hopes to rejuvenate the area around Sincil Street, City Square and the Cornhill. The Grade II listed Corn Exchange building will be home to five new brands in total once complete. Ursula Lidbetter, Lincolnshire Co-op's chief executive said the new brands coming to Lincoln will help attract more visitors to the city. poll loading Will these places be a welcome addition to Lincoln? 0+ VOTES SO FAR Yes - can't wait to have a look! No - there are other shops/restaurants I would have preferred "These new national and international brands set the scene for this exciting redevelopment, which will bring even more life, vibrancy and prosperity to Lincoln city centre. "As well as delivering a new offer to those living and working in the city, the brands will encourage more people to come and experience our thriving city centre, contributing to the local economy." Simon Hall, director at Flying Tiger Copenhagen Midlands, said: "We're delighted to be opening in the Corn Exchange and be part of such a highly anticipated redevelopment in The Cornhill Quarter. "We hope that our new customers will have fun shopping at Flying Tiger Copenhagen." "The brands will encourage more people to come and experience our thriving city centre" Jake Bishop, managing director of Cosy Club, added: "The magnificent Grade II listed Corn Exchange building caught our eye as it fits in perfectly with our 'Mansion Splendour meets Village eccentricity' ways. "We like every customer to leave 'feeling splendid', which we're confident will be the case at this beautiful building. We will also be in a prime position in the heart of one of the UK's leading retail and leisure destinations as well as in one of the most exciting historic and up and coming cities in the country, I can't wait for our grand opening bash." Shoppers in Lincoln had mixed views on the new names coming to the city. Carol Green, a 60-year-old foster carer from Newark, said: "For me, I think we could do with more of a craft area and we could do with more good quality food outlets down this end of town." Lincoln barista Luke St Clair-Pedroza, 24, said: "Those are quite strange stores, I think they could probably utilise the space a bit better. "I think we could do with an art gallery down here or an independent skateboarding shop." And Andy Tong, a 46-year-old landlord from Lincoln, said: "I think it's an ideal place for the restaurant. The suit hire place will be ideal for people like me, but the other one doesn't appeal to me. "I think it would be good to have a couple more cafes and coffee shops or maybe a toy shop for young families and teenagers." We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. At the working session, Mr. Tuan congratulated Laos on achievements it has obtained over the past year. He emphasized that together with Vietnam-Laos cooperation on economics, culture, science and technology, the bilateral cooperation on information had actively carried out, contributing to promoting communications of the two countries. Mr. Tuan asked the two sides to give priority to expanding high-level visits and exchanges, as well as holding seminars on press management. The signing ceremony (Source: VOV) Vongdala, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, government and people for providing assistance to Laos, and the Vietnamese ministry in particular. He suggested increasing the sharing of news and programmes, encouraging media outlets, including audio and television stations to develop joint projects, as well as offering short-term courses on press and publishing management to Lao partners. Concluding the working session, the two sides signed an information cooperation plan for the 2016-2020 period./. Team boss Christian Horner says that Red Bull could have done nothing more in Singapore to snatch victory from Mercedes, despite the close finish to last weekend's Grand Prix. Horner praised the efforts of Daniel Ricciardo, who was able to eat into Nico Rosberg's lead at Marina Bay over the final 15 laps after a late switch to supersoft tyres which saw him come within half a second of taking the the lead before ultimately he ran out of time to pull it off. "Nico had a very strong weekend, and he had a bit too much for us in qualifying, and in the race," admitted Horner. "We tried everything we could. We tried a different strategy at the end of the race, which forced them to stick to the two stop. "Whilst Daniel did a fantastic job to close Nico down over the last laps, they just left enough in hand to keep a margin to the chequered flag. "To get within half a second after two hours was a great performance, but it was not quite enough." Horner added that being held up by lapped traffic - specifically Haas F1's Esteban Gutierrez - hadn't made any significant difference to the way that the race had turned out. "Not really. We picked up DRS from Gutierrez so what we lost we gained. It cost Rosberg probably a little bit more than us, so it evened out. "That was as close, unfortunately, that we could get," he conceded. "But it made an exciting finish to the race, and it was great to put him under a bit of pressure." Horner was full of praise for Ricciardo's driving throughout the whole weekend at Singapore. "I think ever since he drove the HRT car round here you can see hes always enjoyed this circuit. Hes found a rhythm around here and a confidence, and street circuits are an awful lot about confidence. "Hes performed at an immensely high level this weekend, no mistakes, and hes driven an excellent grand prix at one of the toughest races of the year, two hours in duration to finish within half a second. Its pretty impressive." TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: Nicolas Carpentiers checks out the latest engineering novelties and concepts seen in Singapore Scene at the 2016 Singapore Grand Prix Quotes of the week - 2016 Singapore Grand Prix 2016 Singapore Grand Prix - Driver ratings Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter Researchers analyzed samples from ice core drilling stations in Antarctica and Greenland to evaluate the planet's atmospheric oxygen levels throughout history. Atmospheric oxygen levels have declined over the past 1 million years, although not nearly enough to trigger any major problems for life on Earth, a new study finds. The research behind this new finding could help shed light on what controls atmospheric oxygen levels over long spans of time, the researchers said. Atmospheric oxygen levels are fundamentally linked to the evolution of life on Earth, as well as changes in geochemical cycles related to climate variations. As such, scientists have long sought to reconstruct how atmospheric oxygen levels fluctuated in the past, and what might control these shifts. Related: New Way to Make Oxygen Doesn't Need Plants However, models of past atmospheric oxygen levels often markedly disagree, differing by as much as about 20 percent of Earth's atmosphere, which is oxygen's present-day concentration, the researchers said. 1 It is not even known if atmospheric oxygen levels varied or remained steady over the past 1 million years. "There was no consensus on whether the oxygen cycle before humankind began burning fossil fuels was in or out of balance and, if so, whether it was increasing or decreasing," said study lead author Daniel Stolper, a geochemistat Princeton University in New Jersey. In the new study, researchers calculated past atmospheric oxygen levels by looking at air trapped inside ancient polar ice samples. Specifically, they looked at samples from Greenland and Antarctica. The new estimates suggest that atmospheric oxygen levels have fallen by 0.7 percent over the past 800,000 years. The scientists concluded that oxygen sinks processes that removed oxygen from the air were about 1.7 percent larger than oxygen sources during this time. Although a drop in atmospheric oxygen levels might sound alarming, the decrease the researchers found "is trivial in regard to ecosystems," Stolper told Live Science. "To put it in perspective, the pressure in the atmosphere declines with elevation. A 0.7 percent decline in the atmospheric pressure of oxygen occurs at about 100 meters (330 feet) above sea level that is, about the 30th floor of a tall building." There are two hypotheses that may help explain this oxygen decline over the past million years, Stolper said. "The first is that global erosion rates may have increased over the past few to tens of millions of years due to, among other things, the growth of glaciers glaciers grind rock, thereby increasing erosion rates," Stolper said. Rising erosion rates would have exposed more pyrite and organic carbon to the atmosphere. Pyrite is better known as fool's gold, and organic carbon consists of the remains of organisms, mostly land plants and aquatic photosynthetic microorganisms such as algae. Previous research found that both pyrite and organic carbon can react with oxygen and remove it from the atmosphere. [Infographic: Earth's Atmosphere Top to Bottom] "Alternatively, when the ocean cools, as it has done over the past 15 million years, before fossil fuel burning, the solubility of oxygen in the ocean increases. That is, the oceans can store more oxygen at colder temperatures for a given concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere," Stolper said. Oxygen-dependent microbes in the ocean and in sediments can then become more active and consume this oxygen, leaving less of the element in the atmosphere, he added. Future research can identify what geological processes are consistent with these findings "and thus help to identify the major processes that control atmospheric oxygen levels," Stolper said. These findings also reveal what might be a strange contradiction, because it could be assumed that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels should rise as oxygen levels fall "for example, right now we are consuming oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide," said study senior author John Higgins, a geochemistat Princeton. However, previous research has found that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have not, on average, changed over the past 800,000 years, Higgins noted. "At first glance, these two sets of observations, both from gases trapped in ice cores, are paradoxical," he said. One way out of this conundrum is a well-known but relatively untested concept that suggests "that on timescales longer than a few hundred thousand years, atmospheric carbon dioxide and Earth's temperature are regulated via a 'silicate weathering thermostat,'" Higgins said. Basically, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels will boost the rates at which volcanic rocks wear down and their components wash into the seas, which can then go on to trap atmospheric carbon dioxide in ocean minerals. This means that "one can have a change in atmospheric oxygen with no observable change in average carbon dioxide," Higgins said. "Importantly, this silicate weathering thermostat is one reason why Earth is thought to have remained habitable for billions of years despite changes in solar luminosity." The scientists detailed their findings online today (Sept. 22) in the journal Science. Original article on Live Science. An Israeli soldier stands on a Merkava tank on the Israeli-Syrian border near Quneitra on June 22, 2014. Research has shown that climate change-driven drought is linked to the Syrian Civil War and the current refugee crisis. On Wednesday (Sept. 21), President Obama took another step toward securing his climate legacy. This time his focus wasn't on energy, public lands or international diplomacy. It was on national security and making sure the U.S. military is prepared for a more unstable future. The White House published a presidential memorandum setting up a timetable for more than 20 federal agencies to come up with a plan to put climate science into action when it comes to national security. "It's not a new direction, but it is reinforcing and formalizing a direction in which the U.S. government was already headed," Sherri Goodman, a fellow at the nonpartisan Wilson Center, said. "That's how you turn concepts into action in the government. You have to have plans to get agencies to act." Accompanying the memo was a report from National Intelligence Council outlining what some of the main climate threats will be to national security in the coming decades. According to the national security-oriented blog New Security Beat, this the first unclassified report from the U.S. intelligence community that explicitly looks at the impact of climate change on national security. It indicates that climate change is not a distant future problem, but something that requires planning here and now. Specifically, the report said that "the effects resulting from changing trends in extreme weather events suggest that climate-related disruptions are under way." Examples of climate disruption are peppered throughout the report from how drought-induced food shortages in Mali led insurgent groups to start a "food for jihad" campaign, to how melting sea ice is raising tensions in the Arctic between Canada, Russia and other countries with a stake in the region. Climate impacts have the power to destabilize the regions where they occur as well as places thousands of miles away. The Syrian civil war is the most notable example. Research has tied its start, in part, to a climate change-fueled drought that has sparked the greatest refugee crisis since World War II, according to Goodman. Other researchers were also quick to point out the chain of impacts the drought has had. "Climate change has contributed to the emergence of civil war, refugee flows and other elements of instability," Marc Levy, the deputy director of the Center for International Earth Science Information Network, said. "But the follow-on impacts from climate-triggered instability extend worldwide, as seen in the European refugee crisis, which has strong connections to the Syrian conflict, which in turn has strong connections to climate stress." Yet the present security concerns could pale in comparison to the future as the climate becomes more unstable. Sea level rise could swamp megacities in developing countries with fewer resources to cope, leading to a massive exodus of people, while water shortages could create more intense conflict, particularly in arid regions. Even the infrastructure itself that supports the U.S. military faces challenges from climate change. A 2014 government report found that while the military is aware of the risks climate change poses to its 7,600 installations around the world, little action has been taken to address them because there's been no strong guidance. The new Presidential Memorandum changes that by laying out a timeline for creating a plan and implementing it. "The tools available for the military to plan for a more unstable world are woefully inadequate, because we have systematically underinvested in the development of such tools out of a combination of a failure of imagination to do what is needed and a failure of courage to stand up to the political opponents of meaningful climate change," Levy said. "What is so important about yesterday's Presidential decision is that it shakes free from those self-imposed shackles so that we can do what is needed." The memo gives a host of federal agencies a mandate to work together to include climate change in their national security planning and a timeline of 90 days to create an action plan and 150 days to create a plan to implement it. The implementation of any plans will fall squarely on the next administration. Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump could choose to go forward with the plan, restructure it or strike it down depending on their priorities. The latter would pose a major setback for the military, though, which will have to contend with more instability and the potential of major unknowns ahead. "(This initiative) integrates government planning so we know where we are vulnerable and can act accordingly rather than waiting until disaster hits," Ruth Greenspan Bell, a security expert at the Wilson Center, said. "The essence of good defense is anticipating and acting on risk." Original article on Climate Central. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has ordered Ukraine's Energy and Coal Industry Ministry to create a working group with involvement of other agencies and law enforcers to check the lawfulness of holding a tender to select an investor to develop the Yuzivska field (Kharkiv and Donetsk regions). MP from Samopomich Viktoria Voitsytska posted the extract from the minutes of the government meeting held on September 14 on her Facebook page. According to the document, the working group would consist of representatives of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry, Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry, Justice Ministry, State Service for Geology and Deposits, State Financial Monitoring Service, Nadra Ukrainy, Prosecutor General's Office and Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Lawmakers can join the group. People's Front from the government's coalition and Eurooptimists Interfactional Union named the tender to select an investor to develop the Yuzivska field non-transparent and non-public, demanding to present the details about its holding. Earlier Shell developed the field, but late 2014 the company decided to leave the project due to hostilities in Donetsk region. The company finally left the project in September 2015. Late October 2015, Nadra Yuzivska LLC managed by Nadra Ukrainy announced a new tender to select the investor. Yuzgaz won the tender. It was founded by Emerstone Energy, part of Emerstone Capital Partners of businessman Jaroslav Kinach. Kinach was also President of Iskander Energy that sought to restore methane wells in Donetsk region. In 1990s he was Ukraine Country Head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Ukraine. The area of the Yuzivska field is 7,886 square kilometers. Yuzgaz would reiceve 90% in PSA agreement if the government approves it, while Nadra Yuzivska share will decrease from 100% to 10%. Music, Movies & Entertainment, School & Education, Local News, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events By Long Island News & PR Published: September 22 2016 The suspense of a classic murder mystery comes to Staller Center for the Arts Main Stage as a whodunit on Saturday, October 15 at 8:00 pm. Stony Brook, NY - September 20, 2016 - The suspense of a classic murder mystery comes to Staller Center for the Arts Main Stage as a whodunit on Saturday, October 15 at 8:00 pm. Aquila Theatre, in its 25th anniversary season, stages Murder on the Nile, a drama by one of the greatest mystery writers in world literature, Agatha Christie. The setting is a BBC radio studio in London during World War II. Some members of the cast arrive and prepare for a live radio broadcast of Murder on the Nile, set on a paddle steamer cruising the legendary Nile River in 1940s Egypt. As an air raid prevents the full cast from assembling, the question becomes, Can the show go on? Aquila Theatre brings its innovative touch to this deliciously dangerous murder mystery. Enjoy an evening of theater, staged as a live radio show taking place within the play. The three cast members, Lincoln Hudson, Palmyra Mattner and Toby Miller, play over ten roles in the play, directed by Peter Meineck. Tickets for Aquila Theatres Murder on the Nile are $38 at stallercenter.com or at (631) 632-ARTS [2787]. Local News, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: September 22 2016 Agreement to help small businesses, homeowners and renters access state funds for uninsured losses and physical damage incurred as a result of the Chelsea explosion. New York, NY - September 21, 2016 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced an agreement to help small businesses, homeowners and renters access state funds for uninsured losses and physical damage they have incurred as a result of the Chelsea explosion. The state continues to work around the clock to assist all New Yorkers impacted by this act of terror and help this vibrant neighborhood return to normal, Governor Cuomo said. We are making state emergency assistance available immediately to those who have suffered economically during the explosion, and we will continue to work closely with our local and federal partners to ensure New Yorks thriving small business community has the resources they need. In the wake of this deplorable attack, New Yorkers have shown unparalleled bravery and resiliency and we will continue to support them every step of the way. Photo: Governor's Press Office, via Flickr. Local News, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: September 22 2016 Complaint is against the East End Republican Club for campaign finance law violations, and named his opponent Tom Croci as a board member complicit in the clubs wrongdoing. Long Island, NY - September 21, 2016 - John De Vito, Democratic candidate for the 3rd district of New Yorks State Senate, has filed a complaint with the New York Board of Elections Enforcement Counsel against the East End Republican Club for campaign finance law violations, and named his opponent Tom Croci as a board member complicit in the clubs wrongdoing. According to figures obtained by the De Vito campaign, the East End Republican Club has donated over $45,000 to local candidates between 2001 and 2016, and has failed to file required financial disclosure reports during any of those years. According to New York State law, any political organization that transacts more than $1,000 is required to file financial disclosures.There are criminal and administrative penalties for failure to do so. Senate Ethics Committee chairman Tom Croci is a member of the board for the East End Republican Club, and has himself received over $6,000 in contributions from the delinquent organization. By failing to file, the East End Republican Club keeps the public in the dark about where it receives contributions. Said De Vito. Senator Croci, chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, should resign from the club board and return any contributions he has received. De Vito will be holding a press conference outside Senator Crocis campaign office at 120 East Main St in Patchogue at 3pm today. He will lay out his proposal for ethics reform in Albany and call on Senator Croci to resign from the board of the East End Republican Club. De Vito seeks to defeat freshman Senator Tom Croci (R-Islip) in a year that will feature public corruption as a key campaign issue throughout the region. John is a 25 year-old lifelong resident of Mastic Beach, and a graduate of William Floyd High School and New York University. New Yorks Third Senate District is located wholly in Suffolk County and includes the communities of Hauppauge, Central Islip, Brentwood, East Islip, Bayport, Blue Point, Patchogue, Bellport, Ronkonkoma, Medford, Shirley and Mastic Beach. Local News, Travel & Local Attractions, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: September 22 2016 Senator Todd Kaminsky, standing alongside commuters, urged the MTA to strengthen its video monitoring capabilities of its stations and trains to ensure safety. Kaminsky has written a letter to MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast requesting the MTAs immediate action to install surveillance cameras in and around all of its train stations and cars. Rockville Centre, NY - September 21, 2016 - In light of recent terrorist activity and the discovery of five pipe bombs inside a wastebasket near a train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Senator Todd Kaminsky, standing alongside commuters, today urged the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to strengthen its video monitoring capabilities of its stations and trains to ensure the safety of its passengers and workers. Kaminsky has written a letter to MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast requesting the MTAs immediate action to install surveillance cameras in and around all of its train stations and cars. While the MTA is formulating plans to equip train cars and stations with cameras, Kaminsky is urging them to accelerate this plan across its transit system to ensure the immediate safety of its passengers and workers. We live in one of the most densely populated suburban communities in the world and our mass transit system is vulnerable to the deranged will of a "lone wolf," said Kaminsky. "Last weekend's plot and attack were yet another reminder that we must do more to prevent another terrorist attack. Installing cameras as a preventive measure will deter terrorist activities and suspicious behavior, and assist law enforcement track and locate suspects in the horrible event that an attack occurs on our transit system. Cameras are vital to enhancing the security of our system and protecting commuters, and the MTA must make it a priority to install surveillance cameras system-wide. More than 2.7 billion people utilize the MTAs services every year, which includes the Long Island Railroad which has a ridership of 87 million per year making it the largest commuter rail in the nation. The Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council (LIRRCC) supports efforts to increase the safety of our fellow riders in stations and the areas surrounding them said LIRRCC Chair Mark Epstein. We applaud Senator Kaminskys focus on the safety of riders and efforts to secure the resources necessary to enhance riders safety. Over the years Ive seen complacency set in as it pertains to security measures, said James Dowd, a Rockville Centre resident who commutes into New York City. After the terrorist attacks of this past weekend the rules have changed again. Now is not the time for dawdling. The MTA needs to adjust the priority listing of camera installation. Lets not get the home security system after the break in. Senator Kaminsky previously worked with the MTA to install cameras in the Lawrence and Cedarhurst train stations in an effort to stop hate graffiti. Equipping all train stations and cars with cameras will provide law enforcement with the ability to identify and target criminal behavior. Over the last few years, the United States and Europe have seen a rash of "lone wolf" terrorist attacks and public, soft target spaces are particularly vulnerable to these deadly incidents. Following the bombing in the Madrid subway bombing in 2004, the London Underground introduced surveillance cameras throughout the system. These cameras are used to aid in investigations after crimes are committed and alert police to suspicious packages and behavior. On Long Island we all expect that when our loved ones leave for work they will return safely. That is the first responsibility of the MTA and having greater surveillance capacity will allow them to protect the critical infrastructure that carries Long Islanders to and from NYC each day, said Kaminsky. Security is the utmost concern for commuters and workers, and the sooner cameras can be installed, the closer we'll be to a safer transit system for all New Yorkers. Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com Columnists Press Releases Preparation for the future heating season is under the schedule. Over 20 days of September an additional 211,000 tonnes of coal has been accumulated at warehouses of thermal power plants (TPPs), Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk said at a meeting of the parliamentary committee for the fuel and energy complex on Wednesday. "Today a delay from the schedule in accumulating coal at warehouses of TPPs and combined heat and power plants is 189,000 tonnes, which is equal to the volume of coal burnt at TPPs only during two and a half days," the minister said. Nasalyk said that on Wednesday, after the end of the repair campaign, reactor one of Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (NPP) will be connected to the Ukrainian power grid. This would reduce the burden on heat generation facilities that took the heat in summer and early autumn when several reactors of NPPs were undergoing repair. The minister recalled that last summer TPPs burnt 2 million tonnes more due to extra burden compared to the similar period of 2015. He said that in September nuclear generation is to increase electricity generation to 8.4 gigawatts (7.6 gigawatts in August). This would help heat generating companies not only to accumulate coal, but also finish all repairs at power plants. Nasalyk repeated that by the start of the heating season 17 billion cubic meters of natural gas is to be pumped to underground storage facilities. Government obliges Naftogaz to supply up to 300 mcm of gas to Odesa Port-Side Plant by late Dec Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has obliged national joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy to supply gas to public joint-stock company Odesa Port-Side Chemical Plant in the amount of up to 300 million cubic meters (mcm) by December 31, 2016. This will help to launch the plant from October 1. The resolution was approved at the meeting on Thursday. Head of the State Property Fund (SPF) Ihor Bilous said that Naftogaz is to supply gas to the plant stably, irrespective of the existing debt, at the standard prices for this category of companies. The payment of the debt will be included in the conditions of the plant's privatization. As reported, in August 2016 the Ukrainian government addressed to the Secretariat of the Energy Community to analyze possible special liabilities of Naftogaz Ukrainy on supply of up to 300 million cubic meters of gas to Odesa Port-Side Chemical Plant if they meet European legislation. The Secretariat came to the conclusion that the amendments can be considered meeting 2009/73/EC Directive if the liability is imposed on the concrete period of time only by late 2016. The Secretariat also demanded to include the provisions obliging the plant to pay for natural gas. The launch of the plant should positively influence investors before the repeated tender to sell 99.567% of shares in the plant. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has met with President of the Slovak Republic Andrej Kiska, the press service of the Ukrainian president has said. "Andrej Kiska confirmed the firmness of Slovakia's position to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and noted the continued support for continuation of the policy of sanctions against Russia," a statement reads. The president of Slovakia, as the country presiding at the EU Council, also assured the Ukrainian counterpart of Bratislava's active position in the matter of providing a visa-free regime to Ukrainian citizens. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has held talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the presidential press service has said. "The president informed Stoltenberg about the situation in Donbas. The head of state stressed that sanctions against Russia should be continued until the complete fulfillment of the Minsk agreements," a statement reads. Jens Stoltenberg confirmed NATO supports Ukraine's position on sanctions against Russia. The parties discussed the further reform of the Ukrainian defense sector to achieve NATO standards. Poroshenko thanked the alliance for assisting in the treatment of Ukrainian soldiers. The Iraqi military, backed by US airstrikes and supported by Iranian-sponsored Shia militias, retaken control of the town of Shirqat, which has been held by the Islamic State for more than two years. Iraqi forces must hold Shirqat in order to secure its supply lines south of the Islamic State-held city of Mosul. According to Reuters, the town has been surrounded by Iraqi troops and Iranian-backed Shiite Muslim militias allied to the government for several months. However, the militias have not entered the town. Iraqi troops have seized control of the mayors office, the municipal building and the hospital in the towns center, and have encountered minimal resistance from the Islamic State. The Iraqi military later said it gained complete control of Shirqat. The US military has launched seven airstrikes near Shirqat over the past several days. On Sept. 20, three strikes engaged two ISIL [Islamic State] tactical units and destroyed six vehicles, six watercraft, two VBIEDs, and a heavy machine gun, US Central Command, or CENTCOM, announced. On Sept. 21, four strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units and destroyed 38 vehicles, four watercraft, and a land bridge; damaged a culvert entrance; and suppressed a tactical unit. Shirqat is located on the Euphrates River about 70 miles south of Mosul, and straddles Route 1, one of two main arteries that connect Mosul with Baghdad. Shirqat is also just south of Qarrayah and the nearby Qayyarah Airfiled West, or Q-West, which Iraqi forces wrested from Islamic State control in mid-July. The Islamic State has placed key assets near Shirqat to defend the town. In mid-July, the Islamic State announced that its top military commander, Omar al Shishani, was killed in an airstrike in Shirqat. Shishani led a mobile task force that participated in key battles in both Iraq and Syria. The US military has deployed hundreds of troops at Q-West to support Iraqi operations in the area. [See LWJ report, Iraqi forces retake Q-West airbase south of Mosul.] The Islamic State has launched mortar and rocket attacks against US forces based at Q-West, and is thought to have recently fired a shell with mustard agent, according to CNN. Initial test results are inconclusive, and further testing is being done. US officials have told CNN that the the agent had low purity and was poorly weaponized.' The Islamic State has pursued a chemical weapons program in both Iraq and Syria, which has been targeted by the US. In January 2015, US forces killed Abu Malik, an Islamic State chemical weapons engineer, in an airstrike near Mosul. On Sept. 14, US warplanes targeted an ISIL chemical weapons storage facility and destroyed a rocket system, a rocket rail, and a mortar system, near the Iraqi town of Huwayjah, CENTCOM reported. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan is touting its Special Group and claims it is training and operating in the northwestern Pakistani district of Swabi, which is near the capital of Islamabad. Umar Media, the official media outlet of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP), published a video today on YouTube that showed its Taliban Special Group Swabi training with rocket propelled grenades. The Special Group fighters are shown how to site the RPG and fire it from different positions, and instructed where to hit a tank to disable and destroy it. After the training, the Taliban fighters fire live RPG warheads at targets placed on a mountainside. The Special Group is the TTPs version of a special forces unit and is often referred to as the Mujahideen Special Group and the Special Task Force. This unit is tasked with carrying out assassinations of Pakistani military and political figures, as well as suicide attacks and more organized assaults, such as the September 2015 attack on an air force camp in Peshawar. Earlier this year, the Special Group took credit for attacking polio vaccination workers in Karachi. Seven policemen were killed in the attack. In the past the TTP has promoted the Mujahideen Special Group and has released footage of the unit receiving instruction at its Mehdi Alaih Rizwan Training Center. The location of the training camp has not been disclosed, but it is believed to be situated in Pakistans tribal areas. The Pakistan military has claimed that the northwestern districts such as Swabi, Swat, Mardan, and Nowshera have been cleared of the Taliban. Between 2007 and 2009, the Taliban took control of large areas of northwestern Pakistan, including Swabi and Swat, before being ejected in an offensive. The video of fighters purportedly training and firing RPGs in the open in Swabi indicates that the Taliban have returned. Images from the Talibans Special Group Swabi Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Contact Group to discuss creation of another seven security zones on Donbas contact line The Contact Group for Ukraine will soon discuss the possible creation of another seven security zones on the Donbas contact line, a source from the security subgroup has told Interfax. "Implementation of the security zone mechanism in three pilot areas will be studied and the formation of another seven security zones on the contact line will be pondered in the future. Hence, their total number will grow to ten," the source said. As reported, the Contact Group would again converge in Minsk on October 5. Luton is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Bedfordshire. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 258,000. Luton is home to Championship team Luton Town Football Club, London Luton Airport and The University of Bedfordshire. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. For all the latest news from Luton sign up to our newsletter here. The foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, Ukraine and the Netherlands have discussed efforts to establish those responsible for the crash of the MH17 crash in Donbas in 2014. According to the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the meeting took place in New York on September 21. "The foreign ministers drew attention to the Security Council's requirement laid down in resolution No. 2166, as well as the determination of their governments to bring perpetrators of the crime to justice," the report says. The ministers also emphasized the Security Council's call to cooperate closely in the issue of establishing responsible for the crime. "In this regard, the ministers once again expressed strong support for an international and independent investigation carried out by the joint group to investigate the crash, the results of the interim report will be presented on September 28," the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine said. Ukraine has supported the UK's initiative to hold a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council devoted to the issue of terrorist threat to aviation security, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said. "We welcome the initiative of the United Kingdom to convene a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss terrorist threat to aviation security. This should become a strong signal that the council is ready to act decisively to prevent future tragedies," Poroshenko said, speaking at the 71st UN General Assembly in New York. Also on the blog in the past week were: Read the highlights from the AIPPI World Congress Pondering four years of PTAB proceedings Supporting IP education in Africa Weve also posted the following articles in the past week (log in via subscription or free trial): Interview: Chief Judge David Ruschke leads the PTAB into new phase Juries award damages against Apple, LG in Eastern District of Texas Reactions to EU copyright proposals Colour combinations: getting back to WYSIWYG PTAB 4 Years In: Biotech/pharmas share of AIA trials increases PTAB 4 Years In: Federal Circuit appeal statistics and unresolved issues PTAB Bar Association launches How the EPO is tackling its backlog European copyright reform coming - slowly Food companies have a taste for 3D trademarks Judges weigh in on expert evidence around the world Keep calm and be prepared for Brexit Meet AIPPIs first Chinese President WIPO's Gurry outlines five challenges From OHIM to EUIPO BMI handed fractional licensing victory Judge Louis Stanton of the Southern District of New York has issued an order rejecting the US Department of Justices (DOJ) recent interpretation of the BMI consent decree, and concluded that BMI is free to engage in the fractional licensing of musical works. The decision immediately followed oral arguments from both parties. Judge Stantons ruling is now the controlling interpretation of the BMI consent decree. The consent decree neither bars fractional licensing nor requires full-work licensing, said Judge Stanton. As the Wall Street Journal explains: BMI and Ascap have argued that fractional licensing is a longstanding industry practice, and proposed that the decrees be modified to explicitly allow it. The Journal continued: The Justice Department said in August that the consent decrees required full-work licenses, and said fractional licensing would undermine the traditional role of the Ascap and BMI licenses in providing protection from unintended copyright infringement liability and would create difficulties for music users required to meticulously track ownership. Fridays decision has no impact on Ascap, whose cases are overseen by a different federal judge. BMI President and CEO Mike ONeill commented: As we have said from the very beginning, we believed our consent decree allowed for the decades-long practice of fractional licensing and today we are gratified that Judge Stanton confirmed that belief. Our mission has always been to protect the interests of our songwriters, composers and publishers, and we feel we have done just that. Todays decision is a victory for the entire music community. Will SCOTUS hear Redskins/Slants? With the Supreme Courts new term starting in October, attention is turning to what IP cases may be taken up. Reuters ran a good overview of potential cases that may be granted cert, in addition to the four cases for which oral arguments are already scheduled. These include the Dancing Baby copyright case and Novartiss attempt to launch a biosimilar of Amgens Neupogen cancer drug. However, with the court currently a justice down, it may be cautious about the cases it takes on. Reuters quoted law professor Mark Lemley as saying: "I do think the court will be looking for cases that don't break along traditional partisan lines. IP cases fit that bill. The most-closely-watched issue that has been petitioned to the Supreme Court is disparaging trade marks, with both the Redskins and The Slants cases up for consideration. Foley Hoags Trademark and Copyright Law blog ran a helpful overview of those two cases for those in need of a refresher. Anthony Rufo wrote: Both the Tam [The Slants] and Blackhorse [Redskins] petitions are ripe for a decision. The Supreme Court does not have to accept either case, but it could choose to hear Tam alone or both Tam and Blackhorse together. Although they deal with the same controversial issue (stereotypes of minority groups) in regard to the same provision of law, there is a compelling reason to hear both cases together instead of just one. He said the Tam court found Section 2(a) to be unconstitutional in light of arguments in favour of registration made by members of the minority group in question, while the Blackhorse court reached the opposite conclusion and upheld Section 2(a), but also did so in favor of the arguments made by members of the minority group at issue, this time in opposition to registration. By taking up these two cases at the same time, the Supreme Court will have the opportunity to determine what, if any, weight should be given to the identities of the parties in such cases, and to confront head on what appears may be an irreconcilable dichotomy, Rufo said. Judge Newman: The Great Dissenter Law.com ran an interesting profile of Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman, who at 89 maintains a full caseload. While Newman has only issued two precedential majority opinions this year, she has issued 10 dissents in patent cases. No other judge has issued more than two. The articles author Scott Graham noted: Over the past five years, as the Federal Circuit has absorbed a new generation of judges and the court has wrestled the America Invents Act, Newmans dissent rate has climbed ever higher. She has authored 64 dissents just in patent cases since 2012, including 14 dissents from denial of en banc review. GIPC slams UN medicines report The US Chamber of Commerce has condemned a UN report attacking patents. The United Nations High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines called on governments to restrict patentability of medical innovations; make use of compulsory licenses to override patents; reduce the private sector role in the research and development of new cures; and, put the United Nations itself above national governments in oversight of intellectual property rights. The UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines has issued a report that was never intended to address the true barriers of access to medicines; it was designed to drive a narrow and extreme agenda, said Mark Elliot, executive vice president of the Global Intellectual Property Center. The Panels predetermined conclusions ignored decades of data and the input of key countries in asserting that intellectual property is the problem with access to medicines. In doing so, the Panel ignored the real culprits that stand between patients and care: excessive tariffs and taxes on imported medicines, and weak healthcare infrastructures that hinder the effective distribution of medicines. And the UNs own data shows that intellectual property does not restrict access to medicines: 95% of essential medicines are no longer under patent. The irony is that by singling-out patents, this report has attacked the innovative systems that have actually produced thousands of cures and saved millions of lives. The Panels report came one day after USPTO Director Michelle Lee testified at a US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee hearing, reaffirming serious concerns with its narrow focus and the biased mandate. In February, the Chamber joined the U.S. Government and other countries and organizations in objecting to the Panel's fundamentally flawed premise that there is a misalignment between the rights of inventors, international human rights law, trade rules and public health. Copyright not a divine right The High Court of Delhi has authorised Delhi University to issue photocopies of textbooks, in a case brought by Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Taylor & Francis, reports The Hindu. The court said that students could get books copied from the universitys library or its authorised photocopy shop under Section 52 of the Copyright Act, which exempts education from copyright infringement. Copyright, especially in literary works, is thus not an inevitable, divine, or natural right that confers on authors the absolute ownership of their creations. It is designed rather to stimulate activity and progress in the arts for the intellectual enrichment of the public, The Hindu quotes Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw as saying. EP Committee on Civil Liberties to consider report on visa-free regime for Ukraine Sept 26 Plenkovic The European Parliament (EP) Committee on Civil Liberties will consider the report of MEP Mariya Gabriel on the issue of granting Ukraine a visa-free regime on September 26, the co-chairman of the parliamentary committee of the EU-Ukraine Association, leader of the Croatian Democratic Union Andrej Plenkovic has said. "Next week, on September 26, the Committee on Civil Liberties will vote for the report of Mariya Gabriel, which is very positive in the issue of liberalization of a visa regime for Ukrainian citizens," he said at a meeting of the delegation of European Parliament members with Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman in Kyiv. Plenkovic said he would fully support a prompt consideration of the matter by the European Parliament. Key aspects complicating the matter are a migratory crisis and the need for developing a mechanism to suspend the visa-free regime. "We hope the European Parliament will decide on granting Ukrainian citizens the visa-free regime in the coming weeks," the Ukrainian PM said. click to go to homepage Fall is officially here, folks! This means college-goers around the country are returning to school, and (right on schedule) pundits are worrying about student loan debt. US student loans exceed $1.3 trillion and have doubled since 2009, sparking concerns of a massive, unpayable burden that might shift to taxpayers or keep grads from becoming full-fledged economic contributors. This is a politically potent issue, to be sure. But the data don't suggest matters are anywhere near so dire overall: Few borrowers are troubled, and the majority will likely earn (and contribute) far more than they would absent an education. Investors needn't fear a coming wave of impoverished graduates dragging down the economy or pumping up federal debt. Tuition costs have risen rapidly in recent years, and the federal government is under increasing pressure to step in and relieve indebted students-not just those who attended now-closed private universities like ITT Technical Institutes and Corinthian Colleges, but perhaps all borrowers. Many suggest student debt is just unaffordable and, with 92.5% of student loans ($1.26 trillion) federally issued, the government is already on the hook for most losses-losses the CBO projects will rise 30% over the next decade. The combination of rising defaults and demands for Congress to intervene has many worried that taxpayers could be on the hook for tens, maybe hundreds of billions of dollars. Congress has reacted to recent cries for loan forgiveness in time-honored Congressional fashion: by drafting several student debtor-friendly bills that are now stalled in committee until next year at least. Said differently, after the election. Who's to say whether the 2017 Congress will resurrect the measures, or whether the new president will favor (or prioritize) them? Election-year promises and bill drafts frequently aren't worth the paper they're written on. In addition, the CBO's more pessimistic projection of $170 billion in losses over the next 10 years comes out to just over half of federal spending last month. Not to be dismissive, but student loan defaults are very unlikely to lift federal debt or deficits to dangerous levels, even if the CBO's projection proves true. Student loan fears don't stop with federal debt and deficit worries, though. If consumer spending is over two-thirds of GDP and young people are too indebted to spend, many fear the economy will suffer. But let's weigh this theory. Although some graduates are suffering financially, student loans as a whole aren't imperiled-a fact fixation on total and average debt levels misses. First, the increase in total borrowing over the last dozen years was mainly due to higher enrollment, particularly during the recession.[i] That $1.3 trillion is spread over many, many borrowers. Median monthly payments are low, as are median debt balances: 38% of borrowers have less than $10,000 in outstanding loans. Sensationalist news stories tout rising average debt levels-but these are skewed higher by a small pool of major borrowers (more on this below). Exhibit 1: Distribution of Student Borrowers by Current Debt Balance (in Percent) Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Student Loan Data Report, as of 9/16/2016. Distribution of Borrowers as of Q4 2015. To be sure, delinquency rates are rising too-but this is often the result of choice, not hardship. Don't pay your mortgage, and the bank takes your house. Blow off your car payment, and it's suddenly impounded. No such consequences accompany lagging on student debt-heck, if you make consistent payments on a federal loan for 20 - 25 years,[ii] they can be canceled. If repayment depends on priorities rather than poverty, more late payments doesn't necessarily indicate grads are in dire financial shape. In general, they're actually more likely to be in pretty solid financial shape. The college-educated earn more on average (Exhibit 2) and are employed more often (Exhibit 3). A note on the former: the two top lines show the highest-earning ten percent (or decile, for the statistically inclined) of the college graduate population and the overall population, respectively. The lower two lines show the lowest-earning ten percent for each-in both cases, grads earn more. Exhibit 2: Selected Median Weekly Earnings, January 2006 - June 2016 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 9/15/2016. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as of 9/15/2016. Defaults are concentrated among those who don't graduate, but they typically have much smaller loan balances and account for just 16% of borrowers. The lesson is clear: Don't confuse a few anecdotes about adjunct professors living in poverty after borrowing $200,000 to pursue artsy doctorates with an actual, widespread trend. The outliers get the headlines, but they aren't the norm. (Those with greater than $200,000 outstanding are 0.94% of the 44.2 million borrowers.) In reality, today's biggest debtors-who skew average debt statistics higher-are more likely tomorrow's highest earners. This helps explain why the typical borrower paid off their student loans in just 10 years in 2013, down from more than 20 in 1980. One final set of concerns about student debt centers around borrowers' ability to buy a house, get married and have children. These are common (if far from universal) goals, and student loans may affect decisions about them-but these are personal decisions with little to no bearing on the overall economy. It's a fallacy to presume only married homeowners can earn and spend. A single renter's bills may be different from a married couple with a mortgage, but the former could easily be far better off financially.[iii] For broad equity markets, this doesn't register. Let's take the worst case scenario-mass defaults on that $1.3 trillion pile of student debt. This is still pretty insignificant, even within the US, where total household assets stand at $103.8 trillion. If we're comparing various debt piles, US nonfinancial corporate debt (securities plus loans) exceeds $8.3 trillion. Mortgage debt is a shade under $14 trillion. Even auto loans total above $1 trillion. Look, nothing here is to say college expenses aren't a concern, given quick-rising costs. But it takes a huge, ugly surprise to knock a global bull market off-track. Student debt in one country is negligible. It's also irrelevant for stocks today: Markets care about the next 3-30 months, while the consequences of a smaller-than-expected level of purchasing power among a limited cohort of young workers would play out over a generation. Lastly, as this New York Times article from nearly 30 years ago attests, concerns about overburdened students have been around for decades. Today's round of worrying is more of the same, not a bull-ending shock. Overcoming The Second Steel Crisis Today, advanced economies blame China for steel overcapacity. In reality, four decades ago Washington and Brussels opted for bad policies, which China seeks to transcend. In the G20 summit in Hangzhou, some world leaders had harsh words for Chinas steel overcapacity. Before the summit, President Barack Obama was urged by US lawmakers, unions and trade associations to blame Chinas trade practices for US mill closures and unemployment and to stress the need for aggressive enforcement of US trade remedy laws. In Brussels, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker seconded US concerns. In Canada, steelworkers and producers pressed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to push China for the same reasons. In Japan, Prime Minister Abe called for structural reforms to address Chinas steel overcapacity.Yet, as history shows, the first major steel crisis occurred already in the 1970s, starting in the US and Europe. The postwar steel crisis Since the postwar era, crude steel production has grown in three quite distinct phases. In the postwar era often called the golden era of the advanced economies global steel production grew an impressive 5 percent annually. It was driven by Europes reconstruction and industrialization, and catch-up growth by Japan and the Soviet Union. As this growth period ended with two energy crises, a period of stagnation ensued and global steel demand barely ticked 1.1 percent annually. In the US, the challenges of the Rustbelt led to labor turmoil, offshoring and the Reagan era. In the UK, similar turmoil paved way to the Thatcher years. Some steel growth prevailed but mainly in the smaller Asian tiger economies of Korea and Taiwan, which could not drive the global economy amid the collapse of the Soviet Union and the asset crisis in Japan in the 1990s. A third period ensued between 2000 and 2015 when Chinas entry into the World Trade Organization initiated a period of massive expansion in steel production and demand fueling annual output growth by 13 percent. While Chinas industrialization and urbanization is likely to continue another 10-15 years, the most intensive period of expansion is behind. As a result, the steel sector is facing overcapacity and stagnation for 5 to 15 years. Policy responses in the US and Europe Are Washington and Brussels now urging Beijing to resolve overcapacity by deploying the kind of policies they used in the first postwar steel crisis? No. After the mid-70s, the open trading regime took a step back as aggressive trade practices arose in the US and Europe. The two adopted fairly similar external policy measures but different domestic measures. In the US, policymakers avoided direct intervention in the domestic market and allowed domestic firms to suffer large losses, which resulted in huge plant closures. That translated to substantial reductions of least efficient integrated producers and the rise of more efficient players, including mini-mills. In contrast, Brussels administered a de facto domestic cartel. Economically, the European capacity reductions proved less effective than those in the US, whereas socially Brussels was able to smooth the process of transformation, but mainly in the short-term. As Washington and Brussels sought to protect their markets through non-tariff barriers, they opted for protectionist external policies, which imposed substantial costs on economies and consumers. Chinese objectives In the coal and steel sectors, Chinese government hopes to allocate $15.4 billion in the next two years to help up to 3 million laid-off workers find new jobs, particularly in the service sector. However, unlike US and Europe in the 1970s, Chinese policymakers today are eager to sustain globalization and to intensify world trade and investment, as evidenced by the Hangzhou-hosted G20 Summit, the One Belt One Road initiative as well as the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the BRICS New Development Bank. In the coming years, Beijing is committed to resolving the overcapacity burden but not at the cost of Chinese living standards or those in other emerging economies. Instead, the objective is to sustain Chinas economic rise, while supporting the industrialization of other major emerging economies. And that is very much in the interest of Washington, Brussels and Tokyo as well. Dr. Dan Steinbock is an internationally recognised expert of the nascent multipolar world. He is the CEO of Difference Group and has served as Research Director at the India, China and America Institute (USA) and visiting fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Centre (Singapore). For more, see www.differencegroup.net 2016 Copyright Dan Steinbock - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. What If Clinton Wins US Presidential Election 2016 According to polls, the race to the White House is over. Clinton has won, Trump has lost. If that proves the case, US economic erosion will slow but imperial foreign policy may escalate, which has critical repercussions in Asia. The polls reflect the new status quo. Despite her high unfavorability ratings, Clinton now has the support of every second registered voter, whereas Trump, with his high unfavorability ratings, can rely only on every third. As a result, Clintons likely voters nationwide amount to 45-50 percent, as against Trumps 35-40 percent. Campaign financing tells the same story. By early August, Clinton had raised $365 million in big money financing, almost a third of it outside money. In contrast, Trump had barely $100 million, only a tenth of it outside money. Four of every five dollars in the Clinton campaign has come from large corporations and Wall Street, big lobbyists and big unions, not ordinary Americans.How did we get here? Questionable choices By suppressing the dissent of Bernie Sanderss center-left opposition in the Democratic convention, Hillary Clinton consolidated leadership, while attracting some dissatisfied Republicans and Reagan Democrats who favor hawkish foreign policy but progressive social policy. But afterwards, Clinton faced huge political headwinds as FBI Director James Corney testified that she had shown reckless disregard with highly-classified emails, while multiple FBI investigations (which the Obama administration sought to deter) are underway into the Clinton Foundation. The rising public storm paved way to a triumphant Republican convention in which Trump could have sustained a semblance of unity. Instead, he stumbled on his mouth by quarreling about a US Muslim soldier killed in action and with the Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, lost voters in several swing states and polarized division among Republicans. The pessimist take is that the Trump campaign is amid a meltdown, while Trump seeks to save his face and might withdraw. In turn, Republican leaders such as Mitch McConnell are considering a replacement. According to party rules, it would be a logistical nightmare, but technically possible. In that case, Trump would have to remove himself; or the GOP would have to remove Trump. That would pave the way for Trumps Vice President Mike Pence, or Paul Ryan. While conservative Ted Cruz might try, he would not get majority support. There would also be many dark horses. Of course, die-hards cannot believe that Trump could be fired. Besides, Trump shows no signs of resignation. Consequently, they expect Trump to stage a fantastic comeback. Intriguingly, the shifts in the polls do not reflect voters perceptions about Americas direction and priorities. Most Americans believe that the top priority in the 2016 election is economy, while two thirds believe that America is heading in the wrong direction. Heres the contradiction in a nutshell: In November, most Americans will knowingly vote for a president they do not particularly like, dont really trust and who they believe will continue to take America in the wrong direction. If this scenario will materialize, what kind of economic and foreign policies will the Clinton administration opt for? More economic erosion Clinton has promised to create 10 million new jobs in America in the next four years. In reality, that does not require miracles. Thanks to demographics and output potential, US economy should create some 200,000-250,000 new jobs on a monthly basis, which means 2.4-3 million annually; that is, 9.6-12 million new jobs in four years. Ironically, it could be undermined by the kind of assertive foreign policy that Clinton supports. Clinton has promised to expand programs for poor Americans and to increase contributions from the prosperous. Her discretionary spending relies on $1.1 trillion for infrastructure, universal pre-school and tuition assistance, paid family leave and so on. To alleviate America's income polarization, she advocates 4% surtax on incomes above $5 million, raising rates on medium-term capital gains and estate tax rate to 45%. It is a centrist plan that will not overcome US inequity. Today, US economy faces a massive sovereign debt burden, which amounts to $19.4 trillion (105% of the GDP). Nevertheless, Washington still lacks a credible, bipartisan, medium-term debt plan. Clinton believes that rising debt is a national security risk and her economic program would reduce it in relative terms by 2026. Like Sanders, she would probably reduce the deficit through tax increases, with limited cuts to discretionary spending; unlike Sanders, she would not challenge the Wall Streets financial aristocracy or reduce military spending. In view of consensus projections, by 2026 US debt will soar by half to $29.3 trillion (106% of GDP), assuming fairly ambitious real GDP growth rate of 1.7% next decade. But it does not include downside risks, such as monetary exhaustion, immigration decline, recession, or geopolitical crises. Instead, a less ambitious growth rate of 1.2% would cause the debt-to-GDP ratio climb to 115-120%. In relative terms, this is comparable to the Greek burden at the eve of its sovereign crisis in 2009. The tiny Greek crisis shook Europe; the huge US debt crisis would rock the world. Toward military friction After his Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, President Obama was widely expected to scale back Americas commitments overseas, particularly George W. Bushs long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and shift responsibilities to allies. Instead, the Obama White House has authorized deployments in Syria, is rethinking troop drawdown in Afghanistan, considering sending more troops to Iraq and Syria, expanding the fight with ISIS to North, West and East Africa (e.g., Nigeria, Libya, Somalia), and spending more for sending heavy weaponry to Eastern and Central Europe to counter Russia. The US military is now actively engaged in more countries than when Obama took office. In the Clinton era, US military policy would be more costly, assertive, and global. She is unlikely to cut military spending even though the US already spends $600 billion on defense more than the next seven countries combined, according to SIPRI. While the US pivot to Asia began in Obamas first term, it was first framed by Clinton, as foreign secretary. In that role, she promoted the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); but to beat Sanders, she turned against it. As president, she might flip-flop again and support it. She also supported the shift of 60 percent of US military ships to Asia Pacific; a decision that has toughened attitudes in China and contributed to increasing rearmament and conflict escalation in the region. Thats why neoconservative leaders, led by Robert Kagan, have rushed behind Clintons campaign. Thats also why 50 former GOP national security leaders recently slammed Trump who would like to renegotiate US pacts with its allies. They wanted to ensure the continuity of US military-industrial complex and the expansive foreign policy but Clinton will reap the political benefits. Even after the global crisis and Chinas growth deceleration, Asia may have generated wealth amounting to twice the size of Germany into the world economic map. In the 21st century, the worlds economic future relies on peace in the region. If the massive US military transfer is really meant for stabilization, it would contribute to peace. If not, it will split the region, slow China's rise and the catch-up of emerging Asia. That, in turn, could undermine the promise of the Asian Century. Dr. Dan Steinbock is an internationally recognised expert of the nascent multipolar world. He is the CEO of Difference Group and has served as Research Director at the India, China and America Institute (USA) and visiting fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Centre (Singapore). For more, see www.differencegroup.net 2016 Copyright Dan Steinbock - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Heres How the EUs Crisis Is Tearing NATO Apart BY KAMRAN BOKHARI : NATO has been searching for relevance for a generation. Now, as the EU faces a meltdown, the fate of NATO is even more unclear. European nations are more and more discontent with the EU. The aftermath of Brexit, and the banking crisis that has spread from Italy to Germany, only inflame the tension. As a result, major European powers are less likely to play a bigger role in NATO. The lack of a clear mission has plagued NATO since the Soviet Union collapsed. Since then, NATO's European members have had less incentive to bear the costs of collective security. Add to that Europes current financial constraints, and members have even less incentive to do so. Germany sees NATO as a low priority Well before the EU crisis, Germany tried to balance between Russia and the West. This added to the discord in the Western camp over how to deal with Russia. Germany wants to raise defense spending and its security role in Europe. But with a looming exporters crisis and a bank crisis, NATO is now a low priority for the Germans. The EUs dispute over how to deal with the financial crisis will only worsen the discord in NATO. Germany doesnt want to bail out financially distressed southern Europe. The security of nations on Russia's periphery is also not high on their priorities list. Despite all assurances, these states have to worry about their national security. If the EU broke down, NATO might be next. At the 2016 NATO summit in Warsaw, US President Barack Obama assured the Europeans that they could count on the US for their security needs. But these nations also know that the US relies on regional players to take the lead. This is good news for Russia Tensions in the EU forced Eastern nations to reassess how much they can count on NATO. Fortunately, the Russians have their own crisis due to the drop in energy prices and sanctions. The Kremlin is in no position to take further action in Eastern Europe. However, the existential crisis of the EU leaves Eastern Europe mired in uncertainty. From Russia's point of view, the EU falling apart is positive. Russian media continue to report on NATO's hostile actions following the Warsaw summit. But the Russians know that the Europeans are in crisis. Russia also knows that European nations are too busy dealing with their own problems to put up a fight. Russia is unlikely to be able to reverse the losses it has incurred in Ukraine. But at the same time, Europe in crisis puts arrestors in the path of NATO expansion. Watch George Friedman's Ground-Breaking Documentary Crisis & Chaos: Are We Moving Toward World War III? The decline of supranational stakeholders like the EU and NATO is one symptom of a storm of instability engulfing a region thats home to 5 billion of the planets 7 billion people. In this provocative documentary from Mauldin Economics and Geopolitical Futures, George Friedman uncovers the crises convulsing Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and reveals the geopolitical chess moves that could trigger global conflict. Register for the online premiere now. John Mauldin Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. France and Germany Call to TTIP End Trade Talks with the US BY ANTONIA COLIBASANU : The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations have failed. The TTIP is the trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the United States. German Economic Affairs Minister Sigmar Gabriel and French Foreign Trade Minister Matthias Fekl have both called for an end to talks. This failure confirms our prediction that the EU's power is decaying. Moreover, this turn of events accents the division between Western and Eastern Europe. The TTIP negotiations started in 2013. The trade deal was meant to both enhance the EU-US relationship and help the EU overcome its economic problems. The TTIP would increase economic integration. The TTIP could have a huge impact on global trade too. Some see it as the EUs most ambitious international trade project. But the integration of the EU itself is not complete. The sovereign debt crisis has increased anti-EU sentiment throughout the EU. TTIP as a campaign issue TTIP is now a hot topic. The German anti-TTIP camp staged a large protest on Sept. 17. In France, National Front President Marine Le Pen has been the loudest opponent to the agreement. She called it an atomic bomb for the French economy. In April, she asked French President Francois Hollande to end the talks. European political parties will need to discuss the TTIP in upcoming elections. Brexit taught them to listen more closely to public opinion. And public opinion is against the TTIP. The lack of transparency in the negotiation process is a big concern. Limited protection for national producers and consumers is another. The anti-TTIP camp has claimed that the US would get more from the deal than the EU. Critics dont like that the talks are behind closed doors. They claim the lack of transparency is meant to hide the fact that the agreement will force the EU to give in to US rules. They have no proof. Yet they still argue that the EU Commission is not serving Europes interests. With Europes current socio-economic problems as the backdrop, protectionism is gaining ground. And this protectionism is further dividing the EU. Politicians have changed their stance toward the EU. They are ignoring EU policies. They are challenging Brussels. All to gain a few more votes. In any case, the talks are likely to have no results before the end of 2016. The summer months were slow. The US has elections soon. And European politicians are trying to ignore the TTIP. But that ploy wont work. European leaders pursue their own interests Germany must be a leader in the EU. Its influence has been growing as the economic crisis continues. This became even clearer after the Brexit vote. Germany does not want to seem assertive, but it can no longer avoid it. It needs to keep Europe together for the sake of the German economy. So, it must lead. France also wants to keep the EU together. It works closely with other member states on both economic and security issues. Germany and France feel responsible for the evolution of the EU. But they must also make decisions based on their national interests. Thats why Germany, France, and Italy held a trilateral meeting prior to the post-Brexit summit with other members on Sept. 14. Western Europe vs. Eastern Europe Calling for a halt on TTIP talks is supposed to signal that the EU doesnt bend to every US whim. But most Eastern European governments in the EU support the TTIP. For them, the TTIP means enhanced transatlantic relations. And being able to sell to the US would be an economic boon. It also ensures strategic security and military relations. Security risks are different for Western and Eastern Europe. The West is concerned with terrorism. The East sees Russia as its main security threat. Some Eastern EU members already have partnerships with the US. The news on halting the talks likely will be disturbing for them. They understand the TTIP would not have created the economic ties needed to support strategic relations. Such treaties only facilitate relationships. To the Eastern member states, the news highlights the disintegration of the EU. The East sees the West as no longer appreciating transatlantic ties at least, not as much as it does. The East translates this into the potential for growing Russian influence in that region. The TTIP negotiations were expected to last for a long time. The EUs problemswhich the TTIP was supposed to help solvewould make negotiations difficult. Since Brexit, domestic concerns based on socio-economic problems have grown. Calls for protectionism have increased national governments power and weakened the EUs. The calls to halt the TTIP negotiations may or may not have an impact on the talks. They mean much more as an omen for the future of the EU. And the way the EU evolves will establish the relevance of the TTIP or any other international agreement that the EU signs. Watch George Friedman's Groundbreaking Documentary Crisis & Chaos: Are We Moving Toward World War III? The implosion of the TTIP negotiations is part of a storm of instability engulfing a region thats home to 5 billion of the planets 7 billion people. In this provocative documentary from Mauldin Economics and Geopolitical Futures, George Friedman uncovers the crises convulsing Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and reveals the geopolitical chess moves that could trigger global conflict. Register for the online premiere now. John Mauldin Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. We do not have money for police uniforms, wages - National police chief to MPs The proper legislative provision and financing are the main elements of the successful work of Ukrainian policemen, Ukrainian National Police Chief Khatia Dekanoidze has said. "It is important when the Verkhovna Rada supports the National Police We do not have money and budget to provide the policemen with clothes and shoes," she said on Wednesday, speaking at a meeting of the parliamentary committee for legal provision of law enforcement. She said that the figures for crime growth have never been hidden. "Yes, crimes have increased by 23%," she said, explaining that more than a half of them involve property disputes. "The problem is that our people are getting poorer," she said. She also spoke about police cars damaged in car accidents. She said accidents happened earlier, but no one reported them. . Dekanoidze said that each tenth crime is committed by persons released under the so-called "Savchenko" law (the law on improving the procedure for counting preliminary detention as part of the term of sentence), adding that some 34,000 convicts will be released under the measure. She called on the lawmakers to provide the National Police with legal support and proper financing. In addition, the police chief asked MPs not to involve the National Police in politics. The Last Time We Saw This Was Before World War II BY GEORGE FRIEDMAN : Europe and Asia, taken together, are the heart of humanity. Thats where 5 billion out of the 7 billion people in the world live. When instability comes to this part of the world, it shakes humanity. Thats why the geopolitical pattern developing in Eurasia is so ominous. It is like a hurricaneabsorbing huge amounts of energy from the ocean, using that energy to build a vast, integrated structure, and then destroying whatever it touches. The Eurasian landmass is the main source of that kind of energy in the world. When the various regions start to destabilize and then join together, it creates a geopolitical storm. We are now watching to see whether a hurricane will form. Parallels with World War II This is not a phenomenon we see often. The last time we saw it was before World War II when every region in Eurasia started to destabilize. The destabilized areas then merged into one single integrated conflict, and it caused devastation throughout the region. First lets focus on the situation before World War II. Europe entered a massive economic depression after World War I. These economic problems led to political problems and the rise of Hitler and Mussolini. They also led to militarization. In the Soviet Union, the revolution led to massive economic dislocation, starvation, and politically, to dictatorship and mass murder. The Middle East was relatively stable, save that the Arabs deeply resented the British domination of the region and were quietly organizing against it. In India too, an anti-British movement led by Mahatma Gandhi politically destabilized the sub-continent. In Japan, a militaristic government took control and went to war with China in the 1930s. China had already been in the grips of a civil war when the Japanese invasion compounded it. Each of these regional storms was different, but each began to interact with other regions. The economic problem in Europe affected Russia, and Russia sought to use Europes problems to create a political revolution there. Russia aided various factions in China, while Japan saw Europes domination of Southeast Asia as unacceptable. These storms gathered and merged in the 1930s, exploding in a war that not only drew in every part of the Eurasian landmass, but drew in the United States as well. It was World War II. The 21st century hurricane is forming We are now at the period when all regions of Eurasia are experiencing gathering storms. In Europe, the failure of the European Union since 2008 has created economic instability that is becoming political. Russia is in the midst of economic and political problems and has moved to military action in Ukraine and Syria. The Middle East is in military and economic chaos, now expanding to include economic problems due to oil prices. China has had a massive economic downturn, as has Japan, and in China the storm has become political, with the imposition of a tough dictatorship. Central Asian countries are undergoing economic crises because of oil prices, and their governments have become unstable. India alone is no more unstable than it usually is. The regional storms are intensifying, and they are merging. The Middle East crisis has affected Europe with migration and terrorism. European forces have been involved in the Middle East and have imposed economic sanctions on Russia. Russia is deeply involved in Syria and jockeying for Turkish and Iranian support. The Russians and Chinese are both imposing political pressure on Central Asia in order to take advantage of their energy supplies should prices rise. China is projecting power into the South and East China Seas and engaging Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia in a near-war situation. No single overwhelming hurricane has formed, but the pattern that has emerged is generally similar to the pattern that existed in the early to mid-1930s. And that pattern turned into the greatest war in history. What we see now is each region (India excepted) destabilizing, and the storms beginning to touch. The issue is, of course, what happens next. Watch George Friedman's Groundbreaking Documentary Crisis & Chaos: Are We Moving Toward World War III? Russian adventurism. An ailing EU. Devastation in the Middle East. These are just three symptoms of a systemic instability engulfing a region thats home to 5 billion of the planets 7 billion people. In this provocative documentary from Mauldin Economics and Geopolitical Futures, George Friedman uncovers the crises convulsing Europe, the Middle East and Asia and reveals the geopolitical chess moves that could trigger global conflict. Register for the online premiere now. John Mauldin Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. STUART Ruby Asburys interest in genealogy started at a young age, when two of her great uncles on her mothers side moved to Washington state. They corresponded with Asburys mother, father and grandmother through letters. Ive always been interested, but that started my interest, Asbury said. Seven weeks ago, Asbury took her fascination public and started a genealogy group at the Patrick County branch of the Blue Ridge Regional Library. There, she teaches others how to learn more about their ancestry using free online resources like FamilySearch.com. Last Thursday, Melba Curtis, Linda Wilson and Ralph Hunt joined the search for their ancestors. I knew my grandfather and great grandfather. We worked together on the farm, Hunt said. Asbury said that she liked to start each class off with a surprise for one of the researchers. Today, the surprise is for Ralph, Asbury said. The instructor handed Hunt a memorial she printed off of FindAGrave.com, a website manned by volunteers who post pictures of tombstones. Oftentimes, contributors post a list of those directly related to the people memorialized on the stone, like parents, spouses, siblings and children. Thats my granddad and my great granddad, Ralph said when he saw the sheet. He glanced through the names on the paper related to John Edward Hunt. I knew a lot of them personally, but they were old when I was young, Hunt said. After the big reveal, Asbury started the weeks lesson, a class on proper documentation. If youre just keeping a paper record, put it all in a 3-ring binder census records, everything. If you go to a cemetery, you need to make some notes as to why youre going to that cemetery, Asbury said. Documenting each movement either online or in the field helps genealogists organize their search. Looking back over solid resources, patrons know where theyve been, what theyve seen and if they need to go back. I wish I would have done this, because Ive got a lot of stuff, but I dont know where I got it from, Curtis said. Curtis has travelled far and wide in search of her great-great-great-grandmother. We were told she was a Cherokee Indian. Ive gone to Arkansas and Oklahoma, but shes not there. She didnt go west. One source said she went to Alabama and lived happily ever after. I dont know what happened to her, Curtis said. One tip led Curtis to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she believes her relative could have owned land along the Tennessee River near Moccasin Bend. Still, her search ended cold. Ive been looking. I started writing this down in the 70s, Curtis said. Wilson enjoyed learning about her ancestry. I havent found any horse thieves in my family, any swindlers, Wilson said. However, Wilson did speak of a black sheep in her kinfolk, Henry Howland. He was a bit of a rogue, Wilson said. According to her research, Howland whose brother, John, sailed on the Mayflower had an affair. When its formed on religious freedom, that behavior is unacceptable, Wilson said. After finding out about her relative, she added Howland and a few others to her family tree online. I started filling in some names, and it took off, Wilson said. For those interested in learning more about their own ancestry, the library hosts its genealogy class every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. For more information, call the library at (276) 694-3352. Ukrainian army positions came under 14 attacks in Donbas in the past 24 hours, the army operation press center said on Facebook on Thursday. Five shelling incidents were seen in the Donetsk sector, it said, adding that grenade launchers, machineguns and small arms were fired near Avdiyivka, while Zaitseve came under attack of a 120mm mortar. Eight shelling incidents occurred in the Mariupol sector, it said. Harassing fire of grenade launchers, large-caliber machineguns and small arms was observed near Maryinka, Starohnativka and Novotroitske. There was one attack in the Luhansk sector: small arms were fired near Novo-Oleksandrivka. No drones were seen flying in the army operation zone over the past day, the report said. MARTINSVILLE-Donna Collins vividly recalls the day she met her husband Phillip. "I was working in the City Clerks Office and he was working at Townes Furniture," she said. "He would bring the contracts that people had signed to be recorded." After Phillip was drafted and served in the military, the couple married in 1967 and had two children a son, Brian, and a daughter, Ann Marie. Their lives seemed like an American dream. That is, until March of 2006, when Phillip suffered a stroke which changed their lives in more ways than one. The doctors told me he couldnt be left alone for more than 30 minutes, Donna said. Working at the time, Donna asked Phillip if he wanted her to quit her job or make others arrangements. I thought of this place, she said, speaking of Edwards Adult Day Center in Martinsville. The nonprofit day center helps those who experience difficulty caring for themselves. Seeking options, Donna and Phillip visited the facility. The staff and services impressed Donna right away. The first thing they asked was is he a veteran, she said. On May 1, 2006, Phillip experienced his first full day at Edwards Adult Day Center. He came in and loved it, Donna said. In fact, Phillip loved the center so much that when Donna retired in August of 2007, he wanted to keep going. I asked him how many days he wanted to go to the daycare and he said every day. Hes been coming ever since, Donna said. While the facility offers necessities like breakfast and lunch, they also participate in community outings and activities. In the fall, clients will have lunch at El Parrell Mexican Restaurant in Martinsville, make autumn crafts and visit an apple orchard. Coming here keeps his cognitive skills sharp and keeps him stimulated, Donna said. As a caregiver, Phillips wife expressed her appreciation for the day center. It gives him a break from me and me a break from him, which every caregiver needs, Donna said. On Sept. 27, 1983, former President Ronald Reagan publicly announced a week set aside to honor the services day centers, like Edwards, provide. I call upon every American community to consider the value of adult day care centers and to give appropriate recognition to centers offering these important services throughout that week, Reagans proclamation read. Since its inception, the third week of September is recognized as National Adult Day Care Center Week. This week, Edwards Adult Day Center decided to honor the everyday caregivers who often work behind-the-scenes. On Monday, the center acknowledged caregivers like Donna with a spa day. Its a day to be pampered, said Donna. During the event, caregivers were treated to massages, manicures and haircuts. There also were door prizes and Mary Kay consultations, and lunch was provided We do it to make our caregivers realize how important and special they are, Executive Director Patsy Dillard said. They (caregivers) put their (clients) interests before their own. This is to say thank you to them. On Friday, the center will host a participant and volunteer appreciation day. They will serve light refreshments, give awards and host activities. To register for the event, call Dillard at (276) 666-9400. RIDGEWAY Martinsville Speedway has received a $50,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corp. as reimbursement for expenses associated with marketing the STP 500 NASCAR race last spring. The grant is one of 43, totaling $927,000, announced by Gov. Terry McAuliffe for tourist attractions statewide. Were excited that the VTC sees the value in Martinsville Speedway and what we bring to our region, said speedway President Clay Campbell. Were able to put this money toward advertising and expanding our footprint, which will help us attract more people to the racetrack. The more people we can bring in for the race, the more money is spent in our local economy, Campbell said. Whether its hotel rooms, food or gas, people are coming here and supporting Martinsville and Henry County. Grant recipients are expected to partner with local entities to provide matching funds. According to officials, the speedway partnered with the Martinsville/Henry County Chamber of Commerce and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) and came up with $24,250 in matching funds. Having previously received a similar VTC grant, the speedway undertook marketing efforts with the hope that the grant would be received, said Director of Sales Stacey Caldwell. The money was used for advertising and marketing to areas that the speedway otherwise would not have been able to reach without taking money away from promoting the track in other places, officials said. Brooks Taylor, the speedways public relations director, said the money was targeted to the Raleigh-Durham metropolitan area in North Carolina. Its a large market, Taylor said. There are a lot of people in that area, and its within two hours (travel time) of our racetrack. People there may not realize how close they are to it. Taylor added that the speedway saw an increase in visitors from the Raleigh-Durham area, but he was not able to immediately determine a percentage. Were delighted to help Martinsville Speedway secure this grant to leverage their marketing budget because NASCAR racing is a huge generator of tourism revenue in Martinsville-Henry County and the surrounding region, said EDC Tourism Division Director Jennifer Doss. Our strong partnership with the speedway enables us to collaborate and help new visitors to the track become lifelong fans that want to return again and again. We want to support Martinsville Speedway anyway we can, said chamber President Amanda Witt. They are by far the biggest economic driver and generator of tourism in our area and we want to help expand their reach into new markets. The VTC Marketing Leverage Program grants provide tourism businesses with a powerful funding resource to market themselves to travelers both across the United States and internationally, McAuliffe said in a news release. These funds provide localities and businesses across the Commonwealth with the necessary resources to continue to attract visitors and increase demand for Virginia products in the global marketplace. This funding cycle, recipients are expected to match grant money with more than $2.3 million of their own, resulting in more than $3.2 million in new marketing efforts to increase visitation to Virginia, the release stated. These grants are significant for the Virginia tourism industry, as more than 70 percent of tourism businesses have annual marketing budgets of less than $10,000, added state Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore. Every dollar invested in these grants resulted in $16 of direct visitor spending. Marketing campaigns funded through the grants have increased overall visitation at tourist attractions in the state by 15 percent, according to Haymore. This kind of effective marketing results in more travelers coming to Virginia to stay longer and spend more money, injecting critical dollars into our economy, he said. In 2015, state officials said, tourism generated $23 billion in revenue, supported approximately 222,600 jobs and provided $1.6 billion in state and local taxes in Virginia. MARTINSVILLE A man has pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) to a charge of assault and battery against a family or household member third offense. On Monday in Martinsville Circuit Court, Judge G. Carter Greer convicted Graylin E. Claybrooks, 36, of 915 Askin Street, Martinsville, of that charge and sentenced him to five years of incarceration, suspended except for time served, on conditions of three years of probation, three years of good behavior and that he complete a substance abuse assessment and anger management. According to a Virginia Department of Criminal Justices Services website, If you plead nolo contendere (no contest), you stated that while you do not wish to plead guilty you agree that the prosecutor has sufficient evidence that the court would find you guilty. This is considered the same as pleading guilty as far as the conviction is concerned. According to a criminal complaint, arrest warrant and indictment, at 6:03 a.m. on May 2, Investigator C.S. Boblett of the Martinsville Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance at 915 Askin St. On arrival, he found the front window broken out, and he could hear loud voices inside but couldnt make out what was being said. Claybrooks and Kristina Hall (co-habitant) came to the door when Boblett knocked, and Hall alleged Claybrooks struck her in the head and grabbed her arm. She requested an ambulance. MARTINSVILLE-For as long as art has commanded a high price, there have been art forgers, according to Dr. Donald Schrader. Schrader, who is adjunct professor of art history at the University of Mary Washington, offered the presentation Faking It A Look at the History of Art Forgery at Piedmont Arts on Tuesday evening, part of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Speakers on the Arts series. A specialist in Italian Renaissance art who received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, Schrader discussed a wide range of forgers and forgeries. In the modern age, Schrader talked about Eric Hebborn, a star art forger of the 1990s. Eric Hebborn was quite a scoundrel, Schrader said. Very entertaining, too, as many scoundrels are. He wrote an autobiography, Drawn to Trouble and he also wrote The Art Forgers Handbook, something purporting to tell how he actually did it. He has some legitimate recipes for making materials to imitate old drawings and paintings, but it also contains some outright lies that if anyone tried to pass as a forgery would be caught in an instant. Hebborn was perhaps too much of a scoundrel, Schrader said, and shortly after his handbook was published, he fell in with some Mafia types and was found murdered on the streets of Rome. Not all forgers are scoundrels, however. According to Schrader, the famous Renaissance artist Michelangelo produced a forgery early in his career, a copy of a sleeping Eros statue (Cupids Greek counterpart). He buried it under pine trees so it could get a nice patina of age and sold it to a Cardinal, Schrader said. Ultimately, the story of who really made it got out, and the Cardinal made the dealer give him his money back. Michelangelo tried to buy it, but by this time, Michelangelos reputation was increasing and the dealer wouldnt sell it to him, because it was by Michelangelo. It doesnt survive today it was lost in a fire in the late 17th century. Michelangelo was not above this kind of skullduggery, but hes been the victim of it too. Among other tales of famous art forgery, Schrader also told the story of a clever ruse orchestrated in the early 1500s by the Duke of Florence, Cosimo II de Medici. Federico Gonzaga, the Duke of Mantua, paid a visit to de Medici and professed his admiration for a Raphael painting in de Medicis collection. The picture was Cosimos great uncle, Pope Leo, Schrader said. Pope Leo was the first Medici Pope. When a prince admires something in another princes collection, hes asking for it, and youre obliged to give it to him. However, de Medici didnt want to give up the painting, so he told Gonzaga that he was having a new frame made for the painting and he would send the painting to Gonzaga as soon as the frame was complete. Instead, he called in the painter Andrea del Sarto and had him and his young assistant, Giorgio Vasari, create a copy, which was sent to Gonzaga. Years later, Vasari goes to visit the court of Mantua and there meets someone hed known years before, Giulio Romano, Schrader said. Giulio Romano was Raphaels principal assistant, and in 1520 had taken a job in Mantua as the court artist. Vasari told Giulio Romano the story about how they had made this copy. Romano said, I dont believe it, because I worked on this painting as Raphaels assistant, and I recognize my own brush strokes there. Vasari said, Well, we made a mark so we could tell the two apart. Its on the back. He described the mark, and Giulio Romano sent for assistants who took the painting from the wall, and indeed, the mark Vasari described was there. Giulio Romano preferred to be big about it, and said that he valued it all the more, because it had Raphaels design and the skill of Andrea del Sarto in one painting, Schrader added. But of course, it was a forgery. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in New York City met Hungarian President Janos Ader and agreed on stepping up a bilateral political dialog at the highest level. The press service of the Ukrainian president reported on Wednesday that Ader confirmed the unwavering support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and continuation of the policy of sanctions against Russia. The Hungarian President supported the provision of the visa-free regime for Ukraine as soon as possible. Poroshenko thanked Hungary for the provision of financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and treatment of Ukrainian military. The parties agreed on enhancing economic cooperation, particularly in the spheres of energy, agriculture and infrastructure projects. Ader confirmed his participation in the activities on the 75th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy that will be held on September 29 in Kyiv. Indian-occupied Kashmir has been in revolt since the killing of Burhani Wani, a commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen group, by Indian troops on 8 July. The killing sparked a massive protest movement across the whole of the Kashmir Valley. The Indian state has responded brutally, imposing a draconian curfew, killing over 80 people and injuring thousands. We publish here a comment on the present situation by Yasir Irshad, a Marxist of the IMT in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Once again war drums are beating in India and Pakistan. The ruling classes in both countries are trying to divert the attention of the masses away from protests and strikes and want to create war hysteria to whip up patriotism. The nuclear arsenals and huge armies built up with the millions paid as taxes by the people living in poverty and misery on both sides will get a big boost in the coming days. The main reason behind this war-mongering is the revolutionary mass movement in Indian-occupied Kashmir. This mass movement has been going on for the last two and half months, and despite all the oppressive measures it is growing in intensity with every passing day. More than eighty-six people have been killed so far, while hundreds have been injured by the shooting and torture carried out by the Indian armed forces. A terrorist attack tried to sabotage this marvellous revolutionary movement for freedom in Uri on 18 September near the Line of Control. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed and thirty were injured in the attack. India blames Pakistan for this terrorist attack and has provided evidence for their claims, while Pakistan denies these accusations. In fact, the ruling classes on both sides are trying to use this situation to further their imperialist interests and clamp down on internal dissent of the impoverished masses. Meanwhile, the streets in Indian-occupied Kashmir have been turned into a battleground between the barbaric state forces of the Indian army, armed to the teeth with lethal weapons, and unarmed but resolute Kashmiri youth. This new phase of intense mass struggle was triggered by the killing of Burhan Wani on July 8 of this year. This incident transformed the accumulated anger and hatred against poverty, unemployment, lack of basic facilities and, above all, the Indian occupation of Kashmir into a mass movement. [See video of clashes here] As the news of the killing of Wani spread, tens of thousands of people poured into the streets protesting against the brutality of the state forces. The authorities imposed a curfew to curb the protests, but more than forty thousand people attended the funeral defying the curfew. In spite of the curfew, the daily street protests and clashes with the security forces have continued. This is the longest curfew in the history of Kashmir, which is now entering its eightieth day. The unarmed stone pelters are met with live ammunition and pellet gun firing. On top of the eighty six people already killed, more than five hundred have suffered pellet injuries in one or both eyes and have lost their eyesight. More than five thousand have been injured so far and thousands more have arrested and are facing torture. And yet the situation is becoming worse with each passing day as every new killing adds more fuel to the fire. More than two and half months of curfew and strict restrictions, along with brutal repression and mass arrests, have failed to suppress the movement. Such is the intensity of the movement that for the first time in the history of Kashmir the Indian army was forced to stop the Eid prayers, a religious ceremony scheduled for 13 September in which thousands take part every year. The Indian forces feared that this gathering would turn into a political event and would lead to mass protests. During this movement every gathering of the youth and the masses turns into a political agitation. In some areas where Eid prayers did take place they virtually turned into a protest against state brutalities. The present unrest is not an accident. On the contrary, it is an inevitable outcome of the process of accumulated anger and rage against the occupying force. Although the movement erupted suddenly on 8 July, there had been a gradual and quantitative development over a period of several years. During this period the anger against the rulers and the occupying forces was accumulating along with the rising economic and social problems which flow from the global decline and crisis of capitalism. As Badrul Duja writes in his 31 July article posted on the youth ki awaz website: The floods of 2014 are the biggest example where no proper package for financial assistance was provided by the Centre to the Valley. (...) Besides, out of the amount given by Centre to the State, 500 crores were taken by the Defence Ministry for the Armys work during the floods from the State Disaster Relief Fund. Did the Army demand such a bill for the floods in Tamil Nadu or Uttarakhand? (...) The most anticipated scheme of the Central government was the Prime Ministers Special Scholarship Scheme for Kashmiri students which was introduced during UPAs second tenure. It is now in shambles. Thousands of Kashmiri students were forced to leave their colleges and universities outside Kashmir as the Central government has not paid for their expenses. Since 1989 there have been wave after wave of protests, armed rebellions and political movements against Indian occupation, with mass eruptions followed by relative ebbs in the struggle to be followed by renewed and more powerful uprisings. The determination of the Kashmiri masses, especially of the youth, in the struggle for freedom of their homeland has attained such astonishingly high levels that it is hard to find any other such example apart from the struggle of the Palestinians. It shows time and again that no matter how big the repression is, it cannot keep the masses and youth of Kashmir down. The Kashmiri youth is defiant in spite of the fact that, As per the research conducted by Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society entitled Structures of Violence, Kashmir is the worlds highest militarised zone with the strength of the armed forces within the state, between 6.5 lakh (656,638) to 7.5 lakh (750,981). [source] There are dozens of social and economic reasons behind these periodical eruptions of mass protest movements in Kashmir, but above all it is the occupation by Indian imperialist forces. During the last one and a half decades militancy in Kashmir was at a low ebb and the support for militants among the ordinary masses had also declined. However, the Kashmiri youth can give up arms but never their struggle for freedom. Peaceful protests against military check-posts were met with brutal repression. The demands for any basic right, such as employment, better healthcare and education facilities or freedom of speech, were considered as crimes against the state and therefore handled with an iron fist. Kashmiri students across India have been facing discrimination at the hands of right-wing nationalists and extremists. They are humiliated and accused of being traitors and Pakistani agents, simply because they are fighting for their freedom. The majority of the Indian intelligentsia not only strongly believe this scandalous narrative of the oppressive ruling class against the freedom struggle of Kashmir, but they always surpass them at all critical moments. Together with this, the Pakistani state has been sponsoring Jihad (holy war) in Indian-occupied Kashmir and hundreds of youth from Pakistan were trained and sent to organize armed struggle in the 1990s. This armed struggle on the one side divided the freedom struggle along religious lines, and on the other provided the Indian state with an excuse for more repression, torture and killings. This method failed in the end, and Kashmiris remained under both Pakistani and Indian occupation while most of the Kashmir leadership became pawns in the hands of one or other state. The attack in Uri and its aftermath clearly shows that the ruling classes on both sides want to repeat this method used in the 1990s to derail the real movement of the masses. It is a well-known fact that the freedom struggle is mostly limited to the Muslim population of the Valley, as the Hindu majority area of Jammu and the Buddhist area of Ladakh remain peaceful. Some religious slogans chanted by the Kashmiri protesters are common to Muslims of all lands, therefore neither these slogans nor a few flags of Pakistan in a rally of thousands can prove that all Kashmiris are traitors or that their heroic struggle against Indian occupation is Pakistani sponsored. In fact, it is in the interest of the Indian imperialist state that there should be some elements which can be blamed as being Pakistani sponsored, so as to unleash vicious repression and gain the sympathy of the Indian masses. Therefore if there are no such elements they have to be created deliberately, either by itself or with the covert help of someone else, the stakeholder in this conflict. However, this raising of Pakistani flags has another significant feature. The Kashmiri youth are facing severe repression at the hands of the Indian state and want revenge, even at the cost of their own lives. The only symbol they can use to show their extreme hatred and revulsion towards the Indian armed forces is by raising the Pakistani flag. This doesnt mean that they are sponsored by Pakistan or wish to join another barbaric state. Apparently, and hypocritically, the Pakistani rulers support the freedom struggle of Kashmir, but only in the Indian-occupied area, but through this support they actually help India to crush the movement by many different ways. First of all, Pakistan portrays each protest in a distorted way to prove its own state version of diplomatic lies about the issue. In a protest of 40 or 50 thousand people in the streets of Srinagar, if five or ten people wave Pakistani flags, the Pakistani media portrays all the protesters as pro-Pakistan and that is precisely what India needs to crush the movement and that is what the Pakistan ruling class is providing its so called rival in a moment of difficulty. The Pakistani rulers are suppressing each and every voice of dissent raised against them in their own controlled part of Kashmir as brutally as India does. There is no basic difference in the aggressive role of both occupying forces. It is only the time and space that makes some difference. Both imperialist countries are pointing the finger at each other, but the masses of all parts of Kashmir are suffering extreme poverty, backwardness, unemployment and state brutalities. Although the masses of Indian-occupied Kashmir, especially of the Valley, are forced to live this miserable life under imperialist bayonets. That is precisely what explains their resilience, as living permanently under the shadow of death ends the very fear of it. The Indian state is facing this dilemma which it is incapable of understanding, nor is it able to reassert this fear within the youth who have lost it altogether. Nazir Masoodi of the Indian NDTV news channel writes: Government is hoping that the situation will improve because fatigue is bound to set in among the protesters with the passage of time. They believe people cannot afford to live in such a situation for too long. They act as if the onus is on the people to bring normalcy. After all, who is suffering, losing lives, getting blinded and maimed? Whose schools and business are closed? And who is losing the luxury of living without curbs and humiliation? This sadistic optimism is presumably based on the perceived outcome of the 2008 and 2010 civilian unrest in Kashmir. What the government is not realizing is that the boys out on the streets today have been schooled in street protests since 2008. They have restarted from where they left off in 2010. They are operating independently, driven by raw emotion, and death doesn't scare them. After every death and injury, these boys are challenging security forces with stones in their hands. The everyday images of young men tearing their shirts open in front of armed soldiers and challenging them to shoot tells us how things are going in Kashmir. Even separatist Hurriyat conference leaders are struggling to gain control. They are as surprised over the dramatic change in the situation as the government in Srinagar. Their protest and strike calendars were openly defied. [source] The present uprising is nothing but a continuation of the movements of 2008, 2010 and 2013, but with some very radical changes and on a higher level. In the summer of 2010 a powerful uprising shook the rule of Delhi, because it was the first political movement which had no connections with the militants. The other dangerous aspect of this movement, from the standpoint of the rulers, was that it was leaderless. All the old, established leaderships and political parties had been rejected by a rebellious youth and the whole movement was being organized by fresh youngsters almost collectively. Therefore it was almost impossible for the authorities to suppress it. The same is the case now: where no one is leading the movement nobody can talk on behalf of the protesters. The young protesters fighting the brutal state machine of Indian imperialism did not trust any political party or leader and in fact there is no one worthy of such trust. The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), which had ruled here for a long time, was ousted in the last elections, while the ruling PDP formed a coalition with the right-wing fundamentalist BJP and has thus lost its credibility among the masses, if it had any to begin with. With the announcement of resignation of one of the PDP's members of the Lok Sabha (Indian Parliament) from Srinagar the crisis of the party has become more evident. The Leaders of the Hurriyat Conference [a local alliance of 26 political, social and religious organisations claiming to fight for Kashmiri independence] have jostled between India and Pakistan and retreated from their positions so many times that nobody believes them anymore. Now many are trying to fill the vacuum and the Establishment will support such efforts. This will help to contain the movement and betray it once again by imposing some kind of leadership on it. The youth in Kashmir is also tired of the farce of peace talks between India and Pakistan. After a decade of this comic show of meaningless talks about talks (in which both countries try to convince each other that they must start serious talks) between the rulers of two countries, it is still to be decided whether they should start serious talks or not. On the other side the Indian military and paramilitary forces have been using the AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Power Act) to brutalise the lives of the people in the Valley. In the mass uprising of 2010 one of the main demands of the protesters was to remove the army check posts from Srinagar city. These are the conditions which provide the impetus to the mass unrest of Kashmiri masses time and again. Public DomainAnother dilemma in this complex equation is the role of the Indian Stalinist parties. Their position on the question of self-determination has no resemblance to the Leninist, Marxist position on the National Question. They do not support the right to self-determination of Kashmir or any other oppressed nationality of India. The tragedy of these Stalinists is a strange one that they call themselves communist but do not believe in socialist revolution, and therefore they end up supporting the so-called progressive bourgeoisie and the Indian State. These so-called Communists are more patriotic than even the Indian State itself. That is why they never condemn the imperialist role of the Indian State. Instead, they are very vocal in defending its role. If they are not struggling to overthrow capitalism in India, then how can they support the right of any nation to self-determination against their allied bourgeois rulers? It is this criminal theory of revolution consisting of two stages - the first being the democratic, i.e. bourgeois phase - that is the main bulwark of all the Stalinist parties. If any one major group of these Communist parties had adopted a correct Marxist position of proletarian revolution and had extended its hand of solidarity to the masses and youth of Kashmir and other oppressed nationalities of India, the whole situation could be turned upside down with unseen rapidity. The Indian proletariat showed once again its numerical strength, its unbroken unity and its willingness to fight against capitalism on 2 September in a one day general strike in which 180 million participated across the country. In fact, it was the biggest strike in human history. What more can one demand of the workers of India and what more do these Stalinists need to move to the struggle for socialist revolution in India? It is an irony of history that the workers of India had to fight many fierce struggles to reach across these barriers erected by the false ideas of the Stalinists. Meanwhile, the masses and youth of Kashmir also have had to learn many bitter lessons at an unnecessary cost in terms of blood and suffering. Only the correct ideas of revolutionary Marxism, with the Leninist position on the National Question, can lead the Kashmiri masses towards final victory. Marxists support the right of self-determination not only for the Kashmiris but for every oppressed nation in the world. Along with that they strive for the class unity of workers of all the nations and clearly state that the only through socialist revolution will all exploitation, oppression and subjugation end. With these ideas the students and youth affiliated to the IMT marched towards the Line of Control from Muzaffarabad in Pakistani-occupied Kashmir in September 2014. They were raising slogans such as "Our aim Freedom, Our goal Socialism". If this finds an echo among the youth in Indian-occupied Kashmir the freedom of Kashmir will not be so far away. At this moment it is important not only for Marxists but also for every progressive to take a bold and clear stand against the imperialist state repression and brutalities of the Indian forces in Kashmir. We condemn every act of the Indian and Pakistani states against the Kashmiri masses and youth unconditionally. The imperialist occupation and presence of Indian and Pakistani forces in Kashmir is unjustified and illegal by its very nature, therefore all the actions flowing from this imperialist occupation are coercive and brutal. We demand an urgent end to the state of repression; a repeal of the AFSPA with all the other repressive laws; removal of all the army check-posts from cities and towns and the demilitarisation of the whole of Kashmir; together with all the basic democratic liberties and rights, including the right of assembly, free speech and to a free press immediately. To be able to decide on their own future with complete freedom is a basic right of the Kashmiri masses. However, in this struggle Marxists do not support acts of individual terrorism. And if this terrorism is sponsored by any imperialist state in the region it should be severely condemned and a relentless battle should be fought against it. Individual terrorism always reduces the role of collective mass action and creates illusions in external saviours, liberators and heroes. People start believing that some great militant commander, heroic freedom fighter or leader will win the freedom for the people. In such circumstances, the people are supposed to do only one thing: wait for such a hero. As a great revolutionary of the twentieth century Ernesto Che Guevara said, I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves. Every militant action of such armed groups provides on one hand the excuse for brutal state repression, a ban on all political activities and freedoms and on the other hand isolates these very same groups by isolating them from the working masses. The political action of the masses is rendered more difficult under such circumstances and therefore, in the last analysis, individual terrorism proves counterproductive. Every freedom struggle is a very serious matter which needs to be based on a seriously worked out theoretical foundation. Without the guidance of correct and scientific ideas, the tactics and methods employed in such struggles can be harmful for the movement as a whole. As this marvellous movement of Kashmiri youth moves ahead, inspiring people throughout the whole region, Marxists should at the same time point out the difficulties the movement faces and how to overcome them. All the protesters are against religious hatred and this is the strongest point of the movement and we need to propagate it as far and as widely as possible. The ruling classes on both sides will do everything to derail this movement along religious lines and all efforts should be made to oppose any such effort. It is also necessary to take a clear class position, as we are all aware of the fact that the local rulers of Kashmir are stooges of the Indian state and collaborate in the repression and therefore they are our immediate enemies. At the same, time, the rulers of India and Pakistan are our class enemies. They ruthlessly exploit and brutally suppress the workers of their respective countries, and therefore neither of them can be the friends of the working masses of any land. If the Pakistani rulers pose as the supporters of the Kashmiri masses, they do so only to defend their own imperialist interests, just as the Indian rulers sometimes become the champions of the human rights in Balochistan. As a matter of fact, the hypocritical support of these imperialist gangsters is an insult to those who are genuinely fighting and paying with their lives and blood for their freedom. In the same way, the rulers of any country or the so-called institutions such as the United Nations have no interest in the genuine emancipation of the masses of any country. Therefore we also condemn their hypocritical protests against the use of excessive force or their crocodile tears on the humanitarian crisis. The present uprising is more intense than any other in decades. In many respects it is the biggest rebellion of the masses and youth of Kashmir in history. It has already gone beyond the limits of past events. Indian imperialist repression has failed to curb the movement and normalcy through coercion is unachievable. This uprising is affecting the whole of Indian society and the sub-continent, especially the ongoing student movement across India and is gaining sympathy. It is not an isolated event if we look across India and throughout the whole world. We see the dawn of a new epoch of mass struggles and revolutionary movements across the globe against capitalism, an epoch of revolutions and counter-revolutions in which more intense struggles will follow the current movements and the periods of inactivity will be much shorter before the next wave of uprisings. This means that if it loses its intensity for a short period, it will merely prepare bigger uprisings on a much higher scale. The reasons for this inevitable resurgence are evident, because since 8 July every killing and injury or arrest of protesters has added a thousandfold to the hatred and the rage against the occupiers. The seeds of new uprisings have already been sown, but there is another important factor here. It is not simply the case of a cycle of ebbs and flows of the protest movement which always occurs. There is a genuine development forward, although at a slow pace, of the struggle which is becoming more intense, widespread, experienced and resolute. The status quo of sub-continental politics is beginning to break. New cracks are opening under the hammer blow of mass movements. The struggle of the Kashmiri youth and masses will be followed across the subcontinent very soon in future. This is a struggle for the emancipation of more than one and a half billion souls living in the capitalist hell of the South-Asian subcontinent. During this period of fierce struggles, it is necessary for all conscious political workers to build a revolutionary alternative leadership based on a thoroughly worked out programme and the correct ideas of Marxism, capable of leading the masses and workers towards the final victory of proletarian revolution. The goal of the freedom of Kashmir can be achieved only through socialist revolution based on class struggle supported by the proletariat and youth of whole world. The socialist revolution in Kashmir can become the starting point of the revolution across the whole subcontinent. Long live the struggle of Kashmiri youth and masses! Long live the socialist freedom of Kashmir! Down with Imperialist occupation by India, Pakistan and China of all parts of Kashmir! Long live the socialist revolution of the sub-continent and of the whole world! WINDSOR, CT - Jean M. Deliso, CFP(r) has been named a member of the 2016 Chairman's Council of New York Life. Members of the elite Chairman's Council rank in the top three percent of New York Life's elite sales force of more than 12,000 licensed agents in sales achievement. Ms. Deliso has accomplished this level of achievement for five consecutive years. Deliso's passion for finance and strategic planning led to the creation of Deliso Financial and Insurance Services1 in 2000. Jean began her career in corporate accounting in Tampa, Florida, where she consulted with small business owners on financial operations and maximizing performance. Jean has been a New York Life agent since 1995 and is associated with New York Life's CT Valley General Office in Windsor, CT. Jean serves on many boards in her community; Baystate Health Foundation, Pioneer Valley Refrigerated Warehouse, and is Chairman of the Board of the Community Music School of Springfield. She is past Chairman of the Board of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, past board member of AAA Pioneer Valley, along with past trustee of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and Advisory Council at Bay Path University. Members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) will conduct round-the-clock surveillance in the areas of disengagement of forces and hardware of the Ukrainian army and individual districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Donbas, Ukrainian representative to the security subgroup Yevhen Marchuk has said. "Importantly, the OSCE has pledged round-the-clock monitoring for the first time ever. This means we will be fully aware of who commits a violation and when," Marchuk told the Apostrophe online edition in an interview published on Thursday. The disengagement mechanism is rather complex, he said. There will be a preparatory phase, during which the sides will demonstrate the current location of their units and their relocation areas to the OSCE. The OSCE monitors will record and verify everything. The withdrawal will be conducted in a simultaneous and mirror-image manner, to the same distances and under mandatory control of the OSCE, he said. "It is also planned to block violations. Most violations are military, for instance, someone opens fire, yet we have described absolutely all types of violations, including those non-military, during three months of our work and in the course of numerous coordination sessions. For example, unauthorized persons may be found within any disengagement zone, or OSCE activity may be hindered and monitors may not be allowed to access a facility of their choice at a time they want. Liability of the sides and things that need to be done when violations are recorded are clearly defined," the Ukrainian representative to the security subgroup said. Marchuk said he hoped that the document would be honored because all sides were interested in its success in exactly those three zones. "I have already said that their significance is purely humanitarian rather than military. So, we say that if we succeed we will set a precedent and an example of disengagement between the Donbas warring sides. We understand there are no ideal situations, the state of war persists, and the level of mistrust remains very high," he said. "Disengagement of the sides is definitely due to begin this week," the Ukrainian representative to the security subgroup said. Presenting meals "in the pan" is certainly a clever gimmick; it's a service strategy that Michael's Pasta in the Pan, an eatery on Boston Road in Wilbraham, has successfully employed for a number of years. The menu at Michael's features pasta dishes inspired by both Italian and contemporary American ideas about food. The Old World influence is visible in dishes such as Baked Ziti ($14.95), Pan-fried Chicken Parmigiana ($18.95), Steak Tips Marsala ($19.95), and Seafood Fra Diavolo ($26.95). A more contemporary perspective manifests itself in the likes of Spicy Chicken Mississippi ($18.95), with its jalapeno cream sauce, and Teriyaki Alfredo ($18.95), a dish in which the lushness of Alfredo joins forces with the savory sweetness of teriyaki. Starter options at Michael's include Fried Mozzarella Sticks ($6.95), Artichoke Franchaise ($10.95), and Zuppa de Clams ($10.95) We began our dinner with an order of Michael's Spicy Golden Fried Calamari ($13.95), one of the restaurant's signature specialties. Presented in the hallmark commercial saute pan, the calamari were a tropical-themed twist on the "Point Judith" style that's become popular over the last few years. The squid was lightly battered and pan-fried to crispy golden brown, and the portion was certainly generous. Garnished with bits of red bell pepper and minced parsley, the calamari was glazed with a sauce in which orange marmalade seemed to be playing a big part. Bits of jalapeno pepper delivered the requisite heat, but the overall profile of the dish was, in our opinion, a little too sweet to be an entirely successful starter. Blackened Sea Scallop Teriyaki Alfredo ($22.95), another house specialty, represented a tasty convergence of flavors. Al dente penne had been simmered in a cream sauce into which a splash or two of teriyaki had been introduced. A sprinkle of crushed red pepper added heat, while chopped fresh spinach contributed color and freshness. A half dozen Cajun-spice-dredged, pan-blackened sea scallops topped off the pasta. Our second entree selection, Michael's Mac & Cheese ($17.95), turned out to be considerably different than we'd anticipated. Instead of the gloriously gooey experience we associate with mac 'n' cheese, we got rigatoni pasta dolled up with onion, diced fresh tomato, and thin-sliced prosciutto, all of which had been tossed together in a thin cheese sauce. Topped with breadcrumbs and briefly broiled, the pasta wasn't flawed, it's fair to note. It just wasn't we'd hoped for. One aspect of the "served-in-the-pan" idea deserves special mention; food comes to the table piping hot. Those who wish, however, can specify that their meal be served on a plate in traditional fashion. Entree choices at Michael's are accompanied by a salad, a serviceable blend of field greens enhanced with radicchio and escarole. Oven-fresh rolls with herbed oil and butter are also included. Michael's Pasta in the Pan has a full bar setup as well as a wine list of about two dozen reasonably priced labels. For dessert, the restaurant maintains a tray of fancy pastries; choices typically include several tortes and cheesecake variations. We enjoyed a Chocolate Dipped Cannoli ($3.95), appreciating its pleasantly creamy, chocolate-bit-enhanced filling. The Chocolate-Hazelnut Cake ($6.95) was a more elaborate affair, with gianduja (chocolate-hazelnut cream) and pastry cream sandwiched between nut-flour sponge cake layers. Definitely a two-cup-of-coffee dessert experience, we decided. Michael's Pasta in the Pan also offers pizza, both in create-your-own and specialty formats. Choosing the latter, we settled on a "Goodfellas" ($14.95), a red-sauced pie topped with sausage, pepperoni, hamburger, and prosciutto. Great crust, great pizza, we agreed, but the prosciutto garnish was a little too assertive; we'd leave it out if ordering the pie again. Michael's Wilbraham location is a handsome space, with a casual ambiance that's nonetheless swanky enough for a special evening out. Though the outdoor dining season is almost over, the restaurant does offer attractive terrace seating. Michael's Pasta in the Pan operates a second restaurant serving a similar menu on River Road in Agawam. Name: Michael's Pasta in the Pan Address: 2133 Boston Road, North Wilbraham Telephone: (413) 271-1084 Website: michaelspasta.com Hours: Dinner served Monday through Thursday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Lunch served Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Sunday Entree prices: $14.95 - $26.95 Credit cards: MasterCard, Visa Handicapped access: Accessible, rest rooms equipped for wheelchairs Reservations: Accepted Screen Shot 2016-09-22 at 10.29.06 AM.png David Ortiz poses with a box of specially made #34 donuts. (David Ortiz, Twitter) BOSTON -- What's more Boston than the Red Sox? Probably Dunkin' Donuts. Put the two together and you have the sweetest Boston tribute to Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who announced his retirement from the team earlier this year. Dunkin' Donuts recently arranged hundreds of doughnuts into the shape of Ortiz's back and shoulders on the Boston Greenway. For every doughnut used to create the mosaic, Dunkin' Donuts is donating 34 cents to the Greater Boston Food Bank. As his retirement nears, Ortiz is being showered with acknowledgment and appreciation for his star role on the Red Sox team. This isn't even the first Dunkin' Donuts tribute to Ortiz. In early September, the company gave him a box of specially made #34 donuts and a special Dunkin' drink coozie. In August, Davis Mega Maze in Sterling made a tribute to Ortiz by carving its famous maze into the shape of Ortiz' face. Dunkin' posted a small video snippet of the mural coming together and said full details of the project are coming in October. Stay tuneDD to see this masterpiece come to life! Full details coming in early October! pic.twitter.com/QZ089VM3k8 Dunkin' Boston (@DunkinBoston) September 21, 2016 "Dunkin' Donuts is paying tribute to Big Papi's farewell season in a special way -- by creating a mosaic made entirely out of donuts," a Dunkin' Donuts spokesperson wrote. George Hanna Award Bourne MacDonald.JPG Officer Jared MacDonald (right) of the Bourne Police Department received the Trooper George L. Hanna Medal of Honor on Thursday, the highest award that can be given to a police officer in Massachusetts. (Photo: Antonio Caban/SHNS) (State House News Service) BOSTON - Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday awarded medals of bravery to 22 police officers from six police departments, including Boston, Webster, Chelsea, Tewksbury, Bourne and the Massachusetts State Police. Baker noted the annual awards are named for State Trooper George Hanna, who was killed during a routine traffic stop in Auburn in February 1983. While routines exist in public safety, no one in law enforcement knows whether the day is routine until it's over, Baker said. "The stories we will all hear today are extraordinary," Baker said before handing out the awards. "The mundane can turn into mayhem at a moment's notice," he said. Bourne Officer Jared MacDonald, who has been unable to return to duty due to an injury, received a Hanna medal of honor. In February 2015, not long after a blizzard, MacDonald and several colleagues were sent to an apartment complex and found a burning car and several improved explosive devices (IEDs) inside. A suspect struck MacDonald in the lower back as the officer walked through the parking lot with another officer. Under rifle fire, he was pinned down between two parked vehicles. Sgt. Wallace Perry IV started organizing the other officers to retrieve MacDonald. Detective Sgt. John Stowe Jr. and Massachusetts State Trooper Nathan Monteiro found MacDonald and carried him into the nearby woods. According to the state's Executive Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, Stowe and Monteiro were "forced to carry Officer MacDonald to a waiting ambulance through waist-deep snow that had recently fallen in a historic blizzard." Soon after, Perry and Officer Joshua Parsons moved toward the suspect and apprehended him. The police believed there could be a second shooter, so Perry went back to the initial shooting scene and found a dead woman and a wounded second victim. "Detective Sergeant Stowe returned through the snowy woods with a second ambulance crew on foot and provided cover as the other victims were evacuated," the executive office said. On Thursday, Parsons, Perry, Stowe and Monteiro joined MacDonald inside the Massachusetts State House and received medals of valor. All of the honorees of the Hanna awards are available at this link. RAYNHAM A 19-year-old girl from Seekonk was killed in a two-vehicle car accident in Raynham on Wednesday. Hayley M. Sanford, who was a management major and cheerleader at Bridgewater State University, suffered serious injuries when her 2002 Jeep Wrangler collided with a 2007 Honda CRV on southbound Route 495, near exit 18. Authorities were called to the site of the crash at approximately 6:56 p.m. on Wednesday night. Investigation revealed that Sanford's vehicle rolled over during the crash, which caused her to be ejected from the vehicle. After authorities arrived at the scene, Sanford was subsequently taken to Raynham Park, where she was picked up and flown by medical helicopter to Rhode Island Hospital. There, authorities say she succumbed to her injuries. The operator of the Honda a 76-year-old woman from New Bedford suffered only minor injuries and was taken to Morton Hospital in Taunton for treatment. Massachusetts State Police are investigating how the crash occurred. Braintree police chief Russell Jenkins plans to retire next month, amid revelations that narcotics, sexual assault kits, guns and over $400,000 in cash had gone missing from the department's evidence room. The Boston Globe reports that Jenkins will leave his post Oct. 7, and that his retirement has been accepted by Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan. The Globe reported last week that an audit, months in the making, found $407,989 missing from the evidence room, along with 4,709 pieces of narcotics evidence. Drug evidence was not stored or logged properly, according to the audit. Officer Susan Zopatti, a 20 year veteran of the force who ran the evidence room since 2013, killed herself in May a week after being notified of the audit. Sullivan has called the audit's findings "deeply troubling and unacceptable." Up to 400 criminal cases may have to be dismissed because of evidence violations, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey. The case echoes Springfield's own ongoing evidence room scandal. Kevin Burnham, a long-time Springfield police officer who oversaw the department's evidence room for nearly two decades, was charged in January with stealing over $385,000 in cash seized during drug investigations. The money was found missing during an audit initiated by Police Commissioner John Barbieri after he took office in 2014. The state alleges that Burnham, who has denied all the charges, stole money between Dec. 4, 2009 and July 25, 2014 -- the day of his retirement party. Burnham, whose trial is set to begin in October, presided over an evidence room that contained stacks of cash that were never deposited into bank accounts. Charlotte Police Fatal Shooting Police stand by a damaged storefront stemming from overnight protests following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte's police chief said Thursday he plans to show video of an officer shooting Scott to his family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) (Gerry Broome) By MITCH WEISS and MEG KINNARD, Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said that releasing police dashcam and body camera footage of the killing Tuesday of 43-year Keith Lamont Scott 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." Meanwhile, an undisclosed number of National Guardsmen assembled in Charlotte, activated by Gov. Pat McCrory after a second straight night of racial unrest of the sort that has convulsed other U.S. cities and seemed at odds with Charlotte's image as a diverse, forward-looking city of the New South. On Wednesday night, scores of demonstrators in the city's bustling downtown section attacked reporters and others, smashed windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants, and set small fires. Authorities said 44 people were arrested and seven were injured, including four officers. One protester was shot and critically wounded; city officials said police did not shoot the man. The demonstrators have been demanding answers in Scott's killing, with some carrying signs that read "Release the tapes." Police have said that Scott was shot to death by a black officer after he disregarded loud, repeated warnings to drop his gun. Neighbors, though, have said that 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." The police chief said his priority is working to honor a request from Scott's family to see the video. He 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." 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 we've 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. "Without the video to document what actually happened, we have no way of knowing the truth. The camera doesn't lie." Other cities have released footage of police shootings. Just this week, the Tulsa, Oklahoma, police department made public video of the disputed Sept. 16 shooting death of an unarmed black man by a white officer. But what actually happened remains murky. Last year, a Chicago police officer was charged with murder the same day the city released dashcam video that showed him shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times, footage that contradicted the accounts of officers who said the teen swung a knife at them. "We all stand together declaring there must be transparency and the videos must be released," the Rev. William Barber, president of the North Carolina NAACP, said at news conference. "At this point, there is speculation because the videos have not been released. Be clear: There is unrest in Charlotte and across America because of what we do know." North Carolina prosecutors are asking the State Bureau of Investigation to look into the shooting, and the U.S. Justice Department is sending to Charlotte a team of peacekeepers trained to resolve community conflicts. Hours before nightfall Thursday, the police chief said he saw no need for a curfew. As the investigations continue, McLaughlin said: "I think it's irresponsible for the police department in Charlotte to not have immediately released the tape, regardless of what it shows." He added: "People have the right to know." ___ Associated Press writers 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/ CHICOPEE - The School Department's Alcohol and Drug Awareness Prevention Team will hold the first of four presentations about substance abuse concerns in the city and among young people. The presentation will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Edward J. Bellamy Middle School auditorium. Parents are urged to attend and are welcome to bring their older children, Superintendent Richard W. Rege said. Four people will speak about issues facing Chicopee residents during the two-hour session. Presenters are Lisa Steinbock, a public health nurse for Chicopee, Alvin Morton, assistant superintendent for Chicopee schools, Chicopee Police Lt. Patrick Major, who works in the narcotics bureau and Karen Turmel, director of nursing for the schools. This is the second year the School Department has offered public information sessions about the opioid crisis in New England. The heroin epidemic has hit Chicopee hard. Statistics released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health show 18 people died of unintentional opioid overdoses in the city in 2015, which is more than double the six who died of overdoses in 2014. Nine people died of overdoses in Chicopee 2013 and again in 2012. Only Springfield's rate was higher in 2015 higher with 36 overdose deaths; Holyoke had six opioid overdoses and Westfield had seven. Rege said he wants parents to be better informed about substance abuse and ways they can prevent their children from drinking, smoking and using different drugs. The School Department sent notices home with all students encouraging parents to attend. Crashes on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westborough and Framingham have slowed down traffic Thursday morning. A car was flipped over, blocking the left lane on the eastbound side of the highway in Westborough, according to social media reports. The crash was causing backup as far as the Westborough Service Plaza. Overturned vehicle, left lane blocked in #Westboro on Mass Pike EB after EX 11A - I-495, stop and go traffic back to Westborough Service Plz TTN Worcester (@TotalTrafficWOR) September 22, 2016 CBS Boston reported that the Westborough crash involved three cars. Multiple crashes on the pike, one in Westboro is a 3 car crash, 1 car rolled over. Other is a 2 car crash at Rt. 9 in the BDL. pic.twitter.com/7jNrqjzi2y Breana Pitts (@BrePWBZ) September 22, 2016 Another crash on the Pike at Route 9 in Framingham was backing up traffic during the morning commute, according to social media reports. Accident, left lane blocked in #Framingham on Mass Pike EB before IC 12 - Rt-9, stop and go traffic back to Rt 122, delay of 36 mins TTWN Boston (@TotalTrafficBOS) September 22, 2016 State Police did not immediately return a phone message seeking more information about the crashes. leslie rivera.jpg Leslie Rivera, 21, of Springfield, was arrested on Sept. 22 for default warrants on charges of attempted murder, assault and battery, breaking and entering and malicious damage of a motor vehicle. (Springfield Police Department) A Springfield woman was arrested Thursday morning after allegedly skipping court dates linked to a 2014 domestic violence incident. Leslie Rivera, 21, was arrested at 8:35 a.m. on default warrants for attempted murder, assault and battery, felony breaking and entering and malicious damage of a motor vehicle. Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney said the charges stemmed from a Feb 16, 2014 incident in which Rivera allegedly broke into a person's home and assaulted them with a knife. The details are confidential because the case involved domestic violence, Delaney said. Rivera was arrested on the original charges in 2014, and was taken into custody on default warrants this morning for failing to appear in court. The heroin epidemic within Massachusetts communities hit home in Lawrence this weekend after a mother overdosed with her toddler by her side. The woman was in a Lawrence Family Dollar on Sunday morning with her two-year-old when she fell to the floor, unconscious. Another shopper called emergency services and began filming the shocking scene. The two-year-old is seen on video tugging at her mother's arm and attempts to lift her head, while crying. The person shooting the video is heard saying the woman's eyes have rolled to the back of her head and in filming the scene for two minutes, does not try to help her nor the child. She was revived on scene by emergency medical technicians with two doses of Narcan. The toddler was taken into protective custody with the Department of Children and Families and the woman, a resident of New Hampshire, is facing child endangerment charges. The video is expected to be used as evidence against her. Lawrence police told FOX25 that children are involved in an estimated 10 percent of cases they respond to. "It's very disturbing to see someone obviously in the matter of addiction where it overtakes someone where they're not able to take care of their child, leaves their child vulnerable," Lawrence Police Chief James Fitzpatrick told FOX25. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed unanimously the law entitled "Stability and Democracy for Ukraine Act," which was earlier supported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Ukrainian embassy in the United States has said. "The document, sponsored by House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel and introduced by him together with Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, states that it is the policy of the United States to ensure that any relevant sanctions relief for the Russian Federation is contingent on timely, complete, and verifiable implementation of Minsk agreements," a report posted on the embassy's account on Facebook on Thursday morning said. The list of means to support Ukraine in coordination with allies and partners of the United States envisaged by the law includes lethal defensive weapons systems, the document said. Some of its provisions aim to increase the response to Russian information propaganda and support foreign investment in the Ukrainian economy, the Ukrainian embassy in the United States said. The document was co-authored by some 40 congressmen from the Democratic and Republican Parties. The U.S. Senate has to pass a bill with identical content before the U.S. president signs it into a law. A man from Salem has been found guilty of the 2012 murder of a military veteran, according to The Boston Globe. Peter Castillo, 28, shot Stephen Perez Jr., 22, of Revere, to death in Boston before fleeing to New York City and then escaping to the Dominican Republic by plane. Castillo was on the run from the law for nearly 3 years before he was arrested in the Dominican Republic at the beginning of 2015. During that time, Castillo had been on the U.S. Marshals' Service "15 Most Wanted Fugitives" list. Video footage of the shooting, as well as corroboration from witnesses at the scene helped law enforcement to identify Castillo as the man who shot the military veteran who had served two tours in Afghanistan. District Attorney Daniel F. Conley called the murder the result of "an argument, a fistfight at the most, that escalated to murder." Perez had served as a military sniper while in the service and had been studying to become a law enforcement officer at the time of his death. Nicholas Rovinski etching1.jpg Nicholas Rovinski, 25, faces many years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to aid the Islamic State. (JANE FLAVELL COLLINS/ASSOCIATED PRESS) BOSTON A man from Rhode Island pleaded guilty to conspiring to support the Islamic State on Thursday, according to The Boston Globe. Nicholas Alexander Rovinski, 25, of Warwick, Rhode Island, will now face anywhere from 15 to 22 years in prison, after entering into a plea deal part of which entailed pleading guilty to conspiracy to support ISIS. Rovinski admitted to working together with two other men David Daoud Wright a 26-year-old Everett man as well as Usaamah Abdullah Rahim, Wright's uncle, who was killed by police in June 2015, after attempting to attack them with a military knife. Rovinski, Wright, and Rahim had conspired to commit acts of terrorism for the Islamic State as early as December, 2014. Rovinsky admitted their plans included capturing and beheading Pamela Geller, an anti-Islam activist from New York that ISIS had established a "fatwah" a religious decree against. The three men also planned to murder police officers, and hoped to establish a clandestine "martyrdom operations cell" in the U.S. that could carry out attacks on Americans. Rovinski and Wright were charged for conspiring with the Islamic State in 2015, after Rahim was shot to death by police. Rovinski's lawyer said Tuesday that the 25-year-old was a "vulnerable young man who fell deep into a rabbit hole of extremist ideology." SPRINGFIELD -- The Rev. Calvin McFadden said Thursday he will resign from the School Committee at the end of the month as he plans to move to Agawam. "It was a sheer joy to serve the children and families of the Springfield public school system," he told colleagues at Thursday's committee meeting. "I hope I leave legacy of pushing for educational equality and what is best for our children." McFadden said he had sent a letter to all School Committee members that contains his "observations" about the school system. "I'm grateful for his service to the Springfield school system," said Superintendent Daniel J. Warwick. "I'll miss him and his family and wish him the best of luck." McFadden, who is pastor of St. John's Congregational Church in Springfield, ended the meeting with a prayer for the school system. His home at 34 Signal Circle in East Forest Park, which has been for sale in recent months, is now listed as "under contract," according to a real estate listing. The listing means there is a purchase and sale agreement and a pending closing date. McFadden purchased a new home in Agawam in the summer for $710,000, but he said in early August that he would continue to live in Springfield and hold onto his elected seat for the time being. Despite that, McFadden signed a "declaration of homestead" for the house purchased in Agawam at 1661 Suffield St. There was also a clause in the Agawam mortgage stating the borrower must occupy the property as the "borrower's principal residence within 60 days after the execution of this security instrument." McFadden has 14 months remaining on his four-year School Committee term. Following his resignation, the remaining six members of the committee will choose a Springfield resident to finish his term through December of 2017. The annual salary for School Committee members is $12,000. McFadden is also dean of students at Norwalk Community College in Connecticut. Reporters Jim Kinney and Carolyn Robbins contributed to this story. Ebola Hazmat responder. (Associated Press file photo) CHICOPEE -- Paradise Pizza is closed and the building's three upstairs tenants have found temporary shelter elsewhere after a cleaning incident gone awry prompted a hazmat response on Exchange Street on Wednesday night. Chicopee Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Crevier told MassLive the town's Board of Health will inspect 140 Exchange St. this morning to evaluate the space. It is not yet known when and whether the shop will reopen. The upstairs tenants -- a couple and a small child -- have not yet returned to their home above the store. Around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Chicopee Fire Department responded to the location, finding a "chemical reaction" underway, producing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Employees of the store had been cleaning grease-covered grates from inside a pizza oven ventilation pipe, using a caustic cleaner containing sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and sodium chloride, when the reaction started. Things got out of hand quickly, Crevier said, and when he arrived in a fire engine with three other firefighters, he realized the situation was beyond his scope and called in a full Hazmat team. "It was like if you take an antacid and drop it in soda, except this was producing heat, which it shouldn't have been doing, and it was overflowing, which it shouldn't have been doing," Crevier said. The building was evacuated and roughly 20 hazmat responders arrived, remaining onsite until around midnight. By an accident of chance, State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey happened to be nearby and he too responded to the incident. "He was coming from a fire chief's conference, heard it over the scanner, and swung by," Crevier said. Crevier said the cleaning chemicals were appropriate to use for such a job and couldn't say for sure why the reaction started. "Maybe they added something else, maybe they used too much -- we don't know at this point," he said. In 2014, the same business was crippled by a fire that did $100,000 in damage to its former location, 67 Springfield St. The president of Paradise Pizza is named as John F. Sobon in Massachusetts Corporations Division. WHITINGHAM, Vt. -- State police say they took a 24-year-old Gardner, Mass. man into custody early Thursday after he left the scene of a vehicle accident that left his passenger in critical condition. The accident occurred at approximately 2 a.m. when the driver, Patrick Belliveau, lost control of his vehicle on Tunnel Street and crashed into a tree, state police said. The single passenger was trapped in the 2007 Dodge Durango and had to be extricated by Readsboro firefighters. State police have not released the name of the passenger, pending notification of family members. That person suffered multiple compound fractures, internal injuries and head injuries and was taken by emergency medical helicopter to Albany Medical Center. Belliveau suffered a fractured arm and was found about four miles away a short time later. Belliveau was screened for alcohol and drug impairment and his blood alcohol level was determined to be .089 percent. He was taken to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. The state of Vermont prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle by a driver that has a .08 percent or above blood alcohol concentration. Belliveau is being charged with gross negligent operation with serious bodily injury and leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury. He may also be charged with driving under the influence pending the results of evidentiary tests. Tunnel Street was closed to traffic for approximately 3 hours while the crash was investigated. Anyone with information related to this crash should contact the Vermont State Police at 802-442-5421. This is a developing story. Additional information will be posted as soon as it is available. The head of Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) Yuriy Lutsenko has said he hopes money from the sale of "Kurchenko's oil" oil products, which were confiscated from disgraced former Ukrainian businessman Serhiy Kurchenko, an ally of disgraced former President Viktor Yanukovych who fled Ukraine in early 2014 are returned to the state budget by the end of 2016. "The so-called "Kurchenko's oil" is on the minds of many Ukrainian lawmakers and ordinary citizens. I have met with the investigative group and with various people involved in the matter. Our opinion is that money earned from the sale agreed upon with the government of Kurchenko's oil should be transferred to the state budget this year," Lutsenko said during a briefing in Odesa on Thursday. Lutsenko said the matter is "priority number one." "Priority number two is to discern whether laws were broken by various state officials and commercial structures handling this arrested oil. In my opinion, everyone understands that money [earned from the sale of the oil] should be returned," Lutsenko said. Working to create a clean and balanced energy portfolio that will provide for a safe and reliable energy future. Learn more at http://www.NorthWesternEnergy.com/BrightFuture Limited space is available for "Compete Smart 20 Years of Making It Happen Under The Big Sky," a conference hosted by Montana State Universitys Montana Manufacturing Extension Center. Compete Smart will be held Oct. 5-7 at the newly renovated Fairmont Hot Springs hotel and conference center. Compete Smart, presented by MMEC and co-hosted by Rocky Mountain Bank, is an opportunity for manufacturers, suppliers and advocates to strengthen skills, grow networks and enhance opportunities for manufacturing business. The conference will feature distinguished speakers and local plant tours as well as direct access to business experts, seasoned entrepreneurs, peers and allies. Full Story: http://www.montana.edu/news/16395/limited-space-still-available-for-compete-smart-manufacturing-conference-oct-5-7 European experts will be involved in the investigation into the deaths of people in Trade Union House in Odesa on May 2, 2014, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said. "Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., I am meeting with UN representatives who promise to involve European experts in a joint evaluation which will determine the cause of death of a majority of those who were unable to leave Trade Union House," Lutsenko said at a briefing in Odesa on Thursday. Lutsenko cited progress in the investigation into the 'May 2 case' in Odesa, adding that "everyone who breached the law, which led to the bloodshed, should be held responsible." "Without the truth in the May 2, 2014 case, this wound will spoil the life of the people of Odesa and those who love this city. I believe that the progress that has been reached is very important. There is also progress in the case involving the events that occurred on Hrestka Street, and a lot of progress has been made on the most tragic events in Trade Union House," he said. According to earlier reports, 48 people were killed and over 200 were wounded in the riots that occurred in Odesa on May 2, 2014. Most victims were killed in Trade Union House. Investigators have determined that the riots in Odesa were organized and deliberately planned. UN Security Council member states that are parties to a dispute should be temporarily stripped of the right to veto, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said. "We can no longer afford the Security Council deadlocked on key issues of international peace and security. Limiting the use of the 'veto' power in decision-making on conflict prevention and resolution should become a priority task within the Security Council reform. The suspension of the use of veto in cases of mass atrocities, as well as in cases when a UN Security Council member state is a party to a dispute, should become a rock-solid rule without exceptions," he said at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. "The Council must become a truly democratic and representative body free from the relics of the past," he added. In his words, a Security Council member has never been a major violator of the UN Charter while being at the same time the "instigator of, and active participant in, a conflict as well as its mediator." "This is actually the biggest threat facing humanity nowadays. Our future, the future of our children and our Organization depend directly on how we manage to overcome this threat," he said. He said he saw only two ways out of this situation." Either we recognize the problem and spare no efforts to address it on the basis of shared values and principles, or deceive ourselves by the illusion of stability, turn a blind eye to obvious facts and leave the future of the United Nations this unique platform for common action at the mercy of one player who blatantly violates the UN Charter," he said. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called on the international community to elaborate tools to officially document evidence of aggression of one states against others, and asked that responsibility for such activity be introduced in keeping with UN Charter principles. "I believe it is time for our Organization to work out serious safeguards against abuses of trust of the world community by some UN member states. It is necessary to elaborate mechanisms how to officially document evidence of the aggression of one country against another and to envisage clear responsibility for the aggressor in line with the UN Charter principles," he said at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. "The terrorist component of the undeclared hybrid war that Russia wages against Ukraine is evident. Dramatically, it has become a daily routine in the occupied areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine," he said. In his words, for over two years of this tragedy, Ukraine has received extensive and irrefutable evidence of direct involvement of Russia, its state agencies and officials in financing, sponsorship, and coordination of terrorist groups which have committed countless crimes against my compatriots. "Today, in response to thousands of available photos, videos, satellite images, eyewitness and other evidence of the Russian military presence in Donbas, Russia repeats over and over again cynically, 'We are not there,'" he said. According to Poroshenko, Russia used to say the same about Crimea. "We are not there." "And then a sham referendum was conducted at the Russian gunpoint. And a few days ago, a contradictory statement was made by the Russian president that Crimea, can you imagine, was annexed 'in accordance with the UN Charter.'" "Do we really refer to the same Charter? This is not merely disrespect for centuries-long principles of international relations, written and unwritten legal and ethical rules. This is the downgrading of diplomacy as such," he said. At the upcoming Kyiv International Economic Forum, foreign diplomats and economic experts will discuss Ukraines role in the global division of labor. An outside point of view on the place and role of our country in the global economy will be one of the most burning topics of the third Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) to be held on October 6-7, 2016. Ukraine is the largest country in Europe by territory and the fifth largest by population. Despite such powerful demographic and geographic potential, deindustrialization is taking place in Ukraine. Extensive agriculture and supply of other commodities make up a significant part of Ukraines GDP. Despite constant growth in IT and other and areas of economy, its structure is deteriorating. Moreover, in Ukraine there are two diametrically opposed inside views on the countrys role in the political and economic life of the world. They are often overly critical or, on the contrary overly positive, oriented at an uninformed person. So what is the actual role of Ukraine in the global division of labor? In which direction is it changing? This issue will be considered at the panel discussion Ukraine on the Global Economic Map, which will feature the Ambassadors of the USA, Canada, Israel and Turkey. The second day of KIEF 2016 will focus on attracting investment to Ukraine, international cooperation, investment and trade. Numerous political discussions on Ukraines European integration determine a required and professional conversation with European partners on the one hand and prominent Ukrainian economists and business representatives on the other hand. What are the fastest ways for Ukraine to integrate into the European economic area? Is it a panacea to overcome the crisis? What are European standards like? What is competitiveness of the domestic economy and prospects for its further development? What are the main gaps of the Ukrainian legislation? What are expectations of our Western partners? The answers to all these questions will be given during a discussion on the topic International Cooperation: Ukraine Europe. To apply the experience of other countries is a good idea to change the trajectory of the states that are lagging behind. Such attempts usually have emulating nature: to use the most effective methods and avoid mistakes made by others. Geographically, culturally and certainly mentally, Ukraine is a European country. However, it makes sense to consider the experience of non-European countries, such as Asian ones, both those that are successful and those that have recently embarked on the path of development. Overall, the Asian vector does not exclude but rather amplify Western direction of our global cooperation. To build a strong partnership with the East is the most important prospect for the modern Ukraine. The list of specific objectives is as follows: to promote domestic technologies, to struggle for Ukraines agricultural and industrial market, to promote Ukrainian education. Ukrainian specialists are primarily interested in the experience of innovative development of many Asian countries. How and why they did it? During the panel discussion International Cooperation: Ukraine Asia, this issue and other ones will be considered by leading economic experts such as Angel Investor and Mentor at Chinaccelerator Singh Manmeet, Vice-president of one of Chinas leading construction and investment companies Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Co., Ltd. Zhang Zhonghua, Deputy Secretary General of the Cooperation Council of the Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) Omer Kocaman and the CEO of ICC Ukraine International Business Cooperation Center in the Persian Gulf States Yuriy Sydorov. In general, the third KIEF will bring together several dozen leading foreign and Ukrainian economists, reformers, businessmen and government officials, including experts from countries, whose experience of economic transformation can be useful for Ukraine. Follow the news on the Forum's website (http://forumkyiv.org/en/) and on the official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/kyiveconomicforum). Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) is a permanently operating venue for the formation of Ukrainian economic development strategy. It is aimed to set up a dialogue between experts, businesses and government, borrowing the best international practices, creating a road map for the development and promotion of the conversion of ideas into the real action. forumkyiv.org/en Interfax-Ukraine is a media partner of the Kyiv International Economic Forum. by John Motavalli , Columnist, September 21, 2016 Of all the bizarre mysteries haunting the Internet world, one of the most interesting is the saga of Mode Media, a kind of women-oriented fashion and beauty ad network that was once ranked the No. 7 Web site. Back in May, Programmatic Insider asked the question, Why Is Mode Media In Quiet Mode? At the time, we experienced the phenomenon of calling the then 10th largest Web site once valuated at $1 billion and getting voicemail. Mode Media suddenly announced its demise last week without actually explaining what happened. Because what is left of Mode now is controlled by Germanys Hubert Burda Media, we would expect some kind of public statement from them, but no dice. Communication does not seem to be Burdas strong point, as the last press release put out on its site was in June, and that Web page offers no contact info. Thats odd behavior for a big company. The only way we found their press email address was from an obscure financial filing. Burda did not respond to our email. But here is some of what we know, based on interviews with informed sources. advertisement advertisement Even now, comScores latest rankings from July proclaim Mode as the 15th largest Web property, with 111 million uniques. Thats bigger than eBay and Yelp. So Germanys Burda gave Mode and its New Delhi-born Samir Arora, Modes founder, $40 million on the promise that Mode would dominate fashion and beauty advertising online. Arora was included by MIN magazine in the The Digital Hot List 2008 and was named Web 2.0's Don Draper as one of the 30 men shaping our digital future by GQ magazine, Wikipedia notes. (Because of the fashion content he blogged, Arora may have been one of the few Internet execs GQ had heard of.) Back then, Mode Medias future looked bright. Keep in mind that Mode Media content creators are some of the biggest names in the fashion and beauty business, such as Molly Sims, a supermodel who, according to the Mode Web site, has joined forces with Mode via a strategic advertising relationship. But on September 15, a group of armed guards hired by Burda invaded the Brisbane, Calif., headquarters of Mode Media and told all 300 or so employees to leave. A memo accompanied this drastic action. We deeply regret having to take this action and we wish we could have provided you with greater notice, it proclaimed without explaining what would have prevented earlier notification. One insider notes that the decision not to pay any of the employees the money owed to them is particularly perplexing because Burda certainly could have afforded to pay them off. What Two Venture Capitalists Say We talked to a couple of venture capitalists who invest in Web properties. They both find whats left of Mode to be of interest. Many links at Mode were not operative Monday, though the About section still existed. It claimed Mode to be the No. 7 video platform on the Web. Will all that traffic simply vanish? The betting now is that Mode will declare bankruptcy and the assets will be offered at an auction or distress sale. Or, as some think, Burda will re-activate the site without the liabilities involved with providing benefits to 300 U.S.-based employees. Lets put this in perspective. As of July, according to comScore, Mode had more traffic than Hearst (103 million uniques), and way more than Conde Nast Digital (80 million uniques). This despite the huge promotional value those companies bring to the table, and despite the evident distress Mode has been in at least since April, when Arora resigned from the board, if not longer. So if you are a venture capitalist and want to obtain 111 million uniques at its height Mode was claiming 80% of Millennial women at flea market prices, possibly, what do you do next? Says one venture guy with an impressive track record in the Internet space, I am assuming it will now go into bankruptcy and whatever will happen will happen through that. Another option would be to call the primary debtors and see if some type of deal can be done. This type of a thing generally happens when they showed their biz around but were unrealistic on pricing and ran out and hit some type of debt covenant. The principal debtors are Hubert Burda Media, BDCA Venture, Inc. and Aeris Capital. From various accounts, Burda dominated the board in recent months and was making all decisions. Burda appears to have bought out the other investors, though we cant confirm that with them. Adds another guy with an equally impressive entrepreneurial record in the Web space, I find it hard to believe that they couldn't cut costs to make $100 million in revenue profitable. But maybe the $100 million was about to be $50 million since the model may be broken. It would also be interesting if they're being shut down with cash still in the bank that will be returned to investors. A board can vote a dividend to shareholders that takes all the money out of the operating entity and kills the business ... and it's also possible that there's some kind of fraud so the investors would rush to get their money out before the lawsuits begin. According to insiders, Modes founders made the original $40 million investment with Hubert Burda, the longtime patriarch of Burda. Ive met him; a courtlier gentleman you couldnt imagine. Things went fine for a while, but when Burda retired from an active role, a new generation of leaders took a more activist role in Mode, especially CEO Paul-Bernhard Kallen. Last March, in particular, there was a showdown between Burda board members and both Arora and board member Marc Andreessen, the venture capitalist and cofounder of Netscape. Here is where this really gets interesting. How do you screw up so bad if you are reporting $100 million in revenue and most of your activity is simply rounding up a bunch of fashionista blogs and consolidating their traffic? Creating content is expensive. Linking to it isnt. Media companies have a terrible record on the Internet. Remember what happened to MySpace after its takeover by News Corp. Is this simply a case of a clueless foreign media company manhandling a great Web property? Hard To Compete In Programmatic Insiders say that Mode, like many other Web companies, was left reeling by the 2008 economic downturn. Increasingly, though Mode had been a pioneer with native advertising and as a video platform, it was finding it hard to compete with Google and Facebook in programmatic, as most content-based Web properties have found. The companys zero tolerance for programmatic fraud also caused waves. But some think that if the proven entrepreneurs Arora and Andreessen had stayed on the board, Mode would have survived. Arora is not a neophyte. He founded and sold NetObjects, which was later acquired by IBM and went public. He went to the celebrated Birla Institute of Technology and Science in India, attended Harvard, and holds a diploma in sales and marketing from the London Business School. He had an impressive run at Apple. On his personal Web site, Arora quotes this: You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something your heart, gut, destiny, life, karma Aroras Web site has a lot of cosmic stuff on it, and we learn that he studied Zen Buddhism and is the chairman of the non-profit organization International ZenTherapy Institute, Inc. (IZII) in the U.S. We think Burda should have listened to Arora and Andreessen. Burda has more than 200 magazines, and a digital division operates the hotel rating and travel site Holidaycheck, the dating site Elitepartne, FOCUS Online, which is described as a news and information site, as well as XING, a career-oriented social networking site popular in Europe. In a 2015 financial filing, Burda declared, Another focus in the expansion of digital activities was penetration of core Internet technologies browsers und (sic) search engines with in-house products. Targeted investments were also made in technologically advanced consumer Internet companies, in order to guide their growth as long-term partners. Guiding their growth is not what happened at Mode; it was more like guiding their demise. Still, insiders are more than puzzled by Burdas actions in recent weeks. Why, if the traffic is still an asset, and could presumably be sold, would you kill a bunch of the links and drastically reduce the remaining traffic? Why cut off all the Mode contributors when, according to one estimate, a couple of million dollars would have settled the claims? Thats chicken feed for a company the size of Burda. Content Creators Very, Very Upset As Arora put it, the dots will somehow connect in the future, but theyre not now. We can presume that companies like Hearst and Conde Nast kicked the tires, but balked at the price that was asked. But now? People are very, very upset. Ontario-based Dana Fox wrote a post titled Why I Am So Angry At The Mode Media Shut Down on her blog. The last campaign I did with Mode was a video promotion and social media job. It took me 3 whole working days to prep, shoot and edit the photos accompanying the video, film the video according to their extremely specific directions, additional hours to edit the first draft, then re-edit it (three times I might add!) after receiving comments from the brand, she reports. I uploaded that video 4 times, created an original 500+ word blog post to go alongside it, edited some Instagram photos according to their specifications once again, and then made sure to schedule the final posts on certain provided dates, meaning my regular content would be pushed aside for these promotions. I dont know about you, but that sounds like a decent employable amount of work to me. I will probably never see my payment for that job. Jaime of GirlLovesGloss.comread Danas post, and responded, OMG I had no idea!! They owe me money too money that I was supposed to get paid this month and next month. I am so upset, MODE was the major source of my income :-( How can they do this without even notifying us? I don't even know what to do at this point :-(. Jaime, I dont know if theres anything you can do. One blogger claims there is a total of 365 bloggers who havent been paid. Many of them had signed exclusive advertising contracts that tied them down for at least a year. Maybe journalists and bloggers are used to getting screwed, but can you do this kind of thing to supermodels and get away with it? Are the rules for media companies different in Europe, because we cannot imagine an American media company acting this way? We shall see what happens next. If they start up again, will the same bloggers and fashionistas come back? Probably. Where else would they go? Were betting that a smart entrepreneur will buy out Burda and do something smart with Mode. But there could be something scarier at work here. One person close to the situation asks this question: If Mode wasnt viable, what about big content sites like BuzzFeed? Its starting to look like programmatic is killing big time Web content operations, especially when big media gets involved. We welcome input below from Mode Media insiders who can shed more light on this situation. by Thom Forbes @tforbes, September 22, 2016 Although General Mills knows it has a yogurt problem and has been scrambling to catch up with its more nimble competitors, its sales in the category plummeted 15% in June-to-August period, its 2017 fiscal first quarter, the company reported yesterday. Its telling consumers and investors to hold on, things will get healthier. General Mills was clobbered on Yoplait Light and Yoplait Greek 100, reports Kristen Leigh Painter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Low-fat and low-calorie foods have fallen out of vogue with younger consumers who are looking for nutrient-dense foods that are more filling. Many of the low-calorie products that soared in popularity in the 1980s and 1990s replaced fat content with sugar. Now, sugar is the dirty word among many U.S. consumers who are looking for foods rich in protein and not afraid of fat, like Greek. advertisement advertisement We were the first to market in the light Greek segment and built a strong early position. However with significant competition in this segment, our products have become less differentiated, says GM CEO Ken Powell in a transcript of the earnings call on Seeking Alpha. Our reformulated line of Yoplait Greek 100 products will contain up to 40% more protein, but are still only 100 calories and contain just nine grams of sugar, and we have dramatically improved the taste of these products while adding more protein, which is not an easy thing to do. The new products will be available in time for weight management season in January, Powell added. Indeed, by the end of the fiscal year, 60% of the companys yogurt portfolio will have been renovated, Bridget Christenson writes in a company blog post that contains five positive takeaways starting with natural and organic businesses are driving excellent growth. GM came out a few weeks ago and were pretty abject that they just didn't have the horses when it came to yogurt, The Street's Jim Cramer pointed out on CNBC's Squawk on the Street yesterday. And the release comes out today and they don't have the horses because of yogurt. Overall sales fell 7% to $3.9 billion in the quarter but GMs 4% drop in net profit was better than analysts expected as lower expenses and cost-cutting programs helped limit the impact of weak sales in the United States, writes Reuters Gayathree Ganesan. The maker of Cheerios cereal has been cutting jobs and selling less profitable brands such as the Green Giant frozen vegetable business amid falling sales as customers increasingly shift to foods perceived as healthier. Cost of sales for the first quarter ended Aug. 28 fell 6% to $2.5 billion, while selling, general and administrative expenses were down 12%. Like Campbell Soup CEO Denise Morrison before him, GM CEO Ken Powell says his company is paying close attention to the shifting values of customers, and making sure it's giving people what they want, writes the APs Candice Choi. These changes in attitude are not elusive, Powell tells Choi, recognizing that the food industry has become more entrepreneurial with an increase in the number of smaller brands vying for customers. On the positive side, most of General Mills organic and natural products saw immense growth in the quarter, the Star Tribunes Painter reports. Larabar, a line of snack bars made entirely out of fruits and nuts, grew a staggering 48% and Annies Homegrown organic products were up 28%. In fact, the companys snacking business, which includes other brands like Nature Valley, was the only U.S. segment that saw positive year-over-year growth in this category. Also, General Mills cereal overhaul appears to be working, with retail sales of cereals without artificial colors and flavors up 3% in the U.S. in the recent quarter, Annie Gasparro reports for the Wall Street Journal. We think we can continue to drive improvement in our cereal business through the renovation process, Powell said in the company blog post. Consumers have changed relatively quickly, president and COO Jeff Harmening tells Gasparro in an interview. Certain fads come and go, but satiety, the focus on protein we know these things arent fads. They are trends that are here to stay. Then again, as the APs Choi points out, keeping people interested in products isn't always about jumping on health trends. Making Cocoa Puffs more chocolatey boosted sales 20% in the quarter, Harmening tells her. And adding more cinnamon to Cinnamon Toast Crunch also proved popular. by Philip Rosenstein , Staff Writer, September 22, 2016 The word truth has taken on a new quality in 21st-century politics. Many now question whom to trust with the truth: the government, the mainstream media, the fringe media, political parties, think tanks? We have entered into what we might call the post-truth era, where vast swaths of modern day electorates find truth in emotion rather than in fact. A recent article in The Economist puts it concisely, noting a reliance on assertions that feel true but have no basis in fact. Weve seen this trend in the U.K. with the Brexit vote, where fears of immigration from the Middle East far exceeded actual immigration numbers. Other examples provided by The Economist article include the belief in Turkey that the recent attempted military coup was backed by the CIA, and Polish people's belief that the countrys former president was killed by the Russian government. The advance of post-truthers has been slow, but steady. We can look back decades to Sen. Joseph McCarthy, or stay right in our backyard. advertisement advertisement For years, politicians have vehemently denied the human influence on climate warming, and some contend that there isnt any warming at all. A striking example came in early 2015 when Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, who is the chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, threw a snowball on the Senate floor as proof that climate change shouldnt be something to worry about as it keeps getting cold. The disconnect there between truth and feeling is absurd, but powerful in the right circumstances. Trumps initial foray into politics with his birtherism claim, and his subsequent candidacy, have played on a number of issues where feeling can override fact. There's the claim that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton literally founded ISIS: a post-truthism that to some just feels right -- despite the centuries of sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shias, and the void left following the military pullout decided on during the Bush presidency. But who cares about history? Where does post-truth politics gather its staying power? Mostly on the Internet, of course, with blogs, social media, radio and other media. The Economist attributes much of the advent of post-truth politics to a fragmentation of the media industry. The Web plays a central role in this, where fact can literally be made up or presumed, without much evidence. We read news that reinforces what was previously believed. Endangered is the refreshing and often enlightening serendipity of running into unexpected ideas, people or experiences that one might encounter while browsing through a newspaper or bookstore, wrote Clarence Page of The Chicago Tribune. Instead, its easier to slip into an information silo of news and views that reinforce what we already believe, correctly or not. The questioning of fact is not always dangerous; it is often necessary. In truth, it is often dangerous to blindly accept a fact handed down by authority. Thats where Trump supporters constant questioning of the mainstream media (MSM for short in the right-wing sphere) is a strange continuation of centuries of fighting authority. Think of the movement for womens suffrage or the fight for civil rights, where whole demographic groups were put into disadvantaged positions using false facts. The big difference here is those movements were fighting for something they never had: i.e., progress. What Trump supporters are fighting for is a life or status theyve lost: i.e., regression. Those two historical dialectics are meeting with a rage in 2016, and well find out soon enough which one wins. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, September 22, 2016 Cloud storage company Dropbox, electronics giant Panasonic and marketing agency Harte Hanks failed to comply with the ad industry's privacy code, a unit of the Better Business Bureau said Thursday. All three of the companies allegedly allowed online visitors to be tracked by ad networks (or other third parties), but didn't offer "enhanced" notice explaining online behavioral targeting. To provide "enhanced" notice, companies must add a separate link that takes people directly to a site where they can opt out of receiving behaviorally targeted ads; that link is supposed to appear on every page where data about visitors is collected. The new cases by the BBB's Online Accountability Unit come nearly three years after it warned publishers to provide clear, meaningful and prominent links on all pages where third parties -- like ad networks and exchanges -- collect data about visitors in order to serve them with targeted ads. advertisement advertisement Harte Hanks allegedly offered a link to its privacy policy, but didn't say it allowed ad networks to collect data from visitors. "Since the 'privacy' link did not lead directly to a disclosure of third-party [interest-based advertising] activity on the Harte Hanks website, it did not constitute a compliant enhanced notice link," the enforcement unit wrote in its decision. At the time of the investigation, Harte Hanks was running a retargeting campaign aimed at serving ads to marketing professionals who visited the site, according to a company spokesperson. The marketing firm resolved the watchdog's objections by adding a "Cookies & Advertising link to its site. Panasonic's site had a link to its privacy policy, but didn't describe how ad networks collect data about consumers in order to send them targeted ads, according to the watchdog. Instead, Panasonic allegedly described how companies draw on data for analytics purposes. Dropbox likewise had a link to its privacy policy, but didn't offer "enhanced" notice about behavioral targeting, according to the BBB's Online Accountability Unit. In an unusual twist, all three of the cases announced Thursday originated with complaints by consumers. It's more common for the watchdog to bring cases based on its own observations, according to Genie Barton, vice president and director of the BBB's Online Interest-Based Advertising Accountability Program. "The majority of actionable cases are from our monitoring," she says. by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, September 22, 2016 The California Supreme Court has agreed to hear Yelp's appeal of an order requiring it to remove a negative review. The court's move, announced Wednesday, comes after dozens of Silicon Valley companies and outside organizations -- including Google, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Airbnb, and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press -- weighed in on Yelp's side. The takedown order stems from a lawsuit by attorney Dawn Hassell against a former client, who allegedly gave Hassell a bad review on Yelp. Hassell sued the former client, who never appeared in court to defend herself. A trial judge awarded Hassell a default judgment of more than $500,000, and ordered the former client to remove her critique. The judge also took the unusual step of ordering Yelp to take down the post -- even though Yelp had never been notified about the lawsuit, much less given the opportunity to argue against the injunction. advertisement advertisement Yelp intervened in the case and sought to vacate the order, arguing that it has the right to appear in court before being ordered to remove comments. A trial judge and appellate court rejected Yelp's argument, prompting the company to ask the California Supreme Court to review the case. Yelp raised numerous points, including that other unhappy business owners will be able to follow Hassell's lead by suing commenters, obtaining default judgments, and then serving Web sites with injunctions. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, The New York Times, Gannett and other media organizations sided with Yelp, arguing that judges shouldn't order publishers to remove material without giving them a day in court. Google added in its own letter to the California Supreme Court that the lower court's ruling "undermines established expectations about when online intermediaries -- including publishers of user-submitted content, search engines, and other services that help people access information on the Internet -- may be required, on pain of contempt liability, to censor third-party speech." A group of law professors with expertise in digital media -- including UCLA's Eugene Volokh, Santa Clara University's Eric Goldman and University of North Carolina's David Ardia -- added that the lower court violated Yelp's free speech rights. "The Court of Appeal erred in treating Yelp as essentially lacking First Amendment rights here," the law professors wrote to the state's highest court. "A newspaper cannot be ordered to take down an allegedly libelous comment, without having notice and an opportunity to be heard," the academics said. "A bookstore cannot be ordered to remove an allegedly obscene book, and an art gallery cannot be ordered to re-move an allegedly obscene painting, without an opportunity to challenge the finding of obscenity." Marking its fourth such acquisition in about a year, Apple has acquired machine-learning startup Tuplejump. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Apple opened a development office in Hyderabad, India earlier this year. Coincidence or not, Tuplejump was founded in Hyderabad, in 2013. While the space remains highly experimental, Apple and other tech giants already use machine learning to speed up searches and classify images and facial recognition, among other tasks. At the moment, it is not clear what Apple plans to do with Tuplejump's software, which is most commonly used to process, visualize and store data. Most recently, Apple dropped a reported $200 million on machine learning and artificial intelligence startup Turi, a Seattle-based company that has created a software platform for other companies to build apps that utilize machine learning and AI. Customers have used the platform to build recommendation engines and fraud detectors, as well as apps that predict customer churn, run sentiment analysis, and segment customers. advertisement advertisement Seattle is apparently a hub for the burgeoning machine-learning industry, with several companies in the space headquartered there. Its not surprising that Apple has been building up a presence in the Northwest -- after buying Union Bay Networks in 2014, the company opened an engineering office in Seattle. Previously, Apple purchased Perceptio and VocalIq. Following a similar path, Facebook opened an AI research lab in Paris last year. Like its existing AI teams in Menlo Park, New York and London, the Paris hub is tackling long-term research projects in image recognition, natural language processing, speech recognition and the kinds of physical and logical infrastructure required to run these systems. Google and Yahoo have also endeavored to harness deep learning to enhance their services. Futurist and AI expert Ray Kurzweil joined Google in 2013 after Larry Page convinced him to explore concepts in his book How To Create A Mind. In 2000, the United Nations Development Programme rolled out the Sustainable Development Goals. This week, The Lancet publishes the first analysis showing which countries are progressing toward these goals and which are struggling. Share on Pinterest Some countries performed substantially better against the Sustainable Development Goals than predicted. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which expired in 2015. Consisting of 17 goals, 169 targets, and 230 targets, the SDGs were set by the United Nations (UN) in 2015. According to the UN Development Programmes website, the SDGs are a: Universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The SDGs cover issues such as poverty, climate change, and water availability up to the year 2030. Health is an important facet of the SDGs, present in 11 of the 16 goals; for instance, the third goal aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The current study marks the first annual assessment of SDG health performance and will be launched at the UN General Assembly in New York on September 21. The Lancets report shows that, overall, good progress has been made toward health-related SDGs. For instance, under-5 neonatal mortality, universal healthcare, and family planning have all shown improvement. On the other side of the coin, some areas beyond the MDGs have not shown such improvements. Areas such as hepatitis B rates, childhood overweight, intimate partner violence, and rates of harmful alcohol consumption have worsened. As the MDG era comes to a close, The Lancets report aims to provide a tool for global accountability as we head toward the 2030 SDG targets. With some solid numbers in place, governments, aid organizations, and other official bodies will be better able to identify the wins and the gaps, allowing them to prioritize intelligently. Prof. Stephen Lim led a team from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington; they used data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) study completed between 1990 and 2015. Using this data, they estimated the current status of 33 of the 47 health-related SDG indicators. They created an SDG index, ranked from 0-100 to help make comparisons easier. Scientists looking for traces of E. coli O157:H7 contamination in foods soon could have a new detection method on their hands - turning off the lights to see if the bacteria glow in the dark. Purdue University researchers have engineered a bacteriophage called NanoLuc - a virus that only infects bacteria - to produce an enzyme that causes E. coli O157:H7 to emit light if infected. The process can shave hours off traditional testing methods, which can be critical when stopping the distribution of tainted foods. "It's really practical. They (testing labs) don't have to modify anything they're doing. They just have to add the phage during the enrichment step of the testing protocol," said Bruce Applegate, a Purdue associate professor of food science. "We could detect as few as four bacteria in eight hours, and the process is cheaper than tests being used today." The study involved Purdue faculty, graduate students and scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service and the Purdue Center for Food Safety Engineering. Results were published in Scientific Reports. While many strains of E. coli bacteria are harmless, some can cause severe and potentially fatal illnesses. Ingesting as few as 10 colony-forming units of E. coli O157:H7 can result in serious illness. Current detection methods cannot find just a few E. coli O157:H7 cells in a sample, so inspectors do an enrichment process, culturing the bacteria to multiply so they can be detected. With the bacteriophage added to the sample, scientists can add a reagent and detect E. coli O157:H7 before the enrichment process is even finished, within seven to nine hours. "The current detection methods cannot bypass the enrichment process, but our technology can explore the enrichment phase. That can give us a time advantage over other methods," said Dandan Zhang, a graduate research assistant in the Purdue Department of Food Science and the paper's first author. The process is also unlikely to create a false positive because the bacteriophage cannot produce the light-emitting protein without encountering E. coli O157:H7, which is the only bacteria NanoLuc is able to infect. "The phage is just a virus. It cannot carry out metabolism until it infects a bacteria, which in this case is E. coli O157:H7," Applegate said. "They won't create these proteins unless they've found their specific host." Based on the number of bacteriophage added, the amount of time that has passed and the amount of light emitted, the authors can use an equation to determine approximately how much E. coli O157:H7 is present. Their tests were done in an enrichment broth made with ground beef. Zhang said future work would focus on detection of E. coli O157:H7 in lettuce, spinach and other produce. Other bacteriophages could also be developed to detect other pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella, in a similar fashion. Funding and support for the study came from the USDA, the Purdue Research Foundation Fellowship and the National Council for Science and Technology of Mexico. New model could improve personalized treatment for people with one subtype of lung cancer. Researchers have developed a new model that estimates the fraction of cancer cells in a tumor that could be killed by different chemotherapy treatments, according to a study published in PLOS Computational Biology. The effectiveness of a cancer treatment is usually judged based on how much it shrinks tumors by killing cancer cells. Moreover, experiments with lab-grown cancer cells cannot precisely predict a drug's cell-killing ability since they do not accurately mimic the complex tumor environment within a human body. To improve predictions of the cancer cell-killing ability of chemotherapy, Eleni Kolokotroni of the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, National Technical University of Athens, Greece, and colleagues built a model that simulates the growth of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors. They focused on tumors that can be removed by surgery; doctors often use combinations of chemotherapy drugs to shrink these tumors before removing them. The new model incorporates a variety of existing knowledge on how NSCLC tumor cells proliferate in the body and how different drugs affect their growth. Given information about a patient's specific tumor, such as histological type, cancer stage and proliferation index, the model can estimate the cell-killing ability of different combinations of chemotherapy drugs. The researchers applied the model to data from 12 NSCLC patients who received chemotherapy before tumor-removal surgery. For most patients, the model successfully predicted the observed amount of tumor shrinkage after chemotherapy treatment. With further research, the new model could help reveal links between cell kill rates and specific tumor characteristics, such as genetic mutations, according to study co-author and team leader Georgios Stamatakos. This could ultimately help doctors select the best treatment options for other patients with similar tumor features. Article: In Silico Oncology: Quantification of the In Vivo Antitumor Efficacy of Cisplatin-Based Doublet Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) through a Multiscale Mechanistic Model, Kolokotroni E, Dionysiou D, Veith C, Kim YJ, Sabczynski J, Franz A, Grgic A, Palm J, Bohle R and Stamatakos G, PLOS Computational Biology, doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005093, published 22 September 2016. Novel mathematical models estimate the screening efforts required to eliminate and eradicate sleeping sickness. Researchers have created and tested five models for predicting sleeping sickness prevalence in a given village and further analysis of one reveals estimates of the screening frequency required to eliminate (less than 1 case per 10,000) and eradicate (zero cases) the disease. The paper published in PLOS Computational Biology will serve as a basis for evidence-based disease control policies to improve the frequency of screening towards eradication. Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, is a serious parasitic disease that is still prevalent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding countries, despite decades of sustained screening programs. It is estimated that there were 20,000 cases in the year 2012 and that 70 million people from 36 Sub-Saharan countries are at risk of sleeping sickness infection. Planning decisions, which determine which villages to screen and at what time interval to screen them, have a direct impact on the risk and the magnitude of a sleeping sickness outbreak. The WHO highlights that existing literature does not provide evidence-based guidelines on planning decisions and a wide variety of screening intervals have been applied in different control programs. Up until now there was little known about what screening interval is required to eliminate (less than 1 case per 10,000) and ultimately eradicate (zero cases) the disease. In this paper, researchers from the Erasmus School of Economics, the Erasmus Medical Center, the Institute of Tropical Medicine, the University of Kinshasa, and the national sleeping sickness control program of the DRC present mathematical analyses to estimate the screening frequency required to eliminate (less than 1 case per 10,000) and eradicate (zero cases) the disease. These estimates are village specific and take screening participation levels and the accuracy of the diagnostic test into account. The estimates calculated from their models can serve as a basis for evidence-based disease control policies to improve the frequency of screening towards eradication. They can guide decision making on village specific frequencies, on diagnostic tests, and on participation level targets which will contribute to working towards the targets set by the WHO. One such target is to eliminate sleeping sickness as a public health problem by 2020, which is defined as having less than one new case per 10,000 inhabitants in at least 90% of the disease foci. The model estimates that the latter is only realistic for foci currently having less than 10 cases per 10,000 and for which the fraction of cases detected in a screening round is roughly above 75%. Moreover, under current under conditions, the model estimates that a screening interval of less than 15 months should be maintained to ultimately eradicate the disease. This research serves as a basis for further modeling and optimization studies on sleeping sickness control. Whilst this paper focusses on strategic implications, future research will consider operational decisions. One particular challenge is to determine the actual schedules and routes for the mobile teams, so as to maximize their expected impact. Techniques and algorithms from the fields of operations research and management science will be employed to develop tools that support evidence-based scheduling and routing. Part of the research was supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: OPP1084252. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Article: Forecasting Human African Trypanosomiasis Prevalences from Population Screening Data Using Continuous Time Models, de Vries H, Wagelmans APM, Hasker E, Lumbala C, Lutumba P, Vlas SJd, et al., PLOS Computational Biology, doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005103, published 22 September 2016. A new study shows that when you finish your spouse's sentences or answer a fill-in-the-blank question, you're engaging the brain's relay station for memories, the hippocampus. Until now, scientists largely neglected this area in relation to language. The new experiment conducted by researchers at UC Berkeley and Vitoria Piai, neuroscientist at Radboud University's Donders Institute, shows that memory and language are in fact deeply linked via the hippocampus. Nestled in the center of the brain, the hippocampus acts like a router to link related memories - the color, shape, feel, scent and taste of an orange, for example - so that we are able to make associations. In the new study, direct brain recordings reveal that the brain region is also active during language processing. It relates incoming words to stored semantic knowledge, which is necessary in understanding and generating sentence meaning, the researchers say. Intracranial recordings Language studies most often employ functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which measures oxygen flow in the brain, a slow process that doesn't allow researchers to measure activities that take place in a fraction of a second. This new study however was conducted in twelve epilepsy patients undergoing intracranial electrode monitoring at the UC Irvine Medical Center and Stanford University Medical Center to locate the source of their abnormal brain activity. The researchers recorded neuronal activity from the non-epileptic hemisphere of the brain, using electrodes inserted into the hippocampus. During the experiment, people heard fill-in-the-blank sentences with an obvious completion: "He swept the floor with a ____," for example. In ten of the twelve subjects, listening to sentences that had an obvious completion - the constrained sentences - caused a burst of highly synchronized activity (theta waves) in the hippocampus, activity characteristic of the hippocampus when it makes a memory association. This is a sign that the region was making associations throughout the brain to come up with the right word, in this case: broom. Language in real-time According to Vitoria Piai, former UC Berkeley postdoctoral fellow and now a senior researcher at Radboud University's Donders Institute and Radboud University Medical Center, depth-brain recordings capture millisecond by millisecond neuron firings, showing precisely how the brain deals with language in real-time. "This experiment is so exciting because of the possibility that we will start to understand language and memory in a more integrated way, start examining language as it really happens." The new findings could open up a whole new area of study with intracranial recordings to probe details of the connection between language and memory. UC Berkeley professor Robert Knight, co-author of the publication, said: "This study shows that memory contributes as a sentence is evolving in time; it is a real-time part of our language system, not a slave to the language system." The research is supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, National Institutes of Health (NINDS R37 NS21135; NINDS K23 NS060993; NINDS F32 NS082065), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinical Sciences Research and Development Program, Stanford NeuroVentures Program, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS078396), National Science Foundation (BCS1358907),and by the Nielsen Corporation. Article: Direct brain recordings reveal hippocampal rhythm underpinnings of language processing, Vitoria Piai, PNAS, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1603312113, published online 19 September 2016. Genetic testing of mitochondrial DNA could reveal otherwise unknown ancestry that can influence a person's risk for certain types of breast cancer, a new study finds. UT Southwestern Medical Center cancer researchers studying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in a group of triple negative breast cancer patients found that 13 percent of participants were unaware of ancestry that could influence their risk of cancer. "We found 12 differences among 92 patients, a significant amount," said lead author Dr. Roshni Rao, Director of the George N. Peters, M.D. Center for Breast Surgery at UT Southwestern. "Some patients who self-identified as Hispanic had African-American ancestry. One Hispanic woman was found to be Ashkenazi Jewish. Both African Americans and some Ashkenazi Jewish populations have a higher risk for triple negative breast cancer," said Dr. Rao, Associate Professor of Surgery and with the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. Triple negative breast cancer is characterized by tumors that do not express receptors for estrogen, progesterone, or Her2-Neu, and accounts for about 15 to 20 percent of all breast cancer cases. This form of the disease is known to be particularly aggressive, and challenging to treat. Patients with triple negative breast cancer have a higher incidence of metastatic disease - cancer spreading to other parts of the body - and an overall higher rate of death from breast cancer, compared to patients with other types of breast cancer. "This study is the first to perform mtDNA testing for self-described African-Americans, Caucasians and Hispanics with triple negative breast cancer and to identify unexpected mtDNA patterns," said senior author Dr. Barbara Haley, Professor of Internal Medicine, who holds the Charles Cameron Sprague, M.D. Chair in Clinical Oncology. "It is estimated that 10 to 30 percent of Americans may not be aware of their mixed ancestry. This type of assessment has the potential to be informative for other cancers where we see ethnic differences in frequency without understanding the cause." Patients diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer tend to be younger and are more likely to be African-American or Hispanic. These patients may be less likely to be identified through traditional mammography screenings, which tend to target women 50 and older. "If you know your ancestry, then you could be included in the group that gets screened at a younger age," Dr. Rao said. The researchers asked each volunteer - 31 African-Americans, 31 Caucasians, and 30 Hispanics who are triple negative breast cancer patients - to come in for a simple test, which collects cells from inside the cheek on a swab. Mitochondrial DNA was then isolated from these samples for comparison. Mitochondrial DNA differs from nuclear DNA because it is maternally inherited so it does not change or mix. Researchers can trace the lineage of mtDNA through multiple generations. Among 30 Hispanic patients in this study, 22 did not have a family history of breast cancer whereas eight did. These results suggest that further genetic testing can potentially become an important step in identifying those at risk. Additionally, those of Nigerian, Cameroon, and Sierre Leone ancestry were most strongly associated with triple negative breast cancer, an unexpected finding of this study. This association could indicate that ancestry from specific African countries may predispose an increased risk in the rate of triple negative breast cancer, which does not respond to standard breast cancer therapies, such as tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, or trastuzumab. The study, which appears in the journal Cancer, was supported by Young Texans Against Cancer and the David M. Crowley Foundation. Advertisement In the current paper, Ren and his colleagues describe their use of ChIP-seq to investigate how epigenetic information is passed from one generation to the next to orchestrate the MZT. To that end, they examined in mouse embryos the global distribution of an epigenetic mark known to play a critical role in regulating the activity of genes. This mark (H3K4me3) modifies chromatinthe complex of DNA and its protein packagingby adding three identical molecules known as methyl groups at a specific place on a packaging protein known as histone 3.Dahl, a visiting scholar in Ren's lab and co-first author on the Nature paper, fine-tuned the technique for mapping such epigenetic tags to where only a few hundred embryos or cells were needed for each experiment. Previous methods required up to 10,000 cells to conduct similar analyses. The other first author, Inkyung Jung, a Ludwig postdoc in Ren's lab, contributed significantly to the computational analysis of the resulting data.When the scientists compared H3K4me3 distribution in immature mouse egg cells they found something unexpected: broad but distinct domains of the immature egg cell's genome, representing some 22% of the whole, are heavily marked by H3K4me3. These domains rapidly decrease in size in 2-cell embryos and eventually shrink to about 1% to 2% of the genome."The key lesson we learned was that the genes that are destined to be turned on specifically in the fertilized egg are covered by this unique chromatin domain structure," says Ren. Those marks have to be removed by specialized enzymes to activate the zygotic genome. "This mark is a mechanism for the oocyte to influence which genes in the zygote are activated. It is an epigenetic mechanism for the passage of information from the maternal oocyte to the zygote."The ability to map "epigenomes" using such a small number of cells will be valuable to cancer research, since the epigenetic landscape is dramatically rearranged in cancer and contributes to phenomena driven by small subpopulations of cells, such as drug resistance and metastasis."With a better understanding of the epigenetic landscapes in cancers, we are going to have more tools to study the basis of tumorigenesis," says Ren. "We still have a long way to go, but our goal is to have a thorough understanding of gene regulatory programs so we can use that knowledge to treat cancer and develop diagnostic tools."This research was funded by Ludwig Cancer Research, the American Heart Association, the Oslo University Hospital Early Career Award, the Norwegian Cancer Society, the Anders Jahre Foundation and the Norwegian Research Council.Bing Ren is a member of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, San Diego, and a professor of cellular and molecular medicine at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.Source: Newswise On February 27, 2016, Dr. Entesar Al-Banna, a columnist for the Bahraini daily Al-Watan, wrote that she had discovered, much to her surprise, that many young Arabs idolize Adolf Hitler, mainly for his strength and steadfastness in fighting the entire world. She assessed that this phenomenon stems from the wave of violence afflicting the region and the sense of helplessness that it causes, as a result of which people look to someone who challenged the rest of the globe. According to her, this worship of strength reflects the instability and the crisis of the Arab world, a crisis which is manifested in many ways, ranging from suppression of free expression to the use of extreme violence on all levels. The following are excerpts from her column:[1] "In a course for teenage girls, where I was present, the instructor asked the girls an ordinary question: 'Who is your favorite figure?' Most of the answers were interesting, and included new media figures with whom I am not familiar, especially from Snapchat. But the shocking answer given by several of the girls - which compelled me to argue with them - was that they were fans of Hitler! "I interrupted one of the girls who said that Hitler was her favorite figure, asking her: 'Are you serious or joking?' She looked at me, amazed, and replied: 'Yes, I am serious.' This led another girl to add: 'I too love Hitler's personality.' I asked the first girl: 'What do you like about Hitler's personality?' She responded, very confidently: 'His strength, and his ability to unite his country's military and leadership and to stand fast in war.' I asked her: 'Do you realize that his strength caused an entire world war, and the destruction of Germany and France?' She responded: 'Yes. I read his book Mein Kampf and was impressed by his strength, his faith, and his perseverance.' "Her answer surprised me still further, because I myself haven't read Hitler's [auto]biography, nor am I curious to read it. I told her: 'But Hitler was a dictator who heeded nothing but his inner voice, and was a racist who recognized only the German Aryan race.' She responded: 'So what? It was enough that he was strong!' Then she changed the subject, saying: 'I also like the strong militant personality of Che Guevara.' Here I took advantage of the difference [between the two figures] in order to fulfil my formal role as a teacher, and told her that there is a difference between Hitler's racist and dictatorial values and Che Guevara's universal values, which favor the oppressed peoples and strive for justice and liberation. I suggested that she see the movie about Che Guevara's life story, even though I, in all honesty, haven't seen that either. And then she surprised me a third time by saying that she had read his [auto]biography, which had more depth than the movie. I didn't even know that Che Guevara had written an autobiography. "The young girls' admiration of Hitler's personality and their inclination towards powerful [figures] led me to search for [material] on 'Hitler adoration' and fandom, and indeed, I discovered a wide spectrum of young Arabs who love Hitler. Some said they admired him for killing the Jews, but most were enchanted by his strength, determination, and steadfastness. This begs the question: What is behind these young peoples' love of strength? Are they fans of the violence engulfing the region? Or does the sense of helplessness and weakness [cause them] to adore of a figure who challenged the world with his strength and led an entire people to fight the world? "We are facing a generation of young people who read [books], in an age when reading is considered obsolete - except that these [young people] read [material] of a very worrisome stripe, and acquire twisted values that could impact their future awareness, the extent of their control over things, and their situational assessments. The desire for acquiring and expressing power and for challenging the other has become a secret wish that steals into the hearts of these young people and which is expressed in many ways. This wish reflects the reality of a crisis-ridden, unstable society, [a reality whose expressions] range from suppression of free expression to the use of extreme violence on all levels - verbal, physical, and electronic [media violence]." Endnote: 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, South 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 the 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. Pakistan and the terrorists it has been harboring had it coming. The merciless Uri attacks had the Indian Army fuming and if the reports are to be believed, 20 terrorists sheltered in the PoK area have been sent to hell with holes in their head. According to a report by The Quint, a surgical ghost raid was conducted by the Indian Para commandos at the terror camps in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. indiaarmyarchives Exclusive: 20 terrorists neutralised in a cross-LoC op by the Indian Army in response to #UriAttack | @NandyGram https://t.co/KBU2Dz2wMK The Quint (@TheQuint) September 21, 2016 While 20 terrorists are confirmed dead, casualties could be as high as 200. The operation took place in the wee hours of 20th and 21st September. The indication came across when Pakistan declared a no-fly zone over PoK on the night of 20th September. PIA spokesperson Danyal Gilani had tweeted this information late Tuesday evening. Due 2 northern areas airspace restrictions PIA's 21st Sep's flights to Gilgit, Skardu & Chitral ve been cancelled. Inconvenience regretted. Danyal Gilani (@Danyal_Gilani) September 20, 2016 The reports also speculate that the Pakistani Army Chief General Raheel Sharif might have had a conversation about the surgical raid with Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday night. Ace war reporter Suman Sharma confirmed that she was the source of the information published by The Quint. I am the source https://t.co/NuZobtApVO Sumann Sharrma (@SumannSharrma) September 21, 2016 Theres been no official word from either the government or the Indian army about the strikes as of now. (Image for representational use only.) Like every other country, North Korea has its own country domain name; for example, websites in India can choose the domain .in. Similarly, any web address that ends with .kp denotes that the website originates from the isolated nation North Korea. Reuters We all know that the ruling powers of North Korea are notorious for isolating their nation from the world and it is no surprise that there are only a few websites that use the .kp name. Twenty eight to be precise. That is a very small number if you compare it to .in domain where there were over 700,000 websites in India as of 2013. Some of the websites with .KP domain include riding.rep.kp (their national airlines) and kcna.kp (their national newspaper). There were also weird and unusual websites like friend.com.cp which is some sort of a social networking website. Cooks.org.kp showed off food recipes whereas korfilm.com.kp glorified North Korean movies. The design of these websites seemed very rudimentary and suggests that they really dont care about their online presence. These domain names were accidently revealed after a top-level server was detected by the TLDR Project as it was being reconfigured. An entire list of all the websites is available on Reddit and you can have a look at them for yourself. This incident is a testament to the fact that North Korea likes to keep itself isolated since it shows its citizens have access to very limited information. North Korea does have a private network called Kwangmyong Network and nobody seems to know what happens there. [File photo] In an effort to preserve its listed status, an unprofitable company in China is planning to sell two apartments in an excellent Beijing school district, where skyrocketing prices have risen 13-fold in the past 12 years. The company, *ST Ningtong B, released a sales notice for two of its properties in Beijing on Sept. 20. If the properties can be sold for a satisfactory price, the company, which has been running at a loss for two consecutive fiscal years, may finally enjoy some gains. In addition, the enterprise will be able to maintain control over its shell resources, Securities Daily reported on Sept. 21. According to the report, the companys two properties are located in Beijings Xicheng District, where the unit sales price for residential plots is above 100,000 RMB ($14,989) per square meter. Though the apartments have been valued at over 22.7 million RMB, some experts believe that the actual price may reach 28.2 million RMB. The two units were purchased for 2.1 million RMB in 2004. The real estate market in China is overheating," an anonymous economist told Securities Daily in an interview. "The profit created by thousands of employees in a listed company may not even surpass the price of an apartment in a first-tier city in China. If the situation cannot be dealt with, it will negatively influence the countrys economy. School district houses, or "xuequfang," have become a hot topic in China in the past few years, as public school enrollment in China requires a familys residence to be registered at an address associated with the school. Imbalanced education resources and booming real estate have led to soaring prices for school district houses in big cities. In June, a hallway measuring just 1.5 by 7 meters in a desirable Beijing school district was priced at 1.5 million RMB, the Beijing Morning Post reported. Picture shows the Xiaohekou Great Wall after the repair work (Photo from Weibo) A cultural relics expert recently gave an interview expressing regret that a section of Great Wall in northeastern China's Liaoning province has been ruined by repair work, and urging China to introduce standards for such repair work, Beijing Youth Daily reported. Photos show that the Xiaohekou section of the wall, built in 1381 during the Ming Dynasty, is now covered in lime. Gao Jinxu, a photographer, told Beijing News that the section was full of historical significance before the repair work was done. "Workers there told me that the repair plan instructed them to wipe the wall with mortar to ensure that it wouldn't collapse," said Gao. The repair work was done in accordance with plans released two years ago. Picture shows the Xiaohekou Great Wall before the repair work (File photo) There is no need to blame technology, said Ding Hui, head of the Liaoning Cultural Relics Bureau. In an interview with the Beijing News, Ding also acknowledged that the wall is "ugly" after the repair work. It is right to repair the Great Wall with lime rather than cement, but the repair work cannot be done like this, expressed Dong Huihui, an expert specializing in Great Wall studies, in an interview with Beijing Youth Daily. Dong worries that people will lose the sense of history if the Great Wall is repaired in this way. Dong suggested that authorities review the repair work done on the wall in the last decades and work out a unified standard for repair. According to reports, Liaoning cultural authorities have sent experts to the the Xiaohekou section for further investigation. [Photo/CRI Online] Slow-wheel pottery, a traditional pottery-making skill, is undeniably on the decline. But in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province, a place with a 4,000-year-long history of pottery manufacturing, there are still a number of practitioners of the ancient skill. Yu Meng is one of them. Listed as a piece of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006, the traditional skill, prevalent among the Dai ethnic minority, is an essential form of pottery. Yu, an inheritor of the cultural tradition, runs a pottery workshop to promote the fading art. Thanks to increasing attention nationwide on intangible cultural heritage, many people have come to Yu to study the skill. Sometimes Yu also travels to schools to do demonstrations, in the hope that slow-wheel pottery will be embraced and carried forward by the younger generation. [File photo] Shanghai has set up 372 automated external defibrillators (AED) to reduce deaths caused by sudden cardiac arrest. The city is also at work on a positioning system to help residents in need pinpoint the location of AEDs across the city. Around 544,000 people in China die from sudden cardiac events every year, with a survival rate of less than 1 percent. The ability to receive an electric shock from an AED immediately following the event dramatically raises a patient's chance of survival. So far, however, fewer than 1,000 AEDs have been deployed in public areas nationwide, leaving access to the life-saving equipment sparse, Thepaper.cn reported. Compared to developed countries, AEDs are much less commonly used in China. The U.S. passed relevant laws in the 1990s to ensure public access to AEDs within 10 minutes. In Japan, 234.8 AEDs are available for every 100,000 people, said Su Zhuojun, secretary of the Red Cross Society of Shanghai Jiaotong University, in an interview with Thepaper.cn. By Japans standards, there should be over 60,000 AEDs around Shanghai, an official from Tongji University added. The cost of an AED is around 30,000 RMB, which makes it expensive to deploy the equipment on such a large scale. In addition, China lacks individuals who are trained on how to operate the devices. In order to tackle the problems mentioned above, local government in Shanghai has been gradually increasing the number of AEDs in public areas around the city. The government in Shanghais Pudong District plans to install around 800 AEDs in public areas by the end of 2018, and AED training is now being introduced at local universities. During the 71st Session and the high-level Week of the UN General Assembly in New York City, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias is meeting tomorrow, Friday September 23, with his counterparts, Ioannis Kasoulides and Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus and Egypt respectively, within the framework of the trilateral partnership established between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt. Additionally, Foreign Minister N. Kotzias will have the opportunity to present the positions of Greece with regard to regional and international affairs to the Council on Foreign Relations. Later, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is meeting with Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Finally, Foreign Minister N. Kotzias will be attending the testimonial dinner of the Federation of Cypriot American Organisations, which the President and the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus are also going to attend. In the framework of the 71st Session and the high-level Week of the UN General Assembly in New York City, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias met today, Thursday September 22, with, the Foreign Minister of FYROM, Nikola Poposki. In their meeting, which took place in a very good atmosphere, the two Ministers focused on developments in the wider region, and the course of the implementation of Confidence-Building Measures. Lastly, the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs talked about the upcoming, second quadrilateral meeting between Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and FYROM, which has been scheduled for October, in Thessaloniki, and which the Ministers of Foreign Affairs as well as the Ministers of Home Affairs of all four countries are expected to participate in. The police are raiding the drug production factory. Hidden in remote mountains, a criminal group was recently arrested by Guangzhou police after trying to conceal the scent of its drug production operation behind the strong stench of goats. The drug ring was arrested with 2.55 tons of methamphetamines, which they had made over the course of nine days. Fortunately, the drugs had not yet been circulated. From Sept. 4 to 21, police destroyed three drug production factories as well as a warehouse. Officers uncovered 2.1 tons of finished drugs and 2 tons of unfinished drugs, as well as a large quantity of raw materials and instruments. The main suspects have all been tracked down. Guangzhou police began investigating the case in March, when a mailman provided them with relevant clues. The case was spread across five countries in Asia and Oceania. Additionally, another seven cities and three provinces in Greater China were involved. Photos provided by fourth branch team of the Chinese Armed Police stationed in Beijing show soldiers in real combat training, which includes anti-attack, prison break prevention and fugitive interception drills. The training aims to enhance the quality of soldiers' responses during emergency situations. (Photo/People's Daily Online) Internet moguls have pledged to further promote entrepreneurship and boost innovative growth in rural China, where netizens top 195 million. E-commerce giant Alibaba signed cooperation agreements with the Ministry of Agriculture at a national conference on Sept. 6 and 7, which was chaired by Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu. The agreement aims to boost e-commerce in rural China through education and registration initiatives, which will also help to alleviate poverty in those areas. More than 20,000 people are currently employed by Alibaba in over 300 counties across 29 provincial regions of China. Addressing the conference, Liu Qiangdong, CEO of JD.com, said that some 90 percent of his employees come from rural China, and he himself grew up in a small village in Jiangsu province. To promote rural e-commerce, JD.com has established more than 1,000 local specialty shops and invited Party chiefs from 100 counties to advertise their county specialties. With freezer storage in 10 cities, JD.com is now capable of delivering fruit and other fresh food within 24 hours in 20 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. Liu added that the company has also invented multiple e-finance products to boost entrepreneurship among farmers. These advances include more accessible loans and e-commerce education. The population of netizens in rural China had climbed to 195 million by 2015, with 170 million rural residents surfing the Internet via smartphones. Of the 350 Chinese counties that were responsible for more than 100 million RMB of trade on Taobao in 2015, 120 were located in central and western China. Traditional Chinese massage is lately being used as a new treatment for drug addiction in northwestern Chinas Gansu province. A number of experts and officials believe the treatment can improve drug addicts mental and physical health. The Bureau of Drug Rehabilitation Management of Gansu province has been conducting research on the curative effects of Chinese massage since 2014 in an effort to create a foolproof and low-cost treatment for drug addiction, Chinanews.com reported on Sept. 21. Drug addiction is widely accepted by medical professionals to be a recurrent disease related to the brain's neural system. Without professional help, along with certain medicines and equipment, drug addicts can easily fall off the wagon, said Mo Xingbang, a senior traditional massueuse, in an interview with Chinanews.com. In order to provide drug addicts with an easy way to curb their longings for drugs once they leave rehabilitation facilities, the bureau carried out a series of research projects examining traditional massage. The therapy was found to promote the recovery of drug addicts normal bodily functions, as well as to relieve side effects of drug rehabilitation. Using Chinese traditional massage to treat drug addiction requires effort and time. Though our research is facing great pressure and doubt from the public, we will not give up, said Han Quanli, director of the bureau. The [traditional massage treatment] is beneficial for minimizing the chance of relapse ... Many rehabilitation centers in Gansu province have been cooperating with the government. [We] hope traditional massage can effectively help drug addicts stay away from drugs, offered Niu Xingquan, vice-director of the Justice Bureau of Gansu province. (Caption for picture: Female drug addicts receive traditional massages at a detoxification center in Gansu province. [Photo / chinanews.com]) (Xinhua) 20:01, September 22, 2016 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. Enditem Mark Karwowski of Cass City plays Jacob Henry Striffler in the recent fourth annual Elkland Township Cemetery Walk. Striffler established a farm implement store in 1882 at the location of the current Parkway party store. He was also a farmer, cattle buyer, township supervisor, treasurer, highway commissioner, Cass City village president and trustee. He lived from 1851 to 1925. Karwowski was one of seven actors who participated in this year's walk, which educates people about those who have contributed to the Cass City community. BAD AXE State Rep. Edward Canfield will host a town hall meeting with the Michigan Attorney Generals office at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at the Huron County Expo Center, 170 W. Soper Road in Bad Axe. The meeting focuses on the dangers of identity theft, and Susan Peters from the Attorney Generals office will give a presentation offering advice on how to best protect yourself and your family from this increasing threat to our privacy. Intu owns and manages some of the best shopping centres, in some of the strongest locations, in the UK and Spain. Our UK portfolio is made up of 17 centres, including eight of the top-20, and in Spain we own three of the country's top-10 centres, with advanced plans to build a fourth. We are passionate about creating compelling experiences, in centre and online, that make our customers smile and help our retailers flourish. We attract around 400 million customer visits and 26 million website visits a year offering a multichannel approach that truly supports retail strategies. Our strategic focus on prime, high-footfall flagship destinations, combined with the strength and popularity of our brand, means that intu offers enhanced footfall, dwell time and loyalty. This helps our tenants flourish, driving occupancy and income growth. We are committed to our local communities, with our centres supporting nearly 130,000 jobs (representing about 3 per cent of the total UK retail workforce), and to operating with environmental responsibility. We have already met or exceeded a significant number of our 2020 environmental targets. PNM Resources, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides electricity and electric services in the United States. It operates through Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and Texas-New Mexico Power Company (TNMP) segments. The PNM segment engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The segment generates electricity using coal, natural gas and oil, nuclear fuel, solar, wind, and geothermal energy sources. As of December 31, 2021, this segment had owned or leased facilities with a total net generation capacity of 2,168 megawatts; and owned 3,426 miles of electric transmission lines, 5,751 miles of distribution overhead lines, 5,765 miles of underground distribution lines, and 250 substations. The segment also owns and leases communication, office and other equipment, office space, vehicles, and real estate. The TNMP segment provides regulated transmission and distribution services. As of December 31, 2021, the segment owned 983 miles of overhead electric transmission lines, 7,297 miles of overhead distribution lines, 1,408 miles of underground distribution lines, and 113 substations. The segment also owns and leases vehicles, service facilities, and office locations throughout its service territory. The company serves approximately 806,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers and end-users of electricity in New Mexico and Texas. PNM Resources, Inc. was incorporated in 1882 and is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the 5th largest bank in the world and the largest in the U.S. The current company is the result of a series of mergers that began in the earliest days of American banking history and include more than 1,200 original banks. The oldest predecessor is The Bank Of The Manhattan Company which was founded in 1799 by Aaron Burr. At the time, The Bank Of The Manhattan Company was the 3rd oldest bank in the U.S. and the 31st oldest in the world. The Chase Manhattan Bank, a precursor to JPMorgan Chase, was later formed when The Bank Of Manhattan Company purchased Chase Bank which was established in 1877. JPMorgan & Co came to life in 1895 in order to finance the United States Steel Corporation. Itself a result of merger, the company also financed other early American businesses as well as aided the federal government by backing a bond offering. It wasnt until the year 2000 and after several more mergers that JPMorgan Chase & Co was born. It will be four more years before the merger with Bank One which is notable because it brings CEO Jamie Dimon into the picture. JPMorgan Chase & Co was instrumental in aiding the US government during the 2008 financial crisis. It backed the accounts of several major banks including Bear Stearns and eventually took over their operations. Today, JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide with operations on every continent and in more than 60 countries. JPMorgan Chase & Co operates through four segments that are Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). Services are available in branches in 48 of the 50 US states and around the world. Services are available via ATM, online, mobile, and telephone. The CCB segment offers traditional banking services to consumers that include but are not limited to deposits, loans, mortgages, and lines of credit. The CIB segment provides investment banking products and services to businesses, institutions, and governments that range from prime brokerage, insurance, corporate strategy, and access to capital markets, to lending, cross-border financing, and derivative instruments. The CB segment provides financial services for small, medium, and large businesses including commercial real estate banking of all types. The AWM segment provides investment management solutions to institutional and retail investors. This segment also provides retirement products, brokerage, trusts and estates, and investment management products. The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan. Read More National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, and savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services comprise credit, and deposit and investment solutions, as well as international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services. The Wealth Management segment comprises investment solutions, trust services, banking services, lending services, and other wealth management solutions. The Financial Markets segment offers corporate banking, advisory, and capital markets services; and project financing, debt, and equity underwriting; advisory services in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and financing. The U.S. Specialty Finance and International segment provides specialty finance products; financial products and services to individuals and businesses in Cambodia; and investment solutions, guaranteed investment certificates, mutual funds, notes, structured products, and monetization. It provides its services through a network of 384 branches and 927 banking machines. National Bank of Canada was founded in 1859 and is based in Montreal, Canada. A Chinese aquarium keeping a forlorn-looking polar bear named Pizza said Tuesday it has "no need" for foreign interference, after activists offered to move the animal to a British zoo. Animals Asia, a Hong Kong-based organisation, created a petition calling for the closure of the Grandview aquarium in the Chinese city of Guangzhou that attracted half a million signatures. Photos of Pizza shared widely on social media show the bear lying listlessly on the ground in a gloomy, windowless room while visitors crowd around taking photos on their cell phones. "Pizza" the polar bear stands up inside his enclosure at the Grandview Mall Aquarium in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, in an undated image supplied on September 20, 2016 by Hong Kong-based activist organisation Animals Asia Activists said the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England had offered to adopt Pizza on condition that he was not replaced by another polar bear, adding the zoo would not pay for the animal due to "fear that any funds could be used to buy more animals". But the zoo declined to comment or confirm the offer while the aquarium operator said no one had contacted him about taking the bear, adding they "have no need for foreign organisations to get involved". "Yorkshire Wildlife Park has not contacted us," said the general manager of the aquarium, a man surnamed Fan who refused to give his full name. "We are a legally compliant aquarium, run according to Chinese standards and protecting animal rights. In the future we will strengthen the protection of animal rights and welfare," he added. The cost of transferring the large, living carnivore nearly 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) from Guangzhou to Doncaster, England "will be raised if the offer is accepted", Animals Asia said. The activists said they are now pushing for a meeting with the aquarium in hopes of getting a response to their offer, adding they will draw up a bill if officials agree to have Pizza delivered. The animal welfare director of Animals Asia, Dave Neale, said in a statement that the aquarium "have the chance to put their mistake right" and end the crush of negative media attention. The group has been publicising Pizza's plight since the beginning of the year. Harley-Davidson, Inc. manufactures and sells motorcycles. The company operates in two segments, Motorcycles and Related Products and Financial Services. The Motorcycles and Related Products segment designs, manufactures, and sells Harley-Davidson motorcycles, including cruiser, touring, standard, sportbike, and dual models, as well as motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and related services. This segment sells its products to retail customers through a network of independent dealers, as well as e-commerce channels in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The Financial Services segment provides wholesale financing services, such as floorplan and open account financing of motorcycles, and parts and accessories; and retail financing services, including installment lending for the purchase of new and used Harley-Davidson motorcycles, as well as point-of-sale protection products comprising motorcycle insurance, extended service contracts, and motorcycle maintenance protection. This segment also licenses third-party financial institutions that issue credit cards bearing the Harley-Davidson brand. Harley-Davidson, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Elmira Tariverdiyeva Trend: Russias handing over the Iskander missile systems to Armenia can bring additional threats to the region, says Pavel Felgenhauer, a Moscow-based defense analyst and columnist for Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Supply of those missile systems to Armenia changes the balance in the region, believes the expert. Perhaps, Russia will sell such systems to Azerbaijan in order to ensure the balance, added Felgenhauer. The expert says Iskander is a high-precision weapon, but this precision demands good satellite or aerial digital photos of the target. It is not clear which type of the Iskander systems was delivered to Armenia, said the analyst, noting that Russia hasnt dismissed Armenias claims about the transfer of the weapon, but didnt provide details on the issue. Felgenhauer said that probably Armenia has received Iskander-E export modification, which is worse and has a shorter range as compared to Iskander-M which is produced for Russia only. He pointed out that Iskander-M cant be handed over to a third party, according to Russias international commitments on non-proliferation of ballistic missiles with a range of over 300 kilometers. Tutor Perini Corporation, a construction company, provides diversified general contracting, construction management, and design-build services to private customers and public agencies worldwide. It operates through three segments: Civil, Building, and Specialty Contractors. The Civil segment engages in the public works construction and the replacement and reconstruction of infrastructure, construction and rehabilitation of highways, bridges, tunnels, mass-transit systems, military defense facilities, and water management and wastewater treatment facilities. This segment also provides drilling, foundation, and excavation support for shoring, bridges, piers, roads, and highway projects. The Building segment offers services in various specialized building markets, including hospitality and gaming, transportation, health care, commercial offices, government facilities, sports and entertainment, education, correctional facilities, biotech, pharmaceutical, and industrial and technology. The Specialty Contractors segment provides electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection systems, as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services (HVAC) for the industrial, commercial, hospitality and gaming, and mass-transit end markets. It also offers general contracting, pre-construction planning, and project management services, including planning and scheduling of manpower, equipment, materials, and subcontractors; and self-performed construction services, such as site work, concrete forming and placement, steel erection, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical. The company was formerly known as Perini Corporation and changed its name to Tutor Perini Corporation in May 2009. Tutor Perini Corporation was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Sylmar, California. Telecom Argentina S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services in Argentina and internationally. The company offers telephone services, including local, domestic, and international long-distance telephone services, as well as public telephone services; and other related supplementary services, such as call waiting, call forwarding, conference calls, caller ID, voice mail, itemized billing, and maintenance services. It also provides interconnection services, such as traffic and interconnection resource, dedicated Internet access, video signals transportation in standard and high definitions, audio and video streaming, dedicated links, backhaul links for mobile operators, data center hosting/housing services, dedicated links, layer 2 and layer 3 transport networks, video links, value-added services, and other services. In addition, the company offers mobile telecommunications services, including voice communications, high-speed mobile Internet content and applications download, online streaming, and other services; and sells mobile communication devices, such as handsets, Modems MiFi and wingles, and smart watches under the Personal brand. Further, it provides internet connectivity products, including virtual private network services, traditional Internet protocol links, and other products; data services; and programming and other cable television services. The company was formerly known as Cablevision S.A. and changed its name to Telecom Argentina S.A. in January 2018. Telecom Argentina S.A. was founded in 1979 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Despite Flipping in Surf 4 Times in a Year, Marines Say New ACV Is the Future of Amphibious Warfare Some Marine veterans familiar with the vehicle and its operations have worried about the reliability of the ACV. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Elmira Tariverdiyeva Trend: Charles Hendry, former UK minister of energy, former prime ministers trade envoy to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, declaimed against the negative article about Azerbaijan published by Financial Times (FT). I do not recognize Nick Butlers article on Azerbaijan published on September 19, said Hendrys letter entitled Commercial opportunities abound in Azerbaijan published in FT. I first went to Azerbaijan five years ago as energy minister and have subsequently visited on numerous occasions as the prime ministers trade envoy until last year, Hendry said. BP and other energy groups were attracted there because Azerbaijan offered a transparent fair regime, he said. Azerbaijan introduced production sharing agreements that it has adhered to throughout the years when other regimes have failed to do so, the author said. It is an Azerbaijani approach to attracting foreign investment that other countries could sensibly follow, the author added. Azerbaijan is a young country and no one would pretend that it has not got changes to make, he said. But Mr Butlers article comes at a time when the government is introducing reforms to clamp down on bureaucracy and corruption to keep its movement up the table of the Worlds Bank ease of doing business rankings, he added. Azerbaijan is rated one of the best countries in the world for the ease of opening a business. The author said that the best advice for Mr Butler is to go and visit Azerbaijan and judge which one of us is right. The U.S. Air Force has identified the pilot who was killed in U-2 crash on Tuesday in northern California. The officer was Lt. Col. Ira S. Eadie, according to a statement from Beale Air Force Base. He was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing. News 4 Jax, a local news organization in Jacksonville, Florida, reported Eadie was a Lake City native, 20-year military veteran and devoted husband who left behind his wife and six children, ranging in age from 6 to 25 years old. Another pilot who remains unidentified was injured in the accident, but sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to the statement. He was removed from the scene in a ground utility vehicle and is listed in "good condition" at a local medical facility, according to a base official. The cause of the mishap remains under investigation. Both pilots ejected from the two-seater trainer around 9:05 a.m., shortly after taking off from the installation, which is located in a rural area in the north-central part of the state. In a video sent to KCRA, a local NBC affiliate in Sacramento, parachutes can be seen in the sky while the aircraft, a trainer designated a TU-2S, spins uncontrollably toward the ground. Photos show smoke billowing from the scene and wreckage strewn across the crash site near the Sutter Buttes mountain range. The U-2 Dragon Lady is a Cold War-era surveillance plane based at Beale. The single-engine jet made by Lockheed Martin Corp. flies as high as 70,000 feet, has a range of 7,000 miles and dates to the 1950s. The Air Force as of this year had 33 of the aircraft in inventory, including five trainers, according to a fact sheet. Trainer models of the aircraft hold two crew members. The service had planned to retire the aircraft in 2019 and replace it with a high-altitude drone, the RQ-4 Global Hawk, made by Northrop Grumman Corp. --Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry. Sloppy background checks at three bases allowed 120 members of the general public to live in on-base housing without proper vetting, according to Pentagon investigators. The report, published in April by the Defense Department's inspector general office and released Thursday under the Freedom of Information Act, looked at civilians who weren't employed by the department but who lived in on-base housing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; Fort Detrick, Maryland; and Naval Station Mayport, Florida. Of the 128 who lived on those bases, 110 were given unrestricted access without complete background checks, while 10 residents had no background check conducted at all, according to the document. Additionally, 61 residents received access passes that expired after their leases terminated. Army and Air Force rules require bases to screen all non-employee ID card holders, including temporary visitors and tenants, through an FBI and interstate index for criminal histories, presence on the terrorist watch list and outstanding warrants. The Navy uses only the FBI program to access those files. Those with felony convictions over the last 10 years are denied base access, according to the report. The lack of screening created a national security risk, the report states. "As a result DoD assumed a higher security risk to military personnel, their dependents, civilians and assets," it states. "For example, Fort Detrick is home to the Chemical Biological Medical Systems Joint Project Management Office and elements of the Naval Medical Research Center. The consequences of unauthorized access to these types of facilities could be catastrophic." Investigators blamed the lapse on inadequate guidance on how to handle those leasing homes on base, despite the overall standard that was already in place. "This occurred because Army and Air Force guidance did not specify the queries needed to generate the required general public tenant background check or require the badge expiration date align with lease terms," the report states. "In addition, although Navy officials had adequate guidance, they did not fully implement their screening system." Of those leasing at Fort Detrick, two of the 26 tenants did not receive any background check, while 24 received partial checks. At Barksdale, seven of the 95 tenants received no background check, while only two received a complete check. At Mayport, six of the seven tenants received a complete background check, while one received no check. Seventeen Defense Department installations allowed general public tenants to live in on-base housing as of August 2015, the last date for which statistics are readily available. Of those, inspectors randomly selected three bases to examine. By law, general public tenants are permitted to live on base in privatized housing if occupancy falls under 95 percent and no other DoD-affiliated renters, including members of the National Guard and retirees, have applied. Since the investigation was completed in February, management at the three bases have run proper background checks and reissued IDs with correct expiration dates for all public tenants, the report says. Investigators also recommended that a review of the background checks and pass expiration dates for all public tenants on Navy, Army and Air Force installations be conducted. Officials with the Air Force and Navy estimated they would complete that check by mid-summer of this year, while the Army had not responded at the time of the report's writing. -- Editor's Note: This story was updated to correct the location of a base in the second paragraph. -- Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford said Thursday that Russia was responsible for the Syrian aid convoy bombing, even if it was a Syrian government aircraft that dropped the munitions. Dunford also told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the U.S. military would not share intelligence with Russia if the cessation of hostilities could be revived, leading to a joint cooperation agreement with Russia on airstrikes. "We don't have any intention of having an intelligence sharing operation with the Russians," Dunford said. "I don't believe it would be a good idea to share intelligence with the Russians." In their testimony, both Dunford and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said that Russia bore the ultimate responsibility for the bombing of the United Nations humanitarian aid convoy Monday near Aleppo that reportedly killed at least 20 aid workers. Dunford said that two Russian aircraft were in the area when the convoy was attacked. It was his judgment that the Russian aircraft carried out the attack, but "it was either the Russians or the regime" of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, he said. "There's no doubt in my mind the Russians are responsible," given the sway Russia has over Assad, Dunford said. As he has previously, Carter denied that there was friction between the Pentagon and the State Department over the cessation of hostilities agreement that was to lead to coordination between Russia and the U.S. on airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and the al-Qaida affiliate formerly known as the al-Nusra Front. Carter commended Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts to "ease the suffering of the Syrian people" and involve Russia in working for a peace settlement but "unfortunately the behavior we see from Russia and Syria over the last few days has been deeply problematic." The Russian Defense Ministry has denied that its aircraft or those of the Syrian regime carried out the convoy attack. Russia has also charged that an American MQ-1 Predator drone was in the area at the time of the attack, an allegation denied by the U.S. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican and the committee's chairman, charged that the crisis in Syria was symptomatic of the failures of the Obama administration's policies in the Mideast, which he called "an unmitigated disaster." "But thanks to the tremendous talent and dedication of our men and women in uniform, we are making progress," McCain said. Using another acronym for ISIS, he said, "I have no doubt that ISIL will eventually be expelled from its strongholds in Mosul and Raqqa. The day of liberation will come later than it should have, but it will come." Earlier this week at the United Nations, President Barack Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who said the fall of Mosul in northwestern Iraq could come within two months. Carter said at the hearing that the timing of the final Mosul offensive, using the Qayyarah West airfield about 40 miles southeast of Mosul as a logistics hub, would be at Abadi's choosing. However, Dunford said a major concern was that ISIS would use chemical weapons to blunt the Mosul offensive. Last week, the U.S. conducted a major airstrike to destroy what U.S. Central Command officials described as a pharmaceutical factory in Mosul that ISIS had converted into a chemical weapons production complex. At the hearing, Dunford confirmed that examination of an artillery shell fired at Qayyarah, where U.S. troops have been prepping Iraqi troops for the Mosul offensive, appeared to show traces of the blistering agent mustard gas. There were no deaths or injuries in the incident. "We assess it to be a sulfur-mustard blister agent," Dunford told the committee. "It wasn't particularly effective, but it was a concerning development." Much of the hearing was taken up with partisan bickering over who was to blame for the budget impasse that will leave the Defense Department without a new spending blueprint for the eighth straight year. Republicans and Democrats conceded that the fallback will be a continuing resolution to fund the department at current levels, although the length of the continuing resolution has yet to be worked out. "We're now eight days away from the end of the fiscal year, but instead of stability, we're going into fiscal year 2017 with yet another continuing resolution," Carter said. "That's a deplorable state of affairs." Republicans have charged that the Obama administration has blocked defense spending increases unless similar increases were made to domestic programs. Democrats have responded that the balance between domestic and defense spending was agreed to by the Republicans in a previous bipartisan budget arrangement. Sen. Angus King, an Independent from Maine, said that the budget process was being held up by the attachment of questionable riders to the bill to score political points in an election year. He singled out a rider in the House on whether the sage grouse should be declared an endangered species. King said he recognized that the sage grouse issue was a matter of concern to senators from Western states but said, "That should not be the thing that holds up" the budget. "The sage grouse is what is stopping the National Defense Authorization Act," King said. "We ought to be clear that what the problem is here is that trying to load on a lot of political baggage to both the appropriations bill and the national defense bill is what has gotten us to this place." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. A planned Navy and Marine Corps beach landing exercise on the island of Tinian in the Marianas was canceled last week after officials discovered evidence of an endangered turtle species nesting there. Navy and Marine Corps units, including elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, were in the region for Exercise Valiant Shield 2016, a biennial U.S. field training exercise focused on joint interoperability in a maritime environment. The canceled exercise was a planned Sept. 13 company-sized boat raid onto Tinian's Chulu Beach, employing troops from the MEU's Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. The creatures that held the forces at bay were green sea turtles, III Marine Expeditionary Force spokesman Capt. Timothy Irish told Military.com. The turtles can grow to 350 pounds in size and have been listed as endangered since 1982. Bill Kavanaugh, the regional and environmental coordinator for Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Marianas, said exercise planners had received advance warning that turtles might come between them and their combat objectives. "We saw the hatching window would coincide with the window of the exercise and alerted military planners with alternative [courses of action] a month ago," he said in a statement. The planned boat raid, which would have employed combat rubber raiding craft, was replaced with a helicopter-borne reconnaissance insert, Irish said. He added that no other training was affected by the presence of the turtles. Troops participating in Valiant Shield had another chance to conduct an amphibious assault on Sept. 20, when 31st MEU personnel landed on a Guam beach using assault amphibious vehicles. Irish said this landing was pre-planned and not a replacement for the company boat raid. In all, some 18,000 troops are participating in Valiant Shield, including a carrier strike group, an expeditionary strike group, and land-based air forces, Irish said in a news release. "We need the ability to train to conduct beach landings," Lt. Col. Brian Greene, commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, said in a statement. "However, the strength of our [Marine air-ground task force] is the ability to project forces from the ship to an objective through the use of helicopters as well as surface craft. The MAGTF allows for a range of operations and we welcome the opportunity to exercise that flexibility." Navy personnel comply with a number of restrictions and rules in order to protect the turtle population that nests within the Marianas. The beaches undergo monthly inspections, and all military landing sites must be inspected six hours prior to the anticipated operation. If a nest is spotted, officials will either close the beach to training or mark the nests for bypass, Irish said. "The Marine Corps has experience with sea turtles and land tortoises in other training venues," he said. "We adhere to environmental considerations, U.S. law, respect for the environment, and maintaining the ability to conduct safe and realistic training to prepare our forces for war." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck. The death of a sailor who was deployed in the central Mediterranean is under investigation, Defense Department officials announced Thursday. Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) Airman Devon Maurice Faulkner, 24, of North Carolina, died Sept. 20, officials said. Faulkner sustained a non-combat related injury, according to the announcement, but no further information was made available. Faulkner had been assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, the lead ship in the Wasp amphibious ready group. The Wasp deployed in June with dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island and amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio to carry the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit on a scheduled deployment to the Central Command area of operations. Faulkner enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 3, 2015, and had previously undergone training at the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center in Pensacola, Florida, Navy spokesman Lt. Michael Hatfield told Military.com. He reported to the Wasp, his first ship assignment, March 31. At the time of Faulkner's death, the Wasp had been supporting Operation Odyssey Lightning, a round of airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Libya that began Aug. 1. Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and AH-1W SuperCobras assigned to the Wasp have played an active role in prosecuting these airstrikes. In all, 161 strikes have been conducted on ISIS targets since Odyssey Lightning began, according to numbers released by U.S. Africa Command on Wednesday. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told troops Wednesday the U.S. military will be heavily engaged in the Mideast long after the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is defeated. From Baghdad, Army Staff Sgt. Rory Radtke, a combat engineer with the 101st Airborne Division, asked whether U.S. troops would stay in the region indefinitely, much as they have in South Korea. Carter did not respond directly to the comparison to South Korea, where the U.S. has maintained a presence for more than 60 years, but said of the Mideast, "We're going to be in that region for a long time. You bet we'll be in your region." The secretary took the question during an event billed as a "Worldwide Troop Talk" with service members at the Pentagon, bases around the globe and aboard the Navy's newest destroyer, the futuristic Zumwalt. "You're what I wake up for every morning," he said to his audience before fielding questions from moderator Air Force Tech Sgt. Holly Roberts Davis and others on wide-ranging topics -- from family issues and suicide rates, to cyber defense and the nuclear triad deterrent. Carter said the Defense Department continues to look for ways "wherever we can be flexible" to relieve the stress of service on military families, particularly dual-service couples. He noted the department expanded paid maternity leave to 12 weeks for women in all services in January. "It was way worth it in terms of retention," he said. "We are a married force," he said. About 70 percent of officers are married, and about 50 percent of the enlisted ranks, he said. The Defense Department is searching for better ways to help couples balance commitments to family and service, he said. "To the extent possible," Carter said he wanted to make sure that "those two things do not clash." From Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, Religious Program Specialist Petty Officer Second Class Javier Matos said, "There's a lot of talk about veterans suicide," but "we see suicide as a real thing in our active component." "Suicide prevention is a very big deal to me. The rates are not acceptable," Carter said. "Suicide is preventable -- all the doctors and chaplains will tell you that. The only way you can prevent it is by working together." The secretary said the Defense Department has increased funding for mental health treatment, and "there should be no stigma attached to getting yourself treated. We've all got to watch out for each other. It doesn't take a big risk to say to somebody, 'Hey, you doing OK?' It's loneliness and isolation that continues to lead them down that path." From aboard the destroyer Zumwalt, Hull Maintenance Technician First Class Stuart Simpson suggested retention rates would improve if the services did exit surveys on why troops were leaving. Carter agreed: "Yes, we need to do them." West Point Cadet Adam Cratch wanted to know why the Defense Department doesn't spend more to stop cyber attacks. "We're making big investments, but money isn't key; it's people," Carter said. The military must find ways to attract individuals with the expertise to deal with cyber threats, he said. "It's a people problem more than a money problem." From Quantico, Virginia, new Marine 2nd Lt. Travis Crane asked about the future of military aviation, and whether he'd be able to realize his dream of flying the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Despite its many and well-known problems, Carter said, the F-35 is "really coming along now. You're going to like the F-35." Several of the questions were about the defense budget and the effects of spending limits on readiness and modernization of the nation's nuclear triad deterrent. One problem is Congress' failure to give adequate consideration to the priorities set out by the Joint Chiefs, Carter said. "I wish that respect would be shown for the judgment of our leadership." Carter called the nuclear triad a "bedrock capability. It's always there," as a guarantor of our security and nuclear stability around the world," but "everything gets old and has to be replaced." The Defense Department is pushing for replacements for the Ohio-class ballistic submarine and modernization of the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, he said, and "we're building a new bomber" -- the B-21, newly christened as the "Raider." "I'm confident that we'll do that," Carter said, but added that Congress "will spend as little as they can." Near the end of the session, Carter also took a shout-out from movie star Chris Pratt, who is on a USO tour. Pratt wanted to know if "Rambo" is Carter's favorite movie. Carter said he is from Philadelphia, so he likes "Rocky" best. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. This article originally appeared onTask & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues. Texas has a booming economy with excellent job prospects. When you separate from the military and are looking to move to a new state, you should consider putting Texas on your short list of places to live. Whether you want to start a business or find a second career, Texas has something for everyone. In fact, its been ranked number one in the nation in terms of economic climate and the sixth best state for business. And, as of 2015, the annual median household income across the state is $53,254. If any of that piques your interest, here are five key things you should know about the Texas job market. Six Texas cities are ranked in the top 25 in the country for jobs. According to a 2016 WalletHub survey, Plano, Austin, Irving, Amarillo, Dallas, and Houston are among the best cities in the country find jobs. Each of these cities is diverse in terms of job offerings, whether youre looking to work in the tourist industry, start a business, or work for the government. These are the top five growing industries in the state. Texas has become a job growth hub, leading the nation in job creation. But there are five industries that have seen exponential and will continue to see a great deal of job growth over the next several years: leisure and hospitality, education and health services, financial activities, trade, and government. The state has very low taxes. Texas has the nations fourth-lowest tax burden per capita. Low taxes means better business incentives. If youre a veteran looking to start a small business, low taxes and light regulation will allow you to thrive in the marketplace. 118 of the nations biggest companies reside in Texas. There are 121 of the 1,000 largest public and private companies in the U.S. based in Texas. The state is home giants like AT&T, ExxonMobil, and Dell, according to Forbes. So if you are interested in working for some of the biggest companies in the country, Texas is where you want to be. Its an energy center. It sounds cliche but Texas is, and always has been, an oil hub. The $80-a-barrel oil prices have caused investors to put money into Texas both financially and in regards to human capital, according to Forbes. This means more jobs. This article originally appeared at Task & Purpose. Follow Task & Purpose on Twitter. More articles from Task & Purpose: Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Seba Aghayeva - Trend: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group discussed the issues of accelerating the peace process on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement within the 71st regular session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The issues of achieving significant results at the negotiations were also discussed at the meeting, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend Sept. 22. Mammadyarov said that Armenias recent provocative actions, in particular, military drills in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan's Aghdam district are aimed at undermining the negotiation process over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23 Trend: The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France, as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, met separately with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to continue discussions on a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict , said a statement from Azerbaijans Permanent Mission to OSCE. During the meetings, we paid special attention to implementation of decisions taken at the recent summits in Vienna (May 2016) and St. Petersburg (June 2016). In particular, we discussed further steps that could create an atmosphere for advancing substantial negotiations that could lead to a settlement. We also exchanged views on proposals that could be discussed between the sides, ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, James Warlick of the United States and Pierre Andrieu of France co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group said in a joint statement. "Our governments are prepared to host another meeting of the Presidents or Foreign Ministers at the appropriate time. We plan to visit the region in the near future", said the statement. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - For the last two years, Nidal Kanaan has been the man behind the lens, taking photos of animals hoping to become pets at the Kent County Animal Shelter. With a love for dogs and a newfound passion for camera work, he started Green Dog Photography and decided to enter a series of his shelter photos in ArtPrize Eight -- his first time in the competition. Growing up, Kanaan said he always loved dogs but never had one as a pet. Finally in college, he adopted a German shepherd-Rottweiler mix and named her Guinness. He cites her as the inspiration for his photography. "It was hard when she passed, more than I could ever explain," he said. "She had the best outlook on life. Dogs live in the moment and don't worry about the silly things we do." Now, Kanaan has new companions: Bingo and foster dog Sienna. He's been a volunteer at the animal shelter for about three years. When he started volunteering, he was one of just three people, not including hired employees. But that number has substantially grown and he now calls the people there "life-long friends." "There are 60 volunteers and a staff of about 30 who do so much for these dogs. It's really heart warming to see that," Kanaan said. In addition to other volunteer duties, Kanaan started taking pictures of animals for the shelter's Facebook page, to help them be adopted. His up-close photos of some of the area's forgotten animals spread quickly on social media, and have brought many would-be adopters into the shelter. He says his work with the shelter was the turning point for him getting seriously involved in photography. "(I) wanted to give these shelter dogs nice photos so people can see them as pets and not just property of the county," Kanaan said. While other shelters can turn away animals when their kennels become full, Kent County Animal Shelter must accept every animal. "They have to make tough decisions. That does mean euthanization, but that is a last resort, if it can be," Kanaan said. Kanaan said with his ArtPrize entry, he wanted to show the shelter is a loving place with so many people who work behind the scenes to give animals attention. It's not known if the animals featured in the work found new homes. "I really hope people see there is a very positive, human and loving element to the shelter," he said. A selection of Kanaan's photos from a series called, "The Shelter" will be on display at Monroe Community Church, 800 Monroe Ave. In addition to his photo entry, Kanaan is also part of a musical ArtPrize entry. He and Jamie Dionne, an MLive employee, will be performing a song they created together, with a few others, at the Blue Bridge at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. DETROIT - Having reached a tentative agreement with General Motors, Unifor has selected to next negotiate a new contract with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. But only if the Canadian union's members at GM first approve the proposed, four-year collective bargaining agreement. They're set to vote on it Sunday, Sept. 25. GM and Unifor seemed to be standing across a chasm from each other when negotiations began, as GM had products that were set to be phased out with no replacements on the horizon. The threat of a strike loomed as a deadline neared Monday night, but the two sides announced an agreement early Tuesday morning. Unifor President Jerry Dias told reporters Tuesday that a plant in Oshawa and GM's other facilities have been promised "hundreds of millions of dollars, therefore our fear of closure in 2019 is now over." Dias has in the past said he is also looking for assurances for Ford's Windsor Engine plant and investment at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Brampton Assembly Plant. FCA has about 9,750 Unifor members, including 3,300 at the Brampton Assembly Plant, 6,000 at the Windsor Assembly Plant and 450 at the Etobicoke Casting Plant. They build the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Dodge Caravan, Chrysler 300 and Chrysler Pacifica. In total, Unifor represents more than 40,000 workers in the auto industry, including some 23,050 workers with the Detroit Three automakers. 061213_ENT_BestBurger_MRM_0.JPG A triple Blimpy Burger with onion, tomato, bacon green pepper, cheddar cheese, pickle, tomato, ketchup, mustard and mayo. Melanie Maxwell | Ann Arbor News (file photo | Ann Arbor News) Thrillist has released its annual list of the best burgers to be had in college towns, and Michigan has claimed two of the 21 slots. In Ann Arbor, Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger (304 S. Ashley) makes a second appearance in two years on Thrillist's list. The writer suggests ordering a triple on a plain roll with grilled onions & peppers and American cheese, but reminds readers that there's an almost infinite number of burger combinations (2,147,483,648, to be exact) available for ordering. East Lansing's Crunchy's Burgers & Beer (254 W. Grand River) beat back the competition from The Peanut Barrel this year for its triumphant return to the 21 Best College Burgers in America list. And it seems like the editors over at Thrillist really like Crunchy's: "Maybe it's the nostalgia of seeing your name carved into the wall. Maybe it's the fact that you've just split a mop bucket of craft beer with somebody at what, pre-HopCat, could be considered Spartan Country's original craft beer bar. Or maybe it's the fact that the char-grilled, half-pound Crunchy Burger is basically a picture of what a burger should be: a solid, juicy patty that stands on its own without relying on a bunch of stupid toppings." I'm sold. What about you? Where do you go for a great burger in your favorite college town? In 2013, the MLive Michigan's Best team toured the state in search of the best burgers. You can find their results (which included Blimpy Burger in the top 10) here: Save ANN ARBOR, MI - Hundreds of additional refugees fleeing countries around the world are expected to arrive in the Ann Arbor area over the next year. Groups and individuals throughout the community are preparing to welcome their new neighbors with open arms and to provide them with the help and support they need as they make the transition to new lives in the United States. Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, a nonprofit agency with offices on State Street in Ann Arbor, has been doing refugee resettlement work locally for many years under contract with the U.S. Department of State. Last fiscal year, the agency resettled 82 refugees in Washtenaw County. At the end of this fiscal year on Sept. 30, it will have resettled about 175 more. Refugees are coming here from places such as Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Moldova and Bhutan. In the next fiscal year starting Oct. 1, JFS is planning to resettle at least 300 more refugees here, an increase driven in part by the Syrian refugee crisis. To be able to handle such a significant increase, JFS has launched an extensive collaboration with numerous congregations and faith-based organizations, recruiting and training a new Welcome Wagon volunteer corps. "After 20-some years of resettling refugees in Washtenaw County, we are standing at sort of a very important moment where our numbers will just triple and quadruple in the next couple of years," said Anya Abramzon, executive director at JFS in Ann Arbor. "And we know that what we do would be impossible to do without the whole community being behind us, so we met with the schools, we met with the health systems, and it's really a village effort, not just us." JFS also is working with the city of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County on a new initiative to become a more welcoming community. "We do have a staff representative assigned at the county level to run the initiative, and it just comes at a time when I think we need that support more than ever," Abramzon said. "We have been doing many different things to kind of bring the county and bring our partners in the community to this point, and we've been working with various faith communities and partners among our fellow nonprofit organizations, and the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University. "We feel that we've sort of built the foundation for that work to go to the next level, which we're very happy about." Going to the next level Local projections for incoming refugees are based on information coming from the State Department and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. Nationally, the number of refugees coming to the U.S. is expected to increase in the next year. Without a significant increase in funding or staffing, JFS decided it will need many more volunteers to adequately serve 300-plus newly arriving refugees. "We looked at the numbers that were forecast and it was just kind of so compelling that we need to have more volunteers," said Sarah Schneider Hong, programs and outreach director at JFS. "So that brings us to what we call the JFS Welcome Wagon," she said. "What we're trying to do is put together a corps, if you will, that reflects an engaged community. That then circles back to reinforce that, as a welcoming community, we all have a stake in this, and we all have a role." Ambassadors from various faith-based groups have been helping JFS recruit volunteers who are going through training. Over the last two months, more than 120 volunteers have signed up to join the Welcome Wagon. Volunteers go through an orientation with JFS so they can learn more about the agency and resettlement services, the clients being served, confidentiality and privacy rules, and the ins and outs of volunteer roles. "We need volunteers to support our efforts, so we've come up with about 15 specific volunteer roles," Hong said. Some of the volunteers will assist with moving refugees into new homes and apartments, including moving furniture, cleaning and getting things in order before refugees arrive. Some will help by doing grocery shopping. Some will assist at the JFS food pantry. Others will act as English instructors or conversation partners, or help with cultural orientation and citizenship classes. "They get to decide kind of what they want to do in this endeavor," Hong said of the volunteers who sign up. "So that's our Welcome Wagon." There also are volunteer opportunities for people who want to be professional mentors. "Let's say we're resettling a physician from Iraq and he or she is going through a recertification process professionally here," Hong said. "They can be paired with an actual physician from Washtenaw County who can share with them about the networking here, the culture of the hospitals here, and things like that." Some of the volunteer roles, such as financial literacy instructors, require more specialized training. Financial literacy covers everything from budgeting to navigating the banking system here. Learn more about volunteer opportunities Volunteers who've signed up so far have come from Temple Beth Emeth, St. Clare's Episcopal Church, Blue Ocean Faith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Green Road, First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Beth Israel Congregation. "There are several people who are newer to the table beginning to work with us as well," Hong said, adding there are representatives from the Zen Buddhist Temple and Zingerman's Community of Businesses. "A lot of the faith-based communities kind of feel called toward this," she said. "But if there is a small business out there, or a large business out there, and they have a culture of volunteerism and they want to be engaged in things that are going on in our community, then we invite them to the table as well." Shrina Eadeh, resettlement program director at JFS, said the Islamic Center also has been really helpful in resettlement efforts. "They're involved on more of a day-to-day scale," she said. "They provide food to our clients who maybe have to stay in a hotel for a night or two. They provide food and sort of that welcoming first visit for a lot of our clients." JFS also points to City Council Member Chuck Warpehoski, director of the local Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, as an important partner. Various faith communities have held resettlement drives, collecting gift cards and household goods that JFS case workers can use to help families resettle. JFS also has partnered with St. Joseph Mercy Health System to provide health screenings for arriving refugees. St. Joseph Mercy's offices also have become the primary care providers for refugees. "And then they've also made efforts to increase the resources they have available by finding pharmacies that speak our clients' languages and can also maybe deliver prescriptions," Eadeh said. Increased community awareness Abramzon said there seems to be increased awareness about refugee resettlement, and JFS has received some new donations from people in the community who want to help. "It's not a huge amount of money, but it's definitely a very important representation of new interest and awareness," she said. JFS hosts quarterly community consultations to discuss successes and challenges in terms of resettling refugees here. Partners from the city, county and other groups attend those meetings. JFS also hosted a World Refugee Day event in June that included a discussion of the needs of refugee children in Washtenaw County. "We had videos produced in house of some of our refugee children sharing their experiences and it was heartbreaking for us," Abramzon said of what some of the refugee children in high school have faced here. "Honestly, I had no idea what the kids are going through in our schools today. For kids who were in hiding, who had to run away from such horrible things, to come here and be called terrorists and to go through a horrible experience, it was heartbreaking to see that, but it was an important conversation to have." JFS has responded by partnering with schools to create welcoming groups within the schools. "For example, when we register a child in school, if a child identifies that they're having a difficult time integrating, some of the schools have been responding by creating sort of a welcoming group," Eadeh said. "So they select a few of the other children who are already in the school to welcome that child into the school and show them around, and make them feel comfortable and eat lunch with them." Despite some negative experiences reported by refugee children in high school, Eadeh said she has not heard of any JFS clients expressing that community members have been hostile toward them. "I think more often than not they're saying community members have been extremely welcoming," she said. "We have clients who are surprised that people say hi to them on the street, and that's something very simple people can do." Abramzon added, "We also have clients who are resilient and they don't complain, so I'm not 100 percent sure that they will run to us and say something negative. I think they appreciate what's being done for them." Eadeh said the Ann Arbor District Library has been another great partner in welcoming refugees. "The library actually does something extra special for us," she said. "They provide us with books in different languages, and they actually give them to us for free. We have a little station in our offices where they drop off books that children can come and take and read and take home. They've been a really great partner, and they've also hosted events for us as well." 'We really want to inspire humanity' Welcoming America, a nonprofit organization helping communities across the country become more welcoming places for all people, including immigrants, is recognizing Sept. 16-25 as Welcoming Week. Here in Ann Arbor, JFS has been using the week to train the next wave of volunteers who will be helping to welcome refugees here. "For us, it's mostly just training of volunteers," Abramzon said of what's happening to recognize Welcoming Week. "We've been so swamped with doing resettlement work and just gearing up for this next surge. "It's sort of business as usual, but we also just met with the staff person who was appointed by the county to run the effort," she said, referring to Moonson Eninsche, the county's human services policy specialist. "We're doing what we can to support great community agencies like Jewish Family Services, which has a longtime presence here in Washtenaw County, as well as welcoming new partners to the table," said Andrea Plevek, the county's human services manager and interim director of the Office of Community and Economic Development. "And also supporting our local municipalities to understand and work closely with the nonprofit community to make sure it's a good transition for refugees coming to Washtenaw County." Plevek noted Samaritas, Michigan's largest refugee resettlement agency, is another partner. Samaritas recently announced it is setting up an office in the Ann Arbor area to resettle refugees here. Earlier this month, Samaritas indicated it had plans to resettle at least 12 families in the Ann Arbor area in the coming months. Samaritas is planning to partner with JFS, which until now has been the only agency in the county contracted through the State Department to resettle refugees here, to provide smooth transitions for refugees. JFS offers a number of wrap-around services that extend beyond the initial 90-day resettlement period and expects to serve refugees resettled here by Samaritas. "A strength of ours is we're with our clients over the mountain, through the hills and to grandmother's house we go," Hong said. "I mean, the government is asking us for 90 days of support and we are rarely out of the picture on Day 91. It's just not how we operate." Hong said JFS has heard from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society that there are people in refugee camps overseas who talk about JFS of Washtenaw County. "We can't even fathom that there's someone in Jordan in a tent speaking about us because they knew someone who had such a wonderful experience coming through us," she said. "It was so humbling to hear that." As another way of making refugees feel welcome here, JFS is organizing a Festival of Lights benefit concert on Dec. 12 to celebrate refugees. The event will take place at Temple Beth Emeth, 2309 Packard St. in Ann Arbor "We've asked a lot of the congregations to bring a musical group or participate musically in this concert that will be sort of a celebration of the refugee experience and a welcoming event," said Rosemary Frenza Chudnof, JFS development director. "We'll have music from different faith traditions and then probably a group musical number at the end." There also will be an art exhibit of photography that JFS refugee clients will produce this fall, reflecting their experience. "It's an opportunity to come together as a community again and just say that we understand that the world can be a scary place, but we really want to inspire humanity, which is part of our mission," Abramzon said. "And it's really all about allowing people the dignity of coming to this country and having peaceful lives." Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com. LANSING, MI - Before her second term in the Michigan House ends this year, state Rep. Gretchen Driskell is hoping to get a couple of bills passed. Driskell, D-Saline, announced on Thursday, Sept. 22, the introduction of new legislation focused on job creation and training. Gretchen Driskell The first bill, House Bill 5936, would implement an apprenticeship tax credit program, which would allow students working toward a high school diploma or GED to work part-time while receiving onsite job training. Participating employers would receive a tax credit of up to $2,000 per year for each registered apprentice they train. The second bill, HB 5937, would create a new Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Services. "These bills will help us build an economy that works for everyone, not just those with power and access," Driskell said in a statement. She added, "I'm confident we can rebuild Michigan's economy and keep our kids right here in Michigan by strengthening opportunities for them to develop the skills they need to enter the 21st century economy." Driskell is running for Michigan's 7th Congressional District seat in the Nov. 8 election against Republican incumbent Tim Walberg, who also as been emphasizing the importance of a "21st century workforce." Walberg last week issued a statement after voting for the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. The legislation reauthorizes and reforms an act that has provided federal support to state and local career and technical education programs for 30-plus years. Tim Walberg H.R. 5587 also includes Walberg-authored provisions to address what Walberg considers outdated and burdensome occupational licensure requirements, which he argues can create unnecessary regulatory barriers to job growth. "Modernizing career and technical education programs will help ensure our aspiring workforce is getting the training they need and want to thrive in the 21st century workforce," Walberg said in a statement. "It is particularly important for students and workers in Michigan, where manufacturing and skilled trades are a vital component of our state's economy." Driskell, commenting on her legislation, said apprenticeships are an effective path toward skilled, high-paying jobs. And for employers seeking well-trained employees, she said, the tax credits she's proposing would help free up some of the capital they need to train young people. Driskell said the new office she's proposing also would provide resources to make Michigan more welcoming so small businesses can better facilitate the creation and retention of jobs in Michigan. "Small businesses are innovative, hardworking and locally driven, representing the best of Michigan's values," Driskell said. "They're also the engines of job growth in our economy. In order for Michigan to succeed, we need our small businesses to succeed." Walberg's campaign has been critical of Driskell's record in the Michigan House of Representatives, accusing her of skipping votes in Lansing to raise money in Washington, D.C., for her congressional campaign. Driskell, a Democrat, has introduced several bills, but none of them have gained traction in the Republican-controlled Michigan Legislature. "Gretchen Driskell focuses on politics instead of her job, which is why she has never passed a bill during her four years in the Michigan House of Representatives," Peter Baergen, Walberg's deputy campaign manager, said in a statement in June after Driskell called on Walberg to denounce Donald Trump's remarks regarding a federal judge's ethnicity. "This election should be about solutions to get the country back on track, and Congressman Walberg doesn't condone candidates waging personal attacks on individuals," Baergen said in response to Driskell's statements at the time. Driskell has criticized Walberg for supporting Trump, saying Michigan deserves a representative who will stand up against "dangerous voices like Trump." Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 Trend: Armenia's military drills held in the occupied territories of Azerbaijans Aghdam district is a serious provocation aimed at undermining the negotiation process over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts settlement, the countrys Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. He made the remarks at a meeting with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier within the framework of the 71st Regular Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the message of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said Sept. 22. Azerbaijan is ready for substantive negotiations to change the status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadyarov noted. He added that Armenia once again carries out destructive policy in order to hinder the negotiation process on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Development of practical cooperation between Azerbaijan and the OSCE was also discussed at the meeting. Lamberto Zannier said that the OSCE intends to continue practical cooperation with Azerbaijan. Mammadyarov, in turn, stressed the expediency of cooperation for the development of transport and energy corridors. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Details added (first version posted at 09:58) Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 Trend: Armenia's military drills held in the occupied territories of Azerbaijans Aghdam district is a serious provocation aimed at undermining the negotiation process over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts settlement, the countrys Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. He made the remarks at a meeting with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier within the framework of the 71st Regular Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the message of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said Sept. 22. Azerbaijan is ready for substantive negotiations to change the status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadyarov noted. He added that Armenia once again carries out destructive policy in order to hinder the negotiation process on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Development of practical cooperation between Azerbaijan and the OSCE was also discussed at the meeting. Lamberto Zannier said that the OSCE intends to continue practical cooperation with Azerbaijan. Mammadyarov, in turn, stressed the expediency of cooperation for the development of transport and energy corridors. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Seba Aghayeva - 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 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 Sept. 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. Gold mining companies that have failed to hand over an agreed portion of their gold finds to the government are to be sued by the authorities. U Tan Dine, a managing director at the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation, said defaulting companies owe nearly 17,000 ticals of pure gold (one tical equals 0.576 ounces). That is worth about US$190,000 at todays prices. The government is to launch civil suits against five out of 181 companies involved in a production-sharing system, he said. The amount owed goes back to 2007. The previous government sued three companies for 162.21 ticals. Companies should be alert to changes in policy on the part of the government, U Tan Dine told The Myanmar Times. We dont want to resort to prosecution, but the amount we are owed is too great. U Tan Dine said the government was prioritising its claims and seeking its dues from those companies that could afford to pay. The government wants to get back what it is owed, and it will do what it has to do to get it, he said. Most gold mining companies are located in Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Mandalay and Bago regions, and Kachin, Kayin and Mon states. The five companies to be sued are Shwe Sin Hein, Moe Hein Tun, Htay Win Tun and Moe Kyo Lion in Sagaing Region, as well as Nilar Hninsi in Singu township, Mandalay Region. The government has announced in state-owned media its intent to launch legal action against them in Nay Pyi Taw. The first step for the ministry is to demand payment of the gold owed. Officials can also order the offending company struck from the list of authorised firms. The company may plead that they were unable to mine in their designated area because of unrest. But action will be taken against any company deemed to be in a position to pay. Those five companies are still operating, so were planning to sue them, said U Tan Dine. Legal action will be suspended if they pay the debt, which they can do at any time, even after the case has begun. But the state will get as much as it can. U Tan Dine said that if the courts rule in the governments favour and the company cant pay, the will follow due process and seek a warrant for obtaining the companys property. After dealing with these five companies, the government intends to go after the others, he said. The five companies do not have publicly available contact details and could be reached for comment. Translation by Emoon The Yangon Supervisory Committee for Motor Vehicles says it intends to issue a warning to bus companies against overcharging after receiving a number of customer complaints of fare-gouging among private operators. Under the fares established by the Yangon Region government, buses charge rates that rise in increments of K50 up to K200 depending on the distances travelled. Although some upgraded buses, which are supposed to offer seats and air-conditioning, charge between K200-K300 per trip. But according to U Hla Aung, chair of the supervisory committee, there has been a flurry of customers complaining that sub-standard busses have been demanding K300 from customers after they have boarded the vehicle. The bus lines cant define the bus fare themselves, he said. Some commuters have been complaining to us, so we inform the bus lines if they want to increase the bus fare they will need to report to us and we will seek a request from the Yangon Regional government office. The government is currently working on a program to restructure Yangons chaotic public transport system though public-private partnerships. At present, hundreds of private buses operate along hundreds of lines, where conductors earn a wage from what they can extract from passengers. The multiplicity of operators, some with multiple buses on the same line, claiming air-conditioning when they dont, is creating problems for passengerss, U Hla Aung said. For example, they [operators] might have 30 buses in one bus line. They used air-conditioners in 15 buses and the rest of buses are only ordinary, he said. It can be confusing for commuters. U Hla Aung said the committee would be forced to take action against bus operators that failed to heed the warning, although he did not say what penalties would apply. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 Trend: 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, Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani foreign minister, 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. According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, 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. Hundreds of thousands of monks, devotees and tourists have flocked to Indias remote Ladakh region for a rare Buddhist festival, dubbed the Kumbh Mela of the Himalayas by promoters. Dancers in bright, silk costumes and striking headgear performed to drum and pipe music as part of the festival being held in a mountain village to commemorate the 1000th birth anniversary of Buddhist saint Naropa. The Indian saint and scholar is heralded by followers for starting a rich tradition of Buddhist philosophy in the 11th century. Celebrated only once every 12 years, the Naropa Festival draws huge numbers of Buddhists, especially those from the Drukpa branch which is traditionally practised in Ladakh and Bhutan. Among those in the crowd in Hemis village for the week-long festival was award-winning Chinese-Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh. India is renowned for its numerous religious festivals including the main Kumbh Mela pilgrimage for Hindus held every 12 years during which masses of devotees gather at sacred rivers and temples in often chaotic scenes and in searing temperatures. In contrast, the Naropa Festival is being held in the tranquil Himalayan village that includes a palace and monastery, located some 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the regions main town of Leh. A highlight of the week-long festival that started on September 16 was the display of the sacred Six Bone Ornaments believed to have belonged to Naropa in an hours-long outdoor ceremony. The Drukpa spiritual leader or the Gyalwang Drukpa unveiled the ornaments which include a crown, earrings and a necklace to scores of chanting maroon-robed monks and devotees seated under colourful umbrellas as prayers were performed. I come from south India. Now I came here to see this festival ... There are many people [who] came by airplane and from south India and other countries, said Sonam Phuntsok, a monk from Indias southern city of Bangalore. [Its a] very nice place here. And the weather is very good. Lots of people came here, Im very happy. Another highlight is the ceremonial unfurling of a huge silk tapestry of Tibets patron saint Padmasambhava. The brocade, known in Tibetan as a thangka, was last exhibited in 2004. A Myanmar game developer has won a major prize at this months 2016 Tokyo Game Show character awards in Japan. MyPlay won the special jury award for its character Rickshaw Ngapain. Rickshaw Ngapain is the hero of the Ngapain and Thingyan mobile runner game, in which players have to pilot Ngapain and his rickshaw through the crowded streets of Thingyan, avoiding barriers while splashing other players with water. This year was MyPlays second appearance at Japans biggest annual game exhibition. I went last year. I took part in an ASEAN character award seminar and submitted my original character Rickshaw Ngapain this year. Now theyve told me Ive been selected as one of the winners, said MyPlay co-founder Ko Zaw Ye Myint. Formerly Total Gameplay Studio, MyPlay is a highly regarded local game developer, and until now has concentrated on the domestic market. Their game Paw Thwut is based on one of Myanmars well-known cartoon characters, and they have also produced other games based on Myanmar chess and chinlone. MyPlay is Myanmars first mobile game publishing company. We couldnt find any real game publishers in Myanmar so we started our own, said Ko Zaw Ye Myint. He and his friend Ko Myint Kyaw Thu founded Total Gameplay Studio and got to work. Their most successful game is Shan Koe Mee World, based on a local card game, with more than 500,000 active players. MyPlay, whose site is in the Myanmar language, created a single platform to connect all their games so that players from different games can chat with each other, look at new products and download them. Their latest product, OPoke Saga, was released in August. In the future, we will publish educational games. Our three main projects for the future Myanmar game industry are Landmataw Phoe Tote, Rage of Rama and Age of Bayint Naung. We are working on those projects, and ROR is 70 percent complete already, said Ko Zaw Ye Myint. Rage of Rama is scheduled for release in early 2017 and could even be exported to Thailand and other neighbouring countries. Officials have yet to come to a conclusion in the investigation of a double homicide involving a military engineer and his wife. Major Wai Phyo Aung and Dr Khin Sandi Kyaw were found dead with stab wounds last week, according to the Criminal Investigation Department. The CID is conducting laboratory work, according to Police Colonel Zaw Khin Aung of the Nay Pyi Taw Region Police Force. He added that the grisly murder was a rarity for the capital. The CID has to conduct a DNA examination. That information is important. We can use machinery and scientific techniques to try to get to the bottom of the case as urgently as possible, he said. Maj Wai Phyo Aung, who worked at the Panglong Military Engineering Regiment, was returning from a business trip with his wife and daughter in the car on September 13. He and his wife began quarrelling. While on the phone to his brother, the major dropped the line after saying that his wife was trying to stab him, according to the brother. The major was found dead from stab wounds near milepost 8/4 on the Tatkon to Panglong road on the night of September 13. His wife was found at mile post 5/1 with 31 stab wounds on her body the following day. The couples five-year-old daughter was found asleep in the backseat of the car. The knife and blood-stained clothing have been sent to a laboratory in Yangon. According to the Tatkon police station, the family members of the deceased are on opposing sides and each blame the other for the incident. Translation by Emoon A worker was killed and four others injured when a building under construction in Bangkoks Bang Kapi district collapsed on September 20, police said. Police Lieutenant Colonel Pongsak Kanrat, deputy chief of Lat Phrao police, said the accident occurred at about 6pm while a number of labourers were working in a three-storey house being built on a plot of land in Soi Yothin Pattana 7 in Khlong Chan area. An eyewitness, Prayoon Huekkhunthod, 39, an attendant of a nearby house, told police that while a crane was about to place a concrete slab to the third floor, the building suddenly crumbled. The workers were crushed under a pile of concrete rubble. He ran to the site and managed to pull out one of the workers to safety, Mr Prayoon said. Rescuers from Bang Kapi district office, City Halls Public Works Department and Por Teck Tung Foundation, who arrived shortly after the collapse, moved four workers out of the rubble. All of them were injured. A Thai worker, Prasan Silpachai, 44, whose left leg was broken, was admitted to Navamin Hospital. Two male Myanmar migrant workers were sent to Rattana Ratchathani Hospital. A female Myanmar worker was slightly injured in the legs. A male Myanmar welder, who was not yet identified, was killed. He was crushed by a fallen concrete slab. Apirom Chanthornkul, the Bang Kapi district director, said a permit had been properly issued for the construction of the house which collapsed. It was intended to be a three-storey house. The construction began about two weeks ago. The cause of the collapse was being investigated. Bangkok Post In addition to establishing ceasefires between armed groups, Myanmars peace process should build harmonious relations between other groups in society, said U Tin Myo Win, the governments lead peace negotiator and a veteran National League for Democracy member. Speaking at an event marking the International Day of Peace at Yangons National Reconciliation and Peace Center, U Tin Myo Win said that since taking office in April, the NLDs top priority has been resolving tensions between armed groups and bringing about a sustainable, lasting peace. Mutual trust, mutual understanding and cooperation are the most important strategies to solve decades-old armed conflicts between different ethnic armed organisations and the central government, he said. But he added that a broader approach to achieving peace should be considered. If we say peace, it should encompass, in addition to the armed conflicts, the non-peaceful situations among different [religious] groups, U Tin Myo Win said. He then thanked leaders from different religions who attended the event for their presence. U Tin Myo Wins sentiments were echoed in the UN secretary generals own statement on the International Day of Peace Peace is about much more than putting weapons aside. It is about building a global society in which people live free from poverty and share the benefits of prosperity. It is about growing together and supporting each other as a universal family, said the message, read on the secretary generals behalf by UNHCR representative Giuseppe De Vincentiis. Without solving underlying political problems, which have their historical roots in ethnic grievances, sustainable peace and national reconciliation cannot be built, Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong, vice chair of the Chin National Front, told the audience at the event. Without mutual respect and recognition among national ethnic races, the decades-long armed conflicts in ethnic areas will not cease, he added. If we are headed in the direction of building a national state under a single race, religion, language, it is a dangerous pathway. The government is taking action in this regard including the drafting of terms of reference for national-level dialogues to be held ethnically, regionally and topically in states and regions, said U Tin Myo Win. He added that the government believes these national-level talks will be held in early November. In a move already generating backlash and poised to exacerbate communal tensions, the Rakhine State government has announced plans to demolish 3000 allegedly illegal buildings, including dozens of mosques and madrasas in two Muslim-majority townships. Colonel Htein Lin, state minister of security and border affairs, said the number of illegal buildings cropping up in Buthidaung and Maungdaw has been increasing in recent years, and so the government felt it was time to put an end to the situation before it became out of control. He added that his ministry will demolish the buildings deemed to be illegal. Those who obstruct the order will be sued. The demolition will be implemented by law, not by force, he said. We are just preventing illegal buildings. The minister met with residents from Maungdaw district and explained the demolition plans on September 18. Haji Maung Bar, a Muslim community leader from Maungdaw township, said some of the buildings pegged for removal were farmsteads, while others were makeshift homes erected in the wake of 2012 violence that displaced more than 140,000 mostly Muslim residents of Rakhine State. If the homes are demolished, the people living there will have nowhere to go, he said. Its also terrible that they said some mosques are going to be demolished. If so, then the local people will lose their place for praying, he added. According to the residents, the more recent mosques were established after the religious sites downtown were shuttered, and the local administration prohibited gatherings of more than five Muslim people and established a curfew. U Hla Myint, a Rakhine ethnic resident of Maungdaw township, said the local administration should be held responsible for the illegal buildings instead of punishing the locals, since the buildings could not have been constructed with at least tacit approval. However, the demolition plan is good because otherwise we would be destroyed by their [the Muslim communitys] population in the future, he said. Rakhine State is home to over 1 million self-identifying Muslim Rohingya, who are referred to as Bengali by the majority in Myanmar, in an effort to cast them as immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. Rakhine nationalists have long trumpeted fears of being overtaken by a Muslim population explosion in the state, an anxiety not substantiated by the 2014 census, which shows the vast majority of Rakhine State remains Buddhist. An immigration official in Buthidaung who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the buildings slated for removal were not only constructed without permission, but are also of substandard and potentially hazardous quality. The official added that orders from the Ministry of Security and Border Affairs were being awaited before demolition work began. U Kyaw Min, chair of a Rohingya political party, the Democracy and Human Rights Party, said he feared to give comment in response to the state governments plan. I can say we want to sustain peace without anxiety and want to stay without feeling insecure, he said. According to the Maungdaw immigration department, 12 mosques, 35 Muslim schools, 2543 houses, 604 shops and 132 other buildings are slated for demolition in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships. UPDATE: Pyithu MP submits urgent proposal to take disciplinary action against MNHRC. The arrest yesterday of suspects involved in the protracted abuse of child maids was apparently not enough to persuade the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission it had failed to obtain justice after washing its hands of the case following financial settlement. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the MNHRC defended what it termed a successful resolution of the complaint, and said they would be ready to take the stand should any dissatisfied party seek legal recourse. Yet it was public outcry, and not the MNHRC nor a lawsuit filed at a police station, that finally resulted in legal action. Three months after the initial reporting of the case, family members from Ava Tailoring in downtown Yangon were arrested in connection to the long-term physical and psychological abuse of teenage girls, according to the Kyauktada township police. Daw Tin Thuzar was arrested late on the evening of September 20. Her son, Ko Tin Minn Latt, was called into the police station earlier on the same day, but was not arrested until yesterday morning, when his sister, Ma Su Mon Latt, was also apprehended. All three face charges under the Anti-Human Trafficking Law. The family is believed to be responsible for torturing two girls, Ma San Kay Khaing, 17, and Ma Thazin, 16. The girls bear the physical wounds of burnings and stabbings, and told police they were kept enslaved against their will for five years at the tailoring shop on 40th Street. A third victim, Ma Tin Tin Khaing, also reportedly endured abuse, according to the Yangon Police Facebook page. The case was first reported in June by Myanmar Now chief correspondent Ko Swe Win, who said he filed a case with the Kyauktada township police. When no action was taken in response to the report of torture, Ko Swe Win took the case to the Myanmar National Human Rights Council (MNHRC). The MNHRC has been accused of pressuring the victims families to accept settlement through financial compensation for unpaid wages. The alleged abusers paid the girls a combined K5 million (US$4065) on September 15, at the arrangement of the MNHRC, which then closed the case. And perhaps it would have ended there were it not for the swift outcry of injustice circulating on social media. Human rights groups, lawyers, international organisations and members of the public quickly condemned the commission. Both sides [the abusers from Ava Tailoring shop and the victims, teenage girls from Kawhmu township] are satisfied with the result. So whether others deem this condition right or wrong has nothing to do with us, said U Zaw Win, a commission member. Another commissioner, Daw Than Nwe, told the press that the victims had asked for compensation, and so that was what the MNHRC focused on. We didnt restrict them from going through the criminal justice system, she said. There is nothing in the compensation agreement that bars them from filing a lawsuit. All we did was help them to receive the financial compensation they likely never would have seen had they pursued criminal charges. A letter demanding the commissioners immediate resignation was passed around by activists at the press conference yesterday. An online petition called Justice for the Domestic Helpers was also launched. The change.org campaign calls for effective legal action against the owners of Ava Tailoring, an investigation into the MNHRC and the police who were involved in the negotiation process, and transparency as the case goes through the legal system. Yangon residents, lawyers and members of civil society organisations yesterday peppered the MNHRC with demands about why the case was not handled more accountably, through the relevant legal channels, and why legal advice was not sought. The commission is supposed to advocate on behalf of those who have their human rights violated. But what they did instead was curtail justice by negotiating with the violators, said activist Ko Thet Swe Win. In response to criticism over the police inaction following the initial reporting of the case, a police tribunal headed by Pabedan township officer U Khin Maung Htwe was established yesterday. The tribunal has been tasked with determining what actions, if any, were taken in response to Ko Swe Wins complaint filed in June. We are still investigating who was involved in handling the lawsuit filed by Ko Swe Win. Nothing has been confirmed yet, said U Khin Maung Htwe. A new teacher training college is slated to open in Katha, Sagaing Region, in the 2018-19 academic year. The land has already been fenced off for the facility and construction is set to commence later this year, according to an education official. U Aung Aung Min, deputy director of the Department of Teacher Training, said the decision was finalised earlier this month. The land has been marked for Katha Education College, he said, adding that funding allocations for construction will be made during this budget year. There are 23 education colleges nationwide, with over 10,000 teachers receiving training each year. The Ministry of Education is hoping to upgrade education colleges, or teacher training facilities, to fully fledged education degree colleges. However, U Aung Aung Min said there was not yet a clear plan for how, or when, this would be rolled out. It is not certain [if this would be] for all colleges or just some. Our minister will decide, he said. An education college is also set to open in Chin States Hakha in the next academic year. Authorities in Mandalay Region have recorded more than 350 cases of illegal alcohol sales through August of this year, with the annual total headed for a significant drop for the second straight year. Targeting illegal liquor and beer vendors as well as restaurants not authorised to sell alcohol, a total of 355 cases were opened over the first eight months of 2016, Colonel Myo Win Aung, Mandalay Regions minister for security and border affairs, told the regional hluttaw on September 20. The minister was responding to an inquiry from lawmaker U Myint Aung Moe (NLD; Chan Mya Tharsi 2), who was seeking information on the number of licensed alcohol vendors in the region and on authorities enforcement of the Intoxicants Law. Township administrators have organised cooperation teams with [the administrator as] chairman, a township police major as deputy chairman and municipal members to take action on illegal intoxicant sales in Mandalay Region, Col Myo Win Aung said. The restaurants, hotels, motels, inns and lodging houses which are selling intoxicants have been investigated to determine whether they are selling the products in accordance with the law or not. With the number of busts so far this year, Mandalay is on pace to drop to just about one-quarter of the figure in 2015, when 1964 cases were filed. In 2014, a total of 2895 cases were recorded. As with the previous two years, the first eight months of 2016 saw males disproportionately represented, accounting for nearly 75 percent of cases. The dip in Mandalay Region prosecutions for illegal alcohol sales comes despite a promised crackdown earlier this year on drinking establishments that lack FL9 or FL10 licences, allowing them to sell foreign liquor and draught beer, respectively. The Myanmar Times reported in July that of approximately 7000 bars and restaurants that sell tap beer, only around 2500 hold a FL9 or FL10 licence, while the other 4500 have operated for years without sanction under a FL17 licence, though officially this is prohibited by law. A total of 5887 shops, bars and restaurants are licensed to sell alcohol across Mandalay Region in accordance with the Intoxicants law, with nearly half the licensees 2796 establishments concentrated in heavily urbanised Mandalay district. Translation by San Layy Taking a brazen step in a he-said-she-said argument in Mandalays parliament, a region minister denied photographic and first-hand evidence of illegal logging. Lawmaker U Kyaw Oo was presenting on his visit to Sae Taw Gyi Lake, Madaya township, where he witnessed an abundance of sawmills and illegal logging, he told parliament on September 20. Speaking on the first day of the resumed parliamentary session, U Kyaw Oo (NLD; Aung Myay Tharzan 2) asked regional Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Myo Min Aung what was being done to curtail the activity. It was very easy to see all the sawmills along the banks of the Sae Taw Gyi, as well as the many mills on the hills and foothills. It is clear that they [the mill owners] should be arrested if the officials investigate, he said. Three- or 4-foot logs are being sent to the furniture making shops in Mandalay, transported under the false pretense of being firewood. The logs are carried at night, and in order to get them in to the city, the carriers must pass at least 10 official checkpoints where they pay K10,000 at each gate. According to our investigation, we are aware now that to obtain the logs, it is necessary to go deep into the protected forest. And yet, we found stockpiles of large timber at these riverside sawmills. These logs must have been carried there by big, 12-wheel trucks or by boat. So I want to know why all this illegal activity, occurring so close to Mandalay city, is not being controlled. Staring down photos projected for the assembly, the minister said no such illegal sawmills exist in the alleged area. In Mandalay Region, foresters have never seen a case like this, and we have never punished any person related to such an offence, said Minister Col Myo Min Aung. He added that perhaps the MP had been mistaken in what he had seen. The people who reside along the Sae Taw Gyi area make their living cutting bamboo and bamboo shoots, and selling them, also through fishing and local agriculture. There are more than 200 motorboats in operation on the Sae Taw Gyi. But there are no illegal sawmills, or illegal extraction of timber, he said. It is also not true that there are 10 checkpoints from Sae Taw Gyi to Mandalay. There is only one official gate at Shwe Kyin and no payment is necessary. Col Myo Min Aung added that the closest crackdown on timber had been in Singu township, where officials seized 221.5 tonnes of illegal hardwood including gum kino trees and teak 25.1 tonnes of firewood and 11.7 tons of charcoal in the 2015-16 fiscal year. In Mandalay district, 47.2 tonnes of illegal timber and 19 vehicles were seized and 17 people were arrested in relation to logging in the same year. So far this year, 61 tonnes of illegal timber have been confiscated. In a bid to curb deforestation, the government implemented a nation-wide ban on logging for the 2016-17 financial year. U Kyaw Oo told parliament that Mandalay has retained only 21.9 percent of its forest coverage. After the parliamentary session, U Kyaw Oo told The Myanmar Times that he was disappointed in the ministers evasiveness. I am not satisfied with his answer because I asked this question with evidence and proof, he said. It is possible that he answered like that to avoid creating tenstion between the hluttaw and the cabinet. I will follow up in person with the security and border affairs ministry over the case. U Maung Maung Oo, an environmentalist with local CSO Sein Yaung Soe, separately confirmed that he has also personally seen logging conducted in the Saw Taw Gyi area. The ministers response is very different from the real situation. I think he must not be aware of what is happening, he said. I agree with lawmaker U Kyaw Oos questions and presentation. Translation by Win Thaw Tar Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Seba Aghayeva Trend: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, foreign minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov discussed creation of favorable conditions for development of cooperation in energy, transport and humanitarian spheres, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. The two foreign ministers met within the framework of their participation in the 71st Regular Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The sides exchanged views on prospects of bilateral cooperation at the meeting. The ministers noted the importance of cooperation in Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan-Turkey format, which introduces a significant contribution to the development of relations. The ministers also discussed the agendas of the forthcoming meeting of foreign and energy ministers in this format. The last meeting of foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Turkmenistan was held in Antalya, Turkey in 2015. At this third meeting of foreign ministers last year, the sides expressed satisfaction with the relations and development of cooperation among the countries, and also expressed hope for the development of specific projects implemented within the framework of cooperation of the countries. Despite objections from military MPs and uncharacteristic dissension from within the ruling party ranks, a bill aimed at protecting citizens personal freedoms and security was approved at a Pyithu Hluttaw session on September 20. A main sticking point for military MPs as well as several National League for Democracy lawmakers was Section 8 of the bill, a clause pertaining to an issue governments across the globe are grappling with: surveillance. No one may trail, detect or investigate in a way that can aggravate a citizens personal freedom and security or could affect human dignity without permission in accordance with the law, the section reads. Major Myint Maung argued that the security of the state should be given priority over personal freedoms, pointing to incidents in neighbouring countries and Myanmars own history as proof of the need to give preference to national security. He argued that undue constraints would weigh down the morale of security personnel concerned about their ability to effectively do their job. He also took his time before lawmakers to accuse the National League for Democracy-dominated hluttaw of bending to provisions of the constitution to suit its agenda, arguing that guarantees of personal security in the charter were being used to justify the protection bill, while other acts of the legislature clearly ignored constitutional bounds. He referred to repeal or amendment of multiple state security laws and the State Counsellor Law, which military MPs argued at the time was a clear abuse of power. But U Tun Tun Hein (NLD; Nawngcho), chair of the lower house Bill Committee, offered a forceful defence of the protection legislation. The bill was drawn up according to the constitution. Sections 357 and 352 say to enact such a law. So the bill has been drawn up, he said. Section 357 reads, The Union shall protect the privacy and security of home, property, correspondence and other communications of citizens under the law subject to the provisions of this constitution. The bill includes similar language on homes, other property and privacy protections. Proponents have called it a consolidation of the democratic gains of recent years. Warrantless home arrests and surveillance of personal communications are forbidden in the bill, among other privacy protections. Penalties are also provided for breach of its provisions a prison sentence of minimum six months to maximum five years, or a fine of K300,000 (US$247) to K2.5 million. Maj Myint Maung and U Tun Tun Hein gave competing presentations in a bid to sway lawmakers, with the Bill Committee chair ultimately winning out in a surprising close vote. His presentation scored 208 votes in favour, while Maj Myint Maung received 185. Lt-Col Moe Kyaw Oo argued that while obtaining advanced permission an appendage of some of the bills clauses might be feasible in some instances, taking action on matters of urgency could not afford to be delayed by permission-seeking. In border areas, delay to trail, detect, investigate and arresting could be hours because of the process of applying for permission and citizens lives might be in danger, he said, proposing that in such cases, the military-controlled Ministry of Home Affairs would be better suited to give timely authorisation. Even the provenance of the bill was subject to some dispute this week. Officially it was put forward by the Bill Committee, but U Thein Tun (USDP; Kyaunggone) told The Myanmar Times yesterday that he had heard parliaments Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission was behind the legislation. U Kyaw Soe Linn from the Pyithu Hluttaw Bill Committee also told The Myanmar Times yesterday that the bill was drafted and sent by the legal commission, but the day prior U Tun Tun Hein insisted that his committee was its author. Asked if he was concerned about the relatively close vote in an NLD-dominated parliament that has largely passed legislation and motions by wide margins since lawmakers took their seats in February, U Tun Tun Hein replied, They decide with their own brain. Lawmakers will give a vote in favour if they think it should be favoured. It is their own decision. Translation by Thiri Min Htun The 1973 Myanmar Board of Examination Law enacted under the military regime of General Ne Win should be revoked and replaced with legislation reflecting the countrys changed political landscape, Amyotha Hluttaw parliamentarian U Kyaw Naing (NLD; Yangon 12) told the upper chamber yesterday. Four MPs discussed an amendment bill for the Board of Examination Law, which was submitted by Amyotha Hluttaw MP U Min Oo (NLD; Bago 6). U Kyaw Naing said the law, enacted by the dictatorial Revolutionary Council of Burma, lacked practical specifics and needed an update to more appropriately serve the education system of an increasingly democratic Myanmar. The Board of Examination administers national examinations, including high school matriculation exams, which are the gateway to higher education. But the 1973 legislation fails to adequately enumerate the boards responsibilities or provide accountability mechanisms, according to U Kyaw Naing. The lawmaker noted that one provision of the current legislation prohibits students from using scientific calculators, a ban he said was akin to preventing high-level scientific teaching and problem-solving. In seconding the amendment bill, Amyotha Hluttaw lawmaker Than Win (NLD; Mandalay 1) praised its clear listing of cheating practices that a reconstituted Board of Examination would not tolerate. The proposed legislation forbids bringing a prepared copy of exams into the classroom; cribbing; communicating with other students during test-taking; using proxies to sit examinations; and receiving assistance from proctors, among other prohibitions. Following yesterdays parliamentary deliberations, the Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker instructed the chambers Bill Committee to again review the proposed legislation, taking into account the MPs discussion. Translation by Zar Zar Soe Thailand's biggest oil company is facing a multi-pronged attack from the Myanmar government and unions after firing 18 Myanmar engineering technicians from its offshore installation in Zawtika. PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) is already being sued by Myanmars Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population for failing to obey a labour arbitration council ruling in favour of the technicians. The company has appealed to the High Court for a review of the councils rules. The company is working offshore sites at Zawtika and in the Gulf of Martaba. On September 20, Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar chair U Maung Maung announced that CTUM had submitted the case to the International Labour Organisation for action. On the same day, the 18 Myanmar engineers dismissed by the company held a press conference at the Orchid Hotel to announce that they were supporting the approach to the ILO. The company is disobeying the law. We will take PTTEP to the ILO. They fired the technicians even as they were being sued by our government, said U Maung Maung. CTUM is also discussing the case with the ILOs International Trade Union Confederation. The matter is expected to be discussed at an ILO conference in November. In addition, CTUM has taken up the matter with Thailands Human Rights Department and the State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederations of Thailand with a view to taking action against PTTEP under Thai law. We will also engage with other unions working in PTTEP, as well as the companys partners. PTTEO is violating workers rights and insulting our laws, said U Maung Maung. The workers are demanding an eight-hour working day, payment of overtime, extra pay for working holidays, and to be granted official Myanmar holidays. Yangon arbitration council and the central council have already ruled in our favour twice last year. But the company failed to comply with the councils rulings, said PTTEP worker Ko Aung Phay Myint, a member of the Zawtika Offshore Myanmar Organisation (ZOMO). Workers say the company also refuses to offer them a contract, despite an order from the councils. PTTEP has ordered workers at its offshore oil and gas drilling platforms to undergo competence tests. The 18 dismissed workers were fired last month while sitting the tests. They say no reason was given. The workers also complained that PTTEP had demanded US$150,000 from them as compensation for the training it said it had provided, including $50,000 for insulting the companys dignity. A PTTEP spokesperson declined a request from The Myanmar Times to comment. When it comes to attitudes about American presidential contender Donald Trump, it is tempting to recall those catchy lyrics from the Beatles: You say high, I say low; you say why and I say I dont know. No one knows whether Trump will win or not, or what might happen if he does, but everyone has a strong, almost visceral opinion about the man. That love-him-or-hate-him chasm was evident in a couple of recent articles in two of the most prestigious publications in the United States, and both signalled that a Trump victory would be a bombshell for this region. First, there was a September 12 commentary in the influential Foreign Affairs magazine by Doug Bandow, a senior fellow at Washingtons Cato Institute and a former special assistant to US President Ronald Reagan. Entitled What Donald Trump Gets Right About US Alliances, Mr Bandows article focused on the candidates defence policy, yet was equally applicable to Trumps muscular stance on trade, immigration and crime. In almost manichean contrast, on September 19 another vaunted publication, The New York Times, carried a story by another respected analyst, Justin Wolfers, an economics professor, that slammed Trump. In the article Why a President Trump Could Start a Trade War With Surprising Ease, Mr Wolfers focused on trade, but his line of reasoning extended to what Mr Trump could do on other issues like defence and immigration. He noted that foreign trade policy is one area where Mr Trump could unilaterally enforce the changes he has promised in his campaign and for many, especially in ASEAN, that is a deeply scary prospect. Is it likely? Should we hide under the bed? Or relax with a cup of tea? No one knows for sure. There is no playbook for this one. Yes, it is an election in the worlds wackiest democracy, but for two sober observers in two authoritative publications to diverge so radically is not so much rare as weird. More importantly, with the polls more or less deadlocked and a Trump victory quite possible, what might it mean for this region if he does win the keys to the White House on November 8? Lets start with Mr Bandow, who most definitely says high, go with Mr Trump, because hes right about American defence policy, particularly in East Asia, where he claims the United States is being ripped off. Mr Bandow lauds Mr Trump for questioning why Washington spends so much money and sends so many troops to protect allies in far-off Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. Trump says these places are prosperous and quite capable of paying for their own defence, and if they did then the United States could save up to US$150 billion a year by curtailing its foreign military commitments. Some experts have lampooned him for saying this, but not Mr Bandow, who wrote, Trump is right. US policy toward its allies really is obsolete. Perhaps it is. But US treaty allies like the Philippines and Thailand would be unhappy if the Trump doctrine led to the cancellation of the annual Cobra Gold regional exercise and the withdrawal of the US Pacific Fleet. Moreover, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte may have retracted his call for Americans to exit his country, but he better be more careful about making such threats to Mr Trump, or else they may be promptly acted upon. Lest you are convinced by Mr Bandows ringing endorsement of Mr Trumps stance in this regard, let me inject a cautionary note. When I was based in Washington, Mr Bandow occasionally gave me quotable comments on various issues and we once lunched at the Henley Park Hotel, next door to the Cato Institute. He is not a frivolous man, but nor is he a saint either, as was evident later when he was obliged to quit Cato for being paid to write favourable articles by the infamous lobbyist Jack Abramoff. That was a decade ago, and while he now appears to have come in from the cold if his work is carried in Foreign Affairs, his past behaviour does give pause for thought. Turning now to the opposite view from Mr Wolfers, who most definitely says low, do not go with Mr Trump, because the man may well start a disastrous trade war that will do no one any good. Mr Wolfers notes that Mr Trump has vowed to rip up international trade deals, withdraw from the World Trade Organization, and jack up tariffs on goods imported from China and other Asian nations. And given Trumps aversion to trade pacts, notably the North American Free Trade Agreement, he may also nix the Singapore-US FTA, and abort plans for FTAs with Malaysia, Thailand and ASEAN as a whole. Mr Wolfers wrote, As president he could pretty much do it. And theres very little Congress can do to stop him, even if the result is a costly trade war. The only recourse for China and other Asian nations would be to retaliate by raising their own tariffs. Its a prospect that scares many economists, but appears not to worry Trump, said Mr Wolfers. It does not appear to worry a large chunk of the US electorate either. As Mr Bandow once told me, The problem is that the American people in general just dont pay a lot of attention to the details of foreign policy. It certainly worries people in this region, however, for whom the prospect of a Trump presidency may bring a catastrophic jolt to their economy and a reduced US defence umbrella. So, can we say high or low? Or should we just breathe slowly into a brown paper bag? After all, there are still 46 days to go, and as the guy who fell off a high-rise said as he passed each floor, So far, so good. China has always valued education, reflecting its Confucian tradition, according to which one must excel scholastically to achieve high professional and social status. But today, the country is stricken with what some call education fever, as middle-class Chinese parents demand more schooling for their children and as young people seek ways to avoid the drudgery of factory life. Chinas government, by emphasising the need for a better-educated workforce to compete with the West, is fuelling this trend. This year alone, China produced 7.65 million university graduates a historic high and around 9 million high school students took the gaokao, Chinas general university admission exam. These are staggering figures, even for a country with 1 billion people and a tertiary-education enrollment rate that is one-third that of advanced economies. To put the trend in perspective, China graduated fewer than 2 million people from college in 1999 and the pass rate for the gaokao was only 40 percent, half of what it is today. Education is never a bad thing in itself, but the move toward mass universities of the type that emerged in the West after World War II is occurring too fast and has arrived too soon for the Chinese economy to accommodate it. With Chinas transition to a post-industrial economy far from complete, significantly broadening access to university undermines the quality of education and has high collateral costs, socially and economically. For example, to meet the Communist Partys ambitious enrollment goals, institutions have lowered admission standards and matriculated students into fields of study with no market value, just to accommodate them. This has severely degraded the quality of education at second- and third-tier universities concentrated in Chinas inner provinces, thus widening the development gap between Chinas urban coast and rural hinterland. Meanwhile, China, with a graduate unemployment rate of 16pc, is producing more highly educated workers than the economy can absorb. The wage premium for workers with a bachelors degree has decreased by roughly 20pc in recent years, and new graduates often must accept jobs such as street cleaning for which they are vastly overqualified. Under these conditions, many recent graduates now join the Communist Party because membership stands out to potential employers. But it is difficult to see how the labour market can be efficient if employers are making hiring decisions on the basis of political favouritism rather than merit. As more Chinese students attend university, fewer are graduating from vocational schools, which teach the skills that the economy actually needs. In fact, the demand for qualified blue-collar employees is so high that in 2015 the countrys 23 million textile workers earned, on average, US$645 per month equal to the average college graduate. The Chinese government has partly acknowledged this imbalance and says it will convert around 600 colleges into vocational schools by the end of next year. But this supply-side fix doesnt address the demands of Chinas burgeoning middle class. With universities having become so accessible, Chinese families will continue to prefer them to what they consider second-class schools. The situation is unfortunate for all involved. In its push for universal higher education and global status, China is stringing its young people along with the promise of high-paid, meaningful employment after graduation. It is a promise that China will not be able to fulfill for a very long time. For starters, China confronts global economic conditions that are beyond its control. China wants to shift its economic model away from manufacturing and toward services, where its many graduates could be gainfully employed; but it is currently locked into its position at the bottom of most global value chains. When global value chains grow and new jobs are created, those jobs are distributed according to a countrys competitive advantage. Because China has long specialised in low-skill tasks, this is the kind of work that will be left for Chinese labourers. If the smartphone industry expands, for example, Silicon Valley will hire more engineers and Shenzhen will hire more assemblers to build what those engineers design. If China wants to move up the value chain, it needs to expand its technological capacity, which is why innovation is at the heart of its latest Five-Year Plan. But most of Chinas high-tech investments so far have been abroad in sectors ranging from electronics and biotechnology to software and nanotechnology which wont change its value-chain ranking. China could also expand its tech sector through homegrown entrepreneurship, except that the Chinese economy does not provide easy access to credit and is hamstrung by excessive regulations that make it difficult to start a competitive business. Restructuring the Chinese economy is a long-term project. In the short term, China should make higher education far more exclusive, so that it is true to its purpose. Chinese universities should produce higher-quality graduates at a slower rate and all other students should matriculate through vocational programs, which will lose their current stigma as they become the primary educational option. The current system misallocates Chinese talent, prevents graduates from reaching their full potential, and impedes the economys capacity to ascend global value chains. In this sense, China is moving too fast. As an old Confucian proverb says, It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop. Project Syndicate Edoardo Campanella is a eurozone economist at UniCredit and junior fellow at the Aspen Institute. [September 22, 2016] Cin7 Launches in United States with Uniquely Integrated, Cloud-Based Inventory Management Platform SEATTLE, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cin7, a leading innovator in integrated, cloud-based inventory management, has announced its official launch into the United States market. The New Zealand-based firm has developed the most highly integrated inventory management solution, with "baked in" capabilities for EDI, 3PL, POS and ecommerce functions, among others. It also recently announced important updates for its integration with QuickBooks Online by Intuit. The U.S. initiative comes on the heels of very positive response to the Cin7 solution and strong anticipated growth opportunities. Much of the demand for a cloud-based, SaaS solution has derived from a proliferation of mid-tier, multichannel companies needing a single system that seamlessly integrates those channels and all key applications. "We are excited to be moving aggressively into the dynamic United States market," said Danny Ing, Cin7 Founder and Chief Technology Officer. "There is a very significant segment of companies that desperately need an integrated solution like Cin7 in order to support and sustain their growth as technologies and customer demands continue to rapidly evolve. We have worked hard to develop an innovative approach as the world's most integrated inventory management solution." Cin7 is growing its customer base globally, with several located in the U.S. market which is expected to ramp up quickly over the next six months. In addition, Cin7 has established full automated integrations with Nordstrom, all Amazon platforms, Wayfair and Cosco with many to come in the months ahead. The company sees a clear path to bringing a disruptive solution to meet the requirements of mid-tier users. Many of these potential users are relying on spreadsheets, a hodge-podge of software or an entry-level system they have simply outgrown. Alternatively, a full-blown ERP system would be overkill for these companies with unnecessary cost and complexity. By seamlessly integrating inventory management and related functions, Cin7 eliminates the time, hassle and cost involved in utilizing third-party sources or middleware. In fact, it was the first in the world to fully integrate EDI and 3PL functionality into the inventory platform, eliminating the need for costly value-added networks and web forms. Cin7 is highly robust, yet very user-friendly with a clear and attractive user interface. Additional features include promotions, B2B/wholesale, real-time/mobile stock tracking, multiple fulfillment points, smart reordering, production job management, support for light manufacturing, date mining and smart reporting. The company has opened a new office in Seattle as its U.S headquarters. For more information on the Cin7 integrated inventory management solution, visit www.cin7.com. About Cin7 Cin7, the world's most integrated inventory solution, is an all-in-one, cloud-based solution with fully integrated inventory management, POS, EDI and 3PL functions in a single system. Designed for mid-tier, multi-channel companies seeking to replace management via spreadsheet, patched-together applications or outgrown IMS resources and avoid the high cost and complex integration of a full ERP system. Cin7 is "Connected Inventory" that bridges the gap between suppliers and sales channels to give end-to-end visibility of the supply chain. Headquartered in Aukland, New Zealand, Cin7 also has offices in the United States and the United Kingdom. To learn more, visit www.cin7.com. Media Contact Rachel Reenders KCOMM 949-294-5095 [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cin7-launches-in-united-states-with-uniquely-integrated-cloud-based-inventory-management-platform-300332737.html SOURCE Cin7 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Details added (first version posted at 12:49) Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 Trend: President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on Oct. 12, the Kazakh media reported Sept. 22 citing Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijan's energy minister, as saying. 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, 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. President Nazarbayev will visit Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia and some other countries in 2016, Erlan Idrissov, Kazakh foreign minister, said earlier. According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan amounted to $90.7 million, $75 million of which accounted for the imports from Kazakhstan. The 13th meeting of the Azerbaijani-Kazakh intergovernmental economic cooperation commission is being held in Astana, Kazakhstan on Sept. 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. Trevor Noah will return to South Africa to host the sixth edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), which this year will take place in Johannesburg. The host of Comedy Centrals The Daily Show will preside over the live two-hour telecast at the Ticketpro Dome on Oct. 22, Viacom's Viacom International Media Networks unit said Wednesday. The company brought back the awards show in 2014 after a three-year hiatus and tapped Marlon Wayans and Anthony Anderson as hosts in the past two years. The event took place in Durban in the past couple of years. "I'm a huge fan of African music and achievement, and it's going to be a massive pleasure celebrating them both at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2016 in my own home town of Johannesburg," said Noah. Alex Okosi, senior vp & managing director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, added: "Trevor Noah is an outstanding entertainer and testament to the amazing talent that Africa has to offer the world. To have him host the MAMA, our annual celebration of Africa music, creativity and achievement, is a powerful and inspiring message. We are delighted that our first-ever show in Johannesburg will be presented by one of the citys most loved and admired personalities. This year's MAMA edition will feature performances from such African stars as Alikiba, Babes Woduma, Cassper Nyovest, Nasty C, Ycee and Yemi Alade, among others. The MTV Africa Music Awards 2016 will air live on MTV Base and MTV in Africa. The show will also be shown worldwide on partner stations and content platforms starting in October, while MTV channels around the world will air a one-hour MAMA-themed edition of MTV World Stage. Matilda Asare 22.09.2016 LISTEN Ghanaian movie actress, Matilda Asare has said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has collapsed the Ghanaian movie industry. Matilda Asare asserted most movie producers have lost interest to continue with movie production due to the bad governance of the ruling NDC government. We are not politicians, what we do is movie making but we have to speak on bad things that are happening in our country. God will even judge us if we sit unconcerned. The NDC government has failed GhanaiansNo improvement has been attained since they came into power. They have even collapsed the movie industry. Producers are now investing their monies into mobile phone business. Some of our colleagues have travelled outside the country for greener pastures because of their bad governance. We will not sit unconcern for them to destroy the country. Most of the gurus in the movie industry will join us to preach about change of government. All what the NDC are promising are just lies, she told Ark Fms Nana Kwame Adjei Bohyen. We have not taken anything from the NPPit is a sacrificial thing that we are doing. It is from our heart and we think about the future of the country. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor did not leave the country in a bad state for themwhy then should we suffer? Matilda added: I never thought of traveling outside this country when the NPP government was in power but I have been travelling a lot in the era of the NDC government because I do not have any happiness for being in Ghana. We are declaring our support for Nana Akufo Addo to turn things around. Ghana is going backwards. Matilda Asare, Agya Koo, Socrate Sarfo, Leo Mensah, Bibi Bright,Lucky Mensah and A Plus and other Ghanaian celebrities have declared their support for the NPP presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections. Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah, General Overseer of Glorious Word Power Ministry International, has said some Ghanaian politicians are conniving to kill him before the end of September this year. He said the assassination would be done with the semblance of armed robbery. The popular preacher did not mention that name of the supposed persons scheming to kill him, but said he has information of a well-planned plot to ambush and shoot him in his house or on his way home after church service. Rev Bempah made the alarming allegation to journalists at his office last Tuesday and said God revealed the plot to him. What surprises me is that on that same Sunday evening, some men who are close to the perpetrators visited me in my office and told me what some politicians are planning to do to him, he said. Throws Challenge The man of God challenged the perpetrators to carry on with their plans, stating, I want to tell those planning that evil act that I am ready and waiting for them. Nobody can kill Owusu Bempah in this country because my life is not in the hands of any human being. Ghanaians see me as a human being which, of course, I am, but I am more than what they see. I am not braggingthose who have eyes to see into the spirit realm know the kind of person I am. God has made me so powerful that no human being can kill me. I am daring themIf they change their mind to attack me as they have planned then they are not real men. I am ready for them both spiritually and physically, he said. Rev Bempah said those political leaders who are behind the plot to kill him will rather die one after the other. When asked to mention the names of the politicians behind the plot, he declined, saying, I wont mention the names of those who are planning to kill me. But if they continue their evil ways, I will start mentioning their names one by one. For now, I am warning them and also want Ghanaians to know what some politicians are planning to do to me. Why the Killing Plot According to Rev Bempah, those politicians want to kill him because he keeps revealing their evil plans to Ghanaians, and his prophesies always favour the New Patriotic Party (NPP). When the man of God was asked whether he will report the matter to the police, he said, I wont report it to the policeno I won't go to the police. The reason is that it is God who will protect and fight for me. I am a man of God so I dont need any protection from the policeGod is my protector. Let them come and they see real power. Other Targeted People Rev Bempah continuedI am not the only targeted person. I hear I am the first on their list of people they want to kill or deal with. After they will eliminate Rev Prof Emmanuel Martey, outgoing Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, and Prophet Kwabena Tawiah, Founder and Leader of the Church of Rabbi. Rev Bempah said, I will continue to do my work as the man of God and prophet of this country. I will reveal all the secret of some wicked politicians in this country who want to kill people and connive with the EC to rig this years election. Whatever meeting they will have will be revealed to me by God. I cant sit down unconcerned for evil to thrive in this country. By Cephas Larbi [email protected] The Volta Regional Chairman of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Anthony Komla Dagbey, aka Tony D, has appealed to the organisers of the Asogli Yam Festival to also use the annual festival to promote local talents within area. He mentioned that during this year's festival, the organisers invited popular artistes from other parts of the region to perform at the festival, whilst ignoring the local artistes from the region and decided to 'import' the so-called popular ones at higher costs. One would have thought that the organisers could have showcased many local artistes on the musical shows held to promote the event, Tony D underscored. He stressed that the exclusion of Volta Region-based local artistes portrays a sense of negativity towards the musicians, and a move to kill the music industry in the region instead of using the festival to develop it. This year's edition of the Asogli Yam Festival was climaxed last Saturday, September 17, 2016, with a grand and colourful durbar which attracted thousands of both indigenes and visitors, each scrambling for at leasta standing space at the spacious Ho Jubilee Park. The beautiful display of rich African culture and tradition was at its best as traditional leaders from all Asogli communities came out in their royal regalia amidst traditional drumming and dancing to crown activities marking the month-long Asogli Yam Festival. By George Clifford Owusu Ghanaian actor and comedian, Kofi Adu, popularly known as Agya Koo, has declared his support for 2016 flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo. He joins a tall list of other Kumasi-based entertainers including Matilda Asare and Ras Nene, who have endorsed the flagbearer's candidature ahead of the 2016 general elections. Agya Koo at a press conference on Wednesday, September 21 at Patasi in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, expressed disappointment in the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), and called on the Ghanaians to vote them out come December 7. He revealed that together with other actors, they have launched a campaign dubbed Agenda 57% 4 Nana Addo to canvass support for Akuffo Addo going into the crucial election. Other actresses present at the conference included Nyankuta, Mama Cali and Adwoa Bene. 'Courtesy call on Nana Addo' Agya Koo on Thursday, September 22, paid a courtesy call on the NPP flagbearer at his Nima residence in Accra, where the actor formally informed Nana Addo of his decision to support his candidature this years elections. Since this [NDC] government came to power, there has been so much hardship and Ghanaians are complaining For five years I have been at home, a lot of actors and actresses are just home with nothing to eat, he lamented. I called my colleagues and told them to listen to the complaints of others Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo should come and rescue this country. John Mahama has done his bit, but the group we have started [agenda 57% for Nana Addo] will travel the length and breadth of this country to explain to people why we need a change in government and why they should support you, he told Nana Addo. 'Celebrity endorsements' With almost about 3 months to the December polls, many Ghanaian public figures especially actors and musicians, have publicly declared their support for the two main candidates. Lucky Mensah , Wisa Greid , Dada KD, Kwabena Kwabena, Barima Sidney, Leo Mensah, Daddy Lumba, Nana Quame and recently, Cwesi Oteng, have endorsed the NPP's Akuffo Addo while the likes of John Dumelo , Selasie Ibrahim, Mr. Beautiful, Mzbel, Bukom Banku , Ayitey Powers and Papa Nii, have endorsed President John Mahama of the NDC for a second term. By: Jonas Nyabor/Citifmonline.com/Ghana Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Elmira Tariverdiyeva Trend: It is simply astonishing how eagerly Western representatives come up with a politically motivated decision defaming Azerbaijan on the eve of the referendum on amending the countrys constitution. The visit of Michel Forst, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, who, sparing no time, listed the shortcomings he discovered having arrived in Azerbaijan, has taken its own place in this complex political conspiracy. Well, one finds what one looks for. However, any man in the street should ask himself or herself a question why a special rapporteur on human rights defenders eagerly leaves for Azerbaijan, while a representative of the Human Rights Council, who is authorized to prepare reports on the situation regarding more than a million refugees, the rights of which were ignored by all international institutions for many years, never finds time to come? Forsts speech is neither the first nor the last link in the chain of negative attacks on Azerbaijan on the eve of the referendum. The sudden report of the Venice Commission on Azerbaijan became the most recent example of this fact. The Venice Commission simply ignored studying Azerbaijan's stance on the referendum, and prepared a conclusion in flagrant violation of the legal procedure, not even having bothered to notify Baku about it. Azerbaijani officials simply didnt have an opportunity to become familiar with the document and to clarify its content in the case of necessity. It is not difficult to guess what this means. The conclusion of the Venice Commission is a political order against Azerbaijan and many external forces and possibly, PACE parliament members stand behind this order. This is suggested by the fact that the conclusion of the Venice Commission was worked out in two weeks based on the request of PACE president. It is clear that a large number of inaccuracies and mistakes were made in the document in such a hurry. But who cares? The order has been fulfilled and no one will elaborate the details. Azerbaijan has for many years tried to withstand the onslaught of western institutions which by all means try to undermine the situation from inside. What is the purpose? One can ask this question to Ukrainians and Syrians. Freedom House can serve as an example. It is loyal to Armenia and believes that Azerbaijan is not free, the Internet is partially free and that Azerbaijan has been the most backward country in all of Eurasia in terms of democratic governance in the last 10 years. It is significant that David Kramer has been heading this organization for many years. For some strange reason, he hates Azerbaijan. However, the conclusions of the non-governmental organization, working at someones expense, are mentioned in the European Parliaments resolution on Azerbaijan. In other words, no matter how unverified data you are referring to and informal sources you are using, when the order has been already given. The mechanism has been activated with the single purpose of damaging the image of the only country in the region refusing from dancing to somebody's tune. For many years Azerbaijan has been carrying out its own independent policy aimed at ensuring its own interests. Azerbaijan itself chooses the countries for establishing friendly relations. The country implements beneficial projects. Azerbaijan does not follow the world major political players tastes. All this irritates the West, which constantly strives to intervene in the countrys internal affairs. The negative assessment of the referendum, which will take place (according to independent surveys, with a 92 percent voter turnout) in Azerbaijan September 26, the rallies of the so-called opposition, making advances to religious radicals, the statements of European organizations, such as the Venice Commission, are aimed at turning Azerbaijan into an obedient puppet (even worse), instructing the government to obey to the West, currying favor with it and fulfilling all its orders. However, the Azerbaijani people have seen too much to believe absurd attempts to compromise Baku. How many countries over the past decades followed the democracy path that was pointed out by the West? Where it was exported? To Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt? The West was not successful in spreading the so-called western democracy in any country. The people will vote during the Sept. 26 referendum. It will vote for stability in order to prevent radical islamists from creating caliphate in the country, killing people due to their faith, dress or the music they listen. The people will vote for its pride, honor and dignity in order to ensure that the countrys citizens and their children wont have to kiss the hands of Western politicians. The Azerbaijani people will vote for itself. Elmira Tariverdiyeva is the head of Trend Agencys Russian news service Ouagadougou (AFP) - Burkina Faso, despite suffering Islamist attacks, stands out as a "model of religious tolerance", the International Crisis Group said in a report published Thursday. The report, entitled "Burkina Faso: Preserving the Religious Balance", stressed the prevailing tolerance created by a "deep-rooted" religious pluralism. This is in sharp contrast to "the rising tide of religiously motivated violence in West Africa and the Sahel" region, the Brussels-based NGO said in its report. "Burkina has never suffered civil war or religious conflict. Muslims, Christians and animists are neighbours, live together and inter-marry," according to the report which was presented in the capital Ouagadougou. Nevertheless jihadist attacks in the capital in January left 30 people dead, according to the Burkina government. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed it was behind an assault on a top hotel and a cafe, both popular with foreigners, which also left 70 people wounded. Those attacks "were a shock to both the general public and the ruling class," the ICG report said. "Isolated incidents of verbal aggression against Muslims were reported in the following weeks. They revealed some degree of stigmatisation and reflected concerns that had not been present until then." Muslims make up 60 percent of the Burkina population in the impoverished West African nation. Nineteen percent are Catholics, 15 percent animists and 4 percent protestant but religion is "only a secondary badge of identity," according to the ICG There are few Burkinabe who do not have a friend, relative or neighbour of a different faith and it is rare for all members of a broader family to practise the same religion, the report said. However there are frustrations among the majority Muslim community as they are "poorly represented among the political and administrative elite" compared to the Christian population. "The resulting frustration can be dangerous. Unless the authorities start to remedy the situation, some Muslims could feel it is no longer worth talking to the government and turn to other ways of expressing themselves," the ICG warned. 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. Mauritania, 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 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. 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. Gabon's election controversy 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. 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." By Iddi Yire, GNA Accra, Sept 21, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) has schooled political party youth wings in the Ayawaso East and North Constituencies on the various electoral offences. An electoral offence could be described as an act of omission or commission on the part of an individual or persons that risks compromising the outcome of an election. Mr Nantogmah Abdul-Rashid, the District Electoral Officer of Ayawaso, speaking at an engagement with political party youth activists, said it was an offence to deliberately obstruct or interfere with the work of an electoral officer. The one-day seminar, which was attended by 40 youth from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People's Party (CPP) the Progressive People's Party (PPP) and the People's National Convention (PNC) was organised by the Accra Metropolitan Office of the National Commission for Civil Education (NCCE) in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the EC. The objective was to educate the youth of the various political parties on the need to ensure peace before, during and after the 2016 general election. Using PNDC Law 284, the Representation of the People Law, 1992, Mr Abdul-Rashid said it was an offence to register more than once throughout the entire country. He said that it was an offence to offer false information for purpose of nomination as a candidate and to nominate more than one candidate in a particular election. Others are attempting to vote before poll officially opens or after it formally closes, voting or attempting to vote in the name of another person, living, dead or fictitious and putting anything other than a ballot paper into the ballot box. The rest are removal or defacing any notice or poster lawfully displayed in connection with an election, forging or destroying a nomination form, ballot paper, an election result or any form related to an election. He said it is an offence for anyone to print or be in possession of a ballot paper without lawful authority, or to be in possession of a ballot box or tamper with ballot box or its content during election. Mr Abdul-Rashid said other forms of electoral offences were compelling somebody to vote in a particular way, impeding or preventing a voter from freely exercising his/her voting right and also assisting a political party or a candidate to gain unfair advantage over others. He mentioned giving or accepting anything of value for the purposes of voting or refraining from voting also constituted an electoral offence. He also cautioned the youth against organising or training a group of persons in the use of force, violence or vituperative songs, with a view to committing disharmony or a breach of the peace or gaining an unfair advantage in an election. Chief Superintendent Kwesi Ofori, Adabraka District Police Commander urged the public to have confidence in personal of the Ghana Police Service. He said the police together with other state security agencies would secure the security of the nation before, during and after the December 7, general election. He cautioned the youth against allowing themselves to be used by others to cause violence. He said it was essential that Ghanaians cooperate with the security agencies in protecting the citizenry, since maintaining security is everyone's responsibility. He urged all and sundry to abide by the laws of the country. Mrs Lucille Hewlett Annan, the Greater Accra Regional Director of the NCCE, said elections were about contest of ideas and therefore, Ghanaians should not see their political opponents as their enemies. She said it was high time Ghanaians learn lessons from nations such as Sierra Leone and Kenya, who went through terrible violence due to electoral dispute. She urged politicians to follow due process of the law in addressing their grievances. Mrs Annan also advised all would be winners in the December 7 general election to jubilate with moderation. The youth in a communiquA at the end of the meeting pledged to ensure violent free elections in their respective constituencies. It was issued by General Ollabode Williams of the NDC, Alhaji Buhari Yakubu of the NPP, Mr Mohammed Hadi Abdallah of the CPP, Mr Mohammed Hadi Ismail of the PNC and Mr Bilal Abubakar Adam of the PPP. GNA By Bertha Badu-Agyei, GNA Koforidua, Sept. 21, GNA - Reverend Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), has urged parents of electoral officers to counsel them on the need to ensure fairness in the electoral process. He said under the current Constitutional Instrument(CI) governing the elections, officers who would be engaged would be made to swear an oath and might face a fine or imprisonment should they flout any of the rules of their engagement. Dr Opuni-Frimpong, who was speaking to representatives and leaders of Church groups in Koforidua on the theme: 'Church's political role in nation building', said unlike the previous elections where people took their duties for granted, this time round such omissions could attract fines or a jail term. He said as parents, once their children got involved in any electoral offence and subsequently faced prosecution, they would be worried hence the need for them to impress upon their adult children who would want to offer their services to the Electoral Commission (EC) in the December 7 elections to be law abiding. The programme was a Nationwide Christian Public Education Campaign being organized by the CCG in collaboration with the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The CCG has embarked on a nationwide Christian education campaign in all its 31- member Church denominations to educate their members on the need to be neutral and ensure that their participation in the impending elections would be peaceful according to the tenets of the Christian religion. Dr Opuni-Frimpong said the role of Christian parents in imbibing honesty and diligence in their wards who wished to be electoral officers was imperative in ensuring peace, before, during and after the elections. He said findings of a research conducted by the IEA indicates that the stakes were high for all the parties especially the NPP and the NDC and parents should step up their roles so that no party would use their innocent children for selfish gains. GNA 22.09.2016 LISTEN Reminiscing the time where children were begged to pursue formal education as a result of their distaste to corporal punishment that were carried on in the various schools and the long sit on classroom chairs. The various private and state owned enterprises chased after universities and colleges leavers to get their signatures to grace them with juicy jobs with favorable terms and conditions even before their final graduations. That grace period was yesterday or today's-tomorrow!. Today, the unemployment rate in the country is tremendously increasing at a faster pace as if it's competing with Usain Bolt. This development has led to the formation of a movement called; Unemployed Graduate Association. Ghanas unemployment rate was estimated at 15.29% as at the end of the year 2015. The development is very unfortunate especially living in a country where uncountable graduates are produced in every year from accredited and non-accredited institutions because Africans have been brainwashed that acquiring formal certificate is the ultimate key to success. In this information age of ours, one must be well abreast with the happenings around the globe in order to unlock opportunities. One may be sitting on gold but without information, he or she may not be aware. The Bible makes it vivid as it is indicated in the book of Hosea that My people are perished because of lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I have also rejected you". Somewhere in the world, a genius invented internet and the work of the postman in a corner was thrown into the thrash making their generated revenue an excuse. An economy of effort is at work. The cliche, Finish school so that you could get a white collar job with a better wage, better working condition and a better standard of living" was the mentality of our parents and also the pattern of heritage being passed on from generation to generation. However, this same advice in our contemporary era will be disastrous if taken into consideration. Simply, nowadays, certificates do not guarantee instant job acquisition after school because the world now rewards the creative minds. My personal experience at the college of education over the years has given me the definition that, a true eduction is what's left in you after you've forgotten all that you learnt in school. The reality now is, majority of the youth who have completed the various educational institutions have nothing left in them after forgetting all that they learnt in school. In Robert T. Kiyosakis book Rich Kid Smart Kid I learnt that, the richest men in our societies do not even own a degree and as a matter of fact, money is an idea. So what are these A4" sheet papers we boast of in this competitive world for? From readings and lessons, I have learnt that we need to strategically position ourselves well in this competitive and dynamic world of ours and stop the over reliance on the mere graduation certificates for they can never certify your life. Success is achievable when Ghanaian students are trained in the various institutions to become creative, innovative, decisive and enthusiastic individuals with high degree of competitiveness in this modern day of economic competition from all walks of life in order to make positive impact to the growth and development of the country and the African continent. The youth must stress and merge resources, ideas, trust, creativity and foster personal growth and development rather than stressing much on the mere certificates after completing the various educational programs. The rate of unemployment is not decreasing, as a result of increasing population. There must be a paradigm shift from all aspect in the country and more importantly, our educational system requires a complete overhauling. With that in mind, the unemployment rate will be reduced and, in the long run, raise the living standard of the people. Why should we live on gold and lick dust? In a breadth, I agree to the fact that our previous governments and the current administration of the Young Advantageous Mahamadu (Y.A.M) has failed in raising the sense of competitiveness as corruption steers the affairs of the state making the entrepreneurship a no go venture for most of the Ghanaian youth. The mixed economic system is questionable as its only applicable in theoretical terms. There should be a framework to determine how total production could be accrued in the economy. Government owned enterprises from the year 1990 to now have either been sold to foreigners or mismanaged and collapsed. In fact, Dr. Kwame Nkrumahs freedom he brought to us is questionable in a way. Who deceived him that the black man is capable of managing his own affairs? Specialization is supreme but diversity is logic. It is wrong for a qualified doctor to only limit himself or herself to the consulting room and the teacher to the classroom. We must diversify our human resources, make ourselves available and resourceful, and create a competitive advantage that leads to greater economic propensity. Talking to a friend by name Vida Mpupukita from Kenyas capital, Nairobi, she asserted that she sees numerous opportunities but the pressing setback is capital. Capital; a drive for dreams and innovations. If any country wants to prosper in economic and industrial wise, then she must seek to provide an enabling economic environment and resourceful ventures and also yearn to invest in ideas that will in-turn affect her citizens positively. It's high time the education authorities overhauled our education system's curriculum that stresses much on completing course outlines, getting dubious good grades, 1st class and unrealistic programmes in our education institutions that do not have any positive influence and impact in the competitive market world after school. The various authorities and the ministries in Ghana must create an enabling environment that invest in ideas from people without capital to help move our motherland to the highest pinnacle of economic growth. Akwasi Brobbey [email protected] 0548412192 Offinso College of Education Offinso 22.09.2016 LISTEN The waters are comingthe waters are coming, did Debs Bediako scream with the Spirit to survive in his Soul. His Soul commanded him to hold tied to the wooden wall avoiding the broken glass with Medication and bottles of Suspension, feeling the wetness of the warm waters around his feet. He shouted over to his young Helper, an eighteen year old girl from the neighbourhood in Adabraka close to the Police Station, the youngest of five and the star in her family loved by all her siblings, humble and intelligent, bright and beautiful. She had found the job in Bediako Brother Pharmacy through a friend that had recommended her to the owner, a Father of four little children out of which a twin couple, and a caring mother. The Pharmacy was located at the Circle in Accra, next to GOIL Petrol Station, opposite Vienna City, standing in the shadow of the GCB Tower standing high among the surrounding buildings like Barclays Bank and Mr. Biggs Restaurant. Hold yourself close to the wall, instructed Debs Bediako his Helper being glad that his other Helper had gone out a while ago before the waters were coming. Hold yourselfclose to the wall and takeand take, he was falling, swallowed water, saw his death in front of his eyes, refused to give up, came up again, took a deep breath, stood firm against the incoming waters. I will make it, this cannot be the end of my life. My children need me and I need them! did he tell to himself to encourage his Spirit to give his Soul the needed strength to fight and wisdom to take the right steps to come out of his misery hearing people outside crying in pain and anxiety. Erica Osei, an elderly woman was shouting for her life, begging GOD for mercy to rescue her, sending a short prayer to heaven. Her heart was beating its heart out, pumping Blood Rivers after Blood Rivers against her chest and brain. In a flash back her life passed her memory, thinking of her late husband that had passed on one year ago, her children that had made it in life to establish themselves better, her little dog she cherished so much being like her one of her own children, the mother that had raised her as a single mother while her father had left her for another woman and the years of suffering in her village in the Eastern Region. I cannot make it, responded Rose Quartey to the command of Debs Bediako to move on and walk against the increasingly incoming waters. My strength is going, Bossmy strength is going. You cannot give up. Your life is ahead of you. You simply cannot give up, encouraged he her while himself struggling against the water level that was constantly rising forcing him to swim against it to find his way out of the Pharmacy unto the street. The rains had set in this Wednesday afternoon, June 3rd twenty fifteen, like never before. Giant black clouds had come over the Gulf of Guinea to discharge their load over the Center of Accra with no way out for the floods to disappear back again into the Sea through orderly constructed and maintained Drainage Systems. To find shelter from the down pouring rain, over hundred people had gathered under the roof of the GOIL Petrol Station. Water increased around them, making all wet to their bones. Workers of the Petrol Station observed the scenery on their premises helplessly being trapped in the situation themselves. The GCB Tower stood like a Light House in the night unmoved from the unfolding disaster around. A man gave Erica Osei a hand holding her tight to himself while he was holding himself tight to a pillar of the Petrol Station. The rain poured so loud it was hard to understand someones own voice. Erica Osei felt the warm hand of her Helper giving her comfort and hope to come out of a situation alive she thought would have never been possible in her life. With tears in her eyes, she looked into the eyes of the man helping her seeing peace in it and the determination to get both out of the dangerous situation. BossBossBoss, was Rose Quartey struggling with storm of waters flooding into the Pharmacy, one of many in the large family of the Bediakos, once being seventy siblings, while left with fifty four from one father and wife wives, most of which working as self-employed Pharmacist. Do not give, was Debs Bediako fighting for his life while feeling the strength in his arms fading, do not givenot up. You are too young to die now. It is not your fault what is going on now. So why shouldwhy should you have to die now? was he astonished about himself to say. He slipped again, went under water, and swallowed water into his lounges, pushed himself up again on top of the water filled with a strange taste. Nervously he tried to find out what caused the unpleasant taste. His brain started to work again telling him Petrol had injected the water. He opened his eyes in fears knowing the consequences of what was supposed to happen. Behind the Circle lay the Odor River, forced into a massive concrete structure to form an open Drainage System out of it, leading to the Sea a few miles away. The River basin was chocked by broken cars, green plants, plastic waste, human remains, and ply wood, guarded by wooden structures of encroachers on the River Banks all along towards the open Sea, a guarantee for a human catastrophe, seen and known by everyone in the City Administration, the Accra Municipal Assembly and its Head, Major Doctor Alfred Oko Vanderpuye, a Man that had wanted to demonstrate Leadership in his City during the greatest Disaster in Ghana, the Melcom collapsed building promising into the Media Lenses that any person, regardless of who they are, would be brought to justice and pay for the loss of innocent lives only to demonstrate years later, after the release of the investigative report into the matter, that no justice was done as no action was taken by him or others responsible for the lives of Ghanaian citizens. I can see fire coming, said Erica Osei with burning fear in her eyes. It is coming so fast. Her Helper looked behind him. From the other side of the buildings fire had started to burn the water. He hold the hands of the old woman next to him even tighter forcing his brain to find a solution to escape their foreseeable death. It was not until this moment when he realized Petroleum from the underneath tanks had come to the surface and polluted the water they all were standing in for quite some time. His eyes were seeing helpless Workers from the Petrol Station trapped in the small Mart next to the Pumps with wide opened eyes scared to death like him. I feel the fire is burning me, Erica Osei cried her heart and soul out. OH, my GOD, is there nobody to help us. I do not want to dieit is not my time to go. Please GOD, I beg of you, do not let this happen to us. She was sinking into her knees. Her Helper tried his very best to lift her up again still asking his Brain for a solution to make it to the other side into safety. Debs Bediako looked around him, trying to see a sign of Rose Quartey, a hand, an arm, a leg, her jeansnothing was for him to see while outside he looked into the burning water that got swept towards the Pharmacy. His eyes looked into a wall of water shining like Hell in the Darkness of the night, a scenery he thought for a second, that he had always imagined when bad people end their life and suffer with the Devil forever. He had set his mind on the goal not to be part of such people as his children and his wife needed him so much. His body got weaker by the seconds, his clothings dragged him down always while he struggled and struggled against the not ending incoming waters. New York, September 20, 2016: The United Nations General Assembly kicked off yesterday, September 20 in New York City. Over 140 Heads of State were expected to attend in a yearly tradition of speeches made to the 193 members States of the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. This year marked the 71st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) convened under the theme The Sustainable Development Goals: a universal push to transform our world, including Goal #13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. This high-level week with world leaders is an opportunity for the Kingdom of Morocco to promote the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) set to take place in Marrakech, November 7 to 18, 2016. Salaheddine Mezouar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation will be on hand for a series of side-events and bilateral meetings aimed to reinforce and promote Morocco's climate initiatives including those on energy, agriculture, capacity building, adaptation and finance, to discuss global warming issues affecting the most vulnerable countries and island states, and to mobilize the international community for an ambitious global climate action agenda in Marrakech to implement the Paris Agreement. On September 21, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will host a special event to encourage Parties to ratify the Paris Agreement. The Kingdom of Morocco will be among approximately twenty countries to deposit their instruments of ratification to the Agreement here in New York. For the Paris Agreement to enter into force legally 55 countries equaling 55% of global emissions must deposit their ratification documents. According to the UNFCC, as of today, 29 Parties have ratified the Agreement accounting for 40.12% During his opening remarks, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon underscored the importance of the climate change agenda. With the Paris Agreement we are tackling the defining challenge of our time. We have no time to lose. I urge you to bring the Agreement into force before the end of year. We need 26 countries more countries equaling 15% of global emissions for entry into force, he stated. US President Barack Obama, during his last speech to the UNGA, called on the international community to keep working together to solve global issues including climate change. The Paris Agreement gives us a framework to act, but only if we scale up our ambition, he stated. UNGA President, Peter Thomson, the first from a Pacific Island nation (Fiji) underscored the need to act on climate change to avoid its negative impacts. We are steadily moving towards the ratification of the Paris Agreement. We must not delay any further. Brazilian President, Michel Temer affirmed his countrys commitment to fighting global warming, Tomorrow I will deposit Brazils instruments of ratification of the Paris Agreement. As the first African Head of State to address the UNGA, Idriss Deby Itno, President of Chad highlighted the importance of working with the international community to fight global warming on the continent. Its not about giving charity to Africa, its about true partnership with Africa to tackle climate and global challenges. The traditional roll call of speeches to the UNGA start with United Nations Secretary General followed by the President of the UNGA, President of Brazil (first Member State to speak in the general debate since the 10th session of the General Assembly) and President of the United States (host country). For all other Member States, the speaking order is based on the level of representation, preference and other criteria such as geographic balance. 21 September 2016 Every year on the International Day of Peace, the United Nations calls on warring parties to lay down their arms and observe a 24-hour global ceasefire. The symbolism of a day without fighting is a crucial reminder that conflict can and must come to an end. But peace is about much more than putting weapons aside. It is about building a global society in which people live free from poverty and share the benefits of prosperity. It is about growing together and supporting each other as a universal family. The theme of this years Peace Day highlights the 17 Sustainable Development Goals the SDGs as Building Blocks for Peace. Conflict often starts when people compete over limited resources. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is our blueprint to prevent such conflicts from arising by making sure no one is left behind. When the 193 Member States of the United Nations unanimously adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals last September, their message was clear. Sustainable development is essential for lasting peace, and both depend on respect for human rights. We need to protect our planet. And only by working together can we make our common home safe for future generations. All of us can be sustainable development advocates and spread the word about the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. And we can all hold our governments to account for keeping their pledge to the future. Let us all work together to help all human beings achieve dignity and equality; to build a greener planet; and to make sure no one is left behind. On this International Day of Peace, express your commitment to peace by becoming a champion of the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2016 running mate to Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku, says a PPP govt will make the Volta region a tourism hub that will harness all the abundant natural resources available to the people. Addressing a mammoth gathering of supporters in Galo Sota in the Anlo constituency she made reference to the abundant natural resources to the people of the Volta that would benefit all should. Citing an example of the Keta lagoon, the running mate said the lagoon could be developed into the mode of the Nzulezu in the Western Region where people both local and foreigners, spend money to visit. I come from the Volta region myself, so I know the numerous things that the Volta has that could be used to turn the region around economically. Keta lagoon has been with us for years, I am promising you that a Papa Kwesi Nduom government will develop the lagoon into a world class recreational centre that will bring visitors, both foreign and local, to boost the economy of Ghana and make jobs available to the people of the region, she reiterated. Brigitte Dzogbenuku chastised the NDC government for the neglect of a region that has so much abundant resources that could be harnessed to the benefit of the region and Ghana as a whole. NDC government has done nothing about all the resources available to us. You move from Aflao through to Kete Krachi and on your way you realise all the abundant resources, from the Monkey Sanctuary to the many Waterfalls. But what has the NDC done about it, even roads that lead to these tourists sites are so bad that people cant access those sites. I am therefore, asking you to take away the power you gave the NDC and give it to Dr Nduom and the PPP for progress, she emphatically stated. Ms. Brigitte Dzogbenuku began a two week tour of the country to canvass votes for Dr Nduom and the Progressive Peoples Partys parliamentary candidates. The tour first took her to the Anlo constituency through to Ketu South and finally to Akatsi East where she encouraged the constituents to work hard to secure power for the PPP. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: German political analyst Alexander Rahr believes the EU, through the Venice Commission and other institutions that work closely with it, is trying to play the role of an overseer and teacher of Azerbaijan with regard to democracy. Democracy is based on peoples will and how it votes, said Rahr commenting on attacks on Azerbaijan by Western institutions and organizations on the eve of the Sept. 26 referendum on amendments to the countrys Constitution. He said some European countries are disappointed by Azerbaijans declining an association with the EU. The expert added that the EU cant force Azerbaijan to sign an association agreement, as it tried to do that with Ukraine three years ago. Rahr also said the EU wants to introduce a new partnership format to Azerbaijan and demonstrates that it will have a strict attitude towards those projects it has interest to cooperate on with Azerbaijan. The expert believes this partially shows the EUs misconception that this integration association is still a magnet for all post-Soviet countries. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova Nana Awuah Kotoko 22.09.2016 LISTEN The Omanhene (Chief) of the Begoro traditional area, Nana Awuah Kotoko has called on the people of Ghana to give Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom the chance to rescue the country from the paralysis it finds itself presently. Nana Awuah Kotoko says the experience of Dr Nduom is enough for him to lend support to him believing that he has the necessary credentials to change this country for good. He therefore called on Ghanaians to give the astute businessman the chance to make good his promises. We are suffering this suffering isnt in only one persons home. Even those close to power are complaining so imagine those of us faraway from power? he quizzed. He wondered why politicians for whom we pay all our monies to, have miserably failed to better the lots of the people We pay taxes to governments to make our lives better so I wonder why they take our monies and fail to render better stewardship and account to us the people who elect them to come and make our lives better. Citing Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) to back his claims, the chief who indicated that he was once an accountant for the company, revealed they never went out to look for money to purchase cocoa beans. He believes that alone is enough evidence of a decaying economy. Look at cocoa for instance: we purchased cocoa beans with funds from the Bank of Ghana, but today, we need to go out there to look for money in order to purchase cocoa beans for export. Nana Awuah Kotoko was speaking when the vice presidential candidate for the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), Brigitte Dzogbenuku, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Begoro. LAGOS, Nigeria Nigeria is suing several leading oil companies for $12.7 billion of crude oil that allegedly was exported illegally to the United States between 2011 and 2014, officials said Tuesday. The Federal High Court in Lagos begins hearings next week in cases filed against Nigerian subsidiaries of U.S. multinational Chevron, British-Dutch Shell, Italian ENIs Agip, Frances Total and Brasoil of Brazilian Petrobas, according to the court register. Chevron would not comment since the issue is the subject of ongoing litigation, said a spokeswoman at the companys Houston headquarters, Isabel Ordonez. Other companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Nigeria was Africas largest oil producer until militant attacks cut production and Angola overtook it in March. The cases could provoke new anger against oil companies already accused of polluting farmland and fishing grounds. Local frustration has contributed to an armed movement in the oil-producing Niger Delta, where militants are demanding the multinationals pull out. Officials familiar with the cases said Nigerias government alleges that the companies did not declare more than 57 million barrels of crude oil shipments. That was deduced from audits of declared exports and what was unloaded in the United States. Some shiploads registered less when they left Nigeria and more on reaching the United States, while some entire shiploads were undeclared in Nigeria, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the cases still are in court. The United States was the biggest importer of Nigerian oil until it began exploiting its own shale oil reserves, though Nigerian exports to the U.S. have increased six-fold this year, according to OPEC. Michael Kanko confirmed that his U.S.-based ImportGenius database was used by attorneys to confirm declarations made to U.S. customs by shippers and importers. Law professor Fabian Ajogwu is representing the Nigerian government in the case against Chevron, which comes up first on Sept. 30. The Executive Director of the Ghana chamber of Petroleum Consumers, Duncan Amoah, has said the chamber is weighing an option of seeking legal redress at the court aimed at stopping the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport companies from flooding the Ghanaian market with dirty petroleum products. We are the Chamber are weighing an opting of going to court to seek redress on how some of these dirty petroleum products could be prevented from entering the Ghanaian market we support the step taking by ACEP and Public Eye in this campaign and I assure you that we will work together to eliminate this things from our society. He said The fuel imported into Ghana, mainly diesel, is seriously toxic sometimes to the extent that it is 2000 times worse than the standards accepted in the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA).Dirty diesel in Ghana more expensive than clean diesel in USA He made this known at the launch of the book Dirty Diesel Public Eye in partnership with the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) in Accra The book depicts how Swiss commodity trading companies are taking advantage of weak fuel standards in Ghana to produce, deliver and sell diesel and gasoline, which is damaging to peoples health. Their business model relies on an illegitimate strategy of deliberately lowering the quality of fuels in order to increase their profits. It notes that Using a common industry practice called blending, trading companies mix cheap but toxic intermediate petroleum products to make what the industry calls African Quality fuels. These intermediate products contain high levels of sulphur as well as other toxic substances such as benzene and aromatics. By selling such fuels at the pump in Africa, the traders increase outdoor air pollution, causing respiratory disease and premature death. This affects West Africa, in particular, because this is the region where the authorised levels of sulphur in fuels remain very high. West Africa does not have the refining capacity to produce enough gasoline and diesel for its own consumption, and so it must import the majority of its fuels from Europe and the US, where fuel standards are strict.Fuels have been on the agenda for some time already. Beginning in 2002, the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) conducted a ten-year campaign that led in most countries to a ban on lead in gasoline. However, fuels still account for other severe health issues. The issue of sulphur content must bFollowing the global report indicating that Ghanas market has been flooded with toxic diesel, it has been reported that data from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has revealed that Bulk Oil Storage and Transport Company Limited (BOST), the state owned strategic reserve holder, accounts for a significant 25% of the total quantity of diesel imported into the country for the first six months of 2016. It is estimated that BOST alone imported 221,292.30 metric tonnes of diesel representing 25% while the imports of 18 BDCs put together accounts for 660,108.92 metric tonnes, representing 75%.In all, 881,401.22 metric tonnes of diesel were imported into the country in the first six months of this year.The NPA data provides evidence that a state institution like BOST is playing a key role in the importation of the said dirty diesel and, therefore, the situation cannot be blamed on only private sector players. According to the report, Swiss commodity traders, Trafigura and Vitol, are among a number of companies accused of exporting what environmentalists call African quality diesel, blending products in European facilities to create fuels with sulphur levels that are, sometimes, hundreds of times over European limits. The report said more than two-thirds of the diesel samples (17 out of 25) had a sulphur level higher than 1,500 parts per million (ppm), which is 150 times the European limit of 10 ppm. 2,410ppm and 2,730 ppm in Ghana Ghana Standards Authority approved sulphur content of 3,000 ppm, but the research found Ghanas diesel products imported by Trafigura and Vitol to contain between 2,410 and 2,730 ppm, which is lower than the acceptable Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) limits but much higher than the 10ppm European standard. Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which refines sweet light crude, and collaborated with Ghana Standards Authority to set the 3,000ppm standard for Ghana, is doing 1,000ppm for diesel and 500ppm for petrol.In the European Union, the Euro IV standard has applied since 2005, which specifies a maximum of 50ppm of sulfur in diesel fuel for most vehicles. Ultra-low-sulfur diesel with a maximum of 10 ppm of sulfur has been widely available as of 2008. An Inter-organisational Advocacy Network for persons with disability has been launched by the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) at the Ascension Presby Hall in Koforidua, Friday. With funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the launch is part of efforts to expand the Organisations disability network to other regions in order to ensure more effective advocacy work on disability rights. The programme attracted representatives from organizations such as Ghana Broadcasting Corpotation, Ghana Education Service, National Commission for Civic Education, Social Welfare Department and other Civil Society groups. The National president of GFD, Mr. Yaw Ofori Debrah, said in addition to getting other organisation to advocate for the disables, the network will also provide a common platform to discuss and stay abreast with disability related issues while adopting common positions to exchange ideas and push disability issues upront. The Eastern Regional President of GFD, Mr. George Agyei Mensah, said member organisations will meet once in every quarter to ensure that they are all on one page with regard to issues of disability. Madam Esther Amponsah, Acting Head of Community Care of the Social Welfare Department called for Unity among all PWDs. She also advised them to make good use of the disability fund. The GFD is an umbrella disability organisation in Ghana which aims at ensuring all-inclusiveness for its members. Currently the organization has seven member organizations namely: Ghana Blind Union, Ghana Society for the Physically Disabled, Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism and the Ghana National Association of the Deaf. The rest are Inclusion Ghana, Share Care Ghana and the Mental Health Society of Ghana. 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' Demonstrators point at a broken billboard showing the face of Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Desiree Kabila during an opposition rally in Kinshasa 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." 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 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 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 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. Park Rangers from the anti poaching unit of the Pilanesberg National Park ride in the back of a truck on September 19, 2016 at the Pilanesberg National Park in the North West province, South Africa "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. President John Dramani Mahama has said Africa does not need sympathy from the world nor overseas assistance in order to develop. Even though majority of African countries depend heavily on foreign aid for budgetary support and developmental projects, President Mahama audaciously declared at the on-going 71st General Assembly that, Africa needs a fair chance to trade with the rest of the world instead of sympathy or overseas development assistance. Some of the young Africans who hazard the desert and Mediterranean Sea to cross to Europe from my country are young poultry farmers or other 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. 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, he added. He further called on colleague African leaders to build stronger economic ties to create a thriving business environment. 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. Don't force democracy on Africa President John Dramani Mahama also told western countries to stop forcing democracy on Africa. According to him, Africa like many other developed continents made mistakes which they learnt lessons from before progressing, hence Africa must be given same opportunity. Democracy is not a one size fits all system, different countries are at different stages of the democratic journey. Democracy evolves and cannot be forced on the people. It doesn't help for biggest powers to go proselytizing democracy across the continent, it can have its negative consequences as we are experiencing in parts of North Africa and the Middle East, but still a properly functioning peer system can avoid some of the meltdowns we are experiencing in some African countries due to the desire to stay in office interminably. The mistake with Africa is that we are seen as homogenous unit and treated as such not taking cognizance that we are a whole continent with different aspirations, different cultures, democracies and even economic development. Human progress is not a seamless progress forward; it encompasses periods of reversal, mistakes, fumbling and even falling. All parts of the world have been through this, they have learnt from their mistakes, they've picked themselves up after a fall and they've continued moving forward. Africa must be allowed the same latitude, he added. By: Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) has appealed to residents of Obom-Domeabra to change their voting pattern and vote for the NPP in this years elections. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, citing deplorable road network, lack of potable drinking water and other developmental projects in the constituency, noted that the constituencys association with the NDC since 1992 had clearly yielded little reward. Mr Akufo-Addo made this appeal when he visited the constituency on Wednesday, as part of his 4-day campaign tour in the Greater Accra Region. He charged the residents to add their voices to the chorus for change ringing across the country, so Ghana can be returned onto the path of progress and prosperity. I am here to appeal to you. I know Obom/Domeabra, over the years, has not been voting for the NPP. We have never won Obom/Domeabra. We need change this year. I am appealing to you to come and ride on the back of the Elephant and help push the NPP into Jubilee House, the NPP flagbearer said. The NPP flagbearer, speaking in Ga, indicated that Ghana is not a poor country. We are a rich nation. We have been blessed by God, and have a country that is endowed with mineral resources. Yet, our people are hungry. This is because we dont have a good government. Touting the developmental credentials of the NPP during its tenure of office, from 2001 to 2009, the NPP flagbearer noted that everyone in Ghana has come to the acceptance that, with little resources, President Kufuor was able to implement the National Health Insurance Scheme, School Feeding Programme, Metro Mass Transit, Capitation Grant, amongst others. This, according to Nana Akufo-Addo, was possible because of prudent economic management by the Kufuor government. There is nothing concrete and socially advantageous in Ghana today which is not the work of the NPP. With particular reference to the development undertaken by the NPP in the Obom/Domeabra constituency, the NPP flagbearer noted that connecting Obom/Domeabra to the electricity grid was undertaken by the Kufuor government, when Prof. Mike Oquaye, who is here with me today, was the Minister for Energy. Again, we laid the pipe connections for potable water to as far as Denkyira, and which was to have been extended to Obom/Domeabra. However, we lost power in 2008, and for 8 years the Mahama government has abandoned the project. When I win, God-willing, I will complete this project so you can get access to potable drinking water. Responding to the request for the construction of a senior high school in the constituency, Nana Akufo-Addo assured that your request for the construction of a secondary school in the constituency will be done, if you give me the opportunity to serve this country. Again, my Free SHS policy will be effectively implemented so every child in Ghana and in Obom/Domeabra can get access to quality education. To the Chiefs and people of the constituency, Nana Akufo-Addo reiterated his commitment towards the establishment of the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), which will see every constituency in Ghana receive the equivalent of $1 million a year during the tenure of his administration. Issues of sanitation, access to potable water, construction of educational facilities, amongst others, will no longer be a source of worry to you in Obom/Domeabra. You will directly receive the equivalent of $1 million per year to tackle issues of prime concern to you, Nana Akufo-Addo stressed. With the creation of jobs being his No.1 priority, the NPP flagbearer assured the Chiefs and people of Obom/Domeabra that his 1-District-1-Factory will help create the thousands of jobs required by the teeming masses of unemployed Ghanaian youth in the country. There is no reason why we cannot establish a pineapple processing factory here in Obom/Domeabra to help create jobs for the youth in the constituency. When you vote for me in this years election, such a factory will be established here in Obom/Domeabra, he assured. Nana Akufo-Addo, in concluding, urged the residents to vote massively for the NPPs parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Baba Mohammed. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur's decision to adhere to the counsel of his unnamed friend at the University of Ghana, Legon, and desist from responding to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's lecture continues to resonate in political and media circles. Indeed, others outside the foregone have also posed sound questions about why the vice president would deny Dr. Bawumia lessons on basic economics which his response would have contained, given his initial reaction to the lecture. By describing Dr. Bawumia as a novice in basic economics, it presupposes that the former Deputy Governor of the country's apex bank requires lessons in demand and supply, the accompanying curves and the important equilibrium between the two market forces. If Dr. Bawumia does not understand the foregone the basis of the complex and scientific subject of economics he must be a magician to be able to talk about macro-economics and to have been credited with all the footnotes in his Curriculum Vitae which stand him apart from others wearing the tag of economists. While Koku Anyidoho of the ruling party regards Dr. Bawumia as a discredited personality, we wonder what he would say about the vice president, whose chickening out of responding to the prophesising economist has evoked unsavoury reactions from Ghanaians. Be it as it may, we are saddened at the inability of Ghanaians to relish the contest of wits which a Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur would have afforded the citizens of this country, had he joined Dr. Bawumia in the ring of intellectualism. When such debates take place bereft of trivialities such as insults and personalization, they bring out the best in us as a people and thus help in shaping our nation. We have been denied a presidential debate and now an alternative as the vice president succumbs to the entreaties of his non-existent friend not to respond to the disclosures of Dr. Bawumia. Debates, as intellectual exercises, are not bad at all in every setting, more so when the country is embroiled in fiscal challenges occasioned by nuisance taxes. We therefore, take exception to the vice president's decision, which we regard as a subtle means of chickening out of a contest of wits. We need as a people to hear the alternative presentation so we can be better informed. We demur on the position that Dr. Bawumia was playing politics, according to the vice president's imaginary friend. Is there any thin line between politics and economics at all? Vice President Amissah-Arthur must forever shut up, now that he has decided to take the counsel of his friend we would never know, hook, line and sinker. The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has signed a $1.8 billion syndicated loan for the 2016/2017 farming season. The signing ceremony, streamed live to journalists in Accra, was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson in Frankfurt Germany on Wednesday. The loan facility comes with an all-inclusive rate of 1.468 percent, representing an increment over the 2015/2016 loan. A total of 24 banks were involved in this years transaction, with the lead arrangers being Deutsche Bank AG, Natixis, Nedbank Limited of South Africa, Societe Generale, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Limited and DZ Bank. A domestic bank, Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited, was part of the syndicate that raised the loan. COCOBOD, in the 2015/2016 crop season, initially took a syndicated loan of $1.8 billion. It later went for a top-up of $200 million loan, putting the total loan for 2015/2016 at $2 billion. COCOBOD succeeded in repaying the loan by August, this year, paving the way for the 2016/2017 loan. COCOBOD thus is entitled for another top-up amount of $200 million as happened in 2015. This year marks the 24th time COCOBOD has entered the international market to take a loan for the purchase of cocoa beans and other related issues. The loan has a four months moratorium and a seven months repayment scheme which starts in February 2017, according to Noah Amenyah, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of COCOBOD, who addressed the media in Accra after the signing ceremony in Frankfurt. Parliament of Ghana approved up to $2 billion loan for the 2016/2017 crop year. The 2016/2017 crop season, according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Opuni, who addressed the banks, begins in October, this year. The cocoa production target for the 2016/2017 season ranges between 850,000 and 900 metric tonnes, after failing to meet the production target for the 2015/2016 season due to climate change. Ghana produced a total of 740,000 metric tonnes in 2014/2015 farming season and total production for 2015/2016 is expected to exceed that amount. The syndicated loan arrangement has existed between the banks and COCOBOD since 1992. Dr. Opuni announced that the Board will try to add 500,000 hectares of new cocoa farms over the next 10 years through interventions as free cocoa spraying and fertilizer distribution to farmers. By Melvin Tarlue Details added, first version posted at 16:40 Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.22 Trend: The report of the UN Special Rapporteur Michel Forst on the situation of human rights defenders doesnt reflect the Azerbaijani realities and is biased, said Azerbaijani presidents aide for public and political affairs Ali Hasanov Sept.22. Azerbaijan always actively cooperates with various international and non-governmental organizations and has gained great experience in this sphere, said the top official. At different times, there have been different attitudes to the reports developed and issued by them on various spheres in our country, said Hasanov. The objective reports reflecting the reality in essence, have always been discussed with those institutions and in the case of finding shortcomings, real steps were taken to eliminate them. But Azerbaijan has never accepted the documents consisting of subjective opinions and based on biased and unserious claims, said the top official, adding that the country continues to adhere to its position. A report of every international organization, especially such a higher institution as the UN, should be prepared independently, it should be balanced and based on accurate and proven facts and take into account both positive and negative factors in every sphere, according Hasanov. Unfortunately, the report of Michel Forst is not balanced, the claims, especially, the facts about imprisonments, media outlets and NGOs were not checked, and Azerbaijani governments stance was not inquired about and was not taken into account, added Hasanov. The remarks reflected in the reports of foreign NGOs such as Freedom House which have a negative attitude towards Azerbaijan, were just copied to this document, noted the top official. When talking about human rights, the special rapporteur had to take into account the violation of rights of more than one million Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs and include it in the document, he said. But regretfully, the refugee problem, which is an important issue for Azerbaijan, was not taken into account, added Hasanov. It is not accidental that during the press conference, Forst, referring to his mandate, said that he will not touch upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its results. This openly shows his attitude towards Azerbaijan and his pro-Armenian position, said the top official. The matter concerns not the authorities under the mandate, but the negative impact of the humanitarian situation which has emerged in Azerbaijan as a result of the occupation by Armenia. This issue should be in the spotlight of everyone engaged in legal issues, especially, the official representative fulfilling the mission of UN special rapporteur, he noted. I believe that in his report on Armenia, Forst will try to almost equalize the situation in this country to that of Switzerland, Germany or France. It is doubtful that this report will cover such issues as total violation of human rights in Armenia, pressure on NGOs and other issues, said Hasanov. The UN special rapporteur made a serious mistake by stating that there is no a dialogue between the government and civil society sector [in Azerbaijan]. The main reason is that Forst met only with the NGOs which he needed in Azerbaijan, he noted. The reports of those NGOs usually hide the information about that the government consistently arranges meetings with representatives of civil society institutions, learn their problems and take steps to resolve them. As for the remarks on the amendments to the laws regulating the activities of NGOs, I should note that ensuring transparency in activities of civil society institutions should first of all be in the interest of UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, said Hasanov. When coming to the imprisonments, the remarks made by Forst suggest that he didnt become familiar with the nature of the crimes and contents on those crimes, said Hasanov. "Otherwise, he wouldn't say a person was held criminally responsible for expressing an opinion online, while this person was in fact held liable for a concrete crime. This is at least a matter of professionalism. At the same time, Forst wouldnt have blamed the government for the situation with a media outlet which suspended its activity due to financial difficulties. "In general, there are so many contradictions, inaccuracies, distortion of facts in that report and in this special rapporteur's logic. All this casts serious doubt on Forst's competence as an expert," according to Hasanov. Therefore, the report of the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Michel Forst doesnt reflect the Azerbaijani realities, is biased and is ordered, he added. You know that Azerbaijan is a democratic, rule-of-law state. All the issues in the country are settled by the law, and the separation of powers provides a balance between the legislative, executive and judiciary powers, said Hasanov. The freedom of speech and information, the freedom of assembly and other freedoms have been secured in Azerbaijan, he said. Hundreds of media outlets, non-governmental organizations, tens of political parties operate [in Azerbaijan], they are remarkable for their activeness in social and political processes, and they openly voice their positions. Hasanov reminded that Azerbaijan will hold a referendum for making additions and changes to the countrys Constitution on Sept. 26. The Constitution reforms reflect the intense novelties that have taken place in recent years in political, social, economic and legal areas [in the country], he said. Hasanov said this initiative is aimed at improving public administration, creating a larger base for protection of human rights and freedoms, deepening the reforms underway and providing their efficiency. Behavior of some foreign circles already gives ground to say that the powers, which always get active before the events important for our people and which have made our country a target, this time too are demonstrating their special attitude towards Azerbaijan, he said. It is no coincidence that on Sept. 20, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe announced its biased conclusion on the referendum, he said. Usually the Venice Commission doesnt hastily prepare a conclusion on a draft law and inquires the opposite sides position. However this time, all the procedures with regard to the referendum project have been violated and a hasty conclusion has been drawn up and disseminated on the request of the PACE president in only two weeks. Hasanov said that thus the Azerbaijani side was deprived of the right to voice its position. Right after the Venice Commission, the UNs special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders made Azerbaijan a target by releasing a report, and perhaps in the next few days other organizations and a certain NGO network will make some statements and release reports, added Hasanov. I believe all these are components of a process controlled from a single center and it is an ordered campaign aimed at affecting the political stance of the Azerbaijani government and the peoples will with regard to the referendum, he said. I dont think these attempts will be fruitful. Hasanov also said Azerbaijans government acts in the interests of the people, it is responsible before the people and builds its policies upon such criteria as sustainable development, social welfare, strengthening of statehood and security, resolution of problems within national interests and other similar criteria. The people of Azerbaijan thoroughly support the policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev and follow their leader, he said. Therefore, all the attempts meant to divert Azerbaijan from the right development path are doomed to fail. Adjena (E/R), Sept. 20, GNA - Nana Ayimedu Brempong III, Krontihene of Adjena in the Akwamu Traditional Area, has advised the electorates to cast their votes base on issues and track records of the political parties in the 2016 general elections. He said there is the need for the electorates to scrutinize the policies of all the political parties in order to be informed to make the right choices. Nana Brempong advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used as instrument of violence during the electoral campaigns. Nana Brempong III, was speaking at the celebration of the Ode Festival of the people of Adjena, which forms part of the Akwesidae and use to mark the arrival of the new yam. He urged all the major stakeholders such as the Electoral Commission, the security agencies and the media to be fair in playing their respective roles to ensure a credible and an incident free election. He also appealed to the political parties to use decorum in their quest for power help unite the country. Nana Brempong III called for the need to encourage and support competent and dedicated women contesting for various positions in the December parliamentary and presidential election to ensure that more women assume political positions in the country. He appealed to government to expedite work on the ongoing road construction from Akosombo to Gyekiti to help ease the stress on inhabitants and promote economic activities in the area. He called for unity among all the inhabitants and urged all citizens of Adjena both home and abroad to come and assist in the development of the area. GNA The Ghana Cocoa Board has attributed the over 23 percent increase in the all inclusive rate for this year's cocoa syndicated loan, to a rise in the Libor rate during the period. Ghana on Wednesday [September 21, 2016], signed the 1.8 billion dollars loan facility for cocoa purchases for the 2016/2017 crop year. The all inclusive rate for the loan facility was 1.47 percent; up from the 1.19 percent the previous year. Some industry watchers have raised concern at the increase particularly at a time that cocoa sector is faced with an array of constraints which has affected output. But explaining the rationale for the increase, the Deputy Director of Finance at the Ghana COCOBOD, Asamoah Frimpong said the increase was largely because of the rise in the libor rate at the time of negotiating this year's credit facility. The main factor causing the change in the all inclusive rate was the change in the Libor rate. Last year at the time we were negotiating the loan, the libor rate was 0.1866 percent. That had however shot up to 0.446 percent so the difference was actually caused by the change in the libor. Also, so many factors can contribute to the increase, he stated. The exit of Britain from the European Union (EU) in June this year also affected decision on the libor rate. The LIBOR is a benchmark rate that some of the world's leading banks charge each other for short-term loans. Though Ghana signed 1.8 billion dollars, the country is entitled to an additional 200 million dollars from its creditors when the crop performs better and requires further funds. Indigenous bank, Fidelity, is among the 24 syndicated banks providing the credit facility for COCOBOD. Meanwhile the CEO of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni says his outfit with the support of government is making frantic efforts to support the country's cocoa sector. According to him, the provision of free hybrid seedlings to cocoa farmers is expected to increase from the 50 million seedlings equivalent to about 42,000 hectares of cocoa farm to 60 million seedlings equivalent to 50,000 hectares of cocoa farms. This intervention is also expected to culminate in about 500,000 hectares of new cocoa farms over the next ten years. By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana It is done in the open. And almost every household is directly or indirectly involved. Assembly members, DCE, chiefs, and sadly the police are somehow compromised. Yes they are! Agriculture produce has taken a downward decline while food prices are skyrocketing. For cocoa farms, their days of glory are over. This is the story of the three Wassa Amenfi districts of the Western Region, the Wassa Amefi East, West and Central; the headquarters of illegal mining or galamsey in the Western Region. The effects of this canker on agriculture is largely the work of illegal Chinese miners. They, in fact, returned with renewed spirits. They are in their hundreds in the three districts. This time around, they do not own the illegal mining sites directly as they did in their first entry in 2013. In their second coming, they fund locals who in return account to them. On the other hand, they are directly involved in the sale of small scale mining equipment. The Chinese are by the minute looking for ways of weakening the security apparatus in the three Wassa Amenfi districts. That's understandable because like criminals, they seek to make their operations safer. That said; there is a worrying phenomenon emerging. The Chinese, with their modernized methods of illegal mining have succeeded in killing the desire of the youth to produce food and in some cases a cash crop like cocoa. To the Chinese, carats of gold are more important than cocoa and food crops. Carat over cocoa- They sold the farm here to Chinese galamseyers The three Wassa Amenfi districts are significant producers of Ghana's second largest foreign exchange earner, cocoa. Indeed, the lands are fertile such that, cocoa trees are found around schools, church buildings, backyards, and by the roadside. Sadly, several hundreds of acres of cocoa farms are cleared at Angoaho, Ehyireso and other communities in the Amenfi East District. Truly, these areas were full of cocoa trees. It stretched from that far to the back of the town. They were however sold to Chinese miners sometime in 2015. That tree you see standing there is what is left. They have mined the area and have moved to another area to continue the degradation; Uncle Manu, a farmer at Ehyireso near Wassa Akropong said. In Amenfi Central, several hundreds of youth mostly from northern Ghana, who were hitherto employed in cocoa farms have found the light to their financial freedom in the pits. They pack themselves in pick-ups and taxis in the morning to the pits; instead of the farms. As a result, cocoa production has decreased. I have had to restock my warehouse with these soft drinks. Previously, I was buying my cocoa beans only from cocoa farmers in Akropong. In the past, I could buy 2,500 bags in the crop season. But today, warehouse is now full of drinks. The Chinese invasion has caused a lot of damage to cocoa production. They are taking down many cocoa trees at Angoaho. Recently, the district officer for Trans Royal was looking for 55 bags. It took me over a month to get that. In the past, without going outside Wassa Akropong, I could easily get it. With the trend, I doubt the government will ever get the 1 million tons projection. I will buy any cocoa farm rich in gold- Illegal Miner On the face of this threat, there are illegal miners who say they are ready to offer good money to cocoa farmers who are willing to sell their farms to galamsey operators. Some of the farmers say their trees are no longer yielding enough for them like it use to be in the past. They tell me constantly. So for me, when any of them is ready to sell their farms to us, I will be ever ready to buy it because that's what I also do for a living.and to those who say we are responsible for the dwindling production of agric, let them be told that we do not force the farmers to sell the land to us, they willingly sell it Paulina Asante at Wassa Akroppong. Carats over rice- Agric Director cries out The Wassa Amenfi Central district is also one of the major producers of local rice in the Western Region. Rice grows well in their marshy areas. But today, the illegal miners are competing with us for these same areas of lands in the districts. These alluvial illegal miners are also competing for the labor we need. They have better comparative advantage over us in view of the quick returns galamsey guarantees. As a result, labor is very expensive and unreliable. Their activities are having a negative impact on agric in the district, Amenfi Central District Director of Agriculture, Dominic Nyanzu. Mining is instant, agric takes years-Miners I visited an illegal mining site, some three kilometers away from Wassa Akropong. The site is owned and operated by two classmates James Cudjoe and Richard Ofori. They told me returns from farming come yearly, compared to galamsey's daily returns. At the time of my visit, they were busily working as the sound from their Changfan filled the air. Commenting on why they have chosen illegal mining over farming, James Cudjoe explained that returns from farming are on yearly basis. But with this one, you could get something for yourself Planting cocoa, weeding the farms, you will buy this or that, you may not have money either. You would have to wait for a year before you get returns from farming. The situation may be disturbing when returns from farms do not match up investment. Richard Ofori also noted that I was farming with my siblings. When we go to market after harvest, the food crops were bought at far cheaper prices. As things stand now, you cannot go into farming without adequate capital. The physical strength alone isn't enough. Some of my brothers and others working here are graduates from universities, Polytechnic and Teacher Training colleges. They are all employed here, after been unemployed for some time. You understand, so if doing this is serving as my source of livelihood, I will continue doing it. Clearly, their farming spirit has been dampened by quick returns from illegal mining. Food prices are skyrocketing- Traders I also attempted to understand the effect of the decision by the youth to mine illegally instead of farming. I did this by speaking to traders who buy foodstuffs to the markets. In my interaction with traders at Wassa Akropong and nearby Bogoso markets, the traders expressed worry over the seeming increases in the prices of food brought from the villages. They lament that the prices have shot up even in bumper seasons. So personally, I kept inquiring from our rural customers. Their responses are that, they are not getting the labor they need on the farms. Besides they complained that prices of agrochemicals are up to the roof. The situation gets dangerous when some of us have to transport the foodstuff from far distances to the markets. Transport cost escalates the prices. This prevents fast movement of the goods, Grace Mensah at Wassa Akropong Market. At the Bogoso market, I witnessed a heated debate between cassava and plantain farmers and their buyers. The farmers were opposing the low prices the buyers wanted to offer for their produce. They indicated that farming has become expensive these days. The buyers were also suggesting that the high cost impedes fast movement of the foodstuff some of which are perishable. The Wassa Amenfi areas are known for cultivating both food and cash crops. But with the over 2,000 persons estimated to be engaging in illegal mining, agriculture is likely to see a further decline. More productive lands are by the minutes sold to the ever increasing Chinese in return for a cold hard cash. A conscious effort is needed to avoid dangerous repercussions for food security. By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo THE ASHANTI Regional Police Command has arrested members of a car snatching syndicate and retrieved four stolen vehicles. The retrieved vehicles include Suzuki Swift taxi cab, Daewoo Matiz, Hyundai Elantra and Mercedes Benz C240. The police had currently in their custody five members of the car snatching syndicate, including their leader, one Veron Adams, who is an ex-convict. The others were Musban Sana aka 'Alhassan', Francis Quarshie, Abraham Zigah, Hajia Azumi Salisu Sana and Samuel Asante. Adams, the ring leader, who had jumped bail at the KMA Circuit Court in a car theft case in June 2016, led the police to arrest his cohorts after he was nabbed. The Ashanti Regional Police Crime Officer, ACP Peter Baba, said Adams was arrested at Agona on September 13, 2016 after he failed to snatch a car. He noted that Adams hired a Daewoo Matiz taxi cab, registered AS 2703-16, to take him from Kumasi to Domeabra near Agona, in the Ashanti Region. On their way, Adams pulled a knife on the fear-stricken driver and snatched the car, but he (Adams) was arrested after a wild chase by some people on a motorbike. Adams and his group, who are known dangerous car-snatchers, have been linked to several high profile car snatching cases in the region in recent times. For instance, they snatched a Suzuki Swift taxi cab, registered AS 1594-V, from its driver at gun-point at Sakra-Wonoo on August 13, this year. This same group, on August 25, 2016, with the aid of a pistol, snatched a Daewoo Matiz taxi cab from its driver, who was taking them to Bonwire. Adams during investigations confessed that he had snatched close to ten cars in the region, adding that he sold some of the cars for a fee to enrich himself. FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi The NPP Kandahad Youth Group in the Northern Region has stated that as much as Ghana is calling for peace, there should be the pursuit for justice and peace will automatically follow before, during and after the 2016 general elections. According to the group, in the 2012 general elections, the NPP felt cheated and as a result had an election petition to seek justice in the law court, only to realize that the final verdict was more on merit of peace and not on justice. Violence and peace are two and opposite ways with greater effects on building a society but we can't attain peace without justice. The Secretary for NPP Kandahad Youth Group, Abdul Hack told DAILY GUIDE that the reason why the group is calling for justice before peace is that some peace campaigners appear to be political party affiliates who are not genuine. He indicated that the Kandahad is a group that advocates peace in the society and that the perception that the group is associated with violence is not true. According to him, Emmanuel Bombande who is now the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, before the 2012 elections was the Executive Director of West Africa Network for Peace Building while Dr. Clement Apaak now a presidential staffer, was the Executive Director for Forum for Governance and Justice. Nana Oye Lithur was with Human Rights Advocacy for Gender now she is the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, he said. He appealed to various religious bodies, civil society organizations, and NGOs, the judicial service, opinion leaders and stakeholders to campaign for justice towards the coming 2016 general elections to safeguard the country's democracy. Abdul Hack urged the youth in the Northern Region to advocate for peace before, during and after the general elections and not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to perpetrate criminal activities in the area. The Northern Regional Secretary of the NPP, Sule Salifu said the Kandahad group is not in any way attached to violence activities in the area and that calling for peace is a clear statement that the group cherishes peace. He stated that even though the party is preaching peace, they would not also sit down unconcerned and allow any leadership who had lost the mandate of the people to sell the blessings of the ordinary Ghanaian people. He urged the group to provide the NPP with loyal and hard working party agents and assured party members that the NPP will win the general elections come December 7. FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale Kwesi Amponsah Boateng of Tullow Oil unveiling the plaque to commission the laboratory The Jubilee Partners, operators of the Jubilee Field in the Western Region, are supporting science education to provide technical expertise for the oil and gas industry. To this end, the partners have inaugurated a refurbished science laboratory at the Archbishop Porter Girls' Senior High School (SHS) in Takoradi to help improve the performance of students in science and develop their interest towards its study. The laboratory was refurbished by the Jubilee Partners- Tullow Oil, Kosmos Energy, Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC), Anadarko and Petro SA, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Trust fund (GETFund). The Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories were also fitted with furniture and equipment to help improve the teaching and learning of science in the school. The Jubilee partners indicated that the gesture was in line with their social investment programmes that focus on three key areas, including health, water and sanitation; livelihood and enterprise development; and education and training. The partners have provided scholarships, sponsored science and oil and gas quiz and refurbished science laboratories at the second cycle level to help support science education in the country. At a ceremony to commission the refurbished science laboratory at Archbishop Porter Girls' school, Kwasi Amponsah Boateng, Social Performance and Public Affairs Officer of Tullow Oil, explained that the initiative was to help improve science centres in Senior High Schools and also encourage the teaching and learning of the subject. He was of the view that the refurbished facility would increase the number of students offering science subjects in the school. The project is expected to whip up interest of students in the science subjects and subsequently pursue its related programmes at the tertiary levels, he added. Headmistress of Archbishop Porter Girls Senior School Mary Brako, said the refurbished center would contribute immensely to the study of science in the school. The facility is expected to make the study of science more convenient for the students by offering a suitable environment for them to undertake their studies. George Sarpong, Director, Corporate Affairs of KOSMOS Energy, on his part, pointed out that the Jubilee partners were committed to supporting and helping educational institutions upgrade their science facilities. The Archbishop Porter Girls project is the second of such initiatives to be delivered by the partners. The first was the Mfantsipim Senior High School science laboratory, which was commissioned in August, this year, he revealed. He also indicated that the science laboratory of Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School in the Ellembelle District of the Western region was under renovation and was expected to be completed and presented in October, this year. From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi Forever Living Products Ghana Limited has organized its Success Day in Accra to reward some workers who have distinguished themselves in the business. All expensive paid trip overseas, fully furnished apartment and cash were presented to the deserving workers. Others also received certificates of recognition for their outstanding efforts in promoting the company's products. The day was also used to recognize some of the companys business people who have qualified for some incentives. Michael Boafo, Country Manager, who spoke to BUSINESS GUIDE at an event held at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, said The success day is the day for our business owners who are doing well in the business, and they are recognized and celebrated. We believe that success begets success so those who are doing well need to be encouraged so they can do better than they have been doing. He said, We believe that when we celebrate success it has a rippling effect on others. Others also emulate those who are being rewarded for their hard work. Touching on the effectiveness of the companys products, Mr Boafo said, We provide products that ensure that people have good health. All our products are natural and there are no complications when you use them. He said the company has employed thousands of people in Ghana directly and indirectly. These employees, Mr Boafo said, are making a lot of money by selling and recommending the products to people, adding that we also give them good incentives in addition to their profits. He said company would continue to churn out products that would help people to live long and healthy. A Business Desk report There are reports that the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has been directed to halt all activities in connection with the privatization of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) until President John Mahama says otherwise. Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, is reported to have given the directive at a meeting with MiDA representatives, ECG management members and members of the Electricity Unions. At the meeting, the Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) and its stakeholders were said to have articulated their position on the intended privatization of the ECG. It would be recalled that workers of ECG have registered their discontentment since government announced that the power distributor would be privatized. Owing to the development, PUWU of the ECG has embarked on a number of industrial actions in a bid to compel government to rescind its decision. The workers have argued that the privatisation of the company cannot address its enormous problems. Secretary of the ECG Senior Staff Association, Patrick Binyemi, speaking to the media in Accra said: Until the president is briefed and a directive comes, MiDA is directed to halt its activities. The planned privatization of ECG is in line with the Power Sector Reform Programme, which was adopted by Ghana in 1994. Rebuttal Meanwhile, management of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has described the aforementioned story as untrue and inaccurate. Management of MiDA has noted with concern comments attributed to the Secretary of the ECG Senior Staff Association and contained in an article on myjoyonline yesterday titled: MiDA directed to halt privatisation of ECG. A statement recently issued in Accra and signed by Pamela Djamson-Tettey, Director, Communications & Outreach, MiDA, said truly under the auspices of the Chief of Staff, MiDA was participating in ongoing discussions with the Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) of ECG and ECG management in respect of their concerns regarding the ECG Private Sector Participation. As these discussions are ongoing, MiDA is not in a position to disclose details at this time. MiDA however wishes to inform the public that no directive to halt its activities in respect of the ECG Private Sector Participation has been given, and no such directive was discussed at the last meeting held at the Flagstaff House, Accra, it added. Position of Chief of Staff Mr Julius Debrah has also denied issuing a fiat to MiDA to halt ongoing reforms at ECG. I wish to say here categorically that I have been in the Upper West for the past three days and I've not issued any such statement. Indeed, government has not stated that it is privatizing ECG. What government has been talking about is a way of reforming by signing up to the compact, and in the long run the objective is how best to improve the performance of ECG, he emphasized. By Samuel Boadi [email protected] Inesfly Africa, a total insect solutions company in Africa, as part of its aim to eradicate malaria and other vector borne diseases in the country, has painted the Surgical unit of the Ridge hospital in Accra. This forms part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities, and contribution towards promoting good healthcare in the country. The painting, which took place on the 17th September 2016 at the Ridge hospital, was supported by the Ahaban Green Leaf Foundation and the Berla Mundi Foundation. The Ridge Hospital, which was built in 1929, to provide healthcare for British nationals during the pre-colonial era, is now considered as a regional Hospital serving a massive proportion of the Ghanaian population and providing healthcare to its environs. Inesfly Africa over the years has partnered with organizations, NGO's and others, to achieve a mutual goal of better health for Ghanaians. The Tema General Hospital , Police Hospital , Adabraka Polyclinic and Just recently The Princess Marie Louise Hospital, one of the few specialist children's hospitals in West Africa, have benefited from Inesfly Africa . The Chief Executive Officer of Inesfly Africa, Michael Sjodin, in an interview mentioned that good healthcare is very necessary for the development of a nation as we need healthy citizens to build a nation, thus it's the aim of the company to effect change in the places that can provide such good healthcare for the nation . He emphasized that, Inesfly Africa as part of its mission seeks to contribute through their innovative solutions to the improvements of the environment and help eradicate malaria in the country as a whole. The Inesfly technology, which was developed by its founder and renowned scientist, Dr.Pilar Mateo, consists of polymeric micro-encapsulations that allow insecticides to be released in a gradual and slow manner, thereby prolonging the efficacy and reducing the toxicity of the active ingredients making it completely safe for humans, pets and other animals. The products are further fortified by the inclusion of insect growth regulators which prevent insects from fully developing and reproducing. Inesfly Africa, offers a long-term alternative to pest control. From paints, floor cleaners, body repellents and crop protection for the agricultural sector, these products are effective from 2-weeks to 2-years. About Inesfly Africa Headquartered in the South Industrial Area in Accra, Inesfly Africa is a subsidiary of Interplast. Inesfly Africa was established in 2011 to combat vector-borne diseases which are prevalent in Africa. Inesfly products have been approved by the EPA, the GSA and the FDA. By: Philip Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana The Ghana Association of Small Scale Miners (GASSM) is blaming government and its allied institutions for the rise in illegal mining activities, also known as galamsey in the country. The association believes the lack of political will and monitoring by the mandated institutions have led to the destruction of aquatic life as major water bodies have been heavily polluted. It added that the activities of illegal miners have resulted in the destruction of forest reserves and farms. Speaking to Citi Business News, the Public Relations Officer of GASSM, Francis Opoku called on people in authority to stop interfering in the work of security agencies. Let me say that the Police are doing a fantastic job by arresting these illegal miners but sometimes what happens is that you have people in authority who will always ask that these people are released because they are their friends or people, he lamented. Mr. Opoku warned that activities of illegal miners cannot be stopped unless all the stakeholders get involved in fighting the galamsey activities. For us to solve this problem we all have to put our shoulders to the wheel by putting greed and selfishness aside and be patriotic enough to save our country from being destroyed, he appealed. As part of efforts rolled out by the association, Mr. Opoku stated that it has reported the activities of the galamsey operators to the security agencies. Increase in galamsey In recent times, there has been heightened debate about the activities of illegal miners who destroy aquatic life, pollute rivers and streams, and destroy forest reserves. According to the Ghana Water Company Limited, the development has led to an increase in the cost of processing and producing water for Ghanaians. Citi FM's investigations on galamsey Citi Business News has learnt that if the activities of galamsey operators are not checked it could lead to the closure of some three water treatment plants the Barekese, Kyebi and Daboase treatment plants. The investigations showed that some lands and farms have been rendered useless due to chemicals used by the illegal miners in extracting gold. Meanwhile, a former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini has called for galamsey operators to be licensed to help monitor their activities. By: Norvan Acquah Hayford/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 Trend: Todays meeting is happening against the backdrop of increasing tensions and threats to international peace and security directly impacting a number of OIC Member States, said minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov at the Annual Coordination Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Member States. "Rise of violent extremism conducive to international terrorism, increasing fear and violating human rights, further complicates the task of bringing peace, security and justice to the Muslim Ummah. Azerbaijan is deeply concerned over wars and armed conflicts in a number of the OIC Member States, which have contributed to greater security challenges, political instability in some regions, large-scale displacement and unprecedented humanitarian crisis,"- said minister. "We are pleased to see the growing international support for the State of Palestine. I would like to reaffirm Azerbaijans full support to the brotherly people of Palestine in their struggle for achieving peace, stability and sustainable development. Azerbaijan consistently stands for the two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine. We hold regular consultations with Palestine at different levels. I am pleased to inform that a high-level delegation representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan paid an official visit to Ramallah in May 2016, and bilateral agreements were signed aimed at further intensification of practical cooperation,"- he said. Acording to Mammadyarov, among the numerous challenges that world faces today, the primary spot undoubtedly belongs to terrorism, which continues to undermine the global stability and prosperity. To the deepest regret, during the time elapsed since our last meeting we have been grieved by sorrowful news on terrorist attacks committed in different parts of the world, including in the territories of the OIC member states. "Azerbaijan strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. All terrorist acts are unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, constitute serious crimes and must be condemned and prosecuted. The cases of shielding and glorification of terrorists should not be tolerated. We should also spare no effort to prevent the indiscriminate targeting of different religions and stop the unacceptable increase in frequency and notoriety of Islamophobia. Respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity throughout the world would significantly contribute to strengthening the international fight against terrorism. In this regard, we commend the work done by the OIC to counter instances of defamation and misconceptions pertaining to Islam and to fight the phenomenon of Islamophobia,"- minister said. "On its behalf, Azerbaijan has always tried to make its contribution to the promotion and fostering of multicultural and interfaith dialogue. "We have hosted numerous events aimed at creating a better understanding among representatives of various religions, nationalities, civilizations. Creating a society with no discrimination based on cultural and religious differences is possible and Azerbaijan is a vivid example of this. My country is proud of having successfully hosted 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations under the theme Living together in inclusive societies: a challenge and a goal in April this year, which once again reaffirmed the commitment and dedication of Azerbaijan towards fostering constructive interaction between different cultures and religions, promoting broader mutual understanding and respect between civilizations on international level,"- he said. "Azerbaijans commitment towards strengthening Islamic solidarity and promoting Islamic values is very well-known, as well. We will be honored to host the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku next year and hope that they will help to reinforce the bonds of unity, amity and fraternity between Muslims. In conclusion, I would like to commend the consistent and principled position of the OIC regarding the illegal use of force against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and occupation of its territories. We welcome the decision of the 13th Islamic Summit to establish a Contact group on the aggression of the Republic of Armenia against Azerbaijan. I am pleased to announce that the first meeting of the Contact Group was successfully held three days ago on the sidelines of our Annual Coordination Meeting, here in New York. I want to thank the Member States engaged in the Contact Group, and reiterate our kind request to all Member States to support the work of the Contact Group aimed at ensuring justice and the respect for international law," - Mammadyarov said. Law Professor Patrick Lumumba is asking African leaders to sever ties with the world bank and the IMF because there will not be any solutions once they are tied to their strings. Speaking on the second day of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial lecture series at the University of Cape Coast, the Kenyan professor of public law intimated that the solutions to the economies of Africa lie in fiscal discipline, reduction of deep-rooted corruption and the adoption of homegrown approaches. He expressed disquiet about his unhappiness with African leaders throughout his series and said with the exception of the President of Tanzania, most Africa leaders are either engaged in one corrupt act or the other or supervising them with impunity. Delivering a lecture on the economic re-orientation in Africa, Professor Lumumba stated that Ghana and most of the African countries will continue to wallow in poverty notwithstanding the abundant resources the continent is blessed. This, he said, is as a result of the desire of many African leaders to mess up their economies and run to the IMF and the world bank for solutions, solutions he says are not available. If you remember the Latin Americans were in a similar situation not long ago, but they took a solemn decision that they were going to liberate themselves from the chains of the IMF and the World Bank. Chile, Argentina and Brazil did and today they have lifted their country into mid-level economies," he said. "Many African countries are still tied at the hip with the international monetary fund including your own Ghana. I can tell you that you will not get anyway as long as the IMF stands your way. I have always said that whenever the IMF and the world bank tell you that your economy is doing very well, you should be very worried, he added. Prof Lumumba wondered why Ghana that was blessed with a visionary leader in Dr Kwame Nkrumah in the construction of the Akosombo dam and other energy exploitations over half a century ago should be a pale shadow of itself in the provision of energy its people Ghana, for which Kwame Nkrumah had great expectation generates not more than 3000 Megawatts for a slightly perhaps over 20 million people. Ghana which was the home of these ideas has invented and exported to Africa dumsor dumsor," he said. "Ghana is not alone in this regard, when one travels to Nigeria, the country with nearly 150 million inhabitants has the largest number of Ph.D. holders per capita in Africa yet you go to Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and the generators are alive, added. Speaking on agriculture, he said, Even your fish must come from far away China as if we were told that fish no longer love to live in the Volta river. Beyond the yam and beyond the plantain, we are importing everything. But yet African lands are incapable of feeding Africans. But our area of intervention in Agriculture we still our lands like they used to do in the days of Adam and Eve." "We do not manipulate our land, we still use the hoe and depend on rain-fed agriculture as if we have an unbreakable pact with God that it will always rain on time. But I remember that the divine instruction was very clear, go ye and subdue the world why have we allowed the world to subdue us. If you cant control your food, you are dead on arrival, Prof. Lumumba said. A special congregation was held in his honour and was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Cape Coast. The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial lecture saw Sir Sam Jonah, the Chancellor of UCC; the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Dominic Dabire Kuupole; the Pro Vice Chancellor of UCC, Prof. George Oduro, Omanhene of Oguaa Traditional Area , Osabarima Kwesi Atta II as well as leaders of the various political parties in attendance. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Richard Kwadwo Nyarko | Joy News Scores of pregnant women in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, are facing the ordeal of working to take care of their ante-natal care and other pressing needs before delivery, after their spouses dumped them. It was pathetic, as some of these unfortunate women opened up before the cameras of the media as they lamented about how their spouses neglected them and even vanished into thin air after their women told them that they had taken seeds. Some of them said they are now left with no other option than to beg on the streets in order to get food to eat on daily basis, with some of them whose pregnancies have reached nine months, disclosing that they were yet to attend their first ante-natal care. These horrible revelations came to light during the official launching of the Easy Birth Foundation, a non-governmental organisation whose main objective is to support poor pregnant women so that they could be properly taken care of for safe delivery. One of the unfortunate pregnant women, 20-year-old Ophelia Agyapomaah, a native of Sabronum in the Brong Ahafo Region, said she is very poor so she relies on left-overs of people in the house she stays at Ayigya Zongo in Kumasi before she could eat. She said her fiance, one Eric Owusu Baffoe, a welder by profession who used to stay at Ayigya Zongo, absconded immediately he put her (Agyapomaah) in a family way, bemoaning that she had since been struggling in life, adding, I have not attended ante-natal care even though I am nine months pregnant. Easy Birth Foundation which has been formed to take proper care of such poor pregnant women is co-owned by Elizabeth Agyeman, Oforikrom Member of Parliament (MP), and Dr Gladys Norley Ashitey, ex-MP for Ledzokuku in the Greater Accra Region. Madam Agyeman stated that such disheartening occurrences whereby men fled after they had impregnated women influenced their decision to form the NGO so that they could use their expertise in parliament so as to help to ensure that such women delivered peacefully. Dr Ashitey who is also an ex-deputy minister of health during the NPP regime said maternal deaths were on the rise in the country lately, attributing the deplorable trend to situations whereby men abandoned their spouses. Emmanuel Amankwa of the Biochemistry Department of the KNUST in Kumasi disclosed that 380 maternal deaths are recorded in every 100,000 births in the country, pointing out that the statistics is unacceptable, calling on the need for the populace to collaborate to reverse the trend. As part of the official launching of the NGO at the Georgia Hotel in Kumasi on Monday afternoon, a health screening exercise was administered freely for over 300 pregnant women in Kumasi and its nearby areas. FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi A record number of Ghanaian women who have been married for several years and unable to get pregnant have taken to artificial insemination to have their babies, a clinical embryologist, Isaac Kofi Adu, has said. A 58-year-old woman in her menopausal stage is said to have delivered twins in Kumasi through the process. According to Kofi Adu, babies born using treatments from in-vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) have increased since the establishment of in-vitro fertilisation hospitals in the country. Speaking to DAILY GUIDE at the Trustcare Specialist Hospital & Fertility Centre in Kumasi where the 58-year-old woman delivered a set of twins, Mr Adu stated that although women today are generally healthier, fertility declines as people age. A similar feat was recorded at Lapaz Community Hospital, where a 55-year-old woman was also delivered of twins a couple of months ago. In the view of Kofi Adu, women's body produces fewer viable eggs when they get older, whilst men's sperms do not swim well as they age, creating fertility problems for couples. The embryologist said this was the condition of the new nursing mother of twin girls when she visited the Trustcare Specialist Hospital in July 2015, having ceased menstruation for over 11 years. She underwent a surgical operation to remove a fibroid from her uterus (womb). Three months later, she was put on medication to enhance growth of the womb as it had shrunk due to her menopausal state, and the IVF procedure commenced on February 2, 2016. Mr Adu disclosed that the woman delivered of two girls last Wednesday after undergoing IVF treatment at the facility which has brought smiles back on her face. She was delivered of a set of twins through a caesarian session after a first IVF-ET attempt at the fertility centre. The first of the girls delivered weighed 2.1 kg, while the second one was 1.9 kg, he asserted. According to him, the IVF-ET is a specialised process in medicine that is used to help couples who for various reasons cannot get pregnant naturally. In Ghana, the procedure was first introduced by a private specialist hospital in Tema in 1990. He pledged the hospital's desire to continue supporting many more childless women to become mothers and bring happiness into their lives. Records The Trustcare Specialist Hospital & Fertility Centre has treated more than 30 post-menopausal women, some of whom were more than 50 years of age since December 2012. Of the 30 women treated, nine of them were between ages 50-58. They have delivered singleton, twins and triplets, bringing happiness into marriages and families. From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi I want to start off this article by making some disclaimers in order that I am guided in my submission. 1. I am not a technocrat 2. I have never pretended to be a technocrat 3. I am not pretending to be a technocrat and 4. I will not pretend to be one because I am not. Therefore, what I seek to do in this article is simply to apply common sense which is available to all men and women. The fundamental problems of the Ghanaian economy is that, Ghanaian natural resources are not exploited for the benefit of the Ghanaian people. This is as a result of the obnoxious Foreign Exchange Retention Agreements that we sign with the mining companies. How could we have had a country that signs a retention agreement that reserves less than five(5) percent for her citizens? Any country that does that is on the verge of collapse. I think the Ghanaian natural resources are being exploited wrongly. The way forward is to allow Ghanaians to keep or perhaps reserve the chunk part of whatever is taken from Ghanaian soils. A little history to buttress my point has to do with the regime of our Former President, General Kutu Acheampong. A lot of people used to badger with or perhaps beleaguer General Acheampong and what they used to say was that he was not properly educated because he was a product of Swedru Business School. With all that was said, General Acheampong's regime has been the best after Our First President, Osagyefour Doctor Kwame Nkrumah. Acheampong's regime saw one of the best Foreign Exchange Retention Agreements when he decreed that Ghanaians should keep about 55 percent of resources that were taken from Ghanaian soils. That agreement was very remarkable and went a long way to boosting the economy of Ghana at the time. I think the contemporary leaders should take a cue and inspiration from General Kutu Acheampong. Another problem that I have identified as a layman is the fact that public and private contracts are not awarded to Ghanaian contractors. I am very young, but from where I sit, I know about Ghanaian Contracting firms that we had sometimes ago. We used to have; 1. Gbewa Civil Engineering Company 2. Swedru Contractors 3. State Contracting Company and among others. They undertook most of the big projects we have in Ghana and they are still being used up until today. Where are all those companies? We have killed them because of our attitudes. I remember when we were going for our last EuroBond, the justification was that, we needed that money to pay our local contractors and put all their names down. When we had the money, surprisingly, we didn't hear the name of any local contractor. Rather, there were Israeli contractors, German contractors, Chinese contractors, Indian contractors and among others on the list. The effect was that, the money that we borrowed went back to the companies of the Colonial Metropolis. If we had paid our local contractors, I think the money would still remain in Ghana for employment, business and other ventures to help the growth of the Ghanaian Economy. Sometimes some of these things happen as a result of some misguided political elements in our political arena. Ibrahim Mahama is a world recognized Contractor, but when he got a small contract to execute a national assignment, his innocent brother, John Dramani Mahama was vilified, vituperated, chastized and delibrately contrived and orchestrated a fabricated story to subject the president to international opprobrium. This attitude was fueled by the opposition and it was very unfortunate. Another fundamental problem has to do with the fact that as a country, we don't add value to our raw materials like cocoa. Instead, we export them at their raw state for the 'predators' who sit in giant and board rooms of multi-national companies in the Colonial Metropolis to exploit them into finished goods and import them back for us to buy at exorbitant prices. How can we as a country survive this paradigm? I think we should fund our local industries to take up the mantle to add value to our raw matetials to help boost our economy. For example I challenge you to go to CRIG in Akyem Tafo in the Eastern Region and see for yourself the wonderful things they are doing with our cocoa beans. They are producing for instance; 1. brandy 2. gins 3. soap(Alata samina, Azuma blows, Perfume soaps) 4. cocoa cream 5. perfumes 6. pomade 7. parazone 8. herbicides and insecticides and among others. If our governments are to give them the needed support and funding, I promise you that we will not be where we are today. Thanks to our current president, John Dramani Mahama who has found expression and inspiration from Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to revive most of our industries and establish more. John Mahama, we say a big AYEKOO, but like Oliver Twist, we are asking for more. There are a lot more to talk about, but for the purpose of this article I leave it here. In the final analysis, if we are able to take all these into consideration and address these fundamental challenges, trust me, we will make a headway and our national economy will be something to write home about. This is my submission as a layman, thank you!!! OSUMANU ABUBAKAR. All Rights Reserved!!! The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu has assured domestic workers of governments commitment to help resolve challenges in their sector through policies that sanitize their employment relationships. He gave the assurance when a three-member delegation from the Domestic Services Workers Union (DSWU) of TUC Ghana paid a courtesy call on him in Accra. The delegation included Sis. Esther Kosi, General Secretary, Sis. Eva Attakpah, National Chairperson, and Amewuga Ablordeppey, Administrator. According to the Minister, this commitment is seen in governments promulgation of the Labour (Domestic Workers) Regulations 2016, which he last week appended his signature to. Hon. Iddrisu said government recognizes the tremendous economic input made by domestic workers that was why steps were being taken to ensure that the rights and conditions surrounding their work are safeguarded. On her part, Sis. Esther Kosi said the DSWU was grateful to the Minister for ensuring that the Regulations covering domestic work was promulgated, considering that the processes for the formulation of the Regulations began in 2011 under former Labour Minister, Hon. E. T Mensah. She said the Union will uphold the tenets of the Regulations, particularly for domestic workers underthe DSWU membership while making efforts to reach out to those yet to be organized. The purpose of these Regulations is to protect domestic workers and encourage the formalization of the employment relationship between domestic worker and an employer; Recognize the labour rights of a domestic worker; andRecognize domestic work as a decent and adequately remunerated employment. Contents of the Regulations comprise six sections and 21 subsections relating to Contract of Employment; Wages and Benefits; Maximum Hours, Rest Periods, and Leave; Rights at Work; Monitoring and Compliance; and Miscellaneous Provisions. The DSWU, which is a year old, had its Founding Conference on September 23, 2015, making Ghana the latest African country to join other nations with domestic work unions. In 2011, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) adopted Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers,and Recommendation 201 which domestic workers around the world have used to organize themselves into trade unions. DSWU is also an affiliate of International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) and International Union of Food (IUF) through whose support the Union was formed. The courtesy call was powered by the FNV/IDWF Project on Protecting Domestic Workers Rights Through Strong Organisations. Nairobi (AFP) - Islamist gunmen launched an overnight attack on a police camp in Kenya's north-east, close to the Somali border, police and militants said Thursday. "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. Kinoti said the attackers were initially repulsed but "later returned in a bigger number". He said 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". Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, Somalia, but also carries out regular deadly attacks in Kenya, including in April 2015 when gunmen killed 148 people, mostly students, at a university in Garissa town. Popular Ghanaian Movie Star, Agya Koo, paid a courtesy call on Nana Addo , at his Nima residence, this morning to formally inform him of his decision to support his candidature for this years elections. The contributions of technology to the economies of countries like China, South Korea, and the United States cant be measured. The growth of tech has peaked in these countries. Tech giants like Apple, Google, Tecno, and Samsung are domiciled in these countries. Nigeria and perhaps other African countries are just teething when it comes to technology although there are some encouraging potentials for growth in the near future. Here are 5 reasons to be confident about the future of Nigerias technology space. Mark Zuckerbergs visit to Nigeria The first ever visit of the CEO of Facebook to sub-Saharan Africa shows that Nigeria is doing something right when it comes to technology. This visit was a huge boost for technopreneurs and persons who deploy technology for their various businesses. Tech hubs are springing up Until recently, there were very few tech hubs in Nigeria. You cannot finish tallying your ten fingers when counting the number of hubs then. But today, there are many tech hubs that provide work spaces for growing startups and also expose them to opportunities Significant rise in internet penetration There is no doubt that Nigeria leads internet usage in Africa. Thanks to cheaper mobile phones and broadband connection. According to statistics from internetlivestats.com , internet penetration in Nigeria is 46.1% and this is a 2.5% share of world internet users. However, there is much to be done as Nigerians without the internet are on the highside-100,767,598 according to internetlivestats.com . Government support Oil which is the mainstay of Nigerias economy has slumped from as high as $100 to as low as $43.44. This has greatly affected the finances of the country, prompting the government to take economic diversification serious. Jumia travel adds that technology has become the beautiful bride to rescue the economy and with the different initiatives by the government like the Aso Demo, the future of technology is guaranteed. E-commerce is growing E-commerce is growing in Nigeria despite the infrastructure challenges. Again, this growth is largely tied to the rise in internet penetration and the ease of online businesses. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, has called on government to adopt stiffer regulations to guard the mining industry in order to curb the destruction of farm lands by illegal miners in rural areas. According to the FAO, the practice is having a dire effect on the country's economy. This follows reports that the activities of illegal miners in the Wassa Amenfi East and West districts of the Western Region, led by Chinese nationals, are threatening food security in the twin districts. Speaking to Citi News, the Country's Representative for the organization, Dr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, said illegal mining affects the sustainable management of the environment, livelihood of the citizenry and the economy at large. It is linked to sustainable management of the environment. It is also linked to the livelihood of the people and also the economy of Ghana. The fact that it is illegal says it all. It has a big market and a regulated market.It has powerful networks and because it is not regulated there is a lot of waste of resources and leakages and therefore there has to be a regulation. It is not a policy framework that is lacking , I think the problem has to do with weaker enforcement of the existing regulations. Illegal mining has come to the fore in the past month following the shutdown of the Kyebi treatment plant and the threat of same to other water treatment plants. This is due to the galamsey-related pollution of the major sources of water for consumption in the Rivers Pra, Ankobra, Birim, Tano among others. By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @EfeAnsah Many have criticized President John Mahama for sharing what looks like money to traders during a campaign tour, but the Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo says he doesn't see anything wrong with it if it indeed happened. According to Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, assuming the said incident happened, the President was doing a good thing - giving - something he does when he goes to church, so what is wrong with that?' In a video which has gone viral on the internet, President John Mahama is seen handing over what looks like Ghana cedi notes to traders at Abossey Okai during his campaign tour there. Related: Video: Is Mahama sharing money to traders? Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, the Chief of Staff, denied the money sharing allegations. Julius Debrah said Presidents are not allowed to carry cash around, hence what the President is seen giving out in the video could be leaflets. Although he admitted he had not seen the video, Mr Okletey Terlabi believed the media was reducing politics to pettiness by giving prominence to the issue. "There are more important things to discuss like the launch of the NPP manifesto, that is what we should be talking about," he suggested. He said one way or the other, politicians meet people and they give them money and even if what the president is seen in the video handing to the traders is proven to be money, he should not be criticized for it. "He is a human being and if he sees someone and he wants to give him money for water, what is wrong about that, he is a human being...supposing you go out there and you meet a destitute and so think that let me give this person money for water or something, what is wrong about that?" he asked host Roland Walker on the AM Show on Joy News TV. But the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko thinks the President is not like any other politician and must not engage in such an acts. Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko He believes the President was sharing money "unless they tell me it is photoshop...was it apples he gave out? Was it apples he gave out in the video?" Mr Kyeremateng quizzed. He said the actions of President Mahama 'bring our politics and the dignity of the presidency into disrepute.' Also related: Mahama may have been sharing leaflets, not cash Chief of Staff Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Akosua Asiedua Akuffo | [email protected] Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.22 By Anvar Mammadov Trend: Azerbaijan plans to send first two wagons with 90 tons of light petroleum distillate via the South-West transportation route soon, said the message from the countrys ADY Express company. ADY Express has already started test transportation via this route, according to the message. The company will send two test wagons with light petroleum distillate from Astara railway station to Batumi in coming days, said the message. This light petroleum distillate has been delivered from Iran to Astara checkpoint with four trucks, according to the company. The cargo will be delivered from Batumi port to the destination through the Black Sea, said the message. Alongside with the Trans-Caspian route and North-South corridor, the South-West transportation corridor is of great importance for Azerbaijan. The route of the South-West corridor is as follows: India - Persian Gulf - Iran - Azerbaijan - Georgia - Black Sea - Europe. At the initial stage, it is planned to transport 10,000 tons of cargo via this route with the possibility of increasing it by several times in the future. The agreement on the South-West transportation corridor was signed in 2016 by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Ukraine in Baku. The corridor will make it possible to reduce the time of cargo transportation from India to Europe by two or three times. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anvar_Mammadov Rosetta (Egypt) (AFP) - 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. 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." 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 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. Rescued migrant Wael Mahmoud Mohammed, a 19-year-old student from Dormao, Fayoum, lies in bed with handcuffs on his wrist at Rashid hospital in Rosetta, northern Egypt, on September 21, 2016 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. 22.09.2016 LISTEN PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, good morning, everybody! Let me begin by thanking Mayor Bloomberg -- not just for the introduction but for the incredible work that Bloomberg Philanthropies is doing, not just in helping this event but for all the work that you're doing in promoting entrepreneurship and development throughout Africa. And Id also like to thank our co-host, and a tremendous champion of investment and engagement in Africa -- my great friend, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. I also want to welcome our partners from across Africa, including the many heads of state and government leaders who are with us. And I want to acknowledge Senator Chris Coons and leaders from across my administration, who share a profound commitment to expanding opportunity and deepening relationships between our countries. Most importantly, I want to thank all of you -- the business leaders, entrepreneurs, on both sides of the Atlantic, who are working very hard every single day to create jobs and to grow economies and to lift up our people. Now, I gave a long speech yesterday. Some of you had to sit through it. I'm going to try to be a little more concise today. Im here because, as the world gathers in New York City, were reminded that on so many key challenges that we face -- our security, our prosperity, climate change, the struggle for human rights and human dignity, the reduction of conflict -- Africa is essential to our progress. Africas rise is not just important to Africa, its important to the entire world. Yes, too many people across the continent still face conflict and hunger and disease. And, yes, recent years have brought some stiff economic headwinds. And we have to be relentless in our efforts to end conflicts, and improve security and promote justice. At the same time, the broader trajectory of Africa is unmistakable. Thanks to many of you, Africa is on the move -- home to some of the fastest-growing economies in the world and a middle class projected to grow to more than a billion customers. An Africa of telecom companies and clean-tech startups and Silicon savannahs, all powered by the youngest population anywhere on the planet. As President, Ive worked to transform our relationship with Africa so that were working together, as equal partners. Im proud to be the first American President to visit sub-Saharan Africa four times; the first to visit Ethiopia and speak before the African Union; the first to visit Kenya -- which I think was obligatory. I would have been in trouble if I hadnt done that. (Laughter.) I believe Im also the first American President to dance the Lipala in Nairobi -- or to try to dance the Lipala. And wherever Ive gone, from Senegal to South Africa, Africans insist they do not just want aid, they want trade. They want partners, not patrons. They want to do business and grow businesses, and create value and companies that will last and that will help to build a great future for the continent. And the United States is determined to be that partner -- for the long term -- to accelerate the next era of African growth for all Africans. And thats why, over the past eight years, weve dramatically expanded our economic engagement. With your support, we renewed the African Growth and Opportunity Act for another decade, giving African nations unprecedented access to American markets. We launched Trade Africa, so that African countries can sell goods and services more easily across borders -- both within Africa and with the United States. We created Doing Business in Africa campaign to help American businesses -- including small businesses -- pursue opportunities across Africa. And under Pennys leadership, nearly 300 American companies have taken trade missions to Africa, with more than 8,000 African buyers attending U.S. trade shows. If you are an African entrepreneur or an American entrepreneur looking for more support, more capital, more technical assistance, there has never been a better time to partner with the United States. Commitments from the Export-Import Bank and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency have doubled. OPIC investments have tripled. Nearly 70 percent of Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts are now with African countries. And weve opened up and expanded new trade and investment offices, from Ghana to Mozambique. Through our landmark Power Africa initiative, the United States is mobilizing more than 130 public and private sector partners -- and over $52 billion -- to double electricity access across sub-Saharan Africa. Meanwhile, our Global Entrepreneurship Summits in Morocco and Kenya and our Young African Leaders Initiative are giving nearly 300,000 talented, striving young Africans the tools and networks to become the entrepreneurs and business leaders of the future. Weve got some of those outstanding young people here today. And two years ago, I welcomed many of you to our first ever U.S.-Africa Business Forum, where we announced billions of dollars in new trade and investment between our countries. And you can see the results. American investment in Africa is up 70 percent. U.S. exports to Africa have surged. Iconic companies -- FedEx, Kelloggs, Google -- are growing their presence on the continent. You can hail an Uber in Lagos or Kampala. In the two years since our last forum, American and African companies have concluded deals worth nearly $15 billion, which will support African development across the board, from manufacturing to health care to renewable energy. Microsoft and Mawingu Networks are partnering to provide low-cost broadband to rural Kenyans. Procter & Gamble is expanding a plant in South Africa. MasterCard will work with Ethiopian banks so that more Ethiopians can send home remittances. These are all serious commitments. New relationships are being forged, and Im pleased that, altogether, the deals and commitments being announced at this forum add up to more than $9 billion in trade and investment with Africa. So we are making progress, but were just scratching the surface. We have so much more work that can be done and will be done. The fact is that, despite significant growth in much of the continent, Africas entire GDP is still only about the GDP of France. Only a fraction of American exports -- about 2 percent -- go to Africa. So theres still so much untapped potential. And I may only be in this office for a few more months, but let me suggest a few areas where we need to focus in the years ahead. We have to keep increasing the trade that creates broad-based growth. In East Africa alone, our new trade hubs have supported 29,000 jobs and helped increase exports to the United States by over a third. So we need to keep working to integrate African economies, diversify African exports, and bring down barriers at the borders. Since were approaching two decades since AGOA was first passed, were releasing a report today exploring the future beyond AGOA, with trade agreements that are even more enduring and reciprocal. We also have to keep making it easier to do business in Africa. We know progress is possible. A decade ago, if you wanted to start a business in Kenya, it took, on average, 54 days. Today, it takes less than half that. And governments that make additional reforms and cut red tape will have a partner in the United States. At our last forum, I announced the creation of our Presidential Advisory Council to guide our work together. And today, Im pleased to welcome the newest members of our expanded council, so that more industries and insights can shape their recommendations. Feel free to find them later, bend their ear. Dont be shy. They are excited about their work and excited to hear from you. We also need to invest more in the infrastructure that is the foundation of future prosperity. And, as I indicated earlier, were especially focused on increasing access to electricity for the two-thirds of sub-Saharan Africans who lack it. Three years after launching Power Africa, were seeing real progress -- solar power and natural gas in Nigeria; off-grid energy in Tanzania; people in rural Rwanda gaining electricity. This means that students can study at night and businesses can stay open. And we are not going to let up. Partners like the World Bank and the African Development Bank are mobilizing billions. Last month, the government of Japan made a major commitment to support this work. And together with GE, today were launching a public-private partnership to support energy enterprises managed by women in Africa. So were on our way, and by 2030, I believe we can bring electricity to more than 60 million African homes and businesses. And that will be transformative. But even if we do the infrastructure, even if were passing more business-friendly laws, even if were increasing trade, I think all of you know that were also going to have to keep promoting the good governance that allows for good business. Graft, cronyism, corruption -- it stifles growth, scares off investment. A business should begin with a handshake and not a shakedown. (Applause.) So through our efforts like our Open Government Partnership, and our Partnership on Illicit Finance, were going to keep working to encourage transparency, stamp out corruption and uphold the rule of law. Thats whats going to ultimately attract trade and investment and opportunity. The truth is, is that those governments that are above-board and transparent, people want to do business there. People dont want to do business in places where the rules are constantly changing depending on whos up, whos down, whose cousin is who. It creates the kinds of risks that scare investors away. And finally, we need to invest more in Africas most precious resource, and that is its people, especially young people. Men and women; boys and girls. Ive had the opportunity to meet the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs -- in Soweto and Dar es Salaam and Dakar. Ive welcomed many of them to the White House. They are spectacular. They are itching to make a difference. Their passion is inspiring. Their talent is unmatched. They are hungry for knowledge and information, and are willing to take risks. And many of them, because theyve come from tough circumstances, by definition theyre entrepreneurial. Theyve had to make a way out of no way, and are resilient and resourceful. So we got to continue to empower these aspiring leaders -- give them the tools, the training and the support so that a few years from now, they can be sitting in this room. Because if Africas young people flourish, if they are getting education, if they are getting opportunity, I'm absolutely convinced that Africa will flourish as well. And they are the future leaders that inspire me. I think of the Rwandan entrepreneur I met earlier this year at one of our entrepreneurship summits. His company is turning biomass into energy. He started his business when he was 19 years old. And a lot of folks didnt get what he was doing or why. He made an interesting comment that sometimes in traditional cultures, in African cultures, the working assumption is, is that young people dont know anything. And since we were in Silicon Valley when he was telling this story, I wanted to point out that folks in Africa may want to rethink that -- because if you're over 30 there, you're basically over the hill. (Laughter.) But he kept at it. As he told me, No matter what you're trying to do, you need the motive in your mind that you want to help your society move forward. He was doing well, but he was also trying to do good. And that's what this is all about. That's the work that weve got to carry on. This is a U.S.-Africa business forum. This is not charity. All of you should be wanting to make money, and create great products and great services, and be profitable, and do right by your investors. But the good news is, in Africa, right now, if you are doing well, you can also be doing a lot of good. And if we keep that in mind, if we do more to buy from each other and sell from each other, if we do more to bring down barriers to doing business, if we do more to strengthen infrastructure and innovation and governance, I know were going to be able to move our societies and economies forward. And that will be good not just for Africa, but it will be good for the United States and good for the world. We want Africa as a booming, growing, thriving market, where we can do business, where you've got a young population that is surging. And although this will be the last time I participate in the U.S-Africa Business Forum as President, I think you should anticipate that I will be continuing to work with all of you in the years to come, and I know that Penny has done a great job in working to institutionalize these efforts. And when we've got great partners like Mike Bloomberg and the Bloomberg Foundation involved in this, I have no doubt that this is just going to keep on growing, and we're going to look back and say, we were on to something. Thank you so much, everybody. Appreciate it. Keep up the great work. (Applause.) The outgoing president of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs has reiterated his stance on the need for Ghanaians to give President John Mahama a second term. Naa Dr Charles Puo-Uree Chiiri stated that in advanced democracies when a government is seen to be doing well it is retained by the people. He made the statement when the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah paid a courtesy call on members of the Nandom traditional council at Nandom. "If something does good, more of that thing must be retained to do better and I don't see why we should he doubting, he said. This is the second time the Naa Dr Puo-Uree Chiiri has made the appeal. The first was in July when President John Mahama visited the Region during his accounting to the people tour. He conceded that the traditional area has some challenges relating to their road network and is of the opinion that if the president is given another term he will work on them. Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah thanked the chiefs for the confidence reposed in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and promised they will not let them down. He said the NDC party launched its manifesto last Saturday and as a mark of respect, he has been sent by the president to inform them about some of the items contained in it. Mr Debrah said as a son of an agriculturist, what interests him most is the green revolution which the party will introduce to revamp the agriculture sector. He said the focal point will be the setting up of Agric mechanization centers to give farmers easy access to tractors and other farm subsidies. The Chief of Staff later paid a courtesy call on the paramount chief of Lawra, Naa Puowelle Karbo. Naa Karbo who is also the father of the Deputy Communication Director of the NewcPatriotic Party (NPP), Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, assured the Chief of Staff that he will give equal opportunities to all political parties. He added that as chiefs they are to represent the people and allow them to make their own choice. He urged the people especially the youth to desist from drawing chiefs unnecessarily into their political discourse. It is common here, some of them will say this man is from the chiefs house and the chief is this or that. When you start that way, that is where the trouble will start. "But if you go and sell your message, tell your people why they should vote for this political party as opposed to this political party. Why they should vote this candidate as against this candidate, the people will make the choice, Naa Puowelle Karbo advised. Mr Debrah assured the Lawra Paramount Chief that even though they have finished the major road from Wa to Babile and Lawra, they will not rest on their oars as they will ensure that the district gets its fair share of the national cake. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Rafiq Salam | Joy News Ghana has placed 72nd in the 2016 economic freedom index. This was revealed in a presentation by James Roberts, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Washington DC. Ghana ranked 72nd among 186 countries in the global ratings and 5th out of 46 countries in the regional ratings. Speaking at the forum on the index organised by the IEA, Mr Roberts said Ghana has dropped 22points on the corruption score since 1995 despite recording 2.3 increase in overall score since 2012. Under rule of law Ghana recorded a 2.0 increase on freedom from corruption. James Roberts The Economic Freedom Index seeks to assess the extent to which countries have absolute right of property ownership, fully realized movement for labour, capital and goods and absence and absence of constraints of economic liberty. Ghana's performance on some factors On the factor of Rule of Law, the report says political corruption persists despite the existence of robust legal and institutional frameworks to combat it, active media coverage, and the governments willingness to investigate major scandals. The scarcity of resources compromises and delays the judicial process, and poorly paid judges can be tempted by bribes. The process for getting clear title to land is often difficult, complicated, and lengthy, the report noted. On Limited Government, the report indicates that the top personal income and corporate tax rates are 25 percent. Other taxes include a value-added tax, a national health insurance levy, and a capital gains tax. The overall tax burden equals 12.1 percent of total domestic income. Government spending has fallen to the equivalent of 39.8 percent of GDP. However, the budget remains in deficit, and public debt has reached over 60 percent of total domestic output. On regulatory efficiency, the report places business start-ups as becoming less burdensome taking only seven procedures, but the cost of necessary permits exceeds four times the average annual income. Despite ongoing efforts to modernize the labor code, much of the labor force works in the informal economy, the report states. In accordance with its three-year IMF extended credit facility, the government committed to removing all remaining fuel subsidies in 2015. Open Markets Ghanas average tariff rate is 10 percent. Government procurement procedures favor domestic firms. In most cases, foreign investors must have a domestic partner. New foreign investment must be registered with the government. The financial sector has undergone privatization, but banking is undercapitalized, and access to financing remains limited. Below is the list of countries captured in the report and their rankings WITH ELECTION less than three months away, the National Women's Wing of the opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP) is intensifying its strategy aimed at catching young and first time voters with the "Restoration of Hope" message. The National Women's Organizer, Mad. Otiko Afisah Djabah, has embarked on a number of moves to canvass more support, particularly from female voters, in order to ensure victory for the NPP in the upcoming. Amongst the strategies being adopted by the NPP women's leader include the organization of Town Hall Meetings to interact with women associations and professionals such as traders, hairdressers, seamstresses, etc to encourage them to actively engage in political activities. Another strategy is the revitalization of the Girls Girls Action For Nana Addo, a group that involves active and energetic young girls who have dedicated themselves to the cause off the NPP. The group is set to embark on series of campaign activities including house-to-house and door-to-door campaigning, media advocacy programmes as well as other outreach activities. Members of the group have already undergone communication skills and organization training to build their capacity to be able to work efficiently. They are also expected to appear on radio political talk shows to participate in discussions under the auspices of the NPP women's leadership. Speaking at one of the training workshops held at the Beauty Queen Hotel in Kumasi, Mad. Otiko Djaba said the trainees would be expected to extend the knowledge acquired to their respective constituencies. She pointed out that programme would also tackle the long held negative perception about the party and people from northern descent, stressing that members must take the responsibility to counter the negative propaganda of the NDC. The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo DankwaAkufo-Addo, says the policy initiatives he is offering to the people of Ghana ahead of this year's elections are not promises, but solutions meant to address the myriad of problems confronting the Ghanaian people. According to Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghana, a country blessed with an abundance of human and natural resources, has been offered poor leadership over the last 8 years by President Mahama, the reason why there is an abundance of hardship and suffering in every part of the country. Thus, the '1-District-1-Factory' policy, '1-Village-1-Dam' policy, the diversification of the country's agriculture, the effective implementation of the Free SHS policy, the setting up of an Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) the restoration of the teacher training and nursing training allowances, the effective implementation of the Free SHS policy, amongst others, he said, are policies that will bring progress and prosperity to Ghanaians. I'm not making promises. I am offering solutions to the problems of this country, and not promises. However, in order to bring all these policies into fruition, I need you and the people of Greater Accra and the Ghanaian electorate in its entirety to vote for me and the NPP in this year's elections, the NPP flagbearer said. Nana Akufo-Addo made this known on Tuesday, September 20, 2016, when he paid a courtesy call on the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs in Dodowa, at the commencement of his 4-day tour of the Greater Accra Region. The NPP flagbearer noted that in the 8 years of President Kufuor, a strong foundation was laid for the forward-movement of the country. This foundation if built on, he said, would have resulted in Ghana being streaks ahead of its neighbours on the continent. That foundation has been destroyed these last few years. However, my message to the people is that they should not despair and must not lose hope. I am appealing to Ghanaians to look up to and ride on the back of the 'Elephant', so we can bring progress and prosperity to the people. We have the men and women, and policy initiatives to give this country a first class government, he stressed. One of such policy initiatives, Nana Akufo-Addo stated, is the Infrastructural for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) Ghana's capital expenditure budget is $1.6 billion this year. When we win, God-willing, we are going to redirect that budget, take out $275 million every year, and ensure that every constituency receives the equivalent of $1 million to deal with matters bordering on infrastructural development, sanitation, business development, amongst others in the constituency. It is a new initiative that we are bringing. The money is there. We are not going to impose new or additional taxes to raise this money. The money is there and is part of the capital budget of this country, he added. Again, Nana Akufo-Addo explained that the spectre of thousands of jobless young men and women across the length and breadth of the country frightens me. If we don't nip this in the bud, we risk plunging this country into chaos. This, according to him, is one of the reasons why his party has prioritized the creation of an enabling environment to enable the private sector flourish, as well as the '1-District-1-Factory' and '1-Village-1-Dam policies We need to do something about employment for our young people. We cannot tackle this problem if we don't have good policies that will attract money into the economy and bring investment into Ghana. Ghanaians who have money are hiding it because the business environment is not conducive. We want them to bring their monies out, and also foreigners to bring investment into Ghana, so that we can create jobs and get this economy moving again, he said. He continued, You have heard me say that in every district, we are going to help set up one factory. We are not going to do this alone as a government, but we will encourage public-private partnerships. We are blessed in this country. In every part of this country, there is a resource, which when properly harnessed, will help the citizenry. Vote for me this year Nana Akufo-Addo acknowledged that even though the Constitution bars Chiefs from openly engaging in partisan politics, they, however, vote. Everyone here knows where he has set his sights on. But this year, I am asking you to join the elephant. This year is the year of the Elephant and I am asking you to join and ride on the back of the Elephant. The possibilities in Ghana are immense, and if we don't get a good government that will turn these possibilities into realities, they will, at best, remain possibilities. That is the choice before the people of Ghana this year, he said. With the clarion call for a peaceful election echoing across the country, Nana Akufo-Addo called on Chiefs to add their voice to this call and condemn violent acts being perpetrated in the name of politics. Only a few days ago, at Ningo, my wife was present at Homowo festival to grace the occasion as the Special Guest of Honour. Upon learning of this, the NDC sent thugs to scuttle the event. I'm not asking the Chiefs to become policemen. But if something like this happens, I am appealing you to add your voice to it and say this is not what we want. Everyone in this country must have the chance to campaign without acts of intimidation being perpetrated, he added. General Mosquito pleads with Nadowli voters From Musah Umar Farouq, Nadowli THE GENERAL Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Mr Johnson AsieduNketsia has asked the Nadowli-Kaleo Constituents to return Alban Bagbin, the majority leader of Parliament back to the august House. He said national governance is not a trial and error activity, and advised that the constituents voted massively for both President John Mahama and the Majority Leader in parliament in December 7 general elections. Addressing the chiefs and people of the traditional area at an event that saw some party faithful in attendance, General Mosquito (as the general secretary is affectionately called) said Mr Bagbin would be missed when he eventually leaves parliament in the course of time. For now, however, he said the majority leader remained a storehouse of knowledge in governance with a vast experience that many would envy. He represents not only the NDC but also the entire Dagaaba community, and has proven in both public and private life to be a worthy son of the people, he said. Mr Bagbins seat has come under serious threat recently from both within the NDC and the opposition New Patriotic Party, with the presidential candidate of the NPP calling on the electorate to retire the six-time parliamentarian at the polls. But the high-powered NDC team, which included Minister for Upper West Region, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani and Chief of Staff Mr Julies Deborah, took turns to highlight the experience and competence of Mr Bagbin, who is expected to launch his campaign for re-election on Saturday. Mr Nketia refuted allegations that President John Mahama is scheming to oust Alban Bagbin from parliament. General Mosquito rather accused the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of scheming with pliable members of the NDC to conspire against Mr Bagbin. President Mahama is not sponsoring any candidate in Nadowli-Kaleo, I am telling you for a fact, Mr AsieduNketia told chiefs and people of the Upper West Region, adding: The NPP fears the name Bagbin in parliament so they are using some moles in the NDC to cause that destruction. We are clear in our minds that those sending rumours around that President Mahama wants Bagbin out of parliament are not NDC people. He added that no genuine NDC person would be interested in supporting another candidate in the constituency apart from the Majority Leader. Our one and only candidate is Alban Bagbin, he stated. 22.09.2016 LISTEN Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - The Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu has received the 'Person of the Year' award at the Africa Investor CEO Institutional Investment Summit hosted alongside the UN General Assembly in New York. He first acknowledged the staff and management of Transcorp Power, the biggest producer of thermal energy in Nigeria, providing about 18 per cent of national output: 'In accepting this award, I want to dedicate it to Transcorp Power staff who remain committed to realising our dream of improving access to electricity in Nigeria and making our vision of a well-lit, fully powered Nigeria come true.' Transcorp Power has supported US President Obama's Power Africa initiative with a $ 2.5 billion commitment. Mr Elumelu thanked the broader coalition of investors in the African power sector, as he urged other institutional investors to consider long-term opportunities on the continent. 'I also dedicate this to all stakeholders working hard to improve access to power in Africa. I call on others to please join us in this journey to powering Africa out of poverty.' As the economies of African regional powerhouses like Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria and Angola struggle due to excessive exposure to commodities' prices caused by limited diversification, Elumelu proffered a sustainable solution to reduce Africa's historical external vulnerability. He noted: 'Africa has been faced with this same challenge, in my view, for far too long. I choose to look at the recent episodes of economic contraction across the continent as opportunities to diversify our economies and invest in building critical infrastructure, especially in power, to reduce our susceptibility to commodity shocks and break out of the perpetual boom-bust cycles.' Mr Elumelu emphasized that to ensure a different type of growth trajectory for Africa - one that does not rely exclusively on the export of primary commodities - there must be reliable, accessible, affordable power to support industrialisation. 'Industrialisation must occur on a massive scale for our countries to be powered out of chronic dependency on commodities. 'We must power Africa's next phase of development, by targeting and prioritising growth of our manufacturing, industries and services. And power is the fulcrum that will make this happen,' he said. Mr Elumelu said while there is an abundance of private capital available to be deployed to develop the African power sector, government must play its part in attracting these investments. He explained: 'While there is huge private capital - local and global - seeking investment destinations, as we know, global private capital goes to where it is most welcome. Therefore, the challenge before African governments should be how to ensure they create the environment that will attract and retain these investments in our continent.' To the foreign investors gathered at the forum, he advised: 'Though there are challenges in investing in Africa, these challenges can be overcome by investing in Africa through partnerships with qualified local partners who possess the right knowledge, requisite capital and technical knowhow.' Mr Elumelu urged private and public sector stakeholders to work together in what he describes as 'Shared Purpose'. 'It is critical for the public and private sectors to work together in 'Shared Purpose', which is a key tenet of Africapitalism - the economic philosophy I espouse which calls for the private sector to play a key role in Africa's social and economic development by investing in strategic sectors for both economic profit and social prosperity.' Mr Elumelu, who is also Co-chair of the African Energy Leaders Group a community of African energy leaders including presidents and leading corporate said: 'In the 21st century, the level of poverty we have in Africa and the dire youth unemployment, to a large extent, can be solved by improving access to power. 'And by extension other infrastructure deficiencies and deficits, even though we are making progress, there is still a lot to be done. We need faster progress.' GNA Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - Mr James Sambian, an official of the Hearing Impaired Community, has appealed to political parties and election management institutions to be transparent in their operations. He said Ghana need peace for development and urged all to abide by the rules of the process. Mr Sambian said there was strength in unity and called on Ghanaians to embrace peace as the nation goes to polls for the seventh time. He said this when he addressed the Ghana for Peace Summit held in Accra on the theme: 'The Disability Community and the Need for Peace.' The Summit was organised by Here for Perfection (H4P) a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting the interest of persons with disability in Ghana. The occasion was used to launch a National Peace Song composed by Apostle Charles Hackman. Mr Newton Keteku, Chief Executive Officer, Albinism Community, said there is the need to protect the lives of all during the polls adding that in other African countries, body parts of albinos were used for various rituals, hence the need to be watchful. Mr Keteku called for adequate security for all and greater collaboration to ensure peace before, during and after elections. Madam Emma Bruce-Lyle, a member of Council for the Disability, said problems facing the physically challenged were numerous. He said whenever there was war, the physically challenged are often left behind and called on all to preach peace. Dr Obeng Asamoah, Executive Director Ghana Blind Union, said peace was not just the absence of war rather 'it is when people feel secured and people understand each other and they pursue a common goal.' Representatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Party, Convention Peoples Party and All Peoples Congress pledged to uphold the peace, before, during and after December 7 polls. GNA Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 22 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Takehiko Nakao have expressed confidence in the further promotion of mutually beneficial partnership during the meeting in Ashgabat, the Turkmen state news agency reported. Nakao noted the prospects of strengthening business relations with Turkmenistan, which has profound economic and resource potential, and which has a reputation of a responsible and reliable partner in the world. During the meeting the sides exchanged views on priority areas of cooperation. Since 2013, the ADB has acted as a transaction advisor to the construction project of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) transnational gas pipeline. Implementation of this project started in December 2015. Successful joint work on the TAPI gas pipeline project will have a positive impact on the socio-economic development of not only the countries participating in the project, but also the countries of the region as a whole, the Turkmen state news agency noted. Over 12,000 new jobs may be created in Afghanistan if this project, which promises huge economic benefits to the country, is successfully implemented. Touching upon the topic of partnership in transport and communications sector, the ADB head noted that construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan (TAT) railway corridor will provide favorable conditions for increasing trade turnover among the member countries of the project and development of the entire Eurasian continent. The ceremony of laying the TAT railway was held in June 2013. The Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has received the 'Person of the Year' award at the Africa Investor CEO Institutional Investment Summit, hosted alongside the UN General Assembly in New York. He first acknowledged the staff and management of Transcorp Power, the biggest producer of thermal energy in Nigeria, providing about 18 per cent of national output. In accepting this award, I want to dedicate it to Transcorp Power staff who remain committed to realizing our dream of improving access to electricity in Nigeria and making our vision of a well-lit, fully powered Nigeria come true. Transcorp Power has supported US President Obama's Power Africa initiative with a $ 2.5 billion commitment. Mr. Elumelu thanked the broader coalition of investors in the African power sector, as he urged other institutional investors to consider long-term opportunities on the continent. I also dedicate this to all stakeholders working hard to improve access to power in Africa. I call on others to please join us in this journey to powering Africa out of poverty. As the economies of African regional powerhouses like Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria and Angola prices caused by limited diversification, Elumelu proffered a sustainable solution to reduce Africa's historical external vulnerability. He noted: Africa has been faced with this same challenge, in my view, for far too long. I choose to look at the recent episodes of economic contraction across the continent as opportunities to diversify our economies and invest in building critical infrastructure, especially in power, to reduce our susceptibility to commodity shocks and break out of the perpetual boom-bust cycles. Mr Elumelu emphasized that to ensure a different type of growth trajectory for Africa one that does not rely exclusively on the export of primary commodities there must be reliable, accessible, affordable power to support industrialisation. Industrialisation must occur on a massive scale for our countries to be powered out of chronic dependency on commodities. We must power Africa's next phase of development, by targeting and prioritising growth of our manufacturing, industries and services. And power is the fulcrum that will make this happen, he said. Mr Elumelu said while there is an abundance of private capital available to be deployed to develop the African power sector, government must play its part in attracting these investments. He explained: While there is huge private capital local and global seeking investment destinations, as we know, global private capital goes to where it is most welcome. Therefore, the challenge before African governments should be how to ensure they create the environment that will attract and retain these investments in our continent. To the foreign investors gathered at the forum, he advised: Though there are challenges in investing in Africa, these challenges can be overcome by investing in Africa through partnerships with qualified local partners who possess the right knowledge, requisite capital and technical know how. Mr Elumelu urged private and public sector stakeholders to work together in what he describes as Shared Purpose. It is critical for the public and private sectors to work together in Shared Purpose', which is a key tenet of Africapitalism the economic philosophy I espouse which calls for the private sector to play a key role in Africa's social and economic development by investing in strategic sectors for both economic profit and social prosperity. Mr Elumelu, who is also Co-chair of the African Energy Leaders Group a community of African energy leaders including presidents and leading corporate said: In the 21st century, the level of poverty we have in Africa and the dire youth unemployment, to a large extent, can be solved by improving access to power. And by extension other infrastructure deficiencies and deficits, even though we are making progress, there is still a lot to be done. We need faster progress. 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 and attacks on opposition headquarters, "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, DR Congo police 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, should step down on December 20. Kabila is yet to call elections, fanning 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. Protests and violence in DRCongo 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." On Wednesday, police spokesman Pierre-Rombaut Mwana-Mputu defended the security deployment in Kinshasa during the unrest. "The national police was backed by members of the (army) to stop the acts of looting and vandalism," he told reporters. Spat with France More than a 100 soldiers were posted on Thursday at the Limete junction where Monday's protest march began. Also Thursday, Kinshasa lashed out at French President Francois Hollande over his criticism of the DRC government's handling of the protests. Spokesman Lambert 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' The entrance of offices of the main opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress party which were torched overnight and early on September 20, 2016 Kabila's political foes have formed a "Gathering" around the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party founded by veteran Etienne Tshisekedi, 83, who 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 Thursday afternoon 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", after Kinshasa's governor Andre Kimbuta said that city authorities would take charge of funerals. Numbi was unavailable for comment on the allegation. 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 United Nations and Western powers to step aside. The UN Security Council called on Wednesday for the restoration of calm and for "credible elections" in the vast, mineral-rich country. The customs of a people are usually a reflection of their past and of course, a strong indication of their likely future. Today, I would like to examine Ghanas political focus in the context of the customs of its citizens. Chiefs are politicians in Ghana despite the fact that they are not elected through universal suffrage. Even though the chiefs are politicians, it looks as though today, Ghana has neglected the role of chiefs in deciding what kind of legislation actually finds its way into the national mainstream. This article examines the role of chiefs in promoting customary law to override the norms of Western culture in Ghana and beyond. The author advocates for the National House of Chiefs to be given the pass on deciding on whether a bill becomes law or not. In other words, chiefs should be an active and legal part of Ghanaian law making. Ghanaian Chiefs, Youths and Customary Law There is much to be said about Ghanaian chiefs today. The more said about them, the easier it will be for another generation to comprehend the inherent value of traditional African government in the modern politics of the nation. Clearly, Ghana is a multicultural nation with customs varying from ethnicity and nation within the Republic. I am an Evhe by descent and understand mainly the customs of Evheland as opposed to those of the Dagomba people or any other ethnicity in Ghana. Nonetheless, as a West African, it is easy to know that some cultures have customs that are not good for humankind. This does not take away from the fact that our customs have sustained us in times past. So you see, there are some things about African culture that are very good. The notion of customary law is very important in todays Ghana if the nations sanity will persist in Godly righteousness. To be honest with you, Ghana is seemingly on the verge of a serious culture clash with Western heathenism. It seems that Ghana will have to do something drastic about the way Western value systems that are at loggerheads with African cultural values, are being rammed down the throats of citizens. Today, Ghanas youth for example, have little regard for people in authority the way it used to be. There is a need therefore, to draw the line in terms of the West and its culture teaching Ghanas children to sin, break laws and to continue on in like manner. Perhaps customary law is one way in which the nation will be able to deal with the negative and destructive values that have seeped into todays culture through Western law, science and culture. The Chief and Legislation Today In todays Ghana, chiefs play an integral role in adjudication in accordance with constitutional provisions. This role is significant because it takes into consideration the fact Ghana was once full of chiefdoms where people obeyed laws when chiefs judged. What happened to these laws of old? Why is Ghana so focused on the preservation of Western legal know-how and culture that has come in through public international law and European occupation of old? It is a sinful thing to call things like deviant sexual behaviours a human right in a nation where African custom and legal systems are in existence. Such is the case in todays Ghana, where homosexuality and other accepted norms have become a human rights issue. Hmmm, I wonder what the Big Six would think of todays Ghanaian norms and laws. Customary law in Ghana has now been formally sidelined except that international agreements have been signed in the name of codifying customary law. Where are these laws today? The nation needs them in order to make sure Ghana does not lose its distinct flavour of righteousness. It is necessary that Ghana once and for all do away with Western norms that do not aid the nation in moving forward politically, economically and on the justice front. The Name of the Game is Righteousness and Law Too many times, it is said that a nation that is democratic is run in accordance with the Rule of Law. This Law and its Rule is no more than Western thinking that has been used to support a slave system and international heathenism, in which case Ghana is a victim of international thought gone wrong. Ghana needs customary law to ensure that its people enjoy the benefits of their natural resources and other endowments. As well, Ghana needs a new brand of law where divine righteousness controls the land. If the chiefs of Ghana are righteous then they will advocate for themselves to take back the legal jurisdiction of righteous codified legal norms that made Africa a place of goodness once. Ghana needs its chiefs to advocate for upper house status of legal proportions, to check the excesses of Western-style parliamentary ratification of law. The author is a communications professional. He writes on contemporary issues of faith, science, politics, economics, righteousness and reason in the church and beyond. He can be reached at [email protected]. The Chairman of the Kwabena Nketia Center for Africana Studies, Prof. Kofi Asare Opoku, has backed calls for the pulling down of the statue of Indian icon, Mahatma Gandhi, on the University of Ghana campus. Some senior members of the university, led by a former Director of the Institute of African Studies, Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, renewed a campaign to get the school to pull down the statue, which was unveiled during a visit by the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee. Professor Opoku believes institutions like the University of Ghana should honour African heroes instead of iconic figures from elsewhere. However great Gandhi is; he may be great for the Indians, but for us we have our own heroes, men and women in African history that we don't know about them. So we need our own heroes because they are the ones who can inspire us. He explained that if you take foreign heroes you would always think that greatness is reserved for foreigners; but we have our own great people here whom we must revere and honour to become a source of inspiration for our young people. Pull down 'racist' Gandhi's statue from Legon Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, who started the campaign asking for the removal of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, from the University of Ghana campus, argued that the Indian independence icon was racist against black people and honoring him set the wrong example for students. Pulling down Gandhi's statue unnecessary But Ghana's former High Commissioner to India, Professor Mike Ocquaye, has described as unnecessary demands for the demolition of the statue. Professor Ocqauye, a professor of political science and a lawyer, believes the decision might have implications on diplomatic ties between Ghana and India. It will be most unnecessary, most uncalled for and not in the supreme interest of Ghanaians and we must know what serves our interest best. Some people in India wanted diplomatic relations to be broken in Ghana over the way we sometime back spited them, but caution prevailed and they kept their cool to show that they understand diplomacy and the ups and downs of international relations and today the relationship is a bit better and we look forward to it being better still, he added. By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @AlloteyGodwin 22.09.2016 LISTEN From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi ACE Movie Star and Comedian, Kofi Adu, popularly known as Agya Koo and other notable local movie stars have announced their decision to join in the campaign for change, ahead of the December 2016 general elections. The popular local movie star and his colleagues have begun a nationwide campaign dubbed Agenda 57% For Nana Addo, to support the flagbearer of the NPP in his quest to unseat the current administration of the NDC, led by President John Dramani Mahama. The experienced actor formally announced his decision at a press conference held in Kumasi yesterday. The decision by Agya Koo and his colleagues to campaign for the NPP follows what they said was the appalling economic conditions prevailing in the country and the loud cry by many Ghanaians for change. The celebrated movie star insists that the NDC administration led by President Mahama has impoverished many Ghanaians and made things difficult for them, hence the need for Ghanaians to vote for change in leadership in the upcoming elections. He contends that as a movie star whose work has taken him to the length and breadth of this country, he has been hit with the realities of how deplorable the conditions of Ghanaians are as a result of failure on the part of government to implement laudable policies and programmes that will better the lives of people. According to Agya Koo, who is expected to soon hit the road for the NPP, the current economic situation is nothing compared to the time of the NPP under the leadership of President John Agyekum Kufuor. He contends that during the time of the NPP, the countrys economy was very healthy and that many Ghanaians could afford goods and services without spending much Agya Koo indicated that prices of commodities such as rice, sugar, milk, yam, plantain amongst others have witnessed astronomical increases, making it difficult for the ordinary Ghanaian to afford. If you compare prices of food items and other basic necessities of life during the time of the NPP and now, nobody will tell you that things have escalated under this government, he noted. The popular movie star argues that the only way the country can be saved from being plunged into a ditch is for Ghanaians to vote for new crop of leadership to straighten things. He further noted that the precarious economic situation has also affected the local movie industry with many directors and producers reeling under serious debts because people are no longer patronizing products. I can assure you that if the current trend continues, the local movie industry will collapse because of lack of patronage, he said According to Agya Koo, though he would not begrudge some of his colleagues who have decided to campaign for the NDC he, however, felt it would be hypocritical for anyone to sit somewhere and pretend that things are going on well because of what he or she was getting from this government. I can never be part of such hypocritical conspiracy which is orchestrated to deceive the suffering masses, he stated. 22.09.2016 LISTEN On Tuesday, this week, we looked at the campaign promises of the political parties, especially the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP). The paper also expressed concern over the way Imani Ghana was being attacked by these two political parties for the comments the policy think tank had made, regarding some of their promises. Imani had argued that some of the promises made by the NPP flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo were not quantifiable. In the case of the NDC, the think tank said it would need $24 billion to execute 75% of the promises the party has made. Out of the figure, $22 billion would have to be borrowed. We are not experts in Economics, but looking at the nation's revenue stream, one would be wondering how NDC is going to raise these huge sums of money to prosecute this agenda, though we concede that some of the projects are already on-going. To us, therefore, Imani was justified in raising questions about the sources of funding for the campaign promises, but instead of listening to them, the think tank has rather become easy prey that must be caught and devoured. Interestingly, it is not only Imani that is expressing concern over some of these issues. The general Superintendent of Methodist Church, Ghana, Rev Titus Awotwi Pratt was also on television rejecting the writing of manifestos by the political parties, saying it would not help the course of development of this country of ours. To him, the country should rather have a national policy, which is backed by law, for any party that comes to power to pursue. He grounded his argument in the fact that the political parties tend to throw away the development projects that have been initiated by their predecessors in pursuit of their own. This, to him, retards the development of the country, hence his call for a national development policy framework. The Chronicle shares the views of Rev. Awotwi, because there are so many cases to prove what he is saying. Ever since the 1992 constitution came into existence, successive governments have relegated to the background, some of the major development projects initiated by the previous governments. In recent memory, we can talk about the affordable housing projects initiated by the Kufuor government. Though the tax payers' money was used to start this project, it was abandoned for almost six years. It is now that the Mahama government is completing the projects. One can also talk about the gang of four roads in Accra. The Atta Mills government claimed no source of funding was provided for the execution of the projects. It took some time before these projects were completed. In all these cases, the reason behind it is simple the succeeding government does not want to expend resources on projects for the departed government to claim credit for them. If this is the true situation on the ground, how can Ghanaians be assured that the Eastern Region University and the Eastern Corridor roads among others would vigorous be pursued if NDC loses power? Will the NPP secure the funding to complete them for Fifi Kwetey and his set the records straight team to organize a news conference to claim credit for the projects? Since every government would want the voting public to know what they have done well as a government, they would abandon the previous projects to pursue their own and take full credit. This is a bad development, but unfortunately it is what we are being confronted with. This is the reason why we support Rev. Awotwi's position that party manifestoes are not necessary. What the country rather needs is the national development policy that he espoused. When these national development policies are documented with the appropriate legislation to back it, the onus would be on whichever political party that is in power to choose the path that would lead to the actualization of the vision put together in the form of a document. Mathematics has so many methods, but all of them lead to the same answer. Since the policy framework is already there, it is the duty of the political party that is in power to use its own methods to source for funds and implement them, but the final result must be the one laid down in the documented national vision. The Chronicle is aware that the National Development planning Commission (NDPC) has started a forty year development plan for the country, which is a good idea. The unfortunate part though, is that it is not backed by law that would tie the hands of the party in power to follow the development plan. In accepting Rev Awotwi's suggestion, we are also mindful of the fact that the political parties have diverse traditional backgrounds. Whilst NDC claims to be social democrats, NPP also believes in capitalism. The middle ground would, therefore, be a hybrid sort of national vision that would encapsulate visions and dreams of these two dominant parties. Though NPP is a capitalist oriented party, it still came out with pro-poor policies like school feeding and the National Health Insurance Scheme. Ghana needs to think outside the box, else the world would leave us behind when it comes to development. HFC bank has announced over a hundred percent increase in its investment to Ghana's cocoa sector as part of efforts to improve production in the sector. According to the bank, it expects to increase its contribution from the 90 million cedis to 198.1 million cedis within the period. The Managing Director of HFC, Robert Le Hunte disclosed this at the bank's maiden consultative summit on the cocoa sector in Kumasi. In regards to cocoa, our dominance in the Western region prompted us and we're looking at deepening our base to the growth of the cocoa industry. We are looking at increasing our financial exposure to that particular industry, he stated. The summit brought together officials from the Ghana Cocoa Board, Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), cocoa farmers as well as companies involved in the production of cocoa to refined products, to discuss issues affecting the sector and devise strategies to address them. According to Robert Le Hunte, the platform also emanates from the bank's commitment to grow beyond just providing financing and look at the holistic development of the industry itself. Although issues bordering on illegal mining (galamsey), lack of access to funds, child labour and presence of diseases and pests continue to impede progress in the cocoa sector, Robert Le Hunte was highly hopeful of offering consensus in solving such issues. Meanwhile the bank intends to increase its support for businesses involved in the production of downstream cocoa sector. We are presently giving credit to the cocoa producers, LBCs, we are also helping the cocoa industry by also supporting a number of companies that are engaged in the production of downstream products for the sector. Not only do we realize the contribution of cocoa to Ghana but we also believe that Ghana could significantly benefit from the production at the downstream sector. Ghana has however signed a 1.8 billion dollar loan facility for the purchase of cocoa for the 2016/2017 crop season. Speaking at the signing ceremony in Frankfurt-Germany, the CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni was confident Ghana could meet its 850,000 to 900,000 metric tonnes target for the 2016/2017. By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana Founder of Glorious Word Power Ministry International, Prophet Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah, has indicated that Chairperson of the Election Commission (EC), Madam Charlotte Osei will die if she connives with NDC to rig this year's elections in favour of President John Dramani Mahama. According to him, God will strike Madam Charlotte with strange diseases and that he said will send her to the early grave. Prophet Owusu Bempah speaking on Oman FM, on Wednesday with Silver Lady, the host of Yekofie (Drive Time) said God had revealed to him that EC chairperson was conspiring with ruling NDC to rig the elections for President Mahama. That EC boss Charlotte Osei has teamed up with NDC, he said. Asked whether he has personal grudge with EC boss, Prophet Owusu Bempah responded in the negative, saying I don't have any personal grudge with her. Rev. Owusu Bempah If Charlotte Osei fails to be careful and take certain decisions in favour President Mahama and end up subverting the will of God concerning this year's election, she will die, he declared. Owusu Bempah explained that nobody will use gun to shoot her but said what would happen is that rather God will strike her with diseases and nothing will save her. The leader of the Glorious Word Power International Ministry has since last predicted that flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party had been ordained by God as President of Ghana. He revealed that the governing NDC has made spiritual consultations regarding their chances of winning the 2016 elections but were made to know that the elections will not favour them. This he said has made the NDC to resort to several strategies including conniving with EC Chairperson to ensure that decisions by the Commission favoured them. Prophet Owusu Bempah mentioned proxy and special voting as the window of opportunity which EC has planned to use to rig the elections for President Mahama. Prophet Owusu Bempah who accused the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of being too gentle and quiet despite clear attempts by EC to rig the elections said they would have themselves to be blamed if they fail to rise up. -Omanfm1071.com The governing NDC says there is nothing phenomenal about the New Patriotic Party (NPP) economic record because it was shielded from economic difficulties through its decision to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). At the Setting the records straight press conference broadcasted on Joy FM, Transport Minister, Fifi Kwetey said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has had to face economic difficulties unseen under the NPP government. Picking out an example, he said the government has a GH10.5bn annual wage bill compared to GH2.5billion under the 2001 to 2008 NPP administration led by President J.A. Kufuor. The forum comes two weeks after NPP Vice-Presidential candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia addressed a lecture during which he castigated government for its excessive borrowing, overpricing of contracts and corruption. He branded the Mahama-led government as incompetent. Although response has been much-awaited, the team of government officials forming the Setting the Records Straight forum maintained that the press conference was not in response to Dr Bawumia or the NPP. Deputy Education Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said it was a routine program the party organises in an election year and part of their political programmes. Fifi Kwetey noted that if the economy was stable under the NPP is was because President Kufuor applied for special assistance from the IMF and the World Bank. In what was known as the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries ( HIPC ) initiative, the NPP government was spared the responsibility of servicing debts which were written off by the IMF and the World Bank, he said. Ghana's debt at the time of joining HIPC had medium term debt of $399.7 million and a short-term debt of $150.0 million. HIPC provided debt relief and low-interest loans to cancel or reduce external debt repayments to sustainable levels, meaning countries could repay debts in a timely fashion in the future. Ghana received about $3.7bn in debt relief between 2001 to 2004. According to Mr Kwetey, this decision shielded the NPP government from experiencing currency instability because dollars were injected into the economy leading to currency stability. The government also got some breathing space as it was no longer required to meet some debt servicing obligations, Fifi Kwetey noted. But after the HIPC program was completed by the end of President Kufuors first term in office in 2004, Ghanaians got a rude awakening to the NPPs incompetence, he asserted. Photo: President John Agyekum Kufuor Mr Kwetey noted that the economy hit a budget deficit of 15% in 2008, the highest since 1993 to date. Government had to sell a national asset Ghana Telecom just to keep the economy afloat. The cedi also depreciated by about 20% in 2008 and by the time the NPP lost the 2008 election, Ghana had a shocking foreign reserve of $1.8billion, the minister went on. The NDC has a foreign reserve of $5.4bn under the competent leadership of the Mahama administration. He said an average comparison of the NPPs eight-year record shows that non-oil GDP is 5.6%. If the NDC is to add its 2016 projection of growth then the average growth under the last 8 years of NDC would be 6.3% which is superior to the NPPs record. He berated the NPP for failing to build a single railway line although it set up a ministry to develop and diversify Ghana's transport system. He wondered how the Presidential candidate of the NPP Nana Akufo-Addo after about 12 years in parliament and nearly eight years as a cabinet Minister failed to provide potable water to his constituents in Abuakwa in the Eastern region. Under the NDC administration, Akufo-Addo's Constituency can now enjoy portable water, he indicated. Listen to full audio Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com|Edwin Appiah|[email protected] Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Anvar Mammadov - Trend: Some $61.4 million were sold to 19 Azerbaijani banks through an auction held by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Sept. 22, CBA said in a message Sept. 22. As much as $150 million was put up for the auction, $100 million of the amount was provided by SOFAZ (State Oil Fund of the Azerbaijan Republic) and the remaining $50 million by CBA. 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. Cairo (AFP) - Egyptian rescue workers have recovered 168 bodies from a migrant shipwreck off Egypt's Mediterranean coast, the health ministry said Sunday. Survivors have said up to 450 migrants were on board the overcrowded fishing vessel headed to Italy from Egypt when it keeled over Wednesday off the port city of Rosetta. Egypt's military has said it rescued 163 survivors and that recovery attempts were continuing. The International Organization for Migration said most of those rescued were Egyptians but they also included Sudanese, Eritreans, a Syrian and an Ethiopian. The tragedy sparked an emergency cabinet meeting and also topped the agenda of talks between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egypt's security chiefs on Saturday. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail ordered heightened patrols of harbours used by migrant boats and of the northern coastline. A new bill being submitted to parliament would include "deterrent penalties" against people smugglers. Egyptian authorities have so far in 2016 foiled 110 attempts to smuggle migrants to Europe, Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar told the cabinet. The UN refugee agency expects 2016 to be the deadliest year on record for Mediterranean crossings by migrants. More than 4,600 non-Egyptians, many of them Sudanese and Ethiopians, have been arrested this year trying to depart from Egypt's northern coast, the UNHCR said Friday. More than 10,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014, according to the United Nations. The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has stated that, President John Dramani Mahama, the leader of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), is a President Ghanaians can trust. One reason why I trust my president, not because I work for him; but its because of the principles he espouses. He is an epitome of hard work, honest, fair, God-fearing, knowledgeable and above all his commitment to building a just and equitable society, the Chief of Staff stated. Mr. Debrah made these remarks when he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Lawra Traditional area, Naa Dr. Edward Puowule Karbo, at his palace in the Upper West Region as part of his campaign tour of the region. Having walked with him, if I look around and I see the developments that have taken place these few years under President Mahama in the area of education, health, first class roads which did not exist in the past, I can say without a shred of a doubt that President John Dramani Mahama is a leader Ghanaians can trust and rely on at all times, Mr. Debrah said. The Chief of Staff is being accompanied by the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Deputy General Secretary Koku Anyidoho, and other party executives. He said even though chiefs are not allowed to engage in partisan politics, he was of the view that the traditional authorities are wise and knowledgeable on issues of governance. The Chief of Staff has therefore appealed to the Lawra Naa to entreat his people to retain President Mahama for a second term in office for accelerated development in the area and the whole country. According to him, the chief has the wisdom to decipher between fiction and reality, and to propagate the good works of the President to his followers. On the issue of equitable distribution of the national cake, Mr. Debrah said although the demands are many, he was happy that government was able to construct the Lawra Nandom road. This government under President Mahama is desirous to ensuring all the nooks and crannies of this country get their fair share of the national cake, he said. In his address, the Lawra Naa, Dr. Karbo, said he was happy about the fixing of the Lawra road that leads to his palace. At the right time; I will praise the President myself, the chief said. By: Richard Mensah/ghelections.com/Ghana The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected claims that it is piling up the countrys debt stock with the number of foreign loans it had acquired in recent times. Speaking at the Setting the records straight series at the partys headquarters in Accra today [Thursday], the Minister of Transport, Fifi Kwetey said government is rather investing the loans in projects and infrastructure in the country. For us in the NDC, foreign loans are meant for investment, he added. He explained that the NDC government, led by President John Mahama is harnessing a bright future and fueling national development with the foreign loans. Every election year, the NDC organises a series of press conferences to address some pertinent issues ahead of the polls. Ghana's total public debt as at July this year, was estimated at 110 billion cedis according to the latest summary on economic and financial data released by the Bank of Ghana. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP running mate, delivering a public lecture on the State of the Ghanaian Economy, recently held that about 66% of Ghana's total debt since independence, has been accumulated under President Mahama. Dr. Bawumia also noted that, Ghana's debt total had ballooned from GHc9.5 billion to its current figure. The NPPs pitiful lack of foresight But Mr. Kwetey indulged in a small history lesson when he recounted that Ghana's founder, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, described the forbearers of the NPP as vision-less for failing to realise that the loans that were being contracted in the early 60s for the construction of projects such as the Akosombo dam were investments rather than debts. The Transport Minister further noted that nearly six decades after Kwame Nkrumah made that statement, the fact that NPP tradition is still holding the same position unfortunately reveals their pitiful lack of foresight. Mr. Kwetey reiterated that we in the NDC have a great track record of using foreign debt to invest in solid investments, whilst juxtaposing the NDC's handling of foreign loans with the NPPs borrowed $750 million from the international financial market in 2007. The NPP's priority in that period was procuring prepaid meters, buying locomotives when they had not build one centimeters of rail line and using that money, when they were hot in November 2008, to pay salaries, he added. As far as the NDC and debt were concerned, Mr. Kwetey said, the Gas processing infrastructure is not a debt, it is a massive investment. The Kwame Nkrumah Circle interchange is not debt, it is a massive investment. The Kpone Water expansion project is not a debt. It is massive investment. The Tamale Airport expansion project is not a debt. It is massive investment. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana The Transport Minister has described as unsustainable a claim by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has had more resources than any regime in the history of Ghana. Fifi Kwetey says despite what the NPP want Ghanaians to believe, a critical performance appraisal of both parties shows the NDC without oil money outperformed the NPP. It is a lazy and laughable excuse for the NPP to believe it has done better than the NDC, he said. According to him, a comparative analysis of the actual figures of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the two parties which is the currency value of all final goods and services produced in Ghana, shows the NDC did far better than the NPP. Speaking at the Forum for Setting the Record Straight Series, Mr Kwetey said the real average GDP of the eight years of the NPP from 2001-2008 stood at 5.66 percent as compared to the NDCs 6.3 percent. NPP Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, had accused the NDC of recklessly mismanaging Ghanas economy despite having received more resources than any government in the history of Ghana. Addressing a Public lecture on September 8 at the National Theatre in Accra, the former Governor of Bank of Ghana said taxes and loans under the eight years of the NPP from 2001-2008 amounted to GH20 billion while the NDC from 2009-2016 has had GH248 billion. Working the math, Dr Bawumia said: the Mills-Mahama governments would have had in eight years, more than 12 times the nominal resources that the NPP had. Between December 2000 and December 2008, without oil, economic growth increased from 3.7% to 9.1%. After declining to 4.8% in 2009, real GDP growth increased to 7.7% in 2010 and 14% in 2011 following the onset of oil production. Since 2011 however, real GDP growth has declined steadily and drastically to 3.9% in 2015, basically the growth rate Ghana attained in the year 2000 which was 3.7%. But Mr Kwetey said the NDC has demonstrated continuously that with or without oil, it could deliver on its promises to Ghanaians. With fewer resources from 1993-2000, the erstwhile President Jerry Rawlings government built roads, revamp agriculture, and expanded health facilities in Ghana, he said. The NDC has always been superior to the NPP on leadership, Mr Kwetey added. On the performance of the two parties regarding the stability of the cedi, Mr Kwetey said despite the challenges the economy has had to battle with, the NDC has done far better in stabilizing the currency than the opposition NPP. Despite government having to service $100 million debts, President John Mahama will be finishing his first term with 4.1 percent cedi depreciation. This, he believes is significantly better than what was recorded in the NPP era when Ghana got out of the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC). Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected] Didi has joined the BBC News team on a three month placement. This placement provides the opportunity to gain skills and experience by attending a course with the BBC Academy , and working with teams across BBC News on TV, radio and online, reaching the BBCs audiences of 348 million across the world each week. She will also have the opportunity to travel to a country in Africa, with a top BBC producer, to report on a story for a global audience. The award was set up in honour of presenter Komla Dumor who passed away in January 2014 and aims to continue Komlas legacy by celebrating African journalism and finding exceptional talent. Ghana according to the Minister of Transport, Fifi Kwetey, was a hub of cocaine trade during the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP), administration, under former President Kufuor. According to him, the then NPP government had a lot of revenue from cocaine, yet could not transform the country. Fifi Kwetey made the claim when he addressed the media at a forum dubbed Setting the records straight, in response to claims made by the NPP that government has been incompetent particularly in its handling of the economy. It should be noted that; we tried not to even make reference to the fact that the NDC period was a period when the economy of Ghana was not inundated with massive cocaine cash as was experienced during the eight years of the NPP, when the floodgates of cocaine were opened and Ghana became a virtual cocaine hub, Kwetey said. Former President Kufuor led Ghana from 2001 to 2008. The NPP had accused the current NDC administration led by President John Mahama of having enough revenue from foreign loans and oil, yet has not been able to improve the lives of Ghanaians. The party also chastised the NDC for ballooning the country's debt stock to frightening levels. We're investing in projects not piling debts But Fifi Kwetey said the NDC government should be commended because the loans it contracted are being invested in profitable infrastructure. For us in the NDC, foreign loans are meant for investment. Most likely, because the NPP was so wasteful with foreign loans, the party wrongly assumes the NDC has the same defect. No! We in the NDC have a great track record of using foreign debts to invest in solid investments, he added. We've managed economy better than NPP Mr. Kwetey also said on the record, the NDC has managed Ghanas economy better than the NPP . From 2001 to 2008, the NPP accumulated a total debt stock 56.9billion cedis, taking it from 9.7billion cedis in 2008. NPP therefore had access to 4.3 times more loan financing than NDC 1 under Jerry Rawlings. In spite of this, the NDC 1 overshadows the NPP in virtually all critical development infrastructure. NDC built 3 regional hospitals against zero by the non-performing NPP. NDC within that period, can also boast of a couple of public universities against zero by the NPP, he added. By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @AlloteyGodwin 22.09.2016 LISTEN By Afedzi Abdullah, GNA Cape Coast, Sept. 22, GNA - Professor Patrick Otieno Lumumba, Director and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Kenya School of Law, has called on Africans to remain united to solve the problems of the Continent. He said the greatest potentials of Africa are in the arena of unity. He has therefore admonished African leaders to pursue the call for African Unity as championed by the Late Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and other Pan Africanists during the struggle for independence to salvage the image of the continent. Dr Lumumba was delivering the last of the series of this year's Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on the topic: 'Social Cohesion: A call for African Unity.' The three-day lecture series, the 11th since its institution by the University in 1974 and later inaugurated in November 1976, was on the theme: 'Africa Must Rise.' It was to honour Ghana's First President who would have been 107 years old this year. He said unless the current breed of African leaders commits themselves to forming a united front, the continent is likely to be re-colonised. He indicated that re-colonisation would be more pernicious than it happened before. He stressed that unity does not mean that the traditional intuitions should be relegated but rather must be integrated in the modern way of doing things. He said the combination of the ethic diversities in Africa was supposed to be a recipe for a montage, which the western world would envy but the continent had chosen to allow its cultural diversity to divide it. Dr Lumumba noted that Africa today is as divided as the beginning of the struggle for independence despite the fact that the Organisation of African Union was created to unify the continent, giving the European the opportunity to manipulate. He expressed dissatisfaction about the poor leadership style of African leaders, describing them as 'perhaps, the curse of the continent'. He said there is the need for them to change their ideologies to realise that the political office they hold is an honour and a privilege to serve. He said until African leaders liberate themselves from the change of greed and realise that longevity in office is not the solution to Africa's problems, the Continent would remain stagnant and not move in the positive direction. Prof. Lumumba, also a human right advocate and prolific writer, said African leaders must also notice that political office is not for privatisation of public wealth neither is it meant to make them repository of wisdom. He expressed worry that despite the many resources the continent is endowed with it, it had allowed itself to be taken advantage of and instead of harnessing the resources, they have become submissive to the former colonial masters and more recently to China. Prof Lumumba said the Late Dr Nkrumah foretold that the antidote to the malady of disunity was unity. He explained that 'the call did not mean our cultural differences should be discarded but blended together as there is unity in diversity'. He said one of the reasons Africa could not unite is that politicians have been treated as demi gods for far too long and this, had made them believe they are gods and tend to do things their own way. He apologised on behalf of those who overthrew Dr Nkrumah from office and described him as the greatest African leader to have ever lived. He said the few years that Dr Kwame Nkrumah was in office, he championed the course of both the country and the continent in a positive direction. Prof Lumumba ended his almost an hour lecture which was interspersed with a number of spontaneous rounds of applauds from the audience who were thrilled by his passion for African unity, with a call on Africans to rise up and passionately work towards the unity of the Continent. The Vice Chancellor of UCC, Prof Domwini D. Kuupole said the lecture series was a tribute to the late President who founded the University and a platform for intellectual discourse on issues affecting the black world and the Pan Africanist agenda espoused by the Late Dr Nkrumah. An honourary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.), Honoris Causa, was conferred on Prof Lumumba by UCC for his service to humanity and impact on the African continent. This brings to 38 the number of personalities the University had so far honoured since its institution. Prof Marfo Yiadom, Dean of UCC school of Business, Prof Ernest Owusu Ansah, Formenr Dean of Graduate Studies and Mr Henry Nsaidoo, Laboratory Technician at the Department of Chemistry were also honoured with citations and cash prizes for their contribution towards the success of UCC business activities. GNA 22.09.2016 LISTEN By Gideon Ahenkorah, GNA Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - Policy Advisor of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Mr Kofi Asamoah Siaw said his Party's major policy for the youth is on how to save them from illegal mining commonly known as 'galamsey'. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Asamoah noted that galamsey had claimed the lives of many youth and poses a threat to the survival of the country. He said most of the youth are into galamsey because of the inadequate job opportunities. 'Inadequacy of job opportunities in the country breeds poverty and hunger. In order to get some income to survive, the youth have no choice but to resort to engaging in such deadly activity,' Mr Siaw said. Mr Asamoah said the PPP would tackle the menace through its education policy of 'Free Compulsory Education' that would ensure that persons below 18 years are in schools studying instead of engaging in illegal mining. Also, the policy would cater for the needs of persons who are 18 years and above and are out of school by offering them opportunities to engage in income-earning activities to take their minds off galamsey and other unacceptable business activities. He said a PPP government would invest in the expansion of local markets and the production of rice, beans, maize and tomatoes. He said: 'The land often destroyed by galamsey operators can be used for large-scale farming, which would create more job opportunities for the youth.' 'When we expand the market, farm produce would get ready market and farmers would get income,' he added. Mr Asamoah said the Party's galamsey policy would deal with foreigners who engage in illegal mining in line with the country's laws. 'With or without work permit, galamsey is unacceptable in Ghana and the PPP would not endorse it,' he stated. He expressed optimism on the effectiveness of the policy, saying the Ghanaian youth would gladly accept it as most of those engaged in galamsey are not happy with the associated dangers. 'We have interacted with most of them on the Pra, Birim and Ofin rivers and they all said they don't like what they are doing. Which means if they have a choice, they would quickly change,' he said. He expressed disappointment in the government stating that its interventions in curbing galamsey have consistently remained ineffectual. He observed that illegal mining apart from its health dangers also pollutes water bodies and destroys lands, rendering it an unsafe habitat for mankind. GNA 22.09.2016 LISTEN By Kwamina Tandoh, GNA Sakumono (GAR), Sept. 22, GNA - The US Embassy in collaboration with Conservation Alliance and the Mandela Washington Fellowship fellows had held a clean-up exercise at the Titanic Beach in Sakumono. The exercise was to help reduce the filth, which had engulfed the beach, creating breeding grounds for communicable diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery and malaria. The exercise attracted some staff of the Embassy, Conservation Alliance, some youth of the community and fellows and beneficiaries of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) programme, drawn from the 10 regions. The volunteers engaged in sweeping and clearing of refuse, mostly used polyethylene and plastic waste. The Mandela Washington Fellowship begun in 2014 as a flagship programme of the YALI Network that provides virtual resources and vibrant physical spaces to equip young African leaders with the skills and connections they need to foster change in their communities and their countries by attending a conference in the US for six weeks Mr Daniel Fennell, Public Affairs Counsellor of the Embassy in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the rationale for undertaking the exercise is based on the objectives of bringing environmental health relief to the community, and also to encourage the local assembly to involve the community in the provision volunteer services to humanity. He expressed the hope that the inhabitants especially the youth along the shores would be educated to the negative effects of polluting or degrading the environment. Mr Fennell expects that the community is sensitised against indiscriminate defecation and dumping of refuse around the beach. Ms Henrietta Asiedu, Public Relations and Communication Director of Conservation Alliance, called on Ghanaians to have a proper attitudinal attitude towards waste to have a better environment to live in. She said the beach when kept well would offer a serene of atmosphere for relaxation and the release of stress after a hard day's work which would improve tourism. Ms Sarah F. Shabbir, Cultural Attached, US Embassy urged the youth to cease the opportunity to join the YALI by applying for the 2017 YALI programme, which opened on Wednesday September, 21. Mr Prosper Ahmed Amuquandoh, Inspector in charge of Electricity and Renewable Energy at the Ghana Energy Commission was part of the 40 fellows from Ghana at the 2016 season. The fellows spent six weeks in US universities to acquire leadership skills. In 2017, the Fellowship would provide up to 1,000 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a US university with support for professional development after they return home. GNA Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Azad Hasanli Trend: Azerbaijans Cabinet of Ministers discussed the 2017 draft state budget and consolidated budget, the consolidated budget indicators for the next three years, including the concepts of social and economic indicators for 2017 and the next three years. The discussions, held Sept. 22, were chaired by Prime Minister Artur Rasizade. During the meeting, Rasizade said the draft 2017 state budget was prepared taking into account the achievements and positive progress as a result of economic policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev over the recent years, including global financial and economic processes observed lately. The draft 2017 state budgets development took the budgets social orientation as a basis, and special attention was paid to the continuous improvement of welfare of Azerbaijani population, ensuring the countrys national defense strength and national security, and development of non-oil sector. Finance Minister Samir Sharifov and Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev also addressed the event. The discussions held in an expanded format decided to present a set of documents, included in the budget package, to the Azerbaijani president. In the corrected 2016 state budget, revenues are projected at 16.822 billion manats, and expenditures at 18.495 billion manats, while the deficit is projected at 1.673 billion manats. Transfers by the State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) to the 2016 state budget are projected at 7.615 billion manats. Forecasts for 2016 were adjusted considering the oil price of $25 per barrel. The state budget for 2017 has been adjusted considering the oil price of $40 per barrel. Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - The payment of beneficiaries of the Ghana Social Opportunity Project (GSOP) via e-zwich has seen phenomenal growth, rising from GHa38,000.00 in February 2015 to GHa3.8 million paid in August this year. The volume of e-zwich transactions has also shot up from 503 to 34,169 over the same period. This is contained in a report by Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), operators of e-zwich. Since GSOP begun using e-zwich in February last year till August this year, a total amount of GHa20.8 million has been paid through the biometric payment system while the total volume of transactions stands at 181,713. GSOP is one of the social interventions by government. It is a labour intensive Public Works project, which identifies various projects within rural areas and engages people within those areas to work. The beneficiaries are paid the daily minimum wage. It is a World Bank funded project under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. A dedicated team and the various district assemblies manage the daily activities of the project. The project is currently running in 60 districts in all the10 regions. The phenomenal growth in the volume and value of the e-zwich transactions by GSOP has been attributed to the benefits that the payment system provides. The use of e-zwich to pay people engaged under GSOP has ensured that the right beneficiary and the right amount are paid, and paid on time. It has also provided a transparent audit trail and reduced the possibility of corruption and other malfeasance. In an interview, the Chief Executive of GhIPSS, Archie Hesse commended GSOP for choosing e-zwich and for the confidence reposed in the payment system. He encouraged beneficiaries of GSOP and others who receive funds on e-zwich cards to cultivate the habit of using their cards to make payments on hybrid POSes, when they visit shops. He said the agenda to reduce cash transaction was on course and urged the public to embrace the new trend. GNA 22.09.2016 LISTEN Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - Major Daniel Ablorh Quarcoo (Rtd), the former Chairman of Public Interest Accountability Committee (PIAC) has urged civil society organisations (CSOs) to seriously engage government in discussions over the usage of the oil revenue. He said professional groups, traditional and religious groups and other pressure groups need to effectively debate government on how the petroleum revenue could be used for the benefit of the people, especially the youth for the next three years. Major Quarcoo gave the advice at an orientation forum organised by the PIAC, for assembly members of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and other stakeholders on how revenue generated from the oil and gas for the past five years was being spent. He said the forum would provide an opportunity for the public to debate whether the spending prospects and management of the revenues conform to development priorities and what positive impact it has brought to the people. Mr Quarcoo said the biggest challenge faced by most oil producing countries are equitable distribution of revenue, good governance on all levels in exploration activities, transparency in decision-making process, hence the PIAC to provide space and platforms for the public to debate the management and the use of the revenue. 'We have to put up the right structures to manage the oil money otherwise Ghana would be as other oil countries as had always been the case in Africa,' he said. The former chairman said: 'This would provide independent assessments on the management of the petroleum revenue to assist Parliament and the Executive in their oversight responsibilities and performance of other related functions, to monitor and evaluate compliance to Act 893, 2015.' He said since Ghana had found oil, there is the need for a vibrant media, strong civil societies, to play roles of constant oversight activities on legitimate and effective framework for the conduct of public policy to give a big push to transparency. Miss Lydia Sackey, the Director of Budget of the AMA, said the emergence of oil in Africa has led to abandonment of other important sectors which has not brought about high standard of living for the people. She said there is the need for stakeholders to take up the oil and gas industry issue as priority, to protect the interest of the citizens to make it a blessing rather than a curse. Miss Sackey urged assembly members to take proactive measures to demand for their participation in the decision-making process to secure good environmental protection for the people. Among issues raised by the participants at the forum are ambitious action plan with dedicated attention to rural development, agriculture and industry, science and technology, healthcare, infrastructural development and housing delivery, to enable the youth to derive maximum benefits from the petroleum revenue. Mr Isaac Dwamena, the Account and Finance Manager of PIAC took participants through some of the projects executed with the oil money. GNA By Awudu Salami, GNA Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - Agnes Emefa Essah, Director of Marketing at Vodafone Ghana, says the Yee Twe Ko reloaded promo seeks to reward 750,000 Vodafone customers with GHa2.5 million worth of prices. Vodafone Ghana, the telecom giant, last week launched the Yee Twe Ko reloaded in Accra, which is the expanded version of the earlier promo, which was held last year to reward loyal Vodafone customers. Speaking in an interview, the promo which would be running for 90 days would have a weekly and monthly draw with amazing prizes to be won as well as the grand prize of GHa 150,000.00. She urged all Vodafone customers to participate in the promotion by purchasing scratch cards, starting from GHa2.00 to be eligible. Under the mechanics of the promotion, Essah said, Vodafone's recharge cards would, in the coming days, take on a new format with features including two scratchable panels - the concealed recharge pin and the hidden prize. Customers are required to scratch the panels to reveal the identity of the prizes won. "The more your points, the more your chances of winning the ultimate prize and I will urge all to participate and be a beneficiary of the amazing reloaded prizes," she said. Yolanda Zoleka Cuba, Chief Executive Officer at Vodafone Ghana, said the promotion would help expand businesses of its customers, as well as improving their standard of living. She said Vodafone Ghana would continue with its journey of touching the lives of people by impacting positively on them through its numerous programmes and promotions including the Yee Twe Ko reloaded. She gave the assurance that, Vodafone would continue to invest in its network to give clearest voice quality as well as meeting other demands of its customers. GNA Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - L'Oreal West Africa has refurbished the Hair Academy for the Demonstration School for the Deaf in Akropong. The Centre, which serves as a hair training academy for pupils of the school, who are trained in hair care and barbering was built by L'Oreal West Africa in 2009. Mr Sekou Coulibaly, the General Manager, L'Oreal West Africa speaking at the ceremony said the support was part of their corporate social responsibility campaign known as 'Citizen's Day." He said the days where physically disabled persons were considered as a liability in society were gone. He said more and more people living with physical disabilities in Ghana continue to confound expectations by excelling at their chosen crafts and suppressing their peers. The General Manager said corporate institutions could continue to play a role in empowering the physically challenged not just by making one off donation but by demonstrating a commitment to sustainable long term support. He said society has a role to play in ensuring that people living with physical disabilities were empowered to pursue their personal and dreams without barriers. Ms Trudy Segbefia, the Headmistress of the School said the company has been long time partner of the school in supporting the development of student. She expressed gratitude to management of L'Oreal West Africa for their immense support and contribution to the development of education in the country. She appealed to other corporate institutions to come to the aid of the school and support sponsor at least one child in school. The Headmistress said the school's vocational facilities were small and needed to be expanded to accommodate more students. L'Oreal West Africa also as part of the refurbishment replaced hair dryers, installed new salon hair sinks, provision of swivel chairs and two care sterilizers. The company provided some renowned beauty products from Dark and lovely, Maybelline New York and Blue Ice among others. The refurbished academy is currently being used as a National Vocational Training Institute in the town. GNA By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA you are here: Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: Contracts worth about $18 billion have been signed so far within the second phase of the development of Azerbaijans Shah Deniz gas and condensate field and the expansion of the South Caucasus pipeline, said a message from BP, an operator of these projects. The company organized a press tour Sept. 22 for journalists to Azfen-Tekfen-Amec consortiums (ATA) production site, where the assembly of topside modules of the platform for the Shah Deniz 2 project is being carried out. The projects implementation continues successfully and currently, the work on the project has been completed by 82 percent and is being carried out in accordance with the schedule. The work on the expansion of the Sangachal oil and gas terminal also continues according to the plan, said BP message. The pipe-lay barge Israfil Huseynov completed the complex installation of the first Shah Deniz flowline from the North Flank cluster to the platform location, according to BP. The barge is now installing the other flowline before it heads to the West Flank to install the two flowlines there. Following the float-out of the subsea construction vessel Khankendi of the dry dock, it recently received the main crane for installation. The 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 contract for development of the Shah Deniz offshore field was signed on June 4, 1996. The shareholders in the contract are BP (operator - 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). As part of the Stage 2 of development of the Shah Deniz field, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. The reserves of the Shah Deniz field are estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas and 240 million tons of condensate. Shah Deniz Stage 2 will add a further 16 billion cubic meters per year (bcma) of gas production to the approximately 9 bcma produced by Shah Deniz Stage 1. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov business Problem with GST council- centre and states not equal: Kerala FM In this week's edition on Indianomics, Finance Minister of Kerala, Thomas Isaac told CNBC-TV18 that states and centre are not equal, which is the problem with the GST council. If youre the type of person who enjoys staying in a caravan park, I suggest you go book a trip while there are actually a few still around. Thats because companies keep snapping them up and converting them into housing estates, mostly for the old. Its not hard to see why the owners are selling out. One of the last family freehold caravan parks in Sydney has been sold for $33 million, according to the Australian Financial Review yesterday. The buyer was Ingenia Communities Group. Theyve bought another one at Hervey Bay in Queensland, too. But theyre hardly the only company operating in this space. This is a trend to follow in the stock market One way to make housing cheap Caravan parks are being converted into manufactured housing estates. This is where a company will retain ownership of the land, but build and sell houses on the separate lots. The house buyer gets a home and shelter, for a lot less cost. Thats because the land component is stripped out of the purchase price. Theyre also part of a housing estate, with the sense of community that can bring. Companies that run these manufactured housing estates obviously charge for the houses theyre selling. But they also receive ongoing weekly rental income. This is what that the homebuyer pays to occupy the site to rent the land the house they own sits on and use the facilities of the estate. Its not hard to see the appeal for older Australians who cant afford a regular house, or who want to unlock equity in their current home to fund their retirement. This is big business in the United States, and a trend I have been following for several years here in Australia. Im not alone. The sovereign wealth fund of Singapore is rumoured to be interested in buying retirement village owner National Lifestyle Villages in Western Australia, according to the Australian Financial Review. This is following on from the same sovereign wealth fund already spending US$2 billion to invest in a US company operating in the same game over there. Deals like this should get your attention. And you should know, theres more than one player in this space in Australia. One of them is called Lifestyle Communities Limited [ASX: LIC]. We took a look at the compelling tailwinds underneath this sector back in October of 2014 for our issue of Cycles, Trends and Forecasts at the time. LIC was $1.92 then. It closed at $3.35 yesterday. But stop there. You always have to be wary of investing in stories when it comes to the stock market. The market can move really fast, and you often wont know the reason why until long after its actually happened. Thats why I ALWAYS use technical analysis studying charts on any stock I consider buying. This is essential to help protect and grow your hard earned money. Ill give you an example now. How the market tells you to wait Gateway Lifestyle Group [ASX: GTY] is another stock that operates in the manufactured home sector to provide affordable housing to older Australians. As Ive said, thats a trend Im bullish on over time. Gateway owns and operates 53 communities across Australia. In April the company completed a retail entitlement offer to raise close to $80 million. Thats was on top of $40 million raised from institutional investors. This was to fund acquisitions and pay down debt. It had no problem getting its hands on the money. In late July I saw one analyst say GTY presented value for fundamental investors around $2.90. At that time there was the suggestion that Gateway may even acquire National Lifestyle Villages yep, the same one the Singaporean wealth fund is after. The point is this: at the time everything pointed to having a bullish bias on this stock. Everything except for one thing: the chart. I bring it up now because its a good example of how technical analysis helps with timing and choosing your investments. Lets go back in time a bit. One way to learn about markets is to study past moves. So imagine for a moment you were considering buying GTY at the end of July. This is what you see on the weekly chart: Source: Optuma Click to enlarge Those two green lines are annotations to highlight whats called a symmetrical triangle in technical analysis. The tops are generally falling so the top line is descending. The bottoms, however, are generally rising. So you have a down slant and an up slant on either side, which are squeezing the price into an apex. The idea here is the stock is coiling and will either go one way or another. You dont know which way. Its a pattern that cant be pre-empted, so in one sense it isnt as useful as other technical patterns. A symmetrical triangle happens when the market genuinely does not know whats next for the stock, but is waiting for something coming. So what good is this pattern? It tells you to wait. Dont do anything until the market gives a clear signal. Keep your money on the sidelines. I mentioned earlier that, overall, the publically available information would have given you a bullish bias to GTY in July. Well, that was at least true for me. Heres the current chart up to yesterdays close Source: Optuma Click to enlarge You can see that Gateway broke towards the downside in August. That told you enough to stay out of the stock for the moment. Gateway released their full-year results on August 30. A read of the results reveals things came in pretty much as the prospectus forecast. Regardless of the results, the share price dropped heavily. The market is not happy about Gateways outlook and details for the upcoming year. Now Gateway the company may in fact be going along OK. But with any shares, you are buying and selling the stock. So your money is hostage to what that stock is doing on a daily basis. This supply and demand dynamic is what technical analysis is designed to look at. So can you see how useful some basic chart reading and pattern recognition is? The chart was telling you to watch and wait. Thats useful knowledge to have. It means that, if you had read the piece from the fundamental analysis, you would not have acted on it, and got stuck riding Gateway on the way down no matter how compelling the story. This is one example of the way charting and technical analysis can keep you out of trades and decisions that will lose you money. It can also put you on the trends that make you money. If youd like to know more about how it can do this, go here. All the best, Callum Newman, Associate Editor, Cycles, Trends and Forecasts From the Port Phillip Publishing Library Special Report: Central banks are losing control. Their efforts to prop up asset markets are failing. Were now entering the endgame. What will the endgame look like? What are the short and long term investment implications? And how can you navigate this period of hyper central banking interventionand emerge from the other side with a healthy portfolio? Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: Construction of the topside-modules for the platform Shah Deniz 2, which is being carried out at the AMEC-Tekfen-Azfen Consortiums production site, has been completed by 93 percent, BP Vice-President for Shah Deniz 2 Projects Ewan Drummond said Sept. 22 in Baku during the presentation on the projects implementation course. He said that two topside-modules for the platform with a total weight of 28,500 tons are being constructed at the moment. More than 3.1 million parts were supplied during the operation process, said Drummond. The work is underway in accordance with the schedule, and it is planned to install the topside-modules at the platform in the sea in summer 2017. Fifty residential modules have been installed at the residential units, he added. This made it possible to start their testing three months ahead of schedule, and this testing has been completed by 40 percent. The contract for development of the Shah Deniz offshore field was signed on June 4, 1996. The shareholders in the contract are BP (operator - 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). As part of the Stage 2 of development of the Shah Deniz field, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. The reserve of Shah Deniz field is estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas and 240 million tons of condensate. Shah Deniz Stage 2 will add a further 16 billion cubic meters per year (bcma) of gas production to the approximately 9 bcma produced by Shah Deniz Stage 1. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov < The City of Morgan Hills Measure S has turned the widely accepted local concept of growth control into perhaps the most hot-button issue in an election where incumbents and challengers are, to varying extents, staking their own campaigns on the success or failure of the Nov. 8 ballot question. < Measure S is the latest proposed update to the citys Residential Development Control System, which was first approved by Morgan Hills voters in 1977 in an effort to prevent urban sprawl in Morgan Hill. Measure S, which was placed on the ballot by the city council July 27 with a 4-1 vote, will ask voters to approve a population cap of 58,200 for 2035. The ordinance would set an annual maximum of 215 housing allotments, but for the first time in RDCS history the council will have the ability to set that number as low as they want (but not higher than 215). < The current RDCS expires in 2020, with a population cap of 48,000 for that year, resulting in a historical housing allotment cap of about 250 units annually. < Measure S goes to the voters at a time when Morgan Hill faces a vastly different development landscape from nearly 40 years ago, and even from when the voters last extended the RDCS in 2004. < Many residents are fatigued by the current wave of residential construction in Morgan Hill since 2013, when developers who gained allocations during the housing crash of 2009 started retrieving the finances to build those homes. And while city officials and local developers sharply disagree with other authorities such as the countys Local Agency Formation Commission on the inventory of vacant, buildable property, there is no question there isnt nearly as much dirt for developers as there was in 1977 or 2004. < These and other factors combine to suggest that the competition among developers for available housing allotments, which has been fierce since the RDCS was first implemented, will start to wane. < I dont see us being anywhere near (58,200 population) in 2035, said Mayor Steve Tate, who is running for re-election and is a staunch supporter of Measure S. Future councils are going to have to adjust (the 215-unit maximum) downward if theres so few developers making applications that you dont have a meaningful competition. < Tate has noted numerous times that Measure S shifting of priorities from the population cap to the housing allotment maximumand with it the councils potential ability to reduce this number in future yearsis a fundamental change in the growth control ordinances key principles. < A chief provision of the existing RDCS (and the proposed update) is it forces developers to compete for housing units through a system that awards points for certain features of a proposed project. Two camps < Measure S has the 2016 candidates for council and mayoreight total, including incumbentsfirmly divided into Yes and No camps. All of them agree that growth control is necessary in Morgan Hill, but they disagree on how soon and how sharply a slowdown should be imposed. < Kirk Bertolet, who is running against Tate for the mayors seat, thinks growth in Morgan Hill should slow to about .5 percent per yearvastly lower than any other candidate has proposed. Two hundred fifteen homes in one year equates to just under a 2 percent annual growth rate. < I firmly believe some day were going to be a suburb of San Jose, but Im not in a hurry, said Bertolet, who will vote No on Measure S. Half a percent (growth rate) is based on my personal feelings of where I think Morgan Hill should go. < Other candidates who plan to vote No on Measure S are council challengers Rene Spring and Armando Benavides. < Those advocating a Yes vote are council incumbents Larry Carr and Marilyn Librers as well as their challenger Mario Banuelos, plus Mayor Tate and his challenger Joseph Carrillo. < Measure S proponents say its failure would result in a sudden lack of any growth control and no limits on residential construction for the first time since 1977. < But those voting No point out the RDCS doesnt expire until 2020, and the council would still have time to present a new measure to the voters before then. < I am running on a platform to stop and slow down urban sprawl, Spring said. Measure S does nothing to prevent urban sprawl. In fact, it makes it worse because they removed a stipulation that would delay any (future) Urban Service Area expansion. < Spring, a planning commissioner, said he will vote No on Measure S only as a candidate and a residentnot as an appointed city official. < Lengthy process < The planning commission, city staff, the 17-member General Plan Advisory Committee and an RDCS working group spent more than two years running the numbers to try to determine the most appropriate growth rate for an RDCS ordinance update. These studies were based on the feelings of the residents and developers, as well as the varieties of housing needed for future growth and the citys reliance on development-generated revenues that support infrastructure and parks maintenance. < At the July 27 meeting, the council arrived at the 215-unit maximum with no explanation why that is OK, Spring said. If we put in a measure for the next 20 years, our voters deserve a clear answer why this number is appropriate. < At that same meeting, Carr initially proposed an annual allotment of 200 units for Measure S, based on a gut feeling. After some discussion, Tate proposed 215, which the council approved 4-1. < Even if 215 was not specifically mentioned during the RDCS study process, Carr maintains the 215-unit maximum is based on information gained from that input, including the impact on the citys budget and services. He added its also based on an increasingly vocal point of view among residents. < We were asked to lower the growth rate, and we figured out a number that (provides) a sustainable budget and is lower than where we are, Carr said. < But he added the maximum housing allotment and population cap arent the important part of Measure S. We limited the ability of it to change year over year. The population ceiling is not a target like in previous versions (of the RDCS). And it will preserve the small-town charm of Morgan Hill, Carr said. < Tate conceded that 215 is not a scientific conclusion, but is based on the feeling that we need to cut back slightly for now. < Banuelos was a member of the GPAC, which met more than a dozen times to discuss the citys General Plan and RDCS updates from 2013 to 2015. He supports Measure S and he is comfortable with the numbers the council came up with. He called it a compromise with residents who are concerned about current growth rates. < Housing max purely political? < Some growth observers who are not running for office Nov. 8 think the RDCS should be backed strictly by facts rather than feelings. < Mayor Pro Temp Rich Constantine cast the only council vote against placing Measure S on the ballot at the July 27 meeting, although he still urges voters to vote Yes. Like all his council colleagues, Constantine says he remains committed to growth control. < I dont think the number (215) is based on any facts, said Constantine, who still has two years left on his four-year term. He noted that a city staff report said 240 units per year was a break-even point for city coffers funded by development fees. All the studies by the RDCS working group and city staff didnt support (215 units). That was purely political. < Real estate broker and longtime Morgan Hill resident John Telfer has been sitting front and center as an experienced advisor throughout the discussion to update the RDCS. He said the number of 215 annual units the council arrived at was a bit random. < I just cant quite follow how they came up with that, said Telfer, though he too plans to vote Yes on Measure S. < He added, With the available land inventory, were not going to have a lot of competitors because the land thats zoned appropriately will be depleted, or it will not support residential projects. He predicts that if LAFCO continues to deny the citys requests to annex more land into the city limits, within about four or five years there wont be enough land in Morgan Hill to support 215 annual units. Thats especially true if the city wants to maintain its housing variety ratio of 70 percent single family to 30 percent multi-family units for new construction. < Other views < Librers pointed to this 70/30 split as a key reason for her support of Measure S. Like many other residents she has heard from, the predominance of single family housing in Morgan Hill is what lends it the small-town atmosphere they prefer. < She served on the RDCS committee that met 11 times over the last year. Librers has also been adamant in explaining to residents concerned about recent construction that since about 2013, developers have been catching up with the Great Recession and not accelerating the population growth any faster than was originally planned with the last RDCS update in 2004. < According to City Hall Principal Planner John Baty, 205 residential units were built in 2012, though that number jumped to 330 in 2013. In 2014, developers built 268 units, and 351 in 2015. < Benavides is against Measure S because he is also running on a platform to slow the growth. He also thinks the RDCS update is not linked closely enough to the citys infrastructure, which is currently suffering from a shortfall in maintenance funding. Furthermore, he objects to the way the ballot measure is written, with a bunch of feel-good statements that no reasonable resident could object to but are only subjective assertions. < Carrillo supports Measure S because of its commitment to preserving growth control. < If we dont have growth control theyre going to develop everything, Carrillo said. The worst case would be if Morgan Hill looks like San Jose. The best case is Morgan Hill is a small city with a sustainable economy. < Measure S was sent by the Morgan Hill City Council to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Office on a 4-1 vote at the July 27 council meeting. Voters will have the option to vote Yes or No, and the measure requires a simple majority to pass. The official text of the City of Morgan Hills Measure S, as posted on the registrars website (sccvote.org) is as follows: Shall a measure be adopted to amend the Morgan Hill General Plan and Municipal Code to update the Citys voter-approved Residential Development Control System (RDCS) to extend it to 2035, establish a population ceiling of 58,200, with a slower rate of growth than currently exists, and improve policies to maintain neighborhood character, encourage more efficient land use, conserve water, and preserve open space? This weekend, all around Burke County, several service projects will be conducted during the annual Mission Morganton, which will now include helping out many animal rescues. Mission Morganton, a day dedicated to completing dozens of service projects around the county, will be held Saturday, Sept. 24 with the event starting at 8 a.m. at FBC of Morganton, located at 502 W. Union St. Burke County Friends for Animals was included for the first time last year and now three more animal rescues have been added including A Better Life Animal Rescue, Cats Cradle and Partners for Cats. Suzzette Pendleton, director of food services at First Baptist Church in Morganton, lost a very special dog named Bear last year to a disease, and at that time, was visited by a friend Laura Clontz. Especially after Bear passed away she would come up and visit me with Toby and they would come to the back door, Pendleton said. She is an animal lover just like I am and so she had a spot in her heart for how I was hurting. Clontz mentioned how she wanted to do something in memory of Bear and knew Mission Morganton was coming up. She said Why dont we do a Burke Friends for Animals project go over there and volunteer for that day?' Pendleton said. I think Bear would love it if you did that, so that is how it originally started. A group of volunteers are planning to work at Burke County Friends for Animals on Saturday morning to clean around the facility, walk and bathe dogs, socialize with cats and participate in a blessing over the animals and building. A chaplain at the J. Iverson Riddle Center will lead a brief devotion and then do a blessing of the animals and the facility, Pendleton said. She will bless the facility in hopes of volunteers working together with God and prayer for trying to get these animals forever homes, she said. Not only does it help animals and staff, but it does more for us the volunteers. This year Libby Linker, a volunteer with Mission Morganton and A Better Life Animal Rescue, has taken the initiative to include three more animal rescues. Linker pointed out the fact that the community has Burke United Christian Ministries which provides assistance to families in need of clothes and food. During Mission Morganton, there is a free clinic that provides certain services for those who cant afford a doctor. There is nothing out there for people who have pets that need help except for a couple animal rescues, Linker said. That was why I wanted to see this expanded to help all four of the animal rescues that are in Burke County. There will be a donation drive of pet supplies including dog and cat food and treats, bleach, leashes, cat litter, blankets, newspaper, trash bags, collars, harnesses, brooms and dust pans, bath towels, etc. Those willing to donate can drop off items at Calvary Lutheran, First Baptist Church of Morganton, First Presbyterian Church of Morganton, First United Methodist Church of Morganton, Faith Community, Grace Episcopal, Summit Church, Oak Hill United Methodist, Burke Animal Clinic, Healthy Pets, Medicine Man, Morganton Animal Clinic, Ace Hardware, Paws and Claws and PetSmart. First United Methodist Church of Morganton, Grace Episcopal and First Presbyterian Church of Morganton drop off location will end today because of abbreviated hours or being closed on Friday. All other locations will be open for donations until Friday. You have got to have food, cleaning products etc., Linker said. You have got to have all these things on the collection list. For more information, call FBC of Morganton at 828-437-2544. Staff Writer Jonelle Bobak can be reached at jbobak@morganton.com or 828-432-8907. A number of American Revolutionary War-era techniques, tools and crafts will be demonstrated and on display during the Historic Burke Foundations Revolutionary War Days event, scheduled for Oct. 1-2. Other ceremonies and reenactments will be presented as well. Clint Byers , of Lenoir , is an Honourable Company of Horners Journeyman who does masterful scrimshaw in horn. He will demonstrate his meticulous art at the Charles McDowell House at 119 St. Mary's Church Road in Morganton on Sunday, Oct . 2 from 1-5 p.m. as part of Revolutionary War Days. Scrimshaw was first developed by whalers in the mid-1750s and survived until bans were imposed on commercial whaling. It is a mixture of intricate engravings and lettering and often is done on the surface of bone or a tooth. The engraving is highlighted by using a pigment such as lamp black or ink. In colonial America, the art was applied to the more-available horns of various wild animals. Byers' work is considered beautiful and intricate. Guests can come see Byes work his magic in horn and feel free to ask him questions. " The and Now at Home " program Mary Lou Furr, Historic Burke Foundation Board member and co-chair of Revolutionary War Days, will present a new program, "Then and Now at Home" with her granddaughter, Brenna Daniel, during the Oct. 1-2 events. The program will invite children and adults to compare the differences in everyday living between now and 1780 on the frontier that was Burke County. Among the tools and techniques that will be shown will be how toast was made during the time period, how laundry was washed in the era, h ow artificial light was provided after nightfall in dark cabins long before Thomas Edison was born , and how people managed to keep their feet warm while sleeping at night in the winter. Daniel is the daughter of Sen . Warren Daniel. " Grave Talks " to honor patriots Susan Houck of Morganton, retired from teaching at the North Carolina School for the Deaf and active in numerous projects of historical focus in this region of the state, is coordinating a special, ticketed event scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Oct. 1 at Quaker Meadows Cemetery. She is working with Mary Charlotte Safford, Historic Burke Foundation Board member, and Western Piedmont Community College's Deborah Lonon to provide a history of the cemetery, "grave talks ," by actors and actresses portraying real Burke County residents who are buried in the cemetery, and a mourn of arms ceremony by Overmountain Victory Trail Association reenactors to honor the known and unknown patriots there. A limited number of tickets are available for $10 each at historicburke.org or by calling the Historic Burke Foundation office Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 828-437-4104. Ticketholders will have their choice of three programs the afternoon, scheduled for 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. All three will begin with a trolley ride from Judge's Riverside BBQ to Quaker Meadows Cemetery 10 minutes beforehand. Morganton native to demonstrate knitting, crocheting and spinning Michelle Robinson of Morganton will demonstrate how to knit and crochet and, often to the amazement of children who watch, how to spin. In modern times, relatively few people ever learn how to spin. It is rapidly becoming a lost art. Robinson is a favorite with people of all ages because she is relaxed and comfortable with herself and others and is happy to answer questions and discuss her craft . Guests will find her on the back porch of the Charles McDowell House on Sunday, Oct. 2 waiting to greet them. Morgantons Coley to display weaponry, cross river Morganton resident Scott Coley, a furniture designer and history lover, has been actively involved in Revolutionary War reenactments and educational programs for years. He is a member of the Historic Burke Foundation Board and is one of its past presidents. He is a charter member of the new Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) chapter in Burke County. Coley has an impressive collection of late 18th-century weaponry and will show it and discuss it on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 2 inside the Charles McDowell House. On Saturday, Oct. 1, he will participate in the second commemorative crossing of the Catawba River at 11 a.m. at Greenlee Ford behind Judge's Riverside BBQ. That afternoon, he will play the role of Burke Militia Leader Charles McDowell, who hosted the Overmountain Men in 1780 before they left to win a victory over the British in the Battle of Kings Mountain that helped change history. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 Trend: Kazakhstan offers Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR to consider the possibility of participation in the international Eurasia project, according to the protocol of the 13th session of the Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation that was held on Sept. 22 in Astana, Kazakh media reported Sept. 22. The Eurasia project envisages regional geological and geophysical studies in the Caspian basin. According to the protocol, the sides agreed to study opportunities for the implementation of joint energy projects, to expand cooperation in the delivery of oil and oil products aimed at the diversification of routes from the Caspian Sea to global and European markets, to study the possibility of transportation of Azerbaijans liquefied gas via the Batumi Oil Terminal. The Eurasia project was initiated by presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan in 2014. As a part of the project, it is planned to drill an ultra-deep well with a depth of 15 kilometers. As a result of the drilling, it is planned to discover hydrocarbon deposits at a depth of approximately 7-9 kilometers in the area of the Caspian basin. The project was expected to start in 2016. It is designed for six years and is estimated at about $523 million. Lukoil, Rosneft, Shell, Chevron and Chinas CNPC have already expressed their interest in the project. Day one of a $10 million lawsuit against the Burke County Board of Education began Wednesday. Following jury selection and opening statements from both sides, the 10 jurors heard from Tom Wood, who along with Scott Carlton, is suing the board and former Superintendent Dr. Art Stellar for damages the two men say they incurred as a result of information they brought to the board more than five years ago that didnt remain confidential. On April 11, 2011, Wood and Carlton submitted a letter to the board in an envelope marked confidential with a packet of supporting documentation, Wood testified. The letter raised concerns about whether Stellar was involved in an improper relationship with school system employee Amy Morgan, Wood said. The lawsuit says Wood and Carlton believe a school board member gave Stellar one of the letters and he subsequently leaked a copy of the packet to Morgan. Morgan, who denied the affair, filed a lawsuit on Oct. 31, 2011, against Carlton and Wood claiming defamation and emotional distress, asking she be awarded $10,000 for each of the charges, according to previous news reports. Morgan did not win her lawsuit and the judge ruled in favor of the two men in 2013. Now, Wood and Carlton allege in their lawsuit that they both have suffered severe mental and emotional distress. The suit also says the two are entitled to recover medical expenses, past and future loss of earnings and benefits due to damages to their reputation. Since the board voted in August of 2011 to buy out Stellars contract, the lawsuit says the board is responsible for his actions because they gave him a severance/golden parachute payment which, in essence, condoned his conduct. Despite the coverage of the story in The News Herald and other media outlets, Judge Todd Pomeroy reminded jurors that they are not to do their own research or follow any current news on the matter. This case must be decided within the four walls of this courtroom, he said. However, the talk outside of courtrooms is exactly what the latest lawsuit is all about. Wood took to the stand Wednesday and said his life has been forever changed since the details of his supposedly confidential statements were made public. Wood said he and his family moved to Rutherford College, bought a plot of land and built a home because they liked the camaraderie in the area and because the schools there are some of the best in the state. Its like a family, he said. And we take education very seriously. Wood said he got involved in matters within the local school system because of his own children and was eventually asked to serve as a spokesperson for other parents. He said he spoke several times to board members at various meetings about the budget, funding and the possibility of closing schools. When Stellar took office, all eyes were on the board since his hiring came after the board didnt renew David Burlesons contract as superintendent. Burleson had a lot of support within the community and Stellars hiring caused quite a bit of turmoil in the county, according to previous reports. On the night of Mar. 28, 2011, a school board meeting at Patton High School was held to vote on the possibility of consolidating some of the local schools, Wood testified. It was an emotionally charged night, he said. He said that he spoke at that meeting, but ran out of time and appeared before the board when it went into a closed session. Wood said he wanted to present evidence to the board that was to be kept confidential and said Katherine Thomas, who was the chair at the time, told him Thats fine, while the rest of the board kept quiet. Wood again ran out of time to speak and said he talked with Thomas afterward. She told him to submit his findings to the board in writing, and everything would be kept confidential, he said. He claims he didnt know that the packets he and Carlton subsequently provided would ever been seen by anyone other than board members, and he had no idea his name would be associated with the scandal that ensued. Wood began to cry on the stand as he discussed the embarrassment he felt. Humiliating doesnt begin to cover it, he said. Wood claims his name was dragged through the mud and that his role as a whistleblower led to him losing a lot of business and he even lost his home to foreclosure. However, on cross examination, he admitted that he currently makes more money as an electrician than he did in the budding photography business he claims was destroyed by the gossip and lawsuits that came after that meeting in 2011. Wood also admitted that he didnt see a therapist until 2013, and he didnt go back to seek psychiatric help until 2016, with the urging of his lawyer. The counsel for the defense also pointed out some inconsistencies between Woods testimony on Wednesday and a deposition he gave in March of this year. In those original statements, Wood said he met with the board in closed session to discuss Morgans position, which he claims was created needlessly, never officially posted and not approved for grant funding. He reiterated those points on Wednesday, but said he also mentioned to the board that Morgan and Stellar were having an inappropriate relationship, a detail he failed to mention during the deposition. In March, Wood also told defense attorneys that if Morgan had never filed a lawsuit, then the matter wouldve never been public. However, in court he testified that he couldnt say if the issue wouldve stayed confidential. Wood blamed the discrepancies on the stress of being in a deposition. He said hed had a lot of time to think since March and had remembered some things he had forgotten then. Along with the months since he was deposed, Wood has had more than five years to think about the packet he turned in to the board in 2011 and claims he has suffered huge amounts of stress during that entire time. Itll be up to the 10 jurors to decide if thats worth $10 million. The case resumes at the Burke County courthouse Thursday at 9:30 a.m. After three people ended up at the hospital last week, boaters are reminded to follow the rules of the water to stay safe. Sr. Officer Dustin Etheridge with the Wildlife Commission said that charges are still pending in the two-boat collision on Lake James that sent three victims to the hospital on Friday night, but the preliminary investigation shows one of the boats did not have any lights on. Etheridge said a boat occupied by Ruth and Jeff Beaver, a Morganton couple, did not have any lights on at the time of the incident, according to reports. He said the matter is still being looked at closely, including whether alcohol or drugs were involved. Thats all still under investigation, he said. When the Beavers boat collided with another, one victim suffered severe injuries to his arm, which was nearly cut off in the collision. He also suffered a gash on his head and back injuries. He was flown from the Linville access to Carolinas HealthCare System in Charlotte, according to Donald Davis, assistant fire chief with the Lake James Fire Department. Another victim suffered injuries to his ribs and was transported to CHS Blue Ridge in Morganton where he later was airlifted to CHS in Charlotte, Davis said. The third victim was transported to CHS Blue Ridge in Morganton and treated. Brenda Davis is a family friend of two of the people involved, Nick Jimeson and his father, Jeff Jimeson. She said in a Facebook message that tests had shown Jeff had bleeding in and around his lungs and he still was in the ICU as of Monday evening. Etheridge said he did not have an update on the condition of the victims, but Ruth Beaver was uninjured during the incident. With charges pending and three people recouping, Etheridge say the collision should serve as a good reminder for other boaters to follow the rules of the water. Summer is coming to an end, but theres still a lot of traffic on the lake, he said. People need to be careful. The need to follow all the rules, including leaving their lights on, especially after dark. Along with navigation lights, boaters are required by law to have a float plan, boater education certification (on board), a fire extinguisher, ignition safety switch, and other safety requirements available via the North Carolina Boating Checklist from the Wildlife Commission. For more information on boating laws and requirements and to see the checklist, visit ncwildlife.org. VALDESE Lorraine Antoinette Ribet, 77, of Valdese, went home to be with the Lord and her family Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. She was born Jan. 27, 1939, in Long Island, N.Y., to the late Gilbert Ribet and Antoinette Heritie Ribet. She has lived in Valdese since she was a young girl. Her parents moved to Valdese from New York and she has resided in that home since then. Lorraine attended Valdese High School, class of 1958. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by one brother and one sister. Lorraine was known and loved by so many people in Valdese. She has been known by everyone as the lady you always saw walking through Valdese. She made at least two trips a day through Valdese, stopping to visit with her many friends along the way at area businesses. Lorraine worked at many of the mills in Valdese when she was younger. She also provided in home care for many elderly people for many years. She has attended many of the churches in Valdese over the years including, Waldensian Presbyterian Church, Valdese First United Methodist Church, Faith Community Church, Enon Baptist Church, and was ministered to by Calvary Freewill Baptist Church. She was blessed to have so many friends who loved her and looked forward to going out to eat with them over the years. She enjoyed visiting with her closest friends and neighbors. The community and many close friends reached out to her and tried to look after her by dropping off food when she was sick, taking her out for holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her greatest enjoyment in life was to go out to eat. However due to cancer, she has had declining health for almost a year and she couldn't walk up town or eat out very much. She lived at home on her own until recently being moved to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care Center. She will be greatly missed by her friends and loved ones. Funeral Services will be held at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20, in the Chapel of Heritage Funeral Service, with the Rev. Leonard Lindsey officiating. Interment will follow the service in the Waldensian Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690, or the local churches she attended mentioned above. An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.heritagefuneralservices.com. Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory of Valdese is serving the family. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: The management of the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR in late September will leave for Greece to discuss completion of the deal on SOCARs buying a 66-percent stake in the Greek national gas transmission system operator DESFA, head of SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev told reporters in Baku Sept. 22. I wouldnt like to talk about it now or spread rumors, because we respect the Greek side, said Abdullayev. We have been negotiating and we are waiting for proposals now. In late September 2016, we will hold a meeting in Greece with the countrys government, which will clarify future prospects. Earlier, Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Natig Aliyev said that the deal on SOCAR's purchasing the 66-percent share in Greece's DESFA will be completed after Italy's Snam operator purchases 17 percent of that share. Snam representative met with Greek energy ministry officials Aug. 20 and reiterated the Italian operators stance to be a part of privatization of the DESFA. SOCAR won a tender on the purchase of a 66-percent stake in DESFA for 400 million euros in 2013. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Aygun Badalova Trend Global oil market circumstances are now more favorable for OPEC and other oil producers to reach a deal at the meeting in Algeria to support the market, Al Arabiya reported referring to Iraqs OPEC governor Falah Alamri. This time I think a little bit different (than in Doha) because circumstances are little bit better, helping (producers) to reach a deal, Alamri said. Speaking at the Gulf Intelligence Energy Forum in Fujairah in the UAE, Alamri said thatsome oil producers have managed to reach a better market share than earlier in the year and Irans output is now higher after the lifting of sanctions, making the time for a deal right. The informal OPEC meeting is expected in late September in Algeria. It is expected that the talks on oil production freeze will be held between OPEC and non-OPEC countries. The meeting will be held at the fringe of the International Energy Forum in Algiers from 26-28 September. Irans position on oil output freeze deal is that the country would need to reach the pre-sanctions output level of some 4 million barrels a day before joining any potential agreement. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 22 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistan supports Afghanistans sustainable development by initiating only peaceful settlement of the countrys problems and speaks for speedy implementation of new long-term economic projects, said Turkmenistans President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. He made the remarks during the meeting with President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Takehiko Nakao who has arrived in Ashgabat, Turkmen Dovlet Khabarlary (TDH) state news service reported. Turkmenistan intends to further make efforts to render assistance to brotherly Afghan people and cooperate with the international community on these issues within the largest international organizations, in particular, the UN, said Berdimuhamedov. Takehiko Nakao, for his part, said that ADB fully supports Turkmenistans constructive foreign policy strategy and constructive international initiatives and is ready to render full assistance in the process of fulfilling them. The ADB president emphasized the importance of the consistently implemented projects in such strategic spheres as supply of energy resources and electricity, laying new transportation corridors and connecting them to the regional network. Earlier, Ashgabat expressed readiness to offer its political space for holding inter-Afghan peace dialogue under the auspices of UN and to actively participate in working out new political and diplomatic mechanisms for resolving this issue. A California man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for orchestrating a $31 million mortgage assistance scam. Dionysius Fiumano, of California, was also ordered to pay nearly $12 million in restitution. Fiumano was convicted in May of conspiracy and wire fraud. Prosecutors said that as general manager of a company called Professional Legal Network, Fiumano was the ringleader of a scam operation that netted $31 million from 30,000 homeowners for mortgage assistance that was never provided. Fiumano allegedly instructed employees to tell homeowners that fees paid to the company would go toward retaining an attorney who would obtain a mortgage modification. In fact, prosecutors said, that assistance never materialized. Fiumanos company preyed on and victimized the desperate homeowners, taking their money and doing nothing to actually help, US Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement. Prosecutors had actually asked for a much longer sentence, saying up to 40 years would be reasonable and appropriate for Fiumanos crimes. But Fiumanos defense team argued that such a lengthy sentence was ridiculous. No murders occurred, no violent crime or drug offenses happened. Even the sentence recommended by probation, 15 years, is extremely harsh, given the facts of the case, the defenses sentencing submission memo said. Four of Fiumanos partners have pled guilty to involvement in the scam. Theyre scheduled for sentencing in November. Hillary Clinton has vowed to defend the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau against Republican efforts to dismantle it.In an open letter to Wells Fargo customers, Clinton called for the preservation of the controversial agency, which Republicans maintain operates with too much power and too little oversight. The Democratic presidential can also excoriated Wells Fargo for the recently revealed practice of opening up unauthorized customer accounts in order to boost sales numbers. Clinton said Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf owes all of you a clear explanation as to how this happened under his watch. There is simply no place for this kind of outrageous behavior in America.Clinton said that the CFPB was an important tool to keep big financial concerns like Wells Fargo in check.The unfair and abusive practices at Wells Fargo remind us that we need tough watchdogs looking out for customers, Clinton wrote. The CFPB worked with local authorities and enforced the law assessing its highest penalty ever, and bringing the banks illegal activity into the national spotlight.Clinton implied that Republicans and big business were in league to destroy the agency, and said that as president she wouldnt allow that to happen.Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and Wall Street lobbyists are desperate to dismantle this effective agency, which is dedicated solely to protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive practices, Clinton wrote. I wont let them put the CFPB under their thumb. Ill protect the CFPB and make sure it can continue its essential work on behalf of the American people.Clinton also wrote that Wall Street firms needed to face harsher consequences for misbehavior.This past week, we learned that one of the Wells Fargo executives that oversaw the division that ripped off its customers left the bank not with a pink slip, but with a $125 million payout, she wrote, referring to former Wells Fargo exec Carrie Tolstedt . Its hard to imagine that top executives were unaware of a problem that involved thousands of the firms employees.Clinton also wrote that changes needed to be made to insure that no bank became too big to manage.(If) any bank cant be managed effectively, it should be broken up, she wrote. The Permian Basin economy might have slowed over the past year and a half, but that doesnt mean traffic congestion has become less of an issue, at least in Odessa. On Monday, the Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization policy board held its monthly meeting at Odessa College and had a big decision to make: amending the master transportation plan, or MTP, which lays out projects extending to 2040. At stake was removing the overpass at 52nd/56th streets and Loop 338 from the fifth spot on the top five priority list and replacing it with an overpass project at Yukon Road and Loop 338. Board members Judge Ron Eckert and Odessa Mayor David Turner proposed the change in June to advance plans to build a reliever route on Yukon Road between state highways 191 and 302 to alleviate traffic on 42nd Street. The board agreed in June to investigate the issue and address it at Septembers meeting. Odessas 42nd Street regularly sees traffic jams from University of Texas of the Permian Basin to Ector County Coliseum, a span of nearly four miles. In the middle is the highly populated and very busy Permian High School, which Eckert told the Reporter-Telegram concerns him daily. I have a 16-year-old daughter who attends Permian, and I worry about 42nd for her. I tell her to plan alternate routes and try and find ways where you dont have to get onto 42nd because its just very congested and a haven for accidents. Eckert said the city and county want to provide an alternative to 42nd Street and that building up the Yukon Road corridor, which currently spans from SH 191 in the east to Loop 338 in the west, should make traveling across the city easier and safer. Odessa and Ector County see the construction of an overpass at Yukon and its eastern connection with Loop 338 as the next big step for the corridor. Traffic crossing Loop 338 is currently controlled by stop signs, which is also the case at 52nd/56th streets and the loop. The policy board voted 5-1-1 to approve replacing the 52nd/56th overpass with Yukon, but it wasnt an easy win for Ector County and Odessa. MPO staff reminded the board of the upcoming completion of several major projects such as the travel demand model and I-20 corridor study that likely will lead to MTP changes in the future. Also, given that the fifth priority item isnt scheduled for consideration until 2021, there is plenty of time to make a change in the future. Midland County Commissioner for Precinct 2 and MPO board member Robin Donnelly raised the issue several times that there hasnt been a study completed on the Yukon Road overpass. Without completing these studies, weve committed to changing something we dont fully understand. Without the travel demand model, were really throwing darts at a dart board at this point, he told the Reporter-Telegram. If we find we need to focus more on other areas after we get the travel demand model, we might find we jumped the gun (on Yukon). Midland City Councilman for District 2 and MPO board Chairman John B. Love III agreed. My preference would have been to do all of the changes at the same time because we have no idea what the travel demand model will tell us, he told the Reporter-Telegram. Plus, as board member Robin Donnelly so eloquently put it, we dont have any information on the study. We dont know whether the scope theyre asking for is too little or too much. Love, who was the lone vote against, also objected to the amendment because the MPOs reputation with the Texas Department of Transportation is being repaired after a difficult past few years in Austin, before he was part of the board. Donnelly, who has been on the board for about six years, explained the perception problem: You have to change the MTP as conditions in your community change. We pressed TxDOT very hard to give us more money during the boom because we saw need out here that was justified. The problem we kept running into was, we did not do a very good job of being good guys and saying we need help. We demanded they help us, and Austin looked at us and said, You guys are just yelling because you want to yell. You dont really have a problem out there. Youre just antagonizing us because you want more money. When we did the SH 349 reliever route, we started getting a reputation of hollering and screaming without justification. Now, when you look at the traffic counts on the reliever route, I think we were justified in doing that. When faced with possibly changing the MTP again in the future, I didnt want to jeopardize that after working hard to try to clean that up a little bit, Love said. He said that a popular project doesnt mean its necessarily the best project, which is why he rather would have waited until data from the travel demand model and the study Ector County is funding are fully collected. While Donnelly offered similar sentiments, he still voted to approve the change. The two people that proposed the project are the people that are most intimate with the projects over there. When youre looking at changing from one area to another, moving an overpass project from here to there, youve got to go with the people who understand the project. If thats what the judge and the mayor wanted, Ive got to go along with it because theyre the ones who are more familiar with their traffic. I have to depend on them to know their situations. The boards vote to amend the MTP doesnt mean Yukon is a top priority yet. MPO executive director Cameron Walker said the MPO technical advisory committee is now tasked with figuring out whether to keep the 52nd/56th overpass on the list of fiscally constrained or reasonably fundable projects or move it to the unfunded priority projects list, which is where Yukon currently sits. Also necessary is a 30-day public comment period before all changes can be finalized, possibly at the public policy boards December meeting. Still, its a step forward in addressing traffic congestion on 42nd Street. Im excited by it. I appreciate the MPO board for making the amendment, Eckert said. TxDOT Odessa District engineer John Speed abstained from voting because he has been at the position only since Friday. The board was in full attendance. Other yes votes were from Martin County Judge Bryan Cox, Midland-Odessa Urban Transportation District General Manager Robert Stephens, Eckert and Turner. SAVE THE DATE The Permian Basin MPO will hold two public meetings for its I-20 corridor study this month: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hays Elementary in Odessa and 5:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at Travis Elementary in Midland. The public is invited to attend and share their insights about I-20s trouble spots. The Permian Road Safety Coalition will hold a Goal Zero event at noon Oct. 13 at the Horseshoe Pavilion. Goal Zero is an effort to have one day without any traffic fatalities or major injuries. The MPO policy boards next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Oct. 17 at the MPO office, 9601 Wright Drive, in Midland. Like Trevor on Facebook and follow him on Twitter at @HowdyHawes. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept. 22 By Demir Azizov Trend: Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom David Saperstein exchanged views on cooperation in freedom of religion within the 71st regular session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Uzbekistans Foreign Ministry said Sept. 22. The ministry said the sides confirmed readiness to continue constructive dialogue in a spirit of mutual understanding. Given the importance of the energy industry to Texans, the policies of the next president of the United States could have a major impact on the state. From their positions on how to deal with the earths changing climate to which energy industries to provide with government support, the differences could be prime topics during the candidate debates. For instance, what if GOP nominee Donald Trump were to follow through on his proposed wall with Mexico? Whether his administration were to erect barriers that were physical or merely political between the two nations, that could affect the growing exchange of natural gas and oil between Texas and Mexico. (Just his visit to Mexico a few weeks ago was enough to get the Mexican finance minister who invited him fired.) Right now, more than a billion cubic feet of gas is shipped to Mexico from the U.S. every month, mostly through pipelines running through Texas and some of it produced in the state. Many more pipelines are under construction. If politics interrupts the flow, the natural gas producers and shippers in Texas could have a problem. On the other hand, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has spoken out against hydraulic fracturing, the drilling technique responsible for the boom in Texas oil and gas production. So additional federal restrictions on fracturing could depress the Texas oil and gas business. While Trump has spoken out in favor of fracturing, hes also said at least once that hed support state or city restrictions. That could benefit Texas, given this states official support for fracturing. The city of Denton passed a law outlawing fracturing, only to see the state Legislature, ahem, trump that by blocking cities from imposing more restrictions than the state. If other states or cities in those states passed laws that reduced production based on Trumps encouragement, that could raise wholesale prices and benefit Texas companies. As is true for many issues in this campaign, Trumps positions about energy are more metaphor than specific plan, backed in many cases by ambitious claims that dont stand up to fact-checking. Clinton, on the other hand, has offered many more specifics, with some ambitious claims that critics have questions about. Here are some of the broad areas where the candidates statements indicate how their policies could affect the Texas energy sector: Trump has made repeated claims about returning jobs to coal mining. While its not clear how he would do that -- the low price of natural gas has hurt the mining business much more than any government regulations -- shifting customers to coal could reduce demand for oil and gas. That could hurt those businesses in Texas. But the state still has a relatively small coal industry that could benefit. Trump offers little support for renewable sources of energy. Hes dissed wind power as dangerous to birds (claiming deaths from wind turbines far in excess of any actual count). Wind power supporters say that Texas is the Saudi Arabia of wind, with more than 10 percent of the states electricity now being produced and plans for more in the future. Reduced federal support, or shifting support to fossil fuels, could impact those plans. Trump has offered little backing for solar power, dismissing it as taking too many years to justify the investment. Solar power produces a small fraction of Texas electricity, but there are parts of the state where the technology is picking up customers. Continental Resources CEO Harold Hamm has been mentioned as a potential energy secretary in a Trump administration. The Oklahoma oilman would likely pursue policies that would benefit the Texas oil and gas sector. Clinton has called for an enormous increase in renewable energy sources, with plans for massive subsidies for solar power. If that happens, it could be good for the Texas solar industry. This is a state with lots of land available for solar farms. But more solar power could hurt the oil and gas sector by depressing demand. Clinton has also offered support to continued use of nuclear power. That includes ways to extend the lifetimes of existing nuclear power plants, such as the Comanche Peak plant in Glen Rose. Most of her announced energy policies would cut the nations reliance on fossil fuels as a way to limit carbon emissions and slow global warming. Her call to limit fracturing, however, seems to respond to where locals are complaining about adverse effects such as water contamination and earthquakes. Under Clinton, coal would take a major hit. The direct impact of that on Texas might be to make it harder on coal-fired power plants that produce more than a quarter of the states electricity. Her support for EPA restrictions on carbon emissions could also make it harder to economically maintain those power plants than would be the case in a Trump administration. --- Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. OPEC members Saudi Arabia and Iran, whose rivalry derailed an oil supply accord earlier this year, met in Vienna a week before the organization holds talks in Algeria. The two oil producers, along with fellow OPEC member Qatar, met at the headquarters of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in Vienna, according to three people familiar with the matter. They were making preparations for informal discussions between energy ministers from OPEC and Russia in Algiers next week, the people said, asking not to be identified because the talks were private. The face-to-face talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran, OPECs two leading members and fierce regional rivals, show diplomatic efforts to secure a meaningful deal in Algiers are still under way despite market skepticism. Prices have retreated this month amid concern there will be no serious commitment to constrain supply and all but two of 23 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg this week predict there will be no agreement next week. We may be starting see a change of attitude in Riyadh, said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research in Winchester, Massachusetts. A positive result to the talks in Algiers is looking more likely. OPECs last attempt to reach a deal, which also involved Russia, the largest non-OPEC producer, fell apart in Doha in mid-April when Saudi Arabia insisted at the last minute that Iran also had to freeze production. Iran had refused because it was just starting to revive exports following the end of international sanctions. The discussions on Wednesday in Vienna marked the latest step in a flurry of shuttle diplomacy that has seen OPEC officials meet from Paris to Moscow and the Middle East. OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo visited Qatar and Iran earlier this month to build consensus before the Algiers conference. President Vladimir Putin said on Sept. 2 that the producers can overcome their divisions to reach a deal. With Iran having restored lost output since international sanctions were lifted in January, the chances of a deal now are higher than at any time since OPEC launched its strategy two years ago, according to Jamie Webster, a fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University in New York. The growing pressure from low oil prices may also give Saudi Arabia, which has depleted its cash reserves to cover a budget deficit, an incentive to compromise, according to Abhishek Deshpande, chief energy analyst at Natixis in London. Still, a number of obstacles to securing an agreement remain, including tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran as they continue to clash in proxy conflicts around the region from Syria to Yemen. OPEC also remains locked in a contest for market share, both between members and with competitors outside the group like U.S. shale drillers, making a deal difficult. Some OPEC members such as Iran and Iraq aim to boost capacity, while de facto group leader Saudi Arabia is pumping at record levels to maintain its sales volumes. The group is also reluctant to enter into a pact with Russia, which it doubts would deliver on any pledge to curb supply, according to Citigroup. Officials in Amarillo on Tuesday agreed to chip in $15 million to help Texas Tech University open a new veterinary school in the city. The grant will come from the city's economic development fund, which is used to lure job opportunities to town. The city and university estimates that the vet school will create about 100 well-paying jobs. "Not only is this a wonderful opportunity for students seeking careers in veterinary medicine, particularly in a region known as the livestock capital of the United States, it's an investment in our community and economy," said Mayor Paul Harpole. The school still needs approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and funding from the Legislature. That could be a challenge. Officials from Texas A&M University, home of the state's only vet school, have expressed opposition. The coordinating board has expressed skepticism that the state needs another traditional vet school, though it has left the door open to a new model. Tech leaders say that's what they are trying to create, and they add that their school would need less state money than a traditional school and serve a need for rural vets. Tech wants to open the school in 2019. "Texas has a severe shortage of rural veterinarians who are crucial to the foundations of our economy, the vibrancy of our communities and the safety of our food supply," said Tech System Chancellor Robert Duncan. "There is no better place to transform the future of veterinary education and answer this call than in Amarillo." Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept. 22 By Demir Azizov Trend: Uzbekistans Central Election Commission has signed bilateral agreements with media outlets on coverage of the process of preparations and holding of the presidential election in the country. The agreements have been signed with Uzbekistans National TV and Radio Company, Uzbekistan National News Agency, Jahon news agency, National Association of Electronic Mass Media and Uzreport news agency, according to the CEC. Under the agreements, a special attention will be paid to the consistent coverage of activities of election commissions, creation of wide and equal opportunities for presidential candidates in using media for election campaign. Uzbekistan will hold an early presidential election Dec. 4. The election will be held in accordance with the countrys constitution due to the death of President Islam Karimov. Election campaigns started Sept. 9. Registration of presidential candidates will be held from Sept. 30 until Oct. 20 in accordance with the action plan for preparations and holding the presidential election. Uzbekistans President Islam Karimov passed away Sept. 2 after suffering a stroke. Four political parties in the country have the right to nominate a presidential candidate. They are the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Democratic Party Milly Tiklanish (National Revival), People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and Social Democratic Party Adolat (Justice). Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept. 22 By Demir Azizov Trend: A Kazakh delegation headed by Askar Mamin, first deputy prime minister, paid a working visit to Tashkent September 22, a representative of the Uzbek government told Trend. According to the message, the trade-economic relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, industrial partnership and cooperation in the field of transport and transit are planned to be discussed during the visit. Mamin is expected to meet with Rustam Azimov, first deputy prime minister of Uzbekistan, and Ulugbek Rozukulov, deputy prime minister, as well as hold the talks with Shavkat Mirziyoyev, acting president of Uzbekistan, the message said. We won't be seeing the Dance of the Dragons for quite a while. After that epic season one finale, HBO is making sure viewers don't expect a sequel to House of the Dragon in the new year. "Don't expect it in 23, but I think sometime in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Dalga Khatinoglu, Farhad Daneshvar Trend: Although some parts of international sanctions against Irans oil industry are still in place, the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, aka nuclear deal) has paved the way for further negotiations and closer cooperation, an Iranian oil official believes. Saeed Ahangaran, secretary of the Society of Iranian Petroleum Industry Equipment Manufacturers (SIPIEM), has told Trend that Iranian companies are still facing the difficulties in getting qualifications from international standard setting bodies due to international sanctions. Therefore, the Iranian companies that enjoy proper knowledge in manufacture of oil equipment lag behind their rivals in competition for getting shares from regional markets, he added. The official, however, hopes that his organization will enter the international market in the near future. According to Ruhollah Ahangaran, the SIPIEM is currently in talks with several international partners to expand cooperation. Most of international sanctions against Iran were lifted following the implementation of the JCPOA Jan. 16. However, many Iranian industrialists complain that a major part of the US imposed sanctions against the Islamic Republic are still in place making it difficult for Iranian companies to reintegrate into the world. In addition to the standard setting bodies, some other international companies, including the topsides and turbines providers are American, which are still restricted from sending technology to Iran. Poverty should not be barrier to ... Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 20 By Farhad Daneshvar 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. Calaveras County Sheriff View Photos Update at 3:15 p.m.: Calaveras sheriffs officials say the are proceeding to investigate the case of a deceased woman found in a San Andreas apartment as a homicide. As Calaveras County Sheriffs spokesperson Lt. Chris Hewitt explains, There is a natural death where it could be a doctors attended or [the deceased] had a poor medical history where they died of natural causes. We investigate those differently than these types. So, when we have a suspicious death of this nature, then we investigate it as a homicide, until proven otherwise. Although case information continues to be closely held and investigators are anticipating findings by the Coroners Office to provide essential details, Lt. Hewitt emphasizes that a missing SUV registered to the tenant of the apartment remains a vehicle of interest. Hewitt and his colleagues would also like to talk to whoever took or is driving the SUV. Law enforcement officials, who are actively seeking the silver 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe with the California license plate 7NUG011, ask anyone who sees it to not contact or engage the driver but to instead immediately call their local sheriffs, police or CHP office. Original Post at 11:42 a.m.: San Andreas, CA Local law officials have questions concerning their discovery of a deceased woman inside a San Andreas apartment this morning. Just before 9:30 a.m. the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office dispatched deputies to the Creekside Apartment complex after receiving a report from concerned neighbors who had not seen the woman in several days. While conducting a welfare check deputies reportedly located a deceased female in the apartment. While the identity and cause of death will be coming in the days ahead from the Coroners Office, investigators say that a vehicle registered to the tenant was determined to be missing, possibly indicating suspicious death circumstances. Currently, no other details are being released other than the vehicle description, which is as follows: a silver 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV with the California license plate 7NUG011. The sheriffs office is requesting anyone with information about the vehicles whereabouts or the case to call the Investigation Division at 209 754-6500 or the anonymous tip line at 209 754-6030. 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. Residents living in the Midway community in Sanford say theyre concerned about dozens of sex offenders living in their area, and theyve planned a rally for Thursday night to make their voices heard. Teen says she finds it 'disturbing' that sex offenders live near her Seminole Sheriff's Office says no issues have been reported ALSO: 10 arrested in internet child-sex operation News 13 found almost 50 men listed on the Florida Department of Law Enforcements sex offender registry living within 2 miles of Midway Elementary School in Seminole County. Jaden Jacobs, 16, was surprised to find out she lives just down the street from a couple of men listed on the states sex offender registry. In this search map from the Florida Department of Law Enforcements sex offender registry, the red circle represents a 2-mile radius of Midway Elementary School. Within that circle, the blue pins represent a registered sex offender. Im just really, speechless. Its really scary, Jacobs said. With her mothers permission, Jacobs commented on what she thinks about dozens of sex offenders living in her community. Its disturbing. It makes me more cautious where I go in the area, or if Im hanging out outside, how cautious I need to be in my own personal neighborhood where I should feel at home, Jacobs said. When News 13 checked FDLEs sex offender registry, at least nine men listed on the registry live in a home in Midway thats right across the street from a church and a bus stop. When a reporter tried to talk to the men in the house, no one answered the door. Some walk back from Midway past that place every day, resident Bertha Jackson said. Only a few of the registered sex offenders living near Midway Elementary are considered by FDLE as sex predators, but most of the mens criminal pasts show convictions of sex crimes involving minors. A spokesperson for the Seminole County Sheriffs Office said deputies regularly patrol the area and theyve had no problems involving the residents who are listed as registered sex offenders. The Sheriffs Office also notifies residents when sexual predators move into the neighborhood. The spokesperson also said the agency does not encourage registered sex offenders to move to certain areas or move in with each other. By law, registered sex offenders are required to live farther than 1,000 feet of a school. But many students within 2 miles of a school dont get bussed and walk to school if they dont get a ride with a parent. That has residents concerned. Im not saying people dont change, because they do change. It just makes you more cautious of the area and what you do, Jacobs said. Concerned residents have planned a Stand Up for Children rally to begin at 5 p.m. Thursday night at Sipes Avenue and 20th Street in Midway. A Floydada high school library teaching assistant is facing serious allegations as police are investigating a reported sexual assault between the teacher and a student after a report was filed late last week. According to Floydada police, it has been reported that a teaching assistant is accused of engaging in a sexual act with a 16- year-old male student. The Floydada department says officers are currently investigating, but no arrests have been made. It is Plainview Herald policy not to release the name of suspects in such cases until formal charges have been filed. We are currently investigating, said Floydada Police Chief Darrell Gooch. The 50-year-old teaching assistant reportedly resigned from her position with the school district shortly after a report concerning the possible sexual assault was filed with the Floydada police Friday. Floydada ISD Superintendent Gilbert Trevino says the school will withhold any comments during the pending investigation. With the tight-knit environment associated with communities the size of Floydada, issues of conflict of interest may prompt the Texas Rangers to step in and pick up the investigation, but currently Floydada police are handling the situation. Check myplainview.com for the latest news on the allegations. To comment: hmarquez@hearstnp.com 806.296.1350 MERIDEN In November 2015, Trayquan Ford pleaded guilty to a weapons charge. He was released on probation in April 2016. In late June of this year, he was charged with interfering with an officer and interfering with a search warrant while police searched for a gun. Given Fords conviction history, Meriden police set bail at $100,000, but the court reduced the bail amount to $15,000 and he was released after his arraignment. In July, Ford was arrested again after police said he was found walking downtown with a gun, and he told officers he almost shot at their vehicle because he thought it was someone who was after him. He was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a pistol without a permit and altering the serial number on a firearm. This time, Meriden police set bail at $500,000, while the bail commissioner asked for $150,000 and the public defender asked for $50,000. The Superior Court judge set bail at $250,000, and Ford remains behind bars. Fords relative Dujour Ford shares a similar bail story. After an April 23 arrest on charges of illegally discharging a firearm on Springdale Avenue, Meriden police set bail at $250,000 but the court lowered it to $90,000. He posted bail six days later and was released. In June, he was arrested again and charged with first-degree assault, criminal use of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit, related to a shooting on Gravel Street. Police said both Fords and several other extremely dangerous gang members are behind the rise in shootings that have occurred in Meriden since April. They also said some of the violence in the city could have been prevented had it not been so easy for the suspects to be released from custody. Ten gang members in total have been apprehended from a group of about a dozen, Police Chief Jeffry Cossette told city residents Tuesday night. State Sen. Dante Bartolomeo met with neighborhood associations, Cossette and other city leaders as the shootings continued through the spring and summer. She said she wasnt quite sure what her role could be since the shootings were a local matter, but the quick release of gang members charged with crimes involving weapons was jarring. When you have this history, and the reason for the search is a gun, that should be considered when setting bail, Bartolomeo said about Trayquan Ford. Bartolomeo met Monday with members of adult probation and bail services, representatives from the Judicial Branch, Chief States Attorney Kevin Kane, Supervisory States Attorney for Meriden Superior Court James Turcotte, the state and local public defenders office, Meriden City Manager Guy Scaife, Cossette, Deputy Police Chief Tim Topulos, Detective Mike Fonda and Rep. Cathy Abercrombie D-Meriden. I am concerned that certain bail decisions made at the Geographical Area court level have placed our community further at risk when, over the objections of the respective states attorneys, bail was reduced from the amount originally placed on the defendants, Bartolomeo wrote in a Aug. 23 letter to Judge Patrick Carroll III, chief court administrator. While the Meriden police are diligently investigating each incident, proactively monitoring all leads to prevent additional incidents, and making arrests, the shootings continue to occur some involving repeat offenders. Bartolomeos goal was to get all parties to talk to each other so they can make better-informed decisions when recommending or setting bail. It was a good conversation, she said. There should be minimum bail or cash-only bail for a suspect who committed a crime with a weapon. I want to solidify a system where a violent criminal is detained until trial. Bartolomeo, a Democrat who is running for re-election, is also taking a look at the bail bond system for potential changes, and the group will meet again before a final proposal goes to the General Assembly when it meets again in January. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has made bail reform a priority in the upcoming session and has asked the Sentencing Commission to examine the current bail bond system for reform and a review of the states diversionary programs, said Mike Lawlor, Office of Policy and Management undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning. The governor agrees there is a flaw in the system when high-level criminals can be released on bail, and low-level offenders are jailed, Lawlor said. The decision to set bail often rests on the likelihood of the defendants appearing in court, but judges can factor in dangerousness on very specific charges, he said. Ironically, the people who get arrested the most, the bail bondsmen are on speed dial, Lawlor said. If youre a frequent flier, you can get a discount. Malloy asked the commission to research the impact of bail on nonviolent, low-level offenders currently incarcerated because they could not raise bond. He has also asked the commission to look at what other states have done recently to keep dangerous defendants locked up before trial and make a recommendation by January. Bartolomeos opponent in the 13th Senate District race, Republican Leonard Suzio, blamed the citys violence on the states early release program that lets prisoners earn credits for release after serving 85 percent of their sentences. Suzio called it a failed system. Of bail restructuring, Suzio said: Its a phony response to a phony solution designed to make politicians look like theyre doing something. My problem is with the criminals who are getting out early. Make sure the convicted hardened criminals serve their full term. Suzio said half of the suspects involved in the city shootings had served time for violent crimes and were released early, but he did not provide specifics. MERIDEN Police are asking for the publics help in identifying a man who inappropriately touched a 14-year-old girl on West Main Street in July. The incident occurred on July 20 around 8:30 p.m. in the area of 29 W. Main St., according to Sgt. Darrin McKay. Prior to grabbing the female juvenile, the suspect spoke to her and he had what has been described as a heavy Latin/Spanish accent, McKay said. As of now, Det. Shane Phillips has exhausted all investigate leads and we are looking for help from the community. McKay provided a photo of the suspect. He noted that the quality of the photo is poor, but that police hope someone might recognize him based on his build and clothing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Phillips at 203-630-6295. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Khalid Kazimov 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A rice cooker left at a bus stop on South Van Ness Avenue and Mission street prompted a police bomb squad response Thursday morning and the shut down of the major intersection and surrounding streets for about two hours before the kitchen device was determined not to be a threat. Just 30 minutes after the rice cooker was declared safe in San Francisco, the Vacaville Police Department received a call about an abandoned rice cooker discovered under the I-80 overpass on Mason Street between Peabody Road and Depot Street. A Muni bus driver called the San Francisco police around 7:30 a.m. after spotting the first abandoned rice cooker at the bus shelter in front of a Goodwill store at the intersection. Police blocked off the intersection and called in a bomb squad to investigate the cooking device, authorities said. The squads robot was deployed and found the rice cooker was empty and did not pose a threat. Traffic was blocked off in the area until about 10 a.m., although pedestrians were allowed to return to the area about 9:30 a.m. You have to look at what happens around the world and around the country. We deal with suspicious packages a few times a month in San Francisco, Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a San Francisco Police Department spokesman, said of the police response Thursday. In Vacaville, police received a call about a suspicious device around 10 a.m. prompting the local bomb squad to quarantine the half mile between Peabody Road and Depot Street on Mason Street, said Mark Marzzaferro, spokesman for the city of Vacaville. It was not an explosive device, Marzzaferro said. It was just an old beat up rice cooker. Police completed their investigation of the rice cooker around noon and everything went back to normal, Marzzaferro said, adding that he doesnt think there is any relation to the rice cooker incident in San Francisco. The scare came just days after a pressure-cooker bomb went off in New York City injuring 29 people in Manhattans Chelsea neighborhood, the same night a similar makeshift explosive device was found nearby. A man was arrested on suspicion of planting the explosives following a police shootout in New Jersey, where another device was found and detonated by police. Sarah Ravani and Hamed Aleaziz are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravabu@sfchronicle.com and haleaziz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani @haleaziz A San Francisco woman fleeing in a car from a shoplifting spree at a JC Penney in San Bruno proceeded to knock over a retail security guard and intentionally drive over her arms, police said Thursday. The suspect, 22-year-old Shaquett Thompson, was arrested following Wednesdays incident at the Tanforan Mall and booked on suspicion of attempted murder, robbery and felony hit-and-run driving. Thompson stole numerous items from the department store, police said. As she was getting into a car to get away, she tussled with a loss prevention officer and somehow grabbed her arm and dragged her to the ground, said Sgt. Ryan Johansen, a spokesman for the San Bruno Police Department. The woman backed up, struck a parked car and then sideswiped another as she moved forward, police said. But instead of just fleeing the parking lot, she swerved and drove back to where the security guard was on the ground and ran over her arms, Johansen said. As the woman drove away, she hit two other parked vehicles. The driver crashed her car into a steel girder and tried to run away, police said. She was located by San Bruno police officers shortly thereafter and arrested. Police will ask the district attorney to file the attempted murder charge because the path of travel is indicative of an intentional direction toward the loss prevention officer, Johansen said. The security guard was taken to a hospital and was expected to be released Thursday, he said. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov Before the horrors of drug cartel violence and addiction became the main images you associated with cocaine, the drug carried a fashionable quality. The website The Worlds Best Ever gathered images of vintage magazine ads under the headline Back in the day when they used to market cocaine. Using the Netflix series Narcos, about cocaine king Pablo Escobar, as inspiration the website tried to show how perceptions of the drug have changed. BRIDGEPORT State prosecutors dropped criminal charges Thursday against a man once suspected of being a terrorist, on the condition that he goes to Rochester, N.Y. Superior Court Judge Maureen Dennis entered a nolle in the case against 54-year-old Necati Harsit, who had been charged with charged with six counts of stalking and six counts of breach of peace, after prosecutors told her they no longer intended to pursue the case. The judge then released Harsit, who had been held in lieu of $250,000 bond, on the condition that he immediately go with relatives to their home in Rochester. Under a nolle, if prosecutors do not revive the case it is automatically dismissed after 13 months. Harsits lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Thomas Paoletta, declined comment. On Aug. 9, the city went into a terrorist alert, calling in the FBI and Homeland Security, after Harsit, a Turkish citizen, was found to have a car loaded with jugs of an unidentified liquid after he was stopped for following a terrified family in their RV. The situation began, police said, when the family two parents and four children contacted police to report that an older white Chevrolet Impala had been on their bumper all the way from the Bronx, N.Y. Bridgeport Police Capt. Brian Fitzgerald said the family did not know Harsit. The family pulled into a church parking lot off the Route 8/25 Connector and the Impala followed them. When officers arrived, police said, Harsit was sitting behind the wheel of the car with a scarf over his head. When they asked him why he had been following the family, police said, he replied, Because I want to. Police said there was about $14,000 in cash in the cars center console and the backseat and floor were filled with jugs containing an unidentified liquid. The liquid was later determined to be a floral cologne diluted in water. Prosecutors said Harsit had been driving from Rochester to Long Island but apparently became lost and ended following the family in the hope they could lead him to his destination. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sep. 22 By Dalga Khatinoglu Trend: Iran is preparing to request next week from international oil companies (IOC) as well as exploration and production (E&P) companies to submit their information and needed technical documents for participating in the upstream tenders, Ali Kardor, the head of National Iranian Oil Company said Sep.22. He added that the Oil Ministry would evaluate the documents and choose the companies which are capable to participate in tenders related to the development projects, based on new designed oil and gas agreements, called Iran Petroleum Contracts (IPC). Irans government introduced IPCs last December which proposes 49 oil and gas projects for foreigners. The offered 21 gas and 29 oil fields based on IPC: Gas in place Trillion cubic feet Current output Mcf/d Total estimated output Mcf/d Estimated condensate output b/d 226.42 1,023 14,416 110,610 Oil in place billion stock tank barrels Current output b/d Total estimated output b/d Associated gas output mcf/d 214 217,000 To be proposed by contractor 7,000 Kardor said that Iranian parliament has approved the IPC model recently and there is no legal obstacle for implementing it, IRNA reported. Iran is preparing to issue tenders on the projects in October 2017. Its expected that the country will issue the first tender on the Azadegan oil field. Iran expects to attract some $80 billion worth of foreign investment, or 80 percent of total needed investments for upstream projects, by 2021. Azadegan field has been divided to north and south parts. Currently 73,000 b/d of oil and 1.1 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d) of associated gas is produced from North Azadegan. After commencing the second phase of this project, the output would reach 150,000 b/d. Iran produces 50,000 b/d of South Azadegan and another 30,000 b/d would be added to this volume in September, said the official, adding that, the level would reach 110,000 b/d in and then 320,000 b/d, after another 132 wells are drilled. The official said that currently 19 rigs are active there. The second phase would add another 280,000 b/d of barrel to the output of South Azadegan, but not in in the near future. Dalga Khatinoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Iran news service, follow him on Twitter: @dalgakhatinoglu This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Plant fire follows federal safety action QUEENSBURY A wood-shavings plant caught fire Tuesday morning, two months after federal workplace safety officials cited the company for failing to correct "potential fire and explosion hazards." Fire crews from four towns responded to reports of a structure fire about 7:15 a.m. at RWS Manufacturing, 22 Ferguson Lane. The blaze extended from an outside conveyor that moved wood shavings to an inside storage facility, Kingsbury Fire Chief Butch Chase said. "Something may have malfunctioned," he said. Investigators do not consider the fire suspicious and no one was injured, Chase said. RWS, which makes animal bedding from wood shavings for Quebec-based Royal Wood Shavings, said in July it would shut down if it is not successful in appealing $197,820 in fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA claims the plant is exposing its employees to "potential fire and explosion hazards." Emily Masters Suspects linked to $40,000 burglary COLONIE As a house-sitter and her friend snatched more than $40,000 worth of high-end jewelry and technology goods from a Colonie home in August, they also stopped to shake coins from the kids' piggy banks, police said. "The piece de resistance," Colonie police spokesperson Lt. Bob Winn said about the loose change. Justine Cascone, 19, had been house-sitting at the Jester Court home of her aunt and uncle for a number of days when she called police Aug, 22 to report the house had been burglarized the day before, Winn said. An investigation, however, led police to charge Cascone and Brenden M. Sidney, 21, of Voorheesville with the thefts. The items stolen include a $12,000 Breitling watch, diamond rings, gold pendants, necklaces and bracelets, an antique pearl necklace, two computers and an iPad, Winn said. "We have recovered a quantity of the stolen items but some things had already been pawned," Winn said Wednesday. Sidney handed over his part of the haul to police and Cascone was found with a necklace, Winn said. Cascone is charged with felony grand larceny, misdemeanor possession of stolen property and misdemeanor false reporting charges, Winn said. Sidney is charged with burglary and grand larceny. Emily Masters Marijuana seized after Thruway stop WOODBURY State Police said they seized 15 pounds of marijuana after stopping a Troy pair on the state Thruway near Woodbury for a traffic violation Monday. The driver, Alynda T. Sturdivant, 26, and her passenger, Akim Green, 40, were arrested after troopers found the pot and some heroin, troopers said. Sturdivant is charged with felony possession of marijuana, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and vehicle and traffic violations. She was arraigned and taken to the Orange County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. Green was charged with felony possession of marijuana, felony tampering with physical evidence and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, arraigned and jailed on $12,500 bail. Staff report Corinth student charged in threat CORINTH A Corinth High School student was charged with making a terrorist threat, a felony, Saratoga County investigators said. On Tuesday, Emily Berard, 16, posted a threat to the school on Facebook, Lt. Jeffrey Brown said. The school received an anonymous email alerting administrators of the threat, deputies said. While the threat was not found to be credible, Berard can still be charged with the felony of threatening to harm the school, Brown said. She was arraigned at Corinth Town Court and released pending her next court date. Wendy Liberatore Schenectady man admits rape, incest SCHENECTADY A Schenectady man pleaded guilty to rape and incest, said Assistant District Attorney John Carson. On Tuesday, Rason Venable, 32, pleaded guilty to both felonies before Schenectady County Judge Matthew J. Sypniewski. Venable could face up to eight years in jail and 12 years of probation. He will also be required to be registered as a sex offender. Venable will be sentenced on Nov. 22 in Schenectady County Court. Venable was charged with engaging in two separate sexual encounters with the victim, a girl, in Schenectady. Wendy Liberatore Off-duty deputy charged in gun sales PERTH An off-duty Fulton County deputy working as a gun store clerk faces two grand larceny charges for selling two handguns without the owner's permission, State Police said. Troopers arrested Richard A. Christiano of Glen on Tuesday after an investigation by the sheriff's office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms into gun transactions at The Gun Store in Perth. Emily Masters BRIDGEPORT City firefighters are administering naloxone hydrochloride, commonly known as Narcan, an average of twice a day to bring overdose victims back from the brink of death. It was maybe every other day last year, Bridgeport Fire Chief Richard Thode said Wednesday at a midday press conference, so you can see what were dealing with. The increase in just one year is partly due to the presence of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is sometimes mixed with heroin for street sales, Thode said. More for you Path to heroin addiction Heroin isnt made in a pharmacy, its made in an illegal lab, and so its never the same, the fire chief said. If a bad batch hits the streets, well see a spike in ODs, he said, like the 20 cases over two days in New Haven this summer. Thode and Mayor Joe Ganim accepted 400 doses of the lifesaving antidote, worth more than $16,000, from the Greater Bridgeport Area Prevention Program. The G-BAPP and the Recovery Network operate the citys syringe-exchange program for the state Department of Public Health, which provided the medication. Each bright-red zippered pouch contains two doses of naloxone hydrochloride, one in a syringe and another in an inhaler, along with alcohol wipes and gloves. Narcan and its generic form, according to the website drugs.com, prevents or reverses the effects of opioids including respiratory depression, sedation and hypotension. Family members can be provided the drug to administer to family members with a known addiction, under the states Good Samaritan law, said Nancy Kingwood of G-BAPP. There are 814 Bridgeport residents in the syringe exchange program, that provides clean needles to addicts, she said. A state law passed in 2014 provided civil and criminal liability protection to anyone who administered Narcan in good faith to an individual experiencing an overdose. We wish we didnt have this problem, but we do, and its not just Bridgeport, its all over the country, Ganim said. People get pain medications from their doctors when they need them, but there is a connection between prescription drugs and (the use of) heroin. This can happen to anyone. Bridgeport police officers do not carry Narcan, Capt. Mark Straubel said. The towns where police carry it have volunteer fire departments and ambulance service, he said. In Bridgeport we have a professional fire department and AMR Ambulance Co., so police here are generally not the first medical responders. I am very confident that our citizens are not endangered because police do not carry Narcan, Straubel said. That being said, we are taking a serious look at it, including the cost of training. Police Chief Armando Perez said his administration is in discussions with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency about funding for Bridgeport police to be trained in the use of Narcan and for supplies of the medication. Police in Trumbull and Monroe carry the drug, and officers in each town have been credited with saving at least one life by administering naloxone hydrochloride. State Police also carry the drug, and have saved 100 lives over the past two years, Gov. Dannel Malloy said last month. There were 415 deaths involving heroin in Connecticut last year, a steep increase from the 195 in 2012, according to statistics from the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner. The jump in fentanyl-related deaths was even more pronounced: 146 last year compared to 14 in 2012. The number of heroin-related deaths nationally has increased six-fold between 2001 and 2014, according to a study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Canal trail bike ride scheduled Saturday ALBANY Parks & Trails New York presents a free guided bicycle ride along the Erie Canalway Trail between Albany's Corning Riverfront Park and Peebles Island State Park on Saturday. The 21-mile roundtrip route, part of the first nationwide Bike Your Park Day to celebrate National Public Lands Day, is flat and guided. Participants should meet at the Corning Riverfront Park Boat Launch. The ride leaves at 9 a.m. and cyclists will arrive at Peebles Island about 10 a.m. Registration is required. Contact Greg Francese (gfrancese@ptny.org or 434-1583) to register. Visit http://www.ptny.org/events/bike-your-park-day. Albany Curling Club to have open house ALBANY The Albany Curling Club's annual fall open house will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 8 and noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 9 at its facility, 117 West McKown Road (off Schoolhouse Road). Visitors will be encouraged to get out on the ice and try the sport. Experienced curlers will be guides. Attendees should wear warm, loose clothing and bring clean sneakers. Children six and older can participate, but children younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. For details, call 366-0433 or email: oneills@netzero.net. Woman to describe benefits of genealogy COLONIE The Capital District Genealogy Society meets at 1 p.m. Saturday. Patricia Walsh will detail the search for her birth family and the rewards of a successful search with her half-sister in her presentation, "The Pieces Come Together At Last." The meeting will be at William Sanford Library, 629 Albany Shaker Road, Colonie. The public is invited. League of Women Voters plans social SARATOGA SPRINGS The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County plans an ice cream social a chance to learn what the organization does at 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2 at the Saratoga Springs Library Community Room. League members will be available to answer questions about the organization and encourage attendees to join up. Call 728-5201 or email info@lwvsaratoga.org for details. Scotia proposal goes to public hearing SCOTIA A public hearing on a proposal for multi-family dwellings proposed by a Livingston Avenue property owner has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, at Village Hall. The hearing on required variances is part of the agenda of the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. Staff reports ALBANY A funeral home company director is headed to prison for two to six years and must pay close to $104,000 in restitution on tax fraud and theft convictions, prosecutors said Thursday. Samuel F. Catalano Jr., 59, of Berlin was sentenced by Albany County Judge Stephen W. Herrick after his guilty pleas in July to grand larceny and criminal tax fraud, both felonies, District Attorney David Soares' office said. 1 Police surveillance: Bills being introduced in nearly a dozen cities will seek to force police departments to disclose the surveillance technologies they use, the American Civil Liberties Union and other transparency advocates said Wednesday in Washington D.C. The legislative effort is meant to counter what they call a culture of secrecy surrounding police department surveillance. Among the cities where bills will be introduced are the District of Columbia; New York; Milwaukee; Richmond, Va.; and Seattle. 2 Same-sex marriage: A federal judge dismissed a challenge to a North Carolina law that allows magistrates to refuse to marry same-sex couples by citing religious beliefs. U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn in Asheville dismissed a lawsuit filed by three couples, two gay and one interracial. He ruled the couples lacked legal standing as taxpayers to sue and lacked evidence showing they were harmed directly by the law taking effect in June 2015. Still, the judge wrote there is potential someone could suffer real harm because of the law. The plaintiffs lawyers filed a notice Wednesday that theyll appeal the ruling to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va. North Carolina is one of only two states (Mississippi is the other) with such religious-objection laws that are being enforced. A dog found hanging by its leash from a pickup truck in a Kansas Walmart parking lot was saved by some quick thinking police officers. On July 8, Sgt. Jason Legleiter and Officer Wade Hammond of the Arkansas City Police Department in Arkansas City, Kansas, were alerted to a dog that was hanging from a leash in a pickup truck, according to the police department's Facebook page. Tucker Mashue, a 17-year-old autistic entrepreneur from Midland, is midway through Tucks Tooques on Tour, a 12-month, coast-to-coast neurodiversity roadshow designed to promote his pro-autism company, Tucks Tooques, and increase societys understanding and acceptance of autistic people. In support of Tucks Tooques on Tour, The Creek Grills annual End of Summer Celebration will donate a portion of event proceeds to offset the cost of major vehicle repairs required to restore Tucks beloved tour vehicle, Bucket, to road-worthy condition. The event takes place from 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday. Admission is free and the event will feature live music, great food, games, a silent auction and a slide show chronicling Phase I of Tucks Tooques on Tour. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: Foreign ministers of the P5+1 group of countries and Iran will meet on Sept. 22 in New York to discuss the quality of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA aka nuclear deal). The meeting will take place at 13:00 local time in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Fars news agency reported. The meeting will be the first of its kind since Jan. 16 when the historic nuclear deal was implemented. The P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the UK, the US as well as Germany) reached a historic deal with Iran last year to curb the Islamic Republics nuclear program in return for lifting the nuclear related sanctions. Despite the partial removal of sanctions, many Iranian entities complain that a major part of the US imposed sanctions against the Islamic Republic are still in place making it difficult for them to reintegrate into the world. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate New York He bought bomb ingredients on eBay and recorded a mirthful video of himself igniting a blast in a backyard. In a handwritten journal, he warned that bombs would resound in the streets and prayed he'd be martyred rather than caught, authorities say. Ahmad Khan Rahami's jihad journal ended with a stark message, according to court papers: "Death to your oppression." Federal court complaints filed Tuesday gave a chilling glimpse into what authorities say motivated the Afghan-born U.S. citizen to set off explosives last weekend in New York City and New Jersey, including a bomb that injured 31 people in Manhattan. The blasts came two years after the FBI looked into him but came up with nothing tying him to terrorism. Rahami remains hospitalized with gunshot wounds from a shootout with police that led to his capture Monday outside a bar in Linden, N.J. It wasn't immediately clear whether he had a lawyer who could comment on the charges against him, but a federal public defender told a judge Tuesday night that Rahami has not had access to a lawyer since his arrest. The charges against him include federal terror crimes and state charges of attempting to murder police officers. Rahami ordered citric acid, ball bearings and electronic igniters on eBay and had them delivered to a Perth Amboy, New Jersey, business where he worked until Sept. 12, the court complaints said. San Jose, California-based eBay Inc. noted that the products are legal and widely available and said the company had worked with law enforcement on the investigation. Just two days before Saturday's bombings, a relative's cellphone recorded Rahami igniting incendiary material in a cylinder buried in a backyard, the fuse being lighted, a loud noise and flames, "followed by billowing smoke and laughter," the complaints said. And the complaints said in his bloodied journal damaged by shots from his gun battle with police he fumed that the U.S. government was slaughtering Muslim holy warriors and alluded to plans for revenge. One portion expressed concern at the prospect of being caught before being able to carry out a suicide attack and the desire to be a martyr. Another section included a reference to "pipe bombs" and a "pressure cooker bomb" and declared: "In the streets they plan to run a mile," an apparent reference to one of the blast sites, a charity run in Seaside Park, N.J. "The sounds of bombs will be heard in the streets," the journal declared. There also were laudatory references to Osama bin Laden, Anwar al-Awlaki the American-born Muslim cleric who was killed in a 2011 drone strike and whose preaching has inspired other acts of violence and Nidal Hasan, the former Army officer who went on a deadly shooting rampage in 2009 at Fort Hood, Texas, the complaints said. Rahami is accused of setting three bombs, one in Seaside Park, N.J., and two in Manhattan. One of the New York City bombs didn't explode, and the FBI on Wednesday issued a poster showing two men who investigators want to interview. The agency said the men were seen Saturday night removing the bomb that failed to explode from a piece of luggage, then leaving the device behind while taking the suitcase. Investigators have said the two men are being sought as witnesses, not suspects. The FBI has said Rahami was not on its radar at the time of the bombing. But he was in 2014, when the FBI opened up an "assessment" its least intrusive form of inquiry based on comments from his father after a domestic dispute, the bureau said in a statement. "The FBI conducted internal database reviews, interagency checks and multiple interviews, none of which revealed ties to terrorism," the bureau said. A law enforcement official said the FBI spoke with Rahami's father in 2014 after agents learned of his concerns that the son could be a terrorist. During the inquiry, the father backed away from talk of terrorism and told investigators that he simply meant his son was hanging out with the wrong crowd, according to the official, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity. Rahami's father, Mohammad, told reporters Tuesday he called the FBI at the time because Rahami "was doing real bad," having stabbed his brother and hit his mother. Rahami was not prosecuted in the stabbing; a grand jury declined to indict him. "But they checked, almost two months, and they say, 'He's OK, he's clear, he's not terrorist.' Now they say he's a terrorist," the father said outside the family's fried-chicken restaurant in Elizabeth, N.J. He said he did not think his son was a terrorist. The FBI has faced questions before about whether it could have done more ahead of time to determine whether attackers had terrorist aspirations. The issue arose after the Orlando massacre in June, for instance, when FBI Director James Comey said agents a few years earlier had looked into the gunman, Omar Mateen, but did not find enough information to pursue charges or keep him under investigation. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said President Barack Obama was confident the bureau would review Rahami's interactions with law enforcement "to determine if there's something different that could have been done or should have been done to prevent the violence." Meanwhile, investigators are looking into Rahami's overseas travel, including a visit to Pakistan a few years ago, and want to know whether he received any money or training from extremist organizations. Rahami's wife is thought to be a Pakistani national. On a trip to Pakistan in 2014, Rahami emailed his local congressman seeking help because his pregnant wife had an expired passport. David Duerden, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, was unable to confirm or deny reports that Rahami's wife had been questioned in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to a large expatriate Pakistani population and has airports that offer daily flights to Pakistan. "We're aware of the reports but don't have any comment at this time," he said. Buffalo A Virginia businessman was being kind, not condemning homosexuality, when he helped a mother move her daughter out of the country and away from her ex-partner, his lawyer said Wednesday at the start of the man's parental kidnapping trial. Attorney Robert Hemley denied that Philip Zodhiates, of Waynesboro, was trying to obstruct the other woman's parental rights, telling jurors he may not even have known what those rights were, when he drove Lisa Miller and 7-year-old Isabella Miller-Jenkins to the Canadian border in 2009, after Miller had renounced her homosexuality. Miller and the girl crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls and flew out of Toronto to Nicaragua, prosecutors said, where they have remained since. Prosecutors said Zodhiates, owner of a direct mail business that serves conservative Christian groups, helped orchestrate Miller's move when it became clear she was losing a yearslong custody battle to Janet Jenkins, with whom she'd entered a civil union in Vermont in 2000. After the two split up, Miller became an evangelical Christian and defied court orders granting Jenkins visitation with Isabella, prosecutor Paul Van De Graaf said during his opening statement. Miller, who gave birth to Isabella, left the country with her shortly before a court shifted custody to Jenkins. Zodhiates, the prosecutor said, enlisted the help of a number of Mennonites in the United States and Nicaragua in arranging Miller's trip and a place to stay when she arrived in the Central American nation. "We're here because the defendant intentionally acted to ensure that Lisa Miller and Isabella would get out of the country in order that Isabella would not have contact with Janet Jenkins," Van De Graaf said as several members of the Mennonite community watched from the courtroom gallery. Hemley called the discussion about homosexuality "a smokescreen." "This case is not about attitudes about lesbians or gays or same-sex marriage," he said. "When someone asks for help, (Zodhiates) helps without regard to sexual orientation, without regard to religion or creed." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FAIRFIELD Incoming superintendent Toni Jones mingled with community members on Wednesday night at a meet and greet at school district offices. Jones told an audience of more than 30 that she had not been looking for a new job when she came across the Fairfield posting and that it was the only position to which she applied. I cant wait to actually get here on Dec. 5, she said. Along with Jones and her husband, one of her two adult sons plans to move to Fairfield after he finishes college. She will also be moving her 77-year-old mother to town. She is just as excited to move here as we are, Jones said. She told community members they could expect to see her all over town and encouraged them to say hello. During a question and answer session, one community member asked Jones about her budget experience. Jones said Falls Church City, Va., where she is currently superintendent of schools, has an involved budget process similar to what she will be working with in Fairfield. This December, former superintendent David Title, who retired Aug. 1, and Interim Superintendent Stephen Tracy are set to be part of the budget process to ease the transition. In response to a question about her goals as superintendent, Jones said her first will be to carry out the districts improvement plan for 2015-2020. Other goals will involve meeting teachers, support staff and other members of the school community to set future aspirations together, she added. When asked about opportunities she envisions for Fairfield schools, Jones said they can grow in servicing the needs of all children. Walter Fitzgerald Campus was one of the first stops she wanted to make after she got the job, Jones said. She highlighted that Falls Church City schools have graduated 100 percent of their students in recent years. Jones also spoke about relieving student stress while still meeting student academic needs. Asked about aiding teacher in the face of evaluation requirements, Jones said she was engaged with policy at the state level in Virginia and that while some evaluation is important, some of the pressure from focusing on scores over students should be relieved teachers can spend the time they need to with students. Jones will meet with leaders from across town this weekend, including Police Chief Gary MacNamara, Representative Town Meeting majority and minority leaders, the Fairfield Education Association board and State Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey. She has already met with First Selectman Mike Tetreau, RTM moderator Pamela Iacono and James Accomando, a National PTA Board of Directors member and Fairfield resident, among others. Lweiss@hearstmediact.com; @LauraEWeiss16 Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Emil Ilgar Trend: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has accused Saudi Arabia of spreading hate ideology and encroaching on the rights of its neighbors in a speech at the 71st Session of UN General Assembly in New York. The Saudi government must stop continuing with its divisive policies, disseminating the ideology of hatred and encroaching on the rights of its neighbors, and it must shoulder its responsibility with regards to the life and dignity of [Hajj] pilgrims and found its relations on the basis of mutual respect and accepting responsibility towards regional nations if it seeks a new prospect for its development and the security of the region, Rouhani said in his speech aired live by Irans Press TV. He added that certain countries in the region should stop bombing their neighbors and stop supporting terrorist groups. Rouhani didnt mention any name, but during last years, an Arab coalition, headed by Saudi Arabia, has been fighting the Houthis, a Shia movement, in Yemen. Touching upon conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Palestine, Rouhani warned against the unprecedented rise of violence in the Middle East and North Africa. He said security is a global issue and underlined that during the past years the world powers have been advancing different methods of repression and military intervention under the pretext of removing security concerns for their people. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK While Norwalk Police Officer Cesar Ramirez was working a road job earlier this year, he learned of the shooting deaths of Dallas police officers from citizens who approached him offering condolences. Later that evening, he was thinking about what a beautiful city Norwalk was and decided to put together an event in which both police and the community would engage in prayer for one another. He reached out to Chief Thomas Kulhawik with his idea and the result was an Aug. 3 interfaith prayer vigil held at police headquarters in which police, 20 members of local clergy, and more than 200 citizens shared prayers. Prayers were given in nearly a dozen languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, French, Creole, Arabic and Hebrew. It was his organization of the vigil that earned Ramirez recognition as August 2016 Officer of the Month at the Norwalk Police Commission meeting on Wednesday afternoon. The whole philosophy of the vigil was unity and the commitment for the community to be at peace, and to show respect for one another, Ramirez said. I got the OK from the chief to approach clergy and he liked the idea. We had 20 local reverends participate and a large amount of people from the community. Also announced at the Police Commission meeting was the retirement of a veteran sergeant and the promotion of two others. Sgt. Frank Reda, who joined the department in 1993 and was appointed to the rank of sergeant in 2011, will retire at the end of the month. Reda was well known as a dog-handler and sergeant of the departments K-9 Unit. Absorbing the vacancy left by Redas retirement will be Detective Ryan Everts, who was promoted to sergeant. Everts joined the force in 2006 and was promoted to detective in 2010. Officer John Sura, who joined the force in 2011 after several years as a Branford police officer, was promoted to detective. Both Everts and Sura will step into their new roles Oct. 1. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22 By Emil Ilgar Trend: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has accused Saudi Arabia of spreading hate ideology and encroaching on the rights of its neighbors addressing the 71st Session of UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 22. The Saudi government must stop continuing with its divisive policies, disseminating the ideology of hatred and encroaching on the rights of its neighbors, and it must shoulder its responsibility with regards to the life and dignity of [Hajj] pilgrims and found its relations on the basis of mutual respect and accepting responsibility towards regional nations if it seeks a new prospect for its development and the security of the region, Rouhani said in his speech aired live by Irans Press TV. BAD AXE Legislation that would protect anyone in Michigan from being prosecuted for reporting an overdose is awaiting the governors signature, but the countys sheriff doesnt think it will help the ongoing drug issue. Earlier this week, the House voted 105-1 on Bills 5649 and 5650 to exempt people of any age from prosecution if they report an overdose from any illegal substance or they require medical assistance themselves. The law currently protects people under 21 from charges when a medical emergency is reported that stems from a drug overdose. The goal of the legislation is to encourage people to call 911 and receive proper help instead of worrying about criminal charges. I dont think its going to change the amount of overdoses and (overdoses) will continue to increase, Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson told the Tribune. That has been the trend in the last few years. Hanson said, in his opinion, the legislation will most likely cut down the life-threatening overdoses, but wont decrease them. Within the last year, Hanson estimated his deputies were called to at least 25 overdoses heroin and prescription pills being the leaders behind the calls. There are a number of factors that go into determining if a person will be charged following an overdose. Not everybody that overdoses is charged, Hanson said, noting less than half of the people that overdose are charged. (Some factors are) how much drugs the person may have or if they are selling. If the overdose resulted in death or injury are also taken into consideration. When the sheriff determines if charges should be brought against someone, the case is turned over to the prosecutors office. However, thats not to say all overdoses go through the Huron County courts. There are a lot of overdoses we dont see, Huron County Prosecutor Timothy J. Rutkowski told the Tribune. We continue to work the cases and work on the drug issues in our county. Rutkowski said his office is looking at creating a preventative step through education and hosting public forums so citizens can become more informed on trending drug issues. Death isnt always the result in an overdose, but when it does occur, authorities dont look the other way. When somebody dies, we certainly look at it very hard to see what the circumstances were, Hanson explained. A Port Austin man recently pleaded guilty to delivery of a controlled substance causing death stemming from the death of his wife in March 2015. The man cooked up what he thought was heroin, loaded a syringe and gave it to her, which later killed her. He now faces up to life in prison. Michigan was one of 14 states to see a significant increase in overdoses from 2013 to 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its disappointing to see how society views that and what makes an individual use heroin or other dangerous drugs. Its mind-boggling, Hanson explained his opinion. ... Its pretty sad we have to (pass legislation) because someone is irresponsible with their life. The legislation now requires the signature of Gov. Rick Snyder to become law. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov intend to meet again on Friday to discuss a cessation of hostilities in Syria, Kerry said at a press briefing in New York, Sputnik International reported. "We have exchanged ideas with the Russians and we plan to consult tomorrow with respect to those ideas," Kerry told reporters on Thursday. John Kerry also noted that the United States still believes that the process established during the Geneva talks is the best way to resolve the Syrian civil war. "The United States continues to believe that the objectives and the processes laid out in Geneva earlier this month were and are the right ones," Kerry stated on Thursday. "The renewal of the cessation of hostilities, the resumption of aid deliveries, the isolation of Nusra [Front] and Daesh and the beginning of a negotiating path make possible the restoration of a united Syria." "The question now is whether there remains any real chance at moving forward, because its clear we cannot continue on the same path any longer," Kerry added. A temporary village guard has been martyred in an anti-terror operation against the PKK in the southeastern province of Siirt, security sources told Anadolu Agency on Thursday. Another guard was injured in the operation against the terrorists in a rural area of the province. Adil Kamel was killed in a gun battle with the terrorists and Refik Kamel was shot as the pair was reinforcing the operation against the PKK members who were attempting to flee the area. Kamel was taken to Siirt State Hospital by helicopter. The operation - including air support - is ongoing. The PKK listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU resumed its decades-old armed campaign last July against the Turkish state. More than 600 security personnel have since been martyred and more than 7,000 PKK terrorists killed. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate This week in 2005 many of us in the Houston area were buckling down to bear the brunt of Hurricane Rita. The aftermath and horror of Hurricane Katrina just weeks before had scared many people in the area into action, with long lines at grocery stores, hardware stores and voluntary evacuations. RELATED: How Hurricane Rita anxiety led to the worst gridlock in Houston history Hurricane Rita, a Category 5 monster, was moving toward the Texas Gulf Coast with frightening speed, causing evacuation orders for low-lying areas. The rush to get out of town and to places to the north and west created horrendous traffic jams as residents from every county in the area clamored to get out of the path of what was predicted to be a damaging hurricane. People who would have otherwise hunkered down, were scared into taking drastic action. Rita did indeed look terrifying and was headed straight toward Houston with 175 mph winds and worst-case scenario potential. The worst was possible. RELATED: Despite 'forgotten' status, Hurricane Rita ravaged southeast Texas Some 2.5 million people hit the road ahead of the storms arrival. The worst day was probably Thursday, Sept. 22, as every conceivable evacuation route was clogged well past capacity. For example, Texas 146, which travels through Liberty County, dumped 600,000 people into a county with only 70,000 residents, Liberty County Sheriff's Sgt. Ronnie Alexander told the Chronicle at the time. On other major freeways, frustrated drivers took things into their own hands and drove on the wrong side of the road before authorities designated "contra-flow" lanes to speed things along. Thousands of people ran out of gas, or their cars overheated from all the inching along, causing many to stop and sleep along the highway. There were even reports of price gouging by convenience store owners, inundated with customers. Perhaps the most tragic incident of the monumental evacuation was the death of 24 Bellaire nursing home residents who died when their chartered bus caught fire and exploded about 6:45 a.m. Sept. 23, 2005, on traffic-clogged Interstate 45 near Dallas. The residents were being evacuated to a sister facility in Dallas in advance of Hurricane Rita, which was still listed as a Category 5 storm when the bus left Bellaire about 3 p.m. Sept. 22. RELATED: Looking back at the 1900 hurricane that wiped out Galveston 117 years ago By the time Rita made landfall about 2:40 a.m. Sept. 24, 2005, near Sabine Pass, it had weakened to a Category 3 hurricane. The storm still did $12 billion in damage, but Katrina did more than $100 billion in damage. A little more than 100 deaths occurred during Rita compared to almost 2,000 during Katrina. About the worst impact in Houston was some branches down, empty gas stations and a few hours without electricity. Thousands who evacuated from the Bayou City would have been better off if they had just stayed home, made a batch of margaritas and watched TV. With additional reporting by Carol Christian Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Chavushoglu stated that Turkish authorities are determined to enhance cooperation with Russia and bring it to a higher level than before the downing of a Russian Su-24 combat plane over Syria, Sputnik International reported. Turkish authorities are determined to enhance cooperation with Russia and bring it to a higher level than before the downing of a Russian Su-24 combat plane over Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Chavushoglu. "We have the determination and political will to further strengthen and deepen our cooperation, even better than before the incident," Cavusoglu stated on the margins of the UN General Assembly. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood is continuing his anti-vaccination crusade later this month, when he is scheduled to speak at the "Autism Education Summit" in Dallas and appear on a panel with actress and noted anti-immunization activist Jenny McCarthy. LaHood, who previously said "vaccines can and do cause autism" in a promotional video filmed in his county office, has made clear he refuses to accept overwhelming scientific evidence, including studies and explicit statements from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the San Antonio Metro Health District, as proof to the contrary. RELATED: Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood: 'Vaccinations can and do cause autism' LaHood and his wife, Davida, are listed as "celebrity keynote speakers" at the three-day conference, which kicks off Sept. 30 at the InterContinental Dallas hotel and costs $109 for on-site registration, according to its website. LaHood is listed in his official capacity. The conference's page does not explcitly list vaccinations as a topic, but the speaker list includes several activists, such as McCarthy and anti-vaccination documentary producer Del Bigtree, who are at the forefront of the movement. "This conference for parents, professionals, and caregivers showcases how implementing a holistic approach and treating the whole individual can ease the medical conditions and behavioral symptoms common in children, adolescents, and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)," the program's website reads. MORE: Bexar Co. DA Nico LaHood goes on anti-vaccination rant on Facebook, 'I've done my own research' Critics aren't buying it. Fiona O'Leary, an autism advocate based in Ireland who has children that suffer from the disorder, said the conference "is about spreading misinformation and harm." "Most of the speakers are quacks who are offering unproven and unregulated 'treatments'," O'Leary said in an email to mySA.com. Two members of the conference's "education oversight committee" were sued in 2010 by the family of an autistic child who claim the pair provided discredited treatments to their child without scientific proof in the Chicago area. The parties reached an out-of-court settlement in 2015 and the case was disposed, according to online court records, which do not detail the settlement. RELATED: San Antonio health agency strongly disagrees with DA Nico LaHood, says vaccines do not cause autism Andrew Wakefield, the director of "Vaxxed," the documentary LaHood plugged in the video and that Bigtree produced, lost his medical license in the United Kingdom after he authored a now-retracted study in 1998 that claimed a link between vaccinations and autism. He is not speaking at the conference, but it's clear the movie will be. LaHood has previously told mySA.com that two of his children suffered from injuries after receiving vaccines. In our opinion, they were both injured by vaccines because their effects were immediate after a certain round of vaccine. No one is going to tell me my son was born autistic. I have the pictures and the video to prove it, LaHood said at the time. MORE: Jim Carrey Blasts California Governor Over Vaccination Bill: This Corporate Fascist Must Be Stopped Express-News columnist Richard Marini provided context for why some people may believe there is a link between autism and vaccinations. He wrote: "Children usually develop autism between about 12 and 18 months of age, which is the same period during which most childhood vaccines are administered. Most medical experts explain the rise in the incidence of autism on increased recognition and improved detection of the disorder." LaHood's opinion on the issue was first reported by mySA.com earlier this year. Staff writer John W. Gonzalez and news researcher Misty Harris contributed to this report. kparker@mysa.com Twitter: @KoltenParker Google Maps SAN ANTONIO Boerne High School was briefly on lockdown Thursday morning after reports were made that a student may be bringing a gun to campus, according to Boerne Independent School District. BISD spokesman David Boggan said the lockdown was lifted as of 9:10 a.m. Thursday after authorities determined there was no threat to the safety of the students or staff at the high school. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A San Patricio County jury heard a letter Wednesday that officials believe the man suspected in a 2012 shooting wrote, detailing plans to kill a teenage girl. David Strickland, a former UTSA student, is facing life in prison if he is convicted of shooting and raping Mollie Judith Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa on June 22, 2012 at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, a small town just east of the Corpus Christi Bay. Olgin, a former Texas A&M University student, died on scene from a gunshot wound to the head and Chapa survived, but lost functionality to the left side of her body and had to relearn how to walk and talk, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times reported. RELATED: Trial starts for Helotes man accused of raping, shooting South Texas lesbian couple Strickland was arrested at his Helotes home in 2014 and was charged with capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault, of which he said he was absolutely not guilty Monday. More for you Man charged with stalking Black Rifle Coffee employee The letter in question was meant for Chapas father and authorities found a draft of the note on Stricklands laptop, which included two identical sentences to the letter, the Caller-Times reported. The letter's author alleges a Utah man Strickland previously lived with offered a hitman $15,000 to kill Chapa, who later refused the deal. The Utah man said Olgin got his order wrong at the Taco Bell where she worked in Portland the night of the shooting. RELATED: 2 accused in slaying of lesbian A&M student, girlfriend In the letter, the author wrote what the Utah man said to them: I need her to disappear. I heard you wouldnt care if you got paid. But the author of the letter told the Utah man they didnt think a wrong order was a good enough reason to kill Olgin or Chapa, and that they prefer (to kill) child molesters or violent offenders. The author wrote that the Utah man considered Olgin and Chapa less than people due to their sexuality, and later attacked them at the park. Officials ruled out the shooting was a hate crime due to lack of evidence. The author wrote that the Utah man described how he left the girls bodies in the park-- he stacked Chapa on top of Olgin, where birdwatchers later found them. RELATED: Convicted of murder, widow insists she didn't kill San Antonio trucking tycoon husband The letter served as a warning to Chapas father, telling him his daughter was not safe. I expect to die for this but perhaps it is time, the author writes, according to the Caller-Times. In the letter, the author included a photo and address for the Utah man. Officials interviewed the man who is an Army reservist. They determined he was not in Texas at the time of the shooting due to military orders he had, the newspaper reported. Former Orem, Utah police chief Gary Giles testified Wednesday saying he took Sgt. Roland Chavez off the case after he failed to keep his recorder on when interviewing a suspect. Former Portland detective Aaron Veuleman was fired after he told the author helping Chapa write a book, Chivas Sandage, information about the case. Veuleman told Sandage in an email he knew he was "doing the right thing by helping you." Officials also believe Laura Strickland, the suspect's wife, learned confidential information from Veuleman's wife. The two worked at a Chili's together. Laura Strickland was arrested in 2014 for tampering with evidence, a charge that was later dismissed. The University of Texas at San Antonio did not immediately respond for comment. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 Three San Antonio residents were arrested in New Braunfels Tuesday for allegedly possessing and selling about 1 pound of methamphetamine, and were found with numerous other drugs following a two-month investigation, according to the Guadalupe County Sheriffs Office. Poppy Luce Salazar, also known as Poppy Sueffert, 46, and Arthur Molina, 23, were charged with felony manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance over 400 grams. They are being held on an $80,000 bond, according to online jail records. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate At a gas station off Interstate 10, you may not be able to put a tiger in your tank, but you certainly can see a live one while topping yours off. Tony is a real tiger, living in a real cage at a real gas station about 20 miles west of Baton Rouge. And, his fate has been the epicenter of a five-year fight over whether the tiger should be kept in captivity at the truck stop in Grosse Tete, a village of 670 people whose name means "Big Head." The Bengal tiger has been living at Tiger Truck Stop for 16 years and spends his day as a roadside attraction that is odd, even by Louisiana standards. The truck stop revels in the notoriety, selling T-shirts reading "Animal Rights Activists Taste Like Chicken." READ MORE: Animal welfare group threatens Houston restaurant giant over white tigers at aquarium But, Tony's fate - and the fate of any potential replacement - has been the subject of lawsuits and legislation. Truck stop owner Mike Sandlin has had Tony for 16 years and has said repeatedly he takes good care of the big cat and genuinely cares about the animal's welfare. Tony lives in an enclosure with toys, shade and water. In pictures, Tony's enclosure appears to be cleaner and more orderly than most truck stop bathrooms. "Tony is happy and healthy at the truck stop in his 3,200-square-foot habitat," Sandlin told The Times-Picayune/Nola.com. READ MORE: Conroe Police release 911 call that alerted authorities to loose tiger But, Sandlin's detractors have gone to court to try and free Tony the Tiger, saying a truck stop is no place for a big cat to live. Gas fumes, noise and little room to roam, they say, are tough on a tiger. "For us it's absolutely about the welfare for Tony," Animal Legal Defense Fund lawyer Matthew Liebman told a Louisiana legislative committee in 2014. (This is the same group threatening to sue Houston billionaire Tillman Fertitta over four white tigers living at the downtown aquarium.) There's a Facebook group hoping to free Tony along with multiple petitions aimed at doing the same thing, but thus far, they haven't had much success. And, Tony has drawn fans from around the country, some of whom have gotten tattoos or painted murals of the cat. READ MORE: The Houston Zoo's 18-year-old male lion has died Court rulings against Sandlin were thwarted in 2014 by then-Gov. Bobby Jindal (he of the short-lived 2016 presidential run). Jindal signed into law a legislative nose-thumbing at animal rights activists aimed at helping Sandlin. In short, the law overturned rulings barring corporate ownership of big cats and other exotic animals and exempts Sandlin from the state's ban on owning big cats. None of this impacts the Louisiana State University mascot, Mike the Tiger, and the on-campus enclosure. "The threat of him being drug away to some strange place -- never petted, never sweet-talked to again...I would not stand by and see that happen to that tiger," Sandlin told the New Orleans newspaper. "To have these idiots, these nuts that think they know more about tigers than I do -- I can't stand it." Face Recognition Technology to Be Used in Jiangxi Province to Block Children from Internet Cafes A young girl surfs the Web in China, where minors are prohibited to enter Internet cafes. (Photo : Getty Images) Children in east China's Jiangxi Province will find it even more difficult to enter and use Internet cafes across the province after local authorities have started installing face recognition technology in more than 5,000 Internet cafes to deter them from entering or accessing the Web. China Daily reported that aside from the face recognition technology, the government has also installed an online real name registration system that will help government trace the authenticity of the users' ID. Advertisement The report said that the system will immediately report to the authority when a child logs in to one of the monitored Internet cafes, and record the evidence. In 2002, China banned Internet cafes from allowing any person below 18 years old and also required every customer to show an ID before entering bars. Instead of a human check, the system will now make use of technology to ensure the implementation of the regulation. The installation is expected to be finished before the end of October while the trial run will be finished before the end of November. In recent years, violations of the rules by both children and Internet cafes have been reported by media. In Hongze County, Huai'an City of east China's Jiangsu Province, a 16-year-old student, surnamed Zhou, passed out and died on Oct 19, 2015, after skipping classes and surfing the Internet in a cafe for about seven hours. In Liuzhou, in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a 17-year-old boarding school student Xiao Lei (not the real name), who had been drinking with a friend, went to an Internet cafe on Dec. 28, 2014, where he fainted at 3.32 a.m. in front of the computer and died two hours later. Based on July 2014 statistics, there are about 632 million Internet users in China and the government believes that 10 percent of these are minors who have become addicted to surfing, according to an article published in planetbiometrics.com. The government is also pushing for real name registration system as a means to identify all Web users. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD City and state officials will hold two events Friday and Monday to address public safety. Mayor David Martin will have a press conference at 10 a.m. Friday to update Stamford residents on ongoing safety programs and projects to keep the city safe. The event will take place in the emergency operations center on the sixth floor of the Stamford Government Center. At 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Chester Addison Community Center, members of Stamfords state legislative delegation will hold a Community Action Conference To Prevent Gun Violence. The forum will focus on the toll that gun violence has taken on individuals, families and communities and the need for urgent action. Stamford has seen a surge of violence, particularly shootings, over the past several months. There have been 30 shootings citywide since March, though none was fatal. Police have blamed the majority of the gun violence on a drug turf war among groups of young men on the South End and on an ongoing feud between rival residents on the West Side. Stamford is one of the safest cities in America, but we cannot rest on the citys reputation or look only to our police department for answers, state Rep. William Tong said in a news release. We must come together as a community to develop a comprehensive plan to prevent gun violence. Tong and other state and city officials, including representatives of the school district and law enforcement will participate in the forum. Clergy, social service organizations and advocacy groups also will take part. Members of the community are invited to the forum to share their ideas and experiences with gun violence and help develop an action plan to eliminate gun violence in Stamford. noliveira@hearstmediact.com Chinese female taikonaut Wang Yaping answers a student's question from Tiangong-1 space module in June 2013. (Photo : Getty Images) Tiangong-1, China's first space lab is expected to fall back to Earth in the second half of 2017, after nearly six years of operation, Chinese officials said, according to an article published by space.com. Advertisement Wu Ping, deputy director of China's Manned Space Engineering office, said that the 9.4-ton spacecraft is currently in orbit at an altitude of 230 miles (370 kilometers) above the Earth, slightly lower than the International Space Station. Wu assured that Tiangong-1's demise will not cause problems on the ground. "Based on our calculation and analysis, most parts of the space lab will burn up during falling," Wu said during a news conference Wednesday, Sept. 14. The official said that they are monitoring the spacecraft and appropriate warning will be issued if there is a risk of hitting a satellite. She added that a forecast of Tiangong-1 will be released if necessary. According to the report, Wu's pronouncements have confirmed speculations that China is no longer in control of the 34-foot long spacecraft. Otherwise, operators could steer and guide its re-entry to the ocean at a specified time, the report added. Tiangong-1 was launched by China in September 2011 to try out their docking technologies and other skills that will be helpful for the planned building of a space station in the early 2020s. When Tiangong-1 was in operation, three spacecraft docked with it: Shenzhou-8 in Nov. 2011, Shenzhou-9 in June 2012 and Shenzhou-10 in June 2013. The latter two missions carried three Chinese "taikonauts" to the space lab. In March 2016, Tiangong-1's mission officially ended when it stopped sending data. Last week, on Sept. 15, China launched its successor, Tiangong-2 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China. In mid-October, two taikonauts are scheduled to arrive at Tiangong-2 for a 30-day stay in the spacecraft, according to Chinese officials. China is not part of the International Space Station being operated by a multinational consortium, led by the United States and Russia. By 2020, China will have its own space station in orbit, the report said. SAMUT SAKHON, Thailand Facing international pressure for failing to stop human trafficking in its seafood sector, Thailand promised almost a year ago to compensate victims of slavery, and industry leaders vowed to bring all shrimp processing in-house. That hasnt always happened. Instead, some formerly enslaved shrimp peelers have been deported. And some shrimp peeling sheds are being inspected and authorized to keep operating. Tin Nyo Win, who escaped slavery and alerted police to abuses, was deported to Myanmar this month, along with his pregnant wife and a half-dozen others, after being held almost a year in a Thai government shelter. Authorities said although the couple were victims of modern-day slavery, they had illegally entered Thailand to begin with. They dont treat us like humans. They treat us like dogs, Tin Nyo Win said hours before Thai authorities took them away. They just try to bully those of us who are victims already. Nattamon Punbhochar at the Thai foreign ministry said the couple never requested compensation and were deported in accordance with a memorandum of understanding Thailand has with Myanmar. The Associated Press also found that while some Thai companies that export shrimp to the U.S. have given formerly entrapped workers better jobs in-house, others still use middlemen who employ laborers in remote, guarded warehouses. Thats despite industry pledges to end outside shrimp processing by the end of last year after human trafficking was exposed in the sheds. Shed owners frequently break environmental, labor or safety laws. Seventy-five percent of the 109 inspected this year were cited for violations, and 24 were ordered to close. Reports from media and human rights groups documenting abuse in Thailands $7 billion annual seafood export industry have brought international pressure. Last year, the Associated Press reported on fishermen locked in a cage on the remote Indonesian island village of Benjina and traced their catch to Thailand, then on to the U.S., leading to more than 2,000 slaves being freed. The news agency focused on slavery inside the Gig Peeling shed outside Bangkok in Samut Sakhon, where Tin Nyo Win, 22, and his wife were locked inside and forced to work 16 hours a day, ripping guts, heads and tails off shrimp that entered supply chains of most major U.S. supermarkets and companies including Red Lobster, Whole Foods and Walmart. Clearly, some Thai seafood exporters have improved working conditions. One of the biggest, Thai Union, opened a large, clean peeling warehouse at its exporting facility. Its 1,200 workers get subsidized meals and opportunities for bonuses. 1 Saudi air strikes: A Yemeni health official said air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition bombed civilian homes in a Red Sea port city and killed at least 18 people. Sami Motair, a medical official at al-Thawra hospital in Hodeidah, said Thursday that scores of bodies were buried under at least three houses after missiles hit a neighborhood known as Indians Alley. The Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes against Yemens Houthi rebels and their allies since March 2015. 2 Muslim Brotherhood: Election officials released the results of Jordans parliament election Thursday, and the opposition Muslim Brotherhood said its electoral bloc won 15 of 130 seats, roughly in line with its own predictions. In Tuesdays election, about 1.5 million Jordanians cast ballots for competing lists of candidates in 23 districts under a new proportional system. The Muslim Brotherhoods political arm, the Islamic Action Front, had boycotted elections in 2010 and 2013 to protest the previous system, which it said unfairly favored pro-monarchy tribal representatives. The Islamic Action Front competed this time, forging electoral alliances with Christian, ethnic minority or tribal candidates in some areas. Henry Lee Chang-Yu, a Chinese-born American forensic scientist, attends the 4th China Internet Security Conference at National Convention Center held on Aug. 17, 2016 in Beijing. (Photo : Getty Images) As part of China's nationwide efforts, a cybersecurity training was launched on Monday, Sept.19, by authorities from Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, who vowed to increase the number of scholarships to attract students to pursue cybersecurity and to discover and recruit so-called "maverick geniuses," Global Times reported. Advertisement Speaking at the Cybersecurity Technology Summit during China Cybersecurity Week, Li Shuyong, Wuhan government publicity department head, said that the city government will partner with companies to nurture the world's top cybersecurity talent. According to Li, the local government will raise the number of scholarships it offers to students taking up cybersecurity majors, with the hope to recruit to the top graduates from Chinese and overseas schools, as well as from competitors at cybersecurity competitions. A class for minors will also be opened as well as a special recruitment for "maverick geniuses," she added. An innovative evaluation system will be established, according to Li, wherein cybersecurity majors will be evaluated, not by taking exams, but based on their performance. They will also be given priority in practical and entrepreneurship training. The city government said that it will double up the salary and research funds offered to the best cybersecurity experts. In addition, a 2 million yuan in subsidies and 100 million yuan in funding will also be given if experts have typical technologies that could have a significant impact to the economy. An education official said during the 4th China Internet Security Conference in August that only about 8,000 cybersecurity majors graduate each year but the country needs at least 500,000 cybersecurity talents. The government set up a training center for cybersecurity and communication talent in Sichuan Province in January, which aims to train students and faculty on cybersecurity in Sichuan and Hong Kong. In February, the first special fund for cybersecurity with an initial capital of 300 million yuan was launched by China, which was intended to provide financial assistance to experts and teachers in cybersecurity. THE number of fatalities in the Mhangura accident that occurred on Saturday has risen to five following the death of one victim at Chinhoyi... People watch a television news report, showing file footage of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, at a railway station in Seoul on September 9, 2016. (Photo : Getty Images/ Jung Yeon-Je) The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, popularly known as North Korea, has aired a satirical political comedy show that mocks United States President Barack Obama. The comedy show was aired on Sept. 1 through state-run Korea Central Television (KCTV) channel under the title translated as 'The Stage of Optimism that Songun Presented- Volume 11.' Advertisement The actor, depicting Obama's character has been witnessed to appear with a bloody bandage round his head. The imitative character has smacked his head on the bathroom floor due to the aftershock of Hydrogen bomb detonation by North Korea, Korea Portal reported . The comedy show criticizes President Obama's act of testing hardness of his skull while North Korea tests a hydrogen bomb. Upon questioning by his secretary, the President has been witnessed to commit for zipping his mouth and letting North Korea to act as per their intentions, USA Today reported. A South Korean government database has portrayed the 80-minute enduring comedy show as an attempt to popularize the so-called first military policy adopted by the North. The communist country claims for successfully conducting its first ever test of hydrogen bomb in January. However, the US and allies have expressed doubt over the test considering its comparatively fewer shockwave counts. On September 9, North Korea has again claimed for conducting another higher level test of nuclear weapon. The test, appears fifth since 2006, has been condemned by the global powers including the US, South Korea, China and Japan. The northern part of the Korean peninsula eyes to get equipped with long-range missiles with nuclear warheads capable of reaching the US territory. Propaganda for North Korea's first military policy through mocking the US President appears in line with their intentions- analysts observe. North Korea's communist government is in a desperate bid to praise its first military policy aiming to get equipped with nuclear weapons. As part of its propaganda campaign, a state-run television has aired a comedy show mocking the US President Barack Obama while highlighting the claim for successfully conducting hydrogen bomb test in January. The following YouTube video shows part of the TV comedy show: AUSTIN Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt filed a lawsuit on Wednesday on behalf of 21 states, challenging the Obama administrations overtime rule. The AGs maintain that the overtime rule more than doubles the salary threshold for a U.S. worker to be entitled to overtime and will force many state and local governments, as well as private businesses, to substantially increase their employment costs. Some governments and private businesses may even be forced to eliminate services or lay off employees. Joining Texas and Nevada in the lawsuit are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin. Also, the National Retail Federation filed a suit in U.S. District Court on behalf of the millions of employers and employees who will be drastically affected if the Labor Departments changes to the federal overtime rules go into effect on December 1. Retailers are already struggling to implement this new government mandate before the swiftly approaching deadline, and the automatic update included in the rule would make them do this same dance every three years for as long as they are able to remain in business, said NRF Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French. This is a massive government overreach of executive authority, and the courts need to put a stop to it. Issue Background On May 18, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule to update the regulations governing which employees are eligible for overtime pay. Today, employers are required to pay overtime for all employees earning $455 per week or $23,660 or less per year. Under the new rule, that salary threshold would increase and require businesses to pay overtime for all employees earning $913 a week or $47,476 or less per year. For the first time in the Labor Departments history, it failed to consider salary levels in the retail marketplace when setting the final rulein all previous rulemakings, DOL had reduced the national overtime threshold to account for average retail wages. The DOL also took the unprecedented step of setting the threshold to automatically update every three years using the same flawed methodology. The new overtime rule kicks in on December 1, 2016; however, several lawmakers are pushing legislation that would require the DOL to redraft the rule. NACS is not opposed to adjusting the overtime salary threshold; however, NACS believes that the threshold must be established in a manner that is appropriate for the particular industry and geographic region in which the employee is working. NACS supports H.R. 4773 and S. 2707 to require the DOL to go back to the drawing board and redraft the rule, taking into consideration the overall economic impact of its decisions. By Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics and Chairperson at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Originally published at The Frontline There is much angst in the Northern financial media about how the era of globalisation led actively by the United States may well be coming to an end. This is said to be exemplified in the changed political attitudes to mega regional trade deals like the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) that was signed (but has not yet been ratified) by the US and 11 other countries in Latin America, Asia and Oceania; and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement (TTIP) still being negotiated by the US and the European Union. President Obama has been a fervent supporter of both these deals, with the explicit aim of enhancing and securing US power. We have to make sure America writes the rules of the global economy. We should do it today while our economy is in the position of global strength. Weve got to harness it on our terms. If we dont write the rules for trade around the world guess what? China will!, he famously said in a speech to workers in a Nike factory in Oregon, USA in May 2015. But even though he has made the case for the TPP plainly enough, his only chance of pushing even the TPP through is in the lame duck session of Congress just before the November Presidential election in the US. However, the changing political currents in the US are making that ever more unlikely. Hardly anyone who is a candidate in the coming elections, whether for the Presidency, the Senate or the House of Representatives, is willing to stick their necks out to back the deal. Both Presidential candidates in the US (Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton) have openly come out against the TPP. In Clintons case this is a complete reversal of her earlier position when she had referred to the TPP as the gold standard of trade deals and it has clearly been forced upon her by the insurgent movement in the Democratic Party led by Bernie Sanders. She is already being pushed by her rival candidate for not coming out more clearly in terms of a complete rejection of this deal. Given the significant trust deficit that she still has to deal with across a large swathe of US voters, it will be hard if not impossible for her to backtrack on this once again (as her husband did earlier with NAFTA) even if she does achieve the Presidency. The official US version, expressed on the website of the US Trade Representative, is that the TPP writes the rules for global traderules that will help increase Made-in-America exports, grow the American economy, support well-paying American jobs, and strengthen the American middle class. This is mainly supposed to occur because of the tariff cuts over 18,000 items that have been written into the agreement, which in turn are supposed to lead to significant expansion of trade volumes and values. But this is accepted by fewer and fewer people in the US. Across the country, workers view such trade deals with great suspicion as causing shifts in employment to lower paid workers, mostly in the Global South. Even the only US government study of the TPPs likely impacts, by the International Trade Commission, could project at best only 1 per cent increase in exports due to the agreement up to 2032. A study by Jeronim Capaldo and Alex Izurieta with Jomo Kwame Sundaram (Trading down: Unemployment, inequality and other risks of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, Working Paper 16-01, Global Development and Environment Institute, January 2016) was even less optimistic, even for the US. It found that the benefits to exports and economic growth were likely to be relatively small for all member countries, and would be negative in the US and Japan because of losses to employment and increases in inequality. Wage shares of national income would decline in all the member countries. But in fact the TPP and the TTIP are not really about trade liberalisation so much as other regulatory changes, so in any case it is hardly surprising that the positive effects on trade are likely to be so limited. What is more surprising is how the entire discussion around these agreements is still framed around the issues relating to trade liberalisation, when these are in fact the less important parts of these agreements, and it is the other elements that are likely to have more negative and even devastating effects on people living in the countries that sign up to them. Three aspects of these agreements are particularly worrying: the intellectual property provisions, the restrictions on regulatory practices and the investor-state dispute settlement provisions. All of these would result in significant strengthening of the bargaining power of corporations vis-a-vis workers and citizens, would reduce the power of governments to bring in policies and regulations that affect the profits or curb the power of such corporations, and For example, the TPP (and the TTIP) require more stringent enforcement requirements of intellectual property rights: reducing exemptions (e.g. allowing compulsory licensing only for emergencies); preventing parallel imports; extending IPRs to areas like life forms, counterfeiting and piracy; extending exclusive rights to test data (e.g. in pharmaceuticals); making IPR provisions more detailed and prescriptive. The scope of drug patents is extended to include minor changes to existing medications (a practice commonly employed by drug companies, known as evergreening). Patent linkages would make it more difficult for many generic drugs to enter markets. This would strengthen, lengthen and broaden pharmaceutical monopolies on cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS drugs, and in general make even life-saving drugs more expensive and inaccessible in all the member countries. It would require further transformation of countries laws on patents and medical test data. It would reduce the scope of exemption in use of medical formulations through public procurement for public purposes. All this is likely to lead to reductions in access to drugs and medical procedures because of rising prices, and also impede innovation rather than encouraging it, across member countries. There are also very restrictive copyright protection rules, that would also affect internet usage as Internet Service Providers are to be forced to adhere to them. There are further restrictions on branding that would reinforce the market power of established players. The TPP and TTIP also contain restrictions on regulatory practices that greatly increase the power of corporations relative to states and can even prevent states from engaging in countercyclical measures designed to boost domestic demand. It has been pointed out by consumer groups in the USA that the powers of the Food and Drug Administration to regulate products that affect health of citizens could be constrained and curtailed by this agreement. Similarly, macroeconomic stimulus packages that focus on boosting domestic demand for local production would be explicitly prohibited by such agreements. All these are matters for concern because these agreements enable corporations to litigate against governments that are perceived to be flouting these provisions because of their own policy goals or to protect the rights of their citizens. The Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanism enabled by these agreements is seen to be one of their most deadly features. Such litigation is then subject to supranational tribunals to which sovereign national courts are expected to defer, but which have no human rights safeguards and which do not see the rights of citizen as in any way superior to the rights of corporations to their profits. These courts can conduct closed and secret hearings with secret evidence. They do not just interpret the rules but contribute to them through case law because of the relatively vague wording of the text, which can then be subject to different interpretations, and therefore are settled by case law. The experience thus far with such tribunals has been problematic. Since they are legally based on equal treatment of legal persons with no primacy for human rights, they have become known for their pro-investor bias, partly due to the incentive structure for arbitrators, and partly because the system is designed to provide supplementary guarantees to investors, rather than making them respect host countries laws and regulations. If all these features of the TPP and the TTIP were more widely known, it is likely that there would be even greater public resistance to them in the US and in other countries. Even as it is, there is growing antagonism to the trade liberalisation that is seen to bring benefits to corporations rather than to workers, at a period in history when secure employment is seen to be the biggest prize of all. So if such features of US-led globalisation are indeed under threat, that is probably a good thing for the people of the US and for people in their trading partners who had signed up for such deals. CNN has just found a smoking gun that should enable prosecutors to bring charges against Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf. We were skeptical early on about the banks pious claims that it had fired 5,300 employees for creating phony accounts from 2011 to 2015. Since it took outside intervention for the bank to stop misconduct that had gone on for years and was central to the banks strategy, it was pretty certain that until recently, any refusniks would be fired. And that meant Wells Fargo would be highly motivated to bolster its See, we were trying to do the right thing but it was harder to do than we thought story by inflating the number of people it said it fired in connection with the fraud by including ones fired for bucking their bosses and refusing to participate. Mind you, the CNN story didnt establish that Wells Fargo had larded up the numbers by including internal dissenters it fired. But what it has found is far worse: the bank terminated employees who made use of formal whistleblower procedures to object to account fakery and other abuses, like forging signatures. Not only does the story have multiple sources, most of whom let their names be published, but it also includes a source from Wells Fargo who confirms that the can the whistleblowers process was institutionalized. For instance, the Human Resources department gave the business units tips as to how to created trumped-up charges so as to cover for the real reason for the firings. Per CNN: Now CNNMoney is hearing from former Wells Fargo (WFC) workers around the country who tried to put a stop to these illegal tactics. Almost half a dozen workers who spoke with us say they paid dearly for trying to do the right thing: they were fired [Bill] 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. 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. CNNMoney spoke to a total of four ex-Wells Fargo workers, including Bado, who believe they were fired because they tipped off the bank about unethical sales practices. Another six former Wells Fargo employees told CNNMoney they witnessed similar behavior at Wells Fargo even though the company has a policy in place that is supposed to prevent retaliation against whistleblowers. CNNMoney has taken steps to confirm that the workers who spoke anonymously did work at Wells Fargo and in some cases interviewed colleagues who corroborated their reports. The fact that a former HR staffer confirmed that the bank set out to fire whistleblowers is deadly. It means that the internal ethics line and other channels that John Stumpf piously cited to claim that nothing was wrong with Wells Fargos culture were in fact cynical shams designed to get rid of troublemakers whod question shoddy practices. The fact that Bado was canned a mere eight days after sending an e-mail to human resources also supports the charge of the anonymous HR source that Wells Fargo had established procedures for firing whistleblowers. There is no way any serious investigation would take place in only eight days. Punishing whistleblowers, particularly on a systematic basis, is flagrant misconduct. This implicates a large number of executives, including the general counsel, the head of HR, and potentially outside counsel and board members, as well as Stumpf and Wells Fargos president and COO, Timothy Sloan. How could anyone have signed off on this arrangement? Just one example of how punishing whistleblowers is against the law: after the Enron bankruptcy, the Sarbanes Oxley Act was designed to prevent the Im the CEO and I know nothing defense by requiring at a minimum that the CEO and CFO personally certify the accuracy of financial reports and the adequacy of internal controls. It also required public companies to create secure channels for internal whistleblowers to report if they saw what looked like legal or regulatory violations. From the National Whistleblower Center: Unlike most whistleblower laws, the SOXs whistleblower protection provisions are not limited to providing a legal remedy for wrongfully discharged employees. In addition to containing employment-based protections for employee whistleblowers, the law contains four other provisions directly relevant to whistleblower protection. First, the law requires that all publicly traded corporations create internal and independent audit committees. As part of the mandated audit committee function, publicly traded corporations must also establish procedures for employees to file internal whistleblower complaints, and procedures which would protect the confidentiality of employees who file allegations with the audit committee. Fourth, Section 3(b) of the SOX contains an enforcement provision concerning every clause of the SOX. This section states that a violation by any person of this Act [i.e. the SOX] . . . shall be treated for all purposes in the same manner as a violation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This section grants jurisdiction to the SEC to enforce every aspect of the SOX, including the various whistleblower-related provisions. It also provides for criminal penalties for any violation of the SOX, including the whistleblower-related provisions. In addition to these four provisions, the law contains an employee protection provision which permits whistleblowers to file a complaint before the U.S. Department of Labor alleging unlawful retaliation The CNN story pointed out that retaliating against whistleblowers is not kosher: It is clearly against the law for any company (or executives of such companies) to try to suppress whistleblowing, Harvey Pitt, former chairman of the SEC, told CNNMoney in an email. A number of statutes including Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank make this unambiguously clear, Pitt said. This development confirms that Wells Fargo is rotten to its core and John Stumpf needs to be prosecuted. However, even though I indicated that he was unlikely to survive ten more days based on his abject performance at the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, before the CNN story broke, he may have his sell-by date extended by virtue of being summoned to appear before the House Financial Services Committee next week, on September 29. I doubt the board would oust Stumpf before then. It would be dangerous to cut him loose; Congress could still call him (although he would probably refuse to appear) and having an interim CEO stumble and mumble his way through the hearings would not look good. And even if the board has already decided to move against Stumpf, theyd likely want him to believe he has their support so that he is motivated to do the best job he can next week. The CNN story is certain to lead more wronged former employees to speak up to the media, regulators, Congressmen, and prosecutors. That means Stumpf and his fellow Wells Fargo execs are in even hotter water than before. Couldnt happen to a more deserving bunch. The microdoctors in our bodies (Nanowerk News) Richard Fleischner, who directed the 1966 cult film Fantastic Voyage, would have been delighted with Bradley Nelsons research: similar to the story in Fleischners film, Nelson wants to load tiny robots with drugs and manoeuvre them to the precise location in the human body where treatment is needed, for instance to the site of a cancer tumour. Alternatively, the tiny creatures could also be fitted with instruments, allowing operations to be performed without surgical intervention. The advantages compared with conventional treatments with drugs are clear: far more targeted therapy, and as a result, fewer side effects. Bradley Nelsons medical microrobots are inspired by natural microorganisms. (Image: Multi-Scale Robotics Lab) Fine-tuning materials and designs Nelson isnt a dreamer or a storyteller he is Professor of Robotics and Intelligent Systems at ETH Zurich, and he has an international reputation for his micro- and nanorobots. He still holds the Guinness World Record for the most advanced mini robot for medical use. His robots are typically just a few micrometres in size and are inspired by nature. He derives models for his own micrometre-scale mechanical propul- sion systems by observing microorganisms and seeing, for example, how the flagellum a sort of curly tail that aids in movement works in bacteria. The robots get the energy to move from an external impulse, such as an electromagnetic field. Although this vision seems to be science fiction, Nelsons group is gradually making it a reality: in an in vivo experiment, they were able to accurately guide a swarm of 80,000 microrobots within a mouse to demonstrate the delivery of a model drug to targeted locations. Nevertheless, the researchers still have to resolve a number of questions before they can address the first set of applications in humans. The questions focus on materials and design: When designing robots like this, we cant rely on our intuition because, on this small a scale, materials often behave differently than we are used to, explains Nelson. Special 3D printers have expanded the range of materials used in microrobot design, going beyond semiconductor metals to include polymers. As a result, last year Nelsons team in collaboration with Professor Christofer Hierolds team was able to create a robot from a biocompatible biopolymer that dissolves in the body after completing its task. In his latest publication, Nelson goes one step further. The microrobots presented there can transform their shape depending on the environmental conditions, which is why Nelson calls them origami robots. The change in shape can be stimulated by a change in the pH of body fluids, a temperature difference or a light pulse. The robots plasticity is based on a multilayer structure with different hydrogels. Since the biopolymers expand or contract differently under external stimuli, the robot is able to change shape. Again, nature provided the model for the design: the Trypanosoma brucei bacterium, the pathogen responsible for sleeping sickness, has a narrow, elongated shape to help it move efficiently in body fluids. However, as soon as the bacterium is in the bloodstream and no longer has to propel itself, it transitions to a stubby, compact shape a further design option for a maximum-efficiency medical microrobot. Fifteen years ago we were just getting started, but today we are already able to control many different mechanisms very precisely, says Nelson. The next big challenge is autonomy: Were examining how we can make the microrobots intelligent, he says. Specifically, once they have been released in the body, the researchers want the tiny devices to find the targets on their own just as natural single-celled organisms have been doing for millions of years. Cells as biological surveillance systems Nelson isnt the only ETH researcher who is fundamentally rethinking medicine: Martin Fussenegger, Professor of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, is planning a minor revolution in medical therapy. He thinks its outrageous that we simply pump drugs into our bodies, usually relatively late in the course of the illness, and then hope for the desired effect. Thats why his team in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) in Basel is pursuing a different route, intended to get the treatment to the core of the illness. We reprogram the bodys cells to be biological surveillance systems. In the body, they respond quickly to illnesses, says Fussenegger. These molecular prosthetics will be aimed at compensating metabolic defects that are responsible for such illnesses as diabetes, cancer and obesity. Using standard molecular methods, Fussenegger can reprogram cells in such a way that an external impulse causes them to produce and excrete a desired active substance usually certain proteins. His team uses light as the impulse; although the field of optogenetics is still quite young, it has made great progress in recent years in systematically controlling genetically modified cells using light. Two years ago Fussenegger succeeded for the first time, in the mouse model, in stimulating modified human cells to release a model human protein through irradiation with light in the near-infrared range. Using implants to produce drugs To allow the most precise control possible, Fusseneggers group developed a synthetic implant that combines the light source (a tiny infrared LED) and a semipermeable culture chamber with the genetically modified cells. The lamp is then powered inductively by an external electromagnetic field. This sophisticated system paves the way for mind-directed therapies, for instance by means of an electroencephalogram recorded on the patients forehead. Fussenegger is certain that such optogenetic therapy systems will be an important component of personalised medicine. The implant tested in the mouse model was the size of a 2-Swiss-franc coin. The next generation will be more along the lines of a matchstick and will require significantly less energy. Nanotechnology may revolutionize future engines (w/video) (Nanowerk News) At the Army Research Laboratory, scientists are on the hunt for nanomaterials that could improve engine technology in a big way. "What we're seeing is a revolutionary property arising in a class of materials that we never thought was possible," said Dr. Kristopher A. Darling, a materials scientist with the laboratory's Lightweight and Specialty Metals Branch. Darling and his team of collaborators published startling new findings in the September issue of the scientific journal Nature ("Extreme creep resistance in a microstructurally stable nanocrystalline alloy") that, he believes, could lead to many new materials applications, including inside turbine engines, where temperatures can soar to more than 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The image highlights the high density of nanoclusters of various sizes. Dr. Kristopher A. Darling, a materials scientist with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, published findings in the journal Nature describing the unexpected strength of copper nanostructures at high temperatures. (Image: David McNally, ARL Public Affairs) (click on image to enlarge) In the Nature paper, Darling outlines how his team stabilized a copper alloy microstructure and found it to be strong at very high temperatures. The Department of Defense depends on jet turbine engines that require just this combination of high-structural strength coupled with high thermal stability, though the material is copper, not a material typically used in engines. "But what it demonstrates is that these types of microstructures are capable of achieving properties that are extraordinarily high in comparison to what you would normally see in a conventional type of material," Darling said. The team hopes to recreate the combination of properties within other types of materials like nickel, cobalt or tantalum, which would have the potential to revolutionize engine technology. Darling said the findings are all about the "creep response" of the paper's title, which refers to how materials deform under continuous stress at elevated temperatures. "We're seeing orders of magnitude improvements in the creep response," he said. "There is a six to eight orders of magnitude increase in creep response relative to what conventional nanocrystal materials can do." According to Darling, results from the preliminary tests of the material left the scientists scratching their heads. So they reached out to colleagues at the University of North Texas and Arizona State University to confirm what they were observing was correct. "A lot of times unique discoveries are made by accident or by sheer luck, and this was one of those cases where we started to probe the material and we didn't see the response that we were expecting," Darling remembered. Scientists at these institutions were just as baffled. "They didn't believe it either," he said. "They said there's no way that this could be possible. They began to test the samples themselves, and then they were amazed. From there, all the excitement grew ... Ultimately it led to writing this paper." Nanotechnology research in metals is a relatively young field, he said. Just a couple of decades ago, researchers were just learning how to synthesize nanomaterials in bulk form and just beginning to understand their fundamental properties. Just add water: Biomolecular manufacturing 'on-the-go' (Nanowerk News) Even amidst all the celebrated advances of modern medicine, basic life-saving interventions are still not reaching massive numbers of people who live in our planets most remote and non-industrialized locations. The World Health Organization states that one half of the global population lives in rural areas. And according to UNICEF, last year nearly 20 million infants globally did not receive what we would consider to be basic vaccinations required for a childs health. These daunting statistics are largely due to the logistical challenge of transporting vaccines and other biomolecules used in diagnostics and therapy, which conventionally require a "cold chain" of refrigeration from the time of synthesis to the time of administration. In remote areas lacking power or established transport routes, modern medicine often cannot reach those who may need it urgently. The portable biomolecular manufacturing method, developed by Wyss Institute Core Faculty member James Collins and his team, can produce a broad range of biomolecules, including vaccines, antimicrobial peptides and antibody conjugates, without power or refrigeration. The team envisions that the method's freeze-dried components could be carried in portable kits (such as the mock kit pictured here) for use in the field anywhere in the world. (Image: Wyss Institute at Harvard University A team of researchers at Harvards Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering has been working toward a paradigm-shifting goal: a molecular manufacturing method that can produce a broad range of biomolecules, including vaccines, antimicrobial peptides and antibody conjugates, anywhere in the world, without power or refrigeration. Now, in a new paper published September 22 in Cell journal ("Portable, On-Demand Biomolecular Manufacturing"), the team has unveiled what they set out to deliver, a "just add water" portable method that affordably, rapidly, and precisely generates compounds that could be administered as therapies or used in experiments and diagnostics. "The ability to synthesize and administer biomolecular compounds, anywhere, could undoubtedly shift the reach of medicine and science across the world," said Wyss Core Faculty member James Collins, Ph.D., senior author on the study, who is also Professor of Medical Engineering & Science and Professor of Biological Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)s Department of Biological Engineering. "Our goal is make biomolecular manufacturing accessible wherever it could improve lives." The approach, called "portable biomolecular manufacturing" by Collins team, which also included Neel Joshi, Ph.D., a Wyss Core Faculty member and Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Harvards John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), hinges on the idea that freeze-dried pellets containing "molecular machinery" can be mixed and matched to achieve a wide variety of end-products. By simply adding water, this molecular machinery can be set in motion. To activate the biomolecular manufacturing process, freeze-dried components need simply be rehydrated (as seen in this mock demonstration). (Image: Wyss Institute at Harvard University) Compounds manufactured using the method could be administered in several ways to a patient, including injection, oral doses or topical applications. As described in the study, a vaccine against diphtheria was synthesized using the method and shown to successfully induce an antibody response against the pathogen in mice. Subsequently, the team envisions that the method could be employed to create batches of tetanus or flu shots routinely manufactured in remote clinics. Vaccines against emerging infectious disease outbreaks could quickly be mobilized in the field to contain spiraling epidemics. Episodes of food poisoning could be dosed orally with the production of neutralizing antibodies produced on the spot. Flesh wounds susceptible to infection could be applied with topical antimicrobial peptides generated on demand. In these manners, the teams approach could be leveraged to design a vast number of different lifesaving measures. The approach is built upon work described in a seminal 2014 paper also published in Cell, when the team demonstrated that transcription and translation machinery could function in vitro, without being inside living cells, inside freeze-dried slips of ordinary paper embedded with synthetic gene networks. Building off that work, the novel manufacturing method employs two types of freeze-dried pellets containing different kinds of components. The first kind of pellet contains the cell-free "machinery" that will synthesize the end product. The second kind contains DNA instructions that will tell the "machinery" what compound to manufacture. When the two types of pellets are combined and rehydrated with water, the biomolecular manufacturing process is triggered. The second type of pellet can be customized to produce a wide range of final products. Since they are freeze-dried, the pellets are extremely stable and safe for long-term storage at room temperature for up to and potentially beyond one year. "This approach could with very little training put therapeutics and diagnostic tools in the hands of clinicians working in remote areas without power," said Keith Pardee, Ph.D., a co-first author on the study who was a Wyss Research Scientist and is now an Assistant Professor in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. "Currently, distribution of life-saving doses of protein-based preventative and interventional medicines are often restricted by access to an uninterrupted chain of cold refrigeration, which many areas of the world lack." The cost of the approach, at roughly three cents per microliter, could also give access to biomolecular manufacturing to researchers and educators who lack access to wet labs and other sophisticated equipment, impacting basic science beyond the immediately apparent promise in clinical applications. Patients With Mental Heath Problems Receive Treatment At Zhongshan Hospital (Photo : Getty Images) Chinas backward way of thinking when it comes to homosexuality remains in place even if being gay has been decriminalized in China in 2001. The best example of that is an ongoing lawsuit in which a 37-year-old gay man who just divorced his wife sued a mental hospital for violation of his personal freedom. The case stemmed from the family of the man in Henan Province who forced him into a mental institution for 19 days to be cured of sexual preference disorder, reported Global Times. Advertisement The victim was confined on Oct. 8, 2015 at the Second People's Hospital of Zhumadian, reported Gaytimes. He sought an apology and damage of 10,000 yuan or $1,150. But Huang Rui, the mans lawyer, admitted he is pessimistic about the chances of winning the lawsuit since several evidence which are critical to the case, such as the victims medical record and investigation report by local authorities, have not been made available to Huang. Until Wednesday, the hospital has refused to give him the mans medical records. According to the victim, he was restrained immediately upon admission. However, the hospital did not perform any routine checks on him. During his 19-day forced confinement, the victim was given injections and medicine such as antidepressants. He signed an agreement with the hospital to discharge him, likely viewed as a consensus between the patient and the institution, despite the mental hospitals unreasonable treatment. Gay rights activists informed local police of his forced confinement which resulted in his rescue on Oct. 26, 2015. He was emboldened to file a lawsuit after he learned of a similar incident in 2014 in which the court, in its decision, affirmed being gay is not an ailment. A court is scheduled to hear the lawsuit on Wednesday. Find the newest releases to watch from National Geographic on Disney+, including favourite documentary series and films Free Solo, The Rescue, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth and The World According to Jeff Goldblum. Chinas Baosteel to Become Worlds Second Largest Steelmaker After Takeover of Wuhan A worker unloads a roll of steel sheet in Baosteel steel mill in Shanghai. (Photo : Getty Images) China's Baoshan Iron and Steel (Baosteel) may soon become the second-largest steel producer in the world if the deal to acquire its rival Wuhan Iron and Steel, pushes through, as part of the country's efforts to revive the ailing industry. Reuters cited a statement released by Wuhan on Tuesday, Sept. 20, which said that Baosteel will absorb the company and shareholders will be given new shares. The deal was previously announced as a merger and will still need government approval since the two firms are both state-owned enterprises. Advertisement About 60 million tons a year will be produced by the two companies based on the 2015 capacity, which will make it with Hebei Iron and Steel as the leading firms among China's steel producers. According to the report, the plan, which was first announced in June, is part of government efforts to combine the two state-owned enterprises in a bid to remove excess capacity by consolidating the country's fragmented steel industry. The final agreement would also provide an outline for similar proposals that have been announced in the past months, such as the merger of Benxi Steel and Anshan Steel, the report said. "This is part of the government's efforts to push through supply-side reform and will have a model effect for the new round of mergers and acquisitions," Hu Yanping, an analyst for Custeel.com, said. In terms of capacity, ArcelorMittal SA, based in Luxembourg, is the world's largest steelmaker, the report said. Baosteel is confronted with the tough challenge of incorporating its debt-ridden rival amid government efforts to improve efficiency in the country's steel industry. "Baosteel is a profitable company and Wuhan is heavily indebted and just needs someone to save it," said Richard Lu, an analyst at Beijing-based CRU consultancy. Lu, however, added that since Baosteel and Wuhan have set up new plants and replaced their old and inefficient system and the deal will not result in reducing their capacity. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada has high standards on extradition treaties. (Photo : Getty Images) Reports reveal that Canada wants to resume negotiations with China for drafting an extradition treaty. The sudden turn of Canada's foreign affairs policy on China is getting international criticism. In a note obtained by the Canadian press, Daniel Jean, a top level adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was willing to extradite Chinese "economic fugitives" from the country. Advertisement "Canada does not want to be seen as a safe haven for fugitives and it is in Canada's interest to have such persons removed," according to the note. Jean went to Beijing to start discussions on national security and the rule of law, which signals the start of negotiations for an extradition treaty. Two human rights organizations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, criticized the Canadian government for the shift in their stand on extradition. The groups said that China's liberal stance on the death penalty puts extradited persons at risk. Sophie Richardson, China director of Human Rights Watch, said, "The standard rules of the road are that you cannot forcibly return anyone to a country where they face a well-founded fear of persecution or ill-treatment." She added, "I think China's particular interest in pushing this with Canada at the moment is to then be able to say to the U.S. and Australia, 'They did it, why won't you?"' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau clarified that they will not sacrifice the stand of the parliament on human rights for the sake of diplomacy. He said, "Extradition is certainly one of the things the Chinese have indicated they wanted to talk about. But as everyone knows, Canada has very high standards in terms of extradition treaties, in accordance with our values." "But we're happy to have a high-level security dialogue that will allow Canadian and Chinese officials to talk about a broad range of issues," he added. FAST (Photo : FAST) China's "Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope" (FAST) will see "first light" on Sept. 25 and will immediately begin hunting for intelligent extraterrestrial (ET) life. FAST is the world's largest filled aperture (single dish) radio telescope with a dish consisting of 4,450 triangular panels. FAST is also the second largest radio telescope after Russia's RATAN-600, which has a sparsely filled aperture. Advertisement FAST consists of a fixed 500 meter dish constructed in the Dawodang depression, a natural basin or "karst," in Pingtang County, Guizhou Province, southwest China. Construction of FAST began in 2011 and the total project cost hit $180 million. FAST will search for extraterrestrial life and monitor China's space program. It will also be used by Chinese scientists to uncover new secrets of physics and dark matter. The FAST website in English can be accessed here. "FAST's potential to discover an alien civilization will be five to 10 (times) that of current equipment, as it can see farther and darker planets," said Peng Bo, director of the NAO Radio Astronomy Technology Laboratory. Douglas Vakoch, president of METI International, an organization dedicated to detecting alien intelligence, said FAST "will be able to look faster and further than past searches for extraterrestrial intelligence." "FAST may help explain the origin of the universe and the structure of the cosmos, but it won't provide warning of Earth-bound asteroids that could destroy human civilization," said Vakoch. FAST's field of vision is almost twice that of the Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico that's been the world's biggest single aperture radio telescope for the past 53 years. It's expected to shine a brighter light on the origins of the universe by mapping the distribution of hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe. FAST will also allow scientists to detect many more pulsars, which are dense, rotating stars that act as cosmic clocks. This could give scientists with the capability to detect gravitational waves -- ripples in spacetime -- that shed light on how galaxies evolved. Locating the telescope dish in a natural hollow provides stronger support for the dish. Locating FAST three miles away from the nearest inhabited town will give the radio telescope the perfect radio silence needed to do its job better. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with several world leaders on Wednesday (21 September 2016) in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Mr. Stoltenberg welcomed Iraqs progress in the fight against ISIL. Both leaders agreed on the importance of NATOs support to Iraq in building more effective security and defence forces. At the Warsaw Summit, Allies agreed to provide in-country training and capacity building support to Iraq, complementing existing NATO training for Iraqi officers in Jordan. Meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the Secretary General reaffirmed NATOs strong political and practical support for Ukraine. In Warsaw, Allies endorsed a Comprehensive Assistance Package to help Ukraine better provide for its own security. The Secretary General also held a separate meeting with OSCE Secretary General, Ambassador Lamberto Zannier, to discuss strengthening cooperation between the Alliance and the OSCE. The two leaders exchanged views on the security situation in Ukraine and efforts to modernise the Vienna Document on military transparency. Later on Wednesday, the Secretary General met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The two leaders exchanged views on a range of issues, including risk reduction and transparency measures between NATO and Russia, the crisis in Syria, and the situation in Ukraine. Both leaders agreed that the NATO-Russia Council is an important forum for increasing transparency and predictability. The Secretary General underlined that NATO remains open to using military lines of communication to address issues of shared concern. In separate talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Mr. Stoltenberg reaffirmed the importance of NATOs cooperation with the UN to improve training for peacekeepers. He stressed that both organisations share a common interest in enhancing the protection of civilians in conflict zones. The Secretary General also met with UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to discuss the Alliances efforts to build up the defence capabilities of NATO's partners in Europe, as well as in the Middle East and North Africa. They also agreed on the importance of defence spending, and Mr. Stoltenberg commended the UK for continuing to spend 2% of GDP on defence. (As delivered) Thank you Nick and thank you for that kind welcome and its great to be here and its great to meet you. You have so much experience both from academic life but also as a practitioner or as practical politics, being an ambassador to NATO and in public life in the United States. So, you have experience, you have knowledge which we highly value in NATO but I also know that you are highly valued here at Harvard and the Kennedy School with all the knowledge and experience you bring to this school. So, its great to be here and its great to be at the Kennedy School at Harvard because Harvard is one the worlds most recognized and premier institutions for learning, for public life and I remember very well last time I was here, I was Prime Minister of Norway and I gave a lecture on the sovereign wealth fund of Norway and whether the oil revenue for Norway is a blessing or a curse. This time, my topic is very different. My topic is NATO and the challenges NATO is facing. I will deliver a speech and then afterwards, Im more than ready to and happy to answer your questions on many different topics but let me start with the fact that the Kennedy School has alumni which have served all over the world in different positions, as prime ministers and presidents, as politicians from many different political parties and as ambassadors and generals and admirals and I also read that there has been some astronauts that are alumni from the Kennedy School. So there are many people who have served in different positions and many of the people that have served in NATO, theyre also alumni from the Kennedy School and I think that if we gathered all of them in a room, they could tell us many different tales. They could tell us about Cuban missiles and razor wire border posts, of velvet revolutions and the tearing down of the Wall, of wars halted and genocide prevented. They would tell you about 9/11 and the first and only use of Article 5 of NATOs founding treaty, as Nick just referred to treating an attack on one as an attack on all; a moment which Nick remembers very well because at that time, he was the Ambassador to NATO as he just told all of us and they would speak of an organization based on the values of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law, on common interests and close friendships. They would paint the picture of an organization that constantly changes to meet the challenges of the day. Shakespeare once wrote of the seven ages of man. Today, I would like to talk about the three ages of NATO, about where NATO has been, about how its evolved and about where NATO is going. The first age of NATO began 67 years ago in Washington. After the horrors of the Second World War, the countries of North America and Western Europe came together to find a new, different way forward. They realized back then that going it alone doesnt work. It never has and it never will. Going it alone had only led to centuries of war in Europe and of the United States being drawn into two devastating world wars which started in Europe. By standing together to collective defence, things could be different. By being united, NATO allies could stand up to the bullies of the international arena and say no. We could protect our allies, we could protect our territory, we could protect our people. As a result, the following 40 years were among the most stable and certainly the most prosperous that Western Europe and North America had ever experienced. And then, in what felt like a moment, the world changed. The Cold War ended without a shot being fired on European soil. The Soviet Union collapsed, the people of the Eastern Bloc were free, new countries appeared as others vanished from the map and Europe rushed to be united with many countries in central and eastern Europe joining NATO and the European Union. Russia, no longer an enemy, became a partner of NATO. This was a time of great optimism and hope for some but for others, it was a time of fear and violence. The wars in the Balkans in the 1990s were brutal and bloody. The threat of another genocide just half a century after the Holocaust was real. So NATO stepped up and we entered our second age, moving from purely collective defence, NATO set its sights on managing conflicts beyond its borders, bringing an end to the war in Bosnia and later stopping potential genocide in Kosovo. This was a new role for NATO, a role we proved adept at playing. So it was no surprise that after 9/11, NATO took charge in Afghanistan too. Troops from every NATO country from the United States, Britain, Italy, Germany, Romania, Estonia and all the other allies joined in. Troops from our partners from around the world all joined together to eradicate al-Qaeda, to fight the Taliban and to bring stability to Afghanistan. Together, Canada and the European allies have lost over 1,000 soldiers in that mission, a mission launched in response to an attack on the United States and we are still in Afghanistan. Supporting the Afghan armed forces which we helped build from almost nothing to an effective force of more than 350,000 soldiers and police. Standing together as we have always done, stronger together as we have always been. Our unity was essential to managing crisis in our second age but then, in a moment, our world changed again. That moment was 2014. It was the year that for the first time since World War II, a European country seized part of another by force. With its annexation of Crimea, Russia had torn up the national rulebook that had served all nations, including itself, so well for so many years. It rejected the principals set out in the Helsinki Final Act, where all nations are sovereign and independent and should solve their differences through peaceful means, ideas that Russia has helped create. Instead, Russia looked backwards to worn out notions of spheres of influence and of strong nations having dominion over the weak with the fate of millions of people decided by big men in smoke-filled rooms and this is an outdated vision we can never accept. 2014 was also the year that witnessed the breakthrough of the terrorist group ISIL or Daesh, combining extraordinary brutality with a twisted mission of a Caliphate. ISIL has proved a destructive force in Syria and in Iraq. It is attempting to spread its influence through North Africa and around the world and acts of terror have been committed in its name from Ankara to Orlando. So now, NATO has entered its third age, an age where we must do both collective defence and manage crisis and promote stability beyond our borders. We do not have the luxury of choosing one or the other. We must do both at the same time and this is exactly what we are doing. We have implemented the strongest reinforcement of our collective defence since the end of the Cold War. We will soon deploy 4 multi-national battalions, one each to Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania led in turn by the U.S., Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom. We will also increase our presence in southeast Europe. With a stronger multi-national presence in the East of our Alliance, it is clear that any action against any ally will be treated as an attack on all allies. NATO stands strong and we stand united but we do not seek confrontation with Russia. The Cold War is history and it should stay history. Instead, we want a meaningful and constructive dialogue with Russia. That is why we have held two meetings this year of the NATO-Russia Council, to make plain our differences and to find a way forward; and this is also why I met with Foreign Minister Lavrov a couple of days ago in New York because while we need more defence, we also need more dialogue with Russia. Russia is our biggest neighbour and its here to stay. ISIL, however, is totally different. ISIL must be eradicated. Combating terrorism is an essential part of promoting stability beyond our borders. In Afghanistan and elsewhere, NATO has long played a key role in the fight against terrorism and we are stepping up our efforts. Through the global coalition to counter ISIL, every single NATO ally is already in the fight, standing side by side with America and our partners in the region and that coalition is as effective as it is thanks to the long history of cooperation brought about by decades of NATO operations and exercises. NATOs long experience in the Balkans and Afghanistan tells us that an essential ingredient of long term stability is the strength of local forces and local institutions. Thats the reason why NATO is building local capacity and NATO has already trained Iraqi officers to better fight ISIL and we are expanding this program. We will also deploy a team to Baghdad to provide strategic advice and support to the Iraqis security forces and our advanced AWACS surveillance planes will provide valuable information to support the air operations of the coalition to counter ISIL in Syria. Of course, all of this comes at a price. Freedom has never come for free. After the Cold War, defence spending fell across the alliance but last year, the cuts stopped and this year, 22 NATO allies will increase defence spending in real terms. The United States contributes to the collective defence of the alliance in many different ways. Financially, of course, but also by virtue of being the worlds only superpower, with its nuclear weapons, its huge armed forces at home and around the world willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to defence the nations and their allies and its moral authority and clout as the worlds richest and most powerful democracy. Assuring European stability has been a central pillar of U.S. foreign policy since World War II, both to prevent conflict from leading to another global war and as the U.S. and Europe form the worlds largest trading relationship to ensure its own prosperity. NATO has been the vehicle for securing this goal. It has given the United States a unique role, a unique influence, in European affairs and without NATO, that influence, that stability and that prosperity, would be put at risk and its something we should all try to avoid. Of course, the United States may be the guarantor of European security but it is far from its sole provider. All allies contribute through the men and women of the armed forces, through the use of the territory and their bases, through their military equipment, from satellites up into space to submarines deep under the ocean. European allies are taking the lead in a new high readiness force we have established in NATO and the forward presence in the Eastern part of our Alliance will also see European allies in the lead; and I continue to press European allies to contribute even more. In return for this commitment, every ally, including the United States, gets the unwavering support of 27 other democracies, they get tried and tested command and control and deep relationships from the soldiers on the front line to the generals calling the shots. Relationships forged over many years are working and fighting side by side. They get the most powerful, most enduring, most effective and most reliable alliance the world has ever seen. The world has changed and NATO evolves. This is the way we have kept our nations safe for almost 70 years but while NATO evolves, it also stands true to its founding principles, that united in common cause and common values, we are stronger together than we ever could be apart. On the 12th of September, 2001, the day after those horrific attacks on this nation, national security advisor Condoleezza Rice received a phone call from the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, from Nick. He told her that every NATO ally stood as one with America and that every ally was willing to defend America. On that moment, Rice would later write, It is really good to have friends. In its NATO allies, America has the best of friends and it always will. So, my message is that NATO is good for Europe but its also good for the United States and thats the reason why we are so proud of the Transatlantic Bond. Thank you. Q: I sort of understand that like the goal of NATO might be to justify its existence [inaudible] understand that if you use the same logic then you're probably right, try to convince that your existence should be continued. But I was wondering whether you have ever thought about it in a different way that NATO tries to present itself as a guarantor against instability [inaudible] for example when Russia - USSR or whatever - it's like this time it's Warsaw Pact unilaterally moved its troops from Eastern Europe and say like, guys, let's live in peace together, let's create one Europe from [inaudible]. But it's like [inaudible] was that like [inaudible] expansion, indeed[?] Russia has like seven bases outside of Russia and NATO has like, all the allies[??] [inaudible] 800 bases. What kind of aggression are we talking about? It's like, of course, [inaudible] for the sole purpose of destroying [inaudible] from your side [inaudible] of course it would be [inaudible] and, of course, you provoke and, of course, you create some kind of tension, of course, you create some kind of instability in the region and you need [inaudible] to respond to[??], if you say like I will come [inaudible] America[?] and I will save you, save you from something that maybe we can move [inaudible] like there is no tension from the site[??] and we will trust each other [inaudible] than just once you aid us to donate[?] more like support [inaudible] it's like it's not the it will not resolve[?] [inaudible] in this way [inaudible] I was wondering [inaudible] you have thought about it in this way, or for you it's a settled question, it's like you just have some kind of a, like, [inaudible] some kind of [inaudible]. JENS STOLTENBERG (NATO Secretary General): NATO does not seek confrontation with does not seek confrontation with with Russia. Actually NATO strives for a more cooperative and constructive relationship with Russia. And we believe that we should try to develop a political dialogue with Russia; that we should try to keep tensions down, that we should do whatever we can to prevent a new arms race. And actually, after the end of the Cold War NATO invited Russia into a broad partnership, and we were able to establish a lot of cooperation with Russia. And I think we moved step by step in the right direction. But then we have to understand what happened is that Russia partly continued a very substantial military build-up. Since 2000, Russia has tripled defence spending in real terms, but not only and at the same time, we reduced defense spending every year. But not only has Russia tripled defence spending, invested in many modern military capabilities, exercised their forces in a more aggressive pattern and ways. But the most important thing is that Russia used military force against neighbours, against Georgia. They violated the international recognized borders of Georgia. Russia has military troops in Moldova, against the wish of the government of Moldova. And then the last example which is perhaps also the most serious example is that they annexed Crimea, despite that they have signed an agreement recognizing Crimea as part of Ukraine. And they used military force to achieve that goal. And then they have continued to destabilize Eastern Ukraine, supporting the separatists. So if NATO hadn't reacted to that, then NATO wouldn't have served this main sort of purpose which is to provide defence and deterrence for all allies, including for instance the Baltic countries which feel that it's really a serious situation when Russia used military force against neighbours, which has been part of the Soviet Union, which has also been the case for these Baltic countries. I say this because because I believe that NATO has to be strong. We have to provide deterrence. We have to stand united, not to provoke a war, but to prevent the war. And this has been very successful for 70 years, and and we have seen peace and stability in Europe for many reasons, but one reason is that NATO has been there making sure that we have stability and security for our allies. Yeah, I can say more about Russia, but I will just end by saying that I will continue to work for dialogue with Russia, and I and I believe that there is no contradiction between strong defence and dialogue. I actually believe that as long as NATO is strong, as long as we stand together and we provide deterrence, we can also engage in dialogue with Russia. And I don't believe we should try to isolate Russia. I believe that Russia is not only believe, but Russia is our biggest neighbour. It's there's to say. So we have to develop a relationship with Russia and try to reduce tensions as much as possible. Q: Thank you. My name is Andrew McLauren, I'm a student here in an MPA degree programme. So my question is about Turkey today. When you look at Turkey following the coup this summer, what do you make of that country's increasing slide away from democratic principles and increasing authoritarian [inaudible]? What sort of message would you relay to the leaders of [inaudible]? JENS STOLTENBERG: Let me start by underlining the importance of Turkey as a NATO ally. Turkey is a highly valued and essential ally for NATO, for several reasons. One obvious reason is that geographic location of Turkey, being so close to much of the turmoil, instability, and the challenges NATO is facing. Turkey is a country bordering the Black Sea, close to Crimea, Ukraine, and the instability to the north of Turkey. They're bordering Georgia where we have instability, and Russia is present with forces in two regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. And then, of course, Turkey is bordering Iraq and Syria. So Turkey is by far the NATO ally most affected by the instability, the violence and the terrorist threats coming from ISIL. And they have hosted or they are hosting around three million refugees. And Turkey plays a key role in the fight against ISIL, partly because they contribute themselves with their own forces, their own capabilities in the fight against ISIL, but also of course because Turkey provides the bases, infrastructure for other NATO allies to conduct airstrikes and operations against ISIL. So I think to just imagine a NATO without Turkey would just really underline how dangerous that would be and how close much of the turmoil and the violence we see in the Middle East would come even closer to the heart of Europe. So Turkey is important for NATO, not least confronting and standing up against all the turmoil and violence we see in the south. The coup attempt was an attempt to overthrow a democratic elected government. They bombed the presidential palace. They bombed the the parliament. And I visited the parliament just a couple of weeks ago, and it's a quite strong impression to be there in the parliament and to see the main assembly hall and just outside that hall, you see the damage caused by the F-16 or bombs from F-16 fighter jets bombing the parliament. And it's hard to imagine any stronger expression of disrespect for the democracy than using military power against the elected parliament, with the parliamentarians inside. So, of course, Turkey has the right to protect itself. Turkey has the right to protect itself against terrorist attacks. They have suffered many terrorist attacks. And, of course, Turkey has the right also to prosecute those behind the failed coup. I'm confidentand I discussed this with the Turkish leadersthat when they prosecute those responsible, that the principles of individual liberty, the rule of law and democratic values should be respected because that's core values for NATO, and I personally attach great importance to those values. Q: Thank you very much. Q: Thank you so much, Mr. Secretary General. My name is [inaudible] and I'm a first-year MPP student I'm sorry, second-year MPP student. Q: Earlier you mentioned speaking with Foreign Secretary Lavrov earlier this week, so I'm sure you're aware of the very precarious nature of the ceasefire deal in Syria, as well as the recent bombing of the U.N. convoy on its way to Aleppo. Some have suggested the only way to ensure civilian [inaudible] in Syria [inaudible] and humanitarian [inaudible]. However that would quit[?] [inaudible] allies[?], particularly Turkey on the ground and potentially U.S. air forces, in direct confrontation with Russia. So, giving your stated goal of not bringing back[??] [inaudible] Cold War tensions with Russia, how can NATO allies continue to collaborate, as far as our confrontation [inaudible] and ISIL while simultaneously ensuring civilian [inaudible]? Thank you. JENS STOLTENBERG: The crisis in Syria is really, really appalling, and it's so heartbreaking to see all the civilians that suffer. And every time we think it cannot get worse, it becomes even worse. And the latest example is the example you referred tothe bombing of an aid convoy with aid to aid and help to civilians, and the killing of the many aid workers. This is morally totally unacceptable and it's a blatant violation of basic international law. For me, that just underlines the importance of continuing to support all efforts to try to find a political negotiated solution. I'm not saying it's easy. I'm not saying that we have not tried before and failed. But there is, in the long run, there is no other way. So we will just continue to support the efforts of the U.N., of the United States and others to try to at least agree on a ceasefire which is respected and unhindered access, safe access of aid to to civilians. NATO supports the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIL. We support them in different ways, but especially now with AWACS surveillance planes, helping them to have a better picture of the airspace over Syria. And all NATO allies participate in different ways. Several NATO allies also conduct airstrikes and, of course, for the efficiency or for the impact of the efforts of the alliance, it is a great advantage that they have developed a lot of interoperability, the ability to work together, to communicate, to understand each other, to have this kind of advanced military operations based on NATO exercises, NATO standards, and just experience from other operations in Afghanistan or in Libya or elsewhere. But NATO is not on the ground in Syria and, therefore, I have been always careful going into the operational details or different questions related to exactly how to conduct the military operations in Syria. I will leave that to the U.S.-led coalition, and but I think we all have to understand that a no-fly zone can create a very challenging situation. And that's also the reason why there has been some reluctance to establish a no-fly zone because then it has to be implemented and and, as I say, fully respected, which can be a quite demanding situation to put the forces in the area into. So we will continue to support the U.N.-led peace process. We will continue to support the U.S.-led coalition to fight ISIL. But NATO will not be present with military forces inside Syria under NATO command. Q: Hi, my name is Greg Almond[sp] [inaudible] student [inaudible]. We just [inaudible] recently [inaudible] the Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work who gave a presentation wherein he listed[?] some very important facts. First, he said that the Russian military and the Chinese military have reached or will soon reach [inaudible] munitions with the Western alliance. Second, he said the future of United States and Western military superiority[?] will be based on the effective incorporation of artificial intelligence technologies into [inaudible] strategy, are expecting that by 2030, 30 percent of their armed forces will be to be in the form of robotic weapons. So I'm curious, what is NATO's strategy for the incorporation of robotics and artificial intelligence? JENS STOLTENBERG: Robert Work and his assessments of what kind of, as I say, the importance of technology and the importance of different kinds of even more advanced weapon systems than we have today, has been something which we have discussed a lot at NATO. He actually visited the North Atlantic Council and perhaps he didn't give exactly the same presentation, but at least he addressed the same issues. And I think that the message from him is that we have always had a technological edge or advantage compared to our to other nations in in the world. We have to keep that edge. We have to continue to develop our our different capabilities and technologies. And that's exactly one of the reasons why we also have to invest more in defence because this requires investments in research and development, and it requires that we work together so we get more out of our investments when we do it together. And it also requires an understanding that I think that open societies like NATO countries, they have a big advantage that we will we are better able to utilize some of these technologies. A lot of networks, a lot of a lot of, for instance, the development of different kinds of artificial technology, artificial intelligence, is something which we have the advantage of applying because we have many more people who are utilizing and using these kind of technologies for peaceful purposes already today. So the thing is that we have to stay focused, we have to invest in technology, research, to be able to keep the technological edge also in the future. Q: Thank you [inaudible]. Thank you, Secretary General. My name is [inaudible], I'm a [inaudible] and thank you for coming to our class this morning. It's great. My question is about regional alliances that we've touched upon briefly. What is NATO doing in its capacity to further facilitate regional alliances and showing leadership so that other regional alliances all together [inaudible]? JENS STOLTENBERG: I think the most important thing NATO does is that we work together, with partners all over the world actually, but especially in our neighbourhood. And it's not always about regional alliances, but it's more about working with different partner nations in our vicinity or our neighbourhood. It means for instance that we have something called the Mediterranean Dialogue which is the countries in North Africa and the Middle East, including Israel, and we sit down with them and we discuss common challenges, common, as I say, tasks which we address together, everything from fighting terrorism to stabilizing the region. And I believe very much in this partnership concept because it's a way of trying to project stability or to stabilize our neighbourhood based on the idea that if our neighbourhood is stable, we are more secure. And that's everything from a political dialogue to, for instance, training and helping Tunisia to develop their special operation forces and intelligence. So it's less about regional alliances, more about regional cooperation between NATO and different countries in different regions, especially in our neighbourhood. Q: Thank you. My name is [inaudible]. I'm a student of the MPIE[?]. My question is considering that [inaudible] in this evolution of actors[?] that might be considered as [inaudible], you know, the so-called hybrid war, how do you really find the criteria for activating Article 5 so as to maintain NATO's credibility? And I'm thinking particularly about [inaudible] small country, small NATO member country, and small destabilizing actions in which some of the other members might not have the incentives to activate the Article. JENS STOLTENBERG: The fundamental task for NATO, the core task for NATO is to protect all allies against any threat, and we have been able to do so for close to 70 years. And that applies for both big and small allies, and there has to be and an important thing is that there is no doubt about that. Because the important thing with deterrence is that as long as deterrence is credible, as long as deterrence is is real, then we prevent the war. And that's the best thing, to never really be able or to never be forced to use military force, because if you are strong, you prevent anyone from trying to test your capabilities. Then you are pointing out something which is a challenge. And that is, during the Cold War the idea of an attack was, in a way, armoured vehicles or battle tanks from the Soviet Union rolling over the border between East and West Germany, and there was no doubt when a war started. The problem with hybrid warfare is it's much more difficult to define exactly when it starts and actually when you are under attack, or who is behind the attack. Because hybrid warfare is this combination of civil and military means of aggression. It's this combination of overt and covert operations. It's cyber. One of the big problems with cyberattacks is, of course, that you can be under attack but you don't know who is attacking you. And so on. So we have to adapt. Meaning for instance that we have to develop our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities so we have a better picture, a better understanding that we are more able to see what's going on on the ground. And that's exactly what we are doing. We are developing our intelligence capabilities. We have now invested we are now soon to deploy a new system of drones to be able to have a better picture on the ground if anything happens. We need to be able to react fast because with hybrid warfare there is less warning time. That's the reason why we are increasing the readiness of our forces. We have tripled the size of the NATO response force so we can quickly deploy forces if needed. And also one of the reasons why we have decided to have forces deployed in the three Baltic countries and Poland, augmenting or increasing their capabilities to respond if there is an attack of any sort against one of these countries. So we are adapting to a security environment where the threats are less easy to identify and an attack is less easy or more difficult to define. But, you know, hybrid attacks are often just, in a way, the first step, the prelude to a bigger conventional attack. And part of that is cyber, and we are really stepping up the efforts to defend our cyber networks. We have defined cyber as a military domain. We have sea, land, air, and cyber. All of this to enable us to respond to different kinds of threats. The last thing is that is that the Article 5 is something which applies, as I said, for all countries. There can be no doubt about that, and NATO will live up to the guarantees we have provided. Q: Thank you. My name is Dorothy Zinberg. And I have a two-part question, or one is a long story, the other is a question. I was the American delegate to the NATO science policy committee during the years when expansion was being debated, and I would love to hear some of your thoughts about that. But I think more important for our students is a short history of faith, changes in politics, all kinds of things. It was about 40 years ago that a man by the name of Johan Holst, who became the head of the Oslo Peace Accords, called me and said, "I would like to bring a friend to meet you." I said come on over to my house. I can assure you 40 years ago I was a very, very junior member of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. And Johan Holst arrives with this man. And his name is Thorvald Stoltenberg, the Father of Jens. And it looked as if he [inaudible] political office, and Johan was looking for a job with your Father, and he said He did not tell me he was your uncle at that point [inaudible], but this is what is so fascinating about politics and the way the world changes. Thorvald was about to be voted out of office, the party was going, but the elections changed and he won and he became minister of defense, the minister of foreign affairs, later in life the ambassador to Denmark, ahead of everything in yeah, ambassador to Denmark, ahead of everything in Norway today [inaudible]. And out of those chance meetings, your life really changes. Beginning with meeting him then, I began to work [inaudible] sciences [inaudible] Wales[?], on energy, nuclear power. And, again, it's so much that you never anticipate. So that old phrase "Seize the day." And your mother who should not go unmentioned here was the leading the leading feminist in Norway, cabinet post, major policy decisions, and bringing about major social change in Norway. MODERATOR: We all thank you, Dorothy. Do you have a question? Q: I want to know about NATO expansion because I voted against it once. JENS STOLTENBERG: First of all, thank you for the nice words about my family, and you actually know almost more about my family than I do myself. JENS STOLTENBERG: And I phone my father every day. So I will phone him now when I get into the car on my way to the airport, then I will tell him that I met you, yeah. JENS STOLTENBERG: And and you all[?] you can all see[??] [inaudible] my uncle, and Norway Norway is a small country, but we are not the only family, so there are at least some families. So, yeah, then then about expansion. Well, it has been debated all the time, and and some allies have been skeptical, yeah, almost and some have also been against some of the around some enlargement. But at the end, we have always agreed because the only way NATO can enlarge is by consensus. So at the end, all allies have to agree to invite a new ally. And I believe that if even there are or even if there have always been, you know, pro and cons, I really believe that the overall message is that it has been a great success because it has contributed to stability, to a Europe more whole, free and at peace. And of course, for those countries that for many of them they have they lived for decades under the under the rule of the Soviet Union either as part of the Soviet Union or as a republic in the Soviet Union and/or a part of the Warsaw Pact. So for them to be able to join NATO was a way to make sure that they can remain free, independent, with the protection of NATO. And I sometimes use the word "expansion" because that's how it's often referred to, but expansion is more like, in a way, NATO moving east, and so taking in Poland and Lithuania and Estonia and so on. But the reality is that it's more that the east has moved west, meaning that those nations, the Baltic nations, Poland, Hungary and so on, and all the other new allies, they have strongly asked for the possibility to become members. And they have decided so by democratic decisions in their own countries. It's not NATO grabbing land. It's the land that moves into NATO, in a way. And thats that a big difference, because because this is not an aggressive policy of NATO, but it is to respect the free independent choice of free and independent nations, including that they have to they have the right to decide their own path and what kind of security arrangements they want to be part of, including a military alliance as NATO. MODERATOR: Thank you. Other questions? Yes, sir? Q: Thank you, Secretary General. My name is [inaudible]. My question is on NATO and Israel. So in May 2016, NATO allowed Israel to [inaudible] missions [inaudible] Brussels[?] [inaudible] cooperation. And I was wondering, many Israelis [inaudible] seem to be very skeptical [inaudible] and he said, and I quote, "NATO is hollow. Everybody knows this except the leaders of NATO." My question is [inaudible] what are NATO's or your personal objectives or priorities with regard to Israel and NATO? JENS STOLTENBERG: First of all, I think it's good that NATO has been able to develop a partnership to many different countries. And that's the way we work with countries, we cooperate with them, and some of and many of our partners, they actually contribute and are part of NATO operations and missions. NATO has been in Afghanistan for many years, but we have to remember that many of the soldiers that NATO has deployed there, they're not coming from NATO allied countries but they're coming from partner nations. For instance, Georgia has been one of the major force contributors to NATO, contributors to NATO's presence in Afghanistan, and so on. Jordan has participated, and so on. So I think that the partnerships are important for NATO and for the partner nations. We welcome the partnership with with Israel, and I am proud that we were able to then make it possible for Israel to open a mission. It's some kind of well, it's a kind of symbolic thing, but I think it is important that NATO as an alliance, 28 allies, have said, "Yes, we would like to have Israel with a diplomatic mission to NATO." It's a strong political signal. And politics is also about symbols and signals, and this is a strong signal. And it also facilitates some practical cooperation. We can now move further with different kinds of practical programs, something called the Individual Partnership Program which now can develop with Israel. Benefit for NATO, benefit for Israel. I didn't get exactly who said that NATO was hollow, but, well Q: [Inaudible]. Barak. JENS STOLTENBERG: Okay. He is actually a friend, but [LAUGHS] JENS STOLTENBERG: but yeah, and hes a good man. But but and a Labour politician, so but the thing is that I don't know exactly why he said that, but what I know is that we are the strongest military alliance in the world and we provide deterrence every day. And we have been there for 70 years, close to 70 years, deterring the old Soviet Union. And I think that if you go to Afghanistan, you have seen NATO presence there with more than 100,000 troops providing security, training local forces. We are there today. And if you ask the Afghans whether we are hollow, they will not understand, because we are there, we help them, we train them, we advise them, and we help them to fight the Taliban and to protect them against, you know, all the violence and all the intolerance that the Taliban and all the other terrorist groups in Afghanistan represent. If you go to Bosnia, they had started genocide. At least it was they killed each other and there was war. NATO troops went in, and we stopped it. If you if you Kosovo, 5000 NATO soldiers contributing to stability in Kosovo. And if you go to Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia, they will now see that NATO troops are coming there, they stand there, and the important thing with the NATO presence in these countries is not that the battle group, battalion is so big, but the thing is that the NATO battalion in Estonia is going to be is going to consist of forces, troops from many different NATO allied countries, signal very clearly that if Estonia is attacked, it will trigger a response from the whole alliance. So the multinational presence of NATO troops in for instance Estonia sends an extremely strong signal that Estonia will not be left alone, but it will immediately trigger the response from the whole alliance. So for them, this is not hollow. What's hollow for Barak, I don't know, but that doesn't matter so much. Q: [Inaudible] the operations in Afghanistan are dwindling[?]. So I'm curious about how strategic in Central Asia for NATO [inaudible] relationship with the country's [inaudible]. JENS STOLTENBERG: Central Asia is still important for NATO, and we have many partner nations in the region. But you are right that of course, because we are now reducing our presence, we have already reduced our presence in Afghanistan, the importance of Central Asia at least for the operations in Afghanistan has been significantly reduced. Because before, we had many at least we had bases there and we has troops there, not because because there was as a way into Afghanistan. We at the top, we had close to 140,000 troops, and we conducted big military combat operations in Afghanistan. Now we have reduced that to 12 , close to 13,000, 12,800 troops, and they don't participate in combat operations anymore. What they do is to train, assist and advise the Afghan forces. So it's a completely different world. And I think it's a very good thing that NATO has ended the combat operations and that we have enabled the Afghans themselves to protect their own country. And I really believe that in the long run it's much better than NATO deploying combat forces, that we enable local forces to protect themselves and to stabilize their own countries. So therefore also our presence in Central Asia and Uzbekistan has been reduced in many, many cases to zero, because we don't need it for military purposes inside Afghanistan anymore. MODERATOR: We have time for two more questions, so we will go to be back. Q: Thank you for coming, Mr. Secretary General. My name is [inaudible] year one at Kennedy School. I have a question that there's a lot of conversation around ISIL, and Syria right now is being used as a playground by Iran and Saudi Arabia. All of these countries are regional [inaudible], regional powerhouses. They have their strategic objectives. What do you think NATO can do in terms of reconciling the strategic objectives of both Iran and Saudi Arabia? And then is there a way that NATO can bring these two powers at the table and create [inaudible] peaceful workable solution in the short term? Thank you. JENS STOLTENBERG: I recently visited the Gulf Region, and I met also with the Conference of Saudi Arabia recently in Brussels. And one of the things I really have learned a lot more about since I became secretary general is the complexity and the challenges in the whole region, the Gulf Region, Iran, also affecting of course the turmoil, the violence in countries like Iraq and Syria. And I think it is important to be realistic that of course NATO can play a role, NATO can contribute in many different ways, but NATO cannot solve all problems. So NATO is part of the answer to many problems, but we are not the only answer to all problems. Meaning that to, for instance, solve the or to reconcile the tensions, the problems we see between Saudi Arabia and Iran is not an easy task. And I don't believe that NATO can just go in and solve it. That's actually not for NATO to do. But what I think is that NATO can, through our corporation for instance with the Gulf States, our dialog with different states in the region, can at least help contribute to reduce tensions. And we can of course contribute to the fight against ISIL, and I have stated several times what we are doing. We train local forces, especially in Iraq. We work with other countries in the region. I mentioned especially Jordan and Tunisia. We have a very close corporation with several states in the Gulf Region. We will later on this fall open a new NATO regional training centre in Kuwait which will be some kind of hub for partnership, for political dialog, and for training in the region. And of course we even if yeah, we work with Turkey which is bordering and very close to all the turmoil and the violence in Syria and Iraq. But you know, the extreme difficult relationship, or the different complex relationships in the Middle East is not for NATO just to solve. But we can help, contribute, and that's exactly what we are doing. Q: Thank you. MODERATOR: Another question right here. Q: Thank you, Secretary General. My name is [inaudible] but my question does not actually concern Russia. I'm more interested in NATO policy in another region, in Asia, because there are other partners [inaudible] such as [inaudible]. So in case there is a conflict in the South China Sea specifically[?], [inaudible] how engaged should NATO be in the region[?] [inaudible] NATO [inaudible]? JENS STOLTENBERG: NATO has many partners all over the world, including Japan, Korea and others. And we have political dialog with them, they participate and contribute to some of our operations. South Korea and Japan contribute financially to, for instance, our activities in Afghanistan, and so on. And so they are partners. But I think we have to distinguish very clearly between partners and members. Meaning that the NATO collective defence security guarantees an attack on one is an attack on all, applies for the members and members only. Meaning that NATO do not have any security guarantees that covers the South China Sea. That's we are a regional we are a regional organization which covers Europe and North America, Canada and United States. The important thing in the South China Sea is that the is that the conflicts, the disagreements there are resolved according to the International Law and the Law of the Sea, and we support all efforts to try to find, you know, ways to resolve the disputes by applying International Law. But for NATO, it's not an issue to have any guarantees or a military presence. It may be NATO allies. The United States is present in the Pacific and in that region, but that's as an individual nation, not as not on behalf of NATO. So the short answer is that NATO has a close partnership with countries in Asia, but we don't have any security guarantees which apply for Asia. Heimbach made up stories about babies burning to death to promote deadly chemicals Fines, jail time are what Heimbach deserves for committing perjury (NaturalNews) A former doctor who profited handsomely by lying before the courts about flame retardant chemicals has gotten off easy by voluntarily giving up his medical license. Thereports that David Heimbach, who already retired several years ago, has agreed to forfeit his medical license in exchange for not facing further prosecution for his crimes.A multi-year investigation by theexposed Heimbach for his pivotal role in keeping dangerous flame retardant chemicals on the market, despite copious evidence proving that they don't even work. Pretending to be an unbiased burn expert, the former head of the burn center at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, accepted a large cash sum from an industry front group to fake statistics on burn victims, effectively maintaining their use in furniture and other consumer products."State officials had alleged that Heimbach, whose activities were exposed in a 2012investigation, fabricated testimony and falsely presented himself as an unbiased burn expert when, in fact, he had been paid $240,000 for his help," wrote Sam Roe and Patricia Callahan in a recent piece for the"Heimbach and manufacturers have defended flame retardants, which are added to furniture cushions, despite research that shows they don't provide any meaningful protection from home fires."Theis largely responsible for bringing at least some justice to the case. Investigative reporters at the paper unearthed the fact that Heimbach's claims before courts in both California and Alaska about infants being burned while sitting on cushions not treated with flame retardant chemicals were completely false."Heimbach told lawmakers in California and Alaska gripping stories of babies suffering fatal burns while on cushioning without flame retardants . But the infants as he described them did not exist," explains the"Heimbach, former president of the American Burn Association, initially told the Tribune that his testimony was meant to be anecdotal and that he 'wasn't under oath.' Later, through his attorney, he said he intentionally changed the facts to protect patient privacy."Technically speaking, Heimbach committed perjury, the consequences of which should include fines, jail time and possibly even the death penalty. In this case, Heimbach's lies resulted in dangerous chemicals that should have been banned staying on the market, putting untold millions of children at risk of disease or death.When the Medical Quality Assurance Commission of Washington decided to get involved, pressing charges against Heimbach for conspiring with an industry front group to defend and promote flame retardant chemicals, Heimbach decided to call it quits. By forfeiting his license , he will avoid facing further charges and will skirt any possibility of having to pay a fine or serve jail time for his greed."In its charges, the commission cited Heimbach's work for Citizens for Fire Safety, an organization the Tribune exposed as a front group founded, funded and controlled by the three largest manufacturers of flame retardants," explains the report."When states considered laws that would ban or limit the use of flame retardants, Citizens for Fire Safety stirred the public's fear of fire and downplayed the health risks linked to the chemicals, such as cancer, neurological deficits, developmental problems and impaired fertility."You can read the fullexpose on David Heimbach, entitled, here: High risk of accidental overdose Death by Tylenol (NaturalNews) The Canadian government is requiring stricter warning labels on products containing acetaminophen, in the hopes of preventing lethal side effects stemming from consumers unwittingly taking too much of the dangerous over-the-counter drug.Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, and is highly toxic to the liver. Acetaminophen overdose is the foremost cause of acute liver failure in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and is a major cause of liver transplants.Studies have also shown that acetaminophen affects the brain's processing capability, leading to dulled emotions, lessened empathy and a reduced ability to notice errors.In the United States, an estimated 60,000 people per year are hospitalized for acetaminophen-related liver failure. According to a 2015 Health Canada safety review that led to the recent rule changes, the number in Canada is about 4,000. Of these, 250 involve serious liver injury.About 20 percent of Canadians who experience serious liver injury as a result of acetaminophen took more than the recommended dose without realizing it. Many of these patients had factors placing them at risk of liver failure, such as alcoholism or viral liver disease.Part of what makes acetaminophen so dangerous is that it can build up in the liver over time, producing a condition known as drug-induced hepatitis. In addition, it is found in so many different products -- from painkillers to cold medicine -- that people may not realize they are getting it from multiple sources at once."When it's in as many products as it is, and when people have a familiarity with the products, there may be less of a likelihood that somebody will actually read the label," said Dr. Supriya Sharma, senior medical adviser with Health Canada's health products and food branch.Other ways people commonly overdose on acetaminophen include taking a second dose too soon after an initial dose, or taking more than the recommended amount.The new Canadian labels will revise dosage instructions to emphasize for consumers how important it is to use the lowest effective dose, not exceed the maximum dose (4,000 mg for adults) in 24 hours, not use acetaminophen for more than three days for fever or five days for pain, and not take acetaminophen if consuming three or more alcoholic beverages per day.A label reading "contains acetaminophen" will be placed in bold, red letters in the top right corner of any products containing the drug.All acetaminophen-containing products will contain a new table, called "Drug Facts," which will provide dosage instructions and safety information (a similar label is already found on over-the-counter medications sold in the United States).Finally, children's products containing acetaminophen will now need to be sold with calibrated dosing device to help parents make sure their children don't get too much of the drug All new products will have to apply the new labeling rules immediately, while products already on the market will have 18 months to comply. Products must start including Drug Facts by 2021.Liver specialist Dr. Eric Yoshida of Vancouver General Hospital praised the changes. He said he regularly sees patients killed by accidental acetaminophen overdose."We've had patients who have died waiting for liver transplantation, a transplant that never came," said Yoshida. "They're in our ICU with acute liver failure and the cause is inadvertent Tylenol injury death by Tylenol. This is completely avoidable."Yoshida criticized the rules as not going far enough, however, saying that "extra strength" products containing 500 mg per dose should be banned.Pediatric pharmacologist Dr. Michael Rieder of Western University agreed with this recommendation. He also suggested a policy, being considered in the United Kingdom, of limiting the number of acetaminophen tablets that can be sold in a given package. Studies suggest that limiting the package size of baby aspirin has reduced overdoses in children, he noted. Well-coordinated and financed effort to destroy a competitor Lobbying to hide future evidence of corruption (NaturalNews) By definition, the term "conspiracy" means "a secret plan made by two or more people to do something that is harmful or illegal." Have "two or more people" within the U.S. government plotted to harm an American plant-based food company? Let's examine the data.As reported by, the company Hampton Creek was started as an idea between two friends for creating a business that would use plant proteins in creating food products that are more healthy, affordable, humane and sustainable. Not bad so far, right?Working out of a big garage in San Fran, the budding company, which was eventually named for one of the founders' dogs, launched its first product called "Just Mayo," which landed on the shelves of Whole Foods Market.The two thought they were on their way. But they were wrong. It was shortly thereafter that federal stooges and corporate thugs began to conspire to put the upstart wholesome food company out of business.Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed by graduate student and animal rights activist, Ryan Noah Shapiro, turned up emails that expose a government-industry conspiracy to not only tamp down the competition, but also to shield information from the public, even when it proves the misuse of federal funds.As further reported by, food giant Unilever, which owns Hellmann's and Best Foods mayonnaise, filed suit against Hampton Creek, alleging false advertising. Unilever argued that, since mayonnaise is defined by law as "egg yolk-containing," and since "Just Mayo" has no egg yolks (a vegan substitute using only yellow peas), Hampton Creek couldn't infer its product was "mayo." Unilever dropped its suit in December 2014, but more on that in a moment.Suspecting that Unilever was getting some assistance in its battle against Just Mayo, Shapiro began to think about who else might be affected by the product. One industry that might feel some pain from egg-free mayo is, so Shapiro decided to FOIA email records from the American Egg Board, a government-funded trade group supposedly overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.What Shapiro turned up in the emails is stunning.Both the USDA and the egg board:1. Exceeded their own mandates;2. Violated five laws; and3. Conducted a well-coordinated, well-funded, two-plus year campaign to drive Hampton Creek out of business.Industry groups like the American Egg Board are only supposed to use government funding to promote their own products, like the beef industry promotes, "It's what's for dinner," and the pork industry promotes, "The other white meat."But instead, the emails prove that executives of the board and officials within the USDA conspired against Hampton Creek, calling the company "a major threat to the future of the egg product business" and their existence "a crisis."Joanne Ivy, who has since stepped down from her post as president of the Egg Board, sent an email soliciting ideas to thwart the company, even suggesting that the board put pressure on the Food and Drug Administration to declare Just Mayo's labeling misleading. She also used a public relations firm to put pressure on Whole Foods to drop the product, which it didn't. In another email, a member of the board even joked that the trade group should arrange a Mafia hit on Hampton Creek's CEO, Joshua Tetrick.In addition, contracts were inked with online journalists to denigrate Hampton Creek. And the USDA even sent a letter at one point to Hampton Creek regarding its early 20th century definition of what mayonnaise had to contain (egg yolks in particular).So, what would cause Unilever to drop its lawsuit against the much smaller, less capitalized Hampton Creek? Asreported, the various egg, beef, pork, milk, potato and other producers got together to convince Congress to insert language into this year's agriculture bill that would. Seems Unilever and Co. are more upset at Shapiro for rooting out the corruption than anything else. And it seems too many lawmakers agree.If that provision becomes law, not only will FOIA be gutted, but food industry groups and companies will be free to conspire in the future to hide evidence of wrongdoing and abuse taxpayer funding in order to put competitors out of business.If you still think our government isn't thoroughly corrupt , you're just not paying attention. (NaturalNews) There must be a new motto in Corporate America: 'If you can't beat 'em,and then beat 'em.'That's one way to explain why mega-corporations like Unilever are scrambling to purchase all the hip, green start-ups, so they can control the world (or at least a huge part of it).As reported by the, Unilever announced in recent days that it is making plans to purchase Seventh Generation, an eco-friendly and environmentally conscious home goods company that sells chic, green brands.The sale would mark the latest move by Unilever, an Anglo-Dutch giant with a stock market value at around $136.2 billion, to position the company as one of the world's leading providers of consumer and personal care goods.Seventh Generation, a privately-held company, had U.S. sales of around $200 million in products advertised as all-natural , ranging from detergents, household cleaners, organic tampons and baby wipes. For nearly a decade, Seventh Generation which is based in Vermont has registered as a benefit corporation, which is a voluntary certification that mandates a company comply with very strict social-good and environmental standards.Terms of the Unilever buyout have yet to be disclosed, and the deal has to be approved by regulators. But it marks one of the latest in a series of deals where large corporations are essentially buying out their competitors (rather than make and market a superior product).Furthermore, buyouts of green firms like Seventh Generation are making customers of their products question whether the original products will remain wholesome and pure , like they are now."Start the boycott now..... they're only buying organic food producers so they can ram GMO poison down your throat and call it 'organic' (which word the FDA will be more than happy to re-define for them again)[sic]," wrote one reader here "Goodbye 'organic,'" wrote another."The takeover of key market segments like the natural food industry by the oligarchs is similar to the takeover of the US media. Once they own it all they can force whatever sh#t they produce down our throats," still another wrote.There are reasons for such concern. The conventional wisdom is that corporate giants aren't good at maintaining a startup's business model and philosophy. Companies are not bought to make environmental statements, per se, but because they are thought to be profitable and big corporations seek to keep them that way, even if it means altering product ingredients.One shining example is the Kellogg company, which bought the organic cereal brand Kashi in 2000, then badly mismanaged it, forcing the firm to cut costs by replacing organic ingredients with cheaper, artificial replacements. In 2014, thereported, Kellogg agreed to end the practice of labeling some Kashi products as "all natural" or having "nothing artificial" as part of a class-action lawsuit settlement.As for Unilever , there may be some good news for those concerned about the conglomerate changing the image and message of startups it buys. Years ago, the corporate giant appears to have adopted a sort of "hands-off" approach. When the multinational bought Ben & Jerry's brand ice cream for $326 million in 2000, little has changed in the Vermont-based company's political stances. It's hippy-like, Leftist founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield continue to support liberal causes.That is a good thing for Seventh Generation , whose CEO, John Replogle, has led rallies calling for new laws that would force makers of cleaning products to divulge all of the ingredients in their products.Unilever spent $1 billion in July to buy Dollar Shave Club, a men's grooming startup that has been lauded as environmentally-friendly . And in August, the conglomerate absorbed air purification startup Blueair, whose stated goal is helping "millions more people fight rising urban air pollution."But Unilever is also in discussions to buy the Honest Company, actress Jessica Alba's natural consumer goods brand which has already had problems with "honesty" and purity in its products. Monsanto-Bayer merger is the largest all-cash deal on record Agent Orange still responsible for birth defects and illness today Monsanto and other agri-giants strengthen stranglehold on India (NaturalNews) Following months of negotiations and several offers, Germany-based Bayer finally managed to purchase Monsanto one of the world's largest seed giants on Wednesday, for a whopping $66 billion. The merger is the largest all-cash deal on record, reports"The $128-a-share deal, up from Bayer's previous offer of $127.50 a share, has emerged as the signature deal in a consolidation race that has roiled the agribusiness sector in recent years, due to shifting weather patterns, intense competition in grain exports and a souring global farm economy."Investment experts say that the deal gives the companies an edge over their competition. But what the deal really does, is strengthen the stranglehold Monsanto and Bayer have over the agriculture industry, including the further monopolization of seeds, and ultimately of the world's food supply Ash explains, the two companies have a long history together, both manufacturing "explosives and lethally poisonous gases using shared technologies" that were marketed to the U.S. and Germany during both world wars. The same war chemicals were purchased by both sides, with money borrowed from the same bank.Monsanto, Dow Chemical and the Department of Defense were responsible for manufacturing Agent Orange a potent mixture of chemical defoliants during the Vietnam War. The chemical was used to destroy forest cover under which North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops hid. The program, called Operation Ranch Hand, deployed more than 19 million gallons of herbicides over 4.5 million acres of land in Vietnam between 1961 and 1972.Agent Orange not only destroyed plants and vegetation, but humans too. The chemical is now believed to be responsible for causing serious health problems, birth defects, rashes, psychological issues and cancer among the Vietnamese and U.S. soldiers."Children are still being born with birth defects, adults have chronic illnesses and cancers, due to their exposure to MoBay's [Monsanto-Bayer] chemicals," reports"Monsanto and Bayer's cross-licensed Agent Orange resistance has also been cross-developed for decades. Wars were fought, lives lost, nations carved into holy lands with artificial boundaries that suit colonization and resource grab while Bayer and Monsanto sold chemicals as bombs and poisons and their brothers provided the loans to buy those bombs."The new business relationship between Monsanto and Bayer gives the companies unlimited access to each other's resources, which include various herbicides and the technology used to develop them.The newly merged companies, along with Dow Agro, DuPont Pioneer, Mahyco and Syngenta created an alliance to form the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), providing them stronger influence over the nation, which is highly dependent on GMO imports.Together, they are able to assault and bully Indian farmers, while disregarding important environmental protection laws. Despite the name, the group does not produce seeds, but instead works to extend chemical and seed patents, even in nations where such patents are illegal, such as India, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.Second to the United States, India is Monsanto's largest market, with GM cotton seed sales earning the biotech giant a whopping $97 million last year. But Monsanto has faced resistance amid government proposals that would require it to share its technology with local seed companies."The company is also at loggerheads with India over how much it can charge for its genetically modified cotton seeds, costing it tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue every year,"reported.As a result, Monsanto recently withdrew its application to introduce its next generation of GM cotton seeds, Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex technology, leading to further financial losses.But the merger between Monsanto and Bayer could worsen India's agricultural future. New study reveals horrible truth Herbicide use has dramatically increased in the past five years Environmental damage (NaturalNews) American researchers from the University of Virginia have conducted a 14-year study on genetically modified (GM) crops and pesticide use. They found that the widespread use of GM seeds has decreased the use of insecticides, but has increased the use of herbicides , as weeds become more resistant.GM crops have been a heated topic of discussion because of the ongoing debate about the risks to human and environmental health. Monsanto claims that GM food will feed the world, while at the same time reducing pesticide use. But according to new research, overall herbicide use has risen dramatically over the recent years, causing severe environmental damage.University of Virginia economist, Federico Ciliberto, led the study alongside Edward D. Perry of Kansas State University, David A. Hennessy of Michigan State University, and GianCarlo Moschini of Iowa State University.Together, the four academics analyzed annual data from more than 10,000 soybean and maize farmers in the U.S. from 1998 to 2011. They gathered 14 years of farm-level data from farmers all over the U.S., making this the largest study on GM crops and pesticide use to date. All previous studies have been limited to one or two years only.As stated by Ciliberto, the fact that they have followed farmers for 14 years makes this study unique. They performed repeat observations of the same farmers, and could clearly see when they adopted GM seeds and how that changed their use of toxic chemicals.As reported by, genetically engineered crops account for more than 80 percent of maize and soybean crops planted in the U.S. since 2008. Maize seeds are generally modified with two genes: one of them kills insects that eat the seeds, while the other makes the seeds resistant to glyphosate, a herbicide commonly used in weed killers like Roundup.The authors of the study found that GM maize farmers used 1.3 percent fewer herbicides over the period studied, while the herbicide use of GM soybean farmers increased by a whopping 28 percent compared to their non-GM counterparts.Ciliberto and his colleagues attributed the increase to the rise of glyphosate-resistant weeds, which cause farmers to use more and different combinations of toxic chemicals that may harm biodiversity and increase water and air pollution Maize farmers have been spared from the same level of herbicide resistance, because they have not adopted genetically modified crops as quickly as the soy industry.Despite the decrease in herbicide use in the maize industry, experts believe weed resistance is a growing problem for both soy and maize. They found evidence that during the last five years of the study, both maize and soybean farmers dramatically increased their herbicide use."In the beginning, there was a reduction in herbicide use," Ciliberto said, "but over time the use of chemicals increased because farmers were having to add new chemicals as weeds developed a resistance to glyphosate."Furthermore, the researchers reported that maize farmers using GM seeds cut down insecticide use by 11.2 percent; insects don't seem to develop a similar resistance . This is mainly due to federal regulations that require farmers to have "safe havens" in their fields. These safe havens are free of GM crops and create a safe home for insects and worms.These insects don't develop resistance, and breed with other insects in the rest of the field, which helps to prevent the development of resistance genes.While insecticide use may be decreasing, these findings clearly show that GM crops negatively impact the environment. They have increased herbicide resistance, which means that more chemicals are being sprayed that seep into the soil and water and contaminate the local ecosystem and our food chain.Ciliberto said that he was surprised by the extent to which U.S. herbicide use has increased in recent years, and is deeply concerned about the potential environmental impact this may have.Using a measure called the environmental impact quotient (EIQ), the authors concluded that the adoption of genetically modified soybeans correlated with aadverse impact on the environment caused by increased herbicide use.To do your bit and help save mother earth, start growing your own chemical-free food . It's fun, cheap and environmentally friendly. Researchers have discovered the secrets of tardigrades, the world's "hardiest animal," and how these water bears could survive extreme temperatures and radiation. Could humans one day survive X-ray and Mars? Water Bear's New Superpower According to a study published in the journal Nature Communications, a team of researchers from the University of Tokyo has found a specific kind of protein that protects the tardigrades' DNA. Tagged as "Dsup" (short for "damage depressor"), the said protein envelopes the animal's DNA This breaks previous scientific assumptions that tardigrades survive radiation and extreme conditions by having the ability to repair the damage done on their DNA. To see how "Dsup" protects these water bears, the researchers inserted the gene into the DNA of human cells. The said cells were then exposed to X-rays, and surprisingly, compared to normal human cells, those with "Dsup" have less broken DNA, Popular Science reports. "This is the first time an individual protein from a tardigrade has been shown to be active in radiation protection. [And] radiation is one of the things that's guaranteed to kill you," Mark Blaxter, a professor at the University of Edinburgh, told BBC. Radiation-Resistant Humans, Life on Mars a Possibility? Tardigrades' protection and resilience have been proven throughout the years. In fact, in 2007, the European Space Agency (ESA) sent thousands of tardigrades into space to know if they would survive the vacuum of space. ESA found out that not only did these animals survived, they were able to multiply as well. This breakthrough discovery opens up possibilities of human cells having to withstand extreme damages -- even space. However, study author Takekazu Kunieda and his team believe that tardigrades still have other secret survival weapons, and the "Dsup" gene is just the beginning. "Tardigrades have other tricks up their sleeves, which we have yet to identify," said Prof Matthew Cobb from the University of Manchester. "These genes could even help us bioengineer organisms to survive in extremely hostile environments, such as on the surface of Mars - [perhaps] as part of a terra-forming project to make the planet hospitable for humans". A team of astronomers using ALMA and the European Space Station's (ESO) Very Large Telescope discovered a rare object from a distant universe and it has many secrets. The Lyman-alpha Blob is a rare gas cloud formation that is extremely bright. Thanks to the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers also discovered the secret of these blobs and two galaxies at the heart of one of the blobs that are currently undergoing a "frenzy" of stellar births causing a glow in its surroundings. Interestingly, the large galaxies are surrounded by smaller clusters that make it appear that the blob is in the early stages of formation of massive clusters of galaxies. Astronomers describe newly discovered blobs or the Lyman-alpha Blobs (LABs) as gigantic gas clouds. They span up to thousands of light-years and are spotted in very distant parts of the universe. The name is also derived from the ultraviolet light emitting from the blobs called Lyman-alpha radiation. For years, astronomers are mystified by the characteristics of blobs. But the recent discovery might have paved a way to finally understand the rare blobs better. SSA22-Lyman-alpha Blob 1 or LAB-1 is one of the most studied among its kind. LAB-1 was discovered in 2000, located at about 11.5 billion light-years away from Earth. ALMA's "unparalleled" abilities to study, observe and analyze light coming from cool dust clouds in distant regions were used by a team of astronomers led by Jim Geach of the Center for Astrophysics Research of the University if Hertfordshire to analyze LAB-1 deeply. With ALMA, the astronomers were able to identify certain sources of emissions coming from the blob. To further support the data, the astronomers included the image gathered by the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) mounted to ESO's VLT. With the combined data, it was discovered that sources of emissions are the located at the heart of the blob where stars form over 100 times faster that Milky Way. Furthermore, NASA/ESA's Hubble Space Telescope and the spectroscopy from the W. M. Keck Observatory showed that fainter galaxies also surround the sources. These companion galaxies could also be bombarding ALMA with materials that help the stellar formation rise. "For a long time, the origin of the extended Lyman-alpha light has been controversial. Jim Geach, team lead of the study said in a press release. 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," Geach added. The team also conducted complex simulations to visually demonstrate the rare glowing blob and its emissions. Meteorites speeding towards Earth often inspire visions of gloom and doom, but throughout history, most of them have missed actually hitting a person. In fact, only Ann Hodges is confirmed to have been physically struck by a meteorite. Spoiler alert: she survived. It was a clear afternoon in Sylacauga, Alabama in November 1954 when the one-in-a-million event happened, according to a report from National Geographic. Hodges was taking a nap on her couch when a black rock about the size of a softball suddenly careened through the roof, bounced off a radio and slammed into her thigh. The story is so simple that most would think it happens all the time. Not really; astronomer and author Michael Reynolds said that meteorites usually hit the ocean or other vast, empty places. It's rarity is baffling in itself. "Think of how many people have lived throughout human history," Reynolds pointed out to National Geographic. "You have a better chance of getting hit by a tornado and a bolt of lightning and a hurricane all at the same time." The neighborhood community has already been aware of the meteorite at that point. An official NASA report revealed that the "bright, slow moving fireball" was spotted in the southern sky. Sylacauga residents said there was television interference coinciding with the time of the meteorite's descent into Earth. People from all over town flocked to the Hodges' residence, including a government geologist who was called to confirm that the rock was indeed a meteorite. Some suspected a plane crash or even the Soviets. Eventually, Hodges was brought to a hospital. She sustained no injuries, except for a massive, nasty-looking bruise the shape of a pineapple. The excitement over Hodges survival died down to make way for the question of the space rock's ownership. While the local police initially turned over the meteorite to the Air Force, the public soon clamored for it to be returned to Hodges. For a while, there was a mild controversy over its ownership as Ann and husband Eugene were both renters and their landlady Birdie Guy wanted the rock for herself. Guy gave up her rights to it for $500 and the couple ultimately donated the meteorite to the natural history museum. Ann Hodges died in 1972 of kidney failure in a nursing home, after she and Eugene separated. Her ex-husband said that she never recovered from her time in the limelight. The Salem witch trials remain one of the darkest examples of paranoia and injustice throughout history. Now, 325 years after this tragic period, here's a look back at what happened and the political, religious and environmental factors that created a perfect storm for the accusations and death that followed. The stage was set for a tragedy According to a report from Smithsonian, the belief of witches stemmed from a practicing Christians and other religions who said that the Devil bestowed powers on people who profess their loyalty to him. This spurred on a "witchcraft craze" swept through Europe from the 1300s to the 1600s, when tens of thousands of people were executed for supposedly practicing witchcraft. America's time came later; in 1689, English rulers William and Mary began a war with France in American colonies, which destroyed land and sent refugees to Salem Village in Massachusetts Bay Colony. The influx increased tension among the families in Salem Village and Puritans believed all the conflict was due to the Devil. First accusations In January 1692, the village's first ordained minister Reverend Samuel Parris' daughter Elizabeth, 9, his niece Abigail Williams, 11, and another local girl Ann Putnam, also 11, began having "fits" and a local doctor deemed it supernatural. Under pressure from magistrates, the young girls named three women as the cause: Tituba, the Parris' Caribbean slave; Sarah Good, a homeless beggar; and Sarah Osborne, an elderly impoverished woman. All three were interrogated and while Osborne and Good professed innocence, Tituba said the Devil came to her. The slave added that there were other witches around, and she was jailed with the two other accused. Death on Gallows Hill This event spurred on a line of accusations and questioning that dragged on for months. It was on May 1692 that Bridget Bishop, an older woman known for gossip and promiscuity, was brought into the special court, found guilty and became the first person hanged on Gallows Hill. The court ignored pleas from respected citizens including minister Cotton Mather, and his father and Harvard president Increase Mather. Eventually, Governor William Phipps, whose own wife was questioned, prohibited arrests and released the accused. In May 1693, all were pardoned. The aftermath At the time of pardon, 19 have already been hanged to death on Gallows Hill and a number have also died in jail and outside. Many of those involved pubicly admitted their error and guilt, and in 1711 a bill was passed that restored the rights and good names of the accused with 600 restitution for heirs. Over two and a half centuries after the trials, Massachusetts formally apologized in 1957. Symptoms of bad rye, not witchcraft In a study by psychologist Linnda Caporael in 1976, she offered an explanation for the abnormal behavior of the accused: fungus ergot in rye, wheat and other cereal grasses. According to a report from Yahoo, ergot is a hallucinogenic LSD and Caporeal pointed out that the girls who accused the witches might have been under the effects of this fungus. After all, this was a fungus so common that people actually thought it was part of the plant. Furthermore, the summer of 1961 was rainy and wet, an ideal season for fungus to grow. The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to work with Russia on flying to the moon. Rene Pischel, head of ESA's permanent mission in Russia, earlier announced the agency's plan to cooperate with Russian federal space agency Roscosmos on lunar research, Sputnik News reports. "If the Agency's member states give their go-ahead at the upcoming ministerial conference in December 2016, ESA will cooperate with Russia in exploring the moon," Pischel told Sputnik News. In the same report, deputy chief of Roscosmos Sergei Savelyev confirmed that both space agencies have been in talks about joint lunar missions to continue their collaboration on the ExoMars program. According to Savelyev, Russia was already working on some lunar projects and identifying areas of potential cooperation with ESA. ESA also plans to create a "Moon Village," which is a permanent outpost on the surface of the moon for both human and robotic mission potentially created through 3D printing. "Moon village is a very special thing," Jan Woerner, director general of ESA, told IBTimes UK during ESA's Space for Innovation conference. "Moon village is something where we put exploration at the center. It is in the human genes to explore the world, to pioneer, this is Moon village." But according to David Parker, director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration at ESA, there are many challenges that need to be addressed first. "To solve the challenges of living and working on the Moon or Mars, there are a lot of challenges about physical challenges - how will the body react? How can we protect astronauts from radiation?" Parker told IBTimes UK. "But there are also the psychological factors of how do they cope with the environment, how does food affect them, happy, unhappy. All of these things are important so we want to do as much as we can on Earth before we go there for real." The ExoMars program, which is a joint mission between ESA and Roscosmos, aims to dig for Martian life underground. The spacecraft launched on March 14 from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on board a Proton-M carrier rocket and plans to intercept Mars and land a rover on Oct.19. The spacecraft consists of the Schiaparelli landing demonstrator module and the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). Earlier in August, the ExoMars spacecraft made its first deep-space maneuver since it launched in March, adjusting the flight trajectory ahead of its planned arrival on the Red Planet. The popular navigation app Waze is putting a new twist on the phrase "tunnel vision." It's trying to ensure drivers relying on digital maps don't lose their way when their GPS signal disappears in tunnels. Waze plans to keep drivers connected in those GPS-less situations by installing low-cost, battery-powered beacons that will transmit to smartphones and tablets in tunnels that the company has it its database, covering about 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers) around the world. The beacons can maintain map connections, as long as the drivers turn on their Bluetooth signal. The beacons will be turned on Wednesday in two Pittsburgh tunnels, Fort Pitt and Liberty, and another in Israel, where Waze was founded before Google bought it in 2013 for $969 million. Waze is trying to persuade all tunnel operators, mostly government agencies, to buy and install the beacons that it designed to address the problem. It costs about $1,200 for the 42 beacons required to provide coverage for every mile (1.6 kilometers) within a tunnel. Each beacon is guaranteed under warranty for four years. Plans already are being drawn up to install the Waze beacons in tunnels in Rio de Janeiro and Paris, too. Waze isn't projecting how long it will take to realize its goal of blanketing all tunnels with the beacons. The transmissions from the beacons will be unencrypted so other digital map services, including Google's and Apple's, can also connect to them through Bluetooth when there isn't a GPS signal. Waze's solution for tunnel blindness was developed by one of its systems operations engineers, Gil Disatnik. He got the idea after losing his GPS signal in 2014 while driving through a Boston tunnel and missing the turn he needed to take to get to the airport. After working on the tunnel beacons, Disatnik also got a new nickname: "Waze Mole." California is in the throes of a disturbing upswing. The number of anti-Muslim hate crimes has risen by 122 percent between 2014 and 2015, according to a recent analysis by the Los Angeles Times. A report by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino showed that 40 anti-Muslim crimes were reported statewide last year as compared to 18 in 2014. This surge in hate crimes follows the Dec. 2015 terrorist attack at the San Bernardino Inland Regional Center, which killed 14 people and injured 22 others, the report found. After the San Bernardino attack, we saw a marked jump in hate crimes against Muslims within several days, Brian Levin, executive director of the Cal State center, said to the LA Times. Also, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric has contributed to the crime rise, the report said. On Dec. 7, 2015, after Trump floated the idea of banning Muslims from entering the United States, researchers saw an 87.5 percent increase in hate crimes against the community within five days. The study shows statements by political leaders can be followed by distinct changes in hate crime incidents," said Kevin Grisham, the centers assistant director of research. The study's findings are based on analysis of data from 20 states. In 2014, residents of those states overall reported 110 hate crimes against Muslims. But 2015 saw a 78 percent increase with 196 reported crimes against Muslims. The Bay Area continues to be a popular stop along the campaign trail as Election Day draws near. Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine will attend a fundraiser in San Francisco on Wednesday night. Earlier in the day, Hillary Clintons running mate attended a roundtable at the Atherton home of Democratic National Committee operative Steve Spinner, who also is an adviser to congressional candidate Ro Khanna. To enter the event, people shelled out $1,000, $2,700 and even $5,400, if they wanted a photograph with the guest of honor. Hosts, meanwhile, paid a whopping $33,400. Kaine also had lunch at the Atherton home of literary agent-turned-venture capitalist Jillian Manus. The event was co-hosted by Meg Whitman, the chief executive of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and a staunch Republican, who shocked many this summer by endorsing Clinton. It was a way for Tim Kaine to be introduced to a lot of people in the area who are not necessary Democrats, Anna Santermo said. In fact, almost everyone NBC Bay Area spoke to outside the Democratic fundraiser identified as a Republican. "Im a Republican, been a Republican my whole life and Im all in for Hillary," said Atherton's Mayor Elizabeth Lewis. For some, the choice is an obvious one. But others attended Fridays event seeking some clarity in the lead up to Nov. 8. I have a hard time voting for Hillary, I really do, but I would vote for Kaine, Tricia Young said. I wish he was running. Kaine reportedly spoke for about 30 minutes before answering questions about himself and Clinton. Attendees said his overall message was clear to move past political affiliations and get things done. Wednesday evening's fundraiser is being hosted by Ali Pincus, the co-founder of One Kings Lane, and Mark Pincus, who co-founded Zynga. Young professionals under the age of 35 had the option of buying $45 tickets, but for others, the highest price option was $15,000. The event is sold out. Last fall, life was playing out perfectly for Kumar Konar. He landed a new job in San Francisco, and he was driving a brand new Mazda 6. At that point in time, this was my dream car, Konar said. I wanted something thats really sporty, really shiny, and really fast. But everything soon came to a screeching halt. Konar had his new car shipped 2,000 miles from Houston to the Bay Area. He immediately drove to the DMV to register the car. And they said, Sorry, sir, we cannot register your car in the state of California, said Konar. I was taken aback. I didnt know how to react to it. Konar said DMV told him his new car didnt meet Californias emissions standards. Its a new car, it should conform to all emissions laws, said Konar. But DMV said it didnt. And it wouldnt budge. It would not register Konars car. He was left with one option. I have to sell the car, said Konar. But I cant sell it to any person, any entity, any dealership in California. I was looking at a loss of $9,000 to $10,000. Thats when Konar reached out to us. California does have tight emissions standards. And the law does prevent residents from buying out-of-state cars that dont meet those standards. But there are some exceptions. On of them: when you move to California from another state, you can bring your car with you. After we reached out to DMV, it immediately registered Konars car. I had been going through months of hassle to get my car registered, and in one hour - I had everything sorted out, said Konar. NBC definitely helped me in getting the problem resolved. Im really thankful to NBC for that. DMV doesnt know what went wrong with Konars case. In a statement it said that it regrets the error. An outspoken Berkeley Middle School teacher is in danger of losing her job for her role in a protest at the state Capitol over the summer, and students and parents came to her defense Wednesday night. Yvette Felarca, along with dozens of others conducting an anti-Donald Trump rally, stood up against a group of self-described Neo-Nazi demonstrators in Sacramento in June. When the altercation turned violent, several people were injured, including Felarca, who was stabbed. "We shut down the Nazis, and in the process of that, they attacked us," Felarca said after the melee. Felarca was suspended by the school district Wednesday, and while she said administrators did not provide her with a specific reason for the discipline, she believes it's a result of her role in the protest. "We were the ones stabbed by Nazis," she said. "They dont want people to have free speech." Chanting parents, students and teachers were backing Felarca at a school board meeting Wednesday night. "Today, my son was pulled out of school for asking questions about his teacher," one parent said. In the days after the violent rally, Berkeley Middle School leaders received a threat to either fire Felarca, or there would be violence on the campus. That threat happened during the summer break, but Felarca has been back in the classroom since school started three weeks ago. Now, she said, shes been blindsided by the suspension. "Barring me a chance to teach students is not only silencing me, but its silencing them," she said to board members. "I promise you, you will not get away with this." The district and board said they could not comment on the teacher's discipline because it is a personnel matter. A Stanford University graduate student lost her life on Sunday, as she was mountain climbing in Inyo County in the Sierra Nevada, university officials said Wednesday. Maria Birukova, a fourth-year graduate student in a dual medical and doctorate degree program, fell Sunday evening as she and a partner were ascending Bear Creek Spire. She was 26. Birukova came to Stanford three years ago after earning a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering at Yale University, according to university officials. She was an avid mountaineer and climber who had trouble deciding whether to go to Stanford or the University of Utah for graduate training. Birukova was born on May 31, 1990, in Moscow, Russia and attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools in Chicago, which educate students from nursery school through high school. At Stanford, Birukova was working on research on the role played by the bacteriophage virus in the formation of biofilms. Biofilms are viscous communities of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and immune responses. Birukova was helping to design polymers and antibodies to disrupt biofilms so that patients with deadly infections could be treated. "The medical school community has suffered a tremendous loss," dean of the school of medicine Dr. Lloyd Minor said. "Maria's interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of antibiotic-resistant biofilms brought to bear insights from both chemistry and immunology in an attempt to devise new treatments for patients with few other options." Birukova was climbing with a partner when she fell 800 to 1,000 feet, Inyo County sheriff's officials said. Her partner climbed down to where she was and found she was dead, according to sheriff's officials. Her body was recovered Tuesday. Birukova is survived by her parents Dr. Konstantin Birukov and Dr. Anna Birukova. Both work at the University of Chicago. The San Mateo County Sheriffs Office arrested two men Wednesday on suspicion of burglarizing a pair of Millbrae homes this month. Sheriffs deputies from Santa Clara County responded to a residential alarm on Mullins Court at 12 p.m. Monday when they noticed a silver Mercedez Benz occupied by two men leaving the scene, according to authorites. A deputy recognized the vehicle as having been involved in a previous home burglary on Sept. 12 on the 1400 block of Murchison Drive, and tried to stop the car. In response, its driver tried to flee the scene, but instead crashed into a pole. The two suspects ditched the car and ran, said authorities, who searched for, but were unable to locate the duo. During an investigation, detectives identified the suspects as Eyajemmie Fredson-Cole, 21, of Daly City, and Simon Behre, also 21, of San Francisco. Sheriffs deputies obtained arrest warrants for the pair as well as a search warrant for Fredson-Coles house. Fredson-Cole was arrested Wednesday at his Peninsula residence, where detectives uncovered property that had been pilfered on Sept. 12. Behre was taken into custody in San Francisco, authorities said. Both suspects have been booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility on residential burglary charges. Fredson-Cole's bail is set at $250,000 and Behre's at $175,000. People with information about the burglaries are asked to contact Detective Joe Cang at 650-259-2417 or jcang@smcgov.org. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can call 1-800-547-2700. A passenger on an American Airlines flight has been charged with making a terroristic threat, causing the flight to divert Thursday morning, officials say. Jerry Nguyen, 24, is jailed in Lubbock County, Texas, after he allegedly began banging on the cockpit door on Flight 2542 from Ontario, California, to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Another passenger on the plane told NBC 5 the man was acting strange and suddenly got out of his seat, went to the cockpit and began yelling. Flight attendants tried to calm the man, but then several nearby passengers forced the man to the ground and held him. The Boeing 737 landed in Lubbock at 5:17 a.m. Passengers said police escorted the man off the plane. Airline officials said the remaining 142 passengers and one infant departed on a flight from Lubbock about an hour later. The flight arrived at D/FW Airport at 7:12 a.m. Nguyen, of San Jose, California, did not have an attorney listed with his booking information Thursday afternoon. Stepping deeper into America's race debate, Donald Trump on Thursday warned African-American protesters that their outrage was creating suffering in their own community, as he worked to walk a line between his law-and-order toughness and new minority outreach. "The rioting in our streets is a threat to all peaceful citizens and it must be ended and ended now," Trump, the Republican nominee for president, declared at a rally in suburban Philadelphia on Thursday night. "The main victims of these violent demonstrations," he added, "are law-abiding African-Americans who live in these communities and only want to raise their children in safety and peace." [[394489711, C]] The comments came hours after a white Oklahoma police officer was charged with manslaughter Thursday in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man whose vehicle had broken down in the middle of the street. That and another police shooting of a black man in North Carolina have sparked fierce protests that continued to simmer Thursday night. Trump, eager to blunt criticism that his campaign inspires racism in the midst of what he called "a national crisis," has sought to express empathy in recent days. But his words could rankle some in the African-American community, underscoring the challenges he faces. Earlier in the day, Trump seemed to suggest that protesters outraged by the police shootings of black men were under the influence of drugs. [[338107532, C]] "I will stop the drugs from flowing into our country and poisoning our youth and many other people," Trump declared at an energy conference in Pittsburgh. He added, "And if you're not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what you're watching on television at night." Trump's campaign rejected the interpretation that he was talking about the protests seen on cable news the last few nights. "It is clear what he said, and what he meant. It's obvious that he was referring to the recent increase in drug-related deaths and subsequent news reports, thus making it a hot-button issue," said campaign rapid response director Steven Cheung. Trump also raised eyebrows Wednesday when he seemed to call for the national expansion of "stop-and-frisk," a police tactic that has been condemned as racial profiling. On Thursday, Trump clarified that he had been referring only to murder-plagued Chicago. [[394403771, C]] Democrat Hillary Clinton did not address escalating racial tensions Thursday as she prepared for her first debate-stage meeting with Trump. She dinged her opponent, albeit in a humorous way, in an interview released Thursday on comic Zach Galifianakis' web program, "Between Two Ferns." The comedian asked her what Trump might wear to Monday's debate. "I assume he'll wear that red power tie," Clinton said. Galifianakis responded, "Or maybe like a white power tie." "That's even more appropriate," Clinton said. At his evening rally, Trump hit back, accusing Clinton of supporting "with a nod" "the narrative of cops as a racist force in our society." "Those peddling the narrative ... share directly in the responsibility for the unrest that is afflicting our country and hurting those who have really the very least," he 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. 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. On Thursday, Trump tried at times to project a softer message, calling for a nation united in "the spirit of togetherness." "The job of a leader is to stand in someone else's shoes and see things from their perspective. You have to be able to do that," he said. At the same time, Mahoning County, Ohio, chair Kathy Miller, a campaign 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. In North Carolina, Republican Rep. Robert Pittenger, whose district includes parts of Charlotte where protests have turned violent, said they stemmed from protesters who "hate white people because white people are successful and they're not." Pittenger later apologized. Clinton has made curbing gun violence and police brutality central to her candidacy. She said Wednesday 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." A Cook County Judge has ordered the Illinois Department of Public Health to add Post-Operative Chronic Pain to the list of disorders treatable with medical cannabis. In a blistering order, Cook County Judge Neil Cohen told the Director of the State Department of Public Health, Dr. Nirav Shah to add the condition known as CPOP within the next 30 days. And he scheduled a hearing for November 3, to ensure the Directors compliance with this order. Its the second time this year the Judge has ordered the Health Department to add a disorder to the list. In June, he made a similar ruling on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Pending legislation at the time added PTSD, and Governor Bruce Rauner signed that bill shortly thereafter. Both conditions were recommended for inclusion earlier this year by the Illinois Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, but the Health Department, which has final say, had balked. Chronic pain is a condition the medical marijuana community had been calling for since the program went on line last year. Were one of the few states that doesnt allow for the treatment of pain with cannabis, Revolution Labs chief Tim McGraw told NBC5 last month. As far as conditions go, thats the biggest bucket there is! Pharmacann General Counsel Jeremy Unruh called the ruling, a very large step in the right direction to increase the patient base. I think its a shame that were having to push the governors office, particularly the Department of Public Health, into opening these conditions up, Unruh said. I think its time that administration sort of understand that the state is supportive of a responsible, measured expansion of this program. Other states have received criticism for including broad categories like chronic pain in their marijuana programs, critics charging that such broad catch-alls are ripe for abuse. The order calls for inclusion specifically of post operative chronic pain, which Unruh notes is much more specific. And that no one gets treatment unless they are under a doctors care. There is a professional, he noted. A licensed professional, who puts his or her license on the line to assert that this particular patient is qualified. A spokesman for the Illinois Attorney Generals office referred inquiries on the matter to the Department of Public Health. That departments spokesman, Melaney Arnold, said in a statement, IDPH is reviewing the judges ruling and is consulting with the Office of the Attorney General. Four men were killed and 12 other people were wounded in shootings across Chicago Wednesday. A man was shot to death Wednesday afternoon in the Washington Park neighborhood on the South Side. Eric Banks, 25, was on the sidewalk at 1:51 p.m. in the 5700 block of South Wabash when someone got out of a vehicle and fired at him, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiners office. Banks, who lived on the same block, was shot multiple times in the back and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:36 p.m. More than 13 hours earlier, two men who were shooting at each other were both killed in the West Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side. At 12:41 a.m., a 34-year-old man sitting in a vehicle was involved in a shootout with a 28-year-old man standing in the street in the 12300 block of South Halsted, police said. The younger man was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene. Officers found the older man with a gunshot wound to the head in the 700 block of East 111th Street, where he was also pronounced dead. About six minutes before that, a man was shot to death in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side. At 12:35 a.m., the 51-year-old was arguing with another male in the 5100 block of South Honore, when the male pulled out a gun and opened fire, according to police. Officers later found the man lying in the street suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Cook County medical examiners office confirmed the deaths but did not release their names early Thursday. The most recent nonfatal shooting happened Wednesday night in the Chatham neighborhood on the South Side. Three men were standing on a street corner at 10:10 p.m. in the 400 block of West 79th Street when someone in a passing black vehicle fired shots, according to police. A 30-year-old man was shot multiple times and taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition. The second man, 32, was shot in the right leg and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition. The third man, 34, was shot in the back and right leg and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where his condition was stabilized. Earlier Wednesday night, a man was shot in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side. The 21-year-old was shot in the leg about 8:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of North Massasoit, police said. He took himself to Rush Oak Park Hospital, where he was listed in good condition. A teenage boy was shot about half an hour before that in the Chatham neighborhood. The 17-year-old was standing on the street about 8 p.m. in the 6300 block of South Cottage Grove when he heard shots from a vehicle and realized hed been hit, according to police. He suffered a graze wound to the left leg and walked into Trinity Hospital four hours after the shooting. He was being uncooperative with investigators. About 20 minutes earlier, a man was shot several times in the Little Village neighborhood on the Southwest Side. The 36-year-old was standing in the 2800 block of South Komensky about 7:40 p.m. when someone in a passing SUV thought to be black or gray shot him twice in the right leg and once in the left arm, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition stabilized. Nearly an hour before that, three men were shot in the South Side Woodlawn neighborhood. The three were standing outside about 6:50 p.m. in the 6300 block of South Eberhart Avenue when they were shot by someone in a passing gray car, according to police. After the shooting, the car continued north on Eberhart before turning east onto 63rd Street. One man, 22, was shot in the right leg and listed in good condition at Stroger Hospital. Another man, 18, was shot in the right leg and taken to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition. The third man, 50, suffered a graze wound to his left leg and was treated and released at the scene. Earlier Wednesday afternoon, two men were shot in the Austin neighborhood. The shooting happened at 12:59 p.m. in the 5000 block of West Concord, police said. The men, ages 21 and 34, were standing on the street when they heard gunfire and felt pain. Both ran to North and Leclaire avenues after the shooting. The 21-year-old was shot in the chest and taken to Stroger Hospital where his condition was stabilized. The older man was shot in the right hand and taken to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park in good condition. The days first nonfatal shooting happened at 1:39 a.m. in the Homan Square neighborhood on the West Side. Officers on patrol heard loud reports from the 3300 block of West Harrison and arrived to find the 33-year-old man with gunshot wounds to the hip and both feet, according to police. The man was able to give officers descriptions of the shooters, the vehicle they were in and the direction in which they had driven away. He was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition. Two suspects were taken into custody a short time later after the vehicle they were in crashed into a pole in the 2300 block of West Harrison, according to police. Investigators recovered two weapons and charges against the two suspects were pending. What is your favorite place to eat in Chicago? A simple question asked on Reddit Tuesday to man about town and celebrity chef/professional adventurer Anthony Bourdain. His answer? I love Girl and Goat, I love Avec, I really like that restaurant, Bourdain said. Who is it, Johnnies Beef? Good stuff. Any Chicago hot dog is the finest in the land, love that product. But, the jet-setting author of Kitchen Confidential seems to be a true devotee to the culinary cult of local chef Stephanie Izard. I dunno, Girl and the Goat I really love, Bourdain said. Aside from his favorite Chicago eateries, Bourdain also weighed in on pharmaceutical companies, his utterly worthless existence, and the best meal for bachelors and broke people. An Aurora woman has gone missing off the coast of Key West, Florida and her family is asking for help to find her. Robin Ford, 50, has been missing since the end of August. She loved the water, her sister Tamara Sanchez said. The water is what brought Ford to Key West last January. Family says the mother of four was living on a sailboat with her friend. She was having a great time, loved being down there, Sanchez said. Stacey Ford, also Robins sister, said communication ceased a little more than a week before Labor Day. I kept telling family, Im worried about Robin, this is odd, Stacey said. Robin missed a court date on Aug. 30 and then a flight to Charlotte the next day. Something happened to her, Stacey said. The Monroe County Sheriffs office said it believes Robin was on Wisteria Island, a popular camping spot, the early morning hours of Aug. 30 but shared no other details. Did she ever make it back to Key West, Stacey asked. I dont think so. If she did, its gonna be on camera. Sanchez says she believes Ford could be being held against her will. My gut feeling is that Robins alive and not able to communicate, she said. I feel somebody knows. Stacey doesnt share the same optimism. I don't think we're ever going to find her, she said. Maybe, hopefully we find out what happened to her. A 2-year-old Chicago firehouse dog missing for nearly a month has been found, firefighters confirmed Thursday. The Chicago Fire Department was asking for the publics help in finding a beloved firedog, Bull, who went missing last August. Bull got loose from Engine 116s West Englewood firehouse at 5955 South Ashland Avenue and wasn't seen again until recently. Bull is a Bullmastiff mix who was adopted by Squad 5 of Engine 116 seven months ago from the Animal Welfare League in Chicago, fire officials say. Firefighters describe the rescue dog as being very well-liked. Chicago Fire Department Three boys face criminal charges after an alleged home invasion ended in a knifepoint sexual assault on Chicagos South Side, police announced Wednesday. The boys, 12, 15 and 16, were all charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault and home invasion. The 16-year-old boy was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. On Sept. 14 the three boys sexually assaulted a 34-year-old woman after entering her residence about 11 p.m. in the 9600 block of South Prairie Avenue in the citys Rosemoor neighborhood, police said. Police said the boys told the woman they had a gun and then sexually assaulted her while holding her at knifepoint. The boys then fled the residence with some of the womans personal belongings, police said. Area South detectives originally spoke to the 15-year-old boy on Sept. 15 as a person of interest before taking him into custody, according to Officer Kevin Quaid. The 16-year-old boy was taken into custody on Sept. 16 and the 12-year-old boy on Sept. 21, police said. An investigation was ongoing. Police do not release mugshots of juvenile suspects. Just after two suburban cousins were sentenced to several years in prison for an alleged terror plot in Illinois, chilling recordings were released detailing their cold and calculated plan. The covert video recordings involve former Illinois National Guard soldier Hasan Edmonds, his cousin Jonas Edmonds and an FBI informant. The two cousins were sentenced Tuesday to 30 and 21 years in prison, respectively, for plotting to join Islamic State fighters and to attack a U.S. military facility. In the footage, the three are seen casing the Joliet National Guard Armory in preparation for a planned attack that would target officers first. Take a shot, stripes first, everything next, Hasan Edmonds says. Federal a authorities allege the plan was for Hasan Edmonds to fly to the Middle East to join the Islamic State while his older cousin Jonas Edmonds would stay behind, using Hasan's uniform to go on a shooting spree at the Army National Guard base aimed at killing as many as 150 soldiers. The thing to remember about the armory, the armor that the Army uses, usually they can sustain about two slugs to the center mass, Hasan Edmonds is heard saying in the video. The third one, especially if you have armor piercing rounds, always goes through. In the background, Jonas Edmonds can be heard speculating on how long the attack might take. I say seven minutes for the whole operation, Hasan Edmonds said. Mostly, it will be five. Throw in seven minutes because once you walk in those doors, its 90 seconds, 60 seconds. In 60, you can go through both mags and reload and go back again. In court, Jonas Edmonds denied he would have attacked the military armory. "The person they're trying to make me into, I'm not that person," he said. Defense attorney James Graham told the judge that Edmonds was a heavy smoker of marijuana and was boastful, but had no weapons and never would have gone through with the attack. There are a great deal of things that didnt happen, he said. They didnt have any guns. There was no date that was planned. But it was an argument Federal Judge John Z. Lee didnt buy. After dropping his cousin off at Chicago's Midway International Airport on March 25, 2015, Jonas Edmonds went to his cousin's home and collected the uniforms, according to prosecutors. Hasan Edmonds, filings say, instructed Jonas to kill high-ranking officers first. Agents arrested Hasan Edmonds at the airport and detained Jonas Edmonds at his home shortly thereafter. [Hasan Edmonds] was a soldier in our unit and you wouldnt expect anything like that from any soldier you served with, Sgt. First Class Thomas Sherman said in court Tuesday. Under plea agreements, Hasan Edmonds pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Jonas Edmonds pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and lying to federal agents. Lee called Hasan Edmonds plan a betrayal of his oath and his country. Police in suburban Frankfort released photos Thursday of suspects believed to be responsible for multiple recent car burglaries at parks and parking lots. Six incidents were reported on Sept. 11, police said, and in each case, the vehicle's window was broken and purses and wallets were stolen. Several of the purses were found days later in a dumpster at 335 E. Army Trail Road, according to Glendale Heights police. On Sept. 15, victims began reporting that stolen checks were cashed at Providence Bank locations in Schererville and Munster, Ind., and South Holland. Police said all drive-thru surveillance video appeared to show the same vehicle: a black Dodge Durango or Dodge Journey with no front plate. Anyone with information about the people or vehicle in the photos is asked to call Frankfort Police. If youre a fan of the Chicago Cubs and a pizza enthusiast, then Thursday could be a very good day for you. Thats because Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler is going to be helping UberEATS deliver free slices of pizza around the DePaul and Northwestern campuses, according to the Chicago Tribune. The promotion will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday night, and will feature free pizza from some of Chicagos best restaurants. Those restaurants include staples such as Rosatis Pizzeria, and other restaurants such as Sarpinos, Carmens, and The Warehouse, among others. The promotion has been ongoing throughout September and features an offer for customers to get one free slice of cheese pizza, along with a coupon code for a discount on a future order from the delivery service. Several colleges have been involved, including University of Illinois-Chicago and Loyola. If youre not around DePaul or Northwestern on Thursday night, dont worry. Youll have another chance to score free pizza and potentially meet Fowler in the process when the University of Chicago area gets their shot at the deal on Oct. 6. Graduation is a time for celebration and for some people that means a new vehicle. But before the new car smell even wore off in his new truck, Josh Johnson of Bradley, Illinois, found himself stuck with hundreds of dollars in tickets attached to his old car. Johnson received his doctoral degree in May and traded-in an Infiniti for a GMC truck later that month. I decided it was time to upgrade my vehicle, Johnson said. But a few months later he received a parking ticket from the City of Chicago for an alleged violation that occurred in July. A photo of the Infinitis new license plate number was included in the $65 citation. I couldnt believe I was getting a ticket for a car that I dont own, a license plate Ive never seen and yet it was my name and my address on there, Johnson said. Johnson called the City of Chicago to explain that he no longer owned the Infiniti. But he said the city told him he was responsible for the ticket. Johnson said he contacted the Illinois Secretary of State regarding the mix-up and later received a letter stating that while the state acknowledged he had sold the Infiniti, the vehicles license plates were registered to him. Everyones pointing the finger to the other person, Johnson said. No one wants to take responsibility for who made the mistake. NBC 5 Responds contacted the city, which later dismissed the parking ticket. According to a city spokesperson, the city receives all vehicle information from the Illinois Secretary of State. However, Johnson received another $65 parking ticket and a $100 speed camera ticket for violations that are alleged to have occurred in Chicago in August. Both tickets included photos of the vehicle he traded-in to an Indiana auto dealer months earlier. Johnson said the dealer assured him the vehicles title had changed with the new buyer. NBC 5 Responds contacted the Secretary of State, which investigated the issue further. A spokesperson said the state had missed the Infinitis title change, due to the different title and registration requirements Indiana auto dealers are required to follow compared to Illinois auto dealers. The Secretary of State corrected the license plate registration and also apologized to Johnson. The City of Chicago also dismissed the additional parking and speeding tickets. Huge thank you from my wife and I on taking this on and getting it fixed, Johnson emailed NBC 5 Responds. The Secretary of State urges private auto sellers to provide the state a notice of sale, which could help avoid license plate confusion. However, filing a notice of sale, which can be completed and detached from a vehicles title or completed on the Cyberdrive Illinois website, is not mandatory. Rep. Luis Gutierrez mocked Donald Trump Jr.'s recent tweet that likened Syrian refugees to Skittles candies on Wednesday, eating the candy during a congressional committee hearing. The Judiciary Committee hearing was related to Republican attempts to impeach Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen. Gutierrez snacked on a bag of Skittles while addressing Koskinen, making a point about the incendiary tweet from the Republican presidential nominee's son. I really love Skittles because, as you can see, they come orange and yellow, red, and purple." the Chicago Democrat said. All the different colors." "A lot of people on this side of the aisle, we like that, he added. The congressman noted that, despite occasionally getting a bad Skittle, he doesnt ban them all." Gutierrez then related the Skittles to refugees fleeing war-torn countries. Just like we shouldnt ban all the little girls fleeing murder and rape, human bondage and torture, he said. We shouldnt ban them all, just like we wouldnt ban all the Skittles because there might be one bad Skittle. This is a nation of freedom of religion and, yes, even freedom to pay your taxes to the United States, Gutierrez added. The congressman then offered Skittles to Koskinen to share with his staff after the reckless and bitter impeachment hearing. Gutierrez also referenced a recent Washington Post report that found that Donald Trump used $258,000 from his charity to settle legal disputes, acknowledging that he couldnt specifically ask Koskinen about the billionaires taxes. Instead, he hypothetically asked the commissioner about whether tax-exempt charities can use funds to pay the debts of for-profit entities. Would that, in your opinion, be legal, within the law, and consistent with someone who declares themselves a law and order individual? Gutierrez asked. Koskinen explained that he couldnt discuss individual cases and that if hypotheticals begin to look like individual cases he was not at liberty to give opinions or judgments about those. Gutierrez continued to press the commissioner, asking if tax-exempt money could be used to pay for business purposes. As Ive said before, the law is clear, any tax-exempt organization cannot use its money to benefit anyone closely associated with that organization, Koskinen said. Every case is different, every case has background and information surrounding it, he added. The congressman then cut Koskinen off. Commisioner, you know who Im talking about, Gutierrez added. Everybody in this room knows Im talking about. All we want is a straight answer, he added. Gutierrez continued to question Koskinen about what sort of personal things tax-exempt money could be used for until he was informed that his speaking time had expired. Three people were taken to the hospital after a fire on the city's North Side, fire officials confirmed Thursday afternoon. Sky 5 was over the scene at about 4:30 p.m. showing firefighters on the roof of a building in the 6900 block of North Sheridan Road. Two people, one in critical and the other serious condition, were taken to St. Francis Hospital and another in serious condition was taken to Swedish Covenant, fire officials said. No firefighters were injured. The fire was confined to an apartment on the fourth floor. Red tape was seen surrounding the building. Sheridan was closed from Morse Avenue to Greenleaf Street, police said. Westbound Lunt Avenue was also blocked due to fire equipment. Smoke was coming out of a five-story apartment building. At least five ambulances responded to the fire, officials said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. A Wisconsin teenager who drew attention for deciding to end her life instead of continuing a battle with an incurable disease has died. Jerika Bolen's mother, Jen, told Gannett Wisconsin Media that the 14-year-old died Thursday at Sharon S. Richardson Hospice in Sheboygan Falls. Jerika suffered from spinal muscular atrophy type 2, which destroys nerve cells that control voluntary muscle activity. She had never walked and had movement only in her head and hands. More than 1,000 people attended a special prom in her honor in July. Jerika's decision drew widespread attention and led to a challenge from disability rights organizations who asked child protection officials to stop her from going without her ventilator. Outagamie County officials had declined to comment on the case. Disabled Parents Rights, along with several other groups, had asked Outagamie County child protection services to step in, the Associated Press reported at the time. Lucas said Jerika needs intervention, not assistance in ending her life. "We're talking about a 14-year-old child. It's a difficult time in most people's lives. She has her whole life in front of her. She should be going to college. She should be having a career," Carrie Ann Lucas, executive director of the Windsor, Colorado-based organization said earlier this month. In a July interview, Jen Bolen said those critical of Jerika's decision fail to understand the depth of medical intervention it's taken for her to reach her teenage years. A 6-year old girl has died in a house fire at 10 Windsor Ave. in Plainfield. Officials received a 911 call just before 11 p.m. Wednesday from inside the home and were told people were trapped inside. When police officers arrived, they were able to rescue a woman and an 18-month-old boy from a window of the burning house, but they were unable to reach the 6-year-old girl. The woman who lives in the home, 18-month-old boy and a male resident of the house were rushed to Backus Hospital, but the woman has been transferred to a Rhode Island Hospital, where she is listed in critical condition. The man and baby have been treated and released, according to fire officials. Two police officers were also taken to Backus Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. Fire officials said this is a difficult call for the members of the department who went back into the building to look for the missing child. "Firefighters just kept going back into the building, doing a secondary search and an additional follow up search and it was the firefighters who found the deceased in the house, Plainfield Fire Marshal Paul Yellen said. Some of the firefighters who responded have young children and this struck home for the entire department. Its very challenging. Imagine a room you dont know anything about. You dont know the layout of the furniture, its pitch dark and you cant see anything," Yellen said. "Youre searching for anything that could be a victim, a child, an adult. Maybe you pick up a doll, a toy and think you might have found something when in fact you havent." "Its very difficult because a small child can hide anywhere, anywhere in the house," Yellen said. "The crews that did eventually find the young girl. They all have young children of their own, so theyre having a very tough time this morning. Habitat for Humanity built the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home and the family has only lived there a few months. They moved in in July. We are grief stricken for the family. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the family. - Terri O'Rourke Executive Director/CEO Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut, Inc. We are grief stricken for the family. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the family, Terri O'Rourke, executive director and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut, Inc., said in a statement. The Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, the Plainfield Fire Marshal and the Plainfield Police Department investigating. Police in New Haven, Connecticut, are investigating a homicide after a 31-year-old man was killed in an overnight shooting. Officers responded to 38 Dorman St. around 10 p.m. for a report of a person shot and found the victim, 31-year-old Levern Bellamy, of 38 Dorman St., in the back yard. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police do not have a suspect in the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 203-946-6304. A search for a person overboard in the waters off Milford, Connecticut was called off Wesnesday night after rescue crews learned the man reported missing actually died seven years ago. Milford police, firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard were all searching for a man in the Long Island Sound off of Merwin Avenue on Wednesday night after a 70-year-old man claimed he was onboard with his 99-year-old father when the elderly father fell off. A bystander on shore said there was a boater in distress on the Sound around 6:15 p.m., officials said. Shortly after the rescue was launched, authorities found out the man's father had died seven years ago and determined the man who called in the report has an undisclosed medical issue. The search was called off at 8:45 p.m. and the man was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation. Police did not say whether they will file charges. No injuries were reported and the boat did not have any issues. Naugatuck Police are on the lookout for people illegally operating ATVs. There has been an uptick of residents reporting people riding all-terrain vehicles in places they are banned in recent weeks, Lt. Bryan Cammarata said. "Like a lot of other communities, because we have extensive woods and trails, we also have issues with ATVs," Cammarata said. ATVs are only allowed on property where the owner gives permission in Naugatuck. "They're never allowed on a public road and outside of regular trails," Cammarata said. "Theres nowhere where ATVs are specifically allowed in town." Police are sharing with NBC Connecticut and on social media photos of two ATVs caught on camera where they should not have gone. A town worker spotted a man going for a ride Tuesday on the fields off of Country Hollow Road. "When he confronted him, he purposely did donuts on the field doing considerable damage there and the employee was able to snap off some pictures that we had posted also trying to identify that individual," Cammarata said. Police also want the publics help to identify the man seen in photos operating an ATV with a young boy in front of him at Naugatucks new dog park on Saturday. "Particularly, when it comes to an adult riding with a small child riding in front of him, neither one of them with a helmet on, thats concerning," Cammarata said. It is the departments policy to not chase after ATV riders. "We encourage people that if they can get pictures and good descriptions thats what really helps us," Cammarata said. The ATV operator who damaged the field could be charged with criminal mischief. The adult caught riding with the young child could be arrested for risk of injury to a minor. If you recognize either of the ATV riders, you can call Naugatuck PD at 203-729-5221 or the NPD Confidential Tip Line at 203-720-1010. Police in New Haven, Connecticut, are investigating a homicide after a 31-year-old man was killed in an overnight shooting. Officers responded to 38 Dorman St. around 10 p.m. for a report of a person shot and found the victim, 31-year-old Levern Bellamy, of 38 Dorman St., in the back yard. He was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police do not have a suspect in the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 203-946-6304. Money for Dallas police and firefighters raises of about five percent across the board was included in a new fiscal year 2017 budget approved by the City Council Wednesday. After the July 7 Dallas ambush that killed five officers, Back the Blue demonstrations that followed and months of budget haggling, the City Council unanimously approved an amendment proposed by Councilman Adam McGough to provide raises for all public safety workers. This is something we need to do. The time is right. We need to give our officers raises, McGough said. The city managers proposed budget in August called for hiring 549 more officers next year, 200 more than the city expects to lose from retirement or resignation. Salary increases were not across the board. Public safety groups pushed for across the board raises instead to discourage employees from leaving for better paying cities. Wednesdays amendment reduced expected police hiring to 449 and increased the managers property tax rate proposal to provide money for the raises. You had a 15 to zero vote today. Even the mayor and some of the others who were not before there, they voted, said Dallas Police Association Vice President Frederick Frazier. And I thank them for doing that because thats what we need. We need unanimous support. We all wore those Dallas United shirts. That showed it. Right now, there is Dallas United. The property tax rate was set at 78.25 cents per $100 value. Thats lower than last years 79.97, but higher than the managers proposed 78.12. It's also well above the 74.90 effective rate, which would have given the city the same amount of property tax revenue as last year. Councilman Lee Kleinman voted against the tax rate. Kleinman said Dallas City Hall will receive about $60 million more in the new budget from rising property tax values with very little improvement to show citizens on other Dallas problems. Were making a choice to take all of the tax increase that were passing on to our citizens and putting it into public safety, Kleinman. Kleinman did support the budget amendment that allowed across the board public safety raises. Many other city employees receive three percent raises. The new budget provides approximately $3 million more for Animal Services after a fatal dog attack in May. It provides only enough street repair money to keep Dallas roads from getting worse than they are now. Unsolved is a major liability at the Dallas Police and Firefighters Pension fund. Recent estimates said the fund has about $3 billion in liabilities for promised benefits, but only about $2 billion in assets. The fund could be insolvent by 2030. The pension has to be addressed. No matter how you look at it, it is part of the package, Frazier said. Wednesday, City Councilman Scott Griggs, also a member of the pension board, cited an even larger liability figure. The ships got more than a $5 billion hole in it, and its taking on water. And weve got to start looking at everything, Griggs said. His comments came during discussion of an additional $414,000 payment to a consulting firm to review options to solve the pension shortfall. Weve got to get in front of it with some analysis. If we wait, it may be too late to look at some of these solutions, Griggs said. Councilman Philip Kingston, also a pension board member, said the pension systems own consultants declined to perform the analysis the council members requested. Without these funds we are left in the unenviable position of trusting every number that comes out of the pension system and weve seen that, history shows us, that is not necessarily a good idea, Kingston said. Risky past real estate investments and finances concealed by prior Police and Fire Pension Fund managers are blamed for the current problems. The FBI is also investigating past Police and Fire Pension Fund activities. Retirements have reportedly surged recently above what was forecast this year, evidently because members are worried about receiving their benefits. Current Pension Fund President Sam Friar confirmed that he has heard concerns from worried members, but told them last week there is no immediate concern. Now, a special meeting of the pension board is scheduled for Monday with possible program adjustments on the table. City officials have said some combination of tax money, benefit reduction and increased member contribution will be needed to solve the problems. No additional contributions from taxpayers were included in Wednesdays city budget, but money could be included in a 2017 bond referendum being planned now. We have to fix the problem that others caused and everybodys involved in this, said Frazier. The police association leader said many Dallas officers joined the force in the past from far away cities, lured by a very attractive pension. And here this plan is looming and no one knows what the end result is. But all we know, if you work on something hard enough, and get the right people in there, you can fix anything, Frazier said. The special pension board meeting is set for 2 p.m. Monday at the Dallas Police and Firefighters Pension Fund office, located at 4100 Harry Hines Boulevard. Details on the raises are still to be worked out in ongoing negotiations with the city manager, but money to pay for it is now included in the new budget. City Manager A.C. Gonzalez said he expects to have a final deal in the city's so called "meet and confer" process with employee groups by next month. It will include a three-year pay agreement with Dallas Police and Firefighters. IKEA officials announced Thursday plans to build a second store in North Texas. Pending permits, officials said they are on track to break ground in October on a Grand Prairie location that would open in fall of 2017. IKEA chose Dallas-based MYCON General Contractors to handle construction of the store. "This store will provide a more convenient IKEA shopping experience for current and potential customers throughout central and western parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex who maybe live too far from IKEA Frisco," IKEA U.S. president Lars Petersson said. The 290,000-square-foot store and its 1,100 parking spaces will be built on 30 acres of land along Texas 161 and Mayfield Road, north of Interstate 20. A North Texas school teacher has been arrested on a warrant accusing him of an inappropriate relationship with a minor in Oklahoma. Joseph Kolt Palmer, 27, is charged with engaging in sexual communication with a minor by use of technology and is jailed on a $10,000 bond. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Palmer allegedly sent inappropriate, sexually explicit text messages to a female student. NBC affiliate KFOR-TV reports Palmer, now employed at the Kemp Independent School District in Kaufman County, previously taught at Yale High School in Oklahoma. Palmer was fired from his job in Oklahoma in May 2015 after the OSBI began its investigation, KFOR reports. Kaufman County sheriff's deputies arrested Palmer on Tuesday afternoon after the felony arrest warrant was issued in Oklahoma. There's a new attraction at the University of Texas at Dallas aquatic center. A red, 65-pound, 12-foot long polyethylene log. "Yes, I definitely think it's strange," said UTD senior Stephanie Duong. "But why not try new things, right?" Duong is a lifeguard who's also become someone else. "The log roll queen," she added with a chuckle. Log rolling is a sport that's often linked to American lumberjacks, but it's quickly gaining momentum on UTD's campus. Duong makes it look easy. "The most I've been on the log roll is like 30 seconds, " she said. "But it seems like a lot longer, when you're on it. I've only been doing it for maybe like three months now. I just keep getting on it, falling off and getting back on again." All UTD students are welcome to try it. They sign a waiver and give it a shot. But be warned, it's not as easy as it looks. The hacking group that leaked former Secretary of State Colin Powell's emails has purported to have breached the email account of a White House contractor, posting a scan of Michelle Obama's passport and a trove of messages online, NBC News reported. The emails were sent from the Gmail account of Ian Mellul, a contractor employed as an advance associate at the White House, and includes sensitive information about the first lady and vice president such as detailed schedules intended for their Secret Service protection. The Secret Service Thursday told NBC News it's "aware of the alleged email hacking" and would not, as a matter of policy, provide information about an investigation. The group, DC Leaks, is believed to have ties to Russian intelligence services, a federal law official told NBC News. NBC News has not yet authenticated the documents. This political season, immigration and refugees in the United States have been hot button issues. President Barack Obama recently announced that the United States would accept 110,000 refugees. He spoke Tuesday at the United Nations about the importance of helping refugees forced to flee their countries. But there is opposition, citing security. On Wednesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he is opting out of the Refugee Resettlement program. More than 2,600 refugees have settled in Texas from October until this past March. Abbott released the following statement Wednesday, explaining his position. It said, in part: While many refugees pose no danger, some pose grave danger, like the Iraqi refugee with ties to ISIS who was arrested earlier this year after he plotted to set off bombs at two malls in Houston. Despite multiple requests by the State of Texas, the federal government lacks the capability or the will to distinguish the dangerous from the harmless, and Texas will not be an accomplice to such dereliction of duty to the American people. Therefore, Texas will withdraw from the refugee resettlement program. I strongly urge the federal government to completely overhaul a broken and flawed refugee program that increasingly risks American lives. But it looks like the program will continue, with the funding coming from another entity, not the state of Texas. According the Office of Refugee Resettlement, or ORR, the director can appoint a designee to administer the assistance to refugees, if a state opts out of the program. A spokesperson from the Administration of Families and Services released this statement Wednesday, saying the program will continue. "ORR values the support and partnership of the states including Texas and our network of public-private partners to welcome and integrate newcomers into the fabric of our nation. ORR and its federal partners across the administration are working with states to ensure that all refugees and entrants have access to the critical supports needed to help them rebuild their lives in the United States while continuing to protect the safety and security of communities. ORRs services are provided only after an individual successfully completes stringent security screenings, is granted refugee status by DHS, and is brought to the U.S. for resettlement by the State Department. This model for refugee resettlement will continue in Texas. Texas is the third state to drop out of the resettlement program, after Kansas and New Jersey. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said that won't stop the refugees from coming. "The state government doesn't have the power to build a wall around the state and refuse to let the children come here," Jenkins said. In the last year, about 2,000 refugees have resettled in the Dallas area, with about one in every 10 of them coming from Syria. Mosaic Family services runs a program that help refugees once they arrive in North Texas. State dollars help pay for the program. "I am pretty confident the federal government will find another way to channel that money to get to the agencies serving the refugee population," said Bill Bernstein, deputy director of Mosaic Family Services. Refugee resettlement agencies are now working with the federal government to find another way to distribute the money in Texas. "We don't expect that there would be a lot of changes in service delivery," said Donna Duvin, with the International Rescue Committee. "It doesn't mean that the funds won't be coming, it just means that there would be another administrative model that would be stood up in its place to be able to receive those federal funds and pass them on to agencies that are serving refugees here in the local communities," Duvin added. NBC 5's Kevin Cokely contributed to this report. Once rivals on the campaign trail, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign is siding with one of Texas Senator Ted Cruz's biggest projects on Capitol Hill. A temporary spending bill, which aims to block the government from ceding its limited role in overseeing some aspects of the internet, is needed to avert a government shutdown. "Donald J. Trump is committed to preserving Internet freedom for the American people and citizens all over the world. The U.S. should not turn control of the Internet over to the United Nations and the international community," senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller said in a statement. Cruz tweeted in response, saying "Appreciate [Donald Trump's] support of our efforts to keep the internet free." Appreciate @realDonaldTrumps support of our efforts to keep the internet free: https://t.co/gc4aRustpx Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 21, 2016 Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, shot back a tweet - "And we appreciate Ted Cruz appreciating Donald Trump. Over to you, Jeff Roe." Roe managed Cruz's presidential campaign. [394420411,C]] Democratic and Republican administrations have both supported a transition of the U.S. Commerce Department's role in governing the internet's domain name addressing systems, transferring responsibility to such stakeholders as technical experts, businesses and other governments. The temporary spending bill is the top item on the congressional agenda before lawmakers leave Washington for the fall campaign. It also provides more than $1 billion in long-delayed funding to battle the Zika virus. Lawmakers hope negotiations on the measure will be wrapped up this week, though the pace of talks has been slow and Wednesday produced no visible breakthroughs. Many experts say Cruz and his allies are greatly overstating the Commerce Department's potential influence over internet content and spinning exaggerations and conspiracy theories. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is pushing to use the stopgap spending bill to at least delay the transition. Democratic negotiators like Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada are strongly opposed to that effort. Meanwhile, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., came out Wednesday in favor of adding money to the measure to address catastrophic flooding in Louisiana. President Barack Obama has heeded calls by Louisiana's governor and congressional delegation and requested $2.6 billion to help Louisiana rebuild from last month's devastating floods. Ryan didn't volunteer how much money he supports. But the Republican speaker is opposed to a key demand of Democratic negotiators: money to help Flint, Michigan, repair its lead-tainted water system. The flood aid question is one of a handful of unresolved issues involving the stopgap funding bill, which would prevent a shutdown next week and keep the government running through Dec. 9. Meanwhile, the Senate rejected a resolution to block the Obama administration from selling more than $1 billion worth of American-made weapons to Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East. Lawmakers backing the measure, including Rand Paul, R-Ky., are critical of the kingdom's role in Yemen's civil war, but Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., opposed the resolution, which was killed by a 71-27 vote. "I think it's important to the United States to maintain as good a relationship with Saudi Arabia as possible," McConnell said Tuesday. The other big item on the Capitol Hill pre-election to-do list is an override vote on President Barack Obama's anticipated veto of legislation that would allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia. Ryan predicted that "the votes are there for the override." The vote is expected next week. The Zika-fighting portion of the pre-election spending bill is nearly complete. Republicans have dropped language to block affiliates of Planned Parenthood in Puerto Rico from receiving funding for prevention and treatment of Zika in the territory. Zika, which can cause grave birth defects, is often transmitted by sexual contact, and women are being advised to delay getting pregnant if they live in an area where Zika is widespread. On Between Two Ferns, Zach Galifianakis asked Hillary Clinton who made her infamous pantsuits. Halloweens coming up, and hes thinking of going as a librarian from outer space. I think that would be a good look on you, Clinton said, smiling. The episode, released today on "Funny or Die," was filmed on the same day the Democratic nominee was diagnosed with pneumonia several weeks ago, according to NBC News. Despite the illness, Clinton received no sympathy from Galifianakis, who brought his comedic A-game to the interview on his fake talk show. She met Galifianakis' awkward questions with deadpan responses and an impressive death stare. Critics have questioned some of your decision making recently, and by you doing this show I hope it finally lays that to rest, Galifianakis said. Oh, I think it absolutely proves their case, dont you? Clinton countered. The "Hangover" actor ignored the barb. Are you excited to be the first girl president? he asked. For a younger, younger generation, you will also become their first white president, and thats pretty neat, too, he added, to which Clinton responded with a frown. Galifianakis also made sexist remarks about Clintons stint as secretary of state, questioning her typing skills and wondering how President Barack Obama likes his coffee. What happens if you become pregnant?" he said. "Are we going to be stuck with Tim Kaine for nine months? How does this work? You know Zach, those are really out-of-date questions, Clinton said. You need to get out more. Like most interviews on "Between Two Ferns," this one was tense, and it became combative when the comedian started putting words in her mouth. Dont tell me what to say, she retorted. Galifianakis then transitioned to another topic: the Republican nominee. When you see how well it works for Donald Trump, do you ever think to yourself, Oh, maybe I should be more racist? he asked. Clinton, who has often defended minorities, and whose platform emphasizes racial equality, returned to her silent judgment. Then, Galifianakis proposed a government where Trump won the presidency and Kid Rock served as secretary of state. Would Clinton move to Canada, like some of her supporters plan to do in the face of a Trump administration? She said instead, she would fight to save America from demise. Galifianakis took her statement literally, envisioning her as the leader of a second civil war. No, I wouldnt take up arms, she said. I think that might be a little extreme." Oh right, because you were saying before we were rolling that you wanted to take away everyones guns, Galifianakis said. Very cool. Cool, cool, cool. Finally, he asked a real question: What would Clintons priority be if elected president? Oh Zach, it has to be the economy, said Clinton, taking a page from her husbands years in the White House. We need more good jobs with rising incomes. Weve got to make the economy work for everybody, not just those on top. The 15th Annual Galbani Cheese Feast of San Gennaro: The arrival of fall in many cities means the fluttering of red, green, and white streamers over a city street, and bocce ball showdowns, and string-gooey calzones, and an effervescent expression of Italian arts, foods, and sounds. LA's party grandly revels in Hollywood, near Hollywood High, from Friday, Sept. 23 through Sunday, Sept. 25. It's five bucks for adults, free for kids 12 and under, and full of buskers, rides, musicians on the stroll, and all the touchstones of a traditional street celebration. Redondo Beach Lobster Festival: No one is going to tell you not to enjoy melty buttery dipping sauce after September, but the time for that treat is truly late summer 'round SoCal, when the lobster fests reign. Those are winding down, with this savory Seaside Lagoon lark doing one final weekend push for those who love their briny bites. The to-do runs three days, from Sept. 23 through 25, and there are a few ticket options, when it comes to the lobster dinner choices. Wiggle Waggle Walk: If you asked your Rhodesian Ridgeback, or your Pekingese, if they'd like to spend the morning of Sunday, Sept. 25 at Brookside Park, near the Rose Bowl, among other pups (and their people) raising funds for furry friends in need (of homes, medical care, love 'n attention), the answer would surely be "yes!" (which might sound like a woof). It's a fundraiser for the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, which assists "nearly 12,000 animals" each year. Happy 50th, Gamble House: It can be slightly mind-bending to wish a landmark that famously came into being 'round 1908 a happy 50th in 2016, but that's the story with the beloved Pasadena Craftsman wonder. The Gamble family gifted the home to the city and USC 50 years ago, opening it to the public, and so the public shall celebrate on Sunday, Sept. 25. Walk-up tickets are limited, but the price to see it that day? A buck. Roaring Twenties Street Jam: While many things are said about Southern Californians, this one is true: They like a good era-specific dress-up opportunity. Look to Dapper Day at Disneyland, and look to this Griffith Park hullabaloo (which is not related to Dapper Day but shares its vintage spirit). Join a jazzy picnic on the lawn near the Merry-Go-Round and dance the evening away, too, on Sunday, Sept. 25. "Dress to IMPRESS" is the word on the street, flappers and swells of SoCal. A letter carrier from San Diego will be awarded for his heroism Wednesday: the time he saved an elderly woman from a house fire as he delivered mail during his shift. El Cajon resident David Crestik is one of eight mail carriers being honored by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) at the 2016 Heroes Awards in Washington, D.C. On July 12, 2014, as Crestik was working overtime, he noticed smoke coming from the front door of a mobile home unit in a retirement community on Mission Gorge Road in Santee. At first, Crestik thought a resident was barbecuing. But, as he walked up to the home to investigate, he heard a beeping sound and was met with thick, heavy smoke and flames. Crestik told NBC 7 he dropped his mail bag and ran inside the burning home. The dining room including a table and chairs were engulfed in flames. He heard an elderly womans faint voice coming from deeper inside the home and knew someone was in trouble. As he walked to the back bedroom, he found a woman lying on the ground, pleading for help. I took a big breath of smoke, and told her, We gotta get out of here, he recounted in an interview with NBC 7 Tuesday. It was a very surreal moment. Everything just seemed to be going slow. You hear the crackling of the back window from the heat, he recalled, describing the frightening scene as eerily calm and silent. With the woman, Sharon Branden, in his arms, Crestik made his way to the front porch and then over to a neighbor's house to call 911. He waited by Brandens side until emergency crews arrived. Crestik, a 21-year veteran of the postal service, said he never hesitated that day, and knew he had to help. The letter carrier said he was not working his regular route that day, and feels that he was placed by God at the right place at the right time. There was no thought process. You heard the voice, and God said, Hey, son, get in there and do this for me. I feel honored and blessed that He used me as a tool, Crestik said. Over the past two years, Crestik has kept in touch with the woman he saved. Branden's home was destroyed by the fire, but she survived. Crestik said Branden has nicknamed him her Little Angel. And, while hes grateful to be honored at the 2016 Heroes Awards for going above and beyond the call of duty, hes even more grateful for the outcome on that fateful day. The timing was impeccable; I was right next door, he said. My gut is she wouldve perished but shes here. The NALC named Crestik its "Western Region Hero of the Year" and commended his awareness on the job. "He placed himself in incredible danger and put his life second to others," the association said Wednesday. "A house can be rebuilta life cannot." In addition to the NALC award, Crestik received a plaque from the mayor who also declared a day in San Diego in his honor. Crestik said the experience has been humbling, and added, "I just take it in stride." Other letter carriers from across the U.S. being recognized at Wednesdays Heroes Awards luncheon at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill include a letter carrier from York, Pennsylvania, who saved a boy with autism who darted across a busy highway and a letter carrier from Rock Hill, South Carolina, who saved a girl being mauled by a dog. The NALC said this year's class of honorees, including Crestik, represent the letter carriers who not only deliver mail daily, but often assist in situations involving accidents, fires, crimes or health crises. A liquor store owner says his Bellflower store has been the target of many thieves, including one caught on camera who he says appears to be a teenage girl. Albert Delgado, the owner of Cheap Corner Liquor on Bellflower Boulevard, said his store has been hit three times by thieves in the past three months -- the most recent occurrence on Wednesday. Surveillance tape shows what Delgado says is a young girl -- between 16-to-17-years old, he says -- walking into the store with a young man. The thief, who's wearing shorts, sneakers and a shirt with a "Superman" logo, looks back at the store counter before grabbing a bottle of rum and sprints out the side door. Delgado said he went from sad to angry while viewing the surveillance footage, and he hopes the thieves will learn a lesson. "Just think twice before you do anything bad and do what's right," he said. "I'm sure her parents taught her better." Delgado said he filed a police report. DirecTV is making a bold move by becoming the first cable and satellite company to start offering stand-alone service in hopes of retaining cable customers who are thinking about cutting the cord. Stand-alone service means you don't have to pay for installation at your house. You get the channels through your Internet-connected devices instead. This is big, because it marks the first TV provider to start up a service like this only on the Internet. Instead of having a cable or set-top box and cords, you can download the app and pay a monthly subscription, kind of like Netflix. The company plans to launch DirecTV Now later this fall. It's expected to prompt other cable providers to offer similar streaming channel services. So what's taken so long for a stand-alone service like this? The number of cable and satellite subscribers has been dropping for years. One reason is because it's expensive, averaging about $64 per month, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Compare that with the $10 to $15 for services like Netflix, Hulu and HBO Go. The convenience to watch on your phone or tablet is also a factor. Many cable companies started offering their own digital apps for customers to watch TV, but you still needed that cable subscription. This may change that, though you'll still need access to the Internet to use the app. DirecTV hinted that DirecTV Now will be less expensive than traditional cable because no equipment, installation or technicians are necessary. But they didn't say exactly how much it will cost. Consumers groups say it's the first step toward unbundling, which will let consumers pick the specific channels they want and not pay for the ones they don't watch. The parents of a USC graduate student who was killed when a university police car collided with her vehicle near an entrance to the campus late last year filed a wrongful death lawsuit Wednesday against the university and the other driver. Michael and Jill Dresser, the parents of 23-year-old Kelsey Dresser, are seeking unspecified damages. A USC spokesman said he could not comment on ongoing litigation, but offered a previously released statement regarding the collision on behalf of the university. "USC's public safety officers dedicate themselves to protecting students, staff, faculty and everyone who visits the university,'' the statement reads. "This was an unprecedented and heartbreaking event for the entire USC community and our condolences go out to the family and friends of Kelsey Dresser." The lawsuit alleges that USC Department of Public Safety Officer Miguel Guerra, having worked consecutive graveyards, was short on sleep when his vehicle crashed into Dresser's car about 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 3. He was driving east on Jefferson at just under 70 mph in a 25 mph zone, the suit alleges. Dresser had just turned left from Jefferson Boulevard onto Royal Street near an entrance to the university, according to the suit. "The effect of his sleep deprivation was equivalent to a blood-alcohol content of .08 or greater," the complaint alleges. "The electronic crash data from his vehicle also shows that his throttle was 100 percent engaged." Guerra's emergency lights and siren were turned off, the suit states. "He did not watch out for traffic ahead of him as he was either using his cell phone, his DPS vehicle computer monitor or he was falling asleep," the suit alleges. Guerra waited until a half-second before impact to push hard on the brakes and "inexplicably steered his vehicle out of his lane directly into Kelsey's," according to the complaint. USC public safety officials knew of the dangers of driving a campus police car with insufficient sleep, but allowed Guerra to do so anyway, the suit states. Dresser, who graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2014 with a degree in psychology and was enrolled at the USC Rossier School of Education, died a day after the collision. The Los Angeles Police Commission, the civilian panel that oversees the Los Angeles Police Department, has decided that three officers acted improperly last year in killing two people in separate shootings. The commission found that officers Zackary Goldstein and Andrew Hacoupian violated department policy on deadly force when they fired at 46-year-old James Byrd in Van Nuys on October 3rd. Byrd had thrown a 40-ounce glass beer bottle through the rear window of a patrol car leading the officers inside to believe they were being shot at. The commission did not object to the first volley of gunfire ... but to the second. In a separate case, the police commission faulted the higher-ranked of the two officers who fatally shot 37-year-old Norma Angelica Guzman last September. It is up to Chief Charlie Beck to take disciplinary steps if any against the officers who were determined to have violated policy. Charlotte's police chief said Thursday he planned to show video of an officer shooting a black man to the slain man's family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public. NBC News confirmed Thursday evening that the family of Keith Lamont Scott had seen the shooting dashcam footage. An attorney for the family also said that they want the footage to be released publicly. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney told reporters during a news conference that the video does not definitively show 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott pointing a gun at anyone. "Right now my priority is the people who really are the victims of the shooting," Putney 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." [NATL] Dramatic Photos: Protests in Charlotte In response to a reporter's question about the decision to hold back the video from the public, Putney said he promised transparency, "not full transparency." "Transparency is in the eye of the beholder," he said. Scott's family watched body camera and dashcam video footage of the shooting Thursday afternoon, and they said through their attorney that they want it to be released to the public. Attorney Justin Bamberg said that, in the video, Keith Lamont Scott is seen calmly exiting his vehicle and while police gave him several commands, he did not approach officers. Bamberg said Scott's hands were by his side and he was slowly walking backward when he was shot. The video could be key to resolving the chasm between police, who say Scott refused repeated commands to drop his gun, and residents who say he was unarmed. Residents say Scott was unarmed, holding only a book, and disabled by a brain injury. But it's unclear what the body cameras worn by three officers who were present during the shooting during the shooting may have captured. The plainclothes officer who shot Scott, Brently Vinson, was not wearing a camera. He has been placed on leave, standard procedure in such cases. Vinson is black. At Thursday's press conference, attorneys for the family indicated that Scott's wife was a witness to the fatal shooting of her husband. Attorneys reiterated the need to respect the family's grieving process. As officials have tried to quell the unrest unfolding on Charlotte's streets, at least three major businesses were asking their employees to stay home for the day as the city remained on edge. Mayor Jennifer Roberts told ABC's "Good Morning America" that officials were considering a curfew. But during a news conference later she said the city was "open for business as usual." In an interview with NPR, she said 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." North Carolina has a law that takes effect Oct. 1 requiring a judge to approve releasing police video, and Putney said he doesn't release video when a criminal investigation is ongoing. The streets were mostly quiet during the day Thursday, but 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 after the police chief said he needed the help. The North Carolina National Guard arrived at a Charlotte armory early Thursday, and Guard vehicles left the armory about 8 a.m. [NATL] Photos: Police Shootings of Black Men Spark Protests Across U.S. Cities Federal help also is on the way, with the Justice Department sending to Charlotte a team of trained peacekeepers designed to help resolve community conflict. The department's Community Relations Service has been deployed to other cities roiled by tense flare-ups between police and residents. A peaceful prayer vigil Wednesday night turned into an angry march and then a night of violence after a protester was shot and critically wounded as people charged police in riot gear trying to protect an upscale hotel in Charlotte's typically vibrant downtown. The victim of that shooting, 26-year-old Justin Carr, died Thursday, police confirmed. The shooter was not a police officer, city officials said, and law enforcement is opening an investigation. Putney said Thursday that police were investigating who fired the shot in response to an allegation that a police member was involved. He said he was trying to find out the truth. Video obtained and verified by The Associated Press, which was recorded right after the shooting, shows someone lying in a pool of blood as people scream and a voice yells for someone to call for help. People are then told to back up from the scene. 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 within days, after the white officer shot an unarmed black man who had been in a wreck and was looking for help. The jury deadlocked and the charge was dropped last summer. The city saw a few protests but no violence. On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters who were shouting "black lives matter" and "hands up, don't shoot" left after police fired flash grenades and tear gas after the shooting. But several groups of a dozen or more protesters stayed behind, attacking people, including reporters, shattering windows to hotels, office buildings and restaurants and setting small fires. The NASCAR Hall of Fame was among the places damaged. Authorities said three people and four police officers were injured. Videos and pictures on Twitter showed reporters and other people being attacked. "He got out of his car, he walked back to comply, and all his compliance did was get him murdered," said Taheshia Williams, whose 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. Putney, the police chief, was angered by the stories on social media, especially a profanity-laced, hourlong video on Facebook, where a woman identifying herself as Scott's daughter screamed "My daddy is dead!" at officers at the shooting scene and repeating that he was only holding a book. 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. He also said: "I can tell you we did not find a book." Attorney General Loretta Lynch drew attention to situation Thursday by calling for a "peaceful way forward." She said the shootings there and in Tulsa "underscore divisions that exist." Lynch called for an end to violence and also said that most of the demonstrators were exercising their rights to peaceful protest. "We need your voice," she said. "We need your passion. We need your commitment." She said those bringing violence should stop "because you're drowning out the voices of commitment and change and you're ushering in more tragedy and grief in our communities." Mayor Roberts, in also appealing for calm and peaceful demonstrations, acknowledged that it has been a difficult couple of days. The events that we saw are not the Charlotte that I know and love, she said. Reporters and citizens alike posted to social media to provide a view on the front lines of the protests in Charlotte Wednesday night: Video: #Charlotte rioters attempted to set a photographer on fire.. rescued by police.pic.twitter.com/WuIAbwe5Xx #CharlotteProtest (@SimasRealEstate) September 22, 2016 #CharlotteProtest Rioters are beating up people just because they're white. Even the homeless! Disgusting @Objcamhttps://t.co/lXpznjhd2Q AlwaysActions (@AlwaysActions) September 22, 2016 Authorities are searching for a Key West woman who vanished last month. Robin Ford, 50, was last heard from on August 27 and was reported missing by her sister on September 10, Monroe County Sheriff's Office officials said Thursday. Ford, who was last living on Wisteria Island in Key West Harbor, reportedly failed to show up for an August 30 court appearance, officials said. The appearance was over a misdemeanor DUI arrest in March. A warrant was issued for Ford's arrest when she failed to show up in court. Family members told NBC Chicago Ford, a mother of four, was living on a sailboat with her friend and may have gone missing off the coast. Authorities are asking anyone with information to call 305-293-7475. After a six year period on stopping deportations to Haiti following a massive earthquake on the island in 2010, the United States is ready to resume them with a warning to those who try and come here. The Obama administration, citing improved conditions in that country and an increase in the number of Haitians trying to enter through the border between Southern California and Mexico, has authorized the deportation of anyone who is choosing the potentially dangerous route or any other path to America. Over 5,000 Haitians attempted to enter the country through the port near San Diego between October 1st of 2015 and September 4, 2016. That number is up from just 339 the year before. The thousands of Haitian nationals covered by the Temporary Protected Status, given in the days following the deadly earthquake that destroyed towns and killed thousands, are not affected by the change. However, those stranded in places like Panama, Costa Rica and other nations between Brazil and the U.S. border will now be denied entry unless they meet extraordinary circumstances. The news comes just weeks before the country will be redoing their controversial elections, with the country saying they will not accept all nationals being returned. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security says those who are in transit and dont want to return to the nation can go to Brazil, which gave them special residency status in wake of the earthquake. After calling for the use of the controversial "stop-and-frisk" police practice to combat crime on Wednesday, Donald Trump clarified his comments to say he really only meant in Chicago. "Look, we had tremendous shootings, numbers of shootings. Now, Chicago is out of control and I was really referring to Chicago with stop-and-frisk," the Republican presidential nominee said in a phone interview with Fox & Friends Thursday morning. "They asked me about Chicago and I was talking about stop-and-frisk for Chicago," he added. Trump intended to clarify comments made in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that was broadcast Wednesday evening. In that interview, an audience member asked the nominee about addressing "violence in the black community," to which he proposed expanding the policy in which officers may stop and question individuals, possibly searching those they find suspicious. Critics of the practice say it can lead to racial profiling. "I would do stop-and-frisk. I think you have to. We did it in New York, it worked incredibly well," he said. "You understand, you have to have, in my opinion, I see whats going on here, I see whats going on in Chicago, I think stop-and-frisk. In New York City it was so incredible, the way it worked. Now, we had a very good mayor, but New York City was incredible, the way that worked, so I think that could be one step you could do." "I think Chicago needs stop-and-frisk," Trump said Thursday. "Now, people can criticize me for that or people can say whatever they want. But they asked me about Chicago and I think stop-and-frisk with good strong, you know, good strong law and order. But you have to do something. It cant continue the way its going," he added. The Chicago Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This is not the first time the nominee has mentioned Chicago's violence, drawing harsh criticism for tweeting in August that the murder of Dwyane Wade's cousin is an example of why black voters will support him. Just days earlier he also said that he met with a "top" Chicago officer who believed the city's violence could be stopped within a week using "tough police tactics," a claim that the Chicago Police Department refuted. "No one in the senior command at CPD has ever met with Donald Trump or a member of his campaign," a CPD spokesperson said in a statement. Egypt's health ministry announced on Wednesday evening that the death toll in the capsizing of a boat carrying migrants off Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Rosetta has reached 42. According to the state-owned MENA news agency, the boat was carrying 600 migrants. Reuters reported that the migrants originated from Syria, Egypt and other African countries. According to initial investigations conducted by police in the Nile Delta's Beheira governorate, the boat capsized after it sailed from Kafr El-Sheikh's Meghizal area. The afflicted boat's planned destination is still unknown. Wednesday's incident comes two days after Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said at a UN meeting that "illegal immigration" should be at the top of international priorities. He affirmed that Egypt will combat illegal immigration through updating already existing anti-human trafficking legislation, underlining that the government is currently working on finalising legalisation to combat illegal emigration from the country. According to El-Sisi, Egypt currently hosts five million refugees of different nationalities. The UNHCR website's profile on Egypt says that the country is hosting 261,741 registered refugees, mostly from Sudan, Syria and Libya, with the number of unregistered refugees believed to be much higher. In recent years, thousands of refugees and migrants have attempted to cross the Mediterranean in search of better jobs and opportunities. Hundreds have been arrested in Egypt by naval forces for attempting to migrate illegally. Search Keywords: Short link: What to Know Ahmad Rahami was seriously injured during a shootout with police in New Jersey Monday Officials said Thursday he had been shot at least 11 times, and one of the bullets narrowly missed vital organs Rahami is sedated and intubated at the hospital, but he is expected to survive Alleged bomber Ahmad Rahami was more seriously injured in the shootout with police than initially reported, law enforcement officials say. Officials say Rahami, the 28-year-old naturalized citizen from Afghanistan, was shot at least 11 times in Monday's confrontation with Linden police that led to his capture. At least one bullet narrowly missed vital organs, officials said. Rahami is sedated and intubated at a hospital in New Jersey, where he is being held on state charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. He also faces federal terror-related charges, but will not be arraigned on those until he is transported to New York. Despite new reports of more serious injuries, officials say Rahami is still expected to survive. On Wednesday, authorities released an image of Rahami's blood-stained journal, a bullet hole piercing the small booklet that was found in the alleged bomber's possession when he was captured after the shootout. The journal paints a chilling picture of a man rife with anti-U.S. sentiment who praised leaders of terror groups and wanted to make a martyr of himself. Authorities have said Rahami had a gun and extra ammunition on him when police encountered him sleeping in the doorway of a bar in Linden Monday. Federal officials said Thursday the weapon was bought in Virginia. They say Rahami has a younger brother in the Roanoke area and bought the gun during a visit. The federal complaint filed against Rahami in lower Manhattan court this week charges him with the use of weapons of mass destruction and bombing a place of public use, among other crimes. He allegedly planted the pressure cooker device that blew up on 23rd Street in Chelsea Saturday, injuring 31 people, and another device that exploded in a trash bin along a Marine 5K race route in New Jersey hours earlier. Officials allege Rahami is behind the cluster of pipe bombs found near a commuter rail station in his hometown of Elizabeth, N.J., late Sunday, and an unexploded pressure cooker on 27th Street, blocks from the blast site that rocked the city on a warm summer night. Surveillance video captures Rahami at both Manhattan scenes, officials have said. One video exclusively obtained by NBC 4 New York shows him wheeling a piece of luggage to the 27th Street site, presumably with the bomb inside. The pressure cooker on 27th Street had 12 of Rahami's fingerprints on it, according to law enforcement officials, but other fingerprints were on the device as well. That's one reason the FBI and NYPD want to find the two men who walked away with the luggage the bomb had been in, leaving the device behind. Officials want to see if any of the additional fingerprints on the device belonged to either or both of the men; they also want to recover the luggage. Authorities released a photo of the men Wednesday. They said they are being considered witnesses in the case. What to Know Angel Padilla was one of two Linden police officers wounded in a shootout with bombing suspect Ahmad Rahami Monday Padilla was shot in the torso, but he was wearing a bulletproof vest, saving him from more serious injury The other shot officer, Pete Hammer, had a graze wound to the head and was released from the hospital a day after Padilla A Linden police officer injured in a shootout with the man suspected of setting off bombs in New York and New Jersey visited a school Thursday to thank students for their well wishes, calling the students his "heroes." Patrolman Angel Padilla visited Linden School No. 5, where his grandson attends and where he volunteers with the school's PTA. One of the fifth grade students in the class asked Padilla how scared he was when he confronted the suspect. "How scared was I? I was nervous. A bit nervous," Padilla said. Students at the school wrote get well cards for Padilla and officer Pete Hammer, who were both hurt in Monday's shootout. The children hunched intently over their desks Thursday, putting the finishing touches on their notes. One said, "Our Hero's Officer Padilla and Officer Hammer Protect and Respect," with a drawing of the American flag. Another girl held up a drawing of a stick figure officer next to a heart, with the words, "Officer Padilla Love You" atop. NBC 4 New York But it was Padilla who called the children his heroes as he vowed to come back to play basketball and attend the school book fair. Kids lined up to hug the officer before he left as his colleagues thanked the children for their support. "I just want to say, 'Thank you,' for catching a guy who made a bad decision," one little girl said. Padilla was shot in the torso, but his bulletproof vest saved him from a more serious injury. Hammer was grazed in the head by a bullet or shrapnel. Both officers were treated at a hospital and have since been released. One of the Linden police officers injured during the takedown of terror suspect Ahmad Rahami left the hospital today to cheers. Lori Bordonaro reports. Ahmad Rahami, the 28-year-old naturalized citizen from Afghanistan who faces federal terror charges in the bombings, is also accused of multiple counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer in the Linden shootout. He remains hospitalized in Newark recovering from at least 10 gunshot wounds. Though Rahami has been charged federally, he is still in state custody in New Jersey on the shootout-related charges. A Manhattan U.S. magistrate judge refused Rahami's public defender's request Wednesday to have him arraigned on the federal charges until that changes. U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said he would be moved to New York in "the near future." Rahami's wife, who was overseas at the time of the attacks, returned to the United States early Thursday and is cooperating with authorities, law enforcement officials say. She is not considered a suspect in the case. Rahami has not cooperated with law enforcement officials who tried to question him at the hospital, authorities have said. A blood-stained journal found in his possession when he was captured, though, paints a chilling picture of a man rife with anti-U.S. sentiment who praised leaders of terror groups and wanted to make a martyr of himself. [NATL-NY] Bombs in New Jersey, New York Spark Manhunt Trains were briefly brought to a halt by a police investigation at a New Jersey Transit rail station Thursday morning, authorities said. Trains got running on the Main/Bergen and Port Jervis lines at about 10:30 a.m., about an hour after police were called to inspect a suspicious item at the Ridgewood station. Delays were still topping an hour across the rail system after police gave the all-clear at about 10:30 a.m., and NJ Transit buses and private carriers were cross-honoring rail passes. The investigation about the suspicious item comes amid heightened tensions following bombings in New York and New Jersey over the weekend that injured 31 people. After the explosion in Chelsea Saturday night, the NYPD got more than 400 calls for suspicious packages in less than 48 hours, according to police. On a typical day, police log about 90 to 100 suspicious package calls, according to the Daily News. Authorities have been pressing people to contact police at any hint of suspicious activity, highlighting bystanders' roles in finding two undetonated bombs allegedly planted by 28-year-old Ahmad Rahami. Bystanders found devices on West 27th Street in Chelsea, not far from the blast site, and near a NJ Transit station in Elizabeth, New Jersey. And the New Jersey bar owner who found the suspect sleeping in the doorway of his Linden bar was also credited for being vigilant and contacting police right away. What to Know NYPD officer Richard Haste is facing a departmental trial in the shooting death of Ramarley Graham Graham was an unarmed black teen shot and killed in front of family members in 2012 Haste faced no federal or state criminal charges in the case The NYPD officer who fatally shot an unarmed black teen to death in front of his grandmother and 6-year-old brother four years ago is expected to face a departmental trial, likely in the next two to three months, his attorney tells NBC 4 New York. Richard Haste, who faced no state or federal criminal charges in the 2012 shooting death of Ramarley Graham, was hit with internal NYPD charges. Disciplinary proceedings are now moving forward after criminal proceedings were completed earlier this year, which is standard procedure. He faces being fired in the internal trial, though the police commissioner has the ultimate say. No date has been set, but typically it would be in the next 60 to 90 days, his attorney said. In March, federal prosecutors declined to file federal civil rights charges against Haste in the death of Graham. The decision ended the possibility of criminal charges for Haste, who was indicted earlier on a state manslaughter charge that a judge dismissed, saying prosecutors had improperly instructed grand jurors. Another grand jury then declined to indict Haste, who said he fired at Graham because he thought Graham would shoot him. Graham's family has said they believe that Haste, his supervisor that day and any other officer involved should already be fired. Haste's lawyer Stuart London previously said that his client was gratified he wasn't facing civil rights charges but that "there never were any winners in this case." And his union echoed the sentiment. "The officer was working to combat the scourge of guns and drugs in the community," said Patrick J. Lynch, head of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, in March. "The good-faith effort to combat those ills brought us to this tragedy. We extend our sympathies to the family." Graham's family settled with the city in January 2015 for $3.9 million. Police in in the Long Island town where three high schoolers and a fourth unidentified person were recently found dead were spotted searching the grounds of a state-run psychiatric hospital Thursday afternoon. It wasn't clear whether the Suffolk County officers decked out in white plastic suits had found anything at the Pilgrim Psychiatric Hospital, or if the search was related to the deaths of Oscar Acosta, Nisa Mickens, Kayla Cuevas or a fourth unidentified person over the last week. It comes a day after the discovery of Acosta, a 19-year-old Brentwood High School senior not seen since late April. The second unidentified person's body was found nearby. On Thursday, officials confirmed that Acosta was a victim of a homicide and may have been the victim of gang violence. Last week, Mickens was found dead on what was her 16th birthday. Cuevas, Mickens' best friend, was found dead a day later. Both girls had been badly beaten, and authorities said gangs may have played a role in their deaths. Police did not say if the remains of Acosta and the second person were connected to the deaths of the two girls. But Acosta's mother told NBC 4 New York when he disappeared in April that her son had been concerned about gangs before they moved to the town a year and a half ago. She said her son wasn't involved in any form of organized crime. Rookie Gary Sanchez hit two more homers and drove in five runs, Masahiro Tanaka won despite allowing four home runs in the same inning and the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 11-5 on Wednesday night. The Yankees moved within 2 1/2 games of Baltimore for the second AL wild-card spot. New York also would have to jump over Seattle, Houston and Detroit to earn a postseason berth. Sanchez homered in his fourth straight game. He hit a three-run shot in a four-run second off Alex Cobb (1-1) and added his 19th homer in 43 games this season on a solo drive in the sixth against Justin Marks. Including two games last season, Sanchez became the first player in major league history to hit 19 homers in his first 45 games. Wally Berger, with the Boston Braves in 1930, went deep 19 times in his first 51 games. Sanchez has eight shots in his last 12 games after a 10-game home-run drought. Tanaka (14-4) won his seventh straight decision. He was staked to a 7-0 lead entering the bottom of the third before Tampa Bay teed off. Bobby Wilson led off with a home run. After Tanaka got two consecutive outs, Evan Longoria, Brad Miller and Corey Dickerson hit three consecutive shots. The four home runs in an inning set a Rays record. Miller hit another solo shot in the eighth to give him 30 homers this season. Cobb, making his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery, allowed seven runs and nine hits in 1 1/3 innings. TRAINER'S ROOM Yankees: 3B Chase Headley was out of the lineup for the third straight game but hopes to play Thursday. Rays: OF Steven Souza Jr. had left hip surgery and is expected to be ready for spring training. TANAKA TIME Tanaka had not given a homer in 17 of his previous 30 starts this season. . Tanaka threw two wild pitches with Jaff Decker batting in the second, including one that became lodged under the pad on the wall behind the plate. UP NEXT Yankees RHP Luis Cessa (4-2) and Rays LHP Blake Snell (5-8) are Thursday night's starters in a matchup of rookies. As part of her 95th birthday present, the nation's oldest full-time park ranger got a tour this week ahead of the opening of the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. And on Thursday, Betty Reid Soskin will be slicing cake with the Secretary of the Interior, after a whirlwind week of historical stops and talks to celebrate being born on Sept. 22, 1921. "Betty exemplifies what it means to live your passion and to stand up for what you think is right through sharing your stories," her boss, National Park Service Supt. Tom Leatherman, told NBC Bay Area. "She's helping to inspire other people to do the same thing." Last Saturday, Soskin presented the new museum a photograph of the convent of the nation's first all-black religious Order - the Holy Family Sisters. The convent was built in New Orleans by her grandfather, Louis Charbonnet. She was more than thrilled. "Everyone knew that I was dying to attend this opening," Soskin wrote in early September on her blog. "And that means that this 'lil ole lady ranger will be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Laura Bush, Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, Willie Brown, General Colin Powell, etc., and we may all be wondering just how on earth she ever got on the A-List!" During her visit, Soskin also met with students to share her experiences during World War II, and the subsequent civil rights battles across the country. She also participated in a panel before the Congressional Black Caucus Conference. She flew out to D.C. last week alongside her direct supervisor, Kellie English, who has been documenting some of the trip on Facebook. Soskin still works full-time at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, Calif. Soskin has been leading these educational tours, to both children and adults, since she was 85 years old, explaining her slice of history 40 hours a week. During World War II, Soskin worked as a clerk for the all-black Boilermakers A-36. More recently, she grabbed headlines during the 2013 federal funding crisis when she urged Congress to get its act together so she didn't have to sit at home, not getting paid during the national furlough. Because of all her work, Soskin was invited to light the national Christmas tree in December, where she introduced President Barack Obama.That's when he slipped her a presidential coin. In June, someone broke into her home and brutally attacked her, stealing electronics, and the special coin. In July, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell came to Richmond, Calif., to give Soskin a replacement coin. It was then that Jewell asked Soskin to attend the African American history museum opening as her plus-one, Leatherman said. The museum opens to the public on Saturday. [NATL-DC] Major Celebrities Donate to Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History The highest court in Massachusetts on Tuesday threw out a gun conviction against a Boston man in a ruling that says black men who flee when approached by police may be reacting to racial profiling rather than trying to hide criminal activity. In its ruling, the Supreme Judicial Court found that Boston police had "far too little information" to stop Jimmy Warren after seeing him and another black man walking in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood about 30 minutes after they received a report of a home break-in in 2011. Police had received only a vague description of three black males wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts seen leaving the home. Warren ran when police approached him. After a foot chase, an officer arrested him in a backyard. He was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a handgun was found on the front lawn. The SJC found that police did not have a reasonable suspicion to stop Warren and his friend, noting that an officer's hunch is not enough. The court cited a report by the Boston Police Department and an ACLU study that found black men were disproportionately stopped and frisked by Boston police between 2007 and 2010. The court said black men in Boston who flee when approached by police does not necessarily indicate that they are guilty of a crime. "Rather, the finding that black males in Boston are disproportionately and repeatedly targeted for FIO (field interrogation and observation) encounters suggests a reason for flight totally unrelated to consciousness of guilt. Such an individual, when approached by the police, might just as easily be motivated by the desire to avoid the recurring indignity of being racially profiled as by the desire to hide criminal activity," Justice Geraldine Hines wrote for the court in the unanimous opinion. "Given this reality for black males in the city of Boston, a judge should, in appropriate cases, consider the report's findings in weighing flight as a factor in the reasonable suspicion calculus." The court vacated Warren's conviction. Boston Police released a statement Tuesday night saying in part, "For the court to consider studies that were never introduced into evidence or offered into the record is concerning. At the very least, the court should have heard from the experts who compiled and analyzed the data. We will continue to consult with the district attorney's office moving forward." Warren's lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson scuffled with a protester armed with a pie Wednesday night, according to a spokeswoman for the mayor's office. "He was defending himself," said spokeswoman Crystal Strait, who was attending the same dinner event where the attack occurred. "The man came up to him and grabbed his arm and basically punched him with a pie. The mayor was defending himself and his family. He felt threatened." After the protester, identified as 32-year-old Sean Thompson, threw a store-bought pie in the mayor's face, he said something to Johnson, which prompted the mayor to tackle Thompson and strike him, Strait said. The incident prompted calls for ambulances and the fire department to the scene. Erika Bjork, a witness, said the former NBA star was standing near her at Wednesday night's outdoor event at Sacramento Charter High School when he was hit. Bjork said the mayor looked shocked and swung at the man multiple times, but she didn't see him land any punches. She said Johnson then wrestled the man to the ground, and mayoral staff and a police officer pinned him down. A Sacramento police officer assigned to the mayors security detail called for additional assistance and was able to restrain the assailant without incident, according to the Sacramento Police Department. Thompson sustained a minor injury and was transported by the Sacramento Fire Department to a local hospital for treatment, police said. Johnson sent a tweet at 10:12 p.m. saying, "Appreciate everyone. I'm doing fine. Thank you to Sac PD for being there. Be safe everyone." Thompson was arrested on a felony charge of assaulting a public official and will be booked into the Sacramento County Jail. He was not immediately available for comment and it was not clear if he had a lawyer. There were nearly 200 people, including high school students, attending the event. As Seen On As seen on News 4 Egypt's President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi met with the two US presidential candidates In New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Egypt deals with US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton "on equal footing," presidency spokesman Alaa Youssef said Thursday. In a statement, Youssef responded to questions on whether Egypt favours a particular candidate in the US presidential race after Egypt's President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi met with the two candidates In New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. After his meeting, Trump released a statement saying that this encounter with El-Sisi highlighted how Egypt and the US share a common enemy and the importance of working together in defeating radical Islamic terrorism." This was Trump's first meeting with a leader of the Muslim world. The Republican hopeful said he told Egypt's president that "under a Trump administration, the United States of America will be a loyal friend not simply an ally that Egypt can count on in the days and years ahead." During her meeting with El-Sisi, Clinton discussed ways of bolstering counterterrorism cooperation with Egypt, affirming her commitment to defeating ISIS, to addressing foreign fighters, and to countering radicalisation," according to a press release by her campaign. The Democratic Party candidate and former US secretary of state also "raised concerns about the prosecution of Egyptian human rights organisations and activists" in Egypt. El-Sisi flew to New York Sunday to attend the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Search Keywords: Short link: A second woman is accused of providing a false statement to detectives in the investigation of the shooting death of an 8-year-old girl in Camden. Natasha Gerald, 19, of Sicklerville, New Jersey is charged with hindering the investigation of the death of Gabrielle Hill-Carter. Investigators say Gerald provided a false alibi for a person of interest in the shooting. She was processed and released on a summons. Hill-Carter was wounded when gunfire erupted near her home on the 900 block of South 8th Street in Camden, New Jersey back on August 24. The young girls family announced two days later that she had died from her injuries. Family Photo Officials said the girl was hit by a stray bullet when several men opened fire on an intended target. The men then jumped into a car and fled. Gerald is the second person accused of hindering the investigation of Hill-Carters death. Shakia Land, 35, of Camden was arrested last week and charged with hindering the homicide investigation. Police say Land also provided a false alibi for a person of interest in the shooting. No arrests have been made in the shooting. Authorities are offering a reward of more than $76,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the girls killer. Anyone with information on the shooting should call the Camden tip line at (856) 757-7042 or the Citizen's Crime Commission at (215) 546-TIPS. Police searched Thursday for a shooter who killed a man in a South Jersey alley Wednesday night. Florence Township Police found Ronald Walker, 27, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest along Zinc Street an alley that runs between Second and Third streets near Foundry Street around 7 p.m., said Burlington County Prosecutors. Crews rushed Walker to Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County where doctors pronounced him dead a little more than an hour later. Investigators didnt immediately reveal any information about what may have led to the homicide. The prosecutors office asked that anyone with information contact Burlington County Central Communications at (609) 265-7113 or leave an online tip for Florence Township Police. Update: Yeadon police said Friday that Mark Epps is no longer a person of interest in this crime. Police in Delaware County are searching for the boyfriend of a woman whose body was found on the porch steps of a Yeadon home, her throat slashed. Natasha Gibson was found by a friend Thursday morning in front of a house where she once lived along Baily Road near Orchard Avenue.[[394490231, C]] Gibson was trying to break free from her boyfriend, according to police, who identified him as Mark Epps. Epps, 35, has a history of violence, had recently threatened to kill Gibson and she was afraid of him, said Yeadon Police Chief Donald Molineux. Investigators said Epps knew Gibson had friends in Yeadon, where the 32-year old was supposed to arrive Wednesday night around 11:30. Her body was discovered around 3 a.m. by a family friend. "He looked out the front door and discovered her there," said Chief Molineux.[[394524001, C]] Investigators followed a blood trail more than a mile long from the home into Upper Darby and ultimately to 61st and Baltimore in Southwest Philadelphia where they found a bloody knife hidden in a storm drain. Gibson's purse was found a block away in the same area where police said Epps was seen on surveillance video with an injured, bleeding arm. "No, he had nothing to do with this," Epps mother said. Lisa Epps said her son did date Gibson but was living in Kensington and would not have been in the Yeadon area. "Okay, what happened [is] he got beat up down here, not once but twice and I was so afraid he was going to get killed down here that I set him up in Kensington," said Lisa Epps. "He has not been bothered with that girl since." Police are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mark Epps to call 911 or Detective J. Houghton with Yeadon police at 610-625-1500 or 610-622-7835. A man was arrested after he tried to take a ride on the back of a manatee in the Florida Keys. James Massengale Jr., 47, was charged with annoying, molesting, harassing, or disturbing a manatee after a witness at a park near Islamorada reported a man "touching and laying" on top of manatees in a creek off Library Beach, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman, Officer Bobby Dube, said in a news release. Dube said a witness told Massengale it was illegal to touch the mammals, but the man reportedly replied Im riding it. Massengale allegedly became verbally combative with FWC officials and vowed to not appear in court when issued a citation. He then began to chant Take me to jail. Monroe County Sheriffs deputies arrested Massengale. He is being held on $25,000 bond. Officials believe he may be homeless because he didn't have any identification at the time of his arrest. Attorney information for Massengale was not listed. Charges have been dropped against a local doctor accused of stealing drugs from a hospital operating room, and the hospital is taking heat for the way it tried to uncover the theft. The Medical Board of California has dropped drug theft charges against Dr. Adam Dorin, a former anesthesiologist at Sharp Grossmont Hospital accused of stealing sedatives from a Womens Health Center operating room. Court records show that in May 2012, Sharp Grossmont officials suspected that anesthetic drugs were being lifted from operating room drug carts. Two months later, the hospital installed surveillance cameras inside the operating rooms where doctors perform cesarean sections on pregnant women. Dorin, who was the only doctor charged during the year-long surveillance sting, was seen on camera taking drugs from an operating room cart and returning the drugs the very same day. His attorney says that the video also shows other doctors taking drugs from carts and using them in other rooms where they were needed. In all the articles, Dorin was just getting slandered, Dorins attorney Duane Admire said. Sharp was saying We caught a drug thief, we did this to catch a drug thief. Well, he wasnt a drug thief. Now the hospital is facing a civil lawsuit, not on behalf of Dorin, but on behalf of the patients who say their privacy was violated when they were unknowingly recorded. Sharp Grossmont did not have any comment related to the ongoing lawsuit, but did release the following statement regarding the decision of the state medical board: Sharp Healthcare is pleased that the Medical board of California has made progress on the investigation of Dr. Dorin and Grossmont Hospital. We are confident that the Board conducted a thorough evaluation and support their decision on this matter. Community leaders are searching for answers after a San Diego Pride executive was removed from his post. Former San Diego Pride executive director Stephen Whitburn was fired by Pride board members a few weeks ago, and many questions from the local community have gone unanswered. Pride confirmed with NBC 7 that 2016 has been a record-breaking year in terms of grants and events, and supporters of Whitburn believe that his leadership had a lot to do with it. They also have a feeling that personal issues among the board are what led to his firing after four successful years. In a statement issued to San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, the board said that Stephen Whitburn was a beloved member of the Pride family, but we have parted ways at this time. No specific reasons behind his firing have been given, but one board member told NBC 7 that Pride wanted to go in a different direction. The decision led several members of the LGBT community, and Civil Rights Activist the Reverend Shane Harris, to confront the board at its monthly meeting at Pride headquarters on Wednesday and demand his reinstatement. They are also calling for the resignation of some board members as a result of the controversy. There was a lot of shock that he was just let go unceremoniously, former Pride board member Will Rodrigues-Kennedy said. There are also a lot of concerns about the board operating in a transparent manner. Nicole Murray-Ramirez, one of the co-founders of San Diego Pride in 1974, told the National Action Network that the organization's current board is out of touch with the LGBT community. San Diego has the largest concentration of military in the world, with more than 100,000 active duty men and women living and working locally. Fleet Week 2016 is a fun way for military and non-military members of the community to honor and celebrate our military through interactive public events. Fleet Week activities continue through Oct. 1, with the following events, which can be attended by anyone -- military and civilians: MCAS Miramar Air Show Sept. 23-25 (free admission) See incredible performances from U.S. military aircraft, including the Navys famous Blue Angels, the Golden Knights Parachute Team and the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team while enjoying a live band, DJ, specialty drinks and karaoke. Cabrillo Festival Oct. 1 (free admission) Learn the history of 16th Century Spanish soldiers, how to make a Kumeyaay basket and master tying different knots while dancing, singing and trying new foods from across the globe at the Cabrillo Festival. MCRD Boot Camp Challenge Oct. 1 (Individual: $39: 3-Person Team: $117: 5-Person Team: $195) Get down and dirty in the 3-mile obstacle run used only by Marine Recruits, with over 60 USMC Drill Instructors along the course providing direction and encouragement for participants. Civilians can show support for U.S. military service men, women and military families by donating or sponsoring the Fleet Week San Diego organization. For more information on that, visit this website. The Zamalek Metro station would be on line three of Cairo's metro and passes through Ataba to Imbaba Egypt's Transportation Minister Galal Said announced that the construction of the underground metro station in Zamalek neighborhood, which is part of Cairo's third metro line, will begin in two weeks time, Al Ahram Arabic website reported. The construction of this line, which passes through from Ataba district near downtown to the densely populated district of Imbaba, will cost EGP 20 million, the minister said on Thursday. Said added that around 3.5 million citizens use the metro on a daily basis in Cairo with 22 million trips per day. In August, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said that the new metro lines would be completed by 2018. The metro, which operates throughout the capital city and surrounding areas and runs at a speed of 80 kilometres an hour, is constructed both under and above ground, and is one of the fastest and cheapest means of transportation in Cairo. A ticket costs EGP 1 ($ 0.12). The government has repeatedly said it would raise the price of metro tickets to offset annual losses, but has not yet followed through. Search Keywords: Short link: U.S. Marines held a memorial Wednesday for a Camp Pendleton-based Marine who was shot and killed in South Los Angeles, describing the young man as an inspiration and a true warrior. In a very short time, Lance Cpl. Segovia Lopez deeply impacted those who came to know him, Sgt. Maj. Benny R. Benton said in a video clip produced by the Marines on the base. Lance Cpl. Carlos Segovia Lopez died at a hospital Monday night. He had been on life support since he was found Friday night slumped over in the driver's seat of his car in South Los Angeles. Before the the shooting, Lopez had visited his girlfriend and texted a friend to say he was picking up some pizza before heading over. A vehicle pulled up beside the Marine's car, and at least one person opened fire, striking him once in the head, LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman said Monday. He was not in uniform. Several young Marines who have been training with Lopez since he joined the Corps six months ago shared their thoughts about the 19-year-old. They said Lopez motivated them to get through training and to work harder. One also mentioned how Lopez, who often volunteered in his hometown, would bug fellow Marines to join him and volunteer in Los Angeles. His unselfish and honorable legacy will live on in our Corps, Benton said. Once a Marine, always a Marine. No suspects were identified and investigators did not have a motive. Los Angeles Police Lt. Stacy D. Spell also appeared in the video, commending Lopez and his work with the homeless. He was a Marine who gave time not only to serving his country, but also to serving his community, Spell said. Lopez was born in El Salvador and came to the U.S. with his mother. Both are U.S. citizens. Lopez was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Certificate of Commendation. Segovia worked with LA on Cloud9, helping to develop the Teen Project program and supporting the homeless community through Street Team Soldiers, according to the organization. He also was a junior counselor for children in South Los Angeles through the USC Troy Camp. Semper Fi, Carlos, LAPD Officer Christopher Hoffman said at the end of the video. Watch the full memorial video here. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it is widening efforts to deport Haitians, a response to thousands of immigrants from the Caribbean nation who overwhelmed California border crossings with Mexico in recent months. The move announced Thursday lifts special protections that shielded Haitians from deportation after their nation's 2010 earthquake. Since 2011, U.S. authorities have avoided deporting Haitians unless they were convicted of serious crimes or posed a national security threat. Now they will be treated like people from other countries. Secretary Jeh Johnson said the new posture doesn't apply to Haitians who got temporary status to live and work in the U.S. after the earthquake and have remained in the country since January 2011. More than 7,000 Haitian refugees are expected to cross Southern California borders and seek refuge in San Diego in the coming months. In the last 10 months, at least 3,508 Haitians have crossed through ports of entry located in San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, Calexico East and West and Andrade, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Many of those refugees have ended up in Tijuana, where in recent days, hundreds have gathered at shelters waiting to cross through San Ysidro. A woman shot in the head by her own sister in San Diegos Warner Springs community has died, officials confirmed Wednesday. The San Diego County Sheriffs Department (SDSO) said Carrie Deatherage, 51, died from a single gunshot wound to her head. Her older sister, Sandra Stoneburner, 57, is accused in the deadly shooting, which investigators said happened at around 11:45 p.m. on Sept. 16 on the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation. That night, deputies were called to a home in the 1000 block of Camino San Ignacio to investigate reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they found Deatherage lying unresponsive inside the home, in grave condition. The victims sister was detained for questioning that night. Ultimately, the San Diego County Medical Examiners office determined Deatherages case to be a homicide. Stoneburner was arrested and booked into the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility. The SDSO said the suspect now faces a first-degree murder charge. Stoneburner is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 30. No further details on the case were immediately released. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information can call the SDSOs Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321 or (858) 565-5200, or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Warner Springs is located in San Diegos North County, approximately 70 miles northeast of downtown San Diego. A child abuse allegation against Brad Pitt has triggered a "routine" investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services in Los Angeles County, a source close to the agency told NBC News Thursday. The investigation stems from a recent incident with a child on board a private plane flying from Europe to Los Angeles, the source said. The incident was anonymously reported to authorities several days later. Pitt has six children with actress Angelina Jolie, who filed for divorce from the actor on Monday. According to the DCFS source, Pitt is not allowed to have contact with the child, which is usual in such cases, while the investigation is ongoing. [NATL] Breaking Up Is Hard To Do: The Most Shocking Star Splits The Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI have not launched an investigation. An FBI spokeswoman, Laura Eimiller, said in a statement late Thursday that the agency is still evaluating whether to do its own investigation into the allegations. Citing irreconcilable differences, Jolie filed for divorce "for the health of the family," her lawyer Robert Offer told The Associated Press. Jolie is asking for physical custody of their six children Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 8. The couple married on August 14, 2014 after a 12-year relationship. [NATL] Emmy Awards 2016 Red Carpet: Best and Worst Dressed "Angelina will always do whats in the best interest to protect her children," her manager Geyer Kosinski told E! News in a statement. "She appreciates everyone's understanding of their need for privacy at this time." In a statement released to People Magazine, Pitt said his focus is also on the "well-being of our kids," adding that he is saddened by divorce and asking "the press to give [the children] the space they deserve during this challenging time." [NATL] Celebrity Breakups Pitt was previously married to actress Jennifer Aniston in 2000, divorcing in 2005. This was the third marriage for Jolie, having previously been wed to Jonny Lee Miller in 1996 and Billy Bob Thornton in 2000. The divorce was first reported by TMZ. A high-ranking official for Prince George's County Public Schools has been forced to resign in connection to the fallout from a federal investigation that reported allegations of abuse in the county's Head Start program, sources tell News4. Prince George's County Public Schools CEO Kevin Maxwell asked his chief of staff, George Margolies, to step down after emails surfaced showing Margolies arguing with a school board member to keep Head Start issues off the board's agenda, sources said. In a leaked email, Margolies described the back and forth with the board's vice chair, Carolyn Boston, by saying, "I have scars on my back from yesterday to prove it." "Today I have asked my colleague and friend George Margolies to step down as my Chief of Staff. I thank him for nearly 40 years of service in public education," Maxwell said in a statement. Boston gave the following statement to News4 regarding Margolies' resignation: "I'm not shocked because we've gotten to that point on other occasions and I've stood my ground. We sometimes differ on what the board should and should not know." The news of Margolies' resignation comes as Maryland State Sen. Anthony Muse is calling for Maxwell to step down. "Thats too much power in one hand," Muse told News4. Muse said he also wants to change the county's school board back to a fully elected board. "There's a difference between controlling a school board and politiczing a school board and actually being about the business of education," Muse said. Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker fought to appoint the school CEO and some members of the school board, including the chair and vice chair. Now, the board is a hybrid of elected and appointed members. "I didnt vote for this and I was against this. In fact, I'm the only senator who voted against this legislation when they reconfigured the school board," Muse said. Baker has released a statement that he is not calling for Maxwell's resignation. In August, the county lost a $6.5 million federal grant after complaints of abuse and poor teacher training surfaced during an investigation. According to the report, one teacher forced a 3-year-old boy to mop up his own urine and children at another school were made to hold objects over their head for an extended period of time as a punishment for their behavior. Stay with News4 and NBCWashington for more on this developing story. A man is wanted for selling fake concert tickets in Arlington, Virginia, police say. The Arlington County Police Department said the suspect posted ads on Craigslist for tickets to a Drake concert on Aug. 19 and met the victims in Pentagon City. Police describe him as a white male, wearing a black polo shirt, khaki shorts and a Green Bay Packers hat at the time of the incident. If you have any information about this incident or can identify this suspect, contact Detective Marseilles at pmarseilles@arlingtonva.us. You can also report tips anonymously to Arlington County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. What to Know Marcus Edwards was studying social work and hoped to become a D.C. police officer. A Morgan State University student from D.C. was stabbed to death off campus in Baltimore Monday night, police said. Someone stabbed 21-year-old Marcus Edwards in the chest about a mile north of campus about 10:30 p.m. Nicole Ausberry Brooks, Edwards' mother, said her son's wallet and cellphone were still on him after the attack. Police are investigating potential motives. Edwards was studying social work at the university and had hoped to become a D.C. police officer. He was a former member of the Metropolitan Police Department Junior Police Academy. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help his family with expenses. The GoFundMe shared more details about Edwards: "Marcus was a graduate of Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools For Public Policy - Capitol Hill Campus in Washington, DC, a former intern of the Jr. Police Academy in DC and the U.S. Department of Treasury. He also worked at Chipotle and was a proud student of Social Work at Morgan State University. He, most definitely, had plans to become a DC Police Officer. He wore the costume for "McGruff the Crime Dog", just last month, for National Night Out in the Second Police District, a place that felt like home for him, because of the amount of time he spent there as a volunteer. Police officers shared the news today, in total devastation." A group of parents in Fairfax County, Virginia are protesting plans for a cell phone tower to go up at a public elementary school. Some mothers and fathers of students at A. Scott Crossfield Elementary School in Herndon said they are worried the tower would be a danger to the health of their children because it would be built near the school's playground. "[The tower] would expose our kid to long-term radiation very close to where there is a permanent population," said parent Randy Griffin. Renderings from Milestone Communications confirm the tower would go near the playground. The proposed construction of a tower is to fill a gap in Verizon Wireless coverage, but parents said they have had no Verizon service issues in the area. Its a huge amount of unknowns, its a concern that Fairfax County Public Schools seems to be putting their revenue and their business relationships ahead of all the kids, said Lisa Namerow, whose son will start kindergarten at the school next year. Were not only concerned for Crossfields kids, were concerned for all of Fairfax County kids, especially the youngest of them all - at elementary schools. Namerow and other parents are asking the school system to step in and deny the proposal. They have control over what happens here, so if they want to withdraw the application - which is what were asking for - they have that power. "The applicant provided written notice of the application to all property owners adjacent to the site, as required under the FCPS regulation, and a community meeting was held by the applicant. Radiation emitted by cell towers is well below the limits set by the FCC," Fairfax County Public Schools told News4 in a statement. Crossfield would be the 35th school in the county to have a cell phone tower since 1996. Parents fear if this latest plan is approved, cell phone towers will be built at dozens more schools in the county. Some school board members and parents are calling for Prince Georges County Public Schools CEO Kevin Maxwell to resign following a federal investigation into the county's Head Start program. The complaints center around two issues: Who knew what during a federal investigation into allegations of abuse in the Head Start program and emails that surfaced this week showing Maxwells chief of staff, George Margolies, essentially arguing with board members about public agenda items. We had employees not complying with the federal investigation. Was anyone suspended or terminated at that point in time, Board member Edward Burroughs III asked Maxwell during an intense board meeting Thursday. Im not going to continue to answer the same questions over and over again," Maxwell said. "Ive said that publicly, Ive said it here, Ive said it in my opening remarks. In August, the county lost a $6.5 million federal Head Start grant after complaints of abuse and poor teacher training surfaced during an investigation. According to the report, one teacher forced a 3-year-old boy to mop up his own urine and children at another school were made to hold objects over their head for an extended period of time as a punishment for their behavior. What we have here is a CEO who does not have control over his organization and does not have the capacity to understand, whos doing what when, Board member Zabrina Epps said. Board members are also calling for Board Chairman Segun Eubanks and Vice Chair Carolyn Boston to step down. Maxwell announced Thursday he asked the Maryland State Department of Education to audit the county's head start program and the incidents that led to the loss of the grant. On Wednesday, Maxwell asked his chief of staff to step down Wednesday after the emails surfaced showing Margolies arguing with a school board member to keep Head Start issues off the board's agenda, sources said. In a leaked email, Margolies described the back and forth with the board's vice chair by saying, "I have scars on my back from yesterday to prove it." Maryland State Sen. Anthony Muse also called for Maxwell to step down. He said he also wants to change the county's school board back to a fully elected board. Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker fought to appoint the school CEO and some members of the school board, including the chair and vice chair. Now, the board is a hybrid of elected and appointed members. Baker has released a statement that he is not calling for Maxwell's resignation. The destination of the boat that capsized, leaving at least 42 dead, remains unknown Related Death toll in migrant boat disaster off Egyptian coast rises to 42 Egypt's Damanhour prosecution ordered Thursday the detention for four days pending investigations of four of the crew of a boat for illegal migrants that capsized in the Mediterranean Wednesday. The health ministry said Wednesday evening that 42 people died in the incident as the boat was carrying migrants off Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Rosetta. The afflicted boat, which was carrying 600 migrants off Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Rosetta as reported by state news agency MENA, left 42 dead, 6 injured and rescued 160, leaving 392 missing. The prosecution also ordered the release of 160 rescued survivors of the capsized boat, including 117 Egyptians and 43 foreigners. According to initial investigations conducted by police in the Nile Delta's Beheira governorate, the boat, which was carrying 600 migrants as reported by state news agency MENA, capsized after it sailed from Kafr El-Sheikh's Meghizal area. The boat's planned destination is still unknown. In recent years, thousands of refugees and migrants have attempted to cross the Mediterranean in search of better jobs and opportunities. Hundreds have been arrested by Egyptian naval forces. Search Keywords: Short link: A North Carolina high school teacher says he has been placed on leave after students say he stepped on an American flag as part of a history lesson. The Fayetteville Observer reports Massey Hill Classical High School teacher Lee Francis said he was informed of his status by the Cumberland County Schools human resources department. Francis said he's scheduled to meet with system officials on Thursday to discuss the incident stemming from a lesson in his history class. News media outlets quote students as saying Francis asked students for a lighter or scissors, and when no one produced them, he put the flag on the floor and stomped on it. Reports quote Francis as saying on his Facebook page that he was discussing a court case involving flag desecration. Francis' lesson last week about the Bill of Rights highlighted Texas v. Johnson, the Supreme Court case upholding the constitutional right to burn the American flag, according to The Washington Post. Francis told The Post he has experienced death threats and is under investigation. What to Know Ahmad Rahami, 28, was charged with federal crimes in New York City and New Jersey on Tuesday related to bombings over the weekend Rahami is recovering at a Newark hospital after being shot 10 times during a shootout with police Monday The federal complaint against Rahami paints a chilling portrait of man championing jihad and looking to become a martyr The 28-year-old New Jersey man suspected of planting bombs in New York City and his own state was still recovering from multiple gunshot wounds at a hospital in Newark Wednesday, a day after he had federal terror charges filed against him in Manhattan and New Jersey. Ahmad Khan Rahami was recovering from surgery at University Hospital after being shot 10 times by police before his capture Monday outside a bar in Linden. Federal agents have tried to question Rahami in the hospital, but New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur, who said he received a classified briefing from the FBI, said Rahami was not cooperating. The FBI charged Rahami with using a weapon of mass destruction Tuesday. The federal complaint against Rahami paints a chilling portrait of a man championing jihad and looking to become a martyr. The complaint says he bought bomb ingredients on eBay and recorded a mirthful video of himself igniting a blast in a backyard. In a handwritten journal, he warned that bombs would resound in the streets and prayed he'd be martyred rather than caught. Rahami's jihad journal ended with a stark message, according to court papers: "Death to your oppression." Federal court complaints filed Tuesday gave a frightening glimpse into what authorities say motivated the Afghan-born U.S. citizen to set off explosives last weekend in New York City and New Jersey, including the bomb that injured 31 people in Manhattan. The blasts came two years after the FBI looked into him but came up with nothing tying him to terrorism. Prosecutors say he detonated a pressure cooker bomb on 23rd Street in Manhattan Saturday night. Some people suffered "lacerations to the face, abdomen, legs, and arms" caused by flying glass, metal shrapnel and fragmentation embedded in skin and bone, according to the federal complaint. Others suffered various head injuries; a driver was knocked unconscious. Rahami was also charged with terror counts by federal prosecutors in New Jersey on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office said he has been charged with two counts of using and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction. Those charges are in connection with Rahami's alleged attempts to detonate explosives during a race in Seaside Park on Saturday morning and near an NJ Transit train station in Elizabeth on Sunday night. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York told NBC News that Rahami will first face charges in federal court in Manhattan. It's unclear when Rahami will be released from University Hospital to face federal charges in New York City. When he is released, he will be transported from Newark by the U.S. Marshals and taken to a federal court in lower Manhattan, officials said. It wasn't immediately clear whether Rahami had a lawyer who could comment on the charges against him, which include the federal terror crimes and state charges in New Jersey of attempting to murder police officers related to the shootout Monday in Linden. Just two days before Saturday's bombings, a relative's cellphone recorded Rahami igniting incendiary material in a cylinder buried in a backyard, the fuse being lighted, a loud noise and flames, "followed by billowing smoke and laughter," the complaints said. And the complaints said in his bloodied journal damaged by shots from his gun battle with police he fumed that the U.S. government was slaughtering Muslim holy warriors and alluded to plans for revenge. One portion expressed concern at the prospect of being caught before being able to carry out a suicide attack and the desire to be a martyr. Another section included a reference to "pipe bombs" and a "pressure cooker bomb" and declared: "In the streets they plan to run a mile," an apparent reference to one of the blast sites, a charity run in Seaside Park, New Jersey. "The sounds of bombs will be heard in the streets," the journal declared. Rahami ordered citric acid, ball bearings and electronic igniters on eBay and had them delivered to a Perth Amboy, New Jersey, business where he worked until Sept. 12, the court complaints said. San Jose, California-based eBay Inc. noted that the products are legal and widely available and said the company had worked with law enforcement on the investigation. The journal included laudatory references to Osama bin Laden, Anwar al-Awlaki the American-born Muslim cleric who was killed in a 2011 drone strike and whose preaching has inspired other acts of violence and Nidal Hasan, the former Army officer who went on a deadly shooting rampage in 2009 at Fort Hood, Texas, the complaints said. The FBI has said Rahami apparently was not on its radar at the time of the bombing. But he was in 2014, when the FBI opened up an "assessment" its least intrusive form of inquiry based on comments from his father after a domestic dispute, the bureau said in a statement. "The FBI conducted internal database reviews, interagency checks and multiple interviews, none of which revealed ties to terrorism," the bureau said. A law enforcement official said the FBI spoke with Rahami's father in 2014 after agents learned of his concerns that the son could be a terrorist. During the inquiry, the father backed away from talk of terrorism and told investigators that he simply meant his son was hanging out with the wrong crowd, according to the official, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Rahami's father, Mohammad, told reporters Tuesday he called the FBI at the time because Rahami "was doing real bad," having stabbed his brother and hit his mother. Rahami was not prosecuted in the stabbing; a grand jury declined to indict him. "But they checked, almost two months, and they say, 'He's OK, he's clear, he's not terrorist.' Now they say he's a terrorist," the father said outside the family's fried-chicken restaurant in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Asked whether he thought his son was a terrorist, he said: "No. And the FBI, they know that." The FBI has faced questions before about whether it could have done more ahead of time to determine whether attackers had terrorist aspirations. The issue arose after the Orlando massacre in June, for instance, when FBI Director James Comey said agents a few years earlier had looked into the gunman, Omar Mateen, but did not find enough information to pursue charges or keep him under investigation. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said President Obama was confident the bureau would review Rahami's interactions with law enforcement "to determine if there's something different that could have been done or should have been done to prevent the violence." Meanwhile, investigators are looking into Rahami's overseas travel, including a visit to Pakistan a few years ago, and want to know whether he received any money or training from extremist organizations. Rahami's wife is thought to be a Pakistani national. On a trip to Pakistan in 2014, Rahami emailed his local congressman seeking help because his pregnant wife had an expired passport. (On Tuesday a New Jersey court gave his ex-girlfriend Maria Mena sole custody of their child.) David Duerden, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, was unable to confirm or deny reports that Rahami's wife had been questioned in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to a large expatriate Pakistani population and has airports that offer daily flights to Pakistan. "We're aware of the reports but don't have any comment at this time," he told the AP. Emirati officials in Dubai and the federal capital Abu Dhabi said they had no information on her. Rahami, who came to the U.S. as a child, studied criminal justice for a time at a community college, and he worked as an unarmed night guard for two months in 2011 at an AP administrative technology office in Cranbury, New Jersey. At the time, he was employed by Summit Security, a private contractor. AP global security chief Danny Spriggs said he learned this week that Rahami worked there and often engaged colleagues in long political discussions, expressing sympathy for the Taliban and disdain for U.S. military action in Afghanistan. Rahami left that job in 2011 because he wanted to take a trip to Afghanistan, Spriggs said. AP spokesman Paul Colford said the news cooperative told law enforcement officials about Rahami's work at the Cranbury facility. Summit's vice president of security services, Daniel Sepulveda, said Rahami last worked for the company in 2011. Sepulveda said he was unaware of any complaints about Rahami's conduct. The 27-year-old paraplegic son of actress Mia Farrow fatally shot himself in the torso before being found in his vehicle along a Connecticut road, the state medical examiner's office ruled Thursday. Thaddeus Wilk Farrow was found seriously wounded in his vehicle in Roxbury on Wednesday, about 8 miles from his mother's home in neighboring Bridgewater. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital. State troopers responded to Route 67 around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday and found Thaddeus Farrow inside his car suffering from life-threatening injuries, according to a police report. He was transported to Danbury Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m., the report said. The medical examiner's office determined the cause of death was suicide during an autopsy. State police had said there was no criminal element to the death. Mia Farrow adopted Thaddeus from Calcutta, India in 1994, according to E! News. He was one of 10 children the actress has adopted. Mia Farrow wrote in a Twitter posting on Thursday that her family is devastated by Thaddeus' death. "He was a wonderful, courageous person who overcame so much hardship in his short life," she wrote. "We miss him. Thank you for the outpouring of condolences and works of kindness." Representatives for the actress did not immediately return messages on Thursday. State police said Thaddeus Farrow lived in Torrington, about 24-mile from where he was found. Public records show he lived at his mother's house until a few years ago. A 2013 Vanity Fair profile of Mia Farrow described Thaddeus, a paraplegic and polio survivor, as a car mechanic who was studying to be a police officer. A Massachusetts police chief whose department has been embroiled in a scandal involving the theft of guns, cash and drugs from its evidence room has announced his retirement. Braintree Chief Russell Jenkins in a letter to the mayor said he will retire effective Oct. 7 after 33 years with the department, the last four as chief. Mayor Joseph Sullivan on Thursday accepted the resignation. Jenkins in his letter said it had been an "honor and a privilege" to serve as chief but made no mention of the evidence room scandal. An audit found that more than $400,000 in cash, 60 to 70 guns, and thousands of drug samples had gone missing from the evidence room, potentially putting hundreds of criminal cases in jeopardy. Several drug cases have already been dismissed. The driver in a crash in Casco, Maine, that killed a 4-year-old boy last year has pled guilty to related charges. According to necn affiliate WCSH, Michael Minson, of Gray, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with all but 4 and a half suspended. Gray crashed into another vehicle in August 2015, killing the boy and seriously injuring his mother, who suffered brain damage from the crash. Minson was speeding because he was late for work. The victims family says the apology Minson read in court wasnt sincere and they will not forgive him. The man accused of crashing a vehicle into the Sweet Tomatoes in Newton, Massachusetts, was back in court for a hearing Thursday. Bradford Casler's defense attorney is asking a judge to impound the Commonwealth's six-page statement of the case. He says it is a one-sided document without cross-examination and if filed, will likely taint the public's view of the case. Prosecutors say the statement only contains the facts from the investigation and there's no reason to confine something people already know. Gregory Morin of Newton and Eleanor Miele were killed in the March crash. Miele's family attorney, Michael Harris, spoke at the hearing. He's asking for access to the statement. "For the victim to always be precluded from any of that, it limits their rights in many ways," said Harris. "We're just asking for some basics so we can do our own investigation." Casler, 55, pleaded not guilty to two counts of motor vehicle homicide and operating a motor vehicle to endanger. He was released on personal recognizance on Monday. The judge is now deciding whether or not to impound the state's statement. A scheduled hearing for a pretrial conference is set for Oct. 13. A Cranston, Rhode Island, man arrested twice in two days for allegedly assaulting and harassing the same woman in a wheelchair has been ordered held without bail. Emile Perrault, 55, appeared in court Thursday. Police say Perrault swore at the woman Wednesday at a bus stop on Cranston Street. They say the same woman was assaulted by Perrault the day before. Sgt. Brian D'amico said, "He struck her and her sunglasses flew off her face." Witness Shirley Barone said, "Then he started pushing her wheelchair all over the place, trying to knock her out of it." Police are not sure why the assaults happened. Witnesses say Perrault has bothered the victim for a long time. Authorities are investigating after a person was struck and killed by an Amtrak train at the train station in Mansfield, Massachusetts, on Thursday afternoon. Amtrak says it happened just after 12:30 p.m. and involved a train that originated in Washington heading to Boston. Transit police say the person hit and killed was a male; however, his age and identity have not been released. No one was injured on board the train. MBTA's commuter rail said Providence Line trains will experience significant delays due to the incident. Authorities in Massachusetts are looking for a man wanted in connection to Ponzi-like schemes across the country. Quincy Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Scott Wolas on charges of larceny, embezzlement and identity theft. The department notes that Wolas has active warrants for similar charges out of New York and Alabama. In Quincy, authorities say Wolas deceived around 16 people out of a combined $1.65 million. Wolas also allegedly goes by the names Eugene Grathwohl, Frank Amolsch, Drew Prescott, Allen Lee Hengst and Robert Francis McDowell. The Boston Globe reports that under the Grathwohl alias and working at a Quincy Century 21 office, Wohl raised money from investors to buy and reform what was once the Beachcomber bar, then vanished. Victims tell the Glboe he would get close with them, joining them for drinks and holiday dinners. The Globe also reports the suspect allegedly defrauded clients for more than $6 million in Florida as a stockbroker going by the Hengst moniker. Before that, according to the report, Wolas worked as a lawyer for Hunton & Williams in New York, where he was investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission in a $20 million fraud case. He was indicted and has been a fugitive there ever since. Police say Wolas was seen on Sept. 15 at the UMass/JFK MBTA station. Anyone with information is asked to call Quincy Police. Key issues on this session's agenda include the press bill and civil service draft law Egypt's parliament will reconvene 4 October, starting its second legislative session aftera parliamentary recess, a presidential decree announced Thursday. This session will discuss key bills on top of the agenda, including the long-awaited press bill and long-desputed civil service law that was approved in principle and was refered to the State Council to assess its constitutionality as a final step before passing the law. Parliament's first legislative session (2015-2016) concluded in the first week of September after ratifying the long-delayed value added tax (VAT) and church building law. Article 115 of the 2014 Constitution stipulates that the duration of each of parliament's five legislative sessions must be at least nine months (or from October to July). Egypts newly elected parliament convened for the first time in four years in January 2016. The country had been without a parliament since the previous House of Representatives, elected in late 2011, was dissolved in June 2012 after a court ruled key electoral laws to be unconstitutional. The president weilded legislative powers until the election of the present parliament in late 2015. Search Keywords: Short link: Police in Wilmington, Massachusetts, said a woman was struck and killed by a vehicle on Wednesday afternoon while she was using the crosswalk. According to police, the crash happened near the intersection of Main and Richmond streets, near Rite Aid, at about 3 p.m. Authorities said the elderly driver went through a crosswalk, striking the woman then she careened into the Rite Aid parking lot, hitting two parked vehicles. The 52-year-old woman who was struck was transported to Lahey Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The driver of the vehicle was also taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. Police are investigating the exact cause of the crash. Americas 35th president, John F. Kennedy, once said, Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. This quote holds true for U.S. military members, who are required to make every effort to escape and aid others to escape when they become prisoners of war. More than 150,000 Americans who are missing in action or have been held as prisoners of war were payed tribute during a POW/MIA closing ceremony here, Jan. 16. Today, more than 83,400 service members are still unaccounted for. This was an opportunity for our community to honor those who survived and remember some still remain, said Master Sgt. Vanessa Reeves, POW/MIA committee chairman. We should never give up faith until every one of them is returned home. The POW/MIA committee spent four months planning and organizing the event. It was both a memorable and emotional event, Reeves said. I am extremely proud with the outcome of our POW/MIA ceremony. U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. (Ret.) Barry Bridger, a six-year POW during the Vietnam War, and Allen Orndorff, a U.S. Army World War II veteran from the 101st Airborne Division, both gave positive feedback about the ceremony, Reeves said. This POW/MIA remembrance event is a way for all of us to experience the positive power of the service and sacrifice [of the POWs], and say thank you. We shall never forget, Bridger said. Our veterans are always first in line to fight and die to protect our country. Bridger, who was also the guest speaker, discussed how Americas warriors have been able to endure the ordeal of war and return with honor. Words cannot be assembled that capture in full measure the horror of war, the pain, the scars [and] the sacrifice, Bridger said. [A POW camp] can destroy the mind and body, but cannot touch the value of a good heart and spirit. Bridger also explained why he feels the virtue of Americas military members make the U.S. armed forces one of the most respected institutions in the country. Virtue is a willing sacrifice of ones private interests for the greater good of [of the country,] Bridger said. Our warriors have always walked onto the battlefields of our nations enemies, and some of us into the prison camps of our adversaries, with these values of our ancestors. And they have always brought us home with honor. Bridgers words inspired Airmen to think about why it is important to remember their countrys POWs, according to Senior Airman Alex Nieves, 633rd Air Base Wing Honor Guard member. What I took out of Mr. Bridgers speech was that it wasnt just about remembering the POWs, its also about taking action, Nieves said. It puts the responsibility back on us. Military members and civilians also had the opportunity to meet Bridger and Orndorff after the ceremony. I cant even begin to understand what they went through, Nieves said. But the fact that they did it and can return with honor makes them heroes in my eyes because I can always look up to them. Orndorff was still a teenager when he and more than 160,000 Allied troops fought the Nazis along a 50-mile stretch of beach on the coastlines of Normandy, France, during D-day on June 6, 1944. It was the largest amphibious attack in history. Youre an inspiration to everyone here, said MSgt. Travis Shaw, Air Combat Command Surgeon General pararescue medical program manager, as he hugged Orndorff after the ceremony. Orndorff didnt have the chance to go home to his family after battling through the European theater, Shaw said. Right before he went home, they shipped him off to the Pacific theater, Shaw said. The hardships you see with that are not prevalent today. It really puts things into perspective when you come out here, meet these gentlemen, the POWs and [learn] what they endured, Shaw said. What they fought for really paved the way for what we do today. You have to be thankful for that. Tears trickled down the eyes of Orndorff, Reeves, military members and civilians as Taps was played by the base honor guard during the ceremony. Every time you hear [Taps], it sends shocks down your spine. All of those feelings run through your body, and its just overwhelming, Shaw said. There are so many things that go through your head when you hear Taps, about what people did to sacrifice before you, and what were doing today to sacrifice for America and all the freedoms we fight for. The current generation of servicemen and women owe a large debt of gratitude to heroes like Orndorff and Bridger, according to Col. Caroline M. Miller, 633rd Air Base Wing commander. As we recognize these heroes today, let us also remember their sacrifice, Miller said during her closing remarks. We remember their spirit, we share their story and we remember all of our service members who served honorably in absolutely unfathomable circumstances. Miller also noted in her speech that the sacrifice of the families whose lives were forever affected by their loved one being held a prisoner of war on a distant battlefield. Too often, were quick to forget that not all of our men and women in uniform return back home. For any family that contains a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine, this is an incredibly difficult burden to bear, Miller said. It is fitting that we, as service members, remember all who came before us. I have no doubt that the heroic efforts of our POW/MIAs will never be forgotten. (Editors Note: This is part three of a three-part series in honor of Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day) Apple announced that it has committed to running all of its data centers and corporate offices on renewable energy, joining a group of other corporations committed to the same clean energy goal. Apple said it has joined RE100, a global initiative by influential businesses committed to using 100% renewable electricity. To date, RE100 has amassed membership from 77 corporations. Other RE100 members include Hewlett Packard Enterprise, VMware, Rackspace and Wells Fargo. Apple's announcement is mostly symbolic at this point. The company is already powering its operations in the U.S., China and 21 other countries with 100% renewable energy, and, in 2015, powered 93% of its operations around the world with renewable energy. Apple has invested in renewable energy for several years. Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president for Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, said Monday that the company completed construction on its latest renewable energy project a 50-megawatt (MW) solar farm in Arizona, Apple worked with local utility Salt River Project on the solar array, which will provide renewable power to Apple's global command data center in Mesa, Arizona. The solar farm provides power equal to the energy use of more than 12,000 Arizona homes. Apple The Singapore solar project is the first distributed utility-scale installation in the country. Solar energy developer Sunseap Group will provide Apple with 100% renewable electricity from solar energy systems built atop more than 800 buildings in Singapore. Last year, Apple announced it would invest $850 million in a solar power plant through a partnership with First Solar, one of the nation's largest photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers and a provider of utility-scale PV plants. Through a 25-year purchasing agreement, Apple will get 130MW (megawatts, or million watts) from the new California Flats Solar Project. The First Solar deal rocketed Apple past Walmart as the largest corporate user of solar power. On the same day Apple joined RE100, Bank of America also announced it was committing to RE100. America's top tech companies have been going green in a big way, so much so that the availability of clean energy resources is a key consideration in where they locate corporate offices and data centers. The move is designed to save them millions of dollars in long-term energy costs. "We believe energy is the future of our business," Josh Henretig, director of environmental sustainability at Microsoft, said in an earlier interview with Computerworld. Last year, Google announced it would purchase 842 megawatts (MW) of clean energy, nearly double the clean energy it had already purchased -- taking the company to 2 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy. Creative Commons Lic. The Googleplex is Google's corporate headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. The company has committed to tripling its purchases of clean energy by 2025. Put in context, 1 megawatt (MW) can power roughly 200 homes, so Google's purchase could power about 168,000 homes. Google has pledged to triple its renewable energy purchases by 2025. Last year, Apple also joined with 12 of the largest companies in the U.S. to launch the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, a White House initiative to have corporations commit to reduce their emissions, increase low-carbon investments, deploy more clean energy, and take other actions to build more sustainable businesses and tackle climate change. Despite only being a few months old, the RE100 collaborative already boasts corporate signups from companies in India, China, Europe and the U.S. "Research shows that in the U.S. alone, doubling energy productivity by 2030 could save $327 billion annually in energy costs and add 1.3 million jobs to the economy, while carbon dioxide emissions would be cut by approximately 33%," RE100 stated on its website. "We're happy to stand beside other companies that are working toward the same effort," Jackson said during remarks at Climate Week in New York City on Monday. "We're excited to share the industry-leading work we've been doing to drive renewable energy into the manufacturing supply chain and look forward to partnering with RE100 to advocate for clean-energy policies around the world." Apple is also a member of The Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a trade association representing the renewable energy industry. "We're thrilled that Advanced Energy Economy member Apple has committed to run on 100% renewable energy and also sees the need to improve policy," AEE CEO Graham Richard said in a statement Tuesday. "They are upping the ante as they manage their energy needs, a trend we are seeing among our corporate energy buyer members." Last month, Apple glass supplier Lens Technology in Beijing announced it would run its Apple operations entirely on renewable energy. The clean energy commitment by Lens was combined with a zero waste compliance agreement for all of its final assembly sites. Solvay Specialty Polymers, which supplies Apple with antenna bands for the iPhone, also pledged to use 100% renewable energy for all of its Apple production. The commitment will cover 14 manufacturing facilities across eight countries by the end of 2018. Catcher Technology, one of Apples largest aluminum enclosure suppliers, also is targeting 100% renewable power for its production of Apple goods by the end of 2018. Altogether, Apple suppliers' commitments to date will represent more than 1.5 billion kilowatt hours per year of clean energy used in the manufacturing of Apple products by the end of 2018, equal to the amount of electricity consumed by more than 1 million Chinese homes. This story, "Apple commits to run off 100% renewable energy" was originally published by Computerworld . The committee said in a statement today that it did its job without any security restrictions Leading MPs affiliated with Egypt parliament's human rights committee said in a statement on Thursday that the committee has never faced security restrictions or police harassment regarding its work during parliament's first session, which adjourned for summer recess on 7 September. According to the statement sent to the media on Thursday, "allegations that security restrictions were imposed on the committee in parliament's first session are entirely unfounded." "Most of the senior officials in the ministries of interior, health, education, foreign affairs, justice, immigration, justice, and social solidarity, and the National Council of Human Rights, were keen to attend the committee's meetings and answer questions," read the statement. The committee's chairman, Anwar El-Sadat, resigned on 30 August, accusing parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal of not doing enough to help the committee do its job. El-Sadat also said in a statement that Interior Minister Magdi Abdel-Ghaffar refused to come to the committee to answer questions on the phenomenon of alleged forced disappearances at the hands of the police and torture in prison cells and police stations. Abdel-Aal accused El-Sadat of exploiting his position to serve a radical Western liberal agenda on human rights. Abdel-Aal also accused Sadat of filing a complaint against parliament with "an international institution to tarnish the image of Egypt, and I will not let this pass easily." He threatened that a closed door meeting will be held to investigate El-Sadat. El-Sadat resigned shortly after Abdel-Aal's threats on 30 August. The statement added that senior officials of the ministry of interior in particular were keen to come to the committee whenever invited to respond to questions and complaints raised by ordinary citizens about security policies. "We strongly deny all claims that the committee came under pressure from government institutions so as not do its job freely," the statement said. The statement was signed by the committee's three leading officials: first deputy chairman Atef Makhaleef, second deputy Margaret Azer,and Secretary general Mahmoud Mohieddin. Egypt parliament's next session will open on 4 October. Search Keywords: Short link: The boat capsized on Wednesday, killing at least 51 people Hundreds of migrants are still missing and dozens others confirmed dead after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Egypt on Wednesday. The death toll officially increased on Thursday to 51 as nine more dead bodies were pulled from the sea, and Egyptian prosecutors ordered the arrest of four crew members of the boat for four days pending investigation. The boat crew is accused of human trafficking, wrongful death, wrongful injury and using a fishing boat for another purpose. The boat was carrying migrants, departing from Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Rosetta and heading to Italy. The total number of migrants cannot be fully confirmed but according to eyewitnesses' estimates the boat carried around 450 migrants, although given its size it should carry 150 people maximum. The prosecution also ordered the release of the 164 passengers who survived and were arrested on Wednesday. According to the survivors' testimonies, they stayed in the sea for nearly 7 hours before being rescued. The health ministry said Wednesday evening that 42 people died in the incident. The 42 bodies were pulled out of the sea by locals. Late Wednesday, Egyptian armed forces announced that the borders guards foiled an attempt of "illegal immigration" where 163 people were saved and 42 bodies were retrieved as their boat capsized near North East Rosetta port. On Thursday, the Egyptian naval forces got involved in the search. So far, there are 164 people rescued; including the four crew members of the boat, 117 Egyptian migrants and 43 foreign migrants. There are many children and women among the victims. The foreign migrants include 26 Sudanese, 14 Eritreans, 2 Somalis and 1 Syrian. Survivors speak At the Rosetta general hospital, 28-year-old Metwally Ahmed was sitting on a bed silent and at first declined to speak to Al-Ahram Arabic but then opened up and spoke. "I work as a smith, I used to make EGP 100 per day but our work is not an everyday job," he told Ahram. He added that he agreed with his friend Badr Abdel Hafiz to travel Italy and take their families with them as they saw their friends becoming rich after working in Italy. "I agreed with a broker to pay him EGP 55,000 to travel to Italy along with my wife and my two-year-old son Adham," he said while crying. Ahmed described how he saw the boat was overcrowded as well how he told the other passengers in the boat to jump to the sea so it would reduce the load and the boat could return back to the shore. "I jumped but suddenly the boat capsized and I know nothing about my wife or my son," he said. Metawlly Ahmed was saved by a fisherman on a small boat who transferred him to a bigger boat. Ahmed's friend and colleague, 29-year-old Badr Abdel Hafez could not speak at all to Al-Ahram Arabic as he was given sedatives. Abdel Hafez lost his wife and his three daughters in the tragic accident. Ahmed Gamal Abdel Dayem is another survivor of the boat. The high school student from Qalioubiya told Ahram that he was in the water for nearly seven hours before he was saved by a small fishing boat. "My deal with the broker was to travel to Italy for EGP 35,000; my family would pay them as soon as I arrived," he said. Abdel Dayem decided to travel to Italy after seeing a number of his colleagues travelling and working there. "Their lives are better now and they send money to their families," he said adding that his friends encouraged him to travel. "I will never do this again even I have to starve with my family," he told Ahram adding that he could not forget how he spent seven hours in the sea surrounded by the bodies of men, children and women. The trip was over before it had started According to survivors as well as eye-witnesses, smugglers usually use fishing boats as those boats have legal permits from Egypt's intelligence service. Usually, the boats take off for the sea then feluccas, small boats carrying 20 people at one transfer the migrants to the bigger fishing boats from different spots to avoid being caught by the authorities. In this incident, the migrants were transferred by feluccas from 3 places; Edfu and Rasheed in Beheira governorate and Borg Maghzy in Kafr El-Sheikh. According to survivors' testimonies, the boat remained in the middle of the water, 12 mile west of Rasheed, in the middle of the water boarding people. The survivors said that after all the migrants boarded the boat it started sinking as its capacity could take only about 150 people while the migrants were more than 400 people. To migrate, Egyptians pay EGP 35,000 and foreigners pay $3,000. In recent years, thousands of refugees and migrants have attempted to cross the Mediterranean in search of better jobs and opportunities. The city of Rashid, in particular the small town of Borg Rashid, is considered a hot spot for smugglers and migrants seeking Europe, mainly Italy. Hundreds have been arrested in Egypt by naval forces for attempting to migrate illegally. In his speech in front of the UN plenary meeting in New York addressing immigration and refugee crisis, Egypt's Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stated that the country was working on finalising legislation to combat illegal migration. Search Keywords: Short link: The minors are accused of illegal protests in April against the Egyptian-Saudi deal A Giza juvenile court sentenced five minors to 5 years in prison and fines of EGP 100,000 each on Thursday for their participation in protests against an Egyptian-Saudi Red Sea maritime border demarcation agreement in April that determined two Red Sea islands controlled by Egypt belonged to Saudi Arabia. The prosecution accused the defendants of illegal protesting, joining a terrorist organisation and disturbing the public peace. The minors were arrested during the protests against the Egyptian-Saudi deal involving the islands of Tiran and Sanafir in Messah Square, Giza. The ruling may still be appealed. Search Keywords: Short link: It has been argued that the Arab Springs primary casualty was the Palestinian cause, formerly and since 1948 the central issue for all Arab states. Forgotten amid the cascading effect of uprisings across the region, Palestine was nowhere to be found in the adrenalised conversation on youth, democratic transition and the promise of rewriting history. The wars that transpired exasperated that neglect. Fresh death tolls, migration waves, internal displacement and aerial bombardment of towns in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya, or simply political turmoil in Egypt, had eclipsed disappointment in the failed peace process, illegal Israeli settlement expansion and any transgression of Palestinian rights. If anything Israel almost the only enemy post-independence Arab states have known and been occupied by has emerged as an ally of self-proclaimed moderate Arab governments against both Iran and terrorism. But it is remarkable how an account the lifetime efforts of one man to document historic Palestine and its peoples right of return could be so relevant to todays refugee crisis, the stories of displacement and erasure of cities and homes of other Arab nations. *** In his memoir, Salman Abu Sitta, 78, makes no mention of the post-Arab Spring chaos or its unfolding human tragedies, but by telling his story of displacement an echo of seven million Palestinian refugee stories he positions the Israeli occupation of Palestine in the context of systematic colonisation and ethnic cleansing which, starting in 1947, has continued to the present day. The publisher describes Abu Sittas book as the only memoir in English by a Palestinian Arab who grew up in the Beersheba district in southern Palestine prior to 1948. Mapping My Return paints picturesque scenes from a rural Palestinian south uncharted in literature; celebrated Palestinian memoirs in English like Edward Saids Out Of Place or Ghada Karmis In Search Of Fatima and Return focus on Jerusalem, whence the authors hail. Abu Sitta, who became a refugee at the age of ten, writes vividly about life in his familys early 18th-century farm estate, his ancestral home known as Main Abu Sitta (or the Abu Sitta Spring): the rolling meadows and gently sloping hills; the sea of wheat stretching over 600 hectares (over 60,000 dunums); seasonal changes in the rich orchard, bird species in the spring and the location of the barns where the crops were stored. Attachment to the land, identity and pre-Nakba memory is a staple of Palestinian autobiographies. Abu Sittas memoir is no exception, but it also betrays the purpose of this book also his lifes mission to learn and understand everything about Palestinian dispossession and destruction and how to reconstruct Palestine. If that could be done, would it then be possible to return to our homes? he writes. Could we shake off this terrible nightmare and be normal again, living in our country like the rest of the world? Abu Sitta is a construction engineer who was pioneering in his field as well as a historian, cartographer, former member of the National Palestinian Congress (the Palestinian parliament in exile), founder and president of the Palestinian Land Society and author the first of its kind Atlas of Palestine 1984 (which weaves the past (a detailed 1948 map of Palestine), the present (todays existing roads) and the future (Abu Sittas vision of how 5 million Palestinians could return home). His life seems to have revolved around that quest. When I met him 18 years ago for an interview on the Palestinian right of return, a subject on which he was the only authority, it was clear that the information, accumulated knowledge and documents in Abu Sittas possession was sui generis. His dedication was generous and unconditional. Not only was he single-handedly conducting cross-border institutional-level work digging in archives, libraries and interviewing eyewitnesses and survivors of the Nakba, he was also funding it out of his own pocket. When Abu Sitta found out that this newspaper was publishing a special section marking 50 years since the Nakba, he donated a state-of-the-art map (the size of a double broadsheet) of all the Palestinian towns and villages depopulated in 1948, with succinct statistics on the history of the Palestinian diaspora and where they can return, which Al-Ahram Weekly published as an insert in its first issue of January 1988. Abu Sittas family lost their home and vast swathes of fertile land on the eve of the establishment of Israel on 14 and 15 May 1948. Zionist gangs in 24 armoured vehicles attacked the estate; they were spotted by the mother of his cousin Abduallah, a resistance fighter. Her haunting cries, Oh, my sons, the Jews are coming to take you. The Jews are coming, are almost audible. The men stayed on to fight and the women and children, including 10-year-old Abu Sitta, fled to a nearby shelter in the wadi while the fighting went on all through the night. With first light Abu Sitta could the smoke coming out of the school his father had build in 1920. Abu Sittas father, paramount sheikh of the Tarabin, the largest, wealthiest and strongest tribe in southern Palestine since the 16th century, which extended to the banks of the Nile, as well as chief judge at the tribal court in Beersheeba, was a pioneer educationalist. Smoke was also rising from his house and other houses, announcing the destruction of our landscape. The Abu Sittas, whose lineage can be traced to Al-Tarabin became refugees in nearby Khan Yunis, Gaza. Abu Sitta was soon sent to his two brothers who were studying in Cairo to continue his education. As he prepared to leave with no papers, Abu Sitta writes, he was engulfed by an anxiety that was never to leave him. I wanted to know who this faceless enemy was. What did they look like, why did they hate us... Why had they had literally burned our lives to the ground? Who were the Jews anyway? I thought to myself that I must find out who they were: their names, their faces, where they came from. I must know their army formations, their officers, what exactly they had done that day and where they lived later. It took him almost 50 years to have his answers. After earning a degree in engineering from Cairo University (not without economic hardship), Abu Sitta moved to England where he completed his PhD in civil engineering at University College London (and had a part time job with BBC Arabic, writing science pieces.) And it was in 1960s England, poring over maps and books in the Royal Geographical Society library, that Abu Sitta began a colossal investigation that eventually led him to the identity of the faceless enemy that had haunted him since the day he left his destroyed home in Main Abu Sitta. The names of the players in his tragedy finally emerged. Abu Sitta tells us that the Negev Brigade which attacked them was led by Nahum Sarig, whose photograph he obtained. The second player he located by name and photo was Benni Meitiv (Motilov), an officer of Russian decent born in 1926 Palestine. Abu Sitta found and studied Meitivs small book about the attack on Al-Main, on which he had been spying for a year and a half. The depth and skill of Abu Sittas decades-long, meticulous search didnt stop there, however. He wanted to find out what happened after the Zionist gangs took ever Al-Main. And he did. But in the end the journey is about Palestine. The quest to know and to document has produced this memoir, the magnum opus Atlas of Palestine 1948, hundreds of articles, speeches, maps, documents, aerial images of historic, occupied and present-day Palestine (including Main Abu Sitta before and after 1948), eye witness accounts, testimonies on Zionist atrocities against Palestinian villages and towns and the original landscape of 500 destroyed villages. Mapping My Return explains how and why this happened. Had he not written it himself, it would have been impossible to comprehend how Abu Sitta was capable of such an astonishing effort to record and document Israels continuous erasure of Palestine and his determination to resist it. This memoir is crucial to understanding why and how the Palestinian question has not been put to rest after 68 years. Its Abu Sittas answer to Israels efforts to inflict on the Palestinians what he calls an artificial amnesia to render them a people without memory: this documentation could serve as a road map to the return to Palestine in any future negotiation When he obtained the 1948 aerial photos of Main Abu Sitta, taken by the British before their hurried departure from Palestine, Abu Sitta relived his childhood. From high up the places looked like small dots but he could see the cultivated fields of wheat and barely and all the seven roads. Cultivated fields belie the Zionist myth, We made the desert bloom, he writes. The normal survey maps made up of dots and lines, showed the correct details with scientific detachment. Photos showed life as it was lived. They do not lie. In 1995, Abu Sitta was able to finally visit occupied Palestine with his daughter for the first time since his forced exile 47 years earlier. When his taxi driver approached Al-Main, then a changed landscape dotted with Israeli settlements, he told him exactly where to drive and where to go. The driver asked him if hed been there before. I never left, Abu Sitta replied. I am here every day. *This story was first published in September 2016 Search Keywords: Short link: Yemeni rebels and their allies charged Thursday that an American detained in the capital this week had provided 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. 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. 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. "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 attack targeted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a local police station in Inkhil, in Syria's southern province of Daraa. The victims included "opposition figures, rebels, and local officials", Jundi 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. The conflict has since evolved into a brutal multi-front war that has killed more than 300,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes. Search Keywords: Short link: Ten jihadists and three pro-government fighters died in clashes Thursday around the last positions of the Islamic State (IS) militant group in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte, medical and military sources said. "Our forces are advancing on the last holdouts of Daesh" in the only district of Sirte still held by IS, said the media office of the pro-government fighters, using an Arabic acronym for the jihadist group. Three car bombs driven by jihadists were destroyed before reaching their targets, it said. Sirte was an IS stronghold before forces loyal to the country's Government of National Accord launched an offensive against the jihadists in May. Medics at a field hospital set up on the outskirts of Sirte said three pro-GNA fighters were killed, while loyalist military sources said at least 10 IS militants also died in the latest fighting of the four-month-old battle. Suicide bombings and sniper fire from the cornered jihadists have slowed the offensive to retake Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the Libyan capital Tripoli. More than 450 members of the loyalist forces have been killed and around 2,500 wounded since the operation began. Losses in IS ranks remain unknown. Search Keywords: Short link: 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 Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel's deadly use of force against a wave of Palestinian protests in the West Bank and Gaza 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 Mahmoud 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 afterwards, 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." "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. Washington said on August 31 that it was "deeply concerned" following an announcement that Israel had approved the construction of 463 homes for Israeli 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. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: 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, DR Congo police 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 Kabila 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." On Wednesday, police spokesman Pierre-Rombaut Mwana-Mputu defended the security deployment in Kinshasa during the unrest. "The national police was backed by members of the (army) to stop the acts of looting and vandalism," he told reporters. More than a 100 soldiers were posted on Thursday at the Limete junction where Monday's protest march began. Also Thursday, Kinshasa lashed out at French President Francois Hollande over his criticism of the DRC government's handling of the protests. Spokesman Lambert 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. Kabila's political foes have formed a "Gathering" around the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party founded by veteran Etienne Tshisekedi, 83, who 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 Thursday afternoon 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", after Kinshasa's governor Andre Kimbuta said that city authorities would take charge of funerals. Numbi was unavailable for comment on the allegation. 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. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's telecom regulator, the National Telecom Regulatory Authority, said it may offer the fourth-generation (4G) service licences by international tender after the three local mobile operators - Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, and Etisalat - declined to apply for it, MENA agency reported. The deadline to acquire 4G service licences for the three companies currently offering mobile services, which was 12pm on Thursday, passed and none of the three local operators applied, MENA said citing a statement released by the NTRA. Egypt's largest mobile operator, Vodafone, officially declined the 4G service licences in their current form set by NTRA in a statement on their website on Thursday. "Vodafone Egypts 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 and do not take into account the developmental dimension of the telecom sector in Egypt," the statement reads. But Vodafone Egypt highlighted that it would be ready to buy a 4G licence "if the terms and conditions can be revised to encourage future investment in the development of Egypts mobile industry." Orange, the second biggest mobile operator in the country, has also decided to not apply for the 4G licence under the current terms and conditions, echoing that the company will be willing to participate in the light of new requirements, the company stated on the Egyptian bourse website on Thursday. We believe that to be able to launch 4G with the acceptable quality of service we need at least less 2x20 MHZ [bandwidth] per operator, Orange Egypt CEO Yves Gauthier told Ahram Online in emailed comments in July. The first propositions from the [Egyptian] regulator are very far from this and it is a major concern for us. The bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. If we do not have enough frequencies, the speed of 4G will be like the 3G and our customers will be very disappointed, he said. Gauthier has also elaborated that the price of the licences and the coverage obligations may affect in return the investments of the mobile operators. Etisalat Egypt was not available to comment The state-owned telephone company Telecom Egypt (TE), which holds the landline monopoly, already signed a deal in August to be the first operator to buy a 15-year 4G mobile licence. Egypt is selling 4G licences as part of a long-awaited scheme to reform the countrys telecoms sector. TE said that the 15-year licence would cost the company EGP 7.08 billion, of which EGP 5.2 billion was paid in advance, half in US dollars. In July, Communications and Information Technology Minister Yasser El-Qadi said if any of the three operators do not apply for the new licence, it will be offered to non-Egyptian companies through bidding. So far Kuwait's leading mobile operator Zain, Saudi Telecom and Lebara KSA have expressed interest in obtaining the new licence. *The official exchange rate for $1 = EGP 8.78 Search Keywords: Short link: What if one blood test could screen for more than 50 types of cancer? Champaign, IL (61820) Today Rain likely. High 63F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. The 38th Cairo International Film Festival is set to take place between 15 and 24 November German filmmaker Christian Petzold has been chosen to be Jury President of the 38th Cairo International Film Festival this year, the organizers announced. "Born in 1960, Petzold studied film at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin, while working as an assistant director at the same time. He then directed three feature fiction films for the TV between 1995 and 1998, before directing his first fiction film for the cinema, The State I Am In, which won the Best Film Award from the German Critics Association in 2001," read a statement by the film festival. "In the following years, he directed six feature fiction films, among them Barbara, which won 10 awards including the Best Director Award at Berlin Film Festival in 2012 [Silver Bear Award for his movie 'Barbara']), and the Best Film Award from the German Critics Association. The film narrates the story of a doctor in East Germany in the 1980s banished to a small country hospital because of her political opinions. "His film Phoenix won the FIPRESCI Prize at San Sebastian International Film Festival in 2014 and the Best Actress Award at Mons International Festival in 2015." In its 38th edition, the Cairo International Film Festival will expand its venues and incorporate several screening halls in Downtown Cairo, alongside the Cairo Opera House that hosted the festival over past three editions. Youssef Cherif Rizkallah is this edition's artistic director, and Mahmoud Hemeda honorary president. Egyptian director Kamla Abouzekris Yom Lel Sitat (A Day for Women) will open the festival on 15 November. The festival also announced that Shakespeare will be its "special guest," with screenings of local and international films either inspired by the playwright's dramaturgy or that are cinematic adaptations of his plays. This year's Cairo International Film Festival will introduce an app for phones and tablets for the first time. According to Al-Ahram Arabic, the application will launch prior to the festival's opening and will reach out to audiences and involve them more. It will include the festival's schedule, information about films, screening times, and the booking system. For the first time in its history the CIFF' will introduce and utilise an application for phones and tablets for wider audience accessibility, and to lessen the use of paper. The 37th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival ran between 11 and 20 November 2015 and featured a total of 120 films. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Reporter Noelle McGee is a Danville-based reporter at The News-Gazette. Her email is nmcgee@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@n_mcgee). insights from industry Neil Retallic Learning and Development Manager-Registered Optical, Vision Express An interview with Neil Retallic conducted by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Cantab) What is color-blindness and how many people is it thought to affect? Color blindness could be considered a bit of a misleading term, because there are very few people who can't see color at all. Most people have what we call color deficiency or color confusion, which means that they're not blind to color; they just see a reduced number of colors. The first person to publish a scientific article on color blindness was an English chemist called John Dalton. That was in 1798 and the article was called Extraordinary Facts Relating to the Vision of Colors. Basically, when we talk about color deficiency or color blindness, were talking about people who cannot tell the difference between certain colors, or, in extreme cases, can't see the color at all, which would be true color blindness. Most research suggests that between 5 to 8% of males have color issues, but less than 1% of females do. Is that the same across all countries? Generally yes, as it's genetically linked. The most common statistic is probably about 8% of males or 1 in 12, and about 1 in 200 women. In Britain, this means that there are approximately 2.7 million color blind people, so around 4.5% of the entire population naturally, most of those would be male. Are there different types of color-blindness? What are the underlying mechanisms at play? To see color, light needs to enter the eye. On the retina at the back of the eye, there are specialized nerve cells called photoreceptors that take those signals. There are two types of photoreceptors: there are the rods, which tend to deal with low or dark light and are more about black and white; and there are the cones, which are the main cells that deal with the color aspect. There are three different types of cones, which respond to different spectrums of light. We tend to talk about light in wavelength, namely, short, medium, and long wavelength. If someone's got an issue with color, it could be that one of those cones is completely absent, in which case they would have a more severe issue, or it may be that they've got the right cones, but they're just slightly deficient. Total color blindness is very rare. People with that can only see black, white, and grey, which we call monochromacy. Basically, they can only perceive colors in brightness, but not the actual color. It could be that there's a rod monochromacy, where the retina has no cones at all. There are actually some small groups of the population in certain islands where that's more commonplace. Then there's cone monochromacy, where the retina has both rods and cones, but only one type of cone. People who suffer from this are able to see patterns well in normal daylight, but are not able to see the actual colors. Then there are people who have the cones, but they're just not functioning very well. They can have red-green or blue-yellow color issues. These three types of that are dependent on whether it's a short, medium or long wavelength receptor. So, there is total color blindness, where you've got quite a severe problem or there are just the mild problems, where you've got the cells to do the job, but they're not working 100% as they would when a person has normal color vision. Why are men more likely than women to be color-blind? It is a sex-linked trait. The defective gene is passed on through the X chromosome. As men have an XY chromosome and women have two X chromosomes, it's men who are more likely to have it, because it's an X-linked recessive rather than dominant gene. When is color-blindness screened for? Is it still tested for in schools in the UK? At six weeks old, all babies tend to have a visit from a health visitor or GP. They won't necessarily screen for color vision at that point, but they will generally check that there doesn't seem to be any major issues with their vision. If there was an issue, the baby would probably get referred straight to a hospital eye service to see an eye specialist. The majority of schools no longer provide mandatory eye tests. If the school does, it's usually a nurse or an orthoptist seeing how well the child reads down a chart while asking them if they have any issues. They don't necessarily specifically screen for color. Most of the time, color screening would be done when a child has its first eye examination with an optician or eye doctor, unless a child's mother or their teachers have noticed something they're a bit concerned about, in which case they may present them earlier than that. Any child can have a free, routine eye examination with an optician/eye doctor under the NHS. What options are available for color-blindness testing? If a child presents to an optician/eye doctor, the optician will undertake further screenings typically running the Ishihara test. This shows certain numbers within a pattern matrix and the child goes through the book and says what numbers they see. The test is designed so that someone with normal color vision might give one number, someone who's got slightly different color vision perception will give another number, and there might be some cases where they don't see a number, whereas someone with normal color vision would see a number. Then there may be someone who's got a color vision problem and would see a number, whereas someone with normal color vision wouldn't. There are many screening tests. If the optician/eye doctor wants to get an idea of the severity, they may perform other color vision tests, which are arrangement tests. The optician/eye doctor might give them what's called a D-15 or the 100 Hues test, where the child is asked to arrange the colors in order. That gives a better idea of the type and the severity of the problem, since there are various different color vision deficiencies. What kind of occupations can be affected by color-deficiencies? Anything like aviation or the forces. As you can imagine, certain roles within those jobs require specific color vision. There are other careers where color vision is very important, such as in the textiles industry. Why is it important to diagnose color-blindness at a young age? It's inherited and doesn't really change throughout life, so the sooner someone gets used to it and adapts to it, which they tend to normally do, the easier it is. It can obviously affect children during their schooling and with everyday tasks - If it's quite severe, there may be confusion with activities we take for granted, such as matching a pair of socks. It could potentially affect them in certain school subjects art is an obvious one, but also chemistry or geography when they look at maps. If an optician/eye doctor discovers someone had a color vision issue during testing, they would write a little letter or report for the school that would explain which things the child might confuse, which avoids frustration and provides an understanding as to how to better support the child in certain subjects. It's also very important, because, in terms of career choices, it can avoid disappointment later down the line if a person has a color vision issue. If they wanted to go into a specific career, there may be restrictions; it might affect the level they could get in at, so it could be important from that point of view. Research suggests that congenital color vision deficiency can affect educational achievement, so it definitely wise to screen children starting school. Are there currently any treatments for color-blindness? There are no preventative treatments as it's genetic. However colored filters, spectacles and contact lenses have been introduced that can alter someone's color perception. They might allow the wearer to see a few more colors or colors nearer to how a person with normal color vision would see them, but it doesn't really solve the issue. What research is being undertaken to further understand color-blindness and arrive at new therapies? Some research has been done into gene therapy and there is certainly proof that they can improve color perception in animal studies, specifically with monkeys and mice, but it's whether that can be generalized across to humans. One of the key studies was done at the University of California by John Hopkins Medical School. The researchers showed in a series of experiments that mice's color vision can be enhanced, but it's a case of whether that's going to be the same in humans. Are there any other ways people can have issues with color other than color-blindness or deficiencies? We actually see color because our brain interprets that light and then allocates a color to it. Some people who obviously don't have color blindness or a color issue, still struggle at times with color, if they've got a migraine, for example. That would be partial color influences, not color blindness at all. Migraine affects the vision and can affect color perception for that temporary period, but that's about a brain processing problem rather than an eye defect. If you think about it, you've got almost three steps: you've got the light going in, the nerves interpreting that, the pathway through to the brain and then the brain interpreting that image and deciding what color it is. For most people who have an issue with color, the problem is congenital and they've always had it throughout their life. There are certain medical conditions that can lead to what we call an acquired color vision defect that's only come on because of a medical condition or later on in life. Those conditions tend to affect more blue-yellow vision, whereas congenital problems tend to be affect the red-green vision more. For example, if someone's diabetic or they have multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis, they would potentially have an acquired color vision defect. It can be a response to certain medication or just ageing in general. The color perception can change, but thats then what we would call acquired color vision deficiency rather than congenital. What do you think the future holds for people with color-blindness? A lot of people are not even aware they've got a condition or adaption, if you're talking about what you generally just call color vision deficiency. If someone's told they're colorblind, then they will be aware of it and, like with any sensory issue, they just tend to adapt to it. In the future, there may be some aids that become available that enhance things. For example, you can use better lighting or make use of technology, computers and electronic devices that often have settings or apps on them that can be changed to make them easier to use. Apps may be introduced in the future that can help. There's certainly more and more awareness, support groups and just ways of adapting really. Where can readers find more information? A general place to get a lot of information is the internet, but you've got to be careful what you read and whether what you're reading has evidence-based research behind it to support any claims that are made. There's a color blindness awareness site which is designed to raise awareness in the community: http://www.colourblindawareness.org/about-us/ Also, there is quite a bit of information on professional websites, where color vision is a clear requirement for certain career paths. That is certainly the case on the medical career website: www.colormed.com There are links that explain what the requirements tend to be for those careers, including in sectors such as aviation. If somebody wanted more information just as a starting point, they could go and visit an optometrist or discuss it with another healthcare professional. For more information on Vision Express, please visit: http://www.visionexpress.com/ About Neil Retallic Neil Retallic, Learning and Development Manager-Registered Optical at Vision Express Neil is a registered Optometrist who began working for Vision Express as an Optical Associate in 2004, whilst studying Optometry at the University of Manchester. He completed his Pre-registration Optometrist training in 2006 to become a qualified Optometrist and joined Vision Express Support Centre team in 2010 as Optometry Development Manager, then became Optometry Operations Manager. He is now the Learning and Development Manager-Registered Optical and is currently responsible for the professional development training programs, registered optical career pathway and professional trainee recruitment teams at Vision Express. At the University of Manchester, he is an Optometry Teaching Fellow and Clinic Lead for the Final Year Contact Lens Clinics. He is a visiting lecturer at Aston University, The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) Education Adviser, vice chair of the British University of Contact Lens Educators (BUCCLE), and, an Examiner and Council Member for The College of Optometrists. Since qualification, he has completed a postgraduate certificate in clinical optometry, professional certificate in low vision and has been awarded fellowships from both The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) and The International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE). He currently a committee member for various organizations include The College of Optometrists, The Optical Confederation and Manchester Local Optometric Committee. The heart cannot regenerate muscle tissue after a heart attack has killed part of the muscle wall, and that dead tissue can strain surrounding muscle, leading to a lethal heart enlargement. To prevent this heart failure and restore heart function, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Duke University will work to create a bioengineered, human heart-tissue patch that is large, standardized and highly functional. This preclinical work will be supported by a seven-year, $8 million grant just awarded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The research hub is led by Jianyi "Jay" Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., of UAB, Timothy Kamp, M.D., of Wisconsin and Nenad Bursac, Ph.D., of Duke. Their teams in this cooperative effort will work with individual cells and bioengineered patches made up of many cells. They will test the bioengineered cells in mice and the bioengineered patches in pigs. The goal is to bring cardiac tissue engineering therapies into the clinic for human use by the end of the grant. Ischemic heart disease from restricted blood flow and oxygen starvation is a leading cause of death in the United States. One in every seven deaths in the United States results from coronary artery disease. "At the end of seven years, we will be ready for clinical trials," Zhang said. Zhang is the chair of UAB Biomedical Engineering, a joint department of the UAB School of Medicine and School of Engineering. Kamp is a professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and co-director of the university's Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center. Bursac is professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University. The Wisconsin team will develop novel heart tissue progenitor cells with altered immunogenicity and the ability to conduct electrical signals to create a smooth heartbeat. The Duke team will develop the heart-tissue patch technology, using cells provided by Wisconsin and UAB. The UAB team will use novel "universal human iPSC cell lines" and a heart-attack model to study effectiveness of the cell therapy, using cells and tissues from UAB, Wisconsin and Duke. Despite worldwide efforts at many labs to use stem cells to treat disease or injury, researchers still face numerous hurdles. For the UAB-Wisconsin-Duke collaboration, the experimental challenges of using cell therapy to treat hearts include these hurdles: The optimal mix of cell types in the patch for heart repair and regeneration is unknown. Previous work to implant cells in infarcted hearts has shown low survival and retention. The patch needs to be engineered so it will contract in synchrony with the heartbeat, responding properly to the electrical pulse that travels across the heart muscle. Researchers need to learn how a patch will affect heart bioenergetics and how it may possibly contribute to heartbeat arrhythmia. Researchers need to learn how the immune system will respond to heart patches derived from a patient's own cells or from a different donor. This grant is part of the second round of the Progenitor Cell Translational Consortium U01 funding by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. This is a major effort to promote cooperative research agreements among institutions to develop cell therapies for the heart, lung and blood. The first round of funding seven years ago for the Progenitor Cell Biology Consortium U01 totaled $170 million, and 18 grants were funded including one that supported Zhang and Kamp. Competition tightened for the second round of funding because only about $40 million, or about total five consortium grants, are being awarded. "The decreased amount for phase two means not all the previous hub awardees will get a grant in the second round," Zhang said. Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham At a United Nations meeting held in New York, world leaders have warned against the very real and present threat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses to human and animal health, as well as sustainable food production and development. Speaking at the meeting, which was organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: It is not that it may happen in the future. It is a very present reality in all parts of the world, in developing and developed countries; in rural and urban areas; in hospitals; on farms and in communities. We are losing our ability to protect both people and animals from life-threatening infections. If the problem is not addressed quickly and comprehensively, protecting universal health will become more difficult and maybe even impossible, he added. He also warned that AMR will jeopardise achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as threatening sound economies and social cohesion. To help emphasise the problem, the director general gave a few sobering examples. He described how it is estimated that more than 200,000 newborns die every year as a result of AMR, that multidrug-resistant typhoid is spreading across Africa and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis has been identified in 105 countries. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Furthermore, bacteria are developing new genetic mechanisms for AMR that are also quickly spreading across the globe. The WHO, FAO and OIE say the high level of AMR that already exists is due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans, animals, and crops, as well as residues from the medicines spreading through soil, crops and water. AMR now represents the greatest and most urgent global risk, they say. Also speaking at the meeting was Director-General of FAO, Jose Graziano da Silva, who said: AMR is a problem not just in our hospitals, but on our farms and in our food, too. Agriculture must shoulder its share of responsibility, both by using antimicrobials more responsibly and by cutting down on the need to use them, through good farm hygiene. This is only the fourth time the UN General Assembly has taken up a health issue and the first time Heads of States have jointly committed to taking a coordinated approach to addressing AMR across multiple sectors. In a joint statement issued during the meeting, countries reaffirmed their commitment to developing action plans based on the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance developed in 2015. Such plans are needed to understand the full scale of the problem and stop the misuse of antimicrobial medicines in human health, animal health and agriculture, note WHO, FAO and OIE. (Photo: Facebook/Sharad Sagar Official) In a proud moment for India, an entrepreneur from Bihar, Sharad Sagar, 24, has been invited by US President Barack Obama to the White House to attend a special gathering of world leaders.On October 03, 2016, President Obamas White House will host South by South Lawn: A White House Festival of Ideas, Art and Action, the inaugural gathering of leaders to celebrate the 'spirit of innovation'.According to the official White House statement, "the event will bring together creators, innovators, and organizers who work day in and day out to improve the lives of people around the world. It is a celebration of the great work these people have already accomplished."Sharad is the founder and CEO of Dexterity Global - an ecosystem of educational platforms that aims at connecting every child with the best education opportunities - and the only one from Bihar to be listed in the prestigious Forbes 30 under 30 List. He is one of the very few innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers and the only Indian to have received this invitation to this special event to be hosted by President Obama at the White House."I want to let everyone know that it's not me who has been invited, it's us and our shared vision of creating a better future for our children. I am honoured and thank President Obama and the White House for seeing great value in our work. But I always say, awards bestowed on Dexterity don't matter to us, our real awards are our dexters. I am proud of the wonderful things students from Dexterity network are doing today around the world," Sagar told News18.Sharad founded Dexterity Global in 2008 at the age of 16, the same year when President Obama assumed office. 'He has had great influence on me as a leader. Its a great honor for me to be invited for this special gathering at the White House and meet the worlds most powerful leader personally. Through his inspirational leadership, President Obama has impacted an entire generation and I thank President Obama and the White House for seeing great value in the work that were doing at Dexterity. Thank you!," said Sagar to News18.On being asked what he intends to talk about at the special gathering he said, "President Obama talks about hope, optimism and change. And at the White House, I want to share with him the hope that I have in the generation that we are building collectively, the change that's taking place in some of the world's most challenging demographics, and the optimism that I carry each day seeing leaders of tomorrow today. I want to share with him inspirational stories of young students who would go on to change the world."Dexterity Global impacts over 1.2 million children annually in India and other parts of South Asia. Through its ecosystem of educational platforms that include - DexConnect, DexChallenge, DexSchool and Dex2College - Dexterity is connecting students with information and opportunities, building their skill sets, equipping them with leadership and entrepreneurial skills and making college transitions possible.As far as sustenance is concerned, Dexterity is a self-sufficient organisation and hasn't raised a penny through donation ever since it was founded. It functions on the principle of providing opportunity for each child, whether or not that child is able to pay the nominal tuition fees that Dexterity charges under some of its platforms."If the child is able to pay, they pay, and even if they don't we create and provide them with equal opportunities that students who pay the fees get," Swaraj Priyadarshi, Chief of Staff to the CEO at Dexterity Global told News18. Baloch leader Brahumdagh Bugti's asylum request to India has reached it's final leg after Ministry of Home Affairs received the proposal from Ministry of External Affairs. Government sources said the application will now be processed and a final decision on grant of asylum and nature of asylum that is to be granted will be taken accordingly. Bugti, currently based in Geneva had applied for political asylum to India so that he gets a passport to travel the world and raise the cause of human rights violations in Baluchistan at international forums. A government officer said the final decision to grant asylum will be taken politically but the precedent of Dalai Lama will be closely looked at in terms of procedure. Tibetans living in exile in India get a registration certificate first and on recommendation of The Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (HHDL), New Delhi, the Indian regional passport office issues an Identity certificate to them. During their travel abroad this identity certificate coupled with a no objection certificate from foreigners regional registration office (FRRO) is treated as the relevant travel document. "A registration certificate gives a Tibetan all citizenship rights except the right to vote in India. If Bugti is granted asylum the Tibetan model of Identity Document is the most likely model that will be followed," said a government official. Bhraumdag Bugti, son of the slain Baloch leader Akbar Bugti fled from Pakistan to Afghanistan in 2006. He later moved to Switzerland in 2010 and sought political asylum there. The request was still pending when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the pitch for Baluchistan. At this year's Independence day speech Modi said Pakistan's violation of human rights in Baluchistan must be highlighted. Bugti's asylum request immediately after India attacked Pakistan on its Baloch conduct assumes significance. Mumbai: 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 on Thursday. "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. A physical theatre play titled Pillars of Blood (Piliere Krvi) will be performed as part of the ongoing 23rd Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre Directed by Anmar Taha, the performance titled Pillars of Blood will be staged on 27 and 28 September at the small hall of the Cairo Opera House. The play is created by Iraqi artists who are currently residing in Sweden. The history of the troupe named Iraqi Bodies goes back to 2002, when it consisted of students of theatre and performance art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bagdad. When in 2007 one of the troupe's members was killed in a religiously-motivated attack, the troupe froze its activities. Anmar Taha was wounded in the same incident. In 2009, Taha emigrated to Sweden, where he began working with the troupe members who fled there around the same time. The play represents an exile theatre, in which the actors tackle the memories of their war-torn homeland, unveiling the human atrocities of the world today. Toying with concepts such as death, killing and suicide, in several scenes, the actors wear animal masks suggesting comparisons between what is human and what is animalistic. Pillars of Blood is being performed as part of the 23rd Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre which runs between 20 and 30 September. Check the festival's complete programme here Programme: 27 and 28 September, 8pm Cairo Opera House, mall hall, Zamalek, Cairo For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: : The Western Naval Command has sounded the highest state of alert along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts in Maharashtra after reports of suspicious movement of an armed group dressed in Pathan suits in Uran.Two students a girl and a boy saw four to five people in Pathan suits with shoulder bags.A Navy spokesperson said that keeping in mind the current situation, no alert can be taken lightly."Our helicopters are making sorties at and around Uran," he said.DGP of Maharashtra Police Satish Mathur said the 'suspected terrorists' were spotted early in the morning at 6:30 am.Top Navy sources said a search operation was on in tandem with Maharashtra Police and the Coast Guard. Besides a naval base, Uran is also home to a JNPT container terminal.Maharashtra Home Secretary KP Bakshi told CNN NESW18 that Commissioner of Police Navi Mumbai and the Inspector of coastal security are monitoring the situation and the verification process.He said, "If need be we have force one on stand-by. But it is not yet deployed".Bakshi added that there is no need to panic and that they have not yet asked for the National Security Guards (NSG) commandoes.Bakshi also clarified that the students overheard these two specific words in the conversation the men were saying but he cannot independently confirm it until the time he speaks to the Commissioner of Police Navi Mumbai.Sources claim that the locals students say they overheard the men say the words 'school' and 'ONGC'.In a statement Indian Navy's Western Naval Command said it first initiated an alert and informed 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," the statement added.The school children who spotted the suspected men are being questioned by Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police as well as other top police officials in Uran for further details.The government run power giant ONGC has a plant at Uran and also a few container terminals.Security has been beefed up at sensitive locations along the coast, including the Gateway of India, Raj Bhawan, Bombay High (rig), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and other major establishments near the sea.Also read: School Children Spotted 'Suspected Terrorists' Near Navy Base Kokrajhar: The Pakistani flag and an effigy of its prime minister Nawaz Sharif were burnt by protesters in Assams Kokrajhar district on Thursday to protest against the Uri attack by Pakistan-sponsored militants. Thousands of supporters and members of various organisations, including All Bodo Students Union, Bodo Peoples Front and All Adivasi Students Association of Assam, burnt the effigy of Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistani flag. Carrying posters, banners and shouting slogans against Pakistan and Nawaz Sharif, the demonstrators held a protest-rally at Serfanguri on National Highway 31 demanding strong action against the perpetrators of the violence. The protesters dispersed peacefully later, the police said. New Delhi: Thirty two months and several twists later, the Sunanda Pushkar death mystery is nowhere near conclusion. Another formality in the probe is complete, with remnants of her viscera samples brought back from the US by the Delhi Police. The samples were sent to the FBI lab in Washington in February 2015 to determine the kind of poison that killed Sunanda after an AIIMS medical board identified poisoning as the reason behind her death but did not mention any specific substance. Two top officers privy to the investigations told CNN-News18 that apart from the viscera samples, the FBI was also given Sunanda's clothes, her food samples, a white bed sheet & bed covers she used during her stay in suite number 345 of Delhi's Leela Palace hotel where she was found dead on January 17, 2014. While most media outlets are reporting that "viscera samples" have been brought back, a top Delhi Police officer explained that these are "remnants" and not the samples as they were submitted. "The procedure followed worldwide is that the laboratories return only the remains of the samples given," added the source. Infact, the FBI had complained about the degraded quality of the viscera sample given to them due to which the FBI was not able to give Delhi Police a "substantive report". An explanation of the degradation lies in the several layers of tests the samples have gone through in the Indian labs over more than two years. In November 2015, the FBI had sent a report to Delhi Police but the Police failed to draw any clear conclusion from that. CNN-News18 had then reported formation of a new medical board in March 2016 to read that report and give a final medical opinion. Officers investigating the case say that the board hasn't given its report yet. Some clarifications were sought by the board to which the SIT has responded. 51-year-old Sunanda was found dead at a suite in Delhis Leela Hotel on the night of January 17, 2014, a day after her spat with Mehr Tarar on Twitter accusing the Pakistani journalist of having an affair with her husband Shashi Tharoor. Los Angeles: US First Lady Michelle Obama says her husband and US President Barack Obama is able to get out of work mode when he is with the children, and he is "really into gossip" at the dinner table. Michelle Obama, who has two daughters, spilled some beans on her husband's off-duty demeanour when she became a part of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, reports ew.com. In a preview clip from the episode that will air in India on Star World Premiere, Michelle Obama said the president tries to set his work aside and focus on his family when he crosses the threshold into the Executive Residence. "It's all about the kids. How were your days, what's going on, what's the latest gossip? He's really into gossip, so you can get him really focused - because he doesn't have a life," she said. Michelle Obama also asked Colbert: "If you got stuck on a desert island with one famous person, who'd you pick?". And Colbert immediately picked the president. When he asked her "How about you?", she said "Beyonce." The episode will air on Star World Premiere HD in India on Thursday. Talk about timing. The trailer of Allied, featuring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard was released on the same day as Angelina Jolie announced her separation from Pitt. While Jolie cited how Pitt's parenting style was not something she approved of, rumours were thick that the actress-filmmaker suspected her husband of cheating on her with Cotillard on the sets of Allied.Set during the World War II, the film has Pitt and Cotillard playing a married couple. Both play intelligence officers whose marriage is threatened due to the pressure of the war.Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film trailer divulges very little of the plot yet the chemistry between the lead is quite evident. Incidentally, in 2005, Pitt and Jolie's crackling chemistry in Mr & Mrs Smith purely gave away the affair that the couple had begun while filming. At that time Brad was married to Friends star Jennifer Aniston.Meanwhile Cotilard has denied her role in the break up of Brangelina stating that she is expecting her second child with long time partner and French filmmaker Guillaume Canet. I don't know why they can't see us laughing too! It was actually one of the best meetings ever. What a cool guy! :) https://t.co/opdHry2Eap VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) September 21, 2016 : Bollywood music composer Vishal Dadlani met Jain monk Tarun Sagar here on Wednesday and apologised to him in person for his sarcastic tweet on the spiritual figure that had stirred up a controversy last month. He said they are friends now.Dadlani visited the Jain monk at his ashram here and apologised to him. In fact, in an image shared on the social media, Dadlani is seen holding his ears for forgiveness, and he is seen laughing away.To that, Dadlani even tweeted: "I don't know why they can't see us laughing too! It was actually one of the best meetings ever. What a cool guy."While speaking to the media here, he said: "Guruji accepted my apology, he has forgiven me and I think we've also developed a bond of friendship... Me as a human being, I seek apology, because I feel what I said doesn't reflect well on me and doesn't suit him at all."I have realised a lot about myself in the last 10 days. I have come here as I have had an an eye-opening experience."Last month, Dadlani had offended the sentiments of Jains across the world, describing Sagar (a member of the Digambar sect that does not wear clothes) as "some naked monk," and his act of not wearing clothes, as "colossal idiocy."Dadlani, who has been one of the most visible activists of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for quite some time now, had to soon bow down to pressure from Jains, AAP and Twitterati, and he announced to quit all active political work/affiliation. 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 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. New Delhi: Accusing Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of "gloryfying terrorists" in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, the Congress on Thursday said it has now become clear where "Pakistan's sympathies and support lie". "In glorifying a terrorist like Burhan Wani, Sharif only reiterated where his and his country's sympathies and support lie," Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a statement. "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 wreak havoc across the world, including in France, Bangladesh, the US, Britain and Belgium," Surjewala alleged. The Congress leader's remarks came after Sharif in his speech at UNGA on Wednesday termed Hizbul militant Burhan Wani, whose killing on July 8 sparked off the current unrest in the Kashmir valley, as a "young leader" and the symbol of the Kashmiri unrest. "In what has now become habitual, Sharif again invoked Kashmir at a multilateral forum, despite Pakistan being a signatory to the Shimla Accord," Surjewala said. Slamming Sharif, the Congress leader said: "In citing intifada' in Kashmir, he looks like that emperor who plays flute (sic) while his entire country, right from Khyber to Balochistan to Sindh, is up in a violent intifada against his nation state." At UNGA, raking up the Kashmir issue, Sharif called for a plebiscite and an independent inquiry into alleged human rights violations in Kashmir. Hitting out at Pakistan's Prime Minister, Surjewala said: "In his jarring and impudent address to UNGA yesterday (Wednesday), Sharif repeated the same shrill and cliched statements to belie Pakistan's diabolical support to terrorism." Dubbing Sharif's speech as "glorification of terrorism", the Congress leader said: "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'," Surjewala added. "After taking his brief from his real handlers i.e. the military establishment and ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) in Rawalpindi, all that the Pakistan Prime Minister came up with 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," Surjewala observed. The Congress leader also accused Sharif of "characteristically misleading posturing". "Is it not a fact that the masterminds of the 26/11 Mumbai Attack, Udhampur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Pampore and Uri attacks operate from Pakistani soil with complete impunity," he questioned. "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," the Congress leader wondered. In a strong message to Pakistan's Prime Minister, the Congress leader said: "We would like to categorically tell Sharif, that talks are no favour to India. Pakistan's unending belligerence has denied opportunities to our countries to establish any kind of cordial peace." He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consult all political parties in taking a concrete and tangible step against Pakistan. Surjewala also requested External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to give a "strong and a befitting reply to this address and to build a strong and factual case for India in front of the International community, when she addresses the UNGA on Monday". Congress leader also took a dig at Sushma Swaraj for not being present in nearly all the initial meetings held to assess the situation and review security chaired either by Prime Minister or other Ministers after the terror attack on the Uri military camp in Kashmir on Sunday, in which 18 soldiers were martyred. New Delhi: Aggressive exercise sorties by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets and closure of airspace over northern areas, including Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, has moved the country to the edge driving down the stock market, according to media reports from Islamabad on Thursday. Despite the confusion, Inter-Services Public Relations and the PAFs media directorate chose to keep mum and the official silence only fuelled rumour mills, the Dawn reported. A senior military official quoted by the newspaper rejected reports about any change in the alert level over the past few days. However, he noted that extreme vigilance was being exercised in view of the current threats from India. Official details about the exercises will be released in the coming days, Dawn said. Pakistan has closed airspace over the northern areas including PoK, Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral and the M1 and M2 motorways. The M1 is a 155-km east-west motorway, connecting Peshawar to Rawalpindi where the Pakistan military is headquartered. The 375-km M2 motorway is a north-south artery connecting the capital city of Islamabad with Lahore, which is only around 50 km from Amritsar. According to Pakistan media reports, PAF jets were seen landing on and taking off from the motorways, which military officials said was part of a routine training exercise called Highmark. Usually held every five years, this exercise is one of the largest undertakings by the PAF and requires months of advance planning, Dawn reported. Due to the closure of airspace, PIA flights from Islamabad to Gilgit and Skardu had also been cancelled. A top PIA official told Dawn that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAMS) had been issued three days ago, informing about the airspace closure at different times on Sept 21, 22 and 24 due to the exercise. Dawn said that the closure of the M1 and M2 motorways at multiple points between Kala Shah Kaku and Sheikhupura/Gujranwala on the M2 and near Peshawar-Nowshera was announced by National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) through a press release issued a day earlier, but the reason for the close was attributed to construction work. The over-flights by jets participating in the PAF drills also fuelled speculation that caused a sharp decline in the stock market, with the KSE-100 benchmark index dropping a massive 569 points to close at 39,771 points, according to reports. Dawn said that as small investors ran for cover, the market fell by 1.41pc, wiping out gains netted in the month of September. Banks, companies and mutual funds remained stable, but panic selling was triggered by individual small investors, who were dabbling in penny stocks that usually generated the biggest volumes in the market. Former Karachi Stock Exchange chairman Arif Habib blamed the tumbling stocks on the hype created by the electronic media about tensions between Pakistan and India, which gave the impression that a confrontation was imminent, Dawn reported. 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 inquiry into the extra judicial killings" and a UN fact-finding mission to Kashmir "so that those guilty of these atrocities are punished." 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. Sharif said the "Indian brutalities are well documented" and 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" in Jammu and Kashmir. "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," he said, adding the Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions. Sharif, who spoke amid heightening tensions between India and Pakistan, insisted that his country wants peace with the neighbour as "confrontation should not be our destiny in South Asia." He said, "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." Insisting that peace and normalization between Pakistan and India cannot be achieved without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute, he said, "This is an objective evaluation, not a partisan position." "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," Sharif said. He also said that Pakistan was "open to discussing all measures of restraint and responsibility with India, in any forum or format and without any conditions." Pakistan is "ready for talks to agree on a bilateral nuclear test ban treaty," he added. Claiming that Pakistan "neither wants, nor is engaged in an arms race with India", Sharif said, "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." "The international community ignores the danger of rising tensions in South Asia, at its own peril," the Pakistan Prime Minister said. He said Pakistan is "committed to the establishment of strategic stability in the region" but "we cannot ignore our neighbors unprecedented arms build up and will take whatever measures are necessary to maintain credible deterrence." Sharif, while speaking about the unrest in Kashmir, said, "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 Indias draconian laws; and removal of the foreign travel ban on Kashmiri leaders." To this end, he said, "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, Sharif said he welcomes "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," Sharif said. He claimed that Pakistan is the "principal victim of terrorism including that supported, sponsored and financed from abroad" and has the resolve of eliminating the scourge. "Our comprehensive strategy of law enforcement and targeted military operations has produced remarkable results and enabled Pakistan to turn the tide against terrorism," he said. Sharif also made a pitch for Pakistan's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, claiming that it is a "responsible" nuclear weapon state. "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," he said. "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," the Pakistan Prime Minister said. "Judged on the basis of objective criteria, and without discrimination, Pakistan is fully eligible for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group," he said. Sharif also talked about Afghanistan, which earlier alleged that "merciless" terror attacks against its civilians are being planned and organised in Pakistan which trains, equips and finances terror groups like Taliban and Haqqani network. He said Pakistan has been "facilitating the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan" but "progress will be assured only when the Afghan parties themselves conclude that there isno military solution to the Afghan war." Brought by Amizero Kompagnie from Rwanda, 'Radio Play' will be staged within the ongoing 23rd Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre Directed by Wesley Rusibiza, the dark comedy Radio Play will be staged 26 and 27 September in Metropole Theatre in Cairo. The play is performed by Amizero Kompagnie, an independent non-profit theatre company created in 2005 by the University Centre for Arts and Drama in Butare "with the aim of developing and promoting Rwandan dancers and elevating the dance sector to a professional level on the national and international scene," reads the troupe's website. The performance touches on the censorship imposed on Rwanda's radio, uncover through a young woman, Lady Hibou, who hosts a late night call-in show. The viewer is taken through "the stories of the unsaid, failed relationships, secret diseases, sexuality and hidden hatreds," the troupe's promotional material explains. "It turns out everyone has a secret, and there is a cost to pretending that everything is okay." The play premiered in 2014 at Burundis Buja Sans Tabou Festival. It has since toured several African countires including Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. This is the first time for the play to be performed in North Africa. Radio Play is being performed as part of the 23rd Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre which runs between 20 and 30 September. Check the festival's complete programme here Programme: 26 and 27 September, 8pm Metropole Theatre, 26 of July Street, Downtown Cairo For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Liberty University is interested in seeing Wards Road expand to three lanes each way in the busy section between the River Ridge mall entrance and U.S. 460, President Jerry Falwell said during a meeting with other area college presidents and Lynchburg government leaders Wednesday. That could be accomplished, he said, by changing some turn lanes into regular lanes. Falwell told the other leaders hed brought up the idea with Lynchburg City Manager Bonnie Svrcek during a recent meeting with her. He said Liberty is willing to help pay for it. Wednesdays luncheon meeting at Heritage High School was part of the quarterly Town & Gown series, aimed at getting representatives of local colleges and the city talking with each other. Among those attending were the presidents of Central Virginia Community College, Liberty University, Lynchburg College, Randolph College and Virginia University of Lynchburg. Sweet Briar Colleges president was invited but was unable to make it. Council members present included Mayor Joan Foster, Sterling Wilder and Mary Jane Dolan. In his remarks, Falwell said after years of rising enrollment, Liberty plans to hold its on-campus enrollment steady next school year because the campus is reaching the limits of what it can accommodate. Right now it is about 15,000, and he expects to have about that number next year instead of allowing another increase. Foster said she avoids Wards Road at some times of peak traffic. She said if it were possible to make traffic there better, by whatever means, it potentially could be helpful for businesses to attract customers from other parts of the city at those times. CVCC President John Capps said his school located on Harvard Street across Wards Road from Liberty also is affected by traffic congestion on Wards and on Harvard. Unlike Wards, Harvard Street is owned by the State Board of Community Colleges. He said after the meeting any improvement to Harvard Street would have to come from that board, and he doesnt think its a priority, given the many expensive challenges the state is dealing with. After the meeting, Svrcek said when she met with Falwell a couple weeks ago, they spoke very informally about the idea of three lanes. Its a vision, she said, explaining that discussion was the first time shes been involved in a conversation about it. Im not aware that it is in the citys transportation priorities. Right now, those include work on U.S. 501 and U.S. 221. She thinks it would relieve congestion to go to three lanes, and any time a solution relieves congestion, thats a good thing. On the other hand, she said shes not a traffic engineer. Her next question would be whether getting rid of the turn lanes might increase the risk of traffic crashes. During the meeting, Virginia University of Lynchburg President Kathy Franklin shared she wants to see her school get accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. That would be a big shift for the school, which has been accredited through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, or TRACS, which has a headquarters in Forest. All the other colleges represented at Wednesdays meeting are accredited through SACS-COC, which has a reputation among college accrediting agencies for being relatively stringent in its requirements upon schools. She said she is working with a couple other members of her staff to tackle this. She also said VUL had been approved by its board to build a student commons. The school, she said, has increased enrollment from about 320 students last year to about 420 this year. Franklin, previously the provost and executive vice president, was named president this spring after serving as interim president. Newly appointed Appomattox Town Manager Philipp Gabathuler intends to resign his post at the request of the town council. His last day will be Sept. 30. I would like to thank the experienced, talented, and very supportive Town of Appomattox staff, past and present, for allowing me the opportunity to serve the citizens of this great town. It has been an honor and privilege to work in one of the most historic places in the United States, he said in an email to The News & Advance on Tuesday. After September, Gabathuler said he will be assisting his wife in raising their 1-year-old child. Gabathuler would not comment further on his resignation and directed media to Mayor Paul Harvey, who is one of seven members of council. Harvey said by phone Tuesday from a personal standpoint, he has the utmost respect for Philipps abilities, but the council wasnt satisfied with his style of leadership and communication. Council announced the hiring of Gabathuler at its meeting April 11, at an annual salary of $75,000. His first day was June 1. Town council will meet in closed session Monday to discuss and accept Gabathulers resignation and determine what direction to take after he leaves. Harvey would not say if an interim town manager has been identified yet and said it will be discussed during Mondays closed session. Gabathuler previously worked as a senior planner for the Region 2000 Local Government Council. He is a Lynchburg native and 2002 graduate of E.C. Glass High School. He replaced former interim town manager Bill Gillespie, who worked for the town of Appomattox for five years. Johnnie Roark, former Appomattox County Director of Community Development, was named town manager in December 2014. Roark resigned more than a month later, in February 2015, citing personal reasons. Gillespie served as interim town manager until Gabathuler took the post. Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany inaugurated this afternoon the Malawi Museum in Al-Minya governorate in the presence of Essam Bedawi, Al-Minya governor, and a number of foreign ambassadors and heads of foreign archaeological institutes. During the opening ceremony El-Enany asserted that after three years of restoration work, Malawi Museum is back on Egypt's tourist map and its re-opening today is a step highlighting the challenge that the government has faced in its battle against terrorism, as well as the ministry's efforts to preserve and protect Egypt's cultural and archaeological heritage. "It is a clear message to the whole world that Egypt will not bow to terrorism and those who are trying to destroy its archaeological heritage and civilisation," El-Enany said. The minister promised attendees that "another story of the ministry's fight against terrorism is awaiting in Cairo, as the Museum of Islamic Art is to be inaugurated very soon." Elham Salah, head of the museums sector at the ministry, explained that restoration work started in 2013 after the final report of an archaeological committee assigned to determine the damage that had occurred to the museum. The Malawi Museum was looted in August 2013 during clashes between supporters of deposed former president Mohamed Morsi and security forces after the latter broke up sit-ins in Rabaa Al-Adawiya and Al-Nahda squares in Cairo. Some 1,049 of the museums 1,089 artefacts were reported missing while artifacts that were too heavy for vandals to carry away were damaged in situ. The majority of artifacts were recovered, handed in by Malawi residents or left at the museums gates after the ministry declared an amnesty on the return of any looted artifacts. Salah added that the two-storey museum building has been overhauled and its indoor decoration and design renewed. The new design concept of the museum provides a broader educational service to visitors. It informs Egyptian visitors about how their ancestors built a great civilisation, showing Al-Minya residents' daily lives in ancient times, their industries, handicrafts and culture. Waadallah Abul-Ezz, head of the projects sector at the ministry, said restoration had cost around LE10 million, financied by the ministry, Al-Minya governorate and the Italian government within the framework of an Italy-Egypt debt exchange programme. The building, he said, had been completely renovated, with new indoor exhibition halls. A new lighting and security system has been installed and all damaged showcases replaced with new ones. Search Keywords: Short link: Bill Mosley is hoping to alleviate a problem that long has plagued Bedford by turning his property in downtown Bedford into a vacation rental apartment. I think there is a need for [more] accommodations, he said. Weve done well with our other vacation property and have had to even turn people away. There is at least, to a limited degree, a need for it. Mosley, with Proprietors Group of Bedford, said the economy, as well as Centertown, is starting to come back after a rough round with the recession. This means more businesses are coming into town, and there will be a greater need for more of these kinds of accommodations. Though Bedford offers an array of tourism-related activities, the residents have complained in the past about a lack of accommodations for visitors, leading them to stay and spend their money in Roanoke or Lynchburg. Mosleys three-story building at 110 N. Bridge St. in Centertown currently is home to Liberty Shop and Pawn on the main level and a massage therapy studio and offices on the second level. The third floor has been vacant for several years. Mosley believes that level was used by a fraternal organization to hold meetings between the 1920s and 1940s. We dont know who or what [met there], but there are some great giveaways like speakeasy doors and hooks to hang jackets, he said. Mosley, who has owned the company along with his brother John since 1993, said now was the right time to start working on the space. He hopes to rent it out to Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO) or Airbnb customers. The new space will have two full bedrooms, one half-bathroom and a large room with other sleeping accommodations. It will be able to house up to eight people. It has a wonderful view of the skyline and mountains, he said. Jim Messier, owner of Arthurs Jewelry on North Bridge Street and president of Bedford Main Street, said he thinks the new lofts are a fantastic idea. Most of the buildings in Centertown have at least a second, and in Bills case, a third floor, that has been underused for many, many years, he said. He added that years ago, owners often lived upstairs from their business. In Bedford we are underserved by accommodations, Messier said, adding there are many fantastic bed and breakfast locations on the outskirts of town but nothing in downtown. As weve seen some of the real successful revitalization of downtown, there are things going on 24 hours a day people staying there, he said. I think this a great thing Bills working on, and I think its going to be great for the central district of Bedford. Mosley describes the third floor, 1,500-square-foot space downtown as wonderful and lovely. It needs a lot of cosmetic work, but other than that, its a great space, he said. The space doesnt have heating, air conditioning, plumbing, a kitchen or laundry services, but that all will come soon, Mosley said. Once he has obtained the proper permits from the town, he hopes to start renovating the apartment this fall and open by late spring 2017. Assistant Town Manager Bart Warner said all Mosley needs to move forward is a zoning permit, which is easy to get. He added Mosley is allowed to renovate since he not only owns the building but the location is commercially zoned. Egyptians should resist rumours and accept that Egypt is in good hands and those in charge are doing their best Several years ago, even before the two revolutions, I was in a cab in Heliopolis minding my own business when the cab driver said something that translates to, This is fishy! What? I asked anxiously. He pointed to a man carrying a carton of bottled water walking out of a store. Thats the fifth person I see in the last few hours buying bottled water, he exclaimed. By the time I arrived home, the rumour that water across Egypt had somehow gotten contaminated and had become undrinkable had reached its desired heights. On public television, a statement from the minister concerned calmed the uneasy nerves, refuted the rumour, and curbed it from spreading further. The rumour could have emerged out of a slip of a tongue, a misunderstanding, or a misinterpretation. A wacky story, true, but realistic enough for the gullible to buy into it and be swayed to go out and needlessly buy bottled water. It could have also been a premeditated ploy by a water distillery manufacturer. I bet many water companies had a surge in sales that day. These are all hypothetical causes; no one really knows how this story came about. This happens around the world, too; it is not limited to Egypt. According to the online psychology site, Psychology Today, when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, water was not the only thing that flooded the city: Sharks infested the water! Terrorists planted bombs in the levees! Murdered babies and piles of corpses filled the Superdome! Lets turn our attention back to Egypt. After president Mubarak stepped down, rumours had him go off food, refuse medication, be in a coma, die, fly to Germany to get treatment, fly to Saudi and the Emirates to export his money, and die again, all in a matter of two weeks. Rumours had Mrs. Mubarak flee to London with 90 money-filled suitcases. It also had her sell unique Egyptian artifacts and treasures. As for the money that the family looted, it kept growing by the hour until it reached an astronomical figure that the normal Egyptian couldnt fathom70 billion. Ordinary Egyptians asked, What does 70 billion mean exactly?" In todays environment similar stories hit the Egyptian scene, their ramifications steadily compounding the anxiety already existing on the streets. A locust plague is about to hit Egypt, rice is unavailable, fertilisers are out of stock, Gamal Mubarak is running for presidency in 2018, and parliamentarian Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat and the EU ambassador discuss how to stop El-Sisi running again are all bizarre rumours that spread like wildfires. Rumours of tax hikes and devaluation of the pound send the stock market into a nosedive. Rumours of the government selling Thasos Island to the Greeks could have instigated another campaign such as #EgyptIsNotForSale. When a rumour that the new church-building law prohibits having crosses atop churches, the consequences could have been disastrous. Even after Minister Ghada Waly wrote on her Facebook page that under no circumstances was the concept of no crosses on churches discussed during the law deliberations, the story did not subside. We may never know who started the rumour, but we know that had it not been dealt with, we could have seen Copts, heaven forbid, reacting unwisely, asking human rights groups and the West in general to intervene, turning it into an international issue. We do know who created the story of a Saudi traveler beaten in front of his wife and children at Cairo airport. Homoud Al-Shamri, a Saudi religious personality with 43,000 Twitter followers, is the owner of the story and until today he goes by his original story. However, the Saudi ambassador to Egypt, Ahmed Qattan, denied the whole incident. This while, according to Ossama Kamal in AlQahira 360, the video utilised was from an incident at Kuwait airport that took place three months ago. And we do know what such a story can do: Saudis may opt not to come to Egypt anymore, shrinking the tourism industry even further, and Saudis may mistreat Egyptians travelling to and from Saudi creating an unnecessary rift between both countries and putting further pressure on the Egyptian government. All these matters may be seen as good things by some. Wars on Egypt take different shapes or forms. First came the vicious attacks on civilians and the security apparatus alike, bombs exploding in front of government buildings and embassies and amongst civilians, and execution style killings of soldiers. Then came the explosions of power towers and later arson attempts on buildings in the middle of Cairo. Now we have a new line of innovative practices: instilling fear in Egyptians, be it of shortages of goods or of impending crises. This is realised through rumours. Spreading rumours is another method of warfare, another extremely effective means of destruction, its ripple effect horrendous. How should Egypt authorities deal with such rumours? They must be proactive versus reactive. Think about it. All the above stories have damaging repercussions, if they are not dealt with fast enough. This is easier said than done I know, but being alert and ready to deal with a rumour the moment it begins is fundamental. At the same time, officials can halt the dissemination of such rumours by being transparent, accurate, and proactive. How should you as an Egyptian deal with such rumours? You must ask yourself if such a rumour is possible or highly unlikely before you contemplate repeating it. More importantly, this practice utilises you, yourself, in propagating these rumours further. In an environment of uncertainty, rumours go haywire. Defeat the uncertainty by going to trustworthy sources for verification. If you are on Facebook and Twitter, then you can google the topic to see if a credible publication, such as Ahram Online for instance, speaks about it, which would prove its authenticity. The worst type of rumour is the bogey one, the one that plays on your fears and doubts. If a group collectively is worried and anxious, it is easier to start a rumour amongst it. You must rest assured that Egypt is in good hands and those in charge are doing their best. This will alleviate worry and anxiety. You must also be not very accepting and easily susceptible or gullible to such rumours. You must ignore chitchat and focus on reality. The more one hears a rumour the more one is inclined to believe it, so nip the rumour in the bud. Dont say, Please forward this to everyone in your group, and dont repeat it unless you are certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is true. Some stories rely on a grain of truth, but that truth is embellished, distorted, and magnified; it is up you to decipher the right from the wrong and the accurate from the inaccurate. The writer is author of Cairo Rewind: The First Two Years of Egypt's Revolution. Search Keywords: Short link: Install the Newser News app in two easy steps: 1. Tap in your navigation bar. 2. Tap to Add to Home Screen. During the liberal years that started in 1919, the civil Coptic Society used to strongly participate in the charitable construction of schools, hospitals and non-governmental organisations. It was during these years that Salama Moussa and others participated actively, through the society of young Christians, in the work of civil society in general, and of course particularly in the Coptic community. In this period it was Coptic politicians who used to represent Coptic affairs in any negotiations with the state. In this period I felt no awkwardness whatsoever to join a group of friends at the school of medicine, both Muslims and Christians, to go light a candle for Saint Theresa at her church in Shubra in the pursuit of blessings. Prior to that, in the 1940s, my mother herself had felt no awkwardness when I fell ill with typhoid to act upon the advice of her friend and neighbour, Tante Olga, who had proposed the visit and the benediction of her priest who prayed for my recovery. With the advent of the totalitarian period, this whole concept receded as civil society was shrinking and as citizens, particularly more in the case of Copts than Muslims, declined to assume the role they had played before, even at the cultural level. It was then that the Copts receded to the confinement of their church. At the time, several bishops, including Father Moussa who later became the godfather of all cultural activities for thousands of Copts who were declined civil space outside the church, were forced to build a new cultural sphere within the walls of the church. This approach helped Egyptian Copts to continue to have a civil role that inevitably contributed to society through the work and ideas of Coptic citizens. In contrast, in rural areas, Copts were traditionally more confined within the boundaries of the church. As such, it would be the bishop who would attend to all issues of the community, from personal matters to the relation between the citizen and the state often conducted in an "out of court" fashion, so to speak This, however, caused a rupture in the links between Muslim and Coptic youth something that would have been unheard of and even unthought of for young people during my college years. Bishop Moussa, a terribly alert man, was fast to notice this phenomenon and was also fast to try to build bridges. He invited me, and others, to take part in joint activities between Muslim and Coptic youth. We had some success. And then came the January Revolution. Then it was the advice of the church that Copts steer clear of the demonstrations. Initially many bowed to the advice. However, from the early days of the revolution there was a representation of the Coptic youth and some gave their lives during the 18 days. Later, there was a moment of massive anger among the Coptic youth for having been denied participation in the revolution. Many in the church leadership, particularly Father Moussa, acted to accommodate this furore. At the end of the day, the January Revolution rocked the entire Egyptian society at heart. The youth were particularly touched by this revolution, and the Coptic youth were certainly no exception. Many of the Coptic youth decided to end the isolation and to take part in wider societal activities, political as well as cultural. They were there in the newly founded political parties and the newly issued papers. They were there on social media and in the wider societal space. They participated in demonstrations some of which were related to the grievances that Copts had been subject to, including the Maspero demonstrations where young Copts had to die in the most inhumane way as they were crushed by trucks. I think it is safe to argue that the Maspero demonstrations was a turning point in the attitude of many young Copts who decided once and for all that their presence in society would never again be interrupted by the influence of the Coptic Church that would remain, nonetheless, the source of spiritual leadership. Today, we can see the evidence of this evolution in the attitude of Coptic youth clearly reflected in the handling of the law on the construction of churches that aimed to rectify archaic regulations that had been applied since Ottoman rule in Egypt. All truly civil citizens are certainly for the adoption of a unified bill for the construction of churches and mosques. However, pragmatically speaking this is not an option under the current circumstances. It was still interesting to observe the debate over the articles of the law on the construction of churches that was initially negotiated between state and church but later had to be revised and improved under the pressure by Coptic youth and by the largest segments of civil society that aimed to improve the regulations of the new law. I think that the civil Coptic influence will only increase, especially with the support offered from many Muslims who truly see that matters related to the rights of Coptic citizens are not and should not be treated as "sectarian" issues. This is not just about the reintegration of Copts in society after a long period of isolation. It is also about the democratic evolution that our society is determined to go through. This is the inevitable cycle of history; things will keep moving forward, whether the regime likes it or not. Full and equal citizenship was one of the main calls of the January Revolution and it will continue to be a target that many Egyptians will act to realise, simply because this is the spirit of January that has never subsided, contrary to the belief or wishes of some. Search Keywords: Short link: (Newser) A man in Texas is being investigated after several Walmart shoppers spotted him pulling a girl by a section of her hair held against his shopping cart. Shoppers Erika and Robert Burch say they asked him to stop, and when he told them to mind their own business they took several photos and posted them to Facebook on Monday. Those photos have since gone viral, with more than 200,000 shares and 16,000 comments, and sparked a larger debate about corporal punishment, parents' rights, and family privacy, reports the Christian Science Monitor. The girl is presumed, but not confirmed, to be the man's daughter. Witnesses tells KPRC Channel 2 in Houston that the girl was wandering off so the man grabbed her hair to keep her close. Burch says he was "dragging" her and that she kept saying, "Please stop. I promise I won't do it again. Please stop!" Some commenters say the man has a right to choose his own disciplinary methods, but many of the comments are against the man's approach, with some going so far as to call him a "monster" and say that the incident was an example of "bad parenting." Burch tells KTRK-TV in Houston that "you can discipline a child without dragging them by the hair on their head, especially in Walmart." Local police are investigating the incident to determine whether it's part of a "pattern of behavior." (Studies suggest that spanking leads to the same negative outcomes as child abuse.) (Newser) Serial killer Rodney Alcala has been charged with another murder almost 40 years after his 1970s killing spree. Investigators say Alcala, 73who has been behind bars since 1979 and was sentenced to death in 2010murdered 28-year-old Texas woman Christine Ruth Thornton in Wyoming during a road trip in 1977, People reports. She was six months pregnant at the time. Thornton's body was found buried on a ranch in 1982. Her family recognized her picture in 2013 when police released a chilling cache of Alcala's photos in an effort to locate unidentified victims, reports the Orange County Register. Investigators say Alcalaa former Los Angeles Times photographer who appeared on The Dating Game in 1978took the photo of Thornton sitting on a motorbike close to where her body was eventually found. Prosecutor Danny Erramouspe tells People that he flew to California to interview Alcala about the killing and he admitted being with her. "When I questioned him'Was she alive when you left?'he stated, 'She was alive before I left,'" Erramouspe says. Alcala was sentenced to die for five murders in California and was sentenced to another 25 years to life in 2013 for two murders in New York. Police believe he may have killed dozens of other women. (Read more Rodney Alcala stories.) (Newser) A Pennsylvania man seriously injured in a crash that killed his girlfriend was trapped in the SUV with her body for three days before he was able to crawl from the wreckage and seek help, reports the Cincinnati Enquirer. Kevin Bell, 39, lost control of his Ford Explorer on a road in southeast Indiana, state police said. The SUV slid down a steep embankment and slammed into a tree. Nikki Hobbs Reed, 37, died instantly. Trapped and suffering leg injuries, Bell stayed with her body until Tuesday afternoon, when he managed to crawl to the road and hoist himself over a guardrail, reports the Courier-Journal. He was spotted by a passing motorist, who called police around 5pm. Reed's family in Indiana reported her missing on Sunday, after she failed to show up to her son's birthday party on Saturday afternoon, per WHAS. "The family didn't have a clue what happened for two or three days," said a state police spokesman. Both people in the car had phones; it was unclear whether they were working. A police investigation is continuing. Reed's daughter told WHAS that her mother left Friday morning for Dover, Pa., to pick up Bell and was expected back home by 2pm Saturday. Brooklyn Reed said she last spoke to her mom in the early afternoon. "She said she was in Kentucky, so I didn't think anything of it," she said. But when Brooklyn Reed called her back, there was no answer. "So many people lost an amazing woman in a blink of an eye," Nikki Reed's best friend, Kristie Bevers, wrote on Facebook. (Read more car crash stories.) (Newser) Nashville's city council has decided that it's time to go a little easier on citizens who would rather smoke a joint than have a shot of Tennessee whiskey. The council voted 35-3 this week to give cops the option of decriminalizing marijuana by handing out $50 fines or community service for possession of a half-ounce or less, reports the Tennessean. The bill gives "police the option of not treating someone with a little pot like a hardened criminal," says sponsor Dave Rosenberg. "Because when you start treating good members of our society like criminals, they begin acting like criminals." Mayor Megan Barry says she plans to sign the measure. Barry says the move isn't a license to use marijuana in Nashville, but a step toward "addressing the overly punitive treatment of marijuana possession in our state that disproportionately impacts low-income and minority residents," Nashville Public Radio reports. State law, however, still considers marijuana possession a criminal offense punishable by one year in jail and a $2,500 fine, and state Rep. William Lamberth has threatened to punish Nashville by withholding state highway funds. He complains that by giving police discretion on how to treat marijuana possession, the move will create situations where "two different individuals face drastically different penalties." (Read more marijuana stories.) (Newser) North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency Wednesday night in Charlotte after a second night of protests over the police shooting of a black man turned violent and the city's police chief said he needed the help. A peaceful prayer vigil turned into an angry march and then a night of violence after a man was shot and critically wounded as groups of protesters rampaged through parts of downtown and charged police in riot gear trying to protect an upscale hotel, the AP reports. Police say they did not shoot the man. "My heart bleeds for what our great city is going through," said McCrory, who was mayor of Charlotte for 14 years before becoming governor. The violence happened amid questions about what happened Tuesday afternoon when 43-year-old Keith Scott was shot and killed in the parking lot of his condo complex. Police said Scott had a gun and refused orders to drop it. Scott's family and neighbors said he was holding a book. "He got out of his car, he walked back to comply, and all his compliance did was get him murdered," said Taheshia Williams, whose balcony overlooks the shady parking spot where Scott was Tuesday afternoon. She says he often waited there for his son because a bicycle accident several years ago left him susceptible to seizures if he stayed out in the hot sun too long. (Read more Charlotte stories.) (Newser) It may be the worst repair job ever: What began as an effort to patch up a crumbling 700-year-old portion of China's Great Wall ended up as an unsightly trail of what looks like smooth gray concrete. CNN reports the patch job took place in 2014, but after a report this week on it by Beijing News, it's being pilloried on social media. "Glad Venus de Milo is not in China, or someone would get her a new arm," wrote one user on the network Weibo. The restoration of what the New York Times describes as a 1.2-mile stretch of the wall in northeastern China went "very badly," admits Dong Yaohui, deputy director of the Great Wall of China Society. "Although the local government was well intentioned and wanted to restore the bricks of the Wall, the result turned out to be the opposite," he says. The Times reports officials say they didn't use concrete, but rather a lime-sand mix, in the restoration of part of the Xiaohekou stretch of the wall; a park officer counters that both were used. Quartz notes the Xiaohekou portion had been known as a delightfully "wild" and less trafficked part of the wall to visit, but a hotel owner in Yong'anpu village says bookings have tanked, clients have complained, and it's "slippy" to walk on. The mishap occurred despite regulations established in 2006 governing the development of tourist sites. It also comes just as conservationists launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $1.6 million to protect deteriorated portions of the 13,000-mile-long wall. It could have been worse: China's nationalist government in 1931 considered turning the wall into a highway, notes Time. (China's great flood legend might actually be true.) (Newser) The image of a Syrian boy covered in blood after an airstrike in Aleppo touched manyincluding 6-year-old Alex. In a letter to President Obama, Alex asks that the president "please go get" 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh and bring him to his family's home in New York. "We will give him a family and he will be our brother," he writes. "In my school, I have a friend from Syria, Omar, and I will introduce him to Omar and we can all play together." The letter, which Obama read at the Leaders Summit on Refugees this week, has gone viral since it was posted to the White House's Facebook page, with 5.6 million views, 163,000 likes, and 106,000 shares in just 12 hours. "Those are the words of a 6-year-old boya 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," reads the post. "We should all be more like Alex. Imagine what the world would look like if we were." Commenters seem to agree. Alex "has more humanity, love, and understanding than most adults," one user writes, per CNN. Another who was brought to tears says "neither of these sweet little boys, someone's sons, are Skittles." As of August, the US had taken in 10,000 Syrian refugees. Obama says another 110,000 will be accepted in the 2017 fiscal year, per the BBC. (Read more uplifting news stories.) Italy will operate 11 direct flights to Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh amid efforts by Cairo to revive tourism in the city, which declined over the past year after the crash of a Russian airliner over Sinai in 2015. The move comes as part of Egypt's efforts to promote tourism in South Sinai and the Red Sea governorate and increase the number of Italian tourists visiting the country, Egyptian ambassador in Rome Amr Helmy said. Following talks with leading Italian tourism investors, Cairo and Rome agreed to run the 11 trips from a number of Italian cities including Naples, Palermo and Pisa starting October, Helmy was quoted as saying by state news agency MENA. Sharm El-Sheikh, a popular tourist destination, suffered a sharp decline in tourism after several countries banned flights to the city over security concerns after the October 2015 crash of the Russian passenger jet. The crash, which occurred in Sinai as the flight was en route from Sharm El-Sheikh to Russia, killed all 224 people on board. Italians are among the top European tourists to visit Egypt, with over 400,000 Italians visiting the country in 2013. Russian, British and Italian tourists make up more than 50 percent of the total number of tourists to Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: (Newser) The story of a real-life couple who was compared to the fictional couple in the best-selling book and movie The Fault in Our Stars has reached its end. Katie and Dalton Prager, who both had cystic fibrosis, met on Facebook when they were 18 after Katie saw a picture of Dalton in the hospital, CNN reports. Though doctors warned them not to meet in person because CF patients can pass dangerous bacteria to one another, they not only met, but got married. "My heart was racing, but I just went right up to him and hugged and kissed him on the mouth without even saying hello," Katie once recalled of her first meeting with Dalton, soon after they started talking in 2009, when his mom drove him six hours from their Missouri home to Katie's Kentucky home. Seven years later, Dalton succumbed to his illness Saturday, and on Thursday, his wife also died. Dalton and Katie wed less than two years after their first meeting, and had some happy years in a home they bought in Kentucky. But in 2014, their lungs deteriorated; Dalton got a transplant that year, and Katie the year following. But he later fought lymphoma, pneumonia, and a viral infection, while Katie struggled with her transplant until doctors determined there was nothing more they could do and she entered hospice care. They last saw each other on their fifth wedding anniversary in July. Dalton's funeral was Wednesday, Kentucky.com reports. Then, "early this morning, [Katie] gained her wish of being at home, in her bed, surrounded by her mom, dad, brother and her dogs, dying peacefully, away from the hospital, tubes, IVs," Katie's mom wrote on Facebook. "I know Dalton was waiting with open arms." Click for more on their story. (Read more The Fault In Our Stars stories.) (Newser) "Racism is in the eye of the beholder," according to Italy's Health Ministryand an awful lot of people are beholding just that in ads the ministry sent out to promote a national push for procreation. NBC News reports on the country's much-ballyhooed Fertility Day, an event taking place Thursday that the government hopes will boost the country's flagging birthrate, said to be the lowest in the EU. Events planned in cities around Italy (including Rome) on Fertility Day will include state-sponsored events where locals will be bombarded with baby-friendly propaganda about family planning, specifically about expanding families, per Quartz. The ads around the hot-and-heavy holiday are not only attracting claims of racism, but of sexism, too, with Fortune earlier this month calling the campaign "a sexist mess," while Quartz labeled it "an embarrassing misstep." The campaign kicked off in August, featuring a series of promos that some say are nothing more than fertility fear-mongering. One of the ads shows a woman holding an hourglass with the caption "Beauty has no age. Fertility does." And a pamphlet shows two cheerful white couples with the caption "Good habits to promote," while the caption "Bad company to leave behind" is accompanied by a photo of a black woman apparently smoking pot, while a white woman hangs out with a black man who's drinking. Critics say a) the low birthrate isn't women's problem, and b) the country isn't addressing unemployment, the real reason many people are choosing not to have kids. Even Italy's prime minister is shaking his head. "I don't know of any of my friends who had kids after they saw an [ad]," Matteo Renzi said in an early September radio interview, per Reuters. (If you do want to have a baby, though: Chill.) (Newser) Britain's exit talks with the European Union will likely start in early 2017 and could take less than the allotted two years, Britain's foreign secretary said Thursday. His comments came after the president of the European Parliament urged Britain to make an early start on the talks, saying it's important to finish negotiations before European elections scheduled for mid-2019. Britain voted in a June referendum to leave the EU but has not yet invoked the article of the EU treaty that would trigger negotiations. Once it does, there is a two-year timeline laid out for talks. Prime Minister Theresa May has said she won't initiate the discussions before the end of the year. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson gave the British government's most specific time frame yet, saying he expected talks to be triggered in the "early part of next year," the AP reports. Speaking at the United Nations in New York, Johnson told Sky News that negotiations could take less than the allotted time. "I don't think we will actually necessarily need to spend a full two years, but let's see how we go," he said. European Parliament President Martin Schulz said before meeting May at 10 Downing St. on Thursday that he "understands that the British government wants to take its time." But he added that it wouldn't be good for Britain or the EU if the British voted for members of the EU parliament while negotiations to leave the bloc were in progress, Germany's dpa news agency reported. Schulz, a member of Germany's center-left Social Democrats, leads the 28-nation EU's legislative assembly. (Read more Brexit stories.) In a surprise move last night, Microsoft announced the arrival of the latest Nokia-branded phone: The Nokia 216. Slated for launch next month, the Nokia 216 will be running under the Series 30 OS, sporting a 2.4 inch QVGA display, a 0.3 megapixel front-and-rear camera set, and dual-sim functionality. Furthermore, it comes in three colors, and weighs at 2.5G - a complete throwback to Nokia's early phone designs. Here are the known specifications of the phone, thus far: 118 x 50 x 13.5 mm 82.6 g 2.4 inch, 240 x 320 resolution, LCD display Front Camera with flash Rear camera, CMOS sensor, LED Flash 1020mAh Battery 16 MB RAM 16 MB Internal Storage SD Card support up to 64 GB Glance Screen This announcement is unexpected, if we are to follow the trail of events surrounding Nokia's oust from the mobile market as a legit competitor. In addition, Foxconn's FIH Mobile subsidiary is set to purchase Nokia from Microsoft at $350 million, as part of their bid to expand their business phone line. Rumors from last year purported that a Surface-branded phone may be coming out from Microsoft. However, nothing much had been heard since then, and we are yet to see if the company will branch out to the mobile market the same way it did with its Lumia line. For the first time ever, a major browser has introduced a free built-in virtual private network (VPN) feature for web users. The Norway-based company Opera Software released version 40 of its desktop browser Opera earlier this week which will allow its users to browse safely and securely using its VPN servers, with no restrictions on traffic usage. A VPN enables people to route their web-surfing through an encrypted connection, which hides all browsing activities and improves the security, much more that what is provided by the privacy modes offered by browsers today. The software guards the users IP address and routes the traffic through its servers, allowing users to bypass access restrictions on websites. Powered by SufEasy, Opera users can use VPN servers based in five countries - Canada, U.S. Germany, Singapore, and the Netherlands. to route their traffic. The company has said that it will consider adding more in time. "If people knew how the internet truly works, I believe they all would use a VPN," said Krystian Kolondra, SVP of Opera browser for desktops. "By making our browser VPN free and easy to use, we hope to make it an essential tool, just as the lock and key are to your house." The company had introduced the feature first in April this year to its developer version, promising to release a stable version for consumers after gathering feedback on its performance. Opera had acquired the U.S based VPN company SurfEasy last March, enabling it to develop the VPN feature for its products. The company has already launched the VPN service for Android and iOS operating systems, which blocks ad trackers and lets users change their virtual location. The latest version of Operas browser includes several other attractive features including an automatic battery saving feature, video pop-outs, Chromecast support, and built-in ad-blocking. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. High 11F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low -1F. Winds light and variable. (Beijing) China's plan to create the world's second-largest steelmaker faces an uphill battle because of its sheer complexity. Yet the government is determined to force steel capacity reductions through additional consolidation, according to several individuals with knowledge of the matter. The proposed merger of China's second-largest and most profitable steelmaker, Shanghai-based Baosteel Group, with its money-losing smaller rival, Wuhan Iron & Steel Group (WISCO), will create an industry behemoth. But it may be just the beginning of a new wave of government-backed consolidation in the fragmented and inefficient steel industry, according to sources close to regulators. It also looks to be a first step in Beijing's pledge to cut excess capacity, which trading partners blame for the global steel glut. In 2015, the sector has been using just two-thirds of its capacity, according to the China Iron and Steel Association. China's steel profits have been shrinking since 2012, and last year the industry's profit margin fell to minus 2 percent. About half of the major steel companies reported losses. A possible Baosteel-WISCO merger of the two state-own steel companies was first made public in June. It won approval in late August from the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), which oversees government enterprises, according to people close to the matter. Final details of the plan are to be hammered out by the end of this month following a review by the State Council, China's cabinet, these individuals said. China's steelmakers are struggling from weakening demand at home and protective measures taken by other countries to stop Chinese steel from hurting their domestic producers. The central government has pushed steel companies to consolidate and remove obsolete capacity. But progress has been slow because of concerns about the loss of jobs and local government tax revenues. At the G20 business summit on Sept. 3, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed that China is determined to cut 100 million to 150 million tons of steel capacity by 2020. SASAC, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly submitted to the State Council a draft plan to use mergers and acquisitions to form two or three steel industry leaders by 2025, sources said. Each would have more than 80 million tons of annual capacity. Regulators intend for the 10 biggest steel mills to account more than 60 percent of capacity, compared with 50 percent today. The combination of Baosteel and WISCO will have annual capacity exceeding 60 million tons and more than 700 billion yuan ($105 billion) in total assets. It will replace Hebei Iron & Steel Group as China's largest steelmaker and will rank behind only Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal as the world's second-largest producer. The SASAC plan requires that Baosteel and WISCO set detailed goals and timetables for slashing excess capacity, according to people familiar with the plan. Earlier this year, Baosteel said it will reduce its capacity by 9.2 million tons, or 23 percent, over three years. WISCO said it will cut capacity this year by 40 percent, or 7.6 million tons, eliminating about 10,000 jobs. The merger will make the companies' plans to lower capacity and cut jobs easier to carry out, according to a source close to SASAC. Joining forces Steel-industry experts said they expected the merger to combine the companies' strengths in automotive and electrical steel. Li Xinchuang, director of the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute, estimated that the combined enterprise will account for 40 percent of cold-rolled automotive sheet, 50 percent of galvanized steel sheet and 80 percent of grain-oriented electrical steel. Baosteel, with 540 billion yuan in total assets and 40 million tons of capacity, reported 1 billion yuan of net profit last year from steel, outpacing the rest of the industry. By contrast, Wuhan-based WISCO had a loss of 7.5 billion yuan from steel in 2015, according to the company's financial reports. Years of borrowing to fund aggressive expansion left it with almost $150 billion yuan in total liabilities. The merger will make WISCO's debt more secure, said a banking regulator in Wuhan. But "will Baosteel, an industry leader, be dragged down by WISCO so that one-plus-one becomes lose-lose?" asked a government official who closely monitors the reform of state-owned enterprises. Some industry analysts questioned whether the companies will fully integrate with each other. Baosteel and WICSO have absorbed a number of smaller players with mixed results on efficiency and cutting obsolescence. Over the past 30 years, Baosteel has failed to consolidate almost all of the companies it acquired, said a Baosteel executive who asked not to be identified. "Actually, Baosteel has no interest in buying any steel firms at this stage," the executive said. In 2007 and 2011, Baosteel acquired controlling stakes in Bayi Iron & Steel in Xinjiang and Shaoguan Iron & Steel in Guangdong. Both companies have recorded losses since steel prices started dropping in 2013. In 2015, Bayi Iron reported a net loss of 2.5 billion yuan while Shaoguan Iron had a loss of 2.6 billion yuan. The two companies' combined debt exceeds 34 billion yuan. People familiar with the current merger said the deal will form a new Baosteel-Wuhan Iron, which will be registered in Shanghai. The companies "will possibly remain separated in operations because real consolidation is very difficult given its complexity and lack of internal impetus," a Baosteel staff member said. The final plan is still under State Council review and details may change. But one person with knowledge of the plan said regulators will bar the new company from engaging in commercial real estate development in compliance with SASAC's 2010 policy of reducing state companies' involvement in real estate. It is unclear what will happen to Baosteel and WISCO's existing property subsidiaries. Baosteel and WISCO have also expanded into financial services. In 2015, Baosteel's financial activities, including trust, securities and wealth management, reported a combined 8 billion yuan in net profit. WISCO's financial services subsidiary will not be merged into the new company and will remain in WISCO's home town, Wuhan, as demanded by the provincial government, according to one source. Follow the baton Although a Baosteel-WISCO combination has long been the subject of speculation, the issue had never been discussed officially, said a source from Baosteel who spoke to Caixin on condition of anonymity. The idea apparently came to the government's attention after Premier Li Keqiang visited WISCO in late May, during which the premier highlighted WISCO as a target for the capacity-reduction campaign, according to this source. Top executives of the two companies were notified by SASAC of the planned merger in mid-June, about a week before the companies suspended share trading in Shanghai for the restructuring, the source said. "The notice leaves no room for discussion," the source said. "It just informed (the companies) the decision of SASAC, requiring the companies to merge." Some business experts said they were concerned about the effects of government-orchestrated business combinations. "Consolidation should be a result of market competition, rather than (government-set) targets," said Zhang Wenkui, a research fellow at the Development Research Centre under the State Council. "Company restructuring simply guided by administrative orders violates market rules and may result in failure as has happened before." An often cited example of a failed government-led merger is the 2005 combination of SASAC-backed Anshan Iron & Steel Group with local government-owned Benxi Iron & Steel Group. The consolidation has stalled and only exists in name. Sources told Caixin that the central government has ordered SASAC to restudy the merger to push forward the consolidation of Anshan and Benxi. Several mergers of key state-owned enterprises have taken place since last year. They include: A combination of train makers CNR Corp. and CSR Corp. A merger of shipping giants China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co. and China Shipping Group. The consolidation of cement makers China National Building Materials Group Corp. and China National Materials Group Corp. Ltd. Peng Huagang, deputy secretary-general of SASAC, recently told media that the commission has been developing more restructuring plans for state-owned enterprises. The moves will reduce the number of companies under SASAC's direct supervision to fewer than 100. After the Baosteel-WISCO merger, the number will be 103. Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com); editor Ken Howe (kennethhowe@caixin.com) The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. New Delhi: India has slammed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his complete denial of terrorism that stems from its soil during his address at the UNGA. Soon after Sharif addressed the UNGA, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup slammed the Pakistani PM in a series of tweet for hailing Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani and denying Pakistans hand in Uri terror attack. He tweeted, Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA in complete denial of Uri terror attack. 19 infiltration attempts stopped at LoC this year. Indigenous??!!. PM Sharif at #UNGA says India poses unacceptable conditions to dialogue. Indias only condition is an end to terrorism. This not acceptable? MEA questioned. ALSO READ: As it happened - Nawaz Sharif rakes up Kashmir, hails Burhan Wani as 'young leader' Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UNs highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism, the MEA Twitter handle hit out. Sharif on Wednesday night attacked India over the Kashmir issue in an audacious speech, saying, Kashmiris want freedom from India. Peace between India and Pakistan cannot be finally achieved without resolution to the Kashmir dispute. ALSO READ: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif plays Kashmir card at UNGA: Read full text of the speech Sharif also hailed Burhan Wani, the terrorist who was killed by Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. The young leader murdered by Indian forces has emerged as a symbol of latest Kashmiri Intifada, he said. The provocative remarks from Sharif came two days after the terrorist attack at an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri, which had left 18 jawans martyred and 19 other soldiers injured, while four terrorists were gunned down. The Narendra Modi government has come out strongly in the wake of the Uri attacks. It was reported on Wednesday that PM Modi has given a nod for surgical strikes at terrorists camp across the LoC in PoK. Below are some strong reactions coming from Indian leaders following Nawaz Sharifs provocative address at the UNGA: Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA in complete denial of Uri terror attack. 19 infiltration attempts stopped at LoC this year. Indigenous??!! Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 21, 2016 Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UN's highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism. Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 21, 2016 PM Sharif at #UNGA says India poses unacceptable conditions to dialogue. India's only condition is an end to terrorism. This not acceptable? Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 21, 2016 New York: We have not yet seen the first mile, where is the question of extra mile?- MJ Akbar,MoS MEA on Pak PM's #UNGA speech pic.twitter.com/rTXsN63Anv ANI (@ANI_news) September 21, 2016 The world also knows that Pakistan has indulged in ethnic cleansing of its own people: MJ Akbar,MoS,MEA on Pak PM #UNGA speech pic.twitter.com/EAJPL36Emk ANI (@ANI_news) September 21, 2016 Burhan Wani is a self declared commander of Hizbul, we heard today by Pak PM the glorification of terror, was self incrimination: MJ Akbar ANI (@ANI_news) September 21, 2016 Pakistan at the moment seems to be run by a war machine rather than a Govt. Talks and guns don't go together: MJ Akbar,MoS MEA pic.twitter.com/8IiXNa8DZJ ANI (@ANI_news) September 21, 2016 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Raking up Kashmir at the UN, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday glorified slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani as a young leader. 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, however, expressed readiness for a serious and sustained dialogue with India for peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, especially Jammu and Kashmir. Below are Nawaz Sharifs top 10 quotes on Kashmir: 1. 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. 2. We demand the immediate release of all Kashmiri political prisoners 3. We demand an end to the curfew; freedom for the Kashmiris to demonstrate peacefully 4. We demand urgent medical help for the injured 5. We demand abrogation of Indias draconian laws 6. We demand removal of the foreign travel ban on Kashmiri leaders 7. 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. 8. 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. 9. 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. 10. 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. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. (Shanghai) A suspected "rat trader" from an insurance asset management firm has turned himself in to Shanghai police after returning from the U.S., where he fled half a year ago. Caixin reporters verified through various sources that the suspect, whom police identified only as a man surnamed Liu, was a deputy manager in a division of Taiping Asset Management Co. Ltd. in Shanghai, a subsidiary of China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. Ltd. Police said Liu, 41, became suspected of having engaged in "rat trading" involving 120 million yuan ($18 million) in securities after market regulatory authority detected some "abnormal transactions" in December 2015. Police said the illicit trading took place from January 2014 to February 2015, and Liu may have garnered hundreds of thousands of yuan in profits. Rat trading generally refers to a form of "front-running" in which traders use personal or "rat" accounts, often of friends or relatives, to buy shares in companies they know their fund management firms intend to buy. They gain when prices go up as other buyers emerge when news of the fund purchases spreads. Rat trading can also refer to other forms of insider trading. Corruption is widely believed to be rife in China's stock market. In recent years, rat trading has spilled over into banks and even insurance companies, which bet funds from wealth management products and insurance policies not only on safer fixed-income securities, but also riskier stock investments. The first rat-trading case involving the insurance industry came to light in November 2011, when an investment manager at Ping An Asset Management Co. Ltd was found to have gained more than 9 million yuan in illicit profits from front-running. Police said Liu, who had 18 years' experience in securities and investment industry, helped other people trade shares by using undisclosed information he secured under his authority in managing the investments of some "traditional insurance products." During the Chinese New Year holiday in February 2016, Liu fled to the U.S. with his two children via Jeju province, South Korea. On Aug. 31, Liu came back to Shanghai with his children and turned himself in. Taiping Asset Management replied to Caixin that "the company has not yet received any confirmation about this case." It added that it had "always managed to strictly control the risks." Contact reporter Dong Tongjian (tongjiandong@caixin.com); editor Ken Howe (kennethhowe@caixin.com) New Delhi: Heavy rainfall over the last few days has added to the problem of people owing to further delays in repairs of potholes. Heavy rains central Mumbai and the suburbs have impacted road surfaces, traffic jams have been reported in several parts of the city, especially in the western suburbs. According to the India Meteorological Department data, Mumbai received the highest 24-hour rainfall over the last four years between 8.30 am on Tuesday and 8.30 am on Wednesday 142.6 mm in Santa Cruz.The IMD officials predicted intermittent showers for Thursday, adding heavy rains are likely to occur at a few places. Mumbai will receive very heavy rain fall in next forty eight hours, according to an official from The India Meteorological Department (IMD). In its forecast for Mumbai and suburban areas, the IMD predicted intermittent or continuous rain or showers with few heavy spells beginning from 10 am on September 21 progressing to very heavy rains for next two days. Joint secretary of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Rajiv Nivatkar said. "Exceptionally heavy rains are expected in the city from the morning of September 23," he said. There are two cyclonic circulation developing, one along the coast of Andhra Pradesh and the other along the coast of Arabian sea. Cyclonic circulation now along the coast of Andhra Pradesh is gaining strength. Coupled with that, another cyclonic circulation is developing over the Arabian sea off the Mumbai coast, the official said. Kashmir: Three days after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri in which at least 18 Army jawans were martyred, fresh encounter between security personnel and terrorists broke out in Bandipora district on Thursday. 1 militant was gunned down. One militant has been killed in the gunfight in Bandipora, an army official said. He 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. As the forces were conducting the search operation, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering an encounter in which, so far, one militant has been killed, the official said. He said the security forces have also recovered a weapon from the site of the encounter. The operation is in progress and more details are awaited, he said, adding the identity and group affiliation of the slain militant is being ascertained. On Tuesday, two infiltration bids were made from across the border in Kashmir but army foiled the attempts killing some of the terrorists while losing a jawan, barely two days after the terror attack in Uri. The attempts to cross the Line of Control(LoC) in Uri and Nowgam sectors came even as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and fired at Indian positions in Uri sector. The Narendra Modi government has come out strongly in the wake of the Uri attacks. It was reported on Wednesday that PM Modi has given a nod for surgical strikes at terrorists camp across the LoC in PoK. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. United Nations: 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 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. 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. ALSO READ: India says Nawaz Sharif's hailing Burhan Wani at UNGA reflects Pakistan's attachment to 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. ALSO READ: 10 quotes on Kashmir by Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif at 71st session of UN General Assembly 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 States support. ALSO READ: As it happened - Nawaz Sharif rakes up Kashmir, hails Burhan Wani as 'young leader' With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organisations raise 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. ALSO READ: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif plays Kashmir card at UNGA: Read full text of the speech 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. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: China's richest billionaire son has a unique but lavish way of gifting his loved pet. As per reports, the only son of China's richest billionaire reportedly bought eight iphone 7 worth $9,584 for his pet dog 'Coco' on the day of its release. Wang Sicong, 28, son of billionaire Wang Jianlin, the chairman of Dalian Wanda Group, posted two photos of the Alaskan malamute named Coco, sitting on a couch surrounded by iPhones still in their boxes last week, on the verified Weibo social media account of the dog, which has nearly 1.9 million followers. Coco, 8, dubbed China's richest dog, posed with her black and rose gold iPhone 7 handsets, the South China Morning Post reported. Wang Sicong, speaking as his dog's voice on the account, writes in the caption: "Not sure what people are showing off on social media about. There is nothing to show off. I was forced to take action." The post has also gathered thousands of shares and comments. In China, an iPhone 6 costs 6,988 yuan (USD 1,047), while the larger iPhone 7 Plus goes for 7,988 yuan (USD 1,197). Forbes has put his father's net worth at USD 33.3 billion and is the world's 20th richest billionaire. This is not the first time Wang Sicong has doted on Coco this way.In 2015, he attracted widespread outrage in China after posting photos of the dog wearing two Apple watches worth upwards of USD 37,000. He's part of China's second-generation rich, the sons and daughters of tycoons that are best known for flaunting their lifestyles, the report said. Nicknamed "the nation's husband" for his status as China's most eligible bachelor, Wang Sicong has come under fire from state media for his display of wealth. Wang Sicong has also opened an online shop to mark her birthday, called Coco Wang, which sells a line of doggie-inspired toys and accessories, from tote bags, flasks to mobile phone cases. All of them carry cartoon illustrations of the pet. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The 'Zero Distance' programme is Infosyss latest attempt to drive more business from clients and increase productivity of its bench. The Bangalore based of Software solution giant is placing incentives for project managers to start monetising the flagship program. CEO Vishal Sikka pioneered the Zero Distance initiatives when he joined the IT company in August 2014. As per reports in the financial dailies, the idea behind the program was to develop new ideas and improvements on every project Infosys works on to create a culture of innovation and to prove to clients the company was truly their partner, not just a vendor. Now that the framework has been effected on practically all of the company's 9,500 projects, Infosys is looking at monetising the programme. "They are creating an incentive mechanism so that every project manager can mine accounts, create a Zero Distance template and turn that into a project. It's a way to boost mining accounts because now, it is not just a sales team selling but every project manager can up-sell and cross-sell," an executive told Economic Times. Chief delivery officer Ravi Kumar S said of 11,000 Zero Distance templates, 30-35% were being discussed with clients. "When they were building the proof of concept, it was not being billed. But if the ideas turn into projects, then you have turned your bench into a productive resource that will actually boost margins," the person said. New Delhi: Amid speculations in Pakistani media that India may launch surgical strikes, Pakistan's stock markets on Thursday witnessed a sharp decline, with the Karachi Stock Exchange(KSE)-100 benchmark index dropping a massive 569 points to close at 39,771 points. According to a report in Pakistani website Dawn, the small investors ran for cover and the stock markets fell by 1.41% on Thursday, wiping out gains netted in the month of September. The panic selling was triggered by individual small investors, who usually generate the biggest volumes in the market, the report says further. Dawn quoted former Karachi Stock Exchange chairman Arif Habib saying the stock markets tumbled on the hype created by the TV media about tensions between Pakistan and India after the recent terror attack in Uri in Kashmir. Some media houses also aired reports claiming that Indian Army had been moved to forward locations near the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Borders. ALSO READ: Who is India's NSA Ajit Doval and what is 'Doval Doctrine'? Pakistan's decision to close airspace over the countrys northern areas and flights by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter planes on Wednesday fuelled rumours that the armed forces were preparing for a possible Indian attack. The rumors of the possible Indian retaliation after the Uri terror attacks in Kashmir drove the stock market down when the markets opened on Thursday. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours are running high following the terrorist attack on an amry camp at Uri Sector in Kashmir and it caused speculations of Indian retaliation on social and mainstream media in Pakistan. India attacks Pakistan after Sharif's peech at UNGA 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. 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. With inputs from PTI For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: India on Thursday lambasted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for raking up Kashmir issue and hailing Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in his address to the UN General Assembly. Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup and First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir were among those who slammed Pakistan in strong words. Here are top 10 quotes by India on Sharifs provocative speech at UNGA: 1. MJ Akbar: 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. 2. Vikas Swarup: Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA in complete denial of Uri terror attack. 19 infiltration attempts stopped at LoC this year. Indigenous??!! Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UNs highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism. 3. Eenam Gambhir: India sees in Pakistan a terrorist state. 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. 4. Ram Madhav, BJP: Pakistan PM was openly campaigning for one of his terror commanders, Burhan Wani. It is pathetic to see Pak PM championing the cause of UN designated terror org. Pak should be declared a terrorist state. 5. Shashi Tharoor: Nawaz Sharif has become more and more disappointing. Same man who had welcomed PM for his bday and now he's hailing Burhan Wani. This kind of nonsense really discredits the kind of responsible statements you expect from a PM of a country. It confirms that we dont need to waste time talking to this gentleman (Pak PM), we need to focus on different approaches to Pakistan. World has seen they are exporting terrorists to India; dont think anyone will have sympathies with Pak PM after that performance. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: Google has extended its support to the Maharashtra government to make Mumbai a 'Wifi city'. "A team of Google led by Vinay Goel met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in San Francisco and extended their support to make Mumbai a Wifi city," a statement from Chief Minister's office said. Fadnavison on Thursday concluded his two-day visit to the US after meeting APCO CEO and President Evan Kraus and Sabse Technologies CEO Sabeer Bhatia. He also met California Governor Jerry Brown and discussed issues related to clean energy, environment and urbanisation. Both discussed possible ways to collaborate between state of California and Maharashtra government for clean energy, the statement said. New Delhi: Indian Navy Western Naval Command has sounded a high alert after school children claimed that they spotted movement of some suspicious personas in Raigadas Uran in Maharashtra, reports said on Thursday. They informed the police following which alert was sounded at Maharashtra Naval ammunition depot INS Abhimanyu. Two school children told police that they spotted some men with weapons. Meanwhile, search operation is on and required assets have been mobilised.A According to Navy sources, at around 11 am, students said they saw 5-6 men in Pathan suit type dresses talking to each other in a different language. They were spotted by students opposite to the Naval base. As it happened:A #A NSG teams deployed in MumbaiA #Situation closely monitored in liaison with Police. No person located or apprehended till now: Defence PRO Mumbai on suspicious persons seen # Navi Mumbai Police: After investigation, the school children who spotted the suspected armed men have been sent back home. Their identity has been kept secret due to security reasons. 300-400 cops from crime branch and local police are involved in search operations in the area. Force One's team is also reaching. # Indian Navy Chief PRO DK Sharma: I am only confirming that Navy is at a high state of alert after getting this input ie regarding suspicious activity reported by some school children in Karanja A near Mumbai. # Maharashtra DGP Satish Mathur: 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. # Navy sources tell ANI: They were spotted by students opposite to the Naval base,as per students they heard the men say 'ONGC' and 'school' repeatedly. # Navy sources: At around 11am, students said they saw 4 men in Pathansuit-type dresses talking to each other in a different language # Navy conducts search operations after school children in Maharashtra's Uran claimed of seeing 5-6 men carrying weapons near INS Abhimanyu base. 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 a ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 A Navi Mumbai police outside the school where students claimed of seeing a group of armed men, near Naval base in Maharashtra's Uran pic.twitter.com/lrFFVC6Zqe a ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: 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. 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. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 09.22.2016 19:04 Company invites businesses to apply to try 'Little Program,' which experts say may challenge app stores' dominance By Liu Xiaojing and Chen Na (Beijing) WeChat, the most widely used messaging and social media app in China, is testing a new feature that will allow users to access a variety of mobile services without downloading separate apps. Experts said the move may affect the business of major smartphone app distributors such as the online Apple Store. WeChat, owned by Tencent Holdings Ltd., said on its official microblog on Thursday that businesses can start applying to test the feature, which it calls Xiaochengxu, or "Little Program." New Delhi: India on Thursday accused Pakistan of not combating cross-border terrorism effectively, soon after a meeting on terrorism of SAARC member countries held in New Delhi. India said the fact that Pakistan had sent only two officials to attend this meeting ptoves that Pakistan was not serious on tackling terrorism. The accusation follows the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers of Indian army were martyred. The evidences collected so far point finger to Pakistans involvement. The MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Chor ki daadhi mein tinka, referring also to the recent Uri terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. India on Wednesday had summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and handed over evidences. These include items of food, clothing and medicines collected from the possessions of terrorists killed during the encounter which bore the marking of Made in Pakistan. #For any such treaty to work, its imp that there must be mutual trust and cooperation, cant be a one sided affair: MEA on Indus Waters Treaty #Every question doesn't have a yes or no answer: Vikas Swarup,MEA on if PM Modi will visit Islamabad for SAARC summit #We don't need a dossier, whole world is aware of Pakistan's role in promoting terror: Vikas Swarup,MEA #Our actions speak for themselves and you can see our actions are already delivering results: Vikas Swarup,MEA #As far as the so called dossier Mr. Nawaz Sharif spoke of in his speech, we find no mention of it in UN Secy General's statement: MEA #No one and I mean no other country at UN has spoken on the subject Mr.Nawaz Sharif devoted 80% of his time to: Vikas Swarup,MEA #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 #The onus is now squarely on Pakistan to act against terror groups, who find safe havens in Pak: Vikas Swarup,MEA #You would have seen the very strong condemnation of #UriAttack by most countries including UK,France,Saudi Arabia and many others: MEA For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugtis application seeking political asylum in India was today received by the Home Ministry which is examining it. We have received Bugtis 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. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A top intelligence officer today 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. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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 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, 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. " 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 S M Krishna ahead of his visit to Delhi. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. (Beijing) Two-thirds of parents in China said they would be concerned if mainstream schools allowed disabled children to study alongside those who are not, an advocacy group's survey found. Only 8 percent said they do not want their children to study alongside disabled children at mainstream schools. But over 54 percent said they would be concerned about a drop in teaching quality if teachers had to provide special assistance to the disabled, a report published Wednesday by Save the Children, a London-based nonprofit, shows. Nearly half the parents also said they were concerned their children may pick up bad habits by mingling with disabled children. Opposition from some parents, bullying and the lack of support facilities have all led to disabled children being shut out of mainstream education, the report said. Only 58 percent of children with disabilities in China go to conventional schools, according to the study, which polled about 900 parents in 11 Chinese cities. In contrast, over 90 percent of students with disabilities are enrolled in schools via government-sanctioned inclusive education programs in countries such as the United States and Italy, Save the Children said. The refusal of schools to accept disabled children has meant that nearly 30 percent of disabled children aged 6 to 14 have no access to nine years of compulsory schooling, according to China Disabled Persons' Federation, a quasi-government organization. Meanwhile, many of China's special schools for the disabled lacked trained teachers and resources, which reduces the chances of students from entering college. In 2008, the Chinese government ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which calls for inclusive education at all levels. But there were no national laws to safeguard the education rights of the disabled. The State Council, China's cabinet, last month issued a five-year plan that requires schools to expand enrollment of disabled students and increase resources allocated to them. Nearly half the parents with a disabled child said their children had no access to special care at conventional schools. Awareness among teachers at mainstream schools over how to support children with special needs remains low, particularly in less-developed regions, the study found. Contact reporter Li Rongde (rongdeli@caixin.com); editor Poornima Weerasekara (poornima@caixin.com) The state has ruled against a coalition of hospitals that challenged the Connecticut hospital tax as illegal and unconstitutional. Last November, the Connecticut Hospital Association and 24 individual hospitals, including Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford, filed documents with the state departments of revenue and social services asserting that the tax, first imposed in 2012, violates state and federal laws, as well as the state and federal constitutions. The filings requested that the two agencies issue declaratory rulings that the tax is invalid and unenforceable. But the state rejected that argument Thursday in a decision that ran to nearly 180 pages. In essence, the petitioners challenged the legality of the hospital user fee enacted by the General Assembly in 2011, said DSS spokesman David Dearborn in an email. The declaratory ruling issued today by Commissioners (Kevin) Sullivan and (Roderick) Bremby found that the legislated measure was legally and properly implemented. Hospital association spokeswoman Michele Sharp called Thursdays ruling unfortunate but not unexpected. The state began collecting the hospital tax in 2012, intending to redistribute the proceeds to the hospitals as a way of drawing down matching federal grants. That year the hospitals paid about $350 million in taxes and received about $400 million in state and federal funds. This fiscal year, the hospitals will be taxed $556 million but the hospitals will receive $117.5 million. Last year, the hospitals were taxed $556.1 million and received $164.3 million. Hospital and CHA officials have said in recent months they hoped to keep the tax dispute out of the courts. But if they file suit, they wont be the first in the region to do so; their counterparts in New Hampshire fought a similar fight and were able to force a settlement that restored the flow of revenue to the hospitals. On Thursday, Sharp said the hospital association and hospitals intend to pursue every legal option at our disposal as we continue our efforts to challenge the tax. The hospital tax, which now totals a staggering $556 million a year and is nearly 30 times what any other organization pays, is bad public policy, Sharp said. The tax results in the loss of hospital services and staff, increases the cost of health care, and damages the states economy. In response to the original filings, state officials cited figures suggesting that the state hospitals had more than $900 million in profits in fiscal year 2015 although the CHA has disputed those figures as grossly misleading. The state also contended that Medicaid payments to hospitals have increased over the last decade, and that hospitals are seeing fewer patients without coverage because of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. 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 the 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. Image with caption: "SFU biomedical engineering PhD students Careesa Liu (left) and Sujoy Ghosh Hajra founded the SCORE program, an innovative student training partnership between SFU, City of Surrey and HealthTech Connex. (CNW Group/HealthTech Connex Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160922_C5724_PHOTO_EN_779095.jpg For further information: Media contact: Yvonne Chiang, Publicist, Chiang PR, 604-880-5090, [email protected] TORONTO, Sept. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Centennial College has joined a national program to paint Canada yellow for student mental health. The Toronto college is working with the Lucas Fiorella Friendship Bench and has launched the #YellowIsForHello mental health awareness program on campus with the unveiling of one of the organization's iconic yellow benches today. With suicide now the second-leading cause of death among Canadians aged 15 to 34, developing a culture of openness around student mental health has never been more important. The #YellowIsForHello program will help Centennial College continue to foster an environment where students are free to talk and learn about mental health. That in turn increases awareness, reduces stigma, and will see more students who may be suffering in silence get the help they need before it's too late. "We're delighted to include Centennial College among the 11 Canadian schools unveiling a Friendship Bench this fall," said Sam Fiorella, Managing Director of the Lucas Fiorella Friendship Bench. "By joining the #YellowIsForHello program, the college is making a powerful commitment to students that says we care about you, we care about your mental health." "Raising awareness of the crisis in student mental health and having conversations about it is the first step towards helping people overcome their challenges," said Ann Buller, President of Centennial College. "Too many young people have become overwhelmed by today's stresses and don't know where to turn to for help. We want to ensure they know the college has resources to help." "As a student counsellor, I see lots of students in my office who admit having trouble managing the responsibilities of school, family, work and relationships," said Centennial's Steven Ruhinda. "Fortunately, colleges are devoting more resources time being a major one to counsel students to cope with today's demands. Our Friendship Bench is a visual reminder that help is available on campus." About The Lucas Fiorella Friendship Bench The mandate of the Lucas Fiorella Friendship Bench is to connect students dealing with mental health issues, and who are unsure or unable to ask for help, with campus resources and other students willing to help or listen. The yellow benches being installed on high school and university campuses across Canada serve as a visual reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and conversations among students. Each bench features a URL where students can quickly access on-campus and local mental health and suicide-prevention services. Connect with The Friendship Bench on social media: Thefriendshipbench.org Twitter.com/yellowis4hello Facebook.com/thefriendshipbench About Centennial College Established in 1966, Centennial College is Ontario's first public college primarily serving the eastern portion of the Greater Toronto Area through four campuses. It has a record of exemplary teaching, innovative programming and extensive partnership building. With enrolments of 20,000 full-time students and 20,000 part-time learners, Centennial is recognized as one of the most culturally diverse post-secondary institutions in Canada. It offers more than 250 diploma, certificate and degree programs in business, media, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health care and transportation. SOURCE Centennial College For further information: For media inquiries and high-res images please contact: Scott Hosmer, Marketing and Communications Officer, Centennial College, School of Communications, Media, Arts & Design, 416-289-5000 ext. 8506; [email protected]; Alison King, Communications Director, The Friendship Bench, 905-484-3261; [email protected] OTTAWA, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's Minister of Democratic Institutions, Maryam Monsef is in Atlantic Canada this week to kick off the next leg of the Federal electoral reform community dialogue tour. Over the next ten days the Minister will stop in Charlottetown, Halifax, Moncton, Gander, and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. At each stop along the national tour, Minister Monsef is asking Canadians from all walks of life to get #EngagedinER through discussing the values and expectations they feel should be reflected in Canada's electoral system. All Canadians are invited to attend meetings or hold their own gatherings and share their ideas about the future of Canada's democracy either in person or online. Venue and time information for public events can be found at Federal electoral reform community dialogue tour. For those not able to attend in person, many of the Minister's dialogue events are being broadcast online from the Canadian Democracy twitter account. Over the past week, the Minister met with Canadians in Thunder Bay, Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, Ottawa-Gatineau, Montreal, and Shawinigan. Throughout the tour the Minister has been reaching out to Canadians from groups that are traditionally underrepresented or that sometimes go unheard from in Canada's electoral processes. Before the community dialogue in Thunder Bay, the Minister met with students from Confederation College to discuss engaging Indigenous peoples and youth in electoral reform. In Toronto, the Minister joined an event hosted by Equal Voice Canada and the YWCA to discuss engaging women in politics. Following the event, the Minister met with student leaders from Ryerson University to discuss youth engagement in Canada's democratic institutions. In Kitchener-Waterloo, the Minister joined in a collaborative town hall event organized by local Members of Parliament Bardish Chagger, Bryan May, Raj Saini and Marwan Tabbara. The House of Commons Special Committee on Electoral Reform has also invited all Members of Parliament to hold town hall consultations with their constituents and issue a report to the committee from each of the 338 ridings across Canada. On September 15, 2016, the Minister marked the International Day of Democracy, leading a dialogue event in the national capital region and was joined by her Parliamentary Secretary Mark Holland, as well as local Members of Parliament Greg Fergus and David McGuinty. Quotes Canadians have a wealth of perspectives on how their electoral system can be improved and it is imperative that we have this dialogue before we pursue any specific changes. It is so encouraging to see the diversity of opinion and the strong convictions expressed by Canadians at every stop. I thank all who have participated in this discussion and want to remind Canadians that it is vital that they contribute their opinions in every way they can as the debates, votes and laws that result from our electoral processes affect all aspects of our daily lives. -Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Democratic Institutions Quick Facts An all-party parliamentary committee has been established to consult Canadians, study federal electoral reform and submit a report and recommendations to Parliament by December 1, 2016 . . Members of Parliament have been encouraged to hold their own discussions with their constituents. Additional details for the date, time and locations of events held with the Minister, Members of Parliament or other groups are available at Attend a Canadian federal electoral reform event on the Canada.ca/democracy site. Stay Connected Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. SOURCE Minister for Democratic Institutions For further information: (media only): Jean-Bruno Villeneuve, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Democratic Institutions, 613-995-0238; Media Relations, Privy Council Office, 613-957-5420 TORONTO, Sept. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Today the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released reports on the 20152016 provincial assessments for each publicly funded school and school board in Ontario. Elementary school reports provide results, demographic information and student questionnaire responses from the primary- and junior-division Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, written by students in Grades 3 and 6. Secondary school reports provide similar information relating to the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. EQAO also published two comprehensive provincial reports of this year's results for the assessments: one for the elementary school system and one for secondary. Today's release of school- and board-level results allows school communities across the province to take stock of their own journey toward helping all students master the fundamental reading, writing and mathematics skills defined by The Ontario Curriculum. QUOTES "At the local level, elected school trustees are ultimately the ones accountable to Ontarians for improvements in student achievement in the publicly funded schools of their communities. EQAO results provide some important insights about their students' achievement, demographics and attitudes to support these schools in their work." Dave Cooke, Chair of the Board of Directors "The appropriate use of the information we've published today is to help communities monitor their school's or board's progress over time and to inform discussions about improvement planning. Simplistic comparisons of one school's results to another's should be avoided, as they can lead to unfair and incorrect assumptions." Bruce Rodrigues, Chief Executive Officer LEARN MORE Find school or school board reports at www.eqao.com. Ontario Student Achievement: EQAO's Provincial Elementary School Report: Results of the 20152016 Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary Division (Grades 13) and Junior Division (Grades 46) Ontario Student Achievement: EQAO's Provincial Secondary School Report: Results of the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, 20152016 InfographicPrimary-Division, Junior-Division and Grade 9 Provincial Assessments, 2016 Results Infographic Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, 2016 Results EQAO's Highlights of Provincial ResultsPrimary- and Junior-Division Assessments, 2016 EQAO's Highlights of Provincial ResultsGrade 9 Assessment of Mathematics, 2016 EQAO's Highlights of Provincial ResultsOntario Secondary School Literacy Test, 2016 Aussi disponible en francais. About EQAO EQAO is an independent agency that creates and administers large-scale assessments to measure Ontario students' achievement in reading, writing and math at key stages of their education. All EQAO assessments are developed by Ontario educators to align with The Ontario Curriculum. The assessments evaluate student achievement objectively and in relation to a common provincial standard. EQAO is undertaking a multi-year project to move the provincial assessments online. EQAO provides results to each student who writes an assessment. Its personalized reports help support individual student learning. The agency provides schools and school boards with detailed reports about their students' achievement, as well as contextual, attitudinal and behavioural information from questionnaires, in an interactive online reporting tool. These data are used to improve school programming and classroom instruction. EQAO also reports the results of the provincial assessments publicly. This helps keep the public education system accountable to taxpayers. EQAO is committed to building capacity for the use of data through articles, workshops, school stories and programs like the Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Recognition of Achievement. EQAO has an active research program that investigates factors that influence student achievement, school effectiveness and best assessment practices. EQAO coordinates Ontario's participation in national and international assessments. SOURCE Education Quality and Accountability Office For further information: and to arrange interviews, please contact: Angele Dufresne, Communications Officer, 416-314-4327, [email protected] OTTAWA, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is making strategic investments in clean technology to help create jobs and support Canada's transition to the low-carbon economy. Fostering innovation in areas such as energy efficiency also helps Canadians protect the environment and save money. Karen McCrimmon, Member of Parliament for KanataCarleton and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, on behalf of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jim Carr, was on hand today to celebrate the grand opening of Minto Communities Canada's Net Zero Townhomes residential complex in Kanata, Ontario. Through government support and an increasing commitment on the part of Canadian business to help achieve a low-carbon future, innovative solutions such as these high-performing, energy-efficient homes are becoming more readily available to Canadians and are reducing the environmental impact of energy use while helping homeowners save money on their energy bills. Natural Resources Canada has been engaged in low-energy and net-zero energy housing research for over a decade, helping make Canada a global leader in low-carbon energy. Minto is one of the five participating home builders that have benefited from Natural Resources Canada's nearly $2-million contribution to the Owens Corning Net Zero Housing Community Project. Quote "Investing in innovative energy-efficiency initiatives is key to the Government of Canada's approach for growing the economy and protecting the environment. These net-zero energy townhomes are a great example of the kind of leadership and innovation we will continue to champion in the move toward achieving a low-carbon economy." The Honourable Jim Carr Canada's Minister of Natural Resources "Net-zero energy homes demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency. They are a viable way to create sustainable jobs, protect the environment and advance a clean-energy economy. Through sustained commitment and innovation, Minto Communities Canada is making it easier for Canadians to save energy, save money and reduce energy consumption." Karen McCrimmon Member of Parliament for KanataCarleton and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Associated Links ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.news.gc.ca. SOURCE Natural Resources Canada For further information: Alexandre Deslongchamps, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister, Natural Resources Canada, 343-292-6837; Media Relations, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, 343-292-6100 TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Today, EY announced that Greg Orencsak, Ontario Treasury Board Secretariat Deputy Minister, will join the firm in November as Canadian Public Policy and Fiscal Innovation Leader. "Greg Orencsak brings a wealth of government transformation experience to the EY team," says Kirsten Tisdale, EY's Canadian Government & Public Sector Leader. "His insights will bring exceptional value to our government and public sector clients, as they look to tackle disruption and make the necessary public policy and economic decisions that will enable them to innovate and better serve our citizens." In a rapidly changing world, governments are seeking new solutions to complex problems, to achieve best practice in the delivery of public services. As part of EY's team, Orencsak will work with government clients to drive transformational change. Orencsak has served as Ontario's Deputy Minister of the Treasury Board Secretariat since 2014, where he has led broad reaching transformation of the Government of Ontario. Previously, as Ontario's Associate Deputy Minister of Finance, he led budget development and fiscal policy for the government, leading a team of economists, accountants and other public policy professionals, while also advising the Premier and Cabinet on some of their most complex policy issues. Orencsak officially joins EY in November as a partner based in Toronto. To learn more about EY's Government & Public Sector services, visit ey.com/ca About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. For more than 150 years in Canada, we've delivered the insights and quality services that help build trust and confidence in capital markets here and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca. Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. SOURCE EY (Ernst & Young) For further information: Sasha Anopina, [email protected], 416 943 2637; Leigh Kjekstad, [email protected], 604 648 3807; Julie Fournier, [email protected], 514 874 4308 NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Quebec-California-Ontario carbon market gained attention yesterday at New York Climate Week, which runs until September 25. The Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, David Heurtel, was invited to speak about Quebec's experience with carbon pricing during a high-level panel organized by the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC). He explained how revenue from Quebec's carbon market is used to meet Quebec's environmental and economic objectives. The Minister also had an opportunity to engage in discussions with his Ontario counterpart, Glen Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada, centering on strategies to adopt for fighting climate change. "In Quebec, we decided to channel all of the revenue from the carbon market into the Green Fund so that it can be reinvested in actions that will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and improve our ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change. That decision has paid off: Not only are we achieving our climate objectives, we are also accelerating our transition to an innovative, low-carbon economy," noted Minister Heurtel. As a result of the Green Fund, over 3.3 billion dollars will be invested in Quebec by 2020 to implement the 2013-2020 Climate Change Action Plan (2013-2020 CCAP). Since the transportation sector is responsible for 43% of Quebec's GHG emissions, two thirds of those investments will go to supporting projects in that sector. The 2013-2020 CCAP focuses in particular on support for collective and alternative transportation, efficiency and technological innovation in all modes of transportation and gives ever-increasing importance to energies that emit fewer GHGs. Transportation electrification is also a priority for the Quebec government. It is a promising future-oriented economic niche that stimulates job creation and economic competitiveness while at the same time fostering a reduction in GHG emissions. "The Quebec transportation electrification sector currently comprises 30 companies and accounts for 3,000 jobs concrete evidence that clean technologies enhance Quebec's economy and serve as a lever for its recovery," said the Minister. Climate Week's initiator, the Climate Group, capitalized on the presence of several representatives in New York from the States and Regions Alliance to hold its annual meeting focusing on energy efficiency collaboration. As Co-Chair, Minister Heurtel opened the meeting by underscoring the Alliance's crucial role in ensuring mobilization and collaboration among the federated states and regions that are involved and proactive in the fight against climate change. He urged its members to continue their efforts in that direction. "In Paris, the role played by local and regional governments was clearly recognized. That explicit recognition of the role of federated states gives substance to Quebec's sustained commitment on the international scene and reflects the new era of collaboration in the global fight against climate change that has been emerging over the past several years. It is through joint initiatives and by sharing our experiences that we will be able to accelerate the transition to a green and flourishing economy. Our strength lies in the ties we create with our partners for the benefit of future generations," concluded Minister Heurtel. SOURCE: Emilie Simard Press Officer Office of the Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change Tel.: 418 521-3911 INFORMATION: Media Relations Ministere du Developpement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques Tel.: 418 521-3991 SOURCE Cabinet du ministre du Developpement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques For further information: SOURCE: Emilie Simard, Press Officer, Office of the Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Tel.: 418 521-3911 ; INFORMATION: Media Relations, Ministere du Developpement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, Tel.: 418 521-3991 Joint venture company would develop, market and build the Advanced Fuel CANDU Reactor (AFCR TM ) Benefits to Canada include: high quality jobs, growth, investment and a more dynamic domestic nuclear sector Innovations developed in new design centres would contribute to Canada's clean energy engagements following COP21 , enhance its environmental stewardship abroad and reduce carbon emissions globally MONTREAL, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - SNC-Lavalin (TSX: SNC) is pleased to announce it signed an agreement in principle for a new Joint Venture with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and Shanghai Electric Group Company Ltd. The new company would develop, market and build the Advanced Fuel CANDU Reactor (AFCR). The creation of the joint venture in principle follows the signing of a framework agreement in 2014, and is subject to all government and regulatory approvals. The new company is expected to be registered in mid-2017, and would be followed by the formation of two design centres one in Canada and another in China to complete the AFCR technology. This could lead to construction of the world's first two AFCR in China, and possibly subsequent builds in China and around the world. "This is a game changer in the nuclear industry, and a great endorsement of our expertise and CANDU nuclear technology from the largest nuclear market in the world," said Sandy Taylor, President, Power, SNC-Lavalin. "Each new build in China, and anywhere in the world, will benefit Canada in terms of job creation, innovation and nuclear research & development, environmental stewardship, and will contribute to reduce global carbon emissions." Canada's nuclear sector directly contributes to over $6 billion to the economy annually, employs more than 30,000 highly trained and specialized people, and creates an additional 30,000 jobs indirectly through contracting1. The market potential for AFCR technology in China is considerable. Each AFCR can use recycled-fuel from four light-water reactors (LWRs) to generate six million megawatt-hours (MWh) of additional carbon-free electricity without needing any new natural uranium fuel. This would be enough new electricity to power four million Chinese homes, and also displace six million tonnes of carbon emissions per year vs. coal, the equivalent of removing one million cars from the road. China has more than 33 LWR nuclear power reactors in operation and another 23 LWRs under construction. "Recognized globally to deliver safe, reliable, affordable and low-carbon energy, each AFCRTM would contribute to Canada's commitments within COP21: to increase accessibility, efficiency and affordability of clean nuclear energy," said Preston Swafford, Chief Nuclear Officer & Executive Vice-President, Nuclear, SNC-Lavalin. About SNC-Lavalin Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure. From offices in over 50 countries, SNC-Lavalin's employees are proud to build what matters. Our teams provide engineering, procurement, construction, completions and commissioning services together with a range of sustaining capital services to clients in our four industry sectors, oil and gas, mining and metallurgy, infrastructure and power. SNC-Lavalin can also combine these services with its financing and operations and maintenance capabilities to provide complete end-to-end project solutions. www.snclavalin.com About CNNC The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) is a large State-owned enterprise. It successfully built the first nuclear power plant in the Chinese mainland. CNNC has established a complete nuclear technology industry framework. It is a main part of the national nuclear technology industry and a leading element nuclear energy development. It undertakes missions to facilitate domestic economic development. CNNC currently operates two CANDU 6 reactors at the Qinshan site (100 km SW of Shanghai) through its subsidiary, TQNPC. About Shanghai Electric Group Company Ltd Shanghai Electric is one of the largest equipment manufacturing conglomerates in China. High efficiency and clean energy as well as new energy equipment represent its core business segments, which account for 70% of segmental revenues. Leading products include 1,000MW supercritical thermal power units, 1,000MW nuclear power generation units, heavy-duty equipment, power transmission and distribution equipment, elevators, printing machinery and machine tools. Shanghai Electric is currently the leader in China's equipment manufacturing sector. According to an assessment for the "Top 500 Asian Brands," Shanghai Electric was ranked the 5th in Asia and the 1st in China in machinery industry. Shanghai Electric is developing itself into a sustainable, modern, and international enterprise group with clearly-defined principal businesses and distinctive advantages within the large-scale equipment sector. About the AFCR The Advanced Fuel CANDU reactor (AFCR) is a 700MW Class Generation III reactor based on the highly successful CANDU 6 and Enhanced CANDU 6 (EC6) reactors with a number of adaptations to meet the latest Canadian and international standards. Its fuel flexibility allows it to use recycled uranium or thorium as fuel. It has a heavy-water moderator and heavy-water coolant in a pressure tube design. CANDU reactors can be refuelled on power and have one of the highest lifetime capacity factors among the world's reactors. SOURCE SNC-Lavalin Image with caption: "From left to right: Huagang Li, Vice president, Shanghai Electric, Qian Zhimin, President, China National Nuclear Corporation, Sandy Taylor, President, Power, SNC-Lavalin (CNW Group/SNC-Lavalin)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160922_C5502_PHOTO_EN_779591.jpg For further information: Media: Louis-Antoine Paquin, Media Relations Manager, Corporate Communications, 514-393-8000, ext. 54772, [email protected]; Investors: Denis Jasmin, Vice President, Investor Relations, 514-393-8000, ext. 57553, [email protected] The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has put $3 billion toward their goal of helping cure, prevent and manage all diseases in their childrens lifetime. The money comes from the $45 billion organization Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan started last year to advance human potential and equality. The project will bring together teams of scientists and engineers to build new tools for the scientific community Priscilla Chan said on stage at an event in San Francisco. Part of the $3 billion will go to a $600 million investment in Biohub, a new physical location that which will unite researchers from Stanford, Berkeley, and UCSF with elite engineers to find new ways to treat disease. The USA spends 50x more on treating people who are sick than curing diseases so people dont get sick. Cori Bargmann, a neuroscientist from The Rockefeller University and the new head of Chan Zuckerbergs science program, came out to explain how the $3 billion will be spent. The majority of deaths are caused by heart disease, infectious disease, neurological disease, and cancer, so those are the areas where the program will concentrate its efforts. The CZS will focus on building transformational technologies that could drive significant leaps in treatment and prevention. Zuckerberg said Its actually pretty easy to imagine what new tools we need to develop to make progress on the four major disease categories. The $3 billion investment will be spent over the next decade. For some perspective, its worth noting that the fiscal 2016 budget for the National Institutes of Health is more than $31 billion. SOURCES- ChanZuckerberg Initiative, TuckCrunch The Estes Park Advanced Propulsion Workshop, 20-22 September 2016, organized by the Space Studies Institute (SSI), will feature presentations by NASA Eagleworks scientist Paul March and Prof. Martin Tajmar, chair for Space Systems at the Dresden University of Technology, who last year presented an independent confirmation of the anomalous EmDrive thrust. Other notable participants include Prof. James Woodward and Prof. Heidi Fearn, both from California State University, Fullerton, and Prof. David Hyland from Texas A and M University. The 3-day conference will address at most 6 concepts for a breakthrough in propulsion. They are devoting a half-day per concept. The half-day is broken into theory and experiment sessions for the concept. The concept will be investigated on both grounds, with substantial give-and-take between the audience and the concept presenter, verbally and on the whiteboard. The theory session will allow us to understand how the concept departs from existing theory of general relativity or electrodynamics. However, we are willing to entertain concepts with compelling experimental demonstrations for which there is yet no solid theory. The experiment session will allow us to understand how to experimentally verify the concept, and the mechanism by which it could solve either the fuel or time-distance problems. However, we are willing to entertain concepts with compelling theoretical aspects well-rooted in known physics, for which concrete experiments could be contemplated. They will moderate a disciplined and respectful interchange, working toward a goal of common understanding, while still kicking all the tires of rigorous peer-review. The presentations and the discussions for the concept sessions will be recorded in a proceedings, along the lines of the Dirac birthday volume by Mehta, and other similar proceedings. We feel the technical discussion is an important part of the technical program to preserve. The intention is to create a conference proceedings that meets expected standards of peer-review There is a lively discussion on EMdrive related at NASA Spaceflight forums Paul March also endorsed the technical information and insights of forum member Rodal on the topic of EMdrive. Rodal indicates the differences in dielectric materials and other nuances of interpreting the known results. A radio frequency (RF) resonant cavity thruster is a proposed new type of electromagnetic thruster. Unlike conventional electromagnetic thrusters, a resonant cavity thruster would use no reaction mass, and emit no directional radiation. A few variations on such thrusters have been proposed. Aerospace engineer Roger Shawyer designed the EmDrive in 2001, and has persistently promoted the idea since then through his company, Satellite Propulsion Research. Chemical engineer Guido Fetta designed the Cannae Drive, based on similar principles. If they are found to work as claimed, providing thrust without consuming a propellant would have important applications to all areas of propulsion. Some independent teams of scientists, notably a team at Xians Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU), one at NASAs Eagleworks laboratories, and another at the Dresden University of Technology in Germany, have built prototypes of these designs. The NWPU team reported a small but significant thrust; NASA Eagleworks reported a much smaller thrust than the NWPU team; and the Dresden team reported a small thrust, but within experimental error. In 2014 and 2015, the NASA Eagleworks research group at Johnson Space Center tested models of both the EmDrive and Cannae drive. They reported observing a small net thrust from both, at low power levels. NASAs first tests of this tapered RF resonant cavity were conducted at very low power (2% of Shawyers 2002 experiment and 0.7% of the Chinese 2010 experiment), but a net mean thrust over five runs was measured at 91.2 N at 17 W of input power. A net peak thrust was recorded at 116 N (about 0.0004 ounces, or approximately the same weight as a grain of rice) at the same power level. The experiment was criticized for not having been conducted under vacuum, which would have eliminated thermal air currents. Six months later, early 2015, Paul March from Eagleworks made new results public, claiming positive experimental force measurements with a torsional pendulum in a hard vacuum: about 50 N with 50 W of input power at 5.010^6 torr, and new null-thrust tests. The new RF power amplifiers were said to be made for hard vacuum, but still fail rapidly due to internal corona discharges, with not enough funding to replace or upgrade them, so measurements are still scarce and need improvement before a new report can be published. Glenn Research Center offered to replicate the experiment in a hard vacuum if Eagleworks manages to reach 100 N of thrust, because the GRC thrust stand cannot measure forces lower than 50 N. Eagleworks later announced a plan to upgrade their equipment to higher power levels, use vacuum-capable RF amplifiers with power ranges of up to 125 W, and to design a new tapered cavity analytically determined to be in the 0.1 N/kW range. The test article will be subjected to independent verification and validation at Glenn Research Center, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Previously Paul March discussed possibly scaling the Emdrive to 2000 Newtons Paul March provides updates on the EMdrive and Cannae drive experiments at Eagleworks NASA. If one envisions the quantum vacuum (Q-V) as a semi-virtual electrical plasma as Dr. White does, that would imply that the Poynting power flow vector would entrain the Q-V plasma and send it on its way toward the pillbox end of the cavity and then out of the cavity, the back-reaction on the cavity should be in the opposite direction towards the RF feed end of the Cannae test article, but the observed thrust vector is opposite to that surmise, i.e. toward the shorter RF sense antenna end of the cavity per the attached slide. Now Per the newly authored Q-V plasma simulation code that Dr. White just finished, the equal bidirectional Q-V plasma flow for the Cannae cavity comes from the high-Q pancake section with a Q of ~9,000 for the un-slotted version of the cavity. However due to the high E-field region created n the throat of the RF feed, this cylindrically shaped high E-field volume acts as an obstruction to the Q-V plasma flow. This E-field obstruction created in the PTFE cylinder then accelerates the Q-V plasma around it in a Bernoulli like effect that accelerates the Q-V plasma flow coming from the main pillbox cavity. This unbalanced and accelerated Q-V plasma flow that goes away from the large pill box cavity in the direction of the RF input section is what generates the NET thrust in our model. Next, using this new Q-V plasma simulation tool that utilizes the instantaneous E&M fields from COMSOL for one complete RF cycle in 5 degree increments as its input file, we are now seeing why we need the PTFE or HDPE dielectrics in the frustum while using near pure sine wave power levels below ~100W in the ~2.0 GHz frequency range to generate detectable thrust, and why Shawyer and the Chinese didnt while pumping 80W to 2,500W using magnetron RF sources. We think the reasons are two fold. The first is that Shawyer and the Chinese both used magnetron RF sources for their experiments. An RF source that generates large AM, FM and PM modulation of the carrier wave with typical FM modulation bandwidth on the order of at least +/-20 MHz. (These time rate to change of energy modulations increase the Q-V density in our model.) The second reason we found running these 3D Q-V plasma simulations for the EMPTY copper frustum, was that increasing the input power tends to focus the Q-V plasma flow from near omnidirectional from the frustum at low powers, to a much more jet like beam at higher powers measured in kW to tens of kW-rf. In fact the simulation for the 100W run predicted only ~50uN for our pure RF system with dielectric, while the 10kW run predicted a thrust level of ~6.0 Newton without a dielectric in the cavity. And at 100kW-rf it was now up to ~1300 Newton, but the input power to thrust production nonlinearity was starting to taper off around 50kW. Of course these Q-V plasma thrust predictions are based on the Q-V not being immutable and non-degradable, a feature we admit is not widely accepted by the mainstream physics community, at least at the moment. Due to the above non-linear thrust scaling with input power predictions, we have started the build up of a 100W-to-1,200W waveguide magnetron RF power system that will drive one of our aluminum RF frustum cavities. Initially the test rig will follow Shawyers first generation test rig that used a tetter-totter balance system in air only to see if we can generate similar thrust levels that Shawyer reported using a hermetic sealed box, which were in the ~16 to 300 milli-Newton range dependent on the Q-Factor of the frustum. The other EMdrive experiment status Shawyer experiments in ambient air (as well as newer superconducting designs) are now kept under a shroud of secrecy. Chinese mid-to-high power experimental results (~ 2000 W) in ambient air are on the contrary regularly published in academic journals, but are still uncertain because Pr. Juan Yang is not able to share additional data, and spurious causes like air currents are not ruled-out. There is information from Paul March on the testing of the controversial EMDrive at NASA Eagleworks. Paul commented on the NASA spaceflight forum. The National Interest discusses the US Navy concern about matching the number of Chinese and Russian submarines. The US currently has a fleet of 53 attack submarineswhich is technically in excess of its 48-boat requirementas the Russian undersea force reemerges from its post-Cold War denouement and the Chinese fleet grows rapidly. Worse still, the Navys submarine force is expected to shrink to only 41 attack boats in 2029. Indeed, from Congressional testimony, it is apparent that the Navy is likely to raise its requirements for the number of attack submarines in the fleet. To eventually rebuild to just the minimum 48-boat requirement will take decades at the current build rate. The fleet will not reach a sustained 48 submarine level until 2042. The Navyusing a plan called Submarine Unified Build Strategy (SUBS)hopes to save enough money by generating efficiencies to continue to build two Virginia-class SSNs per year even as construction starts on the first Ohio Replacement Program (soon to be formally named the Columbia-class) SSBN in fiscal year 2021. The current program of record says that the Navy will build two submarines every year, Jabaley said. If there is no Ohio Replacement that year, then its two Virginias. If there is an Ohio Replacement that year, then its one Ohio Replacement and one Virginia. The Ohio replacement submarines will cost about $4 billion each if they do not end up costing way over their budget. The new Virginia class submarines builds are about $2.7 billion each. So getting back to 48 submarine navy will take until the 2030s or 2040s if the US can increase the submarine build rate from 2 per year to 3 subs per year. The US built about one submarine was built per year from 1990-2011. US Navy will only be serious about matching numbers of submarines by switching to Diesel engines and air independent propulsion or robotic submarines Nuclear submarines had certain advantages over diesel submarines. Nuclear submarines had greater submerged endurance of 90-100 days versus 3 days for conventional submarines. This was limited by the amount of food that could be carried. Nuclear submarines also had higher speed. Air independent propulsion (AIP) submarines use fuel cells, stirling engines, batteries or liquid oxygen storage for closed cycle diesel engines or close cycle steam. AIP submarines are quieter While nuclear submarines have measures to reduce sound and magnetic signatures, nature of nuclear propulsion (steam turbine) makes them far more noisy than AIP submarine of same size. They also tend to be larger on a whole, making them even more detectable through either acoustic, infrared or magnetic sensors. Further weakness of nuclear submarine is that it has to cool down nuclear reactor, with hot water being dumped into ocean, leaving long trail behind the submarine; as such, it is even more detectable by IR sensors than just size difference suggests. Nuclear submarines have cruise speeds of 20 25 knots, compared to 10 15 knots for AIP subs. Combining slower cruise speed with bursts of high speed can allow AIP subs to cover relatively large area. They can deny access to enemy nuclear submarines. HDM and MESMA systems used in AIP subs (submarines using them typically cost 250 million USD) are far quieter than nuclear plant. Using traditional diesel engines, a fuel cell, large lithium-ion battery pack, and liquid oxygen to replace the air normally used in combustion engines, the SMX-Ocean sub concept could stay off-shore in deepwater operations for 90 days at a time. The AIP system also allows the sub to remain submerged for up to 21 days at a time, and gives it a range of about 18,000 miles at an average speed of about 10 knots. Here is details of AIP technology and capabilities. Submarine snorkling for oxygen can be detected with new radar Batteries continue to improve The Lithium ion batteries for the Soryu and SMX-ocean are getting higher energy densities and lower costs because of the success of electric cars like the Telsa Model S. These will further increase the advantages of the AIP submarines. AIP submarines cost $100 million to 900 million. The AIP models with the greatest market success are the Japanese Soryu ($600 million), Russian Kilo ($350 million), Swedish Gotland ($365 million), Spanish Scorpene ($500-800 million). They can be submerged for about 14-21 days. If you see Tesla and other electric cars with new batteries that double and triple range then there will be AIP submarines that can stay submerged for 40-80 days. It will be easy to upgrade old AIP submarines with a new set of batteries for about ten million dollars. The nuclear submarines are $1.3 billion to 4 billion. The equivalent AIP submarines are three to five times cheaper. Nuclear submarines may see a revival in cost effectiveness in 15-20 years when a new generation of molten salt reactors become available. However, for now there is little reason economically or militarily for nuclear submarines. Nuclear submarines have 20 megawatts of power compared to 3 megawatts for diesel submarines. There is no need for high power for any new laser or other weapon systems. The US is looking to add unmanned submarines for about $40 million each. Capable unmanned submarines seem to be 5-10 years away. The unmanned systems could track other submarines or operate as part of pack working with a primary manned mothership submarine. SOURCES -National Interest, Foxtrot Alpha Jalopnik, Defense Issues, TheDiplomat, AusAirpower Chuba Akpom hopes he can emulate his childhood friend and fellow Nigerian Alex Iwobi by becoming a key figure in the Arsenal side.Iwobi, 20, has become a regular at the Emirates after breaking into the first team last season.And Akpom is eager to follow in his footstep by getting to play for the Gunners on a regular basis in future.Akpom told the London Evening Standard. The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, declined to annul the election of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State. The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, declined to annul the election of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.The court, in a unanimous judgment by a five-man panel of Justices, dismissed joint appeal the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Timipre Sylva, lodged against Dickson. The appellate court panel led by Justice Rotimi Olukayode Bada, held that the appeal lacked merit, even as it upheld the July 26 verdict of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which declared Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the bona-fide winner of the gubernatorial contest.The appellants had through their lawyer, Mr. Sebastine Hon, SAN, prayed the appellate court to set-aside the decision of the tribunal, sack Dickson and order fresh governorship election in Bayelsa State.Sylva who is a former governor of the state and his party, among other things, contended that the tribunal misled itself, misapplied the law and came to wrong conclusion in its verdict when it declined to void the election which they said was fraught with manifest irregularities.They argued that the tribunal erred in law when it held that the reasons INEC gave on why it cancelled election result in some parts of the state was within the provision of section 26(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010.They argued that Section 26(1) of the Electoral Act made no provision for cancellation of election, but postponement of election.According to the appellants, The phrase other emergencies under section 26(1) of the Electoral Act is limited to the action of INEC postponing an election and not cancelling one that had already taken place.They further argued that the tribunal Judges, misdirected themselves in law when they held that the appellants failed to prove and or tender any documents showing that election results had been uploaded on the database of INEC before the cancellation of the election and that such failure not only meant abandonment of pleading, but withholding of evidence, which if tendered, would be fatal to the appellants.It is their argument that the tribunal erred in law when, in its haste to dismiss the appellants case in respect of Southern Ijaw LGA, deliberately refused to judicially evaluate the evidence called by the appellants in proof of their case in that LGA. It was position of the appellants that no election or collation or results, known to law, took place in Southern Ijaw LGA.They also faulted the tribunal for failing to void Dicksons election when it found that the combined result of election recorded by both candidates was 48,146, less than over 120,000 total registered voters in Southern Ijaw LGA.The trial tribunal erred in law and thereby occasioned a miscarriage of justice when it failed to make definite pronouncement on the effect of the cancelled votes being more than the difference between the PDP and APC, the appellants added.It will be recalled that the tribunal which conducted its proceedings in Abuja, dismissed a joint petition Sylva and APC lodged against the election. A three-man panel tribunal led by Justice Kazeem Alogba, held that the petitioners failed to by way of credible evidence, prove their allegation that the election was marred by irregularities.The tribunal held that neither APC nor Sylva was able to substantiate their allegations beyond reasonable doubt, saying the petition was not backed by proof and required standard. According to Justice Alogba, The petitioners failed to prove that the second respondent (Dickson) did not score the highest lawful votes.Therefore the return of the second respondent by the Independent National Electoral Commission on January 10, 2016 was valid.The petitioners had on January 30, gone before the tribunal to challenge the declaration of Dickson as winner of both the December 5, 2015 and January 9, 2016, supplementary poll, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. They alleged that the election was characterised by malpractices, intimidation of voters, hijacking of electoral materials, non-voting and non-collation of results in substantial parts of Sagbama, Yenogoa, Nembe, Ogbia,and Ekeremor Local Government Areas.The petitioners also argued that the Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, in the state, lacked the power to unilaterally cancel the supplementary election scheduled in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area for December 6, 2015 and rescheduled it to January 9, 2016.Nevertheless, while dismissing the petition, the tribunal held that INEC had the power to cancel the scheduled supplementary election.It said that contrary to contention by the petitioners, the decision to cancel the December 6, 2015, poll was not unilaterally taken by the REC, but was taken by INEC and merely announced by the REC.A decision that was upheld by the appellate court on Thursday. According to the appellate court, where a party seeks declarative reliefs, the burden is on him to win on the strength of his own case and not on the weakness of the defence.It held that neither Sylva nor APC was able to discharge the burden of proof imposed on them by the law.The court said the appellants failed to prove that there was substantial none compliance to section 139(1) of the Electoral Act in conduct of the Bayelsa State governorship poll. United Nations Secretary General has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the anti-corruption war. United Nations Secretary General has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the anti-corruption war.Ki-Moon declared: You are highly respected by world leaders, including myself. Your persona has given your country a positive image.The United Nations' scribe stated that the the global body recognised President Buhari's government's achievements against the Boko Haram insurgents.He, however, urged that human rights be upheld always in order to prevent a repeat of the scenario being witnessed in Syria.Ki-moon also thanked the Nigerian leader for his commitment to issues on climate change, adding that the government should "own the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," for the good of its citizens.President Muhammadu Buhari told the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, that Nigeria will welcome intermediaries from the global body in swapping the over 200 abducted Chibok schoolgirls with Boko Haram prisoners.The presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement Thursday, quoted Buhari as speaking during a bilateral meeting with the UN scribe at the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly in New York. President Muhammadu Buhari has, Thursday, signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and called for aid in the revival of Lake Chad bas... President Muhammadu Buhari has, Thursday, signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and called for aid in the revival of Lake Chad basin. The president after signing the agreement said that his signing of the Agreement demonstrated Nigerias commitment to a global effort to reverse the effects of the negative trend.The President said this on Thursday while addressing the opening of the meeting on Taking Climate Action for Sustainable Development in New York. A statement issued in Abuja by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president, said the meeting was co-hosted by Nigeria and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Adesina stated that the meeting was one of the Side Events of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71).He said that President Buhari had shortly before this event, signed the Paris Agreement, where he expressed Nigerias commitment to reducing Green House Gas Emissions unconditionally by 20 per cent and conditionally by 45 per cent. This he noted was in line with Nigerias Nationally Determined Contributions.While describing the signing as historic, President Buhari also expressed confidence that with support from development partners, Nigeria would meet the above targets. The resident pledged to ensure the ratification of the Paris Agreement before the 22nd Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Marrakesh, Morocco in November 2016.He said that it was to demonstrate his personal dedication to the process of implementing the Agreement that he was hosting the side event on Taking Climate Action Towards Sustainable Development. President Buhari, who said he was privileged to have been part of the Paris Agreement, expressed appreciation to what he called the genuine efforts by President Francois Hollande of France in drawing global attention to reviving the Lake Chad Basin,.He also lauded him for galvanising the political will that led to the global consensus in reaching the Paris Agreement. The President said Nigerias commitment to the Paris Agreement was articulated through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that strive to build a climate resilient society across the diverse terrain of Nigeria.We have instituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change to govern implementation of my countrys NDCs, thereby ensuring a strong cross-sectoral approach, coherence and synergy for Climate Action.President Buhari, while admitting that implementing the Roadmap will not be easy in the face of dwindling national revenues, however, indicated that both internal and external resources would be mobilized to meet Nigerias targets.He added that the 2017 Budget would reflect Nigerias efforts to accord priority to realizing its NDCs.In addition, we are set to launch our first ever Green Bonds in the first quarter of 2017 to fund a pipeline of projects all targeted at reducing emissions towards a greener economy, he said. While urging global support to transit to a low-carbon climate resilient economy, the President specifically reminded industrialised nations to play their role and deliver on their commitments on access to climate finance and technology transfer and help with capacity-building.Expectations are high for their leaders to deliver 100 billion dollars per year by 2020 in support of developing countries to take climate action, thus keeping the promise to billions of people. President Buhari called on the international community to give special recognition to the plight of Lake Chad and support our effort to resuscitate the livelihoods of over five million people in the region.This will reinforce our efforts to reintegrate the thousands of Boko Haram victims and returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). According to the President, the Niger Delta region is a unique biodiversity rich in coastal environment that is highly prone to adverse environmental changes. He said these changes were occasioned by climate change, such as sea level rise, coastal erosion, exacerbated by poverty and many decades of oil pollution leading to loss of livelihoods and ecosystems.He added however, that through an integrated approach, implementation of the NDCs, and our efforts to clean up Ogoniland, we will improve livelihoods, protect the environment and take climate action, and ensure the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). President Buhari thanked the Presidents of Chad, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger for attending the event. Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has opposed the suggestions to sell Nigerias national assets as part of the means ... Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has opposed the suggestions to sell Nigerias national assets as part of the means of moving the country out of economic depression.Ekweremadu expressed his opposition against the suggestion of business mogul, Aliko Dangote, and the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki on Wednesday when he led other senators at a plenary to reject the call for the sale of the countrys national assets.The senators at the plenary also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reshuffle his cabinet as part of measures to take Nigeria out of the current economic woes.The advice against the sale of assets come barely 24 hours after Saraki urged the Federal Government to consider the partial sale of some key national assets like the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Holdings to raise needed foreign currency to revive the economy and stabilise the naira.He also suggested that some airports should be privatised or put up for concession. Nigerias economic recession has continued to take its toll on Nigerians as a man in his late forties yesterday stole his neighbours pot ... Nigerias economic recession has continued to take its toll on Nigerians as a man in his late forties yesterday stole his neighbours pot of rice.The man (name withheld), who lives at Ifite, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was in his own apartment when a neighbour, identified simply as Mama Ebuka, was cooking jollof rice and waited until the meal was well cooked.A neighbour, Mr. Emmanuel Okafor, told New Telegraph correspondent that when the woman finished cooking, she left the pot on the stove and went inside her apartment.But, according to Okafor, when Mama Ebuka came out to dish food for herself she discovered that the pot was gone.He said: She started asking who took her pot of food but nobody owned up to it. Buy a young girl told those who had gathered that he saw the man take the pot into his room. When the girl said that, we all rushed with the owner of the food to the mans room only to see the pot of rice half empty.Okafor added that the man confessed he stole the pot of food because he was very hungry and had not eaten for three days. Neighbours said the man was a bricklayer who usually works at construction sites.But, according to them, the man had not work in the last couple of months and no other means of livelihood. The man knelt down and started pleading with Mama Ebuka to forgive him. Mama Ebuka, being a religious woman, forgave the man. She even told the man to tell her to give him food next time instead of stealing.Mama Ebuka also promised she would not invite the police. I know the man very well. He is not a bad person but I think the situation in the country is pushing people into things they would not ordinarily do. I am certain the worst is yet to come, Okafor said. Foremost Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana has described the call for the sale of National assets as illegal and against the constitution o... Foremost Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana has described the call for the sale of National assets as illegal and against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.Falana said this in his latest article titled: Sale Of National Assets Is Illegal, citing constitutional and historical references.Recall that Senate President, Business magnate, Aliko Aliyu Dangote including the Central bank Governor have called for the sales of Nation's assets to revive the ailing economy.But Mr. Falana in the article said: The sale of national assets is in total conflict with section 16 of the Constitution, which has prohibited the concentration of the nation's wealth in the hands of a few people or a group.It is pertinent to point out that the suggestion is in total conflict with section 16 of the Constitution which has prohibited the concentration of the nation's wealth in the hands of a few people or a group".Indeed, by section 44 of the Constitution, the nation's natural resources shall be held in trust for the Nigerian people by the federal government. One would have expected senators who swore to protect the Constitution to kick against the suggestion to sell the assets of the nation to a few people.But for selfish considerations a few legislators who may be queuing up to participate in the purchase of the nation's 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, Mr. Falana said. The five-day meeting of the bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) taking place in Awka, ... The five-day meeting of the bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) taking place in Awka, Anambra State ended abruptly on Wednesday. This, our correspondent gathered, was as a result of the fear that the 170 bishops attending the meeting could be trapped because of the sit-at-home protest declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra to hold on September 23. The conference was scheduled to end on Friday. The Primate of the Anglican Communion, Most Revd. Nicolas Okoh, had earlier in the conference expressed fear that the bishops could be trapped in the state should their meeting go on as scheduled. He had asked the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to prevail on IPOB members to shelve their Friday protest so that the bishops conference could go on. He said the IPOB sit-at-home protest would hamper their activities and movement. Okoh implored the pro-Biafran agitators to postpone their action until after the end of the bishops conference. IPOB had threatened that markets, banks and other institutions would be shut down on Friday, while movement would be restricted in the South-East geopolitical zone and beyond as a protest against the continued detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government. We are not against whatever their agitations are, but we ask them to wait until we leave Awka on Friday. If they go on to carry out that protest, we may be trapped in Anambra as the Niger Bridge is the only exit from Anambra State. So, help us beg them to allow us to go, the Primate enjoined Obiano. A delegate who would not want to be named told our correspondent that, there was no assurance that we were protected. We are human, so we had to put our heads together and decided to cut short the conference. Thats the most ideal thing to do in the circumstance. I will leave this evening (Wednesday) and most others will do same. Those who cant make it today will do so early tomorrow (Thursday). There is no need waiting, it doesnt make sense. Meanwhile, the Anglican bishops had in the summit appealed to the Niger Delta militants to stop the bombing of oil facilities in their region in the interest of the country. This was even as they appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to convene a round table meeting with the agitators in order to address their grievances. The clerics reminded the militants that shutting down the economy of the country would not do anybody any good. Delivering his address at the conference held at the Cathedral Church of St. Faith, Awka, Okoh appealed to the Federal Government to disarm the Fulani herdsmen who he said had murdered the peace of the country. The address partly read, The Standing Committee wishes to make a passionate appeal to the militants to spare our economy and stop the bombing of oil facilities. Shutting down the economy is like pulling down the roofs with all of us inside; nobody will escape the negative impact. We equally call on those who can reach them to join in this appeal for the greater good of all. The presence of herdsmen in our countryside is not new, they have always been around. What is, however, new are the unprovoked attacks on their host communities sometimes justified by saying that a cow is missing. They lay ambush and waylay people going to their farms, rape women and destroy farmlands; and their victims are at their mercy because they are armed. We call on the Federal Government to immediately disarm these people in order to return peace to Nigeria. Music star Tiwa Savage was featured in VIBE Magazine for the Vibe Next feature where they talk about artists that are blowing up.The Roc Nation star talked to the magazine about her love for music, how it all started and why her Roc Nation deal is a huge blessing.See excerpts below.I played trombone. Dont ask me if I still play [laughs], but I literally picked it up because I had a crush on a boy in high school. He used to hang around with the cool kids, the musicians and dancers. Here I was: this kid fresh from Nigeria, strong accent, my mom shaved my hair off. I tried to get his attention. I went to this music teacher and said that I really wanted to do music. He looked to the corner of the room and said the trombone was the only instrument left. I picked it up, but eventually got bullied for it because it was always getting in the way on the bus. That was having the opposite effect of what I wanted because this guys now laughing at me instead of falling in love with me. So, I gave up and joined the choir.When I did tell my parents that I wanted to do music, my dad thought that I just wanted to sing in the choir. I told him I wanted to be a musician and initially he wasnt really for it, so he told me to go to school and study in either business, engineering or be a doctor or a lawyer. I wanted to do music and he said that I have to go and study music. Im glad he did because I ended up going to the Berkelee College Of Music and I studied jazz and music business. It really comes in handy when I have to look at music contracts.Songwriting kind of happened. I was in the studio trying to create a demo for myself. I finished the song and went back home. The next day, I was supposed to come and do some ad-libs on it and learned that when I left, Fantasia Barrino heard the song and liked it. Long story short, she took the record and I got a publishing deal. I had to start writing songs for other people, which is a learning process for me because usually I write songs just for myself. When you are submitting [music] for other artists, they may like the song, but they might say tweak a certain part. I had to learn how to tailor a lot of songs to different artists, but the beauty about being an artist now is that I can say what I want to say and how I want to say it.Talking about her growth, Vibe Magazine says:The song that Fantasia ended up taking out of her hands was Collard Greens and Cornbread, which ended up on the Barrinos third studio album, Back to Me. From there, the rest is history. Savage would then relocate to Los Angeles, California and go on to write for the likes of Mary J. Blige, Mya, Monica and more through landed studio sessions with hit-makers like The Underdogs, James Fauntleroy, Frank Ocean and Kenny Babyface Edmonds. She even went on to singing background vocals for I Look To You, one of last songs from the late and legendary Whitney Houston.But, again, those accolades were not satisfying either. Coincidently, Savage would run into her former manager and former Interscope A&R executive Tunji TJ Billz Balogun, who would eventually convince her to take her talents back home and take a stab at bringing something new and fresh to the Afrobeats music scene in Nigeria. Shortly after heeding his advice, Savage released a fresh, lady anthem called Kele Kele Love, and indirectly contributed a spark to the rising smoke of the emerging funky, and hyped, and energetic Afrobeats genre of today.To read her full interview click here A Federal High Court, Jos, has declared Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of League Management Company (LMC), wanted for contempt.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that policemen from the FCT command stormed the LMC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday in search of Dikko after he disobeyed court orders.The warrant also demanded the arrest of Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of LMC, for the same offence.The policemen who stormed the LMC/LaLiga office in plain clothes searched the offices and corners of the premises for the two men before proceeding to the residence of Dikko at Lake Chad Crescent in Maitama, Abuja.They search yielded no fruit as both were said to be on the run and could not be arrested. The West African Examination Council (WAEC) will begin marking theory scripts electronically with the 2016 November/December West Africa... The West African Examination Council (WAEC) will begin marking theory scripts electronically with the 2016 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).WAECs Head of National Office, Mr Olutise Adenipekun, who spoke when members of the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN) visited his office on Tuesday, said the e-marker was introduced to align the assessment of the examination with international best practices.We are providing service and the people we are providing service for are youths of the country and youth naturally are restless. So they also want to see new things, he said.Adenipekun explained that the same booklet would serve for question and answers for the theory section. As a result, candidates would no longer be allowed to take questions away from the examination hall.He said some teachers have undergone training to deploy the e-marker, adding that many more would be trained.He promised that the WAEC template of assessing candidates will remain the same adding that it will not be in the interest of Nigeria to lower the standard of the examination for whatever reason.Adenipekun praised EWAN for its foresight and contributions to national growth and development through quality reports.In his speech, the EWAN Chairman, Mr. Tunbosun Ogundare, thanked WAEC for recognising the association.He also pledged the commitment of the body to improved education coverage towards achieving the required reform in the sector.He however appealed to the management of the examination body to extend training and other collaborative programmes to the associations members as a way of enhancing their knowledge of the education sector, saying such support will help the beneficiaries in the discharge of their responsibilities. Niger Delta militants have threatened to blow up the headquarters of the NNPC if Nigeria's ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan is arreste... Niger Delta militants have threatened to blow up the headquarters of the NNPC if Nigeria's ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan is arrested, following her investigation by the EFCC.Dame Patience had claimed that she owns some millions of dollars the EFCC froze, as part of investigations into an alleged fraud. Several bodies had called for her arrest if she could't explain how she came about the money she's laying claim to.The Niger Delta Peoples Professional Volunteer Force (NDPPVF), have however threatened to blow up the headquarters of the nation's oil firm if she is arrested.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," the group said on Wednesday.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 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.The group added that "before her husband emerged as vice-president in 2007, the EFCC investigated Mrs. Jonathan and cleared of any wrongdoing. ATLANTIC CITY -- A 15-year-old was charged in connection with a shooting Monday night in Atlantic City that left one person wounded. A 15-year-old was arrested on weapons charges following a shooting in Atlantic City on Monday night. Police learned of a shooting near the intersection of New Jersey and Baltic avenues around 10:05 p.m. by a SpotShotter alert, according to a news release. After obtaining a search warrant and an arrest warrant, cops found a shotgun in a residence. They arrested the Atlantic City teen and charged him with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and tampering with evidence. A 20-year-old man was treated at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center for a gunshot wound that was not considered life-threatening. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 4 RIGCHR00 MURRAY The former co-owner of an Atlantic City rolling chair company admitted he didn't pay nearly $120,000 in taxes. (Murray, Noah K.) CAMDEN -- The former co-owner of an Atlantic City rolling chair business admitted he avoided paying $119,880 in taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. John Schultz, 74, of Atlantic City is the third man to plead guilty in the scheme to underreport Royal Rolling Chair's income, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Camden said in a news release. Schultz, a former Atlantic City councilman, faces five years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine when he is sentenced Jan. 17, 2017. His partner, William Boland, of Ventnor, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and is due to be sentenced Oct. 25. The company's bookkeeper, Abdus Mian, also faced five years in prison but received a year of probation in April. He pleaded guilty to one count of making materially false statements. Milan admitted he kept a second set of books to track the money Boland and Schultz removed from the business. His lawyer says Schultz and others were sloppy bookkeepers, and that Schultz plans to pay back taxes and penalties. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A 65-year-old New Jersey woman faces up to 20 years in prison after admitting she ran a scam to collect unemployment benefits. Theresa A. Freeman of Atlantic City set up a fake company with a Trumbull, Conn. mailing address, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Connecticut said in a news release. Then her son filed an unemployment claim, saying he was laid off from the fake business, Tribal Organic Products. Her son, who was not named, received approximately $13,474 in unemployment for a six-month period beginning in July 2013, federal authorities said. Freeman, who has a previous conviction in South Carolina for mail fraud pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She also admitted that she previously operated similar fictitious employer schemes. Freeman, who is to be sentenced Dec. 13, also faces a fine of up to $250,000. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 403 Forbidden 403 Forbidden Code: AccessDenied Message: Access Denied RequestId: 5EE3BC70BCACE9A1 HostId: wQcle08WJlx2p1XJxGVDyIAQBVvwWVIA6nzqHCKCNf5Y3801Xo3mzP6OWquu1OtyByyaBLYL8EA= An Error Occurred While Attempting to Retrieve a Custom Error Document Code: AccessDenied Message: Access Denied ATLANTIC CITY -- The wife of an Atlantic City police officer shot by robbery suspects earlier this month delivered a baby girl this week, according to a report. Laura Vadell and her husband Joshlee Vadell welcomed Lucy on Monday, PressofAtlanticCity.com said. The officer left critical care last week and was transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation facility. His wife wrote that his recovery was "nothing short of a miracle." The couple has two other children, according to Philly.com. Vadell, 29, was wounded on Sept. 3 in an early morning shootout as he and his partner attempted to thwart a robbery in a parking deck outside Caesars Atlantic City casino. Two of the suspects, who remain in the Atlantic County jail, have bail hearings next week. Both are charged with two counts of attempted murder, three counts of robbery and two counts of conspiracy. Another alleged robber, a 25-year-old Camden man, was shot and killed by Vadell's partner. Authorities have not named the partner. LIVE on #Periscope: Officer Vadell getting released from AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center. https://t.co/zmNB201Nk8 Atlantic City Police (@AtlanticCityPD) September 15, 2016 Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. GLEN ROCK-- A borough man was sentenced Wednesday for his involvement in a multitude of scams in which he manufactured fictitious investment opportunities and lied about his involvement with other, legitimate business deals, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman said in a statement Wednesday. Paul Mancuso, 50, was indicted two years ago alongside a disbarred attorney, Pasquale Stiso, 55, of West Harrison, N.Y., on conspiracy and wire-fraud charges. Authorities say that beginning in 2009, Mancuso posed as a real estate investor, developer and lender, with Stiso as his partner. Mancuso admitted he and Stiso, along with other conspirators, promoted opportunities including the development of an Atlantic City casino, a Matawan real-estate flip, a pizzeria in the Bahamas and the development of a commercial shopping center. Authorities say a total of 15 victims lost $3 million in the scams, money Mancuso and Stiso used for personal expenses and to finance their illegal gambling. Mancuso was sentenced Wednesday to 51 months in prison and was ordered to pay $3.2 million in restitution. Stiso, who was previously found guilty following a trial, was sentenced in June to 43 months in prison. PENNSAUKEN TWP. -- The Pennsauken Police Department was right to suspend six officers in 2011 for violating rules and hindering the investigation of a fight that involved two off-duty officers, an appellate court has ruled. The conduct was not directly related to the fight May 7, 2011, but to officers' failure to properly report and investigate the incident and notify ranking officers, according to the decision published Thursday. The officers appealed their suspensions, arguing that Police Chief John Coffey had violated the rules of internal affairs investigations. They appealed first to the Civil Service Commission and then to the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court, which affirmed the earlier decision. Some of the same officers are currently suing police and township officials. They claim in a federal suit that their suspensions in the 2011 incident were part of Coffey's alleged systematic retaliation against officers who were active in the union and advocating for 12-hour shifts. One of the officers, Douglas Foster, was fired in 2015 and this summer filed a separate suit against the chief, the township and other officials alleging retaliation. The decision Thursday affirming the suspensions, written by Judge William E. Nugent, states that the altercation occurred just before 11 p.m. at Pinsetters, a bar and bowling alley. A fight broke out between officers Michael Biazzo and Michael Killion and other civilians after a "political discussion," but those involved gave different accounts about who started the fight. Killion, Biazzo and at least one civilian suffered facial injuries. After the fight the three off-duty officers who were there, Killion, Biazzo and Vito Moles, left Pinsetters immediately. The department later ruled that they hindered the investigation by leaving the scene before officers could investigate. Officer Foster, one of the officers who responded, later told his supervisor that a man pushed a woman at Pinsetters, Nugent wrote. Responding officer William Hertline also did not report the incident to a superior officer. Brazzio eventually did so, but nearly two hours after the altercation. Two sergeants, Michael Hutnan and Socrates Kouvatas, were notified and investigated. Neither contacted a higher ranking officer per department policy, Nugent wrote. The chief, upon learning of the incident, initiated an internal affairs investigation. Disciplinary charges including hindering an investigation, conduct not becoming an officer and neglect of duty were filed against various officers. Sgt. Hutnan was suspended for 10 days and the other officers were all suspended for 30 days. The officers' appeal argued that Chief Coffey violated the state regulations regarding internal investigations because he conducted the investigation himself, sought information through questionnaires instead of interviews, and did not inform the officers that they were subjects or witnesses in an internal investigation. They also argued that he was not fair, but "politically motivated" in his investigation because he was angry with the involved officers for lobbying for 12-hour shifts. The court found that the chief's failure to comply with regulations did not taint the investigation. Meanwhile, a federal civil rights lawsuit regarding the chief and some of the same officers is still alive in U.S. District Court in Camden. The suit was initially filed by five of the officers suspended in connection with the 2011 fight, Biazzo, Killion, Foster, Kouvatas and Hertline, as well as officers Erik Morton and Mark Bristow. They argued that the police chief, then lieutenant Michael Probasco, and other city officials had violated their right to free speech by retaliating against them for their outspoken support for 12-hour shifts. They argued in the suit that in addition to targeting them for the 2011 suspensions, the chief had issued to them other reprimands and suspensions without good cause, given them undesirable assignments, refused their leave requests, shared the confidential internal affairs investigation with others, and caused them to be ostracized within the department. A judge dismissed the suit in November, saying the officers failed to specify how they spoke out and to prove that their advocacy was protected speech. Five of them filed a new complaint in January, and the case is ongoing. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook. GLOUCESTER TWP. -- Dozens of the best police dogs from across the nation are gathering in Gloucester Township to compete in the United States Police Canine Association National Patrol Dog Trials. The Gloucester Township Police Department (GTPD) was selected as the 2016 host of the K9 Nationals. The department invited the community out on Wednesday afternoon to watch live demonstrations of what will be happening at the week-long competition at Gloucester Township Community Park. "A national event of this scale is a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our residents to observe this major K-9 competition in a friendly and fun setting of their home township," said Mayor David Mayer in a press release. During the actual competition, which will be held Sept. 25 through Sept. 30, dogs will compete in different categories including obedience, agility, suspect search, and criminal apprehension with and without gunfire. The competition is free to attend and open to the public. Caitlyn Stulpin may be reached at cstulpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitstulpin. Find NJ.com on Facebook. VINELAND -- The two police officers injured while checking on a city man have been released from the hospital. File photo of Johnny Flores (Submitted photo) Officer John Warrington and his unidentified partner were checking on a resident Wednesday afternoon when Johnny E. Flores, 26, of Vineland, allegedly got into a fight with the officers and stabbed Warrington in the face. Warrington was listed Wednesday night in stable condition and has since been released from medical care. His partner, who suffered injuries but was not stabbed during the incident, was released Wednesday. Ever since news of the attack broke, residents reached out to Vineland Police Department. "I have personally received quite a few texts and phone calls from people expressing their support for what our officers do and understanding the dangers that come along with this job," said Chief Timothy Codispoti. "Yesterday's call was just another reminder of just how dangerous this job can be and how it can go from being just another call for service to a life threatening call for service." The assault occurred Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. on South Valley Avenue. The two police officers were assisting New Jersey Department of Human Services workers who were checking on the residence. According to Codispoti, this is a routine call for service. The arriving officers encountered Flores and his family. A fight allegedly broke out between Flores and the officers, where Flores used a knife to stab and slash Warrington, police said. Flores was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon. He is being held in the Cumberland County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail. Flores is not yet listed for an arraignment or court appearance, according to Cumberland County Superior Court Criminal Case Division. Once medically cleared, the officers will be able to return to service, Codispoti said. The investigation is being handled by the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office. Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook. MAURICE RIVER TWP. -- One of the drivers in Thursday morning's fatal Route 55 head-on collision fell asleep at the wheel before crashing into another car, according to New Jersey State Police. Troopers were dispatched Thursday to Milemarker 20.4 on Route 55 in Maurice River Township. The incident involved a Chevrolet Silverado, a Ford Fusion and a tractor trailer. No charges were issued as of Thursday afternoon. A 27-year-old Port Norris man was driving the Silverado southbound on Route 55 just after dawn when he allegedly fell asleep and drove the pickup truck into the northbound lane -- striking the Ford Fusion driven by 62-year-old Lydia Brannon. Brannon lost control of her vehicle and drove into the southbound lane, colliding into a tractor trailer driven by a 38-year-old Maryland man. Authorities pronounced Brannon dead at the scene at 6:22 a.m. Brannon is from Philadelphia but, according to her family, she was living in Avalon. The tractor-trailer driver was taken to Inspira Medical Center Vineland for non-life-threatening injuries. The Silverado driver, who was not identified by police, was treated at the scene. Local police and fire departments assisted at the scene, directing traffic while lanes were shut down during the investigation. Authorities do not believe that drugs or alcohol are involved in the crash. Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook. TRENTON -- As New Jersey politicians debate changing the state's formula for funding public schools, a new state audit has highlighted some specific flaws in the current system. The report, released Wednesday by State Auditor Stephen Eells, shows that schools are both underfunded and overfunded in some respects based on the current model. Among the problems identified are outdated data, inaccurate pre-K enrollments and an inadequate system for funding special education. Here's a look at three of the major findings from the review of school funding and the auditor's suggestions for addressing the issues: School funding is not based on current district data New Jersey lawmakers passed the School Funding Reform Act in 2008 to determine how much money each district should get based on enrollment and demographics. But since New Jersey hasn't been fully funding the formula and has provided relatively flat state aid, districts with changing students populations haven't seen their state aid increase or decrease as it should, the audit found. The report recommends using current student population and other demographic data to determine school aid. In response, the state Department of Education called the recommendation "laudable." However, it said that decisions on school funding are up to the governor and state Legislature. Funding for special education doesn't match district's needs New Jersey allocates special education funding to districts based on the assumption that about 15 percent of students in a district are classified as special education, according to the audit. That 15 percent figure is the state average for special education students in a district. However, more than 200 districts have an actual classification rate that's more than 10 percentage points different than the state average, the audit found. The report recommends providing special education funding based on the actual percentage of special education students in the district. In response, the state Department of Education disagreed with the recommendation. Because different students classified as special education cost different amounts to educate, there is not a direct correlation between the percentage of students classified and the overall cost to the district, the department argued. Schools are overestimating their pre-K enrollment New Jersey spent more than $655 million on aid for pre-K programs in 2015-16 with the majority of money going to 31 urban and low-income districts. Districts provided a projected preschool enrollment to the state and received funding on a fixed per-pupil basis. However, districts overstated their enrollments, resulting in nearly $33 million in overpayments to districts. The report recommends that future payments be adjusted once actual enrollment data is available. In response, the Department of Education agreed that the enrollment projections are typically too high and the state could potentially save money. However, it also noted that the state could end paying more money if future projections are too low and the state is forced to adjust funding. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. NEWARK -- Seven people were arrested Wednesday as part of a "major" ongoing drug investigation in Essex County, a release from the office of the county prosecutor said. A narcotics task force, led by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, busted individuals at three locations in Newark and Irvington, in addition to seizing ammunition, body armor, drugs and cash, the release said. Police confiscated a total of 124.32 grams of heroin, with an estimated street value of $24,000, along with cash, hollow point bullets and bullet proof vests, the release said. "The arrests today are an indication of the importance this office and the Newark Police Department put on combating illegal drug sales in Essex County,'' said Acting Prosecutor Carolyn Murray. "The seizure of this large amount of heroin, packaged for distribution, removes a significant quantity of heroin from the amount available for sale on the street.'' According to authorities, those arrested include: Altariq Wagner, 28, of Newark, who was charged with conspiracy, distribution of heroin and distribution within 1,000 feet of a school. Bail for Wagner was set at $50,000 cash or bond. Jerrez Wagner, 26, of Irvington, who was arrested and charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, possession of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school. His bail was set at $125,000 cash only. Reginald Jones, 42, of Newark, who was charged with conspiracy, possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of hollow point bullets. In addition two bulletproof vests were seized. Jones' bail was set at $75,000 cash or bond. Steven Moultrie, 50, of Newark, who was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school and hindering apprehension. He was released with a summons. Latoya Jones, 35, of Newark, who was arrested on an outstanding East Orange Public Department warrant. She was released on her own recognizance. Yoko Negron, 45, of Newark, who was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of hollow point bullets. She summonsed, released and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. Jose A. Chavez, 29, of Newark, who was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of hollow point bullets. He was summonsed, released and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. Michael Anthony Adams may be reached at madams@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MichaelAdams317. Find NJ.com on Facebook. NEWARK-- A city man who belonged to a gang that controlled narcotics distribution in some parts of the city was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman said in a statement. Max LaRue, 27, belonged to the Grape Street Crips, a gang which ran the crack-cocaine trade at 6th Avenue and N. 5th Street and elsewhere in Newark. LaRue, who previously admitted to one count of conspiracy to distribute the drug, will also be on parole for four years following his release from prison. As part of a wider investigation into the gang's activities, authorities seized a number of so-called "community guns," weapons stashed on the street in hiding places known to gang members. Among the weapons were assault rifles and several semi-automatic handguns. TRENTON -- Ask hospital leaders whether New Jersey's nonprofit hospital CEOs earn too much money, and they will confidently say no. Their compensation packages are based on what other CEOs are making in a highly competitive market. But a tax court judge last summer sharply disagreed with that assessment, describing this method of comparison as a "wholly self-serving" justification. State Tax Court Judge Vito Bianco ruled Morristown Medical Center should lose its tax-exempt status -- in part because of its parent company CEO's $5 million-a-year pay package. Today's non-profit hospitals generate "significant revenue and pay their professionals salaries that are competitive even by for-profit standards," according to Bianco's decision. Months later, a settlement was reached that allowed Morristown to remain a nonprofit entity, while paying out $15.5 million over the next decade to help offset property taxes. And Morristown's CEO Joe Trunfio, who earned an enviable $5 million in compensation, has retired. In 2014, his last full year as the head of Atlantic Health System, Trunfio earned $4.7 million in salary and bonuses, according to the most recent IRS tax filings. The tax court ruling has spawned 35 other tax appeals from municipalities ready to prove the non-profit hospital in town operates more like a for-profit company as Bianco said Morristown Medical Center had. But experts in the hospital business doubt Bianco's ruling will have a chilling effect on CEO compensation. The 10 highest-paid nonprofit hospital CEOs in New Jersey earned from $2 million to $4.7 million in 2014, according to IRS records. J.B. Silvers, a nationally recognized expert on hospital CEO compensation and professor at Case Western Reserve's business school, said as high as some compensation packages appear, there are mechanisms to keep them in check. "What holds it down is the IRS. In order to maintain not-for-profit status, you cannot pay excessive compensation," Silvers said. "They can literally lift the not-for-profit status. It has happened." Hospital trustees will protect themselves by hiring an executive compensation firm to bring them "comparables" -- examples of how much other hospital CEOs in similarly sized hospitals or hospital chains are making, Silvers said. A handful of large hospital systems with the highest paid CEOs confirmed to NJ Advance Media their boards of trustees go about it the same way -- by reviewing comparable salary information collected by outside consultants. The bottom line figure includes much more than the base salary. The $2.5 million in compensation for CEO William McDonald of St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson, for instance, "reflects a salary of $861,223 plus a one-time retirement savings payment," according to a hospital spokeswoman. Count on CEO pay to remain competitive, especially in the Obamacare era, Silvers said. The landmark health care law expects hospitals and their orbit of outpatient services professionals to prevent illness and re-admissions. Hospitals will eventually be paid moreso for how well they manage health than just treat disease. "Getting someone in there to deal with the cost and quality side is a difficult thing to do," Silver said. The 10 highest-paid nonprofit hospital CEOS in New Jersey in 2014: 1. Joseph Trunfio, Atlantic Health: $4.7 million 2. John K. Lloyd, Meridian Health: $3.5 million 3. Robert Garrett, Hackensack University Medical Center: $3.3 million 4. William McDonald, St. Joseph Health System: $2.5 million 5. David Tilton, AtlantiCare: $2.47 million 6. Barry Ostrowsky, Barnabas Health: $2.27 million 7. Audrey Meyers, Valley Hospital: $2.2 million 8. Michael Maron, Holy Name Medical Center, $2.2 million 9. Chester Kaletkowski, Inspira Health Network: $2 million 10. Richard Miller, Virtua Health: $1.94 million. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Zika Florida Insect repellent sits on a table as a resident talks with an employee of the Florida Department of Health after submitting a urine sample to test for the Zika virus, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, in Miami Beach, Fla. The department is offering free Zika testing for two days to those who live or work in the area of Zika transmission in South Beach. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (Lynne Sladky) The state Department of Health has added another case of Zika to its Hudson County list, raising the county wide total to 16 confirmed cases of the virus. Zika, which is most commonly transmitted through a bite from an infected mosquito, typically lasts for about a week and causes fever, rashes and joint pain. In new numbers released by the Communicable Disease Service on Tuesday, 137 confirmed cases of the virus were reported statewide. None of those cases have been linked to local mosquitoes. Hudson County added one confirmed case of the virus to its list, though the Hudson Regional Health Commission would not provide the towns where the virus was recorded, citing patient confidentiality rights. Monique Davis, health educator at HRHC, said residents that have traveled to places were Zika carrying mosquitoes have been found -- including Miami Beach and Central and South America -- should wear repellent for three weeks after they return home. When a case has been confirmed in Hudson County, mosquito control workers spray in the affected person's neighborhood to help reduce the risk of spreading the disease to mosquitoes in New Jersey, Davis said. Residents are urged to remain vigilant about standing water surrounding their homes. Zika is also considered a sexually transmitted disease and can cause birth defects to children born to women who were exposed to the virus. Representatives from RWJ Barnabas Health confirmed that Zika testing has been done at Jersey City Medical Center, but could not cite how many cases were reported through the system. The corporate director of emergency management for RWJ Barnabas Health Louis Sasso said a Zika preparedness committee has been created that educates employees about the virus. The purpose of the committee is to ensure the Center for Disease Control's guidelines for treating and education patients about Zika is presented uniformly throughout all of RWJ Barnabas' facilities. Sasso said everyone is urged to protect themselves from mosquitoes in order to protect themselves from being exposed to the virus. Dr. Tucker Woods, head of CarePoint Health's three Hudson County emergency rooms, said a handful of patients have been through the system with Zika symptoms, but could not confirm if any were diagnosed with the virus. CarePoint is continuing to educate patients about how Zika is transmitted and checks patients travel history when they present symptoms. Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- Defense attorney Peter Willis told jurors in his closing statement today that there is no way to know what happened in the Secaucus apartment of Stefanie Schwartz on the night five years ago when she and Todd Gorman were found covered in blood. "I will tell you right off the bat, only God almighty knows what happened," said Willis, who represents the 52-year-old attorney and retired Air Force captain who is being retried on the charged of attempted murder. Gorman's first trial ended in a mistrial when the jury could not come to a verdict. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are all guaranteed in that Constitution and you don't take any of that away without a trial, without a lawyer, without evidence, without pointing out lies and mistakes and reckless conduct. Nobody investigated this case. We did." On the night of the incident, Secaucus police responded to the couple's home on a domestic violence call and heard a woman crying for help. They entered with guns drawn and heard her say "'Help, help, he's stabbing me.'" Gorman and Schwartz were found covered in blood in the kitchen. He was seated on the floor with his arms and legs wrapped around her, according to testimony. Willis noted that an officer kicked Gorman into unconsciousness to separate them and they carried Schwartz to the dining room table to begin treating her. Willis said the officers had already decided that Schwartz was the victim and Gorman was guilty. Willis noted that the first EMT did not check Gorman for wounds even though he was covered in blood, reiterating that because police had jumped to the conclusion that Gorman was guilty, they didn't care about him and never properly investigated the case. "Why, because in their minds, they got the monster," said Willis, noting that the knife the prosecution says Gorman used to attack Schwartz was never sent to a lab to test for fingerprints, DNA or hair. Willis said a police officer lied to the grand jury, exaggerating the severity of her wounds and the degree of treatment she need. He also noted that the grand jury was never told that Gorman told an officer while in the hospital that night "I wasn't trying to kill her. I was trying to stop her from killing herself." Willis told jurors that if they believe the officer withheld that information intentionally for four years, "You can walk into that jury room and say I'm not going to stand for this because if it is Todd Gorman today, it is me tomorrow." Gorman and Schwartz suffered from depression and had met on an online forum which provided information on methods to commit suicide. Willis said she had attempted suicide twice before the Sept. 29, 2011 incident. Schwartz committed suicide about a year later. The defense contends Schwartz was trying to hurt herself on the night of the incident and she attacked Gorman when he tried to stop her. Willis noted that the long cut on the inside of Schwartz's forearm, which required stitches to close, was obviously consistent with a suicide attempt. Willis said all of Gorman's wounds "indicative of a fight, but who did what. How do you decide. You ask yourself, who was the aggressor in this relationship?" Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Greg Mullens will present his summation this afternoon. BAYONNE -- Crafts, food, and yoga are all on tap for Saturday when the Peninsula City will "Celebrate Boho Art." The art festival is set to kick off at 11 a.m. and run until 11 p.m. The Bridge Art Gallery located at 199 Broadway will celebrate its grand opening on the day of the festival. Local businesses -- including Crafty Fox Studios, Boho Yoga, "Dance with Me" Dance Studio, and Mona Lisa -- will host special art activities for residents of all ages. For more information, visit the festival's /www.bayonnepop.com. maltaroman02.JPG Kimberle Malta-Roman is seen on Thursday, April 9, 2015, at the Hudson County freeholders meeting, holding up a The Jersey Journal story about her lawsuit. This week she was awarded $8.45 million by a Hudson County jury. (Journal file photo) JERSEY CITY -- A jury awarded a stunning $8.45 million to an employee with the Department of Family Services who claimed Hudson County unfairly fired her because she suffered from depression. The six-person jury ruled Tuesday that Hudson County discriminated against Kimberle Malta-Roman when it refused to allow her to return to work after medical leave. The county argued Malta-Roman was not capable of performing her job. In a trial before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Joseph Turula, Malta-Roman was awarded $8.45 million -- $2.45 million for compensatory damages such as physical and emotional distress; and $6 million in punitive damages. The discrimination case was filed following a judge's ruling that Malta-Roman should receive back pay from July 2012 to March 2015. Malta-Roman said the county fired her for taking two extra weeks of medical leave for depression. Malta-Roman's attorney, Colin Page, of Roseland-based Berkowitz and Lichtstein, said that his firm had offered to settle the case for $600,000, but the county rejected the offer. "We're very happy with the ruling," Page said. Hudson County spokesman Jim Kennelly said the county will "immediately begin appealing" the ruling and declined further comment, citing the "ongoing legal matter." Malta-Roman took a three-month medical leave in 2012 to be treated for depression. On her first day back to work, she became distressed when her coworkers told her administrators said she was seeking treatment for a mental illness. Malta-Roman asked for two more weeks of leave, which was denied by the county. She then entered a year-long battle with the county over diagnoses and doctors, until she was found fit to return to work. Page said Malta-Roman is still currently employed with the county and she intends to keep her position in human resources following this week's ruling. Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. A Jersey City man has been sentenced to two life terms in the murder and decapitation of two men in 2013. Yusuf Ibrahim, 31, was sentenced in Superior Court in Jersey City after a jury earlier found him guilty of the fatal shooting and mutilation of 25-year-old Hanny Tawadros and 27-year-old Amgad Konds, state Attorney General Christopher Porrino said. Jurors rejected Ibrahim's self-defense claim. Authorities say Ibrahim hacked off the men's heads and hands before burying their remains in a shallow grave in Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County. Officials say he also used a tire iron to knock out their teeth to hinder identification. Ibrahim testified in his own defense and at one point called himself a "local celebrity" who loves women and marijuana. Judge Mitzy Galis-Menendez imposed the two consecutive life terms along with an additional 48 years, to be served concurrently, on charges including desecration of human remains, theft, unlawful possession of a weapon, and hindering apprehension, Porrino said. The sentence includes 127 1/2 years of parole ineligibility. Ibrahim was found guilty on June 22 of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree desecration of human remains, and other crimes related to the murders and mutilation of the bodies. Tawadros and Konds, Egyptian nationals living in Jersey City, were shot to death on Feb. 5, 2013, inside Konds' white Mercedes C280 while the trio were driving in Jersey City. Ibrahim then drove the bodies to Buena Vista, cut off their hands and heads, stole the men's money and jewelry and buried their remains in a wooded area behind the unoccupied home of a relative. After staying overnight at the relative's house on Harding Highway in Buena Vista, Ibrahim drove the Mercedes to Philadelphia, where he abandoned it at a secluded location after setting it on fire to destroy evidence of the murders. He was arrested five days later in Bayonne. "Justice for the victims and the safety of our citizens required that Ibrahim face a true life sentence without parole for the sickening murders he committed," Attorney General Porrino said in a statement. "This sentence delivers that justice by ensuring that Ibrahim will spend the rest of his days behind bars." Elie Honig, director of the Division of Criminal Justice, added: "A man capable of committing the atrocities he committed should never be free." A life sentence is defined as 75 years for purposes of calculating parole ineligibility under New Jersey's No Early Release Act, which requires that Ibrahim serve 85 percent of that sentence, or 63 3/4 years, without possibility of parole, state officials said. He therefore faces a total of 127 1/2 years of parole ineligibility on the two consecutive life sentences for murder. Ibrahim already was serving a state prison sentence prior to the murder trial, officials said. He previously pleaded guilty to charges filed by the Attorney General's Office in connection with an armed robbery in Jersey City on the night of Sept. 19, 2012. He admitted that he shot a man in the foot with a handgun and pistol-whipped the victim while robbing him of his money and cell phone. Ibrahim also pleaded guilty to a robbery charge filed by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office related to a carjacking in Jersey City on Dec. 22, 2011, and was sentenced by Judge Galis-Menendez on Jan. 8, 2015, to 18 years in state prison, including more than 15 years of parole ineligibility, in connection with both of those cases. The Red Mill Museum Village at 56 Main St. in Clinton will be hosting food historian Susan McLellan Plaisted on Wednesday, September 28 at 6:30 p.m. for a presentation on cooking "From Hearth to Cookstove." Tickets are $12 for museum members and $15 for non-members. Susan McLellan Plaisted is the Proprietress of Heart to Hearth Cookery, a food history business based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She offers demonstrations of 17th century through 19th century Colonial American and European cooking methods, practices, and receipts (recipes), as well as pre-European-contact and post-European-contact Native American foodways. Her repertoire ranges from open pit, through down hearth, raised hearth, and cookstove cooking. She conducts hands-on workshops and classes for both children and adults at many historic sites and museums in the Delaware Valley region and beyond. With her diverse historic foodways experience, she offers many slide presentations and lectures. The Red Mill Museum Village is concluding its Year of Food--which featured two exhibits on food history, one, Sunny Side Up, on breakfast in the nineteenth century, and the other, Farm to Table, on food processing and packaging. While the museum is currently closed in preparation of our Haunted Village fundraiser, Susan's talk will be held in Farm to Table, so guests can experience that exhibit firsthand. For more information, or to reserve tickets, contact Tim Betz, Assistant Director, at 908-735-4101 Ext. 102 or programs@theredmill.org. This item was submitted by Tim Betz. CLINTON - A New York state man fled from a Shell gas station on Route 173, leaving two behind who were urinating behind the station, police said. Justin Artis, 22, of Inwood, New York (courtesy photo) Patrolman Timothy McGuire reported seeing two men in the back of the Shell gas station on Route 173 at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday. The men told McGuire they were in a 2013 Mazda CX5 driven by Justin Artis, 22, of Inwood, New York. While the pair were urinating behind the building, Artis apparently fled when he saw McGuire's police car, according to a police report. The CX5 had been reported stolen. A warrant was issued for Artis for theft by receiving stolen property. Clinton Municipal Judge E. Perkins set bail at $25,000. Artis, who, as of Thursday, is still being sought, is 5-feet, 10-inches tall, weighs 180 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the town of Clinton Police Department at 908-735-8611. Still on the loose in New York City is the man who tried to set a Muslim woman's blouse on fire in a department store. The blouse was in accordance with hijab, the traditional dress code for Muslim women. The woman was not harmed, according to reports, and it's believed that a suspect in the case has also targeted women without hijabs -- but when you heard about this story, it's likely your brain linked the attack to religious bias. The New York Times reported Sunday that, "Hate crimes against American Muslims have soared to their highest levels since the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks." Hamadi Bengabsia sees an uptick in harassment of Muslim women as the direct result of Donald Trump's negative campaign comments about Muslims. "(Muslim) women are scared at night," said Bengabsia, a North Bergen resident and president of the North Hudson Islamic Center in Union City. And none of it is warranted when you know the true story of the Muslims in the U.S. Bengabsia, 50, is one local example. He won the lottery and came from Tunisia in 1993 on a student visa to study at Baruch College in Manhattan and eventually earned a M.B.A. and his C.P.A. He first worked at Ernst and Young and then took a senior management at C.B.S., the media network. He has three children and is very active in his mosque, which is one of the largest in the state. Commenting on Trump's hate rhetoric, Bengabsia said, "This is a good opportunity for the Muslim community to come together." He found that many Muslims were previously "not engaged." Now he said, "We want to do something and find out who we are in the political system." Mariam Abbassi Elayan said that more Muslims are stepping up to register to vote; and her mosque, also in North Hudson, has been holding registration drives. She leads their outreach efforts. She came to the U.S. from Palestine in 1965 when she was 13. Her father and some of her brothers came here more than a decade earlier; he served 25 years in their U.S. Consulate. Eventually most of her nine other siblings came here. "They came here for a better living," said Elayan, who is now a real estate agent. She is also the mother of four boys, all of whom are successful. Elayan and her husband had owned two Fine Fare supermarkets in Union City and sold them several years ago. "I am an American-Palestinian," she said. The Pew Research Center estimates that 3.3 million Muslims live in the U.S., which makes Islam the third largest faith behind Christianity and Judaism. About 40 percent hold college degrees compared to 29 percent of U.S. native-born residents. Though only one percent of the U.S. population, Muslims comprise ten percent of the nation's physicians. The first known Muslim to set foot in the United States was a slave, Estevanico, who came with the Spaniards in 1528 and helped explore the Southwest portion of the country. About 30 percent of African slaves were Muslims. In the last two centuries, Muslims have come first from Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon -- with most of them settling in the Midwest. Later waves came from Bosnia, Albania and other parts of Europe. In the 1960s, African-Americans began to convert to Islam following the example of Malcolm X. 45 percent of today's Muslims immigrated to the U.S. since 1990. In the 15 years since 1994, the number of mosques doubled to over 2,000. Hamtramack, Michigan, which had been 90 percent Polish and Catholic, is now the nation's first majority Muslim town with a majority Muslim city council. A Muslim chaplain rides with the police to help defuse situations where police officers lack knowledge of Muslim beliefs and customs. Because Muslims have many children, their numbers will swell to 8 million by 2050, leap frogging ahead of Jews. Muslims, like Bengabsia and Elayan, are well assimilated in the U.S. Eighty percent are happy in the U.S. Seventy percent become U.S. citizens compared with 50 percent of other groups and 6,000 Muslims serve in the U.S. armed forces. Most of these facts were gleaned from an excellent "Briefing" in This Week magazine. But Elayan and Bengabsia are living examples of successful, well-adjusted, peace-loving, religious Muslims who represent the overwhelming number of Muslims who left their homelands for a better life -- as do most immigrants. They resent the stereotyping of Muslims by Trump and his supporters. But those attacks may be the push to get them more involved in the political process, and that would be just the right antidote to the possibility of a Trump presidency. Rev. Alexander Santora is pastor of The Church of Our Lady of Grace & St. Joseph in Hoboken. Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter@padrehoboken Mercer Mall File photo of Mercer Mall in Lawrence (Michael Mancuso | For NJ.com) LAWRENCE -- An abandoned backpack prompted a scare at Mercer Mall Wednesday night, but police said a sweep by a bomb-sniffing dog found nothing suspicious. A Starbucks employee called 911 about a backpack that had been left on top of a garbage can, drawing a response from police, firefighters and the Mercer County Sheriff's Office's K-9 unit, said Lt. Joe Amodio. "They checked it out and it was deemed safe," he said. The backpack's owner ended up being a customer who was using a nearby ATM and inadvertently left behind the bag. Police say the woman did the right thing by calling police given the recent explosions and bomb scares in New Jersey and New York City. "If you see something, say something and contact us or your local department," Amodio said. In another incident earlier this week, police briefly shut down a portion of West State Street in Trenton to inspect a sealed, unlabeled box that was found outside the New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police's office. It turned out to be nothing more than a box of paper supplies. Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. WASHINGTON (AP) The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump. The nine-member panel sent a letter to the former president's lawyers on Friday, demanding his testimony under oath by mid-November and outlining a series of corresponding documents. The decision by lawmakers to exercise their subpoena power comes a week after the committee made its final case against the former president, who they say is the "central cause" of the multi-part effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It remains unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond to the subpoena, if at all. Presidential contender Le Pen, well positioned in polls, has made fighting immigration her longstanding issue. The president of the National Front is campaigning to leave the EU and its visa-free zone, which would allow France to reinstate controls at national borders. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy, competing in the conservative primary in November, is visiting Calais on Wednesday, where he's expected to pledge to send migrants to a processing center in Britain. Sarkozy will not go to the makeshift camp known as the jungle -- instead he will meet security forces in charge of protecting the ferry port and preventing migrants from entering the area. Temporary home to thousands of migrants trying to reach Britain, the French city of Calais is a major battlefield for presidential candidates who are seizing on fears of immigration in campaigning for spring elections -- and following in the footsteps of far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Sarkozy's rivals for the conservative nomination have also visited Calais, and President Francois Hollande -- who is eying a re-election bid but has not formally declared his candidacy -- is considering going to Calais next week. The "jungle" and its inhabitants from Africa, the Middle East and beyond are a thorn in the side of the Socialist government, the symbol of its failure to find effective responses to Europe's migrant crisis. French conservative politicians argue that British authorities should be responsible for dealing with people who want to demand asylum in the U.K. The French want to renegotiate a 2003 treaty that effectively puts the British border in Calais, leaving French authorities to police migrants trying to cross the Channel. Sarkozy signed the treaty himself as interior minister. Now he wants to maintain border controls on the French territory, because the U.K. is not part of Europe's free-travel zone, but also wants to send migrants to a center on the British territory. The U.K. would be in charge of repatriating those who would not be granted a legal status, he has said. His main challenger in the conservative primary, former Prime Minister Alain Juppe, went to Calais in January, including a walk in boots in the muddy slum camp. "It's not acceptable to keep going that way,'' Juppe told Franceinfo radio-television network Tuesday. "We must differentiate those who are here illegally and send them back" to their countries. Le Pen paid her last visit to Calais two years ago, when she claimed she would send the migrants "back home even to countries at war." Hollande's government promised to dismantle the Calais camp by the end of the year and resettle migrants in small centers across France to examine their situations on a case-by-case basis. That plan has prompted vehement protests from many local conservative and far-right politicians, saying they fear the consequences of the presence of migrants in their towns. The number of migrants living in the "jungle" reached as many as 10,000 this month according to aid groups operating in the camp, compared to 7,000 according to a count by French authorities in August. There were a few hundred there in 2012 when Hollande was elected. Where will Artificial Intelligence come from? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making progress in great strides, or at least it appears so! Almost no week passes by without some major announcements of new challenges solved by AI technology or new products powered by AI. Indeed many quantifiable factors attest an unprecedented level of activity: capital investments, number of academic papers, number of products involving AI technology, they all are on a steep rise in the past five years. Computers are already very capable at some specialized tasks that require reasoning and other abilities that we typically associate with intelligence. For example, computers can play a decent game of chess or can help us order our holiday photos. Despite this genuine progress, we are still a long way from human level intelligence because our best artificial intelligence systems are not general purpose. They cannot quickly adapt to novel tasks the way most humans can do. When talking about artificial intelligent systems there is a risk of emphasizing humans too much. Computers are already more capable than any human at many tasks, for example in numerical computation and search. Yet, in discussions about artificial intelligence we emphasize the shrinking set of abilities where humans still outperform machines. For a nice and more balanced recent discussion on issues surrounding artificial intelligence I recommend reading the edge contributions towards the Edge 2015 question. As artificial intelligence continues to make progress, I would like to ask the following question: Where will the next major advance towards general purpose artificial intelligence come from? Below I list seven possible areas which I believe could be the answer to this question; these answers are highly subjective and biased and they may be all wrong, but hopefully they do contain some interesting pointers for everyone. The point of this exercise is to show that there are many strands of active research that could result in major AI advances. So here are they, the seven areas where a major general purpose AI breakthrough could come from. 1. Composable Differentiable Architectures (aka Deep Learning) Composable differentiable architectures describes current state-of-the-art deep learning systems. Frameworks such as Caffe, Theano, Torch, Chainer, all allow the specification of function classes and to automatically compose and differentiate such functions. Because of this mix-and-match composability there is a frictionless and rapid diffusion of components and (sub-)models across application domains. This commoditizes machine learning and allows customization to specific applications; it commoditizes machine learning because the level of knowledge required to leverage modern deep learning frameworks is low. These deep learning frameworks also allow for easy customization of the model to the application at hand. Years ago, this was the unattained dream for graphical models, but today it is achieved by deep learning frameworks where bespoke models are build for most applications. But is it enough for general purpose AI? What is missing? I believe there are two obstacles; first, almost all deep learning systems require large amounts of supervised data to work. For high-value industrial applications this may be okay because the required label data can be collected. However, there is a long tail of useful applications where label data is rare but unlabeled data is abundant. Future AI systems need to be able to leverage this abundant data source. Second, what is missing are general architectures for reasoning, and an intense search for such building blocks is currently taking place. Maybe classic ideas from AI, such as blackboard systems, could be adapted and made differentiable to enable reasoning, or maybe some entirely unexpected new building block will appear. Besides better models, the key novel technology to look out for in deep learning is custom hardware and novel engineering abstractions. Custom hardware could enable energy savings, or increased speed, or both. Current deep learning piggybacks on GPU development funded largely by the gaming industry. This is a great thing because developing a new GPU generation such as Nvidia's new Pascal GPU requires very large research and development budgets. Novel engineering abstractions in the form of next generation deep learning frameworks could enable automatic scalability, distributed computation, or offer help in identifying the right architecture for the task. Scalability is important beyond just training speed. For example, consider basic estimates of the computing power of the human brain or the following quote from a recent interview with Geoff Hinton. "So in the brain, you have connections between the neurons called synapses, and they can change. All your knowledge is stored in those synapses. You have about 1,000-trillion synapses-10 to the 15, it's a very big number. So that's quite unlike the neural networks we have right now. They're far, far smaller, the biggest ones we have right now have about a billion synapses. That's about a million times smaller than the brain." This puts up a ballpark estimate for the number of primitive computational units in the human brain, and it is quite reasonable to attempt to achieve this scale. One important fact to consider: the driving force behind applications of deep learning is largely the industry, and this will remain the case as long as it pays dividends (it does so greatly at the moment). 2. Brain Simulations Understanding the brain and simulating it is what I think of as the safe route to general AI. We do not know whether it will take 5, 50, or 500 years, but it is likely that we eventually will get there and be able to accurately simulate an artificial brain which is functionally indistinguishable from a real human brain. Novel technology and approaches to study neural systems, such as optogenetics, multi-electrode arrays and connectomics, eventually will enable us to obtain a high-fidelity understanding of the brain. Likewise, increase in computation and custom hardware will allow accelerated simulation of neural models. Most of the investments in this area of research are government funds, for example through the large US BRAIN initiative and the Human Brain Project, and more general neuroscience funding. 3. Algorithmic Information Theory and Universal Intelligence Whatever intelligence is, if we were to accept the possibility of a mathematical theory for it, the closest contenders for such theory are found in a field called algorithmic information theory. If you have not heard of algorithmic information theory before, Gregory Chaitin recently wrote an excellent essay on the conceptual roots of algorithmic information theory and the general history of notions of complexity in science and mathematics. One approach which leverages algorithmic information theory for general artificial intelligence is the AIXI agent, a theory put forward by Marcus Hutter that attempts to be universal in the sense that it will successfully and optimally solve any solvable tasks. At its heart it is a Bayesian reinforcement learning agent where the hypothesis space are possible programs of a Turing machine. It is an extension of an earlier idea to consider Turing machines for predicting future symbols in an observed sequence. This idea is Solomonoff induction proposed by Ray Solomonoff. Because Turing machines are universal any computable hypothesis can be entertained. AIXI extends this idea from mere prediction of symbols to acting in an unknown environment, that is, to reinforcement learning. Grounding intelligence in Turing machines is very appealing: not only is it universal, but allows the formal definition of universal intelligence as well. In essence, reasoning and acting intelligently is reduced to formal manipulation of a notion of complexity defined by programs on a Turing machine. See also Jurgen Schmidhuber's speed prior for Turing machines. Despite this promise, so far we do not see impressive results achieved by AIXI agents. Why not? There are at least two obstacles: Universal Turing machines are not practically implementable and approximating AIXI is hard; there have been some approximation attempts, e.g. in the work of (Veness et al., JAIR 2011), but at best results have matched other reinforcement learning methods without enabling novel applications that were out of reach before. More recently Jurgen Schmidhuber proposed a more practical integration of recurrent neural network models of the world with algorithmic information theory in the form of RNN-based AIs. The choice of Turing machine is not clear. There is an infinite set of possible universal Turing machines and we could reasonably hope that the particular choice would not influence the agent efficiency except perhaps for some small overhead. (For a related example, the Kolmogorov complexity of a sequence is defined through a Turing machine, but whatever the choice of a Turing machine there is an invariance property in that only a constant overhead introduced compared to any other Turing machine.) Unfortunately for AIXI this is not the case: the choice of Turing machine can determine the behaviour of the AIXI agent entirely. (This may also affects Bayesian reinforcement learning more generally: when using a non-parametric prior process the choice of prior may determine more than intended.) This recent negative result leaves AIXI in an interesting state at the moment. It is clearly the most complete theory of universal agents we have at the moment, see e.g. Hutter's own review from 2012, but it may turn out to be entirely subjective (if no "natural" Turing machine can be identified) or practically unworkable. 4. Artifical Life In the above section on brain simulation I argued that by understanding the human brain and then simulating it we will eventually be able to attain human-level intelligence. However, we can start at a more basic level: by understanding and simulating a synthetic form of chemistry we may be able to simulate artificial life. Given a sufficiently rich environment such life may evolve to become intelligent. The field of Artificial Life (ALife) studies the formation and dynamics of life itself on top of artifical simulations of life. This life does not need to be intelligent, and in fact, so far no such simulation has produced life with the intelligence beyond that of a simple organism. But it is clear that since the early 1990'ies, by any generally plausible definition of life (of which there are many and there is some controversy), artificial life does indeed spontaneously form in computer simulations and complex evolutionary dynamics such as symbiosis and parasites do occur in these simulations. For a dated but inspiring introduction to the field of artificial life more generally, see Christoph Adami's book on Artificial Life. Adami also wrote a recent article on evolving artificial intelligence that highlights current research issues for the goal to evolve artificial intelligence. More fundamentally, in another article Adami argues that from theoretical results in a field called integrated information theory (and which I have not heard of before), one possible consequence may be that due to the complexity of general intelligence it is not possible to design it but instead an evolutionary approach is needed. Given that our goal is to evolve intelligence artifically, fundamentally there are the following obstacles in producing useful general artificial intelligence through artificial life: The big intelligence filter hypothesis. This hypothesis goes as follows: life may be abundant but intelligent life may be exceedingly rare. We currently do not know if intelligent life is rare or abundant in the universe, but if it is rare, it may also be exceedingly rare in any simulation of artificial life. A related point is what is known as the Fermi paradox, namely, that what science tells us about astrophysics implies we should have likely observed alien civilizations by now, but this has not happened yet. (See Tim Urban's wonderful article on the Fermi's paradox.) Even for life on our own planet we are not sure what triggered intelligence to appear; one widely believed hypothesis is that it happened in a short time, akin to a phase transition, due to a change in ocean oxygen levels 540 million years ago, leading to the Cambrian explosion. Harnessing intelligence. One of our closest genetic relatives, the chimpanzee, are clearly intelligent, but harnessing this intelligence for something useful is difficult. Now imagine a giant squid, swimming a kilometer deep within the ocean. Likely they are also intelligent but we can hardly leverage this for anything useful. Who knows which form intelligent artificial life will take? Will we be able to recognize this life as intelligent? If we do, such life will likely be similar to encountering an alien species in our universe: unlike anything you can imagine or predict beforehand. That is to say, we may be able to achieve intelligent artificial life but may still struggle to make it useful. Even with full control over the simulation environment, a god-like state if you will, it seems necessary that to make artificial intelligence life useful we will at least have to decode its representation or ``language'' and understand the incentives sufficiently well in order to communicate with such intelligence and motivate it to work for us. In summary, the evolutionary approach to constructing AIs is promising in the long run and there are now several labs working on it (the labs of Adami, Clune, and Hintze). 5. Robotics and Autonomous Systems Autonomous robots are rapidly conquering novel applications in industry and consumer space, such as in self-driving cars, agricultural robotics, industry 4.0, and drones. The key enablers of this development are improved sensing technology (e.g. low-cost depth sensors), increased compute and memory capacities, and improved pattern recognition methods. As a result of the maturity of basic required technologies significant industry capital is invested in driving advanced autonomous robotics research. Beyond the natural urge to feel scared by autonomous machines, how could this lead to a breakthrough in artificial intelligence that cannot be found in one of the constituent technologies? One line of thought in the field of embodied cognition argues that an intelligent system is conditioned on its environment in a fundamental way, shaping the allocation of precious (evolutionary) resources in order to maximally exploit the types of sensors and actuators available to it. Therefore the specific nature of sensing and acting abilities is not ancillary to intelligence but the main driving force that enables intelligence in the first place. If the above thesis were true, autonomous robots with modern sensors and actuators would provide a rich enough embodiment for artificial intelligence, and the lack of such an embodiment in other domains would likely impede the emergence of general intelligence. In the past decade, the European Union, through its robotics programme in the 7th Framework Programme (FP7, totalling more than 50 billion Euro for 2007-2013) has placed an emphasis on combining cognition with robotics at the exclusion of funding research on artificial intelligence not involving robotics. However, many of the resulting large research projects of that time are more reflecting the ample funding availability rather than representing progress on fundamental questions of cognition. 6. Game Playing Games entertain humans; what could they do to enable artificial intelligence? The answer: quite a lot! Games are designed to challenge our intellect, involve interactions between multiple agents, and are sufficiently abstract to be formalized. A computer-implemented game can be as simple and abstract as tic-tac-toe, Chess, or Go, or as sophisticated and close to reality as the latest Grand Theft Auto game. Therefore games are an almost ideal research vehicle to drive artificial intelligence research. Julian Togelius argues this point eloquently in a recent article. In fact, there are now popular game playing competitions and platforms which drive AI research: the Stanford general game playing competition, the Computer Poker Competition, the StarCraft AI Competition, the Atari 2600 Arcade Learning Environment, and, most recently Microsoft's Minecraft AI environment (Malmo). It is likely that such platforms will provide diverse and challenging environments for testing the abilities of artificial general intelligence agents, thus accelerating research and enabling breakthroughs. Perhaps the next breakthrough will be in the form of mastering another game. 7. Knowledge Bases A knowledge base is a discrete representation of basic facts and relations about entities. Large-scale knowledge bases constructed semi-automatically from the web are already incredibly useful commercially and they power search engine results and personal assistants. In search results they provide highly accurate results for known entities in all major search engines (e.g. Knowledge Graph and Knowledge Vault in Google, Satori in Microsoft Bing). To see an example, search for a well-known person, e.g. "Stanislaw Ulam" (results from Bing, results from Google) and observe that the details about the person displayed. In personal intelligent assistants such as Apple Siri, Google Now, Microsoft Cortana, or Amazon Alexa they are responsible for providing facts in basic reasoning abilities. For example, in order to answer queries such as "Who was the president following Thomas Jefferson?" a basic natural language understanding ability and a large knowledge base go a long way. But can knowledge bases provide the substrate for artificial intelligence? The Cyc project started in 1984 and the Open Mind Common Sense project started in 1999 are both based on the belief that in order to enable artificial intelligence we need to encode common sense reasoning, particularly the entities and relationships of everyday life. The hope was that knowledge, encoded in this way, will make reasoning and discovery of novel knowledge simpler. It is fair to say, that while the (commercial) usefulness of knowledge bases for intelligent applications is now well established, it is too early to say whether general artificial intelligence would require reasoning on top of an explicit symbolic knowledge base. Perhaps a more continuous and non-symbolic representation of knowledge that supports reasoning is sufficient. Conclusion The goal of artificial general intelligence (AGI) is challenging and exciting on many levels. In all likelihood artificial intelligence will make rapid progress in the next decade, perhaps along the directions we just discussed. Acknowledgements. I thank Jurgen Schmidhuber, Neil Lawrence, Pushmeet Kohli, Chris Adami, and Chris Watkins for feedback, pointers to literature, and corrections on a draft version of the article. Image credits. The tree image is licensed CC-BY-SA by adoomer. The brain image is a drawing of the brain of Gauss and is public domain. The Anomalocaris image is CC-BY-3.0 licensed art by Nobu Tamura. The octopus image is CC-BY-2.0 licensed art by Paul K. The robot image is licensed CC-BY-2.0 by striatic. The dice image is public domain by Personeoneste. The couple image is public domain. The area has suffered a total of 412 aftershocks since the 5.8-magnitude earthquake 10 days ago. Six aftershocks rattled the historic city of Gyeongju on Wednesday ranging in magnitude from 2.1 to 3.5. City officials said no damage or casualties were reported, but the city government was inundated with phone calls from nervous residents. Many jittery locals are getting prescriptions for tranquilizers or sedatives. The government is designating Gyeongju a special disaster zone, making it eligible for relief funds and residents subject to tax benefits and reductions in public utility fees. Government officials and lawmakers met at the prime minister's office on Wednesday to agree on the measures. A medical task force also offered help to residents of areas affected by the earthquake. Meanwhile, 14 out of 62 national treasures in the historic city have been damaged by the earthquakes, according to the latest tally. Among them are some national treasures in the Seokguram Grotto, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration. It's unclear whether Cronulla prop Sam Tagataese will play again for the Sharks this season (due to a shoulder injury) but what is clear is that he has the trip of a lifetime awaiting him at the end of the year as a result of all his hard work with both troubled youths and local Polynesian communities. Get Sharks v Cowboys tickets now Tagataese is one of the NRL's State of Mind ambassadors taking a proactive role in raising awareness of mental health issues. He has delivered countless speeches to local high schools, footy teams, PCYCs. He has taken an active role in local Pacific Island community programs. As a result, Tagataese was recently handed the Pasifika Leadership and Excellence Award along with retiring Warrior Ben Henry. He will join Indigenous Leadership and Excellence Award winners Dane Gagai and Way Thompson and NRL Education and Wellbeing Manager Nigel Vagana on a cultural learning trip to the US during the off season. One of last year's winners, Dene Halatau, told NRL.com at the time that the trip was a huge eye-opener and one he felt privileged to undertake. Speaking to NRL.com at the recent announcement of the 2016 NRL-RLPA Academic Team of the Year, Tagataese felt similarly blessed. "It's the trip of a lifetime you could say, it's my first time over to the US so I'm really privileged and honoured to receive it and the chance to go over as well and just to experience that kind of culture as well," Tagataese said. Expanding on the work he had done to earn the chance, the Samoa international listed talks at local schools and rugby league clubs about mental health and work with troubled youths, as well as Pacific programs run by local schools where he talks about his own journey and development. While he is going into the trip with an open mind, he is expecting the chance to learn from Native American and Pacific American students and athletes as well as share his own experiences with them at a series of talks, primarily at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). "Learning how they got to where they are and obviously share my experiences and share our cultural values, share how we do things over here in Australia and especially here in the NRL," Tagataese said. "What I've heard is a lot of their communities over there and different cultures and even just the cultures in UCLA, they don't have that bond with other unis or other teams. "Whereas for us here, I play for Cronulla Sharks then I could turn to a Panthers player like Suaia Matagi and have a coffee with him or grab every other Polynesian brothers around and we can all come together and share in our beliefs and our faith. I don't know if that's true about over there but I'm keen to learn and keen to find out for myself." In a video address at the same presentation, Henry forced into retirement this year at the age of just 25 due to a chronic knee injury hoped this would be the start of a bright new chapter. "I'm very honoured and humbled to receive this award. I've had a tough year, but I guess there's a light at the end of every tunnel and this is it for me," Henry said. "It's going to be an enjoyable experience. I've talked to Jerome Ropati (a Pasifika award winner in 2014) and he enjoyed his time over there, so I'm very much looking forward to it." Joyce Russell Porter County Reporter Joyce has been a reporter for nearly 40 years, including 23 years with The Times. She's a native of Merrillville, but has lived in Portage for 39 years. She covers municipal and school government in Porter County. Follow Joyce Russell 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 As I continue to find documentation on my ancestors, I find one piece of paperwork more precious than the others. It is the certification of naturalization for my ancestors born across the pond, immigrated here and took the time and effort to become citizens. Most recently I found my great-grandfather Ernst Schulze's naturalization paperwork. Initially I found his certificate of naturalization, dated May 7, 1912 on Ancestry.com. The small, index card-sized paper was packed full of information, including his birth date, the date he arrived in the U.S., date his naturalization was finalized, his present address and the names of witnesses. I knew there was other naturalization information out there on Ernest from my research. There at least was a petition for naturalization, the first step in the process of becoming an American citizen. I turned to the National Archives. Knowing that Ernest had taken his oath of citizenship in Chicago, I went to the NARA's website and straight to the Chicago office. There, on the right hand side of the screen, was the notation allowing me to request naturalization paperwork online. I filled out the form. The cost would be $10, which I figured was a heck of a lot cheaper than gas going to Chicago. The next day I received a message from the researcher saying that naturalization records from the U.S. District and Circuit courts in Chicago had been digitized and were available free online. The researcher even forwarded me a link on FamilySearch to locate the paperwork. They didn't even charge my credit card for all their efforts. Ernst's petition for naturalization dated Nov. 1, 1905 contained the following information: birth date; birth place; present address; occupation; date he left Germany and date he arrived in New York; the name of the ship on which he traveled; the date he arrived in Chicago; his wife's name and his children's names, their dates and places of birth. That is a significant amount of information on one little sheet of paper. According to the National Archives website on naturalization records (archives.gov/research/naturalization), naturalization became regulated in 1790. Up until 1922, the wives and underage children of naturalized men were automatically naturalized. That explains why I have not been able to find naturalization information on Ernst's wife Fredericka. While I already knew most of the information on the naturalization petition, I did find a couple of interesting things. My great-grandfather landed in New York on April 6, 1883 and attested he had lived in Chicago since April 8, 1883. That means a couple of things. He wasn't detained at Ellis Island, which had only opened the year before, and likely had not only a sponsor in the United States, but had a train ticket waiting for him. Yet another avenue to research - who sponsored my great-grandfather to come to America. A brother? Another relative? A prospective employer? Ah, a genealogist's work is never done. The other thing I found of interest on his petition was that he listed the names of seven children. He and Fredericka had 10, three in Germany and seven after arriving in America. As I looked closer, I saw the names of their three daughters had been omitted. The petition had not asked to list only male children, but asked for all children. Curious to say the least. For more information on the naturalization process or where you might find information on the naturalization of your ancestors, I would highly recommend the National Archives web site, archives.gov, for a ton of information. Drop me a line at joyce.russell@nwi.com to tell me what you find. GARY Looking for a healthy place to grab a meal? Gary has a new spot for you to check out. Located at 615 S. Lake St. in the Miller Beach area of Gary, Vibrations Health, Wellness, and Juice Bar is a new addition to the community. Since opening in December, the business has an improved menu with new health food products added. Were a growing business, owner Rebecca Raspberry said. We started with half a juice bar, which we thought was whole, until we realized that wasnt going to do it. So we added another one a few months later. Vibrations offers fruit and vegetable juices with a variety of options. You may even add extras such as bee pollen, cod liver oil, flax seed, ginger and more. In April, Raspberry saw a need for healthy food options and expanded the menu beyond juices and smoothies. Among the additions are chicken salad, avocado toast and spinach pie. The store also sells natural soaps, body whips, pure honey, essential oils and gluten-free snacks. The customer base and inventory have also increased over time. We pull from Gary definitely," Raspberry said. "Were starting to get customers from Chesterton, Valparaiso, Merrillville and Crown Point. What I see a lot is people traveling from Chicago to Michigan are googling for healthy options. Where are they gonna go? Its going to send them to the closest one to the expressway, which is us. Raspberry was raised in the health industry. She spent 14 years working at her fathers health food store House of Gandhi in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago and couldn't help but smile when talking about her own venture in Gary. She hopes to serve the community for as long as possible by teaching and offering alternatives. My favorite thing about working here is the opportunity to help people," she said. "They come in all the time and say, I need this. Im feeling this way. Alright doc, fix me up! One employee, 20-year-old Kayla Jenkins, said Its a nice environment, and a calming atmosphere. The customers are nice. Rebecca is awesome, and Im so thankful to work here. Although Raspberry couldnt decide on her all-time favorite juice, she chose one for the day: Today it's Strawberry Spice. Strawberries, dates, banana, cayenne pepper and hemp milk. So its sweet and spicy at the same time. She also added that its an energy and metabolism booster, while strawberries are good for eyes and hemp milk is great protein. Find Vibrations on Facebook and on Instagram (@VibrationsJuiceBar). GARY Police are investigating after someone opened fire into an occupied home Wednesday in the 2900 block of West 11th Avenue. The incident occurred about 1 a.m. but Gary police were not called to the area until about 2:36 a.m, according to Gary police Lt. Dawn Westerfield. The bullets reportedly went through a door and window, but no one was wounded. HAMMOND A Gary woman was sentenced Tuesday to a year in prison for helping to run drugs for her son, who was a reputed high-ranking member of the Two Six Nation street gang, federal court records show. Ester Mama Darkside Carrera, 63, was ordered to serve one year and one day in prison, according to U.S. District Court records. Carerras sentence will run concurrently with a 40-month sentence she was given in Chicago federal court for similar crimes. During the hearing Tuesday in Hammond federal court, Chief Judge Philip Simon recommended the Bureau of Prisons expedite Carreras placement because of her serious medical conditions. Carrera pleaded guilty in June in Hammond to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, heroin and MDMA. In her plea agreement with the government, Carrera accepted responsibility for at least 5 kilograms but less than 15 kilograms of cocaine. Carrera was first charged in the Northern District of Indiana in 2014 in a racketeering indictment targeting the Two Six Nation street gang. She worked for her son, Jesus Chu Chu Fuentes, as a courier, court records said. Fuentes pleaded guilty in the Indiana case last year and is scheduled to be sentenced May 16. He has admitted to being responsible for the murder of Miguel Fernandez in 1991, and he admitted to ordering the murders of Edwardo Miranda in 1997 and Albert Greeny Guzman in 1999. Additionally, he admitted to distributing 150 to 450 kilograms of cocaine and 3,000 to 10,000 kilograms of marijuana, according to court records. HAMMOND The wife of Lake Stations disgraced former mayor on Wednesday sought to delay her sentencing because of medical issues, but a federal judge quickly denied her motion, court records show. A sentencing hearing for Deborah Soderquist, 58, and husband Keith Soderquist remains scheduled for next Wednesday in U.S. District Court. They were convicted of improperly taking money from his re-election campaign fund and the citys food pantry account to gamble at casinos. Deborah Soderquists attorney, Visvaldis Kupsis, filed a motion Wednesday seeking to delay the hearing, because she has been diagnosed with a recurrent kidney cancer and has a CT scan scheduled for the day after the hearing. the filing noted the U.S. attorneys office was opposed to the request, and Judge Rudy Lozano denied her motion. In a separate filing Wednesday, Deborah Soderquist asked Lozano to sentence her to 18 months in a halfway house. Guidelines call for a sentence of 24 to 30 months. Some cases call for mercy, and this is one of them, a sentencing memorandum said. Mrs. Soderquists medical conditions are very real and the danger imposed is also very real. In addition to kidney cancer, Deborah Soderquist has a myotonic dystrophy, is undergoing physical therapy for a number of issues and likely will require surgery related to her various conditions, according to court records. The federal Bureau of Prisons cannot accommodate her need for the types of treatment recommended by her doctors, according to the sentencing memorandum. Deborah Soderquist also is asking the court to grant her 60 days to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons, which would allow her to complete some of her medical care. Keith Soderquist faces an enhanced term of 42 months at sentencing, court records said. The government will join forces with the private sector to advance the battery technology for green cars. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Wednesday launched a project with some 27 companies and research organizations to improve the performance of batteries for electric vehicles. The organizations involved include LG Chem, Hyundai Motor and the Korea Automotive Technology Institute. The aim is to increase the distance that an electric car can travel with one charge from 190 km to 400 km by 2020. The government will invest W27 billion and the private sector W16 billion in the project (US$1=W1,118). The market for medium and large secondary cells for electric cars is expected to grow by 30 percent every year to be worth US$19.6 billion in 2020. INDIANAPOLIS The three candidates running in an Indiana election whose outcome could determine which political party controls the U.S. Senate will debate state and national issues Oct. 18. The nonpartisan Indiana Debate Commission announced Thursday that Democrat Evan Bayh, Republican Todd Young and Libertarian Lucy Brenton have agreed to participate in the hourlong debate at an Indianapolis television studio. There will be no audience for the debate which will air live from 6-7 p.m. Region time on the commission website and most Indiana public radio and television stations. Hoosiers can submit debate questions for the candidates online at indianadebatecommission.com. CROWN POINT The Lake County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday granting Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson authority to go to court to seize vacant lots and abandoned buildings now in the names of so-called serial tax-delinquent owners under a new state law. Commissioner Gerry Scheub, D-Crown Point, said they are supporting Gary "to help them right their ship." County Attorney John Dull said county taxpayers won't bear the cost of Gary's litigation. Gary officials have said they aim to acquire as many as 3,500 parcels in the next 12 months. MaiaCo LLC, a private redevelopment partner with ties to former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, who serves as an unpaid adviser to the project, would be involved in the transaction, but wouldn't own the property, which would be given to Gary. Commissioners said those who buy and hold multiple tax sale properties without paying their future tax bills, and then seek bankruptcy protection, are holding back Gary's future. Commissioner Kyle Allen, D-Gary, said, "We have individuals who game the system. They are serial participators in the tax sales. They owe taxes. They shield themselves from the process by going to bankruptcy court." Jim Nowaki, a Gary resident who owns about 300 properties, many in Gary, spoke against the resolution, saying the effort is targeting him and other private developers who buy tax-delinquent properties at county government auctions with the hope of attracting new business and homeowners. "I've been in court many times and generally I win more than I lose," Nowaki said. "I'm prepared for it. It's going to be a big problem, and it's not going to fix anything; instead, it's going to be an outrageous string of scandals." The commissioners' vote comes as County Treasurer Peggy Katona is conducting the office's annual auction of tax-delinquent properties. Some 16,000 parcels owing $150 million in back taxes are for sale. Most are in Gary where decades of steel mill layoffs, substandard schools and crumbling infrastructure have contributed to more than 100,000 residents leaving the city since the 1960 census. Nowaki said he has filed for bankruptcy protection, but not because of overdue property taxes. Nowacki said Gary's continued blight is caused by inflated property tax assessments. "If you want investment in the city, would you want, in one instance, to pay 40 times the eventual (successfully appealed) assessed value?" he said. "There is an absolute collapse of market transactions in the city. People have thrown up their hands and walked away. If you want investment in the city, you have to make it so market-based investors come to the city, not this special legislation." Dull said the county isn't targeting Nowacki's properties this year. He said the county also has excluded parcels held by Andrew L. Young, which are shielded by a bankruptcy agreement that expires next year. Young has owned as many as 1,800 parcels in Gary. However, Dull said the county is still pursuing delinquent properties in the name of school board member Marion R. Williams, who has represented the Gary Community School Corp.s 4th District since 2008. County officials said Williams owes taxes on dozens of parcels of Calumet Township real estate. They recently settled with two of Williams' children who also owed back taxes. Commissioners filed suit in 2014 after a Times investigation showed parcels under the names of Marion R. Williams had uncollected taxes and late penalties exceeding $500,000. INDIANAPOLIS Prospective college students, and their parents, have a new tool to gauge the best value among Indiana public universities. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education on Wednesday launched its College Value Index, which makes comparative data on completion rates, student debt, academic effectiveness and career satisfaction available at the click of a mouse. "We think that at a time when we're telling Hoosiers that education beyond high school is more important than ever, we need to make sure that we provide the right kind of information to help them make good decisions about where they go to college and what they study," Commissioner Teresa Lubbers said. Lubbers said the free tool available online at in.gov/che uses state data and college alumni survey responses to answer three key questions all prospective students have: Will I learn what I need to know? Will I graduate? Will I find fulfilling employment? The index does not rank schools based on their results, she said. Rather, it gathers typically disparate data and presents it in a single format and in one place to guide students toward an informed college choice. "We are the first state to measure college value in a way that goes beyond the numbers to show not just how well our campuses are doing but also how they can do better," Lubbers said. Region schools listed on the index include Purdue University Northwest, with separate entries for its former Calumet and North Central campuses; Indiana University Northwest and Ivy Tech Community College. The data show that while the on-time and extended-time graduation rates of those schools are below the state average and student debt is nearly at or above other state universities, almost every student who graduates from PNW, IUN or Ivy Tech will earn more than the state's median salary within a decade. Lubbers said she hopes to add private universities and for-profit institutions operating in Indiana to the index in coming years. GARY The city administration is proposing to increase a number of employees salaries in the coming budget year, although some may find themselves under the microscope for not living in the city. The Gary Finance Committee is in the midst of hearings on Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilsons budget for the next calendar year with the next one scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. The budget includes the last phase of a $10,000 salary increase for police officers and firefighters announced last year. Pay was bumped up $2,500 in 2015 with another $5,000 added in the current budget year. Freeman-Wilson is proposing the last $2,500 be added this year. When Freeman-Wilson announced the pay raise last year, she also spoke about a restructuring that would involve creating a category of public safety officers who could perform both police and firefighting duties. Next years budget calls for funding 30 such public safety positions paying $50,000 each. Freeman-Wilson said some of those positions are expected to be new hires while others may be current firefighters or police officers who voluntarily want to move to those positions. The city is proposing to use $2.5 million in casino revenue to help subsidize the police and fire salaries. Freeman-Wilson also is proposing a 10 percent raise for employees who make less than $40,000 annually. According to the mayor, some of these positions have not seen increases in decades. She said the city was able to reduce costs in other areas to fund the raises. The budget calls for no increase in the mayor, council members or department head salaries. City Clerk Suzette Raggs budget calls for her salary to increase about 4.5 percent to $69,073 from $66,073, and includes raises for other employees in her office. The budget, however, also includes eliminating a supervisor position, and her overall budget next year is expected to be slightly lower than this years budget. City Judge Deidre Monroes salary of $76,500 also is scheduled to remain the same. Finance Committee Chairwoman LaVetta Sparks-Wade, D-6th, and other members of the Gary City Council have raised concerns about the city residency rule that requires civil employees to live within city limits, and are seeking the addresses of workers. Police and firefighters are not required to live within city limits. Freeman-Wilson said of the citys 100 civil employees who live outside the city, about 65 to 70 are full time. She said about eight of those employees work for the city court or clerks office, leaving about 56 employees working for the executive branch of the city who live outside of Gary. She said she is asking the council to grandfather in those employees, some of whom have been with the city for many years. She said new hires would have to abide by the residency requirement unless there was a special circumstance; in that case, a waiver would have to be sought from the council. For instance, she said, the city is attempting to hire an aquatic instructor and has not been able to find a qualified applicant within the city. She also said there are some positions in the city health department in which the applicants deemed qualified by the State Board of Health live outside the city. Freeman-Wilson said some employees who live outside the city were hired in past administrations, some under her administration. She said department heads were required to live in Gary. Freeman-Wilson said she has no quibble with the councils desire to have the city abide by the residency requirement. She said she always has attempted to find Gary residents for city government positions and that in the future, we will just have to insist they live in the city. HAMMOND Carrying Indianas Bicentennial Torch through Lake County on Oct. 9 and 11 means much more than the miles covered. For Drake Abramson, of Lake Station, being a torchbearer means shining a light on epilepsy, a condition he experiences. This is not for me. Its for the 66,000 Hoosiers suffering from epilepsy. I want to raise awareness, Abramson said Wednesday at the torch reception at the Indiana Welcome Center that brought together most of those selected to represent Lake County in the torch relay, family members and public officials. Torchbearer Mary Goolik, of Highland, has called Northwest Indiana home most of her 64 years. On the faculty of Indiana University Northwest School of Nursing for the past 15 years, Goolik said being chosen means giving back to the community. Nurses are giving people, she said. Im so honored to be part of this. Jade Green, 18 and a senior at Hammond High School, said as a member of the JROTC she wants to inspire others to aspire to more than a high school diploma. We started this JROTC four years ago. We do a lot of community service, said Green, who plans to go through basic training in the U.S. Army next summer, then attend college and eventually become an Army officer. A retired guidance counselor from Merrillville High, Drew Furuness, 69, of Schererville, said being chosen as a torchbearer is a chance to honor his Hoosier roots. Ive lived in Indiana all my life, visited all the state parks. I love the diversity, the cultural, geographic diversity this state offers to all its residents, said Furuness, who grew up in Dyer and graduated from Dyer Central High before going to Indiana State University. Speros Batistatos, South Shore Convention & Visitors Association president and CEO, echoed that theme of diversity in his welcome. The greatness of Lake County and being part of this state are the people who live here in Lake County, Batistatos said. We knew how to work together and respect each other. Im proud to be the son of a Greek immigrant who decided to settle here. Chosen from more than 120 nominations, the 30 torchbearers were selected on merit alone. Just their names were submitted, said Larry Blanchard, chairman of the Lake County Bicentennial Committee, during the festivities. Considered individuals who are inspirations in their communities, the countys torchbearers are among more than 2,000 Hoosiers chosen from the 4,000-plus nominations made by the public to honor Indianas 200th anniversary of statehood. The Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay stepped off on Sept. 9 in Corydon, Indianas first state capital, and will culminate with a celebration on Oct. 15 on the grounds of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The torch relay will touch each of Indianas 92 counties during the 3,200-mile journey across the state. On Oct. 9, the torch relay begins in Whiting and travels to Hobart. Some of the torchbearers will travel by car, while others will walk or run. The relay picks up again on Oct. 11 in Crown Point. Family members will participate for two torchbearers who were honored posthumously. Susan Scully, daughter of Hobart physician John Scully, will carry the torch for her late father. Andrew and Patti Nowaczyk will participate in the torch relay to honor their son, Army Staff Sgt. David Nowaczyk, of Dyer, who was 32 when he was killed April 15, 2012, in Afghanistan during his third tour of duty. Speaking at the torch reception, Andrew Nowaczyk said they will represent all the Gold Star families of Indiana. CROWN POINT Calling Dan Lott not the worst of the worst, but close, Lake Criminal Court Judge Clarence Murray sentenced the Harvey, Illinois, resident to four years in prison after accepting the mans guilty plea on two counts of stalking. Lott, 50, was first charged in 2014 with the level 5 felony count of stalking a Hammond woman with whom he started a relationship in 2012. Murray released him on bond with a no-contact order in that case. However, Lott violated that order by phoning the woman and was arrested again, charged with another count of stalking and his bond revoked. During the sentencing hearing Wednesday, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Veronica Gonzalez read aloud the victims impact statement. He made my girls and my life a living hell, wrote the mother of three daughters. I didnt know if he was going to hit me in the face with a hammer or shoot me, she said in her statement. He made us prisoners in our own home. Gonzalez also pointed to Lotts numerous felony convictions for crimes including armed robbery and the multiple years he spent in prison in asking Murray to sentence Lott to six years in the Indiana Department of Correction. He has a pending case from Sept. 16, 2013, for criminal sexual assault out of Cook County, Gonzalez said. When he is returned to Illinois for trial he will be on a no-bond hold. Defense attorney Jeffrey Semko told Murray that Lott was drunk with love for this woman although he has been married to another woman since 2000. He asked for Lott to receive a three-year sentence suspended on probation. In sentencing Lott to prison, Murray told him, Youre your own worst enemy. Growing up in South Chicago and then moving to Northwest Indiana, it has been pretty lonely being a Republican. Coming from blue collar roots with many union friends, most in my circle are staunchly Democrat. But to quote Bob Dylan, "The times, they are a changing." Like the African American constituency, the blue collar worker has been taken for granted by the Democratic Party. NAFTA, since signed into law by Bill Clinton, has been a disaster. More than 5 million manufacturing jobs have been lost. More recently, Hillary Clinton and the Democrats have opposed fracking, the Keystone pipeline and the coal industry. They support high business taxes, more unfair trade agreements and burdensome regulations that continue to drive high-paying jobs overseas. Many blue collar workers are abandoning this assisted suicide and supporting Donald Trump, who promises to correct this mess. Suddenly I'm not so lonely anymore. Gary Ziolkowski, Crown Point BEIRUT 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 Sept. 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. It was not immediately clear who carried out the strike. Aircraft from Syria, Russia and the U.S.-led coalition are targeting the Fatah al-Sham Front, which along with the Islamic State group was excluded from the cease-fire. The airstrike on a Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy Monday night prompted international condemnation over attacks targeting humanitarian facilities and workers. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the convoy strike as a "sickening, savage and apparently deliberate attack." The convoy was carrying U.N. aid. The U.S. initially said it believed Russian or Syrian government jets were behind the attack on the aid convoy. But a senior U.S. official said Wednesday that Washington has determined with a very high degree of confidence that the attack was carried out by a Russian piloted aircraft. Moscow denied that Russian or Syrian aircraft were behind the attack, saying there was a fire in the cargo. Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said a U.S. Predator drone was in the area of the convoy attack when it happened. In New York on Tuesday, Russian and U.S. diplomats insisted that the cease-fire, which went into effect nine days ago, was not dead, despite soaring violence. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his counterpart Sergey Lavrov exchanged blame in a public session on Syria at the U.N. Security Council. The Syrian military said the truce expired Monday night, shortly before presumed Russian or Syrian government jets launched a sustained aerial attack on Aleppo's opposition-held neighborhoods. The cease-fire was intended in part to allow humanitarian convoys to reach besieged and hard-to-reach areas throughout Syria. The U.N. estimates that some 6 million Syrians live in such areas. On Wednesday, Syrian opposition activists said suspected government airstrikes in the northern city of Aleppo and the rebel-held Idlib province killed 23 civilians, including at least five children. The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists inside Syria, said at least 11 civilians, including three children and three women, were killed Wednesday during air raids on several rebel-held neighborhoods of Aleppo. Ibrahim Alhaj, a member of the volunteer first responders known as the Syria Civil Defense, said 24 people were killed in the Aleppo strikes. In nearby Idlib, the Observatory said 12 civilians, including two children, were killed in at least eight air raids. Elsewhere in Syria, airstrikes on the opposition-run town of Talbiseh, outside of the central city of Homs, killed two civilians and wounded tens of others, according to the activist-run Talbiseh Media Center. The town is besieged by government forces. The Observatory said government jets subjected the town to heavy bombardment Wednesday morning. State TV meanwhile said a Syrian warplane crashed after carrying out a combat mission against Islamic State militants northwest of the capital, Damascus. The pilot was rescued, according to an unnamed military official quoted on state TV. The IS-affiliated news agency Aamaq said the group downed the plane in the eastern Qalamoun mountains after the aircraft carried out four raids. IS shot down a government aircraft on Sunday in the eastern Deir el-Zour province. ___ Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, Jeffrey Schaeffer in Paris, Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, and Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, contributed to this report. A former top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing federal corruption and bribery charges in connection with two companies that were trying to do business with the state. In a federal complaint, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announced Thursday that Joe Percoco and seven others are facing a wide array of criminal charges. Percoco, who served as the governors executive secretary, is accused of taking more than $600,000 in bribes from an energy company that needed state approval to build a power plant in the Hudson Valley and an upstate developer that received several state contracts. In addition, Percoco is accused of getting a job at the energy company for his wife, a former school teacher. Cuomo released a statement condemning the alleged pay-to-play schemes, saying, "I learned this morning of the charges filed by the U.S. Attorneys office that include a former member of my administration. If the allegations are true, I am saddened and profoundly disappointed. "I have zero tolerance for abuse of the public trust from anyone. If anything, a friend should be held to an even higher standard," he said. The complaint says that the men were involved in "two overlapping criminal schemes involving bribery, corruption and fraud in the awarding of hundreds of millions of dollars in state contracts and other official state benefits." Some of those contracts were administered through SUNY Polytechnic Institute, where Percoco allegedly worked with a consultant in the scheme. SUNY Polytechnics president is among those facing charges. Court documents state the consultant, Todd Howe, is cooperating with investigators and pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud and extortion. The complaint is also full of some colorful details, including the fact that Percoco referred to cash payments as "ziti," which was lifted from the HBO series "The Sopranos," which, incidentally, was about mobsters. Percoco spent decades as one of the closest friends and aides to the governor, who referred to Percoco as the late Mario Cuomos third son. Also named in the complaint are two top executives at Syracuse-based COR Development, Steve Aiello and Joseph Gerardi, who are accused of bribing Percoco. Alain Kaloyeros, who leads of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, also faces charges. He is accused of steering state contracts connected to projects in Syracuse and the Buffalo Billion to two companies that had sent kickbacks to a SUNY Polytechnic consultant. SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and Chairman H. Carl McCall said in a statement that Kaloyeros has been relieved as his duties and suspended without pay. It is imperative that any charges brought against SUNY Poly President Alain E. Kaloyeros today do not distract from the educational mission, ground-breaking research, and academic operation of SUNY Polytechnic Institute or negatively impact the thousands of students, faculty, researchers, and staff that the campus serves," the SUNY statement reads. Others named include Buffalo-based LP Ciminelli Chairman Louis Ciminelli and company executives Kevin Schuler and Michael Laipple. Questions had circled whether Percoco represented clients who had business before the state as part of the Buffalo Billion. The state Legislature does not have a monopoly on corruption, Bharara said. In each case, the bids were rigged and the results were pre-ordained, Bharara said. Companies got rich and the public got bamboozled. Percoco's attorney issued a statement on his behalf, saying, "This prosecution, based on information provided by someone of utterly unreliable credibility, seeks to criminalize conduct that the Supreme Court of the United States recently found to be not unlawful. It is an overreach of classic proportions. Mr. Percoco performed services honestly and within the bounds of the law at all times. He will enter a plea of not guilty because he is not guilty. We are confident that a jury that fairly considers the facts and correctly applies the law will find him not guilty." The U.S. on Wednesday buzzed Korean skies with two B-1B Lancer bombers in a show of force reacting to North Korea's latest nuclear test. They also zipped around Korean skies last week. After taking off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the two bombers armed with missiles and JDAM precision-guided munitions flew over the U.S. Rodriguez firing range in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, about 30 km from the demilitarized zone, before one of them touched down at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek. Their earlier flight upset some South Koreans because it was delayed for a day and lasted only 30 minutes before the planes beat a hasty retreat to Guam. The U.S. Forces Korea said the fresh flight was an expression of the U.S.' "continued and firm commitment" to the defense of South Korea. A transit worker who helps to keep the subway system alive has now done the same for an ailing co-worker, with an organ donation that saved two people. NY1's Jose Martinez filed the following report. Track workers George Muehlhaus and Victor Rivera are back on the job at the 38th Street Yard in Brooklyn, a long way from the chat that helped to save Rivera's life. "I was sitting at my desk and he came up and said, 'Hey, how did the kidney stuff work?' And so I explained to him, and he was like, 'Oh, you know, why don't you give me the number.'" Rivera said. In 2013, Rivera was diagnosed with kidney failure. Doctors said he would need dialysis and, one day, a transplant, to save his life. He and Muehlhaus have known each other since they were rookie track workers in Queens 17 years ago. But they were just acquaintances for most of that time, which made Muehlhaus's offer to donate a kidney all the more surprising. "It's not like a co-worker is lending me $10," Rivera said. "I mean, it's literally saving your life." Muehlhaus' kidney was not a match for Rivera, but he decided to become a donor anyway. That allowed his friend Rivera to move up on a nationwide transplant wait list. "I did not really mind giving my kidney to somebody else as long as Victor would get a kidney," Muehlhaus said. Also motivating Muehlhaus: a desire to get in shape. Doctors said he had to lose weight to become a donor. In July, a matching organ became available for Rivera. He got his new kidney at Mount Sinai Hospital, and Muehlhaus gave one of his away. "Here's somebody who saw a need, saw somebody who had a need and he decided to step up," Rivera said. "You know, that's the incredible part, that he actually saved two lives. Because there's a guy in Indiana right now who's not going to dialysis, who has a future because of George." Muehlhaus was back on the job in August. His friend returned this past Monday. "I haven't been to dialysis since July 12, so I got 20 hours of my life back a week," Rivera said. "His whole demenaor changed right from the get-go," Muehlhaus said. And after what began as a combination weight loss plan and organ donation idea, Muehlhaus has now lost 37 pounds since he hatched the idea to help out a co-worker. Co-workers, and now, they say, lifelong friends. At the Emmy Awards ceremony this week, while accepting her Emmy for best actress, Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus offered an apology for the toxic political climate that pervades Washington. Our show started out as a political satire, but it now feels like a sobering documentary. If TV depictions of political leadership can influence reality, then we could do far worse than to follow the lead of Kiefer Sutherlands Tom Kirkman. Designated Survivor stars Sutherland as the last cabinet member alive after a bomb rips apart the Capitol. The show arrives in the midst of a fraught landscape in which acts of terrorism erupt across the globe and the idea of what it means to be presidential has been blurred, tangled, and taken a side trip through the Twilight Zone. There may not be any Emmys for this slightly hackneyed drama, but at the very least, President Kirkman seems to be a warm, resolute presence in a chaotic year. Kirkman first appears in full dad mode: swigging a beer, munching on popcorn, wiping his glasses on a ratty gray Cornell hoodie. (Somewhere, Andy Bernard is fist pumping emphatically.) A treacly-yet-lovable phone conversation with his daughter, Penny, tells us two things: First, that hes a charming, laid-back pushover; and second, that something terrible is about to happen. Whens the last time a fictional, tender father-daughter phone call didnt end in tragedy? Sure enough, the signal cuts out, the secret service barges in, and Kirkman throws open the window to see the Capitol burning in the distance. Its a tense, thrilling sequence, and the most captivating part of the episode. Were not accustomed to seeing Mr. Sutherland look overwhelmed, but here he matches the stunned fear of Tommen Baratheon staring out his window at a similar blaze. In this one look, the specter of Jack Bauer is all but erased. Tom Goyda, a Wells Fargo spokesman, said: The housing downturn was a challenging time for our nation, and Wells Fargo has acknowledged that we made mistakes in the handling of mortgage foreclosures along the way. Lenders, investors, along with policy makers and regulators all sides learned foreclosure processes had to be addressed, and Wells Fargo made significant improvements to the way we work with customers when they fall behind in their payments and during the foreclosure process. During the financial crisis, Wells Fargo was at a remove from Wall Street and was not a big player in creating toxic and complex mortgage securities that were engineered to fail. But the banks ability to emerge from the crisis with a relatively good reputation is something of a mystery to anyone who paid attention to its aggressive foreclosure activities. There were enough problematic foreclosure cases involving Wells Fargo moving through the courts that the banks dubious practices seemed as pervasive then as the questionable account-opening scheme does now. And some of the elements of both scandals improper fees and forgeries are the same. The only difference: Mr. Stumpf, who was named Wellss chief executive in 2007, has apologized to the customers his bank harmed with its account opening charade. Lawyers who represented troubled borrowers say no such apology came from Mr. Stumpf during the foreclosure mess. I sure as heck havent seen it, said Linda Tirelli, a longtime foreclosure defense lawyer at Garvey Tirelli & Cushner in White Plains, who has often battled Wells Fargo. I dont remember ever hearing him apologize, because that would admit wrongdoing, and thats not part of Wells Fargos corporate culture. Their culture is about not holding anybody at the top accountable. When did you hear the Brangelina news? How did you react? Why do you think the public reaction was so intense that the hashtag #Brangelina quickly became the top trending item on Twitter? In Angelina Jolie to Divorce Brad Pitt, Ending Brangelina, Valeriya Safronova writes: It was a grand Hollywood romance that made its presence felt far and wide, from the red carpet to refugee camps in the worlds trouble spots. It was chronicled in lavish photo spreads in high-end fashion magazines and in paparazzi shots that appeared in the tabloids and on the gossip sites, as if to undercut the couples mythic status. Now, with a lawyers blandly worded press statement on Tuesday morning, the love story of Angelina Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt, who were married in 2014, has come to an unhappy end. ... On Tuesday, with the announcement of the split, the hashtag #Brangelina quickly became the top trending item on Twitter, with fans reacting to the news with a range of emotions, including laments over the death of love; complaints that the news was superseding President Obamas speech at the United Nations; and theories that the news was a welcome distraction from the presidential campaign. NEWARK On the morning that Patrick J. Foye ordered the reversal of the mysterious lane closings near the George Washington Bridge in September 2013, Bill Baroni appeared in his office, visibly on edge. Mr. Baroni, Gov. Chris Christies top appointee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the bridge, beseeched Mr. Foye, the agencys executive director, to reclose the lanes. He kept pressing even after Mr. Foye reminded him that ambulances had been caught in the gridlock caused by the lane closings that someone could have died. He said the issue was important to Trenton, Mr. Foye recalled on Wednesday during testimony in United States District Court. I took that to be the governors office. Later that morning, Mr. Baroni went once more to Mr. Foyes office and again asked him to close the lanes. He said it was important to Trenton, and he said Trenton would or might call, said Mr. Foye, who was appointed to his job by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York. I took it to mean that the governor of New Jersey would call the governor of New York. I said they should call. In an interview, Mr. Mullins said that his mother, Mary Shanley Mullins, was that very niece. She used to tell him that Detective Shanley had this sixth sense, that she could smell a crook, he recalled. She could go into a crowd and know who to tail. Image Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia called Detective Shanley a credit to the Police Department of the city, and said that women on the force can be used for very effective police and detective work. Credit... via Library of Congress Detective Shanley grew up in Hells Kitchen, with little money but plenty of street savvy, he said. She was a spirited storyteller and loved cocktails and big cars, and often showed up unexpectedly with presents for his family. She was a more-than-life-size figure, and a lot of fun, said Mr. Mullins, 64, a filmmaker and film editor who has made a short documentary, Sleuthing Mary Shanley, about his great-aunt. She was a good-time gal. According to articles published in The New York Times, Officer Shanley was promoted in 1935, earning a third-grade detectives shield, then rose steadily until she earned the first-grade rank in 1939, at age 43. She was the fourth woman in the Police Departments history to do so. She was also perhaps the first policewoman in New York to use a gun in the capture and arrest of a suspect. One article in The Times called her an Annie Oakley of the department, and quoted her as saying, You have the gun to use, and you may just as well use it. One early arrest, in 1931, involved a fortuneteller who feigned telepathy by keeping a phone hidden in her headdress. There was the time she collared one Chinatown Charlie, a notorious pickpocket who preyed on shoppers along Fifth Avenue. More interactive lessons for the youngest students. Reading more fiction. Delaying teaching the order of operations in math until the fourth grade. Those are some of the changes New York State public schools may see in their classrooms, under revised standards proposed on Wednesday by education officials. The state adopted the standards six years ago as its version of the Common Core, a body of knowledge that was supposed to unify and improve American education. But the Common Core quickly became a lightning rod, with opponents saying, among other things, that it stripped localities of some of their autonomy and its expectations were not age appropriate. A year ago, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo called for a total reboot of the standards. But the changes proposed on Wednesday by the State Education Department do not go that far. Many were tweaks to language, or clarifying examples. But the broad concepts that students were expected to master in math and English from prekindergarten through the 12th grade were left unchanged. Learning standards are like goal posts for what a student should be able to do at a given grade level. To learn a broad concept like Phonics and Word Recognition, for example, in a standard that is not changing, a first grader should be able to use knowledge that every syllable must have a vowel sound to determine the number of syllables in a printed word. Updated, 10:53 a.m. Good morning on this toasty Thursday. Summer is coming to an end, officially giving way to autumn at 10:21 a.m. And yet, youd be forgiven if you didnt notice: The sun continues to needle the eyes aboveground, and the subway is still steamy below. Todays high is 84, and it will feel muggy until the weekend. For those keeping track, temperatures are running about 10 degrees above average this week. (Todays high is normally 73) This, a day after a record high of 85 at Kennedy Airport. The culprit: Our weather system is coming from the south, rather than the north. And weve been stuck in this pattern for a while, said Jay Engle, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. Its like the continuation of summer. A Connecticut man who escaped from a Georgia prison nearly 50 years ago and then settled into a quiet life in his home state will be allowed to remain there, the authorities in Georgia have decided. The man, Robert Stackowitz, a Bridgeport native, was convicted in 1966 of robbery by force in Georgia, where he had gone on a road trip. Two years later, he escaped from what was then known as the Carroll County Convict Barracks and returned to Connecticut. Using the alias Bob Gordon, he carved out an unassuming existence for himself in Sherman, a small town on the states western border with New York, where he fixed boat engines. But this year, after he applied for Social Security benefits using his real name, the Georgia authorities, who had stopped hunting for him long ago, took notice. No one in Sherman apparently knew that their neighbor, 71, was once known as Inmate No. 0000364334 or that he had fled from prison not even his longtime girlfriend, Cindy Derby. Im glad I didnt know because then I would have always worried, she said in June. Clayton Da Silva, a ticket agent for the tour company Big Bus, was working near the restaurant, which is on 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, when he saw a police car stop a truck before a rush of officers arrived and put up barricades. Everyone was told to leave. When we asked what happened, Mr. Da Silva said, they said it was an emergency. People in New York have been on heightened alert since an explosion in Chelsea on Saturday night, which was linked to another on the Jersey Shore earlier in the day, in what the authorities said were terror attacks carried out by Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28. Mr. Rahami was also accused of dropping an explosive device, a pressure cooker laced with explosives and wired to a cellphone, on Saturday on West 27th Street, where it failed to detonate. The authorities said he also left five pipe bombs in a trash can at an Elizabeth, N.J., train station on Sunday night. According to charging documents, he was inspired by Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. From the Chelsea bombing around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, police officers had investigated 818 suspicious packages reported by people in New York, the police said. Normally, the police respond to about 42 calls a day for suspicious packages, officials said. Sgt. Carlos Nieves, a spokesman for the Police Department, said an increase was normal after an attack, such as the attempted bombing of Times Square in 2010. People in New York, fearful of another attack, report odd-looking packages, bags left on trains, or luggage parked outside of stores by patrons reluctant to lug them inside, he said. The owners often come back 15 minutes later, and its surrounded by cops, Sergeant Nieves said. The police commissioner, James P. ONeill, said at a news conference on Wednesday that the heightened alertness was exactly what the city needs at this time. Thats what we need to do, he said, is make sure that we investigate everything. The suitcase at the McDonalds was empty and harmless, the police said. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is preparing for his return to Korea when his term ends by refurbishing his apartment in Seoul. Ban, who has presidential ambitions, has also reportedly asked family and close friends to exercise caution when making public comments. One close aide to Ban said Wednesday that refurbishment of his apartment in southern Seoul is almost finished. Ban bought the 160 sq.m apartment in Sadang-dong when he was foreign minister, but it has been sitting empty. Such are the complexities of the struggle in Iraq, and even liberating Mosul would not end them. How does the American-backed coalition prevent Islamic State fighters from escaping and regrouping, ready to fight another day? What is to keep the city from again falling prey to extremists if the Shiite-led Iraqi government in Baghdad remains fractured and incapable of building a country in which Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds have equal rights? Can jobs, housing and basic services be found for Mosuls battered people? Can the next American president prevent the Kurds and their control of key oil and gas fields from becoming a new flash point? SYRIA If anything, Syrias battlefield is even more confounding. There are overlapping wars: between President Bashar al-Assad and rebels; between an American-backed coalition and the Islamic State; between Turkey and the Kurds. Meanwhile, Russia and Iran are backing Mr. Assad with military power, while the United States and Sunni Arab states, like Saudi Arabia, are helping rebels, some of whom fight either in partnership with or in proximity to the affiliate of Al Qaeda known as the Nusra Front, now called the Levant Conquest Front, making it hard to tell the good guys from the bad. The United States is bombing ISIS targets and deploying special forces as advisers for the moderate rebels, but Mr. Obama has largely resisted military involvement beyond that in what is essentially a sectarian civil war. On Wednesday, The Times reported that he is considering a plan to directly arm Syrian Kurdish fighters. This major shift could help speed up the offensive against the Islamic State while worsening tensions with Turkey. An estimated nearly half a million Syrians have died, mostly due to bombing by Assad forces. In recent weeks, the Obama administration has pursued another cease-fire (an earlier partial cease-fire collapsed fairly quickly) that is intended to pave the way for humanitarian aid deliveries as well as broader negotiations on a political transition to end the war, slowly ease Mr. Assad out of power and allow the major combatants to focus their full attention on fighting the Islamic State and the Nusra Front. But success depends as much on Russia as on Mr. Assad. That was made clear on Monday by the bombing of a 31-truck relief convoy that had been promised safe passage under a cease-fire negotiated by Russia and the United States, killing at least a dozen people and destroying tons of humanitarian aid. The Obama administration blamed Moscow while continuing to insist that a cease-fire, however unlikely, could still be made to work. That seemed even less possible on Wednesday after at least four emergency medical workers were reported killed in airstrikes near Aleppo, an area where only Russia and Syria were flying airplanes. Even if a durable cease-fire goes into effect and political transition negotiations commence in Syria, the Americans and their allies must still grapple with what to do with the millions of displaced Syrians and the foreign forces from Turkey, Iran, Russia and Hezbollah that are in the country. Also to be decided is whether to pursue war crimes charges against Mr. Assad, the Islamic State and some rebel groups for the atrocities committed against civilians during the war. AT HOME The next president must also confront threats on American soil from extremists who enter this country to commit terrorist acts as well as from people living here who are not formally allied with terrorist groups in the Middle East but draw inspiration from their calls to violence and become radicalized. Authorities said that was the case of Ahmad Khan Rahami, who, before being charged in connection with the weekend bombings in Manhattan and at the Jersey Shore, invoked brother Osama bin Laden among other role models. On Feb. 14, 2005, a massive bomb killed the former prime minister of Lebanon, Rafik Hariri, my father, along with 22 other Lebanese. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon at The Hague identified five Hezbollah operatives as suspected collaborators in the murder. If proved, that would mean his assassination was carried out by Irans allies in Lebanon, who are financed and controlled by the regime in Tehran. Three years later, in 2008, Hezbollah moved to occupy Beirut, and after many years of promising that its vast, Iranian-supplied arsenal was intended only to protect Lebanon from Israel, turned its weapons against the Lebanese people. More recently, Hezbollah has prevented Lebanon from electing a new president and has imposed a devastating gridlock on the countrys government in order to blackmail the citizenry into accepting its demands. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has sent thousands of young Lebanese men to fight and die in Syria to defend the odious regime of Bashar al-Assad, the brutal dictator condemned in the United Nations and around the world for presiding over the deaths of at least a quarter million of his own people. Mr. Assad with the help of Iran; its Revolutionary Guards and its proxies; Hezbollah and militias in Iraq and Afghanistan has created the worst refugee problem since World War II, ruthlessly displacing millions of people into neighboring countries and Europe. The world is a mess, with billions of people locked in inescapable cycles of war, famine and poverty, with more children than ever perishing from hunger, disease and violence. Thats about the only thing Americans agree on; were polarized about all else. But several polls have found that about 9 out of 10 Americans believe that global poverty has worsened or stayed the same over the last 20 years. Fortunately, the one point Americans agree on is dead wrong. As world leaders gather for the United Nations General Assembly this week, all the evidence suggests that we are at an inflection point for the ages. The number of people living in extreme poverty ($1.90 per person per day) has tumbled by half in two decades, and the number of small children dying has dropped by a similar proportion thats six million lives a year saved by vaccines, breast-feeding promotion, pneumonia medicine and diarrhea treatments! A congressional hearing on Wednesday about the outlandish price increases of the EpiPen followed a pattern that has become all too familiar in recent years. A drug price soars for no reason; lawmakers call a hearing to scold a pharmaceutical executive; the executive pleads innocence and provides as little information as possible. The drama plays out with no effect on the price. So it seemed to go with the hearing on the EpiPen, which is used by people suffering a severe allergic reaction to inject epinephrine, a lifesaving drug. Mylan, the maker of the device, raised the price to more than $600 for a pack of two in May, up from about $100 in 2007, when the company acquired the product from Merck KGaA. The increase caused a public uproar this summer. Members of Congress called for hearings and attorneys general in New York State and West Virginia have said they were investigating Mylan for antitrust violations. Mylan says it will soon offer a generic version of the EpiPen that will sell for $300 for a two-pack, but those devices will still be a lot more expensive than what EpiPens used to cost. The company is providing discounts and free devices to more people, but Heather Bresch, its chief executive, on Wednesday defended the pricing tactic and suggested that health insurers should just pick up the cost. Meanwhile, Mylan has been lobbying to have the EpiPen included on a federal list of preventive medical services, which would require employers and insurers to pay the cost, without a patient share. Last week, after I delivered a speech at the impressive campus of Morgan State University, a historically black college in northeast Baltimore, a woman approached the mike during the question-and-answer period to raise an issue that she and I both found frustrating: What to say to young people, particularly young African-Americans, who have decided either not to vote in the forthcoming presidential election or to cast a protest vote for a third-party candidate who will most assuredly lose? This is a very real issue this cycle. Many of these young people feel that there is no good choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. On Sept. 4, The New York Times published an article pointing out the devastating impact this lack of enthusiasm could have on Clintons prospects: Young African-Americans, like all voters their age, are typically far harder to drive to the polls than middle-aged and older Americans. Yet with just over two months until Election Day, many Democrats are expressing alarm at the lack of enthusiasm, and in some cases outright resistance, some black millennials feel toward Mrs. Clinton. The article continued: Their skepticism is rooted in a deep discomfort with the political establishment that they believe the 68-year-old former first lady and secretary of state represents. They share a lingering mistrust of Mrs. Clinton and her husband over criminal justice issues. They are demanding more from politicians as part of a new, confrontational wave of black activism that has arisen in response to police killings of unarmed African-Americans. It was the awkward comment heard round the world. At a fund-raiser earlier this month, the Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, divided the supporters of her Republican opponent Donald J. Trump into two even groups. One consisted of good, if alienated and dispossessed, people. But the other half goes into a basket of deplorables, she said. The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic you name it. The ensuing reaction to her comments is a case study in everything wrong with our political discourse. Mr. Trump who still hasnt apologized for suggesting that a disproportionate share of Mexican immigrants are rapists and criminals demanded an apology. Meanwhile, many on the left came to her defense: The remark might have been politically inept, many said, but it was true. These commentators often base their arguments on polls that paint many Republicans in an unflattering light: About one-third of conservatives believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim, and more than half doubt whether he was born in the United States. According to one Reuters poll, about half of Mr. Trumps supporters say that blacks are more violent than whites, while approximately 40 percent see blacks as lazier than other races. These views are undoubtedly deplorable, and we all have a responsibility to confront them. But if Mrs. Clinton had said that half of Mr. Trumps supporters hold some prejudicial views and left it there, we probably wouldnt be talking about the comment today. Her sin was to collapse millions of people from former Klansmen like David Duke to a struggling coal miner with some unacceptable opinions into the same group of social outcasts. Deborah S. Jin, a much-honored physicist who created and explored matter that exists only at a sliver of a degree above absolute zero or minus 459.67 degrees Fahrenheit died on Sept. 15 in Boulder, Colo. She was 47. The cause was cancer, said JILA, a joint institute of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where Dr. Jin worked for 20 years. (JILA was once an acronym for Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics; the organization dropped the longer name in 1995.) In 2005, Dr. Jin became the second-youngest woman ever elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Her other honors included a 2003 MacArthur fellowship the so-called genius award, with a no-strings-attached grant of $500,000 and the 2013 LOreal/Unesco For Women in Science award for North America. She was mentioned as a potential candidate for a Nobel Prize. Dr. Jin, a daughter of two physicists, had earned her doctorate in physics at the University of Chicago when she moved to Boulder in 1995 to join the laboratory of Eric A. Cornell, a JILA scientist, as a postdoctoral researcher. Claude remembers Brancusi as mercurial, the kind of character whose genius was often expressed in arbitrary edicts that could never be explained. He loved Asti spumante; he hated Max Ernst. When he goes past, he steals my vital spirit, she remembers Brancusi complaining about Ernst. When Claude complained to Brancusi that he threw too many cigarette butts on her floor, he gifted her with a metal bowl he made, which became a kind of Ronsin talisman. The Lalannes used it as an ashtray, Jean Tinguely as a part of one of his sculptures and, finally, the American sculptor James Metcalf as a casserole dish. That dish was only the beginning of what the artists would share: a single toilet but many beds, cheap food but priceless ideas. It was there, in 1958, that Yves Klein and Jean Tinguely made Excavatrice de lEspace, their joint argument that real art exists beyond any material object, in the ether around it. The sculpture itself is not much to look at, a wooden Tinguely machine mounted with awkward Klein monochrome panels. But when it moved, it created a zone of pure color that belonged only to a fleeting moment. The temporality was the art. As Claude recalls, Tinguely and Klein would work outside all day and, still covered in dust, retire for a simple entrecote prepared on her primitive studio stove. It was also on the Impasse Ronsin that, in 1961, Niki de Saint Phalle, a former cover girl, launched her career as an international artist with a literal bang. For her shooting canvases, she, along with friends such as Robert Rauschenberg, would fire guns into bags that concealed pockets of paint. This was somewhat of a Ronsin ritual, as Yves Klein had done much the same with the Monotone-Silence Symphony the year before. He had conducted an orchestra as nude women danced covered in blue paint, plastering their bodies on canvas as they twirled. In both cases, what mattered was performance as much as product. Her parents marriage ended and she returned to Poland after only a year, chubbier and with the first experience of being an outsider imprinted in her memory. She was in her last year of grade school in 1989, and entered adolescence amid a swell of underground culture. A whole visual world was being discarded, and her generation became the first that could view what she calls the crappy aesthetics of 1980s Poland with some irony. I describe sometimes what I do as working with the leftovers or dusty aesthetics, she said as we had lunch in Krakow. They dont need to be dusty because theyre old, but theyre kind of not really in the center. So minor kinds of aesthetics, and I try to renegotiate them on the platform of art. Since 2008, Olowska has spent most of her time in a village of 17,300 people called Rabka-Zdroj, 40-odd miles outside of Krakow, with her husband, Bartosz Przybyl- Olowski, and their cat, Guitar. Rabka was once famous in Poland for having clean air and a tuberculosis sanitarium for children. In the 1960s it was, Olowska said, a vibrant, socialist place, home to its own amusement park for children, Rabkoland. When she arrived, she lamented the villages slow process of homogenization. Half the amusement park was to be torn down, to be replaced by the French supermarket Intermarche. She began her typical hunt for the dusty forgotten things. Her first project was to paint a mural on what she called the only place of culture in Rabka, a decrepit puppet museum for children. She rescued a sculpture that had been in a Communist-era fountain from the town dump. She turned on an old neon sign that had been sitting dormant over what is now a pharmacy. She made ceramic sculptures of the areas haunted houses, the gloomy 1930s country villas that dotted the countryside. And then she bought a gloomy country villa for herself. Image Chess Player 1, 2010. Credit... Paulina Olowska, Chess player 1, 2010, Oil on canvas, 68.9 by 49.21 inches, courtesy of Metro Pictures, NY She and Bartosz dont live in Kadenowka, as the villa is called. We stepped into the chilly baronial dusk of its front hall. The house had belonged to a spa developer who had come to Rabka for its healing thermal waters and built his home with wood imported from Romania. Later, the property had been nationalized and divided into apartments, then mostly abandoned. Moss grew on its gabled shingle roof. A wall painted with a picture of Donald Duck was left by one of the former residents. Olowska wanted to turn the house into a cultural center for visiting artists. To promote her idea, she hosted what she called a Mycorial Theater for three summers. The gathering of artists featured art installations and performances, tarot card readings, lectures on fermentation and outings organized around the traditional Polish pastime of mushroom hunting. The third festival, in August, had an astronomical theme, focusing on the annual Perseid meteor shower. It is likely the last. Victor Scheinman, who overcame his boyhood nightmares about a science-fiction movie humanoid to build the first successful electrically powered, computer-controlled industrial robot, died on Tuesday in Petrolia, Calif. He was 73. His brother, Dr. Richard Scheinman, said the cause was complications of heart disease. He said he had been driving his brother to visit Dr. Scheinmans home in Northern California when he apparently had a heart attack. He lived in Woodside, near Palo Alto, Calif. Mr. Scheinman was part of Stanford Universitys mechanical engineering department when, in 1969, he developed a programmable six-jointed robot that was named the Stanford Arm. It was adapted by manufacturers to become the leading robot in assembling and spot-welding products, ranging from fuel pumps and windshield wipers for automobiles to inkjet cartridges for printers. Its ability to perform repeatable functions continuously equaled or surpassed that of human workers. Good morning. Welcome to California Today, a morning update on the stories that matter to Californians (and anyone else interested in the state). Tell us about the issues that matter to you and what youd like to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Want to receive California Today by email? Sign up. Insults are just part of life in California, according to many Native Americans in the state. Last year, for example, there was the Senate candidate caught on video making a whooping gesture in reference to an American Indian, and then there was the popes canonization of the Rev. Junipero Serra, viewed by prominent Native Americans as a far from saintly figure. CHICAGO An ambitious, costly plan to expand this citys police force by almost 1,000 officers to stem a surge in murders and shootings has opened a new question here: Do more police officers always mean an end to rising violence? On Wednesday, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson stood before a room crowded with uniformed Chicago police officers and announced plans to increase the department by 970 sworn officers, the largest such expansion here in years. We cant rob Peter to pay Paul when it comes to the safety of our city, Mr. Johnson said. We need more patrol officers, and we need them where theyre needed the most. The expansion would bring the Chicago police force already the nations second-largest, after New Yorks to more than 13,500 sworn officers over the next two years. With more than 500 murders in Chicago already this year and more than 3,000 people shot, the proposed increase is being lauded by many who say that the police here are clearly stretched too thin, that the bloodshed must end, and that the Chicago police need to have time to solve many more cases than they do now. MIAMI Puerto Rico tumbled into darkness on Wednesday after a fire knocked a power plant offline, disrupting service to 1.5 million utility customers, creating huge traffic jams, and prompting the early closings of businesses and a return to candles and open windows for residents. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said at a news conference that the power failure could last 24 hours. The Electric Power Authority, Puerto Ricos ailing utility, said on Twitter that the fire had occurred at a substation of the Aguirre power plant in the southeastern part of the island. Puerto Rico has grown accustomed to routine but brief power failures as the utility, which is $9 billion in debt, struggles with an aging infrastructure. With traffic lights out across the island, traffic jams posed the most immediate concern. Police officers fanned out on major streets to try to get cars moving again. Most businesses had to close early, including one of San Juans largest shopping malls, cutting into badly needed earnings on an island in economic turmoil. The rattling sounds of generators filled the streets as motors kicked in to power the lucky businesses and homes that owned them. Large hotels, hospitals and airports appeared to go about their business as usual. Do immigrants take jobs from Americans and lower their wages by working for less? The answer, according to a report published on Wednesday by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, is no, immigrants do not take American jobs but with some caveats. The question is at the heart of the furious debate over immigration that has divided the country and polarized the presidential race. Many American workers, struggling to recover from the recession, have said they feel squeezed out by immigrants. Donald J. Trump, the Republican nominee, has called for a crackdown on illegal immigrants, saying they compete directly against vulnerable American workers. He promises to cut back legal immigration with new controls he says would boost wages and ensure open jobs are offered to American workers first. Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival, takes an upbeat view, saying immigrants contribute to the economy whether they are here legally or not, by providing labor for American employers and opening businesses that create jobs for Americans rather than taking them. WASHINGTON On Monday, a constellation of lobbyists for Saudi Arabia, which has spent more than $5 million this past year to buy influence in Washington, called a crisis meeting to try to stop legislation allowing the families of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to sue the Saudi government for any role in the plot. On Tuesday, the 9/11 families, represented in their multibillion-dollar lawsuits by lawyers including Jack Quinn, a former White House counsel with deep relationships in Washington, demonstrated outside the White House to pressure President Obama not to veto the legislation, as he has vowed to do. On Wednesday, these two powerful forces, one operating in the shadows and the other more in the open, converged on Capitol Hill in the culmination of one of the biggest and most emotional lobbying fights of the year. The battle is a reflection of the enduring dominance in Washington of the 9/11 families and the diminishing clout here of Saudi Arabia, which once advanced its agenda unencumbered in the West Wing and corridors of Congress. The four-page bill, known as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, unanimously passed the House and Senate, and it has major national security and diplomatic consequences for the United States. It would alter a 1976 law giving other countries immunity from lawsuits in the United States and force them to face federal lawsuits if they are found to have played a role in a terrorist attack that kills Americans on United States soil. WASHINGTON In 2012, B. Rowe Winecoff, a retired social worker from Newton, Iowa, contributed $120 to President Obamas re-election campaign. But he has yet to give any money to Hillary Clinton in this election. This year just seems dirtier than ever, said Mr. Winecoff, a Democrat, explaining why he has not contributed to the candidate he intends to vote for. Even as newly released financial disclosures reveal that Mrs. Clinton enjoys a substantial fund-raising advantage over Donald J. Trump, she is struggling to replicate the sort of small-dollar juggernaut that Mr. Obama enjoyed in his campaigns and Senator Bernie Sanders relied on in this years Democratic primaries. In an illustration of the lack of enthusiasm for her among some liberal activists, just 24 percent of the contributors to Mrs. Clintons campaign so far have given $200 or less. In 2012, 43 percent of the money to Mr. Obama was from contributors who gave $200 or less, and this year 58 percent of the giving to Mr. Sanderss grass-roots bid came from small-dollar donors. Without this online network, Mrs. Clinton is being made to continue with an aggressive calendar of fund-raisers with rich donors as Election Day grows near events that can limit her time in swing states and reinforce concerns that give rank-and-file Democrats pause. WASHINGTON The commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, John A. Koskinen, expressed regret Wednesday for management mistakes but called an attempt by House Republicans to impeach him improper, warning that such threats would discourage people from government service. A lot of people are going to say, Why should I risk my career or my reputation to do public service? in that context, Mr. Koskinen told the House Judiciary Committee at its third hearing to consider arguments by conservatives in Congress that he be removed from office. He also rejected Republicans calls for him to resign, but said he would leave office if the next president so wishes. Otherwise, Mr. Koskinens term ends in November 2017. The commissioner fielded hostile questions and comments from Republicans for nearly four hours at the hearing, which was scheduled last week by House leaders to persuade conservatives to shelve their demand for an immediate impeachment vote by the full House. No executive branch official below the cabinet rank has ever been impeached, and not even a cabinet member has faced such proceedings in 140 years. My father said on numerous occasions when I was growing up that he would see other families that had problems like divorce and drug use, and he would thank God that his family was so perfect. Things would change, though. They always do. And that perfect family would face just as much struggle as any other. Growing up in the mountains above Boulder, Colo., our life was good. My parents had left their life in Chicago behind for an ideal they saw in a piece of art they found at a flea market, a haphazardly painted picture of a cabin next to a river with the mountains towering in the background. Born in the early 80s, my brothers and I shared a bond as best friends in our small neighborhood, isolated from town, where we spent time outside sledding, building forts and making dams in the ditch that ran by our house. The biggest problems we seemed to face were bloody knees and the occasional broken bone from snowboarding and bike accidents. My dad, a subscriber to Mother Earth News, relished our familys home in the mountains. There were backpacking trips to the national park 30 miles away, where he taught us how to build a fire and to hang our food from tree limbs to keep it out of reach of bears. Other times he would take us on long father-son road trips, where we would drive the long highways with nothing to look at but the passing fields and nothing to pay attention to but the books on tape from Focus on the Family that my father put on the car stereo. Those tapes provided a Christian look at what it meant to be a man, covering issues like lust, sex and puberty, and hed answer our questions about girls and all manner of things relating to our growing into healthy young men. UNITED NATIONS More than 20 world leaders tendered legal documents on Wednesday, formally binding their governments to the Paris climate accord at a General Assembly ceremony here and all but ensuring that the agreement will go into force by the end of the year. The specifics of each countrys plans, though, are voluntary. There are no sanctions for failing to control pollution or to put economic polices into practice, or for submitting unambitious pledges. The legally binding portion of the Paris accord does little more than require governments to continue to convene at high-profile global climate summit meetings, make public pledges to tackle global warming at home and submit those plans to be published on a United Nations website. The ultimate importance of the climate accord will be determined by its members. If enough countries start implementing the Paris agreement, historians will see this as a watershed moment, said Erik Solheim, director of the United Nations environment program. But if we dont implement it, this will just be bringing a bunch of politicians together around a piece of paper. BEIJING A Beijing lawyer whose clients included the artist Ai Weiwei joined the swelling population of Chinese rights advocates in prison on Thursday, when a court sentenced him to 12 years after convicting him on fraud charges. The lawyer, Xia Lin, and his wife and supporters strongly rejected the prosecutors claim that he had defrauded people, and said the case was part of the governments campaign to silence Chinese rights lawyers who have challenged arbitrary state power. There had been little doubt that the court in Beijing would declare Mr. Xia guilty: Defendants in politically sensitive cases rarely, if ever, walk free in China. Even so, the heavy sentence came as a shock to his lawyers and supporters. After he heard the verdict, Xia Lin said the case had been procedurally unfair and he was being persecuted for his rights defense work, for the cases he took on, one of his defense lawyers, Ding Xikui, who was in the court for the verdict, said in an interview. Hes planning to appeal. Before his detention nearly two years ago, Mr. Xia, 46, frequently represented clients who were at odds with the authorities. They included Mr. Ai, the artist-provocateur whose works often dwell on censorship and oppression. NEW DELHI Escalating tension over the contested Kashmir region is presenting a challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, who needs regional peace to reach his principal goal of economic revival there. But Indian citizens have been clamoring for a response to what they say is a provocation by Pakistan. The tension reached a boiling point on Sunday when militants attacked an army base in the Indian-controlled side of Kashmir and killed, at last count, 18 soldiers, setting off a war of words between the two nuclear powers, which have fought three wars in recent decades. India accuses the militants of having links to Pakistan. The situation not only risks economic growth but could also send two nations skidding into a nuclear war. It could happen, and it would be catastrophic for both countries, said Stephen P. Cohen, the author of Shooting for a Century: The India-Pakistan Conundrum. TEHRAN The United States on Wednesday removed a final hurdle for Western aircraft manufacturers to sell planes to Iran, a country desperately in need of hundreds of new aircraft. The Treasury Department granted the aviation giants Airbus and Boeing licenses to deliver planes to Tehran. The decision is a boon not only for the two companies but also for Iranian politicians who want to expand Irans engagement with the world now that sanctions linked to Irans nuclear program have been lifted. A spokesman for Boeing said the license covered the sale of 80 planes to Irans national carrier, Iran Air. Airbus confirmed that it received a license for an initial sale of 17 planes, part of a larger deal that involves a total of 118 planes. The green light for aircraft sales allows Iran, a country of 80 million, to start rebuilding its aging fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes and other secondhand aircraft purchased clandestinely from other countries. Over the past four decades, hundreds of Iranians have died in crashes caused by malfunctioning or poorly maintained aircraft. JONATHAN BOULWARE, executive director of the South Street Seaport Museum in Lower Manhattan, was talking about restoration, revitalization and return the restoration, revitalization and return of a 131-year-old sailing ship. But he could just as easily have been talking about the museum itself. The ship, Wavertree, has long been the pride of the museums little fleet. It will sail back to its berth at Pier 16 from Staten Island on Saturday after a 16-month, $13 million restoration that amounted to an almost stem-to-stern overhaul. An afternoon of festivities with live music, educational activities and more will commence at 1 p.m. Inside, nearly everything above and below decks was rebuilt or replaced, and a new tween deck was sandwiched in between the cargo holds and the main deck, the original having been removed in the 1930s. Outside, the iron hull proved to be in better condition than expected and needed only minor repairs and a good scrubbing. A growing number of galleries are considering Harlem, and several others have paved the way (Gavin Brown, Eli Ping Frances Perkins, Broadway 1602, Long Gallery, Rear Window and Essie Green). But given the high concentration of galleries in neighborhoods like Chelsea and the Lower East Side, Ms. Dee is still very much a pioneer. At the gallery the staff was working at folding tables on the second floor because the first-floor offices had yet to get Wi-Fi Ms. Dee walked through her new show and talked about why shes comfortable being among the first to carve out a gallery scene in Upper Manhattan. Here are edited excerpts from the conversation. Will the art world make the trip? You have to consider how people operate within the cultural geography of Manhattan. This is a 10-minute cab ride from the Met; it could be an extension of the Upper East Side galleries. Youre here in a few subway stops. I worried about it before I made the decision. I worried about it less after we made the move. I already have about four to five appointments a day here with collectors, curators and artists. Its not been an issue. I think it would have been 10 years ago, but its not now. On starting a trend: Theres a lot of interest from gallerists downtown. I get calls every week from people saying: Can I come up? What is it like? Were thinking about looking; our lease is up. Were doing shows of the caliber where we can hold this part of town. Its like going out to the East End of London you want to see something more in-depth. You can always count on the Whitechapel [a London gallery], for instance. Here, we have a similar-scale exhibition space, so it will be a fortifying experience for people when they do make the effort to come up. Was it time for a change? Everyone has chapters. Now, we represent a much greater diversity of generations: senior artists [Mr. Giorno is turning 80], emerging artists [Julia Wachtel joined the gallery four years ago]. The balance in the program was right for an expansion. Resurrection or, more accurately, vivified continuance is the theme that ends the show. Here, the three religions for which Jerusalem is a shared passion come together on equal terms. Each has its own vision of a Heavenly City, and the show has one, too: again, a kind of shoppers paradise, but now larger than life, extra-luxe and, if youre among those whove earned their way in, with everything free. Its quite a sight. In one vitrine you find a stash of titanic brass vessels, the biggest youve ever seen; in another, a lineup of mosque lamps, with glass so fine and exquisitely painted that, even flameless, they glow. A Hebrew Bible depicts the Temple treasury as an otherworldly Tiffany & Company, with menorahs and shofars of silver and gold on shelves. In a painting for a book called The Path of Paradise, Muhammad ascends from Jerusalem to a part of heaven that looks like a fabric showroom. And finally, out-glitzing everything else, one of the most spectacular reliquaries of the European Middle Ages is here. Known as The Chasse of Ambazac, and on loan to the Met from France, its a model of a Jerusalem-to-be: domed, turreted, gem-encrusted, angel-protected, it has the texture of embroidery and the heft of a steamer trunk. The show ends, however, with something small: a page from a 14th-century Spanish Haggadah, with the Hebrew words Next year in Jerusalem framed by green leaves and budding flowers. The phrase, which concludes the Passover Seder, is an expression of profound longing for a city past, and piercing ardor for one to come. The Met gives us a taste of both, in the here and now. Some artists may be at odds with their own talents and wish they could be something more than they are. A spectacular example of such a conflicted creative sensibility is Kai Althoff: and then leave me to the common swifts (und dann uberlasst mich den Mauerseglern) at the Museum of Modern Art, which has more than 200 of Mr. Althoffs poetically allusive, delicately made paintings, drawings and sculptures folded into an unfortunately messy and confusing installation of found materials. Mr. Althoff, 50, has been internationally celebrated for paintings and drawings that recall early-20th-century German Expressionists like Egon Schiele and satirical realists like Georg Grosz and Otto Dix. A canny mimic, he also creates works inspired by German Medieval art, the Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich, Marc Chagall and folk art. Some pieces verge suavely on pure abstraction, while many works on paper are in the form of cartoonish doodles. Mr. Althoff seems to be an inexhaustible font of pictorial creativity. An exceptionally skillful draftsman with an idiosyncratic, storytelling imagination, hes especially good with colored pencils. A sequence of three drawings from 1994 in the exhibition shows first a hopeful looking youth on a train trip, then a brawny fellow in a confrontational stance and, last, a young man at a window in a bakery giving what is presumably a Heil Hitler salute toward something or someone outside. They could be illustrations for a dark childrens book. LONDON No Mans Land has attracted no shortage of legendary talent since Harold Pinters ceaselessly tantalizing and cryptic play premiered in 1975, starting with those era-defining actor-knights, John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson. As two of the signature stage voices of all time, their every utterance signaled the playsqualities as a chamber poem. I was lucky enough to catch those men in full Pintereseque flow as a theater-mad teenager during my first-ever trip to London. Four decades later, I cant imagine a better inheritor of Gielguds role as the shambolic poet Spooner than Ian McKellen, in a new London production directed by Sean Mathias that returns the play to its original West End home at Wyndhams Theater through Dec. 17. As seedy-looking as he is garrulous of speech, Spooner is first seen accepting the hospitality of his newfound friend and host, Hirst (Patrick Stewart, who, like Mr. McKellen, is himself an actor-knight). The two have chanced upon one another near Hampstead Heath, though whether they actually met cruising or drinking is left as teasingly opaque as an acquaintanceship that, we discover, may extend much further back. Before long, the facts of the gentlemens shared (or was it?) past are revealed to be as subject to revision as the physical condition of the seemingly depleted Hirst, who reappears after intermission as an entirely refashioned and jauntier version of his earlier self. (Pinter himself took the part in a 1992 London revival that co-starred the inimitable Paul Eddington as Spooner.) Alan Gilbert began his tenure as music director of the New York Philharmonic in September 2009 by turning the traditional season-opening gala concert into a strong statement of artistic purpose. Conductors at orchestras everywhere are under institutional pressure to make these gala programs, which also function as fund-raisers for patrons, light and festive. Mr. Gilberts inaugural challenged this notion. He began with something festive in mood, but musically feisty: the premiere of Magnus Lindbergs EXPO, a spiky 10-minute score. Then Renee Fleming was the soloist in an early Messiaen work, Poemes Pour Mi, a rapturous 30-minute cycle of love songs. The evening ended with Mr. Gilbert conducting a blazing account of Berliozs Symphonie Fantastique. On Wednesday night at David Geffen Hall, however, Mr. Gilbert, who will step down as the Philharmonics music director in the spring, began his valedictory season with a gala program that was less ambitious and certainly not challenging. Still, the performances were excellent. To start, he led the New York premiere of John Coriglianos STOMP, a breathless, colorful seven-minute piece. The composer adapted this score in 2014 from a solo violin work he wrote as a piece for the Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia. In this bright, fidgety orchestral version the music hovers somewhere between a perpetual-motion toccata and country-fiddle hoedown, though a pensive middle section alters the mood for a while. True to its title, the orchestra players sometimes had to buttress rhythms in the music by stomping their feet. Whatever happens in Monday nights presidential debate, its unlikely to be anywhere near as entertaining as the goings-on in Debate Wars, six episodes of which went up on Thursday on Seeso, the comedy streaming service. Its difficult to convey just how funny this show is, or why its so funny. Picture your high school debate club, except everyone in the club is a professional comedian, and rather than dueling over drab matters like whether Puerto Rico should be a state, theyre discussing some of the most frivolous issues of our time: Cats vs. Dogs, Cake vs. Pie, Vacation vs. Staycation. Michael Ian Black is the wonderfully deadpan moderator, overseeing a debate between two two-person teams that uses the familiar structure: arguments, responses, closing arguments and so on. But he reserves the right to silence debaters for being long-winded or merely annoying him, using disciplinary methods that vary from show to show: a squirt with a Super Soaker, an earsplitting blast on a clarinet. What makes it all work, though, is that these debaters arent merely improvising, which would have resulted in lazy comedy, at best. They have put in serious preparation time. The comic and writer Brian McCann (who is also an executive producer of the show, as is Mr. Black) delivers his part of the pro-cats argument in Dr. Seuss-like verse. Jo Firestone, for Team Dog, responds with a version of the Pledge of Allegiance, full of dog-related words. (I pledge a-leash-ance to the wag ) At the Paris Motor Show, which will open on Saturday, diesel will be a dirty word. That is a huge change for the prestigious, biennial international show, which used to celebrate the power, durability and economy of diesel engines the dominant type of automotive motor in Europe. The Paris event has also long served as an every-other-year showcase for the French automakers Renault, Peugeot and Citroen, whose robust production of diesel-power machines was considered a symbol of the countrys manufacturing might. But diesels reputation has been sullied during the last two years by the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal, as well as by revelations that the European regulation of diesel emissions by various carmakers has been surprisingly lax. With the typical new passenger vehicle costing more than $33,000, American drivers understandably want to do everything they can to preserve their investments. And what better way to do that than by spending a few extra cents per gallon and occasionally treating your car to a tank of premium fuel? Dont do it. Unless one likes to unnecessarily enrich the oil companies, there is no reason to buy premium gasoline for a vehicle that needs only regular. According to a report this week from AAA, 16.5 million drivers used premium fuel on average at least once a month over the last year, although their cars required only regular grade gasoline, accomplishing nothing positive and wasting $2.1 billion. The sentences in Mr. Kanigels book do not always track. (As it was for many newcomers from the hinterlands, New York City could intimidate.) When they do track, sometimes you wish they did not. At least once as a child, she flew in an airplane, we read, perhaps a biplane like Snoopys. What is Snoopy doing in this sentence? Image Robert Kanigel Credit... Felix Rust The ends of Mr. Kanigels sentences, in this fashion, go back in time, like the Terminator, to assassinate their own beginnings. One of Janes early assignments took her to the South Pacific, he writes about her freelance writing career, before adding, if only in her head. At a dark moment, Jacobs turned to gambling. Wait, the author says in the next sentence. Shed simply bought a portion of a lottery ticket. Mentally, you begin to add sad-trombone sounds. (Whomp-whomp-whomp.) Jacobs grew up in Scranton, Pa., in a literate and unconventional family. She was a serious young woman, mature for her age and committed to becoming a writer when she arrived in New York City in 1934 at 18. Mr. Kanigel makes her sound like Nancy Drew. In 1943, she took a job with the United States Office of War Information. Here is the authors comment on her willingness to travel for the position: sounds like 27-year-old Jane was up for an adventure. Ms. Jacobs was a tall, owlish, arresting presence. People stared at her and thought, Who is that person? I dissent from Mr. Kanigels flat assertion that she was never beautiful. I dissent further when he writes, She was not even memorably unbeautiful. He goes on to call her pudding-faced when older and, later, fat and dumpy. I can go on, Im afraid. The author makes a habit of blind citations. He mentions for example a list of 300 Women Who Changed the World that includes Jacobs, so we will be suitably impressed with his biographical subject. But he doesnt tell us, in the text, who compiled this list. Was it The Economist or ClickHole? It matters. Mr. Kanigel quotes his interview subjects haplessly. (I was happy as a clam.) His analogies are inane. Jacobss fight against Mosess highway through Lower Manhattan was not her first taste of battle, but she was anything but a jaded professional agitator. Here is the tin-eared question Mr. Kanigel asks: Was the Lower Manhattan Expressway by now just more of the same for Jane Jacobs, like an orthopedic surgeons 117th hip replacement operation? In the fallout from the 2008 financial crisis, regulators have demanded that big banks tighten their controls and bolster oversight of their employees. Banks that failed to do so in the past have paid tens of billions of dollars in fines, much of it stemming from dubious mortgage practices in the years before the crisis, a departure for agencies once known for their light enforcement touch. Spokesmen for the Fed and the O.C.C. declined to comment. A spokesman for the Justice Departments Criminal Division in Washington, which is working with the Brooklyn prosecutors in the case, also declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for the S.E.C. JPMorgan did not comment, but the bank addressed the investigations in its most recent quarterly regulatory filing, stating that it was responding to and cooperating with these investigations. Wells Fargo, which long marketed itself as the countrys Main Street lender and largely avoided headline-grabbing penalties, is now the latest bank to find itself in the cross-hairs of regulators. The bank agreed this month to pay $185 million in fines, including $35 million to the O.C.C., for fraudulently opening as many as 1.5 million bank accounts and potentially issuing hundreds of thousands of credit cards that had not been authorized by customers. In prepared remarks before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, Thomas Curry, the comptroller of the currency, said his agency was considering taking action against individual Wells Fargo executives, including directors, officers and employees who violate any law or regulation, engage in unsafe or unsound practices or breach fiduciary duty. The Federal Reserve has stepped up its enforcement efforts as well. Daniel Tarullo, a Federal Reserve governor who leads many of the central banks regulatory oversight efforts on Wall Street, recently remarked that banks have not done enough to change their cultures. And when banks misbehave, he said, regulators should hold individual bankers accountable. There is a need, I think, for a focus on individuals as well as the fines put on the institutions, Mr. Tarullo said in a televised interview on CNBC this month. The world of health care is filled with acrimony and accusations at the moment. On Tuesday, John Stumpf, the chief of Wells Fargo, united Democrats and Republicans in their ire. This time, it was the turn of Heather Bresch, who oversees Mylan, to be chastised by both sides. Interrogated by House members, she came under fire for everything from the EpiPen, which has become a source of controversy, to her use of a private jet. But it could all still be for nought. The industry will take their punches, said Representative Elijah E. Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the committee. But then they go right ahead and keep raising their prices. The New York Times editorial board makes the same point, arguing: To have a real impact on drug prices, Congress will need to do a lot more than browbeat pharmaceutical executives in the hopes of shaming them into reducing their prices. The most charitable way to describe the rationale behind cross-selling is that a financial institution should offer solutions for as many of the needs of individuals as possible to help them better manage their increasingly complicated financial affairs. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, there are several reasons this can be good for individuals. Having your financial affairs consolidated in one place makes it easier to keep track of and manage, holistically, all of your assets and liabilities. Having a larger and more significant relationship with a financial institution can help you get better service and pay less than you otherwise would if your money was spread around. And its easier for your bank or wealth management firm to give you good advice when they can see your aggregated financial statement. Its also really good for the financial institution. The more products and services individual customers use and pay for at their bank, the more profitable they are to the bank. Which is where the problem lies: The phrase cross-selling is all about profitability, not about meeting client needs. When employees hear it over and over in meetings, and read it repeatedly in memos and emails, they know what it really means. Banks arent credible when they blame fraud on a small number of employees who allegedly didnt live up to the banks culture. When thousands of employees are fired for unethical behavior, that points to a systemic problem a problem with controls, a problem with incentives and, almost certainly, a problem with culture. In June the national advisory panel on accreditors voted to strip A.C.I.C.S. of its authority after a staff report from the Education Department recommended its demise a foretaste of Thursdays decision. As a group, the mostly for-profit colleges that A.C.I.C.S. has overseen have the lowest graduation rates in the country and among the highest rates of student loan defaults. The Education Department staff report found that it failed to verify job placements, identify institutions that were at risk and monitor educational quality. The accrediting agency was also plagued with conflicts of interest. At least two-thirds of its commissioners worked as executives at for-profit colleges, including Corinthian and ITT, a ProPublica investigation discovered last year. Corinthian was accredited even as it declared bankruptcy in 2015. The accreditation of ITT dogged for years by similar fraud and abuse complaints was revoked only in August. The company filed for bankruptcy last week. A.C.I.C.S. approved 15 other institutions or parent companies in the last three years that were under investigation by state or federal agencies, according to a report by the Center for American Progress, a liberal nonprofit in Washington. Since the spring, the council has scrambled to regroup. Mr. Williams, who took over the top job in August after two predecessors resigned, said in an emailed response to questions that A.C.I.C.S. had taken several steps to strengthen its standards and practices. He listed new procedures to verify placement data, train its evaluators, identify institutions at risk and monitor recruiting by employing a secret shopper. For-profit career colleges and accreditors have repeatedly emphasized that their students are more disadvantaged, giving that as the reason for their low graduation and high default rates. They tend to be poorer and older; many attend school while working and caring for families. In response to widespread public criticism that the government has been too lenient with executives responsible for corporate crime, Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates issued tough new guidelines last year for federal prosecutors. One of the most effective ways to combat corporate misconduct, she said, is by seeking accountability from the individuals who perpetrated the wrongdoing. In Wells Fargo, the government may have the perfect test case. We should really hold the Department of Justices feet to the fire here, said John C. Coffee Jr., a professor at Columbia Law School who is an expert on white-collar crime. Do they really mean what they said in that memo? Will they pursue individuals and not just the underlings? Wells Fargos $185 million settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other agencies hardly puts an end to the matter. Wells Fargo has acknowledged that thousands of employees, under intense pressure to meet aggressive sales targets, opened as many as two million bogus accounts without customers knowledge, in some cases forging signatures. MILAN Lately the sidewalk has started to seem like a synonym for the catwalk, what with the rise of street-style photographers and the people who dress for them, not to mention the proliferation of brands inspired by urban living. This week, however, one of the industrys best-known photographers decided to make it official by staging an exhibition of his work along the Via MonteNapoleone, the busy shopping street bordered by the flagship stores of Gucci, Valentino, Loro Piana, Bulgari, Fendi and more. Twenty large trompe loeil photographic portraits by John Rankin Waddell, known as Rankin, a co-founder of Dazed and Confused magazine, are staggered like dominoes along the road. Each image is of a model, wearing some of the biggest names in Italian fashion, who looks as if she has been trapped in a large white box. In the quietly devastating Chronic, Tim Roth, never more impressive onscreen, plays David, a palliative care worker whose intimacy with death and dying both scares and shames family members who nervously peek in on loved ones they have more or less abandoned. The first English-language film by Michel Franco, the Mexican director of After Lucia, a harrowing study of high school bullying, Chronic stands back from its characters, which it views with a cold documentarylike detachment. Radically unsentimental, it portrays the end of life largely without the emotional concomitants of grief, suffering and solace. Its icy aura of inevitability befits a film whose central character goes from client to client like a polite, expressionless deputy of the Grim Reaper. Since there are no explicit death scenes, only the certainty of imminent finality, an alternative title might be Scenes of Impending Mortality. David cares deeply about his patients, but he doesnt love them in a familial or romantic sense. Chronic dramatizes the caregivers paradoxical relationships to his charges with an acuity that can make it almost unbearable to watch. David hardly shies away from intimate physical contact with the dying. Several scenes show him tenderly undressing and holding a patient in what looks like an embrace while meticulously bathing and drying the body. In a particularly uncomfortable moment, he cleans a womans buttocks after she has inadvertently soiled herself. For David, it is all in a days work, while for a patients loved ones and for the viewer, it is a stark reminder of a future most of us would rather not think about. Like a reader skimming a novel to find the juicy parts, Kim Jee-woon gets through the story dutifully enough in The Age of Shadows. But this director is really looking to stage the action sequences, which he prolongs and savors once they arrive. Inspired by real events, the plot takes place in Korea in the 1920s, when the country was under Japanese occupation. Lee Jung-chool, a Korean serving in the Japanese police force, is torn between loyalty to his homeland and dedication to his uniform. His unease increases when hes ordered to capture resistance fighters seeking Korean independence. After Lee fails to save the life of a fleeing rebel pursuing police leap from rooftop to rooftop with coordinated moves that would impress Cirque du Soleil he travels to China with Hashimoto, a Japanese detective, to thwart a resistance plot to smuggle explosives to Seoul. As Lee, Song Kang-ho (Snowpiercer) mines the internal discord as much as the script allows while struggling over his allegiances, whereas Um Tae-goo is a snarly Hashimoto. Mr. Kims sympathies lie entirely with his Korean heroes. The Japanese are merely hostile obstacles. Unfortunately, and despite its promising start, The Dressmaker doesnt move much beyond the level of well-costumed playacting. The tone shifts, abruptly and awkwardly, from jaunty comedy to dark, violent drama, and the plot is a pileup of incident and complication, with revelations withheld and bestowed almost capriciously. The contrast between Tillys taste and beauty and the townspeoples nastiness is cartoonishly overdrawn, even as the cast members work valiantly to humanize their simplistic roles. They are worth watching, but the question you find yourself asking of Tilly what on earth is she doing here? applies equally to Ms. Winslet and her fellow troupers. The Dressmaker is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). Nasty small-town secrets. Running time: 1 hour 58 minutes. Boyd Holbrooks performance in The Free World is so intense in its compressed fury that you can almost see steam coming out of his ears. An approximate 80s Mel Gibson look-alike, Mr. Holbrook plays Mo Lundy, a recently released prisoner who served time in the Louisiana State Penitentiary for murders he did not commit. In the film, the directorial debut of Jason Lew, who wrote the skimpy, overblown screenplay, Mos years behind bars made him so violent that even the Aryan Brotherhood left him alone. Nicknamed Cyclops after tearing out a cellmates eyeball, he became a jailhouse legend also known as the beast of Angola. He eventually embraces Islam to try to calm his rage (he calls himself Mohamed), and in moments of stress he prays. The movie finds him shortly after his release, working at the Second Hope Animal Shelter, a center for stray and abused dogs run by Linda (Octavia Spencer), a fortress of calm whose wise, all-seeing gaze conveys several lifetimes of sorrowful knowledge. Mo is very tender with the caged dogs, and any resemblance between him and the canines is entirely intentional. The movie beats you over the head with images of him communing with animals from which he is made to seem virtually indistinguishable. The unsubtle message: We are all caged animals. The heavy-handed man-beast comparison is one of several grossly overstated themes in a movie that abruptly changes direction as it goes along while taking shortcuts that leave its characters underdeveloped and crucial plot elements barely fleshed out. As the title suggests, freedom is every bit as awful as incarceration. Mo is continually taunted by police officers trying to arouse his ire. In the last years of the 1950s, the esteemed American photojournalist W. Eugene Smith was at a personal and professional crossroads. Several years spent on a productive but ultimately abortive project (documenting the city of Pittsburgh) forced him to sell his large home in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. His marriage ended. He acquired a Manhattan loft on Avenue of the Americas in the 20s then known as the flower district where his immediate neighbors were up-all-night musicians. A different resident might have complained of the noise. But Smith, whose predilection for recording eventually developed into something like a mania, started shooting and taping, and kept at it for almost a decade. Image The American photojournalist W. Eugene Smith. Credit... 2015 The Heirs of W. Eugene Smith, FilmBuff The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith, a fascinating documentary directed by Sara Fishko, tells the story of Smiths peculiar endeavor and pays conscientious tribute to the mans artistry. It also tells several other discrete stories within the larger narrative. Superb portraits of the arranger and composer Hall Overton and the protean saxophonist Zoot Sims figure here. The Icarus-like rise and fall of Ron Free, a jazz drummer from the South, is largely related by Mr. Free himself. The preparations for Thelonious Monks celebrated 1959 big-band concert at Town Hall are laid out in thrilling detail in the last third of the movie. The bohemian paradise of this environment had a dark side, and the movie doesnt give it short shrift. Nevertheless, a genuine exhilaration holds throughout. You can tell that the interviewees who werent there (including the contemporary jazz pianist Jason Moran and Ben Ratliff, a former music critic for The New York Times) dearly wish they could have been. Many viewers will feel similarly. Every so often a documentary has such a head-shakingly bizarre story that alone makes it worth seeing. If you follow the news, this one may sound familiar: In 1986, a popular South Korean actress, Choi Eun-hee, and her ex-husband, a once-successful film director, Shin Sang-ok, entered the United States Embassy in Vienna and said that years earlier they had been kidnapped by North Korea where they had been held against their will and were now seeking asylum. It was stranger than fiction and also true (mostly, maybe). The Lovers and the Despot explores how and why Ms. Choi and Mr. Shin landed in North Korea, as does Paul Fischers 2015 book, A Kim Jong-il Production: The Extraordinary True Story of a Kidnapped Filmmaker, His Star Actress, and a Young Dictators Rise to Power. Mr. Fischer is also a movie producer. In a review of that book, the journalist Bradley K. Martin noted that Mr. Fischers title is the same as a movie that was being developed by the British producer Jeremy Thomas, who in 2011 characterized the project as a dramatized film noir. Thats a fair description of sections of The Lovers and the Despot, which Mr. Thomas doesnt seem to be involved with. Its a small, weird world, as this documentary outlines twist by twist. Directed by Rob Cannan and Ross Adam, it revisits Ms. Choi and Mr. Shins harrowing ordeal from beginning to end by using a variety of sources. These include original interviews, notably with Ms. Choi (Mr. Shin died in 2006); archival news material; clips from the movies the couple made in South and North Korea; and dramatic re-creations. It traces the arcs of Ms. Choi and Mr. Shins personal and professional lives before and after they were married. There were many movies, many awards and a couple of children along with dark swirling clouds, largely because of Mr. Shins serious money problems. Its a familiar story that goes bonkers once the scene shifts to North Korea, which the documentary opens up provisionally with generous clips (including of Mr. Kim), peekaboo looks at everyday life and images of jaw-slackening spectacles featuring thousands of smiling, weeping citizens in perfect synchronization. What happened to Ms. Choi and Mr. Shin was outlandish, bizarre and tragic, at least for her, and for their children, who were left behind in South Korea. (The filmmakers poke into rumors that Mr. Shin defected.) Whats happening to the millions inside North Korea is the greater tragedy, which tends to get lost amid the documentarys approach and breathlessness. Investigators hope to learn more about Mr. Rahamis life and travels from his wife, Asia, who one of the law enforcement officials said was now back in the United States after being detained in the Middle East while traveling from Afghanistan. Another senior law enforcement official said the F.B.I. did not believe she had knowledge of the plot. The officials said she had bought tickets for her trip well before the bombings. Mr. Rahamis father said he had been worried for some time about the direction his son was heading, well before he spoke to federal agents and well before his sons domestic dispute. He described his sons internet activities as a disease, akin to an addiction. After the 2014 dispute, he said, he visited his son in jail. Ahmad Rahami asked his father for forgiveness, but he said he would not forgive his son until he was sure that Ahmad was not a terrorist and that the F.B.I. had cleared him. The F.B.I. came back to me and said hes clean, Mohammad Rahami said. They didnt find anything on him. But they didnt interview him. I still had my doubts, he said. I was never 100 percent clear. At that point, he said, he decided not to pursue the charges stemming from the domestic dispute. Court records show that a grand jury declined to indict Ahmad Rahami on the charges. The father said he believed he did his duty by sharing his concerns with law enforcement. What was required of me, I did, he said. And hes not a kid hes 28 years old. NEWARK The acknowledged culprit behind the closing of traffic lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge in September 2013 was protected by Chris Christie, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey agreed during court testimony on Thursday. That culprit, David Wildstein, is now the prosecutions star witness against two former top officials in the administration of Mr. Christie, the governor of New Jersey. The officials are accused of closing access lanes at the bridge to punish the mayor of Fort Lee, N.J., for refusing to endorse the governors re-election bid, then covering the plot up. While Mr. Christie is not charged, prosecutors have said he knew about the lane closings as they were happening, contrary to what the governor has said in the three years since. The closed lanes caused gridlock in the town, stymying ambulances, commuters and schoolchildren for four days. Lawyers for the two defendants have argued that their clients are scapegoats in a political game involving players with far more power. Angering a vocal crowd of unionized airport workers, the commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hit an impasse on Thursday over proposals for raising the agencys minimum wage. The commissioners split, almost to a man, along state lines when they voted on two competing proposals for raising the pay scale for workers at the airports that serve New York City and other facilities operated by the Port Authority. Neither proposal received enough votes to carry, leaving the workers frustrated in their yearslong campaign for what they consider a living wage. Shame on you! they chanted in unison at John J. Degnan, the chairman of the agency and the most determined opponent of raising its minimum wage. Mr. Degnan, an appointee of Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, refused to budge as the workers railed at him. He had set them off by saying he would vote against a proposal that the Port Authority adopt the highest minimum wage that applies to the location of any of its facilities. The agency operates throughout the New York metropolitan area and runs its busiest airports: Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International and La Guardia. The more Donald Trump presses his supposed effort to appeal to black voters, the more bizarre it gets. Just this week, the Republican nominee for president said the answer to inner-city violence was to revive New Yorks stop-and-frisk program, abandoned after federal courts ruled that the results were racist. He suggested that his decision to recant his insidious birther claims against President Obama was an insincere attempt to change the subject. He declared that his movement already embraces everybody. And one of his county campaign chairs announced that there was no racism before Obama was elected. Not convinced that this is going to make black Americans vote for Trump? Thats probably because Trump isnt actually speaking to minority voters. He is offering excuses for white Americans who might otherwise hesitate to support a racist candidate. Santa Cruz, Calif. Around midnight on March 2, the indigenous peoples rights and environmental activist Berta Caceres was shot dead by gunmen who entered her residence in La Esperanza, Honduras. A longtime campaigner against illegal logging operations, Ms. Caceres had been repeatedly threatened because of her opposition to the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project, one of the largest of its kind in Central America. I have no doubt that she has been killed because of her struggle, and that soldiers and people from the dam are responsible, I am sure of that, her 84-year-old mother told a local radio station. I hold the government responsible. On June 21, The Guardian reported the testimony of a Honduran soldier who said that his elite unit of United States-trained special forces had been given a hit list of activists to be killed that included Berta Caceres. (He had deserted from the army, he said, rather than comply with the orders.) Six men have subsequently been arrested in connection with her case, including a serving army officer and two retired members of the military, but it remains to be seen if whoever commissioned the crime will be brought to justice. It took the brutal assassination of Ms. Caceres to finally provoke a public debate in the United States over the Obama administrations funding of Hondurass dangerous police and military forces. On June 14, Representative Henry C. Johnson Jr., Democrat of Georgia, and co-sponsors introduced the Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras Act, which called for the immediate suspension of security aid to Honduras. In response, the Obama administration has tried to justify continuing its support by pointing to an array of initiatives that are, at best, weak and token, and that, at worst, may even be harmful. To the Editor: Candidates Agree on One Thing: Infrastructure (front page, Sept. 19) notes a rare point of agreement between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump: to spend at least $250 billion fixing Americas decrepit infrastructure. The main hurdle is not financing, however, but red tape. Congress funded an $800 billion stimulus plan in 2009, and five years later only $30 billion had been spent on transportation infrastructure. As President Obama put it, Theres no such thing as shovel-ready projects. Delays of a decade or longer are common. Last year, Common Good published a report, Two Years, Not Ten Years, that found that decade-long review and permitting procedures more than double the effective cost of new infrastructure projects. What the candidates need to address is how to create clear lines of authority to cut through red tape. Until then, vital projects will languish on the drawing boards. LONDON Jeremy Corbyns tenure since last September as leader of the Labour Party has been bumpy, to say the least: The party now has the worst poll ratings in its history. Labours parliamentary members have complained that Mr. Corbyn cannot manage them. And his tenure has been troubled by poor decisions he chose, for example, to go to a Cuba solidarity event on the same day that Theresa May, the new prime minister, announced the formation of her cabinet, leaving the opposition with no public response. Mr. Corbyn was widely considered a lackluster campaigner in the effort to persuade British voters that their country should remain in the European Union. These issues, as well as Mr. Corbyns positions far to the left of most of the partys members of Parliament, led to a vote of no-confidence by the partys House of Commons delegation in June. Tradition dictated that Mr. Corbyn should step down. He refused, setting off a crisis within the party and another vote, with Mr. Corbyn vying with Owen Smith, another Labour member of Parliament, for the leadership. You might expect rank-and-file Labour Party members to be angry about all of this, and to respond by getting rid of Mr. Corbyn. Instead, they are ready to re-elect him. He seems likely to win by an even bigger margin than he did in 2015. Is the Labour Party engaging in an act of collective madness? How else to explain a rush to support a guy who cant manage his own party, much less win a general election? To understand Mr. Corbyns remarkable support, you need to know the partys recent history. What we are seeing now is a corrective to what happened during the years when Tony Blair rebranded the party as New Labour. The Belgian interior designer Thierry Thenaers, known for outfitting European castles and country homes, transformed his own Brussels apartment into an all-encompassing reflection of his eclectic, classical style. Now, with changes in his life, including the opening of a second company that creates and installs decorative canvas ceilings around the world, Mr. Thenaers has put his home on the market. The two-level, 433-square-meter, or 4,660-square-foot, space in the desirable Chatelain neighborhood in the municipality of Ixelles, southeast of the center of Brussels, has an asking price of 1.4 million euros, or $1.56 million, and is listed with Brussels Sothebys International Realty. The architecture of the 1907 corner building inspired Mr. Thenaers, who combined two apartments into one (the sale officially includes two transactions). Four other residences share the main lobby entrance. The building to me is halfway between Chicago and Milano, with those Italian influences in the architecture in Chicago at the beginning of the century, he said. The interior is a combination of interiors Ive done for clients in London, France, Germany, Italy, Moscow. 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 nonprofit 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 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 percent across emission scenarios. He has come to her studio designed by Marsha Ginsberg as a stylish, minimalist space, with shimmering strips of shiny white plastic for walls to query Lydia about her experience in Brazil with ayahuasca, the natural hallucinogenic thats suddenly fashionable among people who take suddenly fashionable drugs. At dinner one night, Lydia had mentioned that after taking it, her fears including her fear of death, which had increased when her child was entering school gradually abated. Steve himself is off the charts when it comes to anxiety. I mean I dont have like a palpable fear of death, that Im aware of, he says to Lydia at one point. I feel my relationship to fear is that its so constant and so integrated that I rarely even experience it as fear. I just experience it as this, uh, this sort of, uh, uh, disquieting presence. Threaded through their interactions are observations from other people Steve has interviewed for the project: a nurse practitioner who describes, in rather gruesome detail, the physical processes of dying; a man who dropped out of embalming school because well, you dont want to know; an Iraq war veteran who calmed his fears of being killed on duty by reading a Zen Buddhist book written for samurai; a woman whose ovarian cancer is in remission. Particularly engaging are insights from the British philosopher Simon Critchley, who has written about various philosophers deaths. Wittgensteins last words were Ive had a wonderful life, we learn, which mightve been a Frank Capra allusion, because he loved Hollywood films. Jacques Derrida, on the other hand, was not so calm: I am frightened. I am anxious. I am scared. I would like to find tranquillity, but its not there, he said in a late interview, according to Mr. Critchley. (Maybe he didnt watch enough Capra movies?) Mr. Domingues and Ms. Lucio play all the roles, with the requisite versatility that seems blessedly natural, with Ms. Lucio occasionally portraying Steve himself conducting an interview. They are particularly fine company in their primary roles. Lydia is the wise and sophisticated friend one imagines every New Yorker has (or wishes he or she had), with an elegant trace of a South American accent. Mr. Domingues is charming as Steve, the chatty, neurotic, creative gay man that one imagines every New Yorker probably knows. Republican leaders still might (just wait, its coming, they promise) introduce sanctions against the Democrats who seized the House floor for 25 hours in June. Democrats have greeted that threatened punishment with all the false horror of Brer Rabbit at the briar patch. How Times reporters cover politics. We rely on our journalists to be independent observers. So while Times staff members may vote, they are not allowed to endorse or campaign for candidates or political causes. This includes participating in marches or rallies in support of a movement or giving money to, or raising money for, any political candidate or election cause. Learn more about our process. Republicans are dangling the prospect of penalties for alleged violations of House decorum including sitting on the floor, using cellphones to record and, more seriously, fund-raising with images from the protest and Democrats are thrilled. They know sanctions would remind voters of the sit-in led by Representative John Lewis of Georgia, a civil rights leader, that went viral on social media, energizing their base as thousands tuned into livestreams broadcast from lawmakers cellphones. It might also remind those voters that the House has not acted on gun control legislation since then. Republicans know that, too which seems to be why those sanctions have not materialized since leaders met with the sergeant-at-arms office before the seven-week summer recess. With some of their members still outraged by what they consider egregious violations of House rules, leaders are content to bring it up every so often while the rank-and-file wait, the Godot of legislative wrist-slaps. Thanks for nothing If you produce more gas in a static demand environment, youre going to have a fuel fight between gas and coal, said Kevin Book, an analyst with ClearView Energy Partners, a nonpartisan energy analysis firm. It is also hard to see how Mr. Trump could use policy levers to expand production of natural gas. Over the last year, the historically high production levels of natural gas production glutted the market. Companies have idled fracking rigs as they wait for supply to tighten and prices to rise. Experts said that in a free market, the government cannot change that. No president controls the market. Its pretty straightforward, Mr. Book said. Mr. Trump vowed to do so by ending regulations on fracking. I think probably no other business has been affected by regulation than your business, he told the gas executives. Federal regulations remain a major restriction to shale production. That is largely false. The Obama administration has put forth regulations intended to govern the safety of fracking on public lands a rule which would cover about 100,000 fracking wells, or about 10 percent of all fracking taking place in the United States. The vast majority of fracking occurs on state or private land and is governed by state and local regulations. Still, in his appeal to both sides of the fossil fuel equation, Mr. Trump is distinguishing himself from Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent, who has put forward proposals to continue and increase environmental regulations on both coal and fracking. In a debate in March, Mrs. Clinton said, By the time we get through all of my conditions, I do not think there will be many places in America where fracking will continue to take place. She has also vowed to uphold President Obamas climate change policy, the Clean Power Plan. The heart of the rule is a set of aggressive Environmental Protection Agency regulations intended to curb planet-warming carbon pollution, which comes mainly from coal-fired power plants. The rule has been temporarily suspended by a Supreme Court order, but if it is eventually upheld, it would most likely lead to the shutdown of hundreds of coal-fired plants and an eventual freeze of the nations coal markets. Cathy L. Milhoan, the director of communications for the Secret Service, said the agency was aware of the alleged email hacking of a White House staffer. Obviously the Secret Service is concerned any time unauthorized information that might pertain to one of the individuals we protect, or our operations, is allegedly disclosed, she added. An F.B.I. spokesman said the bureau was looking into the hacking. Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said that officials took any reports about a cyberbreach seriously and that the episode was something we are taking a close look at. DCLeaks.com is a relatively new website that has posted documents taken from the accounts of prominent figures like Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, the former commander of NATO forces in Europe, and George Soros, a wealthy backer of liberal causes. On the site, its creators describe themselves as American hacktivists who aim to publish a large amount of emails from top-ranking officials and their influence agents all over the world. Mr. Mellul hardly fits either description. His low-level job ranks just above that of an intern. The emails from his account document the often mundane process that White House or campaign staff members go through to prepare for an event, including setting up stages, organizing photo lines, arranging for lecterns and coordinating with the Secret Service about getting clearances for all of the people the politician will encounter along the way. One email contained a spreadsheet with the names and Social Security numbers of almost 100 people scheduled to attend a Houston fund-raiser for Mrs. Clinton. In another exchange, a Secret Service agent discussed how many official pins would be provided for hotel staff members to have access to an event. After Mr. Mellul said the hotel had requested 50 Secret Service pins, the agent wrote, Yikes. Several of the emails contain what is referred to as a movement document or a site diagram involving the vice president, the first lady or Mrs. Clinton. Those emails were often sent to a large number of people, including Mr. Mellul. In other cases, Mr. Mellul emailed copies of the documents to other campaign or government officials, including Secret Service officials. In the sprawling Clinton body politic, Shareblue is the finger that wags at the mainstream news media (R.I.P. Political Journalism (1440-2016)) or pokes at individual reporters. It is a minor appendage, but in an increasingly close race for the presidency, it plays its part. And it is already warming up for the biggest event of the general election so far: the first debate, on Monday night. It has already published a piece calling on moderators to fact-check Mr. Trump on the spot, and will continue through debate night, whipping up support online with the hashtag #DemandFairDebates. Shareblue is owned by David Brock, the onetime Clinton critic who remade himself into a Clinton supporter and architect of a conglomerate of organizations designed, he said, to be the liberal answer to the conservative messaging of Fox News. The Brock network includes his Media Matters for America watchdog website; two pro-Clinton super PACs, the opposition research outfit American Bridge and the pro-Clinton fact-checking and reporter-spamming operation Correct the Record; and Shareblue, which filled the need, Mr. Brock said, for a progressive outlet that spoke directly to the grass roots and which was avidly and unabashedly pro-Hillary. Shareblues bread-and-butter content is exposing what it considers to be news coverage stacked against Mrs. Clinton. Mr. Daou was particularly excited about a project seeking to show that Mrs. Clintons email travails had been in the news every day since the story originally broke in March 2015. Often, their editorial direction seems in sync with the Clinton campaign, which has instructed its surrogates to blame news coverage for negative press. Are they going to hold Hillary to a different standard again? read one recent talking points memo sent by the campaign to its surrogates. That approach became clear this month. On Sept. 1, The Washington Post broke a story about the Donald J. Trump Foundation being fined for improperly donating $25,000 to Pam Bondi, the attorney general of Florida, around the time that her office was deciding whether to investigate fraud allegations against Trump University. Obviously you are dismayed, but you are also energized because you are pulling out all the stops to get bad legislation stopped, said Kenneth M. Duberstein, who was Mr. Reagans deputy chief of staff at the time. How Times reporters cover politics. We rely on our journalists to be independent observers. So while Times staff members may vote, they are not allowed to endorse or campaign for candidates or political causes. This includes participating in marches or rallies in support of a movement or giving money to, or raising money for, any political candidate or election cause. Learn more about our process. The more surprising element of this current dispute may be that this is the first time the threat of an override of Mr. Obamas veto is real. When Republicans gained control of the Senate in 2015, joining the large House Republican majority, it was assumed that the president would face an onslaught of legislation he would be forced to reject, setting up tough veto fights. But Democrats in the Senate protected him by using their numbers and procedural tactics to bottle up bills considered veto bait. For a president to serve eight years in a partisan time and only have one override, not a bad record, said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Senate Democrat and a chief author of the legislation in question. Democrats are not enthusiastic about breaking so publicly with the president. And Mr. Obamas poll numbers are relatively strong, with an approval rating above 50 percent, so this is not a case of Congress beating a president when he is down, as it has been in the past. Many Democrats say they understand the presidents need to think diplomatically and geopolitically about the nations position when it comes to legislation opening up foreign nations to such lawsuits. But they say the desire to allow the families to pursue their claims outweighs such considerations. Breaking with him is something I feel is absolutely necessary to give these families their day in court, said Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut. There are disagreements even in the closest of families. I realize this is a difficult vote for some of my colleagues, but this isnt personal, its the principle. A plan to help revive the Export-Import Bank seems to be headed for the legislative cutting-room floor. A Republican dream of weakening pesticide regulations has been scotched. But the short-term spending bill that Congress is set to pass next week, one that both parties tried to use to promote various policies, will most likely include a provision championed by Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, a frequent troublemaker on all matters fiscal. His provision would hinder the federal governments plan to transfer its oversight at the end of the month of the internets master directory of website addresses to a multinational private organization. Mr. Cruz is convinced that once this power is out of the United States control, the openness of the internet would be in jeopardy, with China, Iran and Russia poised to have undue influence over what content appears on the web. Technologists and administration officials say Mr. Cruz simply does not understand how the web operates. The governments current job of domain name administrator is largely clerical and cannot influence editorial decisions on the web, they say. While many Democrats oppose the provision, it is not clear how many care enough to make it stop. Further, Mr. Cruz got an unexpected push for the provision this week from none other Donald J. Trump. The Republicans in Congress are admirably leading a fight to save the internet this week and need all the help the American people can give them to be successful, said Stephen Miller, Mr. Trumps national policy director, said in a statement on the campaigns website. KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo The United Nations high commissioner for human rights blamed the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday for using excessive force during political demonstrations and riots this week that might have killed more than 50 people. The unrest convulsed Kinshasa, the capital, as the country slides into a period of dangerous political uncertainty. The president, Joseph Kabila, is required by the Constitution to step down in December, but he has shown no inclination to do so, and his government has not announced when the next election might be. For the first time in days, most stores reopened Thursday and a beat of normal life returned to Kinshasa. The streets were plugged with traffic, and moving markets of thousands of women selling produce and baguettes from atop their heads streamed by. On Monday, opposition supporters rampaged through several Kinshasa slums burning cars, looting banks and attacking police officers and the offices of Mr. Kabilas political party. University students protested in South Africa for at least a second day this week over plans to increase fees at the countrys colleges in 2017. The protests, which erupted in September, have turned violent as students have clashed with the police. On Wednesday, at least two students were injured after the police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to break up protests at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, university and student representatives said. How did the protests flare up? On Sept. 19, the minister of higher education, Blade Nzimande, announced that the countrys universities were facing serious funding challenges at the same time that South Africans were having trouble affording tuition. So the minister proposed that universities set their own fee increases for 2017. But he recommended that the increases be no more than 8 percent. For some categories of needy students, there will be no increase, he added. But the international commission found Mexicos efforts to investigate the abuse insufficient so far. Instead, it demanded a much more thorough inquiry to uncover responsibility across the entire chain of command, which would most likely make Mr. Pena Nieto part of the investigation because he ordered the crackdown. It also called for disciplinary or criminal action against any authorities who contributed to the denial of justice for the women. The commission delivered its findings last week to the Inter-American Court, an independent judiciary with legal authority over Mexico. If the court agrees with the commission, it can order Mexico to broaden its current inquiry into the case, a requirement that could force the state to investigate its own president. The commission suggests that the state government under Mr. Pena Nieto had sought to minimize and even cover up the events. Perhaps the most lurid example is whom the government chose to prosecute: Rather than go after the police who committed the sexual torture, the state initially prosecuted the women instead. Five were imprisoned for a year or more, on charges like blocking traffic, detentions the commission found arbitrary. Days after the episode, the state denied the accusations of the women, essentially calling them liars. Mr. Pena Nieto told a local newspaper at the time that it was a known tactic of radical groups to have women make accusations of sexual violence to discredit the government. Others in his administration made similar claims. Since then, while the government has acknowledged the veracity of the accusations, not a single person has been convicted of any crime related to the assaults in Atenco. Most recently, five doctors charged with ignoring evidence of sexual abuse had their cases dismissed. The case is an example of the lengths victims must go to in pursuit of justice in Mexico. The women endured more than 10 years of threats, intimidation and psychological trauma. They watched as men who assaulted them walked free. The draft agreement does not go into effect until it has been signed by President Ashraf Ghani and by Mr. Hekmatyar, who officials said would come to Kabul to do so in the coming days. Part of the deal is to arrange for Mr. Hekmatyar to re-establish himself in the capital and join the political process, and the Afghan leadership is promising to give him an honorary post in the government. Power-sharing, however, is not part of the agreement. Problems with the plan abound. With the coalition government already embroiled in a leadership crisis between Mr. Ghani and his chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah, Mr. Hekmatyars inclusion could be destabilizing. Many liberal Afghans deplore the return of a man regarded as responsible for mass casualties, especially during the shelling of Kabul during the 1990s, although many current Afghan political figures have similar pasts and serve with impunity. Both liberals and the Taliban will be angered by the agreements referral to Mr. Hekmatyar as the emir of Hezb-i-Islami, a title the Taliban use for their own leader. On a more practical level, negotiators from Hezb-i-Islami said their leader would not come to Kabul until sanctions against him were lifted, which, in the case of the United Nations, is a protracted, complex process that would take much longer than a matter of days. Part of the deal calls for the government to pressure the United States to lift sanctions against Mr. Hekmatyar, but that may prove politically difficult. Although his insurgents have been relatively inactive, often sidelined by the Taliban and sometimes clashing with them as well, some serious attacks have been attributed to his followers. One of the most notorious claimed by the group was a suicide bombing in 2013 that killed six American advisers in Kabul. In 2003, the United States announced that it was making Mr. Hekmatyar a specially designated global terrorist because of his participation in terrorist attacks by Al Qaeda and the Taliban, and it asked the United Nations to include him on its sanctions list against known terrorists. BEIJING The Great Wall of China. A stirring symbol of national pride whose overlapping sections span thousands of miles. A crumbling, melancholy monument to Chinas imperial grandeur, so imposing that it inspired the stubborn myth that it is visible from the moon. One part of the Great Wall is even more visible now, but for very wrong reasons. Chinese preservationists, internet users and media commentators have been incensed this week after pictures showed that officials repaired part of the Great Wall in northeast China by slapping a white substance on top of the crumbling, weathered stones. A once unkempt, haunting 700-year-old stretch of the wall now looks like a cement skateboarding lane dumped in the wilderness. The aesthetic impact was not ideal, the head of the provincial cultural relics bureau, Ding Hui, conceded, according to The Beijing News. The repairs really dont look good, he said. MANILA A professed hit man who implicated President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines in extrajudicial killings backed off some of his earlier assertions of the presidents involvement under tough questioning from a Senate committee on Thursday. But the self-described hit man, Edgar Matobato, who said he killed about 50 people as a member of a death squad in Davao City, was unshaken in his testimony that Mr. Duterte, as mayor there, presided over about 1,000 killings of criminal suspects and political opponents over more than two decades. The televised hearing appeared to be part of an effort by Duterte supporters to discredit testimony that Mr. Matobato gave the committee last week, as well as to impeach the credibility of the former leader of that committee, Senator Leila de Lima. Mr. Matobatos earlier testimony, which has not been independently verified or corroborated, was the first evidence to tie Mr. Duterte directly to the killings. Its a very sad situation that denies you and me the opportunity to hear from Taiwans democratically elected leaders, said Jerome A. Cohen, an adjunct senior fellow for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. This week, Taiwanese diplomats began a campaign to ask Taiwans diplomatic allies to press the United Nations secretary general to allow Taiwan to join bodies like the International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Such efforts, most experts agree, will likely be for naught. Vincent Wei-Cheng Wang, a Taiwan-born political scientist at Ithaca College, said China had been increasingly assertive in denying Taiwan a role in international affairs, thwarting the aspirations of one of the worlds most advanced economies and a vibrant democracy. I find it frustrating that the international community has not been able to find creative ways to incorporate Taiwan onto the world stage, said Mr. Wang, noting past compromises that allowed both North and South Korea to participate in the United Nations, and the 2012 vote that gave Palestinians a nonvoting seat at the table. Taiwans dignity and survival deserve more international support. The indignities are conveyed through United Nations documents and official speeches that refer to Taiwan as Taiwan, Province of China, and color-coded maps that suggest that the two states are one. A new security measure, introduced this summer at the behest of China, blocks Taiwanese passport holders from touring the United Nations complex in New York, citing a requirement that visitors must have IDs issued by a member or observer state. Were talking about elderly people who fly 14 hours to New York, having waited all their lives to see the U.N., and then are turned away at the door, said Brian Su, the deputy director general at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York. Its humiliating, and the U.N. wont even return the $20 they paid for the tour! Taiwanese diplomats, though they are also barred from entering the United Nations, take a long view of the situation, citing the Palestinians increasingly successful struggle for international recognition. Their battle plan includes behind-the-scenes diplomacy and a well-financed soft power campaign that seeks to highlight Taiwans accomplishments since it shed authoritarian rule in the mid-1980s. A wave of migrants and refugees, the largest since World War II, has strained the fabric of societies across Europe. The American presidential election, with the unusual campaign of the Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump, has focused the worlds nervous attention on strains in the United States. To varying degrees, countries including Turkey, Poland and Hungary have clamped down on journalists and judges. Governments have struggled to respond to the challenges of religious extremism and gaping disparities in wealth and income. In the United States, Mr. Trump has scorned democratic traditions, arguing that outsourcing of jobs, immigration and terrorism have created a mess and vowing, I alone can fix it. Among the government officials, scholars, activists, journalists and others who gathered last week for the fourth-annual Athens Democracy Forum, organized by The International New York Times, the mood was glum, if not despairing. They agreed that democracy was in danger, and liberalism civil rights, the rule of law, the protection of minorities even more so. The crisis we find ourselves in today is one in which we have started to question the very fundamentals on which our democracies have been built our moral values of openness and equality, our fundamental freedoms, our resilience and, most importantly, what unites us, what binds us, said Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Unions commissioner for migration, home affairs and citizenship. In Germany, terrorist attacks this summer prompted the government to step up security efforts, including closer surveillance of the so-called dark web, where terrorist communications often lurk. In Britain, a proposed Investigatory Powers bill also known as the snoopers charter would essentially enshrine in law the bulk data collection and phone-hacking operations carried out by British secret services that were revealed by Mr. Snowden along with National Security Agency operations. Raffaello Pantucci, director of International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute in London, noted that, as the debate on appropriate government surveillance evolves, secret service agencies have an interest in defining their limits. What is interesting in the U.K. is that, while the agencies are pushing for as much as they can, they also recognize that it is important to have oversight, he said. They have no interest in living in an Orwellian world either. It is a question of having the right structures. According to Mr. Glees, the latest British bill is a roundabout way for the government to avoid public acknowledgement of what it was already doing. The Investigatory Powers bill is in a sense for show, he said. The government is not saying, yes, we are doing it but rather saying, we must do better to regulate it. In the meantime, the jury is out on how effective massive data collection efforts have been in identifying terrorists and stopping attacks. In the wake of the Snowden disclosures, a report by the United States Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board on the collection of telephone records of millions of Americans found no instance in which the program made a concrete difference in the outcome of a counterterrorism operation. Some experts beg to differ, noting that counterterrorist operations are necessarily secretive. Some also said that terrorist groups shut down communication networks in the wake of Mr. Snowdens disclosures. The behavior of terrorist groups has changed, said Mr. Pantucci. There was a negative impact of these revelations. LONDON In late April 2003, just after the rapid fall of Baghdad, four of the founding countries of what is now the European Union met to announce the formation of a European operational military command headquarters just down the road from NATO. France and Germany, which had fiercely opposed the war against Saddam Hussein, led by the United States and Britain, joined with Belgium and Luxembourg in what the American State Department sniffily dismissed as the chocolate summit. The Americans were outraged that the French-German couple, having noisily opted out of the war in Iraq, had then dared to propose a European defense command separate from NATO. But Europe, the French and the Germans argued, needed its own defense capacity, so it could not be dragged into Americas wars. In the end, because of American and British opposition, the project went nowhere, like so many other grand European ideas. The United Nations resumed aid convoys to besieged communities in Syria on Thursday for the first time since a deadly attack on trucks loaded with supplies on Monday. But that accomplishment seemed fragile as talks in New York between the United States and Russia failed to produce agreement on how to restore a cease-fire in Syria, and as the Syrian military announced that it had begun a new offensive in eastern Aleppo and warned residents to stay away from rebel positions. That announcement was made after two days of intensive bombing of eastern Aleppo by the Russian-backed Syrian forces. A 25-truck aid convoy left Damascus on Thursday with supplies for 40,000 people in Moadamiya, a suburb of the capital, according to Jan Egeland, a United Nations special adviser for humanitarian affairs. Officials said later that the convoy had arrived in the afternoon, after delays but without incident. Im still getting to know her, Ms. Parker said. She was quick to clarify that she is no more Frances than she ever was Carrie (she and Mr. Broderick married about a week before she shot the pilot). But Divorce, at turns moody and comic, does cover material that is meaningful to Ms. Parker, who is an executive producer of the series. For some years, she has wanted to do a show about long-term relationships, a natural outgrowth, she said, of countless conversations she has had with friends who, like her, are in early middle age, a time when its common for people to grapple with the choices they have made, in relationships as much as anything else. The show reflects, she said, a certain introspection and reckoning that is inevitable after some 15 or 20 years of marriage. Its a really specific point in a persons life, right now, for my generation, said Ms. Parker. Its when you start to think about relationships, the time spent, what came of it and what do you do with where you find yourself now? AFTER SEX AND THE CITY, Ms. Parker did not look very hard for her next big role; when people asked about another television series, I used to say never, she told Alec Baldwin on his podcast, Heres the Thing. The schedule is demanding for someone raising three children (her twins, Marion and Tabitha, are now 7, and her son, James Wilkie, is 13), and she never found a show that intrigued her enough to make the family sacrifice worthwhile. When youre at a point in your life where you can make choices, you can make a choice to say no, she said. Its kind of nice. She made two Sex and the City movies, to decidedly mixed reviews, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in The Family Stone. Following that, one of her movies had critical success but small audiences (Smart People, 2008), while others had less favorable reviews and even smaller audiences (see Spinning Into Butter, 2007). Her reputation as a beloved star never flagged, but neither did she ever land on a role so strong that it put Carrie to bed for good. It is hard to find material you really love, particularly when youve been so successful, Mr. Broderick said. It feels like a lot of pressure. THE FACE OF BRITAIN A History of the Nation Through Its Portraits By Simon Schama Illustrated. 603 pp. Oxford University Press. $39.95. This splendid book by the historian and art critic Simon Schama could hardly be better timed, since it might plausibly be argued that the face of Britain changed on or about June 23, 2016. With the Brexit referendum, British citizens voted to leave the European Union, as the supposedly United Kingdom sought to become in the eyes of many observers whiter, more insular, more Christian, as well as considerably angrier, like one of those howling popes by Francis Bacon, a favorite artist of Schamas. This is hardly the first time the countrys identity has come into question, as Schama reminds us in The Face of Britain, a triangular collaboration of his British publisher with the National Portrait Gallery, from which most of his well-chosen illustrations are drawn, and Oxford Film and Television, which has produced a BBC television series to accompany it. The gallery was founded in 1856, Schama explains, to tell the British who they were, and it was not accidental that the question was put at a time of sudden imperial uncertainty in India and the Crimea, which also happened to be the golden age of self-consciously British museums. We first encounter the imperial swagger of the British Empire, according to Schama, in the popular portraits one of them painted on the same English oak from which his ships were built of that predatory pirate-patriot Sir Francis Drake: small, wiry, blue-eyed. Like some character from Game of Thrones, Drake, the first truly famous Englishman, was often depicted with leather-winged dragons, known as wyverns, his personal mascots. He was encouraged by representatives of the bling-happy Queen Elizabeth I to go rogue in the Caribbean and elsewhere, making the world safe (and lucrative) for Protestantism. Cirque du Soleil has its geographical bases pretty much covered, from Paramour, currently on Broadway, to the many productions in Las Vegas and on tour. But the best way to experience the circus is under a big top, which makes Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities, to be presented in a pop-up space on Randalls Island, especially exciting. And it arrives in New York with exuberant reviews in its wake: It is not to be missed on any account, Chris Jones wrote in The Chicago Tribune. The show, a 19th-century steampunk fantasy about a scientist determined to defy the laws of time and space, includes Cirque staples like acrobatics, juggling and feats of derring-do, and it will be here just in time to offer a temporary escape from recent tumultuous real-world woes. (Thursday, Sept. 29, to Nov. 27; cirquedusoleil.com/kurios.) Estimated N.C. vote Strongest for Clinton Strongest for Trump Elizabeth City Winston-Salem Greensboro Durham Rocky Mount Raleigh Asheville Greenville Charlotte Fayetteville Wilmington Elizabeth City Winston-Salem Greensboro Durham Rocky Mount Raleigh Asheville Greenville Charlotte Fayetteville Wilmington Elizabeth City Greensboro Winston-Salem Durham Rocky Mount Raleigh Asheville Greenville Charlotte Fayetteville Wilmington Greensboro Durham Asheville Raleigh Charlotte New York Times Upshot/Siena College Poll Clinton 41% Trump 41% Well-educated white voters are rejecting Republican candidates in North Carolina, and it might just be enough to jeopardize the chances of Donald J. Trump to win the presidency and of his party to keep the Senate. Hillary Clinton and Mr. Trump are tied, 41 percent to 41 percent, among likely voters in a three-way race in North Carolina, according to a New York Times Upshot/Siena College poll released on Thursday. Mrs. Clinton leads by two percentage points in a head-to-head contest, 45 percent to 43 percent. (In a three-way race, 11 percent of likely voters picked the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson; the Green Party candidate Jill Stein is not on the ballot in North Carolina.) The presidential contest might be the least of the Republican Partys worries in this rapidly changing state. The embattled Republican governor, Pat McCrory, trails by eight points against Attorney General Roy Cooper, 50 percent to 42 percent. And even Senator Richard Burr, who was not thought to be in great jeopardy just a few months ago, trails his Democratic challenger, Deborah Ross, by four points, 46-42. That contest is among the handful that seem likely to decide control of the Senate. It is her largest lead in a public survey so far, and in general, the poll offers stronger results for Democrats than several surveys in the state this month. Roy Cooper, the Democratic candidate for governor, is doing better in his race than Mrs. Clinton is in hers. Like our survey of Florida earlier this week, this poll was based on voter records that allow unusually detailed analysis of the electorate. The survey was completed before the police shooting of a black Charlotte resident on Tuesday and the unrest that has followed. Strikingly, none of the Republican candidates led among white voters with a college degree, even though that group supported Mitt Romney in 2012 by nearly 30 percentage points, according to Upshot estimates. Perhaps no battleground state is as polarized along demographic lines as North Carolina. Mr. Trump has a lead of 53 percent to 28 percent among white voters, most likely his best tally with that group in any of the battleground states. Mrs. Clinton holds the overwhelming support of black voters, at 86 percent to 3 percent in a three-way race. White voters Mrs. Clinton is competitive among white voters around Charlotte and Raleigh, where Romney won white voters by 20 points. Black voters Black voters, who overwhelmingly support Mrs. Clinton, make up about a fifth of the electorate in North Carolina. The states white voters are divided as well. Mr. Trumps advantage with whites stems from a huge margin of 66 percent to 17 percent among white voters without a college degree. Mrs. Clintons challenge runs deep: She has a narrow lead of only 46-39 among white voters without a degree who are registered as Democrats. None of the other Republicans match Mr. Trumps vote share among less educated white voters, and the other top Democrats do better than Mrs. Clinton. She fares better in a two-way race in part because some of the white voters who support the Democratic challengers in the governor and Senate races break her way. North Carolina has a huge educational split. Below, the divide among whites. The educational split in North Carolina could be the largest in the country. The state is in many ways still culturally Southern, but it has been transformed by rapidly growing metropolitan areas like Raleigh and Charlotte. These areas are full of migrants from outside the state, especially from the Northeast. Mrs. Clinton fares better among these voters, even after accounting for their greater education, than among those born in the state. White voters born outside the state are also more likely to support Mrs. Clinton. The fissure between the new and old North Carolina has played out in state politics, which has been at the center of some of the most contested political fights in the country. The Republican-held legislature passed HB-2, the so-called bathroom bill, requiring people to use the restroom corresponding to the gender on their birth certificate. That law has caused some companies and organizations to boycott the state or reduce their business there. Over all, voters were split on the restroom question. Yet among white voters with a degree, 60 percent opposed the requirement and just 37 percent supported it. The measures unpopularity is thought to be a major factor behind Mr. McCrorys weakness. This survey began just days after the N.C.A.A. decided to move tournament games out of North Carolia because of HB-2. Black voters were more supportive of the law; indeed, Mr. McCrory held the support of 10 percent of black voters in the survey. It is not nearly enough to make up for his huge underperformance among other types of voters, but it was better than the numbers for either Mr. Burr or Mr. Trump. Model of a Shifting State Unlike many public polls, the Upshot/Siena survey was conducted using voter registration files, big data that has transformed campaigning over the last decade. The voter file data here from L2, a nonpartisan voter file vendor includes information on the vote history, partisanship and race of nearly every voter in the state, a big advantage for polling. We used the voter file and the responses to our poll to build a statistical model of the vote preferences of every registered voter. Its the same basic approach taken by the major campaigns data analytics and targeting teams. The maps above are based on these estimates. It suggests that Mrs. Clintons turnout challenge may be somewhat different in North Carolina than it is elsewhere. According to our model, Mrs. Clinton is fairly well positioned among relatively likely voters. The model which is based on the two-way race in which Mrs. Clinton leads, not the three-way race gives Mrs. Clinton a two-point lead among voters with greater than a 90 percent chance of turning out. This is in stark contrast to our estimates for Florida, where Mr. Trump has a seven-point lead among those likeliest voters. Support in a two-way race among voters who are... The chart below is identical to the one above, except that the groups are scaled according to their share of the likely electorate. Scaled to size of the electorate (two-way race) Why is Mrs. Clinton stronger here? The main reason is that North Carolinas black voters have a pretty robust vote history. In the 2014 midterm election, for instance, black voters turned out at about the same rate as white voters, after controlling for age. Over all, black voters were 21.4 percent of the midterm electorate not too much below their share of registered voters at the time. In Florida, in contrast, Mrs. Clinton depends on Hispanic voters, who have historically had low turnout. Black turnout, too, lagged white turnout by a wide margin in the midterm election. The result is that the likeliest voters in Florida are far whiter than they are in North Carolina. Another reason is that higher turnout seems to be a predictor of additional support for Mrs. Clinton, after controlling for other factors. Put differently: A 45-year-old white independent male in North Carolina who doesnt vote often is more likely to support Mr. Trump than a demographically identical white voter with a more robust record of voting. My guess is that this is a product of the huge education gap, because well-educated voters generally vote at far higher rates. And finally, Mrs. Clinton just isnt faring well among young voters in our survey. She has just a four-point lead among 18-to-29-year-old voters, 38 percent to 34 percent in a three-way race, and a 10-point lead in the head-to-head, 46 to 36. Young voters tend to be irregular voters. If they were as strong for Mrs. Clinton as they were for Mr. Obama, then Mrs. Clinton might benefit more from a high turnout. For now, thats not so clear. How confident are we? Since no single poll is perfect, its generally better to look at an average of recent surveys. Most recent polls have given the Republicans a slight edge in North Carolina. All polls, of course, are subject to a margin of sampling error. And there are many other potential sources of error, like the choices of the many undecided voters, or decisions made by pollsters about how to adjust the poll. One such choice is the likely-voter model, the process of determining which registered voters are likely to vote on Election Day. In this survey, the likely-voter screen made a big difference. The main reason is that there was a split between what voters told us about their likelihood of voting and what the turnout model mentioned earlier said about their likelihood of voting. Our model suggests that Mrs. Clinton is fairly strong among likely voters. If we had used only these estimates for our likely-voter screen, Mrs. Clinton would hold a two-point lead in the three-way race and a three-point lead in the two-way race. But our likely-voter model is a 50-50 split between the vote history of our respondents and what they tell us about their likelihood to vote. And Mrs. Clintons supporters, especially her black supporters, were not as likely to report that they intended to vote as Mr. Trumps supporters were. Who is a likely voter? Different decisions would change the poll result. NYT Upshot/Siena estimate Margin A blend of voter history and self-reported intentions Tied Results if we had used ... Margin Voter history Clinton +2 Self-reported intentions Trump +1 Only people who say they are almost certain to vote Trump +2 Mrs. Clinton trailed by two points among voters who said they were almost certain to vote. Just 62 percent of black voters said they were almost certain to vote, compared with 72 percent of white ones. Many pollsters use a question like this as their likely-voter screen. The gap was largest among the voters who were modeled as more than 90 percent likely to vote. Just 64 percent of these high-turnout black voters said they were almost certain to vote, compared with 83 percent of white voters who had a greater than 90 percent chance to vote. These voters have generally participated in off-year elections, like a midterm or presidential primary. A broader definition of self-reported likely voters including those who rated their chances at a 9 or a 10 on a scale from 1 to 10, and those who said they were either very likely to vote or almost certain showed Mr. Trump ahead by 1 point. The Upshot/Siena poll puts the three-way race as a tie because it averages her edge in our modeled electorate with her deficit among self-reported voters. This is the same method used for our Florida survey, and will be used again in subsequent polls. Protesters at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police headquarters in the Uptown neighborhood. Logan R. Cyrus for The New York Times Protesters and the police clashed Wednesday night in Charlotte, N.C. the second night of violence following the fatal police shooting of Keith L. Scott, a 43-year-old black man. A vigil on the floor of the student union at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Gerry Broome/Associated Press Demonstrations took place throughout Wednesday. Students staged a protest at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a vigil was held at the apartment complex where Mr. Scott had been killed the day before. By The New York Times Protesters blocking the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets. Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer, via Associated Press A police officer, center, speaking with protesters on Wednesday. Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer, via Associated Press Protesters making their way down Trade Street near the Charlotte Transportation Center. Logan R. Cyrus for The New York Times Protests in the Uptown district of Charlotte turned violent Wednesday evening, and a man was shot outside the Omni Hotel. The police fired tear gas. Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency after 11 p.m. Locations of protests and violence Wednesday By The New York Times Kai Toshumba, 28, was at a protest on Tuesday in Marshall Park, south of where the main demonstrations took place. I dont believe people were there trying to cause disruption at all, said Ms. Toshumba, a recent law school graduate. Its a physical manifestation of a general grievance with the way things are being handled by the people who are in power in North Carolina. Tear gas was used as protesters confronted riot police officers. Caitlin Penna/European Pressphoto Agency A man reacted to falling glass damaged by protesters in downtown Charlotte. Sean Rayford/Getty Images People moved to shield a man on the ground after he was shot in what officials called a civilian on civilian confrontation. Logan R. Cyrus for The New York Times Cherrell Brown, 27, was at the EpiCentre, a commercial complex in the heart of Charlotte, where some of the protests took place. There was blood on the pavement, and some folks who were clearly in shock and in some need of medical support, said Ms. Brown, a community organizer originally from Laurinburg, N.C. The polices response to us caring for each other was to tear-gas the group. Once in a while there would be standstill or a standoff, and the police would identify one person who seemed to be either really vocal or defiant and they would quickly move to encircle that person and pull them away, she said. Debris fell as officers began to push protesters from the intersection near the EpiCentre dining and entertainment complex. Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer, via Associated Press Marcus Bass, a Charlotte resident, was also at the EpiCentre protests. You could tell by the looks on the faces of the people out there that they were committed to staying until their message resonated, said Mr. Bass, the campaign director for Democracy North Carolina, a voting rights advocacy group. They wanted answers, they wanted justice, they wanted support from their city, and they wanted to be heard. Police officers amid tear gas. The North Carolina governor, Pat McCrory, has declared a state of emergency. Gerry Broome/Associated Press A damaged bus in downtown Charlotte early Thursday. Sean Rayford/Getty Images Harold Mallette, 28, arrived at the EpiCentre around 8 p.m. after attending an after-work networking event. The appeal of the road trip, or the long through-hike, or the pilgrimage, is that the point is so deliberately minimal to arrive at, you know, the end and the decisions involved so banal (stop for gas now, or in a bit?) that the distinction between signal and noise is blurred. The point of a photograph of a trail, or some billboard half-seen out the window of a bus, is that it could easily be exchanged for the image taken immediately before or immediately afterward. The random sample communicates in one unpremeditated frame all the significance that particular persons drive down that particular road could possibly contain. This is the aspiration common to road-trip literature and road-trip photography: The moment at the gas station is held, insistently, to express as much about the total experience as the shot of the Eiffel Tower. But there remains, at least for me, a tension between the stories we tell about the road and the photographs we take along the way. When Ive returned to things Ive written about extended overland travel whether a book, or travel articles, or just emails to friends I feel settled, almost subdued, by my own accounts. Though in each case I tried to capture the miscellaneous experience of that particular interlude, the mood of each has inevitably been coerced into coherence. Yes, I think, this is how it happened, and this is what it meant, and what it will now continue to mean in retrospective perpetuity. These texts, over time, overwrote the memories from which they were drawn. Revisiting my photographs from those same trips is dislocating in a different way. Always I find my photographs replete with remainders, pedestrian details that contradict and undermine the equally pedestrian account I committed to words. The colors are different. Drops of scarlet blood on a hard tarmac black as obsidian. An overturned brass samovar in a dingy brown train compartment. A bright alarum of pink cherry blossoms against a glass-flat cobalt sea. There is something about those moments, fugitively apprehended as they might have been, that seem to me now odd and decisive. They dont at all seem like random samples of the ongoing. I never think, What was so special about this? I think instead, Yes, I remember now exactly what was so special about this. They mutely twitch with escaped significance. When we see what we saw, we are reminded of what was apprehended and let go. GIDEON LEWIS-KRAUS, from the introduction to The Voyages Issue NZEI back in court to fight unjust Ministry of Education decision 22 September 2016 NZEI Te Riu Roa yesterday filed in the Employment Court for a review of the Ministry of Education's unilateral decision to impose a fortnight with no pay in February for annualised support staff. NZEI will ask the Court to reject the decision because it is not compliant with the spirit of annualisation and the collective agreement. NZEI General Manager for operations, Andrew Cassidy said this was totally unacceptable to support staff members. Many have to budget very carefully with their money as it is. Losing a fortnights pay would be very difficult. No-one should have to do without two weeks pay. This shows how little the Ministry values these people and the vital roles they have in our primary and secondary schools. The Court had agreed with NZEI that annualised pay should be paid over 12 months (26 fortnights), not 27 fortnights. The Ministry must now pay all union members the back pay resulting from their 3.7% under-payment each fortnight so far this year. The back pay will be paid between the October 26 payday and November 9. However, the Court did not make a ruling about the 2017 annualisation year, and instead directed the Ministry and NZEI to negotiate about what to do. The Employment Court upheld the earlier ruling of the Employment Relations Authority that the Ministry could not unilaterally reduce the pay of 6,000 annualised* school support staff by 3.7% for all of 2016 because of a payroll anomaly that sees an extra fortnight in the payroll every 11 years. Annualisation: Many school support staff work for only 40 weeks of the year. Annualisation allows them to spread their expected income into 26 even fortnightly payments throughout the year. However, there are 365 or 366 days in a year, rather than the 364 days of 26 fortnightly payments. Every 11 years, this adds up to one extra PAY DATE. The ministry decided to claw back that PAY during 2016 by reducing wage payments by 3.7% throughout the year. A trail of blood led out the door of Melanie Lovelaces house on South Third Street in Opelika when police arrived on the morning of Nov. 29, 2006. Lovelace was found dead inside. Arthaniel Staton is charged with her murder, and his trial went into its fourth day on Thursday at the T.K. Davis Justice Center in Opelika. Phyllis Rollan, a former section chief at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, testified that DNA samples collected from the blood trail at Lovelaces house were a match with Staton. Seven samples were tested that were collected from the trail from Lovelaces bedroom out to the driveway of her small white house with green trim. The blood collected from the bedroom matched Lovelace, but the rest of the samples matched Staton. Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences biologist Teryn Bostick told jurors blood stains on a plaid jacket found in Lovelaces bedroom had DNA from both Staton and Lovelace. When Staton was arrested late on the night Lovelace was killed, he had a cut on his right hand that was bleeding. He told police at the time that he cut his hand working on his car the night before Lovelace was killed, but he said he had it bandaged when he visited Lovelaces house that same night. Statons ex-wife, Barbara Wilson, testified on Wednesday that she remembered Staton stopping by her house the evening of Nov. 28, 2006, to eat dinner, and he had the cut on his hand, for which she gave him a bandage. When he was interviewed by detectives, he said there was no reason his blood would be in Lovelaces house. Dr. Alfredo Paredes, a medical examiner with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, told jurors he performed the autopsy on Lovelace. Lovelace bled to death, mainly from the cut on the right side of her neck, Paredes said. Lovelace had 21 cut wounds on her body, including a 13-inch cut on her back. On Wednesday, two witnesses testified Lovelace and Staton, who were dating at the time, were arguing about damage to Statons car that Lovelace had borrowed. After testifying on Wednesday, Opelika police Sgt. Alfred White took the stand again Thursday afternoon to play jurors a video of an interview he did with Staton after Staton was arrested in 2014. Staton was arrested at the time of Lovelaces murder, but a grand jury didnt find enough evidence to indict him in January 2007. White took on the case on his own incentive after reviewing Opelikas cold case files. Staton was indicted in 2014 after White reworked the case. In the video from 2014, White asked Staton if he remembered why he wasnt indicted in 2007. My attorney told me DNA got me out of jail, Staton said in the video. What would you say if I told you DNA didnt get you out, but DNA is the reason youre here, White said. Staton said all he knew is what his lawyer had told him. White asked him if he made bail would he try to flee the country. I aint going nowhere, Staton said. Im going to fight the charge. I didnt kill the girl. Im not going to lay down. Im going to fight it. The prosecution rested its case Thursday afternoon. Staton has pleaded not guilty to the murder. After the jury was excused for the day, Elijah Beaver, Statons attorney, said Staton intended to testify and wanted to go over his rights on record. Lee County Circuit Judge Christopher Hughes told Staton the jury cant hold it against him if he chooses not to testify, but once he takes the stand he will have to answer all the questions asked of him from both the prosecution and the defense. Staton said he understood. The trial is set to resume Friday morning. Emily A. Melvin died on September 17, 2016. Friends will gather to celebrate her life at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Auburn on Wednesday, October 5, at 2:00 p.m. A graveside service will occur at the Ivy Hill Cemetery, Alexandria, Virginia, at a later date. Dr. Melvin was born on May 3, 1941, at Selma, Alabama, the daughter of Captain Clarence Agee Melvin, U.S.N., and Emilou Tilley Melvin. Her parents and her sister, Jane Melvin Morrison, preceded her in death. Her survivors include one brother, John T. Melvin (Susan), Boring, OR; two nephews, Graham B. Melvin (Greta), Bellingham, WA, and Brian D. Melvin, Seattle, WA; and one niece, Allison E. Melvin, Stonington, ME; one goddaughter; three namesakes; and a loving circle of friends. Dr. Melvin had a distinguished career in education. After teaching social studies in Virginia public schools for several years, she earned her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Virginia. Upon her graduation in 1976, she began her tenure in the College of Education at Auburn University, where for three decades she taught in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching and served as Assistant Dean and Director of International Activities. During her career, Dr. Melvin was awarded two Taft Foundation grants, two Fulbright grants that provided study in India, and a Danforth Award on the basis of her academic and professional achievement. In 2000, she received Auburn University's Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, given to one non-student each year whose characteristics of heart, mind, and conduct provide "evidence of a spirit of love for, and helpfulness to, other men and women." Upon her retirement in 2006, the president of the university named her a professor emeritus. A Navy daughter and veteran traveler, Emily was at home anywhere. She lived in or visited 52 countries. She attended high school in England, rode the Trans-Siberian Railroad from beginning to end, and worked as a volunteer on a poultry farm in a kibbutz in Israel. One of her customs while living in Auburn was to host an Auburn University international graduate student in her home each year. More than two dozen young women scholars from countries around the world lived with Emily over a period of more than thirty years. Among Emily's most precious possessions were her pets, always a pair of cats. Known for their great intelligence, they served as special companions. Because they enjoyed a number of amenities, they lived most contented lives. Emily engaged in several volunteer civic activities in the Auburn vicinity, including committee or board memberships with the Battered Women's Shelter, the Cemetery Board, Habitat for Humanity, the Tree Commission, and the Boys' and Girls' Clubs. With her neighbors she sought to have Payne Street declared an historic district by the State of Alabama. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be directed to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104; the Lee County Humane Society, 1140 Ware Drive, Auburn, Alabama 36832; or a charity of choice. The Jeffcoat Trant Funeral Home in Opelika and the Arlington Funeral Home, Arlington, Virginia, are directing. www.jeffcoattrant.com Re: How much do you fear terrorism? [Opinion, Sept. 20]: Before I respond to your three questions, let me address your statement that no link had been revealed between the Somalia and Afghanistan terrorists. Please, get off the politically correct train and wake up. Islam and the Koran is the link between all of the hundreds of these attacks. Now for the questions. Concern for personal safety? Not really. Are terrorist attacks threats to the nation? Of course they are. Just think of all of the freedoms we have already lost since 9/11. We now cant travel freely and we must spend a fortune on trying to have security. Are attacks preventable? Not really, but they can be substantially reduced by getting rid of politically correct nonsense, securing our borders, getting rid of Obama and turning the FBI, CIA and all loose to do their jobs. Dave Connell Laguna Beach I am a 76-year-old Marine veteran. These random attacks prove there are people who want to kill Americans, and these senseless killings have been going on for years. I am not concerned about my safety, but rather about my childrens and grandchildrens safety. I see terrorist attacks as a threat to our nation because radical Muslims have no problem getting into America. It might help if the president and others admit that ISIS members are Muslims. Muslims who appreciate the American way of life must do their part, too. Muslim family members, neighbors and anyone aware of terrorist activity should do something to stop it. They are a part of the problem if they do nothing. It is hard to do a background check on everyone coming into America, but we need to do something to prevent radical Muslims from just walking in. We need to secure our borders. We will continue to have random attacks as long as there are radical Muslims. Bill Sandlin Irvine Theres so much to fear on this tumultuous planet that we inhabit. There are diseases, natural disasters and crippling or deadly accidents. We now can add terrorism to that loathsome litany of things to be dreaded and feared. But if love truly is the opposite of fear, our only choice is to cherish the people, pets and daily endeavors of our lives. If love conquers all, why should terrorism be the exception to the rule? Ben Miles Huntington Beach McDonalds is going all-in with all-day breakfast. Last October, the fast-food chain rolled out a limited, all-day morning grub menu after normal breakfast hours. In Southern California, restaurants served only McMuffins, a breakfast burrito, hash browns and hotcakes. In other parts of the country, McDonalds restaurants served biscuits instead of McMuffins. Now, every McDonalds across the U.S. will offer at least 15 breakfast items all day. The expanded lineup includes, McMuffin and biscuit sandwiches and McGriddles. The latter are syrup-soaked mini pancake buns stuffed with eggs, cheese and choice of sausage or bacon. The no-show of McGriddles reportedly has been a key frustration for all-day menu customers. Advertising campaigns promoting the expanded all-day breakfast menu kick off Saturday. A local McDonalds representative said the roll out begins Tuesday. But if youre hungry this afternoon for a biscuit sandwich or a McGriddle, you might find a local McDonalds in Southern California getting a head start on the new all-day breakfast menu. A remodeled McDonalds on Tustin Avenue in Orange rolled out the additional breakfast items earlier this week. As of Thursday, restaurants in Corona on Magnolia, Laguna Hills on Cabot Road and Woodland Hills on Erwin Street also confirmed biscuits and McGriddles are now being served all day. Last year, the burger chain launched a limited all-day breakfast menu to shore up years of sluggish sales. The chain soon discovered the hunger customers had for Egg McMuffins at lunch and after dark. In an interview with fast-food trade blog BurgerBusiness.com, Tim Andersen the U.S. vice president of operations for McDonalds, said all day breakfast energized the chains lunch business in a pretty significant way. Some consumers who may not have been coming before found McDonalds to be a great lunch place, he said. We may have missed that customer before because we didnt have the Egg McMuffin to enjoy. In late June, McDonalds reported its fourth consecutive quarter of positive sales at restaurants. The company will report third quarter earnings in October. Spurred by McDonalds, breakfast has become one of the fastest-growing meals for restaurants, according to market research firm NPD. In the first six months of the year, NPD said breakfast and afternoon snacking are the only dining segments showing a spike in visits. Fast-food rivals have responded. San Diego-based Jack in the Box filed a claim to trademark the term brunchfast in late May, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This summer, some items such as a sourdough omelet sandwich have been spotted on a brunchfast test menu in Moreno Valley restaurants. On Monday, Irvine-based Taco Bell introduced a new all-day $1 menu. Half of the 20 items are breakfast foods such as soft tacos with eggs and grilled breakfast burritos. Earlier this month, Starbucks confirmed a weekend only brunch test at cafes in Portland, Ore., and Seattle. Contact the writer: nluna@scng.com Santa Ana officers are looking for a man who they believe led authorities through a multi-city chase in a stolen car on Sept. 15 and fled after ditching the car in Laguna Hills. At around 4 p.m. that day, a patrol officer noticed a car driving erratically on the 55 freeway and MacArthur Boulevard, according to statement Wednesday from the Santa Ana Police Department. The officer ran the license plate and found that the car had been stolen from Orange and tried to stop it but the driver kept going. The driver later identified as 42-year-old Maurice Alexander Topps drove through multiple cities before ditching the car in a parking structure at Saddleback Memorial Hospital Hospital. Orange County Sheriffs deputies set up a perimeter and searched for the driver but didnt find anyone. Investigators found items in the stolen car that helped identify Topps. He is described as 6 feet tall with a medium build, bald and a dark complexion. Topps last known city of residence is Laguna Woods and he is wanted on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of stolen property and felony evading. Topps is on probation and knows he is wanted, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS. Contact the writer: 714-796-7865 or afausto@scng.com ORLANDO Hillary Clinton has decided its about time she do more talking about Hillary Clinton. After a year and a half of running for president, the Democratic nominee has concluded that many Americans still do not have a clear understanding of what motivates her or what she would do as president. So in the campaigns home stretch, Clinton is trying to reintroduce herself and her ideas to the country. Clinton has been unable to break through the cacophony of attacks and counterattacks she and Republican nominee Donald Trump have been yelling at each other. But she tried to do just that here Wednesday with a speech about what she envisions as an inclusive economy in which everyone, including the disabled, has a responsibility to contribute and an opportunity to get ahead. Clintons objective is twofold: To lift her sagging approval ratings as well as build trust in her agenda and earn a mandate that could help her, should she be elected, govern in a divided Washington. We were hurting in people not understanding enough about her, still, as long as shes been in the public eye, said Jennifer Palmieri, Clintons communications director. People see so much negativity. . . . Its a lot of destruction, and she felt that people needed to see what she believed the country could aspire to. Whether the new approach will translate into fewer attacks on Trump remains to be seen. Clinton is drawn to Trump-bashing most days she appears in public. She talks about Trump and tweets about Trump and runs advertisements about Trump. Defining him as unfit for office is at the core of her strategy to win. Yet Clintons strategists believe such messages may not be enough. As David Axelrod, the architect of President Barack Obamas campaigns, put it: The danger of that is if Trump finds a way to normalize himself it can be a trap door. Clintons event in Orlando, orchestrated to spotlight people with disabilities, whose livelihoods Clinton vowed would be a vital aspect of my presidency, was a deliberate contrast with Trump, who infamously mocked a disabled reporter last year. Yet Clinton never uttered Trumps name, or even allude to him, and instead talked about her own vision for the country. All month, Clinton has tried to sell herself anew. She published a 288-page book, Stronger Together, listing her many policy proposals. Last week in North Carolina, she reflected upon her lifelong commitment to the fight for children and families. And in an address Monday aimed at younger voters with whom she is particularly struggling to connect Clinton detailed her plan for debt-free college as well as motivation to right the countrys wrongs. Even if youre totally opposed to Donald Trump, you may still have some questions about me, Clinton said at Temple University in Philadelphia. I get that. And I want to do my best to answer those questions. When it comes to public service, the service part has always easier for me than the public part. Still, Clintons swipes at Trump tend to draw the loudest applause and biggest headlines. At Mondays event, when Clinton said, We have to stand up to this hate, the crowd erupted and stopped her mid-thought. People dont hear anything but what you say about Trump, Palmieri said. If Hillary Clinton gives a speech thats 75 percent about herself and 25 percent about Donald Trump, the media cover the part about Donald Trump. It is not simply a problem with the media. Clinton and her campaign have focused so acutely on destroying Trump that Axelrod said they have left a gaping hole in their narrative: Who is she? Why is she running for president? Why should people have trust in her? Why should they feel invested in her candidacy? Axelrod said Clintons Democratic National Convention was successful in part because the speakers answered those questions. But that was July. The impact of it faded away, he said, and theyve had a hard time sustaining that story. Polling indicates that many of Clintons economic policies including paid leave for employees with children or caring for sick family members, as well as increased spending to lower public college tuition and build or improve infrastructure have widespread support. In this months Washington Post-ABC News poll, 50 percent of registered voters said Clinton is closer to them on the issues, while 41 percent said the same of Trump. But Clinton is a flawed messenger because of deep character doubts. Just 34 percent of voters said she was honest and trustworthy in the Post-ABC survey, the same share that said the same about Trump. Both campaigns can definitely influence the narrative about the other candidate, said Republican pollster David Winston. What they struggle to do is get control of their own narrative. Palmieri said Clintons current series of Stronger Together speeches is designed to articulate her values system and vision in a more literal and deliberate way than she has so far. The effort will continue at next Mondays debate, where Clinton hopes to showcase these ideas before a massive television audience. The country is so sick of the back and forth negativity of the campaign, and I think voters are hungry for her communicating positively about how she wants to lead the country, Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg said. In her address to millennials in Philadelphia, Clinton reflected upon her activist roots and the values she learned from an early mentor, civil rights lawyer Marian Wright Edelman, and their work with the Childrens Defense Fund. She said those values driving progress by changing both hearts and laws would shape her presidency. You want something to vote for, Clinton said, not just against. SANTA ANA When City Manager David Cavazos earlier this month showed council members crime statistics suggesting that Santa Ana has become safer, Mayor Miguel Pulido requested numbers for more recent years. Stats for 2013 to the present that Cavazos followed up with on Tuesday to council members who received and filed the report without discussion reflected increases in some types of crime. Despite some recent increases, Cavazos said, Theres been tremendous progress in the context of his Sept. 6 memorandum. The memo highlighted a 74 percent reduction in three-year averages from 1987 to 2012 in the citys FBI crime index, which includes violent and property crimes. Some crimes are up, some are down, Cavazos told the Register on Wednesday. But overall I think our Police Department is doing a very good job. The mayor had requested four sets of data, one of them being the FBI crime index from 2010 to 2015. Cavazos follow-up memo stated that the FBI wont publish crime index numbers for 2015 until Monday. But based on figures the Santa Ana Police Department provided to the FBI to be validated, the citys crime index jumped 26.7 percent from 2014 to 2015. Cavazos original memo stopped at 13 homicides in 2015. But following Pulidos request, the follow-up memo reported 17 homicides this year, through August. Regarding Pulidos request for violent crime figures from 2013 to the present, the follow-up memo stated that the citys FBI crime index, which includes violent crimes, decreased by 4 percent from 2015 to 2016 to date. In a memo of his own, Santa Ana Police Officers Association President Gerry Serrano drew attention to violent crime numbers alone, which increased 8 percent from 2015 to 2016 to date. Factoring and averaging in thefts and property crimes distorts the true violent crime picture because now thefts and property crimes are utilized in averaging down violent crime data, thus skewing the true violent crime picture in our community, Serrano wrote in his memo. Lastly, in response to Pulidos request for numbers of all shootings in 2014 and 2016, Cavazos new memo reiterated that that is not a category the FBI documents. The city manager compiled the first crime stats memo after Serrano this summer circulated a graph illustrating a 556 percent uptick in shootings involving murder, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and shots into an inhabited dwelling or vehicle, from the first six months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2016. Cavazos original point was that crime numbers recently are lower than they were decades ago, and he stuck to that in his follow-up memo. You have to look at it over time and establish averages thats a better indicator of how were doing as a city, Cavazos said. 2013, 2014 and 2015 were the lowest crime rates for the three-year period of the last 30 or 40 years that we had. Contact the writer: 714-796-7762 or jkwong@ocregister.com Twitter: @JessicaGKwong The U.S. Department of Justice is supporting the Anaheim Police Department in its refusal to fully comply with records requests from the American Civil Liberties Union regarding the departments use of cellphone surveillance technologies. Since at least 2009, the Anaheim Police Department has acquired and utilized surveillance tools with the potential to collect information on millions of Orange County residents and visitors. In 2014, the ACLU filed a public records request to learn more about the police departments use of such technologies. The department refused to comply, leading to a lawsuit in March 2015, which prompted the release of 500 pages of relevant documentation, though much information was redacted or omitted. The department argued in court that one requested document, which details law enforcement requests for judicial authorization to use the technologies, relates to confidential law-enforcement techniques, revealing intimate details of the departments cellular tracking practices and procedures, and thus shouldnt be released. Of course, all of this sounds like routine fear mongering to preserve powers over tools that are probably useful, but also potentially subject to abuses and excesses. Continued secrecy over surveillance tools acquired without public discussion and with minimal transparency is unacceptable. Re: How the 114th Congress measures up [Opinion, Sept. 18]: In this article, Rep. Mimi Walters brags about the record number of bills passed by the predominantly Republican houses in Congress, in the face of growing disgust by a frustrated electorate over congressional gridlock. She goes on to lament the fact that President Obama has vetoed nearly all of these bills. It appears that she is trying pass the blame of the gridlock off on Barack Obama, which makes a lot of sense. However, she neglects to blame the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan for not getting the word out to the media about the outrageous stalemate caused by our president through his veto pen. This lack of leadership at the top of the Republican Party is exactly the kind of thing that has caused frustration and gotten the party in hot water with its constituents. Once again, we have one more explanation for the popularity of Donald Trump with a majority of Republican voters. Karl Baysinger Orange 15 minutes of fame for homeless With all the current notoriety in the news regarding the hundreds of homeless people camped out at the Civic Center in Santa Ana, I find an ironic twist having to do with the bombing investigation in Elizabeth, N.J. A backpack found in the trash near a train station in Elizabeth by two homeless men turned out to contain several apparent pipe bombs that the two men quickly reported to police. Had the backpack been found by someone else, like kids, perhaps another scenario would have unfolded that would not have ended as peacefully as it did. With the general public having a unfavorable view on most homeless people, these two guys arent likely to forget their 15 minutes in the limelight. Bill Spitalnick Newport Beach FBI is batting 1.000 The FBI could not find any problems with the New York bomber when the bombers father contacted them. This must be the same FBI that thinks no one should prosecute Ms. Clinton for her misappropriating of classified material. I dont feel so safe with the FBI. I sure hope the local authorities continue to do their jobs, as the federal government seems to be very lacking in doing its. Tom Parker Tustin Advocates of more openness and transparency from Californias ethically challenged regulatory agencies are stunned and frustrated that the years most important proposed government reforms died without so much as a state Senate vote. Led by three-term Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Burbank, advocates of the proposed changes wanted to limit private communications between regulators like members of the Public Utilities and Energy commissions and the people whose key issues they decide. Meetings and emails and phone calls could still have gone on, but summaries of their contents were to be required within three days. Even Gov. Jerry Brown, who vetoed slightly tougher provisions a year ago, signed onto that. But Gatto and others backing the bills were left stunned when their measures didnt even get voted on by the Senate after passing the state Assembly months earlier with a massive, bipartisan 61-7 majority. Its unclear who stalled even a committee vote until after the deadline, or why. One candidate, of course, is state Sen. Ben Hueso of San Diego County, chairman of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. Hueso is widely known as a business Democrat; his committees inaction here plainly favored the interests of a few big businesses over tens of millions of consumers. Its very hard to know who was actively responsible, Gatto added. But this didnt even get a vote, so no one is on the record and there are no fingerprints. Fingerprints or not, the reforms are dead, certainly for this year and most likely for at least two more years. There actually was a vote on an ex-parte communications ban for the Coastal Commission, and it lost at the last minute in the Assembly. This also shocked transparency advocates because that measure had easily passed the state Senate weeks earlier. The upshot is that there will be no meaningful changes in flawed procedures that led to an ongoing criminal investigation of the PUC itself, its former president Michael Peevey, and their ties to the Southern California Edison Co., plus the August criminal conviction of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. over its behavior after the fatal 2010 San Bruno natural gas pipeline explosion. Gatto, who originally sought a virtual dismantling of the PUC, scaled that goal back in negotiations with the governor that he and everyone involved believed would guarantee passage of some changes, watered down as they would have been. In the end, there will be virtually no change. Now Gatto contemplates using his remaining $2 million in campaign funds to back a reform initiative. I would consider making PUC members into elected officials, to provide more accountability, he said. But it remains to be seen if Ill have the influence to do something like this (after leaving office). For sure, its tough. But Im not the first person to lose on a big reform bill in Sacramento. In fact, most big changes in California have had to come via initiatives because of the heavy influence lobbyists can bring to bear on the Legislature at key moments like the end of session crunch in which this years planned reforms died. The Coastal Commission is the result of such a legislative freeze, even if it has reform-worthy problems of its own. Gubernatorial vetoes have killed other needed changes. So Gatto would not be the first to go the initiative route. Precisely the same kind of corruption and consumer dissatisfaction with appointed insurance commissioners led to the 1988 Proposition 103, which made that office electoral. But could a reform initiative pass if Gatto and others tried one? Thats highly doubtful considering the track record of big utilities in successfully beating back all proposed measures of the last 50 years aimed at accountability for them and the commissions that set their pricing and energy policies. UNITED NATIONS Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended an unprecedented invitation Thursday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, urging him to address Israels parliament. Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly, Netanyahu offered in turn to appear before the Palestinian legislature. The Palestinians quickly rejected the invitation as a new gimmick designed to mask what they described as Israels intransigence on moving forward with the Mideast peace process. Netanyahu addressed the world body moments after Abbas delivered his own speech. Both presented sharply different views of the path toward reviving peace talks that have been stalled for more than two years. 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, Netanyahu said. Netanyahu rejects a settlement freeze, rejects the 1967 borders as the basis for talks and rejects any division of Jerusalem. He has also said he would not uproot settlements. Slamming Israels abhorrent settlement policy, Abbas demanded the United Nations take a bigger role in the effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As the 50th anniversary of Israels occupation approaches in June, Abbas urged the 193-member General Assembly to declare 2017 the international year to end the Israeli occupation of our land and our people. He called on the Security Council to take up a resolution on the settlements, adding, in a clear reference to the United States, we hope no one will cast a veto. Netanyahu rejected the idea of greater U.N. involvement in the peace process. We will not accept any attempt by the U.N. to dictate terms to Israel. The road to peace runs through Jerusalem and Ramallah, not through New York, he said. Netanyahu reiterated Israels longstanding complaints that the U.N. system is biased against Israel, declaring the U.N., begun as a moral force, has become a moral farce. But he also insisted Israels relations with much of the world were rapidly improving, even in the Arab world, where he said many countries are increasingly seeing Israel as an ally against the Islamic State group and Iran. Abbas denounced Israels reluctance to involve the international community in the Mideast peace process. He accused Israel of continuing to evade an international conference that France wants to hold before the end of the year to work out a framework for negotiating peace. He insisted our hand remains outstretched for making peace but said Israel refuses to abandon the mentality of hegemony, expansionism and colonization. The Palestinians have rebuffed Netanyahus past offers for meetings, although Russia said this month that Abbas and Netanyahu have agreed in principle to meet in Moscow for talks aimed at relaunching a peace process. Palestinian Ambassador to the U.N. Riyad Mansour dismissed Netanyahus suggestion that Abbas address the Knesset as a new gimmick. Will he attend the International Conference proposed by France and supported by many to be held by the end of the year? Mansour said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. You can measure Netanyahus interest in achieving peace through the number of illegal settlements he builds and Palestinian homes he destroys. He has chosen occupation over peace. In his speech, Abbas also accused Israel of perpetrating extrajudicial killings against Palestinians, an allegation Israels U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon vehemently rejected. He said Abbas dangerous words were a ticking time-bomb that would lead to more attacks against Israel. The Palestinian youth listening to his speech today, will be the terrorists of tomorrow, Danon said. The General Assembly also heard from Iranian President Hassan Rohuani, who blamed the worlds major powers for the spread of violent extremism and terrorism since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S. He said world powers have fostered more insecurity through repression and military intervention under the pretext of creating a secure environment for their citizens. KINSHASA, Congo The office of Congo President Joseph Kabila on Wednesday appealed for calm after two days of street clashes that left dozens dead, while accusing organizers of anti-government protests of trying to incite bloody riots. In a statement released Wednesday night, Kabilas office said he was profoundly touched by these sad events and expressed condolences to the families of those killed. Thousands took to the streets of Congos capital, Kinshasa, on Monday to oppose an election delay that some call a plot by Kabila to stay in power after his mandate expires in December. Earlier on Wednesday, police spokesman Col. Pierrot Mwanamputu told reporters the official death toll was 32, including four police officers, though opposition leaders have said the figure is higher. While officials have tried to minimize government responsibility for this weeks casualties, rights activists and government critics have placed blame on security forces. In an email Tuesday, Ida Sawyer, senior Africa researcher for Human Rights Watch, said most were killed when the security forces fired on crowds of protesters. Mwanamputu said 114 people had been arrested and that officials were determined to round up all those responsible for violence and looting. Investigations will spare no one. If police or soldiers violated ethics or the law, measures will be taken, Mwanamputu said. Kabilas political future has been a source of tension in Congo for well over a year. The president, who came to power after his fathers assassination in 2001, has yet to announce whether he will pursue another term in office, though the constitution prohibits it. The electoral commission has filed for a delay of the presidential vote, originally scheduled for November, saying voter registration lists will not be ready. A high court has determined Kabila can stay in office until a new leader is elected. California Attorney General Kamala Harris continues to hold a solid lead over U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez in the race for U.S. Senate, according to new polls by Field and the Public Policy Institute of California. However, the longtime polling groups found vastly different margins among likely voters. Field shows Harris lead growing to 22 points from 15 points in July, but PPIC shows the lead dropping to 7 points, down from 18 points in July. I think the truth is somewhere between the two, said Jodi Balma, a Fullerton College political scientist. Balma noted that the Field poll is based on online surveys of registered users, an approach with less of a proven history than traditional, person-to-person phone calls. Also, she noted that the Field poll included the candidates designations as theyll appear on the ballot attorney general and congresswoman but PPIC did not. Mark DiCamillo of the Field poll said he thinks the attorney general designation is helping Harris showing. Sanchez, a 10-term House member from Orange, finished second to Harris in the June primary, 40 percent to 19 percent. The two Democrats are vying to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer. The Field Poll has Harris at 42 percent and Sanchez at 20 percent, with 26 percent undecided. The remaining 12 percent, mostly Republicans, said they wont be voting for either candidate. The PPIC poll has Harris at 32 percent and Sanchez at 25 percent, with 19 percent undecided and 24 percent, mostly Republicans but many independents as well, saying they wont vote for either candidate. Balma was skeptical that so many voters would not vote in the race once they had the ballot in front of them. Sanchez, the more moderate candidate, has been courting Republican voters more aggressively than Harris. The polls also diverge widely when it comes to Latino voters. The PPIC poll shows Sanchez leading among that demographic, 58 percent to 16 percent. Field shows the two in a statistical deadlock among Latinos, with Harris ahead 35 percent to 34 percent. Both polls were conducted in early and mid-September with more than 1,000 likely voters. Contact the writer: mwisckol@ocregister.com 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 imposed by the mayor aimed to add a firm 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 waited until Thursdays protests were underway for more than an hour before signing documents for the citywide curfew that runs from midnight to 6 a.m. The curfew will last for multiple days until officials determine the emergency has passed. In an interview with CNN, Roberts said she thought the curfew was the most effective way to maintain peace in the city. 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, Ferguson, Mo., and Tulsa, Okla. 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. Do businesses that support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) policies and practices, such as domestic partner benefits and non-discrimination policies, see company performance benefits? A new study led by Cal State Fullerton associate professor of management Shaun Pichler indicates they do. The study Do LGBT-supportive Corporate Policies Enhance Firm Performance? is one of the first to provide data and analysis when linking LGBT-friendly policies to financial performance outcomes. This most recent study looks at whether or not in fact there is a real business case for corporate firms to adopt policies and practices that support LGBT workers, said Pichler, who also serves as the director of the Mihaylo College of Business and Economics MBA and graduate programs. Our study provides systematic evidence of this in a large, representative sample of firms, he said. So we are the first to really address whether or not firms actually benefit from adopting LGBT-supportive policies. The study found that among firms with an emphasis in research and development activities, those that adopted LGBT-supportive policies had a 21.1 percent higher firm value, 3.41 percent higher employee productivity and 12.5 percent higher firm profitability. Among firms without an emphasis in research and development activities, those that adopted LGBT-supportive policies, had a .94 percent higher firm value, 2.65 percent higher employee productivity and 25 percent higher firm profitability. The study suggests that companies that need skilled labor tend to benefit more from LGBT-supportive policies. Because the firms that need skilled labor rely more on human capital, these companies have a greater need to be an employer of choice, which means adopting policies that are attractive to and support a diverse population of workers, Pichler said. Along with a team of researchers from Texas Tech University, University of St. Thomas, University of Colorado Denver and University of South Florida, Pichler analyzed 1,347 U.S. companies. A strength of our study design is that it is longitudinal, thus we examined firm performance over time as firms adopt and discontinue LGBT-supportive policies, Pichler said. The study covered the period 1996 to 2009. The researchers found that the businesses experienced increased performance if these types of policies were put in place. The study also points out that adopting LGBT-supportive policies may help companies to recruit and retain employees. Due to this, over time, companies with these policies in place outperform their competitors in productivity, firm value and profitability, Pichler said. Research and studies hint that investors tend to favorably view firms with LGBT-supportive policies, due to their high productivity, performance and profitability, he said. Consumers, specifically LGBT consumers and advocacy groups, also tend to view these firms favorably, although some firms have been met with backlash when adopting LGBT-friendly policies. There arent any federal laws in place that prevent sexual orientation or gender identity employment discrimination, although the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission maintains that bias based on gender identity or sexual orientation amounts to sex discrimination. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 22 states including California and the District of Columbia have adopted anti-discrimination laws that bar sexual orientation discrimination. Fewer states include gender identity discrimination. Although the study found that firms that adopted LGBT-supportive policies had higher levels of firm value and profitability regardless of the state they were based in, the study found that the firms based in states without anti-discrimination legislation reported higher levels of productivity. Pichler found this finding interesting. This was somewhat surprising because one wouldnt necessarily expect a policy at the state level to affect the relationship between policy adoption and firm productivity at the firm level, he said. The study indicates that firms with LGBT-supportive policies based in states without anti-discrimination laws are perceived as supportive by employees, which is linked to increased firm productivity. Thus, firms are in some sense going above and beyond to be supportive when they adopt these policies, Pichler said. When they do, we suggest that employees in the labor market are more attracted to these firms, and incumbent employees recognize and reciprocate this support in the form of improved performance, which leads to higher levels of productivity and profitability. This also suggests that firms located in states without anti-discrimination policies can benefit more from LGBT-supportive policies, he said. Pichler hopes his study will be used by executives and human resources management professionals across the nation to learn about the benefits LGBT-supportive policies and practices can have on their employees and their businesses. LGBT workers are one of the largest minority groups in the U.S., yet they are also one of the most understudied groups and they lack federal protections against discrimination, Pichler said. The status quo for some time has been for business organizations to take the lead in supporting LGBT workers, and our study suggests that firms benefit from doing so, he said. Contact the writer: amarcos@scng.com A Laguna Hills psychiatrist has surrendered his license to practice medicine after allegations that he improperly prescribed to three addicts who died in his care, according to California Medical Board legal documents made public Wednesday. Dr. Irwin Ira Rosenfeld gave up his license, effective this week, to resolve the boards 2015 case against him that sought to revoke his probation from discipline in a prior matter. In May, a judge barred Rosenfeld from prescribing narcotics pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. Rosenfelds attorney, David L. Rosner, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. In the case that led to Rosenfeld surrendering his license, the board accused him of gross negligence and excessive prescribing in his treatment of the three patients who died as a result of their drug use. In two cases, Rosenfeld failed to refer them for substance abuse treatment, the documents say. In each case, the patients also used illegal drugs or medications prescribed by other doctors besides Rosenfeld. The board documents give the following account: Rosenfeld was accused of prescribing of abusable controlled substances to a 29-year-old man who died in 2012 from multiple drug toxicities. The documents say Rosenfeld continued to prescribe even after the patients mother called him and said her son was acting crazy and was overmedicated. The documents say he prescribed him stimulants despite knowing the patient had illegally distributed amphetamines to others in the past. Rosenfeld was accused of prescribing various abusable drugs to a 53-year-old man who died in 2012 from a mixed drug overdose. Over the course of treatment, the patient told Rosenfeld he was abusing various opiate painkillers, the documents say. He prescribed him Xanax, which was one of the drugs named in the autopsy report. Rosenfeld also was accused of improper prescribing to a 27-year-old man who died in 2014 of acute polydrug intoxication. Rosenfeld wrote in his medical chart that he was abusing heroin. He prescribed the man Valium despite his history of abusing a similar drug and failed to refer him for substance abuse treatment. In 2011, Rosenfeld was placed on five years board probation for gross negligence, violating laws regarding dangerous drugs and controlled substances and engaging in unprofessional conduct. Contact the writer: cperkes@scng.com 714-796-3686 San Clementes North Beach isnt just getting a new public pool and recreation facility this fall its going to get more beach. The City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to spend $626,195 to import 12,000 cubic yards of sand from the countys impending dredging of the Santa Ana River bed near Newport Beach. The sand is free, offered as a byproduct of the dredging. The city will pay to truck the sand to San Clemente, deposit it, deal with permits and environmental requirements and monitor how well the imported sand stays put. Council members acknowledged that the project is risky as winter storms could whisk much of it away. Trucks operated by Wright Construction Engineering of Carlsbad could deliver the sand in mid-October, possibly continuing into early November, officials said. On Sept. 30 just weeks ahead of the sand import the city plans to reopen the Ole Hanson Beach Club, a community landmark overlooking North Beach that has been closed four years for a $5.6 million renovation. North Beach deserves something wonderful, Councilwoman Lori Donchak said as the council authorized the sand replenishment. Mayor Bob Baker voted no, saying fall is the wrong time to import the sand, just before winter storms. We cant just leave it up there and pick it up in the spring? Baker asked. Tom Bonigut, deputy public works director, said the county is making the sand available this fall and other cities are apt to take it if San Clemente doesnt. Baker said he would prefer to spend available funds on more frequent strategic pushing of sand already on the citys beaches. The city does that several times a year. A bulldozer scoops up sand from near shore at low tide and pushes it to the back of the beach. Council members, as a hedge against winter erosion of the new sand coming to North Beach, directed city staff to have it placed onto the back of the beach, away from the shore. The city has had some experience with that, having imported 5,000 cubic yards of sand to North Beach in 2005 from an earlier dredging of the Santa Ana River bed. Six months after that import, about 30 percent of the sand had washed away, but North Beach still had a healthy amount that remained for years. At the time, officials rationalized that the sand lost migrated with currents down the coast and probably showed up later on another stretch of city beach. Contact the writer: fswegles@ocregister.com or 949-492-5127 An Orange County sheriffs detectives wild time in Canada forms the latest base for a defense lawyers allegations that local police and prosecutors are unable to follow the rules. In a 188-page court brief, Assistant Public Defender Scott Sanders points to alleged misconduct by retired investigator Ken Hoffman in 1998 and the failure of prosecutors to notify defense lawyers in other cases that Hoffman worked on. Hoffman left the Sheriffs Department last year. He was accused of misconduct while serving a search warrant during which he allegedly took a nap and for partying off-duty at a bar frequented by prostitutes and under surveillance by authorities in Vancouver, British Columbia. Hoffman was the lead investigator in the 2006 death of John Chamberlain, who was beaten by jail inmates under the mistaken belief that he was a child molester. Nine inmates accused in the killing claimed that a deputy incited them to attack Chamberlain. Hoffman, according to Sanders, was soft in his questioning of the deputy. Had the defendants been aware that Hoffman had a prior disciplinary history that bore on his credibility and that gave him a particularized interest in protecting fellow officers from scrutiny for misbehavior, they would have (been better able to defend their cases), Sanders wrote. Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy wrote in a response that Sanders routinely makes baseless claims that are unrelated to the case at hand. Scott Sanders has unfairly accused a seemingly endless line of innocent police officers, prosecutors, and judges. He has used this case as a vehicle to spew reckless accusations against people completely unrelated to the Daniel Wozniak prosecution, Murphy wrote. Sanders brief came in his defense of Wozniak, a Costa Mesa community theater actor who beheaded his best friend to steal his bank account and killed another to throw police off his tracks. Wozniak is expected to be sentenced Friday to death row. Sanders is trying to keep Wozniak as well as mass killer Scott Dekraai from getting the death penalty by arguing that prosecutors and police routinely withhold evidence and illegally use jail informants to get incriminating information from inmates. By that argument, authorities cant be trusted to assure defendants get a fair trial, Sanders has argued. Contact the writer: tsaavedra@scng.com Schools back in session, but whenever I go to Disneyland, I still see a bunch of kids. You might think that school days would be the best days for grown-ups to visit Disneyland, with so many parents off at work and their children in school. But thanks to Disneys wildly popular Southern California Select annual passport the lowest-priced annual pass, which is valid pretty much only on school days its hard to find a truly uncrowded day at the parks anymore. Yet Im always taken aback when I visit on a weekday during the school year and find the park crawling with families towing school-aged children. Adults with the day off I can understand. But are that many parents really pulling their kids out of school to spend the day at Disneyland? Apparently so. When I was a child, I couldnt have imagined skipping school to go to Disneyland. Even in the bizarre universe where my super-strict parents would have agreed to the idea, I wouldnt have wanted to go. Of course, I was that kid, the goody two-shoes that actually believed my school kept a permanent record that noted every screw-up in my childhood. I was a sucker for rules, and the rules said that kids went to school on school days not to Disneyland. Even today, its hard for me to shake that thought. Yes, as a parent, I know that the people who think they know the most about parenting tend to be ones who dont have any kids yet. So I try to shut up and not make judgments about what other parents do with their children. Get em to 18 alive, out of jail and with some hope for their future and youve done well in my book. But even though I cover theme parks for a living, I never took my kids out of school to visit a theme park. Part of that has to do with Californias crazy system for funding public education. Each day your children misses public school in California means less money for their school, and I knew our local schools need every dollar they can get. If they are sick, fine, stay home, but after spending countless hours on endless school fundraisers I didnt want to undo any of that hard work by taking my kids out of class any day they were healthy. I understand that many of the children enjoying Disneyland on weekdays arent officially skipping class since theyre home-schooled. But isnt the whole point of home schooling that you should be at home, well, schooling? Even taking field trips to the parks didnt make much sense to me. Lots of parks sell group-rate tickets to schools with the promise that kids can learn about physics by riding roller coasters. I say the students would learn that lesson better by building their own model coasters in their classroom. But that wouldnt sell any theme park tickets, and that wouldnt give teachers an enormous carrot and stick to wave in front of their classes to keep them in line for the weeks leading up to the trip, so there ya go. The strangest theme park field trip I saw happened at my childrens elementary school, when a class in my sons grade was sent to spend the day at Universal Studios Hollywood. Why? Universal needed their classroom that day to shoot a scene from an Adam Sandler movie. Welcome to life in Southern California. Another part of life in Southern California is that not everyone has a nine to five, Monday through Friday job. For people whose work schedule has them on the job when their kids are off at school, pulling them out of class might be the only way to enjoy a family day together. After all, its sometimes a lot easier to take your children out of class for a day than it is to get a paid shift off work during a school vacation when everyone else wants the time off, too. But as much as I try to understand all the reasons why people end up at Disneyland with their school-aged children on a weekday in September, Im left wishing that they wouldnt. Its not that I am insensitive. Its just that Im selfish. The more kids that spend their weekdays in a classroom, the fewer Ill have to stand behind in line. Stay in school, kids. Im trying to get on Radiator Springs Racers without a wait. Robert Niles is the founder and editor of ThemeParkInsider.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThemePark. In 1967, a sociology professor at San Francisco State University who served five years for armed robbery started a program that has helped hundreds of formerly incarcerated individuals earn university degrees. Now, a grant from Berkeley-based nonprofit the Opportunity Institute could bring a similar program to Cal State Fullerton as early as next spring. The program called Project Rebound was created by John Irwin to help former California prison system inmates graduate from San Francisco State with the skills and credentials needed to find employment and stay out of prison. CSUF is making preparations to start a similar program on campus. The undertaking is spearheaded by assistant professor of philosophy Brady Heiner. In March, the Opportunity Institute awarded the California State University system a $500,000 grant to fund the expansion of Project Rebound into seven other CSU schools. The Office of the CSU Chancellor contributed $200,000 to the program as well, the majority of which will go to San Francisco State, Heiner said. San Francisco State will serve as the fiscal agent and coordinator of the statewide program. The grant from the Opportunity Institute will be split among the seven universities participating in Project Rebounds expansion: CSUF, Sacramento State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State Bakersfield and Cal Poly Pomona. The seven participating campuses have received significant in-kind contributions, such as use of campus infrastructure and services from community-based organizations. Heiner valued these contributions to the seven campuses at nearly $300,000. The expansion of Project Rebound into seven CSU campuses will run for a pilot period of three years. A 2014 report from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation found that 61 percent of the states inmates released in 2008 were either rearrested or re-incarcerated in the following three years. Employers are often hesitant to hire someone with a criminal background, and without steady employment or any employment reintegration into society becomes much more difficult. A college education would provide both the paper credentials and the skills and expertise needed to lock down a job and do it well. But for many formerly incarcerated individuals, college isnt an option. Theres the question of cost and secondary education requirements, and for many there isnt enough awareness of the admissions process and how to navigate its tangle of deadlines, checklists and prerequisites. Currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, in addition to being perhaps the most stigmatized and dehumanized population in this country, have for decades been deterred from or explicitly denied the opportunity to pursue higher education, Heiner said via email. This effectively bars them from the transformative potential of higher education. From the perspective of criminal justice reform, 99 percent of incarcerated people eventually return to the community, Heiner said. Why wouldnt society want such folks to have avenues through which to reintegrate and remake themselves and have access to stable and meaningful employment? Participants in Project Rebound will not benefit from relaxed admissions criteria, Heiner explained. Rather, the programs coordinators will guide them through the application process, help them obtain financial aid and fulfill the prerequisites required to matriculate. The CSUF program hopes to enroll its first class of 10 to 15 students in the spring. It is Project Rebounds goal to then help participants integrate into the CSUF community and find access to the universitys full range of resources and facilities. CSUF has a tradition of opening doors to higher education for those who have historically lacked such opportunities 54 percent of students graduating with bachelors degrees in May were the first in their families to do so. As an institution that embraces academic excellence and respects and supports diverse scholars and students from all backgrounds, California State University, Fullerton, looks forward to welcoming students who are seeking a second chance through higher education, said CSUF President Mildred Garcia in a statement. The different perspectives and life experiences first-generation students bring to the universitys community have made it stronger and more vibrant, and Project Rebound would continue this tradition, Heiner said. It will enrich the university by embracing students with diverse backgrounds and life experiences who are eager to learn, expand their sense of possibility, and chart new paths for themselves, their families and communities, he said. Local advocacy groups have applauded CSUFs efforts to bring Project Rebound to campus. Higher education has the ability to open up unlimited opportunities for anyone, so to have access to a program geared specifically for those who have previously been incarcerated has immense potential, said Meghan Medlin, board chair of the Orange County Re-Entry Partnership (OCREP). OCREP is a network of agencies, organizations and private companies in Orange County that connects recently released individuals with services such as legal aid, counseling, job training and substance abuse treatment. Medlin called CSUFs plans for Project Rebound groundbreaking for Orange County. These individuals will now have access to formal education, from an esteemed local university no less, and will be able to apply for jobs that previously may have not been available to them, she said. Project Rebound is just one program in a recent nationwide effort to fight recidivism with post-release opportunities to return to school. For years, current and former inmates were barred from higher education. The Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 rendered anyone in federal or state prison ineligible for a Pell grant, even though less than 1 percent of Pell grants awarded in 1994 went to incarcerated recipients. Last year, however, the U.S. Department of Education announced plans to create the Second Chance Pell pilot program, which would roll back the 1994 ruling and offer financial assistance to about 12,000 inmates scheduled for release within five years. The Department of Education also pledged $5.7 million in grants earlier in 2015 to help juvenile offenders complete high school and enroll in two- and four-year colleges. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has made post-correctional education one of the focal points of her tenure. She introduced the inaugural National Reentry Week earlier this year and chairs the Federal Interagency Reentry Council, a collection of 20 cooperating agencies that provide housing, medical services, child care and educational opportunities for recently released individuals. For far too many Americans, re-entry has become an all-but-impossible task because of what are known as collateral consequences, Lynch wrote in a contributing piece for USA Today. The civil sanctions and restrictions that are triggered by a criminal record and continue to penalize returning citizens long after they have paid their debt to society. The Common Application, which is used by hundreds of universities and colleges nationwide, added a question about applicants criminal records in 2006. The Clery Center for Security on Campus, an advocacy group founded by the parents of a Lehigh University student who was murdered on campus, supported the inquiry into applicants criminal backgrounds. Catherine Bath, executive director of the organization at the time, told USA Today in 2006, Its an idea whose time has come. Bath said the question helps campus officials identify potential security risks. Were not saying dont admit felons, were saying just know that you have them on campus, she said. CSU and University of California campuses do not use the Common Application, and Toni Molle, director of public affairs for CSU, confirmed that CSU has not asked applicants about their criminal history in the past 20 years. National Reentry Week In April of this year, the U.S. Department of Justice created National Reentry Week to call attention to the challenges facing formerly incarcerated individuals. During the inaugural National Reentry Week, which ran from April 24-30, the Department of Justice organized workshops, job fairs and community meetings to connect formerly incarcerated individuals with service providers to find work, housing, healthcare and educational opportunities. Lynch was one of the principal backers of National Reentry Week. She has pushed for more services to help formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society during her tenure as Attorney General. National Reentry Week highlights the many ways that the Department of Justice and the entire Obama Administration is working to tear down the barriers that stand between returning citizens and a meaningful second chance leading to brighter futures, stronger communities, and a more just and equal nation for all, Lynch said in a statement. During National Reentry Week, the Department of Justice sponsored over 200 events in all 50 states to help formerly incarcerated individuals connect with service providers and prepare to reenter the workforce. These events included career fairs, job interview simulations, graduation ceremonies and stakeholder meetings gatherings of all parties affected by the reentry process, including public defenders, prosecutors and probation officers, as well as formerly incarcerated individuals themselves. Lynch and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro toured the country during National Reentry Week, visiting a federal prison in Talladega, Ala., and hosting roundtable discussions in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Mobile, Ala. Lynch delivered the closing remarks at the Mobile discussion. I am not just hopeful, but convinced, she said, that we are nearing the day when every American who leaves prison, our brothers and sisters, our fathers our mothers, will truly have an opportunity to come home. WASHINGTON The Obama administration is weighing a military plan to directly arm Syrian Kurdish fighters combating Islamic State, a major policy shift that could speed up the offensive against the terrorist group but also sharply escalate tensions between Turkey and the United States. The plan has been under discussion by the National Security Council staff at a moment when President Barack Obama has directed aides to examine all proposals that could accelerate the fight against Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. Obama has told aides that he wants an offensive well underway before he leaves office that is aimed at routing Islamic State from Raqqa, the groups de facto capital in northern Syria. Deciding whether to arm the Syrian Kurds is a difficult decision for Obama, who is caught in the middle trying to balance the territorial and political ambitions of Turkey and the Syrian Kurds, two warring U.S. allies that Washington needs to combat the Islamic insurgency. Directly providing weapons for the first time to the Syrian Kurds, whom U.S. commanders view as their most effective ground partner against Islamic State, would help build momentum for the assault on Raqqa. But arming them would also aggravate Obamas already tense relations with Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The United States and Turkey sharply disagree over Syrias Kurdish militias, which Turkey sees as its main enemy in Syria. The plan has filtered up through the Pentagons Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East. It calls for providing the Syrian Kurds with small arms and ammunition, and some other supplies, for specific missions, but no heavy weapons such as anti-tank or anti-aircraft weapons. U.S. officials note that the proposal has not yet been presented at the administrations highest levels for decision. White House officials declined to comment on it. The review of the military plan comes as U.S. commanders fear that their timetable to take Raqqa was set back after Turkey recently plunged into Syria with ground forces for the first time. The Turkish offensive cut off a crucial Islamic State supply route but also rolled back the territorial gains of Kurdish militias, who despite help on the ground from U.S. Special Operations advisers have criticized the United States for allying with Turkey. U.S. commanders view the plan to arm the Syrian Kurds, whose population straddles the border with Turkey, as an incentive to keep them on board for the fight against Islamic State. Asked if the recent volatile military and political situation around the Syrian-Turkish border had slowed the pace for taking Raqqa, Gen. Joseph L. Votel, the head of Central Command, said last week that it might have. We dont necessarily control the timeline ourselves, Votel told a security conference here sponsored by the Institute for the Study of War. Associates of Votel say he has expressed much greater concern in private over maintaining momentum in the fight against Islamic State, especially if the Syrian Kurds and Turkey continue to clash with each other. Votel said last week, We have to play a leadership role on both sides Turks and Kurds and keep focus on the mission to defeat ISIS. In the past two years the Pentagon has provided small arms, ammunition and other supplies to a group acceptable to Turkey the Syrian Arabs, a minority in the Kurdish-dominated umbrella group that is fighting Islamic State. About 350 resupply deliveries have been made by air or by land to the Syrian Arab militias, according to the U.S. military command in Iraq. But out of deference to Turkey, the United States has not directly armed the Kurdish fighters themselves. Many analysts say the Pentagons support to the Syrian Arabs is basically cover for aid to the Syrian Kurds, who call the shots in the wider alliance, coordinate airstrikes with the United States, and are considered the most capable fighters. But arming the Kurds directly, even for just specific missions, would still be a significant shift practically and symbolically. If this happened, the fig leaf would disappear and it would be a very serious, contentious issue between the two countries, said Soner Cagaptay, a specialist on Turkey at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Five senior U.S. officials who have been briefed on the proposal discussed it on the condition that they not be identified because the plan is still under review. They all said that any direct aid to the Kurds would be one piece of a larger strategy to defeat Islamic State in Syria. One practical goal of the plan is to equip the Syrian Kurds after their spearheading of several fiercely fought battles against Islamic State in the past several months, starting near Syrias border with Iraq to, most recently, the strategically important city of Manbij, where the terrorist group had established processing centers for hundreds of newly arrived recruits. The city was also a final way-stop for more seasoned fighters heading back to Europe through Turkey. The Kurds have also recently lost one regular source of arms the Syrian government as a result of the political rapprochement between Turkey and Russia, and clashes between Kurds and Syrian army troops. Politically, the aid would also seek to assuage the hard feelings the Syrian Kurds have felt toward their U.S. allies since the Turkish offensive into Syria, U.S. officials said. Just last week, U.S. Special Operations forces arrived in northern Syria to work alongside Turkish troops combating Islamic State, the Pentagon said Friday, emphasizing that the approximately three dozen Americans would serve in an advise and assist capacity. Turkish news outlets reported this month that Erdogan had suggested that his country was prepared to conduct a joint operation with the United States to defeat Islamic State in Raqqa. U.S. officials, however, have played down that discussion, and have said the United States is still trying to figure how to assemble enough ground forces to take back Raqqa. Across the border in Iraq, security forces will be ready to push into Mosul in October, the top U.S. general said Monday. Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters traveling with him aboard a U.S. military aircraft that the final decision on when to retake Mosul rests with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi of Iraq, according to Reuters. The general added that our job is to actually help the Iraqis generate the forces and the support necessary for operations in Mosul, and well be ready for that in October. If the government were to say that only men or only women had to pay an additional tax of several hundred dollars a year solely because of their sex, that would be clearly an unconstitutional denial of equal protection. Yet that is exactly the effect of California imposing a tax on tampons and sanitary pads. The California Legislature sought to remedy this and unanimously approved bills that would have exempted diapers and feminine hygiene products from the states sales tax. Unfortunately, last week, Gov. Jerry Brown, in a misguided effort to save the state a relatively small amount of money, vetoed these bills. At the very least, compassion and common sense indicate why these legislative measures were desirable. California law explicitly exempts necessities of life from its sales tax. Most states do so. It is hard enough for many to afford the necessities of life, without imposing a tax when people purchase essential items. Such taxes are terribly regressive. Thus, food, medicine and medical supplies are all sold without sales tax in California. Diapers are a necessity of life for babies and feminine hygiene products are a necessity of life for women from puberty until menopause. Moreover, taxing tampons and sanitary pads is sex discrimination. Only women use these products and thus only women pay the tax. In fact, a lawsuit was filed in New York last spring to have that states tax on these products declared unconstitutional as a denial of equal protection. The complaint in the case said that the tax is a vestige of another era, and now it is time to end it. The complaint explained that under New York law, medical items are not taxed. Products like Rogaine, foot powder, dandruff shampoo, chapstick, facial wash, adult diapers and incontinence pads are deemed medical items. But feminine hygiene products were deemed personal hygiene items and taxed. Before the federal court could decide the case, the New York Legislature adopted a bill to repeal the tampon tax and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed it into law. He declared that it is a regressive tax on essential products that women have had to pay for far too long. In fact, 13 states now exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax, including Illinois and Connecticut, that also adopted laws this year. There is a trend across the world to create such tax exemptions, including Canada having recently done so. Similar efforts are under way in England and Australia. So why not California, especially after the Legislature acted unanimously? Gov. Brown, in his veto message for the bills, stated: Tax breaks are the same as new spending. Of course, he is right that there is a cost to giving a tax exemption. But that does not address whether the cost is necessary. First, for the state of California the loss of revenue is relatively small. The tampon tax repeal would have cost the state $20 million this year, according to the state Board of Equalization. California spending in fiscal year 2015 was $255 billion. In other words, this involved less than one hundredth of 1 percent of the states revenue. Second, and more important, the question is one of fairness and constitutionality. The question is whether feminine hygiene products should be regarded as necessities, like food and medicine and health care supplies, or as luxuries to be taxed. The answer is obvious. Moreover, it is a denial of equal protection to impose a tax on products that only women use. It is unfortunate that Gov. Brown did not acknowledge this and sign the bills into law. Hopefully there will continue to be an outcry against his veto and when the Legislature passes similar bills, as surely it will, Gov. Brown will sign them. Also, a lawsuit like that which was filed in New York can be brought challenging the tampon tax as a form of unconstitutional sex discrimination. Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia introduced Assembly Bill 1561 into the California Legislature and in doing so she declared: Fundamentally this is about gender equity and leveling the field. Every month, for 40 years of our lives, we are taxed for being born women. Every month of our adult life we are taxed for our biology. Every month we are told our periods are a luxury, while also being told they are something to be ashamed of and we must hide. Garcia concluded, Let me be clear, on biology, periods are not luxuries and they are definitely not something women should be ashamed of, period! It is sad and wrong that Gov. Brown did not heed this message. Erwin Chemerinsky is dean of the UC Irvine School of Law. Like much about his campaign, Donald Trumps threat to sue the New York Times over unflattering coverage would be amusing if its implications werent so serious. It stems, of course, from the wish of all candidates and office holders to avoid headlines that might undermine their popularity and cost them elections. But the fact that all politicians have trouble with the news media doesnt mean that some examples arent worse than others. One of the worst when it comes to preventing the political press from doing its job of reporting what public officials are up to is Hillary Clinton. See the months she goes between news conferences. See her resistance to full disclosure of many aspects of her private and public life, including controversial parts of her record as U.S. secretary of state. See how her instinct for secrecy turns her personality from charming to taciturn as soon as a journalists notebook opens. But Trumps frequent outbursts and threats against the press and broadcast media take this to a different level. The latest happened Saturday. That day, the New York Times quoted public records to document how Trumps businesses had benefited from $885 million in tax breaks, grants and other public subsidies over the years. Separately, Times columnist Maureen Dowd, in a CNN interview, said she questioned Trump about violence at his campaign rallies, and the Republican presidential nominee said the rough stuff added excitement to the events. Trump responded with a series of missives on Twitter, ridiculing Dowd (crazy, wacky, a neurotic dope) and seeming to deny having the conversations she described. Trumps posts on the social media site included this: My lawyers want to sue the failing @NYTimes so badly for irresponsible intent. I said no (for now), but they are watching. Really disgusting. Legal experts mocked Trumps phrase irresponsible intent, which sounds like a legal doctrine but isnt. Perhaps Trump meant reckless disregard for the truth, which, along with malice, must be proven by a libel plaintiff under the precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Courts 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan ruling. Political observers doubted Trump actually would sue the newspaper. More likely, the candidate is just trying to work the media referees and stoke many supporters antipathy toward the press. Even if thats the intent, Trump is going about it in a way unseen in previous history. Along with his February proposal to open up our libel laws and make suing easier, and his campaigns barring of certain media outlets from his events, this talk betrays a contempt for a free press that would be worrisome in a president. One need not take sides in the decades-old fight between conservatives and the liberal media to think that elected officials must not be protected from press and public criticism. In fact, Trumps supporters, many of whom express wholesale distrust of the political class, should be as appalled as anyone by an attempt to stifle reporting and commentary about our leaders from media of any political stripe or no political stripe whatsoever. If Trump really took up this fight against the Times, it wouldnt end with this candidate and that newspaper. Let there be no doubt that Hillary Clinton would be right behind him in line at the courthouse door. ESCONDIDO Authorities in San Diego County arrested a former driver for Uber and Lyft on suspicion of sexually assaulting several women while he worked for the ride-hailing services, and investigators said Wednesday that there are likely more victims. The investigation began Friday when an 18-year-old student said she was assaulted after requesting an Uber car at Palomar College, Escondido Police Lt. Justin Murphy said at a press conference. The woman told police the driver picked her up at the school in a 2014 Chrysler minivan, immediately turned off the Uber app and then drove her to another location where he attacked her, Murphy said. Later that day police arrested Jeremy Vague, 37, at his home in San Marcos near the college, Murphy said. He was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on multiple sexual assault charges. A phone listing for Vague could not be found. It wasnt immediately known if he has an attorney. In the course of the investigation, detectives discovered additional suspected victims. Among them was a 19-year-old woman, awaiting the arrival of the first woman in Escondido, Murphy said. Also, a 19-year-old woman said Vague sexually battered her in the minivan after she requested a Lyft ride Sept. 7, he said. Murphy asked any additional victims to contact police. Were asking you to find the courage to come forward so we can hold Vague accountable for his actions, he said. On Sept. 6 a student called Palomar College police and said a driver tried to get her into his minivan, but she refused. Vague is no longer employed by Uber and Lyft and both firms are cooperating with authorities. Murphy said Vague, who is 270 pounds and 7 feet tall, is married and had worked for the ride-hailing companies for three months. When the Vietnam generation of servicemen and women came home, our nation failed them. We let divisions over an unpopular war undermine public recognition of their service. And in a hurry to put a divisive issue behind us, we turned a blind eye to the lasting scars of combat often unseen borne by many of these heroes. For the 9/11 generation, we have managed to avoid many of these mistakes. Americans from all walks of life are quick to recognize and thank our veterans for their service. Our military and civilian leaders have committed substantial resources to re-entry and transition support. And many employers have developed a new appreciation for the ways military experience and skills developed during service overseas can translate into workplace success. Boeing, for example, employs more than 20,000 veterans who relish the chance to continue their service at a company working on our national defense.Although we are doing better, we still have far to go. Even with these efforts, veterans are three times more likely to be unemployed than civilians. Almost two-thirds of post-9/11 veterans report adjustment challenges after returning home and nearly half say they do not know where to get help. The unprecedented length of our current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have only exacerbated these problems veterans with repeated and extended deployments under their belt are further removed from their pre-war job skills and the lengthy, multiple rotations that have become so common take an extraordinary toll. Goodwill of Orange County is committed to helping our veterans thrive as they reenter civilian society, rejoin the workforce and understand the many resources available to them. We have the Goodwill Tierney Center for Veteran Services. Its a holistic approach to serving our vets with a one-stop-shop that will connect them and their families with all the resources they need. As a hub for streamlining services, the center connects veterans to public and private resources to help with job placement, financial literacy, stable housing, counseling and wellness services, and health care and benefits. The Goodwill Tierney Center has hired a dedicated team, many of them vets themselves, to take each veteran case by case and shepherd them and their families to the right community partners, from start to finish. A leaflet or website listing available services is simply no substitute for a direct often blunt talk with someone who gets it. It isnt easy for folks who are used to giving help and taking care of others to seek assistance for themselves. This individualized casework approach is costly, but we have seen firsthand that it is the surest and most direct way to reach veterans and address their concerns, doubts and questions about our program and the opportunities available. And we are lucky to have so many public and private leaders in this country who saw the shortcomings of the Vietnam era re-entry effort and are determined not to make the same mistakes again. We are especially grateful for the support and partnership of employers who make these resource-intensive individualized outreach meetings possible Boeing alone funded 3,500 one-on-one outreach meetings last year. And our collaboration with Americas Warrior Partnership will leverage Boeings investment with $1.6 million in matching funds that will allow us to better integrate public and private services and help our vets navigate the maze of programs, services and opportunities available to them. For Boeing, we can think of no better hallmark to recognize its 100th anniversary than this kind of commitment to the 9/11 generation of veterans and their families. Its fashionable in politics and public policy these days to claim that nothing gets better or our best days are behind us. But for our nations veterans, we are doing better than ever. Things arent perfect, but we have made great strides and continue to do better every single day. Frank Talarico Jr. is the president and CEO of Goodwill of Orange County. Jim Rich photos: Jane Landers A spirit of cooperation with the community and advertisers is currently required of reporters, a New York Daily Newspanel was told last night. Attendance was 150+. A panel that included Jim Rich, editor-in-chief of the Daily News, Priya Ganapati of Quartz and Kate Ward of Bustle.com considered the thorny issue of branded content or sponsored editorial matter that is seen by some media as one of the main answers to declining newspaper circulation and advertising. Priya Ganapati Jay Rosen, journalism professor at New York University, moderated the program which is part a series of events called Conversations. Rich said that in the past, newspapers were driven to build circulation. The goal is still building circulation but more attention is being paid to what types of audiences are being attracted, he said. Solid reporting, which includes great writing accompanied by great videos can still be a successful formula, he said. Ganapati said staffers at Quartz help advertisers create the most effective ads. Staffers think holistically, she said. It is not just one persons job to sell nor one persons job to create content. Reporters Do More than "Gather Information" Kate Ward Ward said that J students in college were taught to gather all information about a subject but now they have to learn to navigate when writing about a subject. Journalists are challenged to think more creatively, she said. Clients want premium product which gives the medium the opportunity to present product in a way that it has never before been presented. Bustle, founded in 2013 by Bryan Goldberg and which reaches an estimate audience of 40 million women monthly, is about collaboration, helping to build brands with the help of editors. The different departments of Bustle collaborate, she said. Bustle is part of the community that it serves. The product team at Bustle is also the editorial team, she said. Rich noted that there are positions at the Daily News that did not previously exist such as chief creative officer and product developer. Members of such units must decide whose job it is to cross the wall that previously separated advertising and editorial. The announcement for the panel had said: As media companies increase their focus on business models, economic realities are affecting the way journalists work. Instead of a strict separation between the business and editorial sides, journalists are being asked how they create value for the company that can be monetized, while still meeting their responsibilities to public service and truth telling. "Acute Awareness" of Readers Rich said there is an "acute awareness in the newsroom of what works for our readership." Attendees asked whether it is advertising or consumers that failed the media and resulted in declining trust in media? Trust in mass media fell to 40% in 2015 from 55% in 1999 and from as high as 69% in 1974, according to Gallup. A chart in Quartz shows trust in media fell from 70% in 2005 among Democrats to 52% currently, and among Republicans, from 53% in 1998 to 12% currently. The average is around 30%. Ward said that perhaps all parts of society are to blame. "We have to re-think how we do things," she said, adding there are now "a bunch of different opportunities." While Facebook is a "big driver of traffic," media should also utilize other platforms in social media and engage in partnerships where it benefits readers, she said. Rich said media have failed to take up the challenges but "There's a lot of hope now...advertisers and consumers have more options." Interaction with readers is now a top goal of media, he said. Moderator Jay Rosen said "The world changed and media have to change with it." Rich agreed. Helping to expand access to health and human rights for women, children and adolescents everywhere is the goal of the new High Level Working Group for the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents. The High Level Working Group responds to the global demand of the Sustainable Development Goals that no one be left behind, said UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore. Wherever they may be no matter how tough their circumstances, how disputed their needs, how contested their identities, every woman, child and adolescent has the right to seek and receive quality, essential health care. Co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the High Level Working Group will be supported by a joint secretariat. The High Level Working Group is co-chaired by former President of Finland, Tarja Halonen and leading human rights expert, Hina Jilani from Pakistan, a member of The Elders, an organization of former statespersons founded by Nelson Mandela dedicated to promote peace and development. Renowned humanitarian, Dr Denis Mukwege of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will be lead rapporteur for the Group. This working group is truly novel, and it is an honour to co-lead it, said Halonen. Mere lip service to human rights is not acceptable. We need clearer thinking about what it takes to make human rights a reality for those who are overlooked or marginalized to ensure that they can lead dignified, healthy and productive lives. Last year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, together with global leaders and heads of state, launched the Global Strategy for Womens, Childrens and Adolescents Health (2016-2030). The strategy not only looks to ensure the survival of women, children and adolescents, but also to ensure that they can thrive and play a transformative role in the development of their communities and societies. Within the framework of the SDGs and the Global Strategy, we have an unprecedented opportunity to make progress on health and human rights, said WHO Assistant Director-General Flavia Bustreo. We must now move from words to action. The group will work for one year to generate high-level political support, at both national and international levels, for the implementation of the human rights-related measures called for under the Global Strategy. This includes guidance on how human rights can be integrated into health programming, and how we can better measure the impact of human rights on health outcomes. We need to demystify human rights, said co-chair Hina Jilani. It is about taking concrete steps so that a woman in the mountains of Pakistan can deliver her baby with high quality care. It means that the poorest child in a city slum in Nairobi is being reached with life-saving vaccines. It means that a teenage girl in Bolivia is involved in the design of health services that are relevant and acceptable to her. Together we aim to put first those who have previously come last. Health is not a luxury it is a human right. The working group will issue its initial recommendations at the World Health Assembly and Human Rights Council in the spring of 2017. 22 September 2016